Wandering Eyes

Mick Price, Michael Kent Jnr and the Roll The Dice Racing team are daring to dream with Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit), who will this Saturday look to cap an ascension into Australian racing’s elite. Just four weeks after being beaten in an 1800m handicap on AFL Grand Final Day, the Kiwi-bred gelding will look to upstage some of Australia’s biggest names in the A$6 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley. The son of Charm Spirit defeated Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) and Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock), who will again be rivals this weekend, in the Gr.1 The Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11, which prompted Globe’s connections to pay a $200,000 late-entry fee. The seven-year-old looks the solo leader in the 2040m event and some likely early pressure in the race was subtracted with the Racing Victoria stewards-enforced scratching of then-favourite Sir Delius (Frankel) and Price said Globe deserved his opportunity. “The horse goes into the race at his top and he’s going to have a go, isn’t he?,” Price said. “I’m not saying he can play with the big boys if they’re on their game, but the favourite’s come out, he will be the leader and the race will be put on for everything to sit off him and if they’re good enough, they win.” Globe will be a part of what is likely to be a field of nine for the Cox Plate. Defending champion Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) is now favourite from Antino (NZ) (Redwood) with Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) and The Might And Power runner-up Treasurethe Moment the others shorter in betting than Globe. The X-factor could be Caulfield Guineas hard-luck story Observer (Ghaiyyath) with Godolphin weighing up whether to pay the $100,000 three-year-old late-entry fee or use the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) against his own age as a lead-up to the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m). Observer has also been entered for the $2 million Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney. Price, who is chasing his maiden Cox Plate success, just wants to see Globe hold his form from The Might And Power. “I wouldn’t say he’s come on and I haven’t asked him to come on as such, because he’s had some hard racing,” Price said. “He was first up at 1500 (metres) at Moonee Valley, was then 1700 and he’s had some hard racing. “I’m just trying to keep him where he was for us that day. He’s in good order.” Blake Shinn was aboard Globe for The Might And Power, but will ride Antino in the Cox Plate, paving the way for Ben Melham to take the ride this weekend. View the full article

After the relief of watching My Wish romp home in the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) on Sunday, Mark Newnham is hoping to continue his momentum to Happy Valley on Wednesday and extend his trainers’ premiership lead. The 57-year-old is two clear of Caspar Fownes after a double at Sha Tin, headlined by his rising star My Wish flexing his Group One Hong Kong Mile credentials. The Group Two Jockey Club Mile in November now awaits his five-year-old and although happy to see his flag bearer win,...View the full article

The first horse Jonathan Riddell rode at the races was a winner and nearly two decades later he recorded his 1,000th victory in the saddle in New Zealand. Riddell had been closing in on the milestone through last season and sat on 999 on the morning of Waverley’s Sunday meeting, with his first ride Perfect Pete proving to be the only one he needed to tick that elusive box. It was a mix of joy and relief for Riddell, also known as ‘Scrapper’, when he crossed the line, having battled with weight issues right through his career. “It was a bit of a relief really, I never thought I would get to the 1,000 and then when it was getting close, it was getting a bit frustrating to say the least,” he said. “It’s good to have that box ticked. “She’s been a bit of a grind along the way and it’s been a milestone I’ve been quite passionate to get. For a rider of my weight to do this, I do give myself a little bit of a pat on the back. “I don’t check my weight before I go to the races, which sounds a bit unprofessional, but you know your body and know where you’re at when you’ve done it for so long. It’s always touch and go, I live on the knife edge of making weight or not. “It’s a job so the money (is motivation), but when you get a bit of success you keep wanting more – I’m pretty stubborn too. “It’s a good game, but it’s a tough game.” Having done it tough for so long, retirement had crept into Riddell’s mind just over a year ago when heading on holiday with his partner and Group One-winning trainer Lisa Latta. “Lisa and I went on a holiday to the UK last year and I was unsure if I’d come back from that because I knew I’d get fat over there enjoying myself,” he said. “I got back and had a few mates that were pushing me along to get the 1,000, so I just pinned my ears back. We didn’t go on holiday this winter, I said to her that being only 10 (wins) away, it would’ve been too tough to come back. “We stuck it out in the Manawatu winter so it’s great to get there.” Getting to 1,000 was no easy task, but Riddell got off to best possible start when winning his first ride as an apprentice at Tauherenikau in 1996. He couldn’t recall too much about the ride, but credited the win almost entirely to his employer, hall of fame trainer Murray Baker. “I was apprenticed to Murray and to be honest, I had no idea what I was doing,” he said. “I think he must’ve had a good dollar on it and pretty much set it up for me. I can remember the car ride there, he was pretty confident. “It was a great training effort.” Riddell had good success riding as an apprentice, but after finishing his time with Baker, he found himself riding over jumps in the early 2000’s. He rose swiftly to become one of the best in the land and further afield, winning three Great Northern Hurdles, two Grand National Hurdles and three editions of the Grand National Steeplechase. A number of those victories came aboard Paul Nelson’s horses, winning seven races apiece on No Hero and Just Not Cricket, as well as the Crisp Steeplechase at Flemington with Chibuli. “It (jumps riding) came about after I left Murray’s,” Riddell said. “Cheryl Douglas (now McGlade) grabbed me to help out and she steered me in the direction of riding jumpers, so I got good grounding from her. “That was basically my life for a few years. Paul came along, and we know how he can train a horse, and I was lucky enough to sit on some of his good ones. “It was a good time of my life, I got to see the world riding jumpers. I couldn’t put it down to one horse, I got to ride quite a few good ones and riding them in the big races is a real thrill.” Riddell had continued to ride on the flat and won his first Group One in the 2009 aboard Eileen Dubh in the Levin Classic (1600m). During that same year, a very special galloper came on his radar, which was a key factor in giving up the jumps. “I was doing both at the same time for a while, but it was just getting too tough trying to lose weight then being strong enough to ride the jumpers,” he said. “I did have a bad crash which didn’t rock me exactly, but possibly put a couple of doubts in my mind about it. “At that stage, Jimmy had come around, so it was too much of a risk riding jumpers to lose the ride on a horse like him.” That horse was Jimmy Choux, a once-in-a-lifetime talent that won 10 stakes races with Riddell on board, including the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Spring Classic (2040m). The pair finished second to Pinker Pinker in the 2011 Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) and competed in Hong Kong, memories that remain dear to Riddell. “He was such a nice horse, uncomplicated, everything about him was just easy,” he said. “He had a great big heart, a will to win and would be one of the quietest horses I’ve ridden. “I had an association with John (Bary, trainer) right from when he started training, I was actually at the jump-outs at Waipuk and he was in the same heat and I remembered how he went, so I must’ve chased him up and was lucky enough to get the spin on him. “Riding him in a race was easy, I could be where I wanted to be, there was no drama and he didn’t pull. The only times I didn’t ride him was when I was suspended, his first win when Lofty (Paul Taylor) rode him, then Michael Walker rode him in the Sires’ Produce. “It was a good field that that day in the Rosehill Guineas and he just smashed them. It was pretty cool. He’s one of those ones that only comes along every now and then.” Riddell said he had a real soft spot for another Bary-trained gelding in Callsign Mav, who he guided to three Group One victories during the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival. Always hungry for the next big success, Riddell was thrilled to add another to his record last month in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Te Rapa on Magic Carpet. “That gave me a real good kick, I’ve known Stephen (Marsh, trainer) since I started riding and it was a bit of a surprise to me because I’ve never ridden the horse, maybe not so much for them,” he said. “I hadn’t been featuring in big races for a while, so it was really good.” That victory took his black-type total to 67, with 14 Group Ones, 10 Group Twos, 19 Group Threes and 24 at Listed level. Of his overall total of 1,013 wins, 10 of his came on Australian soil, alongside two in Japan. Loyalty has been an integral part of Riddell’s success and something he is proud of, having ridden from the early days for many of the same trainers as he rides for in the present time. “The numbers speak for themselves, I’ve had a great association with John, Paul, Allan Sharrock, and Lisa, she has been a supporter of mine forever as well as her owners,” he said. “It’s nice to have that loyalty and the good thing about it is I’m still riding for those people now.” A new chapter started for the 47-year-old when his daughter Amber joined him in the professional ranks last term, admitting it was an adjustment riding alongside her initially. “To start with I was hopeless, I was literally watching her in the races as any father would,” he said. “Now, I think it’s one of those things that you do often enough that it becomes natural. “I don’t worry about her out there now, she’s just another competitor and she’s going better than me so it’s good to knock one over her.” Also based in the Central Districts, Amber rode 53 winners in her first season and Riddell couldn’t have been prouder. “That would be an understatement,” he said. “She’s going so well, she’s determined and she works really hard. I’m so proud of her. “It’s a special thing to do, to compete and fight against your daughter in the sport we do. She’s got it all ahead of her.” View the full article

Sharp ‘N’ Smart will be lining up on Melbourne Cup Day, it just won’t be at Flemington. The former New Zealand Horse of the Year was guaranteed a start in next month’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), being 23rd in order of entry, but his connections have decided to bypass the $10 million feature despite his pleasing third place finish in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie. After a meeting with his owners on Monday, trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson have decided to keep the multiple Group One winner at home and target the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on the first Tuesday in November instead. “Two miles might be just too soon,” Graeme Rogerson said. “After talking with all the owners today, he is running at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup Day and then we are going to make up our minds on what we do with him then. “Hopefully he has a good summer campaign, and we will be looking at Sydney at some stage.” While Rogerson has decided against heading to Melbourne, he was buoyed by the way his gelding performed on Saturday where he showed glimpses of his former Group One-winning self. “He is on the way back,” Rogerson said. “He is a little bit like his old self. He got a little bit out of his ground when that horse (El Vencedor) took off, but he certainly made up a lot of ground. “The track was beautiful. He is not hopeless in the wet, but he is a better dry track horse.” Rogerson now has his eye on some autumn targets with his six-year-old gelding, particularly on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 7, with the Hamilton horseman considering both the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). “He doesn’t have to improve a lot for the Bonecrusher,” he said. “I don’t know what weight he would get in the Auckland Cup, but we will just wait and see.” Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s withdrawal leaves only two remaining New Zealand-trained contenders for the Melbourne Cup, with the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Mark Twain and Raymond Connors-trained Trav still in the hunt to gain a place in the 24-horse field. Meanwhile, Rogerson was happy enough with stablemate Solidify’s seventh placing in the Livamol on Saturday. “He looked good,” Rogerson said. “He will either run at Tauranga or Tauherenikau.” View the full article

Andrew Forsman joined an exclusive club at Matamata last Friday when Berry Brown recorded his 1,000th New Zealand training success when victorious in the GCM Feeds 1600. The Cambridge horseman was proud to reach the milestone and said it was fitting it was achieved with a horse carrying the familiar green silks of long-time stable supporters Jomara Bloodstock. “It is a nice milestone to reach,” he said. “It’s a number, but a very special one to get to and I am happy to have got there. “That (bringing up the milestone with a Jomara horse) was very rewarding. They have obviously been very solid supporters of mine right the way through, so it was very fitting.” Many of those 1,000 wins were recorded when training in partnership with his mentor Murray Baker, and Forsman said he owes much of his success to the legendary horseman. “I wouldn’t be anywhere near 1,000 without him,” he said. “A lot of it is his hard work and what he had built toward. Of all the people to end up training in partnership with, I was very thankful it was him.” Initially intent on a career in broadcasting, Forsman didn’t begin working with horses until he started assisting in Baker’s barn 20 years ago to supplement his income as a camera operator for Trackside. His love for the horse began to grow and following seven years with the stable he was rewarded when taken into a training partnership by Baker. “I graduated film and television school and my first job was a camera operator for Trackside,” Forsman said. “I needed more money and extra hours, so I approached Murray to do some work for him in the mornings, and it grew from there. “I did both jobs for a fair while, it worked out quite well because they complemented each other. I could get a fair bit of work done in the morning with the horses and then go off during the day to work in the television side. “Having experience in both facets of the industry did help me and that was a good grounding to have. “My passion for the game took over and when Bjorn (Baker) came back from Europe he was training in partnership with Murray and I was foreman, working under them at the time. “Bjorn didn’t hang around too long in New Zealand, he took the opportunity to take the punt and have a go in Sydney. When he left, he pushed my case to Murray to put me into partnership and the rest is history.” The pair enjoyed a lucrative 10 years before Baker retired in 2022, with the partnership having won four New Zealand Trainers’ Premierships, 24 Group One victories, with Dundeel and Mongolian Khan being two of their highest profile representatives. Forsman has enjoyed training in a solo capacity over the last three years, where he has continued to expand his business, including setting up a permanent base at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne. “The first spring when I was training in my own right we had a very good season,” Forsman said. “Mr Maestro strung together a few black-type races in a row and ran a game fourth in the (VRC) Derby (Gr.1, 2500m). “That particular spring we had some good results, and I think that was really good for my profile heading forward and it gives you the confidence that you can compete against the best trainers in Melbourne. “Chloe (Cumming) is the full-time assistant trainer there (Flemington) and she is doing a brilliant job. From a financial point of view, we really need to build the stable to a bigger number to make it worthwhile, which is something we are striving toward at the moment.” Looking back on his 1,000 wins in New Zealand, Forsman said there are several highlights, but one race stands out above the rest. “Of the New Zealand winners, Aegon winning the Karaka Million three-year-old mile was one of the standouts,” Forsman said. “It was a pretty cool night. “He was unbeaten going into it. The horse he was and the way we had to manage him right the way through, he was a very special horse, and it was a great race – him and Amarelinha going head-to-head and it was great to come out on top.” Forsman purchased Aegon for $150,000 out of Waikato Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft and raced him with the Zame Partnership, with the now retired gelding going on to win six races, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), and he competed in Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand, and earned more than $2 million in prizemoney. Forsman said searching for his next star helps him get up in the morning, and he is hoping they are among his latest batch of youngsters at his Cambridge barn. “You are always looking for that next good horse, they are hard to find and you take it for granted when you have got them,” he said. “We have got a lot of nice young horses in the stable, in New Zealand in particular, and you just never know where they come from. “That is the exciting part of it, waking up in the morning and working toward finding that next good one.” View the full article

Ancient Spirit is on the victory board and White Robe Lodge is expecting his progeny to continue to build winning momentum as the season rolls on. The well-related son of Invincible Spirit has only had a handful of runners and was represented by his first success at Wingatui where when Bobby Mcgee broke her maiden last Friday. From the stallion’s first crop, the Terry Kennedy-trained three-year-old was making her third appearance and had placed on debut last term. “It was really nice to get the monkey off the back, it was a nice win as she sat with no cover most of the way and fought on well,” stud manager Wayne Stewart said. “Ancient Spirit hasn’t had many runners, and they should get over a bit of ground as the season goes on. “The stallion’s out of a Galileo mare and with our mares they should stay, the reports I’ve been getting are positive and they will develop into middle distance horses. “He suits what we breed, so hopefully they can get to a good level.” The German-bred Ancient Spirit is a son of Invincible Spirit and Assisi and won five races, including two at Group Two level. “We got offered him by bloodstock agent Ed Stapleton and we knew he was a good miler, he won two Listed miles at the Curragh and the German Guineas (Gr.2, 1600m),” Stewart said. “He was appealing to us, and his second dam won the German Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m) and he’s a half-brother to a Group One winner (Alson). “Invincible Spirit has done a great job in this part of the world with I Am Invincible.” Ancient Spirit stands at White Robe alongside the proven Ghibellines and newcomer Alflaila. By Shamardal, Ghibellines has been a grand source of success with the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) winner Smokin’ Romans his flagship performer while Campaldino claimed this year’s Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m). “Ghibellines just keeps consistently leaving winners all over the place,” Stewart said. Alflaila is a son of Dark Angel and stakes performer Oasis Dream mare Adhwaa and was a two-time winner at Group Two and Three level. “Harry Angel, who’s by Dark Angel, is fully booked in Australia and he’s leaving good winners all the time,” Stewart said. “Alflaila has a big book of stakes winners and stakes performed mares, so he’s going to get every opportunity. “I’ve been a bit surprised how many mares are about this season, and he’ll be serving around the 100 mark.” View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Victoria Cup winner Kingman could be a shock late entry for the $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. Owner-breeder Mick Harvey dropped the bombshell on Melbourne radio this morning. “We’ll see how the next few days go once Luke (McCarthy, trainer-driver) gets him settled back home, but if you asked me now … I’d say he’ll go,” he said. “The horse came through that win so well. He was strong on the line and he’s at the top of his game. “With the doubts on Leap To Fame and Swayzee and no real standouts in NZ, we’d be right in the race. “Like everyone, I love the NZ Cup. It would be amazing to give it a crack.” The Kingman twist sparked memories of last year when trainer Jason Grimson paid a late entry fee for Swayzee, who then successfully defended his title eight days later. “We beat Swayzee two starts back and we beat Leap To Fame the other night … the formlines are there,” Harvey said. “Luke’s done an amazing job with this horse and he’s still on the up. “It’s very tempting to strike while the iron is hot. We could go over for the Cup and still be back for the Blacks A Fake in Brisbane (December 6). “I’ll be guided by Luke. We talked about it, but that was midnight Saturday after the race. “He was open to it. Let’s see how the next few days play out, but I’m super keen.” Harvey is no stranger to big races having raced Grand Circuit stars King Of Swing and Hectorjayjay. “What amazing rides I had with them, but anyone who has bred a horse and had it all the way through will tell you it’s extra special,” he said. “This is the first horse I bred, so you can imagine the thrill the other night gave me. “He’s only four and just starting to come into his own now. Hopefully we’ve got another couple of years at the top level with him.” View the full article

The Kaikoura Cup will celebrate its 100th running this year. Over the next few weeks Kaikoura Trotting Club historian Phil Gourdie will look back at the history of the great race. This is the third installment – Back to back winners By Phil Gourdie After Diamond Moose became the first horse to back to back in 1983-84 (as mentioned in a previous column) it didn’t take long to get a second. Spry Joker, owned by Ray Winter and trained and driven by Hall of Famer J A (Jack) Carmichael, repeated the feat immediately. In 1986 the rain came and the track was muddy with Spry Joker revelling in the conditions. He enjoyed the run of the race until he took control 500m from home and went on to win by seven lengths. In 1992 and 1993 Master Musician (pictured above) won back-to-back for the owners R J Dunn, K L McDonald and E C Storck. In 1992 when trained by Geoff Dunn and driven by Colin DeFilippi the Master shattered the world and track record by over three seconds recording 2.57.8. The following year when trained and driven by Robert Dunn he went 3.00.7. Il Vicolo won back-to-back for owners John Seaton and Mark Purdon in 1995 and 96. Purdon trained and drove on both occasions. In 1996 he equalled Master Musician’s world time of 2:57.8. The 1995 cup race was the first winning drive at Kaikoura for Mark Purdon. Il Vicolo went on to win the New Zealand Cup in both years. 2010-11 saw Smiling Shard win consecutive cups for owners Chrissie Dalgety, A J Rooney, A R Vernel, P M Gorman, trainer Cran Dalgety and star reinsman Dexter Dunn. In 2010 Smiling Shard was slow away and settled at the rear of the field. He caught the three wide train from the 800 and stayed there until they turned for home, when Dunn sent him forward and held off all the challengers to win by half a head. Three years later Arden Rooney won the first of two Cups for owners Meg and Merv Butterworth. In 2014 Arden Rooney was trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen and driven by Rasmussen while in 2015 he was trained and driven by Kerryn Manning. Arden Rooney was the first Australian owned, trained and driven Kaikoura Cup winner. Just days later Manning guided Arden Rooney to victory in the NZ Cup, becoming the first successful female driver in the Cup’s history. In 2019, 2020 and 2021 Classie Brigade became the first to win back-to-back-to-back Kaikoura Cups. In 2019 and 2020 Robert Dunn was the trainer, in 2021 he was joined by his daughter-in-law Jenna. John Dunn (Robert’s son, Jenna’s husband) was the driver on all three occasions. In 2021 the Covid pandemic forced the meeting to be held at Addington with no crowds allowed to attend. Next time we will look at “They just keep getting faster.” View the full article

Over the past week, there has been discussion regarding planned road closures on State Highway 1 between Waipara and Kaikoura, which had the potential to impact travel to and from the Kaikoura meeting. We’re pleased to confirm that the Kaikoura Club has successfully worked with Downer to delay the scheduled works, meaning full road closures will now not commence until Tuesday, 4 November. However, please note that traffic management will be in place from 9:00 p.m. on Monday, 3 November, including stop/go operations and potential delays of up to 10 minutes at the Kaikoura tunnels. Participants are advised to allow extra time for travel accordingly. For any trainers requiring overnight horse accommodation surrounding the meeting, please contact Natalie Gameson on 021 936 155. There is ample accommodation available for horses in the area. We look forward to a successful and enjoyable two days of racing at Kaikoura. View the full article

By Jonny Turner It might have just been a maiden race, but Sarah O’Reilly got an extra buzz when winning with Molly Maeve Estelle at Oamaru on Sunday. O’Reilly was having her first drive at just her second meeting back in the sulky after sustaining a nasty arm injury in a trackwork incident in July last year. With 304 victories to her name, the winning feeling is nothing unusual for the talented reinswoman. But she admitted she got an extra kick out of getting back into the winner’s circle with her employers, Brent and Tim White. “It was a great thrill, it has been hard not being able to drive because when you are out there it’s such a different feeling.” “She had been working well and the team think she’s a nice horse, so it was great to be able to get the job done.” After a lengthy battle to get her injured arm back to where it needed to be for driving, O’Reilly was back in action at Addington on Friday night before heading to Oamaru to win Sunday’s opener. The wait to get back out on the track on race day is one O’Reilly had got used to as it went on. “At the start it was pretty frustrating, but as time went on it got better and I got used to it.” O’Reilly’s arm has clearly been given the tick of approval for work and race driving, but she continues to work to build strength back into it. “My arm has completely healed now but I am still working on my strength a little bit with my physio.” “I am still going to the gym to get it back to where it was, but it is pretty good at the moment.” “I don’t have any problems, except that the skin is numb.” “They said it could be like that for a while and that it was pretty normal because of the damage to the nerves.” O’Reilly was competing all over New Zealand before her injury, before returning with a handful of drives over the weekend. Now she hopes to build her base of drives back up, though she admits it will not be easy. “I am trying my best but it will probably take a while to build my drives back up to where they were.” Later on the Oamaru card, Tokyo Rose ran a strong front-running victory in the Oamaru Cup. Driver Blair Orange had the mare in front soon after the start, with the pair running home in fast splits to set the backmarkers an impossible task. The victory took Orange to 2995 wins in New Zealand, just five short of joining the elite 3000-win club. View the full article

Also working six furlongs on the main track Sunday, all for trainer Bob Baffert, were Nysos (1:11 3/5), Nevada Beach (1:11 4/5), and Citizen Bull (1:12 3/5).View the full article

Riccarton trainer Anna Furlong felt a real sense of satisfaction when her promising three-year-old Champagne Diblu turned his form around to win the Agraforum Growing Innovation 1300 at Ashburton on Sunday. Champagne Diblu had been an impressive juvenile trial winner and subsequently contested a stakes race, but showed his inexperience on that occasion and was sent for a spell. It was a similar story for the gelding when resuming at three, travelling well in the running but fading in the straight in a big field. Knowing the ability he had, Furlong went back to the trials twice to instil some confidence and with regular rider Billy Jacobson on board, he was a live chance in a small field headed by Dakota and last-start winner The Fed Express. He flew the gates and found himself in front early, before Jacobson allowed The Fed Express to cross and lead. The pace was only moderate from that point and the leader dialled up the pressure turning for home, giving his rivals something to catch. Champagne Diblu looked the big danger of doing so and started to go through his gears down the straight, taking over at the 150m and keeping up a strong gallop through the line to score by a length, with Knockingatthedoor closing gamely into second. “He’s just been a little bit immature mentally, he’s taken a bit of time to get that ringcraft so we’ve gone back to the trials to really drive home that education,” Furlong said. “We wanted to see him working up in between horses and gaining that confidence amongst the field. “It was potentially going to be a tactical affair with the small field but we didn’t want to lead, I was just looking for nice, calm run to get into a good rhythm and really hit the line, which he did. “Billy has done a lot of work with him, both at the trials and at home so it was really satisfying to get this result. “We always knew he had the ability, it was just coaxing it out of him. It couldn’t have gone better.” Furlong is now eyeing a start for the gelding during her home track’s biggest carnival, New Zealand Cup Week, which is fast approaching in three weeks’ time. “We’d like to give him a start over Cup Week, I’m leaning towards the three-year-old 1400m at this stage,” she said. “He’s probably going to be nicer again in the autumn with a little bit more time on his side.” A son of Russian Revolution and the Lonhro mare Rosadiblu, Champagne Diblu was purchased by the stable for $100,000 out of Kilgravin Lodge’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale last November and was syndicated out to a big group of owners, many of which were on course at Ashburton. “He’s a fantastic type, he had good scope about him and we thought he’d develop into a nice sprinter-miler that will improve over time,” Furlong said. “When we bought him, we wanted to introduce micro-shares to get as many people involved as we could for a really low cost, making it more affordable to come and enjoy racing with us. We got a great response from that and as you could hear on the telly, there were a lot of happy owners. “It was super exciting, it’s great to have that many people involved in racing and wonderful for our stable.” Later in the meeting, Furlong was pleased with her Impending filly Queen Of Sheba, who was just caught in the final bounds on debut over 1200m, and The Entertainer, who continued her consistent run when third in the Rating 75 mile. “She (Queen Of Sheba) was really good, a good effort first up on debut,” she said. “I’d like to see her settle a little more in the running so she can finish off her races, but it was a gallant effort and she’ll improve a tonne off that. “The Entertainer is a very honest mare, I thought she had every chance to win and Ruvanesh (Muniandy) rode her very well, but she just plugged a little bit in the finish. She may be looking to get over a little bit more ground now, we’ll have a think about that one.” View the full article

Monday, Deauville, France, post time: 15:40, DARLEY PRIX DES RESERVOIRS-G3, €73,200, 2yo, f, 8fT Field: Kiss Melody (Ire) (Almanzor {Fr}), Miuccia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Society Princesse (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Rhiyanna (Fr) (Elarqam {GB}), Shahbanu (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Waiting For You (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Lyrics Of Life (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}). TDN Analysis: This contest was won last term by subsequent G1 Prix de Diane heroine Gezora and the dual stakes-placed Waiting For You and undefeated dual winner Shahbanu are the leading lights in this year's renewal. Kiss Melody, Miuccia and Rhiyanna all boast winning form, while the Brian Meehan-trained three-race maiden Lyrics Of Life is a notable entry from Britain. Society Princesse has a length to find with Kiss Melody and completes the line-up. [Sean Cronin]. Monday, Deauville, France, post time: 14:30, CRITERIUM DE VITESSE-Listed, €54,900, 2yo, 5 1/2fT Field: Go Ken Go (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), Kimi Rey (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Solana Rose (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Igetakickoutofyou (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), Hold My Hand (Fr) (Threat {Ire}), Pearl Fortune (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Jeudixx (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Ceramic (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Sonatine (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Kimi Rey had Jeudixx and Go Ken Go in arrears when notching a three-length triumph in July's Listed Prix Yacowlef over the straight five here and holds the key in this first start since. Her main threats are G2 Prix du Calvados fourth and G3 Prix Eclipse runner-up Ceramic and Listed Prix des Reves d'Or second Hold My Hand. David O'Meara trainee Solana Rose, last seen running fifth in Ayr's G3 Firth of Clyde, holds solid claims, as does fellow British raider Pearl Fortune, who finished a close-up fourth in last month's Listed Harry Rosebery at the same venue. [Sean Cronin]. Monday, Deauville, France, post time: 16:50, PRIX VULCAIN-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, 12 1/2fT Field: Allure (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Aegean Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Military Air (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Viking Invasion (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Master Cath (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Waldnebel (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}), Ankara (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Karla Jet (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), Walleah (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}), Three Pearls (Fr) (Intello {Ger}). TDN Analysis: With black-type opportunities dwindling as the season drifts towards the winter recess, Godolphin's Aegean Prince heads to France coming back off an impressive eight-length tally at Ascot earlier in the month, his first appearance since winning on the Kempton Polytrack last December. Threats include Chevotel Racing's unbeaten winner-of-two Karla Jet and the consistent G1 Deutsches Derby eighth Waldnebel, who has registered two runner-up finishes in three Listed outings since that Hamburg Classic. Allure, Military Air and Three Pearls have all placed at stakes level and should not be discounted. [Sean Cronin]. Tuesday, Curragh, post time: 15:17, STAFFORDSTOWN STUD STAKES-G3, €36,000, 2yo, f, 8fT Field: Cameo (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Caught U Sleeping (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Ice Dancer (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Ifweonlyhavelove (Fr) (Recoletos {Fr}), La Fogata (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Stars Will Shine (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Sugar Island (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Thundering On (GB) (Frankel {GB}). TDN Analysis: Without the customary Ballydoyle standout, this is wide-open and could go to one of the unexposed maiden winners. Stars Will Shine impressed at Down Royal and may have more upside than stablemate Caught U Sleeping despite that runner having been third to Diamond Necklace in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes last month. Thundering On is of intrigue, bypassing the many maidens on offer at the moment which shows what Joseph O'Brien thinks of Shapoor Mistry's homebred daughter of his star mare Thundering Nights. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Prix des Reservoirs Takes Centre Stage at Deauville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Holding a Nov. 6 date with the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, Venencia gave herself a top advertisement with an impressive victory in the $262,000 Dowager Stakes (G3T) on the yielding Keeneland turf course Oct. 19.View the full article

The betting public wagered that the Anoakia Stakes would be a return to winning form for Himika (Curlin), and she gave them no reason to worry in the lane as she powered home with ears pricked. A stylish victress at first-asking June 12 at this venue, the newly minted 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was asked to take on graded company in her second lifetime start, and she passed that test with grace to land the GIII Sorrento Stakes by over four lengths. From there, she ran an even fourth in the GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes two back Sept. 6 and faded to fifth last out Oct. 4 when trying two-turns for the first time in the GII Oak Leaf Stakes. She was beaten by well-regarded stablemates on both of those occasions, namely the Natalie Baffert-owned Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) and fellow 'Rising Start' Explora (Blame), respectively. Given 1-2 favoritism to turn her form around here, Himika watched the race unfold from just off the flank of Revera (Lexitonian) as that one set a contested pace through :22.55 and a half in :45.65. Briefly overtaking that leader at the quarter pole, she kicked clear coming off the bend and sailed home as a wrapped-up winner by 4 1/4 lengths. Revera held on to second as Stuffy Mist (Maximus Mischief) ambled in from last to claim third. “She was probably running faster last time going long,” said Bob Baffert. “She was in a good spot, had a great post and she was manageable to rate like, so I felt pretty confident. You just don't know how much that last race took out of her, but it looks like it didn't take a lot out of her.” “I was happy that she is back to winning form. She basically told us, no two turns for now but maybe down the road. Maybe something like the Test. You know, I think she is that kind of filly. Right now, we are just thinking about next weekend, the Tokyo City Cup. We go week by week, like Belichick.” Himika is the first to the races for Saratoga track-record setter Motivated Seller, who finished off the board only once in her career when she faded to ninth in the GI La Brea Stakes in 2020. Since this victress, the mare has produced a yearling filly by Complexity as well as a 2025 colt by Jack Christopher. She visited McKinzie for 2026. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. “A tremendous performance…” #4 HIMIKA rolled home in the $85,000 Anoakia Stakes at @santaanitapark. @JJHernandezS19 in the saddle on the daughter of Curlin for trainer Bob Baffert and @BaomaCorp. Baffert won both legs of the early double. pic.twitter.com/xCOChVkmdp — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 19, 2025 ANOAKIA S., $91,370, Santa Anita, 10-19, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.40, ft. 1–HIMIKA, 122, f, 2, by Curlin 1st Dam: Motivated Seller (SP, $157,400), by Into Mischief 2nd Dam: Coup, by Empire Maker 3rd Dam: French Lady (Nz), by Entrepreneur (GB) 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. ($900,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-Baoma Corp; B-Klaravich Stables Inc. (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $54,822. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $202,822. 2–Revera, 120, f, 2, Lexitonian–Decoder, by War Front. ($50,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $47,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP; $85,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing Stables, U Racing Stables LLC, Barker, Denise, Barker, Edwin S., Haines, John, Rivers, Daniel and Self, Deborah; B-Steven Nicholson & Brandi Nicholson (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $18,274. 3–Stuffy Mist, 118, f, 2, Maximus Mischief–One Playful Act, by Flat Out. ($55,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Juan J. Garcia; B-Brandywine Farm (Jim & Pam Robinson) (KY); T-Victor L. Garcia. $10,965. Margins: 4 1/4, 2, 1HF. Odds: 0.50, 1.70, 22.30. Also Ran: Umbralle, Heavenly Princess. The post ‘Rising Star’ Himika Returns to Winning Form in Anoakia Stakes Romp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Due to inclement weather in the Lexington area on Sunday (Oct. 19), Monday's (Oct. 20) opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale will now begin at 11 am, a one-hour delay from its originally scheduled start time of 10:00 a.m. The remaining sessions, Tuesday through Thursday, will commence at the originally scheduled 10 a.m. start time. The post Initial Session of Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale to Begin at 11am appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In an industry that always seems petrified by the idea of change, the announcement that a new performance-based rating system based on an Equibase algorithm is about to debut at Santa Anita probably didn't go over too well with horsemen. Each horse will be assigned a number generated by Equibase and then races will be written using the system. One of the first races that may come up, if it fills, is open to horses rated between 80-95. The rating number is different from Equibase's speed figures. Santa Anita is hoping the Equibase races will help solve some of their problems with small fields because so many horses will be eligible for each race. While this may seem like a radical concept, it is not. Few countries outside of North American have claiming races. Instead, a rating system similar to what Equibase is putting together here are used to group horses and ensure competitive races. The difference is that the ratings in most places are derived by the racing office and they do not used computer-based numbers. Then there's the Meadowlands. Many of the Standardbred races there are based on grouping horses based on ratings provided by TrackMaster. Eight of the 15 races held Saturday night at the Meadowlands were TrackMaster races. All but one drew a full field of 10 and the winning payoffs were all over the place, a sign of good, competitive racing. The lowest priced TrackMaster winner paid $5, while there were three winners who paid $23 or more. “I was critical of them at first,” said Dave Little, a handicapper who is part of the Meadowlands simulcast team. “But now I see that they create competitive fields The TrackMaster ratings create evenly matched racing, which is what we all want.” Scott Warren is the Standardbred racing secretary at the Meadowlands and he too is a fan of the ratings system. “Some people were totally against it,” Warren said. “For me, as the racing secretary, It's another tool for a racing secretary to utilize. It's been successful. With Freehold closing, that was one of the tracks that utilized it, and we gained some of their horses and the ratings helped us know where those horses belonged. With TrackMaster, they could move up for a start after a win and then drop down the next time out if they lost. It's all decided by whatever algorithm TrackMaster uses. Sometimes they may disagree with the number a horse gets, but it's worked out well. It's helped us. The tracks surrounding us in Pennsylvania and New York don't use TrackMaster, so those horses are either going to have to race in a claimer or race way above their heads. It will be interesting to see how this works for Thoroughbreds. I've used TrackMaster for a while, first at Vernon Downs and now at the Meadowlands. A lot of horsemen were against it at first. My job as a racing secretary is to have a race with a 3-1 favorite and these horsemen want their horses to go off at 3-5. If it works for us, I don't see why it wouldn't work for the Thoroughbreds.” The first Equibase races scheduled for Santa Anita are on the card for Friday. The first race is set to go on the 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course and is open to fillies and mares rated between 80 and 95. According to Matt Hegarty of the Daily Racing Form, there are 140 horses based in Southern California that qualify, but many may not want to enter in a down-the-hill turf race. You can easily find the ratings for your horses on Equibase, which now lists the number. For horses gearing up for the Breeders' Cup Classic, Forever Young (Jpn) (Reel Steel {Jpn}) is a 106. Among the American based horses Journalism is on top with a 104, somehow getting a better rating than his rival Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who got a 103. By way of comparison, Chief Buckeye (Trappe Shot), the morning line favorite in a $5,000 claimer Tuesday at Mahoning Valley is rated as a 59. One complaint that is circulating is that people fear the Equibase races will replace claiming races. That's not going to happen, but would it be such a bad thing if it did? One of the many problems of claiming races is that some trainers will enter unsound horses hoping that someone claims their damaged goods. Claiming races are also where the suspected juicers are most likely to show up. Horses come and go from barns, which is not good them, and often land in the hands of someone who looks like they have an edge. If this is successful at Santa Anita, you'll likely see it spread to other tracks. Having so many problems filling races, Santa Anita has nothing to lose and management deserves praise for trying something that might help fill the entry box. CAW Players and the Breeders' Cup Sorry to see that during the Breeders' Cup, the CAW players will be allowed to make win bets up to the very last second. Shortly after the traditional summer meet began, Del Mar, like NYRA, would not let the CAW players make win bets within two minutes of a race. That takes away their edge and eliminates the constant problem of seeing horses go into the gate at 4-1 and then they go down to 8-5 as they cross the wire in front. From a perception point, it's a terrible look, not something that the Breeders' Cup needs. It also doesn't really hurt the CAW players all that much. They are still allowed to make their last-second bets in all the other pools. The post Give The Equibase Ratings System a Chance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Less than two weeks before the Breeders' Cup, a quartet of hopefuls–highlighted by GISW Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca)–turned in six-furlongs works Sunday at Santa Anita. With jockey Juan Hernandez aboard, Sweet Azteca was clocked officially in a swift 1:10.80. Trainer Richard Baltas timed the drill in 1:11.20. Also working six furlongs on the main track Sunday, all for trainer Bob Baffert, wereTDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard Nysos (Nyquist) (1:11.60), Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) (1:11.80) and last year's juvenile champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) (1:12.60). Nysos and Citizen Bull are each targeting the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile while Nevada Beach, winner of the GI Goodwood last time out, is slated to run in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. As for Sweet Azteca, will contest the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at seven furlongs on Nov. 1. Sunday's drill was her second since being forced to miss work in late September due to illness. “I wanted a good work from her,” Baltas said. “She did a little blow at the end, but that's fine, she needed it. She missed a work. Now we're two weeks out and I think this puts us where we need to be.” Sweet Azteca won the GII Great Lady M around two turns at Los Alamitos in July and the GIII Rancho Bernando going seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 24. She returned to the work tab 28 days later on Sept. 21 but then had a 20-day gap before working again on Oct. 11. “She wasn't real sick, her blood work was good. She was just sick enough not to work,” Baltas said. Sweet Azteca is campaigned by breeder Pamela Zeibarth. Last year, when trained by Michael McCarthy, Sweet Azteca won the GI Beholder Mile, Great Lady M and Rancho Bernardo, but bypassed the Filly & Mare Sprint after finishing a dull fourth in the GIII Chillingworth at Santa Anita four weeks ahead of the race. Also on the tab was champion Straight No Chaser (Speightster), who will try and defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Trained by Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser drilled five furlongs in 1:00.60. The 6-year-old most recently returned from a 5 ½-month layoff and finished third as the odds-on favorite in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 28. Also working for Baffert was Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), who is pointed to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The filly was clocked going five furlongs in :59.40. It was the second-fastest of 71 works at the distance. Bottle of Rouge most recently won the GI Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs in her stakes debut on Sept. 6. Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who will make a third try at winning the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, worked a bullet on the training track for trainer Phil D'Amato. Motorious was timed going five furlongs in :59.20, the fastest of 15 works at the distance. A 7-year-old gelding, Motorious in two starts this year won the GIII Daytona sprinting on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in June and the GIII Green Flash via disqualification at Del Mar on Aug. 30. The post Sweet Azteca Among Breeders’ Cup Workers at Santa Anita Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Embroidery answers the distance question to win the Shuka Sho (G1) Oct. 19 at Kyoto Racecourse, scoring two-thirds of Japan's Filly Triple Crown.View the full article

The yearling sales season, which set records from summer to fall, makes one final stop for the year with the four-day Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale which gets underway Monday at 10 a.m. in Lexington. The October sale, which expanded to four days a decade ago, has made itself a must-attend event with an increasingly impressive list of graduates and the 2024 auction set highwater marks for gross and average while producing its lowest buy-back rate in 11 years. Consignors expect to see another broad bench of buyers when bidding returns to Newtown Paddocks Monday morning. “Tons of good horses have come out of here,” said Zach Madden, whose Buckland Sales will present 30 yearlings at the four-day auction. “People circle it. As the sale has gotten bigger in size, I think it's broadened the buying base a bit, which is obviously a good thing. You get more eyes on horses.” Those 'eyes' will come from near and far, according to Matt Lyons of Candy Meadows Sales. “The pinhookers are always active and I think they have had a pretty good year, so they will be back,” Lyons said. “I would expect some international activity. The Koreans should be there and I would expect some of the Saudi buyers to be there. And the European pinhookers have been coming to the October sale of late, too. So I would expect it to be a pretty broad bench of buyers again.” While demand has seemed almost insatiable at some points this summer and fall, Madden still expects to see some familiar polarization at the October sale. “I think it's going to be more of the same,” Madden said of expectations for the October market. “The ones they want, they are going to bowl you over for. We are going to have a healthy number of horses–I think we have 30 over there–I just expect more of the same. They are going to go crazy for 10 or 12 of them and the others we are going to try and move along as best we can.” Despite the demand, there are still those proverbial hoops to jump through. “You still have to bring it; you still have to vet, and walk right, and mind your manners, from a horse sense,” Madden said. “You still have to do all the things very well. And then you will get rewarded for it. But a lot of people act like you just run anything up there nowadays and get paid. That's not the case. These buyers and judges of these horses are very good at what they do. A lot of them have a lot of money to throw around and they don't want to buy anything that has a flaw.” Lyons had a similar assessment. “Keeneland was a great sale, if you had the right horse,” Lyons said. “But if you had the wrong sire or a little ding on the X-rays, it was the same as ever before. For the right ones, they probably brought a couple of ticks above what they were bringing in other years.” Still the competitive marketplace has had a positive effect on the middle market as buyers who were shut out have had to branch out to other sales, according to Madden. “The middle market has been a tad bit healthier than it has been, but I think it's just kind of a trickle down from the top,” he said. “The bottom the market is just the same. It's a wedding or a funeral type thing with the majority of them. But I have friends and clients and agents who had to hit up Timonium and go to Ocala, too, just because they still needed horses.” Candy Meadows Sales will offer 10 yearlings at the October sale and all will be making their first appearance in a sales ring this year. For Lyons, the later sales date, as well as the more relaxed format, are a perfect match for some horses. “When you get late into September when you are ship, show and sell, you are showing one day and if you don't get it right or if you've got one short-lister looking for 10 people from Ocala and the horse goes out there and doesn't do right and you don't make that list, you can miss a lot of people,” Lyons said. “Whereas, I think the advantage of October is that you are there for a few days and there is enough time for people to see the horses. If I felt like I had a nice horse who was going to go too late in September and might not benefit from showing one day and selling the next day, I might pull the horse back for October.” Lyons continued, “And there are some horses who just mature so well on their own this time of year that they are not as hard to prep as when you are trying to get ready for an earlier sale. They are almost developing on their own and they don't need as much heavy prep as we might do to push one to get into September.” With an open format and 1,601 catalogued yearlings, shoppers will have to cover a lot of ground heading into sale time. “There are enough people who have bought good horses out of the October sale–if you look at the front page of the catalogue every year and you see how many good horses have come out of the sale–there are enough statistics to show that there are a lot of good horses in that sale every year,” Lyons said. “I think a lot of the buyers will have to be there and with the way the catalogue is formatted, the best horse could be hip one or it could be on the last day of the sale. So you really have to work it.” Four yearlings brought $500,000 or more during the 2024 October sale, led by a $550,000 colt by Curlin. In all, 1,125 yearlings sold last year for a gross of $58,940,500. The average was $52,392 and the median was $20,000. The buy-back rate was 17.0%. The post Final Stop: Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale Starts Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Resolute Racing's Village Voice (GB) (Zarak {Fr}) completed her first breeze back on Sunday since winning the Oct. 5 GIII Waya at Belmont at the Big A as she prepares for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Trained by Chad Brown, the 5-year-old breezed a half-mile in :50.16 seconds in company with Alimara (Fr) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) over the Oklahoma training turf at Saratoga. “Just a little maintenance half on the turf,” said Brown. “I thought she was moving really well. Her first work back since her win. I thought it was just what we were looking for. She'll have one more work next week and then head out to take a shot at the Breeders' Cup.” Village Voice, a 1,300,000 gns purchase at the 2024 Tattersalls December Mare Sale. made her first start for Brown off a nearly one-year layoff in the 11-furlong Waya. “I expected her to run well. I knew the layoff was going to be something for her to overcome. I was quite impressed that off nearly a year, she was able to have that kick and beat a field of horses that were fit and in form,” Brown said. “I was very pleased to see it, I wasn't surprised. She was training well, I just needed to see her do it off a layoff, which was a big ask and she came through. She could be a top-class filly.” Brown is a four-time Filly and Mare Turf-winning trainer. “It's very challenging,” Brown said. “I find that race, because again it is a three-turn race, a lot of it depends on who is coming over. The American horses, generally those aren't our best horses going that far, going that distance. The way I look at it is, if she's a Grade II, Grade III filly right now, I think she can be a Grade I horse. But that's what all of the American horses are, so she clearly fits with the American horses.” Village Voice made 12 prior starts overseas for conditioner Jessica Harrington, earning four wins and four group placings, including victories in the 1 1/2-mile Listed Prix des Tourelles last September at Saint-Cloud and the Group 3 Prix de Flore going 1 5/16 miles in October 2023 there. The post Village Voice Preps for Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) winner Embroidery rediscovered her best form at Kyoto on Sunday to capture the G1 Shuka Sho, the final leg of the Japanese Triple Tiara. Trained by Kazutomo Mori, Embroidery endured a wide trip in mid-division through the early stages of this 2,000-metre contest, before making swift progress at around halfway to race in a clear second behind the freewheeling Erika Express (Epiphaneia). Soon taking dead aim at the long-time leader, the daughter of Admire Mars found a smart change of gear in the closing stages to collar that rival and get the verdict by half a length, with another three quarters of a length back to the staying-on Paradis Reine (Kizuna) in third. Race favourite Kamunyak (Black Tide), who took advantage of a below-par showing from Embroidery when winning the second leg of the Japanese Triple Tiara, the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), was never a factor on this occasion and trailed home 16th of the 18 runners. “I had every faith in the filly that she would deliver today, since the Oaks didn't suit her distance-wise,” said jockey Christophe Lemaire as he celebrated a record fourth victory in the Shuka Sho after those of Deirdre (2017), Almond Eye (2018) and Cervinia (2024). “She was calm and relaxed in the first half of the race and, while the pace slowed down in the backstretch, we were able to advance to a better position. It took a while for her engine to get started, but she showed an incredible turn of foot in the last 200 metres and I'm very happy we were able to notch the Group 1 title today.” Prior to winning April's Oka Sho, Embroidery returned this season with a first Group success in the G3 Queen Cup, having registered two wins and a second from four starts as a two-year-old. In the Oka Sho she defeated Arma Veloce (Harbinger) – a notable absentee from the Shuka Sho due to injury – by a neck, before finishing only ninth when sent off favourite for the Yushun Himba. 【Shuka Sho (G1), 2000m, Kyoto, JRA】 Winner: Embroidery Review article:https://t.co/cCnYSaYu25 PDF https://t.co/aezVZkyXcA Race call Video (Full)https://t.co/Yv9R7gGsgJ#JRA #horseracing #ShukaSho #Embroidery pic.twitter.com/hxgG3MWx05 — HorseRacingInJapan (@HorseRacing_JPN) October 19, 2025 Pedigree Notes Embroidery is one of two winners from as many runners out of the Kurofune mare Rottenmeier (Kurofune), who contested the Queen Cup herself when finishing third in 2016, before winning a Listed race at Hanshin on her next start. Embroidery's third dam is the Japanese champion two-year-old filly Biwa Heidi (Caerleon), whose notable progeny include the Japanese Horse of the Year Buena Vista (Special Week); Japanese champion two-year-old filly Joie de Vivre (Deep Impact); G2 Kyoto Kinen winner and sire Admire Aura; G3 Epsom Cup hero and sire Tosen Reve; Listed-winning sire Admire Japan; and G2 Flora Stakes heroine Sang Real (Zenno Rob Roy). Sunday, Kyoto, Japan SHUKA SHO-G1, ¥215,400,000, Kyoto, 10-19, 3yo, f, 2000mT, 1:58.30, fm. 1–EMBROIDERY (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Admire Mars (Jpn) 1st Dam: Rottenmeier (Jpn) (SW & GSP-Jpn, $547,816), by Kurofune 2nd Dam: Adelheid (Jpn), by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn) 3rd Dam: Biwa Heidi (Jpn), by Caerleon O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Kazutomo Mori; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥113,780,000. Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-0, ¥338,331,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Erika Express (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Enticed (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Masahiro Miki; B-Mishima Bokujo (Jpn); ¥45,080,000. 3–Paradis Reine (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Paradise Garden, by Closing Argument. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Makio Okada; B-Okada Stud (Jpn); ¥28,540,000. Margins: HF, 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 5.50, 15.10, 16.90. Also Ran: Jocelyn (Jpn), Sena Style (Jpn), Vip Daisy (Jpn), Kurino Mei (Jpn), Rouge Solitaire (Jpn), In Vouge (Jpn), Ma Puce (Jpn), Kelly Fled Ask (Jpn), Voulezvous (Jpn), Run for Vow (Jpn), Theresa (Jpn), Danon Fair Lady (Jpn), Kamunyak (Jpn), Lesedrama (Jpn), Brown Ratchet (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Embroidery Bounces Back from Yushun Himba Blip with Shuka Sho Revival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Graded stakes winners Bring Theband Home (Into Mischief) and Final Accord (War of Will) posted their final works for trainer Mark Casse over Belmont's training track on Sunday in preparation for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar. Bring Theband Home, winner of the GII Troy Stakes at Saratoga this summer, will run in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint while GIII Matron scorer Final Accord is expected to run in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. “We thought they both went really well, and we're excited,” Casse said. “I expect both of them to run very big in California.” Live Oak Plantation's homebred Bring Theband Home was caught by NYRA clockers covering a half-mile in :47.11 in his first work back since finishing seventh in the Oct. 4 GII Nearctic at Woodbine. “Bring Theband Home kind of threw a clunker at Woodbine, and it was a head-scratcher for us, so we brought him back to New York where he likes it, and he worked like his old self this morning,” Casse said. “He trained so-so into his last race, which is not like him. We ran him and Javier [Castellano] said he just wasn't himself. We got him out of there as soon as possible and this morning, he was a fire plug. He was on his game.” Gary Barber and Peter Deutsch's juvenile filly Final Accord covered a half-mile in :47.63, according to NYRA clockers. “She went around there and worked well, and she always shows that she's a little special,” Casse said. “She's 2-for-2 and has done everything right. I think she has a real big future. My only regret is that she hasn't had a two-turn race, but I think the added distance is absolutely going to help her–you saw that in her win in the Matron with how she came running late. The mile will be perfect for her.” Casse noted that both Final Accord and Bring Theband Home are slated to ship to California on Saturday, and that their Belmont breezes were their final works before the Breeders' Cup. In addition to his two turf stars, Casse will send out one of the top contenders in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff with D.J. Stable's GISW sophomore Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), last seen finishing a head second to Gin Gin in the GI Spinster Oct. 5 at Keeneland. Casse said he was “extremely pleased” with Nitrogen's effort, which came on the heels of a 1 1/2-length victory in Saratoga's GI Alabama Aug. 16. “She's doing great,” he said. “Things didn't go exactly as planned, and we would have liked to have won, but I was just looking at her record in her last eight starts, and she's only a head and a nose from being undefeated this year,” Casse said, alluding to the Spinster and her nose second to Fionn in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational on turf in June at the Spa. “It's been against nothing but the best of her company.” Casse added that Nitrogen is expected to breeze on Wednesday or Thursday at Churchill Downs before shipping to California on Sunday. The post Mark Casse Pair Bring Theband Home, Final Accord Work for Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Half Yours proved himself one of the shrewdest second-hand buys of the century as he added to a regal day for unsung sires by lifting the Caulfield Cup (G1) at Caulfield Racecourse Oct. 18.View the full article

Making his final breeze at Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma Training Track Oct. 19 before shipping to California Oct. 22, Sovereignty went five furlongs in 1:01.39.View the full article