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Iron Honor emerged from his Feb. 28 victory in the Gotham Stakes (G3) in good condition. Trainer Chad Brown plans to keep the colt at Belmont Park to prepare for the April 4 Wood Memorial (G2).View the full article

So Happy (Runhappy), Brant (Gun Runner) and Potente (Into Mischief) all worked Sunday in preparation for expected starts in the Mar. 7 GII San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. So Happy, winner of the GII San Vicente Stakes going seven furlongs Jan. 10, blazed four furlongs in :46.8 for trainer Mark Glatt. Hall of Famer Mike Smith was aboard for the work. “Dynamite,” Smith said. “He's never been a flashy work horse in the morning, a bit lazy actually, but this was one of his best works if not the best. He was just cruising. It was all him.” The San Felipe will be Run Happy's first time racing around two turns. “You never know until they do it,” Smith said of the added distance. “But he's given me every indication in his sprint races that he would do it. I never felt like I was on fumes at the end.” GI Del Mar Futurity winner Brant and Potente are both trained by Bob Baffert. Brant worked five furlongs in :59.8, while Potente went four furlongs in :47.4. Baffert confirmed that, as of Sunday morning, he plans to enter both colts in the San Felipe. He added he has not decided yet whether to enter nominees Boyd or Buetane. A $3-million OBS March purchase last year, Brant is owned by Zedan Racing Stables. The San Felipe would be Brant's first start since finishing third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. Potente, a $2.4 million buy at Fasig-Tipton, is campaigned by Speedway Stable. Potente won his debut going six furlongs on Jan. 31 at Santa Anita. The post So Happy, Brant, Potente Have Final Tune-ups for San Felipe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Only interesting thing about the race is where Well Written draws. Are they gunna do that embarrassing chocolate egg thing again? How are BP and Hunt gunna make Running The Numbers show interesting? Same race multi tips from BP using Stephen's analysis? Exciting viewing! What to do with the $150 after Well Written wins?

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) looked no worse for wear at Payson Park Sunday morning after taking the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream one day earlier. “He looks great this morning,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We're real pleased with him.” Winner of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes in early January, Commandment fended off 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) in the Kentucky Derby point-earning qualifier. The 1 1/16-mile test serves as a prep for the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 29 at Gulfstream. While the one-sixteenth mile shorter Fountain of Youth ended at the first finish line on Gulfstream's 1 1/8 mile track, the Florida Derby concludes at the second finish line at the oval. “I think it was important that Irad [Ortiz Jr.] asked him to run to the second wire there for the experience moving forward,” explained Cox. “If we pursue the Florida Derby, it makes sense to continue on to the second wire.” “You're only doing it if everything's going well. If you're fading or not doing well down the lane, you don't ask him, but if you have horse and you're finishing well, you may as well go ahead and educate him, stay on and finish up.” Commandment, fourth in his six-furlong career debut at Keeneland last fall, won a seven-furlong allowance at Churchill Downs in November prior to his Mucho Macho Man victory. “I think his first run at Keeneland, if you actually watch it and watch the gallop-out, he showed a good bit there as well. It was a better performance on tape than it was on paper. I think it was a fair way of looking at it,” Cox said. “He's been nothing but impressive, the way I look at it, in the afternoons from the time he broke his maiden, won the Mucho Macho Man and [Saturday].” Michael and Katherine Ball's Chief Wallabee earned 25 Derby points for his strong second-place finish in just his second career start. According to trainer Bill Mott, there are 'four or five races to choose from' for Chief Wallabee's next start. The post Commandment ‘Looks Great’ After Fountain of Youth Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) worked a half-mile at Payson Park on Sunday morning. Also named the Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old of the 2025 season, the Godolphin homebred covered four furlongs in the official time of :49.64. According to the DRF, the colt worked in tandem with GSP Royal Majesty (GB) (Frankel {GB}), finishing a length ahead of his stablemate while galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.88. “I thought he looked great,” Bill Mott told DRF Sunday. “He's been off a while. You'd want six or eight works in him before you run him, I'd think.” According to Mott, the 4-year-old will make his seasonal debut in the GII Oaklawn Handicap on Apr. 18. The champion has now recorded three works since getting KO'd from a start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in November. After a three-furlong work at Payson on Feb. 15 (:37.40), the bay covered the same trip (and time) on Feb. 22 prior to Sunday's move. The post Sovereignty Works at Payson, Targets Oaklawn Handicap appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dozens of jockeys and trainers are among thousands of people stranded across the Gulf region as the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has closed large swathes of airspace.View the full article

An Australian Guineas (G1) win by Observer highlighted a pair of group 1s won by Godolphin and trainer Ciaron Maher in Australia Feb. 28.View the full article

TAB has To Bravery Born and Convinced as the last 2 runners

St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence and Glassman Racing's Iron Honor (Nyquist) earned 50 points to the Kentucky Derby when winning Saturday's GIII Gotham at Aqueduct. According to Michele Dollase, assistant to trainer Chad Brown, the colt came out of the race in good order. “He came out of the race great. He ate up and looks good this morning,” said Dollase. “We're on to the next race. As of right now, he is good. He came out of the race really good.” Brown said post-race he will keep the colt at Belmont to prepare for Aqueduct's GII Wood Memorial on Apr. 4. The nine-furlong test is also a Kentucky Derby qualifier. “He came out of the race great. I think he does want to go farther. He only just got here on Wednesday from Florida,” Dollase said. “He really only trained one day here, but still went and did his thing Saturday, which was really impressive.” Iron Honor, who came into Saturday's race off a six-furlong win at the Big A on Dec. 13, exited that effort a little body sore and was given some time at Brown's Payson Park Training Center base. “This horse missed a little training when he shipped down to Florida,” explained Brown. “If you look there was a gap of about a month for the works. He didn't ship in completely healthy and then he came back good. I appreciate the owners for being patient. My team did a great job.” On Saturday over the Belmont dirt training track, the Brown-trained duo of Ottinho (Quality Road) and Schoolyardsuperman (Practical Joke) worked a half-mile together in :49.90. Ottinho was a distant third with his stablemate back in fourth last time out in the nine-furlong Withers on Feb. 6. Ottinho is under consideration for the Wood Memorial. Also on the Gotham card, Klaravich Stables' Current Yield (Nyquist), a debut winner at Tampa in January, picked up 7.5 points towards the Kentucky Oaks after finishing fourth in the Busher Stakes. “She came back fine,” Dollase said. “She's good. She ate up.” The post Undefeated Iron Honor Exits Gotham Win in Fine Form appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LEINANI (f, 3, Omaha Beach–Romy, by Karakontie {Jpn}) debuted Jan. 24 over this main track in a six-furlong maiden dash, closing from the back of the field to run fourth. Well supported to the tune of even-money favoritism for this second jump, she was away alertly this time and moving well behind fractions of :23.93 and four panels in :47.30. In hand from four off the rail and clearing those early pacesetters coming off the bend, Leinani drew away from Slow Kara (Medaglia d'Oro) to win by 8 1/4 lengths. The final time was 1:38.45 for the mile. The victress is out of a half-sister to GSW Wells Bayou (Lookin at Lucky), and is the first to the races for the mare. Romy's juvenile colt Waddy Sinjar (War of Will) was exported to the UAE last year and she has a yearling Highly Motivated filly to her credit. The dam is due to Loggins for 2026. This is the female family of champion 3-year-old Big Brown and his half-siblings GSW Archaggelos (Temple City) and MGSP Afonso de Sousa (Henrythenavigator). 2nd-Gulfstream, $68,000, Msw, 3-1, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:38.45, ft, 8 1/4 lengths. LEINANI (f, 3, Omaha Beach–Romy, by Karakontie {Jpn}) Sales history: $160,000 2yo '25 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $43,520. O-Walmac Farm; B-Circle N Thoroughbred & Mill Ridge Farm et al (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #2 LEINANI ($4.20) by Omaha Beach (@spendthriftfarm) ran away from the field in the stretch to easily win race 2 at @GulfstreamPark. @Tyler_Gaff was in the irons for Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/sXOatISd8N — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 1, 2026 The post Omaha Beach’s Leinani Straight and Strong in Second-Out Graduation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Millionaire Arzak (Not This Time–Delightful Melody, by Tapit) had his first two mares scanned in foal on Feb. 27. Arzak stands for $6,000 LFSN at Amsterdam Two Farm in Middleburgh, NY. The mares confirmed pregnant are Notmysteppingstone (Bustin Stones), a winning daughter of SW and GSP A True Pussycat and half-sister to MSW and GSP Daring Duchess. The other is Whisper to Mama (Medaglia d'Oro) out of stakes winner Whisper to Me and half-sister to MGSW Overheard. Notmysteppingstone is owned by Franklin Ave. Equine & Bridle Path Racing, while Whisper to Mama is owned by Amsterdam Two. “We're over the moon about the reception Arzak has gotten from New York breeders thus far,” said Amsterdam Two's manager Ken Williams. “Of course, it certainly helps that Not This Time's hot streak continues–leading all North American sires by graded stakes winners and Triple Crown nominees in 2026.” Arzak, a $575,000 OBS Spring 2-year-old purchase, won the GII Woodford Stakes and GII Shakertown Stakes in addition to Woodbine's GIII Jacques Cartier and Thorncliffe Stakes (setting a new track record). Arzak was also second in Saratoga's GI Jaipur Stakes. The post First Mares Checked In Foal for Millionaire Arzak appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Irish Flat season is a matter of weeks away, with the opening day of the season kicking off at the Curragh on March 15, where the €100,000 Irish Lincoln takes centre stage. There will be Classic clues aplenty on April 12, when the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas Trials, along with the Ballysax Stakes, a key Derby trial, takes place at Leopardstown. TDN Europe's Brian Sheerin has had a look at some of the under-the-radar three-year-olds who could have a big role to play that weekend and indeed for the rest of the season below. Bamako Beach Bamako Beach: was sold by Eoin McDonagh at the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale | Tattersalls Sands Of Mali colt out of Joyous (Assertive) Form: 2 Trainer: Michael O'Callaghan There can be few colts housed outside of the powerhouse Irish stables that boast such an exciting profile. Picked up for 72,000gns at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, he is a fine advertisement of the calibre of animal that his trainer Michael O'Callaghan seems to unearth from that sphere year in, year out. There was a huge amount of encouragement to be taken from Bamako Beach's debut second over 7f at Naas last September, where he was only just mowed down in the dying strides by a stronger stayer. On that evidence, Bamako Beach could develop into a classy prospect over a mile this season, and it is interesting that connections have handed him an entry in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He can be expected to start in a Guineas trial and is potentially very smart. Alphecca Joe Murphy snr and jnr have a lot to look forward to with Alphecca | Tattersalls Sioux Nation filly out of Nepali (Ire) (The Gurkha) 5311 Joe Murphy Joe Murphy provided us with one of the feel-good stories of the entire Flat season in 2025 when Cercene supplied the veteran trainer with a breakthrough success at the highest level and Alphecca could well be capable of carrying on the mantle and keeping the stable in lights this term. An impressive maiden scorer over a mile at Killarney on her third start, she put away a decent field for the valuable Irish EBF Auction Series Final at Naas in the style of a filly capable of taking a step up in grade this year. A Guineas trial would be a natural starting point and, even if she wasn't Guineas class, her current mark of 89 would be good enough to get her into the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. There could be some big targets to aim at with her. The Publican's Son Beau Liam colt out of Annie Walker 28 Joseph O'Brien The Publican's Son came from an impossible position to post an unbelievably taking debut second in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes before blotting his copy book when bombing out in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. There are reasons to suggest it could be wise to put a line through that Middle Park effort, not least for the fact the horse was sourced at an American Breeze-Up Sale at Ocala last March and was asked to cram a lot into a short space of time between being prepared for the breeze-ups, acclimatising into a new stable in Ireland and ultimately taking in Group 1 races. The impression he created on debut was a big one. Starting from a completely clean slate this season, one can expect him to have a big year over sprint distances. Long-term, he could even be a Commonwealth Cup candidate. Black Caviar Gold Black Caviar Gold: a smart prospect for Paddy Twomey | Racingfotos.com Havana Grey filly out of Perfect Outing (Outstrip) 3411 Paddy Twomey Bond Thoroughbreds rode the crest of a wave last year with Maranoa Charlie among others and few horses in the black and yellow will excite quite like Black Caviar Gold. Trained by Paddy Twomey, the daughter of Havana Grey went from strength to strength last term, culminating with victory in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh on the fourth and final start of her juvenile campaign. The manner in which she saw out the seven furlongs would give her every chance of getting the mile this season. Montreal Sea The Stars colt out of Muwakaba (Elusive Quality) 31 Aidan O'Brien It wouldn't be difficult to comprise a list of 10 horses to follow from Ballydoyle alone but, if there is one horse who is underestimated with a view towards some of the big races this season, perhaps it is Montreal, who can be backed at odds as big as 20-1 for the Derby. Well-supported to win a 1m maiden on debut at Leopardstown, Montreal was slowly away and never managed to land a blow. However, he went some way to illustrating why the market spoke so favourably about him on debut when bolting up by eight lengths over the same course and distance a fortnight later. A last minute withdrawal from a Group 2 contest at the Irish Champions Festival, Montreal remains untested beyond maiden company. However, he made a lasting impression at Leopardstown and it will be very interesting to see where he fits in this year. He looks a lively Derby outsider at this juncture at least. Whatchadoin Starman colt out of American Spirit (Rock Of Gibraltar) 7335513-22 Josh Halley An extremely likeable horse, he has opened up more options to connections by filling the runner-up spot over a mile the last twice at Dundalk. That latest effort came on Friday behind a highly-touted filly in Blanc De Blanc and, while he was ultimately no threat to that Classic entrant, there was reason to believe Whatchadoin has a lot more to offer. For starters, he is a fine, big colt with great depth and scope for improvement. Secondly, he has only one eye, which could go some way to explaining why he has taken nine runs to start fulfilling his potential. For that reason, he can also be forgiven what at times appears to be a gawky head carriage. The handicapper is likely to have a say for his Patton Race second but Whatchadoin strikes as a horse who can be competitive in premier handicaps this season. With fitness from an all-weather campaign on his side, he could run well in something like the Madrid Handicap at Naas in just a few weeks' time. Thundering On Frankel filly out of Thundering Nights (Night Of Thunder) 42 Joseph O'Brien Sharpoor Mistry does not have many horses in training but few people will have trouble remembering his Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes heroine Thundering Nights, who is the dam of Thundering On. Unfortunately, Thundering Nights is listed as having passed away, which would place added emphasis on what Thundering On might be able to achieve for the owner-breeder. Judging on the Frankel filly's staying-on second behind Sugar Island in a Group 3 contest at the Curragh towards the back-end last season, Thundering On has a very bright future. She should be a formality to win her maiden and could even develop into an Oaks filly. Minella Rockett John Nallen [left] and Matt Hall | Tattersalls New Bay colt out of Ebalista (Selkirk) 0432- John Nallen Minella Rockett might not be a black-type horse but he is well capable of winning plenty of prize-money for John Nallen, who is better associated with nurturing Gold Cup and Grand National winners. The son of New Bay has shown maiden-winning potential for Nallen and it should only be a matter of time before he opens his account. He could develop into a nice handicapper and may even end up in something like the lucrative Gowran Classic later this season. Loch Gamhna Australia colt out of Cascella (Iffraaj) 03- Martin Hassett On that note, there is a distinct lack of those middle-distance types scattered around the smaller stables, presumably because they are highly tradable to abroad when they achieve form over seven furlongs or more. Undoubtedly, Martin Hassett would have tabled offers for Loch Gamhna, who looked a potentially interesting type when third over seven furlongs at the Curragh last October. Connections are understood to have decided to roll the dice with the Australia colt and, at a minimum, he should be up to increasing his value this season. There are lots of options available to him. Kilashee Warrior Saxon Warrior filly out of Ascended (Dark Angel) 441 Eddie and Patrick Harty Kilashee Warrior's form stacks up well and she rates an interesting filly for a father-and-son team who continue to make waves on the Irish Flat scene. The daughter of Saxon Warrior out-ran her 50-1 price tag when not a million miles off getting black-type when fourth in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown at the Irish Champions Festival and followed up on that effort with a pretty straightforward maiden success at Thurles. She is lightly-raced and is another filly who can be expected to line out in a Guineas trial in the early parts of the season. The post Under The Radar: 10 Irish-Trained Three-Year-Olds To Follow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dozens of jockeys and trainers are among thousands of people stranded across the Gulf region as the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has closed large swathes of airspace.View the full article

The Frankie Lor-trained Stormy Grove (Toronado) came from a long way back to cause an upset in Sunday's HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin, showing a serious turn of foot to stamp his authority on the contest and register a one-length verdict. Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) was second, with another half a length back to Patch Of Cosmo (Super Seth) in third. Favourite Little Paradise (Toronado), who had kicked off the Four-Year-Old Classic Series with an impressive success in the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, could finish only eighth having suffered a troubled passage. The winner was ridden by the British-born Harry Bentley, who said, “This feels extremely special. I've liked this horse throughout and I've struck up a good partnership with him. I was extremely impressed with the way he won last time. I had to come into this race with a certain level of expectation and hope. But to do it the way he did was pretty breathtaking.” He continued, “This ranks very highly on my wins in Hong Kong and it's very special. He's stepped up again and he can do it. Same again, now, to the Derby.” The Hong Kong Classic Cup is the middle leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, with the final leg, the HK$26-million BMW Hong Kong Derby, scheduled to take place over 2,000 metres at Sha Tin on Sunday, March 22. Lor said, “I thought if the pace was suitable for him, he could do the same thing as last time at 1,600 [metres]. Next is 2,000 [metres] and I think, if the pace is suitable for him, then he can do the same thing.” Bred by Adam Sangster, Rebecca and Simon Lurati's Ealing Park, John Dickson's Sandown Lodge and Tim Jones, Stormy Grove was bought by Nardoo Valley Stud's Philip George for A$135,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Starting his racing career in Australia for Patrick and Michelle Payne, he won impressively on debut at Geelong in December 2024, before finishing an eye-catching second at Flemington. He was then exported to Hong Kong, having been purchased by Jamie McCalmont on behalf of owners Marc Chan and Lily Chan Li Lei. Stormy Grove is one of five winners from six runners out of the Exceed And Excel mare Seagrove, with the others including the Listed Hilton Nicholas Straight Six runner-up Deekay (Hellbent). Seagrove herself is out of a winning full-sister to the G1 Ansett Australia Stakes scorer Hill Of Grace (Zabeel) and G2 Caulfield Autumn Classic winner Renewable (Zabeel). The post Stormy Grove Sparkles with Hong Kong Classic Cup Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) barely came out of second gear as he repeated his 2024 success in the HK$13-million Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, emulating the likes of Viva Pataca (2008 and 2009), Designs On Rome (2015 and 2016) and Golden Sixty (2021 and 2023) as a dual winner of the Group 1 prize. Trained by Danny Shum, Romantic Warrior is also now just leg away from becoming only the third horse in history to complete the Hong Kong Triple Crown after this effortless win. Racing in third for much of the contest as Beauty Joy (Sebring) took the field along at a solid gallop, he moved up to challenge early in the straight and quickly left his five rivals trailing in his wake under a hands-and-heels ride from James McDonald. The official winning margin was four lengths, with another 1 1/4 lengths separating Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid) and Winning Wing (Preferment) in second and third, respectively. The final leg of the Triple Crown is the HK$13-million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, which takes place at Sha Tin on Sunday, May 24. In the meantime, Romantic Warrior will chase the 14th top-level victory of his career in the HK$30-million G1 FWD QEII Cup on Sunday, April 26, a race he has already won on three occasions. “I think he will now go to the QEII Cup and then to the Champions & Chater before he finishes the season,” said Shum. “Maybe next season we will go to the Saudi Cup – we will keep everything open for now. “His condition is getting better and better. The 2,000 metres is his best trip. I think he can handle it [2,400 metres in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup], but I don't know if any overseas horses will come.” The only Triple Crown winners in Hong Kong racing history are River Verdon (Be My Native) in 1993/94 and Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) last season. On Sunday, Voyage Bubble could manage only fifth when trying to defend his Hong Kong Gold Cup crown. Whilst McDonald partnered Voyage Bubble to each of his Triple Crown wins in 2025, the New Zealand-born jockey has chosen to continue his remarkable association with the record-breaking Romantic Warrior this time round. McDonald said, “He's just beautifully prepared. Danny's just done a marvellous job and, each and every time I hop on him, I just cherish the moment. I feel so special every time and you look between his ears and he's just so alert.” Pedigree Notes Romantic Warrior is the best runner from the much-missed sire Acclamation. The son of Royal Applause sired 68 stakes winners, including 32 in Group/Graded company and seven at Group/Grade 1 level. The winner's dam won once at two in England and has five winners from five to race, including the stakes-placed End Of Romance (Showcasing). Her latest foals are Le Samourai (New Bay), an unraced three-year-old, and a yearling filly by Havana Grey. Second dam Folk Opera claimed the GI E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, as well as the G2 Prix Jean Romanet. One step closer to the triple crown! ROMANTIC WARRIOR wins the Hong Kong Gold Cup again under @mcacajamez…#HKRacing @HKJC_Racing pic.twitter.com/P7CyBYCdwz — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 1, 2026 The post Romantic Warrior Strolls to Victory in Second Leg of Hong Kong Triple Crown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jerry Chau Chun-lok continued his incredible form and celebrated his 200th Hong Kong win in style with a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday. Fresh from nine winners in February, Chau picked up where he left off to boot home Francis Lui Kin-wai’s pair Chill Partners and Galactic Voyage and the in-form Emblazon. “After I graduated in 2021, everything was more of a challenge and I had to fight for it and at this stage, I’m really happy with 200 winners,” Chau said. “I need to thank the trainers who have...View the full article

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen conjured a third Classic Cup (1,800m) boilover in eight years when Stormy Grove defied his $22.25 quote to claim a powerful victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. In a race tipped to be fought out by $2.5 favourite Little Paradise and Lor’s $3.8 chance Numbers, Stormy Grove backed up his barnstorming 1,600m triumph at his previous start to storm into contention for the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 22. Taken back by Harry Bentley from barrier 12, the Australian...View the full article

Initial purchase price of the slot covers entry for the first 3 years. $125,000 for running 13th or 14th, so along with the money prepaid, that is close to 300K

Karis Teetan has revealed the “very scary” experience of being stuck in the middle of missile strikes in Dubai, with the Hong Kong-based jockey, trainer Chris So Wai-yin and Jockey Club broadcast staff facing an uncertain wait on returning home. Teetan, who was in Dubai to ride So’s galloper Sing Dragon on Saturday night, missed rides at Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting and is likely to miss more upcoming rides after the US-Israel and Iran conflict forced airspace closures in the Middle East. “Very...View the full article

Members of the racing community in Dubai for Super Saturday now face an anxious wait for the airport to reopen in the wake of the American and Israeli attacks on Iran which resulted in the death of Ayatollah Al Khamenei. Racing went ahead at Meydan on a day when the Fairmont hotel on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah caught fire after being hit during an Iranian air attack. Overnight on Saturday, the Dubai International Airport (DXB), which serves some 250,000 passengers daily, also sustained damage which resulted in injuries to four passengers, according to multiple reports. Thousands of flights had already been cancelled to and from the UAE on Saturday, with Abu Dhabi's airport and Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel also being hit by falling debris from missile interceptions. Sunday's scheduled race meeting for Jebel Ali has been postponed to March 15. Trainer Jamie Osborne, a regular visitor to Meydan, where he has trained six winners during the current Dubai Racing Carnival, told TDN on Sunday morning, “They've just announced that the airport won't reopen until Monday afternoon at the earliest. I would imagine the reality of it opening then will depend largely on what happens in the next 24 hours. “There appears to be less airborne action today than there was yesterday. It was kind of surreal yesterday. We were racing and you could see missiles being hit out of the air above us.” He said that the horses stabled at Meydan were all unfazed by the activity but added, “There were a few loud bangs quite close to the international stables this morning but the horses are fine. Other than that, you wouldn't necessarily know there was anything going on. “We'll just have to sit it out. Obviously, there's a backlog of people trying to get out of the country, so I don't know quite how long it's going to take us to do it.” Francis Graffard, who had been at Meydan to oversee Rayevka in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint and has the world's top-rated racehorse Calandagan entered for the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 28, had been due to leave Dubai after Saturday's meeting. He said, “It's pretty quiet here but we don't know when we will be able to leave. I had looked at taking a flight from Oman, but I think I'll just stay in my hotel in Dubai and wait. The Emirates flights have all been cancelled for tomorrow afternoon.” Bloodstock agent and racing advisor Federico Barberini said that a security alert sent to people's phones during the night had caused some alarm but that the situation had quietened on Sunday morning. “To be perfectly honest, if I didn't read the news, I wouldn't know that there was anything going on today,” he said. “Around 1am we had an alert to our phones saying take shelter, so that scared us, obviously. We spent half an hour by the door and then I went to bed and slept with my jeans on and my passport in my pocket.” The alert sent to mobile phones in the early hours of Sunday Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum was at Meydan on Saturday to enjoy the 21st victory for his evergreen Rebel's Romance in the G2 Dubai City of Gold and to witness two notable victories for his brother, Sheikh Ahmed. Anthony Stroud, who works closely with the Godolphin operation, said on Sunday of Sheikh Mohammed's presence at the meeting, “That's the sort of man he is really. I mean, when there are problems to be addressed, he is very much at the fore of it all.” He added, “It has been a bit nerve-wracking, and these missiles keep coming over, but apart from that, we're watching CNN or BBC, and it's okay really.” Simon Crisford, who, with his son Ed, trained three winners on the Super Saturday card, including the Group 2 winners Quddwah and Meydaan for Sheikh Ahmed, said, “When Sheikh Mohammed goes racing it always makes it more special and it was a great thrill for us to win for Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid as well. I've been connected with him ever since I was at John Dunlop's and we had a horse called Wassl, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas [in 1983].” He added, “Now we are just waiting for further information. The authorities have been brilliant and they're keeping everyone informed. I don't know when the airport will open but all of the horses seem to be fine and everyone else is fine.” On Saturday, March 28, Dubai is set to stage one of the world's richest racedays, the Dubai World Cup meeting, which is worth a total of $30.5 million. The post ‘I Slept With My Jeans On And My Passport In My Pocket’: Racing Community Marooned in Dubai appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Romantic Warrior continued his march towards Triple Crown glory after leaving his rivals standing still in a jaw-dropping performance to win the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. It was a 13th Group One success for the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained global superstar, who produced one of his most devastating displays yet under James McDonald to win by four lengths eased down. Sitting third behind long-time pacesetter Beauty Joy and second-running Ensued, Romantic Warrior was always...View the full article

I'm beginning to wonder if one or two slots might not pay up?

Running out of time 4. NOMINATION AND ACCEPTANCE (b) A Slot Holder must nominate one eligible horse, to complete in the Slot Holder’s Slot in the Race (Slot Holder’s horse) by 10am on the Monday prior to the running of each Edition of the Race (Nomination Closing Time). (d) NZTR will confirm acceptances and announce the final field for each Edition of the Race by 4pm on the Tuesday prior to the running of that Edition of the Race (Field Announcement Time). 5. DECLARATION OF EMERGENCIES (a) NZTR will declare up to four emergency runners for the Race at the Field Announcement Time. (b) The horses to be declared emergency runners will be selected by NZTR or the Race Committee. (c) The declaration of emergency runners for the Race will be a list and not an order of entry in the event of a scratching.

Have to say that's a cracker pic of OP. Don't get that sort of racing photography much anymore.

Great horse picks Murray, keep up the good work, this fella may have been a late scratching, A mate bought a pair of meatloaf undies, on the front it said, I'll do anything for love, and on the back, said, but I wont do that.