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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Challenge, presented by GaineswayView the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
MGISW Locked (Gun Runner–Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon) will miss his intended start in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic due to an untimely illness. The 4-year-old has been retired from racing and will stand at Gainesway for the 2026 breeding season, according to a press release on Friday morning from the farm. A son of leading sire Gun Runner, Locked is the second foal from Luna Rosa, a winning daughter of Malibu Moon and a half-sister to MGISW Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro) and MGSW Always A Princess (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). The Todd Pletcher trainee broke his maiden by 7 1/4 lengths at second asking over the Spa main track that September, which garnered him a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard. The colt netted the GI Claiborne Breeders' Cup Futurity at Keeneland and completed his 2-year-old campaign by running third in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile. In his 3-year-old debut, Locked cleared an optional claimer during the Belmont At The Big A meet, then he scored weeks later in the GII Cigar Mile Handicap by defeating older horses, which included GI winners Mullikin (Violence) and Book 'em Danno (Bucchero). At 4, Locked took the GI Santa Anita Handicap by a record-setting 8 1/2 lengths. The victory yielded strong metrics, including a 109 Beyer, 3 1/2 Ragozin, and negative 5 Thoro-Graph. “From the moment we put a saddle on his back at Ocala Stud, Locked always presented himself as a superior talent,” Eclipse President, Aron Wellman said. “He was a star 2-year-old, returned at age 3 off nearly a year layoff after getting knocked off the Kentucky Derby trail with a rare injury, to come a tick off the track record for 7-furlongs at Aqueduct and then conquered older foes, including several Grade I winners, in the Cigar Mile. He was a troubled 2nd in the Pegasus World Cup and then set the record for the largest margin of victory in the Santa Anita Big 'Cap, only to close out his career with a logic-defying win in the historic Woodward. He was a stellar racehorse and with his natural athleticism, toughness, pedigree and looks, we are enthusiastic about his prospects of becoming a marquis stallion at Gainesway as an heir apparent to his sire, Gun Runner.” Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners campaigned Locked alongside Walmac Farm. The latest addition to the Gainesway stallion roster will retire with six wins from 11 starts and earnings of $1,911,825. “Locked is an exciting stallion prospect of the highest caliber” said Gainesway's Antony Beck. “In his career, he demonstrated true brilliance and versatility from distances ranging from 7 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. I couldn't be more excited about Locked's arrival at Gainesway and I look forward to breeding a large number of our best mares to him.” The post Locked To Miss Breeders’ Cup Classic; Retires to Gainesway 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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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Cups king Mahrajaan made his first public appearance in more than 12 months when he finished third behind Group One winner Provence in his 1100m heat at the Ellerslie trials on Thursday. He was victorious in the 2023 edition of the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) before winning the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie four months later, placing the imported son of Kitten’s Joy at the top of New Zealand’s staying ranks. Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray decided to test his talent in Australia, where he finished last in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) before returning in the spring where he beat just two runners home in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m). He was set to line-up in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), but those dreams were dashed after he was withdrawn on veterinary advice, and he hasn’t been sighted publicly until Thursday’s hit-out. “It has been a long road,” Ritchie said. “We were taken out of the Melbourne Cup by the vets on the morning of acceptances, which was a little bit disappointing, but they have their rules, and we didn’t want to risk the horse. “From that point, we decided to give him a little bit of a break. We put him on the water treadmill, mucked around with him and gave him plenty of time, and now he is on track for the Auckland Cup.” Ritchie has been pleased with the way Mahrajaan has returned and he was buoyed by his trial performance this week. “He looks unbelievable, he has put a huge amount of weight on, the majority of it muscle, which is great because he is going to need to carry a bit of pudding in the Auckland Cup,” Ritchie said. “He won’t have the luxury of being on the bottom of the handicap anymore. “His trial was fantastic. He hasn’t been presented for over 12 months publicly at all, so to come out and run third to a Group One winner was great. “He never really came off the bridle and Sam (Weatherley, jockey) came and galloped him before he went to the trials and he said he feels like an open class sprinter. Obviously raceday kicks in and he is a genuine stayer. “He seems to be in the right sort of order and I think we are aiming at the right race. If we stick to our target, hopefully we hit the mark in the grand final. He will be uncompetitive over the shorter distances on his way through, but he has won two races in New Zealand over two miles, so that’s his obvious forte.” Stablemate Eye Candy also made her first public appearance of the season at the Ellerslie trials, and while Ritchie was less upbeat about her 1100m hit-out, he said it was good to get a line on her at the start of her preparation. “We toyed whether to trial her or not, she was only just ready,” he said. “She is a big, thick-winded mare and she was as a three-year-old, so she was well in need of that. I would suggest she is going to need another trial before we present her at the races. “She has had a day out and that is what we wanted to do. We have obviously got some work to do to get her fitter before we present her on raceday.” Eye Candy had a pleasing three-year-old term, placing in both the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m), and Ritchie is hoping she can return to that level. The stable was also represented at the trials by Group Two winner Nereus and Alaskan, who were unplaced in their 1100m trials. “I am delighted with Nereus,” Ritchie said. “I thought he was really attacking the line after the post, he didn’t want to pull up. The signs of his willingness have certainly not gone away and he is going to be a lovely Cups horse for us over the summer. “He spelled terrific. He has never been a horse who has been a big, strong horse, but he is carrying more condition than he has ever carried before. We are really looking forward to him when he gets over a mile and further. He has run the odd cheeky race first-up as well. “He is a really nice handicapper who has been a genuine good horse for the stable. “Alaskan is a mare early in the season I thought might get to a New Zealand Cup, but she disappointed us at the trials and races, so we had to back off and start again. “I was looking for an improved effort from her (at the trials) and I think we got that. Her first trial was substandard and then we took her to the races at Ruakaka after taking her to the beach and doing some work with her, but she was very disappointing. “The track was a bit off and we know she needs it dry, but having said that, she has looked fantastic and she has had a summer coat, one of the first ones to come through with a summer coat. “She presented in great order yesterday, but that just gives us the confidence to go back to the races and being low in the grades, in a 65, we will find a nice mile for her. If she is anywhere near her best she will run well.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray teamed up with The Oaks Stud two years ago to win the Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool with Nassak Diamond, and they are hoping to do the same this year with Tempest Moon. The Cambridge trainers have trekked south to Christchurch with the five-year-old daughter of Turn Me Loose where they will try and gain a berth in next month’s marathon feature when they contest the NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The winner gains an automatic entry into the Jericho Cup, and with their past success in the race, her connections are keen to contest it once more. “Rick Williams (The Oaks Stud General Manager) and I don’t mind going to Warrnambool,” Ritchie quipped. “We have had a great time with Where Are You when she was 100-1 and ran third. We realised it is a great race to win with Nassak Diamond a couple of years ago. If we can get another starter over there, we will be tickled pink. “We will be doing our absolute best to try and get her to that Jericho Cup.” Tempest Moon heads into Saturday in good form, having won over 2100m at Te Aroha last month before running fourth in the Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupo. “I thought her run at Taupo was exceptional,” Ritchie said. “She is probably running into horses that are better performed on wetter tracks and she doesn’t mind it firmer. “She just got caught on the corner and got shuffled one or two spots further back than George (Rooke, jockey) would have liked, but she certainly rocketed home. “She is going to love Riccarton.” Closer to their Cambridge base, the stable are looking forward to the debut of Cambridge Stud filly Sovrana in the TAB 1400 at Ellerslie. The three-year-old daughter of Reliable Man has placed in both of her trials to date, and Ritchie believes she is capable of some lofty targets later this season. “It is not easy having your debut at Ellerslie, they usually get strong fields and this one is no different,” he said. “She has drawn the bullet (1), and I see her as a lovely staying filly, she may even develop into an Oaks filly. “You can’t suggest that she may be an Oaks filly and not expect some form of performance, but I will also expect 1400m would be well short of her best. Having said that, she has got a touch of class about her and I think she will run a cheeky race if she can get the breaks.” View the full article
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