Hales Land Amazing Double

2 April 2012

Dannevirke breeder/owners Peter and Marg Hales landed an amazing double at Randwick Kensington yesterday.

Proving that lightning can strike twice, the pair were championed by their Centaine mare, Censibelle, whose Chris Waller-trained O’Reilly progeny remarkably struck glory in consecutive races.

The Hale’s first homebred and raced victor came in the shape of Censibelle’s 3YO O’Reilly daughter, Eliza Blues (NZ).

Justifying a long range tilt at the Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m), Eliza Blues flew home from last to take the Hyland Race Colours Handicap over 1550m.

In the very next, it was the turn of Censibelle’s 4YO O’Reilly daughter Baranski, with victory here coming in the Mondial Pink Diamond (1550m).

Adding an extra dimension to the performance of these two full sisters, is the fact that they are full siblings to Old Belvedere, a 5 time winning O’Reilly gelding that the Hales bred and raced for success in the Gr.3 Marton JC Metric Mile.

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.