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BloodHorse has reprised its online year-end survey to ask some of the sport's leading individuals for their opinions on pertinent issues facing the sport.View the full article

Gewan, one of the leading fancies for the 2,000 Guineas, will race under new ownership in 2026 among a group of horses transferred from Yulong Investments to the newly launched Forz Europe, the racing arm of Harris Li's Ace Stud. Winner of the G1 Dewhurst Stakes and G3 Acomb Stakes, the Andrew Balding-trained Gewan previously raced under the name of Yuesheng Zhang, the owner of the primarily-Australian based Yulong racing and breeding empire who has already enjoyed Classic success in Europe with Irish Oaks winner Magical Lagoon. The fillies Evolutionist and Noble Honour, who hold entries for the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks, will also be transferred to Li, his son-in-law, as of January 1. The horses racing under the Forz Europe banner will race in white silks with green-and-white-checked sleeves and a green cap, a reversal of those carried by the Yulong runners, which include the brilliant 12-time Group 1 winner Via Sistina.  Earlier this month it was confirmed that the G2 Lowther Stakes winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes third Royal Fixation had been bought by Ace Stud and would move from the stable of Ed Walker to Karl Burke. Ace Stud also bought Gewan's weanling half-brother by Native Trail at the recent Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 500,000gns. “Launching our Ace Stud racing silks at the beginning of the new year marks an exciting future for Harris Li and his vision for Ace Stud. We have some top-class runners to look forward to next year,” said the operation's bloodstock and racing manager Paul Curran.  “We can't wait to see what the 2026 season has in store for Ace Stud.” Ace Stud, formerly known as Dullingham Park, is home to the young stallion and top sprinter Shaquille, who is about to embark on his third covering season at the farm just outside Newmarket.    The post Gewan to Race for Forz Europe as Yulong Horses Transfer to Harris Li appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ten-time Group One winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has been ruled out of the autumn and faces minor surgery. Prepared by the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will & JD Hayes, Mr Brightside has won 20 of his 48 starts and amassed $18.9 million in prizemoney since crossing the Tasman after a luckless fifth in his sole start for Kiwi trainer Ralph Manning. “A routine check-up has found that our beloved Mr Brightside has a very small chip in his left-fore fetlock,” announced Lindsay Park. “He is sound and his usual happy self but best possible practice for his wellbeing, comfort and long-term soundness is to have minor surgery to remove the chip. “Afterwards he will enjoy a lovely long VIP holiday at Lindsay Park Euroa. This means he will unfortunately miss the upcoming Autumn racing carnival but absolutely all that matters is his wellbeing and we look forward to seeing him back in the Spring.” Mr Brightside enjoyed another successful spring, winning the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) for the third year in succession, while also finishing runner-up to Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 King Charles III (1600m). View the full article

probably good advice as far as chilcotts horses go,but i don' follow hers much anyway and am betting less and less on northern harness racing these days anyway.At least when chilcott drives,you know shes trying. With many of the drivers up there,i'm not sure whether they aren't trying sometimes or whether they just are poor tactically. But the village rebel drive. I found it funny strange type of thing, watching, as i thought every driver in nz had seen tyson race and would have been happy to sit on his back. But obviously not.

Abernethy can rate a horse in front and I used to back him all the time when they had the grass track racing in the North. Got some big collects as he always paid great money. I find the Nicky Chilcott stable difficult to line up. She goes through strong patches where all her horses are firing, then long periods, like the last three weeks, where the form drops away. Wait until one shows form then back them all.

race 11 you had them run a 65.4 middle half and the horses 3,4 &5 back the inside all just sat on the marker pegs and the 65/1 shot driven by h orange was the only one to show he could judge pace,as he made a move from behind them while they just sat there asleep.  then in that last race.you had m mckendry make a good move mid race as the pace slackened and you would have thought village rebel racing parked, driven by s abernethy, would have welcomed the perfect 1/1 position,but no,that made too much sense. Village rebel actually may have won with a smarter drive as it stuck on. I didn't back abernethy,i hardly bet on auckland racing anymore because i never know what some of the drivers may do,but that was auckland cup night, so you would think they would be trying. i can see the funny side of it,but why would any clever driver do what abernethy did.The answer has to be, no clever driver would,so theres the answer.

A new year is ushered in at Sha Tin on Thursday with the Lucky Start meeting, where we look forward to 11 races including the feature Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m). Owen Goulding is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Tsung Pak Long Handicap (1,600m) Harry’s Hero was unlucky over course and distance three starts ago and has had further excuses since. He has no weight on his back and is drawn in two. Race 2 – Class Four Hillwood...View the full article

Nelson programming mainly mile races on the second day is a turn off - long way to travel to race just the first day ... and like the coast, accommodation options at this time of year are scarce unless you rebooked the year before.

Accommodation over the Xmas period on the coast is a nightmare - I think most people rebook every year meaning for someone new to the circuit trying to secure something is very difficult