All Activity

Mark Newnham looks to have another smart one on his hands after Lucky Ranger made it second-time lucky with a dominant success in the first section of the Class Four On Ting Handicap (1,400m). The Vanbrugh galloper ran a big race on debut from a wide draw but with the benefit of the run under his belt, he was able to defy stall 14 on this occasion under an ice-cool Luke Ferraris. Able to settle midfield with cover from the widest stall, the pair ambled into contention and when let down in the...View the full article

Andrea Atzeni helped Flow Water Flow boost his faint hope of making the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) with a last-gasp victory to clinch a treble for the Sardinian jockey at Sha Tin on Sunday. Adding to a memorable week after booting home a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Atzeni won both sections of the Class Four Lung Yat Handicap (1,200m) on dirt on King Dance and Good Chap before striking in the Class Three Yau Oi Handicap (1,800m) on Flow Water Flow. Desperately needing to boost his...View the full article

Numbers led them a merry dance and showed he is the real deal with an authoritative all-the-way performance in the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Second in the Group One Queensland Derby (2,400m) on his final start before being imported, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s galloper again enhanced his claims on the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) after being guided to a facile success by Derek Leung Ka-chun. The son of Tivaci ran riot from the front to get off the mark in...View the full article

Outstanding

It may not have been by design, but Balcairn trainer Centaine Spittles got her hands back on the Gore Cup following In Vegas’ (NZ) (Telperion) win in the KB Contractors & MLT-sponsored 2200m feature at Wingatui on Saturday. The seven-year-old daughter of Telperion won the southern Cup at Gore last year and Spittles didn’t have any intention of her mare defending her crown, however, the race’s transfer to Wingatui following Gore’s abandonment last week opened up a window of opportunity. “We got a little bit lucky with them putting Gore off and transferring the Cup to Dunedin,” Spittles said. “I was never backing her up after Marlborough, we were always going to go to Dunedin (for the Dunedin Cup). That (abandonment) gave us a second chance to have a crack at that Cup.” In Vegas headed into the race in good form, having finished runner-up in the Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) and Marlborough Cup (2000m) last month, giving Spittles plenty of confidence heading south. From her outside barrier in the 10-horse field, In Vegas was taken back to settle at the rear of the field before jockey Akshay Balloo asked his charge to improve three-wide from the 800m. In Vegas loomed ominously at the turn and after balancing up she began to wear down the leaders, capturing the lead with 100m to go and dashed away to a 1-1/4 length victory over Generation Joy. “I was pretty confident with her going down and she ran up to what I expected,” Spittles said. “Akshay knows her really well. I thought she was pulling too hard in the running, but he got going right when he needed to.” The Gore Cup is the first leg of the Southern Cups Bonus Series where a $50,000 winner-takes-all bonus is up for grabs. In Vegas’ bid last year was curtailed by injury and Spittles is intent on chasing the cash on offer, with her next target being the Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui in a fortnight. “We are going to crack onto the Dunedin Cup and then all going well we might as well go for the final and then give her a freshen-up after that,” Spittles said. “Last year we planned on doing the series because she won the Gore Cup, but she got hurt coming home so we will have another go at it this year.” A $500 purchase off gavelhouse.com, In Vegas has proven to be an astute buy for Spittles, with the mare having won seven and placed in 10 starts to date and has earned more than $217,000 in prizemoney. “She has been great,” Spittles said. “She has taken a bit of time and tests your patience at times, but those ones are always worth it.” Spittles was also pleased with the runner-up performance of stablemate Flower Moon (NZ) (All Too Hard) in the Otago Engineering (1400m). A fellow gavelhouse graduate, Flower Moon, a daughter of stakes winner Silver Eclipse, was purchased by Spittles off Pencarrow Stud for $8,000. She has won three races for Spittles and more than $60,000 in prizemoney, and the North Canterbury horsewoman was pleased with her effort on Saturday. “The draw (15) didn’t help her that much, but she just seems to be a better mare when she keeps rolling around them,” Spittles said. “It was a tough run but the winner beat her fair and square. “She is another one that is back in form. She will probably go to Ashburton in two weeks over 1400m and we may step her up to a mile somewhere to see if she can get the distance.” View the full article

Trelawney Stud’s Australian import Miss Jones (Deep Field) continued her faultless New Zealand form at Te Rapa on Saturday when extending her unbeaten sequence to four following her victory in the Horses & Henley Park 1200. Purchased as a yearling by the farm’s former manager Kevin “Millie” Walls, under his KPW Bloodstock banner, Miss Jones began her career in Australia for the Cambridge farm with trainers Richard and Will Freedman, for whom she placed in six of her 10 starts. Trelawney Stud principals Brent and Cherry Taylor thought she may be better placed in New Zealand and decided to bring her across the Tasman and entrusted her to the care of Matamata trainer Cody Cole last spring. She has thrived in the rural environment of his Waikato property and showcased that first-up when clearing maidens at Ellerslie in December. She has been perfectly placed in her subsequent outings, contesting three MAAT races and she has brought home a winning cheque on each occasion. The daughter of Deep Field was backing up just a week after her last start at Trentham and that was her connections only concern heading into Saturday, but she was able to hold off the late challenge of a luckless Sarti, who was hampered early in the race, to win by a head. “She was really tough,” Cherry Taylor said. “I thought if she was going to get beaten it would have been today on a short back-up. “He (Cole) has done an amazing job with her. She is a filly that is not easy. The Freedman boys did a great job with her (in Australia) but she really likes being trained out of the paddock, so it has been perfect to bring her back here and get those wins on the board as a broodmare in the future.” Miss Jones will now head to the spelling paddock on a high, with her connections now hatching a plan to tackle some stakes targets with their mare as they set their sights towards her future broodmare career. “She is going to the paddock now for a well-deserved spell and we will bring her back and hopefully get some black-type with her,” Taylor said. While bought on their behalf by their former farm manager, Miss Jones also has a connection to Trelawney Stud’s current manager, Callum Jones, with the mare named after his daughter. “She is named after Vienna Jones, Callum, our manager’s daughter,” Taylor said. “She is out of Vienna Miss, so we thought Miss Jones was perfect. Vienna was super excited to see her win.” View the full article

Progressive three-year-old That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) never left the inside rail as he stormed home to collect his richest career win in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Chris Wood-prepared son of Lucky Vega hasn’t shied away from tackling the best of his age group in his current preparation having taken out the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) three starts ago before finishing fifth to Well Written in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) and third behind Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender Chilling Out at his most recent performance. Wood has made no secret of his regard for his charge and gave rider Sam Collett a clear plan before the race, which she followed to the letter. “I thought drawn (barrier) one he had to be hard to beat,” Wood said. “I said to her don’t dig him up too much as he will get over-racing as we are trying to get him to settle as we head towards those 2000m and more races.” Bounced away quickly at the start by Collett, That’s Gold enjoyed a perfect trail behind Thorax before sticking hard against the running rail turning for home. Eventual runner-up Rambling On issued his challenge wider out as That’s Gold hit the front at the 200m and the pair went to the line locked together, with That’s Gold securing the line by a head at the winning post. Wood wasn’t afraid to shed a tear as he thanked his owners and stable staff for the contribution they have made to the horse. “It’s a huge, huge thrill and I’m over the moon,” he said. “His work this week has been exceptional. He has a great syndicate of owners and I have to thank them, my staff at home who are incredible, and my farrier. “I have a lot of good people around me who are a big help and it was also a lovely ride by Sam.” Wood noted the horse would now head to the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2200m) at Ellerslie on 21 February before contesting the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) a fortnight later. Collett was delighted with the run given her mount was up against quite a few older runners. “He is only a three-year-old and there were quite a few four-year-olds in the race with more experience,” she said. “He showed what he can do and he is a much better chaser, so I had a bunny to follow today, the rail opened up and he did the rest. “He quickened really well and he has just kept improving on his Derby path.” That’s Gold was purchased by Wood alongside Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman for A$57,500 out of the Yulong draft at the 2024 Inglis Premier Sale. He has now won three of his 14 starts and over $287,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Good tipping with Heza loch, must be Kyle Cameron's first win for some time, unless ones slipped past me, very good dividend, obviously given the horse some time being a 6yr old, adelphi storm went good race for new owners.

Plutarch, who had placed in three stakes, including two on the turf, proved best of Bob Baffert's three entrants and defeated Intrepido to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Well many people get confused between the two. The BORA (Bill of Rights Act) doesn't confer as many rights as people think. It is directed at Goverment and its Agencies and binds them to certain principles. That said neither Act is paramount and laws can be passed that are inconsistent.

I didn't think I'd mentioned the Human Rights Act. Sorry for the confusion if I did.

Aren't you confusing the Human Rights Act with the Bill of Rights Act? One primarily focuses on discrimination and the other freedom of expression.

Have there been any cases go to court under the HDC Act? They generally have to go to Netsafe first don't they? I don't know much about it. Hardly likely to apply here though. Have to be a very extreme situation.

Yes. Anyone can express an opinion about anything or anyone. The HDC can not supercede Human Rights Law either.

Splendora's return to the races after winning the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) is a winning one in the Feb. 7 D. Wayne Lukas Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Anyone can make a claim about anything but then they need to provide evidence to support their claim. How does the Harmful Digital Communications Act work?

oh well. my multi went down the tube when mithali only ran 5th instead of placing. my wingman won paying $1.85 and hes a loch won paying $41. i see just easy scr because of an incident with the float coming off but apparently horses ok. Whats the bet jr toilen runs a place as i normally just miss 1 when taking a multi.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher continued his supremacy in the $210,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) prep for a record-extending eighth time with 2025 Remsen Stakes (G2) runner-up Renegade.View the full article

Yes, but I don't think you understand the law. Just because someone claims to feel hurt, insulted or abused, doesn't make it legally so. That was the whole point of the Morton ruling.

Mrs. J. Magnier, D. Smith, and M. Tabor's Plutarch (c, 3, Into Mischief–Stellar Wind, by Curlin) was bred to be a star–he is out of 2015's champion 3-year-old filly turned $6-million Keeneland mare–and he made good on that promise Saturday in the $100,000 GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. Midpack early, he hooked up with 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) and two battled down the lane before Plutarch dispensed of his rival to secure a one-length victory with his ears pricked under Florent Geroux. Intrepido held for second while Secured Freedom (Practical Joke) got up for third. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won his eighth consecutive Bob Lewis and 14th overall. The race was worth 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. After a 2-year-old campaign which netted placings in the GI American Pharoah Stakes and GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes, Plutarch broke his maiden in his last out, a Del Mar maiden special weight on the lawn. O-Mrs. J. Magnier, D. Smith, and M. Tabor; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Florent Geroux. A determined #2 PLUTARCH ($10.20) puts himself on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a win in the $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at @SantaAnitaPark. This colt is by Into Mischief (@SpendthriftFarm) out of the champion mare Stellar Wind. @flothejock up for Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/KRBcx1medt — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 8, 2026 Saturday, Santa Anita ROBERT B. LEWIS S.-GIII, $101,000, Santa Anita, 2-7, 3yo, 1m, 1:37.02, ft. 1–PLUTARCH, 120, c, 3, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Stellar Wind (Ch. 3-year-old Filly, MGISW, $2,903,200), by Curlin 2nd Dam: Evening Star, by Malibu Moon 3rd Dam: Sequins, by Northern Fashion 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Florent Geroux. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 6-2-2-2, $192,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Intrepido, 124, r, 3, Maximus Mischief–Overly Indulgent, by Pleasantly Perfect. 'TDN Rising Star, by Hagyard'. ($30,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $385,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC; B-Sierra Fria Farm LLC (KY); T-Jeff Mullins. $20,000. 3–Secured Freedom, 120, c, 3, Practical Joke–Securely, by Uncle Mo. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($110,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Leslie A. And Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr. and Roger K. Beasley; B-Audley Farm Equine, LLC (VA); T-Tim Yakteen. $12,000. Margins: 3/4, 3 1/4, NO. Odds: 4.10, 4.10, 3.20. Also Ran: Desert Gate, Cherokee Nation, Robusta, Briggs Armypower. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Baffert Wins Eighth Consecutive Bob Lewis, Into Mischief’s Plutarch Gets Derby Points appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Yes and you fail to get the point. Morty didn't cross the line. The Bill of Rights doesn't allow you to abuse, insult and degrade people does it?

Doesn't really matter if someone thinks it's "harmful to the reputation or standing to the New Zealand racing industry" does it? We've discussed that in relation to the Morton case. Doesn't and can't override the Bill of Rights.

Noted. Case closed.

You're an idiot. The rule is about the withholding of water. So if a horse is dehydrated after being given a preventative medicine then it would be an offence to not give it water. Of course you could argue that if you were truly interested in the welfare of a horse you would allow Furosemide because it is effective in preventing EIPH (Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage. But no you don't raise that but focus on how it isn't fair to punters - oh the hypocrisy!

That is the wide ranging clause and the most subjective. The rest of the rule changes wouldn't affect most people who comment online as but for a hardcore of serial abusers they behave politely and with common decency.