Wandering Eyes

Horse Racing Ireland has announced a prize-money boost of €4.2m to €74.7m as details for the 2026 budget was revealed on Friday. Equine welfare and integrity along with education and training as well as breeding and sales are other key areas that HRI has targeted for investment. Details of the prize money strategy will be announced early in the New Year, together with 2026 revised race values which will commence from March 1. At the heart of this strategy is the delivery of a sustainable race programme and a competitive prize money distribution model. The budgeted number of race meetings in 2026 is 390. Meanwhile, following the recent Ministerial approval, the development of the Tipperary All Weather Track will commence early in 2026 with all-weather racing expected to commence in Q4 of 2027. This is a significant investment in the future of the racing industry. There is provision in budget 2026 for grant aid for capital developments in racecourses under a new scheme launched during 2025. The expectation is that HRI will fund €20m-€24m by providing 40% grant aid over a 5-year period, underpinning total capital investment of €50m-€60m by racecourses on their public facing and industry facilities. With regards to funding towards breeding and sales, the IRE Incentive Scheme, designed to stimulate trade at Irish sales and to fortify the Irish thoroughbred breeding and racing industry is producing a significant multiplier effect in terms of investment in Irish-bred horses. In 2026, HRI will provide for €1.5m in vouchers, up by €0.2m from this year, for qualifying winners that can be spent on Irish-bred horses at Irish auctions in 2026 and 2027. Suzanne Eade, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “Although HRI's overall allocation from the Horse & Greyhound Fund remained static in 2026, the revised allocation with €2m more available for current expenditure has allowed us to progress many of the ambitious plans laid out in our Strategic Plan 2024-2028. This has been achieved by driving efficiencies within the industry's operational expenditure, allowing us to respond to significant inflationary pressures. “HRI has consulted with key stakeholders, owners, and racecourses in determining both prize money strategy and funding the changes for 2026. These increases in prize money are crucial to the attraction of inward investment into Irish racing, the widening of the ownership base, and the retention of both owners and horses. “HRI welcomes the recent approval of the Tipperary All Weather Track Development by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, with the work due to commence early in 2026 for completion by the end of the following year. “We have increased capital allocations, quite significantly, in the areas of equine welfare, in our people and their training, integrity, breeding and bloodstock sales and transformative digital and IT projects. “These measures, we believe, will provide Irish racing with a renewed stimulus, and afford greater attention to the people employed in it and to the horses themselves. As already stated, our commitment to nurturing success and inspiring participation will continue well beyond 2026 but it is vital these next steps are taken ahead of what will be an important year for our industry.” The post Boost In Prize-Money Revealed In Horse Racing Ireland Budget For 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What will racing look like in 10 years? We asked some of racing's best and brightest to give us their predictions. Want to submit an answer? Email suefinley@thetdn.com. BILL CASNER, CO-FOUNDER OF WINSTAR FARM What I am so optimistic about with horse racing right now is that young people are returning. Griffin Johnson has something like 2.5 million followers. When he went into the Derby, he had 1.2 million or something followers. He loves racing. He's got a vision of where it's going to go. He will bring, and he has the opportunity to bring, young people back to horse racing-make it hip-as long as we take care of our horses. Those young people must not see this as an abusive sport, which it has been. I've seen it for 62 years. But why I'm so optimistic is because we have put [the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act] HISA into effect. We have committed to eliminating the carnage. That's the number one thing-we have a future for the health and welfare of our horse. Without HISA, the outlook would be pretty grim. There are a lot of people out there that are anti-HISA. They look at HISA's growing pains, but they don't really reflect on what it has done for the horse. The only way we can survive as an industry is when we put the horse at the very top of the pyramid. And we have not been good at doing that in my lifetime. The horse has been a tool and it's been a commodity. You're talking about 10 years? You will have a fully matured HISA program that will be absolutely the cornerstone of our industry. We have the [diagnostic] tools. We're able to deal with [injuries] in an effective way before you ever have the catastrophic event. It's like the proverbial tear in the peanut package. I think we have a chance as an industry at rebirth. Golden Gate Fields | Horsephotos That said, California's gone. Belinda Stronach, she doesn't give a damn about horse racing. She could have been the one to save it. First thing she did was sell Golden Gate. Golden Gate was the heart and soul of the California breeding industry, and without that, the California breeding industry's gone. She's chosen to throw the industry in a ditch over more money. Beyond that, I'm optimistic. We have a chance for Arizona to come around again, perhaps have a place for those Western horses to run in Arizona. It's a big population center. The future of the Kentucky horse racing industry is so bright, because of the significant impact of historic horse racing on the economics. We have the best circuit in the country. Wyoming, too. Owners will go where the money is, you know. They've got historical horse racing up here. This is a market that really has a future in horse racing with this wonderful tool to grow our purses. Everything revolves around purses. Historical horse racing is a product that is owned by the industry. The commissions control it–it's not controlled by the legislature. What the legislature gives the legislature can take away. But with historical horse racing machines, those feed back into purses. We're also in a whole different age now of [artificial intelligence] AI. We're going to see in the next three years or so our whole economic paradigm change. It's a changing world. But I'm excited. I'm 77 years old and I am eating it up. I'm a horse junkie. I bought another mare the other day–I've got about 20 mares now. You know, every time one of those mamas gives me a new gift, man, it's just like Christmas. It's wonderful. The post Racing In 2036: Bill Casner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The inaugural edition of the $1-million Abu Dhabi Gold Cup will be run on Saturday, February 7. The one-turn turf mile will be the most valuable Thoroughbred race ever to be held in Abu Dhabi, with the winner set to receive $600,000. The race is free to enter, with entries closing on February 4. Travel and stabling costs for overseas runners will be paid for by the Abu Dhabi Turf Club with owners, trainers and jockeys also being hosted for the event. Racing manager Ali AlJAaffal said, “The $1-million Abu Dhabi Gold Cup will be the most valuable turf mile race to be staged in the Gulf region in 2026 and the new race demonstrates the ambition and vision of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the determination to take horse racing in Abu Dhabi to new levels. The Abu Dhabi Turf Club has long been an integral part of the globally respected horse racing scene in the UAE, and we look forward to attracting a truly international cast of participants to the inaugural $1-million Abu Dhabi Gold Cup and to developing the race into one of the most prestigious turf mile contests in the world in the years to come.” The race will be linked with the $1-million GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, run over nine furlongs at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, May 2. The winner of the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup will receive an invitation from Churchill Downs Inc. to run in the Kentucky race, with entry fees waived and a travel stipends offered by the Abu Dhabi Turf Club. CDI vice president of racing Gary Palmisano said, “Churchill Downs, Inc. is fully committed to encouraging international participation in our extensive portfolio of Grade I races and we are delighted to announce the new link up between the $1-million GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic and the inaugural $1-million Abu Dhabi Gold Cup which is the most valuable mile race in the Gulf region. The Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic is one of five Grade I races on Kentucky Derby Day, annually one of the most spectacular days of sport in America broadcast to tens of millions of people throughout the world, and the association with the Abu Dhabi Turf Club is a demonstration of our commitment to international racing at the highest level.” The post Inaugural Abu Dhabi Gold Cup To Carry Million-Dollar Purse; Race Linked To Turf Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

David Ward's year of celebration with Starman has continued into the run-up to Christmas as his filly Sound And Vision provided the breakthrough first-season sire with his 42nd winner at Southwell on Friday. After watching the Ed Walker trainee collect the five-furlong novice, he was keen to reflect on the season of all seasons. “You go into the year with hopes and dreams, don't you? But in life, hopes and dreams get dashed, never mind in horse racing,” he said. “To come out the other end with those hopes and dreams exceeded is amazing. You have to remind yourself the journey we have enjoyed with this horse ever since Lady Iman won first time out at Dundalk earlier in the year. To where we are now, it has been a white-knuckle ride. Unbelievable.” To illustrate how in vogue Starman is in right now, Tally-Ho Stud made something of an unprecedented move earlier this week to issue a statement saying that the stallion was full at €40,000. Two races after Sound And Vision on the Friday card, the filly Florida Suite made it 43 in the nursery. “They've never had to do that before,” Ward added. “He filled up pretty quickly last year as well, but he has been pretty close to full for the past number of weeks and obviously got over the line the other day. Every day has been Christmas for me for a long time this year. What more can you say? He's remarkable in his temperament and he's remarkable in what he has achieved at stud. Hopefully he will continue to be remarkable.” Restricted Novice Stakes @Southwell_Races Southwell – Classe 5 – 2 ans – 1000m – 8 Pts – 6 197 £ Sound And Vision (f) (Ire) Kieran Shoemark (Starman (Gb) @HoStud – Commodus (Ire) par Australia (Gb)) E Walker @edwalkerracing David Ward pic.twitter.com/pb7ukjDCc9 — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) December 19, 2025 1st-Southwell, £6,300, Novice, 12-19, 2yo, 4f 215y (AWT), :58.71, st. SOUND AND VISION (IRE) (f, 2, Starman {GB}–Commodus {Ire}, by Australia {GB}) Sales history: €21,000 Wlg '23 GOFNOF. Lifetime Record: 4-1-0-1, $6,707. O-David Ward; B-Michael & Martin Butler; T-Ed Walker. The post ‘Every Day Has Been Christmas’: Ward Celebrates Starman’s 42nd – And 43rd – Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club of America has released the list of mares in the 2026 Mare Incentive Program, which waives registration fees for certain 2027 foals of mares that meet the criteria, the organization said on Friday. The list of mares in the 2025 pilot program was searched more than 3,100 times and 228 mares were bred as part of the program. “We were pleased to see how many searches were performed and how many mares were brought back into production,” said James L. Gagliano, president and COO, The Jockey Club. “The feedback has been extremely positive and we look forward to seeing how many more mares are brought back next year.” “This is such a fantastic tool for breeders,” said David O'Farrell, owner and manager of Ocala Stud. “We saw a few very nice mares that were part of the program this year, and we hope to see more from the 2026 list.” The criteria are for mares divided into two age groups. The first are for mares from 6 to 9 years old as of January 1, 2026: A registered Thoroughbred; Name registered with The Jockey Club; No race starts in the past two years (2024 and 2025); Not reported as the dam of a foal in the past two years; Not reported as covered by a stallion in the past two years; Not exported to a foreign country from the USA, Canada, or Puerto Rico with the export as the last movement of record; Not reported dead. The second are for mares from 10 to 19 years old as of January 1, 2026. These mares must meet the criteria above and must have produced a registered foal in 2022 and/or 2023. The 2026 list of mares meeting the criteria comprises 22,243 mares. In 2025, there were 23,090 mares. The report of Mare Incentive Program mares is available to anyone with an IR account and is filterable by 12 data elements, including sire, dam sire, age, money earned, and class of race achieved. Users can also search by mare name. The list includes all mares that meet the criteria for their age group. To learn more about the Mare Incentive Program, visit www.registry.jockeyclub.com. The post Jockey Club Releases 2026 List For Mare Incentive Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After two days of deliberation, on Friday, the Australian Turf Club (ATC) successfully stalled the appointment of an administrator, after the NSW Supreme Court ruled there was no persuasive evidence the club faced imminent insolvency. The decision followed a two-day hearing, culminating in a significant legal win for the ATC, with Justice Francois Kunc granting an injunction preventing Racing NSW from placing the club into administration until a full Supreme Court hearing scheduled for February 18 and 19, 2026. Racing NSW's case to appoint an administrator hinged on the belief that the ATC had not done enough to improve the club's commercial performance or resolve serious financial issues, after issuing the club with a show-cause notice in September. Earlier in the week, Racing NSW announced they would remove the ATC board and install an administrator. In response, the ATC sought an injunction, arguing Racing NSW does not have the legal authority to force the club into administration. Justice Kunc said he would extend the injunction that had been put in place earlier in the week, meaning the ATC's directors will remain in control until the court hands down a final decision. In outlining the ATC's position, ATC's legal counsel Scott Robertson argued Racing NSW had exceeded its regulatory powers, suggesting the move was driven by a breakdown in the relationship between the two bodies following disagreements over the proposed sale of Rosehill racecourse. The sale was ultimately rejected by ATC members in May. “We say this is a regulator that's lost its way in that it's failed to understand the scope of its functions,” Robertson told the court. “It is principally a regulator, and this regulator has taken it upon itself to act as a supervisor of commercial decisions for our client… which goes beyond its scope.” Counsel for Racing NSW, Oliver Jones SC, countered that the Thoroughbred Racing Act required the regulator to act “in the public interest and the interest of the horse racing industry as a whole in New South Wales”. The Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 is currently under the Hazzard review. Jones argued Racing NSW differed from other regulators due to its broader statutory responsibilities. He stated that Racing NSW was a regulator unlike others “in the sense that its statutory functions include not just a requirement to enforce the law or regulate what people are doing, but in fact to further the commercial aspects of the horse racing industry' for its 'betterment and welfare'.” Jones also raised concerns about Racing NSW's own financial exposure, pointing to its role as guarantor on a $30 million loan the ATC must repay to the Commonwealth Bank by October 10 next year. He said refinancing talks had not advanced sufficiently. In addition, the court ruled the ATC is permitted to fill a member-elected vacancy on its board. “The Board of the Australian Turf Club welcomes today's decision and will now continue to work diligently and collaboratively with all stakeholders to continue normal racing and Club operations,” ATC chairman Tim Hale said in a statement. The post Judge Blocks Racing NSW’s Move Over The ATC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan, post time: 3.40 p.m., ASAHI HAI FUTURITY STAKES-G1, ¥135,480,000, 2yo, 1600mT Field: Good Piece (GB) (Kingman {GB}), White Orchid (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Ecoro Alba (Jpn) (Mozu Ascot), Cosmo Red (Jpn) (California Chrome), Storm Thunder (Jpn) (Henry Barows {Jpn}), Tagano Aralia (Jpn) (Mr Melody), Corteo Soleil (Jpn) (Win Bright {Jpn}), Cavallerizzo (Jpn) (Saturnalia {Jpn}), Spe Luce (Jpn) (Rey De Oro {Jpn}), Diamond Knot (Jpn) (Bricks And Mortar), Kakuuchi (Jpn) (Admire Mars {Jpn}), Admire Quads (Jpn) (Real Steel), Realize Sirius (Jpn) (Poetic Flare {Ire}), Red Ligare (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). TDN Analysis: Admire Quads looms large here, but only a head separated him and Cavallerizzo in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes. G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup hero Ecoro Alba is another attempting to remain perfect, while the same can be said for the G3 Niigata Nisai Stakes scorer Realize Sirius. There are also a trio of first-out winners stepping up to group class for the first time, including White Orchid and Cosmo Red. Click here for the complete field. Click here for the preview. The post Black-Type Analysis: Admire Quads Rematches With Cavallerizzo In Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Undefeated in two starts, Junko Kondo's Admire Quads anchors the advance markets for Sunday's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin. The one-mile race looks to be contentious, as the top four betting choices are split by inches by the betting public. By Real Steel, like this year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic/G1 Saudi Cup hero Forever Young, the colt delivered in a Tokyo contest in October, before rattling home in a record 1:33.10 for the 1600 metres at Kyoto in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes on November 15. He had Silk Racing's Cavallerizzo (Saturnalia) back in second that day. Ryusei Sakai has the call, and the duo will leave from stall 12 in the 14-horse field. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said, “The jockey [Ryusei Sakai] has been working him on the woodchip course and thinks the horse's footwork has improved. He's easy to switch on and off, and there doesn't seem to be any bad points with him. He's relaxed too. Changing to the Hanshin course shouldn't pose any problems either. He's a horse with a lot of speed and power, so I'll look forward to what he can do in a Grade 1 race.” Another unbeaten group winner is Masatoshi Haramura's Ecoro Alba (Mozu Ascot). Triumphant in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup over the Asahi Hai Futurity distance in October, the colt was first seen breaking his maiden at Niigata in July. Trainer Yasuhito Tamura said, “His workload's been sufficient, and I think what he's been doing in training has been good enough. The outer course at Hanshin should suit him, and we've considered this when working him. I hope he can run his own race and get a good result.” G3 Niigata Nisai Stakes hero Realize Sirius (Poetic Flare) is also protecting a flawless record. Stepping out in June to win a newcomers' affair over 1600 metres, his group victory was accomplished at that same distance in August. Off since, he will leave from gate 13 under Akihide Tsumura. Said trainer Takahisa Tezuka, “He's improved for his recent work, and despite the ground condition of the training track, his times weren't bad. More than the transportation itself, on arrival at the course, we'll need to keep him calm, so we might put blinkers on him. There are plenty of good horses in the race this time, but if he can be sharp enough and get into the flow of things, he should be capable of running a good race.” Diamond Knot took three tries to find the winner's circle, and, after a second in the Momiji Stakes in October, put his stamp on the G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes at Tokyo over 1400 metres in November. The son of Bricks And Mortar represents Kaneko Makoto and will leave from stall 10 under Christophe Lemaire. “He's had a good workload, and there's been no change in the way he's moving,” said trainer Yuichi Fukunaga. “He starts well in his races, so I've thought the shorter trips in his runs would be good, although we've gradually increased the distances of his races and he's been fine. He has a lot of power, and has done everything right leading up to this race.” White Orchid (Kizuna), Cosmo Red (California Chrome) and Red Ligare (Maurice) are entering on the back of first-out wins. The first-named filly won over course and distance in September. Cosmo Red, the other filly in the 14-horse field, has been seen in action once, when taking a Kyoto 1400-metre affair on November 8. Red Ligare claimed a Kyoto contest over this trip at the end of November. The post Much To Admire In Asahi Hai Futurity Field appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jay Rooney INVINCIBLE IBIS - R11 (5) Brilliant winner of his past two starts and can go on with it here Owen Goulding KEMPES - R10 (6) Has finally drawn a barrier and the 1,400m trip might be his sweet spot Trackwork Spy INVINCIBLE IBIS - R11 (5) In red-hot form and looks set to relish the step up to the 1,600m distance Phillip Woo ALSONSO - R4 (1) Is a live chance down in grade over his favourite Sha Tin trip Shannon (Vincent Wong) SUNNY Q - R2 (7) Had excuses last start and should...View the full article

Sir Johnny Weatherby KCVO, owner-breeder and a member of one of racing's most distinguished families, has died at the age of 66. A seventh-generation member of the dynasty which has become synonymous with the administration of British racing and breeding, Weatherby owned Preston Lodge Stud in Oakham and was the breeder of dual Cheltenham Festival winner Presenting Percy as well as Top Wood, who won the Aintree Foxhunters' Chase in his colours during the 2019 Grand National meeting. A keen amateur jump jockey in his younger days, he was appointed chairman of the family firm Weatherbys in 1993, having started work at the company in 1979. His brother Roger is CEO of Weatherbys Banking Group. For nine years, until 2020, Weatherby served as Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot, where he had been chairman since 2008. He was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2020. In an interview with TDN in 2018, Weatherby spoke of his family's deep roots within the sport, which stretch back more than 250 years to when his forebear James Weatherby was appointed secretary of the Jockey Club and Keeper of the Match Book in 1770. He said, “My brother Roger and I are very proud of the longevity of our business and the constant connection with our family through seven generations, as well as our involvement with the origins of the thoroughbred. We are fully aware of our continuing responsibilities to the industry. Our role as custodians of the General Stud Book is very important to us. James Weatherby, the nephew of the business's founder, published the very first volume in 1791 – the founding record of the breed. That's a tangible, vital piece of Turf history, alongside the Racing Calendar, which we also still publish. Tesio enthusiastically referenced those two works as 'the most imposing and dependable source of information the world has ever known'.” A statement released by Weatherbys on Friday morning read, “It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Sir Johnny Weatherby who died yesterday aged 66 following a life of peerless service to horseracing. “Sir Johnny was a figure of immense stature within our sport. “From his early days as an amateur jockey for David Nicholson to his transformative tenure as Chairman of Weatherbys (1993 – 2022) and his distinguished service as Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot (2011 – 2020), he embodied the very best of the Turf's traditions, while driving the industry into the modern era. “A Member of the Jockey Clubs of both Britain and the USA and Chairman of the International Stud Book Committee, Johnny was a global ambassador for the Thoroughbred. “Yet, he will be remembered most by his friends and peers for his energy, foresight, ambition and unwavering dedication to the integrity of the sport. “He was a man who moved with equal ease through every corner of the racing world. “His loss leaves a significant gap in the administrative and social heart of the industry. “The Weatherby family has requested privacy at this time.” The post ‘A Life of Peerless Service to Horseracing’: Sir Johnny Weatherby Dies at 66 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zac Purton knows how difficult it is to maintain winning streaks in Hong Kong, but the champion jockey is adamant Patch Of Stars can continue his rise with an ounce of luck at Sha Tin on Saturday. With five wins from his past seven starts, the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained gelding’s rating has soared from 50 to 92 in the space of eight months. His ascension continued when he passed his first Class Two test last time out, overcoming gate nine courtesy of a brilliant Purton ride to claim the...View the full article

Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti is back on track for a tilt at the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in a fortnight following a setback earlier this month. The five-year-old gelding, who last raced in the A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth in April, was making pleasing progress in his build-up over spring, winning his 1100m trial at Te Rapa in September before he was set to head to Pukekohe to tackle the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago. However, the son of Zacinto’s temperature spiked earlier in the week, forcing trainers Danny Walker and Arron Tata to withdraw their charge from his intended first-up assignment. Crocetti quickly recovered and his trainers shifted their sights to the Group and Listed trials at Matamata on Friday to help ready him for Trentham’s feature sprint. In his 1100m heat, he jumped away well under jockey Warren Kennedy and settled in the coveted one-one position. At the 400m mark, Kennedy asked his charge to improve three-wide and he quickly loomed up alongside pacemaker Merchant Queen and Discretion Rules before bounding away to an effortless one length victory under a motionless Kennedy. Owner-breeder Daniel Nakhle was rapt to see his pride and joy in full fettle and ready to tackle next month’s Telegraph. “It is really good to have him back on track,” Nakhle said. “It has been nine months between races, so we are looking forward to Telegraph Day. “He had a nice trial today, he had a little bit of a blow, which he needed. “It was good to have that pipe opener and hopefully have him spot on for the third (of January).” While Nakhle said Crocetti’s withdrawal from his intended first-up run in the Concorde was unfortunate, his gelding’s welfare will always come first, and he is now excited to be marching on towards a feature target. “It was bad timing unfortunately, but that is racing and what is meant to happen is going to happen,” he said. “The main thing is that the horse is alright – you look after the horse and the horse will look after you.” With Crocetti back on track, Nakhle is now hoping the weather can play its part over the coming weeks. “Hopefully we don’t have too much rain between now and then,” he said. View the full article

The Chris Waller-trained John Dory contests the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, with the progressive galloper installed a $3 favourite for the three-year-old contest. The son of Ace High broke maiden ranks in November when winning at Canterbury over 1550m and was a game runner-up in the City To Surf 3YO (1600m) at Doomben at his most recent outing, when giving four kilos to winner Nightline whom he meets again on Saturday at set weights. “He is a really nice progressive horse,” Waller said. “I pick out one horse each year to target this race with the view of the horse having a break and then going back up to Queensland for the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m).” The Grand Prix Stakes switched to a December date in 2019 and has proved to be a pointer towards subsequent Queensland Winter Carnival success. In 2021, David Vandyke’s filly Gypsy Goddess won the Grand Prix before going onto claim the 2022 Queensland Oaks, while Waller produced Kovalica to win in 2022 before going on to win the 2023 Queensland Derby. Waller also used the race as a stepping stone for Queensland Derby placegetter Caboche in 2022. “It has worked with good success in the past,” Waller said. “John Dory is a nice middle-distance bred horse. He is a typical New Zealand product that keeps improving and now is the time that you back the New Zealand bred horses to equal up with the Australians and often go ahead. “At his last start, he had a big weight to carry as topweight and had a gap between runs. He will be better for that experience from a fitness perspective and race experience. “Winkers go on on Saturday, just to sharpen him up a little bit. They went very slow last start, so hopefully he will get a more genuine speed, which would be a big help. “We expect him to be fighting out the finish and not just that, come back a better horse in the late autumn.” John Dory is bred and raced by ex-pat Kiwis Cam and Chas Stewart, who are now based on the North Queensland coast at Noosa where they run a successful seafood business. The Stewarts have previously won the Grand Prix Stakes with venerable galloper Order Again. By Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High, John Dory is out of the winning Pins mare Hirtshals and stems from the family of champion South African filly Petrava. View the full article

Latrelle and Old Bill Bone may not be ideally suited by the conditions of the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham, but there’s belief they can rise to the occasion. They will give trainer Cody Cole a decent hand in Saturday’s Bramco Granite & Marble-sponsored feature sprint at Trentham where he also has black-type contenders Atmospheric and Silhouette. Latrelle and Old Bill Bone will be tested at weight-for-age company, earning the step up after performing well at handicap level. “They’re obviously not that well suited, but I had a feeling the race may lack a bit of depth and it’s come up that way,” Cole said. “It was a really good run at Wanganui last start by Latrelle and she was taking ground off two better performed horses (Spencer, Bedtime Story).” The Redwood mare came from the back to finish third and will be ridden by Samantha Collett while Vinnie Colgan will guide the fortunes of her stablemate. “Old Bill Bone is the improver, he’s still on the way up and always seems to find a way to get in the finish,” Cole said. The son of Swiss Ace is a three-time winner from seven appearances and most recently got home well from a wide gate for third when resuming at Pukekohe. “You never get a good line on him from trackwork, he’s so laid back whereas Latrelle has been working particularly well so they are hard to split.” Atmospheric will fly the stable flag in the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) with Craig Grylls to retain the ride after they overcame a slow start at Pukekohe to finish runner-up. “He’s in on the minimum and a bit shorter in the market ($4.50 favourite) than I thought, but the numbers were good from him at Counties last start,” Cole said. “He can’t afford to give them a head start like that on Saturday, he’s been to the jump-outs since then and got away cleanly. “He’s got a nice, cosy gate and as long as he gets away with them, I think he’s got to be a very nice chance. He’s had the benefit of a run over ground, so he’s spot on.” Silhouette will return to Trentham for the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) following the Armory filly’s runaway victory on the course in October. “That was the drawcard to have a crack, it’s a nice option for her having been down the chute before,” Cole said. “The margin was bigger than expected but we thought she would run a top race. She had worked well with an older horse leading into it. “The Karaka Millions is a goal along the way, but first and foremost I’d like to get some black type on her page.” Of Cole’s Te Rapa runners, the Matamata trainer nominated his last-start Otaki winner Renovations as his best chance when she steps out in the Cantec Services Handicap (1400m) with Sam Weatherley to ride Ardossan’s daughter. “She can back up with another good performance and I think she’s capable of going on and getting some more black type this season,” he said. View the full article

David Eustace is excited to test Dazzling Fit against “the stand-out” Classic Series contender Invincible Ibis in what shapes as a crucial clash in Saturday’s Class Three Poinsettia Handicap (1,600m) at Sha Tin. Bound for the first leg of the four-year-old series, the Classic Mile on February 1, the Mark Newnham-trained Invincible Ibis chases a third straight victory while Dazzling Fit continued his upward spiral with an incredibly tough win last start. Trapped wide throughout without cover from...View the full article