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By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Dunsandel trainer Sam Payne will line up two contrasting first starters at Ashburton on Tuesday. After impressing at the trials, Makani ($3.80FF) will start in Race 1, the 4 Blokes Syndicate Mobile Trot while stablemate Major Miss ($6FF) debuts in Race 5, the Betavet / B and T White Racing Stables Mobile Pace. Both will be driven Jonny Cox. Payne bought Makani for $23,000 at the 2024 National Yearling Sales. “I spotted him during the Southland tour looking at yearlings and I liked him even more at sale time so I put up my hand and bought him.” “We had planned to race him as a two-year-old but he got crook and we tipped him out.” “He’s a really nice horse but maiden trotters you never know what’s going to happen do you? But he’s usually safe.” He’s three now and has had four wins from five trials leading into his first race day start. “I’ll leave the driving up to Jonny but if he wants to go forward I’m sure they will, but if he flops out and takes a sit and comes off a helmet I’m not too worried.” While Makani is a “cruisy dude” fellow debutante Major Miss is “a bit of a funny one” and “can be a handful at times.” The Art Major five-year-old has not shown up to the same extent at the trials but did win a three-horse workout at Rangiora in December. “She’s quite a speed horse and she probably needs to tuck away and then get one run at them.” “Her work has been real good,” says Payne, “on her best if she gets a nice cosy trip she’d be a good top three show.” The 10-race card at Ashburton starts at 1.32pm. To see the Ashburton fields click here View the full article

A heavy favorite, Queen Maxima earned her third graded triumph as she outgamed Princesa Moche to win the $102,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park Jan. 11.View the full article

Please don't encourage him Murray at this time of the moon cycle.

They don't make them all like Queen Maxima (Bucchero), but the newly minted 5-year-old mare has been the queen of the downhill green at Santa Anita Park for the last two seasons, and she kicked off 2026 in similar style via the GIII Las Cienegas Stakes. The 2-5 favorite was in no hurry after the jump, and stalked the early pace contentedly until they swung into the bend coming off the hill after a :44.15 half. The looming danger to the pace, she took command entering the lane and comfortably kept them at bay to score in a final time of 1:11.69. Princesa Moche (Per) Muwaary {GB}) ran on for second and Spicybug (Speightstown) was third. The daughter of Bucchero is now eight for 13 in her career, and has won five of her last six starts at The Great RIP, counting this victory. #1 QUEEN MAXIMA ($2.80) and @JJHernandezS19 get the win in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3) at @santaanitapark. The daughter of Bucchero is trained by @Jmullinsracing. pic.twitter.com/Tu6AD79Exc — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 11, 2026 Sunday, Santa Anita Park LAS CIENEGAS S.-GIII, $102,000, Santa Anita, 1-11, 4yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2fT, 1:11.69, fm. 1–QUEEN MAXIMA, 124, m, 5, by Bucchero 1st Dam: Corfu Lady, by Corfu 2nd Dam: St Ballado's Lady, by Pleasantly Perfect 3rd Dam: St Ballado's Image, by Saint Ballado ($40,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN). O-Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC; B-Saul Rosas (FL); T-Jeff Mullins; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 13-8-2-0, $630,460. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Princesa Moche (Per), 122, m, 6, Muwaary (GB)–Queen Jezebel, by Motivator (GB). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Rancho San Roberto, Inc.; B-Haras Los Azahares (PER); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill. $20,000. 3–Spicybug, 120, m, 6, Speightstown–Midnight Miley, by Midnight Lute. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Mike G. Rutherford; B-Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $12,000. Margins: HF, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 16.50, 11.30. Also Ran: Egyptian Mau (Saf), Nay V Belle, Rosie Jeeks, Omnipontet (Brz), Miss Lizzy, Antifona (Fr). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post All Hail the Queen of Downhill Green: Queen Maxima Struts Her Stuff in Las Cienegas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A quartet of Breeders' Cup winners—Splendora, Nysos, Super Corredora, and Full Serrano—all recorded workouts Jan. 11 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

After winning the San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park Jan. 10, So Happy carries a cherished pedigree line for breeder Leverett Miller to the top of the sport.View the full article

After finally breaking her maiden in her sixth attempt, Margarita Girl wasted no time becoming a graded stakes winner with a win in the $100,500 Las Flores Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park Jan. 11.View the full article

One of Tampa Bay Downs' most popular promotions, the "Live It Up Challenge" handicapping contest, begins Jan. 17 and runs through March 7.View the full article

Invincible Ibis remain locked on course for a HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 1 February after an emphatic victory at Sha Tin on Sunday as Zac Purton dominated with five wins. Purton (59 wins) stretched his lead to 33 over Hugh Bowman (26) in a remarkable display of sustained excellence – and it could have been six wins had he not honoured a pledge to partner Beauty Bolt in the Class 3 (Restricted) Pak Shek Au Handicap (1600m), only to finish to second to another of his regular rides, Invincible Ibis (Hellbent), who was partnered by Bowman. Bowman was impressed with Kilgravin Lodge graduate Invincible Ibis, who weaved his way into clear running after dropping to the tail of the field before finishing powerfully to defeat Beauty Bolt by a neck in 1m 34.18s. “Invincible Ibis was very straight forward. I didn’t expect to be so far back but I was reluctant to pressure him just to hold a position and he enjoyed being left alone,” Bowman said. “I was in a position – to avoid traffic – that I had to make a long run on him and he coped with that, too. “And when I needed his effort at the 100 metres mark, he did it with consummate ease.” Newnham said: “He’s putting up quite a good record now and the nice part about the race was when it got a bit tough and he had to stretch the last part to beat Beauty Bolt, he did. So, he’s got good ability, but he’s got good heart. “You can only keep winning and he’s put four together now, so he goes there (Hong Kong Classic Mile) in good form.” Secured by Newnham for the Ibis Syndicate from the Kilgravin Lodge draft at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Invincible Ibis posted two seconds from as many starts as a three-year-old in his debut season before returning a more mature animal this season. After finishing third on the opening day of the 2025/26 season, Invincible Ibis has reeled off three straight victories culminating in a one-and-three-quarter-length victory under Zac Purton in the Class 3 Poinsettia Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on 20 December. Newnham reclaimed top-spot in the trainers’ championship from Caspar Fownes to lead with 30 wins to 29 when fellow four-year-old Lucky Sam Gor (NZ) (Press Statement) defied his rivals to clinch the Class 3 Stanley Gap Handicap (1400m) under Matthew Poon. Apart from Little Paradise, Purton also struck aboard Ricky Yiu’s Snowthorn, Robot Star, Majestic Valour and David Hayes’ China Win (NZ) (Super Seth) in the Class 4 Hebe Haven Handicap (1800m). “China Win, he’s not an easy horse to manage in the mornings – very, very difficult. The boys are doing a good job to manage him as well as they are and on a race day, he doesn’t know what he wants to do in a race. One day, he wants to scream long, the next day he wants to drop out. “But when the penny drops, he’ll turn into a handy enough stayer. It was a good effort – he had the race run to suit.” Rezeki (NZ) (Ardrossan)notched his first win in Hong Kong for David Hall with success in the first section of the Class 4 Wu Kau Tang Handicap (1400m) under a perfect ride by Andrea Atzeni. Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax) turned back the clock for Frankie Lor and Derek Leung with his first win in three years with success in the Class 3 Pak Sha O Handicap (1800m). Twice placed at Group One level, the eight-year-old finished third in the 2022 Gr.1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) behind Romantic Warrior and Danon The Kid, but had not won since his Gr.3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) victory at Happy Valley in January 2023. “It was worth the wait. When he came to Hong Kong, he kept placing and it was difficult to win. He won two races and after that, he was always close but did start to run some bad races and it allowed a drop down to Class 3,” Lor said. The pace was quick, so he could come from behind and win for his patient owner. I’m happy because he’s an eight-year-old who can still win and it’s great for the owner.” View the full article

oh when I said "gunja" you thought "ganja"? Close but no cigar...Gunja (abrus precatorius) is part of the Ayurveda medical system with both contraceptive and Aphrodisiac properties! How good is that!!...highly toxic unless one knows wtf they're doing...also known as the Rosary pea So you can count your rosaries at the same time as the firnification (sp??) process...again...HOW GOOD?? Guilt...no guilt...guilt no...et el!

Nelson have been trying to get their winter dates back, HRNZ want to keep the 2 Friday night meetings, the other option I think they was mooted was a Tuesday Thursday meeting in May, never heard anything more about it.

Goal Oriented (Not This Time–Bizzy Caroline, by Afleet Alex), most recently winner of the Dec. 28 GI Malibu Stakes, has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Spendthrift Farm this year. His introductory fee will be $30,000, stands and nurses. “We are very excited about Goal Oriented and his potential at stud,” said Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey. “Since the emergence of Not This Time, we have been looking for the right son to come along, and we believe strongly that Goal Oriented is that horse. He's a good-looking, imposing individual that breeders are going to love, and he brings the depth of female family we look for in a stallion prospect. When you combine that with the brilliance he showed on the track–highlighted by his GI Malibu win in 1:20 and change–it's hard not to be excited about his future. His speed figures indicate he's as fast as any son of Not This Time we've seen on dirt. We invite breeders to come out and see him.” Goal Oriented was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' following his debut win at Santa Anita last April. Fourth in the GI Preakness Stakes in just his third start, the dark bay colt was third in the GI Haskell Stakes–just 3/4 lengths adrift of Journalism (Curlin)–and in the GI Pennsylvania Derby. Sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, he concluded his racing career with a one-length victory in the Malibu. His time of 1:20.97 for seven furlongs was the fastest winning time in the Malibu since 2016 and fastest seven furlongs run in a Grade I race in 2025. He earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure and a 4 Ragozin–both among the fastest recorded by a 3-year-old last year. A $425,000 Keeneland September yearling, Goal Oriented is out of multiple graded stakes winner Bizzy Caroline, a half-sister to champion Lady Eli and hailing from the family of influential sire Blushing Groom. Trained by Bob Baffert, Goal Oriented hit the board in five of seven starts with three wins and earnings of $624,460 for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. “We are thrilled for Goal Oriented to have the opportunity to begin his stallion career at a place like Spendthrift Farm,” said SF Racing's Tom Ryan. “He is a good-looking colt and he knows it. Goal Oriented has that presence about him, along with sire power and depth of pedigree.” Goal Oriented has arrived at Spendthrift and is available for breeders' inspections from 1:30-3 p.m. daily through Tuesday and will be available for inspection by appointment thereafter. The post Malibu Stakes Winner Goal Oriented Retired to Spendthrift appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Still doing the bizzo on the Gold Coast..never ages...talking up a storm..."we need a dictator like they have in China" Dags these businessmen... lets hope he's educated his children to love horses and the partying et el It doesn't bare thinking about having his family disperse his millions into super yachts like Government beneficiary recipient Grey Hart did...what a waste Such bad luck Lance O'Sullivan happened to sit next to Eric Watson on a plane convincing him to invest in thoroughbreds rather than Hart At least Gerry Only married twice...unlike his mate Singo who got hitched 7 times...then sold most of his bloodstock! wtaf?? Good thing about Gerry as well, he allowed his Kiwi workers a better work/life balance of 10 days on 4 days off...thanks to Russell Warwick's idea that the old adage you're "in it for the love of the horse..not to have time off like normal workers' 86 is the new 70?

She was a bridesmaid on four occasions before she broke her maiden last out, and now Margarita Girl (Twirling Candy) has quickly left that behind her, collecting her first black-type of any kind in the GIII Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Breaking well to watch the race unfold as Thermal (Nyquist) set the tempo, she enjoyed a rail trip behind that leader through an opening quarter in :21.74 and four furlongs in :44.11. No Bad Beats (Midnight Storm) took the race to the early leader coming off the bend, and struck the front as Margarita Girl began uncorking her rally via the overland route. That pair quickly pulled away from a closing Ooty (Arg) (Dabster) on the rail, and the eventual winner overhauled her challenger inside the final sixteenth to score. The final time was 1:09.19. Sales history: $130,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $575,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. O-Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and Saints or Sinners; B-Paul Eggert & Karen Eggert (KY); T-Mark Glatt. #3 MARGARITA GIRL ($10.40) charged down the lane and won the $199,000 Las Flores Stakes (G3) at @santaanitapark. The daughter of Twirling Candy (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by @RickyGonzalez10 and trained by Mark Glatt. pic.twitter.com/W2gvQSrKaU — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 11, 2026 The post Twirling Candy’s Margarita Girl Steps Up in Class to Claim Las Flores at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making only this third career start in as many seasons to race, the impeccably-bred Rothko (Tapit–Covfefe, by Into Mischief) proved best as the heavy favorite to graduate in a one-mile maiden test at Fair Grounds on Sunday. The LNJ Foxwoods homebred was fourth in his career debut at Ellis Park in the summer of 2024 but wouldn't be seen again until the fall of his sophomore year, when he finished a solid second going 6 1/2 panels at Churchill Downs this past November. Sent off the hot 1-5 choice while trying a mile for the first time here, the 4-year-old settled just behind pacesetter Crazy Diamond (Omaha Beach), who carved out an opening quarter in :23.38. Overtaking the early leader heading into the far turn, Rothko shot clear turning for home and was not for catching as he crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Mingo (Candy Ride {Arg}) at the wire. The colt is out of dual champion Covfefe, who is also responsible for SW and GSP Ellen Jay (Constitution), $271,808. The dual Grade I winner and track record holder produced a filly by Gun Runner in 2024 followed by an Olympiad filly last season. Hailing from the family of GISWs Acoma and Arch, the 10-year-old mare was bred back to Not This Time. 6th-Fair Grounds, $54,000, Msw, 1-11, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:37.46, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. ROTHKO (c, 4, Tapit–Covfefe {Ch. Female Sprinter, Ch. 3-year-old Filly, MGISW, $1,110,025}, by Into Mischief) Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $59,852. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-LNJ Foxwoods (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. The post Champion Covfefe’s Rothko Earns Belated Graduation at the Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

So after George Rooke's cheating in the Wakatoo Cup...3 over the limit...then went back to Coventry for a holiday over Xmas We had Aussie Angela Jones fined EXACTLY the same % for being 1 over ..3500!!!! if you please...with the 'amazingly brilliant RIB' commenting "we find this appropriate"..she'd be fair dinky dye SPEWING im picking How can it be "appropropriate" when she made a minor counting error (being a freshy) by one when the obvious cheaters like George (3 over) get the same % fine Not only that but the exalted RIB commented that 'due to the 2nd jockey also being over the limit we find no further penalty for George" What about the 3rd horse who was only a neck away and probably winning if it wasn't for the cheating? FFS Anyway onwards to yet another cheating black type jockey in Matt Cartwright when winning by a neck on SANTA CATALINA Fined 3800!!!! when also 1 over! Actually 2 over...but long story short in NZTR/RIB's convoluted ideas re whip rules ok... if he'd struck 3 times in the last 100M not 4 he'd have paid ZILCH! How dumb and dumber are these 'integrity hogwarts' FFS?? here's the solution Adopt Frano Gallops whip rule...4 stikes only throughout the race...if a jockey cant count to 4...take the entire % riding fee out of their pockets...and the winning owners donate their winning difference to the rule abiding 2nd horse...it's just that simple or maybe just relegate to ENABLE the INTEGRITY of Black Type to remain?? even more simple

Did moi's eyes deceive me or was the inside 4M off yesterday?? many winners down the outside On a G 4 as well...overwatered and/or overhyped that "it's an amazing track now"??

It's Wussell Warwick's narrative and guess what?? He sets the agenda...he's the BOSS...and fyi an excellent ex Am rider who knew not to strike his mounts on the noggin Besides...and repeato doso with you So called 'anti racers' are actually pro racing knowing how 'racing' per se has lost the hearts and minds of the hoi polloi Do you really think the industry will get that back by behaving with a 'rodeo anti woke' narrative as you've chosen?

A quartet of Breeders' Cup winners all recorded workouts Sunday at Santa Anita. GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint winner Splendora (Audible) and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos (Nyquist) both worked for trainer Bob Baffert. Splendora drilled four furlongs in :49.00 (47/87) in her third work back since the Breeders' Cup. The 5-year-old is a candidate for the GII D. Wayne Lukas Stakes for fillies and mares going seven furlongs Feb. 7. Nysos, working for the first time since winning the Dec. 28 GII Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes, went four furlongs in :48.20 (25/87). He is being pointed to the Feb. 14 G1 Saudi Cup. That race is also the target of his stablemate and Laffit Pincay runner-up Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), who worked four furlongs in :49.00 (47/87) Sunday. Trainer John Sadler sent out GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Super Corredora (Gun Runner) and Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) to work at Santa Anita Sunday. In her second work of the year, Super Corredora went five furlongs in a bullet :59.20 (1/50). S and she is slated to make her sophomore bow in the one-mile Las Virgenes Stakes, which was pushed back a week to Feb. 8 following the postponement of the Santa Ynez Stakes earlier in the meet. Full Serrano, the 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner, worked six furlongs in 1:11.40 (1/2). Most recently fifth in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, he is a candidate to run in either the Jan. 31 GII San Pasqual Stakes or in the GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park Jan. 24. Also on the work tab Sunday, the Baffert-trained Kristofferson (Nyquist) went four furlongs in a bullet :46.40 (1/87) in his first published work since September. The $1.15-million Keeneland September yearling was a debut winner at Del Mar in August and has been off since finishing sixth in the Oct. 4 GI American Pharoah Stakes. The post Breeders’ Cup Winners on Santa Anita Work Tab Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Who are they now? They are appointed annually at the Trainers' Association branch AGM, aren't they? I thought usually 3.

Norman Stables LLC and Saints or Sinners' So Happy (Runhappy) exited his win in the seven-furlong GII San Vicente Stakes Saturday in fine shape, according to trainer Mark Glatt, who said the colt is likely to make his next start in the 1 1/16-mile GII San Felipe Stakes Mar. 7. “I'm sure he'll run in one of these preps coming up here and we'll see if he can go two turns,” Glatt said. “My first inclination would be to run in the San Felipe, but things change.” So Happy, who was purchased for $150,000 at last year's OBS March sale, was a first-out winner going 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 22 and took his record to two-for-two with his two-length victory over Buetane (Tiz the Law) Saturday. Jockey Mike Smith, who was aboard the colt in both lifetime starts, said he doesn't expect added distance to be an issue for So Happy. “The way he handled the seven-eighths, usually that's a pretty good indication they will go two turns,” Smith said from the winner's circle Saturday. “He was well within himself running underneath the wire.” The post Two-Turn Test Likely Next for San Vicente Winner So Happy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Agree, totally unprofessional.

Rennell showed his true colours during the Blue Magic scandal. Useless CEO that sucked the trotting scene dry, then moved on to oversee the destruction of Greyhounds, mind you big Glenda didn't help either, along with Bickford, Kerr, Holden and others.

Yuesheng Zhang arrived on the Gold Coast on Sunday to inspect horses ahead of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. In late December, it was announced that Gewan, one of the leading contenders for the G1 2,000 Guineas, will race under new ownership from 2026 as part of a group of horses transferred from Yulong Investments to the newly established Forz Europe, the racing arm of Harris Li's Ace Stud. Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch welcomed Zhang's return, noting his strong connection to the sale. “It's great to have him back on the Gold Coast. Magic Millions is one of his favourite sales of the year. He is going to be a big, big vendor at the sales, and it's great to have the entire Yulong team, including Mr Zhang, here for the week,” Bowditch told racenet.com.au. The post Yulong’s Owner Arrives On The Gold Coast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Who is the dominant one of the four? Self-interest drives most decision making and most of the time that is in the interests of all. Sometimes it isn't.