Rudyard powers to Pukekohe victory
The Tony Pike-trained Rudyard produced a storming late finish at Pukekohe on Saturday afternoon to account for his Rating 65 rivals over 1600 metres.
The son of Charm Spirit had finished an encouraging fourth when opening his campaign on the course earlier this month and showed the benefit of that outing to make it three wins from 14 appearances.
Part-owned by Waikato Stud, Rudyard drifted back to last from his outside gate before rider Ryan Elliot worked his magic in the straight.
He made ground along the fence before having to change ground 75 metres off the post, but kept his mount balanced and they got home in a grandstand finish.
Rudyard is a son of Savabeel’s dual Group 2-winning daughter Lady Kipling and was purchased by Pike for $280,000 out of Windsor Park Stud’s draft at Karaka.
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.
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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.
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