Weatherley Bloodstock

21/01/2025

18/01/2025

29/12/2024

TAUPO CUP OPPORTUNITY IDEAL FOR WEATHERLEY STAYER

Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley will have only one runner at Taupo on Monday but in handy stayer Ess Vee Are they have a major player in the main event on the day, the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m).

The statuesque son of Shocking is coming off a last start fourth in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) and will use the Taupo feature as his final preparatory run before tackling the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on 18 January.

While Darryn Weatherley believes the 2000m journey at Taupo may be slightly on the short side for his charge, he is keen to see him running on strongly with the famous Trentham two-miler on the horizon.

“He is a big, long striding customer who needs to find his feet before he gets rolling in his races,” Weatherley said.

“He hit the line well in the Waikato Cup after getting into tight quarters in the straight and at Taupo we want to see him doing the same thing.

“I had thought about giving him an exhibition gallop somewhere as his final lead-up but this race suits nicely, so we have chosen to go there instead.

“He has a nice weight (56.5kgs) and barrier draw (6) so he should be able to get a good trip in transit and if he can get clear air when he needs it, then we expect to see him in the finish.”

Weatherley is also out for a measure of revenge in the Wellington Cup, a race in which Ess Vee Are finished seventh earlier in the year after copping interference when Waisake lost his rider shortly after the start while also being inconvenienced by the tricky Soft6 track surface after plenty of rain on the day.

“He didn’t get all favours at Trentham and with such a big stride he just couldn’t get comfortable on a track that was cutting out a fair bit,” he said.

“He needs a Good track to show his best so we have our fingers crossed that is what he will strike.

“He deserves to win a good race as long as he can avoid some of the bad luck he tends to find at times.”

The Weatherley camp will also target another of the Trentham features with top-class miler Mali Ston, who is on song for a start in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) on 11 January.

“Mali Ston went an enormous race in the Matamata Cup (Listed, 1600m) at his last start (for third) and he has thrived since then,” Weatherley said.

“He ran the best last 1000m in the race and the best last 600m of the whole day.

“He carried 59.5kgs while the winner (Khafre) and runner up (Mary Shan) both had 53kgs on their backs.

“We had considered a race at Ellerslie for him but he likes a big, roomy track with a little bit of give in it, so Trentham should suit him down to the ground.

“He ran third in the race in 2022 carrying 57kgs and this time the conditions of the race will see him carry 55kgs so he looks pretty well in with the way he has been going lately.”

📸 Kenton Wright (Race Images)

18/12/2024

GROUP ONE STAGE BECKONS AGAIN FOR MALI STON

🖊 Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Mali Ston will earn himself a return to the big time if he races up to expectations on his home turf on Friday.

The Darryn and Briar Weatherley-prepared son of El Roca was luckless at his most recent appearance and will be chasing a deserved victory in the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m).

Mali Ston ventured south to Trentham earlier this month for the Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) and returned home empty-handed through no fault of his own.

The seven-year-old should have finished a lot closer than seventh after he was held up in traffic in the run home.

Unperturbed, the stable is keen to return to the capital city next month.

“If he goes a creditable race on Friday then we’ll put him on the float and go back to Wellington and try and win the Thorndon (Gr.1, 1600m),” Darryn Weatherley said.

Two years ago, Mali Ston came off success in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) to finish third in the Thorndon before his progress was halted by a broken pedal bone.

He has yet to win since his return but has posted placings in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m), the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m), the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1400m) and the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m).

Mali Ston will drop back in class on Friday in his chase for a sixth career victory.

“He’s got topweight and the outside gate, but he has been running in some pretty decent races and stronger than what he strikes on Friday,” Weatherley said.

“He’s been racing well and it would be nice to kick a goal on our home track. He is very bright, his work has been super and it looks a nice race for him.”

He will again be ridden by Weatherley’s son Sam who will also be aboard stablemates Bella Montagna (Ancroft Stud Maiden, 1600m), Chahoo (Comag Maiden,1400m) and Staphee (Matamata Veterinary Services Maiden, 1400m).

Belardo filly Bella Montagna accompanied Mali Ston to Trentham late last month to finish a strong fourth in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) after blundering at the start.

“It was a very good run and it’s come up a very good field on Friday, but she’s ticked all the boxes,” Weatherley said.

“She’s not going to be a maiden for long and I expect a bold run, the plan is hopefully to get to the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) and it looks like the further she goes the better she’ll be.”

Also by Belardo, Chahoo was seventh when resuming at Te Aroha and less than 3.5l off the winner.

“He’s won a trial and a little bit of rain would only help his chances. It was only 1150m last time and the 1400m this time may help him travel a bit better so he can improve,” Weatherley said.

Staphanos’ son Staphee was held up in running before finishing fifth at Rotorua on debut and then fell at Te Aroha.

“The 1400m might be short of his best, but she’s showed us enough to suggest he’ll win a race pretty soon,” Weatherley said.

“I’m pleased to see he has drawn out (10), he’s such a big, gangly horse and if he can get a bit of space he’ll be hitting the line nicely I’d suggest.”

📸 Kenton Wright (Race Images)

19/11/2024

LA VITESSE (Darci Brahma x Naturo)

We are saddened to share the passing of our beloved mare LA VITESSE. La Vitesse has been a huge part of our lives and owned alongside a very special friend Barry Wright ‘Wrighty’. Darryn first broke her in, in 2011 where she then joined John Sargent Racing having her first race day win in late 2012. Once John relocated to Australia, Darryn took over the training of La Vitesse which rewarded him with his first starter presented to the races and very first winner. Due to injury, she was then retired late 2013, where she then began her next chapter of becoming a Mum.

From 2016 – 2024 she has become a mother of 6 and most importantly being the dam of headline acts Maria Farina and Pier,

2016 – Ch. F – La Velocita – (Proisir)
2017 – B .F – Maria Farina (Contributer)
2019 – B. G – Pier (Proisir)
2022 – B. F – Unnamed (Contributer)
2023 – Br. C – Unamed (Proisir)
2024 – Bl.C – Unamed (Satono Aladdin)

She has been a wonderful mare to us with producing all 3 runners to races as winners two of which included a group 1, group 2, group 3 and 2 listed winners. We hope her legacy goes on to make her proud.

A special thank you to James Chapman and the entire team at Jamieson Park for looking after our girl.

Rest in peace La Vitesse. ❤️🖤

16/11/2024

Special to see Sam win the 2024 Lindauer Stewards ❤️

28/10/2024

An impressive win yesterday by ESS VEE ARE (Shocking x Reiveke) taking out the Sky City Waikato Cup Prelude at Te Rapa Racecourse in the hands of Sam Weatherley.

Congratulations to long time family friends RBC Racing 💛💙🖤

28/10/2024

💛💙🖤

READ: “He executed it perfectly, he skipped off the corner and held on. It was nice to see.”

Summer Cups targets are on the horizon for stakes winner Ess Vee Are following his bold win in the SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) at Te Rapa Racing.

https://www.racingnews.co.nz/cups-targets-for-ess-vee-are/

23/09/2024

The good times continue to roll for Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain, with his first crop Northern Hemisphere representatives breaking new ground.The multiple Group One-winning son of Ko

19/09/2024

An impressive trial at Rotorua today by our 2 year old c**t BULGARI (Hello Youmzain x O’Naturelle) giving Hello Youmzain his first trial winner here in New Zealand.

Bulgari was purchased from the Jamieson Park draft for $220,000 during the New Zealand Bloodstock 2024 yearling sales.

Bulgari is closely related to our group & listed winners Maria Farina & Pier.

New Zealand Bloodstock Cambridge Stud Jamieson Park

09/09/2024

We are so saddened to hear the passing of Contributer.

Our thoughts go out to the entire team at Mapperley Stud ❤️

MAPPERLEY STUD MOURNS THE LOSS OF CONTRIBUTER

The Davison family and the team at Mapperley Stud are in mourning after the shock loss of their good friend and group one sire Contributer.

Contributer, a champion son of High Chaparral was starting his 9th season at the Matamata based stud, died suddenly on Sunday morning.

A dual Gr.1 winner on the racetrack, Contributer was crowned Champion Australian Middle Distance Horse of the Year, after a brilliant autumn campaign where he won the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes, Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes and the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes all in succession.

Known affectionately as Barry to everyone who worked with him, Stud Master Simms Davison was devastated with the loss of his friend who he had worked so closely with over the years.

“I am absolutely gutted, Contributer has been a big part of our lives and our stud for many years. I’m still struggling to come to terms with the loss of Contributer, the entire team are very shocked by the news.”

“He was such a character, an awesome horse to work with. He had a wonderful temperament, an engaging personality and everyone who worked with him just loved him.’

Contributer had made a name for himself as a sire when he was crowned Champion 2nd season sire after leaving the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas winner Lion’s Roar in his first crop of 3 year-olds. His first crop proved to be a massive success with 6 individual stakes winners and a 2nd Gr.1 winner in Campionessa.

With his eldest progeny 7 year-olds, Contributer is the sire of 103 winners including 9 individual stakes winners and a total of 24 stakes performers.

“He had truly started to shine as a sire, he had left some tremendously talented racehorses and we know his legacy will live on” added Davison

"From very limited numbers, he's performed incredibly well as a sire. What he has achieved on the track is pretty amazing'

“He was very much in our proven stallion ranks in New Zealand, it’s a big loss not only for our stud but for the entire industry.”

“He has some very talented 3 year-olds coming through this season, and he was on a trajectory to go to another level in the next few years”

“Hopefully his offspring can do their father proud this season, and we still have a lovely bunch of yearlings by him on the farm. We will cherish these last foals that are due to be born this season”

03/09/2024

PLENTY OF GOSSIP SURROUNDING MATAMATA DEBUTANT

Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

There is plenty of anticipation heading into Matamata’s Wednesday meeting, with local trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley set to unveil exciting filly Gossip.

The daughter of Proisir topped last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Online Yearling Sale when purchased out of Fairdale Stud’s draft by Gary Harding for $110,000, and she is living up to her billing so far, winning both of her trials to date.

She is set to make her debut in the Pam Gerard – Ballymore Racing 1200, for which she is rated a $1.65 favourite by TAB bookmakers ahead of the Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained Shavasana at $5.

“I am looking forward to seeing her run,” Briar Weatherley said.

“It is probably not ideal being on a Heavy track, but she has had two trials now on them and has gone well both times. Hopefully she can get the job done tomorrow.”

Gossip is nominated for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and Weatherley said her early spring performances will dictate which path they take with their filly.

“We are going to take it one race at a time with her,” she said. “She is not a very big filly, there is not a lot of her. She is a November foal, so she still lacks a bit of maturity and is on the weaker side.

“She is nominated for the 1000 Guineas, but we will just get through tomorrow and reassess after that. She will tell us whether we press on to those races or put her aside and wait until after Christmas and let her develop.”

A race prior, stablemate It’s Pedro will be out to break maiden ranks when he contests the Waharoa Transport Co. (1995) LTD 1200.

“Two starts ago he ran really well at Pukekohe where he was just beaten on a Heavy track,” Weatherley said.

“Last start at Taupo, I just think the track was too good for him. He finished fifth but he probably just wants it wet, and he is going to get that wet track again tomorrow.

“With a bit of luck, I think he can be right there.”

Meanwhile, Weatherley was happy enough with the way Group Three winner Arby and stakes winner Ess Vee Are competed in their respective 1300m trials at Cambridge Synthetic on Tuesday.

“Arby has trialled twice now and went over a bit further today,” Weatherley said. “He is probably better suited going the other way around. We will look to kick him off over a mile first-up, he is quite a dour stayer. We have no real set plans with him at the moment.

“I am really happy with Ess Vee Are. He has trialled well both times. He put himself right there today and travelled quite keen and was very happy and full of himself.

“We are not 100 percent sure about whether or not we are going to start him over 1400m or a mile first-up. We are waiting for the better tracks for him. Both him and Arby like Good tracks, so we don’t really want to rush to get them out on these bad tracks at the moment. It shouldn’t be long until the weather turns.

“The New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) is his main aim at this stage. It definitely looks a nice race for him, so we will just plot a path to get him to the New Zealand Cup and go from there.”

While both horses could be in for a big spring, Group One-winning stablemate Pier has been ruled out of racing until next year.

“We are scratching our head with him at the moment,” Weatherley said. “He has just had a bit of a niggly issue and at this stage we are going to be putting him aside for three to six months and give him a bit of time again.”

📸 Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

25/08/2024

MALI STON TURNS HEADS WITH FOXBRIDGE RUN

Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

There was a time when Darryn Weatherley wondered if Mali Ston would ever return to a racecourse, but patience and perseverance paid off when the talented gelding kicked off his season with a powerful second in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m).

The Group Two-winning son of El Roca was underrated in the sprint contest, jumping a $39 chance with Sacred Satono and Skew Wiff as the favoured horses in a competitive running of the Te Rapa feature.

Settling back near the tail throughout the race, Mali Ston tracked the widest turning for home and stormed past all of his rivals bar the winner, Bonny Lass. The sectionals told the story of his effort, with the fastest closing 800, 600, 400 and 200 metres of the field, including the only sub-37 second last 600 in the Heavy9 conditions.

Weatherley, who prepares Mali Ston in partnership with daughter Briar, was thrilled with the effort.

“His run was huge, we would’ve honestly been pleased if he had run home for fourth or fifth, but to run second was really encouraging going forward,” he said.

“His sectionals were the best of the race, so he’s in the right space.”

Mali Ston was partnered by Weatherley’s son Sam, who has been on board for each of his five successes, including the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) of 2022. That victory was followed by a third in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), but Mali Ston then wasn’t seen on a New Zealand racetrack for over 18 months after sustaining a broken pedal bone.

“He’s always shown us a lot of ability and had 18 months off with an injury, and then last prep he was just starting to come back to his normal self in those last couple of runs and went some good, creditable races,” Weatherley said.

“He ran second in the Japan Trophy at his last start of last prep, then we decided to spell him and obviously fresh-up yesterday he’s run very well.

“He’s looking better now than he ever has, he’s been a slow-maturing horse and we were very lucky to get him back, he was 50/50 as to whether he would survive, let alone get back to the racecourse.

“I had a wee tear in the eye watching him go so well behind a very good mare in Bonny Lass, in what has been a time-honoured race.”

Many of the Foxbridge field are now headed towards the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings in a fortnight, but Weatherley indicated Mali Ston will bypass the opening day of the carnival in favour of the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) on September 28.

“We didn’t nominate for the 1400 at Hastings, he doesn’t take a lot of racing so he may have a quiet trial then go down for the mile and hopefully can be competitive in that,” he said.

“We do think he’s a better miler or fast 2000 metre horse, he tends to run better when the race is run strongly and he’s off the bridle and seems to be able to able to come over the top of them.

“He just minds his own business at the back of the field finishing his coffee, then when it’s time to go he can really put in.

“Sam won the Rich Hill Mile on him prior to his injury, so they’ve got a good association and he knows this horse well.

“They just seem to click, Sam leave him alone early and lets him go through his gears. It would be good if we could get a result at Hastings.”

Mali Ston ran in the familiar colours of his breeder-owners Markwood Lodge.

📸 Race Images

25/08/2024

So proud of our boy Alvin running second in the Foxbridge Plate yesterday ❤️🥈

14/08/2024

Very happy to see one of our previous stable favs MATAWAI saluting today in Australia at Sandown.

Congratulations to her connections 🥂

🎥 .com

14/08/2024

The new season is here and we are looking for senior ground staff to come and join our team here in Matamata. If this sounds like you, please get in touch 🐎

01/08/2024

Wishing our wonderful four-legged friends in the southern hemisphere a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎂🐴

17/07/2024

VIDEO: Pier was a force amongst his three-year-old crop, winning the NZ 2000 Guineas before a disappointing campaign the following season. Co-trainer Darryn Weatherley believes he's on top of his issues and has him right where he needs to be spring.

• NZ Racing News

Pier was a force amongst his three-year-old crop, winning the NZ 2000 Guineas before a disappointing campaign the following season. Co-trainer Darryn Weather...