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The WHOLE industry has had their collective heads in the sand. From Clubs to Head Office. From what I've seen looking back as far as I can at the financial accounts of Clubs and looking at the structure of Clubs very few if any ran as businesses. They relied on donations, bequethments, volunteers, cake stalls, raffles and not paying tax. That isn't a sustainable business model especially when you are not earning enough from your business activities to build up capital to maintain your core assets. BTW what's wrong with running pokies and online casinos to fund racetracks and stakes? Are those products just a differentiation of the core product - gambling? Do you think Clubs shouldn't run camping grounds and holiday parks on their properties to gain extra revenue? That approach is keeping Tauherenikau afloat. Southland has stayed afloat by providing a 3 code venue. The other 2 codes are subsidising Thoroughbreds but who cares if it keeps the place afloat. Why have a multi-million dollar asset that sits idle for 2 or 3 days a year? In that respect for a Racetrack to earn enough from Thoroughbreds it needs to be a training centre and have at least 10 meetings a year. So in that respect which courses go?

Sent off at 16-5 in what appeared to be a promising maiden allowance Saturday afternoon at Tampa, Klaravich Stables' EMERGING MARKET (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Wild Empress, by Empire Maker) made a pair of eye-catching moves in the deciding stages of an extended-mile contest and outslugged hot favorite Powershift (Constitution) to become a new 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard. Off to an uneventful break from the two hole, the $185,000 Keeneland September acquisition was content to drop back and sit in the slipstream of Powershift, who secured the perfect spot at the rail just behind dueling longshots down the back of the track. The even-money selection, a $500,000 KEEEP purchase, had first crack on the leaders, as he went on the attack three wide on the turn, but Flavien Prat had that move covered astride Emerging Market, as he angled his mount sharply off the fence and into the four path at the quarter pole. The pair appeared to exchange bumps with a furlong and a half to race and they matched motors deep into the final furlong, but Emerging Market had his rival's measure and was home a cozy 3/4 of a length to the good. It was a yawning margin back to $1.1-million Keeneland September purchase Make My Day (Gun Runner) in third. The final time was 1.45 seconds quicker than the 3-year-old fillies went in the Suncoast Stakes one race prior. Emerging Market is out of a half-sister to champion She Be Wild (Offlee Wild). Sales history: $185,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Klaravich Stable; B-Stoneriggs Farm (KY); T-Chad Brown The post Candy Ride Colt Emerging Market Sparkles in ‘Rising Star’ Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Feb. 6 ruling posted to the Association of Racing Commissions International (ARCI) website stated that trainer Ingrid Mason has been ejected from Oaklawn Park by that track's stewards “until such time that Oaklawn management approves her re-admittance to Oaklawn Park's property.” Chelsea Hackbarth of the Paulick Report quoted Mason as explaining that investigators from the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) “caught her with needles, syringes, and an injectable product called 'Movex.'” The Paulick Report's story descried Movex as a “Chondroitin 4 Sulfate injectable product” that is not known to be a banned substance, and further quoted Mason as saying that she was not giving the injection to a horse that was scheduled to race. However, possession of a syringe and/or needles by anyone other than a licensed veterinarian is prohibited under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) rules. “It was my fault. I don't know why I took a chance with something like that,” Mason told the Paulick Report. There was no ruling against Mason posted to the HISA portal as of deadline for this story. The ARCI ruling stated that Mason “agreed to waive her right to a Stewards hearing in this matter.” The post Report: Trainer Mason Ejected from Oaklawn Over Injectables appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Super Corredora, champion 2-year-old filly of 2025, faces Explora in the Las Virgenes Stakes. The two top sophomore fillies ran 1-2, respectively, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).View the full article

Aqueduct saw a fleet of prep races for major spring targets Friday, and the connections of those winners have largely reported good prognoses for their stars as they chart out future targets. Upset winner of the Withers Stakes Talk to Me Jimmy (Modernist) has reportedly come out of his 11-length tour-de-force in good form despite grabbing his front right quarter at some point during the contest. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez reports the colt was in good spirits Saturday morning but that a vet would look at it as a precaution. “Thank God, everything looks good,” Rodriguez said. “I'm not too sure where in the race he grabbed himself, maybe a little past the half-mile pole. The little cut on his foot isn't too bad, but we'll just make sure with the vet. He's comfortable this morning and we're very happy with the way he ran.” While initially stating after the race that the most likely target for Talk to Me Jimmy would be the GII Wood Memorial, Rodriguez has made plans to nominate the son of Modernist to at least four upcoming stakes races, including the local options–the GIII Gotham at a one-turn mile (50-point Derby qualifier race) Feb. 28; and the nine-furlong GII Wood Memorial Stakes (100-point Derby qualifier race) Apr. 4. Out of town options include the one-mile Miracle Wood Stakes Feb. 21 and the 1 1/16-miles Private Terms Stakes Mar. 21, both in Maryland. “Let's see what the owners want to do,” Rodriguez said, noting the Wood Memorial is a logical spot. “They said to nominate him for the Gotham and the couple of races at Laurel, too.” Two Bits Possible for Gazelle After Ruthless Victory Two Bits (American Pharoah) made her rival work for every step of the stretch battle in the Ruthless Stakes, and still would not be denied. Now, trainer Amelia Green reports that the daughter of the 2015 Triple Crown winner is under consideration for a tilt at the GIII Gazelle Stakes (a 100-point race toward entry in the Kentucky Oaks) on Wood Memorial Day Apr. 4. “With her liking this track, it's a big help for us,” Green said. “We'll keep all options open this time of year. She'll probably be nominated to a couple of different ones at the beginning of April and [we will] pick our spot after that, but I'd say the Gazelle is the top pick right now.” “[Two Bits] looks great. She jogged up great and has been whinnying for peppermints all morning. I don't think it took a whole lot out of her.” Green has worked with a number of Oaks-quality fillies during her time as an assistant for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, including 2021 victress Malathaat (Curlin). The prospect of returning for America's premier spring Classic for fillies with one of her own is an enticing one, but not a deal-breaker for the conditioner. Two Bits (inside) | Coglianese “It would be great,” Green said. “It was not the be all end all for her. I think she's a nice filly no matter what, but if she takes us there, we're not going to say no.” A stablemate Ivy Girl (Maxfield), scratched from the Ruthless, has been rerouted to New Mexico for a potential try at the Sunland Oaks Feb. 15. The two-turn mile carries 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. “We knew going in [to the Ruthless] that seven furlongs was on the shorter side. We opted to scratch and wait for a better spot,” Green said. “I plan on entering her tomorrow [Sunday] for the Sunland Oaks and seeing how that comes up. This time of year with 3-year-old fillies, you have plenty of options and I'd like to give her a chance to go two turns somewhere.” The trainer is also looking at targeting the GIII Gotham with Funny Cide Stakes winner Minorinconvenience (Mendelssohn), but hasn't ruled out a start in the New York-bred restricted Gander Stakes Mar. 7 depending on who shows up for the former. “If the Gotham comes up light, he's training well enough that I'd like to give him a chance there, but obviously the Gander would be a logical starting spot with him being a New York-bred. I like that they're both a mile, so we don't have to start going a mile and an eighth.” Be You Under Consideration for Carter After Toboggan Win Grade I-placed Be You (Curlin) has come out of his win in the Toboggan Stakes in good form, and is now under strong consideration for the GII Carter Handicap after producing a 95 Beyer figure Friday afternoon, just one shy of his career-best at the same distance in his 2024 maiden win at Gulfstream. “Obviously we were very happy with that effort,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “It seems like he now kind of specializes at that seven-furlong distance, so we are pretty happy with that. He seems to have come out of the race nicely so far.” Providing an update on Grittiness (Curlin), who was a well-beaten second in the Withers Stakes behind Talk to Me Jimmy, the conditioner reports he was happy with the rally his charge gave after his troubles going into the first turn. “[Grittiness] got bumped pretty hard going into the first turn. He lost a little bit of position. I thought he rallied pretty well considering the way the track was playing and where he was early. Happy with his performance.” The Repole Stables colorbearer's current plan has the chestnut pointing for the Virginia Derby Mar. 14 at Colonial Downs, the newest 50-point qualifier for the Kentucky Derby. The post Aqueduct Updates: Friday’s Big Winners Doing Well, Future Targets Planned appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Repole Stable's ZANY (f, 3, American Pharoah–Mo' Green, by Uncle Mo) picked up where she left off in 2025, taking a somewhat oddly run renewal of the $125,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs while making her seasonal return to action Saturday afternoon. Racing between fillies in the second flight of runners as her stablemate Kadabra (Good Magic) went through the opening stages in a tepid :24.89, the $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad was set alight at about midway by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and took the overland route into the far turn around Life of Joy (Gun Runner), the only other member of the septet to jump at single digits at odds of 5-2 and who went for an early run after a slow beginning. Zany, who ran her record to two-from-two when last seen romping in the GII Demoiselle Stakes in December, went up to make it a line of three approaching the quarter pole, dueled briefly from there with Life of Joy and wore that one down in the final 100 yards while lugging in noticeably. Life of Joy completed the chalky exacta and Kadabra held for third. The victory was worth 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks for Zany. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '24 FTASUG. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O-Repole Stable; B-D J Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. ZANY was lugging in some, but plenty good in the Suncoast S. and stays undefeated! Todd Pletcher trains the 3YO filly and @iradortiz was aboard. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/0bbgrGM5WA — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) February 7, 2026 The post American Pharoah Filly Zany Too Strong In the Suncoast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:49 p.m. ET. Star Actress (Justify), a full-sister to champion 2-year-old filly and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Just F Y I, gets her career started for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. The George Krikorian homebred will exit from post one with Junior Alvarado in the irons. She worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:03 (1/3) at Payson Park Jan. 23. The aforementioned Just F Y I brought $4.5 million from Katsumi Yoshida at the 2025 Fasig-Tipton November sale. TJCIS PPS The post Sunday’s Racing Insights: Full-Sister to Champion Just F Y I Debuts at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

According to a Paulick Report story, trainer Ingrid Mason has been banned from Oaklawn Park for five years and is being investigated by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit, the enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.View the full article

I gather you don't have anything intelligent or even relevant to say abkut the Topic you started? That is the new NZTR Social Media rules. Why do you hijack your own Topics with irrelevant unrelated posts?

I note you haven't commented on the Topic of this thread.

Japan continued its dominance of lucrative Middle Eastern races with a one-length score by Strauss in the inaugural $1-million Listed Abu Dhabi Gold Cup over a mile on Saturday. Brazilian Joao “Magic Man” Moreira gave the son of Maurice a textbook perfect ride, and the five-year-old entire responded, becoming the first Japanese horse to win in Abu Dhabi. Nestled in midfield just off the pace set by Crown Board (Lope De Vega), the Carrot Farm runner bided his time through the early stages. Still trapped behind a wall of horses with 400 metres left, Strauss willingly charged through a gap shortly thereafter and pounced on the leader. Overhauling Crown Board by midstretch, the winner fended off the furiously closing Dark Trooper (Dark Angel) and closer to the inside, Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett). At the line, the margin was a length, with a similar margin separating Wathnan Racing's Dark Trooper in second and the Coolmore partners' Comanche Brave in third. Quddwah (Kingman {GB}) was another 1 1/2 lengths back in fourth for Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In his native land, Strauss won the G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes at two. At three, he was second in the Listed Oro Cup, and in 2025 he won the Listed Shirafuji Stakes in February. After an unplaced run, he added a third in the G3 CBC Sho in August and was a last-out sixth in the Russell Balding Stakes (Cond.) at Randwick in November. Shadai Stallion Station's Maurice has 34 stakes winners–23 group scorers–to his name. Known by the nickname, “the Beast from the East”, the son of Screen Hero was the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2025 and earned seven Group 1 victories in Japan and Hong Kong. His seven Group 1 winners are split three (Australia) to four (Japan) anchored by Australian Derby, Victoria Derby and Australian Guineas hero Hitotsu. A half-brother to Japanese listed winner Voller Blute (Epiphaneia), Strauss is out of the G1 Mile Championship heroine Blumenblatt (Admire Vega). Of her 12 foals, 11 have made the races, and Strauss is one of 10 winners for the relative of multiple graded winner Laramie Trail (Swaps). ABU DHABI GOLD CUP-LISTED, $1,000,000, 2-7, 4yo/up & SH 3yo, 1600mT, 1:33.98, gd. 1–STRAUSS (JPN), 125, h, 5, Maurice (Jpn)–Blumenblatt (Jpn) (G1SW-Jpn, $3,314,835), by Admire Vega (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm Co., Ltd. B-Northern Farm (Jpn). T-Ryo Takei. J-Joao Moreira. $600,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Jpn, 13-4-1-2, $1,313,021. *1/2 to Voller Blute (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), SW- Jpn, $266,000. 2–Dark Trooper (Ire), 125, g, 6, Dark Angel (Ire)–Warshah (Ire), by Shamardal. (60,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; 500,000gns HRA '23 TATOCT). O-Wathnan Racing. B-Yeomanstown Stud (Ire). $200,000. 3–Comanche Brave (Ire), 125, c, 4, Wootton Bassett (GB)– Ishvana (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). O-Mrs John Magnier & Mrs A M O'Brien. B-Whisperview Trading, Ltd. (Ire). $100,000. Margins: 1, 1, 1 1/2. Also Ran: Quddwah (GB), Andreas Vesalius (Ire), Chicago Critic (GB), Jonquil (GB), Crown Board (Ire), Tumbler (Fr), Vafortino (Ire), Maljoom (Ire), Aomori City (Fr), Folk Festival (Ire), Dioptase (Ire), Western Writer (Ire). Scratched: Witness Stand (GB). Click for the ERA chart and video. Japan strikes in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Gold Cup! Strauss lands the $1m feature under Joao Moreira for Ryo Takei @adturfclub #シュトラウス pic.twitter.com/1dVgJP1JcT — Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 7, 2026 The post Maurice’s Strauss Victorious For Japan In Abu Dhabi Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Whether you're a trainer, an owner or a punter, you simply cannot underestimate the value of identifying an apprentice jockey who is good value for their claim, that extra edge in a sport of fine margins. Make no mistake, those few pounds can make all of the difference in those valuable, big-field handicaps which are often decided by a whisker come the winning post. And, whilst the start of the turf season is still a few weeks away yet, now is a good time to be keeping a close eye on the all-weather action to familiarise yourself with the apprentices starting to make a name for themselves, just as a certain Billy Loughnane did three winters ago. On the other hand, some young riders prefer to stay away from the all-weather during the winter in order to preserve their claim for the long turf campaign ahead. In Britain, an apprentice jockey is entitled to a weight allowance of 7lb until they have ridden 20 winners; 5lb until they have ridden 50 winners; and 3lb until they have ridden 95 winners. In Ireland, the scale is only slightly different, with jockeys claiming 7lb until they have reached 30 winners and 5lb until they have reached 65 winners, before they too lose their claim altogether when they reach the milestone of 95 winners. Here, we've profiled six apprentices – three in Britain and three in Ireland – who could be worth keeping in mind for when the Flat action starts to go up a gear this spring. To avoid some of the more obvious names, we've limited our shortlist to riders who are yet to reach 50 winners, meaning that each of them should still have their 5-lb claim intact, at the very least. Mason Paetel Total winners under Rules: 36 The 17-year-old Mason Paetel has wasted no time getting back among the winners since returning from a brief spell in America, where he was based in Florida with Pegasus World Cup-winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Following a double at Southwell on January 30, Paetel's tally for the calendar year is now up to four winners from only 21 rides, with the promise of plenty more to come in the weeks and months ahead. Paetel, who hails from Bridgend in South Wales and is a graduate of the pony racing circuit, first opened his account under Rules when partnering the Mark Loughnane-trained Crafter to victory at Lingfield back in November 2024. In 2025, he added another 31 winners to his tally, notably winning a pair of £50,000 handicaps in July when competing for 'Scotland' as part of the Racing League. Shortly afterwards, however, he was sidelined for the best part of a month through suspension due to repeated breaches of the whip rules, but for which he might have ranked higher than his final finishing position of joint-eighth in the apprentice jockeys' championship. Based in Newmarket with James Owen, Paetel seems sure to figure among the most prolific apprentices once again in 2026, with Mick Appleby and Ed Dunlop featuring among the other leading trainers who have utilised his services on a regular basis. Still 14 winners shy of losing his 5-lb claim, Paetel will likely be a man in demand in some of the more valuable handicaps when the turf season gets underway. Ashley Lewis Total winners under Rules: 26 Like Paetel, Ashley Lewis headed stateside during the winter months in order to preserve his claim for the Flat season proper, having made an instant impact in his first year with a licence in 2025. It was as recently as January 8 last year that Lewis had his first ride under Rules at Kempton, having reportedly been riding out twice a week for Gary and Josh Moore since the age of 13. The Moores duly provided Lewis with his breakthrough winner under Rules, on just his sixth ride, when Donald Llewellyn won an apprentice handicap at Lingfield on March 5, with further winners coming in both April and May before the floodgates really opened in June. The highlight of Lewis' burgeoning career to date came on Derby day at Epsom when he partnered Small Fry to a decisive success in the Northern Dancer Handicap, an experience which the young rider described as “surreal” in a post-race interview. Having also ridden a winner at Goodwood the previous afternoon, he then returned to the West Sussex venue on the Sunday to fire in another one, making it three in as many days to cap a memorable weekend. Lewis ended 2025 with 26 winners, half of which were horses trained by the Moores, including both winners when the then-17-year-old celebrated his first double at Lingfield in early-August. Since riding leading fancy Atherstone Warrior to finish third in the November Handicap at Doncaster, Lewis has taken only seven mounts on the all-weather in Britain, but his patience is likely to be rewarded with some more exciting opportunities on the turf this summer. Lauren Young Total winners under Rules: 26 Lauren Young's career to date has spanned 180 rides under Rules and, remarkably, all but seven of them have come on horses trained by Jim Goldie. However, if the talent that Young showed in the saddle last year is anything to go by, then she is surely due some more rides from outside yards. Young might not have been an overnight success à la Ashley Lewis, with her maiden win – courtesy of Annandale in an apprentice handicap at Southwell around this time last year – coming over seven months after her first ride under Rules. There was no stopping the Kilmarnock native once she hit her straps, though, and she went on to establish fruitful relationships with several members of the Goldie string during the latest season. Midnight Lion, for example, provided Young with her second and third victories when winning twice at Newcastle in the space of 10 days last March, and he wasn't finished there. In total, Midnight Lion and Young teamed up for five wins last year, before the partnership also kicked off 2026 in the best possible fashion when going in again at Gosforth Park on New Year's Day. Young, who joined the Goldie stable at the age of 17 but waited a few years before taking out her licence, ended 2025 with 24 winners from 143 rides at a highly respectable 17% strike rate, with Eternal Sunshine proving another trusty ally. The combination made it three consecutive wins together when plundering the £100,000 Portland at Doncaster's St Leger Festival, a fine advert for Young's ability on the big stage. Sam Coen Total winners under Rules: 30 Sam Coen, whose cousin is the Classic-winning jockey Ben Coen, registered around 40 winners in four years on the pony racing circuit, before taking out his licence as a 16-year-old under the tutelage of trainer Andy Slattery. Slattery's County Tipperary base, formerly home to Rock Etoile, Coen's breakthrough winner at Gowran Park in September 2024, remains a happy stamping ground for the Fethard-born rider, but it was the ammunition provided by Ado McGuinness which really helped to take his career to the next level during the latest season. Indeed, McGuinness supplied Coen with more winners (eight) and more rides (85) than any other trainer in 2025, with the three-time winner Clonmacash proving himself a particularly good servant to both men. For good measure, the son of Charming Thought was also the horse to get Coen off the mark for 2026 when winning at Dundalk recently. In total, Coen accumulated 24 winners in his first full season with a licence, as well as filling the runner-up spot in the €600,000 Irish Cesarewitch aboard 66/1 shot Chally Chute for Ross O'Sullivan. Seven days later, he returned to the Curragh to notch the first double of his career. As for the upcoming turf season, it would take a brave soul to bet against Coen playing a more prominent role in the race to be crowned champion apprentice in Ireland, after he finished joint-sixth behind Wayne Hassett in 2025. He certainly has plenty of the right faces in his corner, with legendary trainers such as Dermot Weld and Noel Meade also featuring among those who gave him the odd opportunity last year. Patrick McGettigan Total winners under Rules: 28 The man who tied with Sam Coen for sixth in last year's apprentice jockeys' championship was Letterkenny's Patrick McGettigan, who had previously introduced himself in style when opening his account under Rules back in August 2024. The horse in question was King Thistle, the winner of a seven-furlong nursery at the Curragh, of all places, on a showpiece card featuring three Group races. McGettigan, who is apprenticed to the stable of King Thistle's trainer, Johnny Murtagh, ended 2024 with four winners, before making more headlines last spring following a quiet start to the year. It took him until April to add to his tally, but then along came Hezahunk and Albion Princess, both winners at Dundalk at combined odds of 4,130/1. Hezahunk was the first to hit the target at 50/1, before McGettigan produced an enterprising ride aboard 80/1 shot Albion Princess to cause another upset just seven days later. You would have pocketed a handsome profit of €57.38 if placing a €1 bet on every one of McGettigan's Irish mounts during the latest season, with another 20 winners coming his way before the end of the calendar year. Returning to the Curragh for the Irish Derby meeting, he proceeded to give Paul Sweeney's Pillar Of Hope a peach of a ride to win the Apprentice Derby Handicap, while the success of the Ciaran Murphy-trained Steps In The Sand at the Galway Festival was another highlight as it saw the partnership complete a hat-trick following earlier wins at Bellewstown and Ballinrobe. Under the watchful eye of Murtagh, who enjoyed his best ever season as a trainer in 2025, McGettigan could hardly be in better hands as he tries to kick on from this most promising start to his career in 2026. Reese Holohan Total winners under Rules: 5 Reese Holohan might be one of the newest faces in the weighing room in Ireland, but he's arguably as exciting a prospect as any other name on this list if his recent exploits on the all-weather at Dundalk are anything to go by. Holohan, who hails from Mountrath in County Laois, was still enjoying his pony racing as recently as May last year when a five-timer at Carndonagh gave an early indication of the talent he possesses. Within four months the 16-year-old was having his first ride under Rules, teaming up with the Mark Fahey-trained Elza Diva in a nursery at Naas, with his first taste of success then coming in December when he delivered Denis Hogan's Benavente to win a Dundalk handicap. Clearly, Hogan was impressed by what he saw there if his support of Holohan since the turn of the year is anything to go by. In January alone, the young jockey was given more opportunities than he was in all of 2025, with 13 of his 21 rides at Dundalk last month coming on horses trained by Hogan. Holohan duly delivered the goods with victories aboard Venetian and Dontspoilasale, with another triumph courtesy of the Paul Flynn-trained Dawn Flame, at 18/1, sandwiched in between. It's still very early days, of course, but few would dispute that Holohan is excellent value at this stage for his 7-lb claim, as he again showed when registering his latest success aboard Natalia Lupini's Summer Island at Dundalk on Friday. He's apprenticed to the Fahey stable in County Kildare, but his agent's phone is sure to be red hot in the coming weeks as more shrewd operators like Hogan cotton on to what the young man is capable of. The post Six Apprentice Jockeys to Follow in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Victorious Racing's €1-million Arqana August graduate Warriors Whisper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) repaid some of that investment with a narrow debut victory in Saturday's Prix du Nice Havrais at Deauville. Under wraps off the tempo in eighth through halfway, the 9-10 favourite made smooth headway into contention with 350 metres remaining and was ridden out in the closing stages to deny Shelzawa (Zelzal) by a short-neck. Warriors Whisper is the third of five foals and second scorer produced by G3 Park Express Stakes victrix Normandel (Le Havre), who is a half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Mont Ormel (Air Chief Marshal). Descendants of her second dam Lidana (King's Best), herself a half-sister to dual Group 1-winning sire Linngari (Indian Ridge), also include G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and G1 Coronation Cup victor Pyledriver (Harbour Watch). The February-foaled bay is kin to a two-year-old filly by Mehmas and a yearling filly by New Bay. 2nd-Deauville, €24,700, Mdn, 2-7, 3yo, f, 9 1/2f (AWT), 1:57.95, st. WARRIORS WHISPER (IRE) (f, 3, Lope De Vega {Ire}–Normandel {Fr} {GSW-Ire, SW & GSP-Fr, $135,994}, by Le Havre {Ire}) Sales history: 1,000,000 Ylg '24 ARQAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €12,350. O-Victorious Racing SC; B-Ballylinch Stud; T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. Prix Du Nice Havrais @fgdeauville Deauville – Maiden – Pouliches – 3 ans – 1900m – 10 Prs – 24 700 € Warriors Whisper (f3) (Ire) Ronan Thomas @RonanThomass (Lope De Vega (Ire) @BallylinchStud – Normandel (Fr) par Le Havre (Ire)) Carlos et Yann Lerner… pic.twitter.com/6jm8NMDIwb — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) February 7, 2026 The post Victorious Racing’s Warriors Whisper Prevails in Deauville Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jay Rooney CONRAD PATCH - R6 (2) Chased a smart one home on debut and can go one better here Owen Goulding BLAZING WIND - R9 (4) Cosy C&D win latest and drawn one here with a claim well utilised Trackwork Spy NUMBERS - R8 (7) Should get a cheap lead and prove extremely hard to catch Phillip Woo NUMBERS - R8 (7) Has made a big impression in his two local runs and may never be headed Shannon (Vincent Wong) MR COOL - R2 (3) In-form galloper continues to race well and looks hard to beat...View the full article

The Asian Racing Conference (ARC) will meet in Riyadh from February 9-14 in conjunction with the Saudi Cup meeting. The theme is “Honouring Tradition, Shaping the Future” and consists of a three-day business programme designed to provoke meaningful dialogue, strategic insights and key learnings to address the challenges and opportunities facing the horseracing industry. A gathering of the International Forum for the After Care of Racehorses (IFAR) will take place on Monday, where HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCoSA), will open proceedings. Prince Bandar and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and chairman of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) will welcome delegates to the opening ceremony of ARC that evening. Three days of discussion covering topics from the role of equestrianism and sport in Saudi's Vision 2030 ambitions, the impact and role of the Gulf Horseracing Council, as well as AI impacts on the future of sport in terms of integrity and attracting new audiences will take palce at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Convention Centre. The seventh edition of the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdlulaziz Racecourse on Valentine's Day closes the conference. For more information on the upcoming Asian Racing Conference, please visit their website. The post Asian Racing Conference To Meet In Riyadh Ahead Of Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Douglas Whyte is hoping Violet Star can “throw himself a lifeline” into Classic Cup (1,800m) and Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) contention when he takes on fellow Classic Series hopefuls at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Class Three Yau Oi Handicap (1,800m) is set to be an informative affair, with Whyte’s import taking on the likes of Dazzling Fit, Aerodynamics, Flow Water Flow, Fortune Boy and Packing Fighter, who will all have aspirations towards the final two races of the four-year-old series. The Irish...View the full article

Moi thought it was an interesting story and i'm guessing that pow @bono did as well when he tried to post the photos..only to be upended by you who obviously doesn't like new posters I picked my ears up when a TOO DARN HOT came into the ring now with a service fee of A275k ...this yearling from a 44k fee Beaufort Downs took a huge risk in sending SPRITZ over and reaped the rewards.. especially when an extra 20k suddenly entered their back pocket courtesy of an oopsey doopsey Who doesn't like an oopsey...just not in their pants..maybe DC did after that...who knows?? Fun to speculate eh... I recommend making '26 a fun year for yourself

Brett Crawford is banking on a significant weight swing on Speed Dragon and return to Sha Tin to propel Encountered to victory in Sunday’s Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m). A fast-finishing winner of the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) in November for Crawford, Encountered meets Speed Dragon 6lb better from their last clash when the latter bagged the Group Three January Cup (1,800m) at Happy Valley. While Crawford felt his consistent galloper could have finished closer than fourth on...View the full article

Dead right about the head in the sand approach. That's what NZTR have being using for the last 2 decades whilst as a recent CEO told me, keeping on looking for the next pot of gold. They've tried the tax-payer, a corporate rescue, overseas product, pokies and now aiming at the online casino business. I'm afraid however, they may be coming to the end of a rainbow that has no pot of gold. Clubs were run as businesses for a century living on their own earnings. As with all industries a few ran into financial difficulties from time to time, but few actually went out of business because of that.

The Monsters of the sport All strutting there stuff in incredible style tonight. 1/ Leap To Fame powers home in Kilmore Cup to defeat NZ best horse Republican Party in a great battle. Carter mixing it hard with the locals at the first corner 🤣👍😂 2/ 18 year old Jye Coney drives 4 winners at Menangle including the FFA driving Grimsons 'HI MANAMEISJEFF ' to a narrow victory over hot favourite, the current Miracle Mile champion Don Hugo in around 1.49. low flying. they bolt 5 lengths clear of the others. 3/ No room for former NZ horse 'The FALCON' at Grimsons so he sent him to Albion , where Pete McMullen wins the FFA in 1.51 with him for owners 'Grim' and 'Boots' 4/ NZ feature trot winning GUS for Pete, resumes off 40m handicap and donkeylicks them and is near best trotter in Australasia now. 5/ Pete gets a treble with former NZer FRANCO NEL , from the deep South of New Zealand. now open class winning 12 of 15 at Brisvegas past few months, and running 1.50 tonight winning by over 3 lengths. watch for him in some features shortly . (a 4 year-old by Vincent ) another ripper. 6/ Ex-pat kiwi Kyle Marshall wins training the Kilmore Popular Alm FFA sprint with SMOKEN ACE , an NZ bred he part owns and driven by Gun J.Herbertson in 1.52.5 some great performances from some great horses.!!! More to come with the 2026 Hunter Cup and Great Southern Star for trotters next week . bring it on !! 🏆🍻

Mardy..Mal Grant has retired.

Do they knock 10% off your bill every month or something @Chief Stipe ? Or are you hoping to be Tangerine Army Soldier of the month for the 4th month in a year?

I notice that a lot of his dogs are now with other trainers. Has he retired from the game due to the impending,possible closure of the sport or like some other trainers has he gone to Aussie to train?.

Saving whose arse? What don't you stop talking through yours. Then why post it?

FFS @curious don't you have anything better to do? I doubt you saw how it played unless you were there. Which I gather you weren't.