Wandering Eyes

White Smoke (f, 2, Essential Quality–Mira Alta, by Curlin), whose barn already celebrated when first-time starter Golden Tempo (Curlin) was named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', after winning the third race on the card in New Orleans, was backed by the betting public as the 8-5 choice for her unveiling here. The filly was left at the gate by the field, which put her at a distinct disadvantage up the backstretch. Seemingly out of it around the far turn, the 2-year-old was able to get back into the race by chewing up ground and at the quarter pole she positioned herself to make a run down the center of the course. The gray took aim at new leader Gerber Daisy (Twirling Candy), collared her target by the sixteenth marker and completed the remarkable trip with a length victory. Hailing from an extended female family which includes champion 3-year-old filly Stellar Wind (Curlin), the winner is a half-sister to War Stopper (Declaration of War), GSP, $242,806, Wicked Awesome (Awesome Again), SW & GSP, $294,460 and Promise Keeper (Constitution), GSW, $457,610. A half-sister to GISW Great Hunter (Aptitude), plus the dam of MGSW Owendale (Into Mischief) and GSW Shred the Gnar (Into Mischief), unraced Mira Alta is also responsible for a yearling colt by Flightline who was sent to Japan this year, and a weanling filly by that same sire. She was bred to Nyquist for next season. White Smoke is the 19th winner for her freshman sire (by Tapit). 4th-Fair Grounds, $55,000, Msw, 12-20, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.04, ft, 1 length. WHITE SMOKE, f, 2, Essential Quality–Mira Alta, by Curlin Sales History: $500,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $33,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Belladonna Racing LLC, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing LLC and B.C.W.T. Ltd.; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. WHITE SMOKE ($5.20) blows past the field to win on debut at @fairgroundsnola. Back-to-back victories for @jose93_ortiz & @reredevaux. The 2YO Essential Quality (@DarleyAmerica) filly is owned by @BelladonnaRaci1, Twin Brook Stables, @woodfordracing & B.C.W.T. Ltd. pic.twitter.com/ld9w7Mykg0 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 20, 2025 The post Essential Quality’s White Smoke Comes From The Clouds In New Orleans appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It came down to the top two betting choices as 6-year-old SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING (Exaggerator) and 3-year-old Poster (Munnings) threw down through the final furlong but, in the end, Skippy got the better of his younger, favored rival to capture the GIII Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The traditional prep for next month's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the Harlan's Holiday was Skippylongstocking's first race back since a case of the thumps saw him fade to eighth on a hot night in West Virginia in the Charles Town Classic in August. Breaking from the inside as one of two Saffie Joseph Jr. runners, Skippy came away in good order just outside of Hold My Bourbon (Anchor Down) was who intent to lead on the fence. As that rival rocketed out to a clear lead through fractions of :22.87 and :45.95, Skippy sat third in close company with Chilean invader Con Compania (Chi) (Awesome Patriot). Having to navigate traffic on the run into the far turn, Tyler Gaffalione was patient and guided the 2-1 second choice out and around the fading pacesetter to set up a duel with Poster who circled up on the far outside with a big move from last. That pair linked up at the quarter pole and bobbed heads to the first finish line with Skippylongstocking just getting a narrow advantage in the final strides to win. 26-1 longshot Catalytic (Catalina Cruiser) filled out the trifecta. Lifetime Record: 35-12-3-7. O-Daniel Alonso; B-Brushy Hill, LLC; T-Saffie Joseph Jr. Sales History: $15,000 ylg '20 KEESEP, $37,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Saturday, Gulfstream Park HARLAN'S HOLIDAY S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 12-20, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.05, ft. 1–SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING, 126, h, 6, by Exaggerator 1st Dam: Twinkling, by War Chant 2nd Dam: Unhurried, by Out of Place 3rd Dam: Laughing Erin, by Irish Castle ($15,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $37,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Daniel Alonso; B-Brushy Hill, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $91,140. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 35-12-3-7, $3,775,250. *1/2 to Olivia Twist (Mshawish), SW & GSP, $321,579; Moonlite Strike (Liam's Map), SW & GSP, $175,205. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Poster, 118, c, 3, Munnings–Pin Up, by Tapit. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. $29,400. 3–Catalytic, 121, c, 4, Catalina Cruiser–One Show Only, by Distorted Humor. ($70,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $125,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Tami Bobo; B-Fred W. Hertrich (KY); T-Antonio Sano. $14,700. Margins: HD, 5HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 2.40, 1.50, 26.40. Also Ran: Classic of Course, Hold My Bourbon, Con Compania (Chi), Racing Driver. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Skippy IS Skippy today! SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING ($6.80) overcomes traffic to win the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3) at @GulfstreamPark under @Tyler_Gaff for trainer @SaffieJosephJr and owner Daniel Alonso. The Ft Lauderdale Stakes (G3) is next. Bet with @FanDuel Racing. pic.twitter.com/6OusI1D3BQ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 20, 2025 The post Skippylongstocking Proves Age Is Just A Number In Game Harlan’s Holiday Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

D'code, who rocketed to a front-running 8 1/4-length debut victory in a swiftly run maiden race Dec. 14 at Oaklawn Park, is pointed toward the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Jan. 31 at the Arkansas track. View the full article

Making up for lost 'time' after racing at the tail of the field for the opening half of a six-furlong Fair Grounds maiden Saturday afternoon, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Golden Tempo (c, 2, Curlin–Carrumba, by Bernardini) cornered wide into the long straight under a full head of steam and kept that powerful rally up all the way through the line to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard. Pinched back right out of the gates, the well-backed 14-5 chance was well behind early and Jose Ortiz was content to take his medicine, allowing Golden Tempo to find his footing at the tail of the field. Coronado (Nyquist), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling, was also off to a slow start as the 9-5 chalk, raced three deep and was first to make a move, coming with a three-wide bid to poke his head three furlongs from home. Not long after, the rail-drawn firster Fancy Fairlane (McKinzie, 7-1) popped off the rail and into the four path and he looked like he was going to run away from them, as he put the chalk to the sword in upper stretch. But, switched out widest of all, Golden Tempo kicked in strongly and bridged the better part of a five-length deficit in the final furlong to win by a widening margin while covering his final quarter-mile in a slick :23.57 according to DRF Formulator. The winner's dam was raced by the Phippses to a victory in the GIII Top Flight Handicap and was third to Cavorting (Bernardini) in the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes in 2016. Placed three times at the graded level at five in 2017, Carrumba concluded her career with a mark of 4-6-3 from 15 starts. Golden Tempo's third dam was Dancinginmydreams, a full-sister to champion Heavenly Prize and Oh What A Windfall, and runner-up in the GI Matron Stakes in 2000. Her four winners from seven to race included GI Manhattan Handicap hero Dancing Forever (Rahy). The cross of Curlin over the late Bernardini is now responsible for 25 winners from 40 starters (62.5%), of those 10 stakes winners, including Grade I winners Clairiere and Paris Lights and other graded scorers Cezanne, Cornishman and fellow 'Rising Star' Spice Is Nice. Carrumba is also the dam of a yearling colt by Nyquist and a weanling filly by Liam's Map. She was barren to Good Magic for 2026. 3rd-Fair Grounds, $55,000, Msw, 12-20, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.66, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. GOLDEN TEMPO, c, 2, by Curlin 1st Dam: Carrumba (GSW & GISP, $621,500), by Bernardini 2nd Dam: Castanet, by El Prado (Ire) 3rd Dam: Dancinginmydreams, by Seeking the Gold Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $33,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree. O/B-Phipps Stable & St Elias Stables LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. GOLDEN TEMPO ($7.60) and @jose93_ortiz fire in the final sixteenth to win on debut at @fairgroundsnola. This 2YO son of Curlin is trained by @reredevaux and owned by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable. Bet the Fair Grounds with @FanDuel Racing.https://t.co/Hyo6FY9uBw pic.twitter.com/NBZCkYYyKK — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 20, 2025 The post Curlin’s Golden Tempo Charges Home To ‘TDN Rising Star’ Laurels appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' D'code (Speightstown) will look to stretch out to two turns as he targets the GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Jan. 31, his connections told track media Saturday. The 2-year-old dazzled in his six-furlong debut Dec. 13, putting up a final time of 1:09.57, the fastest time for the distance in Oaklawn history for a 2-year-old. The 99 Beyer Speed Figure was the second-highest of his generation this year behind only fellow 'Rising Star' Brant's (Gun Runner) 101 at Del Mar in July. “It was pretty awesome,” said trainer H. Ray Ashford Jr. “We liked the colt all along, but he ran better than we expected. I thought the horse would win, but I didn't think he'd win in that fashion.” D'code returned to the track Thursday morning for the first time since his win, with Ashford noting that colt was “a handful”. The Southwest is the second race in Oaklawn's series of Kentucky Derby prep races. The first, the Smarty Jones Stakes, comes up Jan. 3. “I think we're kind of leaning toward the Southwest right now,” Ashford said. “The Smarty Jones is just too quick back. He came back fine. I don't think he ran that hard, but being a 2-year-old I don't want to blow his mind. No need to push because he's a nice horse.” The post ‘Rising Star’ D’code To Target Southwest For Two-Turn Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tom Ryan's observation that California graded stakes have been decimated by the graded stakes committee is spot on, but does not delve into the issue deeply nor address solutions. I applaud him speaking out against a system that adheres to a doctrine of the past, which evaluates many criteria while ignoring the fact that all graded stakes (save a select few) will be the domain of slot-enhanced, subsidized racetracks in the near term. The idea that the Breeders' Cup and/or Jockey Club could ignore this trend while sitting idly by points with clarity to why we should have little faith in our 'institutions' as champions of change. Supporting California graded stakes through purse supplementation, freezing the downgrading of stakes while attempting to create stability, and restoring the prior status of fixture races like the Santa Anita Oaks and others with set criteria is actionable and necessary. The phrase 'too big to fail,' applied to the banking industry and automobile industry, certainly applies to California racing. I challenge these organizations to prioritize the crisis and formulate a plan of action. Waiving registration fees and 'Win and You're In' won't save racing, but the loss of California racing will be felt in the sales ring and breeding shed in seismic proportions. The post Letter To The Editor: John Sikura appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Off right at her morning-line odds of 5-1, West Point Thoroughbreds and William Sandbrook's PILLAR OF BEAUTY (f, 2, Caracaro–Port Marazion, by Point of Entry) took a gap at the fence at midstretch and outfinished the once-raced Elenique (Leinster) to open her account stylishly at first asking in the opening race Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park. Off to an alert beginning from gate two, the bay filly led for a stride or two from between rivals very early on before coming back to Junior Alvarado and finding the box seat from third. Just short of running room when the real running was about to begin approaching the eighth pole, Pillar of Beauty was angled down to the inside and was able to sustain her momentum, doing her best work through the line to graduate comfortably when all was said and done. Sales history: $16,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '25 FTMMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-West Point Thoroughbreds & William Sandbrook; B-Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLean Jr. (KY); T-Bill Mott PILLAR OF BEAUTY ($12.60) squeezes through the rail under @JuniorandKellyA to win on debut at @GulfstreamPark for trainer Bill Mott and owners @westpointtbred and William Sandbrook. Congratulations to the connections with this 2YO filly by Caracaro who stands at @CrestwoodKY. pic.twitter.com/Smn3J0qpoE — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 20, 2025 The post Caracaro Filly Pillar of Beauty a Professional Debut Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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What will racing look like in 10 years? We asked some of racing's best and brightest to give us their predictions. Want to submit an answer? Email suefinley@thetdn.com NAJJA THOMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS, INC. By 2036, I envision a Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry that has emerged stronger and more sustainable after confronting–and resolving–many of the structural challenges we face today. While the continued retraction of operating racetracks is likely unavoidable over the next decade, the remaining venues will be more strategically aligned with year-round circuits, major population centers, and integrated gaming or entertainment models. Flagship venues and well-supported regional circuits will continue to anchor our sport in the future. Within the next ten years, the industry will have reached a definitive resolution regarding the constitutionality, governance, and long-term oversight of HISA and HIWU. Whether these organizations remain in their current form or adopt a revised framework, preserving national uniformity in safety standards, medication control, and enforcement will be essential to maintaining our sport's credibility. Expanded participation by states such as Louisiana, Texas, and West Virginia would reduce redundancy, improve consistency, and lower overall compliance costs across North America. The specific structure matters less than maintaining uniformity, transparency, and confidence in the system. Advancements in tote technology and wagering regulation will be central to modernizing our betting ecosystem. Improved safeguards and transparency must narrow the divide between computer-assisted wagering teams and retail bettors, including better timing controls and regulatory clarity to restore wagering confidence. At the same time, expanded wagering opportunities–such as fixed-odds wagering tied to pari-mutual pools, prop bets, and cross-sport parlays–combined with prime-time broadcasting of marquee events and a reconfigured racing calendar that avoids direct competition with major sports such as football, will help grow and diversify our wagering audience. The foal crop should experience a modest but meaningful rebound over the next ten years, supported by favorable tax depreciation policies and stronger coordination among regional breeding and racing programs. Increased collaboration across jurisdictions should foster more stable, year-round racing circuits throughout the East, Midwest, South, and West Coast, anchored by nationally supported breed-to-race incentive programs. These efforts would encourage long-term investment from breeders and ownership groups in addition to the sales market. Additionally, shared investment in commercial air transportation solutions would alleviate many of the logistical and financial burdens associated with domestic and international shipping. Even incremental improvements in transportation efficiency would be transformative. Expanding international participation in top North American races–and our participation abroad beyond events such as the Breeders' Cup, Dubai World Cup, and Royal Ascot–will be critical to growing global relevance, strengthening our television audience, increasing handle, and carding deeper, more competitive races throughout the year. One area where I am particularly confident the industry will continue to make significant progress is in regard to aftercare. Maintaining our social license with the broader public requires implementing a sustainable and mandatory aftercare system that supports our equine athletes throughout their lives. By 2036, I believe this system must and should be firmly established through shared responsibility among owners, breeders, racetracks, and industry stakeholders. Having built my career within this industry, I do not view this future as aspirational alone. I intend to help lead Thoroughbred breeding and racing toward this vision–one that is safer, more transparent, more economically sustainable, and more globally relevant by 2036. The post Racing In 2036: Najja Thompson appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore National Hunt stallion Mahler, who was twice champion point-to-point sire in Ireland, has died at the age of 21. “Mahler had a wonderful temperament and was a lovely horse to be around,” said Robert McCarthy of The Beeches Stud – home to the second-crop son of Galileo since his first season at stud in 2009 – in a statement issued by Coolmore on Saturday. “He has been a great servant over the years and will be sadly missed by everyone here at The Beeches, in particular by Yann, who has looked after him so well for the past few years and is absolutely heartbroken.” Bred by Pegasus Racing Ltd, Mahler developed into a smart stayer for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners after being bought for 140,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, notably winning the G3 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, before finishing second in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster and third in the G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. At stud, Mahler is perhaps best known as the sire of Grade 1-winning chasers such as The Real Whacker (Brown Advisory Novices' Chase) and Ornua (Maghull Novices' Chase), in addition to the multiple Grade 2 scorer Chris's Dream and the winner of this year's Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, Daily Present. The statement added, “Mahler leaves behind a legacy that will be felt for many years in the National Hunt sphere.” The post Leading National Hunt Sire Mahler Dies at The Beeches Stud at 21 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Invincible Ibis confirmed his standing as the Classic Mile’s leading contender when the emerging four-year-old delivered Mark Newnham his 100th Hong Kong victory at Sha Tin on Saturday. Stepping up to the Classic Mile trip for the first time in the Class Three Poinsettia Handicap, Invincible Ibis sliced his way through the field under a sublime Zac Purton ride to complete a hat-trick with another dominant triumph. Newnham has compared the Hellbent gelding to his Classic Mile winner of last year,...View the full article

Caspar Fownes took home another feature race when Sky Trust resumed his improvement with a dominant performance to win the Class Two Ivy Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday. Fownes’ So You Think galloper returned this campaign with a three-length success on wet going and was slapped with a 10lb rise as a result, but he ran with credit in two subsequent runs before returning to the winners’ enclosure in impressive fashion. One-out and one-back under French jockey Maxime Guyon, the pair...View the full article

New Zealand-bred gelding Step Aside (NZ) (Redwood) took his earnings to the brink of half a million dollars with a well-timed finish in Saturday’s A$160,000 Petaluma Handicap (1300m) at Randwick. Originally purchased for just $2,300 on Gavelhouse.com, the Chris Waller-trained son of Redwood has now won six races in his 26-start career, backed up by five second placings and four thirds. The six-year-old has earned A$480,400 for his OTI Racing ownership syndicate. Step Aside is proving to be particularly effective at the 1300m distance. Saturday’s race was his 11th attempt at the trip, over which he has now recorded four wins and three placings. Off the scene since an unplaced finish at Rosehill in July, Step Aside resumed with a fourth over 1300m at Rosehill on December 7. He headed to Randwick on Saturday for his second-up assignment at the same distance, where apprentice jockey Siena Grima’s 3kg claim reduced his weight to 58kg. Step Aside drew the second from outside gate, and Grima took him back and settled fourth from last in the early stages of the race. Grima angled him to the outside in the straight and began to move Step Aside through his gears. He drew up alongside Mafia (Written Tycoon), Alabama State (Alabama Express) and Plundering (Shooting To Win) with 100m to run, and finished over the top of them to win by just under a length. OTI Racing took special satisfaction from the win, which capped a Saturday double for New Zealand-breds carrying their navy blue and gold hooped colours. Wymark (NZ) (Savabeel) had previously taken out the A$130,000 Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield Heath. “Step Aside continues his ultra-consistent form and makes it a state-to-state double for the OTI colours,” the prominent syndicator said on Facebook. “Step Aside is a tough, reliable performer who keeps delivering when it counts. Congratulations to all connections on another terrific result.” By Redwood out of the winning Roc de Cambes mare Teena Rox (NZ), Step Aside was bought by Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning for $2,300 on Gavelhouse.com in March of 2021. Step Aside won an 800m trial on the Cambridge synthetic track in October of 2022 before his sale to OTI. View the full article

The cliche is that it only takes 40 years to become an overnight success. Obviously it can never take that long for a horse but Starspangledbanner could be forgiven for thinking something along those lines as he ends 2025 with his status at an all-time high. There were several notable aspects to this year's Cartier Awards, most notably the happy situation that all bar one of the winners will still be in training in 2026. Another stand-out feature was that both the Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (Gstaad) and the Champion Two-Year-Old Filly (Precise) are by the same stallion. A consequence is that their sire Starspangledbanner will start 2026 standing at his highest ever fee (€60,000) at an age (20) at which most stallions have already started to fall out of fashion. This was not the first time that one stallion has been responsible for both Cartier champion juveniles. In 2010 the accolades were taken by Frankel and Misty For Me, son and daughter of Galileo. In 2005 Danehill's offspring George Washington and Rumplestiltskin took the prizes. Starspangledbanner's achievement thus isn't unprecedented, but it does put him into very exalted company. As the time it has taken suggests, it has been a long and winding road for Starspangledbanner to reach his new peak of popularity. The road began promisingly because, born in Australia in September 2006, he was bred by one of the country's most notable breeders: Tony Santic's Emily Kristina Pty Ltd, then riding on the crest of a wave as the owner/breeder of the great mare who had won the past three Melbourne Cups and the most recent Cox Plate, Makybe Diva. She had been retained as a yearling but the young Starspangledbanner was sent to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2008, where he was bought by up-and-coming syndicator Brad Spicer for $120,000 to join the Victorian stable of Bart Cummings' former foreman Leon Corstens. Spicer had only set up his syndication business in 2005 and Starspangledbanner would go on to become the top-class horse which such an operation needs to establish itself in the elite tier of syndicators, where it remains to this day. There was plenty of class and speed in Starspangledbanner's pedigree and it didn't take him long to start showing it. As a son of the top-class dual-hemisphere pioneer Choisir, he came from the Danehill sire-line, while his dam Gold Anthem had been a fast filly in South Australia. Furthermore, he has Australia's historically greatest influence for class, speed and precocity, Star Kingdom, on both sides of his pedigree (which may or may not be of merely academic interest). The great horse is there in an unusual way on the distaff side. Gold Anthem was a daughter of the US-bred Star Kingdom-line stallion Made Of Gold, who had been a high-class two-year-old in England before retiring to stud in South Australia. Looking farther back, Starspangledbanner descends from the great mare Eulogy, who was exported to New Zealand after a racing career in which she ran against The Tetrarch (in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in 1913). An inductee in the New Zealand Hall of Fame as a 'breed-shaper', she can now boast well over 100 Group 1-winning direct descendants. These include two close relations of Starspangledbanner: the top-class half-brothers Elvstroem and Haradasun (whose granddam Olympic Aim was his third dam) who were at the peak of their powers shortly before Starspangledbanner started racing. Starspangledbanner made his debut in one of the principal two-year-old races of the Spring Carnival in Melbourne in 2008, on the same Moonee Valley card on which Maldivian won the Cox Plate. He won that day before later confirming his position among the leading two-year-olds in Victoria with a midfield finish in the G1 Blue Diamond after finishing third in the G3 Colts' and Geldings' Prelude. It was easy to predict that Starspangledbanner, a big imposing horse in the mould of his magnificent sire Choisir, might improve from two to three. That is exactly what he did, enjoying a magnificent campaign in the spring of 2009, highlighted by his victory in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. In the autumn he doubled his tally of Group 1 victories by taking the Oakleigh Plate before re-confirming his status as a top-class sprinter by finishing third in the G1 Newmarket Handicap, giving weight to both of the horses (Wanted and Eagle Falls) who beat him. With a controlling interest in Starspangledbanner having been sold to the Coolmore triumvirate, his next move was to follow in the footsteps of Choisir by heading to Royal Ascot. Whereas Choisir had come to Europe still under the care of his original trainer Paul Perry, Starspangledbanner was transferred to Aidan O'Brien. He did his new connections proud in Europe with three magnificent Group 1 sprinting performances: wins in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket and then second place behind Sole Power in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. By the end of the year he had achieved the notable double of being recognised as Champion Sprinter in both Australia and Europe. This looked to be a perfect prelude to a successful career as a stallion. However, he had already had one blip in his progress and he was shortly to have another. Starspangledbanner had made a winning reappearance as a spring three-year-old when scoring over 1000m at Caulfield on the first day (ie August 1) of the 2009/'10 season but subsequently was disqualified from that race for returning a race-day swab positive to altrenogest, a synthetic hormone given (under the name Regumate) to broodmares to regulate their reproductive cycles. It transpired that he had been given this in error and, fortunately, the drug was no longer detectable in swabs taken on the days of his subsequent races so he wasn't disqualified from those triumphs (which must have provided some consolation for Corstens while he served the six-month ban which he received for his error). That was the first setback in Starspangledbanner's career. The second came after he had retired to stud when it transpired that only a minority of the mares whom he was covering were getting in foal. It is impossible to know whether this was a consequence of the broodmares' hormone which he had received during his racing career. Whatever the cause, however, one thing was sure: there was a major question mark over his future as a stallion, hence the decision to put him back into training at Ballydoyle in 2012 once it was established that he was again proving sub-fertile in his second season. Resuming racing in the second half of the summer, he achieved relatively little in six runs, notwithstanding that he did finish second in a Group 3 sprint at the Curragh. Step forward Anthony Mithen. The proprietor of Rosemont Stud in Victoria was a minority share-holder in Starspangledbanner, thanks to having been able to buy the holding of the one original part-owner who had remained in him when he was sold to Coolmore. The outlook for Starspangledbanner as a stallion looked bleak but Mithen kept the faith. It was a long and experimental process at Rosemont to try to improve the horse's fertililty but eventually Mithen's efforts began to pay dividends. This was particularly good news because when the few members of his small first crop had started racing as two-year-olds in 2014, two of them won at Royal Ascot: The Wow Signal won the G2 Coventry Stakes (before taking the the G1 Prix Morny two months later) and Anthem Alexander landed the G3 Queen Mary Stakes. Coolmore had given up bringing Starspangledbanner up from Australia for the northern hemisphere seasons so he stayed put at Rosemont in 2013 and '14. However, once Mithen's efforts had started to produce a marked improvement in his fertility, he resumed his journeys north from 2015 onwards. Since then, he has gradually worked his way back to popularity. The 2017 seasons were particularly fruitful as three outstanding horses were conceived in that year, two in Ireland and one in Australia. State Of Rest emulated his father by winning at Group 1 level in both hemispheres. In fact, he scored at the highest level in four countries: in the USA, France and Australia (in the Cox Plate) as a three-year-old in 2021 and in England (at Royal Ascot in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes) at four. Also born in Ireland in 2018 was California Spangle, who headed to Hong Kong after changing hands for €150,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2019. There he won 13 races, most notably defeating Golden Sixty in the G1 Longines HK Mile in December 2022. Earlier in the year he had justified odds-on favouritism in the HK Classic Cup in which his victims included Romantic Warrior. On either side of that victory were close second places behind that horse in the HK Classic Mile and the HK Derby. Also conceived in 2017 was the Australian-bred gelding Beauty Eternal, winner to date (he is still racing) of nine races in Hong Kong including the G1 FWD Champions Mile in 2024 when the beaten horses included both Voyage Bubble and Golden Sixty as well as three challengers from Japan and one (Brave Emperor) from England. Good deeds don't always receive their due reward but Starspangledbanner's continually expanding record of achievement is, pleasingly, now producing the support and recognition which he deserves. His 2025 season of success has not only seen him hailed as sire of two Cartier Award winners. The autumn's round of yearling sales saw some big prices paid for his stock, headed by Godolphin paying the highest price yet achieved by a Starspangledbanner yearling (900,000gns). This sum was given for Islanmore Stud's daughter of the Galileo mare Love Potion in Book 2 of Tattersalls' October Sale, a month after the filly's full-brother Avicenna had maintained his unbeaten record by taking the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster. Furthermore, what could be viewed as the icing on the cake came during the December Sale when MV Magnier paid 4,500,000gns for the four-time Group 1-winning Cartier 2024 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Porta Fortuna and announced afterwards that she is likely to be covered by Starspangledbanner during the forthcoming season. About to turn 20 he may be, but some of Starspangledbanner's best days might still be in front of him. The post Best Days Still Ahead for Evergreen Starspangledbanner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Matamata visitor Sagunto etched his name into the folklore of the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) when he claimed his third victory in the race with a brilliant front-running performance at Trentham. Successful in the Group Three contest in 2022 and again in 2023, the Peter and Shaun McKay-trained 10-year-old had been battling to recapture his best form in his current campaign, although he had given plenty of cheek from in front before fading to midfield in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa last weekend. That run topped him off nicely for his favourite race and he made a liar of those who doubted his ability to return to the winners’ enclosure as a brilliant ride from Sam Collett and a never say die attitude from the son of O’Reilly resulted in him holding out all challengers for a brilliant win by just a nose from southerner Freddie Time. Peter McKay was struggling to hold back the tears as he described what it had taken to get the stable favourite back to winning form after he injured a tendon in the 2024 edition of the race. “Last year things didn’t go quite right for him as he had a bit of an issue with a tendon,” McKay said. “He has come back this year and it has been hard work trying to find the right tracks and races for him, but we were really happy when he ran third at Wanganui (two starts ago). “We weren’t sure whether to come here last week or run him in the Waikato Cup and he went really well thereafter being ridden well. “He just loves it here and three (Cups) for him is really good. “I said to Sam that she needed to take the reins away and hold on to his mane as that is the way you have to ride him. “He will find his own gears as he knows what he is doing and if you try to rate him he doesn’t finish off. Shaun found that out and the other day after trackwork he came in and said, ‘wow he is ready’. “We’re proud of him and for a horse to take it (the race) three times, we are really proud.” Collett knew the horse had his own style and she was happy to let that come to the fore. “He is a horse that has been around, has his own racing pattern and is fit enough to do the job he wants to do,” she said. “Today it was just a matter of me making sure he was going quick enough, breathing well, but making sure he had enough for the end. “I can’t take any credit as I just sat there and put him on autopilot as he knows what he is doing. “It’s a credit to the team as he is 10-years-old, but you wouldn’t think that at all.” Sagunto was bred by Waikato Stud, who offered him at Karaka as a yearling in 2017, where Peter and Kim McKay bought him for $120,000. His 77-start career has now produced 10 wins, 19 placings and $486,521 in stakes. View the full article

Lux Libertas has come close in several stakes races, but she was able to shed her bridesmaid tag at Trentham on Saturday when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). The five-year-old mare was first-up since her runner-up performance in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in June, and she was kept safe by punters as a $6.60 third elect. She jumped away well under leading Central Districts hoop Bruno Queiroz, who gave her a beautiful trip in the one-one position before finding clear running room at the top of the straight. Race favourite Marotiri Molly kicked clear at the turn, but Lux Libertas took chase and was able to slowly wear down the pacemaker in the concluding stages to win by a long neck. “It was a really good ride by Bruno, who gave her a sweet trip, and she moved into it well,” said Andrew Scott, who trains the mare in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “She had been building to this for a good while. Through her last preparation she was close in a couple of big ones and it is good that she is a stakes-winning mare now.” The daughter of Almanzor was set to resume at Te Rapa last week, but was withdrawn after she drew an unsuitable alley, and Scott was glad they played the patient game with their mare. “We have taken our time. We scratched her from last Saturday with the wide gate,” he said. “To (owners) Peter (Sain) and Kylie (Bax) with their patience to sit in another week and head down the line (to Trentham). “She deserved it and it was a really good effort from all of the team to have her fit and ready to go with such a long break between runs.” Scott and O’Sullivan are now left pondering their next move with Lux Libertas. “We need to sit down and work it out,” Scott said. “She is reasonably high in the ratings now, so hopefully there are some nice fillies and mares races through the summer.” Bred by Blandford Lodge principals Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, in partnership with Elsdon Park principal Lib Petagna, Lux Libertas is out of stakes performer Miss Fi, a half-sister to stakes winner Peaceful. Lux Libertas is raced by the Bax’s daughter Kylie’s Goldeye Trust in partnership with Sain, and she has gone on to win six of her 18 starts to date, including placings in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Tauranga Classic, and has accrued nearly $285,000 in earnings. View the full article

Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor was credited with a winning double at Caulfield Heath on Saturday when Roadcone held on for an all-the-way victory in the A$130,000 Magic Millions Digital Handicap (1500m). Almanzor opened his account with up-and-comer Touchdown in the first race on Saturday’s card, and Roadcone followed suit to improve his own record to 16 starts for five wins, four placings and A$251,364 in stakes. Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman identified Saturday’s Benchmark 78 handicap as a key target this time in for Roadcone, who had previously shown his effectiveness third-up in a campaign with a dominant win by four and a half lengths at Pakenham in May. He had finished second over 1200m and fourth over 1400m in his two previous appearances of that preparation. Moody and Coleman hoped for something similar again this time around, having sent out Roadcone for a first-up fifth over 1200m at Geelong and then a fourth over 1400m at Caulfield. Roadcone was ridden on Saturday by Luke Cartwright, who pressed forward from his wide gate and managed to get to the lead and cross to the rail within the first 200m. Roadcone was able to dictate terms from there and then kick hard off the home turn to open up a big lead. Knobelas emerged from the pack and began to eat into Roadcone’s margin with big strides late in the piece, but Roadcone dug deep and held on in a tight finish. “The heart rate definitely went up in that last little bit,” Coleman said. “The second horse was huge and probably would have got us in a few more strides. “We were aided by a fantastic ride from Luke Cartwright there. I thought he rated him really well in front and we were able to sneak it late. “He’s a funny horse – there’s not much of him, but he always takes a couple of runs to get fit, and I think we see the best of him third-up. “Our racing manager Jeff O’Connor identified this race for him a few weeks back. He thought 1500m would be ideal for him, and it’s a plan that’s paid off today. Credit to everyone involved.” Roadcone was bred by Bob Emery and is out of the So You Think mare On The Ball, who placed at two for Murray Baker before a career-ending injury. Baker went to $120,000 to purchase Roadcone from Woburn Farm’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2022 on behalf of part-owners John Rattray and Alastair Lawrence. Roadcone is a half-brother to Listed winner and Group One-placed Archaic Smile, while his yearling half-sister by Too Darn Hot made $675,000 last year at Karaka. Curraghmore will offer another half-sister to Roadcone at Karaka 2026 next month, with a filly by Ghaiyyath going through the ring as Lot 23 in the Book 1 session. View the full article

Last year’s Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) winner Wymark (NZ) (Savabeel) returned to winning form in style in the A$130,000 Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield Heath on Saturday. It was the fifth win of a 19-start career for the New Zealand-bred Savabeel gelding, who burst on the scene as a three-year-old two seasons ago with four consecutive wins culminating in the Tulloch Stakes. He then finished seventh behind Riff Rocket (American Pharoah) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). Wymark was guided through his first 16 starts by Michael Freedman, but switched to the Cranbourne stable of Gavin Bedggood this season. His first two appearances from his new quarters produced an 11th at Flemington on November 8 and a fourth at Pakenham last Saturday. Those two outings helped to build up his fitness for his third-up assignment at Caulfield Heath, where he was right back at his very best. Rider Jamie Mott settled Wymark in fourth along the rail, then stuck to the fence in the straight and drove his mount through a narrow gap on the inside of the front-running Oraqua (Zarak). Wymark quickened well and dashed to the front, kicking away to beat the $1.95 favourite Sneaky Sunrise (The Autumn Sun) by two and a quarter lengths. “That was a really dominant win today,” Mott said. “I had my first ride on him last time over the mile. That was quite a fast-run mile and he was just run off his legs a little bit, but I thought he held his ground nicely to the line. “Today, going up to the 1800m on a week back-up, it looked like it would work well for him. He was able to travel much better today, and once the gap came in the straight, he really responded well. It was a good, strong win. I struggled to pull him up too, so the further, the better.” Wymark races in the colours of OTI Racing and has now earned A$452,875 from a 19-start career that has produced five wins and four placings. “He was a Group Two winner as a three-year-old but hadn’t won for a very long time,” Bedggood said. “It was trainer error when I ran him on bad ground at Flemington, but then I thought he ran a much improved race at Pakenham back on dry ground last weekend. “He had a swim on Monday and spend his week out in the sand hills, we didn’t need to gallop him. He jumped a few logs this morning. I pulled a blood on him on Thursday and his blood was strong, and the vet said there was no reason not to run him, so here we are. “We knew we’d end up third or fourth on the fence and we’d just have to wait our turn, and luckily we got the run that we did in the straight and the rest is history. “He’s not going to be easy to place over the next month or so in Victoria, there isn’t a whole lot available for him. But he is a Magic Millions horse, so there’s a chance he might go to the staying race up there. We’ll see how he pulls up and work out the logistics of it.” Wymark was bred by Waikato Stud and is out of Pasadena (NZ), an unraced O’Reilly full-sister to multiple Group One winner Alamosa. Wymark was purchased at the Gold Coast yearling sales by bloodstock agent Mick Wallace for A$200,000. View the full article

Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by yet another highly promising two-year-old when the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven ran out an impressive winner of the TAB Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday. Ridden by Rachel King, the imposing colt sat off a strong tempo set by Shiki (Too Darn Hot) and powered over the top of his rivals to score by just over two lengths and book a passage to the A$3 million Magic Millions (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 17. “He was very good, it’s exciting and great to see those colours of the Cunningham family and a great bunch of owners in this horse,” Baker said. “It’s what it’s about, he’s got a ticket to the Magic Millions now, he’s made his way in and he’s a lovely looking horse. “I thought it was a big ask coming into today. He only had the one trial so I was questioning that and whether he was fit enough and if the 1000m would be too sharp for him. “I’m absolutely thrilled and it’s another great purchase by Jim Clarke. He is just making my job and my team’s job so easy. “After that win, I do know that going to 1100m and even the 1200m will be even better for him.” The colt was sourced by Baker’s bloodstock agent Jim Clarke at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was offered by breeder Kia Ora Stud and knocked down for A$380,000. Warwoven is the first foal of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, who was the winner of the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and placed at Group Two level in the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic and Eight Carat Classic. Sword Of State has had just the two runners in Australia to this point, with the other being stakes winner Torture (NZ), who landed the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in October and is being readied for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). A Group One winning son of Snitzel, Sword Of State is well represented at January’s Karaka Yearling Sales, with a total of 50 yearlings by the emerging young sire catalogued across Book 1 (21), Book 2 (25) and the Summer Sale (4). “I remember seeing Sword Of State himself as a yearling at Newgate Farm and he was a horse that was on my radar early as a very good two-year-old,” Clarke said. “We had the benefit of seeing him again last year on a trip to New Zealand after he had retired to Cambridge Stud and let down into a beautiful horse. “Warwoven was just a horse that physically stood out to us on the on-farm inspections when we were at Kia Ora this time last year and we saw him a number of times at the sale where he paraded very well. “He was a horse we were very motivated to buy and we had to push the boat out to buy him. He was $380,000 but he has impressed Bjorn the whole way through and his win today on debut was a big coup and hopefully he can push on to the Magic Millions. View the full article

Five-year-old gelding Angland (NZ) (Ace High) was back in the winner’s circle with a narrow victory at the Caulfield Heath track on Saturday when getting the better of Enchanted Jenni (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Crown Crusher (Gold Standard) in the MRC Mornington Summer of Racing Handicap (1600m). The Grahame Begg-trained son of Ace High was back in the winner’s circle for the first time in 12 months after a strong ride from Logan Bates. Angland is in his first preparation for the Begg stable, having transferred from the Price-Kent team for whom he won four races. The son of Ace High sports the colours of syndicator Ace Bloodstock and bounced back from a fall at Ballarat a fortnight ago in the best possible way. “The horse probably thinks he has won two in a row based on how he went the other day,” Bates said, referring to Angland continuing to race on riderless and be first past the post at Ballarat. “He got out cleanly today and got there comfortably. There wasn’t a lot of speed in the race and he got pulling there for a bit but once I got him back, he was good. “I gave him a squeeze and gee he tanked up. He is still quite dumb, even though he has had plenty of racing. “He hit the front and was looking for his mates. He is a bit of a worrier. I was just lucky that the one that levelled up to me was going in the finish and it kept him going. “He is a horse that has got a lot of ability but he just needs to put it all together in the right areas.” Angland was bred by Graeme Northcott and is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High. He is the first foal out of the Makfi mare Markova (NZ). Angland began his career in the Te Awamutu stable of Simon and Katrina Alexander, placing in a trial at Waipa last November before being sold privately in a deal brokered by Phill Cataldo. Now the winner of five of his 15 starts, Angland has amassed A$249,625 in prizemoney to date. View the full article

Caulfield Heath has been a happy hunting ground for promising four-year-old Touchdown (NZ) (Almanzor) in recent weeks, and the New Zealand-bred son of Almanzor recorded his third consecutive win at the venue in Saturday’s A$80,000 MRC Membership Feel The Thrill Handicap (1800m). Trained by Ben, Will & JD Hayes at Flemington, Touchdown has now had six starts for four wins, two second placings and A$136,915 in stakes. He was a maiden winner over 1400m at Sale in September, then picked up a 1600m Benchmark 66 handicap at Caulfield Heath on November 12 and returned there to add an 1800m Benchmark 66 handicap on December 3. Touchdown was a $1.60 favourite to complete a treble in Saturday’s Benchmark 70 handicap, and he delivered in impressive style. Ridden by apprentice jockey Jackson Radley, Touchdown settled in third place along the rail. Sigiriya Rock (Alabama Express) was on his outside and holding him in a pocket, but then began to slide forward from the 700m mark. Radley took that opportunity to switch across heels and get away from the rail, and Touchdown took care of the rest. Soon after turning for home, the favourite cruised up alongside the leader while still under a firm hold from Radley. Ridden with hands and heels to the line, Touchdown kicked away to win by two and a quarter lengths. “The original plan was to lead, but we went 100m and he’s a bit of a laid-back character and just couldn’t hold a spot,” Radley said. “I was a bit worried about having to settle back on the fence, and especially when we were in a pocket around the 800m, but he was just too good for them. Once we got to the outside, he let down very well and he’s a nice horse going forward. “When you’re in a bit of an awkward spot, it always helps when a horse is travelling as well as he was. Once we got out, he was never going to get beaten. “I think he’s going to get a lot further than this, and he was very strong to the line today.” The Lindsay Park team believes Touchdown’s best is yet to come. “He’s one of our more progressive horses in the stable,” Ben Hayes said. “He’s going through the grades nicely.” Touchdown was bred by Brett Wilkinson and is by Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor out of the Shamardal mare Shamardal Luck. Herself a two-time winner on the track, Shamardal Luck is the dam of five winners from five foals to race including Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) winner Shocking Luck (NZ) (Shocking) and Listed placegetter Analytica (NZ) (Shocking). Offered by Sullivan Bloodstock at the 2023 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Touchdown failed to meet his $100,000 reserve. Rich Hill Stud will offer a half-brother to Touchdown during Book 2 of Karaka 2026. The colt by Shocking is catalogued as Lot 625. View the full article

Well performed three-year-old filly War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) proved a class above her age group rivals as she led from barrier rise to take out the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham to claim her first success at stakes level. The Peter and Trent Didham-prepared daughter of U S Navy Flag went into the Group Three feature off the back of a luckless runner-up performance in the Listed O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui last month where she flew home to finish behind Circus Dancer (NZ) (Circus Maximus) after taking an age to wind up in the home straight. Rider Sam Collett took the bull by the horns this time as she bounced War Princess straight to the lead at the start and dictated terms to suit themselves as the well fancied Matamata visitor Origin Of Love (Snitzel) sat in her slipstream throughout. It was evident turning for home that the two favourites would fight out the finish, with Origin Of Love even having the temerity to thrust her head in front with 300m to run. War Princess was having none of it and she found another gear to dash clear shortly afterwards as she cruised to the finish line more than a length to the good of her rival, with Capaci (NZ) (Tivaci) a further four lengths away in third. Trent Didham was pleased with the performance from his charge, who was on trial for a start in the rich $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie next month. “We thought she was a little bit unlucky last start when we tried to sit her in behind a couple and get her to relax a little,” Didham said. “Sam knew what she was doing today, took her to the front and she ran away from them. “I thought she was going along at a good clip and she was going to get the mile, so it was a good ride. “This will open a lot of doors, whether it is the slot race ($4 million NZB Kiwi, 1500m) or the Karaka Mile, so it is exciting.” Collett was also delighted to get the win after admitting she may have made a slight tactical error on the filly at Wanganui. “In my own words it wasn’t probably the greatest ride in the world last time as we may have over thought it a little bit,” she said. “Dids (Peter Didham) just said to me ‘you know her’ and he left me to it and when she hopped away so well, horses like that make our job so easy. “She puts herself there, puts herself to sleep and is an all-round competitor. When she got challenged, I wasn’t too sure how much horse I had left, but true to her form, once I asked her the tough question she just put them away again. “She is really tough and her form hasn’t faltered at all this term so it a credit to Dids and his team.” Haunui Farm offered War Princess in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where Exempt Bloodstock and Didham Racing bought her for $77,500. She has now had eight starts for five wins and earned $152,860 in stakes. TAB Bookmakers have War Princess listed as a $16 Fixed Odds chance for the Karaka Millions 3YO behind the raging hot favourite Well Written (Written Tycoon) at $1.90. View the full article

Fortuna Racing look to have another exciting filly on their hands after Lara Antipova Russian Revolution) romped to victory in the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham on Saturday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained juvenile was eye-catching when winning by eight lengths on debut at Te Aroha less than a fortnight ago, giving punters the confidence that she could put in a similar showing in her debut stakes appearance. They duly backed her in their droves, with the daughter of Russian Revolution shortening into $1.20 favouritism on Saturday. Premiership-leading jockey Craig Grylls was positive out of the gates with Lara Antipova, but she was burnt for early speed by the Andrew Forsman-trained Lassified (Stay Inside) on her outside. Lassified eventually found the fence after crossing a green Magill (Farnan), with Lara Antipova settling on her outside. Lara Antipova loomed ominously at the turn and quickly bounded to the lead when asked the question by Grylls, opening up several margins on her rivals, eventually running out a dominant 4-1/2 length victor. Bergerson was rapt with his filly’s winning effort, particularly after backing up from her debut heroics. “She is a very exciting filly. She has just kept on giving the more we have asked of her,” he said. “It’s not an easy feat to turn around in 13 days and travel down here, but she seems to really enjoy the racing, which is going to hold her in fantastic stead. “It was good to see her get outside the leader. The one outside her (Lassified) showed some really good gate speed and it took a while to get across. Once she got outside the leader she settled really nicely and it was great to see her show that turn of foot again. “She just relaxes so well, which is so key, and I think if he had ridden her back, she would drop the bridle and still show it (turn of foot).” Lara Antipova was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, in conjunction with Fortuna Racing, for A$100,000 out of Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft earlier this year. It extends the great run of success the two entities have shared over the last few years, which includes the likes of 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle and Group One performer Bellatrix Star. “I am stoked for John Galvin (Fortuna principal), who has always been a massive supporter, and it is really exciting for him to have another two-year-old like this,” Bergerson said. “Hopefully she can go on with it now and target some really nice races.” Those nice races will likely come at the end of summer and into autumn, with the pre-race plan being to freshen the filly ahead of some feature targets later this season. “We had a bit of a chat and win, lose or draw we would probably give her a freshen-up and probably go to the Matamata Breeders’ (Gr.2, 1200m) and then into the Group Ones,” Bergerson said. “We will get her home, see how she does and have another team talk.” View the full article

Champion galloper Romantic Warrior will stay in Hong Kong for an epic Triple Crown showdown with Voyage Bubble instead of chasing redemption in February’s Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m). Trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing confirmed to the Jockey Club that the world’s highest-earning racehorse won’t return to the Middle East in 2026, with Hong Kong’s Group One treble of the Stewards’ Cup (1,600m), Gold Cup (2,000m) and Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on his agenda. It was somewhat of a surprise move...View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Northern trainer Jason Teaz admits he’s “as nervous as hell” in the lead up to Sunday’s Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 at Ashburton. The Ohaupo-based horseman will line up Stone Cold in Race 6, the $60,000 A Team Construction Mobile Trot. The Wishing Stone four-year-old is one of just a handful of northern horses who have made the trip south. Their scheduled Wednesday flight was cancelled though all horses arrived safely 24 hours later. “I was a bit worried there for a bit,” says Teaz, “but it hasn’t impacted my horse.” Teaz bought Stone Cold at the 2022 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch for $8000. So far he’s won four races and just over $50,000 in stakes. But until now he’s never raced any further afield than Auckland. Before the big race he’s being stabled at Colin and Julie DeFilippi’s place just outside Christchurch. “He’s jumping around and can get a bit wound up,” says Teaz, “he’s a bit of a child.” But the talent is clearly there. After winning his last three starts at Alexandra Park Stone Cold is a $5.50 third favourite on Sunday behind the heavily-fancied Donna’s Boy and Bring On The Muscle. Part of Teaz’s apprehension is that Stone Cold can be a bit unpredictable and he hopes the big occasion doesn’t get to him. “I don’t think I’ll be able to watch the first 200 metres!” “Donna’s Boy certainly has gate speed so he’ll probably get a head start.” “I get nervous before any races but I’m as nervous as hell now,” he says. In saying that the gelding does have one placing from two starts behind the mobile arm. “If he’s at the top of his game they’ll know he’s in the race,” says Teaz, “I just want him to show people what we know he’s got.” “Win or lose my fella will be going out for a two-three month spell after the race so this is his Grand Final.” The 12-race Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 meeting starts at 11.55am with Stone Cold’s race at 2.10pm. Harness 5000 is only open to trotters and pacers whose sire stood for an advertised retail service fee of $5,000 or less in the breeding season of conception. There will be $60,000 finals for 3YO, 4YO and 5YO and older Fillies and Mares and Colts, Geldings and Entires for both gaits. All are limited to a field size of 14 runners and will be mobiles over 1700 metres. View the full article