Wandering Eyes

James McDonald and Zac Purton are optimistic they will have a big say in a wide-open Group One Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday when they ride Galaxy Patch and Voyage Bubble, respectively. In what looms as the most open contest of the four Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) features, the Mile could become a blockbuster showdown between the two champion jockeys. Galaxy Patch and Voyage Bubble are two of the headline acts in the HK$36 million race, with the former coming off a...View the full article

Francis-Henri Graffard is “not scared” of fellow French raider Sosie as he gears Goliath up for a crack at Sunday’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) at Sha Tin. A dual Group One winner, including the prestigious King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot last year and more recently the Grosser Preis von Baden (2,400m) in Germany, Goliath is one of the leading players for Sunday’s top-level prize. Immortalised by his quirky stringhalt, which sees him “stomp” his left hind due to...View the full article

David Hayes has downplayed any concerns over star sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamespress) drawing barrier one for the first time in his career when he confronts 12 rivals in the HK$28 million Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin (1200m) on Sunday (14 December). Aiming for his 16th consecutive win with Ka Ying Rising, Hayes said the only fear was that the world’s highest-rated sprinter could miss the start. “I think the shortest way home is the rail,” Hayes said. “He is the fastest horse in the world, so unless he makes a proper blooper out of the gates, it has to be a huge advantage. “My only reservation is if he did accidentally flop the start – but flopping the start from barrier 12 or 10 is just as bad anyway.’’ Hayes said he expected Ka Ying Rising, who worked over 400m in 29.5s today (Friday, 12 December) at Sha Tin, to jump well, and it will be the first time he has drawn on the rail. With horses like Win Carnelian (barrier 11) and Beauty Waves (barrier nine) expected to take up the front-running role, Hayes said the pair would need to be going at a very fast tempo to lead his gelding. “When horses get tired in fast run races, they wander, and runs comes for good horses for that reason,” he said. “If it is a slow-run race, they travel right into the straight and that would be a concern. But if it was a slow race, I would expect Zac to lead.” David Hayes has trained Ka Ying Rising to five Group 1 victories. Photo: HKJC Hayes said he would take a similar path to last season and stretch Ka Ying Rising out to 1400m for next month’s HK$13 million Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin. Hayes said he firmly believes they could run the champion at 1600m, but claimed there wasn’t much point when he was such a dominant sprinter. “I think he is in what you would call his golden era. I think last year he was a bit immature,” he said. “And this year, he is a bigger, (more) powerful horse. We really felt going into his last race that he is at a level he has never been. Visually it looked that way and he nearly smashed the course record, easing down from the 200 (metres). It was a fairly easy watch.” Despite Ka Ying Rising dominating the discussion, Hayes said they had to respect the best international sprint form offered by some of the other contenders. “So, it’s not a walk in the park, but the (overseas) market has him favourite, and around 20/1 second (favourite),” he said. “I hope the bloody market is right but I have a lot of respect for those big international races. They are not easy to compete in and those horses are coming out of those.” Hayes’ other runner in the sprint, Tomodachi Kokoroe, has drawn barrier seven, and he expects him to finish in the placings if he gets a good run. Purton, who also has no fears over Ka Ying Rising’s barrier, believes that his last start victory in the Gr.2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 23 November was probably the best of his career. It was his first start since his trip to Australia, where he won the world’s richest turf race, the AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) after jumping from barrier seven. 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

Darrell Hollinshead’s bid for a second success in Saturday’s Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) has been dealt a blow, but he remains in the hunt to turn back the clock. The Te Awamutu trainer won the staying feature 19 years ago with Bak Da Chief (NZ) (Chief Bearhart) and had expected to have two runners in this weekend’s Skycity Hamilton-sponsored event at Te Rapa. However, his hopes will now solely rest on Rosetown Princess (NZ) (Redwood) with stablemate Ramblin’ Rose (NZ) (Complacent) ruled out by injury. “I think she would have been a good chance, she’s a very good stayer going forward but she’s got a bit of filling in a tendon,” Hollinshead said. “It’s a shame for the boys who race her, they’re a good crew and had planned for a big day out.” With luck in the running, he is expecting a strong showing from Rosetown Princess who hails from the same family as Bak Da Chief. The 2006 Cup winner also found fame in retirement as the dam of two-time Group One winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) while a half-sister produced the Gr.1 Easter Handicap (1600m) winner Pondarosa Miss (NZ) (High Chaparral) and multiple stakes winner and top-flight placegetter Ecuador (NZ) (High Chaparral). “The hardest thing for Rosetown Princess will be that draw (16) because she needs a bit of cover,” Hollinshead said. The daughter of Redwood was narrowly beaten two runs back in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe and was then unplaced on the course when she dropped back in grade. “She got cut off at the start and she ended up last and had that big weight (60kg), she was only four lengths off the winner, so it wasn’t a bad run,” Hollinshead said. “She has trained on well since and drops back to 53kg on Saturday so that helps. “I might give her a break after this, she’s been up a long time and she’s very versatile, she can go on all ground and always tries.” Rosetown Princess will again be ridden by Darren Danis, who will also be aboard another family member in Bak Da Angel (NZ) (Ace High), who will contest the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m). The daughter of Ace High has been a dual winner in the lower grades this preparation before she finished midfield in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and a last-start fourth in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m). “It’s a very strong field on Saturday, but if she gets some cover then she’ll be a top four chance,” Hollinshead said. “She is a very good horse and is getting better and better all the time and has got a nice draw (three) to work from.” View the full article

With NZB Kiwi favourite Well Written (Written Tycoon) confirmed to run in the Entain/TAB NZ slot in New Zealand’s richest race, attention is now being focused on decisions around other prominent candidates for the $4 million March 7 feature. Those horses include the Pam Gerard-trained Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) quinella pair Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) and Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes). “No decision has been made yet on either horse,” Gerard said. “As the 2000 Guineas winner, Romanoff has first option on the Canterbury Jockey Club slot and those negotiations are still taking place between the horse’s connections and the CJC.” Gerard reports that her star three-year-old pair are making pleasing progress back in full work following some time out to recover from their trip south. “They’re back in the stable and doing well, I’m very pleased with them both for what’s shaping as an exciting summer. “What we have penciled in at this stage is for Affirmative Action to run in the Auckland Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and Romanoff will have his first start back in the Levin Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Trentham on the first Saturday in January. “That way the first time they’ll meet again will be the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at the end of January and all going to plan they’ll then target the Kiwi.” CJC chief executive Tim Mills has confirmed that his club is adhering to the original intention behind the slot. “Our modus operandi in having a slot is to utilise it as a prize for running in our Guineas races,” Mills said. “As an incentive for competing in our races it works very well for the club. In the case of the horse with first option, Romanoff, as the winner of the 2000 Guineas, he’s eligible for the $1 million bonus if he can finish in the first three in the NZB Kiwi.” Well Written, unbeaten after three starts capped by the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), holds clear favouritism for both feature three-year-old races. She is currently quoted at $1.90 for the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and at $2.30 for the NZB Kiwi. Affirmative Action shares the second line at $5 with La Dorada in the former race and is the $8 third favourite for the NZB Kiwi. In the Karaka Millions 3YO, Romanoff shares the fourth line at $10 with He Who Dares, while his NZB Kiwi quote is $12. Meanwhile, Gerard is hoping to continue Ballymore Stables’ momentum with a handful of runners at Friday’s Tauranga twilight meeting and Saturday’s SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup fixture at Te Rapa. Clear Conscience (Alabama Express) in the Rob Pinny Reality 1200 and The Frenchman in the Kiwi Bus Builders Maiden make up her Tauranga team. “Clear Conscience is probably the pick of our runners at Tauranga,” she said. “She showed ability with several good runs at three and her lead-up trials have been good, so we’re hoping for a good fresh-up effort even though she’s drawn a tricky gate. “The Frenchman is having just his second start and he’s a horse that’s going to need more than 1600m. It hasn’t helped that we found out after the fields had closed that the distance was reduced to 1500m because of the burst water main up the 1600m chute.” With Shoes (NZ) (Derryn) ruled out of Saturday’s Rating 75 sprint due to a wide draw, Gerard will also saddle two runners at Te Rapa, Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Dubai Gold (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) and Vougeot (NZ) (Eminent) in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Qualifier. “Nothing went right for Dubai Gold in her first-up run and we’ve put a line through that, and while this is weight-for-age, I’m very happy with the progress she’s made lately and it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see her get some of it,” she said. “I like Vougeot as an up-and-coming stayer and he’s another one whose last start is best ignored after we rode him in a way that really didn’t suit.” Gerard also reports that stable apprentice Joe Nishizuka was due to undergo surgery to a broken collarbone at Waikato Hospital on Friday following a training track fall on Thursday morning. “It’s a nasty break that will take some mending, which is unfortunate for Joe, but to his credit he’s resilient with a positive attitude,” she said. View the full article

Stakes performer Smooth Operator (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) hasn’t had the best of luck over the last month, but trainer Stephanie Faulkner believes he is back on track to defend his title in Saturday’s Howley Joinery Southland Crystals (2200m) at Ascot Park. The six-year-old gelding headed into New Zealand Cup Week in solid form, having finished fourth in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton in October, but he disappointed over the Cup carnival, finishing 10th and 13th respectively in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m). Things only got worse for the son of Turn Me Loose, who suffered a bacterial infection, but Faulkner said he is now back to full health and ready to fire in his resuming run. “You can rule a line through the New Zealand Cup,” Faulkner said. “He had a bacterial infection since, he had a bit of gunk in the bottom of his lungs, but he seems pretty good with that now.” Smooth Operator has a strong record at Ascot Park, winning two and placing in two of his five starts at the Invercargill track, and Faulkner is hoping he can build on that form this weekend. He looks to have every favour after drawing barrier four, and is set to carry just 54kg, with jockey Rohan Mudhoo to ride. “It is all up to him really. He is definitely up to it if he has his mind in the right place,” Faulkner said. “He seems to race well at Invercargill. I think he likes the overnight trip away. “He is a big, strong horse so he probably won’t even feel Rohan on his back.” All going well after Saturday, Faulkner is keen to contest the Southern Cups Bonus Series with her charge, where a $50,000 winner takes all bonus is up for grabs. “We had a crack at it last year and I think we were one point short of winning it, so we will give it another go this year,” she said. The Timaru trainer will also head to Ascot Park with three-year-old gelding Fast Like Thunder, who is set to make his debut in the World Solar 3YO (1200m). “I haven’t had him that long, probably three months,” Faulkner said. “I gave him a couple of quiet jump-outs and then he had a trial at Ashburton. “He is a very laidback character. Lee (Callaway, jockey) rode him at the trials and he was thinking he possibly needs a bit more ground, but we thought it was a good place to start, just in his own age group. “We were hoping the track would be more on the Softer side than Good, but we will give him a run and see what happens.” View the full article

Dual Group One winner Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) has been retired. Bred by Grangewilliam Stud, Ladies Man, a son of their resident stallion Zed, was the younger half-brother to Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Ladies First, and accordingly bore the weight of expectation from a young age. Like his older sibling, he joined the New Plymouth barn of Allan Sharrock and quickly showed his propensity for racing, placing in his first two starts as a three-year-old before winning his maiden over 1400m. He continued his upward trajectory, winning a further three races before placing in the Listed Marton Cup (2200m) as a five-year-old and broke through for his maiden stakes victory at his next start in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m). He added placings in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) and Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) to his record before winning the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), which set him on a path towards the 2023 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). While he failed to make the final field for the iconic race, he performed with distinction in Melbourne, finishing runner-up in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on Champions Stakes Day at Flemington. He returned to New Zealand where he placed in last year’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) before doubling his elite-level tally in the Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham last December. He placed in September’s Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and subsequently ticked over the $1 million mark in earnings before the curtain was brought down on his career after tailing the field home in last Saturday’s Mufhasa Classic. In all, the now eight-year-old gelding won eight and placed in 16 of his 39 career starts, and accrued $1.02 million in prizemoney. Sharrock said Ladies Man was a great stalwart for the stable. “He has been officially retired,” Sharrock said. “We have battled with him (with foot issues and handicap) for a couple of years and it’s not getting any better, so we have pulled pin on his career. “He has done a good job, but it just got too hard. His rating is so high (105), and you can’t run him in a handicap for the weight he gets and he is probably not quite at the level to win the weight-for-age Group Ones now. “He has been a great horse to us, he has won over $1 million and two Group Ones. You have got to make a call and he has done a great job and will find a lovely home.” Sharrock said his two Group One victories were clear highlights, but his Mufhasa Classic triumph was particularly special. “For a horse that was bred to be a stayer, he had a turn of foot,” Sharrock said. “Both of his Group Ones were exciting for us and it has been a good ride for those clients. We have just got to find another one like him, which is hard to do.” Meanwhile, Sharrock will head to Trentham on Sunday with three runners, including in-form gelding Tisse, who will contest the Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist 2100 before he has his first tilt at black-type next month. “He is a pretty smart horse,” Sharrock said. “He is heading towards the Queen Elizabeth (Gr.3, 2400m) on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie and this will be his lead-up race. “He is going pretty well, I am happy with him.” Sharrock will also have a two-pronged attack in the Contemporary Korowai Designs 1600 courtesy of Eizus and Fulla Grace. “Eizus went really well second-up (when fourth at New Plymouth over 1400m after winning first-up over the same distance at Waverley),” he said. “I have implicated blinkers. She has a sticky draw (9), but she will be competitive in that race. “Fulla Grace went average first-up, but it was an off track. She has worked well since and has drawn well (1). She is an each way play.” View the full article

A bright future is being tipped for well-bred three-year-old Day One (Wootton Bassett) following his maiden victory in the Barfoot & Thompson 1600 at Ellerslie on Thursday. He had shown a lot of promise at the trials before running fifth on debut over 1400m at Arawa Park last month, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson had been pleased with his subsequent progress. He jumped away well from his wide gate on Thursday, but there was plenty of speed inside him and jockey Opie Bosson was forced to ease his charge back to sit midfield. At the 600m, Bosson followed race favourite Arthur three-wide and presented his charge at the turn and Day One showed a good turn of foot in the concluding stages to score a 1-1/4 length victory. “It was a really good effort, especially after not getting all favours in running, but Opie didn’t panic and the horse produced a big effort to win,” Walker said. “I think he would have learned a lot from the experience and he quickened up like a nice horse. “He’s a big, scopey type of horse with a lot of raw ability, which we saw today, and he’ll only get better as we step him up in distance. “I loved the way he relaxed and then quickened so well in the straight. “Obviously he’s very well bred and it’s great to get another win for Lib Petagna and the Elsdon Park team in Matamata.” Day One hails from a rich pedigree, being a son of ill-fated Coolmore stallion Wootton Bassett and Group One performer Eleonora, a half-sister to Group One performer Supera and the dam of stakes winner Ethereal Star. He was bred and is raced by Elsdon Park principal Lib Petagna, whose bloodstock agent Bruce Perry purchased Eleonora as a yearling on his behalf out of Pencarrow’s 2015 Karaka draft. “As a broodmare, she (Eleonora) seems to be doing a great job as well and it’s exciting to have another nice prospect in Day One,” Perry said. “Day One had a leg issue as a yearling, so we didn’t put him through the sales, but he seems fine now. He’s racing as a gelding and Te Akau are doing a good job with him. “We’ll try and get some black-type with him at his next start, and there’s some nice options over New Year onwards. “The stable has had a high opinion of him and it’s good to see that rewarded at his second start.” Perry is also looking forward to seeing his Maurice half-sister go through the Karaka sales ring next month when offered as lot 178 through Elsdon Park’s draft. “We’ve got a cracking filly by Maurice in the Elsdon Park draft going to the yearling sales in January at Karaka, and Eleonora is in-foal to Super Seth,” Perry said. View the full article

When high-profile syndicator Australian Bloodstock went searching for a top-level horse to take them around the world, there was one that stood out. The only problem was that galloper, accomplished Irish stayer Al Riffa, came with a huge price tag. “He was a fairly obvious horse to target,” said Jamie Lovett, the co-director of Australian Bloodstock. “They made us pay for him, but he was certainly a horse that was easy to find.” One of Australia’s premier syndicators since it was established by...View the full article

This year’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) has a wide open feel to it, with stars from around the globe all having strong claims to the staying prize on Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races. To help you get ahead, the Post has compiled videos of every runner’s last start, including the most recent performances of the top raiders. Group One Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) – Longchamp – October 5 Sosie – 3rd Giavellotto – 4th Los Angeles – 17th WHAT A RACE! 🤩 DARYZ WINS THE...View the full article

Are you struggling to line-up the local and international form lines for Sunday’s Group One Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin? To help you, the Post has compiled videos of every runner’s last start, including the most recent performances of the seven foreign raiders. Group One Mile Championship (1,600m) – Kyoto – November 23 Soul Rush – 6th Docklands – 9th G1 number 4️⃣ for JANTAR MANTAR! #ジャンタルマンタル He turns the G1 Mile Championship into a procession! pic.twitter.com/LuEatwIcE7 — World Horse Racing...View the full article

Sunday’s Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) looks Romantic Warrior’s to lose, but can any of his seven rivals stop the champion’s quest for an unprecedented fourth straight success in the feature? To help you, the Post has compiled videos of every runner’s last start, including the most recent performances of the five foreign raiders. Group One Takarazuka Kinen (2,200m) – Hanshin – June 15 Bellagio Opera – 2nd 【Takarazuka Kinen (G1), 2200m, Hanshin, JRA】 Winner: Meisho Tabaru Review...View the full article

Ka Ying Rising will be a red-hot favourite to make it 16 straight wins in Sunday’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m), but who is set to figure behind the world’s best sprinter? To help you, the Post has compiled videos of every runner’s last start, including the most recent performances of the three international raiders. Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) – Nakayama – September 28 Win Carnelian – 1st Satono Reve – 4th 【Sprinters Stakes (G1) , 1200m, Nakayama, JRA】 Winner: Win...View the full article

Romantic Warrior will bid to make more history this Sunday when he chases a record-extending fourth straight victory in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m). He would also become the first horse to win four times at the Longines Hong Kong International Races. First though, let’s relive the three spine-tingling victories that have ensured one of the greatest gallopers of all time stands on the precipice of the unfathomable. Complete domination As far as absolute brilliance and complete domination...View the full article

Bob Baffert, who has won 14 renditions of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), has entered Litmus Test, Provenance, and Blacksmith this year.View the full article