Wandering Eyes

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

Ozzmosis ridden by Rachel King winning the 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) There will be speed to burn in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) as a capacity field of 14 and four emergencies get ready to scorch the turf at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. Punters aren’t sure where to look, with chances strung out all over the page, however, online bookmakers have installed the retuning Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) winner Ozzmosis as +320 favourite. It comes as no surprise as the Bjorn Baker-trained colt gets into this event with only 53kg on his back, as Rachel King continues her associate on Saturday. Aft Cabin was luckless in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) on March 9, and online betting sites didn’t miss his effort, with the James Cummings-trained galloper placed on the second line of betting at +400. The Joe Pride-trained Private Eye (+600) also comes through that event but is now third-up into the campaign after managing a runner-up placing in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on resumption. Two very intriguing returns come in the form of Uncommon James and Sunshine In Paris both priced at +800 apiece. The chances simply don’t end there, however, with the likes of Kings Gambit (+1000), Passive Aggressive (+1300) and Buenos Noches all having strong claims. The 2024 Galaxy is the penultimate race on the Rosehill card and is scheduled to get underway at 5:20pm AEDT. 2024 The Galaxy Final Field 1. Private Eye (14) T: Joseph Pride J: Nash Rawiller W: 58kg F: 62×23 Age: 6YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Al Maher Dam: Confidential Queen +700 +200 2. King Of Sparta (11) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Blake Shinn W: 56.5kg F: 11282 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Octavia +1500 +320 3. Mazu (15) T: Joseph Pride J: Jason Collett W: 55.5kg F: 5×450 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Maurice (JPN) Dam: Chatelaine +2200 +450 4. Uncommon James (1) T: Steven O’Dea & Mathew Hoysted J: Damian Lane W: 55.5kg F: x323x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Cable Bay (IRE) Dam: Pickabee +800 +220 5. Aft Cabin (8) T: James Cummings J: James McDonald W: 55kg F: 3×941 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Astern Dam: Shelters +400 +115 6. Buenos Noches (4) T: Matthew Smith J: Dylan Gibbons W: 55kg F: 94×28 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Supido Dam: Koi +1800 +350 7. Kallos (12) T: James Cummings J: Tom Marquand W: 55kg F: 01×77 Age: 5YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Medaglia D’oro (USA) Dam: Calliope +8000 +1800 8. Remarque (6) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: Tommy Berry W: 54.5kg F: 4x51x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Snitzel Dam: Response +2000 +400 9. Asfoora (8) T: Henry Dwyer J: Tim Clark W: 54kg F: 02×91 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Flying Artie Dam: Golden Child +2200 +450 10. Passive Aggressive (10) T: Grahame Begg J: Jordan Childs W: 54kg F: 1x80x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Miss Judgement +1200 +270 11. Sunshine In Paris (2) T: Annabel Neasham J: Ryan Maloney W: 53.5kg F: x1x12 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Invader Dam: Zenaida (NZ) +800 +220 12. Zapateo (9) T: James Cummings J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 53kg F: 23×60 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Brazen Beau Dam: Jerezana +2800 +650 13. Ozzmosis (13) T: Bjorn Baker J: Rachel King W: 53kg F: x131x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Zoustar Dam: No More Tears (NZ) +320 +100 14. Front Page (16) T: Matthew Dale J: Tyler Schiller W: 52.5kg F: x61x6 Age: 7YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Magnus Dam: Stacey Lee +2500 +550 15 (1E). Queen Of The Ball (3) T: Michael Freedman J: Zac Lloyd W: 51kg F: 70×51 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Miss Debutante +6000 +1400 16 (2E). King’s Gambit (5) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Jamie Kah W: 50kg F: 8x13x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Sultry Feeling +1100 +260 17 (3E). Derry Grove (7) T: Matthew Dunn J: TBC W: 51kg F: 521×9 Age: 5YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Star Turn Dam: True Malt +8000 +1800 18 (4E). Quick Tempo (18) T: Mark Minervini J: Reece Jones W: 51kg F: 56×62 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Rubick Dam: Tawfiq Valley +20000 +2000 Horse racing news View the full article

Think It Over heads the market for the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Racing NSW The Ranvet Stakes will be one of five Group 1 features on the massive 10-race program at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday afternoon, with a small but quality field of eight runners accepting for the 2000m race. Due to the small field, most of the runners are marked under double figures, with last start Verry Elleegant Stakes winner Think It Over opening as the +180 favourite with most online bookmakers. The Kerry Parker-trained gelding will connect with Nash Rawiller once again as the duo seek to claim back-to-back Group 1 successes for the first time. Chris Waller will have three runners in the small field, with Buckaroo and Via Sistina locked together at +300 on the second line of betting. Ryan Moore will have his first ride on Buckaroo, who is coming off a solid performance in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, when he ran home strong from the back of the field over 1400m. Via Sistina will gain the services of James McDonald for her Australian debut as the ex-European galloper steps out for her first start since running at Ascot in October last year. The third of the Waller runners and only three-year-old in the race will be Riff Rocket (+650), who will compete in open Group 1 company for the first time after running third in the Australian Guineas last start. Place Du Carrousel (+800) is the last of the chances in single figures, as the daughter of Lope De Vega makes her debut for the Anthony & Sam Freedman barn on Saturday. The Ranvet Stakes is scheduled to jump at 2:35pm AEDT, and it will be race five on the Rosehill card. 2024 Ranvet Stakes Final Field 1. Think It Over (2) T: Kerry Parker J: Nash Rawiller W: 59kg F: 13×61 Age: 8YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: So You Think (NZ) Dam: Personal Service +180 -303.03 2. Military Mission (6) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Adam Hyeronimus W: 59kg F: 3×101 Age: 6YO Color: Grey Sex: Gelding Sire: Mastercraftsman (IRE) Dam: Atlantic Isle (GER) +1600 +230 3. Buckaroo (3) T: Chris Waller J: Ryan Moore W: 59kg F: 5×572 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Roheryn (IRE) +300 -200 4. Zeyrek (4) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: TBC W: 59kg F: 9×010 Age: 7YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE) Dam: Zerkaza (IRE) +10000 +1100 5. Bois D’Argent (7) T: Annabel Neasham J: Chad Schofield W: 59kg F: 2×476 Age: 7YO Color: Grey Sex: Gelding Sire: Toronado (IRE) Dam: Madonna Lily (IRE) +5000 +600 6. Via Sistina (8) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg F: x2x23 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Nigh (IRE) +300 -200 7. Place Du Carrousel (5) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Tommy Berry W: 57kg F: x011x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Traffic Jam (IRE) +800 +120 8. Riff Rocket (1) T: Chris Waller J: TBC W: 54.5kg F: 31×12 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Americain Pharoah (USA) Dam: Missile Coda +650 +100 Horse racing news View the full article

Think About It heads a capacity field of runners in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. The Group 1 George Ryder Stakes will be one of the most anticipated races on Saturday afternoon at Rosehill Gardens, with a capacity field of 19 runners accepting for the $1 million feature. After online horse racing betting sites opened their market with only three horses marked under +900, there appears to be plenty of value to be found in the 2024 edition of the George Ryder. The reigning Everest champion and last start runner-up in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes, Think About It will carry the number one saddlecloth and has opened as the race favourite at +280. Joseph Pride’s stable star returned with a solid first-up run over 1300m, and he will step up to 1500m second-up for the first time in his career on Saturday. Militarize (+400) from the Chris Waller barn sits on the second line of betting, but he has also accepted for the Rosehill Guineas on the same day, which leaves punters guessing as to where he will head. Kovalica (+1600) will join his stablemate in the race as the 2023 Queensland Derby winner seeks to win his first since his triumph in the Derby at Eagle Farm on July 27 of last year. Encap (+800) from the Gary Portelli stable sits on the third line of betting, even though this will be his first crack at open age Group 1 level after finishing fifth in the Randwick Guineas last start. Ciaron Maher will be represented by three runners in the George Ryder, as he has accepted with New Energy (+1800), Cosmic Vega (+3300) and Tiz Invincible (+2500). From the Annabel Neasham yard, last start Canterbury Stakes winner, Lady Laguna (+900), will look to continue her rich vein of form, and will be joined by Mighty Ulysses (+1800), who will make his Australian debut for Neasham. After being beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap, Amenable (+1800) from the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr stable will test his ability in Group 1 company north of the border for the first time. The George Ryder Stakes is scheduled to jump at 3:55pm AEDT at Rosehill Gardens. 2024 George Ryder Stakes Final Field 1. Think About It (17) T: Joseph Pride J: Sam Clipperton W: 59kg F: 2×311 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: So You Think (NZ) Dam: Urban Royal +280 -105.26 2. Cepheus (14) T: Matthew Dunn J: Adam Hyeronimus W: 59kg F: 0x021 Age: 7YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE) Dam: Crimson Cheer (USA) +15000 +3000 3. Pericles (15) T: James Cummings J: Hugh Bowman W: 59kg F: 526×2 Age: 4YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Accessories (GB) +1800 +400 4. Kovalica (19) T: Chris Waller J: Nash Rawiller W: 59kg F: 4×052 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Vitesse (NZ) +1600 +360 5. Golden Mile (5) T: James Cummings J: Tommy Berry W: 59kg F: 87×39 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Astern Dam: Calaverite +4000 +900 6. Navajo Peak (10) T: David Payne J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 59kg F: 74×08 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Territories (IRE) Dam: Ship Rock +8000 +1800 7. Unspoken (1) T: Navajo Peak J: Tom Sherry W: 59kg F: 8×111 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Territories (IRE) Dam: Silent Secret (IRE) +4000 +900 8. Bandersnatch (11) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: Jordan Childs W: 59kg F: 7×428 Age: 7YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Casino Prince Dam: Divine Faith +15000 +3000 9. Loch Eagle (9) T: Kris Lees J: Dylan Gibbons W: 59kg F: 68121 Age: 5YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Lonhro Dam: Song Street (IRE) +5000 +1100 10. Mighty Ulysses (3) T: Annabel Neasham J: Tom Marquand W: 59kg F: x615x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Ulysses (IRE) Dam: Token of Love (GB) +1800 +400 11. New Energy (16) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jason Collett W: 59kg F: 2x34x Age: 5YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: New Bay (GB) Dam: For Joy (GB) +1800 +400 12. Amenable (4) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 2×465 Age: 4YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Lonhro Dam: Caribbean Sunset (IRE) +1800 +400 13.Williamsburg (13) T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou J: Joshua Parr W: 59kg F: 5×206 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Snitzel Dam: Fenway +25000 +5000 14. Cosmic Vega (18) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jamie Kah W: 59kg F: x7535 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Pivotal Era (GB) +3300 +750 15. Lady Laguna (12) T: Annabel Neasham J: Tyler Schiller W: 57kg F: 12111 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Overshare Dam: Catalina de Lago (NZ) +900 +225 16. Militarize (7) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 56kg F: 22×85 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Amerindia +400 +125 17. Veight (8) T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy J: Damian Lane W: 56kg F: 241×5 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Grunt (NZ) Dam: Neena Rock +1000 +250 18. Encap (2) T: Gary Portelli J: Blake Shinn W: 56kg F: 523×5 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Capitalist Dam: Enquare +800 +220 19. Tiz Invincible (6) T: Ciaron Maher J: Zac Lloyd W: 54kg F: 86×96 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Amuletum (GB) +2500 +550 Horse racing news View the full article

Mark Walker‘s champion mare Imperatriz headlines the field for the 2024 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley this Saturday. Imperatriz is out to become a 10-time Group 1 winning mare in the William Reid Stakes 2024 this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. The I Am Invincible mare is a short-priced favourite at $1.85 at Ladbrokes to defend her title and notch her tenth career Group 1 victory. Imperatriz boasts an unblemished record (4 wins from 4 starts) at the tight Moonee Valley circuit. Following a narrow second in the Newmarket Handicap while carrying top weight, she returns to the weight-for-age conditions that favour her. A victory on Saturday would see Imperatriz join elite company: becoming the first back-to-back William Reid Stakes winner since Apache Cat (2008-09) and the first to achieve consecutive wins since Black Caviar (2011, 2013). Godolphin‘s Cylinder, fresh off his Newmarket Handicap victory, presents the main threat to Imperatriz’s dominance. Drawn barrier 1, the Exceed And Excel colt boasts a strong record over the 1200m distance but has yet to race at Moonee Valley. He’s currently priced at $4.60 at Ladbrokes to cause another upset. Last year’s runner-up Bella Nipotina ($7) and the fellow Ciaron Maher-trained mare I Am Me ($10) are the other notable contenders. Bella Nipotina, a Moonee Valley specialist, is drawn well and has a consistent record at the track. I Am Me, resuming from a break, has an impressive first-up record and finished second to Imperatriz in last year’s Manikato Stakes. See below for the complete 2024 William Reid Stakes final field and barrier draw with markets available through Ladbrokes here. 2024 William Reid Stakes Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 62725×9573 THE ASTROLOGIST Leon & Troy Corstens Declan Bates 9 58.5kg 104 2 x9275x440x THE INFERNO Cliff Brown Jake Noonan 8 58.5kg 101 3 631x117x11 QUEMAN Shane & Cassie Oxlade Harry Coffey 4 58.5kg 105 4 17x244x271 JOHNNY ROCKER Nick Ryan Rhys McLeod 11 58.5kg 75 5 21x1111x12 IMPERATRIZ Mark Walker Opie Bosson 10 56.5kg 119 6 6x33315x45 BELLA NIPOTINA Ciaron Maher John Allen 3 56.5kg 114 7 117x16122x I AM ME Ciaron Maher Ben Melham 2 56.5kg 110 8 8x27415x07 QUEEN OF THE BALL Michael Freedman Billy Egan 7 56.5kg 96 9 3x24221x42 HYPOTHETICAL Anthony & Sam Freedman Michael Dee 6 56.5kg 104 10 7x11350x61 CYLINDER James Cummings 1 56kg 113 11 1x233x31x8 KING’S GAMBIT Peter & Paul Snowden Jamie Mott 5 56kg 95 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Imperatriz Aims for Historic Repeat in 2024 William Reid Stakes appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Massive Sovereign stretches out under Zac Purton at Sha Tin. Massive Sovereign burst onto the scene earlier this month and Zac Purton believes the Irish-bred’s ability to quickly adapt to different circumstances can prove decisive in Sunday’s (24 March) HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin. The four-year-old demolished a solid Class 3 field on debut in Hong Kong over this weekend’s course and distance. He’ll make just his second start in the city when he lines up in Sha Tin’s most-famed and desired contest after arriving as a two-time winner in Ireland for trainer Aidan O’Brien. “What he has got going for him is his temperament, he’s just a lovely horse to do anything with – he’s very relaxed and he takes everything in his stride,” Purton said. Formerly known as Broadhurst but now trained by Dennis Yip, Massive Sovereign made light work of 13 rivals at Sha Tin on March 3 – who between them had combined for 23 wins in Hong Kong – to surge into Hong Kong Derby calculations. “I think it’s going to work in his favour that he has already had a run over the 2000 metres because he knows where the barriers are and he knows what the crowd is going to do. He’s already had that experience and a lot of horses on Derby Day can get a bit wound up by the crowd at the start. So, he’s had the benefit of going through that process already,” Purton said. The Hong Kong Derby fixture regularly draws a crowd of over 50,000 at Sha Tin. Purton partnered the gelding on Tuesday on the turf at Sha Tin under light rain as Yip watched on meticulously, clocking 26.2s, 28.5s, 24.2s (1:18.9s). “He’s a very relaxed horse. He just does what you ask him to do, the work partner (Travel Golf) just went off and he gave me something to follow. Every time I clicked him up a little bit, he found a little bit more until we joined him on the line. “He had a little bit of a blow when we pulled up which will bring him on a little, just to clean him out and he won’t have to do too much between now and the race,” Purton said. Purton won the 2015 Hong Kong Derby aboard Luger. He has placed in the race seven times, finishing third aboard Dibayani (2014), Beauty Generation (2017), Exultant (2018), More Than This (2020) and Beauty Eternal (2023), while he was a close second on Victory Magic (2016) and California Spangle (2022) – both horses missed once-in-a-lifetime glory by a head. “It’s been a frustrating race for me. The number of times I’ve been beaten by small margins is incredible, I could easily be standing here having won five or six times if a few of those photos had gone my way or if I had just been on the better horse,” Purton said. “I keep running into something that’s better all of the time. For me, it’s been a really frustrating race but I get another chance and hopefully I can win another one.” The superstar jockey has won six riding titles and 1,689 races in Hong Kong. Although optimistic ahead of this weekend, he is still wary of the task at hand. “History is against him. It’s extremely hard for any PP (Privately Purchased Horse) to win first time out in Hong Kong. It’s even harder to do it at the distance that he did it at and then it’s even harder again to back that performance up and he has to do it in the Derby, so he has all of that against him,” Purton said. Both the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) were won by Helios Express, who will look to emulate Rapper Dragon (2017) and Golden Sixty (2020) with a Four-Year-Old Classic Series clean-sweep. “It looks like it’s going to be a really slowly run race. They walked in the Classic Mile, they walked in the Classic Cup and there’s nothing there that tells us they’re going to go any quicker in the Derby, and it’s meant to rain on Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday. “If the track happens to be wet and soft then they just go even slower again, so I think his (Massive Sovereign) temperament at whatever speed is going to allow him to relax and that will give him a chance to run the trip, whereas some of the other horses in the race have a tendency to want to overdo it and that could work against them. Hopefully that works in our favour,” Purton said. Sunday’s pairing with Massive Sovereign will be Purton’s 14th ride in the Hong Kong Derby. His first came aboard Legend Of Colour in 2009 for former trainer Paul O’Sullivan. “It’d be nice to win another one. I feel like I deserve it after all of the efforts I’ve put in,” he said. Purton currently leads this season’s jockeys’ standings with an unmatched 79 wins. Horse racing news View the full article

Speed Dragon is a one-time Hong Kong winner. Lyle Hewitson is confident Speed Dragon can handle the distance rise in Sunday’s HK$26 million 147th Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin. Untested over the trip, Speed Dragon finished an impeded fourth in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) before travelling wide throughout when ninth in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) – both races were won by Helios Express. Hewitson, 26, returns from suspension when he takes five rides on Wednesday night at Happy Valley, while this morning (Tuesday, 19 March) he partnered his BMW Hong Kong Derby mount in a turf gallop at Sha Tin. Click here for HorseBetting’s preview of Happy Valley races on March 20. “This morning he galloped beautifully, so it’s all systems go,” said Hewitson of Speed Dragon’s work alongside stablemate Chancheng Glory in 33s, 28.8s, 27.8s (1:29.6s). Trained by Francis Lui, Speed Dragon has won once in Hong Kong from six starts, scoring over the mile in Class 3 last December. “The top-quality horses in the race do have question marks over the trip and whether they’ll settle. Speed Dragon is a horse that I know will get the trip. He’s uncomplicated and he is a very, very genuine horse. “So, put a line through his last run and his Classic Mile run was excellent,” Hewitson said. Hewitson has 24 wins this season and HK$45.5 million in stakes for connections from his mounts. “We bowed out a winner that day (before suspension) and hopefully we can come back with one too. It’s nice to get this meeting under the belt before going to the big weekend as well, I’m very much looking forward to this week,” he said. Hewitson will look for a third win aboard Golden Empire. “We were just looking at the programme and I asked Francis (Lui) if he would consider running the horse at Happy Valley and while he’s in good form we thought we would take the chance – I’m happy to be aboard him and he’s a nice, uncomplicated ride to look forward to at my first meeting back,” Hewitson said. Golden Empire (129lb) faces last-start winners Colourful Emperor (129lb) and Solar Partner (125lb). Sugar Sugar (133lb) and more feature in the contest. “He’s (Golden Empire) doing well. He doesn’t show much in the morning, he is quite a laidback track horse, but that’s just the way it is – he knows when it is game day,” Hewitson said. Golden Empire will step away from barrier five. Hewitson’s other engagements at the Valley are Falcon Court, Gorgeous Vitality, Win Win Fighter and Grateful Heart. Horse racing news View the full article

Picklebet is stirring up excitement among horse racing enthusiasts with its thrilling 25% Boosted Winnings promotion for today’s Happy Valley races. This exhilarating offer enables punters to enhance their potential winnings, injecting an additional layer of excitement into the already electrifying action on the track. Thanks to Picklebet’s innovative promotion, bettors can seize the opportunity to maximise their returns while immersing themselves in the thrill of supporting their favourite runners at Happy Valley. Happy Valley – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. T&Cs Apply. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo This promotion excludes punters from NSW and SA. Max winnings of $250. First fixed win bet only. Paid in Bonus Cash. Must use available balance. See Picklebet website for full terms & conditions. Picklebet.com are one of the new bookmakers making a splash on the horse racing scene and with inviting promotions like the one they are offering at Happy Valley, they will continue to make an impact in Australia. HorseBetting’s Happy Valley racing tips View the full article

Horse Racing on Wednesday, March 20 will feature six meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and provided free quaddie tips for the meetings at Sandown, Wyong & Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday Horse Racing Tips – March 20, 2024 Sandown Racing Tips Wyong Racing Tips Happy Valley Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For March 20, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $31.27 odds return: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Sandown – Race 1 #5 The Shaper Sandown – Race 6 #4 Donegal Wyong – Race 1 #1 Just Party Wyong – Race 8 #9 Commememorative | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on March 20, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Picklebet is igniting excitement among horse racing enthusiasts with its exciting 25% Boosted Winnings promotion for today’s Sandown races. This thrilling offer allows punters to amplify their potential winnings, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already exhilarating action on the track. With Picklebet’s innovative promotion, bettors have the opportunity to maximise their returns while experiencing the thrill of backing their favourite runners at Sandown. Sandown – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. T&Cs Apply. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo This promotion excludes punters from NSW and SA. Max winnings of $250. First fixed win bet only. Paid in Bonus Cash. Must use available balance. See Picklebet website for full terms & conditions. Picklebet.com are one of the new bookmakers making a splash on the horse racing scene and with inviting promotions like the one they are offering at Sandown, they will continue to make an impact in Australia. HorseBetting’s free Sandown horse racing tips for March 20 View the full article

On Wednesday, March 20, various horse racing bookmakers have unveiled their racing promotions, featuring a range of enticing bonus back offers for horse racing enthusiasts. The top Australian racing promotions for March 20, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Doomben All Races – Same Race Multi 3+ Leg Bonus Back If 1 Leg Fails Up To $50 Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Doomben this Wednesday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Sandown Races 1-4 | Finish 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $50 Back a runner in races 1-4 at Sandown this Wednesday and if it runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $50 in Bonus Cash. Fixed Win bets only. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Sandown Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd Get your stake back in bonus bets. Limits apply. Playup T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Sandown – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. T&Cs Apply. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Happy Valley – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. T&Cs Apply. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Wednesday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd R1-3 at Sandown & Wyong Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Promotional limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed Odds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au has meticulously assessed the premier horse racing bookmakers in Australia, revealing exclusive bonus promotions and specials tailored for thoroughbred enthusiasts on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. These horse racing promotions are a regular feature, exemplifying the unwavering commitment of Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker happens to lack a promotion on a given day, rest assured that another is stepping up with enticing offers within the realm of gallops. For your daily dose of the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses, HorseBetting.com.au stands as the ultimate destination. Maximise the value of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses boasting the most competitive horse racing odds for every race. It’s crucial to emphasise that these thoroughbred racing promotions are exclusively designed for existing customers. To access these special promotions and claim the bookmaker’s offers, log in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting provides a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay well-informed, adopt strategic approaches, and enhance your overall horse racing experience by capitalising on these exclusive promotions. Horse racing promotions View the full article

The $200,000 Illinois Derby will return for Hawthorne's spring/summer Thoroughbred meet, which begins Saturday, Mar. 23. The racing season will extend six weeks longer in comparison to the 2023 year as racing concludes Sunday, Oct. 23. The Illinois Derby, scheduled for Sunday, Apr. 21, will serve as an official prep for this year's GI Preakness S. Hawthorne Race Course will pay for the Illinois Derby winner's entry fee into the Preakness if they choose to run. The Illinois Derby, previously a Grade III, was most recently contested in 2017. “We were able to learn from last year and made some adjustments to both the racing schedule as well as the races we are offering,” Hawthorne Director of Racing Jim Miller said. “This schedule provides a good circuit for those horsemen who race in warmer destinations during the winter to be able to have a summer location that fluidly fits their schedule. We have seen a large increase in stall applications and have noticed a rise in 2-year-olds on the stall applications. We have also added four starter series this meet that will have increasing purses throughout the series. Horsemen who want to protect a good claim will now have an option to race each month for four months straight. When our meet ended last September, our crew conducted all of their turf preparation work before the winter months. This will allow for an earlier grass start the first week of May as well as an additional six weeks of turf racing through the end of the meet compared to last season.” Click here for more on Hawthorne's stakes schedule. The post Return of Illinois Derby Highlights Hawthorne Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Penn Entertainment, which owns Sam Houston Race Park as well as several other tracks around the country, is targeting 2030 for a potential opening of the new facility.View the full article

Hawthorne has drawn its first day of entries for its Thoroughbred season that begins March 23 and continues through Oct. 23.View the full article

According to the report, Penn Entertainment, which owns Sam Houston Race Park as well as several other tracks around the country, plans to "open the new venue within five to six years."View the full article

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

By Jonny Turner Team Dunn only has to hold their form going into Wednesday’s meeting at Addington. The training and driving combination of Robert, Jenna and John Dunn were on fire last week, racking up four wins at Addington, a Wyndham Cup and a further three victories at Motukarara including the Motukarara Stayers Cup. “We had a great week last week, it was a great team effort and they all ran well,” John Dunn said. Charlie Brown made full use of a gem of a Blair Orange drive to win the Wyndham Cup on Saturday at Young Quinn Raceway. Got The Chocolates is on trial for Wyndham’s biggest annual feature when he has his first start in Addington’s opener on Wednesday. The race might not be a brilliant punting spectacle with two of five acceptors scratched. However Canterbury’s first two-year-old race of the year is set to be a form reference of the future. Got The Chocolates will debut on the back of a brilliant trial win at Rangiora. If the pacer can run just as well at the races, the horse is a big chance of heading to the Group 2 Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham later this month. “His last trial was really good, before that he didn’t go up to the gate and he had a gallop in his next one,” Dunn said. “But he was really good in his last trial.” “He has got a bit of a motor there and if he goes well this week he will head down to the Kindergarten.” Got The Chocolates will take on two youngsters from the All Stars stable in his debut in race 1 on Wednesday. Rubira impressed when second in his latest trial beating home Midnight Miki, who ran on from the rear. The Dunn stable also line up Absolute Dynamite in race 7 on Wednesday. The five-year-old looks a bright hope, landing in a winnable race. “He is definitely not the worst chance, he hasn’t had a lot of luck.” “He had to go around the at Reefton but he went a decent enough race.” “In that field and from a handy enough draw (5) he would have to be a chance.” Absolute Dynamite has been rated a $4.50 win chance, with Got The Chocolates at $1.40 odds. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of March 11-March 17View the full article

Leading British One Thousand Guineas (G1) contender Opera Singer is an unlikely runner in the Newmarket classic due to a setback, her trainer, Aidan O'Brien, has reported. View the full article

The son of Tapit has made both of his starts as a 4-year-old at Oaklawn with good results. He started with a win in an allowance for horses 4 and up who have never won three races. He followed that by running second in the Razorback Handicap. View the full article

Jose Ortiz is named to ride eight races March 23 at Turfway Park, and after Jeff Ruby Steaks Day, fans in Kentucky will begin to see his name regularly in the program as he is slated to ride full-time this spring at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.View the full article

Edited Press Release Jockey Jose Ortiz is named to ride eight races Saturday at Turfway Park and, after Jeff Ruby Steaks Day, fans in Kentucky will begin to see his name regularly in the program as he's slated to ride full-time this spring at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. For many years the 2017 Eclipse Award-winning jockey has been a regular rider on the New York circuit during the spring and summer, but this will be the first time he'll remain in Kentucky. Agent Steve Rushing, who also take the calls for his Eclipse Award-winning brother Irad Ortiz, Jr., will continue to have his book in Kentucky. (In a text, Rushing said Jose Ortiz is moving permanently to Kentucky, but will ride at Saratoga in the summer before returning for Kentucky Downs, where he won the 2018 and 2019 titles.) Among his many mounts Saturday is GIII Sam F. Davis S. runner-up Agate Road (Quality Road) in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Listed at 4-1 on the morning line odds, Agate Road was cross-entered in Saturday's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds but Pletcher said that he's, “leaning towards” running the bay at Turfway. Other notable mounts for Ortiz Saturday at Turfway include Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) in the GIII TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic and Blue Eyed George (Flameaway) in the Rushaway S. Ortiz will make a brief return to Florida following Jeff Ruby Steaks Day, but will be back to Kentucky when Keeneland's Spring Meet begins Friday, Apr. 5. The post Jose Ortiz to Ride in Kentucky this Spring appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We may bemoan the fact that Flat horses come and go in what feels like the blink of an eye, but this season we are fortunate to be welcoming back not just the Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) but the four best fillies and mares in the world last year: Liberty Island (Jpn), Inspiral (GB), Emily Upjohn (GB) and Nashwa (GB). The last three named are all trained at John and Thady Gosden's Clarehaven Stables and both Emily Upjohn and Nashwa will make their return to the track next weekend in Dubai. For three seasons now, Nashwa, a daughter of Frankel (GB) and the Group 1-placed and Listed winner Princess Loulou (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), has been the pride of her owner Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, becoming his first homebred Classic winner in the G1 Prix de Diane of 2022 after finishing third in the Oaks. To that success she added the G1 Nassau S. and G1 Falmouth S. along with another four Group 1 placings. Of Nashwa remaining in training at five rather than joining her mother in the broodmare band, Al Sagar says, “It was a difficult decision, but I think that a filly of that calibre is entitled to have another chance as a five-year-old. Especially as, when you go back through the family, they thrive with age. I think she will be competitive at five. She is a very good traveller and very straightforward. Horses like this don't come around every day, that's for sure.” He adds of her progress towards the G1 Dubai Turf on Saturday, March 30, “She didn't stop over the winter; she was trotting just to keep her weight and a level of fitness. She had some very tough races at the end of the season, especially the Juddmonte and the Irish Champion and the Queen Elizabeth II, so she was entitled to have a break. Now, we are very happy about her physical condition and fitness.” Princess Loulou, whose first foal, the seven-year-old Louganini (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), recently won his fourth race in Saudi Arabia having already won three in the UK, is now back in foal to Frankel. Her three-year-old, by Al Sagar's homebred Group 1-winning stallion Decorated Knight (GB), is named Mesmerising (GB) and, like the mare's two-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire), is also in training at Clarehaven. “The Dubawi two-year-old half-brother is cantering and we're very excited to see his progress. He's a very correct horse and gorgeous. John knows the family and he has done very well with Nashwa so we don't need to fix something that is working,” says the breeder. Al Sagar has already celebrated a winner this year. Last week, the four-year-old Intinso (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}) returned to the track for the first time since August to score emphatically at Wolverhampton. “Intinso was a big disappointment last year with a number of physical issues but that is all behind us,” he says. “John and Thady Gosden have done tremendously with him. He showed great signs of ability last year and was entered in the Guineas, the Dante and the Derby but he didn't live up to expectations. His last run was very promising after 206 days off and, with the physical changes that he has made, he is now a very strong animal and I am very excited about him for this year.” Intinso's dam, the homebred Rose Of Miracles (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), is out of Neartica (Fr) (Sadler's Wells), a half-sister to the great Goldikova (Ire) and, with a foal by No Nay Never on the way she is booked to Pinatubo (Ire) this year. Princess Loulou is not the only visitor to Frankel from Blue Diamond Stud, which is also sending the 10-year-old Tisa River (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}), the half-sister to Group/Grade 1 winners to Order Of Australia (Ire), Iridessa (Ire) and Santa Barbara (Ire), as well as Abscond. “She is a Blame filly that we purchased in America last year,” says Al Sagar of the GI Natalma S. winner Abscond. “She has just foaled a colt by Not This Time and she is visiting Frankel this year.” When the breeder names a mare Blue Diamond (Ire) it is easy to guess that she is rather special, and that is indeed the case when it comes to the full-sister to Decorated Knight. By Galileo, her dam is Pearling (Storm Cat), a full-sister to Giant's Causeway and the celebrated matriarch You'resothrilling. “She was covered three days ago by Siyouni,” says Al Sagar of the six-year-old mare. “Her first foal, a yearling colt, is also by Siyouni. She was in foal to Dubawi but unfortunately the foal died.” Another of the elite mares on Dubawi's list this year is Zotilla (Ire). “She's a Zamindar mare and the dam of the French Guineas winner Mangoustine (Fr),” says Al Sagar. “She is already in foal to Dubawi and she has a two-year-old named Sandirella (GB) by his son Too Darn Hot (GB), and we have great confidence in him.” Among the young stallions on the rise in Britain, Al Sagar cites Blue Point (Ire) and Havana Grey (GB) as being of particular interest. “I have a breeding right in Havana Grey and we are sending him Breath Of Joy (Ire), who is a very nice Kodiac (GB) mare,” he adds. “Then in America there is also a number of young stallions we are keen on. Not This Time is one of them, and I used Bolt d'Oro on a mare I purchased from Keeneland, Angle Of Attack (Maclean's Music), and I have a beautiful filly from her. We're also using Juddmonte's first-season stallion Elite Power.” Princess Nadia (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a daughter of the Group 3 winner Princess Noor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), is named in honour of Al Sagar's wife and his granddaughter and she is among the first group of mares to be visiting the Arc winner Ace Impact (Ire) at Haras de Beaumont this season, while Sophie (GB) (Farm {GB}), a half-sister to 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire), is visiting New Bay (GB). The six-year-old mare has an Oasis Dream colt foal and a yearling filly by Cachet's sire Aclaim (Ire). Another recent purchase, this time from Australia, is the Camelot (GB) mare Countessa (Fr) who hails from a family synonymous with the Niarchos operation. “Her second dam is the dam of Alpha Centauri (Ire),” says Al Sagar. “She's a winner and she is now in foal to Siyouni.” While Al Sagar has long been associated with Blue Diamond Stud, which operates across two sites just outside Newmarket, a diversification over the last year has seen his purchase of Stonereath Farm in Kentucky. A recent overview of the mating plans for the America mares was published in the US edition of TDN. “We now have 15 mares in America and I'm going there in early April with Ted Voute, my CEO,” he says. “The theory I am working on is the Roberto bloodline. It has done wonders through the years but unfortunately, after Arch and Dynaformer, there are only a few living stallions from that line, such as Blame and Temple City. Blame in particular is proving to be a very good broodmare sire. “A few days ago I read an article in TDN about him being the best young broodmare sire in America. I noticed this some years back and have sent a number of mares to Blame – Star Of Bristol (Speightstown) last year and again this year; I'm Wonderful, a Giant's Causeway mare, has a colt by Blame. This year we are sending Manasarova (More Than Ready) to him. She just foaled this week to Not The Time. I am trying hard to get fillies from the Roberto bloodline.” Floret (Ire), a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), has blessed the breeder with a longed-for Blame filly foal and is now heading to Justify. He says, “Justify has exploded with that cross of Scat Daddy and Galileo, on the evidence of City Of Troy, Statuette – you name it. I have two mares going to him this year as we are also sending Dawn Of Hope (GB) who has recently foaled a colt by Lope De Vega (Ire). “I saw most of the stallions in America and with each visit to any country – whether it's Ireland, England, France or America – I make sure to go to see the stallions. That way I can develop good ideas for our matings plans and decide what mares we want to send them, that will suit them physically.” Al Sagar is aided in his mating plans by the aforementioned Ted Voute and also by Nancy Sexton. “I take the opinion of my team – I am proud of my team, of their experience and knowledge – and their opinions are highly regarded by me. Nancy has very deep knowledge when it comes to pedigrees and she has a very good memory of the bloodlines and the progeny. It is a very difficult process but I make the final decision,” he says. “Our strategy at Blue Diamond is not numbers. We would like to have the quality and we are trying to create a proper outcross for the stallions that are in our target range. These purchases are a true demonstration of our thinking.” The post Nashwa Returns to the Races; Her Dam Returns to Frankel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article