Group One for O’Dianne

6 March 2015

O’Dianne will move back up in grade following her maiden success at Ellerslie on Wednesday.

Fourth in the Listed Karaka Million, the youngster led all the way to be rewarded for four previous placings and trainer Stephen McKee is now keen on Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes start.

“I think she’s a touch better left-handed,” he said. “She deserves a crack and she’s maturing all the time.”

O’Dianne was ridden by her regular partner Sam Spratt, who said it was a straightforward victory.

“She was just cruising all the way, hugged the rail and did it nicely. She’s a big, strong girl.”

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.