Wandering Eyes

Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has been thrust into unknown territory after drawing barrier one for the first time in his career as he attempts to defend his HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) title at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 December). Conceding it was not ideal to draw the inside barrier in the 13-horse field, trainer David Hayes said the world’s highest-rated sprinter simply had to jump fast and either take a sit or lead if Zac Purton is unhappy with the pace. “So, I think Zac will be very happy,” Hayes said. “It’s more important what Zac thinks this time from the barrier because he has to do the job. I will leave it to him. “The horse jumps fast and he puts him in a spot, and then hopefully he gets a trouble-free run. You can get blocked in from barrier one. I don’t think he will. If he jumps fast, he can have a nice easy run to the home turn.” Hayes said the only complication that could arise is if Ka Ying Rising jumps slowly, which he has rarely done. “That would be the only concern but lately he is so fast out of the gates in his first 100 metres he gets himself in a very comfortable position,” Hayes said. Satono Reve, who will jump from barrier four under Ryan Moore, and Helios Express, who has Hugh Bowman aboard from barrier six, are likely to present the biggest challenges to Ka Ying Rising, who is chasing a 16th consecutive win. James McDonald’s mount, Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote), has drawn barrier three, while Wunderbar (Rich Enuff), the only horse to have twice finished in front of Ka Ying Rising, is in barrier two for Craig Williams. Ka Ying Rising has drawn barrier two twice for a nose second and a victory. But Hayes, whose other runner, Tomodachi Kokoroe (Written Tycoon), drew barrier seven, expects only a couple of horses to push forward from the jump. After already lowering the Sha Tin 1200m record twice, Zac Purton has warned not to expect Ka Ying Rising to again better his record of 1m 07.20s on Sunday. Purton believes it will be a typical Hong Kong sprint run at a fast tempo, and said the faster, the better; but he doesn’t expect records to tumble. “I’m not thinking it is going to be a slowly-run race, but do I think they are going to break the track records as well? No, I don’t,” Purton said. “The winter grass has come through, it’s a bit softer and the track is a bit thicker, and no doubt they’ll put a little bit more water on the track as well. They usually do for this meeting, so I don’t think a track record is going to be seen, but as long we win the race and tick it off and move on to the next one …” After winning the world’s richest race on turf – the AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) in Sydney, Australia in October – Ka Ying Rising returned to Hong Kong to win the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 23 November. “He went to the races and probably put up his career-best performance last start and got in a lovely rhythm in a fast-run race. He loves fast-run races and he put them away. It was great to see and he has trained on well since, and I’m really looking forward to Sunday,” Purton said. Purton said Ka Ying Rising’s asset was his great speed from the gate, which allowed him to put him up on the pace, and once in stride, he felt like a Rolls-Royce. “He loves high-pressure races,” Purton said. “He doesn’t like it when they go slow. And when they do go slow, it allows a lot of those other horses to be in touch with and sprint with him. Whereas, when he is out there running along, it breaks their hearts. “He is a unique horse in the way he can absorb pressure in such an easy way. A lot of other horses are just struggling to keep up with just that pace in the mid-stages and they can’t find anything off that and are gassed trying to keep up.” Sunday’s (14 December) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.25pm with the Class 4 Fairy King Prawn Handicap (1400m). View the full article

A couple of Japan’s Longines Hong Kong International Races contenders have been given glowing report cards from Thursday’s trackwork ahead of their intended targets on Sunday’s blockbuster card at Sha Tin. This year’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) looks a particularly wide open affair and Urban Chic, who is one of the leading contenders for trainer Ryo Takei, was given a strong word by his handler. Winner of the Group One Kikuka Sho (3,000m) at Kyoto earlier this year, he was last seen...View the full article

Connections of local superstars Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior walked away from the Sha Tin parade ring happy after the pair drew inside gates for Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races. While it was never going to matter too much which gate Romantic Warrior landed for the seven-runner Group One Hong Kong Cup, barrier two was just about perfect for the champion and should ensure him a smooth passage around the first bend from the tricky Sha Tin 2,000m start. Trainer David Hayes was...View the full article

Andrea Atzeni is eager to make the most of his best opportunity in a Group One race in Hong Kong when he rides leading Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) contender Giavellotto on Sunday. Oisin Murphy was in the saddle for Giavellotto’s dominant victory in the Vase at Sha Tin 12 months ago, but his commitment to ride Eydon for owner-breeder Prince Faisal paved the way for Atzeni to ride Giavellotto on Sunday. Atzeni has also ridden plenty for Giavellotto’s trainer Marco Botti and boasts a good record on the...View the full article

Sunshine Coast trainer Liam Birchley knows what it takes to win the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) having trained two previous winners, and the Queensland conditioner will again be targeting the Ellerslie feature. Birchley prepared Hardline to win in 2015 and Sister Havana in 2010, while Sarge In Charge finished second for the stable in 2009. Two-year-old filly Dream Roca is being readied for the January 24 contest, with the daughter of El Roca set to line up over 1000m at Eagle Farm this weekend. Runner up to Lady Of Five on debut over 1000m in October, the Gerry Harvey-bred Dream Roca is already 11th in order of Entry for the juvenile race restricted to New Zealand Bloodstock graduates. Dream Roca as a yearling Photo: supplied “She is on track to head to Ellerslie for the Karaka Millions and she will probably have another run after this,” Birchley said. “She shaped well at her first start but the fence was really hot that day and the winner drew the rails and we didn’t. She didn’t shirk her task and she was coming again at the line.” By Fastnet Rock’s Randwick Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) runner-up El Roca, Dream Roca was purchased by Birchley for $75,000 from the Westbury Stud draft at this year’s Karaka Yearling Sales. The filly is out of the five-win Redwood mare Petrachor. “She is a filly that is bred to get further even though she doesn’t give me that feel,” Birchley said. “She is bred to run a mile plus, which is good going forward, because the Karaka 3YO race is over a mile. “She is in good shape and she has drawn well so I expect her to race well on Saturday.” Ben Thompson will again partner Dream Roca who is a $5.50 third elect behind the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained One Day At A Time ($2.45) and the well-backed Chris and Corey Munce-trained Star Of Jamaica ($3.20). View the full article

New Zealand racing’s hottest property, Well Written, is locked in for the $4m The NZB Kiwi, after connections of the unbeaten filly signed up for the TAB slot, held by Entain New Zealand. The daughter of Written Tycoon has won all three of her career starts in dominant fashion, topped off by her Group 1 1000 Guineas victory at Riccarton last month. The Cambridge-based filly will now be set for the richest 3-year-old race in the Southern Hemisphere on 7 March at Ellerslie, with lead-up runs planned on Boxing Day and in the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO in January, before The NZB Kiwi. Entain Australia and New Zealand CEO Andrew Vouris was thrilled that Well Written’s connections had chosen the TAB slot for her bid to become the winner of the second running of The NZB Kiwi. “Well Written has already stamped herself as a brilliant talent and has gained a following on both sides of the Tasman,” Vouris said. “Through our broadcasting, content and wagering teams, we can’t wait to introduce her to an even bigger audience across Australasia, with an incredibly bright future ahead of her. Well Written’s trainer Stephen Marsh said the Entain team had built a comprehensive plan to elevate the interest around the race, and around Well Written. “Entain really impressed us with the scope of what they can bring to the partnership, and as someone who grew up in the New Zealand racing industry, it feels right to link up with the iconic TAB brand for this massive race,” Marsh said. “Well Written has already taken her band of supporters on an amazing journey, and we’re sure it will go to the next level with Entain’s support.” Major Australian breeding operation Yulong Investments purchased 50% of Well Written prior to her 1000 Guineas win. Other horses to wear the Yulong colours include dual Cox Plate winner Via Sistina and four-time Group 1-winning mare Treasurethe Moment. Yulong Investment’s Racing Manager Troy Stephens said it is incredibly exciting for Yulong to be involved in the 2026 edition of The NZB Kiwi. “It is a race that has captured the attention of the New Zealand industry, so to be involved with a filly of Well Written’s calibre to represent Yulong is a great thrill for us,” Stephens said. “We look forward to working alongside the Entain team and Marsh Racing in the lead-up to the race. New Zealand has such a rich racing history, and we are proud to now be part of that landscape — it is a very exciting time for Yulong.” As the winner of the Group 1 Barneswood Farm 53rd 1000 Guineas, Well Written is eligible for a share of the $1 million Bonus Pool up for grabs for horses that place in the top three in the NZB Kiwi. View the full article

Emerging stayer Mollify looks to have another gilt-edged opportunity to further her record on Friday and progress toward more lucrative middle-distance assignments. The Cambridge Stud-bred and owned daughter of So You Think has thrived in a more rural environment since returning from Australia and promises another bold showing in The Duncan Dental Tauranga Twilight Cup (2100m). Mollify can kick-start a potentially lucrative weekend for the farm and private trainer Lance Noble with Jaarffi, Frostfair and Daring Dame in action at Te Rapa on Saturday. She has won two of her last three starts, with a placing in between times, and impressed most recently at Pukekohe where she successfully debuted over ground. “It looks the perfect race for her, she’s hit her straps and it was a very good win last time, so it fits in nicely for her,” Noble said. “After this, she can either go to the Dunstan Stayers’ (2400m) or we may even consider the Queen Elizabeth (Gr.3, 2400m) on New Year’s Day.” Mollify was previously in Victoria with Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, and from a handful of appearances broke her maiden at Cranbourne and was twice placed. “She came back at the end of her three-year-old career, Peter said she might not measure up to black-type races over there, but he didn’t give her too many starts,” Noble said. “She has come home and developed and with the extra six months she has physically matured, and the farm environment here definitely helps mares. “It’s nice and relaxing for them and haven’t got the stress of a big training centre with a lot going on. I’m not saying I’ve improved the horse but rather benefitted from the extra time she’s been given and Peter hadn’t over-raced her.” Retained jockey Warren Kennedy will partner Mollify and her three stablemates at Te Rapa. Jaarffi will chase a breakthrough victory there in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) after luckless lead-up placings in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). The gifted Iffraaj mare has won four times up to a mile, and finished runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and will be tested over further in the immediate future. “She’s been the bridesmaid a few times and been all around it, she’s really well and hopefully she won’t get into any traffic problems,” Noble said. “We’re going to roll the dice and then see if she can step up to 2000m in the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1), it’s obviously a race the stud would love to win again (after Snazzytavi).” Written Tycoon mare Frostfair will tackle the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) after close-up finishes at Ellerslie and Tauranga. “She had a lot of form last season and looked like she’d get black type, but she’s taken a bit longer to come up and I’ve been happy with her last couple of runs,” Noble said. “While she is at the bottom of the handicap, we’ll have a crack at this one, and if she runs well we would consider going to the Rich Hill Mile (Gr.2, 1600m).” Daring Dame had no luck when unplaced last time out and the Almanzor four-year-old can turn her fortunes around in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (2200m). “She was coming up on the inside quite nicely when she got chopped out, I’m not saying she would have won, but she would have put herself right in the mix,” Noble said. “The gap was there before one on the outside closed it and Warren had to check, she had a lot more to give. “We’ve put a line through that and given a clear run on Saturday, we expect her to run very well.” View the full article

The 2025 Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale set a new high-water mark for gross, closing Wednesday evening with sales of $10,607,900 for 421 horses sold including the sales topper Treadstone (hip 34) (Tapit) who brought $470,000. The sale, which opened Thursday, December 4, and closed over two sessions on December 9 and 10, is believed to have established a new top gross for an online thoroughbred auction held worldwide, exceeding last year's Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale's gross of $10,258,700. Offerings during this sale included horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, racing/stallion prospects, broodmares, yearlings, weanlings, and stallion seasons. Treadstone, a 2-year-old who broke his maiden on debut at Aqueduct Nov. 23, sold to Greg Compton out of the Gainesway consignment. Out of the winning Empire Maker mare Bayou Tortuga, Treadstone is a half-brother to G3 UAE Oaks winners Down On Da Bayou (Super Saver) and Polar River (Congrats). The sale's second highest price went to Tour Player (hip 42) (American Pharoah) who sold for $350,000 to Legion Bloodstock, as agent for Graham Grace Stables, from the consignment of Bob Baffert, agent for Natalie J. Baffert. The 4-year-old colt was offered as a horse of racing age, is undefeated in three starts this year and entered the sale off three consecutive 90+ Beyer Speed Figures. “We were looking to add a racehorse for his stable,” Legion Bloodstock's Kyle Zorn said of Dr. Adam Ainspan's Graham Grace Stable. “We'd looked at the last couple of sales, picked a few over and for whatever reason, decided not to go after those. But this one really caught his [Dr. Ainspan] eye. [Trainer] Whit [Beckman] was really high on this colt. He's seen his performances and his last race at Churchill [a win facing allowance horses Nov. 30]. Obviously [Tour Player] has an affinity for that track so we thought he could be a fun horse to carry on into 2026.” A Bob Baffert homebred, Tour Player began his career at Santa Anita, making three starts in California before shipping to Kentucky where he broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in Oct. 2024. His three wins this year have all come under the Twin Spires but Zorn said a trip to Florida is in the colt's immediate future. “He's leaving to go down to Payson Park to join Whit's string there,” Zorn said. “We'll look at some of the races at Gulfstream Park around Pegasus weekend. I think [Whit] wants to get some miles under him and just kind of see where he's at. I went and looked at him at Margaux Farm where [bloodstock agent] Donato [Lanni] was showing him and he looked fantastic. He looks like he could run tomorrow. So we'll let Whit make that deciding factor. We just thought he'd be a fun horse for next year, maybe target some of those big races. You can always big-time dream, maybe even those overseas races if he carries on that form.” Other top prices for the sale include Empress Eleanor (hip 368) (Bernardini), sold for $280,000 to Ashview Farm from the consignment of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent for Merriebelle Stables. Empress Eleanor was offered in foal to Tiz the Law. Her first foal, Channel the Music (Maclean's Music), is a stakes-placed winner as a 2-year-old this year. Wild Bout Hilary (hip 6) (Midnight Lute), sold for $250,000 to Bourbon Boys from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. A 4-year-old racing/broodmare prospect, Wild Bout Hilary counts this year's GIII Bayakoa Stakes among her six wins from two to four. Rock On Layla (hip 645) (More Than Ready), sold for $230,000 to Fiddleleaf Bloodstock from the consignment of Harris Farms. Offered as a broodmare, the 4-year-old is a half-sister to this year's GII Clark Stakes winner Magnitude (Not This Time). Zapple (hip 351) (Ghostzapper), sold for $220,000 to Reverie Farm from the consignment of Kingswood Farm, agent. Zapple is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Nootka Sound (Lonhro {Aus}) and to the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Instant Coffee (Bolt d'Oro), and was offered carrying her first foal by Girvin. “This is the highest grossing digital sale ever,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “We're thrilled with how it went. We've sold over 1,600 horses this year and grossed over $50,000,000 in digital sales. I never thought we'd be where we are now when we launched the platform nearly four years ago.” Aaron continued: “The growth of Fasig Digital is all thanks to our buyers and sellers from across the globe. We had over 1,500 registered bidders for the December sale alone–so many that it crashed Jesse and Frank's broadcast on Day 1. I'm thrilled with where we're going and we cannot wait for 2026.” Fasig-Tipton, who has offered digital auctions from one-horse flash sales all the way through this record-breaking sale, seems poised to continue that growth. “We're gonna continue to expand,” Aaron said. “Our goal this year was 50 [million] and I think we've hit 50.1 [million], and that's just in four years. Wherever the market allows us to go, we're going to take it. As long as people want to keep giving us horses to sell, we're going to continue to grow.” Overall, 421 horses sold for $10,607,900, believed to be the highest gross ever for an online thoroughbred auction worldwide. Twenty-two offerings sold for $100,000 or more. Horses were sold to buyers from eight different countries and three continents. Next on the calendar is the Fasig-Tipton January Digital Sale which will run Jan. 15-20. The post ‘Highest Grossing Digital Sale Ever’: Treadstone Tops Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A lawsuit filed in a Kentucky court Wednesday over a disputed Standardbred auction figures to be closely watched by the Thoroughbred industry because of allegations that a Lexington Selected Yearling Sales Company (LSYS) auctioneer belatedly realized he had dropped the hammer on a $15,000 sale without respecting a $45,000 reserve price that should have been in effect. According to the civil complaint initiated by the New Jersey-based Val D'Or Farms, which thought it had rightfully purchased the filly, named Philly's Sting, for $15,000 via proxy bid, the auctioneer purportedly tried to cover his alleged mistake by reopening the bidding on the premise that there had actually been a tie bid. The auctioneer then commenced to get the price up to just under the reserve, declaring the yearling sold to a different buyer. “Upon information and belief, there was no other tie bidder, just an illusory bid in an effort to protect the reserve,” stated the lawsuit filed Dec. 10 in Fayette Circuit Court. The lawsuit included a link to a video of the Oct. 1, 2025, auction of Hip 572. It shows Philly's Sting in the sales ring for 90 seconds before her bidding stalls at $15,000. After the auctioneer hammers the podium and declares, “All done! In the back, $15,000!” Philly's Sting is led out of the ring. While the next sales prospect, Hip 573, is being shown and announced, the auctioneer appears to be examining paperwork in front of him. After 15 seconds, he then says, “Hold on a sec. Say what? You thought you were in back there? No. Nope. You weren't. I'm sorry.” Speaking over an unidentified raised voice protesting from the bidding gallery, the auctioneer then says, “All right, we have to open it back up between those bidders.” Over the next 20 seconds, the bidding on Philly's Sting escalated to $27,000. At that point, seemingly in an effort to clarify which yearling was actually being auctioned–the one who had already been led out of the ring or the one being shown in it–the auctioneer says, “This is 572! Just hold this [other] horse over to the side, keep him still.” As the bidding crested $35,000 and one unseen participant appeared to be vacillating, the auctioneer says, “I'll give you all the time you need. That was my mistake.” Another minute later, the hammer fell for good on Philly's Sting at $44,000. According to the lawsuit, “neither the Auctioneer, nor LSYS, nor anyone acting on their behalf or control, including spotters, observed, received, and acknowledged a tie bid during and/or prior to the fall of the Hammer, [and] the Auctioneer had no right to and improperly, negligently, intentionally, and/or recklessly reopen the bidding on Philly's Sting.” The allegations in the Dec. 10 lawsuit represent only one side of this story. TDN learned of the filing of the lawsuit after 6 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, and could not reach anyone at the Kentucky offices of LSYS at that hour. The breeder of Philly's Sting (Hot Lead Stables) and the consignor (Cameo Hills Farm) are also listed as defendants. All of those defendants will have their chance to answer the complaint or to try and dismiss it in subsequent court filings. The lawsuit seeks a judgment against each defendant mandating the acceptance of the $15,000 payment and the delivery of Philly's Sting to the plaintiff. Drew Mollica is one of the attorneys on the legal team for Val D'Or, whose principal, Martin Granoff, co-bred and co-owned the pacer Perfect Sting (the undefeated Dan Patch Award winner at two and Breeders Crown champion at both two and three), who is the sire of Philly's Sting. “Marty Granoff is one of the most prominent, respected owners in the business,” Mollica said. “And he really feels violated, he really does. “The rules are explicit. Once the hammer drops, you own the horse,” Mollica continued. “They missed the reserve. Owning horses is hard enough. Buying horses at auction is hard enough. You shouldn't have to fight the auction company, too. “[Granoff] campaigned the sire. He's an experienced buyer. He knows the rules. It's unequivocal in Mr. Granoff's mind, and he wants this settled not only for him, but for everybody who buys horses at auction,” Mollica said. The post Suit Alleges Standardbred Auctioneer Failed to Notice $45K Reserve, Then Reopened Bidding after Hammer Fell at $15K appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the North American Thoroughbred foal crop continuing to contract, numerous panelists speaking Dec. 10 at the Global Symposium on Racing pointed to regional, multi-state cooperation to help stabilize breeding in states with faltering numbers.View the full article

A $500 TAB Bonus Bet will be given away as part of Ashburton’s big Harness 5000 meeting next week. Sponsored by Phoebe Stud, the Harness 5000 will feature 12 $60,000 races next Sunday (December 21). Entries for the HRNZ $500 TAB Bonus Bet open tomorrow (Friday, December 12). The winner will be drawn after Race 3 on Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 day. The winner must be on-course to claim the prize. If they are not it will be re-drawn until a winner is found. The prize is a $500 Bonus Bet which will deposited into the winner’s TAB account. It must be used as a single bet of $500 on the day and cannot be split across races. With bonus bets the winner will keep any winnings over the $500 outlay. For instance if you bet the $500 on a $1.50 favourite the winner will take home $250 ($750 – $500 Bonus Bet). Or if you place the $500 at $3 you will keep $1000 ($1500 minus the $500 Bonus Bet). To enter all participants have to do initially is scan the promotion’s QR code. This will be displayed on HRNZ and Ashburton Trotting Club’s websites, social media, on-course at Ashburton, the meeting’s racebook and other publications. Entrants will need to submit the required personal details and in doing so participants are consenting to receiving future promotional communications from HRNZ. Entry is free. To see more about the Terms and Conditions of the HRNZ TAB $500 Bonus bet Giveaway click here To find out more about Phoebe Stud and the stallions they have standing at stud (including Royal Aspirations and Krug) click here View the full article

Nikki Hurdle had the ride of her life with Group One performer Express Yourself, and just six months after her retirement, the Palmerston North horsewoman looks to have her hands on another exciting sprinter. Express Yourself recorded six wins and eight placings from 22 starts, highlighted by her runner-up performance in last year’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), where she was piloted by Hurdle’s jockey son, Ryan Hurdle. Her syndicate of owners offered her on gavelhouse.com earlier this year, where she was purchased by Wairarapa thoroughbred nursery Little Avondale Stud for $102,500. “Express Yourself is now in-foal to Per Incanto. Little Avondale bought her off us and we are very excited, she is going to leave great foals,” Hurdle said. While Wairarapa is Express Yourself’s new home, it was also the home of former stablemate Falcrests Belle’s eye-catching 7-1/2 length maiden win over 1000m on Wednesday. The four-year-old mare had shown Hurdle plenty of promise at home, but she had yet to show that same talent on raceday, finishing last on debut at Tauherenikau in January before resuming this spring with placings at New Plymouth and Tauherenikau. It was at her last-start placing that proved to be the turning point for Falcrests Belle, with senior hoop Kate Hercock partnering her for the first time and coming back to Hurdle post-race with some crucial feedback. “I thought she would win on debut, she really disappointed us, and she went two good races after that but still a bit below what we were expecting,” Hurdle said. “After her last start Kate came in and said, ‘we have to change her gear, she is not breathing properly, she is rolling her tongue back’. “It made sense because that is exactly how she was racing, she was running out of puff.” Hurdle took that feedback onboard and made the advised gear adjustments, and the daughter of Darci Brahma duly romped home to victory at Tauherenikau following a dominant front-running display. “It was huge, we were pretty thrilled with how she went. I always thought she had it in her,” Hurdle said. “Yesterday was probably the turning point for us, I was just thrilled with the way she jumped out and settled and kicked at the turn. When Kate came back she reported that her breathing was perfect and said she hardly blew.” Hurdle is excited to have another promising sprinter on her hands, especially so soon after Express Yourself, and said she owes her association with the mare down to her pedigree and good friend Margaret Cartwright. “I was a bit lucky to get this horse, she is beautifully bred,” Hurdle said. “Centre Crest was a fantastic sprinter, he was a Group One winner and won 16 races. This mare is out of his half-sister (Falcrest) and as soon as I heard that I said to Margaret Cartwright, who had her on her farm, ‘how do I get this horse to train? I would love to have her’. “She was unbroken and she (Cartwright) made it all happen for us. Margaret kept a share, Evan (Foreman), who bred her, kept a share, and then most of the Express Yourself syndicate moved in as well. “I only do one horse at a time, so it has to be something I really like. I just saw this horse and I loved her.” While rapt with Falcrests Belle’s maiden win, Hurdle isn’t getting carried away and said she will take a patient approach with the mare. “I am not going to ask too much of her this time in,” she said. “I want to build her confidence and ringcraft. I think next year she is going to be so much better. She is like Express Yourself, she will hit her straps at five. “I might look at Boxing Day (at Otaki), there is a rating 65 there. Then I might back off her and look at her again in the autumn. “If everything goes like I think it will, we will get a little more adventurous in her next campaign. “The future looks good for her.” View the full article

Summer has arrived, and Shelley Hale is hoping so too will Blue Sky At Night’s form, as she gets set to defend her crown in Saturday’s Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa. Her victory in last year’s running kicked off a lucrative summer, which culminated in victory in the Gr.3 Avondale Cup (2400m), a double Hale is hoping to repeat. “We will be trying hard,” the Cambridge trainer said. While pegged as a wet-tracker earlier in her career, Hale said Blue Sky At Night has shed that tag over the last couple of seasons. “Earlier in her career people could have suggested that she was possibly a wet-tracker, but she had a good summer last year so fingers-crossed it is similar this year,” she said. While the Shamexpress mare has been unplaced in all three of her starts this preparation, Hale said they have been luckless runs, and she is hoping to take luck out of the equation on Saturday after drawing ideally in barrier four. “She is on a similar plan to last season, we are hitting it fourth-up,” Hale said. “She is racing well but has been lacking a bit of luck. We hope it is our turn to have the luck on our side this time. “She won’t have to do any work at all (from barrier four) to take up a nice position hopefully, and she gets a nice, light weight (53kg), she is still in a very good place in the handicaps.” While Blue Sky At Night holds a nomination for next month’s Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m), Hale said she will likely bypass the Trentham feature in favour of focussing on the Avondale Cup a few weeks later. “I don’t think she stayed the two miles in the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) when we tried her so we will probably go to the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) and then she can have a little freshen before having one run into the Avondale Cup and see if we can hit that one again too.” Meanwhile, Hale will head to Tauranga on Friday with Lofty Manuel, a full-sister to Blue Sky At Night’s Saturday race rival Gigi. The four-year-old daughter of Ghibellines will be first-up after a couple of trials and Hale is looking forward to testing her over a mile for the first time in the Kiwi Bus Builders Maiden 1600. “I am looking forward to stretching her out over a little further,” Hale said. “She has been getting too far off the speed and rattling home well, so hopefully she can jump away a little bit better and get a bit closer to the chocolates. “She goes well, she has just got to put it all together.” View the full article

Seeking to ease its financial burden on the Thoroughbred industry, HISA aims to shift half of its income collection away from assessments and toward outside revenue streams by 2030. By 2035, HISA plans to be budget-neutral.View the full article

Louisiana superstar Touchuponastar will look for his fourth consecutive win in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes Dec. 13 at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots.View the full article