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In more than three decades’ training Bill Thurlow has yet to race a horse at Matamata, but that’s about to change with two stable members entered for the eastern Waikato venue’s biggest ever race meeting on Saturday. The Waverley horseman, who since the start of the season has been training in partnership with former heavyweight jockey Sam O’Malley, is scheduled to head north with stable members Frank The Tank (NZ) (Burgundy) and Wire Rope (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Both are entered for the $350,000 Comag Wairere Falls Classic (1500m), while Wire Rope has a contingency nomination for the Rating 75 1600m on the undercard. This will be the second year the Wairere Falls Classic has been contested at Matamata and the first time on the same programme as the two-year-old double-header of the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper. That also means the for the first time total stakes at the Matamata Racing Club’s marquee raceday will exceed $1 million. Off his rating of 79, Frank The Tank will safely make the 14-horse cut for the Wairere Falls Classic, however with two less rating points Wire Rope is just outside the limit. “I’d love them both to get a start, but we might need a bit of luck with Wire Rope,” Thurlow said. “It’s not often you get the chance to race for this sort of money with mid-grade horses, so we’ll have to keep our fingers crossed there. “The forecast for a bit of rain later in the week should play into their hands, as they both like a bit of cut in the ground. “Frank The Tank had some issues with his feet in the spring and that held him up, and he needed the run when he finished fifth at Waverley last week. “He was a bit burly for that but his work since has been good, so I figure he’s about where he needs to be. “Wire Rope has been racing very well (for two wins and second from his last three starts), so it would be good to see him get his chance. “The other race is still worth a crack, so I’m looking forward to heading up there. From memory I took a jumper up to Matamata years ago but I think they ended up calling the races off, so this will be my first try there.” Meanwhile, Thurlow reports that stable star Whangaehu (NZ) (Proisir) has made all the right moves since finishing third at Ellerslie 10 days ago and is on target for the Gr.3 Avondale Cup (2400m) on Saturday week. It’s coming up seven years since Thurlow won the Avondale Cup with Glory Days, and he’s looking forward to another shot at that race and the ultimate prize, the Gr.2 Auckland Cup, that the Red Giant mare added at her next start. “It was a big relief to see him run so well last time,” Thurlow said. “We still haven’t been able to work out why his form was so poor earlier in the season, all we can assume is he’s one of those horses that for some reason won’t come up in the spring. “But the main thing is that was more like him at Ellerslie to see him finishing off so well and we’ve been really happy with him since, so everything’s on target. “We’ve got Craig Grylls booked to ride him in the Avondale Cup and all going well he’ll be on him in the Auckland Cup too.” View the full article

The world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), will face nine rivals when he attempts to break Silent Witness’ seventeen race winning streak in the Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on February 22. The David Hayes-trained and Zac Purton-ridden five-year-old will tackle familiar foes Helios Express and Lucky Sweynesse in the 1400m Group One event, which he prevailed in last year. Former Aussies Copartner Prance, Galaxy Patch and Packing Hermod, last start winner Patch Of Theta, Hong Kong sprint runner up Raging Blizzard, Champions Mile victor Red Lion and classy performer Sunlight Power are the others whose connections are game enough to challenge Ka Ying Rising. Since his triumph in The Everest during the spring, Ka Ying Rising has been in dominant form in Hong Kong, effortlessly winning his three subsequent starts at Sha Tin. Ka Ying Rising was back at the barrier trials at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning and while he had to cover ground in the 1200m dirt heat, he still pulled away to win comfortably for Purton. “He broke one (minute) eight (seconds) and I don’t think Zac was doing too much on him; he had a nice, healthy blow,” Hayes told the South China Morning Post. “We just let him relax in the first part of the trial, practicing for 1400m in a couple of weeks. I like the way he responded, he just took a sit, easy, and then Zac strode up and he won as you’d expect.” After suffering narrow defeats to Wunderbar at his second and third starts, Ka Ying Rising’s winning streak dates back to February 2024 as he rapidly rose through the grades before landing his first Group 1 at the end of that year. View the full article

Your logic. If for medical reasons it would be to make them fit (or more fit) to ride wouldn't it?

Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has urged racing officials worldwide to work together to help the sport prosper and grow a new fan base. Speaking at the Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh on Tuesday, Engelbrecht-Bresges highlighted several challenges the industry was facing, including the threat of illegal betting on integrity. The conference’s three-day business programme started on Tuesday with the opening session ‘The Evolving Global Racing and Sporting...View the full article

If someone needed to take cannabis for medical reasons logic says they wouldn't be fit to ride.

Does anyone know how racing now deals with cannabis use, it any positive reading comes via a medical prescription? would a rider or stable hand or track rider etc have to declare so use? would the test be made public?

So are people not really interested in the quality of the racing just looking for a good day out.

It would be interesting to compare and contrast how Waikouaiti which used to have Jan 1st, Now Riverton on that day. Waikouaiti moved to Wingatui (was it Jan 9th?) with good fields and stakes, but didn't seem like that many on course! The old Waikouaiti is gone, a few jockeys have mentioned it was never that safe!

Yes, they have had that date for many years but in the past they have shared it with other clubs. The most recent was Te Rapa up to about 10 years ago and from memory Riccarton has also raced on that day in the past. Holidays are no longer the guaranteed windfall as many years ago. Trentham and Awapuni used to race on the Wellington Anniversary Day and they both dropped this day some time ago. On 3 January this year Trentham raced in front of very small crowd even though they were part of "The Grand Tour" On 2 January many thousands drove up the Hutt Valley past Trentham to attend Tauherenikau and had no intention of attending Trentham the next day. Hawkes bay used to race on 1 January, and their crowds dropped off so they moved to an earlier day.

Last Saturday’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) has proved a fork in the road for a pair of Andrew Forsman-trained fillies earmarked for Oaks ambitions. The race was won impressively by the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), who swamped Forsman’s gallant runner-up Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh) late in the piece. While Single Red is set to renew her rivalry with Ohope Wins in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie on February 21, it was an end of prep run for well-regarded stablemate Chilling Out (NZ) (Savabeel), who raced ungenerously throughout to finish tenth. “Chilling Out raced like a horse that’s just come to the end of it for this season,” Forsman’s Racing Manager Joe Walker said. “We really do like her and we think with a good spell now, we’re going to reap the benefits with her as a four-year-old and onwards. “Single Red was a super effort on Saturday. She’s a nice progressive filly, and we will still be heading to the Oaks. It was a strong run considering she was stepping up to 2000m for the first time. “They went hard enough and she was exposed quite quickly into the straight, so she probably had every right to knock-up. It’s taken a very good one to beat her, but we are impressed by her effort and looking forward to the Oaks.” Fresh from riding his 100th Group One winner on Saturday, star jockey Opie Bosson will take the reins on Single Red in the Oaks, taking over from Bruno Queiroz. Four-year-old mare Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel) finished sixth in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) won by Legarto, with the Forsman stable believing the consistent mare is best suited over a mile. “She jumped so well, she led and the pressure just went on, maybe a little bit too early for her,” Walker said. “She’s seen out a strong mile and maybe 2000m is not quite the distance this time around but that is not to say she won’t get there in time.” Quality mare Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) will have the addition of headgear this weekend as she looks to add further black-type in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) at Matamata on Saturday. “We’re going to put blinkers on,” Walker said. “We thought her run the other day at Ellerslie was very good (when third on Karaka Millions night). She just hit that flat spot turning for home and picked herself up and was up on the winner’s heels as they crossed the line.” There are also still cards to play for a pair of the stable’s highly-rated two-year-olds, with Lassified (Stay Inside) returning from Sydney after racing with little luck in the Inglis Millennium, while debut winner Stromlinien (NZ) (Almanzor) has had a brief break after her tenth placing in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). “Lassified flew home on Monday, so she’s going to have a week in the paddock and then we’ll reassess,” Walker said. “There are some nice black-type options later on in the season. We were happy with her effort on Saturday. The race just didn’t quite work out, we couldn’t land in a handy position and she was amongst them for the first time in her racing career. She picked herself up and found the line well, considering and the Sistema Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) on Champions Day could be an option for her. “Stromlinien had a little break after Karaka Millions night. It was only her second start and the lack of raceday experience showed on that occasion. She had a week in the paddock after the race but she’s back in work now. She’s in good order and she’ll be aimed at Manawatu Sires’ Produce (Gr1., 1200m) at Trentham in March. View the full article

David Hayes was left suitably impressed as Ka Ying Rising routed his rivals in a barrier trial ahead of his date with destiny in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday week. The world’s best sprinter is aiming to surpass the legendary Silent Witness by winning his 18th race on the spin when he tackles the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series and his trial on Tuesday morning went off without a hitch. Initially travelling second, Ka Ying Rising strode into the...View the full article

No proof. No official communication. AI killed the Thread.

Suggest you give Chris Waller a call. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you.

By Adam Hamilton Cran Dalgety summed up Republican Party’s Hunter Cup draw the best. “It’s the draw he needed to be a winning chance in such a hot race,” he said. “Drawing the pole is a hell of a bonus. It’s the quickest way home.” Republican Party firmed from $12 to $4.60 after drawing gate one for the $250,000 feature at Melton on Saturday night. Defending champion Swayzee ($3.60) is next door in gate two, while Leap To Fame ($2.40) has six and NZ Cup hero Kingman ($4.40) is off the back row (10). Dalgety said Republican Party would be a lot fitter for last week’s second to Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Kilmore Cup. “He went from a chance to blowing out in the last 80m, but we sort of expected that with five weeks between runs,” he said. “He blew up a lot over the back and the run will bring him on a lot. We needed a good draw this week and we’ve got it.” Leap To Fame may have to do what he couldn’t do last year to win a $1 million bonus in the Hunter Cup. Mighty stayer and arch-rival Swayzee is the most likely of the big guns to find the lead from gate two and Leap To Fame may have to sit outside him. Swayzee used a better draw to lead, smash the track record and beat a gallant Leap To Fame in last year’s Hunter Cup. It was the second time Swayzee had led and beaten Leap To Fame. “He’s going to have to earn it now, that’s for sure,” Leap To Fame’s trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. “The draw isn’t perfect, but we’ve had more difficult ones. The way I see it, there’s as many positives as negatives. “I rate Kingman the hardest to beat and the back row isn’t good for him, so that’s a help, but then you’ve got Swayzee and Republican Party (gate one) drawn inside us. “Republican Party is the biggest winner from the draw. As we know, especially at Melton, the fence is gold in these races and he’ll be on the fence, either behind the leader or three pegs. “We’re going to have to be right at the top of our game, but all the signs are he is.” Leap To Fame is lining up for his fifth start in as many weeks, but Dixon said it suited him. “That’s where he’s different to most horses, he just thrives on it and bounces out of a big race looking for the next one,” he said. “This is the third time he’s had an extended stint down in Melbourne and it’s by far the happiest we’ve been with him. “He seems as good as this as he has all trip. He’s really bright, holding his weight and eating up. “We’ve just got four more days to keep him this well.” Leap To Fame’s three latest wins in the Ballarat, Cranbourne and Kilmore Cups make him the only horse eligible for HRV’s new $1 million Summer Carnival bonus if he wins the Hunter Cup. Victory will also give him a share of the record for Group 1 wins by Australasian pacer on 16 with former greats Westburn Grant and Lazarus. While most expect Swayzee to take advantage of gate two and find the lead, much focus will be on what Emma Stewart’s trio Oliver Dan (gate three), Miki To Success (four) and War Dan Buddy (five) – all fast beginners – do at the start. If one or more of them crossed Swayzee early, it could aid Leap To Fame’s cause. Superstar trotting mare Keayang Zahara’s quest for a 13th Group 1 win in the Saturday night’s Great Southern Star has been aided by a good draw (gate five) in the first heat of the unique race. Unlike any other Australian racing, the Great Southern Star consists of two heats early on Saturday night with the final about two hours later. View the full article

to the question: "re the above I am now interested in, including around the world, as well as NZ. Use among professional athletics? doe some use more, say for ones that are involved with sports that involve danger and speed? race car drivers? jockeys? motor bike riders?" Cocaine use among professional athletes, including those in high-speed and high-danger sports, is a documented issue governed by strict anti-doping rules. The clearest documented cases are in horse racing, where there is official acknowledgment of a potential problem. ### 📊 Cocaine Use in Specific Sports Here’s a summary of the information available for the sports you mentioned: | Sport Category | Key Evidence & Cases | Official Stance & Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Horse Racing (Jockeys)** | Multiple jockeys suspended for positive tests. A disciplinary panel stated concern that **"cocaine may be endemic in racing"**. | Zero-tolerance policy. Use is considered dangerous due to the high-speed nature of the sport. | | **Motor Sports** | 1. **Historical Allegation**: A former F1 doctor once claimed cocaine use was "rife," but this was strongly denied by drivers.<br>2. **Linked Crime**: A notable 1980s racer (**Randy Lanier**) funded his career through large-scale drug trafficking. | The FIA conducts random drug tests; no F1 driver has ever tested positive for cocaine. | | **Motorcycle Riding** | A study of fatal crashes found that riders who used alcohol or drugs had **higher odds of not wearing a helmet**, indicating a link between substance use and risk-taking behavior. | Focus is on public safety and accident prevention rather than professional competition doping rules. | | **General Professional Sports** | Cases exist (e.g., in Australian Rules Football). The **World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)** prohibits it **in-competition**. | Classified as both a **stimulant (S6)** and a **Substance of Abuse**. Bans can be reduced if out-of-competition use is proven. | ### 🧪 Why is Cocaine Banned in Sports? Cocaine is banned in competition for three main reasons, even though its practical performance benefits are debated: * **Potential Performance Enhancement**: It is a stimulant that can increase alertness, energy, and confidence while reducing feelings of fatigue. * **Health Risks**: It significantly raises heart rate and blood pressure, which is especially dangerous during intense exercise and can lead to heart damage, stroke, or death. * **Spirit of Sport**: Its use violates the ethical principles of fair competition. An important distinction is between **in-competition** and **out-of-competition** use. An athlete who tests positive on a game day faces a harsher penalty (up to a 4-year ban) for potential performance enhancement. If use occurs out-of-competition and is deemed recreational, the ban can be as short as one month if the athlete completes a treatment program. ### 💡 Finding More Information While the search results provide clear evidence of use, they don't give overall prevalence statistics for these sports globally or in New Zealand. Most data comes from publicized positive tests or studies on related behaviors (like the motorcycle study). If you are interested in **specific anti-doping rules** for a particular sport or country, or want to explore **public health data on drug use and risk-taking**, I can help you search for more targeted information. Would you like me to look into either of those areas?

Cocaine use in New Zealand has seen a significant increase in recent years. While it is less common than other drugs like methamphetamine, its use is growing rapidly, particularly in certain regions and among specific demographic groups. ### 📈 Key Usage Statistics & Trends Recent wastewater testing, which measures drug residue in sewage to estimate community-wide consumption, shows a sharp upward trend. | Metric | Q3 2025 Data (Latest) | Comparative Context | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **National Weekly Consumption** | **6.4 kg** per week | 43% above the previous year's average | | **Per Capita Use vs. Australia** | Lower than Australia | Australia's per capita consumption is over **4 times higher** | | **Long-term Increase** | Substantial growth | Consumption surged by **229%** in recent years | ### 👥 Who is Using Cocaine? The available research provides some insights into the user demographics: * **Higher Income Groups**: The 2025 New Zealand Drug Trends Survey indicates that cocaine use is **disproportionately higher among people in higher income groups**. * **Regional Concentrations**: Use is particularly high in major urban centers and specific regions. Recent data points to very high per capita use in **Queenstown**, **Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau)**, and the **Bay of Plenty**. * **An Emerging Market**: Despite the growth, the Massey University survey notes that cocaine remains an **"emerging drug"** in New Zealand's overall drug landscape. ### ⏱️ How Often is it Used? Evidence suggests a pattern of occasional, rather than habitual, use for most people. * **Low-Frequency Use**: The frequency of cocaine use is generally **low compared to methamphetamine and cannabis**. A UN report cited by financial news also notes that wastewater analysis suggests most users in the Australia-New Zealand region consume the drug **occasionally rather than habitually**. * **Context of Growth**: The surge in total consumption measured in wastewater is linked to **increased supply and availability**, allowing more people to use it, even if infrequently. > **Important Note on Statistics**: There are conflicting figures on overall prevalence. A global ranking site claims 0.13% of New Zealand's population has a cocaine use disorder, while a UN report cited by a financial news outlet states 3% of people (aged 15-64) in Australia and New Zealand used cocaine in 2023. The latter figure is likely more reflective of any use (including occasional), while the former refers to a diagnosed disorder. ### 🌍 Context: Supply, Harm, and Support The rise in use is happening against a backdrop of increased international drug trafficking and public health efforts. * **Increased Supply**: Authorities attribute the growth in the domestic market to **increased supply from international criminal networks**. Recent major seizures, like the 4.2-tonne intercept in the Pacific in February 2026, highlight the scale of the trade targeting the region. * **Harm Reduction**: If you or someone you know is using drugs, it is important to know that **free and legal drug checking services** are available in New Zealand. These services can test the chemical content of substances to help prevent harm from adulterants. I hope this overview gives you a clearer picture of cocaine use in New Zealand. If you are interested in more detailed data about a specific region or the trends for other drugs, feel free to ask.

Does anyone know how racing now deals with cannabis use, via medical prescription? would a rider or stable hand or track rider etc have to declare so use?

Tell us bill, you'd know, does coca-cola send you into the spazosphere, or is that pepsi?

This from someone who couldn't read a basic auctionaring to and fro that my 10yr old Grand Daughter could understand (although she is a member of the 1% club) "FFS @curious the same bid watcher had both of them in his sight. So I'd say no extra bids were taken. The camera shots don't show you where the current bid is." Seriously, how could you be so lacking in perception? Do you have cataracts and/or need hearing aids? .Here, educate yourself with the HK situation. However I dont have much hope you'll care a squat about horse welfare given that you said "nothing wrong with horse's being struck with the whip between the ears" Giving horse's furosemide is a disgusting procedure that has no place in modern day thoroughbred racing and thank goodness an insightful jurisdiction like HK bit the bullet. BTW, this is a classic example of irony, NZTR's supposed commitment to horse welfare but still rubber stamping the rapid dehydration of horses to allow them to be worked harder "The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is a prominent, strict proponent of medication-free racing, with a long-standing ban on the race-day use of Lasix (furosemide) for both training and racing. Key findings from studies and observations regarding the HKJC's approach to Lasix include: Longevity and Performance: Research conducted on Hong Kong's racehorse population, which competes without Lasix, indicates that Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) does not necessarily shorten a horse's racing career. Study Findings: A study titled "Descriptive analysis of longitudinal endoscopy for exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses in training and racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club" found that while EIPH is common, it varies in severity, and there was no significant difference in the career longevity of horses based on whether they experienced EIPH (EIPH+) or not (EIPH-). Performance Without Medication: Observations by HKJC officials have suggested that horses are able to perform at a high level without the use of Lasix and can recover quickly between races. Comparison to US: The studies in Hong Kong serve as a contrast to the widespread use of Lasix in the United States, with HKJC officials noting that their model demonstrates that racing can be successful without the drug. The HKJC enforces a policy where horses that suffer severe, repeated instances of bleeding (epistaxis) are subjected to mandatory retirement, focusing on the health of the horse.

So? Again you are being selective in what you quote out of context.

Yes on BOAY I do sometimes take a proactive approach. Unlike other some Social Media site managers who choose traffic over decency and honesty. On other occasions I have had my attention drawn to abusive or defamatory posts by those affected and I have also chosen to hide those posts. I'm not sure what your standards are but the posts in question would surely even fail your "social license" test.

should try for it anyway. Lead and won the race last year. seems a winning formula to try again. The 2 New Zealanders were drawn one and two and were very close at the post too ( beaten a metre or 2 only) on that occasion. so maybe Republican Party can make up for that narrow miss last year? , and take Victory this time ? sitting behind the leader. I hope so .Carter is making a great go of it with this horse lately and would love to see him take it out. Kingman was quite extraordinary in the huge Victoria Cup, NZ Cup , Christian Cullen treble late 2025 . phenomenal wins . we are truly' spoilt for good horses these days. can't write him off as a chance as you mentioned.

Grade I Del Mar Oaks winner Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy) (hip 385) provided a much-needed warm up to central Kentucky as she topped the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale, selling to Japan's Katsumi Yoshida for $1.5 million. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the 5-year-old mare was undefeated in her first four starts including a win in the GII San Clemente before going on to Grade I glory. Her sales price was the highest at a Winter Mixed Sale since Zetta Z (Bernardini), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Nysos (Nyquist), brought $2 million from Coolmore in 2024. “We're very excited,” said Taylor Made Stallions President Travis White. “We thought she was the type of horse that could bring that kind of money and it all lined up. She showed well all weekend, even with the [bad] weather, and everybody's really excited. The owners are thrilled. It suits [the owners] who aren't in the breeding business. They're really happy to get her sold and now they can put that money back into their racing syndicate and buy some more race horses.” Little Red Feather Racing, who bought Iscreamuscream as a 2-year-old at OBS March for $145,000, then welcomed in a partnership as a 33% share of the filly brought $330,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midsummer Flash Sale in 2024 just one start before she took down the Del Mar Oaks. “John Dowd, our bloodstock agent, purchased her for us a 2-year-old,” said Little Red Feather Racing's Billy Koch. “Thanks also to Phil D'Amato, who did a tremendous job with her and her racing career. This game is so hard. It's very rewarding for everybody to have moments like this.” Last raced in 2024, Iscreamuscream was meant for another year of racing in 2025 and, though she was initially entered for last year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale, was pulled to attempt to remain in training. “We really tried to run her,” Koch said. “She never had any major injuries, just little tiny things. We kept having to stop and start and we finally called time. We considered putting her in foal ourselves and selling her at the end of this year. But then we thought, if someone wants to breed her, it would be nice to let someone be allowed to breed her to the stallion of their choice rather than us do it. And with breeding season right around the corner, we thought it was great timing. We reached out to Boyd Browning and the team at Fasig-Tipton, and we worked with Travis White at Taylor Made, and we put this together very quickly to get her into this sale. They did a fantastic job, as always. The credit really goes to the filly and to our partners at Little Red Feather Racing who are incredibly loyal and dedicated. To see something like this happen, it meant a lot to them.” At Monday's conclusion, 266 horses sold for $16,646,500 with an average of $62,581 and a median of $25,000. One year ago, the first year that the Winter Mixed Sale was consolidated to one day, a total of 260 head sold for $11,495,500. The average was $44,213 and the median was $17,000. “I'd like to begin by thanking our facilities crew and our consignors for obviously dealing with some very adverse conditions over the last week,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning of the frigid temperatures in central Kentucky. “An amazing job of cooperating and doing the very best they could with snow and ice removal. It's a lot of hard work, there's no glamour in it. I want to give credit to our crew for a remarkable job and to our consignors who were very cooperative. Very much appreciate their efforts.” The average rose over 40% Monday from the same session one year ago and the median jumped over 56%, numbers Browning attributed to a large and diverse buying bench. “Tremendous sale,” Browning said. “There was a lot of activity and the sale felt good. There were bidders from $1.5 million to $150,000 to $15,000. Really throughout every level of the marketplace, there was activity. One of the most encouraging signs is to see horses selling for significantly more than their reserves. Our consignors are pretty market savvy so to see horses blow by their reserves is really encouraging. Our first live sale of 2026 is off to a great start.” White also mentioned the buying diversity, saying “Overall, I think it was a very good, solid day. There were a lot of different buying groups and I think overall it was pretty good.” Ava's Grace 2025 Into Mischief filly | Fasig-Tipton All In the Family For Gunderson And Ava's Grace Twin Oaks Bloodstock's Marc Gunderson, who has been active at the top levels of several previous sales, struck early in the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale to pick up both broodmare Ava's Grace (Laoban) (hip 126) and her yearling daughter by Into Mischief (hip 127). Mother and daughter both were consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. In foal to Hill 'n' Dale's top sire Curlin, Ava's Grace brought $950,000. Grade I-placed in her racing career in the La Troienne, Ava's Grace will be represented by her first foal to race this year with a 2-year-old Into Mischief colt named Mischief to Grace. “We're feeling really exited about the sale so far,” said Hill 'n' Dale's Director of Bloodstock Jes Sikura. “Everybody at the barn is pretty happy and they brought what we thought they were worth. Hopefully they're going to end up serving [Marc] well.” Her yearling Into Mischief filly, purchased Monday by Gunderson for $625,000, is the latest addition to Gunderson's top-class yearling band as he also went to $800,000 to acquire a Gun Runner colt at last month's Keeneland January Sale. That's in addition to a $400,000 Up To the Mark colt purchased at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale and a $750,000 Nyquist filly at the Keeneland November Sale. “Marc is one of our newer clients and a friend of the farm,” Sikura said. “He actually just bought a place right next door to us. He obviously has a lot of faith in the family. Hopefully the filly goes on to be a full-circle, rewarding purchase even though admittedly stretched a little bit on the mare. I think he's happy to get her and, if that filly can run, then everything will work out for him.” Gunderson himself admitted that he knew early on he'd have to pay more what was deemed quality. “I knew that was a position we were going to have to take,” Gunderson said of the prices. “My son Will, and farm manager Rob Brennan, we all decided that you had a really good, young mare here [in Ava's Grace]. And she's in foal to a top-end sire. We knew if we could get [her filly], and make sure she got to the track under the tutelage of our own trainers, that we could be in charge of our own destiny. We think [Ava's Grace [is a foundation mare. So the whole goal was to get both of them. Now of course, that's a dangerous game. But I thought [the price] ended up in the spot we thought it should end up.” With two fillies by Into Mischief already in the pipeline, Gunderson mentioned that Ava's Grace could very well be headed back to Curlin, though the decision was yet to be made and would still depend on stallion availability. “It'll probably be one of the same stallions that she's already been bred to,” said Gunderson. “Meaning Into Mischief. I'm going to make some contacts for Gun Runner but he's very full. Curlin's also very full. But I've been talking to [Hill 'n' Dale's] John Sikura and I think that would probably be one of the stallions we'd end up going back to.” Meanwhile, her yearling filly will be set for a racing career with Gunderson positioned to use her set up future success for Ava's Grace. “We want to make sure we have the opportunity to prove the mare,” Gunderson said. “We'll get her to the track with one of our trainers.” Elle Sueno | Fasig-Tipton Tropical Racing Adds Elle Sueno For $800,000 Just over a year after purchasing her now 2-year-old Into Mischief filly as a weanling for $500,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Tropical Racing went to $800,000 to acquire her dam, Elle Sueno (Street Cry {Ire}) (hip 193). “Obviously that's not an inexpensive price for anything,” said Tropical Racing's Director of Bloodstock Stuart Morris. “But I think you're looking at buying mares from quality families that have been kicking out top-end horses for generations. It's important for us to get those kinds of pedigrees in our program and to do the best we can to continue to develop our own branch to those trees going forward. Elle Sueno will stay with us for the rest of her days. That's how we look at this. These are animals and we take care of them until the end. We have a long-term plan with her.” The second of two mares offered in foal to leading sire Curlin, Elle Sueno was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. “[Them having her daughter already] would point to Tropical Racing having high hopes for her,” said Hill 'n' Dale's Jes Sikura. “If it works out with the filly they already have that's in training, hopefully it becomes a full-circle thing and ends up being a good deal for all.” The 14-year-old mare is already a proven broodmare with the likes of GII Golden Rod Stakes winner and GI Acorn Stakes third Dream Lith (Medaglia d'Oro) under her produce record and Tropical Racing also picked up another of her daughters in the placed Medaglia d'Oro mare Ju Ju Vip (hip 246) for $85,000 later in Monday's session. “It's a real quality family,” said Morris. “We've been very high on the family for a long time. Since we purchased her 2-year-old two Novembers ago as a baby, she's done nothing but exceed expectations at every turn. Every time the bar was raised and she was asked for more, she responded in kind. So we're very bullish on protecting our families once we get into them. That's an important philosophy at Tropical.” Tropical Racing, which Morris said is still very much a breed to race organization, is growing their broodmare band with the roster now pushing north of 30 mares. The organization recently purchased Highclere Farm from Morris's father with a plan to expand operations into more space. “It's really important to us to work with family and people that we're close to on the team that see the same vision as us,” Morris said. “My father has a pretty remarkable history [at Highclere] for over 50 years. It's important to us to be on the right kind of land with the right people so we can build a foundation of quality fillies that we're buying as yearlings to build from internally. We're trying to make it to the highest level of racing competition.” Elle Sueno's 2023 Curlin filly, now named Amanera, was purchased for $850,000 by Resolute Racing at the Saratoga Sale in 2024 and Morris was looking forward to having this 2026 foal on the ground before booking the mare back for her next cover. “The tricky thing right now is the time of year we're in,” Morris said. “And the accessibility to all the stallions you'd want to go to. She's going to foal in March and we're contemplating letting that foal hit the ground before making a decision. Obviously Into Mischief is a high one on the list. And her 3-year-old filly by Curlin was an expensive yearling at Saratoga and has had high marks. So I think we have a lot of options of where to go with her but that's still a bit of a question at this point, more due to availability of the stallions since it's February. We're just hoping we can continue to develop that pedigree and go from there.” Drain the Clock at Gainesway | Sara Gordon Drain The Clock Filly A Quick Return For Crupper Just three months after purchasing her for $30,000 at last October's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale, a filly by Drain the Clock (hip 90) offered a quick return on investment for Crupper Bloodstock when selling to Will Stein Bloodstock for $125,000 early in Monday's sale. Keith Crupper and his brother Allen were nearly shut out when they were shopping in New York last year but managed to see through that Crupper acknowledged was a growth spurt to pick up this filly. “We chased a lot of horses in New York and she was the only one we got,” Crupper said following the sale. “We're obviously ecstatic. [The price] went way past our expectations. She's a very nice filly. My brother picked her up for us in New York, brought her back, dropped her off to me and didn't have to do a whole lot with her, just continue to prep her. She came here great and really responded to being here. She has a lot of personality and it really shined here. She's a big-walking filly and she's really matured [since we got her].” Crupper Bloodstock often picks up weanlings in New York with this specific sale in mind. In fact, this is the second straight year that Keith and Allen have successfully pinhooked a foal by Drain the Clock from New York into the Winter Mixed Sale when a colt they purchased for $32,000 in 2024 sold at the 2025 Winter Mixed Sale for $57,000. “We did well on one last year,” said Crupper. “But not this well! [Allen] called me every time something would come up [in New York] and he said, 'this filly, she's in a growth spurt, she's a little plain at the moment but I think she's going to bounce out of it. I think this is our best shot.' She really came together. Had a lot of action at the barn and in the repository. She had perfect x-rays in New York and she had perfect x-rays here. And she checked all the boxes. That's what it came down to today.” Crupper's continued success with Drain the Clock has led him to support the stallion in kind, with Keith saying he'd already booked four mares back to the young Gainesway sire before Monday's result. “We've been fans of him from the start,” said Crupper. “We, as a group, tend to like to go back to the fishing hole that's producing fish!” The post Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale Brings The Heat To Central Kentucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Which is precisely what I said regarding your BORA contribution.

na, the courts are for feed the Lawyer$! Reality 101 Law trumps policy or rules! @Chief Stipe There are two parts that jump out at me! 1, that to me is not actually that important!!!! re "small number are so incessant with their remarks.", is there Libel at play! Misogyny in play? *down the rabbit hole* Tick, tick, tick. Usually their own toxicity persons themselves and sadly often people closely associated with them.. give them rope... 2, Personally, I have way more concerns for some of the NASTY that some Jockeys have to put up with, especially some of the woman riders and media players!!!! My fb acc has multi 100's of 'Jockey Friends', some of the post they have highlighted have been way beyond criticism! Best of luck 'prosecuting' them, more often the are young and male and can often have some organic connection to racing, that adding to their Entitlement to Rave! Often that lack real insights into their ravings.... Personally, I have come across it!!!, via a person, with a connection to a Club! they got of the official photographer a photo of me and partner outside the birdcadge, turned them into HATE MEMES with NASTY Sexual shit implied!!! and posted them up!!! sigh, 10 years later I have yet to have the pleasure on meeting him in person!