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The Oaks Stud Acquires U S Navy Flag

After a sensational weekend for U S Navy Flag (USA) when his gun filly Chantilly Lace (NZ) was the dominant 10 L winner of the Listed Castletown S., TDN AusNZ caught up with Chantilly Lace’s trainer Chrissy Bambry and The Oaks Stud’s Rick Williams who has announced the son of War Front (USA) has been acquired outright.The timing could not have been better for promising stallion U S Navy Flag (USA) to sire a double, including a stakes race on Saturday.Rick Williams, general manager of The Oak...

Chantilly Lace Scores Emphatic Stakes Victory

It was a popular win at Wanganui on Saturday when Chantilly Lace demolished her rivals in the Listed John Turkington Forestry LTD Castletown Stakes (1200m).The daughter of U S Navy Flag headed into the race in great form, having placed in the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at her previous outing, and trainer Chrissy Bambry was confident of another bold showing in Saturday’s juvenile feature.Chantilly Lace didn’t disappoint, running out a 10-length victor following a positive ride fr...

Niagara back in the Bay

Proven stallion Niagara, a Group Two winning son of Encosta de Lago, will return to Hawke’s Bay ahead of the 2023 breeding season to take up residence at Vicki Wilson’s Hau Ora Farm in Kahuranaki, south of Hastings.It is somewhat of a homecoming for Niagara, who initially retired to Greg and Jo Griffin’s Lime Country Thoroughbreds in Hawke’s Bay in 2013, before the couple relocated across the Tasman, resulting in Niagara joining The Oaks Stud’s roster in 2017.The sire of nine stakes pe...

McNab keen to capitalise on his Oaks opportunity

New Zealand's premier jockey Michael McNab can't wait to grasp his opportunity in Group One company in Brisbane on Saturday.McNab will ride Cheval D'Or for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike in Saturday's Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm, his first shot at an elite-level race in Australia - and he's aiming to make the most of it.Already with nine Group One wins under his belt in New Zealand and on track to win his second consecutive New Zealand jockeys' premiership, McNab has won 14 races in ...

The Chosen One to stand at The Oaks Stud

The Chosen One will join the rejuvenated stallion roster at The Oaks Stud this breeding season.The Chosen One joins Champion European Two-year-old and Champion Sprinter U S Navy Flag and proven Classic sire Roc de Cambes at the Cambridge farm, with stalwart Darci Brahma retired from stud duties last month.“We’re really excited to be standing The Chosen One this season,” The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams said.“He has all the credentials to be a success at stud, he’s a Group On...

Cheval D'Or on track for Queensland Oaks

Cambridge trained filly Cheval D’Or tuned up for a tilt at the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm with an exhibition gallop between races at Te Rapa on Saturday on a heavy track.Prepared by Tony Pike, the daughter of Almanzor was a last start winner of the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Pukekohe last month and it will be six weeks between runs when she contests Saturday week’s Oaks.“It was really just a day out to get away from home and give her a gallop, obviously not in idea...

Stakes win for Ocean Vision

Ocean Vision, who last year provided a poignant victory at Deauville when supplying both his sire Coolmore Stud’s U S Navy Flag and his trainer Tim Donworth with their first respective Stakes successes, was able to add another Listed win yesterday when landing the Prix de Pontarme at Longchamp.The three-year-old colt raced prominently in the 1400m contest, before coming under pressure with 300m to go and pushing through a gap to challenge the longtime leader Knock On (Zelzal) inside the final ...

Seasonal Position Available

The Oaks Stud have a position available for a keen, reliable person to join our Broodmare team for the 2023 breeding season (July 2023 to February 2024).Key responsibilities will include:·         Feeding out and checking paddocks·         Administering treatments·         Bringing mares in for vetting each day·         Holding horses...

Cunneen hoping to break new ground

Riccarton trainer Meg Cunneen is hoping to break new ground this week by securing her first stakes win on her home track.Cunneen will produce promising US Navy Flag two-year-old filly Semper Supra in the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on SaturdaySemper Supra has drawn barrier seven for the nine-horse Champagne Stakes but Cunneen sees few negatives with that gate."Just the way the track is with recent racing, it could be a little bit better out wider so we're not worrie...

Changing of guard at The Oaks Stud

As one door has closed at The Oaks Stud with the retirement from commercial duty of farm stalwart Darci Brahma another has remained wide open with U S Navy Flag to return to the Cambridge nursery.Danehill’s son Darci Brahma has successfully led the lineup at the Dick Karreman-owned operation with a stallion career to compliment his glittering record on the track, which featured Group One victories as a two, three and four-year-old.At the other end of the scale, former crack European short cour...

U S Navy Flag returning to The Oaks Stud in 2023

The Oaks Stud have confirmed that the highly promising, Coolmore Stud owned U S Navy Flag will return to the southern hemisphere for the 2023 breeding season.The son of War Front is currently sitting second on the New Zealand 1st Season Sires table, having been represented by five individual 2YO winners in New Zealand, and 22 winners worldwide.From his New Zealand runners so far, his headline acts include Group 1 performers Aprilia and To Catch A Thief who ran 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Gro...

Cheval D'Or takes out 3YO feature at Pukekohe

In a race affected by the late scratching of pre-post favourite Desert Lightning due to the downgrade of the track to a Heavy 10 earlier in the day, it was consistent filly Cheval D’Or who mastered the testing conditions to take out the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Pukekohe.The half-sister to multiple Group One winning sprinter Bostonian, who had finished in the first four in all of her previous five starts without notching up a win, came in for some inspired late support...

Hopes of catching a winning break in Champagne

To Catch A Thief will sport a fresh look at Pukekohe Park on Saturday when he attempts to break his maiden after competing with recent distinction in far stronger company.The son of U S Navy Flag has performed well at the top level this preparation and success in the Listed Staphanos At Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m) would be both deserved and emotional for all concerned.To Catch A Thief races in the colours of Ashford Lodge’s Peter Walker and an ownership group that also includes the es...

Royal Ascot target for U S Navy Flag filly

Love Reigns (3f U S Navy Flag - Humble And Proud, by Pivotal) will be aimed at Royal Ascot after making a smart three-year-old return in the $250,000 Limestone Stakes at Keeneland.Ridden patiently by Joel Rosario, the Wesley Ward-trained bay was forced to bide her time until a gap appeared approaching the final furlong. Finishing with a flourish, she led close home to beat stablemate Lady Holywood by half a length.“We were following a couple of horses and she really came with a nice move,” R...

U S Navy Flag 2YO’s place in Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes

U S Navy Flag was represented by three runners in Saturday’s Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes at Awapuni, with the tough filly Aprilia picking up a valuable Group 1 placing running 2nd to Pignan. To Catch A Thief ran home strongly for 3rd and Chantilly Lace also showed plenty of fight running on for 5th in the twelve horse field over 1400m....

Smart son of U S Navy Flag records back to back wins

Conquistador (3g U S Navy Flag - El Diamante, by Royal Applause) produced an impressive turn of foot to record back-to-back wins at Lingfield on Saturday.The first crop son of U S Navy Flag made a winning start for George Boughey over the minimum trip in December and stepped up to six furlongs at the weekend. Ridden by Connor Planas, the bay was shaken up approaching the two furlong marker and had plenty of ground to make up on the quickening leaders. Running on strongly inside the final furlong...

Richardson runner ready for Group 1 assault

Trainer Graeme Richardson believes the step up to 1400m for Saturday’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) is the key to promising two-year-old To Catch A Thief finding his way to the top of the podium for the first time in his short juvenile career.The son of US Navy Flag was once again seen finishing strongly when running into fourth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe earlier this month after being held up for a distance in the home straight that day.“He...

Stakes Winning son of U S Navy Flag gains further success

Stakes winner Ocean Vision (3c U S Navy Flag - Balaagha, by Mr Greeley) returned to the winner’s enclosure on Tuesday when taking the Prix du Belvedere at Chantilly.A Listed winner and Group 2 placed as a juvenile, the Tim Donworth-trained colt made a smart return to action last month at Doha, where he finished third in the Group 2 Al Rayyan Mile. Racing over the same trip at Chantilly, he made all of the running under and quickened turning for home. Ridden from the two furlong marker, he ran ...

Well-bred U S Navy Flag filly Aprilia impresses at Matamata

Well-related two-year-old filly Aprilia turned her form around at Matamata on Wednesday after a below expectation debut performance on the Cambridge synthetic when beaten into third as an odds-on favourite.The filly jumped well to sit outside the leader in the Tokoroa Cosmopolitan 2YO (1200m) and kicked strongly in the run home to score under the urgings of Kozzi Asano, defeating well-supported Te Akau pair Fiore Di Campo and The Princie One.Aprilia is a half-sister by U S Navy Flag to the Gr.1 ...

First Southern Hemisphere Winner For U S Navy Flag

The Chrissy Bambry-trained Chantilly Lace ran out an impressive winner of the Palamountains Animal Nutrition 2YO 1200 at Wanganui on Thursday and in the process provided her sire, US Navy Flag, with his first southern hemisphere winner.Sent out an $11 chance, Chantilly Lace settled midfield under Kelsey Hannan and was sent forward to tackle the leaders coming around the home bend, dashing away for an easy two-and-a-half length victory at her fourth raceday start.The filly had been luckless when ...

Legends Day at Te Rapa

Hear from our own Clodagh Coughlan about life after racing for retired stars D B Pin, Catalyst and Seachange....

Legends Day at Te Rapa

Three of our own stars made a special trip to Te Rapa on Saturday. Seachange, Catalyst and D B Pin enjoyed playing center stage along with some other well-known names.  Click below to watch. ...

Successful Book 1 Sale for The Oaks Stud

The Oaks Stud was the third leading vendor by average at Karaka this week across the Book 1 Sale, with seven horses sold for an average of NZ$182,857....

D Star scores impressive maiden win in Hong Kong

Darci Brahma gelding D Star (ex Florella) was an impressive maiden winner in Hong Kong on Sunday nightPassed in at the 2021 Ready To Run Sale under the Kiltannon Lodge banner, D Star hasn't taken long to get a win on the board for his new connections.Watch the replay here:R5 HKJC Sunday 15th JanuaryThe Oaks Stud will present three of our best Darci Brahma colts at Karaka in just over one week's time.View our draft here...

2023 Karaka Yearling Sale Preview

Watch it here......