News & Events

This weekend sees the running of the time honoured Group One VRC Derby at Flemington and we'll be cheering on current third favourite Larry's Never Late (Pentire- Laebeel ) as he attempts to topple the undefeated Whobegotyou, currently the hottest property in Australian racing. Bred by Angela and Tom Williams, Larry's Never Late was sold through the LA draft at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale where he was a $77,500 purchase by Robert Roulston Bloodstock for owner Jonathon Munz. Laebeel who is now...

Once again stakesplaced three year-old Larry's Never Late (Pentire- Laebeel) had no luck when fourth in Saturdays Group Two Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield; in fact jockey James Winks must still be looking for gaps! Bred by Angela and Tom Williams of Te Parae Stud and sold through LA's 2007 Karaka Premier draft, Larry's Never Late's dam is the Zabeel mare Laebeel who was bred by Tom and Buzz Williams. Best remembered for her fighting second to Sky Heights in the 1999 Caulfield Cup, Laebeel...

LA OCTOBER 2008 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Once again September has been a very busy month around the farm. We've welcomed new staff from all over the globe...

Double Better Than Okay Backing up from a five and a half length win at Awapuni last start, Yelracm ( Towkay -Our Secret) scored again, this time over 990m at New Plymouth on Saturday. Success in the next race on the Taranaki Racing Club card went the way of the debutant LA bred three-year-old colt City Newton (Elusive City- Double Okay ) who dispatched a maiden field packed full of reputations. City Newton 's win was a wonderful way to start the broodmare career of his dam the young Towkay...

We invite you to our annual open day this Sunday 28 September starting at 1pm . Not quite sure where to find us then just click on the home icon at the top of this page and hit where to find us. A selection of the first foals by our new stallion Zed (Zabeel-Emerald Dream) will be paraded along with Towkay and Zed. This will be followed by a walk (or mini bus if you prefer) of the farm where you can see Karaka Premier and Sydney Easter bound yearlings by Zabeel, Pins, Fastnet Rock, Savabeel and...

Kay's Awake (Towkay-Wake up Suzie), who was retired last week, really epitomized the kind of horse her sire has become re known for producing, namely speed (placed in a Telegraph) class (four times group one placed) and durability (winning two -year-old races in September and picking up over $100,000 in prizemoney in her final season of racing as a five-year-old). Bred by Te Parae and sold through LA's 2007 Karaka Premier draft to Robert Roulston Bloodstock, Larry's Never Late (Pentire- Labeel...

Last week saw the arrival of the first foal on the farm for the new season, a lovely bay filly by freshman stallion Fast N Famous from Foxtrot, making the foal a three-quarter sister to last season's stakesplaced Melbourne two-year-old Pachanga . The books for both Towkay and Zed are filling steadily and it's pleasing to see the excellent quality of mare going to Towkay . Armada was posted as the 3 rd highest rated NZ bred on the International Federation Ratings this year. Zed's not short of...

Racing in Hong Kong may have finished in June but that hasn't slowed Towkay's growing reputation in Asia with five individual winners across Malaysia and Singapore during July. Locally the domestic season finished with Towkay's progeny a tantalizing $3,223 shy of $1 million in stake earnings and a tenth place finish in the New Zealand Sires Premiership. The just released NZ Three-Year-Old Free Handicap has Special Mission (Towkay -Te Akau Theme) taking second top rating in the 1200 - 1600m...

Saturdays Listed Ryder Stakes at Foxton almost delivered a dream result for our new stallion Zed and client.Helen Phinney. Helen is breeding from the Zeditave mare Stella Suprema, the dam of the Listed Ryder Stakes runner-up Jasminka. Stella Suprema who has also left last seasons Hong Kong winner Speedy by Towkay , is currently in foal to Zed. LA bred two winners at last Thursdays Cranbourne meeting in Victoria however it was somewhat bittersweet for us as both dams are prematurely deceased....

The farm has been on somewhat of a role in Asia over recent weeks and further winners followed in Singapore and Malaysia last week. Veeandvee's (O'Reilly- Aspects of Love ) comprehensive victory in Singapore on Saturday evening was her fourth career win. The five-year-old mare was a $22,000 purchase from our 2005 Karaka Select Sale draft by Dominque Farms. The LA owned broodmare Aspects of Love had a Towkay colt fetch $50,000 at this years Karaka Premier Sale and she is back in foal to Towkay...

Stedman (Second Empire-Surfside Lady), a courageous third in the Singapore Derby on Sunday was a $31,000 Karaka Select Sale purchase in 2005 by Dean Hawthorn from the LA draft on behalf of breeder Brian Collins. Noble One ( Towkay - Cinzano) ran second which makes it three seconds from his last four starts. An unnamed two-year-old Towkay - Vicki Buck colt had observers sit up with his performance at last Tuesday's Cambridge trials. A $170,000 Karaka Premier purchase by the Hong Kong Breeders...

The last months focus for LA has been off shore. Armada ( Towkay -Dance in Time) ventured to Japan for the Group One Yasuda Kinen and Black Mamba (Black Minnaloushe- Sneetch) , the ex kiwi mare with strong LA connections, stepped out again in North America. Around the farm the team finished renovating the Trentham barn. Watch out for details in our August newsletter for this year's open day where we'll christen the ‘new' barn, parade the stallions and walk through the yearling paddocks. Armada...