Wandering Eyes

Jockey Antonio Fresu will be “out for some time” after suffering a broken toe in his left foot in Sunday's seventh race, agent Ron Anderson reported Monday morning. Fresu was aboard 2-1 favorite Anmer Hall in a downhill sprint when they were put in tight quarters turning into the stretch and hit the rail. Anderson said Fresu's left riding boot was split as a result of the incident. He was subsequently sent to a local hospital for further evaluation and later released. “We'll know more later [on Monday], but he's going to be out for some time,” Anderson said. “It's his 'inside' foot, so that can be a little more worrisome. These guys though they are in such good condition, they heal fast.” Prior to the injury, Fresu on Sunday guided Hiding in Honduras (Dialed In) to a victory in the GII Mathis Mile for trainer Jonathan Thomas and won the third race aboard My Perfect Wave for trainer Tim Yakteen. A 34-year-old native of Sardinia, Fresu has been riding locally since the end of 2022. He has won 379 races in the U.S. Earlier this year, Fresu finished as the leading rider at the Santa Anita Hollywood Meet. The post Fresu ‘Out for Some Time’ with Broken Toe on left Foot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Jonathan Thomas earned a graded stakes double at Santa Anita Sunday with Augustin Stable's Ambaya (Ghostzapper), winner of the GI American Oaks, and Bob LaPenta's Hiding in Honduras (Dialed In), victorious in the GII Mathis Mile. Thomas also saddled the third-place finisher in the American Oaks, Will Then (War of Will). According to Thomas, all three horses were doing well Monday morning. Ambaya got up to win the 10-furlong American Oaks by a half-length after a ground saving trip and then splitting horses under Kazushi Kimura, who rode the filly in place of an injured Antonio Fresu. Will Then finished another neck back in third. “[Ambaya] backed up what we've seen from her in the morning,” Thomas said. “As her prior form would indicate, she's had a couple of troubled trips. But she was able to put it all together [Sunday] and got the job done.” Hiding in Honduras also used a ground-saving trip to take the Mathis Mile under Fresu. As for what's next for Ambaya, Will Then and Hiding in Honduras, Thomas said, “We'll let the dust settle. The fillies especially. They've each had a very long, hard year. They've traveled a lot, so we'll probably let them kind of get their feet underneath them and let them recover a little bit.” He added, “[As for] Hiding in Honduras, I'd run him next week if there was something for him.” The post American Oaks Winner Ambaya Likely to Get a Break appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bob Baffert came out swinging on Santa Anita's opening day card on Sunday, with Nysos (Nyquist), Goal Oriented (Not This Time)–both TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard, and Usha (Tiz the Law), coming home winners in the GII Laffit Pincay Jr., GI Malibu and GI La Brea, respectively. According to the Hall of Famer, the trio were “doing well” on Monday morning. Baffert also indicated that Nysos and Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), runner up in the Laffit Pincay Jr., are among potential candidates for the G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh on Feb. 14, however, plans have yet to be finalized. “They all came back well, but no plans in the future for any of them yet,” he said. “We haven't thought about it.” Despite the success, it wasn't all roses for Baffert this weekend. Baffert runners Barnes (Into Mischief)) and Cornucopian (Into Mischief) were both forced to scratch prior to the Malibu. Baffert indicated that he didn't have an update on the former, while the latter appeared fine after acting up in the saddling enclosure and falling on his hind-end. “It was unfortunate, but he's fine,” Baffert said. The post Baffert Trio ‘Doing Well’ After Santa Anita Weekend Sweep appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Mike Love Elgin trainer David Mitchell joins the party on the coast for the final day of the circuit today. He takes three sound chances to the Reefton meeting, including Deceptive Lee in the feature, the $25,000 Rosco Contractors Reefton Cup over 2500m. “He seems pretty forward,” said trainer David Mitchell. Deceptive Lee has not raced since winning at Addington in September but has been to the workouts. “His last workout at Methven was good and a bit of form has come out of that.” It will be tough for the seven-year-old son of Captaintreacherous who’s off 20 metres and facing race-hardened horses like Teds Legacy, Westport Cup winner Hacksaw Ridge and second-day winner Smoke On The Water. However, Deceptive Lee has won twice in a fresh state as well as winning once and placing once from three starts on the Reefton track. “The small field negates his handicap a wee bit.” To see the Reefton Cup field click here Race 3, the M S Moore Contracting Mobile Pace over 2450m, will see debutant Liberty Girl take her place. After qualifying in November she has since been back to the workouts a couple of times with her most recent effort suggesting she would be a strong top three chance. “After she qualified I didn’t think we’d be here but she has progressed a lot and her last workout was promising.” Liberty Girl begins from barrier two today and has shown genuine gate speed and should be able to get across early and secure an economical run. “She may lack a bit of ringcraft but she’s travelled over here well.” Resurgamas lines up in Race 4, the Paul Cutbush Memorial Pace over 2000m. The full brother to Lazarus is yet to win from five starts but is still progressing. “He’s a bit 50/50 in the gait department. If he got away on even terms with them he should be thereabouts.” After missing away from the stand it was a huge recovery to finish as close as he did last time at Oamaru, so manners will need to be present today. “He got home well after making a mess of the start. When it all comes together for him he should win one or two.” Junior driver Gemma Thornley will drive all three runners. Race one gets underway at 12:18pm. View the full article

Flying the flag for the National Association of Racing (NAR) circuit, Diktaean emerged from Monday's G1 Tokyo Daishoten as a popular winner after the son of King Kamehameha produced a brave effort to deny hot favourite Mikki Fight (Drefong) at Ohi Racecourse. Trained locally by Katsunori Arayama, Diktaean raced enthusiastically in mid-division through the early stages, before enjoying the perfect tow from Mikki Fight when that rival began to engage top gear on the home turn. Everything appeared to be going to plan for the market leader when Christophe Lemaire produced him to lead early in the straight, but Diktaean and jockey Takayuki Yano remained persistent challengers in their slipstream. Drawing level inside the final furlong, the seven-year-old Diktaean responded generously from there to eventually master his younger rival, ultimately getting the verdict by a neck. Outrange (Regalo) finished another 1 1/2 lengths behind the leading pair in third. The disappointments of the race were the three-year-olds Narukami (Thunder Snow) and Natural Rise (Kizuna), who had previously highlighted their liking for this course and distance when finishing first and second, respectively, in the Listed Japan Dirt Classic in October. Narukami finished over seven lengths behind the winner in sixth, having raced closer than ideal to the strong gallop set by the freewheeling Natural Rise. The latter trailed home 11th of the 15 runners. The success of Diktaean identified him as the first winner of this race to be trained on the NAR circuit in 20 years. Plainly in the form of his life at the age of seven, he made his Group-race breakthrough in September's G3 Korea Cup at Seoul, having been trained by Tatsuya Yoshioka until earlier this year. Six of his 11 career victories have been achieved in stakes company. Pedigree Notes Diktaean is one of four winners from five runners out of the multiple stakes winner Medeia (King Halo) who, in turn, is out of the GII Pucker Up Stakes scorer Witchful Thinking (Lord Avie). In total, Witchful Thinking is the dam of 10 individual winners, with the others including the Listed Fukushima Himba Stakes heroine Lofty Aim (Sunday Silence). Lofty Aim herself features as the dam of the G3 Kyodo News Hai Tokinominoru Kinen third Aim And End (Eishin Flash) and the second dam of the G3 Unicorn Stakes winner Smasher (Majestic Warrior). Monday, Ohi, Japan TOKYO DAISHOTEN-G1, ¥170,000,000, Ohi, 12-29, 3yo/up, 2000m, 2:04.30, hy. 1–DIKTAEAN (JPN), 126, g, 7, by King Kamehameha (Jpn) 1st Dam: Medeia (Jpn) (MSW-Jpn, $2,245,704), by King Halo (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Witchful Thinking, by Lord Avie 3rd Dam: Halloween Joy, by Exuberant 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-G1 Racing; B-Oiwake Farm; T-Katsunori Arayama; J-Takayuki Yano; ¥100,000,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Kor, 31-11-1-3, $3,032,012. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Mikki Fight (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Drefong–Special Groove (Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn). O-Mizuki Noda; B-Northern Farm; ¥35,000,000 3–Outrange (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Regalo (Jpn)–Queen Pirates (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Toshio Terada; B-North Hills; ¥20,000,000. Margins: NK, 1HF, 3HF. Odds: 76.30, 0.40, 11.10. Also Ran: King's Sword (Jpn), Ho O Roulette (Jpn), Narukami (Jpn), Nansei White (Jpn), Grand Bridge (Jpn), Seesaw Game, Night of Fire (Jpn), Natural Rise (Jpn), Bell Gracias (Jpn), Hero Call (Jpn), Bahir Dar, Passion Cry (Jpn). Scratched: Aladdin Barows (Jpn). Click for the goracing.jp chart. The post Diktaean Registers Career High in Tokyo Daishoten Upset appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeder's Association will host its annual stallion season auction on www.thoroughlybred.com with bidding beginning on Jan.7 at 9:00 a.m. and continuing through Jan. 11 at 6:00 p.m. Over 60 seasons will be on offer by a wide range of stallions from across the country. Any 2027 Indiana bred progeny from stallions sold in the auction will be eligible for nomination to the 2030 $100k ITOBA Stallion Season Auction Stakes (Colt and Filly Divisions). Highlighting bonuses, an additional $2,500 will be awarded to the winner and $1,000 to the second-place finishers of the two stakes races. The ITOBA is the only organization approved by the Indiana Horse Racing commission to support owners and breeders in the state of Indiana. Donations will be accepted through Jan. 6. For more information, contact Nicksfarm@yahoo.com. To enter, complete the form on ITOBA.com. The post ITOBA Stallion Season Auction Opens Jan. 7 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, a leading owner-breeder in Britain and member of the ruling family of Dubai, died on Monday. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has enjoyed significant success over the past 30 years, much of it thanks to his Classic-winning filly Zomaradah, who proved a wonderful broodmare, most notably as the dam of Dubawi. The latter, from the sole crop of Dubai Millennium, raced in the colours of his cousin Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin operation, winning three Group 1 races including the Irish 2,000 Guineas before becoming a stallion of international repute and Darley's first champion sire of Britain and Ireland. More recently, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's most influential broodmare has been the outstanding matron Reem Three. Her many winners include the G1 Queen Anne Stakes victor and now young Darley sire Triple Time, who has recently been joined at Dalham Hall Stud by Reem Three's grandsons Rosallion and Inisherin, both of whom were Group 1 winners in 2024. During another successful year on the track with his runners, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's horses have notched 40 wins in Britain in 2025, including 13 stakes victories. Most recently, his homebred Royal Champion won the G2 Bahrain International Trophy for Karl Burke, who is one of four trainers in Britain currently on the roster for the prominent owner, along with Richard Hannon, Kevin Ryan and George Boughey. The latter trains the unbeaten two-year-old Bow Echo, winner of the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes in September. Rosallion, winner of last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas as well as the St James's Palace Stakes, was the most recent Classic winner for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid on a list which includes Derby winner High-Rise and the aforementioned Zomaradah, winner of the Oaks d'Italia. He also owned and bred the 2023 Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight, and was the owner of Postponed, winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Juddmonte International among his four Group 1 victories. This story is being updated. The post Leading Owner-Breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We have asked some of racing's best and brightest what they think racing will be like in 2036. Here are some submissions from our readers. Thoroughbred Racing in 2036: Building a Smarter, Safer Future By 2036, Thoroughbred racing may look markedly different from the sport of today. The industry is entering a period of transition shaped by technology, safety reform, digital fan engagement, and growing expectations around responsibility and transparency. Rather than abandoning its history, racing appears to be learning from it and building forward. One of the most significant changes on the horizon is the move toward national consistency. Long defined by state-by-state fragmentation, the sport may soon operate under a clearer and more unified framework, with standardized medication rules, licensing, and enforcement. For bettors and fans, this consistency is not just a regulatory shift but a foundation for greater trust. Technology is also reshaping the equine athletic experience. Wearable biometrics, AI-driven injury prediction, and advanced imaging could become routine tools in training and veterinary care. These innovations point toward a world where careers are longer, catastrophic injuries decline, and training decisions are based on measurable data rather than guesswork. The fan experience is changing as well. By 2036, racing may blend sport and entertainment in new ways: augmented reality race views, helmet-camera livestreams, micro-betting options, and personalized data displays. Races will feel less like one-minute events and more like interactive broadcasts built for modern viewing habits. Breeding and aftercare are entering a new era of accountability. Regional incentive networks, data-driven stallion selection, and funding models tied to purses or wagering suggest a more sustainable pipeline one that prioritizes soundness on the front end and structured retirement pathways on the back end. Finally, transparency may become racing's most valuable currency. Public veterinary reporting, open stewards' rulings, and standardized safety communication can change both perception and reality. In 2036, trust will not be assumed it will be earned. If these trends continue, Thoroughbred racing in 2036 will not be defined by nostalgia or crisis management. Instead, it may be defined by clarity, progress, and a renewed commitment to horse and human welfare. The fundamentals of the sport remain unchanged: heart, speed, and competition. What evolves is everything surrounding it and that evolution may be what allows the sport to endure. –Tashua Antoinette, University of Arizona Racetrack Industry Program student Joe Carr, Equine Risk Management Group and Associates, Lexington, Ky. The crystal ball is boiling! Bring all the energy and opportunity ahead. In 2036, the horse racing landscape will be transformed into an experience-based industry. The ball says that our signature events will explode. Those events will be decided by the level of the customer experience. The sky is the limit. The middle class globally is expanding and focusing on this will make 2036 exciting. The post Racing in 2036: Tashua Antoinette and Joe Carr appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Diktaean became the first National Association of Racing-based winner of the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) in 20 years with a victory over Mikki Fight Dec. 29 at Oi Racecourse.View the full article

Rodrigo Goncalves has been associated with some high-class horses from his time working with Joseph O'Brien and Robson Aguiar. The Brazilian-born Irishman was also involved in the initial ownership group that sourced Group 1 winner Power Blue as well. Goncalves has embarked on an exciting new chapter and, after sourcing a number of yearlings at the sales this year, plans on offering “nine or 10” horses at the breeze-up sales next year. The youngster expands on that and a lot more in this edition of the Hot Seat Q&A. What was your defining memory/highlight of 2025? I think helping source and being a part-owner of Power Blue was the highlight. Watching him progress and turn into a Group 1 winner for his new connections was a serious thrill. You signed for a number of yearlings to go breezing under your own name this year. Tell us a little bit about that project and how exciting it is? I managed to buy and partner up with a couple of friends to invest in yearlings to go breezing next year. I have around nine or 10 to breeze and I'm enjoying the process. I'm very excited to see how they progress and develop in the next couple of months – hopefully they can be very lucky. You seemed to target higher-end horses at the yearling sales…. I go to the sales with the intention to try and find good horses at value prices but, with the market being so strong lately and the game being so competitive, sometimes you have to stretch a bit more than you expect for the horses you want. That's what we had to do this year. Tell us something people don't know about Rodrigo Goncalves…. I was born in Brazil and came over to Ireland when I was nine years old and, at the time, I was fully sure I would become a soccer player and had no love for horses whatsoever. How wrong was I!? What motivates you? Finding and producing good horses. Give us an underrated sire to keep the right side of next year…. I believe Space Blues could surprise a lot of people next year. He has already done it with Power Blue and I think there is a lot more to come from the stallion. He possibly deserves a bit more credit for what he has achieved. Biggest regret? I don't really have any regrets. I think everything happens for a reason and that it's very important to try to learn from your mistakes and keep trying no matter how hard it gets. You've built up a pretty impressive CV working with Joseph O'Brien and Robson Aguiar. What has been the best horse you have sat on or been associated with? I've been very lucky to have worked for some fantastic people in the industry over the last few years. I spent around seven years in Joseph's in between school and college and later working for him full-time. Being able to see first-hand how his operation has grown into one of the biggest yards in the country is amazing and I managed to work with a lot of good horses in my time there. I think Iridessa was a very talented filly and, also, State of Rest was a fantastic globetrotting horse from that time. Robson has always been so talented with his judgement of two-year-olds. I've never seen anyone as talented and, in my time there, I believe Arizona Blaze was probably the toughest horse I've seen. He always showed up and ran his heart out. Your favourite sale and why? Probably the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster and Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale at Newmarket. Those sales have been very lucky for me and I'd like to think good horses come out of those sales for a bit of value. What's your go-to karaoke song? I'm definitely not a great singer but with a drink in my hand I could try to sing a bit of Zach Bryan or Morgan Wallen. Who is your inspiration? Robson has been my mentor and idol so he is the person who I always admired and tried to be like. He has taught me so much and has given me so many opportunities since I was a kid starting off and I'm very grateful for that. Watching him come from nothing and turn into one of the most respected and successful people in our industry through his talent and hard work is very inspiring to me. Your guilty pleasure? Jellies! I can't stay away from them for too long. I'm a bit like Stevie Byrne in that I have a massive sweet tooth! Give us one horse to look out for in 2026… Diamond Necklace looks to be a very special filly with huge potential. The post In The Hot Seat: Rodrigo Goncalves appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Few will forget the moment that Sea The Stars entered the history books as one of the true greats when adding the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to his list of Group 1 successes through a faultless three-year-old season. It is therefore appropriate that his son Daryz should prevail in that same race, sealing the French sires' championship for his sire, whose 20th birthday is looming. In netting just over €3m, the Aga Khan Studs homebred Daryz was the highest earner for Sea The Stars in 2025 but he was not his sole Group 1 winner in France. Sosie had set the ball rolling as early as April by winning the Prix Ganay, followed the next month by his victory in the Prix d'Isapahan. The Wertheimers' pride and joy was also third in the Arc before capping a tremendous season in the Hong Kong Vase. For the same owner-breeder, Aventure gained her deserved Group 1 win in the Prix Vermeille, as well as winning the G2 Prix Corrida and G3 Prix Allez France. That both Daryz and Sosie will remain in training in 2026 give Sea The Stars another strong hand in the older-horse division. Multiple group winner Map Of Stars can also be counted among that number. Such is the value of the Arc pot that it so often decides the championship in France, but Wootton Bassett was a strong contender for so much of the season, providing the winners of both colts' Classics in Henri Matisse and Camille Pissarro, both of whom have now entered stud at Coolmore. Maranoa Charlie went out on a high in the G1 Prix de la Foret before joining Tally-Ho Stud, and Wootton Bassett ultimately finished a little over €1.2m in progeny earnings behind Sea The Stars to be second in the table. Arc runner-up Minnie Hauk helped to put her sire Frankel in third place in France in a year in which his son Diego Velazquez provided an emotional victory in the Prix Jacques Le Marois. Candelari, winner of the upgraded Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, was another Group 1 winner for Frankel in France during a memorable year for new champion trainer Francis Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs. Lope De Vega may be one of Ireland's best stallions but he spent all his racing days in France and has enjoyed notable success in that country with his runners, having enjoyed top-four finishes in three of the last five years. He is in fourth place for 2025, with his regally-bred son Cualificar (who is out of the Oaks winner Qualify) his leading earner, having won the G2 Prix Niel and two Group 3s as well as finishing runner-up to Camille Pissarro in the Prix du Jockey Club. He's another exciting four-year-old to follow in 2026. Also adding to Lope De Vega's Group 1 ledger in France was the Prix de Royallieu victrix Consent. It is almost four years since the death of Le Havre, but his presence was still very much felt in his former home country during 2025 with Group 1 victories for three-year-old Leffard, a member of his final crop, in the Grand Prix de Paris, and for Quisisana in the Prix Jean Romanet. Le Havre duly finished in fifth, narrowly ahead of the dual French champion sire Siyouni, who provided the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Zarigana. Haras de Colleville's Goken and the Aga Khan Studs' Zarak were also top-ten finishers in France along with Almanzor, who is now a permanent resident at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand and sired the Prix de Diane and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Gezora. Completing that top ten with some pleasing symmetry is Sea The Stars's son Zelzal, a resident of Haras de Bouquetot. Soldier Hollow Takes Fourth German Title A year after his death and six since he won his third sires' championship, Soldier Hollow's name appeared for the fourth time as the head of the table in Germany in 2025. Appropriately, his leading earner of the year, Santagada, races in the colours once carried by his sire, representing owner Helmut von Finck of Gestut Park Wiedingen. The three-year-old Santagada took four Group 3 contests at four different tracks in 2025, and was beaten less than two lengths when sixth in the G1 Preis der Diana behind Nicoreni. At sales around the world, Soldier Hollow's Group 1-winning daughter Tamfana was sold for 2.6m gns to Coolmore, while Paraiba was bought for €810,000 by Wertheimer et Frere. Gestut Etzean's Amaron was second in the German table and was the leading performer among all active sires in Germany for the third year running. The late Adlerflug was third, thanks largely to the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden win of Goliath. Polish Vulcano has scant representation on the track but his five winners from only nine runners in 2025 included the G1 Deutsches Derby winner Hochkonig. The Gestut Idee resident thus finished in fourth place, ahead of Best Solution. Ballylinch Stud's Make Believe | Racingfotos Make Believe Champion Again in Italy For the second year running, Make Believe is the champion sire in Italy after his daughter Klaynn delivered on her juvenile promise to win the G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1,000 Guineas) and the G2 Oaks d'Italia by six and seven lengths respectively. Bought by Teruya Yoshida prior to her Oaks success, she was also fourth in the G2 Derby Italiano, finishing a length and a half behind the winner Molveno (Almanzor). Elsewhere, Make Believe's season included victory for Sajir in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and for Royal Supremacy in Randwick's G1 Metropolitan Handicap. The first five stallions in the Italian table were all based in Ireland, though runner-up Cotai Glory has recently been sold to stand for the Turkish Jockey Club in Turkey. Dark Angel is the sire of the Ed Dunlop-trained G2 Premio Dormello winner Just Call Me Angel, an interesting Cayton Park Stud homebred to follow in 2026, while Ten Sovereigns supplied the dual Classic-placed filly Mystery Of Love, and Kodiac was represented by the G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2,000 Guineas) winner and Derby Italiano third Lao Tzu. The post Sea The Stars Tops the French Sire Rankings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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

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The stars of racing took centre stage as the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship and Hong Kong International Races highlighted a huge month. The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride. Who’s hot? While big names like Zac Purton (nine wins), Hugh Bowman (seven) and James McDonald (seven) had productive months, there were a couple of mid-table jockeys who struck form despite limited...View the full article

La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos), arguably the most consistent horse in Australasian racing, has been retired. The dual Group One winner has been hampered with foot issues over the last couple of years, with a decision made on Monday morning to bring the curtain down on her racing career following her fourth placed run in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. “She is still putting in some terrific races and even on Boxing Day she ran a terrific race,” said Katrina Alexander, who trained the seven-year-old mare in partnership with her husband Simon. “However, she hasn’t pulled up from that as well as we would have hoped so we x-rayed her foot this (Monday) morning, the same foot that has caused her problems for the last two years, and she has degeneration of the foot tissue inside the hoof capsule. “I have been waiting for a sign for her to tell me that this (racing) just isn’t possible anymore, so it was a really easy decision in the end.” La Crique flashed onto the scene as a three-year-old, winning five and placing in three of her eight starts that season, including taking out the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), and she was a beaten short-priced favourite when runner-up to Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). She got her Group One redemption seven months later in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) before heading across the Tasman where she ran fourth in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. She added a further two Group One placings to her record later that season before foot issues, resulting from an abscess, led to ongoing problems for the mare. The Alexanders’ hard work behind the scenes led to La Crique returning to career-best form, with the mare going on to win the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) before posting six consecutive Group One second placings. Alexander has a particularly close affinity with La Crique, riding her in all her work, which she said has helped her monitor her soundness issues. “She has never in her career put in a bad race for any unknown reason. She is an incredibly tough horse that just races through a pain barrier that a lot of horses would give up on,” she said. “Behind the scenes you are constantly working at things. I ride her pretty much every day and I have done so for the last six years. I do that so I have an understanding of what I am asking her to do and her reaction to that. “I had a feeling going into Boxing Day that we probably weren’t as good as where we would want to be and she has still run a blinder of a race, albeit a strangely run race. She has finished on incredibly strong and pulled a shoe in the running, which has probably added to our problem this morning.” La Crique has had plenty of highlights throughout her career, but one race that particularly stands out for Alexander is her first stakes victory, the Desert Gold Stakes, which she won by an eye-catching 4-1/2 lengths. “The thrill of her Desert Gold win, and how convincing that was is one that comes to mind,” she said. “We go back and look at photos of that and seeing her at full stretch is just as impressive live as it is in the photos. You get a true understanding of her stride length and the mechanics of her. “She was so convincing in that age group, and she did bring that forward, but some of those tough battles have also been admirable, and I am very proud of her for putting up a fight like she did and making some of those races exceptionally good races to watch.” Bred and raced by John and Jan Cassin, La Crique will be retained by the couple as they look to breed their next star. “The Cassins have always shown an interest to retain her to breed from,” Alexander said. “They enjoy their breeding and they obviously bred her, and we have a sister there as well. “She will most definitely, at this stage, be retained by them. The luxury of having her retire at this time of year, they don’t have to make any quick decisions on that. It came as a bit of a surprise to them this morning when we broke the news of our findings. We have also known that this was probably going to be her final preparation. “She now has a good amount of time to letdown, have a good rest in the paddock and she should hit the breeding season fairly early. It will be interesting to see who she goes to, I wouldn’t want to be making that decision myself.” While sad to be farewelling her stable star, Alexander said they have a few exciting prospects in the barn they are looking forward to, including last Friday’s Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m) winner Rise Companions (Capitalist) and impressive debut winner Aksil (NZ) (Ace High). “We have got a couple of really exciting horses, with Aksil and Rise Companions,” she said. “We have been extremely fortunate in our careers that we have always seemed to have had a good horse coming through. We are not a big team, but we always seem to get one at the right time. Hopefully either of those two horses can continue.” Three-year-old gelding Aksil will resume in the New World Mount Maunganui 1400 at Tauranga on Friday where he will carry the colours of OTI Racing after the syndicator recently purchased into the horse. Aksil was eye-catching when winning on debut at Taupo in October before running eighth at Ellerslie last month behind subsequent Group One performer Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes), and Alexander said he can be forgiven for that run. “He had a bit of time in the paddock and is a horse that has continued to grow and develop, and we do really feel like he needs more time yet,” she said. “However, we will continue to lightly race him. “He has just had an ownership change, with OTI buying 50 percent, so that is exciting to have them onboard, and he will stay in New Zealand. “It will be nice to see him do a good job at Tauranga. I am a little bit concerned about the weather as to how much rain they get there because we have opted to kick him off over 1400m. Hopefully we have pulled the right rein there, but we will just have to keep an eye on the forecast. “We will give him a short prep again now and just see where he gets to.” Alexander is also excited about the prospects of four-year-old mare Prominere (NZ) (Ardrossan), who will resume in the Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge 1100 at Te Aroha on Saturday following an 18-month hiatus from racing. The daughter of Ardrossan has had just the one start to date, finishing seventh in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) as a late two-year-old, and the Alexanders have given her plenty of time to develop. “She is quite an exciting horse,” Alexander said. “She is a big, masculine, strong filly. She showed us a lot as a two-year-old and then we have had to put her aside, she is a very big horse. The dam was a big mare too and took time. “We have just had to look after her a little bit. She had a lovely trial the other day at Avondale and we will keep her to the shorter distances. “She won’t mind a little cut in the track if that is what happens during the week. She won a trial at Te Rapa as a two-year-old on a Heavy track. “She is quite exciting going forward, I have got a lot of time for the horse, and I think she could be another nice horse for the Cassins.” View the full article