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Karaka Millions Bid for Naive Colt?

Progressive 2-year-old So Naive (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) may have just booked himself a spot in the rich NZ$1 million R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO with a successful audition at Ellerslie on Sunday.The son of The Oaks Stud’s U S Navy Flag is trained by Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley. Ridden by Michael McNab on Sunday, he defeated Te Akau Racing’s Maracatu (NZ) (Ardrossan) and the Steven Cole-trained Hard Attack (NZ) (All Too Hard).So Naive, a NZ$37,500 purch...

Flag Hoisted At Ellerslie

The Oak Stud-based U S Navy Flag (USA) enjoyed an outstanding Sunday with the return of racing to Ellerslie. Fortunate Son (NZ) from the Andrew Forsman stable followed on the back of So Naive (NZ) saluting in the second for the juveniles.Contesting the Bent Down On One Knee Ben Masters 3YO over 1500 metres, ridden by Joe Doyle, Fortunate Son stuck hard against the rail, predominantly controlling the race as the competitive field entered the home straight.Credit to t...

Pendragon takes out Group 2 Auckland Guineas

Enigmatic three-year-old Pendragon demonstrated just how tough he is as he took out the Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe with a strong front-running performance.The Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained son of U S Navy Flag was ignored by punters to start at the juicy odds of $26 in the race, despite having beaten two of his more fancied rivals in Tokyo Tycoon ($3.60) and Quintessa ($4.80) by nearly two lengths at his previous start over 1200m at Te Rapa.Seeking a hat-...

Pendragon makes every post a winner at Te Rapa

Underrated three-year-old Pendragon upset the Te Akau Racing party when he downed favourites Tokyo Tycoon and the previously unbeaten Quintessa over 1200m at Te Rapa on Saturday.The Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained son of U S Navy Flag had opened his winning account at Te Aroha at his most recent start and backed that up with a stylish on-pace effort in the hands of apprentice Niranjan ParmarAllowed to dictate terms in front after jumping well from an inside barrier draw (1), Pendragon shot c...

Foxton filly Chantilly Lace looks primed for Trentham

An impressive showing by Foxton filly Chantilly Lace at the Levin jumpout trials earlier this week augurs well for her chances in the Group 3 $100,000 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham tomorrow.The promising U S Navy Flag filly finished comfortably clear of a field of eight runners in an Open 1000m heat without being seriously tested and carded a slick time of 59.26 seconds, giving trainer Chrissy Bambry confidence the filly was the right path.“She’s fit and very well and the jump...

Fashion Icon All Style At Trentham

U S Navy Flag filly Fashion Icon winning at Trentham on Saturday...

Kiwi mare Nassak Diamond dominant in Jericho Cup

New Zealand raider Nassak Diamond (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) became the first New Zealand trained horse to win the 4600 metre Jericho Cup with a dominant win at Warrnambool on Sunday.The Jericho Cup was established in 2018 to commemorate the feats of Australasia’s light horse units during World War I and is restricted to horses bred in either Australia or New Zealand.Trained by Shaun Ritchie and Colm Murray for breeders The Oaks Stud, the five-year-old hadn’t raced for nearly a month, fi...

Ritchie returning for second shot at Jericho Cup

Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie has crossed the Tasman for a second tilt at the Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool on Sunday, four years on from a highly creditable first attempt.Ritchie saddled Where Are You to finish third at double-figure odds in the 2019 running of the A$300,000 showpiece, which was established in 2018 to commemorate light horse involvement in World War I and is restricted to horses bred in Australia and New Zealand.Four of the first five winners of the race have been New Z...

Stud hoping for more joy with speedy Savaglee

Promising colt Savaglee wasn’t purchased with New Zealand’s richest two-year-old event in mind, but it’s emerged as a serious target.The youngster was an effortless winner at his only appearance and another bold showing in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) will further boost his $1 million TAB Karaka Million (120m) prospects.Savaglee was secured out of breeder Waikato Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale earlier this year for $400,000 with...

Seasonal Position Available

The Oaks Stud have a position available from November through to February to assist with our yearling sale preparation.  This position involves general stable duties such as mucking out, making feeds & cleaning gear, as well as grooming and hand walking yearlings.This is ideally a full time position but we would consider part time hours for the right applicant.Competitive hourly rate on offer, start date negotiable. To apply, please email your CV to office@theoaksstud.co.nz...

There's A Storm Coming

Storm Boy (Justify/Pelican colt) pictured as a yearling....

Oz Recognition for Darci

Historically, the stock of Darci Brahma (Danehill) was mostly overlooked by Australian buyers for the simple reason that sons of Danehill (Danzig) were a dime-a-dozen in Australia. Nevertheless, the stallion has been ultra consistent as a sire of stakes winners (57). In Australia, his two best performers are dual Group 1 winner Sierra Sue and Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner, Gust Of Wind.Through his daughters his influence may be felt for some considerable time and such influence materialis...

Marsh three-year-old Coasts to fresh up victory at Pukekohe

An impressive training effort by Stephen Marsh saw the Cambridge trainer commence Melbourne Cup Day at Pukekohe in style, preparing a freshened Antrim Coast to victory in the Ellerslie Events 1400.Showing promise early in his three-year-old season, Antrim Coast broke maiden status in Heavy9 conditions at Te Rapa in August before being sent for a brief spell and was rated a $7.80 third-favourite with TAB bookmakers in a compact but competitive Pukekohe field.The seven starters broke in a muddling...

The Oaks Stud looking to extend Guineas legacy

The Oaks Stud has a great association with the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Cambridge farm are hoping to extend their legacy in the Riccarton Classic next month with Burn To Shine.“We have Catalyst (2019) and Darci Brahma (2005) who we were involved with and also with Buzz Lightyear (1999) when Terry Jarvis owned this place in the early years,” The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams said.“It is a good race for us and we hope that continues.”...

So Naive impresses at Pukekohe

Byerley Park trainers Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley produced their promising contingent of juveniles to an impressive quinella in the Ellerslie Events 2YO 1100 at Pukekohe on Saturday.In a compact field of six, the Wallace/Cooksley stable presented half of the two-year-old field and managed to fill the first two placings with So Naïve and Toruk Makto respectively.A son of U S Navy Flag, So Naïve jumped from the inside draw and was hustled to hold the pacemaking position under apprentice Ace...

Burn To Shine displays Guineas potential with feature victory

Cambridge visitor Burn To Shine threw his name into the mix of serious contenders for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) next month with a determined effort to take out the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.The Stephen Marsh-trained three-year-old had finished third behind Saturday’s race-rival Lantern Way in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at his last start and turned the tables after enjoying a perfect run in transit for rider Johnathan Parkes...

U S Navy Flag well represented this weekend on both sides of the Tasman

Group 1 performer Aprilia lines up in Melbourne on Saturday...

Spring Champion Stakes hope is 'over the odds'

Edward Cummings, trainer of Spring Champion Stakes hopeful Long Genes...

Savaglee impressive on Trentham debut

Royally bred colt Savaglee lived up to his impeccable breeding when he gave his rivals a galloping lesson at Trentham on Saturday.The son of Savabeel and O’Reilly mare Glee comes from a family that boasts a host of Group One winners including brilliant two-year-old filly Good Faith and champion New Zealand three-year-olds Aegon and Daffodil.The flashy bay had produced a professional display to win over 850m at the Te Awamutu trials earlier in the month and brought the same impeccable manners t...

Justify ruling Te Akau three-year-old ranks

Rule Of Law winning at Tauranga...

Tidal Force Scores In Australia

It's been a month to remember for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable and they continued their strong run of form with Tidal Force winning at his Australian debut on the Pakenham Synthetic on Wednesday.Breaking his maiden, the former Kiwi won in a photo finish after nabbing gelding Bon Appetit right on the line.Partnered by jockey Blaike McDougall, the four-year-old settled midfield under a patient ride, waiting for the gap to open in the straight before kicking ahead when it did, as did...

Tear Of Victory continues Valachi legacy for Autridge

Stephen Autridge is looking forward to taking two talented three-year-old fillies to Tauranga this weekend, including a debut winner who has a special connection to the past.The Matamata trainer will saddle Loch Katrine and Tears Of Victory in the Ultimate Mazda 3YO (1300m) on Saturday. Tears Of Victory was bred by Kevin Hickman, who has had a major influence on the New Zealand racing and breeding landscape over the last decade with his Valachi Downs operation.Autridge trained Valachi’s blue-b...

Ritchie has unfinished business in Jericho Cup

Four years after picking up a third placing at big odds in the A$300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m), Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie has secured himself a second shot at the unique Warrnambool showpiece.Nassak Diamond guaranteed herself a place in the Jericho Cup field with a powerhouse performance in Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth. The race is one of two on the New Zealand calendar that carries a Jericho Cup ballot exemption, and sponsors NZB Airfreight also p...

Geldof On Song For Spring Targets

Trainers Peter and Dawn Williams are hoping promising three-year-old gelding Geldof is in for a big spring following his pleasing 1050m trial win at Ruakaka on Tuesday.The son of U S Navy Flag jumped well and was taken straight to the lead by jockey Jasmine Fawcett and the pair didn’t relinquish their advantage, running out half-length victors over Group Two winner Aquacade.“We haven’t pushed him, we gave him a trial at Waipa and he had another day out today, and I was very happy with him,...

Chantilly Lace takes Wanganui Guineas

Trainer Chrissy Bambry went from frustration to joy in the space of half an hour on Saturday as her classy three-year-old filly Chantilly Lace made it back-to-back stakes victories with a brave win in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).The Bambry-trained Flower Of Wanaka looked particularly unlucky when flashing into second a race earlier when held up for a run for most of the home straight for apprentice Lily Sutherland, however Sutherland made sure she didn’t suffer the same fate on...