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Kahma Lass scores for Prebble

Brett Prebble landed an early winner and later had a narrow escape in the stewards' room following the return to the winner's list for Group 1-winning Kiwi mare Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma) in the Listed Weekend Hussler (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.  Prebble was severely reprimanded by stewards for allowing Kahma Lass to shift in as she unleashed a big finish in the home straight, which resulted in her taking third-placed Riddle Me That off his line."She was everywhere," Prebble later expl...

Sierra Sue chasing back to back Group 1 wins

The transformation in Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) has been amazing as the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained mare attempts a second Group One win. Sierra Sue took out the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield at her most recent outing on September 18 and will attempt to take out the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.If successful, Sierra Sue will become the first to complete the double since Trust In A Gust (Keep The Faith) in 2014.Sierra Sue had been ra...

Pike and Asano dominate at Riccarton

Stimulant (Holler) pictured after his winning debut at Riccarton on Saturday...

Generosity makes dream come true for Lock family

To own a share in a Group One winner is a dream for any young racing fan, and for siblings Jamie and Casey Lock that dream has come true. Their father, trainer Peter Lock, purchased Sierra Sue (Darci Brahma) out of Ardsley Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock 2019 May Sale draft as a two-year-old for $2,000, and both Jamie and Casey became attached to the filly while she was in their care. She was subsequently sold to Australian interests off the back of a trial win at Te Aroha later that year and ha...

Sierra Sue options depend on Handicapper

Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young won't commit to the Gr1 Toorak Handicap for Sierra Sue (Darci Brahma-Centree, by Centaine) until they know the weights, reported racing.com. "I'm just worried about what sort of weight she's going to get, I'd say she would probably carry about 56 kilograms," Young said. "We'll just see how much weight she gets in the Toorak without having Behemoth or Probabeel going in that direction, they are all going to carry a couple of kilos more than we originally ...

Rapidly improving pedigree helps U S Navy Flag filly fetch 290,000 Euros

Pedigree updates were the order of the day at the Goffs Orby Sale on Wednesday, but few lots can claim to have undergone quite the enhancement that the US Navy Flag filly out of Nicky Hartery's upwardly mobile producer Wrood has.The late-April foal already made plenty of appeal on pedigree when the catalogue came out, being a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Going Global.But not only did that filly go on to land the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, two other siblings added black type to the page too, with Fin...

U S Navy Flag popular at Goffs Orby Sale

Killourney Mór Farm’s Eoghan Grogan was optimistic ahead of the sale of its U S Navy Flag filly (Lot 69) on day one of the Goffs Orby Sale in Ireland, and that expectation proved well founded when she was knocked down to Ben McElroy for €160,000, writes Cormac Hayes.Goffs has made a concerted effort to attract American buyers to its flagship sale, an enterprise which paid rich dividends for consigners such as the Grogans, whose filly is one of a number bound for foreign climes.“We are del...

First mile test for Spring Tide

Foxton trainer Chrissy Bambry isn’t too worried about the prospect of an improved track for Darci Brahma gelding Spring Tide for the second leg of the Hastings weight-for-age triple crown. Spring Tide made a huge impression in the first leg, the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), beating all but Callsign Mav after mounting a strong run from midfield. That effort came on a Slow8 track, which has been Spring Tide’s preferred going to date. All six of his victories have been on slow or heavy ground, ...

Fownes plots December course via Celebration Cup

Adopting a long-range approach, Caspar Fownes has set conservative pass marks for stable stars Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Southern Legend (Not A Single Doubt) in the Gr.3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 September).The champion trainer hopes both his charges can figure – and perhaps even win – but Sunday’s assignment is far more of a starting point than a campaign objective.Nine-year-old Southern Legend returns for sixth campaign, seeking a 10...

Online World record set as Avantage commands $4.1 million

Nine-time Group One winner Avantage has fetched a whopping $4.1 million when sold to Tom Magnier of global breeding giant Coolmore via New Zealand Bloodstock’s online platform Gavelhouse Plus.The stunning figure establishes a new world record for any horse sold online, a growing trend in the bloodstock industry.The daughter of Fastnet Rock is the third highest-priced mare ever sold via auction in the Southern Hemisphere behind Milanova, who fetched A$5 million in 2008, and the A$4.2 ...

Lost Opportunity?

Hindsight is, as they say, twenty-twenty, and as that relates to opportunities lost regarding stallions, Darci Brahma (Danehill) comes close to fitting that lost opportunity.The term: “Flying under the radar” seems appropriate and Darci Brahma has done that for most of his career.A very nice Group 1 win by his daughter Sierra Sue on Saturday could not be a better reminder of just how under-appreciated the son of Danehill (Danzig) might be.Several weeks ago Kiwi Chronicles made similar observ...

Darci Brahma's Sierra Sue scales the heights

From a bargain basement $2,000 purchase at a mixed sale to a Group 1 winning millionairess, Sierra Sue scaled the heights in Saturday’s $1million Group 1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.A tragedy beaten in the Group II Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley at her most recent start, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young Sierra Sue finally had the rub of the green. Providing a first win at the highest level for Daniel Moor, Sierra Sue (Darci Brahma) did best in a driving finish to def...

Spring Tide arrives in Hastings

Spring Tide’s quick rise through the ranks in winter has persuaded Foxton trainer Chrissy Bambry to take an unscheduled crack at Group One company this weekend. The Darci Brahma five-year-old has been in great form, winning three of his last four starts, including a victory by five and a half lengths in an open handicap at Wanganui on September 4. It was enough for Bambry to put in a late nomination for the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. Spring Tide’s form has seen his ...

Hastings targets beckon Harlech

A return to Group One company is imminent for Harlech after his pleasing return to New Zealand racing at Te Rapa last Saturday. The son of Darci Brahma had been racing out of co-trainer Michael Moroney’s Flemington barn over the last year, with his highlight being victory in the Benalla Cup (1406m) last October. The decision was made for the five-year-old entire to return to Moroney’s Matamata barn and target the Hastings Spring Carnival under the guidance of his New Zealand co-trainer Pam G...

Spring campaign back on track for Sierra Sue

New Zealand-bred mare Sierra Sue (Darci Brahma) will be vying for back-to-back Group Two victories when she contests the Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained five-year-old was set to contest the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) last weekend, however, a foot abscess ruled her out of the race. She has fully recuperated and her trainers are looking forward to getting her spring preparation back on track this weekend. “She is back on track and is ...

Harlech back at Matamata stable

Talented five-year-old Harlech is back in New Zealand and is preparing for a tilt at the Hawke’s Bay features this spring. Prepared by Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard, the son of Darci Brahma transferred to Moroney’s Flemington stable at the conclusion of his three-year-old season after he had won the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) and placed in both the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m). The entire mixed his form across the Tasman, where vi...

U S Navy Flag makes impressive start at Arqana

Champion two-year-old  U S Navy Flag provided the highest price for a first crop sire on the opening day of the Arqana August Sale when the very first lot through the ring sold for €200,000. Blandford Bloodstock signed for the bay filly offered by Haras de l’Hotellerie, who is the second foal out of dual Stakes winner Epsom Icon. U S Navy Flag has previously proven popular at Arqana, with Queen Iseult (Camelot) selling for €490,000 in foal to the beautifully-bred son of War Front...

Australian Group 2 winner for Darci Brahma

A trip to Victoria’s far north west has proven the trick in turning around the form of yesterday’s P B Lawrence Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) winner Sierra Sue (Darci Brahma) whose stakes-winning days appeared behind her before her Mildura Cup (1400m) success last month.The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Sierra Sue, wearing the same colours of their now retired Group 1 winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa), won the Kingston Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) last spring but she had been unplaced in seven starts ...

Four Queens impresses Pike

The Oaks Stud owned Four Queens (Tavistock) barrier trial at Cambridge yesterday left her trainer Tony Pike believing a good Spring is in store for the four-year-old mare. Four Queens, who won her maiden in April at Tauranga, defeated the Stephen Marsh-trained Vernanme (O’Reilly) in heat three over 950 metres. “She trialled up really well,” Pike said. “She just dropped out the back, relaxed nicely, and picked them up really quickly. She is nicely rated at 62. She will probably kick-...

Mildura Cup winner to contest P B Lawrence Stakes

A year in racing can be a long time as Trent Busuttin can vouch for. Busuttin and partner Natalie Young plan on starting Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in the Gr.2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday in the hope the mare can recapture the form that carried her to a stakes race win at Flemington last year. Sierra Sue won the Gr.2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last October and was then in the market before racing on the pace when a fading 12th in the Golden Eagle (...

Gavelhouse.com Stallion Parade Weekend

The Oaks Stud 2021 Stallion Parade is on Sunday 22nd August at 1.15 pm (as part of the WTBA Stallion weekend).  Come along and see Darci Brahma, U S Navy Flag, Roc de Cambes & Niagara.122 Roto-o-Rangi Road, Cambridge.All welcome...

Trans-Tasman plans for Catalyst

Tony Pike is looking forward to spring racing with his new acquisition Catalyst. The rising five-year-old son of Darci Brahma won six of his 10 races for former trainer Clayton Chipperfield, five of which were at stakes level, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). He hasn’t raced since pulling up lame in the Gr.2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick in September, with owner Dick Karreman and his racing manager Rick Williams electing to take a cautious approach with his return. Catalys...

Position available

The Oaks Stud have a position available for a stud groom to join our team for the 2021 breeding season.     This is a role with plenty of variety that includes bringing mares and foals in for the vet, administering treatments, record keeping, holding horses for the farrier as well as some yearling preparation and general stable duties.  The successful applicant will need to be a good communicator who is willing to work as part of a team. Competitive salary package on offer wi...

House Spouse impressive on debut

What a debut by the Reliable Man (pictured)  3YO House Spouse at Echuca Racing Club on Saturday, as the Patrick Payne trainee bolted away to win by 6.5 lengths over the 1300m. Bred by The Oaks Stud, House Spouse is out of the Zabeel mare Consumer and was a $50,000 yearling purchase at Karaka 2019 by his trainer on behalf of owners Price Bloodstock Management Ltd & Farmhouse Holdings Pty Ltd.House Spouse sat three wide without cover for Will Gordon, but when asked to move into the ...

Bread and butter anyone?

Niagara (Encosta De Lago), based at The Oaks Stud in Cambridge, is doing his job very well of late. In the past month the stallion has sired thirteen individual winners, including Jaguary, a back-to-back winner at Morphettville last Saturday.Jaguary was one of four winners for Niagara on Saturday, the others being Falls (at Sandown), Nedwin (at Trentham) and Skagerak (Gold Coast) with Capital Gains breaking his maiden on Sunday at Timaru.Taranaki’s Thursday meeting resulted in a winning d...