Cover image courtesy of Race Images
A strong card at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day is the chance for many horses to qualify for the upcoming rich Karaka Millions meeting, as well as hit other summer and autumn targets. The improving state of prizemoney in New Zealand is also adding to the confidence of trainers there.
Nereus on a Cups campaign
Shaun Ritchie and Colm Murray have Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G3 Queen Elizabeth Cup over 2400 metres on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie. “He’s a nice horse. We took him to Melbourne for a hit and run in the Mornington Cup and he got shuffled back. It wasn’t really his style of track,” said Ritchie.
“He’s got to be a strong chance tomorrow. His grand final is the Wellington Cup. Tomorrow is a big jump up in weight and he’s probably a bit vulnerable, but the run should clean him up for the Wellington Cup.”
Nereus (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright Race Images
The 5-year-old gelding is top weight thanks to a last start win in the G3 Counties Cup over 2100 metres, and the Listed Mornington Cup run that Ritchie refers to was back in April when he ran sixth at the end of his autumn campaign. He’s had five runs in this spring for a couple of placings and that last start victory. Nereus was passed in at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
Nereus is a full brother to G1 NZ Oaks and G1 Livamol Classic winner Savvy Coup (NZ), and Nereus is the last foal for their dam Eudora (NZ) (Pins) who is an unraced full sister to Group 2 winner Legless Veuve (NZ) and Group 3 winner Tootsie (NZ).
A relaxed mission for the Gold Coast
In 2024, Shaun Ritchie purchased a Tassort filly for $42,500 from Emirates Park at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “We usually go for book two. I’ve gone over the previous few years, and I have some good friends I like to catch up with. I usually buy one around the 50 to 60,000 mark and have had some success selling back to Australia after the trials. I bought a lovely Tassort filly last year who will be ready for a run in the autumn.”
Lot 1392 - Tassort x Siyaadeh (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Still unnamed, the Tassort 2-year-old filly is the first foal of winning mare Siyaadeh (Written Tycoon) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Adelong (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}). Siyaadeh has a Bivouac yearling who was sold by Emirates Park to Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Riverstone Lodge at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $65,000. Riverstone Lodge have entered him in the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where he is Lot 646.
Impact of increased prizemoney in NZ
In June 2023, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing announced a 29 per cent increase in prizemoney from NZ$70.5 million to NZ$90.8 million for 2024/25.
“The stable spends around $1 million at Karaka as it’s our home sale, and then we go to a few Australian sales too. I’ve always enjoyed Magic Millions and their hospitality. The big thing with New Zealand (now) is that we can talk clients into Australian yearlings as our prizemoney has tripled,” said Ritchie.
“The big thing with New Zealand (now) is that we can talk clients into Australian yearlings as our prizemoney has tripled.” - Shaun Ritchie
“We are racing for minimum of $80,000 tomorrow. It wasn’t long ago that we were excited to get $10,000 which made it quite hard to talk a client into going to Australia and spending $100,000 on a nice horse knowing he’d be running for 7 or 10,000 here at home. Now we are getting competitive with prizemoney, compared to Queensland anyway, and we have our own slot race, so we have more of an advantage and can spend a bit more in Australia with more confidence.
“I tend to take a client with me (to the Gold Coast) and show them what we like and dislike conformation wise, and then get to have a beer with them. With buying only one or two horses, it’s not the same pressure as at home, and is a good chance to bond with your owner in a friendly environment.”
Ballymore Stables' exciting juvenile colt
Pam Gerard has 2-year-old colt Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) in the G2 Eclipse S. on New Year’s Day. “He’s a really nice balanced colt. Obviously, Paul and Mike (Moroney) bought him at Karaka. He’s a bit of a character with a mind of his own, but the more he’s done, the more he’s starting to work it out,” said Pam Gerard.
“The trip down to Otaki has brought him on, and he’s more mature mentally. He’s not put a foot wrong since that trip and he looks well for his assignment tomorrow. It’ll be good for him to have a look around Ellerslie as we hope to get him into the Karaka Millions. I’m happy with the way he’s been working.”
Romanoff (NZ) | Images courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Romanoff ran seventh on debut in early November, but went to Otaki for his second start which he won on November 28. A NZ$75,000 purchase at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from Haunui Farm, he’s eligible for the Karaka Millions 2YO. A half-brother to Listed Wanganui Cup winner La Flora Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), he is the last foal of Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) who was a winner at three and placed in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas behind the Champion Mare Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}).
“I won’t be going (to the Gold Coast) this year. It’s my first year on my own and I’m trying to concentrate on doing things the best we can here. It’s been a little bit daunting and I’m putting everything I can into the stable here. I’m hoping we can get plenty of support from studs, and am giving the horses we’ve already got the best chance to get going well.”
Pam Gerard
Asked if being part of the Ballymore Stables system is going to continue now that Gerard is training on her own, with Mike Moroney focusing on his health and on Australia, she said, “It has worked so well as a team. We do a lot of early education here, and then Mike takes some from here to Australia if they suit there, and some come here if needed. We are continuing as it always has.”
Moroney Bloodstock hunts for bargains
Paul Moroney added to the Ballymore story. “We’ve got some orders to buy for, but Mike won’t be active this year with his health. Things have slowed up a bit there.”
“We also buy for the Sears stable. They are going very well with a second stable at opening at the Gold Coast to complement their Toowoomba stable. They haven’t been active in Book 1 (in the past) but have bought in book 2. We bought Yellow Brick for them for $20,000, so they are pretty happy with us.”
Yellow Brick (The Mission) was a $20,000 purchase from Waylon J Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, and he’s now won eight of his 19 starts and over $1.9 million. Winner of the G3 Gold Coast Guineas in 2023, this spring he has had four starts, winning the Listed BRC Members Cup and placing twice including a last start third in the Five Diamonds.
Yellow Brick | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Yellow Brick is one of three stakes winners for Magical Mist (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who has a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn) this year. The other two are Group 3 winner Ballistic Boy (Smart Missile) and Group 3 winner Spendiferous (Pride Of Dubai).
“This year is a step forward for (Sears Racing), and are on the ascendancy at the moment, and growing their client base. They’ve had some interest at potentially a higher level,” said Moroney.
Saturday's double at Eagle Farm with Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained pair of Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Steady Ready (Better Than Ready) took the tally of wins to 50 by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman-selected racehorses this season.
Gallery: The Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained pair who scored a double at Eagle Farm on Saturday, images courtesy of Trackside Photography
“We always find a lot of good types that we’d love to buy. The Gold Coast is our biggest final list every year. It’s one of the bigger catalogues too, but over the years the catalogue has become one of the best (quality wise) as well. We always find more horses than we have orders for. Catheryne flew in from America yesterday and I’m at the airport now heading up from Melbourne.
“We will hit the sales complex tomorrow and start looking at everything. We’ve already looked at around 600 horses on farms. It takes a lot to get through them all, and be thorough, especially once you get to second, third, and sometimes fourth inspections.
“Hopefully we can pick up more business on the way, which usually happens. The whole shape of the industry has changed, with more syndicators and a lot of the big stables have their own employees to select horses. There’s less and less independent agents out there, all competing for same clients, such as the stallion syndicates.
“We always find a lot of good types that we’d love to buy. The Gold Coast is our biggest final list every year.” - Paul Moroney
Beau Dazzler was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Catheryne Bruggeman, and Sears Racing at the NZB National Yearling Sale for NZ$85,000 from Mapperley Stud, and the 3-year-old gelding has won three of his 12 starts with two wins coming in his last two starts. Winner of the G3 Grand Prix S., he has earnings over $460,000. Elsdon Park will present his full brother as Lot 228 at the upcoming NZB National Yearling Sale.
“Most of it comes together once you see the horses, and then we can be enthusiastic about the horses we’ve seen who make the final list. Because we look at every horse, people know that we find the diamonds in the rough because we look for them. We inspect each horse as an individual, and don’t have any preconceptions about sires or pedigrees, which means we buy good horses for value, but that also means people want us to do that!”
Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman
Steady Ready was bought by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Haoh & Co at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $70,000 from Yarramalong Park. He is the second foal of winning mare Our First Lady (Denman) who doesn’t have a yearling this year.
