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One of the Australia’s most talented juveniles, Warwoven (Sword Of State), won’t be racing for next month’s Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield and remains in doubt for the autumn juvenile riches in Sydney. Trainer Bjorn Baker said on Tuesday that the colt had been sent for a short let-up after his sensational Magic Millions scratching earlier this month, but he was due to return to the stable at the end of the week with an eye to reviving his Golden Slipper prospects. The son of Sword Of State was most impressive in his first two wins over the summer, but he did not get the chance to race as the odds-on favourite for the A$3 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast earlier this month after veterinary stewards ordered his withdrawal due to signs of lameness. He had held the position as the third favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes on February 21 and was still marked on Tuesday as the co-favourite at $8 for the March 21 Golden Slipper Stakes. “We’ll try to get him to the Slipper, but we’ll just take it one step at a time,” Baker said on Tuesday. “We thought he was OK to run (in the Magic Millions) and they (veterinary stewards) didn’t, so that’s the way it goes.” “If we have any doubts with him, we’ll put him straight out.” Baker said he was disappointed not to have had his first Blue Diamond Stakes contender this year, but said he expected his stable could still impact in Melbourne this autumn. “Hopefully we will be down with Caballus in the Newmarket Handicap and we will also consider the (Black Caviar) Lightning Stakes with him,” Baker said. “Pericles will definitely go to the Futurity first-up. He trialed really well this morning at Randwick and I think he’s in for a good prep.” Baker said the last start Champions Mile runner-up was likely to stay on in Melbourne to tackle races like the G1 $2 million All-Star Mile at Flemington on March 7 and the G1 $2 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 28. View the full article

Robbie Patterson isn’t letting weight and pedigree queries dent his confidence with One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold Cat) ahead of Saturday’s Gr. 3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m). The New Plymouth trainer reports that everything has gone to plan with One Bold Cat since running on the first two days of the Trentham carnival. Ridden by main stable jockey Craig Grylls, in the first of those races, One Bold Cat won the Listed Marton Cup (2200m), followed by a late-closing third in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m). “I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s as good as he could be,” Patterson said. “Craig said just keep doing what I’ve been doing, so it’s all gone smoothly.” Patterson does concede that One Bold Cat will be obliged to carry clear topweight in Saturday’s staying test, while the gelding’s pedigree does raise stamina queries, but neither is a great concern. His anticipated handicap of 59kgs is some five kilograms more than the favourite Rosso, however Patterson makes a relevant point. “It’s not like the days of Great Sensation when he carried those massive weights, there was a much lower minimum back then and my horse has already managed big weights. “As far as pedigree goes, we won the (2024 Wellington) Cup with Mary Louise, who was also by The Bold One from a mare by a sprinting stallion and that didn’t stop her. “All I know is we’ve got a horse in the right form, we set him for the race a long time ago, and everything has gone to plan.” Patterson is also looking forward to lining up stable members Belles Fate (Rating 75 1600m), Sir Bruce (Rating 65 2100m) and Wild At Heart (MAAT 1699m) in support races on Saturday’s card. “Belles Fate won at Trentham last season and has gone well in her last two starts on the track over 1400. She’ll enjoy stepping up to 1600 on Saturday. “We entered Sir Bruce for Remutaka Classic but he needed to win another race to make the cut. He’s well placed in his own grade though after finishing fourth in a similar race there last week. “Wild At Heart won her first start on the home track at Christmas and that was a good effort for fifth in the MAAT race at Trentham last time, so she’s well worth another shot at a decent stake.” View the full article

They should have stated in the NZB release that the aggregate, average and median were higher, quoting data, all of which they did.  Then quoted the clearance rate and said it was on a par with last year. If you just report the positive stuff then the release is spin

I thought so too though didn't watch much live. Looked like a few at buyable prices too.

Some nice looking yearlings went through today based on type and movement.

rest assured brodie,the look north strategy is moving in the right direction. matt peden said so just 4 weeks ago. And the metro series,a key part of that look north strategy,well hrnz think thats working as well. just look at the 4 heats for that metro series last week,they had big numbers with an average field size of 7. that comes on top of their bright idea to get more mares to race at nelson by having a $35,000 final at addington.That got a 6 horse field for that $35,000 race. then theres what hrnz had been saying was good numbers of 2 year olds ready to race.Last week they scrapped 2 of the 3 races for them due to next to no nominations. have they mentioned how high the ATC debt has got in the last few months. Nah,whats a few million extra ATC debt. you know the thing about the turnover figures. the way they spin northern harness racing is..They pick out the racenights that they can point to turnover being up from the previous nyear. But ignore the fact that those meetings often still run at significnat losses, because even with wagering turnover up,they still don't generate anywhere near enough to cover stakes.Hrnz interpretation of that is spin to the effect,the look north strategy is working.You have to laugh.  

Looks like 75%+ again today which seems ok, though thought overall might have been a bit stronger.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Jan. 26 the cancellation of live racing Jan. 28-30 at Aqueduct Racetrack due to arctic temperatures and extremely low wind chill values forecast to impact the New York metropolitan area.View the full article

That's not spin!!!!  The clearance rate at time of print was the same.  If they had said "the clearance rate is the same as the last 4 years but we predict by the end of tomorrow that it will be well up on the last 5 years" - then that's spin!!!!!!!