Wandering Eyes

Progressive staying three-year-old Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) tuned up for next week’s Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) with a strong win in the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville for trainer Patrick Payne and jockey Jake Noonan. The son of Embellish has followed a similar path to the Payne-trained Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel), who won last year’s South Australian Derby after spring-boarding off a successful campaign in Tasmania. Like Dunkel, Bold Soul won both the Listed Launceston Guineas (2100m) and Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) on a successful working holiday in the Apple Isle. The Kiwi-bred gelding travelled sweetly throughout on Saturday in the back quarter of the field and picked up well late to suggest he will relish getting over next week’s extended trip on the roomy Adelaide track. Winning rider Jake Noonan said he had taken plenty of learnings from Bold Soul’s third placing in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) at his previous outing. “I probably didn’t put enough trust in the horse last start when he hit a flat-spot,” Noonan said. “Today I just trusted the horse and Patrick just instilled it in me to do that. “When he hit a flat-spot I didn’t rush him through it which gave himself a chance to pick himself up and then from the 400m I travelled like the winner from a long way out. “I had the stick in the left hand ready to go today as I know he can lay in. But for me he went pretty straight, and it took until the last 100m to get him to flatten out, but he got there. “I wasn’t too worried about where I was and who I was following, I was just trying to ride my horse. “This horse looks in great order physically still. He has had a Tasmanian preparation and as Pat suggested they don’t have a hard time in Tassie. They train down there with Adam Trinder and they’re in a good environment.” By Cambridge Stud’s Group One winning son of Savabeel, Embellish, Bold Soul is the last foal of the now retired Singspiel mare Twin Soul and was bred by Lou Te Keeti. Bold Soul was sold at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 Yearling Sale for $20,000 to Wanganui horseman Hamish Auret. He subsequently won a jump-out for Auret and was purchased privately before joining Payne’s Victorian operation. A genuine galloper, Bold Soul has now won five of his eight starts with a further three placings and has amassed prize money of A$371,675 to date. View the full article

Queen Of The South Stakes winner Seonee. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) A perfect ride from Billy Egan has helped Seonee (+450) take out the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes to give Patrick Payne a training double at Morphettville on the first day of the Adelaide Racing Carnival. The Egan-Payne combination is a lethal one when going well and with an Egan peach from barrier one, the daughter of Winning Rupert stalked Legacies (+800), who led the field up to the home turn, before peeling off her back late to run away with a strong win. Although it appeared as though the winner would need some luck on the rail, a massive gap opened for Egan to push his mare through and when he asked for an effort, Seonee let down with a blistering turn of foot. Seonee would record a 1.5-length victory over Lady Jones (+700) and Silent Surrente (+2200), with Legacies holding on for fourth place as the leading division dominated the race from start to finish. 2024 Queen Of The South Stakes Replay – Seonee Joe O’Neill represented the Patrick Payne stable in the post-race interview. “We’re absolutely thrilled. We’ve got a heap of owners here,” O’Neill said. “She’s just a lovely mare. We didn’t pay much for her and she’s been fantastic. “Paddy Payne, what a training performance, and Billy Egan, what a ride.” “She’s a lot stronger now than what she was. “Who knows, next year the Coolmore Classic or races like that. She’s a much better mare when we can get a wet track, but we just haven’t had them. “She’s now won nine races and is the second most winning mare from the 2021 Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast behind Imperatriz. “She’s done a great job and Paddy has brought her along gently, let her develop, didn’t push and look what we have today. “I think there’s a race in Brisbane, a mile and then there’s the Tatt’s Tiara. “They’re probably her next two runs if we decide to go that far, otherwise we can put her away. We just don’t know how far she can take us.” Billy Egan has a great record aboard Seonee throughout his career and he spoke post-race. “I thought I only needed to come four to five horses off the fence. Everyone wanted to get away from the fence and I was always going to go up on the fence and come out to the middle,” Egan said. “One was always going to drop off and I would always get into the clear. “I was happy with how it panned out. Legacies was a good horse to use as a bunny and I knew it would take me a long way. “She’s got a terrific record. It’s good to see her win at the mile as well.” Horse racing news View the full article

Winner of the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes, Skybird, pictured here after a previous win at Bendigo. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Mitchell Freedman and Beau Mertens have combined with the ultra-impressive Skybird (+600) to take out the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes, with the one time Thousand Guineas favourite proving way too good for her rivals over 1200m at Morphettville. After returning with an encouraging run at Bendigo first-up, Freedman sent his filly to Adelaide to claim another valuable Group level victory and with that in the rear-view mirror now, The Goodwood in two weeks time could be on the cards for Skybird. With several speed influences in the race, it was no surprise to see the race run at a good clip and set up for the runners with a good turn of foot finish off strong down the outside. Mertens followed the Pivot City (+600) around the home turn before peeling off his back at the top of the straight to let down with her customary blistering finish. As soon as Skybird took over with 250m to go, there was no way any of her rivals were going to catch her and she recorded an impressive 1.9-length victory over Moesha (+450) and Pivot City, who filled the placings. 2024 Tobin Bronze Stakes Replay – Skybird Mitchell Freedman was elated with the win and he spoke post-race. “We had a specific plan to come to this race or the Sangster, but we thought the Sangster was heating up with the prize money on offer,” Freedman said of the plan. “We’re still building our fitness in the three-year-old race and if she comes though it well enough, we might come back in two weeks time (to race in The Goodwood). “There is a chance on the way she won there. “I know she has a bit of improvement to come, so she could come and compete in that race and get the weight advantage, being a filly. “I think you’ll find 1400 metres will be her best distance, or 1300 maybe, that 1200 to 1400 will be right for her. I’m not sure she runs a mile. “She’s only tasted defeat two times and the other day at Bendigo, things were against her and in the Thousand Guineas. She’s a very good filly with plenty of upside. “We’ve got an ultimate goal of trying to get to the Golden Eagle, so that’s on our radar and we’ll see how we get there.” Beau Mertens has built a strong affiliation with Skybird and he spoke glowingly about the filly after the win. “She’s outstanding. Mitch has done a terrific job to get her to perform like she has today,” Mertens said. “She missed a trial leading up to her first-up and we both thought it was a good enough run to come here and give it a shot. “She gave me the feel last prep of a really nice filly. “She’s a filly that doesn’t get too clean away out of the machine but as time goes on she’s learning to get out and get herself amongst it which is going to make her life a lot easier. “I was able to have a really nice spot with a bit of cover three deep following Blake (Shinn) and it took me right into the race. “When I gave her squeeze at the top of the straight, I knew she would be there for me.” Horse racing news View the full article

John Hawkes Stakes winner Extremely Lucky. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Extremely Lucky (+650) has broken through for his first win in nearly two years, as the five-year-old gelding recorded a nice victory on her return for the Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea stable in the inaugural running of the John Hawkes Stakes at Morphettville. After spending 12 months with Chris Waller in Sydney, the son of Extreme Choice returned to the South Australian trainers to take his place in the Adelaide Racing Carnival over the next few weeks, and the change of scenery has paid dividends instantly. Master Eight (+7000) made sure the race was run at a breakneck tempo as he took off mid-race to lead by three lengths over Celsius Star (+2000) and Sghirripa (+500) who settled behind the leader, and by the time they hit the top of the straight, those two took over to lead the field with 400m to go. However, it was easy to see that the swoopers were going to run over the top of them in the concluding stages as they launched down the outside with their runs. In a tight photo finish, Extremely Lucky just held on from a fast-finishing Sans Doute (+380), with What You Need (+360) and Grey River (+800) finishing in third and fourth place, respectively. 2024 John Hawkes Stakes Replay – Extremely Lucky Will Clarken was clearly emotional after the win of Extremely Lucky during his post-race interview. “He’s a horse that we spruiked and and our stable really believes in data and he’s the benchmark, the best horse we’ve trained in that sort of stuff, but has never got there,” Clarken said. “Whether he will is yet to come. This was a Listed race and it was the right circumstances. “There was good speed. Jamie rode him and I’ve been a believer that when you’re working with a horse and things aren’t going right, it’s very hard to correct at the time. “I got a bit of time when he went to Waller’s just to think about things that I would do differently. I corrected every mistake I made and I’m able to train the horse a lot better now. “He might have lost a bit of time there in his life for a life, but he’s back now well and we’ll give him a bit of time to see how he comes out of that. “Group 1 horses win Group 1’s. What he can do is quite astonishing and they have to do it race day. “We’re a long way from that, but he ticks a lot of boxes that a lot of horses can’t do. “It’s great to haves the Hawkes’ on course today. They’re a famous South Australian racing family and it’s great to see them back here.” Jamie Kah was also very happy with the win post-race. “It’s good to see him back. He was a very, very smart horse, but so much went wrong with him,” Kah said. “He was feeling the pinch near the line, but it was deserved. “At the 400 metres I thought he was really smoking and I thought he’d easily win. “He got to the 100 metres and had nearly had enough. Will told me he’d only had the one trial, but it’s good to win on him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Bold Soul on his way to winning the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville. Photo: Atkins Photography Patrick Payne has trained his first winner of the 2024 Adelaide Racing Carnival to kick off what could be a big day for the stable, with Jake Noonan piloting Bold Soul (+300) to victory in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Morphettville. With the likes of Seonee and Wings Of Song set to represent the stable in two of the feature races later in the program, Bold Soul will have settled the nerves for the Victorian trainer, as his three-year-old gelding turned the tables on Air Assault (+360) and Warmonger (+170) from the Port Adelaide Guineas last start. As expected, Air Assault jumped to the front and led the field at a solid tempo, while the other two favoured runners settled towards the rear of the field. However, when the leader turned into the home straight, it was clear that he was starting to take smaller steps and the swoopers were starting to gain on the leading division. Noonan allowed his mount to balance up and the son of Embellish let down with a strong finish to take over and claim victory in the final strides of the race, with Just Berrilliant (+10000) and Air Assault fighting out the placings and finishing in that order. 2024 Chairman’s Stakes Replay – Bold Soul Although Patrick Payne was unavailable for a post-race interview, Jake Noonan spoke about the win of Bold Soul. “I didn’t put enough trust in the horse last time when he hit that flat spot. Today I just trusted the horse and Paddy just instilled in me to do that,” Noonan said. “If he gets out of his ground, don’t worry about it and if he hits a flat spot, don’t worry about it. “It’s a nice track and he’s got time to balance up and hit the line if he’s good enough, he should close well. “The horse, when he hit that flat spot, I didn’t rush him through it, I gave him the chance to pick himself up and then from the 400, 500-metres out, I felt like the winner a long way out. “I had the stick in the left all the way and was ready for him to hang in, but for me he went pretty straight and flattened out in the last 100 metres and got there. “I wasn’t worried who I was following and I just wanted to ride my horse. “He rolled along the other day and I put the trust in him to get the first half right so he can finish off the second half. “I said to Paddy he looks great in the yard and he gave me a hip and shoulder as to say, ‘what are you trying to say’. “Paddy and his team have great credentials and his deeds speak for themselves. This horse looks in great order. “This horse has had a Tasmanian prep, but they don’t have a hard time in Tassie. “They get trained down at the beach with Adam Trinder and they’re in a good environment. “That allows three-year-olds like this to have that sort of preparation and to come here and be in good order.” Horse racing news View the full article

Blake Shinn is one of the most prolific winning jockeys in Australia. Blake Shinn subscribes to the theory that nothing is permanent in racing as he mounts the most serious challenge yet to the incredible Golden Sixty in the HK$22 million FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Shinn will be aboard the Pierre Ng-trained Galaxy Patch, a young import who turned in an astonishing performance to come from last to finish a neck second to Massive Sovereign in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) last month. The four-year-old was given a supplementary entry for the Classic after owner Yeung Kin Man made a late decision to switch him from sprinting to staying. Incredibly, he went 1000 metres, 1400 metres to 2000 metres in three bounds — an unconventional path to the coveted race, to say the least. The run convinced Australia-based Shinn that Galaxy Patch is exceptional. “He’s one of the most exciting horses in Hong Kong, for sure. He is definitely untapped.” The jockey continues: “It was remarkable what he did in the Derby, given his preparation into the race. Not many horses, I believe, could run like that with his ‘prep’. “Full credit to Pierre for having the belief in the horse that he could do that, and we almost won the race…testament to the horse and Pierre.” Coming off that outstanding run, Galaxy Patch now has Golden Sixty in his sights, with Shinn bullish about his prospects, especially with the champion returning after an injury setback that has prevented him running for four months. “Golden Sixty can’t stay at the top forever,” Shinn reckons. “So, hopefully, my bloke is the new kid on the block, who can step up and be the next horse to take the mantle as one of the best in Hong Kong. “He looks to have come on nicely, and I think that run in the Derby showed the horse’s ability, and that holds him in good stead to hopefully give the champion Golden Sixty a shake in this race at the weekend. “Galaxy Patch seemed to run the 2000 metres out pretty good but, realistically, anything from 1200 metres to a mile is going to be his strongest distance,” he points out. Shinn earned his stripes in Hong Kong during a stay that saw him produce some brilliant pieces of riding. One standout was his Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) win two years ago aboard Russian Emperor, seeing off Golden Sixty on a rain-affected track. With Zac Purton and Joao Moreira having the pick of the rides in most races during that period, the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey made the most of his opportunities. Once settled back home, Shinn excelled and was crowned Melbourne’s champion jockey last season, as well as picking up the Scobie Breasley medal for consistent all-round performance at the highest level. He currently trails Damian Lane by a significant margin in this season’s championship but hasn’t given up all hope of retaining his title. “Damian has a stranglehold on it at the moment. He’s 14 or 15 ahead, but I’ve managed to pull him back from 30 wins. So that lead has been halved in the last three months,” he explains. “It’s unlikely that I’m going to win it. But there’s still time and I’ll be fighting right to the end. We’ll see what the numbers are by mid-June.” The racing season ends in all Australia States and Territories on July 31. Shinn will be fully focussed on Sha Tin after flying overnight from Adelaide, via Melbourne, after riding at the important Morphettville meeting, featuring the Robert Sangster Stakes and the South Australian Oaks. On Sunday, he rides Mugen for Ng in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) as well as taking other mounts on the Champions Day card trained by David Hall and Caspar Fownes. “I love coming back to Hong Kong,” Shinn declares. “It’s exciting just to be in the place. I’ve got some great supporters there. Hong Kong has a special place in my heart.” Horse racing news View the full article

Australian jockey expects in-form speedster to prove hard to beat in Sunday’s HK$22 million Champions Day featureView the full article

Breeders’ Stakes winner Growing Empire pictured after winning at Moonee Valley in March. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher and Mark Zahra have kicked off their Adelaide Racing Carnival with a bang as Growing Empire (+160) made a mess of his rivals in the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes at Morphettville. After jumping from barrier 10, Zahra chose to push forward and take up the lead, much like Ethan Brown did on the winner last start when he led all the way at Moonee Valley previously. Once Zahra took the son of Zoustar to the front and settled ahead of second favourite Karavas (+340), the colt found a nice rhythm and appeared to be going along at a good clip before upping the ante around the home turn. Upon straightening, Growing Empire wobbled to the middle of the track but quickly kicked away from his rivals and ran away with a dominant 4.5-length victory over Flattered (+850) and Flyer (+1100) who ran on from the back to finish in the placings. 2024 Breeders’ Stakes Replay – Growing Empire Ciaron Maher was on course to speak about the win of his two-year-old colt post-race. “I’m surprised really. He’s a very good colt but he had a few tricks that we had to iron out early in his career,” Maher said. “It’s great to train a winner for Mr Zhang and Yulong. I think he’s a colt that’s pretty progressive and he’ll probably have a breather now and get ready for the spring and improve a lot again. “He was a little bit immature mentally, but he’s really come along in leaps and bounds and there was no surprises there today. “Mark does his track assessment prior to the races and thought that was the place to be. “The horse had a bit of a look around so he might have been getting away from the winning post.” Mark Zahra was quick to say that Growing Empire laid out and he wasn’t looking for better ground out wide in his post-race interview. “Very impressive and very keen,” Zahra said of the winner. “He went to the front and around the bend he was ears pricked and backed-off the tempo which suited him. “When I asked him to let rip, he had a look at the winning post and was very soft. “He was laying out as well, but I was happy to let him go where he was happy in the straight.” Horse racing news View the full article

The consistent and talented Chop Chop landed an elusive graded stakes win when the daughter of City of Light drew off to a 2 1/4-length score April 26 in the Bewitch Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.View the full article

Dual Group One winner is ‘coming here with fresher legs’ as he prepares to again take aim at hometown hero Romantic WarriorView the full article

Led by matching $450,000 co-toppers Dana's Beauty (Not This Time) and Cheval de Guerre (Caravaggio), John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock purchased four lots for a total of $1.172 million at Keeneland's April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale on Friday, held following the final race of the Spring Meet. Resolute was the sale's leading buyer. For the single-session auction, Keeneland sold 54 horses for $3,940,000, for an average of $72,963 and a median of $38,500. With sales of $1.544 million for 16 horses, ELiTE was the sale's leading consignor. Keeneland sold 67 horses through the ring for $6,743,000, good for an average of $100,642 and a median of $70,000, at last year's auction. “We were specifically looking for some (Royal) Ascot horses and we picked up a couple broodmare prospects that can continue to race,” Stewart said. “Keeneland always has great horses here, so it's a lot of good fun.” The 6-year-old mare Dana's Beauty, previously owned by Magic Oaks and trained by Joe Sharp, won Turfway Park's Latonia S. Mar. 23 over Friday's GIII Bewitch S. heroine Chop Chop (City of Light). She is out of the winning City Zip mare City Siren and from the family of GI Preakness S. winner and sire Cloud Computing and GISW Halo America. Sporting a career record of 37-8-4-8 and earnings of $428,167, Dana's Beauty was consigned by ELiTE, agent, as Hip 99. “Her pedigree works really well in our system,” said Gavin O'Connor, who signed the ticket. “(Resolute's) John (Stewart) himself loved the horse. She won nicely last time out. The long-range plans are to send her to (trainer) Mike Maker and try to just place her right. We'll probably start her fresh as a broodmare next year.” DANA'S BEAUTY delivers $450,000 at #KeeApril! The stakes winning mare is consigned by @eliteracesales and is by Not This Time. pic.twitter.com/jfAGfDZoEX — Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) April 27, 2024 The 2-year-old colt Cheval de Guerre flashed sharp early speed and just got beat by a neck in his 5 1/2-furlong unveiling over the Keeneland turf Thursday. The first foal out of the winning Declaration of War mare Champagne Diet, he is from the family of GISWs Memories of Silver and Winter Memories. The $22,000 KEESEP yearling was campaigned by owner/trainer Eddie Kenneally and Richard Seale. The sale's final offering, he was consigned by Kenneally Racing, agent, as Hip 135. “I'm not really surprised. I was expecting a good number for the horse,” said consignor and trainer Eddie Kenneally. “He did everything right, but was a little unlucky not to have won. He ran a good race. We had some good people on him and we're delighted to get it done. We've had a good little run with this horse in a short period of time.” .@rresoluteracing signs the ticket for $450,000 for CHEVAL DE GUERRE, a 2YO Caravaggio colt who was a just-beaten second yesterday in MSW at Keeneland! Consigned by @kenneallyracing pic.twitter.com/UUjvWfH14k — Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) April 27, 2024 After making a huge splash at the yearling and breeding stock sales in 2023, Stewart purchased the former Shadwell Stud property in Midway, Kentucky to launch Resolute Farm. Stewart spent $8.425 million on 13 yearlings at last year's Keeneland September sale and returned to the fall breeding stock sales at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland where he once again opened his check book, purchasing 11 mares and weanlings for a total of $17.35 million. The list included the two-time GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper), who brought $6 million at Fasig-Tipton November. Save the Trees (Preservationist), who stormed down the Keeneland stretch to win his career debut for the Estate of Brereton C. Jones and trainer Wayne Mackey Apr. 19, sold for $335,000 to trainer Mike Maker. Consigned by Airdrie Stud, agent, as Hip 131, the 3-year-old gelding is out of the stakes-placed Forestry mare Canopy Lane. He was previously a $23,000 KEESEP yearling. “We liked him from day one, so we came here to buy him,” Maker said. “We were at the races the day he broke his maiden; we were impressed by that. We tried to pursue him after that, but were unsuccessful, so we came here tonight to get him.” Meah/Loyd Bloodstock, agent, paid $310,000 for 3-year-old filly Watchtower (Demarchelier {GB}), who is unbeaten in two races this year. ELiTE, agent for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, consigned Watchtower (Hip 79), who is out of the stakes-placed Exchange Rate mare Zloty and from the family of GSW & GISP Teeth of the Dog. “She will go to California to (trainer) Richard Baltas,” David Meah said. “We've had a lot of success together buying horses all over the world. She's a filly who will really fit California racing. She is tailor made for the Del Mar Oaks and the American Oaks. We were pleasantly surprised with the price.” The post Shopping Spree Continues: John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock Buys $450k Co-Toppers at Keeneland April appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner What should happen at Winton on Saturday is no guarantee. That’s hardly news for any harness racing tragic or casual follower ahead of Captainshavtime approaching her second career start. The two-year-old impressed in her debut on the same track earlier this month when running third in Group 2 company behind the highly talented Captains Mistress. That looks incredible form to bring to a maiden assignment and while trainer Brett Gray is hopeful his filly can run up to her form, he isn’t thinking Captainshavtime is a past the post proposition. “She is a lovely filly and it was a nice run first up,” Gray said. “She probably just lacked having the racing the two that beat her home had, but she went nice.” “It is a different ball game racing the older horses, it’s not easy for a two-year-old filly.” “But her work this week has been good and she has a good draw (3) to work with.” Gray rates another ‘havtime’ horse as one of the stronger hopes among the big team he starts at Saturday’s Wairio meeting. Wehavtime meets an even line up of maidens after taking on stronger fields in the past. “He’s a good chance, I think he is one of our better chances on Saturday,” Gray said. Joes Rock will have her finale for the Gray stable in race 8 at Winton ahead of her upcoming move to the North Island. The four-year-old moves into grade racing after racing in mares events throughout summer and autumn. “She has been a great mare for us,” Gray said. “Her last start was a little bit disappointing but the three horses that went forward early all finished in behind them in that race.” “It is drop back for her, but in saying that there are still some handy horses in it.” Gray stablemates Hayley Jaccka and Stillyourshot clash in race 9 on Saturday and both are rated eachway chances. “Stillyourshot looks a good eachway chance, he just needs a bit of luck from one on the second row.” “Hayley Jaccka has a tough draw (8) but she has a bit of upside to her, she should be running on pretty well.” Two ‘Jaccka’ horses also step out for the Gray team at Winton on Saturday. “Connie Jaccka has the ability to go a handy race, it is just a matter of which Connie Jaccka turns up on the day.” “Jaccka Bayliss has been improving and if he keeps doing that he won’t far away.” View the full article

Keeneland's spring meet concluded April 26 with all-sources wagering exceeding $218 million, the third-highest handle in track history.View the full article

The racing industry is mourning the death of training great Dave O’Sullivan, 90, following his passing on Friday. David John O’Sullivan, OBE and New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame member, first made his mark as a jockey before increasing weight forced his hand to take up training in 1961. From humble beginnings he established Wexford Stables as a force throughout New Zealand, in Australia and as far afield as Japan where he and his sons – training partner Paul and stable jockey Lance – were to share in the crowning glory of victory with Hall of Fame racemare Horlicks in the 1989 Japan Cup. Tough times shared with his wife Marie and backed by a fastidious approach exemplified by the O’Sullivan motto “Even if a horse isn’t the best in the race, it should still look the best”, he forged an outstanding career underlined by 1,877 wins by the time he retired in 1998. O’Sullivan’s first major win was the 1973 Hawke’s Bay Guineas with Oopik, who was to add the 1976 Sydney Cup, the first of many major wins in Australia. Countless notable performers both at home and in Australia included Hall of Fame sprinter Mr Tiz, Waverley Star, Surfers Paradise, Shivaree, Blue Denim and Miltak. Known universally by his initials DJ, he won his first trainer’s premiership with 62 wins in the 1978-79 season and added another 11 titles in partnership with his son Paul, who was to become the first New Zealander to be granted a licence by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. O’Sullivan and his champion jockey son Lance were honoured for their respective achievements as inaugural New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductees in 2006, and were joined by Paul and the O’Sullivan-mentored Mike Moroney in the 2023 Hall Of Fame inductees’ draft. Fellow Hall of Fame trainer Jim Gibbs, a contemporary of O’Sullivan during his many years training in Matamata, is one of many paying tribute to the much-admired trainer. “DJ got his licence about 18 months before me and although we were both very competitive, we became good friends,” Gibbs said. “He was an outstanding horseman with a huge work ethic and attention to detail, and he can take credit for raising the bar for the rest of us. “He dragged me up to improve and I have to say I was lucky to be training in the same era.” Having celebrated his 90th birthday late last year, O’Sullivan’s health deteriorated recently and he passed away at his Matamata home in the company of family members. “Dad would be the first to admit he had a wonderful life,” his son Lance said. “He was a world-class horse trainer and highly competitive, but most of all for us, he was a wonderful family man. “He worked hard and expected others to as well, but he was always very fair. I would describe him as one of the last living legends of the old school.” O’Sullivan’s funeral will be held at 11:30am this coming Thursday, May 2, at the Church of the Holy Angels in Matamata. View the full article

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In a debut befitting his princely price tag, Parenting (c, 3, Justify–Iadorakid, by Lemon Drop Kid) kicked away from a well-met group of maidens at Santa Anita Park, and became the newest 'TDN Rising Star' to hail from the Bob Baffert barn. Hugging the rail after coming out a narrow leader via a scramble for the lead, Parenting put away most of his early competition by midstretch and had enough to comfortably hold Santarena (Omaha Beach) off in the stretch. The final time was 1:03.69. #6 PARENTING ($8.80), a three-year-old colt by @CoolmoreAmerica's Justify, breaks his maiden in his career debut for trainer Bob Baffert with @JJHernandezS19 in the irons. pic.twitter.com/WViRvvW72P — FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) April 26, 2024 Sales history: $750,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. O-Gandharvi LLC; B-Jason Hall and BCS Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Bob Baffert. The post Justify’s Parenting Strong on Unveiling, Garners ‘Rising Star’ Nod appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The consistent and talented Chop Chop landed an elusive graded stakes win when the daughter of City of Light drew off to a 2 1/4-length score April 26 in the Bewitch Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.View the full article

Keeneland's 2024 Spring Meet concluded Friday with all-sources wagering exceeding $218 million, the third-highest handle in track history. Average daily purse money of $1.16 million attracted Thoroughbred racing's top stables and jockeys, delivering 16 days of quality racing complemented by community and special events that offered family fun with a philanthropic mission. “A big thanks to our horsemen and sponsors, the crowds who turned out daily on track and those who watched and wagered on Keeneland across the country,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We especially appreciate the cooperation of fans as we navigated the adjustments necessary to hold a race meet during construction of our new Paddock Building. We are proud this Spring Meet continued to offer the exceptional race-day experiences and traditions people know and love about Keeneland.” All-sources wagering (not including whole card simulcasting at Keeneland) for the Spring Meet, held April 5-26, totaled $218,741,501, a decrease of 2.5% from last spring's record $224,348,745 for 15 days of racing. On-track wagering totaled $15,831,087 compared with $15,844,092 in Spring 2023. Wagering was boosted by a number of individual handle records. On Toyota Blue Grass Day, Apr. 6, all-sources handle for the 11-race card that featured five graded stakes totaled $29,261,346, eclipsing the previous single-day wagering record of $28,137,728 set in 2022. Single-race win/place/show wagering of $2,576,663 on the Toyota Blue Grass shattered the 2019 record of $2,068,406. The All Stakes Pick 5 ending with the Toyota Blue Grass handled $1,696,981, breaking the 2022 record of $1,539,098. The Keeneland Turf Pick 3, a wager on the final three turf races daily, set a handle record of $280,308 on Apr. 13 to best last Fall's mark of $248,094. The wager paid a record $56,593 on April 18. The Daily Double wager established handle records twice during the Spring Meet: $329,433 on opening Apr. 5 and $470,988 on Apr. 13 to surpass the previous record of $286,255 set Apr. 23, 2022. This Spring, Keeneland reduced the takeout on the Daily Double from 22% to 15%. The post Keeneland Closes Out Successful Spring Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sierra Leone's co-owner Brook Smith donates a portion of his purses to the Backside Learning Center, a nonprofit organization that provides support to more than 1,000 people that live and work at both Churchill Downs and its nearby training center.View the full article

Edited Press Release Churchill Downs Incorporated established the “Safety from Start to Finish” program in March 2009 to formalize its comprehensive approach to continual improvement of the health and safety protocols and policies for horses and humans who work, train, compete and attend racing events at Churchill Downs Racetrack. Following a comprehensive evaluation of existing safety protocols and a thorough assessment of industry best practices in June 2023, Churchill Downs has implemented several key enhancements to the Safety from Start to Finish Program for 2024, including: -Investment in Surface Management: To further maximize surface oversight and consistency, new and upgraded equipment including harrows, tractors and grader accessorized with smart grade technology have been incorporated into the track maintenance process. -Increased Veterinary Oversight: Dr. Dana Stead was added to CDI's qualified veterinary team, led by Dr. Will Farmer, as Equine Safety and Integrity Veterinarian, to provide additional monitoring and specialized care for horses and to assist in developing and enforcing CDI equine safety protocols. -Collaboration with Industry Experts: Synergetic work continues with HISA and other industry experts to identify at-risk horses and potential safety threat factors using veterinary medical records, computer models and advanced analytic techniques. -Established Safety Management Committee: Comprised of a cross-section of horsemen including trainers, exercise riders, jockeys, racetrack management and veterinarians, the organized mobilization of this group allows for regular weekly meetings throughout the live race meet to foster an open dialogue to candidly discuss observations or concerns and provide real time feedback on areas for improvement. -Implemented Technology: As an industry leader, Churchill Downs is investing in new technologies to help identify horses that may pose an increased risk potential. Click here for more. The post Churchill Downs Implements Enhancements to Its ‘Safety from Start to Finish’ Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2024 live Thoroughbred racing season at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack begins April 29. The 2024 season will begin with a new race announcer: Anthony Stabile.View the full article

The field for the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1), set to be run May 4, is all accounted for at Churchill Downs. Coming from The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Harry Veruchi's West Saratoga was the last of the 20 horses that qualified to arrive.View the full article

Before the graded stakes taking place during the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) race cards, three high-value stakes headline weekday stakes action at Churchill Downs May 2.View the full article

Since first teaming to win a maiden claiming race at Aqueduct Racetrack in April 1996 during the early part of their careers, trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez have combined to win another 1,865 races together.View the full article