Wandering Eyes

Cheshire Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk (Frankel) is the likely mount of Ryan Moore in the Betfred Oaks, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien, with the Ballydoyle team also set to call upon the services of Wayne Lordan and Colin Keane on a busy Classic weekend at Epsom. Speaking on a call hosted by the Jockey Club on Tuesday, O'Brien echoed his recent comments about Delacroix (Dubawi) being the horse most likely to have the benefit of Moore's assistance in Saturday's Betfred Derby, before clarifying the picture somewhat with regards the Oaks, Friday's Classic in which the trainer is also set to saddle Lingfield Oaks Trial scorer Giselle (Frankel) and Musidora Stakes winner Whirl (Wootton Bassett). Whilst acknowledging that a final decision would likely be left until the very last minute, O'Brien intimated that Moore was leaning towards Minnie Hauk at this stage, with Lordan and Keane set to deputise on whichever fillies are passed over by the stable's number one rider. “I'd imagine it would probably be Minnie Hauk,” the trainer said of Moore's likely partner. “Obviously, that could change if he changes his mind tomorrow. All three fillies came out of their last races well. “We liked her [Minnie Hauk] last year. She had the two runs and won the second time. She's a lovely, straightforward filly and we think she's come forward loads from Chester. She was just ready to start there. We had to try and get a run into her somewhere before the Oaks and that suited perfectly. We knew it wouldn't be too demanding of her and she would learn plenty from it.” O'Brien also confirmed that Delacroix will be joined in the Derby by The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) and Lambourn (Australia), with his Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master, who remained in contention at Monday's confirmation stage, said to be unlikely to take his chance at Epsom. Last seen winning the Leopardstown Derby Trial by nearly three lengths, Delacroix is the sponsor's 5/2 favourite to provide O'Brien with a record-extending 11th win in the Derby, while The Lion In Winter is available to back at 6/1 after finishing only sixth on his return to action in the Dante Stakes at York, having headed the market throughout the winter after going unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile. Chester Vase winner Lambourn, who was previously runner-up to Delacroix in March's Ballysax Stakes, is a 14/1 chance. “I think so,” O'Brien confirmed when asked whether Moore was expected to come down in favour of Delacroix, before attentions turned to the tactics likely to be employed on the son of Dubawi and champion racemare Tepin. “He's a straightforward horse and uncomplicated, we think. I would imagine if he [Moore] does ride him, he probably would ride him forward, but he'll decide that himself when the gates open. “We always viewed him last year as a potential Derby horse. Obviously, he started off in the Ballysax and then went on to the Derby Trial. We were very happy with both runs, we found out that he stayed a mile and a quarter, and there's every chance that he will get the mile and a half. You're never sure until you do it, but his sister by Galileo [Grateful] got a mile and six [furlongs] well and we always thought there was a good chance that he would.” The post Minnie Hauk and Delacroix Emerge as Moore’s Likely Classic Rides at Epsom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With three consecutive top-three finishes, 2-1 morning-line favorite Limited Liability will try to get over the hump and into the winner's circle in the 2-mile, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2T) June 6 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

With victories in four of his past five starts, including a clear victory in the Man o' War Stakes (G2T) May 10 at Aqueduct, LSU Stables' Far Bridge will try to continue that good form June 7 at Saratoga in the $1 million Manhattan Stakes (G1T).View the full article

After nearly 25 years as a mainstay in Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's operation, Maggie Sweet was ready for a new challenge. She found a rewarding but massive one with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.View the full article

Fierceness, last seen setting a track record in the May 2 Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, the second week in a row leads the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll released June 3.View the full article

Tuesday's Prix Chapeau Rouge at Saint-Cloud played host to the frontrunning TDN Rising Star display of Andre Fabre trainee Alcantor (New Bay) back in 2023 and witnessed another pillar-to-post Rising Star performance by a Fabre nominee, Segall (Sottsass), who put his rivals to the sword in the latest renewal of the seven-furlong contest. He follows Ultrafragola and Safia in becoming his sire's third Rising Star. Former Coolmore resident Sottsass now stands at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan. The 13-5 favourite was swiftly into stride from the inside stall and seized an immediate lead in this debutants' heat. Holding sway throughout, he increased his advantage soon after turning for home and extended clear in striking fashion inside the final quarter-mile to prevail by an impressive four lengths from Synaran (Mehmas). Andre Fabre could have another nice one on his hands! Segall makes a striking impression with an all-the-way victory at Saint-Cloud on debut! pic.twitter.com/MlZrb5Vef0 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 3, 2025 3rd-Saint-Cloud, €30,000, Mdn, 6-3, unraced 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:29.42, gd. SEGALL (IRE), c, 2, by Sottsass (Fr) 1st Dam: Spain Burg (Fr) (GSW-Eng & SP-Fr, $137,252), by Sageburg (Ire) 2nd Dam: Spain Blues (Fr), by Anabaa Blue (GB) 3rd Dam: Strike Alight, by Gulch Sales history: €90,000 Ylg '24 ARQAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €15,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Ecurie David R Layani Famille; B-White Birch Farm & SCEA Haras de Saint Pair; T-Andre Fabre; J-Cristian Demuro. The post Segall Subdues Foes to Become Third TDN Rising Star for Sottsass at Saint-Cloud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Good Cheer will try for a second straight grade 1 score and fifth straight graded stakes victory when she starts as the 1-2 favorite in the Acorn Stakes (G1) June 6. She's one of seven 3-year-old fillies entered in the 1 1/8-mile test.View the full article

Sam Agars COLOURFUL KING - R9 (11) Has been going beautifully and should relish the step up in trip Jay Rooney SKY TRUST - R8 (2) Big run last start and has drawn to get a much better run here Trackwork Spy BIENVENUE - R5 (2) Impressive last-start winner looks well placed to strike again Phillip Woo LEAN HERO - R2 (1) Has a solid record at this level and looks primed to strike from gate one Shannon (Vincent Wong) SUPER HONG KONG - R1 (6) Is back to his favourite trip and looks a big...View the full article

In-form conditioner Francis Graffard continued on a winning roll at Saint-Cloud Tuesday afternoon and saddled Aga Khan Studs homebred Narissa (Siyouni) to become her sire's 15th TDN Rising Star after delivering a stunning performance in the seven-furlong Prix Allee d'Amour. Siyouni, himself a Rising Star, boasts a roll of honour which also includes last month's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Zarigana. The 3-5 favourite, askew from the gates and careering left at the break, tracked the leaders in fourth before surging forward into a handy third approaching halfway. Looming large hard on the bridle in early straight, she eased ahead passing the quarter-mile marker and quickened clear in highly encouraging fashion inside the final furlong to easily outclass Vanina Runway (Zelzal) by an impressive eight-length margin. “This filly has quality, she had been working well in the mornings and I was expecting something nice on this debut,” admitted Graffard. “So, to sum it up, it is not a surprise and I think she has some future.” Another nice type for the @AgaKhanStuds! Narissa makes the perfect start to her racing career at Saint-Cloud, streaking clear to win impressively! pic.twitter.com/4U809p9RXG — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 3, 2025 The post Siyouni’s Narissa Delivers TDN Rising Star Display at Saint-Cloud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale concluded on Tuesday with solid results despite a challenging market. Harry Angel emerged as the standout sire on Day 2, highlighted by a colt that sold for $525,000, while Extreme Choice continued his strong commercial run, siring three of the top five lots overall. In total, 21 yearlings sold for $100,000 or more, up from 17 in 2024, underscoring strong buyer demand at the top end of the market. But it was the Harry Angel colt that sent reverberations through the sale ring when selling for $525,000 to leading Hong Kong trainer Manfred Man. Alma Vale Thoroughbreds offered the colt on behalf of Temerity Park, who had purchased him for just $1,500 as a weanling from Sledmere Stud's draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. The return marked an incredible profit of 350 times the original purchase price. Alma Vale Thoroughbreds' Stud Manager, Oscar Engelbrecht, was understandably slightly shocked, but thrilled after the sale. “The result is incredible, that is what dreams are made of, it really is life-changing for the owners, Temerity Park,” Engelbrecht said. “It's good to finish the year on such a high note. We've (Alma Vale) had a very good year, and huge credit has to go to everyone involved. It takes a lot of work to get these results, not just from the team at the sales, but everyone back home as well. We're absolutely rapt, and very happy to get the result for such good people.” Engelbrecht praised the professionalism of the colt, the form of his sire, and noted the strong interest in inspection during the week. “Harry Angel is doing a really good job, and this colt was so professional throughout the week, the underbidder looked at him seven times. The beauty of live auction action was on full display, when two people want the horse, they're willing to pay for it.” Reflecting on the incredible financial turnaround, Engelbrecht added, “A $1,500 weanling into a $525,000 yearling – it could quite possibly be one of the best pinhooks ever. When the stars align, it can go really well. It's a huge team effort, and we have a great team that works extremely hard.” The post Incredible Harry Angel Pinhook Concludes Magic Millions Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The group of jockeys assembled to ride in this year's Belmont Stakes (G1) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course is a mix of accomplished veterans (nine Belmont wins among them) and rising talent (two riders will be making their Belmont debuts). View the full article

Happy Valley will see Class Two action for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday night and a course-and-distance specialist entered the fray on Tuesday to make the Wan Chai Gap Handicap (1,200m) all the more interesting. With last-start Valley 1,000m winner Glory Elite scratched because of a tendon injury, Son Pak Fu was brought off the bench and given the chance to add to his seven career victories – all over 1,200m at the city circuit. Son Pak Fu’s latest success came in a Class One over...View the full article

Andrew and Anna Lisa Balding are among more than 70 people to have signed up for Racing Welfare's Castle to Abbey Challenge in Yorkshire. The 22-mile guided trek along the picturesque coastline from Scarborough Castle to Whitby Abbey takes place on July 6 and is the charity's major fundraising event for the year. “We are thrilled to support this event. Racing Welfare does such a great job helping us support our staff and we are delighted that this day falls on a Sunday which means we can dig out our walking boots and head north to help raise some funds,” said Anna Lisa Balding. “Yorkshire is a favourite place of ours and the route sounds suitably challenging. We are hoping to be joined by friends, colleagues and owners, a few of whom have already leapt at this opportunity of a brisk stroll in the countryside.” York Racecourse's chief executive William Derby is also taking part, as are trainers Kevin Philippart de Foy and Emma Lavelle. Racing Welfare's chief executive Dawn Goodfellow said, “We're thrilled to have received such fantastic support for this event so far as it's a really important one for us from a fundraising perspective, being our only mass participation challenge of the year. “A big thank you to all those who have already signed up. To anyone who might be considering it, while we can't guarantee the weather, we can absolutely guarantee that there will be stunning views, plenty of team spirit, and support on hand every step of the way. We'd love you to join us for what promises to be a tough but rewarding challenge, which will help to raise vital funds so that we can continue to be there for all racing's people.” The challenge is open to anyone, with a cost of £39 to sign up by June 20 and a sponsorship target of £300 each. Further details are available on the Racing Welfare website. The post Trainers Sign Up to Support Racing Welfare’s Walking Challenge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group One winner Velocious (Written Tycoon) is in Queensland ahead of a tilt at the Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm this Saturday. The Stephen Marsh-trained filly was New Zealand’s champion two-year-old last season, when she won four of her six starts including the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). Her three-year-old season has been an up-and-down journey for her connections. There was a wind operation in the spring, then a smart first-up win at Te Aroha in March, then a luckless run in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and a disappointing fifth after a costly slow start at Ellerslie. But a strong win against older horses at Te Rapa convinced Marsh to head to Queensland in search of black-type and Saturday’s assignment for three-year-olds at set weights looks an ideal option. “She gets into a set weights race with no penalties, so she gets in very well with 55kgs,” Marsh told Radio TAB. “To get a little bit of Australian black-type for such a well-bred filly would be outstanding. “Ethan Brown will take the reins. He’s a very good rider and hopefully we get a good barrier draw tomorrow.” Velocious was bred by Inglewood Stud and offered in their draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where prominent syndicators Go Racing bought her for $190,000. She has now had 12 starts for six wins, a placing and $980,550 in earnings. “She was $190,000 as a yearling, which now looks extremely cheap. She was our champion two-year-old. She won the Karaka Million, the Sistema, she won basically everything we put in front of her,” Marsh said. “She had a tie-back surgery and came out and beat the open (grade) horses first-up three-starts ago and then went off the boil a little bit. She was getting pretty slow out of the gates and getting into bad positions. “We put the barrier blanket on last start from a good barrier and it isn’t easy for the three-year-olds to beat the older horses but she managed to, and she beat them well. “She will be going into Saturday as a good forward horse and I think the better the track, the better for her.” Meanwhile classy galloper El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) is back in New Zealand after a venture to Hong Kong where he was unplaced in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) in late April. “He had a slight little hiccup where he missed a little bit of work and in the running he was extremely keen and pulled himself into the ground,” Marsh said. “But he pulled up well, we had a great experience, they really looked after us like Kings in Hong Kong and we’d go back in a heartbeat. “The horse is home. He did his quarantine in Hong Kong and quarantine in Melbourne and now he is back in beautiful New Zealand pastures enjoying a little holiday. “He usually spells after the Bonecrusher Stakes and has probably too long in the paddock and gets too fat, so a trip to Hong Kong in between times and then a nice break, he will be ready to go for those Summer races and basically go through the path he went this year.” While Marsh enjoyed his Hong Kong raid, the top Kiwi trainer is bullish about training in his homeland and has no plans of relocating. “I’ve always loved training in New Zealand but the prize money was very questionable for a while,” he said. “The prize money is very good now. Racing is good and I’m more than happy to stay here. I’m a loyal Kiwi. “I know Hong Kong might be where you make the real money, but I love training here and I love what it’s all about.” View the full article

Can talented filly Belle Detelle overcome a hiccup in her preparation and take the Qld Derby. Part Owner Nick Bishara says connections had some anxious moments last weekend. Nick Bishara 03.06.2025 – Racing HQ with Steve Hewlett – Apple Podcasts View the full article

Gareth Lahoud commenced the next chapter of his riding career in the best possible fashion at Te Rapa on Saturday, winning aboard Cleat (NZ) (Rios) after eight months on the sidelines. The ex-pat South African started an apprenticeship in New Zealand in 2023 and received good support in the early stages, utilising his four-kilogram claim aboard the likes of stakes winning-mare Casino Princess and Group Two performer Good Oil. Lahoud’s progress came to an unfortunate halt when he dislocated his shoulder last April, an injury that occurred again in September. Medical professionals advised the 23-year-old to undergo surgery, and after a successful operation and rehabilitation period, he was back at the races with three rides at the Saturday meeting. The young hoop got a confidence boost early when going down by a head in the first, and in the penultimate race, a well-rated steer aboard the Danica Guy-trained Cleat saw him power away from his rivals in the Rating 75 contest over 1200m. “It was very satisfying, especially after having my shoulder operation and not knowing whether it would still be in place,” Lahoud said. “It’s stabilised and it’s just so good to get back winning on my first day riding. “I’d never sat on the horse (Cleat) before, but she (Guy) came to me before the race and said that he’s quite a complicated ride and you can’t tell him what to do, he just likes to do his own thing. “We were hoping to get to the front without getting in a speed battle, and fortunately it panned out well and we got to the front quite easily. It was really good.” Lahoud expressed gratitude to his employer, Chris Wood, and northern region riding master Noel Harris, who were both instrumental in getting him back to race day. “I’d like to thank Chris and Noel Harris for being a huge support through this time, getting me back to where I am today,” he said. “I’ve also had a very good surgeon and physios helping me. “I’ve been away for quite a long time, but it healed faster than normal, so it’s been a good recovery process. I started riding trackwork a month ago and had been riding trials for about three weeks.” Lahoud is hoping to continue his momentum through the winter, with a ride for Stephen Marsh (Penurious) on the Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday, then he will partner Wood’s galloper Embossed (NZ) (Embellish) at the apprentice-only race day at New Plymouth on Thursday. “I just want to take it a bit easy initially as my shoulder is getting stronger, but then hopefully I can track down some more winners and get my name out there around the country,” he said. “I ride Embossed every day, he’s a nice horse with a good temperament. He does everything you ask of him.” View the full article

The finalists for this year’s Industry Excellence Awards have been found, recognising the future leaders and rising stars of the New Zealand racing industry. In all, 28 finalists have been named across the nine award categories open to anyone under the age of 40, with the winner of each category – and the supreme Entain Excellence Award winner – to be announced at an awards night at Tote On Ascot at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday, 29 June. Category winners will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The overall supreme winner receives an extra $5,000 and a $5,000 educational package. Flights and accommodation are supplied for each of the category finalists. Entain’s General Manager – New Zealand and member of the judging panel, Jessica Meech, said the awards, in their second year, continue to uncover some exceptional talents within the New Zealand racing industry. “The future of the industry is in outstanding hands, based on the nominations we received,” Meech said. “They all struck a chord with the judging panel, and it was challenging enough to find the category finalists, let alone the winners and the overall Entain Excellence Award winner, which is our next incredibly important task.” More information on the awards can be found at entaingroup.co.nz/industryawards. Industry Excellence Awards Finalists: Administration and Innovation Excellence: Emma Thompson (thoroughbred racing); Jack Collings (thoroughbred racing), David Branch (harness racing) Care & Welfare Excellence: Lisa Kennedy (thoroughbred racing), Hannah Hegarty (greyhound racing), Shannon Armour (harness racing) Dedication to Breeding Brad Molander (thoroughbred racing), Grace McMillan (thoroughbred racing), Kayla Milnes (thoroughbred racing) Equine Licence Holder Excellence Sam Bergerson (thoroughbred racing), Robert Wellwood (thoroughbred racing), Zachary Butcher (harness racing) Greyhound Excellence Katie Wyllie, Matt Roberts, Jamie Pruden Leadership Excellence Nathan Purdon (harness racing), Robert Dennis (thoroughbred racing), Simon Lawson (thoroughbred racing) National Racing Woman Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle (thoroughbred racing), Samantha Ottley (harness racing), Crystal Hackett (harness racing), Mallory Phillips (thoroughbred racing) Newcomer Excellence Alice Jeffries (thoroughbred racing), Billie Roach (thoroughbred racing), Taleah Voigt (thoroughbred racing) Stud, Stable & Kennel Excellence Olivia Blane (thoroughbred racing), Avinash Bhosale (thoroughbred racing), Kohen Collett (thoroughbred racing) View the full article

Northern apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll is enjoying a breakthrough season, which was further enhanced at Wingatui on Sunday when recording his 100th win in the saddle. The South Auckland-based hoop brought up the milestone aboard the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) in the opening race at the Dunedin meeting, and he was duly rapt with the result. “I knew I was on the best horse in the field and it was a relief to get there more than anything,” Lawson-Carroll said. The 20-year-old has experienced his best season to date, currently sitting on 43 wins, including his first stakes victory aboard the Samantha Finnegan-trained Bona Sforza (Written By) in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton Park last month, and he has accrued more than $1.4 million in stakes. It easily surpasses his previous best tally, and he is hoping to improve on it before season’s end. “To get that monkey off my back and get that first stakes win on Bona Sforza for Samanthan Finnegan was great, and to get my 100th winner was also a big highlight,” he said. Lawson-Carroll is indentured to Byerley Park trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, and he said he owes a lot of his success to the couple after they took a chance on him several years ago. “Shaun and Emma are huge supporters of mine, I have been working for them for a long time” he said. “I needed a job to keep me out of trouble. I went around Byerley Park and met Shaun and Emma and carried on from there. “I worked for a year here on weekends and I developed a love for the sport. I was riding the odd pony around and kept developing from there. “Shaun has been a great help and is a great mentor of mine, with horses and life in general.” While the Clotworthys introduced him to the world of horse racing, horses weren’t anything new to Lawson-Carroll, who grew up riding in the Bay of Plenty. “I hacked around on bush ponies and brumbies around paddocks back home (Whakatane), and went pig hunting on horseback,” he said. Lawson-Carroll has been pleased with his progression as a rider and is proud of the achievements he has earned this year, but admits things are starting to slow down as the calendar heads into winter. “This season I have jumped out of my skin a little bit during the summertime,” he said. “Now that the wet tracks are coming, I am finding it a little bit harder with not having much of a claim, but I am seeing a lot more progress in my riding.” Bona Sforza’s stakes success was a clear highlight for Lawson-Carroll this season, and he is hoping he can retain the ride aboard the filly in the new term, with Finnegan eyeing some stakes targets in the spring. “Bona Sforza could be going to the Guineas later (Gr.1, 1600m) in the year, so I am definitely looking forward to her if I get to stick with her, and hopefully I can,” he said. View the full article

Japanese apprentice Yuga Okubo received the perfect birthday present at Te Rapa last Saturday when riding his first winner in New Zealand aboard Charmer (NZ) (Charm Spirit). Before arriving on Kiwi soil in early 2024, Okubo had ridden four winners in his homeland and took the opportunity to gain some international experience under the tutelage of Cambridge horseman Tony Pike. After learning the English language and settling into life in New Zealand, Okubo was able to gain an apprentice license and picked up a couple of placings before securing the ride on the well-performed daughter of Charm Spirit. Contesting the North Waikato Law (1300m), Charmer was rated a $16 hope but her chances were enhanced by Okubo’s four-kilogram claim, which came right into play on the Heavy10 surface at Te Rapa. The young hoop found a good position early from barrier two, settling in behind the speed as many runners rushed to find a prominent position. The mare was back in midfield turning for home, but after straightening down the centre of the track, she kept finding and surged over the top of Oppenheimer and Ridgeview Vicky to score by half a length, just in time for Okubo’s 22nd birthday. “It gave me a great birthday present because the next day was my birthday,” he said. “It all panned out as I’d hoped, she’s a really nice horse and looked like a fast filly, so I had good confidence in her before the race. “I was very happy to receive the opportunity to ride her. A huge thank you to the owner and her trainers (Ben and Ryan Foote).” Back in Japan, Okubo followed his family’s interest into racing and always dreamed of becoming a jockey. “My Dad and Grandpa were involved in racing in Japan, so I grew up around racing people and have always wanted to be a jockey,” he said. “I’ve been in New Zealand for a year and a half, but I had to learn the English language before I was able to get a license as an international apprentice. I’ve had a license with the JRA for three years and I’ve come over here to experience racing in New Zealand. “My Japanese boss organised for me to come over here with Tony Pike, who I’ve been working for in New Zealand and riding every day. “The people are very kind and helpful here, I love this country and am enjoying living here.” With the monkey off his back, Okubo is hoping to continue riding winners through the winter, a time where apprentices are able to gain more opportunities on race day. “I hope I can keep riding winners over the winter,” he said. “Thank you for those who have supported me so far.” View the full article

Bonifleur (NZ) (Burgundy) will have her first raceday start on Cambridge’s polytrack on Wednesday, and trainer Paul Richards is hopeful of a positive result. The Pencarrow Stud-bred and raced mare was in a purple patch of form over summer, winning in December and placing in her subsequent two starts before putting in a below par performance when last in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie in March. The daughter of Burgundy has been freshened, and Richards is looking forward to kicking-off her winter campaign in the TAB 1300. “That last run at Ellerslie was below par for her but she did have a bit of an excuse post-race (mucus found in the trachea), so we gave her a bit of a break after that,” Richards said. “She went back to Pencarrow for a month and then came back to the stable. She has been working well and eating well. “She had a quiet trial on the synthetic a couple of weeks ago and I am pretty happy with her condition. “We will be a bit wiser after tomorrow (about her liking for the synthetic surface) under raceday conditions, but she pulled up well after she trialled on it, so hopefully she will race well on it.” Bonifleur is rated a $9.50 winning chance with TAB bookmakers for Wednesday’s feature, behind Lhasa ($2.40), and the Ben and Ryan Foote-trained trio of Keegan ($4.40), Ultimate Focus ($5.50), and Kakadu ($8.50). Richards has no firm winter plans with his two-win mare but is eyeing a trip north later this month as her next possible target. “We will take it race-by-race,” he said. “There are a couple of meetings coming up at Ruakaka, where she has won previously.” Richards is also set to line-up last-start synthetic placegetter Xplorer (NZ) (Embellish) and debutant He’s Xtra (Xtravagant) in the Cambridge Equine Hospital 1550. “Xplorer raced well on it a fortnight ago,” Richards said. “He has got a bit of an awkward draw (9), which hopefully he will be able to overcome and get a bit of a sit somewhere. “He’s Xtra trialled on it a fortnight ago and ran third. The horse that won that trial (Super Fly) won their next start at Ellerslie, so the form out of it isn’t too bad. Hopefully he will race well tomorrow.” View the full article

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. It’s been a busy King’s Birthday weekend and the team cover all the action. Winter Weigh In, June 2 View the full article

Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season. The Sir Peter Vela-owned nursery hit the three-figure mark on Saturday when promising staying mare Dresse’ Par Joli (NZ) (Tavistock) was successful in the closing event on the Wanganui card. “It’s pretty good, considering the size we are, and we had some good quality winners in among the tally,” Stud Manager Leon Casey said. “That includes horses we’ve sold as yearlings and those we have bred and retained to race. “It doesn’t include the Coolmore Syndicate that we just have a small shareholding in.” The stand-out result of the 2024/2025 season thus far has been the success of Super Seth’s son Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington. “That’s a marquee event, the niche in the market if you like is those high quality three-year-old races and that was a Group One event at a major carnival, so it’s got to be the highlight,” Casey said. Out of the unraced O’Reilly mare Corinthia, he was sold on behalf of the farm by Kilgravin Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale for $160,000 with trainer Dominic Sutton and McKeever Bloodstock signing the ticket. “There’s also six new stakes winners in total in the mix as well, and that’s what you live and die by and been really significant for us,” Casey said. Island Life won the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m), Jay Bee Gee the Gr.3 Merial Mile (1600m) and Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m), Mehzebeen claimed the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m), Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m), Tavi Time landed the Gr.3 Summer Cup (2000m) and Listed Scone Cup (1600m), while Tomodachi won the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m). “We have been having better and better years since we got our farm at Matamata (Bellwood) established,” Casey said. “We are now preparing and selling yearlings from that farm, the likes of Mehzebeen grew up there and was prepared from there and sold on to her current owners.” The Allan Sharrock-prepared Dresse’ Par Joli had the honour of providing Pencarrow with its 100th winner of the term and was a $150,000 Karaka purchase for her trainer with McKenzie Bloodstock. By Tavistock, she is the first foal of Makfi’s daughter Cote D’Or who won on eight occasions, including success in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m). “She was a very good mare and won on all types of ground, really high class and she’s got such a great family behind her,” Casey said. Cote D’Or is a half-sister to the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) winner and Gr.1 International Stakes (2000m) runner-up Dolmabache with multiple top-flight winners Darci Brahma and Ethereal featuring on the pedigree page. Pencarrow sold Cote D’Or’s daughter of Hello Youmzain to Cambridge Stud at Karaka 2024 for $300,000 with the unraced juvenile now named Echannay. “We have retained an Almanzor filly and she has got a Proisir filly as well,” Casey said. “She wasn’t bred last season, she was getting a bit late, and she’s not confirmed for this year just yet.” However, Cote D’Or’s three-year-old son Maison Louis immediate future may influence that decision. A $250,000 Karaka buy for Go Racing, the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Super Seth gelding has won three of his six starts and will run in take two of this weekend’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m). “He was due to run in the Derby before its postponement so he’ll go this Saturday, and on that basis, Super Seth might be a highly likely mating again,” Casey said. View the full article

The battle lines for the most eagerly awaited Triple Crown showdown in the last few years were set June 2 as a field of eight was announced for the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–The event that horse racing has been waiting for is here. Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Journalism (Curlin), the top two finishers in the GI Kentucky Derby, will get their rematch in Saturday's $2-million GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The two heavyweights of the 3-year-old division are the headliners of the 157th running of the Belmont, which will be run for the second straight year at Saratoga while Belmont Park continues its major renovation downstate. A field of eight was entered at Monday's draw, which was held downtown at Universal Preservation Hall. The race, which has a scheduled post time of 7:04 p.m., will be run at 1 1/4 miles. Normally, the Belmont distance is 1 1/2 miles but the track configuration of the track at Saratoga. Journalism, despite losing the Derby by 1 1/2 lengths to Sovereignty, was installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Belmont by New York Racing Association odds maker David Aragona. Sovereignty is the second choice on the morning line at 2-1. Journalism will be the only horse that competes in all three legs of this year's Triple Crown. Following the Derby, he returned to win the GI Preakness Stakes with a remarkable, improbable finish. After encountering trouble in the stretch, Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli squeezed through a narrow hole and ran down the upset-minded Gosger (Nyquist). Journalism will be making his third start in five weeks; Sovereignty has been resting since the Derby. “This is a great race, one that is heavy on talent,” Journalism's trainer Michael McCarthy said. “Only eight horses but three or four that are going to be very, very good. Come years end, I would not be surprised if one of these horses won the Breeders' Cup Classic.” Journalism is owned by Aron Wellman's Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Journalism was assigned post position seven and will again be ridden by Rispoli. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, after huddling with Sovereignty's owner, Godolphin LLC, decided to skip the Preakness and a chance at a Triple Crown. Sovereignty, who will be ridden by Junior Alvarado for the fifth time in six, drew post position two. Sovereignty has won three of his six starts and has a pair of seconds. The only time he finished off the board was in his first career start, last Aug. 24 at Saratoga when he was fourth. “Every race he has run, he has shown up,” Mott said. “I think everyone would be looking forward to (the Belmont). These are two very good horses.” Although the focus is clearly on the top two, it is not a two-horse race. Baeza (McKinzie) was only a neck behind Journalism in the Kentucky Derby, and he also hasn't raced since the first Saturday in May. Trained by John Shirreffs and owned by C R K Stable and Grandview Equine, Baeza made his graded stakes debut in the GI Santa Anita Derby where he was beaten three quarters of a length by Journalism. The 4-1 third choice on the morning line, Baeza will be reunited with jockey Flavien Prat, who rode him for the first time in the Kentucky Derby and will start from post six. “I hope we are right there,” Shirreffs said with a laugh when asked if he thought his horse should share top billing with the other two. Shirreffs, like every trainer in the race, were not too concerned about post positions with an eight-horse field. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will be looking for his fourth Belmont victory when he saddles 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) on Saturday. Owned by SF Racing Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stable LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, Rodriguez missed the Kentucky Derby and Preakness because of a foot issue. Rodriguez (6-1 on the morning line) will start from post three. In his last start, he and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith won the G2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct buy 3 1/2 lengths going gate-to-wire. Smith has won the Belmont three times, the latest coming in 2018 with Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy). “This is a nice field,” Baffert, who is flying East Tuesday, said from California. “The break is going to so important, and he has to run his race.” Hill Road (Quality Road) will attempt to become the 10th winner of the GIII Peter Pan Stakes to claim the Belmont. The last horse to do it was Arcangelo (Arrogate), who won both races in 2023. Trained by Chad Brown and owned by Amo Racing USA, Hill Road finished third in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby on Mar. 8. Hill Road came to Brown's barn after a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November. After Brown had to scratch Hill Road from the Wood Memorial because the horse came down with a fever and that forced him to miss the Kentucky Derby. “He is a fresh horse, and he is looking for a mile and a quarter,” Brown said. “He seems to be in good position for the Belmont, but he is going to have to step it up.” Hill Road (10-1) will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for the first time and will leave from the rail. Early last week, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said he would not have a horse in the Belmont. That changed on Sunday when Pletcher, a four-time Belmont winner, announced that he would enter Crudo (Justify) and Uncaged (Curlin). Crudo (15-1) won the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness Day in his last start and will start from post position five with Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, a two-time Belmont winner, in the irons. Crudo is owned by Bobby Flay and James Ventura. Owned by WinStar Farm LLC and Repole Stable, Uncaged (30-1) tries the Belmont after finishing sixth in the Peter Pan. Luis Saez will ride Uncaged for the first time, and they have post position four. Following a fifth-place finish in the Preakness, Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A.P.) will look to improve on that in the Belmont. Trained by England's Jamie Osborne and ridden by his 23-year-old daughter, Saffie. The Preakness was the first race Heart of Honor, owned by Jim and Claire Limited, missed finishing either first or second in his prior six starts. Five of them were in Dubai. They drew post position eight and are 30-1 on the morning line. The post Belmont Draws Eight; Journalism, Sovereignty to Renew Rivalry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The battle lines for the most eagerly awaited Triple Crown showdown in the last few years were set June 2 as a field of eight was announced for the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article