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The Road to the Kentucky Derby will not officially begin in South Florida until the Jan. 31 Holy Bull Stakes (G3). However, the first weekend of the new year will offer an early glimpse of which youngsters might play a role in the series.View the full article

Gary and Mary West's homebred Rancho Santa Fe (Tapit), unbeaten in a pair of lifetime starts, is expected to make his stakes debut in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park Saturday. The 3-year-old colt debuted with a victory going one mile at Ellis Park Aug. 24 and added a 1 1/16-mile allowance win at Keeneland Oct. 11. He had four published works at Payson Park in December, most recently going five furlongs in 1:02.00 (2/11) Dec. 27. “He's doing great,” trainer Brad Cox said. “His last work at Payson was really good. I think he's physically developed a bit since his last run at Keeneland. It was kind of by design to space his races a little bit and to point him for the Smarty Jones for a while. Here we are.” Rancho Santa Fe is out of multiple graded stakes winner and Grade I-placed Family Tree (Smart Strike) and is a half-brother to graded winner Heroic Move (Quality Road). “Typical Tapit, the farther the better,” Cox said of the colt. “Good stride, good mover, pretty good mind. Excited about getting his year kicked off.” The 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones is Oaklawn's first of four GI Kentucky Derby qualifying races and will offer 21 total points (10-5-3-2-1) toward starting eligibility for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Cox will saddle 2024 Smarty Jones winner Catching Freedom (Constitution) in a 1 1/16-mile allowance contest at Oaklawn Park Sunday. The newly turned 5-year-old is winless in seven starts since winning the 2024 GII Louisiana Derby, but finished fourth in that year's Kentucky Derby and third in the GI Preakness Stakes. He was most recently third in a Churchill Downs allowance Nov. 21 and worked four furlongs in :48.40 (4/16) at Fair Grounds Dec. 30. “Obviously, it's no secret he's been a little bit inconsistent in his career with some of his runs,” Cox said. “But he's doing well. He seems to always be doing well. It's just getting him back in the winner's circle. Hopefully, we've got the right spot for him. He seems to be training well. When he puts it all together, he's very good. It's just about getting everything to click for him on race day.” The post Rancho Santa Fe Set to Make Stakes Debut in Smarty Jones appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Explora, runner-up as the favorite in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar, kicks off her 3-year-old campaign Jan. 3 in the $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

By Jonny Turner Craig Ferguson hopes playing chess rather than checkers with Wag Star will pay winning dividends in today’s Group 3 Central Otago Cup. Ferguson heads to Omakau knowing he has a horse to match it with any of his rivals in the 2000m feature. So the trainer-driver has been doing everything he can to encourage his stable star to show it to the big crowd that will be watching at Central Otago’s biggest annual race meeting. “He can be a moody horse and when he is on the job he can keep rolling at high speed and be very hard to get past.” “Other times he can be a bit casual about everything and he doesn’t give you the same feeling.” “We have been working on a few things lately to keep him happy and bring the best out in him.” “We had a few troubles with his feet but we seem to be on top of them now.” “We’ve changed his feed around and changed his work around and he seems to be in a good place at the moment.” “He is the sort of horse where it can depend what sort of mood he is in on the day but everything is looking pretty positive going into Omakau.” Wag Star brings the best possible form reference into the Central Otago Cup with his third behind Republican Party in the Group 1 Invercargill Cup. The six-year-old sat parked early before slotting into the one-one and going a nice race. “I was quite happy with his run it was his first run with the galloping hood on and he travelled well,” Ferguson said. “If he could go as well from the good draw (3) he has on Friday he would have to be a pretty good chance.” Ferguson starts a strong team at the Omakau meeting including Turn N Burn who ran second on her debut on Invercargill Cup Day. While that looks strong form Ferguson wasn’t thrilled with the filly that he races himself. “On the sectionals she ran she was a little bit average.” “The occasion of her first start may have got to her a little bit because it wasn’t up to her trials.” “She has improved with the run and her work has been quite sharp so hopefully she will be harder to beat this time.” Babe On The Beach has been the big improver in the Ferguson camp this summer and she heads to Omakau in strong form. “I reckon she has improved about three seconds this year.” “She’s doing a bit of work and showing plenty of fight – she’s stepped up.” “This week it will be a bit hard from the draw (12) but hopefully she can get a bit of luck and go another nice race.” Ferguson also has Beluga and Franco Seb going head to head at Omakau. “Beluga has been consistent lately and his work has stepped up a bit.” “He’s got the draw and gate speed but he has made a mistake early so we will have to play it by ear.” “Franco Seb has been an improver his last run was handy enough.” “He probably just needs a bit of luck from his draw (12).” Ferguson drives most of his team with Mark Hurrell to partner Franco Seb and Riley Harrison to drive Babe On The Beach. Pinseeker looking to slingshot them late in Central Otago Cup By Michael Guerin Jonny Cox is hoping his rivals go crazy in today’s $40,000 Ranfurly Transport Central Otago Cup. Because the Canterbury trainer-driver believes that could set the race up for his speedster Pinseeker in the signature race at Omakau’s popular annual meeting. Pinseeker is one of the best pacers in the 2000m mobile but had an interesting 2025, starting with a placing in this race last year, a Group 3 win in March, competing at the Inter Dominions and then choking down to finish last in the New Zealand Cup. One thing which isn’t in doubt is his speed and once he learns to control that he will sit comfortably in any elite class field in this country. That being the case he can win today but his fortunes may be dictated by what those drawn inside him do as he starts from the outside of the front line. “The draw obviously isn’t ideal but it could work out okay,” says Cox. “There is a lot of speed drawn inside him so we can’t go forward at the start so we will have to try and sneak into the running line somewhere. “Then his chances might depend on what the others do. “If they all get stuck into each other the we might get the chance to slingshot them late. “What we don’t want is a horse like Wag Star or Franco Sinatra to get an easy lead and enjoy an easy time in front.” Cox says he has had to put the dreadful New Zealand Cup experience behind Pinseeker and is looking forward. “I spoke to Mark Purdon after the race as I was following him and he said he could hear our horse’s breathing wasn’t right between the 1400m and the 1000m mark and then I felt him just stop. “So we are sure he choked down.” Pinseeker spent two weeks at the beach in the care of fellow trainer Bob Butt soon after and pleased Cox by bouncing back with a third in the Green Mile at Methven. “He has had his joints treated since then and has been working really well so he gets his chance here but so much will depend on how the race will be run. “Not only do you have those speedsters drawn inside us but a good horse in Alta Meteor drawing one on the second line by himself so he should be able to get away from the markers and into a nice spot pretty quickly.” Wag Star opened the $2.90 Cup favourite and was quickly backed in but while he has the best draw of the favourites it has been a long time since he won a race, albeit he has produced some smart performances in top class fields. While the Pacing Cup has a number of tempo-related scenarios the $40,000 Trotting Cup looks perfect for I Dream Of Jeannie (R11, No.5), who is in career-best form and finds herself in a field with plenty who are struggling to find their best at the moment. Earlier in the meeting Cox brings his talented trotter Prestigious (R8, No.9) to the lower grade trot and runs into a daunting rival in He Aint Fakin. The latter, a converted pacer, has won twice in three starts as a trotter and will be extremely hard to beat if his manners hold up in his first standing start. “He will take some beating but we really like our trotter long term,” says Cox. “Our boy is still a work in progress the win two starts ago showed he has a good motor so he could be in for a good year.” Racing journalist Jonny Turner’s Five To Follow at Omakau. Turn N Burn – Race 3 This filly looks to hold a key tactical advantage over her key rivals. Every year it is vital that horses race close to the pace at Omakau as getting too far back can be disastrous. Draws are an essential part of the equation, with barrier 2 looking a perfect spot for Turn N Burn. While her key rival Cinderella Franco has also drawn well in barrier 3, Turn N Burn holds a clear advantage. If Turn N Burn can hold the lead it could prove too much of a task for Cinderella Franco to come from behind her or outside her to beat her. Sonofamistery – Race 4 He’s simply better than his rivals and it is going to take a big slice of bad luck for him to get beaten. Sonofamistery’s luck is surely due to turn after he had to be pulled up at his last start at Ascot Park due to a gear malfunction. The three-year-old was impressive in his prior outing at Addington, running to an easy win. At $1.14 he’s no win betting proposition but Sonofamistery’s race is part of the early quaddie, and there are Trifectas and First4s to consider. He Aint Fakin – Race 8 This pacer turned trotter will traverse Australasia to have his first standing start at Omakau. While the newcomer to the trotting gait brings all the right form, he hasn’t seen the standing start tapes once in his 51 starts. It is certainly something for punters to ponder and it would be bold to think he is going to ping away quickly and settle right up on the pace. But there is one man that tips the scales of probability into the positive – the old master Phil Williamson. Knowing Phil, he’s put the time into teaching He Aint Fakin the standing start ropes and will have him prepped to make a safe getaway if circumstances allow. While some of his rivals are handy types, the eight-year-old should take plenty of holding out if he trots safely. One Over Da Line – Race 10 There aren’t the same concerns over One Over Da Line’s standing start prowess, though there are some similarities between him and He Aint Fakin. Both trotters are out to secure penalty-free wins for their junior drivers. One clear advantage One Over Da Line has is that his driver Riley Harrison knows him well. The trotter brings strong form in stronger company than he meets at Omakau and looks one of the stronger winning threats on the card Palladium – Race 12 He’s another whose winning price isn’t inspiring but that’s beyond punters’ control. Palladium was excellent in his last-start second at Ascot Park among a quality field of two-year-olds. He hadn’t been sighted at the races since early October and that run is sure to have tightened him up for his Omakau mission. In that October win, Palladium handled older horses in style suggesting that stepping out of age-group company and back in amongst hardy types won’t be a problem. After being a touch unlucky in his last-start second, chances are he will be in front and out of trouble this time. View the full article

Selections for Omakau today. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Omakau Jonny Turner Racing Journalist Race 1 12.28pm 6 Mr Cash Man 8 Destiny’s Dream 7 Bettor Way 3 Nyla Race 2 12.59pm 4 Kairo 8 Jaccka Jim 11 Fiery Adi 8 What’s The Whisper Race 3 1.32pm 2 Turn N Burn 3 Cinderella Franco 10 Captain Christina 12 Mighty Flying Miki Race 4 2.06pm 8 Sonofamistery 10 By Chance 6 Rise Up N Dance 9 Quinn Race 5 2.42pm 8 Princess Sadie 7 Dreams Pat 3 Vertigo 4 Randel Huston P Race 6 3.17pm 2 Beluga 5 Anita Mary 3 Rockoutray 11 Franco Seb Race 7 3.50pm 4 Party Up Denario 3 Bannockburn 12 Babe On The Beach 10 Burnham Girl Race 8 4.25pm 4 He Aint Fakin 9 Prestigious 8 Harriet’s Moment 7 Major Fear Race 9 5.02pm 3 Wag Star 8 Pinseeker 9 Alta Meteor 7 Ruby Roe Race 10 5.34pm 6 One Over Da Line 10 B D Hall 1 Kracka Looka 9 Royal Rock Race 11 6.08pm 5 I Dream Of Jeannie 6 Midnight Dash 3 Jimmy Carter 1 Maui Race 12 6.39pm 4 Palladium 2 Henry Winkler 6 Tua Lipa 8 Fitzthebill View the full article

While Sovereignty reigned over North American racing as its earnings leader in 2025, Thoroughbred racing's winningest horse of last year, Sharp Warning, carved out his own distinction far from the spotlight.View the full article

That's uncalled for. The forum system allows a few minutes after creating a post to go back and edit it. I use that function often to correct spelling mistakes or reword somethimg that when reread doesn't convey rhw meaning intended.

It is three years since Deep Impact's long reign as Japan's champion sire ended, and six years since his death at the age of 17, but his influence on the country's stallion ranks is still profound. As well as being sire of the champion Kizuna, he is also sire of champion freshman Contrail, who, like his father, was a Triple Crown winner. And, it will doubtless come as no surprise that Deep Impact is also the champion broodmare sire for the second time. Gone but very much not forgotten. The Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby, remains an important test in Japan and Kizuna added his name to that particular roll of honour back in 2013, some seven years before Contrail did the same. That they have both now been champion first-season sire speaks volumes, both for the way these horses are valued by breeders in the support they have received, but also for the structure of Japan's two-year-old programme. Back-loaded in the season, the juvenile contests are very much a springboard for a career at three and beyond, rather than the be-all and end-all for a young racehorse. To nurture proper Classic horses, this is the way it should be, and it is also worth noting the enduring importance and influence of the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger), whose recent winners of course include the aforementioned Deep Impact and Contrail, as well as Kitasan Black – sire of the great Equinox and this year's Derby winner Croix Du Nord – as well as the revered Orfrevre, Epiphaneia, and World Premiere. From a small first crop of just 25 foals conceived at the Yushun Stallion Station, World Premiere is now the sire of Lovcen, breakthrough winner of last week's G1 Hopeful Stakes, a race won in the last two seasons by Croix Du Nord and 2024 Arima Kinen victrix Regaleira, a daughter of the Japan Cup winner Suave Richard. World Premiere had three winners from his 11 starters, and his crops to come will be similarly small, with 32 yearlings about to turn two. He covered 24 mares in 2025 at a fee of ¥500,000 (approximately €2,700). It will be interesting to see if Lovcen is a fluke or the start of something bigger to come. World Premiere was after all a decent racehorse. He was a winner at two and the Kikuka Sho wasn't his sole top-level win as he also landed the Tenno Sho (Autumn) as a five-year-old as well as finishing third in the Arima Kinen. Furthermore, his Listed-winning dam Mandela (Acatenango) is a half-sister to Manduro (Monsun), Europe's Horse of the Year in 2007. But let's talk about Contrail. Much has been expected of the near-black stallion ever since he waltzed into the yard at Shadai Stallion Station. His first foals, then yearlings, sold like the proverbial hotcakes and with no shortage of representation in 2025 – 80 runners – he has notched 19 winners including the Listed winner Badrinath and Grade 3-placed duo of Gene King and Going To Sky. Expect him to click up a gear with his first three-year-olds in 2026. While Contrail was comfortably clear on progeny earnings, both Grade 3-winning sprinter Matera Sky and GI Carter Handicap winner Mischievous Alex were ahead of him by number of winners, with 24 and 27 respectively at an impressive strike-rate, while Chrysoberyl, a Grade I winner on the dirt in Japan's Champions Cup, was fourth in the table, and also had 19 winners. From a European perspective, an honorary mention must go to the sixth-placed Benbatl. The son of Dubawi who won Group 1 races in Germany, Dubai and Australia, and has now made a decent start at Big Red Farm, with 13 winners from 49 first-crop runners. The compromised fertility of the 2021 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner Poetic Flare means that he is relatively short on numbers, with just 38 foals from his first crop. However, 26 of those have run this year with eight of them winning, to put him in eighth place in the table. Contrail, Japan's champion first-season sire of 2025 | Emma Berry Back in the big league, Kizuna finished ahead of the perennial bridesmaid Lord Kanaloa, who has now been second in the table for six consecutive years. The admirable sprinter-miler, a multiple Grade 1 winner himself, has sired 12 Grade 1 winners including the 2025 scorers Bellagio Opera, Costa Nova and Satono Reve, who also finished a close second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. As already noted, Kitasan Black produced this year's Derby winner, Croix Du Nord, and finished third in the table overall, ahead of the late Duramente, sire of the exciting three-year-old Masquerade Ball, the winner of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) who ran Calandagan to the wire in the Japan Cup. The 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Drefong continues to hold his own in Japan and was represented by his second Grade 1 winner recently in Star Anise, who landed the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and is a potential Classic contender for 2026. Drefong's previous Grade 1 winner was his first-crop son Geoglyph, who struck in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) of 2022. He is proving a reliable stallion and finished fifth in the table (as he did in 2024), narrowly ahead of Epiphaneia and Leontes, the sires respectively of Dubai Sheema Classic winner Danon Decile and Museum Mile, the winner of last weekend's Arima Kinen. Real Steel, who is bred on the same Deep Impact-Storm Cat cross as Study Of Man and, like him, is from the family of Miesque, finished eighth in the table and was represented by the brilliant Forever Young, who became Japan's first winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic. The post Kizuna and Contrail Add to Deep Impact’s Legacy in Japan’s Sire Championships appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

BloodHorse has reprised its online year-end survey to ask some of the sport's leading individuals for their opinions on pertinent issues facing the sport.View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This holiday edition is highlighted by the victory of No Pressure in Florida. Florida Clime The Answer For No Pressure Lindy Farms' No Pressure (No Nay Never) rolled to a three-quarter length victory stretching out over the Gulfstream turf for Philip Antonacci on Boxing Day (video). The homebred debuted during the Belmont at the Big A meet and ran second by a neck over six furlongs in September. Baroda Stud consigned No Pressure to the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, and he caught the eye of Greathorse Racing at €65,000 in October of 2024. Out of Compression (First Defence), the bay is the third foal, runner and winner for his placed dam, whose latest foal is a yearling full-brother to No Pressure. From a deep Juddmonte family that brought you multiple Grade I winner Sightseek (Distant View), etc., No Pressure is also related to stakes winner and G1 Middle Park Stakes second Task Force (Frankel). Coolmore's No Nay Never, priced at €100,000 in 2026, is responsible for 71 winners from 121 runners in the U.S. (59%). His 11 stakes winners there include four at graded level, with GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate his star performer. Repeat Winners No Show Sammy Jo (Lope De Vega) scampered home to win the Via Borghese Stakes at Gulfstream Park on New Year's Eve (video). Owned by Newstead Stables and trained by Graham Motion, the two-time graded placed mare is also a dual winner of the All Along Stakes. Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown's Risk Tolerance (Kingman) returned a winner at Tampa Bay on December 26 (video). A winner of an Aqueduct contest in April, the son of Loving Things (Pivotal) was winning for the second time in four starts. The post Making Waves: No Nay Never Colt Unwavering In Florida appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Friday, Meydan, Dubai, post time: 20:25, ZABEEL MILE SPONSORED BY PHI ADVERTISING-G2, AED850,000, 4yo/up & SH 3yo, 1600mT Field: Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Keffaaf (GB) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Asad Zabeel (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Vafortino (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Andrease Vesalius (Ire) (Caravaggio), Western Writer (Ire) (Shamardal). TDN Analysis: If Aomori City prevails in the Zabeel Mile, he would be the seventh winner for trainer Charlie Appleby. The gelding faces G1 Lockinge Stakes hero Audience, as well as Group 2 winner Quddwah. Friday, Meydan, Dubai, post time: 19:50, DUBAWI STAKES SPONSORED BY FRANCE GALOP-G3, AED700,000, 4yo/up & SH 3yo, 1200m Field: Dark Saffron (Flameaway), Mufasa (Chi) (Practical Joke), El Nasseeb (GB) (Profitable {Ire}), Colour Up (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Apollo One (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}). TDN Analysis: A quartet of runners faced off in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint in December, with El Nasseeb beating Colour Up, Mufasa and Group 1 hero Dark Saffron. All four are back again, and this time, El Nasseeb isn't guaranteed a pace meltdown sustained by the vanquished trio last year. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Aomori City Could Hand Appleby Seventh Zabeel Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rising Force landed one of the plunges of the season so far when he defied stall 14 to win the Class Three Cha Kwo Ling Handicap (1,200m) on his seasonal reappearance at Sha Tin on Thursday. Sensationally backed from $16 into $3.35 favourite, the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained galloper made light work of the widest barrier when Richard Kingscote managed to land on the leader's shoulder. Breezing past Matters Most as he pleased at the 400m pole, the race was settled in a matter of strides as Rising...View the full article

Mile racing is terrible to bet into for the serious punter that wants to consistently win! The winners and place getters in mile racing is just so inconsistent and you can not follow firm to much degree. Maybe the Clubs have been told to program these ridiculous short distance races so the punters who are serious dont bother? Anyway the fields at Omakau are good for punting on and should be a good day there, unless it gets too wet!

When it comes to the Coastal Classic, Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor) is like the spoiled kid who won’t let others play with their toys. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has won the only two editions of the 1700-metre race that has a giant surfboard as a trophy and is the headline event on Geelong’s feature Saturday meeting. The Cambridge Stud-raced six-year-old is out to maintain his dominance in the 2026 edition and in an ominous warning for his rivals, Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull considers him to be going better than the past two years. Last year’s win under 60kg was his first success since the inaugural Coastal Classic, but he heads into Saturday’s race a last-start winner after dead-heating with Geelong rival Precious Charm (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the 1600m Werribee Cup on December 7. “The horse is extremely well,” Turnbull said. “He’s probably arguably in better form, he’s got to carry the weight, but I wouldn’t say it’s as strong as a race as he found last year. “Hopefully we can package up and send back to New Zealand a third surfboard. “Once we picked up the second ‘board, we were always keen to come back for the third.” Holymanz goes up half-a-kilo for last year’s win and heads betting from former stablemate St Lawrence (NZ) (Redwood), who is now with Gavin Bedggood, and the Liam Howley-trained Opening Address (NZ) (So You Think). The Coastal Classic carries a $110,000 winner’s purse, and $36,000 for second, either of which would see Holymanz snare the necessary $26,718 required to make him racing’s latest millionaire. “He’s that Group Three, Group Two fringe horse and he’s just been an amazing galloper to have,” Turnbull said of the son of Almanzor, who has six wins and 10 placings from 32 starts. “He’s incredibly sound, he’s a pleasure to deal with and you wish you could have a few more of them. “A million in stakemoney is very hard to do, even in this day and age, so he’s been good to Cambridge.” Visiting English jockey Saffie Osborne rode Holymanz in last year’s Coastal Classic, but Michael Dee was aboard for the initial win and Dee goes back aboard on Saturday with the pair to jump from barrier six in the field of 10. View the full article

The stakes-winning run of trainer Stephen Marsh at Ellerslie rolled on in inevitable fashion as underrated mare Queen Zou (Zoustar) produced an undeniable finish to claim victory in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year’s Day. The five-year-old daughter of Zoustar was tasked with defending the title in the race claimed by the Marsh-trained Bourbon Empress (NZ) (Proisir) in 2025 and did so courtesy of a patient ride from Matt Cartwright, who had also been aboard last year’s winner. Marsh was keen to see plenty of speed in the race as that favoured the hard-closing style of his charge and admitted he was giggling as he saw pacemaker Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote) being pressured by a wave of contenders approaching the home bend. “This is a race we wanted to win with her and I just loved how they put the pressure on so far out as she was just stalking (them),” Marsh said. “She looked awesome beforehand and it is very exciting and rewarding for everyone.” Cartwright had been careful to keep the mare in her normal racing pattern throughout the race, settling third last against the rail and not asking her for an effort until the pressure went on around the home turn. Queen Zou moved effortlessly into contention at the 300m and found another gear as she charged to the lead to beat a brave Son Of Son (NZ) (Tavistock) and Checkmate (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), who shaded race favourite She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) for third. “It means a lot to us as this is the first horse that Dylan (Johnson, racing manager) and I really stepped out and paid a lot of money for and we’re lucky we have such fantastic and loyal owners,” Marsh said. “I said to the owners that she walks around like a panther and Matt was confident (before the race), which is half the battle. “It looks like the Thorndon Mile (Gr.2, 1600m) will be next for her.” Marsh will be looking to hold on to the Thorndon Mile crown he won with quality mare Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) in 2025 when the race is contested at Trentham on 17 January. Cartwright was also full of praise for one of his favourite horses. “She is such a beautiful, honest mare and one who is so deserving of a win like this,” he said. “She put the writing on the wall last start (runner up in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes, 1600m) at Te Rapa. “We enjoyed a beautiful run, got out at the right time and she just attacked the line. “She means a lot to me and I was quite excited after the line. I feel like she is up to Group One quality and can take that next step.” Raced by a number of long-time stable supporters including the Bourbon Lane Stable New Zealand LLC Partnership, Queen Zou was a A$650,000 purchase from the Vinery Stud draft during the 2022 Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She has now won five of her 17 starts and in excess of $328,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

John Size continued his mid-season renaissance with a double at Sha Tin on Thursday, spearheaded by the impressive success of Endued in the Class Four Lei Muk Shue Handicap (1,600m). Slow starts for the 71-year-old are par for the course and the well-known mid-season rally from the champion trainer is well under way, with Thursday’s brace continuing an impressive run of form that has seen him train six winners from his last 31 runners. Size is certainly not known for stable transfers, but Endued...View the full article

Storm Rider capitalised on a perfect ride by Karis Teetan and light weight to bag a career-best victory in Thursday’s Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin. Racing four points out of the handicap in his Group race debut, the consistent five-year-old was brown-lamped from $18 to $9.7 late and lifted when it mattered most to prevail in a thrilling three-way finish. Teetan secured his fourth triumph in the New Year’s Day feature since 2018 when Storm Rider won by a short head...View the full article

Which paragraph did you edit, or is English not your first language ???

Terrible track for betting on. Hard watch if you are on the horse in the trail and it never gets a go. One of the few tracks I will not have a bet on now.

they're happy with it Brodster. Been doing it since Harold Park closed 2010. the racing is sensational. we are nearly getting up to the Menangle pace in Brisbane now on the 1000m track . scary they are running 1.50 now.A 2 yearold won the 2 year old slot race last year in 1.50.2. Incredibly quick. And you saw him in NZ having a crack at the Derby recently named FATE AWAITS. Fate Awaits only a distant 3rd to the great horses Marketplace and Got The Choc's though. 2 of NZ's brightest stars. so there's Hope for fast kiwi's yet ??? 👍😎💰 send em' to the Brissy Interdominion this year mate. Makes men out of boys lol. 🤣 Miracle Mile usually about 1.48 winning time Chief. for the Grand Circuit horses. the very best 4 year olds that can run in ' Chariot's of Fire ' usually around 1.49 miles Standard FFA'ers around 1.50-1.51 miles three year olds 1.51-1.52.

If you read the Wexford Facebook site, they had a fairly high opinion of her, which the odds setters must have taken note of, as she opened at 2.80. Unusual for such a large drift to take place on a promising Wexford horse. The big tightener was Pulsatilla, but that came to nothing

Perhaps we are over rating the oppositiom. Ohope Wins only really ran one decent sectional.

I don't think the jockey can take too much credit for Ohope Wins win, the horse did all the work

You just answered your own question.

Well he is still in his PJ's with one of those cricket umpire clickers counting strokes on his HD TV reviewing all the races this week. Been a big week so I guess he is behind.