Wandering Eyes

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Bidding to give David Hall his first success in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (28 April), Flying Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) cruised through a 1050m barrier trial this morning as the course and distance specialist prepared for the HK$22 million feature. Pitted against only five rivals, Flying Ace settled close to the speed under Matthew Poon before finishing off sedately to cross the line in second place, five and three-quarter lengths behind One For All, who clocked 1m 02.08s. With five wins and seven minor placings over Sha Tin’s 1200m course, Flying Ace impressed jockey Matthew Poon with this morning’s workout. “He jumped quite fast today and travelled nice. I just gave him a very easy trial. The horse is happy and he pulled up well, so it’s good,” Poon said. Rated 103, Flying Ace will bid to give Zac Purton his third Chairman’s Sprint Prize triumph after Ivictory (Mossman) (2018) and Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) (2023). A fast-finishing third behind Lucky Sweynesse in the G2.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) on 7 April, Flying Ace will be joined in Sunday’s speed test by stablemate Invincible Sage (Thronum), who will be partnered by Hugh Bowman. Hall, who has 30 winners so far this season, has previously had only one FWD Champions Day runner – Little Giant (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who finished third to Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook) in the 2019 Chairman’s Sprint Prize. This Sunday’s field is headed by Group One winners California Spangle (Starpangledbanner), Mad Cool (Dark Angel), Victor The Winner (Torodado) and Little Brose (NZ) (Per Incanto), along with Lucky With You (Heredera), Howdeepisyourlove (Deep Field), Sunrise Ronaldo (Harbinger), Mugen (Deep Field), Believing (Mehmas), Invincible Sage and Flying Ace. View the full article

Ballyhane Stud resident Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Florian Guyader-trained daughter Hide The Evidence (Ire) shed maiden status with a two-length debut win over five furlongs in Monday's Prix du Medoc at Bordeaux. 1st-Bordeaux-Le Bouscat, €23,000, Cond, 4-22, 2yo, 5fT, 1:01.80, g/s. HIDE THE EVIDENCE (IRE) (f, 2, Sands Of Mali {Fr}–Silent Agenda {GB}, by Kyllachy {GB}) raced in third through the early fractions of this unveiling. Nudged along to turn for home in second, the 51-10 chance came under sterner urging in the straight and kept on strongly once sweeping by long-time leader Sunset Bikini (Fr) (Le Brivido {Fr}) inside the final furlong to defeat that rival by two lengths. Hide The Evidence, full-sister to a yearling colt, is the first of two foals out of a winning half-sister to Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy victrix and G3 Firth Of Clyde S. third Ventura Mist (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}). The March-foaled bay's stakes-placed third dam Jetbeeah (Ire) (Lomond), herself a daughter of G2 Gallinule S. winner Welsh Fantasy (Ire) (Welsh Pageant {Fr}), is the dam of G3 Prix de Royaumont victrix Lady's Purse (GB) (Doyen {Ire}) and the multiple stakes-placed Dazilyn Lady (Zilzal). Lady's Purse, in turn, is the dam of stakes-winning G2 Superlative S. runner-up Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) and G2 Cape Verdi second Asoof (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Sales history: €10,000 Ylg '23 TIRSEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €11,500. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Amy Marnane & Olivia Marnane; B-Ballyhane Stud (IRE); T-Florian Guyader. The post Freshman Sire Sands Of Mali Off The Mark At Bordeaux appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A person whose job it is to promote horse racing was, rather disappointingly, being sniffy about the Craven meeting on social media last week. I understand that some people don't like racing at the Rowley Mile and, yes, last Tuesday in particular was a little challenging on the weather front. But if you're a Flat racing person, and particularly one who is being paid to tell other people that they should come racing, then you really should appreciate all that is wonderful about these weeks of Classic trials across Europe. They may not offer racecourses packed full of people, but they are packed full of clues for those days, not far off now, when the crowds will come and another little piece of racing history will be consigned to the books. In short, they matter. It warmed up incrementally in Newmarket last week from the diabolical conditions faced by the breezers for the Tattersalls Craven Sale on Monday morning. By Wednesday we were down to just seven layers of clothing. I went to the old wooden fence by the stands' rail to watch the Nell Gwyn and stood alongside two senior gentlemen with their members' badges pinned to their coats. “Might see something special here, you never know,” one said to the other. Quite. Is Pretty Crystal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) pretty special? She was certainly pretty game in batting away the favourite and another daughter of Dubawi, Dance Sequence (GB) to win the Nell Gwyn. And, as long as she is supplemented for the 1,000 Guineas, at least her trainer Richard Fahey and owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum know now that she acts through Newmarket's famous Dip that has been the undoing of so many youngsters. Over at Newbury on Saturday Folgaria (Ire) (Due Diligence) continued her unbeaten run with victory on her first start outside Italy. Champion two-year-old in her former home nation, the G3 Fred Darling winner had claimed four stakes races last season, including the G2 Premio Dormello for Italy's champion trainer Stefano Botti, who then handed her over to his brother Marco in Newmarket. This was another big step forward for the filly, who races for Maurizio Dainotto's Scuderia Sagam and is entered for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Marco Botti has done well over the years for his compatriots who have decided to have a horse in training in England, and won last year's G2 Yorkshire Cup with Scuderia La Tesa's Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman [Ire}). The homebred five-year-old is entered to defend his crown on May 17. Folgaria's breeder Turlough Boylan also bred her dam, Full Moon Fever (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). He purchased her granddam Hasaiyda (Ire) (Hector Protector) from the Aga Khan Studs for €20,000 when carrying to Azamour. That foal became Glorious Protector (Ire), a Listed winner for Ed Walker, and Full Moon Fever followed her brother to the same stable after SackvilleDonald bought her as a yearling for €12,000. She won two races for Walker and eventually ended up at Goffs as a nine-year-old mare in 2020, where Boylan bought her back through Eamonn Reilly of BBA Ireland for just €2,000. Considering that the filly she was carrying at the time is now the six-time winner and Classic prospect Folgaria, that looks to have been a sound bit of business. The mare was covered last year by Invincible Army (Ire). Folgaria's victory came on an emotional day for the Botti stable and for many in Italian racing as Stefano Cherchi was laid to rest in Sardinia. A further memorial service for the young jockey takes place in Newmarket this coming Sunday, April 28, at 12 noon at Our Lady Immaculate and Saint Etheldreda Church. Hot in Both Hemispheres It only seems a minute ago that the big-striding Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) beat Too Darn Hot (GB) in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and now both horses are making their mark in the second-crop sires' table. Phoenix Of Spain's star performer to date has been Haatem (Ire), the winner of the G2 Vintage S. who looked highly impressive when giving trainer Richard Hannon his third victory in the G3 Craven S. on Thursday after Toormore (Ire) in 2014 and Kool Kompany (Ire) a year later. Two years after Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) won the 1,000 Guineas her breeder John Bourke of Hyde Park Stud now has a serious chance to add the 2,000 Guineas to his collection as the breeder of Haatem. The Hannon stable is rolling along in fine form and enjoyed a treble at Newbury on Friday, which included the Derby entrant Voyage (GB), who struck at 28/1 on debut for Julie Wood. The son of Golden Horn (GB) had been selected by his stalwart owner as a foal for 40,000gns and was another at Newbury to have an Italian connection as he was co-bred by the Botti family's Razza del Velino. Voyage is now around 33/1 for Epsom after his taking win in the Darley Novice S. and, though his first two dams are unraced, there is plenty to recommend him for a shot at the Classic on the first weekend of June. For a start his sire Golden Horn won the Derby in 2015 en route to becoming Horse of the Year, and so did the sires of two of his first three dams: Galileo (Ire) and Charlottown (GB). On Sunday Voyage's family was given a further boost when Mr Fisk (Arrogate) won the GIII Californian S. at Santa Anita. The four-year-old is out of Voyage's Listed-winning half-sister Plein Air (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), who was also fourth in the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio for Stefano Botti before switching to the stable of Bob Baffert, who now trains her first foal, Mr Fisk. Darley's Too Darn Hot has Classic prospects left, right and centre, including Wood's Greenham fourth Son (GB) – yet another with an Italian breeder behind him in Scuderia Blueberry. Warming up in racecourse gallops in the last week were Too Darn Hot's Fallen Angel (GB) and Alyanaabi (Ire), while Darnation (Ire), Boiling Point (Ire) and Native Approach (GB) are also among his Guineas entries. The son of Dubawi is currently leading the first-season sires' table in Australia with eight winners and he notched his second Group 1 winner over the weekend when Godolphin's Broadsiding (Aus) landed the Champagne S. at Randwick for James Cummings. Study Of Man Building on Good Start Another second-crop sire whose profile continues to rise is the 2018 Prix du Jockey Club winner Study Of Man (Ire). A particularly good week for the Lanwades stallion included Sunday's Listed Prix Caravelle winner Birthe (Ire), who became the first black-type winner for her Finnish-born trainer Laura Vanska. Birthe will take aim next at the G2 Prix Saint-Alary on France's Guineas weekend, and also holds an entry for the G1 Prix de Diane. At Newmarket, Juddmonte's Kalpana (GB) streaked to victory by 10 lengths in a Class 3 handicap for Andrew Balding and will surely be seen next in stakes company, while Sons And Lovers (GB), owned by Hugo Morriss in partnership with breeder Kirsten Rausing, looked to be learning with every stride he took in the Craven S., in which he finished third for Jane Chapple-Hyam. The icing on the cake for Rausing was the victory of Sinology (GB) at Newbury on Friday. The daughter of Study Of Man and Group 1 winner Madame Chiang (GB) is another for the notebook, and became the fifth winner from five foals for her dam. With Madame Chiang being by the late Lanwades stallion Archipenko, a son of Kingmambo, Sinology's pedigree features inbreeding to not one but two superior mares: Miesque, a granddam of both Study Of Man and Archipenko, and Special, who is Archipenko's other granddam through her daughter Bound, as well as being a granddam of Miesque. Fabre's Flyers Andre Fabre may have been out of luck with his three runners at Newmarket last week but the French trainer has unleashed some smart-looking three-year-olds at home of late, with the colts Will Scarlet (GB) (Masar {Ire}) and Ocean Viking (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and fillies Rock'n Swing (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Montemesola (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) all winning for Godolphin, while Hamavi (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) continued a great spring for the Wertheimers. Perhaps most encouraging of all was the victory of Sajir (Ire) in the G3 Prix Sigy. The colt races for his breeder Prince AA Faisal, who also raced his sire Make Believe (GB) and bred that stallion's most famous son to date, Mishriff (Ire). It has been a good month in France for Make Believe, whose daughter Making Dreams (Ire) won the G3 Prix Penelope for Karl Burke. Meanwhile, five of Make Believe's last eight runners in Britain have all won, including at Newbury on Saturday where Jack Channon's Metal Merchant (Ire) lifted the Spring Cup. Make Believe's fellow Ballylinch Stud resident Lope De Vega (Ire) is also enjoying a decent run and has been represented by four Group/Graded winners so far this year. The most recent of those was Saturday's GII Elkhorn S. victor Silver Knott (GB), one of a dozen horses currently stabled in America for Charlie Appleby. Lope De Vega also features as the damsire of the aforementioned stakes winner Birthe. Three Times Three The last word must go to the mighty mare Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), who was represented by her ninth winner from nine runners when Bolsena (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) landed a good fillies' maiden at Newmarket last Wednesday for her owner-breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and Kevin Ryan. The star of Ryan's stable last season was Reem Three's G1 Queen Anne-winning son Triple Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is now midway through covering his first full book of mares at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud. He is one of seven black-type earners for his dam, along with fellow Group 1 winner Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Following Bolsena, the 21-year-old mare has a Night Of Thunder (Ire) two-year-old named Triple Tempest (GB) and a Pinatubo (Ire) yearling filly who was born last May. The post Seven Days: Something Special appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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William Haggas has described the Lockinge S. as “a long shot” for Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) but said the talented older horse could get his campaign underway in the Paradise S. at Ascot. The German 2,000 Guineas winner has endured his share of training problems and was only seen once last season when disappointing in the Joel S. when returning from over a year's absence. However, the five-year-old is undoubtedly classy on his day, and Haggas is holding out hope that the real Maljoom can show up on the racecourse this season. The trainer said, “He's going to the Paradise Stakes on May 1 and then we will decide if he goes for the Lockinge. I wanted to run him earlier than that so the Lockinge is probably a long shot, but I need to get his show back on the road. He's in good shape. “He's only run once since the St James's Palace and he's very much trying to get his show back on the road.” Haggas added, “He's a talented horse but a fragile one, but to be fair to him he's trained very well this spring.” Stablemate Montassib (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) started his season on a high note when landing the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on the opening weekend of the turf season. The Duke Of York could await Haggas' runner and there are French contests also on the table. “He needs a bit of cut in the ground and he's in the Duke Of York, he might go there,” the trainer said. “The form of his race at Doncaster fell in a heap in the Abernant the other day and he could go for a Listed race at Chantilly on May 14-we might do that.” One Haggas runner that will not be seen on a racecourse again is Sense Of Duty (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), a talented Group-winning mare whose career has been cut short by an injury. “Regrettably, I think she has fractured her pelvis, so she will sadly be retired,” Haggas said. “It's very frustrating for Andrew Stone who owns her, but she will make a broodmare for him. It's always horrible for a trainer when you know a horse has talent and you never get to the bottom of her.” The post Haggas Says “Fragile” Maljoom Ready To Return But Lockinge “A Long Shot” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Wednesday, April 24, 2024 First Race 6:40pm HKT (8:40pm AEST) Visit Dabble Happy Valley is the destination for Hong Kong racing on Wednesday evening, with a bumper nine-race program set to get underway at 6:40pm local time. The rail is in the C+3 position, which usually favours on-speed runners. Heavy rain is forecast in the lead-up, however, so with testing conditions throughout the night, it may simply be a matter of which gallopers get through the yielding ground. Best Bet at Happy Valley: Can’t Go Wong Can’t Go Wong dominated his rivals by two lengths at this course and distance on March 27, proving far too strong for Class 5 company. He has since found the minor money at Sha Tin behind Californiatotality, giving chase on the three-wide line throughout. Getting back to Happy Valley should be ideal for the son of Per Incanto, and provided he handles the conditions, Can’t Go Wong will loom as a major threat when the whips are cracking. Best Bet Race 6 – #10 Can’t Go Wong (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Alexis Badel (56kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Happy Valley: Noble Pursuit Noble Pursuit couldn’t reel in the winning margin of Ivy League on April 10, but was finishing off best of the rest. The Caspar Fownes-trained gelding was given a mighty task from near-last turning for home, barrelling down the centre of the course to finishing within a length. The step up in trip should suit, and with a soft run in transit from stall one, Noble Pursuit should be closing in on a fourth Hong Kong success. Next Best Race 9 – #3 Noble Pursuit (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Andrea Atzeni (57.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value t Happy Valley: Grand Nova Grand Nova makes his Hong Kong debut on the back of three impressive barrier trials. His most recent outing on the Sha Tin all-weather circuit particularly caught the eye, reined in under a hold as he matched motors with Raging Blizzard passing the winning post. Hugh Bowman hops aboard from barrier seven, and provided he can slot in for cover throughout, Grand Nova will be doing his best work late. Best Value Race 4 – #4 Grand Nova (7) 3yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Hugh Bowman (57.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Hong Kong quaddie tips – Wednesday 24/4/2024 Happy Valley quadrella selections Wednesday, April 24, 2024 2-10 1-2-3-6-7-12 1-2-4-5-10 1-3-4-9 Horse racing tips
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Kiwi will ride in Japan for the second time when he partners with Danny Shum Chap-shing’s stable star on June 2: ‘I’d love to win the QE II first’View the full article

What Geelong Races Where Geelong Racecourse – 99 Breakwater Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219 When Wednesday, April 24, 2024 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble Geelong is the destination for racing in Victoria on Wednesday, with a competitive eight-race card on the menu. The forecast promises cool conditions but no rain, and with the track rated a Good 4 and the rail out 3m for the entire circuit, there are no excuses for fancied runners. The action at Geelong will commence at 1pm AEST. Best Bet at Geelong: Verifier Despite winning just once in 17 starts, Verifier is without doubt the class horse in this BM64. His form lines this campaign are elite, finishing 3.9 lengths off Another Wil and 1.15 lengths behind El Soleado in much harder races than this. Beau Mertens will have the son of Tivaci settled midfield with cover, and if Verifier puts his best hoof forward, he should exert his class on his rivals late. Best Bet Race 5 – #1 Verifier (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Nigel Blackiston | J: Beau Mertens (60.5kg) +170 with Dabble Next Best at Geelong: Ruakaka Raider Cindy Alderson’s Ruakaka Raider caught the eye when flashing home for third at Pakenham over 1600m, with his best work coming late. The step up the 1715m in just his third career start looks ideal in what shapes as a winnable maiden. Barrier one may not be the best for this three-year-old gelding who tends to settle deep, but if the breaks come, Ruakaka Raider should prove too hard to hold out. Next Best Race 3 – #4 Ruakaka Raider (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Cindy Alderson | J: Jamie Mott (59kg) +170 with Playup Best Value at Geelong: Arqana Arqana could not have been any more impressive when breaking her maiden first-up at Echuca, giving her rivals a massive start and an emphatic beating. The Merchant Navy mare was next to last on the home turn before unleashing a powerful finish to get the job done in soft fashion. Barrier 17 is offset by her desire to settle at the rear of the field, and with a genuinely run 1412m expected, Arqana should get the chance to salute again at a nice price with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 6 – #11 Arqana (17) 4yo Mare | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Luke Currie (57kg) +1000 with Neds Wednesday quaddie tips for Geelong races Geelong quadrella selections Wednesday, April 24, 2024 1-6-7 5-6-7-9-11-14 1-4-8-9-12-13 4-7-8-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

John Blackadder will travel down to Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday with the appeal of an Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus for Yoshime. Yoshime has produced a pair of strong runner-up finishes to Rubicon Reigns and subsequent Rating 65 winner Contemplation Bay in early March and looks a strong chance of breaking maiden status in the fillies and mares event. “I gave her a couple of weeks off after her last race to give her a freshen-up, she had a pretty hard run and she’s progressed very well since then,” Blackadder said. The Rangiora horseman nominated Yoshime for the enhanced Pearl Series this season, with a potential $26,000 winning bonus proving a strong case to head south with the four-year-old mare. “She’s drawn barrier one which is great and having Warren Kennedy up as well. Hopefully she can sit up in behind the leaders, 1400m is probably more her go, but she’s nice and fresh so there’s no reason why she won’t get the 1200m at this stage,” he said. “I think she’s going to be a really nice mare later on.” Yoshime’s sire Echoes Of Heaven is based at Timaru nursery Clearview Park Stud, who will sponsor her stablemate In The Navy’s 1600m three-year-old contest earlier on the card. “There’s two or three that have won a couple of races in there, and the rest are on pretty even key,” Blackadder said. “He’s got three kilos off with Denby-Rose (Tait, apprentice jockey) which will help, he’s just taken a while to come into his racing really.” Blackadder will also be represented by Aladdins Cave in the Equine Veterinary Services 2200m, while he is looking forward to heading to Wingatui on Sunday with Ardrossan filly Ledecky. After starting her career with owner Clinton Isdale, the three-year-old joined Blackadder last month and was strong in third at Riverton at her first start for the stable. “Ledecky will run in the maiden 1400m again, and I think she’ll be very competitive,” Blackadder said. View the full article

Westbury Stud stalwart Swiss Ace continues to be a reliable source of winners and the Group One-winning sprinter was again to the fore at the weekend. His unbeaten son Domain Ace was an impressive juvenile stakes winner at Te Rapa on Saturday while Sabah Ace continued his march through the grades in Singapore with victory at Kranji on Sunday evening. Swiss Ace’s genuine three-year-old daughter Race Ace also collected her third black-type placing when the Fraser Auret-trained filly finished a game third in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton. “Swiss Ace has had a great season and for an older sire he is still great bread and butter value and there’s no doubt he can match the better stallions, be it here, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore,” Westbury General Manager Russell Warwick said. The winner of 12 races including the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Swiss Ace retired to stud in 2010. He took his tally to 19 individual stakes winners, headed by his Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Julius, when the Team Rogerson-trained Domain Ace followed up his debut win at Otaki with victory in the Listed Star Way Stakes (120m) at Te Rapa. “Domain Ace is still very raw and it was only his second start and first one right-handed, so he’s got plenty going for him,” Warwick said. Bred by stud owner Gerry Harvey, he is out of the Hussonet mare Internet whose half-brother Delago De Luxe was the champion juvenile colt of his year in South Africa and two-time Group One winner of the Golden Horse Casino Sprint and the Gold Medallion Stakes. Internet has a yearling sister to Domain Ace and produced a colt by Reliable Man last year and is back in foal to Swiss Ace. “We liked the mating with Swiss Ace, Hussonet has been a good broodmare sire, and the Reliable Man is a really nice colt as well,” Warwick said. Domain Ace was offered at last year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale by Westbury and was knocked down to Rogerson for A$35,000. He was subsequently passed in at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale later that year, with Rogerson remaining in the ownership group. The stable went close to another black-type winner at Te Rapa where Westbury graduate Solidify, a son of Redwood, finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m). Sabah Ace, who has now won six of his 13 starts from David Kok’s stable, was also bred by Harvey and purchased out of Westbury’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft at Karaka for $50,000. He is a son of the late Danehill mare Show Exhibit, whose last foal is an unraced two-year-old son of Tarzino. “Sabah Ace is quite an impressive type, a big and robust sort of horse, and that was the first time on Sunday that he had been out to a mile. It was a good effort as that’s probably at the end of his distance range,” Warwick said. Swiss Ace’s associate sire Tarzino also emphasised his versatility when he chipped in with a winning trans-Tasman weekend double at opposing ends of the distance spectrum. His son Star Ballot, another Westbury graduate, posted his fifth career success at Riccarton for trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman while Pretty Tavi added a third victory to her record at Bendigo. “It was quite amazing, Star Ballot won over 2600m and Pretty Tavi won over 1100m for the Freedmans (Anthony and Sam), so she’s quite sharp,” Warwick said. “The racing has been pretty good to us this year, we’ve had half a-dozen stakes winners or so and we’re hopefully looking forward to one or two more before the season closes.” View the full article

Little Avondale would like to advise breeders that resident stallion Per Incanto remains at $50,000 plus GST for the 2024 season. The son of Street Cry has had another successful season highlighted by Belclare’s second consecutive win in New Zealand’s premier fillies and mare race, the Group 1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes. In the salering his 29 Karaka Book 1 yearlings averaged $170,000 and at Sydney Easter he was leading NZ based sire with the Dreamlife colt selling for $650,000 and averaging $310,000. Time Test won’t be shuttling for the 2024 southern hemisphere season. LA have decided to give the son of Dubawi a season off and the intention is that he returns in 2025. He is currently completing his seventh northern hemisphere season at the National Stud in Newmarket, England, at a service fee of £8,500. For further enquiries, please phone Sam Williams +64 274 853 400. View the full article

Aimee Peterken has only been breeding thoroughbreds for a few years, but she is already starting to leave her mark. The Auckland-based marketing professional had previously been involved in competing and breeding sport horses, but a chance encounter at a social event led her to change tack and enter the thoroughbred world. “I used to be a show rider,” Peterken said. “It was an introduction to Micaela Murray (that got me involved with thoroughbreds), we were out at an event, and we shared mutual friends. She offered to lease me a couple of thoroughbred mares which I was going to put across my sport horse stallion. “It was only when I started looking into the lines that I realised I could probably do what I was doing with sport horses in a more commercial way. “I love the science of it (breeding) and to come in and attempt something different excites me, so I thought I would give it (thoroughbreds) a go.” Peterken has struck near immediate success, with the first foal out of her Savabeel mare Saveadance, a half-sister to Group Two winner Fire Song, being Sassy Merlot. Peterken offered the Burgundy filly under her Advantageous Ventures banner at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2020 Book 3 Yearling Sale where she was purchased by bloodstock agent Paul Moroney and Ballymore Stables for $24,000. She has gone on to place in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), before her crowning achievement at Riccarton last Saturday when she won the Listed Easter Stakes (1400m). “She was one of the first that I bred,” Peterken said. “She has done well for herself, which is absolutely awesome. It is pretty exciting to be so lucky so early on in my breeding career.” Sassy Merlot is by Cambridge Stud’s ill-fated stallion Burgundy, and Peterken said she did a lot of homework before deciding that initial mating with Saveadance. “It was the Redoute’s Choice line, which Saveadance had crossed well with in the past, that attracted me to Burgundy,” Peterken said. “She had been crossed twice with Duelled (a son of Redoute’s Choice), with (six-win gelding) All the Rage her second foal. “Burgundy on type was very athletic and tall, and was a very good offset to her (Saveadance) type – she is very short and stumpy. You needed something with really good leg, and Burgundy presented that type that I needed to cross with her to give her that length of leg. Temperament-wise he was great as well.” Saveadance’s subsequent two matings were to Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High, with the resulting foals being Texas Dolly, who was unplaced in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday, and two-year-old filly Line Dancer. “I think Texas Dolly presents quite an exciting future as well,” Peterken said. “With her cross I chose Ace High because of Redoute’s Choice (damsire), and he presented all the right things of what I needed for her. “Line Dancer is also coming through. She went into Book 1 but unfortunately, she injured herself a week before going through (the sale ring) and just didn’t show well. She will hopefully trial in the backend of this year.” In subsequent years, Saveadance was left empty for a year before losing her Turn Me Loose foal earlier this year, and is back in-foal to the Windsor Park Stud stallion. “We lost a foal this year, a colt, which I have been waiting for many years, so that was a bit heartbreaking,” Peterken said. “She is back in-foal to Turn Me Loose and I am just weighing up who to send her to this coming season.” Peterken said she is now fully immersed in the thoroughbred industry and is hoping to build her broodmare band in the coming years, but for now, she is enjoying concentrating on her small broodmare band and lives in hope of breeding another stakes winner. “I am fully committed to the thoroughbreds now, I don’t even ride these days,” she said. “I am breeding from the three mares and our horses are like part of our family.” View the full article

Rangiora trainer John Blackadder with Jasmine Fawcett. Photo: Race Images South John Blackadder will travel down to Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday with the appeal of an Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus for Yoshime. Yoshime has produced a pair of strong runner-up finishes to Rubicon Reigns and subsequent Rating 65 winner Contemplation Bay in early March and looks a strong chance of breaking maiden status in the fillies and mares event. “I gave her a couple of weeks off after her last race to give her a freshen-up, she had a pretty hard run and she’s progressed very well since then,” Blackadder said. The Rangiora horseman nominated Yoshime for the enhanced Pearl Series this season, with a potential $26,000 winning bonus proving a strong case to head south with the four-year-old mare. “She’s drawn barrier one which is great and having Warren Kennedy up as well. Hopefully she can sit up in behind the leaders, 1400m is probably more her go, but she’s nice and fresh so there’s no reason why she won’t get the 1200m at this stage,” he said. “I think she’s going to be a really nice mare later on.” Yoshime’s sire Echoes Of Heaven is based at Timaru nursery Clearview Park Stud, who will sponsor her stablemate In The Navy’s 1600m three-year-old contest earlier on the card. “There’s two or three that have won a couple of races in there, and the rest are on pretty even key,” Blackadder said. “He’s got three kilos off with Denby-Rose (Tait, apprentice jockey) which will help, he’s just taken a while to come into his racing really.” Blackadder will also be represented by Aladdins Cave in the Equine Veterinary Services 2200m, while he is looking forward to heading to Wingatui on Sunday with Ardrossan filly Ledecky. After starting her career with owner Clinton Isdale, the three-year-old joined Blackadder last month and was strong in third at Riverton at her first start for the stable. “Ledecky will run in the maiden 1400m again, and I think she’ll be very competitive,” Blackadder said. Horse racing news View the full article

Domain Ace winning the Listed Starway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Westbury Stud stalwart Swiss Ace continues to be a reliable source of winners and the Group 1-winning sprinter was again to the fore at the weekend. His unbeaten son Domain Ace was an impressive juvenile stakes winner at Te Rapa on Saturday while Sabah Ace continued his march through the grades in Singapore with victory at Kranji on Sunday evening. Swiss Ace’s genuine three-year-old daughter Race Ace also collected her third black-type placing when the Fraser Auret-trained filly finished a game third in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton. “Swiss Ace has had a great season and for an older sire he is still great bread and butter value and there’s no doubt he can match the better stallions, be it here, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore,” Westbury General Manager Russell Warwick said. The winner of 12 races including the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Swiss Ace retired to stud in 2010. He took his tally to 19 individual stakes winners, headed by his Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Julius, when the Team Rogerson-trained Domain Ace followed up his debut win at Otaki with victory in the Listed Star Way Stakes (120m) at Te Rapa. “Domain Ace is still very raw and it was only his second start and first one right-handed, so he’s got plenty going for him,” Warwick said. Bred by stud owner Gerry Harvey, he is out of the Hussonet mare Internet whose half-brother Delago De Luxe was the champion juvenile colt of his year in South Africa and two-time Group 1 winner of the Golden Horse Casino Sprint and the Gold Medallion Stakes. Internet has a yearling sister to Domain Ace and produced a colt by Reliable Man last year and is back in foal to Swiss Ace. “We liked the mating with Swiss Ace, Hussonet has been a good broodmare sire, and the Reliable Man is a really nice colt as well,” Warwick said. Domain Ace was offered at last year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale by Westbury and was knocked down to Rogerson for A$35,000. He was subsequently passed in at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale later that year, with Rogerson remaining in the ownership group. The stable went close to another black-type winner at Te Rapa where Westbury graduate Solidify, a son of Redwood, finished runner-up in the Group 3 Championship Stakes (2100m). Sabah Ace, who has now won six of his 13 starts from David Kok’s stable, was also bred by Harvey and purchased out of Westbury’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft at Karaka for $50,000. He is a son of the late Danehill mare Show Exhibit, whose last foal is an unraced two-year-old son of Tarzino. “Sabah Ace is quite an impressive type, a big and robust sort of horse, and that was the first time on Sunday that he had been out to a mile. It was a good effort as that’s probably at the end of his distance range,” Warwick said. Swiss Ace’s associate sire Tarzino also emphasised his versatility when he chipped in with a winning trans-Tasman weekend double at opposing ends of the distance spectrum. His son Star Ballot, another Westbury graduate, posted his fifth career success at Riccarton for trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman while Pretty Tavi added a third victory to her record at Bendigo. “It was quite amazing, Star Ballot won over 2600m and Pretty Tavi won over 1100m for the Freedmans (Anthony and Sam), so she’s quite sharp,” Warwick said. “The racing has been pretty good to us this year, we’ve had half a-dozen stakes winners or so and we’re hopefully looking forward to one or two more before the season closes.” Horse racing news View the full article

Espadas winning at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Espadas could be destined for a future across the Tasman following his maiden victory at Ellerslie on Saturday. The three-year-old son of Ace High put in a pleasing performance for third on debut over 1200m at Pukekohe last month and was duly backed into +270 favouritism with horse racing bookmakers at Ellerslie on Saturday. From his wide draw, Espadas was caught out three-wide early and jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll elected to press on with his charge. The pair had no favours and were posted three and four-wide for the trip, but Espadas showed his tenacity when rallying in the straight to record a neck victory over Night Night Dora. “He is a nice horse,” said Shaun Clotworthy, who trains the gelding in partnership with his wife Emma. “He has had a bit of a reputation on him for a while, so it was good to see him deliver nicely like that. “He hadn’t had a trial before he went into that first start, just a couple of easy jumpouts. We knew he had plenty of ability and we expected bold performances from him.” His talents haven’t escaped the eyes of bloodstock agents, with Espadas likely to head to Melbourne if a deal can be struck. “There has been a fair bit of interest in him,” Clotworthy said. “We do send a lot of horses over to Australia and we have got shares in a few at Mick Price’s, so there is a chance that he may head there, but we will see what happens.” If he does stay in New Zealand, Clotworthy said he will go for a spell in preparation for the spring. “He is still pretty immature, he is a big horse, so we will probably ease off him and look at somewhere in the spring for him as a four-year-old if he is still in New Zealand,” he said. Ellerslie’s Saturday meeting was abandoned later in the day due to safety concerns, and Clotworthy, who is also the National President of the New Zealand Trainers’ Association, said it was frustrating to have two meetings abandoned at the newly-installed StrathAyr track in the space 10 days, but the industry needs to be understanding. “It is not ideal. It is paramount for jockeys’ safety but it was just a very unusual fact that they could race six races without any incidents and then get to that race and there was a problem,” he said. “I think everyone has just got to take a bit of a breath and understand that it is a new track. It is going to be a great track in the future, and you can see that in the amount of rain we had, and they broke 1:10 in the first race. “For the future it is going to be outstanding for our industry, but it just needs to bed in, and we all need to understand how to work with it, it will probably just take a bit of time.” Horse racing news View the full article

Nimble Nimbus (No. 12) is a six-time winner in Hong Kong. Nimble Nimbus has been one of this season’s surprise packages and trainer Ricky Yiu is remaining optimistic the Sacred Falls gelding can step it up again when he contests the HK$28 million Group 1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, April 28. The six-year-old has been a solid competitor with six wins across his 29-start career. He didn’t tackle his first Group race until his 24th outing, however, since then he has evolved into a Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter across five appearances. “He’s a magnificent horse. You can never see that he’s had a setback or that he is tired. He’s always very energetic and always seems as though he’s ready to race,” Yiu said. The New Zealand-bred elevated expectations with victory in the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) in February before placing third behind Romantic Warrior in the HK$13 million Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m). “That’s the surprise (continued improvement). He’s six now and it seems that the older he gets, the better he gets. You don’t see too many horses do it this way,” Yiu said. Nimble Nimbus is rated 108 at present after beginning this season on a mark of 86. He stepped out for a barrier trial last Thursday (April 18) at Sha Tin, finishing a comfortable ninth under Andrea Atzeni, who rides him again this weekend. “He’s stronger and tougher now that he’s older. He’s getting to a tough rating. He’s been racing in hard races, so we gave him a soft trial – just to keep him happy,” Yiu said. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast throughout the week, including on Sunday for FWD Champions Day. “Rain will definitely help him. It was raining the time he won by a big margin (five lengths) at the Valley,” Yiu said. Nimble Nimbus finished fourth in the HK$5.35 million Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) last start on April 7 at Sha Tin behind Beauty Joy. Yiu also saddles Voyage Bubble in the HK$22 million Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m). Horse racing news View the full article

North Bridge is a six-time winner. A six-year-old, North Bridge has been selected to run the HK$28 million Group 1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) with two fellow Japanese compatriots, Prognosis and Hishi Iguazu, on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, April 28. North Bridge is a son of three-time winner in Hong Kong, Maurice. He won a newcomer race over 2000m in 2020 at Chukyo to commence his career before grabbing his first Group race win in the 2022 Group 3 Epsom Cup (1800m) – first-up after a four month break. North Bridge’s second Group race win came seven months after the Epsom Cup in the 2023 Group 2 American Jockey Club Cup (2200m) at Nakayama, however, he showed little in his following three runs of last season. In 2024, North Bridge kicked off his campaign in Doha, Qatar, where he raced for the first time on the global stage in the Group 3 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m) and finished fourth behind Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance at Al Rayyan in February. That was trainer Takeshi Okumura’s first runner outside of Japan. “We started to make a plan to go to the QEII Cup after the race in Qatar,” Okumura said. “We discussed it with the owner and decided to target the race. The reason is because he will handle the ground at Sha Tin and his international rating (113) made it possible to be selected.” 47-year-old Okumura started training on the JRA circuit in 2014. Hong Kong is a familiar place for him, making his first overseas travel with a horse in 2008. He was an assistant for trainer Sakae Kunieda, who handled Triple Tiara winners Apapane (2010) and Almond Eye (2018). Okumura travelled Matsurida Gogh for the QEII Cup and Meiner Segal for the Champions Mile with Kunieda. Matsurida Gogh, a son of Sunday Silence, upset the 2007 Group 1 Arima Kinen (2500m) and won the Group 2 Nikkei Sho (2500m) before he ran in Hong Kong. Okumura recalled: “We, of course, did our best effort to prepare for the race. But due to a big typhoon hitting Hong Kong on the day of our trip, our flight was delayed, and horses had to wait long hours before departing.” “Everything including the unfortunate start was a great experience for me. I was impressed that Hong Kong horse racing was at an advanced level and the local people were widely enthusiastic of horse racing. I really wanted to bring my horse to Hong Kong one day.” North Bridge had a final piece of work before his trip to Hong Kong at Miho on April 17. His regular jockey Yasunari Iwata came to Miho from Ritto, near Osaka, to work him for 1000m, covering the final 200m in 10.7 seconds over the woodchip track. Iwata said: “I focused on keeping his rhythm and balance in the gallop. He was in good form. The 2000 (metres) must be his best trip, so hopefully he can run his race.” Okumura watched the gallop and said: “The time for the last 200 (metres) was as expected. The horse is improving a lot and I feel his progress. The 2000 (metres) should be more suitable for him than 2400 (metres) last time (in Qatar). “The track condition at Sha Tin, which is similar to Sapporo, is a likely fit for him. Above all, I hope he will be safe and healthy. It’s exciting to see how North Bridge runs in Hong Kong.” Horse racing news View the full article

Kiwi handler turns to 1,000m city circuit specialist in bid to end his winless streak of 59 runnersView the full article

Passive Aggressive will chasing Group 1 glory at Morphettville. (Racing Photos) Grahame Begg’s charge, Passive Aggressive, is gearing up to take on the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville this Saturday, marking a significant return to the track after her initial retirement last year, which followed her eighth-place finish in the 2023 renewal of the same race. Despite the retirement announcement, owner Jonathan Munz brought her back to Begg after she failed to conceive to I Am Invincible. The decision proved fruitful, with the five-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock triumphing first-up in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) before securing a respectable sixth place in The Galaxy (1100m) in her last outing. Reflecting on her recent performance, Begg shared insights with Racing.com, stating, “She didn’t have a lot of luck in the Galaxy. It was a quick turnaround of only a fortnight from the Challenge, and if it wasn’t a Group 1 she wouldn’t have been running.” He continued, “She had a positive experience though as she ran well. She only got beaten just over two lengths and she had a wide passage throughout.” Expressing his satisfaction with her progress, Begg mentioned, “I’m very happy with her. She had a nice tick over jump-out at Cranbourne last week, which she won. “She seems to be going very well but it’s going to be a very strong edition with the likes of Estriella and Benedetta in the race. It’s a very strong race.” Horse racing news View the full article

Magic Time overhauls Amenable to claim the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo: RacingNSW Grahame Begg confirmed that Magic Time, the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) victor from last Saturday, is set to venture to Brisbane aiming to enhance her elite-level achievements. The four-year-old daughter of Hellbent, now a dual Group 1 winner following her recent triumph, is eyeing the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on June 1. “She will go to Brisbane where there are a number of Group 1 races she can run in. I’ll possibly target the Kingsford-Smith for her next run,” Begg disclosed to Racing.com. “I’ll let her get over her first race and take it from there. “The other option would be to wait for the Tatt’s Tiara at the end of June.” Begg also hinted at the possibility of a shot at The Everest (1200m) if Magic Time captures the interest of slot owners. “You never know,” he remarked. “There have been some discussions as it could be a new-look field this year with a couple of the regulars dropping off.” Horse racing news View the full article

The Astrologist will likely head to Queensland in search of Group 1 glory. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The Astrologist, a rising eight-year-old sprinter, is set to embark on a Queensland campaign this winter. Trained by Leon and Troy Corstens, the seasoned gelding, who ventured to both Dubai and the UK last year, will continue his campaign at Caulfield on Saturday before heading north to the Sunshine State. Troy Corstens outlined their plans. “We’re going to run in the Super VOBIS race at Caulfield, he gets in quite well at the weights. “Then we’ll take him up to Brisbane and we’ll probably run him in the Kingsford Smith and then The Stradbroke.” Describing The Astrologist’s current condition, Corstens remarked, “He looks outstanding at the moment, he’s come right on and he’s a great traveller, he eats wherever you take him, he enjoys the new environment and it’s a great attribute to have as a horse.” “He really enjoys it, he handles it really well. “He’s peppered the whole way along and I think the Stradbroke might be a perfect race. “Down in the weights, 1400 metres – could be a perfect combination.” Horse racing news View the full article

Esti Feny ridden by Daniel Stackhouse wins the Mornington Cup. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Esti Feny has secured a coveted ballot exemption for the prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) following a commanding victory in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). Trainer Matthew Smith is now setting his sights on the next challenge: the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m), where the Hungarian import aims to clinch another ballot-free entry into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). In a conversation with Racing.com, Smith expressed his optimism. “It’s the first time in ages I’ve been able to get the right sequence of runs into him,” Smith said. “He was going well and there’s always a chance they can put it together. I wasn’t going down there to have a stab in the dark.” Reflecting on Esti Feny’s performance, Smith attributed his success to strategic gear changes. “Due to the gear changes, he was able to settle well and then finish it off.” With the Caulfield Cup firmly on the agenda, Smith emphasised their aspirations for the ultimate prize. “We’ll be heading for the Caulfield Cup for sure and we’d love to get him into the Melbourne Cup.” Horse racing bookmakers have Esti Feny listed as a +10000 chance for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. Horse racing news View the full article

What Newcastle Races Where Newcastle Racecourse – 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow NSW 2292 When Wednesday, April 24, 2024 First Race 12:50pm AEST Visit Dabble Provincial racing on Wednesday heads to the Hunter region of New South Wales, where Newcastle Racecourse is set to host a competitive eight-race program. The rail is out +7m for the entire circuit, and although the surface is rated Soft 7 at the time of acceptances, the forecast of sunny skies in the lead-up promises an upgrade into the Good range. The opening event is set to jump at 12:50pm AEST. Best Bet: Moonraker Moonraker was ordinary at Randwick on December 16, finishing last of six runners on debut. He was immediately tipped out for a spell by the Peter & Paul Snowden camp and returns on the back of two eye-catching barrier trials. His latest one-length trial victory on April 8 has him poised to strike first-up, and provided Christian Reith can send the two-year-old to the front, Moonraker will give a bold sight throughout the 900m journey. Best Bet Race 3 – #2 Moonraker (5) 2yo Colt | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Christian Reith (57kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best: Zoubaby The Richard & Will Freedman-trained Zoubaby makes her debut on the back of two strong barrier trials. The daughter of Zoustar travelled home under her own steam in her most recent outing at Randwick on April 8, giving the impression she has above-average ability. Gate one should allow Tyler Schiller to lead or take a sit in behind the speed, but regardless of where she ends up in the run, Zoubaby should be finishing off best. Best Bet Race 2 – #10 Zoubaby (1) 2yo Filly | T: Richard & Will Freedman | J: Tyler Schiller (55.5kg) Bet with Neds Best Value: Mogul Monarch Mogul Monarch was no match for Seascape on debut at Gosford on April 10, but the colt showed enough to suggest he’s worth following second-up. He sat outside the leader and stuck to the task gamely, holding off all other challengers in the shadows of the post. He will be much better for the race-day experience, and although there is plenty of depth in this 1250m maiden, Mogul Monarch warrants an each-way ticket with online bookmakers. Best Bet Race 7 – #12 Mogul Monarch (11) 2yo Colt | T: Kim Waugh | J: Rory Hutchings (56kg) Bet with Unibet Wednesday quaddie tips for Newcastle races Newcastle quadrella selections Wednesday, April 24, 2024 1-3-4 2-4-6-8-9-10 3-4-10-12 1-2-3-9-10 Horse racing tips
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Lisa Allpress drives Star Ballot (outside) to victory over Pitman stablemate Tomyturbo at Riccarton. Photo: Ajay Berry (RIS) A week after becoming only the second New Zealand trainer to reach 2000 wins, South Island racing icon Michael Pitman teamed up with jockey Lisa Allpress to celebrate another notable milestone at Riccarton. Pitman and his son and training partner Matthew saddled the quinella in the $35,000 staying event, with Star Ballot edging out stablemate Tomyturbo by half a length. Star Ballot was ridden by Allpress, who notched up her 100th career win for the Pitman stable. “We’re really good friends and it’s good for her to reach 100 winners for us,” Pitman said. “She used to come down here when she was an apprentice to ride for us, so it’s really good and I’m sure she’ll enjoy this as much as we are.” The win also inched Allpress a step closer to her own 2000-win milestone, lifting her tally of New Zealand victories to 1910. “We’ve had a bit of a sabbatical recently, so it’s taken a while to bring up the 100th winner for the stable,” Allpress said. “But it’s always nice to get on their horses. You know they’re going to give you a good show. “Our association goes back to when I was an apprentice and I used to come and ride for him at midweek meetings. It’s all about the grounding that you get as a young apprentice. You’ve got to take the knocks as well as the good times, and I think he’s taught me a few things along the way, as well as Mr (Kevin) Gray.” A strong-finishing fifth and fourth in his two previous starts over 2000m, Star Ballot relished the step up to 2600m on Saturday. After settling at the tail of the field, the five-year-old Tarzino gelding began to edge forward coming up to the home turn. Star Ballot got on the back of Tomyturbo as he surged to the front in the straight. Allpress then angled her mount to the outside, and Star Ballot lengthened stride and finished over the top of his stablemate for an impressive win. “After I found out I was riding this horse, I went back through his videos – he’s a really nice stayer,” Allpress said. “He’s obviously got those miles under his belt. “He could be earmarked for a nice race like the New Zealand Cup (Group 3, 3200m), because he just seems to stay really well. There was no panic today and I still felt like I had a lot underneath me at the top of the straight.” Pitman paid $45,000 to purchase Star Ballot from the 2020 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. He has now had 26 starts for five wins, six placings and $126,405 in stakes. “I don’t have many favourite horses, but Star Ballot is probably one of my favourites,” he said. “If it had been a really firm track today, I think this horse would have won by five lengths.” Horse racing news View the full article

Sacred Satono demonstrates his class with a comfortable victory at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Class galloper Sacred Satono put his name firmly in the frame for a proposed Queensland Winter Carnival venture when he kicked off a new campaign with an impressive victory at Ellerslie in the opening event. The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained four-year-old had last been seen on raceday when finishing midfield in the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night and stripped in good condition despite not having trialled before his resumption. With rider Triston Moodley using his 3kg claim to bring the son of Satono Aladdin’s topweight down to a manageable 58kg impost, Sacred Satono looked well placed despite giving weight to his nine rivals including 4kgs to race favourite Pour The Wine. Moodley was in no rush on the topweight, allowing him to settle in midfield behind tearaway pacemakers One More Time and Is That So in the early running before easing into contention approaching the home turn. Allowed to drift to the middle of the track, Sacred Satono quickly hit the front and put the race to bed in a few strides. Despite being hotly challenged by Pour The Wine and Imprevu he held the pair out by a length and a half in a slick time of 1.09.68 on a track rated a Soft 5 despite some heavy and persistent rain throughout the morning. Cooksley was pleased with the performance as he outlined the future plans for his charge. “He went really well and has been working okay and he goes pretty good fresh-up,” Cooksley said. “He hasn’t done a lot since his last run, just a couple of jump-outs and we brought him here today to see how he was going. “We’re thinking about going to Brisbane, but will see what happens. “A race like the Stradbroke (Group 1, 1400m) is an option and couple of races beforehand where we will work it out from there.” A rain soaked Moodley sported a beaming smile as he described the victory. “It’s a bit wet out there but seemed good underfoot and I was on the best horse in the field so it was easy for me,” he said. “I just gave him a smack and he pinned his ears back and the rest was history as he flew home.” Horse racing news View the full article