Wandering Eyes

Sent off the 9-5 favorite for his unveiling at Oaklawn Park, D'code (Speightstown–Dos Vinos, by Twirling Candy) went to the front early and increased his advantage throughout, by open lengths over fellow firster Silver Prince (Cairo Prince) in this TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard-earning performance. The colt, who is trained by Ray Ashford Jr., is out of multiple winner Dos Vinos. Bred by Tom Durant, the grey brought $775,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in Training sale, however, makes his debut here for his breeder. Final time for the one-mile test was 1:09.57. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $60,000. O/B-Tom Durant (KY). T-Ray Ashford Jr. The post Speightstown’s D’code Rolls to Rising Star Score in Oaklawn Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The topic of the diminishing North American Thoroughbred foal crop (estimated 17,000 for 2026) came up several times during last week's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson. This is often referred to as our industry's “horse shortage” problem. I try to avoid that term in my reporting unless I am directly quoting someone who says it. Instead, the sport has long been dealing with an “owner shortage.” Breeders stand ready and willing to start producing more racehorses if only more buyers would step up to purchase and campaign them. Another metric that doesn't get as much attention–the number of Thoroughbreds who make at least one start in a calendar year–can also be useful to watch. Through this past Saturday's racing, that number stood at 42,198 with 2 1/2 weeks to go in 2025. That figure, courtesy of the publicly available “by racing year' tabulations on Equibase, can be drilled down even further to see how many starts each of those horses have made. I've always had both respect and a soft spot for the grizzled “war horse” veterans of the Thoroughbred world, probably because growing up on the now-defunct New England circuit, it was common see past performances of claimers whose ages were in double digits with lifetime starts in triple digits. You generally don't see those types of horses these days for a variety of reasons–training methodologies have shifted toward a “less is more” approach; greater regulatory and veterinary scrutiny discourages running horses back too often, and there are far fewer racing stables competing at far fewer tracks–just to name a few. The other day I was sorting the stat columns on Equibase to rank the horses this year by how many starts they have made. Before I say what stood out, take a moment to quiz yourself: How many Thoroughbreds in 2025 do you think have started at least 20 times? For extra credit, try to guess what that statistic was 25 years ago. The answer, so far in 2025, is 24 horses with 20 or more starts. A start | Sarah Andrew I would have bet the “over” on that one, figuring it was higher. That equates to .05% (one-twentieth of one percent) of the entire group of 42,198 starters. Three are tied with 23 to top the list. The rest fall between 20 and 22 starts. (Side note: Those 24 horses at the 20-plus-start level were sired by 23 different stallions, with only Collected represented by two offspring.) Turning the clock back to 2020 yielded a skewed set of numbers, because the COVID-19 shutdowns resulted in a massive loss of training and racing dates for the final 10 months of that year. But still, as a benchmark, there were more starters in the pandemic year than there will be this year: 2020 featured 46,683 starters, with 19 hitting the 20-start mark despite the truncated season (.04% of all starters). Two tied at 24 races to top the year. Ten years ago, in 2015, a total of 54,496 Thoroughbreds made at least one start, and 209 of them ran at least 20 times (.38%). Two tied atop the leaderboard with 28 starts. In 2010, the pool of all starters was 69,689, with 348 horses racing 20 or more times (.49%). Two tied for most starts with 30. In 2005 there were 74,282 starters, of which 440 started 20-plus times (.59%), with two topping the leaderboard at 31 starts each. The year 2000 is the farthest-back the Equibase online database goes for these types of rankings, and it yields the most mind-boggling numerical nugget: Although there were fewer starters (71,156) in 2000 than there would be in 2005, an astounding 1,101 horses 25 years ago (1.5%) made at least 20 starts. And that group of 1,101 in the 2000 season included a subset of 23 who raced at least 30 times (the high-start mark was 36). Put another way, the same number of horses who started 30-plus times a quarter-century ago is nearly equal to the number of 20-start horses this year. Ain't building 'em like before… The above exercise isn't meant to say that Thoroughbreds aren't as capable of starting as often as their contemporaries from earlier in the 21st Century. While that statement certainly could be true, there aren't as many racing outfits or opportunities to prove it either way. Todd Gralla on the new Belmont Park | courtesy of The Jockey Club But they definitely aren't building racetracks like they used to, and the reasons why were articulated in an intriguing talk at the U of A Symposium by Todd Gralla, the director of Equestrian Services for Populous, a global architecture firm specializing in sports and entertainment facilities like Camden Yards, the Sphere in Las Vegas, and the currently under-construction New Highmark Stadium, the soon-to-be home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills. Over the past four decades, Gralla has played roles in the development of more than 400 racing and equestrian venues worldwide, including the Olympics, the current rebuilds of Belmont Park and Pimlico Race Course, plus renovation projects at Churchill Downs. In a panel called “Building the Future of Racing: Major Construction Projects Transforming America's Tracks,” Gralla gave perspectives on what shaped the designs at the three Triple Crown tracks. Churchill Downs wasn't being built from scratch and already had an iconic design feature in its twin spires, so that distinction didn't need tweaking, Gralla said. “Belmont, as we kind of looked at the historic structure that was there, the new arena that we built next to it, [the question became] 'What's the next step for architecture over there?' And the leadership wanted something a little bit more contemporary. So our inspiration was the ribbon, which symbolizes victory. And that's kind of the way that the design came together.” Populous describes the new Belmont as “draw[ing] inspiration from the flowing, mutable shape of a ribbon–the traditional symbol of victory–and mark[ing] an intentional departure from the current Belmont style.” Pimlico's cupola and weather vane | Horsephotos The new design is supposed to “introduce greater transparency” and “reduce the scale of the building to be properly sized” for changing needs and trends, the company's website stated. “Now at Pimlico, what's interesting is there wasn't a lot there that was great to work from,” Gralla continued. “The existing buildings that we just tore down in the last couple months were not architecturally significant at all,” Gralla said. “What was architecturally significant [was] the original clubhouse that burned down in 1962, which has the weathervane and the replica of the cupola that was the winner's circle. So we're using that for inspiration at Pimlico, and trying to do something that's real Baltimore, that kind of goes back to the original history of 'Old Hilltop.'” Gralla said the barns that will house GI Preakness Stakes horses and entrants in other big stakes will be brought close to the frontside paddock. “Part of the reason we pulled those up front is we're trying to give visitors a horse experience,” Gralla said. “We want them to be able to see the trainers, horses, jockeys in their daily routine. “And then we're using a lot of the stretch apron area to build a pavilion to support a lot of picnicking, tailgating out there, as well as [temporary structure] overlay during the Preakness Stakes,” Gralla said. Butt-in-seat? No way! So what's driving the main changes in sports architecture right now? “One is revenue,” Gralla said. “Our clients in the professional sports business are making tons of in-venue revenue. And it's not gaming, and it's not wagering on sports. In fact, at the New Highmark, the clients don't want sports wagering facilities in the physical facility because it's not worth the square footage. “That's really interesting, when a client tells you, 'Giving up square footage for wagering on sports is not worth putting in my sports stadium,'” Gralla said. “That's the complete opposite of kind of where we are in racing right now. “We are also making venues smaller,” Gralla said. “And in those venues, we've designed over the past 20 or 30 years? We're going back into those major-league sports venues and we're removing capacity. We're changing seats into clubs and into social areas. Because that's what the younger generation wants. They don't want 'butt-in-seat' for two or three or four hours. “We're also really looking for unique experiences in those stadiums [based] around that game day. And racing is really full of those,” Gralla said. “When we look at a typical game day for a fan at an NFL stadium, we kind of try to assess what their pre-game looks like, what time they arrive, what their in-game [behavior] looks like, and what does it look like outside [after] the game day. Because where we're getting money and revenue is pre- and post-game right now, assuming that everyone is already in there for the game. Churchill's Homestretch Club | courtesy of CDI “For horse racing, we don't have just one game, right? We have 10 or 12, so you break [the card] down into even more tiny little segments,” Gralla said. “When we started working with NYRA, one of the first things that was done was to look at entry scans for the Belmont Stakes, for example. And what we learned is that most people going to the Belmont Stakes–and any kind of stakes or big race day, really across the board at any track–people aren't even there for the first half of the card. How do we get them there for the first half of the card to spend more, wager more? “And then also they're leaving very quickly after that [feature] race, even though we may have one or three races after that. How do we keep them [and] keep them engaged?” Gralla asked. Gralla answered his own question, from an architectural standpoint. “We're looking at unique experiences, we're looking at more social spaces versus seats, and even trying the eke more out of every square foot of that building as possible. “We know that moving low seats from up high in a stadium down to field-side makes them worth more. We've done similar things at Churchill, when you look at the Homestretch Club, where we've got all the loge or banquettes down at trackside–very popular, worth a lot of money, and worth coming for the entire card.” A key, Gralla said is freedom to move around. Better food and beverage offerings are great, Gralla said. Spreading them out around the property is even better. “So we're not keeping people just in one area of the building,” Gralla said. “In a lot of our current tracks–like all of the facilities at Pimlico we just tore down–you weren't free to move around. You had a certain space, and you were kept there.” The post The Week In Review: 20 Is The New 30 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sosie saved the day for the international visitors and Soul Rush put up a good fight for Japan for the second straight year to keep the "international" in the Dec. 14 Hong Kong International Races.View the full article

To look at her pedigree, anyone would think Star Anise is destined to sprint, but if her performance in the Dec. 14 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) is any measure, she might go a bit farther than that.View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features the first foal out of a Breeders' Cup heroine. 12.12 Lingfield, Novice, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) ESTISSA (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a key member of this fascinating cast as the first foal out of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Prix Jean Romanet heroine Audarya (Wootton Bassett) and, as with that luminary, James Fanshawe is trusted with the handling of the Swinburns' homebred. She meets Kirsten Rausing's fellow newcomer Allaire (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), an Andrew Balding-trained half-sister to the St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov (Dubawi). The post Audarya’s Daughter Estissa Debuts at Lingfield appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star Anise emulated illustrious names such as Vodka (2006), Buena Vista (2010) and Liberty Island (2022) with a stylish success in Sunday's G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, matching the race-record time of 1:32.60 for the end-of-season championship. Eighteen of Japan's leading two-year-old fillies went to post for the 1,600-metre contest, with His Masterpiece (Screen Hero) taking them along in the early stages ahead of the longshots From Raven (Tower of London) and Rose Charis (California Chrome). Race favourite Alankar (Epiphaneia), on the other hand, was anchored at the rear of the field, with Star Anise taking up a position in mid-division under regular rider Kohei Matsuyama. Swtiched out to ensure a clear path approaching the third corner, Star Anise circled wide into the straight and began to pick off rivals one by one as the early pacesetters tired. The daughter of Drefong assumed command entering the final furlong and from there she was always doing enough to resist the late challenge of Garavogue (Lord Kanaloa), ultimately winning by 1 1/4 lengths. Taisei Vogue (Indy Champ) also ran on stoutly in the closing stages to pass the post just a neck behind Garavogue in third, while Sweet Happiness (Real Impact) was fourth and Alankar fifth, the latter's effort flattening out in the final furlong after she'd raced widest on the track. “I am grateful to the connections for allowing me to have another shot with this strong filly at this big stage after being defeated in our last start,” Matsuyama said of the Tomokazu Takano-trained Star Anise, who was sent off second favourite after filling the runner-up spot in August's G3 Chukyo Nisai Stakes when last seen. “Although it was her first time at a mile distance, she gave me the impression that she'd be just fine after her last start over 1,400 metres. My main concern was the weather, but [after the rain on Saturday] it held up fine and luck was on our side. We were nearly stuck inside early in the race but, with a big stride like hers, I wanted her path to be clear and chose the outside route which worked out just as I had imagined. She responded beautifully and had enough in the tank to put in another effort in the end. The three-year-old Triple Crown awaits her next season. I just hope that she will arrive there safe and sound and it would be great if I can partner her again.” G1 1600m 2yo Hanshin Juvenile Fillies: Won by 2f 9. STAR ANISE (Drefong x Epice Arome (Daiwa Major)) under Kohei Matsuyama 1.32.6 for 8F GARAVOGUE (Lord Kanaloa) 2nd TAISEI VOGUE (Indy Champ) Fav 4. ALANKAR a very tough watch….#JRA #DREFONG pic.twitter.com/VnaRu3OqPT — Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) December 14, 2025 The first leg of the Japanese Triple Tiara, the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas), is scheduled for Sunday, April 12 in 2026. Last year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies heroine, Arma Veloce (Harbinger), went on to finish second in that Classic, before occupying the same position in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks). In 2023, the aforementioned Liberty Island became the last filly to win all three legs of the Japanese Triple Tiara, which is completed by the Shuka Sho. Star Anise heads into winter quarters as the winner of two of her four starts, having kicked off her career with two runs over the six-furlong trip at Kokura, finishing fifth on debut and then registering an impressive victory over the same course and distance. Stepped up to seven furlongs for the Chukyo Nisai Stakes, she was beaten just a neck there by the colt Candide (Tosen Ra), with the first two pulling seven lengths clear of the remainder. Pedigree Notes Star Anise joins first-crop son Geoglyph as the only Group 1-winning progeny to date of Shadai Stallion Station's Drefong, who won three top-level races when trained by Bob Baffert, headlined by the 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint, before being exported to Japan. Geoglyph, who won the G3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes when Drefong was crowned Japan's leading freshman sire in 2021, later enjoyed his finest hour when beating none other than Equinox to win the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas). This filly is out of the Daiwa Major mare Epice Arome, who claimed a notable scalp of her own when defeating Lord Kanaloa to win the G2 Centaur Stakes in 2012. Previously, she too contested the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, finishing eighth behind Joie De Vivre, after gaining her black-type breakthrough in the G3 Kokura Nisai Stakes. Epice Arome has produced three winners from as many runners thus far, with the others including the dual Listed winner Balsam Note (Maurice). She is a full-sister to the stakes performer Alla Salute, from the family of the Japanese Horse of the Year Sakura Laurel (Rainbow Quest). Sunday, Hanshin, Japan HANSHIN JUVENILE FILLIES-G1, ¥125,140,000, Hanshin, 12-14, 2yo, f, 1600mT, 1:32.60, fm. 1–STAR ANISE (JPN), 121, f, 2, by Drefong 1st Dam: Epice Arome (Jpn) (MGSW-Jpn, $2,456,295), by Daiwa Major (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Ratafia, by Cozzene 3rd Dam: Sakura Fabulous (GB), by Fabulous Dancer 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Northern Farm; T-Tomokazu Takano; J-Kohei Matsuyama; ¥66,288,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, ¥84,768,000. *1/2 to Balsam Note (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), MSW-Jpn, $728,703. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Garavogue (Jpn), 121, f, 2, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Lexie Lou, by Sligo Bay (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Lord Horse Club; B-K. I. Farm; ¥26,368,000. 3–Taisei Vogue (Jpn), 121, f, 2, Indy Champ (Jpn)–Viyadana (Fr), by Azamour (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Seiho Tanaka; B-Northern Farm; ¥16,184,000. Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NK. Odds: 4.00, 6.20, 10.50. Also Ran: Sweet Happiness (Jpn), Alankar (Jpn), Arbanne (Jpn), Shonan Charis (Jpn), Margot Love Me (Jpn), Lady Goal (Jpn), Inubono Utagoe (Jpn), Stunning Lady (Jpn), Mitsukane Venera (Jpn), Rose Charis (Jpn), Maple Happy (Jpn), His Masterpiece (Jpn), Lasting Snow (Jpn), From Raven (Jpn), Angelitas (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Dominated by Northern Farm Homebred Star Anise appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NYRA has canceled live racing Dec. 14 at Aqueduct Racetrack due to a winter storm impacting the New York City area. South Ozone Park remains under a winter weather advisory.View the full article

Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising were expected to win the Hong Kong Cup (G1) and Hong Kong Sprint (G1) Dec. 14, but their performances exceeded expectations.View the full article

A powerful winner of his three most recent appearances against softer competition, Tomoya Ozasa's T O Elvis (Volatile) made the very most of his first crack at stakes level with a visually stunning, five-length victory in Sunday's G3 Capella Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse. Perhaps a half-step slowly to begin, the lanky dark bay took up an inside position behind midfield after departing gate four and traveled hard against the steel, with jockey Katsuma Sameshima doing his level best to harness the colt's energy. Held together for the run into the final 600 metres with Sameshima looking for the gaps to appear, T O Elvis split rivals decisively about six off the inside, descended on the leaders to wrest command with a furlong to race and powered clear to score as the 12-5 favourite. Three-times listed winner Yamanin Cerchi (Four Wheel Drive) was second ahead of Ecoro Azel (Shancelot) in third. Fourth home was the 4-year-old filly Gabby's Sister (Apollo Kingdom), who defeated Kurojishi Joe (Furioso) in this 12 months ago before going on to run third in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. T O Elvis could make his next appearance in the same event on Feb. 14 after securing an automatic bid on Sunday. Japanese gallopers have won three of the six runnings of that 1200-metre contest (Copano Kicking, 2021, Dancing Prince, 2022 and Remake, 2024). T O Elvis is the fifth stakes winner and fourth to score at graded level for his sire (by Medaglia d'Oro) and is one of three to salute from his dam, an eight-times stakes winner and victorious in nine of her 10 trips to the post overall. Stopshoppingdebbie is kin to five other winners out of the MSW Taste the Passion, who serves as the first or second dam of a further five stakes scorers, including her MSW daughters Shampoo (Gulch) and Smarty Deb (Smart Strike), both stakes producers. The yearling half-sister to T O Elvis, My Pal Al (Golden Pal), sold for $300,000 at this year's Keeneland September Sale and Stopshoppingdebbie was covered by Street Sense and his son Maxfield this season. Sunday, Nakayama, Japan CAPELLA S S.-G3, ¥72,830,000, Nakayama, 12-14, 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:08.60, gd. 1–T O ELVIS, 123, c, 3, by Volatile 1st Dam: Stopshoppingdebbie (MSW, $249,728), by Curlin 2nd Dam: Taste the Passion, by Wild Again 3rd Dam: Bisbee, by Believe It 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Tomoya Ozasa; B-Jeff & Melissa Prunzik (KY); T-Daisuke Takayanagi; J-Katsuma Sameshima; ¥38,581,000. Lifetime Record: 8-5-0-3, $619,060. *1/2 to Generous Tipper (Street Sense), SW & GISP, $367,945. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Yamanin Cerchi (Jpn), 128, c, 3, Four Wheel Drive–Yamanin Petitgateau (Jpn), by Yamanin Seraphim (Jpn). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Hajime Doi; T-Naoya Nakamura; J-Mirai Iwata; ¥15,166,000. 3–Ecoro Azel, 123, c, 3, Shancelot–Cicada's Song, by Twirling Candy. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. ($17,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT; $215,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Masatoshi Haramura; B-Crawford Farms (KY); T-Hideyuki Mori; J-Taisei Danno; ¥9,583,000. Margins: 5, 1, 3/4. Odds: 2.20, 3.90, 14.00. Also Ran: Gabby's Sister (Jpn), Nitto Basil (Jpn), Sunrise Amour (Jpn), Pod Vader (Jpn), Chikappa (Jpn), Jasper Gold, Kurojishi Joe (Jpn), Tagano Mist (Jpn), Candy Drive, Stapes Kaori (Jpn), A Tracks (Jpn), Don Amitie (Jpn), Culture Day (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and VIDEO. WATCH: T O Elvis (#4) goes whoosh in the Capella S. The post Volatile’s T O Elvis ‘King’ Of the Capella Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday due to a winter storm impacting the New York City area, the track said in an early morning press release on Sunday. The message said that South Ozone Park remains under a winter weather advisory with forecasts calling for continued snow, low wind chill values and high winds. Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcasting, and online wagering is available via NYRABets.com. Live racing will resume following the holiday break on Friday, Dec. 26 at the Big A with a card highlighted by the Alex M. Robb Stakes. The post NYRA Cancels Sunday Racing At Aqueduct As Snow Moves In appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Voyage Bubble showed the heart of a champion to defend his Group One Longines Hong Kong Mile crown in another ding-dong scrap with Japan’s Soul Rush at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Triple Crown hero won the race 12 months ago when defeating Soul Rush by a length and a quarter and there was a sense of deja vu with a mirror result – though it did not always look likely. Sent off the $3.6 second favourite behind My Wish, Voyage Bubble gradually made ground down the back...View the full article

James McDonald was speechless and Danny Shum Chap-shing felt great relief as champion galloper Romantic Warrior created history again with a fourth straight Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) triumph. Romantic Warrior became the first galloper to win four features at the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) when he cruised to victory over Japan’s Bellagio Opera at Sha Tin on Sunday. “He’s so special. He’s just a freak,” McDonald said after guiding Romantic Warrior to an 11th Group One...View the full article

Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), the world’s best sprinter, stretched his consecutive winning streak to 16 with an imperious victory in the HK$28 million Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The gelding secured his sixth Group One victory to match the mighty Golden Sixty’s feat of posting 16 straight wins to be now only one short of Hong Kong’s record of 17, held by Silent Witness, and enhanced his own record to 17 wins and two seconds from 19 starts with prize money of HK$122.5 million. In a powerhouse display after drawing barrier one for the first time in his career, the Shamexpress gelding produced one of his best victories with another masterful ride from Zac Purton, who steered the champion into the middle of the home straight in search of the best ground. Ka Ying Rising surged away to beat Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto) by three-and-three-quarter lengths, with Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote) third for a New Zealand bred trifecta in 1m 07.7s after being eased down by Purton over the closing 150 metres. Purton said Ka Ying Rising’s performance was what everyone wanted to see. “His last run showed us that it was on the cards today,” he said. “He drew the right gate, and when the barrier came out, they said, ‘What do you think?’ And I said he would win by further. “He is just in a league of his own now. And not having to do that extra work into the first corner from a wide gate to try and get forward, probably helped him. Purton said Ka Ying Rising travelled beautifully throughout the race, and he just made sure he gave him his chance. Declaring Ka Ying Rising the best horse he has trained, David Hayes said he was relieved the five-year-old gelding didn’t let the stable or the public’s expectations down. “He was just superb today,” he said. “The messages he was sending the week of the race suggested he’d do something like that. We are not running fast times today but he did – (running) a lot faster than the other races.” Hayes said he hoped the six-time Group 1 winner had another 20 races in him. Hayes said there were horses in the race with Royal Ascot, Dubai and Breeders’ Cup form and they were probably the best sprinters around, and while Ka Ying Rising was making them look ordinary, he said they certainly weren’t. He said every time Ka Ying Rising races, there was something significant he had to do, including his next two starts when he aims to equal and then break Silent Witness’ winning streak. “He is a lot heavier and stronger now, so physically he is really improving and it is showing on the track,” Hayes said. “The great thing about him is that he doesn’t have to lead. Today Zac wanted to take all of the risk out of it so he could get off the fence and that is another string to his bow.” Hayes said Ka Ying Rising would be again set for Hong Kong’s Speed Series, and it would be fun to see him stretch out to 1400m like last year. “It will then be the big international sprint here and then he’ll be going to The Everest,” he said. “Let’s just hope he is sound and well and if he is in the form he was today, we’d love to take those Aussies on again.” Hayes predicted Ka Ying Rising will soon beat his Sha Tin 1200m track record of 1m 07.20. “Zac has been easing him down in his past couple of races,” he said. “He probably ran about 20 lengths quicker than the Class 3 and the Class 4 (1200m), which he probably should.” View the full article

Helene Supafeeling overcame inexperience and a wide barrier to barge himself into Classic Series contention after a sparkling local debut in the Class Three Snow Fairy Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The David Eustace-trained galloper was a dual winner on the all-weather in Britain for Archie Watson pre-import and had shown potential in his trials ahead of his local debut. Sent off $7.8 under James McDonald, Helene Supafeeling only had two behind turning wide into the straight. Despite...View the full article

Ka Ying Rising moved to within one win of champion Silent Witness’ Hong Kong record with a showstopping blitz in Sunday’s Group One Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Twelve months after claiming his first elite-level success in the same race but only narrowly, the world’s best sprinter delivered the performance everyone expected when coasting to his 16th straight victory. “That’s what everyone wanted. Obviously after last year they were a bit flat, but this year we showed...View the full article