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Gewan, one of the leading fancies for the 2,000 Guineas, will race under new ownership in 2026 among a group of horses transferred from Yulong Investments to the newly launched Forz Europe, the racing arm of Harris Li's Ace Stud. Winner of the G1 Dewhurst Stakes and G3 Acomb Stakes, the Andrew Balding-trained Gewan previously raced under the name of Yuesheng Zhang, the owner of the primarily-Australian based Yulong racing and breeding empire who has already enjoyed Classic success in Europe with Irish Oaks winner Magical Lagoon. The fillies Evolutionist and Noble Honour, who hold entries for the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks, will also be transferred to Li, his son-in-law, as of January 1. The horses racing under the Forz Europe banner will race in white silks with green-and-white-checked sleeves and a green cap, a reversal of those carried by the Yulong runners, which include the brilliant 12-time Group 1 winner Via Sistina. Earlier this month it was confirmed that the G2 Lowther Stakes winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes third Royal Fixation had been bought by Ace Stud and would move from the stable of Ed Walker to Karl Burke. Ace Stud also bought Gewan's weanling half-brother by Native Trail at the recent Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 500,000gns. “Launching our Ace Stud racing silks at the beginning of the new year marks an exciting future for Harris Li and his vision for Ace Stud. We have some top-class runners to look forward to next year,” said the operation's bloodstock and racing manager Paul Curran. “We can't wait to see what the 2026 season has in store for Ace Stud.” Ace Stud, formerly known as Dullingham Park, is home to the young stallion and top sprinter Shaquille, who is about to embark on his third covering season at the farm just outside Newmarket. The post Gewan to Race for Forz Europe as Yulong Horses Transfer to Harris Li appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

probably good advice as far as chilcotts horses go,but i don' follow hers much anyway and am betting less and less on northern harness racing these days anyway.At least when chilcott drives,you know shes trying. With many of the drivers up there,i'm not sure whether they aren't trying sometimes or whether they just are poor tactically. But the village rebel drive. I found it funny strange type of thing, watching, as i thought every driver in nz had seen tyson race and would have been happy to sit on his back. But obviously not.

Abernethy can rate a horse in front and I used to back him all the time when they had the grass track racing in the North. Got some big collects as he always paid great money. I find the Nicky Chilcott stable difficult to line up. She goes through strong patches where all her horses are firing, then long periods, like the last three weeks, where the form drops away. Wait until one shows form then back them all.

race 11 you had them run a 65.4 middle half and the horses 3,4 &5 back the inside all just sat on the marker pegs and the 65/1 shot driven by h orange was the only one to show he could judge pace,as he made a move from behind them while they just sat there asleep. then in that last race.you had m mckendry make a good move mid race as the pace slackened and you would have thought village rebel racing parked, driven by s abernethy, would have welcomed the perfect 1/1 position,but no,that made too much sense. Village rebel actually may have won with a smarter drive as it stuck on. I didn't back abernethy,i hardly bet on auckland racing anymore because i never know what some of the drivers may do,but that was auckland cup night, so you would think they would be trying. i can see the funny side of it,but why would any clever driver do what abernethy did.The answer has to be, no clever driver would,so theres the answer.

A new year is ushered in at Sha Tin on Thursday with the Lucky Start meeting, where we look forward to 11 races including the feature Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m). Owen Goulding is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Tsung Pak Long Handicap (1,600m) Harry’s Hero was unlucky over course and distance three starts ago and has had further excuses since. He has no weight on his back and is drawn in two. Race 2 – Class Four Hillwood...View the full article

Nelson programming mainly mile races on the second day is a turn off - long way to travel to race just the first day ... and like the coast, accommodation options at this time of year are scarce unless you rebooked the year before.

Accommodation over the Xmas period on the coast is a nightmare - I think most people rebook every year meaning for someone new to the circuit trying to secure something is very difficult

It would appear to be another meeting where Auckland remains a drain on the coffers and loses money! Looked at the win and place pools for the Auckland Cup not long before the race and $3k in the win and $1500 in the place pool!

i'm not sure whether anything exciting happened in races 6,7,8, & 9, as i didn't bother watching. But i did tune in and catch the auckland cup and agree it nothing a non win race at motukarara didn't have. Only difference was the auckland race had a very messy start with 8 runners whereas they have much fairer starts with 14 runners at motukarara . Rather strange if you look at the video. Like you say brodie,just a fast last 800. Akuta probably could be called unlucky as he didn't get a fair start.

Where would you rather spend New Year, Auckland or Central Otago ?

Been out so havent watched all the racing from Alexandra Park but the ones I have seen are not overly exciting. Auckland Cup just run was a borefest, and given to Republican Party! Not a great spectacle and very hard to see how Auckland is going to be able to attract new participants to racing?

blaming poor programming for westports small numbers seems misplaced to me. Isn't it obvious,the reason you the bigger fields in canterbury and the numbers are dropping off in westport,is because people are just racing where they prefer to race.Thats the way programming should work. Provide races where the demand for them is. then,isn't accomodation very hard to come by over the coast.Of course theres other other factors as well. so the small fields just reflect the supply and demand thing. as to saying nelson wasn't happy with timaru. What were you wanting,another methven/kaikoura type thing where they don't hold a canterbury meeting so as to get more horses running at nelson.Suggesting that suggests you want owners options limited so as to encourage them to spend big bucks travelling to race where they don't want to race.That just makes no sense to me. the mares races that hrnz have been promoting for nelson.big deal,so they may get another 1 or 2 starters in those races. What a waste of sdtakemoney that could have been distributed to more needy industry participants in canterbury racing who provided the horses that resulted in the big turnover at motukarara.Maybe nelson having a moan about the dates like you mentioned was why hrnz came up with the mares races thing. Thats the way hrnz seems to work.Through money at whoever it is having the latest moan to placate them.

Ita a pity me old mate TAB ain't here no more, was good pointing out what a shithole Auckland is, I've just flicked on to trackside, sitting in my lounge with the sun streaming in and watching a bunch of clowns running around in the rain and shit at Alexandra Park, wait until the tennis starts, anyone who tries to convince me that's the place everyone wants to be you won't convince me.

Waikato Stud is mourning the loss of champion mare Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), who has died at the age of 20, leaving behind an enduring legacy on the racetrack and in the breeding barn. By No Excuse Needed, Daffodil was crowned New Zealand’s champion three-year-old of the 2007–08 season and secured three Group One victories during an outstanding racing career. Her influence continued as a broodmare, where she produced several stakes performers, further cementing her importance to the Waikato Stud programme. Her impact was felt as recently as Boxing Day, when her son Cross Tasman (NZ) (Super Seth) prevailed at Randwick. Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick paid tribute to the mare, saying: “Daffodil will be sorely, sorely missed. She gave us some incredible highs, the highlight being the Australian Oaks on a memorable day for WS as we bred three individual Group One winners on the day in Australia, which was quite extraordinary. “Most of all she was just the most beautiful personality, when you walked into her paddock all she wanted to do was hang out with you and give you a cuddle. She was an incredible part of the WS legacy, and the Chittick family, and she will never, ever be forgotten.” Daffodil’s legacy will live on through her daughters, with three of her fillies now part of the Waikato Stud broodmare band. Her final foal, a colt by Noverre, is set to be offered at the Karaka Yearling Sales in January, where he will go through the ring as Lot 371. View the full article

Te Akau Racing will be tackling plenty of feature targets over the coming days, but one of their more interesting runners will appear on the undercard at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. Four-year-old entire Espionage will make his debut for the stable after previously being trained in Australia by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, for whom he won two of his eight starts, including the Gr.3 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate (1000m) and Gr.3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m), and placed in the Gr.2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m). Bred by Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvery, through his Australian operation Baramul Stud, Espionage was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for A$1 million out of the 2023 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Global thoroughbred giant Coolmore, along with several partners including Sir Peter Vela, purchased an interest in the son of Zoustar last season, and he has been unplaced in his subsequent four starts. Coolmore elected to send him to New Zealand in October to be trained by Te Akau’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, for whom he has made pleasing progress, including placing in his 1100m Group and Listed trial at Matamata a fortnight ago. He has particularly made a big impression on Bergerson, who is looking forward to the entire stepping out at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day in the SkyCity 1200, albeit with an unsuitable barrier draw of 13. “He is a very interesting runner,” Bergerson said. “Unfortunately, he has drawn the outside, which doesn’t make it easy over 1200m. “But he is a lovely animal, he is beautifully put together. His temperament will hold him in great stead, he is so laid back you wouldn’t even know he is a colt. He loves his work and he is a real pleasure to have around. “We were happy enough with his trial, he has been very straightforward here at home, he is a lovely horse to do anything with. “I am very grateful for the Coolmore team sending him over. We are looking forward to tomorrow with him, he is just going to need a lot of luck from the draw.” Te Akau trainers Sam Bergerson (left) and Mark Walker. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) With a view to securing his stud career, Bergerson is eyeing elite-level targets with his stable newcomer following Thursday’s run, with the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night the first target in the crosshairs. “Hopefully he can run well and we can head to the Railway with him,” Bergerson said. “That is the initial plan and then we can work it out from there.” While Bergerson is looking forward to Espionage making his New Zealand debut, he is also excited about the prospects of several of his team earlier in the day. The stable will have a two-pronged attack in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) courtesy of Origin Of Love and Born To Be Royal. Origin Of Love was runner-up to War Princess in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham earlier this month and will be looking to go one better on Thursday. “It has come up a pretty even field, but like a lot of them, you don’t know whether they are going to get the 2000m,” Bergerson said. “She is a good, tough filly that is really thriving off her racing and is getting better and better each start. We are really looking forward to it, she has got a nice gate (3), with Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) on, she ticks a lot of boxes. Born To Be Royal was also runner-up last start over a mile at Matamata and Bergerson is looking forward to testing the Group Two performer in stakes company once again. “We would have loved to have won last start, she was a little bit stiff, but she is tracking the right way and we think the step up to 2000m suits,” he said. “We have had this circled in the calendar for a while and it is a really good opportunity at some more black-type for her. She has a nice gate (5) and Opie (Bosson, jockey) onboard certainly helps.” The stable will also have dual representation in the Gr.2 SkyCity Eclipse Stakes (1200m) with Sword Of Stars and Kinnaird. Sword Of Stars has finished runner-up in both of his starts to date, while Kinnaird won on debut over 1100m at Otaki last month. “They are two really nice horses with two different profiles,” Bergerson said. “Sword Of Stars has run a couple of nice placings and has had a raceday start at Ellerslie, which will hold her in good stead. Blinkers go on as well and barrier one is certainly going to help. “Kinnaird has done nothing wrong since Otaki. He has had a quiet week and he has built in really nicely. He had a gallop at Ellerslie last Monday to tick him over. He is a lovely colt but has got a bit of a sticky gate (7), which hopefully we can get midfield one off. “Those two up the top (Harvey Wallbanger and Incandescent) are going to be hard to beat, but we are really happy with both of ours.” Impressive debut winner Drops Of God will kick-off the meeting for Te Akau in the TAB 1200, where she will be on trial for a tilt at stakes level later in the month. “Drops Of God was really impressive on debut,” Bergerson said. “She is a really sharp filly who has done nothing wrong since that win. “It is hard for the three-year-old fillies against the older horses in 65 grade, but we certainly believe she deserves her chance. “She went up with Kinnaird (to Ellerslie) and had a gallop last Monday and has been really good since as well. I am really pleased with her. “If she were to run well we could potentially look at something like the Almanzor Trophy (Gr.3, 1200m).” Te Akau will also be represented by Towering Vision in the Eagle Technology 1600. “It has come up quite a strong race and he has got a bit of a sticky gate (8),” Bergerson said. “He has gotten fitter with each run, and his work has been good leading in and he has Opie aboard, who knows him really well.” View the full article

Stephen Marsh can make a strong case for each of his top-flight contenders at Trentham on Saturday. The Cambridge trainer will be represented by the in-form trio of Ardalio, Tardelli and To Cap It All in the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m), a race he won in 2024 with Mercurial. “They are really difficult to split, Ardalio is a proven, sharp sprinter but with a sticky draw (11), while blinkers will go on Tardelli and he’s a very good colt,” Marsh said. “To Cap It All is the up and comer with a good gate (5) and she hasn’t had a lot of luck of late,” Marsh said. Ardrossan’s daughter Ardalio has won four of her eight starts, including a most recent victory in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m) and has since been kept ticking over with a quiet trial. “She’s a high-quality mare and put a very good field away last time out, she’s going super,” Marsh said. Tardelli has been brought back in distance to give the son of I Am Invincible every chance to boost his future stallion value. “At the start of the campaign, we thought he was a miler but we’ve changed tack and think he’s a better 1200-1400m horse,” Marsh said. “That’s why we have identified the Telegraph, it’s aways been a hard 1200m so this could be his race. Eight isn’t a bad draw for him and gives him a bit of room to move.” To Cap It All has finished runner-up in three of her last four appearances and the Capitalist filly is also proven on the course, having won last season’s Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) on debut. “She’s got the draw to get a smother and obviously likes the chute,” Marsh said. “She’s got a great turn of foot, and if she can be ridden a little bit conservatively then I think she can be right in it.” Of the stable’s stakes runners at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, Gr.2 Rich Hill Stud Mile (1600m) candidate Queen Zou is expected to be their best chance of success. “All her runs this time in have been really good and she gets in with 53kg,” Marsh said. “It’s not a full field and you can make a case for the majority of them, but our girl is going great.” Nest Egg hasn’t troubled the scorer for a while, but there was enough in his last effort to suggest he could be a hope at longer odds to turn his fortunes around in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m). The seven-year-old most recently finished sixth in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m). “He was pretty good and he may be getting a bit long in the tooth, but he’s certainly not out of it,” Marsh said. Meanwhile, Ace High filly Savina will relish a rise in distance when she tackles the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m). “She has had no luck at all and the step up in trip is perfect for her. It will test a few of those other fillies getting up over a bit of ground for the first time,” Marsh said. View the full article

Have to agree with that summation. I think she's awful anyway, did feel she had improved but changed my mind very quickly.

David Eustace thinks a return to 1,400m can be the catalyst for Light Years Charm as he looks to get back on track in the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Thursday. One of Eustace’s stable stars, the six-time winner – including one success pre-import in Australia – scored over the course and distance at Class Two level on his second run of his current campaign. That was his fifth win over the Sha Tin 1,400m trip and after drawing wide and failing to see out 1,600m in...View the full article

Upstage into Andarta multi with the driver change was good value. Be interesting to see what Iron Heart does although that field does look a bit stronger.

In 2020 Westport set the record for a grass track meeting, not far from getting to the 2mil, ii races but notably 13 ran in the Westport Cup, recently they have struggled for numbers in the main race through bad programming and the turnover has dropped accordingly, HRNZ need to address this anomaly or has the horse already bolted? Nelson next week will be affected by Timaru racing 2 days before them, I note Nelson objected in the draft calendar but HRNZ didn't take notice.......also Omakau objected to Auckland Cup returning to new years eve, that was thrown out too, only one southern horse has ventured north this time, if HRNZ are keen to boost stakes then bulk up Westport, Omakau and Nelson's main races, Auckland new years eve, no issue with that but the Cup should be in march, and try and get co operation with Oz too, I thought Auckland Cup might be good in January but their is a circuit of racing in Oz leading to the Hunter Cup but in March, leads in nicely to the slots and you can attract ozzies over for while, mind you if they keep winning everything then maybe the locals might not want them at all lol.

having watched the first 5 races,you can't help but think racing at any south island grass track is so much better than anything auckland ever delivers,even on their supposed best race day. and that is where hrnz is pouring all the money into. those last 2 races have been totally ridiculous. in race 4, only 3 went away then they ran what the commentator said was the slowest mid race half he could ever remember in 30 years of calling,yet no one at the back showed any intent to improve.. then that race just run,i thought a bit of a joke myself. Sure david buthcer won,but anyone watching the race must have thought what a ridiculous spectacle. David butcher just drove to block anyone behind him. He moved out then in then out then in then out then in then finally out again, whenever anyone behind him tried to move up. None of that rubbish ever happens at a south island track .

Agree it was a shocker Billy C. The other interesting ride i saw recently was MYSTIC PARK (B Murray) - Restrained from a wide draw to obtain cover shortly after the start. Dictated wider near the 1000 metres by IN VEGAS which shifted away from the heels of TREYBON. Stewards questioned B Murray regarding the performance of the favoured runner, who advised he had been out-paced on a good tempo through the early and middle stages, with the gelding then laying outwards in the home straight and becoming awkwardly placed on the heels of IN VEGAS in the middle stages of the run home and when held up had to shift ground inwards. He added the gelding had found the line fairly, and that carrying 62 kgs today had been a factor in the performance. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any obvious abnormality. Who wants to be on it in the near future given its 2 previous performances

Who cares what the riders think? What about the connections of Mr Pacquiao, would they be satisfied with K. Bakker navigating the Kurow course like a drunken sailor in race one? - https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/54859/1/Race-Detail.aspx#video Note that the Trackside head-on coverage of the back straight ceased after Bakker's exhibition on Mr Pacquiao, note also there was no mention of jockey incompetence in Stewards report. The fact that K. Bakker et al can command the same riding fee as Bosson/Grylls etc. is another aberration in this game.

Yes.

Jockey Orlando Mojica rode Charles Garvey's Logical Myth to victory in the fourth race at Turf Paradise Dec. 30 for the 3,000th win of his career.View the full article