Wandering Eyes

Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) returned to top form and scored his first Australian victory in the A$300,000 NZB The Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained gelding showed signs that he might be finding form with a close last-start fifth in the A$500,000 St Leger (2600m) at Randwick on October 18, and his stamina and class were on full display on Saturday as he outstayed his 11 rivals in the hands of jockey Jason Collett. “I thought his run was great the other day in the St Leger,” Collett said. “It was just a slow-run race. He led the start before that and it didn’t work one bit, so last start we tried to make sure he did things right, which he did, and he found the line great. “His trial was good leading into this and when I had the gate today, I was able to use it and put him in a close enough spot which gave us our chance. “He’s won a New Zealand Derby. He’s got the credentials there and this will no doubt build confidence.” Waller was represented at Newcastle by Zane Jones. “He was a good horse in New Zealand before coming to Australia,” he said. “We never lost faith in the horse, it was just a matter of turning up, getting things to go his way and today it did.” Asterix was bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock and is by Tavistock out of the Shirocco mare Mourasana. Curraghmore offered Asterix at the 2020 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, where Bruce Perry Bloodstock bought him for $450,000. Asterix began his career in the Matamata stable of Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, for whom he won four of his 14 starts including the 2022 New Zealand Derby and the 2024 edition of the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m). Asterix has now had a total of 23 starts for five wins, a placing and A$923,671 in stakes. View the full article

Promising New Zealand-bred galloper Taken (NZ) (Ardrossan) won four races in a row to close out his last campaign, and he picked up where he left off with a first-up victory at Caulfield on Saturday. The A$130,000 RM Williams Handicap (1400m) was Taken’s first raceday appearance since June, and he finished second at Cranbourne on October 20 in his only preparatory trial. Ridden by Ethan Brown for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, the four-year-old dug deep in the straight despite a tiring three-wide run, snatching victory by a short half-head. “Great training performance – first-up, one trial,” Brown said. “Three-wide, and it is never easy to sit three-deep first-up, so there are signs of a very nice horse. “He was well and truly entitled to be found wanting, but he dug deep and he was a winner. “He’ll get a mile at least and maybe further. A bit more work and he’ll be running out a mile.” Taken has now had 10 starts for five wins, five placings and A$381,860 in stakes, and he is pleasing his trainers with his progress through the grades. “Very good,” Kent said. “Underdone, only had one trial, so we were concerned with fitness, and then he got close to three-wide, four-wide, so a very good win. “He’s an unassuming customer. We were worried early on as to whether he would get a strong 1400m, but he just keeps strengthening, and to improve from three to four, you need to bulk up, and he definitely has. “We knew he was going super, just with all the rain he missed a trial. They don’t usually win off one trial, but he’s a nice horse. “He’s had a faultless campaign, really. The ceiling’s untapped. He likes a mile better, I think. Very good start to his preparation. “No real plans, just to go through the ratings. I think he’ll probably go 1400m next start and then go a mile third up, but there’s no real plans for him.” Originally prepared in New Zealand by Sam Mynott, Taken was sold to the Price-Kent stable following a trial win at Tauranga. By Waikato Stud’s emerging young sire Ardrossan, Taken is out of the Henrythenavigator mare Katherine Wright (NZ) and stems from the same family as Ardrossan’s Group Three winner Beau Dazzler (NZ). Taken was bred by the Dewar Partnership, which was put together to support Ardrossan when he launched at stud by some people who raced the Group One-performed son of Redoute’s Choice. View the full article

Expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent expected a strong showing from Meridiana (NZ) (Preferment) at Newcastle on Saturday, and that was exactly what he got in the A$160,000 Lees Racing ‘Legend’ Mile (1600m). The New Zealand-bred mare was heading into the Benchmark 78 handicap after a last-start second in the A$500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at Rosehill on November 1. “She was a bit stiff in that race,” Sargent said. “She couldn’t get out when we wanted to and it cost her the race, because they weren’t really coming from the back. “She seemed to have improved with the run, she was only second-up that day, and this looked like a nice race for her over a mile at a big track. We’ll see after this whether she carries on for another one or goes for a break.” Meridiana was sent out as a $2.15 favourite and lived right up to those expectations in the hands of jockey Jason Collett. After settling in midfield – much closer than the 15th spot she found herself in through the early part of the Four Pillars – the four-year-old chimed in with a smart turn of foot in the straight and went on to win by just over a length. Meridiana has now had seven starts for three wins, two placings and A$285,650 in prize-money for her group of over a dozen owners. Meridiana was bred by Qiji Bloodstock Ltd and is by Preferment out of the Strategic Image mare North And South (NZ), who won 10 races headed by the Listed Levin Stakes (1200m). View the full article

Brilliant New Zealand-bred gelding Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) lifted his Group One tally to three with another scintillating performance in Saturday’s A$1 million CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, in which progeny of Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto finished first and third. Jimmysstar burst into the top level of Australian sprinters last season with explosive victories in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and All Aged Stakes (1400m). The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has gone on to perform at the highest level in Sydney this spring, running a gallant third from a wide draw in the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) before returning to winning form in the A$3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m). Maher was delighted to see him triumph on the Group One stage again on Saturday. “He’s a ripper,” he said. “I was so confident over the last couple of weeks with him. I know he’d had a few runs in big races, but we only kept him fresh enough to run at six furlongs (1200m). He was better at six and a half (1300m) and I knew he’d be better again today.” Regular rider Ethan Brown gave Jimmysstar a perfect run on Saturday, keeping him in striking distance and then letting him rip down the outside of the home straight. Fellow Per Incanto gelding Evaporate (NZ) kicked hard off the corner and was going to take some catching, but Jimmysstar changed gears and soon powered past. Angel Capital (Harry Angel) ran on from the back to provide a late challenge, but Jimmysstar had things well in control and crossed the finish line a length in front. Evaporate was the same margin away in third. “He’s my favourite horse by far,” Brown said. “He’s such a beauty. It’s well publicised, my love for him, and it’s obvious why. “He wasn’t easy to deal with early doors. Even when he won the Oakleigh Plate, he was very full of himself, but he has really come of age since then. He’s turned into the ultimate professional and his races are showing it. “I believed I was on the best horse, so I rode him accordingly. He began really well. I thought halfway up the hill ‘woo boy, come back’. “Once that rush came across, he relaxed beautifully in what was a good tempo. When they came up for air a bit down the side, then quickened I just had to be on top of that. He does hit a flat spot. “He sort of felt Angel Capital there and I think that helped him and off he went. He gives me such an amazing feeling and he’s such a good horse.” Maher was also quick to give credit to Brown for his part in the Jimmysstar story. “Browny just rides him so well,” he said. “He was in the driver’s seat most of the way. He’s got a great rapport with him and he’s a great fella. “I also can’t thank my team enough. He’s been to Sydney for a long time and he’s come down to Melbourne seamlessly. This was very good to watch and I’m proud of everyone.” Maher is now already casting his mind ahead to the 2026 edition of The Everest next October. “He’s earned a breather now,” he said. “I did have him in in Perth, but I thought now he’s earned a nice break. It’ll all probably be centred around The Everest next year, I’d imagine.” The winner of two of his three starts in New Zealand for Hastings trainer Guy Lowry, a majority share in Jimmysstar was sold to clients of leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher following a Rating 65 win at Hawke’s Bay, and the chestnut has now gone on to amass more than A$6.6 million in stakes. He has recorded 11 wins and seven placings in a 23-race career. Jimmysstar was bred by Wairarapa couple Pete and Chrissy Algie in partnership with Masterton’s Little Avondale Stud. Stud proprietors Sam and Catriona Williams along with the Algies remain in the ownership of the star galloper. The chestnut gelding is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding stallion Per Incanto out of Anniesstar (NZ) (Zed). That daughter of Zed won five races including the Listed Feilding Gold Cup (2100m), while her full-brother Jacksstar (NZ) (Zed0 was a seven-time winner up to Group Two level and also placed in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) and her half-brother Bourbonaire (NZ) (Bourdonaire) was runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). Anniesstar is the dam of three named foals, all of them have been winners, including Charms Star (NZ) (Per Incanto), winner of the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m), and she was also runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Queensland Oaks (2200m) as a three-year-old. View the full article

Respected Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers captured his fourth Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on Saturday courtesy of a supreme staying performance by Bozo (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). An extraordinary storm in the early part of Saturday afternoon made the track a gruelling Heavy9 and turned the $450,000 staying showpiece into a case of survival of the fittest. Five-year-old mare Bozo, who was previously a five-time winner from 14 starts on heavy tracks, was the horse to fit that bill. Bozo was ridden by Tina Comignaghi, who was happy to take up a position near the back of the field and wait for the energy-sapping track conditions to take their toll on the opposition. With a final race time of 3:33.05 – almost 16 seconds outside the race record of 3:17.22 set by Soundoration in 1990 – that was exactly what happened. Bozo and Comignaghi began to improve their position through the pack coming up to the home turn, then angled to the outside to make their run down the straight. Bozo skipped through the sloppy ground and went past her labouring rivals like they were standing still, powering clear in the closing stages to win by three and a half lengths. Saturday’s triumph brought a long-range plan to fruition with Bozo, whose five previous starts this season included a win and a placing on Heavy10 tracks at Riccarton and Wanganui in August, followed by a sixth at Trentham on October 18, an unplaced finish on a Good4 track in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) on October 25 and an eye-catching run for third in the Feilding Cup (2050m) at Tauherenikau on November 1. That race proved to be a strong form reference on Saturday, with its winner Agera (NZ) (Complacent) taking out the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m). Myers, who had previously won the New Zealand Cup with Spring Cheer (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) (2013), Mondorani (NZ) (Burgundy) (2021) and Aljay (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) (2022), was represented at Riccarton on Saturday by his son Jason. “This is a special win,” he said. “We set horses for these races in November from as much as six or 12 months out. “We scratched this horse on the middle day of the carnival on Wednesday to give her the best chance of winning this race today, once it looked like there would be some rain around. Our confidence kept growing, the more rain we got. “Tina gave her a great ride. We thought, with a bit of pace in the race, they would end up going quite slow late in the race in these track conditions. We just wanted to get her to the outside and see if she could finish over the top of them. “From the 1000m, once she started picking runs in between horses, I was starting to grow in confidence. She looked to be travelling pretty well, and then she was just too strong for them in the end.” Bozo has now had 30 starts for seven wins, eight placings and $486,970. The daughter of Satono Aladdin was bred by Rick Hill, who shares ownership with Sandra and Anne Hill. It was a second New Zealand Cup success for Comignaghi, who also teamed up with Myers to win the race with Aljay in 2022. “This is amazing, I can’t believe it,” she said. “They kept saying she would run well today. I wasn’t quite so sure, but obviously they know better than me! She felt really good in that ground. She really relished the testing conditions.” Notabadspillane (NZ) (Time Test) was a gallant second under a ground-saving ride from apprentice jockey Elen Nicholas, while Canheroc (NZ) (El Roca) crossed the line in third place in an exact repeat of his placing in last year’s edition of the time-honoured race. View the full article

A bargain buy from Windsor Park Stud’s Rugby, Racing and Beer yearling sale has now won six of her seven starts including a first black-type success in Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Proved (NZ) (Time Test) was bred by Windsor Park Stud and is by Time Test out of the Shamexpress mare Out To Impress (NZ), who is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Monaco Consul (NZ) (High Chaparral). Windsor Park offered Proved at the 2022 edition of their popular Rugby, Racing and Beer sale, where she was bought by Cranbourne trainer Enfer Jusufovic for just $11,000. The five-year-old mare has now had seven starts for six wins and A$244,575 in prize-money. “She’s terrific for an $11,000 purchase,” Jusufovic said. “A lot of first time owners in this mare, and a big thank you to Mick Moran from Windsor Park Stud who told me to buy this horse. “She’s had seven starts for six wins. Her first-up run (fifth at Bendigo on October 26) perhaps may have looked a bit disappointing, but she pulled up with a slight issue and things didn’t go her way. “Carleen Hefel galloped her during the week and she is riding really well at the moment. I had another option tomorrow, but chose to run today to give it a try. It just all went well. “I’ve always rated her on a par with New York Lustre (Manhattan Rain), who obviously won a Group race on Derby Day.” Hefel played her role to perfection in Saturday’s fillies and mares’ feature, driving Proved out of the pack and through a narrow opening towards the inside. Proved accelerated sharply and dived through the gap, snatching victory by a half-head and a head over Aviatress (Smart Missile) and She’s Bulletproof (Shooting To Win). “She’s a terrific mare,” Hefel said. “EJ has asked me a few times to compare her to New York Lustre. I keep sticking to my guns and saying that I really like her. At her seventh start, to win at Group Three, that is a good effort for a mare. She’s got that will to win. “She’s a bit more stuck on to her work and more professional than New York Lustre, even from a young horse. With Lustre it was always her way, whereas this mare is so easy. She always showed good ability. I always preferred her, but I think they’re on equal terms.” View the full article

The only thing certain as horses slogged their way to the winning post in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) was that Matamata trainer Pam Gerard would produce the quinella in the Riccarton classic. Heavy rain during the day had seen the track reduced to a Heavy9 rating that threw a massive spanner in the works as connections of the 15 runners tried to work out if their horse could handle the downgraded surface and just how competitive they would be. Gerard was in that camp with the well-favoured Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) and stablemate Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo), but she needn’t have worried as the pair went clear at the 200m mark to fight out a desperate finish that went in favour of Romanoff by the barest of margins. Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz had Romanoff away well from the start and stalking the pacemakers He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel) and Mission Complete (NZ) (Ferrando) throughout as George Rooke on Affirmative Action sat one pair further back but out wider as they searched for better ground. Queiroz and Romanoff stuck closer to the inner rounding the home bend as Affirmative Action swung to the middle of the track and headed off He Who Dares at the 300m. The Gerard pair came together with 200m to run and set down to a dogfight which went stride for stride to the post. The issue was only settled several minutes after the runners had pulled up with the judge declaring Romanoff, a son of former Haunui Farm stallion Belardo, the winner from his stablemate with maiden galloper Shoma (NZ) (Contributer) storming into third just ahead of Little Black Dress (Snitzel). Gerard was a bundle of emotion as she came to terms with what had transpired just minutes earlier. “I don’t know if I can handle this anymore, it is just too much,” Gerard said. “Just the whole thing as they are both really nice horses and I think their class has shown (today). “There is no question that I was really worried about the track and I still don’t think they liked it one bit, but on a wet day Romanoff may always have been the better on it although I honestly thought the other horse had got up. “My staff at home are just amazing as so much goes into getting here and it is hard on a day when you get a hailstorm and all the work that has gone in you think bloody hell, but we managed to get away with it. “We just have fantastic owners and the guys from Aussie that are here have never experienced anything like this, but they will be definitely coming back.” Queiroz, who had ridden 16 Group One winners in his native Brazil, was beaming as he celebrated his first New Zealand success at the highest level. “I just had one dream which was a Group One here (in New Zealand) as I have 16 in Brazil and today I am very glad,” he said. “Thank you to God along with the connections of this horse for the big opportunity. “It was so close but I’m so glad as I thought I had won as he fought so hard the last 100m.” Bred by Marie Leicester from her Stravinsky mare Tsarina Belle (NZ), Romanoff has now won his second race from seven starts and over $454,000 for a large group of owners. He was purchased by Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman for $75,000 from the Haunui Farm draft during the Book 2 sale at Karaka in 2024. View the full article

Patch Of Stars continued his march up the grades with a clinical performance to win the Class Two Lukfook Jewellery Cup (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday. The Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained galloper came into his own towards the back end of last season, winning three of his four races to close out the campaign. He bounced back from a below-par return with a Class Three win over course and distance last month and shrugged off both a 7lb rise in the weights and a hike in class without breaking much of...View the full article

Three months after starting the season as a two-win horse with a rating of 70, Agera (NZ) (Complacent) stepped on to the big stage at Tauranga on Saturday and became a weight-for-age winner in the Gr.2 Gartshore Construction Tauranga Stakes (1530m). The $150,000 feature capped an incredible rise for the Complacent gelding, who came into his six-year-old season with 18 starts to his name for two wins, eight placings and $81,490 in stakes. From eight starts this season, Agera has recorded six victories and has added $259,500 to his career earnings. He began his breakthrough season with back-to-back wins on the Cambridge synthetic track in August, followed by a sixth under 62kg in a Rating 75 at Ellerslie in early September. Cambridge trainer Tony Pike stepped Agera up into open company for a 1600m race at Te Rapa on September 14 and came away with another win, followed by a fourth in the Russell & Yvonne Green Memorial (2000m) at Matamata on October 4. Agera has been unstoppable since then, winning the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) on October 17, the Feilding Cup (2050m) at Tauherenikau on November 1, and now the Tauranga Stakes. “He’s won six from eight this season and has found a real purple patch of form,” Pike said. “To step up to weight-for-age today and win again is remarkable. He’s really had a fantastic season.” Pike has repeatedly planned to turn Agera out for a spring and summer spell when the tracks began to firm up, but an extraordinarily wet spring has led to a series of changes of plans and additional assignments. Agera has risen to meet every challenge. The Tauranga Stakes only came on to Pike’s radar when rain was forecast to hit Tauranga during the week. That rain sent the track rating down to Soft7 on Thursday, although it returned to Soft5 on raceday under blue skies. That late change of plans, along with the fact that many leading jockeys were at Riccarton on Saturday for the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m), handed a big opportunity to 18-year-old apprentice Sam McNab. In his very first ride in a black-type race, McNab took up a handy position in third along the rail before driving Agera through a narrow opening on the inside of front-runner Khafre (American Pharoah) at the top of the straight. Agera quickened and dashed to the lead with 150m remaining. A late challenge came from the strong-finishing Meaningful Star (Pivotal), but Agera responded to McNab’s urgings and held on by a short head. Pike took special satisfaction from Sam McNab’s success. The teenager’s father Chris McNab is Pike’s assistant trainer, while Sam’s premiership-winning brother Michael has also had a long and successful involvement with the stable. “This race was a bit of a late choice for us, just with that rain that came during the week, because he’s a horse who needs a little bit of rain,” Pike said. “With Riccarton on today as well, we were struggling to find a rider. We decided to give Sam the opportunity. It’s not that often you see a 3kg claimer riding in a Group Two weight-for-age race, but he’s riding really well and he’s done a great job. “It’s fantastic for the McNab family. Michael’s here today cheering him on, he’s rapt. “Sam probably only started riding 18 months ago, so it’s been a remarkable rise for him. He’s had massive support from his father Chris and brother Michael, and you’d have to say he’s got the breeding for a very successful career.” Agera’s incredible breakthrough campaign has come over a range of distances. He has won over as far as 2050m in the Feilding Cup, while Saturday’s race was reduced from 1600m to 1530m because of a burst water main near the 1600m start point. Pike joked that Agera’s victory came in track-record time. “We always thought a mile was probably his optimal distance,” Pike said. “He won a Feilding Cup last time over the 2050m. Going down to 1530m was probably not ideal, but he got the job done. He’s a versatile horse in great form.” View the full article

Southern mare Inflamed (NZ) (Ghibellines) used every inch of a sodden Riccarton racetrack to storm to victory in Saturday’s Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m). Scenes seldom experienced on a New Zealand racecourse saw the meeting delayed shortly after the fourth race as hailstones the size of golf balls and torrential rain struck the venue in a violent 15-minute downpour that also had an accompanying thunder and lightning show. Raceday officials put the meeting back one race, and after jockeys agreed racing should continue, it was the Brian and Shane Anderton-prepared Inflamed who relished the revised Heavy9 conditions to down a handy field in the traditional sprint feature of the New Zealand Cup carnival. Rider Donovan Cooper didn’t panic when he found himself back last after the start and slowly brought the six-year-old daughter of Ghibellines to the very outside of the track as the field swung for home. Just as the Te Akau Racing pair of Trobriand (Kermadec) and Insatiable (NZ) (All Too Hard) looked to have things under control between the two of them, Inflamed appeared hard up against the outside rail and motored home to grab Trobriand in the shadows of the winning post for a stunning victory. Shane Anderon admitted that the initial plan had been to have the mare up on the pace but that option was taken away when she was tardy from the barriers. “The plan was to be on the pace, but she just fell out of the gates,” Anderton said. “What a great finish she had though, which was pretty exciting. “When the rain came it didn’t do her any harm as she goes on most ground. “Everything we have put Donovan on has gone alright and he is a very good rider. “Dad (Brian) is at home and he will be very excited.” A true product of the Anderton family’s White Robe Lodge breeding operation, Inflamed was bred by Brian Anderton and his late wife Lorraine and races in the same ownership. She is a daughter of their stakes-winning Gallant Guru mare Ortem Fire (NZ) (Emerald Fire) and has now won six of her 29 starts and over $239,000 in prizemoney. The downgrade in track conditions to the Heavy9 rating robbed the race of some interest with first-day Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) winner Platinum Attack (Santos) a late scratching. He was slated to start a warm favourite for the event. Riccarton is sheeted in hail after an extraordinary storm on New Zealand Cup Day. Photo: Race Images South View the full article

Former Irish galloper Rosso (Camelot) showed he will be a force to be reckoned with in some of the major staying races in New Zealand left to come this season when he took out the Rating 82 Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Premier (2600m) at Riccarton with ridiculous ease on Saturday. Trained by Michael and Matthew Pitman, the five-year-old son of Camelot started his career in his native Ireland where he was successful in one of his five starts before being exported to the Australian stable of Anthony and Sam Freedman. He was subsequently offered on the Inglis Digital sale platform in early August, having gathered one placing from four starts, where he was purchased by Michael’s brother John for A$47,500 and made his way to New Zealand. Rosso made an immediate impression with an effortless win over 2200m at Ashburton in October, before finishing resolutely for fourth over 2000m on the first day of the Riccarton carnival last weekend for rider Sam Weatherley. Visiting expat Kiwi jockey Daniel Stackhouse took the mount on Saturday and produced a copybook effort on the $1.90 favourite, which saw him sit one out in midfield before easing his way around the field at the 500m to hit the front shortly afterwards. Stackhouse hardly loosened his grip on the reins as Rosso bounded clear of his rivals and jogged to the winning post nearly six lengths to the good of Moussaieff (NZ) (Redwood) and Steal My Thunder (NZ) (Derryn). Stackhouse, who had piloted Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) to success in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) on Wednesday for the stable, was impressed by the effort and predicted there was more in store for the horse. “I was travelling really good the whole way and all I had to do was get him out at the right time and let him come into it,” Stackhouse said. “We actually got out too early and he stargazed all the way up the straight, but he was just too good for them. “They pulled this horse out of Australia and have given him a new lease of life and with that bit more time, he is really coming to it.” Matthew Pitman was all smiles as he succinctly described the victory “He has just jogged in,” he said. “We were confident the first day, but from a wide barrier he settled back on a muddly-run speed and was doing good work at the finish. “We knew getting up to 2600m was the key and that bit of rain we had overnight was no trouble for him as he has a lot of class. “We will have to put our thinking caps on now as there are races like the Remutaka Classic (2100m) and Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) at Trentham and an Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) further down the line. We will have to see how he pulls up, but a trip north is definitely on the cards.” Rosso is raced by John Pitman under the South Island Racing Enthusiasts banner and sports his distinctive silks that feature the initials SIRE on both the front and back of the brightly coloured jacket. Rosso has now won two of his three New Zealand starts and three races overall. View the full article

Next month’s A$300,000 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) is on the radar for Skippers Canyon (NZ) (Belardo) after he collected his second Australian victory in come-from-behind style in the A$130,000 Sharp EIT Solutions Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Belardo gelding was imported by OTI Racing after 10 starts in New Zealand, including a maiden win over 2100m at Otaki in January. He also recorded three seconds and a third, along with a fourth in the $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) and a fifth in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m). Skippers Canyon then crossed the Tasman and joined the stable of Phillip Stokes, who gave him his first two Australian starts during the winter for a win over 1400m at Sandown on July 30 and a second over 1800m at Caulfield on August 16. Saturday’s Benchmark 74 handicap was the four-year-old’s first appearance since then, and he returned to action in impressive style. Skippers Canyon was ridden patiently by Lachlan Neindorf and was among the last to come around the home turn. Neindorf unleashed him down the outside of the Caulfield home straight and he reeled in Sigiriya Rock (Alabama Express) and Nearing Liberty (Impending) to win by a long head. “These OTI colours have been really good to me,” Neindorf said. “Very grateful for Terry Henderson and the team’s support, and it’s good to join up on a good day at Caulfield and get the job done. “I spoke to my form man this morning and we analysed the race really deeply. I thought we’d end up back there, like we did. He’s got a bad habit of missing the kick. It wasn’t the end of the world. I was aware that it could happen. “My job from that point was not to join the race until the 700m and then decide whether we were going to stay in and ride for luck if they’d gone slow, or I believed that they’d gone hard enough, to make a looping run, which they sort of did. “He travelled up nicely in my hands and then he was very good late. “I think he’ll be suited down to the ground when he gets up over longer trips, especially with his habit of missing the start. A race like the Pakenham Cup will be right up his alley.” Stokes confirmed that Skippers Canyon will now be set for the Pakenham Cup in four weeks’ time. “He’ll be aimed for that,” he said. “He’s come here and good order today. We told Lachie, ‘Whatever you do, don’t bomb the start.’ He’s got a real habit of doing that, this horse. Lachie’s gone to Plan B and given him a bit of room with a nice turn of foot. “He’s a very athletic horse, so he doesn’t take a lot of work. He’s clean-winded, which makes my job easy. He can go on any ground, so that is a plus. “He’ll run here in two weeks’ time, stepping up to the 1800m, and then on to the Pakenham Cup.” Skippers Canyon was trained in New Zealand by Opaki-based trainer Jim Wallace and was bred under his Ardsley Stud banner. From a 13-race career, Skippers Canyon has now recorded three wins and five placings and has earned A$164,155. View the full article

Owner-trainers Tim and Margaret Carter appear to have chosen an appropriate name for a filly they bought for just $700 on Gavelhouse.com. The Carters called their Complacent filly Rising Star (NZ) (Complacent), and on Saturday she collected the second win of her short career in the Laser Plumbing Waihi Beach 3YO (1400m) at Tauranga. Rising Star headed into the $40,000 race on an upward trajectory, having opened her winning account in a 1200m maiden at the same venue two weeks ago. Despite that last-start winning form, she was only the fifth favourite at $9 in a market dominated by Avantaggia ($2.90), Happy Youmzain ($3.40) and Yamato Satona ($5.30). But Rising Star overshadowed her higher-rated opponents with a powerful finish from second-last in the hands of jockey Darren Danis. Early in the run home, the race appeared to be following the betting market as Avantaggia took command with Yamato Satona and Happy Youmzain warming into their work and gaining ground. But then Rising Star let rip down the outside of the track, bounding past those rivals with ease and going clear to win by a length and a quarter. Rising Star was bred by the Mapperley Stud Partnership and is a daughter of the Star Way mare Shining Light, who won three races and placed in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m), Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 Rotorua Cup (2200m), Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) and Listed Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m). Shining Light is the dam of four winners, while her unraced daughter Highlights produced the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) runner Vassilator. Rising Star’s own five-start career has now produced two wins, a placing and $36,410 in stakes – more than 50 times the amount the Carters paid to purchase her from Gavelhouse.com. Tim Carter credited a friend of his, former King Country rugby representative Grant Lethborg, for the decision to buy Rising Star as a weanling in April 2023. “Grant is really into pedigrees and he told us about this filly that he’d come across on Gavelhouse,” he said. “He thought she had a really interesting pedigree and recommended that we take a look at her. We didn’t have to pay much for her and it’s worked out well so far. “We’ve had a good opinion of her from the outset, but she had a bit of shin soreness in the early stages of her career and perhaps wasn’t ridden quite how we would have liked in her first couple of starts. Then in her third start she was badly blocked and never got a run at them. “She’s put together two quite impressive wins now. It was great to see her do that today against a talented three-year-old field.” The Carters will now look to raise the bar with Rising Star, with the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day looming as a potential target. “We deliberately decided to keep her close to home in this campaign,” Tim Carter said. “We’ve got some nice three-year-old fillies’ races coming up in the north now that we can look at, up around the mile. If everything goes well, we could potentially point her towards the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) a bit later on. She does look like an Oaks type of filly.” The TAB now rates Rising Star a $15 chance for the Oaks, which will this season be run at Ellerslie on February 21. That market is headed by Well Written ($5), Belle Cheval ($9), Lollapalooza ($9) and Tajana ($11). View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz Tracy Cadwallader has never made any secret of how much The Big Bang means to her, and at Palmerston North on Thursday the lightly raced gelding rewarded her patience in memorable fashion. The four-year-old son of Sweet Lou stepped up in the Join The Turbos Syndicate Mobile Pace, scoring the first win of his career in only his second race day appearance. The victory was particularly special for Cadwallader, who not only trains The Big Bang but also bred him. “I foaled him myself, he’s been with me since the day his eyes opened,” she said, “he’s got a gorgeous nature, the best of any horse I’ve ever come across.” Cadwallader has taken her time getting the gelding to the races, choosing to wait until his four-year-old season before stepping him out. “He’s not a very big horse, and he’s just a bit immature in his brain, I don’t like to rush my horses and he needed the time.” The meeting was part of the two-day Palmerston North programme, with The Big Bang making his raceday debut on Monday. That first outing didn’t go quite to script, with the gelding finishing sixth after getting things wrong heading into the final lap. Cadwallader wasn’t surprised. “It’s hard work trying to get a horse to the races down here. They can be really green because there’s not a lot of horses and often we don’t get to work with company. I had a funny feeling a few things were going to go wrong on debut, he’d never been around that many horses. He got checked and then just blew apart.” Second-up on Thursday, he showed what he was capable of. Drawn two off the mobile, driver Michael Hay used the gelding’s natural speed to roll to the top before settling into a rhythm. Despite racing greenly, he travelled strongly enough in front to control the tempo and never looked like folding, holding his rivals at bay and winning by a length with Hay barely having to chase him. Even with the result well in hand, Cadwallader admitted she was a nervous spectator. “It was scary even watching him, shying at all of the shadows, I almost couldn’t watch, I nearly had a heart attack,” she laughed. For Cadwallader, the biggest reward is seeing her horses develop the right way. “He’s got a tonne of ability, for me it’s less about winning, I’m always more concerned with both horse and driver getting around in one piece. It is always a bonus when they do everything right and get the win. He’s still doing a lot wrong, and he’ll learn more the more he races.” With natural speed, heart, and now a confidence-boosting win under his belt, The Big Bang will look to step out again at the next Palmerston North meeting. View the full article

Trainer Dewaine Loy discusses Happy Strike and the importance of the Claiming Crown before he runs in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at Churchill Downs Nov. 15.View the full article

After four straight wins at Prairie Meadows, Happy Strike will face his toughest challenge yet for owner and trainer Dewaine Loy.View the full article

Now at the two-month mark since the conclusion of the Monmouth Park season, some Thoroughbred owners and trainers remain concerned that they can't withdraw the purse money they earned during the May 10-Sept. 13 meet and from the turf-only mini-meet that Monmouth conducted at the Meadowlands Sept. 19-Oct. 17. When TDN first reported on the track's cash flow difficulties Oct. 22, Dennis Drazin, the chairman and chief executive officer of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth and its sportsbook, said the payment process is a complicated one that he hoped would be resolved shortly. But 3 1/2 weeks later, with some horsemen still complaining about not being able to access their winnings, TDN contacted Drazin late Friday afternoon to get an update. Drazin said Nov. 14 that while progress has been made in making payments, Darby is still waiting to receive money from the state of New Jersey that it will use to fund the purse account. “We have been paying out the purses since [TDN's original story],” Drazin said. “So any money that we get in, we put right into the purse account, and we've probably paid over a million dollars, maybe a little higher than that, maybe [around] $1.3 million. “Let me make it clear to begin with, the responsibility to pay purses at the racetrack is the responsibility of the permit-holder, which is us. So we're not saying, 'It's not our responsibility.' I can assure you that everyone will be paid,” Drazin said. “But having said that, the delays are occasioned by not getting all the funding that we're supposed to get in the budget,” Drazin said. “The budget process that took place in July gave us an allocation of $3.5 million,” Drazin said. “We have not received that money yet. We have filled out the applications that we have to to get that money coming, but we don't have that money yet. If I got that money at any point soon, we'd put all that's needed to pay all the purses immediately. We would not divert it anyplace else.” So roughly how much is still outstanding? “I'm not sure without checking with the bookkeeper,” Drazin said. “I don't just want to give you a number off the top of my head, because I know he's been paying some of the purses and probably has dissipated a lot of what's owed.” Drazin wanted to clarify that when he speaks of “the state” he is referring to several different sources. One is the New Jersey Racing Commission, which acts like a clearinghouse in distributing money after first making sure that the post-race drug tests are clear and that incoming money from simulcasting is being properly tallied. Another is the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), through which some incoming account-wagering money must pass first. A third is the $3.5-million budget allocation that Drazin mentioned above. The purpose of that payment is to offset cost increases from a tax hike on revenue from sports betting. A fourth is a $10-million annual subsidy that the legislature granted to Monmouth, but that money isn't scheduled to arrive until the end of this year and is earmarked for next year's purses. “The way it kind of works is that Monmouth, the OTWs, account wagering, they all are required to file these seven-day reports, send the money to the commission so that they can make sure the money is being distributed correctly; little pieces to the breeders, for example, that they pay out,” Drazin said. “That money from Meadowlands, as of today, has not come in yet. But we know the racing commission has indicated that they are sending it, so we expect that money this [coming] week,” Drazin said. “We did get some money from another source [late Friday afternoon], and that money will be distributed probably Monday or Tuesday,” Drazin said. “That money [came] from the NJSEA, because all of our account-wagering money from TVG goes to them first. Then they pay the bills that are required to be paid from their end. “For example, the real estate taxes at Monmouth Park, which are about $1.8 million each year, the Authority gets the bill because they own the land,” Drazin said. “They use our account-wagering money to pay the bills and then send us the balance. So we did receive a portion of [that] money to help pay out some of the purses. Asked how Darby/Monmouth determines which horsemen get paid when, he explained it as a first-in/first-out type of system. “Requests that come in first get paid first,” Drazin said. “So horsemen–and I'm not being critical, because I do the same thing sometimes–you wait until the meet's over, and you're shipping someplace else, [then you] request your funds. So people who requested the money [first] would have gotten the money first. The rest of them are in the order of when the requests came in.” TDN asked Drazin if horsemen being unable to withdraw winnings this year was unusual from how Monmouth traditionally operates. “Not really,” Drazin answered. “We had a problem two years ago with the commission where they were eight months behind sending us money. And frankly, when the commission doesn't pay us, like in that year, we've loaned the money to the purse account from our own funds in order to make sure the horsemen got paid.” So why didn't Darby just loan the money this year? “Well, the horsemen this year were overpaid about $3 million from last year,” Drazin said. “We kept anticipating we were going to get the monies from [the state sources], and if it got delayed [much further], my intention would be to fund the account myself to make sure everyone gets paid.” Drazin said that, “At the end of the day it's our responsibility. Whether we have to wait for the money or not, we're going to make sure the purse account has enough money and that everybody will get paid everything that they are owed.” Drazin outlined several scenarios moving forward that might help avoid a cash crunch in subsequent seasons. “Just to be clear with you so you understand, when you start the [racing season] in May, you've accumulated monies from when your meet closed the previous year until the day you open,” Drazin said. “Then, in addition, you're getting a $10-million subsidy from the state, which requires a formal report to be issued first before that happens. I think the commission will allocate that money this December. “So going into next year's meet, you would have the $10 million, you would have whatever accumulated in the way of purse revenue, and then you have your daily money that comes in as the meet goes on. “You project purses for your fiscal year, so you're projecting purses [by] including money that's going to come in for simulcasting in the second half of October, when you're not running, [and also] November and December. And you couldn't possibly receive all that money until [we're] finished with November and December,” Drazin said. “So a better practice going forward is probably not to project October, November and December's revenue in the purse account, but carry that over until the following year, so you're not making horsemen wait,” Drazin said. “The alternative, which the horsemen have suggested to me–some of them–is cut days, cut purses, so you don't run into this problem next year,” Drazin said. “But the majority of horsemen want the higher purses, and they don't want to give up days,” Drazin said. TDN asked Drazin what his general message is for horsemen who have been contacting track executives and the bookkeeper about when they are going to get their money. “I would hope that everyone would be patient,” Drazin said. “For the past 12 years we've operated the track, and done so at significant losses. The horsemen operated the track before, so no one was asking the horsemen for the money. But Darby took over in terms of the lease last August, so it's Darby's responsibility. “So we're asking them to bear with us. We'll get them the money as quickly as we can. I can certainly assure everyone that everyone will get paid every dollar that they're owed,” Drazin said. The post Drazin On Monmouth’s Cash Flow Woes: ‘Everyone Will Get Paid Every Dollar That They’re Owed’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mags O'Toole bought point-to-pointer Dawn Of Light (Mahler) for a sale-topping £370,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale on Friday evening. Sold as lot 23, the four-year-old daughter of Genifique (Nickname) was consigned by Busher Bloodstock and is a half-sister to talented jumper Bravemansgame (Brave Mansonnien). She won a Quakerstown point-to-point at second asking earlier this month. The other lot to make £300,000 or more was Minella Yoga (Study Of Man) (lot 52) who caught the eye of Highflyer Bloodstock and Paul Nicholls at £360,000. Minella Racing consigned the three-year-old gelding, who won on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse. In total, seven lots made £200,000 or higher. The clearance rate was 96%, with 47 lots of the 49 offered finding new homes. The gross was £4,627,000 (+50%), the average £98,447 (+5%) and the median was £80,000 (+11%). The post Bravemansgame Half-Sister Tops Tattersalls Cheltenham At £370k appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Mark Hurrell will go the extra mile to link up with a strong book of drives at Winton on Sunday. Hurrell was meant to be racing on his home track at Wyndham but a wild Southland storm put an end to that after carnage hit Young Quinn Raceway. It is a case of quality over quantity for Hurrell at the Wyndham Harness Racing Club meeting at Winton. The reinsman takes four drives and rates Ultimate Cullect the best winning hope among them. She is a $2.15 favourite in Race 9, the Marshall’s Excavating Mobile Pace (4.13pm). “It is such a big drop in ratings from what she has been racing, she looks like a great chance,” Hurrell said. “Flashpoint is in there and he is a nice horse, but my mare is pretty forward and has been racing good fields right the way through. “She trialled great last week, she has had a bit of a freshen up and seems to be coming back really well.” Hurrell links up with two strong chances from the Craig Ferguson stable on Sunday in Franco Seb and Kusama. Franco Seb has been building towards a maiden victory and it looks well within his sights this week. “He should be pretty hard to beat, probably the question is whether he can hold up from (barrier) one.” “We will be trying to get out and get rolling because he is tougher than he is fast.” “It is a pretty even field and some of the others have had a few goes at trying to win a maiden.” Kusama will head to Winton for her first start after winning at the Wyndham workouts last weekend. “She is a handy filly and should win a maiden fillies and mares race pretty quickly.” “The favourite (Anita Mary) has trialled really well, but she has drawn the second row.” “So it will be interesting to see where she ends up.” “Our filly should go a nice race and she would have to be a very good place chance and a decent win hope as well.” Rakaturbo might be the roughie among Hurrell’s drives but he still looks a handy hope. The pacer sat parked in a similar affair at Winton last week and battled on strongly to run 5th. “He looks like a big rolling type, if we can stay handy he might be able to go a handy race.” Rakaturbo is among a seven-strong team Clark Barron brings to Winton on Sunday. They include stable star Bring On The Muscle who reverts back to a standing start after racing keenly behind the mobile last start. View the full article

A year-and-a-half after being told he only had about five months to live because of cancer, Bryan Bushey made the journey to Churchill Downs to support Point Dume in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel Nov. 15.View the full article

Dave and Bryan Bushey of Bush Racing Stable discuss Point Dume ahead of his start in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at Churchill Downs Nov. 15 as well as what being in the Claiming Crown means to them.View the full article

Jockey Dylan Davis suffered a broken right collarbone in a spill that affected four horses Friday afternoon at Aqueduct, his agent Mike Migliore told the TDN's Bill Finley. Heavyweight Champs (Solomini), the third betting choice in a $17,500 claimer with a non-winners-of-three-lifetime condition, was a handy third and three wide tracking the pace into the turn, but broke down and fell three-eighths of a mile from the wire. He unseated his rider Ricardo Santana, Jr. in the process, and the Davis-ridden Tarpaulin (Leofric) could not avoid his stricken rival and fell, but picked himself up, completed the course and was caught by outriders before being walked off. Both Christopher Elliott aboard Because the Night (Uncle Mo) and Lane Luzzi astride Funny Uncle (Distorted Humor) were forced to take evasive action and both horses were eased, but were otherwise uninjured. According to a statement from NYRA's Patrick McKenna, Heavyweight Champs was attended to immediately by veterinary staff, but due to the severity of the injury to his left front leg, could not be saved. Santana, Jr. visited on-track first aid under his own power, but was removed from his remaining mount. Davis was transported to Jamaica Hospital for evaluation. There is no timetable for his return, Migliore said. The post Dylan Davis Suffers Broken Collarbone, Horse Euthanized In Aqueduct Spill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Brian Spearman, who has served as chairman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners since 2015, has decided to step away from his day-to-day role with the company at the end of this year. View the full article

A year-and-a-half after being told he only had about five months to live because of cancer, Bryan Bushey made the journey to Churchill Downs to support Point Dume in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel Nov. 15.View the full article

Dave Smyth, a financial planner and horseplayer from Lexington, KY, saved his best for last at the 2025 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC), parlaying an $8,000 Daily Double on the final two legs into a record $607,800 payday. “As a financial planner, I put puzzles together,” he said. Smyth did the bulk of his damage in the second half of the Saturday program. “I absolutely loved Forever Young,” he recalled of the eventual GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic winner. “He had tactical speed and was ready to fire.” In addition to betting Forever Young across the board, Smyth went big on a Forever Young exacta box with defending champion Sierra Leone, which grossed $17,150. Smyth finished with a total score of 144,800 points and combined those earnings with his first-place prize of $463,000 for the $607,800 total. Ken McMahan of La Quinta, CA, finished second with 139,930 points, and combined with a second prize of $308,600, his total earnings were $448,530. McMahan also played a second entry and finished in eighth place with 82,950 points, and adding a prize pool of $51,400 gave him a second-entry total of $134,350 and total tournament earnings of $582,880. Michael Martinelli finished in third place with 105,000 points. Adding the third-place prize money of $167,200, his total grand total reached $272,200. “As a handicapper, this was a thrill of a lifetime and a dream come true, and I never imagined I would win the BCBC when my grandmother first took me to Keeneland for a day of fun with friends,” said Smyth. “To be live at Del Mar is a moment that I'll never forget. I love the horse industry, and I try to make sure, as a player and a fan, that I can help future generations enjoy the sport even more.” As a commitment to the future of the sport, Smyth is donating 5% of the first-place prize to Amplify Horse Racing. The organization fosters Thoroughbred industry education, mentorship, and career opportunities with horse programs for youth and young adults. The tournament players generated a record $8,902,863 in wagering handle. Breeders' Cup tournament wagering at Del Mar totaled 22% of the on-track handle. In the 2025 BCBC, each player was required to fund a $2,500 buy-in and a $7,500 betting bankroll ($10,000 total). All buy-in monies were applied to the prize pool, making a record total prize pool of $1,607,500. Players made real wagers (win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and daily double) with their $7,500 bankroll over the two days (22 races) and kept all monies earned from their wagering. Click here for the full BCBC results. The post Smyth ‘Solves Puzzle’, Wins 2025 BCBC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article