Wandering Eyes

Prominent Australian jockey Ethan Brown and home-grown apprentice Nichola Yuen Hang-yiu will join Hong Kong’s elite riding ranks for the end of the season after they were granted short-term licences by the Jockey Club. One of the most sought-after riders in Australia at the moment, 26-year-old Brown will ride in races in the city from April 26 to the season finale at Happy Valley on July 15. Brown has racked up more than 600 wins including 10 at Group One level, forming a strong association with...View the full article

Cambridge mare Nigella Lane (NZ) (Niagara) was runner-up in last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and she was able to go one better in this year’s edition at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day. The last-start winner settled three back on the fence in the hands of in-form hoop Bruno Queiroz, while the Sam Mynott-trained Electron (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) set the tempo up front and race favourite Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) was ridden quietly at the back of the pack. Taranaki galloper Sindee (NZ) (Ardrossan) began to serve it up to Electron from the 600m mark, injecting some much-needed pace into the race, with Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) shifting out to the one-one position, allowing Nigella Lane to sneak into the trail. Turning for home, Queiroz was able to extricate his charge off the rail, taking a gap inside Hi Yo Sass Bomb, and chased down the leaders to get her head in front with 100m to go. Khanshe was flying home out wide, but had left her run too late and came up half a neck short of victory, with Hi Yo Sass Bomb a further half head back in third. Queiroz said he studied Nigella Lane’s last-start victory at Taupo and quizzed jockey Rihaan Goyaram about the mare ahead of his first ride on the six-year-old, and he was rapt to get a winning result. “She is very professional,” Queiroz said. “I watched the replay before and I spoke with the boy (Rihaan Goyaram) who rode her in her last start. She is so professional, is very good to ride and had a strong finish.” By Niagara, Nigella Lane is out of Group Two-winning mare Casabella Lane (NZ) (Volksraad) and has now won 8 of her 31 starts and has earned just shy of $285,000 in prizemoney. It was the second stakes victory of her career, having won the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) last May, while she has also placed in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m), Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m), and Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. The victory capped a pleasing day for trainer Ralph Manning, who scored a treble on the eight-race card, having earlier won with Finest Hour (NZ) (Derryn) in the Kuripuni Sports Bar & TAB (1000m) and Midnight Train (NZ) (Yes Yes Yes) in the Pope & Gray Contractors Maiden (1300m). A race prior, New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson got his hands on the Chatham Islands Jockey Club Wairarapa Cup (2050m) following a brave run by Ricochet (NZ) (Toronado). View the full article

Riding the rail under Ricardo Santana Jr., Will Take It came through a narrow opening in early stretch and outfought Woodcourt to win the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Feb. 5 at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

Riding the rail under Ricardo Santana Jr., Will Take It came through a narrow opening in early stretch and outfought Woodcourt to win the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Feb. 5 at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

Local trainer David Greene can’t wait to head to Te Rapa on Saturday where he will be chasing $1.125 million in prizemoney with a trio of runners. “It is brilliant,” Greene said. “We have got the three runners running for $1.1 million, it is a really good indication of what has happened to the stakes in these good races over the last couple of years.” His charge will be headed by last-start Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) winner First Five, who will be looking to rebuff the Australian raid of Lindsay Park duo Arkansaw Kid and defending champ Here To Shock in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m). Greene couldn’t have been any happier with the Almanzor gelding’s Trentham heroics last month and he has been thrilled with the way he has progressed. “He recovered well from his trip away to Wellington and it has been business as usual for him ever since,” he said. “He goes into Saturday back at his favourite distance and in the best form of his life, so it is very exciting.” The Te Rapa horseman said drawing his ideal barrier of four will only aid his chances against a very strong line-up. “You need every bit of help you can get in these races. I wouldn’t switch four, it is perfect for him,” Greene said. “This race is one of the best races every year, plenty of our best horses have won it. It is obviously going to be a difficult task for any of them and I am really glad to have a horse we feel can be really competitive in it.” Greene is also upbeat about the chances of Sweet Ice in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m). The three-year-old feature has been the key aim all season for the son of Frosted, who has placed in two of his last three starts, including the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m). He finished sixth in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) last month and Greene expects a better showing over more ground this weekend. “I thought it was a good run (in the Karaka Millions 3YO),” Greene said. “He had to work to hold his spot racing in that field of the crème de la crème of our milers. We think he will get a middle-distance trip and it is definitely a drop down in quality of field compared to the Karaka Millions.” In complete contrast to First Five, Sweet Ice has drawn barrier 15 and Greene said he will need plenty of luck from that gate. “The 2000m is a tricky starting point as well so it (draw) definitely doesn’t do us any favours,” Greene said. “We are just going to have to take our medicine, drop back and try to find cover and hope they go along at quick enough speed that we can get into it at some stage later on.” Despite the draw, Greene believes Sweet Ice will be a strong chance on Saturday as he looks to progress to next month’s Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m). “It (Waikato Guineas) is a race we have been setting him for since the start of the season,” Greene said. “Apart from the barrier draw, we feel he is really well placed to give it a good shake.” Completing Greene’s representation at the lucrative meeting will be four-year-old mare Bethany Dee in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m). “For a one-win horse like her to be running around in that race on Saturday for $350,000, with the lucky colours on as well, is great,” Greene said. “She is an even chance of running in the first three.” Legends Day is one of the highlights on the Waikato racing calendar, and Greene said his team are chomping at the bit to be a part of the action. “This day is such a good racing card for the racing purists. It is a day you really want to be on course for, there are good races all day,” Green said. “The whole team is buzzing about Saturday and it has been a really slow week waiting. We just want to get into it as quick as we can.” The meeting comes fresh of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale where Greene secured two colts, and he is hoping positive results this weekend can assist in selling down the remaining shares. “We have still got a couple of shares left in the ones that we bought up at the sales. Hopefully a good result on Saturday and we might fill them up,” Greene said. “We bought a nice Almanzor colt from Wentwood Grange, trying to see if we can replicate First Five. “We bought another colt in the Summer Sale off Curraghmore by Victor Ludorum. “They are two nice colts that are having a bit of time out in the paddock before they are broken in. I am very happy with what we got.” View the full article

Tomodachi’s connections are banking on a target closer to home to bring out the best in the gifted mare on Saturday. While she wasn’t disgraced when a resuming fourth in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), more was expected and she gets an opportunity to bounce back in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. “We thought she would be more competitive,” said Andrew Scott, who trains the Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced five-year-old with Lance O’Sullivan. “We just didn’t think she travelled down as well as we would have hoped and we’ve seen her better in condition on race day. “She hasn’t got that travel complication this weekend and that heartens us for a more competitive performance.” Tomodachi is a winner on the course and will be reunited with Joe Doyle, whose past race day rides on Tarzino’s daughter resulted in victory in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) and third in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) last spring. “She has worked to her normal high standards and certainly brightened up after a quiet week post-Wellington,” Scott said. “She’s in good condition and 1400m doesn’t hold any fears for us, the strength of the field does but she has won around Te Rapa before “She’ll have to turn in a personal best to be right among it, but we know she’s got a good load of talent when things go her way.” The stable will also be represented in black type features on Saturday by Ohope Wins (Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic, 2100m) and Yamato Satona (Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m). The former pressed her Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) claims with a hollow last start win under Saturday’s rider Doyle in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m). “She stayed well on January 1 and we had high hopes of her once she got out in trip, so that was pleasing to see and the way she relaxed in her first attempt over ground,” Scott said. “She was always going to have a bit of a gap between runs, and she had a trial here at Matamata with the blinkers on for the first time. “Joe got off and said she was a little more focussed and worked her again on Tuesday morning and was very pleased, that has given us confidence but she does need to bring it up another level as the field is stronger.” The Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) nominee Yamato Sonata is another top mount for Doyle after an encouraging third in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m). “He’s getting better with racing for sure and he relaxed well at Ellerslie in a wee bit of a leader dominated race,” Scott said. “He closed well wide on the track and gave us confidence that he has a staying future. He’s another who has worked well since and is a focussed and sound colt.” Among the stable’s other leading Te Rapa chances are Crackercol (Peter Kelly-Bayleys, 2100m) and Track Tester (Horses @ Henley Park, 1200m). “Crackercol is racing well and his form looks good after he ran seventh last start and the winner of the Wellington Cup (Manzor Blue) ran sixth,” Scott said. “He probably just got in a bit that day when the bias was out wider at Wellington and he has trained on well. “Track Tester won well last time and probably hasn’t drawn that favourably but is a horse that we think can get to a good level.” The stable duo of Tristar and Hankee Alpha are also in good form for the Dr John Southworth Memorial (1200m) but will also need some luck from tricky barriers. “Both have drawn awkwardly but they are going well and are progressive mares. They will need a bit of pressure in the race to be able to run on, but we couldn’t be happier with the pair of them,” Scott said. View the full article

Foxton gelding He’s A Battler may be viewed as just that ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, but anything can happen in horse racing and trainer Suzy Gordon is daring to dream of an upset in the $700,000 feature. The lightly-raced eight-year-old has established a tidy record, winning seven of his 25 starts to date, albeit four on the synthetic, including his last-start over 2100m on the Riccarton Synthetic at the start of December. “I know a lot of his wins have been on the synthetic, and he loves the synthetic, but he goes alright on the grass too,” Gordon said. The wet summer thwarted Gordon’s initial summer plans, with the Horowhenua horsewoman hoping to give He’s A Battler a couple of stakes hit-outs before the Herbie Dyke. “We were targeting him at a few races,” she said. “There was the Manawatu Cup (Gr.3, 2300m), Marton Cup (Listed, 2200m) and every time we would set him for something it would rain. He is no good on a wettish track. “It would have been nice to have run him in one of those just to see where he is and whether he can measure up to a bit better company. It wasn’t meant to be so now he has been thrown in the deep end.” The son of He’s Remarkable’s first stakes assignment will now be at elite-level, and while it will also be Gordon’s first time lining up a horse in a Group One, she said the task is less daunting given his juicy odds – $101 with TAB bookmakers. “Being a 100-1 shot it’s not too bad. At least I don’t have too many expectations, it is just nice to have a horse in it,” she said. “He is very well, but he is nine weeks between runs and he has only had a quiet jumpout, so hopefully he is fit enough. He goes best fresh.” Gordon is also looking forward to rewarding stable apprentice jockey Liam Kauri with a Group One ride. “Liam knows him very well, he has won four on him,” Gordon said. “The owner decided to stick with him because he knows the horse probably better than anybody.” Kauri will have to use all his skillset on Saturday where he will have to overcome his outside gate in the 10-horse field. “The draw isn’t ideal, I never seem to have any luck with draws,” Gordon said. “He will just get back anyway, so hopefully it works out alright in the end.” Gordon will head north more hopeful than confident but is dreaming of a major upset so she can reward the support of He’s A Battler’s owner-breeder Roger Sugrue, who Gordon has known for several decades. “I used to know Roger when he was training himself back at Awapuni when I was young. I rode a bit of trackwork for him, so I have known him for quite a long time,” Gordon said. “I was pleased he was happy to go ahead with it (Herbie Dyke tilt). He (He’s A Battler) has won five of his last eight now, so he has done a good job, but this will be the biggest test that he has faced.” View the full article

Trainer Phil Serpe, who is fighting both in federal court and at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) level to overturn a two-year suspension imposed by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) for a clenbuterol positive in one of his trainees, on Wednesday was notified by the FTC that his legal team would not be allowed to have new evidence considered in his nearly 18-month-old case. Serpe's suspension stems from clenbuterol detected in the urine of Fast Kimmie (Oscar Performance) after her Aug. 10, 2024 victory in a $30,000 claiming race at Saratoga Race Course. Clenbuterol is classified as a “banned” substance, meaning it is never to be present in any HISA-regulated Thoroughbred. On Jan. 22, 2026, Serpe's legal team had filed a motion with the FTC to consider additional evidence and for a stay of sanction pending review based on: 1) Affidavits from two of Serpe's employees that “an independent contractor hired to help care for Serpe's horses often carried an inhaler in and around Serpe's barn,” purportedly explaining “a likely alternate source of the clenbuterol in Fast Kimmie's urine.” 2) “[E]vidence that Dr. Daniel Eichner, HIWU's expert witness, has pecuniary relationships with HIWU that compromise his independence” by heading “a private corporation that receives significant revenue by providing testing services for HIWU.” On Feb. 4, April Tabor, the secretary of the FTC, wrote an order that denied, in part, Serpe's request, explaining the denial based on the following reasoning: “As an initial matter, we decline to consider this additional evidence. On a party's motion, we may consider new evidence when it is material to our review and there are reasonable grounds on which the party failed to previously submit it,” Tabor wrote. “Mr. Serpe–who has been ably represented by counsel throughout these proceedings–has not demonstrated reasonable grounds for waiting seventeen months to procure affidavits from two former employees,” Tabor wrote. “He merely notes that he is 'no trained investigator.' “Nor has Mr. Serpe provided reasonable grounds for not earlier presenting the evidence of HIWU's expert's alleged bias,” Tabor wrote. “We are not persuaded that further review of the ALJ's decision as to his liability or suspension is warranted,” Tabor concluded at a different point in the order. Tabor added that, “Mr. Serpe's combined motion remains under consideration to the extent it concerns a stay of his suspension pending a final decision in this case.” A request for comment emailed to Serpe's legal team did not yield a reply prior to deadline for this story. Serpe's separate (but related) lawsuit in United States District Court (Southern District of Florida) is ongoing. Back on Oct. 30, 2025, the federal judge in that case, David Leibowitz, signaled that the 66-year-old trainer could end up prevailing in his overall suit against the FTC and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). He wrote that while Serpe “may ultimately win the race, two obstacles stop him from getting a preliminary injunction.” Serpe's injunction was denied by the court at that time because, as the judge wrote, “Serpe does not face a threat of imminent irreparable harm [and] has not demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success on the merits.” Also in that Oct. 30 court order, Judge Leibowitz wrote that, “what happened to [Serpe] in the wake of Fast Kimmie's win goes to the constitutional core of the American judicial system.” But, Leibowitz explained, “The problem for Serpe at this stage of the litigation is that his suspension is disconnected from the basis of his Seventh Amendment challenge, a disconnect that Serpe himself has acknowledged,” the judge wrote. A status report posted to the court's docket for the case stated the parties have agreed that Serpe will file a motion for summary judgment by Feb. 6 and that defendants will file a combined cross-motion for summary judgment and opposition to Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment by Mar. 23. Other deadlines for filings have been set as far out as late May, with no trial date yet posted. Beyond the lawsuit, Serpe's case has been separately handled at the administrative level by HISA, HIWU and the FTC. Serpe has already appealed his penalization before a HIWU arbitrator and the administrative law judge (ALJ) assigned by the FTC, and as part of an FTC order dated Sept. 15, 2025, the FTC will be undertaking a “further review” of the case, which is what is happening now. The post FTC Rules Serpe Cannot Now Introduce New Evidence in 18-Month Old Clenbuterol Case appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

UNWRITTEN RULE (c, 3, Justify–Jewish Guilt, by Curlin) was one of the few first-timers in the field in this rained-off sprint debut. Prominent throughout from just off the leader, the 5-2 second choice kept things tight into the turn through an opening quarter in :22.44. Moving between rivals with just over a quarter-mile left to run, Unwritten Rule burst clear of Troubleonthegreen (World of Trouble) to win by two lengths. Glen Hill purchased Jewish Guilt for $425,000 as a yearling from Keeneland September 2019. That mare, a winning daughter of Curlin, has since produced a 2-year-old Olympiad filly and a filly by Girvin this year. She's due to Army Mule this term. 8th-Tampa Bay Downs, $34,300, Msw, 2-5, 3yo, 5f (off turf), :58.13, gd, 2 lengths.Sales History: $575,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $18,240. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Glen Hill Farm (KY); T-Thomas F. Proctor. The post Justify Firster Unwritten Rule Debuts A Winner At Tampa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wagering on U.S. races during the month of January experienced just over a six percent downswing from a year ago, but the number of race days was roughly 12 percent lower, according to information released by Equibase on Thursday. Total wagering of $753,930,913 on races during the month represented a 6.09% decrease over the same period from 2025, while available purses of over $73-million were lower by almost 13%. The figure of over $68.5-million for paid purses in January was also down by 13.69%. As for the total number of race days, they decreased from 233 to 205 (-12.02%) and the number of U.S. races was lower from 1,995 in January 2025 to last month's tally of 1,724 (-13.58%). Average field size in January was down a touch from over a year ago when it was 8.14, and checked in at an average of 7.92 runners, a decrease of 2.67%. However, the average daily wagering metric increased by 6.74% to $3,677,712, and the average available purse number per race day was down 1.03% to $356,718 from the figure of $360,437 in 2025. The post January Year-Over Wagering Numbers Swing Down With Lost Race Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin The queen of trotting may have two impressive last-start winners heading to Alexandra Park tonight but she thinks her rep with the worst form line might end up being the punter’s friend. Michelle Wallis and husband Bernie Hackett had a career-best season last year when training 57 winners capped by Hillbilly Blues capturing the Group 1 National Trot on New Year’s Eve. Remarkably of those 57 wins, 55 came in trotting races with the majority at Alexandra Park where it feels like the stable wins a trotting race almost every Friday. That could well be the case again tonight though Wallis and Hackett only have starters in two races on the small seven-race card. Both Magic Dash (No 1) and Confessional (No 5) were impressive last-start winners and they clash in tonight’s feature trot, with Magic Dash having the advantage of a front line mark and 20m start over his stablemate. “Both of them have to be good chances but it is a good little field and could be a really interesting race,” says Wallis. “Magic Dash has only had two starts back since needing surgery for colic last year but won really well last start and has good manners. “And Confessional came to us from Paul Nairn because his connections thought he was better right-handed and he handled the track here really well winning last start. “Magic Dash might have more speed and Confessional’s strength might be his stamina but these small fields can be really hard to predict.” Also hard to predict has been Final Approach (R2, No 3) who resumes as one of the three stable reps in his race tonight, with the couple’s daughter Crystal Hackett doing the driving. “We have always really liked him but he lost his way manners-wise last season,” explains Wallis. “But he has had two workouts this time in and done everything right. “I’d say if he trots all the way and produces his best on Friday he will be hard to beat.” Tonight’s meeting also sees the first juvenile pacing fillies race of the northern season and with early favourite As One Wishes scratched with a minor issue the race looks wide open, with manners the likely key. Another favourite scratched tonight is Sammy Lincoln, who comes out of Race 3 leaving impressive recent workouts winner Ms Collins only needing to do things right to be the one to beat after a promising debut last year as a two-year-old. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Craig Thornley is literally hoping to go one better at Rangiora’s annual Waitangi Day meeting today. And that’s because three of the horses he’ll drive (Ma Belle Amie Franco, Waikaka and Moa Mojito) all finished second for him in their most recent starts. One of them in particular Ma Belle Amie Franco is heavily backed to get her maiden win. Trained by Steven McRae, Ma Belle Amie Franco is at $2 following her last start second at Wyndham on January 6. “She is getting better every time she’s away from the place and looks a good each way chance,” says Thornley. The Always B Miki four-year-old has drawn the ace over 1950 metres in Race 5, the HSW Accounts – The Tyre General Amberley Mobile Pace (5.14pm). “I’m unsure just how much gate speed she has .. I’d like to be lead or trail but three back the fence isn’t the worst place to be at Rangiora,” says Thornley. “She’s had a wee freshen up .. and anything she does she will improve on.” In Race 3, the Aurora Storm Handicap Pace (4.18pm) Thornley links up with another McRae-trained runner in Waikaka. A winner of two races he was second last start at Oamaru last Sunday and will be off 10 metres today. “He’s a good beginner so he should get handy and is an each way chance.” He opened at $5.50 with Lavra Rose (also 10m) a $3 favouirte. After driving those two stablemates Thornley will drive three for Ashburton trainer Ben Waldron. Moa Mojito will line up in Race 6, the G K Fyffe Painting “Making It Happen” Trot after finishing second to Go Home Denise at Methven on January 25. “I thought I had that too – just got caught in the last stride,” Thornley says. With a safe beginning she’s rated a decent each way chance, paying $7 and $2.40. Waldron’s second runner is Penny Weight in Race 8, the Valley Inn Tavern Mobile Pace (6.40pm). The five race winner will line up one the second line and Thornley says that makes his tactics pretty straight forward. “I’ll be following the number one (Kushite Warrior). Wherever she goes I’ll be going too,” says Thornley. Kushite Warrior is a $3.60 favourite for trainer Malcolm Shinn. In her latest runs Penny Weight finished third and fourth at Blenheim last month. Thornley’s final drive is the out of form Franco Chaplin in Race 10, the Dawe Contracting Ltd – Shore Accounting Solutions Mobile Pace (7.42pm). “It’s a confidence issue with him,” says Thornley, “he has some ability and if he’s running home well I’ll be happy.” The day’s pacing feature is the Rangiora Equine Services Amberley Cup (6.09pm) Audacity is the favourite after a fast finishing third last start. He’s drawn one in a small field that also has quality performers in Bazooka, Vessem and Smoke On The Water, who’s vying for his fourth win in a row though he will have to overcome a 40 metre handicap. View the full article

The Spendthrift Farm team never wanted to run its pair of 3-year-old male 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard', against one another during the lead-up to the GI Kentucky Derby. But that was no longer a problem when Ted Noffey (Into Mischief)–who was being pointed for the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes and the GI Florida Derby–was taken off the Trail due to bone bruising. So, that created a situation where Spendthrift's other 3-year-old star, Further Ado (Gun Runner), who is based in South Florida at Payson Park, might be asked to fill the void and be rerouted to the Florida series. Apparently, it's not going to happen. “[Trainer] Brad [Cox] is leaning toward the original schedule that he had mapped out,” said Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey. “It goes without saying that with horse racing everything is extremely tentative, but he is looking at the [Mar. 7] Tampa Bay Derby, followed by the [Apr. 4] Blue Grass. I haven't talked to Brad a ton about this, but I think he just felt the timing going into the Tampa race made a little more sense.” Toffey said the reports out of Payson Park on Further Ado have been nothing but positive. “Everything has been positive, and they are happy with how his breezes have gone,” Toffey said. “He's had a couple of works and will have his third work this weekend. Brad is pleased, and he was really happy with his fitness level. He felt like he was ready to move forward. Once he got the Tampa race in mind, I think he didn't want to adjust and feel rushed into anything.” In his third career start, Further Ado put in an explosive performance, winning a Keeneland maiden race by 20 lengths. He backed that effort up with a 1 3/4-length win in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs. Ted Noffey shipped to the training center at Stonestreet Farms. “We've used a couple of different people for layups in Ocala,” Toffey said. “They've got some really good bells and whistles at Stonestreet as far as the rehab process goes. It starts with time, and then it's a process of easing him back into exercise. They have an Aquaciser. It's not the submerged treadmill, but the round one. That will be a good thing for a horse easing his way back into things as we get closer to that 90-day mark. “Maybe I should have been more disappointed than I was when we learned that Ted Noffey would be sidelined, but, you know what, he owes us nothing,” he said. “He's an undefeated 2-year-old champion. You just have to do the right thing by the horses, and I feel pretty confident that there's nothing there that will prevent him from coming back very strong. It's just a matter of us giving him the time.” FURTHER ADO earns 10 points on the Road to the @KentuckyDerby with his 1 3/4 length victory in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes with @iradortiz aboard! This was trainer @bradcoxracing's 500th career win at @ChurchillDowns! Congratulations to all connections! pic.twitter.com/sFDPWRqNX1 — Equibase (@Equibase) November 29, 2025 The post Despite Florida Series Opening, Plans Unchanged For Further Ado appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Promising 3-year-olds Confessional and Renegade square off against seven other rivals in the Feb. 7 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.View the full article

Iberian, a group-winning son of Lope De Vega, has been retired and will stand at Haras du Mazet in France, according to published reports. The G2 Champagne Stakes hero's opening fee is €3,000. Bred by Ballylinch Stud, the five-year-old won the 2023 edition of the Champagne, and was also placed in that year's G2 Vintage Stakes. A winner of three of 13 lifetime starts, the Ballylinch and Teme Valley-campaigned Iberian was also second in last year's Listed Cammidge Trophy Stakes. Out of the stakes-winning High Chaparral mare Bella Estrella, the Charlie Hills trainee sold for 200,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling before being picked up for 55,000gns out of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale by Durcan Bloodstock last autumn. His granddam Uncharted Haven (Turtle Island) won the GII San Clemente Handicap and the GII San Gorgonio Handicap and also foaled G3 St. Simon Stakes heroine High Heeled (High Chaparral), who was third in both the G1 Oaks and G1 Coronation Cup. Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Just The Judge (Lawman) is also a member of Iberian's extended family. The post Champagne Stakes Hero Iberian To Stand In France appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article