Wandering Eyes

Dalham Hall Stud's first-season sire Pinatubo (Ire) was off the mark on Thursday as his son Andesite (GB) battled to success in York's Frank Whittle Partnership ebfstallions.com Novice S. Sent off the 7-2 second favourite for the six-furlong test, Clipper Logistics' half-brother to the G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Temple S. winner Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) travelled notably strongly behind the leading duo early but looked booked for second as Yah Mo Be There (GB) rolled by in his bid to become the first winner for his sire Mohaather (GB). It was not until the dying strides that the Karl Burke trainee edged ahead and at the line the margin was a short head, with 3 1/2 lengths separating two smart colts and the remainder. TWO smart juveniles Pinatubo colt Andesite proves tough in the finish as he edges out the hanging Yah Mo Be There, with the pair clear. Both are likely to be Royal Ascot-bound.@karl_burke pic.twitter.com/SATNTHitXh — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 16, 2024 The post First Winner For Pinatubo At York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), the champion of the GI Kentucky Oaks, returned to the Churchill Downs work tab Thursday with a half-mile breeze in :48 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle, according to a track press release. Owned by Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing, the filly began her training session soon after the track opened at 5:30 a.m. ET. Clocker John Nichols reported that the Kenny McPeek trainee covered an opening quarter-mile in :24 and continued her work past the wire, galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.60. Per her conditioner, the 3-year-old will target the June 7 running of the GI Acorn S. at Saratoga, which is part of the Belmont Stakes Festival. The post Kentucky Oaks Heroine Thorpedo Anna Returns To Work Tab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was a proper Yorkshire feel to the winner of the Dante S., from breeder to trainer. William Haggas was absent from the Knavesmire but loves nothing more than having a winner at York, and Economics (GB), like his trainer, was born and bred in the county. The strapping son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) was bred by one of Yorkshire's finest farms, Copgrove Hall Stud, from a family nurtured by the late Guy Reed, who bred the colt's first three dams. Copgrove Hall Stud manager Brian O'Rourke was all smiles after the race, standing in the company of Adrian O'Brien of Hazelwood Bloodstock, who pinhooked Economics as a foal. O'Rourke said, “Guy Reed bred and raced his dam, and her sire Peintre Celebre was also raised on the stud by the Wildensteins. “Andre Fabre trained the mare and she was a Group 2 winner. Guy said 'Please breed her for me', but she's had no luck. She had a dead foal and she had produced one winner before this guy. I loved him as a foal and Adrian bought him for 42,000gns and then sold him to Jake Warren for 160,000gns as a yearling.” He added, “Guy would have loved this – winning the Dante. He would be so proud. He won the Ebor but this is wonderful. This is what it's all about.” O'Rourke confirmed that Economics's dam La Pomme d'Amour (GB), who won back-to back runnings of the G2 Prix de Pomone, is now in foal to Stradivarius (Ire), and her current yearling by Nathaniel (Ire) was sold at last year's December Sales. “We're trying to breed racehorses, not sales horses,” he said. The post ‘Guy Would Have Loved This’: Yorkshire Breeding Triumph in the Dante appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

York's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. played host to one who put some pyrotechnics into the current season on Thursday, but there was a twist in the tail at the end of the Derby's premier trial as the impressive Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–La Pomme D'Amour {GB}, by Peintre Celebre) will not be at Epsom on the first Saturday in June. Off the mark over a mile at Newbury last month, Isa Salman Al Khalifa's 160,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 purchase had been removed from the Blue Riband entries by William Haggas to avoid any temptation to run the colt judged too physically imposing for the Classic. Making a mockery of a Dante which boasted Godolphin's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), the flashy chestnut was held up at the back early by Tom Marquand and allowed to saunter to the front in his own time two out. From there it was exhibition stuff as the 6-1 shot surged to the line despite drifting left out in the clear, registering a six-length winning margin over the disappointing 7-4 favourite Ancient Wisdom, with TDN Rising Star War Rooms (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) half a length away in third. “To be honest I couldn't really believe it, I just thought he had so much to learn after Newbury but that was a mile and obviously going up on trip was always going to help,” Marquand said. “When I lit his fuse, he was electric and did it a lot faster than I anticipated and hit the front too soon. I think he's a very talented horse, he's still learning on the job as he just had a wander when he hit the front, but he's exciting for the future.” “He looked pretty good today and beat probably the best there is around at the moment,” Maureen Haggas said. “William has always liked him a lot, but he's a very big horse who has needed time and still looked very babyish there so there is still a fair bit of improvement. We'll see how he is and there will be a discussion about where he goes, but I'm not convinced he'll stay a mile and a half. The more racing ha has, the sharper he will become and a mile and a quarter is probably his trip.” “The Derby is the one we all want to win and we'd love to win it again, but we have a very nice horse and there are a lot of other nice races to win,” she added. “We need to make sure he stays a nice horse and that has to be the priority. We took him out because we didn't think he'd stay and I'm still not sure he would. You've got to be switched on to go around Epsom, it's a big ask for any horse and he's an inexperienced, big baby.” Pedigree Notes Economics, who had been fourth on his sole juvenile start behind the subsequent Listed Prix Herod winner and G3 Greenham S. runner-up Zoum Zoum (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) over seven furlongs at Newmarket in November, is the sixth foal out of La Pomme D'Amour who captured two renewals of the 12 1/2-furlong G2 Prix de Pomone. This is a family nurtured by the aforementioned Guy Reed, who had many successes at this track down the years including with relatives of one of his first good colts Warpath (GB) who features in this pedigree. Other Reed colour-bearers on the page are Warpath's half-brother Dakota (Ire), who captured the venue's flagship Ebor H., and the group performer Apache (GB) trained at Reed's Spigot Lodge. La Pomme D'Amour also has a yearling colt by Nathaniel (Ire) who was a bargain 19,000gns purchase by Midland Equine at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. What a performance! Economics runs out a thrilling winner of the @ABE_Dubai Dante Stakes in the manner of a very exciting colt for @TomMarquand, @WilliamHaggas and Isa Salman Al Khalifa pic.twitter.com/MRGgn1IH9s — York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 16, 2024 Thursday, York, Britain AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI DANTE S.-G2, £192,200, York, 5-16, 3yo, 10f 56yT, 2:09.30, gd. 1–ECONOMICS (GB), 128, c, 3, by Night Of Thunder (Ire) 1st Dam: La Pomme D'Amour (GB) (MGSW-Fr, $313,702), by Peintre Celebre 2nd Dam: Winnebago (GB), by Kris (GB) 3rd Dam: Siouan, by So Blessed (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (42,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 160,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Copgrove Hall Stud (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £108,997. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $152,256. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Ancient Wisdom (Fr), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Golden Valentine (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). TDN Rising Star. (€2,000,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & LNJ Foxwoods (FR); T-Charlie Appleby. £41,323. 3–War Rooms (Ire), 128, c, 3, Churchill (Ire)–Apticanti, by Aptitude. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. (200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Brook Farm Bloodstock; B-Lynch Bages & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £20,681. Margins: 6, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 6.00, 1.75, 25.00. Also Ran: Cambridge (Ire), God's Window (GB), Caviar Heights (Ire), Al Musmak (Ire). The post Night Of Thunder’s Economics In A Class Of His Own In The Dante appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juddmonte's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}–Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) had failed to get her nose in front since attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status at Salisbury in September 2022, but bounced back from six straight stakes defeats to outshine all four rivals with a dominant display in Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York. Positioned in a handy third through the halfway mark of this extended 10-furlong contest, the 5-2 second favourite loomed large racing hard on the steel approaching the quarter-mile pole and powered clear once seizing control with a furlong remaining to easily account for 15-8 chalk Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' Infinite Cosmos (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by six lengths and a neck. “It's about time, isn't it?” said trainer Ralph Beckett. “She was a bridesmaid too many times last year and it's great to get that race under our belt. She has been frustrating and I said to [Juddmonte's] Barry Mahon yesterday that I felt we'd done everything right, but you never know with her. I thought she looked well all week and saddling her I thought she could have looked better, but she's put it all together well today on a track that really suits her. She ran well here in the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks last year and I was quite happy to come back even if the ground did dry out. We tried the cheekpieces on her last start last year and had them on again. I always think the cheekpieces are pretty much a halfway house, you can take them off pretty easily and put them on pretty easily, and I don't think she'll always need them. Perhaps she's just come of age today and we had all of our ducks in a row. She was full of confidence and Rossa [Ryan] rode her that way.” Looking ahead, Beckett added, “We're well entered up and we'll work it out as we go along, I think. The [G1] Coronation Cup is a possibility, but it's quite soon. We'll have a think and see how she comes out it. All options are open.” Last year's winner Free Wind was put firmly in her place by the winner, but John Gosden was far from downcast in defeat. “She stayed on nicely, but she needs the mile-and-a-half now,” the trainer commented. “She's that bit older, she's won a [G2] Park Hill over a mile-and-six, so I was very happy with that run. She was doing all her best work in the last furlong, the [G2] Lancashire Oaks at Haydock is the obvious race, but this is the only one you can run in early in the year, so we'll step her up. She only just got up to win this last year, but this year the winner has improved mightily from three to four. I was delighted with our filly, she got beaten a nose in the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks last year and we'll try that again, but we're likely to meet this filly [Bluestocking] there. She's won a Group 2 the last three seasons and the idea is to get a Group 1 this year.” Pedigree Notes Bluestocking, the fifth of eight foals, is the leading performer from four scorers out of G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}), herself a full-sister to G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron victor First Sitting (GB) and Listed Criterium de Vitesse victrix Daring Diva (GB). Daring Diva, in turn, is the dam of three black-type performers headed by G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. and G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud S. victrix Brooch (Empire Maker), herself the dam of GI Haskell S. hero and upgraded GI Kentucky Derby second Mandaloun (Into Mischief). Descendants of her stakes-placed second dam Aspiring Diva (Distant View) also include Group 3-winning GI Canadian International runner-up Alounak (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). The February-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to the unraced 2-year-old gelding Dissident (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and a yearling filly by Kingman (GB). Thursday, York, Britain AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI MIDDLETON FILLIES' S.-G2, £150,000, York, 5-16, 4yo/up, f, 10f 56yT, 2:09.80, gd. 1–BLUESTOCKING (GB), 128, f, 4, by Camelot (GB) 1st Dam: Emulous (GB) (G1SW-Ire, $528,533), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Aspiring Diva, by Distant View 3rd Dam: Queen Of Song, by His Majesty 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. TDN Rising Star. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Rossa Ryan. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 8-2-4-1, $459,218. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Free Wind (Ire), 128, m, 6, Galileo (Ire)–Alive Alive Oh (GB), by Duke of Marmalade (Ire). (325,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-George Strawbridge; B-Mrs Sue Ann Foley (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £32,250. 3–Infinite Cosmos (Ire), 128, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Waila (GB), by Notnowcato (GB). TDN Rising Star. O-Anthony & David de Rothschild; B-South Court Stud (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £16,140. Margins: 6, NK, NK. Odds: 2.50, 1.88, 7.00. Also Ran: Sapphire Seas (GB), Caernarfon (GB). Scratched: Novus (Ire). Bluestocking, a two-time runner-up at Group 1 level, makes a fine start to her four-year-old career with a big performance in the @ABE_Dubai Middleton Stakes. Many congratulations to @Rossaryan15, @RalphBeckett and @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/wLXCJDgU8w — York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 16, 2024 The post Camelot’s Bluestocking Powers to Impressive Middleton Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Big Pond was a big deal at Santa Anita Park over the winter, winning the Feb. 18 Spring Fever Stakes after a nose defeat when second in the Dec. 26 La Brea Stakes (G1). Now, she races May 18 in the $175,000 Vagrancy Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here is one horse of interest for this Saturday running at Kyoto Racecourse: Saturday, May 18, 2024 1st-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m BEL DINAH PHAROAH (JPN) (f, 3, American Pharoah–Gianna Schicchi, by War Front) is out of a half-sister to His Highness The Aga Khan's Shareta (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), runner-up to Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) in the 2011 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and winner of the G1 Prix Vermeille the following season. Gianna Schicchi was unplaced in two starts and was offered with this filly in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, but was led out unsold on a bid of $275,000 and subsequently changed hands privately. The mare is also related to the stakes-placed Shazand (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), Londres (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Shaywan (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}). The deeper female family includes fellow Vermeille and G1 Irish Oaks winner Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), the dam of 2012 G1 St Leger hero Encke (Kingmambo). B-Tsuji Bokujo The post American Pharoah Filly Down To Debut at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Equine nutritional best practices from foals to racehorses was covered in the third panel of the 2024 OwnerView webinar series held May 14, said co-hosts The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association via a press release Thursday morning. The virtual panel consisted of trainer Cherie DeVaux; Anthony Koch, Hallway Feeds; Dr. Joe Pagan, Kentucky Equine Research; and Bradley Purcell, Claiborne Farm. The guests discussed everything from the feeding late pregnant mares to the importance of water and hay intake. Click here to watch a replay of the Q&A, and here to access previous sessions. Seven additional virtual panels are scheduled for the remainder of the year. The next session covering “Horseman's (Owner) Relations & Owner Liability.” will be held June 11 at 2 p.m. ET. The post Equine Nutrition Focus Of Latest OwnerView Virtual Panel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainer Graham Motion on the industry's safety efforts.View the full article

Promising apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll can’t wait to make the most of his opportunity on one of New Zealand’s fastest horses at Trentham on Saturday. Lawson-Carroll, who is apprenticed to Shaun Clotworthy in South Auckland, will ride the Ben Foote-trained Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) in the open sprint, with his 2kg claim reducing the Group One performer’s impost from 62kg to 60kg for the Happy 80th Birthday Garry Chittick 1100. A multiple Stakes winner, Babylon Berlin has four times placed at the elite level, including a narrow defeat in last season’s Telegraph at Trentham, going down by a long neck behind Levante (NZ) (Proisir). Lawson-Carroll has ridden sprinters the quality of Group One winner Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy) and Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) on race day in the past, but said he is excited at the prospect of partnering Babylon Berlin. “My boss Shaun is good mates with Ben Foote and that’s helped secure the ride and my riding is going well and I’d like to think that’s been a factor in me getting on her as well,” Lawson-Carroll said. “It’s a great opportunity for me. Hopefully now she can win. She’s got a lot of black type to her name and drawn well on Saturday, she should be right there and hopefully find a good kick on the turn. “She’s a mare who looks to get out and get going and I don’t think the weight is going to be that much of an issue.” Foote is expecting a forward showing from Babylon Berlin, confident his stable star is well recovered from a throat infection and an eye ailment. “Everything seems good with her. She seems back to 100 per cent,” he said. “We had that throat issue and she got a bit of bacteria in her eye and that took a bit to recover, so we’ve just taken our time. “Unfortunately, she’s ready at not the best time of the year and there’s not really a lot around, hence why she’ll head down to Trentham. “We’ll just go race by race with her. She might have one or two races and then we could freshen her up and get ready for the spring or if she did race well at Trentham, we could look overseas. But we’re not making any decisions till after Saturday.” Later on the card, Lawson-Carroll will get the chance to secure his first Stakes win when he rides Lincoln Falls (Dundeel) for Palmerston North-based trainer Lisa Latta in Saturday’s feature, the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup (1600m). “I really like Lincoln Falls in the Stakes race. He’s been running some really nice races and is in good form going into this one,” Lawson-Carroll said. “Lincoln Star should be a good chance in the Rating 75 stayers race earlier in the day for the same stable too.” Lawson-Carroll, 19, is in his third full season of riding and is approaching 50 wins. He is ambitious but wants to ensure he gets a thorough grounding in riding before spreading his wings. “It’s a bit harder now, I’m only claiming two kilos, but hopefully I can keep on getting on good horses and riding for good trainers like Lisa Latta and things can keep going like they are now,” he said. “I’ve still got to learn my craft here but if I get the chance to travel further afield I’d grab that opportunity with two hands. I’m always wanting to learn more and improve. “I study the form a lot, not just my horse but the other horses in the field and how I expect different riders to ride their horse. My boss’ son Harrison Clotworthy goes through my past rides with me and that’s been a great help too.” View the full article

Benchmark 56 races rarely feature in fairytales, but for David Dempsey, they may as well be the Melbourne Cup. Dempsey reckons the replay of Not A Brass Razoo’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) win in the lowly handicap at Gawler last Wednesday will be on loop in his mind when he takes his last breath. Unfortunately, that will be soon. Stricken with terminal cancer and given only weeks to live, the passionate Mt Gambier-based owner paid $4000 for the tried-race mare via Inglis Digital and hoped trainer Peter Hardacre could orchestrate a miracle win in his final days. “Three years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and I’m pretty much on my last hurrah now,” Dempsey said. “I was sitting at home thinking I only have a little bit of time left and I thought to myself that if I bought a horse online, whether Peter would train it and we’d just go halves. “He was obliging and we came to a gentlemen’s agreement. “I picked Not A Brass Razoo out because it was in my black book, we bid $4000 and bought her.” The miracle win, although not entirely unexpected by the stable, means Dempsey will likely die a happy man. “I bought the horse and three weeks later it has won a race, you wouldn’t dream about how that’s happened,” he said. “Kudos to Peter for getting her over the line because I didn’t even think she’d be up and racing that quick. “I was rapt, it brought a tear to me eye. “I had my two brothers up here, one of my best mates and my partner and we couldn’t believe it. “I said to Peter that I was happy to just race for the prizemoney and he said that if I could get 10-1, I should have something on it, so I did.” Not A Brass Razoo will chase another win at Mt Gambier on Sunday week and Dempsey hopes to be trackside for what could be one of his final outings. Win or lose, he’s just keen to cuddle the mare who has helped put a smile on his face these past few weeks. “She’s going to come down here on the 26th to Mt Gambier and I’ll definitely be out there, no matter how I do it,” he said. “I want to go out there and give her a pat. “I don’t care if she wins or not, she’s done the job now. “More than likely, I’ve got about three or four months left. “It’s all getting pretty bad at the moment. “I see my oncologist next week and I’m going to tell them that I don’t want any more chemo because I’m pretty flat. “I’ve had a fair go at it.” View the full article

Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson continued to extend their unassailable lead in the National Trainers’ Premiership at Riccarton’s Synthetic meeting on Thursday, recording a winning double courtesy of Caravella (NZ) (Caravaggio) and Treaty Of Paris (NZ) (Tavistock). Caravella kicked off proceedings in the Coca-Cola Open Handicap (1200m) when getting the better of the Les Collins-trained Dear Oh Dear (NZ) (Atlante) by a long head. “It was a great effort to win like she did today,” Walker said. “She’s really started to mature and come into her own now and Dave (Ellis, Te Akau Racing principal) loves buying horses from Wentwood Grange. They’re great breeders and they breed tough, sound, racehorses that continue to improve with age. “She had to do it the hard way, from back in the field, which indicates she’s competitive and capable of winning more races under Open Handicap conditions. “She’s continued to improve consistently through the grades and I think she’ll be competitive at stakes level next season as a five-year-old.” Caravella is a half-sister to Our Abbadean (NZ) (Lookin At Lucky), a dual Group Two winner and twice Group One placed for Te Akau. “She was very unlucky last start at Wingatui, so it was pleasing to see things go her way, and it’s great to have had good success with both her and Our Abbadean,” Ellis said. “It’s a terrific effort to have won four times this season and she seems to have really settled in well and thrived at our stables on the course at Riccarton. “Hunter (Durrant, Riccarton stable foreman) and the staff down there are doing a great job and we have always loved stabling and racing horses in the South Island. “We had her half-sister Our Abbadean in the stable for the Hawkins family at Wentwood Grange, who performed very well. “She ran in all three legs of the Triple Crown during the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival, and came of age as an older mare when winning the Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m) and Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). “She was a really good stakes quality mare and the more wins Caravella can get on the board the more valuable she becomes. “It’s a good family and Wentwood Grange is one of the very astute breeders in our industry.” As they did a day earlier at Cambridge, Walker and Bergerson produced back-to-back winners at Riccarton when Treaty Of Paris took out the Fire Fighters Challenge – Phil Leabourn Rating 75 (2200m). “It was a really good win and a lovely ride of Warren’s (Kennedy),” Walker said. “He’s been a slower maturing horse, but now he’s getting some age on him he’s getting stronger and becoming a decent staying type. “He was a magnificent sort of yearling when Dave (Ellis) bought him, now coming to it as a proven racehorse and he’s certainly got a good record on the poly track. “We’ve always rated his ability, but he’s just needed the time to develop, and I think he’ll make a nice Cups horse next year with even more maturity.” View the full article

Thursday's under-tack show session for Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic May Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale will begin at 10 a.m. ET., which is a two-hour delay from its originally scheduled start time of 8 a.m., the auction company said in an early release. The two-hour delay will provide the track maintenance staff additional time to prepare the surface following rains that affected the Timonium, Maryland area since late Tuesday. The Thursday trials is the second of three under tack show sessions for the sale. The third and final will take place Friday at 8 a.m. The Midlantic May Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be conducted this coming Monday and Tuesday, May 20-21, at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland. Click here to view the live feed. The post Midlantic May Thursday Under-Tack Show Session Will Begin At 10am appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Gain Marble Hill S. at the Curragh will be run in the memory of the late Theresa Marnane. The Group 3 contest, which takes place on Saturday May 2, was won by the Marnane family's Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) last year. Theresa was a hugely popular member of the racing and breeding industry alongside her husband Con and daughters Amy and Olivia. The Marnane family is associated with countless top-notch graduates, including Group 1 winners Sands Of Mali, Fleeting Spirit, Amadeus Wolf and Rio De La Plata. Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive at the Curragh said, “Theresa was a much loved and dearly missed member of the Irish bloodstock community. The Curragh in association with GAIN is delighted to be able to run one of our most prestigious races for juveniles in her memory, a race which was won last year by the Marnane family owned Givemethebeatboys. We look forward to welcoming Con, Amy, Olivia, their extended family and many friends to the races.” Philip Gilligan, Irish Country Manager GAIN Equine Nutrition, added, “On behalf of the team at GAIN, we are delighted to offer our support and run the 2024 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes in honour and memory of Theresa Marnane, whose delight at the victory of Givemethebeatboys in last year's race is a lasting memory for the family. We hope that this will be a fitting tribute to honour her legacy to the bloodstock and racing Industry.” The post ‘A Fitting Tribute’ – Marble Hill To Be Run In Memory Of Theresa Marnane appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For Chad Brown, the Triple Crown has been an exasperating experience lately.View the full article

What Andrew Ramsden Stakes Day Where Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 When Saturday, May 18, 2024 First Race 11:35pm AEST Visit Dabble The Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) headlines Saturday’s program at Flemington, with the winner of the $500,000 feature earning a ticket into the 2024 Melbourne Cup. The rail is out +4m for the entire circuit, and although there are some minor showers predicted in the lead-up, don’t expect the surface to be downgraded from the Soft 5 rating at the time of acceptances. The action is set to get underway at 11:35am local time. Andrew Ramsden Stakes Tip: Lionel Lionel was starting to get warm going through the wire at Mornington on April 20 and appears primed for a second-up assault. The European import is a genuine stayer, with his best form — including his only victory, at Goodwood in May 2022 — coming over the 2253m. This race lacks tempo, so although it may be against his pattern to lead, watch for Ethan Brown to ping the lids from stall eight and allow Lionel to turn the 2024 Andrew Ramsden Stakes into a true staying test. Andrew Ramsden Stakes Race 8 – #9 Lionel (8) 5yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Ethan Brown (58.5kg) +600 with Bet365 Best Bet at Flemington: Mirzann Mirzann caught the eye on his Australian debut at Caulfield on May 4 and appears to have acclimatised well to his new stable. He got within a length of Cadmus despite lugging 61kg, with the Chris Waller-trained gelding peaking on his run after 190 days off the scene. He drops 6.5kg going into this BM84, and with Damien Lane lobbing into the one-one from barrier four, Mirzann looks perfectly placed to go one better this time. Best Bet Race 2 – #11 Mirzann (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Damien Lane (54.5kg) +220 with PlayUp Next Best at Flemington: Kings Valley Kings Valley heads to Victoria for the first time after back-to-back placings at Canterbury over 1550m. The journey proved too sharp for the son of Territories, as he did his best work late in both runs. Getting to 2000m at a wide-open Flemington circuit appears ideal for the Ciaron Maher-trained import, and with any luck from barrier 12, Kings Valley can shirk the maiden tag. Next Best Race 6 – #8 Kings Valley (12) 3yo Colt | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Matthew Cartwright (54.5kg) +800 with Neds Best Value at Flemington: Joyful Fortune After a 562-day spell, Joyful Fortune is set to have his first run for the Ciaron Maher barn in the Listed Straight Six (1200m). He was a two-time winner at Flemington across three starts last preparation, with his only failure coming in the 2022 Everest (1200m) behind Giga Kick. His form jumps off the page despite the lengthy layoff, and with his one jump-out at Newcastle on April 12 catching the eye, Joyful Fortune has strong claims at the each-way price with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 7 – #1 Joyful Fortune (14) 7yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Ethan Brown (58kg) +800 with Unibet Saturday quaddie tips – 18/5/2024 Flemington quadrella selections Saturday, May 18, 2024 1-3-4-6-7-13-18 5-6-9-12 1-4-6-8-10-15 4-10-11-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Caravella winning at Riccarton on Thursday. Photo: Race Images South Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson continued to extend their unassailable lead in the National Trainers’ Premiership at Riccarton’s Synthetic meeting on Thursday, recording a winning double courtesy of Caravella and Treaty Of Paris. Caravella kicked off proceedings in the Coca-Cola Open Handicap (1200m) when getting the better of the Les Collins-trained Dear Oh Dear by a long head. “It was a great effort to win like she did today,” Walker said. “She’s really started to mature and come into her own now and Dave (Ellis, Te Akau Racing principal) loves buying horses from Wentwood Grange. They’re great breeders and they breed tough, sound, racehorses that continue to improve with age. “She had to do it the hard way, from back in the field, which indicates she’s competitive and capable of winning more races under Open Handicap conditions. “She’s continued to improve consistently through the grades and I think she’ll be competitive at stakes level next season as a five-year-old.” Caravella is a half-sister to Our Abbadean, a dual Group 2 winner and twice Group 1 placed for Te Akau. “She was very unlucky last start at Wingatui, so it was pleasing to see things go her way, and it’s great to have had good success with both her and Our Abbadean,” Ellis said. “It’s a terrific effort to have won four times this season and she seems to have really settled in well and thrived at our stables on the course at Riccarton. “Hunter (Durrant, Riccarton stable foreman) and the staff down there are doing a great job and we have always loved stabling and racing horses in the South Island. “We had her half-sister Our Abbadean in the stable for the Hawkins family at Wentwood Grange, who performed very well. “She ran in all three legs of the Triple Crown during the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival, and came of age as an older mare when winning the Awapuni Gold Cup (Group 2, 2000m) and Travis Stakes (Group 2, 2000m). “She was a really good stakes quality mare and the more wins Caravella can get on the board the more valuable she becomes. “It’s a good family and Wentwood Grange is one of the very astute breeders in our industry.” As they did a day earlier at Cambridge, Walker and Bergerson produced back-to-back winners at Riccarton when Treaty Of Paris took out the Fire Fighters Challenge – Phil Leabourn Rating 75 (2200m). “It was a really good win and a lovely ride of Warren’s (Kennedy),” Walker said. “He’s been a slower maturing horse, but now he’s getting some age on him he’s getting stronger and becoming a decent staying type. “He was a magnificent sort of yearling when Dave (Ellis) bought him, now coming to it as a proven racehorse and he’s certainly got a good record on the poly track. “We’ve always rated his ability, but he’s just needed the time to develop, and I think he’ll make a nice Cups horse next year with even more maturity.” Horse racing news View the full article

Deebee Bellfer will be vying for a hattrick of wins at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Te Aroha mare Deebee Bellfer has been in a purple patch of form of late and will be vying to extend her golden run when she heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the PGG Wrightson Grain 2100. The five-year-old daughter of Preferment had more than 12 months on the sidelines but has hardly skipped a beat since resuming in January for trainer Gavin Opie, winning two and placing in four of her eight starts this year. Deebee Bellfer has been in Opie’s care for the last six months and he said her break from racing was more about resetting her confidence levels following a fall nearly two years ago. “She had a fall in her second race at Matamata and it took a little bit to get over that,” Opie said. “Shelley Wright started to do a bit of pre-training with her, and I have always had a good association with Mrs Bell (breeder-owner), and she sent her over here after she had done some pre-training.” She has progressed all the way through her preparation, culminating with victories in her last two outings, and Opie is hopeful she can continue her winning ways when she steps up to rating 75 grade this weekend. “I couldn’t be happier with her,” Opie said. “She had her first start in January, and I think she has only finished out of the top three on two occasions. She is flying and her work has been good. “She has drawn a good barrier of six on Saturday and we have got a new jockey on in Kelly Myers. As long as she tracks into the race when she normally does, around the 800m, they will know she is there, and they will need to be on their best game.” If she performs up to expectations, some loftier goals await her during winter. “If she happened to win or run second we would have to look at the Taumarunui Cup in July and work our way back from there. We will have to give her a week or two in the paddock somewhere along the line.” Stablemate Mister Pucci is also entered for Te Rapa on Saturday but needs the assistance of a couple of scratchings to make the field for the Jarvis Trading Mile (1600m). “He is third on the ballot, but there are a couple of nice races at Pukekohe in the next couple of weeks, so there is no drama if he doesn’t make the field,” Opie said. “He is racing well, even on the firmer tracks, and once he gets a bit more toe in the ground he grows another leg. I am looking forward to him through the winter.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Belmont Sprint Day Where Belmont Racecourse – Saintly Entrance, Burswood WA 6100 When Saturday, May 18, 2024 First Race 12:04pm AWST Visit Dabble Saturday metropolitan racing returns to Belmont Park for the first time in 2024 this Saturday, with the Group 3 Belmont Sprint headlining a nine-race program. With perfect autumn weather on the forecast, it is expected that the track will remain at a Good 4 rating. The rail will be in the true position for the entire circuit, with the opening race set to jump at 12:04pm AWST. Belmont Sprint Tip: Western Empire Western Empire has been thriving since returning to WA. After recording an unlucky third first-up, this son of Iffraaj ran away from his rivals late in the Group 3 Northam Stakes to bring up a 2.5-length victory. Even though he has drawn wide in barrier 15 here, if William Pike can find cover and get out wide in the home straight, Western Empire will be winning again. Belmont Sprint Race 8 – #2 Western Empire (15) 6yo Gelding | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (59kg) +110 with Bet365 Best Bet at Belmont: Golden Kathleen Golden Kathleen drops back from Group 3 company to compete in a 2YO Open contest. This daughter of Leonardo Da Hinchi has been running good races from the back of the field but has run into the very smart Bustling in her last two starts. Steven Parnham rode this girl a treat to finish second in the Group 3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes, and if he can give her a similar ride in this race, Golden Kathleen can return to the winners’ circle again. Best Bet Race 3 – #3 Golden Kathleen (5) 2yo Filly | T: Russell Stewart | J: Steven Parnham (56kg) +140 with Neds Next Best at Belmont: Malkar Pindari Although she ran fifth in her last start, Malkar Pindari was too bad to be true. This daughter of Gingerbread Man settled towards the rear of the field but was left flat-footed before the home turn and didn’t finish off like she usually does. With good speed expected in this contest, Chris Parnham will allow Malkar Pindari to settle and balance up before letting down with her customary turn of foot, which has delivered two wins in as many runs at Belmont. Next Best Race 7 – #4 Malkar Pindari (11) 4yo Mare | T: Simon Miller | J: Chris Parnham (58.5kg) +500 with PlayUp Best Value at Belmont: Belgrano Belle Belgrano Belle has produced two acceptable performances since returning from a spell, and she seems to be looking for more ground after starts over 1500m and 1400m. The Takahide Ikenushi-trained mare has a strong third-up record (4:2-0-1), and the rise in trip to 1600m should suit. With the aid of Luke Campbell’s 2kg claim and good barrier (5), Belgrano Belle can settle behind the speed and give a sight at double-figure odds with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 1 – #3 Belgrano Belle (5) 5yo Mare | T: Takahide Ikenushi | J: Luke Campbell (a2) (59.5kg) +1000 with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Belmont races Belmont quadrella selections Saturday, May 18, 2024 2-5-7-15 2-4-5-6 1-2-9-12 2-4-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Group 1-winning trainer Chad Ormsby. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Multi-talented horseman Chad Ormsby has had a year to remember with four black-type victories to his credit. The former Group 1-winning jockey runs a boutique Matamata stable and with wife Aliesha Moroney also operates Riverrock Farm, a breaking-in and thoroughbred education centre and successful Ready to Run Sale vendor. Ormsby has prepared 10 winners this season, with four of them at stakes level, including a memorable Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) victory with Pulchritudinous. She had also won the Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2000m) before the Trentham Classic while Master Fay claimed the Group 3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) and Outovstock the Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2100m). “It’s been a really good run for us since January and everything has worked out well,” Ormsby said. “We’ve had some good horses to deal with and we’re really a trading stable and only race the ones we get left with or that have some issues.” Pulchritudinous was one example and was bought out of breeder Milan Park’s yearling draft at Karaka for $32,500 before she was passed in when offered as a yearling under the Riverrock banner. The daughter of Wrote was sold following her Oaks victory in a deal brokered by agent Phill Cataldo with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Master Fay was a $100,000 purchase out of the Highden Park’s draft at Karaka by Ormsby as a pinhooking prospect but didn’t make it back to the sales ring and was sold to Hong Kong interests following a trio of trial wins. The son of Deep Field made a successful debut from Caspar Fownes’ stable before he was struck by soundness issues and found his way back to Ormsby’s care. Master Fay returned to racing three years later to score first-up at Tauranga and then landed the Concorde to earn a trip to Melbourne but finished well back in the Group 1 Newmarket (1200m). “He’s just come back into work and may have his first run in the Foxbridge Plate (Group 2, 1200m) and then look at Australia,” Ormsby said. “He’s day-by-day and hopefully he can tick all the boxes and get a run under his belt and head back to Melbourne.” Meanwhile, Ormsby’s Manawatu Classic winner Outovstock is spelling after a midfield finish in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m), an effort that didn’t disappoint. “He ran very much the same sectionals as the winner, but it just wasn’t run to suit him,” he said. “He’s a pretty fair type and I think you’ll see a better horse next time around. “He’s still in Australia and we’ve got no plans at this stage. He’s been resting since he ran in Adelaide and we’re weighing up our options. “He’s in Melbourne and we’re looking at spring options for him and we’ll decide whether he stays over there or he comes home and we prepare him with races back here.” Horse racing news View the full article

Wewillrock pictured with co-trainer Guy Lowry. Photo: Trish Dunell A return to Australia was on the cards for Wewillrock this winter, but trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos have elected to keep him in New Zealand to tackle some home targets. He performed with distinction across the Tasman over the winter months last year for Sydney trainer John O’Shea, placing in the Listed June Stakes (1100m) at Randwick before winning at the Sydney track a month later. Lowry was eyeing a return this year, but said his rating makes it hard to place the son of El Roca, so he will remain in New Zealand for the time being. “He is at a difficult weight at the moment, so it is a bit harder when he goes over there. We are happy to stick around here at the moment,” Lowry said. Wewillrock has been in good form this preparation, finishing runner-up in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) at Trentham last month before winning over 1200m at Wanganui. He will return to Trentham on Saturday to contest the Happy 80th Birthday Garry Chittick 1100, where he will be met by multiple Group 1 performer Babylon Berlin. Lowry is aware of the task ahead of his gelding this weekend, but said it is a good opportunity to give the five-year-old some practice down Trentham’s chute ahead of feature sprint targets next season. “It will be tough against her,” he said. “She has been proven at Group 1 level where we haven’t. She is rated quite a few points above us, so it is going to be difficult. “We need some practice down the straight. He may not be competitive against Babylon Berlin but the more practice we get down the straight the better. If we are going to stay in this country that is where our opportunities are.” Safely through the weekend, Lowry said Wewillrock will likely have another couple of starts before heading for a spell. “At some stage we will freshen him up, but he is going really well at the moment,” he said. “There is another nice race at Wanganui at the start of next month which he will likely head for, we will just see how he comes through Saturday.” Lowry will also head to Trentham on Saturday with River Dance, who will attempt to break through for her maiden win in the Waterforce 1600. “River Dance is a mare that has strengthened mentally, and she should be competitive on Saturday,” Lowry said. Horse racing news View the full article

Pier pictured with co-trainer Briar Weatherley. Photo: Race Images South It may have taken until the tail end of his four-year-old season, but Darryn Weatherley believes his Group 1 winner Pier has finally furnished into a mature racehorse. The son of Proisir was a standout three-year-old last term, winning the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), and placed in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) and Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). He then had one start in Australia in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill where he pulled up sore, which curtailed his campaign. Returning in the spring as a four-year-old, Pier failed to flatter when taking on weight-for-age, finishing unplaced in his three assignments, and has had a lengthy spell since his last run in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings in September. “He had a couple of niggly issues, and it was more growing pains than anything, but it forced us to go to the paddock,” Weatherley said. Weatherley, who trains Pier in partnership with his daughter Briar, has been rapt with the way he has returned, which was showcased at the Te Aroha trials on Thursday where he comfortably won his 1000m heat on the Heavy 8 track. “He trialled well, I am really pleased,” said Weatherley, who also co-bred and co-owns the gelding. “He had been out for several months, so I was a little bit concerned about the heavy track and the 1000m, I would have preferred 800m on a better track. But he got through his work nicely, I am very pleased with how he is going.” Pier may return to Te Aroha in a few weeks’ time for a first-up run, which will determine whether Weatherley presses on with his charge towards a hit-and-run mission on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next month. “He has got a nomination for the Stradbroke, but that is all pie in the sky stuff at the moment,” Weatherley said. “He may have a run at Te Aroha if the track isn’t too bad in three weeks’ time and then reassess if we have a hit-and-run at something like the Stradbroke. “If he happened to win by panels, you would consider it, or we might put him out for a short break and then prepare him for the spring.” While Pier’s autumn and spring preparations were hampered last year, Weatherley said he has returned a fully mature horse and he is excited to see what he can do on the track. “He has certainly improved this time in,” he said. “Hindsight is a great thing, when he went out he was 484kg, which was the same weight he had won the 2000 Guineas a year earlier. I put him on the scales yesterday and he was 528kg. He has certainly grown with his break and improved, and I think he is only getting better. “It was frustrating that he has had his little niggly issues, but they haven’t been career threatening by any means and I think it is more the point of just being immature. “There’s that famous saying of Bart Cummings that we all know – the cheapest and least used thing is time. “Because he came out all guns blazing as a three-year-old you press on, and we won a Hawke’s Bay Guineas and a 2000 Guineas, but I think as four-year-old he was like a kid that has been thrown into the first XV a year too soon, and now he has caught up with himself. “He looks a different horse, he has matured and he is exciting going forward.” Weatherley is also excited about the prospects of Proisir juvenile filly Gossip, who also won her 1000m heat at Te Aroha. She was purchased out of Fairdale Stud’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale draft by her owner Gary Harding for $110,000, and has impressed Weatherley with what she has shown to date. “1000m on a heavy track wasn’t ideal, but she did her work nicely and she has pulled up well and will go out on a winning note,” Weatherley said. “She has shown us plenty at home and she has got a great temperament. She will go out now for a short break and then she will come back and prepare for the early three-year-old fillies races and hopefully go through for the Filly of the Year series.” Horse racing news View the full article

It may have taken until the tail end of his four-year-old season, but Darryn Weatherley believes his Group One winner Pier has finally furnished into a mature racehorse. The son of Proisir was a standout three-year-old last term, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), and placed in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) and Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). He then had one start in Australia in the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill where he pulled up sore, which curtailed his campaign. Returning in the spring as a four-year-old, Pier failed to flatter when taking on weight-for-age, finishing unplaced in his three assignments, and has had a lengthy spell since his last run in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings in September. “He had a couple of niggly issues, and it was more growing pains than anything, but it forced us to go to the paddock,” Weatherley said. Weatherley, who trains Pier in partnership with his daughter Briar, has been rapt with the way he has returned, which was showcased at the Te Aroha trials on Thursday where he comfortably won his 1000m heat on the Heavy8 track. “He trialled well, I am really pleased,” said Weatherley, who also co-bred and co-owns the gelding. “He had been out for several months, so I was a little bit concerned about the heavy track and the 1000m, I would have preferred 800m on a better track. But he got through his work nicely, I am very pleased with how he is going.” Pier may return to Te Aroha in a few weeks’ time for a first-up run, which will determine whether Weatherley presses on with his charge towards a hit-and-run mission on the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next month. “He has got a nomination for the Stradbroke, but that is all pie in the sky stuff at the moment,” Weatherley said. “He may have a run at Te Aroha if the track isn’t too bad in three weeks’ time and then reassess if we have a hit-and-run at something like the Stradbroke. “If he happened to win by panels, you would consider it, or we might put him out for a short break and then prepare him for the spring.” While Pier’s autumn and spring preparations were hampered last year, Weatherley said he has returned a fully mature horse and he is excited to see what he can do on the track. “He has certainly improved this time in,” he said. “Hindsight is a great thing, when he went out he was 484kg, which was the same weight he had won the 2000 Guineas a year earlier. I put him on the scales yesterday and he was 528kg. He has certainly grown with his break and improved, and I think he is only getting better. “It was frustrating that he has had his little niggly issues, but they haven’t been career threatening by any means and I think it is more the point of just being immature. “There’s that famous saying of Bart Cummings that we all know – the cheapest and least used thing is time. “Because he came out all guns blazing as a three-year-old you press on, and we won a Hawke’s Bay Guineas and a 2000 Guineas, but I think as four-year-old he was like a kid that has been thrown into the first XV a year too soon, and now he has caught up with himself. “He looks a different horse, he has matured and he is exciting going forward.” Weatherley is also excited about the prospects of Proisir juvenile filly Gossip, who also won her 1000m heat at Te Aroha. She was purchased out of Fairdale Stud’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale draft by her owner Gary Harding for $110,000, and has impressed Weatherley with what she has shown to date. “1000m on a heavy track wasn’t ideal, but she did her work nicely and she has pulled up well and will go out on a winning note,” Weatherley said. “She has shown us plenty at home and she has got a great temperament. She will go out now for a short break and then she will come back and prepare for the early three-year-old fillies races and hopefully go through for the Filly of the Year series.” View the full article

A return to Australia was on the cards for Wewillrock (NZ) (El Roca) this winter, but trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos have elected to keep him in New Zealand to tackle some home targets. He performed with distinction across the Tasman over the winter months last year for Sydney trainer John O’Shea, placing in the Listed June Stakes (1100m) at Randwick before winning at the Sydney track a month later. Lowry was eyeing a return this year, but said his rating makes it hard to place the son of El Roca, so he will remain in New Zealand for the time being. “He is at a difficult weight at the moment, so it is a bit harder when he goes over there. We are happy to stick around here at the moment,” Lowry said. Wewillrock has been in good form this preparation, finishing runner-up in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) at Trentham last month before winning over 1200m at Wanganui. He will return to Trentham on Saturday to contest the Happy 80th Birthday Garry Chittick 1100, where he will be met by multiple Group One performer Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard). Lowry is aware of the task ahead of his gelding this weekend, but said it is a good opportunity to give the five-year-old some practice down Trentham’s chute ahead of feature sprint targets next season. “It will be tough against her,” he said. “She has been proven at Group One level where we haven’t. She is rated quite a few points above us, so it is going to be difficult. “We need some practice down the straight. He may not be competitive against Babylon Berlin but the more practice we get down the straight the better. If we are going to stay in this country that is where our opportunities are.” Safely through the weekend, Lowry said Wewillrock will likely have another couple of starts before heading for a spell. “At some stage we will freshen him up, but he is going really well at the moment,” he said. “There is another nice race at Wanganui at the start of next month which he will likely head for, we will just see how he comes through Saturday.” Lowry will also head to Trentham on Saturday with River Dance (NZ) (Vadamos), who will attempt to break through for her maiden win in the Waterforce 1600. “River Dance is a mare that has strengthened mentally, and she should be competitive on Saturday,” Lowry said. View the full article

Multi-talented horseman Chad Ormsby has had a year to remember with four black-type victories to his credit. The former Group One-winning jockey runs a boutique Matamata stable and with wife Aliesha Moroney also operates Riverrock Farm, a breaking-in and thoroughbred education centre and successful Ready to Run Sale vendor. Ormsby has prepared 10 winners this season, with four of them at stakes level, including a memorable Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) victory with Pulchritudinous. She had also won the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2000m) before the Trentham Classic while Master Fay claimed the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) and Outovstock the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m). “It’s been a really good run for us since January and everything has worked out well,” Ormsby said. “We’ve had some good horses to deal with and we’re really a trading stable and only race the ones we get left with or that have some issues.” Pulchritudinous was one example and was bought out of breeder Milan Park’s yearling draft at Karaka for $32,500 before she was passed in when offered as a yearling under the Riverrock banner. The daughter of Wrote was sold following her Oaks victory in a deal brokered by agent Phill Cataldo with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Master Fay was a $100,000 purchase out of the Highden Park’s draft at Karaka by Ormsby as a pinhooking prospect but didn’t make it back to the sales ring and was sold to Hong Kong interests following a trio of trial wins. The son of Deep Field made a successful debut from Caspar Fownes’ stable before he was struck by soundness issues and found his way back to Ormsby’s care. Master Fay returned to racing three years later to score first-up at Tauranga and then landed the Concorde to earn a trip to Melbourne but finished well back in the Gr.1 Newmarket (1200m). “He’s just come back into work and may have his first run in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m) and then look at Australia,” Ormsby said. “He’s day-by-day and hopefully he can tick all the boxes and get a run under his belt and head back to Melbourne.” Meanwhile, Ormsby’s Manawatu Classic winner Outovstock is spelling after a midfield finish in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m), an effort that didn’t disappoint. “He ran very much the same sectionals as the winner, but it just wasn’t run to suit him,” he said. “He’s a pretty fair type and I think you’ll see a better horse next time around. “He’s still in Australia and we’ve got no plans at this stage. He’s been resting since he ran in Adelaide and we’re weighing up our options. “He’s in Melbourne and we’re looking at spring options for him and we’ll decide whether he stays over there or he comes home and we prepare him with races back here.” By Tavistock, Outovstock was purchased by Riverrock out of breeder Cambridge Stud’s yearling consignment at Karaka for $50,000 and retained to race after he failed to meet his reserve at the Ready to Run Sale. View the full article