Wandering Eyes

1st-Churchill Downs, $116,625, Msw, 5-31, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.95, ft, 3 3/4 lengths. ADEERA (f, 2, Authentic–Majestic Presence {GSP-USA, MSP-Can, $227,896}, by Majestic Warrior) became the first winner for her freshman sire (by Into Mischief) Friday. The second choice at 8-5 behind fellow first-timer Salted (Tapit) at 4-5, the half-sister to GISW Newgate (Into Mischief) took it right to the favorite from the jump and the top pair quickly opened up a sizeable gap back to the rest of the field. Neck and neck off the far turn, it was Adeera who had something left, kicking clear along the rail to win handily by 3 3/4 lengths as Salted held for second. Majestic Presence, graded stakes placed herself, went the way of Town & Country Horse Farms for $360,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. In addition to Newgate, who was a $850,000 KEESEP yearling and took the GI Santa Anita H. earlier this year, Majestic Presence has also produced GSW and $500k Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling buy Denim and Pearls (Into Mischief). The mare herself is a half to GSW Victress (Include) and reported a filly by Life Is Good this year after being barren to Essential Quality in 2023. GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic can be found at Spendthrift Farm where he stands for $50,000. Sales History: $300,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-L and N Racing LLC and Jerry Caroom; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. First winner by freshman sire Authentic! @spendthriftfarm #5 Adeera wins on debut in the opener at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen with @keithasm7 aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/VVQEz9cu6u — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) May 31, 2024 The post Authentic Gets First Winner As Adeera Impresses At Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A juvenile colt by Sea The Moon (Ger) (lot 5) brought €70,000 from Meridian International to lead the way during the one-day BBAG Spring Sale in Iffezheim, Germany on Friday. Consigned by Ecurie Prevost-Baratte, the colt is a half-brother to four black-type horses–among them multiple stakes winner Anasia (GB) (Intello {Ger}), who was second in the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air and third in two more Group 3 contests, as well as listed winner Copie (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). Earthlight (Ire), who has his first runners this season, was also among those sires represented on the leaderboard, as his colt out of G3 Concorde S. third Crafty Madam (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 10) went to IAFX Weibmeier. Part of the Ranello Bloodstock Agency's draft, the grey brought €52,000. His Invincible Spirit (Ire) half-brother Crafty Spirit (Ire) won at Kempton on May 29 in the colours of Con Harrington for trainer Clive Cox. The third and final lot to breach the €45,000 mark was lot 68, a filly by Galiway (GB) out of Tristesse (Broken Vow), who was signed for by Richard Venn for €46,000. The bay's dam won a listed race in France, and this is the family of Group 2 winner Seachange (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Ecurie Prevost-Baratte sent the 2-year-old filly through the ring. A strong clearance rate was one of the highlights of the mixed sale, with 58 sold from 69 horses offered (84%). The gross was €688,600. The average was €11,872 (-11.6%) and the median was €11,546 (-17.8%). The post Son Of Sea The Moon Tops BBAG Spring Sale At €70k appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has offered several updates to morning training policies for fans during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, the entity said in a Friday release. Fans may attend morning training at the main track between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. (all times Eastern) on Thursday, June 6 and Sunday, June 9, and can enter the venue only through Gates C and D. These gates are located at the intersection of Wright Street and Frank Sullivan Place, outside of the 1863 Club. In an adjustment to the previously announced policy, fans who attend morning training on Thursday and Sunday may claim the free picnic tables in the backyard between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Similar to standard procedure during the Saratoga summer meet, fans will be required to exit the venue at 10 a.m. prior to the official opening of gates at 11 a.m. There will be no access to morning training on the main track on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8. Gates will open to the public at 10:30 a.m. on Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday, at which time fans may claim the free picnic tables in the backyard. Morning training will be open to fans at the Oklahoma Training Track on Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. On-site parking will not be available during morning training hours. The post NYRA Updates Fan Policies For Training During Belmont Stakes Week appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Road, presented by Gainesway and Darby Dan FarmView the full article

Dale Ladner's Alva Starr has an opportunity to surpass the $1 million career earnings mark in the June 5 Rehoboth Stakes at Delaware Park.View the full article

The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association pledged its support to the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma after a tornado struck Will Rogers Downs May 25 — killing one horse, while injuring and displacing others. View the full article

Romantic Warrior seeks a fifth straight G1 win while taking on some of Japan's top milers in the Yasuda Kinen (G1) June 2 at Tokyo Racecourse.View the full article

The Belmont Child Care Association, Inc. (BCCA) will host its annual Spring Fling Hat Luncheon and Fashion Presentation on Thursday, June 6 at The Garden City Hotel, 45 7th St., Garden City, New York, the organization said in a release Friday. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET with a cocktail reception featuring two-tiered raffles and a luxury silent auction, followed by a seated luncheon. This year's online silent auction will feature a 2025 Belmont Stakes package, which includes a private luxury box for five. Online bidding opens Monday, June 3 at 10 a.m. ET and will close Saturday, June 8 at 5 p.m. ET. BCCA welcomes News 12 Long Island anchor Antoinette Biordi as the celebrity emcee. During the event, Emmy award-winning actress Susan Lucci will be recognized as the 2024 Community Honoree, and Cate Masterson, Director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, is this year's Thoroughbred Industry Honoree. Click here for information concerning tickets, sponsorship opportunities and the online auction. The post Belmont Child Care Association To Host 10th Annual Spring Fling Hat Luncheon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Continuing a banner year for The Aga Khan, Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Eziyra {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) led home a one-two for her sire in Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks. Booking her ticket to Epsom with a win in the 10-furlong G3 Salsabil S. at Navan last month, the Dermot Weld-trained relative of the G1 Gold Cup-winning half-siblings Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) was always travelling with menace held up by Chris Hayes. Rolling by Godolphin's Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, the 13-2 second favourite stayed on powerfully to beat that rival by three lengths, with the 50-1 shot War Chimes (Fr) (Summer Front) 1 1/2 lengths behind in third. The 11-8 favourite Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was sixth. “She's a very professional, strong-travelling filly, gorgeous–she's a queen,” Hayes said, while Weld added after welcoming a 25th English and Irish Classic winner, “She's a stayer with speed and I was never worried about the distance–she's a beautiful filly to train. She's not a big filly, but has a lot of quality and these races are all special.” The daughter of Dubawi does it – EZELIYA forges ahead to win the G1 @Betfred Oaks for @AgaKhanStuds at @EpsomRacecourse! pic.twitter.com/cExr2A5vBc — TDN (@theTDN) May 31, 2024 The post Ezeliya Leads Home Dubawi One Two In The Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's progressive homebred Highland Falls (Curlin) has been made the 5-2 favorite in a field of 11 for Saturday's GIII Blame S. at Churchill Downs, one of four graded stakes that serve as an appetizer to corresponding races on Stephen Foster Saturday in a month's time beneath the Twin Spires. The chestnut son of Round Pond (Awesome Again), upset winner of the 2006 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at the Louisville oval, makes his third consecutive appearance in graded company, having run on to be a good fourth to Newgate (Into Mischief) in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 3 ahead of a strong runner-up effort to the talented Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) in the GII Oaklawn H. “I thought he ran well in the Santa Anita H., where the pace didn't really shape up all that fast,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I thought in the Oaklawn H. he ran a credible race and improved out of the Santa Anita H. We're looking forward to Saturday's race and hoping it kickstarts a big campaign for him.” Todd Pletcher is double-fisted for the Blame, with 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit) making his first start since finishing third in last year's GI Travers S., and the less-exposed GI Pennsylvania Derby runner-up Dreamlike (Gun Runner), who dropped a neck decision at the hooves of Cagliostro (Upstart) in Keeneland allowance company Apr. 19. Can Buchu Bounce Back in Regret? Rigney Racing's Buchu (Justify) will likely jump favored in Saturday's GIII Regret S. and is on a bit of a recovery mission after finishing only sixth at 5-2 in the GII Edgewood S. on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 3. Victorious in Keeneland's GII Appalachian S. on seasonal return Apr. 6, the homebred was perhaps inconvenienced by easier-than-optimal underfoot conditions in the Edgewood and finished sixth, beaten just over two lengths. “This will be a good test for her going nine furlongs for the first time,” trainer Phil Bauer said. “The plan is definitely to keep her reserved early to save some energy for her late kick.” Way to Be Marie (Not This Time) has remained in Kentucky since her runner-up effort in the Edgewood, where she was just touched off by Dynamic Pricing (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and had the re-opposing Dancing N Dixie (Neolithic) another length back in third. Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) figures tough from the fence in the GIII Arlington S., while Rigney's Xigera (Nyquist) will look to atone for a fifth in the GI La Troienne S. while facing Godolphin's Wet Paint (Blame) and 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla (Tapit) in the GIII Shawnee S. 'Mistress' Looks To Go All The Way in Honeymoon Umberto Rispoli will be on a red-eye back to California after riding the Friday evening program at Penn National, and he will team with Shiloh's Mistress (Vino Rosso) in Saturday's GIII Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita. Owned by Resolute Racing, the bay won her maiden going long over the Tapeta track at Turfway Jan. 10, prompting John Stewart to acquire her in a private transaction, but she could do no better than fifth in the GIII Santa Ynez S. With Rispoli at the controls for the first time in the Apr. 20 GIII Providencia S., Shiloh's Mistress made all the running and was just run down on the wire by the undefeated 1-5 favorite Medoro (Honor Code). If connections opt out of an appearance in the Regret, for which she is cross-entered, Faith Understood (Catholic Boy) could be a real fly in the ointment for Shiloh's Mistress. The Robert LaPenta homebred won her maiden at 13-1 in a Keeneland grass maiden two back and set the fractions in the Memories of Silver S. at Aqueduct Apr. 28, but was no match late for Resolute's 'TDN Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca (American Pharoah) and settled for second. A 15-1 chance in the Regret, Faith Understood is pegged as the 5-2 favorite on Jon White's morning line. The GII Triple Bend S. has a field of four, including the once-beaten Venkman (Ghostzapper), narrowly second in last year's Perryville S. at Keeneland, making his 4-year-old debut against the best Cal-bred sprinter not named The Chosen Vron (Vronsky), Big City Lights (Mr. Big), last-out winner of the GIII Kona Gold S. There is also a four graded-stakes program at Woodbine, featuring the GII Eclipse S., where Tyson (Tapit), a dual graded winner on synth and third in last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga, takes on the comebacking Get Smokin (Get Stormy), making his first start on the Tapeta off a strong worktab, and his King's Plate-winning stablemate Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman). The post Four Grade Threes Feature On Foster Preview Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Peter Lau's Hong Kong raider Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) can put the wraps on one of the most remarkable seasons in recent memory should he be able to take out Sunday's G1 Yasuda Kinen Sunday afternoon at Tokyo Racecourse. The one-turn, 1600-metre contest serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at California's Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in early November. Nails-tough in dropping his nose down on the wire first when second-up in the G1 W S Cox Plate in late October, the 6-year-old returned to Hong Kong to successfully defend his title in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup six weeks later. His two most recent appearances are emblematic of his will to win, as he narrowly outfought fellow BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in February and overcame a wide journey and wet underfoot conditions he clearly detested to become a three-time winner of the G1 FWD QE II Cup when last seen Apr. 28. Romantic Warrior landed barrier seven at Friday's draw, much to the delight of trainer Danny Shum. James McDonald has a return call. “We're happy with seven and the owner is also lucky with seven,” Shum said. “It should be easier for James [McDonald] to hold a position from there–very happy. “You can see he is happy from his eyes, from his appetite and how he responds to you. I'm very close to him and I can tell he's very happy.” Voyage Bubble, a latest third in the G1 FWD Champions Mile and winner earlier in the season of the G1 Stewards' Cup over this trip, is drawn in 15 with champion Zac Purton at the controls. ROMANTIC WARRIOR final fast ahead of the g1 1600m Yasuda Kinen on Sunday Silk. The one to beat.pic.twitter.com/R0Ec5URDTF — Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) May 29, 2024 Carrot Farm's Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) has shown she can more than hold her own against the boys, having upset last year's G1 Mile Championship S. ahead of a third to Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong. A cracking second to Facteur Cheval (Jpn) (Ribchester {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) Mar. 30, she lost all chance at the start of the sex-restricted G1 Victoria Mile over this course and distance May 12, but closed off well to be eighth, but beaten just three lengths. Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) was an outstanding fourth to Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in last year's Yasuda Kinen and tries a grassy mile for the first time since on Sunday. The likeable gray entire, to break from gate two, makes his first start since finishing runner-up in the G1 February S. going 1600 metres on the adjacent dirt surface Feb. 18. The veteran Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) was just beaten on the line in the Mile Championship and also acquitted himself well in the Hong Kong Mile, finishing fourth. Spelled thereafter, he resumed with a smart defeat of the re-opposing Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in the G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup at Kyoto Apr. 21, his second win there in the last three years. The post Romantic Warrior Looks To Cap Fairy Tale Season In Yasuda Kinen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-Churchill Downs, $138,210, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 5-30, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:21.54, ft, 3 1/2 lengths. EXTRA ANEJO (c, 4, Into Mischief–Superioritycomplex {Ire}, by Hard Spun), unseen since a well-beaten fourth in last year's GI Haskell S., returned to the races with authority Thursday night for trainer Steve Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds. Dubbed a 'TDN Rising Star' first out, the $1.35m Keeneland September yearling buy won two of his first three, yielding the win only once behind another Grade I-runner in Federal Judge (Constitution) in his 3-year-old unveiling at Churchill last May. Back at seven furlongs for the first time since that 'Rising Star'-worthy debut, the 2-1 second choice flashed early speed but was outfooted by Eyeing Clover (Lookin At Lucky) from the rail draw as the field came out of the chute and onto the backstretch. Content to track that leader from second, Extra Anejo, patiently handled by regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione, began to move up into the far turn until the pair was head and head past the quarter pole. Clearly the class of the group once straightened away, he came home 3 1/2 lengths in front of a calvary charge for second won by Call Me Fast (Dialed In). The 96 Beyer Speed Figure earned in this win was a career best by two points. Mt Brilliant, who bought into Extra Anejo's dam for 400,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, bred Extra Anejo as her first foal. The mare herself is a daughter of Justlookdonttouch (Ire) who brought 1,200,000gns from the same sale and also produced GSW Francesco Clemente (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and MSW/MGSP Abingdon (Street Cry {Ire}). This is also the family of American champion grass mare Islington (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Extra Anejo has a 2-year-old Tapit half-brother who sold for $525,000 as a yearling at Keeneland last September and Superioritycomplex foaled a full-sister to the 'Rising Star' this year. Sales History: $1,350,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $288,065. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Mt. Brilliant Farm, LLC & Orrin H. Ingram (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. #7 Extra Anejo wins off the bench in R7 at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen with @tyler_gaff aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/yP4deka1HF — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) May 31, 2024 The post ‘Rising Star’ Extra Anejo Cruises To Win In Churchill Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As brave as they come, Ballydoyle's Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}–Attire {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) relished a supreme ride from the front by Ryan Moore to register a first mile-and-a-half career success in Friday's G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. Having set steady fractions for the first half of the contest, the 9-4 second favourite was asked to stretch running to Tattenham Corner and was all heart in response to get to the line a length ahead of the beloved Haggas veteran Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}). Denied the chance to run in the Derby over this course and distance two years ago, the stalwart got to Surrey at last to make it a group 1 win in each campaign. TDN Rising Stars Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman (GB) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) finished third and fourth, beaten a further six and 3 1/2 lengths respectively. “We always thought he was a mile-and-a-half horse and he's made for the King George,” Aidan O'Brien said. Ryan Moore… so good He steers LUXEMBOURG to a fourth G1 success in the G1 Coronation Cup @EpsomRacecourse pic.twitter.com/AidIqHEzaV — World Horse Racing (@WHR) May 31, 2024 Friday, Epsom, Britain HOLLAND COOPER CORONATION CUP-G1, £445,000, Epsom, 5-31, 4yo/up, 12f 6yT, 2:42.12, g/s. 1–LUXEMBOURG (IRE), 128, h, 5, by Camelot (GB) 1st Dam: Attire (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 2nd Dam: Asnieres, by Spend A Buck 3rd Dam: Albertine (Fr), by Irish River (Fr) (150,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £252,360. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Ire & G1SP-HK, 16-7-3-1, $3,218,165. *Full to Hiawatha (Ire), GSP-Ire; and 1/2 to Leo De Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}), GSW-Ire, $156,911; and Sense Of Style (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), MGSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Hamish (GB), 128, g, 8, Motivator (GB)–Tweed (GB), by Sakhee. O-B Haggas; B-J B Haggas (GB); T-William Haggas. £95,675. 3–Feed The Flame (GB), 128, c, 4, Kingman (GB)–Knyazhna (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). TDN Rising Star. (€270,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Lordship Stud & Clear Light SAS (GB); T-Pascal Bary. £47,882. Margins: 1, 6, 3HF. Odds: 2.25, 4.00, 6.00. Also Ran: Emily Upjohn (GB), Time Lock (GB). The post Camelot’s Luxembourg Wins The Coronation Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Goffs will celebrate 10 years of the London Sale as the boutique auction is set to raise the curtain on Royal Ascot week once more, on Monday 17 June at Kensington Palace Gardens. Luxury fintech company Privat 3 Money returns as title partner for the third consecutive year, whilst supporting brand partners include Ascot Racecourse, Château Léoube, Ampito Group, The International Yacht Company (IYC), Racing Post Bloodstock, and Hofmeister. Privat 3 Money first partnered with Goffs in 2022, when Derby runner up Hoo Ya Mal sold for a sale topping £1,200,000, while in 2023 Group winning two-year-old Givemethebeatboys headlined trade at £1,100,000. The world's first truly digital alternative for the private wealth sector, Privat 3 Money recognise that traditional players do not fully understand or appreciate the digital needs and demands of a new generation of high-net-worth individuals. The firm has reimagined access to deposits, payments, foreign exchange, and trading for the digital age, enabling financial transactions from anywhere in the world via smartphone whilst maintaining the personal customer service offering synonymous with traditional premier finance. Welcoming Privat 3 Money back for this year's London Sale, Goffs Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby said, “We are delighted to continue our valued relationship with Reda Bedjaoui and his team at Privat 3 Money. Privat 3 offer expertise and innovation in a traditional market which very much aligns with Goffs, and the natural synergy between P3's clientele and the international racing community who attend the London Sale make this the ideal partnership.” Reda Bedjaoui, Founder and CEO of Privat 3 Money added, “We are thrilled to renew our partnership with the Goffs London Sale for the third consecutive year, an event we are proud to support. Goffs and Privat 3 Money both uphold a commitment to excellence and cater to a distinguished clientele, making our continued collaboration a perfect fit. Here's to another successful year!” The post Goffs And Privat 3 Money Partner On 10th London Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Lion Rock Trophy Day Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, June 2, 2024 First Race 4pm HKT (6pm AEST) Visit Dabble The Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy (1600m) and Group 3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) share top billing on a bumper 11-race program at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon. The rail is in the B position, and with the heavy rain set to continue in the lead-up, punters should expect a yielding surface. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 4pm local time. Lion Rock Trophy Tips: Galaxy Patch Galaxy Patch looks perfectly placed in the Lion Rock Trophy. They couldn’t make ground in his most recent effort in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) on April 28, with Beauty Eternal booting clear of his rivals thanks to a frontrunning masterclass by Zac Purton. There seems to be a lack of early speed on paper, so with barrier two aiding him on his journey, look for Vincent Ho to lob onto the leader’s back before asking Galaxy Patch the ultimate question. Lion Rock Trophy Race 8 – #4 Galaxy Patch (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Pierre Ng | J: Vincent Ho (55.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Sha Tin Vase Tips: Ka Ying Rising Ka Ying Rising made a statement at this course and distance on May 5 and looks to be a potential Group 1 star of the future. The son of Shamexpress did it comfortably in Class 2 company, sitting outside the leader throughout before bolting clear to win by 2.5 lengths eased down. With Karis Teetan likely to slide across and lead from barrier six, Ka Ying Rising will prove hard to chase down with 52kg on his back. Sha Tin Vase Race 9 – #9 Ka Ying Rising (6) 3yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Karis Teetan (52kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Bet at Sha Tin: Supreme Lucky Supreme Lucky is unfortunate not to be searching for a hat-trick of wins heading into this Class 2 affair. The Danny Shum-trained gelding didn’t have much luck at this track and trip on May 19, yet he finished within a half-length of Taj Dragon despite being held up for a run. He draws gate one again to get the run of the race, but if he can get clear air this time, Supreme Lucky will be hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 2 – #3 Supreme Lucky (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: Matthew Poon (a1kg) (57kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Sha Tin: King Miles King Miles should appreciate the step up in trip as he gets to 1400m for the first time. The gelding by Exceed And Excel seemingly hit a flat spot with 400m to go last start at Sha Tin on May 11, on a day when it was difficult to make ground from the back of the field. This should be the ideal setup thanks to a genuine tempo, and although he’ll need to lug top weight, King Miles should have the class to sprint over the top. Next Best Race 5 – #1 King Miles (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Vincent Ho (61kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value at Sha Tin: Grand Nova Grand Nova produced a bold display on debut at Happy Valley on April 24, and although he was defeated by 3.8 lengths, that margin isn’t a true reflection of the performance. He bombed the start before making strong inroads down the centre of the course and was never fully extended under Hugh Bowman. Getting to the wide-open Sha Tin circuit should be ideal, and provided he gets some luck in transit, Grand Nova will give a sight at good odds with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 4 – #5 Grand Nova (7) 3yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Hugh Bowman (58.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Hong Kong Sunday quaddie picks Sha Tin quadrella selections Sunday, June 2, 2024 4-8 2-5-7-9 1-2-3-5-8-12 2-4-6-9-10-14 Horse racing tips
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After a flurry of winners in the final few days of May, Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh hopes to extend that good form into June with a talented team at Pukekohe on Saturday. Marsh sits in second place on the New Zealand trainers’ premiership with 86 wins this season, 10 of them at Group and Listed level. His runners have earned more than $5 million in prizemoney, which is a new career best. He is closing in on his overall highest season total of 104 wins, which he set in 2021-22. Marsh has trained six winners since May 22 alone, winning races with Irish Miss, Lovaci, Night Raider, Brynderwyn, Hoard The Bourbon and Thursday’s Riccarton winner Miss Nico Belle. Saturday’s seven-race card at Pukekohe features four members of Marsh’s stable, and he is expecting a bold showing from every member of that quartet. “It’s only a small team this week, but I think we’re going into that meeting with four really nice chances, so I’m looking forward to it,” Marsh said. Marsh’s day kicks off with Shaking Stevens in the second race on the card, the Barfoot & Thompson (1600m). The Oaks Stud homebred is by Triple Crown champion American Pharoah out of the unraced Darci Brahma mare Revise, who is a full-sister to Group One winner Devise, three-quarter-sister to Group One winner Catalyst, and half-sister to the multiple Group winner and Group One-placed Zurella. Shaking Stevens was a two-time placegetter in the spring over Saturday’s 1600m distance, and the three-year-old gelding resumed with a solid fourth over 1400m at Te Rapa on May 4. “I thought that was a really nice performance first-up, and getting back up to the mile on Saturday should really suit him,” Marsh said. “We’ve got Opie Bosson on. “The track conditions are probably a bit of a concern – it’s going to be pretty testing. But he’s been working well, he looks great and he should be very competitive as long as he copes with the track.” The TAB NZ (1200m) features fellow three-year-old The Exponent, who finished fourth at Rotorua on April 17 before stepping up to 1300m with a second placing on the Cambridge synthetic track on May 15. “He probably just tried to go a little bit hard last start,” Marsh said. “He’s dropping back to 1200m for this race and the side winkers come off. He’s drawn wide, but hopefully Opie can get him into a nice position. “The track conditions are a bit of a query again, but I think he’ll be hard to beat if he handles the ground.” Marsh has two runners in the Skycity Horizon (1600m). Three-year-old Savabeel filly Irish Miss was a last-start maiden winner over 1750m at Taupo, while five-year-old mare Bassoroc has been close up in recent races and has a strong record on heavy tracks. “Irish Miss is going from 1750m back to the mile, but I don’t see that as a negative for her,” Marsh said. “Her work has been good and I don’t think the track will worry her. I think she’s a really nice chance and might be a bit over the odds. “The wetter, the better for Bassoroc. She’s been thereabouts lately and this will be her first run of the campaign on a track that really suits her. Sam (Weatherley, jockey) got off her last start and said he thought she could win her next race. I think she’s spot on.” View the full article

Lisa Latta’s 2023-24 season features an unusual statistic of seven Group wins and none at Listed level, but the Awapuni trainer has two opportunities to rectify that anomaly at Wanganui on Saturday. Latta’s black-type wins this season have come from Belclare in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m), Lantern Way in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Diss Is Dramatic in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) and Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), and Belardo Boy in the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) and Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m). Latta will be represented in both of Saturday’s Listed features at Wanganui, with last-start winner Connello contesting the John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) while Belardo Boy and Chikira Lass line up in the AGC Training Stakes (1600m). Connello is part-owned by David Woodhouse, whose black and white striped colours were carried to those Group triumphs by Belclare earlier in the season. That high-class daughter of Per Incanto was offered during the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast during the week, but fell short of her A$700,000 reserve. Woodhouse paid only $10,000 to buy Connello from the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka. The two-year-old Time Test filly showed some early promise with two thirds, a fourth and two fifths from her first five starts, but then took a big step forward when she returned from a freshen-up with an impressive last-start win at New Plymouth on May 11. “That was a really good performance last start,” Latta said. “She’s always shown us quite a bit. We gave her a little freshen-up at the right time and she came back and won very nicely. “She’s pleased me with everything that she’s done since then. The track is going to be a bit wetter on Saturday than the one she won on at New Plymouth, so we’ll have to watch and see how she handles that, but I’m hopeful that she’ll get through it okay.” Belardo Boy hit career-best form in the early stages of this season, winning the Winter Cup and Metric Mile and finishing third behind Puntura and Belclare in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). The five-year-old returned from a summer break with an eighth over 1300m at Te Rapa on May 18. He carried 61.5kg in that race and was beaten by five and a half lengths by Aris Aris, who had 53kg. The 94-rated Belardo Boy is suited to the weight-for-age conditions of this Saturday’s $80,000 race. “He’s taken some good improvement from that first-up run and is going the right way,” Latta said. “He loves heavy tracks and gets on well with Joe (Doyle, jockey), so I’m expecting an improved performance from him at weight-for-age this week.” Chikira Lass, who was a stakes placegetter in last year’s Listed ANZAC Mile (1600m), was sold for $30,000 on Gavelhouse in April and now races in the colours of Jamieson Park. A five-time winner from 49 career starts, the six-year-old finished fourth over 2060m in her most recent appearance on May 9. The Proisir mare has a strong record at Wanganui, where her nine starts have produced two wins and two placings. “Her best form is at a mile, and she does race particularly well at Wanganui,” Latta said. “She’s going up in class for this, but she’s in good order. “We’re just trying to have a go at picking up some more black type before she goes off to stud.” Saturday’s TAB Odds Surge (1200m) will be the second start of a new campaign for seven-race winner Old Town Road, who has recorded a win and three placings from his four starts at Wanganui. He is joined in the $40,000 open sprint by his resuming stablemate Make Time. “Old Town Road has a run under his belt now and is building into his new campaign nicely,” Latta said. “He’ll appreciate the heavy track this week. “Make Time is coming up nicely and I’d expect him to be doing his best work late in this race.” View the full article

Talented Riverton three-year-old Riviera Rebel will head to Wingatui on Sunday to kick off a winter campaign that could culminate in a shot at the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m). The son of Pure Champion will take on older Rating 75 opposition in the $35,000 Win a Hilux With Property Brokers (1600m), which will be his first appearance since winning a Rating 65 over the same distance at Riverton nine weeks ago. That home-track victory was an impressive front-running performance in Heavy10 conditions on March 30, kicking away at the home turn and winning by two lengths with an even bigger margin back to third. Riviera Rebel’s trainer and part-owner Graham Eade was pleased to see him handle testing ground so successfully in that most recent appearance and has started thinking about the $110,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 3. “It’s going to be interesting to see how he goes on Sunday,” Eade said. “He hasn’t had a race since March, but he doesn’t take much to get him fit, so I think he’s ready. I’m happy with how he’s going leading into the race. “As far as the rest of the winter goes, a lot is going to depend on what he does this week. If everything keeps going well with him, we’d love to have a look at the Winter Cup. That could be a really nice target to work towards, although it’s a fair way off at the moment.” Riviera Rebel was a well-beaten fifth in his only start as a two-year-old last season but has been admirably consistent as a three-year-old with two wins and four placings from his eight starts. A maiden win at Riverton on New Year’s Day launched a strong run of summer form that included a third placing behind Aberlour and Quintabelle in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) on February 17. Eade’s other runner at Wingatui on Sunday is Cosy Nook, who gets through heavy ground well and was a last-start placegetter over 2147m at Riverton. The six-year-old Tavistock gelding is entered for the Positive Signs + Print (2200m) and is also the fifth ballot for the Ray Kean – Property Brokers (1600m). “He’s going well and shouldn’t mind the track this weekend,” Eade said. “He likes Riverton, and Wingatui is quite a similar track in some ways.” View the full article

Carl Henderson is on the sidelines with a broken ankle and he is hoping Rua Rocks can boost his spirits when he heads to Te Aroha on Monday to contest the Te Aroha Veterinary Services Te Aroha Cup (2200m). Henderson spent a couple of weeks in the hospital earlier this month after being dislodged from a horse and fracturing his leg, which subsequently required surgery, and has put him on the sidelines for an extended period of time. “I fell off one (horse) and fractured it (ankle) in three places and dislocated it, so I have been in hospital for a couple of weeks,” Henderson said. “They have put rods and pins in there, it looks like a bit of a meccano set in my leg at the moment. It is going to be a bit of a long process. “I have got no weight bearing for six weeks and then maybe another two or three months after that as well just to get back to full strength. I am just taking it really easy at the moment.” While racing is heading into the quieter winter months, things were just starting to ramp up for Henderson’s Te Awamutu stable when the incident occurred. “We do a lot of ready to runners, and they were all in the stable, so we have had to cull a few numbers out and farm a few out to other people,” he said. “It wasn’t a great time to happen, but that is horses for you.” Henderson said his wife Cassie and staff members have been a huge help in his absence, and he is hoping that they can be rewarded for their hard work with a positive result from Rua Rocks on Monday. The son of El Roca was runner-up at Te Rapa last start on a Heavy8 track, and Henderson is hoping he can go one better at Te Aroha, which was rated a Heavy8 on Friday morning. “I am really happy with him,” Henderson said. “He is not very big, as everybody knows, and it was a great run last start, he didn’t deserve to finish where he did after his tough run, with the other horse taking him on. We are quite excited about Monday. “The (Heavy) track does worry me a little bit. He is a small horse, but he has got a huge stride on him, so he doesn’t love wet ground, but he has won in wet ground before. “I watched him work just before and we are really happy with him. A little bit extra distance is certainly going to help him.” While hoping for a positive outcome on Monday, Henderson was buoyed at his local trials on Thursday where his promising three-year-old Aspark Park was runner-up in his 1150m heat, and he will look to make his raceday debut in the coming month. “I had a horse trial yesterday that goes well. He is one of Ben Kwok’s horses and he is quite an exciting horse,” Henderson said. “He may have one more trial, he still has a bit to learn, but I do think a lot of him. He cruised up to them yesterday and didn’t quite know how to win. He will probably trial again at Rotorua and then we will look to go to the races with him. I think that he has got a bit of a future.” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Ken Harrison is looking forward to heading to Pukekohe on Saturday where he will have a two-pronged attack in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2200. Tavistock gelding Espresso To Go has put in solid performances in his last two outings, placing over 2100m at Hawera on each occasion, and Harrison said he will appreciate stepping up to 2200m this weekend. Pukekohe was rated a Heavy10 on Friday morning, and that bodes the only concern for Harrison, but he said his charge will benefit from the weight relief of three-kilogram claiming apprentice Triston Moodley. “A Heavy track is a little bit of a query for him, but I think he should be alright, he has been working well and going well in his last few races,” Harrison said. “I put the light weight on him, claiming three kilos, and hopefully he will be able to use that inside draw (2) and settle either just in behind them or I am not too worried if he does lead.” Espresso To Go will be met in the race by stablemate King Khan, who will be second-up after running fifth over 2100m at Hawera earlier this month. “First-up he went huge on a firm track at Hawera,” Harrison said. “I thought it would be way too firm for him, but he ran well, and the wet track should suit him.” Weighing up between his two contenders, Harrison is leaning towards Espresso To Go as his better chance on Saturday. “I have always gone King Khan, but I would have to go with Espresso To Go on the way he has been working and going,” he said. “Being second-up for King Khan might hold him back a little fitness-wise.” Both horses are set to press on throughout the winter, with southern aspirations for King Khan. “Espresso has been up for a little while, but if he handles the wet tracks, we will just space his races a little bit,” Harrison said. “King Khan is starting his prep and will probably head to Riccarton for the Winter Cup meeting. There will be a few other races around here for him if he doesn’t go there.” Another stablemate tipped to head south is Not Ideal, who will head to Te Aroha on Monday to contest the Te Aroha Veterinary Services Big Day Out (1300m). The seven-year-old gelding has been lumbered with 62kg on Monday, but Harrison will once again utilise Moodley’s claim to gain some weight relief. “We have had to claim with the way he is up in the weights and with the wetter tracks now, but I think he will handle the heavy track alright, he seems to be working alright at Cambridge on the wet grass,” Harrison said. “He might head to the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m), we will just see how he goes with these wetter tracks. We didn’t try him on the wetter tracks as such last year and stuck to Ruakaka, but the travel up there at the moment is a little bit of a problem.” View the full article

What Sandown Lakeside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Sunday, June 2, 2024 First Race 12:05pm AEST Visit Dabble The Listed Sandown Cup will headline the eight-race card on the Lakeside track this Sunday afternoon. The main course is expected to stay in the Good range after being rated as a Good 4 at the time of acceptances, and the jumps track is rated as a Soft 7. The rail will be in its true position for the entire circuit, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 12:05pm AEST. Sandown Cup tip: Let’sbefrankbaby Let’sbefrankbaby was last seen in the Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington, where the Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained mare battled on from behind the speed to run fourth. The top four in the Ramsden gapped the rest of the field, and this daughter of Frankel should appreciate a weaker race and more ground in the Sandown Cup. Craig Williams can settle in the box seat from barrier six, and if Let’sbefrankbaby gets clear with 400m to go, she will prove hard to hold out. Sandown Cup Race 6 – #4 Let’sbefrankbaby (6) 4yo Mare | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Craig Williams (54kg) +150 with Picklebet Best Bet at Sandown: Elouyou Elouyou and The Open will meet again at Sandown after the latter got the better of the former over 1400m last start; however, with a 2kg weight swing in favour of the Scott Cameron-trained gelding, he gets his chance to turn the tables. With more speed expected in this race, Damian Lane can settle Elouyou behind the speed and in front of Billy Egan on his main rival, which should prove the pivotal factor in the finish. Best Bet Race 7 – #5 Elouyou (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Scott Cameron | J: Damian Lane (60kg) +240 with Neds Next Best at Sandown: He’s Beset He’s Beset was very good last start when winning his first race on Australian soil for Nick Ryan. The son of Darci Brahma settled outside the leader and battled with Georgie Get Mad for most of the Caulfield straight, but he proved the stronger galloper in the final strides. Now that he steps up in trip to 1500m second-up, He’s Beset will get everything in his favour and should be able to bring up back-to-back wins. Next Best Race 8 – #7 He’s Beset (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Nick Ryan | J: Jordan Childs (59.5kg) +320 with Playup Sandown Sunday quaddie tips – 2/6/2024 Sandown quadrella selections Sunday, June 2, 2024 2-4-5-7-8 1-3-4-8 3-5 1-4-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Alice Springs Races Where Pioneer Park Racecourse — Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 When Saturday, June 1, 2024 First Race 1:51pm ACST Visit Dabble The $25,000 Pioneer Park Anniversary Cup (1400m) is the feature race on Saturday’s seven-race card in Alice Springs. There’s the slight chance of showers on Friday, with sunny conditions, light southerly winds and a top temperature of 17C forecast on Saturday. The rail will be in the true position and it will be a good dirt surface. BEST BET: PROTOSTAR Protostar is stepping up to the 1400m for the first time, but punters should feel confident after he decimated his rivals by 12 lengths at Tennant Creek over 1200m two weeks ago. Before that, he had recorded a win, two seconds, a third and a fourth in the Red Centre before finishing a disastrous seventh as a $1.80 favourite over 1100m on May 5. Nothing went right for the son of Star Turn that day when he failed to settle after blowing the start, but he showed his class on the Tennant Creek sand. Best Bet Race 6 – #2 Protostar (6) 5yo Gelding | T: Terry Gillett | J: Dakota Gillett (a2) (60kg) Bet with Bet365 NEXT BEST BET: DESERT LASS In what could be her final Pioneer Park start, Desert Lass will be out to maintain her amazing 1400m record. The daughter of Rock Hero takes on a decent nine-horse field, but with five wins, six seconds and a third over the trip, it’s hard to ignore her claims. The seven-year-old mare, who ran second in the past two Alice Springs Cups (2000m), was an impressive last-start winner over 1400m on May 5 when lumping 58.5kg. Next Best Race 7 – #4 Desert Lass (1) 7yo Mare | T: Carrol Hunter | J: Emma Lines (a1.5) (61.5kg) Bet with Neds BEST VALUE: EASTSIDE DIAMOND Eastside Diamond returned from a spell two weeks ago and ran a strong fourth over 1100m in Class 2 company, finishing less than two lengths off the winner. That was a marked improvement on her last run before heading to the paddock in February — a disappointing 10th in an 1100m BM64. Staying at the trip and dropping 2kg, the Ray Viney-trained mare can figure in the finish if she shows any improvement on her first-up run. Best Value Race 2 – #4 Eastside Diamond (6) 4yo Mare | T: Ray Viney | J: Ianish Luximon (55kg) Bet with PlayUp Saturday Alice Springs quaddie selections Alice Springs quadrella selections Saturday, June 1, 2024 1-2 1-2-3-4-5 1-2-3-4 3-4-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Connello (centre) will contest the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Lisa Latta’s 2023-24 season features an unusual statistic of seven Group wins and none at Listed level, but the Awapuni trainer has two opportunities to rectify that anomaly at Wanganui on Saturday. Latta’s black-type wins this season have come from Belclare in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m), Lantern Way in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Diss Is Dramatic in the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) and Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), and Belardo Boy in the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) and Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m). Latta will be represented in both of Saturday’s Listed features at Wanganui, with last-start winner Connello contesting the Castletown Stakes (1200m) while Belardo Boy and Chikira Lass line up in the AGC Training Stakes (1600m). Connello is part-owned by David Woodhouse, whose black and white striped colours were carried to those Group triumphs by Belclare earlier in the season. That high-class daughter of Per Incanto was offered during the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast during the week, but fell short of her A$700,000 reserve. Woodhouse paid only $10,000 to buy Connello from the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka. The two-year-old Time Test filly showed some early promise with two thirds, a fourth and two fifths from her first five starts, but then took a big step forward when she returned from a freshen-up with an impressive last-start win at New Plymouth on May 11. “That was a really good performance last start,” Latta said. “She’s always shown us quite a bit. We gave her a little freshen-up at the right time and she came back and won very nicely. “She’s pleased me with everything that she’s done since then. The track is going to be a bit wetter on Saturday than the one she won on at New Plymouth, so we’ll have to watch and see how she handles that, but I’m hopeful that she’ll get through it okay.” Belardo Boy hit career-best form in the early stages of this season, winning the Winter Cup and Metric Mile and finishing third behind Puntura and Belclare in the Group 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). The five-year-old returned from a summer break with an eighth over 1300m at Te Rapa on May 18. He carried 61.5kg in that race and was beaten by five and a half lengths by Aris Aris, who had 53kg. The 94-rated Belardo Boy is suited to the weight-for-age conditions of this Saturday’s $80,000 race. “He’s taken some good improvement from that first-up run and is going the right way,” Latta said. “He loves heavy tracks and gets on well with Joe (Doyle, jockey), so I’m expecting an improved performance from him at weight-for-age this week.” Chikira Lass, who was a stakes placegetter in last year’s Listed ANZAC Mile (1600m), was sold for $30,000 on Gavelhouse in April and now races in the colours of Jamieson Park. A five-time winner from 49 career starts, the six-year-old finished fourth over 2060m in her most recent appearance on May 9. The Proisir mare has a strong record at Wanganui, where her nine starts have produced two wins and two placings. “Her best form is at a mile, and she does race particularly well at Wanganui,” Latta said. “She’s going up in class for this, but she’s in good order. “We’re just trying to have a go at picking up some more black type before she goes off to stud.” Saturday’s TAB Odds Surge (1200m) will be the second start of a new campaign for seven-race winner Old Town Road, who has recorded a win and three placings from his four starts at Wanganui. He is joined in the $40,000 open sprint by his resuming stablemate Make Time. “Old Town Road has a run under his belt now and is building into his new campaign nicely,” Latta said. “He’ll appreciate the heavy track this week. “Make Time is coming up nicely and I’d expect him to be doing his best work late in this race.” Horse racing news View the full article

Rua Rocks will contest the Te Aroha Cup (2200m) on Monday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Carl Henderson is on the sidelines with a broken ankle and he is hoping Rua Rocks can boost his spirits when he heads to Te Aroha on Monday to contest the Te Aroha Cup (2200m). Henderson spent a couple of weeks in the hospital earlier this month after being dislodged from a horse and fracturing his leg, which subsequently required surgery, and has put him on the sidelines for an extended period of time. “I fell off one (horse) and fractured it (ankle) in three places and dislocated it, so I have been in hospital for a couple of weeks,” Henderson said. “They have put rods and pins in there, it looks like a bit of a meccano set in my leg at the moment. It is going to be a bit of a long process. “I have got no weight bearing for six weeks and then maybe another two or three months after that as well just to get back to full strength. I am just taking it really easy at the moment.” While racing is heading into the quieter winter months, things were just starting to ramp up for Henderson’s Te Awamutu stable when the incident occurred. “We do a lot of ready to runners, and they were all in the stable, so we have had to cull a few numbers out and farm a few out to other people,” he said. “It wasn’t a great time to happen, but that is horses for you.” Henderson said his wife Cassie and staff members have been a huge help in his absence, and he is hoping that they can be rewarded for their hard work with a positive result from Rua Rocks on Monday. The son of El Roca was runner-up at Te Rapa last start on a Heavy 8 track, and Henderson is hoping he can go one better at Te Aroha, which was rated a Heavy 8 on Friday morning. “I am really happy with him,” Henderson said. “He is not very big, as everybody knows, and it was a great run last start, he didn’t deserve to finish where he did after his tough run, with the other horse taking him on. We are quite excited about Monday. “The (Heavy) track does worry me a little bit. He is a small horse, but he has got a huge stride on him, so he doesn’t love wet ground, but he has won in wet ground before. “I watched him work just before and we are really happy with him. A little bit extra distance is certainly going to help him.” While hoping for a positive outcome on Monday, Henderson was buoyed at his local trials on Thursday where his promising three-year-old Aspark Park was runner-up in his 1150m heat, and he will look to make his raceday debut in the coming month. “I had a horse trial yesterday that goes well. He is one of Ben Kwok’s horses and he is quite an exciting horse,” Henderson said. “He may have one more trial, he still has a bit to learn, but I do think a lot of him. He cruised up to them yesterday and didn’t quite know how to win. He will probably trial again at Rotorua and then we will look to go to the races with him. I think that he has got a bit of a future.” Horse racing news View the full article

Riviera Rebel will contest the Win a Hilux With Property Brokers (1600m) at Wingatui on Sunday. Photo: Monica Toretto Talented Riverton three-year-old Riviera Rebel will head to Wingatui on Sunday to kick off a winter campaign that could culminate in a shot at the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m). The son of Pure Champion will take on older Rating 75 opposition in the $35,000 Win a Hilux With Property Brokers (1600m), which will be his first appearance since winning a Rating 65 over the same distance at Riverton nine weeks ago. That home-track victory was an impressive front-running performance in Heavy 10 conditions on March 30, kicking away at the home turn and winning by two lengths with an even bigger margin back to third. Riviera Rebel’s trainer and part-owner Graham Eade was pleased to see him handle testing ground so successfully in that most recent appearance and has started thinking about the $110,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 3. “It’s going to be interesting to see how he goes on Sunday,” Eade said. “He hasn’t had a race since March, but he doesn’t take much to get him fit, so I think he’s ready. I’m happy with how he’s going leading into the race. “As far as the rest of the winter goes, a lot is going to depend on what he does this week. If everything keeps going well with him, we’d love to have a look at the Winter Cup. That could be a really nice target to work towards, although it’s a fair way off at the moment.” Riviera Rebel was a well-beaten fifth in his only start as a two-year-old last season but has been admirably consistent as a three-year-old with two wins and four placings from his eight starts. A maiden win at Riverton on New Year’s Day launched a strong run of summer form that included a third placing behind Aberlour and Quintabelle in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) on February 17. Eade’s other runner at Wingatui on Sunday is Cosy Nook, who gets through heavy ground well and was a last-start placegetter over 2147m at Riverton. The six-year-old Tavistock gelding is entered for the Positive Signs + Print (2200m) and is also the fifth ballot for the Ray Kean – Property Brokers (1600m). “He’s going well and shouldn’t mind the track this weekend,” Eade said. “He likes Riverton, and Wingatui is quite a similar track in some ways.” Horse racing news View the full article