Wandering Eyes

Among the dogs noisily bounding to inquire after your business at Dundrum Farm, one is really something special. Gordon, a big black schnauzer, lost his sight to blastomycosis a couple of years ago, but you would never know it: he scampers confidently along corridors, through doorways, even joins the reception committee outside. “Until he gets on the grass,” Lesley Campion explains. “Then he knows that he only has one stride, and has to stop. But no, he's a genius, that dog.” Certainly he couldn't exhibit a more certain sense of where he belongs, and much the same is true of Lesley and husband Ted. The separate paths by which they entered Kentucky's Irish diaspora have long since blended to make a home of away, and young Americans of their children. Actually Lesley went back to Ireland to deliver the first: duly named Paddy, he has a dual passport and so might be registered with the (Ire) suffix. But while Rodger and Sive are native, the Irish in the Bluegrass have their own kinship. “When you're so far from your family, I think we're each other's support system,” Lesley says. “We all have our own crew. We're all very like-minded. Really we're a bunch of random Paddies that happen to be in the horse game. We're just very familiar. And people that are familiar are more relatable, I think.” “I've been here so long now that Ireland's not 'home' anymore,” Ted admits. “For years we assumed that we'd eventually go back. In fact, when we got married Lesley gave me another five years here. But now she likes it just as much as I do.” Admittedly the community lost a cornerstone with the death of Gerry Dilger four years ago. Gerry Dilger | Keeneland “The Godfather!” exclaims Lesley. “There was a chap now, if ever you were in any little bit of a bind, he'd always go out of his way to help.” “Young guys especially,” says Ted. “Whether working for him, or somebody else. He'd put them in for a leg of a horse, whatever. And so approachable. It was harder not to meet Gerry than meet him. But he was something else, bidding on a horse. He was tough to beat.” That being so, Ted ended up partners with Dilger on more than one horse, most famously in pinhooking a $180,000 weanling from the first crop of Uncle Mo. “That's my main thing, buying foals and selling them as yearlings, and normally it's with Pat Costello, Spider Duignan and Adrian Regan, kind of a syndicate,” Ted explains. “But if one of us doesn't particularly like a horse, we have somebody put in for a leg. So with that one, it was myself and Pat that liked him. And in the back walking ring, you could see Gerry was interested. So I approached him and he took a half, and Pat and myself a quarter each.” The colt sold to another compatriot, Mike Ryan, for $230,000 in the same ring the following September. “So he only really washed his face,” concedes Ted. “But he was a nicer foal than he was a yearling. The sales hit him at a bad time. He would have been a nicer horse in October, and even in July. He was just at kind of an awkward stage. But that's the way it goes sometimes.” Sure enough, he proceeded to make $400,000 as a 2-year-old. Regardless, Ted can share credit for a champion juvenile and GI Kentucky Derby winner. For this, of course, was Nyquist. Having by then secured breeding rights, Darley invited the first trio to have believed in the colt to Churchill as their guests. “So there I am in the win picture,” Ted marvels. “It was great, something out of a fairytale. And my dad had been over for the Breeders' Cup in Keeneland, when he won the Juvenile, so he gave us a couple of great days out. Went through a lot of Irish hands, that horse: Mike bought him and sent him down to Niall [Brennan] in Florida. And of course we'd bought him from Timmy Hyde.” Nyquist | Sarah Andrew Which takes us back to where it all began for Ted. “My father was a show-jumping rider in the Irish army, Chef d'Equipe for many years,” he explains. “So he and Timmy competed against each other–Timmy did that as well as being a jockey–and became great pals. After leaving school I was kind of at a loose end, and one day I came home and my father had my bag packed: I was going to Timmy Hyde, like it or not. Luckily enough, it was the best thing that ever happened. “Timmy had a great bunch of lads at the time: Eddie Fitzpatrick; Andrew Murphy, who's one of Aidan O'Brien's main guys; Noel Murphy; Eddie Kenneally. And of course Timmy himself's a great man. Wouldn't say too much, but you could just watch what he did. He only had a handful of mares, but all good quality, and then all the foals coming through. It was great times.” It was also Hyde who opened up the land of opportunity. In the late 1980s ,Ted found himself staying on after working the sales here, with Melinda Smith at Pegasus, to prep weanlings that Hyde was pinhooking with high-rolling partners. Indeed, they sold the last Northern Dancer under the hammer. Then one night in McCarthy's, Ted met an Irish farm girl who was doing nine months at Creekview as part of her equine science degree at the University of Limerick. After graduating, Lesley returned to Lexington for a job at Hagyard's. “My dad kept seven or eight mares, but only National Hunt, so when I came over and saw the professionalism of the Flat approach, I really enjoyed it,” she recalls. “To get a visa you had to be something fairly specialized, so I was a vet tech at Hagyard's for seven years. Then on occasion, I'd also work the sales with Paramount, and found I had a bit of an affinity for that. Much as I loved the job in Hagyard's, you were kind of capped in that there weren't a whole lot of places you could go with it. So when Pat was looking for somebody, I put my hat in the ring and I've now been there 16 years.” A couple of years after joining Paramount, moreover, she was able to open a parallel line. Nathan McCauley, whose father happened to be one of her clients, approached Lesley about claiming a Malibu Moon filly for $7,500. Lesley agreed to go halves. “We got her on the Friday afternoon, and I had her sold over the phone by the Tuesday,” she recalls. “So then I'm like, 'ding, ding'! We started flipping a lot of maidens: not even putting them in foal, just as they were. And then gradually we started parceling them up. We do a lot of no-guarantee seasons. It makes them more affordable, can increase your profit margin at the other side and gets you to horses you wouldn't otherwise.” In his own line of work Ted has also profited through their friendship with McCauley, who bred GI Starlet S. winner Eda (Munnings) from a $24,000 Lemon Drop Kid mare. McCauley catalogued Eda for the November Sale, as a foal, and asked Ted to take a look at her. Ted was bought on the spot, promptly scratched her from the auction, and sold her for $240,000 the following September. There have also been times when McCauley would sell to Ted while staying in for a share. “Especially when you have a rapport with people, there's never a contract–it's always just a handshake,” Ted observes. “Mostly with Irish people. But McCauley's an Irish name! And he acts like it. He's a lovely chap, and a very good scout.” The key to Dundrum, for Ted and Lesley, is that they have their own programs and keep them separate. They bought the farm 17 years ago, a 90-acre tract of Saxony Farm running down to the fabled Elkhorn Creek. Sive and Paddy Campion | Fasig-Tipton photo “It's a great location. We're very lucky,” Ted says. “We're 10 minutes to Keeneland, 10 minutes to Hagyard's, 10 minutes to the Horse Park. I keep 15 to 20 foals; and then Lesley has 10 or 12 mares that she'll claim or buy, and we'll get them pregnant. She picks all the mares, all the matings, everything, and then wheel them into November. That's her own gig, on top of what she does at Paramount, and I just help out on the manual side, drive the box and stuff like that. Essentially we keep out of each other's way as much as possible.” Ted's pinhooking syndicates, for their part, tend to focus on later foals. “We can't afford a beautiful January or February foal by a top stallion,” he reasons. “So historically, most of the foals we've bought have been April, May foals. They're not as furnished, but we see enough to hope that they'll come physically. We've been doing it a long time now, and we'd be more willing to take a punt that way because that's where we can find a smidge of value.” Both Lesley and Ted have to deal with market realities, however exasperating. Lesley, for instance, chooses covers that might give her buyers a chance of “getting out in one go” if the mare throws a nice foal. If she's carrying a baby that might pay for the whole package, it takes the gamble out of the equation as much as possible. “I mean, you have to play the game, I suppose,” Ted says with a shrug. “Go against the grain, and you'll go broke. Certain sires, when we're looking for foals, you can't choose. It doesn't matter how nice the foal is, they won't be pulled out the following September. And Lesley's the same, when she's breeding. It's really not an option for us to say that if a horse doesn't work, we can race it. We have to keep the wheels turning. A couple of years making the wrong decisions, and you'd be very quickly done.” “But I think we also have to find some kind of a sweet spot, as regards the overbreeding,” Lesley remarks. “We're definitely seeing it this year, with the second-year horses. They made hay last year, but now they're definitely struggling. Nobody was turned away; when they were freshmen, some were breeding almost 300 mares. But that's diluting everybody's worth. What's rare is precious, so the more difficult it is to get into a horse, the more coveted the animal on the other side. “People are looking for something as bulletproof as possible. They don't want risk. If you breed to a sire on the bubble, you're asking somebody else to take your gamble. And you'll be punished. Yet if you get into a coveted stallion, you'll be rewarded. So I think that farms are learning that they're nearly shooting themselves in the foot. They're weighting the numbers to get a leading freshman, simply by having so many foot soldiers, but I think it just dilutes the whole market.” She hesitates to revisit the controversies of a mare cap, but wonders whether even one of 200 for a freshman might yield a more sustainable demand the second year. And she also observes wryly how times of recession tend to prompt people back towards proven stallions. Lesley and Sive Campion | Paramount Sales photo In a business where too many have arguably severed their decision-making from the racetrack, Ted can at least fall back on cutting his teeth as a groom for Charlie Whittingham. In those days, no less than stallions, even the top trainers would rely on quality rather than quantity. Ted reckons that of 27 horses in that barn at Santa Anita, 22 were stakes winners. Lesley remarks that the disconnect between sales ring and winner's circle is also an issue in vetting. “It drives me crazy,” she says. “These lads come in and say, 'Well, that's not going to work.' But how, in your experience as a repro vet, are you going to tell me that this is not going to hold up at the track? Did I miss the part where you did 10 years at Belmont? You can't beat boots-on-the ground experience.” In the end, however, the abiding magic of the game levels out its frustrations. That includes the characters met on the way, seldom richer than among the Irish. Ted recalls Patsy Connelly, a stalwart in Hyde's service, holding a horse for one of those guys who go around with a tape-measure, putting every yearling on a spreadsheet: length of leg, back, withers, the works. “Well boss,” said Hyde's man, “will he fit in your garage?” It's these tales of the old country that reinforce the bonds between the expatriates of “County Kentucky.” For even in embracing a new world, this community has always maintained its identity and solidarity. “If somebody gets in a bind, we rally together,” Lesley reiterates. “We'll have a fundraiser at McCarthy's or something. It's really something to be proud of. We show up for people. That means a lot.” “When friends or family come over and see how it works, when somebody gets sick or something, they're blown away,” Ted says. “I have traveled around a bit now. I've lived in Tennessee, California, Florida. But I always loved Lexington. Any time I was away, I always wanted to be here. I don't know. It's just a great spot, a great place to live.” The post Shamrocks In The Bluegrass: Lesley and Ted Campion of Dundrum appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey agent Kiaran McLaughlin will add jockey John Velazquez to his roster, which already includes Luis Saez, McLaughlin announced Friday on X. . “It came about because Ron (Anderson) has three jockeys and he was only allowed two, so he reached out to me a few days ago and said ywould you be interested in Johnny,” said McLaughlin, reached by the TDN Friday morning. “He said he thought we'd be a good match. After I talked to Luis, I said I said i'd be honored to take him.” Saez has won 93 races at over $9 million in earnings this year, riding primarily at Churchill Downs. He will spend the summer at Saratoga where he won the GI Belmont S. aboard Dornoch (Good Magic) this past weekend, McLaughlin said. Velazquez, riding on the New York circuit, has won 46 races and over $5 million. He will also spend the summer in Saratoga. “I'm honored to have both of them,” said McLaughlin. “They're both great riders and great people.” Honored to announce I am now representing @ljlmvel in addition to @luissaezpty! — Kiaran McLaughlin (@KPMRacingStable) June 14, 2024 The post Kiaran McLaughlin to Represent John Velazquez appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The winner Griselda (Fr) (City Light {Fr}) (lot 502) is one of seven more Flat and NH wildcards added to the Arqana Summer Sale. She is a half-sister to group winner Nikkei and is from the family of Group 1 winner Neatico (Ger) (Medicean {GB}). For the National Hunt additions, Latopix (Fr) (Beaumec De Houelle {Fr}) (lot 516) is a winner over 2400 metres at Vichy last month; Irisante (Ger) (Tai Chi {Ger}) (lot 524) was third in the G3 Prix Sagan; a winner over hurdles is the listed-placed Sony Bill (Fr) (Battle Of Marengo {Ire}) (lot 525); Kissman (Fr) (Karaktar {Ire}) has won over hurdles and is lot 531; the winner Best Of Us (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) (lot 532) has been entered; and rounding out the septet is Quantock Hills (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}) (lot 533), who has triumphed at Dieppe. All six lots will sell on Wednesday, July 3 at 2 p.m. alongside 200 horses-in-training already catalogued and a trio of previously announced wildcards. The sale takes place in Deauville from July 1-4. The post City Light Filly Anchors Arqana Summer Sale Wildcards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who holds double entries at Royal Ascot next week, now looks more likely to head to the G1 Prince of Wales's S on Wednesday, with fellow Cheveley Park Stud representative Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) sent to run in Tuesday's G1 Queen Anne S. The five-year-old mare has won six Group 1 races, the latest being over the longer trip of 10 furlongs at Santa Anita in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She was fourth behind her John and Thady Gosden stable-mate Audience on her seasonal return in the G1 Lockinge S. over a mile. “It has obviously been given serious consideration and following her success at Santa Anita over a mile and a quarter, where she was very effective, I think it makes sense to step her up,” said Cheveley Park Stud's managing director, Chris Richardson. “The Lockinge was a good starting point, but she was slowly away, which she can be on occasions, and if she is a little tardy away next time at least over a mile and a quarter it will be less important hopefully.” He added of Audience, “I think he's got the ability and I think he still remains a progressive horse. I hope he will dispel any thoughts that his win in the Lockinge was a bit a fluke.” The post Inspiral and Audience Likely to Steer Separate Paths at Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A trio of Grade III winners and the second-best New Jersey-bred 3-year-old in training are among a field of eight set to head to the post for Saturday's NYRABets Pegasus S., the final local prep for the GI NYRABets GI Haskell Invitational S. in five weeks' time. The locally co-owned Hades (Awesome Slew) ran his record to a perfect three-for-three in the GIII Holy Bull S. Feb. 3, defeating the running-on Domestic Product (Practical Joke) and Eclipse Award-winning 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light). After skipping what turned out to be a scratch-depleted GII Fountain of Youth S., won by recent GI Belmont S. hero Dornoch (Good Magic), Hades was a well-beaten fifth to Fierceness in the GI Curlin Florida Derby and one final crack at a Derby berth went by the boards when the gelding could do no better than seventh in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. Apr. 13. Trainer Joe Orseno thinks he has Hades in good form for the return to action. “After the Lexington, we found that he had a minor issue that was easily correctible,” said the conditioner. “So we gave him a little time off and worked on him. We believe we have him where we want him again. I'm pretty excited about seeing him race again. We're hoping this is a good prep for the Haskell.” Domestic Product earned his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby by virtue of his victory in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby in March, but he was only 13th in Louisville. The steady workmate of Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), the Klaravich homebred was under consideration for the GI Belmont S. for a time, but has been re-routed to this considerably easier test. The hulking Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion), upset winner of the GIII Withers S. in February, seems the least likely of the graded trio, and would need to improve for his fifth in the GII Wood Memorial S. and sixth–at less than 8-1–in the GI Preakness S. last time. Sea Streak (Sea Wizard) is the best sophomore bred in the Garden State not named Book'em Danno and exits a 7 1/4-length romp in the May 11 Long Branch S. Jairo Rendon looks to make it three wins from three rides aboard the gelding for trainer Eddie Owens, Jr. Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso) won the first two starts of his career from close range, but he was disappointing when seventh in the Wood last time. Todd Pletcher adds blinkers this time around. In the afternoon's three graded events at the Jersey Shore, Spirit and Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) rates a narrow favorite in the GIII Eatontown S., a race in which she was an even fifth last year; Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) squares off with English Bee (English Channel) and 2022 GI United Nations S. hero Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) in the GIII Monmouth S.; and the afternoon wraps up with the GIII Salvator Mile S., featuring the return to action of last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup victor Bright Future (Curlin). In New York, Flying Connection (Connect) drops out of a third in the GI Derby City Distaff S. and clashes with course-and-distance GIII Distaff S. winner Shidabhuti (Practical Joke) and GIII Vagrancy S. victress Leave No Trace (Outwork) in the GII Bed O' Roses S. The post Competitive Pegasus Tops Haskell Preview Day at Monmouth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have a small but select team entered for New Zealand’s two race meetings on Saturday, with all of their three starters looming as key chances. The premiership-leading stable’s day kicks off in the opening race at Trentham, the TAB Odds Surge Every Race at Trentham 3YO (1000m). Walker and Bergerson’s unbeaten Pokuru Gold is rated a $1.60 chance to add a fourth win to his unblemished record. The son of Darci Brahma made a big impression in his only start last spring, scoring a dominant front-running victory by three and a half lengths in a 970m maiden race at Cambridge in September. After more than eight months off the scene, Pokuru Gold returned to action at Te Rapa on May 18 and again scored a smart win by two and a half lengths. The Ian Farrelly homebred made it three-from-three at Pukekohe on June 1, overcoming a fierce late challenge from Rareza to win by a long neck. Apprentice jockey Niranjan Parmar will take the ride on Pokuru Gold at Trentham on Saturday, reducing his impost from 58.5kg to 57.5kg. Pokuru Gold has proven himself in testing ground, so Walker and Bergerson are unfazed by Trentham’s Heavy10 track. “He’s not a big horse, but he’s a real trier,” Walker said. “He’s really impressed us with all of those three wins. “He’s dropping back from 1200 to 1000m for this race at Trentham on Saturday, so we want to keep him on the fresh side and haven’t done very much with him in between times. But he’s looking well and seems to be going into the race in good order. “We’re not too sure yet how much more we’re going to do with him in this preparation. A lot of that is going to depend on how he goes on Saturday.” Walker and Bergerson will also be represented by two leading contenders at Te Rapa on Saturday. Devoted was beaten by a long neck by Ima Wonder in his first steeplechase start at Te Aroha on June 3, and he is rated a $1.60 chance to go one better in Saturday’s Waikato/BOP Racehorse Owners Association Maiden Steeplechase (3900m). Later in the afternoon, Freeze Frame is a $4 second favourite behind Little Bit Of Love for the Bayonne Construction Mile (1600m). Freeze Frame has a strong record at Te Rapa, where his eight previous starts have produced two wins and three placings. The son of Vadamos has lined up at the Hamilton track in all of his last three races, starting with a second placing behind Sumi on April 14. He returned there two weeks later and turned the tables on Sumi, also beating the next-start Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes winner Karman Line (1400m). In his only start since then, Freeze Frame was a close and strong-finishing fourth over 1300m behind Aris Aris, Dusty Road and Turn The Ace. Saturday’s step up to 1600m is a query for Freeze Frame, who has had only one previous attempt at that distance. He reared at the start that day and finished 10th in a 12-horse field at Tauranga on February 11. But Walker believes that, with the assistance of a gear change, the talented four-year-old can make his presence felt over the mile on Saturday. “He goes really well at Te Rapa, so it’s always good to find races for him there,” Walker said. “We’re keen to see how he goes up over a bit of ground, so we’ll take the blinkers off for this race and that should help him relax. The way he’s been finding the line over 1300m and 1400m gives us a bit of confidence that he should cope with going a bit further.” View the full article

After highly creditable performances in seven Group races during the New Zealand season, Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) has an opportunity to prove herself across the Tasman in Saturday’s Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm. The Andrew Forsman-trained filly has travelled to Australia in winning form, having romped home by five and a half lengths in a three-year-old race at Pukekohe on May 25. That was Mary Shan’s first appearance outside of black-type company since October. In between times the daughter of Almanzor finished second in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), second in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), fourth in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), fifth in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), sixth in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and fourth in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m). It was the fifth placing in the Fillies’ Classic at Te Rapa in February that prompted Forsman to consider the Queensland Winter Carnival. “We got her up to 2000m for that race at Te Rapa and realised that she’s not really suited to those longer distances at this point of her career,” the Cambridge trainer said. “That’s when Queensland started to come on to her radar a little bit. We decided to give her a little freshen up, then bring her back with couple of runs over shorter distances and see where we got to. “That last-start win at Pukekohe was a nice confidence-booster for her. She’d been a bit unlucky in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes and Rotorua Stakes in those first two runs back, so it was good to see her get back into winning form that day. It gave us the confidence to take her over to Brisbane and have a go at some black type. “She handled the travel really well and has thrived since then, which often happens when they come from our cold New Zealand winter into the warmer climate at the Gold Coast. She looks great.” Mary Shan will be ridden by Tyler Schiller and has drawn gate 14 in a full field of 18. “That’s the frustrating part,” Forsman said. “With the racing style that she has, she probably would have appreciated a better draw. She’s going to have to get back and give a head start to some talented horses. But we couldn’t be happier with how she’s looking leading into the race.” The Gunsynd Classic is worth A$200,000 and might be Mary Shan’s only appearance during the Queensland Winter Carnival. “We could think about giving her one more run, but I’m mindful that she’s had quite a long season,” Forsman said. “So it’s possible she’ll be ready for a break after this. We’ll get this race out of the way first and then make up our minds.” Back home, Forsman will be represented by four runners at Te Rapa on Saturday including course specialist Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in the Bayonne Construction Mile (1600m). The Turn Me Loose gelding has had 12 starts at the Hamilton track for six wins, compared to two wins from his other 12 appearances at different venues. Turn The Ace was a last-start sixth placegetter behind Belardo Boy in the weight-for-age Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui. “Getting him back to Te Rapa is clearly a big help for him, but I’m just a bit worried about how wet the track might be this weekend,” Forsman said. “His stats on heavy tracks look okay on paper, but these days I think he has a preference for slightly better footing in and around that soft range.” Amazing Grace (NZ) (Tavistock) is an intriguing runner in the Richardsons Real Estate (2100m). The blue-blooded daughter of Tavistock and Bazelle made a big impression with two wins from her first five starts in 2022, but then spent more than a year on the sidelines before resuming with an eighth over 1400m at Pukekohe on June 1. “She was off the scene for quite a while and definitely would have needed that run,” Forsman said. “She’s taken some good improvement out of that and will probably do the same again this weekend. I’d expect her to be getting closer to peak fitness next time out.” View the full article

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are gearing up for a big day on Saturday, with a $3 million milestone looming large on home soil while classy three-year-old Geriatrix (Almanzor) takes on a Group Three assignment in Brisbane. O’Sullivan and Scott have enjoyed an outstanding season in New Zealand, sitting in third place on the trainers’ premiership with 59 wins. That is easily a new career-best tally for a partnership that dates back to the 2013-14 season, and their runners have earned a total of $2.95 million so far this term. Those earnings have more than doubled the Matamata partnership’s previous best total of $1.42 million in the 2020-21 season. Now they have $3 million in their sights, and they can close in on that milestone with a talented five-horse team at Te Rapa on Saturday. Commanding the most attention in that line-up is rising star Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time Test), who the TAB rates a $2.40 favourite to extend his winning streak to five in Saturday’s Bayonne Construction Mile (1600m). The four-year-old recorded a win, a fifth, a seventh and a ninth from his first four starts between December and March, but then he flicked a switch in the autumn and never looked back. Little Bit Of Love has won all of his last four in succession, stringing together three wins at Te Rapa in April and May and adding another at Pukekohe on June 1. The son of Time Test returns to Te Rapa on Saturday – where he is unbeaten in three starts – and will be ridden by Masa Hashizume, who has guided him to three wins from four rides. “He’s just a real racehorse and has found a rich vein of form through the last couple of months,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s been very pleasing to see him progress the way he has. “Saturday is going to be a big test for him. Going up into open company is always a big step and is never easy for any horse making its way up through the grades. But he’s handled everything that we’ve thrown at him so far, and hopefully that continues this week. “Te Rapa is a track that he seems to get around particularly well, so it’ll be good to get him back there again on Saturday. Horses that race well at Te Rapa generally tend to hold their form when they return there. “We’re looking forward to stepping him up to 1600m. We’ve really just been doing maintenance work with him since that last start win a couple of weeks ago, but he’s certainly doing very well at the moment.” O’Sullivan and Scott will also tackle Saturday’s other open handicap, where last-start winner Highlighter (NZ) (Shamexpress) meets a highly competitive line-up in the Mike Stent Decorators Sprint (1200m). Highlighter has previously won twice at Te Rapa, and apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper’s 3kg claim will reduce her impost to 51kg. The TAB rates her a $5 equal third favourite alongside Johny Johny (NZ) (Charm Spirit) in a market headed by Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) ($3.20) and Caitlyns Wish (NZ) (Belardo) ($4.20). Later in the afternoon, Canny Man (NZ) (Preferment) and Silver Javelin (NZ) (Reliable Man) are rated $7.50 and $8 chances respectively in the McKenna King Litigation (1300m), while Te Atatu Memphis is a $21 outsider for the final race on the Te Rapa card. Across the Tasman, Geriatrix will attempt to end his Queensland campaign on a high when he lines up in the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m). The Almanzor colt won three of his nine starts in New Zealand, then made an immediate impact in Brisbane with a powerful come-from-behind win in his Australian debut on June 1. “We’ve been delighted with everything he’s done since that win at Eagle Farm a couple of weeks ago,” O’Sullivan said. “He seems to be on target for Saturday. “After beating older horses over 1400m last time, we think that the Gunsynd – up over 1600m and back against his own age – is an ideal target to have a go at with him. It’s going to be a very tidy field though and no walk in the park. It’ll be the toughest test of his career so far. “But based on his form and the way that he’s been working, we think he deserves this opportunity. It’s a nice race to have a shot at in his last start before we put him out for a good break.” View the full article

Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman continued to enjoy a successful week on their local polytrack on Thursday, adding another win to their tally courtesy of Motiontime in the Riccarton Park Function Centre Three-Year-Old (1400m). “She ended up getting a nice cushy run and probably dictated the race even though she was sitting in second spot,” Michael Pitman said. “She has done a great job that filly.” It was a rare double-header meeting on Riccarton’s synthetic track this week, with Wednesday’s meeting scheduled following the abandonment of racing at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday, and Pitman said it shows the importance Riccarton’s polytrack over the winter months. “It has got its place in racing,” he said. “It is a winter alternative and I appreciate them running two days of races (on the surface). I think there was $107,000 in stake money distributed on Wednesday that normally wouldn’t be made available, and that is appreciated.” Motiontime’s victory also brought up the stable’s 50th win of the season, putting them 16 wins clear on the South Island Trainers’ Premiership ahead of fellow Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston. The father-and-son training partnership has particularly taken delight out of seeing the progression of a number of their runners this term. “The improvement of Mystic Park, Star Ballot and Charbano has been a highlight,” Pitman said. “Third Decree has gone from winning a maiden race at Kumara to running second in a Great Easter (Listed, 1400m) over a distance which we thought may have been too much for her, but she went well. “Our team has been going really well all season, we are really proud of them.” Pitman is hoping the stable can further add to their 50-win haul this season, with Moitiontime set to return to Riccarton’s synthetic track to try and qualify for a lucrative polytrack target during Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing in August. “Motiontime gets another opportunity to run in a set weights and penalties 1400m race on the poly, so that is where she will head,” he said. “We are trying to qualify her for that $100,000 race on the middle day of the Grand National Carnival.” View the full article

Premier Waikato farm Rich Hill Stud and the Proisir Syndicate have thrown their support behind a worthy cause by offering a nomination to champion sire Proisir. It will be auctioned at Luminary/2024, a CatWalk Trust dinner function to be held at the Ellerslie Events Centre on Saturday June 22 with all proceeds dedicated to cutting-edge, world-class research aimed at finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. A service nomination to champion Australian two-year-old sire Capitalist has also been donated by Newgate Farm. Rich Hill’s John Thompson was approached by CatWalk founder Catriona Williams and husband Sam, of Little Avondale Stud, and was more than happy to support the function. “I have an affinity with Catwalk as I went to school with (Deputy Chair) Grant Sharman, who damaged his spine in a rugby game and was confined to a wheelchair,” Thompson said. “Like Catriona, he has gone on to achieve amazing things and Rich Hill and the Proisir Syndicate are delighted to help in any way we can.” Proisir, who stands at a fee of $80,000 + GST, has sired six individual Group One winners in the last 20 months including this season’s star performers Legarto and Waitak. He claimed the 2022/23 New Zealand Sires’ Premiership and was the leading Australasian source of elite level winners with five of his progeny triumphant at the highest level. Proisir enjoyed a bumper 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale with a sister to glamour mare Prowess selling for $1.6 million, a domestic record price for a filly sold at auction, and his Book 1 draft averaged $275,000, 22 times his service fee. At the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year, his progeny sold up to A$450,000, averaging $283,000. His 2023 mare book included 59 stakes performers, which included six Group One winners and 11 Group One placegetters. Interested parties can contact Chris Lovelady at chris@catwalk.org.nz and register to bid for the Proisir and Capitalist service nominations. View the full article

Wanganui trainer JJ Rayner will head to Te Rapa on Saturday with exciting jumper Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) to tackle the highly competitive Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m). The six-year-old son of Zed has shown a lot of promise in his jumping career to date, winning one and placing in his six of his hurdle starts to date, but he will face his stiffest task this weekend. He will be met by a small but select field, including last year’s Grand National Hurdles (4200m) winner Berry The Cash and Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) victor Nedwin, who will be vying to defend his crown in the Waikato Hurdle. “Even though it is a small field, it is a very good field,” Rayner said. “We have got Stephen Karnicnik back on as Lemmy Chief Stipelas opted to ride at Trentham on the flat. Stephen rode him most of last season and knows him well. “It is a nice field and he is just stepping up to that grade. We are hoping for a nice run. “He went a really good race last time (runner-up in Manawatu Hurdle), I was really pleased. Hawera (two starts back) really his first go in open company. It is a big ask to step up, there are not too many intermediate hurdles around.” Rayner said Lord Spencer will likely follow the prestige hurdle circuit, with the ultimate aim being a trip to Riccarton in August. “We will just get through the race and follow the main ones. Our main aim is the Grand National down south, he won there last year in the 0-1 win hurdle, so he obviously likes the track down there,” she said. Meanwhile, Rayner will be keeping a close eye on Trentham while she is in Hamilton with Lord Spencer, as Hacksaw Ridge aims to get his winter campaign back on track in the Baxters Catering 1600. “I have got my cousin, Paul Belsham, going to Trentham with Hacksaw Ridge for me, so he is back on the job,” she said. “It is quite a tidy field for a 75 rating, but he is really well and is doing things right, and I am expecting a really nice run from him.” Hacksaw Ridge has had three unplaced runs this time in, including a fifth placing in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui last start. “He got held up quite a bit,” Rayner said. “He didn’t get a lot of room in the straight and we couldn’t ride him out. He was still wanting to finish on, so I was really happy with it.” The six-year-old gelding will be ridden by one-kilogram claiming apprentice Ashvin Mudhoo on Saturday from barrier six. “He goes well for Ashvin and we are hoping his one kilogram claim will help a little bit,” Rayner said. Hacksaw Ridge is also on a path towards Riccarton in August. “All going well, he will head to Christchurch for the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m).” View the full article

Mauritian rider believes he can return to the winner’s enclosure from his 11 rides on Saturday: ‘It looks like he’s capable of winning again’View the full article

Little Bit Of Love will lineup at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are gearing up for a big day on Saturday, with a $3 million milestone looming large on home soil while classy three-year-old Geriatrix takes on a Group Three assignment in Brisbane. O’Sullivan and Scott have enjoyed an outstanding season in New Zealand, sitting in third place on the trainers’ premiership with 59 wins. That is easily a new career-best tally for a partnership that dates back to the 2013-14 season, and their runners have earned a total of $2.95 million so far this term. Those earnings have more than doubled the Matamata partnership’s previous best total of $1.42 million in the 2020-21 season. Now they have $3 million in their sights, and they can close in on that milestone with a talented five-horse team at Te Rapa on Saturday. Commanding the most attention in that line-up is rising star Little Bit Of Love, who online betting sites rates a +140 favourite to extend his winning streak to five. The four-year-old recorded a win, a fifth, a seventh and a ninth from his first four starts between December and March, but then he flicked a switch in the autumn and never looked back. Little Bit Of Love has won all of his last four in succession, stringing together three wins at Te Rapa in April and May and adding another at Pukekohe on June 1. The son of Time Test returns to Te Rapa on Saturday – where he is unbeaten in three starts – and will be ridden by Masa Hashizume, who has guided him to three wins from four rides. “He’s just a real racehorse and has found a rich vein of form through the last couple of months,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s been very pleasing to see him progress the way he has. “Saturday is going to be a big test for him. Going up into open company is always a big step and is never easy for any horse making its way up through the grades. But he’s handled everything that we’ve thrown at him so far, and hopefully that continues this week. “Te Rapa is a track that he seems to get around particularly well, so it’ll be good to get him back there again on Saturday. Horses that race well at Te Rapa generally tend to hold their form when they return there. “We’re looking forward to stepping him up to 1600m. We’ve really just been doing maintenance work with him since that last start win a couple of weeks ago, but he’s certainly doing very well at the moment.” O’Sullivan and Scott will also tackle Saturday’s other open handicap, where last-start winner Highlighter meets a highly competitive line-up in the Mike Stent Decorators Sprint (1200m). Highlighter has previously won twice at Te Rapa, and apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper’s 3kg claim will reduce her impost to 51kg. Later in the afternoon, Canny Man and Silver Javelin are rated $7.50 and $8 chances respectively in the McKenna King Litigation (1300m), while Te Atatu Memphis is a $21 outsider for the final race on the Te Rapa card. Across the Tasman, Geriatrix will attempt to end his Queensland campaign on a high when he lines up in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m). The Almanzor colt won three of his nine starts in New Zealand, then made an immediate impact in Brisbane with a powerful come-from-behind win in his Australian debut on June 1. “We’ve been delighted with everything he’s done since that win at Eagle Farm a couple of weeks ago,” O’Sullivan said. “He seems to be on target for Saturday. “After beating older horses over 1400m last time, we think that the Gunsynd – up over 1600m and back against his own age – is an ideal target to have a go at with him. It’s going to be a very tidy field though and no walk in the park. It’ll be the toughest test of his career so far. “But based on his form and the way that he’s been working, we think he deserves this opportunity. It’s a nice race to have a shot at in his last start before we put him out for a good break.” Horse racing news View the full article

Mary Shan will contest the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) After highly creditable performances in seven Group races during the New Zealand season, Mary Shan has an opportunity to prove herself across the Tasman in Saturday’s Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm. The Andrew Forsman-trained filly has travelled to Australia in winning form, having romped home by five and a half lengths in a three-year-old race at Pukekohe on May 25. That was Mary Shan’s first appearance outside of black-type company since October. In between times the daughter of Almanzor finished second in the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), fifth in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), second in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), fourth in the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m), fifth in the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), sixth in the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and fourth in the Group 3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m). It was the fifth placing in the Fillies’ Classic at Te Rapa in February that prompted Forsman to consider the Queensland Winter Carnival. “We got her up to 2000m for that race at Te Rapa and realised that she’s not really suited to those longer distances at this point of her career,” the Cambridge trainer said. “That’s when Queensland started to come on to her radar a little bit. We decided to give her a little freshen up, then bring her back with couple of runs over shorter distances and see where we got to. “That last-start win at Pukekohe was a nice confidence-booster for her. She’d been a bit unlucky in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes and Rotorua Stakes in those first two runs back, so it was good to see her get back into winning form that day. It gave us the confidence to take her over to Brisbane and have a go at some black type. “She handled the travel really well and has thrived since then, which often happens when they come from our cold New Zealand winter into the warmer climate at the Gold Coast. She looks great.” Mary Shan will be ridden by Tyler Schiller and has drawn gate 14 in a full field of 18. “That’s the frustrating part,” Forsman said. “With the racing style that she has, she probably would have appreciated a better draw. She’s going to have to get back and give a head start to some talented horses. But we couldn’t be happier with how she’s looking leading into the race.” The Gunsynd Classic is worth $200,000 and might be Mary Shan’s only appearance during the Queensland Winter Carnival. “We could think about giving her one more run, but I’m mindful that she’s had quite a long season,” Forsman said. “So it’s possible she’ll be ready for a break after this. We’ll get this race out of the way first and then make up our minds.” Horse racing news View the full article

Motiontime winning at Riccarton on Thursday. Photo: Race Images South Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman continued to enjoy a successful week on their local polytrack on Thursday, adding another win to their tally courtesy of Motiontime. “She ended up getting a nice cushy run and probably dictated the race even though she was sitting in second spot,” Michael Pitman said. “She has done a great job that filly.” It was a rare double-header meeting on Riccarton’s synthetic track this week, with Wednesday’s meeting scheduled following the abandonment of racing at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday, and Pitman said it shows the importance Riccarton’s polytrack over the winter months. “It has got its place in racing,” he said. “It is a winter alternative and I appreciate them running two days of races (on the surface). I think there was $107,000 in stake money distributed on Wednesday that normally wouldn’t be made available, and that is appreciated.” Motiontime’s victory also brought up the stable’s 50th win of the season, putting them 16 wins clear on the South Island Trainers’ Premiership ahead of fellow Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston. The father-and-son training partnership has particularly taken delight out of seeing the progression of a number of their runners this term. “The improvement of Mystic Park, Star Ballot and Charbano has been a highlight,” Pitman said. “Third Decree has gone from winning a maiden race at Kumara to running second in a Great Easter (Listed, 1400m) over a distance which we thought may have been too much for her, but she went well. “Our team has been going really well all season, we are really proud of them.” Pitman is hoping the stable can further add to their 50-win haul this season, with Moitiontime set to return to Riccarton’s synthetic track to try and qualify for a lucrative polytrack target during Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing in August. “Motiontime gets another opportunity to run in a set weights and penalties 1400m race on the poly, so that is where she will head,” he said. “We are trying to qualify her for that $100,000 race on the middle day of the Grand National Carnival.” Horse racing news View the full article

Brisbane Cup contender, Amade. (George Salpigtidis/Racing Photos) Having delivered a stellar performance to claim the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) in his latest outing, the Phillip Stokes-trained Amade will aim to replicate that success in Saturday’s Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm. The ten-year-old rolled back the years for a dominant victory in the Listed contest, despite again missing the start. Stokes revealed that Amade has thrived being trained from his farm rather than from a box at his stables. “He seems to love it up here,” Stokes told Racing.com. “We’ve got our own swimming pool, tracks, and stuff. I think just training him out of the paddock’s been the secret. He’s a lovely horse, he’s a kind horse, but if he wants to do it, he’s happy; if he doesn’t, he won’t, as you can see with his barrier manners. “Sometimes, in his trackwork, if he doesn’t want to go another lap, he’ll just pull up and say, ‘That’ll do me.’ “He’s always going to step slow, but it’s just dependent on how many lengths he’s going to be beaten by. “When you’re racing over 3200 metres, at least you’ve got a little while to make it up. It’s the right sort of race for him. He runs that trip no worries, he’s got no problems going the other way, he has to be in the mix. “He couldn’t have been more impressive the other day in the Sandown Cup. I know he didn’t beat much, but he beat them well; it was a good win.” Horse racing news View the full article

The Maddie Raymond-trained Heart Of Puissance. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Warrnambool-based Maddie Raymond is pleased that the conditions for Saturday’s Sandown meeting are expected to remain in the soft range as she prepares to send Heart Of Puissance to Melbourne for an 1800-metre handicap. The seven-year-old gelding, also entered in a 2000-metre handicap at Murray Bridge on the same day, showed a return to form with a second-place finish in the Casterton Cup (2000m) last start. Raymond believes the slight drop in distance this weekend will be beneficial. “I think he’s finally finding a bit of form,” Raymond said. “He ran second last start. He’s going along really well, but he just needs some soft ground, which we haven’t had a lot of lately. “So, if it doesn’t remain soft on Saturday, he could potentially head across to Adelaide. “It was 2000 metres last start and the 1800 metres at Sandown is pretty tough. “If there is cut in the ground, I think he’ll run up to his best.” Horse racing news View the full article

Rackemann ridden by Daniel Stackhouse returns to the mounting yard after winning at Ballarat. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Daniel Stackhouse has become the third jockey to reach 100 wins in Victoria this season, guiding Rackemann, trained by Ben, JD, and Will Hayes, to victory at Ballarat on Wednesday. Stackhouse joins Damian Lane and Billy Egan in the 100-win club for Victorian riders this season. The 33-year-old will aim for his first Group 1 win aboard Benedetta in Saturday’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm. Horse racing news View the full article

What Sandown Lakeside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Saturday, June 15, 2024 First Race 11:50am AEST Visit Dabble Metropolitan racing in Melbourne heads to the Hillside track at Sandown on Saturday with nine races carded. The track is a Soft 6, and although it’s been a wet week in Victoria, a clear forecast for raceday means there is a slight chance of an upgrade. The rail comes out 5m, with the action commencing at 11:50am AEST. Best Bet at Sandown: Batrana Batrana put in a nice run first-up from a seven-month spell, finishing less than a length off British Angel after racing in tight room in the Caulfield home straight. The Justify progeny hit the line better than most once in clear air inside the final furlong, suggesting she was worth following wherever she went next. Harry Coffey will have his mount settled in a perfect position from barrier five, and with the long straight on the Hillside track set to aid her cause, Batrana should prove too hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 4 – #5 Batrana (5) 3yo Filly | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Harry Coffey (58.5kg) +300 with Neds Next Best at Sandown: Arqana Arqana has been racing in consistent form this preparation, notching up a maiden victory before placing in two of her next three run. The Merchant Navy mare caught the eye at Caulfield on June 1, hitting the line nicely when running on in a race that was run to suit those up on speed. This race looks to be run at a more genuine clip, meaning Jye McNeil can have Arqana out the back of the field before running over the top of her rivals late. Next Best Race 5 – #14 Arqana (7) 4yo Mare | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Jye McNeil (55kg) +650 with Playup Best Value at Sandown: Scissor Step Scissor Step has two wins from three starts at the Sandown Hillside 1000m, and he looks well placed to build on that record. The son of Toronado trailed the speed nicely on May 15 before pouncing on the lead and holding off his rivals inside the final 100m. He’s drawn barrier 16, but with the in-form Jaylah Kennedy claiming 3kg, Scissor Step has the ability to outrun his each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 7 – #1 Scissor Step (16) 5yo Gelding | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Jaylah Kennedy (a3) (62kg) +1100 with Picklebet Sandown Saturday quaddie tips – 15/6/2024 Sandown quadrella selections Saturday, June 15, 2024 1-3-5-9-12-13-15 1-2-12-13-18 1-2-4-8-13 3-4-7-16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Saturday, June 15, 2024 First Race 4pm HKT (6pm AEST) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Sha Tin on Saturday afternoon, with a massive 11-part program set for decision. The rail is in the C+3 for all turf contests, and with no significant rainfall anticipated to hit the course proper, punters should expect a genuine Good surface. The opening race is scheduled to get underway at 4pm local time. Best Bet at Sha Tin: Call Me Glorious Call Me Glorious couldn’t have been more impressive powering away to score by 2.3 lengths at this course and distance on May 26. The son of No Nay Never made every post a winner, securing victory comfortably under Zac Purton despite losing a plate throughout the run. He cops 4kg from the handicapper, but if he can replicate that last start performance, Call Me Glorious should be running his rivals into the ground to claim back-to-back wins. Best Bet Race 6 – #2 Call Me Glorious (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Zac Purton (59kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sha Tin: Brilliant Express Brilliant Express got a pass mark on debut at Sha Tin on June 2 and should take plenty of benefit with race-day experience under his belt. The John Size-trained gelding got too far back from barrier nine, getting chopped out for a run at a crucial stage. He should’ve finished much closer than the 4.8-length margin may suggest, and with a more economical run from barrier seven, watch for Brilliant Express to be doing his best work down the centre of the course. Next Best Race 4 – #4 Brilliant Express (7) 3yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Hugh Bowman (57.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value at Sha Tin: Pray For Mir Pray For Mir was a two-time winner in Australia before being transferred to the Cody Mo barn and seems to be acclimatising well to his new conditions. The son of Justify caught the eye in a recent trial at Sha Tin on June 4, niggled along to stay within a half-length of Fortune Superstar. He should get a soft run on his Hong Kong debut from barrier five, and provided gallopers can make inroads despite the rail being out, Pray For Mir should give a good account of himself in the Sha Tin finale. Best Value Race 11 – #8 Pray For Mir (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Cody Mo | J: Matthew Chadwick (55.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Hong Kong Saturday quaddie picks Sha Tin quadrella selections Saturday, June 15, 2024 1-5-8 1-4-6-7 1-2-3-5-6-7-8 1-3-4-5-9-11 Horse racing tips
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Darwin trainer Phil Cole with Victorian apprentice Makisha Salter after they combined for a winning double at Fannie Bay last Saturday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (FotoFinish Racepix) Leading Top End trainer Phil Cole will start a Darwin Cup and Palmerston Sprint contender in Saturday’s feature at Fannie Bay. Cup prospect Saccharo, an eight-year-old gelding, and Sprint hope Star Magnum, a six-year-old gelding, line up in the ROANT Day June 29 Handicap (1200m). The race in fact resembles a ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) field, the $30,000 feature held the week before the Darwin Cup Carnival starts. Saccharo (60kg) and Star Magnum (55kg) – both sons of Magnus – will take on Gary Clarke’s Spaceship and Siakam, Jason Manning’s Noir De Rue, Kerry Petrick’s Venting, Neil Dyer’s Ziggi Rocks and Angela Foster’s Zoumist. “Both horses are going well and every other runner is a danger, there’s a lot of quality horses,” Cole said. “A few of them are heading towards the Palmerston Sprint and the Darwin Cup. “A lot of quality stayers sprint well fresh, as we know. “They’re all in good order, it’s going to be a competitive race on Saturday.” Saccharo, with in-form apprentice Emma Lines on board, is arguably Cole’s best horse, having tasted success from 1200-1600m in Victoria, Queensland and the NT. He has had four starts this year in open company over 1300m for two wins and a narrow second and third; he saluted last start on March 16. “Saccharo has never won first up, but he’s a very honest horse,” Cole said. “He’s got great credentials when looking ahead to Saturday’s race. “Condition wise, he’s probably the best looking horse I’ve got in the yard at the moment. “His coat is absolutely glowing, I think he’s in for a magnificent preparation over the Darwin Cup Carnival. “Unfortunately, he missed it last year with a splint bone injury. “He’ll be back this year ready to go, he’s a warhorse and loves getting out there.” Star Magnum, with three wins and seven minor placings from 12 starts for Cole, backs up after finishing second behind Rising Sphere over 1100m (BM76) last Saturday after jumping from gate six and travelling three wide throughout. Cole argues that he would have won the race if he had drawn a better gate, and this weekend Star Magnum – with Alice Springs hoop Ianish Luximon in the saddle – jumps from gate five as he strives to win his first race since October. “He was good last weekend, but with his rating we’ve struggled to find the right races for him this preparation,” he said. “He went a month between runs. “We gave him a couple of trials before his first up run, just because there wasn’t an ideal race for him. “He’s come to hand really well this preparation. “He’s been a great asset, he’s a very easy horse to train.” Cole has 27 wins for the 2023/24 season and although he won’t catch Gary Clarke (50) in the trainers’ premiership, he is bound to make an impact during Carnival. “For some reason, I’ve got less horses than I normally have for Carnival,” he said. “I was thinking that I was probably heading into the Carnival this year with the best team I’ve ever had.” Horse racing news View the full article

Florida-based stallion Win Win Win (by Hat Trick {Jpn}) could not have kicked his second career off any better, earning a first winner and first 'TDN Rising Star' Thursday as Nooni (Win Win Win–Unanimity, by Union Rags) lived up her billing in a winning debut at Santa Anita. After blitzing a quarter-mile in :20.1 at OBS March, Nooni caught the eye of Zedan Racing Stables and trainer Bob Baffert who went to a sales-topping $1,800,000 to secure the filly from her sire's first crop. Hammered down to 1-5 in the wagering, the filly, affectionately named for her owner's wife, made the lead right from the opening jumps and, seemingly in the blink of an eye, was already ahead by a clear margin. In what was clearly a one-horse race throughout, Nooni absolutely cruised, running comfortably under Juan Hernandez into the lane. Hernandez gave one look under his shoulder and wrapped up on his filly, bringing her home in a gallop to win by nearly double digits when all was said and done. Her sire's first winner from five starters, Nooni is out of a placed half-sister to MSW/MGSP Courtesan (Street Sense) and to the dam of both GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew) and Astoria S. winner Devious Dame (Girvin). This is the extended family of GISW Discreet Cat (Forestry) and G1SW Discreetly Mine (Mineshaft) along with GISW and $4m KEENOV broodmare buy Awesome Maria (Maria's Mon). Unanimity returned to Win Win Win for a 2023 colt and foaled another colt by Gretzy the Great this year. 6th-Santa Anita, $54,000, Msw, 6-13, 2yo, f, 5f, :58.21, ft, 9 1/2 lengths. NOONI, f, 2, Win Win Win 1st Dam: Unanimity, by Union Rags 2nd Dam: Lady Discreet, by Tempo 3rd Dam: Pretty Discreet, by Private Account Sales History: $1,800,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $32,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Ocala Stud, Joseph M. O'Farrell III, David O'Farrell, et al. (FL); T-Bob Baffert. LIGHTS OUT! NOONI ($2.40) rocketed to an early lead and never looked back in her debut at @SantaAnitaPark in race 6. @JJHernandezS19 had the daughter of Win Win Win (@OcalaStud) wrapped up as they crossed the wire for trainer @BobBaffert. Late Pick 3: https://t.co/hp9pmwASiJ pic.twitter.com/C3HBYtJc5D — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 13, 2024 The post OBS March Sales Topper Nooni A ‘Rising Star’ For Win Win Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A series of strong storms have been rocking South Florida since June 12, causing flooding in Gulfstream Park's oldest section of the barn area that caused the evacuation of about 300 horses June 13.View the full article

3rd-Churchill Downs, $89,625, Msw, 6-13, 2yo, 5f, :58.48, ft, 2 lengths. SPIRALIZER (c, 2, Twirling Candy–Jotown, by Speightstown) sold earlier this year for $550,000 at OBS March for Wathnan Racing and jumped as the 8-5 favorite facing a field of fractious rivals in the pre-race lead up. Once settled and in the gate, the favorite was ridden for the lead from his rail draw and always looked the winner, traveling confidently along the fence and coming home unchallenged to win by two lengths. Asleep At Eight (Frosted) beat home a trio of closers for second. Jotown, herself a $550,000 KEESEP yearling, is a daughter of GSW/GISP Jojo Warrior and a half to 'TDN Rising Star' Under Oath (Speightstown). This is the family of 'Rising Stars' J Z Warrior (Harlan's Holiday), A Z Warrior (Bernardini) and E Z Warrior (Exploit). Spiralizer is his dam's first foal and has a yearling Maclean's Music half-brother and a newborn half-sister by Golden Pal. Sales History: $250,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Bridlewood Farm (FL); T-Steven M. Asmussen. #1 Spiralizer breaks his maiden on debut in gate-to-wire fashion in R3 at Churchill Downs under @tyler_gaff for trainer Steve Asmussen! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/1pUg5uqWMp — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 13, 2024 The post Spiralizer A Winner On Debut For Twirling Candy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article