Wandering Eyes

It has taken a while, but Paul Preusker says Captain Envious (NZ) (Savabeel) is now the seasoned stayer that can be targeted towards Australia’s best staying races. The Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup are on Preusker’s mind as Captain Envious heads towards start number 20 in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday. Success in Saturday’s race will give Captain Envious a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October, while Preusker is also planning to start the stayer in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington next month to win a start into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. Preusker has always regarded Captain Envious highly and at start number six, coming off a benchmark 70 win at Geelong, he threw the gelding into the Group 3 Queens Cup (2600m) during the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival in which Captain Envious finished third behind Soulcombe (Frankel). Subsequent campaigns have all been about toughening Captain Envious to stand the rigours of training and racing and Preusker believes the gelding is now at that point. “He’s slowly putting it together and is becoming street smart and tough now,” Preusker told RSN. “We’re looking forward to seeing where he can get to this prep. “Those first couple of preps he would weaken on me but he’s ready to be a horse this time and you look at him and I think I could tighten him up a bit more.” Captain Envious won the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) last December and more recently the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield. Now he’s got to step up to 2400m, a trip he won over at Geelong as a younger horse, but now he has got to do it against more seasoned stayers. “He’s got to answer the question whether he can get right out in trip or not,” Preusker said. “He’s certainly got the constitution there. He’s a sound horse and heading in the right direction. “I don’t have any problems at 2400 (metres), can he run out a tough two miles, I guess not many can, but I’d like to find out.” Preusker said plans are simple for the remainder of campaign, head to Mornington and win and then onto Flemington for the Andrew Ramsden. “We’ll have a go on Saturday, and that ticks a box, and rain, hail or shine, we’ll have a go at the Ramsden which will tick another box,” Preusker said. “I think that would be enough for him and then he can have a light time for a while, but once we get through those runs, we’ll know our path.” View the full article

Michael Kent Jnr is eagerly looking forward to next month’s South Australian Derby with Warmonger, after his close second placing behind Air Assault in the Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) last Saturday. The Mick Price and Kent Jnr-trained three-year-old gelding took significant ground from Air Assault over the last 200m at Morphettville, but fell short by a short half head. “Warmonger was second-up in the Port Adelaide Guineas and Air Assault, who is a smart horse, was fourth-up and he had a cushy lead,” Kent Jnr said. “I think our horse is the one to take out of the race.” Last spring, Warmonger won the TAB Trophy (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day at his third start, the race one that has been a stepping stone race for promising stayers over the years. Two years ago, Price and Kent Jnr combined to win the South Australia Derby with Jungle Magnate and their plan is for Warmonger to follow the same path. “The Chairman’s Stakes will be Warmonger’s next start although the difference this year is it’s a week before the South Australia Derby, not the two weeks it was when Jungle Magnate won,” he said. The stable plans to tackle the same races with Tulsa King and Shinjuku. “The three of them will contest the Chairman’s and we will leave them in Adelaide for the week to contest the South Australian Derby,” he said. Tulsa King finished second to Smokin’ Princess over 1600m at Pakenham last Thursday. “Tulsa King ran very well and was Michelle Payne’s good mare. He’s a promising stayer, as is Shinjuku,” Kent Jnr said. “Shinjuku also has staying talent and he got double-barrelled at the barriers and was a late scratching from the Port Adelaide Guineas.” View the full article

What Cranbourne Races Where Cranbourne Turf Club – 50 Grant St, Cranbourne VIC 3977 When Friday, April 19, 2024 First Race 4:40pm AEST Visit Dabble Friday night racing in Victoria heads to Cranbourne Racecourse once again, with nine races carded. A perfect autumn night is forecast, with ideal track conditions set to marry up with a Good 4 surface. The rail is in its true position, and the first race is set to go at 4:40pm AEST. Best Bet at Cranbourne: Room For Bingo The Rebecca Waymouth-trained Room For Bingo was only gunned down late by a handy type at the Cranbourne 1000m on April 5. The three-year-old filly returns to the track and trip for her third career start and looks to have struck a relatively weak maiden. From barrier seven, Remi Tremsal will roll forward and take up the running, and as long as the pair do not use up too many tickets in finding the lead, Room For Bingo should prove too slick for her rivals. Best Bet Race 2 – #9 Room For Bingo (7) 3yo Filly | T: Rebecca Waymouth | J: Remi Tremsal (56kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Cranbourne: Porter Danny O’Brien’s Porter was hitting the line nicely over 1530m at Geelong last time out, suggesting the Pakenham 2025m will be no issue. The three-year-old gelding was a handy Ballarat winner two starts back and looked to have plenty left in reserve. In what shapes to be a moderately run event, Porter should have no issue seeing out the trip at the first time of asking. Next Best Race 7 – #4 Porter (10) 3yo Gelding | T: Danny O’Brien | J: Billy Egan (61.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best Again at Cranbourne: Tacito Despite being no match for Pivot City first-up after a year off, Tacito has found a nice race to return to the winner’s stall. The three-year-old colt was seemingly in need of that first-up run at Sandown, but his efforts as a juvenile would be more than good enough to be competitive in this. Daniel Stackhouse will have the son of Showtime stalking the speed throughout from barrier five, and with a well-timed sprint, Tacito looks the goods second-up. Next Best Again Race 5 – #2 Tacito (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Daniel Stackhouse (60kg) Bet with Dabble Friday quaddie tips for Cranbourne races Cranbourne quadrella selections Friday, April 19, 2024 3-11-12 1-4-8 1-2-3-6-7 1-2-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What The Quokka 2024 Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, April 20, 2024 Prizemoney $5,000,000 Distance 1200m Conditions Weight for age 2023 winner Overpass (8) | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Joshua Parr (58.5kg) Visit Dabble The second edition of The Quokka will headline the massive 10-race meeting at Ascot this Saturday afternoon, with 14 sprinters set to clash over 1200m. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit, which is the exact same position as it was for last year’s race. After winning the inaugural edition of the race, Overpass will attempt to defend his crown in the $5 million race, while star mare Amelia’s Jewel will seek revenge for her narrow defeat 12 months ago. Will The Quokka produce another grandstand finish? Or will another sprinter put their hand up and claim Quokka glory? The Quokka 2024 odds It is no surprise that Western Australia’s best horse, Amelia’s Jewel, has opened as the favourite at +230 with online bookmakers, and Overpass sits on the second line of betting at +360. Behind the top two in the market is Bella Nipotina (+400), followed by Oscar’s Fortune (+600) and King Of Sparta (+750). Although they are marked a lot longer than the top five in betting, the likes of Malkovich (+1800), Ripcord (+2000) and Wild Belle (+2500) can spring a surprise if they perform at their peak. The Quokka 2024 speed map The Bjorn Baker-trained duo of Overpass and Malkovich are expected to scorch the turf at the front of the field, with the likes of Oscar’s Fortune, Super Smink and King Of Sparta settling behind them. Any combination of runners could settle midfield, as Amelia’s Jewel, Bella Nipotina and Wild Belle could perch closer than usual due to their wide barriers. Saloon Bar, Triple Missile and Ripcord will settle at the rear of the field and enjoy any extra pace that is injected into the race. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for The Quokka 2024. The Quokka 2024 preview & form Oscar’s Fortune brings great form to The Quokka after claiming a half-length victory over Amelia’s Jewel in the Group 3 Roma Cup last start. The Dion Luciani-trained galloper has started his career in fine style, recording five wins and three placings from his eight starts, with one of those placings coming at Group 1 level behind Overpass in the Winterbottom Stakes. Jumping from barrier three will allow William Pike to settle Oscar’s Fortune behind the speed, and if he gets a split between the leaders late, he will be right there when the whips are cracking. It is hard to understand why Overpass isn’t the favourite for The Quokka. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding defeated Amelia’s Jewel fair and square last year after sustaining a strong gallop on speed and then made a mess of his rivals in the Winterbottom Stakes in the summer. From barrier six, Joshua Parr won’t have to do much work to find the front, and if Overpass turns up in the same condition that he has in his last two starts at Ascot, he will take a power of beating. Amelia’s Jewel went within a nose of claiming the 2023 edition of The Quokka, and the Simon Miller-trained mare has been to Victoria and New South Wales since to claim two Group 2 victories over 1400m and 1600m. Jumping from barrier 12 leaves Damian Lane with two choices: settle towards the rear of the field, or push forward and risk getting trapped wide. Amelia’s Jewel can take this out, but there is a lot going against her this year. Bella Nipotina finished third in this race last year and brings strong form from the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes, where the Ciaron Maher-trained mare finished second behind Chain Of Lightning last start. However, much like the favourite, barrier 13 will force her to settle near the rear, and she’ll have to loop the field to win. The Quokka 2024 selections & best bets Selections: 10 OSCAR’S FORTUNE 1 OVERPASS 8 AMELIA’S JEWEL 7 BELLA NIPOTINA $100 betting strategy $50 Win Oscar’s Fortune (#10) @ +600 with Neds $50 Win Overpass (#1) @ +360 with PlayUp 2024 The Quokka Final Field 1. Overpass (6) T: Bjorn Baker J: Joshua Parr W: 58.5kg F: x102x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Vancouver Dam: Walkway +360 -117.65 2. King Of Sparta (4) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Blake Shinn W: 58.5kg F: x1128 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Octavia +750 +170 3. Malkovich (2) T: Bjorn Baker J: Ben Melham W: 58.5kg F: 26336 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Choisir Dam: Mabkhara +1800 +360 4. Triple Missile (7) T: Grant & Alana Williams J: Brad Parnham W: 58.5kg F: 5×062 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Smart Missile Dam: Triple Latte (USA) +8000 +1500 5. Waitak (10) T: Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor W: 58.5kg F: x811x Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Proisir Dam: Repo Bay (NZ) +5000 +900 6. Saloon Bar (1) T: Daniel Morton J: Rhys McLeod W: 58.5kg F: 24×19 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Sessions Dam: Paris Cracker +15000 +3000 7. Bella Nipotina (13) T: Ciaron Maher J: Craig Williams W: 56.5kg F: 2454x Age: 6YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Bella Orfana +400 -105.26 8. Amelia’s Jewel (12) T: Simon Miller J: Damian Lane W: 56.5kg F: 2×091 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Siyouni (FR) Dam: Bumbasina (IRE) +230 -166.67 9. Ripcord (5) T: Luke Fernie J: Clint Johnston-Porter W: 56.5kg F: 3×231 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Written By Dam: Single in London +2000 +400 10. Oscar’s Fortune (3) T: Dion Luciani J: William Pike W: 56.5kg F: 12×22 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Rich Enuff Dam: Oscar Award +600 +135 11. Wild Belle (11) T: Luke Fernie J: Steven Parnham W: 56.5kg F: 114×8 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Hi Belle +2500 +500 12. Almighty Class (8) T: Mitchell Pateman J: Jarrod Noske W: 56.5kg F: 32×21 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: My Classy Lady +4000 +750 13. Super Smink (14) T: Daniel Morton J: Chris Parnham W: 54.5kg F: x2321 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Super One Dam: Sminky Shorts +3300 +650 14. Petula (9) T: Simon Miller J: Patrick Carbery W: 54.5kg F: 31124 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Filly Sire: Nicconi Dam: Run Sally Run +5000 +900 15 (1E). Comfort Me (0) T: Rhys Radford J: TBC W: 58.5kg F: 8×373 Age: 7YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Southern Comfort +10000 +1900 16 (2E). Red Can Man (0) T: Steve Wolfe J: TBC W: 58.5kg F: 80×54 Age: 7YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Gingerbread Man Dam: Brocky’s Ace +15000 +3000 17 (3E). Hot Zed (0) T: Lou Luciani J: TBC W: 58.5kg F: 67670 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Red Hot Choice Dam: Zedfire +10000 +2000 18 (4E). Gemma’s Son (0) T: Embroja-Lee Altieri J: TBC W: 58.55kg F: 44172 Age: 6YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Snippetson Dam: Princess Gemma +7000 +1300 More horse racing tips View the full article

After spending more than two decades travelling the world as a chef, Gavin Opie returned to New Zealand 14 years ago to pursue his initial love of horses, and now he has joined the 100-win club as a trainer. He brought up the milestone at Arawa Park on Wednesday when Opaea Joe (NZ) (Puccini) got his nose in front on the line to take out the Lance Lawson 1230. “We have had a lot of seconds, so to get that off the back now is great,” Opie said. “It was a great ride by Billy (Jacobson). He was the only one who had rung up for the ride, so he benefitted. “He (Opaea Joe) had a couple of below-par performances when he went up to rating 75 grade. I threw him in the paddock on some fresh grass and then brought him back and got him to his favourite place, Rotorua, and he got the job done.” A son of trainer Keith Opie, horses were always a passion for Gavin, however, when his aspirations of becoming a jockey were dashed, he elected to follow a different vocation, which led to a memorable journey around the globe. “I wanted to be a jockey at one stage, but Dad said that I was going to be too big to do that,” Opie said. “I had to earn some pocket money, so I started to help a chef out at the local pub and one thing led to another. “I went away and was a chef overseas for 20 years. I was in England, Melbourne and Miami. I am glad that I did it and I have a lot of good memories. “I had a good time at Stella restaurant in Melbourne and my last three years (as a chef) I worked privately for a guy on his yacht chasing the sun (based out of Miami). That was a brilliant experience. “My wife and kids wanted to live in New Zealand where it was a bit more relaxed, so we came back here and I went back into the horses with Dad.” Opie tasted plenty of success with his father, highlighted by the deeds of Indikator, who won 18 races, including four Gr.3 Rotorua Cups and two Listed Kiwifruit Cups. After a decade in partnership, Opie junior took over the reins in a solo capacity in 2020, and he has loved the challenge. “Dad and I had a lot of success together and now on my own it is working out quite well,” he said. “I love training, I couldn’t think of anything better to do.” Opie is now hoping to quickly add to his win tally later in the week at Matamata, where he believes last-start runner-ups Deebee Bellfer (NZ) (Preferment) and You Know (NZ) (Preferment) are strong chances of going one better in the RSA Red Poppy Raceday 26th April (2000m) and Challenge Matamata 2000 respectively. “Deebee Bellfer should be pretty hard to beat, and You Know has been dealt a few bad draws and just lost the bob at Ellerslie last time,” he said. View the full article

Eudora (NZ) (Pins) has proved to be an invaluable and much-loved member of the Waikato Stud broodmare band. A racing career was never a possibility for the daughter of Pins, but she has endeared herself to the Matamata operation with her deeds at stud and a 100 percent record with all six of her foals successful. “Eudora’s a great old girl, she had an early breeding start because she’s only got one eye and didn’t race and she’s done a fantastic job,” farm principal Mark Chittick said. The star of the brood has been the dual Group One winner Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) and her brother Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) will bid to add to Eudora’s stakes record when he makes his Australian debut in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). Trained by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, the genuine four-year-old will chase the golden ticket into the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on offer to the winner. “That’s the plan and Shaune and Colm have obviously done a great job with the horse,” Chittick said. “All of us love racing a good horse and I’m certainly loving racing him and the reason we are is that we couldn’t sell him as a yearling. “There was nothing wrong with him then and certainly nothing wrong with him now.” Nereus failed to meet his $200,000 reserve when offered by Ohukia Lodge on behalf of Waikato Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale. The gelding has five wins and three placings from his eight appearances, including a last-start success in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) with Michael McNab to partner him on Saturday. Waikato Stud will also have major interest in the performance of the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Fashion Shoot (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington. They co-bred the Group Three-winning daughter of Savabeel, who is out of the O’Reilly mare High Fashion (NZ) with the Forbes family and was sold to Te Akau’s David Ellis for $320,000 at Karaka. “Howard and Pam are very good friends and have been great supporters of ours,” Chittick said. There will also be intense interest on Saturday’s Gr.1 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick where undefeated youngster Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) steps out for trainer John O’Shea. “All eyes will be on him and hopefully he can give Super Seth his first Group One winner,” Chittick said. The colt was a debut winner at Hawkesbury in February and then claimed top honours in the Gr.3 Bailleu (1400m) at Rosehill. Meanwhile, the farm’s star performer I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) has done well since his resuming third in the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. “He was very good first-up on a wet track and the form analysis report that I got from Peter (Moody) showed that he got held up between the 600m and 400m and the race was run at a slow tempo to start with,” Chittick said. “The indications are that he’ll go up to Brisbane for two runs and then a couple of weeks in the paddock there before he goes back into work in Melbourne for the Manikato (Gr.1, 1200m) and The Everest (1200m).” View the full article

A bright future is being tipped for Super Photon following his debut win in the Arawa Park Hotel 2YO 1150 at Rotorua on Wednesday. The son of Super Seth jumped away fairly from his ace barrier and took an early trail behind pacemaker Force Of Law before jockey Joe Doyle was able to navigate him into the coveted one-one position behind the regally-bred Magice. Turning for home, Super Photon peeled three-wide and quickly ranged up alongside the Magice and Force Of Law and showed his class in the concluding stages to post a 3-3/4 length victory over Magice. Super Photon was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Marsh in conjunction with Dennis Foster, Bourbon Lane and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $380,000. He showed signs of early talent at the trials, placing in all three of his heats and was subsequently backed into $2.50 favouritism for his debut. “He is a lovely colt by Super Seth. We paid a lot of money for him at the sales,” Marsh said. “He is still a colt. He is a beautifully bred half to Mo’unga so it is nice that he is fully intact. “We were very confident today and they have always got to put it together, he was beautiful today. I love the way he settled in the trail. “He has still got a lot to learn, but he put them away pretty quick and we believe he is a colt with a big future.” Stakes assignments are now in the crosshairs for Super Photon, with the first in his sights being the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa on May 4. “We thought if he won well today he could potentially go to Te Rapa on 4th of May, there is a stakes race over 1400m there and then he can go out for a spell,” Marsh said. “You just hope you can set him for a Hawke’s Bay Guineas and 2000 Guineas, that will be out long-term plan.” American investor, and thoroughbred enthusiast, Dennis Foster, alongside Bourbon Lane’s Jamie Hill and Mike McMahon, have formed a solid partnership with Marsh in New Zealand, having previously tasted success with the likes of stakes winner Glamour Tycoon, All Black Bourbon, Hoard The Bourbon, and Mega Bourbon. View the full article

Good Oil (NZ) (Dalghar) has continued to impress Andrew Forsman this season and the Cambridge trainer will give the eye-catching frontrunner his first Australian test in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). The son of Dalghar took time to develop, only breaking his maiden early as a four-year-old, but a season later he has rapidly stepped through the grades over middle-distance trips with 11 top-four finishes in his 13 starts this term. In his familiar pace-making role, Good Oil almost caused an upset in both the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), leading until the dying stages of the latter only to be surpassed by two-mile specialist Mahrajaan (Kitten’s Joy), while holding off subsequent Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) winner Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking). Forsman was thrilled with his performance, which warranted a trip across the Tasman for Saturday’s feature. “He’s great and has thrived since he arrived in Australia, he’s taken to it really well, which is good, with the quick turnaround to get him over there and running on Saturday,” Forsman said. Forsman has engaged Billy Egan to partner his charge, who drew the ace barrier and carries an equal-bottom weight of 54kg in the handicap. “Having drawn barrier one is great for him, he’ll ping and put himself on pace,” Forsman said. “I know there’s another strong frontrunning horse in Deny Knowledge (Pride of Dubai) and she may take the lead from him, but as long as he’s in the leading group, he’ll be happy.” “The only niggling doubt in the back of my mind is the long gap between races for him, but apart from that, I couldn’t be happier with him going into it.” Good Oil will be one of two Kiwi horses making their bid for the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) golden ticket available in the Mornington Cup, alongside Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel), and Forsman is treating any further success as a bonus for the consistent gelding. “Right from day one, we were just trying to get him to switch on and win a race, and now he’s doing what he’s doing,” Forsman said. “Whatever he does is a bonus in my eyes, he’s a neat horse to have around and any race we line him up in, he turns up and tries hard every time.” Forsman will also be represented in the Mornington Guineas (1600m) by Riproar (NZ) (Charm Spirit), a son of Charm Spirit that has raced out of his Victorian stable through the season. Riproar was an impressive last-start winner at Geelong and will be partnered by Harry Coffey in the three-year-old event. “He was competitive enough against three-year-olds in the spring, but it’s always different getting into the autumn,” Forsman said. “He won very well first-up, albeit against lesser opposition than he strikes on Saturday. We’re confident that he’s as well as he can be heading into it, but now he’s just got to prove he’s up to this level.” Puccini four-year-old Full Of Sincerity (NZ) (Puccini) completes Forsman’s Mornington team, contesting the Benchmark 84 Handicap (1600m) later on the card. View the full article

Wairarapa gelding Times Ticking (NZ) (Tavistock) has an affinity with the South Island, and he will be looking to extend that record when he heads to Riccarton on Saturday. The eight-year-old son of Tavistock has won three of his seven starts in the south, including the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), Listed Easter Cup (1600m), Banks Peninsula Cup (1800m), and was third in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui in February. He will return to Riccarton this weekend where he will attempt to defend his crown in the Canterbury Gold Cup, where he has drawn barrier four and will be ridden by Tina Comignaghi. Owner-breeder-trainer Alby MacGregor has the luxury of staying with his son near Rangiora during his southern stints and said his pride and joy thrives in that environment. “He is down in Christchurch now with my son. He has been down there for a week or so,” MacGregor said. “He has had a fair bit of success down there and he seems to thrive down there. My son is at Rangiora and he has a little farm there and he seems to enjoy it.” Times Ticking heads into Saturday in good form, having won the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) in January before his White Robe Lodge placing. He was then seventh in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham a fortnight ago, which MacGregor said has brought him on nicely for Saturday’s title defence. “He needed that run,” MacGregor said. “I was quite happy with it. He whacked away. He is probably not a 1400m horse nowadays, but he had to have something to blow the cobwebs out.” MacGregor said Times Ticking will likely head for a spell at his son’s property following Saturday’s run. “After the weekend he is going to have a break for a little while and we will work it out from there,” he said. View the full article

Group Two performer Zaila (Street Boss) was in a purple patch of form late last year and trainer Kylie Hoskin is hoping she can pick up where she left off when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday. The five-year-old daughter of Street Boss was fourth in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) and Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) before gaining black-type when runner-up to subsequent Group One winner Campionessa (NZ) (Contributor) in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa in December. “It was such a good run in the Cal Isuzu, and to run second behind Campionessa there is no shame in that,” Hoskin said. The Byerley Park horsewoman has been pleased with the way her stable star has returned and is looking forward to stepping her out at Ellerslie for the first time in the Barfoot & Thompson 1200. “It is really exciting to get her back on course and to Ellerslie as well, and give her a look around there,” Hoskin said. “She seems to like any surface – she goes on the Heavy, she goes on the Good – it doesn’t seem to bother her. “She does seem to have better form left-handed than right, but in saying that, she has gone some good races right-handed as well. It will be a bit of a fact-finding mission and we will know more after Saturday.” Zaila has had the one trial over 800m leading into her resuming run and Hoskin said Saturday’s 1200m contest should help bring her on further. “She had the trial at Pukekohe, she is pretty fresh and behaved accordingly, so it was hard to get a line on her,” Hoskin said. “She has definitely got a bit of spunk that we are trying to keep under wraps. I love her to bits, but she does take a bit of managing. “We would have gone back to the trials, but with Waipa being moved and a bit of rain about at the end of this week, we decided to go to Ellerslie instead.” Zaila will jump from barrier seven with Sam Spratt aboard and has been installed a $10 winning chance by TAB bookmakers. “I think she will get a nice run in behind them,” Hoskin said. “As long as she is running on we will be happy. “It is her first run back with just one trial under her belt, so she is probably lacking a little bit fitness-wise, but the rain will help her, it will help slow them down a bit and bring them back to her.” Hoskin has eyed next month’s Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) as Zaila’s main target this preparation and believes Saturday’s contest is a great starting point. “With those trials being moved we wanted to get a run into her before the Rotorua Stakes,” Hoskin said. “We will then give her a short break and look towards the spring.” Meanwhile, Hoskin is looking forward to her new stable acquisition Quality Time making his New Zealand debut in the near future. “I have an import of Go Racing’s from Australia called Quality Time, who has come over from Chris Waller’s,” she said. “He trialled at Pukekohe as well and hit the line pretty strongly. He will have his first start at Te Rapa in a few weeks, so it will be exciting to get him out for his New Zealand debut. “Since he has had that trial he has really perked up, he is a lovely horse and a bit of a gentleman. He is a chestnut and he is showing a bit of his red-head side this week, so I am pretty excited to get him out on the track.” View the full article

David Hayes concedes stable newcomer Little Brose (Per Incanto) faces a big challenge at his Hong Kong debut in the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, 28 April. The former Australian sprinter, a Group 1 winner of the 2023 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds, faces tough local and international opposition in the feature sprint. Japanese runner Mad Cool (Dark Angel) is a Group 1 winner, while Hong Kong sprinters California Spangle (Starspangledbanner) and Victor The Winner (Toronado) have also both won at the highest level. Sunrise Ronaldo (Harbinger) will also represent Japan in the international contingent, which is completed by Great Britain’s sprinter Believing (Mehmas) – trained by George Boughey. Now a three-year-old, Little Brose was trained in Australia by Hayes’ sons Ben, Will and JD. He is owned by Hong Kong businessman Peter Young who has always been keen to see the colt race at Sha Tin before returning to Australia to potentially stand at stud. The colt has raced nine times for two wins, two seconds, and a third pre-import for more than HK$8 million in earnings. His last race was at Caulfield in October in the G1 Caulfield Guineas when he finished eighth in the 15-horse field, beaten by nearly five lengths, at his first attempt over 1600m. Hayes said that depending on how Little Brose trials on Friday (19 April), he expects a competitive performance against some elite sprinting opposition. “It is a tough task but he is a Group 1 winner,” he said. “There are three other Group 1 winners in the race and we’ll see how he goes. Then he’ll run in a handicap three weeks later if he doesn’t win it because he won’t be eligible if he wins (Chairman’s Sprint Prize).” Hayes was speaking from his own experiences and observations when he said a lot of horses don’t win first-up in Hong Kong. As well as Little Brose’s Blue Diamond Stakes win, the colt is also a Listed 1000m winner at Caulfield. “He has got some sprinting ability and we are happy for him to run in the big races and that’s what we are going to do,” Hayes said. “At the moment I think I will keep him sprinting in the short term and that’s where his best form is and then if need be we will stretch him out.” Like many good gallopers, Hayes said Little Brose was lazy in his trackwork but had so far won two of his three trials, and on Friday he plans to apply blinkers when he trials. He said it was always the plan for Little Brose, who was exported from Australia in December, to race in Australia so he could qualify for Hong Kong. “I’d be surprised if beat the Dubai winner (California Spangle) but we’d be very happy if he ran a place,” Hayes said. View the full article

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The curtain closes on the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival with a wide-open All Aged Stakes (Race 8) at Randwick on Saturday. Group 1 winning mare Espiona is tipped to salute for the punters in the 2024 All Aged Stakes on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart. Fourteen horses will vie for a share of the $1.5 million prize money in this weight-for-age showdown. Leading the charge in the early betting at Ladbrokes is Chris Waller‘s Espiona ($4.20). Drawn in gate eight for the 1400m race, the five-year-old daughter of Extreme Choice is ready to peak this campaign. She’s been knocking on the door in Group 1 races all year, finishing a close third in both the Black Caviar Lightning and Canterbury Stakes. Last Saturday, she came within a length of victory in a thrilling finish to the TJ Smith Stakes. With the ideal distance (1400m) now on her plate, Espiona looks poised to deliver Waller his third All Aged Stakes win. Hot on her heels is Sunshine In Paris ($5), trained by Annabel Neasham. Ridden by Ryan Maloney, this four-year-old mare boasts a perfect gate two draw and a history of success at Randwick. She captured the Group 1 Surround Stakes here over 1400m last year and has been running competitively this season, narrowly missing out on victory in The Galaxy and finishing just ahead of Espiona in the TJ Smith Stakes. Three-year-old colt Southport Tycoon ($6.50), trained by Ciaron Maher, is looking to add his name to the list of victorious youngsters in the All Aged Stakes. Following Giga Kick’s win last year, Southport Tycoon will be aiming to repeat the feat. Fresh off a win in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, he’ll be making his Sydney debut in this race. Ms Jamie Kah will be in the saddle as he tackles the older horses in a reversed direction. Several other contenders are worth keeping an eye on, including the Group 1 winners Magic Time ($8) and Chain Of Lightning ($9), and Joe Pride’s Private Eye ($8.50). Click here for the latest All Aged Stakes 2024 betting odds thanks to Ladbrokes. 2024 All Aged Stakes Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 05x132x260 PRIVATE EYE Joseph Pride James McDonald 10 59kg 112 2 901393×784 GOLDEN MILE James Cummings Adam Hyeronimus 13 59kg 107 3 x1382x4909 BUENOS NOCHES Matthew Smith Mark Zahra 3 59kg 106 4 765824×702 BANDERSNATCH Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Dylan Gibbons (a) 12 59kg 103 5 1410×33346 BUFFALO RIVER (USA) Michael Moroney Tim Clark 9 59kg 103 6 11x3128x37 AIRMAN Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 11 59kg 102 7 54x1564x29 AMENABLE Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Chad Schofield 14 59kg 99 8 64x370x011 CHAIN OF LIGHTNING Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Ms Rachel King 4 57kg 115 9 x21714x336 ESPIONA Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 8 57kg 113 10 13121x1x25 SUNSHINE IN PARIS Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 2 57kg 113 11 13x5131x67 MAGIC TIME Grahame Begg Michael Dee 6 57kg 109 12 1129×221 SOUTHPORT TYCOON Ciaron Maher Ms Jamie Kah 5 56.5kg 108 13 23125×3256 ENCAP Gary Portelli Tyler Schiller 7 56.5kg 96 14 x11169x688 TIZ INVINCIBLE Ciaron Maher Zac Lloyd (a) 1 54.5kg 9 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Open 2024 All Aged Stakes Field Set for Showdown in Sydney appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Times Ticking will attempt to defend his crown in Saturday’s Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton. Photo: Race Images South Wairarapa gelding Times Ticking has an affinity with the South Island, and he will be looking to extend that record when he heads to Riccarton on Saturday. The eight-year-old son of Tavistock has won three of his seven starts in the south, including the Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), Listed Easter Cup (1600m), Banks Peninsula Cup (1800m), and was third in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui in February. He will return to Riccarton this weekend where he will attempt to defend his crown in the Canterbury Gold Cup, where he has drawn barrier four and will be ridden by Tina Comignaghi. Owner-breeder-trainer Alby MacGregor has the luxury of staying with his son near Rangiora during his southern stints, and said his pride and joy thrives in that environment. “He is down in Christchurch now with my son. He has been down there for a week or so,” MacGregor said. “He has had a fair bit of success down there and he seems to thrive down there. My son is at Rangiora and he has a little farm there and he seems to enjoy it.” Times Ticking heads into Saturday in good form, having won the Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) in January before his White Robe Lodge placing. He was then seventh in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham a fortnight ago, which MacGregor said has brought him on nicely for Saturday’s title defence. “He needed that run,” MacGregor said. “I was quite happy with it. He whacked away. He is probably not a 1400m horse nowadays, but he had to have something to blow the cobwebs out.” MacGregor said he Times Ticking will likely head for a spell at his son’s property following Saturday’s run. “After the weekend he is going to have a break for a little while and we will work it out from there,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Good Oil will contest Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in Victoria. Photo: Race Images Good Oil has continued to impress Andrew Forsman this season and the Cambridge trainer will give the eye-catching frontrunner his first Australian test in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). The son of Dalghar took time to develop, only breaking his maiden early as a four-year-old, but a season later he has rapidly stepped through the grades over middle-distance trips with 11 top-four finishes in his 13 starts this term. In his familiar pace-making role, Good Oil almost caused an upset in both the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m), leading until the dying stages of the latter only to be surpassed by two-mile specialist Mahrajaan, while holding off subsequent Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) winner Mark Twain. Forsman was thrilled with his performance, which warranted a trip across the Tasman for Saturday’s feature. “He’s great and has thrived since he arrived in Australia, he’s taken to it really well, which is good, with the quick turnaround to get him over there and running on Saturday,” Forsman said. Forsman has engaged Billy Egan to partner his charge, who drew the ace barrier and carries an equal-bottom weight of 54kg in the handicap. “Having drawn barrier one is great for him, he’ll ping and put himself on pace,” Forsman said. “I know there’s another strong frontrunning horse in Deny Knowledge and she may take the lead from him, but as long as he’s in the leading group, he’ll be happy. “The only niggling doubt in the back of my mind is the long gap between races for him, but apart from that, I couldn’t be happier with him going into it.” Good Oil will be one of two Kiwi horses making their bid for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) golden ticket available in the Mornington Cup, alongside Nereus, and Forsman is treating any further success as a bonus for the consistent gelding. “Right from day one, we were just trying to get him to switch on and win a race, and now he’s doing what he’s doing,” Forsman said. “Whatever he does is a bonus in my eyes, he’s a neat horse to have around and any race we line him up in, he turns up and tries hard every time.” Forsman will also be represented in the Mornington Guineas (1600m) by Riproar, a son of Charm Spirit that has raced out of his Victorian stable through the season. Riproar was an impressive last-start winner at Geelong and will be partnered by Harry Coffey in the three-year-old event. “He was competitive enough against three-year-olds in the spring, but it’s always different getting into the autumn,” Forsman said. “He won very well first-up, albeit against lesser opposition than he strikes on Saturday. We’re confident that he’s as well as he can be heading into it, but now he’s just got to prove he’s up to this level.” Puccini four-year-old Full Of Sincerity completes Forsman’s Mornington team, contesting the Benchmark 84 Handicap (1600m) later on the card. Horse racing news View the full article

Super Photon storms to a debut victory at Rotorua on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A bright future is being tipped for Super Photon following his debut win in at Rotorua on Wednesday. The son of Super Seth jumped away fairly from his ace barrier and took an early trail behind pacemaker Force Of Law before jockey Joe Doyle was able to navigate him into the coveted one-one position behind the regally-bred Magice. Turning for home, Super Photon peeled three-wide and quickly ranged up alongside the Magice and Force Of Law and showed his class in the concluding stages to post a 3.75-length victory over Magice. Super Photon was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Stephen Marsh in conjunction with Dennis Foster, Bourbon Lane and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $380,000. He showed signs of early talent at the trials, placing in all three of his heats and was subsequently backed into +150 favouritism with horse racing bookmakers for his debut. “He is a lovely colt by Super Seth. We paid a lot of money for him at the sales,” Marsh said. “He is still a colt. He is a beautifully bred half to Mo’unga so it is nice that he is fully intact. “We were very confident today and they have always got to put it together, he was beautiful today. I love the way he settled in the trail. “He has still got a lot to learn, but he put them away pretty quick and we believe he is a colt with a big future.” Stakes assignments are now in the crosshairs for Super Photon, with the first in his sights being the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa on May 4. “We thought if he won well today, he could potentially go to Te Rapa on 4th of May, there is a stakes race over 1400m there and then he can go out for a spell,” Marsh said. “You just hope you can set him for a Hawke’s Bay Guineas and 2000 Guineas, that will be out long-term plan.” Horse racing news View the full article

Group Two performer Zaila will resume at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Group Two performer Zaila was in a purple patch of form late last year and trainer Kylie Hoskin is hoping she can pick up where she left off when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday. The five-year-old daughter of Street Boss was fourth in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) and Group 3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) before gaining black-type when runner-up to subsequent Group One winner Campionessa in the Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa in December. “It was such a good run in the Cal Isuzu, and to run second behind Campionessa there is no shame in that,” Hoskin said. The Byerley Park horsewoman has been pleased with the way her stable star has returned and is looking forward to stepping her out at Ellerslie for the first time. “It is really exciting to get her back on course and to Ellerslie as well, and give her a look around there,” Hoskin said. “She seems to like any surface – she goes on the Heavy, she goes on the Good – it doesn’t seem to bother her. “She does seem to have better form left-handed than right, but in saying that, she has gone some good races right-handed as well. It will be a bit of a fact-finding mission and we will know more after Saturday.” Zaila has had the one trial over 800m leading into her resuming run and Hoskin said Saturday’s 1200m contest should help bring her on further. “She had the trial at Pukekohe, she is pretty fresh and behaved accordingly, so it was hard to get a line on her,” Hoskin said. “She has definitely got a bit of spunk that we are trying to keep under wraps. I love her to bits, but she does take a bit of managing. “We would have gone back to the trials, but with Waipa being moved and a bit of rain about at the end of this week, we decided to go to Ellerslie instead.” Zaila will jump from barrier seven with Sam Spratt aboard and has been installed a +900 winning chance by online bookmakers. “I think she will get a nice run in behind them,” Hoskin said. “As long as she is running on we will be happy. “It is her first run back with just one trial under her belt, so she is probably lacking a little bit fitness-wise, but the rain will help her, it will help slow them down a bit and bring them back to her.” Hoskin has eyed next month’s Group 3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) as Zaila’s main target this preparation and believes Saturday’s contest is a great starting point. “With those trials being moved we wanted to get a run into her before the Rotorua Stakes,” Hoskin said. “We will then give her a short break and look towards the spring.” Horse racing news View the full article

David Hayes has high long-term hopes for Little Brose. David Hayes concedes stable newcomer Little Brose faces a big challenge at his Hong Kong debut in the HK$22 million Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, April 28. The former Australian sprinter, a Group 1 winner of the 2023 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds, faces tough local and international opposition in the feature sprint. Japanese runner Mad Cool is a Group 1 winner, while Hong Kong sprinters California Spangle and Victor The Winner have also both won at the highest level. Sunrise Ronaldo will also represent Japan in the international contingent, which is completed by Great Britain’s sprinter Believing – trained by George Boughey. Now a three-year-old, Little Brose was trained in Australia by Hayes’ sons Ben, Will and JD. He is owned by Hong Kong businessman Peter Young who has always been keen to see the colt race at Sha Tin before returning to Australia to potentially stand at stud. The colt has raced nine times for two wins, two seconds and a third pre-import for more than HK$8 million in earnings. His last race was at Caulfield in October in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas when he finished eighth in the 15-horse field, beaten by nearly five lengths, at his first attempt over 1600m. Hayes said that depending on how Little Brose trials on Friday (April 19), he expects a competitive performance against some elite sprinting opposition. “It is a tough task but he is a Group 1 winner,” he said. “There are three other Group 1 winners in the race and we’ll see how he goes. Then he’ll run in a handicap three weeks later if he doesn’t win it because he won’t be eligible if he wins (Chairman’s Sprint Prize).” Hayes was speaking from his own experiences and observations when he said a lot of horses don’t win first-up in Hong Kong. As well as Little Brose’s Blue Diamond Stakes win, the colt is also a Listed 1000m winner at Caulfield. “He has got some sprinting ability and we are happy for him to run in the big races and that’s what we are going to do,” Hayes said. “At the moment I think I will keep him sprinting in the short term and that’s where his best form is and then if need-be we will stretch him out.” Like many good gallopers, Hayes said Little Brose was lazy in his trackwork but had so far won two of his three trials and on Friday he plans to apply blinkers when he trials. He said it was always the plan for Little Brose, who was exported from Australia in December, to race in Australia so he could qualify for Hong Kong. “I’d be surprised if beat the Dubai winner (California Spangle) but we’d be very happy if he ran a place,” Hayes said. Horse racing news View the full article

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL – While it took some time to find its stride, the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training gained momentum throughout the day and concluded with figures in line with the first session of its record-setting 2023 renewal. “I thought it was a good day,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “A good horse sells well and I thought we had a lot of nice horses today. Holding true to last year, that's a great start to the week. Obviously, there are a lot of nice horses left to come.” From a catalogue of 302 juveniles, 205 horses went through the ring Tuesday for a gross of $19,725,000. The average of $136,034 was right on par with the 2023 figure of $136,665, while the median of $87,000 rose 16% from a year ago. With 60 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 29.3%. The auction's first hour included a number of RNA's as the Spring Sale settled into rhythm and many of them were getting sold Tuesday evening after bidding had stopped for the evening. “I think some of that was the sale just getting started,” Wojciechowski said of the measured start to the sale. “I think a little bit of that maybe getting their feet wet, getting their sea legs. I wouldn't be surprised to see a number of those horses getting sold in the post-sale setting here pretty quick.” Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni and trainer Bob Baffert purchased the session's top-priced lot, going to $775,000 for a filly by Caracaro on behalf of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. The filly was consigned by Global Thoroughbreds. Pedro Lantz, bidding on behalf of KAS Stables, purchased the session's top-priced colt, a son of Global Campaign, for $650,000. The juvenile was consigned by Eddie Woods, who was the session's leading consignor with nine sold for $2,213,500. The OBS Spring sale continues through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10:30 a.m. Three Amigos Strike for Caracaro Filly A filly from the first crop of Grade I-placed Caracaro (hip 199) turned heads with a quarter-mile work in :20 2/5 during last week's under-tack show and she duly delivered in the sales ring Tuesday when selling for session-topping $775,000. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, alongside trainer Bob Baffert, handled bidding out back of the pavilion to acquire the speedy filly on behalf of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. She was consigned by Global Thoroughbreds and was bred by the consignment's Rafael Celis. The Caracaro filly's work last week | Judit Seipert “We are happy to get her,” Lanni said. “She did everything she was asked to do. She went fast, came back great.” The filly is out of Key d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), a half-sister to stakes-placed Twirled (Twirling Candy). Caracaro, who was second in the 2020 GI Travers S. and GIII Peter Pan S., stands at Crestwood Farm for $6,500. “He is throwing a beautiful athletic horse,” Lanni said of the stallion's first crop of foals. “You see a lot of Uncle Mo's influence.” @JessMartiniTDN Caracaro Keeps Rewarding Celis Caracaro is the stallion who keeps giving for Rafael Celis, who campaigned the bay in partnership with Lucas Noriego's Top Racing. After watching his homebred filly from the first crop of Caracaro sell for $775,000 at OBS Tuesday, the native of Venezuela was beaming with pride. Rafael Celis and family | Jessica Martini “That was our best filly in the whole program,” Celis said. “We had high expectations for her. She's by Caracaro, who is our stallion that we own with Crestwood Farm. We were really excited about her. She had been doing well all the way in training. We weren't sure if we should work her a furlong or a quarter, but she prepped really nice and we decided to go a quarter. She was really fast and the gallop out was really strong. She went out in :44 and :59, which was very good.” Celis purchased Caracaro for $95,000 as a weanling at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. He admitted he almost had the horse sold as a 2-year-old in 2019. “In our program, we buy weanlings and take them to the 2-year-old sales,” Celis said. “That's what we do. I almost had him sold, but he had an issue and we got him back after we sold him. So we decided to race him.” In the COVID-delayed season of 2020, Caracaro broke his maiden by six lengths at Gulfstream Park in January and returned to just miss when second behind Country Grammer in the GIII Peter Pan S. in July. He was second behind Tiz the Law in the GI Travers S. in what proved to be his final career start. “We qualified for the Kentucky Derby, but we couldn't make it because he had a problem with his suspensory,” Celis said. “We couldn't race in the Derby, so we went shopping around to see who wanted him as a stallion. The Crestwood people were open and we made a deal with them.” While Celis has just 10 broodmares in the U.S., his family has plenty of experience in the breeding industry. “We have a breeding farm in Venezuela,” he said. “So we have been in the horse business for 50 years. The name of Caracaro is actually the name of our farm in Venezuela, which my father, who passed away, named and that's why we named the horse Caracaro.” Celis will offer two more juveniles by Caracaro this spring and has an additional 10 yearlings for next year. But he won't completely divest his foals by the stallion. “We are going to keep two for racing,” he said. @JessMartiniTDN Global Campaign Colt Sells To KAS Stables Hip 291, a colt consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent III from the first crop of WinStar's Global Campaign, may be bound for Saudi Arabia after bringing a final bid of $650,000 from Pedro Lantz, acting as agent for KAS Stables. Selling late in Tuesday's session, the colt impressed Lantz not only during his :10 breeze last week but also as a yearling at OBS last October. Global Campaign | Sarah Andrew “I tried to buy this horse as a yearling at OBS October [last year]. And I saw his breeze–he has spectacular action and a very fluid stride.” Buying for Saudi Arabia-based KSA Stables, Lantz noted that the colt may ship overseas but could also stay in America as KSA is looking to expand their operation. By Global Campaign, who is represented by his first 2-year-olds this year, the colt's price exceeded Lantz's expectations. “I was expecting four [hundred thousand], maybe five [hundred thousand] but people are paying and everyone is on the same horses. So I told them [KSA Stables] to be prepared for at least five [hundred thousand] because the horse [vetted] clean and was about perfect.” Lantz was busy throughout the day, also picking up hip 195, a filly by Nyquist also from the Eddie Woods consignment for KAS Stables bound for Saudi Arabia, and looks to stay busy throughout the remainder of the week. “This is a sale that you can get a good horse,” Lantz continued. “I expect to go for [a few] more horses this week. There are a lot of nice horses–in the final two days especially.” @SGrimmTDN Uncle Mo Filly to Coolmore A filly by Uncle Mo (hip 166) jumped to the top midway through the session at OBS Tuesday when selling for $600,000 to Justin Casse, who was bidding on behalf of Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. The bay, who was consigned by Tom McCrocklin, worked a quarter-mile last week in :20 3/5. She is out of graded winner Jacaranda (Congrats), who is a half-sister to Constitution and is the dam of Grade I-placed Be You (Curlin) and stakes-placed American West (Curlin). Justin Casse at OBS in March | Photos by Z “She is extremely attractive,” Casse said of the filly. “It's a lovely family. The dam is a half-sister to Constitution. She's an Uncle Mo filly, everything you would want from a nice female family sire line and possible future broodmare prospect.” McCrocklin purchased the filly for $380,000 on behalf of Michael Sucher's Champion Equine at the Fasig-Tipton October sale last fall. Of the filly's final price tag Tuesday, Casse said, “I thought she was one of the best fillies here, so it was good to get in at that price. I haven't seen what the rest of the sale has been like, I know it's early, but we are happy to get her.” @JessMartiniTDN Spendthrift Partners Up on Nyquist Colt A third of the way through Tuesday's opening session, Spendthrift Farms's Ned Toffey started the action off, going to $550,000 for a colt (hip 125) by GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. Bred in Maryland by Bowman and Higgins Stable, the colt was purchased as a yearling for a sale-topping $205,000 by Thorostock & Seth Morris Thoroughbreds at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale and is out of a winning half-sister to the dam of MGISW and young Spendthrift sire Cyberknife (Gun Runner). Ned Toffey | Spendthrift “He was hard to miss,” said Toffey after signing the ticket. “He's a big, beautiful colt and [we] had him identified based off his breeze. I love the sire and he's just a big, athletic-looking horse.” Toffey confirmed that the colt, who worked in :10, will head west to race in partnership with MKW Racing and Breeding LLC. “He'll go back to Spendthrift to get a little bit of a break and then we'll send him out to Richard Mandella.” @SGrimmTDN Maryland Sale Topper Shines at OBS A Maryland-bred son of Nyquist (hip 125) brought the top price of last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale when bringing a final bid of $205,000 from Thorostock and Seth Morris Thoroughbreds and he helped kick start the OBS Spring sale Tuesday when selling for $550,000 to Spendthrift Farm/MKW Racing and Breeding. “He was an extraordinarily well-balanced, good-minded horse,” Thorostock's Nick Sallusto said after sending the colt through the ring Tuesday. “He had almost perfect conformation. He was really typical of Nyquist. We felt really lucky the day we found him.” Nyquist | Sarah Andrew Sallusto continued, “At the time, Nyquist wasn't as fashionable as he is right now. But I have long been a fan of his. I just felt he was a lot of horse at that particular sale and I wasn't sure I would be able to get him.” The juvenile worked a furlong during last week's under-tack show in :10 flat. “He's really advanced since [October],” Sallusto said. “He is a later foal, so we knew he had plenty of advancement left in him. And he still does. He has so much more to go. He has put every foot forward the right way. He never had a day of missed training. He was a lovely horse.” @JessMartiniTDN Omaha Beach Filly Brings $390,000 For JVC Training And Sales JVC Training and Sales's Jorge Villagomez saw a good return on investment when the Omaha Beach filly (hip 127) he purchased for clients for $40,000 at Keeneland September last year brought a final bid of $390,000 from Woodford Thoroughbreds during Tuesday's session. “Her particularly, she's been special for a long time,” said Villagomez. “They say the cream always rises to the top and she was always very fast so it's no surprise that she came over here and did what she did.” Omaha Beach | Spendthrift/Autry Graham After working in :10, hip 127 stayed busy throughout the lead up to the sale. Villagomez continued: “She had a ton of activity–almost an overwhelming amount. She was shown over 100 times and got plenty of attention [from vettings]. We're not at all surprised that she brought the kind of money she did. [Her breeze] was exceptional and everyone was on her.” Early in the sale, Villagomez, who will sell three more hips later in the week, was cautiously optimistic on his expectations. “For the good horses? The buyers are here. They're here for horses that breeze well and [vet] well. The rest of [the horses] will be hit or miss. But I don't think anyone will have a problem selling a good horse.” @SGrimmTDN The post $775K Caracaro Filly Tops Solid OBS Spring Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse racing on Wednesday, April 17, 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 Canterbury, Caulfield, Doomben and Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday Racing Tips – April 17, 2024 Canterbury Racing Tips Caulfield Racing Tips Doomben 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 17, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Jimmysstar will return to the races at Randwick on Saturday. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher is poised to make waves at Randwick this Saturday as Jimmysstar, one of the stable’s up-and-coming stars, returns from a brief spell. While his appearance in the Benchmark 100 over 1400 metres may not rival the grandeur of Pride Of Jenni’s triumphant Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory, it holds significant importance for the promising runner. The ultimate ambition for this campaign is set on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in Brisbane come June, yet Jimmysstar must first elevate his current rating of 93 to secure his path to Group 1 glory. Maher conveyed his optimism on Monday, expressing confidence in Jimmysstar’s form and potential to emerge victorious, thus paving the way for a shot at the Stradbroke. “He’s freshened up really well,” Maher remarked. “He looks fantastic and I think he’s in a good spot. “This is just a ratings race and if he goes well, he’ll have another chance at stakes level in Brisbane.” However, the path to the Stradbroke isn’t without its challenges. Maher highlighted the necessity for Jimmysstar to excel, emphasising the significance of each performance leading up to the Queensland Group 1 event. While Jimmysstar has captured the hearts of punters with impressive wins in his initial Australian outings, including three consecutive victories, he faced adversity in subsequent races, notably in the Listed Elms Stakes (1400m) at Flemington and the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) in March. Horse racing news View the full article

Group 1 winner Chain Of Lightning. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Chain Of Lightning is gearing up for a thrilling journey that could take her all the way to Royal Ascot in June, but not before a potential change in ownership in May. According to co-trainer Peter Moody, the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) champion is eyeing the prestigious Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot. “She’s slated for the broodmare sales in May, and we’ve accepted an invitation to Ascot, so she’ll be sold under that arrangement at the Magic Millions broodmare sale,” Moody disclosed to Racing.com. Reflecting on his past success with Black Caviar at Royal Ascot 12 years ago, Moody remains uncertain about overseeing Chain Of Lightning’s campaign at Ascot. He emphasised that his involvement would hinge on whether she’s sold and the identity of the buyer. Sired by the esteemed Northern Meteor stallion, Fighting Sun, Chain Of Lightning has notched up a remarkable Group 1 victory alongside several other Stakes triumphs. Bred and raced by the longstanding Moody client, Stuart Ramsey, the talented mare stands to augment her impressive earnings, currently standing at $2.67 million, and enhance her value should she grace the turf at Randwick in the upcoming Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) this Saturday. “As long as there’s some give in the ground, she’ll be there with Rachel King aboard,” Moody affirmed. “However, if the heavens don’t open up, she has viable alternatives in Brisbane and Adelaide.” Moody also provided updates on T.J. Smith third placegetter I Wish I Win, noting his satisfactory recovery post his first-up outing. He hinted at a potential target being the $1.5 million Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) slated for May 18. Horse racing news View the full article

On Wednesday, April 17, 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 17, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Doomben 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 Doomben 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 Caulfield Heath Races 1 – 4 Run 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $50 Back a runner in races 1-4 at Caulfield this Wednesday and if it runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $50 in Bonus Cash. Fixed Win bets only. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Caulfield Heath – 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 Caulfield Heath – 25% Boosted Winnings Max bonus $100. 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 Cantebrury & Caulfield Heath 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 17, 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

In the latest detour in the exhaustive legal saga stemming from Justify's 2018 GI Santa Anita Derby win, the connections of the horse during his racing career filed a notice last week with the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) requesting that the agency entertain an appeal of a recent board of stewards decision disqualifying the horse from the race and to stay the purse distribution. In response, the CHRB have denied a stay of the stewards' decision but stated that it will “assign a Hearing Officer in this matter where the issue of timeliness of the appeal and appeal itself will be heard and a proposed decision submitted to the Board for consideration,” according to an order issued by the CHRB Tuesday. The plaintiffs in the appeal are owners China Horse Club International Limited, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm, jockey Mike Smith and trainer Bob Baffert. After the New York Times first reported that Justify had tested positive post-race for scopolamine, Mick Ruis, owner-trainer of the runner-up that day, Bolt d'Oro, sought to have the result of the race overturned with Bolt d'Oro declared the winner. Ruis alleged that the CHRB failed to follow its own rules when it decided not to pursue penalties after Justify's positive test. The CHRB argued that Justify should not be disqualified because the positive test was the result of contamination linked to jimson weed. At the end of last year, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered the CHRB to set aside the stewards' 2020 decision and issue a new ruling disqualifying winner Justify from the Santa Anita Derby. Early in March, the CHRB reached a separate settlement that called for the agency to pay Ruis $300,000, and to order a redistribution of the $1-million purse. In last week's notice, Amanda Groves, who represents Justify's connections, argued that grounds for an appeal included how the plaintiffs were not a party to the lawsuit between Ruis and the CHRB, leading to “Procedural irregularities and denial of due process and/or a fair and impartial hearing.” Groves also reiterated the CHRB's original claim, writing that “it is undisputed that the positive scopolamine test was a result of environmental contamination due to inadvertent exposure to jimsonweed in hay/straw.” BloodHorse reported that Ruis's attorneys had filed a response arguing that none of the grounds raised in the appeal are relevant. When asked about the contents of the letter, Darrell Vienna, who represents Ruis, told the TDN that the CHRB issued the disqualification order “because they were ordered to do so by the court.” The court did not demand that the CHRB hold another hearing on the matter, Vienna added. “It just issued an order to disqualify the horse, Justify, and to redistribute the purse,” he said. “If the Justify parties have issue with that, that issue should be addressed at the Superior Court, in my opinion,” said Vienna. “If the court orders a subordinate agency to do something, they must do it.” According to last week's notice of appeal, Justify's first-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby accrued the owners a combined $585,000, while Smith and Baffert each received $58,450. The post CHRB Denies Stay of Justify Decision, Will Entertain Appeal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin. View the full article