http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz en-us Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:08:43 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/171575/meet-the-team-monica-jones/ Born and raised on a dairy farm in the heart of Taranaki, but based in Cambridge since 2021, Monica joined the team a little over a year ago.She never wanted to be a farmer when she grew up, and choose to study mechanical engineering at Waikato University, but she’s here now and loving life on a horse farm.She got her start in the industry mucking out boxes at a racing stable and worked her way from the ground up to strapping on race day.  She then made the jump from racing stable to foal... Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:24:53 +1300 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post171575 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/171444/fraudster-the-real-deal-in-ashburton-feature/ Exciting three-year-old Fraudster made full use of his significant early pace and a strong on speed track bias to give his rivals a view of nothing but his disappearing rump as he raced clear to claim his first victory at stakes level in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton. The Kenny Rae-prepared son of Profiteer had won twice at his home base at Ruakaka before being sent south by Rae to continue a preparation aimed at the Gr.1 Al Basti Eq... Sun, 11 Oct 2026 10:35:57 +1300 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post171444 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/171240/saintly-dancer-has-hawkins-dreaming-of-guineas-glory/ The Hawkins family are hoping Saintly Dancer can go a couple of places better than former star graduate Lickety Split in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.The Wentwood Grange-bred filly emerged as a leading contender with a dominant six-length win in the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.It was a familiar result for the Cambridge nursery, which won the same race four years ago with Lickety Split, who subsequently finished third in the Thousand Guinea... Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:33:33 +1300 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post171240 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/171210/saintly-dancer-spectacular-in-edward-manifold/ A six-length blitz by Saintly Dancer in the A$300,000 Gr.2 TAB One Pool Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday continued an outstanding start to the Australasian three-year-old filly season for the Hawkins family’s Llanhennock Trust and Wentwood Grange.Saintly Dancer was bred by Llanhennock Trust and offered under their Wentwood Grange banner at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where First Light Racing and Cia... Sat, 03 Oct 2026 20:39:03 +1300 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post171210 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/170950/hawea-downs-quality-field-in-gold-trail-stakes/ Despite some anxious moments loading into the starting gates and a tough trip in transit, classy filly Hawea still managed to claim an impressive victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings. Trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, who won the event last year with Lollapalooza, had the daughter of Hellbent primed for the contest after an impressive first-up win at Taupo last month. However, Hawea decid... Sat, 26 Sep 2026 18:14:26 +1200 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post170950 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/170595/nonu-impresses-at-the-trials/ The greatest racehorse ever bred and raced in Australia by Godolphin, Anamoe won nine Group I races and was the Australian Horse of the Year in 2022/2023, so there was plenty of interest at the official 2YO trials at Randwick on Monday morning when his very first 2YO’s stepped out and they did not disappoint.Anamoe had two runners and both of them won with Bjorn Baker trained colt Nonu creating a great impression with a three and a half length win in 49.02 seconds with Jason Collett in the sad... Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:07:02 +1200 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post170595 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/170055/wentwood-grange-fillies-shining-this-spring/ Last year’s Karaka yearling sale draft is proving to be a vintage crop for Cambridge farm Wentwood Grange, with several of their fillies shining this spring, including Sweetest Thing, who recorded her maiden stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.It was Sweetest Thing’s first start for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, with the filly joining their barn after being purchased by Glentree Racing out of Roydon Bergerson’s Awapuni stable... Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:34:17 +1200 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post170055 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/169606/meet-the-team-phillipa-lines/ Where does your passion for horses come from? It’s in my name. Phillipa means lover of horse. I always wanted a pony. I learnt to ride at 9, got my first pony at 10. My family isn’t really horseyHow did you get started in the thoroughbred industry? I always wanted to work with horses. When I left school I worked on a stud in Cambridge, right next door to where Wentwood now standsWhat is your favorite part about working at Wentwood Grange? Foaling with Des and Dean, the support we have and th... Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:49:33 +1200 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post169606 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/168800/hawea-stunning-in-fillies-feature/ The first running of the Chittick Family Fillies Classic (1100m) at stakes level was justified when Matamata filly Hawea put away a classy field in stunning fashion. The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained filly was resuming off two trials in the $100,000 feature, starting at $15 in a market favouring Miss Janet and Latoya. In an even line at the jump, it was Phillyjean who dashed out to take the early lead while Hawea settled out the back under jockey Wiremu Pinn. Still a clea... Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:03:27 +1200 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post168800 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/post/168703/meet-the-team-rebecca-donovan/ Born and raised in Northland Rebecca has been apart of  the Wentwood Grange team for three years. The recipient of the 2024 Sunline Trust Management Scholarship, this will be her first season as our newly appointed Broodmare Manager. Where does your passion for horses come from? I was lucky enough to be introduced to horses before I could walk, as my parents had a small stud breeding purebred Clydesdales and sport horses. I’ve been around the breeding side of the industry for as... Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:36:15 +1200 http://www.wentwoodgrange.co.nz/blog/#post168703