Lopov Strikes at The Valley

2 July 2011

Savabeel’s son Lopov showed he was a horse to follow with a stylish victory at the Melbourne track today.

The son of the G1 Cox Plate winner is building a strong staying record with a win and two placings since taking his chances over ground.

Trained by Danny O’Brien, Lopov was given the perfect run by apprentice Brent Evans on Saturday and took control of the race on the home turn. The three-year-old held a strong gallop to the finish to deny the favourite You Think So and post his third success from 14 appearances.

The gelding was bought by O’Brien from WS’s 2009 Karaka draft for $25,000 and is out of the Gr 2 performed mare Prickle, a daughter of Pins who won three races and is a sister to the well-performed Sydney stayer Legsman (Listed Winter Cup). Their dam Snobbish (Centaine) is a full-sister to the multiple Gr 1 winner Slight Chance.

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.