Wandering Eyes

It was an emotional John Leek after Affluential (NZ) (Zed) provided him with what he described as the best moment of his training career with his tough win in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown Lakeside. The win also gave former English jockey Will Gordon his first feature win as a jumps jockey in Australia. Gordon said it was an amazing effort by Affluential as he over-raced for most of the race and then had to fight in the closing stages to hold off a late challenge from runner-up The Good Fight. It was Leek’s second Grand National Hurdle win with his other success in 2004 with Team Heritage when the race was held at Flemington. As Leek pointed out Team Heritage was ridden by his wife Andrea on that occasion. Leek’s relationship with Perth‘s leading owner Bob Peters over the past two years was the reason he secured the younger brother of 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant. Leek said Affluential was the only horse Peters had sent to him to train as a jumper. Leek identified the Grand National Hurdle as Affluential’s main target at the start of the campaign. Affluential (NZ) and connections celebrate their win. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Affluential began his career over jumps at Pakenham in April and is now undefeated in four starts over the jumps. Affluential hit the front early in the straight, which concerned Leek as he knew he had raced fiercely and also he has a habit of stopping when he hits the front. “He was on the steel. When the other horse came to him I thought, ‘Oh God,’ but he had something left in the locker,” Leek said. “He does switch off a bit, he doesn’t stop trying, but he doesn’t try as hard when he hits the front.” Gordon said it was a tough ride as Affluential wanted to over-race throughout. “At no stage did I feel comfortable,” Gordon said. Gordon said he wanted to get a major race on his CV and was glad he had finally done so. “This is super satisfying. We targeted this race from a long way out so it’s pretty special,” Gordon said. Affluential was purchased out of Grangewilliam Stud’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $140,000 by bloodstock agent John Chalmers, on behalf of leading Perth owner Bob Peters. View the full article

It was an emotional John Leek after Affluential (NZ) (Zed) provided him with what he described as the best moment of his training career with his tough win in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown Lakeside. The win also gave former English jockey Will Gordon his first feature win as a jumps jockey in Australia. Gordon said it was an amazing effort by Affluential as he over-raced for most of the race and then had to fight in the closing stages to hold off a late challenge from runner-up The Good Fight. It was Leek’s second Grand National Hurdle win with his other success in 2004 with Team Heritage when the race was held at Flemington. As Leek pointed out Team Heritage was ridden by his wife Andrea on that occasion. Leek’s relationship with Perth‘s leading owner Bob Peters over the past two years was the reason he secured the younger brother of 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant. Leek said Affluential was the only horse Peters had sent to him to train as a jumper. Leek identified the Grand National Hurdle as Affluential’s main target at the start of the campaign. Affluential (NZ) and connections celebrate their win. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Affluential began his career over jumps at Pakenham in April and is now undefeated in four starts over the jumps. Affluential hit the front early in the straight, which concerned Leek as he knew he had raced fiercely and also he has a habit of stopping when he hits the front. “He was on the steel. When the other horse came to him I thought, ‘Oh God,’ but he had something left in the locker,” Leek said. “He does switch off a bit, he doesn’t stop trying, but he doesn’t try as hard when he hits the front.” Gordon said it was a tough ride as Affluential wanted to over-race throughout. “At no stage did I feel comfortable,” Gordon said. Gordon said he wanted to get a major race on his CV and was glad he had finally done so. “This is super satisfying. We targeted this race from a long way out so it’s pretty special,” Gordon said. Affluential was purchased out of Grangewilliam Stud’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $140,000 by bloodstock agent John Chalmers, on behalf of leading Perth owner Bob Peters. View the full article

It was an emotional John Leek after Affluential (NZ) (Zed) provided him with what he described as the best moment of his training career with his tough win in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown Lakeside. The win also gave former English jockey Will Gordon his first feature win as a jumps jockey in Australia. Gordon said it was an amazing effort by Affluential as he over-raced for most of the race and then had to fight in the closing stages to hold off a late challenge from runner-up The Good Fight. It was Leek’s second Grand National Hurdle win with his other success in 2004 with Team Heritage when the race was held at Flemington. As Leek pointed out Team Heritage was ridden by his wife Andrea on that occasion. Leek’s relationship with Perth‘s leading owner Bob Peters over the past two years was the reason he secured the younger brother of 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant. Leek said Affluential was the only horse Peters had sent to him to train as a jumper. Leek identified the Grand National Hurdle as Affluential’s main target at the start of the campaign. Affluential (NZ) and connections celebrate their win. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Affluential began his career over jumps at Pakenham in April and is now undefeated in four starts over the jumps. Affluential hit the front early in the straight, which concerned Leek as he knew he had raced fiercely and also he has a habit of stopping when he hits the front. “He was on the steel. When the other horse came to him I thought, ‘Oh God,’ but he had something left in the locker,” Leek said. “He does switch off a bit, he doesn’t stop trying, but he doesn’t try as hard when he hits the front.” Gordon said it was a tough ride as Affluential wanted to over-race throughout. “At no stage did I feel comfortable,” Gordon said. Gordon said he wanted to get a major race on his CV and was glad he had finally done so. “This is super satisfying. We targeted this race from a long way out so it’s pretty special,” Gordon said. Affluential was purchased out of Grangewilliam Stud’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $140,000 by bloodstock agent John Chalmers, on behalf of leading Perth owner Bob Peters. View the full article

It was an emotional John Leek after Affluential (NZ) (Zed) provided him with what he described as the best moment of his training career with his tough win in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown Lakeside. The win also gave former English jockey Will Gordon his first feature win as a jumps jockey in Australia. Gordon said it was an amazing effort by Affluential as he over-raced for most of the race and then had to fight in the closing stages to hold off a late challenge from runner-up The Good Fight. It was Leek’s second Grand National Hurdle win with his other success in 2004 with Team Heritage when the race was held at Flemington. As Leek pointed out Team Heritage was ridden by his wife Andrea on that occasion. Leek’s relationship with Perth‘s leading owner Bob Peters over the past two years was the reason he secured the younger brother of 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant. Leek said Affluential was the only horse Peters had sent to him to train as a jumper. Leek identified the Grand National Hurdle as Affluential’s main target at the start of the campaign. Affluential (NZ) and connections celebrate their win. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Affluential began his career over jumps at Pakenham in April and is now undefeated in four starts over the jumps. Affluential hit the front early in the straight, which concerned Leek as he knew he had raced fiercely and also he has a habit of stopping when he hits the front. “He was on the steel. When the other horse came to him I thought, ‘Oh God,’ but he had something left in the locker,” Leek said. “He does switch off a bit, he doesn’t stop trying, but he doesn’t try as hard when he hits the front.” Gordon said it was a tough ride as Affluential wanted to over-race throughout. “At no stage did I feel comfortable,” Gordon said. Gordon said he wanted to get a major race on his CV and was glad he had finally done so. “This is super satisfying. We targeted this race from a long way out so it’s pretty special,” Gordon said. Affluential was purchased out of Grangewilliam Stud’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $140,000 by bloodstock agent John Chalmers, on behalf of leading Perth owner Bob Peters. View the full article

Two promising additions to Allan Sharrock’s stable made a winning start to their campaigns at Hawera on Sunday, in the form of Street Gossip (So You Think) and Confetti (NZ) (Ocean Park). A five-year-old by So You Think, Street Gossip had raced in Australia for the duration of her 15-start career, winning the Listed Princess Stakes (1615m) and was third in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) in the care of Mark Newnham. The mare had her final start for her most-recent trainer Joe Pride for third in a Benchmark 94 contest in April, before being sold to Dianne McDonald at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale and crossed the Tasman to join Sharrock’s New Plymouth barn. Her first public appearance on New Zealand soil was a comfortable win at the Foxton trials on July 26, giving punters enough confidence to start her a $2.60 equal-favourite under the 59kg top-weight with Sinbin in the Paul Jones Construction 1200. Storming out of the gates under Lisa Allpress, Street Gossip had the early lead before Papa Surf crossed to take over, the grey maintaining a solid tempo up-front to the home turn. Street Gossip loomed up outside of Papa Surf at the 200 metres and her class was evident in the finish, pulling away to score with her ears pricked by 1 ½ lengths. “She was really good, I used it as a trial as she’s only had that one trial for me, so we went in a little bit blind,” Sharrock said. “She was comprehensive and we’ll probably look for an open class or black-type race for her now, she’s a nice mare. It would be good to get some more black-type for her. “Dianne McDonald purchased her and decided to leave her with me which I was proud of, so let’s hope it works out well going forward.” Earlier on the New Plymouth card, Sharrock and Allpress combined to take out a competitive Peter Kuklinski Retirement Maiden (1200m) with Confetti. A lightly-raced four-year-old, Confetti had three starts for Peter and Dawn Williams with her most recent run a bold performance for second at Te Rapa in May. After the successful couple’s retirement from training, Confetti was transferred to Sharrock and was also a trial winner at Foxton prior to having her fresh-up run at the Taranaki venue. The race was predicted as a three-horse contest between Confetti and promising types He’s Lucid and Belles Fate, and it panned out as expected with Confetti and Belles Fate fighting out a tight finish with the former prevailing by a neck, with He’s Lucid running gamely into third from back in the field. “She did a great job, I’ve always respected Peter Williams throughout my career and he passed this horse onto me with his retirement,” Sharrock said. “He said to me that it would win first-up and he’s a very good judge, so I’m happy to have her in the stable and happy to have another one for Waikato Stud.” Racing in the colours of the Matamata nursery, Confetti is a daughter of Ocean Park out of an unraced Rock’N’Pop mare Party Popper. “It’s a family that Waikato Stud have had for a while and they’d like to get some black-type at some stage, it wouldn’t be in this prep, but maybe next autumn,” Sharrock said. “She won’t do a lot (in the interim) as I don’t know how adept she is in heavy ground, it was nice to strike a (Soft) 7 today but we won’t be getting too many of those in the next couple of months. “We’ll just have to pick and choose a little bit as to where we go. “I like her, she’s a really nice mare.” Another of the stable’s representatives, Explosive Impact (NZ) (Staphanos), completed a winning treble for Allpress and Sharrock as the odds-on favourite in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1600m), earning her deserved maiden success by 2 ¼ lengths to fellow local Keen On Bubbles. A four-year-old by Staphanos, Explosive Impact was bred and raced by Explosive Breeding Ltd, as the first foal out of Jakkalberry mare Jakkie’s Dancer. View the full article

The Cunning Fox (NZ) (Reliable Man) has stamped himself as a potential star jumper of the future winning Sunday’s BM120 Hurdle (3400m) at Sandown. The Patrick Payne-trained emerging jumper remained undefeated over the hurdles, making it two-from-two to start his jumping career after winning a 3200m maiden hurdle last start at Pakenham. Well-schooled in hurdle trials prior to his first jumps preparation, the eye-catching grey looked like a seasoned campaigner over the jumps in his handling of the majority of the obstacles. The six-year-old settled at the rear in the small field but steadily moved his way through the field and was in a threatening position with two flights remaining. Ridden by Will Gordon, the leading jumps rider allowed The Cunning Fox to challenge the leading pair of Hit The Road Jack and Treasured Crown approaching the home turn and the Reliable Man gelding strode clear in the straight to win by 12 lengths. Point Nepean jumped his way out of contention in the back straight but made amends on the flat to grab second from Hit The Road Jack in the final few strides. Representing the Payne stable, Neil Greaves, was full of praise for how the Reliable Man gelding handled the challenge. “The team have done a great job here with this horse, he had sort of reached his mark on the flat, but this seems to have given him a new lease on life. “He trialled quite a while back at Warrnambool and jumped terrific. “This was a good race today, good tempo on and he stood up to the pressure and Will Gordon rode him terrific, he was very impressive.” Will Gordon was impressed with how much the hurdler was enjoying the experience. “He’s pretty good this fella, I think he just enjoys the job,” Gordon said. “I think this job with the jumping just keeps him very interested, he seems to love it. “He was super today, and he was pretty dominant late.” Racing in the silks of managing owner Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds, The Cunning Fox had recorded four wins on the flat from 25 starts before being aimed over the jumps. The Cunning Fox was bred by Sven Hanson and was a $34,000 yearling purchase by O’Neill on the Gold Coast. Hanson and wife Carina bred and raced Reliable Man, who stands at Westbury Stud in New Zealand. View the full article

The return run of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) is now less than four weeks away and the mare is set to step up her program with another jump-out at Cranbourne. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare had a jump-out over 800m at Cranbourne on July 22 and will have the second of her preparation over 1000m at Cranbourne on Monday. Pride Of Jenni is being prepared for her return to racing at Caulfield on August 31 in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m). The mare has not raced since winning the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April and owner Tony Otobre has signalled the mares’ main target is the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 19. The Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley the following week is also on the radar. Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Pride Of Jenni was doing everything expected. “She had a gallop last week and will have a jump-out over 1000 metres at Cranbourne on Monday,” Turnbull said. “We’ll then work out what we do with her after that, whether she has a third jump-out or we take her away for a gallop. We took her to Sandown last prep before she got going and got a lot out of it. “Depending on the weather we’ll work out whether it’s better to take her away for another gallop again, a bit of a trip, which she may get more benefit out of.” The jump-out on Monday is then tenth of the morning but will be the first on the main grass at Cranbourne and opponents include stablemates Jennilala, Saint George, Immediacy, Mostly Cloudy, Shaiyhar and Uncle Bryn. Also down to have a jump-out on Monday is Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) who will be having the first of two hit-outs ahead of his expected return also in the Memsie Stakes. Mr Brightside’s spring program remains largely unknown on the eve of his first official jumpout, but there are two races that seem certain to feature the winner of more than A$13 million in stakes. The Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield at the end of August and the $5 million Cox Plate are etched into Mr Brightside’s spring program for 2024, but co-trainer JD Hayes said on Saturday that what happens in between is yet to be determined. “It’s the Memsie and then there are many ways to skin a cat,” Hayes said. “He’ll most probably end up in a race like the Cox Plate. “This is his first jumpout. He’ll just roll around and then have a trial on the Friday of next week and then we’ll be ready to go.” Regular rider Craig Williams will partner Mr Brightside in the 1200-metre course proper jumpout at Flemington on Monday. Hayes said the team were looking forward to another big spring with the seven-year-old. “He’s going very well,” Hayes said. “He is very happy.” He will jump-out over 800m on the course proper at Flemington in a heat that includes Bandersnatch, Munhamek, Caste and Zulfiqar. View the full article

Lisa Allpress saluted to the sky after a sentimental victory aboard Mike Breslin’s promising stayer Donnybrook (NZ) (Zed) at Riccarton Park on Saturday. Allpress has been one of the country’s top hoops for over two decades including winning four national jockeys’ premierships, and for much of her career, she has ridden with the last name of her husband Karl Allpress, whose father Lloyd sadly passed away recently. Her mount for the Gold Club Rating 75 (1800m), Donnybrook, was the first balloted horse for the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) during the meeting, but after missing a place in the feature field was the favoured runner to win his consolation event at $3.20. Promising Southern galloper Riviera Rebel was second-favourite at $5.80, but his chances were soon put in jeopardy with the saddle slipping under apprentice Yogesh Atchamah, who managed to control the tempo in-front while Donnybrook bided his time comfortably midfield. Allpress showed her experience allowing the gaps to come for the gelding at the top of the straight and went to the lead inside of fellow Central Districts visitor Margherita Veloce. The pair battled out the final 50 metres with neither giving up the fight, but Donnybrook was slightly stronger in the closing stages pulling away by three-quarters of a length from a game Margherita Veloce. Returning to the winner’s circle, Allpress was swift in expressing her gratitude to her late father-in-law after the victory. “It means so much, it’s been a toss-up whether I could get away with wearing the black armband and you always wonder if there’s a bit of help from up above,” she said. “Realistically, this horse was a really good chance in this race as well so hats off to Mike for planning it out and pulling it off. “It really brings life into perspective and there’s more to life than just racing, I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the Allpress family as well as my own. I’ve been lucky enough to nearly be an Allpress as long as I was a Mumby, so they’ve been a huge part of my life. “I was looking over my shoulder thinking Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey of Margherita Veloce), just get away, but he (Donnybrook) really fought well. I thought the 1800 would suit him, just getting over a bit more ground each time and the blinkers went on last start. “He’s a really nice horse in the making, I think we’ll see a lot of him in open company.” Bred by Stirling Bloodstock, Breslin purchased the Zed five-year-old for $40,000 at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales with the intention of finding a future Cups horse, and the win was Donnybrook’s fourth in just 14 starts. “He’s a horse that obviously we had aspirations to run in the Winter Cup if everything fell into place, and this race was always there in case he didn’t make the field,” Breslin said. “I wanted to give him a trip away to finish off this campaign with him and he coped very well, he’ll have a short let-up now and hopefully he’ll show us what we think he’s capable of in the late spring and early summer. “We’ve only just got him up to the trips that are going to suit him, he’s been a typical Zed in that he’s taken a bit of time to mature but he’s always been a natural athlete. “We’ve been patient with him, he was bred and purchased at the sales by myself and his co-owner Graeme Andrew to make a Cups horse, and that’s what we hope he’ll do in the next 12 to 24 months. “He’s going to come home and probably have a couple of weeks off, then we’ll be setting him up to get in on the minimum (weight) in a race like the Manawatu Cup (Gr.3, 2300m) hopefully.” Breslin is hoping he can pick up further spoils at Riccarton before returning to his base at Awapuni, with Showbastian Coe (NZ) (Showcasing) lining up in the inaugural Ripple Creek Equine Polytrack $100,000 (1200m) on Wednesday. The son of Showcasing has figured prominently on the synthetic surface at Awapuni of late with two wins and two placings from his last four starts, and he will run under a luxury weight of 52kg in the feature courtesy of Jim Chung’s two-kilogram claim. “He’s been really good (since getting to Christchurch), he had a gallop on the poly with race-rival Kana on Saturday morning and worked really well,” Breslin said. “Ratings-wise, there are a few better than him but he’s probably the only horse in my stable that is a synthetic specialist. He really seems to enjoy the surface at Awapuni, so hopefully it’ll be the same at Riccarton. “We realised the qualifying conditions of the race and he had to have at least three runs on the synthetic, and we always thought if his form was good enough, we’ll go down and have a crack at it.” View the full article

Local stayer Bosch (NZ) (Pentire) made amends for a luckless performance at Ruakaka a fortnight ago when powering to victory in the Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Stretch & Trim (2100m) on Saturday. The six-year-old by Pentire is prepared at the course by Michelle Bradley, who witnessed Bosch’s misfortune when held up at a crucial stage of the ITM/GIB Stayer’s Winter Championship Final (2100m) on July 13, eventually running into second behind Fly My Wey. Both horses lined up two weeks later over the identical trip, where jockey Sam Spratt took luck out of the equation early on Bosch when settling outside of Chevron who set a strong tempo under apprentice Triston Moodley. Spratt applied pressure to the pacemaker near the 600m with Fly My Wey in pursuit and the trio looked the main chances coming down the home straight, but at the 100m, Bosch found another gear in the soft conditions and kicked away to score by 3 ¼ lengths. Spratt has become somewhat of a course specialist at Ruakaka over the years riding over 100 winners, and she picked up an early double after dead-heating in the opener aboard I’m All In. “He (Bosch) ended up winning pretty easily, I wasn’t sure how far in front we were and I was a bit worried they were going to bomb us in the last little bit, but he’s won it well,” Spratt said. “To be fair, he probably should’ve won last start, he was very unlucky. It would’ve been better with that being a $60,000 race, but hey, it’s good. “Triston set up a really beautiful pace and starting rolling on the corner, which is perfect for Bosch. It all worked out really well. “He’s definitely strengthened up a lot this year, so I think he’s going to be a nice horse coming through. The sting out of the track like it was today is right up his alley. “ Bradley indicated she is eyeing a feature target later in the year for Bosch, with the win coming as a tidy starting point. “I was shaking a little bit, but once he turned the corner and Sam let him go it was game over,” she said. “I was a little bit worried about Fly My Wey, but he skipped away quite easily and I’m really happy with him. He’s strengthened up, he’s only just turned six and he’s lightly raced. “I’ve got a goal in mind this year that I’m hoping to get to, a race I’ve been wanting to have a go at and that’s the Counties Cup (Gr.3, 2100m). “We’ll get through his next couple, have a breather and if we get there, we get there. I know there will be a few horses a bit stronger than today, but we’ll give it a crack.” Bosch increased his stakes earnings north of $104,500 in stakes for connections, now having recorded three wins and eight minor placings from 20 starts. Bradley’s team also featured strongly in the following event, the Truweld Engineering (1600m), with stablemates Shockatillatap and Sulabella filling the minors behind impressive winner Tide And Time. View the full article

Street Fightin Man (NZ) (Pure Champion) lived up to his name with a gritty performance from the front to score in the Christchurch Casino 29th South Island Awards – 13 September Open (1200m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday. A seven-year-old by Pure Champion, Street Fightin Man has found a purple patch of form this winter with two victories and two placings from his past four starts, which placed him second in the market for the open sprint event at $5.30 with Listed winner Epee Beel on top at $2.20. The big gelding jumped positively from the gates and jockey Kate Hercock swiftly took advantage of his early speed, setting a leisurely tempo in front inside of The Good Shepherd. When the pressure came on, Street Fightin Man found plenty of kick under Hercock and set a challenge for Epee Beel and her stablemate Makabar. The Pitman pair chased gamely from back in the field and got within touching distance of Street Fightin Man, but he was too tough, pinning his ears back and finding the line to score by a neck to Makabar, with Epee Beel a further neck back in third. Steven Woodsford prepares Street Fightin Man out of Rangiora and he was thrilled to see the gelding continue his strong recent run of performances. “He’s come right, he’s tough and is in a golden run at the moment,” Woodsford said. “He might line up on the last day now (10 August at Riccarton), we’ll see. “I told the owners a long time ago I wouldn’t start him during (New Zealand) Cup Week, he’s had his go there and he will be saved for other parts of the season.” Hercock continued to figure prominently in the riding ranks last season since her return to race-day in 2021, posting 48 winners, and was happy to kick off the new season in similar fashion. “It was really good, he was a little bit slow away and Amanda (Pascoe) did say he likes to take a sit, but we got a nice soft lead and I thought if I could walk and sprint from the corner, we were away,” she said. “As soon as I gave him a dig he came under me and just kept fighting all the way up the straight. “He’s a beautiful ride, you couldn’t get a nicer horse to ride.” Street Fightin Man has now recorded seven wins from 44 starts and over $148,000 in stakes for his ownership group which includes Woodsford. He is out of a Thorn Park mare Ruby Tuesday, who also produced Woodsford’s two-win stablemate Aingie, by Darci Brahma. View the full article

Freshman sire Vekoma picked up his first black-type stakes winner as Louisiana Jess ran away from the field in the D. S. Shine Young Futurity Aug. 3 at Evangeline Downs. View the full article

Losing position on the backstretch when shuffled behind rivals, Adare Manor finds her stride late on the second turn and down the stretch to catch Scylla in the $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) Aug. 3 at Del Mar.View the full article

Michael Lund Petersen's ADARE MANOR (m, 5, Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway, by Giant Gizmo) looked to have it all to do with less than a quarter mile to race in Saturday's GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar, but she went through her gears once into the clear to motor past 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla (Tapit) en route to a successful defense of her title. With the victory, the dark bay mare secures her spot in the field or the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff going nine furlongs over this seaside oval in early November. Pounded into 3-5, Adare Manor–who had achieved most of her prior career success when allowed to dictate terms–was beaten for speed and was settled off the pace by Juan Hernandez, as Olivia Twist (Mshawish) led in advance of Scylla. The Juddmonte runner, looking to complete a cross-country Grade I double for her sire and trainer Bill Mott, was sent into the lead by Mike Smith with fully 4 1/2 furlongs to go, and for a long while, it looked as if that bold move may have proved the winning one. Scylla led clear passing the quarter pole and Adare Manor was hard-ridden, but she picked up the bridle in the lane and steamed past Scylla for a third victory at the highest level. Flying Connection (Connect), second to Adare Manor in this year's GI Apple Blossom Handicap, won a photo for third. Sales history: $180,000 Ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEP; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSJUN. Lifetime Record: 18-10-5-0. O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Bob Baffert. ADARE MANOR ($3.20) WAS INCREDIBLE! The mare by Uncle Mo (@coolmoreamerica) sat back and got a perfect trip under @JJHernandezS19 to win the @LanesEndFarms @BreedersCup Challenge Series $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at @DelMarRacing! The 5yo was trained by @BobBaffert. pic.twitter.com/pXizDMG0I7 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 4, 2024 The post Adare Manor Defends Title In Clement Hirsch, Earns BC Distaff Berth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y.–Ferocious's (Flatter) blowout victory in the sixth race at Saratoga Race Course Saturday produced a series of backward and forward moments in the winner's enclosure. Ramiro Restrepo and Gustavo Delgado, Jr., principals in Mage's (Good Magic) rise to prominence and victory in the 2023 GI Kentucky Derby, held court following the $100,000 2-year-old maiden special weight race that might be the first big step for another standout. Restrepo and Delgado spearheaded the purchase of Ferocious for $1,300,000 at the OBS March sale and they were appropriately excited about the way he launched his career. Despite breaking a tad slow from the rail, eighth of nine, he quickly put himself into the race, grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch and cruised to a 7 3/4-lengths score under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano. They completed the six furlongs over the muddy sealed track in 1:09.65 and paid $8.90 as the 3-1 favorite. El Prestigio (Practical Joke), the early pacesetter, was second, a nose ahead of Praetor (Into Mischief). Delgado, who trains the colt with his father, said his agility enabled Ferocious to overcome the tardy start. “I don't think you can ask for a better debut,” he said. Gentry Stable bred the colt and Restrepo and Delgado Jr. put together the partnership with JR Ranch, owned by Jose Aguirre; Restrepo's Marquee Bloodstock; High Step Racing and the Delgado's OGMA Investments. JR is the majority owner. Restrepo said that Ferocious, out of the Midnight Lute mare Napier, could not be ignored. “It's very difficult to find a horse with four generations of Juddmonte breeding like that at a 2-year-old sale. Usually, you find those things gone at the yearling sales,” he said and named some of colt's assets: “Physically so mature. His attitude. His attitude at the sale, like an older horse.” Ferocious's fourth dam, Nijinsky Star (Nijinsky) was purchased by Juddmonte and joined the broodmare band, establishing a female family line that led to third dam Willstar (Nureyev) and second dam Uno Duo (Macho Uno). Then it was Delgado's turn. “I think the credit goes to JR Ranch,” he said. “When we were trying to buy him, he wouldn't stop. That's what you need in those cases, some guy that has got that to carry on, in the bidding. That was good for us.” “Then since the horse is in the barn, so nice to be around. He's very chill. Any rider can ride, that kind of thing. We were pretty confident, though. I have to be honest.” Ferocious had some experience on wet conditions in training and Restrepo noted that when Gustavo Delgado Sr. saw the weather forecast a couple of days ago, “He goes, 'Don't worry about it, he's a duck.'” In May 2022, Restrepo and Delgado Jr. were so impressed with the 2-year-old Mage at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale that they went to $290,000, well beyond their budget, to buy the colt. Then they scrambled to find investors for what turned into a very successful venture. The 4-year-old stands at Airdrie Stud. “Mage is the gift that keeps on giving for us,” Restrepo said. “Its let myself go out and purchase horses that I could only dream of. Before it was just fantasy football.” With the credibility and the resources that a Derby win and the sale of a stallion can produce, they have been busy. “You know, Gustavo and his father are more than capable of, from the test into the Derby, to have a barn for these horses, and they're deserving of the opportunity as well,” Restrepo said. “We have 20-plus really nice 2-year-olds at the barn. Mage took us on this incredible ride, has given us a ton of experience to kind of be present in the moment. Now, hopefully, Ferocious takes the torch.” Said Delgado Jr.: “Because of him, we have this one.” Restrepo called Ferocious “a total package” and said he behaved like a seasoned pro at the sale. “He was taken out 100-plus times and always acted mature and confident and never lost any weight; actually toughened up at the sale, put up some good size,” Restrepo said. “When you see a horse thriving in those environments, mentally, you start saying to yourself up, 'maybe he can handle the big stage.' Today was Step One. Episode One. Chapter One. Page One. It's a cool start, right?” The post Ferocious Lives Up To His Name In Spa MSW appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Brittlyn Stable's Ova Charged (Star Guitar–Charged Cotton, by Dehere), winner of this year's GIII Unbridled Sidney Stakes and owner of the year's top Beyer Speed Figure, fell leaving the eighth pole during the running of Saturday's Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies' Turf Sprint Stakes and was subsequently euthanized. According to the track's Kevin Kerstein, the 6-year-old mare suffered a right front fetlock injury. Jockey Corey Lanerie walked back to the jockeys' room under his power. Bred in Louisiana by Evelyn Benoit's operation, Ova Charged won eight of her first nine starts, including five state-bred stakes events while under the care of trainer Jose Camejo. Turned over to trainer Shane Wilson at the tail end of 2023, Ova Charged had rattled off another seven black-type wins, including her first such success in open company in the Feb. 13 Mardi Gras Stakes at the Fair Grounds. In her very next appearance, she thrashed her fellow Louisiana-breds by 12 1/2 lengths in the Page Cortez Stakes, running the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.90 which translated into a massive 113 Beyer Speed Figure. She won the Chicken Fried Stakes at Lone Star Park June 29 in her most recent appearance. Ova Charged amassed a record of 15-1-0 from 19 starts for earnings of $918,575. Her passing comes just a month after the tragic death of Louisiana-bred Grade I winner Alva Starr (Lord Nelson) in a training injury. The post Louisiana-Bred Star Ova Charged Euthanized appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Locked in a nose-to-nose duel for the final sixteenth of a mile, Governor Sam was able to prevail at the wire Aug. 3 in the $100,000 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park, becoming the first stakes winner for WinStar Farm's late stallion Improbable.View the full article

A three-race stakes card at Ellis Park Aug. 3 was marred by tragedy when the popular, 15-time-winning mare Ova Charged broke down in the stretch when racing in the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes. View the full article

In his first stakes appearance, Glassman Racing's Arthur's Ride handled the class jump with ease as he dominated the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) in front-running fashion at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–There is a good reason why White Sands (Into Mischief), the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday's $200,000, GIII Adirondack for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course, isn't going to run. She's not here. Trainer Wesley Ward said Saturday morning on the Saratoga backstretch that White Sands is at Keeneland and likely waiting for one of two races at Del Mar next weekend: the $150,000 GIII Sorrento for 2-year-old fillies on Aug. 10 or the $150,000 GIII Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds on Aug. 11. White Sands, owned by Mrs. John Magnier and Linda Shanahan, has won both of her career starts at places you don't normally see Ward youngsters run. She broke her maiden at Belterra Park in Cincinnati on May 25, winning by 9 1/2 lengths. She then went to Prairie Meadows in Iowa and beat colts in the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes on July 6. That seemed even easier as she romped by 13 3/4 lengths. Wesley Ward | Keeneland The impressive victories are not what you would first notice about White Sands. She only has one eye. Ward said the right eye is missing on the filly, who is a half-sister to 2021 champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music). “We took it so carefully with her,” Ward said. “We always trained her with a friend.” Ward decided not to have White Sands run in baby races at Keeneland or Churchill Downs or Belmont (at Aqueduct) because of her handicap. “I just thought I would wait and let her come and try to get her maiden broke at Belterra where you would not expect, with the purse structure there, to be anything of consequence like there would be at Churchill or Keeneland or Belmont,” Ward said. “She got in there and was a heavy favorite and won convincingly which is what we wanted.” After dominating the competition in her first two starts, that handicap has become a distant memory. “She bounced out to the front (in the race against colts) and off she went,” Ward said. “Now, she just trains like any other horse.” Ward said there is some talk of maybe bringing White Sands to Saratoga for the $150,000 Bolton Landing, a 5 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies on the grass on Aug. 18. However, Ward said that where he trains in Lexington, there is no turf breezing available. If the Bolton Landing were to be an option, White Sands would come to Saratoga to train. “That would take us away from going to California, so we are kind of stuck,” Ward said. “We have to make a decision in the next few days.” Trainer Beckman Not Worried No One Is Talking About Honor Marie As the Saratoga meet barrels towards the $1.25 million GI Travers Stakes, all–or most of–the attention is on horses named Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and Dornoch (Good Magic), Fierceness (City of Light), Seize the Grey (Arrogate) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and, most recently, Muth (Good Magic). Honor Marie | Sarah Andrew It seems like Honor Marie (Honor Code) has been the forgotten horse. He hasn't gone anywhere. He's still over at trainer Whit Beckman's barn and he's working just as hard as the others to get ready for the Midsummer Derby. It's just that no one is talking about him. Maybe it's because Honor Marie hasn't won a big one yet. He is 0-4 this year with a second in the GII Louisiana Derby being his best finish. He was eighth in the GI Kentucky Derby and fourth in the GI Belmont Stakes with less-than-ideal trips. “That's ok,” Beckman said outside his barn Saturday morning when asked about the lack of attention his horse has gotten. “Some people have lost interest a little bit. He has been out of sight, out of mind. You have a lot of high-profile horses coming in here, like those that ran in the (GII) Jim Dandy or a horse like Muth that is super flashy and super strong.” Beckman is confident that his horse fits with these. And he'll get his chance to prove it. He is scheduled to have a five-furlong work Sunday morning on the Oklahoma. Beckman said that Tyler Gaffalione will be on board for the work. Gaffalione has worked the horse twice at Saratoga and he has also been teamed with Irad Ortiz Jr. and Manny Franco in the mornings. Beckman is still waiting to see who will ride Honor Marie in the Travers. “We will have someone lined up soon,” he said. “I want to get the best fit for the horse.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: One-Eyed White Sands, Favored In Adirondack, Won’t Run appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A 12 3/4-length winner of a rare 10-furlong allowance June 7, Glassman Racing's ARTHUR'S RIDE (c, 4, Tapit–Points of Grace, by Point Given) was bet down from a morning line of 8-1 into 6-1, owing to the 111 Beyer Speed Figure and despite the presence of GI Met Mile winner National Treasure (Quality Road) and other, proven handicap horses. Making his stakes debut on top of everything else in Saturday's Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' GI Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, Arthur's Ride was intent on the lead, set a searching gallop and proved not for catching. Hustled away from gate nine by Junior Alvarado, the $250,000 Keeneland September graduate had to do a bit of work, but got there all the same through enervating splits of :23.26 and :46.63 prompted along by Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) as odds-on National Treasure was forced to do his running from off the pace, though he was well-spotted in the box seat. Moving right along through three-quarters of a mile in 1:10.29, Arthur's Ride began to get away at the top of the lane, pinched an insurmountable advantage into the final furlong and held sway as Crupi (Curlin) and Post Time (Frosted) made belated progress. National Treasure was sixth. Remarkably, Hall of Famer Bill Mott was celebrating his first win in the Whitney. Sales history: $250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-0. O-Glassman Racing; B-Helen & Joseph Barbazon (FL); T-Bill Mott. ARTHUR'S RIDE, son of @Gainesway stallion Tapit, dominates in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes under @JuniorandKellyA for Bill Mott! pic.twitter.com/BUlSskkElf — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 3, 2024 The post Tapit’s Arthur’s Ride Takes Them All The Way In the Whitney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2020 Saudi Cup winner Midnight Bisou is now a broodmare in Japan, having been purchased for $5.5 million by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm in the fall of 2022. But one of her foals can carry on the family name domestically and is in training.View the full article

Sent of as the 27-10 second choice in the Saturday opener from Del Mar, JACK'S MAGIC GIRL (f, 2, Good Magic–Stargirl, by Medaglia d'Oro) turned in an exceptionally strong and professional debut, kicking on smartly through the final furlong to win by a space and become the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star.' Away without incident from gate six, the $100,000 OBS April purchase took up a ground-saving position three back on the fence in midfield and switched off nicely when the pace dropped away through the middle furlongs. Patiently handled into the turn, she continued to scrape paint on the turn, came off the fence into the three-wide line, punched through and sprinted away to score by the better part of five lengths. Sales history: $100,000 RNA Ylg '23 KEESEP; $100,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Drager, Johnson & Parga; B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-O J Jauregui. JACK'S MAGIC GIRL ($7.40) practically teleported down the lane in @DelMarRacing race 1. @ojjauregui trained the 2-year-old daughter of Good Magic (@HillnDaleFarm), @HIBerrios up! Early Pick 4 time: https://t.co/kxLtjbx3tn pic.twitter.com/ojwmmxwNct — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 3, 2024 The post Good Magic’s Jack’s Magic Girl Does Everything Right On Del Mar Debut, Earns ‘Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Ways and Means, unlucky in top company a year ago when second in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course after being shut off down the backstretch, triumphed Aug. 3 in the $500,000 Test Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies.View the full article