Wandering Eyes

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk David Butcher’s hoping for a fitting finale for the well-performed You Little Beauty at Taupo on Monday. The Sweet Lou six-year-old, who’s won 13 races, will make her final race day appearance in the day’s feature pace, the Dunstan Horsefeeds Lake Taupo Summer Cup (4.17pm). After the race she will head to the broodmare paddock as she’s in foal to Legendary Hanover. “I’d love to get her up,” says Butcher. After she started out with Ross Paynter, You Little Beauty has had 40 starts and seven wins for Butcher since he took over her training in August 2024. She is one of three Butcher-trained runners in the Cup alongside Hooray Henry and Louezyana. Butcher will drive You Little Beauty in her swansong while sons Zachary and Benjamin will handle Hooray Henry and Louezyana. You Little Beauty and Louezyana will start off 10 metres, 10 ahead of their other stablemate. “It’s a strong field,” says Butcher, “it won’t be easy.” You Little Beauty opened at $7 on the fixed odds market with last start winner American Me (45m) and The Surfer (30m) the favourites at $3.40 and $4.40. Butcher’s in for a busy day as harness racing heads to the Taupo Racing Club for the first time. He has “just about the whole team there”. Eight of his own horses will be racing while he will have 10 drives on the 13-race programme, with a number looking like handy each-way chances. He trains two in Race 2, the NZMCA Pop At Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace – Enzo ($4FF), who he will drive, and Desistella ($6.50) with son Benjamin in the sulky. “Enzo can be a bit of a noddy,” says Butcher, “he’s got ability but I’ve had two goes on him for two gallops.” Butcher has only had him for a few weeks, after he was with son Zachary, and he did finish second in a recent trial. In Race 3, the Skyline Packages for February/March on Sale Now Trot – Butcher will drive another of his team in favourite Brother Johnson ($2.60). “He’s getting his fitness back, likes the grass and does everything right so hopefully we could get a place with him.” Another well-supported runner is Valerei ($4.80) who is fresh up in Race 4, the Hire A Venue at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace. The Vincent four-year-old placed twice from seven starts last campaign. “He can be a bit on and off but from the draw (2) he’s half a chance to get some money.” The other Butcher-trained and driven runner is Caulfield ($7) in Race 12, the Beta Vet Mobile Pace. “He’s so consistent and races good on the grass. He’s a place chance.” Butcher’s outside drives are : Race 5 : The Elite Athlete ($13) Race 6 : Barsukov ($5.50) Race 7 : Eastwood Admiral ($5.50) Race 8 : Keep It Klassy ($10) Race 13 : Ragnar Lothbrok ($4.50) The first race is due to go to 11.30am with field sizes capped at 10 because of the unique nature of the Taupo track. To see the Taupo fields click here View the full article

The milestone 100th edition of New Zealand’s National Yearling Sale has caught attention throughout the thoroughbred world, including one of the United Kingdom’s leading trainers. Among the crowd at Karaka on Sunday was the recognisable figure of William Haggas, the winner of more than a dozen Group One races in his homeland including the Derby (2400m) with Shaamit and Oaks (2400m) with Dancing Rain, along with other elite-level triumphs in France, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Australia. Haggas was invited to attend the centenary sale by NZB principal Sir Peter Vela, a long-time friend for whom Haggas has previously trained horses in the northern hemisphere. “I’ve known Sir Peter for a long time and I’ve always promised that I would come, and I’ve finally made it,” Haggas said. “It fitted in well and I’ve always wanted to see it, and I’m pleased that I’ve come.” The 65-year-old’s taste of the Kiwi industry also included Saturday’s Karaka Millions twilight meeting at Ellerslie, headlined by the six-length runaway by unbeaten filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). “I thought it was terrific,” he said. “The only great shame was the weather, because we got a bit of English weather and everyone had made an effort to dress up and enjoy themselves. But it looked to me like everyone decided to forgive the weather and just get on with it, and it was a great atmosphere. “Well Written showed a great turn of foot. She just needed to get organised at the top of the straight, and then it was game over. I don’t know the quality of the opposition, but horses that can quicken are usually pretty good wherever they are in the world.” The Karaka sale grounds and the yearlings catalogued for this week’s sale have made a similarly favourable impression. “The complex is very well organised here,” he said. “It’s very easy for the customer to see the horses, plenty of room, plenty of cover if the weather is filthy, which it has been. “It’s easy to find your way around. Already I know where to go, whereas if you go to Keeneland in America, it takes five sales to get used to it. Tattersalls is the same, it’s big. Goffs in Ireland is pretty easy to work out, but this is as good as I’ve seen. “The style of horse here is not too dissimilar to what I’m used to. I’ve been impressed by the quality of the stock. I’ve found it very difficult to value them, but that’s normal stuff for me, because I find it difficult to value them everywhere. But there are some very nice horses here, so I hope it goes well for them. “I get the impression from people here that the industry is in a critical stage in New Zealand, with the foal crop diminishing and the guarantees of prize-money from Entain halfway through its five-year tenure. So it’s really important that people support the business if they want it to succeed. It’s not going to succeed on its own. It’s going to succeed because everyone gets together and really commits to breeding and racing. “What’s really struck me here is how many breeders own horses in training, which is a good thing, so let’s hope that it continues, and even though we won’t be still here in another 100 years, but hopefully the place will be.” Haggas has made a habit of targeting the riches of Sydney’s autumn carnival, reasoning that his horses’ fresher legs might have an advantage over locals who have been competing through the season. He won the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) with Addeybb in 2020 and 2021 and Dubai Honour in 2023, the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) with Addeybb in 2020 and Dubai Honour in 2023, and the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) with Dubai Honour last year. He expects to be back again in a few months’ time. “We’re planning to bring Dubai Honour again for the Tancred, and then we’ve got another horse, Caviar Heights, who might do the Ranvet and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes,” he said. “His bloods are done and he’s got his place in quarantine, and he looked in terrific condition when I left, and by all accounts he’s doing really well. He’s a horse that we like a lot, we got him from another trainer. He ran only three times last year. His last start was disappointing, but it took a bit of time to work him out. I think he’ll have a good year. Whether he’s up to the Queen Elizabeth, I don’t know, but one thing I’ve learned in racing over the period of time I’ve been training is that if you’re not in, you can’t win.” Haggas, a son-in-law of the legendary jockey Lester Piggott, is now watching with pride as his son Sam forges his own career as a bloodstock agent. “I’ve asked him three times whether he wants to take over from me at some stage, and every single time he never had the decency to even pause before he gave his reply, so I don’t think he’ll be doing that,” Haggas said. “He enjoys the bloodstock side, he is developing lots of data, especially for tried horses, so he’s coming at it from a different angle, which I admire. And one of the beauties of coming out here is actually I’ve probably spent more time with him this week than I do at the moment, because he’s here, there and everywhere, and we’re obviously busy in the summer, so it’s been very nice, and he’s doing very well.” View the full article

Weigh In is live from the NZB Karaka Sales Complex to review all the action of the TAB Karaka Millions race night and get all the latest news, straight from the horse’s mouth. Weigh In, January 25 View the full article

Bloodstock agent Kevin ‘Millie’ Walls was a key player on back-to-back big lots at Karaka on Sunday, securing a colt for $675,000 before being underbidder on a $600,000 colt that was the very next yearling through the ring. Bidding on behalf of his clients and good friends Ron and Judi Wanless, Walls withstood the challenge of Andrew Williams and Jamie Richards to win a fierce bidding duel for Lot 93. The colt was offered by Hallmark Stud and is by rising star Waikato Stud sire Super Seth out of the Almanzor mare Rozala. The dam is a half-sister to the dam of Gr.3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) winner Public Attention, while the second dam is the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Katie Lee. “I’ve been buying on type,” Walls said. “We actually bought the half-brother to this colt last year (for $100,000). He’s won a jumpout for us and I know he goes pretty well. “I thought this was just an outstanding colt, one of the best-moving colts on the complex. Ron wanted to keep putting his hand up. I said no, but he kept on going.” Lot 94 a colt by Proisir was sold for $600,000 from the draft of Trelawney Stud. Photo: Angelique Bridson There was barely a moment for Walls to catch his breath before he began bidding on Lot 94, Trelawney Stud’s colt by Proisir out of the Van Nistelrooy mare Ruqqaya. Herself a two-race winner, Ruqqaya is the dam of six winners including Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) winner Grunt, along with Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) winner Zayydani. Ruqqaya is also a half-sister to the five-time Group One winner, New Zealand Horse of the Year and successful sire Ocean Park. Walls went up to $575,000 for the colt, but had to settle for second place as Yulong, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds put in a winning bid of $600,000. Grunt is a member of Yulong’s stallion roster. “I know that colt’s family well from my days as stud manager at Trelawney Stud,” Walls said. “Ruqqaya was a lovely mare and has left great foals. “He’s a lovely colt, but we got beaten by Yulong. They stand Grunt, so that’ll be a good home for him.” Walls was also active earlier in the day, going to $300,000 to purchase Lot 17 – Trelawney’s filly by Sword Of State out of the Ocean Park mare Oceans Eight. The second dam Ruud Van Slaats won twice at Group Two level and is dam or granddam of four black-type performers. “She’s a filly from another family I know well,” Walls said. “I thought she was a lovely, lovely filly. Fillies from that family are hard to get, so Judi’s going to have a lot of fun racing her.” View the full article

A striking colt by Satono Aladdin lured respected trainer David Payne back to Karaka on Sunday after more than a decade-long absence. The last time the South African-born Payne bought a horse at Karaka was in 2013, when he paid $150,000 for a High Chaparral colt – the latest in a long line of purchases dating back to the 1980s. “I haven’t been here for at least 10 years,” the now Sydney-based horseman said. “I used to come in the 1980s, including the old days when it was at Trentham. I’ve bought a lot of good horses from here over the years, like Petrava, Take A Walk, Hoeberg – they all won Group One races.” The Fairdale Stud-bred Petrava, by Imposing out of Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m) winner Silver Liner, was purchased in 1983. She was raced by Laurie and Jean Jaffee and won 10 of her 15 starts in South Africa including five Group Ones. Petrava’s daughter by Maroof, Hoeberg, was bred by Sir Peter and Philip Vela and was bought for $350,000 at Karaka in 1999. She followed in her mother’s footsteps and became another elite performer in South Africa for the Jaffees, winning four Group One races and also venturing to Dubai for a placing in the Gr.1 Dubai Duty Free (1777m). Bakharoff colt Take A Walk was bred by Jim Campin, was purchased from Karaka in 1991 and won the Gr.1 Queen’s Plate (1600m) at Kenilworth in 1994. Lot 24 a colt by Satono Aladdin from Little Avondale Stud sold for $450,000 to trainer David Payne. Photo: Angelique Bridson All these years later, Payne announced his return early on the opening day of Sunday’s Book 1 session of Karaka 2026 when he went to $450,000 to secure Lot 24. Offered by Little Avondale Stud, the Satono Aladdin colt is out of the twice-winning Snitzel mare On Yer Feet, the dam of four winners from four foals to race including Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) winner Faithful Feat. The colt is also closely related to the dual Group Three winner and Group One-placed Hiflyer. “I’m 78 years old, so I thought I might slow down, but it looks like I’m back in business,” Payne quipped. “My owner wanted me to come. This owner, Wayne Shelton, is keeping me in racing. I’d have 20 horses in training and he must have a share in about 15 of them. “He’s also got a 20 percent share in Ceolwulf, so maybe he’s spending some of the winnings from that horse. He’s raced quite a few horses with me and we’ve been successful with a lot of cheap horses, but now he’s stepping up after Ceolwulf. Before I go out, he wants to give me a Group One winner for him.” The Satono Aladdin colt made an immediate and indelible impression on Payne. “I wanted a Satono Aladdin, because I think he can give you a classic horse,” he said. “I looked at them all, and I saw this one and I said, ‘Jeez, he’s just an athlete.’ He’s a lovely horse and has a lovely, fluent action. Satono Aladdin is doing well and he’s out of a Snitzel mare, so it’s all there. I just thought, ‘This is the one I’d love, if I can get him.’ “He should be a 1600m horse, which is what you’re looking for. I’m hoping we can try to win a Guineas or something like that.” Despite training relatively small numbers at his Rosehill base, Payne has put together an outstanding record of big-race success since moving to Australia in 2002. “You can still compete,” he said. “I’ve had Ace High, Montefilia, Criterion, all those top horses. So you just need one. I’ve always been lucky and found one, and I hope this is the next one.” View the full article

Leading jockey Umberto Rispoli, who was thrown from his mount Unconquerable Keen (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) nearing the sixteenth pole of Saturday's Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, was taken to the hospital and has been diagnosed with a fractured ankle, tibia and fibula, according to a post on X from his agent Matt Nakatani. “This isn't the end of the road for us,” Nakatani wrote. “We will be back stronger than ever. We greatly appreciate all of your support.” Nakatani posted that Rispoli will undergo surgery in the near future pending conversations with doctors. There was no immediate timeline for his return to the saddle. Rispoli was replaced on his two remaining mounts on the program, including aboard Almendares (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who rounded out the triple in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf. He was scheduled to have four rides Sunday at Santa Anita, including Later Than Planned (Ire) for Phil d'Amato in the Baffle Stakes. Latest update on Jockey Umberto Rispoli This isn't the end of the road for us. We will be back stronger than ever. Thank you again for all the texts and calls. We greatly appreciate all of your support @umbyrispoli #TeamRispoli #PrayersUpForASpeedyRecovery pic.twitter.com/iXaep147oe — Matt Nakatani (@MATT_NAK) January 25, 2026 The post Rispoli Suffers Multiple Fractures In Spill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For a sixth time, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert scores in the $100,500 La Canada Stakes (G3) Jan. 24 at Santa Anita Park with 5-year-old Nafisa. View the full article

Perfect Shot pulled the upset in the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 24, extending Steve Asmussen's win streak to five and giving him seven wins in the past eight years. Dual grade 1 winner La Cara finished fifth.View the full article

Umberto Rispoli's mount in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, Unconquerable Keen, clipped heels in deep stretch and dislodged him. The rider suffered a fractured ankle. The horse walked off under his own power. View the full article

For a sixth time, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert scores in the $100,500 La Canada Stakes (G3) Jan. 24 at Santa Anita Park with 5-year-old Nafisa. View the full article

Perfect Shot pulled the upset in the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 24, extending Steve Asmussen's win streak to five and giving him seven wins in the last eight years. Dual grade 1 winner La Cara finished fifth.View the full article

Amerman Racing's Test Score outran stablemate One Stripe to give trainer Graham Motion a 1-2 finish in the $937,800 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Skippylongstocking finishes ahead of his other 7-year-old rivals, stablemate White Abarrio and Full Serrano.View the full article

Elen Nicholas has ridden the highs and lows of racing with Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale), and Saturday proved to be the pinnacle of their journey. The Cambridge-based apprentice rode the Clinton Isdale-trained gelding in his first two starts, with the pair involved in a race fall in their second outing which resulted in Nicholas being sidelined by injury for over a year. “It wasn’t his fault, he fell over a horse that had fallen in front of him. It was just the wrong place at the wrong time,” Nicholas said. “I remember flying through the air and looking down and I thought Triston (Moodley, jockey) was hurt because he wasn’t moving. We both came too and I was so relieved he was fine. My ankle was in so much pain and I realised I had broken my leg, which put me out for 18 months.” She reunited with the son of Castledale last month when runner-up in the Taupo Cup (2000m), and on Saturday at New Plymouth they went one better to win the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m). The six-year-old gelding jumped away well from his inside barrier and he was able to maintain his advantage on the rail to take up the pacemaker role. Nicholas dictated terms up front before they were challenged on the outside by Enrico from the 400m, with the pair opening up several lengths on their rivals as they turned for home. Race favourite Bridal Train took chase, but Knights Realm kicked again down the straight and ran out a dominant 7-1/4 length victor over Enrico, with a further head back to Bridal Train in third. “It was an emotional win and a bit of a surreal one as well,” Nicholas said. “What a cool thing to win a Group Three on that horse. “He was second in I think 10 of his previous 26 starts, he loves coming second, but definitely wasn’t coming second today, he won by a good bit.” They were initially set to take on multiple Group One winner El Vencedor, but the Stephen Marsh-trained gelding was scratched, alongside Group Two performer and Taupo Cup victor What You Wish For and Group Three performer The Odyssey, as a result of the Heavy10 track conditions. While other trainers were despondent by the wet weather, Isdale was licking his lips, with Knights Realm thriving on rain-affected going, which proved to be the case once again on Saturday. Knights Realm had finished runner-up in his last two starts and Isdale was rapt his consistent gelding was able to break through for an elusive stakes victory. “He has been running a lot of seconds and for him to put it together like that was really great,” Isdale said. “He loves a wet track and a couple of the favoured runners came out and it all panned out well. He went into the race in good form, he just needed a bit of luck, and he certainly got it. “He is very honest, he always puts his hand up.” Isdale was particularly pleased for Nicholas to get the win on him. “It was really good for Elen to win on him because she had done a lot early in his career and had a race fall on him which put her out for a year, so it was just good for her to get the win on him,” he said. Isdale was intending to send Knights Realm to the spelling paddock following Saturday’s run, but after his dominant performance, he is now contemplating one last summer assignment for him. “It is always good to go out on a winning note, but when he won like that we might have to roll the dice one more time,” he said. View the full article

Entering Saturday's $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, the 7-year-old SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING (h, Exaggerator–Twinkling, by War Chant) and his year-younger stable companion White Abarrio (Race Day)–the 2025 Pegasus hero–had made a combined 59 trips to the races, good for 22 visits to winner's circles from coast-to-coast and earnings touching $11 million. The now-white White Abarrio was the pick of the two as the 7-2 Pegasus third choice behind 3-2 Disco Time (Not This Time) and last year's GI Curlin Florida Derby hero Tappan Street (Into Mischief) at 3-1, but when the dust had settled and in a race that fell apart after sizzling early fractions, Skippylongstocking ruled the day, causing a 21-1 surprise. Disco Time, undefeated in five starts heretofore and last seen winning the Dwyer Stakes by nearly 10 lengths last November, was kicked straight into the lead by Flavien Prat and went hard on the engine through fractions of :22.25 for the opening quarter. For their parts, White Abarrio and Skippylongstocking were sixth and eighth, respectively, with Tappan Street in the middle, niggled along almost throughout. Disco Time led past a half-mile in a demanding :46.08 with Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) pouring in the pressure and White Abarrio made steady progress to make it a line of four into the far turn. Announcer Pete Aiello called Skippylongstocking's name as he raced past Tappan Street who was 'going to have to do much better to be a factor' but he'd run his race three furlongs out. In the meantime, White Abarrio hit the lead under a hold at the head of the lane and looked all over a winner, but Tyler Gaffalione had Skippylongstocking in full flight, went to his stablemate inside the furlong and scooted clear to take become arguably the quietest $5-million winner in recent memory. Sales history: $15,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $37,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 36-13-3-7. O-Daniel Alonso; B-Brushy Hill LLC (KY); T-Saffie Joseph Jr. WOW! SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING ($45.20) wins the $3M Pegasus World Cup (G1) under @Tyler_Gaff after overtaking stablemate WHITE ABARRIO for a @SaffieJosephJr exacta in the @BreedersCup #WAYI at @GulfstreamPark. Congratulations to owner Daniel Alonso and all the connections. pic.twitter.com/FotFSb4WI0 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 24, 2026 The post ‘Yippy Skippy’! Veteran Skippylongstocking Upsets the Pegasus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article