Wandering Eyes

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this coming Monday running at Kyoto Racecourse: Monday, January 12, 2026 4th-KYO, ¥12,330,000 ($78k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m CHURCHILL DEUCE (JPN) (c, 3, Into Mischief–Beautiful Gift, by Medaglia d'Oro) carries the Kieffers Co. Ltd (Do Deuce) silks and is out of the 2021 GIII Santa Ysabel Stakes winner and GII Santa Anita Oaks runner-up who was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $2 million with this colt in utero at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. A Feb. 22 foal, Churchill Deuce changed hands for the equivalent of $1.13 million at the 2023 JRHA Select Sale. Beautiful Gift is a half-sister to GSW & GISP Chitu (Henny Hughes). O-Kieffers Co Ltd; B-Shunsuke Yoshida; T-Mikio Matsunaga AMERICAN STYLE (c, 3, Gun Runner–Medina Thunder, by Thunder Gulch) cost Yoshizawa Stable $400,000 at Keeneland September in 2024 and is a half-brother to SW & GSP Lights of Medina (Eskendereya)–the dam of Grade III winner Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile)–and the dual stakes-placed Releasethethunder (More Than Ready). Lights of Medina's 4-year-old daughter June Eos (Constitution), also a $400,000 KEESEP grad, is a two-time winner in Japan. Christophe Lemaire has been enticed to ride. O-Yoshizawa Stable Co Ltd; B-International Equities Holding Inc (KY); T-Hideaki Fujiwara LORD VERITAS (JPN) (c, 3, Essential Quality–Bodhicitta {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) is the first foal from his dam, a winner of the GII Yellow Ribbon Handicap and twice placed in the GI Gamely Stakes before selling to K I Farm for $450,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton February Sale. The Feb. 14 produce is the first Japanese starter for Essential Quality, who hails from the same female family as champion Japanese freshman sire and Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn). O-Lord Horse Co Ltd; B-K I Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi The post Seven-Figure Into Mischief Colt Debuts at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures' Queen Maxima is set to make her 5-year-old debut in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) Jan. 11, where she will face eight rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong event over Santa Anita Park's downhill turf course.View the full article

The mission to open racing up to a neurodiverse audience will move to a new continent this spring when Dubai stages an autism-friendly race day.View the full article

A very live 5-2 chance from a 9-2 morning line, Mike and Katherine Ball homebred CHIEF WALLABEE (c, 3, Constitution–A La Lucie, by Medaglia d'Oro) traveled into the race strongly approaching the stretch and pounced on favored The Puma (Essential Quality) with just under a furlong to travel and proved a very impressive winner of what appeared to be a very hot Gulfstream maiden Saturday afternoon. The effort makes him the newest 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard. Having hinted at considerable ability in his morning trials, including a bullet half-mile over the testing surface at Payson Park in :48 1/5 (1/48) Jan. 4, Chief Wallabee settled in about fifth position through the opening exchanges of the seven-furlong contest as a four-way battle for the lead ensued on the pointy end. The Puma, off to an awkward beginning from gate five–one to the inside of Chief Wallabee–was hustled up into contention by Javier Castellano for the Mage connections, but as a result of the slow start, he had no choice but to go wide and took the worst of it four deep around the turn. In the meantime, Chief Wallabee was following the move of Nanosecond (Into Mischief) on the swing for home and had first crack at The Puma, who was handled with supreme confidence. In front approaching the eighth pole, The Puma was ultimately no match for Chief Wallabee, who descended on the leader quickly with 150 yards to race and was taken in hand under the wire, scoring by about 2 1/2 lengths. Chief Wallabee is the second 'Rising Star' in three days for Constitution, whose 3-year-old son Touch of Fire won his maiden by seven convincing lengths (81 Beyer) over the Fair Grounds turf course on Thursday. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Mike and Katherine Ball (KY); T-Bill Mott. CHIEF WALLABEE ($7.00) passes The Puma to break his maiden at @GulfstreamPark with @JuniorandKellyA in the saddle for trainer Bill Mott and owners Michael and Katherine G. Ball. Another winner by @WinStarFarm's Constitution. pic.twitter.com/PCsILGlS99 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 10, 2026 The post Constitution Firster Chief Wallabee Runs To ‘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

The champion freshman and general sire Distorted Humor was euthanized Saturday morning at the age of 33 due to the infirmaries of old age, WinStar Farm announced via press release. A 1993 son of champion Forty Niner out of Danzig's Beauty, by Danzig, Distorted Humor was an accomplished racehorse. Bred in Kentucky by Charles Nuckols Jr. and Sons and owned by R.L. Reineman and Prestonwood Farms and trained by Walden, Distorted Humor won the 1998 GII Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes at Keeneland. He set a track record in the race, getting seven furlongs in 1:20.50, a mark that stood until 2020. He also captured the GII Churchill Downs Handicap, the GIII Ack Ack Handicap, and the GIII Salvator Mile Handicap, amassing earnings of $769,964. A perennial leading sire, Distorted Humor entered stud in 1999. He topped all freshman sires in 2002, and he was North America's leading general sire in 2011, the same year, his son and leading earner, Drosselmeyer ($3,728,170) captured the GI Breeders' Cup Classic for WinStar. Drosselmeyer was also a Classic winner, having won the 2010 GI Belmont Stakes. In 2003, Distorted Humor's Funny Cide, bred by WinStar and campaigned by Sackatoga Stable, won the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Preakness Stakes on his way to a career bankroll of $3,529,412. Distorted Humor is the sire of four champions–Funny Cide, Eclipse champion 3-Year-Old colt; Pathfork, champion 2-Year-Old colt in Ireland; Regal Ransom, champion 3-Year-Old colt in the United Arab Emirates; and Ontario-bred Hillaby, champion female sprinter in Canada. Distorted Humor helped WinStar scale new heights as a breeding operation. From 23 crops, the stallion sired an impressive 167 black-type winners, 72 graded stakes winners, and his runners have amassed earnings approaching $170 million. Counted among his top runners are Grade I winners Drosselmeyer, Funny Cide, Commentator, Any Given Saturday, Flower Alley, Hystericalady, Boisterous, Awesome Humor, and so many others. The late WinStar sire was also an influential broodmare sire. He is responsible for such outstanding horses as North America's all-time leading earner Arrogate ($17,422,600), international star Golden Sixty (Aus), last year's GI Florida Derby winner Tappan Street, Elate, Practical Joke, New Money Honey, as well as WinStar stallions Constitution, Life Is Good, and Patch Adams, and was the leading broodmare sire of 2017. “It's a deeply sad day for all of us at WinStar Farm to lose a generational sire like Distorted Humor,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar. “We take solace in the legacy he leaves behind. His sons and daughters have won on the biggest stages, and his daughters are proving to be exceptional producers. His impact on the breed is undeniable and will be felt for generations to come.” The post Distorted Humor Euthanized at 33 Due to Infirmaries of Old Age appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

10th-SA, $70k, Msw, 3yo, f, 6fT, 7:30 p.m. ET BAILARINA (Uncle Mo) is a full-sister to SW and GIII Delaware Oaks third Mo Shopping and a half to the versatile Always Shopping (Awesome Again), winner of the GII Gazelle Stakes on the main track and the GIII La Prevoyante Stakes on the grass. The filly's dam Stopshoppingmaria (More Than Ready) also handled a variety of surfaces, with runner-up efforts in the GI Frizette Stakes and GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and a victory in the Ladies' Turf Sprint Stakes. The Feb. 27 foal made $450,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November Sale and $650,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. The competition includes Forced Entry (Charlatan), a daughter of SW Violent Times (Violence) who fetched $375,000 at Keeneland September in 2024. TJCIS PPs 4th-TAM, $55k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1m 40yds, 1:59 p.m. SUMMER GREY (Constitution) has pole position for Repole Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher as he ships in from Palm Beach Downs. The grey filly is a daughter of one-time $775,000 breezer White Mischief (Into Mischief), a half-sister to Grade II-winning turf distaffer Leggs Galore (Bayern) and a full-sister to the stakes-placed Victorious. Hailing from the deeper female family of Conveyance (Indian Charlie), Summer Grey was purchased for $325,000 at KEESEP in 2024. TJCIS PPs The post Uncle Mo Filly Bailarina Kicks Off On the Turf at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As old-fashioned as it may now seem, in this small corner of the bloodstock world a strong personal preference it still held for the Derby above all races. And by that, of course, we are talking about the original version, at Epsom, with that piece of wood at the end of the unique mile-and-a-half challenge which was made famous in a quote from the revered breeder Federico Tesio. We can't all agree on everything though, can we? That would just be dull. But beyond the stifling and shouty sphere of social media, it is still possible to have reasoned debate, disagree with your colleague, while shaking hands and remaining friends. So here, on this mostly civilised platform that is the TDN, we will from time to time ask a burning question of some of the industry's finest minds and put their answers to you for consideration. Lately, the term 'stallion-making race' appears to be used with more frequency, but what does it actually mean? And does such a concept exist beyond individual preferences for certain races or certain horses who have won said races? We asked the experts, and it is worth tuning back in on Tuesday to hear what the same panel has to say about what makes a good broodmare sire. But first, let's hear whether they have a favourite race when it comes to stallion selection, or if indeed they believe in the concept of a stallion-making race. Ed Harper, Whitsbury Manor Stud “Absolutely not. If Northern Dancer had not raced would he have had a reduced pre-potency? The genetics of a stallion or any horse are already determined no matter what race(s) they win. The racecourse just gives us a few more clues. People who believe in 'stallion-making races' are confusing cause and effect. “When we bought Showcasing I had a few people tell me the Gimcrack hadn't produced a stallion of note since Mill Reef. I'm pleased we ignored them.” Kirsten Rausing, Lanwades “The answer is no, not really. The thing is it's so difficult to find any horse apt to make a stallion nowadays, so you can't just start out by pinpointing a race and going that way. You have to look at what possible horses are about and, as can be seen in the English and Irish stallion park, we are reaching a very dangerous level of low numbers in terms of stallions available, which I think is highly alarming. “One major contributory factor is surely that so many horses are nowadays gelded – so many Group winners and Group 1 winners are geldings – and I think my position on that is fairly well known. “From my own point of view, I can say that I very much like and have had great success with winners of the French Derby, for obvious reasons. I've had two horses: Hernando, who won it when it was the full mile and a half, and obviously Study Of Man, who won it at the slightly shorter distance. As we know, it has produced a whole lot of good stallions, particularly in recent years, but even going back historically, it was always a very good race for producing stallions. “However, it has to be said that it's probably quite difficult to attract mares for that sort of horse nowadays. The stallion stud has to very significantly support such horses.” Joe Foley, Ballyhane Stud “I think the concept of a stallion-making race is a myth perpetuated by stallion marketeers. “I'm going to give you a few examples. Let's go to some of the stallions that have been very successful in the last number of years, or over the last decade, and see if they won stallion-making races. “I'll start with Havana Grey, who won the Flying Five and the Molecomb, neither of which is classed as a stallion-making race. And Mehmas, who won the Richmond Stakes and the July Stakes, both races with very poor stallion-making credentials. “And Dubawi won the National Stakes and Jacques de Marois, he didn't win the perceived big stallion-making races. So, if you go through horses like that, it's very clear to see that when it comes to stallion-making races, there's no such thing. “Just because a horse wins a certain race doesn't make him a better stallion prospect. The best racehorses tend to make the best stallions and, as we see from the international classifications every year, the quality of races changes year on year.” Alex Scrope, pedigree expert and matings advisor “I looked through Group 1 results for the last 20 years, at different distances, and I think, as much as anything else, it's down to fashion. Now, what I think has happened is that suddenly mile-and-a-half horses went completely out of fashion 10 years ago or so, and they weren't being used anymore. “I've always thought, looking at Pour Moi and Wings Of Eagles, they both ran the most incredible races in the Derby. You'd have given your back teeth to have had either one of those, but they couldn't fill them. To me, they both had such extraordinary speed, as well as having the stamina, and they both went from last to first from Tattenham Corner, past some very good horses. “For me, the ultimate test is the Derby, because they've got to have so many things that other horses don't. It's not like Newmarket or York, or any other track you'd like to think of. They've got to have balance, they've got to have speed, and they've got to be really quick at changing tack, because things always go wrong in the race. So they've always got to change plan. I think it's a great test of a jockey as well, because they have no idea what's coming. “So for me, that's still the ultimate test and if I had a stud of my own, and I was going to breed horses, that's what I would have. I would follow Tesio's mantra. “But then there came this fashion, and now the horses that are going to stud are so disparate, and they've got such varied track records. You don't know what you've got, except that all you know is that they don't stay. “I think that most really good Derby horses are just as happy at 10 furlongs because they've got the speed, and if they've got the speed to win a Derby, they've got the speed to win a Juddmonte.” Andreas Putsch, Haras de Saint Pair “When you pick a stallion that is not proven, racing performance is very important because it's the best guide you have. But once we talk about proven stallions, then the proof is in the pudding, and we've seen so many that have less impressive race records that became very good stallions. “Then you have to look at what the offspring really does, to see if there's a pattern and attitude that they pass on. And for me that tops form. Form is always great, but genetics can top form. “So when I can I look at genetics. When enough time has passed in the breeding performance then I go on that and I forget about whatever the horse did on the racetrack. “There are no rules, and you can breed a good horse with a bad breeding decision and a terrible one with a good breeding decision. You're just looking for clues, and I guess the best guide is probably also your intuition. “The one race that has really surprised me is the Jockey Club since they shortened the distance. And I have asked myself many, many lonely nights, how can that make such a difference? “It has a better performance with producing good stallions than the English Derby, for example, or the Jockey Club before [at a mile and a half]. Although we all know that in the Jockey Club, when Darshaan beat Sadler's Wells and Rainbow Quest, that was still over 2,400 metres, so maybe that's also to do with the track. I think Chantilly is a very selective track but also a very fair track. The best horse usually wins. “The race is early enough in the year and you need a certain amount of speed yet to win that race. You have to be able to accelerate, and in Chantilly you can't win plodding along. So maybe there are all these factors that play into the Jockey Club having made such a contribution to the stallion park, and that stands out against any other race, I think, in Europe. “But again, do I know the answer why? No, I'm just speculating.” Jim Bolger, Classic-winning trainer and breeder “The two Guineas, the Irish and the English, and the St. James's Palace are probably the key mile races. And then, of course, not everybody will agree, but the two Derbys and the Arc after that, and the King George, are, we would like to think, important. And I suppose in recent years, the mile-and-a-quarter French Derby is the one that's producing the stallions. “I don't know how much sense this is going to make but they're only stallion-making races historically, and there's no guarantee that if you win one or all of those races that you're going to have a stallion. “The Epsom Derby, when the race was run in a traditional way, the way it was always run, up to, say, 10, 15 years ago, I'd say those horses had a better chance of being a stallion.” Mathieu Alex, Haras de Beaumont “As a Frenchman, I would probably first of all say the Prix du Jockey Club. Shamardal won it the first year that it was reduced to a mile and a quarter, which I think was a very good idea because what you need from the winner now is to have enough speed, but also enough stamina. “It's a very challenging track, you're going uphill to the finish. It seems to work, and it's an obvious one. “A race that I really like is the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. I generally like two-year-old races that are quite late in the year because usually that's when you find the best horses. And don't get me wrong, you can have very good Prix Morny winners and all the rest, but sometimes they're just more precocious. “Two of the best recent stallions in France have been Siyouni and Wootton Bassett and they both won the Jean-Luc Lagardère. It's a race which has serious competition from abroad and it's kind of a championship. “As we've seen with Camille Pissarro, he won the race and went on to win the Prix du Jockey Club, and Sealiway won it very impressively and he was second to St Mark's Basilica in the Jockey Club. The winners generally have the speed and the precocity but should stay a mile-plus the year after, which I think is very important. “And further back you've got Kendor, Irish River, Blushing Groom. They were all very successful stallions. So, yes, I like this race.” John O'Connor, Ballylinch Stud “My answer is probably a little bit more nuanced in the sense that, yes, I think there are some races which can give you a good indication in terms of what might make a good stallion, and the Prix du Jockey Club just seems to have accelerated a bit in terms of the production since they shortened the distance. “We've had four [winners] so far. Lawman was the first one who did well, he sired Classic winners, but the subsequent ones have probably done even better. Next was Lope de Vega, who is obviously an outstanding stallion and continues to do really well. And then our next one on the list was New Bay, who I think could have a huge year this year. And the most recent Jockey Club winner we have is Look De Vega. He's covered a very nice book in terms of numbers and in quality. So we're eagerly looking forward to his first foals being born in the next couple of weeks.” Nicolas de Chambure, Haras d'Etreham “Well, probably not. I think there isn't a race that is enough in itself to justify buying a horse or setting a certain fee or whatever. I think historically some races have produced more than others, but I think it's more the form of a particular race, the style of the win, the distance. “Every year is different and every profile is different. So, basically, the answer is no.” The post Is There Such a Thing as a Stallion-Making Race? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Jockey Gregg P. McCarron, who won over 2400 races in a 24-year career and who steered his younger brother Chris to a Hall of Fame career as a rider, died on his 96-acre farm in Mt. Airy, MD Thursday after suffering a heart attack, according to a press release sent on behalf of the family. He was 77 years old. A native of Dorchester, MA, Gregg rode in 20,595 races during a career that started at Suffolk Downs in Boston in 1969 and ended in Maryland in 1993. He was the leading apprentice rider at Rockingham Park in 1969, according to Chris McCarron. Gregg rode mainly in New England, New York and Maryland and he trained horses for a short while on the Maryland circuit after he quit riding. He rode multiple Grade I winners, including On the Sly (1977 Jockey Club Gold Cup), Bounding Basque (1983 Wood Memorial Stakes), Broom Dance (1982 Alabama Stakes). In total, he won 29 graded stakes including the Cherry Hill Mile, the Secretariat Stakes, the Selima Stakes, the Ladies Handicap and the Spinaway Stakes. Among the other horses he rode to victory were Mom's Command, Tiffany Ice, Before Dawn, Vision and Mademoiselle Forli. After he retired, the widely admired rider became a racing commentator for NBC Sports, covering the Breeders' Cup for several years. “Gregg led me to my career as a jockey and he was there for me every step of the way,” Chris said. “He was my idol and I always tried to emulate everything he did. He mentored me in my formative years and I would not have had the career I did without him in my life.” Gregg is survived by his wife Darlene, son Matt, a grandson, eight siblings and numerous nieces and nephews. Matt is a retired two-time champion steeplechase jockey. No memorial service is planned at this time. The post Jockey Gregg McCarron Dies at 77 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by Kit Gow/TTR AusNZ The Victorian Thoroughbred community has come together over the last three days to evacuate hundreds of horses to safety as a major bushfire in Longwood ballooned in size and threatened to devastate several properties. Several Victorian farms have lost infrastructure, including homes owned by Ben Hayes and Magic Millions' Victoria and Tasmania manager Tim Brown. Fires burning since Wednesday in Victoria's major breeding regions have caused significant losses to several major breeding farms. As of Saturday evening, one person lost their life at Harcourt after being found in his car, however police believe this wasn't directly related to the fire. Hundreds of horses have been moved to safety in a mammoth community effort. Several horses at Lindsay Park are receiving treatment for burns, and there are worries that there will be losses of stock across several properties. Mammoth Moving Effort Includes Blue Gum and Lindsay Park Late on Saturday evening, 11 fires were burning across Victoria at Emergency Warning level and over 18,000 properties remained without power. Over 300 horses were relocated from Blue Gum Farm, and the stud released a statement on Saturday afternoon, sharing that the fire was burning five kilometres from the stud. The statement thanked the stud's team, Equilink, Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, Ben Brisbourne, Shaun Nolan, and Olivia Osborne, as well as the Longwood Farm staff, for their assistance. “Our priority is to ensure the safety of all humans and horses on farm,” the statement read. “Our thoughts are with everyone in our community and industry who have been affected by this tragic and devastating event.” Lindsay Park also released a statement on Saturday, reporting that the property had lost nearly all of their paddocks, a pre-training barn, and a number of other structures to the fire, but that all horses in work were safe and a number of horses spelling were receiving treatment for minor burns. Racenet.com reported that an under-construction house belonging to Ben Hayes has also been lost to the fire. “Due to the loss of our paddocks, we are now coordinating the relocation of 115 spelling horses,” said the statement posted on X. “These horses are being transported this morning via a massive, coordinated effort from Troy Corstens and the North East Thoroughbred Community Group to the Inglis Sale Complex at Oakland Junction, where they will be safely accommodated. “The support has been nothing short of remarkable. Our hearts go out to everyone in the community that has been affected by this horrific event.” The Lindsay Park training team's father David Hayes flew in from Hong Kong on Thursday to assist his sons in defending the property. Racenet.com reported that the Hall Of Fame trainer was on hand to hose down patches of the property, and that the Hayes team scratched two Flemington runners, Touchdown (Almanzor) and Stealth Of Night (Night Of Thunder), who were both stabled at Euroa. In an update to racing.com on Saturday, Leneva Park's Mick Sharkie said, “we don't have a fence left on the joint. We haven't got a paddock that hasn't been charcoaled and there's no fencing left. “There's still stuff smouldering around the property, but it looks like the fire has moved away from us. We're not in immediate danger now. There are still fires burning very close-by, but the property itself is not in immediate danger. Sharkie reported that both farmhouses were still standing. The fire had turned back within metres of one house, which Sharkie called “quite incredible”. “I can't stress enough how good the North East Equine Emergency WhatsApp group has been,” he added. “It's being managed by Kayley Johnson, Troy Corstens, and Megan McGrath. They were absolutely incredible regarding the horse movements. “I couldn't believe what I was seeing, just the goodwill and selflessness of people to go in. It was insane.” Larneuk Stud's Neville Murdoch reported lost fencelines, but the stud had been fortunate to be minimally damaged and all horses on the property were safe. “We were out fighting the fires last night and the night before, we didn't stop,” he told racing.com. “We were trying to keep it from the boundary, but we couldn't stop it yesterday afternoon, it just came through and flattened all the fences and God knows what, but at least we're all safe and the horses are good. The buildings are good as gold. It's just fencing and pasture that's been damaged.” The town of Ruffy had been particularly hard hit, with the three people reported missing now located and are safe. “The main street looks like a bomb has gone off,” CFA Captain George Noye described the devastation in Ruffy to ABC News. “A lot of our critical infrastructure, power poles have been burnt, power lines laying on the ground. That is a job that's not going to take hours to fix, it is going to take a fair while.” Burnt farmland near Longwood, Australia on Saturday | Getty Images Interstate Assistance Sent to Ongoing Situation By Saturday evening, the Longwood fire was reported to be moving toward Euroa. “That fire is becoming more active on the northern side with some of the westerly and south-westerly winds blowing it to the north,” spokesperson Reegan Key said at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night. In some good news, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Christie Johnson told ABC Melbourne Radio at 10 p.m. on Saturday, “We are seeing the wind, south-westerly winds, they are starting to ease off a little bit. They may pick up a little bit during the day [tomorrow] compared to sort of the overnight period, but they're certainly not going to be as strong as we saw today. “And we're going to see a reasonably settled period of weather for the next few days, which is good news for our firies trying to get on top of all of those fires.” No rain is forecast. As the sun went down on Saturday, Premier Jacinta Allan had declared a state of disaster for Victoria with 36 fires still active and more than 300,000 hectares burned across the state. Power has been restored to many homes with 18,000 still remaining without power (down from 90,000 on Thursday). At least 130 buildings have been lost. New South Wales will send an additional 200 personal to support Victorian efforts. “All up we'll have over 300 personnel from New South Wales to support our colleagues over at the Country Fire Authority,” RFS Deputy Commissioner Ben Millington from the RFS told abc.net.au. South Australia have also sent assistance. “South Australian personnel will undertake frontline firefighting, incident management, planning, logistics and safety roles as part of the Victorian response,” CFS SA said. In addition, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the Australian Defense Force would be sent to help “The ADF have been requested to provide accommodation support for the Victorian Country Fire Service, and once again, we see our Defence Force personnel providing that support, both through personnel, but also through infrastructure,” Albanese told abc.net.au. Burnt farm after the fire swept through | Getty Images Timeline of Events As temperatures hit 42 degrees in Melbourne on Wednesday for the first time in 11 months, a bushfire was reported in Longwood, traveling from the Hume Freeway towards the town of Ruffy, and by 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon, the fire had rapidly escalated to the point that the Country Fire Authority declared an Emergency Warning in the area, advising residents that the time to evacuate had passed already, and strong winds overnight expanded the blaze. More than 400 firefighters were drafted to fight the blaze, and south-easterly winds on Thursday threatened a number of properties including Lindsay Park, Leneva Park, and Longwood Thoroughbred Farm. That evening, Leneva Park General Manager Mick Sharkie reported to racenet.com that the fire had reached the property's boundaries, which was already sheltering horses from neighbouring properties, however fierce winds forced the property to evacuate more than 110 horses on Friday. Longwood Thoroughbred Farm evacuated on Thursday night, with 165 horses moved off the property. Another bushfire had started near Horsham to the west of Longwood, and Racing Victoria reported that trainers Paul Preusker and Simon Gebert were among those who evacuated horses out of the region. Lindsay Park co-trainer JD Hayes told racing.com on Friday that the fire had reached the training facility in the night, but all horses, staff, and property were at the time still safe. Benalla Racing Club welcomed 15 staff from Lindsay Park on track overnight while it was unsafe for them to return to their homes, and offered them a bed again the following night. By midday, 9News reported that over 48,000 hectares of land had been burnt by the Longwood fire. Racing Victoria has released a list of transport providers and available agistment properties for industry participants, and Inglis Sales Complex at Oaklands Junction also opened their doors to evacuees and offered transport. 9News reported a number of properties lost in the region, and that the shelter in place warnings remained. It was reported in thestraight.com.au that a house near Creightons Creek belonging Magic Millions' Victoria and Tasmania manager Tim Brown near had been destroyed by the fire. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen announced that fire victims would be able to access hardship support. “I can also advise that in discussions with the Commonwealth we have activated the personal hardship payment processes and those payments are being made available from now,” she said in a statement released on 9News. “We thank you and all of the emergency services who are providing support for these efforts. Today is an incredibly difficult day, the most dangerous day we have had in years.” A total fire ban remains in place statewide for Sunday. The post Community Rallies Together As Terrifying Longwood Fire Rages On appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jay Rooney LITTLE PARADISE - R8 (8) Looks poised to make the leap to Class Two and continue strong form Owen Goulding ROBOT STAR - R5 (5) Good debut followed by luckless run, Purton up and can get it right Trackwork Spy SZERYNG - R7 (6) Unlucky last start but can strike from a far better draw today Phillip Woo AUTUMN VIBES - R2 (11) Gets golden opportunity from a good draw with the in-form Guyon on board Shannon (Vincent Wong) BRAVE WIN - R5 (10) Improving run last start and can break...View the full article

Super-consistent mare Chica Mojito (NZ) (Zacinto) broke through for her first Australian victory with an outstanding performance in the A$500,000 Limitless Lodge The Lakes (1600m) at Wyong on Saturday. The daughter of Zacinto was born and raised in New Zealand, and she began her career on that side of the Tasman with a maiden victory at Cambridge in September of 2023 and a Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) placing at Trentham three months later. A 50 percent share was subsequently sold across the Tasman and Chica Mojito was transferred into the stable of Chris Waller. Until Saturday, her 16 starts in Australia had produced six seconds, four thirds, three fourths and a fifth. She had run third in the Gr.3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m) and Listed Tattersalls Mile (1600m), along with fourths in the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m), Gr.3 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m) and another edition of the Belle of the Turf. On Saturday the five-year-old finally got that richly deserved first Australian success, and she did it with a record-breaking performance. Ridden by Andrew Adkins, Chica Mojito settled in seventh place before hooking around the outside approaching the home turn and challenging for the lead at the top of the straight. Adkins pushed the button and Chica Mojito drew away, going on to win by two lengths and stopping the clock at 1:34.55 – a new 1600m track record at Wyong. “She’s been crying out to break through for a win like that and she really deserved that today,” Chris Waller’s stable representative Darren Beadman said. “Andrew used the good gate and got her into a really nice spot, and off a good fast speed, she was able to present well wide and finish off like she did. “It’s great for Brad Spicer and the owners and for all the team at Chris Waller Racing. It’s a team effort and a great result.” Chica Mojito has now had 24 starts for two wins, 12 placings and A$604,829 in prize-money. “She’d probably been classified as a bit of a non-winner going into today, and it’s a bit funny that she’s won probably the hardest race she’s contested for a while,” part-owner Brad Spicer said. “But in saying that she hasn’t had a lot of luck a lot of the time either. “Last start in the Belle of the Turf at Gosford, Zac (Lloyd) got caught in behind them and nothing went right. “The way Wyong was playing today, with everyone wanting to get up on the speed, it played into her hands. She does try and it’s a great result. “Chris Waller has done a top job with her and today’s win is a great reward for everyone involved with her both here and in New Zealand.” Chica Mojito was bred by Melway Farm’s Gareth Downey and Mel Gamble, who still share in the ownership. She is by former Inglewood Stud and Valachi Downs stallion Zacinto out of the Cecconi mare Cantina (NZ), who herself won three races up to 2000m. View the full article

Trainer John Sadler has the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) in mind as a potential target for Tarvue (NZ) (Tarzino) after her tenacious victory in the A$130,000 Off The Track Trophy (1800m) at Flemington on Saturday. Sadler has always had plenty of time for Tarvue, and the Tarzino mare repaid some of that faith with the fourth and most significant victory of her 16-race career. “I’ve always had a good opinion of her,” Sadler said. “We just haven’t seen the best of her on the racetrack until now. She’s had a few niggling issues. “But she’s a good staying mare who can go a lot further than this, and hopefully we start to see that down the track. “She’s always shown really good ability and it was terrific to see her put it all together today.” Despite heading into Saturday on the back of a solid second at Cranbourne on December 27, Tarvue was sent out as a $13 outsider for the Benchmark 78 contest. But jockey Luke Cartwright put the pressure on a long way from home and Tarvue’s stamina and fighting qualities shone through as she swept to victory by a length and a quarter. “I was talking to ‘Sads’ (Sadler), who was very confident,” Cartwright said. “He just told me to roll the dice and go forward. She had no weight on her back. “She’s a bit one-paced, but he wanted me to make it a true 1800m race and give them something to run down. “She proved too good today. I think that’s definitely one of her best efforts on a racetrack. “She took a while to get into gear when I first went for her, but then I had them all off the bit and chasing. “I really felt her lower in her action and just be very gritty in the late stages. She held them all off and deserved the win.” The victory has given Sadler the confidence to continue along a path towards a potential tilt at the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville on March 10. “She likes to flow, and that’s why Luke served it up to the leader a bit earlier than usual,” Sadler said. “He knew that she’s not the sort of mare that can quicken off a slow pace, so she has to do it herself. “We’ll probably bring her back in a week or two and give her another run now. I’d like to try her over 2500m and see how she goes. There’s a Benchmark 78 over that distance here next week. It could be a chance to see if we’d be wasting our time aiming at a race like an Adelaide Cup.” Tarvue was bred by Rosemont Stud and is by Westbury Stud’s Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner Tarzino, who has quickly made his name as a sire of classic horses – such as Derby winners Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino) and Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) and Oaks winner Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino) – but has also been represented by this season’s Group One-performed sprinter Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino). The dam of Tarvue is the Japanese-bred Admire Moon mare Vamoose, a half-sister to the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Admire Rakti. Mapperley Stud offered Tarvue in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Vue International Pty Ltd bought her for $25,000. Tarvue’s 16-start career has produced four wins, two placings and A$168,800 in stakes. View the full article

Waikato Stud’s homebred mare Sun Gift (NZ) (Savabeel) continued her strong run of summer form with another victory in the A$130,000 Honouring Our Jockeys Plate (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. The Benchmark 78 handicap was the third start of the five-year-old’s preparation. She had resumed with a second at Caulfield on December 3 before finishing strongly from off the pace to win at Cranbourne on December 27. It was a winning result again on Saturday, but this time delivered in a different way. Ridden on this occasion by Jamie Melham, Sun Gift sat much closer to the pace in third before pouncing in the straight. She dashed into a clear lead with 300m remaining, then stuck to her guns as the challengers began to gain ground. Sun Gift still had a length and a quarter up her sleeve when she reached the finish line. “She was in a good mood today,” Melham said. “She can be a bit temperamental in the gates. “If she didn’t jump well today, I thought she was going to have a hard time getting back behind a slow tempo. ‘Willo’ (Craig Williams) gave her a great ride last time and was able to sneak up along the rail, but that wasn’t going to work out this time. “Fortunately it all worked out perfectly. She jumped well and we were able to push forward and take luck out of the equation.” Sun Gift is trained by Danny O’Brien and has now had a total of 21 starts for five wins, seven placings and A$252,405 in stakes. She has earned A$143,000 of that amount in the last two weeks alone. Sun Gift is by Savabeel out of the Pour Moi mare Sunniva (NZ), an unraced half-sister to Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Efficient (NZ). Sunniva is also a three-quarter-sister to the Group Two winner and sire Guillotine, while half-sister Cold Shoulder (NZ) (Volksraad) is the dam of Group One winner On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa). Sunniva is the dam of three winners from three foals to race. Her first foal Gravity (NZ) (Shamexpress) was a winner, while Sun Gift’s younger full-brother Morthan Efficent (NZ) (Savabeel) has scored two wins in a 12-start career in Victoria. Sunniva produced another Savabeel colt in 2022. She was served by the champion stallion’s son Noverre this season. View the full article

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