Wandering Eyes

Agent Donato Lanni went to $800,000 to secure hip 351, a gray or roan colt by Bolt d'Oro consigned by Tom McCrocklin for the Three Amigos. The colt, who sold for $160,000 at FTKJUL last year, breezed a quarter in :20.3. The post Bolt d’Oro Colt Hits $800k For Three Amigos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release FanDuel TV, the New York Racing Association, Keeneland and Santa Anita will team up with Hall of Fame jockeys along with some of the top active riders in the country and other prominent racing personalities on Sunday, Apr. 21 for the sixth annual telethon presented by Lane's End to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). The event will be broadcast on both FanDuel TV and America's Day at the Races on the Fox Sports family of networks as well as streamed on TVG.com. Fans can participate in the telethon by calling 1-844-884-7353 between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET or they can donate directly by clicking here. Jockeys of today and years past will be live at call centers from Santa Anita and Keeneland. Since the inaugural event in 2018, the telethon has raised in excess of $1.5 million in support of the PDJF. The post Sixth Annual PDJF Telethon Scheduled For Apr. 21 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — The action on the Rowley Mile on Wednesday wasn't restricted to the seven scheduled races on the card, with a host of potential Classic runners taking part in racecourse gallops just before the first race of the day. The headline act was the Karl Burke-trained Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who is currently co-favourite for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on May 5. She was put through her paces by Danny Tudhope. “I was very happy with her and Danny was delighted,” said Burke of Steve Parkin's homebred G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner who galloped shortly after the same owner's Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The unbeaten colt is being aimed at the 2,000 Guineas. “We've got two and a half weeks and she has time for at least one more good piece of work at home. This was always the plan and she needed the gallop for fitness, whereas Night Raider, we brought him here for experience. “After watching that and what we saw last year, I think [Fallen Angel] has a good chance of staying at least a mile and a quarter. She is in the Oaks but we don't need to worry about that just yet and we will concentrate on the Guineas for now. “She's a filly who saves her best for when she is really asked and, as you saw in the Moyglare last year, she looked beaten and then was doing her best work crossing the line. I think that will be the same in the Guineas.” Burke added of Night Raider, who worked well alongside stable-mate and Group 2-winning miler Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), “The colt is a very good horse, but inexperience could count against him. He's a lovely horse going forward and physically and mentally he will improve through the year. “He will have learned loads today and that was his first proper gallop on grass.” Burke noted that Flight Plan, who is also owned by Parkin's Clipper Logistics, will run in next week's G3 Bet365 Mile at Sandown ahead of a possible tilt at the G1 Lockinge S. Alyanaabi (Ire), trained by Owen Burrows for Shadwell, also undertook a racecourse gallop ahead of his potential appearance in the 2,000 Guineas. Another from the first crop of Too Darn Hot, he was second to 2,000 Guineas favourite City Of Troy (Justify) in the G1 Dewhurst S. last October. “Jim [Crowley, jockey] said he settled well, which was good because he can be a little keen at home,” Burrows said. “Mentally, it will do him the world of good and hopefully he can step forward from it in two and a half weeks. “Originally, I didn't think I needed to bring him up here, but we were quite keen to get him on some nice ground and there's not a lot of that around at the moment. “Physically, he has done well and we have a bit to find [with City Of Troy], so we will just have to see.” Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), winner of the G2 Champagne S. for Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud, was another in action before racing and, ridden by Tom Marquand, he forged clear of his workmate smartly out of the dip in an easy gallop. “His work on fast ground is completely different to that on soft at home and he never really had the chance to show his full potential last year,” said Iberian's trainer Charlie Hills. “Every time he ran, it was soft ground, and at Goodwood in his second race, he probably should have won. The Champagne was soft as well and he's gone and beaten two Group 1 winners in that.” He added, “The way he is bred, he should certainly get the mile but you just have to be careful with who he works with in the morning, as he just destroys them in two or three strides, he has so much natural speed. “He just cantered the first furlong and I just wanted Tom to get a nice rhythm into him, he could be pretty special.” The post Gallopers Aplenty as Classic Hopefuls Swerve Trials appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran handler celebrates the milestone after teaming up with Ellis Wong for a dominant win at the city circuitView the full article

Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) winner Rebel's Romance (IRE) is to join an expanding satellite yard of around a dozen Charlie Appleby-trained horses who are to campaign through the summer season in the United States this year.View the full article

Keith Asmussen set a goal to ride one race as a jockey. He has done far more than that, ranking as one of the leading riders at Oaklawn Park. Now comes the mount on Just Steel in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

His contentious prohibition from Churchill penalizes many others besides Bob Baffert and his loyal patrons. A shot at the GI Kentucky Derby, once-in-a-lifetime for most, is also being denied to everyone else with a stake in his horses' development, from those on duty at the foaling shed to the pre-trainer to the feed company. And, of course, there's nothing like a Derby winner to market a stallion. As things have turned out, a setback means that Nyquist would have lost the services of Nysos even had he moved to another barn. But now Nyquist has come up with a proxy in Encino, who switched surface to harvest the last available starting points in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. Those whose solution to the puzzles of breeding is to elevate the damsire above an entire female family will cherish the fact that Encino, just like Nysos and indeed Nyquist's other scintillating prospect Knightsbridge, is out of Bernardini mare. We'll leave them to make their millions, as they doubtless will from another magic “cross” that has allowed daughters of Bernardini to give Street Sense sons as accomplished as Speaker's Corner, Maxfield and last weekend's nine-length Keeneland maiden winner Jefferson Street. Knightsbridge, remember, is a half-brother to Speaker's Corner. In our aversion to “systems,” we'll merely note that Bernardini bequeathed his reputation as an outstanding distaff influence through various sire-lines; and that Nyquist and Street Sense happen to belong to the same lavish program that bred, raced and stood Bernardini himself. Plenty of stallions out there would love to meet some Bernardini mares, but few have as many of his best daughters in their home herd as Nyquist and Street Sense. Knightsbridge | Lauren King But wait: Encino is out of a half-sister to none other Street Sense! So instead of twisting sire-lines into alchemical brands, let's just settle for acknowledging some kind of assonance between Bernardini and Bedazzle (Dixieland Band), dam of both Street Sense and Encino's mother Glittering Jewel? The latter started her career in Britain, winning only an uncompetitive maiden, before placing on both dirt and turf over here. As such she barely amended Bedazzle's bleakly unproductive record after Street Sense, her very first foal. Three further foals by Street Cry (Ire) mustered a single racecourse appearance between them, and Bedazzle fared little better from the best opportunities in-house (Dubawi (Ire), Shamardal) or elsewhere (Into Mischief). Only her second foal, a filly by Elusive Quality, managed either stakes success (by a head at Prairie Meadows) or stakes production (a gelding in Australia, unsurprisingly by Street Cry {Ire}). Yet here's Glittering Jewel coming up with a Derby colt at the first attempt. That's far less surprising than the collective failure of Street Sense's other siblings, because his excellence-between racetrack and stud-always appeared to have obvious foundations. For Bedazzle is out of a stakes-winning His Majesty half-sister to that fast racehorse and versatile sire Mr. Greeley (Gone West); and next dam Long Legend (Reviewer), lately celebrated as the third dam of Vekoma, is out of Lianga (Dancer's Image), an elite winner in France from five furlongs to eight. Lianga is in turn third dam of the rags-to-riches (3,500 Irish guineas to €115,000) Coolmore sire Danehill Dancer (Ire). Working with such material, turf-bred Street Cry (Ire) hardly gave Street Sense blatant eligibility for iconic dirt races. Fear not, I'm not going to repeat my usual sermon on versatility-but will just note how slickly Encino has now adapted from one surface to another. As for the other part of the equation, Nyquist has regrouped impressively after a brief flat spot. Last year he produced his third and fourth Grade I winners, and was only denied a fifth by the tragedy of New York Thunder. Moreover his incoming juveniles were sired at $75,000, up from $40,000 in response to his 2020 freshman laurels. He subsequently had to be throttled back to $55,000 after a solitary graded stakes winner in 2021, but that has proved an aberration and he's now up to $85,000 with Encino, Nysos and Knightsbridge all later-developing talents in the same crop as last summer's precocious Royal Ascot winner Crimson Advocate. The 4-year-old Flying Connection, already a six-time stakes winner, meanwhile finished second in the GI Apple Blossom H. last Saturday. Nyquist has packed in a lot already, for a horse still only 11 years old, yet it feels as though he's only just getting started. Practical Joke | Coolmore 1-2 Punchline Completes Joke's Warm-Up Quite apart from his other prowess, Into Mischief's historic achievements also owe much to the libido and fertility that have maximized the industrial model operated by his farm. He has maintained output against a soaring fee, even a hike from $175,000 to $225,000 eroding his 2021 book only from 250 to 216 mares. But that was also the year that the three busiest stallions in the land were his more affordable sons Practical Joke, Goldencents and Authentic, with 231, 230 and 229 respectively. Of that trio, only Practical Joke maintained quite such giddy demand last year, when a couple of farms seemed to be making rather a point about the mare cap, with his 252 partners notoriously exceeded by rookies Golden Pal (293: gosh, still hurts your eyes) and Epicenter (262). Practical Joke has sufficiently converted all this opportunity into results to hoist his fee this spring to $65,000, from $25,000, and the challenge now is to emulate his sire by reflecting the upgrading of his mares in the range of his stock's performance. For now, however, we can salute his 1-2 in the GIII Count Fleet H. as a perfect signature to the opening phase of his career. The prolific winner Skelly and runner-up Tejano Twist are both millionaire sprinters from his debut crop and both, as geldings, look set to keep thriving with maturity. Practical Joke did get a breakout Classic candidate from his second crop, albeit Practical Move was palpably at the bottom of the tank when just holding out over the ninth furlong of the GI Santa Anita Derby, duly targeting the GI Dirt Mile when suffering that tragic breakdown at the Breeders' Cup. Practical Move was scratched from the Kentucky Derby with an elevated temperature, but his sire's competence to stretch speed for that race will be tested this year by Domestic Product, who broke his maiden over nine furlongs at two and definitely has more talent than generally appreciated. In the meantime, Practical Joke's real poster girl remains Becky's Joker, who won the GIII Schuylerville S. at Saratoga last summer-on debut! For it is primarily precocity and speed that have driven all this fervent commercial support. After two Grade I scores as a juvenile, Practical Joke himself flattened out for fifth in the Derby before reverting to a single turn for his sophomore Grade I success. His own dam was a talented sprinter by Distorted Humor out of a Gilded Time mare, so we'll have to see whether Practical Joke can match a degree of success over longer distances among his Chilean stock. Skelly | Coady Photography Skelly himself was bred by Allen Poindexter and prepared by his frequent partners at Wynnstay Farm to bring $250,000 in the difficult yearling market of 2020. (Fortunately for purchasers Red Lane Thoroughbreds, they retained him at $350,000 at the 2-year-old sales.) His unraced dam Adande (Bwana Charlie) almost shared a remarkable Saturday with half-sister Call to Service (To Honor and Serve), whose son The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) was meanwhile thwarted only narrowly by Encino. Poindexter acquired Adande in utero with his dam Game for More (More Than Ready) for just $8,000 in a Heiligbrodt dispersal at Fasig-Tipton 12 years ago. That proved an inspired purchase, as from that mare Poindexter also bred three horses Grade I performers in Isotherm (Lonhro {Aus}), Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) and Gio Game (Gio Ponti). If Practical Joke's overall ratios are solid sooner than earth-shaking, that goes with the territory when you throw so much volume at a horse. There's no question that he is the one rival to have slipstreamed Gun Runner with least embarrassment in what is otherwise proving, certainly since the loss of Arrogate, anything but a vintage intake overall. Grief Calls For Resilience How poignant, for our community to lose Marty Wygod even as Resilience (Into Mischief)-a colt donated to his daughter and a longtime friend-closes on a Derby challenge. Only last week we were celebrating how GII Wood Memorial winner is preserving a fragile legacy for his dam, the solitary filly delivered by Tranquility Lake (Rahy). Now those grieving Wygod must ask themselves whether the apparently haphazard fortunes of the Turf may yet align in a way that gives some solace and meaning to life without him. Resilience | Sarah Andrew Wygod himself was clear about the process. “The business side of my life, that's a matter of skill and luck,” he once told DRF. “The racing and breeding side is all luck. It's the racing and breeding gods that have smiled on me.” Let's hope that they may still have a parting glass to raise. The post Breeding Digest: The Real Dazzle Behind Encino appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of the more exposed fillies in the line-up for Wednesday's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Pretty Crystal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Pretty Baby {Ire}, by Orpen) emerged on top of a battle with Dubawi's other runner Dance Sequence (GB). Sent off at 18-1, the homebred whose five juvenile efforts included a second in the G3 Princess Margaret S. raced prominently under Oisin Orr throughout the early stages. Getting to Kathmandu (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) a furlong out, the Richard Fahey-trained chestnut had Godolphin's Dance Sequence to contend with soon after but kept that 10-11 favourite at bay for a neck success, with Kathmandu tiring to be two lengths away in third. Tough and tenacious Dubawi filly Pretty Crystal fends off short-priced favourite Dance Sequence to prevail in the Group 3 @bet365 Nell Gwyn Stakes for @RichardFahey at @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/cD0GeWyzWI — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 17, 2024 The post Pretty Crystal Leads Dubawi One Two In The Nell Gwyn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Innevera {Fr}, by Motivator {GB}) had won one of five overseas starts since annexing last term's G3 bet365 Earl Of Sefton S. at Newmarket and made a winning European return with back-to-back victories in Wednesday's latest renewal of the nine-furlong test. The gelded 5-year-old backed up last term's success with a win in Belmont's GII Fort Marcy S. before hitting the board in June's GI Manhattan S. back in New York. He then returned off a sabbatical to place in Meydan's G2 Al Rashidiya and G1 Jebel Hatta, but dropped to eighth in February's G2 Singspiel S. last time. Ottoman Fleet inched forward to stalk the leading duo in a handy third after the initial strides, but slipped one spot with three furlongs remaining. Making smooth headway on the bridle once inside the quarter-mile pole, he seized control entering the final furlong and was ridden out in the latter stages to assert superiority by a length from last year's Cambridgeshire H. victor Astro King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Pedigree Notes Ottoman Fleet is the first of five foals and one of two winners from as many runners produced by the dual-winning Innevera (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), who has a 2-year-old filly by Pinatubo (Ire) and a yearling filly by Zarak (Fr) to come. The February-foaled bay's dam is a half-sister to five black-type winners, namely G1 Lockinge S.-winning sire Keltos (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}), MG1SP G2 Prix du Muguet victor Krataios (Fr) (Sabrehill), GSW G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud third Loxias (Fr) (Saumarez {GB}), G3 Prix Quincey-winning sire Kavafi (Ire) (Zafonic) and MSW G3 Prix de la Jonchere and G3 Prix Edmond Blanc runner-up Iridanos (GB) (Sabrehill). Descendants of his third dam Northshiel (GB) (Northfields), herself a winning half to MGSW sire Waajib (Ire) (Try My Best), include stakes-winning GII American Derby and GII San Luis Obispo H. second Californian (GB) (Zafonic) and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Coronation Cup runner-up Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}). The post Ottoman Fleet Registers Second Earl Of Sefton Success On European Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEWMARKET,UK–Charlie Appleby, who is aiming for a fourth victory in the first of the major British Classic trials, Thursday's G3 Craven S., has outlined plans for his team of Godolphin horses currently stabled at Keeneland. One of those, Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), landed the Craven back in 2021 before being beaten a short-head when second in the 2,000 Guineas. Now six, he claimed the Maker's Mark Mile Saturday to notch his third Grade I strike in North America, including last season's Breeders' Cup Mile. “Master winning last weekend was great,” said Appleby at Newmarket Wednesday morning. “He'll carry on campaigning through the summer.” Another of Appleby's Breeders' Cup winners, Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), won the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at the end of March after his victory in the HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar. The trainer continued, “They're two 6-year-olds and this is going to be potentially their last season in training. Rebel's might go to Hong Kong yet, we're not sure, but if he doesn't go there then the target will be the Sword Dancer at Saratoga in the hope of then going back to the Breeders' Cup Turf. It would be nice to have Rebel's Romance and Master Of The Seas, both past winners, at the Breeders' Cup again at the end of the season.” He added, “Master Of The Seas goes to the Fourstardave at Saratoga, and he could then potentially look at the Coolmore Turf Mile, which he just got touched off in last year, then the Breeders' Cup.” Appleby said of his select satellite stable in America, which includes the GI Canadian International S. and GI Saratoga Derby winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), “We have 10 or 12 horses out there. They are at Keeneland at the moment and we will hopefully have three runners on Kentucky Derby day and then Nations Pride will run the following week at Aqueduct. Then the whole team will ship to Saratoga, because Belmont is obviously closed, so Saratoga will be opening up early. “The racing suits some of those horses who have been running in Dubai, and you want to go there with quick-ground horses, but it suits some of them. [Assistant trainer] Alex Merriam will go out there for a week for Churchill and Aqueduct and I will try to get to Saratoga.” The post Charlie Appelby Outlines Plans for U.S. Team appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Reviewing how fast each Kentucky Derby contender ran the last three-eighths of a mile of their final prep race has been a productive pursuit.View the full article

Iraj Parvizi's Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}–Alakhana {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) backed up an Aug. 25 debut win at Newmarket's summer venue with a sixth in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last time and stepped forward to notch an impressive success on sophomore return in Wednesday's Listed bet365 Feilden S. back at HQ. The 11-1 chance raced on the front end after an alert getaway and settled into a rhythm stalking the pace in close-up second for the most part. Shaken up to regain an edge passing the quarter-mile marler, he quickened clear approaching the final furlong and kept on powerfully up the hill to easily account for Whip Cracker (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) by 3 1/4 lengths for a career best. Jayarebe is the fourth of six foals and one of three scorers from as many runners produced by Listed Prix Joubert victrix and G3 Grand Prix des Provinces third Alakhana (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), herself the leading performer out of Listed Henkel Trial third Dubai (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Dubai, in turn, is a half-sister to G2 Preis des Bankhaus Salem Oppenheim winner Denaro (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), G3 Dr Busch-Memorial victor Davidoff (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}) and multiple Group-placed Listed Mulheim Derby Trial winner Duellant (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}). The April-foaled bay is kin to an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Persian King (Ire) and a yearling colt by Victor Ludorum (GB). The post Zoffany’s Jayarebe Powers to Feilden Triumph at HQ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — Charlie Appleby, who takes aim at a fourth victory in the Bet365 Craven S. on Thursday with Native Approach (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), took advantage of the Rowley Mile early on Wednesday morning to give one of his Derby prospects, Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), a racecourse gallop. The winner of the G3 Zetland S. at the course last October, Arabian Crown, ridden by William Buick, worked over seven furlongs alongside his older stable-mate King Of Conquest (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and James Doyle. “He was always going to pick up as soon as he met the rising ground. I was pleased with that,” said the trainer, who is aiming to start Arabian Crown in the Classic Trial at Sandown on April 26. “Those mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half horses can be sleepers during the winter. We only really work them at home over five furlongs and a horse like this is only just getting warmed up over that distance.” As for the colt's potential route to Epsom, he added, “It will depend what we see at Sandown. If he goes and wins by three or four lengths we'd probably say that was enough to go straight to the Derby. If he just wins or is placed you might feel you'd have to go again. As an example, Adayar went from there to Lingfield and then on the Derby. There are options.” Appleby had been intending to gallop G1 Kameko Futurity Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) at the track on Wednesday but changed his plans owing to the drying ground, which may also mean the colt misses the Qipco 2,000 Guineas. He said, “He's going to want cut in the ground so therefore I don't want to start his season off on quick ground in the Guineas. We might have to wait for the French or the Irish Guineas. He's in great order and I'm not under pressure to get a racecourse gallop into him because he's generous at home anyway. “On pedigree I would say he'd get further than a mile. His stamina came into play in the Futurity and I would say he'd get a mile and a quarter, probably a mile and a half as well.” Looking ahead to the season, Appleby said of his juvenile team, “We've got a sharper bunch this year. We didn't have any two-year-old runners this early last season. We're intending to bring a few more out in the coming weeks and have a few runners at the Guineas meeting.” He continued, “We're coming into this season with better momentum. We managed to have a winner on Dubai World Cup night which we hadn't had for a couple of years. We've campaigned a bit more on the all-weather than we would have done in previous years as well so there's more momentum in the stable first and foremost, but secondly we are starting the season off with some proven two-year-olds [from last year]. I feel like we have a better division: some sharper two-year-olds and some nice three-year-olds.” Appleby, who has enjoyed notable success with his runners in America over the last decade, currently has a team of 12 horses stabled at Keeneland, where he won last weekend's Maker's Mark Mile with Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the Craven S. back in 2021 before being beaten a short-head in the 2,000 Guineas by Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). “'Master' winning last weekend was great,” he said. “He'll carry on campaigning through the summer, and Rebel's Romance winning in Qatar and Derby has been great. They're two six-year-olds and this is going to be potentially their last season in training. 'Rebel' might go to Hong Kong yet, we're not sure, but if he doesn't go there then the target will be the Sword Dancer at Saratoga in the hope of then going back to the Breeders' Cup Turf. It would be nice to have Rebel's Romance and Master Of The Seas, both past winners, at the Breeders' Cup again at the end of the season.” The post Appleby Honing Classic Team as Arabian Crown has Racecourse Gallop appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of April 8-April 14View the full article

It has taken a while, but Paul Preusker says Captain Envious (NZ) (Savabeel) is now the seasoned stayer that can be targeted towards Australia’s best staying races. The Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup are on Preusker’s mind as Captain Envious heads towards start number 20 in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday. Success in Saturday’s race will give Captain Envious a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October, while Preusker is also planning to start the stayer in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington next month to win a start into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. Preusker has always regarded Captain Envious highly and at start number six, coming off a benchmark 70 win at Geelong, he threw the gelding into the Group 3 Queens Cup (2600m) during the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival in which Captain Envious finished third behind Soulcombe (Frankel). Subsequent campaigns have all been about toughening Captain Envious to stand the rigours of training and racing and Preusker believes the gelding is now at that point. “He’s slowly putting it together and is becoming street smart and tough now,” Preusker told RSN. “We’re looking forward to seeing where he can get to this prep. “Those first couple of preps he would weaken on me but he’s ready to be a horse this time and you look at him and I think I could tighten him up a bit more.” Captain Envious won the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) last December and more recently the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield. Now he’s got to step up to 2400m, a trip he won over at Geelong as a younger horse, but now he has got to do it against more seasoned stayers. “He’s got to answer the question whether he can get right out in trip or not,” Preusker said. “He’s certainly got the constitution there. He’s a sound horse and heading in the right direction. “I don’t have any problems at 2400 (metres), can he run out a tough two miles, I guess not many can, but I’d like to find out.” Preusker said plans are simple for the remainder of campaign, head to Mornington and win and then onto Flemington for the Andrew Ramsden. “We’ll have a go on Saturday, and that ticks a box, and rain, hail or shine, we’ll have a go at the Ramsden which will tick another box,” Preusker said. “I think that would be enough for him and then he can have a light time for a while, but once we get through those runs, we’ll know our path.” View the full article

Michael Kent Jnr is eagerly looking forward to next month’s South Australian Derby with Warmonger, after his close second placing behind Air Assault in the Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) last Saturday. The Mick Price and Kent Jnr-trained three-year-old gelding took significant ground from Air Assault over the last 200m at Morphettville, but fell short by a short half head. “Warmonger was second-up in the Port Adelaide Guineas and Air Assault, who is a smart horse, was fourth-up and he had a cushy lead,” Kent Jnr said. “I think our horse is the one to take out of the race.” Last spring, Warmonger won the TAB Trophy (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day at his third start, the race one that has been a stepping stone race for promising stayers over the years. Two years ago, Price and Kent Jnr combined to win the South Australia Derby with Jungle Magnate and their plan is for Warmonger to follow the same path. “The Chairman’s Stakes will be Warmonger’s next start although the difference this year is it’s a week before the South Australia Derby, not the two weeks it was when Jungle Magnate won,” he said. The stable plans to tackle the same races with Tulsa King and Shinjuku. “The three of them will contest the Chairman’s and we will leave them in Adelaide for the week to contest the South Australian Derby,” he said. Tulsa King finished second to Smokin’ Princess over 1600m at Pakenham last Thursday. “Tulsa King ran very well and was Michelle Payne’s good mare. He’s a promising stayer, as is Shinjuku,” Kent Jnr said. “Shinjuku also has staying talent and he got double-barrelled at the barriers and was a late scratching from the Port Adelaide Guineas.” View the full article

What Cranbourne Races Where Cranbourne Turf Club – 50 Grant St, Cranbourne VIC 3977 When Friday, April 19, 2024 First Race 4:40pm AEST Visit Dabble Friday night racing in Victoria heads to Cranbourne Racecourse once again, with nine races carded. A perfect autumn night is forecast, with ideal track conditions set to marry up with a Good 4 surface. The rail is in its true position, and the first race is set to go at 4:40pm AEST. Best Bet at Cranbourne: Room For Bingo The Rebecca Waymouth-trained Room For Bingo was only gunned down late by a handy type at the Cranbourne 1000m on April 5. The three-year-old filly returns to the track and trip for her third career start and looks to have struck a relatively weak maiden. From barrier seven, Remi Tremsal will roll forward and take up the running, and as long as the pair do not use up too many tickets in finding the lead, Room For Bingo should prove too slick for her rivals. Best Bet Race 2 – #9 Room For Bingo (7) 3yo Filly | T: Rebecca Waymouth | J: Remi Tremsal (56kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Cranbourne: Porter Danny O’Brien’s Porter was hitting the line nicely over 1530m at Geelong last time out, suggesting the Pakenham 2025m will be no issue. The three-year-old gelding was a handy Ballarat winner two starts back and looked to have plenty left in reserve. In what shapes to be a moderately run event, Porter should have no issue seeing out the trip at the first time of asking. Next Best Race 7 – #4 Porter (10) 3yo Gelding | T: Danny O’Brien | J: Billy Egan (61.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best Again at Cranbourne: Tacito Despite being no match for Pivot City first-up after a year off, Tacito has found a nice race to return to the winner’s stall. The three-year-old colt was seemingly in need of that first-up run at Sandown, but his efforts as a juvenile would be more than good enough to be competitive in this. Daniel Stackhouse will have the son of Showtime stalking the speed throughout from barrier five, and with a well-timed sprint, Tacito looks the goods second-up. Next Best Again Race 5 – #2 Tacito (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Daniel Stackhouse (60kg) Bet with Dabble Friday quaddie tips for Cranbourne races Cranbourne quadrella selections Friday, April 19, 2024 3-11-12 1-4-8 1-2-3-6-7 1-2-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What The Quokka 2024 Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, April 20, 2024 Prizemoney $5,000,000 Distance 1200m Conditions Weight for age 2023 winner Overpass (8) | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Joshua Parr (58.5kg) Visit Dabble The second edition of The Quokka will headline the massive 10-race meeting at Ascot this Saturday afternoon, with 14 sprinters set to clash over 1200m. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit, which is the exact same position as it was for last year’s race. After winning the inaugural edition of the race, Overpass will attempt to defend his crown in the $5 million race, while star mare Amelia’s Jewel will seek revenge for her narrow defeat 12 months ago. Will The Quokka produce another grandstand finish? Or will another sprinter put their hand up and claim Quokka glory? The Quokka 2024 odds It is no surprise that Western Australia’s best horse, Amelia’s Jewel, has opened as the favourite at +230 with online bookmakers, and Overpass sits on the second line of betting at +360. Behind the top two in the market is Bella Nipotina (+400), followed by Oscar’s Fortune (+600) and King Of Sparta (+750). Although they are marked a lot longer than the top five in betting, the likes of Malkovich (+1800), Ripcord (+2000) and Wild Belle (+2500) can spring a surprise if they perform at their peak. The Quokka 2024 speed map The Bjorn Baker-trained duo of Overpass and Malkovich are expected to scorch the turf at the front of the field, with the likes of Oscar’s Fortune, Super Smink and King Of Sparta settling behind them. Any combination of runners could settle midfield, as Amelia’s Jewel, Bella Nipotina and Wild Belle could perch closer than usual due to their wide barriers. Saloon Bar, Triple Missile and Ripcord will settle at the rear of the field and enjoy any extra pace that is injected into the race. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for The Quokka 2024. The Quokka 2024 preview & form Oscar’s Fortune brings great form to The Quokka after claiming a half-length victory over Amelia’s Jewel in the Group 3 Roma Cup last start. The Dion Luciani-trained galloper has started his career in fine style, recording five wins and three placings from his eight starts, with one of those placings coming at Group 1 level behind Overpass in the Winterbottom Stakes. Jumping from barrier three will allow William Pike to settle Oscar’s Fortune behind the speed, and if he gets a split between the leaders late, he will be right there when the whips are cracking. It is hard to understand why Overpass isn’t the favourite for The Quokka. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding defeated Amelia’s Jewel fair and square last year after sustaining a strong gallop on speed and then made a mess of his rivals in the Winterbottom Stakes in the summer. From barrier six, Joshua Parr won’t have to do much work to find the front, and if Overpass turns up in the same condition that he has in his last two starts at Ascot, he will take a power of beating. Amelia’s Jewel went within a nose of claiming the 2023 edition of The Quokka, and the Simon Miller-trained mare has been to Victoria and New South Wales since to claim two Group 2 victories over 1400m and 1600m. Jumping from barrier 12 leaves Damian Lane with two choices: settle towards the rear of the field, or push forward and risk getting trapped wide. Amelia’s Jewel can take this out, but there is a lot going against her this year. Bella Nipotina finished third in this race last year and brings strong form from the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes, where the Ciaron Maher-trained mare finished second behind Chain Of Lightning last start. However, much like the favourite, barrier 13 will force her to settle near the rear, and she’ll have to loop the field to win. The Quokka 2024 selections & best bets Selections: 10 OSCAR’S FORTUNE 1 OVERPASS 8 AMELIA’S JEWEL 7 BELLA NIPOTINA $100 betting strategy $50 Win Oscar’s Fortune (#10) @ +600 with Neds $50 Win Overpass (#1) @ +360 with PlayUp 2024 The Quokka Final Field 1. Overpass (6) T: Bjorn Baker J: Joshua Parr W: 58.5kg F: x102x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Vancouver Dam: Walkway +360 -117.65 2. King Of Sparta (4) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Blake Shinn W: 58.5kg F: x1128 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Octavia +750 +170 3. Malkovich (2) T: Bjorn Baker J: Ben Melham W: 58.5kg F: 26336 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Choisir Dam: Mabkhara +1800 +360 4. Triple Missile (7) T: Grant & Alana Williams J: Brad Parnham W: 58.5kg F: 5×062 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Smart Missile Dam: Triple Latte (USA) +8000 +1500 5. Waitak (10) T: Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor W: 58.5kg F: x811x Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Proisir Dam: Repo Bay (NZ) +5000 +900 6. Saloon Bar (1) T: Daniel Morton J: Rhys McLeod W: 58.5kg F: 24×19 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Sessions Dam: Paris Cracker +15000 +3000 7. Bella Nipotina (13) T: Ciaron Maher J: Craig Williams W: 56.5kg F: 2454x Age: 6YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Bella Orfana +400 -105.26 8. Amelia’s Jewel (12) T: Simon Miller J: Damian Lane W: 56.5kg F: 2×091 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Siyouni (FR) Dam: Bumbasina (IRE) +230 -166.67 9. Ripcord (5) T: Luke Fernie J: Clint Johnston-Porter W: 56.5kg F: 3×231 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Written By Dam: Single in London +2000 +400 10. Oscar’s Fortune (3) T: Dion Luciani J: William Pike W: 56.5kg F: 12×22 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Rich Enuff Dam: Oscar Award +600 +135 11. Wild Belle (11) T: Luke Fernie J: Steven Parnham W: 56.5kg F: 114×8 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Hi Belle +2500 +500 12. Almighty Class (8) T: Mitchell Pateman J: Jarrod Noske W: 56.5kg F: 32×21 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: My Classy Lady +4000 +750 13. Super Smink (14) T: Daniel Morton J: Chris Parnham W: 54.5kg F: x2321 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Super One Dam: Sminky Shorts +3300 +650 14. Petula (9) T: Simon Miller J: Patrick Carbery W: 54.5kg F: 31124 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Filly Sire: Nicconi Dam: Run Sally Run +5000 +900 15 (1E). Comfort Me (0) T: Rhys Radford J: TBC W: 58.5kg F: 8×373 Age: 7YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Southern Comfort +10000 +1900 16 (2E). Red Can Man (0) T: Steve Wolfe J: TBC W: 58.5kg F: 80×54 Age: 7YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Gingerbread Man Dam: Brocky’s Ace +15000 +3000 17 (3E). Hot Zed (0) T: Lou Luciani J: TBC W: 58.5kg F: 67670 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Red Hot Choice Dam: Zedfire +10000 +2000 18 (4E). Gemma’s Son (0) T: Embroja-Lee Altieri J: TBC W: 58.55kg F: 44172 Age: 6YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Snippetson Dam: Princess Gemma +7000 +1300 More horse racing tips View the full article

After spending more than two decades travelling the world as a chef, Gavin Opie returned to New Zealand 14 years ago to pursue his initial love of horses, and now he has joined the 100-win club as a trainer. He brought up the milestone at Arawa Park on Wednesday when Opaea Joe (NZ) (Puccini) got his nose in front on the line to take out the Lance Lawson 1230. “We have had a lot of seconds, so to get that off the back now is great,” Opie said. “It was a great ride by Billy (Jacobson). He was the only one who had rung up for the ride, so he benefitted. “He (Opaea Joe) had a couple of below-par performances when he went up to rating 75 grade. I threw him in the paddock on some fresh grass and then brought him back and got him to his favourite place, Rotorua, and he got the job done.” A son of trainer Keith Opie, horses were always a passion for Gavin, however, when his aspirations of becoming a jockey were dashed, he elected to follow a different vocation, which led to a memorable journey around the globe. “I wanted to be a jockey at one stage, but Dad said that I was going to be too big to do that,” Opie said. “I had to earn some pocket money, so I started to help a chef out at the local pub and one thing led to another. “I went away and was a chef overseas for 20 years. I was in England, Melbourne and Miami. I am glad that I did it and I have a lot of good memories. “I had a good time at Stella restaurant in Melbourne and my last three years (as a chef) I worked privately for a guy on his yacht chasing the sun (based out of Miami). That was a brilliant experience. “My wife and kids wanted to live in New Zealand where it was a bit more relaxed, so we came back here and I went back into the horses with Dad.” Opie tasted plenty of success with his father, highlighted by the deeds of Indikator, who won 18 races, including four Gr.3 Rotorua Cups and two Listed Kiwifruit Cups. After a decade in partnership, Opie junior took over the reins in a solo capacity in 2020, and he has loved the challenge. “Dad and I had a lot of success together and now on my own it is working out quite well,” he said. “I love training, I couldn’t think of anything better to do.” Opie is now hoping to quickly add to his win tally later in the week at Matamata, where he believes last-start runner-ups Deebee Bellfer (NZ) (Preferment) and You Know (NZ) (Preferment) are strong chances of going one better in the RSA Red Poppy Raceday 26th April (2000m) and Challenge Matamata 2000 respectively. “Deebee Bellfer should be pretty hard to beat, and You Know has been dealt a few bad draws and just lost the bob at Ellerslie last time,” he said. View the full article

Eudora (NZ) (Pins) has proved to be an invaluable and much-loved member of the Waikato Stud broodmare band. A racing career was never a possibility for the daughter of Pins, but she has endeared herself to the Matamata operation with her deeds at stud and a 100 percent record with all six of her foals successful. “Eudora’s a great old girl, she had an early breeding start because she’s only got one eye and didn’t race and she’s done a fantastic job,” farm principal Mark Chittick said. The star of the brood has been the dual Group One winner Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) and her brother Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) will bid to add to Eudora’s stakes record when he makes his Australian debut in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). Trained by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, the genuine four-year-old will chase the golden ticket into the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on offer to the winner. “That’s the plan and Shaune and Colm have obviously done a great job with the horse,” Chittick said. “All of us love racing a good horse and I’m certainly loving racing him and the reason we are is that we couldn’t sell him as a yearling. “There was nothing wrong with him then and certainly nothing wrong with him now.” Nereus failed to meet his $200,000 reserve when offered by Ohukia Lodge on behalf of Waikato Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale. The gelding has five wins and three placings from his eight appearances, including a last-start success in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) with Michael McNab to partner him on Saturday. Waikato Stud will also have major interest in the performance of the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Fashion Shoot (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington. They co-bred the Group Three-winning daughter of Savabeel, who is out of the O’Reilly mare High Fashion (NZ) with the Forbes family and was sold to Te Akau’s David Ellis for $320,000 at Karaka. “Howard and Pam are very good friends and have been great supporters of ours,” Chittick said. There will also be intense interest on Saturday’s Gr.1 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick where undefeated youngster Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) steps out for trainer John O’Shea. “All eyes will be on him and hopefully he can give Super Seth his first Group One winner,” Chittick said. The colt was a debut winner at Hawkesbury in February and then claimed top honours in the Gr.3 Bailleu (1400m) at Rosehill. Meanwhile, the farm’s star performer I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) has done well since his resuming third in the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. “He was very good first-up on a wet track and the form analysis report that I got from Peter (Moody) showed that he got held up between the 600m and 400m and the race was run at a slow tempo to start with,” Chittick said. “The indications are that he’ll go up to Brisbane for two runs and then a couple of weeks in the paddock there before he goes back into work in Melbourne for the Manikato (Gr.1, 1200m) and The Everest (1200m).” View the full article

A bright future is being tipped for Super Photon following his debut win in the Arawa Park Hotel 2YO 1150 at Rotorua on Wednesday. The son of Super Seth jumped away fairly from his ace barrier and took an early trail behind pacemaker Force Of Law before jockey Joe Doyle was able to navigate him into the coveted one-one position behind the regally-bred Magice. Turning for home, Super Photon peeled three-wide and quickly ranged up alongside the Magice and Force Of Law and showed his class in the concluding stages to post a 3-3/4 length victory over Magice. Super Photon was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Marsh in conjunction with Dennis Foster, Bourbon Lane and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $380,000. He showed signs of early talent at the trials, placing in all three of his heats and was subsequently backed into $2.50 favouritism for his debut. “He is a lovely colt by Super Seth. We paid a lot of money for him at the sales,” Marsh said. “He is still a colt. He is a beautifully bred half to Mo’unga so it is nice that he is fully intact. “We were very confident today and they have always got to put it together, he was beautiful today. I love the way he settled in the trail. “He has still got a lot to learn, but he put them away pretty quick and we believe he is a colt with a big future.” Stakes assignments are now in the crosshairs for Super Photon, with the first in his sights being the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa on May 4. “We thought if he won well today he could potentially go to Te Rapa on 4th of May, there is a stakes race over 1400m there and then he can go out for a spell,” Marsh said. “You just hope you can set him for a Hawke’s Bay Guineas and 2000 Guineas, that will be out long-term plan.” American investor, and thoroughbred enthusiast, Dennis Foster, alongside Bourbon Lane’s Jamie Hill and Mike McMahon, have formed a solid partnership with Marsh in New Zealand, having previously tasted success with the likes of stakes winner Glamour Tycoon, All Black Bourbon, Hoard The Bourbon, and Mega Bourbon. View the full article

Good Oil (NZ) (Dalghar) has continued to impress Andrew Forsman this season and the Cambridge trainer will give the eye-catching frontrunner his first Australian test in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). The son of Dalghar took time to develop, only breaking his maiden early as a four-year-old, but a season later he has rapidly stepped through the grades over middle-distance trips with 11 top-four finishes in his 13 starts this term. In his familiar pace-making role, Good Oil almost caused an upset in both the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), leading until the dying stages of the latter only to be surpassed by two-mile specialist Mahrajaan (Kitten’s Joy), while holding off subsequent Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) winner Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking). Forsman was thrilled with his performance, which warranted a trip across the Tasman for Saturday’s feature. “He’s great and has thrived since he arrived in Australia, he’s taken to it really well, which is good, with the quick turnaround to get him over there and running on Saturday,” Forsman said. Forsman has engaged Billy Egan to partner his charge, who drew the ace barrier and carries an equal-bottom weight of 54kg in the handicap. “Having drawn barrier one is great for him, he’ll ping and put himself on pace,” Forsman said. “I know there’s another strong frontrunning horse in Deny Knowledge (Pride of Dubai) and she may take the lead from him, but as long as he’s in the leading group, he’ll be happy.” “The only niggling doubt in the back of my mind is the long gap between races for him, but apart from that, I couldn’t be happier with him going into it.” Good Oil will be one of two Kiwi horses making their bid for the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) golden ticket available in the Mornington Cup, alongside Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel), and Forsman is treating any further success as a bonus for the consistent gelding. “Right from day one, we were just trying to get him to switch on and win a race, and now he’s doing what he’s doing,” Forsman said. “Whatever he does is a bonus in my eyes, he’s a neat horse to have around and any race we line him up in, he turns up and tries hard every time.” Forsman will also be represented in the Mornington Guineas (1600m) by Riproar (NZ) (Charm Spirit), a son of Charm Spirit that has raced out of his Victorian stable through the season. Riproar was an impressive last-start winner at Geelong and will be partnered by Harry Coffey in the three-year-old event. “He was competitive enough against three-year-olds in the spring, but it’s always different getting into the autumn,” Forsman said. “He won very well first-up, albeit against lesser opposition than he strikes on Saturday. We’re confident that he’s as well as he can be heading into it, but now he’s just got to prove he’s up to this level.” Puccini four-year-old Full Of Sincerity (NZ) (Puccini) completes Forsman’s Mornington team, contesting the Benchmark 84 Handicap (1600m) later on the card. View the full article

Wairarapa gelding Times Ticking (NZ) (Tavistock) has an affinity with the South Island, and he will be looking to extend that record when he heads to Riccarton on Saturday. The eight-year-old son of Tavistock has won three of his seven starts in the south, including the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), Listed Easter Cup (1600m), Banks Peninsula Cup (1800m), and was third in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui in February. He will return to Riccarton this weekend where he will attempt to defend his crown in the Canterbury Gold Cup, where he has drawn barrier four and will be ridden by Tina Comignaghi. Owner-breeder-trainer Alby MacGregor has the luxury of staying with his son near Rangiora during his southern stints and said his pride and joy thrives in that environment. “He is down in Christchurch now with my son. He has been down there for a week or so,” MacGregor said. “He has had a fair bit of success down there and he seems to thrive down there. My son is at Rangiora and he has a little farm there and he seems to enjoy it.” Times Ticking heads into Saturday in good form, having won the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) in January before his White Robe Lodge placing. He was then seventh in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham a fortnight ago, which MacGregor said has brought him on nicely for Saturday’s title defence. “He needed that run,” MacGregor said. “I was quite happy with it. He whacked away. He is probably not a 1400m horse nowadays, but he had to have something to blow the cobwebs out.” MacGregor said Times Ticking will likely head for a spell at his son’s property following Saturday’s run. “After the weekend he is going to have a break for a little while and we will work it out from there,” he said. View the full article

Group Two performer Zaila (Street Boss) was in a purple patch of form late last year and trainer Kylie Hoskin is hoping she can pick up where she left off when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday. The five-year-old daughter of Street Boss was fourth in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) and Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) before gaining black-type when runner-up to subsequent Group One winner Campionessa (NZ) (Contributor) in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa in December. “It was such a good run in the Cal Isuzu, and to run second behind Campionessa there is no shame in that,” Hoskin said. The Byerley Park horsewoman has been pleased with the way her stable star has returned and is looking forward to stepping her out at Ellerslie for the first time in the Barfoot & Thompson 1200. “It is really exciting to get her back on course and to Ellerslie as well, and give her a look around there,” Hoskin said. “She seems to like any surface – she goes on the Heavy, she goes on the Good – it doesn’t seem to bother her. “She does seem to have better form left-handed than right, but in saying that, she has gone some good races right-handed as well. It will be a bit of a fact-finding mission and we will know more after Saturday.” Zaila has had the one trial over 800m leading into her resuming run and Hoskin said Saturday’s 1200m contest should help bring her on further. “She had the trial at Pukekohe, she is pretty fresh and behaved accordingly, so it was hard to get a line on her,” Hoskin said. “She has definitely got a bit of spunk that we are trying to keep under wraps. I love her to bits, but she does take a bit of managing. “We would have gone back to the trials, but with Waipa being moved and a bit of rain about at the end of this week, we decided to go to Ellerslie instead.” Zaila will jump from barrier seven with Sam Spratt aboard and has been installed a $10 winning chance by TAB bookmakers. “I think she will get a nice run in behind them,” Hoskin said. “As long as she is running on we will be happy. “It is her first run back with just one trial under her belt, so she is probably lacking a little bit fitness-wise, but the rain will help her, it will help slow them down a bit and bring them back to her.” Hoskin has eyed next month’s Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) as Zaila’s main target this preparation and believes Saturday’s contest is a great starting point. “With those trials being moved we wanted to get a run into her before the Rotorua Stakes,” Hoskin said. “We will then give her a short break and look towards the spring.” Meanwhile, Hoskin is looking forward to her new stable acquisition Quality Time making his New Zealand debut in the near future. “I have an import of Go Racing’s from Australia called Quality Time, who has come over from Chris Waller’s,” she said. “He trialled at Pukekohe as well and hit the line pretty strongly. He will have his first start at Te Rapa in a few weeks, so it will be exciting to get him out for his New Zealand debut. “Since he has had that trial he has really perked up, he is a lovely horse and a bit of a gentleman. He is a chestnut and he is showing a bit of his red-head side this week, so I am pretty excited to get him out on the track.” View the full article

David Hayes concedes stable newcomer Little Brose (Per Incanto) faces a big challenge at his Hong Kong debut in the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, 28 April. The former Australian sprinter, a Group 1 winner of the 2023 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds, faces tough local and international opposition in the feature sprint. Japanese runner Mad Cool (Dark Angel) is a Group 1 winner, while Hong Kong sprinters California Spangle (Starspangledbanner) and Victor The Winner (Toronado) have also both won at the highest level. Sunrise Ronaldo (Harbinger) will also represent Japan in the international contingent, which is completed by Great Britain’s sprinter Believing (Mehmas) – trained by George Boughey. Now a three-year-old, Little Brose was trained in Australia by Hayes’ sons Ben, Will and JD. He is owned by Hong Kong businessman Peter Young who has always been keen to see the colt race at Sha Tin before returning to Australia to potentially stand at stud. The colt has raced nine times for two wins, two seconds, and a third pre-import for more than HK$8 million in earnings. His last race was at Caulfield in October in the G1 Caulfield Guineas when he finished eighth in the 15-horse field, beaten by nearly five lengths, at his first attempt over 1600m. Hayes said that depending on how Little Brose trials on Friday (19 April), he expects a competitive performance against some elite sprinting opposition. “It is a tough task but he is a Group 1 winner,” he said. “There are three other Group 1 winners in the race and we’ll see how he goes. Then he’ll run in a handicap three weeks later if he doesn’t win it because he won’t be eligible if he wins (Chairman’s Sprint Prize).” Hayes was speaking from his own experiences and observations when he said a lot of horses don’t win first-up in Hong Kong. As well as Little Brose’s Blue Diamond Stakes win, the colt is also a Listed 1000m winner at Caulfield. “He has got some sprinting ability and we are happy for him to run in the big races and that’s what we are going to do,” Hayes said. “At the moment I think I will keep him sprinting in the short term and that’s where his best form is and then if need be we will stretch him out.” Like many good gallopers, Hayes said Little Brose was lazy in his trackwork but had so far won two of his three trials, and on Friday he plans to apply blinkers when he trials. He said it was always the plan for Little Brose, who was exported from Australia in December, to race in Australia so he could qualify for Hong Kong. “I’d be surprised if beat the Dubai winner (California Spangle) but we’d be very happy if he ran a place,” Hayes said. View the full article