Girl Talk gets deserved black-type success

Rangiotu mare Girl Talk (NZ) (Zed) was rewarded for her consistency when securing black-type at Wanganui on Easter Monday when winning the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2040m).

The four-year-old daughter of Zed has come a long way in a short time, winning her maiden back in October before adding a further three wins to her tally, including at Wanganui last month over a mile.

Trainer and part-owner Stephen Nickalls was confident heading into Monday and he was duly rewarded with a brave win.

From her ace barrier, Girl Talk drifted back to settle last for jockey Samantha Collett, who bided her time at the back of the pack before asking her charge to improve three-wide with 900m to go.

Girl Talk made a long and sustained run and had to draw on all her talent down the home straight to reel in Psyclone (NZ) (Rageese) to win by a head.

“I am over the moon, it was a massive effort,” Nickalls said.

“I said to Sam just to get a little bit neutral, if you kick her out of the gates she can sometimes over race a little bit. Everything went whoosh, but Sam said she didn’t panic, she settled and was happy.

“There was decent pace, so they were rolling on a little bit, but Sam made all the right moves, she got out and got rolling and how tough was she in that last 100m?”

Nickalls has had a lot of time for Girl Talk and said she has just taken a bit of time to mature, but she has hit her straps this season, going from a maiden to a Group Three winner in the span of six months.

“It is just phenomenal, she has given us a lot of thrills along the way and she has certainly come a very long way in a short space of time,” Nickalls said. “She came into work as a maiden horse and is going out a Group Three winner, it is pretty special.”

While rapt with Collett’s ride, Nickalls was quick to pay tribute to Girl Talk’s regular rider Kate Hercock, who had ridden her in all 14 of her previous starts, but had to sit on the sidelines on Monday through suspension.

“Kate has done everything on her from her first start, she was the only one that had ridden her on raceday,” Nickalls said. “I feel for her for not being able to ride her today, she has been amazing and so good with her.

“She spoke with Sam and I before the race just to give us as much advice as she could. She has been pretty special to us.”

Nickalls has no set plans with Girl Talk and said he will wait to see how she comes through the race before making any decisions.

“She has been up for a long time but we have got no plans, we will get home, look after her and enjoy today,” he said.

Nickalls is enjoying his best season to date, having now won seven races, two of those at stakes level, and earned more than $311,000 in prizemoney.

“We have got five or six racehorses that are very competitive and when they are like that you can get good results,” he said. “Chase winning the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) and her winning this, it is one to remember.”

Bred by Grangewilliam Stud, Girl Talk is out of five-win Al Akbar mare Gossiping (NZ), and is a half-sister to five-win mare Bold Belle (NZ) (The Bold One) and three-win gelding View of the World (NZ) (Derryn).

Girl Talk has now won five of her 15 starts and has earned more than $180,000 in prizemoney.– Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Girl Talk gets deserved black-type success

Westbury Stud duo Tarzino and El Roca were represented by a winning double at northern headquarters to successfully open and close the Ellerslie card.

Showing off his sharper stallion skills, Tarzino’s daughters Amourette (NZ) and Grocer’s Girl (NZ) ran the quinella in the 1200m two-year-old event to begin Saturday’s proceedings.

Amourette is trained by Cody Cole who later produced El Roca four-year-old Atmospheric (NZ) to land the final event, a Rating 75 contest over 1500m.

Stud principal Gerry Harvey bred Amourette and Atmospheric and also enjoyed major success at Randwick with Gr.1 Inglis Sires (1400m) winner Campione D’Italia (Snitzel), a colt he bred and part-owns, and Country Championship Final (1400m) victor Chidiac (Better Than Ready).

“We bookended the program at Auckland and Gerry also had a great day in Australia,” Westbury General Manager Russell Warwick said.

“The most relevant piece to the Tarzino story is the crop of two-year-olds he’s got at the moment came off the year when he had a very big and very good book of mares.

“It was after the two three-year-olds won a Derby (Jungle Magnate (NZ)) and an Oaks (Gypsy Goddess (NZ)) and every man and his dog wanted to go to him. He covered a significant number of mares and the resulting progeny are two, rising three.”

Amourette is a daughter of the unraced More Than Ready mare Nouveau Amour, a half-sister to Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) winner Jolie Blonde (Testa Rossa) with their second dam the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) winner Isolda (NZ) (Sir Tristram).

She was purchased out of Westbury’s Book 2 draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Cole for $50,000.

“She’s a sister to Wallen who showed a lot of ability for us and won the Karapiro Classic,” Warwick said.

“He looked like making an exceptional staying horse but unfortunately did a tendon and is retired.

“The mare’s got a Swiss Ace colt foal that’s just being weaned and a Redwood colt who will be going to the Ready to Run Sale.”

By El Roca, three-time winner Atmospheric is out of the unraced Redwood mare Lunaris (NZ), whose half-brother Tarleton (Viscount) won the Gr.2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), and was a $45,000 Ready to Run Sale graduate.

“He’s got a nice pedigree and there’s a good filly in Brisbane called Nightline (NZ), she’s one of favourites for the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m) at this stage and is bred on the reverse cross, she’s by Redwood out of an El Roca mare,” Warwick said.

“The second dam of Atmospheric is by Galileo so he’s got some significant bloodlines.

“We’ve retained a two-year-old half-sister (Noumenia) by Tarzino, who has been broken in and spelled and will resume pre-training shortly, and the mare had an El Roca colt last season.” - Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Marotiri Molly retired

Group Two winner Marotiri Molly (NZ) (Per Incanto) has been retired from racing and will head to the paddock in preparation for an early service this coming breeding season.

The daughter of Per Incanto was a solid performer for trainer Matt Dixon, winning seven of her 23 starts for the Foxton horseman, including the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), and she was placed on a further seven occasions, including the Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m), Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Manawatu Challenge Stakes and Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m).

The lightly raced seven-year-old continued her consistent run in her latest preparation, placing in three consecutive Group races before running 12^th in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and the decision was subsequently made to retire her from racing.

“It is always a bit sad to lose those ones, she has done a great job,” Dixon said.

“Her Group Two win was a real highlight and when she ran third to La Crique in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, where she came from last, was one of the best runs of her life.

“She has retired sound and she will head to the broodmare paddock now.

“She is lightly raced, but she is rising eight. She was a late starter, but she is such a valuable mare and it’s probably a good time now to let her letdown for a few months and hopefully get her in-foal nice and early.”

Marotiri Molly was bred by her owners Beven and Christine Parlato, and she is out of their Group Three performed Al Akbar mare Marotiri Miss (NZ).

She will now head north to Milan Park, near Cambridge, where a decision will be made on her upcoming mating.

“The owner’s cousin is Tony Rider (Milan Park principal), so she is going to head to Milan Park and they are going to do some deal with him, he is a shareholder in a lot of stallions,” Dixon said.

While Dixon has lost the services of Marotiri Molly from his barn, he is excited about the prospects of three-win mare Dollybird (NZ) (Time Test), who is set to line-up over a mile at Otaki on Saturday.

The daughter of Time Test has placed in her last two outings and Dixon is hoping she can add to her win tally this weekend.

“Up to the mile on Saturday should really suit her,” Dixon said.

“She is a progressive mare, she keeps getting better and better. She is no Marotiri Molly but she has done a good job in a short career and she is only five." - Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

NZ Stallion Awards

The Centaine Award 
Sire whose NZ-conceived progeny have the highest earnings worldwide.

The Dewar Stallion Trophy
Sire whose progeny have the highest combined earnings in Australia and New Zealand.

The Grosvenor Award
Leading Sires by earnings in New Zealand.

NZ-bred Winners

Global NZ-bred winners

2026-03-28 / 2026-04-04

AUSTRALIA
Almanzor : Mr Miller (NZ) (Miss Miller by Pins) 2022;
01 Apr 2026, 1st ATC Drinkwise Maiden P. 1300m

Almanzor : Lupa Capitolina (NZ) (Las Brisas by Shamardal) 2022;
02 Apr 2026, 1st Gosford RC Central Coast Ram Maiden P. 1600m

Astern : Setteveli (NZ) (Neapolitan by Denman) 2019;
29 Mar 2026, 1st Port Lincoln & North Shields RC Yumbah Mussels Holdings H. 1210m

Castelvecchio : Aeliana (NZ) (Temolie by Star Witness) 2021;
28 Mar 2026, 1st ATC Tancred S. Gr.1 2400m
Sold by Rich Hill Stud at National Yearling Sale for $180000

Charm Spirit : More Trouble (NZ) (Mawhooba by Fastnet Rock) 2020;
02 Apr 2026, 1st Mackay TC Book Event Centre H. 1800m

Contributer : Thundara (NZ) (Thunder Machine by He's Remarkable) 2022;
01 Apr 2026, 1st Balaklava RC Sportsbet Maiden P. 1600m

Epaulette : Footprints (NZ) (Star Walk by Starcraft) 2020;
28 Mar 2026, 1st Broken Hill St.Pats RC Outback Cup 1600m

Hello Youmzain : Silken Salute (NZ) (Savasilk by Savabeel) 2023;
04 Apr 2026, 1st BRC Souths Sports Club 2YO H. 1300m

Ocean Park : Kureder (NZ) (Charmeuse by O'Reilly) 2019;
04 Apr 2026, 1st BRC Sky Racing H. 2200m
Sold by Valachi Downs at National Yearling Sale for $380000

Ocean Park : Our Sassy Lady (NZ) (Tihi Keepa by Keeper) 2020;
04 Apr 2026, 1st Warracknabeal TC Taylors Palace After the Last H. 1600m
Sold by Brighthill Farm at National Yearling Sale for $8000

Per Incanto : Rue de Royale (NZ) (Urban Royal by Exceed and Excel) 2021;
04 Apr 2026, 1st MRC Geoff Murphy H. 1200m

Per Incanto : Castillian (NZ) (Anaween by More Than Ready) 2019;
28 Mar 2026, 1st BRC Sky Racing H. 1350m

Raise the Flag : My Uncle Did It (NZ) (Serve de Aunt by Nom du Jeu) 2021;
30 Mar 2026, 1st Ararat TC Manhari H. 2206m
Sold by White Robe Lodge at National Yearling Sale for $40000

Redwood : Corkscrew (NZ) (Marsh Harbour by Volksraad) 2018;
04 Apr 2026, 1st Gladstone TC Greg McCann Memorial H. 1000m

Satono Aladdin : Satono Glow (NZ) (Electrode by Pins) 2023;
28 Mar 2026, 1st VRC Thoroughbred Breeders S. Gr.3 1200m
Sold by Windsor Park Stud at National Yearling Sale for $260000

Savabeel : Belle Cheval (NZ) (Keepa Cheval by Keeper) 2022;
28 Mar 2026, 1st ATC Vinery Stud S. Gr.1 2000m

Savabeel : Essentric Nature (NZ) (Generous Nature by Carnegie) 2020;
03 Apr 2026, 1st WATC Old Comrade S. L 1600m

Savabeel : Savatoff (NZ) (Toffee Nose by Toorak Toff) 2020;
04 Apr 2026, 1st Oakbank RC Onkaparinga Cup 2150m
Sold by Curraghmore at National Yearling Sale for $250000

Shamexpress : Small Town Hero (NZ) (Fjall by Viking Ruler) 2019;
29 Mar 2026, 1st Sale TC Carlton Draught H. 1400m

Shocking : Scandalize (NZ) (Barbara Jennie by Bahhare) 2021;
28 Mar 2026, 1st SAJC Sportsbet H. 1522m

So You Think : Think Your Amazing (NZ) (Night Danza by Danzero) 2022;
04 Apr 2026, 1st Warracknabeal TC Marong Family Hotel Maiden P. 2000m
Sold by Blandford Lodge at National Yearling Sale for $200000

Super Easy : Prawns Eleven (NZ) (Pussycat Holiday by Private Call) 2019;
03 Apr 2026, 1st Kalgoorlie Boulder RC Crow Airconditioning H. 1100m

Super Seth : Crazy Town (NZ) (Queen of Pop by Pins) 2022;
28 Mar 2026, 1st Kyneton & Hanging Rock RC Denise Halliday Maiden P. 1461m
Sold by Riversley Park Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $60000

Tavistock : Montrock (NZ) (Vanity Queen by Fastnet Rock) 2020;
28 Mar 2026, 1st Carrathool JC Gallagher Insurance H. 1000m

Tavistock : Stylebender (NZ) (Mary D'Or by Verglas) 2017;
01 Apr 2026, 1st ATC Ranvet H. 2200m
Sold by Blandford Lodge at National Yearling Sale for $50000

Telperion : Savsonic (NZ) (Savsensation by Savabeel) 2019;
04 Apr 2026, 1st Oakbank RC Emmetts Country Cup 1900m

Tivaci : Lupine (NZ) (Sheezababe by Zabeel) 2020;
04 Apr 2026, 1st BRC Moreton Hire H. 1600m
Sold by Waikato Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $220000

Tivaci : Uncle Barry (NZ) (Mary Gold by Ocean Park) 2021;
28 Mar 2026, 1st Broken Hill St.Pats RC Musicians Club H. 1100m

Toronado : Perfect Night (NZ) (Promise to Reign by Manhattan Rain) 2022;
29 Mar 2026, 1st Sale TC Ladbrokes Maiden P. 1717m

Turn Me Loose : Rockabilly (NZ) (Drop the Beat by Proisir) 2022;
28 Mar 2026, 1st Moranbah RC Surelift Crane Hire Maiden P. 1000m
Sold by Windsor Park Stud at National Yearling Sale for $230000

Turn Me Loose : Merlin Beach (NZ) (Viviane by Volksraad) 2021;
03 Apr 2026, 1st TTC Night Racing Grand Finale Maiden P. 1600m
Sold by Windsor Park Stud at National Yearling Sale for $160000

U S Navy Flag : Rule of Salex (NZ) (Charmeuse by O'Reilly) 2020;
28 Mar 2026, 1st Healesville ARC Golden Thong H. 2350m
Sold by Riversley Park Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $90000
Sold by Valachi Downs at National Yearling Sale for $50000

Unusual Suspect : High Tempo (NZ) (Hot Tempo by Per Incanto) 2020;
29 Mar 2026, 1st Sale TC Ladbrokes H. 1717m

Vadamos : Mostly for Show (NZ) (Showing Off by Savabeel) 2022;
28 Mar 2026, 1st SAJC Junction H. 1600m
Sold by Highline Thoroughbreds at National Yearling Sale for $65000

Verdi : Jetpack Verdi (NZ) (Quintastics by Postponed) 2018;
04 Apr 2026, 1st Emerald JC Goldacres H. 1615m

War Decree : The Western Front (NZ) (Rosaeflora by Zacinto) 2020;
04 Apr 2026, 1st MRC Bert Bryant H. 2400m

Zed : Noble Steed (NZ) (Test of Honour by Pentire) 2020;
29 Mar 2026, 1st Avoca Shire TC Bet365 H. 1860m


HONG KONG
Charm Spirit : Shotgun (NZ) (Shama de Oro by Shamardal) 2021;
29 Mar 2026, 1st HKJC New Asia Alumni H. 1400m

Deep Field : Rising Force (NZ) (On the Que Tee by Sebring) 2021;
29 Mar 2026, 1st HKJC Wu Yee Sun Alumni H. 1200m
Sold by Windsor Park Stud at National Yearling Sale for $75000

Tivaci : Ace (NZ) (Without Flaw by Sacred Falls) 2021;
29 Mar 2026, 1st HKJC Chung Chi Alumni H. 1400m

Zacinto : Joyful Winkle - Happy Universe (H.K.) (NZ) (Kovka by Rip Van Winkle) 2019;
01 Apr 2026, 1st HKJC Ping Shek H. 1800m
Sold by Kilgravin Lodge at National Yearling Sale for $100000

MALAYSIA
Ardrossan : Jazzclub - Fortune Tree (Mal.) (NZ) (Vanilla Essence by Pins) 2021;
29 Mar 2026, 1st Selangor TC Tunku Gold Cup L 1200m

Ocean Park : Storm Park - Banker's Honor (Mal.) (NZ) (Cool Storm by One Cool Cat) 2021;
29 Mar 2026, 1st Selangor TC Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial S. 1800m
Sold by Waikato Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $140000

Tivaci : Eastern Barracks (NZ) (O'Me O'My by O'Reilly) 2021;
28 Mar 2026, 1st Selangor TC Kinabatangan River Cruise S. 1400m
Sold by Curraghmore at National Weanling Sale for $125000