Wandering Eyes

Noor Elaine Farm's multiple pattern-race winner Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}–Golden Child {Aus}, by I Am Invincible {Aus}), who placed twice in elite-level sprints for Down Under, benefitted from a Oisin Murphy masterclass and pounced late to secure a sixth renewal for Australia in Tuesday's G1 King Charles III S., the rebranded King's Stand S., at Royal Ascot. The 5-year-old Henry Dwyer trainee broke smartly and accepted a tow from Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), racing second in the smaller stands' side group, as GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) blitzed ahead on the far side. Drifting out of Regional's slipstream for a clear passage passing halfway, the 5-1 chance powered forward to eyeball Big Evs with 100 yards remaining and drew off late to prevail by a length as Regional overtook Big Evs for second in the dying strides. Asfoora went all the way in the King Charles III Stakes at #RoyalAscot to secure her spot in the #BreedersCup Turf Sprint! Congrats to all of her connections!pic.twitter.com/4y80qIJrY4 — Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) June 18, 2024 The post Flying Artie’s Asfoora Pounces Late to Secure Sixth King Charles for Australia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ascot Racecourse and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) have signed a new strategic partnership this week, acknowledging the unique ties between the two “sister” tracks, it was announced on Tuesday. The signatories are Ascot chairman and His Majesty's representative, Sir Francis Brooke, and Neil Wilson, chairman of the Victoria Racing Club. Both courses stage their nations' premier Flat meetings and they work together on various race planning initiatives, which have led to multiple runners in the Royal Ascot sprints from Australia and numerous runners in the Melbourne Cup and other feature events at Flemington from the UK. The Melbourne Cup Tour in 2024 will come through Ascot for QIPCO King George Weekend (July 26-27) and the Qatar Goodwood Festival (July 30 to August 3) next month and racegoers will get the chance to be photographed with the famous three-handled cup. “For many years we have worked with the VRC on membership reciprocals and race planning initiatives and this important alliance formalises the links between Flemington and Ascot,” said Brooke. “We will develop this strategic alliance further in coming years and are delighted to welcome the VRC chairman, Neil Wilson, and his wife, Stephanie, to Royal Ascot today.” Wilson added, “At the start of one of the world's most prestigious racing events, we are pleased to continue the official partnership between the Victoria Racing Club and Ascot. First signed in 2006, our international alliance has contributed to the successful evolution of thoroughbred racing as a truly global sport.” The post Ascot Racecourse and Victoria Racing Club Announce New Strategic Partnership appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Having secured a maiden pattern-race win in Germany earlier in the campaign, fledgling jockey Billy Loughnane registered a career high when steering the twice-raced maiden and Brian Meehan trainee Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}–Amazonka {Ire}, by Camelot {GB}), racing in the famed Sangster silks, to a narrow victory in Tuesday's G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. The 80-1 outsider, who placed in maidens at Newbury and Chester prior to this black-type bow, broke smartly and raced in a leading wave of three at the head of the smaller far-side group. Last to come off the bridle when shaken up passing the quarter-mile marker, he came under increased urging thereafter and was driven out to prevail by a nose from Wathan Racing's fast-finishing Electrolyte (Ire) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), the duo split by the width of the track. Fellow Wathnan Racing entry Columnist (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) was a head away in third as two lengths covered the first eight home. Pedigree Notes Rashabar is the first of two foals produced by an unraced half-sister to G3 Bronte Cup victrix River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Listed Dortmunder St Leger Trial winner Apadanah (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Listed Premio Coolmore runner-up Ancona (Ire) (Amaron {GB}). The January-foaled bay is half to a yearling filly by Acclamation (GB). Descendants of his third dam, G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Amarette (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), include G1 Criterium International victor Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ire}) and G2 German 2000 Guineas hero Ancient Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). What a finish! 80/1 shot Rashabar wins the Coventry Stakes in a photo at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/LHBEgZLjXn — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2024 Tuesday, Ascot, Britain COVENTRY S.-G2, £175,000, Ascot, 6-18, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.90, g/f. 1–RASHABAR (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) 1st Dam: Amazonka (Ire), by Camelot (GB) 2nd Dam: Amazone (Ger), by Adlerflug (Ger) 3rd Dam: Amarette (Ger), by Monsun (Ger) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€120,000 Ylg '23 ARAUG). O-Manton Thoroughbreds IX; B-SARL Ecurie Haras de Beaufay (IRE); T-Brian Meehan; J-Billy Loughnane. £99,243. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, $139,916. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Electrolyte (Ire), 129, c, 2, Hello Youmzain (Fr)–Bibury (GB), by Royal Applause (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (72,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT; £220,000 2yo '24 GOUKB). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Bibury Partnership (IRE); T-Archie Watson. £37,625. 3–Columnist (GB), 129, c, 2, Ardad (Ire)–Sand And Deliver (GB), by Royal Applause (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (8,000gns Ylg '23 TATSOM; £170,000 2yo '24 GOUKB). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Peter Balding (GB); T-Richard Fahey. £18,830. Margins: NO, HD, HF. Odds: 80.00, 40.00, 50.00. Also Ran: Cool Hoof Luke (GB), Al Qudra (Ire), Symbol Of Honour (GB), Cowardofthecounty (Ire), Star Anthem (Ire), Angelo Buonarroti, Nascimento (Ire), Camille Pissarro (Ire), Catalyse (Ire), The Actor (Ire), Turners Cross (Ire), Midnight Strike (Ire), Mr Chaplin (GB), Ingot (GB), Yah Mo Be There (GB), Francisco's Piece (GB), Zminiature (GB), Arran (Ire), Up The Clarets (Ire). Scratched: Andesite (GB). The post Holy Roman Emperor’s Rashabar a Career Best for Loughnane in the Coventry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 11th Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, which is scheduled for June 25 in the Longship Room at Kroger Field and will be livestreamed at bit.ly/wsslivestream and facebook.com/USJockeyClub, will feature information gleaned from the Equine Injury Database and recent reforms which can be predictive as to future safety initiatives. The entire agenda was released Tuesday morning by Grayson and The Jockey Club. The summit is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, visit bit.ly/wss2024reg. “This agenda exemplifies what the industry is doing to further increase the safety of its athletes, which has been the goal of the Welfare and Safety Summit since its inception,” said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and deputy executive director of The Jockey Club. “We encourage everyone interested in improving our sport to attend or watch the livestream.” The agenda is as follows: 8:20 – Introduction • Jamie Haydon, President, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation • Annise Montplaisir, Executive Director, Amplify Horse Racing 8:30 – 9:15 Equine Injury Database update on risk, risk factors, and prediction • Dr. Tim Parkin, Head of Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol 9:15 – 10:00 The Jockey Club report on further reducing fatalities • Jamie Haydon • Dan Singer, Partner, McKinsey & Company • Ben Vonwiller, Partner, McKinsey & Company 10:00 – 10:15 Break 10:15 – 11:00 5 years later – an update on Santa Anita safety reforms • Dr. Dionne Benson, Chief Veterinary Officer, 1/ST RACING • Tim Yakteen, Trainer 11:00 – 12:00 Panel discussion on sudden deaths in racing: Where are we today? • Dr. Stuart Brown, Vice President of Equine Safety, Keenland (Moderator) • Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst, Professor & Researcher, University of Minnesota • Dr. Sue Stover, Distinguished Professor Emerita, University of California – Davis • Dr. Laura Kennedy, Veterinarian Pathologist, University of Kentucky • Dr. Lynn Hovda, Chief Commission Veterinarian, Minnesota Racing Commission 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch 1:00 – 2:00 The regulatory veterinarian and attending veterinarian in the HISA environment • Dr. Will Farmer, Equine Medical Director, Churchill Downs (Moderator) • Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, Regulatory Veterinarian, New York Racing Association • Dr. Lyndsay Hagemeyer, Veterinarian, Ohio Regulatory Veterinarian • Dr. Chip L. Johnson, Veterinarian, Private Practice, Central Kentucky 2:00 – 2:45 A strategy to expand and accelerate surface safety programs for improved racing surface consistency • Dr. Mick Peterson, Executive Director, Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory Professor, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky 2:45 – 3:00 Break 3:00 – 3:30 Equine wearable biometric sensors: The next phase in early injury detection • Dr. Sara Langsam, Partner, Teigland, Franklin and Brokken 3:30 – 4:00 Use of a standardized veterinary form for evaluation of racehorses entering a second career • Dr. Jeff Berk, Veterinarian, Associate Equine Medical Associates 4:00 – 4:30 Light Up Racing update • Price Headley Bell Jr., Manager, Mill Ridge Farm Board of Directors, Light Up Racing The Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit is underwritten and coordinated by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and co-hosted by the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and The Jockey Club. Previous editions of the summit can be viewed on Grayson's YouTube page and have received nearly 16,000 views. Among the major accomplishments that have evolved from the previous 10 summits are the Equine Injury Database; the Jockey Injury Database; the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory; a uniform trainer test and study guide; the racing surfaces white paper and the publication of educational bulletins for track maintenance; the publication of stallion durability statistics; the Hoof: Inside and Out DVD, available in English and Spanish; protocols for horses working off of the veterinarian's list; recommended regulations that void the claim of horses suffering injuries during a race; and inclement weather protocols. Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation's leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses. Since 1940, Grayson has provided nearly $42.3 million to underwrite more than 437 projects at 48 universities. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org. The post Welfare and Safety Summit Features Update on Risk Factors and Prediction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Claiborne Farm and Lane's End Farm have committed to a co-sponsorship of the Former Broodmare division at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced Tuesday. First run as a pilot program in 2023, the Former Broodmare division is now an official competition avenue at the Thoroughbred Makeover, welcoming recently-retired broodmares to compete alongside the traditional retiring racehorse division in all 10 offered disciplines. Broodmares will be pinned and recognized separately, and compete for a separate pot of $10,000 in prize money. “Claiborne is happy to once again be one of the lead sponsors of the Thoroughbred Makeover's Former Broodmare division,” said Claiborne president Walker Hancock. “With so much recent and warranted attention directed towards aftercare, we think this is a brilliant concept that gives those broodmares more purpose and helps to highlight their achievements outside of the breeding shed.” “Lane's End is proud to participate as a sponsor of the Former Broodmare Division at the Thoroughbred Makeover,” said Bill Farish of Lane's End. “Since its inception, the RRP has helped raise the profile of aftercare and showcase the diverse talents of the off-track Thoroughbred. The new broodmare division is another unique opportunity as an avenue for second or even third careers to showcase the athletic abvilies of the Thoroughbred.” The post Claiborne and Lane’s End to Sponsor Makeover Former Broodmare Division appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Royal Ascot Tuesday got underway with an admirably professional Queen Anne display from Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Futoon {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) as he finally plundered his group 1 on the biggest stage. Runner-up in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury last month, the grey tracked that race's winner Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) throughout the early stages but whereas he wasn't able to get to him previously this time he was already rolling by with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Out in the clear under Silvestre De Sousa chased by Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), the Roger Varian-trained 100-30 favourite had 2 1/4 lengths to spare over that rival at the line, with Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) 2 3/4 lengths away in third. Charyn takes the Queen Anne Stakes (G1)! pic.twitter.com/GRSN5qohtb — IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) June 18, 2024 The post Dark Angel’s Charyn Takes The Queen Anne appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Haunui Farm will again welcome four-time Group One winner and two-time Champion Miler Ribchester back in 2024 for his fifth season at stud in New Zealand. Ribchester has been well supported by New Zealand broodmare owners and the mating results have seen yearlings from each crop reach six figures in the auction ring. Racetrack results have been solid, despite small crops, and his winners to runners ratio for his four-year-old crop is 80% and 56% for his three-year-old crop, while his stakes runners to winners operate at 11%. “We’re please to have Ribchester back this year and believe he represents great value for breeders wanting to tap into a quality European bloodline,” Mark Chitty said. “He has had limited opportunities at the track due to small crops but the results are very encouraging and the statistics stack up. “All eyes will be on Royal Ascot where Ribchester will be represented by Facteur Cheval in the Gr.1 Queen Anne, a race he set a record in himself. “Ribchester is of course a son of Iffraaj, and we see his continued influence every week as he nears 100 stakes winners worldwide, and through the deeds of his sons at stud.” Ribchester will stand at a fee of $10,000 +GST. View the full article

Seaton Park’s Scott Eagleton has been buoyed by inspections both on-farm and at Karaka on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale. The Morrinsville vendor will present eight weanlings on behalf of clients at the one-day sale, with positive feedback on the diverse draft which features a slew of in-vogue sires. Among them are weanlings by reigning champion sire Proisir, Satono Aladdin, Almanzor, Ardrossan and Blue Point in addition to a quality colt from the first crop of Cambridge Stud’s Group One winning son of Snitzel, Sword Of State. “We are thrilled to be here. We are very lucky to be well-represented by good sires which helps,” Eagleton said. “There are a couple that stand out for me. We have a lovely Sword of State colt out of a mare called Soft Hearted. He looks a real yearling type and will be a great horse for the pinhookers. “We have a Satono Aladdin filly out of a mare called Whispering who I think is an end-users horse. She is a racehorse all day long. “It is good to see people like Graham Richardson and a few of the key stables here looking at these horses.” All weanlings offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale are eligible to be paid up for the Karaka Million Series, which includes the $1million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and $1.5million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), and Eagleton believes it is a lucrative incentive. “I have always been a great fan of the weanling sale, particularly if it is a relatively small number but good quality. Without a doubt the ability to sign up for the Karaka Millions Series means end-users can get real value here for the right type.” Seaton Park’s Scott Eagleton oversees parades at Karaka on Tuesday Photo: Trish Dunell Eagleton pointed to a horse like his well-muscled Blue Point colt as a suitable offering that looks an up and running type. “Blue Points have shown plenty, particularly in the Autumn and I think he will make a great sire but more importantly I think the end-users can invest easily in that type of horse here,” he said. “The inspections have been very good, they have been steady. They are only young horses so it is a good day to get them out learning the ropes and I’d say it will be all guns blazing over the next couple of days.” The breeder of Group One winning filly Molly Bloom, the hands-on Eagleton said buyers can take confidence that all of his offerings were foaled down at Seaton Park and said there were a myriad of reasons for presenting weanlings, including cash-flow. “We foaled about 210 last season and we have a really good client base that were keen to look at this sale with the right type,” he said. “Cash flow is king and with stud season coming up and service fees it makes the whole thing tick. Let’s hope this is another positive few days for the New Zealand industry, which is enjoying a really good resurgence right now.” View the full article

Russell Warwick has been appointed by the NZTR Board as Chairman at today’s June Board meeting. Taking effect immediately, Warwick will replace current Chairman Cameron George following his announcement to step down at the end of the current racing season, 31 July. Russell Warwick brings a wealth of industry knowledge and administrative experience to the appointment. As the General Manager of Westbury Stud, Warwick’s ability to lead one of NZ’s elite breeding and racing programmes made him an excellent candidate for the NZTR Chair. “The industry has made excellent headway in recent times, but there is still a lot of work to do,” Warwick said. “I really enjoy being able to give back to the industry, and timing wise, I feel I can offer a constructive view as we look to inspire a new generation of stakeholders and encourage further growth within the business.” Warwick is quick to congratulate outgoing Chairman Cameron George on the improvements to racing during his tenure as Chairman. “Cameron George’s contribution to New Zealand Racing throughout his tenure is unmatched. He has driven growth and guided the industry into a period of change that has brought new life and excitement to the sport.” Under his leadership, George, who has served as Chair since 2020, has played a pivotal role in steering NZTR and the racing industry through various challenges and sizeable achievements over recent years. “My journey at NZTR started with navigating a path forward for the business through COVID-19,” George said. “Over time, we have managed to rebuild the industry into the strong position it now holds, demonstrating the resilient team environment I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in over the last four years. “ “I’ve enjoyed all the challenges this role has presented me with and the changes that have be made. We have developed initiatives like the NZB Kiwi alongside NZB and Entain and I couldn’t be more excited to see that race come to life.” “With a proven track record in outstanding leadership, industry knowledge and relationships we have absolute confidence in Russell’s ability to continue with the momentum underway.” View the full article

Recent racetrack results have delivered a series of boosts to the catalogue for this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka. The names of numerous notable performers from the last few weeks feature in the pedigrees of weanlings going through the Karaka sale ring on Thursday. There are relatives to Group One heroes I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Bois D’Argent (Toronado), along with more than a dozen other recent stakes winners or placegetters. Lot 47 comes from the draft of Highline Thoroughbreds and is a filly by first-season sire Noverre (NZ) out of Love Sophia (NZ) (Pins). Love Sophia is a three-quarter-sister to the dam of the freakish I Wish I Win, who has banked more than A$11.8m in his 21-race career. One of the world’s highest-rated sprinters, I Wish I Win triumphed in this month’s Group One Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) in Brisbane. His current campaign has also produced placings in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1200m). Another star performer at this year’s Queensland Winter Carnival is Bois D’Argent, who collected his first Group One victory in the Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 25. He also finished third in last Saturday’s A$1.2m Group Two The Q22 (2200m), lifting his total earnings to A$1.47m from a 29-start, six-win career. Bois D’Argent comes from the same family as Lot 63, a colt by Tarzino (NZ) being offered by Beckam Equine. Another family member, Plantstepsdream (Planteur), was a recent stakes placegetter in Sweden. Curraghmore will send a well-related Savabeel colt through the sale ring as Lot 56. Closely related to the former Group One stars Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) and Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock), this blue-blooded colt also comes from the same family as exciting up-and-comer Megastar Heart (Star Turn). Megastar Heart was the sale-topper at the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November with a winning bid of $825,000. He has quickly shown a level of class to match that price tag, winning two of his four starts as a two-year-old including Saturday’s Listed Oxlade Stakes (1300m). Haunui Farm’s Tarzino colt catalogued as Lot 61 has had two close relatives perform in stakes company in Australia since the catalogue went to print. Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor), who had already won at Group Three level in New Zealand and placed in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m), ventured to Adelaide and scored impressively in the Group Three South Australia Fillies’ Classic (2500m). Promising two-year-old Depth Of Character (Deep Field) followed a debut win at Canterbury late last month with a black-type placing in last Saturday’s Listed Oxlade Stakes (1300m) in his second start. Lot 138 is Grangewilliam Stud’s Vanbrugh colt out of Bright Kiwi (NZ) (Zed). The unraced Bright Kiwi is a half-sister to the million-dollar earner and Group One-performed Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking), who has recently added victories in the Group Three Premier’s Cup (2400m) and Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2200m) to his outstanding record. The Satono Aladdin colt catalogued as Lot 70 is closely related to the unbeaten two-year-old Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth). The Stephen Marsh-trained Super Photon has had two starts for two impressive wins including the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m), and he is rated one of the favourites for the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in early November. Lot 70’s other close relatives include the multiple Group One winner and stallion prospect Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel). Other significant pedigree updates in the National Weanling Sale catalogue include: The Sweynesse colt going through the ring as Lot 20 is a close relative of the recent South African stakes winner King Of The Gauls (Vercingetorix) Lot 32 is closely related to the proven Group One star Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park), who recently placed in the Group Three Hollindale Stakes (1800m). A filly by Derryn, going through the ring as Lot 17, is out of a sibling to the recent Group Three Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) runner-up Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry). Lot 85 is a close relative of Princess Rhaenys (Iffraaj), who has run third in the Listed Silk Stocking (1400m) and fourth in the Group Three Drinkwise Mile (1600m) in recent starts. She was a last-start winner at Eagle Farm on June 8. A first-crop weanling by Armory, catalogued as Lot 111, is closely related to this month’s Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) runner-up Wategos (Capitalist). All weanlings offered in the National Weanling Sale this week are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Graduates can compete in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), as well as the new $1m Mega Maiden Series comprising of 40 non-Saturday maiden races located throughout New Zealand. Selling is set to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on Thursday. View the full article

The just-concluded Santa Anita/Hollywood winter/spring meet with a 99.97% safety record from 6,678 horses racing over the dirt and or turf is truly remarkable. Combine this result with the additional data released by HISA of a fatality rate of .83 per 1000 starts nationally for the first quarter of 2024 and something extraordinary is starting to occur. Thoroughbred racing can and, importantly is, becoming safe with regard to horse fatalities. One would have been hard-pressed to make such a statement in 2019 with the many horse fatalities at Santa Anita. I never entirely bought the rain/poor track condition explanation for those fatalities. Yes, the 2019 conditions at Santa Anita were unique, but horse fatalities had been relatively high virtually everywhere in the United States. And, over time, this fact left the industry wide-open to criticism that went far beyond a few animal rights groups. When the California state government started to get critically involved and when I was asked by several friends about the deaths of horses on the racetrack, I knew that my favorite sport/pastime was in some trouble. The perception of horse racing in the public realm had taken a blow and the reverberations quickly spread nationally. The starting point was, however, not the horse racing deaths but the fact that so many horses raced at high speed and did not break down. Most horses did NOT break down. That is, the racing itself could not be the culprit as the critics claimed-that is not what the data showed- but something was indeed amiss. From decades of handicapping-I saw Damascus and Buckpasser race at Santa Anita in the 1960s as a kid–I had noticed that certain horses should not be bet because of their apparent declining form or a projected decline in performance due to an excessive or difficult race schedule. In 2019, I surmised that most racing deaths could be eliminated by ascertaining and then rectifying pre-existing conditions with regard to race horses. I was not a vet or a trainer and as a handicapper. I could only make broad conjectures, but my graduate study often involved interpreting data. What explained the data? There had to be intervening factors (pre-race) that caused a small percentage of horses to break down in a race and those factors could be identified as in any science. HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus has recently acknowledged that many factors have now been identified that are warning signs regarding possible racing injury/fatalities for certain horses and she states pointedly, “HISA's most important goal is driving down equine fatalities.” Indeed and indeed. Reducing racing fatalities to near zero and understanding the risks factors that will prevent horses with pre-existing conditions from racing are paramount for the viability of the sport. The news is that horse racing has come a considerable way in addressing safety issues of its equine athletes performing in the sport. –Armen Antonian Ph.D The post Letter to the Editor: Horse Racing Has Come a Long Way Towards Addressing Safety appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ten stayers will line up in Thursday's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, with the 2022 title-holder Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looking to regain his crown having missed out through injury 12 months ago. He will be Aidan O'Brien's sole runner, while John and Thady Gosden saddle a trio in Wathnan Racing's Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), Godolphin's Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) and Normandie Stud's Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Willie Mullins has booked Colin Keane for the ride on the Riccis' Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), while other notable are the Mariscottis' Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Clive Washbourn's Caius Chorister (Fr) (Golden Horn {GB}). In the G2 Ribblesdale S., a field of 13 fillies will head to post including Godolphin's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. winner Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal) and Valmont and Newsells Park Stud's Oaks fourth You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), while the G2 Norfolk S. hosts 14 super-charged 2-year-olds headed by Ballydoyle's First Flier S. scorer Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Fitri Hay's Saturday Flirt (Mendelssohn) representing Wesley Ward. Andre Fabre has confirmed Wathnan Racing's recently-acquired G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for the G3 Hampton Court S., in which a dozen line up. The post Kyprios Heads Ten For The Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Buyers have access to a high-quality and varied selection of bloodstock on Gavelhouse Plus this week, made up of an annual reduction sale by Elsdon Park and a unique dispersal of the Dewar Partnership. “It’s a two-fold sale this year,” Elsdon Park’s general manager Kerrie Cox said. “Part of it is made up of Elsdon Park’s annual reduction of broodmares and weanlings. We have a number that we want to try to stick to with our broodmare band, and it can grow quite quickly when you’re buying mares and have racehorses retiring off the track to join the broodmare band as well. “An annual reduction will keep our numbers as tight as possible, and at the same time it gives a great opportunity for people to buy into some of the really nice families that we’ve built up. “The other aspect of this sale is the dispersal of the Dewar Partnership, made up of mares in foal to Ardrossan and some young progeny of that stallion. That includes two weanlings and four racehorses, including one that placed at Cambridge on Wednesday – the three-year-old filly El Amor (NZ). “Some really nice horses are being sold in both sides of this sale, so it really just adds another layer and will hopefully attract plenty of interest from buyers.” Elsdon Park was established in 2022 by Lib and Katrina Petagna and is developing into a major player on the New Zealand thoroughbred landscape. The Petagnas have been four-time New Zealand Owners of the Year, and their apple green, blue and yellow colours have been carried by nine individual Group One winners across Australasia including the triple Group One-winning superstar Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel). Making their sale-ring debut as vendors in 2023, Elsdon Park have already had yearlings sell for $725,000 and $600,000 and finished as the second-leading vendor by average in Book 1 of Karaka 2024. The Dewar Partnership, meanwhile, was set up in 2019 by a group of shareholders in the highly talented former racehorse and young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan. They were focussed on supporting him during his first few seasons at stud. Nine mares were bred from in that first year, and six of those are being offered as part of this dispersal. The partnership’s plan was to race the offspring from the first season to ensure they were given every opportunity and then to sell some of the offspring from the second and third crops as yearlings. Dewar has subsequently sold a total of eight yearlings at Karaka 2023 and 2024 for an average price of $152,500, with price tags ranging from $85,000 up to $260,000. The three yearlings sold at Karaka 2023 include the stakes winner Beau Dazzler (NZ) who ran a commendable fifth in Saturday’s Gr.1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) after drawing the outside barrier and being posted wide throughout plus Te Akau Racing’s talented winner Maracatu (NZ). With Ardrossan now firmly established as one of New Zealand’s most exciting young stallions, the goals of the partnership have been achieved and the time has come wind up the partnership as was the agreement on formation. Ardrossan has sired 11 winners, three stakes winners and one stakes placegetter from an initial crop of just 44 foals. From a second crop of just 58 foals, he has already sired four winners from just eight runners including a stakes winner and two stakes placegetters. These include some very exciting gallopers, so his commercial future looks assured and this season he will stand at a fee of $20,000. According to Cox, there is no shortage of drawcards in the catalogue. “One of the highlight lots for Dewar would be the broodmare Pwerfect (Pentire), who’s the dam of Beau Dazzler,” she said. “He was a stakes winner earlier this season, then came over for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and didn’t have much luck in that race. He’s a high-profile horse for that mare and is running in Group Ones. “Dolce Amore (NZ) (Sebring) is another notable mare. Her progeny have sold for up to $260,000 and she leaves a beautiful type. “In the Elsdon Park reduction sale, there’s a weanling filly by Hello Youmzain out of the Group-placed mare O’Angel (NZ) (Cape Blanco). Her first foal, a son of Shooting To Win, was sold after winning a trial. Fraser Auret trained him, and he later came back and bought the half-sister by Shalaa. “This is a really nice filly with a Book 1 pedigree. So she could be a fantastic pinhooking opportunity, or a lovely filly to race and then put into a broodmare band later on. O’Angel is for sale herself as well.” Cox also highlighted Lot 6, a weanling filly at by Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Noverre (NZ) out of Queen Of Pop (NZ) (Pins). “Noverre is leaving a fantastic style of horse,” she said. “We have shares in the stallion, so we have more of his progeny in the paddock. “This filly’s dam Queen Of Pop was Group Two-placed and fourth in a Group One, and she has left the Group winner Pop Star Princess (NZ) (Makfi) and stakes-placed Queen Of Zealand (NZ) (Savabeel). So this filly’s a half-sister to two stakes performers. Her half-brother by Ardrossan sold for $440,000 at the Ready to Run Sale last year.” Bidding on the first lot will close from 7pm (NZT) on Tuesday 25th June. View the full article

Matamata trainer Paul Richards will head north to Pukekohe on Wednesday with just the one runner, but he is hoping that is enough to add to his season haul of six victories. Waikato Stud-bred and raced filly Rhythm ‘N’ Spice (NZ) (Ardrossan) will make her debut in the First Weanlings By Sword Of State 1200, and takes winning trial form into the race. The daughter of Ardrossan has had four trial outings, winning her most recent trial over 950m on the Cambridge Synthetic last month. Richards was pleased with her performance but said she is more suited to grass tracks and is looking forward to her making her debut on that surface this week. “She is in good order. It is nice to have one for Waikato Stud and hopefully she can do a bit of a job,” Richards said. “Her trial was good. That is not her ideal footing, she has got an action that prefers a bit of cut in the ground, hence why she is at Pukekohe tomorrow.” Richards will go from trainer to sponsor at Oamaru’s meeting on Thursday, where the former jockey will join his son Jamie and a number of other former and present riders in sponsoring the nine-race card. “Jack McKenzie (Oamaru Jockey Club) has been on the phone looking for a bit of sponsorship, so we got involved there,” Richards said. “It was a good track to ride on, they could win from anywhere, and I rode a lot of winners there.” Richards will return to his training role this weekend where he will line-up last start placegetter Letsbringthebling (NZ) (Shocking) who is dual nominated for Tauranga on Saturday and Te Aroha on Sunday. “It was a nice placing last start, and the heavy track isn’t going to concern her, she likes to get her foot in a bit. She should be competitive,” he said. Meanwhile, Richards’ eight-win gelding Seajetz (NZ) (Iffraaj) finished runner-up behind Helena Baby (NZ) (Guillotine) in a hurdle trial at Cambridge last month, but he has no intentions of sending him out over fences on race day. “That was more of a training tool,” he said. “The owners don’t want to jump him, but I talked them into giving him a hurdle trial, more as a training aid than anything. You have got to mix it up a bit with him, it keeps him interested. “He won’t be seen hurdling and will probably go to Hastings in a couple of weeks.” View the full article

Ashburton trainers Sarah and Matthew Smith are looking forward to heading to Oamaru on Thursday where they will line-up a trio of runners. Daphne Dior (NZ) (Shamexpress) will make her southern return in the Paul Richards 65 (1200m) after venturing to Ellerslie in March to tackle the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m). While she finished last in the nine-horse field, her trainers said she benefited a lot from the trip away and they are looking forward to getting her back to the track after enjoying some time in the paddock. “She flew up (to Auckland) and trucked back, which took a wee bit out of her,” Sarah Smith said. “We chucked her out for a wee bit and it has definitely made her mature a lot. She went up by herself and she did everything right in terms of eating and travelling, it would have done her the world of good. “We will put a line through last start, she did do a lot wrong at Auckland and got on the wrong leg around that bend going the other way. “She will possibly need the run on Thursday, she will improve off that. She tries really hard. She raced on a Heavy10 at Kumara, so I think she will get through the ground alright.” Daphne Dior will continue on the Pearl Series path this preparation, missing out on her initial Pearl Series target at Phar Lap Raceway earlier this month after the meeting was abandoned, but will get back on track in her next start. “She was heading for that Pearl Series race at Timaru, so this is just our backup option,” Smith said. “We will go onto Wingatui, there is a Pearl race there for her. This is just about getting a run under her belt really.” Smith will also line-up Thistle (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) in the Opie Bosson 65 Jmps (2200m) and Sacred Dior (NZ) (Sacred Falls) in the James McDonald 65 (1600m). “Thistle will love the (heavy) ground,” Smith said. “She has just got to get moving a bit earlier, that is her problem, she just takes a bit of time to wind up. “The 2200m will suit her. We have got Kavish (Chowdhoory, jockey) on, he asked to ride her so we will give him a go.” “Sacred Dior has been working well. I am just hoping that we get a nice run into it from (barrier) nine. “She has led up in her last two races, so we are just trying to teach her not to be so fierce and hopefully she will get up over a bit of ground eventually. Corey (Campbell, jockey) will tuck her in somewhere and she should hit the line strong. “Her heavy form has been good. She got a fourth at Kumara, but she ran home the fastest in the race that day.” The Smiths bred and race both Daphne Dior and Sacred Dior, with the Dior name paying homage to a former stable favourite. “I used to do a lot of showjumping and I had a mare off the track called Dior Rose,” Smith said. “I got her in-foal but I lost her and the foal. She was my pride and joy, I had a lot of success with her. I have named them in her honour.” Meanwhile, Smith is already looking forward to spring racing following the return of three-win gelding Sauvage (NZ) (Time Test) to the stable this week. “Sauvage has come back into work this week, we are quite excited about his future. He finished off the season really strong,” she said. “We will look to kick him off somewhere in September and find something for him over Cup Week. There are those Southern Mile series races for him as well.” View the full article

Krystal Williams will head south to Oamaru’s meeting on Thursday with a quintet of runners and she is hoping to return home with a couple of winners cheques. “There are a few nice ones,” she said. “The Roaring Tiger is having his first run back and the others have had 10 days off and are coming back to racing.” On The Rivet (NZ) (Sweet Orange) will be fresh-up in the Opie Bosson 65 & Jmps (2200m) after winning and finishing runner-up in his prior two starts. The son of Sweet Orange is looking forward to getting his toe in the ground on what was rated a Heavy9 track on Tuesday morning. “He loves the mud and that is what we are going to Oamaru for, he has got to get on those grass tracks,” said Williams, who trains in partnership with her father Kenny Rae. “He is probably my favourite one to ride at the moment, he has been working well and I would like to see a good run from him.” Stablemate Blood Diamond (NZ) (Makfi) has finished runner-up in her last two outings and jockey Yogesh Atchamah is determined to go one better in the Harold Pateman 65 (1600m). “Blood Diamond is really looking for that win,” Williams said. “Yogesh is excited to try and do that, he loves to ride her and is determined to stay on her. She should go well and give another honest run and is another one that loves a wet track.” Sunset Express (NZ) (War Decree) has also placed in his last two outings and will make his stable debut in the Russell Mcara Maiden (1600m), while Berbizier (Foxwedge) will be looking for redemption in the Paul Richards 65 (1600m) after dislodging jockey Warren Kennedy shortly after the start at Riccarton last week. “Sunset Express hasn’t been with us that long,” Williams said. “We are training him for Peter Rudkin and he has come to us in the last month. He ran third last start at Invercargill. “He is doing well in our stable environment and has been looking very good. For a small horse he seems to gallop quite nicely so it will be interesting to see how he goes. “Berbizier tripped over coming out of the gates the other day, so we have had to back him up again. The owners don’t want him to go on too Heavy of a track, but we are so limited with what we have go, so we will see what happens there.” Looking ahead to the weekend, Williams is set to head to Riccarton with a couple of juveniles. “I have got two two-year-olds lining up at Riccarton,” she said. “Bax Factor won his three-horse trial the other day at Timaru. He won quite nicely, which surprised us all because he wasn’t a horse we thought could win like that. He has improved since that trial and it will be interesting to see how he goes. “I have got The Rustler having another start. He didn’t go that well at Wingatui but we have got to see a bit of improvement in him before we turn him out.” View the full article

Promising three-year-old Eliud (NZ) (Almanzor) is expected to relish the step up to a middle distance when he makes his Australian debut on Saturday. The Tony Pike-trained son of Almanzor earned a trip to Melbourne off the back of a brace of domestic victories and travelled over without incident last Wednesday. “He has been nominated for Mahogany Series and will run at Flemington in the three-year-old 2000m race,” Pike said. “Should he go as expected on Saturday, the final is two weeks later over 2500m.” Eliud opened his current preparation with a runner-up finish and has subsequently posted effortless victories over 1400 and 1600m. “Obviously, his maiden win was against pretty weak company at New Plymouth and then he beat a couple of pretty handy three-year-olds (Bozo and Loch Katrine) at Wanganui,” Pike said. “There’s nothing really left here for him at this point of time, so while he’s on the way up we thought we’d give him the chance at the series in Melbourne. “They do it well for those early winter horses and Blake Shinn has been booked to ride him.” Eliud was a $320,000 Karaka purchase out of breeder Valachi Downs’ draft and is a son of the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) winner Pendleton (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle). The Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Viewed (Scenic) also features on his pedigree page. “He’s bred to stay all day and has been really strong at both ends of his races to be fair,” Pike said. “He’s put a good margin over them late in his races up to a mile so 2000m should suit.” In the meantime, Pike will have a quartet of runners at Wednesday’s meeting at Pukekohe. “They are all chances and it might be a bit of a lottery with the track conditions (Heavy 10), but they should all run well,” he said. “I think Delz Abeel will take good improvement from his debut run and should go close and Poetic Justice has been working really well, they are probably the two main hopes.” Delz Abeel (NZ) (Swiss Ace) was a first-up third over the course and distance earlier this month and contests the Hallmark Stud Maiden (1200m) while Poetic Justice (NZ) (Almanzor) was second at Te Aroha and bids to go one better in the Stella Artois Maiden (1600m). Revuelto (NZ) (Reliable Man) is likely to appreciate the gradual step up in trip in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis Maiden (1400m) and the consistent Maldini (NZ) (Tarzino) will end his current campaign when he steps out in the Skycity Horizon Handicap (1600m). “Maldini got stuck in the worst of the ground the other day with 60kg and he’s probably drawn (gate two) in the wrong part again,” Pike said. “He is a really genuine horse though and we’ll give him a freshen-up after this and bring him back for the spring.” View the full article

What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, June 19, 2024 First Race 12:25pm AEST Visit Dabble The Hillside track at Sandown is the destination for racing in Victoria on Wednesday afternoon, with eight events set down for decision. A cold but clear day is forecast, meaning the track is likely to remain in the Soft 6 region. Racing will commence at 12:25pm AEST, with the rail out 8m for the entire circuit. Best Bet at Sandown: Rhapsody Chic Rhapsody Chic produced a breathtaking finish first-up in a 1200m BM64 at Seymour on May 31. The four-year-old was towards the rear of the field upon turning for home, but with some top-class sectionals late and a gun ride, the son of Sacred Falls managed to get up in the shadows of the post. He steps up to 1300m and into BM70 grade, which looks ideal second-up. Blake Shinn and barrier one are massive ticks, and with even luck, Rhapsody Chic should be winning again. Best Bet Race 8 – #12 Rhapsody Chic (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Blake Shinn (58.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sandown: Star Vega It was a tough watch for those on Star Vega when he made his return from a spell at Bendigo. The four-year-old gelding did not see clear air until the final 100m, but once he did, he launched late to finish within two lengths in an eye-catching performance. The son of Lope De Vega has two wins and a second from three starts on the Hillside track, and although barrier two is a slight concern, Luke Currie is in top form and Star Vega should have no issue in finding clear air and blousing her rivals. Next Best Race 6 – #14 Star Vega (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Luke Currie (60.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Best Value at Sandown: Knucklebones David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins send three-year-old filly Knucklebones back to Sandown following a couple of average efforts at Caulfield. The daughter of Savabeel tends to do her best racing when up on speed, and from barrier 11, Jamie Mott will likely have his mount bounding along out in front for her third crack at the mile. In a race that lacks tactical speed, Knucklebones can run a bold race at a nice price with horse racing betting sites. Best Value Race 4 – #1 Knucklebones (11) 3yo Filly | T: David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins | J: Jamie Mott (59kg) Bet with Picklebet Sandown Wednesday quaddie tips – 19/6/2024 Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, June 19, 2024 1-7-9-11 1-3-8 1-4-7-8-10-12-15 12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King Street, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Monday, June 10, 2024 First Race 12:15pm AEST Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to Canterbury Park Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon, with a competitive seven-part program set for decision. The rail is out +3m the entire circuit, and although the surface is rated a Heavy 9 at the time of acceptances, the track should be improving throughout the week thanks to sunny skies forecast on Monday and Tuesday. The first race is scheduled to get underway at 12:50pm AEST. Best Bet at Canterbury: Loco Loco looks set to peak third-up into the campaign after hitting the line well at Warwick Farm on June 5. The son of So You Think found the 1600m short of his best trip and lacking race-day fitness second-up after almost a year off the scene. He brings an element of class to this BM72, and although he needs to lug 60.5kg to victory, Loco should prove classy enough to get the job done. Best Bet Race 5 – #1 Loco (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Chad Schofield (60.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best: Summer Loving Summer Loving returns after a 262-day spell and looks perfectly placed in maiden company. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained filly has gone winless across nine starts to date, with most of her runs contesting Group level competition, including a disappointing effort in the Flight Stakes (1600m) on September 30 to end the preparation. She won a trial by six lengths at Randwick on May 31 heading into this to build confidence, and with Tim Clark likely to adopt front-running tactics from stall four, Summer Loving should give followers a bold sight. Next Best Race 3 – #7 Summer Loving (4) 3yo Filly | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Tim Clark (55kg) Bet with PlayUp Best Value at Canterbury: Houdini Spirit Houdini Spirit makes his debut for the Gary Portelli barn on the back of an impressive piece of work at Hawkesbury on June 3. The son of Harry Angel cruised up to them with relative ease on that occasion, managing to put a three-length margin on his rivals with minimal urging. Zac Lloyd gets the appointment for race-day, and although he may have a difficult task crossing from stall nine, provided Houdini Spirit can get across without doing too much work, this guy should figure in the finish. Best Value Race 1 – #4 Houdini Spirit (9) 2yo Colt | T: Gary Portelli | J: Zac Lloyd (58kg) Bet with Dabble Canterbury quaddie tips – 19/6/2024 Canterbury quadrella selections Wednesday, June 19, 2024 1-4-5-6-10 1-2 2-4-7-8-10 1-2-4-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Matamata trainer Paul Richards. Photo: Darryl Shearer Matamata trainer Paul Richards will head north to Pukekohe on Wednesday with just the one runner, but he is hoping that is enough to add to his season haul of six victories. Waikato Stud-bred and raced filly Rhythm ‘N’ Spice will make her debut, and takes winning trial form into the race. The daughter of Ardrossan has had four trial outings, winning her most recent trial over 950m on the Cambridge Synthetic last month. Richards was pleased with her performance but said she is more suited to grass tracks and is looking forward to her making her debut on that surface this week. “She is in good order. It is nice to have one for Waikato Stud and hopefully she can do a bit of a job,” Richards said. “Her trial was good. That is not her ideal footing, she has got an action that prefers a bit of cut in the ground, hence why she is at Pukekohe tomorrow.” Richards will go from trainer to sponsor at Oamaru’s meeting on Thursday, where the former jockey will join his son Jamie and a number of other former and present riders in sponsoring the nine-race card. “Jack McKenzie (Oamaru Jockey Club) has been on the phone looking for a bit of sponsorship, so we got involved there,” Richards said. “It was a good track to ride on, they could win from anywhere, and I rode a lot of winners there.” Richards will return to his training role this weekend, where he will line up last-start placegetter Letsbringthebling who is dual-nominated for Tauranga on Saturday and Te Aroha on Sunday. “It was a nice placing last start, and the heavy track isn’t going to concern her, she likes to get her foot in a bit. She should be competitive,” he said. Meanwhile, Richards’ eight-win gelding Seajetz finished runner-up behind Helena Baby in a hurdle trial at Cambridge last month, but he has no intentions of sending him out over fences on race day. “That was more of a training tool,” he said. “The owners don’t want to jump him, but I talked them into giving him a hurdle trial, more as a training aid than anything. You have got to mix it up a bit with him, it keeps him interested. “He won’t be seen hurdling and will probably go to Hastings in a couple of weeks.” Horse racing news View the full article

Eliud will line-up at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North Promising three-year-old Eliud is expected to relish the step up to a middle distance when he makes his Australian debut on Saturday. The Tony Pike-trained son of Almanzor earned a trip to Melbourne off the back of a brace of domestic victories and travelled over without incident last Wednesday. “He has been nominated for Mahogany Series and will run at Flemington in the three-year-old 2000m race,” Pike said. “Should he go as expected on Saturday, the final is two weeks later over 2500m.” Eliud opened his current preparation with a runner-up finish and has subsequently posted effortless victories over 1400 and 1600m. “Obviously, his maiden win was against pretty weak company at New Plymouth and then he beat a couple of pretty handy three-year-olds (Bozo and Loch Katrine) at Wanganui,” Pike said. “There’s nothing really left here for him at this point of time, so while he’s on the way up we thought we’d give him the chance at the series in Melbourne. “They do it well for those early winter horses and Blake Shinn has been booked to ride him.” Eliud was a $320,000 Karaka purchase out of breeder Valachi Downs’ draft and is a son of the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) winner Pendleton. The Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Viewed also features on his pedigree page. “He’s bred to stay all day and has been really strong at both ends of his races to be fair,” Pike said. “He’s put a good margin over them late in his races up to a mile so 2000m should suit.” Horse racing news View the full article

Queensland’s richest race, the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, headlined the massive day of feature racing at Eagle Farm last Saturday, while Sandown and Rosehill held strong support cards during the winter months. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, you will find three runners that are worth following after producing new career peaks in their respective races. You can add these horses to your blackbook with your chosen bookmakers so that you don’t miss out when they race again. Eagle Farm Track rating: Good 4 Rail position: +4.5m entire circuit Race 9: Group 2 Q22 (2200m) | Time: 2:14.41 Horse to follow: Fawkner Park (1st) Following his third-place finish in the Group 1 Doomben Cup two starts back, Annabel Neasham entered Fawkner Park in the Group 2 Q22 last Saturday, and the son of Zoffany recorded a dominant 3.87-length victory. The lightly raced five-year-old gelding was met with a lot of support once fields were released, and he fully saluted for his followers in the final race of the Eagle Farm meeting. Tyler Schiller rode this talented stayer perfectly to make sure he was in clear air before straightening for home, and once he let down, Fawkner Park blew his rivals away with a devastating turn of foot. When to bet: Post-race Neasham confirmed that the Group 1 Caulfield Cup looks to be an ideal race for Fawkner Park, and he would go out for a spell before being set for a massive spring campaign. Online bookmakers shortened the Q22 winner into a $17 equal favourite for the Caulfield Cup, and he looks to be a good bet for futures players. Sandown Track rating: Soft 6 Rail position: +5m entire circuit Race 1: 2YO Handicap (1000m) | Time: 0:58.01 Horse to follow: Clean Reef (2nd) Ben, Will & JD Hayes sent Clean Reef to Sandown last Saturday for his raceday debut and the two-year-old filly would have impressed her connections as she ran home nicely from the back of the field to finish in third place over 1000m. The daughter of Lope De Vega jumped awkwardly from the barriers and was still second last with 400m to go, but when Jye McNeil asked for the ultimate effort, she let down with a strong finish, recording the equal-fastest last 800m (44.40s) and 600m (33.92s) sections of the entire meeting. When to bet: With a solid debut run under her belt, it is expected that the Hayes team will step Clean Reef out over 1100m or 1200m second-up, and if she finds a similar race on a big track, she will get every chance to break her maiden early on in her career. Rosehill Track rating: Heavy 9 Rail position: +6m entire circuit Race 3: Class 3 Handicap (1400m) | Time: 1:27.39 Horse to follow: Know Thyself (1st) Know Thyself tasted defeat for the first time two starts back, and he entered last Saturday’s race at Rosehill as an odds-on favourite for the Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich stable, and he never looked to be in any trouble over the 1400m in heavy conditions. The son of The Autumn Sun settled in the box seat before running up the inside rail to run straight past the leaders and run away from them to record a massive 5.32-length victory. When to bet: It is expected that Messara & Gavranich will take this talented galloper through his grades during the winter months. Know Thyself has shown he can handle all conditions, so wherever he goes next, we will be backing him. Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Horse racing tips View the full article

Tuesday’s Group One Queen Anne Stakes (1,600m) kicks off five days of action-packed racingView the full article

Damien Oliver, along with fellow champion jockey Glen Boss, will light up the 2024 Darwin Cup Carnival when he attends the Let’s Talk Racing Luncheon on August 1. (Morgan Hancock/Racing Photos) Former champion jockeys Glen Boss and Damien Oliver, both inductees in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, are bound for the 2024 Darwin Cup Carnival. Boss and Oliver will be special guests at the Let’s Talk Racing Luncheon at Fannie Bay’s Schweppes Pavilion on Thursday, August 1, leading into Palmerston Sprint Day on August 3. It’s a coup for the Darwin Turf Club, as Boss and Oliver have certainly left their mark on the racing landscape. Boss, who retired in November 2021, won three straight Melbourne Cups aboard Makybe Diva (2003-2005). He won 90 Group 1 races and finished with 2407 career wins. Oliver, who retired last December after famously winning the Damien Oliver Gold Rush at Ascot on Munhamek, won Australia’s biggest race aboard Doriemus (1995), Media Puzzle (2002) and Fiorente (2013). He won 129 Group 1 races — an Australian record — and farewelled racing with 3189 wins. The highly anticipated luncheon, which is one of the big off-track events during the Darwin Cup Carnival, always attracts a bumper crowd. Attendees this year will have the opportunity to hear Boss and Oliver talk about their illustrious careers in the saddle. Their unique experiences and perspectives are sure to make this an unforgettable luncheon for racing enthusiasts and guests alike. Darwin Turf Club chief executive Grant Dewsbury has expressed his excitement about the event. “The Let’s Talk Racing Luncheon is always a highlight of the carnival, and with Glen Boss and Damien Oliver attending this year, it promises to be a truly exceptional event,” he said. “Their stories and insights will undoubtedly captivate our audience, making this a must-attend event for anyone passionate about racing. “Tickets have been snapped up quickly, with both locals and interstate visitors eager to reserve their spots. “I urge anyone interested to go online or call the office to secure their tickets before it’s too late.” Following the luncheon, the 2024 Magic Millions Darwin Tried Horse Sale will be held in the mounting yard at Fannie Bay, with the next generation of potential Top End stars going under the hammer. Horse racing news View the full article

Luncies was a dominant winner of the 2023 Group 3 Tattersalls Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo: Darren Winningham Kris Lees had a hunch that waiting for this Saturday’s Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) would be the right move for Luncies. His decision was confirmed after considering the Group 2 Q22 (2200m). Forgoing a shot at the $1.2 million event keeps Luncies fresh for the $250,000 at Ipswich. Luncies has placed fifth in his two starts this campaign, most recently in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m). Lees is confident the horse is ready to peak in his next two starts. “He seems in good order. We considered today, but I thought dropping him back a peg might be beneficial,” Lees said from Eagle Farm on Saturday. “I think he’d have run well today, but next week is probably the softer of the two. “He’ll probably go from there to Caloundra. This looks a nice progression for him.” The $300,000 Caloundra Cup (Listed, 2400m) will be run at the Sunshine Coast on July 6. Horse racing news View the full article