Wandering Eyes

Luck hasn’t been on David Eustace’s side much recently, but the British handler is keen on a change of fortune when he starts luckless last-start runner-up Colourful King at Sha Tin on Sunday. Eustace added to his frustrating haul of second placings this season when Majestic Delight and Glorious Success were narrowly beaten on Thursday, before Riding Together gave him a much-needed winner with an upset victory in the final race. Colourful King was another of the handler’s 27 seconds this term on...View the full article

Yulong Investments has made a splash in New Zealand this season, buying up the nation’s leading three-year-old filly talent, and they were once again rewarded at Ellerslie on Saturday when sealing the quinella in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). The burgeoning thoroughbred giant’s silks have been prominent at Ellerslie this season through the deeds of their undefeated Group One winner and $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) favourite Well Written, and they were once again to the fore at the Auckland track on Saturday when their exciting staying prospect Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) beat home another recent purchase in Autumn Glory in the Oaks. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly was ridden off the speed, three from the back, for much of the journey, and looked in a lot of strife when turning for home, but jockey Joe Doyle kept a cool head and guided his charge out wide where she was able to show her class when powering over the top of her rivals to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Autumn Glory. “She is proper horse, that is the best way to describe her after watching that performance,” O’Sullivan said. “It was a no panic ride by Joe, I think I was panicking a bit more watching from the grandstand. When Joe came from the outside I thought she has got a long way to make up but she did it and did it with some sort of ease. “She is just going to go from strength to strength, she is certainly going to be winning more big races in the future. She wouldn’t look out of place in Australia. We have always believed in the filly from day dot and that performance today was pretty special.” While her future may lie across the Tasman, the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day at Ellerslie in a fortnight looms as an enticing target, but O’Sullivan said they will wait for the dust to settle before making any concrete plans. “She will decide for us,” he said. “We will sit down with connections during the week and have a chat, but we will be doing what we think is best for her.” Doyle was euphoric after the victory, labelling Ohope Wins as the best three-year-old he has sat on. “When you get to ride a horse that good, nothing compares,” he said. “She has been trained to the minute. “We were a long way back, but when you are riding one that good they can just overcome all those things – the draw is never an excuse, the ground is never an excuse. She was just too good. “She still feels like she has got so much left, I couldn’t even pull her up. She is absolutely exceptional, I have not ridden a three-year-old like her.” A decision on the New Zealand Derby is yet to be made, by Doyle believes pressing on to challenge the boys in the Champions Day Classic is a no-brainer. “When are you going to get a better opportunity?” he said. Already a $3 favourite for the Derby pre-race, Ohope Wins has now shortened into a $1.60 favourite on the TAB’s New Zealand Derby futures market following her Oaks performance, while Yulong’s Well Written heads the NZB Kiwi market at $1.20. View the full article

What a difference three weeks has made in the life of rugged stayer Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man). The durable son of the ill-fated Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man had held the start up for over five minutes at his last run at Ellerslie due to a pre-race issue with the bandages he wears when racing in the right-handed direction. Despite the upset that day, the seven-year-old had gone a top race for trainer Janelle Millar and stripped even fitter on Saturday for his tilt at the time-honoured Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m). Punters overlooked the chances of the 2025 Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) winner to their ultimate peril as regular pilot Chris Dell had the $34 chance travelling nicely in midfield during the running despite having to sit three wide throughout. Dell crept forward on his mount at the 800m and was soon disputing the pace with leaders Just Charlie and Diamond Jak before drawing clear turning for home. Left a sitting duck in front with 400m to run Final Return never flinched as he held out the determined challenge of Aussie visitor Brayden Star by a short head at the line, with Just Charlie fighting on doggedly for third just ahead of the fast-finishing Kiwi Skyhawk. Millar cut an emotional figure as she praised her charge and his never-say-die attitude. “It is so satisfying and I will never get sick of this as I’m just so proud,” Millar said. “Chris did what I thought he would do as there were a couple on paper that would go forward and I knew we would take some time to get over (closer to the rail). “He moved at the right time and he rode him just so well. “This was our aim as the stepping stone to the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) in a fortnight. “He went into this race last year and didn’t have a very good trip and this year he is a bit stronger and is doing everything right. “Being by Reliable Man, who died yesterday, it was a bit sad, so we told him he was flying the flag for his Dad.” Dell was also battling tears as he thanked Millar for her help in resurrecting his riding career. “Janelle has helped me resurge (sic) my career,” he said. “I had John Sargent supporting me when I was an apprentice and then I went through a flat spot with a broken leg and a brain injury. “My move to the Central Districts in 2020 has been the resurgence of my career and Janelle has been so supportive, as if I ride them at the trials or in trackwork for her, she puts me on and we get results like this. “Kudos to Janelle and the horse. “He has been screaming out for this sort of distance and his consistency in these races has been just so good, I let Opie Bosson (Brayden Star) cross me and I knew following him wasn’t too bad. “He dropped 5kgs (on his last race) and I knew this guy doesn’t have the best turn of foot, so I took off early and put the pressure on as I knew he wasn’t going to stop.” By Reliable Man, who was humanely euthanised at his Westbury Stud home on Friday after failing to overcome post-surgery complications following the removal of a melanoma, Final Return has now won over $432,000 from four career victories over his 28-start career. TAB Bookmakers have installed him as a $6 Fixed Odds chance behind favourite Brayden Star ($3.50) for the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday 7 March. View the full article

Acknowledged as one of the unluckiest horses going around in New Zealand, Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) finally got the good fortune she deserved and her first Group One victory when she stormed home to take out the Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie. The six-year-old daughter of Iffraaj, who carries the colours of Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan Lindsay and Lady Jo Lindsay, has been amongst the top echelon of gallopers in New Zealand for the past two years but had been denied a victory at the elite level on several occasions due to poor barrier draws, interference at crucial times and unsuitable track conditions amongst a host of contributing factors. Whilst another wide barrier (nine of 11) on Saturday didn’t look promising once again, it played in favour of the Lance Noble-prepared mare as it allowed rider Warren Kennedy to keep her out of trouble in midfield where she sat three wide but in a totally relaxed manner. Kennedy began to move her forward with 800m to run and she was within striking distance of the leaders rounding the home bend as race favourite Pier made his bid for glory, hotly pursued by Sterling Express. Just as Pier looked to have the race within his grasp, Jaarffi put in several massive bounds to collar him in the shadows of the post to take the win from the favourite, who held out the late closing run of Provence who snatched third off Sterling Express. Noble was especially pleased for everyone connected with the mare who had to exhibit untold patience with her. “Obviously I am absolutely thrilled as she did deserve this,” Noble said. “She is not an easy mare to train and to achieve this after all the work the staff have put in over the last few years, along with Warren, and for Sir Brendan and Lady Jo, it is just brilliant. “She got trapped three wide but she has started to relax a lot better out there and probably best she was not stuck on the fence getting into trouble. “We all do the work for these days and you don’t get many opportunities at them, so to get this for the whole team is just brilliant. “She has always been a big, gangly and aggressive horse on the training track, so we don’t do a lot of galloping with her, and while she is a six-year-old she is still learning. “The plan is to go onto the Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) in a fortnight (7 March) and all being well we will.” Kennedy was also quick to pay tribute to the fighting qualities of the mare. “She has been deserving (of a Group One victory) for a while now and we thought she could pick one up in this preparation,” he said. “She has just been so unlucky and she did it tough the whole way today. “She has got such a huge action and so much heart as she gave it her all today and fought like a tiger. “I wasn’t too concerned when we were wide as she is such a huge striding filly it allowed her to extend when I wanted to. “Pier gave me a good tussle but she deserved this.” Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud, Jaarffi has now won five of her 24 starts and over $953,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

A tilt at the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) is now on the cards for exciting three-year-old That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) following his impressive victory in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie. The Chris Wood-trained gelding collected a big winning cheque when victorious in the $350,000 Karapiro Classic (1500m) at Te Rapa earlier this month, but despite that performance he was allowed to drift to a $12.70 shot for Saturday’s Guineas. Eager to get a line on the staying qualities of her charge, jockey Samantha Collett was positive out of the gates, punching That’s Gold forward from his wide alley to sit outside leader Taylor Square. The pair injected more pace into the race from the 600m mark, opening up on the remainder of the pack. That’s Gold was still full of running at the turn and rocketed away to score by 3-3/4 lengths over Road To Paris, putting any doubts about his staying qualities to bed. “We were obviously looking to see if he is going to run a Derby trip,” Collett said. “I was happy to let the race unfold. I put a little bit of pressure on him to get to the outside of the leader, but at least I know when the Derby comes around if I am in the same position I have got the horse that I can give a little squeeze to and he is going to relax, which is what he did today. “It was a good effort because the leader (Taylor Square) probably wouldn’t have taken me much further than it did. From knowing him in the past, he is not really inclined to get away from them. He has had a few more runs under his belt now, and he has got a bit more ringcraft, and when I pushed the button he responded really well.” It was another emotional win for Wood, who was rapt to get the victory for his loyal group of owners. “I am thrilled to bits,” he said. “I have got good clients. I put all my syndicates together myself and it took a while to piece this one together when I bought him, but we finally got it done and the results are shown today. He was very strong to the line. “My major worry was a lack of tempo, but it panned out alright. When he kicked at the turn, I was looking at the ones behind him and they weren’t going to get close to him. He can run some sensational sectionals.” Bred by Yulong Investments, Wood purchased That’s Gold out of their 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, alongside bloodstock agents Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman, for A$57,500. That’s Gold had Wood excited as a juvenile and Yulong made a bid to purchase him back, but Wood is pleased he rebuffed their advances, with the Cambridge horseman now have a leading chance in next month’s New Zealand Derby. “He is a delight to have in the stable,” Wood said. “Yulong tried to buy him back at one stage, but I didn’t tell the owners too much about that. I wanted to keep him as I knew what we had under the bonnet.” Following the victory, That’s Gold shortened into a $4.20 equal third favourite for the New Zealand Derby, alongside Road To Paris, with the market headed by Ohope Wins ($1.60) and Autumn Glory after the Yulong Investments pair quinellaed the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). View the full article

Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) will head into the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) in winning form after taking out the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Following her convincing win in last month’s Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions night, she was meant to head to Matamata last week for her final lead-in run for the Champions Day feature, but inclement conditions forced trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson to delay that final hit-out by a week. The Matamata conditions identified the Uncle Remus as her Plan B, and punters backed her in their droves, with Belle Cheval jumping an even money favourite. From her outside gate in the 12-horse field, she was initially taken back to settle near the rear of the field by jockey Opie Bosson, but the leading hoop didn’t want to be too far off the pace so elected to push forward three-wide behind Cambridge Stud gelding Zivou. Bosson presented Belle Cheval beautifully at the top of the straight where she began to chase down Tale Of The Gypsy, collaring him at the 200m mark before holding off the late challenge of Panther to win by a long neck. Bosson was pleased with the performance and believes the daughter of Savabeel will be on song for the NZB Kiwi. “You couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Bosson said. “I was three deep the whole way but I had cover, I just didn’t want to be too far off them turning in and once she balanced up she attacked the line nicely. She is a really good filly going forward. “She will appreciate the step up in distance (in the NZB Kiwi). She is going to be very competitive.” Te Akau Racing’s assistant trainer Reece Trumper was rapt with the performance and said it was a good final building block towards the NZB Kiwi. “She was meant to run last Saturday at Matamata but wet conditions forced us to scratch her,” he said. “She worked well during the week and she is just going from strength to strength. She keeps on improving, which is fantastic to see, she is building the right way.” Belle Cheval, who will represent slot holders The King’s Men, remained an equal $8 second elect, alongside Asakura, in the TAB’s futures market for the NZB Kiwi, which is headed by undefeated Group One-winning filly Well Written at $1.20, with Wexford Stable’s Panther shortening from $26 to $18 following his eye-catching run on Saturday. The second running of the NZB Kiwi will take place at Ellerslie on Champions Day, March 7, and there is set to be plenty of action over the next fortnight, with six slot holders still to lock in their runner. View the full article

The plan reinforces Horse Racing Alberta's commitment to building a sustainable and progressive horse racing industry grounded in integrity, accountability, collaboration, respect, and excellence. View the full article

The judge overseeing the pending class-action federal lawsuit over computer-assisted wagering (CAW) on Friday put a halt to “discovery” in the case, meaning that for the time being, the small-scale bettor who initiated the litigation back in October won't be able to go forward with the process of trying to gather evidence from some of the nation's biggest tracks and bet-takers who are named as defendants in the suit. The order by Judge Joan Azrack was entered into the electronic docket late in the afternoon of Feb. 20 without any accompanying explanation for the ruling. Written reasons commonly accompany orders, but judges are not compelled to explain their actions. “Discovery is stayed until the Court directs otherwise,” Azrack's order simply stated. The staying of discovery was something that all defendants in the case–the New York Racing Association (NYRA), The Stronach Group (TSG), Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI), Racing and Gaming Services (RGS), AmTote International, United Tote, and Elite Turf Club)–had requested from the court back on Jan. 16. The plaintiff, Ryan Dickey, is a Colorado resident who stated in his complaint that, as a casual bettor, he had wagered about $100 weekly for several decades before quitting horseplaying nearly two years ago over frustrations with alleged “manipulation of the betting pools.” In a Dec. 29 court filing, Dickey's legal team wrote that the harms of CAW were “beyond dispute,” and that Dickey and other class-action members would be able to prove those claims if the judge required defendants to release archived pari-mutuel records via the process of discovery. The defendants had told the judge that discovery would be both a hardship in terms of procuring the information and a risk in terms of making it visible to the public. The defendants wanted the court to keep the process from happening until all of their pending motions to dismiss had been ruled upon. That has not happened yet. “The scope of Plaintiff's purported class is breathtaking,” stated the Jan. 16 joint motion made by NYRA, TSG, RGS, AmTote and Elite. “The broad variety of activities implicated by Plaintiff's Complaint–horseracing, track operations, betting platforms, CAW bets, non-CAW bets, regulations and regulators from all 50 states–and the sprawling alleged conspiracy ensure that discovery will be immense,” the motion stated. “Discovery will be particularly burdensome on Defendants–riddled with trade secret and proprietary information requiring significant protections,” the defendants' motion stated. The case is still a long way from being certified as a class-action suit that would open it up to a theoretically limitless number of similarly aggrieved horseplayers who, like Dickey, feel wronged by CAW dominance. The lawsuit's chief contentions–that CAW play amounts to a “scheme” that runs afoul of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)–will likely be difficult to prove in court. However, just getting the tracks to reveal, through discovery, how they negotiate and implement CAW contracts could end up being considered a significant victory for low-volume horseplayers, because that process of making evidence and/or depositions public could pull back the curtain on opaque, industry-wide wagering practices. The next deadline on the docket is for Dickey to file an amended complaint by Feb. 27. The post Judge Halts Process of Evidence-Gathering In Wide-Ranging CAW Lawsuit Against Nation’s Top Tracks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) has released its 2026-2028 Business Plan, outlining a clear and strategic roadmap to strengthen, modernize and grow Alberta's horse racing and breeding industry over the next three years, the organization said in a release late on Friday. Through four strategic areas the HRA plan will zero in on enhancing equine welfare and the safety of racing participants, modernizing regulation, strengthening stakeholder relationships and generating long-term economic stability. “Our focus is on ensuring Alberta's horse racing industry remains competitive, responsible and positioned for the future,” said Chair of the Board Diana McQueen. “This plan reflects our commitment to collaboration with industry stakeholders while maintaining strong governance and transparency for Albertans.” Click here to view the plan. The post Horse Racing Alberta Unveils Roadmap To Strengthen The Sport appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ka Ying Rising seeks a Hong Kong record 18th straight win when he races in the Feb. 22 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse.View the full article

He faced pressure right from the jump, but Knock It Off (Vekoma) found plenty in the stretch to claim 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors in his second lifetime victory at Fair Grounds. Unveiled at this venue against local maidens Jan. 17, the Steve Asmussen trainee set similarly brisk fractions while facing pressure from a rival, and kicked on to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:09.47 for six panels. Trouble Calling (Dialed In), defeated in that race, returned Feb. 14 over this same track and trip to break his maiden by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:09.18, earning a 91 Beyer in the process. On the strength of his running lines, the betting public hammered Knock It Off to overwhelming 1-20 favoritism here and it was second verse, same as the first: the son of Vekoma stepped out to control the pace as Silver Talisman (Silver State) pushed him along through an opening fraction of :21.71 and four panels through the turn in :44.65. The pair distanced themselves from the field as they swung for home and Knock It Off put some space between himself and his longtime shadow. Kept honest in the final furlong, the victor came home 2 3/4 lengths best as Silver Talisman valiantly held on for a clear second. Knock It Off is his sire's seventh 'Rising Star'. The winner is the last registered offspring for Bodie's Flight (Bodemeister), and is thus far her only runner to get a picture taken. The mare, who hails from the female line which produced SW Smartyfly (Smart Strike) and nine other black-type horses, has no breeding on record since 2024. #2 KNOCK IT OFF ($2.10) wouldn't stop running as he went gate-to-wire to easily win race 6 at the @fairgroundsnola. The son of Vekoma (@spendthriftfarm) was ridden by @jose93_ortiz and is trained by Steve Asmussen. pic.twitter.com/WPK01U3Ri1 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 20, 2026 6th-Fair Grounds, $55,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 2-20, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.61, ft, 2 3/4 lengths. KNOCK IT OFF, c, 3, by Vekoma 1st Dam: Bodie's Flight, by Bodemeister 2nd Dam: Striking Flight, by Smart Strike 3rd Dam: Scarlet Butterfly, by Theatrical (Ire) Sales history: $18,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $69,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-J. Kirk and Judy Robison; B-Deann Baer & Greg Baer DVM (IN); T-Steven M. Asmussen. The post Vekoma’s Knock It Off Starts Fast and Keeps Going to Claim ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, Lingfield, Britain, post time: 14:00, MIDNITE WINTER DERBY STAKES-G3, £100,000, 4yo/up, 10f 1y Field: Boiling Point (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Military Academy (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Nebras (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Sky Safari (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). TDN Analysis: Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, Chancellor sets the standard after registering a stakes breakthrough in Southwell's Listed Tandridge Stakes two weeks ago. The Gosden stable has annexed this four times since 2019 and is also represented by Nebras, who heads postward returning off a Listed Quebec Stakes win over course and distance at the end of December. Dangers include Cambridgeshire hero Boiling Point and November's Listed Fleur de Lys victrix Sky Safari. Last year's runner-up Military Academy completes the line-up. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, FEBRUARY STAKES-G1, ¥290,980,000, 4yo/up, 1600m Field: Omega Guiness (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}), Happy Man (Jpn) (Danon Legend), Brian Sense (Jpn) (Hokko Tarumae {Jpn}), Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), Sixpence (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior), Long Run (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), Sakura Toujours (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), W Heart Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Lord Couronne (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), Sunrise Hawk (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), Costa Nova (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Natural Rise (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), Saimon Xanadu (Jpn) (Asia Express). TDN Analysis: The only runner in the field carrying less than 128 pounds, G1 Champions Cup heroine W Heart Bond aims for another top-level title at Tokyo. Just off the mare was Wilson Tesoro in the Champions Cup and he is one of 16 in the field. Jockey Rachel King became the first female rider to win a JRA Group 1 Flat race aboard Costa Nova in this race last year. For this edition, King is on multiple group winner Sakura Toujours, while Christophe Lemaire has the call on Costa Nova. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 16:35, QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$13,000,000, 4yo/up, 1400m Field: Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}), Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}), Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}), Sunlight Power (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}), Copartner Prance (Aus) (Epaulette {Aus}), Patch Of Theta (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto {Aus}), Packing Hermod (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}). TDN Analysis: This race starts and stops at Ka Ying Rising. The reigning The Everest hero would break Silent Witness's record of 17 consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse if he prevails on Sunday. Trainer David Hayes called his charge “bigger, stronger, and better than last year” and his nine rivals have it all to do. John Size's Helios Express ran second to Ka Ying Rising last out in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup in January, while the re-opposing Raging Blizzard was fourth that day. Sunday, Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, post time: 15:32, PRIX DE LA CALIFORNIE-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, 7 1/2f (AWT) Field: Go Man (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), Afandy (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Seeway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Centauri (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Kenzel (Ire) (Zelzal {Fr}), Like Lindy (Midshipman), Viva La Skids (Fr) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), Baklawa (Fr) (Stunning Spirit {GB}). TDN Analysis: Richard Chotard trainee Go Man comes back off a career high in November's Listed Criterium du Languedoc and is burdened with a two-kilo penalty in this sophomore bow. He encounters two Wertheimer homebreds from the Christophe Ferland stable, namely Listed Prix Saraca third Kenzel and dual winner Centauri. Gousserie Racing's G3 Prix Miesque third Baklawa is the only other contender with black type, while Afandy is two-from-two and Viva La Skids is three-from-four. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Winter Derby Chancellor’s Stomping Ground? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Former Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill (Blue Bresil) attracted a bumper crowd for his Flat debut at Friday evening's Southwell fixture and sent supporters home contented after witnessing the nine-year-old romp to an impressive 9 1/2-length tally in the 12-furlong SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes. Bounding along within range of the pace through halfway, the 6-4 favourite was accompanied by raucous cheers when surging forward on the bridle in the home straight and lengthened clear in imperious fashion to easily overpower Square Necker (Zarak) by daylight. “He felt like a machine at home,” said Oisin Murphy. “There wasn't a lot of strength in depth in that race and if he was to continue on the Flat he'd have tougher assignments, but the feel was exactly the same. For a big horse that has been jumping, he has a lot of speed and he's a joy to ride. Everything went to plan and it's great he's got such a reception. I wanted to get in amongst them and give him an idea of what a Flat race was like because obviously his next assignment, if he runs on the Flat, it would probably be in a black-type race.” Holding fire on committing to a campaign on the level, winning trainer Nicky Henderson added, “That was amazing and to come and do that was unreal. He has enjoyed it, I think Oisin did and we did in the end. I thought we'd nearly be making the running, but Oisin seemed happy to sit there. It was just extraordinary, he came through a gap and quickened up so well. Oisin did say he has a career [on the Flat], but we should have sorted this out about four years ago. We'd be travelling around the world! There's been a few tears over the last year or so, so it's nice to be back with positive vibes. We've got lots to look forward to, but he's not a summer Flat horse and there's all sorts of options, including the Champion Hurdle.” Constitution Hill won his first 10 outings over jumps, with the 2023 Champion Hurdle one of eight victories at Grade 1 level, but hit the buffers with a trio of falls and one fifth-place finish last year. He is the first of seven foals and one of two winners from as many runners out of the dual scorer Queen Of The Stage (King's Theatre). His fourth dam Deep Adventure (Deep Run) is an unraced half-sister to 1973 Arkle winner Denys Adventure (Saint Denys). The March-foaled bay is a full-brother to three-year-old and two-year-old fillies and kin to a yearling filly by Golden Horn. ALL CLASS! CONSTITUTION HILL strikes in the SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes IN STYLE!@oismurphy @sevenbarrows @Southwell_Races pic.twitter.com/bKKndP9qzJ — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 20, 2026 7th-Southwell, £40,000, Nov, 2-20, 4yo/up, 12f 14y (AWT), 2:34.47, st. CONSTITUTION HILL (GB) (g, 9, Blue Bresil {Fr}–Queen Of The Stage {Ire}, by King's Theatre {Ire}) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $29,083. O-Michael Buckley; B-Mrs S A Noott; T-Nicky Henderson. *€16,500 Wlg '17 TIRNNH; £120,000 4yo '21 GOFP2P. The post Champion Hurdler Constitution Hill Routs Rivals On Flat Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Labwah, enjoying a stretch out in distance, won the Feb. 20 UAE Oaks (G3) convincingly enough to have her connections needing to choose between the Kentucky Oaks (G1) or the UAE Derby (G2), a steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby (G1).View the full article

W Heart Bond and Wilson Tesoro renew a rivalry on the Tokyo Racecourse dirt Feb. 22 in the February Stakes (G1).View the full article