Wharton
Wharton: Benstud bucking the breeding trend
Wed Dec 20 2023

Wharton: Benstud bucking the breeding trend

For more than half a century New Zealand bred and raised pacers and trotters have been plundering the riches of Australian racing.

And, despite increased transport and registration fees, the trend of NZ horses crossing the Tasman is showing little sign of slowing down. In 2022 alone more than 450 Kiwi breds were cleared to Australia - the majority for racing purposes.

Wharton: Strong Vicbred representation for ID Grand Finals
Wed Dec 13 2023

Wharton: Strong Vicbred representation for Inter Dominion Grand Finals

Better Eclipse and Just Believe will spearhead the five-strong Victorian entry for the Inter Dominion Grand Finals at Albion Park on Saturday night. They will joined by Turn It Up and the trotters Van Sank and Thebestbourbon.

Wharton: See the stars of tomorrow at Maryborough
Wed Dec 6 2023

Wharton: See the stars of tomorrow at Maryborough

Will Wicked Liquor’s longest 21st Century losing streak at 41 go the board?  Who will win at their first start to join a select list? Who will be the next cup or classic winner?

The answers to these questions may be revealed at the 13th annual Humbletonian Day meeting to be held at Maryborough on Friday, December 22.

Wharton: Breeding giant Benstud joins forces with  BetaVet
Tue Dec 5 2023

Wharton: Breeding giant Benstud joins forces with BetaVet

Benstud Standardbreds, one of Australia’s leading nurseries and agistment farms, has joined forces with equine supplement specialists BetaVet in the preparation of their yearlings for the 2024 sales.

Benstud will use Prepare, Gastri-Tec and Buildagut, which are part of  BetaVet’s extensive preparation and racing range, on 49 yearlings – the highest number of any stud or preparer in the country – for sales in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane conducted by Nutrien Equine.

Wharton: Bettor's Delight is No. 1 Breeders Crown sire
Wed Nov 29 2023

Wharton: Bettor's Delight is No. 1 Breeders Crown sire

The Woodlands Stud flagship stallion Bettor’s Delight maintained his position at the top of the Breeders Crown sires’ premiership following the successes of champion three-year-old filly Major Delight and top four-year-old mare Fiamma in their respective Finals.

Wharton: Group 1 Gleeson eyes Breeders Crown greatness
Wed Nov 22 2023

Wharton: Group 1 Gleeson eyes Breeders Crown greatness

Maryborough identity Peter Gleeson is on the verge of achieving yet another milestone in a decorated career as a breeder.

The 2017 Victorian Breeder of the Year will be represented by the two-year-old filly Very Pretty and the three-year-old colt Perfect Class in their respective Finals of the Breeders Crown at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday night.

Wharton: Big V bluebloods dominate Blue Riband
Wed Nov 15 2023

Wharton: Big V bluebloods dominate Blue Riband

The fact that Victoria is the premier State for breeding was emphasized as four of the six major pacing Derby classics and three of the six major Oaks as well as all four trotting Derbies and Oaks run across the country in 2023 were won by Vicbred horses.

Wharton: Breeders Crown kicks off at Bendigo tonight
Wed Nov 8 2023

Wharton: Breeders Crown kicks off at Bendigo tonight

It's the time of year when it all comes down to the Breeders Crown.

Some 25 years ago, a concept to create a championship series in harness racing showcasing the best young pacing and trotting talent was initiated by Alabar Bloodstock principal Alan Galloway and other farms with the support of Harness Racing Victoria and the Victorian Standardbred Breeders Association.

Wharton: Trotters Derby winner's breeding Not As Promised
Wed Nov 1 2023

Wharton: Trotters Derby winner's breeding Not As Promised

The results of the Victoria Cup meeting at Melton Entertainment Park further underlined Victoria’s status as the hub of the breeding industry in Australia.

Of the five Group One events run, four were won by horses bred and foaled in Victoria. They are Act Now, the winner of the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Cup, Petracca (Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby), Sweet Bella (Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks) and Shes Ruby Roo (Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks).

Wharton: Trotting boom continues to gather momentum
Wed Oct 25 2023

Wharton: Trotting boom continues to gather momentum

The results of the Victoria Cup meeting at Melton Entertainment Park further underlined Victoria’s status as the hub of the breeding industry in Australia.

Of the five Group One events run, four were won by horses bred and foaled in Victoria. They are Act Now, the winner of the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Cup, Petracca (Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby), Sweet Bella (Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks) and Shes Ruby Roo (Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks).

Wharton: Victoria Cup night a breeding bonanza for Big V
Wed Oct 18 2023

Wharton: Victoria Cup night a breeding bonanza for Big V

The results of the Victoria Cup meeting at Melton Entertainment Park further underlined Victoria’s status as the hub of the breeding industry in Australia.

Of the five Group One events run, four were won by horses bred and foaled in Victoria. They are Act Now, the winner of the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Cup, Petracca (Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby), Sweet Bella (Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks) and Shes Ruby Roo (Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks).

Wharton: Big spike in entries for 35th APG yearling sales
Wed Sep 27 2023

Wharton: Big spike in entries for 35th APG yearling sales

A total of 436 yearlings have been nominated across four states for the 2024 Australian Pacing Gold yearling sale.

Wharton: Breeding heavyweights shine at Vicbred series finals
Wed Sep 20 2023

Wharton: Breeding heavyweights shine at Vicbred Super Series finals

Several of the largest players in Victorian standardbred breeding shone brightly on the big stage at the $1.5 million Vicbred Super Series finals at Melton on Saturday night.

Wharton: Melton set to showcase celebration of Victorian breeding
Wed Sep 13 2023

Wharton: Melton set to showcase celebration of Victorian breeding

With a total of $1.5million up for grabs across 12 races, Saturday night’s meeting at Melton will showcase the best Victorian-bred two, three and four-year-old pacers and trotters in commission.

Wharton: Trotter driving Graham's quest for Group 1 glory
Fri Sep 8 2023

Wharton: Trotter driving Graham's quest for Group 1 glory

Muckleford breeder-owner Graham Old is hoping talented trotting mare Lady Adelia can give him his first Group 1 success in a more than 50-year involvement in the sport when she lines up in the $100,000 Vicbred Super Series final at Melton on September 16.

Wharton: Unparalleled feat by top Victorian trotting breeder
Wed Sep 6 2023

Wharton: Unparalleled feat by top Victorian trotting breeder

Champion Ballarat breeder-owner-studmaster Pat Driscoll chalked up yet another milestone in his storied career when he bred five trotting winners at the Vicbred Super Series meeting at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.

Wharton: Captain brings heat as Vicbred pacers vie for Super semis
Fri Sep 1 2023

Wharton: Captain brings heat as Vicbred pacers vie for Super semis

Twenty heats of the Alabar Farms Vicbred Super Series are in the books after the pacers chased semi-finals berths and next the $2 million series spotlight turns to the country's best young squaregaiters, with the Haras des Trotteurs heats at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.

After launching with the two-year-olds at Kilmore on Tuesday, the pacing series became the plaything of Captaintreacherous' offspring on night two when the three-year-olds kicked off at Ballarat.

Wharton: Offspring of top racemares shine on opening Vicbred night
Wed Aug 30 2023

Wharton: Offspring of top racemares shine on opening Vicbred night

Sons and daughters of several leading racemares from yesteryear prevailed at the opening of the Vicbred Super Series for two-year-olds at Kilmore on Tuesday night.

Wharton: Two-year-olds to launch Vicbred Super Series at Kilmore
Mon Aug 28 2023

Wharton: Two-year-olds to launch Vicbred Super Series at Kilmore

A new timeslot and a new wave of up-and-coming stars will mark a significant new chapter for the Vicbred Super Series in 2023.

The $2million series for two, three and four-year-olds of both sexes and gaits gets underway at Kilmore tomorrow night with $10,000 heats for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings and two-year-old fillies.

Wharton: Renowned Ballarat breeder buys a Titan
Wed Aug 23 2023

Wharton: Renowned Ballarat breeder buys a Titan

The burgeoning ranks of trotting stallions in Australia were given another significant boost with the acquisition of the Muscle Hill horse E L Titan (1:51.4), winner of $702,473, by prominent western Victorian breeder Pat Driscoll, the principal of the Haras des Trotteurs stud, Ballarat.