Wandering Eyes

After selling for 2.7 million guineas at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale, group 1 winner Via Sistina prepares for a start in the March 23 Ranvet Stakes (G1) at Rosehill.View the full article

A deal that Del Mar has made with a titan of Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) provides a rare glimpse into the tremendous sway that individual players can wield over track and racing officials, the potentially lopsided economic ramifications of such deals, and the tremendous pressures that California executives are under with competing jurisdictions that enjoy purse subsidies not available in the Golden State. It also turns a spotlight onto a world largely hidden from the public eye-one that industry leaders are generally loathe to discuss publicly, and in which just a few anonymous gamblers can have an outsized impact on the financial fitness or ill-health of the sport. Last year, Del Mar continued a deal with a player identified as Elite 17 that saw them enjoy a noticeably more favorable rate of play than other high-volume players that wager through the CAW platform, Elite Turf Club, according to detailed wagering reports obtained by the TDN, background conversations with racing officials and figures within the CAW world, along with publicly available data. At the enormous volumes CAW at which gamblers play, such deals can give individual players a significant financial edge. The result was that this one player constituted nearly 47% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar last year, according to the reports. Two years prior, Elite 17's play had constituted just over 36% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar, according to publicly available California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) data. At the same time, the amount of money another Elite Turf Club player (Elite 2) wagered on the track dropped off by over $32 million between 2021 and 2023, the reports show-from around $45 million in 2021 to around $13 million last year. In 2021, Elite 2's play came to just over 27% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar. Last year, that number had dropped to around 12%. According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, Elite 2 received a deal similar to Elite 17 in prior years at Del Mar, but not last year. An individual familiar with the situation-who spoke as a “California racing source” on condition of anonymity-said that, prior to the track's 2023 summer meet, Elite 2 declined such a deal, which would have necessitated paying a “substantial seven-figure up-front payment.” Del Mar Thoroughbred Club | Horsephotos When asked if Elite 2 had changed their mind about the deal after the summer meet was underway, the source declined to answer, citing concerns about proprietary business information. “But you can't make an up-front payment after the meet has started,” the source added. Such arrangements have served as a pre-payment on host fees to be split between the track and the purse account, sources say. The deals that Del Mar has struck with Elite Turf Club players over the years, while hardly an anomaly among tracks nationally, nonetheless raises questions about the best approach to managing CAW play in a state where purse revenues are generated solely through betting. If purses fuel the sport, getting this equation right is an imperative. Are deals between tracks and individual CAW players, therefore, a sustainable approach for growing the sport in California? Is CAW play now so vital to the economics of horse racing that every step must be taken to maximize their business? Or should California's tracks be much more focused on incentivizing play from the average punters who generally contribute the biggest slice to purses, rather than pandering to the whales of the betting seas? While it's difficult to know exactly how such deals might have impacted Del Mar's purse account revenues, the bare numbers illustrate a track facing tough economic headwinds, with serious implications for the horsemen and women in the state. Purses last fall at Del Mar were reduced by over 10% due to a purse account overpayment reportedly to the tune of $2.1 million. All-source handle at the track's flagship summer meet declined nearly 11% from 2022 to 2023, according to the DRF. Wagering through Elite Turf Club on the track's product has declined from around $167 million in 2021 to around $113 million last year, according to the CHRB. “As a track with no subsidies from alternative forms of gaming that depends exclusively on handle for purse generation, promoting handle from all segments of the betting market is very important to us. On an annual basis we sit down with the [Thoroughbred Owners of California] TOC to both establish purse levels and to discuss how we best promote wagering on our simulcast signal,” wrote Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president, Josh Rubinstein, in response to a series of questions. Before the start of each meet in California, the tracks present the TOC with a list of individual host fees charged to each location that receives its simulcast signal. For that track's meet to proceed, the TOC must first sign this document. “We are proud of our racing product, which has been well-received for the last several years, and confident that our host fees are fair and competitive with other major race tracks. We will continue to work with our partners to balance pricing considerations with the overall demands of the wagering markets,” Rubinstein added. How takeout is divided from CAW play BACKGROUND ON RATES AND REBATES The debate around CAW players typically surrounds the major edge they wield over regular gamblers thanks to their use of sophisticated wagering technologies and the attractive rates and rebates offered to them-inducements not available to the average punter. When “rates” are mentioned, what is meant are “host fees.” This is a charge wagering outlets pay to track operators for the contractual right to import a simulcast signal. A wagering outlet could be another racetrack, an ADW platform (like FanDuel), or a CAW platform (like Elite Turf Club). Experts say that CAW host fees for the premium tracks typically vary between 6% and 8%. After breeders' premiums and other minor deductions have been removed, host fees are roughly split 50/50 between the track and the purse account in California. The entities that pay the lowest host fee, therefore-like CAW players-contribute the lowest per-dollar amount to purses. At the same time, proponents of CAW argue how these inducements are warranted due to the vast amounts these players inject into the betting pools. The amount CAW players are “rebated” can be broadly calculated with this simple equation: Rebate = Takeout minus host fee (plus any other associated minor fees). The smaller the host fee and the larger the takeout, then the bigger the rebate. Let's use the 20% blended takeout rate among the pools. And let's say the host fee (plus other associated fees) that the CAW player pays comes to 7%. The rebated discount for the CAW players, therefore, could be a maximum 13% on every dollar wagered. Experts recently told the TDN that the most successful CAW players can consistently win at an average rate of around 92%. At that win rate, a 13% rebate (for example) would see the player enjoy a 5% profit margin. According to wagering reports reviewed by the TDN, that win rate is an undercount. These reports show how Elite Turf Club players can win at an average rate in excess of 105%, even before their rebate from Elite is factored in. At this rate, the profit margin would be much better than many investment accounts. It's also important to note how the numerical monikers given to Elite Turf Club players-a company majority owned by The Stronach Group (TSG)-don't relate to just one person. These players employ a team of potentially dozens of people, including mathematical wizards who create sophisticated computer algorithms capable of analyzing the betting markets for exploitable weaknesses, as well as individuals who place the bets for them. Insiders consulted for this story describe how these teams of experts can, over time, deduce through the betting markets and through other data sources if rival CAW players receive more favorable rates. Given the money at stake, the competition can be cutthroat. ELITE 17'S DEAL As CAW play has grown exponentially in recent years, track operators have cut deals like that between Del Mar and Elite 17 to attract their business. And the amount these gamblers wager is often so huge, just one player can make up a significant portion of a track's overall handle. In 2019, when the renowned gambler “Dr. Nick” stopped wagering on Australian racing reportedly due to increased taxes on bookmakers, his exit was projected to trigger a 6% drop in turnover on racing across the board. Multiple sources for this story said that Elite 17 and Elite 2 were both well-known Australian gamblers. Scott Daruty | Horsephotos Scott Daruty, president of both TSG's Monarch Content Management and of the Elite Turf Club, declined to confirm or deny their identities, citing confidentiality agreements. According to detailed reports obtained by the TDN, Elite 17 wagered more than $650 million on U.S. racing through Elite Turf Club alone last year. In 2021, Elite 17 wagered roughly $60 million on Del Mar's product, according to the CHRB. Last year, Elite 17 wagered some $53 million. Last summer at Del Mar, the amount Elite 17 wagered was roughly 10% of the total handle at Del Mar, using the DRF's all-source handle figures as a baseline. These numbers don't account for Elite 17's potential play on horse racing through other methods such as fixed-odds providers and exchange options like Betfair in other countries, or on other sports. Some CAW players also have accounts with different CAW platforms like Velocity, owned by Churchill Downs, which enables wagering on tracks whose simulcast signals are managed by Churchill. At the same time, multiple sources say individual deals are still fairly prevalent among smaller tracks struggling financially, but that they're now unusual among the nation's top-tier tracks. According to wagering reports reviewed by the TDN, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) offered the same host fee to Elite Turf Club players at Saratoga last year, irrespective of the betting pool. This included Elite 17. The host fee NYRA charged was slightly lower than Del Mar charged the same CAW players (outside of Elite 17), these reports show. “NYRA cannot responsibly comment or opine on information never provided to our organization,” wrote NYRA spokesperson, Pat McKenna, in response to questions about the wagering reports. The TDN provided to NYRA an overview of the figures in the reports but not the raw data. NYRA's data was independently verified for the TDN. NYRA is a minority owner in Elite Turf Club. McKenna did, however, stress the steps the organization has taken to manage CAW play, including barring CAW play in the Pick 6, Late Pick 5, and Cross Country Pick 5 pools, and requiring CAW players to place win bets on its races no later than two minutes to post. California has also taken similar steps to moderate CAW play. Since Santa Anita's 2022 fall meet, the win pool has been closed to CAW players one-minute to post, or else they must also pay a surcharge of around 3.5% on top of their normal rate if they want to bet to the close of the win-pool. Last year, Del Mar followed suit. Both tracks have also reverted to the traditional Pick 6. When it comes to Del Mar's deal with Elite 17, the agreement was incumbent upon the player making a substantial payment at the start of the meet, according to multiple sources. Once that up-front payment was made, Elite 17 paid a host fee almost half of that for other Elite Turf Club players, wagering reports show. But multiple sources familiar with the situation explained how factoring in the up-front payment, Elite 17 paid a host fee on Del Mar's product last year around a percentage point or so lower than the other CAW players. At the volume CAW gamblers play, just one percentage point difference in host fee can mean a significant edge for one CAW player over all others, along with possible residual effects on all other participants in the betting pools in terms of late odds movement. Bill Nader | Horsephotos TOC president and CEO Bill Nader explained that deals involving up-front payments incentivize the player to maximize the amount they wager on the track's product. “For example, if the player bets over a certain threshold, the player benefits from a high-volume discount. If the player does not reach that wagering threshold, the effective rate would be higher than other CAW players,” wrote Nader. But could the deal that Del Mar struck with Elite 17 have prompted other CAW players-and Elite 2 in particular-to have curbed their play at the track last year? The California racing source said that other CAW players were offered similar terms to Elite 17 last year. However, it should be noted that the other CAW players that wager through Elite Turf Club on Del Mar didn't bet to nearly the same volume as Elite 17 last year, and that Elite 2 was the only Elite Turf Club player to wager in the region of Elite 17's handle in 2021. The California racing source also noted how CAW play is closely aligned with overall handle on a track's product, and that declines in total handle would invariably lead to decreases in CAW play. “It's hard for us to say with any certainty why player A or B may have reduced his or her volume of play,” the source said. “The best source for that is the player themself.” The TDN reached out to a representative of the player believed to be Elite 2, who declined to discuss the situation. Here, it should be noted that at least one Elite Turf Club player increased their play between 2021 and 2023. This was Elite 10, who wagered $4.9 million in 2021 and $6.7 million in 2023 on Del Mar's product. The TDN does not have access to data showing individual CAW handle on Del Mar's product in 2022. That was the year the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) stopped making such data publicly available. Even so, California remains more transparent than other jurisdictions about what CAW data it makes publicly available. Another wrinkle in this story is how Del Mar boasts an attractive wagering product with good field sizes and an impressive safety record. With that in mind, was the deal the right one to strike? “With the benefit of hindsight, it has been the wrong deal for over 10 years and this is why we need a market correction,” wrote Nader, in response to a series of questions. “We represent the owners and purses are paid to owners, trainers, and jockeys, and there is room for improvement. This is what the TOC hired me to do.” When asked why the TOC approved the deal last year, Nader wrote how 2023 “was my first full year with the TOC and we needed time to work with our Board members and others, notably the tracks, to voice our reservations and allow for a period of adjustment. This entire exercise has been a work in progress.” WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW? The issue of shrinking purse revenues amid declining economic benchmarks couldn't be a more pressing issue in California right now, where the industry attempts to piece together a revised racing framework in the wake of Golden Gate's impending closure in June. At the end of the day, therefore, those arguably most impacted by decisions around managing CAW play are the industry stakeholders attempting to eke out a living from the sport. When asked for comment on the story, the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) wrote in a prepared statement how, “based on Del Mar's representations and the TOC's confirmation of how the purse account there has been managed, we can only say we're disturbed and confused. In January of 2021, at a CTT Board meeting, we attempted to question TOC leadership at the time about how purse levels were being funded, and were angrily rebuked by those in charge.” At that point in time, Greg Avioli was TOC president. “Since purses are the lifeblood of our sport, and are fueled by the public's interest and its confidence in the integrity of pari-mutuel betting, the apparent lack of transparency we're hearing about now has to be remedied immediately,” the CTT added. Scott Chaney | courtesy of the CHRB According to CHRB executive director, Scott Chaney, the agency is “keenly aware of the questions, importance and interest surrounding CAWs and plans to place the topic on our meeting agenda in the next month or so.” Chaney added how “the concepts of purse accounts and structure are also vitally important to racing in California, therefore in order promote understanding and transparency, we are in the process of amending our race meet license application to include additional questions in this area.” All of which leads to this question: Will Elite 17 be offered the same deal this year? “No. Negotiations are ongoing across the entire customer sector,” wrote Nader. “High-volume players will agree that two key deliverables to make their business models more attractive are access and liquidity to commingled pools,” added Nader. “Our racetrack partners should also understand the collective upside and if everyone can take a step back and look at this thing holistically, we can work it out.” The post Computer Assisted Wagering: Anatomy Of A Deal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien is busy preparing for what could turn out to be one of his boldest ever campaigns at Ballydoyle with plans in place for City Of Troy (Justify) to tackle the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby followed by an audacious tilt at the Travers S. on the dirt at Saratoga later this summer. Meanwhile, dual Derby and Breeders' Cup hero Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact {Jpn}), arguably the most important older horse to have been kept in training at Ballydoyle for many years, is set to get his campaign underway in next week's Dubai Sheema Classic. Described by joint-owner Michael Tabor as “our Frankel” after he slammed his Dewhurst rivals last term, City Of Troy heads the Guineas and Derby betting at odds of 4-6 and 2-1 respectively. With so much on the line for a horse who has commanded such praise, O'Brien could be forgiven for feeling the pressure. The truth couldn't be further from the case. Speaking at a media morning at Ballydoyle on Wednesday, O'Brien said, “I don't feel pressure at all. All we can do is our best and whatever will be will be. But he [City Of Troy] looks a bit different at the moment anyway.” O'Brien added, “He has always been very special. He always looked a bit different-even from the time we worked him to when he ran in his maiden. All you can do is just keep turning up and running and see what is going to happen, but he does work very differently [to anything else]. “Horses are working in very bad ground at the moment-it's deep. He shouldn't like that at all but he is just powering through it. We hope to get him to Naas on Sunday after racing. They'll all work together-him, Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), they'll all go together over seven or seven-and-a-half furlongs. The plan is to go straight to the Guineas with City Of Troy. “If that went well, then he could go for the Derby, and if that went well, there's a chance he could go to Saratoga for the Travers Stakes. That's very possible if things go well and it will be interesting.” O'Brien is no stranger to running top-class horses on the dirt. Johannesburg famously won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2001 while Galileo (Ire), George Washington (Ire), Henrythenavigator and Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) are some of the more established names to have tackled the Breeders' Cup Classic, albeit the latter pair's efforts came on the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita in 2008. Mendelssohn came closest to delivering O'Brien and the Coolmore team a breakthrough success in the Travers when second to Catholic Boy in the 2018 edition of the race. However, City Of Troy would rank as by far the most high-profile colt that connections have pointed towards the Travers, with O'Brien putting his confidence behind last year's European Champion Two-Year-Old's ability to handle the surface on breeding. Speaking about the reasoning behind such ambitious campaigning, he explained, “It's just to expose him, really. Obviously he's by Justify, which makes Justify very exciting for us because he should be able to do dirt as easily as he does grass. That's what makes him unique, really. “Every one of those Justifys are the same. They are long-striding and big horses. They are scopey and very genuine. They are all happy to go forward and you can't go hard enough in their races. It's going to be very exciting.” O'Brien added, “He's done very well over the winter. He's a medium-sized horse to look at, but when you stand into him he's much bigger than you think he is, which is the sign of a very well-proportioned horse. It will be exciting. “When John [Magnier] and the lads are thinking like that, they are not afraid to push him out there and see what he is able to do. If it went well in the Guineas, we're happy to step up to a mile and a half in the Derby and then you could come back to a mile and a quarter on the dirt at Saratoga.” City Of Troy is likely to be O'Brien's sole runner in the Guineas while targets for Henry Longfellow, Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), River Tiber and Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will be decided after they work at Naas this weekend. O'Brien said, “I'd imagine if City Of Troy goes to the Guineas, he'll go himself. River Tiber always worked very well. He wasn't right in Deauville or in the Middle Park-he wasn't one hundred per cent, so there's a good chance there's more to come from him. I think he's a miler-he's fast. I couldn't see him getting much further. “Unquestionable could go for the French Guineas. He's done very well. He'll go to Naas on Sunday to work and he could go for a trial in France before going back for the Guineas. He could be a French Derby horse. He's not as quick as the others, so he could get a bit further. “When we went to America with them last year, River Tiber was five lengths better than the winner. He's not rated that way, but if you put the two of them together, that is what will happen.” O'Brien added, “Henry Longfellow could stretch out but he looks like a miler the way he's going, so how much further he'd get, I'm not sure. He could be a French Derby horse, as could Diego Velazquez-he might be more that than a Guineas horse, but he'll go with them [to Naas] as well, so it will be interesting.” Asked for an under-the-radar three-year-old colt to follow for the campaign, O'Brien put forward Grosvenor Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of the G3 Eyrefield S. at Leopardstown last term and no bigger than 20-1 for the Derby. “Grosvenor Square could be a very interesting horse,” he said. “I think he'd have no problem with better ground. He's not a heavy-framed horse, he's a good mover. He'll go for a Derby trial.” City Of Troy is not the only horse that O'Brien is exploring the idea of running on dirt this season as Dubai-bound Auguste Rodin could tackle the surface at some point this year. More immediately, races like the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and the Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot will come under consideration for the four-year-old after Meydan. O'Brien concluded, “Auguste Rodin has another bit of work to do before he goes on Saturday, but everything looks good at the moment. It's his first run of the year but we're very happy with him. “The plan was he goes there, then he could go to the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup and then Ascot for the Prince of Wales's. “After that, we could have a look at a dirt race with him. We'll see how that goes. He could go to Saratoga as well. His season will be split in two really, with a busy first half and then a break. As a rule, Deep Impacts are mainly turf horses, but we were surprised how well he worked on the dirt at the Breeders' Cup-he floated over it. He has an unusual action, so it will be interesting to see.” The post O’Brien Has Saratoga Aim For Guineas And Derby Favourite City Of Troy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's Timberlake (Into Mischief), winner of the Feb. 24 GII Rebel S., will return to Oaklawn Park for the Mar. 30 GI Arkansas Derby, trainer Brad Cox confirmed Wednesday. “I like the timing,” Cox said. “Obviously, he has the experience there now, that one run under him. I kind of thought the Rebel was the spot when we were getting started. At the beginning of the winter, we thought the Rebel was the spot. It worked out.” Timberlake worked five furlongs in 1:02.00 (18/30) at Cox's Fair Grounds base last Friday. The colt won last year's GI Champagne S. and second in the GI Hopeful S. The Rebel was his first start since finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Cox has won the last two renewals of the Arkansas Derby, with Cyberknife (Gun Runner) in 2022 and Angel of Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) in 2023. He could become the first trainer to win the race in three straight years. Other horses pointing to the Arkansas Derby include Mystik Dan (Goldencents), Liberal Arts (Arrogate), Just Steel (Justify) and Time for Truth (Omaha Beach). The post Timberlake Confirmed for Arkansas Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While Saturday ushers in the new turf season in Britain, there are almost as many European horses nominated to run at Rosehill in Sydney that same day. In the G1 Ranvet S., six of the seven runners were bred in either Britain, Ireland or France, and they include two seven-figure purchases made by Yulong Investments last December. Group 1-winning mares Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was bought for 2.7 million gns at Tattersalls, and Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a €4.025 million Arqana purchase, are now trained respectively by Chris Waller and Anthony and Sam Freedman. They are set to go head to head in the 2,000-metre contest which also features Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a former dual Listed winner in Ireland, French Listed winner Bois d'Argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), and Zeyrek (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Nine of the last 12 runnings of the race have been won by a horse bred in Europe. Waller, who saddles both Via Sistina and Buckaroo for the A$1 million race, told Australia's Sky Racing World that he has been following the example set by his British counterpart William Haggas, who has twice won the Ranvet, with Addeybb (Ire) and Dubai Honour (Ire). He said of Via Sistina, the winner of the G1 Pretty Polly S. and runner-up to King Of Steel in the G1 Champion S. for George Boughey last year, “We prepared her in Newmarket, I kept a close eye on what Mr Haggas has done with a few of his horses which have beaten Verry Elleegant a number of times. He just gets it right every year. Firstly he brings the right horse. Secondly he prepares them well and thirdly they cope with the trip. So she looks like she's that type of horse.” Waller added, “She's thrived the last two weeks. She's just going on the right path forward and I've been impressed with her.” Some familiar names also make the cut for Saturday's 19-strong G1 George Ryder S. The 2022 Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), whose move from Sheila Lavery to Ciaron Maher last year was not without controversy, makes his second start for Maher after finishing second in the G3 Liverpool City Cup at Randwick on his Australian debut. He is set to face the former John and Thady Gosden trainee Mighty Ulysses (GB), the winner of last season's G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury who is now trained by Annabel Neasham. The Irish Listed winner Cosmic Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who changed hands for 100,000gns at Tattersalls last October, is also in the line-up along with Cepheus (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Unspoken (Ire) (Territories {Ire}). The G3 N E Manion Cup, run over 2,400 metres, is another race in which the European imports have dominated over the last decade. Haggas won the race with Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in 2020 and this year fields Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who is now owned by Lloyd Williams. He is up against last year's Listed Feilden S. winner Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who is another to have joined the Waller stable. Another expensive Yulong acquisition to now be under the care of Sydney's champion trainer is Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who is an interesting entrant for the G3 Epona S. Bought from Boherguy Stud for 1 million gns in 2022 after finishing runner-up to Blue Rose Cen (Ire) in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, she subsequently finished third in the G3 Lexus Archer S. at Flemington last November. The post Yulong’s Via Sistina and Place Du Carrousel to Clash in G1 Ranvet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The March 23 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the Turfway Park all-weather course offers enough "Road to the Kentucky Derby" points to ensure the winner, and maybe the runner-up, a spot in the big race and there's no shortage of takers for that offer.View the full article

Veteran handler prepares dominant city circuit winner ahead of Hong Kong Derby and Japan Group One tiltsView the full article

1/ST Racing, the owners of Santa Anita, have threatened to close or sell the “Great RIP,” making the threats on the eve of a critical meeting of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) in which the future of racing in the northern half of the state will be decided. Santa Anita has been calling for racing to shut down in the North, which, it believes, will help strengthen racing at Santa Anita and the other Southern California tracks. The story was first reported by John Cherwa in the Los Angeles Times. With 1/ST set to close Golden Gate Fields on June 9, the future of Northern California racing is very much up in the air. Hoping to save racing in that part of the state, Pleasanton, a fair track, will ask the CHRB to approve a 10-week meeting that would run from Oct. 19 to Dec. 15. If those dates are approved, it may complicate Santa Anita's efforts to reallocate revenue from simulcasting that is currently split between the northern and southern tracks. 1/ST is backing legislation that would reallocate simulcast money from Northern California to Southern California in the event that racing ceases to exist in the northern portion of the state. Santa Anita believes it needs the extra simulcast money to make racing viable in its part of the state. Additionally, Santa Anita is hoping that with Golden Gate shutting down, many horsemen from that area will relocate to Santa Anita. If that happens, Santa Anita management believes it can add a fourth day to its weekly racing schedule and will be able to card races with bigger fields. On Tuesday, Craig Fravel, the executive vice-chairman of 1/ST Racing and Gaming, sent a three-page letter to the CHRB, urging the Board not allocate the extra dates being sought by tracks that are members of the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF). Fravel contended that if racing is approved at the CARF tracks “an analysis of alternatives for Santa Anita and San Luis Rey (training center) will be undertaken in short order. As noted, the current financial model and required capital expense make no sense and the consolidation of operations as discussed last year and at the January Board meeting is the only alternative that has been presented.” Fravel also wrote that over the last five years Santa Anita has incurred operating losses in excess of $31 million while investing over $32 million in capital projects. “The current model is simply unsustainable,” Fravel wrote. Fravel also contended that the proposals being floated by the CARF tracks “is lacking in so much detail that it is difficult to understand what has been done over the last eight months and even more difficult to understand how the Board can be asked to put the entire thoroughbred industry in the state at risk by allocating dates on the basis of speculation.” Fravel also said that allocating dates to the CARF tracks will lead to immediate purse cuts at Santa Anita and planned capital projects will be re-evaluated. The post 1/ST Racing Says It May Sell Or Close Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Former Newmarket-based jockey Stefano Cherchi has been hospitalised in Australia following a mid-race fall at Canberra on Wednesday. Racing was delayed while the 23-year-old was treated on the track for a head injury and internal bleeding before being taken to hospital. His mount, Hasime (Aus), trained by Robert Quinn, fell during the third race, bringing down two other runners whose riders, Shaun Guymer and Jeff Penza, both walked back to the weighing-room. None of the horses are believed to have been seriously injured. In a post on Twitter, the NSW Jockeys Association said, “Stefano has been transported to Canberra Hospital, where doctors will assess the full extent of the injuries.” Born in Italy, Cherchi moved to England as a teenager and had his first ride there aboard Casina Di Notte (Ire) in August 2018. He partnered 106 winners in the intervening seasons before relocating to Australia at the beginning of this year. The majority of his rides in the UK were for his former boss and countryman Marco Botti, who said on social media, “The whole yard is saddened by the news this morning. Stefano has sustained serious injuries in a race fall in Australia. Thoughts and prayers and with [Stefano] and his family.” The post Stefano Cherchi Injured in Australian Race Fall appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winners Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) head 12 European entries for the FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on April 28. A strong international challenge also includes 25 potential runners from Japan, eight from Australia and three from the UAE, while there are 41 locally-trained entries. Regional, now six, gave his trainer Ed Bethell a first Group 1 success in last year's Haydock Sprint Cup and he has been entered for the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, with prize-money totalling approximately £2.2 million. His fellow British-trained horses Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Frost At Dawn (Frosted) are also entered. The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour, a dual Group 1 winner in Australia, would be returning for a third run in Hong Kong. He was fourth in the 2021 G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and third last year in the G1 FWD QEII Cup, which this time around is worth approximately £2.8 million. Haggas has also entered Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) for the G1 FWD Champions Mile, which could also feature Middleham Park Racing's globetrotting Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation), trained by Archie Watson, and Fort Payne (Fr) (Rio De La Plata) for French trainer Nicolas Caullery. Three of the winners of last December's Hong Kong International Races – Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) – hold entries for the meeting, along with Japan's Fillies' Triple Crown winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Godolphin's Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the G1 Jebel Hatta in January. “We are excited by the spread and quality of international entries among the nominations for FWD Champions Day,” said Andrew Harding, executive director of racing for the Hong Kong Jockey Cub. “The potential return of Golden Sixty in the FWD Champions Mile after his stunning Longines Hong Kong Mile performance in December, along with Romantic Warrior in the FWD QEII Cup and Lucky Sweynesse in the Chairman's Sprint Prize, lays the foundation for another wonderful staging of our spring flagship meeting. “We are delighted at the support we have received from overseas owners and trainers in Japan, England, France, Ireland, Australia and the United Arab Emirates, with the number of entries across our three Group 1 features rising from 71 last season to 89 this year.” The post Strong European Challenge for Hong Kong’s Champions Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Globe’s (NZ) (Charm Spirit) racetrack return looks firmly on track after resuming with an impressive jumpout performance at Cranbourne on Monday morning. A winner of his first four starts before suffering from cardiac arrhythmia in his only spring appearance in the Feehan Stakes, Globe strolled home to win the 1000-metre heat by four lengths, clocking 58.84 seconds under Mark Zahra. “This morning was a bit of a look-see to see where he is at and he was perfect,” said Mick Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr. “He had a good spell and had some good pre-training and he is a good colour and not too fat, so I think he will come up super.” Price said Globe will trial again, possibly next Monday, before his first racetrack appearance in more than six months for Roll the Dice Racing. “I haven’t got a specific target for him, I just want to be careful with him,” Price explained. “I am not sure if he goes to Sydney, but he is still a 90-rater, so I think we will just enjoy winning. “He will have had a long time (out), so I don’t really want to be chucking him in the deep end. “His potential has not been unearthed yet, so I am not sure what level he attains but somewhere between a mile and 2000 metres will be him.” View the full article

Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell will keep Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls) to the flat for the immediate future after the New Zealand-bred gelding recorded a strong staying win at Sandown. Farag added the Sportsbet Make It Look Easy Handicap (3000m) on Wednesday to his record of four wins from five starts since joining the stable of Purcell after 14 starts in New Zealand. Giving Damian Lane a second win in the first three races on Wednesday, Farag ($4.20) scored a widening 3-¾ length win. Purcell said the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) in June could be a race that Farag is geared towards before embarking on a potential jumping career. The Sandown Cup has been rescheduled this year from its traditional November date. Faraq started his winning spree with a Geelong maiden win in January while he won at Bendigo and Warrnambool in the lead up to Wednesday’s success. “He’s a really good stayer. He’s got a great set of lungs, a good heart in him, a really good action,” Purcell said. “He’s a lean horse, so we don’t do a lot with him at home as there’s not a lot there, but he loves his racing. He loves galloping and loves being here in Australia.” Purcell said he hopes to return to Sandown on April 1 for another 3000m contest, this time at benchmark 78 level, before setting his sights higher. “There’s another won of these races here on Monday week and if we can do well in that again, then we may have to lift the bar again,” Purcell said. “They’ve transferred the Sandown Cup to June, so that might be a long-range plan, but we’ll see how many races we can tick off along the way. “He’s been jumping a fair bit, and he jumps pretty good, but he won’t be jumping until later in the season, or even next season.” Lane was forced to jog back to scale post-race after Farag dumped the jockey before entering the mounting yard. “I was walking back just a little bit too relaxed,” Lane said. “I don’t know what he saw, but he shied at something, and I embarrassingly landed on my backside as we were walking back.” View the full article

Plans are underway to take Dolphin Skin (NZ) (Telperion) to Adelaide for their upcoming Carnival, but for the time being the filly will be kept in Melbourne. The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained filly was entered for the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on Saturday, but instead she will stay in Melbourne to contest the Gr.3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley. Troy Corstens said running the filly at home on Saturday will give the stable a better indication of where she sits against those that are likely to be in Adelaide later in the Carnival. Dolphin Skin had a gallop at The Valley on Tuesday morning and acquitted herself well giving Corstens that added belief of staying in Melbourne was the right thing to do. Plans after Saturday are to travel to Adelaide for the Gr.3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on April 13 and then the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) two weeks later. “If she runs really well on Saturday, we’ll be going over for the Auraria Stakes and the Australasian Oaks,” Corstens said. “I figured I don’t really want to be going over three times and she got around Moonee Valley nicely on Tuesday morning. “If she runs really well, it gives you confidence that you can go over for the Auraria and then she can stay over for the other race.” Dolphin Skin showed her potential as a late two-year-old winning the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington last July which prompted the team to set the filly on a path towards the VRC Oaks (2500m) last spring. But the filly failed to come up and was sent for a break, returning to win first-up over 1400m at Sandown last month. “She was good first-up and that’s what she showed us in her first preparation,” Corstens said. “We brought her back for an Oaks prep, but she’d been up too long and needed a break, so it was good to see her back the other day. “You only get one shot at a VRC Oaks, and it didn’t work, but we could also end up in Queensland if she’s going well enough.” View the full article

As Te Akau Racing prepare for a bumper Saturday at The Valley, the domestic stable will saddle two proven performers in an evenly-matched Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. Senior galloper Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) has pleased co-trainer Sam Bergerson with a return to near career-best form of late, highlighted by a narrow third in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata earlier this month. “He’s rising eight, but he’s near-on career best form at the moment,” said Bergerson , who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. “I thought his run in the Kaimai Stakes was really good, and back to the mile suits, so we gave him a freshen-up following that 2000m race. “He worked with Cognito and they were hard to split, the good draw (5) gives Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) a few more options and he gets in well under the set weights and penalties. The Savabeel seven-year-old will benefit from the services of an in-form Craig Grylls, while Wiremu Pinn will partner stablemate Cognito (So You Think) from an outside draw. A winner of last season’s Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), Cognito has continued to perform in stakes company as a four-year-old and Bergerson is hopeful a gear change will assist the gelding’s chances this weekend. “Going back up to the mile will suit him, he was good at Hastings but probably was just looking for a bit further. We’ve taken the blinkers off him, and hopefully the shadow roll will spark him up a bit,” he said. “Warren (Kennedy, jockey) just thought he was going through the motions at Hastings, and James McDonald had a similar thought in the Aotearoa Classic ($1 million, 1600m), albeit that was in a very good field. “On this trackwork at home, he would be a good each-way chance in a relatively even field, and on his day he’s definitely in it.” The Matamata trainers hope to find success in the opener with promising talent El Viento (NZ), the El Roca three-year-old bettering a strong field in MAAT conditions at just his fourth raceday appearance last start. “He won well in a pretty sharp field last time out, this field has a few handy gallopers as well, so we’ll know more after the race,” Bergerson said. “We’re really happy with him, he’s had a bit of time between runs to keep him fresh for the 1400m and eventually I think he’ll get over the mile and possibly further. “He’s a nice, progressive handicapper for next season, whether this is his last run before a spell, we’ll know after Saturday as he’s a nice horse going forward.” Te Akau apprentice Jess Allen has enjoyed success aboard the stable’s runners recently and will offer three-kilograms of weight relief for last-start winner Freeze Frame (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Peter Clarke Bayleys Residential 1400. “He’s another really nice progressive galloper, his win at Matamata was really good after the start before was quite disappointing. We couldn’t find anything wrong with him, but on his run last-start he should be hard to beat,” Bergerson said. A select six-horse field will assemble for the Triton Pacific Owens Plate, and four-win mare Aris Aris (NZ) (Contributer) is primed for a fifth career victory fresh-up with Allen on board. “It looks like she’s found the right race on paper, and she gets in really well with the claim in one of the softer Open 1200m races that you’d find,” Bergerson said. “We gave her a freshen-up after the Rich Hill, she’s come back in really nice order and her trial at Tauranga was good. She’s won at the track before, and she maps to get a lovely run in behind the speed. She’s a good winning chance.” The Te Akau team kicked the week off on a positive note at Pukekohe on Wednesday, with their sole runner Treaty Of Paris (NZ) (Tavistock) returning to the winner’s circle in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis 2100. “He had been a bit disappointing prior to Wednesday, so it was great to see him back in the winner’s circle and hopefully that gives him some confidence going forward,” Bergerson said. “It was a lovely ride by Dean (Parker, jockey), he saved a lot of ground and that was probably the winning of the race.” Pukekohe’s meeting marked the first high-weight races of the jumps season and Te Akau are chasing early trans-Tasman spoils over the fences with The Mighty Spar (NZ) (Savabeel) as the last start South Waikato Cup (2000m) winner heads for the iconic Warrnambool Carnival. “Originally we were going to head to the Hawke’s Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m), but he’s on the flight to Melbourne today (Wednesday),” Bergerson said. “He’ll be steered towards the Warrnambool Carnival, we think he’s quite a good jumper so we’ll head in that direction with him.” The Savabeel six-year-old travelled to Te Akau’s Cranbourne base with stablemate Certainly (NZ) (Savabeel), as the exciting filly readies for her Australian debut at the Valley. “I’m really looking forward to seeing Certainly, she’s always been a filly that we’ve had a high opinion of, initially possibly our 1000 Guineas filly, but she’s still very lightly-raced and it’s all in front of her,” Bergerson said. “She’s in really good order and I think she can match it with the best fillies’ there in Melbourne.” View the full article

Following a five-year hiatus from training, Matamata horseman Peter Rudkin made a winning return at Pukekohe on Wednesday courtesy of Market Place (NZ) (Burgundy) in the TAB 1200. “I left the South Island five years ago when racing was a bit tough,” Rudkin said. “I was from Cambridge, so I came back here, and I have been pottering around. “I have been driving trucks for Te Akau Racing and I asked Glenn (Old, trainer) if he had a horse suitable for the South Island as I was looking to lease one to have with Kenny Rae. About two months ago he said Market Place was a bread and butter horse up here who would be ideal for the South Island, so I said I would take him. “I got him about a month ago, gave him a week off and he has come out and done that. I was more impressed than I expected.” Initially earmarked to head to New Plymouth’s meeting on Friday to test the Central Districts waters, Rudkin changed tack when he was booked in to have surgery on Thursday. “The plan was to go to New Plymouth on Friday to try the Central Districts as he has been racing up here, so I thought I would try weaker company down in the Central Districts,” he said. “But I am going for an operation tomorrow to get a pacemaker, so I had to change my plans and that is why the horse is up here. “I have got a slow pulse which makes me tired and gives me aching muscles. I will be in and out tomorrow and they have told me to have a two-week break, so the horse will leave Pukekohe and got up to Kenny Rae’s at Ruakaka. He will work him up there and he will race at Ruakaka in two weeks and then I can get him back again.” Initially from Waikato, Rudkin has always been involved with horses and decided to take out an owner-trainer license in the late nineties to work a couple of horses alongside his horse transport business. “I was born and bred in Cambridge and I have always been a truck driver,” he said. “I started off as an owner-trainer in Cambridge and then I bought North-South Horse Transport off Colin Butler, so we carted horses for a few years,” he said. “We sold that business and Kenny Rae and Donna Logan were sending a team of horses to Cup Week down at Riccarton, I was doing nothing, so I took them down and looked after them for the week. They came back and I stayed. I did about 12 years public training down in the South Island.” Rudkin has now recorded 74 wins, one at stakes level, and has gone on to breed a Group One winner from one of his better performing mares. “Dontpokethetiger was probably my best one, she was Group Two placed,” Rudkin said. “Dickens was another good one, and Rock On Rye won six races and I bred a Group One winner out of her in Rock On Wood.” Rudkin sold Rock On Rye (Catcher in the Rye) in-foal to Satono Aladdin for $60,000 on gavelhouse.com last year and while he is keen to get back into breeding, he said Market Place will keep him busy in the meantime. “I haven’t got a broodmare at the moment, but I am looking at getting into it again because I do enjoy it, but he (Market Place) he will keep me occupied. I don’t know how good he is going to be, but I didn’t expect him to win in the North Island for me.” View the full article

Japan’s Liberty Island and Prognosis, Dubai Honour from Great Britain and Australia’s Mr Brightside headline international interest in Hong Kong’s second-biggest race dayView the full article

Ears Back will contest the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South Ears Back will head to Riccarton on Saturday in search of black-type in the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The five-year-old daughter of Jakkalberry came close when fourth in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui last month before she won the Southland Stakes (1400m) at Ascot Park a fortnight later. She has since been freshened and has pleased trainer John Blackadder with her work in the lead-up to her weekend assignment. “Her run in the White Robe was good. She just came to the end of it, she wasn’t far away. It was a nice run,” Blackadder said. “It was a pretty impressive win last start. “She had a good week-and-a-half off. She is fresh and nice and fit. She had a gallop on Saturday and went down to the beach again today (Wednesday) and did some nice pace work. I am very happy with her. “All she needs is a bit of luck and she will be right in it.” Blackadder utilises the beach to add some variance to his team’s work, and he said they love they change in environment. “They love it down there, it keeps their minds fresh,” he said. “They would typically go down three or four times a week. My philosophy is that as long as they are hopping on the float and going somewhere, it keeps their minds active as opposed to going around and doing the same thing every day.” Ears Back has drawn gate seven on Saturday and will be ridden by northern hoop Jasmine Fawcett. “Gate seven is good, she flies the gates pretty well,” Blackadder said. “Jasmine will ride and they get on pretty well.” All going to plan after the weekend, Blackadder will aim his mare towards next month’s inaugural $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton. “She will go to the $350,000 race in a couple of weeks, which is just marvellous,” he said. Blackadder will also look to gain a berth in the race, restricted to South Island-trained horses, with new stable acquisition Phelan The Power if he performs well. Previously in the care of dual-code trainer Mark Jones, Phelan The Power joined Blackadder’s Rangiora barn in the last month and he has used the beach to his benefit to try and rejuvenate the six-year-old. “If he goes a good race, I would like to have a crack at it (Southern Alps Challenge) with him,” Blackadder said. “In the past he has gone some really good races. This will be my first start with him and whether he wants to still do it I am not too sure. I have been taking him down to the beach trying to change his mindset.” Stablemate Kahma Suitsya’s weekend performance will also dictate her future plans, with a trip to Southland next week to contest the Riverton Cup (2147m) on the cards. The daughter of Tavistock will be fresh-up in the Seaton Family Memorial Hororata Gold Cup (1800m), having last raced in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui last month where she finished eighth. “She will need the run as she hasn’t had a run for quite a while,” Blackadder said. “I would have liked to have got a trial into her, but she is a nice horse all the same. If she goes well, I will probably take her to Riverton next week.” Meanwhile, consistent filly Amiinit will be looking to get her preparation back on track after knuckling down shortly after the start of the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui last start, losing rider Lee Callaway. “I really wanted to get a gauge on her last time, so that was disappointing,” Blackadder said. “She comes up against a fairly solid field again on Saturday, but she is not a bad horse. She is a consistent horse.” Prior to last start, Amiinit had strung together four consecutive placings, and Blackadder said he will give her another stakes opportunity at Riccarton next month in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m). “There is a 1600m coming up soon and we will probably build up to the Warstep (Listed, 2000m) as she is looking for more ground,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson (centre) will line-up a dozen runners at his home meeting on Friday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson is looking forward to heading to his home meeting on Friday where he will line-up a dozen runners. He will have a four-pronged attack in the Grangewilliams Stud 1400, including It’s Doris, who he has labelled the stable’s best chance of the day. The three-year-old daughter of Telperion has won one and placed in two of her five starts to date and was fourth last start in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth last month. She heads into Friday’s assignment in a fresh state and Patterson is expecting her to perform well ahead of a trip south to Riccarton next month where she will target the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) and Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m). “It’s Doris is going onto the two fillies’ races at Riccarton next month,” Patterson said. “She has been jumping out really well and she will be competitive. I would say she is our best chance of the day.” She will be met in Friday’s race by debut winner Smug, and fellow stablemates Belladonna Lilly, and O’Ceirin’s Dream. Patterson is hoping enigmatic galloper The Chopper brings his manners to the meeting after he ran out in his last start at Trentham as a well-supported favourite and finished last, while he is also upbeat about the chances of last start runner-up Bow Hill. “Hopefully The Chopper can make amends after he ran off the other day, and Bow Hill is a horse with ability,” he said. Meanwhile, Patterson is set to welcome back his Group One-winning miler Puntura back to New Zealand following a disappointing last placed result in last Saturday’s All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield. While it may not have been the result he had hoped for, Patterson is pleased he went on the quickfire hit-and-run mission after being offered a wildcard into the race just 10 days prior. “He was just out on his feet a little bit at the end of the season, and racing against that quality he couldn’t keep up to the pace that she (Pride Of Jenni, winner) set,” Patterson said. Looking on the bright side, Patterson said it was a good opportunity to check out Melbourne and meet some contacts ahead of future campaigns. “The Underbelly will definitely target there and One Bold Cat may as well when the ground eases a bit,” Patterson said. “I made some good contacts. Steve Richards trains at Flemington and Dean Williams is over there and I have a good association with Dean, it was good. We know what we are going into next time. “He (Puntura) flies back today (Wednesday) and will be back in the paddock for a couple of months. He has had a big season and to have three stakes wins in a row was great. “We don’t regret going, the horse has pulled up sound and that is the main thing.” Horse racing news View the full article

Promising galloper You Say D’Orsay (inside). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Chris Wood took an early shine to You Say D’Orsay and his judgement has proved on the money with the three-year-old making a strong start to his career. The Cambridge trainer was expecting the gelding to make an impression when asked serious questions and with two wins and a runner-up finish from three starts his young charge has answered positively. You Say D’Orsay will bid to further his record when he likely makes the final appearance of his current preparation at Tauranga on Saturday. “I think he’ll just have the one more run and then he’ll go to the paddock for six or eight weeks and bring him back for the spring,” Wood said. “He’s pretty much untapped at the moment and doing it on raw ability.” You Say D’Orsay was successful at Te Rapa at the first time of asking before he won again at Matamata and then finished second in a competitive line-up behind Hat Trick at Ellerslie. He will be ridden at the weekend by Joe Doyle, who guided him to his debut victory and was aboard in his most recent outing. “He’s kept stepping up to the mark and it was a good run at Ellerslie and Joe said he just got beaten by a better horse on the day,” Wood said. “It was a good field and he beat quite a few promising horses and it was good to see him take a sit because he led in his first two starts. “He didn’t have any trouble and he balanced up nicely and came home well. Joe said the horse will keep on improving and there’s plenty ahead of him.” Promising trial performances last year and words of encouragement from New Zealand’s leading rider had also reinforced Wood’s opinion of You Say D’Orsay. “We knew he had plenty under the bonnet and he’s done a very good job. He had three trials before he raced and ran three seconds,” he said. “I put Warren Kennedy on him in the middle trial and he said this is a very smart horse and I’d like to ride him when he goes to the races, but unfortunately for him it just hasn’t panned out that way.” A son of the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1200m) winner Under The Louvre, You Say D’Orsay was secured for A$50,000 at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale. “I couldn’t get there that year and asked Paul Moroney to find a horse for me,” Wood said. “This one came up late in the day and pleased now that I went a little bit further than my budget. “We syndicated between stable clients and a few new people and they’re pretty happy already with two wins and a second. “He’s a very good-natured horse and he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. “He’s a lovely, kind horse to have around the stable and that makes the job a lot easier.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Albury Gold Cup Day Where Albury Racing Club – 16-46 Fallon St, Albury NSW 2640 When Friday, March 22, 2024 First Race 1:05pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Albury Gold Cup (2000m) carnival continues on Friday afternoon with a competitive eight-race program kicking off at 1:05pm local time. The feature has $200,000 up for grabs, with the winner granted entry into the 2024 Big Dance (1600m) on the first Tuesday of November. The rail won’t be moved from the true position after Thursday’s meeting, and with sunny skies predicted throughout the week, the surface should be upgraded from the Soft 7 rating at some stage. Albury Gold Cup Tip: Fawkner Park Fawkner Park looks ideally placed after two strong hit-outs. The son of Zoffany found the 1600m too sharp first-up at Randwick in a quality BM100 contest before heading to Melbourne to compete in the Australian Cup Prelude (1800m), going down by 3.3 lengths behind Young Werther on March 9. That form-line reads exceptionally well, and with barrier four assuring a soft run in transit, Fawkner Park should get the last crack at them in the Albury Gold Cup. Albury Gold Cup Race 7 – #3 Fawkner Park (4) 5yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: TBC +315 with Bet365 Best Bet at Albury: Associate Associate was luckless in the Moruya Country Championship Qualifier (1400m) on March 3 and should make amends in this Class 3 affair. The Danielle Seib-trained gelding bombed the start but charged through the wire on that occasion, and this presents a much easier task for the son of Star Witness. The 1500m should give the four-year-old plenty of time to wind up under Tyler Schiller, and when asked for the ultimate effort, Associate should put this lot away. Best Bet Race 5 – #1 Associate (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Danielle Seib | J: Tyler Schiller (60.5kg) +170 with PlayUp Next Best at Albury: Luna Rocks Luna Rocks recently joined the Mitchell Beer stable and appears ready to strike first-up. The mare by Hellbent finished last of nine in her final attempt for the Richard & Will Freedman barn on September 3, but based on her most recent barrier trial at this course on February 18, the four-year-old seems to be revelling in her new conditions. Watch for Luna Rocks to head straight to the front under Angus Villiers and hold them off despite carrying the top weight. Next Best Race 3 – #1 Luna Rocks (6) 4yo Mare | T: Mitchell Beer | J: Angus Villiers (1.5kg) (61kg) +440 with Unibet Best Value at Albury: Boss Lady Rocks Boss Lady Rocks is a lightly raced seven-year-old from the Ron Stubbs barn and gets ready to resume after 250 days off the scene. The daughter of Street Boss is yet to miss the frame at this track, with three wins and three minor placings to her name, and there is no reason that trend can’t continue Friday afternoon. Although she needs to overcome barrier 13, leave it to the capable hands of Jason Lyon to weave a passage aboard Boss Lady Rocks in the Albury finale. Best Value Race 8 – #2 Boss Lady Rocks (13) 7yo Mare | T: Ron Stubbs | J: Jason Lyon (59kg) +680 with Neds Albury Gold Cup Day quaddie tips – March 22, 2024 Albury quadrella selections Friday, March 22, 2024 1 2-4-6-8 1-2-3-6-7 1-2-3-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Cranbourne Races Where Cranbourne Turf Club – 50 Grant St, Cranbourne VIC 3977 When Friday, March 22, 2024 First Race 6:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Cranbourne Turf Club will host a competitive seven-race card this Friday evening. The track is expected to begin and stay in the Good range for the whole meeting, as a perfect autumn day is forecast. The rail will be pushed out slightly to the +3m position for the entire circuit, with racing set to kick off at 6:15pm AEDT. Best Bet at Cranbourne: She’s Bulletproof She’s Bulletproof returned with an impressive third-place finish behind Diamond Decorator in her first look down the Flemington straight. Given that the runner-up from her previous start has come out and won since, the Charlotte Littlefield-trained filly should be ready to do the same second-up as she rises from 1100m to 1200m on Friday. Ethan Brown will have his first sit on the daughter of Shooting To Win, and from barrier five, expect him to settle She’s Bulletproof near the rear of the field and round up her rivals in the final 400m. Best Bet Race 6 – #7 She’s Bulletproof (5) 3yo Filly | T: Charlotte Littlefield | J: Ethan Brown (58kg) +110 with Neds Next Best at Cranbourne: Queen Of Tuscany After recording a dominant 1.8-length victory at Pakenham last start, Queen Of Tuscany from the Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock yard will seek to record back-to-back wins when she takes on a small field in Benchmark 64 grade. The daughter of Fiorente has finished inside the placings at all four starts this preparation, including her recent victory, and there is no reason why she can’t win again here. Joe Bowditch will allow Queen Of Tuscany to settle where she is comfortable, and with even luck in the home straight, she will play a prominent role in the finish. Next Best Race 3 – #6 Queen Of Tuscany (5) 4yo Mare | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Joe Bowditch (58kg) +600 with Picklebet Next Best Again at Cranbourne: Cattrall Cattrall was severely held up on the home turn last start at Moonee Valley before the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained filly flew home to finish fourth, beaten 4.6 lengths by Isthmus. Although this daughter of Into Mischief was never going to win, her maiden victory two starts back was as impressive as any win on the day, and if she can bring that form on Friday, expect a much better performance. Michael Dee was aboard for that maiden success, and if he can settle this girl off the fence and get into clear air at the 400m mark, Cattrall will be flashing home down the outside late to stake her claim. Next Best Again Race 5 – #6 Cattrall (7) 3yo Filly | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Michael Dee (58.5kg) +140 with Dabble Friday quaddie tips for Cranbourne races Cranbourne quadrella selections Friday, March 22, 2024 3-4-6-7-9 1-5-6 1-4-7 1-4-5 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson is looking forward to heading to his home meeting on Friday where he will line-up a dozen runners. He will have a four-pronged attack in the Grangewilliams Stud 1400, including It’s Doris, who he has labelled the stable’s best chance of the day. The three-year-old daughter of Telperion has won one and placed in two of her five starts to date and was fourth last start in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth last month. She heads into Friday’s assignment in a fresh state and Patterson is expecting her to perform well ahead of a trip south to Riccarton next month where she will target the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) and Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m). “It’s Doris is going onto the two fillies’ races at Riccarton next month,” Patterson said. “She has been jumping out really well and she will be competitive. I would say she is our best chance of the day.” She will be met in Friday’s race by debut winner Smug, and fellow stablemates Belladonna Lilly, and O’Ceirin’s Dream. Patterson is hoping enigmatic galloper The Chopper brings his manners to the meeting after he ran out in his last start at Trentham as a well-supported favourite and finished last, while he is also upbeat about the chances of last start runner-up Bow Hill in the Tradies Raceday Saturday 11th May 2024 1600. “Hopefully The Chopper can make amends after he ran off the other day, and Bow Hill is a horse with ability,” he said. Meanwhile, Patterson is set to welcome back his Group One-winning miler Puntura back to New Zealand following a disappointing last placed result in last Saturday’s All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield. While it may not have been the result he had hoped for, Patterson is pleased he went on the quickfire hit-and-run mission after being offered a wildcard into the race just 10 days prior. “He was just out on his feet a little bit at the end of the season, and racing against that quality he couldn’t keep up to the pace that she (Pride Of Jenni, winner) set,” Patterson said. Looking on the bright side, Patterson said it was a good opportunity to check out Melbourne and meet some contacts ahead of future campaigns. “The Underbelly will definitely target there and One Bold Cat may as well when the ground eases a bit,” Patterson said. “I made some good contacts. Steve Richards trains at Flemington and Dean Williams is over there and I have a good association with Dean, it was good. We know what we are going into next time. “He (Puntura) flies back today (Wednesday) and will be back in the paddock for a couple of months. He has had a big season and to have three stakes wins in a row was great. “We don’t regret going, the horse has pulled up sound and that is the main thing.” View the full article

Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will head to Riccarton on Saturday in search of black-type in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The five-year-old daughter of Jakkalberry came close when fourth in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui last month before she won the Southland Stakes (1400m) at Ascot Park a fortnight later. She has since been freshened and has pleased trainer John Blackadder with her work in the lead-up to her weekend assignment. “Her run in the White Robe was good. She just came to the end of it, she wasn’t far away. It was a nice run,” Blackadder said. “It was a pretty impressive win last start. “She had a good week-and-a-half off. She is fresh and nice and fit. She had a gallop on Saturday and went down to the beach again today (Wednesday) and did some nice pace work. I am very happy with her. “All she needs is a bit of luck and she will be right in it.” Blackadder utilises the beach to add some variance to his team’s work, and he said they love they change in environment. “They love it down there, it keeps their minds fresh,” he said. “They would typically go down three or four times a week. My philosophy is that as long as they are hopping on the float and going somewhere, it keeps their minds active as opposed to going around and doing the same thing every day.” Ears Back has drawn gate seven on Saturday and will be ridden by northern hoop Jasmine Fawcett. “Gate seven is good, she flies the gates pretty well,” Blackadder said. “Jasmine will ride and they get on pretty well.” All going to plan after the weekend, Blackadder will aim his mare towards next month’s inaugural $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton. “She will go to the $350,000 race in a couple of weeks, which is just marvellous,” he said. Blackadder will also look to gain a berth in the race, restricted to South Island-trained horses, with new stable acquisition Phelan The Power (NZ) (Power) if he performs well in the Johnny Fresh Darfield & Yaldhurst Open Sprint (1400m) on Saturday. Previously in the care of dual-code trainer Mark Jones, Phelan The Power joined Blackadder’s Rangiora barn in the last month and he has used the beach to his benefit to try and rejuvenate the six-year-old. “If he goes a good race, I would like to have a crack at it (Southern Alps Challenge) with him,” Blackadder said. “In the past he has gone some really good races. This will be my first start with him and whether he wants to still do it I am not too sure. I have been taking him down to the beach trying to change his mindset.” Stablemate Kahma Suitsya’s (NZ) (Tavistock) weekend performance will also dictate her future plans, with a trip to Southland next week to contest the Riverton Cup (2147m) on the cards. The daughter of Tavistock will be fresh-up in the Seaton Family Memorial Hororata Gold Cup (1800m), having last raced in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui last month where she finished eighth. “She will need the run as she hasn’t had a run for quite a while,” Blackadder said. “I would have liked to have got a trial into her, but she is a nice horse all the same. If she goes well, I will probably take her to Riverton next week.” Meanwhile, consistent filly Amiinit (NZ) (Eminent) will be looking to get her preparation back on track after knuckling down shortly after the start of the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui last start, losing rider Lee Callaway. “I really wanted to get a gauge on her last time, so that was disappointing,” Blackadder said. “She comes up against a fairly solid field again on Saturday, but she is not a bad horse. She is a consistent horse.” Prior to last start, Amiinit had strung together four consecutive placings, and Blackadder said he will give her another stakes opportunity at Riccarton next month in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m). “There is a 1600m coming up soon and we will probably build up to the Warstep (Listed, 2000m) as she is looking for more ground,” he said. View the full article

Chris Wood took an early shine to You Say D’Orsay (Under The Louvre) and his judgement has proved on the money with the three-year-old making a strong start to his career. The Cambridge trainer was expecting the gelding to make an impression when asked serious questions and with two wins and a runner-up finish from three starts his young charge has answered positively. You Say D’Orsay will bid to further his record when he likely makes the final appearance of his current preparation in Saturday’s Bayleys Tauranga & Mt Maunganui 3YO (1400m) at Tauranga. “I think he’ll just have the one more run and then he’ll go to the paddock for six or eight weeks and bring him back for the spring,” Wood said. “He’s pretty much untapped at the moment and doing it on raw ability.” You Say D’Orsay was successful at Te Rapa at the first time of asking before he won again at Matamata and then finished second in a competitive line-up behind Hat Trick (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) at Ellerslie. He will be ridden at the weekend by Joe Doyle, who guided him to his debut victory and was aboard in his most recent outing. “He’s kept stepping up to the mark and it was a good run at Ellerslie and Joe said he just got beaten by a better horse on the day,” Wood said. “It was a good field and he beat quite a few promising horses and it was good to see him take a sit because he led in his first two starts. “He didn’t have any trouble and he balanced up nicely and came home well. Joe said the horse will keep on improving and there’s plenty ahead of him.” Promising trial performances last year and words of encouragement from New Zealand’s leading rider had also reinforced Wood’s opinion of You Say D’Orsay. “We knew he had plenty under the bonnet and he’s done a very good job. He had three trials before he raced and ran three seconds,” he said. “I put Warren Kennedy on him in the middle trial and he said this is a very smart horse and I’d like to ride him when he goes to the races, but unfortunately for him it just hasn’t panned out that way.” A son of the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1200m) winner Under The Louvre, You Say D’Orsay was secured for A$50,000 at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale. “I couldn’t get there that year and asked Paul Moroney to find a horse for me,” Wood said. “This one came up late in the day and pleased now that I went a little bit further than my budget. “We syndicated between stable clients and a few new people and they’re pretty happy already with two wins and a second. “He’s a very good-natured horse and he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. “He’s a lovely, kind horse to have around the stable and that makes the job a lot easier.” View the full article

Militarize heads the betting for the 2024 Rosehill Guineas. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The time-honoured Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) is one of five Group 1 events at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday afternoon, where 11 three-year-olds are set to take their place in the $750,000 feature. The Chris Waller-trained Militarize has been installed as the early +200 favourite post barrier draw, with online bookmakers quick to acknowledge the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) as the most traditional lead-up to this contest. Militarize finished runner-up on that occasion, while the second market elect, Tom Kitten (+260) wasn’t far away managing a fourth-place finish. Hugh Bowman makes the trip across from Hong Kong to take the ride aboard the James Cummings-trained galloper and looks to be drawn ideally in barrier two. The Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner Riff Rocket (+450) makes his return to Sydney after achieving a minor placing in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington second-up on March 2. Nash Rawiller is set to take the reins from barrier eight and is the beneficiary of James McDonald sticking aboard stablemate Militarize. Training duo Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young send their undefeated gelding Immediacy (+750) to Sydney for the first time and is well-respected in the market after a dominant performance in the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on February 28. The Ciaron Maher-trained King Colorado (+1100) leads the charge of those at double-figure odds, along with Cafe Millennium (+1500) and Ganbare (+1500) likely have some support in the lead-up. The 2024 Rosehill Guineas is race six on the Rosehill program and is set to get underway at 3:15pm local time. 2024 Rosehill Guineas Final Field 1. Militarize (7) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 56.5kg F: 22×85 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Amerindia (GB) +220 -153.85 2. Riff Rocket (8) T: Chris Waller J: Nash Rawiller W: 56.5kg F: 31×12 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: AMerican Pharoah (USA) Dam: Missile Coda +450 +105 3. Cafe Millenium (6) T: John O’Shea J: Tom Marquand W: 56.5kg F: 39×04 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Not a Single Doubt Dam: Veloce Forte +1600 +290 4. Tom Kitten (2) T: James Cummings J: Hugh Bowman W: 56.5kg F: 456×1 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Harry Angel (IRE) Dam: Transfers +280 -133.33 5. King Colorado (3) T: Ciaron Maher J: Mark Zahra W: 56.5kg F: 022×0 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Kingman (GB) Dam: More Aspen (USA) +1200 +240 6. Ganbare (4) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Tim Clark W: 56.5kg F: 97×38 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Maurice (JPN) Dam: Mardi +1600 +290 7. Immediacy (12) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: Luke Currie W: 56.5kg F: 111 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Tarzino (NZ) Dam: But Beautiful (IRE) +800 +180 8. Cap Ferrat (9) T: Chris Waller J: Ryan Moore W: 56.5kg F: 76×23 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Snitzel Dam: C’est Beau La Vie +2500 +450 9. Ceolwulf (11) T: Joseph Pride J: Blake Shinn W: 56.5kg F: 66x6x Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Colt Sire: Tavistock (NZ) Dam: Las Brisas (GB) +2000 +340 10. Ducasse (1) T: Michael Freedman J: Tyler Schiller W: 56.5kg F: 781×3 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Trapeze Artist Dam: Custard +5000 +850 11. Cosmic Lad (10) T: Edward Cummings J: Chad Schofield W: 56.5kg F: 0314 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Adelaide (IRE) Dam: Halimede +5000 +850 12. Steel Blaze (5) T: Brett Lazzarini J: Reece Jones W: 56.5kg F: 9187x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Real Steel (JPN) Dam: Aliyana Tilde +10000 +1800 Horse racing news View the full article