Castelvecchio - New Winner

Just days out from the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), slot holders Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing have been forced to find another contender following the withdrawal of Dealt With.

The 2025 edition of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale continued to defy the pre-sale apprehension amongst participants, with the results from Day 2 of the sale showing further gains on the promising start to the sale on Sunday. 

Just three heats for juveniles at Warwick Farm on Monday morning and the winners are all unraced with two of them by first season sires Hanseatic and Time to Reign and a third from the bargain basement of I Am Invincible.

Lyndhurst Stud’s Jeff Kruger is a familiar fixture at Gold Coast sales, but had reason to get to Victoria this week for the sale of his Earthlight (IRE) colt from Sanadaat that was offered in the draft of Alma Vale Thoroughbreds draft and the trip proved well worthwhile when he sold for $475,000 on Monday.

Dual licence holder Samantha Wynne had a day to remember in the saddle at Wingatui on Saturday, and she is hoping she can take that winning momentum north to Ellerslie on Saturday where she will line-up Pivotal Ten in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).

Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds had much racetrack excitement and financial reward from Group I winning mare Invincibella and the familiar purple and white stars were carried to victory at Randwick on Wednesday by a three year-old Castelvecchio filly that is closely related to the $3million earner.

Gun three-year-old Savaglee will likely head to the spelling paddock following his heroic runner-up performance behind fellow Kiwi-bred Feroce in Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

Earlier this week I read a great article in the TDN where MV Magnier was interviewed and the title was ‘Without Classic Stallions, How Can You Breed the Next Classic Winner?’ and it stuck in my mind after the stakes racing finished in Australia on Saturday and if you read this story you will soon see why.

Goodwood Stud has downsized its thoroughbred operation in more recent times, but the Manawatu farm remains a breeding force to be reckoned with.

Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds had much racetrack excitement and financial reward from Group I winning mare Invincibella and the familiar purple and white stars were carried to victory at Randwick on Saturday in the Group III ATC Reginald Allen Stakes (1400m) by a three year-old Castelvecchio filly that is closely related to the $3million earner.