Group one feature on packing pins’ radar

12 October 2015

Impressive last-start winner Packing Pins has been set for one of Sha Tin’s premier events. Trainer Ricky Yui has the exciting WS graduate on a path toward the Gr 1 Hong Kong Mile.

Packing Pins took his record to six wins from nine appearances when he romped away with the Lukfook Jewellery Cup on Saturday to remain unbeaten in his last five outings. He was ridden to his latest success by Zac Purton, but a new jockey will now have to be found for the gelding’s next appearance in the Gr 2 Sha Tin Trophy.

“He will have a light weight in that so I need to find a new jockey and we will see if he can make it into the international races,” Yiu said. “The aim has always been to go for the Hong Kong Mile, but he still needs to get his rating high enough.

“We will throw him in the deep end, he can run there and then three weeks later in the Jockey Club Mile to prove himself worthy of an invitation. He came here as a late three-year-old and didn’t run until four, but has just kept on improving every run.”

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

9 July 2026

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.