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7th-OP, $125k, OC$125k/N1X, 3yo, f, 6f, 4:35 p.m. ET COLOR COMIN' IN (Rock Your World) overcame a sluggish start and rolled home late to score by three lengths en route to 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard honors on career debut at Churchill last May. The $100,000 OBS March grad was last seen finishing third to fellow 'Rising Star' Percy's Bar (Upstart) in the June 29 Debutante Stakes beneath the Twin Spires and has trained forwardly over this surface for her return to action. TJCIS PPs 1st-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, 7 1/2fT, 12:20 p.m. ET DONEGAL TIME (Not This Time) is a February-foaled son of Flawlessly Stakes winner Charming N Lovable (Horse Chestnut {SAf}), whose nine winners from 11 starters includes Fault (Blame), winner of the GI Santa Margarita Stakes on the dirt and the GIII Pucker Up Stakes on the grass. A $390,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling, Donegal Time is also a half-brother to GSP Betweenhereandcool (Unbridled's Song) and to the dams of GIII Pebbles Stakes heroine No Mo Candy (Uncle Mo); of leading Saudi stayer and listed winner Sayyah (Karakontie {Jpn}); and of the half-siblings GISW Juju's Map (Liam's Map) and Time To Win (Not This Time), third in last weekend's GIII Mineshaft Stakes. TJCIS PPs The post Rock Your World ‘Rising Star’ Returns In Hot Springs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Close up in strong company in the spring, Go Racing’s Lord Penman (NZ) (Contributer) broke through and claimed his first Australian victory in the A$160,000 Racing and Sports Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The New Zealand-bred Contributer gelding ran second on his Sydney debut in August, then filled the runner-up spot behind Linebacker in the A$1 million Silver Eagle (1300m) and finished within four lengths of the undefeated Autumn Glow when seventh in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). Lord Penman was sent out as a $2.40 favourite for his first-up appearance on Saturday in the hands of jockey James McDonald, and he produced a well-timed finish down the outside of the track to edge out Palmetto in a New Zealand-bred quinella. “Lord Penman made his way back to the winners’ circle with a win at Rosehill today,” Go Racing said on social media. “The four-year-old gelding was fresh up today and given a beautiful ride to hit the line very strongly. Congratulations to trainer Chris Waller and his team, James McDonald for the ride, and to his large ownership group.” Go Racing’s general manager Matt Allnutt revealed that Lord Penman will be aimed at Group One goals this autumn. “He looks to have come back very well,” Allnutt said. “He acquitted himself well in Australia in the spring without winning, but he was in races like the Epsom and the Golden Eagle (1500m) and he performed creditably in that company. He’s being aimed at the Doncaster (Gr.1, 1600m) this year and we believe he’s got a good campaign ahead of him.” A four-time winner in New Zealand for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, Lord Penman has now had 13 starts for five wins, four placings and A$536,664 in stakes. He was bred by Simms Davison and was a $60,000 purchase by Toro Bloodstock from Mapperley Stud’s yearling draft at Karaka in 2023. View the full article

Brett Crawford aims to continue a fine start to his Hong Kong training career when he saddles a strong squad for Sha Tin on Sunday, including Lovero in the Class Three Primula Handicap (1,600m). The 54-year-old has trained winners at three of the last four meetings, helping to propel him to 16 winners for the campaign, far surpassing pre-season expectations despite his stellar resume. Crawford has made a name for himself by transforming transfers into his stable into winning machines and Lovero...View the full article

Just had a look myself at the run. I thought it was pretty good. I'd be happy with that if she were mine.

No not at all. But she seems to have come back better this time in compared to last time. OZ Grp 3 black type boosts her residual value. She improves during a prep and Te Akau will have a decent race in mind for her over there. I thought her run was good today. Not sure Willo is the most suitable jockey for her. I saw her lift towards the end of todays race but the race was over.

I wouldn't know. Don't really follow Oz racing that closely but like to hear how kiwi horses are doing over there. Do you know, or what do you think, or are you saying that 2 G3 placings is it?

How about 1880m at Kangaroo Island today… running for $46 k. Also races Rosehill & Doomben, lets be honest, try another track as obviously its battling at Caulfield

No need to be nasty, just asking a question.

At an asking price of $32 million, there has been some interest from overseas studs but It is my understanding no ink has been sighted on paper. There has been suggestions of a large Auckland developer doing a heap of due diligence including discussions with Council about zoning changes from currently allowable lifestyle blocks to medium and high density housing. But my money is on it being sold to one of the large power companies who can then utilise the existing pylons running through the property to build a solar farm, And won't that upset the locals big time !!!

She isn't that far away. Go back and have a look at her run in the 1000 Guineas. She's improved a lot since then and has been running similar sectionals. Your opinion?

Luck hasn’t been on David Eustace’s side much recently, but the British handler is keen on a change of fortune when he starts luckless last-start runner-up Colourful King at Sha Tin on Sunday. Eustace added to his frustrating haul of second placings this season when Majestic Delight and Glorious Success were narrowly beaten on Thursday, before Riding Together gave him a much-needed winner with an upset victory in the final race. Colourful King was another of the handler’s 27 seconds this term on...View the full article

I did answer it. Obviously Waldorf and Statler are not talking to you. Your opinion? Or will you wait for instructions? PS: you might want to let Waldorf know that he has his analysis of todays Group winners way wrong. For example Streisand was purchased for AUD$100k and Cinsault is a Goldophin bred horse. Hardly homebred.

Can it beat Well Written?

Answer the question you negative Nelly,As the leader of the Tangerine army you should know your form.

Yulong Investments has made a splash in New Zealand this season, buying up the nation’s leading three-year-old filly talent, and they were once again rewarded at Ellerslie on Saturday when sealing the quinella in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). The burgeoning thoroughbred giant’s silks have been prominent at Ellerslie this season through the deeds of their undefeated Group One winner and $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) favourite Well Written, and they were once again to the fore at the Auckland track on Saturday when their exciting staying prospect Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) beat home another recent purchase in Autumn Glory in the Oaks. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly was ridden off the speed, three from the back, for much of the journey, and looked in a lot of strife when turning for home, but jockey Joe Doyle kept a cool head and guided his charge out wide where she was able to show her class when powering over the top of her rivals to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Autumn Glory. “She is proper horse, that is the best way to describe her after watching that performance,” O’Sullivan said. “It was a no panic ride by Joe, I think I was panicking a bit more watching from the grandstand. When Joe came from the outside I thought she has got a long way to make up but she did it and did it with some sort of ease. “She is just going to go from strength to strength, she is certainly going to be winning more big races in the future. She wouldn’t look out of place in Australia. We have always believed in the filly from day dot and that performance today was pretty special.” While her future may lie across the Tasman, the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day at Ellerslie in a fortnight looms as an enticing target, but O’Sullivan said they will wait for the dust to settle before making any concrete plans. “She will decide for us,” he said. “We will sit down with connections during the week and have a chat, but we will be doing what we think is best for her.” Doyle was euphoric after the victory, labelling Ohope Wins as the best three-year-old he has sat on. “When you get to ride a horse that good, nothing compares,” he said. “She has been trained to the minute. “We were a long way back, but when you are riding one that good they can just overcome all those things – the draw is never an excuse, the ground is never an excuse. She was just too good. “She still feels like she has got so much left, I couldn’t even pull her up. She is absolutely exceptional, I have not ridden a three-year-old like her.” A decision on the New Zealand Derby is yet to be made, by Doyle believes pressing on to challenge the boys in the Champions Day Classic is a no-brainer. “When are you going to get a better opportunity?” he said. Already a $3 favourite for the Derby pre-race, Ohope Wins has now shortened into a $1.60 favourite on the TAB’s New Zealand Derby futures market following her Oaks performance, while Yulong’s Well Written heads the NZB Kiwi market at $1.20. View the full article

What a difference three weeks has made in the life of rugged stayer Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man). The durable son of the ill-fated Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man had held the start up for over five minutes at his last run at Ellerslie due to a pre-race issue with the bandages he wears when racing in the right-handed direction. Despite the upset that day, the seven-year-old had gone a top race for trainer Janelle Millar and stripped even fitter on Saturday for his tilt at the time-honoured Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m). Punters overlooked the chances of the 2025 Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) winner to their ultimate peril as regular pilot Chris Dell had the $34 chance travelling nicely in midfield during the running despite having to sit three wide throughout. Dell crept forward on his mount at the 800m and was soon disputing the pace with leaders Just Charlie and Diamond Jak before drawing clear turning for home. Left a sitting duck in front with 400m to run Final Return never flinched as he held out the determined challenge of Aussie visitor Brayden Star by a short head at the line, with Just Charlie fighting on doggedly for third just ahead of the fast-finishing Kiwi Skyhawk. Millar cut an emotional figure as she praised her charge and his never-say-die attitude. “It is so satisfying and I will never get sick of this as I’m just so proud,” Millar said. “Chris did what I thought he would do as there were a couple on paper that would go forward and I knew we would take some time to get over (closer to the rail). “He moved at the right time and he rode him just so well. “This was our aim as the stepping stone to the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) in a fortnight. “He went into this race last year and didn’t have a very good trip and this year he is a bit stronger and is doing everything right. “Being by Reliable Man, who died yesterday, it was a bit sad, so we told him he was flying the flag for his Dad.” Dell was also battling tears as he thanked Millar for her help in resurrecting his riding career. “Janelle has helped me resurge (sic) my career,” he said. “I had John Sargent supporting me when I was an apprentice and then I went through a flat spot with a broken leg and a brain injury. “My move to the Central Districts in 2020 has been the resurgence of my career and Janelle has been so supportive, as if I ride them at the trials or in trackwork for her, she puts me on and we get results like this. “Kudos to Janelle and the horse. “He has been screaming out for this sort of distance and his consistency in these races has been just so good, I let Opie Bosson (Brayden Star) cross me and I knew following him wasn’t too bad. “He dropped 5kgs (on his last race) and I knew this guy doesn’t have the best turn of foot, so I took off early and put the pressure on as I knew he wasn’t going to stop.” By Reliable Man, who was humanely euthanised at his Westbury Stud home on Friday after failing to overcome post-surgery complications following the removal of a melanoma, Final Return has now won over $432,000 from four career victories over his 28-start career. TAB Bookmakers have installed him as a $6 Fixed Odds chance behind favourite Brayden Star ($3.50) for the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday 7 March. View the full article

Acknowledged as one of the unluckiest horses going around in New Zealand, Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) finally got the good fortune she deserved and her first Group One victory when she stormed home to take out the Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie. The six-year-old daughter of Iffraaj, who carries the colours of Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan Lindsay and Lady Jo Lindsay, has been amongst the top echelon of gallopers in New Zealand for the past two years but had been denied a victory at the elite level on several occasions due to poor barrier draws, interference at crucial times and unsuitable track conditions amongst a host of contributing factors. Whilst another wide barrier (nine of 11) on Saturday didn’t look promising once again, it played in favour of the Lance Noble-prepared mare as it allowed rider Warren Kennedy to keep her out of trouble in midfield where she sat three wide but in a totally relaxed manner. Kennedy began to move her forward with 800m to run and she was within striking distance of the leaders rounding the home bend as race favourite Pier made his bid for glory, hotly pursued by Sterling Express. Just as Pier looked to have the race within his grasp, Jaarffi put in several massive bounds to collar him in the shadows of the post to take the win from the favourite, who held out the late closing run of Provence who snatched third off Sterling Express. Noble was especially pleased for everyone connected with the mare who had to exhibit untold patience with her. “Obviously I am absolutely thrilled as she did deserve this,” Noble said. “She is not an easy mare to train and to achieve this after all the work the staff have put in over the last few years, along with Warren, and for Sir Brendan and Lady Jo, it is just brilliant. “She got trapped three wide but she has started to relax a lot better out there and probably best she was not stuck on the fence getting into trouble. “We all do the work for these days and you don’t get many opportunities at them, so to get this for the whole team is just brilliant. “She has always been a big, gangly and aggressive horse on the training track, so we don’t do a lot of galloping with her, and while she is a six-year-old she is still learning. “The plan is to go onto the Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) in a fortnight (7 March) and all being well we will.” Kennedy was also quick to pay tribute to the fighting qualities of the mare. “She has been deserving (of a Group One victory) for a while now and we thought she could pick one up in this preparation,” he said. “She has just been so unlucky and she did it tough the whole way today. “She has got such a huge action and so much heart as she gave it her all today and fought like a tiger. “I wasn’t too concerned when we were wide as she is such a huge striding filly it allowed her to extend when I wanted to. “Pier gave me a good tussle but she deserved this.” Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud, Jaarffi has now won five of her 24 starts and over $953,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

A tilt at the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) is now on the cards for exciting three-year-old That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) following his impressive victory in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie. The Chris Wood-trained gelding collected a big winning cheque when victorious in the $350,000 Karapiro Classic (1500m) at Te Rapa earlier this month, but despite that performance he was allowed to drift to a $12.70 shot for Saturday’s Guineas. Eager to get a line on the staying qualities of her charge, jockey Samantha Collett was positive out of the gates, punching That’s Gold forward from his wide alley to sit outside leader Taylor Square. The pair injected more pace into the race from the 600m mark, opening up on the remainder of the pack. That’s Gold was still full of running at the turn and rocketed away to score by 3-3/4 lengths over Road To Paris, putting any doubts about his staying qualities to bed. “We were obviously looking to see if he is going to run a Derby trip,” Collett said. “I was happy to let the race unfold. I put a little bit of pressure on him to get to the outside of the leader, but at least I know when the Derby comes around if I am in the same position I have got the horse that I can give a little squeeze to and he is going to relax, which is what he did today. “It was a good effort because the leader (Taylor Square) probably wouldn’t have taken me much further than it did. From knowing him in the past, he is not really inclined to get away from them. He has had a few more runs under his belt now, and he has got a bit more ringcraft, and when I pushed the button he responded really well.” It was another emotional win for Wood, who was rapt to get the victory for his loyal group of owners. “I am thrilled to bits,” he said. “I have got good clients. I put all my syndicates together myself and it took a while to piece this one together when I bought him, but we finally got it done and the results are shown today. He was very strong to the line. “My major worry was a lack of tempo, but it panned out alright. When he kicked at the turn, I was looking at the ones behind him and they weren’t going to get close to him. He can run some sensational sectionals.” Bred by Yulong Investments, Wood purchased That’s Gold out of their 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, alongside bloodstock agents Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman, for A$57,500. That’s Gold had Wood excited as a juvenile and Yulong made a bid to purchase him back, but Wood is pleased he rebuffed their advances, with the Cambridge horseman now have a leading chance in next month’s New Zealand Derby. “He is a delight to have in the stable,” Wood said. “Yulong tried to buy him back at one stage, but I didn’t tell the owners too much about that. I wanted to keep him as I knew what we had under the bonnet.” Following the victory, That’s Gold shortened into a $4.20 equal third favourite for the New Zealand Derby, alongside Road To Paris, with the market headed by Ohope Wins ($1.60) and Autumn Glory after the Yulong Investments pair quinellaed the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). View the full article

Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) will head into the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) in winning form after taking out the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Following her convincing win in last month’s Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions night, she was meant to head to Matamata last week for her final lead-in run for the Champions Day feature, but inclement conditions forced trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson to delay that final hit-out by a week. The Matamata conditions identified the Uncle Remus as her Plan B, and punters backed her in their droves, with Belle Cheval jumping an even money favourite. From her outside gate in the 12-horse field, she was initially taken back to settle near the rear of the field by jockey Opie Bosson, but the leading hoop didn’t want to be too far off the pace so elected to push forward three-wide behind Cambridge Stud gelding Zivou. Bosson presented Belle Cheval beautifully at the top of the straight where she began to chase down Tale Of The Gypsy, collaring him at the 200m mark before holding off the late challenge of Panther to win by a long neck. Bosson was pleased with the performance and believes the daughter of Savabeel will be on song for the NZB Kiwi. “You couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Bosson said. “I was three deep the whole way but I had cover, I just didn’t want to be too far off them turning in and once she balanced up she attacked the line nicely. She is a really good filly going forward. “She will appreciate the step up in distance (in the NZB Kiwi). She is going to be very competitive.” Te Akau Racing’s assistant trainer Reece Trumper was rapt with the performance and said it was a good final building block towards the NZB Kiwi. “She was meant to run last Saturday at Matamata but wet conditions forced us to scratch her,” he said. “She worked well during the week and she is just going from strength to strength. She keeps on improving, which is fantastic to see, she is building the right way.” Belle Cheval, who will represent slot holders The King’s Men, remained an equal $8 second elect, alongside Asakura, in the TAB’s futures market for the NZB Kiwi, which is headed by undefeated Group One-winning filly Well Written at $1.20, with Wexford Stable’s Panther shortening from $26 to $18 following his eye-catching run on Saturday. The second running of the NZB Kiwi will take place at Ellerslie on Champions Day, March 7, and there is set to be plenty of action over the next fortnight, with six slot holders still to lock in their runner. View the full article

I wouldn't be unhappy with two Grp 3 placings this time in. Like @Newmarket as an expert form analyst what do you think they are aiming for and is she on track?

So, what are your view on her @Chief Stipe?

Well since you are a form expert what race do you think the Trainer is aimimg for?

I know that. Just thought Panther went well against her and is improving.

Belle Cheval already in

Hey Chief, We had a discussion about horse awhile ago, i thought it has been pretty dissapointing, average again today, cant understand why they dont target lesser opposition, something she can win. I know you love it, so be interesting to hear your views. I