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By Jordyn Bublitz  Kate Coppins is going into Tuesday’s meeting at Hawera high on confidence, but realistic that her career-best efforts at the course on Sunday will be virtually impossible to match, let alone beat. Yesterday the talented junior driver took out half the card, with five wins on the 10 race programme. “It was one of the greatest days of my life,” she says. On Tuesday Coppins has eight drives on the 10-race card and while momentum is on her side, she remains focused on staying grounded. “Dad always taught me that anything is possible when you step onto the track,” she said. “You could be on a deadset certainty and come last. I never go out there with any expectations, if I do I feel like I over-drive them a bit. I like to just drive the race in front of me.” Coppins identified two runners trained by her grandmother Jill Coppins as her leading chances on Tuesday. She will partner Rasmussin Effect in Race 2, the Fleming Family Mobile Pace, before reuniting with Jaccka Opa in Race 7, the Nag ‘N’ Noggin New Owners Coming March Mobile Pace. “I’d have to go with Jaccka Opa again, the way he won on Sunday, he just seems to go to another level on the grass. He doesn’t have a lot of gate speed but drawn one I think he’ll be a big chance.” She also expects Rasmussin Effect to take improvement from his Sunday effort. “Nan’s other one too, Rasmussin Effect, he went awesome and ran home really well, was just a bit unlucky and got pushed around on Sunday.” On day one Coppins arrived at Hawera with measured expectations. “I thought I’d have at least one winner,” Coppins said. It just snowballed from there. “Whenever I get winner it puts me in a real good headspace. It definitely set the mood for the day and I started to feel a lot more confident.” That she got five was mind-blowing. “It didn’t really sink in what I’d done until I had senior drivers that I’ve looked up to texting me and congratulating me,” she said. “My dad, mum and nana, I think they’re loving it more than I am …. it still hasn’t hit me how big of an achievement it is!” Kate Coppins’ five winners at Hawera on Sunday :  Race 3 : Jaccka Opa ($3.40) for Jill Coppins Race 6 : Im All In ($5.80) for Michael House Race 7 : Forgiveness ($27.10) for Michael House Race 8 : Big Gee ($6.60) for Michael House Race 10 : Shezabettorgirl for Michael House  View the full article

Does anyone know why the fixed odds on HRNZ website have disappeared?? Having them there was one of the better things that HRNZ had done in recent times and they have now got rid of them????? Does it make any sense? NO it does not, unless someone can kindly explain why they have taken them down???  

Small breeder Courtney Meagher is dreaming of Kentucky Oaks (G1) lilies with Taken by the Wind, a product of her compact program. With the filly coming from a crop of just four foals in 2023, Meagher continues to defy the odds.View the full article

Zac Purton lauded trainer Manfred Man’s horsemanship after Patch Of Cosmo (NZ) (Super Seth) successfully returned from injury to stake a claim for the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Sidelined since March, 2025 after suffering a tendon injury, Patch Of Cosmo eclipsed a classy group of rivals to win by a neck from Aerodynamics and Pope Cody in 1m 34.53s after jumping from barrier nine. Rated 77 pre-race, the Super Seth gelding deserves his place in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, according to Purton, who will ride Sagacious Life in the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which also includes the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 1 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March. “First of all, it was a really good training performance. This horse has been off from 10 months with a tendon (injury) and he’s come back at the top of Class 3, carrying a lot of weight, first-up at a mile and he’s won,” Purton said. “That’s not easy to do. “So, they want to take their place in the Four-Year-Old (Classic) Series now and he’s not going to be out of place. He’s a relatively lightly-raced horse, he’s got plenty more there.” Patch Of Cosmo was sold by Waikato Stud at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale to Richardson Racing and was then offered by Riversley Park at the Ready To Run Sale where he was sold to Mr KM Yeung. Emblazon (Zoustar), made it three wins from six starts for Cody Mo and Chau when the 64-rater overhauled Flash Current in the first section of the Class 3 Fencing Handicap (1400m). Emblazon was sold by Riversley Park at the 2023 Ready To Run Sale and won a trial for Paul Richards. Trainer Jamie Richards posted a double at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club Trainer Jamie Richards slotted a double with three-year-old Cool Boy (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the first section of the Class 4 Cycling Handicap (1200m) for James Orman. Richards also struck when City Gold Banner swept to victory under Zac Purton in the Class 3 15th National Games Hong Kong Medallists Cup Handicap. “Cool Boy has been racing well, I thought it was a good effort considering he had to carry 135lb,” Richards said. “He was aided by a beautiful ride from James, who’s riding really well.” Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle slotted his first winner in Hong Kong when he piloted John Size-trained Flow Water Flow (NZ) (Proisir) to victory in the Class 4 Triathlon Handicap (1600m). “Very happy and it’s a great place to be competing. I’ve been very lucky, I’ve been getting on some nice horses in the last few weeks. I’ve been getting plenty of support and massive thanks to John Size. He’s been extra special, he’s been throwing a lot at me and thankfully I can reward him with a winner,” the Irishman said. “He (Flow Water Flow) had a really good record coming into this race. He’d been hitting the crossbar (with three seconds) in his first three starts. Stepping up to 1600m was going to be a big help to him today and he was good and strong the last 100 metres – thankfully, he got his head in front.” Flow Water Flow was sold from the draft of Kiltannon Stables at the 2023 Ready To Run Sale to Merrick Staunton. View the full article

Six-time Group One-winning sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has been crowned Timeform’s Horse of the Year (2025). Trained by David Hayes, last season’s Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) also earned the accolade as Timeform’s Champion Sprinter (2025). A record-breaking phenom, Ka Ying Rising has earned HK$122.57 million and has won 17 of 19 career starts, including 16 in succession – equal to Golden Sixty’s record and one shy of Silent Witness’ all-time record in the city (17). According to Timeform, New Zealand-bred Ka Ying Rising had five individual performances where he rated 130 upwards last year when he collective five Group 1 wins and two in Group 2 – all part of his 16-race unbeaten streak, which he puts on the line in next week’s (Sunday, 25 January) HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin.  “He’s the best horse I’ve trained and he’ll be the best horse I’ve seen if he keeps going the way he is,” Hayes said. “His best attributes are his high-cruising speed and his ability to lengthen at the business end of his races.”  Ahead of his second consecutive HK$28 million Gr.1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) success last December, the five-year-old’s HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) win at Sha Tin under Zac Purton earned him the unmatched Timeform rating of 135 to claim top spot for the year. Conceding nine pounds to second-placed Gr.1 winner Lucky Sweynesse, Ka Ying Rising lumped 135lb to first-up victory on 7 September over 11 rivals – many of whom carried 115lb – before then travelling overseas, where he claimed the world’s richest race on turf at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia – the AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) – as the first foreign horse to achieve the feat. Earlier in his career as a four-year-old in 2024, Ka Ying Rising won the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), remarkably lowering Sacred Kingdom’s 17-year 1200m turf track record at Sha Tin from 1m 07.50s to 1m 07.43s. Over a month later in his first 2025 triumph, Ka Ying Rising then powered home in an extraordinary 1m 07.20s to land the Centenary Sprint Cup – leg one of the Hong Kong Speed Series – in what was the first of eight wins throughout the year.   Ka Ying Rising then claimed the Hong Kong Speed Series and the HK$5 million bonus with success in the HK$13 million Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) to round out his 2024/25 season in Hong Kong. Mr Vitality (1995/96), Grand Delight (2002/03), Silent Witness (2003/04 & 2004/05) and Lucky Sweynesse (2022/23) have previously claimed the Hong Kong Speed Series. The remaining awards for 2025 saw Calandagan named Timeform’s Champion Middle-Distance performer on 133; Field Of Gold was Timeform’s Champion Miler on 127; Minnie Hauk was acclaimed Timeform’s Champion Filly/Mare on 127, while Trawlerman was Timeform’s Champion Stayer, also rated 127.  Founded in 1948 by Phil Bull, Timeform is a leading sports data and content provider based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. View the full article

Valiant Crusader (Crusader Sword) passed away at Old Friends at Cabin Creek on Jan. 17, according to farm release on Sunday.  The 25-year-old stallion was humanely euthanized after sustaining injuries in a paddock accident. “Cru meant so much to us,” said JoAnn Pepper, owner and manager of Old Friends at Cabin Creek. “He could brighten the day just by standing there. He was fun and happy. He loved every meal, just like his father did. He leaves us sad, but blessed to have known and loved him.” Valiant Crusader retired to Old Friends at Cabin Creek in May of 2024 after volunteer Mary Eddy found him listed on Craigslist outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to his arrival at Cabin Creek, Valiant Crusader changed hands several times, and was primarily used to breed quarter horse mares. As a racehorse, the New York-bred out of the Diablo mare Diablo's Pixie raced four times at Aqueduct Racetrack over two seasons for trainer John Hertler before retiring following a sixth-place finish in 2004. The farm release read, “Valiant Crusader is best remembered by the volunteers and visitors at Old Friends at Cabin Creek, where he stood watch over the farm from one of two paddocks atop the front hill and across from Group 1-winner A Shin Forward. Valiant Crusader, much like his father, was an especially gentle stallion, and even spent time in a paddock with gelding Watchem Smokey. His kind-hearted nature and soft eyes made him one of the most welcoming horses on the farm for new volunteers and visitors alike. Old Friends at Cabin Creek is proud and honored to have provided this noble stallion a soft landing for his final years as he served as a perfect ambassador for the proper retirement of all thoroughbreds. The post Valiant Crusader Passes at Old Friends at Cabin Creek appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple grade 2-placed Originaire was represented by his first winner Jan. 18 as 3-year-old Original One proved best on debut in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race for $32,000 claimers at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Dr. William Baxter Jr.'s Stony Pointe Stables are going for it with New York-bred Fourth and One in the $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 31.View the full article

Off to a hot start to the year with her nine-horse stable, trainer Aggie Ordonez is targeting grade 1s on March 7 at Santa Anita Park with Vodka Vodka and Om N Joy.View the full article