By Michael Guerin Harness racing’s big boys and girls return for a massive Friday night that kind of feels like it has snuck up on us. With eyeballs having been divided between grass track racing, mares Group 1 at Addington and a huge last six weeks in Australia harness which culminates in Saturday’s Miracle Mile, New Zealand’s biggest names have been on stand by. And when we think of the likes of Republican Party, Merlin, Akuta and their mates the mind could be excused for jumping forward to their next really big target, the $1m Race at Cambridge on April 10, But boom, before you know it, they are out and about at Alexandra Park this Friday with a red hot supporting cast of our best three-year-old pacers and the trotters in their Greenlane Cup. And if that isn’t enough to get you to turn Channel 62 on around 7.40pm on Friday at Addington Got The Chocolates is back to start his 2026. But the main focus will be The Park which comes awake with the Lincoln Farms Founders Cup. Sooner The Bettor has fared best of the open class warriors in the draws at barrier 4 for the mobile 1700m and is in the form of his life but when driver Harrison Orange looks across in the score up he will see three of our superstars in Akuta (6), Republican Party (7) and Merlin (8) outside him. What happens early and whether young Orange decides to take what could be his best chance to beat the big names by staying in front could decide the winner at the end of a fun two minutes. The $60,000 Alabar Classic almost challenges the Cup for race of the night with Jumal back in the north but with Allamericanplayer and Freeze Frame, the only two pacers to have beaten him, drawn inside him. Again, driver attitude could be everything here. In the Greenlane Cup the find of last trotting season Hillbilly Blues gets the perfect opportunity to start this campaign with a win from barrier 4 also over the mobile 1700m, with Belle Neige (6), Meant To Be (7) and Bet N Win (8) drawn outside him and Oscar Bonavena off the second line. Add the $70,000 Caduceus Club Ladyship Stakes for the three-year-old fillies and all of a sudden the Northern Lights Autumn Carnival hits top gear.  To see the Auckland fields click here  To see the Addington fields click here   View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz   Rhaegal will look to continue his good form when he lines up in the Pete’s Plumbing Mobile Pace at Palmerston North today. The son of Fear The Dragon is prepared by local trainer John Gommans and comes into the 2000m event (6.36pm) following a strong last start performance at Manawatu on February 26.  The gelding was able to show his early speed in that race, pressing forward to find the lead before controlling proceedings from the front. Once in charge he dictated the tempo and proved too strong in the run home, drawing clear to score by 2 ¾ lengths. It was his first win at start number 10.  Although the overall time was okay, the run was highlighted by the gelding’s closing sectionals, suggesting there is still more improvement to come from the three-year-old. Gommans is pleased with how the horse is developing. “I really like this wee horse, I think he’s only going to get better with age,” he said. “He’s got ability, even though they only went 2:32 he still ran his half in 57.9, and he did it out front.” Regular driver Harrison Orange was in the sulky for that victory and will again partner the gelding in today’s assignment. However, the pair face a slightly tougher task this time around. Rhaegal steps up in grade and has drawn barrier six on the mobile over the 2000m journey, which could make the early stages more competitive. Despite that, Gommans is happy to leave the tactics in the hands of his driver. “I’m going to leave things totally up to Harrison, we might try to cross them, but I’m picking the one horse (Fredastaire) will fly the gate so I’ll be leaving that completely up to the driver,” he said. With another run under his belt and confidence from his last start victory, Rhaegal gets his chance to measure up again. If the race unfolds his way, Gommans believes the gelding is capable of repeating the performance. “If he gets the right run there’s no reason why he shouldn’t double the dose on last start.”   View the full article

This week's radio, television, and streaming coverage of horse racing, as compiled by America's Best Racing.View the full article

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training will kick off the juvenile sales season with its three-day run in Central Florida beginning Tuesday. Bidding on the 816 catalogued 2-year-olds continues through Thursday, with sessions commencing each day at 11 a.m. “There is a lot of activity on the grounds and a lot of buzz, so we are looking forward to a good week,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. Consignors who were forced to buy yearlings in a competitive environment last fall hope to be on the receiving end of that demand as they take their 2-year-olds to market this spring. “Every sale I go to, I'm having trouble buying horses because they're so expensive,” said consignor Jesse Hoppel. “I hope since I'm selling them here, it's hard for them to buy them off me because I have so many people trying to buy them. Hopefully, the fact we have to give so much for them means we can sell them for a lot, too. I think we're on the verge of having a really great 2-year-old season.” The success of OBS graduates on the racetrack continued Saturday with the winners of both the GIII Tampa Bay Derby and GIII Florida Oaks having sold in Ocala last year. Those victories provide the sales company with its best advertisements, according to Wojciechowski. “We won the Tampa Bay Derby Saturday, we have a number of 2-year-old grads who are on the Derby trail, people just continue to see that every time you look up, somebody is winning a stakes race and it's one of our 2-year-old grads,” he said. “People notice the success of these racehorses at the racetrack.” The March sale, which is entering its second decade as an open auction, had in some years seemed to be eclipsed by the company's ascending April sale, but its 2025 edition proved it could more than hold its own at the top of the market. Led by the $3-million Brant (Gun Runner), seven juveniles sold for $1 million or more during last year's March sale, both numbers records for the auction. “When we opened our March sale, I think it really took it to the next level with the size of the catalogue and the quality of the horses,” Wojciechowski said. “It just continues to do well. April has grown in stature. And I would say they are both on equal footing now. I think buyers have confidence that they can buy a good horse in either spot, in March or April or June. And they are comfortable coming to those sales knowing they will find what they want.” Despite a backdrop of global uncertainties, Wojciechowski said activity was brisk at the sales grounds over the weekend and included a large contingent of overseas shoppers. “We still see a number of international buyers here on the grounds,” he said. “I guess, when you are in the horse business, we are very comfortable putting blinkers on, so I think as an industry, we are capable of doing that.” OBS hosted a four-day under-tack show ahead of the March sale last Wednesday through Saturday. “We were blessed with fantastic weather. It was perfect,” Wojciechowski said. “Feedback from the consignors is that they are very happy with how their horses returned after the under-tack show. Looking at the horses on the grounds today, everybody said there are a lot of horses out of their stalls and a lot of people looking.” Six horses shared the fastest furlong work of :9 3/5 during the under-tack show. A pair of juveniles by first-crop sire Drain the Clock shared the fastest quarter-mile work of :20 1/5, a colt from the Doble J Equine Sales consignment and a filly from Hoppel LLC. “Having a good breeze show always gives you confidence,” Hoppel said after his filly tied the OBS quarter-mile record last week. “We work all winter for a single day with these horses and to make it all come together and peak on that day at that time, it's a great feeling for us. I like seeing other people have great days and fortunately today was a good day for us.” During last year's March sale, 432 horses sold for $65,660,500. The average was $151,992 and the median was $70,000. The post ‘A Lot of Buzz’: OBS March Sale Starts Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What the article doesn't mention is that there were in fact TWO delays caused by two inquiries. There seems to be too many delays to starting an inquiry and also not enough enforcement of the rules.   For example the notice to have an inquiry was done fairly quickly after the race.  That could have been quicker but why interview om Trackside the Jockey amd Trainer before the inquiry?  Not being able to interview them would have added to the theatre not detracted from it.  Also depending on the inquiry result they may have been interviewing the wrong connections!! It was clearly evident when viewing the video that the protest would be dismissed.  I believe even the opening remarks of the Chief Stipe said that. Also in the Derby inquiry which delayed the NZ KiwiB the third horse protest was late and the connections were late.   At OZ Metro the process seems almost miltary in comparison. 

NZB Kiwi delay could cost local industry close to $100,000 www.nzherald.co.nz Home / Sport / Racing NZB Kiwi delay could cost local industry close to $100k after it was not shown on Australia’s Sky Racing   Racing Editor·NZ Herald· 10 Mar, 2026 05:00 AM4 mins to readhttps://bitofayarn.com Well Written just held out Belle Cheval in the NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo / Kenton Wrighthttps://bitofayarn.com The NZB Kiwi may have been the race of the season in New Zealand but it turns out most Australian racing fans did not get to see it.https://bitofayarn.com And that has left some racing administrators suggesting a review process to prevent a repeat of an incident that may cost https://bitofayarn.com The start of the NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie on Saturday was delayed 10 minutes because of the two separate inquiries into the previous race, the Group 1 HKJC World Pool NZ Derby.   Because of that delay, the NZB Kiwi was not shown on Sky Racing, by the far the biggest racing platform in Australia, because of that channel’s domestic racing obligations.https://bitofayarn.com https://bitofayarn.com   Entain had worked hard to get the Champions Day meeting’s feature races from Ellerslie on Sky 1, the most popular of their racing channels and the one that drives the most casual punter turnover in Australia.   Their insiders there say the race not being shown on either Sky 1 or 2 will cost the New Zealand industry enormously in the fees that would have been paid by Australian-based bookmakers. https://bitofayarn.com   The New Zealand TAB coverage on Trackside and Sky Television here was not affected by the delay.   Auckland Racing Club officials checked with their on-course TAB representative and say the new starting time was signed off on but they are obviously also disappointed to see New Zealand’s richest ever race not shown on the main Australian racing channel.   Those spoken to by the Herald are suggesting a review of the process to ensure it doesn’t happen again.  https://bitofayarn.com While the choice to show or not show the NZB Kiwi ultimately sits with Sky Australia, their first obligation is always going to be to their local content, albeit a $4 million race with the Kiwi’s interest is a pretty big race to skip.  https://bitofayarn.com But you wouldn’t want to be the director in a Sky control room answering the phone call that would inevitably have come if they had bumped a local race to their lesser-watched Sky 2 for a New Zealand race.https://bitofayarn.com https://bitofayarn.com   Australian thoroughbred officials wouldn’t have taken too kindly to that.   HIGH PRAISE FOR KIWI DAYhttps://bitofayarn.com The lost NZB Kiwi turnover was just about the only cloud on a remarkable day for the industry, with one of the most-travelled and respected owners in world racing paying it a huge compliment.   “That was a really brilliant day,” said OTI racing founder Terry Henderson, who tasted Auckland Cup success later with Paradise Storm.   “When Legarto hit the lead in the Bonecrusher Stakes, that is as loud a noise as I have heard on a racetrack just about anywhere in the world.”   Henderson completed a remarkable personal achievement with the Auckland Cup win as he, predominantly with his syndication company OTI, has now owned the winner of every major 3200m cup in Australasia.https://bitofayarn.com   That includes the Holy Grail of racing the Melbourne Cup, the Sydney Cup, Brisbane Cup and Adelaide Cup.   Henderson and OTI have also syndicated the winners of all the major derbies in Australia, as well as the New Zealand Derby with Vin De Dance in 2018.   OTI recently set up a New Zealand arm to their business and intend to race more horses here. https://bitofayarn.com   AUTUMN TO CHASE AUSSIE GLORY Derby runner-up Autumn Glory is off to Australia to join the Mick Price and Michael Kent junior stable. https://bitofayarn.com   The filly has had a mammoth past month, winning the Waikato Guineas and finishing second to stablemate Road To Paris in the Derby and to Ohope Wins in the New Zealand Oaks.   Being owned by Yulong, she was always likely to head to Australia to chase a Group 1 there and has three Oaks options there in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.   With her ownershipmate Ohope Wins being aimed at the ATC Oaks in Sydney, it wouldn’t surprise to see Autumn Glory end up in the A$1 million ($1.19m) Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on April 25.

After 300 hours of study on the big race! I went for   11. Belle chevalTop 2 Saturday, 7 Mar 5:58pm 3.50

“Damask Rose just missed getting up over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday and she’ll run next in the Sunline Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday week."

Vinery Stakes next for Belle Cheval loveracing.nz   https://bitofayarn.com After coming within inches of the upset of the season in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), rising star Belle Cheval is set to head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).https://bitofayarn.com The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly put in a massive effort to go down by a short head to hot favourite Well Written in the marquee race on Champions Day.https://bitofayarn.com Now plans are being put in place for her to travel to Sydney and take on the likes of Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Ohope Wins, who carries the same green and white Yulong colours as Well Written and has already been transferred to champion trainer Chris Waller.https://bitofayarn.com The step up to a middle-distance at the end of the month looks made to order for the Savabeel filly, who won both her lead-up starts over 1200 and 1400m and on Saturday made up lengths on Well Written after still being in the rear on the home turn. “She was so close to what would have been a dream result, but we’re still thrilled with her, so proud of our wonderful filly,” co-owner/breeder David Archer said. “I had a good talk with Mark (Walker) yesterday and he was pleased to tell me she pulled up as if she hadn’t had a race. “That being the case, and subject to everything going to plan in the meantime, she will be flown to Sydney and run in the Vinery, which looks ideal as a fillies’ Group One over 2000 metres. “That will be it for this season, she won’t be going to the (ATC) Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m), and the most likely plan then will be to head down to the Mornington Peninsula for a spell with a view to a spring campaign in Victoria. “As much as we would like to start her in the first Group Ones of the spring back here, the risk of wet tracks at that stage of the season in New Zealand makes Melbourne a more attractive target.” In confirming those plans, Walker reiterated that provided Belle Cheval continues to please, she will be given the chance to add further Group One form to go with her third placing in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “While it would have been fantastic to win on Saturday, you could hardly be disappointed with her, it was a very good effort,” Walker said.https://bitofayarn.com “The way she races she should manage the step up in distance in the Vinery, so she’s gone to the water-treadmill this week and then we’ll build towards Sydney.” With plans already in place for star two-year-old Lara Antipova to be transferred to Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable with a view to one further start either in Melbourne or Sydney, Walker reports that his pair of proven mares Quintessa and Damask Rose have further confirmed targets. “The way it panned out we were happy with Quintessa’s third from well back over 1400m on Saturday and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) at Trentham at the end of the month is an obvious next start. “Damask Rose just missed getting up over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday and she’ll run next in the Sunline Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday week."