Kneebone to Launch Training Career

Media Release - Monday July 14

Tauranga’s race meeting on July 6 marked the beginning of an exciting new venture for Nick Kneebone.

The Cambridge-based horseman saddled his first raceday runner, the appropriately named Nick Time, who finished sixth in the Container Co Maiden (1400m).

Cambridge trainer Nick Kneebone pictured with Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winning jockey Tony Allan. Photo: Angelique Bridson

Kneebone, son of long-time auctioneer and New Zealand Bloodstock’s Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone, has spent a large part of his 20s gaining international experience to set him up for his move into training.

“It’s something that’s been a fair few years in the making,” he said.

“I started off over in Sydney with John Sargent, who obviously trained very successfully in New Zealand before making the move to Australia. I learned so much during my time with him, and now it’s great to be back home and putting that knowledge into practice with my own career.

“I want to give it a crack at a time when it looks like New Zealand racing is on the up. The prize-money increases have been great news for the industry here in recent times and I’m very keen to be a part of it.”

Kneebone has purchased the Cambridge stable that was formerly owned by the now Cranbourne-based Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

“I’ve taken over Trent and Natalie’s old stable, which in more recent times has been leased by Hollie Wynyard,” he said.

“We’ve been putting a lot of work into whipping it into shape and it’s all coming together nicely. There’s still a little bit of paddock fencing to go and things like that, but I’m really happy with how it’s all coming together.”

While a large part of his operation will centre around preparing horses for the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka every November, Kneebone will also serve as a public trainer.

Advertisement

“I’ve got 20 boxes here,” he said. “The number of horses will go up and down a bit depending on the time of the year. I’ve got eight pointing towards the Ready to Run Sale, so they’re not far off coming back in to start their preparations.

“There’s a few older horses that are up and racing too. I’m lucky enough to have some outside clients that are giving me some really good support in this early part of my career.

“We’re only a small team, so there’s plenty going on to keep us busy.”

A key member of that team is Tony Allan, whose successful career in the saddle has produced over 1000 wins, headed by the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with Empire Rose in 1988.

Allan has trained his own team of horses at Otaki in recent times but has made the move to Cambridge to be Kneebone’s main trackwork rider. He has brought his own horses with him, including his first runner at his new home track, Perfect Posy, who he rode into second place in Thursday’s Cambridge Equine Hospital (970m).

“Tony and I go way back, I’ve known him for years,” Kneebone said. “I was struggling a bit for trackwork riders, so I just sent him a message one day saying that I’d love to have him up here at Cambridge if he was keen. He jumped at the opportunity.

“He’s been an awesome help. He does a lot of the gallops for me, and his knowledge and insight has been so valuable. He seems to have settled in really well in Cambridge and he’s loving it.

“He’s also brought up some of his own horses and nearly had a win at the local meeting last week. It’s good to have the team coming into a bit of form. Hopefully we can continue with that and it’s onwards and upwards from here.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.