Wandering Eyes

For many people, their passion for racing started with a horse. They watched Zenyatta dance to two Breeders' Cup victories, they had a strong opinion in the rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar or maybe they cheered American Pharoah on to a Grand Slam score when he won the 2015 Classic. For Priscilla Schaefer, her love of racing all started with a backstretch. She was in high school when she attended her first horse race at Emerald Downs outside of Seattle, Washington. Watching as the horses entered the starting gate, Schaefer knew there was more to the story of how those equine athletes were trained up to the races. She looked past the track to the barns, where even at a quiet facility like Emerald Downs, the hum of activity was palpable from afar. Schaefer decided that the backstretch was where she wanted to be. Schaefer had no familial connection to racing, but she had spent her childhood riding and working cattle on horseback on her family's ranch in Idaho. After graduating high school, she started searching for equine-related professions online and stumbled upon the North American Racing Academy, a community college-based riding program in Lexington, Kentucky that prepares students to pursue careers as jockeys, exercise riders, assistant trainers and other racing-related professions. Her family and friends were shocked when Schaefer announced that she would be moving to Kentucky to pursue a career in an industry that up until then, they had never really heard much about. “They were all surprised about it,” Schaefer admitted. “It was pretty out of the blue and I kind of made the decision fairly quickly. I'm very much a spur-of-the-moment kind of person. I didn't want to go to a normal four-year college with no idea what I wanted to study, but I knew I wanted to do something with horses. When the North American Racing Academy popped up and I started looking into it more, I knew that was it for me.” In 2016, Schaefer packed her bags and moved to Kentucky. She was taking a chance on a dream, but never in her wildest imagination could she have dreamed up that eight years later, she would be the exercise rider for a horse like GI Belmont Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes winner Dornoch (Good Magic). After graduating from the racing academy, Schaefer got her first job in the sport as an exercise rider for Mike Maker. Two years later, she began working for Danny Gargan. A few years into her time with the New York-based trainer, she was honored when Gargan assigned her to ride his stable star Tax (Arch). The multiple graded stakes-winning barn favorite retired shortly after, but just a few weeks later, another special horse arrived at the barn. Schaefer spends some quality time with Dornoch after morning training has wrapped up for the day | Katie Petrunyak The 2-year-old son of Good Magic was a full-brother to Mage, who at the time had just run a well-fought second to champion Forte (Violence) in the GI Florida Derby. “I started riding Dornoch immediately and I liked him right from the start,” recalled Schaefer. “We all did. He has always been big and he's got a lot of personality. He knows what he is and he's not afraid to show it.” The anticipation for Dornoch's debut grew after Mage won the GI Kentucky Derby. It took three tries for the bay colt to break his maiden, but from there he reeled off wins in the GII Remsen Stakes and GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. Things went a bit sideways when Dornoch finished fourth in the GI Blue Grass Stakes and then, after drawing the one hole, never showed much run in the Kentucky Derby. After that, Schaefer could tell that her mount was frustrated. “He's one that likes winning and I swear he knows when he wins or when he doesn't win,” she explained. “You could tell going back to the track afterward that he was ready to go again. He was mad about it. So I was pretty confident going into the Belmont because of the way he was training.” Schaefer's assertion proved correct in the Belmont as Dornoch handed his trainer a first career Grade I win and gave his partnership–which includes World Series champion Jayson Werth–plenty to celebrate. From there it was on to the Haskell, which is a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2. “We were very excited coming out of the Belmont and knowing that this race was a Win and You're In,” said Schaefer. “I have never been on a Win and You're In possibility, so this was big for me. He came out of the Belmont I think even better than going into the Belmont and his confidence was high.” Despite drawing Post 1 again, Dornoch went to the front easily and was poised to fend off 4-5 favorite Mindframe (Constitution) as he led the field to the top of the stretch. “It was a little nerve wracking going around the turn because he did get passed a little bit, but he wasn't giving up,” Schaefer said. “He did his usual thing where he looked them in the eye and said, 'Nope, not today.' Once he got past Mindframe again in the stretch and just started going, I knew he had it because he just digs in and he goes. I was there standing with Danny and Carol [Fisher, assistant trainer] and we're all jumping around screaming. It was so exciting. It was such a good feeling knowing that there was no real excuse that day. After the Belmont, people were saying it was a speed-favoring track and he got the perfect trip and all that, but I think Haskell Day he really showed that he is the real deal.” Dornoch and Schaefer ahead of the GI Haskell | Sarah Andrew Schaefer reported that Dornoch's self-confidence is at an all-time high now that he is back in Saratoga training up for the GI Travers on Aug. 24, but his laid-back personality around the barn is still intact. “He is a goofy horse in general,” Schaefer said. “He can always spot a camera on the track. If you ever see pictures of him out there, he's always got one eye on the camera. He's just a big, happy horse. He goes out there every day and he wants everyone to know that he's there and he's not scared of anything.” Schaefer recalled how one morning over the winter as they were training at Palm Meadows, a horse spooked and was running toward Dornoch and Schaefer as they were jogging along the rail. “He goes to square up with the horse thinking he's going to get into a fight with him,” she said with a laugh. “He wasn't scared of him at all. He's funny because he can be very sweet, but he's very assertive at the same time. He's like, 'I am who I am. Don't mess with me.'” There's a certain amount of pressure that comes with riding a horse like Dornoch, who Schaefer said is easily the best horse she has ever sat on. She explained that the key to handling such a major responsibility has been to focus on her work and let the rest fall into place. “Just coming into the barn early and being around these animals, it's something I love and to be paid for doing something I love, I couldn't ask for anything better.” Back in Idaho, there is a pocket of new racing fans tuning in to each of Dornoch's races. Schaefer said that her family and friends now understand a bit more about why she took a chance on pursuing something that she has always been so passionate about. “They say once horses get in your blood, that's kind of it,” she said. “It's hard to get away from them. Just growing up with horses, I guess they've always been a part of my life. The satisfaction you have of working with these animals every single day and putting in the work, it's hard work but at the same time it's so satisfying when everything comes together and you see them cross the finish line ahead of everybody else. It's one of the most rewarding feelings I've ever had in my life.” The post Breeders’ Cup Connections: Schaefer Living the Dream with Dornoch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Peter Robl will saddle up Hadouken in the Darwin Cup on Monday. (Ross Holburt/Racing Photos) Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl had every right to be disappointed when in-form six-year-old gelding Hadouken drew the outside gate in the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) on Monday. During Thursday’s barrier draw at Fannie Bay, a representative randomly selected the gate for their horse and unfortunately Hadouken’s name was the last to appear. With the Cup accommodating 12 starters and three emergencies, barrier 15 was the last available. The son of Real Impact, who will jump from gate 12, won’t find it easy despite lumping just 54kg and winning two races from as many starts in the Top End. “Everything had been going well until the Cup draw, it wasn’t kind to us,” Robl said. “At the end of the day there’s nothing we can do about it, it’s not ideal, but we’ve got to make the best out of the situation.” Hadouken, the winner of seven races from 34 starts, arrived in the NT due to persistent wet tracks in south-east Queensland and the far northern regions of NSW. He was a first up winner at Fannie Bay over 1600m (BM66) on July 6 before backing up two weeks later in the Buntine Handicap (2050m). “He’ll run extremely well, he’s done really well since the Buntine,” he said. “He’s an on-speed horse which overcomes the barrier draw to a certain extent, so naturally he does have that early gate speed. “He’s not going to have to be ridden out of his comfort zone to go forward and get across, which is one positive. “We haven’t come all the way to Darwin to just give him a run in the Cup, he’ll go forward and leave nothing in the tank. “Looking through the field there’s probably only three or four horses that realistically have enough gate speed to go berserk early. “They go hard here, so it may just open up a spot for him behind the speed.” Robl agreed that Neil Dyer’s Bear Story – the current $2.15 Cup favourite with online bookmakers – would be hard to beat following his impressive win in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m). However, he believes Gary Clarke’s Wolfburn ($3.80), second behind Bear Story in the Chief Minister’s Cup before taking out the Metric Mile (1600m) last Saturday, was a serious threat come Monday. “I don’t think barrier one is suitable for Bear Story, especially if they go quick,” Robl said. “He could possibly find himself three back on the fence, which is not an ideal spot to be in Darwin on that track. “For Neil to avoid that, he’ll probably have to ride him out of his comfort zone with 61kg on his back. “Wolfburn is a solid handicapper, he races on-speed, he has 56.5kg, barrier five, and runs well every time Gary sends him out. “I think Neil’s Hettinger is the smokie in the field, he’s a horse that could just park midfield or a touch worse before getting over the top that last furlong.” Robl has secured leading Sydney jockey Tyler Schiller, who saluted on the Les Bridge-trained Celestial Legend in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in April, to partner Hadouken in the Darwin Cup. Horse racing news View the full article

Sulabella will lineup at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Michelle Bradley has found plenty of success of late on the road with Sulabella, and the capable mare will return to her home track at Ruakaka in search of a winning hattrick. Now a six-year-old, Sulabella has been a reliable member of Bradley’s barn, posting five wins in 23 starts, with the most recent pair coming on heavy track conditions at Rotorua and Counties through July. “It was a pretty hard run for her on a very testing track, but she’s come through it well otherwise I wouldn’t nominate her for Saturday,” Bradley said. “I couldn’t be happier with her, it’s probably not going to be as easy as Pukekohe for her but the way she’s racing, she should go another nice race and hopefully will figure again.” Sulabella will start a likely favourite, opening at $2.90 with horse racing bookmakers ahead of last-start winner Tide And Time ($3.80). The mare’s stablemate Shockatillatap has also accepted into the Rating 75 contest, with the benefit of a four-kilogram weight swing with Masa Hashizume on board. “He’s been racing well, he’s out of his grade in this but he races well at his home track,” Bradley said. “I was happy enough with his run at Te Rapa last week, he got stuck behind one coming down the straight so he didn’t get a completely clear run, but he’s come through it well.” Sam Spratt, who recently ticked over a century of winners at the northern venue, will ride Sulabella and also partner stablemate Bosch. Bosch often produces his best at Ruakaka and was unlucky not to be given a closer shot at collecting a second Stayer’s Winter Championship Final, finishing on strongly into second behind race-rival Fly My Wey. “He was very unlucky, unfortunately he just got stuck behind the wrong horse at the wrong time but there’s not much we can do about that,” Bradley said. “Moving forward, he’s trained on well and I’m really happy with him. “He can be a little bit busy, but to ride and handle he’s an absolute pleasure. I love having him around and he’s a bit of a stable favourite.” After racing above her grade recently alongside Bosch, No Plan Be will face an easier task. “She’s back to a Rating 65 and she’s been racing against open class horses in her last three,” Bradley said. “Going on her sectionals, she’s been right up there so I would like to think dropping back to her class she should be giving a good show.” Bradley will have two representatives in the Aotea Electric In Waipapa (1200m), including five-year-old debutant Propaganda, who she is preparing for Gerry Harvey’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Holdings. “She’s had two trials prior to this, she’s a very busy mare and we are still learning a bit about her while she’s learning about being a racehorse, she’s pretty green,” Bradley said. “She’ll probably need this run, but I’d like to think she’ll take good experience from it going forward. She’ll appreciate the step-up to 1400m in the next run or two. “I’ve been pre-training for Gerry in the last year or two, I raced a Redwood gelding called Rustic who unfortunately didn’t win a race but went close, so it’s really nice to get another one to train. “I’m hoping in due course I can reward him with a winner somewhere down the line.” Her other runner in the maiden event is Arabella, while Croaghaun will complete her team. “Her (Arabella’s) two fourths have been on heavy tracks, and although she’s a Belardo, the track at Pukekohe was pretty tough work by the time her race came around,” she said. “She’s bounced out though and I wouldn’t have nominated if she hadn’t been right, so I think she should be finishing on nicely. “Looking at his (Croaghaun) action in the heavy track last time I don’t think he’s a real wet tracker. His dam won a couple over distance on top of the ground, so I’ve just been holding off for this maiden mile. “I’m interested to see how he goes, it’s only his second start and he’s still learning so I think he’s got a bit of time up his sleeve before showing his work at home on raceday. “Whatever he does on Saturday, he’ll improve on as well and gets more experience.” Horse racing news View the full article

Belardo Boy will contest the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Lisa Latta will attempt to become the most successful trainer in the history of the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) when she saddles the defending champion Belardo Boy in the 2024 edition of the time-honoured Riccarton feature on Saturday. Latta has won the Winter Cup on four previous occasions with Tuscany Warrior (2003), Mikki Street (2006), Platinum Command (2018) and Belardo Boy. According to statistics released by Riccarton Park this week, that makes her the equal most successful in the history of the race alongside fellow Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan, who has won it with Amore Mia (1996), Jolly Rodger (2000), Shamrock Star (2008) and Propel (2010). Belardo Boy is back on Saturday to defend the Winter Cup crown that he won 12 months ago, but this time his weight has risen sharply from 53kg to 60kg. The only horse to win the Winter Cup under a larger weight was Shifnal Chief with 62.5kg in 1976, while Nashville also carried 60kg to victory in 2017. Last year’s Winter Cup was the first black-type success for Belardo Boy, who has subsequently added the Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m), Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) and Listed Opunake Cup (1400m). The Belardo gelding’s Opunake Cup victory at Hawera on July 23 was an impressive weight-carrying performance in its own right, outclassing a talented field by two lengths under 59kg. “He’s been racing in the best form of his life,” Latta said. “We’ve just tried to space his runs out and keep him for the better races, and he’s been right on song this winter. It’s been great to see. “He’s come through his Opunake Cup win really well. He galloped very nicely on Tuesday morning, just before he left the stable to head down south. “The abandoned New Plymouth meaning means it’ll only be 11 days between runs for him, but I don’t see any reason why that shorter turnaround will bother him. “That big weight would be my only worry. But Joe Doyle knows the horse well and we’ve got him booked for the ride again.” Doyle has had nine rides on Belardo Boy for five wins, including last season’s Winter Cup, Metric Mile, AGC Training Stakes and Opunake Cup wins. Belardo Boy was bought for $28,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2020, and he has earned $387,552 from a 37-start career that has produced 10 wins, four seconds and three thirds. Horse betting sites on Friday rated Belardo Boy a $5.50 favourite to defend his Winter Cup title. Master Marko was the second favourite at $6.50, followed by Justaskme ($8.50), Aljay ($9), Jay Bee Gee ($9) and Freeze Frame ($9.50). Horse racing news View the full article

Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler. Photo: Race Images South Nine years after his first taste of success in one of the South Island’s most time-honoured races, Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler will return to Riccarton on Saturday with three live chances for another win in the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m). Tyler won the Winter Cup in 2015 with Timy Tyler, who he bought for just $3000 as a yearling at Karaka and ended up earning more than $300,000 from a 107-start, nine-win career. Tyler’s contingent in this year’s Winter Cup is headed by another bargain buy, Master Marko, who was picked up for a mere $700 from Gavelhouse.com in May of 2020. The son of Contributer has had 39 starts for five wins, 14 placings and $195,427 in stakes for Tyler, who shares ownership with his wife Vanessa. Stakes-placed in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) as a three-year-old in early 2022, Master Marko subsequently had a two-year stint in Queensland that produced four wins. Master Marko rejoined Tyler’s Riverton stable after signing off his Australian tenure at Doomben in April, and he has wasted no time in announcing his return to New Zealand racing. Master Marko resumed with an eye-catching second over 1400m at Ashburton on July 4, then thrust himself into Winter Cup contention with a remarkable win in the Oamaru Cup (1600m) on July 21. Despite an energy-sapping wide run, the gelding swooped to the front at the home turn and bounded away to win by six and a half lengths. That dominant performance prompted Tyler to pay the $2,300 late-nomination fee for Saturday’s Winter Cup, and horse racing bookmakers rate him a $7 second favourite for Saturday’s $110,000 showpiece. The six-year-old will be ridden by Leah Hemi. “Everything’s gone really well with him since Oamaru,” Tyler said. “I can’t fault him. He’s looking great in this preparation and has had a flawless build-up so far. It looks a nice race for him on Saturday, getting in with only 53kg, and he’s drawn well in gate two. “My only concern would be the track conditions – I hope it’s not bottomless. Oamaru was officially a Heavy10 last time, but it had a bit of a bottom to it and was almost more like a Heavy 8. It’s likely to be a bit more testing on Saturday, so I hope he can get through it okay. But it is what it is. There’s some things you can’t control in racing.” Stablemates Go Lotte and Albatross both bring super-consistent form lines into the Winter Cup. Go Lotte has recorded four thirds and a fourth from her last five starts, while Albatross has had two wins and five placings from her last seven. “They’re both really consistent and have been racing well lately,” Tyler said. “Albatross won’t mind it heavy, while Go Lotte is probably more like Marko and doesn’t want it quite so deep. “I can’t fault any of them leading into the race, so now we’ve just got to hope for a bit of luck.” Tyler’s other runner at Riccarton on Saturday is Classic Diva in the Winter Fashions Here 10 August Rating 75 (1400m). “She’s ticking along alright and should be a nice runner’s chance on Saturday,” Tyler said. Horse racing news View the full article

Taking his revenge on his Royal Ascot conqueror Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Hana Lina {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) returned to winning ways in Friday's G2 King George Qatar Stakes on Goodwood's fast downhill five-furlong strip over which he had won the 2023 G3 Molecomb Stakes. Third to the Australian runner in last month's G1 King Charles III Stakes, last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero was sent off the 13-8 favourite and raced in second early under Tom Marquand with Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}) blazing the trail. Picking off that raider before two out, the Mick Appleby-trained 3-year-old saw out the distance strong enough to hold the penalised Asfoora by a short head, with Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) 3/4 of a length behind in third. Both the front two will re-oppose in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes next month. “I thought she was coming to do him at the end, but he's very tough and Tom gave him a great ride,” Appleby said. “The finish is completely different here to Ascot and the fast ground helped too. I'll have to have a chat with [owner] Paul [Teasdale] to see where we go, but we've got the Nunthorpe and the Abbaye if the ground comes quick which is probably unlikely. I'd imagine that whatever happens we'll be back to America.” Henry Dwyer said of Asfoora, “She is a quick mare, but they went a bit quick for her early. Big Evs was able to control his own destiny, whereas we were stuck behind a couple and got a bit of a bump at around the 300. I think that's probably cost her the win, but she's run great. The leaders here just have such an easy time of it early, because they run downhill for the first 400. It levels out a bit after that, but if they're going quick early, they get an easy time. She's gone terrific–I couldn't have hoped for her to go better, just disappointed not to win, having gone so well. Everyone has been so great to us, and we've very much enjoyed the experience.” JUST clings on from the fast-finishing Asfoora in a cracking finish to the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes. Another big prize for @MickApplebyUK's stable star @q_rec | @qatarairways#QatarGoodwoodFestival #GloriousGoodwood #GoodwoodRaces pic.twitter.com/BbEPDaG0qZ — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 2, 2024 Pedigree Notes Big Evs's dam Hana Lina , who also has a 2-year-old filly by Ribchester (Ire) and a yearling son of Earthlight (Ire), is a daughter of the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes-winning European champion 2-year-old filly Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge) who also produced the G2 Diadem Stakes and G3 Princess Margaret Stakes winner Lady Of The Desert (Rahy). She is in turn responsible for Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who like Queen's Logic captured the G2 Lowther Stakes and produced Queen Me (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was second in that York contest. Queen's Logic is a half-sister to Danehill's multiple group 1-winning Arc hero Dylan Thomas (Ire), with the family including the fellow Classic-winning luminaries Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Friday, Goodwood, Britain KING GEORGE QATAR STAKES-G2, £317,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 3yo/up, 5fT, :56.62, g/f. 1–BIG EVS (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Blue Point (Ire) 1st Dam: Hana Lina (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB) 2nd Dam: Queen's Logic (Ire), by Grand Lodge 3rd Dam: Lagrion, by Diesis (GB) (50,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-RP Racing Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Michael Appleby; J-Tom Marquand. £179,771. Lifetime Record: GISW-US & G1SP-Eng, 9-6-1-1, $1,122,899. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Asfoora (Aus), 132, m, 6, Flying Artie (Aus)–Golden Child (Aus), by I Am Invincible (Aus). (24,000 RNA Ylg '20 MGMADE). O/B-Noor Elaine Farm Pty Ltd (AUS); T-Henry Dwyer. £68,155. 3–Believing (Ire), 130, f, 4, Mehmas (Ire)–Misfortunate (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (70,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; 115,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Jane Addams); B-M Mullen & Cloneymore Farm (IRE); T-George Boughey. £34,109. Margins: SHD, 3/4, 1. Odds: 1.63, 2.75, 7.00. Also Ran: Live In The Dream (Ire), Kerdos (Ire), Starlust (GB), Rogue Lightning (Ire), Ponntos (Ire), Sturlasson (Ire), Desperate Hero (GB). Scratched: Moss Tucker (Ire), Jasour (GB), Makarova (GB). The post Blue Point’s Big Evs Back In Charge In The King George 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.–In early June, while I was working on a story about the GI Met Mile for the TDN, one question led me to another. First: What year did two-time Met Mile winner Gulch go into the Hall of Fame? Second: How could Gulch, who won seven Grade I races, finished in the top three in 25 of 32 career starts and earned over $3 million in the 1980s not be in the Hall of Fame? “Yeah. You've got it. You're right,” breeder-owner Peter Brant said. “They don't always do the just thing. My first horse in the Hall of Fame was Waya, who was also a great mare. It took her years to get into the Hall of Fame.” Gulch retired in 1988, became eligible five full seasons after his last race and could be considered in the contemporary division for 25 years. Now he belongs to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame Historic Review Committee. That committee, which meets annually, is in the midst of looking at specific time periods: pre-1900 this year, followed by 1900-1959 in 2025 and 1960-2000 in 2026. As a result, Brant and fans of Gulch will have to wait at least two years before the son of Mr. Prospector could be a candidate for selection by the committee. It's been about 30 years since he was first eligible in the contemporary division and for roughly half that time, the Hall of Fame rules restricted the number of horses that could be inducted each summer. Meanwhile, they required one trainer and one jockey to be elected. It was a well-meaning but disjointed approach. Fortunately, the museum's trustees changed things in 2011, which helped loosen the logjam of talented runners, especially in the female divisions. That first year, Safely Kept, Sky Beauty and Open Mind were elected. With the policy that was adopted, the nominating committee is now tasked with compiling a list of trainers, horses and jockeys for the ballot to be send to voters in the contemporary division. To be elected, a candidate must receive 50 percent plus one of the votes cast. This year there were 17 names on the ballot and three–Joel Rosario, Gun Runner (Candy Ride) and Justify (Scat Daddy)–made the Hall of Fame. Each of them was in their first year of eligibility. Under the old policy, one of the horses would have had to wait until next year. With the number of inductees limited each year, Gulch was unable to make the grade, though he certainly had strong credentials. He won at distances from five furlongs to 1 1 1/8 miles and was third in the 1 1/2 miles Belmont Stakes. If he was competing in this era, he might be a first-ballot inductee. Gulch won two Grade I races as a 2-year-old in the 1986; two more as a 3-year-old and three in his 4-year-old season. He closed his career with a victory in $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint in 1988 and was voted the Eclipse Award as champion sprinter. Jay Privman, who retired as the national correspondent for Daily Racing Form in 2022, has done some research on Gulch and said he is a worthy candidate. Privman points to the Met Mile wins as a significant achievement: “As a two-time winner of the Met Mile, including at age 3, his success in that race stands alone. Gulch is the only horse in the more than 125 runnings of the race who has won it at age 3 and again at age 4. No horse has won the race twice since him, a span now of more than three decades. The horse who preceded him winning it twice was Forego, at ages 5 and 6. Forego and Gulch are the only horses to have won the Met Mile twice since Stymie in 1947-48, more than 70 years ago.” Forego (1976-77) and Stymie are in the Hall of Fame. So are multiple winners Devil Diver (1943-44-45) and Equipoise (1932-33). Gulch and Mad Hatter (1921-22) have not made it yet. Peter Brant | Sarah Andrew Gulch secured his first Met Mile win while in the midst of the Triple Crown series. He was sixth in the Derby on May 2, fourth in the Preakness on May 16, won the Met Mile on May 25 and had his third in the Belmont on June 6. Four GI races in five weeks. His foal crop of 1984 headed by Alysheba, Bet Twice, Cryptoclearance and Java Gold, was one of the deepest in modern times. Given the chance to make the case for the Hall of Fame for Gulch, Brant said his past performances tell the story. “I don't have much to say, just his record,” Brant said. “He was what he was. He was a great horse. He was great from the time he was a 2-year-old.” Gulch won his first five career races in New York for trainer LeRoy Jolley, headed to California where he was second to Capote in the GI Norfolk and was fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Wayne Lukas trained Gulch as a 4-year-old, when he was 5-4-2 in 11 starts at five distances over eight tracks in six states. One of those seconds by 1 1/2 lengths to the never-beaten Personal Ensign in the three-horse GI Whitney. “He was always right there. He'd run short, long,” Brant said. “He was third in the Belmont Stakes. He won the Breeders' Cup Sprint. He was just a really good, sound horse. He ran a number of times, won a lot of money and bred a Kentucky Derby winner, Thunder Gulch.” The post Hall of Fame Ought To Take Another Look At Gulch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juddmonte's homebred 3-year-old Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–Obligate {GB}, by Frankel {GB}) hit the board behind the reopposing Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in last month's Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket and made a smooth transition up to pattern-race level with a polished display in Friday's G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood. The John and Thady Gosden trainee, sent postward at odds of 9-2, was swiftly into stride from the inside gate and gained an immediate lead. Unflustered on the front end shaken up with 2 1/2 furlongs remaining, he surged clear approaching the furlong pole and was driven out in the closing stages to hold the late bid of King's Gamble (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) by 3/4-of-a-length for a career high. The winner's fellow Juddmonte representative Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}) kept on well inside the final quarter-mile and finished a half-length further adrift in third for the Ralph Beckett stable. Lead Artist gets to the front under @KShoemark and leads them all the way home, taking the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes for the Gosden yard!@bonhams1793 | @thadygosden pic.twitter.com/To6Sj82aSO — Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) August 2, 2024 Pedigree Notes Lead Artist is the first of four, and one of two surviving, foals thrown by G2 Prix de Sandringham victrix and G1 Prix Rothschild third Obligate (GB) (Frankel {GB}), herself a granddaughter of storied blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}). The February-foaled bay is a full-sister to a weanling filly. Hasili's honour roll includes a quintet of elite-level winners, namely Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill), Cacique (Ire) (Danehill), Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill), Champs Elysees (GB) (Danehill) and Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert). She is also the dam of the Group 1-placed duo Dansili (GB) (Danehill) and Deluxe (Storm Cat). Friday, Goodwood, Britain BONHAMS THOROUGHBRED STAKES-G3, £100,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 3yo, 8fT, 1:35.82, g/f. 1–LEAD ARTIST (GB), 129, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Obligate (GB) (GSW & G1SP-Fr, $167,084), by Frankel (GB) 2nd Dam: Responsible (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB) 3rd Dam: Hasili (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Kieran Shoemark. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $112,347. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–King's Gamble (Ire), 129, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Zondaq, by Bernardini. (190,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Clipper; B-Centerville Bloodstock (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £21,500. 3–Task Force (GB), 129, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Special Duty (GB), by Hennessy. TDN Rising Star. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £10,760. Margins: 3/4, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 7.50, 4.50. Also Ran: Boiling Point (Ire), Dancing Gemini (Ire), Al Musmak (Ire), Socialite (Ire), Atlantic Coast (Ire), Native American (Ire). Scratched: Ice Max (GB). The post Dubawi’s Lead Artist Makes All For Thoroughbred Stakes Triumph at Goodwood appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Post Impressionist will make his Flemington debut on Saturday. Photo: RacingNSW Prominent owner Lloyd Williams will see his two Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopefuls, European imports Post Impressionist and St Vincents Garden, make their Victorian debuts on Saturday at Flemington. Post Impressionist is set to carry 60 kilograms with Damian Lane aboard, while St Vincents Garden will compete in a Benchmark 78 (2000m) event. Both horses are trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman. “These horses came back from Queensland about ten days ago and first of all, I’d just like to see them run well,” Williams told Racing.com. “Post Impressionist won the Manion Cup (Rosehill) in his first run here in the autumn and then he had a problem out of the second one (when unplaced in the Tancred Stakes). “I think we can judge him on what he does on Saturday, but I would have thought that thing of (Ciaron) Maher’s (Berkshire Breeze) has five kilograms on him, so that makes it tough. “He’s been in work for a while and with a run or two, he would be pretty ready I’d say. First-up St Vincents Garden was beaten two-lengths at the Sunshine Coast, and Williams is confident he can give a great account of himself. “St Vincents Garden is a nice horse, I like him. I would hope he is a lot better than (Benchmark) 78 class. “He can certainly stay. He ran nicely in Queensland (second at Sunshine Coast) in his first run here and I’m hopeful Flemington will suit.” Horse racing news View the full article

Young jockey Matthew Cartwright will move to New Zealand this weekend as he aims to build further momentum in his riding career, with Friday’s meeting at Ballarat to be his final one on a Victorian racetrack for some time. Cartwright will fly across the Tasman Sea on Sunday and cited a lack of opportunities in Victoria as a key reason behind his move. “I wasn’t happy with how I was going as a rider, so my manager (Travis Johnstone) was speaking to a few people in New Zealand, like Brad Taylor, and recommended it could be a good move, at least for the spring and just see how you go,” Cartwright explained. “I didn’t really have anything locked in over here to stick around for, so I thought I may as well give it a crack and see what happens.” Cartwright has ridden more than 230 winners in his career to date, including one of Giga Kick’s earliest victories, and noted that greater confidence and a regular stream of winners is what he’s searching for in his new venture. “I want to be out there, I want to be consistently riding, I want to be consistently riding winners and then hopefully, that can build on to something else over there,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of Group 1s and big Group opportunities as well, so if I have the luck, I’d love to be riding in those as well.” View the full article

Aurie’s Star Handicap contender Rocketing By (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Trainer David Pfieffer’s longstanding ambition to see sprinter Rocketing By race down the straight at Flemington will finally materialise this Saturday in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m). With 37 starts under his belt, the seven-year-old is set for only his second appearance in Melbourne, following a sixth-place finish in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Sandown last February. “I have always wanted to test him over six furlongs down the straight and it’s a softish track, small field and we’ve got a decent rider on board,” Pfieffer expressed. “It will probably be a tight bunch and a sit and sprint. “He is a horse who is usually better suited in high-speed races, but that’s encountering a turn. “He has been there (Melbourne) before but hasn’t been down the straight, but it would be nice to set him up for future events.” Rocketing By has had a demanding schedule, kicking off his campaign in March at Rosehill before journeys to Wagga, Scone, and then Brisbane, where he competed at Eagle Farm and Ipswich. Horse racing news View the full article

Maximum Security (New Year's Day) has been disqualified from his victory in the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup and Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) has been promoted to first, the stewards committee of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) announced on Friday. The change in finishing order of the Feb. 29, 2020 race was the result of an inquiry into the charges brought by the JCSA against Maximum Security's trainer Jason Servis, who is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for doping horses under his care. The inquiry took place on May 22-23 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. The charges issued against Servis were proved and sanctions were imposed by the stewards committee 1,616 days after the race was run. “It's been such a long wait, now that it's here it is such a relief and so gratifying to officially be recognized as the winner,” said Jeff Bloom of Bloom Racing, which led the syndicate that owned the filly. “More than anything, I am so proud of our mare and her accomplishments. Now she put the final stamp on a career that was more than we ever expected. She had a Hall of Fame career. “To take down the inaugural world's richest races against the best male handicap horses in the world, it's all special. I'm glad we have now crossed the finish line.” Bloom added, “The people in Saudi Arabia have done a great job keeping us up to speed throughout this process. It was a long drawn out process but we were kept in the loop. I'm still in sort of in a dream state right now, but it's certainly a good one.” In respect of Maximum Security and the race, it was ordered that the placings be altered to reflect Maximum Security's disqualification and the prize-money for the race be re-distributed accordingly. Bloom Racing, whose partners include Madaket Stables and Allen Racing, will now get $10 million for winning the race. Second-place was $3.5 million, so this is a $6.5 million payday for them. Servis has been given a lifetime ban from racing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The revised 2020 Saudi Cup finishing order is now as follows: first: Midnight Bisou, second: Benbatl (GB), third: Mucho Gusto, fourth: Tacitus, fifth: Gold Dream (Jpn), sixth: Chrysoberyl (Jpn), seventh: Mjjack (Ire), eighth: Magic Wand (Ire), ninth: Gronkowski, 10th: McKinzie, 11th: Great Scot (GB), 12th: North America (GB), and 13th: Capezzano. Jeff Bloom | Benoit A JCSA spokesman said, “The JCSA is satisfied that, following a full disciplinary process, the charges affecting the outcome of the 2020 Saudi Cup have now been determined by the Stewards Committee following a proper investigation. The JCSA will abide by the decision of the Stewards Committee. “The JCSA looks forward to continuing with preparations for the The Saudi Cup 2025 and the 2026 Asian Racing Conference with this matter concluded. “We extend our congratulations to the connections of Midnight Bisou who is the only mare to win the Saudi Cup to date.” The JCSA indicated they would not comment further on this matter. For the full written decision and sanction, please click here. The post Maximum Security Disqualified From 2020 Saudi Cup; Midnight Bisou Declared The Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's €380,000 G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest shares this weekend's European top billing with Dusseldorf's 166th G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and, while the field for that Classic was finalised on Wednesday, declarations for the Deauville highlight were not confirmed until Friday morning. There were no defectors from the overnight set of 16 nominees as all main characters–G1 Prix Jean Prat victor Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), G1 July Cup hero Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire} and dual G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})–stood their ground for Sunday's renewal of the 6 1/2-furlong dash. TDN Rising Star Puchkine, drawn in stall two, is joined by Jean Prat runner-up and fellow Jean-Claude Rouget-conditioned TDN Rising Star Havana Cigar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who gets stall 11. Jean Prat third Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), another TDN Rising Star, has been supplemented at a cost of €27,360 and has drawn stall nine. Bermuda Racing's G3 Summer Stakes victrix Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the second of two supplemented, will depart from stall seven. Khaadem was not on one of his going days when finishing behind Mill Stream and beating just one of 10 rivals at Newmarket. He will emerge from stall one while Mill Stream, undefeated in two prior visits to the Normandy track, is drawn in eight. Others high on the list of potential winners include last year's hero King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}), who followed a well-trodden path to this staging post with a repeat success in June's G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot; and Nurlan Bizakov's hitherto undefeated homebred Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), who took his record to a perfect five-for-five with victories in this term's G3 Prix Djebel and G3 Prix Paul de Moussac. The ensemble cast also features G1 Commonwealth Cup fifth Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}), last month's G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis winner Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), last year's third Saint Lawrence (Ire) (Al Kazeem {GB}), last term's G1 1000 Guineas third Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and dual Group 3 winner Exxtra (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). The post Mill Stream, Puchkine and Khaadem All Stand Ground for Sunday’s G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, 16 Declared appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the stunning return to the winner’s list of rising nine-year-old Showmanship at Caulfield last Saturday, owner Bob Peters’ attention this week turns to yet another task that was also once thought just as improbable. Peters said on Tuesday that the two-year, drought-breaking win from Showmanship at Caulfield was a triumph for patience, as it will be on Sunday if jumping rookie Affluential can elevate himself as a Grand National Hurdle winner at Sandown. “He’s the sort of horse that we thought might be good at that (jumping) and so far, so good,” Peters said of the horse’s upcoming National task. “But he’s up against the big boys now. “He’s still a bit new to it all but he’s coming along well.” Affluential, who Peters purchased for $140,000 as a yearling, was one of 20 nominations received on Tuesday for Sunday’s $300,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown. It’s not that Affluential and Showmanship have much else in common. Showmanship burst onto the scene at the start of his career in 2019, at one stage winning six races in a row, until injury forced him into a long rehab. Affluential was an early headliner also, but only because he is the younger brother to Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant. Otherwise, he showed very little racing ability, finishing last on his debut in a Belmont maiden in 2022 and taking 14 runs to finally win a race. But a switch to jumping this season has seen the horse improve each time he steps out. All the same, Peters realises he is unlikely to be able to reach anywhere near the flat racing ability of his sister. “I can’t see him rising to any great heights on the flat, but he’s getting better with each run,” Peters said. “He’s settled now he’s learned to be a racehorse.” As for Showmanship, injury has robbed the rising nine-year-old of a large portion of his career, but Peters said he and trainer John Leek Jnr had never given up on him making it back to the winner’s circle. “He was really fit there on Saturday and it was great to see him do that,” Peters said of Showmanship’s Caulfield victory. “He’s always had the ability, but a few things have gone against him so to get back to win was very good. “There are no plans for him but that was encouraging. Let’s hope he can go on with it from here.” View the full article

Pakenham trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne will be hoping for a rinse and repeat effort from smart four-year-old Le Zebra when he contests the VRC Season Premiere Race Day Plate (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday. The son of Rip Van Winkle was a dominant five length winner at the same track last start in three-year-old company and will take on older gallopers now that the new season has commenced. “He’s really well,” David Browne told RSN. “He’s basically just repeated the same process again with him from his last start, and he’s extremely well and hasn’t had a setback at all. So it would be just nice to see him repeat again if we can. “He is up against older horses this time around and it’s all a bit different. But I suppose we’ll see how we go.” Browne had been confident Le Zebra would run well last start but the trainer was shocked by the wide margin his charge put on the field. “I thought he’d run well. But there’s winning and then there’s winning like that,” Browne said. “He had plenty left in the tank. 200m from home, he hadn’t even come off the bridle. “I was surprised that he was that good, but he’s always showed us so much and it’s just been frustrating with how much growth and development he’s had. “He was only 15.1 and now he’s 16.2 almost. In the 12 month growth period he’s changed into a completely different shaped horse so I think he just needed time.” Premiership-winning jockey Damian Lane sticks with the grey gelding, who has drawn ideally in barrier 6. “I think drawing like that, hopefully we’re in the right spot to get a drag into it or end up just outside the speed,” Browne said. “I’m confident he’s going to run a good race. If he goes and repeats again, then you’ve got a few good targets you can aim for during the spring. I think even if he runs in the first three, you’ll find nice races to win. The Brownes are chips in on the family of Le Zebra, who is out of the My Halo mare Angel Del Dinero, who was runner up in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Le Zebra is the fourth winner from five foals to race out of Angel Del Dinero, who is also the dam of the Brownes’ five-race winner Bifrost, a son of Turn Me Loose, who won at Geelong last week. The Brownes bought Bifrost for $40,000 at Karaka 2020, followed by the $60,000 purchase of his half-brother Le Zebra two years later from the draft of Windsor Park Stud. Adding to their investment in the family, the Brownes secured Angel Del Dinero for $26,000 in an online auction on gavelhouse.com. View the full article

The Ciaron Maher stable will kick off the campaign of Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor) at Flemington in the hope that it may lead to richer spring purses. Holymanz, and stablemate St Lawrence (NZ) (Redwood), run in the Flemington Kentucky Bluegrass Handicap (1410m) on Saturday. Beaten just over 7-½ lengths behind stablemate Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at his last appearance, Holymanz could be on trial for a start in the Gr.2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17. Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Holymanz had prepared well for his return and is looking for a positive first-up showing with improvement to come. “We could have given him a third trial and gone into the P B Larence first-up, but we thought we’d run here and look at that, pending his performance,” Turnbull said. “Longterm, something that we have mapped out for him is something like the Toorak Handicap (Gr.1, 1600m), down in the handicap, or even something in Sydney like the Five Diamonds (1800m). “The mile is his trip, and he still has a rating that will get him into a handicap somewhere down near the bottom. “He’s a proper little racehorse. He tries and he didn’t disgrace himself in the All-Star Mile, so if he continues to improve, he could be in for a fun prep.” Turnbull said St Lawrence had been a little frustrating with four sound efforts this campaign, including three placings, two of which have been at Caulfield in his past two starts. He is hoping a change of venue may bring about a change of luck. “In his last race, he got back into an awkward spot, and it was a little bit messy around the bend, and he never got organised,” Turnbull said. “But he was at a track that was racing very on-pace and that made it hard for him to get there. “He’s in good order, he’s at a different track, so hopefully it might be a different result.” View the full article

Winning New Zealand’s apprentice jockeys’ premiership wasn’t at the top of Lily Sutherland’s mind at the start of the 2023/24 season, but on Wednesday she welcomed the title she had worked so hard for. Sutherland finished the season on 52 wins, including four at stakes level, just two wins ahead of her nearest rival, Niranjan Parmar. Sutherland enjoyed the tight battle with the northern hoop and said it added some excitement to the final stages of the season. “Parmar was going well as well, which made it fun,” Sutherland said. “It was good (to win the premiership) and when I got to 50, that was great.” Sutherland said her premiership title reflected the support that she has received from many trainers this season, particularly from her employer, Kevin Myers. “It just shows the support that I have had,” she said. “Everybody has been really kind to me, including all the jockeys, and I couldn’t have done it without Kevin Myers.” Sutherland has been working for Myers for the last 18 months, having transferred her apprenticeship to the Wanganui trainer from her previous employer Vicki Wilson in Hawke’s Bay. “I moved to Kevin’s in March last year,” Sutherland said. “Kevin has been amazing the whole way through. When I was looking to move more central, as Hawke’s Bay is too far away from everywhere, I was lucky that he let me stay here.” Sutherland said she owes a lot to Wilson, who without her support and guidance would not have found her way into the racing industry. “Vicki started me off, without her I would never have met Kevin, and I would still be just playing with ponies,” she said. Wilson was previously base in Northland, where Sutherland grew up, and Sutherland said a chance encounter with the renowned horsewoman led her to a career with horses. “My friends were out there with some Kaimanawas and they asked us if we wanted to come along. I was about 12-years-old and I went out with my sister, and we kept going back,” Sutherland said. “When Vicki moved to Hawke’s Bay I moved down shortly after and lived with her for ages. She got some racehorses and I started riding around the track on them and enjoyed it. She ended up getting her trainer’s license and I signed up to her.” Now based in Wanganui with Myers, Sutherland said she is also enjoying learning all aspects of dairy farming with the revered horseman and said that is a welcome distraction from the pressures of raceday riding. “We are just doing calving here and I like working with the cows as well,” she said. “I knew nothing about cows before I came here, he (Kevin) taught me how to milk and help out around the farm. “I really like what I am doing. This is the best place for me to be and I am very lucky to be where I am.” Sutherland is hoping she can begin the new season in winning fashion when she heads south to Riccarton on Saturday where she will have six rides, including former Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Aljay in the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 127th Winter Cup (1600m). Sutherland has ridden him to four of his seven career victories to date, and she is keen to add one more this weekend. “Aljay is a nice horse who has won from 1400m to two miles,” she said. “I won on him last start, which was really cool, so hopefully he is fresh enough to go a mile.” Sutherland said she thrives on competing on raceday and couldn’t imagine doing anything else for a living. “I can’t wait for tomorrow, I just like riding in races,” she said. View the full article

As the eagerly anticipated auction of Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) gets underway on Gavelhouse Plus, Roger James has described the multiple Group One winner as one of the finest horses to grace his respected Cambridge stable. Trained by James in partnership with Robert Wellwood, Prowess recorded eight wins and three placings in a career that spanned only 12 starts. A nine-length win at Wanganui as an autumn two-year-old set the scene for a spectacular three-year-old campaign that included consecutive victories in the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m), the Karaka Million 3yo Classic (1600m), the Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), the Group One New Zealand Stakes (2050m) and Sydney’s Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). She later added the Group Two Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley in the spring of her four-year-old season. Prowess was bought by James and Wellwood for $230,000 from the Book 1 draft of breeders Hallmark Stud at Karaka 2021. She earned more than $1.65 million for a family syndicate headed by Dean and Janie Skipper. “I’ve been lucky to have a number of high-class horses through my stable, and she was right up in the very top category,” James commented this week. “Her career was just highlight after highlight. She scored a scintillating win against an elite field in the Karaka Million 3yo Classic, then became the first three-year-old filly to win the New Zealand Stakes at weight-for-age since Tidal Light (NZ) (Diagramatic) in the late ‘80s. And then, of course, she carried on across to Sydney and dominated the Vinery. She was something quite special. “On top of what she showed on the racetrack, she was just a fabulous horse to do anything with and is an exquisite physical specimen.” A full-sister to Prowess topped Book 1 of Karaka 2024 earlier this year with a purchase price of $1.6 million, and gavelhouse.com’s Haylie Martin reported that there has been huge interest in the lead-up to the online auction of the trans-Tasman Group One star. “There have been plenty of top judges at Lyndhurst Farm over the past couple of weeks to inspect her and the resounding feedback is that she’s nigh on impossible to fault, needless to say we’re looking forward to the week ahead,” she said. The auction of Prowess is underway now on Gavelhouse Plus and is set to close from 7pm (NZT) on Thursday 8 August. View the full article

Michelle Bradley has found plenty of success of late on the road with Sulabella, and the capable mare will return to her home track at Ruakaka in search of a winning hattrick. Now a six-year-old, Sulabella has been a reliable member of Bradley’s barn, posting five wins in 23 starts, with the most recent pair coming on heavy track conditions at Rotorua and Counties through July. “It was a pretty hard run for her on a very testing track, but she’s come through it well otherwise I wouldn’t nominate her for Saturday,” Bradley said. “I couldn’t be happier with her, it’s probably not going to be as easy as Pukekohe for her but the way she’s racing, she should go another nice race and hopefully will figure again.” Sulabella will start a likely favourite in the Truweld Engineering (1600m), opening at $2.90 with TAB bookmakers ahead of last-start winner Tide And Time ($3.80). The mare’s stablemate Shockatillatap has also accepted into the Rating 75 contest, with the benefit of a four-kilogram weight swing with Masa Hashizume on board. “He’s been racing well, he’s out of his grade in this but he races well at his home track,” Bradley said. “I was happy enough with his run at Te Rapa last week, he got stuck behind one coming down the straight so he didn’t get a completely clear run, but he’s come through it well.” Sam Spratt, who recently ticked over a century of winners at the northern venue, will ride Sulabella and also partner stablemate Bosch in the Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Stretch & Trim (2100m). Bosch often produces his best at Ruakaka and was unlucky not to be given a closer shot at collecting a second Stayer’s Winter Championship Final, finishing on strongly into second behind race-rival Fly My Wey. “He was very unlucky, unfortunately he just got stuck behind the wrong horse at the wrong time but there’s not much we can do about that,” Bradley said. “Moving forward, he’s trained on well and I’m really happy with him. “He can be a little bit busy, but to ride and handle he’s an absolute pleasure. I love having him around and he’s a bit of a stable favourite.” After racing above her grade recently alongside Bosch, No Plan Be will face an easier task in the 17 August – Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (2100m). “She’s back to a Rating 65 and she’s been racing against open class horses in her last three,” Bradley said. “Going on her sectionals, she’s been right up there so I would like to think dropping back to her class she should be giving a good show.” Bradley will have two representatives in the Aotea Electric In Waipapa (1200m), including five-year-old debutant Propaganda, who she is preparing for Gerry Harvey’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Holdings. “She’s had two trials prior to this, she’s a very busy mare and we are still learning a bit about her while she’s learning about being a racehorse, she’s pretty green,” Bradley said. “She’ll probably need this run, but I’d like to think she’ll take good experience from it going forward. She’ll appreciate the step-up to 1400m in the next run or two. “I’ve been pre-training for Gerry in the last year or two, I raced a Redwood gelding called Rustic who unfortunately didn’t win a race but went close, so it’s really nice to get another one to train. “I’m hoping in due course I can reward him with a winner somewhere down the line.” Her other runner in the maiden event is Arabella, while Croaghaun will complete her team in the Kainui Pack & Cool (1600m). “Her (Arabella’s) two fourths have been on heavy tracks, and although she’s a Belardo, the track at Pukekohe was pretty tough work by the time her race came around,” she said. “She’s bounced out though and I wouldn’t have nominated if she hadn’t been right, so I think she should be finishing on nicely. “Looking at his (Croaghaun) action in the heavy track last time I don’t think he’s a real wet tracker. His dam won a couple over distance on top of the ground, so I’ve just been holding off for this maiden mile. “I’m interested to see how he goes, it’s only his second start and he’s still learning so I think he’s got a bit of time up his sleeve before showing his work at home on raceday. “Whatever he does on Saturday, he’ll improve on as well and gets more experience.” View the full article

Peter and Jessica Brosnan are making the most of an exciting opportunity with up-and-coming steeplechaser Auld Jock during the Grand National Carnival in Christchurch over the next week. Auld Jock has come a long way in a short period of racing this year, winning a maiden hurdle and maiden steeplechase before a tidy performance for fourth in his first major test, the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). The diminutive seven-year-old gave the Brosnans a big thrill finishing just a half-length from star jumper The Cossack in the Wellington Steeplechase (5500m), earning himself a trip to the South Island to contest the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) on Saturday week. Pairing up once again with jockey Joshua Parker, Auld Jock will line up in the key prelude event, the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m) on Saturday, having travelled to Riccarton Park earlier this week alongside stablemate Teen Titan. “We were fortunate to get over on the ferry, we rushed home from Waverley, packed and off we went the next day,” Jessica Brosnan said. “They both travelled well and settled in, Titan licks the bowl wherever you go while Jock is usually a bit more fussy, but he’s eating and feeling well. “They had a nice gallop on the grass yesterday morning and worked nicely, and we gave them a trot and canter around today, so fingers crossed for Saturday. “It’s a dream to come down here with a horse, I was lucky to come down a couple of years ago with Kaharau so I vaguely know my way around. We’ve had a look at some of the steeplechase fences and they are so well-presented, so jumpable and inviting. “The rest of my kids are coming down as well which is cool, you don’t know when you’ll get another nice horse, so we’ll make the most of it. They love the jumpers so it’s good to get the next generation coming through.” Saturday’s event gives many of the eventual National field a first opportunity to look at the vast Riccarton course, which is in the forefront of Brosnan’s mind. “We just want him to follow them around and that’s how we’ve raced him every time against these good horses. I’ve told Josh to just get a lead into the jumps then if you know you’re going well, you go for it,” she said. “He’s only having his sixth steeplechase start and to go up against some of these champions next weekend, it’s going to be a phenomenal race so if he can get around and pick up a prize, we’ll be rapt.” Teen Titan will contest the opener, the Speights Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden Hurdle (3100m), with Portia Matthews on board, after a nice run for third behind Rocabury at Trentham. “I think he’s quite well in himself, he’s such a big horse so that track will suit him hopefully. He knows what he’s doing now and he ran well at Wellington, so he can go both days,” she said. “I really hope we can keep these nice horses coming through, having just the two down here this time is nice so we can get an idea without too much pressure, and hopefully come again with a bigger team next year.” View the full article

Racing has always been a family affair for Brooke Kincaid, and that will continue at Riccarton on Saturday when the Riverton horsewoman makes her training debut alongside her grandfather, Graham Eade. The 23-year-old grew up assisting Eade at his Southland stable where she fell in love with horses and racing, and was intent on following him into a career in the industry. “I have pretty much been working with the horses ever since I could walk and I have spent a lot of time staying with my grandparents so I could be with the horses,” Kincaid said. “My uncle used to help a lot, he was training before my grandfather and he used to let me help him with breaking in the horses, and it has gone from there. He helped me ride a bit of trackwork, they have all really supported me since I was little.” Kincaid began working for Eade once she left school, but she felt the pull of the city and soon moved north to the bright lights of Christchurch to further her racing experience. “As soon as I finished school, I took it (racing) up full-time,” Kincaid said. “I was with my grandparents for about a year and then I got a job with Terri Rae in Christchurch, and I was with her for about three years. That was a great experience, I learnt a lot from her.” Kincaid then felt the lure of home and has enjoyed being back down south assisting Eade and is now excited to be joining him in a training partnership. “Apart from the weather, it is good being back in Riverton,” Kincaid said. “It is good to be back home and working with Granddad.” The newly formed partnership will have their first runners at Riccarton this weekend and they could make the perfect start, with stakes performer Riviera Rebel set to be their first runner in the Gold Club Rating 75 (1800m). The showy chestnut has been a standout on the track, winning two and placing in six of his 11 starts to date, including a placing in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) in February. “I have got quite a good chance with my first runner (Riviera Rebel), he is a very nice horse,” Kincaid said. “He is a stable favourite and he is very pretty as well, which makes him even more of a favourite. “He has been racing really well and in that last race he was so close. He just keeps improving off every run and he is still learning every time. He has been galloping really well at home and he is going into the race really well.” Stakes targets await the four-year-old later this spring following a spell after his weekend assignment. “He is going to have a bit of a break after National week,” Kincaid said. “We were looking at running him in the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) but he is just a bit young still and he is still maturing and developing, we just didn’t want to push him too hard this preparation. “We will give him two or three weeks out and then get him ready for Cup Week. He has only got big things ahead of him.” Later on the card, Kincaid will line-up Ataahua Pipedream, who she also part-owns, in the Winter Fashions Here 10 August Rating 75 (1400m). “He is a funny horse, he is up and down with his form, but when he does want to do it, he can be very good,” she said. “He is running out of his grade, but he gets weight off him, and Yogesh (Atchamah, apprentice jockey) knows him. 1200m should suit him down that long straight, he has got a good turn of foot when he wants to do it. He has been galloping with Riviera Rebel and they have both been going quite well.” Ataahua Pipedream was formerly trained by Kincaid’s previous employer Terri Rae, and she said the Riccarton trainer has sent a few horses their way, including recent stable acquisition Maryweka. “I still have a good connection with Terri and she suggested to the owners to send her down to us to give her a chance in the southern racing when it starts up down here,” Kincaid said. “She will be quite exciting, she has got good form and is a nice horse.” While excited about the future, Kincaid can’t wait to line-up her first runners this weekend and kick-off her dream career. “There is nothing else I have wanted to do. It is very exciting.” she said. View the full article

Lisa Latta will attempt to become the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) when she saddles the defending champion Belardo Boy in the 2024 edition of the time-honoured Riccarton feature on Saturday. Latta has won the Winter Cup on four previous occasions with Tuscany Warrior (2003), Mikki Street (2006), Platinum Command (2018) and Belardo Boy. According to statistics released by Riccarton Park this week, that makes her the equal most successful in the history of the race alongside fellow Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan, who has won it with Amore Mia (1996), Jolly Rodger (2000), Shamrock Star (2008) and Propel (2010). Belardo Boy is back on Saturday to defend the Winter Cup crown that he won 12 months ago, but this time his weight has risen sharply from 53kg to 60kg. The only horse to win the Winter Cup under a larger weight was Shifnal Chief with 62.5kg in 1976, while Nashville also carried 60kg to victory in 2017. Last year’s Winter Cup was the first black-type success for Belardo Boy, who has subsequently added the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m), Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) and Listed Opunake Cup (1400m). The Belardo gelding’s Opunake Cup victory at Hawera on July 23 was an impressive weight-carrying performance in its own right, outclassing a talented field by two lengths under 59kg. “He’s been racing in the best form of his life,” Latta said. “We’ve just tried to space his runs out and keep him for the better races, and he’s been right on song this winter. It’s been great to see. “He’s come through his Opunake Cup win really well. He galloped very nicely on Tuesday morning, just before he left the stable to head down south. “The abandoned New Plymouth meaning means it’ll only be 11 days between runs for him, but I don’t see any reason why that shorter turnaround will bother him. “That big weight would be my only worry. But Joe Doyle knows the horse well and we’ve got him booked for the ride again.” Doyle has had nine rides on Belardo Boy for five wins, including last season’s Winter Cup, Metric Mile, AGC Training Stakes and Opunake Cup wins. Belardo Boy was bought for $28,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2020, and he has earned $387,552 from a 37-start career that has produced 10 wins, four seconds and three thirds. The TAB on Friday rated Belardo Boy a $5.50 favourite to defend his Winter Cup title. Master Marko was the second favourite at $6.50, followed by Justaskme ($8.50), Aljay ($9), Jay Bee Gee ($9) and Freeze Frame ($9.50). View the full article

Nine years after his first taste of success in one of the South Island’s most time-honoured races, Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler will return to Riccarton on Saturday with three live chances for another win in the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 127th Winter Cup (1600m). Tyler won the Winter Cup in 2015 with Timy Tyler, who he bought for just $3000 as a yearling at Karaka and ended up earning more than $300,000 from a 107-start, nine-win career. Tyler’s contingent in this year’s Winter Cup is headed by another bargain buy, Master Marko, who was picked up for a mere $700 from Gavelhouse.com in May of 2020. The son of Contributer has had 39 starts for five wins, 14 placings and $195,427 in stakes for Tyler, who shares ownership with his wife Vanessa. Stakes-placed in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) as a three-year-old in early 2022, Master Marko subsequently had a two-year stint in Queensland that produced four wins. Master Marko rejoined Tyler’s Riverton stable after signing off his Australian tenure at Doomben in April, and he has wasted no time in announcing his return to New Zealand racing. Master Marko resumed with an eye-catching second over 1400m at Ashburton on July 4, then thrust himself into Winter Cup contention with a remarkable win in the Oamaru Cup (1600m) on July 21. Despite an energy-sapping wide run, the gelding swooped to the front at the home turn and bounded away to win by six and a half lengths. That dominant performance prompted Tyler to pay the $2,300 late-nomination fee for Saturday’s Winter Cup, and the TAB rates him a $7 second favourite for Saturday’s $110,000 showpiece. The six-year-old will be ridden by Leah Hemi. “Everything’s gone really well with him since Oamaru,” Tyler said. “I can’t fault him. He’s looking great in this preparation and has had a flawless build-up so far. It looks a nice race for him on Saturday, getting in with only 53kg, and he’s drawn well in gate two. “My only concern would be the track conditions – I hope it’s not bottomless. Oamaru was officially a Heavy10 last time, but it had a bit of a bottom to it and was almost more like a Heavy8. It’s likely to be a bit more testing on Saturday, so I hope he can get through it okay. But it is what it is. There’s some things you can’t control in racing.” Stablemates Go Lotte and Albatross both bring super-consistent form lines into the Winter Cup. Go Lotte has recorded four thirds and a fourth from her last five starts, while Albatross has had two wins and five placings from her last seven. “They’re both really consistent and have been racing well lately,” Tyler said. “Albatross won’t mind it heavy, while Go Lotte is probably more like Marko and doesn’t want it quite so deep. “I can’t fault any of them leading into the race, so now we’ve just got to hope for a bit of luck.” Tyler’s other runner at Riccarton on Saturday is Classic Diva in the Winter Fashions Here 10 August Rating 75 (1400m). “She’s ticking along alright and should be a nice runner’s chance on Saturday,” Tyler said. View the full article

America's top dirt marathoner Next is back in action in the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 4, bringing with him a spotlight on a division that once held championship power in American racing.View the full article

Naming a horse after a famous or special person is not a guarantee for success. Sometimes it works out fabulously and sometimes, well, the horse fades into obscurity.View the full article