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Savaglee crowned Champion Three-Year-Old

The Oaks Studs' Savabeel colt Savaglee was crowned Champion Three-Year-Old on Sunday night, at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse Of The Year Awards in Hamilton.Savaglee headed off the hotly contested three year old section to take the title from an age group that included the likes of Alabama Lass, Damask Rose, Leica Lucy, Captured By Love and Willydoit.Savaglee’s haul last season included the Group 2 Hawkes Bay Guineas, Group 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes, Group 1 NZ Two Thousan...

War Princess seeking crowning glory

Awapuni filly War Princess will head up State Highway Three on Saturday to Wanganui in search of all-important black-type in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).The daughter of U S Navy Flag won two of her three starts as a juvenile, and was unplaced in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in March, and trainer Peter Didham is pleased with the way she has returned as a three-year-old.She won a 1000m trial at Awapuni earlier this month, which piqued the interest of TAB bookma...

Navy King sails to victory at the Valley

A well-judged front-running ride by Daniel Stackhouse has aided five-year-old gelding Navy King to claim the lion’s share of the prize in the MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.The Symon Wilde-trained son of US Navy Flag was able to take the role of pacemaker from a wide draw without too much pressure and despite laying out slightly in the home straight, had half a length to spare over runner-up Bur Dubai.Having shown good potential as a three-year-old, Navy King won one race...

2025 Stallion Parade

The Oaks Stud Stallions (U S Navy Flag, The Chosen One & Roc de Cambes) will be parading on Sunday 24th August at 12.30 pm as part of the Gavelhouse.com Waikato Stallion Weekend.All welcome - 122 Roto-o-Rangi Road, Cambridge. ...

Stud on target for further Guineas glory

High-class filly Tajana has taken an impressive step toward a third Group One fillies’ feature for breeder and owner The Oaks Stud.The Shaun Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained representative opened her classic season at Ruakaka where she overcame trying conditions to land the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).“I thought the track and the distance was right against her and I told him (Wiremu Pinn) to ride for luck,” The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Wiliams said.“If she had run on f...

Interprovincial goes to Horowhenua courtesy of Chantilly Lace

Consistent mare Chantilly Lace (U S Navy Flag) carried the colours of Horowhenua to a thrilling victory in the feature race at New Plymouth, the ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m).The unique contest sees runners discard their traditional silks in favour of the colours of the region they represent with the red, white and blue of Horowhenua adorning the Chrissy Bambry-prepared runner who has been a model of consistency during her current preparation without managing to find the winner’s en...

Tajana makes brilliant return in Breeders' Stakes

The Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) has often been the one that got away for Shaune Ritchie, but Tajana’s superb first-up performance at Ruakaka on Saturday has the Cambridge trainer dreaming of a breakthrough in the Riccarton classic.A last-to-first triumph in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) was Tajana’s first step along the road to the 1000 Guineas – a race Ritchie has run second in with Keep The Peace in 2009, Bella Gioia in 2016 and Jennifer Eccles in...

The Oaks Stud fillies thriving ahead of Group 3 test

The Oaks Stud homebred filly Tajana (Darci Brahma)...

Breeders target for Cashla Bay

Promising filly Cashla Bay is headed for a Group Three target early in the new season after recording a comfortable first-up success at Ruakaka on Saturday.Bred and raced by The Oaks Stud, Cashla Bay debuted in stakes company when finishing fifth in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) run in early February, won by subsequent Group One winner Return To Conquer.She continued to improve through her juvenile campaign, defeating the older horses over 1400m in April, but headed for a short spe...

Connections in no hurry with high-class Savaglee

Star colt Savaglee is likely to be a notable absentee from all spring feature events.The Group One-winning son of Savabeel has returned from an extended break and is in light work at owner Dick Karreman’s The Oaks Stud.“You won’t see him probably until after Christmas, he could have a run here and then go to Australia,” trainer Pam Gerard said.“Obviously, he’s been off for quite a while for a colt and it’s hard to make a plan until we get him back to the stable and see how he’s w...

U S Navy Flag - already sire of 18 black type horses

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Catalyst enjoying life after racing

Group 1 winner Catalyst (owned by The Oaks Stud) has made a promising start to his eventing career and came 2nd at a recent dressage event in Hamilton.Catalyst, who won the 2000 Guineas in 2019 and over $527,000 in prizemoney, is now ridden by Emma Simons who also works at The Oaks Stud. Photos - Parklane Photography....

Tough Graft takes Listed honours for U S Navy Flag

Graft (U S Navy Flag) took out the Listed Prix La Fleche at Chantilly yesterday for owners Henry Chavancy, Antoinette Kavanagh and Josephine Soudan, the latter also the victorious trainer.Held up in touch in the early stages, he won in a manner reminiscent of his sire and indeed his grandsire, after coasting to the front and repelling the prominent half-length second Super Soldier (Dark Angel), who did well to hold on for minor honours after forcing a strong gallop. Kimi Rey (Kingman) was doing ...

Double for broodmare Italic

Voyage Boss (NZ) strikes on debut...

U S Navy Flag heads The Oaks roster for 2025

Heading The Oaks Stud's 2025 three-strong roster is New Zealand's Champion First and Second Season Sire, U S Navy Flag, his fee has been reduced slightly to NZ$12,500 plus GST. The Thoroughbred Report caught up with The Oaks Stud's General Manager, Rick Williams, to learn more.On Tuesday, one of New Zealand’s premier nurseries, The Oaks Stud, announced its three-strong roster, headed by the royally bred and accomplished U S Navy Flag (USA). The stallion has a slightly reduced fee of NZ$12,500 ...

Smart mare to make the most of second chances

After failing to get in foal last season, Chantilly Lace is progressing well toward black-type targets before connections turn their focus back to her breeding career.The daughter of U S Navy Flag will step out in Saturday’s Trust House Masterton Cup (1400m) at Trentham as a forerunner to further stakes opportunities.Chantilly Lace will be making the third appearance of her campaign, and the prospect of soft ground will provide her with the ideal stage to showcase her talent.“Obviously, she ...

Marsh stable covering all stakes bases

Stephen Marsh’s travelling road show continues this weekend with stakes contenders in two Australian states and a strong hand in a domestic age group feature.The Cambridge trainer has Roctave in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2000m) at Morphettville while Tardelli will do battle in the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm.On the home front, in-form fillies Lady Iris and Mazino will go head-to-head at Te Rapa in the Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1200m).Marsh, who returned ...

Cashla Bay has experience on her side

With five races under her belt, Cashla Bay is one of the more seasoned runners in Saturday’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa, and trainer Andrew Forsman is hoping that works in her favour.Bred and raced by The Oaks Stud, Cashla Bay made her debut in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie in February where she beat just one runner home. She improved on that result when placing in her subsequent three starts, before breaking through for her mai...

Foxton filly flies on debut

The crowd roared at Wanganui on Sunday when first-starter Silver Salute powered past her better-backed rivals to win the Egan Racing 2YO (1200m).Silver Salute had trialled twice for two placings prior to her debut assignment, where she was underrated in a market dominated by Presence Of Mind ($2.40) and Pink Gin ($2.80). The latter stepped slowly from the gates, while Silver Salute picked it beautifully and settled midfield in the six-horse affair.Princess Elsa had set the early tempo but was so...

Impressive juvenile The Espy on top at Tauranga

The future is looking bright for Andrew Forsman’s two-year-olds, with sharp gelding The Espy defeating stablemate Belle Noire in the Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge and Tauranga (1100m) on Sunday.After a smart trial victory at Ellerslie in mid-February, The Espy was a warm favourite to repeat that performance at Waverley on debut, but was caught three-wide throughout and finished fifth behind Pacific Breeze.Three weeks later, The Espy travelled to Tauranga and remained a short-priced favourite, a...

Group One task for War Princess

Peter Didham and his owners can take a good deal of satisfaction from their dual representation in Saturday’s feature event at Trentham, regardless of the outcome.The Awapuni trainer and connections have the unbeaten War Princess and the promising Shameless Star to do battle in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).The stablemates were purchased as early prospects and for both to be competing at the elite level this weekend is a sound reflection on the selection proce...

U S Navy Flag filly wins on debut

Stephen Marsh has unveiled a number of promising two-year-old fillies this week and the latest in Lady Iris (U S Navy Flag) stamped her authority with a strong win in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1050m) at Matamata on Sunday.Wiremu Pinn partnered Lady Iris at her first appearance to the races, having made a good impression in two trials. She was among the better-backed runners at $8.50, albeit with a clear favourite in Fury Of Flight ($2.10).Jumping from barrier six, Lady Iris showed g...

Quinella for U S Navy Flag in Wanganui opener

Impressive debut winner War Princess made it two from two when she led from go to whoa in the opening event at Wanganui, the Wanganui Insurance Brokers 2YO (1200m).The two-year-old daughter of U S Navy Flag looked to have untapped ability when she won over 1000m at Tauherenikau before enhancing that impression with a subsequent trial win at Foxton last month, where she headed home Group Two winner Too Sweet.Sent out a warm $2.60 favourite, rider Lily Sutherland bounced her away nicely from her e...

Elite-level targets in the offing for Tajana

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray have Group 1 aims for their 2-year-old filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who fought hard to beat the favourite Hostility (NZ) (I Am Invincible) by 0.2L at Matamata on Wednesday.The pair accelerated away from the field from the 150-metre mark to beat the remainders by over 4L in a neck and neck battle. Hostility was on debut and was the sale topper at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale in 2024 at NZ$1.65 million, while Tajana is a h...

Sires audition for Tajana

Darci Brahma, sire of promising 2YO Tajana...