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Beau Brummell winning at Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday. Photo: Race Images South Consistent three-year-old Beau Brummell commenced a successful journey south for jockey Warren Kennedy, who picked up a trio of winners at Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday. Kennedy has made regular visits to the South Island this season to partner Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton-based contingent, while also in pursuit of the jockeys’ premiership, which he currently leads by 14 wins with 104, to Michael McNab’s 91. Beau Brummell has also made his presence felt this season, with five starts for two victories and a fourth placing in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) and was an overwhelming -333.33 favourite with horse racing bookmakers to add a third success to his record. The son of Embellish settled into stride comfortably behind the speed and never looked in doubt as he swept clear down the straight to score by 2.25 lengths to Soul Destroyer. Mark Walker, who prepares Beau Brummell in partnership with Sam Bergerson, was pleased to see the Te Akau Stud homebred continue to perform. “He’s starting to become really consistent, winning three of his six starts, and it was another nice ride of Warren’s to give him a great trip,” Walker said. “Like most of the progeny by Embellish, he’s a horse that’s maturing with a bit of time. “We think, as he continues to strengthen, that he’ll continue to improve as a four and five-year-old.” Bred and co-raced by Te Akau principal David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis, the gelding has earned $54,195 in six starts. Beau Brummell is out of an unraced Pentire mare in Fashion Forward, however his granddam Marie Claire was placed in a Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and won at Listed level. Kennedy continued his winning roll with a race-to-race double in Race 5 and 6, saluting aboard promising John Blackadder-trained mare Yoshime, before adding another in the tangerine silks with French Rose. Horse racing news View the full article
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What Cranbourne Races Where Cranbourne Turf Club – 50 Grant St, Cranbourne VIC 3977 When Friday, April 26, 2024 First Race 5:15pm AEST Visit Dabble The Friday night racing action at Cranbourne is set to continue for another week, with eight events scheduled. With persistent showers falling in the area on Wednesday and again on Thursday, the track is likely to remain in the Soft 6 range. The rail sticks to its true position, with racing commencing at 5:15pm AEST. Best Bet at Cranbourne: Acid Wash Clinton McDonald’s Acid Wash is without a doubt the best horse going around at this meeting. He produced a win and three seconds in his initial campaign, with a combined losing margin of 0.8 of a length. The three-year-old gelding draws perfectly from barrier under Jamie Kah and will likely stalk the lead throughout the 1200m race. If clear air comes on the home turn, Acid Wash should have no issue in disposing of his rivals in the finale. Best Bet Race 8 – #7 Acid Wash (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Clinton McDonald | J: Jamie Kah (59.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Cranbourne: Upwoods Upwoods is a deadset punters nightmare, registering one win and 11 minor placings in 13 starts. The four-year-old gelding was beaten a lip by subsequent Bendigo winner Samuel Langhorne on April 1 — his second straight defeat by the barest of margins. Jordan Childs will look to have the son of Redwood settled outside the lead, and when asked for the ultimate effort at the end of the 2500m, he should prove to be the superior stayer this time. Next Best Race 5 – #4 Upwoods (8) 4yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Jordan Childs (58.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best Again at Cranbourne: Night People Night People from the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young barn finished his initial campaign with three consecutive minor placings, but he gets his chance to break his maiden first-up. The son of US Navy Flag has warmed up for this fresh assignment with a handy jumpout win when going to the line under hands and heels. Craig Newitt will have him settled just off the speed, and when asked to quicken, Night People should be cruising to victory. Next Best Again Race 2 – #4 Night People (6) 3yo Gelding | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Craig Newitt (59kg) Bet with Dabble Friday quaddie tips for Cranbourne races Cranbourne quadrella selections Friday, April 26, 2024 4-8 1-2-3-6 2-3-6-8 7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article
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Bedtime Story will contest the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Promising filly Bedtime Story will be looking for a fairytale ending to her three-year-old season when she heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). The daughter of Per Incanto has been in pleasing form for trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos, winning three and placing in two of her six starts, with her only unplaced run coming last start when fourth in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). She has been freshened since that run and Lowry is hopeful she can end her season on a high and gain some valuable black-type this weekend. “She has had a good freshen-up. She is in good nick and will go for a spell after Saturday,” Lowry said. “I thought her run in the Wellington Guineas was very good, stepping up to 1400m. It wasn’t the best spacing, having raced a week before, but in saying that she is very honest. I think she will strengthen into a nice horse next season.” Further south, Wewillrock will also be the stable’s sole representative at Wanganui. The five-year-old son of El Roca was a last start runner-up in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) at Otaki, and Lowry believes he will be more than competitive this weekend with 60kg on his back. “He always takes a couple of runs to get going,” he said. “I think he is well weighted there. With a bit of luck he should be at the right end.” Wewillrock campaigned in Australia last winter for John O’Shea and a return trip across the Tasman could be on the cards. “Australia is a possibility,” Lowry said. “There is just nothing around for five weeks for him in Sydney. We will get through Saturday and see where we are at from there.” Meanwhile, on Thursday, Lowry will head to Otaki’s ANZAC Day meeting with four contenders, including consistent gelding Gohugo in The Tele Otaki Handicap (1400m). The son of Per Incanto has placed in his last four starts, and Lowry is hopeful he can breakthrough for a deserved victory at the mid-week meeting. “Gohugo is an honest horse and just missed out a few times and deserves a win. He is going well,” Lowry said. Lowry will also be represented by Rosalita, It’s Amelia, and debutant Flashlight. “Rosalita is another one that has had a bit of a freshen-up. I think she will be competitive. She is an honest filly that is only going to strengthen as she gets older,” Lowry said. “It’s Amelia has done well since her spell and should run well fresh. And I like Flashlight, I think he is going to end up a nice stayer.” Horse racing news View the full article
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The 2024-25 New Zealand racing calendar has been released. Photo: Supplied Key strategic changes across the two equine codes headline the 2024-25 New Zealand racing calendar released on Wednesday. Following on from a strategic partnership between TAB NZ and Entain Australia and New Zealand that commenced in June last year, the two organisations and three racing codes in New Zealand have taken the opportunity to revamp the calendar. Next season’s calendar features include: An increase of 27 Sunday meetings for thoroughbred racing, including 14 double thoroughbred meetings on Sundays. A revamped thoroughbred summer feature calendar (previously announced in January). 46 extra harness racing licences for the 2024/25 season, with 36 extra meetings on a Tuesday to be run for lower stakes. Addington and Alexandra Park to be run on Friday nights together on 35 occasions next season, and more harness racing in the North Island. Greyhound Racing New Zealand’s race meetings are largely a rollover of the current season’s scheduling with 407 race meetings planned. Nick Roberts, Chair of the TAB NZ Dates Committee, said that with minimum guaranteed funding for five years under the strategic partnership, the time to deliver change is now. “This is the inaugural racing calendar established under the industry’s new operating model, with representatives of TAB NZ, Entain, and the three racing codes working collaboratively towards an optimised calendar,” Roberts said. “We already saw the success of some changes to the summer feature calendar this year, and we’re really pleased with the natural flow that has been created for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s feature racing next summer, leading up to The NZB Kiwi in early March.” The Dates Committee incorporated new guiding principles aimed at fostering the growth of New Zealand racing and expanding the strategic partnership’s wagering customer base. The new calendar balances various factors, including club interests, the operational capabilities of Entain’s broadcasting and on-course facilities, a revitalised racing pattern, venue use, and the pursuit of new revenue opportunities. The 995 meetings in the 2024/25 season will be made up of 300 thoroughbred meetings, 288 harness meetings and 407 greyhound meetings with 10,291 individual races to be run. This is an increase of 27 scheduled race meetings and 394 scheduled races against the current season. Horse racing news View the full article
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Top End trainer Chloe Baxter with South Australian apprentice Jade Doyle after combining to get Swing With Junior home at Fannie Bay on April 12. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) Swing With Junior has been a consistent performer in Darwin for the past two years, but the Chloe Baxter-trained mare faces a solid test on Thursday. The six-year-old steps up to open company for the first time over 1200m, and although it’s only a five-horse field, the competition is top-draw. Siakam and Wolfburn, representing the Gary Clarke stable, have left their mark in the Top End, Chris Pollard’s Hamlet Von Snitzel brings respectable Queensland form to town; and Angela Forster’s mare Zoumist has celebrated success at Fannie Bay. On April 12, Swing With Junior made it two wins from her past three starts when the daughter of Warhorse won by a head over 1200m (0-70). “It’s probably going to be her toughest race to date for me, for sure,” Baxter said. “It is a tricky race, and there are some nice horses. “Siakam, Wolfburn and Hamlet Von Snitzel will be a big test for her, very handy horses. “Having a light weight is a big advantage (54kg) and she’s drawn well. “I just hope that she runs a nice race; I’ll be really happy if she finishes off. “She’s got Wolfburn, who has plenty of speed, inside her, so I would expect her to go forward along with him. “She’s giving me all the indications that she’s well and feeling good within herself, so if she’s thereabouts I’ll be very happy with her.” Darwin apprentice Emma Lines, second in the Top End and Country premiership, partners the mare after guiding the former Victorian galloper to victory over 1100m (0-64) on March 1. It was following the 2022 Darwin Cup Carnival that Baxter secured Swing With Junior from Bendigo trainer Kym Hann. “I was keen on Swing With Junior, I got to know a little about the horse and I knew she worked really well,” Baxter said. “She won two for Kym up here and had a couple of placings. “She handled the dirt and the track, which is a big tick when you bring horses up here. “I did know that Kym was looking to go home with a few less horses. “She certainly has lived up to my expectations, she’s been super. “She’s only a small mare, but she tries her little heart out. “It’s hard to fault her consistency, she’s got four wins and a bunch of placings for me from 20 starts.” Baxter now has eight horses following the recent acquisition of three-year-old filly Tilussion from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. “The success of the other horses are paying for Tilussion,” Baxter laughed. “Swing With Junior and the maiden Siberian Larch, who had a nice second last Friday, are the only two I have actively racing. “Most of the others have just come back into work to get ready for the Darwin Cup Carnival. “I’ve got my biggest team to date going into Carnival. “I’ve got a broad range of horses, from maidens to three-year-olds to higher rating ones, so I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into it.” Horse racing news View the full article
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Off the back of announcing a world class addition to the 2024 stallion line-up, Cambridge Stud has announced service fees for its full roster. The premier Waikato nursery has partnered with Juddmonte Farms to shuttle multiple Group One winner Chaldean who will stand his first Southern Hemisphere season later this year at $35,000 + GST and will be limited to 120 mares. Group One winner and top-flight producer Almanzor has enjoyed another lucrative season and his 2024 service fee has been set at $30,000 + GST. He has so far been represented by stakes winners Athabascan, Circle Of Fire, Moonlight Magic, Nucleozor, Positivity, Sudbina and Zabmanzor during the 2023/24 term. “Almanzor is enjoying an excellent season on the track with seven stakes winners,” Cambridge Stud Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre said. “He has an enviable record in Group One races and has added another five top-level performers headlined by the Sydney Cup 1-2 of Circle Of Fire and Athabascan. “He represents fantastic value and we expect him to be very well supported again this year.” Hello Youmzain will also stand at $30,000 + GST off the back of stellar sale results with his youngsters averaging more than $171,000 at New Zealand Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in 2024. His top offering at Karaka sold for $425,000, A$400,000 at the Inglis Easter Sale and A$325,000 at the Magic Millions Sale at the Gold Coast with a 92 percent clearance rate across all yearling auctions. “Hello Youmzain surpassed all expectations with his first crop of yearlings in the sale ring,” Plumptre said. “He was well received by trainers and agents and will be well represented in the leading stables with his first crop of two-year-olds next season.” Snitzel’s exciting young son Sword Of State, a A$600,000 Magic Millions graduate whose six wins featured the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on his way to champion two-year-old honours, will be offered at $15,000 + GST. “Sword Of State’s first foals have been enthusiastically received by breeders and he covered a bigger book in his second season than his first,” Plumptre said. “His popularity revolved around a strong, uniform line of foals that carried all the trademarks of the Snitzel sire line – well-developed, good bone and great temperaments.” Embellish has also made an exciting start to his stallion career after the son of Savabeel excelled on the track with his record featuring victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). He has sired six stakes performers, headed by Australian Listed winner Bold Soul, from his first crop and will stand at $5000 + GST. “Embellish continues to perform off a modest service fee. He has the second most three-year-old winners in New Zealand this season behind Almanzor and also has a stakes winner in Australia to his credit,” Plumptre said. View the full article
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Darren Weir found not guilty on corruption charges
Wandering Eyes posted a topic in BOAY Racing News
Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Trainer Darren Weir, previously embroiled in controversy surrounding allegations of attempting to manipulate race outcomes through the use of a jigger on three racehorses, has been acquitted of these charges. Alongside his co-accused, Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond, Weir faced accusations of dishonest and corrupt conduct but was cleared by Judge John Bowman. While the trio admitted guilt to past animal cruelty and welfare charges, they contested the allegations of race-fixing. Judge Bowman dismissed the charges of dishonest and corrupt conduct, stating that the evidence did not conclusively prove that the use of the jigger on Red Cardinal, Tosen Basil, and Yogi could sway the outcomes of subsequent races in which these horses participated. The legal proceedings will resume next week with a directions hearing to establish the schedule for penalty submissions. Weir, who has already served a four-year suspension due to possession of the jigger device, currently engages in pre-training activities for leading Australian stables at his Trevenson Park establishment. Horse racing news View the full article -
Horse racing on Wednesday, April 24, will feature six meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meetings at Geelong, Newcastle and Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday Racing Tips – April 24 2024 Geelong Racing Tips Newcastle Racing Tips Happy Valley (HK) Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on April 24, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting PickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article
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A new HISA computer model to identify at-risk horses is being used by Churchill Downs officials to complement existing track safety nets, representatives from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) announced during Tuesday's press conference on equine safety protocols in place for this year's GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks. “It's essentially a model that looks at 44 potential risk factors that might cause a horse to be at risk for injury,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus, who added that the model assigns a “numerical” value to the horses analyzed. HISA is currently beta-testing the system with regulatory veterinarians at roughly 10 tracks around the country, said Lazarus. “But it is being provided to Churchill Downs' head of the Derby to be one of the tools that they are able to use with their sophisticated veterinary team and practices to help determine whether there are any horses at the Derby or on Derby Day that are at risk of being injured,” she said. Though the system as a whole is still being beta-tested, “I would expect by the end of this quarter that it's available to any regulatory veterinarian,” a HISA representative explained on background during a follow-up conversation. “Right now, it's grabbing the things that we already know are concerning,” the HISA representative added. “It's the 'what's-going-to-happen' that's so exciting, because we've never been able to think about using data before in this way.” Experts have long identified specific factors that place a racehorse at increased risk of injury, including fatal injury. Some of these long-understood factors include sex of the racehorse, type and distance of race, and number of previous non-fatal injuries. The 44 factors woven into the computer model, said Lazarus, include vets' list histories, if the horse has changed hands, any drops in class, and time between races. According to the HISA representative, the model also looks at possible associations with the horse's veterinary treatment history. “One of the things HISA can do that the state commissions couldn't necessarily do at this scale is look for associations with treatment records,” said the HISA representative, explaining how even in fairly closed racing populations like California, such processes were difficult to accomplish for logistical reasons. “We can look at associations between this type of treatment pattern in the past and a poor outcome,” said the representative. As to how the system works, a daily report is generated on every horse entered to race, said the HISA representative. This report assigns a number between 0 and 44 depending on the number of individual risk factors flagged by the system. “It's got the horse's name, it has an aggregate number, and then it has the breakdown of that within the 44 risk factors,” the HISA representative explained. When asked if a certain numerical threshold triggers a specific set of follow-up protocols, Lazarus said that regulators have broad discretion as to how they weave the model into their existing safety and screening practices. “It's not a tool that's designed to say this horse has to be scratched. It's a tool that's designed to help the veterinarians on the ground do the most effective veterinary inspection they can,” said Lazarus. “These are the horses you may want to spend extra time on when you're out on your rounds,” the HISA representative further explained. “Or, if you're in a jurisdiction that does post-entry screening and then goes and looks at the horses, like in California, maybe there's an extra horse you put on your list to go and look at before race day.” The model, said Lazarus, is still being tweaked to ensure that horses at no increased risk of injury are inadvertently flagged by the system. “The reason why we haven't deployed it everywhere yet is because we're still improving it and making sure that it's at an optimal level,” she said. “There's always a tension between a false positive and a false negative,” agreed the HISA representative. “There are horses where there's a predictive value here [that] go out and don't just run credibly but run off the charts and win,” the HISA representative added. “But the harm in being wrong by saying 'this horse needs extra scrutiny' is a much lesser harm than in missing a horse.” When asked about the accuracy of the model, the HISA representative said that HISA had got the percentage of “poor outcomes” down to the low single-digits. Poor outcomes, the HISA representative further explained, includes horses scratched on race day and other injury records. “It's not just fatalities.” Currently, horsemen are not privy to the information generated by the model, said the HISA representative, while leaving the door open to such an eventuality. “That's just a policy discussion we haven't got to yet.” The post HISA Trialing New 44-Factor Computer Generated Risk Model at Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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On Wednesday, April 24, various horse racing bookmakers have unveiled their racing promotions, featuring a range of enticing bonus back offers for horse racing enthusiasts. The top Australian racing promotions for April 24, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Geelong All Races – 3+ Leg Same Race Multi Bonus Back Up To $50 If 1 Leg Fails Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Geelong this Wednesday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds Terms and Conditions apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Geelong Races 1-4 – Run 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back Get your stake back in bonus bets. Limits apply. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Place A 4 Leg Multi, If One Leg Fails, Bonus Back Up To $50 Applies to your first eligible 4+ leg multi each day. Paid in bonus cash. Must use available balance. T&C’s apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Geelong & Happy Valley – 25% Boosted Winnings Max bonus $250. First fixed win bet only. Paid in bonus cash. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Daily Trifecta Boosts Boost your winnings on Trifectas by 10% with new Daily Trifecta Boosts. Thoroughbreds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Wednesday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd in R1-3 at Geelong & Newcastle Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au has meticulously assessed the premier horse racing bookmakers in Australia, revealing exclusive bonus promotions and specials tailored for thoroughbred enthusiasts on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. These horse racing promotions are a regular feature, exemplifying the unwavering commitment of Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker happens to lack a promotion on a given day, rest assured that another is stepping up with enticing offers within the realm of gallops. For your daily dose of the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses, HorseBetting.com.au stands as the ultimate destination. Maximise the value of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses boasting the most competitive horse racing odds for every race. It’s crucial to emphasise that these thoroughbred racing promotions are exclusively designed for existing customers. To access these special promotions and claim the bookmaker’s offers, log in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting provides a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay well-informed, adopt strategic approaches, and enhance your overall horse racing experience by capitalising on these exclusive promotions. Horse racing promotions View the full article
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Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin. View the full article
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By Michael Guerin An almost perfect set of barrier draws has turned Friday’s $110,000 Dawson Harford Taylor Mile into one of the races of the season. The $110,000 sprint will highlight one of Alexandra Park’s biggest nights of the year sitting alongside feature races for almost all grades from country cups handicappers to juvenile pacers and trotters and the open class squargaiters. The latter, the $60,000 Lone Star Lyell Creek Stakes, looks a gift for Aussie hero Just Believe after his last-start victory in the $600,000 TAB Trot slot race. His fellow Australian trotters who finished second to fourth behind him that night have all returned to Australia while arguably New Zealand’s best trotter Muscle Mountain is being allowed to miss Friday’s race but will contest next week’s National Trot. That leaves NZ Trotter of the Year Oscar Bonavena, who was only sixth behind Just Believe at Cambridge, as his greatest danger in the 2200m mobile so the Victorian trotter will start red hot. While the race will be Just Believe’s first right-handed driver Greg Sugars is confident he will handle it. “He may not have raced that way around but he has worked a lot right handed at home and always been fine,” says Sugars. “I don’t think it will be an issue and I’d like to dominate the race and get him up against the markers (in front) which I think will make him even more confident right-handed.” While Just Believe should win the open trot the Taylor Mile is beautifully confusing after many of the biggest names drew the second line. Race by Grins winner Merlin will start from one on the second line, with arch rival and Grins runner-up Don’t Stop Dreaming drawing three on the second line. In between them will be Queensland pacer Speak The Truth, with South Coast Arden and Better Eclipse outside him. “We just can’t get a draw,” says Sugars, who drives Better Eclipse. “All we can hope is they go hard but it is always hard over the short trip from the second line.” Merlin’s position may be the most precarious for his army of fans because he goes into the race with a string of wins and almost certainly as New Zealand’s best pacer. But his winning chances on Friday may depend on what those around and in front of him do as much as his own performance. Adding to the Taylor Mile drama and intrigue is the gate speed from Kango (3) and Sooner The Better (5) that could make for early fireworks, the addition of impressive mid-grader Jolimont (4) and veteran superstar Self Assured drawing seemingly perfectly at barrier 2. The new class of four-year-olds in Merlin, Don’t Stop Dreaming and Sooner The Better have dominated their open class rivals here since December, winning the Franklin Cup, City Of Auckland Free-For-All (Don’t Stop Dreaming), Flying Mile and Race By Grins (both Merlin) while Sooner The Better finished second in the Miracle Mile. For either Merlin or Don’t Stop Dreaming to continue that on Friday will require either luck or one of the pair to do something special as the Taylor Mile is traditionally the hardest race in New Zealand to win from back in the field. Friday’s meeting kicks off a huge month for Alexandra Park, with the most of this week’s key combatants also racing there next Friday and plenty also being aimed at the Auckland and Rowe Cups meeting on May 24. View the full article
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Last Saturday, feature racing took place across the country, with Group and Listed races headlining the cards at Randwick, Eagle Farm, Mornington and Ascot. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have focused on runners that could potentially race during the Queensland Racing Carnival, which kicks off in two weeks’ time. We suggest adding these runners to your blackbook so that you can follow them for the rest of the preparation. Randwick Track rating: Heavy 9 Rail position: +7m 1000m to winning post, +5m remainder Race 6: Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) | Time: 2:07.36 Horse to follow: Huetor (1st) Around this time of year, Huetor is normally gearing up for another assault on the Queensland Racing Carnival, and after running in the JRA Plate last year, he returned in 2024. However, the son of Archipenko would go a couple better this year, taking out the Group 3 JRA Plate second-up. The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained gelding was given a very smart ride by Nash Rawiller, as he stuck to the inside running rail and took over at the 200m mark before careering away with a dominant victory. When to bet: Post-race, the Snowden’s confirmed that Huetor would follow his typical route over the winter by going to the Hollindale Stakes and then attempt to claim his third straight Doomben Cup. Considering he will go to Brisbane in better form this year, Huetor is worth following in his next two starts. Eagle Farm Track rating: Soft 5 Rail position: +1m entire circuit Race 8: Listed Ascot Quality Handicap (1000m) | Time: 0:57.86 Horse to follow: All That Pizzazz (2nd) All That Pizzazz kicked off his winter campaign with an impressive run in the Ascot Quality Handicap, where the Tony Gollan-trained galloper finished second behind The Big Goodbye over 1000m at Eagle Farm. John Allen rode this son of Spirit Of Boom near on perfectly and allowed him to build down the outside in the final 400m, but was just beaten by a horse with a more economical run on his inside. Although he was beaten, this four-year-old gelding is expected to take a lot of benefit from the fresh run and improve second-up. When to bet: After performing so well in Listed company against open-age horses, the Listed ATC Cup over 1200m at the Gold Coast on May 11 looks to be the ideal race for All That Pizzazz next start. Mornington Track rating: Soft 5 Rail position: True entire circuit Race 9: Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) | Time: 1:11.46 Horse to follow: The Inferno (3rd) It has been more than two years since his last victory, but The Inferno’s last two starts have been some of his best in the last 12 months, with his most recent third-place finish behind Maharba in the Listed Hareeba Stakes being the best in some time. The Cliff Brown-trained sprinter was never on the track at Mornington and was trapped four-wide the trip before letting down with a strong finish to go down by an official margin of 0.12 lengths. When to bet: After multiple attempts at Group 1 level, it appears that Brown and his team have lowered their expectations, and The Inferno will compete in Group 2 or 3 contests. If they can find a 1200m race in that grade in Queensland for him, The Inferno can give a good sight for his followers. Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Latest horse racing tips View the full article
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Frankie Dettori, who hasn't ridden in the GI Kentucky Derby since an off-the-board finish in 2000 aboard Godolphin's UAE Derby winner China Visit (Red Ransom), has picked up a mount in this year's Derby in West Paces Racing LLC, Danny Gargan, and GMP Stables LLC's Society Man (Good Magic). The news was first reported by Daily Racing Form Tuesday. Trained by Danny Gargan, who also has MGSW Dornoch (Good Magic) pointing to the big race, Society Man was last seen finishing second Apr. 6 in the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct. He was ridden by Luis Rivera, Jr. to the runner-up finish behind Resilience (Into Mischief). The Kentucky Derby is one of the few major races worldwide that has eluded the popular Dettori, who was originally scheduled to retire in 2023. The champion jockey instead moved his tack to the U.S. late last year and postponed retirement indefinitely. The post Dettori to Ride Society Man in Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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By the Numbers: Kentucky Derby Post Positions
Wandering Eyes posted a topic in The Rest of the World
For the 20 Thoroughbreds expected to compete in 2024 is one of the most important moments of their lives, and racing luck can make or break their Derby run from the start. Some of that luck comes from the luck of the post-position draw.View the full article