Weatherley Bloodstock

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...

01/07/2024

We have weekend ground staff positions available to come join our small team of horses here in Matamata.

Contact Weatherley Bloodstock on 0272650852 or our page for more information. 🐎

04/06/2024

Very proud 💙

Congratulations to Sam Weatherley who brought up his 400th win on his birthday yesterday with a winning treble at Te Aroha 🤩

The milestone win was his first win of the day aboard Stephen Marsh-trained Hula Beat. Sam also won aboard Pier trained by his father Darryn and sister Briar Weatherley, before rounding out the perfect day on Shelley Hale-trained Talentoso 🙌

03/06/2024

PIER BACK WITH A VENGEANCE AT TE AROHA

Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Former quality three-year-old Pier made a welcome return to racing at Te Aroha on Monday when he strode to an impressive first-up victory in an open 1300m contest.

The strapping son of outstanding Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir hadn’t been seen since finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stakes (1600m) at Hastings last September, and has subsequently been rehabilitating a cannon bone issue.

Prepared by the father-and-daughter training partnership of Darryn and Briar Weatherley, the now four-year-old warmed up for his assignment with a comfortable victory over 1000m at the Te Aroha trials last month.

Rider Sam Weatherley allowed the gelding to find his feet at the rear of the field and was still back a clear last with 600m to travel.

Pier looped the field rounding the home bend and once he found clear air out widest on the track, he unleashed a powerful sprint that carried him to a convincing one length victory over Dusty Road who fought on bravely after making the pace throughout and Fonteyn who stuck well for third.

Weatherley was delighted with the result, although his first reaction was one of relief.

“A big sigh of relief and very happy to see him do that,” he said.

“The big question mark for me was the track, which was more testing than we would have liked, but like a good horse he copped everything that was thrown at him and still got the job done.

“I also thought he may be one run short, but those really top athletes just have that ability to give their best even when not everything is in their favour and he showed that today.”

Weatherley has always held the highest opinion of his charge and that hasn’t changed over the past year.

“It has been a real exercise in patience as he had that niggly problem and we had to give him a good break,” he said.

“We did everything we were told and his x-rays since then have been very good.

“He handled his trial well, so we pressed on and now he has had this race I’m going to tip him out again and get ready for the spring.

“This will have topped up his confidence as it has certainly done it for me, so now I can’t wait to get him back in and have him show people just how good he is.”

Bred by Weatherley and his wife Lou, along with long-time friend Barry Wright, and raced in partnership by the trio and leviathan Australian-based owner Ozzie Kheir, Pier has now won four of his 10 starts and more than $473,000 in prizemoney.

📸 Kenton Wright (Race Images)

03/06/2024