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Four weanlings from the first crop of Equinox are bound to attract attention when sales action returns to the Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido on Tuesday, October 21. The single-session Mixed Sale features a selection of 135 weanlings, fillies out of training and broodmares. Plenty of pedigrees familiar to European breeders feature among the 68 foals in the catalogue, including Equinox colts out of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Incarville (Wootton Bassett) and four-time Group 1 winner Iridessa (Ruler Of The World). Twenty-three of the world champion's first foals were sold at the JRHA Select Sale in July for an average of ¥155m ($1.04m/€897,450). The first foal of the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner The Platinum Queen (Cotai Glory), a colt by Drefong, is also catalogued, along with a colt by Kingman out of 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Aclaim). Another first foal is that of the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Winter Power (Bungle Inthejungle), who has a colt by Japanese champion sire Kizuna. Two sons of Frankel are also represented by first-crop foals: the Irish Derby winner Westover has a weanling colt and filly in the sale, as does the Grade 1 winner Grenadier Guards. Among the broodmares and broodmare prospects is the six-year-old Chaton Ange, a daughter of Deep Impact and Breeders' Cup winner Stephanie's Kitten, who is offered carrying her second foal by Nadal, while later in the book her Maurice half-sister Kitten Hill also features, in foal for the first time to Indy Champ. Replete (Makfi), a 12-year-old daughter of Banks Hill is being sold with a February cover to Siskin, while among the fillies out of training is the four-year-old Cumberland, a winner last year over 1700m, who is by Duramente out of the GI La Troienne Stakes winner Big World (Custom For Carlos). “This is a great opportunity for owners and breeders to buy some some Japanese bloodstock,” said Northern Farm's representative Shingo Hashimoto at Tattersalls this week. “International breeders have bought at this sale in the past and sometimes they keep the mares in the country for a while to be covered with a Japanese stallion and then export them afterwards.” He added, “The weanling catalogue is very strong. It's almost the same as the July [JRHA Select] sale. The reason we started this sale was because the buyers requested more opportunities to buy more foals, but we couldn't expand the July sale any more. So we decided to make a mixed sale with the weanlings and the broodmares.” The English version of the catalogue for the Northern Farm Mixed Sale 2025 is available in the Equineline sales app or can be viewed online. The post Equinox Foals Among Well-Bred Offerings at Northern Farm’s Mixed Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Broadster should let them influence the market and then pounce.

The Challenge, presented by GaineswayView the full article

Perfect punters for Betcha Hopefully they are already breeding more.

well we can only Hope they get the financial situation sorted out if it's that dire. I must say , I thought it was important to keep racing there so some of the locals could get a win . Away from the powerhouses of Barry Purdons, Tony H , Ray Green and Telfers . BUT was pleasantly surprised to see great success for the Cambridge Team tonight with not just Nicky Chilcott and Owen Gillies getting Auckland winners tonight , but David Butcher still a force with his 2 mid class horses who seem real nice ones , and Matty White's Stable too, still wins races at both venues as well. a fine horseman. (well done Monika on a driving double tonight too) So if your Cambridge does go belly up like the South Islanders seem to want, , then it's great to see the Cambridge Trainers can take it up to the Auckland Trainers ok anyway 👍🙂. 4 Wins tonight was pretty good. and fancy Barry driving a winner after all these years? 5 years out of the sulky. his first this decade I believe. on ya Barry 🏆🍻

Cambridge trainer Shaun Phelan took special satisfaction from an all-the-way win by Pacheco in the $60,000 Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupo on Friday. The Rating 75 staying test was the fifth start in a new campaign for the Makfi gelding, who had recorded a second and two thirds from his first four starts this time in. Before finishing third in his resuming run over 1600m at Te Rapa in early August, Pacheco had spent more than a year on the sidelines with a serious injury. “He’s a horse that we’ve always thought a lot of, both on the flat and over jumps,” Phelan said. “We gave him his first two starts over hurdles in July of last year and managed to win them both, but then he actually fractured a fetlock. “The owners have been really patient and the horse has done a great job to come back as well as he has. It’s a big thrill to get this result with him today.” Pacheco was given a perfect ride by two-kilogram claimer Liam Kauri, who dictated terms out in front and gave the eight-year-old a relatively easy time through the first half of the race. The intensity moved up a few notches when Golden came up to breathe down his neck coming down the side of the track, but Pacheco withstood the pressure. He kicked hard at the home turn and held the challengers at bay all the way down the straight, going on to win by a length and a quarter. Novak got up into second in a tight four-way finish, with a head to Golden, a nose to Tempest Moon and another head to I’m A Dirty Rascal. “It was a beautiful ride and a good, tough effort by the horse,” Phelan said. “It’s great to have a race for a $60,000 stake in this grade, and up over 2600m too – that distance suited him a lot better than the 2000m to 2200m races he often has to run in. I’d love to see a few more races like this one in the schedule.” Pacheco was bought by part-owner Thomas Nicholson for $10,000 off Gavelhouse.com as an unraced three-year-old in February of 2021. He has now had 30 starts for six wins, nine placings and $156,975 in stakes. Phelan already has one leading contender for next month’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in the form of Notabadspillane, who has been an impressive winner of his last two starts at Te Rapa. But the trainer is non-committal about following a similar path with Pacheco, who has moved up to $21 in the fixed-odds market for the Riccarton feature. “In some ways I’d like to get him down there for the Cup, but he’s not the best traveller in the truck,” Phelan said. “We’ll see how he comes through this and come up with a plan. There could be a few other options that we could consider.” The Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup was the first leg of the inaugural Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series, which carries a total of $485,000 in stakes and bonuses including a $50,000 winner-takes-all prize. The new initiative from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and the Taupo Racing Club will see seven Country Cups staged across the North Island from October to December, with horses earning points for top-four finishes and required to contest at least three races, including the $100,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m). Sponsored by leading prepaid gift provider Prezzy Card, the series is designed to encourage participation, create a competitive narrative between regional racedays, and culminate in a high-stakes finale on Harcourts Taupo Cup Day on December 28. The Harcourts Taupo Cup itself has received a $15,000 stakes uplift from last season. The remaining legs of the series are the $80,000 Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) at Matamata on October 15, the $50,000 Wanganui Steelformers Waverley Cup (2200m) at Waverley on October 19, the $80,000 Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m) at Tauherenikau on November 1, the $35,000 DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup (2100m) at Waipukurau on November 16, the $30,000 Duncan Dental Tauranga Twilight Cup (2100m) at Tauranga on December 12, and the $100,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) at Taupo on December 28. View the full article

Marton horseman Fraser Auret has enjoyed the limelight in recent years as the man behind star sprinter Ka Ying Rising. The outstanding son of Shamexpress was bred and originally trained by Auret, and the world’s highest-rated galloper will step onto the biggest stage when he contests the A$20 million Everest at Randwick on Saturday week. But while Ka Ying Rising will dominate the headlines for the next week, Auret will be closely watching another of his graduates, Romantic Encounter, who contests Saturday’s Gr,1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). A New Zealand bred son of Ghaiyyath, Romantic Encounter stepped from a debut Bendigo maiden win to finish second in the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) and will enter the Guineas at his third start for trainers Ben, Will & JD Hayes. Romantic Encounter was knocked down to PR Thoroughbreds and Lindsay Park Racing at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for $425,000 from the draft of Phoenix Park, after Auret had originally purchased the horse at the Book 2 Karaka Yearling Sales for $60,000 from the draft of Wentwood Grange. “He was purchased from the yearling sales on behalf of a client and we did the prep work with him before sending him to the Ready to Run Sale,” Auret said. “He was just a magnificent horse all the way through. He was very impressive at a jump out before heading to the sale. He stamped himself right from the time we were breaking him in as a really serious horse.” Auret has been impressed with the way the colt has progressed under the care of the Hayes team and he believes the $26 shot is not without a chance in what shapes as an even Guineas. “He is a young colt having just his third start so he’s come a long way in a very short space of time, but the Hayes team have handled him beautifully,” Auret said. “He’s got to be in there with some chance. The way he’s just continued to improve from his first run to his second run, and he obviously does need to raise the bar again, but there’s no reason why he couldn’t take the leap.” Other Ready to Run graduates prepared by Auret have also found success in Australia. “We sold Mongolian Mission, by Dubious out of Tinjirarni, at the Ready to Run Sale last year. He won at the trials and then won on debut in Australia for Danny O’Brien. Also an El Roca colt, Lion City Express, that we sold has had two trial wins for Tim Fitzsimmons in Australia as well.” Meanwhile, Auret has been staggered by the scrutiny of Ka Ying Rising’s trial in Sydney earlier this week as the David Hayes-trained sprinter prepares for the Everest. “I’ve never seen so much feedback from everyone about a trial,” Auret said. “It was certainly scrutinised to every degree, but at the end of the day, I think it was a really nice trial. You could see that he needed it, but I think he’ll be cherry ripe on the day. “I just hope it’s run on a hard and fast track. When you’re going into a massive sprint race like the Everest you want the fastest horse to be winning. He looks a picture to my eye anyway.” Auret said the family would be gathered around the television on Saturday week. “We are just getting the family together to watch, and certainly can’t wait for that Saturday, that’s for sure, but I’d also love to see Romantic Encounter run well in the Guineas this weekend,” he said. View the full article

A lucrative race at Selangor on Sunday will shine a spotlight on next month’s NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka as well as showcasing the high-quality graduates of the Sale that are currently racing in Malaysia. The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Open Championship (1400m), offering prize money of RM300,000, is held in recognition of the New Zealand Bloodstock’s strong affiliation with the Selangor Turf Club and the club’s commitment to support the Ready to Run Sale. New Zealand Bloodstock Director of Business Development, Mr Mike Kneebone, Mr Alex Teng from NZB Airfreight and New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing (NZTM) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Birch will be in attendance at the races in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The 1400m Championship features the clash of New Zealand bred stars Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn), Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn) and the Frank Maynard-trained pair, Duma (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) and Trees of Valinor (NZ) (Telperion). View the full article

Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander have set their sights towards summer targets with their star mare La Crique following yet another runner-up result in last month’s Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa. La Crique has two Group One victories to her name but has earned the perennial bridesmaid tag after finishing runner-up at elite-level on eight occasions, including her last six starts, and her trainers are hoping a freshen-up can help give her that extra edge to claim another Group One scalp. “We have decided to take a sit and put her away,” Katrina Alexander said. “She is just having 10 days out at the moment, we won’t press onto the next leg (Gr.1 Livamol Classic, 2040m). “We opted not to go to Australia, she just takes a bit when she pulls up, other than Ellerslie, she comes off Ellerslie in super form. “We know we probably haven’t got her quite as good as what we want. We know we have got room for improvement, and we just want to get that extra 10 percent and see if we can nail it (Group One win) for her. “We are happy to be patient. At her age (seven), we sort of target two races and then take a breather with her. Currently she is having a wee break away from the stable and we will bring her back and focus on something a little later in the year.” Meanwhile, stablemate Midnight Scandal is set to have one more run before heading for the spelling paddock. The stakes performer finished fifth in last weekend’s Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera and the Alexanders are happy to give her one more run closer to home. “Nothing went right in that race at Hawera the other day,” Alexander said. “She is a horse I think needs true tempo. They crawled around and tried to sprint home, which absolutely doesn’t suit her. She is a horse that has got a high cruising speed. “That was to be her last race, but while the weather is the way it is, it looks like she could go into a rating 75 mile at Ellerslie (next Saturday). “Given that she has come through that Hawera run really well, and didn’t really have much of a race, we will look at that and that will probably be the end for her for this part of the season, she has been up a long time, and she will have a good summer break after that.” View the full article

Simon and Katrina Alexander came close to winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) a few years ago with their stable star La Crique, and now it looks like they may have another Derby prospect on their hands. Three-year-old gelding Aksil had already attracted the attention of eagle-eyed scouts in his four trials prior to making his debut in the Master Builders Taupo (1300m) at Taupo on Friday, and he lived up to his early promise when comfortably winning by 1-1/4 lengths in the hands of jockey Masa Hashizume. “He’s impressive and did it nicely, albeit still quite green,” Katrina Alexaner said. “We are really thrilled to see him do that and live up to our expectation of him, hopefully he will go on with it.” Alexander said they are taking a patient approach with the son of Ace High, and they are hoping his connections will reap those rewards at the business end of his Classic season. “He was quite a nuggety, little two-year-old and then he has really grown and developed structurally quite a lot,” she said. “We have had to be relatively patient and just get a line on what we think he is going to be. I think distance will be his go, so we are trying to nurture him along in that direction. “He’ll have a couple of runs for experience now and we might give him a breather and concentrate on the other end of the season.” The Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day in March looms as an obvious target, with the Alexanders dreaming of going one better than La Crique’s effort in the 2022 edition. “He could be a lovely Derby horse because he has also got a super turn of foot,” Alexander said. “We have been quite particular to educate him that way, in that he is tractable and can take a sit midfield and not overthink it. “Hopefully he will continue along that track. I would like to see him get out in distance and I think he can be whatever we want him to be.” While there was plenty of interest in Aksil following his trials, Alexander’s phone is set to be ringing red-hot once again following his debut effort, and she is hoping the stable can retain him a little longer. “Even after his first trial, he attracted a lot of interest and even when he was out spelling they kept coming back,” she said. “He is a very eye-catching individual, and you can’t get too carried away with looks, but he certainly lived up to his looks today. “We have got a very happy group of owners and some of them are first time owners, so it is a big thrill for them. Hopefully we can keep him a bit longer and when he is mature, I think he will be quite an exciting horse.” Alexander said Aksil is also proving a hit at home as a stable favourite, and is looming as an heir apparent for the stable’s multiple Group One winner La Crique. “You have those lovely horses like her (La Crique) in the stable for so many years and you can’t help but think that you won’t get one as good as her again,” Alexander said. “It is nice to be able to retain a horse like Aksil in the stable, particularly for the team in general who put in a lot of work in behind the scenes. He has been a stable favourite all the way through. “For the owners to decide to keep him at this point, is really nice for the guys at home to have a quality animal to continue on with for maybe when La Crique is gone.” View the full article

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott got a busy weekend off to a promising start with two wins at Taupo on Friday. The Wexford Stables team won the first race on the card, the Placemakers Rotorua Maiden (1800m), with lightly raced four-year-old Gippsy God, and two hours later they saddled first-starter General Menari for a smart victory in the McLeod Hiabs 3YO (1100m). For good measure, the Matamata trainers also collected placings with High Society and Woman In Charge. “It was a really pleasing day,” Scott said. “Both of those winners had been working particularly well leading into the meeting, and they produced raceday performances to match. “Young and inexperienced horses can sometimes get a bit lost around Taupo, but we took a good number there back in August to have a gallop and a look around the course. I think that’s stood us in good stead.” General Menari, a son of the Snitzel stallion Menari, was bought for A$18,000 by owners Mark and Tania Stratford from the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. The gelding had won two of his three trials leading into Friday’s debut and stepped out as one of the favourites at $3.70. Masa Hashizume gave him a cosy run in third along the rail behind Too Darn Sweet and Mazino, then drove him in between that pair in the straight. General Menari showed a good turn of foot and soon swept up alongside Too Darn Sweet, getting the better of that rival in the final few strides to win by a long neck. “He’d shown in all of his trials that he has good levels of ability,” Scott said. “Those also gave him a good level of education leading into today. The team were really happy with how he’d been working. “He was aided by a beautiful ride from Masa from a sweet draw, and then he did a good job to quicken in the straight. He can only keep on improving from here. “We’re not going to get too far ahead of ourselves with him at this early stage of the season. We were never going to rush him and try to get him down to Christchurch or anything like that. He’s got the whole summer in front of him. January, February and March will be his time. He’s got the makings of a nice miler or maybe even a NZB Kiwi (1500m) horse.” Tarzino gelding Gippsy God opened his winning account in style with a dominant victory on Friday. Lynsey Satherley presented him on the outside of the leaders at the turn and he took command, drawing away to win by two and a half lengths. Gippsy God has now had eight starts for a win, a second and a fourth. “He lacked a lot of luck as a three-year-old last season,” Scott said. “He ran in a number of those tough staying maiden races and had excuses every time. We put him away and gave him a good break, and he won with a bit of authority today. “With a bit more maturity on his side, he can work through the grades.” The Wexford team will attempt to carry Friday’s momentum into Sunday at Rotorua, where they will be represented by Grail Seeker in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m), Smart Love in the Campbell Infrastructure (1400m), Sicillian in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua (1400m) and first-starter Yamato Satona in the Green Light Insurance Brokers (1400m). “All of the team is really pleased with Grail Seeker,” Scott said. “She’s in good form at home. The weather looks like it might play its part and the track won’t be too wet, so we’re expecting to see her quicken well. “She didn’t have a lot of luck in the Proisir (Gr.1, 1400m) last month. It was no one’s fault, she just didn’t have things go her way. Most of the field raced in very tight quarters, and she’s a big mare that needs to have a little bit of room, which she just never quite got. She ended up having a reasonably quiet run – no more than a trial, really. “While the result was a little bit frustrating, it indicated that she’s going well. Had she got the breaks, I’m not saying she would have won, but we believe she would have run well and quickened with them. “After that race, we gave her a week out at the farm to freshen up. Through that week, followed by a week of trotting and cantering, she put on 23 kilos and really came on in the coat. “She galloped between races at Matamata on Saturday. Opie (Bosson) rode her – he was going to ride her this weekend until he got suspended. He was thrilled with how she felt, and we really thought it was right up there with some of the better work she’s done. “Masa will take the mount. He’s ridden her in a few trials, so he knows her pretty well and she’s trialled well for him.” Scott also has high hopes for other members of Wexford’s Rotorua team – particularly impressive last-start Te Rapa winner Smart Love and promising three-year-old colt Yamato Satona. “Smart Love is a mare who’s shown quite a lot in her short career to date,” Scott said. “She’d trialled well leading into her resuming run at Te Rapa last month, and then it was very encouraging the way she came back and won so well first-up. Her assignment at Rotorua is another step up, but we think she can take that step. “We’re also looking forward to Yamato Satona on Sunday. He’s trialled well on the track there at Rotorua and we think he’s a nice middle-distance three-year-old in the making.” View the full article

Trainer Dominic Sutton will forever hold Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) in the highest regard as the gelding chases a second Group One win, this time at Caulfield. Feroce provided Sutton, who has been training just over 18 months, with his first winner, his first city winner and his maiden Group One success. That Group One success came in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in March and the trainer is hoping for premier win number two with Feroce in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Sutton said Feroce was primed for Saturday’s assault after two runs back from a break. A first-up sixth over an unsuitable 1100m at Caulfield on August 30 was followed by a closing third to Sepals in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 20. “First-up was a lot shorter, distance wise, than what he wants, and he ran a very creditable race,” Sutton said. “He ran the second fastest 200 metres of the day and finished off nicely and then stepping up to the Sir Rupert Clarke he was terrific. “He gave four kilos to the first horse and second horse and three kilos to the fourth horse. “He ran a PB on his ratings and we knew he was going to take benefit out of that run as well into the Toorak, so we’re very happy. “I think this is his prime distance, the mile. Stepping up is going to be ideal and being third-up he’s going to be rock hard fit. “I can’t complain.” Feroce is nominated in the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on November 1, and Sutton said all going well the gelding would be Sydney bound. “It’s too big a carrot to pass up on,” Sutton said of the $10 million prize pool. “They’re only four once and it’s a restricted race for four-year-olds. “The question will be going the Sydney way, but I don’t think that will be too much of an issue.” Sutton said the Golden Eagle could mark the end of Feroce’s spring campaign, although he will be entered for the Group One double of the Railway Stakes (1600m) and the Northerly Stakes (1800m) in Perth, while the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on November 15 may also be considered. Longer term, Sutton hopes to again step Feroce up to 2000m, a trip he tackled in the Gr.1 Australian Cup at Flemington in March to close out his three-year-old season. “It won’t be this campaign, but I haven’t written off 2000 metres in the future,” Sutton said. “He is showing he is pretty brilliant at the mile, at the moment, so I don’t want to train the speed out of him at this stage, but as he gets older, I think naturally we will be looking to step him out to the 2000 (metres).” View the full article

The truth of the matter is that they would not be wagering the way they are with their own money! They have absolute no discipline whatsoever and try to convince us that they know what they are talking about, when none of them actually are that knowledgeable.

By Jordyn Bublitz Clevedon trainer-driver Matthew White enjoyed a standout night at Cambridge Raceway last night , coming away with two wins and a second from his three runners. He drove all three himself. First out for the night was Forgiveness, who set the tone with a gritty effort to finish second in the Xmas At The Raceway Tickets On Sale Now Handicap Trot. Off a 25m handicap, the mare produced a strong finish to run into the placing and signalled a welcome return to form. “Back left-handed is probably the reason she’s picked up,” White said, “the drop in company helps as well. She’s been racing well and it’s great to see her coming back into form.” Oakley, who has been part of White’s stable since he was a yearling, stepped up to the mark in the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Mobile Pace. The three-year-old made the most of his inside draw, using his gate speed to find the front early. From there, he rolled along in front and dug deep in the run home to hold on and claim his maiden victory. “I thought his fresh-up run was good, I was a bit disappointed with his second run,” White said, “I was reasonably confident in him heading into last night, he’d found the right race and had a good draw to help. He really only just got there, but he’s still learning, and he’ll only improve with more racing.” The night was capped off perfectly by Change Tact, who continued her strong form with an emphatic victory in the Gavelhouse.com Mobile Pace. The Lazarus mare has been a model of consistency all season, and she showed her class once again, sitting in the trail before dashing up the passing lane to win by 3¼ lengths in a sharp 1:57.7 mile rate, closing in 56.6 for the last half. “She got the run I was hoping for, it panned out beautifully for us,” White said, “I thought that she’d race well with how consistent she’s been all season. She’s been up for quite a while, but she handles the work and she’s still racing well.” “The run of the night was definitely Change Tact,” he said. “Her owners Rob (Carr) and Don (Kirkbride) were on course, which made it even better. They’re great people who get a huge buzz out of it and it was really nice to get that win for them.” View the full article

Triple Crown winner and Horse Of The Year American Pharoah is set to shuttle to The Shizunal Stallion Station in Japan for the 2026 breeding season in partnership with the Japanese Bloodstock Breeders Association (JBBA). The son of Pioneerof The Nile will return to his base at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud in July 2026. “We have worked very closely shuttling stallions with the JBBA in the past and are delighted that their members will now have access to his bloodline,” said Ashford Stud manager Dermot Ryan. “There has been interest from Japan for the past number of years in purchasing the horse and we've come up with a compromise that suits both parties. Pharoah will be accompanied to Japan by his groom from Ashford.” American Pharoah has already made a significant impact in Japan, siring 58 winners from just 88 runners at an impressive strike rate of 65%. Among them are nine blacktype scorers, most notably Café Pharoah, a dual winner of the Grade 1 February Stakes. The post American Pharoah to Shuttle to Shizunal Stallion Station in Japan for 2026 Breeding Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It would not be hard to argue that the current crop of Hong Kong jockeys is one of the strongest in recent memory – so why was a return to the city for Joao Moreira talked about as if it were a certainty? There is no debating that the “Magic Man” is one of the best jockeys to ever grace Hong Kong, racking up 1,235 wins and being champion jockey on four occasions. His regular tussles with Zac Purton were something to savour and he is internationally acclaimed - his talent is certainly not up for...View the full article

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Saturday looms as a special day in the careers of Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, who are the part-owners and former trainers of two horses that will chase million-dollar prizes in Australia. The couple’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Willydoit will line up in the A$1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill, while Hezashocka takes on just three opponents in the A$1 million Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. The Clotworthys bought Willydoit for $75,000 as a yearling at Karaka and trained him through a standout three-year-old season that produced four wins headed by the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March. Now trained by Ciaron Maher, the Tarzino gelding caught everyone’s eye with a flying finish into eighth when he resumed in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 6. That performance pointed to him being a live chance in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), but he was a late scratching just hours out from the race because of a minor eye issue. “That was a bit of bad luck,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “I’m not sure if it was a slight bug, or if he gave it a bang in the float on the way to the track or what it was. It wasn’t anything major and it had cleared up completely by the next day, but it was enough for the stewards to scratch him. “The horse has had a good week since then. Emma’s been over there watching him, and I’ve seen some video of him galloping. He’s looking great. “He was entered for the Alan Brown as well as the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) in Melbourne, where the mile might have suited him a little bit better than the 1400m. But he drew poorly for both races and they’ve decided to stay in Sydney. I’m just hoping there’ll be enough tempo over the 1400m for him to be able to finish the race off strongly.” Kerrin McEvoy will take the mount on Willydoit in Saturday’s Alan Brown, in which the TAB rates him an $11 fourth favourite behind Miss Roumbini ($4.60), Gringotts ($7) and Bosustow ($10). Further down the track, Maher and the MyRacehorse ownership team are aiming Willydoit at the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on November 1. “He’s still got a few spring nominations, like the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m), but I think the Golden Eagle is the target they’re working towards,” Clotworthy said. Meanwhile in Melbourne, Hezashocka will kick off his new campaign with a first-up run against Treasurethe Moment, Buckaroo and Globe in the Might And Power Stakes. The Clotworthys paid only $18,000 to buy the son of Shocking as a yearling, and they trained him to win the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie as an autumn three-year-old. Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have added another four wins and more than A$1.4 million to that record, including victories in the Gr.3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) and Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2200m) along with placings in the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m), Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m) and Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). “It’s exciting to have a Group One runner, and with only a four-horse field, we’ll be picking up a cheque,” Clotworthy said. “Mick Price was just looking to kick the horse off somewhere, so he’s going to benefit from this run. He hasn’t raced since July. “But Jamie Melham has always got on well with him, and strange things can happen in these small fields.” Hezashocka is the $41 outsider of the field, with Treasurethe Moment at $1.70, Buckaroo at $2.50 and Globe at $6.50. The Clotworthys will also have runners at two New Zealand meetings this weekend. They will saddle Roc Up Ralph in the AR Printers Premier (2200m) at Otaki on Saturday, followed a day later by Quill in the Rotorua Club (1950m) at Rotorua. Roc Up Ralph has been in top form through the winter and early spring, recording two wins and four second placings from his last seven starts. The only exception was a last-start seventh on an improving track at Te Rapa on September 27. “I sent Roc Up Ralph down to Otaki this morning, and I’ve heard from Howie Mathews that it’s raining down there and it will be a heavy track,” Clotworthy said. “He’ll be right at home in those conditions.” Quill also boasts a consistent form line. He has never further back than sixth in his last eight starts dating back to the beginning of June. “His last couple of runs have been on soft tracks and he’s looking for a bit more easing in the ground, which he should get on Sunday as well,” Clotworthy said. “He’s been racing very consistently. He just needs to improve a touch more on that recent form to be winning races, but I think he’s capable of doing that.” View the full article

Bruce Wallbank has been on a wonderful ride since returning to the training ranks last term, with his only horse Midnight Edition rising through the ranks to become one of the favourites in Sunday’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1400m). The 79-year-old bred the son of Wrote and after having success previously as a trainer, breeder and owner, he decided to prepare the gelding himself out of Pukekohe Park. Always rating him as a serious talent, Midnight Edition proved that on the big stage at Ellerslie on Boxing Day last year, dead-heating the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) before losing the win in the inquiry room. He continued to rise through the grades into his four-year-old term, dominating open-class opposition first-up at Te Rapa before returning to the course a fortnight later to go down by a narrow margin to Whiskey ‘N Roses. Wallbank is rapt with how his gelding has returned as an older horse and believes he can make his presence felt in a big way at Arawa Park on Sunday. “He’s a very good horse, I think he can win a couple of good races this year,” he said. “He ran a good race (second-up), he blew quite a bit and possibly needed another gallop, so that was a grey-haired trainer’s fault I suppose. Masa (Hashizume, jockey) said he didn’t see the other horse coming either, so it was probably a combination of those, but he’s going very well and we think he can go very well in the Sweynesse. “He can run on a hard track, a wet track, it doesn’t worry him, and we’ll have Matt Cameron on.” Wallbank has heeded plenty of advice from trainers with Midnight Edition and had considered handing over the reins this spring to one of those in Nigel Tiley, but he is pleased to have continued on while he can. “I’m getting close to 80 years of age now and things do get a little bit harder, but I’ve only got the one horse and Nigel is away overseas for four months through the winter so it’s not convenient at this stage,” he said. “But he (Midnight Edition) has probably got three or four years ahead of him, so I’ll enjoy doing it while I can. “He’s one of those horses you look for in a lifetime, he’s a hell of a nice horse and very easy to handle.” Midnight Edition will remain the sole horse in his stable, but Wallbank is already looking forward to seeing his half-sister (by Proisir) hit the track at some stage this term for Katrina and Simon Alexander. “We’ve got half-shares in a Proisir filly with Mark Chitty, she’s a beautiful two-year-old filly and has had two preparations,” he said. “I think she’s off to Katrina Alexanders in the next couple of weeks, she’ll come up as a late two-year-old. “Midnight Gossip (dam of Midnight Edition) is a very good mare, she’s had three horses to the races and three black-type horses. “She’s just foaled a magnificent Ace High filly, so we’ll give her a year off now.” View the full article

Promising colt El Vaquero will be out to further his Group One claims when he steps out again in age group company at Ashburton. The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained son of Ferrando takes aim at Saturday’s Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) off the back of a last-start fifth at Riccarton. El Vaquero was seven weeks between runs there and the stable were far from disappointed with his performance. “In a perfect world, he would have started off over 1200m but there were no races to suit so he ran over 1400m and ended up in front,” Michael Pitman said. “It was just the way it worked out, and we certainly didn’t want to be there, he over-raced and just blew out.” El Vaquero had won his previous two starts and will be partnered for the first time by Sam Weatherley, who enjoys a strong association with the father and son team. “The plan was always to come to this race second-up and we’re very happy with the horse,” Pitman said. El Vaquero is headed toward the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) with two more outings to have him at peak for the November 15 Classic. The stable will have a host of chances at Ashburton, including Third Decree, who will also be ridden by Weatherley in the GD Jones Handicap (1200m). She came from last when resuming at Riccarton last month to finish runner-up when opening her preparation and will be opposed in the sprint by in-form stablemate Zoulander with two-kilo claimer Abdul Najib to ride. “She’s got a bit of weight (60kg) and we thought about claiming, but Abdul’s been going really well on Zoulander who was terrific the other day,” Pitman said. “Third Decree will go to the Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m) at Riccarton at her next start and will get in on the minimum. “At this stage, there’s every chance she could then back up and we’re leaning toward the Stewards (Listed, 1200m) rather than the TAB Mile (Gr.3, 1600m).” Pitman also rates the chances of Ocean Light in the McCrea Painters & Decorators Ashburton Cup (1600m) while stable newcomer Rosso will make his New Zealand debut in the Clem & Russel Brand Memorial (2200m). “He’s an interesting one and won a race in Ireland and then raced in Melbourne and was fourth at Sandown at his last start,” Pitman said. “Lloyd Williams raced him in Ireland from Joseph O’Brien’s stable and then Nick Williams and Gerry Ryan took him to Australia and my brother John bought him off an Inglis Digital Sale.” Another ride for Weatherley, the five-year-old has a win and three placings from nine starts and finished fourth on debut behind one-time Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) favourite Jan Brueghel on debut at The Curragh. By Camelot, Rosso is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Egyptian Sky and the family of multiple Group One winner and sire Henrythenavigator. “He didn’t settle in Australia, but he’s a lovely horse and still got plenty of room for improvement,” Pitman said. View the full article

Matt Laurie is confident that a wide draw will be no barrier to success for Vinrock in the Caulfield Guineas (G1) over 1,600 meters (1 mile) as the crack colt headlines the stable's three-pronged attack on the stallion-making contest Oct. 11. View the full article

Toby Moore, son of legendary Ballydoyle top jockey Ryan Moore, is set to make his much-anticipated riding debut at Kempton Park Oct. 10 when he partners Valdorcia for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in a 6-furlong fillies' novice.View the full article

Robert Hunt, a respected veterinarian at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, passed away Thursday after a bout with cancer. Dr. Hunt graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. From 1984 to 1987 he worked at the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Santa Ynez, California. He returned to the University of Georgia in 1987 to complete his surgical training and graduate degree in cardiovascular physiology. He paid his way through school by taking a job as a farrier. Dr. Hunt remained on faculty and became a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1992. He joined Hagyard Equine Medical Institute as an equine surgeon in 1992. According to a 2024 feature by Chris McGrath in the TDN on Hunt he said that when he was asked why he worked with farm animals, he replied: “This is the one thing I can do that's going to help a guy put bread on the table.” “And I've always taken that with me,” Hunt continued. “Especially with the emergencies where you have an animal that's going to die, but if you do the right intervention, it's going to live and stay in production. That's always been a very impactful, meaningful part of my job.” Jockey and veterinarian Ferrin Peterson, who worked with Dr. Hunt, met him one morning while breezing horses at Turfway Park. That led to her working under him in surgery for a year. Two of the horses they performed surgery on went back to the races and won with Peterson aboard. “Dr. Hunt's character, integrity and perseverance have been so impactful on not only my career but the lives and careers of so many people and horses,” Dr. Peterson said. “He always placed the needs of the horse first, even if it cost him personally and financially. But he remained steadfast, standing strong in his convictions. Mentoring people in his line of work was one of his greatest passions. I can think of no greater legacy than for these mentees, myself included, to carry on the principles he exemplified. I am forever grateful for my time with this great man.” Hunt told McGrath that one of his greatest pleasure was helping young veterinarians, like Peterson, and vet students. “I love hanging around young people,” he said. “They're energetic, their minds are bright, they want to learn.” In an undated video posted on the website iamanequineveterinarian.com, Hunt spoke of how hard he worked at his craft. “I might have pushed the envelope too hard when it came to the dedication department,” he said. “It was what I always wanted to do. My philosophy was that I had to be all in in order to play at the level I wanted to play at.” Mill Ridge General Manager Price Bell spent a memorable week with Hunt. “I moved back to town in 2011 and in April of that year I was talking to Dr. Hunt and was trying to learn,” Bell said. “His way was so welcoming and he put you at ease. He asked me if I wanted to tag along with him for a week. I rode with him for a week. There was the backyard pony to major farm operations doing everything from sales surveys to lacerations. We made a stop in the necropsy lab because something had been bothering him about a surgery and he wanted to see the necropsy so he could understand the puzzle. He had two to four interns with him at all times. His patience, grace and humility with them and with me, it was inspiring. I'd say it was the best week of work I've ever had because it was stimulating and he was so passionate about it.” The post Dr. Robert Hunt Passes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Atropa (Into Mischief) showed a big turnaround in form when storming off to win with consummate ease, earning a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard badge in the process, at Keeneland Thursday afternoon. Away in good order under red-hot Jose Ortiz, she settled in a stalking position as Sea Zest (Hard Spun) and 5-2 second choice Kayla's Komet (Mitole) led through opening splits of :23.86 and :48.08. Engaging the leading pair midway on the far turn, the $450,000 KEESEP graduate drew clear of those rivals approaching the quarter pole and burst clear in the stretch. Despite offering a few reminders down the lane, Ortiz all but wrapped up on the 7-2 chance in the final sixteenth as the duo crossed the wire an eye-catching 10-lengths ahead of closing favorite Measure (Essential Quality), who was a clear second. Kayla's Komet held on to round out the trifecta. Sent off at 8-1 in a sloppy six-furlong test at Saratoga on July 12, the daughter of GSW Bellera barely lifted a leg, finishing sixth, beaten 14 lengths. Bellera, purchased by Stonestreet for $850,000 at Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2020, produced a colt by Uncle Mo this season and was bred back to McKinzie. Second dam, Habiboo (Unbridled's Song), is a half-sister to MGISW and sire Street Boss (Street Cry {Ire}) and Rushin No Blushin (Half Ours). The latter is responsible for MGISW and sire Jack Christopher (Munnings). 7th-Keeneland, $110,000, Msw, 10-9, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.50, ft, 10 lengths. ATROPA, f, 2, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Bellera {GSW, $326,698}, by Bernardini 2nd Dam: Habiboo, by Unbridled's Song 3rd Dam: Blushing Ogygian, by Ogygian Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $67,143. O-Belladonna Racing LLC, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing LLC and B.C.W.T. Ltd.; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. *$450,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Click for the Equibase.com chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. ATROPA ($9.06) was phenomenal!@jose93_ortiz was aboard the @reredevaux trainee in the 7th at @Keenelandracing. The filly by Into Mischief (@SpendthriftFarm) is owned by @BelladonnaRaci1, Twin Brook Stables, @woodfordracing and B.C.W.T. Ltd. Up Next: https://t.co/ybo2UACnE6 pic.twitter.com/Bbat1DLgUM — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 9, 2025 The post Into Mischief’s Atropa Runs Off to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Victory at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release After the Races, the organization that provided Jersey Fresh with the groundwork he needed to go from the racetrack to success as a show jumper, and CANTER USA, where owner Dr. Kate Carruthers found her TAKE2 Hunter Finals champion Red Magic, have been announced as the 2025 TAKE2 Jet Run Award winners. Created in 2017, the Jet Run Awards put the spotlight on the aftercare organizations that are essential in transitioning Thoroughbreds to second careers. “Racehorses still have so much to give when they leave the track and, being Thoroughbreds, they are still very eager to show what they can do,” said TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore. “But they need to learn the fundamentals of their new careers, and to find the right person to guide them. The hard work and dedication of our partners in aftercare are vital to that process.” Launched by Bonnie McRae in 2011 and accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance since 2016, After the Races is located in Elkton, Maryland, near the Fair Hill training center. “We're very close to adopting out our 1,000th horse!” McRae said. “Our mission is to rehabilitate and rehome retiring Thoroughbred racehorses into suitable, long-term homes while promoting the versatility and usefulness of the breed beyond racing.” CANTER USA operates through a national network of local affiliates that work directly with trainers and owners at the racetrack. “This is big deal,” treasurer Robbie Timmons said. “It is such a big honor for CANTER USA and for all of our Thoroughbreds. It shows that although some Thoroughbreds may not be competitive on the racetrack, they can excel in new careers. That's what CANTER is all about. We're trying to promote the Thoroughbred as just the most terrific breed.” The post After the Races and CANTER USA Earn 2025 TAKE2 Jet Run Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article