Cambridge Stud was crowned the Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan New Zealand Breeder of the Year sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds on Saturday night at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro.

It is the sixth time the iconic nursery has earned earning New Zealand’s highest breeding honour following another outstanding season on both sides of the Tasman.

The prestigious title is the first since Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay assumed ownership of Cambridge Stud in 2018, recognising a season headlined by dual Australian Group 1 winner Ceolwulf and New Zealand Group 1 winner Jaarffi.

The farm bred more than 105 individual winners during the season, including five stakes winners and a further nine stakes performers.

The operation also capped a memorable year by finishing as the leading vendor at New Zealand Bloodstock’s landmark 100th National Yearling Sale, underlining its standing among the world’s premier thoroughbred nurseries.

“It’s quite surreal, buying Cambridge Stud and this award being named after Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan,” Sir Brendan said.

“I think Ceolwulf was a real highlight as a breeder this season. John Foote bought the dam for €55,000 and she has gone on to leave an elite-level miler, and we sold a foal out of her for $1.1 million this year, which is just incredible.

“We love our racing and we love our breeding. It is important to thank the team, headed by Henry and Michele Plumptre, and the whole team who work on the farm.”

While acknowledging the industry was going through a period of transition, Sir Brendan remained bullish about the future of New Zealand breeding.

“You can’t ignore the fact that over the last five years, 21 percent of the Group 1 winners in Australia have been bred in New Zealand,” he said.

“The opportunities for this country are just enormous. Unfortunately, there has been a drop in foal numbers, but that creates an opportunity because the industry needs stock, and for us at Cambridge Stud to be able to bring in stallions of international appeal like Chaldean and Charyn is just amazing.

“I get up every morning and look forward to the day. I try to make the day a new challenge, and I think this industry just has so much upside.”

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A unique individual went under the hammer at Inglis’ Great Southern Weanling Sale and was warmly embraced by the buying bench.

The first Southern Hemisphere youngster to be offered at auction by our exciting young stallion Chaldean was purchased out of Burnewang North Pastoral’s draft by former Group 1-winning jockey Scott Seamer.

Now operating a breeding enterprise in New South Wales, Seamer had the final say on the filly (Lot 218) by Frankel’s multiple elite level-winning son at A$180,000.

The youngster is out of the unraced Too Darn Hot mare Summerinthecity, a half-sister to multiple Group winner Need I Say More who was also twice successful in Hong Kong as Spirited Express.

Chaldean will be represented by two youngsters (Lots 3, 54) at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale at Karaka on June 25.

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Joliestar took the next step on her journey to Royal Ascot, taking part in a jumpout at Flemington Racecourse to familiarise herself with racing down the straight, something she will be required to do on the big day in just three weeks’ time.

Trainer Chris Waller details what lies ahead for Joliestar as she embarks on the 28 hour flight to the United Kingdom.

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