Cover image courtesy of Trish Dunell

It’s all Snazzytavi this spring with four on the trot

The picket fence form line continued at Ellerslie on Boxing Day for Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained 5-year-old mare Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) but she had to work for her fourth win in succession as she won the G1 Zabeel Classic by the narrowest of margins.

Ridden quietly in fourth-last by Warren Kennedy for most of the trip, she pealed out at the 350-metre mark and was sprinting home impressively when Simon and Katrina Alexander-trained La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) joined her and they went neck and neck to the line, overcoming pacemaker Stephen Marsh-trained El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), and lunging together at the line. Eventually Snazzytavi was given the win in a photo with an official margin of 0.1l over La Crique with El Vencedor 1l back in third.

“On the line I thought I had it, but I must give credit to La Crique as she was super brave and came back at me. This mare showed a lot of bravery and stuck her neck out,” said Kennedy.

“We were worried about the pace and they did end up crawling, I got on the back of La Crique where I wanted to be as I thought Nabba (Michael McNab) would give me a good pull into it. It was a fantastic win, you don’t want to go down on a $1.80 favourite and you don’t want it to be that close, but we’re all here for the spectacle and it was a great fight. I’m very proud of her that she got on top.

“It’s taken a bit of time, we always thought she had ability, but for her to bring it to the fore like this is just fantastic. For Brendan and Jo, obviously they have been huge supporters of me, so to win the race they sponsor is really special.”

The Zabeel Classic also continues the lucrative $1 million Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series, with Snazzytavi now taking the outright lead with 10 points over El Vencedor (7), with La Crique and Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) on 6. With six qualifying races remaining, the series culminates on Champions Day with the G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S. Snazzytavi now has nine wins from 15 starts with earnings over NZ$970,000.

Bred by Gordon Cunningham under his Suncroft Bloodstock banner, Snazzytavi was catalogued for the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale but withdrawn and sold privately to Cambridge Stud who stood her sire Tavistock (NZ). She is one of 12 Group 1 winners for her sire who has 51 stakes winners.

She is one of five winners for Listed NZ St. Leger winner Ritzy Lady (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who earlier produced G3 MRC WW Cockram S.-placed winner Le Societe (NZ) (Anabaa {USA}) who is the dam of Listed Geelong Classic winner Grand Pierro (Pierro). Ritzy Lady has an unraced 2-year-old colt, High Society (NZ) (Ace High), missed for the 2023 season, and was served by Divine Prophet for 2024 but the NZ Stud Book has no result noted yet.

Ritzy Lady’s dam, Ever Clever (NZ) (Centaine), is a winning half-sister to three stakes winners being Group 3 winner Hancock Park (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}), and Listed winners Clever Zoe (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}) and Playful Fingers (NZ) (Defensive Play {USA}).

Hitabell gives her sire his third stakes winner

Trainer Stephen Marsh gave 3-year-old filly Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) a short freshen up after the filly won the Listed O’Learys Fillies S. and she led all the way for jockey Courtney Barnes in the G2 Eight Carat Classic to win by 0.1l from Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott trained Sethito (NZ) (Super Seth) with Jenna Mahoney-trained Real Class (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) 1l back in third.

“It was a very good win and she was just so brave. We wanted to be positive from the barrier and when she jumped so well, she put herself on the pace and we could control things from there,” Barnes said.

“I was a little worried when the other one (Sethito) cruised up alongside us, but I could feel her building underneath me and she just wouldn’t give in. That is the furthest she has gone but the way she relaxes there is nothing to say she couldn’t get a little further than the mile.”

Now the winner of three of her five starts with earnings over NZ$210,000, Hitabell was purchased by Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for NZ$9500 from the 2023 National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, and her breeder Sarah Devcich, who owns and operates Henley Park alongside her husband Marc, has stayed in the ownership.

She is by Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish (NZ) who won the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas, and his oldest crop are 4-year-olds. He is the sire of three stakes winners from 70 runners, with the other two being Group 3 winners Bold Soul (NZ) and Luberon (NZ).

Hitabell is one of three winners from five to race for Anahita (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) who is a half-sister to Champion 3YO filly in NZ in 2005-06 Shikoba (NZ) (Chief Bearhart {Can}) who won this race and two other Group 2 races in her seven-win career. Hitabell’s third dam is G3 Debutante S. winner Pampas Fire (Prince True), dam of Listed Debutante S. winner Cloister (Marauding), dam of dual Group 1 winner Melito (Redoute’s Choice). Anahita doesn't have a yearling.

Yaldi wins G2 Auckland Guineas on protest

Drama unfolded in the G2 Auckland Guineas as outsider Bruce Wallbank-trained gelding Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) and one of the more favoured runners Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan) hit the line together with the initial result being a dead heat.

Yaldi’s trainer Andrew Forsman soon launched a protest, which revealed interference with Midnight Edition shifting out slightly in the closing stages and the stewards gave Yaldi the outright victory, denying punters a $77 payout on Midnight Edition. Checkmate (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) was third, 1.25l back for trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott.

“The main target for this preparation has been the Karaka mile, and obviously the Kiwi and races like that are on his radar,” Forsman said.

“How we get to Karaka I’m not so sure, we’ll just see how he comes through it and talk to Lib, Bruce and the team. The Levin Classic is an option and a trip away may be a good thing for a horse like him, he’s learning and that experience can make a horse like him. We’ll see what comes of the next week or so and figure it out.

"The 1500 of the Kiwi at Ellerslie is tailor-made for him, he doesn’t need to do too much more and you’d think with a bigger field with hopefully a more genuine tempo, it should suit him as well.”

Bred by Brown Thoroughbreds, it was the first stakes win for Yaldi who was a NZ$50,000 purchase by Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) from Little Avondale Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

A winner on debut at two, Yaldi came to Melbourne for the Listed Anzac Day S. for his second start where he ran third. The G2 Auckland Guineas win was his second in five starts and he takes his earnings over NZ$194,000. He becomes the fifth stakes winner for Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan who has had only 56 runners to date and his oldest foals are 4-year-olds.

Yaldi is the fourth foal and second winner for winning mare Luroel (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) whose other winner is Yaldi’s year older full brother Sky Heart (NZ). A full brother to Yaldi will be offered by Elsdon Park as Lot 90 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. Luroel is a half-sister to G3 Cambridge Breeders' S. winner Hammer Down (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and a full sister to G2 Matamata Breeders' S.-placed Nahema (NZ). This is the family of Group 1 winners Plume (NZ) (Crested Wave {USA}) and Maco’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

Tavi Time’s G3 Summer Cup gives Tavistock a brilliant day out

To cap a great day for Cambridge Stud stallions, 5-year-old gelding Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) narrowly prevailed in the G3 Summer Cup over 2000 metres at Randwick on Boxing Day, becoming his sire’s 52nd stakes winner and gave him a trans-Tasman double for the day. Tavi Time, ridden by Jay Ford, duelled down the straight with Chris Waller-trained Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro) to win by 0.2l on the line with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 4-year-old gelding Townsend (Dundeel {NZ}) in third nearly 3l in arrears of the quinella.

“Full credit to the horse as this was his first time over 2000 metres,” Danny Greer, stable representative for trainer Kris Lees, said.

“He's a horse that has been racing really consistently and this was the time to step him out to that distance. We were confident leading into the race and credit to Jay Ford for the ride. He kept his cool at the top of the straight when things probably didn't go to plan.”

His first black type win took Tavi Time’s record to eight wins from 18 starts with earnings over $670,000. He was sold by Pencarrow Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$60,000 to Kiltannon Stables, who on-sold him at the NZB Ready To Run Sale for NZ$130,000 to A Pazman who shares in his ownership.

He is the first winner for G1 Telegraph H. winner Guiseppina (NZ) (Johar {USA}) who has an unraced 3-year-old filly named Tricolore (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) and an unraced 2-year-old gelding named Sarti (NZ) (Snitzel). Guiseppena is a daughter of Listed Matriarch S. winner Battocchi (NZ) (Success Express {USA}) and this is the family of G1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner The Pooka (NZ) (Tobougg {Ire}).

Charlotte Littlefield’s Christmas present in Listed Lord S.

Trainer Charlotte Littlefield won her first stakes race when 5-year-old mare Regal Vow (Swear) won the Listed Lord S. at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day. Ridden quietly by Craig Williams, he hugged the fence as the field swept wide around the turn, scooting through into second, before finding a gap and urging Regal Vow through to win by 0.4l from Lindsay Park trained 5-year-old mare Marble Arch (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) with Gavin Bedggood trained 6-year-old gelding Military Expert (Redoute’s Choice) the same distance away in third.

“I’m a little bit speechless,” Littlefield said. “I certainly didn’t think she’d do that, especially with her position in running.

“We gave her a really long spell, twelve weeks off, after her last campaign, and that’s just been the making of her. Now she copes on top of the ground. When we got that downpour (last start) we thought, ‘geez, she can’t be beaten on this’ but she pulled a muscle coming out of the barriers and put the white flag up.

“We got that right, and how good was that ride, my God, I'm so proud of Craig and so happy for everyone on my team. We came here hoping to snag some black type, as she’s a mare that we own a large portion of. We’re really looking forward to her journey ahead as a broodmare as well, looking down the track.”

Regal Vow now has six wins from 16 starts with earnings over $380,000. Not offered at auction, Regal Vow becomes the second stakes winner for Swear who has had only 50 runners. The other is 2022 G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Zoe’s Promise. Swear, who won the G3 Ming Dynasty and placed in the G1 Spring Champion S. behind Yankee Rose (All American), retired to Spendthrift Australia and now stands at Jacaranda Park Thoroughbreds in Queensland.

The first stakes winner and second winner for her dam Regime (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}) who won over 1200 metres in the states, and is a daughter of G2 Monmouth Molly Pitcher H. and G2 Monmouth Oaks winner Capeside Lady (USA) (Cape Town {USA}) who in turn is a daughter of juvenile Listed Miss Fairmount S. winner Gray Lady Type (USA) (Zen {USA}).

First stakes winner for Wynne in Listed Otago Breeders S.

Trainer/jockey Samantha Wynne enjoyed her first stakes winner as a trainer on Boxing Day when 3-year-old filly Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) won the Listed Otago Breeders’ S. who made it three wins in succession. She won by 0.75l from Anna Furlong-trained Lit Zena (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) with Shankar Muniandy trained Loose Sally (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) in third.

Pivotal Ten was bred by Valachi Downs and was a NZ$15,000 purchase at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale for owner Colin Wightman and she took her record to three wins from five starts with earnings over NZ$82,000.

She becomes the seventh stakes winner for dual Group 1 winner Ten Sovereigns (Ire), a son of No Nay Never (USA), who shuttled from Coolmore to Valachi Downs for just the one season with 43 live foals in the crop that produced Pivotal Ten. She is his first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner.

Pivotal Ten is one of five winners for unraced Lady Woodcote (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who has also produced Listed placed winner Woodcote Lass (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}). Lady Woodcote has a yearling colt by Tarzino (NZ). Lady Woodcote is a full sister to G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp winner Maarek (GB) and is a daughter of dual Listed winner Ruby Rocket (Ire) (Indian Rocket {GB}).

This race was the second leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series and Pivotal Ten picks up 7 points to be first equal on the table with Raziah (NZ) (Niagara).

Cover image courtesy of Cambridge Stud

Remala adds to Hello Youmzain’s growing record

Cambridge Stud-owned and Lance Noble-trained 2-year-old filly Remala (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) gave her sire his second Southern Hemisphere winner when taking out the juvenile event at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Ridden by Warren Kennedy, she was last on the turn and came out wide to begin her run. A little green and wayward, she soon straightened up and made it look easy in winning by 1.5l from Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly Belle Du Monde (Zoustar) with only a nose to Hollie Wynyard trained Sierra Leone (NZ) (Sun City) in third.

Remala was on debut, having won a trial prior, while Belle Du Monde has run second twice in both her starts, and Sierra Leone is placed in all her three starts.

Hello Youmzain (Fr) began well in the Northern Hemisphere with his first crop of juveniles featuring Group 3 winners Electrolyte (Ire) and Misunderstood (Fr), as well as two stakes-placed horses among his 21 winners in that region.

Bred by T O Harrison, Remala was a NZ$180,000 purchase for Cambridge Stud from Kilgravin Lodge’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She is the third foal from Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial S. victress Alamer (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), whose 5-year-old gelding Lord Of The Sea (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) ran fourth on the same card and was a winner three starts ago. Alamer also has an unraced 3-year-old filly named Queen Of The Sea (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}). She missed to Hello Youmzain after Remala was born and has no return for 2024.

Alamer is a daughter of G3 Curragh Matron S. Clerio (GB) (Soviet Star {USA}), and she is a half-sister to the dam of G1 Toorak H. winner He’s Our Rokkii (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}). Clerio is a half-sister to G2 Royal Ascot Ribblesdale S. winner and Group 1-placed Bahr (GB) (Generous {Ire}), dam of dual Group 1 winner Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk {USA}), dam of Champion Older Male Miler in Europe in 2019 Benbatl (GB), who shuttled to Woodside Park Stud this season for the first time.

Zousain’s brilliance continues with La Roux

South Australian trainer Philip Stokes’ 2-year-old filly La Roux (Zousain) won on debut at Morphettville Parks on Boxing Day to become the second winner for her sire’s second crop in a simple front-running effort. Ridden by Kayla Crowther, she won by 2.29l from Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly Eagerly Awaits (Written Tycoon) with Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained filly Bliss Bomb (Tassort) in third. All three were on debut.

A $60,000 purchase by Stokes and Rick Connolly Bloodstock at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud, La Roux is the 28th winner for Zousain whose first-crop stakes winners are G3 Red Roses S. winner Amelita and G3 Magic Night S. winner Drifting.

La Roux becomes the fourth winner from six to race for 2-year-old winner Thrill (NZ) (Flying Spur) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner and four-time Group 1-placed Star Of The Seas (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Listed winner Spieth (NZ) who was twice Group 1-placed and who stood at Aquis Farm until his death in 2022.

Thrill has a yearling colt by Trapeze Artist who is Lot 24 in Widden Stud’s 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.

Cover image courtesy of Lime Country Thoroughbreds

With 14 stunning yearlings as part of their 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Lime Country Thoroughbreds will continue to attract top dollars in the coming years due to the quality of foals they have coming through.

The Ballygrove farm – based at Blandford near Scone – has been a top 10 vendor by average at all sales in Australia and New Zealand, from yearling sales to breeding stock sales.

Co-owner Greg Griffin gave The Thoroughbred Report an overview of the three best foals – all who happen to be colts – from the stud’s 2024 crop.

Just a belter

“In no particular order, an Extreme Choice-Pretty Brazen foal – a colt,” Griffin told The Thoroughbred Report.

“Just a belter – really good size and strength. Probably a bit more leg under it than some of the Extremes.

“But absolute top class. Great brain. Mum was a fast mare and well-bred, good family.

“And I can’t fault him. Bred by long-term clients Linda and Graham Huddy.”

Group 1-winning stallion Extreme Choice – with 13 stakes winners from 108 runners – is the sire of this year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Knight’s Choice.

This was the third foal – all as-yet unnamed – for Group 2-winning dam Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau).

Some bling to wow

California Gallant (I Am Invincible) produced her second foal to Arrowfield Stud’s Champion Sire Snitzel, and Griffin was thrilled with the colt that she threw on his farm.

“Our Snitzel-California Gallant colt is from a beautiful mare, and the foal is marked like a Snitzel with some bling on it,” Griffin said.

“Plenty of bone and natural muscle. And the mare is a big, scopey mare, so it (the foal) has a bit of size about it, too.”

California Gallant was purchased for $525,000 by Lime Country Thoroughbreds from Segenhoe Stud as Lot 94 at the 2023 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

“She’s a beautiful mare, and an expensive purchase from Chairman’s by our breeding partnership, the Lime Country breeding partnership,” Griffin said.

“Stoked to have this quality colt out of her by Snitzel.”

Elegance and size

Griffin is also delighted with the colt produced by Group 1-winning superstar and now in-demand Darley sire, Anamoe, with dam Platinum Bullet (Shooting to Win), who finished her on-track career with six wins from 28 starts in 2022.

Platinum Bullet was picked up for $540,000 by Ravenswood Bloodstock/Lime Country Thoroughbreds from Baystone Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

“Lovely mare that long-term client Phillip Pollicina (Ravenswood Bloodstock) purchased out of the Gold Coast mare sale,” Griffin said.

“He’s bred this one – it was his mating. Beautiful mare, and the foal is a very elegant colt, with plenty of size.

“Elegant is a good word for that foal. Well-marked and just a real belter.”

The Lime Country way

Lime Country Thoroughbreds places a priority on building relationships with existing clients, and their staff are always happy to pick up new clients.

This has been a core part of the stud farm’s success at the major national sales.

“We’re supported by very good clients. We’re very humble that they entrust us with their investments, and let’s face it they are big investments,” Griffin said.

“We’re happy to keep plugging along and doing a good job for them. Backed up by a great team of staff.”

Lime Country set for sweet Magic Millions deals

Lime Country Thoroughbreds’ draft of 14 for the 2025 Magic Millions Yearling Sale includes yearlings by Farnan, Harry Angel (Ire), Home Affairs, Jonker, Nicconi, Proisir, Stay Inside, Street Boss (USA) and Zoustar.

Griffin said the filly at Lot 240 by Stay Inside and out of California Gallant was a beauty.

California Gallant is also a full sister to R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner, Houtzen (I Am Invincible), who won a total of $2,132,669 in career prizemoney from seven wins in 21 starts.

“I loved her from a foal; she’s short coupled, she looks like her pedigree, very sharp, smart filly and plenty of natural muscle,” Griffin told the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Magazine.

A half-brother to G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Tycoon Star, Home Affairs colt Lot 668 out of Miss Iano (Equiano {Fr}) is also one to watch, given Tycoon Star’s brilliant win on debut during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“I fell in love with his action at a weanling sale, and he’s continued to improve into a rock-solid horse with a great action and good hind quarter,” Griffin said.

And Griffin’s Farnan colt, Lot 394 out of Festivity (Nicconi), is “a colt that looks like he’ll go early. His sire has made a great start, and this colt has a great hind quarter and very good brain. He’s a belter”.

Farnan’s first winner was North England, out of Our Belisa (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who saluted in last month’s Golden Gift at Rosehill.

Festivity was a $30,000 purchase by Lime Country Thoroughbreds from Blue Sky Premium Consignment at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.