Cambridge Stud was crowned the Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan New Zealand Breeder of the Year sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds on Saturday night at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro, earning New Zealand’s highest breeding honour for the sixth time following another outstanding season on both sides of the Tasman.

The prestigious title is the first since Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay assumed ownership of the renowned Waikato nursery in 2018, recognising a season headlined by dual Australian Group One winner Ceolwulf and New Zealand Group One winner Jaarffi.

Cambridge Stud bred more than 105 individual winners during the season, including five stakes winners and a further nine stakes performers. The operation also capped a memorable year by finishing as the leading vendor at New Zealand Bloodstock's landmark 100th National Yearling Sale, underlining its standing among the world's premier thoroughbred nurseries.

Accepting the award, Sir Brendan Lindsay reflected on the significance of receiving an honour bearing the names of Cambridge Stud's former custodians.

“It's quite surreal, buying Cambridge Stud and this award being named after Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan,” Lindsay said.

“It's a long way away from buying my first horse, which I raced with Trevor McKee. I remember excitedly telling my father and there wasn't a huge amount of support.

“I think Ceolwulf was a real highlight as a breeder this season. John Foote bought the dam for €55,000 and she has gone on to leave an elite-level miler, and we sold a foal out of her for $1.1 million this year, which is just incredible.

“We love our racing and we love our breeding. It is important to thank the team, headed by Henry and Michele Plumptre, and the whole team who work on the farm.

“I am very privileged and very happy to have an opportunity to be involved in this industry. I put a lot into it in terms of effort and passion, like everyone else in the room tonight.”

Sir Brendan also spoke warmly about the camaraderie within the thoroughbred industry, referencing a function held the previous day for respected racing administrator Butch Castles, who is facing health challenges.

“This industry is a great industry and when you are down, there are a lot of people who will help, and when you're up at the top, it gives everyone an opportunity to strive and get up there with you.”

While acknowledging the industry was going through a period of transition, Sir Brendan remained bullish about the future of New Zealand breeding.

“You can't ignore the fact that over the last five years, 21 percent of the Group One winners in Australia have been bred in New Zealand,” he said.

“The opportunities for this country are just enormous. Unfortunately, there has been a drop in foal numbers, but that creates an opportunity because the industry needs stock, and for us at Cambridge Stud to be able to bring in stallions of international appeal like Chaldean and Charyn is just amazing.

“I get up every morning and look forward to the day. I try to make the day a new challenge, and I think this industry just has so much upside.”

Cambridge Stud headed a stellar list of award winners recognised at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Awards following another exceptional season for New Zealand breeders on the world stage.

The Property Brokers Seton Otway Horse of the Year title went to Ka Ying Rising, whose extraordinary campaign established the son of Shamexpress as one of the world's elite racehorses.

Bred by Grandmoral Lodge, the champion sprinter remained unbeaten in eight starts during the season, winning five Group One races across Hong Kong and Australia, including becoming the first overseas-trained horse to capture The Everest. He also successfully defended the Hong Kong Sprint, completed a second consecutive Hong Kong Speed Series and finished the season with a Hong Kong record 20 consecutive victories while earning a rating as the joint-best racehorse in the world.

Ka Ying Rising's dam, Missy Moo, was named the Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year. A winning daughter of Per Incanto who was previously trained by Fraser Auret, Missy Moo produced only two foals, headed by the champion son of Shamexpress. Fraser and Erin Auret's Grandmoral Lodge was also recognised as the New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year.

Per Incanto enjoyed the finest season of his career, claiming both the Centaine Award, presented to the leading sire by worldwide progeny earnings, and the Dewar Award, recognising the leading sire by progeny earnings across New Zealand and Australia. His success in the Dewar Award ended the late Savabeel's remarkable run in the category.

Proisir claimed the Grosvenor Award, presented to New Zealand's leading sire by domestic progeny earnings, after another outstanding season led by dual Group One winners Legarto and Waitak.

Other major honours saw Ohope Wins recognised as NZB Filly of the Year, Jess Greenfield receive the Mary-Lynne Ryan Young Achiever Award, while much-loved breeder Rodney Schick was named NZTBA Personality of the Year. The award recognised a lifetime of service to New Zealand's thoroughbred breeding industry, honouring not only his success as a breeder and stud master, but also his leadership, generosity and unwavering passion for helping the industry and its people flourish. - NZ Racing Desk

Major Award Winners

New Zealand-bred & New Zealand-conceived Group One Winners (2025/26)

Industry salutes Schick with NZTBA Personality of the Year honour

Widely admired Windsor Park Stud principal Rodney Schick has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to New Zealand's thoroughbred breeding industry, receiving the NZTBA Personality of the Year, sponsored by Entain AU & NZ, at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards in Karapiro on Saturday night.

The prestigious accolade recognises an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to New Zealand thoroughbred breeding over many years, acknowledging Schick's achievements as a breeder and stud master, along with his leadership, generosity, mentorship and passion for helping the industry thrive.

"It's an absolute privilege to receive this award from your peers," an emotional Schick said as he accepted the honour alongside his son Oli.

"It's an industry that I love, and I have been part of for a long time."

Raised at Windsor Park Stud near Cambridge, Schick grew up immersed in thoroughbred breeding after his parents, Nelson and Sue Schick, established what would become one of New Zealand's most respected stud farms. After attending St Paul's Collegiate and spending a year at Lincoln University, he headed overseas to broaden his experience, working in Australia, England and the United States before returning home with fresh ideas and a determination to help lead the family business into a new era.

One experience in particular proved career-defining.

"Probably that statement that was read out where I went to London with the idea of working in a pub and I worked out that actually, I wanted to work with horses. That was probably the defining moment in my career that this was what I really wanted to do.

"To get away from home and actually work it out for yourself was really important."

Returning to New Zealand, Schick assumed a leading role at Windsor Park Stud, helping build on the foundations established by his parents while forging strong international relationships and contributing to the success of an operation associated with more than 50 individual Group One winners. Away from the farm, he has also earned widespread respect through his willingness to mentor young people, contribute to industry leadership and support charitable causes.

The past 18 months have presented Schick and his family with challenges few could imagine. In May last year he suffered life-threatening injuries in an ATV accident that tragically claimed the life of his son Jimmy. His recovery and return to Windsor Park have been warmly embraced by an industry that has long admired his resilience and generosity.

Accepting the award, Schick paid heartfelt tribute to his wife Gina and the Windsor Park team for carrying the operation through that difficult period.

"First you need a bloody good wife, and Gina has been the absolute backbone for me for all our married life, but especially over these past 18 months, she has been unbelievable, along with the team at the farm,” he said.

"My parents taught me a long time ago to surround yourself with good people and certainly we have that at Windsor Park. It's an absolute family.

"To all my team, who have supported us through this past year or so, they have been unbelievable. The farm probably ran better without me than with me."

Despite everything he has endured, Schick said he remained as passionate as ever about the future of Windsor Park and the wider thoroughbred industry.

"We are certainly not slowing down,” Schick said. “We have a new farm that we are developing, which is exciting and we have got plenty of young stallions coming through including Savaglee who is new this year and standing in partnership with Simms Davison at Mapperley Stud.

"We love the industry and see a bright future. There are certainly a few things we need to work on, and I think getting together is most important.

"Working together to make a better future for racing, for me, is the most important thing, getting the right people together and making it happen. And we need to make it happen and I am very passionate about that."

For Schick, however, the greatest reward remains the horses themselves and the people who make the industry special.

"I just love it. We have lots of ups and lots of downs but the horse is what it's all about,” he said.

"Watching these horses win, whether it's a Group One or a midweek maiden, is just as exciting.

"It's a beautiful game with great people. We have got wonderful clients and wonderful friends, and it has just been awesome."

The warmth in which Schick is held was evident as he concluded his speech, with his peers rising as one to deliver a standing ovation. - NZ Racing Desk

Oaks Stud connection makes Williams' first winner one to savour

Twenty-nine-year-old New Zealander Dean Williams celebrated the first winner of his training career at Murtoa on Saturday, with Tempest Moon (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) capturing the Marma Cup (2050m) in the colours of The Oaks Stud.

The victory carried extra significance for Williams, whose father Rick has been the long-serving General Manager of The Oaks Stud, where Dean spent much of his childhood before embarking on a career in racing.

While the breakthrough was a significant milestone, Williams admitted the overwhelming emotion was one of relief after coming close on several occasions in the opening months of his training career.

"It's a bit of relief to be honest," Williams said.

"I've thrown a few darts at the dartboard over the last month or two and missed, but we went into the race with a bit of confidence. The wet track and stepping up in trip were both in her favour, so it was good to get the job done.

"It was really special for it to be in The Oaks Stud colours."

Williams' association with The Oaks Stud and its owner, Dick Karreman, stretches back almost his entire life. His family moved to the Cambridge nursery when he was just 18 months old, and he grew up immersed in the stud's day-to-day operations.

"I've known Dick Karreman since I was about five or six years old," Williams said.

"I started working on the farm at a very young age and when I spoke to Dick a couple of years ago about wanting to get my licence and have a crack, he has been hugely supportive.

"He's spent a fair bit of money at the yearling sales for me and we've got a nice group of rising three-year-olds and some young horses coming through. Without his support I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing. Every young trainer needs someone to give them a kick along and hopefully we can find a good one for him."

Williams' passion for racing was ignited during The Oaks Stud's golden era, with champion mare Seachange leaving a lasting impression on the aspiring horseman.

"Seachange was probably a huge reason why I'm doing what I'm doing," he said.

"I was only eight or nine when she was racing, but I still remember it very well. I used to drive Mum and Dad mad wanting to go to the races to watch her. She was an incredible mare for the farm."

Williams' own training philosophy has been shaped by some of the industry's leading horsemen. He began his career with Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh before becoming racing manager for Tony Pike, then crossed the Tasman to join Mike Moroney's Flemington stable.

A stint in Ireland with leading trainer Joseph O'Brien followed before Williams returned to Melbourne after accepting an offer to become assistant trainer to the late Steve Richards, eventually striking out on his own at Pakenham.

Williams said both Moroney and Richards had a profound influence on his career.

"They were two very different people, but they couldn't have been nicer," he said.

"Mike could train anything, sprinter or stayer, and Steve just had such a lovely way with horses and so much patience. I've tried to take bits from everyone I've worked for."

Williams eventually established his own operation at Pakenham, believing Victoria offered the best long-term opportunities for a young trainer.

"Looking ahead over the next 10 to 20 years there looks to be more opportunity here," he said.

"I'd love to take horses back to New Zealand one day, but I felt Victoria was the best place to have a crack."

Williams also believes Tempest Moon has more to offer. The daughter of Turn Me Loose was prepared in New Zealand by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray before finishing a commendable fourth in last year's A$300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m), and Williams is hopeful she can return to the famous staying contest later this year.

"Credit has to go to Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray," he said.

"The job they did to get her to a Jericho Cup last year was incredible because she was just a coat hanger. She's matured now, she's holding her weight much better and I think when she gets to a mile and a half and further she'll continue to improve."

While another Jericho Cup campaign remains the logical target, Williams said a return to New Zealand could also be on the cards if spring conditions prove suitable.

"I think logically the Jericho is where we'll head,” he said. “She has come back a better mare this time around and is holding her weight much better. Rating points will be interesting because if she keeps improving she might end up too highly handicapped.

"If New Zealand has a wet spring there are some Cup races over there we could look at. She really relishes those heavy tracks. On good ground her ceiling is probably a bit lower, but she's very tough and genuine when she gets those testing conditions." - NZ Racing Desk

Duke Of Plumpton’s rapid rise continues at Te Aroha

Exciting jumper Duke Of Plumpton (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) maintained his unbeaten record over the bigger fences with an outstanding display in the Te Aroha Veterinary Services Te Aroha Cup (3500m) on Sunday. Prepared by Caley Myers, Duke Of Plumpton put more than 31 lengths on his maiden steeplechase rivals at

NZ Racing NewsJess de Lautour

Classy hurdler ready to Roc at Riccarton

Roc Up Ralph (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) announced himself as a leading contender for the Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) with a gritty win in the Comag Open Hurdle (3100m) at Te Aroha on Sunday. In a market dominated by Weneedashock, Roc Up Ralph closed at $4.

NZ Racing NewsJess de Lautour