Wandering Eyes

Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant has tragically died. View the full article

Copartner Ambition, Majestic Knight, Son Pak Fu, Tourbillon Prince and Tomodachi Kokoroe are all a chance to scoop the top prize at Happy Valley on Wednesday nightView the full article

Verry Elleegant winning 2021 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Champion racehorse Verry Elleegant, a figure in racing, tragically passed away while giving birth in France, leaving the racing community in mourning. The exceptional Melbourne Cup winner had ventured to Europe 18 months ago to explore opportunities with renowned trainer Francis Henri Graffard. Despite her efforts on the track, Verry Elleegant concluded her career after four races without a win, leading her owners to choose the esteemed stallion Sea The Stars as her first mate for breeding. Verry Elleegants racing skills were truly remarkable, with a record of 16 victories, including 11 Group 1 wins. Her successes brought joy to her fans and earned her the prestigious title of Australasian racehorse of the year for the 2020/21 season. She became a symbol of excellence in horse racing. Left a lasting legacy in racing history. Back in 2018, a group of investors, including known individuals like Ozzie Kheir and Brae Sokolski, acquired half ownership of Verry Elleegant due to her exceptional talent. Initially trained by Darren Weir, she thrived under Chris Waller’s guidance following Weir’s disqualification in 2019. Waller, the trainer, expressed sadness upon hearing the news, recognising the significant impact Verry Elleegant had on the world of horse racing. “In a statement filled with sorrow, we sadly announce the passing of Verry Elleegant, due to complications during childbirth,” Waller shared. “This heartbreaking news is still fresh for our team and close associates who are struggling to come to terms with this loss. She received care at the farm. We are forever grateful for their dedication.” Verry Elleegants spirit and bravery on the racetrack have left a lasting impression on racing fans. Her legacy goes beyond her accomplishments, as she has touched the hearts of many who followed her career with admiration and fondness. The memory of Verry Elleegant will be cherished by those who have witnessed her greatness both on and off the track. 2021 Melbourne Cup Replay – Verry Elleegant (1st) Horse racing news View the full article

Race 6 GM ACCOUNTING & CONSULTING 1200m SUPERBLY WRITTEN (N Parmar) – Te Akau Racing Manager Mr. R Trumper advised Stewards, SUPERBLY WRITTEN was monitored for two days at Canterbury Equine Clinic for suspected colic. R Trumper further advised the filly has been transferred back to the Matamata stable and will be sent for a spell. The post Banks Peninsula Racing Club at Riccarton Park, Saturday, 10 February 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 2 ALLIED SECURITY 1200 SCOUSER (M McNab) – Trainer C Cole advised Stewards that the filly had pulled up sore and has since been sent for spell. A vet will re-examine the filly in a few weeks. Race 3 DR JOHN SOUTHWORTH MEMORIAL VASE 1200 ACADEMY AWARD (S Spratt) – Assistant Trainer R Mildon advised Stewards that the mare had had a tough run and was unable to respond when placed under pressure. The mare has undergone checks by the stable vet and no abnormalities were detected. The stable will continue with the mare’s current preparation. Race 8 BCD GROUP SPRINT WFA 1400 (G1) IMWONDERFULTONIGHT (S Weatherley) – Trainer S Mynott advised that the mare had come through the run satisfactorily and has had a subsequent veterinary examination which did not detect any abnormalities. The mare will now be freshened and continue with its current preparation. The post Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa, Saturday 10 February 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 3 SOUTHLAND HONDA HANDICAP (1200m) LIPA MALA (B Rogerson) – Trainer A Carston advised Stewards that the mare had come through the run fine and would continue with her current preparation. The post Southland Racing Club at Ascot Park, Thursday 8 February 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Twice a bridesmaid in stakes company Stronghold defeated his rivals in a commanding performance for his first black-type score in the Feb. 18 $400,000 Sunland Park Derby (G3).View the full article

The 2021 Australasian Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) has passed away due to foaling complications, announced Chris Waller via X on Sunday evening. The 11-time Group 1 winner tallied the 2021 G1 Melbourne Cup to a venerable career and had been sent to France to race for conditioner Francis-Henri Graffard. After four winless outings in the Northern Hemisphere in 2022, including appearances in the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet, G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu, and her final jump in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S., the four-time champion had been retired and bred to Sea The Stars (Ire). “It is incredibly sad that we pass on the news on behalf of the ownership group that Verry Elleegant has passed away due to complications giving birth to her foal,” said Waller. “The news is just filtering through to stable staff now and other close connections who are coming to terms with the tragic news. She was in fantastic hands on a farm who did all they could for her, and we would like to thank them for their efforts which we will be forever grateful for.” The post Verry Elleegant Dies From Foaling Complications appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The $400,000 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park may turn into a showcase for one of the leading first-crop sires of 2023 as Omaha Beach will be represented by Alys Beach and Neom Beach. View the full article

With authority down the lane at Sunland Park on Sunday afternoon, Stronghold (Ghostzapper–Spectator, by Jimmy Creed) won the Grade III Sunland Derby and in the process took home 20 points for entry into the 150th Kentucky Derby. The race favorite, who was last seen finishing as the runner-up in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity for Eric and Sharon Waller, raced just off of Lucky Jeremy (Lookin At Lucky) during the first half of the race. Primed and ready for his close-up, the 3-year-old unleashed a new set of gears down the lane and won by two lengths over Alotaluck (Sir Prancealot (Ire). The final running time was 1:42.64. Lifetime Record: 5-2-3-0. O/B-Eric Waller & Sharon Waller (KY); B-; T-Philip D'Amato. #5 Stronghold ($4.40) is victorious in the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby (G3). The three-year-old Ghostzapper colt earns 20 points on the @SpendthriftFarm Road to the Kentucky Derby for trainer @PhilDamato11 with @Antonio1Fresu in the irons. #KyDerby2024 pic.twitter.com/vbz5DSMS40 — TVG (@TVG) February 18, 2024 The post Ghostzapper’s Stronghold Invades Sunland Derby And Takes Home 20 Derby Points appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Wyong Races Where Wyong Race Club & Function Centre – 71-73 Howarth St, Wyong NSW 2259 When Tuesday, February 20, 2024 First Race 1:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Provincial racing heads to Wyong on Tuesday afternoon for an ultra-competitive eight-race program. The rail is out +3m for the entire circuit, and as the track is already a Soft 7 with more showers still to come, that rating will be closer to the Heavy range by race-day. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1:15pm local time. Best Bet: Rush Hour Considering Rush Hour was returning from a 343-day spell at Rosehill on February 2, he received a pass mark. The three-year-old colt was no match for Wallenda but did hit the line powerfully under Kerrin McEvoy, suggesting there was still plenty of improvement to come for the Nathan Doyle-trained galloper. He gains the services of 3kg claimer Benjamin Osmond on Tuesday, and with a bit more luck in transit, Rush Hour will be fighting out the finish in this Class 1 contest. Best Bet Race 7 – #2 Rush Hour (7) 3yo Colt | T: Nathan Doyle | J: Benjamin Osmond (a3kg) (60.5kg) +210 with PlayUp Next Best: Paruna Paruna did enough on debut at Randwick’s Kensington circuit on January 31 to suggest she’s worth following second-up. The Ciaron Maher-trained filly was tough when attempting to lead all the way over 1250m, and despite suffering a two-length defeat, she should take plenty of benefit from that experience. She maps to lead again on Tuesday, and with the Wyong course being much more favourable to on-speed gallopers, Paruna should fit in perfectly in this provincial maiden. Next Best Race 5 – #11 Paruna (2) 3yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jason Collett (56.5kg) +250 with Bet365 Best Value: Scalextrics Scalextrics should appreciate the sting out of the ground as he returns after 151 days off the scene. The son of So You Think has only found the winners’ enclosure in one of his five starts to date, which came on resumption last preparation on a genuine Heavy surface. He could find similar conditions at Wyong, and with stall one giving apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag all available options, Scalextrics should be fighting out the finish at an each-way price with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 6 – #7 Scalextrics (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Matthew Smith | J: Rebecca Bronett Prag (a3kg) (55kg) +1000 with Neds Tuesday’s Wyong quaddie tips Wyong quadrella selections Tuesday, February 20, 2024 4-8-11 1-2-3-4-5-7 1-2-3-6 2-6-7-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Thwarted by bad luck this season, Atullibigeal (Street Boss) deservedly clinched the HK$2.84 million Class 2 TVB Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday for trainer David Hall as Brenton Avdulla extended a powerful mid-season surge. Beaten a short head when second in the Class 1 Chevalier Cup Handicap (1600m) and a close fourth in the Class 1 Panasonic Handicap (1400m), Atullibigeal bravely threaded narrow gaps in the straight today to fend off Superb Boy (Nicconi) and Drombeg Banner (Starspangledbanner) after 2.2 favourite Global Harmony (NZ) (Shamexpress) refused to leave the barriers under Zac Purton. “A little bit disappointing he wasn’t able to win the Chevalier Cup or the Panasonic Cup – he was unlucky in both those races, so (it’s) rewarding to get this race today and hopefully he’s not finished with yet,” Hall said. “We had the barrier (gate three) and it looked like he was going to get a good run, but obviously he was in a bit of a pocket there and had to find room. But he got clear and he’s shown before he can be brave in between horses and he certainly was again today.” “Atullibigeal was good,” Avdulla said. “Good result – I thought I had one of those books where things would need to go right for me to ride a winner, but everything has worked out well. Can’t complain.” Formerly trained in New Zealand by Carl Henderson, Atullibigeal’s two wins included the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old. View the full article

Horse Racing on Monday, February 19 will feature four meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meeting at Muswellbrook. Monday Racing Tips – February 19, 2024 Muswellbrook Racing Tips As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on February 19, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Recharge (Gun Runner) wound up banking 20 points in her Kentucky Oaks checking account after she got the money at Sunland Park on Sunday afternoon. The homebred arrived in El Paso with two wins to her credit in as many races. Breaking her maiden by nine lengths in mid-December at Remington Park, the filly shipped to Houston and passed the two-turn test when she cleared the allowance ranks with a 4-3/4 win Jan. 21. Sent on her way at odds of 2-1 here, the 3-year-old established a lead heading into the first turn and continued to modulate the pace up front along the backstretch. With the field bearing down on her position around the far turn, Recharge responded to Joel Rosario's urging past the eighth pole, turned back a major challenge from Candy Aisle (Gun Runner) and poked her head across the wire in time. The winner has a 2-year-old full-brother named Remix and a yearling half-brother by Silver State. A full-sister to MGSW and sire Tapiture, and also to SW Retap and GSW Rotation, Remit was bred to Epicenter for this season. SUNLAND PARK OAKS, $250,000, Sunland, 2-18, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:37.27, ft. 1–RECHARGE, 121, f, 3, by Gun Runner 1st Dam: Remit (MSW, $257,556), by Tapit 2nd Dam: Free Spin, by Olympio 3rd Dam: Spin n Win, by Private Account 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $148,500. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $189,498. *1/2 to Reride (Candy Ride {Arg}), MSW-USA, GSP-UAE, $461,010; 1/2 to Finite (Munnings), MGSW & GISP, $849,869. 2–Candy Aisle, 121, f, 3, Gun Runner–Rosalie Road, by Street Cry (Ire). ($250,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $350,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Randy Andrews, Jim Cone, Brad King and Lee Lewis; B-Gun Runner Syndicate & C. W. Swann (KY); T-Todd W. Fincher. $54,450. 3–Simply Enchanting, 121, f, 3, Nyquist–Enchante, by Bluegrass Cat. ($475,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-MyRacehorse, Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC and Platts, Joey; B-Jumping Jack Racing LLC (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $24,750. Margins: NK, 4, 4. Odds: 2.30, 2.30, 0.90. Also Ran: Methods, Raspberry Wine. Scratched: Floating Beauty. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. “Recharge won it in a thrilling display of courage!” #5 Recharge ($6.60) sets the pace and wins the battle of the Gun Runner fillies in the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks. She earns 20 points on the @SpendthriftFarm Road to the Kentucky Oaks for Steve Asmussen and @JRosarioJockey. pic.twitter.com/f7cHSreleL — TVG (@TVG) February 18, 2024 The post Winchell Homebred Recharge Collects 20 Kentucky Oaks Points At Sunland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wilson fell in love with the game as a railbird and relished the opportunity to cover the sport dating back to the mid-1980s and as recently as this past weekend, when he was at Santa Anita to cover the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3). View the full article

Daqiansweet Junior ridden by Daniel Moor in the mounting yard prior to the running of the 2023 Melbourne Cup at Flemington . (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Phillip Stokes has disclosed that Amade and Daqiansweet Junior, who performed admirably during the spring season, are on the verge of commencing their autumn campaigns in the upcoming weeks. The former is set to take on Moonee Valley’s Listed Night Cup (2500m) on Friday night as a stepping stone towards the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville next month. Regarding Daqiansweet Junior, Stokes outlined a three-start campaign beginning with the Australian Cup Prelude (1800m) on March 9, followed by the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) on March 30, and culminating in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 13, which serves as his primary target. “He’ll (Daquiansweet Junior) have a three-run prep, and that will do him,” stated Stokes. “He can then go for a break after the Sydney Cup, and we’ll get him ready for another shot at the Melbourne Cup.” Stokes expressed contentment with the residual fitness both horses have retained from the spring, affirming his satisfaction with their current condition and foreseeing promising campaigns ahead. “Both horses have a lot of residual fitness carrying over from the spring. I’m happy with the way they’ve come up, and I think they are in for good campaigns,” Stokes concluded. Horse racing news View the full article

Makram (IRE) ridden by Harry Coffey winning the The Elms Handicap at Flemington. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Ben Hayes, co-trainer of Makram, envisions the Irish-imported gelding as a formidable contender in the lucrative races during the autumn carnival. Makram clinched a surprise victory in Saturday’s Listed Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington, stunning the favourite Jimmysstar. “He’s been threatening to do it for a long time. He’s been a very interesting horse to train. He’s been so frustrating. He’s gone from putting in fantastic runs to being disappointing, so hopefully he can put it all together this prep,” explained Hayes in an interview with Racing.com. Trained in partnership with his brothers JD and Will, Hayes outlined Makram’s potential path, with plans for the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington next month, followed by potential entries in the $4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) and the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m). Makram is marked as a +5000 chance with top horse racing betting sites for the Group 1 Australian Cup on March 30. Horse racing news View the full article

Traffic Warden will lineup in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.(Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) James Cummings is confident that Traffic Warden, Godolphin’s hopeful for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield this Saturday, is ready to deliver his best performance yet. “We deliberately brought him down to Melbourne last year to tackle a two-year-old handicap back in trip to 1000 metres second-up and that was after chasing home the very impressive Storm Boy at Rosehill,” Cummings explained to Racing.com. “He’s already had that valuable Caulfield experience, and second-up he looks well suited.” Traffic Warden debuted with a second-place finish to Storm Boy at Rosehill, followed by a victory at Caulfield. In his latest outing, he secured third place behind Prost and Fearless in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 3. “I watched him gallop (Saturday) morning in Sydney and he’s still getting it right,” Cummings explained. “That’s why I feel like we haven’t seen the best of him yet. He’s on the improve and that’s a positive quality going into the race.” Traffic Warden is marked as a +2000 winning hope with top horse racing bookmakers in the Blue Diamond Stakes. Horse racing news View the full article

Atullibigeal wins the Class 2 TVB Cup. Thwarted by bad luck this season, Atullibigeal deservedly clinched the HK$2.84 million Class 2 TVB Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday for trainer David Hall as Brenton Avdulla extended a powerful mid-season surge. Beaten a short head when second in the Class 1 Chevalier Cup Handicap (1600m) and a close fourth in the Class 1 Panasonic Handicap (1400m), Atullibigeal (130lb) bravely threaded narrow gaps in the straight today to fend off Superb Boy (123lb) and Drombeg Banner (132lb) after favourite Global Harmony refused to leave the barriers under Zac Purton. “A little bit disappointing he wasn’t able to win the Chevalier Cup or the Panasonic Cup – he was unlucky in both those races, so (it’s) rewarding to get this race today and hopefully he’s not finished with yet,” Hall said. “We had the barrier (gate three) and it looked like he was going to get a good run, but obviously he was in a bit of a pocket there and had to find room. But he got clear and he’s shown before he can be brave in between horses and he certainly was again today.” Celebrating successive Sha Tin doubles with Fast Buck’s win for John Size, Avdulla said: “Atullibigeal was good. Good result – I thought I had one of those books where things would need to go right for me to ride a winner, but everything has worked out well. Can’t complain.” Jamie Richards endured a bitter-sweet weekend with the decision to retire gun sprinter Wellington and the victory of G Liner for Karis Teetan. Richards confirmed Wellington, winner of 12 races in Hong Kong, including four Group 1s, and more than HK$68 million in prizemoney, would be retired after pulling up with an issue following Saturday’s Happy Valley trials. “He’ll be retired tomorrow,” Richards said of the seven-year-old. “Such is life, he’s getting a little bit older now and we just didn’t want to take any risks with him – he’s been such a good horse. “He’s going to enjoy a nice retirement. I think he’s going to go back to Kia Ora Stud in Australia, where he was bred, and he’s going to spend his retirement there.” Richard Gibson trained Wellington, once acclaimed as Hong Kong Champion Sprinter, until the end of last season when the All Too Hard gelding transferred to Richards’ stable following Gibson’s retirement as a Hong Kong trainer. Caspar Fownes-trained Packing Hurricane foiled the hopes of several Hong Kong Derby (2000m) aspirants with success under Harry Bentley after David Hayes successfully debuted Chateauneuf, a Fastnet Rock three-year-old. Given a trouble-free passage by Purton, the three-year-old’s performance impressed Hayes. “He did a good job from the wide gate (barrier 10). He got a bit tired late, but he’ll improve a lot. He’s a very big horse and all his trials have been very easy,” Hayes said. Jerry Chau made a triumphant return to race riding after missing Thursday’s Happy Valley meeting because of illness by notching a double in tandem with Benno Yung. The pair struck first with Only U before James Tak landed the Class 4 TVB Yan Chai Charity Show Handicap (1200m). “It’s been a tough week for me,” Chau said. “I had a cold and a high temperature but the Club provide good treatment and good medicine and I was able to come back and perform,” Chau said. “I feel well now.” Frankie Lor-trained Victory Moments claimed a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million for his strong win for Matthew Chadwick after Pierre Ng-trained Starship Eighty continued a productive campaign with his third victory of the season with success under a superb Teetan ride. Adefill confirmed his affinity with Sha Tin’s alternate surface by winning for Ricky Yiu and Antoine Hamelin. By Deep Field, Adefill improved his record on the dirt circuit to five wins and five placings from 12 starts. Horse racing news View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Monday, February 19. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these complimentary promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximize your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for February 19, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Place a 4+ leg multi, if one leg fails Bonus Back up to $50 Applies to your first eligible 4+ leg multi each day. Paid in Bonus Cash Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Daily Trifecta Boosts Boost your winnings on Trifectas by 10% with new Daily Trifecta Boosts. Thoroughbreds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions for February 19, 2024. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and exclusive promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Lexington-based breeder Debby Oxley has carefully curated the family behind Risen Start Stakes (G2) winner Sierra Leone and will be looking toward the first Saturday in May with the Kentucky Derby hopeful. View the full article

Coined a "big league" horse by trainer Brad Cox after his sparkling five-furlong tune-up over the weekend, WinStar Farm's Timberlake journeys to Oaklawn Park with a lofty chance in the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 24. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) checked off quite a few boxes on his GI Kentucky Derby development checklist with Saturday's half-length score in the GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds. In just his third career start, he handled shipping away from his home base, winning as the 5-2 favorite off an 11-week layoff, rating from mid-pack while equipped with blinkers for the first time, and racing under the lights on a sloppy, sealed and eerily shadowy track. And yet, jockey Tyler Gaffalione still believes there's room for improvement–which is exactly what you want to hear if you fancy the chances of this $2.3-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale-topper on the first Saturday in May. “He's a very special horse. We haven't even gotten close to the bottom of him,” Gaffalione told FanDuel TV's Caton Bredar post-win. “He's still learning. He's still green. You can see when he made the lead, he still wanted to lug in a little bit. But [he was] much more professional today. He honestly didn't hit his best stride until the gallop-out.” After winning his one-turn-mile debut Nov. 4 at Aqueduct, trainer Chad Brown tried Sierra Leone in the Dec. 2 GII Remsen S., where the colt uncorked a sweeping, seven-wide move over a muddy surface that produced a heavily speed-slanted bias (five wire-to-wire and five on-the-pace winners). Sierra Leone sling-shotted to the lead, but bore in once it looked like he'd blow past Dornoch (Good Magic), who clawed back to the lead to win in the shadow of the wire. It was an unfortunate loss-of-focus result for Sierra Leone, but Brown shrugged off the second-place finish and immediately suggested he'd equip the colt with blinkers to start his sophomore season. The blinkers weren't intended to suddenly transform this deep closer into a speed freak. But on Saturday the equipment change did make a mid-pack trip easier to attain under the patient Gaffalione. The second-favorite in the Risen Star, the 3-1 Track Phantom (Quality Road), was sent to the lead as expected, and Joel Rosario was able to milk a moderate tempo at the head of affairs, splashing through catch-me-if-you-can splits of :24.32, :25.35 and :25.07 for the first three quarter-miles of the nine-furlong race. As a come-from-behinder, Sierra Leone might end up being one of those Derby hopefuls who is always going to be at the mercy of the pace and potential traffic. Three-eighths out, it became apparent that trying to reel in a relatively untaxed Track Phantom would be a good test of Sierra Leone's ability to overcome exactly that sort of adversity. Going into the Risen Star, Track Phantom had won three straight two-turn races while controlling the cadence and then having to swat back legitimate stretch challenges, and he turned for home in the New Orleans gloaming still looking strong with the additional benefit of having taken no kickback at the front of the slop-spattered pack. Sierra Leone takes a long while to unwind, but there was no panic in Gaffalione's tactics as he let his colt build momentum starting three-eighths out. Turning for home, Gaffalione was still content to be choosy about picking his path, spinning four-, six-, eight- and then nine wide for the drive, exchanging all that lost real estate for being able to get a clear shot at the hard-trying Track Phantom. Sierra Leone was still four lengths in arrears at the eighth pole. But he sliced that margin in half a sixteenth from the finish while edging inward toward Catching Freedom (Constitution) and then Track Phantom despite left-handed urging from Gaffalione to stay straight. With the line looming, Gaffalione knew he had Track Phantom zeroed in on his striking sights 50 yards from home, and Sierra Leone seemed to relish the task of inhaling that rival, striding out powerfully to stop the timer in 1:52.13. Don't judge Sierra Leone's effort by that raw final clocking on a quagmire of a track that got more sluggish after sunset. By .66 seconds, it was the slowest Risen Star in six runnings (including split divisions in 2020) since the Risen Star got elongated to nine furlongs from 1 1/16 miles five years ago. The winning Beyer Speed Figure came back as 90, which is more or less on par with the 91 Sierra Leone earned in the Remsen. The timing to take note of out of the Risen Star is the fourth quarter clocked in :24.66. For comparison, of the nine points-awarding Derby qualifying stakes run at 1 1/8 miles during the entire 2022-23 campaign, only one of those races (the GI Santa Anita Derby in early April) yielded a sub-25 seconds fourth quarter. And the final furlong, during which Sierra Leone gained 2 1/2 lengths to win, was clocked in a respectable (given the course conditions) :12.73. The Apr. 6 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland will be next for Sierra Leone. “What we had planned on win or lose–but assuming a good race–is to use the Blue Grass as our Kentucky Derby prep,” Brown said after the Feb. 17 win. “So things went well today and we'll stick to that, but having the points is a nice-to-have in case there's a rough trip or something doesn't go according to plan in the Blue Grass.” History could be on Sierra Leone's side in the Blue Grass. The last six times Brown has started a horse in that stakes, the results have been two wins, three close seconds, and a third. But another recent angle–winning the Kentucky Derby off of just two starts at age three–could pose a historical hurdle. After that game plan produced eight Derby winners between 2007 and 2016, horses with only two sophomore starts prior to trying their luck in Louisville have been a collective 0-for-39 since 2017. The post The Week in Review: From Out of New Orleans Gloaming, Sierra Leone Splashes into Derby Relevance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Undefeated in his three starts to date, Storm Boy is rated an AU$2.70 chance for the AU$5 million Golden Slipper (G1) at Rosehill March 23, having last been seen in competitive action in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast Jan. 13.View the full article

Southern California News Group's veteran turf writer Art Wilson died early Sunday morning near his home in Victorville, California. He was 71. Wilson, who gallantly fought a form of blood cancer for more than 10 years, was scheduled to attend Sunday Winter Corgi Nationals at Santa Anita, but had to be transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Apple Valley late Saturday afternoon and subsequently passed away due to heart failure. First introduced to racing by his late father, Wilson fell in love with the game as a railbird and relished the opportunity to cover the sport dating back to the mid-1980s and as recently as this past weekend, when he was at Santa Anita to cover the GIII Palos Verdes S. for the Southern California News Group, a consortium of newspapers that includes the LA Daily News, Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Long Beach Independent, and many others. In addition to covering stakes action and writing feature stories, Wilson wrote a weekly column for the So Cal News Group, with his final contribution, “Toby Keith's love for horse racing went beyond 'Beer for My Horses'” on the passing of the country music star running Feb. 16. “Art was alert and coherent and then he went quickly this morning from heart failure,” said his brother and frequent racetrack confidant, Eddie Wilson. “He had stabilized and when I left to come back home last night at 10:30, he was watching the race replays on his cell phone.” From the Santa Anita press box Sunday, FanDuel's Kurt Hoover said, “Art was a great guy and he loved this place. He paid attention and his last column on Toby Keith was, without a doubt, one of his best. He'll be sorely missed.” Art Wilson was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his brother Eddie, sister Deborah Wills (Charles), nephew Cody Wills and his wife Kimberley, as well as cousins James Costa, Mark Costa and Heather McAvoy. A memorial service will be held next month at Oakdale Mortuary in Glendora, with specific information to come in the next few days. The post Turf Writer Art Wilson Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article