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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A new name will join the junior driving ranks in the north tonight. Holly Moralde Sands, who was judged the Most Promising Cadet at the latest North Island Harness Racing Awards, will drive Grace N Elegance in the NZ Trainers and Drivers Association North Island Handicap Trot at Alexandra Park. Adding to the occasion, the 19-year-old also co-races the six-year-old mare. “I’m actually leasing that mare. It was Crystal’s idea (Hackett) to get me a horse that I could have for trial drives and get onto the racetrack.” Crystal’s mother and father Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett train the mare from their Waiuku base. Both Crystal (Mad Mary) and Bernie (Happy Hill) will also drive in the same race. Moralde Sands has had the 25 trials required before a race day debut. Her background is through Pony Club and “low level showjumping” before she started working weekends and school holidays for champion trainer-driver Tony Herlihy at his Papakura stables. She began full-time there about three years ago. “Tony’s been good to put me on some older horses and some younger ones and trotters and the like,” says Moralde Sands, “I’ve had lots of different drives at the trials.” Grace N Elegance is currently a $4.60 second favourite behind the Tony Herlihy-trained Pretty In Pink. Both will start off 30 metres. They finished one-two at the trials on July 18. “She’s been trailing nice and we are pretty happy with her,” Moralde Sands said of Grace N Elegance. Moralde Sands joins a growing list of northern-based junior drivers including : Neita Balle Stephanie Burley Kate Coppins Nathan Delany Kristina Denifostova Jacob Dunn Crystal Hackett Taitlyn Hanara Alicia Harrison Leah Hibell Emily Johnson Harrison Orange Monika Ranger Fergus Schumacher Brooke Wilkins The NZ Trainers and Drivers Association North Island Handicap Trot is due to go at Alexandra Park at 9.18pm. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The return of Akuta after last racing in December 2023 will be of huge interest at Alexandra Park tonight. The millionaire pacer has had a long road back from a tendon injury ahead of his appearance in the World’s Best Hoof Oil – Here For The Horse Mobile Pace (7.51pm). Trackside presenter Brittany Graham and racing journalist Michael Guerin share their thoughts on the return of the former superstar, who’s a $1.35 favourite to resume on a winning note. A perfect kick off point for Akuta By Brittany Graham New Zealand’s fightback against another Aussie invasion during New Zealand Cup Week is about to get a serious uplift with the return of glamour pacer Akuta. Not seen since running third in the Franklin Cup of 2023, a significant tendon issue for the now six-year-old keep him off the scene with some concern over him ever being seen on the racetrack again. Meticulously handled by Mark and Nathan Purdon, alongside their support team, it has been a long road with no corners cut to ensure he was given an ample opportunity for a return. Stepping out publicly in May, the millionaire pacer was then given another brief let up to give him every chance at a genuine Spring preparation and a third New Zealand Cup tilt. He looks thrown into a R55 to R115 mobile event over 1700metres at Alexandra Park on Friday night, although, he will have a new driver with Brooke Wilkins junior driving concession required for race eligibility. And while being first up off such a long injury enforced layoff is always a word of warning for punters, co-trainer Nathan Purdon is thrilled with the star’s progress. “Akuta seems really good for his comeback race this week” he said. “He is probably at 85% (fitness) going into this week, but he has found the perfect race.” He is also likely to stick around in the North for longer than first thought with another suitable contest programmed. “At this point, he will have one more start after this weekend before heading South.” Albeit far from the biggest race in his calendar, it would be an exceptionally rewarding achievement should the Purdon’s attain fairytale success after all that has gone into his return. It would also be ‘just rewards’ for Tony Shaw who has played a significant role in his rehabilitation and now has an ownership share. Purdons happy with the champ’s prep ahead of return By Michael Guerin Trainer Mark Purdon and most punters want the same thing from Akuta’s comeback at Alexandra Park tonight. They probably just want it delivered in different ways. The one-time superstar of New Zealand racing returns tonight after 20 months away from the racetrack, his career all but ended by a split tendon in his leg. If it wasn’t for a very detailed rehabilitation plan put in place by veterinarian Barbara Hunter, who is now also Purdon’s fiancee, the champion trainer says Akuta wouldn’t be back at the track tonight. “When it happened he was given a 10 per cent chance of racing again,” says Purdon. “But Barb put a really detailed plan in place and part of that was once it was healing to keep it that region stretched and active. “So he spent time being ridden and then he has been wonderfully looked after by Tony Shaw, who now has a share in the horse as our way of saying thank you for all the work he has done with him.” So can punter’s back the former Auckland Cup winner with confidence tonight? “Well, he seems very sound and has handled everything well so far,” explains Purdon. “He is working like a good horse should and on class you would think he could have their measure.” But Purdon has been doing this for long enough to know the easiest way to undo a campaign is to start it by giving a horse a headache which brings us to tonight’s tactics from the outside of the front line over 1700m with junior driver Brooke Wilkins, her junior concession allowing Akuta to start in the race. Punters who take the short odds would love to see Akuta race forward, wrest the lead and blow his rivals away as a former Taylor Mile winner should in a mid-grade sprint. After all, punters taking short odds love an easy watch. “The problem with going forward is if he doesn’t work out it is hard to have a Plan B,” says Purdon. “I’d hate to see him have a hard run and be finishing on his hands and knees in his first race in so long. “It will be up to Brooke to drive him how he feels and how the race looks, but if he has any luck he should probably win anyway.” That is true but even tonight’s rivals who are rated 20-40 points below Akuta are capable of pacing a 1:53 mile rate or quicker for 1700m, whether Akuta is actually a sensible bet will come down to final price with the opening TAB quote of $1.35 too short to be value. Purdon and his son Nathan are in the perfect position to rate the opposition as they also train Treacherous Baby, who looks one of Akuta’s main rivals. “As good a mare as she is, it would hard to see her beating him,” says Purdon. The stable also has two reps in Race 2 tonight with little between River (No.1) and debutante Georgie Best (No.6). “There wouldn’t be much between them but they were supposed to go in a two-year-old race that didn’t get off the ground so they have to take on the older horses. “River will be hard to beat and with her draw might be slightly the better chance but I would prefer to see her driven with cover, being a two-year-old filly against the older horses. “But if the colt [Georgie Best] can get in front of her and even around to the lead he would be really hard to beat.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
George Weaver-trained stablemates Governor Sam and Ortley Avenue, the 1-2 finishers of last month's Quick Call Stakes (G3T), return for the $175,000 Mahony Stakes (G3T) Aug. 10 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Niigata Racecourses: Saturday, August 9, 2025 3rd-NII, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT JANSHI (c, 2, More Than Ready–Autumnal, by Forestry) made $80,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale and was knocked down to trainer Hideyuki Mori for $280,000 at this year's OBS March Sale after breezing an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 (see below). Hailing from the final crop of his legendary sire, the Mar. 30 foal is a full-brother to Eclipse Award-winning turf female and 'TDN Rising Star' Rushing Fall and a half to SW & MGSP Milam (Street Sense), herself the dam of GSP Lakota Spirit. The Grade III-placed granddam Marie J (Mr. Prospector) is responsible for the stakes-placed and stakes-producing Sisti's Pride (Forestry). Owner Susumu Fujita campaigned the sire's Group 2-winning juvenile and fellow OBS grad Jean Gros. O-Susumu Fujita; B-Fred Hertrich III & John D Fielding (KY); T-Hideyuki Mori 8th-NII, ¥30,400,000 ($206k), Allowance, 2yo, 1400mT YU PHAROAH (c, 2, American Pharoah–Limari, by Medaglia d'Oro) was a respectable fifth on 1400-meter debut, but defied odds of 18-1 to graduate over the metric six furlongs at Kokura June 28. A $75,000 acquisition by Mori out of last year's Keeneland September sale, the February-foaled bay is the year-younger half-brother to West Beach (Omaha Beach), second in last year's Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile, and is out of a half-sister to Eclair (Bernardini), winner of the Golden Gate Debutante Stakes back in 2019. The yearling half-sister to Yu Pharoah is cataloged as hip 401 at next month's Keeneland September Sale. O-K Aietsu; B-Don Alberto Corporation & American Pharoah Syndicate; T-Hideyuki Mori 10th-CKO, ¥15,200,000 ($103k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1400m AMERICAN BEYOND (c, 3, McKinzie–Church by the Sea, by Harlan's Holiday) is one of four winners from as many to race out of his dam, whose MGSW daughter Significant Form (Creative Cause) is responsible for the stakes-winning Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a close third in last month's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational at Saratoga. A $275,000 Keeneland November weanling and $400,000 KEESEP yearling, the bay is also kin to GSW Hay Dakota (Haynesfield) and to the dam of Bobrovsky (Daredevil), a 10 1/2-length maiden winner at the Spa July 24. Second dam Witness Post (Gone West) produced GSW & GISP Hello Liberty (Forest Camp). O-Yoshizawa Holdings Co Ltd; B-Brereton C Jones (KY); T-Hideaki Fujiwara Sunday, August 10, 2025 3rd-NII, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m IDATEN SHACHO (c, 2, Goldencents–Wildcat Belle, by Intidab) was bought back on a bid of $40,000 out of last year's Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale, but improved into a $145,000 OBS March juvenile after drilling a furlong in :9 4/5 (see below). The colt's yearling half-sister by Omaha Beach is set to sell as hip 429 during Monday's session at the FTNAUG sale in Saratoga. Idaten Shacho is the mount of leading jockey Yuga Kawada. O-Miki House HK Service Co Ltd; B-Willow Brook Stables (NY); T-Hideyuki Mori The post Rushing Fall Juvenile Full-Brother Set For Niigata Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Prettiest Star (Starman) was the subject of support on this debut into 15-8 favouritism, and cruising to the fore before two out, the homebred drew away to score with a large degree of comfort by 4 1/2 lengths from Sara Moon (Oasis Dream). “She was very cool and calm and pretty professional–she did the job nicely,” commented owner-breeder David Ward, who was watching his first runner by the sire he bred and campaigned to win a July Cup, and who now sits on 17 first-crop winners. “It's one thing to breed and race a horse, but it's another to breed one by a stallion you bred and I'm absolutely delighted. This was a nice opportunity and it worked out. Starman has everything and I'm very proud. Their temperament is excellent and we have another eight or nine of his to run.” The winner is the second foal out of Ediyva (Kingman), a €300,000 purchase from the Aga Khan Studs draft at 2021 Goffs November who is a daughter of the G3 Athasi Stakes winner Emiyna (Maria's Mon). That makes her a half-sister to three black-type performers headed by the dual Stakes winner Elamaz (Gleneagles), who was also runner-up in the G2 Oettingen Rennen. From the dynasty of the G1 Gold Cup winners Estimate (Monsun) and Enzeli (Kahyasi) and the Irish Oaks heroine Ebadiyla (Sadler's Wells), her yearling filly is by Zarak while her 2025 colt is a full-brother to the winner. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,976. O-David Ward; B-Northern Star Bloodstock Ltd; T-Ed Walker. The post ‘Very Proud’ David Ward Reflects On His Starman Homebred The Prettiest Star’s Debut Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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