Rich Hill Stud Farewell Pentire

Media Release - Tuesday November 21
New Zealand has lost one of its most successful and undoubtedly versatile stallions with the death on Monday of Rich Hill Stud's Pentire (GB).

Pentire - Trish DunnellThe English-bred son of Be My Guest and the Mill Reef mare Gull Nook was the Walton farm's foundation sire and subsequently made his mark from his base near Matamata at the elite level throughout Australasia and further afield.

"He was 25, but I thought he was going to live forever - he was still serving and so healthy and well," Rich Hill studmaster John Thompson said.

"We noticed after lunch on Monday he looked a bit uncomfortable and I got a bad feeling about it, in 20 years we'd only had the vet to him twice.

"We got him to the clinic and he went into surgery and when they opened him up they found a tumour that the intestine had wrapped around," Thompson said.

"They removed the growth and the intestine hadn't been compromised. They got him into recovery, but sadly he didn't wake up."

A top quality racehorse with a Timeform rating of 132 at three and four, Pentire was the dual Group One winner of the Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (2400m) before his retirement in 1997.

"He was due to arrive the same day our first born was due, it was a toss-up whether John would attend the arrival of his foundation stallion or his first born," Thompson's wife Colleen said.

"Fortunately, our daughter Emma arrived on time, but Pentire's flight was delayed. He arrived three days later and he's been part of the family ever since."

Pentire arrives at Rich Hill 20 years agoInstrumental in Rich Hill securing Pentire was bloodstock agent Michael Otto.

"Shadai Farm had Pentire and at the time they were looking to break into Australasia and Michael knew we were looking for a stallion and we ended up standing him," Thompson said.

Pentire has left 16 individual Group One winners, nine of them in Australia, of 33 races, 13 across the Tasman, from 1200 to 3200m with his son Mufhasa a 10-time winner at the highest level, His record was further rewarded with two New Zealand Horse of the Year titles.

Xcellent was another outstanding representative with multiple Group One victories and a Melbourne Cup placing while Prince Of Penzance sparked Rich Hill celebrations three years ago when he won the Flemington feature.

Pentire's Group One roll of honour also features Xtravagant, now at stud in New South Wales, Zarita, Rangirangdoo, Pantani, Art Success, Penny Gem, Pentane, Recurring, Markus Maximus, Say No More, Chenille, Volatile Mix and Ferlax.

At the time of his death, he was New Zealand's leading active sire of Group One winners with only Redoute's Choice and Fastnet Rock could boast more individual Group One winners from their Australasian-bred progeny.

Pentire's stud career also featured a remarkable comeback after falling out of favour.

"He only had 12 foals in 2002 and that would have finished most stallions," Thompson said. "I was surprised at the time by the lack of interest of New Zealand breeders, but he bounced right back."

Pentire shuttled between Japan and New Zealand in the early years and, following two shuttle seasons to Germany, he was permanently repatriated to Rich Hill in 2005. He was represented by stakes winners in both Japan and Germany and winners in 24 other countries.

"It just won't be the same around here without him, but his legacy will live on and Pentire is always going to be seen as a strength in any pedigree," Thompson said.

"He's had four Group One winners in the last two seasons and I'm certain there are more to come."
Pentire was laid to rest at Rich Hill on Tuesday. – NZ Racing Desk.



Advertisment
More Reading...
First win for Prince of Penzance Brother
A brother to the New Zealand-bred Group I Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Prince Of Penzance has opened his account in Victoria.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 29
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pentire 2YO's Add Interest to Ready to Run
The late Pentire will be represented by two sons and a daughter at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale.
Damask Rose Looking to Kickstart Te Akau Melbourne Spring
Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition.
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Stars on Show at Caulfield Spring Opener
The 2025 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival officially bursts out of the gates this Saturday with the Stow Storage Caulfield Spring Opener, headlined by the first Group 1 of the season, the $750,000 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes.
Breeding to Win - 2025 G1 Memsie Stakes
The big guns step out and spring is on in earnest when the Memsie (1400m WFA) rolls around and what a cracking field we have in 2025 for the first G1 of the Southern spring with 11 runners and 10 are G1 winners!