Wandering Eyes

The Lindsay Park team of Ben Will and JD Hayes will press ahead with plans to head to Sydney with Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) for The Championships. After winning the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile in 2022 and again last year, Mr Brightside is being aimed at the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday week. Mr Bightside pulled up a little sore in the right foreleg and needs a veterinary clearance after finishing fifth in the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday before starting. J D Hayes said Mr Brightside had ‘pulled up within normal limits’, doing some work on Monday. “He pulled up a little stiff and sore, as you do after a football game, or in this case a hard 2000-metre run like that,” Hayes told RSN. “He was under saddle this morning and looked great, so it all system go to the Queen Elizabeth.” Hayes said Mr Brightside would be ridden differently in the Queen Elizabeth with Pride Of Jenni again being in the race. He said Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) was an amazing horse, a modern-day Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince). “It was a proper run 2000 metres and what we have taken out of it is that we can absorb those hard run tempos at 1400 and the mile,” Hayes said. “But at 2000 metres we probably need to ride him a bit more conservatively and hit the line and we’ll be going to the Queen Elizabeth with that approach. “The heavy ground, that it looks like it will be on the weekend, hopefully stays around next week. “He loves the sting out, so hopefully that will be another tick in his corner. “In the last two years our trips to Sydney have been successful and hopefully it will be this time.” Mr Brightside has been entered for two races in Hong Kong later in the month, but Hayes has all but ruled out the gelding making the trip. “We’ll get through the Queen Elizabeth first, but it is looking unlikely,” he said. View the full article

NZB’s 2024 National Online Yearling Sale is now live, with the quality 100-lot catalogue available to view on Gavelhouse Plus. For the fourth year, the digital edition to NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series is set to be conducted on the premium online platform Gavelhouse Plus with bidding closing on Wednesday 17 April from 6pm (NZT). All unbroken yearlings purchased from the National Online Yearling Sale are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Just nine short months after they make their virtual sale-ring debut, graduates of the online sale can compete for a share of the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) plus a $200,000 bonus for New Owners. “This is the last chance to enter horses in the $2.9m Karaka Millions Series,” commented NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook. “And with the two-year-old race only nine months later, the Online Sale presents buyers with a distinct advantage.” Renowned vendors from across New Zealand are supporting the Sale, with a contingent of 46 proven, emerging, and first-season sires offered. The quality line-up includes progeny by heavyweights Almanzor, Contributer, Ocean Park,Shocking and Written Tycoon. The best of New Zealand’s emerging sire talent is also represented, with yearlings by Ace High, U S Navy Flag, Satono Aladdin, Super Seth and War Decree, to name a few. Buyers will also get the opportunity to secure lots from the first crops of Hello Youmzain, Ancient Spirit, Circus Maximus, Tagaloa and King’s Legacy. Bidding will run for a five-day period, commencing Friday 12 April with the first lot closing on Wednesday 17 April at 6pm (NZT). Buyers must register on Gavelhouse Plus in advance in order to gain bidding approval. Buyers are also welcome to join the on-farm parades prior to the Sale, with the schedule available to view online HERE. View the full article

Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock) has enjoyed a standout season for trainer Roydon Bergerson and is now enjoying some well-deserved time in the paddock ahead of what could be a lucrative spring campaign. The six-year-old daughter of Tavistock kicked off the season in emphatic style when downing Group One winner Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) to win the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and in February added the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) to her stakes haul. She followed that victory up with two runner-up results at Ellerslie, including last month’s inaugural $350,000 Rangitoto Classic (1500m) and last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), bringing her season earnings to $277,850. Bergerson was rapt to get the Group One placing with his mare and is hoping to go one better in some elite-level targets in the spring. “I am very happy with her, she just got beaten by a better horse (Belclare) on the day,” he said. “It is great for the owners, I am really happy for them. She is a lovely mare to get to train for them. “She has gone to the paddock today. We could have gone to the Travis (Gr.2, 2000m) or the Easter Handicap (Gr.3, 1600m), but I thought it was better to get her out now while the weather is still good and bring her in before it gets too cold, and hopefully aim her at the (Hawke’s Bay) Spring Carnival, she has proven that she can race at weight-for-age. “The beauty with her is that it doesn’t matter if it is hard-and-fast or heavy. She has won on them all. She is a tough, versatile mare. Hopefully there is a bit of rain to slow some of the others down.” While he is looking forward to the spring with Town Cryer, Bergerson’s immediate focus is racing at Wanganui and Trentham later this week. The Awapuni conditioner will take two horses to Wanganui’s Friday meeting, with Nadheema (NZ) (Nadeem) lining up in the Maiden 1200m, while Asahi (NZ) (Savabeel) will contest the Rating 65 1600m. “Nadheema trialled up really well the other day,” Bergerson said. “I see the horse (Chester Boy) that beat her won the other day, and the horse (Good Craic) that ran third behind her ran second the other day. She has worked on nicely and I am happy with the way she looks. It is not an overly big field so she will get her chance. “Asahi was very good at Wellington. I think he is a very good top-two chance. His work this morning was fantastic, so I am looking forward to getting him to the races.” Looking ahead to Trentham on Saturday, six-win gelding Bradman (NZ) (Pins) will contest the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap (1400m), while Charlotte’s Way (NZ) (Pentire) will line-up in the Rating 75 1200m. “I just hope they run along for him (Bradman),” Bergerson said. “He is better if the pace is on, he always seems to find the line better when the race is run genuinely quick. If it is run slowly then he gets into trouble and starts to over-race. His racing manners have been better this year than they have any other year. I am really happy with him, he has trained on really well and he likes Wellington, so he should be hitting the line strongly. “Charlotte’s Way has been a hard horse to place. She likes to run around the bend but there have been no 1200m races for about five or six weeks and there isn’t another one for another couple. We thought we would attack the money, see if she can get up on the speed and stay out of trouble. She is not a very big mare, and she panics in her races, so we will press forward. “Wiremu (Pinn) is riding them both and he is a good jockey, I am happy to have him on.” Meanwhile, Bergerson was pleased with La Bella Grande’s (NZ) (Per Incanto) trial over 1200m at Foxton on Tuesday and is eyeing some stakes targets over autumn for the Little Avondale Stud-bred and raced mare. “La Bella Grande is a really nice mare going forward,” he said. “She is 17 hands and has just taken a while to grow into herself. “She was very disappointing in her last start at Te Rapa. We threw the ball at the stumps and we missed. She jarred up really bad, so we put her straight in the paddock and she went and did a bit of pre-training down at (Chris) Rutten’s and she has come back in magnificent order. “I am really happy with the way she trialled today. She is coming up nicely for the autumn. “We will have to chase a bit of black-type with her, I think she is up to it. She is a beautiful mare and she is just starting to learn the game. She used to be really quirky and was hard to control, but now she is taking it all in her stride.” View the full article

Group One-winning trainer Cydne Evans recorded her first win since moving to Waverley three years ago when Stringline (NZ) (Alamosa) took out the Riverstone Café Handicap (2100m) at Otaki on Monday in the hands of Kozzi Asano. It was the six-year-old mare’s fifth start for Evans, who was relatively confident heading into the meeting after the daughter of Alamosa had finished runner-up on the Horowhenua track over a similar distance in her previous raceday outing. “I haven’t had her that long, and she hadn’t been a good eater, but since she ran second, she has been licking the bowl clean and has become a happy horse again,” Evans said. “I was going into it pretty confident.” Stringline jumped well and was sent straight to the front by Asano, and the pair quickly opened up several lengths on their rivals. Asano maintained a solid tempo throughout and the pair sustained their advantage until they were regathered by the pack at the 600m mark. Asano pressed the go button at the top of the straight and his charge answered once more, running clear to score a 1-1/2 length victory. “She had a good draw and everything played into her favour,” Evans said. “It was good to see her come back to some form for the owners.” While Stringline has been in her care since December, Evans said the mare wasn’t new to her, having worked with her as a juvenile at her former Byerley Park base, and is pleased to get a win on the board with the mare as an older horse. Evans has been pleased with the way Stringline has come through the race and said she might back-up at Trentham’s upcoming Saturday meeting. “She ate up last (Monday) night and she has turned the corner. She is a happy horse I think,” Evans said. “I have put a cheeky nomination for Trentham, but I don’t know if I will run yet because I will see how she goes in the next couple of days. There is a good stake there, so you have to look where the money is. “We will just keep her happy and if we don’t run there then I will find another staying race. She won’t go on the heavy stuff in the middle of winter, but she will handle a bit of cut in the ground, so we will play around for a little bit longer.” Stringline brought up Evans’ 66th training victory and first in six years, with a number of life events forcing Evans to reevaluate life, culminating in the decision to downsize her training operation and move to Waverley to follow a different career path. “I have been an Aucklander all my life and I moved down here (Waverley) three years ago,” she said. “I got pretty disillusioned, and I was getting average horses and there wasn’t any money in the game. I also lost my partner to cancer. It all snowballed and I decided I had enough. “I sold my place up in Auckland and had been looking for a farm for a while down the line and this place came on the market and I now rear calves.” While her new career is keeping her busy, Evans said her enthusiasm for racing has reignited and she is enjoying training a small team of horses from her new base. “I have a couple of handy horses around me, which is getting me enthused again. I just want to play around with a few, it keeps me happy,” she said. It continues a three-decade long training career for Evans, who first fell in love with the sport through attending race meetings at Ellerslie with her father. “My Dad was an apprentice jockey, but not for long as he got too big,” she said. “I used to love going to Ellerslie with him as a little kid. I wanted to be a jockey, but he didn’t want his daughter to be in the racing game back then, so I moved into the stud side of things and worked for Charlie Roberts and Don McLaren. “Dad passed on and then I took out a trainer’s license and it has gone from there.” Evans has now posted 66 wins, including two at stakes level courtesy of her former star stayer Cyclades (NZ) (Alleged Dash), who won nine races, including the Gr.1 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Gr.2 Queen Elizabeth Handicap (2400m), and was runner-up in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m). “We had quite a ride with him,” Evans said. “We went to the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m), we didn’t go any good but we made the field. “It was something you put on your bucket list. He started on the Saturday and just suffered from heat stress after the race. We had to undergo vigorous vet tests to run in the Cup, but unfortunately I think that Saturday took the edge off him, so he just participated pretty much on the Tuesday. But it was a big thrill to be part of it all. “The crowd was amazing, you had to fight your way to get down to the tie-ups and back. It was quite incredible.” View the full article

No Plan Be (NZ) (Tarzino) will bid to continue a proud family record at Ruakaka when she resumes on her home course on Wednesday. The four-year-old has been patiently handled by trainer Michelle Bradley and will run in the Croft Poles Maiden (1600m) with Kelly Myers booked to guide her fortunes from a handy barrier (six). By Tarzino, No Plan Be is a daughter of the Darci Brahma mare Candle In The Wind (NZ) who was a seven-time winner, with five of her victories posted at Ruakaka where she was prepared by Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs. She also showed her quality when successful in the Karaka Stayers’ Cup (2200m) and finished runner-up in her farewell performance in the Gr.3 City of Auckland Cup (2400m). No Plan Be is her first foal to race and she has produced encouraging runs for fifth in both of her appearances. “She has improved and it took us a little while to work her out,” Bradley said. “She flew home in her first start at Pukekohe and then we raced her here and she hit a flat spot. She’s not a big filly and I turned her out after that and she had a month off. “She’s straight into a mile again and she looks great, I’ve been pretty happy with her work.” No Plan Be will be one of a quartet of runners for Bradley with Haller (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Mondavi (NZ) (Dissident) to make their debuts while Shockatillatap (NZ) (Shocking) returns from a break. Haller will kick off his career in the Ruakaka Races – NZ’s Best Bet In Winter Maiden (1600m) with Matthew Cameron to partner the son of Satono Aladdin, whose family is also well known to Bradley. “He is a half-brother to Bosch (two wins) and Top Brass (six wins) and early on he looked like he might be a sprinting type, but he’s changed in shape and body style and showing me signs he’ll be more of a staying type like Bosch,” she said. “I’ve put him in at the deep end a little bit. I did have him in the 1400m but will start him over a mile fresh-up and he’s done well.” Mondavi is a newcomer to the stable and will make her first appearance in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) with Vinie Colgan in the saddle. “She came to me this preparation and I haven’t trialled her, but she did have two trials previously,” Bradley said. “I’m still learning about her so it will be interesting to see how she goes. She’s a work in progress and you have to start somewhere.” Shockatillatap will benefit from his outing in the Whangarei ITM Handicap (1200m), in which he’ll be ridden by Cameron, and may be seen in a new role this preparation. “He’s going to need the run and we have talked about jumping him and we may still do that,” Bradley said. Meanwhile, promising four-year-old Dame Lilibic (Rubick) was spelled following her impressive premier victory at Ellerslie last month and her third success from 12 starts. “I was absolutely thrilled with that win she got a virus so she’s in the paddock,” Bradley said. “She’ll have a decent break now and will come back when the weather really starts to turn nasty. “She’ll probably have her first run back here in September and she’s an exciting mare.” View the full article

Stringline winning at Otaki on Monday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North Group 1-winning trainer Cydne Evans recorded her first win since moving to Waverley three years ago when Stringline took out the Riverstone Café Handicap (2100m) at Otaki on Monday in the hands of Kozzi Asano. It was the six-year-old mare’s fifth start for Evans, who was relatively confident heading into the meeting after the daughter of Alamosa had finished runner-up on the Horowhenua track over a similar distance in her previous raceday outing. “I haven’t had her that long, and she hadn’t been a good eater, but since she ran second, she has been licking the bowl clean and has become a happy horse again,” Evans said. “I was going into it pretty confident.” Stringline jumped well and was sent straight to the front by Asano, and the pair quickly opened up several lengths on their rivals. Asano maintained a solid tempo throughout and the pair sustained their advantage until they were regathered by the pack at the 600m mark. Asano pressed the go button at the top of the straight and his charge answered once more, running clear to score a 1-1/2 length victory. “She had a good draw and everything played into her favour,” Evans said. “It was good to see her come back to some form for the owners.” While Stringline has been in her care since December, Evans said the mare wasn’t new to her, having worked with her as a juvenile at her former Byerley Park base, and is pleased to get a win on the board with the mare as an older horse. Evans has been pleased with the way Stringline has come through the race and said she might back-up at Trentham’s upcoming Saturday meeting. “She ate up last (Monday) night and she has turned the corner. She is a happy horse I think,” Evans said. “I have put a cheeky nomination for Trentham, but I don’t know if I will run yet because I will see how she goes in the next couple of days. There is a good stake there, so you have to look where the money is. “We will just keep her happy and if we don’t run there then I will find another staying race. She won’t go on the heavy stuff in the middle of winter, but she will handle a bit of cut in the ground, so we will play around for a little bit longer.” Stringline brought up Evans’ 66th training victory and first in six years, with a number of life events forcing Evans to re-evaluate life, culminating in the decision to downsize her training operation and move to Waverley to follow a different career path. “I have been an Aucklander all my life and I moved down here (Waverley) three years ago,” she said. “I got pretty disillusioned, and I was getting average horses and there wasn’t any money in the game. I also lost my partner to cancer. It all snowballed and I decided I had enough. “I sold my place up in Auckland and had been looking for a farm for a while down the line and this place came on the market and I now rear calves.” While her new career is keeping her busy, Evans said her enthusiasm for racing has reignited and she is enjoying training a small team of horses from her new base. “I have a couple of handy horses around me, which is getting me enthused again. I just want to play around with a few, it keeps me happy,” she said. It continues a three-decade long training career for Evans, who first fell in love with the sport through attending race meetings at Ellerslie with her father. “My Dad was an apprentice jockey, but not for long as he got too big,” she said. “I used to love going to Ellerslie with him as a little kid. I wanted to be a jockey, but he didn’t want his daughter to be in the racing game back then, so I moved into the stud side of things and worked for Charlie Roberts and Don McLaren. “Dad passed on and then I took out a trainer’s license and it has gone from there.” Evans has now posted 66 wins, including two at stakes level courtesy of her former star stayer Cyclades, who won nine races, including the Group 1 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Handicap (2400m), and was runner-up in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m). “We had quite a ride with him,” Evans said. “We went to the Melbourne Cup (Group 1, 3200m), we didn’t go any good but we made the field. “It was something you put on your bucket list. He started on the Saturday and just suffered from heat stress after the race. We had to undergo vigorous vet tests to run in the Cup, but unfortunately I think that Saturday took the edge off him, so he just participated pretty much on the Tuesday. But it was a big thrill to be part of it all. “The crowd was amazing, you had to fight your way to get down to the tie-ups and back. It was quite incredible.” Horse racing news View the full article

The stage is set for a thrilling 2024 Doncaster Mile this Saturday as Royal Randwick kicks off the prestigious “The Championships.” Doncaster Prelude 2024 winner Another Wil is out to be the first to back-up and win the Group 1 Doncaster Mile in the same year. Photo: Steve Hart. The $4 million Group 1 race (1600m) promises an exciting clash of established stars and rising talents. Ciaron Maher‘s Another Wil sits atop the pecking order at $4 through Ladbrokes. The in-form Street Boss gelding is riding a four-race winning streak, culminating in his dominant 2.25-length victory in last weekend’s Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill. He steps up in class here but carries a lighter weight (50kg) with Jamie Kah retaining the ride. Drawn barrier 21 (potentially 17 with emergencies out), Another Wil aims for a historic feat – becoming the first horse to win both the Doncaster Prelude and Mile in the same year. Several contenders look to challenge Another Wil. Les Bridge‘s Celestial Legend ($5.50) seeks to become the first three-year-old winner since Brutal in 2019. Fresh off consecutive victories in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Randwick Guineas (1600m), he drops significantly in weight (from 56.5kg to 49kg) and is a major threat. Chris Waller also boasts a strong hand with five runners and an emergency, including the talented three-time Group 1 winning colt Militarize ($10) who boasts a formidable record at Randwick. He finished a close third in the George Ryder Stakes last start and has a great chance in gate four with Zac Purton aboard. Waller’s recent Sky High Stakes winner Lindermann ($15) is another to consider, while Zougotcha ($17), fresh off her Coolmore Classic victory, shouldn’t be overlooked. Japanese raider Obamburumai ($8.50), last year’s The Golden Eagle winner, brings international flair to the race. Finally, don’t discount Lady Laguna ($13) trained by Annabel Neasham. This mare is in peak form and boasts victories in the Canterbury Stakes and a narrow runner-up finish in the George Ryder Stakes. Witness history in the making! The 2024 Doncaster Mile goes down at Royal Randwick on Saturday. 2024 Doncaster Mile Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 111x113x25 THINK ABOUT IT Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 15 57kg 115 2 117x13x1x OBAMBURUMAI (JPN) Keiji Yoshimura Damian Lane 8 55kg 111 3 x1132x6257 PERICLES James Cummings Blake Shinn 16 54.5kg 108 4 1x5158x223 MILITARIZE (NZ) Chris Waller Zac Purton 4 54kg 110 5 419x646x11 ZOUGOTCHA Chris Waller Craig Williams 19 53.5kg 2.0kg 112 6 901393×784 GOLDEN MILE James Cummings Jason Collett 1 53.5kg 107 7 31x9250x40 KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller Tommy Berry 12 53.5kg 107 8 x4372317x3 DETONATOR JACK (NZ) Ciaron Maher Tim Clark 2 52.5kg 107 9 64x11356x5 BERKSHIRE SHADOW (GB) Ciaron Maher Declan Bates 13 52.5kg 106 10 10x7538x16 RUSTIC STEEL Kris Lees Tom Sherry 7 52kg 1.0kg 107 11 141x412x80 ATTRACTABLE Sara Ryan Reece Jones 5 51.5kg 104 12 23×2111212 LADY LAGUNA Annabel Neasham Michael Dee 10 51kg 115 13 1x01544x61 DEMOCRACY MANIFEST Chris Waller Jay Ford 11 51kg 107 14 2x02310x10 PHEARSON Brad Widdup 24 51kg 1.0kg 104 15 x993121860 LOCH EAGLE Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a) 23 51kg 102 16 0x0488x631 LINDERMANN Chris Waller Zac Lloyd (a) 22 50.5kg 110 17 21215×2112 SEMANA Ciaron Maher Andrew Adkins 17 50kg 107 18 213×1111 ANOTHER WIL Ciaron Maher Ms Jamie Kah 21 50kg 102 19 21x25x511 CELESTIAL LEGEND Les Bridge Tyler Schiller 6 49kg 110 20 1129×221 SOUTHPORT TYCOON Ciaron Maher Ms Rachel King 20 49kg 108 21e 553x404x73 NUGGET (GB) Ciaron Maher 9 51.5kg 104 22e x40786x255 HINGED Chris Waller 14 50kg 103 23e 2x0180x470 NAVAJO PEAK David Payne 18 52.5kg 103 24e x726177x30 PALMETTO (NZ) John Sargent Ms Molly Bourke (a) 3 51kg 102 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Doncaster Mile 2024 Field: Another Wil Aims for Historic Double appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

What Doomben Races Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Wednesday, April 2, 2024 First Race 11:52am AEST Visit Dabble Brisbane’s Doomben Racecourse will host a massive 10-race card this Wednesday afternoon, with several runners taking their place in rescheduled races that were abandoned last Saturday. The track was rated a Soft 7 at the time of acceptances, and with rain forecast to fall during the meeting, the surface is expected to stay in the Soft range. The rail will be pushed out to the +8m position for the entire circuit, with racing set to kick off at 11:52am AEST. Best Bet at Doomben: Transatlantic Transatlantic was a dominant winner over 1500m last start, when the Tony Gollan-trained colt settled on speed before careering away with a 3.3-length victory over Side Show at Eagle Farm. Angela Jones gave this son of Snitzel a peach of a ride that day, and she will reconnect with the galloper as he steps up to 1650m for the first time. From barrier five, Jones should be able to push forward and replicate her previous ride, and if Transatlantic shows the same turn of foot late, he will be winning again. Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Transatlantic (5) 3yo Colt | T: Tony Gollan | J: Angela Jones (60kg) Bet with PlayUp Next Best at Doomben: Pole Position After finishing third behind En Pointe on his Queensland debut at this track and trip on March 13, Pole Position steps back in grade as he seeks his first victory in the Sunshine State. With a solid second-up record (4:1-1-1), the son of Astern will appreciate Marnu Potgeiter’s 3kg claim and a softer track. From barrier six, Potgieter can settle this guy behind the speed in the one-one position and make his move around the home turn. Next Best Race 10 – #2 Pole Position (6) 5yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Marnu Potgieter (a3) (61.5kg) Bet with Neds Best Value at Doomben: Polarising Polarising took care of her maiden two starts back with a strong win at the Sunshine Coast before going down in a photo finish at Grafton over 1175m. There appears to be a lot of speed in this 1100m contest, so expect Boris Thornton to push forward and settle behind the speed from barrier three. If the leaders go too quick, Polarising can peel off their backs and run over the top of them late. Best Value Race 5 – #11 Polarising (3) 4yo Mare | T: Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted | J: Boris Thornton (58kg) Bet with Picklebet Wednesday quaddie tips for Doomben races Doomben quadrella selections Wednesday, April 2, 2024 1-4-7-8-13 1-2-4-6-7-10 1-2-3-6 2-5 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Superstar’s regular rider makes a case for the gelding to continue his brilliant career after Champions DayView the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Wednesday, April 3, 2024 First Race 7:15pm HKT (10:15pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Sha Tin on Wednesday evening for a rare all-weather meeting. The rail is in the true position throughout the circuit, and with consistent rain forecast, watch for jockeys to swing their mounts wider off the inside rail when turning for home to avoid kick-back. The first of eight races is set to get underway at 7:15pm HKT time. Best Bet: Gummy Gummy Gummy Gummy should relish the opportunity to get back to his favoured all-weather circuit. The son of Snitzel has been far from disgraced in his two most recent attempts on the Sha Tin and Happy Valley turf tracks; however, his latest placing came at this course and distance on February 4 when beaten less than a half-length by Bundle Of Charm. He boasts two wins at the track and trip, and with Zac Purton back in the saddle, expect him to claim career win number four. Best Bet Race 5 – #5 Gummy Gummy (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Benno Yung | J: Zac Purton (56.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best: Hinokami Kagura Hinokami Kagura was awful in his first two Hong Kong starts before being tried on the all-weather circuit. It has seemingly unlocked the best of this Jamie Richards-trained gelding, who went close to claiming victory on February 18. He gets the services of Zac Purton for the first time, and with a genuine tempo expected throughout this 1200m contest, watch for Hinokami Kagura to be careering down the centre of the course late. Next Best Race 3 – #10 Hinokami Kagura (7) 3yo Gelding | T: Jamie Richards | J: Zac Purton (56kg) Bet with Unibet Best Value: Victory Moments Victory Moments won two starts back at this course and distance, and although he then suffered defeat at the hands of Sing Dragon, he can turn the tables in this 1200m affair. He gets a significant swing in the weights this time, and with a stronger tempo likely to be generated by the likes of Campione and Self Improvement, the son of Speith should get the last look at his rivals when the whips are cracking. Best Value Race 6 – #2 Victory Moments (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Matthew Chadwick (58.5kg) Bet with Neds Hong Kong quaddie tips – Wednesday 3/4/2024 Sha Tin quadrella selections Wednesday, April 3, 2024 5-6-8 1-2-5 1-2-5-6-9-10-11 1-2-3-4-13 Horse racing tips
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What Newcastle Races Where Newcastle Racecourse – 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow NSW 2292 When Wednesday, April 3, 2024 First Race 1:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $150,000 Provincial-Midway Championships Wildcard (1400m) headlines a bumper eight-race program at Newcastle on Wednesday afternoon, offering one last chance to secure entry into the final at Randwick on April 13. The rail moves out +6m for the entire circuit, and with only minor showers predicted in the lead-up, the current Good 4 rating is expected to hold up. The opening race is scheduled to get underway at 1:45pm local time. Provincial-Midway Championships Wildcard: Ang Pow Ang Pow is ready to peak in his first look at 1400m this campaign and offers a great each-way price with online bookmakers. The son of Flying Artie was impressive last time out when chasing home Shadows Of Love at Gosford on March 16, and he should’ve finished much closer than 1.8-length margin may suggest. He will need to make plenty of inroads from barrier 13, but with his stunning turn of foot over this trip, Ang Pow should be right in this. Provincial-Midway Championships Wildcard Race 7 – #1 Ang Pow (13) 5yo Gelding | T: Richard & Will Freedman | J: Keagan Latham (59kg) +1300 with Bet365 Best Bet at Newcastle: Duke Of Bronte Duke Of Bronte resumes after 151 days off the scene and should be ultra-competitive in this maiden contest. He led all the way in both of his recent barrier trials, the latest being a 1.4-length romp at Warwick Farm on March 26. The 4kg claim of apprentice jockey Leeshelle Small only benefits this son of Capitalist, and with barrier one to help him on his way, watch for Duke Of Bronte to make every post a winner. Best Bet Race 1 – #1 Duke Of Bronte (1) 3YOG | T: Joseph Pride | J: Leeshelle Small (a4kg) (58kg) +145 with PlayUp Next Best at Newcastle: Rantan Rantan couldn’t have been more impressive when bounding away from her rivals in a Randwick jump-out on March 22, showing she could have serious ability. She rounded up her opposition when barely asked for an effort and seemed to have plenty in hand through the wire. If Ron Quinton’s debutant can bring her trial form to race-day conditions, she must be considered the one to beat. Next Best Race 2 – #7 Rantan (6) 2YOF | T: Ron Quinton | J: Tim Clark (56kg) -105.26 with Neds Wednesday quaddie tips for Newcastle races – 3/4/2024 Newcastle quadrella selections Wednesday, April 3, 2024 2-3-8-11 1-7-8-10-11 1-4-5-6-11 1-4-5-7-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Trackside has returned to free-to-air television as part of a refreshed offering for New Zealand racing fans. Trackside, which has been part of the New Zealand broadcasting landscape since 1992, has been refreshed to give racing lovers a complete new look and feel. The refresh also signals the return of Trackside to free-to-air-channels. Trackside 1 and Trackside 2 are now available on Freeview 23 and 24 respectively, expanding the reach of the channels alongside offering the service through Sky Channels 62 & 63 and TAB’s own streaming services through its betting channels. Christopher Haigh, Chief Media Officer of Entain Australia and New Zealand – the operators of TAB and Trackside Media – said racing fans can expect enhanced coverage of all three racing codes. “We’ve made a complete change to the look and feel for Trackside 1, Trackside 2 and Trackside Premier,” Christopher Haigh said. “These are the first major changes to Trackside’s look and feel since 2014, and we’re putting the racing animal at the front and centre of these changes. “Our new look has more space for live racing vision to be displayed, alongside providing viewers with more of the key betting information they need.” The graphic changes also reflect the shift in betting trends in the past decade, with fixed odds products becoming increasingly popular. More programming will also be seen on Trackside’s channels in the coming months, as well as an increased number of presenters at New Zealand’s racecourses to help find and pass on information that viewers cannot find elsewhere. View the full article

Undefeated 3-year-old Doncho is expected to make his stakes debut in the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland. For owner Jose Lopez, the gelding is blazing a long-awaited trail from Puerto Rico.View the full article

Horse Racing on Tuesday, April 2 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 Geelong. Tuesday Racing Tips – April 2, 2024 Geelong 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 April 2, 2024, check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Horse racing tips View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Tuesday, April 2. 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 April 2, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. All races at Geelong & Taree. Max bonus $100. First bet only (including SRM). Paid in bonus cash. Must use available balance. T&C’s apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Neds Toolbox Check your Neds Toolbox for daily Price Boosts, Bet Backs, Back Ups and MORE! Neds Terms and Conditions apply. Login to Neds 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 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 April 2, 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

Anthony Stabile, who has spent the past 25 years talking about and writing about horse racing, is the new voice of Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.View the full article

As was expected following the March 21 California Horse Racing Board meeting that awarded fall race dates to Northern California, purses have been cut for Santa Anita Park's upcoming spring meet that runs April 19-June 16.View the full article

Eclipse champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I meets her Breeders' Cup rivals Jody's Pride and Candied for a rematch in the $600,000 Ashland Stakes April 5 at @Keeneland.View the full article

Six juveniles shared the fastest furlong time of :10 1/5 during the breeze show ahead of the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale held Monday at Lone Star Park. Four of the group were consigned by Pike Racing: hip 2, a filly by Daredevil; hip 28, a colt by Street Boss; hip 36, a filly by Outwork; and hip 42, a colt by Aurelius Maximus. Also sharing Monday's bullet: hip 49, a filly by Cinco Charlie consigned by Asmussen Horse Center; and hip 77, a filly by Cutting Humor consigned by Bryan Ford Training Stable. “Overall, it was a great breeze show,” said TTA Sales Director Foster Bridewell. “We had a head wind all day and the horses handled it well. We had six tie for the fastest breeze of the day and many others stopped the clock in 10 2/5 and 10 3/5. I think the track was consistent all day and that's a credit to the track team at Lone Star Park. Thank you to the team at Lone Star and to our consignors and owners for bringing a good group of horses to our sale.” The breeze results and videos are available online at TTAsales.com. The Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be held Wednesday at Lone Star Park. Bidding begins at 10 a.m. CT. The post Six Share Bullet at Texas Breeze Show appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Elliot Sullivan accepted a 30-day suspension and $2,500 fine for giving the mare My d'Valentine an interarticular injection within 14 days of a Feb. 20 race at Mahoning Valley Racecourse.View the full article

Anthony Stabile has been named track announcer at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack. Stabile will become just the third announcer in Finger Lakes history when the upstate New York track opens for its 63rd season of Thoroughbred racing Apr. 29. “Since I was a young kid, I've wanted to be a racetrack announcer and am proud to say my first full-time position will be at Finger Lakes,” Stabile said. “I'm looking forward to being a part of a place that is rich in racing tradition, where one of my favorites, Funny Cide, wrapped up his career.” Stabile was the back-up announcer on the New York Racing Association circuit from 2018-2023, where he co-hosted the Talking Horses handicapping show, as well as America's Day at the Races/Saratoga Live on the Fox Sports family of networks. He is currently one of the track announcers at Yonkers Raceway. He also has called races at The Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway. “We are excited to have Anthony joining our racing team. His vast knowledge of New York State Thoroughbred racing will serve him well in his new role,” said Finger Lakes president and general manager Chris Riegle. The post Stabile Named Finger Lakes Track Announcer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After rearing up before the Dubai Gold Cup, Eldar Eldarov struck his head and was withdrawn by the starter. Racecourse vets diagnosed head trauma and sent him to the local equine clinic for further evaluation. View the full article

The plot thickens as the cadence quickens. Entries will be drawn Tuesday for this Saturday's GI Toyota Blue Grass S., and on Wednesday for the GI Santa Anita Derby and GII Wood Memorial S. 1) MUTH (c, Good Magic–Hoppa, by Uncle Mo) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $2,000,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 6-4-2-0, $1,504,100. Last start: WON Mar. 30 GI Arkansas Derby. Muth's two-length score in the GI Arkansas Derby cemented his status as the divisional kingpin. Yes, there are colts who are faster based on speed figures. And yes, there are contenders who are more visually arresting in their stretch runs. But in terms of consistency, reliability, and the potential for even more improvement, there are no better bets at this stage of the season. The gaming corporation that runs Churchill Downs has disinvited trainer Bob Baffert from the track's 150th GI Kentucky Derby bash, so it's unclear where this 'TDN Rising Star' might start next. A commitment to the GI Preakness S. would still be weeks away, but the connections of whoever ends up winning the May 4 Derby probably won't be going wild with visions of sweeping the Triple Crown knowing that a fresh, fit and dangerous Muth is waiting in the wings. Muth adapted to two disruptive attempts in the early stages of the Arkansas Derby. Off as the 2.3-1 second choice, he was initially forwardly placed under Juan Hernandez, then got edged back off the action when a keyed-up 26-1 shot slipped through at the rail. Taking up a sweet stalking spot cornering onto the backstretch, Hernandez then had to decide what to do when 11-10 favorite Timberlake (Into Mischief) unexpectedly accelerated between rivals at the 6 1/2-furlong pole to seize the lead. Muth was asked to shadow fellow 'Rising Star' Timberlake before Hernandez sensed that he could let that rival keep a half-length lead for most of the back straight. Seven-sixteenths out, Hernandez coaxed Muth to unwind, and once he hit his best stride at the quarter pole, Muth began opening up under a hand ride while Timberlake was being roused and not responding. Through the lane, Muth kept the pesky 32-1 shot Just Steel (Justify) two lengths in arrears, and under the wire it was another 4 1/2 lengths back to the remaining stragglers. 2) SIERRA LEONE (c, Gun Runner–Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael B Tabor, Derrick Smith Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing LLC & Peter M Brant; B-Debby M Oxley (KY); T-Chad Brown. Sales history: $2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $336,750. Last start: WON Feb. 17 GII Risen Star S. 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone, who celebrated his third birthday Mar. 31, is the horse to beat in Saturday's Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. That doesn't necessarily mean he needs to drain the tank to win his final prep race before the Derby. But considering this Chad Brown trainee has been unraced since winning the Feb. 17 GII Risen Star S., it is imperative for Sierra Leone to demonstrate numerical progression off a three-race Beyer Speed Figure arc of 71-91-90. This $2.3-million FTSAUG sale-topper takes a long while to uncoil with his off-the-pace runs. But the scary thing is we haven't seen him come close to scraping the bottom of his stamina reserves just yet. In the Risen Star, he accomplished quite a bit considering it was just his third career start: Sierra Leone handled shipping away from his home base, winning off an 11-week layoff, rating from midpack while equipped with blinkers for the first time, and racing under the lights on a sloppy, sealed, and eerily shadowy track. The last six times Brown has started a horse in the Blue Grass, the results have been two wins, three close seconds, and a third. 3) FOREVER YOUNG (JPN) (c, Reel Steel {Jpn}–Forever Darling, by Congrats). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Racing; T-Yoshito Yahagi. Sales History: ¥98,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, $2,049,451. Last start: WON Mar. 30 G2 UAE Derby. The 5-for-5 Forever Young is a very plausible threat for the Kentucky Derby coming off a convincing win in Saturday's G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse over 1900 meters. This Yoshito Yahagi trainee who sold for the equivalent of $720,603 at the JRHA Select Yearling and Foal sale was prompted for speed from an outer draw. Then, after opting for a four-wide go through the first turn, jockey Ryusei Sakai deftly eased him back to fifth on the straightaway, doing the best he could to keep the colt out of kickback (Forever Young was equipped a protective mask that was supposed to soften the blow of the dirt spray). Forever Young again took the overland route around the final bend while smoothly shifting into consecutively higher gears, then drilled past the pacemaker with an outside bid before drawing away confidently. The four dirt races on the G1 Dubai World Cup card at Meydan provided only a limited sample, but two of them were blowout wins by speed horses who rode the rail, suggesting that the ground-conceding run by Forever Young could have been against the grain of an inside-favoring track. 4) FIERCENESS (c, City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty) 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Repole Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo, MGISW, 5-3-0-1, $1,703,850. Last start: WON Mar. 30 GI Curlin Florida Derby. Fierceness needed a sharp effort in the GI Florida Derby to give him forward momentum heading to Louisville, and a gaudy, 13 1/4-length blowout that earned a 110 Beyer supplied the latest exclamation point in a five-race, Jekyll-and-Hyde career that has alternated scintillating wins with inexplicably flat performances. We still don't have a good measuring stick for how Fierceness might respond when faced with the multiple in-race challenges that a race like the 20-horse Derby will present. This Repole Stable homebred by City of Light had everything his own way Saturday when establishing a measured tempo without having to fight hard for the lead or repulse any serious bids. It's not Fierceness's fault the Florida Derby came up soft on paper. But it does mean that the Kentucky Derby will be this colt's first immersion into the deeper end of the divisional pool since he pasted the field in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile by 6 1/4 lengths. At age two, Fierceness aired in his sloppy-track Saratoga debut by 11 1/4 lengths. He then looked lost when seventh as the odds-on fave in the similarly sloppy GI Champagne S. His Breeders' Cup victory was delivered with authority, yet his coming-out party at age three was an underwhelming third at 1-5 odds in the slow-paced GIII Holy Bull S. If anything, Fierceness's cakewalk in the Florida Derby should erase any doubts about whether he had too taxing a final prep five weeks before the Run for the Roses. On Sunday morning, trainer Todd Pletcher reported the colt came out of the race “super.” 5) DETERMINISTIC (c, Liam's Map–Giulio's Jewel, by Speightstown) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-St. Elias Stable, Langone, Ken, Duncker, C. Steven and Vicarage Stable; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Christophe Clement. Sales history: $625,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $222,750. Last start: WON Mar. 2 GIII Gotham S. The athletic but lightly seasoned Deterministic remains on target for Saturday's GII Wood Memorial S. This 2-for-2 Christophe Clement trainee bulleted five-eighths Friday in 1:01.60 (1/5) at Payson Park while reeling in a workmate after starting two lengths back with his usual jockey, Joel Rosario, aboard. “I thought it was nice for him to be in behind a horse,” Clement told Daily Racing Form's David Grening. “If he goes two turns, a mile and an eighth, most probably he will be behind horses. I kind of like in the morning to try and reproduce what you're going to do in the race.” This colt scored at first asking over seven furlongs in an Aug. 12 MSW sprint at Saratoga (81 Beyer). He was subsequently sidelined with an ankle chip, but stamped himself as a Derby contender with an eye-catching, stalk-and-split win in the Mar. 2 GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct, a one-turn mile over a sloppy and sealed track (93 Beyer). Deterministic is drawing more than the usual share of “wiseguy” attention considering he's only started twice and we're into April. But a big showing in New York vaults him into the mix for favoritism in Louisville. 6) DORNOCH (c, Good Magic–Puca, by Big Brown) O-West Paces Racing LLC, R A Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC, Two Eight Racing LLC & Pine Racing Stables; B-Grandview Equine (KY); T-Danny Gargan. Sales history: $325,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 5-3-2-0, $505,400. Last start: WON Mar. 2 GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. Dornoch, a $325,000 KEESEP son of Good Magic who is a full-brother to 2023 Derby winner Mage, will still be in schooling mode for his final prep stakes Saturday at Keeneland. Trainer Danny Gargan has been wanting to see if Dornoch is more effective in a race when targeting horses instead of setting the pace. But he didn't get to execute that strategy as planned in the GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream, because all the main speed horses scratched out of that race, and Dornoch once again got sent to the front. He wired the field that day, but Gargan wants to try again from a bit farther back in the Blue Grass. The guess here is that Dornoch won't drop back quite as far as rival Sierra Leone. But with deadline for this column coming before entries are drawn, we don't know for sure which and how many early speed types will be setting the table ahead of both of them. Dornoch bested Sierra Leone by a nose in the Dec. 2 GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct. But that was five months ago over a muddy track that was heavily biased toward early speed. Dornoch forced the issue up front and Sierra Leone closed wide from well off the tailgate. Dornoch brushed the rail in upper stretch, but regained his best stride late to steal back the lead from Sierra Leone, who was also a touch unfocused through the lane. 7) TRACK PHANTOM (c, Quality Road–Miss Sunset, by Into Mischief) O-L and N Racing LLC, Clark Brewster, Jerry Caroom & Breeze Easy LLC; B-Breeze Easy (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales history: $500,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 7-3-2-1, $405,000. Last start: 4th in Mar. 23 GII Louisiana Derby. Track Phantom's fourth in the GII Louisiana Derby was subpar considering he was allowed to establish an unpressured pace before regressing late. But when you consider that he looked certain to be swallowed up by no fewer than five rivals off the turn yet didn't concede the lead until the sixteenth pole, that has to count for something. This $500,000 KEESEP son of Quality Road wouldn't be the first speed-centric horse to win the Kentucky Derby off a so-so final prep race. Keep in mind that in a year where top prospects are light on racing experience, trainer Steve Asmussen has already given Track Phantom seven starts at a mile or longer, and he's been right up near the lead in every try. In doing so, he's dealt with outermost posts in three of his last four starts, plus gate 11 of 12 on one other occasion. Track Phantom has been unfazed by having hyper horses to his inside, and he's also engaged in a couple of decent stretch fights. He's run well in the slop (twice second, beaten half a length each time), and he's won around two turns at Churchill, which is always encouraging to see. Track Phantom was among the first Derby candidates to ship into Churchill last Thursday, and his stock is likely to quietly rise over the course of the next month. 8) MAYMUN (c, Frosted–Handwoven, by Indian Charlie) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Vision Racing & Sales LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $50,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $900,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $79,200. Last start: WON Feb. 11 Santa Anita AOC. This son of Frosted out of an Indian Charlie mare earned 'TDN Rising Star' honors in his Jan. 20 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs by splitting horses early, pegging straight for the lead, and setting a brisk tempo before brushing off three spent rivals at the quarter pole. His winning margin was 7 1/2 easy lengths (93 Beyer). Six horses have now run back out of that Santa Anita MSW, and they are a collective 1-for-8 in all subsequent starts, with the lone winner running a 79 Beyer. The better measuring stick might be Maymun's Feb. 11 allowance try over a mile in which he brushed a rival at the break, then sideswiped stablemate and second-favorite Imagination (Into Mischief) while bearing out into the first turn. After a slower second-quarter split, Imagination engaged Maymun from the outside and they ratcheted up the cadence from the three-eighths pole to the wire before Maymun wrested Imagination into submission through a final eighth in :12.83 (89 Beyer). The top two were 10 1/2 lengths clear of the three also-rans. Imagination showed he was no slouch be rebounding to capture the Mar. 3 GII San Felipe S. The two could hook up again in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby, where trainer Bob Baffert is expected to enter at least two stablemates. 9) CATCHING FREEDOM (c, Constitution–Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile) O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-WinStar Farm (KY); T-Brad Cox. Sales history: $575,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-0-1, $877,350. Last start: WON Mar. 23 GII Louisiana Derby. The 97-Beyer winner of the Louisiana Derby is scheduled for four workouts prior to the Kentucky Derby, trainer Brad Cox told the 'TDN Writers' Room' podcast last week. Cox mentioned that this Constitution colt brushed the gate and thus didn't jump all that well in the Louisiana Derby. Even though Catching Freedom is an established closer, it was not the game plan for him to be so far back, Cox added. Flavien Prat made the most of an improvised trip, waiting patiently behind a moderate pace at the rear of the field until 2 1/2 furlongs out before circling with a 12-wide bid in upper stretch that Catching Freedom sustained over the length of the long Fair Grounds home straight. “He's not a big horse. He's medium-sized. He's a good mover,” Cox said. “He puts a good bit into his gallops. His works have just been average. His first work back will be a pretty basic work. We may even take him by himself. We're not looking to do much with him. But then the three [works] leading up [to the Derby] we'll ask him for a little bit more.” 10) IMAGINATION (c, Into Mischief–Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker) O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan & Tom Ryan; B-Peter Blum Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $1,050,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-3-0, $256,800. Last start: WON Mar. 3 San Felipe S. This $1.05-million KEESEP colt has never been worse than second from five starts. He appears to be in the mix for Saturday's Santa Anita Derby for trainer Bob Baffert. In the San Felipe S., Imagination got clipped from behind, then rushed to engage stablemate Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso). The two locked into a prolonged battle around the far turn and through the home straight, with Imagination gamely prevailing by a head (96 Beyer). As mentioned above in Maymun's write-up, Imagination was also impeded around the first turn two starts ago in a Santa Anita allowance, yet he didn't back down in that race either. He finished second, beaten a neck, after briefly snatching the lead on three distinct occasions in the stretch. 11) TIMBERLAKE (c, Into Mischief–Pin Up (Ire), by Lookin At Lucky) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC; B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-3-1-0, $1,173,100. Last start: 4th Mar. 30 GI Arkansas Derby. Timberlake's fourth-place try in the Arkansas Derby knocked him down a few pegs on the sophomore totem pole, but it didn't get him voted off the Top 12 island just yet, because the effort might have been an aberration. In last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Timberlake never settled in the early stages and it cost him the race. This $350,000 KEESEP son of Into Mischief seemed to have rectified that issue when he rated much more willingly in the Feb. 24 GII Rebel S. But on Saturday at Oaklawn, he was back to his old tricks, and Flavien Prat believed it was best to just let him go rather than waste energy fighting the colt's headstrong ways. “He was getting very aggressive, so I kind of let him run,” Prat told FanDuel TV. “He settled down nicely on the backside, but he didn't have much run at the end.” Considering he has the qualifying points and a pedigree that fuses speed with stamina, the Derby is still a realistic goal if trainer Brad Cox can figure out how to get a more efficient effort out of Timberlake. Prat also rides No. 9-ranked Catching Freedom for Cox, meaning a Derby choice looms likely in the near future. 12) JUST STEEL (c, Justify–Irish Lights {Aus}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}). O-BC Stables, LLC; B-Summerhill Farm (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. Sales History: $500,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISP, 11-2-4-1, $724,545. Last start: 2nd Mar. 30 GI Arkansas Derby. How's this for a story line? At age 88, trainer D. Wayne Lukas will be saddling his 50th Derby horse overall and his first starter in the race since 2018 after Just Steel's 32-1 second-place try in the Arkansas Derby garnered enough qualifying points to get in. Lukas has won the Derby four times, with Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999). Based solely on race records, the 2-for-11 Just Steel compares aptly to Charismatic, who was 2-for-12 entering his Derby 25 years ago and went off at a largely ignored 31-1 in the betting. While Just Steel isn't as purely fast as some of the higher-ranked Derby aspirants on this list, he's a hard-trying type who can be envisioned as being in the thick of things late at a big price if he gets the right trip. Just Steel's effort at Oaklawn was commendable. He was always near the pace despite going four wide on the first turn, and he maintained his run through the lane in persistent enough fashion to prove he knows how to finish. The post TDN Sophomore Top 12: Final Wave of 9-Furlong Preps About to Crest appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After declaring that Endlessly (Oscar Performance) would bypass the GI Kentucky Derby in favor of the GII American Turf, also run at Churchill Downs, the connections have reconsidered their options and are now “leaning” toward running in the Derby. “We're going to go ahead and see what happens here over the next few weeks,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “[Owner] Mr. [John] Amerman would like to keep all his options open.” Endlessly earned enough points to qualify for the Derby when winning the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park in his last start, but that race was run over a synthetic surface, as was his prior race, a win in the El Camino Real Derby. His four prior starts were all over the turf, the reason why McCarthy was initially pointing for the American Turf. Endlessly has never run on the dirt. “He doesn't need to show me much, at least from a resume standpoint,” McCarthy said. “He has to train and we'll need everything to go our way. You know how things are when you get close to Derby time, things happen. We'll be looking for a bit of luck and will hope he gets over the racetrack well. Mr. Amerman wants to be very open minded about it and feels there is an opportunity out there. Are we leaning towards the Derby? The answer is yes.” McCarthy admitted that Endlesssly has not necessarily been working that well on the dirt surface at Santa Anita, where he is based. “His works on the dirt have been very workmanlike,” the trainer said. “They've been decent. Decent without being eye-catching. But sometimes, you just have to take a chance and Mr. Amerman feels the same way.” In six career starts, Endlessly has lost just once and has also recorded stakes wins in the GIII Zuma Beach S. and the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf S. The post Endlessly Back on Derby Trail appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Big 3 Pick 3, a new wager encompassing the GII Wood Memorial, GI Toyota Blue Grass S, and GI Santa Anita Derby, will be available to bettors this Saturday, the New York Racing Association, Keeneland, and 1/ST announced jointly Monday. The Big 3 Pick 3, which will be hosted by Aqueduct, will be offered with a $3 minimum and mandatory payout. The Big 3 Pick 3 will appear as a separate wager/track on wagering machines or online account: Big 3 Pick 3. All three races are contested at nine furlongs and offer 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers. The post Pick 3 to Include Wood Memorial, Blue Grass, and Santa Anita Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article