Wandering Eyes

It has been confirmed that Sands Of Mali (Fr) will remain at Ballyhane Stud, where he has stood since his retirement in 2021. This is contrary to a statement released on Tuesday by Steve Parkin's Dullingham Park. The Group 1-winning sprinter has his first runners this season. His former stud-mates at Ballyhane, Asymmetric (Ire) and Space Traveller (GB), have moved to Micheal Orlandi's Starfield Stud in Co Westmeath. A statement released by Ballyhane Stud on Friday morning cited “a breakdown in the business relationship between Clipper principal Steve Parkin and Ballyhane stud owner Joe Foley.” It read, “It was agreed that stallions wholly owned by the Clipper operation would not stand at the Carlow farm in the future and, as a consequence, Asymmetric and Space Traveller moved to Starfield stud near Mullingar on Wednesday.” The G2 Richmond S. winner Asymmetric recently commenced covering his first book of mares, while Space Traveller (GB), who won the Clipper-sponsored G2 Boomerang S. at Leopardstown, is in his second season at stud. “We both thought this was the best way forward and I wish the team at Starfield all the best with the two horses,” said Joe Foley. “As Sands of Mali is a partnership horse, he will remain at Ballyhane where his book has been increasing significantly due to highly encouraging reports of his first crop of two-year-olds.” He added, “It has been a great adventure helping Steve and his family build his racing and breeding operation into what it has become today and I'm proud of the top horses that I've sourced for them over the years. I wish them all the best into the future, especially on the racetrack this year where the Clipper and Bronte teams have an exciting string of horses preparing for the season ahead.” Parkin's homebred Group 1 winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is currently second-favourite in the betting for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, while her stable-mate at Karl Burke's Spigot Lodge, Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {GB}), shortened significantly in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas market following his wide-margin win at Southwell on Wednesday. Bred by Linden Bloodstock, he was bought for Parkin by Foley as a foal. The post Sands Of Mali to Remain at Ballyhane Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Danny Shum’s relentless front runner must overcome barrier 10 if he is to snare Sunday’s Group One Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at ChukyoView the full article

British jockey backs regally bred import to produce best local run in city’s most coveted raceView the full article

After giving up his job as a stock trader to pursue his passion for racing, Andy Lo hopes Massive Sovereign can prove himself every bit a champion this weekendView the full article

What Hong Kong Derby Day Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, March 24, 2024 First Race 12:45pm HKT (3:45pm AEDT) Visit Dabble The four-year-olds take centre stage at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon, with the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) headlining a bumper 10-race program. The rail moves back into the A position for the entire circuit, and although there are some scattered showers anticipated in the lead-up, it shouldn’t affect the current Good 4 rating. The action is scheduled to get underway at 12:45pm local time. Hong Kong Derby Tip: Star Mac Star Mac stamped himself as a leading contender in Sunday’s feature after powering through the wire in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on March 3. He was near-last turning for home and made a long run down the centre of the course, suggesting the 2000m would be ideal for the son of Heroic Valour. The David Hayes-trained gelding should get the softest possible run in transit from stall one, and provided he can get clear when the whips are cracking, Star Mac will look the winner at some stage. Hong Kong Derby Race 7 – #14 Star Mac (1) 4yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Karis Teetan (57kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Bet at Sha Tin: Geneva Geneva has produced consecutive runner-up performances since debuting at this course and distance on January 1 and looks prepared to strike third-up. The three-year-old was luckless in his most recent start, as he was held up for a run at a crucial stage before reeling off some eye-catching late sectionals. Hugh Bowman takes the reins once again, and with barrier five giving him every possible chance, Geneva can finally chalk up a much-deserved maiden victory. Best Bet Race 1 – #5 Geneva (5) 3yo Gelding | T: David Hall | J: Hugh Bowman (59kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sha Tin: Sky Trust Sky Trust has been crying out for a step up in trip to 1400m. The son of So You Think has produced flashing-light performances in his last two outings, giving the impression that his rivals have simply proved too sharp over the sprinting journey. Blake Shinn makes his way back to Hong Kong for Derby Day, and with the Australian hoop already afforded race-day experience aboard Sky Trust, watch for the pair to be doing their best work late. Next Best Race 6 – #10 Sky Trust (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Blake Shinn (58kg) Bet with Unibet Best Value at Sha Tin: Full Credit Full Credit was cast three wide without cover on his debut at this course and distance on March 3, and despite the torrid run, the three-year-old fought to the wire and only went down by 2.5 lengths. Lyle Hewitson may have his work cut out for him from the sticky draw in gate nine, but at the big odds with HK racing bookmakers, Full Credit has strong each-way claims. Best Value Race 3 – #5 Full Credit (9) 3yo Gelding | T: Mark Newnham | J: Lyle Hewitson (57.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Hong Kong Derby Day 2024 quaddie tips Sha Tin quadrella selections Sunday, March 24, 2024 1-2-4-14 2-6-7-8-9 1-2-4-11 1-2-4-5-8-14 Horse racing tips View the full article

Eleven months after claiming her first black-type win in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton, talented mare Miss Layla will shoot for another major prize over the same course and distance this weekend. The locally trained daughter of Burgundy will line up in Saturday’s Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. It will be the third start in stakes company this season for the four-year-old, who finished third in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in November and second in the Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) in January. In her only appearance since those two black-type placings, Miss Layla finished ninth after a luckless run in a 1600m Rating 65 at Riccarton on February 23. “She ran a fantastic race in the Timaru Stakes, and then last time she was slow out of the gates and just ended up in a position where we didn’t really want to be,” said Anna Furlong, who trains in partnership with Shane Kennedy. “She took a while to get into the clear, but once she did, she still let down pretty well. We were happy with the run, considering the circumstances. “We’ve been really pleased with her in between times and we think she’s ready to go on Saturday. She won a stakes race over a mile at around this time last season, so we don’t have any worries about her at that trip. It should suit her well.” Miss Layla headlines a five-strong team at Riccarton for Kennedy and Furlong, who will also have dual representation in the Entain-NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO (1000m). First-starter Lil Zena is a particularly interesting runner, having won a trial at Riccarton earlier this month. The second placegetter in that 800m heat was Quintefeuille, who was a six-length winner of a two-year-old race at Riccarton in February. “It was nice to get a line on her against a proven race winner, and she won that trial nicely,” Furlong said. “It’s a relatively short turnaround into this race, which isn’t really ideal, but we didn’t have any other option. She seems to have taken good improvement from the trial and we’ve been happy with her build-up to this race.” Stablemate Rose Of Dublin has had one start, finishing fifth behind Nucleozor at Wingatui on March 2. “She was just a little bit green and new,” Furlong said. “She was the first to load and it was a reasonably big field, and she got a bit upset while she was waiting in the gates. Then she was quite crowded down on the rail and didn’t really enjoy it. She’s drawn nine this time and will hopefully be able to find a more comfortable position.” Kennedy and Furlong’s other two runners are Iffididit in the Cochranes Farm Machinery & Pat Reardon Family Rating 75 (2000m) and Kikimora in the Go Racing Karaka Millions Winners 2024 Rating 65 (1200m). “We expect the 2000m to really suit Iffididit,” Furlong said. “He had his first go at the trip last time and things didn’t really go his way. He got a long way back and there wasn’t really enough speed in the race to drag him into it. The rail being quite far out didn’t help him either. We’ll see if we can put him into the race a little bit more this time. “Kikimora’s having her first run since early January and we’re claiming 3kg. We wouldn’t be surprised to see her run a bold race.” View the full article

Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga marks the black-type debut for Rudyard, and the in-form four-year-old benefits from a 5kg drop in weights from his previous appearance. The son of Charm Spirit and Group One-performed mare Lady Kipling began the season with two wins to his name from 12 starts. He had earned just over $36,000 in stakes at that stage, and his rating was 65. Rudyard has added another three wins and three placings to his record from eight starts since then, lifting his earnings to $263,225 and his rating to 85. Rudyard won a Rating 65 at Pukekohe in November and a Rating 75 at Ellerslie in the middle of January. He was then thrown in at the deep end in the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27, where he was a gallant third behind Group One stars Desert Lightning and Legarto. Trainer Tony Pike stepped Rudyard up to open class for another victory at Ellerslie on February 17, and then he finished fourth behind Adam I Am under a tough 60kg topweight at the same venue on March 9. “He was really a victim of the lack of depth in our open ranks at the moment, going all the way from 55.5kg to 60kg after just one win in an open handicap,” Pike said. “He goes back down to 55kg again this weekend. The spread in the weights means he’s still not all that well off under the set weights and penalties conditions of the race, but we’ll definitely take the five-kilo swing. “He’s racing in really good form this season, the best of his career so far. His best performances to date seem to have come at Ellerslie, but we’re very happy with him and we think he can be highly competitive on Saturday against what looks like quite an even field.” Rudyard will be ridden by Michael McNab and is rated a $6 equal favourite alongside Jaarffi in the TAB’s Japan Trophy market. Pike has indicated that a return to Ellerslie for the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) on April 20 could be on Rudyard’s agenda later in the autumn. Pike has two other favourites for Saturday’s Tauranga meeting, with Hat Trick rated a $2.80 chance for the Peter Clarke Bayleys Residential (1400m) and Overdrawn at $3.50 for the J Swap Contractors (1200m). Hat Trick finished fifth in his only start last season, but has made a bold return as a four-year-old this summer with impressive victories at Pukekohe on February 21 and Ellerslie on March 9. “He’s obviously a smart horse in the making and has won his last couple in very good style,” Pike said. “Going up in grade is never easy, but if he’s able to go forward from his wide gate and get into a good position close to the speed, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him right in the finish again.” Overdrawn cleared maiden ranks at New Plymouth in early December and has placed in all of his three starts since. “He’s been running in some strong Rating 65 races on Group One racedays and has performed very well,” Pike said. “Dropping back from 1400m to 1200m is a bit of a query, and from a wide gate as well, but I can’t fault him at the moment and he deserves another winning turn.” Pike warmed up for the weekend with a bold maiden win by Investigate over 2000m at New Plymouth on Friday. That three-length victory came at the fifth time of asking for the Dundeel gelding, who had placed in all of his last three starts. That included a third at Matamata behind subsequent Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placegetter Qali Al Farrasha. “It may not have been an overly strong field today, but he’d been knocking on the door,” Pike said. “It was good to see him go out and score quite a comprehensive win. “He still has some maturing to do, so he’ll go to the paddock now and should come back as a nice staying prospect as a four-year-old.” Meanwhile, Pike reported that promising three-year-old Witz End has earned himself a shot at black-type level during the Sydney autumn carnival. The Savabeel gelding has had four starts for two wins and two seconds. He won both of his first two races, then finished second at Taupo and was runner-up behind Grail Seeker in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) on March 16. “We’ve been really happy with him since Trentham, and if that continues to be the case, we’ll look at taking him to Sydney for the Carbine Club Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) during The Championships at Randwick (on April 6),” Pike said. “He’s still got a bit to learn, and I think a trip away like that could be the making of him.” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh will use Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga as a springboard towards autumn targets for Skyman and Financier. Go Racing’s Skyman is taking a step down in class for the $175,000 feature, with all of his three previous New Zealand appearances having come at Group One level. He ran a close fifth in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) in January, then failed to fire in last month’s Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). His most recent run was in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 9, where he was hampered early in the run home but still produced a strong finish into fourth behind his winning stablemate El Vencedor. Skyman has previously won five races over the 1600m distance of Saturday’s Japan Trophy, including three Listed features in Queensland and New South Wales. But Marsh is keen to step the eight-year-old son of Mukhadram back up over a middle-distance for his next assignment. “We weren’t always going to run Skyman in this race,” Marsh said. “But it’s worked out that it fits in quite nicely on his road towards the Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr.2, 2100m) down at Trentham in a couple of weeks’ time. “We’re very happy with him and he can be competitive here, but the main reason for running him is to have him cherry ripe for that Awapuni Gold Cup.” Skyman will be ridden by Ace Lawson-Carroll and is a $7.50 fourth favourite in the TAB’s Japan Trophy market. Rudyard and Jaarffi share favouritism at $6, with Saint Bathans at $6.50. Marsh is working backwards from the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) with Financier, who is having a breakthrough season as a four-year-old. The son of Tavistock finished fourth in both of his starts as a two-year-old, then collected a maiden win from two appearances at three. But his four-year-old season has produced three wins and four placings from seven starts, including strong performances against the likes of the exciting Jimmysstar, Adam I Am and Japan Trophy rival Jaarffi, along with subsequent stakes winners Burn To Shine and Master Fay. Marsh also entered Financier for Saturday’s Peter Clarke Bayleys Residential (1400m) in Rating 75 company, where he has been assigned a 61.5kg topweight. “He’s going really well,” Marsh said. “I thought it was touch and go whether he’d make the Japan Trophy field, so we entered him in the Rating 75 as well in case he missed out on the Group Two. “He doesn’t get in that well under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Japan Trophy, but the main reason for running him is to give him a lead-up to the Easter Handicap, which we think is a really nice race to target with him.” Per-Anders Graberg has been booked to ride Financier, who is rated an $11 chance. Marsh’s other Tauranga runners include promising maiden mare I’m Certain and the comeback galloper Global Currency, who finished ninth at Ellerslie on March 2 in his first appearance since December of 2021. Marsh also has five runners entered for Saturday’s southern meeting at Riccarton. Under-rated mare Divine Sava will shoot for valuable black type in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), while promising filly Nikaia makes a big step down in class for the Petersens Jewellers Ladies’ Bracelet Three-Year-Old (1400m) after finishing at the tail of the field following a tough wide run in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m). View the full article

Last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) heroine Pulchritudinous could head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick next month, it just may not be with current trainer Chad Ormsby. The Waikato-based horseman has fielded plenty of enquiries about the filly over the last week from prospective buyers throughout the world, and he is keen to strike a deal. The daughter of Wrote was purchased by Ormsby, under is Riverrock Farm banner, out of Milan Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $32,500 as a pinhook prospect for the Ready To Run Sale later that year, however, she failed to meet her $50,000 reserve. That initial disappointment has turned out to be one of the best things to happen in Ormsby’s training career, with the now three-year-old filly having won three of her seven starts, including the Oaks and the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) a week prior, and nearly $390,000 in prizemoney. Now a strong prospect for the Australian Oaks ahead of a potential Cups campaign in the spring, Pulchritudinous has become a filly in demand. “She is really well, I am really happy with her. You wouldn’t know she has had a run, she could go again,” Ormsby said. “There are a couple of interested parties from overseas that are interested in buying her. We will see what we can come up with there first (before making any plans). “They are from all parts of the world at this stage – Australia, America and Japan. It is quite encouraging that a New Zealand Thoroughbred is on the map. “Outside Orchestral, she looks the standout (three-year-old filly), and they might even meet in the Australian Oaks. “A lot of them (prospective buyers) are looking longer term for a Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup sort of horse. That is the mould she fits, especially when she is running out 2400m pretty strongly. “We haven’t got too long before we need to make a decision on whether she goes to Sydney, but it is just a matter of the process that we have got to ride with at the moment.” Meanwhile, Ormsby said stablemate Master Fay has returned to his farm for a spell following his hit-and-run mission on the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington earlier this month where he finished 10th. “He has arrived home and is going to have a nice, decent break to letdown,” Ormsby said. “I didn’t make too much of it (Newmarket run) as things went wrong during the race. He over-raced a bit, lost both of his hind shoes, and he had to go from the outside back to the inside. You don’t need those issues when you are running down the (Flemington) straight against those horses.” After a three-year hiatus from racing, the former Hong Kong galloper burst onto the New Zealand scene in January when wining first-up at Tauranga before heading to Ellerslie later that month where he was eye-catching when taking out the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) by 1-/14 lengths, giving Ormsby the confidence to test his gelding’s talents against some of the best sprinters in the world. “He has only had the four starts and there is a lot ahead of him that we are looking forward to,” Ormsby said. “We will most likely see him back in Australia for his future racing.” Ormsby’s immediate attention is on racing at Tauranga on Saturday where he will line-up Toa Tuahine in the Craigs Investment Partners Maiden (1400m) and last start winner Outovstock in the Sharon Hall Bayleys Residential 2100. “Both horses are in-form,” he said. “The maidener (Toa Tuahine) is knocking on the door, she just seems to find one a little better in her last couple of starts. She is always consistent and she will run a good, solid race tomorrow. “Outovstock is hoping to get down to the Manawatu Classic (Gr.3, 2000m) after this race. Tomorrow will be a nice trial for him, his first run over ground, but he is a horse that we have thought a lot of for a while.” View the full article

Multiple Group One winner Atishu has been confirmed as one of the headline acts for May’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast. Purchased by New Zealand syndicator Go Racing out of Waikato Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft, Atishu has carried their silks to 10 wins, including two at Group One level, and 12 placings, earning A$3.9 million in prizemoney to date. “She’s taken us on a fantastic ride. She’s a very special horse,” Go Racing’s Albert Bosma said. “Right from day one she showed she was going to have an exciting future. She was able to run amazing sectionals from the start in New Zealand. “At home (New Zealand) she won four straight before heading to Australia and winning first time out in Sydney. Two starts later she won a Bill Ritchie (Gr.3, 1400m). “Her couple of Group One wins have come in high-class races in Sydney and Melbourne and she was the clear winner on both occasions. “She’s one of those mares that has kept getting better and better and right now she would be at the peak of her powers.” Bosma said Atishu would run next in the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) before heading to Sydney to take her place in The Championships. “She loves Flemington and her next start will be there in the Australian Cup and then she will head to either the Queen of the Turf (Gr.1, 1600m) or Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) in Sydney. “The most important thing is, considering the form she is racing in, she will be able to head to the breeding barn with plenty in reserve – that is important to us.” Bosma has been thrilled to watch Atishu develop from a yearling into a multiple Group One winner on the track. “Atishu was a lovely yearling. Her full-sister the year before sold for $875,000 and Atishu was very similar looking,” he said. “She has developed since into a lovely looking mare. She has great conformation and a lovely temperament.” Bosma said it would be an emotional time for her connections on the Gold Coast in May when Atishu is offered as part of trainer Chris Waller’s racing draft. “There will be mixed emotions for sure,” he said. “She has provided us with so many thrills. It will be sad to see her leave the team, but we are also excited about what the future will hold for her and being able to see what she can produce.” As well as boasting an outstanding race record, Atishu comes with an incredibly strong pedigree. “Atishu is a wonderful prospect and we are honoured to have been entrusted to offer her at the National Sale,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “Atishu has been a star for her connections and we thank Albert and the Go Racing team for this amazing opportunity. “Multiple Group One winner aside, Atishu represents one of New Zealand’s great families on the rise. Being out of a full-sister to the Champion 3YO in NZ, Daffodil, the depth of the family is represented through fellow NZ Champion 3YO, Aegon, and more recently New Zealand Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) hero Orchestral, who looks like one of the most exciting prospects to come out of New Zealand in recent years. “Waikato Stud also has her stakes-winning full-sister Mazzolino, so you know the family is only going to be bred up to keep appreciating over the years to come.” View the full article

Monovale Holdings’ Joe and Max Smithies have enjoyed a myriad of success since beginning their association with Terri Rae, a run they hope to continue when Dazzling Miss contests Saturday’s Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeder’s Stakes (1600m). A daughter of Proisir, Dazzling Miss won three races under the care of Tony Pike, who also prepared promising four-year-old Hat Trick to a pair of recent victories for the Waikato farm, operated by the Smithies brothers. At the beginning of the 2023/34 season, the Smithies transferred their homebred Dazzling Miss to Rae, and the mare swiftly settled into the South Island environment, posting three wins from five starts, including a dead-heat with Jon Ol Rocco in the Timaru Heritage Cup (1600m). The mare struck valuable black-type with a narrow second in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight-For-Age (1600m) last month, a result she replicated in a final lead-in to the Breeder’s over 1400m a fortnight ago. “She’s doing really well and working super, just a nice, happy horse,” Rae said. “We would’ve liked a bit of a shower, but she went a great race on a Good track there last start. “She’s looking good, especially at the set weights, that’s a big bonus for her, and the mile is right up her alley. It seems to be her pet distance.” Rae has an impressive strike-rate of 4.3 with leading Central Districts hoop Lisa Allpress, and the pair will combine in the Riccarton feature, where TAB bookmakers have rated Dazzling Miss a $3.60 favourite. “Hopefully we can get a bit of good luck on Saturday, there’s a couple of nice mares in there with Ears Back and Miss Layla, they’ve got to be well respected,” Rae said. “She usually puts herself in a good position from the jump, so she’ll likely be in the first four and she’s got the draw to do that (8).” Rae intends to continue the mare’s preparation with the inaugural TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) on April 13, with a potential step-up to 2000m in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup a week later. “We’ll look at the Southern Alps Challenge for her after this, and see how she pulls up from there,” she said. “If she’s feeling well, we may look at the Canterbury Gold Cup as it’s another Group Three for her, any further black-type is just going to enhance her value as a broodmare in the future. “She seems to settle really well, so I can’t see why it would hinder her going that further distance. After that, that’ll be her for the season.” Promising stayer Aristocrat has been another southern success for the Smithies, the four-year-old progressing from maidens to a smart Rating 75 victory over 2000m last start, a performance Rae hopes to repeat in the Cochranes Farm Machinery & Pat Reardon Family Rating 75 (2000m). “He seems very genuine, and he’s getting a lot more comfortable out on the track, he doesn’t sweat up so much. He’s a bit of a thinker, so his confidence is building at every start,” she said. “Being by Savabeel, the distance really suits, he loves getting out there and rolling around. He doesn’t necessarily have to be in front, but he does like to have a fairly handy position. “He’s done a great job this season, so consistent and he isn’t far off going for a spell, he’ll let us know if that’s after Saturday. “He’s another Monovale Holdings horse, and they’re having such a great run at the moment. It’s nice for Max and Joe, they’ve got a couple of really nice horses up in the North Island with Tony Pike and Ken & Bev Kelso (Scarlet Oak). “Dazzling Miss has been the first one I’ve trained for them, and then Aristocrat, so it’s great to have both performing well down here.” Rae’s home-track contingent is completed by three-year-old fillies Raptylight and Texas Dolly, who finished fourth and eighth in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui earlier this month. “Raptylight went a nice, honest race at Wingatui, she’s not really bred to get over ground, but she seems to settle well and finish off,” Rae said. “Texas Dolly just had a few issues in the Airfreight, getting her tongue over the bit and a few other things so she pulled up a bit stressed, but we think we’ve got that sorted now. “We’re hoping we’ll see a turnaround in form from her because she is quite smart. “All going well, they’ll both head to the fillies’ mile on the 13th of April (Listed NZB Insurance Stakes). View the full article

What Ballarat Races Where Ballarat Turf Club – 240 Kennedys Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 When Sunday, March 24, 2024 First Race 1:25pm AEDT Visit Dabble Ballarat Turf Club will host a very competitive nine-race card this Sunday afternoon. With no rain forecast for the weekend, the track is expected to stay in the Good range for the whole meeting. The rail will be in the +5m position for the entire circuit, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 1:25pm AEDT. Best Bet at Ballarat: Miss Sunshine Miss Sunshine will return from a 35-week spell after finishing third behind Lakota Fire over 1000m at Morphettville back in July. Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, this three-year-old filly will be competing at her home track following two impressive jump-outs at Ararat and Bendigo. Harry Coffey will be legged aboard for his first ride on this daughter of Snitzel, who will jump straight to the front, run the race to suit herself, and pull away from her rivals late. Best Bet Race 2 – #7 Miss Sunshine (9) 3yo Filly | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Harry Coffey (57kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Ballarat: Clock Strikes After being defeated by Grinzinger Angel in a photo finish at Pakenham last start, Clock Strikes is still seeking his first win of the campaign. The Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained gelding received a good run in transit and let down with a strong finish, just missing in a final lunge at the tiring leader. With Patrick Moloney taking the ride from barrier one, Clock Strikes should be able to hold the rail, lead, and give a strong kick at the top of the home straight. Next Best Race 6 – #2 Clock Strikes (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Patrick Moloney (59kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Ballarat: Skipjack Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman’s Skipjack will make his debut after winning the second of his two jump-outs over 800m at Pakenham with Linda Meech in the saddle. There, the two-year-old colt showed superior speed from the jump, and once challenged on his outside, he found another gear to pull away late under light riding. The booking of Meech signals intent to push forward from an inside barrier, and if Skipjack brings that jump-out form to the races, he could prove too speedy for his rivals over 1100m. Best Value Race 1 – #9 Skipjack (5) 2yo Colt | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Linda Meech (58kg) Bet with Neds Ballarat Sunday quaddie tips Ballarat quadrella selections Sunday, March 24, 2024 1-2-6 1-2 1-2-3-10-11 1-2-7-9-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Goulburn Races Where Goulburn Race Club – Racecourse Dr, Goulburn NSW 2580 When Sunday, March 24, 2024 First Race 12:55pm AEDT Visit Dabble NSW racing heads to Goulburn on Sunday afternoon for a competitive eight-race program that kicks off at 12:55pm local time. The Southern Country Championship Wildcard (1400m) headlines the meeting, offering one last chance for horses to gain a free ticket to the Country Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 6. The rail moves back to the true position for the entire circuit, and with pristine conditions predicted in the lead-up, the surface should be rated a genuine Good 4 this weekend. Country Championships Wildcard: Associate Associate was unfortunate not to qualify for the Country Championships Final in his most recent start at Moruya on March 3. He had far too much to do from the rear of the field but never shirked the task, storming through the wire to go down by three lengths to an impressive Bandi’s Boy. That appears to be the strongest form-line for this event, and with Zac Lloyd happy to make the trip to Goulburn, it should give punters confidence that Associate is ready to book his ticket to Randwick. Country Championships Wildcard Race 7 – #7 Associate (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Danielle Seib | J: Zac Lloyd (56kg) +570 with Bet365 Best Bet at Goulburn: Bo Katan Bo Katan broke his maiden two starts back at Wyong before being outclassed in a wide-open Class 1 affair at Hawkesbury. The Richard Litt-trained gelding managed to hit the line powerfully under Mitchell Bell on the latter occasion, suggesting the 1600m will be ideal for the son of Impending. With this event lacking as much depth, Bo Katan can get the job done under Zac Lloyd. Best Bet Race 4 – #4 Bo Katan (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Richard Litt | J: Zac Lloyd (59kg) +145 with PlayUp Next Best at Goulburn: Draco’s Fire Draco’s Fire was three wide without cover in his latest attempt to break his maiden at Scone on February 27. The gelding by Rubick was gallant in defeat, whacking away to be beaten by a half-length at the winning post. Zac Lloyd has the duty to gain cover aboard this progressive three-year-old, and if he can manage an economical run from barrier six, Draco’s Fire should be right in this. Next Best Race 1 – #3 Draco’s Fire (6) 3yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Zac Lloyd (58.5kg) +195 with Neds Best Value at Goulburn: Goodbye Stranger Goodbye Stranger heads to the races for the first time on the back of one piece of work at Orange on March 11. The son of Adelaide cruised through the wire under his own steam, leaving the impression he possesses plenty of upside. He sneaks into this event under the radar, with online bookmakers installing Snippety Star as an odds-on favourite, so watch for Goodbye Stranger to give followers a bold sight at the each-way price. Best Value Race 3 – #3 Goodbye Stranger (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Michael Lynch | J: Matthew Cahill (58.5kg) +1420 with BoomBet Goulburn Sunday quaddie tips – March 24, 2024 Goulburn quadrella selections Sunday, March 24, 2024 1-2-4-5 2-3-4-6 2-4-7-8 1-3-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Skyman will contest Saturday’s Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh will use Saturday’s Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga as a springboard towards autumn targets for Skyman and Financier. Go Racing’s Skyman is taking a step down in class for the $175,000 feature, with all of his three previous New Zealand appearances having come at Group 1 level. He ran a close fifth in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) in January, then failed to fire in last month’s Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). His most recent run was in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 9, where he was hampered early in the run home but still produced a strong finish into fourth behind his winning stablemate El Vencedor. Skyman has previously won five races over the 1600m distance of Saturday’s Japan Trophy, including three Listed features in Queensland and New South Wales. But Marsh is keen to step the eight-year-old son of Mukhadram back up over a middle-distance for his next assignment. “We weren’t always going to run Skyman in this race,” Marsh said. “But it’s worked out that it fits in quite nicely on his road towards the Awapuni Gold Cup (Group 2, 2100m) down at Trentham in a couple of weeks’ time. “We’re very happy with him and he can be competitive here, but the main reason for running him is to have him cherry ripe for that Awapuni Gold Cup.” Skyman will be ridden by Ace Lawson-Carroll and is a $7.50 fourth favourite in the Japan Trophy market. Rudyard and Jaarffi share favouritism at $6, with Saint Bathans at $6.50. Marsh is working backwards from the Group 3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) with Financier, who is having a breakthrough season as a four-year-old. The son of Tavistock finished fourth in both of his starts as a two-year-old, then collected a maiden win from two appearances at three. But his four-year-old season has produced three wins and four placings from seven starts, including strong performances against the likes of the exciting Jimmysstar, Adam I Am and Japan Trophy rival Jaarffi, along with subsequent stakes winners Burn To Shine and Master Fay. Marsh also entered Financier for Saturday’s Peter Clarke Bayleys Residential (1400m) in Rating 75 company, where he has been assigned a 61.5kg topweight. “He’s going really well,” Marsh said. “I thought it was touch and go whether he’d make the Japan Trophy field, so we entered him in the Rating 75 as well in case he missed out on the Group 2. “He doesn’t get in that well under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Japan Trophy, but the main reason for running him is to give him a lead-up to the Easter Handicap, which we think is a really nice race to target with him.” Per-Anders Graberg has been booked to ride Financier, who is rated an $11 chance. Marsh’s other Tauranga runners include promising maiden mare I’m Certain and the comeback galloper Global Currency, who finished ninth at Ellerslie on March 2 in his first appearance since December of 2021. Marsh also has five runners entered for Saturday’s southern meeting at Riccarton. Under-rated mare Divine Sava will shoot for valuable black type in the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), while promising filly Nikaia makes a big step down in class for the Petersens Jewellers Ladies’ Bracelet Three-Year-Old (1400m) after finishing at the tail of the field following a tough wide run in the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m). Horse racing news View the full article

Miss Layla pictured with co-trainer Anna Furlong. Photo: Race Images South Eleven months after claiming her first black-type win in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton, talented mare Miss Layla will shoot for another major prize over the same course and distance this weekend. The locally trained daughter of Burgundy will line up in Saturday’s Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. It will be the third start in stakes company this season for the four-year-old, who finished third in the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in November and second in the Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) in January. In her only appearance since those two black-type placings, Miss Layla finished ninth after a luckless run in a 1600m Rating 65 at Riccarton on February 23. “She ran a fantastic race in the Timaru Stakes, and then last time she was slow out of the gates and just ended up in a position where we didn’t really want to be,” said Anna Furlong, who trains in partnership with Shane Kennedy. “She took a while to get into the clear, but once she did, she still let down pretty well. We were happy with the run, considering the circumstances. “We’ve been really pleased with her in between times and we think she’s ready to go on Saturday. She won a stakes race over a mile at around this time last season, so we don’t have any worries about her at that trip. It should suit her well.” Miss Layla headlines a five-strong team at Riccarton for Kennedy and Furlong, who will also have dual representation in the Pearl Series 2YO (1000m). First-starter Lil Zena is a particularly interesting runner, having won a trial at Riccarton earlier this month. The second placegetter in that 800m heat was Quintefeuille, who was a six-length winner of a two-year-old race at Riccarton in February. “It was nice to get a line on her against a proven race winner, and she won that trial nicely,” Furlong said. “It’s a relatively short turnaround into this race, which isn’t really ideal, but we didn’t have any other option. She seems to have taken good improvement from the trial and we’ve been happy with her build-up to this race.” Stablemate Rose Of Dublin has had one start, finishing fifth behind Nucleozor at Wingatui on March 2. “She was just a little bit green and new,” Furlong said. “She was the first to load and it was a reasonably big field, and she got a bit upset while she was waiting in the gates. Then she was quite crowded down on the rail and didn’t really enjoy it. She’s drawn nine this time and will hopefully be able to find a more comfortable position.” Kennedy and Furlong’s other two runners are Iffididit in the Cochranes Farm Machinery & Pat Reardon Family Rating 75 (2000m) and Kikimora in the Go Racing Karaka Millions Winners 2024 Rating 65 (1200m). “We expect the 2000m to really suit Iffididit,” Furlong said. “He had his first go at the trip last time and things didn’t really go his way. He got a long way back and there wasn’t really enough speed in the race to drag him into it. The rail being quite far out didn’t help him either. We’ll see if we can put him into the race a little bit more this time. “Kikimora’s having her first run since early January and we’re claiming 3kg. We wouldn’t be surprised to see her run a bold race.” Horse racing news View the full article

Dazzling Miss (inside) will contest the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South Monovale Holdings’ Joe and Max Smithies have enjoyed a myriad of success since beginning their association with Terri Rae, a run they hope to continue when Dazzling Miss contests Saturday’s Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeder’s Stakes (1600m). A daughter of Proisir, Dazzling Miss won three races under the care of Tony Pike, who also prepared promising four-year-old Hat Trick to a pair of recent victories for the Waikato farm, operated by the Smithies brothers. At the beginning of the 2023/34 season, the Smithies transferred their homebred Dazzling Miss to Rae, and the mare swiftly settled into the South Island environment, posting three wins from five starts, including a dead-heat with Jon Ol Rocco in the Timaru Heritage Cup (1600m). The mare struck valuable black-type with a narrow second in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge Weight-For-Age (1600m) last month, a result she replicated in a final lead-in to the Breeder’s over 1400m a fortnight ago. “She’s doing really well and working super, just a nice, happy horse,” Rae said. “We would’ve liked a bit of a shower, but she went a great race on a Good track there last start. “She’s looking good, especially at the set weights, that’s a big bonus for her, and the mile is right up her alley. It seems to be her pet distance.” Rae has an impressive strike-rate of 4.3 with leading Central Districts hoop Lisa Allpress, and the pair will combine in the Riccarton feature, where bookmakers have rated Dazzling Miss a $3.60 favourite. “Hopefully we can get a bit of good luck on Saturday, there’s a couple of nice mares in there with Ears Back and Miss Layla, they’ve got to be well respected,” Rae said. “She usually puts herself in a good position from the jump, so she’ll likely be in the first four and she’s got the draw to do that (8).” Rae intends to continue the mare’s preparation with the inaugural Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) on April 13, with a potential step-up to 2000m in the Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup a week later. “We’ll look at the Southern Alps Challenge for her after this, and see how she pulls up from there,” she said. “If she’s feeling well, we may look at the Canterbury Gold Cup as it’s another Group 3 for her, any further black-type is just going to enhance her value as a broodmare in the future. “She seems to settle really well, so I can’t see why it would hinder her going that further distance. After that, that’ll be her for the season.” Promising stayer Aristocrat has been another southern success for the Smithies, the four-year-old progressing from maidens to a smart Rating 75 victory over 2000m last start, a performance Rae hopes to repeat in the Cochranes Farm Machinery & Pat Reardon Family Rating 75 (2000m). “He seems very genuine, and he’s getting a lot more comfortable out on the track, he doesn’t sweat up so much. He’s a bit of a thinker, so his confidence is building at every start,” she said. “Being by Savabeel, the distance really suits, he loves getting out there and rolling around. He doesn’t necessarily have to be in front, but he does like to have a fairly handy position. “He’s done a great job this season, so consistent and he isn’t far off going for a spell, he’ll let us know if that’s after Saturday. “He’s another Monovale Holdings horse, and they’re having such a great run at the moment. It’s nice for Max and Joe, they’ve got a couple of really nice horses up in the North Island with Tony Pike and Ken & Bev Kelso (Scarlet Oak). “Dazzling Miss has been the first one I’ve trained for them, and then Aristocrat, so it’s great to have both performing well down here.” Rae’s home-track contingent is completed by three-year-old fillies Raptylight and Texas Dolly, who finished fourth and eighth in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui earlier this month. “Raptylight went a nice, honest race at Wingatui, she’s not really bred to get over ground, but she seems to settle well and finish off,” Rae said. “Texas Dolly just had a few issues in the Airfreight, getting her tongue over the bit and a few other things so she pulled up a bit stressed, but we think we’ve got that sorted now. “We’re hoping we’ll see a turnaround in form from her because she is quite smart. “All going well, they’ll both head to the fillies’ mile on the 13th of April (Listed NZB Insurance Stakes). Horse racing news View the full article

Rudyard will contest the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Saturday’s Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga marks the black-type debut for Rudyard, and the in-form four-year-old benefits from a 5kg drop in weights from his previous appearance. The son of Charm Spirit and Group 1-performed mare Lady Kipling began the season with two wins to his name from 12 starts. He had earned just over $36,000 in stakes at that stage, and his rating was 65. Rudyard has added another three wins and three placings to his record from eight starts since then, lifting his earnings to $263,225 and his rating to 85. Rudyard won a Rating 65 at Pukekohe in November and a Rating 75 at Ellerslie in the middle of January. He was then thrown in at the deep end in the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27, where he was a gallant third behind Group 1 stars Desert Lightning and Legarto. Trainer Tony Pike stepped Rudyard up to open class for another victory at Ellerslie on February 17, and then he finished fourth behind Adam I Am under a tough 60kg topweight at the same venue on March 9. “He was really a victim of the lack of depth in our open ranks at the moment, going all the way from 55.5kg to 60kg after just one win in an open handicap,” Pike said. “He goes back down to 55kg again this weekend. The spread in the weights means he’s still not all that well off under the set weights and penalties conditions of the race, but we’ll definitely take the five-kilo swing. “He’s racing in really good form this season, the best of his career so far. His best performances to date seem to have come at Ellerslie, but we’re very happy with him and we think he can be highly competitive on Saturday against what looks like quite an even field.” Rudyard will be ridden by Michael McNab and is rated a $6 equal favourite alongside Jaarffi in the Japan Trophy market. Pike has indicated that a return to Ellerslie for the Group 3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) on April 20 could be on Rudyard’s agenda later in the autumn. Pike has two other favourites for Saturday’s Tauranga meeting, with Hat Trick rated a $2.80 chance for the Peter Clarke Bayleys Residential (1400m) and Overdrawn at $3.50 for the J Swap Contractors (1200m). Hat Trick finished fifth in his only start last season, but has made a bold return as a four-year-old this summer with impressive victories at Pukekohe on February 21 and Ellerslie on March 9. “He’s obviously a smart horse in the making and has won his last couple in very good style,” Pike said. “Going up in grade is never easy, but if he’s able to go forward from his wide gate and get into a good position close to the speed, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him right in the finish again.” Overdrawn cleared maiden ranks at New Plymouth in early December and has placed in all of his three starts since. “He’s been running in some strong Rating 65 races on Group One racedays and has performed very well,” Pike said. “Dropping back from 1400m to 1200m is a bit of a query, and from a wide gate as well, but I can’t fault him at the moment and he deserves another winning turn.” Pike warmed up for the weekend with a bold maiden win by Investigate over 2000m at New Plymouth on Friday. That three-length victory came at the fifth time of asking for the Dundeel gelding, who had placed in all of his last three starts. That included a third at Matamata behind subsequent Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placegetter Qali Al Farrasha. “It may not have been an overly strong field today, but he’d been knocking on the door,” Pike said. “It was good to see him go out and score quite a comprehensive win. “He still has some maturing to do, so he’ll go to the paddock now and should come back as a nice staying prospect as a four-year-old.” Meanwhile, Pike reported that promising three-year-old Witz End has earned himself a shot at black-type level during the Sydney autumn carnival. The Savabeel gelding has had four starts for two wins and two seconds. He won both of his first two races, then finished second at Taupo and was runner-up behind Grail Seeker in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) on March 16. “We’ve been really happy with him since Trentham, and if that continues to be the case, we’ll look at taking him to Sydney for the Carbine Club Stakes (Group 3, 1600m) during The Championships at Randwick (on April 6),” Pike said. “He’s still got a bit to learn, and I think a trip away like that could be the making of him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Pulchritudinous winning the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham last Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Last Saturday’s Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) heroine Pulchritudinous could head to Sydney for the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick next month, it just may not be with current trainer Chad Ormsby. The Waikato-based horseman has fielded plenty of enquiries about the filly over the last week from prospective buyers throughout the world, and he is keen to strike a deal. The daughter of Wrote was purchased by Ormsby, under is Riverrock Farm banner, out of Milan Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $32,500 as a pinhook prospect for the Ready To Run Sale later that year, however, she failed to meet her $50,000 reserve. That initial disappointment has turned out to be one of the best things to happen in Ormsby’s training career, with the now three-year-old filly having won three of her seven starts, including the Oaks and the Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) a week prior, and nearly $390,000 in prizemoney. Now a strong prospect for the Australian Oaks ahead of a potential Cups campaign in the spring, Pulchritudinous has become a filly in demand. “She is really well, I am really happy with her. You wouldn’t know she has had a run, she could go again,” Ormsby said. “There are a couple of interested parties from overseas that are interested in buying her. We will see what we can come up with there first (before making any plans). “They are from all parts of the world at this stage – Australia, America and Japan. It is quite encouraging that a New Zealand Thoroughbred is on the map. “Outside Orchestral, she looks the standout (three-year-old filly), and they might even meet in the Australian Oaks. “A lot of them (prospective buyers) are looking longer term for a Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup sort of horse. That is the mould she fits, especially when she is running out 2400m pretty strongly. “We haven’t got too long before we need to make a decision on whether she goes to Sydney, but it is just a matter of the process that we have got to ride with at the moment.” Meanwhile, Ormsby said stablemate Master Fay has returned to his farm for a spell following his hit-and-run mission on the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington earlier this month where he finished 10th. “He has arrived home and is going to have a nice, decent break to letdown,” Ormsby said. “I didn’t make too much of it (Newmarket run) as things went wrong during the race. He over-raced a bit, lost both of his hind shoes, and he had to go from the outside back to the inside. You don’t need those issues when you are running down the (Flemington) straight against those horses.” After a three-year hiatus from racing, the former Hong Kong galloper burst onto the New Zealand scene in January when wining first-up at Tauranga before heading to Ellerslie later that month where he was eye-catching when taking out the Group 3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) by 1-/14 lengths, giving Ormsby the confidence to test his gelding’s talents against some of the best sprinters in the world. “He has only had the four starts and there is a lot ahead of him that we are looking forward to,” Ormsby said. “We will most likely see him back in Australia for his future racing.” Ormsby’s immediate attention is on racing at Tauranga on Saturday where he will line-up Toa Tuahine in the Craigs Investment Partners Maiden (1400m) and last start winner Outovstock in the Sharon Hall Bayleys Residential 2100. “Both horses are in-form,” he said. “The maidener (Toa Tuahine) is knocking on the door, she just seems to find one a little better in her last couple of starts. She is always consistent and she will run a good, solid race tomorrow. “Outovstock is hoping to get down to the Manawatu Classic (Group 3, 2000m) after this race. Tomorrow will be a nice trial for him, his first run over ground, but he is a horse that we have thought a lot of for a while.” Horse racing news View the full article

Golden Slipper Day is this Saturday, but before we get to the best edition of the race in years, we must go back and take a shot at the owners of Mr Brightside. Buckle up — this is bound to be a cracking edition of Punt Drunk. Mr Brightside owners drink their own bathwater OK, not all of Mr Brightside’s owners have lost the plot. But when news hit that a ‘vote’ was to be held over whether Craig Williams retains the ride following his second in the All-Star Mile, we could only laugh. Williams has partnered Mr Brightside to four Group 1 victories since the start of September 2023 and has finished no further back than second in four other races in that time. One of those runner-up efforts came in the Cox Plate behind Romantic Warrior, but it was his second-place finish in last weekend’s All-Star Mile that had some of his owner’s losing their minds. The discussion was over the ride, with Mr Brightside settling some 12 lengths off a breakneck speed before rattling home to finish behind Pride Of Jenni. All-Star Mile 2024 replay A vote between all the owners was held to decide who would partner Mr B in the Australian Cup (2000m), whether it be Williams or Hong Kong-based superstar Zac Purton. Thankfully, sanity prevailed, and Willow keeps the ride for the time being. Let’s hope they took a lesson from the Giga Kick debacle with Williams in the spring. One can only hope the veteran hoop boots Mr Brightside to victory in the Australian Cup on March 30, and knowing Willow, he will be as humble as ever. Concentration is key, Frosty! Fresh from booting home Farag as a winner at Sandown on Wednesday, Damian Lane was deadset yeeted from his saddle on the way back to the mounting yard. Whoops! @LaneDamian https://t.co/zelc6naDSt pic.twitter.com/4J0aJHilNS — Racing.com (@Racing) March 20, 2024 Thankfully for both horse and rider, it was as friendly a dismount as you could hope for. It just was a little reminder for Frosty to keep his mind on the job at all times. Live TV never fails to amaze We’ve all been there, especially after a few too many lemonades… Sound up Poor old @eaglepunt has whacked his bonce on the window pic.twitter.com/spGnXekclL — Racing.com (@Racing) March 20, 2024 SA’s own John Kelton managed to walk into a window at Murray Bridge on Wednesday. What a shame actual vision of the incident wasn’t recorded. Sad times. Is Golden Slipper Day 2024 the best day of racing? An argument can be made that Golden Slipper Day 2024 is the best day of this racing season so far. Five Group 1 races in Sydney, headlined by the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), will be accompanied by the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, with superstar Kiwi mare Imperatriz set to start as a long odds-on favourite. In Sydney, the Slipper is ably supported by the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m), The Galaxy (1100m), Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m). It may not eclipse The Championships in a fortnight, but Saturday’s racing is sure to produce plenty of jaw-dropping action. For what it’s worth, Switzerland is on top for us in the Slipper. About Punt Drunk Welcome to Punt Drunk – our weekly column covering all the latest horse racing and punting controversies, dramas and headline news. Have a story or gripe or issue that just grinds your gears? Just hit us up in the comments or contact us page and our jaded, punt hardened Punt Drunk staff will give it the Punt Drunk treatment it deserves. Don’t expect pleasantries or typical racing media fanboy gloss from Punt Drunk – we’re on the punt and we don’t have time to bullshit; the next is about to jump… If you have any stories that you want our Punt Drunk Team to cover or just want to say G’day send us a message on: Horse racing news View the full article

Chris Wells will cheer on the rising star despite parting ways with him for just A$10,000 (HK$51,000)View the full article

Rosehill Gardens gears up for a thrilling Slipper Day with five Group 1 races, including the prestigious $1 million The Galaxy (1100m). Group 1 winning three-year-old Ozzmosis returns as favourite in 2024 The Galaxy betting at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. Young gun Ozzmosis, trained by Bjorn Baker, leads the betting at $4.60 through Ladbrokes and is tipped to become the first three-year-old winner of the race since Russian Revolution in 2017. This Zoustar colt boasts a Black-Type win at Rosehill and recently upset the field in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington back in the spring last year. Ozzmosis will carry 53kg with Rachel King in the saddle. Aft Cabin, trained by James Cummings, sits as the second favourite at $5.50. Ridden by James McDonald, Aft Cabin seeks its first win since last year’s Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint. Cummings also enters Kallos ($71) and Zapateo ($34) in the race. Other contenders under double-figure odds include Joe Pride‘s Private Eye ($7.50), who has twice placed in The Everest. Despite carrying the top weight (58kg), Private Eye boasts a perfect record over the 1100m distance and is a serious threat. Rounding out the top contenders are first-up runners Uncommon James ($7.50), last year’s The Galaxy runner-up, and Annabel Neasham‘s Group 1 winning mare Sunshine In Paris ($8). The 2024 The Galaxy is scheduled for Race 9 at Rosehill on Saturday with a post time of 5:20 pm (AEDT). 2024 The Galaxy Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 405x132x26 PRIVATE EYE Joseph Pride Nash Rawiller 14 58kg 114 2 4624×28211 KING OF SPARTA Peter & Paul Snowden Blake Shinn 11 56.5kg 111 3 363x9054x5 MAZU Joseph Pride Jason Collett 15 55.5kg 4 x2128x323x UNCOMMON JAMES Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted Damian Lane 1 55.5kg 109 5 1x154149x3 AFT CABIN James Cummings James McDonald 8 55kg 108 6 57x1382x49 BUENOS NOCHES Matthew Smith Dylan Gibbons (a) 4 55kg 108 7 x1117x7x10 KALLOS James Cummings Tom Marquand 12 55kg 108 8 8x147x15x4 REMARQUE Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 6 54.5kg 107 9 44x1219x20 ASFOORA Henry Dwyer Tim Clark 17 54kg 110 10 11x4x108x1 PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE Grahame Begg Jordan Childs 10 54kg 110 11 13121x1x SUNSHINE IN PARIS Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 2 53.5kg 54kg 109 12 33x3506x32 ZAPATEO James Cummings Kerrin McEvoy 9 53kg 108 13 11x131x OZZMOSIS Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 13 53kg 105 14 0x8826x16x FRONT PAGE Matthew Dale Tyler Schiller 16 52.5kg 103 15e 8x27415x07 QUEEN OF THE BALL Michael Freedman Zac Lloyd (a) 3 51kg 97 16e 1x233x31x8 KING’S GAMBIT Peter & Paul Snowden Ms Jamie Kah 5 50kg 93 17e 0x1119x125 DERRY GROVE Matthew Dunn Zac Lloyd (a), (late alt) 7 51kg 92 18e 3x58126x65 QUICK TEMPO Mark Minervini Reece Jones 18 51kg 90 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Ozzmosis Targets 2024 The Galaxy Win as Three-Year-Old Contender appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Chris Waller‘s decision to pit VRC Derby champion Riff Rocket against his own age group in the Rosehill Guineas 2024 appears a shrewd move, as the colt emerges as the clear favourite for the Slipper Day feature. Riff Rocket is tipped to pick up a second Group 1 as favourite in Saturday’s 2024 Rosehill Guineas in Sydney. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. Initially a double acceptor for Saturday’s Rosehill card, Riff Rocket will skip the Ranvet Stakes in favour of the $1 million Rosehill Guineas (2000m). The American Pharoah gelding boasts an impressive record (5 wins from 9 starts) and arrives in peak fitness after two strong lead-up runs. Following a surprise victory in the Group 3 CS Hayes (1400m) first-up, Riff Rocket finished a credible third in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) last time out. Considering his 2500m Derby win at Flemington last year, connections anticipate further improvement at this distance. Jumping from barrier seven with Nash Rawiller in the saddle, Riff Rocket is fancied to return to the winner’s circle. Leading online bookmaker Ladbrokes has Riff Rocket installed as the $2.60 favourite, poised to deliver Waller his fourth Rosehill Guineas victory after D’Argento (2018), The Autumn Sun (2019), and Lindermann (2023). Three other runners join Riff Rocket under $10 in the market, with Tom Kitten ($3.40) the closest challenger. James Cummings‘ colt captured the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes over this distance last year but has yet to find winning form this preparation. However, a step up to 2000m with Hugh Bowman in the saddle could see him firing again. Ciaron Maher‘s King Colorado ($7.50) and the unbeaten Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Immediacy ($8.50) are the other notable contenders. King Colorado seeks his first win since the J.J. Atkins last year and will be looking to atone for a disappointing run in the Australian Guineas. Meanwhile, last start three-length Group 2 Autumn Classic winner Immediacy aims to maintain his undefeated record in a significant step up in class and distance. The 2024 Rosehill Guineas is scheduled for Race 6 at Rosehill on Saturday with a post time of 3:15 pm (AEDT). 2024 Rosehill Guineas Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 11x5158x22 MILITARIZE (NZ) Chris Waller James McDonald 7 56.5kg 110 2 7x12121x13 RIFF ROCKET Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 8 56.5kg 107 3 150x840x93 CAFE MILLENIUM John O’Shea Tom Marquand 6 56.5kg 100 4 x13321x654 TOM KITTEN James Cummings Hugh Bowman 2 56.5kg 100 5 1x9740x220 KING COLORADO Ciaron Maher Mark Zahra 3 56.5kg 96 6 6x41183x79 GANBARE Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 4 56.5kg 87 7 111 IMMEDIACY (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Luke Currie 12 56.5kg 84 8 35x9732x67 CAP FERRAT Chris Waller Ryan Moore 9 56.5kg 83 9 312x6x66 CEOLWULF (NZ) Joseph Pride Blake Shinn 11 56.5kg 82 10 7x4763x187 DUCASSE Michael Freedman Tyler Schiller 1 56.5kg 82 11 4130 COSMIC LAD Edward Cummings Chad Schofield 10 56.5kg 62 12 64104×7819 STEEL BLAZE Brett Lazzarini Reece Jones 5 56.5kg 61 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Riff Rocket Heads 2024 Rosehill Guineas Betting Markets appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Kerry Parker‘s Think It Over, fresh off his victory in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, leads the betting for the 2024 Ranvet Stakes on a smaller-than-anticipated field this Slipper Day. Think It Over looks a big hope in a small 2024 Ranvet Stakes field at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart. The Group 1 $1 million race (2000m) features just seven runners after trainer Chris Waller opted to scratch VRC Derby winner Riff Rocket, who will instead compete in the Rosehill Guineas. Think It Over now occupies the coveted barrier one with Nash Rawiller in the saddle and is the clear favourite at $2.70 through Ladbrokes. The eight-year-old So You Think gelding appears in peak form after a strong showing this preparation. He finished a close third in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) before his surprise upset win over Fangirl in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m). Stepping up to the 2000m distance shouldn’t be an issue for Think It Over, who boasts an impressive record at this distance. This includes a victory in the prestigious Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes back in 2022. Waller’s import, Via Sistina, emerges as the main challenger at $3. Ridden by James McDonald and drawn in the outside barrier, the Fastnet Rock mare will be making her Australian debut in the Ranvet Stakes. Despite her lack of experience racing Down Under, the bookmakers anticipate a strong showing based on her consistent record over the distance and her recent runner-up finish in the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2011m) at Royal Ascot last year. The market tightens further with two other runners under double-figure odds: Waller’s Buckaroo ($4.60) ridden by Ryan Moore and Anthony & Sam Freedman‘s Place Du Carrosel ($5.50) who is another international horse making his Australian debut. The 2024 Ranvet Stakes is scheduled for Race 5 at Rosehill on Saturday with a post time of 2:35 pm (AEDT). 2024 Ranvet Stakes Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 41x6316x31 THINK IT OVER Kerry Parker Nash Rawiller 2 59kg 120 2 92014101×3 MILITARY MISSION (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 6 59kg 108 3 x143x275x5 BUCKAROO (GB) Chris Waller Ryan Moore 3 59kg 107 4 5x454010x9 ZEYREK (FR) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Hugh Bowman 4 59kg 106 5 15232674×2 BOIS D’ARGENT (GB) Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 7 59kg 102 6 21x1132x2x VIA SISTINA (IRE) Chris Waller James McDonald 8 57kg 117 7 0x1x5x110x PLACE DU CARROUSEL (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Tommy Berry 5 57kg 110 8 7x12121x13 RIFF ROCKET Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 1 54.5kg 107 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Think It Over Poised for Group 1 Glory in Reduced Ranvet Stakes Field appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Rosehill Gardens gears up for a thrilling day of racing on Saturday, featuring five Group 1 contests, including the $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m). Think About It is one of the best in George Ryder Stakes 2024 betting at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart. A capacity field of 19 runners will line up for the prestigious weight-for-age feature. The star attraction is undoubtedly The Everest hero Think About It, trained by Joe Pride. However, despite his impressive record (11 wins from 14 starts), Think About It has drawn a wide barrier (17) and faces stiff competition. Ridden by Sam Clipperton, the So You Think gelding boasts earnings exceeding $12 million. While his longest win to date has been over 1400m, he remains the early favourite at $5 at Ladbrokes. He will be looking to bounce back from a runner-up finish to Lady Laguna in the Canterbury Stakes and will need to overcome the wide draw. Chris Waller‘s colt Militarize has emerged as a serious contender, sharing favoritism with Think About It at $5. With James McDonald in the saddle, the talented Dundeel colt is coming off a string of close finishes in Group 1 races. Dropping back to 1500m could suit him well, and a good barrier position (7) gives him an advantage. The race is wide open with several other runners boasting strong credentials. Veight ($9) and Encap ($9) are well-regarded three-year-olds with impressive recent form. The Annabel Neasham-trained four-year-old Overshare mare Lady Laguna ($10), who defeated Think About It last start, also presents a significant threat. See below for the complete 2024 George Ryder Stakes final field and barrier draw. 2024 George Ryder Stakes Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 x111x113x2 THINK ABOUT IT Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 17 59kg 115 2 42151120×0 CEPHEUS (GB) Matthew Dunn Adam Hyeronimus 14 59kg 109 3 2x1132x625 PERICLES James Cummings Hugh Bowman 15 59kg 109 4 131x9250x4 KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 19 59kg 108 5 x901393x78 GOLDEN MILE James Cummings Tommy Berry 5 59kg 107 6 22x0180x47 NAVAJO PEAK David Payne Kerrin McEvoy 10 59kg 105 7 924x1111x8 UNSPOKEN (IRE) Peter & Paul Snowden Tom Sherry 1 59kg 105 8 4x765824x7 BANDERSNATCH Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jordan Childs 11 59kg 103 9 0x99312186 LOCH EAGLE Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a) 9 59kg 103 10 12515x516x MIGHTY ULYSSES (GB) Annabel Neasham Tom Marquand 3 59kg 103 11 87x26x43x2 NEW ENERGY (IRE) Ciaron Maher Jason Collett 16 59kg 102 12 254x1564x2 AMENABLE Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Mark Zahra 4 59kg 99 13 3x429602x5 WILLIAMSBURG Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Joshua Parr 13 59kg 96 14 x031x5357x COSMIC VEGA (IRE) Ciaron Maher Ms Jamie Kah 18 59kg 95 15 123×211121 LADY LAGUNA Annabel Neasham Tyler Schiller 12 57kg 110 16 11x5158x22 MILITARIZE (NZ) Chris Waller James McDonald 7 56kg 110 17 4x1525x142 VEIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy Damian Lane 8 56kg 106 18 223125×325 ENCAP Gary Portelli Blake Shinn 2 56kg 95 19 2x11169x68 TIZ INVINCIBLE Ciaron Maher Zac Lloyd (a) 6 54kg 92 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Think About It Faces Stiff Competition in 2024 George Ryder Stakes Field appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) voted 6-0 on Thursday to approve a dates package for the back half of 2024 that will establish the current fairs-meet-only track at Pleasanton as the new crux of a Northern California circuit. The entire state has been trying to come to grips with the looming June 9 closure of Golden Gate Fields, the lone commercial track in the region, and the Mar. 21 vote by the CHRB was viewed as a NorCal racing lifeline by the estimated 250 supporters in attendance. Those very vocal and at times emotional NorCal racing advocates greatly outnumbered proponents of a plan that would have instead consolidated all commercial-track racing in the state in Southern California. The NorCal supporters consisted of horsemen who have called the circuit home for decades, plus a contingent of statewide breeding interests. Those individuals had the group backing of the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF), which will operate the expanded Oct. 16-Dec. 25 Pleasanton meet under the auspices of a new management entity called Golden State Racing. The California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT), whose board of directors had unanimously voted to back the initiative that also calls for three other fairs venues to pick up other dates that will be abandoned by Golden Gate's closure, was also behind the Pleasanton idea. 1/ST Racing and Gaming–which owns both the closing Golden Gate and the financially struggling Santa Anita Park–had teamed with Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) to try an convince the CHRB that its alternate plan would be in the best long-term interests of the state as a whole. That SoCal concept instead focused on redirecting simulcast revenue from the northern circuit to the southern tracks. It was further based on a premise that would have attempted to accommodate displaced Golden Gate outfits by creating more opportunities for lower-level horses to race at Los Alamitos Race Course, dropping the “claiming floors” at both Santa Anita and Del Mar, and establishing “relocation allowances” for stables that had to pack up and move while only short summer fairs meets were conducted in NorCal. In the middle were the CHRB commissioners, who repeatedly expressed frustrations during the Mar. 21 meeting that because the NorCal and SoCal factions couldn't cooperate to come up with a joint plan, they had been placed in the unenviable position of having to choose one option over the other while knowing that they'd be making some constituents unhappy no matter how they voted on the measure. Yet while the CHRB did ask pointed questions about CARF's plans for Pleasanton and how the new operation would be funded, commissioners saved their most barbed criticisms for 1/ST Racing's executive vice-chairman Craig Fravel, who only 48 hours before the meeting had penned an open letter that warned of potential consequences that might occur if the CHRB voted against the SoCal plan. In his Mar. 19 letter–which backers of the Pleasanton plan clearly took as an ultimatum–Fravel had written that “should the Board allocate dates in the north per the CARF proposal Santa Anita will immediately meet with the TOC to implement purse cuts for the balance of 2024.” Fravel also wrote that “Further planned investments in capital projects at Santa Anita will be reevaluated [and] further operation of Santa Anita and San Luis Rey [Downs] as training and stabling facilities may be in jeopardy.” In response, CHRB commissioner Damascus Castellanos openly called out 1/ST Racing during Thursday's meeting for being too coercively demanding and for making an already complicated situation more difficult. Castellanos said over the past two days since Fravel's letter was made public, the CHRB has been inundated with calls from concerned constituents. “I'm not upset because of the calls,” Castellanos told Fravel. “I'm upset because I don't do well with bullies. That's the problem. I'm upset that you [put this burden on] the CHRB. And that's not right. But, if that's the way you felt [you needed to] play the game, then that's what you're going to do…. You want to be the bully? You want to take your ball and run? Then that's up to you. I'm not advocating that. But what I'm saying is don't put that burden on us…. Everybody in this room has a responsibility to take care of themselves and each other. And I believe that that hasn't been done.” CHRB commissioner Wendy Mitchell told Fravel that she was bothered by 1/ST Racing announcing Golden Gate's closure, not working constructively with NorCal interests to present a workable alternative, then responding with threats of closure when 1/ST Racing didn't like the concept that CARF came up with. “That's not fair and that's not right,” Mitchell said. “And that's not a good business strategy…. You can't just throw out all these threats to us and say the industry is going to collapse in California [if you don't get your way].” Mitchell continued: “We're expected, as regulators, to pick sides. To pick north against south. To pick fairs, versus, you know, the Southern California tracks. I don't like the way this was handled. I don't appreciate it. I think we need to have a different attitude and strategy for how to save horse racing in the state of California versus what we have seen so far.” Fravel then attempted to explain what he meant in the letter using a more moderate tone while underscoring that 1/ST Racing's chairwoman and chief executive officer, Belinda Stronach, remains fully committed to making sure Santa Anita doesn't suffer the same sold-for-development fate as Golden Gate. Racing at Santa Anita | Benoit “The letter didn't say we're shutting down,” Fravel said. “The letter said we have to sit down and figure out what we're going to be able to invest with the prospect of continuing to lose money. I can say one thing: I was on the phone with Belinda yesterday. She does not want to close Santa Anita. We've had offers over and over again from people wanting to [buy it], but [upper management's response has consistently been] 'not for sale.' So the commitment is to continue racing. To make racing thrive at Santa Anita, and to try and reinvest our efforts in this product.” According to plans for the Pleasanton proposal submitted by CARF that were included in the CHRB meeting packet, “In order to provide for the additional horses expected to run at this meet, more than 300 portable stalls will be moved to [Pleasanton's] Alameda County Fairgrounds. No other improvements to the facilities are needed at this time. However, future investments could include additional permanent stalls, improvements to the grandstand and the installation of a turf course.” Larry Swartzlander, the executive director for CARF, later put an approximate $7-million projected price tag on the turf course, noting that it wouldn't be undertaken until at least year two of the Pleasanton phase-in. CARF's plan further called for other dates formerly run at Golden Gate to be reallocated this year between Sonoma County Fair (July 31-Aug. 20), Humboldt County Fair (Aug. 21-Sept. 17) and the Big Fresno Fair (Sept. 18-Oct. 15). CARF and Alameda County Fair have drafted a licensing agreement that will cover five years, the written materials stated. Back in January, the TOC had previously articulated in front of the CHRB that even though it was in support of any “feasible and viable” plan to keep year-round racing afloat in NorCal, a danger existed in the form of that move increasing economic pressures in the south that the TOC believes would erode the overall California product. On Thursday, Bill Nader, the TOC's president and chief executive officer, said that while agreement among its board members wasn't unanimous about not backing the Pleasanton plan, “in terms viability, there just wasn't enough assurance that this was a viable plan.” Nader said the TOC had difficulty with the extended Pleasanton meet using the higher California takeout structure that applies to fairs (instead of the lower commercial takeout scheme that Golden Gate would have been required to use), because, he explained, that form of bet pricing would be burdensome to horseplayers. Nader also said that he wasn't sure CARF's proposed daily purses (which are still a work in progress) reflected an accurate projection, because Pleasanton would basically have to match what the better-established, lower-takeout Golden Gate meet generated in betting handle to achieve it. The TOC, he said, has come up with slightly different and lower figures. Nader made it clear that he wasn't arguing which projection was right and which was wrong. But he did state concerns that within a few months, the CHRB will have to make decisions on 2025 dates allocations, and that even then, the Pleasanton meet won't yet be completed, so no one will have “the real truth” on whether the numbers make sense or not. “The TOC does represent the north. It does represent the south,” Nader said, which elicited catcalls and boos from many in attendance who have accused the TOC of not being representative of the NorCal interests. “What we want is just reliable, accurate information to understand what puts California in the best position going forward.” Nader continued: “No matter what we do, no matter what decisions are made, there's going to be some pain, and there's going to be some who are going to walk away disappointed. And unfortunately, that's inevitable. I don't care what decision is made–no matter what we do, it's going to have impact to the detriment of some. Frankly, I just think it's unavoidable.” Alan Balch, the executive director of the CTT, explained prior to the CHRB's vote why his organization backed the NorCal plan. “Our board, nine people south and north, are unanimous in supporting the effort to keep Northern California racing going,” Balch said. “We believe that racing is California is not going to survive in any meaningful, important way without California breeding, [and] we just need to have a chance to keep breeders interested and motivated to breed, and to provide hope for the future. “We can all disagree about the viability of any particular northern plan,” Balch said. “But with no plan and no racing in the north, there is very little incentive for California breeders to continue.” Balch said that his constituents have heard too much rhetoric from the TOC and 1/ST Racing along the lines of, “If this northern money doesn't come to the south, we'll have to cut purses in the south.” But, Balch postulated, “Do these people realize that if there is no Northern California racing, the Northern California purses will be cut to zero? Does that make sense? Not if we're all in the same state. We have to work together.” Prior to the CHRB's unanimous vote in favor of the NorCal plan, CHRB chairman Gregory Ferraro, DVM, pointed out that, “This is a serious fiduciary responsibility that the board is taking on here, [and] it's increasingly clear to me that if racing is going to survive in California at all, we can't make two circuits. We have to make one circuit [in which tracks] are not conflicting with each other, where you're benefitting each other.” CHRB vice-chair Oscar Gonzales added that even if the NorCal interests get what they want out of the vote, they, too, must realize that SoCal does need some form of cooperation and financial help. “I believe that this [vote] should be an opportunity to reset, [and] the start of mending fences,” Gonzales said. “And [then] let's get on with making California racing the best in the nation.” Castellanos concurred. “We need to work together. We need to figure out how to keep racing in California. Not just northern, not just southern–in California. Because if we keep on going at this rate, we're going to implode. There's no reason for us to cannibalize each other,” Castellanos said. The post CHRB Unanimously Approves Plan to Make Pleasanton New Center of NorCal Circuit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article