Parades for our 2024 NZB Book One Yearling draft officially commenced today with debut honours coming by way of the Peter Moody/Wylie Dalziel Racing Tour Group.

We thank Peter and Wylie for bringing this fun group to the farm and for letting us show off our 2024 offering.

A special thanks also to NZTM’s Andrew Birch for hosting this group.

Click here to view details of our 2024 NZB Book One Yearling Draft

Please find below some pictures of our debut parade today and the people who made it happen.

– Source: NZ Racing Desk

A change of approach has presented Lib Petagna with a shot at Australasia’s top staying prize.

The Wellington-based bloodstock identity shares in the ownership of the Kris Lees-trained Kalapour, who won his way into Tuesday’s Gr.1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington with victory in the Gr.3 Archer Stakes (2500m).

The Irish-bred stayer will drop 6kg from Saturday to a luxurious 50kg with apprentice Zac Lloyd to ride the lightly raced son of War Command.

Kalapour came on the radar of Lees and bloodstock agent Justin Bahen after a middle-distance success in Ireland and minor placings from his other three starts.

“He showed some promise in the UK so Kris and Justin bought him,” Petagna said.

“I don’t usually go into these European stayers, but they were pretty positive about him so I thought why not and took a share and lucky enough to have pulled the right rein.”

The gelding is a half-brother to the stakes winner Kalaxana with their dam the Daylami mare Kaladena, a half-sister to the dual Group One winner and sire Kalanisi.

Kalapour was successful at Hawkesbury in his Australian debut in the autumn and progressed to win the Gr.3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) and finish third in the Gr.3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) during the Queensland winter carnival.

Following a break, the seven-year-old placed in the Gr.1 The Metropolitan (2400m) and the Gr.3 St Leger before he claimed his Cup spot with a front-running victory at Flemington in the Archer.

“Kris has done a terrific job with him and he’s a very honest horse,” Petagna said.

“I don’t know whether he’s got the class of some of the others in the field, but he will give it everything and that’s half the battle with the stayers.”

Kalapour will be Petagna’s second Cup runner after multiple top-flight winner Lucia Valentina finished midfield behind Protectionist in 2014.

“She didn’t really stay the trip, she wasn’t quite up to it,” he said.

He will also be represented on Tuesday by the Andrew Forsman-prepared Aprilia in the Listed Howden Desirable Stakes (1400m).

“She was a bit disappointing last time out so it’s hard to know how she’ll go, it might have been the firm track,” Petagna said.

“She is Group Two-placed over there so we’d like to think with the drop in class she might be right in it.”

Runner-up in last season’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), the U S Navy Flag filly finished second in the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) before she was unplaced in the Gr.2 Fillies’ Classic (1600m). 

A superb front-running display enabled by Damien Oliver in today’s Gr.3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) has seen our game Kris Lees-trained galloper Kalapour (IRE) (War Command) gain a golden ticket into Tuesday’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup.

This combination of Oliver and Lib Petagna’s Elsdon Park silks has previously been seen to best advantage by Lucia Valentina in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and with Tivaci (1400m) in the Gr.1 All-Aged Stakes.

Both trained by Lees, Kalapour will be looking to improve on Lucia Valentina’s 2014 Melbourne Cup outing for Petagna, with the three-time Gr.1 winning racemare finishing midfield on this occasion.

Purchased by Lees and Justin Bahen after a win from four career starts in the UK, Kalapour has shown his Australian adeptness with four wins and six placings from 15 starts, with additional black-type also counted in May’s Gr.3 Chairman’s Hcp (2000m).

Kalapour was bred by His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs and is co-owned by Elsdon Park with  Gurners Bloodstock Co (Syndicate), Joe Singh, William Guest, Michael Clemenger, Tim Watson, David Redgrove, Susan Redgrove, Todd Johns, Ian Clifton, Peter Filipovic, Janne Guest, Jill Cross, Narelle Malone, Sue Grayson, MJM Racing (Syndicate Manager Ralph Huddy), Tah Boys (Syndicate Manager Anthony).

According to Racing Victoria, the Head of Handicapping David Hegan has elected not to issue a Melbourne Cup penalty to Kalapour, who will remain on 50 kg’s and will be ridden by Zac Lloyd.

The exciting 3YO Savabeel colt Ravello stamped his mark as a horse to follow with a tough-as-teak win at Kembla Grange today.

Trained by John O’Shea, Ravello had to draw on his fighting reserves when rival Tavs was quickly descending, but when sighting this opponent, he changed gears and found more for pilot Alysia Collett, pulling away to score by a head margin.

Bred by Max Whitby and co-owned with Sam Williams and Greg Clarke, Ravello has now put together a record of two wins from four starts.

Out of the American-bred stakes performer Cover Charge, Ravello was purchased from the draft of Cambridge Stud by Bruce Perry at the 2022 NZB Book One Sale.

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) today announced a partnership with Elsdon Park, with the New Zealand stud signing on to sponsor the newly created $1m open 4YO race to take place on TAB Karaka Millions night.

To be known as the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic, the race will be run over 1600m for $1,000,000 under set-weight conditions on TAB Karaka Millions night (27th January 2024), one of the highlights of the ATR calendar.

Elsdon Park sponsored the Group 2 Royal Stakes at the New Year’s Day Races in 2023, held at Te Rapa Racecourse whilst Ellerslie was under construction, and it’s pleasing to officially welcome Elsdon Park to the ATR stable for the 2023/24 season.

“Elsdon Park is a significant player in the thoroughbred breeding industry making them a natural fit for that night in particular which showcases the best of New Zealand racing to an international audience,” says ATR chief executive officer Paul Wilcox.

ATR sponsorship manager John O’Malley is also delighted to welcome Elsdon Park into the fold.

“We are thrilled to have Elsdon Park’s support of the all-new $1m 4YO race on TAB Karaka Millions night.

“The race, one of the innovations to come from the $20.3m stakes injection from the TAB NZ/Entain strategic partnership, is an exciting addition to what’s already the glamour night of racing in New Zealand.”

Elsdon Park general manager, Kerrie Cox, is equally excited to be joining forces with ATR.

“This is an exciting race meeting that we had previously singled out as being one we really wanted to be involved with.

“To be a part of one of New Zealand’s biggest racedays, with a $1 million race that should attract a quality international field, and on the eve of our National Yearling Sale Series, is something we are delighted to now be a part of.”

Elsdon Park’s owner, Lib Petagna, echoed those sentiments.

“The newly formed TAB NZ and Entain partnership provides a significant boost to our industry and this meeting, with its domestic and global coverage, provides a unique opportunity to build our brand and partner with ATR on this exciting initiative.”|

The $1,000,000 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic will be run on Saturday 27th January 2024, as a part of the TAB Karaka Millions. The TAB Karaka Millions sees the who’s who of the New Zealand racing and social set take to the racetrack to cheer on the thoroughbreds running for the biggest prize money in New Zealand racing.

-NZ Racing Desk

Our first foal of the season has arrived! Over the weekend the team welcomed this smart Ardrossan colt from the Pins mare Cosmic into the world. 

Pictured at just a few hours old, this colt hails from a family that features the Gr.1 winners Probabeel, Never Been Kissed and Savvy Coup, and black-type standouts such as Legless Veuve, Tootsie and Ocean Emperor.

Fittingly, this colt is by the exciting young sire Ardrossan, who we not only raced but retain an interest in at stud also.

The Andrew Forsman-trained gelding Leedox capitalized on a sweet inside run from Kozzi Asano to finish back on top of his rivals over 1400m at Ruakaka today.

As a two-year-old, Leedox won the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes at the same distance and in so doing, became the noted first stakes winner in New Zealand for the exciting young sire Time Test.

Since resuming this season as a three-year-old, he notably placed 4th Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas and entered today’s assignment with an encouraging last-start second.

“Leedox got into a nice position behind the lead after the jump and the race panned out well for him. The leader rolled off the rail and it all opened up for him, enabling him to kick on nicely to the line for the ½ length win,” said Forsman’s assistant trainer Robert Dennis afterward.

Today’s win took Leedox’s record to two wins and two placings from eight career starts.

Leedox was bred by Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison and was purchased out of his 2021 Karaka Book 1 draft for $220,000 by Bruce Perry on behalf of Elsdon Park’s Lib Petagna.

A confident ride from Tim Clark saw the striking grey Iffraaj gelding Luncies deliver a deserved black-type win in the Gr.3 Tattersalls Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm today.

Justifying his pre-race favouritism, the Kris-Lees-trained six-year-old had placed second in four of his previous five starts.

After the jump, Luncies settled at the rear, but turned for home full of running, letting down strongly for Clark to cross 2.25 lengths ahead of Spirit Ridge (Nathaniel), with a further head margin back to Young Werther (Tavistock) in third.

Luncies has now realised A$878,803 from a 28-start career yielding six wins and nine placings for connections, which comprise: R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, Mr L Petagna, B & C Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Divor, MJM Racing, Mr E J Lucas, Gurners Bloodstock Co, Mr W W Guest, Mr R J Date, Mr M F Clemenger, Mrs K D Evers, Mr M E McKeough, Mr E W Kochmanz, Mr P Filipovic, Mr G Thiele and Mr M K Evers.

In addition to being Luncies first black-type win, the win also saw him become the seventh individual stakes winner for the Elsdon Park racing team this season.

Elsdon Park’s successful seven stakes winners this season comprise: Saltcoats (Ardrossan), Kalapour (War Command), Cruz Missile (Savabeel), Milford (Savabeel), Lost And Running (Per Incanto), One Kiss (Tivaci) and Luncies (Iffraaj).

Source: NZTBA

In this week’s Dunstan Meet the Breeder, NZTBA talked to Kerrie Cox, the General Manager of Elsdon Park who spoke on behalf of Lib Petagna.

How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?

Through racing a few top-level fillies that become very hard to part with!

How many mares do you breed from?

Around 50

What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses etc)

40 racehorses & breakers- a few we race with in partnership, 40 weanlings and shares in a few stallions

Do you breed to retain or breed to trade?

A mix of both. We mainly breed to trade as yearlings or racehorses, however, being a commercial breeding operation we are always looking to upgrade our broodmare band so keeping some fillies from our top mares is important for the business going forward.

Do you have a favourite cross?

Not really but we do love a nice Savabeel mare

Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?

Bruce Perry has been a great adviser on both breeding and racing through JML Bloodstock over the years and this will continue with Elsdon Park. We do our best to plan matings on type, pedigree and temperament- don’t always get it right but hopefully between the 3 of us we should be alright!

Best breeding advice you have received?

Kerrie – “First and foremost aim to breed an athlete and a horse you would be happy to race yourself.”

Who do you admire in the thoroughbred breeding industry?

The advice and support offered by industry leaders such as Bruce Perry, Sam Williams and Mark Chittick have been influential on the development of the business.

If you could own any broodmare (past or present), who would it be?

Hard to go past a champion broodmare like Eight Carat but wouldn’t have said no to Cannarelle either as it would be pretty awesome to be standing I am Invincible!

What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?

Kerrie: Be resilient and patient. Listen to the advice of successful breeders, celebrate success and when things get tough, which they can at times, lean on the incredible people around you in the industry.

Proudest moment as a breeder?

The proudest moment as an owner would have to be when Lucia Valentina and Sofia Rosa both won Group 1’s at Randwick on the same day- hard to ever look past an unbelievable day like that.

Now both of these mares have become matriarchs of our broodmare band which is pretty special as a breeder.

Finish this sentence: The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is…

The industry is full of dreamers and optimists which is very refreshing!

Interesting fact…

Lib has 5 children- his oldest are triplet sons and Elsdon Park’s 3 racing colours represent the colours that were used to identify them when they were babies.

Elsdon Park’s Ardrossan two-year-old Saltcoats provided Cambridge trainer Sam Logan with her first stakes winner on the flat today when he dominated his rivals in the Listed Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe Park.

The 3.5-length victory confirmed Logan’s high early estimations of the gelding.

“We’ve thought he was special since his first trial,” said Logan.

“Given that we have known he’s had major ability since day one, I feel very privileged that Lib Petagna and racing manager Bruce Perry didn’t decide to immediately send him to Australia and decided to race him in New Zealand with me first.”

Saltcoats had had two previous starts leading into today’s feature and looked as if he would lap up the 1400m distance after closing off strongly at these starts which resulted in minor placings, including finishing third to Solidify at Listed level at his previous outing.

Rider Kozzi Asano was content to settle the Saltcoats in midfield during the early stages although he was caught three-wide in the eight-horse field.

Asano slid forward to issue his challenge on the point of the home turn, where Saltcoats took control as he eased away from the field on the Heavy10 surface to record an impressive four-length victory over Paragon and Chantilly Lace.

“He was really tough today and we are so proud of him,” Logan said.

“I was a little concerned when I saw him get stuck out wide, but I trusted Kozzi’s judgement as he knows him well and the main thing is to get him into a good rhythm which is the key to him.

“Kozzi did say he handled the going okay but is a much better horse on top of the ground where he has an electric turn of foot.”

Saltcoats races in the Elsdon Park colours of Wellington businessman Lib Petagna who bred him from his lightly raced Savabeel mare Savanite, a half-sister to the Gr.2 Waikato Gold Cup (2400m) winner Singing Star.

Saltcoats represents the 4^th stakes winner bred by Elsdon Park’s JML Bloodstock banner this season behind Ethereal Star (Snitzel), Lost And Running (Per Incanto) and One Kiss (Tivaci).