Taranaki target for Tie Me Down

15 September 2015

Talented mare Tie Me Down moved a step closer to her spring targets with a jumpout win this week.

The Awapuni galloper, who has won five of her eight starts, is scheduled to resume in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera next month.

“We are really pleased with her,” trainer Roydon Bergerson said. “She went nicely at the jumpouts and Kelly [rider Kelly Myers] said she felt enormous.

“She can have a trial over 1200m in a fortnight and then it will be 10 days to Hawera.”

Tie Me Down, who races in the Little Avondale Stud colours, has had a bone chip removed from a fetlock joint since she last raced.

The Pins mare is a half-sister to four winners, including New Zealand Oaks placegetter Can’t Keeper Down and gained an important black type win in the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes in February.

“She’s a beautiful mare and has furnished and matured now,” Bergerson said.

Stablemate and New Zealand Oaks winner Savaria has been enjoying a break since failing fresh-up on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival.

The mare experiences seasonal problems in the spring and Bergerson and owners Des and Kay Fleming decided that there was no point in pressing on after Hastings.

“She’s having three weeks out at Bryce Newman’s place and has enjoyed having some sun on her back,” Bergerson said. “She looks bright and is eating well.”

Bergerson took three horses – Savaria, Postboy and La Adelita – to the first day at Hastings and expected all three to be competitive but the trio raced well below expectations.

“I’m still trying to get up off the canvas,” Bergerson said.

La Adelita, who was making her debut for Bergerson, showed signs of a virus after the race and is also having a break, while Postboy, a galloper of high promise, will come back in class in a rating 75 event over 1600m at Otaki next week.

“We will give Postboy one more mile and then put some blinkers on him,” Bergerson said.

“But he’s starting to thrive now.”

Postboy might tackle the Egmont Cup with the Manawatu and Wellington Cups his long term targets.

Figurac, who had three wins and four placings from seven starts at three, is scheduled to resume in a rating 75 1400m on the last days at Hastings.

Stable stalwart Daiello was retired after finishing third, in a field of four, at New Plymouth this month. The eight-year-old had eight wins and 19 minor placings. – NZ Racing Desk

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.