Elsdon Park

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Elsdon Park Established in 2022 by Lib and Katrina Petagna, Elsdon Park is a private thoroughbred breeding farm. The main farm was previously known as Valachi Downs.

Elsdon Park is a private thoroughbred breeding operation dedicated to the development of elite racehorses. Established in 2022 by Lib and Katrina Petagna, Elsdon Park is based in the heartland of New Zealandโ€™s renowned horse country and embodies 650 acres of pristine rolling and flat Waikato pasture across two farms. Kevin and Joanna Hickman originally purchased this property as a dairy farm in 2005 and thanks to their vision and attention to detail, it has been developed to an exceptional standard, with modern, purpose-built thoroughbred facilities. It was a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Petagna family to acquire the farm and itโ€™s a privilege to continue to develop and build the Elsdon Park brand from our new home.

12/10/2026

Patience will be key to highly regarded four-year-old Zorero (NZ) (Per Incanto), who remains unbeaten this preparation, realising his full potential. The Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos-trained son of Per Incanto was an impressive winner on his home track at Hastings on the Gr.1 Livamol Classic

๐€ ๐๐š๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐†๐š๐ฅ๐ข!Zorero (Per Incanto x Lovecharm) made it two in a row with an impressive win at Hastings toda...
10/10/2026

๐€ ๐๐š๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐†๐š๐ฅ๐ข!

Zorero (Per Incanto x Lovecharm) made it two in a row with an impressive win at Hastings today for trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos and jockey Kelly Myers. And just hours earlier, his namesake, Elsdon Park Spelling Manager Gali Zorero, welcomed a Little Brose c**t he bred himself into the world.

A winner on the track and a new arrival in the paddock, all on the same day. Congratulations to Gali, and to Guy, Leah and Kelly. ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿด

Stick around for Galiโ€™s celebration dance at the end ๐Ÿ•บ

๐Ÿ“ธ Peter Rubery, Race Images & Kerrie Cox, Elsdon Park

A Group 1 placing for De Armas! ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’™Our homebred filly ran a gallant second in the Darley Flight Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) at ...
03/10/2026

A Group 1 placing for De Armas! ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’™
Our homebred filly ran a gallant second in the Darley Flight Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) at Randwick today.
By Ardrossan out of Regal Winks, De Armas was offered through our draft on the 2025 gavelhouse.com National Online Yearling Sale, where she was initially purchased by Benner Racing for $16,000.
Congratulations to OTI Racing and all her owners, Chris Waller Racing and his team, and Zac Lloyd. We can't wait to see what's next!

๐„๐ฅ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ง ๐๐š๐ซ๐ค ๐ฌ๐ž๐œ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ง๐š๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐†๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐Ž๐ง๐ž ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ž๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ž ๐ซ๐š๐œ๐ž ๐จ๐ง ๐‚๐ก๐š๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒElsdon Park is strengthening its partnershi...
29/09/2026

๐„๐ฅ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ง ๐๐š๐ซ๐ค ๐ฌ๐ž๐œ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ง๐š๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐†๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐Ž๐ง๐ž ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ž๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ž ๐ซ๐š๐œ๐ž ๐จ๐ง ๐‚๐ก๐š๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒ

Elsdon Park is strengthening its partnership with Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) by taking naming rights for one of New Zealand's premier juvenile feature races.

The Group One 2yo race on Champions Day will now be known as the Elsdon Park Stakes, set to run on 6 March 2027 at Ellerslie Racecourse. This builds on Elsdon Park's current sponsorship of the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic, run on TAB Karaka Millions, to be held on 23 January 2027.

The new partnership also covers Ellerslie's two key lead-up races for two-year-olds in summer. The Elsdon Park Sprint (2yo 1100) will be run at the SkyCity Boxing Day Races, and the Elsdon Park Stakes Prelude on Saturday, 30 January.

"Weโ€™re very proud to deepen our partnership with ATR through the Group One two-year-old Elsdon Park Stakes. Being part of the biggest day on New Zealandโ€™s racing calendar is a real privilege and something weโ€™re very excited about. For us, itโ€™s also about celebrating the breeders behind the horses. Every great racehorse starts with a breederโ€™s vision and belief, and we want to use these races to shine a light on the people who play such an important role in the success of our industry โ€œsays Elsdon Park owner, Lib Petagna.

Elsdon Park is also backing the people behind the horses. The winning stable team of both the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic and the Group One Elsdon Park Stakes will each receive a $1,000 Prezzy Card

"Itโ€™s important to celebrate the dedicated teams that provide care for these racehorses. We hope this initiative gives those teams an opportunity to take a moment, reflect on their achievements and celebrate the success they deserve"

ATR Chief Executive Paul Wilcox welcomed the expanded partnership.

"Elsdon Park has been a great supporter of Ellerslie through the Aotearoa Classic, and we're delighted they've chosen to grow that relationship. Taking on naming rights for a Group One, along with both lead-up races, shows a real commitment to creating a strong platform for two-year-old racing in New Zealand.

"The stable prizes are a great touch. They recognise the people who do the hard yards behind every winner, and it's exactly the kind of thing that makes a partnership like this special."

Elsdon Park races at Ellerslie this season:
โ€ข $80,000 Elsdon Park Sprint: SkyCity Boxing Day Races, 26 December 2026. The winning stable team receives a $500 Prezzy Card.
โ€ข $750,000 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (Group Three, 1600): TAB Karaka Millions, 23 January 2027. The winning stable team receives a $1,000 Prezzy Card.
โ€ข $120,000 Elsdon Park Stakes Prelude (Group Three, 1200): Family Raceday, 30 January 2027. The winning stable team receives a $500 Prezzy Card.
โ€ข $450,000 Elsdon Park Stakes (Group One, 1200m): Champions Day, 6 March 2027. The winning stable team receives a $1,000 Prezzy Card.

๐–๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ง ๐„๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ž ๐’๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ค๐ž๐ฌ The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Written Empire justified his $1.40 pre-race favouritism with a g...
20/09/2026

๐–๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ง ๐„๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ž ๐’๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ค๐ž๐ฌ

The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Written Empire justified his $1.40 pre-race favouritism with a game win at Bendigo today.

Ridden by Craig Williams, Written Empire was having just his second start. He duelled down the straight to win by a neck from Gilgeous (Farnan) (see video at: https://www.racing.com/videos/6405319857112?v=1640720136651.6511).

The promising c**t is raced by Elsdon Park's Lib and Katrina Petagna, along with Jamieson Park's James Chapman, Milan Park's Tony Rider and Martin Dalgleish.

The Written Tycoon 3YO was bred by Yulong and offered at the 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where Bruce Perry Bloodstock and Elsdon Park ensured they were his successful bidders.

Written Empire is the fifth winner in the last 11 days to carry the Elsdon Park silks to glory, following Havana Love (Alabama Express), Zorero (Per Incanto), Tiantai (Tivaci) and Day One (Wootton Bassett).

๐ƒ๐š๐ฒ ๐Ž๐ง๐ž ๐ฆ๐š๐ค๐ž๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ ๐ซ๐ž๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐งAfter being away from the racetrack since January, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained D...
19/09/2026

๐ƒ๐š๐ฒ ๐Ž๐ง๐ž ๐ฆ๐š๐ค๐ž๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ ๐ซ๐ž๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง

After being away from the racetrack since January, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Day One made a super return to racing at Ellerslie today.

Piloted by Opie Bosson, Day One made his winning return in the Golf Warehouse 1300, crossing the line with 0.9 lengths to spare.

Bred and raced by Elsdon Park, Day One is a four-year-old gelded son of Wootton Bassett and is out of the dual Gr.3 winner Eleonora, making him a half-brother to stakes winner, Ethereal Star.

Day One has now won two of his four career starts.

Eleonora is due to foal to Super Seth.

Racing Photo: Kenton Wright, Race Images, New Zealand

๐’๐ญ๐š๐ง๐ ๐Ž๐ฎ๐ญ ๐“๐ข๐š๐ง๐ญ๐š๐ข ๐‘๐ž๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐๐ฌThe standout-looking mare Tiantai rewarded the faith of her trainer Ken Kelso and favourite bac...
13/09/2026

๐’๐ญ๐š๐ง๐ ๐Ž๐ฎ๐ญ ๐“๐ข๐š๐ง๐ญ๐š๐ข ๐‘๐ž๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐๐ฌ

The standout-looking mare Tiantai rewarded the faith of her trainer Ken Kelso and favourite backers in the First Five 2026 Champion Sprinter Miler 1300 at Te Rapa today.

Giving jockey a back-to-back double in the process, Tiantai strode to the front at the 150m and drew on her fighting qualities thereafter, with Wyworry and Young Jackson mounting strong challenges for second and third.

The honest four-year-old mare has now had six starts for two wins and two placings.

Bred and raced by Elsdon Park, Tiantai is by Tivaci and is out of the Savabeel mare Nowheretorun, who is in foal to Ardrossan.

๐Ÿ“ธ: Kenton Wright Race Images NZ

๐™๐จ๐ซ๐ž๐ซ๐จ ๐‘๐ž๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ!Zorero may once have been the yearling nobody wanted, but today he was the $2.30 market elect who duly de...
12/09/2026

๐™๐จ๐ซ๐ž๐ซ๐จ ๐‘๐ž๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ!

Zorero may once have been the yearling nobody wanted, but today he was the $2.30 market elect who duly delivered for his supporters with a brilliant return at Hastings.

Trained by Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos, Zorero was having his first start back as a four-year-old in the 'Livamol Classic Raceday 10 October, 1200'. After settling well for jockey Kelly Myers, Zorero powered away when popped the question in the straight, crossing with three lengths to spare.

His smart record now reads four starts for two wins and a second.

"It was easy. He settled lovely - he's a talented horse and was far too good for them," said Myers afterwards. "In the past he's tried to overdo it early, and to be fair to him he did have a horse outside him annoying him today, but he relaxed beautifully, so he's definitely matured. He's got an exciting future."

This will be music to the ears for many in the team, but particularly so for Elsdon Parkโ€™s Spelling Manager, Gali Zorero, after whom the talented gelding is named.

Bred and raced by Elsdon Park, Zorero is by Per Incanto and is out of the Charm Spirit mare Lovecharm.

Lovecharm is currently in foal to Per Incanto again and has a c**t by Alabama Express coming through our yearling system.

Race Photo: Race Images NZ
Video: Love Racing

๐Œ๐ž๐ž๐ญ ๐„๐ฅ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ง ๐๐š๐ซ๐ค'๐ฌ ๐…๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐…๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐…๐จ๐š๐ฅ๐ฌThe wait is over and our class of 2026 is growing by the day. Here's a glimpse of our...
30/08/2026

๐Œ๐ž๐ž๐ญ ๐„๐ฅ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ง ๐๐š๐ซ๐ค'๐ฌ ๐…๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐…๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐…๐จ๐š๐ฅ๐ฌ
The wait is over and our class of 2026 is growing by the day. Here's a glimpse of our first four foals to have made their way into the world ...๐Ÿฅฐ

๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐€๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ก๐š ๐„๐ฑ๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ž๐ฐ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซโ€™๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐‘๐ž๐œ๐จ๐ซ๐The Tony Gollan-trained Pure Alpha added another chapter to the promisi...
29/08/2026

๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐€๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ก๐š ๐„๐ฑ๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ž๐ฐ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซโ€™๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐‘๐ž๐œ๐จ๐ซ๐

The Tony Gollan-trained Pure Alpha added another chapter to the promising record of his dam, Bridgewater, with a dominant victory at Eagle Farm today.

Sent straight to the front by jockey Ben Thompson, Pure Alpha produced an impressive pillar-to-post performance to claim career victory number three over 1600 metres.

The six-year-old gelding began his career in the care of Chris Waller before transferring to Tony Gollanโ€™s stable in February. He arrived in Queensland with two wins and seven placings already to his name for his owners, Mrs Z A Daly, Ozzie Kheir, M Gopperth, A C Bates and S M George.

Bred by Elsdon Park, Pure Alpha is by Ardrossan and is a full brother to the tough as teak, triple Group Three winner, Ardalio.

Now a five-year-old in the care of trainer Stephen Marsh, Ardalio appears to have fully matured this time in and the stable has high hopes for her this season.

Marsh also trains the three-year-old full brother Raymond, who had just one start as a two-year-old last season, finishing a promising second at Te Aroha and is certainly one to keep your eye on.

With her first two foals both talented winners and her third showing encouraging signs, there is plenty to be optimistic about from Bridgewater's unraced progeny.
Bridgewater's stunning fourth foal, an unnamed Per Incanto c**t, was purchased by Upper Bloodstock at this year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

In 2025, Bridgewater produced another striking c**t, this time by Sword of State (see parade video taken two days ago).

Bridgewater is currently in foal to Per Incanto. Due to this being a later foaling, she will remain empty this year before a likely trip to Australia for the 2027 breeding season.

๐Ž๐ซ๐๐ž๐ซ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ข๐œ๐ฌ/๐•๐ข๐๐ฌ
1: Pure Alpha prelim
2: Pure Alpha video winning at Eagle Farm today
3: Ardalio
4: Unnamed Per Incanto 2YO
5: Sword of State yearling video
6: Bridgewater as a yearling

Address

165b Buckland Road
Matamata
3472

Telephone

+6421433517

Website

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