Wandering Eyes

The catalogue for the Arqana Summer Sale, featuring over 560 horses bred under both codes, is now available online. Past graduates include Mgheera (Zoustar), a multiple group winner on the Flat, while in the jumping sphere, Game Of Storm (Motivator), Haiti Couleurs (Dragon Dancer), Mambonumberfive (Born To Sea) and Nietzsche Has (Zarak) all won over hurdles in France and across the channel. Set for June 30-July 3, the sale features 73 Flat-bred 2-year-olds, 160 2- and 3-year-old NH stores, as well as 88 mares and fillies-out-of-training. Juveniles will be put through their paces on June 30 at 1 p.m., and the 10 a.m. July 1 session will feature the Flat-bred juveniles and the stores (lots 1-233). Horses-in-training (lots 234-473) will sells beginning at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, with lots 474-572, the breeding stock, going through the ring from 11 a.m. on July 3. American Grade I winner Chez Pierre (Mehmas) is a graduate of the juvenile portion of the sale, and one of the choice lots is a Starman half-brother to multiple Grade I winner Obviously (Choisir) (lot 35). Among the horses-in-training is the listed-placed Konada (Toronado) (lot 401); while Maupassant (Galiway) (lot 404) was fourth in Thursday's G3 Prix Hocquart; listed winner and group-placed Strassia (Kendargent) is lot 410; and dual group winner Jiulietta Ghia (Kamsin) is lot 468. Broodmares offered include Grade 2 winner Victoire Des Borde (Antarctique) (lot 527) in foal to Goliath Du Berlais; lot 528, Miss Country (Country Reel), the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Frodon (Nickname), offered in foal to Nietzsche Has; and Suviana (Dandy Man) (lot 562) in foal to Mehmas. The post Arqana Summer Sale Catalogue Offers Something For Everyone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday running at Tokyo Racecourse. As part of the G1 Yushun Himba program, the race may be watched live across ADW platforms at 10 p.m. ET: Sunday, May 25, 2025 3rd-TOK, ¥10,600,000 ($74k), Maiden, 3yo, 1300m AMERICAN BEYOND (c, 3, McKinzie–Church by the Sea, by Harlan's Holiday) made a single racetrack appearance at two, finishing a distant third to runaway winner Snappy Dancer (Union Rags) going 1400 meters over this strip in October. A $275,000 Keeneland November weanling and $400,000 Keeneland September grad, the bay is kin to two other winners, including MGSW Significant Form (Creative Cause)–the dam of SW Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})–and GSW Hay Dakota (Haynesfield). The colt's unraced dam is a half-sister to GSW/GISP Hello Liberty (Forest Camp) and the deeper female family includes GSW & GISP Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince) and MGSP Dilger (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Top Australian jockey Michael Dee has the call. The competition includes the filly Angel Ladder (Nyquist), whose dam Tiz Miz Sue (Tiznow) won the GI Ogden Phipps Handicap and is responsible for the G3 UAE Oaks third Serein (Uncle Mo). O-Yoshizawa Holdings Co Ltd; B-Brereton C Jones (KY); T-Hideaki Fujiwara The post Promising McKinzie Colt Makes 3YO Debut at Tokyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin homebred Wild Desert (Too Darn Hot), who is a half-brother to G1 Middle Park Stakes winners Shadow Of Light and Earthlight, went postward as the even-money favourite for Friday's Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Novice Stakes at Haydock and never gave supporters a moment's worry, coming home with an impressive five-length buffer to attain TDN Rising Star status on debut. Positioned in a close-up second for most of this seven-furlong contest, he loomed large hard on the bridle with three furlongs remaining and quickened clear in taking fashion once shaken up by Billy Loughnane approaching the final furlong to easily outclass Island Bear (Kodi Bear) by open water. Wild Desert becomes the third Rising Star for his sire and joins Bauhinia and Thursday's Great Yarmouth winner Postmodern on the roll of honour. Wild Desert looks a very smart prospect for the Charlie Appleby team a he runs on impressively under Billy Loughnane in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Novice Stakes! @loughnane_billy | @Betfred pic.twitter.com/n9dU0igZoV — Haydock Park Races (@haydockraces) May 23, 2025 4th-Haydock, £10,000, Nov, 5-23, 2yo, 6f 212yT, 1:29.12, g/f. WILD DESERT (IRE), c, 2, by Too Darn Hot (GB) 1st Dam: Winters Moon (Ire) (G1SP-Eng), by New Approach (Ire) 2nd Dam: Summertime Legacy (GB), by Darshaan (GB) 3rd Dam: Zawaahy, by El Gran Senor *1/2 to Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), G1SW-Eng & Fr, $634,415; Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), MG1SW-Eng, $753,019. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £5,400. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-Billy Loughnane. The post Godolphin Blueblood Wild Desert Powers to TDN Rising Stardom at Haydock 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 announced post times for the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at historic Saratoga Race Course from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8.View the full article

The G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) sees G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) heroine Embroidery (Admire Mars) face 17 rivals in her quest to nab the second jewel of the Japanese Fillies' Triple Tiara. A winner of the G3 Queen Cup over 1600 metres in February, the Silk Racing colourbearer will be testing the waters beyond 1800 metres for the first time in her young career. Tied in the lead-up betting markets with Oka Sho third Lynx Tip (Kitasan Black), Embroidery was only a neck in front of the re-opposing third choice and G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies heroine Arma Veloce in the Japanese 1000 Guineas. She will be partnered with Christophe Lemaire and will leave from the middle of the field in stall nine. Said trainer Kazutomo Mori, “She's been running smoothly, and her times have been good. Her win last time was impressive, and it showed that she's developing the right way. She's in about the same condition as she was for the Oka Sho, and it means she should show her speed and power once again.” Never worse than second in her four lifetime starts, To Racing's Arma Veloce is also trying 2400 metres for the first time, but her connections are undeterred. Said trainer Hiroyuki Uemura of the juvenile filly champ who is booked in stall one with Mirai Iwata, “She's moved easily on the uphill track this last week, and there's no problem with her condition. I've thought she'd be better in races over a longer trip, and even though we won't know until she tries, the extended distance in this next race should suit her.” Although she has yet to win a race besides her 2000-metre maiden back in December, Lynx Tip rolls into the Japanese Oaks with plenty of momentum and the distance should suit. Second in the 1800-metre G3 Kisaragi Sho in February, she was 2 1/2 lengths behind Arma Veloce in the first fillies' Classic after being last of 18 at one point during the running. Mirco Demuro will ride the Sunday Racing representative, with the duo breaking from stall five. Kazuki Nitta, assistant trainer to Masayuki Nishimura, said, “She's filling out more and has a good appetite. Her work's been good on the woodchip course, with a final furlong time of :11.1 seconds. She looks like a horse to run over a distance, so the 2400 meters at Tokyo looks good for her, with her big stride and stamina.” Besides the leading fancies, G3 Flower Cup second Paradis Reine is seventh choice in the ante-post wagering. One of a staggering five Kizuna fillies in the affair (Ai Sansan, Lesedrama, Brown Ratchet and Go So Far being the others), if she, or one of her paternal half-sisters prevails, it would be the first Japanese Oaks title for Japan's reigning champion sire. Previously, both Light Back in 2024 and Hagino Pilina in 2021 each finished third in the 2400-metre contest. Triple Crown Chance For Voyage Bubble Hong Kong darling Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) holds a chance to sweep the Hong Kong Triple Crown at Sha Tin on Sunday as one of nine in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. However, the Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate runner's greatest challenge is the distance. Successful in the first two legs–the G1 Stewards' Cup (1600m) and the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in January and February, the 6-year-old gelding has yet to race, let alone win, over 2400 metres. In his latest start, Red Lion (Belardo) beat him into second by just a short head in the G1 Champions Mile in April. If he prevails on Sunday, he would win an HK$10-million bonus and join River Verdon (Be My Native) as the only two horses to accomplish that feat. William Haggas sends veteran traveler Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai) to attempt to spoil the party and has enlisted the services of Tom Marquand, with the duo due to break from the rail. Second in the G1 Hong Kong Vase over this course and distance in December, the 7-year-old gelding landed the G1 Tancred Stakes over the Champions & Chater trip in soft going at Rosehill on April Fools' Day. Facing off against the formidable middle-distance mare Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) in his next start, he was not disgraced when 1 3/4 lengths second to her in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick later that month. John Size saddles two in Sunday's contest, and it is his Ensued who holds the better chance. By the infamous 1999 American Triple Crown spoiler Lemon Drop Kid, who won the 2400-metre GI Belmont Stakes on dirt, the 5-year-old gelding has hit the crossbars multiple times in group company this season. His latest effort was a solid fourth behind Tastiera (Satono Crown) in the G1 QEII Cup on FWD Champions Day. He would be the first winner of this contest for his trainer since Super Kid (Gaius) in 2004. “Ensued is going alright,” Size said. “It was a good run that day in the [Hong Kong] Vase, the winner was too good for him. He ran as well as anything else in the race and he's gone on with that. He's raced well since and he's had a pretty good season.” The post Embroidery In Search Of The Winning Thread In The Yushun Himba 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 rolled out post times for the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at Saratoga Race Course from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8, the track said in a Friday release. Post time for the 10-race programs on Wednesday, June 4 and Thursday, June 5 as well as Sunday, June 8 is 12:40 p.m. (All times Eastern) with admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m. The 14-race program on Friday, June 6 will feature a post time of 11:40 a.m. with admission gates open to the public at 10 a.m. On Saturday, June 7, post time for the 14-race Belmont Stakes Day program is 10:45 a.m. with admission gates open to the public at 9 a.m. FOX will present live, on-site broadcast coverage of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 7. America's Day at the Races will provide daily television coverage and analysis across the FOX Sports family of networks throughout the five-day event. The post NYRA Rolls Out 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Post Times appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 40th Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) National Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky, the group said via a press release on Friday. Hosted by FanDuel's Scott Hazelton, the event will feature a more informal feel in terms of recommended “blue jeans, boots, and bling” attire, open seating dining, signature Bluegrass music, and a Kentucky bourbon experience. As part of the anniversary, cartoonist and TDN contributor Remi Bellocq created a signature illustration focusing on the theme of “Cheers to 40 Years” and the informality of this year's celebration. Click here for more information. The post 40th TOBA Awards Dinner To Be Held At Fasig-Tipton In Lexington Sept. 6 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Umberto Rispoli won his first American classic, May 17, guiding Journalism to win in a roughly contested Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel in the Triple Crown, and was named Jockey of the Week by the Jockeys' Guild for May 12 through May 18.View the full article

The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation will honor media personality Lindsay Czarniak at its annual Fashionable Fillies Luncheon at Saratoga National Golf Club on Monday, Aug. 4, according to a press release from the organization on Friday. Czarniak, who has served as a host, anchor and sideline reporter for multiple networks, is a Thoroughbred owner through A Stake in Stardom, an initiative of America's Best Racing. The luncheon has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to assist those in need in the racing industry. Click here for tickets. The post Fashionable Fillies Luncheon To Honor Czarniak appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three new race days will be part of World Pool this weekend, with the Curragh's Irish 2,000 Guineas Day card joining the line-up for the first time. Doomben Cup Day is also featured on Saturday, while on Sunday the final Group 1 of the Hong Kong season, the Champions and Chater Cup, will be globally commingled. World Pool ambassador Ryan Moore said, “It's great that Irish 2,000 Guineas Day is a World Pool event for the first time. “Though this year's Irish 2,000 Guineas isn't a huge field, it's a high quality one which deserves its place on the international racing calendar as a very important Classic, and a Group 1.” Moore will be aboard Officer for Aidan O'Brien in the colts' Classic. He said, “It's a very strong Irish Guineas. Officer has had just the three starts so far, including winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes on his reappearance this season. “That race is a nice trial for this and it's a positive that he's already proven over the mile at the Curragh, but he'll need to step forward again to beat the likes of Field Of Gold, who sets the standard following his second in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.” A second World Pool feature on Sunday sees the return of the Irish 1,000 Guineas card from the Curragh, which also features the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The post Irish 2,000 Guineas Day Makes World Pool Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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

Jamie Searle, a proud Southlander and respected racing journalist, has died in Invercargill after a battle with cancer. Inducted into the NZ Trotting Hall of Fame for his contribution to the history of harness racing, Searle worked for the Southland Times between 1986 and 2022. Of those 34 years he was a racing reporter for 28 of them. He was still writing stories as his health deteriorated in recent weeks and was philosophical about his fate. “Everyone has got to fall off their perch at some time and I’ve really enjoyed my life,” he said in a recent interview. Over the years he also owned over 200 horses and owned winners in all three codes – harness, thoroughbreds and greyhounds. And over the years his love for the deep south has not diminished. “Southland has always been good to me and I’m a proud Southlander.” “Jamie always had an enthusiastic approach to his job and passion for racing in particular the harness and galloping codes,” says Jason Broad, General Manager of Southern Harness Racing. “He would often, along with Don Wright, attend local trials meetings when horse numbers were at a peak of up to 20 heats a day. He would publish up-to-date racing information with results and stories that these days we take for granted.” “On many a trip to The Southland Times I delivered fields for publication and even for Invercargill’s Cup Day on the Saturday which had a prelude on the Wednesday, I would arrive after midnight so they could be published the next day. Nothing was a problem with Jamie.” “Jamie was also the commentator at the local Invercargill workouts which was tremendous and kept him in the game.” “I know when the racing role at The Southland Times was cut back, practically diminished, he hated the transition and probably never got over it. Racing was his life.” “Jamie was a great fella, quiet fella. He will be missed.” As a tribute to his contribution to racing a piece of lawn that greets racegoers at Ascot Park in Invercargill is now known as the “Jamie Searle Lawn”. Searle was aware of this before he passed away and was very humbled and honoured to be remembered by the local racing community. Jamie Searle was 61. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Dual New Zealand Cup winner and $4m earner Lazarus is on the move. One of the all-time greats, the now 12-year-old superstar turned stallion has been bought by a group of owners including Wai Eyre Farm principal Darryl Brown and will now stand at the stud’s East Eyreton property in North Canterbury. “He’s on farm at the moment,” says Brown, “and he is now totally New Zealand owned,” Previously Lazarus had an international ownership group and stood at Alabar and Nevele R in this country before this latest move. “We had Christian Cullen here before and now we have Lazarus,” says Brown. At stud Lazarus has been a puzzle. There have been some fertility issues along the way but he’s produced some real quality spearheaded by the likes of North American-based millionaire pacer Voukefalas. In this country his progeny have also been making waves. In just the last 24 hours unbeaten four-year-old The Lazarus Effect (Lazarus – Brook Street) went three from three at Winton yesterday while talented two-year-old Nymbal (Lazarus – Glenferrie EJ) was a good second on debut at Cambridge last night behind the Purdon-trained hotpot Fitzroy. “We knew that purchasing Lazarus would be a very good idea for the farm, especially given the way his progeny have been performing,” says Brown. “We believe he is on the verge of emulating his success in North America as a sire, and we are really excited to be able to be part of this next chapter with him.” Lazarus stood for $5000 last year and Brown has yet to disclose what his fee will be for the next breeding season. “But we really want to give breeders confidence. We are looking at all sorts of on-farm packages to bring prices down.” Lazarus will join a roster that also includes Sky Major, One Over Da Moon, On A Streak, and Carlton. “We could potentially end up with seven or eight.” Brown says Lazarus’ arrival is part of a commitment from the Farm to go all out. “There was a time when we bred up to 450 mares so we certainly have the capacity.” “We have a great team here and we’re trying to get back to where we were 15 years ago.” View the full article

The 31-year-old arrives in Australia in the midst of a career-best season back home in Hong Kong.View the full article

Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column. Who wins and why at Addington tonight? By Brittany Graham The final Group 1 for the first half of 2025 will take place at Addington tonight (Friday) in the Welcome Stakes, alongside a pair of competitive open company features as part of a 10-race card, starting at 5.02pm. Race 6 7.34pm – Avon City Ford NZ Welcomes Stakes (GR1) Fugitive looks to be in prime position to be an early season dual Group 1 winner when he leaves from gate four as a short-priced favourite in the Welcome Stakes. His Young Guns success showed his immense talent when being forced to breeze throughout in solid time, before holding off a late challenge. Returning to the south last week, he couldn’t have asked for a better prep run when cruising to victory and his gate speed is a big asset. Allamericanplayer fell desperately short of his own elite success when a slashing nose second behind Fugitive three weeks ago after being held up in a peg line pocket to the turn. A beautifully-bred Stonewall trainee, his high speed makes him exceptionally dangerous from this improved gate of 1. He arrived in the South Island barn earlier this week, and despite a positive draw, he is yet to show a lot of early speed and will also racing left-handed for the first time. Freeze Frame and Rakero Maximus both draw wide which have no doubt hindered their chances, however, are both talents in their own right. Freeze Frame would love a genuine tempo as evidenced by his great second in the Diamond Creek Classic at Invercargill, while Rakero Maximus is a work in progress but possesses above average ability. Selections – (4) Fugitive, (1) Allamericanplayer, (5) Freeze Frame and (7) Rakero Maximus Race 7 8.04pm – Hydroflow NZ Country Championship Final (Listed) A full field of 16 pacers will line up for a $100,000 stake in the fourth edition of the Country Championships final over the New Zealand Cup distance and conditions of the 3200m stand. Pinseeker is currently favoured to clinch his biggest career success to date after running some brilliant recent races, including a slashing fifth in The Race By betcha. Not much has gone right for the 5YO subsequently, getting a long way back in the Rangiora Winter Cup and doing a lot of work when third in the Superstars a fortnight ago. As will be the case for all, a quick beginning will be vital after he shuffled away a fraction at Rangiora. Wag Star has been placed at his last three starts, including back-to-back eye catchers here at Addington in the last fortnight. It appears as though his best pattern presently is to be saved up for one run, but his turn of foot will take him a long way should he land a kind spot off his 10metre handicap. In a race with a multitude of chances, I am going to side with Betterthancash at an each way price from a cosy draw. Very unlucky in recent times, he is a great follower of speed and follows out a quick beginner which should assist him in getting the kind of trip he appreciates. Here’s Herbie has been popular in early markets off the back of his recent return to winning form. Selections – (11) Betterthancash, (17) Pinseeker, (14) Wag Star, (12) The Surfer Race 8 8.32pm Haras Des Trotteurs Heather Williams Memorial (GR3) The trotting mares will have their time to shine, and an opportunity for group race success in the final feature of the night. Eurostyle has returned in sparkling form, winning three of her four efforts this preparation including last week’s Uncut Gems Trotters Classic when performing superbly off her 30metre back mark. She was forced to cart the field up off a strong tempo and then did all the work wide to win comprehensively with the ear plugs still in. She has a smart mobile record, even though she was a little tardy behind the gate at her last effort. Nellie Doyle will make her mobile debut after a late mistake last time out, while Julie Jaccka is in super form herself an possesses excellent early pace from behind the mobile. Walkinonsunshine returns from a fairly fruitful northern campaign however has her asset of gate speed taken away with a second-row draw, while Hidden Talent was exceptional without luck last start, though needs some again from position 13. Selections – (9) Eurostyle, (7) Julie Jaccka, (13) Hidden Talent and (11) Walkinonsunshine View the full article

Homebred gelding Tobias (NZ) (Complacent) was a revelation for owner-trainer Tony Dravitzki last winter, and the Stratford horseman is hoping he can find a similar vein of form over the colder months this year. The now seven-year-old son of Complacent won four races on the bounce last winter, including the New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m), before running fourth in the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Wanganui. Dravitzki has been pleased with the way his seven-win gelding has come up this time in and is looking forward to kicking off his preparation in the Seaton Park 1400 at New Plymouth on Saturday. “He has matured a bit more mentally. He is more settled in his work, he is quite an excitable sort of horse,” Dravitzki said. “He is about where I want him, but he is going to take great benefit out of the run. Even though he has got a good fresh record, I don’t think he is 100 percent yet. “The track conditions (rated Heavy8 on Friday morning) won’t be any problem and he has won about four races at New Plymouth, it’s a good place to kick-off his campaign.” Depending on his first couple of outings, Dravitzki is weighing up two different paths for Tobias. “If he is not up to the top grade, I would like to get back to the Interprovincial again, but if he is going alright, he may sneak into the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m), which is a bit short of his best distance, he is really a miler,” Dravitzki said. While the winner of the Opunake Cup earns a golden ticket into the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton in August, Dravitzki isn’t entertaining a trip south. “I wouldn’t have any thought of going to Riccarton, it is just too far, and he would be coming to the end of his preparation,” he said. Meanwhile, stablemate More To Be Written (NZ) (Wrote) is unlikely to gain a start on Saturday, being fourth on the ballot for the Landmark Homes 1600, and Dravitzki said he may need to be a bit creative with his targets in order to gain a start. “He’s very well,” Dravitzki said. “His run wasn’t too bad at all at Trentham fresh-up, he was only three lengths off the winner. “He is struggling to get a start. I may have to start looking to run him out of his grade just to keep him up to the mark.” While finding a start is becoming problematic for More To Be Written, Dravitzki is excited about the prospects of his half-brother Inthemickoftime (NZ) (Time Test), who will head to the Foxton trials next week before returning to the races. “He was overawed by his first raceday at Woodville three weeks ago, so I am taking him back to the trials next Tuesday at Foxton to give him a trip away and a bit more education,” he said. “I have got quite a bit of time for him.” View the full article

Wanganui trainer Jo Rathbone has taken a golden opportunity to give a number of her stable a trip away to Ellerslie this weekend. Rathbone had not initially nominated for the Sunday meeting, but after seeing the initial line-up of runners, she has accepted with four horses, including progressive stayer Overdraft (NZ) (Burgundy) and the versatile Billy Boy (So You Think). “I saw that the fields were a little bit weak up there, so as a bit of an afterthought I late nominated all of them,” she said. “Billy Boy has travelled a lot, but the rest not really, so it’s part of my reasoning for going to get them travelling a bit and giving them a trip away. Going right-handed is also good education for them.” A winner in his last two starts, including the Woodville-Pahiatua Cup (2100m), Overdraft is moving swiftly through the grades and will face open-class and Rating 75 gallopers in the Kingmakers Syndication 2200. “This is out of his grade, but he’s been going nice enough races and in a small field up there, it’s worth a try,” Rathbone said. “He’s been doing a bit of work and schooling. “He’s performed on better tracks and wet tracks and doesn’t seem to be bothered either way. There will be a bit of give in that track up there as well, so it should be nice enough for him.” The son of Burgundy will carry just 54kg under Kelly Myers with the weight swing in his favour, while stablemate Billy Boy is among the top-rated runners in the Join TAB Racing Club 2400 for highweight jockeys. “He’s very full of himself so he’s come through his last run really well, he was only a length away there and he’s getting fitter,” Rathbone said. “2400m will definitely suit him.” The least experienced gallopers heading north will be Shinagawa (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) and Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) (Redwood), both with just two starts under their belt. The pair will both have three kilograms off their allocated weight in the Network Visuals 2200m, courtesy of visiting hoops Joshua Parker and Bella Oliver. “Shinagawa has probably had slightly average runs so far, but I think she’s been looking for the 2000m,” Rathbone said. “It’s just whether she can settle a bit more, because she does try to go a bit too hard early. “Hopefully she can do so and get the trip. “I quite like Thebudgiesmugla, I think he’s a really nice horse but is just still learning at this stage. He’s on the green side, but in another six months, he’ll only have improved off what he does now. “I think he’ll be a really nice jumper in the future as well.” View the full article

Former Hong Kong galloper Compulsory (No Nay Never) has been a model of consistency for Tim and Margaret Carter since joining their Cambridge barn late last year, and he will be out to score a breakthrough victory in the JRA Trophy 1400 at Ellerslie on Sunday. The six-year-old son of No Nay Never placed in just one of his 20 starts in Hong Kong for trainers Tony Millard and Michael Chang, but has thrived since arriving in New Zealand, placing in four of his five starts for the Carters. The husband-and-wife team, who now share in the ownership of the gelding, have been pleased with his progress and are hoping the 25-start maiden can finally be rewarded for his consistency this weekend. “I am absolutely gobsmacked why he never won races in Hong Kong,” Tim Carter said. “He was sent down by the owners to try (in New Zealand) but they decided not to persevere, they had another horse in Hong Kong, so they gave us the ownership of the horse. “He is quite an impressive looking horse, he is a lovely type of horse. He is very consistent and maybe it’s a change of environment that has helped. “The draw (20) might be a bit of an issue, but his best form is when he gets back in the field and comes home anyway.” While pleased with his current run of form, Carter said they won’t be going too deep into the winter with their charge. “He is a horse that likes good tracks, so we will just keep racing him while the tracks are good. Once we get right into winter, we will have to tip him out,” he said. A day prior at Te Rapa, the Carters will have a sole representative in Pukana (NZ) (Tivaci). The Tivaci gelding was initially on the ballot for the PGG Wrightson Grain 1400, but has made the field due to several scratchings. “We have just made the field,” Carter said. “I have put (four-kilogram claiming apprentice) Hayley Hassman on. He is not a big horse, but he has got some ability the little fella. “There is no reason why he shouldn’t run a decent sort of race.” View the full article

In-form filly Belle Tribute (NZ) (Contributer) is the latest rising star from a family that Allan Sharrock has enjoyed a remarkable run of success with. The daughter of Contributer will bid to complete a hat-trick of victories when she heads a sizeable team for the Taranaki trainer at his local meeting at New Plymouth on Saturday. Belle Tribute will run in the AB Electrical 3YO (1400m) and will be shooting for Sharrock’s 40th win with the progeny of Maroof’s daughter Bellaroof. “I bought her as a yearling (for $40,000) and she has just kept leaving winner after winner, she has been a hell of a mare,” he said. Sharrock prepared Bellaroof to win on five occasions and has trained all her offspring, including the multiple Group winners Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock) and Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma). “I think the mare has a good talk to them all when they’re young because they all have that will to win,” he said. “Tavi Mac had a sway back and was about 15.1h and they’re all different, but they can all certainly gallop.” Two more youngsters out of Bellaroof are also in the pipeline for Sharrock. “She’s been a great mare to us and we’ve got more to come, a Tarzino two-year-old (Tarzi Mac) and a Sword Of State yearling so long may it continue,” he said. “I’m educating the Tarzino now and I’ll bet my bottom dollar that he’ll run as well.” Belle Tribute has won her last two starts at Wanganui and the form has stood up well as on each occasion, last Saturday’s Trentham winner Coulthard was a minor placegetter. “I really rate her and she’s now won three out of eight and hasn’t done a bad job for a filly that is going to get better and better with time,” Sharrock said. Belle Tribute’s chances will be further enhanced with the booking of an in-form apprentice. “I’ve taken the luxury of having 3kg off with Amber Riddell so it’s going to make it hard for the rest of them when she drops to 53.5kg,” Sharrock said. “I think she’s my best chance, but Malachy (NZ) (Ocean Park) has got to be tough and I Don’t (NZ) (Savabeel) won a jump-out the other day by six lengths. “There’s a few there that will be around about, they are all working well and I’ve been home from America for two weeks and the staff have done a great job. Everything seems to be going well.” Malachy has been sound in his last two appearances and will clash with a fresh I Don’t, a past first-up winner, in the Landmark Homes Handicap (1600m). View the full article

The latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com offers buyers a golden opportunity to add black-type performance to their broodmare band. The catalogue for the current auction, which closes on Monday evening, features stakes performers Macaluso (NZ) (Savabeel), Expressiveness (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Miss Layla (NZ) (Burgundy). Opportunities are few and far between for buyers to get their hands on stakes-performed daughters of Hall of Fame sire and emerging powerhouse broodmare sire Savabeel, and it’s even rarer for his daughters to have the precociousness to perform up to black-type level as two-year-olds. Macaluso ticks both of those boxes. The well-related filly made her raceday debut in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe in November of 2023, finishing a close and creditable fourth behind Velocious (Written Tycoon), Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) and Poetic Champion (NZ) (Super Seth). All of that trio went on to bigger and better things. Velocious won the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and was voted New Zealand’s champion two-year-old, while Bellatrix Star excelled in Melbourne last spring with victories in the Group Two Schillaci Stakes (1100m), Group Three Scarborough Stakes (1200m) and Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) along with a runner-up finish in the prestigious Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). Macaluso herself later contested the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) at Trentham in January of 2024, earning valuable black type when she finished third and only 2.2 lengths behind the subsequent Group One, Group Two and Group Three placegetter Archaic Smile (Saxon Warrior). Macaluso won a 1400-metre race worth $65,000 during a Group One meeting at Trentham last December, and she didn’t have all favours when sixth behind standout filly Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and unplaced from a wide run in the Karaka Millions 2YO. Macaluso is out of the winning Makfi mare Chiaretta (NZ), whose half-sister Members Joy (Hussonet) won the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) and placed in the Group Two Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m). Members’ Joy is the dam of the brilliant Group Two Furious Stakes (1200m) and Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) winner Pure Elation (I Am Invincible). Pure Elation is also a black-type producer, while other stakes performers on the pedigree page include Jennilala (Shalaa), Rosa’s Joy (Rory’s Jester), Rosa’s Spur (Flying Spur), Rosarino (Perugino) and Indian Pacific (Zoustar). Macaluso was trained in Cambridge by Andrew Forsman, who holds the filly in high regard. “She’s always shown well above average ability,” he said. “She was stakes-placed as a two-year-old and has performed in good company at the ages of two and three. “She hasn’t had all the luck in the world either and could have had an even better record if one or two things had gone differently. “We just felt now was the right time to wind the partnership up and move her on, offering buyers the chance to pick up a really nice filly. “Being a black-type performed daughter of Savabeel, and from a great family, she has a lot going for her and has plenty of upside when it comes time to breed from her. “She has a great attitude and has always been very willing.” Savabeel is doing an outstanding job as a broodmare sire, with 60% winners to runners and 4% stakes winners to runners. He sits second behind O’Reilly (NZ) on the New Zealand broodmare sires’ premiership this season and 17th in Australia, with his daughters producing the likes of Group One winners La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) and Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) in recent months. Another notable inclusion in the current gavelhouse.com catalogue is Expressiveness, who also raced under the name Express Yourself. She showed outstanding sprinting talent on both sides of the Tasman, winning six races and placing at black-type level at Trentham and Caulfield. The Shamexpress mare ran second in last year’s Group One Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham, beaten by only a nose by Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy). Expressiveness later performed in strong company in Melbourne, placing in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) and Alinghi Stakes (1100m). Herself bought for just $6,550 off gavelhouse.com by trainer and part-owner Nikki Hurdle in 2022, Expressiveness returns to that platform as a Group One performer and the earner of more than $297,000. “She was a horse I had seen trialling, and I really liked her,” Hurdle told the Love Racing News Desk. “I couldn’t believe it when she was up on gavelhouse.com. We were going to buy her whatever happened. “I had set her for the Telegraph after she won at Awapuni in her previous campaign, and I thought, ‘We have got a really good horse here. “I planned a campaign based entirely on getting to the Telegraph and she nearly won it. An ounce of luck and she would have won eight in a row, but instead it was a few seconds by noses. It was a terrific campaign. “She showed us in the Lightning (1200m) at Trentham in March that she didn’t want to be there, so on that day we made the decision that she wouldn’t have to do any more. She had done us proud. “We thought it was her time to move on as a broodmare, and she will be a brilliant broodmare. She is a beautiful type and is just a natural athlete. “She has been the most wonderful horse for us. Half of the people in the syndicate were having their first experience of horse racing, and she has taken us on a fantastic ride. “We bought her thinking we could win two or three races, but we ended up in Australia and we nearly won a Group One. She owes us nothing, we love that horse, she is an absolute beauty. “She was the only one I had in work at the time and it is going to be very hard to get another one like her. You don’t come across horses with x-factor every day, and I think she had that. “Our hope is that she will go to a very good stud that will give her every opportunity. One day, if there is a foal out of her on the market, I will be moving everything to get hold of that foal.” The other black-type performer on the market gavelhouse.com is Miss Layla. The daughter of Burgundy and high-class mare La Etoile (NZ) (Thorn Park) won three races headed by the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) as an autumn three-year-old. She also returned as a four-year-old to place in the Group Three Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Listed Timaru Stakes (1200m). The highly talented Miss Layla is the best of four winners from six foals to race out of La Etoile, who herself won five races including the Group Two Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and also placed in three black-type races in Brisbane headed by the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m). Miss Layla’s sire Burgundy has made a promising start as a broodmare sire, with Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) recording four placings at Group One level while Nucleozor (NZ) (Almanzor) was a stakes-winning two-year-old. View the full article

After he crossed the wire first aboard Journalism (Curlin) in the GI Preakness Stakes, jockey Umberto Rispoli planned to take a few days off and bask in what was the biggest win of his career. Instead, he has found himself in the middle of an ugly controversy involving his ride and the bumping incident with Flavien Part, who was aboard 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time). The two banged into each other in upper stretch and impeded the Steve Asmussen-trained Clever Again (American Pharaoh). While some people have blamed the incident on Prat, others believe Rispoli was at fault and rode recklessly by trying to come through a hole on the rail rather than going around horses. That group includes Clever Again's trainer Steve Asmussen. “Quit riding him like a rented mule,” Asmussen said of Rispoli on Steve Byk's At the Races radio show on Thursday. Reached by the TDN, Rispoli was clearly upset about the criticism, but claimed he did nothing wrong. He explained that he went inside because Journalism was not going anywhere and he thought there was a hole on the rail and saving ground would help. But just as he was trying to make his move on the rail, Goal Oriented and Flavien Prat took what Rispoli thought was his lane. When Goal Oriented slammed into Journalism, Journalism collided with a tiring Clever Again. “I know this has been controversial,” Rispoli said. “A lot of people are saying it was my fault and a lot of people were saying it was Flavien's fault. A lot of people said I should have gone outside, while others said I made the right move by staying inside. You're on a horse, you're going 45 miles an hour and you have to make a decision when you can. When I ducked out with my horse around the half-mile pole I was going nowhere. Nobody thought I was on the horse to beat at that point. Everybody thought I had no horse at the time. My intention was to take him out to see if he would give me any response like he did in the Kentucky Derby. In a couple of strides he didn't do it and the turn was approaching. At that point I had to make a decision.” Rispoli said that part of the problem was that he was intent on following Clever Again, who, he said, stopped abruptly near the top of the stretch. “My target from day one was Clever Again. I think everybody was saying Clever Again was the horse I had to beat to win the Preakness,” he said. ” Before the race, I thought Clever Again would keep going at least to the sixteenth pole. You never would have thought that he would be stopping before the quarter pole.” Top of the lane in the Preakness | Jeff Snyder/MJC Rispoli said his critics have failed to realize that before he made the move to the rail, Journalism was going nowhere. “People say my horse never dropped the bit,” he said. “If you think my horse didn't drop the bit you don't know how to watch a race. Just before the quarter pole I was ready for Flavien to go around Gosger and I would have tried to go around Flavien. My first thought would have been to go around, even if that meant going five or six wide. On the dirt, that's usually the best spot to be in. I just didn't have the horse.” He said he wished more people would take into account that during his time in the U.S. (Rispoli came here from Hong Kong in 2020) he has been involved in very few controversies and believes he's earned a reputation as a clean rider. “That's not the type of rider that I am,” he said. “I have been here for five years. Find me another race where people said I was reckless or find me another race where I was in that position. I am not a kamikaze rider. I have a wife and two kids and I didn't want to kill myself or see anyone get killed. It's easy for people to say that he should have one around the other horses, but if I'm ever in a position like that again and think I can win if I save ground I'm going to do it. “Flavien and I are friends but on the track we need to respect the colors we are wearing. There is no friendship on the track. Did he put me in tight? Yes. Was I already there? Yes. The gap was there and that's why I took it. I'm not going to drive my horse in a way where I put myself at risk of going down.” He said he has not spoken with Prat about the incident, but plans to do so Monday when both are riding at Santa Anita. He said he will keep that conversation private. “We definitely will see each other Monday because we'll both be riding in California,” Rispoli said. “I plan to speak to him, but it's just going to be between him and I. I don't want what we say to each other wind up on social media. There won't be any cameras, anything like that. It's something between two professional riders who are trying to do their best to win races. This is just between him and I. We are good friends. We have known each other for more than 15 years.” In the end, nobody, horse or rider went down. Rispoli is thankful for that. “Fortunately nobody went down,” he said. “My trainer is happy. My owners are happy. This happens in horse racing.” “A REMARKABLE RECOVERY BY JOURNALISM!” JOURNALISM WINS THE 150TH PREAKNESS STAKES! #Preakness150 pic.twitter.com/f2IOVEyUy9 — NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 17, 2025 The post Rispoli Defends His Preakness Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Churchill Downs, $131,055, Alw (C), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 5-22, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:34.09, ft, 1/2 length. WILL TAKE IT (c, 4, Tapit–Lady Take Charge, by War Front) was the third fiddle from a pari-mutuel perspective, but was the recipient of a cerebral ride from Brian Hernandez, Jr. to spoil the return to action of dual Grade III winner and heavily favored Dragoon Guard (Arrogate). Off at odds just under 7-1, the $700,000 Keeneland September graduate was content to sit fifth down the back in the slipstream of Juddmonte's gray colt as Frosted Departure (Frosted) cut out the running from the very classy Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance). Lying in wait around the turn as Dragoon Guard came under a bit of pressure from Florent Geroux, Will Take It popped out off cover and had aim as Dragoon Guard claimed a narrow advantage inside the eighth pole. The lead was short-lived, however, as Will Take It capitalized on his recency advantage and did slightly the better work through the line. The immaculately bred colt endured a tough 3-year-old campaign, with just an Oaklawn maiden win to show from 10 starts for trainer Eddie Milligan, Jr. But he won two of three two-turn allowance tries for this barn in New Orleans over the winter and was exiting a runner-up effort to 'TDN Rising Star' Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince) in a sloppy Keeneland allowance Apr. 25. In the name of her Whisper Hill Farm, Mandy Pope gave a foal sales-topping $3.2 million for Lady Take Charge at Keeneland November in 2015, and with good reason. Her three-times Grade I-winning dam Take Charge Lady (Dehere) bred eight winners from nine to race–Lady Take Charge did not face the starter–including champion MGISW Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GISW sire Take Charge Indy(A.P. Indy) and GISW As Time Goes By (American Pharoah). Take Charge Lady's daughter Charming (Seeking the Gold), herself a $3.2-million KEESEP yearling, has gained fame as the dam of Willis Horton's champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and treble Grade I winner and top sire Omaha Beach (War Front). Take Charge Lady is also the granddam of Pope's GSW & GISP 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit). Lady Take Charge is also responsible for the unraced 3-year-old filly Fife and Drum (Tapit) and colts by Into Mischief foaled in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Sales history: $700,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 16-4-4-1, $362,404. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Willis Horton Racing LLC & Whisper Hill Farm LLC; B-Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY); T-Dallas Stewart. WILL TAKE IT ($15.96) took the opener at @ChurchillDowns from Dragoon Guard! @b_hernandezjr was aboard the four-year-old Tapit (@Gainesway) colt for trainer @DallasStewart3. Will Take It is a grandson of multiple Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady. pic.twitter.com/WMsWNr6FwT — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 22, 2025 The post Immaculately Bred Will Take It Downs Dragoon Guard at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Marcus Vitali, inactive running horses in New York after being suspended by NYRA in 2021 and reaching a confidential settlement agreement with NYRA in 2022, runs Crossed Sabres Farm's Classy Lass in the fifth race at Aqueduct May 23.View the full article

Kingston Pride (Kingston Hill) (lot 673) topped the final day of the Goffs Spring HIT/PTP Sale at Doncaster, when selling to Olly Murphy for £285,000. The 6-year-old gelding was one of four lots to make six figures on the day. Offered by Nicky Henderson, Kingston Pride won a Kempton novice hurdle by five lengths in March. Henderson acted as underbidder on Thursday, having paid €200,000 two years ago at the Goffs Punchestown Sale for Kingston Pride. “He's a lovely individual, all quality,” reported Murphy. “Fingers crossed he'll have a lovely career over fences. He looks like an out-and-out chaser, doesn't he? “It's obviously a good sign that Nicky was trying hard to keep him, but then his form reads very strongly, going all the way back to when he finished a close second to Tripoli Flyer in a bumper.” During the second day's trade, 177 sold from 191 offered (93%) for a gross of £3,482,000. The average rose 47% to £19,673 and the median rose 64% to £11,500. Overall, 336 horses sold from 379 offered (89%) for turnover that was on par with 2024's at £8,860,500 (-0.5%). The cumulative average and median both increased to £26,371 (+12%) and £16,250 (+30%), respectively. Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “Yesterday's point-to-point day [session] was another huge success with over 180 horses offered and a top price of £300,000 – the day is a clear first choice for handlers' late season runners, plus their end of season dispersals, and we are grateful for the ongoing support. This was followed by another strong day today with a top price of £285,000 for Kingston Pride plus the ever popular Million In Mind draft that saw a top price of £145,000 for a filly [lot 629, Timetoshine (The Grey Gatsby)] to continue her career in America. “There is clearly strong demand for horses with form, as evidenced by the strong clearance rate of 89% over the last two-days and there is plenty to celebrate in this sector of the market. We would like to thank all our vendors who have supported us across the week, and we wish our buyers all the very best with their purchases.” The post Kingston Pride Brings £285k On Final Day Of The Goffs Spring HIT/PTP Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Frateli La Vita is set to defend his title May 25 in the Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella at Club Hipico de Santiago with an automatic starting position in the Breeders' Cup Mile on the line.View the full article