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Forget the last horror show, Time Warp will lead them a merry dance, says trainer Tony Cruz
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Tommy Berry is back on and from a better barrier Sichuan can be the Boss again at Happy Valley
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Pakistan Star passes test and will race in QE II Cup, Tommy Berry blown away with raw ability
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Zac Purton notches his 800th Hong Kong winner
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And then there were eight: Numbers dwindle for QE II Cup as Champions Day features decimated by withdrawals
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
In the wake of Smarty Jones's first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot, announced Thursday, the Pennsylania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Bob Hutt, issued a statement indicating how meaningful the nomination was to the organizations around the state. Roy and Patricia Chapman's champion three-year-old of 2004 won his first eight races, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, before falling a length short in the Belmont Stakes, where a record 120,000 people turned out to see him bid for the Triple Crown. He was retired after that race. “On behalf of the Chapman family, the PTHA, PHBA, PARX and racing fans all over the world, we wish to thank the Hall of Fame nominating committee for selecting Smarty Jones to be a 2025 finalist for the Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Everybody at Parx and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania is proud of our brilliant Pennsylvania bred Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion, a horse that captured the hearts and imagination of millions of people in the United States and around the world. As the voters consider Smarty's candidacy, we would like to thank them for their due diligence.” –Bob Hutt, President, PTHA The post `Pennsylvania Proud’: PTHA Thanks Hall for Smarty Jones Nomination appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
Initial report said final report June, by which time they'll all be being raced on again. Doesn't seem like good timing to me. Meanwhile the HISA have reported that in the US fatality rates nationally have dropped to less than 1/1000 (down 27% year on year) for the first time ever, and that's mostly on dirt tracks. The track by track and surface breakdown is due out next month. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Hong Kong sprinter extraordinaire Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) headlines the HK$13-million G1 Queen's Silver jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. Trained by David Hayes for the Ka Ying Syndicate, the likeable gelding is operating on a nine-race winning streak, and had the re-opposing Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) and Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) second and third when he took the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup last month over his pet distance of 1200 metres. The world's highest rated turf sprinter in 2024, the gelding will be partnered with Karis Teetan for the first time in his 12-race career, and the duo leave from gate nine. Regular rider Zac Purton is sidelined by a toe injury sustained in a three-horse fall on Feb. 10. Defending champ and 2024 Hong Kong Champion Sprinter California Spangle (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is looking for a return to form, but has picked a tough spot for it. After his win in this race a year ago, he took his show on the road with a successful foray to Meydan and added the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in March, but he's been winless in five additional starts. Patch Of Theta (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) defeated the gelding in the G3 Challenge Cup on New Year's Day, and Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}), and Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) ran one-two-three when they met in the Jan. 19 G1 Stewards' Cup going a mile. The Tony Cruz trainee was unplaced in each of those efforts. “You saw the barrier trial, he's back in business. The trial was good and the jockey was very happy with him,” Cruz said of the gelding, whose chances of defending his Al Quoz title hinge on this start. “His condition compared to last season is not as good, so we'll make a decision after the race on Sunday. Let's see the outcome before we decide on Dubai.” Last year's 2024 G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize hero Invincible Sage (Aus) (Thronum {Aus}) is aiming for his second top-level ring and leaves from stall three in the nine-horse field. He was fourth to Ka Ying Rising in the Centenary Sprint Cup. Gold Cup Up For Grabs With Hong Kong poster boy Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) trying dirt for the first time in the $20-million 1800-metre G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh the day prior with James McDonald in the irons, the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup is a fairly open race. Multiple Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble will try for four-in-a-row and has the services of McDonald, who will arriving fresh from Riyadh on Saturday. Second to Galaxy Patch in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy over 1600 metres in October, the son of Deep Field has not lost since, taking the G1 Hong Kong Mile over Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), and Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) on Dec. 8. He added the aforementioned Stewards' Cup over several of these at a mile on Jan. 19. Of Chancheng Glory, reigning Hong Kong Champion Trainer Francis Lui said, “Chancheng Glory is also in good form. He's maintained his form, so we hope he can run well.” A dual champion trainer in Hong Kong, Cruz is sending a three-pronged attack against Voyage Bubble in Five G Patch (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), La City Blanch (Arg) (Cityscape {GB}) and Winning Dragon (Chi) (Ivan Denisovich {Ire}) in the 2000-metre feature. The trio break from gates 10, two, and three, respectively. “They're all ready for the race. They're all 2000 metres and above horses, but I'm happy with their condition going into the race,” Cruz said. Dirt Horses To The Fore In February Stakes With some of Japan's best and brightest dirt horses contending for Saudi Cup honours, the way is clear to crown one of the 16 locals entered in the 1600-metre G1 February Stakes at Tokyo on Sunday. One of the rising stars of the dirt ranks is Group 3 winner Costa Nova (Jpn), who has won all five of his starts over the local dirt, including the 1400-metre G3 Negishi Stakes earlier this month. That was the Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) 5-year-old entire's first attempt in group company, and on Sunday, the waters get even deeper. Assistant trainer Yu Ota said, “Things were a bit tight on the turn for home in the Negishi Stakes, but he showed what he could do by running on well to win comfortably. He came out of the race with no tiredness, and it wasn't long before he was training again as usual.” With the absence of Saudi-Cup bound Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Meisho Hario (Jpn) is hoping to go one better than his second at the hands of that rival in the Listed JBC Classic at Saga in November. He's in with a chance, as he rolled a pair of threes in both the 2022 G1 Tokyo Daishoten, and in the 2023 edition of this race behind Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid). Mikki Fight (Jpn) (Drefong), too, holds a formline with a Saudi Cup hopeful. In his case, the G3 Leopard Stakes hero was second in the Listed Japan Dirt Classic to Group 1 scorer Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in October, before he improved to land the Listed Nagoya Daishoten over 2000 metres on Dec. 19. Assistant trainer Hiroyuki Yamazaki said, “He's had his usual routine, returning to the stable a month ago. He was plus 14kg for his last race, so we've just been training him accordingly and checking his weight. Since some time ago, we thought he would become a better horse, and he's developing well.” The 2025 edition of the February Stakes also features the 2024 one-two of Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). The former would be only the second 7-year-old to win the race since Roman Prince (Jpn) (Bravest Roman) in 1988. Trainer Hidenori Take, who said, “He maintained his form in the latter half of last year, and even though the Champions Cup was a tough race, he managed to finish fifth. I think he can run well with just the one turn over 1600 metres even if the field is bunched together more.” Emperor Wakea (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is a track-and-trip winner of the G3 Tokyo Chunichi Hai on Nov. 9. His fitness is a slight question mark, as that was the last time the Listed Enif Stakes hero was seen in action. Sunday Funday (Jpn) (Suzuka Causeway {Jpn}) is also coming off a group win after taking the G2 Procyon Stakes at Chukyo on Jan. 26. The post Spangle Vs Rising In Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup 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
RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — Fourteen horses with Grade I or Group 1 form from America, Argentina, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan and even Uruguay will take their chance at the winner's share of the $20-million gross purse for the world's richest horse race, Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. And few of them are without some sort of chance. Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) returns to the Saudi capital 12 months on from a last-lunge success in the G3 Saudi Derby and looks to become the first to complete the double. Unlucky to not post a better finish when third in the GI Kentucky Derby, he returned to the U.S. for a crack at the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, but he arguably sat too close to a very quick tempo after drawing the inside and felt the pinch late when third to would-be Saudi Cup starter 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and fellow 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light). He exits a smooth success over the running-on Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) in the G1 Tokyo Daishoten in late December, a first elite-level success, but not likely the last. Jockey Ryusei Sakai remains predictably bullish and said: “He travelled to Riyadh very well. He has been very relaxed and looked confident since he has arrived. I have no worries about him. He is a very versatile type of horse and can handle any type of track condition.” If there was any consternation in drawing the widest barrier in 14 for Saturday's 1800-metre contest, trainer Yoshito Yahagi was certainly not letting on, saying only that an outside alley was preferred to one on the inside. Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), the 2023 G1 Dubai World Cup winner who was just caught on the wire of last year's Saudi Cup, is the fourth and perhaps–remarkably–weakest of the Japanese challenge. Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) makes a much-anticipated first dirt appearance as he looks to join the likes of Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and the Yahagi-trained Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) as seasoned turf horses to make a successful transition. The 10-times Group 1 winner has made a more favourable impression in his local dirt work than over the main track at Meydan, where he has been stabled since late December, but the surface itself isn't necessarily the concern in the eyes of trainer Danny Shum. “He can handle the dirt, I don't know how he'll handle the kickback,” Shum told the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia's Martin Kelly during a Thursday press conference. “Some horses can handle it and others will shorten their stride. This is normal. You never know until they're past the winning post. He looks very fit. Physically, in all his career, this time he's the best in his life.” Given his draw in three, the kickback could have a say in the outcome, but in Romantic Warrior, you have a horse that has taken everything that has been thrown at him in his stride and it would be foolish to discount his chances. Trainer Danny Shum casts an eye across Romantic Warrior | JCSA Rattle N Roll (Connect) will look to become the third US-based winner of the Saudi Cup and the 6-year-old earned his way into the race with a 4 3/4-length thumping of Wait To Excel (GB) (Postponed {Ire}) and the commonly owned Wootton'sun (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (King's Cup) on Jan. 22. Joel Rosario jets in from the States and trainer Ken McPeek will give the Dominican carte blanche where it comes to tactics. “You don't tell Picasso or Rembrandt how to paint, you give him a brush,” the conditioner quipped Thursday. Trainer Bhupat Seemar had intended to start reigning Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River (Into Mischief) in the Saudi Cup, but a minor injury dictates his absence with an eye on a repeat bid at Meydan six weeks from now. The Zabeel Stables boss is nevertheless represented by Walk of Stars (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a participant in the G1 Derby for Godolphin in 2022, who has since found a new home on the dirt. He most recently defeated 2024 G1 Dubai Turf hero Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) soundly into third in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge over 1900 metres and could be the one they'll have to catch on Saturday. Of Facteur Cheval, his trainer Jerome Reynier said: “His best performance was in the Dubai Turf last year over 1800m, left-handed. It's the same conditions in The Saudi Cup, except that it is run on the dirt. “Facteur Cheval is a very strong individual, who always delivers, he is just a very special horse. Even if we might struggle to be as competitive as Forever Young or the other true dirt specialists, who are international champions, being placed in this race is already an achievement.” The G1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini is not often a test that produces runners in a race such as this, but the 2024 renewal sees its top two finishers–Intense for Me (Arg) (Fortify) and El Kodigo (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Arg})–line up here. The latter, exiting a top-level score at Maronas in Montevideo, Uruguay, is widely regarded as the best dirt horse in South America and both horses are owned by Muhaideb Abdullah A Almuhaideb. Al Musmak (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) won last year's Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes for Roger Varian and was impressive in landing a course-and-distance conditions event Jan. 4. Former US Grade I winner Defunded (Dialed In) completes the field. Returning Champions Contest Undercard In addition to Forever Young, the winners of three of the five other races from 2024 are back in search of repeat Riyadh riches. The Richard Fahey-trained Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) defeated Japan's Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) in last year's G2 Neom Turf Cup (2100m) and the three renew acquaintances on Saturday. The field also includes G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin hero Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), the €2.1-million 2022 Arqana August topper who makes his first start for the Forever Young connections since dead-heating for second in the G1 Japan Cup in November. The Mick Appleby-trained Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) made the 2024 G2 1351 Turf Sprint his own and he, too, is back in Riyadh against challengers from America, Bahrain, Japan and Qatar. Of note are Listed Dubai Duty Free Stakes winner Witness Stand (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), having his first run for Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole; and the locally based Malyan (Ire) (Sioux Nation), never worse than third in 10 starts in Riyadh and winner of five on the trot, including the local qualifier on Jan. 24. An eight-length winner of the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes over two miles last fall, Al Nayyir (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) carries top weight of 62kg (136 pounds) into Saturday's G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m) against the likes of Wathnan Racing's Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) and Deira Mile (GB) (Camelot {GB}), last seen crossing the line third, but demoted to fourth in the G1 St Leger in September. Remake (Jpn) (Lani) carried Yuga Kawada to an easy win in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint 12 months ago, but arrives in more questionable form this time around, having done no running whatsoever behind Straight No Chaser (Speightster) in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in early November. Gabby's Sister (Jpn) (Apollo Kingdom) and Chikappa (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) also look to give Japan a fourth win in the race, while the outgoing Jimmy Jerkens saddles the sneaky Ancestral Land (GB) (Sioux Nation). Japan also goes for a fourth win in the G3 Saudi Derby, with the undefeated filly Myriad Love (Jpn) (New Year's Day) a real chance to make it four-from-four in her career against G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Golden Vekoma (Vekoma) and US raider Cyclone State (McKinzie), impressive in winning the Listed Jerome Stakes last time. The post Worldwide Formlines Converge In Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Special Agent · Posted
Perhaps it takes one to know one. I wouldn't think you'd do much riding now, old grey mares included. It would also be a while since you bowled a maiden over. Do you still roll out for that old people's game?
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