Wandering Eyes

The splendid Splendora set the pace, took the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Park and made headlines. Now, let's get to this week's rankings: 5. REGALED, OP, 3/7, GII Azeri Stakes, 1 1-16 miles Beyer Speed Figure- 93 (2nd) (m, 5, by Mohaymen-Ascot Walk, by Daaher) O-Ribble Farms and Front Page Equine. B-Chris Baccari (Ky). T-Whit Beckman. J-J.D. Ramos. Her come-from-the-clouds style is probably more suited to 1 1/8 miles than the Azeri's 1 1/16 miles, but she made up 4-plus lengths in the final furlong to be closing rapidly on Majestic Oops (below). Her previous attempt in the GIII Falls City was the dullest she has looked since being acquired in an online sale last May for $300k and turned over to Beckman, but she was given a three-month break from serious training and bounced right back to form. She presumably will be seen next at Oaklawn in the $1.25 million GI Apple Blossom Handicap Apr. 11. 4. STRONG DESTINY, TP, 3/6, allowance, 1 1-16 miles (AW) Beyer Speed Figure- 94 (f, 4, by Constitution-Barbadia, by Speightstown) O-All In Racing and Royer Family Stables. B-Juddmonte (Ky). T-Phil Sims. J-Fernando De La Cruz. A breeding powerhouse can't keep everything, so despite her Juddmonte-strong extended female pedigree it made sense to cull the underperforming five-race maiden Strong Destiny at Keeneland November, where she brought a modest $60k. And then came Tapeta. In her first start for new connections, she whipped an odds-on favorite at Turfway by 8 1/2 lengths. Then Friday she dominated a first-level allowance by 15 1/2engths with a final quarter of :24.75 on a slow surface. It will be interesting to see if this new performance level translates from Tapeta back to say Keeneland or Churchill's dirt. 3. MAJESTIC OOPS, OP, 3/7, GIII Azeri Stakes, 1 1-16 miles Beyer Speed Figure- 94 (m, 6, by Majestic Harbor-Miss Oops, by Olmodavor) O-Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Agave Racing Stable and Sheila Regan. B-William and Sandy Dory and Gary and Janet Kropp (Cal). T-Dan Ward. J-Francisco Arrieta. Majestic Oops | Coady Media She had run once against champion Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), finishing 11 lengths behind her in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. She had met Regaled twice, finishing 10 1/2 lengths behind her in the same race and 11 1/2 lengths behind her in the GIII Delaware Handicap. But the Azeri was a new day on Majestic Oops's favorite surface, and she churned through Oaklawn slop to defeat both and earn her coveted first graded victory. It was also the first higher level win for 67-year-old trainer Ward, former longtime assistant to Bobby Frankel and Jerry Hollendorfer who went on his own in 2023. Ward deftly engineered a dramatic form improvement for Majestic Oops at last year's Oaklawn meet, after which her current owners acquired her privately last summer. 2. R DISASTER, GP, 3/7, GIII Hurricane Bertie Stakes, 6 1/2 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure- 95 (m, 5, by Awesome Slew-Making Havoc, by Gottcha Gold) O-Averill Racing, Two Eight Racing and ATM Racing. B-Ocala Stud & J. Michael O'Farrell Jr (Fla). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Micah Husbands. By my count, Rich Averill has raced 57 horses with names beginning with “R.” And it's working: that list includes four of his five graded winners, of which R Disaster is the most recent. This was her second graded win, and it wasn't necessarily expected by Saffie Joseph in her return from her first-ever mini-vacation. “I was concerned,” he said. “I didn't think she was 100 percent fit.” He needn't have worried, given her 5 1/2-length victory. She shot right to the front as usual, and jockey Michael Husbands said, “I just sat there.” 1. SPLENDORA, SA, 3/7, GI Beholder Mile, 1 mile Beyer Speed Figure- 100 (m, 5, by Audible-Miss Freeze, by Frost Giant) O-Boyd Racing and By Talla Racing. B-The Elkstone Group (Md). T-Bob Baffert. J-Juan Hernandez. This makes five straight Ws on the track for the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner, but she was beaten in the ballot box–losing in Eclipse Award voting for outstanding female sprinter to GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint sensation Shisospicy (Mitole) by a 113-68 margin. Baffert said the ultimate goal is a return to the Breeders' Cup to “get her that championship she should have gotten (last year).” But before that, co-owner Michael Talla said his mare will be sent East “where the money is.” And if money is the criteria, logical spots would be the Apple Blossom at 1 1/16 miles–where she would likely face Nitrogen–or the $1 million GI Derby City Distaff at seven furlongs on the Derby undercard May 2. The post Five Fleet Fillies Of The Week: Mar. 2-8 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Hong Kong Jockey Club will see two new names in the form guide next month when local apprentice Nichola Yuen Hang Yiu joins the riding roster from April 1, followed by Group One-winning Australian jockey Ethan Brown on April 26. Yuen will be just the second female jockey to ride full-time in Hong Kong since 2017, following Britney Wong Po-ni’s recruitment in 2025. Yuen entered the Jockey Club’s trainee programme in 2016 before moving to Australia in 2021 where she recorded 61 wins over three...View the full article

Angus Chung Yik-lai has a trio of solid chances at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, headlined by last-start winner Outgate in the first section of the Class Three Bonham Handicap (1,200m). The seven-year-old saluted for the first time in 623 days when he was dropped back in trip from 1,650m to 1,200m, winning by three quarters of a length over the smart Bienvenue who will step out as a favourite in the Class Three Craigengower Cricket Club Challenge Cup (1,200m). “I didn’t expect a win last time...View the full article

David Hayes hopes China Win (NZ) (Super Seth) can warrant last-minute selection for the HK$26 million 149th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) when he contests Wednesday night’s Class 3 Lyttelton Handicap (1800m) under Zac Purton. Currently rated 67, China Win is aiming to emulate Beauty Alliance, who last season secured the final BMW Hong Kong Derby spot with victory in this race at Happy Valley, earning a 12-point rating rise (65 to 77) and his place in the contest, which is finalised by the selection panel, who will determine the 14-runner field later this week. Hayes said: “I think if he was lucky enough to win, then he’d be in the calculations to get the last spot. The horse has a good gate (three), and his trackwork and trials have been excellent. “He’s had a bit of time between runs because he was scratched due to a heart anomaly, which was rectified straight away, so that put us a bit behind the eight ball, but he’s in good form for this race.” The BMW Hong Kong Derby takes place at Sha Tin on 22 March, and China Win has emerged as an unlikely candidate. The Super Seth gelding took seven starts to break through, but has shown that stamina is his best asset by winning his most recent two outings over 1800m. “His win before last was probably more eye-catching with Zac on when he came from last and barrier 14, and even the start before that he was only beaten an inch, so he’s in really good form,” Hayes said. “He’s by a sire that produces horses who get over a bit of ground. We couldn’t be happier with the way he’s progressing.” Hayes is looking forward to unleashing Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the HK$5.35 million Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) on 6 April at Sha Tin, where the world’s leading sprinter goes for a record-extending 19th consecutive win. “He did some striding work with Zac on this morning (Tuesday). Zac was very happy with him, and he ran home in around 12 and a half seconds. He’ll have a barrier trial around 10 days out from the 6th (of April). He’ll be in the Sprint Cup, then the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr.1, 1200m) and then his season is over,” Hayes said. View the full article

The retirement of five-time Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) has been confirmed by her principal owners Philip and Catherine Brown. When the six-year-old won Saturday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) it was accepted that was her final race in this country, but the possibility remained that she would have one further start in the Gr.1 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 28. However, following discussions between Legarto’s ownership group, which includes trainers Ken and Bev Kelso, the decision has been made to bring down the curtain on her career. “Bev and I would have loved the opportunity to give her one last race on the same track that she won the Australian Guineas, but we accept the majority decision to retire her now,” Ken Kelso said. “She’s been a wonderful mare – a horse of lifetime as I stated again on Saturday – and we’re comfortable with her being retired at the top of her game. “Winning the Herbie Dyke and Bonecrusher Stakes at her last two starts, especially when a lot of people had written her off, that has been immensely satisfying for all of us.” Legarto credited Opie Bosson with his 100th Group One success when she repeated her 2024 win in last month’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and he took his record on her to a perfect two-from-two when she dug deep to beat fellow Proisir six-year-old Waitak in the Bonecrusher Stakes. Legarto will now be let down and prepared for the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast in May, which Philip Brown describes as the logical path to realise her true worth for all concerned. She was purchased for $90,000 from breeder Warwick Jeffries at the 2021 National Yearling Sale and went on to win 12 times, with just three placings outside the top five in her 24-start career. After winning the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in the first half of her three-year-old season, she became the first New Zealand-trained horse to also claim the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m). With the addition of a $500,000 Champion Stayers’ bonus as a four-year-old on top of her actual race stakes, Legarto’s total earnings topped $3.6 million. “Racing a horse like her is what you dream of while not really expecting it to come true,” Brown said. “She gave us so many thrills and highs and while it’s difficult to nominate any race in particular, beating the Aussies on their turf in the Australian Guineas has to be right up there. “Seeing her back to her best in her last two starts has also been special, and for her to go out a winner means so much to everyone involved in her career. “Ken and Bev, her devoted strapper and work rider Megan Winter, the jockeys associated with her, and the great team of owners that have enjoyed the ride, it all adds up to a fantastic experience that you just can’t match. “It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to this marvelous horse we all know as Lulu, but knowing that she will go to a wonderful new home and be mated with the very best stallions, that’s the future she deserves.” View the full article

Moxie (Strasbourg) gave trainer and part-owner Ken Harrison his biggest thrill in racing at Ellerslie last Saturday when recording his first stakes win in the Gr.2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic (1400m), and now he is eager for more. “We are over the moon, it was a great result,” Harrison said. The Cambridge horseman said his four-year-old mare has come through the race in great order and he is now weighing up his options with the daughter of Strasbourg. “She has come through it great,” he said. “We may give her one more start before she goes for a bit of a break until next season. I am mulling it over at the moment.” Harrison is weighing up between the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on March 28 and the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie next month. While eager to test his mare at elite-level, the location of each race is a key factor for Harrison, with his mare not having ventured out of the northern region before. “She likes Ellerslie and there is one more back there, the Easter Handicap, but we have just got a few things to weigh up and sort out,” he said. “She has never been away from home yet and she knows Ellerslie.” Weight is another factor that has entered calculations, with Moxie’s rating increasing to 96 following her Group Two win. “We have gone up 18 rating points, but we have just got to take that on the chin. That is where she is now so that is what we have got to race against,” Harrison said. “The Group One (Breeders’ Stakes) is weight-for-age, so we know what weight she is going to get there.” While mulling over her final assignment of the season, Harrison took a moment to reflect on her career to date, which now stands at five wins from 11 starts and nearly $500,000 in earnings, and he is rapt that she has fulfilled the promise he saw in her as a yearling at Karaka where he purchased her out of Lyndhurst Farm’s draft for $10,000. “We only paid $10,000 for her so it has worked out quite well,” Harrison said. “I loved the way she was walking and she had a nice temperament. Shelley and Mark (Treweek, Lyndhurst Farm) are very good friends of ours and have always done a good job over the years.” While impressed with Moxie from the very beginning, Harrison said she has taken time to mature and he has taken a patient approach with her, which is now paying dividends. “She has been very good from day one,” he said. “She was a little bit immature at the start and it has just taken time. We missed most of her three-year-old season to let her mature.” While mulling over Moxie’s next steps, Harrison is looking forward to heading to Pukekohe on Friday where five-year-old gelding Tampa (NZ) (Vespa) will make his raceday return following a two-and-a-half-year absence. The five-year-old son of Vespa had three unplaced runs for trainer Clinton Isdale in 2023 and Harrison said the gelding has been given time to mature. “He is only lightly raced and had a couple of years off,” Harrison said. “I think they thought he was a bit immature and put him out on my uncle’s place at the back of Taumarunui. “He has had one trial at Tauranga a couple of weeks ago and went very well, he came third.” View the full article

At the end of a two-horse war that lasted the length of the Morphettville straight and brought the crowd to their feet, Karaka graduate American Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) came out on top in Monday’s A$350,000 Group Two Adelaide Cup (3200m). Victorian-based expat New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young paid $110,000 to buy American Wolf from Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where he was offered by Waikato Stud. American Wolf has now had 16 starts for three wins, five placings and A$416,585 in stakes. Ridden in Monday’s two-mile feature by Jett Stanley, American Wolf was travelling with ominous ease coming down the side of the track and moved up alongside the leader Highland Bling (Highland Reel) at the home turn. But that rival rose to the challenge. American Wolf and Highland Bling drew more than five lengths clear of the rest of the field down the straight, trading the lead with almost every bob of the head through a hard-fought last 200 metres. Only a nose separated them at the finish line, and it was American Wolf’s nose that got there first. “We told the owners that this was the grand final we were aiming at all the way through the campaign, so to get here and win it is fantastic,” Young said. “Jett rode him a treat. He got the horse to relax nicely, which is what he needed. The distance was never going to be an issue as long as he relaxed and got into his rhythm. “Jett just kept him nice and relaxed. He made a bit of a move at the 800, getting off the fence and ready to pounce three or four out. “I wasn’t sure whether we won it at the line, but it’s fantastic that we did. It’s great for High Calibre Racing and the other owners.” Stanley’s Cup triumph had a brief blip when he was dislodged by American Wolf after the finish line. “The ambos were asking whether I was okay, and I said, ‘Tell me the result of the photo and I’ll tell you,’ and the limp cleared up pretty quickly when one of them said American Wolf had won,” the 21-year-old jockey said. “I said ‘are you joking’ and then the crowd started yelling. It’s something I won’t forget. “This horse is a proper stayer. Hopefully we can see him on the first Tuesday in November (Melbourne Cup).” Completing an outstanding result for Waikato Stud, who bred and sold the winner, the third placegetter in Monday’s Adelaide Cup was the homebred Waikato Stud mare Hurry Curry (NZ) (Ocean Park). View the full article

On the March 9 episode of BloodHorse Monday: Slam Dunk Racing's Nick Cosato talks about accomplishing his dream of winning the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) with British Isles. David Fawkes provides Reef Runner update as the horse remains in Dubai.View the full article

A Baffert longshot in a Santa Anita maiden race (that isn't a misprint) tops this week's list. 5). MAYKOMOTION, TAM, 3/7, 7 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 84 (c, 3, by Vekoma–Maymont, by Unbridled's Song) O-Bona Venture Stables and Bianco Stable. B-Dominique Damico (Fla). T-George Weaver. J-John Velazquez. He couldn't match strides with the likes of Jackson Hole in his first start in December, but outran these from the start and was drawing away through the final quarter. His five half-siblings to race have been predominantly cheap claimers, but this son of Vekoma could be the black sheep of the family–in a good way. 4). CORONA DE ORO, FG, 3/7, 1 1/16 miles (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 87 (c, 3, by Bolt d'Oro–Lemon de Oro, by Lemon Drop Kid) O-On Our Own Stable, Commonwealth Stable, U Racing Stables, Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing, Jim Nichols, Edwin Barker, Daniel Rivers, John Haines and Dallas Stewart. B-Willow Oaks Stable (Ky). T-Dallas Stewart. J-Brian Hernandez, Jr. This Fasig-Tipton grad touted himself in January with a half-length second to Noble Affair in the fastest maiden race of the Fair Grounds meet–a sizzling sprint that earned him a 92 Beyer. And he followed through Saturday at 3-to-5 odds, graduating against older horses by 4 1/2 lengths around two turns. With these kinds of numbers already in March of his 3-year-old season, he's a strong candidate to enter the stakes ranks at some point in the not-too-distant future. 3). CIVIL LIBERTY, SA, 3/7, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 89 (2nd) (c, 3, by Independence Hall–Love and Respect, by Tiznow) O-Great Friends Stables and Mark Davis. B-St Simon Place (Ky). T-Chief Stipe O'Neill. J-Emisael Jaramillo. At the quarter-pole, this seemed like a rare Santa Anita maiden that wouldn't be won by Bob Baffert. Civil Liberty, a Fasig-Tipton graduate, was returning to the maiden ranks after his third in the GI Del Mar Futurity and fourth in the GI American Pharoah, and cruised to the front as if headed to the winners' circle. And then, sure enough, a Baffert 10-to-1 firster (below) nailed him in the final yards. It's a small consolation, but at least Civil Liberty gets to be acknowledged in “Five Fastest Maidens” a second time: last July he was second to Brant on debut with an 87 Beyer. 2). SHE'S A GEMMA, OP, 3/6, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 89 (f, 4, by Nyquist–Florida Fabulous, by High Cotton) O-CJ Thoroughbreds. B-Eden Farm (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-Luis Saez. It was a case of preparation meeting opportunity when She's a Gemma roared to a 9 1/2-length score in Hot Springs. Mott had made van arrangements to ship veterans Batten Down, Bendoog and Stars and Stripes from Payson Park to Oaklawn, and the filly was also ready to run with nothing immediately available at Gulfstream. Besides, Oaklawn's $110k maiden purses are roughly double what is on offer in Hallandale. The van ride went well, as did the results. Batten Down romped in a 1 1/2-mile stakes, Bendoog gave odds-on Saudi Crown all he could handle in a ratings handicap and Stars and Stripes won a second-level allowance. 1). CRUDE VELOCITY, SA, 3/7, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 89 (c, 3, by Beau Liam–Sweetnsour Kitty, by Lemon Drop Kid) O-CSLR Racing Partners. B-La Ciega (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Florent Geroux. Turns out Baffert hasn't yet emptied his barn of quality 3-year-old maidens. First-timer and Fasig-Tipton buy Crude Velocity ran down a proven commodity in Civil Liberty despite an eventful trip: he spotted rivals four lengths with a sluggish break, rushed into traffic at the half-mile pole, then was steered out only to check again. Even more noteworthy: this wasn't expected. Crude Velocity's $23 win payoff is the second-highest among Baffert's 191 maiden winners the last five years. The 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' is from the first crop of Stonestreet-bred Beau Liam, a $7,500 Airdrie stallion who retired prematurely after two gaudy triple-digit Beyers. Crude Velocity's 89 Beyer is the second-highest of his sire's 62 starters as of this writing. The post Five Fastest Maidens: March 2-8 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horsemen attributed the cancellation to the shift toward turf racing at Laurel Park that has made maintaining a viable horse population harder during the colder months along with competition from Colonial Downs on the same weekend.View the full article

It might not be Royal Ascot, but even us die-hard Flat racing fans at TDN Europe are not immune to Cheltenham Festival fever, with four days of top-class sport lying in wait for those preparing to make the annual pilgrimage to Prestbury Park. This year, the action on the track looks as competitive and enthralling as it has been for some time, starting on Tuesday with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle where at least half of the 12-strong field can be given some sort of chance. In fact, the Supreme has caused a difference of opinion among our team of TDN experts, with two of our horses to follow at the meeting coming in the curtain-raiser… EL CAIROS Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 1.20 Tuesday At least I will know my fate early because El Cairos is one of my strongest fancies of the week. Gordon Elliott has a decent record in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and it's hard to think that El Cairos is not as good, if not better, than some of the horses the trainer has had placed in the race in recent years. A classy, strong-travelling sort, he already boasts course form when an eye-catching fifth in the Champion Bumper here 12 months ago. Okay, you could question his jumping, given he fell on his hurdling debut and made a mess of the last when winning at Thurles. However, that is factored into his price and you'd imagine that, with a clear round, he won't be out of the frame. He's a strong each-way fancy and, if you're feeling greedy, double him into Backmeorsackme in the National Hunt Challenge Cup. Brian Sheerin MIGHTY PARK Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 1.20 Tuesday Not looking beyond the opening contest, I'm siding with the hugely promising €105,000 Derby Sale graduate Mighty Park to secure a ninth Supreme Novices' Hurdle for the Willie Mullins stable. Now is the hour for the 38-length Fairyhouse winner and half-brother of former Festival mainstay Might Bite to step forward. His stable companion Leader d'Allier is not out of the reckoning. Ante-post favourite Old Park Star seeks a sixth edition for Nicky Henderson, who last won this with Constitution Hill in 2022, and is the one to include for the trifecta option. Sean Cronin COLONEL MUSTARD BetMGM Cup, 2.40 Wednesday I'm no punter and this is probably the reason why: heart always rules head. Occasionally it's a strategy that works, and Golden Ace helped me out in that regard last year. On Wednesday, my favourite National Hunt horse in training, Colonel Mustard, returns to the Festival for the fourth time. Don't let the fact that he's now 11 put you off an each-way bet at 33/1. He's never run a bad race at Cheltenham, his jumping is rock solid, and he's been in the form of his life this season with two wins over hurdles, including the G2 Lismullen Hurdle. Back down to a more suitable trip here, he's been a real star for the very capable Lorna Fowler – one of the few trainers in action this week who has actually ridden a winner at Cheltenham – and he goes very well for three-pound claimer John Shinnick. If any horse will give you a run for your money, it's this one. Emma Berry BOB OLINGER Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, 3.20 Thursday Bob Olinger at Cheltenham – what's not to like? He's four from four at Prestbury Park and his decisive defeat of Teahupoo in this race 12 months ago is arguably the strongest piece of form on offer. Okay, Teahupoo comprehensively reversed those placings at Leopardstown last time, but there is no finer man to get a horse to peak for Cheltenham than Henry de Bromhead, and Bob Olinger has almost certainly been trained with one day in mind. Last year, he took a massive step forward from Leopardstown to Cheltenham, so here's hoping he can do the same again despite his advancing years. Currently trading at nearly three times the prices of Teahupoo, he certainly appeals as the value play in a race which could pan out similarly to 12 months ago, with no obvious pace angle at this stage. Adam Houghton The post ‘He Won’t Be Out Of The Frame’ – Four Horses to Follow at the Cheltenham Festival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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