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hi, one never takes only one shot of any horse.. more to come, will send them later to you via email... by, we got to meet a couple of owners of SS, will include the photos of them as well, amongst other stories, I share some stories about the 'other Freda'

Nice pics Murray

Taj Mahal (Nyquist), two-for-two after winning the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Feb. 21, is expected to make his next start in the Apr. 4 GII Wood Memorial, Tom Ryan of co-owner SF Racing confirmed Sunday. “The notion is he'll take his shot in the Wood Memorial,” Ryan said. “He's done nothing wrong so far, and he's ran himself up the ladder while improving his numbers. He's got some nice time in between after his first two starts were close together. I personally believe the distance is not going to be an issue for him, the question is just if he has the ability to compete with the field that will line up.” Trained by Brittany Russell, Taj Mahal won his six-furlong debut at Laurel Park Feb. 6. He broke slowly that day and tracked in last-of-six under Sheldon Russell before pouncing with a four-wide bid to take the lead in upper stretch, powering home strongly to post the 4 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:12.42 and earning a 73 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. Just 15 days later, Taj Mahal wheeled back for the one-turn mile Miracle Wood, where he switched up his tactics and took a 2 1/2-length lead early after a clean break under Russell. He was met with an outside challenge from Let's Go Lando in the turn, and the two slugged it out down the lane with Taj Mahal prevailing by a neck in a final time of 1:39.47 over the muddy and sealed footing. He improved his Beyer to an 86 in victory. “That stakes came back up two weeks off his first run, but we felt in his first run he did it all well within himself,” Ryan said. “Brittany said he gave all the indications he had come out of it the right way and was enjoying himself. He lined right back up there, changed tactics, and went coast-to-coast. It was lovely to see some versatility, and it feels like he's got a good mind. He was in California for a while before we brought him East and it's all worked out the way it was supposed to. He seems to act better on the East Coast surfaces than on the West.” Taj Mahal returned to the work tab on Sunday, covering a half-mile in :50.80 (48/55) over the Laurel Park dirt. Also looking to step up to graded company in the Wood is Tom Coulter's Red Zone Runner (Practical Joke), who was a romping 15 1/2-length winner of the Mar. 3 City of Brotherly Love Stakes at Parx. “We nominated him. That's the plan, this is where we are aiming,” trainer Hugo Padilla said. “So far, that's the plan because the horse came out of his last race absolutely outstanding. He's doing very well, he's very happy. We couldn't have asked for any better.” Red Zone Runner was making his first start for Padilla in the 1 1/16-mile City of Brotherly Love following his four outings for trainer Erin McClellan, including stakes thirds in the Pennsylvania-bred Pennsylvania Nursery in November at Parx and the open-company Heft Stakes in December at Laurel Park. “The whole time I've had this horse, I've seen him growing, getting better and better,” Padilla said. “I was trying to run him earlier than his last race going longer, to get the lungs and the stamina to stretch him out, but I could not get races to go anywhere. We just took a shot at the stakes. We hoped for the best and he showed us he could handle the distance. He did it easily. He was impressive.” Bravaro | Coglianese Also aiming for the Wood is Bravaro (Upstart), who won his first two starts at Aqueduct before a runner-up effort in the Jan. 31 GIII Holy Bull Stakes and fourth-place effort in the Feb. 28 GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. “The plan is that if all stays well and he's healthy, we'll go to the Wood,” said Niall Brennan, whose wife Stephanie Brennan is breeder and co-owner of the bay colt. “He's won on the track twice and we're confident he's a very nice horse. Whether he's a Derby horse, that remains to be seen. Obviously, he would have to show up in the Wood to progress on, but we feel like we've got a really nice New York-bred for the summer. We'll give him a shot and see if he belongs with that group, or we'll plan a different route for the summer.” The Brennans, well-known for their Ocala training center, keep about six broodmares at Ascendant Farm outside Saratoga Springs to foal each spring. “We've always had our mares in New York. We like to have New York-breds and it makes sense for us,” Brennan said. “We aren't big breeders–we are more into training and the farm here [in Florida], but being New York-bred gives us more value if we are selling and if we end up racing them, the purses and awards are huge, so that's why we have them. The reality is that people want to race where the purses are healthy, and having the New York-bred stakes program is a big help. Outside of Kentucky, it's tough to be anywhere else.” As a juvenile, Bravaro went a perfect two-for-two against fellow state-breds at the Big A, graduating by one length in his six-furlong debut in September en route to a 2 1/2-length annexing of the state-bred Sleepy Hollow Stakes when stretched out to a one-turn mile in October. “Physically, he's always been a nice horse. He's a fabulous-looking horse, is about 16.1 [hands], and he's a tall and powerful colt,” Brennan said. “He was a very nice yearling, and a very nice 2-year-old. This time last year, we had him entered in the sale, but he dug a huge hole to China in his stall at the sales grounds and gave himself a foot bruise, so he ended up scratching from the sale. “Things happen for a reason, and a guy who works for me was friends with Albert Ciuffetelli in New York, and they were looking for a racehorse,” Brennan continued. “We stayed in, and Al and his son are very excited and their whole family is involved. That's what the whole game is about–introducing people like this to the passion of it. We're excited to be partners, and [trainer] Saffie [Joseph] is still very high on him. We know he'll have a good career.” The nine-furlong Wood Memorial offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers. The post Taj Mahal Looks to Step Up in Wood Memorial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Elite winners are always cause for celebration. With racing at the highest levels quickly ramping up for 2026, we continue to spotlight some of the special Grade I producers of the last several months. Up today, we get a glimpse into a quartet of mares who produced homebred stars. Stormy Welcome, dam of Raging Sea “Great families might sleep, but they don't die, and she's a great example of that,” said Mill Ridge's Price Bell last summer when musing over the unraced Stormy Welcome (Storm Cat), a now-20-year-old mare whose ninth foal, Raging Sea (Curlin), put together an exceptional race record, including wins in the 2025 GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne Stakes and the 2024 GI Personal Ensign Stakes. Reynolds Bell–uncle to Price–bought Stormy Welcome for $600,000 on behalf of Jon Clay of Alpha Delta Stables at the 2015 Keeneland November sale, a $1-million discount off her price as a yearling in the same ring eight years prior. “I think in a commercial market we are often very quick to jump ship and I don't fault anybody for it because you really don't know,” said Bell. “You've got a moment in time. She sold for $600,000 as a 9-year-old. Well, if she had not produced two more years, she might have sold for $50,000. The drop in value is like a hot knife through butter, to be honest. Oftentimes you find that people will sell as a hedge if they have other fillies from the family because then they still have the benefit with the family and you can't keep them all, but I think it's also a great opportunity.” Mill Ridge's Headley Bell with Stormy Welcome | Sarah Andrew Stormy Welcome's own dam, winner of the 2000 GIII Dogwood Stakes, made headlines when sending a trio of Storm Cat yearlings through the Keeneland ring to net $12.6 million in a four-year span. Stormy Welcome's full-brother is the well-remembered $8-million yearling Mr. Sekiguchi. Surely a factor in the extraordinary prices was one of the deepest families in America's stud book, as Stormy Welcome is a granddaughter of 1992 Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise (Secretariat), herself producer of both A.P. Indy and Summer Squall. “It's a great testament to a family the Farishes developed going back,” said Bell, who added that Stormy Welcome “has a lot of class and quality. I think at her foundation she has that great bloodline and that great family behind her that was nurtured by the Farishes and for generations before. It's as quality an American family as it comes.” He continued: “I think it also helps that [members of the family] are in a lot of different hands. I think it works if one human family nurtures one Thoroughbred family, but it's also good when it spreads out because it's not always the same ideas. When a horse is bought, there's different perspectives that can change a breeding trajectory. It's all the stuff of dreams. Anytime you're buying a horse, you're dreaming about what it can become in your program. Stormy Welcome herself is such quality, but it's also taken a team of people and other breeders that have helped really bring the family forward.” Stormy Welcome grazes at Mill Ridge | Sarah Andrew Clay offered Raging Sea for sale as a yearling at the 2021 Keeneland September sale, where she RNA'd for $300,000. Bell believes her reserve was set at around $325,000 and said Clay is a very disciplined commercial breeder who offers most of his horses for sale but races them himself if they don't bring their reserve. “I don't know what Curlin's yearling average was the year Raging Sea was offered, but I suspect it was going to be higher than $325,000 [editor's note: Curlin's 2021 yearling average was $409,400]. She was there to sell and at a fair price. He wasn't willing to give her away. He was happy to race her.” Bell continued: “It feels like very successful commercial breeders will also be willing to race. I think they also make sure the horse has every chance in their program. Some sale days aren't that horse's best day and if you can weather a few more months, weather further investments, I think more often than not you're well rewarded. And then it compounds throughout the entire family and that's the real reward, not to mention the joy of wining races. It is all about winning races.” In addition to her dual Grade I scores for Clay, Raging Sea has also captured four other graded events, while her three other Grade I placings included both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Breeders' Cup Distaff. “I remember her as slower-developing, if you will,” said Bell. “Certainly when you're by Curlin out of this family, the expectations are so high that it's very difficult to ever live up to those expectations. She was maybe just not quite as progressive as some of the other yearlings. They gave her plenty of time and it's been just a really wonderful journey, to say the least.” Mares and foals at Mill Ridge | Sarah Andrew Clay has an unraced 3-year-old City of Light filly named Raging Vortex out of Stormy Welcome, as well as a yearling full-sister to Raging Sea. The mare was bred back to Good Magic on a May cover last year. Bell said Stormy Welcome has been an easy mare to have around. “I think all her foals have a lot of class to them, which I appreciate is a difficult thing to measure and describe, but there's just a genuine quality to them. For the most part, they've all been pretty straightforward as well.” Bell said it was especially gratifying to raise a homebred Grade I winner for Clay, as they'd had a number of others who came close, including Lewis Bay (Bernardini), a five-time graded winner whose five top-level placings included the 2016 Kentucky Oaks. “It seems like homebred programs and breeding programs are doing better today than maybe they were a decade ago,” said Bell. “In fairness, Godolphin is certainly flying a big flag there and deservedly so because they've been investing for decades. I'm excited and thankful for that trend if it continues. It's really tricky. “There's a great gas in selling a horse well, but there's an equal and maybe better enjoyment of seeing your idea play out on the racetrack. Because at the end of the day it's one person's theory verses another person's theory and who can get to the finish line first.” Mother Mother, dam of Tommy Jo With America's seven-time leading sire at their disposal, as well as a top-notch broodmare band, Spendthrift Farm is bound to come up with some good ones. How satisfying must it be for everyone at the organization when one of last year's dual Grade I winners was a homebred by their own sire? Mother Mother at Spendthrift in October | Sarah Andrew Tommy Jo (Into Mischief), named for the granddaughter of Spendthrift owners Eric and Tammy Gustavson, was tabbed as a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' on debut, then went on to capture the GI Spinaway Stakes and GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes. The now-3-year-old filly is currently on the sidelines and targeting a return later this year. Spendthrift purchased Mother Mother (Pioneerof the Nile)–also a 'TDN Rising Star'–at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale for $1.8 million. Tommy Jo is just her second foal. A dual black-type winner and multiple Grade I placed, the 10-year-old dark bay lost her 2024 foal, was not bred for 2025, and was covered by Vekoma for this spring. Zindaya, dam of Carl Spackler Before his final campaign in England for Zhang Yuesheng of Yulong Investments, Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was a homebred for Bob Edwards and his e Five Racing. The flashy chestnut with the fun name, a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', annexed three Grade I victories for Edwards: Keeneland's Maker's Mark Mile and Coolmore Turf Mile, as well as Saratoga's FanDuel Fourstardave. Zindaya at Indian Creek last summer | Sarah Andrew Carl Spackler is now standing his first season at Lane's End near Versailles, while his dam is about 40 miles and two counties over at Indian Creek near Paris. Zindaya (More Than Ready) spends her days in an idyllic 45-acre field and was bred to Into Mischief for 2026. “She's awesome,” said Indian Creek assistant manager Cesar Aguilar last summer. “She's one of those mares who takes care of herself, no issues. She's very nice to have. “Carl Spackler came here after the [2024] Breeders' Cup for about a month to layup and he was also nice to be around. While he and Zindaya are very different horses, we've noticed all her foals carry her demeanor. She's very calm and classy. We can't ask for anything more.” Zindaya has also produced Sandtrap (Ire), a full-sister 'TDN Rising Star' to Carl Spackler who placed in the 2024 G3 Darley Prix des Reservoirs in Deauville, and a 2-year-old colt from the final crop of Uncle Mo, who sold at last year's Keeneland September sale for $200,000 to Repole Stable. Her current yearling is a colt by Justify. Zindaya strikes a pose | Sarah Andrew Aguilar said Edwards has a team of people, particularly bloodstock agent Mike Ryan, who works with him on matings for Zindaya and the rest of his mares. Ryan had purchased Zindaya on behalf of Edwards for $550,000 as part of the Regis dispersal at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. Zindaya gave Edwards his first stakes win as an owner in the Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont the next summer, then added the GII Goldikova Stakes that fall at Santa Anita. “She's class obviously,” said Aguilar, “and she was e Five's first stakes winner. She has a lot of meaning to them, a lot of sentiment.” Tiffany Case, dam of Nitrogen It's been quite a ride for Tiffany Case (Uncle Mo), the older half-sister to 2018 GIII Indiana Oaks winner and GI Acorn runner-up Talk Veuve to Me (Violence), who sold for $1.3 million to Stonestreet Stables in 2019 at Keeneland November. Tiffany Case would bring nearly seven figures less at the same sale, but far more down the road. Tiffany Case at Taylor Made in October | Sarah Andrew A daughter of a Point Given mare who was exported to Korea after selling for $1,500 in foal to Shackleford at the 2015 Keeneland November sale, Tiffany Case has herself been through a public sales ring eight times, bringing as little as $30,000 as a winning 5-year-old at Keeneland January in 2018. She added modest black-type after that sale–finishing third out of four in the 2018 West Virginia Secretary of State Stakes at Mountaineer–and reappeared the following year at Keeneland November carrying her first foal by Violence. D. J. Stables bought her for $320,000, but not even that astute breeding entity could have anticipated she'd bring 10 times that amount in 2026 at Keeneland January when selling for $3.2 million to Whisper Hill Farm out of the Taylor Made consignment. The Violence filly she was carrying in 2019 became Love to Shop, a four-time graded-placed winner of the 2023 Toronto Cup Stakes at Woodbine. It turns out that was just a warm up for Tiffany Case's abilities as a broodmare. Her second foal is, of course, the 2025 Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), who has captured the GI Alabama Stakes and a slew of other graded events. The talented filly–also champion in Canada at two–is so adept on both dirt and turf that she's placed in Breeders' Cup races on both surfaces: the Distaff and the Juvenile Fillies Turf. D. J. Stables has retained Nitrogen, as well as Tiffany Case's 2-year-old filly by Gun Runner–a July foal named Sniper–and opted not to breed the mare back for 2025. She is due in the coming weeks to Not This Time for Whisper Hill. The post The Producers: A Selection of Homebreds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

No worries @Huey I'm thinking Majestic will go to an electric tram network for that? But if you are interested:

A couple of great photos Murray! Best of luck with them both @curious& @Freda , you might have to start riding them uo the races soon if this fuel crisis continues its upwards trajectory!

Calandagan (Gleneagles) warmed up for a potential tilt at the $6-million Dubai Sheema Classic with a racecourse gallop at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard confirming that, as things stand, his globetrotting stable star remains an intended runner in the Middle East despite the ongoing conflict in the region. “He needed to work harder than at home. It did him good and I'm satisfied,” Graffard told Equidia following the exercise before racing at Saint-Cloud. “Potentially, he could return to this track to run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. “Before that, he could head to Dubai, although there are some uncertainties about the trip due to the current situation. For now, everything is in place for him to go. Princess Zahra Aga Khan is keen on the idea of ​​travelling there.” Last year, Calandagan filled the runner-up spot behind Japanese raider Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) in the Dubai Sheema Classic, before returning to Europe where he registered three consecutive Group 1 triumphs in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Champion Stakes. Last seen capping his outstanding season with a fourth top-level win in the Japan Cup, he was subsequently crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2025. The presence of Calandagan on World Cup night would be a welcome boost for officials in Dubai where racing has continued despite the threat of Iranian missile attacks. On Friday, racing was temporarily suspended at Meydan during the final meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival. The conflict has caused connections of several leading World Cup night contenders to abandon their plans to travel to the UAE. Danon Decile, for example, was recently ruled out of a defence of his Dubai Sheema Classic crown, in favour of targets closer to home. “We haven't made a decision yet on whether he goes to Dubai or not,” Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, added of Calandagan's prospects of making the trip. “If he goes, he ships next Saturday. We will give ourselves the rest of the week to evaluate things and probably make a last-minute decision on Friday given what is happening in the Middle East. “To be in a position to make a last-minute decision, you have to carry on and get him ready as if you are going to run, hence why he came to Saint-Cloud. It gives us the option to go and he seems in very good terms with himself. It might not have looked too impressive, but it was sticky ground and we were happy with him.” Routh continued, “We have Rayevka still there [in Dubai] with our travelling head lad after running in the Super Saturday race and we are in contact daily. “The staff there are quite low-key about it and don't feel particularly in danger or alarmed, but it's a very evolving situation and not one we have ever come across before. “We're just trying to keep all options open as it would be the ideal race for him, but obviously we don't want to take any unnecessary risks. We will just monitor the situation and then make a decision on Friday on whether he ships Saturday.” The post Dubai Sheema Classic Still On the Cards for Calandagan Following Saint-Cloud Gallop appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Be careful what you read on social media. Or perhaps that should be, be careful how you read what's on social media. This dim-witted hack got a little over-excited during the week when seeing a post by Ted Voute about Eydon foals. Had Prince Faisal decided to do a Gentleman's Deal with his strapping homebred and cover a few mares while the horse remained in training? Fear not, dear reader, we're on the case. Regrettably, though, instead of bringing you a scoop about Eydon's new dual-purpose career as both stallion and racehorse, we have to report the facts. And those are that Voute's post merely meant foals at Eydon – lovely though they were, those nippers by Mishriff and Blue Point – and Eydon himself remains in the excellent care of Andrew Balding, who has pencilled in a resumption of his racing duties in the John Porter Stakes at Newbury on April 18. “It's a good thought,” says Voute when quizzed by phone about Eydon's potential stallion career. “But maybe in another couple of years.” Eydon is of course named in honour of his birthplace, Voute's fabled Eydon Hall Farm in Northamptonshire. From there, Voute oversees the bloodstock of Prince A A Faisal among his other clients, and in his role as racing manager for the prince has enjoyed the progression of the seven-year-old Eydon, even if it hasn't always been as free-flowing as might have been hoped in his younger days. By Prince Faisal's homebred Darshaan stallion, the G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Olden Times, Eydon emulated his sire by winning the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket when still a maiden. He went on to run fourth in the 2,000 Guineas won by Coroebus before having almost two years off the track through injury niggles. The owner-breeder persisted with his statuesque colt, however, and Eydon has subsequently made another nine starts at five and six, winning last year's G3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury and G2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club in Milan. “I think Eydon has done enough [to be a stallion] and it's just whether Prince Faisal would like to do it,” said Voute. “We wouldn't stand him in a public stud, but we could just stand him at Eydon and cover some of the prince's mares, and if anybody else wanted to join in, they could.” In the meantime, however, there is racing to be done. “He's flying at the moment, but he does have a habit of going wrong on the day of, or the day before, so we always hold our breath,” Voute cautions. “In Hong Kong, he was actually touch and go to even run because he had a foot abscess. He just comes up with an ailment somewhere along the line, often within hours of a race, but fingers crossed, Andrew is happy with him at the moment, so we'll see.” Prince Faisal actually has not one, but two, maybe even three stallion prospects in the pipeline. Chief among them is last year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Sajir, a handsome son of Make Believe, the stallion he raced to win the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and who now stands at Ballylinch Stud. Sajir after his win in the Prix Maurice de Gheest | Emma Berry Sajir had warmed up with a win at Chantilly last spring before a trip across the Channel to win the G3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket, and Voute says that more English raids could be on the cards for the Andre Fabre-trained five-year-old this year. “Andre says that he thinks that he is better on a straight track or over a straight six [furlongs],” Voute says. “I think we're going to run him on straight tracks from now on, and he might run him at the beginning of April in Deauville. “His long-term target is to try to win a Group 1 in England, so if there is a stallion career there, that would at least put him on the radar of the stallion men.” There is certainly plenty to recommend Sajir as a stallion prospect, not least his excellent dam-line, which traces back through his Group-placed mother Simple Magic (Invincible Spirit) to the influential Niarchos mare Coup De Folie. Voute adds,”He's very good-looking and he deserves a place at stud, so Andre is very focused on trying to build him towards an English Group 1, and I think he's capable of that, judging by his Maurice de Gheest win. “A lot more people are keeping horses in training longer, and it's lovely to see. I do feel rather that everybody's got more appetite to keep going when they're good and they don't find a home [at stud]. They'd rather watch them race and have that enjoyment.” Of the younger brigade for Prince Faisal, there is the Sandown novice winner Oxagon (Frankel), who was runner-up in the G2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster to Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett) with subsequent G1 Dewhurst Stakes winner Gewan (Night Of Thuner) behind him that day. Though he is a winner over seven furlongs for John and Thady Gosden and has a 2,000 Guineas entry, Oxagon's pedigree – he is from the family which has produced Prince Faisal's top sprinters Invincible Spirit and Kodiac – contains some speedier elements, and Voute says that his physique also leans towards that. “He looks like a sprinter – he's more butty, rather than a big, scopey Frankel,” Voute notes. “He will maybe go to Newbury [for the Greenham Stakes] over seven furlongs, and that might tell us whether we've got to go to Royal Ascot over six or whether we're going to the Guineas or not. We're going to wait and see what he says to us.” So, it turns out that Prince Faisal, the accomplished and longstanding owner-breeder of G1 Prix de Diane winner Rafha (Kris) and her many celebrated descendants, has much to look forward to this season – just not foals by Eydon. Not yet, anyway. But if and when he does retire to stud, as we hope he will, just remember that you read it here first. The post Stallion Prospects Galore for Breeder Responsible for Invincible Spirit and Kodiac appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thanks Murray, lovely shots.

I didn't think there was a right way and a wrong way to form an opinion, though some can be more informed than others. However, I guess that's jmo.

James McDonald has been booked to ride Seraph Gabriel in Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) after the superstar jockey chose to hop off Beauty Bolt in favour of David Eustace’s British import. McDonald was aboard Beauty Bolt in the first two legs of the Classic Series, finishing third in the Classic Mile and seventh in the Classic Cup (1,800m), but he was taken by Seraph Gabriel’s close second to Lucky Sam Gor when he rode him on the Classic Mile undercard. The son of Saxon Warrior...View the full article

The sky seems to be the limit for Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Smart Golf after the progressive galloper led from pillar to post in a smart performance to collect the Class Three Kowloon City Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. It was the perfect warm-up ahead of a huge week for the Lor stable, with Numbers set to start a huge chance in Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), and this four-year-old could be another to rate highly with more time. Available at $3.5 30 minutes before the off, Smart Golf...View the full article

In an open Golden Slipper, trainer Bjorn Baker knows Tuesday’s barrier draw will be key to the chances of his two hopefuls. Bjorn Baker’s two Golden Slipper contenders will have different build ups to the $5 million feature, with Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) set to be given a serious hit-out on Tuesday and Warwoven (Sword Of State) a quiet week. Sword Of State colt Warwoven raced his way into the two-year-old showpiece with an emphatic win in Saturday’s Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) and will go into the March 21 race on a seven-day back-up. It wasn’t the route Baker initially hoped to take, but with the colt borderline to gain a start if he didn’t bank more prizemoney, the trainer’s hand was forced. “You never quite know on the back up. It’s always a tricky business,” Baker said. “But he couldn’t have done much more (on Saturday). “It’s good to see him back and win that way. He had to do a fair bit early. Obviously, we will be very interested to see how he recovers and comes through and hopefully he can be there with Paradoxium, in the same (Cunningham family) colours, next week.” While Warwoven will be given every chance to rest and recover, Baker confirmed Paradoxium will wind up his Golden Slipper preparations with a workout on Tuesday morning. “Paradoxium will have a good gallop on Tuesday. He galloped on Thursday, and I was thrilled with him. He has definitely improved,” Baker said. “(Warwoven) will be able to have a very easy week and relax, unlike his trainer and connections.” With Monday the deadline for late entries, the final field for the Golden Slipper (1200m) will be officially declared on Tuesday, followed by the all-important barrier draw. Given no youngster has dominated in the lead-up, this year’s renewal is considered wide open, and Baker says that makes the draw even more crucial. “So important. You can’t worry about it, but it definitely has a big impact,” he said. Rachel King retains the Slipper mount on Warwoven, while Jason Collett sticks with Paradoxium. “And I’d say there’s probably not too much between them on what we’re seeing at the moment,” Baker said. View the full article

Promising sprinter Turquoise Velocity’s exciting dead-heat victory helped trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai and jockey Keith Yeung Ming-lun secure a double in tandem at Sha Tin on Sunday. A dramatic finish saw Turquoise Velocity and We Are Hero hit the line locked together in the Class Three Lok Sin Tong Cup (1,000m) in only the second dead heat of the season. Four-year-old Turquoise Velocity stayed on strongly and looked to have the race won until the veteran We Are Hero flashed late to draw level,...View the full article

Are these Entain guys for real? Put a horse out from $4 to $5 with a maximum bet of $20. Not $200 but $20. Was never going to start $4. Closed $7.76 on the exchange. Surely they'd be lucky to find a hundred mugs to take this bet. Last night at Menangle they had a quinella offer of $5 for a quinella valued at $4.50 using their 130% market. Hope there aren’t too many mugs getting sucked in by this kinda rubbish.

Just for the @Comic Dog - NOTE - I didn't say $2m - I said around $1.5m. BTW that was my opinion i.e. I didn't "ring a couple of valuers" as you did to form your opinion.

Amazingly the Dam of LEAP TO FAME and SWAYZEE is a very hard mare to keep in foal , and has slipped the foal for several seasons unfortunately. the mare Lettucereason only has 4 live foals to race. The first one named MAXIMUS RED plowed around NSW for the Turnbulls for years around 2018-21 , winning about 20 of those Bathurst type $5000 races before going to USA and winning more. near 50 races in the end. Lately Lettucereason has had just 3 Filly foals since Leap To Fame foaled in 2018. One is a Full sister to Leap To Fame named CLAIM TO FAME. a 2 year-old next year i think.

Great pics. Both looked the part. Hoping we can still afford to get the horses to the races next week, even if we can't afford to fly/drive there to watch them!

SOLAR SAINT

FAH RONG

Local trainers Shane and Brian Anderton are looking north to Christchurch with their mare Inflamed (NZ) (Ghibellines) after she proved too tough for her rivals in the Mosgiel Tavern Beaumont Publican’s Cup (1500m) at Wingatui on Sunday. The intention was to take a sit with the daughter of Ghibellines, however, she jumped away well and was in the thick end of the action early on. Apprentice jockey Jack Taplin had no option but to press forward for the lead with the mare, and the pair quickly took control of the race. Taplin rated Inflamed to perfection up front and she proved to have a better kick than her rivals in the concluding stages to hold onto her advantage to win by a head over the fast finishing The Hangover. While the pre-race tactics didn’t go to plan, the Andertons were rapt to get the victory nonetheless. “We were hoping to get a bit of cover in behind them,” Shane Anderton said. “As I said to the young fella (Taplin), she can jump and put a length on them pretty quickly. “He rated her well, he sat as long as he could and she got the job done.” Having proven herself over 1500m, a further step up to a mile could be on the cards in the Gr.3 Donaldson Brown South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton next Saturday, however, Anderton said it could prove to be too quick of a back-up for his mare. “We will have to get home now and work out what we do,” he said. “We were half pie thinking about going to Riccarton next week but that might be a bit too soon.” While the Breeders’ Stakes may come up too soon, Anderton is keen to head to Riccarton with Inflamed in the coming months for other targets. “There is some nice racing coming up there in the autumn, so there is bound to be something there for her,” he said. A homebred mare, Inflamed is out of stakes-winning Gallant Guru mare Ortem Fire, a half-sister to Group Three winner Inferno, the dam of Group One winner Smokin’ Romans. Inflamed has proven to be a solid performer on the track, having now won seven of her 34 starts, including the Listed Stewards Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton last November, and she has earned just shy of $270,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Awapuni visitor Platinum Pantheon (Hanseatic) enhanced his reputation as a horse going places when he ran down pacemaker Lucy In The Sky to win the J Swap Contractors 3YO (1200m) at Tauranga on Saturday. The Lisa Latta-trained gelding carried the clear topweight of 58.5kgs with Opie Bosson in the saddle but made light of the impost as he cruised along three back against the fence for most of the 1200m journey before improving to be on the heels of the pacemakers Lucy In The Sky and Chatelle Rose rounding the home turn. Bosson angled the son of Hanseatic into a tight gap between the pair at the 200m and he showed plenty of tenacity to draw clear and win by more than a length at the line, in the process registering his fourth career victory at just his tenth start. Latta, who was with a big team at Wanganui, was suitably impressed with the effort and praised the ride of Bosson. “I’m really rapt as that was his first time going right-handed, which can be a challenge, but I thought it was a great ride from Opie,” Latta said. “He got him into a beautiful spot and didn’t go around a horse until he had too. “I was a little worried that the track could be too wet but by the time of the race it had dried out a fair bit and he has handled that sort of going at the trials.” With the prospect of wet tracks setting in over the next few weeks, Latta is keen to test her charge abroad with a potential trip to Queensland for the winter carnival there on offer. “He really has it all in front of him as he is not the finished product and is developing really nicely,” she said. “We are definitely looking at taking him to Brisbane later on as there are any number of nice three-year-old races over there for him. “I also think he can get a little further than 1200m as I asked Opie about that and he said he would get 1400m no problems as he relaxes so well during his races.” An Australian-bred son of Hanseatic, Platinum Pantheon was a A$60,000 purchase out of breeder Rosemont Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is raced by long-term Latta stable clients Kevin Dixon and Neville McAlister and has won a tick over $95,000 in prizemoney for them, with the promise of more to come. View the full article

It may have taken a little longer than trainers Kevin and Stephen Gray had hoped, but well-related gelding So We Go (NZ) (Embellish) finally broke through for his maiden victory at Wanganui on Saturday. A son of Cambridge Stud resident stallion Embellish, So We Go is a full brother to their Group One performed mare Luberon, who placed in last year’s Gr.1 Railway (1200m) after winning the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) and Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m). So We Go also carries the gold and black silks of Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, and while he had shown plenty of promise for the Grays, it wasn’t until his sixth start that he was able to reward his connections with a winning cheque. Ridden by stable jockey Bruno Queiroz, So We Go was sent forward from his outside draw in the six-horse field to secure the coveted one-one position where he did no work until being asked to improve three-wide at the home turn. Queiroz pushed the go button and So We Go immediately responded, extending with every bound to record a 3-1/4 length victory, with Queiroz believing the addition of blinkers were a telling factor. “It was a great job by the trainers, they put blinkers on this horse and he went well,” he said. “He jumped quick and when I saw two horses (up front) I was happy to sit behind the pace, relax and he had a strong finish. “It was a bit of a small field, but my horse travelled well and in the last 200m the blinkers made a big difference.” Stephen Gray was rapt to get the win for the Lindsays. “He has got a bit of ability, it has just taken a lot of time,” Gray said. “It is great to train for these sort of people, they have probably been more frustrated than me I would say. “He is well related and blinkers were always going to make him better and he probably liked the softer track too. “I think he has got a good future and I am very honoured to have those colours down in the CD.” View the full article

Sorry, I didn't mean to repost the headpost above. I meant to post this from 10 years ago. Different sunrise. Same problem. And the industry response is still to try to shut down the dissidents but fail to fix the problem. Incredible. New Zealand jockeys, horses 'at risk' over state of racetracks BARRY LICHTER August 29, 2015 • 4:01pm Touche and Rosie Myers are lucky not to fall as they slip badly on the home turn at Awapuni . Photo: Trackside / Stuff Damning evidence on the state of the country's racetracks emerged during the Kevin Morton hearing this week, with claims of riders and horses being regularly put at risk on unsafe surfaces. During the course of the hearing, where former jockey and now trainer Morton faced racing's most serious charge for posting comments about co-chief stipendiary steward Ross Neal on the racing chat site Channel X, it was alleged that a Racing Integrity Unit steward had refused to officiate at Awapuni meetings where the rail was out wide, because he believed it was exposing horses to unsafe ground. And Morton had support from leading jockeys who, in statements not read at the hearing, raised serious concerns about substandard tracks, one saying he often did not ride in the first race because he did not want to be a guinea pig. Morton's January posting saw him charged with uttering insulting or abusive words against an official, a serious racing offence which incredibly carries the same penalty that a cobalt doper could receive - disqualification for up to life and a fine of up to $50,000. In it Morton, 61, commented on the appearance of Neal on the Trackside TV show Weigh In where Neal was asked to explain the circumstances surrounding the Awapuni meeting on January 10 when Touche slipped three times in the first race and, miraculously, did not fall. Morton posted, among other things, that in his view, the current stewards did not cut it. "I thought R Neal came across as incompetent and out of his depth as a co chief steward." In his brief of evidence Morton told the Judicial Control Authority committee he was astounded that Touche had not fallen at the 600m. With the track rated a dead 4 and the rail out four metres, Morton said that placed Touche, scouting wide, right in the "danger zone" eight metres from the true rail position. Morton testified it was well known that the RIU's Neil Goodwin would not officiate at Awapuni meetings where the rail was out more than eight metres on a good or dead track because the ground there was unsafe. An affidavit from leading jockey Hayden Tinsley referred to the same refusal by officials and said it had been a problem at Awapuni for the last six to eight years and had not improved. Tinsley said he knew his home track well and that on some parts of the home turn there was a negative camber and when the rail was out more than five metres and the weather was not favourable, it could produce uncertain footing. Veteran jockey David Walsh, who last year broke Lance O'Sullvan's record for the most winners in New Zealand, was even more scathing in his statement, saying his biggest concern in racing was the condition of many of our courses. "Many of our venues are well into their second century and time has certainly caught up with the outdated infrastructure. "I believe that not enough is being done to ensure that raceday conditions are of a safe and expected standard. Some tracks have had their time, with many having had half-pie patch-up jobs. Walsh said in his statement there had been numerous occasions in recent years when he had expressed his concerns to the stewards about a particular area or the whole track in general. "There have been several instances in recent times where I prefer not to commit to a ride in the first race as I do not want to be a guinea pig." New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Greg Purcell on Saturday took issue with the safety claims and said a substantial amount of irrigation and drainage work had been done in recent years on the vast majority of the major racetracks. "I am unaware of any safety issues at any racecourses in New Zealand and if these jockeys have a problem they should come and talk to me about it." Purcell said the problem at Awapuni, where January's incident occurred, was being fixed. A new inside bend, with a 3 per cent camber, had been constructed at a cost of $280,000 which was being seeded. It was hoped it would be ready to use after November. NZTR had funded half the work and loaned the club the remainder. When the new surface was ready, the old outer track would be completely recambered. Awapuni had had a number of issues, he said, including a mixture of soils which did and didn't absorb water. Purcell said NZTR was totally committed to safety at every racetrack and racing would not take place at venues considered unsafe. Major work was ongoing and had already been undertaken at Pukekohe, Ruakaka, Matamata, Taranaki, Otaki, Te Rapa and Wingatui which was plagued by unsafe conditions and abandonments earlier this year. Purcell said NZTR was battling a 35-year legacy of under investment on the infrastructure of the country's racetracks but the racing surfaces had had priority. Another witness called by Morton's counsel Paul Dale, Massey University senior lecturer Brent Gardiner, pointed out that Morton's comments followed a posting on Channel X about the questionable decision by Neal to not allow Trackside to show film of Touche's home turn slip which led to a two-hour delay before the meeting resumed. It was later explained that Neal had done so to avoid the connections of horses influencing riders' decisions which might lead to an abandonment based solely on the film. "While I understand that rationale, it seems to aim at a goal of reducing abandonments over ensuring safety," Gardiner said. "I think transparent provision of all information to owners, trainers and jockeys might be a better option." Gardiner, who has an extensive background in racing and breeding, said a letter had been sent by the trainers' association to the board and executive of NZTR a year ago threatening disruptive action because clubs were not providing regular and safe racing and trialling surfaces, evidenced by a record number of abandonments in the previous 12 months. There had been no sign of improvement a year later, he said, with a string of abandonments in 2015 where riders and horses raced on unsafe tracks before it was determined they were unsafe. "Given there seems to have been no improvement, and possibly deterioration, since that strongly worded letter of May 14, 2014, it is understandable that the level of frustration among owners and trainers is now even higher. If it has not been addressed following such approaches as a formal letter it is hardly surprising that affected and concerned parties turn to expressing their concerns and frustrations publically through other channels like social media." Gardiner said he shared Morton's concerns about horse and rider safety and would much rather see NZTR's resources used to address that and its overall performance than use "an antiquated rule to shut down public critique." Gardiner said a better method of ensuring racing only occurred on safe surfaces urgently needed to be found. "Testing the safety of tracks by running races on them is unconscionable. So if the finger is pointed at the stewards responsible on the day that is surely reasonable. They made a mistake and they are clearly responsible. At the least, that must mean they have demonstrated a moment of incompetence, especially if the explanation does not seem to excuse that." Gardiner said one incident like Awapuni was "one too many". "Any of us connected to families of jockeys killed or maimed as a result of stewards' decisions to race on unsafe tracks know that." Morton told the committee he had taken a close interest in jockey safety and horse welfare since 2006 when his close friend Judy Lawson was left permanently disabled after a serious fall at Rangiora. Morton, who was appointed Riding Master in Canterbury for two years and tutored Lawson, said he read the report on the Rangiora crash and it was clear the meeting should not have gone ahead. "So wrong was the decision to race that they have not raced there some nine years later." Morton said he made the statement on Channel X because he was concerned Neal did not appear to be on top of the track safety issues. His performance on the Trackside interview did not inspire any confidence. "I have the utmost respect for stewards and racecourse inspectors and had no intention of offending them." Morton rebuffed repeated suggestions by Steve Symon, acting for the RIU, that he had been fired up and upset and had intended to insult Neal. Symon put it to Morton that instead of concentrating on the issue of track safety he had instead resorted to attacking Neal by calling him incompetent and a former grocer. Morton said he did not believe it was insulting to call someone a grocer, a reply which chairman Murray McKechnie obviously agreed with when he joked he knew a grocer who had made a lot more money than he had. Dale countered that Morton's remarks were made in measured language without profanity or exaggeration to which McKechnie noted more colourful language could be heard on any day in the birdcage after a race. Dale said the RIU complaint fell at the first hurdle because the words Morton used were neither insulting nor abusive. "Of course Mr Neal will feel hurt when he's been criticised but that doesn't elevate it to an insult. I understand the need for limits but when issues of public safety are concerned we have to be more tolerant. These charges ought not to have been brought." Morton had offered a subjective comment and his observation that Neal came across as incompetent, not was incompetent, was an expression of opinion. The charge appeared to conflict with a person's legitimate right to make public criticism. And any provision of the racing rules that conflicted with any other statute or general law of New Zealand, including the Bill Of Rights, was invalid, Dale submitted. It was unlikely the industry could be damaged by a posting on an industry website where views were freely exchanged. Officials such as Neal must be open to scrutiny without fear of prosecution, Dale said. McKechnie, who reserved his decision, was critical of Neal's absence from the hearing - he was on holiday in Fiji with his family. -Stuff

It sounds like it's now pretty much a greenfields job by the sound of it. The public infrastructure is also financially unsustainable and very tired. I'd say rebuild a CD track elsewhere for similar cost rather than try to make that one in a swamp workable. Enough time and money has been wasted on it.