22 April 2026
Just Kick out to open account in Oaks
A win in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville would be an important one for Just Kick (NZ) (Staphanos).
Emma-Lee and David Browne say a win by Just Kick in Adelaide would be timely with an important thoroughbred sale coming up.
Just Kick is chasing her maiden victory when she heads to the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
The filly in winless in eight starts but has four placings to her credit, including one in a Stakes race which ironically came on Anzac Day last year in her second start when finishing third in a Listed race over 1400m at Flemington.
Emma-Lee Browne said it was frustrating that Just Kick had not broken through for her maiden success to date, but the team was happy to give a Group 1 contest a shot.
This campaign, Just Kick has finished fourth to Getta Good Feeling (So You Think) in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on March 21 before running third to Savitri (So You Think) over 1700m at Caulfield on April 4.
"She's been a very unlucky maiden," Browne said.
"I thought her run last time was super, but she just doesn't corner that well at Caulfield.
"She's always lost a couple of lengths on that turn, but we thought she hit the line really well and that gives us the confidence to go up in distance."
The Browne's had thoughts of contesting the VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington in the spring but decided to bypass that as they thought the filly was not seasoned enough for the trip.
"We ran out of time to get her to the Oaks in the spring, and she probably just wasn't strong enough at that point," Browne said.
"She had done everything quite nicely and was hitting the line quite well, but we just thought an autumn Oaks would be a better aim for her."
Longer term the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June could be on the agenda.
However, Just Kick is entered in the Inglis Chairman's Sale on May 7.
"We could come back for the filly's race here over 2500 metres or we could freshen for the Queensland Oaks and head north, but she's also entered in the Chairman's Sale as she's quite lovely bred," Browne said.
"She's got some Black Type, and it would be lovely if she could get a big one on her record and if she could win on Saturday, I think that could make the trip to the Chairman's Sale quite worth it."
Harry Coffey will ride Just Kick for the first time on Saturday. - NZ Racing Desk
Little Avondale announces fees for father-son duo
Little Avondale Stud stalwart Per Incanto continues to make his presence felt on racetracks across Australasia and Asia and his progeny keenly sought after at all major sales.
The durable son of Street Cry is a multiple champion sire who has produced nine individual Group One winners during his decorated career and will serve a limited book in 2026 at an increased fee of $75,000 + GST.
Among his elite level winners is his son and associate sire Little Brose, who was warmly welcomed by breeders in his first season at the Wairarapa nursery and will stand at an unchanged fee of $15,000 + GST.
“Per Incanto is currently fifth on the Australian Sires’ Premiership and the only sire in the top 20 with a runner to winner percentage over 50 per cent,” Little Avondale’s Sam Williams said.
“Three-time Group One winner Jimmysstar has been his flagship performer, and he’s had five stakes winners this season and another five stakes placed.”
His son Gringotts also chased in when taking the thick end of the stake in both the A$3 million Big Dance and the A$1 million The Gong while Per Incanto’s youngsters have also been to the fore.
“He’s had three individual black-type two-year-olds, Eurocanto won the first juvenile stakes race in Victoria when he claimed the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes,” Williams said.
“Oak Lightning ran second in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes and Spellbound was third in the Listed Challenge Stakes.”
He is also currently leading the race for the Centaine Award for combined New Zealand Australian progeny earnings with $23,019,739 and the Dewar Trophy for worldwide earnings with $15,404,136.
Per Incanto’s sales returns in 2026 also make impressive reading.
“At the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale he averaged NZ$451,000 and across all sales his 32 yearlings averaged more than $200,000,” Williams said.
His Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes-winning son Little Brose retired to Little Avondale in 2025 and the only colt to debut at stud in New Zealand as a top-flight two-year-old winner in Australia.
“He covered 140 mares last year and is super fertile with 129 of them in foal,” Williams said.
“He was supported by the vast majority of all the leading breeders in New Zealand, so we couldn’t have been happier with the welcome he received and the quality of mares he attracted.
“His Street Cry bloodline is dominant in Australia at the moment through Street Boss and Per Incanto.
“Their popularity and commercial success was further highlighted recently when Street Boss’ Group One-winning son Tentyris was retired and will stand at an introductory fee of A$88,000.” New Zealand Racing Desk
Popular Alflaila heads White Robe roster
White Robe Lodge stallions Alflaila and Ancient Spirit will stand at 7,000+GST this breeding season, reinforcing the iconic Southern nursery’s commitment to supporting thoroughbred breeders at every level.
Alflaila heads into his second season at White Robe Lodge after a strong debut year, where the multiple Group Two winner proved popular with breeders, covering 110 mares.
A striking individual, he represents the first influence of the outstanding Dark Angel sire-line to stand in New Zealand, offering breeders access to one of Europe’s most in-demand bloodlines.
“We were overwhelmed by the first-year support of Alflaila. It’s the biggest book we've had for a stallion in 15 years,” White Robe Lodge’s Jack Stewart said.
“Breeders from all around the country have sent mares and lot of those mares have been booked in again this year.
“We encourage anyone who's in the area to come out and have a look at him as he’s a stunning type and if the foals look anything like he does, then breeders won’t be disappointed.”
Stewart said the Dark Angel sire-line is flying in Australia at present through his son Harry Angel, and the addition of Dark Angel’s triple Group One winning son Charyn ($35,000+GST) to the Cambridge Stud roster is a coup for New Zealand.
“Obviously Alflaila stands at a different price point, and at White Robe Lodge we are very cognisant of the cost of breeding and raising a horse,” he said.
“It’s important we play our part to keep breeders engaged and give them every opportunity to succeed, so in addition to realistic service fees, we also offer $10 a day grazing fees for anyone who supports our stallions with a mare.”
While the first foals of Alflaila are keenly anticipated this spring, associate sire Ancient Spirit has made a promising start to his stud career, with his eldest progeny three-year-olds.
Stakes winner Bobby McGee headlines his early runners, while Golden Spirit has also gained black-type, and the young stallion was represented by impressive debut winner Arwen.
The well-bred son of Invincible Spirit was also represented by emerging staying filly Fly Zenno, who has shown her quality in strong company, including a solid fourth in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa behind subsequent dual Group One winner Ohope Wins.
“We always thought they'd be horses that would get better with time, and they’re certainly showing a bit now,” Stewart said.
“The word from the trainers is positive that they will continue to progress into strong staying types.
“We've got plenty of them here ourselves, both on the farm and in the racing stable (Brian & Shane Anderton). He’s on the right trajectory and there is plenty of interest in them as trade horses to Australia, given their ability to get out over a bit of ground.” - NZ Racing Desk
Remarkable breeding partnership ends with Gavelhouse Plus action
A trio of high-quality mares will be offered on Gavelhouse Plus next month, bringing the curtain down on a decorated breeding and racing partnership that has spanned two decades.
Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park), Sudbina (NZ) (Almanzor) and Tinnelly (NZ) (O’Reilly) are being put on the market by Haunui Farm and Frantic Bloodstock.
“It’s the end of an era,” Haunui Farm’s managing director Mark Chitty said. “We’re putting up three mares that we own in partnership with Cathy Franich from Frantic Bloodstock.
“We’ve had a really successful racing and breeding partnership that started all the way back in 2006 with Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom). We’ve raced a number of fantastic horses together over the years, like Floria (NZ) (Savabeel), Misstrum (Stratum), Rondinella and Sudbina. We’ve bred many others, including a NZB Filly of the Year in Fix (NZ) (Iffraaj).
“Cathy has decided that she no longer wants to be involved with the breeding side of things and would rather concentrate on racing.
“Rondinella and Sudbina are both in foal to Super Seth, and with everything that’s happened with him this year (relocating to Coolmore in Australia and no longer being as directly accessible to New Zealand breeders), we thought the best way to handle things is to take these mares to the marketplace. The mares all have 2025 foals that will head through to the Karaka yearling sales in January of 2027.
“It’s hard from a valuation point of view – we’ll let the market decide on that. But Gavelhouse Plus has worked well for premium broodmares in the past. We’re mindful of the mares being in foal, so not having an on-site element to the sale is an advantage in that sense, and we’ve seen that broodmares can sell extremely well on the online platforms.
“There’s obviously mixed feelings with it being the end of an era, but it gives buyers an exciting opportunity to secure these three lovely mares.
The two mares in foal to Super Seth are Rondinella and Sudbina.
Rondinella is a daughter of the partnership’s foundation mare Valpolicella, who herself won at Group Three level and is the dam of stakes winners Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), Vilanova (NZ) (Commands) and Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park). - NZ Racing Desk
NZ Racing Desk
Paul Vettise
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