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by Sue Finley and Katie Petrunyak For European consignors, the sales season is less a sprint than a marathon, beginning in the August heat at Arqana and running nearly straight through to a frenzied finale of breeding stock sales just as the winter chill signals the season's end. While many Irish and British teams pack up their supplies for the year once their last mare has stepped out of the ring at Tattersalls, plenty see the value in making one final trek across the Channel. It's the last stop in a rigorous sales stretch, but those who go the distance consider Arqana's Vente d'Elevage Sale a fitting finale. Baroda Stud led the way at the Tattersalls December Sale which closed on Wednesday, selling both the sales topper, Barnavara (Calyx), for 4.8 million guineas, and concluding the sale as the leading overall consignor with gross receipts for the 30 sold at 9,713,500 guineas. And though making it through three major sales in less than a month is a grueling prospect, Baroda's David Cox said he wouldn't miss ending the year at Arqana. “Our clients like to sell here,” said Cox, who estimated that he had been selling at Arqana for eight to 10 years. “Arqana are very good to deal with and we've had a lot of luck in the past selling some very nice mares and fillies.” In 2022, Baroda sold a pair of seven-figure fillies at the Arqana December Sale; Burgarita (Sea The Stars), who went to Godolphin for €1.7 million, and Oscula (Galileo Gold), who sold for €1 million to Ted Voute. “This year,” said Cox, “we put together a few horses of our own and then some clients also wanted to sell here so it makes sense. All the buyers come here; there's a really good group of buyers.” Baroda figures to have some attractive prospects this week in Deauville. They will offer lot 196, Beautiful Warrior (Saxon Warrior), a half-sister to French Classic winner Beauty Parlour (Deep Impact), in foal to Kingman. “We've sold some of the family in France before,” said Cox. “She'll stand out here in foal to Kingman. She's a nice big mare; a good-walking mare.” While Beautiful Warrior is one of four mares in foal to Kingman in the sale, Cox said, “We will also offer the only mare in the sale in foal to Lope De Vega in Pretty Milanova (lot 163).” She hails from the family of Blush With Pride. Among their draft of foals, he said, “We have a nice No Nay Never filly foal (lot 145) and a Havana Grey foal (177). They sold very well in the earlier sales and will be very popular.” In order to accomplish the hat trick of the back-to-back-to-back sales, planning is key, said Cox. “The sales are so on top of each other that we have to be very well organized,” he said. “Our crew go to Newmarket when we're still selling at Goffs. We have some good guys in France, so we're set up here with the gear which comes from Ireland before my staff gets here from Newmarket. I came in (Thursday) from the flight and we have to hit the ground running. People are here. We started showing at 2:00 and we were run off our feet by 3:00.” But in the end, the hard work is worth it, he said. “We've been very lucky over the years,” he said. “To be sale topper and top consignor (at Tattersalls) was great. For Tamso and I, it's a lot of hours away from the family, and a lot of time on the road. Padraig (Gahan) and the team I have at home keep the show running when we're on the road. It's great for the brand, and everyone involved.” Second behind Baroda Stud among top consignors this week at Tattersalls, The Castlebridge Consignment is also a consistent presence in Arqana. After a brief hiatus from the December Sale from 2017 to 2021, the perennial leading vendor has seen success here over the past few years. “It's a beautiful place to sell horses,” said The Castlebridge Consignment's UK-based Sales Executive Patrick Diamond. “It's a nice place to be and it gives you an opportunity to bring a slightly different horse to market. We obviously sell a good volume of horses in the mare and foal sales at Goffs and Tattersalls, so it's nice to bring a different type of horse that will maybe stand out a little, separate the drafts from across the way and hopefully suit different clients.” The Castlebridge Consignment was the leading vendor at this year's Goffs Mare Sale and Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale, a reflection of their emphasis on matching each horse to the right sale. Diamond said that bringing a draft to Arqana gives their team more flexibility for positioning horses across the breeding stock calendar. “The benefit of selling quality horses at different places is that you start to realize which clientele suits which sale and where people like to buy,” he explained. “You're trying to put different kinds of horses that suit different kinds of people based on the volume of people that might come to a sale here versus Goffs or Newmarket. It's trying to work out where each horse might deliver its maximum price.” He continued, “I think sometimes a different kind of profile of sire might suit France. In England and Ireland it's more the top-end stallions that are all well-known and sometimes in France you can put a horse that might not be the most obvious horse in the world, but people will still gravitate towards them. There's also quite a nice international contingent we've found over the last few years here. The Australians are quite keen here and the Americans look here as well. Obviously there's a strong contingent from Japan.” The Castlebridge Consignment's 14 offerings feature a mix of mares, foals and racing prospects. In-foal mares include lot 42, Embody (Acclamation), who is a full-sister to Breeders' Cup Mile victor Expert Eye in foal to Havana Grey and lot 185, Decipher (Noble Mission), a half-sister to this season's multiple Group 1 and Classic winner Minnie Hauk (Frankel). “We have a really nice draft,” said Diamond. “We have a bunch of quality fillies and broodmare prospects and then a couple of mares in foals to exciting stallions like Havana Grey. Decipher is in foal on Southern Hemisphere to Starman and is from a current Oaks-winning family. We are also offering fillies and a couple of foals that I think are at all levels of the market here and should attract buyers from across the globe.” Diamond is optimistic that, after record sales over the past few weeks, the trend will continue at Arqana. “The strength of the sales at Goffs and in Newmarket normally means that once you get to Arqana, there are a lot of people that still have orders to fill or are looking to add a quality mare to their broodmare band. It's always a really well-attended sale. It's at the end of a long season of selling horses, but Arqana do an amazing job of getting people to the sale and looking after people. Everyone comes in here in good spirits and is still keen to buy.” The post We Can See The Finish Line: International Vendors Make the Trek to Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Himika could give Bob Baffert his ninth consecutive win in the race and a fifth victory for owners Charlie and Susan Chu.View the full article

By Katie Ritz and Sue Finley There are seven stallions based in France whose first foals will sell at this week's Arqana December Sale. We talked with the connections at their stud farms to find out what they have seen in the foals, what they will bring to market of theirs this week, and what expectations are for the progeny they are about to launch into the sales arena. ACE IMPACT (Cracksman — Absolutly Me, by Anabaa Blue). Standing for €30,000 at Haras de Beaumont. 2023 Cartier Horse of the Year. At three–won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. Lots selling at Arqana: 233, 272, 290, 334, 354, 446, 491, 519, 532, 612, 778 Mathieu Alex, Stud Manager and Nominations at Haras de Beaumont: We are very pleased with the foals. It's obviously very exciting to get the first crop on the ground. They have his temperament. Ace Impact was fiery when he was racing, but at home he's a very kind horse and very genuine. The foals in our consignment have just had their first shows here (Thursday) morning and they showed very well. They have a good temperament, as well as the strength and size that he had, so it's very positive. The horse covered 183 mares in year one and 153 in year two, so he's been well supported from all over the world. The Ace Impact foals sold very well at Goffs and Tattersalls, so let's hope we can do the same here. MISHRIFF (Make Believe — Contradict, by Raven's Pass). Standing for €17,500 at Sumbe Montfort and Preaux. At three–won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. At four–won the G1 Saudi Cup, G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and G1 Juddmonte International Stakes. Lots selling at Arqana: 340, 344, 473, 659, 695, 699, 880 Mario Gussago, Nominations and Racing Manager at Sumbe: So far he has been very welcomed by breeders who utilized him in his first season. He has produced beautiful models. They are very elegant. Mr. [Nurlan] Bizakov got plenty of mares to him and the foals all look the part. He's stamping them quite well–a lot of class, good walk and good bone. I was looking at Mishriff yesterday with Mr. Bizakov. He's looking magnificent. He was a bit narrow after he came back from training, but he's developed very well. VADENI (Churchill – Vaderana, by Monsun). Standing for €15,000 at Haras de Bonneval. Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old. At two-Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage. At three-won G1 Prix du Jockey Club, G1 Eclipse Stakes, G3 Prix de Guiche. Lots selling at Arqana: 275, 283, 506, 540, 694, 718, 790 Fanny Cypres, Nominations and Client Relations, Aga Khan Studs: From what I've seen, they are great athletes. I think the first foals from Vadeni are going to be very interesting because there aren't many of them on the market. They have a lot of depth about them, like Vadeni himself; and they are great walkers. Two Vadenis sold at Tattersalls and they were both very attractive foals. One of them sold very well to Japan for 200,000gns (lot 905, out of Zannda, to Paca Paca Farm), which was quite a great result. So we are looking forward to seeing what they're going to sell for here. Some of them are quite similar to Vadeni, and it will be very interesting to see how precocious they will be. Overall, they appear to be strong, great walkers, with good bone. At early stages like this, everyone dreams and speculates on how early they will be, but at the end of the day the horse will tell us. I would say he had more quality than quantity in his first book. From his first book of mares, he has produced a half-sibling to a Group 1 winner for the Aga Khan this year, Candelari; a half-brother to Rayevka and Rayif, both Group 1 performers this year; and a half to Group 1 performer Zarakem as well. He's a syndicated horse, so he's got the support of many stakeholders and people who are quite active in the business in France. Also, he doesn't only have only French shareholders, but some from England and Ireland, so it goes beyond borders. And at this sale, we will also sell the half-sister to Siyouni (Siyenica) in foal to Vadeni (lot 146). ONESTO (Frankel-Onshore, by Galileo). Standing for €10,000 at Haras d'Etreham. At two-won the Prix de Villebon. At three-won the G2 Prix Greffuhle and the G1 Grand Prix de Paris. Lots selling at Arqana: 261, 280, 482, 560, 588, 637, 733, 749, 833 Nicolas de Chambure: The Onestos we know are mainly the ones we have on the farm and we've also done a few tours to see others in the spring and in the summer, mainly in France. And we've been very happy. He's a very correct horse, and the foals' strength seems to be that they are also very correct. They have quality and it looks like they can walk. So that's very positive. There was a very nice one at Tattersalls last week that we bought from the family of Stacelita (lot 451 for 52,000gns) and we'll be looking at one here this week. I think everyone agrees that Frankel doesn't really stamp his horses. So I think Onesto is maybe following Frankel's trend a little bit in the sense that we can see plenty of the mare in them, but I think he does stamp them in the way that they're very correct and athletic. But in terms of size, and colour, I think we can still sometimes see the mare. ANGEL BLEU (Dark Angel — Cercle de La Vie, by Galileo). Standing for €6,000 at Sumbe. At two–won the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, G1 Criterium International and G2 Vintage Stakes. At four–won the G2 William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes. m Stakes Lots selling at Arqana: 573, 687, 708 Mario Gussago: They look very precocious and very racey. They have good depth on them. We got good support from first-season breeders. Mr. Bizakov is supporting him with good mares, as well as Mr. [Marc] Chan, so hopefully they're going to be early and speedy like he was. EREVANN (Dubawi-Ervedya, by Siyouni). Stands for €8,000 at Haras de Bonneval. At two-won the Prix de Saint-Desir. At three-won the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein, the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac, and the Prix Comrade. Second, G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. Lots selling at Arqana: 338, 350, 375, 452, 454, 497, 533, 582, 613, 678, 771, 782, 795, 800 Fanny Cypres: Erevann has been a very busy boy. He has been very, very popular thanks to a good combination of price, pedigree, and performance. I guess people see a little bit in him the possibility of a Zarak, though it's going to be hard to have two Zaraks. But he because he won the same race as Zarak on debut, the Prix de Saint-Desir, and then because they look alike also in their head. They're very Dubawi in their head. But Erevann actually has a lot of Siyouni in him and that's something that he throws a lot in his foals, who are a really good mix of Dubawi and Siyouni. He has covered more mares than Vadeni, so he's going to have more foals on the ground. Two foals sold at Goffs, one for €78,000, which is quite good when you consider that the covering price is €8,000. And then he had one at Tattersalls who sold for 120,000gns to Paca Paca Farm. And people keep calling for him. We are very early in the season in terms of bookings, but he's still very busy. He never won his Group 1, but he was so close in the Prix Jacques Le Marois, a stallion-making race, that he is worth a Group 1 winner. The feedback from the breeders is that they are delighted and they want to come back and they really believe in him. In his first book of mares he had, there were siblings to Metropolitan, La Parisienne, a half-sister to Daryz, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner. So, there are some quality foals on the ground. And with these handsome boys, we have a lot to look forward to as well. BELBEK (Showcasing — Bee Queen, by Makfi). Standing for €5,000 at Sumbe. At two–won the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the G3 Prix du Bois. At three–won the G3 Prix Perth. . Lots selling at Arqana: 471, 586, 660, 691, 732 Mario Gussago: Belbek is a very important horse for us. He's the first Group I-winning homebred in France for the boss. He's a beautiful-looking horse and has done really well. His progeny look racey and precocious enough, like he was as the winner of the Lagardere. There is going to be a good bunch of Belbeks in this sale at Arqana. We have one Belbek in our consignment for a client. He looks the part. He's strong, with good bone and a good walk on him. The post The Magnificent Seven: French-Based Stallions Debut Their First Foals at Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 Longines World Racing Awards will be held at the Savoy Hotel in London on January 20. The event is organised by Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). The ceremony will honour the highest-rated horse in the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (WBRR) as well as the Longines World's Best Horse Race (WBHR). The Longines WBRR are established by international handicappers according to the performance of the horses in top races. The highest rated race is determined by averaging the rankings of the first four placed horses. For the full list and further information on the Longines WBRR, please visit the IFHA website. The post Longines World Racing Awards Set For The Savoy Hotel In January appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ironhorse Stallions is welcoming New York breeders to an open house at its new location in Schuylerville on Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The operation is home to Bucchero, sire of multiple Grade I winner Book'em Danno and multiple graded stakes winner Queen Maxima. Ironhorse Stallions is located at 125 Sherman Lane in Schuylerville, New York/ Visitors are instructed to enter the farm at the intersection of Sherman and Stonebridge Road. The post Ironhorse Stallions Inaugural Open House Dec. 13 in Schuylerville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Alice Haynes, who began training in Newmarket almost five years ago, has announced that she is to cease with immediate effect, citing that “racing's current financial model does not make it viable to continue”. In a statement released on social media, Haynes, 34, said, “Tonight at Chelmsford I will saddle my final runners as a trainer. It's a sentence I never imagined I would have to say. Stepping away from something that has shaped my days and captured my heart has been an incredibly painful decision but the truth is that racing's current financial model does not make it viable to continue. “There are so many people to thank: my loyal staff, our vets, farrier, suppliers, sponsor Coral and to the owners who placed their trust, their horses, and their hopes in my hands.” Haynes, a former jockey and amateur rider, sent out her first runner in February 2021 and quickly made an impression, with Amo Racing's Mr Professor becoming her first black-type winner in the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes later that year. The following season she sent Lady Hollywood, also owned by Amo Racing, to run fifth in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint after the daughter of Havana Grey had won both the Listed Marwell Stakes and G3 Prix d'Arenberg. In the last five seasons, Haynes, a hands-on trainer who rides out daily from her base at Kremlin Cottage Stables, has saddled more than 200 winners in Britain and has won stakes races in France, Ireland and Italy. She has worked closely throughout her training career by her partner, jockey Kieran O'Neill. She added, “To my partner, Kieran, who has stood beside me through every moment of this chapter, your support has been my anchor. “As for what's next, I'm taking a step back to reflect and see where the next chapter leads. I'd love to stay involved in the sport, perhaps through media work or any opportunities that come my way, and maybe one day I'll train again. This is by no means a goodbye to a sport that has given me so much and that I love.” The post Alice Haynes Makes ‘Painful Decision’ to Stop Training appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Starting Pool a record high $21,855.Lost early,then $10k collect from Dogs Multi took them past $28k and finally paying out $26k. Bet on final 2 races at New Plymouth Gallops.Justin Evans put them into 2 losers. Bet few at Cambridge Trots on Aaron White's recommendations,he nabbed one winner,final race poetically Amateurs. They actually made profit on 3 x late bets on Black Caps Cricket (runs per over). Brodie,you missed out on another enthralling Thursday Trackside Trip into PROFITLAND.😄

I was out for the night, how did they do tonight? Did they back anything at Cambridge, or was it Same Race Multi Multi on the dogs again?

To be fair to Aaron it probably did well to get as close as it did when it basically galloped the whole race.

Any dancing moves in your lounge tonight @Brodie?

Earlier this year, perhaps a year or so ago, Chief Stipe and I were, in a non combative way, 'chewing the fat' as to why on earth would Entain have bothered to get involved with such a small market, small by international standards. My recollection was that we both agreed we (NZ) were being used as a test site and that the ultimate goal was sports betting, not horse racing. NZ racing has three years to get its act together which based on all the lack of direction the industry is currently experiencing from its so called 'leaders' leaves me to say, optimistically, please make the most of the next 3 years...Enjoy.

David Hayes has urged Jockey Club officials to think outside the box when it comes to accommodating Hong Kong’s “drastic oversupply” of Class Four horses. Hong Kong’s horse population is in the midst of a sustained period of growth ahead of the start of racing in Conghua, with the Jockey Club increasing ownership permits in recent years. However, until racing on the mainland begins in October next year, there will be an increased number of gallopers looking to race in a similar amount of...View the full article

Curious, Iv'e been "off air" for 22 hours. Thanks for responding to The Chief with the exact same answer that I would have given.

It does raise the question (again) though. If that was the POCC takings based on 10% of racing and sports overseas spend, indicating maybe a $40m total spend, how on earth did they arrive at $200m when promoting the monopoly legislation.

The NZ Herald did report on it. In March this year.

The breach of court order was exceedingly dumb. Just shows one can be smart but dumb. The query I have is in relation to the disappearance of Eloi Rolland. Now if if Molloy wanted to be "altruistic" he would have got behind efforts to search for him. After all Eloi disappeared shortly after "ending employment" at Molloy's hospo. How the ending of the employment occurred would have been of significant value to the case as to his frame of mind. Instead that issue seemed to get side stepped whilst Molloy conspicuous by his absence. I get the impression the case of Eloi Rolland has received far more exposure in France than New Zealand. The Herald quick to report anything on Molloy but not on this.

Ka Ying Rising, the world’s top-rated sprinter, has delighted David Hayes in his final fast turf gallop ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (LONGINES HKIR) on 14 December as a string of local contenders sharpened preparations with barrier trials at Sha Tin today (Thursday, 4 December). Ka Ying Rising will attempt to match Golden Sixty’s feat of winning 16 races in a row – a streak bettered only by Silent Witness (17 wins) as a Hong Kong, China-trained horse – when he tackles the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) next week. Hayes believes his charge is on target after the five-time Group 1 winner surged over his final 400m in 21.6s in a sparkling turf gallop on Wednesday morning (3 December) under leading rider Zac Purton. “I thought it was as good as you could ask the horse to work. Zac quickened on him, and he said he thought that he was at his top and he gave him a little dig and he extended again,” Hayes said. “He just cantered around on the turf track and quickened the last 400 metres and ran home in 21.6 (seconds). He just gradually increased his work, and I think he would have broken 11 seconds for the last 200 (metres) without trying. “I think Zac thought it was the best he’s felt in work, so he just keeps on improving and he’ll just do steady work into the big race. We’re very happy with him.” Helios Express, who finished second to Ka Ying Rising in three Group 1 races last season and third in another, finished second to Packing Hermod in a 1200m barrier trial on dirt this morning (4 December). Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Helios Express finished ahead of four other LONGINES HKIR aspirants – Raging Blizzard (fourth), Galaxy Patch (fifth), Voyage Bubble (sixth) and Ka Ying Generation (seventh) – in an overall time of 1m 11.41s. John Size-trained pair Bundle Award (third) and Red Lion (eighth) contested the second 1200m batch, which was won by stablemate Beauty Eternal in 1m 09.74s. Massive Sovereign (fifth) and Ensued (eighth) featured in batch three, which was won by Public Attention in 1m 10.74s. Harry Eustace-trained Docklands worked in leisurely fashion on the dirt ahead of the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) – one of the four Group 1 features next week, along with the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint. Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 December) with the Class 5 Ashley Handicap (1650m, dirt) at 1pm. View the full article

Canterbury mare Ears Back’s best form has been in the North Island this year, and she has crossed the Cook Strait once more to try to add to her stakes haul. The seven-year-old daughter of Jakkalberry recorded her first black-type win in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui in May and doubled her stakes tally when taking out the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Trentham in September. She subsequently posted two unplaced runs in her home region, however, Blackadder said she did have her excuses for finishing last in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) last month, and he was buoyed by her trial win over 1200m at Ashburton last week, which cemented her trip north. “Her last race she wasn’t very well and heavily in season,” Blackadder said. “She had a very good trial last week at Ashburton. I had to give her that trial, and with Our Echo in it, it gave me a good gauge of where we were at with her.” Ears Back has made her way north to Suzy Gordon’s Foxton barn where she has settled in well and Blackadder said he has received positive reports on her work ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham. “She is at Suzy Gordon’s at the moment and she is very relaxed up there,” Blackadder said. “As long as they are happy and eating up you can’t ask for anymore. “It is a big ask for her obviously, but she is working well and galloped well on Tuesday.” Saturday’s contest will be Ears Back’s first tilt at elite-level, and while realistic about her chances against a strong line-up, Blackadder is hopeful of a bold showing as he looks towards returning to the Upper Hutt venue to contest next month’s Gr.2 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m). “We are looking at the Thorndon Mile,” he said. “There is not much down here for her now because weight will get her. We have got to hope she goes well on Saturday.” Meanwhile, Blackadder will have three representatives at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Friday, including New Beginnings in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Rating 60 (2100m), Malfy Rosa in The FAB Four-CHCH 29 March 2026 Rating 80 (2100m), and Cavendish in the EDR Contracting Maiden (1600m). “New Beginnings likes the synthetic and she should be quite competitive,” Blackadder said. “Malfy Rosa is looking the best I have seen her for a long time and Cavendish had his first start over 1600m and he only blew out in the last 100m. He has got a wide draw (11) tomorrow and doesn’t quite have that ringcraft yet, but he is not a bad horse.” View the full article

New Zealand jockey James McDonald has won the Longines World’s Best Jockey title for the second consecutive year and third time overall. The 33-year-old, who is based in Australia, also won the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award in 2022. On his way to claiming the 2025 title, McDonald won 12 of the world’s Top 100 Group or Grade 1 races. His qualifying victories included the Longines Hong Kong Cup, Longines Hong Kong Mile, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000, and the Ladbrokes Cox Plate. McDonald dominated this year’s award, holding a sizeable lead throughout much of the competition. The scoring process rewards jockeys for finishing in the top three, giving McDonald a total of 184 points on the year. Mickael Barzalona was second with 132 points, while William Buick was third with 114 points. The awarding of the World’s Best Jockey title is based upon performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from 1 December of the previous year until 30 November of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third. The award was established in 2014 as a way for the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) to quantitatively recognise a jockey as the best among his or her global peers. View the full article

Waitak’s class and versatility will stand him in good stead at Trentham where he chases a fourth top-flight title. He has triumphed over 1200, 1600 and 2040m at the highest level on good, soft and heavy tracks and Wexford Stables have him in tip-tip order for Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). “He’s been an amazing racehorse for us and goes well on all kinds of going, he’s quite versatile and definitely enjoys getting his toe in the ground,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “He’s going as well as he can and we do have a lot of respect for the others in the field, it’s a really good Group One race.” Waitak ended his spring campaign with wins in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) before a break. “The team have been really pleased with him and gave him a week on the farm and a bit of trotting and cantering work before he came back in the barn,” Scott said. “He had that trial last week and we were pleased with him under a beautiful rein and Craig (Grylls, jockey) was really happy with him as well. “He had a nice hit-out on Tuesday morning and stormed up the straight, so we are hopeful of getting a good result.” Waitak has been sent south in the company of younger brother Crackerol, who is also in good form ahead of the Rothley Handicap (2100m). “His recent racing has been very solid and this is his first attempt over the longer trip, but his fitness and confidence levels are high so we thought we would take the opportunity to get him over ground,” Scott said. “He has trained on well and the conditions should suit him nicely.” Closer to home at Pukekohe, Wexford will have the promising duo of L’Aigle Noir and Yamato Satona going head-to-head in Saturday’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), while a new face will partner three of the stable’s undercard contenders. “L’Aigle Noir put in a top performance fresh when he won at Rotorua and has worked well and we certainly think he’ll give a strong account of himself,” Scott said. “He’s got a barrier draw (one) that will help, and he’s trialled well right-handed in the past. “Yamato Satona has taken a bit of making and we’ve seen more focus in his training and we think he’s another that will relish going further over the summer months, so he should be hitting the line well.” Queensland-based Heavelon Van Der Hoven will be making his New Zealand debut and has been booked by Wexford for Genki (Dunstan Horsefeeds, 1600m), Dua Dance (Yourride, 1200m) and Up The Anti (Myracehorse, 1500m). “Leith Innes said he was coming over and all the feedback is that he’s a very competent rider, professional and does his form,” Scott said. “Genki is a promising stayer, there’s no reason why Dua Dance won’t be hard to beat if she puts her best foot forward and we also expect Up The Anti to run well.” View the full article

It’s been an eventful year for apprentice jockey Triston Moodley, but it is ending on a high. The talented rider was sidelined for three months after he sustained a head injury at the Waipa trials in July, but he made a pleasing recovery and has made an instant impact on his return to the track. The last month has been particularly fruitful for Moodley, who was victorious aboard the Andrew Forsman-trained Force Of Nature in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), doubling his career stakes tally, and last Friday he recorded his 100th win in the saddle aboard the John and Karen Parsons-trained Lucky Ferrando at Cromwell. The 24-year-old hoop was rapt to reach the milestone, particularly after a trying few months recuperating from his head injury. “To get the 100 wins was a peach of a moment,” Moodley said. “Not many apprentices are able to do it. I have gotten a lot of support throughout my career, and I am really glad I could do it. “It was tough over that injury period and I was just glad to get over the injury, get fit and ready to go again. “My injury hasn’t played up at all since I have come back, so I am very glad about that. I go for regular check-ups and everything is looking perfect. “It was quite a serious injury and I was bed-ridden for a couple of weeks. It was quite tough on me, but I am glad to be back now.” While he has been having plenty of success on the track in the last month, it has also been a big month on a personal front, with Moodley moving south to Christchurch from his previous northern base with trainers Danny Walker and Arron Tata at Byerley Park in South Auckland. “I can get quite a lot of rides here and I have got a new manager (Andre Neill) as well. It is going great at the moment, I am quite busy,” he said. Moodley is enjoying his time in Christchurch but said he will continue to be a familiar face in the North Island. “I will end up basing myself down here, but I will do a lot of travelling up north and to the Central Districts,” he said. “My main goal is to buy a house down here and travel as much as I can.” Moodley is currently on loan to the New Zealand Equine Academy while freelance riding in the morning for Riccarton trainers, and he said it is a move he is looking to make permanent in the coming months. “I am currently on loan to the Academy, so I will probably go with them full-time once the three-months are up,” he said. “I am freelancing and doing a couple for the Pitmans, David Walsh, Danny Crozier, and whoever needs help.” Moodley will add to his growing frequent flyer points this weekend when he returns to Auckland where he has a strong book of rides at Pukekohe on Saturday, including Landlock in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and Twain in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m). Moodley has a great association with the John Bell-trained Twain, having won four of his five starts on the gelding, and he is hoping to extend their winning sequence this weekend, for which he is a $2.80 favourite. “I am looking forward to getting back on Twain, it has been a while,” Moodley said. “I thought I would have a good season with him, but with the injury it didn’t work out that way. Hopefully I can keep winning on him.” Moodley is also upbeat about the prospects of Group One performer Landlock, who is a $4.60 second favourite for the Bonecrusher behind the Stephen Marsh-trained To Cap It All. “He has drawn three and will probably get a soft run,” Moodley said. “He will go very close in that race, I think he is one of the horses to beat.” A day prior at his new home track of Riccarton, Moodley will have six rides, and rates the David Walsh-trained Lady Georgiana as his leading chance in the Peninsular Beachfront Resort Mooloolaba Rating 60 (1400m). “I have been riding her a bit in track work and she has been working well,” he said. “She is a horse that needs everything to go her way, so hopefully that happens in the race, and I think she will be right there in the finish.” View the full article

at least aaron whites consistent. the first race tonight he labelled as his whisper of the night the serial galloper levi. its broken its last 6 starts, so whats he say,this thing wins if it trots all the way. so it galloped for 1900m of the 2200 after looking very nervous pre start. now even the out the gate fellas are having a chuckle about that,but they did follow his advice and backed it.

James McDonald and Hugh Bowman are confident Galaxy Patch and Helios Express are primed to produce peak performances at the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) after competing in a star-studded trial at Sha Tin on Thursday. Set for the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) on Sunday week, Helios Express under Bowman vied for the lead with Packing Hermod in Thursday’s dirt hit-out over 1,200m and kept on solidly to run second to that galloper. Fellow Hong Kong Sprint contender Raging...View the full article

Yes but certain loud individuals polarised people and it became tribal. Been a few of them on BOAY in the past.

OTG, just started today! Just a Greyhound show, that is all they talk about! Need to change the name of the show to “ Greyhound same race multi”! Has Andy McCook been knighted as they call him Sir Andy?