Nash Rawiller is confident Hello Captain (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) can make his mark in top company in time.

The leading Sydney rider piloted the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old to an impressive victory over 1250m at Canterbury on Monday and was lavish in his praise of the lightly raced gelding.

“It’s a tired and true way of Chris’s to gradually let them creep up to better company and that’s what he has done with this bloke,” Rawiller said.

“He’s got plenty of scope and this time next year he might be a force to be reckoned with I think.”

Hello Captain is now unbeaten in two appearances this campaign after beginning his career with a debut second at Doomben and went one better at the Sunshine Coast on Boxing Day.

Trainer Chris Waller then spelled the gelding before bringing him to Sydney and the gelding successfully resumed at Warwick Farm and came from off the pace at Canterbury on Monday to win going away by two lengths under 62kg.

‍Hello Captain was purchased for $425,000 by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the draft of Cambridge Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, and is raced by Christchurch owner Glenn Ritchie.

The progressive galloper is out of the Pivotal mare Steer By The Stars who has produced four winners from five foals to race, including the European stakes victor Never Look Back while full brother Persian Wonder was runner-up in the Gr.3 Baillieu Handicap (1400m) in March for David Payne.

Hello Yomzain has made a strong start to his Southern Hemisphere stud career, with 83 runners to date, 40 individual winners and 13 black-type performers.

“It was a lovely ride by Nash, he trusted the horse and gave him a nice cushy first half of the race and that showed late when he was able to let down, especially with the big weight,” stable representative Darren Beadman said.

“It’s great for the Ritchie family. They've invested a lot of money in the game and it's good to see them with a double here today.”

Earlier on the card, the Ritchies tasted success with New Zealand bred juvenile Miss Scandal (NZ) (Home Affairs) who won over 1250m for Waller and jockey Tyler Schiller.

Miss Scandal led throughout and kicked well off the bend before staving off the challenge of stablemate Satin Seranade (Frankel).

“What I was taken with by the winner was the way that she was just able to control the race in front and not overdo it,” Beadman said.

“Probably the 1250m was going to be the question mark and when Tyler let slip a little bit early, I thought, 'Oh, she might be a little bit vulnerable,' which she was, so it was a deserving win because she did take up the running and made them all work for it.”

Miss Scandal was a $320,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase from Westbury Stud by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock on behalf of the Ritchies. - NZ Racing Desk

James proud of Oaks filly

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel) finished a valiant fourth in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) won by Fireball Miss (Bivouac) a week after filling fifth placing in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).

The daughter of Savabeel jumped from barrier one under Tommy Berry and was held up momentarily while trying to get to the better ground centre track in the home straight but connections were pleased with the filly’s gallant effort.

“I was super proud of her,” James said. “I did something that I rarely do, backing her up after a hard mile and a half the week prior.

“Tommy said that her immaturity showed a little because it got tight getting out and a more professional older horse probably would have coped. It just put her on the back foot, and he thought she should have run second.”

Solid Gold will now join stablemate Sweynesday (NZ) (Sweynesse) as they return home for a spell, with James in no rush with the filly in the spring.

“When you look at her, what a physical type she is and she hasn’t missed a beat despite the back-up,” James said.

“I have trained a lot of mile-and-a-half three-year-olds and normally it tells on them.

“Her whole demeanor on Saturday was far better than the previous Saturday in the Derby.

“What a great sire Savabeel is and I am really appreciative to the Chittick family to give me a horse like her to train. I wished we could have got a better result, but I am super happy and proud of her.

“She will head home and have a well-earned spell and you might not see her until close to Christmas time.”

By Savabeel out of the O’Reilly mare Gram, Solid Gold has already ensured she will be a prized member of the Waikato Stud broodmare band as the winner of the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie and a full sister to Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Major Beel (NZ). - NZ Racing Desk

War Eternal adds to stud’s carnival success

Cambridge Stud’s winter success in Queensland has continued with the durable War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro) adding to his black-type record.

The homebred son of Pierro claimed Saturday’s Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm for expatriate New Zealand trainer Bjorn Baker off the back of a previous Doomben win in the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m).

The Cambridge farm’s colours have also been carried to victory in recent times in Brisbane by the Ciaron Maher-prepared Zoustar mare Silver Wedding and Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s Exceed And Excel filly Excenia.

Seven-time winner War Eternal is a son of the well-related Fastnet Rock mare Aleria, who was purchased on the stud’s behalf by bloodstock agent John Foote for A$200,000 at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.

She is out of the Rubiton mare Impressive Eagle, a dual stakes winner and top-flight performer whose half-brother Eagle Way won the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).

“She is a classic example of what Brendan and Jo (Lindsay) have been doing for the last 10 plus years, buying well-bred fillies to later come into the broodmare band,” Cambridge Stud sales and nominations manager Scott Calder said.

It has also continued a long and successful association the Lindsays have enjoyed with the Queensland-based Foote.

“Prior to Cambridge Stud, John represented them at the sales and bought a lot of fillies and War Eternal was born in 2018 and the first group of foals born here under Brendan and Jo’s ownership,” Calder said.

The seven-year-old War Eternal is Aleria’s first foal and had previously placed three times at stakes level and finished fourth in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).

“It’s a credit to Bjorn Baker and his team, he was a winner as a two-year-old and was competitive in some nice races as a three-year-old,” Calder said.

“His longevity is quite exceptional, and a lot of credit also has to go to (agent) Jim Clarke, who purchased the horse from us at Karaka for $160,000 and he’s gone on to earn $1 million, so it’s been a great investment.

“Aleria’s got a really nice Almanzor filly on the ground and, at this stage, she would be one of the stand-out fillies that we’ve got on the farm.

“We’re lucky that we have retained another daughter and we sold a Per Incanto colt (Stoneflight) for $300,000 and he made $750,000 at last year’s Ready to Run Sale.

“It’s a really active family and the mare is currently in foal to Chaldean.”

Aleria’s daughter Neednoman (NZ), a four-year-old by Reliable Man, was a recent winner and is raced on lease from the farm by clients of Sally McKay’s stable.

Cambridge Stud is also putting the finishing touches on its draft to this month’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale.

“We’ve got a daughter of Bivouac (Lot 99) and the stakes performed mare Dottie Dee (NZ) (Brazen Beau), so it was good to see Bivouac’s filly (Fireball Miss) win the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m),” Calder said.

“He’s had had two Group One winners now so I think our filly will be one that jumps off the page.

“We had a couple of years when we didn’t have a weanling draft and this is our second time back.

“There were quite a number of successful pinhooks among last year’s draft and there are some really nice horses this time there for people looking for resale or to carry on racing.”

The consignment also features youngsters by Almanzor, Hello Youmzain and Savabeel. - Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Stakes assignments in the offing for promising filly

Stakes targets are in the offing for promising juvenile filly Shamelia Kirk (NZ) (Shamexpress) if she handles the Heavy going at Trentham on Wednesday when she contests the Let’s Keep Racing At Trentham Supporters Club 2YO Sprint (1000m).

Initially set to take place on Saturday, the meeting was postponed to Wednesday following heavy rain, which resulted in surface water on both the course proper and steeplechase course.

The daughter of Shamexpress was runner-up on debut over 1100m at Woodville on a Soft6 track in April, and with Trentham rated a Heavy10 on Monday morning, trainer Robbie Patterson is looking forward to testing her in the wet conditions ahead of next month’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) and Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.

“I couldn’t be any happier with her,” Patterson said. “She jumped out at Stratford and went super. It will take a pretty good horse to beat her on Wednesday.

“At the moment she is thriving and happy, so if she can cop the Heavy track she will go to the Castletown and the Ryder.”

The New Plymouth filly will be joined on the float trip south by stablemate Sinbin (NZ) (Derryn), who will contest the Happy 70^th Birthday Pat Baker (1200m) following her first-up fourth placing over 1200m at Otaki last month.

“She had a good fresh-up run,” Patterson said. “She has improved immensely with that, she was carrying a lot of beef, she had a long time off.

“With natural improvement she will have to be going close. She loves Wellington and loves the Heavy there. She will get back, get to the outside and hopefully win the race.”

Patterson’s Group Three performed filly Capaci (NZ) (Tivaci) was also set to line-up at Trentham on Saturday, however, with the meeting’s postponement the Taranaki horseman has elected to head to Wanganui with her this coming Saturday instead.

“We will go to Wanganui with her, it is not as much travel for her to go to Wanganui,” Patterson said.

Her weekend assignment over a mile will likely be her final run of the season, and Patterson is hoping to end it on a winning note after a frustrating run.

“We have had our niggles with her that have set her back,” Patterson said. “She got a bug in her leg after the Eulogy (Gr.3, 1600m) where she ran third and we have been on the back foot ever since.

“We are regrouping really and are setting her up for a nice four-year-old campaign after this.”

Capaci will be joined by six other stable runners at Wanganui, and Patterson is particularly upbeat about his three prospects in the three-year-old 1340m contest.

“I have got three in the three-year-old race – Roc All Night, The Dirty Dee and Belles Boom – they are all nice horses and it is going to be hard to split them,” he said.

A day prior at his home track of New Plymouth, Patterson will line-up six horses at the Platinum Homes Taranaki Apprentice Raceday where he has highlighted Yaldy Time (NZ) (Time Test) and Our Edwardo (NZ) (The Bold One) as his stables leading prospects.

“Our Edwardo is going to be a nice staying horse in time,” Patterson said. “He was favourite fresh-up, he was just a bit plain and I thought he was still a bit dumb.

“Yaldy Time was favourite fresh-up but he reared in the gates and missed the kick. He is going to be a good chance.” - Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Curraghmore Set to Present Another Quality Karaka Weanling Draft

The tradition of presenting a quality selection is set to continue at Karaka on June 25 when Curraghmore offers its annual draft at the NZB Weanling Sale.

Farm principal Gordon Cunningham takes genuine pride in the process of preparing Curraghmore’s weanling draft, with this year’s six-strong offering again bound to attract the attention of a discerning buyers’ bench.

Colts by Sword of State, Ocean Park and Hilal, along with fillies by Super Seth, Satono Aladdin and Chaldean comprise a range of youngsters by proven stallions as well as a pair by two of the most talked-about freshmen with their first crops on the ground.

Under Cunningham’s management, Curraghmore has built an impressive record as both a sales consignor and agistment provider to a select clientele breeding, rearing and selling quality bloodstock.

The increasingly competitive weanling market provides no better example of Curraghmore’s industry standing, having topped the vendors’ table at the annual Karaka auction for an incredible 12 consecutive years and again leading the statistics at the two most recent sales.

In 2024 the Curraghmore draft realised an aggregate of $731,500 for eight lots at an average of $91,843, while last year’s draft saw all eight weanlings offered finding new homes for total returns of $465,000 at an average of $58,125.

“We have always treated this sale with respect and take a lot of pride in offering weanlings with quality pedigree credentials as well as being good types,” Cunningham told RaceForm when discussing his 2026 selection.

“This year’s draft is essentially no different from those we’ve taken to the sale over the years – all six are individuals that I’m confident will stand scrutiny and have definite futures.”

The first Curraghmore weanling to go through the ring is Lot 49, an early September-born filly by Satono Aladdin from the former smart sprinter Tevere. Satono Aladdin has a solid reputation as a sire of fillies, most notably the New Zealand-Australian Oaks double winner Pennyweka, while Tevere, a daughter of another well-proven filly sire in Contributer, was the stakes-placed winner of six races.

“She’s a quality filly from a good young mare and is made quite like her mum, who is due to foal this spring to Savabeel,” Cunningham said.

The remaining two fillies in the Curraghmore draft are a chestnut by Super Seth from the Sepoy mare Forte, who is an unraced half-sister to the Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Nechita, and one from the first crop of Frankel’s star son Chaldean out of the winning Burgundy mare Top Note. The first three dams on this filly’s page were winners in a family that produced Burgundy’s New Zealand Oaks-winning daughter Belle En Rouge.

The first of the three colts in the Curraghmore draft is Lot 53, a chestnut by Ocean Park from the Toorak Toff mare Toffee Nose, runner-up in the Gr.3 Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley and the dam already of two winners. This is the family of Tuesday Joy, Sunday Joy and More Joyous.

First-crop sire Hilal, the Group Two-winning son of Fastnet Rock, is represented by a colt from the Pierro mare Drama Series, whose granddam is the South Australian and Australasian Oaks winner Episode. She in turn produced star Curraghmore graduate First Seal, whose list of major wins was headed by the ATC Flight Stakes as well as finishing second four times at Group One level.  

The Curraghmore draft is completed by a bay Sword of State colt from the unraced Ocean Park mare Falling, whose dam Alagant Satin was one of the leading fillies of her generation with wins in the Eight Carat Classic and Eulogy Stakes.

As well as being hands-on at his home base on ideal thoroughbred rearing country between Cambridge and Te Awamutu, Cunningham maintains a keen eye on global trends, most significantly in this context the latest Sydney and Gold Coast weanling sales.

“The recent sales in Australia suggest some tightening of the market, but I believe there’s no doubt that genuine horses will still bring good returns,” Cunningham said.

“That confidence doesn’t apply only to our own draft but this sale across the board for the right article. The Karaka weanling sale has stood the test of time. It offers pinhookers a good selection of investment opportunities as well as those buyers looking for a decent young horse to take through to racing.”

View the 143-lot catalogue here. The catalogue can also be viewed on the Equineline app for iPads/tablets, or the Thoroughworks mobile app. 

Selling is set to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on Thursday 25 June. 

All weanlings offered are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series featuring the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). 

Buyers wishing to attend can book their stays at the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel onsite here or by emailing travel@nzb.co.nz for assistance. 

For more information, contact Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email kane.jones@nzb.co.nz, Sales Representative Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 512 466 or Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz or Andrew Buick at +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz.  - New Zealand Bloodstock

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

2026-05-30 / 2026-06-06

AUSTRALIA
Almanzor : Foire de Trone (NZ) (City Fair by Zamindar) 2021;
03 Jun 2026, 1st MRC Sportsbet H. 2100m

Ardrossan : Shiny Love (NZ) (Miss Rule by Bachelor Duke) 2021;
01 Jun 2026, 1st Thangool RC Commercial Hotel Biolela Maiden P. 1300m
Sold by Prima Park at National Yearling Sale for $30000
Sold by Prima Park at Ready to Run Sale for $100000

Charm Spirit : Charmed Passage (NZ) (Lalonde by Fastnet Rock) 2020;
30 May 2026, 1st Toowoomba TC Bottlemart H. 1000m

Derryn : Matawai (NZ) (Rocknrolla by Towkay) 2020;
30 May 2026, 1st Toowoomba TC Platinum Glass and Security H. 1625m

Derryn : Heard of Him (NZ) (Mifflin by Street Cry) 2023;
04 Jun 2026, 1st Hawkesbury RC De Bortoli Wines Midway Maiden H. 1400m
Sold by Kiltannon Stables Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $100000

Derryn : Laws Wars (NZ) (Tesia by Pins) 2022;
06 Jun 2026, 1st Darwin TC Sportsbet H. 1200m
Sold by HGT Bloodstock Ltd at National Weanling and Broodmare Sale for $10000

Ghibellines : First Chorus (NZ) (Broadway Miss by O'Reilly) 2021;
30 May 2026, 1st MRC Rod Fenwick H. 1600m

Iffraaj : Western Empire (NZ) (Western Jewel by Jeune) 2017;
30 May 2026, 1st WATC Hyperion S. Gr.3 1600m

Iffraaj : Gratification (NZ) (Our Kismet by Zabeel) 2020;
04 Jun 2026, 1st Ipswich TC AVS Security Maiden P. 1710m
Sold by Lilywhites Lodge at Ready to Run Sale for $85000

Niagara : Miss Niagara (NZ) (High Spin by High Chaparral) 2020;
30 May 2026, 1st Werribee RC Global Turf H. 2238m

Ocean Park : Our Sassy Lady (NZ) (Tihi Keepa by Keeper) 2020;
30 May 2026, 1st SAJC Sportsbet H. 1800m
Sold by Brighthill Farm at National Yearling Sale for $8000

Per Incanto : The Calabrese (NZ) (Drive On by Fastnet Rock) 2021;
30 May 2026, 1st WATC Vale Lois Taylor H. 1000m

Pierro : War Eternal (NZ) (Aleria by Fastnet Rock) 2018;
06 Jun 2026, 1st BRC Spear Chief H. L 1500m
Sold by Cambridge Stud at National Yearling Sale for $160000

Proisir : Le Troisir (NZ) (Teardrops by Fastnet Rock) 2021;
03 Jun 2026, 1st ATC Hyland Race Colours H. 2200m
Sold by Grangewilliam Stud at National Yearling Sale for $160000

Reliable Man : Donatello (NZ) (Lady Painton by Tavistock) 2022;
04 Jun 2026, 1st Hawkesbury RC Motel Maiden P. 1800m

Savabeel : Addition (NZ) (Include by Gallant Guru) 2020;
03 Jun 2026, 1st BRC Drinkwise H. 1640m
Sold by White Robe Lodge at National Yearling Sale for $320000

Super Seth : Couples Retreat (NZ) (Date Night by Savabeel) 2021;
30 May 2026, 1st ATC Vale Peter Taylor H. 1100m
Sold by Waikato Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $280000

Sweynesse : Swexan (NZ) (Dare to Compare by Jakkalberry) 2021;
30 May 2026, 1st Carnarvon RC Mt Augustus Tourist Park H. 1400m

Sweynesse : Ongatiti (NZ) (Hinuera by Librettist) 2020;
31 May 2026, 1st MRC Sportsbet Hurdle 3400m

Swiss Ace : Detain (NZ) (Sainted by More Than Ready) 2020;
31 May 2026, 1st Scone RC Snowden Racing H. 1000m

Tavistock : Sing for Peace (NZ) (The Nightingale by Stravinsky) 2018;
31 May 2026, 1st MRC Australian S/chase 3900m
Sold by Woburn Farm at National Yearling Sale for $140000

Telperion : Sasterion (NZ) (Sastre by Reliable Man) 2021;
30 May 2026, 1st Werribee RC Roderick Insurance Brokers Maiden P. 2238m
Sold by Westbury Stud at Ready to Run Sale for $12500

Too Darn Hot : Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) (Rosa Carolina by Savabeel) 2021;
30 May 2026, 1st MRC Darren Gauci H. 1200m
Sold by Elsdon Park at National Yearling Sale for $170000

Unusual Suspect : Sounds Unusual (NZ) (Perfectlyenchanted by Perfectly Ready) 2020;
30 May 2026, 1st ATC Greg Millett H. 1800m

War Decree : The Western Front (NZ) (Rosaeflora by Zacinto) 2020;
31 May 2026, 1st MRC Sandown Cup L 3200m

Zed : Notabadjackup (NZ) (Hold Me Close by Darci Brahma) 2021;
06 Jun 2026, 1st GCTC Bulletin H. 1800m


HONG KONG
All Too Hard : Ka Ying Lightning (NZ) (Floating Heart by Encosta de Lago) 2022;
31 May 2026, 1st HKJC Mei Zhou Association Cup 1000m
Sold by Pencarrow Stud at National Yearling Sale for $120000
Sold by KB Bloodstock at Ready to Run Sale for $200000

Burgundy : Double Win (NZ) (Salsa by O'Reilly) 2019;
31 May 2026, 1st HKJC Federation of Huichow Associations Cup 2000m

Derryn : Family Fortune (NZ) (Waiana Gold by Gold Centre) 2020;
03 Jun 2026, 1st HKJC Mount Butler H. 1650m
Sold by HGT Bloodstock Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $30000

Per Incanto : Aeroinvincible (NZ) (Miss Bondi by O'Reilly) 2020;
31 May 2026, 1st HKJC Hakka Cup 1400m
Sold by Riversley Park Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $320000

Sacred Falls : Take Action (NZ) (Pleased by Savabeel) 2020;
03 Jun 2026, 1st HKJC Middle Gap H. 1650m
Sold by Ohukia Lodge Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $220000

Territories : Oldtown (NZ) (St Gallen by Commands) 2021;
31 May 2026, 1st HKJC Federation of Guangzhou Associations Cup 1200m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Yearling Sale for $75000

Time Test : Family Jewel (NZ) (Awesome by High Chaparral) 2020;
31 May 2026, 1st HKJC General Association Heyuan Societies Cup 1600m
Sold by Little Avondale Stud at National Yearling Sale for $52500
Sold by Woburn Farm at Ready to Run Sale for $75000

Too Darn Hot : Ka Ying Attack (NZ) (Refreshing by Stratum) 2021;
31 May 2026, 1st HKJC Ka Ying (Meizhou) General Chamber of Commerce Cup 1200m
Sold by Jamieson Park at National Weanling Sale for $30000


MALAYSIA
Mongolian Khan : Radetzky Marsch (NZ) (Nosecondprize by Pentire) 2017;
31 May 2026, 1st Perak TC Class 5 H. 1400m
Sold by Seaton Park Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $27500
Sold by Riverrock Farm at Ready to Run Sale for $100000

Ribchester : Heavenly Warrior (NZ) (Qiji Sunlight by Medaglia d'Oro) 2021;
31 May 2026, 1st Perak TC Class 4 H. 1400m

Zacinto : Roger Roger (NZ) (Swiss Precision by Swiss Ace) 2019;
31 May 2026, 1st Perak TC Class 5 H. 1400m

🎥 Did you see?