Wandering Eyes

Leading southern apprentice jockey and registered nurse Denby-Rose Tait fittingly celebrated International Nurses’ Day with a winning double at Ascot Park on Sunday. Originally hailing from Hawke’s Bay, Tait ventured to the Garden City to become a nurse, and soon found herself balancing a three-year degree with a jockey apprenticeship. “I am a fully registered nurse now, which is quite exciting, although I’m not practising at the moment,” Tait said. “When I graduated last year, I took a step back and decided I really wanted to give my all and commit to becoming the best jockey I can be.” She completed the early portion of her apprenticeship under Ross Beckett, and midway through the season she elected to change over to the stable of Terri Rae, based out of Riccarton Park. The move had Tait on the sidelines for eight weeks through February and March, after accumulating 16 winners in the first half of the season and topping the South Island-based apprentice ranks. The 23-year-old made the most of the time with a trip home, before commencing her term under Rae’s guidance. “Before I started with Terri, I took 10 days off and went home which was my longest stint away from work and Christchurch in four years. It was amazing to be around my family,” Tait said. “I want to be riding at my best and even though being a jockey can be all-consuming, I think it is really important to maintain that balance and just be a happy human.” Despite enjoying her time away from the saddle, Tait was counting down the days to her return, and soon picked up where she left off saluting at the Riccarton Synthetic meeting aboard Rae’s mare Morning Star. The momentum continued on Sunday at the Wairio Cup meeting, where she guided Sally McKay’s pair of Industrialist and La Opcion to victory in successive races in the two Rating 65 1400m contests. Tait had ridden McKay’s talented sprinter Henry Hubber to success earlier in the season and was thrilled to deliver a double for the local horsewoman. “I have had a bit to do with Sally’s team, she is a great person to deal with and it makes my job a lot easier when the horses are trained and prepared as well as Sally’s are,” Tait said. “It was a super effort by her and the horses. “I am so thankful to have so much support from owners and trainers after such a long stint on the sidelines as well.” Tait also paid significant credit to her new employer for the success. “Coming to Terri’s has reignited my passion not only for racing, but also being around the horses, so I’m loving it, and everything is going really well,” she said. “The way she runs her stable is immaculate and she’s an incredible horsewoman and trainer. “I’m really appreciative of the opportunities she has given me, as well as the feedback and constructive criticism on my race-day rides. It’s second to none, and I want to keep improving as much as I can with her guidance. “Hopefully moving into the later part of the season I can really emulate what she has taught me at the races.” Tait hopes to add to her tally at the Riccarton Park Synthetic meeting on Thursday, where she noted two of Russell McKay and Ashley Harrington’s runners to be strong contenders. “I have four rides for Riccarton at the moment, including little Maggie McMuffin who ran a really brave third at the last synthetic meeting in the 1400. She’ll be back in the 1200 which I think will suit her style of running,” she said. “Royce Roca is another of my rides, she’s a grand old campaigner who dug really deep and came back into form at my last start on her. “I have full faith that the McKay team will be ready to go, and hopefully they’ll both produce another brave run.” View the full article

It was a sentimental day at Arawa Park on Saturday for Cambridge trainer Lance Gussey after he recorded his first win as a trainer courtesy of Joshua Brown, a horse bred by his late father Ronald Gussey. The son of Dalghar was having just his second raceday outing, having finished fifth over 1230m at the Rotorua venue last month, before returning to post a head victory in the Peter Ludgate Memorial Race 1215 on Saturday. “We always knew that he had the speed, all we needed was to get him clear in the straight and he would do the rest. We were pretty confident and I was rapt with the win,” Gussey said. Racing was a massive part of Gussey’s father’s life, with Ronald having trained for more than three decades up until his passing two years ago, however, Gussey didn’t share his father’s passion for the sport. He still helped out at his father’s stable later in life, and upon his passing, Gussey decided to continue his father’s legacy by taking out his own trainer’s license and take over running his Cambridge barn. “I’ve never really been interested in horses or horse racing, but the reason I got involved was because my Dad knew what he was talking about and I want to finish what he started,” Gussey said. “I have always helped Dad out with the horses because he was the only one there and when he got old, and they (horses) got a bit stroppy, I had to try and lead them. “I was in the process of getting my license to help him just in the birdcage and things prior to him dying, but we didn’t end up getting there, so I thought I would finish it for him.” Joshua Brown is one of a handful of horses Gussey has continued to race and he said his father had a sentimental way of naming his horses. “Every horse he has left us is a special horse, they have all got the grandkids names,” Gussey said. “Joshua Brown is named after my sister’s boy over in Australia. We have also got Pepe Peperoni, who is named after my daughter. We had Superior Sam, who was named after my other daughter, and she has been sold to Australia. “We have got two with Alex Forbes over in Te Awamutu and we are doing two here. He has just broken-in another one for us, which we will be starting in the next couple of weeks. He has got some promising ones there including She’ll Be Right, who is Josh’s sister.” Pepe Peperoni will attempt to keep the party going when she heads to Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday where she will contest the Saddlery Warehouse 1300. “She has got a wide draw (16), but she is going to give it a crack, she is feeling pretty full of herself,” Gussey said. “She is more suited to the summer tracks, but we thought we would give her another run before we turn her out.” Gussey is also continuing his father’s breeding legacy, having welcomed a half-sister to Joshua Brown, Pepe Peperoni and She’ll Be Right, by Rich Hill Stud stallion Satono Aladdin. “We have got another foal that was born in September last year, who is by Satono Aladdin out of Midnight Mistress,” he said. “She looks amazing.” View the full article

A tilt at stakes level is in the offing for exciting juvenile Whiskey ‘N Roses following his debut runner-up performance behind Magice over 1200m at Matamata last Wednesday. The son of Belardo was green in the concluding stages of his debut outing and showed there is a heap of improvement to come, although that might not be seen until next season. The Listed Staphanos At Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe later this month is the only race on the radar for trainer Joanne Surgenor, who is loath to ask too much of her talented young gelding too early. “He is just developing all the time,” she said. “It (talent) is definitely there, it was just unfortunate that his first start had to be left-handed because there wasn’t anything else available. “There is that Listed mile but whether he gets a mile or not (I am not sure). There is no two-year-old 1400m going into the mile. It is a $100,000 race and there is no lead up into it. “He has pulled up really well and he ate up really well, so he might go to that mile, or we might put him in the paddock. I will work him a couple of days next week and see how he is and how we feel. If we aren’t happy, we will just put him in the paddock. “I think he is going to be a super three-year-old hence why I am in doubt as to whether we push the button too much at the moment or just pop him in the paddock.” Whiskey ‘N Roses was bred by Ashford Lodges’ Peter and Sherin Walker, who also had plenty of success with his close relation Showoroses, who Surgenor trained to win five of her 20 career starts, including the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile and Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and also placed in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), Cal Isuzu Stakes and Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. “It has been a great family for us, we have been very lucky with them,” Surgenor said. While Surgenor is weighing up the immediate racing future of Whiskey ‘N Roses, she is looking forward to heading to Te Rapa this coming Saturday to resume the racing career of Dior Sauvage. “He had a tie back operation and he trialled up really well at Pukekohe (last month when winning his 1100m heat),” Surgenor said. “He then got a bit of a throat infection, so we had to back off. We are looking forward to getting him to Te Rapa next Saturday. View the full article

Following a global search over the last 2 months, NZTR is yet to attract a suitable candidate to fill the role previously occupied by Neil Jennings as NZTR’s Senior Handicapper. As an interim measure, NZTR has appointed Bruce Sherwin on a fixed term 3-month contract to fill this vacancy effective today 13th May. Bruce’s skill set is highly suited to this role, given his extensive experience in relevant handicapping areas. He has overseen NZTR’s Handicapping Complaints process since 2013 and has been an integral member of the NZTR Handicapping Review Committee since 2014, assuming the chairmanship in 2022. In 2015, Bruce was appointed to the New Zealand Pattern Committee, and from 2022, he has served as New Zealand’s representative to the Asian Pattern Committee. The NZTR Board has granted Bruce a leave of absence from the Board to undertake the role of Handicapper. During the 3-month contract period, Bruce will not serve as a director on the NZTR Board. Any potential conflicts of interest have been identified and will be actively managed to uphold the highest standards of integrity. Bruce Sherwin has undertaken that no horse he has an interest in will race during the 3-month contract period as Senior Handicapper, in accordance with Rule 525(3) of the Rules of Racing. Additionally, Bruce will not wager or provide tips related to racing during this time, as mandated by the role. Finally, NZTR will continue to search globally for a suitable full-time candidate over the next 3 months. View the full article

Robert Dennis’ results since returning to Southland continue to far exceed his expectations. The Ascot Park trainer celebrated his 12th winner this season when Loftys Gift continued her purple patch of form with victory in Sunday’s Wairio Cup (2200m). Dennis originally began training out of Woodlands and subsequently had a spell with Andrew Forsman’s Cambridge stable before returning with his family to Southland toward the end of last year. “We had our first runner in January and initially I thought if we could get five wins then I would be happy,” he said. “We haven’t gone to many meetings of late without coming home with a winner so long may that last. “Everyone knows you need good horses and good staff to do well and at the moment we’ve got the recipe right, so things are going very well. “To be in this position is really good and it’s great to turn them around and get results with tried horses for connections.” Dennis has also worked hard to complement the older members of the stable with a base for ongoing success. “We’ve got a lot of young horses coming through as well, there’s about 10 yearlings and 10-odd two-year-olds on the books,” he said. His latest success story Loftys Gift finished fourth in her southern debut before reeling off a hat-trick of victories. “She is just full of confidence at the moment and we were really happy with her going into the race,” he said. “She had improved off her previous run and the only concern was the very heavy track. I know she had won on a Heavy 10 before, but it was really testing and she got through it well enough. “She won on a Good 4 at Wingatui quite impressively and showed a good turn of foot to do so, she’s very versatile and very tough and that opens up a few options going forward. “At the moment, the next race we’re looking at is an open 2200m at Wingatui on June 2 and we’ll see how she goes there before deciding what we do after that.” Loftys Gift is raced by the Matijasevich family under their Markwood Lodge banner with the Knot Enough Syndicate. Bred by the Anderton family, the Ghibellines mare won twice for Cambridge duo Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray before relocating south. “Jack Stewart at White Robe Lodge has a connection with Matijasevichs, and he suggested to them that Lofty would suit my stable,” Dennis said. “Jack has been a big help sourcing horses for the stable and I guess other owners up north have seen us produce results with tried horses, it generates a bit more interest. “We had an owners’ day at the races on Sunday and probably had about 50-odd people through the room and about 300 owners altogether across all the horses, so it was really good. “It’s snowballing through a combination of results with good horses, good owners and good staff.” View the full article

The Dennis family name is synonymous with Southland thoroughbred racing, and on Friday Christopher Dennis added to his family’s racing legacy when notching his first official training win at Riverton. While Dennis has had a lifelong involvement in racing, he didn’t take out his training license until four years ago, and had just 15 prior starts before The Kings Girl broke through for his first win in the Waiau Valley Shearing/Aparima Electrical Maiden (1400m). Dennis was pleased to get the result with the mare he bred, who is by The King, a stallion he stands for the family at his Woodlands property. “I was really rapt,” Dennis said. “She is a Dennis family bred horse, both sire and dam, and the syndicate is predominantly family members, with a few friends of the family involved. It was a major accomplishment.” Originally in the care of Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman, The Kings Girl returned to Dennis’ care last year and he has taken a patient approach with the homebred. “We sent her up to the Pitmans to get broken in as a three-year-old as she was still a bit immature as a two-year-old, the breed likes a bit of time,” Dennis said. “She had a couple of starts with them (Pitmans). She came home and we turned her out in the paddock and I thought I would give her a go. Last year I gave her a few starts but she caught a virus during winter and it took her a wee while to get over it. She showed promise and was unlucky a couple of times. “This year she has turned the corner and we have got a couple of placings and it finally culminated with the win on Friday. We are absolutely thrilled.” The son of Martin Dennis, one of the Dennis Brothers quartet, Christopher Dennis has always had a keen interest in racing and has helped his father and uncles out over the years before deciding to take out his own license out at the start of the decade. “You don’t have much choice (about racing) when you have the Dennis surname,” Dennis quipped. “I have been following Dad and my uncles around since I was big enough to lift a dung bucket to clean out boxes. “I am just very lucky that I have got four gentlemen with 60-odd years experience each to lean on. “It is my first win under my own name and I was glad to do it at Riverton racecourse, it was the same course my uncles, Ray and Tony, won their first races as well. There is a fair bit of family history there.” The Kings Girl became her sire’s third winner, and Dennis was delighted to record his first training victory with a mare sired by the homebred son of O’Reilly. “I stand The King for the family,” he said. “He hasn’t had any mares for the last two years, but Brian Anderton is a very staunch supporter and is going to be sending a mare out (this coming season).” Dennis is pleased to have etched his name alongside many of his family members as a winning trainer, and said the Dennis family name looks to be in good hands for the future, with a number of the next generation keen to get involved in the sport. “Some of my nephews and nieces are very keen, so the next generation is coming through as well, which was good to see,” he said. View the full article

The Kings Girl winning at Riverton last Friday. Photo: Monica Toretto The Dennis family name is synonymous with Southland thoroughbred racing, and on Friday Christopher Dennis added to his family’s racing legacy when notching his first official training win at Riverton. While Dennis has had a lifelong involvement in racing, he didn’t take out his training license until four years ago, and had just 15 prior starts before The Kings Girl broke through for his first win in the Waiau Valley Shearing/Aparima Electrical Maiden (1400m). Dennis was pleased to get the result with the mare he bred, who is by The King, a stallion he stands for the family at his Woodlands property. “I was really rapt,” Dennis said. “She is a Dennis family bred horse, both sire and dam, and the syndicate is predominantly family members, with a few friends of the family involved. It was a major accomplishment.” Originally in the care of Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman, The Kings Girl returned to Dennis’ care last year and he has taken a patient approach with the homebred. “We sent her up to the Pitmans to get broken in as a three-year-old as she was still a bit immature as a two-year-old, the breed likes a bit of time,” Dennis said. “She had a couple of starts with them (Pitmans). She came home and we turned her out in the paddock and I thought I would give her a go. Last year I gave her a few starts but she caught a virus during winter and it took her a wee while to get over it. She showed promise and was unlucky a couple of times. “This year she has turned the corner and we have got a couple of placings and it finally culminated with the win on Friday. We are absolutely thrilled.” The son of Martin Dennis, one of the Dennis Brothers quartet, Christopher Dennis has always had a keen interest in racing and has helped his father and uncles out over the years before deciding to take out his own license out at the start of the decade. “You don’t have much choice (about racing) when you have the Dennis surname,” Dennis quipped. “I have been following Dad and my uncles around since I was big enough to lift a dung bucket to clean out boxes. “I am just very lucky that I have got four gentlemen with 60-odd years experience each to lean on. “It is my first win under my own name and I was glad to do it at Riverton racecourse, it was the same course my uncles, Ray and Tony, won their first races as well. There is a fair bit of family history there.” The Kings Girl became her sire’s third winner, and Dennis was delighted to record his first training victory with a mare sired by the homebred son of O’Reilly. “I stand The King for the family,” he said. “He hasn’t had any mares for the last two years, but Brian Anderton is a very staunch supporter and is going to be sending a mare out (this coming season).” Dennis is pleased to have etched his name alongside many of his family members as a winning trainer, and said the Dennis family name looks to be in good hands for the future, with a number of the next generation keen to get involved in the sport. “Some of my nephews and nieces are very keen, so the next generation is coming through as well, which was good to see,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Italian jockey takes over from Harry Bentley on in-form galloper at the city circuitView the full article

What Hawkesbury Races Where Hawkesbury Race Club – 1 Racecourse Rd, Clarendon NSW 2756 When Tuesday, May 14, 2024 First Race 12:20pm AEST Visit Dabble NSW racing heads to the fringe of Greater Western Sydney as the Hawkesbury Race Club prepares to host a competitive eight-part program on Tuesday afternoon. The rail is out +2m between the 450m and 1100m markers, while it sits true for the remainder of the course. Despite a Heavy 10 rating at the time of acceptances, easing weather conditions should lead to an upgrade into the Soft range prior to the opening race at 12:20pm AEST. Best Bet at Hawkesbury: Until Valhalla The Ciaron Maher-trained Until Valhalla was well beaten by 5.3 lengths in her most recent start on the Kensington circuit at Randwick on April 25, proving no match for Redbreast despite holding ground on some key rivals. Expect the three-year-old filly to ping the lids under Dylan Gibbons this time, and with the drop into Class 1 company third-up looking ideal, watch for Until Valhalla to kick clear with the prize. Best Bet Race 6 – #1 Until Valhalla (5) 3yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Dylan Gibbons (59.5kg) +270 with PlayUp Next Best at Hawkesbury: Quintillion Quintillion was sensational returning from a 385-day spell at Newcastle on April 24, when he ran third after attempting to loop the field from last off a moderate tempo. Considering the lengthy break and unsuitable 1400m journey, it must be considered a pass mark for the Chris Waller-trained gelding. With an extra 100m to chase down his rivals, Quintillion can shirk the maiden tag at start seven. Next Best Race 3 – #6 Quintillion (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Lee Magorrian (59kg) +220 with Bet365 Best Value at Hawkesbury: Beluga Express Beluga Express represents terrific each-way value with online bookmakers as he heads into his first race for the Mick Attard barn. He managed one win for the Will, Ben & JD Hayes camp across five starts in Victoria, claiming his maiden at Ballarat on October 15, 2022. The colt hasn’t found any form since, but his two barrier trials leading into this suggest the change of scenery has been of major benefit. Best Value Race 5 – #3 Beluga Express (2) 3yo Colt | T: Mick Attard | J: Tom Sherry (58kg) +1900 with Neds Tuesday NSW quaddie tips – 14/5/2024 Hawkesbury quadrella selections Tuesday, May 14, 2024 3-4-5-6-11 1-3 8-10-12-16 1-2-4-5-9-10-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Casino Princess winning at Arawa Park on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A black-type assignment is looming on the horizon for Casino Princess after she capped a consistent form line with victory in Saturday’s Macmillan Accountants (1560m) at Rotorua. The five-year-old daughter of Casino Prince went into Saturday’s race as the winner of three of her nine career starts. She had placed in another four including all of her three previous appearances in her current preparation. Casino Princess resumed with a third behind Freeze Frame at Matamata in late February, then was runner-up at Tauranga to the subsequent Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m) placegetter Chatahoochee. In her last start at Te Rapa on April 14, Casino Princess had a tough three-wide run, and rider Tayla Mitchell dropped her whip, but she still finished a close second behind Zantabulous. Saturday’s $35,000 Rating 75 race marked a deserved breakthrough for Casino Princess. She jumped well from the inside gate and was given an economical run by jockey Michael McNab, settling in fourth behind Madame Le Fay, Extortion and Nigella Lane. McNab moved across heels coming up to the home turn and brought Casino Princess cruising up on the outside of Extortion at the top of the straight. McNab released the brakes and Casino Princess quickly opened up a clear lead. Resuming stayer Pacheco stormed home in the last 150m to provide a late scare, but Casino Princess was far enough in front and held on by a long head. “There was a good speed and I just sat behind that, then tracked up,” McNab said. “She got out at the right time and won well. “She’s in solid form. I’ve been annoying the connections for a little while to get on her, and I finally got on her today. I was a little bit surprised by how big she is, but she’s got a good winning attitude.” From 10 starts, Casino Princess has now recorded four wins, two seconds and two thirds. She has earned $64,610 for her Tauranga owner-trainer Cliff Goss and co-owner Darryl Heaphy. Goss has now set his sights on a home-track feature on June 22 – the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m). “I’m very pleased with that,” the remarkable 92-year-old trainer said. “When she galloped at home the other day, I thought she went good enough that day to win a Railway (Group 1, 1200m), and here we are at Rotorua in May. “There’s a fillies and mares’ race at Tauranga coming up next month, and that’s going to be her next target. She has to go up into open company now. You don’t know how they’ll cope with that until you try them, but I think she can take the step up into that level.” Horse racing news View the full article

Apprentice jockey Melvis Gonzalez notched his first winning ride May 12 at Gulfstream Park, guiding Awesome Wind to a front-running 1 3/4-length victory in a maiden claiming event carded as race 4.View the full article

Baker grew up in a racing family. His father, George, was a trainer in New York and gave Baker his start at the racetrack. In the 1970s, Baker eventually branched out from his father and went to work for trainer David Whiteley.View the full article

Lemon Muffin, who dazzled in winning the Honeybee Stakes (G3) Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park, will need to rediscover that day's winning formula. Since then, she's finished seventh in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) and eighth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

Despite falling off the lead by more than 10 lengths, jockey Flavien Prat settled the 3-year-old daughter of Kodiac (GB), moving her along the rail to save ground. View the full article

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan arrived at Pimlico Race Course just after 4 p.m. ET May 12 for a run in the May 18 $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) following a van ride from Churchill Downs.View the full article

Kathleen O. (Upstart) got back to the winner's circle for the first time in over two years as she won the Serena's Song S. over a wet track in the Monmouth feature on Sunday. With a solid start to her racing career as a late juvenile and into her 3-year-old season, the Shug McGaughey trainee rattled off four straight wins in a row, which included victories in the GII Davona Dale S. and GII Gulfstream Park Oaks in Hallandale that spring. The dark bay turned in a respectable fifth in the Kentucky Oaks to Secret Oath and Nest, but she did not return to action until November when she was the runner-up in the GIII Comely S. at the Big A. Her 4-year-old campaign through this past spring included five starts, but no wins, as the mare was last seen running a well-beaten sixth against optional claimers at Gulfstream Park in mid-March. Given a break for nearly two months, she shipped to Oceanport where she was tabbed as a 9-1 shot here. Kathleen O. brought up the rear heading into the first turn, but she looked to be engaged up the backstretch. With still a good bit to do around the far turn, the 5-year-old tipped to the extreme outside by the top of the lane and was set down for the final drive. At the eighth pole, Occult (Into Mischief) cut off the rail-skimming Venti Valentine (Firing Line), but she was unable to stop the momentum of Kathleen O., who secured the win in the final jumps. After a claim of foul, the stewards placed Venti Valentine second and moved Occult to third. “I think the two turns helped, said the Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. “I took her to Kentucky to get her out of Florida and let her eat grass and get some cool weather instead of the hot Florida weather and I think she did good there. She had a really good work at Keeneland on the Saturday before she shipped up there and she shipped good. “She's always in the back when she races. She breaks okay but she doesn't break running. I'd like to see her get to where she breaks running and goes from there. We may try to stretch her out even more and see where it takes us. Yes, the (GIII) Molly Pitcher (July 20) is a possibility.” The winner's dam is responsible for 2-year-old filly Jacquelyn Eau (Tapwrit) and a yearling filly by Upstart. Kathleen O.'s extended female family includes GISW and sire Cupid (Tapit), plus 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole). SERENA'S SONG S., $98,000, Monmouth, 5-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m 70y, 1:44.50, sy. 1–KATHLEEN O., 118, m, 5, Upstart–Quaver (SP), by Blame. ($8,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Winngate Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD & Bridlewood Farm, LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Vincent Cheminaud. $60,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 12-5-3-0, $570,635. 2–Venti Valentine, 118, m, 5, Firing Line–Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro. O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge R. Abreu. $20,000. 3–Occult, 118, f, 4, Into Mischief–Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker. ($625,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $10,000. Margins: 3/4, 1, 3/4. Odds: 9.00, 6.00, 0.20. Also Ran: Frosty O Toole, Traverse. Scratched: Beach Daze, Cheetara (Chi), Sunset Louise. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #3 KATHLEEN O. ($20) goes from last to first in an action packed stretch run at Monmouth Park to win the $100,000 Serena's Song Stakes. The daughter of Upstart was ridden by Vincent Cheminaud and is trained by Shug McGaughey. The #7 Occult was DQ'd from second to third. pic.twitter.com/xkKXqEvEWZ — FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) May 12, 2024 The post MGSW Kathleen O. Returns To The Winner’s Circle In The Serena’s Song At Monmouth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just five months after bringing 700,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) impressed in her North American debut with a last-to-first win in the GIII Soaring Softly S. at Belmont's The Big A meet Sunday. As a juvenile in her native Ireland, she won two of her three races including a listed stake before heading to auction where Woodford Thoroughbreds stuck the winning bid and imported the filly to race out of the William Walden barn. The tepid 3-1 favorite had her backers watching on nervously as the filly jumped straight in the air as the gates opened and spotted the field several lengths. Trailing her nine rivals up the backstretch as a pair of longshots battled up front, Pipsy regained contact with the back of the group as the opening quarter passed in :22.42. Pushed along around the turn, the favorite had still just one horse beat as the lead pack bunched up past the quarter pole. Confidently handled by Flavien Prat, Pipsy swung out past the furlong marker and engulfed the field from the center of the track, driving to the line a clear winner even as Kairyu (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}) chased her home. “The horses were acting up around her and she got very anxious in the gate and broke in the air,” said Prat. “So, we went to Plan B. I gave her a chance to see if she would get underneath me and she sure did. When I tipped her out, she made a great move.” From last to first, PIPSY, gets the win in the Grade 3 Soaring Softly under Flavien Prat for Trainer William Walden in her US debut! pic.twitter.com/vzFnryKktH — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) May 12, 2024 Pedigree Note: One of 97 stakes winners for Kodiac, Pipsy sold for 700,000 gns as a 2-year-old before her U.S. debut after previously RNA'ing for 45,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls October in 2022 and bringing €60,000 as a foal at Goff's November Foal Sale in 2021. The first winner out of a half-sister to GSW/MG1SP Ziyad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), this is also the family of MG1SW Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill) and MGISW Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill). Experte's youngest foal is a yearling colt by Ghaiyyath (Ire) and she was not reported bred for this year. Sunday, Belmont The Big A SOARING SOFTLY S.-GIII, $175,000, Belmont The Big A, 5-12, 3yo, f, 6fT, 1:09.41, gd. 1–PIPSY (IRE), 120, f, 3, by Kodiac (GB) 1st Dam: Experte (Fr), by High Chaparral (Ire) 2nd Dam: Arme Ancienne (GB), by Sillery 3rd Dam: Agathe, by Manila 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (€60,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 45,000gns RNA Ylg '22 TATOCT; 700,000gns 2yo '23 TATMA). O-Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Noel Finegan (IRE); T-William Walden; J-Flavien Prat. $96,250. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 4-3-1-0, $141,684. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Kairyu (Ire), 123, f, 3, Kuroshio (Aus)–Vegatina (GB), by Lope de Vega (Ire). (€80,000 2yo '23 TATGOR). O-Schwartz, Martin S. and O'Callaghan, Michael; B-Mr P. Turley (IRE); T-Cherie DeVaux. $35,000. 3–Amidst Waves, 120, f, 3, Midshipman–Troublesome, by Into Mischief. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($100,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Big Tufff Stables, Blackridge Stables LLC, Black Type Thoroughbreds, R.A. Hill Stable and Swinkbank Stables; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC & Ballyfair Bloodstock (KY); T-George Weaver. $21,000. Margins: HF, 3/4, NO. Odds: 3.35, 8.10, 3.85. Also Ran: Independenceavenue, Kodiac Wintergreen (Ire), Marco T., Golden Ghost (GB), Caress, Artemis Sound, Tiger Belle (Ire). Scratched: Baraye, Buttercream Babe, El Terreno, Value Area. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Pipsy Impressive In Last-To-First Soaring Softly Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Benedetta brought up a treble of doubles as she atoned for a run of top-tier frustration by becoming the first mare in 11 years to win Adelaide's marquee sprint, The Goodwood (G1T) at Morphettville May 11.View the full article

Rouhiya's unexpected victory May 12 in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) provided a perfect illustration of the Aga Khan's maxim that racing and breeding racehorses is a game of chess with nature.View the full article

GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents), who was confirmed for the GI Preakness S. Saturday by trainer Kenny McPeek, traveled Sunday to Pimlico Race Course and arrived shortly after 4 p.m. accompanied by McPeek's assistant trainer Ray Bryner. “No muss, no fuss,” said Bryner. “He's a really easy horse to be around, not complicated.” Bryner indicated that the colt's plans for the week included a Monday gallop over the Pimlico surface following the 8:30 a.m. renovation break. Set to join Mystik Dan in Baltimore is the Chad Brown-trained Tuscan Gold (Medaglia d'Oro) who will try to award his trainer a third Preakness after Brown won in 2017 with Cloud Computing and in 2022 with Early Voting. Shipping from California Tuesday will be the Bob Baffert pair of Muth (Good Magic) and Imagination (Into Mischief), who will leave their Santa Anita base early Tuesday morning and arrive at Pimlico Tuesday afternoon. “They are both doing well,” said Baffert. “I liked the way they breezed; they were a good team. I am happy the way they are coming into this.” The post Mystik Dan Settles In At Pimlico; Contenders Begin To Arrive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Metropolitan caused another Classic shock at Longchamp when narrowly denying the fast-finishing Dancing Gemini in the French Two Thousand Guineas May 12.View the full article

GIII Honeybee S. winner Lemon Muffin (Collected), eighth behind Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in last week's GI Kentucky Oaks, will contest the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. Friday at Pimlico Race Course. The field of eight, which was drawn Sunday, also includes Jeanne Marie (Speightster), Ringy Dingy (Dialed In), Call Another Play (Audible), Gun Song (Gun Song), Whocouldaskformo (Uncle Mo), Corposo (Vino Rosso) and Recharge (Gun Runner). “She has her days when she's up and down and everything,” said trainer D. Wayne Lukas of Lemon Muffin. “On her best day, she's a very, very nice filly. But she doesn't always show up every time, so we're hoping that we get one of those days when she does.” Call Another Play earned her way into the Black-Eyed Susan with a win in Laurel's Weber City Miss S. April 20, her third consecutive win for trainer Mike Trombetta. “She just finally caught some continuity and she's figuring things out in these two-turn races,” said Trombetta. “She's been able to handle it. She's going to have to step up her game, it's just a matter of how much.” The Black-Eyed Susan is one of three graded-stakes races on the card Friday at Pimlico to open Preakness weekend. First post Friday is at 11:30 a.m. with the Black-Eyed Susan going off at 5:44 p.m. The post Lemon Muffin Wheels Back For 100th Running Of The Black-Eyed Susan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rouhiya's unexpected victory May 12 in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) provided a perfect illustration of the Aga Khan's maxim that racing and breeding racehorses is a game of chess with nature.View the full article

In a wild upset of the G1 Victoria Mile on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, Ten Happy Rose (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) rocketed home late to secure her first win at the highest level and an automatic berth into the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at eye-popping 208-1 odds. Having finished sixth in her most recent appearance on track in the G2 Sankei Sports Hai Hanshin Himba S. Apr. 6 and seventh before that Feb. 17 when trying the G3 Kyoto Himba S., her last time in the winner's enclosure was August 2023, when she won the Listed Toki S., and before that in May 2022 in the Freeway S. In no hurry after the jump, the chestnut watched the race unfold early from the back flight with only three others behind her as Conch Shell (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and Feel Sympathy (Jpn) (Behkabad {Fr}) stepped out to set the fractions. Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {Jpn}) broke particularly poorly, along with a rival to her outside, and the 5-2 second choice found herself trailing the field. The positions remained largely unchanged through the first 600 metres but the shuffle started in earnest entering the final bend as Ten Happy Rose inched forward from the grandstand side. Entering the final 600, the eventual winner still had at least seven rivals to catch, and was unwittingly aided when 2-1 favourite Masked Diva (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) hit traffic as her path between runners closed on her in the stretch. While that one shifted in to try and recover the lost ground, Ten Happy Rose had stormed to the front in the final 200 metres and comfortably held off Fierce Pride (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the troubled betting choice by 1 1/4 lengths. “The race development, from the start up until the final corner, exceeded my imagination and it was just a matter of how much the mare could extend her strides from there,” said winning rider Tsumura. “When we were actually leading in the last 200 meters, it was almost unbelievable. I am grateful for the fans that have been rooting for me and I hope this is just the start of more victories like this.” The most recent addition to a storied list of Victoria Mile winners–including names such as two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Vodka (Jpn), 2010 Horse of the Year Buena Vista (Jpn), and two-time Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn)–Ten Happy Rose, along with the other top three finishers, has also earned an automatic starting position in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp as well as the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. Check out that final stretch! Ten Happy Rose captures the #WinAndYoureIn Victoria Mile and punches her ticket to the #BreedersCup at @DelMarRacing! Congrats to all of the connections! pic.twitter.com/PcoqxMkBeK — Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) May 12, 2024 Pedigree Notes: Ten Happy Rose is the most accomplished runner for her dam Fatal Rose (Jpn) (Tanino Gimlet {Jpn}), who was an honest racehorse in her own right having hit the board 13 times in her career with several of those coming in unlisted Japanese stakes races on local circuits. Ten Happy Rose's last registered sibling is unplaced 3-year-old full-sister Fatal Tour (Jpn). The pedigree is quite calm beneath the second dam, but shines when reaching the third, by name Oenothera (Ire) (Night Shift). A Group-placed runner in Germany, she claims U.S. champion grass horse, GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Northern Spur (Ire) as a half-brother and herself produced noteworthy runners or the dams of them, including the likes of multiple Group 1-placed Sundrop (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), the bridesmaid in the English 1000 Guineas and Fillies' Mile. That daughter further advanced Oenothera's legacy when she became the mother of Listed winners Storm Damage (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}); Nature's Colors (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), that one's full-sibling Whitman (GB); and was the granddam of stakes-winning Quiet Times (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}). In addition to Breeders' Cup champion Northern Spur, this is also the female family of multiple Group winner Great Marquess (GB) and G1 Irish Derby runner-up, Glyndebourne (Ire). Saturday, Tokyo, Japan VICTORIA MILE-G1, ¥252,500,000, Tokyo, 5-12, 4yo/up, f, 1600mT, 1:31.80, fm. 1–TEN HAPPY ROSE (JPN), 123, m, 6, by Epiphaneia (Jpn) 1st Dam: Fatal Rose (Jpn), by Tanino Gimlet (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Primrose Eve (Jpn), by Sunday Silence 3rd Dam: Oenothera (Ire), by Night Shift 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Yasushi Tenpaku; B-Shadai Farm; T-Daisuke Takayanagi; J-Akihide Tsumura; ¥133,150,000. Lifetime Record: 24-6-5-2, ¥268,853,001. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Fierce Pride (Jpn), 123, m, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Strawberry Fair (GB), by Kingmambo.1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Godolphin; B-Darley Japan Farm; ¥52,900,000. 3–Masked Diva (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Rulership (Jpn)–Mask Off (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn) O-Shadai Race Horse; B- Shadai Farm; ¥33,450,000. Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NK; Odds: 207.60, 11.50, 1.30. Also ran: Doe Eyes (Jpn), Rouge Lignage (Jpn), Umbrail (Jpn), Moryana (Jpn), Namur (Jpn), Stunning Rose (Jpn), Sound Vivace (Jpn), Kita Wing (Jpn), Feel Sympathy (Jpn), Conch Shell (Jpn), Lilac (Jpn), Harper (Jpn).Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Ten Happy Rose Springs Upset in Victoria, Secures Berth to Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

3rd-Woodbine, C$77,409, Msw, 5-12, 2yo, 4 1/2f (AWT), :52.57, ft, head. SOL DE VERANO (c, 2, Thousand Words–Thank You Note, by Uncle Mo) made his first start as a 6-1 shot here. The dark bay bounced out of the inside gate and immediately hugged the fence. Flashing some strong foot, the colt took the lead up the backstretch, but he felt the pressure as the rest of the field bore down on him. Bottled up just behind the leader entering the lane, Admiral Nelson (Lord Nelson) looked for running room, but the pacemaker was in control with a sixteenth left found the wire by a head. The winner's dam foaled a colt by Midshipman last year. Sol de Verano is the second winner for his first-crop sire (by Pioneerof the Nile). Sales History: $12,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,508. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Alberto Campos-Cota, Joseph Freeman and Nathan Squires; B-Cambrey Farm LLC & Jason Hewitt (KY); T-Nathan Squires. The post Sol De Verano Spells Second Winner For Sire Thousand Words At Woodbine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article