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Time to shine for Cindy in Breeders’ Stakes

Well-performed mare Fall For Cindy will make a return trip to the Central Districts this weekend in a bid to deservedly turn her fortunes around.The Pam Gerard representative will head south for Saturday’s Gr.3 intowin.co.nz Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) at Wanganui where conditions are expected to suit the Waikato Stud-owned mare.The Matamata trainer also has travel plans in place for stablemate Dubai Gold to head further afield for the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April ...

Our staff - Scotty Magee

We caught up with long-time employee Scotty Magee to find out a little bit more about him and his role at Ballymore Racing.Tell us your role at Ballymore Racing and how long have you worked with us?Have worked for Ballymore for 9 years, firstly as Foreman and now I operate the treadmill in the mornings and drive the truck for any horse movements in the afternoons.Give a brief overview of what a day at BMR would look like for Scotty? 4am – 7.30am Treadmill between 4-8 horses which giv...

Dubai seeking Australian gold

Ballymore Racing trainer Pam Gerard could be heading back to Australia, following the performance by Dubai Gold (3 f Pride Of Dubai – World Of Gold, by High Chaparral) for second in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) last Saturday at Trentham.Dubai Gold took a timely step towards the Oaks with a dominant victory in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres on 12 February at Te Aroha, and finished strongly for third when given a sterner task in the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) o...

New Recruit breaks maiden

New Recruit (3 g U S Navy Flag – Enigmatic, by High Chaparral) provided a touching win for Ballymore Stables in the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres on Saturday at Tauranga.Trained by Pam Gerard, New Recruit provided the first victory in New Zealand since her former training partner Mike Moroney passed away on 27 February. Moroney, who recorded over 50 Group One wins as a trainer, established Ballymore Stables in 1982 at Matamata, then set up stables in 1999 at Flemington, before preparing Brew...

Spelling paddock beckoning Savaglee

Gun three-year-old Savaglee will likely head to the spelling paddock following his heroic runner-up performance behind fellow Kiwi-bred Feroce in Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.Racing in The Oaks Stud’s familiar colours, Savaglee has been a standout in his three-year-old term for trainer Pam Gerard, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and placing in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) prior to Saturday’s result.While he was unable to get the chocolates...

Gerard hopes for poignant Flemington triumph

Barely 48 hours after the sad loss of her former training partner Mike Moroney, Pam Gerard will saddle a Group One contender at the Melbourne track the Hall of Fame horseman called home.Gerard’s star three-year-old Savaglee will line up as a leading chance in Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington, where Moroney was based for the last two decades.Despite his move across the Tasman, Moroney maintained a presence in his old home town of Matamata, where Gerard serv...

Dubai on an Oaks path

Taking a timely step towards the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), Dubai Gold (3 f Pride Of Dubai – World Of Gold, by High Chaparral) won the $25,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses) on 12 February at Te Aroha.Dubai Gold had received an economical trip when finishing strongly for second in the Maiden 1600 metres on 31 January at Te Rapa, and rated a top three chance with luck from a wide draw (13).Ridden by Michael McNab, who wa...

Jade breaks through

Given a perfect trip by jockey Kelly Myers, Jade Dragon (3 f Time Test – Pure Lorde, by Darci Brahma) won fresh-up in the $25,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series 1150 metres on 12 February at Te Aroha.In addition to the winning stake ($14,375), the owners won an extra $20,000 and trainer Pam Gerard received $5,000, as part of the Mega Maiden Series.The New Zealand Bloodstock and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing initiative, supported by Entain/TAB, is available to horses purchased at Karaka, that enter f...

Savaglee marches on to Australian Guineas

Gun New Zealand three-year-old Savaglee got his first taste of Australian racing on home soil on Saturday when placing behind Aussie raiders Here To Shock and Bosustow in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, and his connections are now looking forward to testing his talents across the Tasman.Raced by The Oaks Stud, Savaglee has been an unstoppable force against his own age group this season, winning five of his six starts, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), before bein...

Back to his best

Back to his best with plenty of gusto, Harlech (7 g Darci Brahma – Obsession, by Bachelor Duke) bolted in when taking out the $80,000 Nellies Restaurant & Bar Hazlett Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Saturday at Wingatui.Freshened since running home strongly for fourth in the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 28 November at Otaki, the triple Group One runner-up, who won the Easter Cup (Open Handicap, 1600m) last season at Riccarton, Harlech signalled his readiness for the White Robe Lodge WFA (Gr.3, 1...

A Reputation that took some convincing

Although it took some convincing, Reputation (5 m Iffraaj – Tenacity, by Zabeel) ended up in the right place to win the $80,000 Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Listed, 1600m) on 6 February at Tauherenikau.Freshened by trainer Pam Gerard after finishing sixth in the Cal Izusu Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) in December at Te Rapa, it required a couple of phone calls from owner/breeder Christopher Grace QSM before the wheels were set in motion.“To convince Pam I had to phone her twic...

Savaglee set for showdown against older rivals at Te Rapa

Savaglee has conquered all before him at age-group level in New Zealand, and on Saturday, the star colt will take on the older horses in a star-studded edition of the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).In six starts as a three-year-old, Savaglee has won on five occasions, including the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m), all with considerable ease.His owners The Oaks Stud, and Pam Gerard, who trains th...

Karaka 2025 with Pam

New Zealand Bloodstock's Jessie Gower catches up with Pam as our buying draws to close for Karaka 2025. Hear Pam's thoughts on our purchases from the sale but more importantly, on how to get involved!...

Gerard's glee with Guineas favourite

Trainer Pam Gerard says Savaglee's love of travel has her confident the talented three-year-old will thrive on a trip to Australia.But first the Group 1 Australian Guineas favourite has to book his ticket across the Tasman, with his next start set to come in open company in the G1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) on February 8.The son of Savabeel rocketed into Australian Guineas calculations this season, winning five of his six career starts, including the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and his las...

Popular Grey gets the goods!

Grey entire Lingjun Xiongfeng (6 h The Factor – Harvest Start, by Sebring) was back in business winning the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres on 10 January at Tauranga.Impressive winning twice to 1600 metres at a similar time last year, Lingjun Xiongfeng resumed with a good effort for third in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and had the addition of blinkers for his latest assignment.Ridden by English jockey George Rooke, Lingjun Xiongfeng was given time to find his feet,...