Wandering Eyes

Group 1-winning filly Opera Singer (Justify) could be on course to make her eagerly anticipated return in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Last year's leading juvenile filly ended her campaign with a five-length win in the Prix Marcel Boussac, a performance that placed her at the head of the ante-post market for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. However, Opera Singer met with a setback which delayed her return but she is now all set to lead Aidan O'Brien's team at the Curragh. “At the moment for the 1,000 Guineas it's the two Kingman (GB) fillies, Buttons (Ire) and Everlasting (Ire), who will need to be supplemented, and Opera Singer. Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never) could also start there,” O'Brien said. “In the 2,000 Guineas we have River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) might run, but he's only starting back. River Tiber is the most forward of the three at the moment. The ones that haven't run will improve from their races.” O'Brien has also decided to stay closer to home with the well-travelled Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who will bypass the Coronation Cup at Epsom in favour of the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He said, “Auguste Rodin will go for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, that is the plan and we're very happy with him. He's doing everything good so far. Hopefully we will run something along with him to make it an even pace.” The post Opera Singer Could Be Set For Belated Return In Irish 1,000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

They say it's the hope that kills you. And in the case of Paul McCartan, he had been holding his breath that Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) would do something special since as far back as January when he heard his Ballyphilip Stud graduate was burning up the gallops at Ballydoyle. The annoying thing about hype is that it very rarely carries through to the track. However, the vibes on Fairy Godmother were clearly on the money judging by how the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly entered the Royal Ascot picture with a stunning display in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S at Naas on Sunday. Considered a key trial for the royal meeting, the race was won 12 months ago by subsequent G3 Albany S. winner Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio), and to McCartan's delight, Fairy Godmother looks destined to go down a similar path. The breeder said, “It means a lot. But, I tell ya, it's a huge plus when you sell a horse to John Magnier and it goes on to be trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore. It makes some difference, doesn't it? As a breeder, you hear plenty of stuff early in the year about how the horses you've sold are getting on. When you get a positive bulletin, you're almost afraid to hear it. The word coming out of Ballydoyle about Fairy Godmother was very strong from early on this year.” McCartan added, “Obviously that made it very exciting and all that but, to tell you the truth, I didn't even go and see her on debut and I stayed at home again today for fear of jinxing her! It's a huge thing for us. We've only ever sold Coolmore two horses–the first was The Antarctic (Ire) and now this filly looks potentially very good as well. They're very good at buying and it's just very special for a breeder that such high-class people can continue on all the hard work that we've put into them.” Just the second foal out of Scintilating (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), a black-type producer already through Sketch (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Fairy Godmother was knocked down to MV Magnier at the Book 1 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 425,000gns. Getting big sums of money in the ring is nothing new to McCartan and of course it's a necessity in order to sustain a thriving stud farm. But it's results on the track, according to the breeder, that really drives business. He explained, “It's great when you get money in the ring but you won't continue to get money if you don't produce good racehorses. Thankfully we've produced a few nice horses down through the years but there's always a pressure to go and repeat the trick and keep the buyers coming back. “I've often said that, even if we got one stakes winner a year, that would nearly be enough to sustain the size of an operation that we have. We've had a few nice runners so far this year–we pinhooked the Marygate Stakes runner-up Miss Lamai (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire})–and now this filly looks like she could be very smart.” He added, “It's a great result for the mare. Her first foal was Sketch and he won first time out and got black-type before being sold to America so hopefully he can do a bit more out there. Then Fairy Godmother is the second foal. She has a yearling filly by Mehmas and that will go to the sales. She has a very nice filly foal by Havana Grey (GB) as a well. She hasn't been covered yet so we have something to think about now!” Whoosh Fairy Godmother sparkles in the closing stages to land Group 3 honours in the €70,000 @coolmorestud @IrishEBF_ Fillies Sprint Stakes. Three races here and three winners for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien! pic.twitter.com/ve1fN4Ez7C — Naas Racecourse (@NaasRacecourse) May 19, 2024 Bookmakers were suitably impressed by Fairy Godmother on Sunday with many firms slashing her odds for the Albany from as big as 10-1 in places to a general 5-1. McCartan concluded, “She's a monster. She was actually a monster as a foal as well. She has always been an outstanding filly. I can remember looking at the foals in the field one day and my phone rang. It was Joe Murphy on the other end of the line. I said to him, 'Joe, I'm looking at a filly foal and, do you know what, I think she's going to go on and win the Queen Mary in a couple of years' time'. Now, the only part I got wrong there was that I said the Queen Mary, but I'll happily take the Albany instead!” The post ‘It Means A Lot – But It’s A Huge Plus When You Sell A Horse To John Magnier’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Newmarket bore witness to a new TDN Rising Star on Sunday as Godolphin's Ancient Truth (Ire), (Dubawi {Ire}–Beyond Reason {Ire}, by Australia {GB}) got his career off to the perfect start in the opening six-furlong novice on the card. A full-brother to last year's TDN Rising Star Great Truth (Ire) and second foal out of the G2 Prix du Calvados winner Beyond Reason (Ire) (Australia {GB}), the Charlie Appleby-trained 5-2 favourite broke smartly to track the early pace in second before taking command two out. Pushed out by William Buick to assert his superiority from there, the homebred had a comfortable 1 1/2-length margin to spare over the Hannon trainee Principality (Ire) (Calyx {GB}), with the Ralph Beckett-trained fellow newcomer Bold Impact (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) 1 3/4 lengths further away in third. The winner is the 40th TDN Rising Star for Dubawi, whose others in the category include Too Darn Hot (GB), In Italian (GB), Space Blues (Ire), Zarak (Fr) and Notable Speech (GB). Impressive Dubawi colt Ancient Truth follows in the footsteps of his brother Great Truth by making a winning debut for the Charlie Appleby team. A trip to Royal Ascot probably awaits the winner.@godolphin | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/IjFtQ2OOLQ — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 19, 2024 The post 40th TDN Rising Star For Dubawi As Ancient Truth Fires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Baltimore, MD–Just Steel (Justify), who finished fifth behind stablemate Seize the Grey (Arrogate) in Saturday's GI Preakness S., exited the race with a condylar fracture of the right front leg, and will require further evaluation before a full diagnosis can be given, according to D. Wayne Lukas Sunday morning. “That will fall to Dr. Larry Bramlage down in Lexington,” said Lukas when asked of the colt's status. “He has seen it already, and at first blush, his reaction is that it will be ok. Obviously, it's nothing life threatening. But how far he goes as a racehorse will need to be determined.” Reflecting back on Saturday's race, Lukas explained, “I thought for a moment, at the top of the stretch, we might run 1-2. He really caught my eye. I don't really know where [the injury] happened. He started checking and gearing down so I knew something wasn't right.” According to Lukas, the colt will be dropped off at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington on the way back to Lukas's Churchill Downs base. “He looked fine initially. He got tender like they do. But boy, he was tough to keep in the stall this morning. He's not very stressed about it at all.” The post Just Steel Exits Preakness with Injury, To Head to Rood and Riddle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Showing that he retains all his ability, AMO Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Frida La Blonde {Fr}, by Elusive City) made virtually all on his seasonal bow in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. Last seen finishing third in the seven-furlong G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh in September, the 2-1 second favourite who was racing under a three-pound penalty demonstrated his early speed to take control under David Egan and stayed on strongly to deny the 5-4 market-leader Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) by a head. Thriller! Bucanero Fuerte clings on up the stands' rail in a cracking finish to the Group 3 Lacken Stakes. Straight to the Commonwealth Cup now for the winner?@Goffs1866 | @AMurrayRacing | @amoracingltd pic.twitter.com/yNwwgrRUGw — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 19, 2024 The post Successful Lacken Return For Wootton Bassett’s Bucanero Fuerte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien trainee Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Scintilating {GB}, by Siyouni {Fr}) was usurped by Sparkling Sea (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) on debut at Naas last month and returned over the same six-furlong strip to exact revenge on that reopposing rival in Sunday's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint. Ryan Moore was keen to settle the 6-5 favourite into a smooth rhythm and anchored his mount at the tail of the six-runner field through the initial exchanges of this straight dash. Easing closer onto the heels of the leaders approaching the furlong pole, Fairy Godmother angled outside for her challenge and unleashed an array of gears under late rousting to deny familiar foe Sparkling Sea by an ultimately comfortable neck in the shadow of the post. Amo Racing's California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) finished 3/4-of-a-length adrift in third. “We thought that she would win the first day, but she was very green and obviously with a first-time-out 2-year-old anything can happen,” the winning trainer said. “The filly that beat her [first time] is obviously a very good filly. Even though they went slow today, the plan was to drop her in and teach her and we needed to find out what way to ride her in [Royal] Ascot. Ryan [Moore] said she's very classy and gets six [furlongs] very well. I'd say she's an Albany filly and she will have learned a lot from today.” Pedigree Notes Fairy Godmother, who becomes the 25th pattern-race winner for her sire, is the second foal and scorer out of a winning half-sister to G2 Richmond S. victor Prolific (Ire) (Compton Place {GB}) and Listed Grand Prairie Turf Challenge winner Deal Breaker (GB) (Night Shift). The March-foaled chestnut's third dam Zoom Lens (Ire) (Caerleon) threw G2 Royal Lodge S. winner Atlantis Prince (GB) (Tagula {Ire}) and is the second dam of G1 Middle Park S. third Steady Pace (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Zoom Lens is kin to the dams of G1 Gran Criterium hero Hello (Ire) (Lycius) and G2 Prix Dollar-winning multiple Scandinavian champion Dano-Mast (GB) (Unfuwain). Fairy Godmother is a half-sister to Listed Roses S. third Sketch (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and a yearling filly by Mehmas (Ire). The post Night Of Thunder’s Fairy Godmother Exhibits Gears in the Fillies Sprint at Naas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

David Menuisier says he has full confidence in star colt Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) showing his true colours in the Prix du Jockey Club. Always held in the highest regard by connections, Sunway finished ahead of 2,000 Guineas runner-up Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) when second in the Champagne S. at Doncaster last year before going on to end his two-year-old campaign with a Group 1 triumph in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. Having blown away the cobwebs at ParisLongchamp in the early part of the 2024 season, the three-year-old returned to the scene of his finest hour for the Group 3 Prix Greffulhe. Although beaten a neck in what is regarded a key French Derby trial, Sunway's handler has confirmed the colt remains on track to compete in the 10-furlong contest on June 2. “He has come out of his race at Saint-Cloud really well and we are going to prepare him for the Prix du Jockey Club now and hopefully he can keep improving. Chantilly is still the plan,” said Menuisier. Menuisier is also keen to see if he can register a Group victory with Sirona (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) this term, having seen the four-year-old finish a close-up third on her stable bow in Lingfield's Chartwell Fillies' S. “I was delighted with her,” the trainer reflected. “She ran a bit fresh and was a bit keen but she showed her true potential and it was great. Hopefully we can secure a Group race with her and see how much improvement we can get out of her. “She's not easy to place because I would like to stay against fillies but it is not always that easy. She could possibly go to Haydock for the John of Gaunt against the colts and that is one option amongst several really.” The post Menuisier Says Sunway Will Be Ready To Shine In The French Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will feature prominently in Brisbane’s upcoming Winter Carnival, with several key runners in feature races. Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) runner-up Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) has come through his run behind Coco Sun in great order and will head north for the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on 1st June. “We’ll put him on the plane and send him up for the Derby,” Price said. “I was in two minds … he’ll be a nice staying four-year-old but just having a good look at him over the last few days he looks beautiful, so off he goes to have a crack at Eagle Farm.” Price said Jamie Kah will likely jump aboard Warmonger for her first race-day sit on the three-year-old War Decree gelding. “I think J. Kah will ride him … mile-and-a-half, that’s him,” Price said. “He’s settling now without the blinkers, I just need to draw a barrier and get someone on him who might give him a rub out of the gates and if he’s travelling midfield or no further back, he can win a mile-and-a-half Derby no problem.” Renowned mudlark Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) will be hoping for anything but sunshine ahead of a busy schedule at the Queensland Winter Carnival over the next month. The New Zealand-bred horse ran out an impressive victor in last weekend’s Listed Gosford Cup, which was transferred to Newcastle due to heavy rain. The son of Shocking managed the Heavy 9 track with ease to capture his maiden Listed triumph and co-trainer Mick Price has revealed a potential busy month ahead for the six-year-old. “Well, he’s definitely going to the mile-and-a-half races up there … assume the Q22,” said Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr. “[We’ll] use the Doomben Cup as his gallop into the Premier’s Cup seven days later. “The Premier’s Cup is where you’ll see him at his best in a mile and-a-half.” The three races planned are the A$1 million Doomben Cup, A$200,000 Premier’s Cup and A$1.2m Q22 within 20 days, in what will be Hezashocka’s first appearance in Queensland since his maiden run in Australia more than three years ago. View the full article

Frankie Lor confirms Unbelievable’s season is over after the regally bred four-year-old suffers a minor tendon injuryView the full article

With the late scratching of Germany's leading marathoner and morning line favourite Lordano (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), jockey Rene Piechulek made the switch to Gestut Ittlingen's alternate Alessio (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}–Alandia {Ire}, by Adlerflug {Ger}) and made the most of that ownermate's absence to register a career high in Sunday's G2 Comer Group International 53rd Oleander-Rennen at Hoppegarten. Alessio, who ran sixth in 2022's G1 Deutsches Derby, notched a first pattern-race win in October's G3 The Land Trophy at Baden-Baden and brought the curtain down on 2023 with a runner-up finish in November's G3 St Leger Italiano at the San Siro in Milan when last seen. He occupied a stalking role in second for most of this two-mile stamina test. Bustled along at the top of the home straight, the 17-5 second choice slipped to third with 300 metres remaining and rallied gamely under a final-furlong drive to collar old rival Waldadler (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) by a head on the line. Last term's third Nastaria (GB) (Outstrip {GB}) hit the board once more and finished 3/4-of-a-length adrift of the front two. In a strange turn of events, Lordano's 11th-hour withdrawal provided Piechulek with the opportunity of replacing rider Sybille Vogt aboard Alessio. Vogt suffered an arm injury during the preliminaries of the first race on the card. “Of course I'm a little sorry for Sibylle [Vogt] that she couldn't make the ride,” the winning jockey told GaloppOnline. “Alessio was very brave today and fought really well to prevail.” Pedigree Notes Alessio, one of his sire's 65 pattern-race winners, is the third of seven foals and one of two black-type performers produced by a dual-winning half-sister to three stakes winners headed by G1 Prix du Cadran hero and three-time winner of this contest Altano (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}). The March-foaled homebred bay's third dam is G3 Deutscher Stutenpreis-winning G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) runner-up Arastou (Ger) (Surumu {Ger}), who threw G2 Prix de Pomone winner Abitara (Ire) (Rainbow Quest). Abitara's descendants include stakes-winning G3 Mehl Mulhens Trophy third Ability (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the dual Group-placed Areo (GB) (Medicean {GB}). Arastou is also the ancestress of G3 T Von Zastrow Stutenpreis victrix and G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) third Adoya (Ger) (Doyen {Ire}). Alessio is a full-brother to the unraced 2-year-old filly Alana (Ire) and kin to this month's G3 Bavarian Classic runner-up Alleno (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and a weanling colt by Zarak (Fr). Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL 53RD OLEANDER-RENNEN-G2, €100,000, Hoppegarten, 5-19, 4yo/up, 16fT, 3:30.70, gd. 1–ALESSIO (GER), 126, h, 5, by Teofilo (Ire) 1st Dam: Alandia (Ire), by Adlerflug (Ger) 2nd Dam: Alanda (Ger), by Lando (Ger) 3rd Dam: Arastou (Ger), by Surumu (Ger) O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (GER); T-Peter Schiergen; J-Rene Piechulek. €60,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr & Ity, 11-4-2-3, €142,370. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Waldadler (Ger), 126, g, 5, Adlerflug (Ger)–Waldblume (Ger), by Halling. (€9,000 Ylg '20 BBAGS). O-Stall Kalifornia; B-Gestut Sommerberg (GER); T-Pavel Vovcenko. €21,000. 3–Nastaria (GB), 122, m, 5, Outstrip (GB)–Cinta (GB), by Monsun (Ger). (€8,000 Ylg '20 BBAGS; €15,000 Ylg '20 BBAGO). O/T-Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep; B-Mme Mette Campbell-Andenaes (GB). €11,000. Margins: HD, 3/4, 1. Odds: 3.40, 4.20, 13.30. Also Ran: Assistent (Ger), Crystal Estrella (GB), Seattle Creek (GB), Lotterbov (Ire), Eskimo Komet (Ire). Scratched: Lordano (Ger). The post Teofilo’s Alessio Swoops Late to Garner Berlin Feature appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Roger Varian has confirmed that Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will be given the chance to join the select band of fillies to claim the 1,000 Guineas and Coronation S. when she heads to Royal Ascot for her next start. The daughter of Kingman provided the Carlburg Stables handler with his first triumph in the fillies' Classic when coming home strongly in the hands of Silvestre de Sousa earlier this month and Varian has been delighted with how she has responded since her big-race triumph at Newmarket. With no rush to stretch out to 10 furlongs, Varian now plans to remain at a mile and see if Elmalka can emulate the likes of Russian Rhythm, Attraction and Sky Lantern, who are just some to follow up Classic success on the Rowley Mile at the Royal meeting. Varian said, “She's doing great and is in good form, she's come out of her race very well and we couldn't be more pleased with her to be honest. “I think she will probably go to Royal Ascot for the Coronation Stakes next. I think she will sharpen up for her run in the Guineas. I have no doubt she will stay 10 furlongs, but I don't think we have to rush up to 10.” Aidan O'Brien's Winter was the last filly to complete the Newmarket/Ascot double in 2017 and Elmalka's trainer is confident her best days could still be ahead of her, with her Guineas triumph coming on just her third career start. He added, “She is entitled to be a bit more streetwise at Ascot than she was at Newmarket and hopefully, even though she has won a Guineas, we will be able to see her best is still to come. The Guineas was only her third start and I thought she was a bit green in stages, so I think she will improve for the run.” The post Varian Has Royal Ascot Plan For Brilliant 1,000 Guineas Winner Elmalka appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the TBA National Hunt Breeders' Awards, which takes on Monday May 20, The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association announced the appointment of Her Majesty The Queen as its Patron, succeeding the late Queen Elizabeth II who was Patron for 68 years from 1954 until her death in September 2022. Her Majesty The Queen has held a longstanding interest in the breeding and owning of thoroughbreds across both National Hunt and Flat codes, enjoying her first home-bred winner with Royal Superlative in 2009, then as the Duchess of Cornwall, which she co-owned and bred with her husband King Charles III. She also takes a great interest in a host of other equestrian sports and works with a wide number of organisations that help to promote racing education and welfare and is notably the patron of the National Stud in Newmarket along with recently announced, York Racecourse. Claire Sheppard, Chief Executive of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association said, “We are deeply honoured that Her Majesty The Queen has agreed to take up the Patronage of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. Her enthusiasm and support for thoroughbred breeding over many years will be a great asset as we continue to deliver vital initiatives to ensure a sustainable future for the breed.” The post Her Majesty The Queen Announced As Patron Of The TBA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Australian jockey strikes top form with first three-timer since March 3View the full article

Son of Mehmas prevails in a tight finish in the Class One Racing Heritage Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on SundayView the full article

Driver Penalties T Grant | Banks Peninsula 1 April (heard non-raceday 19 April); failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures; suspended 11 May – 2 June inclusive. A Edge | NZ Metropolitan 15 May; use of whip; fined $250. B Ford | NZ Metropolitan 15 May; careless driving; fined $300. Z Butcher | Waikato Bay of Plenty 16 May; use of whip; fined $300. A Drake | NZ Metropolitan 17 May; careless driving; suspended 18-26 May inclusive. C De Filippi | Rangiora 19 May; careless driving; fined $250. R Holmes | Rangiora 19 May; contacted track marker; fined $100. G Smith | Rangiora 19 May; contacted track markers; fined $100. Trainer Penalties T Stratford | Invercargill 18 May; incorrect gear; fined $100. M House | Rangiora 19 May; late to present runner onto track: fined $100. Horse Penalties SCARLETT’S LEGACY | NZ Metropolitan 15 May; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. IMPERIAL COMMAND | NZ Metropolitan 15 May; refused to come up into position; must complete standing start trial. SILVERLININGS | NZ Metropolitan 15 May; broke in running; must complete trial. FINAL APPROACH | Auckland 17 May; broke in score up; must complete mobile start trial. LIVING THE MOMENT | Rangiora 19 May; broke in running; must complete trial. Protests CAPPAHA | NZ Metropolitan 15 May; failed to lose ground when in break; disqualified from 3rd. IMPERIAL COMMAND | NZ Metropolitan 15 May; unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. The post 13-19 May 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Dog Penalties TEA TIME TIGER | Christchurch 13 May; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. LET HIM COOK | Southland 15 May; failed to pursue the lure; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. BIG TIME ALY | Auckland 19 May; turned in boxes; must complete box trial. General The Christchurch GRC meeting of 16 May (Races 10-12) and the meeting scheduled for 17 May were abandoned due to track conditions. The post 13-19 May 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Rider Penalties N Hailey | Waikato 15 May; medical clearance required (subsequently received on 18 May). S Weatherley | Waikato 18 May; failed to make weight; fined $100. O Bosson | Waikato 18 May; failed to make weight; fined $200. T Davies | Rangitikei 18 May; careless riding; suspended 23-30 May inclusive. M Singh | Rangitikei 18 May; use of whip; fined $400. M Cameron | Rangitikei 18 May; medical clearance required. W Pinn | Rangitikei 18 May; medical clearance required. K Asano | Egmont 19 May; medical clearance required. A Mudhoo | Egmont 19 May; medical clearance required. Horse Penalties BATTLE HYMN | Rangitikei 18 May; late scratching after becoming fractious in barriers; must complete trial. NO TEARS | Egmont 19 May; lame; veterinary clearance required. KHAFEEF | Egmont 19 May: cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. The post 13-19 May 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Trelawney Stud bred Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec) lived up to expectations by successfully scoring back-to-back victories in the S$1 million Kranji Mile (1600m) on Saturday. The win also gave the 2023 Kranji Mile winner his 20th win from 24 starts in Singapore – over distances ranging from 1200m to 2000m – arguably the best records seen among top gallopers in recent times and has taken his winnings close to S$3.2 million for the Lim’s Stable. After sitting second in the running Lim’s Kosciuszko was left in front at the 600m when the leader stopped quickly. Jockey Marc Lerner waited patiently until the 300m before setting him alight and quickly putting a three-length gap on the field before winning by a one-and-a-quarter length. “He’s an amazing horse, isn’t he?” Trainer Daniel Meagher said in an interview after the race. “He has just done everything we have asked him to and I’m really thankful for all the team; all the people back home in the stable. “They’ve done an amazing job with him. He’s won 20 races here, so you know he’s just a fantastic horse. “We kept it simple. He does the same thing everyday. He’s just a freak, isn’t he? I mean, what else can he do? I’m just very proud of him and the whole team.” When asked of a potential Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) tilt – a race Lim’s Kosciuszko won when carrying 58kgs last year – Meagher did not hesitate. “Yeah, why not?” said Meagher “We will have to keep him sound and happy. That’s our job and hopefully, we can have that.” Bred by Brent and Cherry Taylor’s Trelawney Stud, Lim’s Kosciuszko was passed in at the New Zealand Bloodstock Sales and then sold privately after winning his first and only trial in New Zealand when under the care of Clayton Chipperfield. Earlier on the card Ace Of Diamonds (NZ) (Swiss Ace) was a impressive four length winner of the S$150,000 Singapore Guineas (1600m). Trained by Ricardo Le Grange, the smart three-year-old was a winner of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on 6 April before finishing third in the Singapore 3yo Classic on 27 April. “This horse is wonderful and he’s learning. He has a good sprint when he comes from behind,” said jockey Bruno Queiroz. “The race went perfect for me today. This horse is very well. It’s a very good job by Ricardo and all the people who worked on him. “He (Ace Of Diamonds) can go over longer no problem.” Le Grange, who was celebrating his first Singapore Guineas win, was equally satisfied with the win. “Last start, he (Queiroz) got him on the outside. I was disappointed but I’ve got a lot of faith in this horse,” said the South African handler. “Today, he gave him a bit of chance, switched off and it was very impressive. The rain helped him, most definitely. “Massive thanks to (owners) Karen (Leonardo Javier) and Sandy who are on course to see their horse win. Bred in New Zealand by Gerry Harvey and sold in Australia, Ace Of Diamonds now has five wins and four placings in 11 starts and has amassed over S$300,000 in prizemoney for his owner Leonardo Javier. Other New Zealand bred winners at Kranji on Saturday were Buuraq Sixty-one (NZ) Sweet Orange), Centurion (NZ) (Zed), Lim’s Saltoro (NZ) (Shamexpress), & Flying Nemo (NZ) (Vespa). View the full article

It will be the dawn of a new era for Byerley Park trainers Peter and Dawn Williams, as they get set to enter into the next stage of life after announcing their retirement from racing. “I am 70 next month and I felt it was time to move on,” Peter Williams said. “I think it is a younger persons game and we have got in and support these younger ones.” The husband-and-wife duo have been a dominant force in New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing for several decades, with Peter having trained for half a century when he hangs up his training hat. “Next month it has been 50 years since I have had a (trainer’s) license, and Dawn came onboard in the eighties. We have been doing it a long time,” he said. Racing is in Williams’ blood, and he said he was always intent on a career with horses. “Dad was a horse trainer and I went into partnership with him in 1975,” he said. “We went on for two or three years, and when I married Dawn, we took over the stables.” Williams said he had a memorable start to his training career, teaming up with well-known jockey Brent Thompson on the West Coast of the South Island to record his first victory. “The horse that probably gave me the big start was a horse called Bun Tuck, he was my first winner and Brent Thompson rode him at Greymouth in an invitation jockeys race,” Williams said. Group One performer Sir Clive and Group One winners Desert Lightning and Shuka have been particularly memorable horses for the Williams’s over the years, but it was Sea Swift that had the biggest impact on their lives. The daughter of Auk won the 1988 edition of the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m), and the $500,000 purse helped her trainers establish their training centre in Ashburton. “The Auckland Cup was a big win for us,” Williams said. “Sea Swift won the Auckland Cup in 1988 and I think she still holds the track record today. It was the richest sporting event in New Zealand at the time and was worth $500,000. “Winning that set us up because not only did we train her, but we also had a third share in her as well. That set us up to buy a 100-acre farm in Ashburton just off the town boundary. We set it up as a training establishment – it had its own track and starting gates. We trained a lot of winners from there.” From their Ashburton base, the Williams’s campaigned frequently in the North Island and decided to eventually move north in 2011 to Byerley Park in South Auckland. “We were getting sick of the travelling, and the earthquakes in the South Island weren’t a help,” Williams said. “It put us on the backfoot for a while and we found that we were doing too much travelling. We decided to make the move and come up, and we were lucky we did. A lot of owners followed us, and it has been great ever since. “Daniel Nakhle (Byerley Park owner) has been a big part of Dawn and I’s career over the last 10 years, and when we came up here, Colin Jillings (trainer) was good to us. He put a lot of horses and owners our way.” Williams was pleased with the support from their owners in their transition north, including Barneswood Farms’ Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer, who have raced some quality horses over the years with the likes of Group One winners Planet Rock, Media Sensation and Desert Lightning, with the operation also having bred three-year-old sensation Orchestral out of their Group Three performer Symphonic. “They started off small but got pretty big in the finish,” Williams said. While many top equine athletes have passed through their stable, so have some well-credentialled horsemen and women, including top harness driver Dexter Dunn and trainers Pam Gerard and Wayne Hillis. “We have had a lot of people work for us over the years and Dexter was one,” Williams said. “He used to come in after school and before school some days. He wanted to be a jockey, but I sat him down one day and told him he was going to be too big to become a jockey, so go into trotting. He did and he has done well. He came and saw us on Karaka Millions night. “Pam Gerard worked for us for quite a considerable time in Ashburton, and Wayne Hillis was another. “We have been very lucky to have been given some good horses to train, we have had good owners and a lot of good people have worked for us over the years.” In preparation for their retirement, the Williams’s bought a property in Christchurch a couple of years ago and will head back down south in the coming months, with Barbara Kennedy set to take over their barn at Byerley Park. “We will be shifting back to Canterbury, we bought a house in Christchurch two years ago,” Williams said. “Barbara Kenedy, Warren Kennedy’s (leading jockey) wife, is going to move into the house here at Byerley and take the stables over. We will hang around a bit to help Barbara settle in. “Barbara is getting her license and she trained 59 winners in three years in South Africa. Dawn and I give her our blessing, we think she can do the job. She is getting some nice horses to train and I just hope the owners support her.” While Kennedy will take over the majority of the horses in Williams’ care, Group One winner Desert Lightning will head offshore. “Desert Lightning will head to Australia, not that we don’t have confidence in Barbara, but it was just in weight-for-age he is probably better suited over there now,” Williams said. Heading into retirement, Williams is looking forward to watching how racing unfolds at Ellerslie in years to come, with the newly-installed StrathAyr track undergoing remedial work over winter. “I have got all the confidence in the world in Ellerslie, I think they have done a good job, just bad luck has plagued them a little bit,” he said. “Paul Wilcox and the team there are doing their best, they just need things to go right for them.” Williams said the investment in the Auckland track has been the single most important development in his time in racing, and he believes the entire New Zealand thoroughbred industry needs to get in behind the club. “When they built the new track at Riccarton, I had quite a bit to do with it. I worked in with Tim Mills (Canterbury Jockey Club chief executive) and the people who built it. That was big, but Ellerslie is bigger,” Williams said. “We need all of New Zealand to get in behind Ellerslie, because if that isn’t going right then we haven’t got a lot of hope in racing in New Zealand. We need Ellerslie to be an international track and all racing should lead into Ellerslie as far as I am concerned.” View the full article

A gear alteration had Password (NZ) (Zed) flying back to winning form at Hawera on Sunday, running away with the PCL Wineera Brothers Ltd “Maurice Campbell” Steeplechase (3400m). The nine-year-old had run well below the best of his ability at Te Rapa earlier this month, being pulled up for the first time in a jumping career comprising of a win and four minor placings. Password’s trainer Harvey Wilson put the performance behind him and set to prepare for Sunday’s meeting, where the application of a tongue tie had the gelding back on his game, jumping boldly near the tail through the opening lap. Torque Time and Call Me Jack slipped away from the remainder of the field heading down the back straight for the final time, and jockey Kylan Wiles soon made his move aboard Password, beginning to chase down the leading pair. The gelding hit the front jumping the second-to-last fence with Kevin Myers’ trio of Call Me Jack, Interllectus and $2.60 race-favourite Afterallthistime in close quarters, but Password had the race won as he pulled away by two lengths to score in the open contest. Wilson was thrilled to see the gear change prove successful, and praised the ride of Wiles. “We were very disappointed with his run up at Te Rapa, he ran very ordinarily there and we think he probably may have pulled his tongue up or swallowed it in the run,” he said. “We put the tongue tie on today, and it seemed to do the trick because he ran well which was good to see. “Kylan has ridden him a couple of times, on the flat in the high weights and then over the fences, and he’s ridden him really well. “He listens to instructions and we were lucky to have him on today, he did a good job.” Wilson intends to run Password on the back-up in next Sunday’s Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) at the rescheduled venue of Woodville. “If all goes to plan, we’ll go to Woodville next Sunday for the Manawatu Steeples, and then we’ll just keep ticking along,” he said. “He’s a horse that likes the good ground, Te Rapa out in the middle suits him so he’ll tell us where he wants to go next.” Out of an Al Akbar mare in Baltis, Password is a full brother to Group Three performing mare Our Jumala, and was purchased by Wilson and his wife Ann at the 2016 National Yearling Sales for $15,000. He has earned over $91,000 for the Waverley couple and part-owner, racing journalist Michael Guerin. A three-time Olympian, Wilson has claimed several of New Zealand’s top jumping crowns in his training career including the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) of 2019 with It’s A Wonder, and he currently has a pair of jumpers in his care. “We started off with three jumpers but unfortunately one bled at Wanganui, so we’re back to a couple now. We’re always on the lookout for more horses, and we really enjoy the jumpers,” he said. “They were good races today, I think it was probably disappointing we didn’t have proper steeplechase fences, they were really just hurdles. I think that would be something we’d like to see. “I thought the fields were pretty good, and it was a good day overall.” Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed also sired the victor of the Norwood Hawera ‘Jim Walker’ Hurdles (2800m) in Verry Flash (NZ) (Zed), the full-brother to Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) heroine Verry Elleegant justifying his $2.10 favouritism to score for Dean Parker and Myers, who quinellaed the race with Lochwinnoch. Verry Flash’s success came two days after another full sibling, Affluential, won his fourth straight race across the Tasman at Werribee in a 2753m Highweight, reverting back to the flat after two convincing wins over hurdles this campaign. View the full article

Emerging stayer Blue Sky At Night (NZ) (Shamexpress) missed out on her intended black-type targets this autumn, but a pair of impressive victories at Te Rapa have provided more than adequate consolation. A bold first-up winner over 1600m on May 4, the Shamexpress mare returned to the Hamilton track on Saturday and delivered a repeat result in the PGG Wrightson Grain (2100m). Blue Sky At Night spent the majority of the race at the tail of the field for apprentice jockey Tayla Mitchell, who then stayed closer to the inside and saved crucial ground when others came wide around the home turn. Mitchell drove Blue Sky At Night through on the inside of the front-running Rua Rocks, who saw her coming and rose to meet the challenge. It developed into a two-horse tussle to the finish, with Blue Sky At Night finding that little bit more and prevailing by a short head. The favourite Solidify finished another length and a half away in third. “That was another good win today,” trainer Shelley Hale said. “Tayla showed some great initiative and gave her a fantastic ride, and the horse did the job well down the straight. She’s a very good, genuine mare.” Blue Sky At Night has now had 17 starts for four wins, three placings and $99,430 in stakes for owner-breeders Alistair and Isabel Barker. She finished a close fourth in the Dunstan Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, prompting Hale to target the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) on April 13 and Rotorua Cup (2200m) on May 11, but minor setbacks got in the way. “I haven’t really made any other plans with her at this stage,” Hale said. “When we gave her a break after the Dunstan on Boxing Day, the original idea was to bring her back in a little bit earlier and potentially go for races like the Hawke’s Bay and Rotorua Cups. “Unfortunately there were just a couple of little hiccups early in her preparation and we weren’t ready in time for those races, but it’s worked out okay in the end with these two wins. “I’ll have a look at the programme and see what we do with her from here. If we don’t find any other suitable races, we could give her another breather and look at some staying races next season like the Counties Cup (Gr.3, 2100m) and Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m). I do think she’s a black-type quality stayer.” View the full article

Progressive four-year-old Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time Test) showed he won’t be fazed by a further rise in class when he completed a winning hattrick at Te Rapa on Saturday. No closer than three off the fence in midfield throughout the rating 75 1400m contest, the son of Time Test was still travelling comfortably approaching the home turn for apprentice Ngakau Hailey. Inclined to lay in as he made his run down the outer in the straight, Little Bit Of Love still had plenty up his sleeve as he rounded up the leaders and hit the line a comfortable one and a half-length winner from Urban Myth who fought bravely to shade Cindy Falls and Sulabella for the runner-up position. Co-trainer Andrew Scott, who prepares the gelding with training partner Lance O’Sullivan, was quick to praise the efforts of Hailey who was having his first ride aboard the horse. “That was a nice ride as he is not an easy horse,” Scott said. “He (Hailey) judged it (the ride) well and when the horse lost his way with fifty yards to go, he put the stick away and balanced him up. “He is a young man who came in and rode a lot of work for us the other day and he is a horseman so good on him.” Scott also believes there was plenty more in store for his charge. “He keeps gaining confidence and thriving,” he said. “He is a horse we train out of the paddock and is not the prettiest, but he is athletic and sound and is a horse that was given a lot of time and not raced at three. “It’s a good case of giving a horse time and they go on. “That won’t be his last win as that was a hearty rating 75 and he is going the right way.” Bred by Graham and Helen Bax, Little Bit of Love had his first start at Matamata back in December last year and has gone on to win four of his seven starts for his large group of owners under their One Second Syndicate banner. He is out of the O’Reilly mare Little Bit Irish and is the younger half-brother of Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) runner-up Cork (NZ) (Complacent), His extended family includes Gr.1 International Stakes (2000m) winner Mission Critical along with multiple French stakes winner Wajd, the dam of the 1998 champion stayer of Great Britain Nedawi. View the full article

Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta is forming a successful partnership with Northern apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll, and the combination were to the fore at Trentham on Saturday producing a winning double. Latta, who is just shy of a half-century of winners for the season, picked up a trio of placings earlier on the card but wasn’t to be denied with $3.20 race-favourite Belle’s Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) in the AB Equipment & Speirs Finance 1400. Lawson-Carroll settled the daughter of Echoes Of Heaven midfield on the fence through the running, and the mare surged down the centre of the track to score over Opawa Jack, capping her consistent form line of late. The winning roll continued into following event, the John Turkington Forestry 2200, where stable veteran Lincoln Star (NZ) (Savabeel) collected the eighth victory of his 70-start career, and second in three starts with Lawson-Carroll on board. Jumping from barrier five, Lawson-Carroll showed intent early and crossed to the lead around the opening bend, before allowing Divine Spirit to dictate the tempo, allowing the son of Savabeel to slot comfortably in a trail position. Lincoln Star set off to chase down the pacemaker on straightening and soon was on even terms with Divine Spirit, eventually drawing away to power home by 1 ½ lengths, with a further head back to a storming Masso in third. The 19-year-old hoop has picked up six victories and a further 10 placings for Latta, and was thrilled to deliver a Saturday double. “I’m very grateful to Lisa and all the work she does with her horses,” he said. “We were drawn well enough to be right there and I got across before the first bend before Jim Chung (jockey of Divine Spirit) came up and set a nice tempo, so we were travelling along well. “He definitely showed that (toughness) over the last 100m, he kept kicking away from them and found the line nicely.” The nine-year-old is owned outright by Latta, and has won over $220,000 in stakes across seven seasons. “It’s definitely a bonus (owning), especially when you’re about to go on holiday,” she said. “He tries very hard. “This was a pretty special sort of a win, this was the first horse that Aleisha Smith, Kane and Jo’s daughter, has led in today and she’s very keen. “She does a lot around the stable so this is a pretty special moment for her.” Lincoln Star was initially purchased by Lincoln Farms Bloodstock for $180,000 at the 2016 National Yearling Sales out of Waikato Stud’s draft. He is out of talented O’Reilly mare Dating, a dual Group Three winner who placed behind Mufhasa in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m). The pairing came close to three on the bounce with Lincoln Falls in the feature event, the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup (1600m), but were denied by talented mare Islington Lass by a ½ length. View the full article

A shrewd claim by trainer Mike Maker and a slow pace engineered by Julien Leparoux added up to a rewarding payday for Sugoi in the $241,250 Louisville Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Millionaire Fluffy Socks picked up her fourth graded victory May 18 as she pulled away from a small field in the $99,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3T) at Pimlico Race Course.View the full article