A buoyant day of selling concluded Day Two of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 Sale, with the clearance rate lifting significantly off the back of the opening session.

Hong Kong buyers were active on day two of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 yearling sale, with four of the five top lots sold earmarked for the Asian racing jurisdiction.

They say you are only as good as your last winner and for Torryburn Stud that would be 2020 Inglis Classic sale-topper Voyage Bubble, who was making news last Sunday when carrying Jamie Kah to victory in the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m).

A lucrative Plan B might come into play for stakes-winning filly Polygon with connections considering a trip to Australia for the in-form three-year-old.

Cambridge trainer Paul Mirabelli will head south to New Plymouth with a more welcoming storm on Saturday.

Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

We’ve made much of Fastnet Rock mares in recent days and one that saluted at Canterbury on Wednesday in the Go Bloodstock colours could easily be a Group I producer of the future or the dam of a million dollar yearling.

Befitting her $1,700,000 price tag at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale, the Group 1 winning Savabeel mare Diademe has been courted by the best, and she has delivered in the sales ring and the track.

A homebred for Swettenham Stud’s Adam Sangster, this stylish winner finished her spring campaign with a third in the Group I VRC Oaks.

A mixed day of selling opened New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 session of Karaka 2023, and it was international buyers that were to the fore, with the Australian and Asian markets making their presence felt.

A solid pace by the favourite Little Pumper set it up nicely for the fast-finishing Dundeel debutant Militarize in the Drinkwise Maiden Plate (1200m) for two-year-olds at Canterbury on Wednesday.

John Hickmott, 76, moved to South Australia 30 years ago, settling in Murray Bridge. Since then, he has become a prolific trainer in the region, preparing several winners every year across the state.

Western Australian trainer Ben Pearce has enjoyed his first visit to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales at Karaka and on Wednesday went to $75,000 to secure a Reliable Man filly from the Book 2 draft of Westbury Stud.

Fresh off a pleasing set of results from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 sale, Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir was once again to the fore in the second session of the National Yearling Sale on Wednesday.

Mark Jones is hungry for further black-type success.

We’ve had two major yearling sales in our region so far and the first (Magic Millions )was topped by an I Am Invincible colt from Fastnet Rock mare Anaheed that sold for $2.7million and the second (Karaka Book 1) was topped by a $1million Fastnet Rock filly from Test the World.

Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

An electric atmosphere was felt during the final session of Book 1 at Karaka 2023, with a late flurry of bidding setting the sale ring alight.  

Two 5% shares in G1 prospect Williamsburg (Snitzel x Fenway) have today sold on Inglis Digital for $95,000 each.

David Ellis was once again at the top of the buyers’ sheet at Karaka this year, but this time it was for a filly.

Progeny of Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir have left quite the impression on the racetrack, and it showed at Karaka this week.

Owner Ian Moses has been building a small, but quality band of fillies and mares and he added to that collection when purchasing a well-credentialled yearling filly by Super Seth at Karaka on Tuesday under his banner the Laguna Partnership.

A few weeks ago we published a story about the growing number of commercial yearlings from daughters of Sepoy and the One to Watch on Monday is a filly bred this way.

Andrew Forsman is set to open a satellite stable in Melbourne this year and bloodstock agents Andrew Williams and Bevan Smith are keen to fill it with top fillies.

Australian buyers are waking up to the merits of Rich Hill Stud’s super progressive sire Proisir, who has had seven stakes-winners in New Zealand this season four of them Group I winners.

Sidelined at the start of last spring with a suspensory ligament injury, triple Group I winning Maurice (Jpn) colt Hitotsu has now been retired due to a leg infection.

The big guns went around in the opening heat at the Warwick Farm trials on Monday with Nature Strip stretching his legs for a win against fellow Group I winners Fireburn, September Run, Zaaki (GB), Private Rye, Durston (GB) and In Secret, while there were also six heats for the juveniles.

Here is the full list of 13 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

International presence was felt in the sale ring on Day Two of Karaka 2023, with heated competition for the top lots and leading Australian stables featuring prominently.

A half-sister to 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle is destined to join trainer Annabel Neasham’s Sydney barn after her purchase at Karaka on Monday.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club made their first investments at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales at Karaka on Monday, purchasing two colts by Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto.

Trainer Peter Moody is hoping he is on a path to more riches after purchasing his A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500) victor I Wish I Win’s half-brother at Karaka on Monday.

Cameron Cooke is hoping he has bought another stallion prospect at Karaka.

Champion Australian jockey Jamie Kah was in hot form at Sha Tin on Sunday partnering progressive Deep Field gelding Voyage Bubble to victory in the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m).

With the three best horses in Hong Kong facing off in The Stewards' Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, the large crowd enjoyed a race for the ages.

Here is the full list of 58 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

Australian bred horses have competed very successfully in South Africa over the years and a significant number of Aus bred mares are now at stud over there and one of them is the dam of talented three year-old Royal Aussie, who captured the R7.5million World Sports Betting Gold Rush (1600m) at Kenilworth in South Africa on Saturday.

Narrowly defeated in the Listed Fairetha Stakes and Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic, All The King's Men finally had a photo go his way with a last stride win over the gallant front-runner Feels Playful in the Greenfields Breeders' Classic (1400m) at Pinjarra on Sunday.

Peters Investments’ star mares Graceful Girl (Nicconi) and Celebrity Miss (More Than Ready) are the latest headline acts confirmed for this year’s The Chairman’s Sale.

Day One of Karaka 2023 saw a long-awaited return to normal selling for New Zealand Bloodstock, who welcomed back international buyers to the sale ring for the first time since 2020.

In honour of the late Sir Patrick Hogan, NZB Principal Sir Peter Vela paid tribute to Hogan and his profound influence on the thoroughbred industry, immediately prior to the opening of its Karaka 2023 National Yearling Sales Series on 29 January.

Te Akau principal David Ellis didn’t let the torrential rain at Karaka on Sunday dampen his spirits as he was once again active in the newly named Sir Patrick Hogan Auditorium.

The progeny of promising young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan were keenly sought after on the opening day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Hot on the heels of retirement news for Group I BRC Queensland Oaks winner Gypsy Goddess, who heads to stud in Japan, comes an announcement from the Michael Freedman stable regarding the retirement of triple Group I winner Forbidden Love.

Widden Stud’s Zoustar had an impressive maiden winner In Japan on Sunday.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale has made quite the impression on Queensland visitors Brian and Peggy Flannery.

A half-brother to multiple Group One winner Mo’unga will remain in New Zealand after his purchase by Stephen Marsh at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Sale on Sunday.

Newly established farm Elsdon Park are starting off as they mean to continue at Karaka.

In the past few days we’ve seen some moving and shaking in Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper markets with the Blue Diamond Previews and Canonbury and Widden Stakes all won by first time stakes-winners, so let’s check out the pedigrees.

Two 5% shares in three-time Stakes-winning 3YO colt Williamsburg (Snitzel) will be offered in a bespoke Inglis Digital Online Sale this week.

The last race of the day at Rosehill on Saturday featured a very short priced favourite and exciting prospect Think About It got home in a thrilling finish to the delight of his supporters.

Here is the full list of 110 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

The six-year-old Savabeel mare Angelic Miss returned to her best form to score a barnstorming win in Saturday’s Listed Scenic Blast Stakes at Ascot.

Despite finishing second to the red-hot Jigsaw at his most recent start in the Listed Christmas Stakes at Sandown, Shamino went off an unloved $12 chance in Saturday’s Listed Durbridge Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville, much to the delight of the faithful that stuck solid.  

The 2021 Group III VRC Frances Tressady Stakes winner Chaillot put her broodmare career on hold when missing to Toronado (IRE), which may have been a blessing in disguise.

Visiting northern rider Jasmine Fawcett capped a red-letter day when she guided the Mark Jones-trained runner Phelan The Power to victory in the Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton.

Joe Pride has the Midas touch in rejuvenating older horses and has worked his magic on Newhaven Park Stud’s six-year-old Toronado mare Mariamia.

Enigmatic galloper Leaderboard put his best foot forward when he responded to a brilliant ride from visiting Irish jockey Joe Doyle to take out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m).

After jumping a step slowly, Jigsaw took up his favoured position at the head of affairs in Saturday’s $350,000 Group II Ma Services Group Australia Stakes (1200m), and he did not look back.

Trainer Lisa Latta has always had faith that five-year-old galloper He’s A Doozy had the necessary ability to make it all the way to the top echelon and that belief was rewarded at Trentham on Saturday when he ploughed through the heavy underfoot conditions to take out the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m).

Rugged filly Mazzolino showed just how tough she is when she dominated the finish of the Gr.3 NZ Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at a rainswept Trentham.

Learning To Fly became the first Australian stakes-winner for Coolmore's Triple Crown winner Justify (USA) and put herself in the Golden Slipper picture with a courageous performance on debut in Saturday's Group III Widden Stakes (1100m).

Russian Revolution colt Red Resistance left the favourite King’s Gambit without an excuse when leading every step of the way in Saturday’s Group III Fujitsu General Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.

A star studded set of trials at Rosehill on Friday featured a galaxy of Group I stars including Anamoe and on the two year-old front there were a couple of interesting winners by Hellbent and Dundeel.

Newgate Farm’s Capitalist moved to the top of the Australian two year-old sires by winners list when the Annabel Neasham trained filly Dorothy Gail bowled over the hot favourite at Scone on Friday.

Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia on Friday with winners and result details.

Favourite backers were in a cold sweat as long odds-on favourite Dunkel needed the length of the straight to run down the lone filly in the race, Soul Choice, in Friday night’s Listed Kevin Sharkie Launceston Guineas (2100m).

Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham is heading into Karaka 2023 in a buoyant mood after the success of his farm’s graduates last year.

The foot traffic at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka sales complex has Haunui Farm principal Mark Chitty buoyed ahead of the National Yearling Sale, which kicks of at 11am this coming Sunday.

A $17,000 purchase at the 2021 Inglis June (Early) Online sale, the three-year-old Denman filly Dancedes won that back with interest at her career debut over 900m at Scone on Friday.

Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Stud is a prolific source of outstanding female families, and perhaps its most esteemed bloodlines are the ones that trace back to Richebourg (NZ) (Vice Regal). 

Several of the biggest international stars to come out of New Zealand in the last 30 years were bred and/or sold by Windsor Park Stud, including champions So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral), Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel) and Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins).

The leading vendor at Karaka for the last nine years in succession, Waikato Stud’s winning recipe has combined a star-studded stallion roster – the incomparable Savabeel and his predecessor O’Reilly (NZ), along with a supporting cast that has been made up by the likes of Pins, Danasinga, Ocean Park (NZ), Sacred Falls (NZ) and 

An integral part of the fabric of New Zealand’s thoroughbred industry, Trelawney Stud was established by Seton Otway in the 1930s. Under the management of current owners the Taylor family, the historic farm has bred and/or sold 67 black-type performers, including 33 individual Group One winners.

The iconic families of Cambridge Stud have been given extensive coverage in recent weeks following the sad loss of the legendary Sir Patrick Hogan – a 32-time leading vendor at Karaka who will be honoured with a commemorative ceremony before the beginning of Book 1 on Sunday morning.

If it thrills you to see the progeny of top-class mares taking their formative steps, then you are in for a treat with the runnings of the Group III Canonbury Stakes and Group III Widden Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

We’ve seen a little of what’s to come in terms of Blue Diamond contenders with the Preview races on Australia Day and the build up to the Golden Slipper starts in earnest at Rosehill on Saturday with the Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes (1100m) for the colts and Group III ATC Widden Stakes (100m) for the fillies.

Promising Merchant Navy gelding Cadetship posted his second win this preparation when saluting at Warwick Farm on Australia Day.

Here is the full list of 71 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

Progressive So You Think gelding Gentleman Roy will be headed for Group I goals during the  autumn and a possible tilt at the All Star Mile after returning from a spell to win the Listed MRC John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Australia Day.

The Group III MRC Manfred Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on Australia Day featured a host of exciting three year-olds resuming from a spell, but there was a short priced favourite in Golden Rose winner Jacquinot.

 Good news for King Charles III emanating from the former colony on Australia Day with the Sea The Stars gelding Chalk Stream (GB) opening his Australian account in the Listed Schweppes Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm.

Star Patrol opened his stakes account in the Sheen Panel Service WJ Adams Stakes (1000m) at Sandown-Hillside on Australian Day in a fashion that suggests better races are in store for the son of Starspangledbanner.

In a race that changed dramatically in the final 100m, the Spirit Of Boom filly De Sonic Boom charged home from second last to make a winning career debut in the Group III  Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Sandown-Hillside on Australia Day.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are fans of young sire Russian Revolution, whose two year-old son The Instructor made it two wins as many starts when taking out the Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Sandown on Australia Day.

On the eve of the sale she was sourced from seven years ago, it has been announced that outstanding racemare Melody Belle will be inducted to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame and her yearling half-sister will be offered for sale on Monday..

With two wins from three starts at the trials, the David Pfieffer trained So Audacious was keen to keep her tidy record on raceday and the daughter of So You Think hit the line hard late between runners to snatch a popular debut victory in at Warwick Farm on Australia Day.

A fast finishing debut two year-old winner by Dundeel is always a horse we are going to want to know more about.

Here is the full list of 43 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

The strength of the Inglis Digital market was again to the fore today as talented 3YO Ringmaster (Zoustar) became the equal-third most expensive racehorse ever sold on the platform.

On Thursday, two fascinating divisions of the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Previews at Sandown-Hillside take place, with numerous first starters adding to the intrigue.

Rockhampton’s Capricornia Yearling Sale, the only one of its kind in this state outside SEQ, has been inundated with record entries for its 2023 version on Sunday, April 2.

Graeme Rogerson believes his talented three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart can give his older opposition a fright in his return to racing at Trentham on Saturday.

n honour of the late Sir Patrick Hogan, New Zealand Bloodstock will open its 97th National Yearling Sales Series with a commemorative ceremony dedicated to the legendary studmaster, breeder, racehorse owner, and devoted family man. 

Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia on Tuesday with winners and result details.

She might only be the winner of a modest maiden race at Bathurst, but this filly may one day produce a million-dollar yearling.

To be held on March 14 and 15 the auction has attracted a catalogue of 468 yearlings from five states as well as New Zealand and it's now online. 

Four heats for juveniles at Hawkesbury on Tuesday featured a win for unbeaten Golden Gift winner Barber and a promising heat winner for The Autumn Sun.

Over the many years I’ve been writing tax articles for the horse industry, there has been a handful of articles that I rate amongst my all-time favourites, one of these being the 1998 article I wrote about the tax win of the David Hains battle with the ATO, all to do with the tax status of the sale of his champion racemare, “Rose Of Kingston”, to his related horse trust.

Little Avondale Stud principals Sam and Catriona Williams are already buzzing ahead of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales, which kick-off at Karaka at 11am this Sunday.