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Savaglee camp contemplating first-up targets

The connections of last season’s gun three-year-old Savaglee have some pondering to do over the next few days.The Group One-winning stallion pleased in his first public hit-out of the season when placing in his 1100m trial at Ellerslie on Sunday, and now trainer Pam Gerard is contemplating where to kick-off The Oaks Stud-raced four-year-old.“I was really happy with him yesterday,” Gerard said. “He went to the line under a hold, he was never asked for anything, and it was just a nice day ...

Now Not Never on potential derby path

Sticking with the ship, jockey Rory Hutchings delivered a second-up victory on Now Not Never (3 g Shocking – Edmonton, by Pentire) in the $40,000 J Swap Golden Ticket Special Conditions Maiden 1400 metres on 28 December at Taupo.Showing Ballymore Racing trainer Pam Gerard that he was ready to race following two good trial performances, including one at Taupo, Now Not Never was given a soft trip by Hutchings on debut three weeks ago at Te Aroha, running home in the fastest last 600m (33.7) for ...

Clear Conscience clears maiden in style

In a race that panned out perfectly, Clear Conscience (4 m Alabama Express – Inner Peace, by Zabeel) delivered in the $18,500 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 27 December at Rotorua.In addition, having been purchased as a yearling at Karaka, Clear Conscience was eligible for $28,000 Pearl Series bonuses, allocated to the owners, trainer, and nominator.Displaying ability from the outset and winning twice at the trials before racing, Clear Conscience ha...

Pericles wins Open Handicap at Te Rapa

In a beautiful spot throughout, Pericles (5 g Rubick – Empyrean, by O’Reilly) won the $50,000 Lodge Real Estate Open Handicap 1600 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.Twelve months on from winning the Rating 75 1600 metres at the corresponding meeting last year, and having won the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1200m) among three wins as a three-year-old, Pericles has now won five times. Ridden by Niranjan Parmar, Pericles could not have wished for a better trip behind pacemaker Giacomo (Puccini...

Blossoming at the right time

Apprentice jockey Hayley Hassman kept a good thing going with Ballymore Racing, when Dragon Blossom (5 m Time Test – Brannickers, by Darci Brahma) won the $25,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1560 metres on 5 December at Rotorua.Hassman, who made it consecutive wins aboard stable-mate Zerre (Zacinto) recently at Te Aroha, extended her record to four wins and four placed from 10 rides with trainer Pam Gerard.A mare that Gerard has always had plenty of time for, D...

Zerre goes back-to-back

Never looking like being beaten, Zerre (4 m Zacinto – Kerre, by Pour Moi) made it consecutive victories with a terrific performance in the $25,000 Rating 68 1400 metres on 26 November at Te Aroha.Following a win earlier on the programme with Khando (Mongolian Khan), and having recently quinelled the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) with Romanoff (Belardo) and Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes), Ballymore NZ trainer Pam Gerard kept the ball rolling with another strong winner.Zerre had capped good form...

Patience pays off

Deserving of success, Khando (5 m Mongolian Khan – Evens, by Pins) won the $25,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series 2200 metres on 26 November 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.In February at Te Aroha, Gerard trained Jade Dragon (Time Test) to win the $25,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series 1150 metres, and along with the owners collected their respective bonuses. The New Zea...

Gerard yet to confirm plans for 2000 Guineas pair

With a quinella in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) done and dusted, trainer Pam Gerard is now setting about confirming summer plans for Romanoff and Affirmative Action.The obvious route for the latest pair of Ballymore Stables stars is towards Ellerslie in late January for the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), followed six weeks later by the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), but Gerard is not rushing into defined decisions.“I stayed down in C...

Romanoff and Affirmative Action quinella in Group One

In a racing ‘wow’ moment, Ballymore Racing trainer Pam Gerard saddled both first and second in the $700,000 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Saturday at Riccarton.Just a year ago, Gerard won the race with Savaglee (Savabeel), who followed up with victory in the Levin Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) and second in the Australian Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), before being crowned Champion Three-Year-Old. To script a repeat performance in the prestigious event is one thing, bu...

Spotlight on - Thompson Performance Horses

We caught up with the team at Thompson Performance Horses who we often send horses to that need a bit of variety adding to their work and a freshen up. It has been a very beneficial partnership, most recently seen by the success of talented mare Zerre; and one we will be utilising more in the future.Who are Thompson Performance Horses?Owned and operated by Jacob Thompson, Thompson Performance Horses is a breaking-in, pre-training, and equestrian facility located on the outskirts of Matamata in W...

Patience a virtue with promising mare

Although a little while in the making, Zerre (4 m Zacinto – Kerre, by Pour Moi) broke through stylishly in the $18,500 Westbrook Wines Maiden 1400 metres on 6 November at Avondale.An easy winner when trialling as a two-year-old and the winner of four trials in total, Zerre had proved a touch frustrating when looking to replicate the form on race day, but she finally capped her thirds, fourths, and fifths, with a resounding victory.Ridden by apprentice jockey Hayley Hassman (a3), who recently w...

Affirmative Action firms in Guineas

Taking everything in his stride, Affirmative Action (3 g Yes Yes Yes – Search Approach, by Dawn Approach) won the $75,000 Show By SkyCity 3YO 1400 metres on Melbourne Cup Day (4 Nov.) at Ellerslie.Ballymore Racing trainer Pam Gerard had always shared a positive opinion of the horse and after running home well for third on debut over 1100 metres in August at Taupo, he overcame the outside gate (13) to win the Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) on 6 September at Ellerslie. Although 59 d...

Gerard shoots for back-to-back Sartens

Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025. Gerard guided Savaglee through a superb spring campaign that saw the son of Savabeel win four of his five starts including the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Matamata, the Sarten Memorial – which was rescheduled and moved to Te Aroha due to Te Rapa’s Labour Day meeting being abandoned – a...

Son of Eminent a cups horse in the making

A Cups type in the making, Vougeot (5 g Eminent – Montrachet, by High Chaparral) recorded a stylish maiden  victory in the $18,500 New Lynn Maiden 2100 metres on 8 October at Avondale.A trial winner on the course in June, with race day rider George Rooke aboard, Vougeot brought form of fourth and two fifths, most recently over 2100 metres on 5 September at Ruakaka, and Trackside Presenter Brendan Popplewell got it dead right when interviewing trainer Pam Gerard before the race.Although sh...

Sadhbh scores popular maiden win

Sadhbh scored a popular win at Te Rapa on Sunday when she broke through for her maiden victory in the Zappy – Send Couriers? Shipzappy.com 1500.The five-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma was bred and is raced by renowned racing photographer Trish Dunell, who was delighted to see her win while on the tools at Te Rapa.Dunell has taken a patient approach with her mare, who has just had the seven starts and has really come of age this preparation, placing in all three of her starts this time in be...

Sadhbh has been worth the wait

With a spirited late bid, Sadhbh (5 m Darci Brahma – Giant Mystique, by Giant’s Causeway) broke through for a well-deserved win in the $25,000 Shipzappy.com Maiden 1500 metres on 14 September at Te Rapa.Sadhbh is bred and owned by award winning racing photographer Trish Dunell, and patiently prepared by Ballymore Racing trainer Pam Gerard.Debuting as a three-year-old after close thirds in two trials, Sadhbh was put aside for a lengthy spell to mature and grow into her sizeable frame, and ind...

Savaglee crowned Champion 3yo

After winning Champion Three-Year-Old at the recent Matamata Racing Awards, Savaglee (3 c Savabeel – Glee, by O’Reilly) took a step up when crowned Champion Three-Year-Old at the 2024/25 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards, held on Sunday at GLOBOX Arena in Hamilton.The black-tie event is always well supported by racing industry administrators from NZTR and Entain/TAB, Clubs, Owners, Trainers, Jockeys, Stable Staff, Media, and the whole gambit of players that make up the thorou...

Yes Yes Yes from Affirmative Action

Under the guard and over the line, Affirmative Action (3 g Yes Yes Yes – Search Approach, by Dawn Approach) won the $110,000 Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) on Saturday at Ellerslie.Ballymore Racing trainer Pam Gerard had always shared a positive opinion of the horse, and he ran home well for third on debut over 1100 metres on 17 August at Taupo, but punters overlooked him in betting for the stakes race and he returned $69.90 & $11.90 on the NZ TAB tote and $126 on the TAB odds surg...

Our Staff - Sam Sumer Singh

We had a chat with long-serving ground staff member Sam Sumer Singh.Where are you from and tell us about your background in the industry?I am from Rajasthan, India. I was working with Racehorses in India, then Dubai before coming to New Zealand.What is your role at Ballymore Racing and how long you have worked with us.I came to NZ in 2018, and have worked at Ballymore for six years now. I am regularly seen at the races strapping horses and I walk a thousand miles a daily taking horses to and fro...

Connections in no hurry with high-class Savaglee

Star colt Savaglee is likely to be a notable absentee from all spring feature events.The Group One-winning son of Savabeel has returned from an extended break and is in light work at owner Dick Karreman’s The Oaks Stud.“You won’t see him probably until after Christmas, he could have a run here and then go to Australia,” trainer Pam Gerard said.“Obviously, he’s been off for quite a while for a colt and it’s hard to make a plan until we get him back to the stable and see how he’s w...

Our staff - Richie Fallon

We recently had the chance to catch up with Richie Fallon, a much-loved and long-serving member of the Ballymore team. At 74, Richie continues to bring humour, energy, and a genuine passion for his work that inspires everyone around him.Tell us your role at Ballymore Racing and how long have you worked with us?Worked for Ballymore Stables/Racing for 15 years. Leading horses to and from the track, handing out lollies throughout the morning and keeping spirits up with a few jokes here and there!Ri...

Third time lucky for Cork in Tauranga Classic

After hard-luck stories in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) in both of the last two winters, Cork made amends in style on Saturday with a $22 upset in the fillies and mares’ feature.Cork had already proven herself as a Tauranga specialist, winning three of her five previous starts at the track including a seven-length Rating 75 romp on the Tauranga Classic undercard in 2022. But the Bay Of Plenty’s midwinter black-type feature had proved frustratingly elusive.The 2023 editi...

Harlech home with a spring in his step

Harlech has returned to Pam Gerard’s Matamata base after another successful southern campaign, and he’ll aim to continue that form closer to home at Te Rapa on Saturday. After winning the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) earlier in his preparation at Wingatui, Harlech recorded his second consecutive runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), despite the unfavourable track conditions. With minimal options left in the South Island, the son of Darci Brahma headed home and ...

Our staff - Johji Nishizuka

We caught up with our apprentice, Johji Nishizuka 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?I am an apprentice Jockey and have been for nearly two years now with 15 winners to my name.Give a brief overview of what a day at BMR would look like for Joe? Start work at 4am, start riding 4.30am until 9am and head back to the stables. When I am not riding at the trials or raceday, I work...

Harlech back on level playing field in Riccarton feature

Evergreen eight-year-old Harlech will be back on even terms with his counterparts in a bid to go one better in this year’s Gr.3 Coca Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton Park. A multiple Group One performer through his career, Harlech has found his form of old in recent seasons residing in Christchurch, winning last year’s Easter Cup (1600m) and the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui in February. He came within a half-neck of adding the Canterbury Gold Cup to the ma...