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Harness $5,000 - all Friday night & G1 meetings $2,000 - all other meetings and Futures 

Lyle Hewitson and James Orman have been two of the surprise packages of the season and the pair have some excellent chances to keep their respective runs going at Sha Tin on Sunday. Hewitson sits on 15 winners for the season and he will rely on Akashvani to add another win to his tally when he runs in the fiercely competitive Class Three Stanley Gap Handicap (1,400m). In a race that will shape the Classic Mile conversation, he takes on the the likes of Helene Supafeeling and Circuit Grand Slam...View the full article

A long-range plan came to fruition for trainer Matthew Dale at Wyong on Saturday with No Drama’s (NZ) (Ghibellines) victory in the A$160,000 Central Coast Community News Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m). It was the seventh win of a 26-start career for the Ghibellines gelding, who has also picked up four minor placings and has earned A$302,092 in stakes. Four of those successes have come from just six attempts over the 1200m distance of Saturday’s race. Dale took over the training of No Drama from Lindsey Smith in 2024, and he has now guided the horse to four wins and two placings from 13 starts. The Goulburn trainer has taken note of No Drama’s affinity for a certain type of racecourse, which led him to identify the Wyong fixture as an ideal chance to shoot for a Saturday prize. “We found this race on a Saturday because for such a big horse, he likes tight turning tracks,” Dale said. “He has won a couple at Canterbury for me, and at The Valley before I got him, so to get a stand-alone meeting on a tight track, during the off-season, it was a perfect set-up to roll the dice and have a crack at a Saturday race with him again.” No Drama did all of the hard work behind tearaway leader Mogo Magic (Duporth), sitting in second place throughout and leading the chasers into the straight. Jockey Josh Parr set his sights on the front-runner and No Drama began to gain ground, finishing over the top of Mogo Magic late in the piece to win by half a length. “He loves tight, turning tracks, which is strange for a big horse,” Parr said. “They had him primed today and it was a good effort.” Dale was delighted with the six-year-old’s performance, which came in his first raceday start since August 6. “It was a good result,” he said. “He has been a horse that is a genuine, free-rolling, on speed and tough horse.” No Drama was bred by White Robe Lodge’s Brian and Lorraine Anderton and is the sixth winner from just over a dozen starters in Australia this season from the stud’s former headline stallion Ghibellines, whose untimely death was announced on Boxing Day. No Drama is a full-brother to Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines), the winner of nine races including the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m). Their dam is the unraced Pure Theatre mare Sheeza Drama. Live Drama’s trainer Lance Robinson saddled No Drama for a debut win at Riccarton as a two-year-old in January of 2022 before he was sold across the Tasman. View the full article

The in-form combination of rider Floor Moerman and trainer Kevin Myers delivered in spades once again on the West Coast circuit as quality mare Bozo (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) produced a mammoth staying performance to claim the time-honoured Vernon & Vazey 0800 Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) on Saturday. Moerman, who had tasted success aboard Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) for Kenny Rae earlier in the day, had produced winning trebles at both the Omoto meeting on 3 January and at Reefton four days later, with the Omoto victories coming aboard Myers-trained runners. Myers has a long history of supporting West Coast racing and he didn’t disappoint in the day’s feature, lining up three strong contenders in race favourite Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent) ($2.60), Kick On (NZ) (Per Incanto) ($6.50) and 2025 Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Bozo ($3.60). Sunset Boulevard looked set for victory when rider Tina Comignaghi pushed the go button from outside pacemaker Shaking Stevens (NZ) (American Pharoah) at the 700m and applied enormous pressure to his rivals, shooting three lengths clear turning for home. Moerman and Bozo had been content to settle in midfield early on but got shunted four wide as Sunset Boulevard made his bid for glory and looked to be running for minor money as she struggled to make an impression on her stablemate in the early stages of the home straight. Moerman kept at her and when the turbo kicked in the daughter of Satono Aladdin simply flew over the final 100m to storm to a half-length victory from the late closing In Vegas (NZ) (Telperion) and Iffididit (NZ) (Iffraaj). Stable representative Luke Myers was all smiles as he reiterated the stable’s desire to support racing in the region. “Every time she has come down South she has picked up a win and it is great winning these Cups, as we have had a lot of luck with these colours” Myers said. “She (Moerman) is an apprentice on the rise as we told her to make sure she had clear air and she popped off the rail and down the back she had her (Bozo) in the right spot to chase Sunset (Boulevard). “This is a special Carnival and all these tracks put on a fantastic spectacle so long may it continue.” Moerman was worried at different stages of the race but once the mare kicked into gear she knew she was on a winner. “That was really cool and she had to do it the tough way as we were four wide, but I saw Sunset was in front and I knew he would kick away and be hard to beat,” she said. “I just had to keep her going and while she felt a bit flat on the turn, when we straightened up she was just too tough.” Bozo races in the colours of the Australian-based Hill family who also owned the talented sprinter-miler Scapolo (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) who won 20 races from the Myers stable including the Gr.2, Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) and the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), while he was also placed on 13 separate occasions at stakes level. View the full article

While Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is currently inspecting yearlings on the Gold Coast, he will take time out to watch how one of his main Gr.1Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) contenders in Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel) performs at Ellerslie on Sunday as he takes the next step on his path to the blue riband classic on 7 March. The son of Savabeel will have his first start over a middle distance when he tackles the Listed Trackside Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at the Derby venue, where he will start as one of the favoured candidates off the back of his last two performances. Ammirati followed up on his victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki two starts ago with a late closing burst to take fifth in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham, looking every inch a horse that now needs more ground to show his true worth. Marsh agrees with that assessment and was quick to explain the unusual step he took when dropping his charge back in distance after the 1600m victory. “It probably looks a little odd on paper in the way we backed him up at a lesser distance, but I’m delighted with how it all panned out,” Marsh said. “The trip away was perfect for him and his last 200m that day when running fifth was just terrific. He travelled home well; ate everything we put in front of him and has really ticked along beautifully since then. “He has been crying out for ground and gets in on Sunday, so we are hoping he can put another stamp in his Derby passport. “We’ve also got Los Salsero (Frankel) in the race and he also looks like more ground will be his friend. He won nicely last start without being anything special, although he is very green and has a lot to learn. “We have the blinkers on him on Sunday and I think they will really sharpen him up, so I’m hoping he can also make his way to the Derby as well.” Marsh will kick off the day at Ellerslie with smart two-year-old filly Imperial Rose (NZ) (Sword of State) in the Stella Artois 1200 (1200m), with the daughter of Sword Of State needing a victory in the $55,000 contest to guarantee her place in the $1million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) on 24 January. “She (Imperial Rose) has a lot going for her so we would love to get her into the Karaka Million as we think she can be very competitive,” he said. “Her debut effort for second at Te Aroha was top class as it was a very heavy track that didn’t suit her at all. “She has drawn well and will get a firm track to suit, so I’m hoping she can jump and put herself right in the action. “It will only be thirteen days to the Karaka Million, so the timing is perfect while she will get that very important look around the Ellerslie track as it is a venue that can be very intimidating for young horses.” Marsh is likely to have as many as ten runners in action on Sunday and is keen to see how several of his other runners perform including the unbeaten four-year-old mare Lady Impending (NZ) (Impending), three-year-old gelding Oberon (NZ) (Belardo) and consistent stayer Sinhaman (NZ) (Tivaci). “Lady Impending will face her biggest challenge after a pair of wins at Rotorua,” he said. “She comes up against a very good field and will tackle 1400m for the first time. She certainly has ability but we will get a much better line of where her future lies with this run. “Oberon didn’t handle a shifty track last time and getting back to a decent surface will be the key to him, so I expect to see an improved performance. “I think Sinhaman is ready to win another race as he went a cracker in the Stella Artois Championship Final on Boxing Day and just needs that ounce of luck to turn the run of minor placings into a win.” Marsh has hit his straps in recent months and currently sits in second place on the National Trainers premiership table with 45 wins (ten at stakes level) for the season as Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson set the pace with 63 victories (eight at stakes level). View the full article

One of the most talked about Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) candidates faces his first acid test over a staying distance when he tackles the Listed Trackside Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie on Sunday, The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Yamato Satona (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) set tongues wagging with an incredible win on debut over 1400m at Rotorua back in October, where he came from near last on the home turn to gather in the front runners in the shadows of the winning post. O’Sullivan and Scott indicated then that the son of Satono Aladdin would be a much better horse as he stepped up in distance and while he has battled to add a second win to his record in three subsequent starts, his performances have held plenty of merit with a view to his Derby prospects. Owned by harness racing legend Barry Purdon and his wife Katrina along with former Entain Australia boss, Dean Shannon, Yamato Satona sits at a Fixed Odds quote of $21 for the New Zealand Derby, with O’Sullivan believing that is a fair price on what he has delivered to date. “It looks like being a very even Derby field this year and we think our guy is right in the mix,” O’Sullivan said. “He has shown he is looking for ground since that first win, which is the indication those who have ridden him have all given, so he gets his chance this weekend. “His work has been very good and as long as he performs to expectations he will head to the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) in late February then two weeks later into the Derby.” The O’Sullivan and Scott partnership also have Acer and Genki in the Gingernuts Salver, with O’Sullivan taking a pragmatic approach to their prospects as they look to the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and New Zealand Derby respectively. “Acer will have the blinkers on for the first time on Sunday,” he said. “She is entered for the New Zealand Oaks and while she hasn’t shown enough so far to go there, it is this time of the year where the potential stayers start to emerge. “You are only three once to have a go at those Group One races so we are rolling the dice with her and Genki (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), who is in the same boat with his Derby prospects.” Another stable runner O’Sullivan is keen on is maiden O’Hello (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) who steps out for his second start on Sunday after finishing fourth on debut at the venue on 29 November. “O’Hello was very good first up and his work since has been excellent. “He trialled well before that debut run, has taken plenty of benefit from it and I can’t fault him. “He looks as though he can be a maiden winner at short notice and then we can see what options there are for him.” View the full article

As been pointed out many times, HRNZ are barely heard from, despite many knowing how it is going to end! You can not tell me that that there is no one from HRNZ that doesnt read BOAY! It is actually pretty disappointing that we never get any response from them defending their decision making and why they are making these decisions!! Reality is that they must know they are not acting in the best interests of harness racing but looking after their own interests while they are still getting salaries?  

The Pegasus World Cup card, to be held Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park, continued to take shape in Florida as several contenders turned in works Friday, including GII Red Smith Stakes winner Cugino (Twirling Candy), who is pointing to the $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf. The West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig Racing colorbearer breezed a half-mile in :49.11 (5/18) on Gulfstream's main track. He was last seen finishing second to Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) in the GIII Fort Lauderdale Stakes Dec. 20, the local Pegasus Turf prep. “No shame in losing to that horse,” West Point senior vice president Tom Bellhouse said. “We're all systems go. [Cugino] is just so honest and fun. He tries every time. He was a little unlucky early in his career, but I think we fit with the big boys. [Hopefully] we can get maybe a little more pace in this race than where was last time.” West Point has had a number of Pegasus Day entrants, beginning with the inaugural edition in 2017. “It's exciting,” Bellhouse said. “We've been very, very blessed to run on Pegasus Day ever since the first Pegasus with Breaking Lucky, and almost every year have some type of participant whether it's on the turf or in the big dance. It's always a thrill for us.” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher also sent out a pair of Pegasus contenders at Palm Beach Downs Friday. St. Elias Stable's Captain Cook (Practical Joke), a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', went five furlongs in 1:01.65 for five furlongs in company. The Withers Stakes winner and GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes runner-up is pointing to the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup. Spendthrift Farm's four-time graded winner Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro) breezed four furlongs in :50.48 seconds. He's targeting the Pegasus Turf. Juddmonte homebred Disco Time (Not This Time), recently featured in these pages, will put his perfect record on the line in the Pegasus World Cup. He worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 in company for Brad Cox. In addition, fan favorite and 10-time graded stakes-winning multimillionaire Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), readying for a fourth straight run in the Pegasus, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.65 over the main track at Palm Meadows for Saffie Joseph, Jr. The post Pegasus World Cup Works Friday Feature Cugino and Disco Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article