Archives

Thumbtacks Strikes Again
Double Strike For Fairdale
Thumbtacks Nails Sydney Win
Base Continues His Winning Ways
3YO Adds Performance To Pedigree
Top Family To The Fore
Fairdale Mare Strikes Again
Winning Heart Shows The Way
Duo Rewarded For Consistency
Top Fairdale Family Strikes
Rich Pedigree Wins Out
Smart Investment Pays Another Dividend
Timely Stallion Coup For Fairdale
Fairdale Graduate Coasts To Gr 1 Glory
Zavite On Target For Cup
Awapuni Victory For Well-Related Mare
Master Elite Strikes Again
Timely Stallion Coup For Fairdale
Zavite, Stayer of the Year
Fully Fledged to stand at Fairdale
History making Zavite on Gr.1 trail
Zavite just too tough
Karaka Yearling Sales 2008
The beginning of a new era!
Big Profit (NZ) Strikes Win Hat-Trick in HK Sale Challenge
Fairdale breeds Canterbury Belle Stakes winner
Gerald Fell honoured
Steady stream of winners continues for Howbaddouwantit
Master Elite Wins In Hong Kong
Stable Adds To Success With Family
Howbaddouwantit In Top 10 Sires Of NZ
Needuask Wins Listed Newmarket Handicap
Success Spreads To Hong Kong
Spratt Has Big Opinion Of Needuask


Thumbtacks Strikes Again
June 2010

Chris Waller's promising three-year-old Thumbtacks continued his progress yesterday with a commanding victory at Warwick Farm.
The Fairdale Stud graduate was successful over 1600 metres for the top Sydney trainer in the hands of Glyn Schofield.
The gelding has now won two of his last four starts after breaking his maiden three runs back at Newcastle.
Thumbtacks was purchased by Waller from the Fell family's 2008 Select Sale draft to Karaka in 2008 for $100,000.
By Pins, he is a half-brother to the winners Elusive Order and Fairy Tale with their dam the winning Centaine mare Anza Belle.
The feature Gr 1 winners in Thumbtacks' pedigree include Grand Armee (MacKinnon Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes), Anamato (SA Oaks), Drum (Oakleigh Plate), Dealer Principal (Rosehill Guineas) and Absolute Champion (Hong Kong Sprint).


Double Strike For Fairdale
May 2010

There was double delight for Fairdale Stud at yesterday's Gore meeting with farm graduates The Jackal and River Haze taking winning tricks.
Both are by former resident sire Riviera, whose talented son Gorse is also quickly making his way through the grades with three victories this season.
The Jackal posted his second career success when he waltzed away with a Rating 80 sprint by two and a-half lengths.
Sold by Fairdale for $12,000 at Karaka in 2007, he is a half-brother to the Wyndham Cup winner Jetmaster.
They are out of the Sackford mare Wild Cry, who is in turn a half-sister to The Hind (Gr 1 Adelaide Cup) and Oregon Star (Listed Geelong Cup).
River Haze recorded her fourth success when she coasted home by three and three-quarter lengths against the Rating 70 stayers.
She is out of the Oak Ridge mare Whyte Haze, who won five races including the Listed Warstep Stakes.


Thumbtacks Nails Sydney Win
May 2010

Thumbtacks struck his first winning blow for top Sydney trainer Chris Waller at the weekend with a deserved victory at Newcastle.
The three-year-old son of Pins had finished in the money in three of his previous four appearances before opening his account over 1200 metres.
Thumbtacks was purchased out of Fairdale Stud's 2008 Select Sale draft to Karaka by Waller for $100,000.
He is obviously taken by the breed as earlier this year he secured Thumbtacks' sister from the Palmerston North farm at the National Yearling Sale for $51,000.
They are out of the winning Centaine mare Anza Belle, who is the also dam of the winners Elusive Order and Fairy Tale to give her a 100 percent record at stud.
She hails from a prolific Gr 1 family that includes Grand Armee (MacKinnon Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes), Anamato (SA Oaks), Drum (Oakleigh Plate), Dealer Principal (Rosehill Guineas) and Absolute Champion (Hong Kong Sprint).


Base Continues His Winning Ways
May 2010

Backed by a rich Fairdale Stud pedigree, the talented three-year-old Base has quickly added to his growing reputation.
The son of Zabeel maintained his unbeaten record at Sandown yesterday with victory over 1400 metres.
Base had previously made a winning Melbourne debut at Seymour earlier this month.
He is out of the Carnegie mare Tall Story who is a half-sister to the former top-class mare Tall Poppy.
By Kaapstad, she was the three-time Gr 1 winner of the New Zealand Stakes, Thorndon Mile and Waikato Draught Sprint.
It is an outstanding Fairdale family with Tall Poppy a daughter of the Gr 1 Jarden Mile heroine Fun On The Run.
Bred and sold by Fairdale, Base was a $250,000 yearling during the Premier Sale at Karaka in 2008.
He is prepared at Macedon Lodge by Robert Hickmott, who is the private trainer for high-profile owner Lloyd Williams.


3YO Adds Performance To Pedigree
May 2010

A Gr 1 pedigree was to the fore in Victoria yesterday when Base made a winning debut at the Seymour meeting.
By the great Zabeel, the three-year-old is out of a half-sister to crack Fairdale Stud mare Tall Poppy.
The daughter of Kaapstad won 11 races, including the New Zealand Stakes, Thorndon Mile and Waikato Draught Sprint at Gr 1 level.
Tall Poppy is out of another elite-level winner in Fun On The Run who racked up 18 victories with her career highlight a Jarden Mile success.
Base was bred by Fairdale Stud and sold to the $250,000 bid of NZ Bloodstock at the Premier Sale at Karaka in 2008.
He is prepared at Macedon Lodge by Robert Hickmott, who is the private trainer for high-profile owner Lloyd Williams.


Top Family To The Fore
May 2010

Progressive filly Croix Du Sud added another success to her family's roll of honour when she was an impressive winner at Riccarton on Saturday.
She was a clear last with 600 metres to run and came with an undeniable finishing run down the outside of the track.
The Fairdale Stud-bred and sold daughter of Howbaddouwantit now has two career wins and a stakes placing from 14 starts for premier trainer Mark Walker.
Croix Du Sud was bought out of Fairdale's 2008 draft to Karaka for $100,000 and is out of the Centaine mare Fairdale Lass.
She is a half-sister to the Gr 3 winners Rock You (Rupert Steele Stakes, 2nd Gr 1 Salinger Stakes) and Marnies Magic (Royal Stakes).
Fairdale Lass was unraced but has done a fine job at stud with four winners from five foals to race.
They include Croix Du Sud's sister Howmuchyacharging who won the Gr 3 Gold Trail Stakes and was Gr 1 placed in the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes.


Fairdale Mare Strikes Again
May 2010

Fairdale Stud graduate Neversaynever continued her impressive march through the grades with victory at Friday's Matamata meeting. The daughter of Howbaddounwantit has been in outstanding form this campaign and now has four career wins and seven placings from her 19 starts.
She is prepared at Hastings by part-owner John Bary and was a $14,000 Karaka purchase in 2007. Bred and sold by Fairdale, Neversaynever fails from a potent female line with her third dam being Pheroz Fancy who left the crack galloper Super Impose. He won 20 races - eight of them at Gr 1 level - including the Cox Plate, two renewals of the Doncaster and Epsom Handicaps and the Chipping Norton as well as a Ranvet Stakes victory.
Pheroz Fancy was also a half-sister to the dam of the ill-fated Gr 1 Zabeel Classic winner Mikki Street while dual Gr 3 Standish Handicap winner Super Impressive and Australian stakes winner Unrocel Saint also feature in Neversaynever's pedigree.


Winning Heart Shows The Way
April 2010

Fairdale Stud graduate Winning Heart lived up to his name in Singapore on Friday night with a metric mile victory at Kranji.
The son of Howbaddouwantit has proved a grand money-spinner with stake earnings of nearly $230,000 from four wins and 10 placings.
Trained by Brian Dean, Winning Heart was originally a $38,000 purchase from the stud's Festival Sale draft to Karaka in 2007.
He is out of the winning Kings Island mare Island Girl, who hails from a prolific Fairdale family.
Its most celebrated member is the triple Gr 1 winner Miltak (BMW Stakes, Auckland Cup, New Zealand Oaks).


Duo Rewarded For Consistency
April 2010

Howbaddouwantit's latest success stories emphasise the genuine nature and durability of the Fairdale Stud stallion's progeny.
The son of Rahy was credited with a winning inter-Island double at the weekend courtesy of two of those ultra-consistent performers.
Mels Bad Boy capped off an excellent run of form with victory at Te Aroha while Jackson Jones did likewise at Riccarton.
Trained at Wanganui by Stephen Crutchley for local owner-breeder Gordon Lambert, Mels Bay Boy now has four career wins to his credit.
The six-year-old's dependability is emphasised by a further 23 placings on all types of going.
Mels Bad Boy is also a former stablemate of Howbaddouwantit's Gr 1 Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes winning daughter Mi Jubilee.
In the South Island, Jackson Jones collected the seventh win of his career, along with 14 minor place finishes.
The John and Karen Parsons-trained gelding has been Mr Dependable in recent months.
Jackson Jones' last 14 appearances have been rewarded with three wins, seven placings and just once has he failed to weigh in.


Top Fairdale Family Strikes
April 2010

Memories of the outstanding racemare Miltak were revived at Waverley this week when Likeitlikethat struck the first winning blow of her career.
The lightly-tried filly had weighed in at her three previous starts for trainer Kevin Gray before her breakthrough appearance.
Likeitlikethat was bred by Fairdale Stud and is from the the family of Miltak, a star performer for the Fells in the early 1990s.
The daughter of McGinty won eight races and three Gr 1 features - the BMW Stakes, Auckland Cup and the New Zealand Oaks.
At stud she left four winners from five foals with both Tully Zeal and Milzeel performing at Group level.
Miltak's half-sister Wild Swan is the grand-dam of Likeitlikethat, who is by resident Fairdale stallion Howbaddouwantit.


Rich Pedigree Wins Out
April 2010

A filly with an international pedigree was to the fore at New Plymouth when she made an impressive winning debut over 1200 metres.
Gold Cape carried the Fairdale Stud colours to a stylish victory at the first time of asking and now looks set to make her mark in good company.
Trained by John Wheeler, the daughter of Cape Cross came from the back of the field with a well-timed run in the hands of top jockey Opie Bosson.
Gold Cape is out of the Irish-bred Hansel mare Casting For Gold and is a half-sister to four winners, including the French winner and Swedish stakes performer Golden Gift.
Casting For Gold is also a three-quarter sister to the Gr 2 York Gimcrack Stakes winner and sire Mujahid and a half-sister to Gr 2 Deauville d'Ornano winner Just Happy.
The family has further left its mark in Canada with another half-sister Tanasaa the winner of the Listed King Stakes and Gr 1 placed in the International Stakes.


Smart Investment Pays Another Dividend
March 2010

Withallmyheart has proved a grand money-spinner for his connections and he added to his bankroll in Hong Kong on Wednesday night.
The durable seven-year-old gave age and a beating to his rivals over 1200 metres at the Happy Valley meeting for his sixth career success.
Withallmyheart was a $15,000 purchase from Fairdale Stud's 2004 Select Sale draft to Karaka and has now won more than $590,000.
By resident sire Howbaddouwantit, he has raced in Hong Kong every season since his juvenile days.
Withallmyheart is out of the winning Crested Wave mare Trapeze from the family of Gr 1 Spring Champion Stakes winner and sire Magic Of Sydney.
He is trained by Gary Ng Ting-Keung and was ridden by the very much in-form Olivier Doleuze.


Timely Stallion Coup For Fairdale
March 2010

Nom du Jeu possessed the pace to win as a juvenile and the class and staying ability required to meet and beat the best three-year-olds in Australasia.
He trained on as an older horse to again star on both sides of the Tasman under handicap and weight-for-age conditions and acted on all types of going.
That versatility combined with a rich pedigree and ideal temperament make him a top-quality and timely acquisition for Gerald and Duncan Fell's Fairdale Stud.
Nom du Jeu has been secured for stud duty by their successful Palmerston North establishment where he will stand his first season this year at $6000 + GST.
His arrival comes hard on the heels of a major increase in demand for potential classic performers at the recently concluded NZ Bloodstock National Yearling Sales.
"Nom du Jeu was an exceptional racehorse, has wonderful looks and boasts a fantastic pedigree," Gerald Fell said.
"He's the perfect stallion type for New Zealand with the pronounced shift toward our middle distance horse emphasised so clearly by their popularity at the sales series this year."
Prominent Australasian owner Rob McAnulty was among the buying bench at Karaka to echo those sentiments.
"There's a big swing back to buying horses for races like the Rosehill Guineas and the AJC Derby," he told the New Zealand Herald.
"You can make a lot of money now with a stayer and any New Zealand breeder who breeds staying horses and classic horses is going to be rewarded."
Nom du Jeu is by Sadler's Wells' champion son Montjeu, who has enjoyed outstanding success after a glittering career on the track.
He was the six-time Gr 1 winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Prix du Jockey Club, Prix du Saint-Cloud, Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Irish Derby.
Montjeu was an immediate success at stud with his first Northern Hemisphere crop including Gr 1 winners Hurricane Run, Motivator, Scorpion, Montare, Corre Caminos and Falstaff.
Subsequent elite level winners have numbered Authorized, Fame And Glory, Jukebox Jury, Frozen Fire, Jan Vermeer, St Nicholas Abbey and Montmartre.
In New Zealand he is the sire of Gr 1 winners Wall Street, Tavistock and Sharvasti with Roman Emperor and Speed Gifted in Australia.
Wall Street confirmed his standing as one of the country's hottest racing prospects with his dominant victory in the recent Gr 1 Thorndon Mile at the expense of a brave Tavistock.
Out of the dual Gr 1 winning Prized Gem (Kelt Capital Stakes, Brisbane Cup), Nom du Jeu's second, third and fourth dams were also multiple winners.
He was trained throughout his career at Cambridge by Murray and Bjorn Baker for four wins and 10 placings and stake earnings of nearly $2.5 million.
"He's just a beautiful, strong horse - extremely good-looking and a lovely dark brown colour and 16.2 hands," Murray Baker said.
"He's got a lovely temperament and my four-year-old grandson has been on his back in the box."
Nom du Jeu's career highlight was victory in the Gr 1 AJC Derby at Randwick and he was also Gr 1 placed in the Caulfield Cup, Kelt Capital Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
"He could go on any ground and won the Waikato Guineas on a very firm track and his Caulfield Cup effort was another terrific run when he came from last on the bend," Baker said.
"He had a lot of speed and won his only two-year-old start coming from last to first - he was a complete package."
Now fully syndicated, Nom du Jeu was bred and raced by Billie Morton, of Brisbane, whose family have retained a 50 percent holding in the stallion with fellow stakeholders Fairdale and Goodwood Studs


Fairdale Graduate Coasts To Gr 1 Glory
March 2010

The Fell and Cummings families have enjoyed a long and successful association and they combined for a runaway Gr 1 success at Ellerslie yesterday. The Fairdale Stud-bred and sold Zavite was prepared by Anthony Cummings for a dominant victory in the $1 million Auckland Cup.

"I've been looking at Fairdale Stud drafts since I was 14 so I know how good a breeders they are," Cummings said. "I've got some good horses from them. They've had some great families there that have performed for years."

By Zabeel out of the Alleged mare Miss Vita, Zavite was sold by Fairdale for $A80,000 at the Sydney Easter Sale in 2004. Miss Vita was a winner at 2400 metres in England and the stud purchased her through New Zealander Larry Stratten, a Newmarket-based bloodstock agent. He has subsequently won 10 races and yesterday's Ellerslie success took his career earnings beyond the $2 million mark. "A million in Kiwi money is still great and if the country keeps offering the money we'll be back to try and win it," Cummings said.

Zavite was brilliantly-handled by champion jockey Damien Oliver who bided his early time back of midfield.
When runners started to bunch across the top Oliver made his move and drove Zavite to a clear lead on straightening. "He was jogging on the turn and I could see the other main chances were going nowhere," Oliver said. "They weren't going as well as we were, so I decided my best chance was to go for it."

Even under his 57.5kg topweight, Zavite never looked like being headed and he crossed the line with a three and a-quarter length margin on Booming. Cummings, whose father Bart has also had his share of success with the Fairdale breed, said he gave Oliver no pre-race instructions. "If I have to tell Damien how to ride this horse I've brought the wrong jockey across." Cummings said he would now give serious thought to a start in next month's Gr 1 $A400,000 Sydney Cup provided the track was firm.


Zavite On Target For Cup
March 2010

Fairdale Stud's millionaire graduate Zavite has thrived in his build-up toward New Zealand's premier staying event - the Gr 1 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie. The Anthony Cummings-trained stayer flew in earlier this week and has had his first look at Ellerslie in preparation for next Wednesday's feature. Zavite is being stabled at Pukekohe with training partners Gareth McRae and Garry Newham who have been impressed with the Zabeel gelding's condition.

"He's settled in very well here and he worked nicely over a bit of ground at Ellerslie on Wednesday," McRae said. "He went over about 2000 metres and quickened up over the last 600 and pleased his work rider - everybody's more than happy with him. "He hasn't missed a beat since and he's eating well and looks nice and bright."

Bred and sold by Fairdale at Karaka in 2003 for $80,000, Zavite is out of the imported Alleged mare Miss Vita who won up to 2400 metres in England. Her seven-year-old son has been an outstanding performer for the Cummings stable with nine wins up to 3200 metres and career earnings of nearly $A1.5 million. Zavite's career highlights include a Gr 2 success in the Adelaide Cup, Gr 3 wins in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Launceston Cup and Listed victories in the Australia Day and McKell Cups.

He has also been placed in the Gr 2 Herbert Power Stakes and the Gr 3 Geelong and Hobart Cups. Zavite is in excellent form and boasts a last-start victory under 60.5kg over 2500 metres at Moonee Valley last Friday night. Champion jockey Damien Oliver has been booked for the Auckland Cup ride and the combination are listed as second favourites in the pre-post market.


Awapuni Victory For Well-Related Mare
March 2010

A mare whose pedigree boasts one of the finest performers to grace the tracks of Australia in the last 20 years was to the fore for Fairdale Stud at Awapuni on Thursday. Neversaynever was bred and sold by the farm and is from the family of eight-time Gr 1 winner and former top-rated four-year-old Super Impose. He won 20 races including the Cox Plate, two renewals of the Doncaster and Epsom Handicaps and the Chipping Norton as well as a Ranvet Stakes victory.

By Fairdale resident Howbaddounwantit, Neversaynever's third dam is the Taipan mare Pheroz Fancy who left the brilliant Super Impose. She was also a half-sister to Ocean Pearl who in turn is the mother of the ill-fated Gr 1 Zabeel Classic winner Mikki Street. Neversaynever was bought out of Fairdale's Festival Sale draft to Karaka in 2007 for $14,000 and is trained at Hastings by part-owner John Bary. The four-year-old has now won three races and weighed in a further seven times from her 16 appearances.


Master Elite Strikes Again
March 2010

Master Elite posted a deserved victory at Sha Tin on Sunday night when he recorded his second career success in Hong Kong. The lightly-tried five-year-old is a graduate of Fairdale Stud and was a $90,000 Premier Sale yearling at Karaka in 2006. He was purchased by Michael Chang Racing and made one trial appearance in New Zealand before he was transferred to Hong Kong.

Master Elite has only once failed to weigh in from his 10 appearances and has banked more than $375,000. He is by Van Nistelrooy from a prolific Fairdale family with his dam, the winning Oregon mare Pageant, a daughter of the former top-class racemare Harp. Pageant is also a half-sister to Encore, who in turn left the triple Gr 1 winner Miltak (BMW Stakes, Auckland Cup, NZ Oaks).


Timely Stallion Coup For Fairdale
NZTM Feb 2010

Nom du Jeu possessed the pace to win as a juvenile and the class and staying ability required to meet and beat the best three-year-olds in Australasia. He trained on as an older horse to again star on both sides of the Tasman under handicap and weight-for-age conditions and acted on all types of going. That versatility combined with a rich pedigree and ideal temperament make him a top-quality and timely acquisition for Gerald and Duncan Fell's Fairdale Stud. Nom du Jeu has been secured for stud duty by their successful Palmerston North establishment where he will stand his first season this year at $6000 + GST.

His arrival comes hard on the heels of a major increase in demand for potential classic performers at the recently concluded NZ Bloodstock National Yearling Sales. "Nom du Jeu was an exceptional racehorse, has wonderful looks and boasts a fantastic pedigree," Gerald Fell said. "He's the perfect stallion type for New Zealand with the pronounced shift toward our middle distance horse emphasised so clearly by their popularity at the sales series this year."

Prominent Australasian owner Rob McAnulty was among the buying bench at Karaka to echo those sentiments "There's a big swing back to buying horses for races like the Rosehill Guineas and the AJC Derby," he told the New Zealand Herald. "You can make a lot of money now with a stayer and any New Zealand breeder who breeds staying horses and classic horses is going to be rewarded."

Nom du Jeu is by Sadler's Wells' champion son Montjeu, who has enjoyed outstanding success after a glittering career on the track. He was the six-time Gr 1 winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Prix du Jockey Club, Prix du Saint-Cloud, Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Irish Derby. Montjeu was an immediate success at stud with his first Northern Hemisphere crop including Gr 1 winners Hurricane Run, Motivator, Scorpion, Montare, Corre Caminos and Falstaff. Subsequent elite level winners have numbered Authorized, Fame And Glory, Jukebox Jury, Frozen Fire, Jan Vermeer, St Nicholas Abbey and Montmartre. In New Zealand he is the sire of Gr 1 winners Wall Street, Tavistock and Sharvasti with Roman Emperor and Speed Gifted in Australia. Wall Street confirmed his standing as one of the country's hottest racing prospects with his dominant victory in the recent Gr 1 Thorndon Mile at the expense of a brave Tavistock. Out of the dual Gr 1 winning Prized Gem (Kelt Capital Stakes, Brisbane Cup), Nom du Jeu's second, third and fourth dams were also multiple winners.

He was trained throughout his career at Cambridge by Murray and Bjorn Baker for four wins and 10 placings and stake earnings of nearly $2.5 million. "He's just a beautiful, strong horse - extremely good-looking and a lovely dark brown colour and 16.2 hands," Murray Baker said. "He's got a lovely temperament and my four-year-old grandson has been on his back in the box." Nom du Jeu's career highlight was victory in the Gr 1 AJC Derby at Randwick and he was also Gr 1 placed in the Caulfield Cup, Kelt Capital Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. "He could go on any ground and won the Waikato Guineas on a very firm track and his Caulfield Cup effort was another terrific run when he came from last on the bend," Baker said. "He had a lot of speed and won his only two-year-old start coming from last to first - he was a complete package." Nom du Jeu was bred and raced by Billie Morton, of Brisbane, whose family have retained a 50 percent holding in the stallion with fellow stakeholders Fairdale and Goodwood Studs New Zealand Bloodstock is managing the syndication of the remaining shares.

For further information: Contact Gerald Fell 0274 472134, Duncan Fell 0274 604132
NZ Bloodstock: Danny Rolston 021 473209 Bruce Slade 021 02568282


Zavite, Stayer of the Year
NZTM August 2009

'Fairdale-bred stayer Zavite (NZ) (Zabeel) took the title of Stayer of the Year at the New South Wales Owners' Association's 'Night of Champions' Awards Dinner in Sydney earlier this month. Fittingly, the Stayer of the Year award was presented by New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing.

Trained by Anthony Cummings, the well-travelled Zavite (NZ) was rewarded with the supreme distance acclaim following his outstanding triple Cup-winning season, which ultimately saw him bankroll over A$640,000 in stake-earnings. Outlining his class with a dominant win in the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup, Zavite demonstrated his ability over the two-mile test, romping home to a 2.3 length win when carrying 57.5kg. It was Zavite's first attempt at the 3200m, but the tough son of Zabeel had clearly inherited plenty of the "Z" factor as he seemingly cruised convincingly to the line.

Toughness and durability were also apparent of the Cummings-trained galloper - his Adelaide Cup success came hot off the heels of a solid performance to win the Gr.3 Launceston Cup (2400m), with victory in the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) coming three starts prior.
A close second to fellow home-bred stayer Gotta Keep Cool (NZ) in the Gr.3 Hobart Cup narrowly denied Zavite a fourth Cup title last term.

All told, the talented million-dollar-earner has won eight from 38 starts, with additional black-type success counted in the 2007 Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Handicap, and the Listed WJ McKell Cup two seasons ago. Bred in New Zealand by Fairdale Stud, Zavite was sold to a bid of A$80,000 from Anthony Cummings at the 2004 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale. Initially labelled by Cummings as a Melbourne Cup horse, Zavite's path to its 2008 running went awry after developing a muscle tear when third in last October's Listed Bart Cummings Hcp (2520m) at Flemington.
"I basically bought him to win a Melbourne Cup," said Cummings of the now seven-year-old. "Things went wrong last year, it was supposed to be his year, but it didn't work out," he said.

Twelve months prior Cummings had plotted a campaign to assure Zavite a start the 2007 Melbourne Cup, but came-up agonisingly short of making the field. Following a second-place effort in the Gr.2 Winning Edge Presentation Stakes, and a narrow defeat in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup, Zavite was unfortunately 29th in the Melbourne Cup elimination order for the field of 24. Already qualifying for this year's renewal, 2009 could well be Zavite's year.

With the benefit of two trial outings under his belt, Zavite will kick off his 2009 Melbourne Cup campaign in Saturday's Gr.2 Warwick Stakes at Royal Randwick in Sydney.
"He has come back stronger this time around and his work is up to its usual high standard," Cummings reported. "We will look at running him in the Chelmsford at Randwick and then the Hill Stakes before he heads to Melbourne. He'll run in the Caulfield Cup, then the Mackinnon prior to the Melbourne Cup. He keeps improving and the two miles is what he is bred for," concluded Cummings, whose dad, Bart, has won a record 12 Melbourne Cups - 8 of those with New Zealand-bred horses.

10 things to know about ZAVITE (NZ)

  1. He is the first horse in history to complete the Launceston Cup - Adelaide Cup double
  2. 14 of his 16 starts last season were in races carrying a stake of $100,000 or greater.
  3. He equalled the modern-day weight-carrying of 58.5kg's when winning the Gr.3 Launceston Cup
  4. His time of 3.22.71 in the Adelaide Cup (3200m) was one second faster than Efficient's 2007 Melbourne Cup winning time.
  5. He raced in four different states last season. (NSW, Melbourne, South Australia, Tasmania)
  6. He travelled over 4000kms last season!
  7. He is owned by Mrs N K Falconer, Ms J L Clare, G Clare, Ms S I Dalling, M J Dalling, K S Ince, Ms J M Ince & A Blood
  8. He is one of 121 stakes-winners for his super sire Zabeel (already sire of 3 Melbourne Cup winners)
  9. He is one of three winning foals to race for his dam Miss Vita
  10. Currently in foal to Savabeel, Miss Vita will visit Alamosa this season

Fully Fledged to stand at Fairdale
NZTM 12th May 2009

View pedigree & race record for Fully Fledged (PDF file)

High profile galloper Fully Fledged has been secured by Palmerston North's Fairdale Stud to commence stud duties in the coming season.

Pace and class combined with the looks to match his precocious pedigree have made Fully Fledged a perfect stallion fit for Fairdale Stud. The Fell family's Palmerston North operation have secured the handsome chestnut for stud duty this season.

"Fully Fledged had speed, brilliant two-year-old form and is an outstanding-looking individual," said Fairdale studmaster Duncan Fell.

"We are very fortunate to get him as he possesses all the ingredients necessary to make a successful stallion."

Fully Fledged was retired as the Gr 1 Ford Diamond Stakes winner of three races and was also placed four times in his 13-start career. His racing career was prematurely ended by injury during his three-year-old autumn campaign in Sydney.

"That was a great shame because he was a top-class animal and never had a lot of luck," Cambridge trainer Murray Baker said.

"He's a gorgeous-looking horse with a ton of quality about him and a lovely temperament."

Fully Fledged finished third in Australian Listed company in both the Fireball Quality and Strada Stakes - each time giving weight under his 58kg. He then ran a gallant fourth, again from a wide barrier, in the Gr 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill behind Gr 1 Australian Guineas winner Hearts Of Dreams.

"He raced very well in strong company and drew the outside all the time - that makes it so tough in Sydney," Baker said.

"The form out of all his races was outstanding and it went to show with no luck at all how good he was."
He's a gorgeous-looking horse with a ton of quality about him and a lovely temperament
His fourth placing in the Phar Lap was all the meritorious as he suffered the career-ending tendon injury during the race.

Fully Fledged had six starts as a two-year-old and began his career with a runaway win at Taupo and stepped up to end his campaign with back-to-back Gr 1 starts. He was an impressive winner of the Ford Diamond Stakes and then ran fifth when hampered by a shifty track in the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at Awapuni.

Fully Fledged returned as a three-year-old to finish runner-up in the Gr 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas before a stylish victory in the Listed Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa. He further showed his class when second against the older horses in the Listed Newmarket Handicap at Ellerslie.

Fully Fledged hails from a family of top-quality sprinters on both sides of his pedigree.
His sire Align, by the Northern Dancer horse Night Shift, won the Gr 1 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes and the Gr 2 Todman Slipper Trial. Align was the champion two-year-old of his year and headed the 1998-99 Australasian Free Handicap. He met with instant success at stud with his son Nightlign heading the NZ 2YO Free Handicap after victory in the Gr 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes.

Fully Fledged is out Fledged, a winning daughter of the European Gr 1 winning sprinter Bluebird (King's Stand Stakes). He is also the dam-sire of hot young stallion Thorn Park (Gr 1 Stradbroke Handicap) and Gr 1 winning sprinters Yell and Universal Queen. This season's Randwick and Rosehill Guineas winner Metal Bender is also out of a daughter of Bluebird.

Gr 1 winning two-year-olds and stallion sources of speed are plentiful in Fully Fledged's immediate pedigree with his maternal line also including Snippets and Lunchtime.

"It's a pedigree full of speed and high-class sprinting form," Fell said.

"Fully Fledged is a horse that that will suit breeders looking for two-year-old speed and precocity at an affordable fee."

Fully Fledged will stand his first season at Fairdale at $4000 + GST alongside proven sire Howbaddouwantit.


History making Zavite on Gr.1 trail
Tuesday Mar 10, 2009

The purple patch of form enjoyed by the Fairdale Stud-bred gelding Zavite (NZ) (Zabeel) added another chapter on Monday...it’s most important so far.

Previously victorious in the Gr.3 Launceston Cup (3200m), the Anthony Cummings-trained galloper entered Australia’s racing archives earlier in the week as the first horse in history to subsequently land the jewel of Adelaide’s racing calendar, the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m).

Ridden handy to the pace by regular pilot Nash Rawiller, Zavite (NZ) thrived at what was his first attempt over 3200m on Monday, opening the field up by 3 lengths in the straight and holding the advantage to the line.

Describing Zavite (NZ) as a tough competitor who just loves to win, Cummings has now earmarked the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 18 for the Zabeel galloper.

Interestingly, the Adelaide/Sydney Cup double has only ever been achieved by one horse - Zavite’s paternal half-brother Gallic.

Owners Mrs N K Falconer, Ms J L Clare, G Clare, Ms S I Dalling, M J Dalling, K S Ince, Ms J M Ince & A Blood could well be treated with an additional Gr.1 outing prior to this however, with a start in the BMW (2400m) at Rosehill two weeks earlier also deemed likely.

Initially bought by Cummings as a Melbourne Cup horse, Zavite’s path to its 2008 renewal went awry after unthinkably developing a muscle tear when 3rd in last October’s Listed Bart Cummings Hcp (2520m) at Flemington.

In all, Zavite (NZ) – an A$80,000 yearling purchase, has recorded four domestic Cup wins. Namely, the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m), the Gr.3 Launceston Cup (2400m), the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) and the Listed STC WJ McKell Cup (2400m).

Successful also in the Gr.3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2520m), and the Listed VRC Better Boy Hcp (2000m), Zavite’s career record now reads 36 starts for 8 wins, 7 placings and boasts a healthy stakes earnings figure of A$972,000.

Tough from the get go, Zavite’s Fairdale Stud breeder Gerald Fell was arguably the first to see the innate fighting qualities that would later be unleashed on the track.
“He was strong willed right from the very start,” said Fell. “My son Duncan took him to the sales and he was very difficult”.

In keeping with the Palmerston North based stud’s policy of acquiring well pedigreed mares, Zavite's (NZ) existence came to be after a phone call had between Fell and the expatriate New Zealander and now independent Bloodstock agent in Ireland and England, Larry Stratton.
“I bought Zavite’s dam Miss Vita (USA) from Ireland, sight unseen over the phone,” said Fell.
“We are very keen on mares with strong taproots and she had this in spades being out of a mare who was a 3/4 sister to the Champion galloper Suave Dancer, who was himself the winner of the 1991 Gr.1 Prix de L’ Arc De Triomphe (2400m) and the Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes (2400m).

Landing in New Zealand at a cost of approximately NZ$70,000 – NZ$80,000, Miss Vita (USA) (Alleged) was sent to Zabeel in her first season for the respectively winners Mybigfatgreekhorse (NZ) and Zavite (NZ).

Subsequently sent to Stravinsky in 2004 for the Brisbane winner Trescorpioni, Miss Vita (USA) later patronised Fairdale Stud’s own Gr.1 sire Howbaddouwantit in 2006, producing a yet unnamed colt that is based in West Australia.

Looking ahead, high expectation should follow the Savabeel foal that the three-from-three producer currently carries.

The Cox Plate winning sire is a son of Zavite’s own Champion sire Zabeel – a producer of no less than 39 individual Gr.1 winners.

In 2009, Miss Vita (USA) will visit the Australian Gr.1 winning sire Alamosa (NZ) (O’Reilly) who upon racing retirement will reside locally at Palmerston North’s Wellfield Lodge.


Zavite just too tough

Thursday Feb 26, 2009

The underlying toughness of the Fairdale Stud-bred galloper Zavite (NZ) (Zabeel) was made plain to see in the Gr.3 AAMI 2009 Launceston Cup (2400m) in Tasmania on Wednesday.

Having suffered a float mishap en route, Zavite (NZ) paraded with abrasions to his hips, but just as had been earlier concluded by the track vets, they proved no impediment to his win ability.

As was the case in his Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) win two starts earlier, Zavite (NZ) dictated proceedings from the front for the most part of the Tasmania Gr.3 feature.

Rated to perfection by Nash Rawiller, Zavite (NZ) kept finding in the run to the line, eventually repelling the challenge of Centurytwentyone by 0.75 of a length, with last year’s NZ-bred winner Ista Kareem (NZ) (Germano) a neck away in third.

"This horse is so tough and he proved that yet again today," Rawiller said.

"Just when they think they've got him he finds another gear and then digs deep to fight them off. He's a marvel"

In total, the six-year-old gelding’s 7 wins and 6 placings have netted A$717,850 in earnings for owners Mrs N K Falconer, Ms J L Clare, G Clare, Ms S I Dalling, M J Dalling, K S Ince, Ms J M Ince & A Blood.

Trained by Anthony Cummings, Zavite (NZ) had previously rewarded his A$80,000 yearling price tag with black-type wins in the Gr.3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2520m), the Listed AJC Australia Day Cup (2400m), the Listed STC WJ McKell Cup (2400m) and the Listed VRC Better Boy Hcp (2000m).

Looking to stakes starts ahead, it is likely that Zavite (NZ) will pin his ears back in the Group Two $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 9

Zavite (NZ) is by the prolific Gr.1 sire Zabeel and is out of the Alleged mare, Miss Vita, who has produced three winners from as many to race.


Karaka Yearling Sales 2008

Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, 26th + 27th January
Click here to view the lots on offer from Fairdale Stud.

Karaka Select Yearling Sale, 28th, 29th & 30th January:
Click here to view the lots on offer from Fairdale Stud.


The beginning of a new era!

10 December 2008

Fairdale introduces a new studmaster…
To read more, click here.


Big Profit (NZ) Strikes Win Hat-Trick in HK Sale Challenge

NZTM 8 December 2008
The smart Howbaddouwantit gelding Big Profit (NZ) gave rivals a galloping lesson at Sha Tin on Saturday, flying home for a dominant win in the HK$1.6 mil International Sale December Challenge (1400m).
Taken straight to the front by Brett Prebble, Big Profit (NZ) dictated terms throughout and had his rivals off the bit in the run to the line, winning by 3.75 lengths.
The win added to his last start win in the HK International Sale November Challenge (1200m) and was his third consecutive success.
Purchased originally by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for NZ$160,000 at the 2007 Premier Yearling Sale, Big Profit (NZ) was later resold at the Hong Kong International Sale for HK4.3mil, where successfully purchased by Yem Ming.
With just eight starts under his belt, the 3YO gelding has already made significant inroads into this outlay, with HK2, 687,000 achieved here so far.
Bred by Fairdale Stud, who stand his sire Howbaddouwantit, Big Profit (NZ) is a full brother to Howmuchyacharging - a Gr.3 winner of the 2005 Hawke's Bay Highview Stakes (1200m).

Standing for NZ$6000 plus GST, Howbaddouwantit (USA) has been best represented to date by the Gr.1 galloper Mi Jubilee and has a 58.3 per cent winners-to-runners ratio.



Fairdale breeds Canterbury Belle Stakes winner
22 September 2008

METROPOLITAN, a 3yr old filly by Elusive City out of Our Diva by Oregon, won the listed Canterbury Belle Stakes on Saturday 20th September at Riccarton.

METROPOLITAN is a product of the Fell family's Fairdale Stud, successful breeders for over 60 years, who have owned five generations of METROPOLITAN's family. She descends from Ajasco, a Group 1 winning daughter of Fairdale's great sire Pakistan ll. Grand dam Concert, a Group 3 winner, was also bred and raced by the Fell family as was Our Diva by another Fairdale sire, Oregon. This family also includes Group 1 winners Silver Liner and Petrava (champion 3 yr old in South Africa) and is strongly represented in the Fairdale broodmare band.

Fairdale holds a 20% share in Elusive City who has been very successful with his first crop of 2 yr olds in the Northern Hemisphere and is shuttled to Haunui Farm.

METROPOLITAN is raced by Mr. Phil Bayly, a long time supporter of Fairdale Stud. The manner of her win suggests that there are many more to come.


Gerald Fell honoured
NZPA 2 June 2008

Manawatu breeding and racing administrator Gerald Fell believes the foundations have been laid for the success of racing in the lower North Island.

Fell was the first chairman of the Race group (Racing Awapuni Combined Enterprise), which initially was a partnership of four Manawatu racing clubs.

It has since expanded to six clubs, including the Wellington Racing Club, and Fell believes it was part of the reason he was today named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to racing in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

The Race group started out as combination of the Manawatu, Rangitikei, Feilding and Marton racing clubs but has since been joined by the Wellington and Otaki-Maori racing clubs.

"The thing I'm most proud of is helping create Race and putting those clubs together," Fell told NZPA yesterday.

"I think it will prove the saviour of racing clubs in the lower North Island."

The assets of each club are shared by the partnership as well as raceday profits and losses. Racing tracks can be shared and racing dates moved amongst the different clubs.

Fell said it took some work to convince clubs to put aside their parochial stances but he believed it had helped retain racing's strength in the lower North Island.

"It took quite a lot of massaging to encourage the clubs to put all their assets together," he said.

"But I'm sure it has helped retain horses and horsemen in the area.

"Instead of being club versus club it is now all for the common good of racing in the region."

Fell was involved in setting up racing's Hall of Fame, is a past president of the Manawatu Racing Club of which he has been a member for more than 50 years and for five years was a director of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

But he is best known as a breeder through Fairdale Stud in Palmerston North.

The stud came to national prominence through the spectacular success of sire Pakistan II in the 1960s but the horse died prematurely at the age of 13. Fairdale Stud also bred 1979 Melbourne Cup winner, the Bart Cummings-trained Hyperno.


Steady stream of winners continues for Howbaddouwantit.
12 June 2008

Consistent sire Howbaddouwantit made it four winners in three different countries last week adding to what has already been a very successful season.

First up was D'Mighty General who won over a mile in Malaysia, continuing his good run of form. Eager Chat was next at Tauranga who fought hard to win at just his second start. This was followed on the same card by the promising galloper Pactus, who made it two wins from two starts. Rounding out the week was All Ready Got It, a very impressive winner of the $70,000 VRC Eugene Morgan Handicap at Flemington, making three wins on end for her trainer Mike Moroney.

Also in Singapore, Aces and Aces formerly known as Needuask, went under in the last stride to finish second in the $500,000 GR1 Singapore Turf Club Patrons Bowl. This adds to his already impressive CV, having won at GR 2 and Listed level and a GR 1 second in the Railway Handicap in New Zealand before being transferred to champion trainer Laurie Laxon.


Master Elite Wins In Hong Kong
Wednesday 25th June, 2008

Fairdale Stud-bred Master Elite (Van Nistelrooy x Pageant) won in fine style on debut in Hong Kong in the Class 1 Juvenile Sprint Trophy on Sunday night.

Fairdale Stud-bred Master Elite (Van Nistelrooy x Pageant) won in fine style on debut in Hong Kong in the Class 1 Juvenile Sprint Trophy on Sunday night.

Michael Chang Racing purchased Master Elite from his breeders, Fairdale Stud, at the 2007 New Zealand Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$90,000 and he is now raced by owner Chan Chau Fai.

Master Elite is a half-brother to Listen Pal (Tale of the Cat) who was third in the Group 3 BTC Doomben Classic and is from the family of the outstanding filly Miltak (McGinty).


Stable Adds To Success With Family
Thursday 19th June, 2008

The Busuttin stable added to a fine record with the family of Revere who won at Ruakaka on Wednesday.

The Busuttin stable added to a fine record with the family of Revere who won at Ruakaka on Wednesday.

The Riviera three-year-old filly is a daughter of former outstanding racemare Plume who was trained by Paddy Busuttin.

Plume was the winner of 12 races including the Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton and she was also runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.

Trent Busuttin, who is now in partnership with his father Paddy, recalls the brilliance of Plume on the racetrack.

"She was a wonderful racemare and Dad always speaks very highly of her as one of the best horses he has trained during his career," said Trent Busuttin. "I was about 10 or 11 years old at the time and realised that she was something out of the ordinary."

Revere has obviously inherited some of the family ability. Her sire, Riviera, is a son of Kris and stands at Fairdale Stud near Palmerston North which bred Revere. It was the second winner in recent weeks for Riviera who was also represented by True Intentions in the winners circle earlier in the month.

Revere had registered her first success two starts earlier at Awapuni and then lined up in the New Zealand Oaks but did not finish in the money in that event. "She got well back in the Oaks and made up ground alright at the finish but nothing came from behind that day," Busuttin said.

She was freshened up and returned with a three-quarter length win at Ruakaka in the hands of leading apprentice James McDonald.

Revere is owned jointly by her breeders, Fairdale Stud and the Central Districts Thoroughbred Partnership Syndicate.


Howbaddouwantit In Top 10 Sires Of NZ
Thursday 3rd April, 2008

Howbaddouwantit is enjoying a strong season which sees him among the top 10 New Zealand sires for 2007/08.

Howbaddouwantit, who stands at Fairdale Stud near Palmerston North, is currently among the top 10 leading New Zealand sires for the 2007/08 season.

To date the son of Rahy"s progeny have earned $843,302 in earnings this season. This positions him in 10th position on the sires" table.

Howbaddouwantit has been represented by 28 individual winners in New Zealand in 2007/08. These horses have won a total of 39 races.

The latest success story for Howbaddouwantit came at Hastings on Thursday when four-year-old mare Likenonthinelsie scored in the Tremain Real Estate Sprint Rating 90 1400.

Likeonthinelsie is trained at Waipukurau by Kelly Burne and was ridden by Jason Waddell.


Needuask Wins Listed Newmarket Handicap
Saturday 29th December, 2007

Needuask has won the Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and now shoots for Group 1 glory in the $200,000 Railway Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year"s Day.

Needuask has won the Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and now shoots for Group 1 glory in the $200,000 Railway Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year"s Day.

The Howbaddouwantit confirmed his growing reputation with stylish win and showed that he is one of the most promising sprinters in the country at present.

Co-trainer Richard Yuill said the Railway is a race Needuask can win with a handy barrier draw. "If we get a good barrier draw in the Railway we are a big hope. If we don"t then she (Samantha Spratt) will have to ride him for luck and he can still be very competitive."

Needuask is raced by Auckland couple Barry and Deidre Neville-White. Needuask"s win was his sixth success from only 18 starts.


Success Spreads To Hong Kong
Tuesday 25th December, 2007

Bullish Cash has spiralled the success of Fairdale Stud sire Howbaddouwantit to Hong Kong racing with his fine win in the feature event at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Bullish Cash has spiralled the success of Fairdale Stud sire Howbaddouwantit to Hong Kong racing with his fine win in the feature event at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The New Zealand-bred galloper proved too smart for his rivals in the HK$1.6 million Cuckoo Handicap (1800m) for class one horses and was ridden in superb style by in-form rider Marco Chui who settled the gelding three horses back on the rails and pushing his way into the clear at just the right time. It was a perfect ride and one that drew the young rider many compliments.

Bullish Cash is trained by Tony Cruz who celebrates his 51st birthday this week.

Bullish Cash, as the name implies, is raced by the man whose colours terrorised Japan’s best milers in 2006, Wong Wing-keung, of Bullish Luck fame.

Bullish Cash won four of his six starts in New Zealand, where he raced as Wewantit, and looked a sure-fire top grade horse in Hong Kong when he produced a storming run under Robbie Fradd to finish second at his local debut.

Howbaddouwantit is currently in fifth position on the New Zealand general sires" premiership having been represented by 19 individual winners in the country in the 2007/08 season. His progeny earnings stand at $536,535.


Spratt Has Big Opinion Of Needuask
Friday 7th December, 2007

Talented apprentice jockey Sam Spratt says Needuask showed blistering acceleration in scoring an authoritative win in the Group 2 Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Avondale on Wednesday.

Talented apprentice jockey Sam Spratt says Needuask showed blistering acceleration in scoring an authoritative win in the Group 2 Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Avondale on Wednesday.

"The way he went past them in the home straight was amazing," Spratt said. "All I did was give him a slap on the shoulder and he had an amazing turn of foot which left the others in his wake."

"He"s improved so much with every race he"s had and is a very talented horse," she said. "He still has a lot of improvement in him and has got a big future in the sprinting ranks," she said.

Spratt, 21, comes out of her apprenticeship time on February 2 and is making every post a winner in her successfual apprenticeship with 155 wins currently to her credit.

Needuask is trained at Pukekohe by Richard Yuill and is a son of Fairdale Stud sire Howbaddouwantit who has been enjoying a fantastic run of results in the 2007/08 season.

Howbaddouwantit is currently lying fifth on the New Zealand general sires" premiership with progeny earnings of $462,923.

He has been represented by a total of 68 individual winners including five individual stakes winners. His other black-type winners have been Mi Jubilee, Final Reality, Howmuchyacharging and Itmaybeyou.
 

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