Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 23

A Group I winning son of champion sire Deep Field, Widden Stud’s Portland Sky put his first winner on the board at Ascot on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for talented filly Daryte, who was purchased by Guy Mulcaster.

With a global reputation built up through 100 years of high-quality graduates, there should be no shortage of reasons for buyers to flock to Karaka later this month for the NZB National Yearling Sale. But if anyone needs any extra convincing, there are some lucrative incentives to make it well worth getting involved during Karaka 2026.

Trentham has long been Michael and Matthew Pitman’s favourite track, and that sentiment was further enhanced on Saturday after they recorded a memorable double at the Upper Hutt track.

 In the week of the iconic TAB Karaka Millions Raceday, where NZB graduates will take to the track for their share of $4.6m in stakes, NZB has unveiled new custom made trophies for winning connections of the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) races.

Chris Waller has announced the retirement of Champion mare Via Sistina after returning for her autumn campaign not “her normal highly energetic self”.

As I return from yet another visit to the QLD Magic Million sales, it occurred to me that it has been too long since I shared my insights as to what a new industry player should be mindful of, tax wise, before they commence a horse breeding and/or racing business.

In years to come when racing trivia nights are held, a question will be - what was the horse champion jockey Jett Newman rode in her first metropolitan race win?  And the answer is our One to Watch.

The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sale was highlighted by 15 yearlings that sold for $1million or more which was two more than last year when just 13 hit the magic mark, but still considerably down on 2024 which saw 23 millionaires sold following on from 20 in 2023.

Many vendors have been involved in New Zealand’s National Yearling Sale through a large part of its existence, boasting proud histories that span multiple generations and famed Southern nursery Inglewood Stud certainly fits that bill.

A beautiful filly by Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa topped the final day of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when selling for $270,000.