Pierro - New Winner

Kelly Van Dyk’s Prima Park Bloodstock will be represented on both sides of the Tasman this week, from the sales ring in Sydney to the big stage at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) is delighted to announce that the 2025 Nolan Scholarship has been awarded to TBA Fast Track graduate Mackenzie Porter.  

The late Wootton Basset was one of those stallions whose progeny can excel over all distances and we saw a taste of it at Caulfield on Wednesday when his French bred five year-old Wootton Verni (Fr) won the $240,000 Group III MRC Coongy Cup (2000m).

Te Akau has been forced to take an unconventional path to Ellerslie with Quintessa and are confident the high-class mare will strip in the best possible order, given the circumstances.

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield providing a dream result for Cambridge Stud based first season sire Sword of State.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign hangs in the balance, with his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie dictating whether he continues on that path.

There was a heavily backed favourite in the $100,000 3YO Super Maiden (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and while punters were tearing up their tickets with a furlong to run, something miraculous happened in the last 50m.

The horsemen and women who prepare two-year-olds for the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka every November are internationally renowned as some of the very best in the world at what they do, and a new generation will join them next month as first-time vendors.

Buoyed by a satisfying midweek success, Stephen Marsh will be hoping to add to his tally on Saturday with a four-strong team engaged at Trentham, including a pair of strong Group One chances.

A half-brother to Champion 3YO Filly Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Written Tycoon colt Chicama appreciated not only the step up to 1400m for the first time to break his maiden, but a change to the Joe Pride yard appears to have also done the trick.