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Chief Stipe O'Neill is among a relatively small group of American-based trainers that readily seeks opportunities to travel horses to major overseas meetings. As recently as 2025, the California-based conditioner won the G2 Godolphin Mile for a third time with Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief), and the barn is set to be represented in two of the six group-level contests on Saudi Cup night Feb. 14. Purple Rein Racing and Mark Davis's Acknowledgemeplz (Bucchero) has been invited to the G3 Saudi Derby and the Florida-bred tuned up for the 1600-meter contest with a six-furlong drill from the gate Saturday over the Santa Anita main track that was timed in 1:11.60. It was one of only three moves at the distance, but matched the clocking of Imagination (Good Magic), who is expected to start in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. “Just wanted a nice, solid work,” O'Neill said of the $75,000 OBS March breezer, who went by himself. “From our experience when we get over there, we just go with easy work from a week out. Just wanted a good breeze, and he worked sensational this morning. Knock on wood, he's cooling out well, so we're right on target. “Little endurance, little lung-opener,” he continued. “The next three days are travel days, so just wanted to give him a little bit more than his average work since he's going to be traveling.” A debut second to next-out GIII Best Pal Stakes hero Desert Gate (Omaha Beach), Acknowledgemeplz earned a 93 Beyer in graduating at second asking in October. Fourth in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity last month, he exits a third in the Jan. 10 GII San Vicente Stakes, where he sizzled the opening four furlongs in :43.56.       O'Neill expects to make use of the colt's speed in the desert and hold no real fears about the distance. “I think on the lead going one turn is his best gig,” the trainer said. “I love that the Saudi Derby is a one-turn mile and speed generally does well all around the world. He's got speed, he's got stamina and I think his best is around one turn and I think it sets up good for him. I don't think the surface or the distance are the real concerns, I'd be more concerned about what else is coming over.” O'Neill will give a leg up to Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat, who will also guide Quattro Navarro Farms' Zio Jo (Nyquist) in the $2-million G2 1351 Turf Sprint. The 6-year-old fired a bullet five furlongs over the all-weather surface in :58.80 Saturday morning. “He's always been a good work horse,” said O'Neill. “Just looking for a maintenance five-eighths with a gallop-out and he did just that and cooled out well. He'll have an easy breeze five or six days out from the race. He's doing super.” Zio Jo's best form is over a mile, having gone down to a half-length defeat behind Formidable Man (City of Light) in last year's GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes. But his two most recent appearances suggest a sharper trip is in his scope, as he missed by a neck in the Nov. 30 Stormy Liberal Stakes at Del Mar over five furlongs and was a longshot third in the GII Joe Hernandez Stakes down the Santa Anita hillside course Dec. 29. “He acts like a two-turn horse, but we dropped him back down to a sprint and he's run lights out,” O'Neill commented. “Having Flavien is awesome, just get a clean break and a good position. He's been very consistent. It's quite an honor that both of them were invited. It's an exciting opportunity.” Depending on their performances in Riyadh, both O'Neill trainees are possible for the respective races on Dubai World Cup night Mar. 28, as stated, a place where O'Neill knows the way to the winner's enclosure. “There are great opportunities around the world if you have horses that are good enough,” he said. “We've done it a bunch and we've had some success doing it. You'll get your odd horses that just don't like the travel. Neither one of these seems like that type.” Both horses begin their journey to the desert on Feb. 1. The post O’Neill Duo Set For Saudi Cup Night After Quick Saturday Works 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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I knew some mentioned it in the built up, can't knock him on that, I've always maintained it's a glorified hack race, no disrespect to connections, good on them, but our cups races have certainly changed over the years.

There is no escaping the irony that a man named Sonny has the potential to shine at the Dublin Racing Festival. That's if the weather Gods would relent and the meeting gets the go-ahead on Sunday.  Stephen Carey, best known as Sonny, will be doubly-represented by Brosna Shine and Lilannbee in the Grade 2 Mares Bumper on Sunday and describes the former as the best horse he has ever had through his hands.  That's saying something as the talented ex-National Hunt jockey, who cut his teeth with Arthur Moore and spent five years working for the dominant force that is Willie Mullins, has already had a couple of talented horses through his hands. But in Brosna Shine, Carey feels he could potentially be dealing with something a little bit different.  “Ah she is,” comes the 39-year-old's reply when asked if Brosna Shine is the best horse that he has ever managed. “Now, she has to go and do it but she definitely is. She shows an awful lot. Lilannbee is not a bad filly, either. She wouldn't be as big as Brosna Shine but she goes well and her first two runs were my fault as she wasn't herself. I think she is improving and I think she will run well. She's owned by my wife and the local publican, so two very important people!” You may be forgiven for thinking that, if you weren't born a Mullins or an Elliott, these big National Hunt meetings in Ireland might be off limits. But that is not the case. Yes, Carey was put in a fortunate position to be sent to the sales with a six-figure order to fill but by God did he fill it. A daughter of arguably the hottest jumps stallions there is in No Risk At All, Brosna Shine boasts a good pedigree being a daughter of the highly-rated King's Theatre mare Baby Shine. She fetched €105,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale – Sonny couldn't exactly shop elsewhere given his wife, Mary, is the bloodstock manager at Goffs – and that six-figure sum is beginning to look value.  “Mary's uncle, Tony Kilduff, wanted to buy a nice mare to hopefully race and then breed from later. We went to the Arkle Sale at Goffs and, between myself, my wife and Michael O'Sullivan, we managed to pick her out. She has a beautiful pedigree, is a beautiful individual and she seems to have a big engine. We bought another filly for Tony, Brosna Queen, and she won her bumper last June so they are two nice fillies to have for him.”  Brosna Shine will line out at Leopardstown after getting off the mark in very good style second time up at Fairyhouse back in December. That performance was by no means out of the blue given she travelled like the best horse in the race in last year's Goffs December Bumper before ultimately finishing third. She is deserving of her place towards the head of the betting in Sunday's race while the battle-hardened Lilannbee has rock-solid each-way claims. To have two fillies capable of running at a meeting as big as the Dublin Racing Festival certainly isn't lost on Carey.  Sonny Carey and Marky Kilduff | Tattersalls “It's great, isn't it? To have the two of them going for the race is brilliant but I do think that they are entitled to go there. We've only two horses in training and I just hope they run well because I think they are capable of it. But, if they don't, what about it?” That nonchalant approach shouldn't be taken for a lack of focus. Carey has already sent out his best-ever tally of six winners this season and is operating at a 21 per cent strike-rate. He has already experienced winning big at Leopardstown over the Christmas period when The Nagger Reidy battled to a last-gasp success on Savills Chase day. This is a man enjoying something of a golden period and, what's more impressive, is that the training arm of his operation is not even the bread and butter of the business.  He explained, “I rent 40 stables off Arthur Moore, who I started off with when I was 13 or 14. I rode a few winners for Arthur before spending five years with Willie Mullins. I came back and I set up my own business pre-training and we have built up some brilliant clients. The racing and the whole training has just been something on the side. A little bit of fun. We've basically been training a couple of family horses and horses on behalf of a few friends but it has been going really well and we've even managed to get a few horses sold along the way, which has been great. We're getting a bit busier but, definitely, the main job is the pre-training and the breaking.” He added, “I don't agree with the narrative of, 'how can you compete in Ireland?' Gordon Elliott, Gavin Cromwell and plenty of other trainers came from nothing. I was very lucky to have seen how Willie does things. The attention to detail in Closutton is amazing. Willie does everything off eye, everything off feel and his wife Jackie is just as big of a cog in the wheel as he is. She spots things in horses that would amaze you and I've seen the tiniest things that she has spotted make the biggest of differences. You wouldn't believe it. I tried to learn as much as I could in my five years there and my only regret is that I couldn't spend another five years in Willie's because you'd never stop learning.” The lion's share of Carey's business would revolve around National Hunt horses but he bought, trained and sold Nunc Est Bibendum, who is now a three-time winner for Gary and Josh Moore. He also enjoyed a dream debut consigning at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale last year when selling a £3,500 yearling purchase by Invincible Spirit for a cool £85,000. What's more, that filly, who was named Vishaka, came out and won on debut for David Simcock.  In Carey's own words, he would “throw his hand to anything,” and it shouldn't be a major surprise that it usually works out for him. Sonny is the son of Paddy and Sally Carey, who are well-renowned in the industry, while his brother Jim is the hugely regarded stud manager at Newgate Stud in Australia.  Sunday represents a massive opportunity for the spotlight to deservedly shine on Sonny. There would be few better stories to brighten up the Dublin Racing Festival. The post Brosna Shine Bids To Put Sonny Carey In The Spotlight At The Dublin Racing Festival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jay Rooney BUSTLING CITY - R1 (3) Has looked sharp in his trials and can make a splash on debut with Purton up   Owen Goulding NYX GLUCK - R9 (3) Did best of those who raced handy last start and reunited with McDonald   Trackwork Spy INVINVIBLE IBIS - R8 (3) Looks well placed to continue hot streak with a fifth straight win   Phillip Woo WE ARE HERO - R6 (1) Has plenty of boxes ticked in his favour and should win down in grade   Shannon (Vincent Wong) WARRIORS DREAM - R4 (10) Ran an eye-catching...View the full article

Surely he didn't

Palmerton North mare Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor) caused a major upset when taking out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday. The five-year-old daughter of Almanzor had previously only raced up to rating 75 grade and was taking a massive jump up to Group company on Saturday, a step punters thought was too far and they let her drift out to an 86-1 outsider. From her outside draw she was taken straight to the back to settle at the rear of the field for jockey Kate Hercock where she had an economical trip for most of the marathon journey. Turning for home, the pair had a wall of horses in front of them, but Hercock was able to weave a passage through the pack and Manzor Blue stuck her nose out in front with 50m to go and held onto her advantage to win by a short neck over fellow Awapuni galloper Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino), with a further half-length back to stablemate Be Real (NZ) (Iffraaj)in third. Prior to the start, Hercock told trainer Lisa Latta that she would ride her mare for luck and that’s exactly what she did, and while she was left querying their chances around the final bend, lady luck was on their shoulder down the straight and the Hawke’s Bay hoop was rapt to get the result. “I said (to Latta) if she gets back we will ride her for luck,” Hercock said. “From about the half mile we were getting in more carnage, at the 600m we were in a lot more carnage and then I rolled back into the inside and she has got such a phenomenal turn of foot on her day.” Latta said Manzor Blue has had her share of issues this season and she was pleased to overcome them and build towards the Wellington Cup, with Hercock’s advice proving to be the difference of her pressing on towards the Trentham feature following her last start sixth placing at the Upper Hutt track. “We have had a lot of niggles with this mare this season, she had a lot of back problems. We have worked extra hard to get her right,” Latta said. “She only ran sixth here a fortnight ago and I said to Kate ‘should we press on to the Wellington Cup?’ she said ‘press on, I think she is back’. At that time it didn’t even look like she would make the field. Good on Kate, she deserved it, she pinched runs and she got there.” Manzor Blue carried New Zealand syndicator Go Racing’s silks to victory and Latta was pleased to get the result for her loyal clients. “Go Racing has been fantastically loyal to me,” Latta said. “They do a fantastic job syndicating their horses. The last time I had a big winner was Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man) at Wellington (for Go Racing).” Now proven at stakes level, Latta believes her mare has a bright future among New Zealand’s staying ranks. “She is only a five-year-old mare, she has got it all in front of her,” she said. “We have ironed out a lot of niggles and learned a lot about her this year.” Bred by Milan Park principal Tony Rider, Manzor Blue is out of Zabeel mare Turquoise Coast (NZ), a half-sister to Group Three winner Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos). Manzor Blue was offered through Milan Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where was purchased by Go Racing for $130,000. She has now won three of her 21 starts and earned just shy of $280,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Seven-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote) landed her second Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) three years after her first, with a strong front-running success under Dean Yendall at Caulfield on Saturday. The Matthew Williams trained daughter of Wrote has competed in the race in four consecutive years, with fourth and third placings in the mare’s feature between her 2023 and 2026 victories. Wrote To Arataki had a length to spare over fellow Kiwi bred mare Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), with Bossy Benita (So You Think) in third. Williams said the mare’s soundness was a key asset as she advanced her career record to seven wins and nine placings from 28 starts with A$903,980 in prizemoney. “She’s done a great job and she’s been so sound all the way through,” Williams said. “She had a couple of little viruses there in the spring and we just couldn’t get her back right, so we opted to pull up stumps. “The owners have been very patient and were happy to do that, and then we’ve just set her for this race which has been a great kick-off to her autumn in previous prepartions. She always runs a pretty cheeky race in the Bellmaine.” The Gr.3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in a fortnight is the likely next assignment, a race Wrote To Arataki won last year. “It’s a good mare’s program for her,” Williams said. “She’s not a good traveller, so we don’t look to go anywhere interstate, and mares are very well catered for here in Victoria. She loves these 1400m and 1600m races, so it just works well and they’re on your back door.” Dean Yendall, who’s daughter Mia celebrated her 12th birthday was pleased to land a Group Three on the day, having missed the mare’s last win in the race through injury. “I was down at the time with a bad fall but I am back now and I have ridden her the last couple of seasons,” Yendall said. “She has been good to me, the owners have been good to me and obviously so has Matthew. “She got the job done and the track is beautiful out there which played into her hands. There is a nice bit of give in it and it is not rock hard. “She goes well fresh and her last couple of trials show that she is back in town and going well.” Bred by Noelene Bishop, Wrote To Arataki is by Highview Stud’s proven sire Wrote, a Group One-winning son of High Chaparral. The dam of Wrote To Arataki is the multiple winning Align mare Galloping Gerte (NZ). Wrote To Arataki finished third in her only trial in New Zealand for former trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne before her private sale to the Williams stable through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo. A yearling full brother to Wrote To Arataki was sold to John Foote Bloodstock out of the Leanach Lodge draft for $200,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales this week. View the full article

Taranaki visitor Special Sakura (NZ) (Staphanos) upset the applecart when she led from go to whoa to bring up just her third career victory, and first at black-type level, when winning the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie. The four-year-old daughter of Novara Park stallion Staphanos had finished close up in second behind Romilly (NZ) (So You Think) in a rating 75 contest at the course when brought north by trainer Janelle Millar on New Year’s Day. Millar produced stable star Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man) to run a gallant fourth in the open 2200m event just one race earlier and stablemate Special Sakura more than matched that effort as she showed plenty of grit to hold out a field headed by multiple Group One winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), who started a warm $3.10 favourite. Punters were prepared to ignore Special Sakura’s chances, allowing her to reach $31 in the Fixed Odds market and she made them pay as rider Chris Dell produced a front running classic to land the major slice of the $100,000 prize pool on offer. Dell made no bones he was heading to the front at barrier rise and held out all challenges to lead clearly after 200m, despite being hotly challenged by Takeshi (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) throughout. Special Sakura shook free turning for home although she looked a sitting duck as El Vencedor ranged up on her outer while eventual runner-up What You Wish (NZ) (Embellish) For tracked him into contention. The challenge of the favourite quickly came to an end and it was left to What You Wish For and Moxie (NZ) (Strasbourg) to chase Special Sakura in vain as the mare kicked away again to win stylishly by nearly two lengths. Millar was thrilled with the performance, particularly as it opens many opportunities for the mare over the coming months. “We’ve always thought a lot of her and I also have her full-sister at home as when Luigi (Muollo, Novara Park principal) asked if I wanted her as well I couldn’t say yes quick enough,” Millar said. “Chris had said last time when she ran second that more ground would suit her, although halfway through the race I was worried she was going too hard. “As it turned out she had a super kick in the straight and ended up winning quite easily. “She is a tall, lanky thing that we have had some trouble with in keeping the weight on her, but lately she has been eating really well and looks a very happy horse. “I haven’t looked at what is coming up but this will give her plenty of opportunity to start in some nice races and a mile at her next start might be just perfect for her.” Dell was also delighted with just how well the mare fought when tackled in the straight. “She just relished the extra distance today,” he said. “She flew the coop at the start and with 53kgs on your back it made it an easy decision to lead. “She just cruised along and opened up in the straight where she just kicked so well. That was a nice field today and she won it pretty easily in the end. “This is also such a good reward for Janelle who has really backed me throughout my career. She is like a second Mum and I can’t thank her enough for the support she has given me.” Bred and raced by Luigi Muollo under his Explosive Breeding Ltd banner, Special Sakura is out of three-race winner Mia Mamma (NZ) who includes multiple Group One winner Explosive Jack (NZ) ( Jakkalberry) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) in her extended family. View the full article