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Burn To Shine impresses at Te Rapa

Trainer Stephen Marsh looks to be in for a good spring with a pair of promising gallopers after Burn To Shine and Financier provided the quinella in the Ardrossan 1200 (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.Both horses had looked good in their brief careers to date with Burn To Shine closing out his two-year-old preparation with a fighting third behind Tokyo Tycoon and Trobriand in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m).Given two trials to prepare for his new season debut, the strapping son of So You Think w...

New winner for U S Navy Flag

The Stephen Autridge-trained Tears Of Victory (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) won on debut at Matamata on Sunday.The 3-year-old filly was ridden by Maria Sanson and won from Valentine (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) and Fancy Like (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).Tears Of Victory is from the Fastnet Rock mare Ireland’s Teardrop (Ire). She is the dam of the Group 3-placed Last Sight (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and hails from the family of the outstanding Mind...

First Australian winner for U S Navy Flag

EDWARD Cummings had the backing of the breeder of a beautifully-bred colt he was keen to buy at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale.So he went above what he thought the youngster might bring, and paid $200,000 to secure him from the Coolmore Stud draft.Now an early three-year-old and having only his second start, Long Genes ($4.20 favorite) repaid the first instalment when he broke through today at his home track at Hawkesbury.Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Long Genes gave promise of ...

U S Navy Flag takes top first-season honours

Less than two months after The Oaks Stud made the bold decision to purchase U S Navy Flag outright from Coolmore Stud, their faith in the former shuttle stallion has been rewarded with the title of New Zealand’s champion first-season sire of 2022-23.U S Navy Flag has held a commanding lead on the freshman sire standings for more than four months.From 24 runners in his first crop of two-year-olds, U S Navy Flag has sired seven winners in New Zealand for combined progeny earnings of $373,000.Cha...

Young Oaks stallion making all the right moves

All the key indicators point to continued success for The Oaks Stud’s young resident stallion U S Navy Flag, although experience has taught General Manager Rick Williams to never look too far ahead.The son of War Front stood his first term at the Cambridge nursery last year and was subsequently purchased outright from Coolmore Stud.U S Navy Flag will end 2022/23 as New Zealand’s Champion First Season Sire with seven individual winners, including the runaway Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) w...

Waikato Stallion Parade weekend

The Oaks Stud will parade U S Navy Flag, The Chosen One and Roc de Cambes on Sunday 20th August at 12.30 pm as part of the gavelhouse.com Waikato Stallion Parade Weekend. All welcome to attend.333 McLarnon RoadCambridge ...

Naval Anthem goes back-to-back

Debut Wanganui winner Naval Anthem extended his unbeaten record when he scored impressively at Tauranga.The Kurtis Pertab-trained and owned son of US Navy Flag had impressed with a front-running win over 800m at Wanganui and repeated the dose on Saturday despite stepping up to 1200m in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO (1200m).Sent to the front in the six-horse field by rider Kelsey Hannan, the pair set up leisurely sectionals before pushing the button rounding the home bend.Despite being chall...

U S Navy Flag extends first-season winning record

Wanganui is becoming a happy hunting ground for the progeny of U S Navy Flag, with the The Oaks Stud stallion siring another two-year-old winner at the venue on Friday.The young stallion produced his first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner when the Chrissy Bambry-trained Chantilly Lace dominated the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) last month, and Naval Anthem followed suit on Friday when taking victory on debut in the Wanganui-Taranaki Racehorse Owners Association Maiden 2YO (800m).The diminuti...

The Oaks Stud Acquires U S Navy Flag

After a sensational weekend for U S Navy Flag (USA) when his gun filly Chantilly Lace (NZ) was the dominant 10 L winner of the Listed Castletown S., TDN AusNZ caught up with Chantilly Lace’s trainer Chrissy Bambry and The Oaks Stud’s Rick Williams who has announced the son of War Front (USA) has been acquired outright.The timing could not have been better for promising stallion U S Navy Flag (USA) to sire a double, including a stakes race on Saturday.Rick Williams, general manager of The Oak...

Chantilly Lace Scores Emphatic Stakes Victory

It was a popular win at Wanganui on Saturday when Chantilly Lace demolished her rivals in the Listed John Turkington Forestry LTD Castletown Stakes (1200m).The daughter of U S Navy Flag headed into the race in great form, having placed in the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at her previous outing, and trainer Chrissy Bambry was confident of another bold showing in Saturday’s juvenile feature.Chantilly Lace didn’t disappoint, running out a 10-length victor following a positive ride fr...

Niagara back in the Bay

Proven stallion Niagara, a Group Two winning son of Encosta de Lago, will return to Hawke’s Bay ahead of the 2023 breeding season to take up residence at Vicki Wilson’s Hau Ora Farm in Kahuranaki, south of Hastings.It is somewhat of a homecoming for Niagara, who initially retired to Greg and Jo Griffin’s Lime Country Thoroughbreds in Hawke’s Bay in 2013, before the couple relocated across the Tasman, resulting in Niagara joining The Oaks Stud’s roster in 2017.The sire of nine stakes pe...

McNab keen to capitalise on his Oaks opportunity

New Zealand's premier jockey Michael McNab can't wait to grasp his opportunity in Group One company in Brisbane on Saturday.McNab will ride Cheval D'Or for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike in Saturday's Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm, his first shot at an elite-level race in Australia - and he's aiming to make the most of it.Already with nine Group One wins under his belt in New Zealand and on track to win his second consecutive New Zealand jockeys' premiership, McNab has won 14 races in ...

The Chosen One to stand at The Oaks Stud

The Chosen One will join the rejuvenated stallion roster at The Oaks Stud this breeding season.The Chosen One joins Champion European Two-year-old and Champion Sprinter U S Navy Flag and proven Classic sire Roc de Cambes at the Cambridge farm, with stalwart Darci Brahma retired from stud duties last month.“We’re really excited to be standing The Chosen One this season,” The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams said.“He has all the credentials to be a success at stud, he’s a Group On...

Cheval D'Or on track for Queensland Oaks

Cambridge trained filly Cheval D’Or tuned up for a tilt at the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm with an exhibition gallop between races at Te Rapa on Saturday on a heavy track.Prepared by Tony Pike, the daughter of Almanzor was a last start winner of the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Pukekohe last month and it will be six weeks between runs when she contests Saturday week’s Oaks.“It was really just a day out to get away from home and give her a gallop, obviously not in idea...

Stakes win for Ocean Vision

Ocean Vision, who last year provided a poignant victory at Deauville when supplying both his sire Coolmore Stud’s U S Navy Flag and his trainer Tim Donworth with their first respective Stakes successes, was able to add another Listed win yesterday when landing the Prix de Pontarme at Longchamp.The three-year-old colt raced prominently in the 1400m contest, before coming under pressure with 300m to go and pushing through a gap to challenge the longtime leader Knock On (Zelzal) inside the final ...

Seasonal Position Available

The Oaks Stud have a position available for a keen, reliable person to join our Broodmare team for the 2023 breeding season (July 2023 to February 2024).Key responsibilities will include:·         Feeding out and checking paddocks·         Administering treatments·         Bringing mares in for vetting each day·         Holding horses...

Cunneen hoping to break new ground

Riccarton trainer Meg Cunneen is hoping to break new ground this week by securing her first stakes win on her home track.Cunneen will produce promising US Navy Flag two-year-old filly Semper Supra in the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on SaturdaySemper Supra has drawn barrier seven for the nine-horse Champagne Stakes but Cunneen sees few negatives with that gate."Just the way the track is with recent racing, it could be a little bit better out wider so we're not worrie...

Changing of guard at The Oaks Stud

As one door has closed at The Oaks Stud with the retirement from commercial duty of farm stalwart Darci Brahma another has remained wide open with U S Navy Flag to return to the Cambridge nursery.Danehill’s son Darci Brahma has successfully led the lineup at the Dick Karreman-owned operation with a stallion career to compliment his glittering record on the track, which featured Group One victories as a two, three and four-year-old.At the other end of the scale, former crack European short cour...

U S Navy Flag returning to The Oaks Stud in 2023

The Oaks Stud have confirmed that the highly promising, Coolmore Stud owned U S Navy Flag will return to the southern hemisphere for the 2023 breeding season.The son of War Front is currently sitting second on the New Zealand 1st Season Sires table, having been represented by five individual 2YO winners in New Zealand, and 22 winners worldwide.From his New Zealand runners so far, his headline acts include Group 1 performers Aprilia and To Catch A Thief who ran 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Gro...

Cheval D'Or takes out 3YO feature at Pukekohe

In a race affected by the late scratching of pre-post favourite Desert Lightning due to the downgrade of the track to a Heavy 10 earlier in the day, it was consistent filly Cheval D’Or who mastered the testing conditions to take out the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Pukekohe.The half-sister to multiple Group One winning sprinter Bostonian, who had finished in the first four in all of her previous five starts without notching up a win, came in for some inspired late support...

Hopes of catching a winning break in Champagne

To Catch A Thief will sport a fresh look at Pukekohe Park on Saturday when he attempts to break his maiden after competing with recent distinction in far stronger company.The son of U S Navy Flag has performed well at the top level this preparation and success in the Listed Staphanos At Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m) would be both deserved and emotional for all concerned.To Catch A Thief races in the colours of Ashford Lodge’s Peter Walker and an ownership group that also includes the es...

Royal Ascot target for U S Navy Flag filly

Love Reigns (3f U S Navy Flag - Humble And Proud, by Pivotal) will be aimed at Royal Ascot after making a smart three-year-old return in the $250,000 Limestone Stakes at Keeneland.Ridden patiently by Joel Rosario, the Wesley Ward-trained bay was forced to bide her time until a gap appeared approaching the final furlong. Finishing with a flourish, she led close home to beat stablemate Lady Holywood by half a length.“We were following a couple of horses and she really came with a nice move,” R...

U S Navy Flag 2YO’s place in Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes

U S Navy Flag was represented by three runners in Saturday’s Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes at Awapuni, with the tough filly Aprilia picking up a valuable Group 1 placing running 2nd to Pignan. To Catch A Thief ran home strongly for 3rd and Chantilly Lace also showed plenty of fight running on for 5th in the twelve horse field over 1400m....

Smart son of U S Navy Flag records back to back wins

Conquistador (3g U S Navy Flag - El Diamante, by Royal Applause) produced an impressive turn of foot to record back-to-back wins at Lingfield on Saturday.The first crop son of U S Navy Flag made a winning start for George Boughey over the minimum trip in December and stepped up to six furlongs at the weekend. Ridden by Connor Planas, the bay was shaken up approaching the two furlong marker and had plenty of ground to make up on the quickening leaders. Running on strongly inside the final furlong...

Richardson runner ready for Group 1 assault

Trainer Graeme Richardson believes the step up to 1400m for Saturday’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) is the key to promising two-year-old To Catch A Thief finding his way to the top of the podium for the first time in his short juvenile career.The son of US Navy Flag was once again seen finishing strongly when running into fourth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe earlier this month after being held up for a distance in the home straight that day.“He...