The Chris Waller-trained Mergeila. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Regally-bred filly Mergeila secured her first victory on her second start at Canterbury on Wednesday. Connections have set their sights on the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) in November as her main spring target. Ridden by James McDonald, the $1.75 favourite with horse racing bookmakers improved on her debut third at Rosehill, winning by 1.15 lengths over Indecisive, with Espinho two lengths further back in third. A $750,000 purchase for Yulong Investments, Mergeila, is by Justify out of 2019 Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) winner Invincibella. Charlie Duckworth, representing trainer Chris Waller, said the stable had always rated the three-year-old highly. “Originally, she had a nomination for the Flight Stakes, but that’s going to come around too quick,” Duckworth explained. “But that’s the beauty of the Thousand Guineas being pushed back. I’d imagine Chris will plot a path working our way back from there. “It’s only a Wednesday win now, but it’s still great to get the job done.” Horse racing news View the full article

I'm trying to find out.

By Joshua Smith, Trackside.co.nz This spring, regally-bred trotter Father Barry will be looking to atone for a late blunder which cost him Group 1 success in autumn. The three-year-old son of Father Patrick looked to have his opposition covered when he turned for home with a length advantage in the Group 1 Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby (2700m) at Alexandra Park in May, but lost all chance when breaking with 150m to go. It was an untimely mistake by the promising youngster, who had won on debut at Alexandra Park in February before finishing runner-up in the Group 2 IRT NZ Sires’ Stakes 3YO Trotters Championship (2200m) in his only other race day outing. Trainer John Dickie was left frustrated following Father Barry’s indiscretion, however, put the mistake down to inexperience. “Unfortunately, he got a virus and he missed some racing,” Dickie said. “It’s a shame because I think he could have been competitive in the Derby, and he showed that it was only greenness that he galloped. “He was practically parked the whole way, and he has just jogged in the front and Josh (Dickie, driver) said he was just going easy and he got left in front and got gaga, he didn’t know what to do and galloped.” Father Barry went for a spell following his Derby disappointment and Dickie has been pleased with the way he has returned, winning his two workouts in the lead-up to his resumption in the Due Drop Events Centre Trot (2200m) at Alexandra Park on Friday night. “He has had a couple of trials and I am very pleased with him,” Dickie said. Father Barry will have a gear change on Friday, which Dickie is hoping will help keep his charge settled through the entirety of Friday’s journey. “He is so green, he is going to race with pulldowns (blinds) on. He has trialled really well with them on, so I am quietly confident,” he said. Father Barry is a sentimental favourite for Dickie, who bred him in partnership with his late friend Richard Bright, who sadly passed away in a boating accident two years ago. Father Barry is raced by his widow Brenda Bright, and Dickie would love to get a Group 1 for her. “I have known Richard since I was 18, I am now 64, so that is how far we go back,” Dickie said. Father Barry also hails from Dickie’s foundation broodmare Catherine The Great, who has proven to be an outstanding producer for Dickie, albeit from a very select number of progeny. The American-bred daughter of Royal Prestige won five of her 22 starts in New Zealand for trainer Geoff Small and was runner-up in the Group 2 Rosso Antico Trotting Stakes (2700m) before retiring to the broodmare paddock. David Phillips bred her first two foals under his National Bloodstock banner, including Group 1 winner Last Sunset and Galleons Dream, the dam of Group 1 Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final hero Galleons Sunset. Dickie purchased Last Sunset as a yearling and was so taken by the son of Sundon during his early education that he couldn’t resist buying his dam when he saw her advertised for sale. “I bought Last Sunset as a yearling and he was the first foal out of her,” Dickie said. “He broke in so well and the following year, Dave Phillips advertised her (Catherine The Great) for sale in the Trotting Calendar. I ended up buying her for $25,000+GST in-foal to Britewell.” While Dickie enjoyed plenty of success with Last Sunset on the track, he didn’t have the same luck with Catherine The Great, who failed to produce a foal for Dickie for almost a decade. “She lost that (Britewell) foal and I couldn’t get her in-foal for nine years. It cost me a fortune,” Dickie said. “In desperation, I sent her down south to Bruce Taylor (vet), who is a friend of ours. Bruce was doing embryos and he missed the first year. I said to Bruce that it was costing me a fortune and I have just got to get out.” While Dickie was at the end of his tether with Catherine The Great, he was enticed to have one more go by Taylor, and he was glad he did. “Bruce said she was such a lovely mare and said ‘if I got an embryo for you would you give me a free embryo?’ which I agreed to after 10 years of trying,” Dickie said. “I got a colt, which was Real Deal Yankee. Bruce got the filly, which was Great Getaway.” Dickie’s initial disappointment in getting a colt was short lived, with Real Deal Yankee proving to be another standout trotter for Dickie, going on to win 11 races, including the Group 3 Hambletonian Classic (1609m), and placed in the Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All (2600m), Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Derby (2600m) and Group 1 4YO Ruby (1609m). Many of the world’s problems have been solved over a pint at the local pub, and that proved to be the case for Dickie when ruing the loss of a filly out of his broodmare gem. “I went down to the pub one night, Richard (Bright) was the publican, and he said to give him (Taylor) a ring and see if he will sell that filly,” Dickie said. “I gave Bruce a ring and he said he didn’t really want to sell her, and then he rang back half an hour later. He and his wife were going on a trip around the world, so we bought her.” Bright swiftly agreed to purchase half of the filly, which the pair aptly named Great Getaway in honour of the trip that helped them secure her, and Dickie was delighted they did. “That was the last foal she (Catherine The Great) ever had,” he said. The daughter of Dream Vacation also proved to be a handy racehorse, winning 10 races, including the Group 3 New Zealand Northern Trotting Breeders’ Stakes (2700m), and placed in the Gr.1 4YO Ruby (1609m). “She was handy. She raced in a Rowe Cup and Inter Dominion Final. She was never a favourite and was never going to beat them,” Dickie said. “Her claim to fame was being the first mare home in the Inter Dominion, she ran sixth to I Can Doosit. She raced against some nice horses.” Dickie was rapt they were able to secure Great Getaway to continue on with the breed after he missed out on Catherine The Great’s only other filly foal, Galleons Dream, as a weanling. “She (Galleons Dream) went through the sales as a weanling, and I probably should have bought her,” Dickie said. “She went for $12,000, which was out of my budget at the time. She turned out to be a broodmare gem.” Great Getaway has also proven to be a handy broodmare, leaving the likes of multiple Group 1 performer Tricky Ric, who was third in the Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Derby (2600m). While he has placed in the New Zealand Trotting Derby with his own breed on a number of occasions, Dickie has taken out two editions of the three-year-old feature as a trainer with Paramount Geegee (2011) and Speeding Spur (2015), and he would love to etch Father Barry’s name on the trophy later this year. Dickie has every belief in his homebred gelding but said he needs ringcraft under his belt in order to book a southern trip. “He just needs some racing and we will just see how far we go,” Dickie said. “If his form is good enough then he will go down south for the Derby. We haven’t got a slot (in THE ASCENT on Show Day, Friday, November 15), so he will have to be going pretty well to attract any attention. “He will probably have three starts at Auckland and that way he will qualify for that $100,000 race at the end of November. We are open to all options at the moment, we’ll just see how he goes, but he is good enough to go down south.” Dickie will also head to Alexandra Park on Friday with another strong contender in Bolt For The Hill, who will contest the 100% Home Magness Benrow Handicap Trot (2200m) in the hands of part-owner Stephanie Burley. “He is a funny little horse,” Dickie said. “His biggest Achilles heel is getting away from a stand. If he goes away this week, he will be very hard to beat.” Meanwhile, former stable star Old Town Road is set to make his debut for new trainer Bob Butt. Dickie, who part-owns the six-year-old gelding, said the Group 1 performer has thrived working on Woodend Beach, and he is excited to see him step out at Addington Raceway next week following a pleasing trial win over 2600m at Rangiora last week. “His legs are the best they have ever been and he has got a lot of benefit from working on the beach in a straight line,” Dickie said. “He had a very good trial last week at Rangiora and he is going to go to the Canterbury Park Classic on Friday-week. He has had the one trial, but he doesn’t need any more, Bob said he is fit enough.” View the full article

Another Wil. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher is using Saturday’s Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield as a springboard for Another Wil run in next month’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). The Group 3-winning five-year-old impressed with a first-up victory in a Benchmark 100 (1400m) race at Caulfield last month and is currently the $3.40 favourite with horse racing bookmakers for the Toorak Handicap on October 12. “He was a bit fresh and well the other day but was super,” Maher told Racing.com. “You can see he raced that little bit fresh and made it harder on himself than he needed to. “It’s a nice stepping stone, hopefully all going well and timing anyway if he runs Saturday in the Toorak. “I thought handicap-wise that would still suit him, so that’s the plan.” Horse racing news View the full article

Underwood Stakes contender, Place Du Carrousel. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Group 1-winning French import Place Du Carrousel is expected to be sharp enough to perform well in Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), according to co-trainer Sam Freedman. The mare, purchased by Portofino Bloodstock for €4.025 million at the end of her four-year-old season, now runs in the Yulong silks. She made a promising Australian debut in March, finishing second behind Via Sistina in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), but was a disappointing eighth in her only other appearance since the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). “I don’t want to say she’s been surprisingly sharp, because she’s a Group 1 winner obviously, but she’s showed good tactical speed and then we’ve also ridden her off the speed, and she’s shown a good turn of foot,” Freedman explained, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony. “She’s obviously got form out to a mile-and-a-half, but to start off her prep, it wouldn’t shock at all to see her sharp enough to be very competitive on Saturday. “We’d just be pleased to see her running into the first three or four.” 2024 Underwood Stakes Final Field 1. Vow And Declare (13) T: Danny O’Brien J: Billy Egan W: 59kg F: 5×140 Age: 9YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Declaration Of War (USA) Dam: Geblitzt +5000 +850 2. Pericles (11) T: James Cummings J: Blake Shinn W: 59kg F: 13×27 Age: 5YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Accessories (GB) +200 -200 3. Munhamek (1) T: Nick Ryan J: Jamie Mott W: 59kg F: 54611 Age: 9YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Dark Angel (IRE) Dam: Cadenza (FR) +2200 +400 4. Huetor (6) T: Peter Snowden J: Michael Dee W: 59kg F: x0451 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Archipenko (USA) Dam: Briviesca (GB) +4000 +700 5. Kovalica (12) T: Chris Waller J: Damian Lane W: 59kg F: 3×563 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Vitesse (NZ) +750 +160 6. Bois D’argent (4) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Ben Melham W: 59kg F: x3134 Age: 8YO Colour: Grey Sex: Gelding Sire: Toronado (IRE) Dam: Madonna Lily (IRE) +3300 +600 7. Fawkner Park (2) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Tyler Schiller W: 59kg F: x1311 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Zoffany (IRE) Dam: Za’Hara (IRE) +700 +150 8. Buckaroo (10) T: Chris Waller J: Joao Moreira W: 59kg F: 18×65 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Roheryn (IRE) +500 +110 9. Knight’s Choice (3) T: John Symons & Sheila Laxon J: Craig Williams W: 59kg F: x4324 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Extreme Choice Dam: Midnight Pearl +5000 +850 10. Duke De Sessa (8) T: Ciaron Maher J: Declan Bates W: 59kg F: 2557x Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Dark Crusader (IRE) +2000 +380 11. Place Du Carrousel (5) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Mark Zahra W: 57kg F: x72x0 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Traffic Jam (IRE) +350 -125 12. Deny Knowledge (9) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Jye McNeil W: 57kg F: x1204 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: The Paris Shrug (GB) +3300 +600 13. Coco Sun (7) T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy J: Jamie Kah W: 56kg F: 7×131 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: The Autumn Sun Dam: Miss Hufflepuff +1800 +340 Horse racing news View the full article

Lance Noble is keen to test the versatility of his well-performed sprinter-miler Habana this preparation. Cambridge Stud’s private trainer has the son of Zoustar in good order to resume at Ellerslie in Saturday’s open 1400m handicap, appropriately named in the honour of farm resident Almanzor. Noble will be hoping the smart debut victory of Flash Effect on the synthetic track at Cambridge on Wednesday can be a forerunner to further success in the coming days. “The (outside) draw wasn’t ideal but she has always showed a bit of speed out of the gates, we thought she could cross and it helps to be handy on the all-weather,” he said. “She showed a good turn of foot and tenacity to keep going, so it was good result.” Habana has won eight races up to 1600m, including the Gr.3 Rich Hill Mile and the Listed Fulton Family Mile and will be tested over more ground with a summer Group One goal in mind. “We are quite keen to see if he can stetch out to 2000m this time around and I think he will the way he races,” Noble said. “He does relax and has always hit the line well over a mile, so the main target will be the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m). “We are conscious that he is a gelding and quite high up in the ratings so he’s always going to be carrying a lot of weight in handicap. The weight-for-age route might be a bit easier on him.” Habana hasn’t raced since he finished midfield in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) and will, as usual be partnered by Warren Kennedy. “He’s very well and is another year older, but he’s had two trials and gone well in both of them,” Noble said. “He’s a big, strong horse and to me he has come back as well as ever. “He runs well fresh, whether he can win over 1400m first-up with 60kg is another story but I’m sure he’ll run well.” Stakes-performed stablemate Luberon will also make a fresh start at Ellerslie in the Sistema Handicap (1200m). “She has come up well and has gone really well in two trials,” Noble said. “She had a couple of hiccups at the end of last season, but she sees over them and I’m looking forward to seeing her back on the track.” Kennedy will be aboard Embellish mare Luberon and he will also guide the fortunes of barnmates Villarta (The Belle Family Handicap, 1100m) and Love Symbol (NZB Mega Maiden Series, 1200m). Per Incanto’s daughter Villarta is a genuine type with a win and four placings from seven appearances. “She didn’t do a lot wrong last season from limited starts and trialled up nicely,” Noble said. “She has won at Taupo before, she’s got a good draw and I expect her to be pretty competitive.” Well-bred Savabeel filly Love Symbol, a member of the famed Eight Carat family, and her unplaced effort on debut last season isn’t indicative of the ability she possesses. “I’ve got a bit of time for her, she has been a bit of a handful at the starting gates, but hopefully we are over that,” Noble said. “She has showed plenty at home, she just needs to put it all together on race day and she is getting better all the time.” View the full article

Bill Thurlow is looking forward to kicking off the campaigns of several exciting horses on Saturday at Wanganui, including Group One winner No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) in the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m). “It’s really nice to have three or four good horses around us, it’s what you look forward to and every trainer’s ideal to have a nice horse heading into the spring,” Thurlow said. “We’re very lucky to have a couple of nice ones, so I’m really looking forward to it.” Now an eight-year-old, No Compromise has spent time on both sides of the Tasman with plenty of success, highlighted by his triumph in the Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) in 2022 while in the care of Chris Waller. In the mid-stages of last year, he returned to his homeland and placed in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m), before two unplaced efforts at Group One level completed his season. “He’s coming along well, he’s had a jump-out and a trial and I’m really happy with him,” Thurlow said. “He’ll need the run obviously, but this isn’t his end goal. I’d say he’ll probably get back a little bit, he’s only got a reasonably short sprint on him so if he can be held up until late, hopefully he can find the line strongly, that’s the aim for Saturday.” Thurlow has also nominated the son of Pins for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2050m) on October 12. The Waverley horseman was thrilled with the progress of his talented mare No Rain Ever during her three-year-old term, placing in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m) before travelling to Riccarton and winning the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m). No Rain Ever was sighted finishing on strongly at the Foxton trials on August 22, setting her up for the H&T Agronomics/Agricom OPN 1200. “She’s got a lot of ability, we think that maybe this time around she may be more of a sprinter, but obviously it’s well-known that they can get away with going over ground against their own age group,” Thurlow said. “We think she’s possibly more of a 1400-1600m horse, but as we go into the season, she will tell us where she needs to be. “It’s not a bad wee field that she’s in, so as long as she’s running on well at the end, I’ll be happy. “She’s been effective over 1200m before fresh, but once again, there are a couple of really nice races for her later on the season so this is good starting point. “Physically, mentally and fitness-wise, she’s reasonably forward.” Already making his presence felt this term has been Battle Secret, the seven-year-old going back-to-back in Rating 75 contests through August. “He’s been going super, he’s another horse that can come back from injury and is in a really purple patch of form,” Thurlow said. “We couldn’t ask any more of him and he’s done well since he raced, he doesn’t mind a bit of water around so we’re really happy. “He’s got a bit of weight to carry and it’s a step-up from what he’s been racing against, but we can’t fault him.” To be ridden by Johnathan Parkes, Battle Secret will contest the Nufarm/Property Brokers 2040, while Kelly Myers will take the ride aboard progressive galloper Frank The Tank in the CR Grace LTD/Waterforce 1340m earlier on the card. An imposing son of Burgundy, Frank The Tank won three races in his opening season on the track as a four-year-old. “He had a really good season last year, it probably tapered off a little bit in his last couple of runs and we weren’t sure why,” Thurlow said. “But he’s had a nice break, come back, and had a nice jump-out and trial to prepare. He’s really pleased us with the way he’s performed in both. “He’s drawn wide, but he’s got a very good rider in Kelly, so he’ll probably get back and we expect him to be running on too. I think he can go a good race though. “He’s a horse that’s had a couple of wind issues, so whether he can get over ground I’m not sure. A mile will be his friend when he pushes on a bit, but we’re not sure whether he’ll get a 2000m, we could give that a try this time around.” Completing Thurlow’s contingent will be Crunchie Boy in the Manawatu Toyota/John Turkington Forestry 1200, and Wire Rope on debut in the Treadwell Gordon/Marsh Insurance Brokers MDN 3YO 1200. “Wire Rope trialled again today (Wednesday) because he was a bit naughty in his first start at Woodville, he was a bit like a little schoolboy,” Thurlow said. “We were really happy with him today, he was settled and he is a sensible horse. I’m not sure what happened to him in the first start, but that can happen with young horses and that’s just one of those things. “I’m looking forward to him running, he’s quite a progressive horse. “Crunchie Boy is a head-scratcher, we thought he was going to be a very good horse and he’s just been one of those types that hasn’t quite done it. “We’ve tried lots of different things with him, so you just have to see what version of him turns up on Saturday. I’ve stopped predicting what he may do at this point.” View the full article

then, who has Hegemony over those said administrators? ps, remind me about the backgrounds of those you mention? isn't the brightest of them there because of the choosing of????

Brave Star seals a Francis Lui three-timer at Happy Valley. Francis Lui accelerated his bid for successive Hong Kong trainers’ championships with a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night as Lyle Hewitson and Karis Teetan slotted doubles. Lui’s title defence gathered impetus with Sweet Briar, Forever Glorious and Brave Star’s victories to vault into second place in the standings with four wins behind Danny Shum, who also has four wins but leads overall with more minor placings. “It’s surprised me, to have a few winners. Brave Star likes to run fresh, Sweet Briar was dropping in class and Forever Glorious is an honest horse, but he needs the situation to suit. Hopefully, I can keep going,” Lui said. While Lui took training honours, Michael Chang claimed the evening’s feature with Woodfire Bro, who was ridden brilliantly by Keith Yeung. “You cannot believe this, I did not think he could win,” Chang said after Yeung drove Woodfire Bro, now a six-time winner from 24 starts, past Flamingo Trillion and Red Hare King to give Chang and Yeung their first victories of the season. Lyle Hewitson attributes a solid start to the 2024/25 Hong Kong season to a brief riding stint in Australia during the summer break after the South African posted a double. Hewitson had 26 mounts in Australia, riding three winners in Victoria, before returning to Hong Kong, where last season he slotted 40 wins to finish eighth in the jockeys’ championship behind seven-time champion Zac Purton. With a race-to-race double aboard Manfred Man’s Golden Luck and Lui’s Sweet Briar, Hewitson’s off-season cameo is proving beneficial. “I had no stress coming back regards to my weight, so I had a clear mind getting back into track work and, of course, I had a base fitness there already,” Hewitson said of the Australian foray. “Having your eye in, too, really works. “I’m only on three winners so far but last meeting I had three seconds, a third and a fourth and was always in the money. So, it’s proving fruitful and hopefully a springboard for the rest of the season.” A HK$3.2 million purchase at the 2024 Hong Kong International Sale, Perfect General swept to victory for Caspar Fownes and Hugh Bowman. “He’s a nice horse, he showed that with his run getting beat down the straight 1000 (last season) and he came through the summer break very nicely and his work was good leading into this race,” Fownes said. By Zoustar out of Pins mare Honey Rider, Perfect General surged to the lead under Bowman and eventually fended off Chateauneuf by a neck in 1:09.56. “I decided to run him at Happy Valley and bring him for some experience for a young horse, so it was good – I’m glad we got a winning result. He relaxed when he got to the front and he’s not a one-style horse,” he said. “We felt today’s race, looking at the competitors, we thought we had a chance to cross and get to the rail, so I used that for my advantage but, going forward, I think this horse can be ridden anywhere. He’s quite versatile and he’s quite nice.” Runner-up in last season’s jockeys’ championship to Purton (130) with 86 victories, Karis Teetan fired into action with a brace, landing his first win of this campaign with veteran Happy Tango’s narrow success for Me Tsui. “I can’t complain, to be honest – it’s just Hong Kong and I just had to keep my head high and just keep on working,” Teetan said of a frustrating start. “Happy Tango is a tough, old 1000-metre horse and I’m just grateful to Me Tsui and his owners for letting me ride the horse with topweight (135lb) and he dug in nicely, the horse, and got his head down at the right time.” The Mauritian quickly followed up with success on David Hayes-trained Star Contact. By Star Turn, Star Contact has won four times over the course and distance. Andrea Atzeni broke through for his win of the term with Forever Glorious’ short-head win for Lui. “It’s always nice to get the monkey off your back,” Atzeni said. “I had a few seconds tonight – I knew I had decent rides coming into the meeting tonight – but you need a bit of luck. It’s nice to get that first win.” Brave Star provided Lui with the third leg of his treble under Vincent Ho. Horse racing news View the full article