General Yarn

Easy way to get an edge if you know how and what to look for. Most have no idea. You’d go broke fast following the trackside presenters prelim picks. Absolutely no idea.

Tattersalls will extend its sponsorship of the G1 Middle Park Stakes, G1 Cheveley Park Stakes and G2 Royal Lodge Stakes for a further two years after sponsoring the races for the first time in 2025. Taking place on the final day of the Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket on Saturday, September 26, the races will be run as the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes, Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes and Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes. The three races add to an already substantial portfolio of sponsorships for Tattersalls, with other high-profile sponsorships at Newmarket including the G1 Falmouth Stakes, G3 Tattersalls Stakes, £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes and £200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes. Matthew Prior, Tattersalls managing director, said, “Tattersalls are delighted to extend our sponsorship of the prestigious Middle Park, Cheveley Park and Royal Lodge Stakes on Cambridgeshire day for a further two years and continue our long-standing support of British racing and Newmarket Racecourses. “Cambridgeshire day is a standout fixture in the British racing calendar and we look forward to an outstanding programme of two-year-old races of the highest calibre and to working with Newmarket Racecourses to showcase the event.” Sophie Able, Newmarket Racecourses and International Director at The Jockey Club, added, “The bond between Newmarket Racecourses and Tattersalls has always been strong and in recent years has truly blossomed. We are delighted to announce this new two-year agreement today, which further strengthens and enhances that relationship. “We look forward to working with Tattersalls in promoting high-class racing throughout the season on both the Rowley Mile and July Course.” The post Tattersalls Extend Sponsorship of Middle Park, Cheveley Park and Royal Lodge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Unforeseen circumstances It would appear that Well Written's overwhelming dominance is likely to see no Oaks or Derby horses tempted into switching.  Hard case to make running for second. Unlikely any Aussie horses will make the trip, so other than Well Written, likely to be a poor field. But will still be spun as THE 3-year-old race 

Star sprinter Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) is slowly building towards an autumn return with the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) on March 21 which will be held at Caulfield this year an early target. The six-year-old son of Per Incanto has an affinity for the Caulfield track and signed off his spring campaign with a brilliant win in the Gr.1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at the venue. The Ciaron Maher-trained Kiwi import has amassed $6.6 million in prizemoney to date, and the triple Group One winner has come back as good as ever according to regular rider Ethan Brown. “He’s flying. He had his first little run-up on Tuesday, and he has had a very long slow build-up,” Brown said. “They’re taking their time with him but he is as good as ever. He is just at a prime age now and he has proved himself over these last couple of preparations. “His whole demeanor has improved. He knows his job and he is very relaxed and he is unreal at the moment. Brown’s star has risen in tandem with Jimmy, and the 26-year-old hoop will take up a short stint in Hong Kong in late April, which will not clash with Jimmysstar’s campaign. “When I was growing up you would see these top-tier jockeys who follow these good horses through and to be in that position to follow one through is unreal,” Brown said. “I saw something the other day where Dan O’Sullivan rated him as Australia’s best sprinter. “That is quite a proud moment, I guess, to be able to stick with a horse like him. He has put me on the map, he has been very good to me.” A ten-time Group One winning jockey, Brown said he is looking forward to Jimmysstar clashing again with champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in the spring. “He ran his heart out last year and would have made things interesting if he had drawn a gate,” Brown said. “I think he has come back as good as ever and hopefully he can show that this preparation and again next campaign for his Everest prep.” View the full article

Three-year-old filly Ultimate Habit (NZ) (Embellish) took an important step toward her tilt at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week with a strong trial win at Te Aroha on Wednesday. The Robbie Patterson-trained filly was a stunning last-start winner of the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) and is rated a $9 chance in the Oaks in a market headed by $1.90 favourite Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park). Ultimate Habit oozed quality when coming from last in an 1100m heat on Wednesday to win under her own steam in a trial against quality older horses. “I wanted to go to the Ellerslie trials on Tuesday but we couldn’t get a suitable trial there so I have had to come here to Te Aroha,” Patterson said. “She finished off nicely against some good horses, and she’s only three with a lot ahead of her in the future.” Patterson said Ultimate Habit had made good progress since her Lowland victory, which came at just start number four for the daughter of Embellish. “She’s progressed very well. She is a beautiful filly and easy to work with,” he said. “She came home in 32.7 (for the last 600m) the other day over 2100m. They just don’t do that, so she’s something special and if we can get her to relax over the 2400m at Ellerslie, she’s going to give Ohope Wins a run for her money, I hope.” Patterson knows what it takes to prepare a New Zealand Oaks winner, having saddled last year’s winner Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn), who also progressed from a win in the Lowland Stakes. Equally pleased with Wednesday’s hit-out was rider Craig Grylls, who said the filly handled going right-handed for the first time with aplomb. “That was a really nice trial today,” he said. “She’s improved again. I was thinking that dropping back to an 1100 metre trial today that she might be a little bit flat. “The objective was to let her have a go around this way and it was a shame they deleted the open heats from Ellerslie yesterday so Rob’s decided to come here and I think it’s been well worth the trip. “She got around this direction with no problem and just relaxed well. All I really did was bring her into the clear with 250m to run and she’s picked them up nicely. “She’s a pretty smart filly and it looks like she’s continuing to improve so I’m really looking forward to the Oaks in a couple of weeks’ time.” Ultimate Habit was bred by Hawke’s Bay couple Graham and Isabell Roddick and stems from the same family as 11-time Group One winner Rough Habit. View the full article