Superstars Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire will compete in December’s Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) for the first time in years, while the injured Ryan Moore remains a chance to feature for the 17th straight season as he recovers from a leg injury. Reigning IJC champion Mickael Barzalona, Kiwi gun James McDonald, William Buick, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King and Hong Kong fan favourite Umberto Rispoli were also among the newly configured line-up confirmed by the Jockey Club...View the full article

Looks like virtually the whole House stable heading to Manawatu. Hope he wins every race. Pity there was no pick six running anymore

watching the racing at cambridge tonight. Those world drivers champs races have really lifted the bar by a long way as far as racing quality goes. Each driver out to achieve the best possible placing with no pre conceived plan to help anyone else,every horse being driven well and all punters clearly able to understand their drivers every moves.Also 10 starters instead of the normal 6 we see at the average meetings up there. It just goes to show that cambridge can provide a high quality product to bet on even with the horses that race mid week and on the track they have. 

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is much closer to the end of his career than he is the start, but Ben Hayes sees no reason why the Lindsay Park mainstay can’t land another Champions Mile at Flemington this Saturday. The eight-year-old heads to the $3 million Group 3 off a gutsy second placing in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 18, which has him primed for back-to-back Champions Mile wins. It is a return to the scene of his third-straight Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) win on September 13, which followed a Memsie Stakes (1400m) second placing, and Hayes said he could be going as well as ever. “I think, arguably, you could say he is,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brother Will and JD, said. “He’s come back and his three runs to date have been fantastic and he’s showing no signs of training off. “He’s an eight-year-old that every trainer would love. He’s won 10 Group 1s, he’s placed in 10 and he’s also won an All Star Mile, so he’s a very special horse to Lindsay Park.” Mr Brightside’s connection with the Champions Mile stretches back to when it was known as the Cantala Stakes and was run on Derby Day. He finished fourth in that event in 2021, which was won by Superstorm, was third behind Alligator Blood and Tuvalu in the inaugural Champions Day edition in 2022 and beat home all-bar Pride Of Jenni in 2023. He defeated star milers Antino, Fangirl and Stefi Magnetica in last year’s Champions Mile, which was one of the highest-rating Group 1 races run in Australia last season. Twenty-four of Mr Brightside’s 47 starts have been at 1600m, for 13 wins, six seconds and one third, with his last placing in Hong Kong’s Champions Mile in April the only time he has missed a quinella spot in his past 13 starts at the trip. He and rider Craig Williams have the second-widest alley to deal with in Saturday’s 10-horse race, which includes his King Charles III Stakes conqueror Ceolwulf (seven), Empire Rose Stakes winner Pride Of Jenni (two), Cox Plate placegetter Treasurethe Moment (three) and Doncaster Mile heroine Stefi Magnetica (one). “It’s a hard race to win and he’s got some pretty stiff competition as well,” Hayes said. “There’s some horses there that have beaten him before and he’s also beaten them, so it’s going to be a really interesting race. “He’s good enough, I know that, he’s a special horse for us and we believe in him.” View the full article

Robbie Patterson unveiled a star three-year-old at Wednesday’s New Plymouth meeting last year, and 12 months down the track, another daughter of Derryn made a sparkling debut on his home track. That filly was Leica Lucy, who won six of her seven starts, five of those at Group level, for Patterson including the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) before joining Chris Waller’s barn in Sydney. This spring she added placings in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) to her burgeoning record. This year, it was the turn of The Dirty Dee (NZ) (Derryn), who presented beautifully for the Entain/NZB Insurance Series Fillies and Mares (1400m) and performed accordingly. Patterson had been wary of the Good 3 surface after the filly had trialled well on rain-affected ground, but punters were behind her, backing her into odds-on favouritism ahead of La Cadiere. One of the outsiders in Volente dislodged jockey Toni Davies as the gates opened but the field got away clear of that runner, The Dirty Dee showing good early speed under Craig Grylls who was content in sitting in the trail of leader La Luna. A gap opened for Grylls at the top of the straight and the filly skipped through, kicking clear of her rivals at the 200m and continuing to extend that margin to the line, the final margin 3–¼ lengths to La Cadiere. Patterson reminisced on the feats of Leica Lucy post-race, with a hope that The Dirty Dee could be on a similar trajectory this term. “She’s a Derryn, and I won this race last year with a horse called Leica Lucy in her first start and she won this race like this as well, so hopefully I’ve got another one,” he said. “They were both unassuming, lovely horses and I loved the way she presented today and her demeanour. I knew she had ability and I think Gryllsy will give us a pretty good wrap. “It’s always unknown going to the races and I’d watched Ben’s (Foote) horse (La Cadiere) and it’s shown a lot of ability as well, so you never know, but she’s obviously a lovely filly. “It’s a bit like Leica Lucy really, just get through today and then target the three-year-old fillies races with her. She’ll get a mile because she’s so relaxed, there’s good races coming up and any shower of rain would help her. “I definitely think she is (good enough for black-type).” As expected, Grylls had plenty of praise for the filly who had been ultra-professional in her first raceday appearance. “She was very impressive, she jumped well and there was good speed, so I elected to take a sit,” he said. “I was lucky that the one outside the leader was hanging a bit and I was able to get away, then I didn’t have to go for her too much. “She’s really kicked away, so she’s quite exciting at this stage. She’s having a good puff too, so whatever she’s done she’ll improve from. “She felt good on the track which is getting pretty firm now, it didn’t seem to worry her too much. A bit of give wouldn’t her hurt either. “She’s very tractable for a green horse having her first start, she did everything lovely.” Bred and raced by Eddie and Nicola Bourke and Allan Piercy, The Dirty Dee is the third winner of three horses to race out of the O’Reilly mare The Duchessa. Each trained by Patterson, The Dutch Dame was a two-race winner, while The Mistress won three from just nine starts. View the full article

Champion trainer Chris Waller will have a rare runner in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday when he saddles second-favourite The Pearls (NZ) (Proisir) in the fillies feature. The daughter of Proisir brings strong Sydney form to Flemington after a game effort when third in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) behind Attica and Shangri La Boy, having previously been runner-up in the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m). The Pearls will clash with hot favourite Getta Good Feeling, who took out the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) last Saturday in emphatic fashion. Waller said the VRC Oaks is a race that hasn’t been targeted by the stable previously and hence The Pearls would be his first runner.  “It’s very early but this filly, she’s pretty tough,” he said. “Had she disappointed us in the Gloaming, she would’ve spelled. “Had she disappointed us in the Spring Champion, she would’ve spelled, had she disappointed us when she travelled down (to Melbourne), she would’ve spelled. “She hasn’t. She’s never let us down and she’s enjoying it. “When she parades on Thursday you’ll see a big strong filly.” “She’s a pretty smart horse. We thought six months ago she’d be a Flight Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) filly, we always thought highly of her but she took a long time to get to that next level.” Bred by the Dennis Brothers of Ravelston Stud, The Pearls was a $460,000 Karaka yearling purchase by The China Horse Club from the draft of Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park. The Pearls took five starts to break her maiden but Waller is confident she is seasoned for The Oaks tilt having taken on the colts at her most recent outings. “Her form should stand up, racing against the boys, it’s another level,” Waller said. By Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir, The Pearls is out of stakes winning mare The Pearler, a nine-times winner out to 2000m and also dam of Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) placegetter The Lustre. Other staying winners on the filly’s page include The Wink, Marine Boy, The Twinkle and the Fantasy. This is also the family of The Phantom Chance, who won the 1992 G1 NZ Derby (2400m) and 1993 G1 Cox Plate (2040m). View the full article

Tony Pike couldn’t have wished for a smoother lead-up with Cream Tart (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) ahead of the filly’s sternest challenge at Riccarton. The Cambridge trainer can’t fault the daughter of Hello Youmzain’s condition or form going into Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “This is the race we targeted and her preparation couldn’t have worked out better, I think she’s peaking at the right time,” Pike said. She is one of a trio of runners the stable will line-up on the opening day of the New Zealand Cup carnival with Churchillian to contest the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Slipper Island in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m). Cannon Hill also confirmed his passage south with his open handicap victory on Tuesday while Happy Youmzain remains in the mix for Saturday week’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). “Cannon Hill will definitely be going down for the TAB Mile (Gr.3, 1600m), it was a good effort at Ellerslie,” Pike said. “He got a lovely trip but obviously it was pretty tight in the last 300m of the race and he had to barge his way out and got up right on the line. “That set him up nicely for a mile on the big track at Riccarton.” Happy Youmzain finished sixth in an age group event over 1400m on Melbourne Cup Day from an outside gate. “It was a bit unfortunate from the draw, and he was dragged to the outside and got a bit lost and unbalanced, but the last 200m of his race was really good,” Pike said. “We’ll gallop him next Tuesday morning, possibly with the application of blinkers, and if we’re happy then he’s a genuine chance to go down.” Meanwhile, there is a sense of timing about Cream Tart who was untroubled to win last time out at Trentham and Craig Grylls will retain the ride. “She hasn’t taken on the big guns yet, but it’s been a nice progression for her and she was pretty dominant at Wellington,” Pike said. “It was one of the weaker three-year-old races, but her work on Tuesday was outstanding and barrier one on Saturday will be a big advantage. “She should get a lovely trip behind the speed, she’s got a nice, economical action so I don’t think track conditions will be too much of a concern either.” Sam Collett will be aboard Churchillian in the Breeders’ Stakes after she guided the mare to an impressive last-start victory at Taupo. “She is going super and won a very strong race and trialled up well at Pukekohe, so she goes into the race well-weighted (55kg),” Pike said. “The way she is going, I think she will be very hard to beat.” Pegasus Stakes contender Slipper Island didn’t have a lot of luck when a resuming fifth at Trentham and will be partnered by Victorian-based apprentice Logan Bates, son of leading southern rider Kylie Williams. “He loves the straight way of going in the sprint races and as long as there is plenty of speed on, he will be competitive,” Pike said. “Due to the lack of strength in the race, he has ended up topweight (59kg) off a rating of 87 so he is probably going to be better placed in the Stewards (Listed, 1200m) on Saturday week.” View the full article

Group One performer Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) will be seeking a breakthrough stakes victory at Pukekohe on Saturday when she contests the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). The six-year-old daughter of Iffraaj was in fine form earlier this year when runner-up in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day before returning to the Auckland track on Champion’s Day in March to fill the same position in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). She returned this spring with a first-up seventh placing in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m), and trainer Lance Noble has been pleased with the way she has trained on ahead of her second-up test this weekend. “Her first start was at Rotorua on a wet track, which didn’t really suit her,” he said. “Provence is in there (on Saturday), but it is not an overly big field. She runs well at Pukekohe and I am happy with where she is at.” All going to plan after Saturday, Jaarffi is set to return to Pukekohe in a fortnight to contest the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), a race she finished fifth in last year. She will be joined at Pukekohe on Saturday by stablemate First Dance, who will contest the Majestic Horse Floats 1300, while last start winner Mollify requires a couple of scratchings to make the field for the Devan Plastics Mile (1600m). “First Dance drew pretty wide in a pretty tough race at Ellerslie yesterday, so we scratched her,” Noble said. “There are a couple of nice horses in this race, but it is probably not as strong as yesterday’s race. We are pretty hopeful with her. “Mollify won her last start at Te Aroha. She needs a couple of scratchings, so hopefully she gets in, otherwise she can go to Te Aroha next week.” Earlier in the week, three-year-old Hello Youmzain filly Hey Dana is set to make her debut in the Rosebank Business Association Maiden 3YO (1200m) at Avondale on Thursday. “She is probably going to need the run for experience,” Noble said. “She is quite a big filly, so whatever she does tomorrow she will improve on. Going forward, she is probably going to be an autumn horse.” Meanwhile, Noble was pleased with the way Habana and Daring Dame have come through their runs at Ellerslie on Tuesday. “I was pretty happy with Habana from where he was with 62 kilos on,” Noble said. “He ran home quite nicely (to finish ninth over 1500m). “There is a nice race for him back at Ellerslie on the 29th, a set weights and penalties race, which he will get a lot better weight conditions. “Daring Dame was solid (third). We will just find a rating race for her over 2000m. She has been very consistent, so hopefully we can get up over ground and she can keep going forward.” Noble, the private trainer for Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, was pleased to see his employer’s silks to the fore at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, courtesy of the Bjorn Baker-trained Dance To The Boom who won the Gr.3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m). “It was huge,” Noble said. “I think it is the first time Brendan and Jo haven’t been to the Melbourne Cup in a few years, so Murphy’s Law they weren’t there to see Dance Of The Boom win, but they were obviously very excited about it. It was great for the stud.” View the full article

only newly married this year, so with a large sum like that they could invest in 'real estate' . and set up a nice new home togeather. Hopefully for many years of wed Bliss 🤔 that way if they split up later on (like one in 4 couples do)  they can split the home like anyone else 😋 . Meanwhile they can have a nice modern home to live in and it builds in value over time as well. even buy a nice dog for it ? lol. 😆 well Ben could buy a 2nd dog out of his half anyway. A pick each that way 😅 and no fighting lol.