Wandering Eyes

King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is set for a spell on the sidelines having been found to be lame after his routine exercise in Newmarket on Tuesday morning. Trained by Roger Varian, King Of Steel enjoyed a productive three-year-old campaign in 2023 when his victories included the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 Champion S. at the same course. He also filled the runner-up spot behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Derby at Epsom. His connections had held high hopes that the imposing colt would be contending for top honours again this season as a four-year-old, with the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. back at the Royal meeting being identified as his primary target in the first part of the year. However, all plans are now said to be on hold following Tuesday's setback. “It's very disappointing for everyone concerned, both for the owner and his team and also the whole of my team,” said Varian. “He's had a training setback which is going to rule him out for the main part of the season and it is disappointing.” In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, owners Amo Racing Ltd added, “King Of Steel has sustained an injury during his routine exercise on Tuesday morning in Newmarket. “We are happy to report that he is fine and his usual bubbly self, but sadly, he will miss his planned seasonal debut at Sandown and Royal Ascot. As you can imagine, this is a very disappointing day for all of King Of Steel's supporters and all the people who have put their heart and soul into this horse.” The post King Of Steel Ruled Out Of Summer Targets Due To Training Setback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tennant Creek Racing Club president Mike Nash believes there are several factors behind the drop in numbers for the region’s annual Cup Day meeting. It’s Tennant Creek Cup Day on Saturday, and although racing club president Mike Nash is looking forward to the occasion, he was left surprised with the final acceptors for the six-event program. The Two Cup Race Day is one of the big events in the NT’s Barkly Region, but numbers are down with just 33 horses to feature at Hagan Park. Apart from the $30,000 Tennant Creek Cup (1600m), the other feature race is the $21,500 Denis Staunton Memorial Cup (1200m) for the 0-70 class. Both races have attracted five starters, and Nash said there were factors that may have contributed to the drop in numbers. Tennant Creek Cup Day clashed with the Mount Isa races last year, but there is no meeting in the Queensland mining town this weekend. “Who knows the reason why numbers are down, but the Alice Springs Cup Carnival was held a month earlier this year,” Nash said. “Things have changed — perhaps horses in Alice Springs have been sent to the paddock or are resting up before the Darwin carnival. “A lot of horses raced here in the past following the Alice Springs carnival, although we only had 38 runners last year. “I felt sure that if there was no racing in Mount Isa, we would have had a few horses from there. “I remember when they used to come over on a regular basis every year. “Those Mount Isa trainers might be out of the game too, I don’t know. “In regards to the numbers on Saturday, yeah, I’m not happy, but what can you do.” Meanwhile, Nash said the local community was once again looking forward to Cup Day, and with fine weather forecast, it should be yet another big occasion. “All the girls are very excited about frocking up,” he said. “Those from stations are coming to town, it’s a big thing for them too. “They love the races, camp drafts and rodeos — anything to do with horses. “The town looks forward to Cup Day, very much so, and we get plenty of tourists turn up. “As usual, it should be a wonderful day.” The Tennant Creek Racing Club had issues with its track in 2022, when it was deemed too heavy after new sand was added to the surface. However, it was given the thumbs-up last year despite 835mm of rain falling in the Barkly Region from December 2022 to March 2023. “We’ve had around 750mm of rain since Christmas, it washed away a fair bit of sand on the track,” Nash said. “We had to replace it, but the track will be in fine order on Saturday.” Nash said preparations for Cup Day started in January with the pavilion, racecaller’s box, running rail and fencing at Hagan Park receiving a new coat of paint. “As for the program itself, it’s pretty much standard this year, as it was last year with the new secretary’s office in the middle of the pavilion,” Nash added. “The committee has a meeting fairly soon after Cup Day, normally a fortnight later while it’s still fresh in everyone’s mind.” Horse racing news View the full article

Group 1 performer Malt Time is gearing up for a Queensland campaign. Photo: Trish Dunell A trip across the Tasman is on the cards for Group 1 performer Malt Time if she performs up to expectations in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 1300 at Te Rapa on Saturday. The seven-year-old daughter of Adelaide has been a standout for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy this season, finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) last September behind Mustang Valley before placing in the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m). She has had a spell since her unplaced run in February’s Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and will return to the Hamilton track this weekend to ready for a Queensland campaign. “She had a good preparation last time, we will give her a couple of runs this time in and hopefully she can show good form again,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “She went out for four or five weeks and has been back in for a couple of months. “She worked up nicely during the week and we have been pleased with her since she has come back. She is in good order.” Malt Time ran fourth in her 1000m trial at Avondale last week, giving Clotworthy plenty of confidence ahead of her weekend assignment. “I thought it was a good trial, we ran her quietly and she got home and hit the line well,” he said. Queensland is firmly in the crosshairs, with the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next month a potential target. “She has got a bit of improvement in her and we are thinking of possibly heading to Queensland if she went well this weekend,” Clotworthy said. “There are a couple of races for her that are a little later on in the carnival, we haven’t confirmed anything yet. She does hold a nomination for the Stradbroke, but we will wait and see what happens.” Malt Time could be joined on the trip by stablemate Espadas, a three-year-old son of Ace High that has shown a lot of promise in his two starts to date, placing on debut at Pukekohe in March before winning his maiden at Ellerslie a month later. “We are looking at maybe Espadas (heading to Queensland as well), they have had a bit of a freshen-up so he might join her, but we are undecided at this stage,” Clotworthy said. Meanwhile, Malt Time will be joined on the float trip to Te Rapa on Saturday by stablemate Mitonic, a last start placegetter who will contest the Greene Racing Mile (1600m). “He is in the same ownership as Malt Time,” Clotworthy said. “He is not far away from getting a win, he is going to be competitive again.” Horse racing news View the full article

Former New Zealand eventer Annabel Tuthill is looking forward to kicking off her thoroughbred training career. Photo: Supplied Former New Zealand eventer Annabel Tuthill has added another string to her equine bow by taking out her thoroughbred trainer’s license. Tuthill competed at the highest level in eventing, competing at the Badminton and Burghley horse trials in the United Kingdom, and was named as reserve for New Zealand’s three-day eventing team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with fellow team member Mark Todd also now carving out a career in thoroughbred racing. “I was eventing here (New Zealand) and had some success and then went over to the UK for quite a while to aim for the Beijing Olympics, and I was named in the team as a reserve,” Tuthill said. “I competed at Badminton and Burghley quite a bit over there, which was an amazing experience. I rode some really nice thoroughbreds along the way, they were always my favourite.” While in the United Kingdom, Tuthill met her now husband Olly, who also competed at the highest level in his chosen equine pursuit – polo. “Olly played polo in New Zealand and England, and he played for England. He was a professional over there and then we decided to move back to New Zealand and set-up Beaufort Downs, have a family and settle down,” she said. Beaufort Downs is a boutique thoroughbred breeding nursery set on 100 acres in North Canterbury. The couple have spent the last few years establishing their broodmare band and have featured prominently as vendors at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. Their highest profile graduate to date has been So Dazzling, who was purchased for $200,000 out of their 2021 Book 1 draft and went on to finish runner-up in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) for trainer John Sargent. “It was cool when she was favourite for the Oaks, that was an exciting time, and she came second to Pennyweka,” Tuthill said. While she has been kept busy running Beaufort Downs with her husband, alongside raising their three children, training thoroughbreds has always been an itch Tuthill has wanted to scratch, and she is excited to have now taken on that challenge. Group 2 performer Milford Sound, who was bred by the Tuthills under their Beaufort Downs banner, has returned to her care for the twilight of his career. The six-year-old son of Ocean Park was initially in the care of Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston, for whom he had a pleasing three-year-old season, finishing runner-up in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) and Listed Southland Guineas (1600m), and third in the Group 2 Championship Stakes (2100m). He has failed to replicate those deeds in subsequent seasons, including a stint across the Tasman, and Tuthill believes he is the perfect horse to help kick-off her training career. “I would like to train a nice filly that we have bred, that would be my main goal,” Tuthill said. “Mum and Dad’s horse, Milford Sound, came along and he is towards the end of his career, so it was quite a good opportunity for me to have a go and use him for learning experience. “We bred him and then Andrew Carston did a really good job with him. He did well as a three-year-old. He went over to Australia but unfortunately he had a problem with his wind and has had two wind operations now. “He has got to be managed nowadays and he is a good horse that has been there and done that, that I can have a go with without too much pressure.” Tuthill said she has received some great advice and support from a number of trainers. “Everyone has been super helpful,” she said. “We have got a good relationship with Anna Furlong, Andrew Carston, and Kayla Milnes. Kayla in particular has helped me out a lot at the track and the beach. “We also went up to Cambridge and stayed with Roger James and Robert Wellwood. They were amazingly helpful.” Tuthill is taking a patient approach with Milford Sound, who last raced when fourth in the Greymouth Cup (2000m) in January. She gave the gelding a 1200m hit-out at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday and she said he will benefit from the rain-affected tracks over winter. “I will just see how he comes through yesterday and then make a plan about what we are going to do in the next few weeks,” she said. “He quite likes the wet tracks, so I am waiting for the rain, it has been really dry down here.” Tuthill is enjoying training in a new discipline and said it is quite different to training eventers. “With eventing, we have to get them super fit, and it is more endurance compared to racing,” she said. “Olly is always in my ear telling me not to overdo it. It is a big learning curve.” While looking forward to kicking off her training career, Tuthill said they are kept busy at their farm and don’t have any ambitions of taking on client horses at this stage. “We are really busy with the farm and have three little kids, so it is a real juggling act,” she said. “We are up to around 15 mares. We are loving it, it is awesome. Hopefully we are going over to Magics (Magic Millions broodmare sale) to get another one. We are always trying to improve the broodmare band. “It is a real team effort and we have got a really good team here, and at this stage, we are doing it (training) for ourselves.” While Milford Sound is the only racehorse Tuthill has in work at the moment, he is being kept company by retired Group 1 performer Vernanme, who is enjoying life after racing. “I am working Vernanme, who belongs to Jasmine Casey, Kevin Hickman’s daughter, which is quite fun,” Tuthill said. “Jasmine is just wanting to find him the best home possible. We have had him here since he retired from racing. I am just doing a bit of schooling with him to get him ready. He is really lovely.” Horse racing news View the full article

Aladdin Sane (outside) and Lucky Bay fight out the finish at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Roger James and Robert Wellwood hope to weave a path to the ITM/GIB 3YO Final (1600m) with Aladdin Sane after the gelding delivered on his promise with victory at the Cambridge Synthetic meeting on Wednesday. The progressive son of Satono Aladdin commenced his career on the stable’s home track last September, with a runner-up finish emulated at a first attempt on turf prior to spelling. Favoured when resuming last month, Aladdin Sane gave the impression that a step-up in distance would suit, and he utilised every metre of the 1550m to capture his maiden success, tracking wide from barrier 11 and eventually wearing down a gallant pacemaker in Lucky Bay by half a head. Wellwood indicated the pair had contemplated running the gelding on turf at Te Rapa on Saturday but were wary of impending rain, and they were pleased to have pulled the right rein. “He’s always been a horse that has shown a bit of ability, but he’s just taken time in one way or the other,” he said. “We were in two minds whether to run him today with the wide draw, but with rain expected later in the week we decided to. “I thought it was a really good run, albeit by a small margin, but he had to sit wide and he won nicely in the end.” With wetter tracks looming, Aladdin Sane will likely be campaigned on the synthetic and further north at Ruakaka, with the ITM/GIB 3YO Final (1600m) on July 13 an exciting end-of-season prospect. “It definitely is a possible target, he probably wants good ground, so he’ll be based between the synthetic and Ruakaka between now and then,” Wellwood said. “It would be nice to get to that race as his final for the three-year-old year, and he’s going to mature into a nice horse next season.” Bred by Rich Hill Stud, Aladdin Sane was purchased for $32,000 out of New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2022 National Online Yearling Sale by Wellwood, and has earned $16,520 in four starts. Kingsclere Stables will be represented at Te Rapa’s meeting on Saturday by two runners, including Windsor Park Stud mare Black Queen in the PGG Wrightson Grain 2100. The daughter of Mongolian Khan was campaigned in Australia under Chris Waller and secured three wins in the 2000-2400m range, before returning to her homeland and failing to get in foal to Almanzor this season. A half-sister to Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner Dynastic and stakes-placed juvenile Nebuchadnezzar, Black Queen made her first raceday appearance in more than a year in April, and showed improvement second-up over 1600m. “She’d been off the scene for a long time, so her first-up run over a mile at Wellington was a glorified trial really,” Wellwood said. “Her second run was very good, but again she probably just blew out in condition near the end. “I think this time she will be fitter for it all, and with the lightweight (54kg) she’s a nice chance.” The mare will jump from barrier 10, as will stablemate and reliable performer Urban Myth when he takes his place in the Jones Trucking 1400 under Vinnie Colgan. “He’s an honest, consistent horse who probably goes better left-handed, so it’ll be good to see him back that way around,” Wellwood said. “They’ll both just need a bit of luck from the draw unfortunately.” Horse racing news View the full article

I’m All In storms to victory under Warren Kennedy at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The decision to bypass a trial opportunity with I’m All In proved on the money when the youngster successfully resumed on his home course. The well-bred son of Zoustar hadn’t raced since February, but he was produced in tip-top order by Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh to prove too good for his rivals on the synthetic track in the Pryde’s Easifeed 2YO (970m). “We’ve always liked him and he’d had a spell and we were going to trial him at Cambridge on Monday,” Marsh said. “There was this 970m race and he’d had a jump-out a week ago and gone really well. “I was very happy with him so thought let’s not go to the trials and go straight to the races. It was worth $17,000 and rather than trial over 950m we might as well race him, and it worked out really well.” It proved a wise call and I’m All In tucked in behind the pace for rider Warren Kennedy before angling off the fence before the turn. He lengthened stride well in the run home to account for debut runners Top Dollar and Brazen Affair. “He really knuckled down that last bit and I thought it was a really good effort to get over the top of those other two,” Marsh said. I’m All In had finished third, albeit a distant one, when third on debut behind subsequent stakes performers Alabama Lass and Renovations, and was spelled after an unplaced run at Matamata where he missed the jump. Marsh is undecided about the immediate future for I’m All In and will monitor the youngster’s progress in the coming days. “I’ll see how he does in the next week or so, we’re probably running out options for him getting deep into May,” Marsh said. “He may have a little break and then potentially look at some three-year-old races in the early spring.” Horse racing news View the full article

What 2024 Doomben 10,000 Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, May 18, 2024 Prizemoney $1,500,000 Distance 1200m Conditions Weight For Age 2023 winner Giga Kick (4) | T: Clayton Chief Stipelas | J: Craig Williams (57kg) Visit Dabble The first Group 1 of the Queensland Racing Carnival will be run and won this Saturday as nine runners compete in the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000. Seven of the nine runners make their way to the Sunshine State after competing in the Sydney Autumn Carnival; however, only one of them is a last-start winner. Although the track was rated as a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, with good weather forecast for Friday and Saturday, it is expected that the surface will improve into the Good range. With no Queensland horses accepting, the interstate dominance is set to continue in the 93rd edition of the Doomben 10,000. 2024 Doomben 10,000 odds I Wish I Win is the clear favourite for the Doomben 10,000, with online bookmakers keeping the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained sprinter safe at +100. Private Eye sits on the second line of betting at +380, closely followed by Espiona and Bella Nipotina at +650. The only other runner that is given a chance is the stablemate of the favourite, Chain Of Lightning (+750). 2024 Doomben 10,000 speed map There appears to be only one leader in the 2024 Doomben 10,000, and that is the massive outsider, Body Bob. Chain Of Lightning and Wee Nessy will push forward from middle to inside barriers, while Mazu will look to settle in the first four from barrier eight of nine. That means Bella Nipotina, Private Eye, I Wish I Win, Stefi Magnetica and Espiona will battle it out for positions in the back half of the field. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Doomben 10,000. 2024 Doomben 10,000 preview & form I Wish I Win has only missed the placings once from 10 starts in Australia, amassing an impressive $11 million in prize money along the way. Returning from a 25-week spell in the TJ Smith Stakes on April 6, this talented sprinter ran home strongly from the back of the field but couldn’t bridge the gap on his stablemate Chain Of Lightning. With the run under his belt and a good barrier, I Wish I Win will only need an ounce of luck to put this field away. With the red-hot Jamie Kah in the saddle, Chain Of Lightning will be looking to best her esteemed stablemate once again. This daughter of Fighting Sun claimed back-to-back victories to begin her Sydney Autumn Carnival preparation before finishing sixth in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes, which has led the stable to keep her to the sprint trips. Although I Wish I Win will be second-up and fitter, it is worth having something small on this mare in the hope she can benefit from an economical run behind the speed. Bella Nipotina has shown strong form in the TJ Smith Stakes and The Quokka. In the Doomben 10,000, she can settle close to the speed from barrier three or settle back if the pace is hot. Ciaron Maher is one of the form trainers in the country, and he wouldn’t be sending Bella to Queensland if he thought his mare had no chance. Private Eye was the best of the rest in the All Aged Stakes, finishing third behind Magic Time and Amenable. He drops back from 1400m to 1200m, which is a slight concern, but the Joseph Pride-trained galloper will be flying home late from the back and can finish in the top four. 2024 Doomben 10,000 selections & best bets Selections: 1 I WISH I WIN 6 CHAIN OF LIGHTNING 5 BELLA NIPOTINA 2 PRIVATE EYE $100 betting strategy $80 Win I Wish I Win (#1) @ +100 with Neds $20 Win Chain Of Lightning (#6) @ +750 with PlayUp 2024 Doomben 10,000 Final Field 1. I Wish I Win (1) T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman J: James McDonald W: 58.5kg F: 32×3 Age: 5YO Color: Black Sex: Gelding Sire: Savabeel Dam: Make A Wish +100 -666.67 2. Private Eye (6) T: Joseph Pride J: Blake Shinn W: 58.5kg F: 6033 Age: 6YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Al Maher Dam: Confidential Queen (USA) +380 -172.41 3. Mazu (8) T: Joseph Pride J: Tyler Schiller W: 58.5kg F: x501 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Maurice (JPN) Dam: Chatelaine +1100 +169 4. Body Bob (7) T: Pat Murphy J: Danny Beasley W: 58.5kg F: 0x25 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Fifth Avenue Lady +15000 +2307 5. Bella Nipotina (3) T: Ciaron Maher J: Craig Williams W: 56.5kg F: 5424 Age: 6YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Pride Of Dubai Dam: Bella Orfana +650 +100 6. Chain Of Lightning (5) T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman J: Jamie Kah W: 56.5kg F: x116 Age: 5YO Color: Grey/Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Fighting Sun Dam: Magic Art +750 +115 7. Espiona (9) T: Chris Waller J: Nash Rawiller W: 56.5kg F: 3367 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Extreme Choice Dam: Dahooil (NZ) +650 +100 8. Wee Nessy (2) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr J: Adam Hyeronimus W: 56.5kg F: 3312 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Snitzel Dam: Later Gator +3000 +461 9. Stefi Magnetica (4) T: Bjorn Baker J: Tim Clark W: 55kg F: 342x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: All Too Hard Dam: Mid Summer Music +4000 +615 More horse racing tips View the full article

What Scone Cup Day Where Scone Race Club – 434 Bunnan Rd, Scone NSW 2337 When Friday, May 17, 2024 First Race 11:35am AEST Visit Dabble The first of the back-to-back meetings scheduled at Scone Race Club gets underway on Friday, with the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) headlining a bumper nine-race program. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit, and with no rain on the forecast, the Soft 6 surface should be upgraded into the Good range prior to the opening event at 11:35am local time. Scone Cup Tip: Nugget After showing a stunning turn of foot to go down by less than a length in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 6, Nugget must be considered the one to beat in the Scone Cup. From barrier eight, watch for Dylan Gibbons to slot in somewhere mid-field with cover. A genuine Good 4 surface will only strengthen Nugget’s claim in the 2024 Scone Cup. Scone Cup Race 8 – #2 Nugget (8) 7yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Dylan Gibbons (59.5kg) +360 with Unibet Best Bet at Scone: Wembanyama Wembanyama couldn’t quite reel in Magnatear on the Kensington circuit at Randwick on April 25, but he lost admirers. He hit a flat spot with 400m left to travel, losing his momentum before building the revs in the final furlong. He is a progressive type and still has plenty of upside for the John O’Shea camp, so with a drop into Class 1 company, punters can expect Webanyama to prove too classy for this lot. Best Bet Race 3 – #1 Wembanyama (7) 3yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea | J: Sam Clipperton (60.5kg) +160 with PlayUp Next Best at Scone: How Dare You How Dare You returns after a 153-day spell and has been trialling nicely leading into this Class 2 contest. The daughter of Zoustar was soft through the wire at Randwick on April 30, with Zac Lloyd asking for a minor effort to stay within a nose of Fourth Spargo. It was an impressive piece of work, and with her form last preparation proving competitive against far superior quality than what she faces in this, How Dare You should figure in the finish. Next Best Race 7 – #3 How Dare You (6) 3yo Filly | T: James Cummings | J: Zac Lloyd (58.5kg) +280 with Bet365 Next Best Again at Scone: Tulle After 23 weeks off the scene, Tulle returns in search of her first victory. She placed in all three runs last preparation and was beaten by less than three lengths in total. From barrier 18, Zac Lloyd will have no choice but to drag back to the rear, but when asked for the ultimate effort, watch for Tulle to be storming down the centre of the course. Next Best Again Race 2 – #5 Tulle (18) 4yo Mare | T: James Cummings | J: Zac Lloyd (59kg) +270 with Neds Scone Cup Day quaddie tips – 17/5/2024 Scone quadrella selections Friday, May 17, 2024 1-2-4-5-9 3-6-7 1-2-4-10-17 5-6-7-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Jaylah Kennedy continued her superb run with Tony and Calvin McEvoy at Sandown on Wednesday, making it seven wins from 23 starts for the stable aboard Heart Of Glass and Scissor Step. The Kiwi apprentice has made waves since joining the riding ranks early last year, already reaching 71 overall winners, with 12 of them at metropolitan level. Her winning strike-rate sits at 30 per cent when teaming up with the McEvoys (57 per cent placing), and Wednesday’s triumphs were prime examples of why she consistently gets rides from the highly successful Ballarat operation. Heart Of Glass ($3.80) sat smack-bang in the middle of the seven-horse field on turning and looked as though she wouldn’t get a crack at them, with Stokke ($4.20) keeping the gap to her outside firmly closed. But Kennedy didn’t panic, holding the same course and showing full faith in her horse’s sprint once the opening came at the furlong pole. It took a few strides to get into her work, but Heart Of Glass soon began to close and claimed the lead in the shadows of the post, holding off Written Bligh ($10) on the rails for another impressive victory. The daughter of Impending has now won three of four career starts and Kennedy said there is plenty more under the hood, especially once she matures. “It was a really good thing we got held up down the straight, because it felt like I had a lapful of horse underneath me, but she just stargazed when she hit the front,” Kennedy said. “She’s got plenty in store… she’s still very green, but she’ll take plenty from that.” The ride aboard Scissor Step was similarly impressive, with Kennedy refusing to sit on the rails, and doing everything she could get to get her mount into clear air before the turn. With favourite Rain Lord ($4.20) struggling to make ground, Scissor Step strode clear for a comfortable victory, marking another winner for the fruitful combination. The 23-year-old, who claims 3kg in the city, was delighted to continue her good form with the father-and-son training duo, though typically humble when describing it. “I’m very thankful to the McEvoy team, they’ve put me on some really nice horses. We’ve got a really good connection together,” she said. “They’re placing their horses really well and utilising the three-kilos, I’m happy to be getting the results for them.” She expects to lose the ride aboard Heart Of Glass back to regular rider Harry Coffey next time, but would happily accept if she got another chance on the exciting filly. “I hadn’t had a sit on her (Heart Of Glass) until today, so, big thanks to Harry, I’ve kept the saddle warm for him, and I’m sure he’ll be back on her soon enough,” she said. “I’ll give him a wrestle for it.” View the full article

Former New Zealand eventer Annabel Tuthill has added another string to her equine bow by taking out her thoroughbred trainer’s license. Tuthill competed at the highest level in eventing, competing at the Badminton and Burghley horse trials in the United Kingdom, and was named as reserve for New Zealand’s three-day eventing team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with fellow team member Mark Todd also now carving out a career in thoroughbred racing. “I was eventing here (New Zealand) and had some success and then went over to the UK for quite a while to aim for the Beijing Olympics, and I was named in the team as a reserve,” Tuthill said. “I competed at Badminton and Burghley quite a bit over there, which was an amazing experience. I rode some really nice thoroughbreds along the way, they were always my favourite.” While in the United Kingdom, Tuthill met her now husband Olly, who also competed at the highest level in his chosen equine pursuit – polo. “Olly played polo in New Zealand and England, and he played for England. He was a professional over there and then we decided to move back to New Zealand and set-up Beaufort Downs, have a family and settle down,” she said. Beaufort Downs is a boutique thoroughbred breeding nursery set on 100 acres in North Canterbury. The couple have spent the last few years establishing their broodmare band and have featured prominently as vendors at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. Their highest profile graduate to date has been So Dazzling, who was purchased for $200,000 out of their 2021 Book 1 draft and went on to finish runner-up in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) for trainer John Sargent. “It was cool when she was favourite for the Oaks, that was an exciting time, and she came second to Pennyweka,” Tuthill said. While she has been kept busy running Beaufort Downs with her husband, alongside raising their three children, training thoroughbreds has always been an itch Tuthill has wanted to scratch, and she is excited to have now taken on that challenge. Group Two performer Milford Sound, who was bred by the Tuthills under their Beaufort Downs banner, has returned to her care for the twilight of his career. The six-year-old son of Ocean Park was initially in the care of Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston, for whom he had a pleasing three-year-old season, finishing runner-up in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) and Listed Southland Guineas (1600m), and third in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m). He has failed to replicate those deeds in subsequent seasons, including a stint across the Tasman, and Tuthill believes he is the perfect horse to help kick-off her training career. “I would like to train a nice filly that we have bred, that would be my main goal,” Tuthill said. “Mum and Dad’s horse, Milford Sound, came along and he is towards the end of his career, so it was quite a good opportunity for me to have a go and use him for learning experience. “We bred him and then Andrew Carston did a really good job with him. He did well as a three-year-old. He went over to Australia but unfortunately he had a problem with his wind and has had two wind operations now. “He has got to be managed nowadays and he is a good horse that has been there and done that, that I can have a go with without too much pressure.” Tuthill said she has received some great advice and support from a number of trainers. “Everyone has been super helpful,” she said. “We have got a good relationship with Anna Furlong, Andrew Carston, and Kayla Milnes. Kayla in particular has helped me out a lot at the track and the beach. “We also went up to Cambridge and stayed with Roger James and Robert Wellwood. They were amazingly helpful.” Tuthill is taking a patient approach with Milford Sound, who last raced when fourth in the Greymouth Cup (2000m) in January. She gave the gelding a 1200m hit-out at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday and she said he will benefit from the rain-affected tracks over winter. “I will just see how he comes through yesterday and then make a plan about what we are going to do in the next few weeks,” she said. “He quite likes the wet tracks, so I am waiting for the rain, it has been really dry down here.” Tuthill is enjoying training in a new discipline and said it is quite different to training eventers. “With eventing, we have to get them super fit, and it is more endurance compared to racing,” she said. “Olly is always in my ear telling me not to overdo it. It is a big learning curve.” While looking forward to kicking off her training career, Tuthill said they are kept busy at their farm and don’t have any ambitions of taking on client horses at this stage. “We are really busy with the farm and have three little kids, so it is a real juggling act,” she said. “We are up to around 15 mares. We are loving it, it is awesome. Hopefully we are going over to Magics (Magic Millions broodmare sale) to get another one. We are always trying to improve the broodmare band. “It is a real team effort and we have got a really good team here, and at this stage, we are doing it (training) for ourselves.” While Milford Sound is the only racehorse Tuthill has in work at the moment, he is being kept company by retired Group One performer Vernanme, who is enjoying life after racing. “I am working Vernanme, who belongs to Jasmine Casey, Kevin Hickman’s daughter, which is quite fun,” Tuthill said. “Jasmine is just wanting to find him the best home possible. We have had him here since he retired from racing. I am just doing a bit of schooling with him to get him ready. He is really lovely.” View the full article

The decision to bypass a trial opportunity with I’m All In (NZ) (Zoustar) proved on the money when the youngster successfully resumed on his home course. The well-bred son of Zoustar hadn’t raced since February, but he was produced in tip-top order by Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh to prove too good for his rivals on the synthetic track in the Pryde’s Easifeed 2YO (970m). “We’ve always liked him and he’d had a spell and we were going to trial him at Cambridge on Monday,” Marsh said. “There was this 970m race and he’d had a jump-out a week ago and gone really well. “I was very happy with him so thought let’s not got to the trials and go straight to the races. It was worth $17,000 and rather than trial over 950m we might as well race over 970m and it worked out really well.” It proved a wise call and I’m All In tucked in behind the pace for rider Warren Kennedy before angling off the fence before the turn. He lengthened stride well in the run home to account for debut runners Top Dollar and Brazen Affair. “He really knuckled down that last bit and I thought it was a really good effort to get over the top of those other two,” Marsh said. I’m All In had finished third, albeit a distant one, when third on debut behind subsequent stakes performers Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) and Renovations (NZ) (Ardrossan), and was spelled after an unplaced run at Matamata where he missed the jump. Marsh is undecided about the immediate future for I’m All In and will monitor the youngster’s progress in the coming days. “I’ll see how he does in the next week or so, we’re probably running out options for him getting deep into May,” Marsh said. “He may have a little break and then potentially look at some three-year-old races in the early spring.” The two-year-old is raced by breeders Cambridge Stud and continued their run of success following Bella Waters’ (NZ) (Sacred Falls) victory in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) last weekend. I’m All In is a son of the I Am Invincible mare Fuld’s Bet, a talented performer who won on four occasions, including the Listed WATC Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) as a two-year-old. She is a half-sister to the RL Inglis Nursery winner Irish Bet (Smart Missile) and the multiple winner and Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) runner-up Rockstar Rebel (Rebel Raider). Fuld’s Bet also has a yearling daughter of Hello Youmzain and produced a colt by Sword Of State last season and is back in foal to the Group One-winning son of Snitzel. View the full article

Roger James and Robert Wellwood hope to weave a path to the ITM/GIB 3YO Final (1600m) with Aladdin Sane (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) after the gelding delivered on his promise with victory at the Cambridge Synthetic meeting on Wednesday. The progressive son of Satono Aladdin commenced his career on the stable’s home track last September, with a runner-up finish emulated at a first attempt on turf prior to spelling. Favoured when resuming last month, Aladdin Sane gave the impression that a step-up in distance would suit, and he utilised every metre of the 1550m to capture his maiden success, tracking wide from barrier 11 and eventually wearing down a gallant pacemaker in Lucky Bay (NZ) (Sweynesse) by half a head. Wellwood indicated the pair had contemplated running the gelding on turf at Te Rapa on Saturday but were wary of impending rain, and they were pleased to have pulled the right rein. “He’s always been a horse that has shown a bit of ability, but he’s just taken time in one way or the other,” he said. “We were in two minds whether to run him today with the wide draw, but with rain expected later in the week we decided to. “I thought it was a really good run, albeit by a small margin, but he had to sit wide and he won nicely in the end.” With wetter tracks looming, Aladdin Sane will likely be campaigned on the synthetic and further north at Ruakaka, with the ITM/GIB 3YO Final (1600m) on July 13 an exciting end-of-season prospect. “It definitely is a possible target, he probably wants good ground, so he’ll be based between the synthetic and Ruakaka between now and then,” Wellwood said. “It would be nice to get to that race as his final for the three-year-old year, and he’s going to mature into a nice horse next season.” Bred by Rich Hill Stud, Aladdin Sane was purchased for $32,000 out of New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2022 National Online Yearling Sale by Wellwood, and has earned $16,520 in four starts. Kingsclere Stables will be represented at Te Rapa’s meeting on Saturday by two runners, including Windsor Park Stud mare Black Queen (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in the PGG Wrightson Grain 2100. The daughter of Mongolian Khan was campaigned in Australia under Chris Waller and secured three wins in the 2000-2400m range, before returning to her homeland and failing to get in foal to Almanzor this season. A half-sister to Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor) and stakes-placed juvenile Nebuchadnezzar (NZ) (Rageese), Black Queen made her first raceday appearance in more than a year in April, and showed improvement second-up over 1600m. “She’d been off the scene for a long time, so her first-up run over a mile at Wellington was a glorified trial really,” Wellwood said. “Her second run was very good, but again she probably just blew out in condition near the end. “I think this time she will be fitter for it all, and with the lightweight (54kg) she’s a nice chance.” The mare will jump from barrier 10, as will stablemate and reliable performer Urban Myth (NZ) (Vadamos) when he takes his place in the Jones Trucking 1400 under Vinnie Colgan. “He’s an honest, consistent horse who probably goes better left-handed, so it’ll be good to see him back that way around,” Wellwood said. “They’ll both just need a bit of luck from the draw unfortunately.” View the full article

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is delighted to announce that His Majesty King Charles III is their new patron. The patronages of their Royal Highnesses the King and Queen were announced by Buckingham Palace last week to coincide with the first anniversary of Their Majesties Coronation. The NZTBA received official notification from Buckingham Palace this week. “It was a tremendous privilege to have received the letter through the post this week stating that His Majesty The King would be delighted to accept the patronage of our association,” NZTBA chief executive Nick Johnson said. “Her Majesty The Queen was our patron for 32 years, and her love of the thoroughbred is widely known. To be able to have the patronage passed on to His Majesty I think is wonderful, we are very honoured.” Following the passing of the Queen in 2022 a review of her patronages was undertaken along with those held by the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. Between them they had well over 1000 patronages and presidencies, and this number has now been reduced. The letter from The Principal Private Secretary to the King and Queen the Right Honourable Sir Clive Alderton stated that the review had been completed and that His Majesty would be delighted to accept the patronage of the Association. NZTBA President John Thompson is pleased the association former NZTBA Administration Manager Sally Cassels-Brown established with Buckingham Palace during the 1990’s is continuing. Each year since then the Association has sent Her Majesty a copy of the New Zealand Stallion Register which was always acknowledged with a personal comment. “The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association was fortunate to have a long -standing connection with The Queen during her reign,” he said. “It is therefore fantastic news for the New Zealand breeding industry that His Majesty King Charles has accepted the patronage of our association so we can continue this wonderful connection going forward.” View the full article

A trip across the Tasman is on the cards for Group One performer Malt Time if she performs up to expectations in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 1300 at Te Rapa on Saturday. The seven-year-old daughter of Adelaide has been a standout for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy this season, finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) last September behind Mustang Valley before placing in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m). She has had a spell since her unplaced run in February’s Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and will return to the Hamilton track this weekend to ready for a Queensland campaign. “She had a good preparation last time, we will give her a couple of runs this time in and hopefully she can show good form again,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “She went out for four or five weeks and has been back in for a couple of months. “She worked up nicely during the week and we have been pleased with her since she has come back. She is in good order.” Malt Time ran fourth in her 1000m trial at Avondale last week, giving Clotworthy plenty of confidence ahead of her weekend assignment. “I thought it was a good trial, we ran her quietly and she got home and hit the line well,” he said. Queensland is firmly in the crosshairs, with the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next month a potential target. “She has got a bit of improvement in her and we are thinking of possibly heading to Queensland if she went well this weekend,” Clotworthy said. “There are a couple of races for her that are a little later on in the carnival, we haven’t confirmed anything yet. She does hold a nomination for the Stradbroke, but we will wait and see what happens.” Malt Time could be joined on the trip by stablemate Espadas, a three-year-old son of Ace High that has shown a lot of promise in his two starts to date, placing on debut at Pukekohe in March before winning his maiden at Ellerslie a month later. “We are looking at maybe Espadas (heading to Queensland as well), they have had a bit of a freshen-up so he might join her, but we are undecided at this stage,” Clotworthy said. Meanwhile, Malt Time will be joined on the float trip to Te Rapa on Saturday by stablemate Mitonic, a last start placegetter who will contest the Greene Racing Mile (1600m). “He is in the same ownership as Malt Time,” Clotworthy said. “He is not far away from getting a win, he is going to be competitive again.” View the full article

Sure ridden by Zac Spain wins at Caulfield on May 11. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have revealed that the exceptional Western Australian two-year-old Bustling, sired by Frosted, has joined their stable. Clients associated with their yard purchased Bustling, previously trained by Dan Morton, for $2 million. Bustling has had an impressive career so far, with five starts yielding four wins and a second place. His recent victories include the Listed Perth Stakes (1100m), Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m), and Group 3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). The new owners aim to secure a spot for him in The Everest. Kent Jnr shared his enthusiasm, saying, “It’s been a pleasure to deal with Dan Morton and Neville and Susan Duncan and Carol Morton and Mr McDonald. “We have acquired the horse with some of our stable clients to come across here. It’s very exciting and he looks a real, real talent.” He added, “Dan’s staying in for a small piece and that’s a massive positive. “The Everest is the obvious race to think of if you have a nice sprinter on your hands. “That race has been good to three-year-olds, and it appears to be a changing of the guard at the moment in Australia with the sprinting ranks. “I think there is a spot there for a bright young prospect. It will be nice to have a slot secured early in the piece.” In another update from their stable, the unbeaten three-year-old Sure, a gelded son of So You Think, will be sent to the paddock for a spell. Sure has won both of his starts to date, making a remarkable debut over 1600m at Pakenham on April 18 and following it up with a dominant 2.5-length victory at Caulfield, despite starting from the widest barrier. Price reflected on Sure’s performance, saying, “We had to ride him cold because he drew barrier ten, but I thought to loop them and sustain an effort from the 600 [metres], 400, 200 was a good effort. “He was shin sore … so I think you’ll find he’ll go to the paddock and get ready for his life as a four-year-old. He has surpassed expectations. “You never know until race day sometimes … they are the test and I thought he’s come through with flying colours twice.” Price concluded, “I don’t think he is a staying So You Think. I think he’s a mile horse. “He will definitely improve, he will put on weight, he’ll grow, he’ll get a good tough pair of front legs on him … he’s got a lot of options in front of him that horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

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Multiple graded stakes winner Maple Leaf Mel earned New York-bred Horse of the Year, champion 3-year-old filly, and champion female sprinter honors during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Annual Awards ceremony May 13 View the full article

With 75 horses sold, Fasig-Tipton's May Digital Sale closed Tuesday evening with a $310,000 topper and a gross of $3,252,100. Topping the sale was 5-year-old Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) (hip 21), a MGSW & GISP consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, who sold as a racing or stallion prospect to Legacy Ranch. The 75 sales horses averaged $43,361 with a clearance rate of 75% and registered bidders numbering 689. Full results for the sale, which featured 2-year-olds, horses of racing age, breeding stock, and yearlings can be seen here. “It was another strong sale across the board,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales. “Compared to last year's May sale, we doubled the number offered, more than doubled the gross, and saw a healthy rise in the average price. I'm very pleased with the results.” Filling out the top three sellers were Such Sounds (Cairo Prince) (hip 6), bred to Constitution for 2025 for her first foal and sold for $250,000 to Machmer Hall from the consignment of River Oak Farm, agent for Forever Spring Farm et al; and Man Among Men (War Front) (hip 29), a May 5 Santa Anita allowance winner sold as a racing/stallion prospect for $220,000 to Howell Wynne from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm. Fasig-Tipton's June Digital Sale will open for bidding Thursday, May 30 and close on Tuesday, June 4. Nominations are now being accepted with entries closing May 22. Please contact Fasig-Tipton for more information. The post MGSW Forbidden Kingdom Tops Fasig-Tipton’s May Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Resolute Racing's Youalmosthadme will look to improve on a disappointing run as the favorite in the Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland as she drops a grade and shortens up to six furlongs in the $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) May 17 at Pimlico.View the full article

Another year, another U.S. Triple Crown race clouded by a rainy forecast.View the full article

According to a report in the Daily Racing Form by Matt Hegarty, the owners of Turf Paradise and local horseman have reached a deal in which the track will run about 100 cards a year for the next three years. The track's future had been uncertain since owner Jerry Simms announced last November that the track would not be opening for its regularly scheduled six-month meet. Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia told the DRF that there will be four days of racing each week, starting with the first weekend in November to the first Saturday in May. Hegarty writes that the deal was reached after May 4, closing day of the meet. Simms had announced last year that he intended to close the track, but several efforts to develop the property fell through and a 2024 meet was held. Francia said that Simms is still seeking buyers for the track, but his new plan is to sell roughly 100 acres of the property. That will leave 213 acres, enough to maintain a grandstand and hold a meet. “He wants racing to go on,” Francia told Hegarty. “Someone can come in and develop the rest of the property for whatever they want. This has been something of a roller-coaster ride for our horsemen this past year, and we kept hearing that they wanted certainty. That really resonated with me and Mr. Simms. They have families here, they have homes here, and kids in school here.” The post Report: Turf Paradise Gets New Lease on Life appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

To some trainers, the GI Preakness S. has become an afterthought. They worry about making the GI Kentucky Derby, so much to the point that the Preakness is not on their radar. The exception is Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Yes, he'd like to win the Derby more so than any other race, but the Preakness isn't far behind. He's won it eight times and will be back in Baltimore this week with Muth (Good Magic), the 8-5 morning line favorite, and Imagination (Into Mischief), who is 6-1 on the morning line. What is it about the Preakness that brings out the best in his horses, would he have won the Derby if he would have been allowed to participate and what does he think of his Preakness chances this year? Those were among the questions we asked Baffert when he appeared on this week's edition of the Thoroughbred Daily News Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. Baffert was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week. Considering that Muth defeated eventual Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) by 6 1/4 lengths when the two met in the GI Arkansas Derby, might Baffert, had he have been allowed to run, have sent out the best horses in the Derby? “When you have 20 horses [in the Derby], you don't know what's going to happen,” Baffert said. “I mean, what if Muth would have broken slow or something? That's water under the bridge. What happened? It was all about who got the trip. Mystik Dan figured to be among the top five, and he got the trip, and that's what he needed. With 20 horses, that's what makes it so exciting.” Bob Baffert Joins the TDN Writers' Room from Thoroughbred Daily News on Vimeo. As far as his fondness for the Preakness, Baffert came into the sport during a time when the Preakness was still a huge race and it was unimaginable that any healthy, talented 3-year-old would miss any of the Triple Crown races. “When I went to the Derby for the first time with Cavonnier in 1996, the Preakness was still huge,” he said. “It had all the good horses. You went to the Preakness, the second leg. All three legs were so important. That's when people were tuned in and watching our sport, looking for the next Triple Crown winner. For me, I felt like I had to be there and compete and see if we could win that race because it's a very important, very historic, traditional race.” Does Baffert think the spacing of the Triple Crown races should be changed? He does not. “I'm a traditionalist,” he said. “I think it gives it more meaning if you do win the Triple Crown. I'm not saying this because I've already won the Triple Crown. I know how hard it is. If you changed the spacing, the races would be more spaced out and you'd probably have more Triple Crown winners if they had more time between races. It might be easier. Now, you need a superior horse to win the Triple Crown and that's what the Triple Crown is all about. I finally won it. But I went in with two superior horses.” In our breeding spotlight section we took a look at the Coolmore stallion Corniche and the WinStar stallion Two Phil's. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, Coolmore, 1/ST Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar, and XBTV.com, the team of Randy Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman gave their thoughts on the Preakness and all three selected Muth. That the stewards fined Tyler Gaffalione $2,500 for his ride on Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the Derby was a major topic of discussion with Moss saying that all stewards at all tracks need to be much more transparent and announce their reasonings for making the call they did. The Royal Palm races at Gulfstream, which are preps for the Royal Ascot meeting, produced an ultra-impressive winner in Bullet (War Front) for our sponsor Len and Jon Green's D.J. Stable. It's time to pick out your top hat and tails, Jon and Len. To view the podcast, click here. For the audio-only version, click here. The post Bob Baffert Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Speed freak pacer Old Town Road is getting a rare treat at Alexandra Park this Friday: he is going to the races. The six-year-old will tackle the $50,000 Roy Purdon Memorial on a stacked night at The Park as the strong autumn of northern harness racing continues before the grand finale of the Auckland and Rowe Cups next week. Superstar Australian trotter Just Believe is being allowed to miss the Anzac Cup this week and Merlin the same with the Roy Purdon as he has gone to the paddock but Old Town Road returns after yet another annoying setback. The John Dickie-trained pacer has been plagued by issues for much of the last year and has only raced 10 times in the last 12 months, compared with a rival like Don’t Stop Dreaming who has started 12 times since New Year’s Eve. Old Town Road has made plenty of his limited opportunities in that time, winning two races, finishing second in the Kaikoura Cup and a booming fourth in the $1million Race By Grins at his last start. But then his troubles, rarely major but always inconvenient, retured. “He developed an abscess in a hoof that forced him to miss the Taylor Mile and Messenger,” explains driver Josh Dickie. “Unfortunately he has become a bit renowned for that sort of thing in the last year. “He doesn’t have the best hooves in the world and Dad (trainer Johh Dickie) has done a great job to get him to so many big races.” The stop-start nature of Old Town Road’s campaigns makes it hard for him to achieve peak fitness but Josh was happy with Old Town Road’s winning workout at Pukekohe last Friday. “It is hard when he keeps having these interruptions because while he can go close this Friday we don’t want to drive him hard being fresh up and a week out from the Auckland Cup,” he says. “And 2200m handicap races a week out from a Cup can be tricky. “You take a horse like American Me off the front line by itself. It could step and run and nobody might go near it and it could win, or whatever trails it could win.” Dickie has been looking after both Old Town Road’s Friday race rivals Better Eclipse and Just Believe for trainers and close friends Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars and says he wouldn’t be surprised if Better Eclipse proved hard to beat this week. “He worked really well and his recovery was great so I think he is ready to go a big race.” As for being the caretaker trainer for Just Believe since his staggering National Trot win two weeks ago, for a horseman raised on top trotters, it has been a dream job. “I have been lucky to have a couple of fast work drives on him while Greg has been back home (Victoria) and he is impeccable,” says Dickie. “I have driven some good trotters in my career but this horse is a champion. “He feels like a bottomless pit of stamina.” With Just Believe allowed to miss this Friday and wait for next week’s Rowe Cup, the locals headed by Muscle Mountain and Oscar Bonavena will try to make the most of the $60,000 H R Fisken and Sons Anzac Cup without the champ, the pair facing 15m handicaps. Friday night’s huge meeting also sees Duchess Megxit versus All You Need Is Me in the Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes 3YO Fillies Final. The final features a quality field of nine, a big improvement on the numbers the series’ heats attracted. The night’s other features include the three-year-old trotters in their IRT Sires’ Stakes Final and the baby trotters in their IRT Young Guns Final. View the full article

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin. View the full article