Not much this weekend, really. More races up at Ruakaka - I'll see what the fields are like before I decide whether or not I'll go.

But the first G1 of the 2013-14 season is now only 47 days away!

And I've decided to take a small share in another horse. Super excited about this one! It's with Te Akau, who are such a big force in NZ racing. And there's so many good horses in this little guy's family.


He turns 2 on August 1. :)

That's great, ed. So happy to hear it!

Keep us updated. :)

Didn't you buy into another horse, a colt, at the same time as Pinzaara or am I not remembering this correctly?

Is it here yet? :D

That's right - no luck with that guy. He showed some promise in his training, but didn't show that at all on the track in his two races. The trainer said he wasn't enjoying being a racehorse, so that was the end of that! I hope he's doing something he enjoys more now.

But the syndicate that owns Pinzaara used some of the money she's won to get a few more fillies for next year. :) They are Cantina, who's about to turn 3 (Cecconi - The Sand Queen) and will be trained by Shaune Ritchie, and two unnamed 1-year-old fillies - Elusive City-Voyeur (trained by Peter and Dawn Williams) and Zabeel-Tutuland (trained by Graham Richardson).

So I have around a 2% share in all of those, and 5% in the Pins colt. I'll keep you updated on all of them!

Te Akau have mentioned the Derby as the dream for the Pins colt! That's a longshot, but the dream's still alive at the moment - for him and a few thousand others!

Ooh, two 2yo races up at Ruakaka on Saturday, and one of them has G3 winner Girl Of My Dreams. Tempting! Especially when you add in the warmer weather, beautiful scenery, the fact my sister lives nearby... Yeah, definitely going. :D Love it up there.

Awesome! Have a great time. :)

Awards nominees: http://www.nzracing.co.nz/News/9165/...Finalists.aspx

I'll make my picks a bit nearer the time. :)

The big surprise is Sacred Falls missing out on any nominations. Apparently that's because he moved to Chris Waller's stable in Sydney in December, so isn't eligible. But it seems unfair that he won four stakes races here (including the G1 2000 Guineas) and doesn't get anything, while It's A Dundeel, who didn't race in NZ at all this season, has 3yo and Horse Of The Year noms!

Also, I was looking through the list of mares that were sent to Jimmy Choux in his first season at stud last spring. One of them was Sheila Cheval - dam of Mufhasa! :eek:

That's nuts!

As an aside that is some list for Horse of the Year!

Can't wait to see your picks.

!!!!!

Wonderful day at Ruakaka again. Love it there! Roger James has another very nice 2-year-old filly - Dunoon.

Some news about my new Pins colt!

The stable staff have nicknamed him Archie. Here are some photos.




(He's on the left)

He's so beautiful!!!!!!! Thanks for posting these. :)

Thought you might wanna know that Hoofit was 3rd at Saratoga today. :)

Remember this (awww Upsala was in this one too)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuzOW3EoGZs :tro:

Oh, fantastic! He was a good little 2-year-old here. So great to hear he's done well.

Good luck to Fritzy Boy (wow his 60th start) on Saturday. :)

(... and to Go Danny to cause it's his 82nd). :eek:

Come home safe.

Fritzy ran well. Just too much weight on his back again.

The battle for leading jockey is getting interesting! With less than a week to go in the season, Opie Bosson has 148 and Matt Cameron has 147.

They've won one each since I made that post, so 149-148 now.

Orbity was so impressive in the Ryder Stakes! Such a small filly, but she's got a big engine. Liked the late finish by We'regoingtogetcha to get second. He might be worth watching in the early 3yo races.

Will catch up with the replays over the weekend. :)

Glad Fritzy ran well and thanks for the heads up on the others!

Matt Cameron just won a race, so it's 150-149 to Bosson...

Bosson wins another one straight away. 151-149.

And another win for Bosson. 152-149. That might be it, with only one day left.

Good luck to Opie!

Bosson wins! 152-149.

Really happy for him. But I feel sorry for Cameron - he came second last year too, with Lisa Allpress beating him by 159 wins to 156! :( Good luck for 2013-14, Matt. :)

Very happy for Opie but yes I feel sorry for Cameron too. Hopefully some year. :)

Happy birthday to all the wonderful boys and girls.

Make a wish! :D

Love the birthday wishes pic on the NZ racing site! :) :tro:

There was a nice story on TV news about the horses' birthday. I'm not sure if it works outside NZ, but here's the link in case.
http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp/happy-...-video-5524907

So nice to see Ethereal and Bonecrusher.

Oh my God ed that was fantastic and I loved loved loved seeing the beautiful Ethereal but when they got to Bonecrusher I just almost started crying.

Just lovely. :)

AWARDS PICKS

2yo:
RECITE

My call might be a bit of a surprise here. Ruud Awakening is the likely winner of this award. She definitely generated the most hype and excitement with her big wins in the Karaka Million and G1 Diamond Stakes. But Recite was perfect through four starts, including the G1 Sires' Produce, G2 Breeders' Stakes and G2 Wakefield Stakes. I just feel like she accomplished more.


3yo:
SACRED FALLS (just ahead of Habibi)

Again, I completely disagree with the awards committee. They nominated Dundeel, and of course he's going to win for his amazing performances in Australia. But I don't think a horse who didn't race in NZ at all as a 3yo should be eligible to be declared our country's best 3yo. So I've gone for Sacred Falls for his spring winning spree - Northland Challenge Stakes, G2 Hawke's Bay Guineas, G3 Sarten Memorial and G1 2000 Guineas. I remember thinking the award was settled as soon as Sacred Falls crossed the line in the 2000 Guineas in November. But then Habibi had an AMAZING late summer and came so close to taking the award - wins in the G2 Great Northern Guineas, G2 Championship Stakes and G1 Derby. She was fabulous, but Sacred Falls just beats her for me.


Sprinter
FINAL TOUCH

At the start of the season, Final Touch hadn't won a single graded stakes race. Over the summer she won the G1 Captain Cook Stakes, G1 Telegraph and G1 Waikato Sprint. She was unbelievable! Of course Mufhasa and Xanadu are phenomenal horses too, but I think this is one of the easiest picks.


Middle distance horse
OCEAN PARK

This one's pretty easy too. Two G1 wins in NZ, and also three in Australia (including the Cox Plate). He was sensational this season.


Stayer
SANGSTER

I thought he was done - he had quite a long series of failures after his G1 Victoria Derby win in Australia in November 2011. But he suddenly awoke from his slumber this season, winning the G1 Auckland Cup, G1 International Stakes and G2 Avondale Cup.


Horse of the year
FINAL TOUCH

Ocean Park or Dundeel will win this, but I went for Final Touch because she did more in NZ than either of those. She was on the only horse to win three G1s in NZ this season, and that's good enough for me.

Yeah that's crazy.

I like your reasoning for Final Touch being Horse of the Year.

I thought it would go to Ocean Park but am suddenly thinking no maybe Habibi will get it.

Exciting! Too many good ones to choose from. :)

Seems to me it's almost time for the new, annual thread!

Going through withdrawals so it's nice to read about some of them any way. :D

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/racing/new...ectid=10909064

Looking good, Veyron!!!

http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...-Aroha-hitouts

Fantastic!

Yep, definitely time for the new thread! I'll make it some time in the next few days.

This is the way I think the voting will go but keep in mind I get too sentimental.

2YO - Ruud Awakening

3YO - Fix

Sprinter - Final Touch

Middle Distance - Ocean Park

Stayer - Silent Acheiver

Horse of the Year - Habibi

* * *

Kinda wish he were just staying home.

Good luck, Veyron! :{>:

http://www.nztm.co.nz/Media-Centre/N...0m-on-the-24th.

Yeah, those picks make sense! All have good chances of winning.

Speaking of Fix, some disappointing news...
http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...-sidelines-Fix

I thought she was in for a big year. Oh well. Hopefully in the autumn!

Good news about Single Minded.
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/News/9512/...-recovery.aspx

So long, Habibi. :( Good luck in the US!
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/News/9526/...by-winner.aspx

When she races I will go and see her and let you know how she looks. :)

Great about Single Minded and aswww... poor Fix.

On the King...

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=282449

As usual mixed feelings but am thrilled to read about how fit and happy he sounds.

Yeah, very mixed feelings for me too. On one hand, I'd LOVE to see him win another big race at Hastings this spring. On the other, I'm a bit worried about him. Just really hope he comes home 100% safe and gets the long, happy retirement he deserves.