News & Events

Where does one start this month? What with Catriona successfully completing the New York Marathon, Zed having his first runner to the trials, horses off the farm winning far and wide and ownership success at the Melbourne Cup Carnival, it s been a month of many highlights. Towkay and Zed It's hard to put into words the level of anticipation on a stud when the first son or daughter of your new stallion goes to the trials. Despite Zed's (Zabeel-Emerald Dream) pedigree and general profile...

It's hard to put into words the level of anticipation on a stud when the first son or daughter of your stallion goes to the trials. Despite Zed's (Zabeel-Emerald Dream) pedigree and general profile suggesting we would be unlikely to see a great deal of his stock on the racecourse as two-year-olds or certainly not before Xmas, there was still a real buzz around the farm this week waiting for Heat 6 at the Cambridge Trials on Friday 22 October. And we weren't to be disappointed with the as yet...

The LA bred Electronic Million (Towkay-Gaysutina ) took his stake earnings to just shy of $300,000 Aus with his win in the Gawler Cup on 12 September. Towkay had two winners locally last week starting with the LA part owned Rampant (Toway -On Honeymoon) who scored a most tenacious win over 1200m at Rotorua while Acquit bought up career win number four and the sixteenth win in total by Towkay progeny from Sue Harty's mare Out On Bail when she took a 1355m event at Gore on 16 September. LA will...

August is invariably busy on the farm but this year it seems to have been a little madder than usual; Sam made a fleeting visit to the U.K to look at horses, we had the Wairapathon last weekend, NZ Bloodstock came down to look at yearling selection for the sales, and of course foaling has commenced with 9 foals to date. Racing Team Our email inbox has been busy lately with trainers reporting on the progress of members of our diverse racing team as they prepare for spring campaigns locally and...

The LA bred Electronic Million (Towkay-Gaysutina ) took his prize money earnings to over a quarter of a million dollars with his win over 2000m at Morphettville in Adelaide on 14 August. Another off shore winner for Towkay over the last week came in the form of the interestingly named Bulkkatcheoreom ( Towkay- Ball Road) who won over 1000m in Korea on 21 August while the former Lisa Latta trained Xpectation ( Towkay- Wooden Doll) almost made it a notable 24 hour foreign double for her sire...

Things are gearing up nicely for the start of the breeding season; the first mares have been relocated to the foaling paddocks close to the house and teasing of the mares started in earnest on Monday. Cat's training for the New York Marathon has intensified with her latest training effort a 33 kms mission around the local roads in two hours and thirty eight minutes. And yes for all the Doubting Thomas's, Sam has been joining her €˜once or twice' on his bike! Bookings for both stallions remain...

A cold and damp morning failed to deter the hardy clients and public from coming out to the farm for last Sundays open day. Congratulations to our...

Pedigree Upgrade for Fastnet Rock Colt in South Island Sale As the only lot by leading sire Fastnet Rock (pictured right)in the South Island...

Last month has seen a changing of the guard with the farms racing team as horses such as Aspinal head for winter spells and early spring horses like...

View Towkay and Zed at Stallion Parade this Sunday This Sunday the 13th June is the annual Central Districts stallion parade and Towkay and Zed will be floated through to Wellfield Lodge in Palmerston North at 311/29 Kairanga Bunnythorpe Road where they will be paraded at approximately 2.30pm. The CD branch of the NZTBA have done a fine job in revigorating the event and with the support of New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance, Totally Vets, Wenham Grain and Feed and Gavelhouse it's a not to be...

One type of yearling that we target as suitable for the Sydney Easter Sale each year is the yearling who is not sufficiently physically developed by the Karaka Sale three months prior and in 2008 our Zabeel-Dancing Daze filly bred in partnership with Hastings Don Gordon was exactly that type of candidate. Unfortunately she didn't travel too well to Sydney that year and leading Melbourne trainer Peter Moody was able to buy the filly for $150,000. Commencing her career proper as a late...

When you are a good-looking weanling half brother to two stakeswinners by popular stallion Elusive City you are going to attract a deal of interest at the National Weanling and Broodmare Sale. That's the case with LA's LOT 335 whose profile got even better when close relation Grand Dancer (No Excuse Needed- Clermont Rose ) took out a 1400m event on last week's Hong Kong Mile and International Card at Sha Tin. The recent run of success by Savabeel's progeny on the racecourses of Australasia...