The steady flow of New Zealand horses to Australia continues unabated and the class of horses being sold ranges from Cup-class pacers and trotters to maidens.
Thirty-eight NZ horses including the NSW Derby heat winner Major Perry, the 1:49.6 Menangle winner Fire Fox, the Melton trotting winner Chinese Whisper (pictured) and the broodmare Zenardle were sent from February 10 to March 10, and more than 40 left during the past month.
The latest sales include the Group 1 NZ Breeders Stakes winner Bettor Talk Art, Cover Girl (Group 2 NZ Ladyship Stakes), the multiple Group winning trotter One Apollo and the broodmare Millwood Ivy and her Captaintreacherous weanling colt.
There has been an upward trend in the number of NZ imports to Australia annually for the last three years. In 2019-20 there were 405 horses cleared from NZ to Australia, while last season there were 430.
The highest tally of NZ imports to Australia was 827 in the 2010-11 season. Other leading years were 2011-12 (778), 1998-99 (775), 2009-10 (726) and 1999-2000 (705).
Another concern for NZ administrators and clubs is the downward spiral in foals born over the last decade.
In 2009-10 there were 2888 foals born in NZ. This figure dropped to 1522 in 2020-21, an alarming decrease of 47 percent.
In the same period the number of mares served in the Dominion dropped from 4024 to 2316 – a 42 per cent decrease.
The higher numbers of horses being exported from NZ to North America and Australia and the dwindling foal numbers is having an effect on club programmes, particularly in New Zealand’s North Island.