Wandering Eyes

Striving for back-to-back graded stakes victories, Fondly is set to battle six other 3-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Monmouth Oaks Stakes (G3), a 1 1/16-mile race July 26 on dirt at Monmouth Park.View the full article

As recently as last year, Alexis Delgado was driving an Uber in Florida. On July 27, he sends out a recent $625,000 purchase when Spectacular Grey takes on 10 other 2-year-old fillies in the $100,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park.View the full article

Race Lens also is sponsoring Kentucky Downs’ pair of online, live-money play-in tournaments on the track’s Aug. 28 and Aug. 31 cards.View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Saturday at Saratoga, Ellis Park and Del Mar. Saturday, July 25, 2025 Saratoga 2, $100k, 2yo, 6f, 1:07 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Further Ado (Gun Runner), OBSAPR, 550,000, :21 1/5 C-Six K's Training & Sales, agent; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule), OBSMAR, 950,000, :10 C-de Meric Sales, agent; B-St Elias Stable LLC Ellis 6, $100k, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 2:44 p.m. Champagne Candice (Spun To Run), FTMMAY, 70,000, :10 2/5 C-de Meric Sales, agent; B-Robert H Zoellner Windy Houston (Munnings)-AE, OBSMAR, 350,000, :20 4/5 C-Tom McCrocklin, agent; B-Sara & Brandon Bray Saratoga 7, $100k, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:52 p.m. Alpenglow (Charlatan), OBSAPR, 350,000, :10 C-Lucan Bloodstock (Karl Keegan), agt; B-Fergus Galvin, agent Del Mar 4, $100k, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 6:30 p.m. Brant (Gun Runner), OBSMAR, 3,000,000, :9 3/5 C-Eddie Woods, agent; B-Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing Cactus Charlie (Independence Hall), OBSAPR, 240,000, :20 4/5 C-Wavertree Stables Inc (C Dunne); B-Jet Horse, P Miller, agent Civil Liberty (Independence Hall), FTMMAY, 160,000, :10 3/5 C-Pike Racing at Highlander; B-S Rothblum, agt for Mark Davis Conducted (Mendelssohn), OBSAPR, 110,000, :20 3/5 C-Hoppel, agent; B-Danny Eplin Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), OBSAPR, 385,000, :9 4/5 C-Cardozo's Brothers; B-Dutch Girl Holdings/Irving Ventures, Michael Pender, agent Del Mar 7, $100k, 2yo, f, 1mT, 8:00 p.m. Olivia (War of Will), OBSMAR, 60,000, :10 C-Majestic, agent; B-CA Racing & Ciaglia, Murphy/Zap, agents The post Summer Breezes Sponsored By OBS: Saturday, July 26, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release Officials at Breeders' Cup Limited remind horsepeople that the deadline to nominate foals born in 2025 to the Breeders' Cup program at a one-time fee of $400 is Friday, Aug. 1, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To ensure that the 'Breeders' Cup Nominated' designation appears on catalog pages for upcoming fall and winter breeding stock sales, foals must be nominated by this deadline. The one-time $400 weanling nomination entitles each foal with racing eligibility to the Breeders' Cup World Championships and the Breeders' Cup racing programs for its lifetime. All foals sired by a fully nominated North American Breeders' Cup stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders' Cup program in their year of birth at the weanling rate. If sales foals are not nominated by the early deadline, foal nominations may still be made in the foal's year of birth with a one-time payment of a $400 nomination fee if made on or before Oct. 15, 2025. That is the final deadline for a $400 lifetime eligibility nomination payment. Thoroughbred racing's most significant international festival for more than 42 years, Breeders' Cup Limited has allocated purses and awards of more than $1 billion to owners, foal nominators, and stallion nominators through its programs, including the annual Breeders' Cup World Championships showcasing the best Thoroughbreds, owners, trainers, and jockeys to a global audience. Breeders' Cup foal nominators will earn $10,000 for every victory in the worldwide 'Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In', and every horse that starts in a Breeders' Cup World Championship race will earn a nominator award. The individual nominating the foal receives these nominator awards even though the horse may change hands throughout its racing career. For more information and to nominate online visit members.breederscup.com. The post BC Foal Nomination Deadline Approaching appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Striving for back-to-back graded stakes victories, Fondly is set to battle six other 3-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Monmouth Oaks (G3), a 1 1/16-mile race July 26 on dirt at Monmouth Park.View the full article

The ultra-talented Nysos attempts to stretch his speed in his longest test in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. View the full article

There is regrettably no three-year-old to lay down a marker for the Classic generation in this year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but the five-runner contest nevertheless provides an intriguing contest between a select group of the best older horses in training. The Aga Khan Studs' highly consistent Calandagan (Gleneagles), who landed his deserved Group 1 spoils in last month's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, is narrowly favoured ahead of the St Leger and Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel (Galileo). Representing the leading stables of France and Ireland, their respective trainers Francis Graffard and Aidan O'Brien each head the tables in their home countries having dominated the first half of the season. Graffard will of course be bidding for back-to-back wins in the £1.5m contest after last year's breakthrough victory with Goliath (Adlerflug). The 2023 St Leger winner Continuous (Heart's Cry) has latterly been playing the role of support act for his younger stable-mates and he returns to the fray again for a seventh appearance of the season. To line up for this race is to follow in the footsteps of giants: from the epic tussle of half a century ago between Grundy and Bustino, to Montjeu another 25 years on from that, to the following year's duel between Galileo and Fantastic Light, the midsummer highlight rarely disappoints, even with only a select number of starters. Jan Brueghel, from Galileo's penultimate crop, will be attempting to emulate his victory of 2001. Nine years have passed since his trainer Aidan O'Brien last won the King George with another son of the late champion in Highland Reel. He said, “Everything has gone well with Jan Brueghel since the last day [in the Coronation Cup]. Continuous rolls along usually and he'll go forward, but if someone else wants to go on [and make the running], he'll be happy too.” Kalpana (Study Of Man), the sole filly among the quintet, is proven over track and trip following her exploits in rather different conditions on Champions Day last October, and her two outings over a shorter distance in Ireland so far this year have suggested that she is crying out for a return to the greater stamina test she will find here. Godolphin's stalwart Rebel's Romance (Dubawi) is fast becoming something of a people's horse, showing the benefit of the top Flat stars staying in training a little longer. Now seven, he has amassed 18 victories from his 26 races around the world to date and was third here last year behind Goliath and subsequent Arc winner Bluestocking (Camelot). Barry Mahon, racing manager for Juddmonte, said of Kalpana's challenge, “Rebel's Romance is such a legend of a horse and Calandagan and Jan Brueghel are obviously very, very talented. We think going back up to a mile and a half will suit our filly and Andrew [Balding] said she worked well on Wednesday morning and he's very happy with her, so we're hopeful that her first two runs have set her up nicely for this.” Starman in the Vanguard The Starman bandwagon has really gathered momentum, with Tally-Ho Stud's young sire having been represented by yet another new stakes winner this week in the G3 Tyros Stakes victor North Coast, taking his tally of group winners to four. That could become five on Saturday. Amo Racing's G2 Queen Mary Stakes runner-up Flowerhead is likely to start close to favourite for the G3 Princess Margaret Stakes on what could be a big day for her first-season trainer Charlie Clover. She is rivalled in the market by Staya (Havana Grey), who was behind Flowerhead when fifth in the Queen Mary but has subsequently won the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown for KHK Racing and George Scott. Arturo Cousino's homebred Jancis (Tamayuz) is an intriguing raider for Ascot's G3 Valiant Stakes on her first start outside Ireland for Willie McCreery. All eight races from Ascot on Saturday are included in the World Pool, along with two race from York – the G2 York Stakes, which features the return of Ed Walker's Almaqam (Lope De Vega), and the Dash Handicap. The post King George: Who Will Follow in the Footsteps of Giants? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to G1 Prix Jacque Le Marois-winning sire Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead). 15.08 Newcastle, £9,600, Mdn, 2yo, 7f 14y (AWT) Hambleton Racing's David O'Meara trainee SAXOPHONIST (IRE) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) is a half-brother to three black-type performers headed by G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois-winning sire Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead). The 48,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 graduate encounters nine rivals in this debut. The post Saturday’s Observations: Half-Brother to Al Wukair Set for Newcastle Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A pair of Group 1 contests to be staged during next week's Qatar Goodwood Festival will earn their winners automatic berths into races on the 2026 Pegasus World Cup Day program at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24. The Visit Qatar Sussex stakes over a mile on July 30 will serve as a qualifier for the $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf, while the Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes going 10 panels on July 31 will earn the winner a spot in the field for the GII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Both races support the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup. The field for the Sussex features Juddmonte's exciting Field of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who has bounced back from a narrow defeat in the G1 Betfred 2000 Guineas with smashing victories in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Also expected for the Sussex are Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}) and Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), first and second, respectively, in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal Meeting, as well as former Chad Brown trainee Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), a close sixth in the latter event. Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who missed by a neck in the G1 Betfred Oaks before dropping back in trip to take out the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes June 28, leads the entries for the Nassau and she is joined by See The Fire (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), runner-up in the 2024 Nassau and a latest third against males in the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. The 4-year-old was a romping winner of York's G3 Strensall Stakes prior to that effort. Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was runner-up in the 2019 and 2020 renewals of the Pegasus Turf, while Warm Heart victoriously signed off on her career in the same event in 2024. The post Pegasus Day Berths Up For Grabs at Goodwood appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Morning-line favorites Bellezza and La Mehana, plus longshot Sacaya, give trainer Miguel Clement three opportunities to win the 1 1/2-mile Glen Falls Stakes (G2T) July 27 at Saratoga.View the full article

The Goffs Orby Book 1 catalogue is now available online with 466 lots to be offered across the two-day sale set to commence on Monday, September 29. Beginning a day earlier than its traditional Tuesday start, the change was made following feedback from clients who had commitments later in the week, including the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe meeting in France. All yearlings offered in both Orby Book 1 and Book 2 are eligible for prize-money of €2,000,000 in the 2026 Goffs Two Million Series. Included in that sequence is Europe's richest juvenile race, the Goffs Million, as well as €1,000,000 in €50,000 bonuses awarded to winners of designated two-year-old races across Ireland and the UK. Boasting yearlings by some of the most high-profile stallions on the market, offerings include the offspring of Baaeed, Blue Point, Camelot, Dark Angel, Frankel, Havana Grey, Kingman, Lope de Vega, Mehmas, New Bay, Night Of Thunder, No Nay Never, Sea The Stars, Starman, Too Darn Hot and Wootton Bassett, among others. A select number of American stallions will also be represented, including the likes of Justify, Munnings, and Omaha Beach. Prospects hail from some of the best families in the studbook, and include own and half-siblings to runners like multiple Group 1-winner Emily Upjohn, G1 Criterium de Saint Cloud hero Dubai Mile, and a number of champions. Headlining recent Goffs Orby success were English and Irish Oaks winner Minnie Hauk and GI Diana Stakes victrix Excellent Truth. “Classic glory, Royal Ascot winners, US Grade I success, Group-winning juveniles…if the performances by our graduates throughout 2025 is a measure of Orby quality, this is a catalogue that cannot be missed and that quality is testament to the wonderful support of so many leading producers,” said Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby. “Following client feedback, we placed a deliberate emphasis on quality over quantity throughout the Orby inspection process, resulting in a catalogue that, while more selective in size, is even richer in depth and quality so guaranteeing buyers the impeccably high standard for which this sale is renowned. Many of Ireland's best yearlings will be on offer at Orby Book 1, while we are pleased to welcome several UK vendors, including Highclere and Barton Stud, who will bring drafts to Orby for the first time.” “Our client relations team and international agents were out earlier than ever this year, travelling the world to secure major clients for our Orby yearlings, and we look forward to welcoming a stellar cast of buyers to Kildare Paddocks in two months' time to compete for this top-class catalogue.” Goffs Orby Book 1 will begin at 10am each day on Monday and Tuesday. The catalogue for Book 2, set to take place on October 1 and 2, will be published on Monday. The post ‘Classic Glory, Royal Ascot Winners, US Grade I Success’: Goffs Orby Book 1 Now Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Spectacular Grey (Not This Time), who earned 'TDN Rising Star' honors on Monmouth debut July 12 before topping the Fasig-Tipton July Digital Sale this past Tuesday, goes right back to work in Sunday's $100,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park. An 11-2 chance in a five-furlong maiden over the main track, the daughter of Rose Grey (The Factor) raced in midpack through the opening stages of that contest after breaking a fraction slowly, then bid wide into the stretch and powered clear to graduate by 7 3/4 lengths (video). Consigned to the July Digital Sale by Taylor Made on behalf of her previous owner III Beauty's Thoroughbred LLC, Spectacular Sale was sold to Epic Horses for $625,000. The filly remains in the care of trainer Alexis Delgado, who is looking forward to see what she can do on the grass this time around. “The old owners always wanted to try her on the grass but I said to them 'give me one opportunity on the dirt with her,'” Delgado said. “She ran an unbelievable race. She has always shown talent in the morning. She is a special filly. “I don't think she was 100% as far as her conditioning for her first race. Maybe 80 or 85%. But she is 100% now. He continued, “The new owners called me and said 'we like this filly for the grass.' They want to see if she is good enough to try a race at Kentucky Downs. We have to see how she does but I'm very excited to watch her race again.” According to a Monmouth Park release, Delgado has but 42 career victories to his credit and left the training business from 2022-2024 for family and economic reasons, working as an Uber driver in the interim. Delgado's most important career victory came in the 2019 GII Davona Dale Stakes when he saddled Jeltrin (Tapizar) to a 51-1 upset ahead of a long-odds third in the GI Acorn Stakes. “It's a great opportunity for me,” said Delgado. “For me to come back to training and to get a horse like this is unbelievable. The new owners called and said 'we saw the success you had in 2019. We want you to continue training this filly.' I am very grateful to them for that.” Spectacular Grey has drawn the rail in a field of 11 turf sprinters, including three from the barn of Wesley Ward. The post Sales-Topping ‘TDN Rising Star’ Spectacular Grey Back For Colleen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A 50% interest in Group 1-winning three-year-old Woodshauna (Wooded) will be offered next week on Goffs's new online platform, GoffsGo. The colt is being consigned by his current owners, Resolute Bloodstock, and will be sold with a 5% agent's commission. Bidding will open at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, and close at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 1. Winner of the Listed Prix Montenica and G3 Prix Texanita earlier this season in France, Woodshauna stamped himself as a top-class sprinter when taking out the G1 Prix Jean Prat, defeating multiple Group 1 winners including The Lion In Winter (Sea the Stars) and Shadow Of Light (Lope de Vega). The colt holds an entry for the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock and is expected to line up next in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on August 10. Woodshauna was previously sold at the Goffs London Sale for £625,000. Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby commented, “Resolute Racing's choice of GoffsGo to sell 50% of their magnificent Grade 1 winner Woodshauna is an early indication of the industry's enthusiasm for this unique platform. From the day we announced, we have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback and are proud to have such a customer-focused platform that appears to have really caught the imagination for its immediacy and ease of use,” said Beeby. “A 50% share in Woodshauna presents a unique and rare opportunity to the market as he is a current top-class performer and his inclusion demonstrates John Stewart's innovative approach to the business.” The post Share in John Stewart’s Woodshauna to be Offered on GoffsGo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Five of the eight starters have previously competed in the Eddie Read, including 2023 winner Gold Phoenix.View the full article

Trainer Chris Waller will take a cautious approach with star filly Aeliana in the spring as the patient trainer is wary of jumping too quickly to staying distances with the rising four-year-old. The New Zealand bred daughter of Castelvecchio was a dominant winner of the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) but don’t expect to see the staying journey at the top of spring targets. “We won’t be in any rush to get her to 2400m unless we have to,” Waller said. “I just find it tends to send horses a little one-paced. And then all of a sudden, you’re locked in to long-distance races. As older horses, there’s not really that many options.” “You’ve got the Tancred in Sydney, and you’ve got a Caulfield Cup once a year, but the options shorten up.” Waller indicated that Aeliana’s spring campaign will focus on middle-distance Group One races as key yardsticks. “I think a horse like her we will probably use the Turnbull or the Epsom, just to sort of tell us where we should be heading and whether she is a Cox Plate horse or not,” Waller said. The Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick are both run on October 4, with Waller to monitor which target is better suited as a potential springboard to the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m). View the full article

After Newmarket received a proper drenching on Thursday, Goodwood hopefuls Docklands (Massaat) and Asfoora (Flying Artie) took to the soft turf of the July Course for a spin ahead of their major-race targets next week. Partnered by Ted Durcan, the five-year-old Docklands, hero of last month's G1 Queen Anne Stakes, looked relaxed both pre- and post-work and had an easy stretch over Newmarket's undulations, making the most of a rare chance in an otherwise dry, hot summer to gallop on grass. “It was as much a mental exercise for him as a physical one,” said trainer Harry Eustace. “He's run three or four times now this year and with the way the weather has been until now he's just been on the Al Bahathri [all-weather gallop], but we've been delighted with him and Ted was very happy with him this morning.” He added of OTI Racing's G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes contender, “He's a dude and that's what has always made our lives very easy, and it makes the jockeys' lives easy as well.” Eustace gave visiting Australian trainer Henry Dwyer a hand by providing dual-winning sprinter Ancient Times as a lead horse for Asfoora, one of the stars of the previous year's Royal Ascot when winning the G1 King Charles III Stakes. The six-year-old mare was fifth in the same race last month, beaten just two lengths, after arriving in the UK later than she had done in 2024. Asfoora heads next to the G2 King George Qatar Stakes, in which she was beaten a short-head by Big Evs (Blue Point) last season. Asfoora and Oisin Murphy | Emma Berry After watching his globe-trotter work in partnership with Oisin Murphy, Dwyer said, “We're happy with her. We've kind of had to go backwards before we could go forwards. We gave her two weeks off because she was light and tight and we needed to get 20kg on her. As a result of that, her fitness has gone backwards but she has gone forwards in herself. “She's had a good blow and she got away from us a little but I just think, not necessarily from the point of view of winning next week, but the 20kg will help her long term, just not in the short term.” Dwyer is also considering further travels with Asfoora to York's G1 Nunthrope Stakes, the G1 Flying Five on Ireland's Champions Weekend, and the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye during the Arc meeting as she completes her European tour. The post Docklands and Asfoora Take to the Grass for Goodwood Prep appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz For Cambridge trainer Nicky Chilcott, it wasn’t the stature or the stakes of The Moonstone’s Silk Road victory on Thursday night at Cambridge Raceway that mattered, it was the sense of relief and accomplishment in finally getting the mare to return to a glimpse of her former self. Many may remember The Moonstone for her standout performances as an early two-year-old, when she impressed spectators on debut at Alexandra Park with a remarkable victory, despite missing away from the mobile and giving herself a considerable handicap in the process. That night it looked as though a top-class trotter was emerging. Her subsequent starts only reinforced that belief, with several remarkable runs against some of the best two-year-olds in the country at the time. It’s a commonly held superstition that ‘only the good horses’ seem to find themselves in a spot of bother, and unfortunately for the talented filly, that seemed to be the case. Toward the end of her two-year-old season, the team at White Star Stables noticed an issue with her gait. “Something was wrong with her,” said trainer Nicky Chilcott. “She went from trotting beautifully to having a glitch in her gait.” “After various checks with the vet, we found she had a fairly serious problem in her stifle. It was one of those things that could come right with time or might’ve required surgery.” After a spell, it appeared the injury had resolved. But a new obstacle emerged. “Her manners just went pear-shaped,” Chilcott said. “The injury itself looked to have come right, but she just lost her brain.” What followed during the mare’s three-year-old season was a battle, balancing her behaviour with a campaign that included starts in the Group 3 Northern Trotting Oaks and the Group 1 Northern Trotting Derby. “It was devastating,” said Chilcott. “We potentially had one of the best 2/3-year-olds in the country. I ended up saying to her owners, ‘As much as we want to aim her at these big races, I think we just need a complete reset.’” After a lengthy holiday in the hills, The Moonstone returned to campaign for her four-year-old season. With the mare initially threatening to return to her old ways, the team around her reached a tipping point. “In last week’s heat she broke heading into the first turn. She was pulling so hard she pulled herself off her feet,” Chilcott said. “So, we went back to the drawing board, and to be honest we almost sent her off to the breeding barn.” In a last-ditch attempt to bring the mare back to form, Nicky made some changes, adjusting her gear and increasing her workload. “I made some gear changes through the week and upped her work,” she said. “She was a lot kinder, more respectful, and I just thought, if she could carry that attitude into the races, we’d be a real chance in the final.” The changes worked the oracle. The daughter of Monkey Bones delivered a faultless performance. She was all business from the start, handling the mobile with precision to secure the trail. Turning for home, Nicky peeled her off the fence and the pair let down powerfully to break their 812-day dry spell. Understandably, it was an emotional moment for Chilcott. “For me, it was just pure relief, it was pretty emotional,” she said. “A lot of people go through hell and back with horses, and I’ve been to hell and back with her. To have everything fall into place, it was more relief than anything else.” As for what’s next, the team is taking it day by day, looking for more mobile starts to get miles back under her belt. “Maybe the threat of telling her she was going to become a mummy made her behave herself,” Nicky laughed. “But for now, she’s bought herself some time.” View the full article

International superstar Rebel’s Romance will look to add an elusive British Group One to his CV when he lines up in the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot on Saturday. The only overseas winner of Hong Kong’s Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m), Charlie Appleby’s globetrotter has won 18 of his 26 career starts including seven top-level successes in four different countries. He added a Royal Ascot win to his incredible record when surging clear to land the...View the full article

Consistent three-year-old Puntin steps up to 1800m for the first time on Saturday when he contests the ATC Thank You Stable Staff Handicap at Randwick. The Bjorn Baker-trained son of Super Seth has won four of his seven starts and has finished runner-up on the other three occasions including last start when slow into stride. Jockey Ashley Morgan is confident Puntin will relish the step up in distance. “I think he can be a stakes horse at 2000m, he’s got such a great attitude and he loves his racing. It takes him a long way,’’ Morgan told Racing NSW. “He’ll get out of this grade and with the opinion we have of him I’d be disappointed if he didn’t. “I think getting to this trip and beyond is going to be key to seeing where he ends up. If he can get the 2000m and see it out well there’s plenty of options for him.” Puntin was bred by Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, who also raced the gelding’s Caulfield Guineas-winning sire Super Seth. Now standing at Waikato Stud, Super Seth has made an enormous impact this year with Group One-winning progeny Feroce, Linebacker, La Dorada and Maison Louis. Puntin is out of the winning Encosta De Lago mare Stella Grace, who is a full-sister to the stakes winner Risk Aversion and a half-sister to the multiple Group Two winner Shania Dane. Presented as a yearling by Haunui Farm during the Book 1 sale at Karaka 2023, Puntin was purchased for $60,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock. View the full article

Waverley’s meeting on Friday will live long in the memory of Foxton horseman Adam Scott, who recorded his first win as a trainer courtesy of Another Won’t Hurt in the Sandfords Rural Carriers (1400m). The rambunctious five-year-old was having just his second start and he was unwanted by punters following his debut antics where he bucked off rider Nick Downs shortly after the start at Woodville earlier this month. He trialled to the satisfaction of stewards at his home track on Tuesday and started a $61.70 outsider. In stark contrast to his debut, Another Won’t Hurt showed perfect manners and jumped well for jockey Ashvin Mudhoo but was trapped out three-wide from his outside draw. From his midfield position, Mudhoo asked for his charge to improve four and five wide from the 600m. The son of Turn Me Loose continued his forward momentum entering the straight and was able to show a good turn of foot in the concluding stages to reel in Riomosa to score by a head, much to the delight of Scott, who could be heard cheering home his pride and joy. “It was a big thrill,” Scott beamed following the race. “I have had a lot of placings and it was getting to me a little bit. I was getting close, but I just wasn’t getting across the line. I am happy to finally get that win.” Another Won’t Hurt has been a project horse for the 24-year-old, and he has had a fair reputation for his behavioural issues at the Foxton track. Where others would have given up, Scott persevered, and he was duly rewarded with a winning result on Friday. “It’s really rewarding to have a horse that I have had around for two years to finally get him to the races and do everything right and get that win,” Scott said. “I got given him for free because he has always had a reputation and a very good strike-rate about him when it comes to track work and bucking. In his first start he lost the rider after 20m (after bucking). It was a character-building sort of day. “I am a very patient sort of person and once I put money into something, I love to see a result. Until they tell me they don’t want to do it, or they are slow, I will keep on persevering. “I got him and thought he had shown enough in his early jumpouts to push on. I put him out for 18 months and here we are. The last jumpout he would have had would have been two-and-a-half years ago, so to see it all come together is very rewarding.” Scott said it was also great to be able to give his part-owner, Jayden Moore, his first win as well. “This is the first horse the owner has been a part of,” Scott said. “We have ridden the rollercoaster together. This is my first win as a trainer and we are all just thrilled to be here, having a happy and healthy horse, and be looking forward to the future over ground.” The son of trainer Anna Scott, racing is in the blood for Scott, who always envisioned following in his family’s footsteps. “I am the fifth or sixth generation in racing,” he said. “The Scotts have always been in racing. My mum is a trainer, my Grandad was a trainer, and I always wanted to be like them. “When you grow up around something, what else are you going to do? If you grow up around All Blacks, you are going to be a rugby player. “I got involved when I was 17 when I was looking for a job. I always wanted my trainer’s licence and finally got it on August 1 last year. I have been searching for the first winner for a very long time, so it was great to get it today.” Scott has a dozen horses in his care at Foxton, and he said his partner, jockey Crystal Lindsay, is instrumental in his operation and he was pleased to see her place on his horse Tramore earlier on the card. “I primarily do pre-trainers and breakers, but I race a few on my own,” he said. “I have got six in work, and I do about six breakers and pre-trainers at the same time. That’s all I want to get to at the moment. “My partner, Crystal Lindsay, helps me closely in the mornings and I wouldn’t be doing it without her because otherwise it gets a bit tricky trying to do everything on the ground and ride. “Tramore is a jumper and was there for a fitness run and she is going to go over the jumps again next start. I was thrilled with her running third.” Scott, who has also won three races as an amateur jockey, was thrilled with Friday’s outcome and he is looking forward to celebrating the result with his loved ones. “When you have spent time with a horse for so long, to win a race is a feeling that is hard to describe,” he said. “I will remember this day for the rest of my life.” View the full article

Gavin Sharrock had a day out with three of his promising young gallopers at Hawera a fortnight ago, and he hopes to replicate that effort at Otaki on Saturday, particularly with Spandeedo, who will contest the Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m). The Stratford horseman took Spandeedo, Stewart, and Vibration to the Egmont meeting, and all three returned winners, with the former comfortably taking out the two-year-old race. It was the second victory in four starts for the son of Ferrando, who has improved with each run. “He’s a really speedy little horse, he has been a little bit wayward at times, but I think we’ve got him under control now,” Sharrock said. “His work has been good and I’m really happy with him. “I haven’t done a hell of a lot with him since Hawera, he had a quiet gallop on Thursday morning and going into the race, I’m not too worried about the draw (8), because he’ll go forward anyway.” Sharrock has enjoyed a successful season in the juvenile ranks, also preparing Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) runner Daylight Robbery and stakes performer Country Salon to victories, but had the Otaki feature on his radar solely for Spandeedo. “He was the one I focussed on with this race, you can’t go everywhere, so the other two had a freshen up and they’ll go towards the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m) on the 30th of August,” he said. “He’ll have a three-week break after this race, and I’ll decide what to do with him after that.” Much like his younger stablemate, Vibration has been a work in progress for Sharrock and probably could have put more than three wins on the board had he put his best foot forward at each start. “He’s been a very hard horse to work, he seems to behave not too badly at the races, but at home, he’s a proper handful,” Sharrock said. “We are getting there though, he seems to be maturing a bit with age. “I think he’s an exceptional horse, he would’ve been much further forward than he is if we’d been able to handle him early, but he would run off the track at home and run off in his gallops and do silly things.” The son of Proisir was on best behaviour in his last couple of starts, going back-to-back at Otaki and Hawera, and he will start the likely favourite again in Saturday’s Levin Jumpouts Supporters Handicap (1400m). “We seem to have him under control now, he’s going well, so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here,” Sharrock said. Completing the trio will be Stewart, a deserved maiden winner when he put six and half lengths on his rivals last time out. Northern-based apprentice Maria Sanson will continue her association with the three-year-old when he takes on the DG Farriers Handicap (1200m). “He’s come through that run really well, he was very unlucky when second at Te Rapa where he was carted out about six or eight horse widths, and only went down by half a head,” Sharrock said. “He put it all together at Hawera and won very convincingly, so hopefully he can carry on with it. He’s well, he’s eating and doing everything right.” The latter pair are raced by their breeder, Cliff Erb, who continues to support Sharrock with quality gallopers. “Cliff is an ex-dairy farmer and had always been infatuated with horses, and after he sold his farm, he built up a band of broodmares and is breeding a lot of horses,” Sharrock said. “I’m just lucky enough to be training them for him. “I’ve got six at the moment, mostly two-year-olds, rising three, and there are some lovely horses amongst them.” View the full article

Canheroc has come close to taking out a couple of New Zealand’s feature staying races, and they will once again be on his radar this coming season. The Chris Wood-trained gelding was third in last year’s Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) after winning the Listed Marton Cup (3200m), and last November he filled the same placing in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m). “He has had a couple of unlucky runs in the New Zealand Cup and Wellington Cup. He probably should have won one of them at some stage but that’s the way things panned out.” Wood said. The rising eight-year-old had a decent spell after he pulled up lame following the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) last December, and he will return to the Hamilton venue on Saturday to commence his new campaign in the Woods Contracting 1300. “He just pulled up a bit scratchy last year in behind at his last race at Waikato,” Wood said. “He had a good four months in the paddock at his owners’ place. He came back from there in good order and he seems a happy horse.” While pleased with Canheroc in the early stages of his preparation, Wood doesn’t expect him to feature on Saturday over a distance far shorter than his best. “He has had a few jumpouts, but he is not going to be a force to be reckoned with on Saturday,” he said. “I have put young Sienna Brown on, who is now apprenticed to me, for a four-kilogram weight relief. He won’t disgrace himself, but he will need the run and that will be a good starting point.” Wood is looking for redemption in the Wellington and New Zealand Cups and said they will be his key targets this season. “It is nice to have him back,” he said. “Hopefully he stays in one piece and he will be a nice chance going into the staying races for the spring and summer. “He will probably go to the New Zealand Cup again. He went the two miles last year, he just raced a bit fiercely for him, which was most unusual. He still found the line well after all the effort he put in through the run.” On Sunday at Te Aroha, Wood will line-up his exciting jumper Smug in the Te Aroha Veterinary Services Te Aroha Cup (3500m), and the seven-year-old gelding will be looking to build on his momentum after downing champion jumper West Coast at Woodville last start. “He has done good jobs with his two chases he has had – one a bit lucky and the other beating a champion (West Coast),” Wood said. “I thought we had come undone at the second-to-last when he got a bit unbalanced, but he picked himself up and really found the line. It was an outstanding effort and just shows that we have got something on our hands that is going to go forward with a bit of luck.” Wood is hoping to see another winning display on Sunday as his charge builds towards the Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at the same venue in September. “He is very exciting and the bigger, live fences will suit him more,” Wood said. “Everything is good and he has come through his last run in really good order, I am very happy with him.” View the full article

A checkered past is proving to be a blessing in disguise for in-form mare Quick Fire, who is presented with an opportunity to rise to another level at Te Rapa. With maturity, the five-year-old daughter of Time Test has put a series of issues behind her and looms as a major player in The Callinan Family Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) on Saturday. “She wasn’t physically or mentally ready to be there and now she’s had all this enforced time to develop, we’ve got this really lovely racehorse to go on with,” trainer Kylie Fawcett said. “I’m really happy with her, she’s been a work in progress and had a lot of setbacks because she was very hormonal as a younger horse. “Every time she came into season, she was frightening to put on the horse truck. She would lean all over the partitions and self-destruct, but we certainly don’t have that problem with her now.” The late blooming Quick Fire has won five of her 16 starts, including three of her last five ahead of her open class debut at Te Rapa where she has posted two of her victories. “She had her first start as a Christmas four-year-old, and she won that and then had another couple of goes in Rating 65, so she got exposed quite quickly,” Fawcett said. “We put her out and then brought her back and had those problems with her coming into season and she whacked a leg in the paddock. “She went out again, so I am very grateful to the owners who have been so patient.” Quick Fire is likely to head for a short break following Saturday’s outing. “I’m not going to give her too long, two or three weeks, and then she won’t lose a great deal of fitness,” Fawcett said. “We’ll have a look around at some of the spring races, provided we get tracks to suit. “Hopefully by next autumn, she will really come into her own and I’ve always thought she could be a really nice cups’ mare.” Fawcett will also take the race day covers off unraced stablemate Hazmat when the monster three-year-old makes his debut in the Calf Donation Thank You Maiden (1400m) at Te Aroha on Sunday. “Everything he’s doing has been a really nice surprise because he is ginormous, he’s 17.2h and 580kg,” Fawcett said. “He is just so big, and we’ve always pegged him as a horse that gets over a bit of ground as he gets older.” The son of Proisir finished runner-up in his first trial at Ellerslie in July and a month later won an 1150m heat at Te Awamutu. “The trials have been nice, and he’ll have a run before I tip him out in the paddock for a month or so,” Fawcett said. “He’s a gentle giant and a beautiful moving horse, but he’s still raw and has a lot more physical development to do.” View the full article

The Lisa Latta-trained pair of Platinum Diamond and Brutiful Lass will bid to end their juvenile season in perfect fashion at Otaki on Saturday when they tackle the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m). Platinum Diamond has made a solid start to her career, with the daughter of Hello Youmzain winning two of her three starts to date, including last month’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. In-form hoop Bruno Queiroz will jump back in the saddle on Saturday where he will be out to replicate their last start heroics from barrier four. “She has drawn nicely,” Latta said. “I am happy with her, she has worked well. “She is a late foal, we have just given her a bit of time and she has come to it nicely. She just keeps going forward in the right direction, which is what you like to see.” Brutiful Lass fought out the minor placings in the Castletown Stakes, eventually finishing third behind Country Salon, and Latta is hoping for a strong finish from the daughter of Brutal this weekend. “I was rapt with her last run, she keeps improving,” Latta said. “She was in a photo for second and her sectionals were really good. “She has drawn a bit tricky again (seven), so it is just hard to know where she is going to end up. I can see her finishing it off strongly again.” Win, lose or draw, Latta said both fillies will head to the paddock after Saturday. “They will probably have a little freshen-up after this,” she said. Latta will be represented by three other runners at the meeting, including Benefactor who will be looking to repeat her winning performance from two starts back in the Levin Truck Services Handicap (1600m). “The track was just too heavy for her at Hawera (when fourth last start),” Latta said. “It is obviously going to still be pretty sticky on Saturday. We have had good weather, but it will still be in the Heavy range.” Benefactor will be joined in her race by stablemate Deadly Pony, who will step up to open company for the first time. “We are running her out of her grade, there are just a lack of races around and it’s just getting too long between runs,” Latta said. “She has worked well and she goes well at Otaki.” Latta’s Otaki team will be rounded out by rising 11-year-old gelding Lincoln Star, who will contest the Happy 65th Birthday Grant & Robert Linton Handicap (2100m). “He always tries hard,” Latta said of the eight-win gelding. “We are looking for an improved track for him. The claim (Amber Riddell’s 2kg claim) will help.” View the full article