Wandering Eyes

Building on their impressive The Championships form, the partnership of trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman secured another Group 1 victory with a thrilling win by Autumn Angel in the 2024 Australian Oaks at Randwick. Autumn Angel winning the 2024 Australian Oaks on the quick back-up at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart. The partnership, fresh off their first Group 1 win together with Chain Of Lightning in the TJ Smith Stakes last week, continued their hot streak with Autumn Angel in the ATC Oaks. This victory marks Coleman’s 2nd Group 1 and Moody’s 59th. “She’ll think this is bloody easy, won’t she!” Moody joked after the race. Autumn Angel came close last Saturday, carrying a hefty 61kg to a runner-up finish behind Good Banter in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes on a heavy track. This time, with a reduced weight and a drier track (Good 4), she powered to victory over the 2400m distance at Randwick. Jockey Mark Zahra delivered a perfectly timed ride, guiding Autumn Angel back to winning form. “The way she thrived this week coming off the back-up run was incredible,” Moody said. “I was worried I might not have done enough with her, but she’s been fantastic all week. A big thanks to my team at home.” This victory marks Autumn Angel’s second win in three starts, following her narrow success in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington earlier in March. Moody and Zahra also achieved a personal milestone, claiming their first ATC Oaks victory with the classy chestnut filly. A thrilling finish saw Autumn Angel ($6) narrowly edge out the brave Zardozi ($6), trained by James Cummings. Zardozi charged through the field from near the back after her close third-place finish in the Vinery Stud Stakes. The hot favourite, Orchestral ($1.65F), winner of the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes and aiming for her sixth consecutive win, had a slow start and settled in midfield. Despite a strong late run, she could only manage third place as the beaten odds-on favourite. Zahra was full of praise for Autumn Angel, suggesting her potential for success in future races like the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and even the prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Cup. “I’ve never heard Moods so upbeat about a horse,” Zahra said. “Races like the Queensland Oaks and Caulfield Cup would definitely be on the radar for her.” 2024 Australian Oaks Results Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price 1 5 AUTUMN ANGEL Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Mark Zahra 8 56kg $6 2 3 ZARDOZI James Cummings Tom Marquand 0.84L 9 56kg $6 3 1 ORCHESTRAL (NZ) Roger James & Robert Wellwood James McDonald 1L 3 56kg $1.65F 4 2 QUINTESSA (NZ) Mark Walker Opie Bosson 2.75L 2 56kg $12 5 4 TUTTA LA VITA Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 3.38L 7 56kg $12 6 6 BASILINNA (NZ) Emma-Lee & David Browne Blake Shinn 5.76L 6 56kg $26 7 10 BUSH GIRL Kerry Parker Jay Ford 5.91L 5 56kg $201 8 7 DANCES WITH HOOVES Cameron Crockett Craig Williams 7.02L 4 56kg $91 9 8 PIPLUP Brad Widdup Damian Lane 8.97L 10 56kg $151 10 9 TRUE FAIRY Daiki Chujo Noriyuki Masuda 9.19L 1 56kg $201 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 Moody and Coleman Strike Again: Autumn Angel Upsets in Australian Oaks 2024 appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Autumn Angel winning the Group 1 Australian Oaks. Photo: RacingNSW Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman have claimed their second win in three races at Randwick on the second day of The Championships, with Autumn Angel (+550) getting the better of the two favourites, Zardozi (+500) and Orchestral (-153.85), in the concluding stages of the Group 1 Australian Oaks. After going down in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes when carrying a massive weight last Saturday, the daughter of The Autumn Sun dropped 5kg in weight and with Mark Zahra giving her a peach of ride, she proved too strong at the end of 2400m. Zahra allowed his filly to jump and settle towards the rear of the field before picking his way through the field to eventually burst through a gap between the favourites to storm clear late. Both Orchestral and Zardozi were good without winning; however, it appears as though the New Zealand-trained filly has come to the end of her very impressive preparation which included Group 1 victories on either side of the Tasman. 2024 Australian Oaks Replay – Autumn Angel Following the win in the Oaks, Peter Moody was on course to speak post-race. “The way she has thrived this week coming off the back-up, I was really taken back that so much so when Mark (Zahra) got on her I was worried that I might not have done enough with her this week, but she has thrived all week and a big special thanks to my team at home,” Moody said. “Big special thanks to Anthony Cummings and his team who look after us and house us here at Randwick as well. “The Randwick track staff, what a phenomenal job they have done over the last couple of weeks under trying circumstances. “Last Saturday was phenomenal and to back it up with this track today, congratulations to Michael Wood and his team. A phenomenal effort. “This is great for Wylie (Dalziel) and the ownership group who have backed me when I withdrew her from the VRC Oaks when she was probably the favourite to wait for this one . “It is great to be rewarded and nice to get one right once in-a-row.” Mark Zahra claimed his first winner of The Championships in the Australian Oaks, and he spoke post-race. “I wanted to be behind Orchestral or at least Basilinna but the line I was in was the 200-1 pop but to be in that spot I would have had to restrict her the whole way and It thought I’m going to have to pich two lengths and worry about the 600 (metre mark) when it comes up and fight her the whole way,” Zahra said of his tactics on the winner. “I knew I’d be going good the whole way and I was able to ease back, get in the clear and it was a great feeling the three of us coming together – great for the sport – and I was the strongest. “I’ve never heard Moods so upbeat about a horse. “Races like the Queensland Oaks and Caulfield Cup would definitely be on the radar for her, I would have thought.” Horse racing news View the full article

Joliestar edges out Hedged to claim the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint. Photo: RacingNSW Despite being first-up from a 147-day spell, the Chris Waller-trained Joliestar (+400) proved too classy in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, adding more accolades to an already glowing resume. She was a dominant winner of the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at the end of her spring campaign before suffering a minor setback in the aftermath, being forced to be tipped out to the paddock. The daughter of Zoustar has seemingly lost nothing in her time off, with two outstanding barrier trials prior to Saturday, and has now brought up career win number three at start six. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained pair of The Novelist (+2200) and The Instructor (+7000) set a genuine tempo throughout the 1200m journey, allowing the likes of Ozzmosis (+270) and Schwarz (+450) to park in behind the leading pair. Joliestar was held together worse than midfield under Jamie Kah, allowing the three-year-old to settle comfortably on the back of what would eventually be some tiring horses. Hedged (+900) and Libertad (+2500) made strong inroads down the centre of the course in the concluding stages. 2024 Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint Replay – Joliestar The Group 1-winning filly was too strong in the end, as Joliestar held out a brave Hedged in the shadows of the post to claim victory. Chris Waller was trackside at Randwick to talk about his gutsy filly and the potential of what’s next for Joliestar. “She’s a group one-winning horse but she had a long break and it is hard to gauge where they’re at just from trackwork,” said Waller. “Most horses, they’d already had first-up runs and we’re going into the race fresh with some boom horses and we just rode her comfortably where she was happy and Jamie (Kah) cleverly found a way through the field. “It was a really good win. She has probably gone to a new level racing quicker over shorter and beating the boys. “The number one goal is as a four-year-old so she might not even have another run. I’ll talk to the owners and see wat they have got to say. “It was just ‘get her back and see where she is at’ in her three-year-old career. She had a late spring so she needed the appropriate time to get back here today. “I’m not sure if we’ll push too far now, though. You get on the wrong leg and not properly prepared for the spring.” It was a pickup ride for Jamie Kah on the day and credited her mounts turn-of-foot to get the job done on Saturday. “Really good win,” said Kah. “Obviously she would be better over further, I thought. She feels like a sprinter every day of the week after that. “She’s really got a sharp turn-of-foot. She overraced a lot being first-up and if she got beaten it wasn’t going to be her fault so she’s done it a t both ends today.” Horse racing news View the full article

Eneeza ridden by Damian Lane taking out the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick. Photo: RacingNSW Only two fillies that raced in the Golden Slipper pushed onto the Percy Sykes Stakes and it was those two that fought out the finish in the Group 2 contest, with Eneeza (+320) getting the better of Lady Of Camelot (+270) late at Randwick. There were 2.7 lengths separating the two in the Golden Slipper last start, but a 3.5kg weight swing going in the favour of the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained filly and a smart ride from Damian Lane proved to be play a massive role in Eneeza turning the tables on the Slipper winner. The daughter of Exceed And Excel jumped smartly from barrier six and Lane got her into a perfect stalking position behind the leaders, while the runner-up had to work from her wide barrier to find a spot off the fence behind the winner. As the field turned for home, Lane looked for a gap between runners before steering his filly back to the inside rail and let her unleash a blistering turn of foot to claim the tiring Drifting (+1000) at the 200m mark. Lady Of Camelot raised a strong challenge late and held on for second place ahead of the fast-finishing Erno’s Cube (+2000) and El Morzillo (+5000) who took significant ground off the top two in the final 50m. 2024 Percy Sykes Stakes Replay – Eneeza Peter Moody was on course to speak about the win of Eneeza post-race. “She didn’t have a lot of luck in the Slipper from a bad draw and that was a nice consolation,” Moody said. “She’s probably been luckless this entire prep. She’s a gallant little filly and congratulations to Kia Ora and TF Investments for their patience, basically, after those unlucky runs. “We probably brought ourselves undone in the Blue Diamond riding her a bit close but a lovely ride by Damian today and reward for effort. “If we couldn’t win the big ones we’ll take home a group two. “She’s a natural two-year-old and she’s not going to lose her ability. “Can she improve? That is arguable but you’ve got to hope that the immature ones don’t catch up and overtake you – that is the key. “I don’t think I’ve trained a tougher two-year-old. “A nice little three-year-old sprinting filly can hopefully develop into a Coolmore horse.” Damian Lane was very complimentary of the winner in his post-race interview. “She’s just a little rocket,” Lane said of the winner. “She must have a good constitution because she’s held her from so good throughout this prep and she’s so versatile. “I had to concede too much ground from the poor barrier in the Slipper and today, just to be able to use her early and switch her off was the key.” Horse racing news View the full article

Zac Lloyd guides Territory Express to victory at Randwick, Photo: RacingNSW Territory Express (+320) has weaved a passage under Zac Lloyd to claim the Provincial-Midway Championship Final (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, securing the major portion of the $1 million prize. The Paul Niceforo-trained gelding put the writing on the wall two starts back in the Kembla Grange qualifier on February 28, bursting clear to score in stunning fashion before suffering a narrow runner-up defeat at the hands of Democracy Manifest in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill. It proved to be the correct form-line to follow heading into Saturday, with the four-year-old son of Territories producing a blistering turn-of-foot towards the inside running rail in the final 400m. The race was set up for the back markers to build the revs late, as the Kris Less-trained Convincebility (+12500) went forward along with Willaidow (+4000) and Shadows Of Love (+1100) who eventually made a line of three. Rank outsider Little Beginning (+20000) caused some interference in the concluding stages when rolling out in the home straight, allowing Territory Express and Strait Acer ($7.00) to truck through the inside, leaving James McDonald aboard Willinga Freefall ($6.50) swinging widest of the main chances with 200m to travel. Once clear though, there was only one horse you wanted to be on as Territory Express stamped his authority, going on to score by a length on the wire. 2024 Provincial-Midway Championship Final Replay – Territory Express Paul Niceforo was on course to discuss the victory and was delighted with the performance of his stable flagbearer. “We picked him out of the paddock when he was a baby and he’s always shown me ability when he was going around the paddock,” said Niceforo. “He came to the stable and he is such a nice horse. He just tries. “I’ve been so confident right from weeks ago and everything has gone well, the whole preparation has been perfect so I can’t complain. He’s such a nice horse. Look out Cox Plate, here we come.” Zac Lloyd was elated to the win and spoke to wanting to repay the faith to the Niceforo stable for continuing his association with Territory Express. “I just wanted to get that job done for Paul and Maryanne,” said Lloyd. “They’re such great people. That felt like group one. Even though they haven’t had a group one, if felt like that for them. “For me, obviously on a big day like today, it wasn’t where they wanted it to be ridden but I had no option. “I’ve known this horse since he was a two-year-old and to get the job done for them, I really think highly of this horse and I am thankful to get the ride on a big day. “Maryanne gave me one instruction and that was to get to the outside. He is a hard horse to get to the outside. He jumps so slowly and there are horses all around him. “I had no option but to go through them but he’s got such a good turn-of-foot, he makes runs and thankfully we got the breaks today.” Horse racing news View the full article

Samuel Langhorne scores at Bendigo under jockey Blaike McChief Stipeall. Photo: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos Promising stayer Samuel Langhorne came with a well-timed run under jockey Blaike McChief Stipeall at the standalone Bendigo meeting on Saturday. The four-year-old son of Shocking did a good job to reel in Mi Rock Aly, who had shot to a commanding lead rounding the home bend before tiring late under a well-executed Celine Gaudray ride. Prepared by Mick Kent, Samuel Langhorne scored by a long neck to land the third win of his ten-start career after a good win at Sandown at his previous start. The gelding will now try to emulate his three-quarter brother Mark Twain by claiming a berth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), with the win-and-you’re-in Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on May 18 a target. “I thought he had got there,” stable representative Mason Stevens said. “I was a bit worried coming into the straight. The leader kicked away. He is a real stayer and he is only going to get better as he goes up in trip. “He is one of those horses who only seems to do what he has to. We always thought the more up in class he gets, he will improve himself. It was really good to see him do that today up in grade.” There are now options for the progressive stayer, with a Benchmark 84 Handicap over 2500m at Flemington on Anzac Day an option. “We will see how he comes through the run,” Stevens said. “He will either go to Anzac Day or straight into the Ramsden hopefully.” Horse racing news View the full article

John Size-trained sprinter steps into Class Two company for the first time in Sunday’s Jinbao Street Handicap (1,200m) at Sha TinView the full article

Golden Sixty’s handler is the only trainer in the positive through the first 62 meetings of the seasonView the full article

Returning for the first time since his Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup triumph, Master of The Seas illustrated his effectiveness over yielding going, darting past rivals to easily capture the $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) April 12 at Keeneland.View the full article

Florida House of Representatives Stan McClain will receive the inaugural Matt Bryan Distinguished Advocacy Award from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association at their annual Gala Monday. In a press release Friday, the FTBOA acknowledged McClain as helping to extend House Bill 7063, an incentives package for Florida breeding and racing interests. “We were excited to be able to expand Florida's investment supporting the Florida Thoroughbred industry on a long-term basis,” said McClain. “I'm looking forward to watching how this investment helps the industry thrive in upcoming years.” Rep. McClain is the first honoree of the Matt Bryan Distinguished Advocacy Award named in honor of Matt Bryan, FTBOA's 30-year veteran lobbyist. Bryan, who will retire at year's end, will also be honored for his career with the FTBOA at the Gala. The post Rep. Stan McClain Honored With FTBOA Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion 2-year-old Colt, 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Curlin Florida Derby hero Fierceness (City of Light) returned to action Friday with his first work following his 13 1/2-length romp in last month's Florida Derby. The Repole Stables-owned runner went four furlongs in :50.17 (13/22) under regular pilot John Velazquez with trainer Todd Pletcher looking on. “He's been great since the Florida Derby. His energy level is good. He's seemed to take the race really well,” said Pletcher. “He had a nice easy breeze this morning and was moving great. Really, I couldn't be happier with him.” First breeze back for Fierceness since his incredible Florida Derby performance. Todd and I flew Johnny @ljlmvel in for the work. Todd and Johnny were extremely happy with this routine 4f breeze. 22 more days until the Derby!!!!! LFG pic.twitter.com/UUHxSUABqG — Repole Stable (@RepoleStable) April 12, 2024 Fierceness will complete his Derby prep at Palm Beach Downs and Pletcher noted that his training and shipping schedule is still to be decided. “He'll get his next work here at Palm Beach Downs and then we'll make a decision when to ship to Churchill. We have to be there at 11.a.m. on the Saturday before, so there's a good chance we'll have our final breeze at Churchill, but I want to keep the window open if I don't like the way the weather is looking in Kentucky. Right now, I'm happy we've stayed where we are. We've had really great, great weather. It hasn't been too hot. The mornings have been nice and cool. We've had minimal rain, just enough to keep the track good. We haven't had to battle some of the conditions that are going on in Kentucky at the moment. We'll monitor it and call an audible if we have to.” The post FL Derby Winner Fierceness Continues Derby Prep With Friday Breeze appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A sloppy track played right into the hands of Boardshorts Stables' Hot Beach in the April 12 off-the-turf running of the $244,563 Limestone Stakes at Keeneland.View the full article

After a long lifetime marked by notable wins on the racetrack and in the business world, prominent owner-breeder, entrepreneur and philanthropist Marty Wygod has passed away aged 84. “I have so many good memories of Marty Wygod. I was telling Emily [Bushnell, Wygod's daughter] this morning, one of my favorite things about Marty was he had a great sense of humor,” said trainer John Shirreffs, who conditioned some of Wygod's heaviest hitters on the track. Wygod, said Shirreffs, was also something of a prankster. “The first time I met him at the barn, he was standing in front of this horse, and he's studying it very carefully. I remember thinking to myself, 'I wonder what he's doing,'” recalled Shirreffs. “He then leaves the horse and he walks down to me, and he says, 'John, that horse has a headache.' I didn't know what to think–that's Marty Wygod. He told me the horse had a headache. I'm not going to question that!” said Shirreffs. “From that moment on, we had a really good relationship.” The hub of Wygod's breeding empire-which he owned and operated with his wife, Pamela-was the 250-acre River Edge Farm, in California's Santa Ynez Valley, close to Santa Barbara. There, they stood several successful stallions, like Bertrando, Tribal Rule, Benchmark and Dixie Chatter. But it's the many talented performers Wygod bred, owned and co-owned that he's arguably best remembered for in the racing world. The Wygods bred Life is Sweet (Storm Cat), a two-time Grade I winner who took the 2009 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. Sweet Catomine (Storm Cat) won the 2004 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Tranquility Lake (Rahy) was a seven-time graded stakes and dual Grade I winner and went on to produce a $9.7-million Keeneland September sales-topper. Idiot Proof (Benchmark) claimed the 2007 GI Ancient Title S. at Santa Anita and was runner-up in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. In 2010, Harmonious (Dynaformer) took two G1 scalps: the American Oaks at Hollywood Park and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland. “Harmonious wins the Queen Elizabeth and Marty and I are the two out of towners. We go up to the director's room for a celebratory drink, and I think we were off standing by ourselves in the corner after that!” said Shirreffs, who trained both Life is Sweet and Harmonious, among several Wygod-owned luminaries, remembering that win as one of their sweetest. The Wygods' latest work of art is the Kentucky Derby-bound GII Wood Memorial S. winner Resilience (Into Mischief), co-owned by Bushnell. “That has been one of the best things for him these past few years–he was very excited about that,” said jock's agent, Tom Knust, who struck up a firm friendship with Wygod stemming from his days as Del Mar and Santa Anita racing secretary. Over the years, Wygod's list of trainers included Julio Canani, Dan Hendricks, John Sadler, Clifford Sise and Bill Mott. Wygod sat on or was involved with several prominent racing boards, including the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, as a trustee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and as a member of The Jockey Club. As a businessman, Wygod's fortunes were forged through various successful companies, perhaps most notably WebMD, a widely used online repository for medical news and information, through which he rose to the position of chairman. “He'd come to the barn at Del Mar because he lived at Rancho Santa Fe, and he'd sit on a chair at the front of the office and conduct his business over the telephone,” said Shirreffs. “It was kind of a thrill for me to sit next to him and listen to him on the phone talking to whoever he was talking to about his business. He was such a logical person who appreciated all sides of every conflict or interest,” said Shirreffs. “Anybody in the horseracing industry that had any medical problems, he was right there to help them. It didn't matter if you were a groom or a hotwalker,” said Knust, who credits Wygod for twice saving his wife's life, connecting her with much-needed medical advice and help. Like Shirreffs, Knust remembers a man with a wicked sense of humor. “About 10 years ago, Marty brought a really good 3-year-old into Del Mar. He was by a $300,000 stallion out of his best mare,” Knust remembered. “He said, 'Tom, I'm giving you a share of this horse, it'll be your retirement. I just want you to call Pam, tell her that I'm giving you a share in this horse, and to figure out the paperwork.'” When Knust called Pamela Wygod, he said she seemed a little confused, but assured Knust that she would straighten it out with her husband. “I just kind of felt strange about something,” said Knust. “So, I went and looked up the papers and it was a gelding. That was Marty's sense of humor. He had a great sense of humor.” Said Shirreffs: “He was just a great guy. We was a fantastic individual. A brilliant man. A great horseman. He was something special to be around.” Aside from his daughter Emily and wife Pamela, Wygod leaves behind his son Max. The post Prominent Owner-Breeder Marty Wygod Passes Aged 84 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Returning for the first time since his Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup triumph, Master of The Seas illustrated his effectiveness over yielding going, darting past rivals to easily capture the $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile (G1T) April 12 at Keeneland.View the full article

Making his fourth straight North American appearance, Godolphin's MASTER OF THE SEAS (IRE) (g, 6, Dubawi {Ire}–First of Lorne {Ire}, by Danehill) overcame easy underfoot conditions and five other rivals to add Friday's GI Maker's Mark Mile to his previous victories in the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile and GI Breeders' Cup Mile when last seen at Santa Anita last November. Sent off at 77 cents on the dollar while making his seasonal debut, Master Of The Seas gained a foothold at the fence and raced handy enough to pacesetting 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready) through fractions of :24.38 and :49.20. Riding the rails and traveling strongly on the turn beneath William Buick, Master Of The Seas went for a run underneath the weakening pacesetter in upper stretch and kicked on nicely to win off as much the best. Stablemate Naval Power (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), conversely having his first run outside of Europe in the Maker's Mark, was a touch slow to begin, but split horses four off the inside with a bit better than a furlong to travel and came home well for second. Integration (Quality Road) came wide for the drive, but could not match strides with the Godolphin duo and settled for third. Master Of The Seas joins the likes of Kip Deville and Wise Dan (2x) to have won the Maker's Mark subsequent to their Breeders' Cup Mile successes. Miesque's Approval won the 2006 Maker's Mark before upsetting that year's Mile at Churchill Downs. It was a first win in the race for Sheikh Mohammed's operation. O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby. The post Master Of The Seas A Convincing Winner of the Maker’s Mark Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

WA apprentice Rosie Mahony after saluting aboard Bart’s Bullet for Darwin trainer Chris Pollard in a heat of the National Apprentice Race Series at Fannie Bay on Friday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) Albany’s Rosie Mahony joined a growing list of interstate apprentices who have tasted success on debut in Darwin with a winning double at Fannie Bay on Friday. For the 24-year-old to achieve the feat by sealing both heats for WA during the fourth leg of the National Apprentice Race Series capped off a big day. Mahony won Heat 7 aboard Chris Pollard’s Bart’s Bullet ($9) with the seven-year-old gelding – seemingly no chance of running a place at the 200m – motoring home to get the cash over 1300m (BM54). A former NSW and WA galloper, the son of Bullet Train, pipped Tayarn Halter’s $2.05 favourite The Stifmeister, with Darwin’s Jade Hampson aboard, by a half-neck with Phil Cole’s Supremo ($15), ridden by Jade Doyle (SA), third. Sitting off the pace in fourth place, Hampson led turning for home, and with 100m to go, The Stifmeister (60kg) looked like making it three straight wins before Bart’s Bullet (57kg), winless in the Top End after seven previous attempts, swooped. Mahony made it 66 career wins after drawing Gary Clarke’s $1.60 favourite Spaceship who was making its NT debut after leaving Robert Heathcote’s Eagle Farm yard before winning Heat 8 by 4.8 lengths over 1200m (Class 2). Spaceship, the winner of two Doomben races in seven Brisbane starts, sat outside Magnetic Tycoon ($5.50), piloted by Tasmania’s Chloe Wells, with the stablemates well clear at the 400m. Turning for home, Spaceship, a four-year-old gelding by Invader, sped away with Cole’s $9 hope Whitten (Hampson) finishing strongly for second and Pollard’s $7.50 chance Meant For Mars, ridden by Alice Springs’ Lek Maloney, third. With the final NARS leg at Doomben on Wednesday, SA leads with 37 points from the NT (31), Tasmania (25), WA (25) and Queensland (10). Dakota Gillett also represented NT on Friday, while fellow Red Centre apprentice Ianish Luximon – a heat winner in Perth earlier this month – missed out when his two mounts were scratched. Suspension sidelined Darwin’s Emma Lines, while Brooke Johnson represented Queensland. Mahony rode track work on Friday to familiarise herself with Fannie Bay, and her WA coach was Peter Hall, the victorious jockey on Rob Gulberti’s Ihtsahymn in the 2019 and 2020 Darwin Cup. Doyle, formerly of Alice Springs, celebrated her first Darwin win after Chole Baxter’s Swing With Junior ($6.50) made it two wins from its past three starts with a narrow win over 1200m (0-70). Clarke claimed a winning treble with six-year-old mare Bel Suono (Jarrod Todd) saluting for the stable at the 11th attempt over 1100m (0-58), while seven-year-old gelding Desert Dreamer (Aaron Sweeney) made it two wins from nine Top End starts over 1100m at open level. Horse racing news View the full article

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Having broken her maiden in the Ellis Park Debutante S. last year, Hot Beach (f 3, Omaha Beach–Hot Water, by Medaglia d'Oro) started her 2024 with her second lifetime and stakes win in the off-turf Limestone S. at Keeneland. A draw-in from the also eligibles and a rocket out of the gate, she took command, and much like anyone who got to the front on Keeneland's sloppy main track Friday, never relinquished her advantage after :22.24 and:45.16 early splits. Zoe's Prime (Bolt d'Oro) tried to catch her in the lane, but came several lengths short while Kodiac Wintergreen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) ran on for third. #14 HOT BEACH ($3.98) goes gate-to-wire in Keeneland's $250,000 @FanDuel Limestone Stakes! This is the second stakes victory for the filly, who was ridden by @jose93_ortiz for trainer @BLynchRacing and Boardshorts Stables. pic.twitter.com/2l5sV5XKiO — TVG (@TVG) April 12, 2024 Sales history: $160,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $400,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG. O-Boardshorts Stables, LLC; T-Brian Lynch; B-Cobalt Investments (KY). The post Omaha Beach’s Hot Beach Runs Them off Their Feet in Limestone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dr. Ira Paul Mersack, the former co-owner of Margaux Farm, died on April 10, according to an obituary posted by the Milward Funeral Home in Lexington, Kentucky. He was 83 years old. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he grew up in Philadelphia, received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Marietta College, and his medical degree from the University of Kentucky. He served as a major in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He practiced dermatology in Lexington for more than 40 years, first joining Dr. Ullin Leavell's practice, then growing the practice and establishing Dermatology Associates of Kentucky. He co-owned Margaux Farm and shared his love of horses and racing with his family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Anita Weinberger Mersack and his sister, Arlene Langman. He is survived by his brother, Alan Mersack, his three children; Beth Brody (Raymond); Rebecca (Joe) Young; Melinda Mersack (Mark Jacobs), and his grandchildren Ethan Brody, Jacob Young, Max Young, Isaiah Jacobs, Eli Jacobs, Camille Brody and Kiva Jacobs. Donations in Dr. Mersack's memory may be made to the Temple Adath Israel Mersack Fund or the Lexington Veterans Administration. The post Dr. Ira Paul Mersack, Former Owner of Margaux Farm, Dies at 83 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-KEE, $100K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 3:08 p.m. ET. SCARLET POPPY (IRE) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) makes the races after she was purchased by Stonestreet Stable and M.V. Magnier for 800,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The Wesley Ward trainee has a trio of gelding half-brothers who have won stakes in Europe, including Ross Castle (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), Snazzy Jazzy (Ire) (Red Jazz) and Ten Year Ticket (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). Also drawn is Ready for Shirl (More Than Ready), who is out of GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf victress Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}). Both were bred and raced by Charles Fipke, along with Perfect Shirl's half-sister MGSW Lady Shakespeare (Theatrical {Ire}), the dam of another Fipke homebred, Canadian three-time champion Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown). Once again, Roger Attfield serves as this owner's go-to conditioner. TJCIS PPS 4th-KEE, $100K, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 2:36 p.m. ET. Fracture (Uncle Mo) debuts for Katie Rich Farms under trainer Daniel Leitch. A half-brother to GI Manhattan S. hero Instilled Regard (Arch), the homebred's second dam is champion 3-year-old filly Heavenly Prize (Seeking the Gold), who produced MGISW Good Reward (Storm Cat). TJCIS PPS The post Saturday’s Insights: Pricey Night Of Thunder Filly Makes First Start At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Delayed a day due to severe weather in central Florida, the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training got back underway Friday with a colt from the third crop of Spendthrift stallion Bolt d'Oro (hip 787) setting the high mark at :9 3/5. Consigned by Top Line Sales, which continued to be well-represented Friday after posting five of the top 18 fastest furlong works during Wednesday's session, the juvenile was purchased as a yearling by Cash Bloodstock at Keeneland September last year for $90,000. One of three to hit the :9 3/5 mark so far this week, he is out of a winning Speightstown dam who has produced five winners from six to race, led by stakes winner Blame J D (Blame) and stakes-placed $350,000 OBS March grad Golden Nugget (Mendelssohn). New York Going Strong A registered New York-bred filly (hip 752) by Central Banker posted one of only two :9 4/5 works Friday. Three Diamond Farm's Kirk Wycoff signed the ticket as Bronco Bloodstock when he went to $32,000 to purchase the filly last year at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred Yearling Sale. It was one of five yearling purchases made by Bronco Bloodstock over the two-day sale. Four of those five yearlings are being resold at OBS April, with two (hip 637 and hip 253) joining hip 752 by working in :9 4/5 earlier in the week. The last of the four (hip 869) is expected to breeze Saturday. All four hips sell with the Wavertree Stables consignment. “It's two chances for the price of one,” said Ciaran Dunne of Wavertree Stables. “Kirk Wycoff is in a spot where, if something happened and he wasn't able to sell, then he's quite happy to race. That's the main appeal of the New York-breds. He likes to race at Saratoga, so he tried to pick some that he thought fit that bill.” After several nice days of breeze-friendly weather, including a tail wind down the lane, conditions weren't quite as kind to workers Friday. “She [hip 752] was fortunate enough that she got out there before the wind got up,” Dunne said. “I think the track was fair. We expected her to work well. I think the main difference today is that we've had the tail wind all week and then it turns around and it's in their face, so that was a double whammy.” Hip 752 is the second foal out of the unraced Tanmawwy (Candy Ride {Arg}), a daughter of group-placed Wasseema (Danzig) and a half-sister to stakes-placed Ekhtibaar (Bernardini). This is also the family of French group winner Funny Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) and MGSW Candy Man Rocket (Candy Ride {Arg}). The same line of storms that canceled Thursday's under-tack show dropped north of an inch of rain around the Ocala area, but Dunne was quick to compliment track conditions even after the deluge. “The track is fine.” he said. “That's the great thing about this surface is that, even after weather like that, it's still usable and it's still safe. The wind was the bigger factor today and she was lucky to get out there early.” Sellers, Dunne included, continue to look forward to OBS April off of a strong and steady March renewal. Hip 752 | Judit Seipert “We're cautiously optimistic,” said Dunne. “March was solid without being outstanding and, I think as April gets stronger, it puts more pressure on March. People know there are 1200 hips more to come, so it's easier to sit back [in March] and say you'll wait a little. But April is obviously the big one now, so we've been optimistic.” Also working in :9 4/5 Friday was hip 839, a colt by Army Mule out of Waltzing (Candy Ride {Arg}), who is a half-sister to graded winner Dancing Solo (Giant's Causeway) and Grade I-placed Dancing (Bernardini). The dark bay is consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock on behalf of Eric Delvalle, who purchased him for $45,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. Also on behalf of Delvalle, Ramirez sent out a filly by Omaha Beach (hip 308) to work the furlong in :9 3/5 during Monday's second session of the under-tack show. A colt from the first crop of McKinzie (hip 862) was responsible for Friday's fastest quarter-mile work, working in :21. Out of a stakes-winning first dam, the juvenile, consigned by Pick View LLC, sold for $110,000 at Keeneland last September to Stock Thoroughbreds. The under-tack show continues Saturday with hips 864-1035, with an additional day added Sunday for hips 1036-1208 to compensate for Thursday's unexpected cancellation. The OBS Spring sale will be held Tuesday through Friday, with bidding starting each day at 10:30 a.m. The post Bolt d’Oro Colt Fastest On OBS Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The lightly raced but talented Scylla returns to the site of her first career victory and faces her biggest test yet when she starts in the April 19 $300,000 Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.View the full article

Mensa became the first winner for first-crop sire Complexity by dashing to a front-running three-length victory in a $62,700 maiden race for juveniles April 12 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Next Generation Internship Scheme, which was started in 2011, will be relaunched this year, the ITBA announced on Friday. The programme's aim was to develop skills and knowledge of young enthusiasts in the thoroughbred industry. In 2024, there will be two levels of this scheme: one for individuals aged 18-30, and another for transition year students. ITBA's Internship will be a year long, fully paid internship offering two successful candidates invaluable experience working in three different industry areas for four months each. In addition, there will be two types of internship–one focusing on office placement and the second a practical placement with hands-on stud farm experience. The placements will begin in August and will be divided into three placements as follows: Placement 1: August 2024 – December 2024 Placement 2: January 2025 – April 2025 Placement 3: May 2025 – August 2025 The ITBA Junior Internship 2024 will target secondary school students before their transition year and is for ages over 16. A short health and safety and basic handling course will be offered to those individuals. There will also be several opportunities to shadow ITBA's Next Generation Committee during sales days, race meetings and other industry events. ITBA Chairman Cathy Grassick said, “We are delighted to develop ITBA's Internship for 2024 and think this a fantastic opportunity for anyone who has a passion for the thoroughbred industry. The scheme is a great way to help develop skills and network with industry leaders, as well as encouraging the next generation into the industry. The placements and people you meet offer an invaluable experience in the industry. “We are looking forward to introducing two different levels of the scheme, as well as developing the Una McElroy Business Internship. This was a project that was very close to Una's heart and it is very fitting that this Internship will honour her memory.” Applications for both the 2024 Internship and Junior Internship Schemes will begin on Monday, Apr. 15, with interviews held in May and June. For more information and full details, please visit the ITBA website. Applications must be submitted to Nextgen@itba.ie prior to the close of business on Friday, May 10. The post ITBA Next Generation Internship Scheme Relaunched appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article