Wandering Eyes

In the week that Wootton Bassett was lost, one of his many TDN Rising Stars Dorset demonstrated the void that he will leave for the industry in Saturday's Goffs Million. Fourth in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes earlier this month, the grey relative of Winter who started at 17-2 was sent to the front by apprentice Jack Cleary before halfway and stayed on to secure the prize by 1 1/4 lengths from the Ivan Furtado-trained 28-1 outsider August George (Night Of Thunder). Ballydoyle's 5-6 favourite Composing (Wootton Bassett) was half a length away in third. “It's fantastic to win this race. Fair play to Goffs for putting up a pot like this, it's a major incentive to bring a good field and they got well supported today,” stable representative Chris Armstrong said. “His form has been in the book, in fairness, and he's just done a few things wrong. Today we took the hood off him, we thought with it on in the National Stakes the last day he just didn't show his true potential.” “Jack gave him a lovely ride, he jumped, went forward and got a lovely position,” he added. “In fairness, when he asked him he really knuckled down. He's definitely a Group horse and you'd have to maybe give him a go at the Dewhurst now and see. He's a typical Wootton Bassett, he's all there, he's a strong traveller. Once Jack really asked him at the business end he knuckled down and went away at the finish.” DORSET scoops the Goffs Million @curraghrace for @Ballydoyle & the @coolmorestud Partners By the late Wootton Bassett, he sold #GoffsOrby by @TheCastlebridge to @A_C_Elliott pic.twitter.com/ENwjRIkpAs — Goffs (@Goffs1866) September 27, 2025 The post Dorset Wins The Goffs Million For Ballydoyle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of new 'TDN Rising Star' The Big Con at Presque Isle Downs. 'TDN Rising Star' Nod For Dark Angel Colt Trainer Miguel Clement unveiled The Big Con (Dark Angel) at Presque Isle Downs on September 17, and the juvenile colt galloped his way to 'TDN Rising Stardom' after winning by 8 1/2-lengths (video). Bred by St Albans Bloodstock, the roan colt is owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Tony Weintraub and Brandon Dalinka. A 115,000gns Tattersalls October grad, The Big Con was consigned by Newsells Park Stud and caught the eyes of the late Christophe Clement, Badgers Bloodstock's Tom Pritchard-Gordon and Erwan de Chambord. The full-brother to GII Yellow Ribbon Stakes heroine Heredia is out of the Group 3 winner Nakuti (Mastercraftsman). Newsells Park consigns the New Bay yearling half-brother to The Big Con and Heredia as lot 1040 during Book 2 of this year's October Sale in Newmarket. Yeomanstown Stud's Dark Angel is the sire of 32 winners from 53 runners (60%). Of his seven stakes winners in North America, six are graded, with top-level winners including Raging Bull, Althiqa and Hunt. Blue Is The Colour Resolute Racing's Blue Madame (Dubawi) ran out a 1 1/4-length winner during the Belmont at the Big A meeting on September 18 (video). The Chad Brown trainee was bred by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt in Kentucky. A $500,000 Keeneland September yearling, the daughter of G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau Stakes heroine Fancy Blue (Deep Impact) was sixth on debut upstate at Saratoga in August. Fancy Blue has since foaled a yearling filly by Gun Runner and has a weanling filly by Justify. The half-sister to stakes winner and G1 Dewhurst Stakes third Smuggler's Cove (Fastnet Rock) was covered by Justify this spring. This is the same family as the champion runner and successful sire High Chaparral. Dubawi has sired 47 winners from 91 runners in the U.S. (52%). The Darley sire's quarter-century of stakes winners include a litany of Grade I scorers from In Italian to the evergreen Rebel's Romance and the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero turned Group 1 freshman sire Space Blues. No Nay Never Gelding Breaks His Maiden In Indiana Frye Island (No Nay Never) won at second asking at Horseshoe Indianapolis for owner/trainer David Rider on September 18 (chart). The son of Monya (Dark Angel) was bred by Diamond Creek Farm. The gelding sold for €140,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling who was later a $190,000 buy-back during the 2024 OBS March Sale. The first foal for his dam, Frye Island is followed by the juvenile colt Venetian Prophecy (St Mark's Basilica) and a yearling full-brother who will be offered by Tradewinds Stud as lot 1026 during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale next month. His dam is a half-sister to the multiple graded winner Hawksmoor (Azamour), who was second in both the GI First Lady Stakes and GI Matriarch Stakes, as well as G2 Royal Lodge Stakes and G3 Desmond Stakes hero Royal Dornoch (Gleneagles). Coolmore's No Nay Never has 69 winners from 115 runners (60%) in the U.S. His stakes winners are highlighted by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate, and GII Mrs Revere Stakes heroine Nay Lady Nay. Route The Winning Solution For Siyouni Filly RT Racing Stable's Siyouni Flash (Siyouni) found the Aqueduct turf to her liking when clawing out a nose victory during the Belmont meet there on September 19 (video) for Ken McPeek in her first start beyond 1 1/16 miles. Bred by Noir et Or Elevage and Skymarc Farm, the four-year-old was making her sixth start. A €600,000 Arqana August yearling, she was never out of the top three in a trio of French starts last autumn for trainers Nicolas Clement and Flo Hermans in the colours of RT/Christian-Bernard Baillet/Famille Moussac and Skymarc. Siyouni Flash was knocked down for €200,000 at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale to RT Racing Stable, who bought out their partners. A half-sister to multiple stakes winner and G2 Grand Prix de Deauville third Fenelon (Fastnet Rock), Siyouni Flash is out of dual Grade III winner Aigue Marine (Galileo), herself a half-sister to G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Mekhtaal (Sea The Stars). Aigue Marine's latest produce is a yearling filly by New Bay that will be sold as lot 5 in the upcoming Arqana October Yearling Sale next month. The Aga Khan Studs' Siyouni has seven stakes winners to his name in the U.S. The consistent Bellezza is a multiple graded winner there and was third in the GI New York Stakes. Siyouni Flash is one of 27 winners from 52 runners there (52%). Repeat Winners Mayor Of Midnight (Lope De Vega) won for the second time in five starts during the Belmont at the Big A meeting on September 19 (video). He is trained by Chad Brown for Peter Brant and Tony Shafrazian. The post Making Waves: The Big Con Succeeds In Pennsylvania appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Things looked ominous for the G1 Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes favourite Wise Approach (Mehmas) yards after coming out of the stalls, but what would have been a chance-ending stumble for most proved no hindrance for Godolphin's class act. Overcoming a complicated trip to emerge late with his superior acceleration under William Buick, the half-brother to the 2021 Middle Park winner Perfect Power surged up Newmarket's climb to the line to overhaul fellow TDN Rising Star Brussels (Wootton Bassett) and prevail by 3/4 of a length, with Coppull (Bated Breath) a short head away in third. “Our plan was to take a lead, but not so much! Horse and jockey composed themselves after the horses came across him and he stumbled and full credit to both,” Charlie Appleby said of the 11-8 market-leader, who had been second to Charles Darwin in the Norfolk before taking Newbury's Listed Rose Bowl and finishing third in Deauville's Prix Morny. “I was happy with how he travelled into it and more confident when he came out of the dip–I knew he would finish as he is great at chasing a target. He didn't get that at Deauville. He's mentally getting more mature and deserves a rest now. He won't go to America.” Wise Approach shows a potent turn of foot to land the Middle Park @godolphin pic.twitter.com/YOe619DGfD — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 27, 2025 Stumbles at the start, in front at the end Incredible from Wise Approach pic.twitter.com/B30fgUVQ1v — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 27, 2025 The post Wise Approach Overcomes Middle Park Drama To Emulate Perfect Power appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars DAILY TROPHY - R4 (8) Did everything but win first up and looks perfectly placed to go one better Jay Rooney MY WISH - R8 (8) Recent trial was huge and drawn perfectly for his return Owen Goulding FUN N FUN TOGETHER - R4 (1) Excuses since easy dirt win and recent trials bode well for his reappearance Phillip Woo FLYING LUCK - R11 (11) Comes off a fine campaign and has the tools to notch a first win at this level Shannon (Vincent Wong) PERFECT PEACH - R3 (3) In-form winner...View the full article

Hawk Mountain won the G2 Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Beresford Stakes in front-running fashion at The Curragh on Saturday. The Coolmore partners colourbearer defeated G2 Futurity Stakes runner-up Geryon (Lope De Vega) by 3 1/4 lengths, with that rival just overtaking Al Haarith (Lope De Vega) by a head in the dying strides. Sent off at even-money, the son of Wootton Bassett and the Galileo mare Hydrangea cut out the running against the fence while pressed by Shaihaan (Night Of Thunder). The two were almost on even terms by the midpoint, but Wayne Lordan let Hawk Mountain out a notch and he pinched a half-length edge with 600 metres remaining. Both Geryon and Al Haarith launched bids inside the final 400 metres as Shaihaan faded, but Hawk Mountain had built up an unreachable advantage to win well. It was a 22nd renewal for Aidan O'Brien. Fifth to Geryon when unveiled over seven furlongs locally in August, Hawk Mountain had Port Of Spain (St Mark's Basilica) back in third when breaking his maiden over this course and distance on August 30. Pedigree Notes The Coolmore homebred is the 73rd stakes winner for his late sire, who died this week. A half-brother to the Dubawi stakes winners Wingspan–runner-up in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes–and Officer, Hawk Mountain is followed by a yearling full-brother and a weanling half-brother by Justify. G1 Matron Stakes and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Hydrangea was covered by Justify again this spring. Second dam Beauty Is Truth (Pivotal) struck in a pair of French group races and she is also the dam of multiple group winner and two-time Group 1-placed Fire Lily (Dansili), as well as G1 Ranvet Stakes hero and sire The United States (Galileo) and G1 1000 Guineas/G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victress Hermosa (Galileo) . Dual Group 1 winner Whirl (Wootton Bassett) has further burnished the family's reputation this season. A 22nd win in the Beresford for Aidan O'Brien courtesy of Hawk Mountain @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/vQkXBIGbrK — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 27, 2025 The post Wootton Bassett’s Hawk Mountain Soars To Beresford Victory, A 22nd Renewal For Aidan O’Brien appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Things may not have worked out for her in the Phoenix Stakes, but Ballydoyle's True Love (No Nay Never) came good at the second attempt at the highest level in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Too strong for compatriot Havana Anna (Havana Grey) from 1 1/2 furlongs down, the 2-1 favourite stayed on strongly for Wayne Lordan to prevail by 3/4 of a length, with a length back to Royal Fixation (Palace Pier) in third. “She's a big filly, very fast and like a big four-year-old now–she's a powerhouse,” Aidan O'Brien said of the imposing winner, his sixth in this race who had bossed the Queen Mary and Railway before coming up short behind Power Blue in the Curragh's feature last month. “Ryan [Moore] didn't accept the run in the Phoenix at all, he was adamant that wasn't her run.” “It's unusual that she is still growing at this time of year and it's possible that she could go to the Breeders' Cup–she has a lot of speed and Ryan said to make sure that Wayne waited until after the two-furlong pole before asking for his effort. He felt that she's all speed. When he asked her to go forward, her head went down which was a good sign.” True Love wins the Cheveley Park pic.twitter.com/3zDiHCWXKW — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 27, 2025 The post ‘She’s A Powerhouse’: O’Brien Lands Sixth Cheveley Park With True Love appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's TDN Rising Star Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) was a perfect two-for-two heading into Saturday's G2 Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket and emerged with his unbeaten record intact after dominating his rivals in the one-mile test. “He does look like the best colt we've had at this stage,” said trainer George Boughey. “I loved his attitude today, it's the thing that's stood out from the beginning and it was nice to see him get it done. He's always been easy to train and he's git that turn of foot which he showed today. I wanted to see him relax and follow the right horse. Billy [Loughnane] gave him a very mature ride and possibly, by his own admission, committed a half-furlong too soon.” Finding cover in fifth after breaking from the stands' side stall, this month's Listed Ascendant Stakes winner made smooth headway to gain an edge passing the quarter-mile marker and was not for catching on the rise to the line, stopping the clock with a one-length advantage from long-time leader Humidity (Ulysses). Aidan O'Brien trainee Action (Frankel) fared best of the remainder and finished a half-length back in third. 111 Bow Echo remains unbeaten in the G2 Royal Lodge at HQ pic.twitter.com/rVsKpXwXnc — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 27, 2025 Pedigree Notes Bow Echo is the second of three foals and lone scorer produced by a multiple-winning half-sister to dual Group 1-placed G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes winner Royal Rhyme (Lope De Vega), Height Of Fashion Stakes victrix Victoria Harbour (Frankel) and G2 May Hill Stakes third Zabeel Queen (Frankel). The March-foaled homebred bay's stakes-placed second dam Dubai Queen (Kingmambo) is a half-sister to five black-type performers headed by multiple Group 1-winning sire Dubawi (Dubai Millennium). Bow Echo is half to a yearling colt by Starspangledbanner. The post TDN Rising Star Bow Echo Too Good for Royal Lodge Rivals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose. Lumping 59kgs and racing three-wide early in the piece, jockey Blake Shinn threw the map out of the window and elected to roll forward and dictate the running on the son of Per Incanto, who ran out a deserved winner. Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes will now target the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) with the gelding who finished fifth in the Gr.2 P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) when resuming in August before a minor virus interrupted his planned tilt at last week’s Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Ben Hayes breathed a sigh of relief after the bold tactics from shinn, greeting him with ‘Well done, Blake; I’m glad you won.’ “It was a very good effort by the horse, he had a mid-prep setback and he had a nice trial and to make a mid-race move like Blake did and hold on like he did with top weight just adds more merit to the win,” Hayes said. “I am glad he won, he made the right move and the horse won so full credit to Blake. He’s a very exciting horse like we’ve always thought and I think he’s put his hand up to running in the Toorak and be very competitive. “He’s had a long time between runs and he’s come out here and beaten a very good horse to his inside there who’s rock hard fit. I’m very proud of the horse and the ownership group, they’re a great group and I think we’re going to have a lot more fun with this horse going forward.” Blake Shinn once again showed why he is one of the best, using his initiative after Evaporate was slightly over-racing early. “Evaporate is an interesting horse, he is a bold-going horse and he is a bit arrogant,” Shinn said. “The speed map had El Rocko and Transatlantic going forward, but the pace wasn’t that fast, so there was an opportunity for me to creep forward and get the front. I just have a lot of trust in this horse, he is a very good horse on his day as we know. “Yes he had a break between runs, but I know how he likes to be ridden, you can’t fight him, you have to go with him, and that was the play we called on the fly and thankfully we got it right.” Already a Group Two winner, Evaporate has now had 16 starts for six wins, five placings and A$1,591,726 in stakes. He was bred by Little Avondale Stud, home to Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry who has sired nine Group One winners and 33 stakes winners to date. The dam of Evaporate is the unraced Animal Kingdom mare Savanna, whose half-sister Belluci Babe, also by Per Incanto, was a Group Three winner for Bjorn Baker. Evaporate was bought by Lindsay Park Racing for A$330,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2023. View the full article

Saturday’s Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record. The $400,000 weight-for-age showpiece was Waitak’s 12th appearance at Group One level. Those dozen races have been spread across his two, three, four, five and now six-year-old seasons, and they have ranged from 1200m all the way up to 2400m. Before Saturday, Waitak’s career highlight came with his stunning burst from the back of the field to win the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) in January of 2024, backed up by highly creditable performances to finish third in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), fourth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), and fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). The Proisir gelding also completed a feature autumn double earlier this year in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) and Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m). But if Saturday’s superb come-from-behind defeat of five other Group One winners is anything to go by, there could still be much more to be written about Waitak. “This is amazing,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “It’s great for the horse and great for Team Devine (owner Jill Devine, whose late husband Colin bred Waitak). “The team has been so confident with this horse all week. He galloped the house down on Wednesday morning and he’s just kept improving. “It’s all about getting him to relax and settle in his races. When he does that, he’s got such a wicked turn of foot. “He’s been very lightly raced and has just turned six. We said at the start of the season that this will be his best year. Not a lot has really gone his way in the last couple of years. Hopefully he can get the momentum going now. “He’s just such a wonderful racehorse. To win two Group One weight-for-age races is amazing. He’s a marvel for our stable and a pleasure to train. He’s just a star.” Waitak never saw daylight when he resumed with a luckless 11th in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie earlier this month. If he was going to turn his luck around in the Howden Insurance Mile at Te Rapa on Saturday, he would have to do it from the extreme outside gate in a 14-horse field. But jockey Craig Grylls rode a patient race, giving Waitak time to find his feet and settle into a smooth rhythm in fifth-last position. The favourite La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) went for gold at the top of the home straight, bursting to the lead with a powerful kick. She quickly went two and three lengths clear of nearest rivals Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Legarto (NZ) (Proisir). But then Grylls unleashed Waitak. He roared down the outside, devouring La Crique’s advantage and sailing past her in the final few strides. Waitak went on to win by half a length, with La Crique second and Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) an eye-catching third ahead of Sterling Express and Legarto. Waitak delivered a third win in the race for Grylls, who had previously been successful aboard Pure Champion (Footstepsinthesand) (2014) and La Crique (2022). Those three wins have come at three different venues, with Pure Champion winning at Hastings, La Crique at Matamata and Waitak at Te Rapa. “I won this race in the same colours with Pure Champion 11 years ago, so it’s great to do it again,” Grylls said. “I’m really grateful to Lance and Andrew for putting me on the horse. “He was luckless last time, but we got a perfect run today from the outside gate. There was good speed on and we worked into the race at the right time. “He had a horse to chase in La Crique. I was pretty confident from about 100m out that we’d pick her up, because he had all the momentum. “He’s a good horse. He’s shown that over the years, and today has just cemented that again.” Scott confirmed that Waitak will now be set for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie on October 18. “These were the races we set him for when we brought him up for the spring,” he said. “Hopefully, with a bit more improvement from his second-up run today, he’ll be competitive again in the next one. But for now we’ll just celebrate this win. It’s an amazing result.” Waitak’s 33-start career has now produced seven wins, nine placings and $1.2 million in stakes. Incredibly, the Howden Insurance Mile was La Crique’s eighth runner-up finish in a Group One race and her sixth in a row. “It’s a little bit frustrating, but at least we’ve won Group One races with her as well,” co-trainer Katrina Alexander said. “It would be much worse if we were getting all these placings without having won one. “We’re proud of her. She’s ultra-consistent and always delivers. She’s never let us down. “We have tentative plans to fly her to Sydney next weekend to target the Hill Stakes (Gr.2, 1900m) at Rosehill. We think the conditions and distance of that race will suit her, and it would be great for her connections (owner-breeders John and Jan Cassin) if she could put her foot in the till in good company in Australia.” The Hill Stakes will be run for a stake of A$2 million on October 11. View the full article

Mark Cohen owns Dr. Venkman with partners Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch, and James Hailey. The two-time grade 2 winner will start Sept. 28 in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Beiwacht winning the Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill. (Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au) Beiwacht turned the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) into a one-act affair, jumping, rolling, and never coming back to the field as he ripped through 1400m in a track-record 1:20.79 on Saturday at Rosehill. From barrier two, Adam Hyeronimus held the rail, upped the tempo when they straightened, and the colt powered clear to beat stablemate Wodeton with Tempted a close third. The margin was a tick over four lengths — emphatic on the clock and to the eye. The win delivered Chris Waller a fourth Golden Rose and, notably, his first Group 1 in Godolphin blue after the colt transferred stables this winter. “Godolphin has been an amazing story for Australia,” Waller said. “We had four great colts in the race and unfortunately there is only one winner. “He did a great job Adam… they’ve run time as well. It was Hyeronimus’ fifth Group 1, earned with ice-cold pace judgement at the head of affairs. Race shape was decisive. Beiwacht led at an even gallop, kept the revs high from the 600m, and broke them late — the classic Rosehill 1400m put to ruthless use. Tempted, the $3 favourite with horse racing bookmakers, enjoyed a sweet run but couldn’t bridge the gap as Beiwacht kept extending; Wodeton nabbed the filly for second in the final strides, sealing a Waller quinella and underlining the depth of the yard’s three-year-old brigade. 2025 Group 1 Golden Rose Replay – Beiwacht https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Rosehill-2025-Group-1-Golden-Rose-27092025-Beiwacht-Chris-Waller-Adam-Hyeronimus.mp4 Horse racing news View the full article

Evaporate scored a gallant victory in Saturday’s Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m). (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose. Lumping 59kgs and racing three-wide early in the piece, jockey Blake Shinn threw the map out of the window and elected to roll forward and dictate the running on the son of Per Incanto, who ran out a deserved winner. Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes will now target the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) with the gelding who finished fifth in the Group 2 P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) when resuming in August before a minor virus interrupted his planned tilt at last week’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Ben Hayes breathed a sigh of relief after the bold tactics from shinn, greeting him with ‘Well done, Blake; I’m glad you won.’ “It was a very good effort by the horse, he had a mid-prep setback and he had a nice trial and to make a mid-race move like Blake did and hold on like he did with top weight just adds more merit to the win,” Hayes said. “I am glad he won, he made the right move and the horse won so full credit to Blake. He’s a very exciting horse like we’ve always thought and I think he’s put his hand up to running in the Toorak and be very competitive. “He’s had a long time between runs and he’s come out here and beaten a very good horse to his inside there who’s rock hard fit. I’m very proud of the horse and the ownership group, they’re a great group and I think we’re going to have a lot more fun with this horse going forward.” Blake Shinn once again showed why he is one of the best, using his initiative after Evaporate was slightly over-racing early. “Evaporate is an interesting horse, he is a bold-going horse and he is a bit arrogant,” Shinn said. “The speed map had El Rocko and Transatlantic going forward, but the pace wasn’t that fast, so there was an opportunity for me to creep forward and get the front. I just have a lot of trust in this horse, he is a very good horse on his day as we know. “Yes he had a break between runs, but I know how he likes to be ridden, you can’t fight him, you have to go with him, and that was the play we called on the fly and thankfully we got it right.” Already a Group Two winner, Evaporate has now had 16 starts for six wins, five placings and $1,591,726 in stakes. Horse racing news View the full article

Waitak winning Saturday’s Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Saturday’s Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record. The $400,000 weight-for-age showpiece was Waitak’s 12th appearance at Group One level. Those dozen races have been spread across his two, three, four, five and now six-year-old seasons, and they have ranged from 1200m all the way up to 2400m. Before Saturday, Waitak’s career highlight came with his stunning burst from the back of the field to win the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) in January of 2024, backed up by highly creditable performances to finish third in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), fourth in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), and fifth in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). The Proisir gelding also completed a feature autumn double earlier this year in the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) and Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m). But if Saturday’s superb come-from-behind defeat of five other Group One winners is anything to go by, there could still be much more to be written about Waitak. “This is amazing,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “It’s great for the horse and great for Team Devine (owner Jill Devine, whose late husband Colin bred Waitak). “The team has been so confident with this horse all week. He galloped the house down on Wednesday morning and he’s just kept improving. “It’s all about getting him to relax and settle in his races. When he does that, he’s got such a wicked turn of foot. “He’s been very lightly raced and has just turned six. We said at the start of the season that this will be his best year. Not a lot has really gone his way in the last couple of years. Hopefully he can get the momentum going now. “He’s just such a wonderful racehorse. To win two Group One weight-for-age races is amazing. He’s a marvel for our stable and a pleasure to train. He’s just a star.” Waitak never saw daylight when he resumed with a luckless 11th in the Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie earlier this month. If he was going to turn his luck around in the Howden Insurance Mile at Te Rapa on Saturday, he would have to do it from the extreme outside gate in a 14-horse field. But jockey Craig Grylls rode a patient race, giving Waitak time to find his feet and settle into a smooth rhythm in fifth-last position. The favourite with horse racing bookmakers, La Crique, went for gold at the top of the home straight, bursting to the lead with a powerful kick. She quickly went two and three lengths clear of nearest rivals Sterling Express and Legarto. But then Grylls unleashed Waitak. He roared down the outside, devouring La Crique’s advantage and sailing past her in the final few strides. Waitak went on to win by half a length, with La Crique second and Ladies Man an eye-catching third ahead of Sterling Express and Legarto. Waitak delivered a third win in the race for Grylls, who had previously been successful aboard Pure Champion (2014) and La Crique (2022). Those three wins have come at three different venues, with Pure Champion winning at Hastings, La Crique at Matamata and Waitak at Te Rapa. “I won this race in the same colours with Pure Champion 11 years ago, so it’s great to do it again,” Grylls said. “I’m really grateful to Lance and Andrew for putting me on the horse. “He was luckless last time, but we got a perfect run today from the outside gate. There was good speed on and we worked into the race at the right time. “He had a horse to chase in La Crique. I was pretty confident from about 100m out that we’d pick her up, because he had all the momentum. “He’s a good horse. He’s shown that over the years, and today has just cemented that again.” Scott confirmed that Waitak will now be set for the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie on October 18. “These were the races we set him for when we brought him up for the spring,” he said. “Hopefully, with a bit more improvement from his second-up run today, he’ll be competitive again in the next one. But for now we’ll just celebrate this win. It’s an amazing result.” Waitak’s 33-start career has now produced seven wins, nine placings and $1.2 million in stakes. Incredibly, the Howden Insurance Mile was La Crique’s eighth runner-up finish in a Group One race and her sixth in a row. “It’s a little bit frustrating, but at least we’ve won Group One races with her as well,” co-trainer Katrina Alexander said. “It would be much worse if we were getting all these placings without having won one. “We’re proud of her. She’s ultra-consistent and always delivers. She’s never let us down. “We have tentative plans to fly her to Sydney next weekend to target the Hill Stakes (Group , 1900m) at Rosehill. We think the conditions and distance of that race will suit her, and it would be great for her connections (owner-breeders John and Jan Cassin) if she could put her foot in the till in good company in Australia.” The Hill Stakes will be run for a stake of $2 million on October 11. 2025 Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile Replay – Waitak https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Te-Rapa-2025-Group-1-Howden-Insurance-Mile-27092025-Waitak-Lance-OSullivan-Andrew-Scott-Craig-Grylls.mp4 Horse racing news View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, September 28, 2025 First Race 12:45pm HKT (2:45pm AEST) Visit Dabble Feature racing in Hong Kong returns to Sha Tin Racecourse this Sunday afternoon, with the Group 3 Celebration Cup (1400m) headlining a bumper 11-part program. The rail is placed in the C+3 throughout the entire circuit for all turf races, and with the worst of Super Typhoon Ragasa moving through mid-week, conditions should be improving to ensure a Good 4 surface for race-day. Check out HorseBetting.com.au’s best bets and quaddie selections for the Sha Tin races on September 28, with the opening event scheduled to get underway at 12:45pm HKT. Celebration Cup Tip: My Wish My Wish returns after a 22-week spell and appears primed to make a statement first-up. The son of Flying Artie has been sensational winning back-to-back barrier trials on the Sha Tin all-weather circuit, pressing forward to score by a combined 5.8 lengths. He gets map favours drawn in gate four, and with My Wish yet to suffer defeat when racing over this track and trip, this guy should prove hard to hold out in the 2025 Celebration Cup. Celebration Cup Race 8 – #8 My Wish (4) 5yo Gelding | T: Mark Newnham | J: Luke Ferraris (59kg) Best Bet at Sha Tin: Packing Phoenix Plenty of work has gone into Packing Phoenix as he gears up for his Hong Kong debut. The Starspangledbanner gelding has shown impressive early speed in all four barrier trials – particularly catching the eye in his most recent piece of work on the all-weather surface on September 16 – making every post a winner under the urging of Zac Putron. Barrier six should allow Purton to cross to the front without using too much energy, and provided he pinch a break turning for home, Packing Pheonix should be making his debut a winning one. Best Bet Race 5 – #4 Packing Phoenix (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Zac Purton (58kg) Next Best at Sha Tin: Little Paradise Little Paradise was luckless at this course and distance on July 13, striking significant interference when trying to get clear at the 400m marker. The son of Toronado was arrogant enough to fill the minor placings but missed out in a head-bobbing go as Celestial Hero secured the win by the narrowest of margins. Zac Purton should keep the four-year-old out of trouble from barrier four, and if Little Paradise can unleash a similar turn of speed, his rivals will only be fighting for a second-place finish. Next Best Race 7 – #4 Little Paradise (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Jimmy Ting | J: Zac Purton (56.5kg) Best Value at Sha Tin: Top Throne Top Throne went off the boil at the end of last season, failing to finish in back-to-back starts and being ordered to trial by stewards. He returns off the back of two strong pieces of work, securing wins in both barrier trials leading into this first-up assignment. He draws to do no work from gate 14 down the Sha Tin straight course, and with Karis Teetan set to gain an uncontested lead throughout the journey, Top Throne should get every chance to bounce back at a good price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 2 – #1 Top Throne (14) 4yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Karis Teetan (61kg) Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections September 28, 2025 6-8-12 2-4-6-8-11 2-3-5-7-9-11-14 4-5-14 Horse racing tips View the full article

Grade I winner Unquestionable has been sold to Rathbarry Stud and will stand his first season there in 2026, the stud announced on Saturday morning. Bred by Guillaume and Camille Vitse and their family, the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero sold to Mandore International Agency on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing and MV Magnier for €340,000 out of the 2022 Arqana August Yearling Sale. The son of Strawberry Lace (Sea The Stars) debuted with a third in the Listed First Flyer Stakes and graduated by 4 1/4 lengths at second asking to kickstart his career. Second by only a nose to subsequent G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Bucanero Fuerte in the G2 Railway Stakes, he was only a length second behind triple Group 1 scorer Rosallion in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere that October prior to his Breeders' Cup tally. After Unquestionable's win at Santa Anita, Aidan O'Brien said, “He's a very tough horse who we've always had a lot of faith in. He won very well in the end. He did everything right in the preparations going into the race, so for him to go and win is brilliant.” A grandson of stakes winner Crying Lightening (Holy Roman Emperor) who was second in the G3 Sweet Solera Stakes, Unquestionable is from the same family as Group 1 sires Cityscape and Bated Breath, as well as Redoute's Choice and El Gran Senor. He traces back to incomparable blue hen Best In Show, ancestress of top-level winners Almond Eye (Lord Kanaloa), Arcangelo, Idiomatic (Curlin), Peeping Fawn (Danehill) and Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy). “We are delighted to add Group 1 winner Unquestionable to our roster,” said Rathbarry's Paul Cashman. “A very good-looking horse, he was a precocious two-year-old who held his form throughout his successful juvenile campaign. He's supported by one of the best families in the stud book and we are confident that he will add to the legacy of his much-missed sire, Wootton Bassett. We look forward to supporting him strongly.” A 2026 fee for Unquestionable will be announced later. The post Breeders’ Cup Hero Unquestionable Acquired By Rathbarry Stud For Stallion Duty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A bumper day of action awaits at Sha Tin on Sunday, with a Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) featuring the likes of My Wish and Rubylot headlining the card. There are a whopping 11 races on the card and Owen Goulding is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Tropicbird Handicap (1,200m) Speedy Smartie ran a game race when second on his return on the turf at Sha Tin in the season opener. He has plenty of pace to burn and has run well on multiple...View the full article

Luke Lillingston will not want 2025 to end. The magical year for Mount Coote Stud has consisted of 42 individual winners, including headline acts like Santorini Star and Laurelin, who is one of the poster girls for the Goffs Orby Sale. And rightly so. Under the care of Graham Motion, the Orby graduate has won all five of her starts in America and is understood to be on course for the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland next month. “You never want to toot the horn too loudly but we've had a good year,” said Lillingston of the famous farm's outstanding run of success. “Firstly with quantity, I think we have produced 42 individual winners of 60 races this year. Among those there have been five or six individual black-type winners and Laurelin, who is a Goffs Orby graduate, is obviously one of those.Then there is her close relation Marquisat, Al Aasy, Santorini Star and more.” Lillingston's yearling purchases have also been performing with distinction. Despite signing for just four yearlings last year on behalf of the Kennet Valley Racing Syndicate, Lillingston came up trumps with Calendar Girl, winner of the recent Wetherbys-sponsored £300,000 sales race at Doncaster. A daughter of Advertise, Calendar Girl was sourced four just 45,000gns at the Book 2 session of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and follows on from the similarly well-bought Dragon Leader (El Kabeir), who cost £45,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale and won another lucrative pot when Lillingston jokingly says 'Harry [Beeby] only handed out £300,000 and not £500,000′ for the Premier Yearling Stakes in 2023. In summary, Lillingston knows how to pick 'em. “We only bought four yearlings and she was one of them, so it's been fun,” he said of Calendar Girl. “I actually went to see her the other day at Owen Burrows' yard and she looks amazing. Hopefully she has a big future. Okay, she won a sales race, so what do we know? But we think she could be pretty good.” Lillingston added, “We try to buy horses that we believe in and, when you are not spending lots of money, you need to compromise somewhere. Not that we don't look at lots of horses by major stallions, but we are not afraid to buy them by less fashionable stallions or stallions we feel are a little bit underrated.” Laurelin | Sarah Andrew Lillingston reports Laurelin's dam Bari (Cape Cross) not to be in foal this year but revealed he is planning to mate the 14-year-old back to Zarak in 2016. Her success Stateside is understood to have lured her connections – Motion and owners Newstead Stables – to make the trip to Goffs for the Orby Sale, which kicks off on Monday, where Lillingston will offer two colts – by Cracksman and Zoustar – under the Mount Coote Stud banner. Recalling Laurelin as a yearling, Lillingston said, “She was a nice filly. She cost €160,000 and I guess Zarak was just starting to put his head above the parapet as being a good stallion at the time. Obviously he has gone on since then. But she was a nice yearling and was well found by Jehan Malherbe [Form Bloodstock]. I remember when Laurelin broke her maiden, Graham told me that he thought she could be pretty good. Graham is a pretty understated guy so, when he said that, I took note. He has been proved absolutely right. “I am looking forward to meeting Graham and Laurelin's owners at Goffs over the next few days. The last time I spoke with him he mentioned he would like to run Laurelin in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland next month so hopefully she is still on track for that. You'd never know, she could end up being the champion turf filly in North America this year. We better keep our horse in front of our cart here but, if she stays sound and keeps on progressing, she could well be.” He concluded, “Graham, along with Laurelin's owners, are coming to to the Orby. That's great news for Goffs. We can't sell them a good filly this time – we're only selling two colts at the Orby Sale – but hopefully they will find good luck again.” The post Laurelin’s Breeder And Consignor Lillingston Looks Forward To Goffs Orby Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Beauty Generation, Golden Sixty and California Spangle all won the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) before breaking through at Group One level in the Hong Kong Mile later in the same year, something a host of hopefuls are gunning to emulate in 2025. All three gallopers were returning after a season that revolved around four-year-old series campaigns and this Sunday’s Celebration Cup is loaded with horses that fit that category, even if connections’ hopes of reaching the level of any of that...View the full article

Six-year-old mare She’s Unusual was a well-supported winner of the Irresistible Pools & Spas Handicap (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The daughter of Unusual Suspect was perfectly ridden by Zac Lloyd, tracking the leader Nkosi before unleashing a devastating sprint to score by just over three lengths. Sporting the colours of OTI Racing for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, the Randwick conditioners believe the mare is best-suited by a space between runs. “Bar one hiccup this preparation, she has been superb,” Charlton said. “We probably really learnt how to handle her and train her and she presented in excellent order today at her favoured distance and she’s very fit. “She is a lightly-framed mare, there is not much of her but we will keep her nice and fresh. “We like to space her runs as you can see and she nice and effective.” The winner of five races with a further six placings from just 13 starts, She’s Unusual is likely to be set for the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley on Cox Plate Day. Winning rider Zac Lloyd said She’s Unusual was a strong stayer but her turn of foot is what separated her from her rivals. “Nkosi I thought would build from the 800m because he looks a bit one-paced where she handled that pressure so comfortably,” Lloyd said. “Her turn of foot was really good.” She’s Unusual’s time of 1:54.98 was just a second outside the track record over the 1900m. The winner of an Awapuni maiden over 1400m for Fraser Auret in late 2023, She’s Unusual was bred by Auret’s parents Nigel and Adaire. She’s Unusual is a daughter of Unusual Suspect, who stands at the Auret family’s Letham Stud, where the stallion has carved a good niche producing middle-distance gallopers and is the sire of 49 winners from 83 starters. View the full article

Te Akau Racing’s involvement in the Group One raceday at Te Rapa on Saturday was significantly depleted by scratchings due to heavy track conditions, but it was a completely different story at Riccarton. Spring racing was in full swing in Christchurch, with the track upgraded to Good4 and those familiar tangerine silks carried to three highly impressive victories. Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s biggest win of the day came in the $50,000 Join TAB Racing Club Mile Prelude (1400m), where Stonybreck blew his rivals away by five lengths. The Tavistock gelding was already a seven-race winner before Saturday’s $50,000 feature, with the most recent of those successes coming on the Cambridge synthetic track in September of last year. He had become something of a perennial placegetter in the 12 months since then, finishing second or third in five of his six previous starts. Saturday brought a well-deserved breakthrough. Stonybreck (NZ) (Tavistock) was perfectly rated by jockey Jasmine Fawcett and dominated the race from the front. Fawcett began to up the ante coming down the side of the track, and then Stonybreck kicked hard at the top of the straight. The chasers dropped further and further behind from there, headed by the winner’s stablemate Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj), as Stonybreck streaked down the straight to score the day’s most dominant victory. He clocked a slick 1:21.76 for the 1400m open handicap. “It was a terrific win and I thought it was an intelligent ride by Jasmine,” Walker said. “She got across to lead, stole some cheap sectionals, and increased the tempo from the 600m. “He’s been a fantastic horse. Dave (Ellis, Te Akau Racing principal) bought him very cheaply, and he’s provided the owners with a lot of fun. He’s going really well and looks like he’s got plenty more to come. “It’s his first trip to the South Island, and he’s loving the environment at our stables on the course at Riccarton. Hunter (Durrant, assistant trainer) and the team have got him looking great and he’s racing accordingly.” Bought by David Ellis for just $20,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021. Stonybreck has now had 30 starts for eight wins, nine placings and $173,525 in stakes. Earlier in the day, Origin Of Love (NZ) (Snitzel) put herself on a potential Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) path with victory in the Promenade Hospitality for Cup Week Maiden (1400m). The $25,000 race was the second start for the Snitzel filly, who finished third on debut at Timaru earlier in the month behind Saturday’s impressive Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (1400m) winner Alottago. Origin Of Love took a big step forward second-up, settling in third before finishing over the top of the leaders to win by a neck. “I thought it was a good effort by the filly to win second-up,” Walker said. “Jasmine got her into the perfect spot to trail the leaders, got her out and rolling quite early in the straight and she kept up a really good gallop. “She’s out of a Camelot mare and she looks more of a staying type of Snitzel filly, so we’re definitely on target for the 1000 Guineas on the first Saturday of Cup Week. “I think that once she gets to 2000m we’ll see the best of her, given the pedigree, and there are nice races over ground for these fillies as the season unfolds around Christmas and New Year. “Having had that experience at Riccarton really helps when you’re heading towards a Guineas preparation, and I think she has plenty of upside on the back of the win today.” Te Akau’s other win came with speedy two-year-old Out Of The Blue (NZ) (Tivaci) in the Nobby Bussell Memorial 2YO (800m). “It was a terrific win,” Walker said. “He’s a horse that Dave (Ellis) bought cheaply out of Book 1 at Karaka, and Julia-Rose (Hayes) has introduced so many new owners, so they’ll be very excited. “He’s a son of Cornflower Blue, who we trained and was a very good filly. All of our buying team thought this horse was really worth a punt to buy him at the sales. “With that prize-money in the bank, he’ll be Karaka Millions-qualified, so we’ve got the luxury of taking our time and planning our assault towards the big race.” View the full article

Well-respected South Island rider Kylie Williams brought up a significant career milestone when she steered Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) to a convincing victory in the feature flat event at Riccarton, the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m). Williams had been steadily closing in on 1000 career wins in the saddle and after taking out the first race on the card on Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau) to sit on 999, she became the first female rider in New Zealand history to reach 1000 winners with a typically well-judged effort that saw her lead practically all the way on the Graeme Eade and Brooke Kincaid-trained five-year-old. However, while that 1000-win milestone was the major highlight of the contest, the race is likely to be remembered for all the wrong reasons after Richard Stomper and rider Brandon May fall heavily at the 600m when tracking the pacemakers, in the process bringing down King Of The Castle (NZ) (Castledale) (Jack Taplin), Koyama (NZ) (Almanzor) (Yogesh Atchamah), She’s So Reliable (NZ) (Reliable Man) (Bridget Grylls) and severely hampering Proserve (NZ) (Proisir) who lost rider Brett Murray. With carnage ensuing behind her, Williams never looked back as Riviera Rebel fought off the attentions of Moussaieff (NZ) (Redwood) and then the late closing Elegant Lady (NZ) (Highly Recommended) to register his seventh career victory and fourth at Riccarton. Kincaid admitted it was a surreal feeling after the race as the joy of victory was tempered by concerns for those involved in the fall. “it’s a little bit hard to know what to feel right now as we are just so thrilled for Kylie and the horse but you never want to see what happened and all we want to know is that everyone is okay,” Kincaid said. “This little horse has been so good to us. He gave me my first training win, our first stakes win when he took out the Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr.3, 2000m) and now Kylie’s 1000th winner. “He is such a fighter and just so tough. He wasn’t letting anything past him today and when he gets to the front you can just about see him grit his teeth and just fight for all he is worth. “He didn’t start off his prep that well as I think he may have had a niggling injury that took some time for him to get over, but since his last start he has just been bouncing and he was more than ready for today. “Our main target now will be the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) back here next month and then we will just have to see where we go after that.” Stipendiary stewards provided an update on all riders and horses which saw May (pelvis), Grylls (shoulder/arm) and Taplin (wrist) transferred to hospital for further observation and treatment whilst Atchamah (possible concussion) and Murray were cleared of any serious injury. All horses came through the incident relatively unscathed with just bumps, bruises and scrapes reported. Stipendiary stewards met with the remaining jockeys on-course and it was agreed that the final two races on the day would be abandoned. Bred by Phillip Jeffreys, who also shares in his ownership with Eade and Eade’s wife Patricia, Riviera Rebel is the first foal of two-race winner Chambon (NZ) and comes from a family that includes Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Sawatdee (NZ). He has now won seven of his 29 starts and over $264,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Talented colt Magic Carpet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) chose the ideal moment to break his maiden status when he produced a dogged effort to claim victory in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400). Prepared at Cambridge by Stephen Marsh, the son of Satono Aladdin had looked to have plenty of ability when finishing third at his first two starts, with Marsh confident that if he received even luck in running on Saturday he was definitely not a forlorn hope. Those circumstances played out perfectly for the Marsh runner as rider Jonathan Riddell had him nicely away and settled quietly in fifth as stablemate Tale Of The Gypsy (Wrritten By) set up a steady pace out in front. Riddell had Magic Carpet trucking with a full head of steam rounding the home bend, but things got a little dicey at that stage as he looked to force his way between Faultless (NZ) (Tivaci) and Quondo (Wootton Bassett) who had taken over at the 300m. Riding at his aggressive best Riddell found a gap and shot his mount to the lead where he found plenty to fight off a game Quondo, who had sat three-wide throughout and Faultless who also battled on strongly for third. Marsh was breathing a sigh of relief after receiving plenty of messages before the race from the colt’s USA-based majority shareholder Dennis Foster. “I’ve had a couple of text messages from Dennis of Bourbon Lane during the day, he wasn’t that happy so thank god we won,” Marsh jokingly said. “We had to ride him upside down last time at Taupo and I thought Jonathan would be someone who would really suit this horse as he is a good, strong rider. “He got the best out of him as he just loped along when he hit the front. He has plenty of upside and is just a lovely horse.” Marsh acknowledged there are some heady targets ahead of the colt now that he has put his first win on the board including a possible tilt at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on 15 November. “He is going in the right direction and has plenty to come and go on,” he said. “He will probably come back for the Sarten (Gr.2, 1400m) and then down to the 2000 Guineas. “I think he will be very competitive as he is loving life and he is a laid-back horse, although he started to get a little naughty today. “He is as good a style of colt as you would see and I think he is much better on top of the ground.” Bred by Jenna McLeod, her brother Brian and her parents Philip and Jackie Rogers out of their Tavistock mare From Eden (NZ), Magic Carpet is closely related to Australian Group Two winner The Fuzz (NZ) (Danasinga) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner Stolen Dance (NZ) (Alamosa). He was purchased for $320,000 by Marsh and Bloodstock agent Dylan Johnson out of the Carlaw Park draft during the Book1 sale at Karaka in 2024 TAB Bookmakers have installed Magic Carpet at a $10 Fixed Odds quote for the 2000 Guineas, where Hostility and He Who Dares sit as the current joint $6 favourites. View the full article

A barnstorming finish by promising four-year-old Whisky ‘N Roses (NZ) (Belardo) saw him open his Spring campaign on a winning note as he downed a handy field of open sprinters in the BCD Group Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. The Joanne Surgenor-prepared son of Belardo looked a galloper of real promise during his three-year-old season where he was twice placed at stakes level including finishing second to champion three-year-old Savaglee in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m). Punters kept the gelding well in the market for Saturday’s event where he started a $6.50 third favourite behind last start winner Midnight Edition (NZ) (Midnight Edition) ($2.20), however those odds looked well off the mark when he was back last shortly after the barriers opened with the favourite getting his own terms out in front. Rider Joe Doyle didn’t panic and allowed his mount to find his feet and although he was still last rounding the home bend, Doyle had him winding up nicely out wide as he set out after Midnight Edition who had kicked clear of his nearest rivals. Whiskey ‘N Roses produced an undeniable burst as he went straight past Midnight Edition at the 75m, forging clear to win by an ever increasing one length margin at the winning post in a handy 1.13.20 for the 1200m journey on the Heavy 9 rated surface. Surgenor was delighted with the performance as Doyle followed their pre-race plan to perfection. “I said to Joe if we just sat back and didn’t get into a speed duel he normally finishes things off well,” Surgenor said. “I’m blown away though as that was just huge. “He is a lot stronger and although his trial at Ellerslie wasn’t that good, he improved immensely off it as his coat came right from there. “I was hoping for a good run but I didn’t expect that.” Surgenor kept her cards close to her chest when discussing what lay in store for her charge. “We will get him home and make a plan after we have seen how he pulls up as that was a hard run today,” she said. “We do have a couple of races in mind, but we need to see how he is as it is a long season ahead.” Doyle was equally impressed by just how well Whiskey N Roses had finished things off in the concluding stages. “We thought they would how hard and from the gate we were always going to take our time and try and finish things off strongly,” he said. “If he had snuck into the top four we would have been delighted but he has been very very good today. “Jo does good work with him and her horses always look a million dollars. “We have always thought quite a bit of him and he ran second to Savaglee one day. He seems to have strengthened up and he is a decent horse.” Bred by co-owners Peter and Sherin Walker, who race him in partnership with Haunui Farm, Whiskey ‘N Roses is out of the Fully Fledged mare Fullinbloom (NZ), a daughter of multiple stakes winner Rodrigo Rose (NZ) who was twice placed at Group One level. Included in his extended family are three-time Group Two winner Showoroses (NZ) and multiple Australian stakes winner Rosebrook. His fourth win from just thirteen starts has seen him earn over $155,000 in prizemoney for his connections. View the full article

Local three-year-old Alottago (Tagalo) thrust his name into Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) contention with a striking come-from-behind performance in the Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The Lance Robinson-trained gelding has improved with every race in his five-start career. He placed in all of his three appearances as a two-year-old including the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and Champagne Stakes (1200m), and he now boasts a perfect two-start, two-win record as a three-year-old. Alottago kicked off his season with a stylish maiden win at Timaru on September 7. That form was boosted before Alottago even set foot on the racetrack for his second-up assignment on Saturday, with the Timaru placegetters Origin Of Love (Snitzel) and Quisiera (NZ) (Sweynesse) fighting out the finish of the Promenade Hospitality for Cup Week Maiden (1400m) earlier on the Riccarton card. But most of the growth in Alottago’s reputation on Saturday was down to the horse himself. All nine of the runners in Saturday’s Guineas Trial field were attempting the 1400m distance for the first time in their careers, and that extra distance brought Alottago into his element. Alottago was ridden by Corey Campbell and was sent out as a $7 third favourite behind War Of Silence (Snitzel) and El Vaquero (Ferrando). He had a comfortable run in midfield as the two favourites led the field down the side of the track and around the home turn. War Of Silence and El Vaquero went to war after entering the straight, pulling a couple of lengths clear of the rest of the field and seemingly having the finish to themselves. But just as War Of Silence began to pull ahead of El Vaquero, Alottago emerged out of the pack and changed gears. He flew up alongside War Of Silence and collared him right on the finish line to win by a half-head. War Of Silence finished two and a half lengths in front of the third-placed Pontoon (NZ) (Ace High). “Once he got around the corner and balanced up in the straight, he found the line very well,” Campbell said. “It feels to me like he’ll run a strong 1600m and maybe even 2000m in time. He’s such a relaxed, laid-back horse, and then when you ask him to go, he can really sprint.” Robinson paid $20,000 to buy Alottago from Apex Bloodstock’s draft at the 2024 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. The son of Gr.1 Blue Diamond (1200m) winner Tagaloa has now had five starts for two wins, three placings and $51,360 in prize-money. After Saturday’s win, Alottago was tightened from $31 into $16 for the Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 15. Excluding the dual-island Te Akau Racing operation, the last South Island-trained winner of the 2000 Guineas was Hustler in 2002 for the late Paul Harris. “There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and the Guineas, but this win today has given us the confidence to carry on along that path for now,” said Robinson, who also shares in the ownership. “He was impressive. We’ve always really liked the horse and expected the step up to 1400m to suit him. To see him finish the race off as strongly as he did was a big thrill. “I haven’t looked too far beyond this race today, but the next step might be to take him to Ashburton for the Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m) in a couple of weeks. His performance there will tell us whether we keep pressing on towards the Guineas.” View the full article

Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) proved she is far from a spent force with a dominant display of front running to take out the Gr.2 Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes (1600m) which was accompanied by raucous support from the crowd of 10,000. When Declan Bates dialled up the pressure 600m from home the noise in the amphitheatre which is Valley accompanied him and by the time Pride Of Jenni had defied Treasurethe Moment it had built to a thunderous noise. So much so Bates said for the first time riding Pride Of Jenni he was aware of the noise and even used it as a guide to her prospects at the 600m mark. “I got to hear the crowd roar. I think it was the first time I had heard as it’s usually just me and her. The crowd at The Valley gave a big roar at the 600m and that’s when I thought I must have had them in trouble. What a horse,” Bates said. “From the 1000m I said let’s go and they can try and catch me. At the half mile I gave her a squeeze and I knew we were in business.” Her trainer Ciaron Maher said he was a bit reserved regarding the eight-year-old mares’ return to racing in the Feehan Stakes which was her first run since she finished 10th in the Doomben Cup. Maher was close to tears when speaking about the mare post-race “She’s an amazing horse and Dec Bates knows her so well. Full credit to Tony for having the courage to race her on. She’s 100% sound. She’s enjoying her racing,” Maher said. Ottobre said Pride Of Jenni was “just a champion”. “Ciaron is a superstar. To do this with an eight-year-old mare is unbelievable. The accolades must go to Ciaron for presenting the horse like this and Jenni is just a marvel,” he said. Pride Of Jenni was bred by Trelawney Stud and is out of the O’Reilly mare Sancerre (NZ), who was prepared by Cambridge trainer Tony Pike to win on four occasions for the stud. The star mare stems from a family fashioned over generations at the famed Kiwi nursery, which has been in the Taylor family’s ownership since 1993, having been established by Seton Otway in the 1930s. View the full article