High Hopes For Filly Fulfilled

14 November 2011

Hope So displayed a turn of foot reminiscent of her famous father when she made a dream debut at Te Awamutu. Bred and raced by WS and trained for them by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, she had the benefit of three preparatory trials leading in to her first raceday outing today and she delivered in grand style.

She settled back in pack for rider Jason Collett and was still some distance of the leader turning for home. However, once she was into the clear she produced an explosive finish to come between runners and win going away.

Hope So is a daughter of sire Fast ‘N’ Famous who was an outstanding sprinting son of Redoute’s Choice. He was the winner of six of his 13 starts including the Gr 3 Gilgai Stakes and the Listed Starlight Stakes and was Gr 1 placed in the Galaxy Handicap, All-Aged Stakes and the BTC Cup.

Out of the winning Last Tycoon mare Viveasha, Hope So is a half-sister to the Gr 1 Queensland Derby winner Lachlan River (Pins). Former stud resident and dual Gr 1 Salinger Stakes and Oakleigh Plate winner Sudurka, Gr 1 AJC Oaks winner My Brilliant Star and the Gr 1 Toorak Handicap winner Shot Of Thunder all also feature in the pedigree.

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.