Wandering Eyes

Doing nothing doesn’t sit well with Lisa Allpress, but right now she has no option. Two weeks after suffering a bad fall just past the winning post on the Riccarton synthetic track, the four-time jockeys’ premiership winner is back home recovering from lower back injuries. That required surgery in Christchurch Hospital, inserting steel rods either side of her spine to aid the mending of a broken L1 vertebra. Doctor’s orders are to sit tight, do as little as possible for at least the next three months, and all going well she’ll be able to resume her career in early 2025. “I know it could have been a whole lot worse, a broken back is still a broken back, but I was so lucky that my spinal cord wasn’t damaged. I got the best possible care in Christchurch. “I was told my surgeon is the absolute best in the business and even though he said I would still mend without surgery, his advice was that to give me the best possible chance of a full recovery – and probably knowing I’m an active sort of person – that was the course they would take.” Once cleared post-surgery, Allpress was flown by air ambulance to Wanganui Hospital, but she still faced challenges. “I was concussed in the fall as well, but it wasn’t till I got to Wanganui that I realised the full impact of that. I suppose it was the flight, going from my own room in Christchurch Hospital to a shared room at Wanganui, it all got on top of me. “I couldn’t hear, couldn’t see, I was vomiting, it was awful, just miserable. Apart from my fall it had been a pretty rough week all round. A few days beforehand Karl (husband) lost his Dad, so there was a whole lot to deal with. “But I’m so lucky to be surrounded by so many good people – Karl, our boys, my Mum, and a whole lot of other people.” When RaceForm caught up with 49-year-old Allpress back at her home on the farm she and Karl own in the Fordel district of Wanganui, she was a lot closer to the bubbly person so familiar to the racing community. However that doesn’t get away from the fact that instead of being confined to barracks, she would have been packing her bags for another trip to Japan to contest the lucrative World All Star Jockeys’ Series at Sapporo racecourse. “One of my first thoughts after the fall was I wouldn’t be going to Japan, it clearly wasn’t going to happen – a broken back cooks it doesn’t it?” she said. “I was soooo disappointed, my season had got off to a really good start and that week up in Japan riding against all those good jockeys from around the world was so exciting.” But then a reality check. “One of the first calls I remember getting after the fall was from Catriona and Sam Williams. There they were as always, checking in, wanting to wish me well, tell me they were thinking of me and to sing out if I needed anything – and that I’d be okay. “I’ve known Catriona since I was a pony club kid, and what she was achieving in showjumping and eventing, I was her number one fan. When they held Horse of the Year at Karaka, I was 16 and my Mum approached Catriona to ask if she would like me to groom for her. “It was just the most fantastic experience, something I’ll never forget, and that was all down to Catriona. She was lovely, genuinely grateful for me to be helping her.” The friendship forged then has been everlasting, and Allpress is one of thousands who remember the anguish when, in 2002, life changed forever for the equestrian with her eyes on the 2004 Tokyo Olympics. The spinal cord injuries suffered by Williams in that cross-country fall have meant life since in a wheelchair, with so many unfulfilled dreams. More importantly, however, her life has also been inspirational, manifested by founding the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust and raising millions for spinal cord research. Allpress has made her own contribution to those fund-raising efforts, guest-speaking at CatWalk events and being continually inspired by her idol’s approach to life. “That call from Catriona and Sam, it was humbling, it meant so much and it made me realise that I shouldn’t be feeling too sorry for myself, and that I was lucky.” Challenges remain for Allpress, some of them professional, others domestic, but she can see an end-game. “Our older son Josh is due back from his Uni studies at Lincoln – he was coming home anyway to run the farm while Karl and I were in Japan – but it will still be good to have him here to help Karl. “This time of year we’re flat out rearing calves – 200 of them – so Karl will enjoy having an extra hand. I’m stuck inside for now, mobile enough but not allowed to push it for a while. “Hopefully it won’t be too long before Karl has someone who at least can open gates for him, potter around in the Polaris, do some of the small jobs.” In the race immediately before her Riccarton fall, Allpress had taken her new season tally to five wins from just 13 rides. While any fleeting thoughts of a fifth premiership have been erased, she has a goal that in her eyes is well within reach. With a tally of 1,948 wins in New Zealand – not to mention another 82 offshore – she has just 52 left to become the first female jockey to make 2,000. “I was the first female to ride 1,000 wins in New Zealand and I want to be the first to reach 2,000,” she says in a revival of that person we all know as “determined Lisa”. View the full article

Racing Victoria (RV) has today announced the prizemoney and programming structure for the 2024–25 Victorian racing season including a new home for the All-Star Mile. Notwithstanding increased financial headwinds for the Victorian racing industry post COVID-era highs, RV has committed to maintain total prizemoney and bonuses on offer at the same level as the 2023-24 season. This commitment is despite a sharp reduction in wagering turnover of more than 10% over the last 12 months which has contributed to what is expected to be an overall RV financial deficit of around $12 million in FY24, in line with budget. To maintain total prizemoney and bonuses on offer at the same level year-on-year, the RV Group has embarked on a significant cost savings program with net $10 million of operational expenditure budgeted to be reduced across FY25. This is in addition to significant savings achieved in FY24. RV will also call upon retained cash reserves to maintain returns to participants and owners and help underpin the 25,700 full-time equivalent jobs that Victorian thoroughbred racing supports. In 2024-25, Victoria will again offer over $316 million in prizemoney and bonuses with a strategic realignment of the allocation announced to further boost grassroots racing and reward owners celebrating a maiden victory. After each of the three metropolitan Clubs expressed an interest in hosting the All-Star Mile, today’s announcement included confirmation that the race would end its rotation and be located at one track. Prizemoney from the All-Star Mile has been reassigned to deliver turbo charged maidens each Sunday in country Victoria and a series of feature maidens in the state’s west. All-Star Mile Following an Expression Of Interest process, Flemington Racecourse has been chosen as the home of the All-Star Mile with the race to be programmed on an iconic autumn raceday. The All-Star Mile will be hosted by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) on Super Saturday (8 March 2025) alongside the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) bringing together Australia’s best sprinters and milers on one outstanding program. The race’s move to Flemington further strengthens its link with the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) scheduled for Saturday, 29 March 2025. In the two years that the All-Star Mile has preceded the Australian Cup it has delivered the quinella in 2024 and first and third placegetters in 2023. As part of the transition, the All-Star Mile Owner Ambassador competition will be retained to continue the race’s unique connection with everyday Australians who will again get the chance to experience big race ownership and share in lucrative prizes. The 2025 All-Star Mile will offer $2.5 million in prizemoney – a strategic reduction of $1.5 million on 2024 to assist in funding the enhanced maiden races and other feature events. Having met the Group 1 benchmark in all six editions, RV and the VRC will ensure that the All-Star Mile attains Group 1 status by no later than the 2026 edition, either via a decision of Australia’s Black Type Committee or via the move of an existing Group 1 race to Super Saturday in the 2025-26 season. To foster the All-Star Mile’s chances of attaining Group 1 status the race will remain under weight-for-age conditions in 2025. The full race conditions will be published over the coming months. Entry to the race will not include a voting mechanism or the sale of slots. Victorian Owners and Breeders Race Day With the All-Star Mile moving one week earlier, RV, with the support of the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) and Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV), will move the annual Caulfield Victorian Owners and Breeders Race Day (VOBRD) at Caulfield Racecourse from late April to Saturday, 15 March 2025. Featuring a range of premier races for eligible Victorian-bred horses, VOBRD is headlined by the $1 million The Showdown (1200m) for two-year-olds and the $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m) for three-year-olds. As part of the revised calendar and prizemoney realignment, the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) will move from Caulfield Blue Diamond Day at Caulfield (22 February 2025) to VOBRD and increase to $500,000 (up from $300,000). It will serve as another stepping stone to the Australian Cup. Maiden Races Three initiatives will reward owners competing in Victoria with greater returns when their horse wins its first race – a significant moment for all who have invested time and money to achieve success. Through the strategic prizemoney realignment, a feature maiden will now be programmed each Sunday in country Victoria from 1 October 2024. To be known as a Premier Maiden, the race will carry prizemoney of $50,000 and be conducted across a range of distances. Premier Maidens will offer $23,000 (85%) more than standard country maidens. A collection of feature maiden races will also be conducted in the state’s west from October to December 2024 and serve to complement the Future Stars Series held in the state’s south-east in January to March 2025. Ten maidens worth $75,000 each will be run at Ballarat, Geelong and Warrnambool throughout spring, with the winners qualifying for the $250,000 The Emerging Star (1400m) on Ballarat Cup Day – Saturday, 7 December 2024. The races will be open to three, four and five-year-old maiden gallopers and be conducted over 1200m to 1400m. Thirdly, RV is pleased to welcome the introduction of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden Series which will see the premier sales company offer $2.3 million in bonuses across Victoria during the 2024-25 season. Inglis graduates fully paid up for the Inglis Race Series will be eligible for a $100,000 bonus if successful in one of 23 Victorian maidens. The first Inglis Xtra bonus was offered and won at Sale yesterday (Thursday, 22 August) by the owners of the Simon Zahra-trained Blackberry Bomb. Feature Races As part of the industry’s annual planning and budgeting process, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has elected to reduce its prizemoney funding contribution for the 2024-25 season by a net amount of $1.125 million. RV and the VRC have worked closely to determine a realigned feature race prizemoney model for Flemington to best accommodate the Club’s reduced prizemoney ‘top-ups’. As a starting point, RV has committed $500,000 from the All-Star Mile reduction to maintain the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at $1.5 million on Super Saturday. The key prizemoney adjustments at Flemington come in 2025 and are as follows: Bagot Handicap (Listed, 2800m, 1 January 2025) – $175,000 (down from $200,000) Standish Handicap (Group 3, 1200m, 11 January 2025) – $200,000 (down from $250,000) Australian Cup (Group 1, 2000m, 29 March 2025) – $2.5 million (down from $3 million) The Roy Higgins (Listed, 2600m, 29 March 2025) – $300,000 (down from $500,000) The Andrew Ramsden (Listed, 2800m, 17 May 2025) – $300,000 (down from $500,000) The Roy Higgins and The Andrew Ramsden will now carry the same prizemoney as The Archer, with all races offering the opportunity of a guaranteed start in the Melbourne Cup for the winner. The Australian Cup will carry the same prizemoney as the All-Star Mile, while the Standish and Bagot Handicaps return to the Group 3 and Listed minimums respectively. As part of the strategic prizemoney realignment, RV has announced that feature races on Cox Plate Day at The Valley (26 October 2024) and the 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes Series at Caulfield have been boosted. To that end, prizemoney has been increased for the following races: Crystal Mile (Group 2, 1600m, 26 October 2024) – $400,000 (up from $300,000) Tesio Stakes (Group 3, 2040m, 26 October 2024) – $300,000 (up from $200,000) 2 x Blue Diamond Previews (1000m, 25 January 2025) – $250,000 (up from $200,000) 2 x Blue Diamond Preludes (1100m, 8 February 2025) – $350,000 (up from $300,000) The prizemoney boosts for the Crystal Mile and Tesio Stakes support changes to the race conditions for both. The Crystal Mile has converted from weight-for-age to set weights and penalties, whilst the Tesio rises in distance from 1600m to 2040m to provide a further 2000m+ mares’ stakes race on the Australian calendar. It links with the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington a fortnight later. Horse racing news View the full article

Leaderboard will contest Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Fortuna Racing flagbearer Leaderboard has the opportunity to contest showpiece jumps races on both sides of the Tasman over the coming weeks, beginning with a shot at the A$400,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on Sunday. The American-bred son of Street Cry has been an outstanding performer for Fortuna since his purchase for 70,000 guineas by De Burgh Equine at the 2018 Autumn Horses in Training Sale in Newmarket. Throughout the ensuing six years he has recorded eight wins in the Fortuna colours and banked more than $450,000, headed by victories in the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m). Leaderboard relocated to trainer Mark Walker’s Cranbourne base earlier this year and has seamlessly switched to jumping with a series of impressive performances. The gelding won a maiden hurdle by almost four lengths during the Warrnambool carnival at the end of April, then finished second in the Australian Hurdle (3900) on June 2. He returned to Warrnambool for another runaway victory on June 23, this time in a maiden steeplechase, then recorded highly creditable placings in the Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) on July 7 and the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) on August 4. The 10-year-old will be ridden by expat Kiwi jockey Aaron Kuru in Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase, for which bookmakers rate him a +850 third favourite behind Stern Idol (-166.67) and Port Guillaume (+500). “It’s going to be a huge thrill to see him carrying our colours in the Grand National at Ballarat this weekend,” Fortuna director and racing manager John Galvin said. “He’s done a fantastic job since heading over to Australia earlier in the year. His six starts have produced two wins, two seconds and two thirds. He’s done us very proud, especially considering it’s his first season in the jumping game and the quality of opposition he’s been racing against. We could have gone for easier races, but we’ve had a throw at the stumps in big races and he’s shown that he’s up to it. “Mark has been very happy with him since his last start placing. We all know that Mark doesn’t gild the lily, but he’s genuinely excited about what Leaderboard has been showing him in his work, his appetite and his demeanour. “I saw a video clip last Tuesday of him doing interval training, which is a 1200m gallop, then five minutes’ rest and another 1200m gallop, and he was jumping around like a two-year-old. “I think he’ll be suited to switching back to steeplechasing this weekend and stepping up from 4200m to 4500m. Another factor that might be in his favour is a wetter track. He’s been racing well on tracks in the Soft5 to Soft7 range, but is yet to strike one that’s really genuinely wet, and that’s a surface we know he’ll love. Ballarat has been a Heavy8 this week and there are showers in the forecast. “We obviously have a lot of respect for Stern Idol, who’s won 10 of his 19 starts over jumps. But he’s giving us 9kg, which is quite a significant amount of weight.” All going to plan, Leaderboard could be seen back on home soil before he goes out for a summer break. “He’ll come back to New Zealand on Wednesday, and the plan was always that he would spell at Te Akau over the summer,” Galvin said. “But the timing works out quite well for us to have a go at the Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) at Te Rapa on September 15 before he does that.” Horse racing news View the full article

Trainer Richard Didham pictured with Diablo Blanco. Photo: Race Images South A three-year-old race on the Riccarton Park synthetic track on Saturday will be used as a stepping stone towards spring stakes targets for highly talented local filly Diablo Blanco. The daughter of Super Seth goes into Saturday’s CJC Feature Nominations Close 27 August Three-Year-Old (1200m) as the winner of two of her five starts. After finishing fifth on a heavy track on debut last September, she scored a smart win in her second start at Riccarton on October 28 and then was runner-up on November 15. Those promising performances were enough to prompt trainer Richard Didham to venture north for the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham in early December, where Diablo Blanco finished a highly creditable fourth. The race was won by the subsequent dual Group 1 placegetter Captured By Love. In her only appearance since then, Diablo Blanco kicked off a new campaign with a comfortable victory at Oamaru on July 21. “She was fantastic first-up after going 228 days between runs,” Didham said. “I thought that was a really good effort. She pulled up great from that and has done everything right in between times. I couldn’t be more pleased with her.” Didham is keen to get back up into feature age-group company with Diablo Blanco, starting with the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on September 14. “I think this race on Saturday is ideal, because it’ll give us three weeks into the Canterbury Belle,” he said. “She’s drawn well on Saturday (gate four) and I think she’ll be hard to beat. It’s her first race on the synthetic track, but I train locally, so she does a lot of work on it and seems comfortable with it. A lot of mine seem to handle it well, and I think she’ll be fine.” Diablo Blanco will be ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy on Saturday and is the bookmaker’s -200 favourite. Didham also has proven synthetic performers Chairman and Analyst lining up in Saturday’s Rating 80 (1600m). Goindasamy will ride Analyst, with Leah Hemi taking the mount on Chairman. Chairman was previously trained by Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos at Hastings. The Charm Spirit gelding joined Didham’s stable earlier this year and has recorded three wins and a placing from his last four starts, all on the synthetic track. The previously Glenn Old-trained Analyst has also had success since moving south, winning a 1200m race on the Riccarton synthetic track on July 26 and producing an eye-catching finish for fourth on August 7. “Chairman and Analyst both like the synthetic and have been going really well lately,” Didham said. “I’ve been thrilled with both of them since they joined my stable. “Their work has been very good leading into Saturday. It’s a nice chance for them to run for a good stake ($50,000), and I’m expecting them both to run well again.” Didham’s other runner at Riccarton on Saturday is the 11-year-old King Cougar, who will contest the Rating 80 (1200m). The Alamosa gelding has finished ninth in both of his two previous runs in this preparation. “I think he’s improved, which he’d need to,” Didham said. “He has won on the synthetic and placed multiple times on it too, and it’s a six-horse race, so why not have a go?” Horse racing news View the full article

Waitak will contest the Group 2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Wexford Stables may be without their defending champion in Saturday’s Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), but a returning Group 1 winner in Waitak will be out to retain the title for Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott. The Matamata operation were set to have both Waitak and stablemate Dragon Leap commencing their spring preparations in the Te Rapa feature, but the latter has been scratched, erring on the side of caution after trackwork on Thursday morning. “We gave him a stretch of his legs yesterday (Thursday) and he’s just pulled up a bit off,” Scott said. “Pratap, his trackwork rider, rides him every day and knows this horse very well, he just didn’t think he was quite 100 percent. “We went over him and couldn’t find a lot wrong, and he’s trotted up all but 100 percent yesterday afternoon, but the horse certainly comes first so we just wanted to take the precautionary avenue. “He’s been an incredibly good horse to us so we don’t want to be taking any chances.” The eight-year-old son of Pierro has earned more than $620,000 in a career spanning 25 starts, with his victory in last year’s Foxbridge Plate his third at Group Two level. Dragon Leap subsequently finished a narrow second to Skew Wiff in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), a race Scott indicated he may still feature in this year come the 7th of September. “We’ll do a reset now and keep a close eye on him over the next couple of days, and all going well he can crack on into his preparation,” he said. “He’s still in the entries for Hastings, so if there’s nothing sinister wrong he still has a spring path in front of him.” Waitak made a name for himself in the sprinting ranks through the second half of last season, with an explosive come-from-behind victory in the Group 1 Railway Handicap (1200m) and a creditable performance when crossing the Tasman for The Quokka (1200m). “We couldn’t have been more pleased with how he’s come away from Perth, he had a quick break and we’ve given him two trials to have him as fit as we can going into Saturday,” Scott said. “The Foxbridge and the Tarzino are his first two initial goals, so we’re looking to have him as ready as we can which we think we have. “He’s had a nice amount of work and went well in his trials, his work is always at a high standard so we think we’re ready to go fresh-up. “It’ll be Soft to Heavy ground, so you need good levels of fitness to overcome that. He has shown he can handle the softer ground, so we believe he’s got the fitness to be galloping on strongly.” The Proisir gelding has drawn barrier 13 under Masa Hashizume, with the wide alley not seen to be an issue in Scott’s perspective. “He’s drawn wide, but late in the day, that may not be a disadvantage,” he said. “They may be looking to get out on the track anyway, but he’s a horse that even if we’d drawn a gate, he couldn’t have utilised it as he settles beyond midfield.” On the undercard, O’Sullivan and Scott have a pair of runners contesting the Noverre Mile (1600m) and Ardrossan 1200 with Time Traveller and Lex Rex respectively. “Time Traveller has been pretty consistent and getting closer to a win, he hit the line well at his last start and is ready to be stepping out to a mile now,” Scott said. ‘He enjoyed Te Rapa last start so back there where he’s hit out with confidence, we wouldn’t be expecting any less. “He’s a fit gelding that can handle the soft ground, so he’ll be right in the finish.” A son of Per Incanto, Lex Rex has been away from the races for over 12 months and is lightly tried for a six-year-old, with just eight starts under his belt. “Dame Lowell Goddard (owner and breeder) loves her horses and is always prepared to wait for them,” Scott said. “He had a wee setback last year and she’s given him a long break with a slow build-up to follow. “He’s always a horse we thought was capable of getting through the grades and up to a good level, and he trialled in a manner that suggests when he goes, we expect him to run well. “He’s sound and pretty forward, so we believe he can put in a good account of himself.” Looking forward to the Hastings carnival, the Tarzino Trophy also beckons for smart Group 2-winning mare Grail Seeker, who was an eye-catching performer in the Fiber Fresh Group Trials at Taupo on Wednesday. “The team was very pleased with her, seeing her trial in the manner she did,” Scott said. “She’s just settled into her work quickly this time in and is stronger in the finish, whereas last season she just wanted to overdo it a wee bit in her races. “She’s pulled up really well this morning, she had a trot and a canter and is coping well. “She’ll go down to the Tarzino, we’ve aimed her for this race fresh as she seems to put in a strong performance on the fresher side. By the way she has trialled twice, she looks to be going down and being competitive. “She’s a filly that we’ve always thought a lot of, and now we’ve got her going back over shorter trips, that may be her style this season.” Horse racing news View the full article

It’s Friday night! Selections for Auckland and Addington. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Auckland Aaron White Commentator Race Addington Matt Cross Commentator Race 1 5.53pm 6 Regal Girl 8 Pantani 9 Bolt For The Hill 4 Hughie Wallace Race 1 5.06pm 1 Captain Moonlight 6 Treasure Cove 2 Revolution 7 I’m Rockin Race 2 6.19pm 11 Nelson’s Boy 4 Upstage 6 Major Major 5 J T Boe Race 2 5.39pm 10 Double Jeopardy 1 Brando 4 Bronson 8 Ragazzo Major Race 3 6.49pm 6 Seaside Rose 8 Wicked Wanda 1 Clouding Over 5 Kourtney Kardash Race 3 6.06pm 6 Zoltan Boscik 12 Tyron Eros 7 A Fine Patrick 11 Confessional Race 4 7.14pm 3 Ilsas Son 7 Voronov 6 That’s What We Do 1 Mazeppa Race 4 6.33 pm 6 Without You 7 Sandy Shore 9 Louretta 4 Mystic Max Race 5 7.39pm 8 Bar Louie 3 I Got Chills 9 Confederate 2 Beachbreak Race 5 7.05pm 9 Ruby Roe 13 Happy Harper 7 Melody Banner 8 Molly Belwin Race 6 8.13pm 6 Lady Of The Light 4 Artisan 2 Twista 5 Fernleigh Cash Race 6 7.30pm 7 Aardiebythehill 6 Sunnys Sister 5 Mr Love 2 Mighty Logan Race 7 8.38pm 1 Asteria Lavra 3 Five O’Clock Gerry 5 Lil Whip 4 Brienne Race 7 7.58pm 6 Charlie Brown 2 Dalton Shard 11 Anything Goes 12 Who’s Delight Race 8 9.09pm 2 The Night Agent 6 Waltzing With Miki 3 Inlouof 4 Harold Hanover Race 8 8.28pm 10 Xlendi 3 It’s Tough 1 Warloch 8 Tide And Time Race 9 9.41pm 6 Miss Bebe 5 Emily Bay 7 Maro Mackendon 2 Boss Jo Race 9 8.58pm 7 Forgiveness 8 One Over Da Line 3 Buffy Northstains 6 The Bloss Race 10 9.31pm 8 Kaysans Rock 10 Piccadilly Pete 11 The Night Fox 3 Haley Robyn View the full article

George Boughey-trained four-year-old considered a much better chance of making an impact at York than she was at Sha Tin in AprilView the full article

After track issues spoiled the end of the 2023/24 campaign, racing returns to Alice Springs this weekend. Racing returns to Central Australia on Sunday with the Alice Springs Turf Club hosting one of its biggest meetings of the year outside Cup Carnival. It’s Truckies Day at Pioneer Park, with the $40,000 Red Centre Winter Series Final (1200m) and the $25,000 Cummins Cup (1100m) featuring on the six-event program. It is shaping as a great way to kick off the 2024/25 season after what can only be described as a disastrous end to the 2023/24 campaign. The final meeting on July 28 was abandoned when the dirt surface failed to recover following remedial work that occurred a day after the meeting on July 14. It was an unfortunate situation because although the jockeys’ premiership had been decided, the trainers’ premiership was still up for grabs. Paul Denton (24 wins) ended up becoming the leading rider from Sonja Logan (19.5), while Terry Gillett (25) was the leading trainer from Paul Gardner (23). The August 10 meeting didn’t go ahead, which not only meant that horses wouldn’t race for six weeks, but horses would also fail to pick up points in the final two heats of the Red Centre Winter Series. A decision was made to call off the July 28 meeting when stones covered a major portion of the track following the grading process. There was also a lack of oil on the track with some sections showing no oil where the new sand had been laid, particularly from the 600m and continuing past the winning post. The lack of oil meant there was no cushion in the track for a horse at full speed, making it unsafe for racing. ASTC general manager Tony McGovern is relieved that racing will resume at Pioneer Park on Sunday, with 49 horses accepting after the Darwin Cup Carnival and last Saturday’s Katherine Cup meeting. “There were some horses here obviously that weren’t in Darwin during Cup Carnival,” McGovern said. “They’ve been out on the track now for a good three weeks, but there’s no 1400m or 1600m races this week. “There was a trial earlier in the week and that was all good, I’m just looking forward to the resumption of racing in the Red Centre.” For logistical reasons, Truckies Day, traditionally held on a Friday, was scheduled for Sunday with Victorian jockeys Matthew Chadwick and Hannah Le Blanc, Queensland rider Isabella Teh and SA hoop Georgie Catania bound for Alice Springs. “The Road Transport Hall of Fame have their annual get together here on Saturday,” McGovern added. “I understand that about 150 people will be coming to the races on Sunday, so it should be a good crowd. “I’m just looking forward to getting through the day, but the weather is going to be hot with 35C predicted. “We’ve basically gone from winter to summer in about two and a half days this week.” Horse racing news View the full article

Racing heads to Kununurra in northern WA on August 24 for the annual Ladies Day meeting. NT trainers have returned to Kununurra in WA for the two days of racing on August 24 and 31. The Kununurra Race Club hosts its Ladies Day meeting this Saturday, with the $20,000 Slipper (1100m) headlining the seven-event program. The $35,000 Kununurra Cup (1800m) on the grassed surface takes place next weekend. Darwin trainers Tayarn Halter, Chris Pollard and Tom Logan, and Alice Springs trainer Kerry Petrick will have 35 of the 44 runners at Kununurra on Saturday. For Halter, who had four winners on Day 1 last year, the Kununurra sojourn is a family tradition. “My family has been supporting Kununurra for a very long time, I think I was one when I made my first trip over here,” she said. “My grandfather Len Cant and dad Beaven Halter did it — my partner Lindsay (Schmidt) and I are trying to keep the tradition going. “You never know how long these country meetings are going to last, so you try and support them while you can.” Petrick, who won last year’s Kununurra Cup with Boom Boom Sweet, and Pollard will each have 13 runners on Saturday. Halter will have six runners, while Logan will make his debut with three. Halter and Petrick boast 22 wins in Kununurra, while Pollard has saluted 12 times. Halter’s six-year-old gelding Raffalli, making this third trip to Kununurra, lines up in the Slipper. The son of Choisir boasts three wins from four starts, and it would have been four from four had he not been disqualified in 2022 due to a weight discrepancy. “He’s up in higher grade this year, he’s got to meet some pretty nice horses such as Throw At Da Stumps, Prince Ragnar and Kumicho on Saturday,” Halter said. “It’s not going to be easy considering that he has been racing over 1300m in Darwin, he’s backing up after Katherine, but he loves the track. “I think I’m a chance with The Stifmeister and my two mares (Madame Romanov and Freedom Day) are racing well, I’m A Dreamer is also racing well. “I think the competition is pretty strong over here this year.” With a top temperature 39C predicted for Saturday, the starting time for the Kununurra meeting has been brought forward to 9:34am AWST. Petrick stablemates Boom Boom Sweet, Dip Me Lid, Real Divine, Throw At Da Stumps and New Roman, who have had success at Kununurra in the past, will be on deck on Saturday. Top End jockey Adam Nicholls, who has impressed since coming back from a serious wrist injury, returns after posting five wins on Day 1 last year. Horse racing news View the full article

Wexford Stables may be without their defending champion in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m), but a returning Group One winner in Waitak will be out to retain the title for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. The Matamata operation were set to have both Waitak and stablemate Dragon Leap commencing their spring preparations in the Te Rapa feature, but the latter has been scratched, erring on the side of caution after trackwork on Thursday morning. “We gave him a stretch of his legs yesterday (Thursday) and he’s just pulled up a bit off,” Scott said. “Pratap, his trackwork rider, rides him every day and knows this horse very well, he just didn’t think he was quite 100 percent. “We went over him and couldn’t find a lot wrong, and he’s trotted up all but 100 percent yesterday afternoon, but the horse certainly comes first so we just wanted to take the precautionary avenue. “He’s been an incredibly good horse to us so we don’t want to be taking any chances.” The eight-year-old son of Pierro has earned more than $620,000 in a career spanning 25 starts, with his victory in last year’s Foxbridge Plate his third at Group Two level. Dragon Leap subsequently finished a narrow second to Skew Wiff in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), a race Scott indicated he may still feature in this year come the 7th of September. “We’ll do a reset now and keep a close eye on him over the next couple of days, and all going well he can crack on into his preparation,” he said. “He’s still in the entries for Hastings, so if there’s nothing sinister wrong he still has a spring path in front of him.” Waitak made a name for himself in the sprinting ranks through the second half of last season, with an explosive come-from-behind victory in the Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m) and a creditable performance when crossing the Tasman for The Quokka (1200m). “We couldn’t have been more pleased with how he’s come away from Perth, he had a quick break and we’ve given him two trials to have him as fit as we can going into Saturday,” Scott said. “The Foxbridge and the Tarzino are his first two initial goals, so we’re looking to have him as ready as we can which we think we have. “He’s had a nice amount of work and went well in his trials, his work is always at a high standard so we think we’re ready to go fresh-up. “It’ll be Soft to Heavy ground, so you need good levels of fitness to overcome that. He has shown he can handle the softer ground, so we believe he’s got the fitness to be galloping on strongly.” The Proisir gelding has drawn barrier 13 under Masa Hashizume, with the wide alley not seen to be an issue in Scott’s perspective. “He’s drawn wide, but late in the day, that may not be a disadvantage,” he said. “They may be looking to get out on the track anyway, but he’s a horse that even if we’d drawn a gate, he couldn’t have utilised it as he settles beyond midfield.” On the undercard, O’Sullivan and Scott have a pair of runners contesting the Noverre Mile (1600m) and Ardrossan 1200 with Time Traveller and Lex Rex respectively. “Time Traveller has been pretty consistent and getting closer to a win, he hit the line well at his last start and is ready to be stepping out to a mile now,” Scott said. ‘He enjoyed Te Rapa last start so back there where he’s hit out with confidence, we wouldn’t be expecting any less. “He’s a fit gelding that can handle the soft ground, so he’ll be right in the finish.” A son of Per Incanto, Lex Rex has been away from the races for over 12 months and is lightly tried for a six-year-old, with just eight starts under his belt. “Dame Lowell Goddard (owner and breeder) loves her horses and is always prepared to wait for them,” Scott said. “He had a wee setback last year and she’s given him a long break with a slow build-up to follow. “He’s always a horse we thought was capable of getting through the grades and up to a good level, and he trialled in a manner that suggests when he goes, we expect him to run well. “He’s sound and pretty forward, so we believe he can put in a good account of himself.” Looking forward to the Hastings carnival, the Tarzino Trophy also beckons for smart Group Two-winning mare Grail Seeker, who was an eye-catching performer in the Fiber Fresh Group Trials at Taupo on Wednesday. “The team was very pleased with her, seeing her trial in the manner she did,” Scott said. “She’s just settled into her work quickly this time in and is stronger in the finish, whereas last season she just wanted to overdo it a wee bit in her races. “She’s pulled up really well this morning, she had a trot and a canter and is coping well. “She’ll go down to the Tarzino, we’ve aimed her for this race fresh as she seems to put in a strong performance on the fresher side. By the way she has trialled twice, she looks to be going down and being competitive. “She’s a filly that we’ve always thought a lot of, and now we’ve got her going back over shorter trips, that may be her style this season.” View the full article

A divided Kentucky Supreme Court ruled against trainer Kenny McPeek's claim for a commission on the sale of Daddys Lil Darling after his development of the multiple stakes winner led to a $3.5 million sale at auction.View the full article

Resolute Racing's John Stewart extended his fast-growing empire into Europe with the acquisition of recent King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) winner Goliath.View the full article

Pretty Mischievous, the 2023 champion 3-year-old filly of and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner, has been retired from racing by owner/breeder Godolphin.View the full article

Resolute Racing's John Stewart extended his fast-growing empire into Europe with the acquisition of recent King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) winner Goliath.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Brad Cox said he was listening to a radio show a few days ago and his ears perked up when the chat got to the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar in November. “They were talking about Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) being a good matchup, and I was like, 'wow, she is completely forgotten,” trainer Brad Cox said outside his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track Friday morning. 'She' is Idiomatic (Curlin), and if anyone has put her out of mind, they'd better rethink that. Idiomatic is indeed very much still in the discussion for best filly or mare in the country. At least around the Cox barn she is. The 5-year-old mare will be one of the marquee names in Friday's $500,000 GI Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race Course. Last year's Eclipse Award winner for Older Dirt Female is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign, a race she won last year. That was part of her six-race win streak, which ended at Saratoga on June 8 when the Chad Brown-trained Randomized (Nyquist) beat her by a head in the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes at Saratoga. Randomized is in the Personal Ensign field, too, and is the 8-5 second choice in the field of five. Idiomatic, who finished third in the 2023 Horse of the Year voting after a campaign that saw her win eight of nine races–three of them Grade Is–has won two of three starts this year. As she heads into the Personal Ensign, Cox said Idiomatic could not be doing any better. “I think she is as good as she as ever been,” Cox said as Idiomatic was walked outside the barn. “I really do believe that, and she was damn good last year. We will let her determine whether she wants to be in the mix and people start talking about her again.” In her last start, Idiomatic and jockey Florent Geroux won the GIII Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park by a head over Soul of an Angel (Atreides), trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. Soul of an Angel (5-1) is also running in the Personal Ensign. Idiomatic has 11 wins in 15 career starts with two seconds and two thirds. Her loss in the Ogden Phipps was her first since May 6, 2023. “I don't know that I take (losses with her) personal,” Cox said. “I can't be really upset. Randomized is very good and it took a lot for us to get by her in last year's Breeders' Cup (Distaff). (Idiomatic) ran a great race (in the Phipps). It was not like she got beat by three or four lengths. We did not get the good bob. We are looking forward to giving her another run.” Mott Looking Forward to See What Improving Batten Down Can Do in Travers Mid-morning Thursday, jockey Junior Alvarado paid a visit to the stall of Batten Down (Tapit) at Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. “His jockey is going to have a talk with him,” Mott said with a chuckle as he watched the exchange. Batten Down schooling Wednesday | Sarah Andrew Juddmonte's Kentucky homebred Batten Down put his name in the 3-year-old ring when he finished third in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga last month. He was not going to beat Fierceness (City of Light), who won the race by a length over Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who was 5 3/4 quarters clear of Batten Down. But Mott saw enough in that race to give Batten Down a chance in the Midsummer Derby. “He needs to improve, but he is not far off,” Mott said. “There are horses in here that are more proven–Fierceness and Sierra Leone–but I think we fit with the rest of them. I don't know if he has to run the race of his life because, hopefully, he has a long career ahead of him. But he has to move forward off his last one.” Alvarado said he thinks the best formula for Travers success is for Batten Down to be on the lead. When he won the GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown, he went gate-to-wire; he did the same thing when he broke his maiden on his fourth try on Apr. 30 at Churchill Downs. He won that race by 8 3/4 lengths. In the Jim Dandy, Batten Down was third pretty much the whole way around the 1 1/8 miles. “He gave 70 percent in that race,” Alvarado said. “It was a beautiful spot we were sitting on but I don't think that is what he wanted. He likes to be on the lead. When he is behind, he is not releasing his power. If he is on the lead, he'll keep going.” “He has early speed if we want to use it,” Mott said. Alvarado has ridden Batten Down in his last four starts. The Travers will be his seventh career start. Batten Down is out of the 2014 champion older mare Close Hatches and is a full-brother to Tacitus, who finished second in the 2019 GI Belmont Stakes for Mott. Batten Down is also a full-brother to Mott trainee Scylla, who is running in the GI Ballerina Stakes Saturday. “He has such a good pedigree that we were always optimistic about him,” Mott said. “At this time last year, he had not shown it yet. I am going into (the Travers) with a wait and see attitude.” Batten Down is 20-1 on the Travers morning line, sharing those longest odds with Honor Marie (Honor Code). “We're just very fortunate to have a horse good enough to able to compete,” Mott said. “He has earned his way in there. It's No Easy Spot for Speak Easy in Allen Jerkens In two career starts, Speak Easy (Constitution) has sparkled. Now comes the hard part. Speak Easy Wednesday | Sarah Andrew Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has chosen a tough assignment for the third career start for the colt, who is owned by Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC. Speak Easy is running in Saturday's $500,000 GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, one of five Grade I races on the 14-race Travers Day card. “This is a tall order,” Pletcher said outside his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. “We are short on experience.” Speak Easy will be facing seasoned graded stakes runners like Book'em Danno (Bucchero), winner of the GI Woody Stephens Stakes in June, Prince of Monaco (Speightstown), who was second in the Stephens, World Record (Gun Runner), winner of the GII Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga earlier in the meet and Domestic Product (Practical Joke), winner of the GII Dwyer at Aqueduct last month. Siena Farm and WinStar Farm also own World Record and Timberlake (Into Mischief), who is also in the Jerkens. Speak Easy is easily the 3-year-old in the field of 11 with the least experience. Vettriano (Liam's Map) is closest to him with three starts and Little Ni (Mohaymen) has four. This is not a unique move for Pletcher. In the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in June, he ran Mindframe (Constitution), who also had just two career starts. He finished second in the Belmont behind Dornoch (Good Magic) and then was second in the GI Haskell Stakes, also behind Dornoch, last month. Speak Easy, who will be ridden by Saratoga leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., broke his maiden by 1 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park in January and Pletcher entered him in the GII Fountain of Youth. He scratched after getting loose in the post parade and resurfaced in an allowance at Saratoga on July 27 and he won that by 2 1/4 lengths. “I like the way he ran in the six-furlong comeback,” Pletcher said. “He showed versatility where he can come off it a little bit. This race should have enough pace where it can set up for his style. This is an ambitious move, but there is a lot of upside.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Heading into Personal Ensign, Cox Says Idiomatic is as Good as She’s Ever Been appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin John Dunn says there is strength in numbers for the country’s leading stable as they prepare for the $40,000 Allied Security Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington tonight (7.58pm). But he is unsure whether that will be enough to help their stable win the automatic qualifier for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup even though they have six reps in the 2600m standing start Group 3. Team Dunn, which is officially Robert and Jenna but might as well have John’s name on the stationary too, have Double Time, Dalton Shard, Heisenberg, Charlie Brown, Who’s Delight and Mighty Looee in the Vase and John says he is happy with them all. “I suppose we have an advantage that we can work our good horses up together,” he explains. “It means they can train together, in different pairs or groups at different times, whereas maybe a smaller stable might not have a second horse that can go with their best one. “But I am still not sure that will help us win this week because it is a very even field and very big. “When you look at them, there is not many of the 16 you would be surprised if they won. “If I had to opt for one of ours I’d go Charlie Brown as the best chance this week because he has been trialing and working well.” Dunn thinks the size of the field could count against those who settle back, which might include favourite Ohoka Connor, who not only faces a 10m handicap but has been hit and miss from standing starts. Standing start manners could be crucial as once the big field settles into some sort of order they could easily pace around 3:13 for the 2600m and that would make it awfully hard for horses trying to come three wide, especially so early in their campaigns. The Dunn team aside you can make convincing cases for Macandrew Aviator, Franco Sinatra, Anything Goes and the Telfer pair of B D Joe (who might need a run after missing a trial) and Ohoka Connor if he behaves. The Vase is just one of the feature races Team Dunn hold a huge hand in as they also have three of the six starters in the XCM Basil Dean Free-For-All including a potential topliner in Sunnys Sister. Last season’s NZ Trotting Oaks and Derby winner has the motor to step into our thin open class ranks this campaign but still has a way to go to match the strength and incredible stamina of her champion older brother Sundees Son. “She will eventually measure up for sure but she is still learning and this 1980m start point hasn’t always been the best for her, just like it wasn’t for her brother,” explains Dunn. “She can win but it could be a funny little race being so early in the season. “Mighty Logan is a horse of ours who has really improved while Mr Love [trained by the Hopes] is a good trotter who will have a fitness edge on ours.” Tonight’s meeting starts with the clash of two smart maidens in Race 1, the IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion. Mobile Pace, with both Captain Moonlight and Treasure Cove headed for better things. The Dunns roll out plenty of talent away from the major races including smart three-year-old trotter Tyron Eros in Race 3, the Show Day Slot Races On Sale Now Handicap Trot. John warns he could need the run as the $2.80 favourite. “I think one of our best chances for the night could be One Over Da Line (R9, No.8) as he is in the right type of race.” Phelan to roll out big guns Scott Phelan is serving up the entree at Alexandra Park tonight but next week’s main course is the one punters will really feast their eyes on. Phelan and senior training partner Barry Purdon have some smart juveniles returning to racing tonight as well as in-form winter winners Ilsas Son (R4) and Artisan (R6) as big chances in the better class races. But while that gives them a strong hand tonight they unleash the real stars of their stable and some of the biggest names in New Zealand harness racing next Thursday. That will be when Merlin, Mach Shard and Sooner The Better start their road to the IRT New Zealand Cup with an outing at the Pukekohe trials where NZ Oaks favourite Duchess Megxit will also be seen in public for the first time. “The open class horses are all coming up well so it will be good to get them back doing something serious,” says Phelan. “They have still got a bit of their winter coats so a way to go yet, apart from Merlin who never really gets a winter coat because he is such an athlete. “He looks great.” Phelan welcomed the news Mark Purdon will have both Don’t Stop Dreaming and Millwood Nike in work at Matamata which raises the possibility they could also aim to race in some of the Alexandra Park spring races. “Even if you add only Don’t Stop Dreaming to our three that is some really strong early racing up here as they try to get ready for the Cup.” The two juveniles who resume in Race 5 (Purdon and Phelan Racing Supporting the NZHAT 2YO Mobile Pace) tonight, I Got Chills and Confederate, both look serious horses in the making but Phelan says the draw makes him lean toward I Got Chills. “That is only because of the draw. They are very even and I am confident Confederate will keep improving.” That is a good field with Bar Louie highly talented while the whole nine starters look likely to win races before the end of the year. The stable’s other juvenile rep tonight is The Night Agent (R8, No.2) in the Lincoln Farms Supporting the NZHAT Mobile Pace. He is a Captain Crunch colt out of superstar mare The Orange Agent. “He is quick but still learning so I might depend how they race is run and where he ends up,” says Phelan. Of the more tried and true team members in tonight Ilsa’s Son has no reason he can’t continue the dream start to the career of young driver Harrison Orange, who has partnered him to win his last two starts from only a handful of career drives. “He is an honest horse with good manners and he could easily win two or three more races so he has to be a chance.” Artisan continues her farewell tour before being retired to stud reverting to a standing start in Race 6 (Classique Landscapers Handicap Pace), which takes away her gate speed weapon. She faces a 10m handicap in the small field but is racing so well she can still be a factor providing she can step quickly, although she is up against a top class mare in Lady Of The Light, who has been well schooled from standing starts at recent trials. View the full article

Friday is shaping up to be quite a stakes-laden slate as the rescheduled King's Plate card from last weekend at Woodbine joins the GI Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga and a pair of pricey Grade IIs from Charles Town. TDN's full coverage of the races that were forced to move because of a deluge in Toronto can be found in Patrycja Szpyra's preview, plus a piece on the King's Plate by Bill Finley. As for the Spa feature, it boasts a set of intriguing match-ups between four of the runners from early June's GI Ogden Phipps Stakes. In Saratoga Springs that afternoon it was gate-to-wire winner Randomized (Nyquist) who bested 70 cents on the dollar favorite Idiomatic (Curlin) by a head, while Raging Sea (Curlin) finished fourth and Soul of an Angel (Atreides) checked in fifth. Out of the bunch, the 4-year-old Randomized is the only one to take a couple months off and drill for the Personal Ensign. Trainer Chad Brown did something similar last year after she captured by four lengths the GI Alabama Stakes and then was not seen until the GII Beldame Stakes during the Belmont at the Big meet in early October–she won by 3 3/4 lengths. “She's [Randomized] not a very big horse, but she's fast and she likes to go to the lead and carry her speed,” Brown said. “The Alabama [Stakes] is a really special race to win, and she's come back and carried her form into age four winning the Phipps. A really special horse for us, and she's got a lot of heart.” Juddmonte homebred Idiomatic, who won the Personal Ensign last year, will look to rebound against her rival. Trained by Brad Cox, the Eclipse winner barely held off Soul of an Angel in the GIII Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth July 20. Idiomatic | Sarah Andrew “She's very talented,” said Cox. “She's able to get into a race and use her big stride and set a solid enough pace to run them off their feet going into the far turn. She doesn't necessarily have to be on the lead. She tracked Randomized in the Breeders' Cup last year; we'll see if we can get a good trip on Friday.” Speaking of Soul of an Angel, the experienced Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee is not without a strong stakes win, which she posted in the GII Ruffian Stakes at the Big A in early May. “She ran huge last time against a Champion,” Joseph said. “Now, we go an extra sixteenth–we still don't know if that's what she wants or not, but we'll give it a shot again. If she can run similar to last time, I think she'll have a big chance. It's a stellar group.” As for Brown's other entry, Raging Sea is a 4-year-old filly who took home the GII Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga July 21. The Alpha Delta homebred has three graded stakes wins to her credit, but she is still looking for her first top level win. “She's going to have to step up,” Brown said. “She's been knocking on the door, and she just hasn't won a Grade I yet. This is a really tough race against proven, Grade I-winning mares, so she's going to have to step up and break through. But, she likes Saratoga and she's coming off her career-best race, so there's a chance she could do it.” Last but certainly not least, Xigera (Nyquist) makes her first appearance upstate since her days of running there on the grass. Certainly the 4-year-old's current season has not gone as well as 2023 did, but rest assured the combination of Philip Bauer and Rigney Racing deserve respect. Maybe the change of scenery from Louisville will help her flip the script? Whoever wins the Personal Ensign will have earned it. But we are not done yet, night owls. On Friday evening, Charles Town puts on their GII Oaks where 'TDN Rising Star' Impel (Quality Road) is seeking her first graded prize. In the bookend GII Charles Town Classic, the often-overlooked Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) will try to repeat from a year ago when he won by five lengths. The post ‘It’s Personal’ In Grade I Ensign Rematch At The Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine CEO Michael Copeland said track management felt rescheduling the 165th King's Plate and four other stakes for Aug. 23, a Friday, was better than a date this weekend. Not all Canadian stakeholders agree. View the full article

Godolphin took to X to announce 2023 Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief–Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) has been retired from racing. The social media post said, “Kentucky Oaks winner #PrettyMischievous arriving at her new home at #GainsboroughFarm today. Next stop, motherhood!” Last seen finishing fifth in the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Aug. 3 at Del Mar, the Godolphin homebred had an abbreviated 4-year-old campaign after a return from her championship season. The 'TDN Rising Star' was spectacular at three, capturing the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Acorn Stakes, and GI Test Stakes, in addition to the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Brendan Walsh conditioned her for Godolphin. She was third this year behind last year's older mare champion Idiomatic (Curlin) in the GI La Troienne Stakes in her seasonal debut and third again behind Randomized (Nyquist) and Idiomatic in the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes. Pretty Mischievous retires with a record of 13-7-2-3 and earnings of $2,112,560. Godolphin has not disclosed breeding plans for the daughter of 2016 GI Spinaway Stakes winner Pretty City Dancer. The mare was a $3.5-million purchase at the Fasig-Tipton November sale by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock on behalf of Godolphin and has a 2024 full-sister to Pretty Mischievous. Pretty City Dancer directly descends from blue hen La Troienne–her seventh dam–through the Businesslike branch. Kentucky Oaks winner #PrettyMischievous arriving at her new home at #GainsboroughFarm today. Next stop, motherhood! pic.twitter.com/KDQIhSI6kU — Godolphin (@godolphin) August 22, 2024 The post Pretty Mischievous Retired to Godolphin’s Gainsborough Division appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up graduate Bambalam (Persian King). 16.45 York, Mdn, £100,000, 2yo, 7fT BAMBALAM (FR) (Persian King {Ire}), who was his sire's most expensive progeny sold at auction when becoming the fourth-highest-priced lot at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale in April, makes his debut in this valuable and always-intriguing British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes. Trained by Richard Fahey for KHK Racing, the 600,000gns purchase who is a half-brother to the group 3-placed Ritournelle (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) meets some promising types with the benefit of experience. They include Amo Racing's Ralph Beckett-trained €1million Arqana May Breeze-Up purchase Angelo Buonarroti (Justify) whose only run came when beaten around three lengths in the G2 Coventry Stakes; Ballydoyle's Curragh maiden-placed filly Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) whose dam is a full-sister to Galileo's Hydrangea (Ire), The United States (Ire) and Hermosa (Ire); Hidetoshi Yamamoto's Ultrasoul (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a Roger Varian-trained son of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) who was second to the day's G2 Gimcrack Stakes contender Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) on debut at Yarmouth; and Wathnan Racing's Realign (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}), a William Haggas-trained €550,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up purchase who also chased home Shadow Of Light at Newmarket. HOW THEY FARED 16.50 Leopardstown, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 7f 30yT Native Verse (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), the 550,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 half-sister to the G1 Nassau Stakes winner Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), was too keen early and after tanking her way to the front paid for it in the straight when fading to eighth. 16.10 York, Listed, £100,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 11f 188yT Sunderland Holding's 'TDN Rising Star' Sea Just In Time (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was scratched from this Listed British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes. The post Friday’s Observations: Persian King Craven Breeze Up Sensation Debuts at York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There were two Grade I races last weekend in North America, one at Saratoga and one at Del Mar. One was on the dirt and one was on the turf, one at 10 furlongs and the other at nine furlongs. Other than both being carded for 3-year-old fillies, what did they have in common? Each was won by a daughter of a Lane's End sire. Union Rags captured the GI Alabama Stakes with Power Squeeze, while Twirling Candy took the GI Del Mar Oaks with Iscreamuscream. To add to the marvel, the exacta in both races was filled out by daughters of other Lane's End stallions: Candy Ride (Arg)'s Candied was second in the Alabama, while Honor Code's Medoro was second in the Del Mar Oaks. Honor Code's last U.S. crop was born this year as he transferred to Japan for the 2024 season, but Lane's End still stands his son Honor A. P. In addition, Twirling Candy also won Saratoga's Bolton Landing Stakes Sunday with 2-year-old filly Kimchi Cat and finished second with 4-year-old colt Maker's Candy in Sunday's Evan Shipman Handicap, also at the Spa. Both stallions represent generations of excellence at Lane's End. Both the sire and grandsire of Union Rags–Dixie Union and Dixieland Band–stood at the Versailles farm, while Twirling Candy is also part of three sire generations for Lane's End. He stands alongside both his sire, Candy Ride (Arg) and his son, Gift Box. What is the secret to this remarkable, generational success? “I don't know,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish with a laugh, “but we've been very lucky that way and it's so much fun to see it continue that way. Having sons and grandsons standing here is really special.” Making it even sweeter, when Lane's End opened its stallion division in 1985, “Dixieland Band was one of our first stallions, so to go from him to Union Rags is special. “Sire lines matter a great deal. Successful stallions tend to have successful stallion sons, so that's something we've always paid a lot of attention to.” Like any successful stallion farm, however, Lane's End's focus encompasses far more than what is happening solely with the home sires. “Our mission is probably similar to others, but we're always looking for the next top stallion and we're excited about some of our younger guys like Flightline, Up to the Mark, and Arcangelo,” said Farish. “It's just important that we keep that pipeline going to attract the horses with the best race records, conformation, and pedigree that we can.” Twirling Candy and Union Rags entered stud a year apart, the first in 2012 and the second in 2013. Both were highly successful race horses. Twirling Candy won the 2010 GI Malibu Stakes while setting the seven-furlong track record (1.19.70) at Santa Anita that still stands today. Union Rags won not just the 2012 GI Belmont Stakes, but also the 2011 GI Champagne Stakes. Each has found success in the breeding shed. Iscreamuscream marked the ninth Grade I winner for Twirling Candy, who has 21 graded winners among his 54 black-type winners. Power Squeeze is the sixth Grade I winner for Union Rags, whose 35 stakes winners include 17 graded winners. Union Rags | Sarah Andrew “Union Rags doesn't always get quite the support that Twirling Candy has had,” said Farish. “He had a lot of success early, but then it waned a little as there was a little bit of a lull. Now we're seeing the support carrying on. “Union Rags is such an underrated stallion,” continued Farish. “He's done so well and has been so consistent. To jump up and have another Grade I winner is great. And Twirling Candy is just on a roll. He's really fulfilling the promise that so many people have believed he had. People have had faith in him all along.” Farish said the two are not only very different physically, but also diverge from their own sires. “They're both good-sized horses. Union Rags is definitely a little bigger and a little more solidly made, where Twirling Candy is a little more angular. Both are very good-looking horses, both are very commercial, and both get very good-looking horses. They're different in appearance, as all stallions are. “Twirling Candy is quite a bit different than Candy Ride. He's bigger and longer, but very well balanced. He's really a great-looking horse. I would call him medium to slightly taller than medium. “Union Rags coming from that Dixieland Band line…he's a little bigger than both his sire and grandsire. He's such a good-looking horse, had such a great career, and is doing so well at stud. He's just got a little more scope than Dixieland Band, who was a little more Northern Dancer, obviously. Union Rags has more scope and size and length.” TDN Stallions: Twirling Candy from Thoroughbred Daily News on Vimeo. Farish also said breeders send the pair a wide variety of mares. “They attract different types, as they're obviously different sire lines. The Candy Ride sire line opens up to so many different lines where the Northern Dancer line kind of eliminates that, but they've both always gotten good mares. Union Rags does well with a little speed, while everything seems to go well with Twirling Candy.” Interestingly, that holds true while one glances down the list of broodmare sires represented by each stallions' stakes winners. Twirling Candy's mares cover a large breadth of damsires, while a significant percentage of the stakes winners by Union Rags are out of Mr. Prospector-line mares. Smart Strike is particularly represented, with nine of Union Rag's black-type winners–and five of his graded–directly out of Smart Strike mares. How appropriate that Union Rags has taken advantage of his opportunities with Smart Strike mares, as the feat last Saturday of Lane's End stallions sweeping the nation's Grade I races harkens back to another remarkable landmark set by Smart Strike. That late Lane's End stallion and two-time leading sire had three individual Grade I winners at Belmont Park on Sept. 30, 2007. “Smart Strike had three in one day at one track, from 1 1/2 miles to six furlongs,” said Farish. “That was an amazing day; three Grade Is on one card! One of them was Curlin.” Indeed, Curlin captured the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles, English Channel won the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at 1 1/2 miles, and Fabulous Strike took the GI Vosburgh Stakes at six furlongs. Farish said multiple Grade Is on a Saturday for the farm, regardless if it's with one stallion or multiple stallions, is always special. “With Twirling Candy and Union Rags, it's great and two separate things, really. Each horse is their own situation. We don't really look at it as a farm achievement as much as we're rooting for both horses to do well.” Both stallions are ably represented in the upcoming Keeneland September sale, with the obvious standout being a filly by Twirling Candy out of Machmer Hall's Special Me (hip 230), making the offering a full-sister to GISW Gift Box. The post Saturday Sires: Twirling Candy and Union Rags appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Whit Beckman, in search of his first grade 1 victory, hopes late-running Honor Marie can take advantage of a projected pace meltdown in the Aug. 24 Travers Stakes (G1).View the full article

Jockey Frankie Dettori gave Beaute Cachee another masterful ride on the front end to register a neck victory over stablemate Gina Romantica in the Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T).View the full article

Asfoora will look to gain the upper hand on Big Evs in the Aug. 23 Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) after dropping a narrow decision to that foe in the King George Stakes (G2) last time out. View the full article

Overnight purses at Keeneland this fall will mirror those from last year, with maidens racing for up to $100,000 in purses and first-level allowance runners potentially competing for $110,000. Those figures count purse supplements for Kentucky-breds.View the full article