Wandering Eyes

Matamata visitor Sagunto etched his name into the folklore of the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) when he claimed his third victory in the race with a brilliant front-running performance at Trentham. Successful in the Group Three contest in 2022 and again in 2023, the Peter and Shaun McKay-trained 10-year-old had been battling to recapture his best form in his current campaign, although he had given plenty of cheek from in front before fading to midfield in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa last weekend. That run topped him off nicely for his favourite race and he made a liar of those who doubted his ability to return to the winners’ enclosure as a brilliant ride from Sam Collett and a never say die attitude from the son of O’Reilly resulted in him holding out all challengers for a brilliant win by just a nose from southerner Freddie Time. Peter McKay was struggling to hold back the tears as he described what it had taken to get the stable favourite back to winning form after he injured a tendon in the 2024 edition of the race. “Last year things didn’t go quite right for him as he had a bit of an issue with a tendon,” McKay said. “He has come back this year and it has been hard work trying to find the right tracks and races for him, but we were really happy when he ran third at Wanganui (two starts ago). “We weren’t sure whether to come here last week or run him in the Waikato Cup and he went really well thereafter being ridden well. “He just loves it here and three (Cups) for him is really good. “I said to Sam that she needed to take the reins away and hold on to his mane as that is the way you have to ride him. “He will find his own gears as he knows what he is doing and if you try to rate him he doesn’t finish off. Shaun found that out and the other day after trackwork he came in and said, ‘wow he is ready’. “We’re proud of him and for a horse to take it (the race) three times, we are really proud.” Collett knew the horse had his own style and she was happy to let that come to the fore. “He is a horse that has been around, has his own racing pattern and is fit enough to do the job he wants to do,” she said. “Today it was just a matter of me making sure he was going quick enough, breathing well, but making sure he had enough for the end. “I can’t take any credit as I just sat there and put him on autopilot as he knows what he is doing. “It’s a credit to the team as he is 10-years-old, but you wouldn’t think that at all.” Sagunto was bred by Waikato Stud, who offered him at Karaka as a yearling in 2017, where Peter and Kim McKay bought him for $120,000. His 77-start career has now produced 10 wins, 19 placings and $486,521 in stakes. View the full article

Lux Libertas has come close in several stakes races, but she was able to shed her bridesmaid tag at Trentham on Saturday when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). The five-year-old mare was first-up since her runner-up performance in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in June, and she was kept safe by punters as a $6.60 third elect. She jumped away well under leading Central Districts hoop Bruno Queiroz, who gave her a beautiful trip in the one-one position before finding clear running room at the top of the straight. Race favourite Marotiri Molly kicked clear at the turn, but Lux Libertas took chase and was able to slowly wear down the pacemaker in the concluding stages to win by a long neck. “It was a really good ride by Bruno, who gave her a sweet trip, and she moved into it well,” said Andrew Scott, who trains the mare in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “She had been building to this for a good while. Through her last preparation she was close in a couple of big ones and it is good that she is a stakes-winning mare now.” The daughter of Almanzor was set to resume at Te Rapa last week, but was withdrawn after she drew an unsuitable alley, and Scott was glad they played the patient game with their mare. “We have taken our time. We scratched her from last Saturday with the wide gate,” he said. “To (owners) Peter (Sain) and Kylie (Bax) with their patience to sit in another week and head down the line (to Trentham). “She deserved it and it was a really good effort from all of the team to have her fit and ready to go with such a long break between runs.” Scott and O’Sullivan are now left pondering their next move with Lux Libertas. “We need to sit down and work it out,” Scott said. “She is reasonably high in the ratings now, so hopefully there are some nice fillies and mares races through the summer.” Bred by Blandford Lodge principals Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, in partnership with Elsdon Park principal Lib Petagna, Lux Libertas is out of stakes performer Miss Fi, a half-sister to stakes winner Peaceful. Lux Libertas is raced by the Bax’s daughter Kylie’s Goldeye Trust in partnership with Sain, and she has gone on to win six of her 18 starts to date, including placings in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Tauranga Classic, and has accrued nearly $285,000 in earnings. View the full article

Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor was credited with a winning double at Caulfield Heath on Saturday when Roadcone held on for an all-the-way victory in the A$130,000 Magic Millions Digital Handicap (1500m). Almanzor opened his account with up-and-comer Touchdown in the first race on Saturday’s card, and Roadcone followed suit to improve his own record to 16 starts for five wins, four placings and A$251,364 in stakes. Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman identified Saturday’s Benchmark 78 handicap as a key target this time in for Roadcone, who had previously shown his effectiveness third-up in a campaign with a dominant win by four and a half lengths at Pakenham in May. He had finished second over 1200m and fourth over 1400m in his two previous appearances of that preparation. Moody and Coleman hoped for something similar again this time around, having sent out Roadcone for a first-up fifth over 1200m at Geelong and then a fourth over 1400m at Caulfield. Roadcone was ridden on Saturday by Luke Cartwright, who pressed forward from his wide gate and managed to get to the lead and cross to the rail within the first 200m. Roadcone was able to dictate terms from there and then kick hard off the home turn to open up a big lead. Knobelas emerged from the pack and began to eat into Roadcone’s margin with big strides late in the piece, but Roadcone dug deep and held on in a tight finish. “The heart rate definitely went up in that last little bit,” Coleman said. “The second horse was huge and probably would have got us in a few more strides. “We were aided by a fantastic ride from Luke Cartwright there. I thought he rated him really well in front and we were able to sneak it late. “He’s a funny horse – there’s not much of him, but he always takes a couple of runs to get fit, and I think we see the best of him third-up. “Our racing manager Jeff O’Connor identified this race for him a few weeks back. He thought 1500m would be ideal for him, and it’s a plan that’s paid off today. Credit to everyone involved.” Roadcone was bred by Bob Emery and is out of the So You Think mare On The Ball, who placed at two for Murray Baker before a career-ending injury. Baker went to $120,000 to purchase Roadcone from Woburn Farm’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2022 on behalf of part-owners John Rattray and Alastair Lawrence. Roadcone is a half-brother to Listed winner and Group One-placed Archaic Smile, while his yearling half-sister by Too Darn Hot made $675,000 last year at Karaka. Curraghmore will offer another half-sister to Roadcone at Karaka 2026 next month, with a filly by Ghaiyyath going through the ring as Lot 23 in the Book 1 session. View the full article

Last year’s Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) winner Wymark (NZ) (Savabeel) returned to winning form in style in the A$130,000 Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield Heath on Saturday. It was the fifth win of a 19-start career for the New Zealand-bred Savabeel gelding, who burst on the scene as a three-year-old two seasons ago with four consecutive wins culminating in the Tulloch Stakes. He then finished seventh behind Riff Rocket (American Pharoah) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). Wymark was guided through his first 16 starts by Michael Freedman, but switched to the Cranbourne stable of Gavin Bedggood this season. His first two appearances from his new quarters produced an 11th at Flemington on November 8 and a fourth at Pakenham last Saturday. Those two outings helped to build up his fitness for his third-up assignment at Caulfield Heath, where he was right back at his very best. Rider Jamie Mott settled Wymark in fourth along the rail, then stuck to the fence in the straight and drove his mount through a narrow gap on the inside of the front-running Oraqua (Zarak). Wymark quickened well and dashed to the front, kicking away to beat the $1.95 favourite Sneaky Sunrise (The Autumn Sun) by two and a quarter lengths. “That was a really dominant win today,” Mott said. “I had my first ride on him last time over the mile. That was quite a fast-run mile and he was just run off his legs a little bit, but I thought he held his ground nicely to the line. “Today, going up to the 1800m on a week back-up, it looked like it would work well for him. He was able to travel much better today, and once the gap came in the straight, he really responded well. It was a good, strong win. I struggled to pull him up too, so the further, the better.” Wymark races in the colours of OTI Racing and has now earned A$452,875 from a 19-start career that has produced five wins and four placings. “He was a Group Two winner as a three-year-old but hadn’t won for a very long time,” Bedggood said. “It was trainer error when I ran him on bad ground at Flemington, but then I thought he ran a much improved race at Pakenham back on dry ground last weekend. “He had a swim on Monday and spend his week out in the sand hills, we didn’t need to gallop him. He jumped a few logs this morning. I pulled a blood on him on Thursday and his blood was strong, and the vet said there was no reason not to run him, so here we are. “We knew we’d end up third or fourth on the fence and we’d just have to wait our turn, and luckily we got the run that we did in the straight and the rest is history. “He’s not going to be easy to place over the next month or so in Victoria, there isn’t a whole lot available for him. But he is a Magic Millions horse, so there’s a chance he might go to the staying race up there. We’ll see how he pulls up and work out the logistics of it.” Wymark was bred by Waikato Stud and is out of Pasadena (NZ), an unraced O’Reilly full-sister to multiple Group One winner Alamosa. Wymark was purchased at the Gold Coast yearling sales by bloodstock agent Mick Wallace for A$200,000. View the full article

Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by yet another highly promising two-year-old when the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven ran out an impressive winner of the TAB Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday. Ridden by Rachel King, the imposing colt sat off a strong tempo set by Shiki (Too Darn Hot) and powered over the top of his rivals to score by just over two lengths and book a passage to the A$3 million Magic Millions (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 17. “He was very good, it’s exciting and great to see those colours of the Cunningham family and a great bunch of owners in this horse,” Baker said. “It’s what it’s about, he’s got a ticket to the Magic Millions now, he’s made his way in and he’s a lovely looking horse. “I thought it was a big ask coming into today. He only had the one trial so I was questioning that and whether he was fit enough and if the 1000m would be too sharp for him. “I’m absolutely thrilled and it’s another great purchase by Jim Clarke. He is just making my job and my team’s job so easy. “After that win, I do know that going to 1100m and even the 1200m will be even better for him.” The colt was sourced by Baker’s bloodstock agent Jim Clarke at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was offered by breeder Kia Ora Stud and knocked down for A$380,000. Warwoven is the first foal of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, who was the winner of the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and placed at Group Two level in the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic and Eight Carat Classic. Sword Of State has had just the two runners in Australia to this point, with the other being stakes winner Torture (NZ), who landed the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in October and is being readied for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). A Group One winning son of Snitzel, Sword Of State is well represented at January’s Karaka Yearling Sales, with a total of 50 yearlings by the emerging young sire catalogued across Book 1 (21), Book 2 (25) and the Summer Sale (4). “I remember seeing Sword Of State himself as a yearling at Newgate Farm and he was a horse that was on my radar early as a very good two-year-old,” Clarke said. “We had the benefit of seeing him again last year on a trip to New Zealand after he had retired to Cambridge Stud and let down into a beautiful horse. “Warwoven was just a horse that physically stood out to us on the on-farm inspections when we were at Kia Ora this time last year and we saw him a number of times at the sale where he paraded very well. “He was a horse we were very motivated to buy and we had to push the boat out to buy him. He was $380,000 but he has impressed Bjorn the whole way through and his win today on debut was a big coup and hopefully he can push on to the Magic Millions. View the full article

Five-year-old gelding Angland (NZ) (Ace High) was back in the winner’s circle with a narrow victory at the Caulfield Heath track on Saturday when getting the better of Enchanted Jenni (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Crown Crusher (Gold Standard) in the MRC Mornington Summer of Racing Handicap (1600m). The Grahame Begg-trained son of Ace High was back in the winner’s circle for the first time in 12 months after a strong ride from Logan Bates. Angland is in his first preparation for the Begg stable, having transferred from the Price-Kent team for whom he won four races. The son of Ace High sports the colours of syndicator Ace Bloodstock and bounced back from a fall at Ballarat a fortnight ago in the best possible way. “The horse probably thinks he has won two in a row based on how he went the other day,” Bates said, referring to Angland continuing to race on riderless and be first past the post at Ballarat. “He got out cleanly today and got there comfortably. There wasn’t a lot of speed in the race and he got pulling there for a bit but once I got him back, he was good. “I gave him a squeeze and gee he tanked up. He is still quite dumb, even though he has had plenty of racing. “He hit the front and was looking for his mates. He is a bit of a worrier. I was just lucky that the one that levelled up to me was going in the finish and it kept him going. “He is a horse that has got a lot of ability but he just needs to put it all together in the right areas.” Angland was bred by Graeme Northcott and is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High. He is the first foal out of the Makfi mare Markova (NZ). Angland began his career in the Te Awamutu stable of Simon and Katrina Alexander, placing in a trial at Waipa last November before being sold privately in a deal brokered by Phill Cataldo. Now the winner of five of his 15 starts, Angland has amassed A$249,625 in prizemoney to date. View the full article

Caulfield Heath has been a happy hunting ground for promising four-year-old Touchdown (NZ) (Almanzor) in recent weeks, and the New Zealand-bred son of Almanzor recorded his third consecutive win at the venue in Saturday’s A$80,000 MRC Membership Feel The Thrill Handicap (1800m). Trained by Ben, Will & JD Hayes at Flemington, Touchdown has now had six starts for four wins, two second placings and A$136,915 in stakes. He was a maiden winner over 1400m at Sale in September, then picked up a 1600m Benchmark 66 handicap at Caulfield Heath on November 12 and returned there to add an 1800m Benchmark 66 handicap on December 3. Touchdown was a $1.60 favourite to complete a treble in Saturday’s Benchmark 70 handicap, and he delivered in impressive style. Ridden by apprentice jockey Jackson Radley, Touchdown settled in third place along the rail. Sigiriya Rock (Alabama Express) was on his outside and holding him in a pocket, but then began to slide forward from the 700m mark. Radley took that opportunity to switch across heels and get away from the rail, and Touchdown took care of the rest. Soon after turning for home, the favourite cruised up alongside the leader while still under a firm hold from Radley. Ridden with hands and heels to the line, Touchdown kicked away to win by two and a quarter lengths. “The original plan was to lead, but we went 100m and he’s a bit of a laid-back character and just couldn’t hold a spot,” Radley said. “I was a bit worried about having to settle back on the fence, and especially when we were in a pocket around the 800m, but he was just too good for them. Once we got to the outside, he let down very well and he’s a nice horse going forward. “When you’re in a bit of an awkward spot, it always helps when a horse is travelling as well as he was. Once we got out, he was never going to get beaten. “I think he’s going to get a lot further than this, and he was very strong to the line today.” The Lindsay Park team believes Touchdown’s best is yet to come. “He’s one of our more progressive horses in the stable,” Ben Hayes said. “He’s going through the grades nicely.” Touchdown was bred by Brett Wilkinson and is by Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor out of the Shamardal mare Shamardal Luck. Herself a two-time winner on the track, Shamardal Luck is the dam of five winners from five foals to race including Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) winner Shocking Luck (NZ) (Shocking) and Listed placegetter Analytica (NZ) (Shocking). Offered by Sullivan Bloodstock at the 2023 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Touchdown failed to meet his $100,000 reserve. Rich Hill Stud will offer a half-brother to Touchdown during Book 2 of Karaka 2026. The colt by Shocking is catalogued as Lot 625. View the full article

Well performed three-year-old filly War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) proved a class above her age group rivals as she led from barrier rise to take out the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham to claim her first success at stakes level. The Peter and Trent Didham-prepared daughter of U S Navy Flag went into the Group Three feature off the back of a luckless runner-up performance in the Listed O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui last month where she flew home to finish behind Circus Dancer (NZ) (Circus Maximus) after taking an age to wind up in the home straight. Rider Sam Collett took the bull by the horns this time as she bounced War Princess straight to the lead at the start and dictated terms to suit themselves as the well fancied Matamata visitor Origin Of Love (Snitzel) sat in her slipstream throughout. It was evident turning for home that the two favourites would fight out the finish, with Origin Of Love even having the temerity to thrust her head in front with 300m to run. War Princess was having none of it and she found another gear to dash clear shortly afterwards as she cruised to the finish line more than a length to the good of her rival, with Capaci (NZ) (Tivaci) a further four lengths away in third. Trent Didham was pleased with the performance from his charge, who was on trial for a start in the rich $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie next month. “We thought she was a little bit unlucky last start when we tried to sit her in behind a couple and get her to relax a little,” Didham said. “Sam knew what she was doing today, took her to the front and she ran away from them. “I thought she was going along at a good clip and she was going to get the mile, so it was a good ride. “This will open a lot of doors, whether it is the slot race ($4 million NZB Kiwi, 1500m) or the Karaka Mile, so it is exciting.” Collett was also delighted to get the win after admitting she may have made a slight tactical error on the filly at Wanganui. “In my own words it wasn’t probably the greatest ride in the world last time as we may have over thought it a little bit,” she said. “Dids (Peter Didham) just said to me ‘you know her’ and he left me to it and when she hopped away so well, horses like that make our job so easy. “She puts herself there, puts herself to sleep and is an all-round competitor. When she got challenged, I wasn’t too sure how much horse I had left, but true to her form, once I asked her the tough question she just put them away again. “She is really tough and her form hasn’t faltered at all this term so it a credit to Dids and his team.” Haunui Farm offered War Princess in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where Exempt Bloodstock and Didham Racing bought her for $77,500. She has now had eight starts for five wins and earned $152,860 in stakes. TAB Bookmakers have War Princess listed as a $16 Fixed Odds chance for the Karaka Millions 3YO behind the raging hot favourite Well Written (Written Tycoon) at $1.90. View the full article

Fortuna Racing look to have another exciting filly on their hands after Lara Antipova Russian Revolution) romped to victory in the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham on Saturday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained juvenile was eye-catching when winning by eight lengths on debut at Te Aroha less than a fortnight ago, giving punters the confidence that she could put in a similar showing in her debut stakes appearance. They duly backed her in their droves, with the daughter of Russian Revolution shortening into $1.20 favouritism on Saturday. Premiership-leading jockey Craig Grylls was positive out of the gates with Lara Antipova, but she was burnt for early speed by the Andrew Forsman-trained Lassified (Stay Inside) on her outside. Lassified eventually found the fence after crossing a green Magill (Farnan), with Lara Antipova settling on her outside. Lara Antipova loomed ominously at the turn and quickly bounded to the lead when asked the question by Grylls, opening up several margins on her rivals, eventually running out a dominant 4-1/2 length victor. Bergerson was rapt with his filly’s winning effort, particularly after backing up from her debut heroics. “She is a very exciting filly. She has just kept on giving the more we have asked of her,” he said. “It’s not an easy feat to turn around in 13 days and travel down here, but she seems to really enjoy the racing, which is going to hold her in fantastic stead. “It was good to see her get outside the leader. The one outside her (Lassified) showed some really good gate speed and it took a while to get across. Once she got outside the leader she settled really nicely and it was great to see her show that turn of foot again. “She just relaxes so well, which is so key, and I think if he had ridden her back, she would drop the bridle and still show it (turn of foot).” Lara Antipova was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, in conjunction with Fortuna Racing, for A$100,000 out of Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft earlier this year. It extends the great run of success the two entities have shared over the last few years, which includes the likes of 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle and Group One performer Bellatrix Star. “I am stoked for John Galvin (Fortuna principal), who has always been a massive supporter, and it is really exciting for him to have another two-year-old like this,” Bergerson said. “Hopefully she can go on with it now and target some really nice races.” Those nice races will likely come at the end of summer and into autumn, with the pre-race plan being to freshen the filly ahead of some feature targets later this season. “We had a bit of a chat and win, lose or draw we would probably give her a freshen-up and probably go to the Matamata Breeders’ (Gr.2, 1200m) and then into the Group Ones,” Bergerson said. “We will get her home, see how she does and have another team talk.” View the full article

Champion galloper Romantic Warrior will stay in Hong Kong for an epic Triple Crown showdown with Voyage Bubble instead of chasing redemption in February’s Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m). Trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing confirmed to the Jockey Club that the world’s highest-earning racehorse won’t return to the Middle East in 2026, with Hong Kong’s Group One treble of the Stewards’ Cup (1,600m), Gold Cup (2,000m) and Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on his agenda. It was somewhat of a surprise move...View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Northern trainer Jason Teaz admits he’s “as nervous as hell” in the lead up to Sunday’s Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 at Ashburton. The Ohaupo-based horseman will line up Stone Cold in Race 6, the $60,000 A Team Construction Mobile Trot. The Wishing Stone four-year-old is one of just a handful of northern horses who have made the trip south. Their scheduled Wednesday flight was cancelled though all horses arrived safely 24 hours later. “I was a bit worried there for a bit,” says Teaz, “but it hasn’t impacted my horse.” Teaz bought Stone Cold at the 2022 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch for $8000. So far he’s won four races and just over $50,000 in stakes. But until now he’s never raced any further afield than Auckland. Before the big race he’s being stabled at Colin and Julie DeFilippi’s place just outside Christchurch. “He’s jumping around and can get a bit wound up,” says Teaz, “he’s a bit of a child.” But the talent is clearly there. After winning his last three starts at Alexandra Park Stone Cold is a $5.50 third favourite on Sunday behind the heavily-fancied Donna’s Boy and Bring On The Muscle. Part of Teaz’s apprehension is that Stone Cold can be a bit unpredictable and he hopes the big occasion doesn’t get to him. “I don’t think I’ll be able to watch the first 200 metres!” “Donna’s Boy certainly has gate speed so he’ll probably get a head start.” “I get nervous before any races but I’m as nervous as hell now,” he says. In saying that the gelding does have one placing from two starts behind the mobile arm. “If he’s at the top of his game they’ll know he’s in the race,” says Teaz, “I just want him to show people what we know he’s got.” “Win or lose my fella will be going out for a two-three month spell after the race so this is his Grand Final.” The 12-race Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 meeting starts at 11.55am with Stone Cold’s race at 2.10pm. Harness 5000 is only open to trotters and pacers whose sire stood for an advertised retail service fee of $5,000 or less in the breeding season of conception. There will be $60,000 finals for 3YO, 4YO and 5YO and older Fillies and Mares and Colts, Geldings and Entires for both gaits. All are limited to a field size of 14 runners and will be mobiles over 1700 metres. View the full article

Vincent “Jimbo” Bracciale Jr., a beloved jockey, trainer, horseman, mentor, and friend, died Dec. 15 at the age of 72.View the full article

The Canterbury Jockey Club have announced Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) as their representative for the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day, 7 March 2026. When purchasing their slot for the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, the Club decided to use it as an added incentive to compete in their two elite-level three-year-old features over New Zealand Cup Week – the $600,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and $700,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 53rd New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) – with the victor of the former having the first seat at the negotiating table. As the winner of last month’s 2000 Guineas, the connections of the Pam Gerard-trained Romanoff were duly given first right of refusal, and a deal was brokered this week. “The CJC is delighted that the strategic direction the Club took when buying a slot has continued this year, with the winner of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Romanoff, representing the Club,” CJC Chair Diane Logie said. “On behalf of the CJC, I wish to thank the owners for reaching an agreement with us.” Romanoff is raced by a 13-strong ownership group and carries the Fletcher tartan silks of part-owner Hugh Fletcher, and he is delighted his gelding will be a part of the spectacle of New Zealand’s biggest day of racing. “The owners of Romanoff are thrilled to have secured the CJC slot for the second running of The NZB Kiwi,” Fletcher said. Bred by Marie Leicester, Romanoff was purchased by Ballymore Stables, in conjunction with bloodstock agents Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman, from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale. He was secured out of Haunui Farm’s draft for $75,000. Being Karaka Millions eligible, next month’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) looms as an obvious target, with Romanoff likely to resume at RACE Trentham next month. “On returning from Christchurch, Romanoff had a brief break at Pam Gerard’s spelling farm and is now back in work, looking bright and stronger than ever,” Fletcher said. “Current plans are to run in the Levin Classic (Gr.2, 1400m) at Trentham and the Karaka Millions 3YO as lead-ins to The NZB Kiwi.” The 2000 Guineas is becoming a memorable race for Gerard, having quinellaed this year’s running with Romanoff and Affirmative Action (AUS) (Yes Yes Yes), and winning last year’s edition with Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel). While Savaglee chased other targets, Gerard is excited to have her first runner in next year’s NZB Kiwi, with victory in the Guineas also making Romanoff eligible for $1 million in bonuses up for grabs in The NZB Kiwi. “It was a brilliant win in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton and picking up the opportunity to run for an extra $1 million bonus,” Gerard said. It is also fitting for Gerard to partner with the Canterbury Jockey Club, with the Matamata-based horsewoman hailing from the region. “Being a Cantabrian myself makes the opportunity of the slot even more special,” she said. “We are really looking forward to representing the CJC and the wider Canterbury area.” View the full article

Maiden special weight, allowance, maiden optional claiming, and open stakes races at Gulfstream Park will get a Florida-bred purse boost beginning Jan. 1, according to a Friday afternoon release from the Hallandale oval. Gulfstream will increase the purses by using funds from the Florida-Bred Incentive Fund (FBIF). The FBIF for all maiden special weight and allowance races will increase from $5,000 to $10,000, maiden optional claimers will be upped from $43,000 to $50,000, and all open stakes purses of $150,000 or less will get an increase of $25,000. 1/ST Racing President Stephen Screnci said additional FBIF money will be used in the months ahead. “The FBIF funds have allowed Gulfstream Park to continue offering Florida-bred restricted races through the Championship Meet,” said Screnci. “For the last Championship Meet we paid out approximately $1.3 million.” The post Gulfstream Increases Florida-Bred Purses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's a piece of legislation not introduced yet, but that didn't stop two industry leaders from discussing at last week's racing symposium in Arizona a proposed immigration change that could alter the way the sport's workforce seeks employment here legally. At the symposium, Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) CEO Lisa Lazarus reportedly discussed a plan to expand P Visas to include equine workers with a built-in funding mechanism for the organization, according to BloodHorse. Currently, the backstretch workforce falls under the umbrella of the Fair Labor Standards Act, limiting them to H-2B visas only. The H-2B visa program–which affords non-agriculture seasonal immigrant workers jobs in such industries as hospitality or with animals–has its limitations. It comes with a restrictive annual quota, and is typically only granted for a year, but it can be extended for up to three years. The P Visa is broken into four categories geared toward individuals with specialized skills. The P-1A is for athletes and sports teams (with an initial stay of up to five years). The P-1B is for skilled entertainers who form part of an entertainment troop. The P-2 is an artist and professional entertainer exchange program. The P-3 is for artists whose work is considered culturally unique. The last three categories come with an initial stay of a maximum one year. TDN obtained a draft version of a piece of legislation that has been shared among industry leaders, its structure mirroring what morsels of information were shared last week. The important caveat is that this is not the final version of the bill to be introduced–if indeed it eventually is. The draft P Visa legislation is geared toward equine workers who either care, feed, groom or train horses involved in equine sporting competitions, or who are involved in the breeding of horses that compete. The visa fee, as per this draft, is $1,500. For those equine workers performing tasks that fall under HISA's auspices, 100% of these monies will go into a Federal Trade Commission (FTC)-managed fund to be used “for the awarding of grants to States in which the State racing commission elects to remit fees pursuant to section 1203(f)(2) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act.” As to the monies collected for equine workers not covered under HISA, 50% would be used under the Department of Veterans Affairs Adaptive Sports Grant Program for disabled veterans and disabled members of the armed forces. The other 50% of the fees collected would go into an “Equine Aftercare Fund” for equine aftercare programs. As drafted, this visa pathway wouldn't be available to the immigrant backstretch workforce already here. A spokesperson for Kentucky representative Andy Barr–who National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) president Tom Rooney reportedly said provided the idea behind the legislation–described its progress as being in its formative stages. “While we don't have legislation that Congressman Barr is endorsing or introducing yet, we are engaging with industry stakeholders, Congressional leadership, and the Administration to find the right path forward. President Trump and Congressman Barr have delivered great victories for the industry–including the enactment of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act and the 100% bonus depreciation provision of the Big Beautiful Bill that led to record yearling sales at Keeneland this year,” wrote Barr's communications director, Alex Bellizzi. Neither the NTRA nor HISA shared more than what was detailed last week, though spokespersons for both expressed support for a P Visa expansion proposal. “We know the industry needs more visas in general and needs more workers, so anything that does that we're in support of,” said NTRA communications director Thomas Meis. “We are excited for the potential of the P Visa expansion. We have no further comment beyond what Lisa and Tom shared at Symposium. Happy to have a conversation when legislation is introduced,” wrote a HISA spokesperson. Coady If and when this legislation is introduced, it will surely face stiff political headwinds. It was all the way back in 1986 that major immigration reform was passed on Capitol Hill. Added to that, Barr faces a contentious battle for the Kentucky senate seat soon to be vacated by Mitch McConnell. One of his rivals is trainer Dale Romans, who has made very clear that immigration reform is a backbone of his campaign. Given how Washington continues to be riven by political dysfunction, is this the right time to be pushing important immigration reform for the industry? “I believe that the timing might be ideal for an immigration program that has all of the requirements for both sides of the aisle,” said California Horse Racing Board vice chairman Oscar Gonzales, pointing to a climate characterized by an immigration crackdown that has targeted communities heavily reliant on immigrant labor, as well as the ongoing affordability problem. “If the equine community can prove that a segment of the worker population can get some form of work permits–in this case the P Visas–then perhaps that could be a model for other industries,” Gonzalez added. The post P Visa Expansion for Equine Workers: What’s Currently Known? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article