Wandering Eyes

Former Newmarket-based jockey Stefano Cherchi has been hospitalised in Australia following a mid-race fall at Canberra on Wednesday. Racing was delayed while the 23-year-old was treated on the track for a head injury and internal bleeding before being taken to hospital. His mount, Hasime (Aus), trained by Robert Quinn, fell during the third race, bringing down two other runners whose riders, Shaun Guymer and Jeff Penza, both walked back to the weighing-room. None of the horses are believed to have been seriously injured. In a post on Twitter, the NSW Jockeys Association said, “Stefano has been transported to Canberra Hospital, where doctors will assess the full extent of the injuries.” Born in Italy, Cherchi moved to England as a teenager and had his first ride there aboard Casina Di Notte (Ire) in August 2018. He partnered 106 winners in the intervening seasons before relocating to Australia at the beginning of this year. The majority of his rides in the UK were for his former boss and countryman Marco Botti, who said on social media, “The whole yard is saddened by the news this morning. Stefano has sustained serious injuries in a race fall in Australia. Thoughts and prayers and with [Stefano] and his family.” The post Stefano Cherchi Injured in Australian Race Fall appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winners Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) head 12 European entries for the FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on April 28. A strong international challenge also includes 25 potential runners from Japan, eight from Australia and three from the UAE, while there are 41 locally-trained entries. Regional, now six, gave his trainer Ed Bethell a first Group 1 success in last year's Haydock Sprint Cup and he has been entered for the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, with prize-money totalling approximately £2.2 million. His fellow British-trained horses Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Frost At Dawn (Frosted) are also entered. The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour, a dual Group 1 winner in Australia, would be returning for a third run in Hong Kong. He was fourth in the 2021 G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and third last year in the G1 FWD QEII Cup, which this time around is worth approximately £2.8 million. Haggas has also entered Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) for the G1 FWD Champions Mile, which could also feature Middleham Park Racing's globetrotting Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation), trained by Archie Watson, and Fort Payne (Fr) (Rio De La Plata) for French trainer Nicolas Caullery. Three of the winners of last December's Hong Kong International Races – Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) – hold entries for the meeting, along with Japan's Fillies' Triple Crown winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Godolphin's Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the G1 Jebel Hatta in January. “We are excited by the spread and quality of international entries among the nominations for FWD Champions Day,” said Andrew Harding, executive director of racing for the Hong Kong Jockey Cub. “The potential return of Golden Sixty in the FWD Champions Mile after his stunning Longines Hong Kong Mile performance in December, along with Romantic Warrior in the FWD QEII Cup and Lucky Sweynesse in the Chairman's Sprint Prize, lays the foundation for another wonderful staging of our spring flagship meeting. “We are delighted at the support we have received from overseas owners and trainers in Japan, England, France, Ireland, Australia and the United Arab Emirates, with the number of entries across our three Group 1 features rising from 71 last season to 89 this year.” The post Strong European Challenge for Hong Kong’s Champions Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Globe’s (NZ) (Charm Spirit) racetrack return looks firmly on track after resuming with an impressive jumpout performance at Cranbourne on Monday morning. A winner of his first four starts before suffering from cardiac arrhythmia in his only spring appearance in the Feehan Stakes, Globe strolled home to win the 1000-metre heat by four lengths, clocking 58.84 seconds under Mark Zahra. “This morning was a bit of a look-see to see where he is at and he was perfect,” said Mick Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr. “He had a good spell and had some good pre-training and he is a good colour and not too fat, so I think he will come up super.” Price said Globe will trial again, possibly next Monday, before his first racetrack appearance in more than six months for Roll the Dice Racing. “I haven’t got a specific target for him, I just want to be careful with him,” Price explained. “I am not sure if he goes to Sydney, but he is still a 90-rater, so I think we will just enjoy winning. “He will have had a long time (out), so I don’t really want to be chucking him in the deep end. “His potential has not been unearthed yet, so I am not sure what level he attains but somewhere between a mile and 2000 metres will be him.” View the full article

Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell will keep Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls) to the flat for the immediate future after the New Zealand-bred gelding recorded a strong staying win at Sandown. Farag added the Sportsbet Make It Look Easy Handicap (3000m) on Wednesday to his record of four wins from five starts since joining the stable of Purcell after 14 starts in New Zealand. Giving Damian Lane a second win in the first three races on Wednesday, Farag ($4.20) scored a widening 3-¾ length win. Purcell said the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) in June could be a race that Farag is geared towards before embarking on a potential jumping career. The Sandown Cup has been rescheduled this year from its traditional November date. Faraq started his winning spree with a Geelong maiden win in January while he won at Bendigo and Warrnambool in the lead up to Wednesday’s success. “He’s a really good stayer. He’s got a great set of lungs, a good heart in him, a really good action,” Purcell said. “He’s a lean horse, so we don’t do a lot with him at home as there’s not a lot there, but he loves his racing. He loves galloping and loves being here in Australia.” Purcell said he hopes to return to Sandown on April 1 for another 3000m contest, this time at benchmark 78 level, before setting his sights higher. “There’s another won of these races here on Monday week and if we can do well in that again, then we may have to lift the bar again,” Purcell said. “They’ve transferred the Sandown Cup to June, so that might be a long-range plan, but we’ll see how many races we can tick off along the way. “He’s been jumping a fair bit, and he jumps pretty good, but he won’t be jumping until later in the season, or even next season.” Lane was forced to jog back to scale post-race after Farag dumped the jockey before entering the mounting yard. “I was walking back just a little bit too relaxed,” Lane said. “I don’t know what he saw, but he shied at something, and I embarrassingly landed on my backside as we were walking back.” View the full article

Plans are underway to take Dolphin Skin (NZ) (Telperion) to Adelaide for their upcoming Carnival, but for the time being the filly will be kept in Melbourne. The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained filly was entered for the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on Saturday, but instead she will stay in Melbourne to contest the Gr.3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley. Troy Corstens said running the filly at home on Saturday will give the stable a better indication of where she sits against those that are likely to be in Adelaide later in the Carnival. Dolphin Skin had a gallop at The Valley on Tuesday morning and acquitted herself well giving Corstens that added belief of staying in Melbourne was the right thing to do. Plans after Saturday are to travel to Adelaide for the Gr.3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on April 13 and then the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) two weeks later. “If she runs really well on Saturday, we’ll be going over for the Auraria Stakes and the Australasian Oaks,” Corstens said. “I figured I don’t really want to be going over three times and she got around Moonee Valley nicely on Tuesday morning. “If she runs really well, it gives you confidence that you can go over for the Auraria and then she can stay over for the other race.” Dolphin Skin showed her potential as a late two-year-old winning the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington last July which prompted the team to set the filly on a path towards the VRC Oaks (2500m) last spring. But the filly failed to come up and was sent for a break, returning to win first-up over 1400m at Sandown last month. “She was good first-up and that’s what she showed us in her first preparation,” Corstens said. “We brought her back for an Oaks prep, but she’d been up too long and needed a break, so it was good to see her back the other day. “You only get one shot at a VRC Oaks, and it didn’t work, but we could also end up in Queensland if she’s going well enough.” View the full article

As Te Akau Racing prepare for a bumper Saturday at The Valley, the domestic stable will saddle two proven performers in an evenly-matched Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. Senior galloper Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) has pleased co-trainer Sam Bergerson with a return to near career-best form of late, highlighted by a narrow third in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata earlier this month. “He’s rising eight, but he’s near-on career best form at the moment,” said Bergerson , who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. “I thought his run in the Kaimai Stakes was really good, and back to the mile suits, so we gave him a freshen-up following that 2000m race. “He worked with Cognito and they were hard to split, the good draw (5) gives Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) a few more options and he gets in well under the set weights and penalties. The Savabeel seven-year-old will benefit from the services of an in-form Craig Grylls, while Wiremu Pinn will partner stablemate Cognito (So You Think) from an outside draw. A winner of last season’s Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), Cognito has continued to perform in stakes company as a four-year-old and Bergerson is hopeful a gear change will assist the gelding’s chances this weekend. “Going back up to the mile will suit him, he was good at Hastings but probably was just looking for a bit further. We’ve taken the blinkers off him, and hopefully the shadow roll will spark him up a bit,” he said. “Warren (Kennedy, jockey) just thought he was going through the motions at Hastings, and James McDonald had a similar thought in the Aotearoa Classic ($1 million, 1600m), albeit that was in a very good field. “On this trackwork at home, he would be a good each-way chance in a relatively even field, and on his day he’s definitely in it.” The Matamata trainers hope to find success in the opener with promising talent El Viento (NZ), the El Roca three-year-old bettering a strong field in MAAT conditions at just his fourth raceday appearance last start. “He won well in a pretty sharp field last time out, this field has a few handy gallopers as well, so we’ll know more after the race,” Bergerson said. “We’re really happy with him, he’s had a bit of time between runs to keep him fresh for the 1400m and eventually I think he’ll get over the mile and possibly further. “He’s a nice, progressive handicapper for next season, whether this is his last run before a spell, we’ll know after Saturday as he’s a nice horse going forward.” Te Akau apprentice Jess Allen has enjoyed success aboard the stable’s runners recently and will offer three-kilograms of weight relief for last-start winner Freeze Frame (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Peter Clarke Bayleys Residential 1400. “He’s another really nice progressive galloper, his win at Matamata was really good after the start before was quite disappointing. We couldn’t find anything wrong with him, but on his run last-start he should be hard to beat,” Bergerson said. A select six-horse field will assemble for the Triton Pacific Owens Plate, and four-win mare Aris Aris (NZ) (Contributer) is primed for a fifth career victory fresh-up with Allen on board. “It looks like she’s found the right race on paper, and she gets in really well with the claim in one of the softer Open 1200m races that you’d find,” Bergerson said. “We gave her a freshen-up after the Rich Hill, she’s come back in really nice order and her trial at Tauranga was good. She’s won at the track before, and she maps to get a lovely run in behind the speed. She’s a good winning chance.” The Te Akau team kicked the week off on a positive note at Pukekohe on Wednesday, with their sole runner Treaty Of Paris (NZ) (Tavistock) returning to the winner’s circle in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis 2100. “He had been a bit disappointing prior to Wednesday, so it was great to see him back in the winner’s circle and hopefully that gives him some confidence going forward,” Bergerson said. “It was a lovely ride by Dean (Parker, jockey), he saved a lot of ground and that was probably the winning of the race.” Pukekohe’s meeting marked the first high-weight races of the jumps season and Te Akau are chasing early trans-Tasman spoils over the fences with The Mighty Spar (NZ) (Savabeel) as the last start South Waikato Cup (2000m) winner heads for the iconic Warrnambool Carnival. “Originally we were going to head to the Hawke’s Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m), but he’s on the flight to Melbourne today (Wednesday),” Bergerson said. “He’ll be steered towards the Warrnambool Carnival, we think he’s quite a good jumper so we’ll head in that direction with him.” The Savabeel six-year-old travelled to Te Akau’s Cranbourne base with stablemate Certainly (NZ) (Savabeel), as the exciting filly readies for her Australian debut at the Valley. “I’m really looking forward to seeing Certainly, she’s always been a filly that we’ve had a high opinion of, initially possibly our 1000 Guineas filly, but she’s still very lightly-raced and it’s all in front of her,” Bergerson said. “She’s in really good order and I think she can match it with the best fillies’ there in Melbourne.” View the full article

Following a five-year hiatus from training, Matamata horseman Peter Rudkin made a winning return at Pukekohe on Wednesday courtesy of Market Place (NZ) (Burgundy) in the TAB 1200. “I left the South Island five years ago when racing was a bit tough,” Rudkin said. “I was from Cambridge, so I came back here, and I have been pottering around. “I have been driving trucks for Te Akau Racing and I asked Glenn (Old, trainer) if he had a horse suitable for the South Island as I was looking to lease one to have with Kenny Rae. About two months ago he said Market Place was a bread and butter horse up here who would be ideal for the South Island, so I said I would take him. “I got him about a month ago, gave him a week off and he has come out and done that. I was more impressed than I expected.” Initially earmarked to head to New Plymouth’s meeting on Friday to test the Central Districts waters, Rudkin changed tack when he was booked in to have surgery on Thursday. “The plan was to go to New Plymouth on Friday to try the Central Districts as he has been racing up here, so I thought I would try weaker company down in the Central Districts,” he said. “But I am going for an operation tomorrow to get a pacemaker, so I had to change my plans and that is why the horse is up here. “I have got a slow pulse which makes me tired and gives me aching muscles. I will be in and out tomorrow and they have told me to have a two-week break, so the horse will leave Pukekohe and got up to Kenny Rae’s at Ruakaka. He will work him up there and he will race at Ruakaka in two weeks and then I can get him back again.” Initially from Waikato, Rudkin has always been involved with horses and decided to take out an owner-trainer license in the late nineties to work a couple of horses alongside his horse transport business. “I was born and bred in Cambridge and I have always been a truck driver,” he said. “I started off as an owner-trainer in Cambridge and then I bought North-South Horse Transport off Colin Butler, so we carted horses for a few years,” he said. “We sold that business and Kenny Rae and Donna Logan were sending a team of horses to Cup Week down at Riccarton, I was doing nothing, so I took them down and looked after them for the week. They came back and I stayed. I did about 12 years public training down in the South Island.” Rudkin has now recorded 74 wins, one at stakes level, and has gone on to breed a Group One winner from one of his better performing mares. “Dontpokethetiger was probably my best one, she was Group Two placed,” Rudkin said. “Dickens was another good one, and Rock On Rye won six races and I bred a Group One winner out of her in Rock On Wood.” Rudkin sold Rock On Rye (Catcher in the Rye) in-foal to Satono Aladdin for $60,000 on gavelhouse.com last year and while he is keen to get back into breeding, he said Market Place will keep him busy in the meantime. “I haven’t got a broodmare at the moment, but I am looking at getting into it again because I do enjoy it, but he (Market Place) he will keep me occupied. I don’t know how good he is going to be, but I didn’t expect him to win in the North Island for me.” View the full article

Japan’s Liberty Island and Prognosis, Dubai Honour from Great Britain and Australia’s Mr Brightside headline international interest in Hong Kong’s second-biggest race dayView the full article

Ears Back will contest the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South Ears Back will head to Riccarton on Saturday in search of black-type in the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The five-year-old daughter of Jakkalberry came close when fourth in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui last month before she won the Southland Stakes (1400m) at Ascot Park a fortnight later. She has since been freshened and has pleased trainer John Blackadder with her work in the lead-up to her weekend assignment. “Her run in the White Robe was good. She just came to the end of it, she wasn’t far away. It was a nice run,” Blackadder said. “It was a pretty impressive win last start. “She had a good week-and-a-half off. She is fresh and nice and fit. She had a gallop on Saturday and went down to the beach again today (Wednesday) and did some nice pace work. I am very happy with her. “All she needs is a bit of luck and she will be right in it.” Blackadder utilises the beach to add some variance to his team’s work, and he said they love they change in environment. “They love it down there, it keeps their minds fresh,” he said. “They would typically go down three or four times a week. My philosophy is that as long as they are hopping on the float and going somewhere, it keeps their minds active as opposed to going around and doing the same thing every day.” Ears Back has drawn gate seven on Saturday and will be ridden by northern hoop Jasmine Fawcett. “Gate seven is good, she flies the gates pretty well,” Blackadder said. “Jasmine will ride and they get on pretty well.” All going to plan after the weekend, Blackadder will aim his mare towards next month’s inaugural $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton. “She will go to the $350,000 race in a couple of weeks, which is just marvellous,” he said. Blackadder will also look to gain a berth in the race, restricted to South Island-trained horses, with new stable acquisition Phelan The Power if he performs well. Previously in the care of dual-code trainer Mark Jones, Phelan The Power joined Blackadder’s Rangiora barn in the last month and he has used the beach to his benefit to try and rejuvenate the six-year-old. “If he goes a good race, I would like to have a crack at it (Southern Alps Challenge) with him,” Blackadder said. “In the past he has gone some really good races. This will be my first start with him and whether he wants to still do it I am not too sure. I have been taking him down to the beach trying to change his mindset.” Stablemate Kahma Suitsya’s weekend performance will also dictate her future plans, with a trip to Southland next week to contest the Riverton Cup (2147m) on the cards. The daughter of Tavistock will be fresh-up in the Seaton Family Memorial Hororata Gold Cup (1800m), having last raced in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui last month where she finished eighth. “She will need the run as she hasn’t had a run for quite a while,” Blackadder said. “I would have liked to have got a trial into her, but she is a nice horse all the same. If she goes well, I will probably take her to Riverton next week.” Meanwhile, consistent filly Amiinit will be looking to get her preparation back on track after knuckling down shortly after the start of the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui last start, losing rider Lee Callaway. “I really wanted to get a gauge on her last time, so that was disappointing,” Blackadder said. “She comes up against a fairly solid field again on Saturday, but she is not a bad horse. She is a consistent horse.” Prior to last start, Amiinit had strung together four consecutive placings, and Blackadder said he will give her another stakes opportunity at Riccarton next month in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m). “There is a 1600m coming up soon and we will probably build up to the Warstep (Listed, 2000m) as she is looking for more ground,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson (centre) will line-up a dozen runners at his home meeting on Friday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson is looking forward to heading to his home meeting on Friday where he will line-up a dozen runners. He will have a four-pronged attack in the Grangewilliams Stud 1400, including It’s Doris, who he has labelled the stable’s best chance of the day. The three-year-old daughter of Telperion has won one and placed in two of her five starts to date and was fourth last start in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth last month. She heads into Friday’s assignment in a fresh state and Patterson is expecting her to perform well ahead of a trip south to Riccarton next month where she will target the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) and Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m). “It’s Doris is going onto the two fillies’ races at Riccarton next month,” Patterson said. “She has been jumping out really well and she will be competitive. I would say she is our best chance of the day.” She will be met in Friday’s race by debut winner Smug, and fellow stablemates Belladonna Lilly, and O’Ceirin’s Dream. Patterson is hoping enigmatic galloper The Chopper brings his manners to the meeting after he ran out in his last start at Trentham as a well-supported favourite and finished last, while he is also upbeat about the chances of last start runner-up Bow Hill. “Hopefully The Chopper can make amends after he ran off the other day, and Bow Hill is a horse with ability,” he said. Meanwhile, Patterson is set to welcome back his Group One-winning miler Puntura back to New Zealand following a disappointing last placed result in last Saturday’s All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield. While it may not have been the result he had hoped for, Patterson is pleased he went on the quickfire hit-and-run mission after being offered a wildcard into the race just 10 days prior. “He was just out on his feet a little bit at the end of the season, and racing against that quality he couldn’t keep up to the pace that she (Pride Of Jenni, winner) set,” Patterson said. Looking on the bright side, Patterson said it was a good opportunity to check out Melbourne and meet some contacts ahead of future campaigns. “The Underbelly will definitely target there and One Bold Cat may as well when the ground eases a bit,” Patterson said. “I made some good contacts. Steve Richards trains at Flemington and Dean Williams is over there and I have a good association with Dean, it was good. We know what we are going into next time. “He (Puntura) flies back today (Wednesday) and will be back in the paddock for a couple of months. He has had a big season and to have three stakes wins in a row was great. “We don’t regret going, the horse has pulled up sound and that is the main thing.” Horse racing news View the full article

Promising galloper You Say D’Orsay (inside). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Chris Wood took an early shine to You Say D’Orsay and his judgement has proved on the money with the three-year-old making a strong start to his career. The Cambridge trainer was expecting the gelding to make an impression when asked serious questions and with two wins and a runner-up finish from three starts his young charge has answered positively. You Say D’Orsay will bid to further his record when he likely makes the final appearance of his current preparation at Tauranga on Saturday. “I think he’ll just have the one more run and then he’ll go to the paddock for six or eight weeks and bring him back for the spring,” Wood said. “He’s pretty much untapped at the moment and doing it on raw ability.” You Say D’Orsay was successful at Te Rapa at the first time of asking before he won again at Matamata and then finished second in a competitive line-up behind Hat Trick at Ellerslie. He will be ridden at the weekend by Joe Doyle, who guided him to his debut victory and was aboard in his most recent outing. “He’s kept stepping up to the mark and it was a good run at Ellerslie and Joe said he just got beaten by a better horse on the day,” Wood said. “It was a good field and he beat quite a few promising horses and it was good to see him take a sit because he led in his first two starts. “He didn’t have any trouble and he balanced up nicely and came home well. Joe said the horse will keep on improving and there’s plenty ahead of him.” Promising trial performances last year and words of encouragement from New Zealand’s leading rider had also reinforced Wood’s opinion of You Say D’Orsay. “We knew he had plenty under the bonnet and he’s done a very good job. He had three trials before he raced and ran three seconds,” he said. “I put Warren Kennedy on him in the middle trial and he said this is a very smart horse and I’d like to ride him when he goes to the races, but unfortunately for him it just hasn’t panned out that way.” A son of the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1200m) winner Under The Louvre, You Say D’Orsay was secured for A$50,000 at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale. “I couldn’t get there that year and asked Paul Moroney to find a horse for me,” Wood said. “This one came up late in the day and pleased now that I went a little bit further than my budget. “We syndicated between stable clients and a few new people and they’re pretty happy already with two wins and a second. “He’s a very good-natured horse and he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. “He’s a lovely, kind horse to have around the stable and that makes the job a lot easier.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Albury Gold Cup Day Where Albury Racing Club – 16-46 Fallon St, Albury NSW 2640 When Friday, March 22, 2024 First Race 1:05pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Albury Gold Cup (2000m) carnival continues on Friday afternoon with a competitive eight-race program kicking off at 1:05pm local time. The feature has $200,000 up for grabs, with the winner granted entry into the 2024 Big Dance (1600m) on the first Tuesday of November. The rail won’t be moved from the true position after Thursday’s meeting, and with sunny skies predicted throughout the week, the surface should be upgraded from the Soft 7 rating at some stage. Albury Gold Cup Tip: Fawkner Park Fawkner Park looks ideally placed after two strong hit-outs. The son of Zoffany found the 1600m too sharp first-up at Randwick in a quality BM100 contest before heading to Melbourne to compete in the Australian Cup Prelude (1800m), going down by 3.3 lengths behind Young Werther on March 9. That form-line reads exceptionally well, and with barrier four assuring a soft run in transit, Fawkner Park should get the last crack at them in the Albury Gold Cup. Albury Gold Cup Race 7 – #3 Fawkner Park (4) 5yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: TBC +315 with Bet365 Best Bet at Albury: Associate Associate was luckless in the Moruya Country Championship Qualifier (1400m) on March 3 and should make amends in this Class 3 affair. The Danielle Seib-trained gelding bombed the start but charged through the wire on that occasion, and this presents a much easier task for the son of Star Witness. The 1500m should give the four-year-old plenty of time to wind up under Tyler Schiller, and when asked for the ultimate effort, Associate should put this lot away. Best Bet Race 5 – #1 Associate (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Danielle Seib | J: Tyler Schiller (60.5kg) +170 with PlayUp Next Best at Albury: Luna Rocks Luna Rocks recently joined the Mitchell Beer stable and appears ready to strike first-up. The mare by Hellbent finished last of nine in her final attempt for the Richard & Will Freedman barn on September 3, but based on her most recent barrier trial at this course on February 18, the four-year-old seems to be revelling in her new conditions. Watch for Luna Rocks to head straight to the front under Angus Villiers and hold them off despite carrying the top weight. Next Best Race 3 – #1 Luna Rocks (6) 4yo Mare | T: Mitchell Beer | J: Angus Villiers (1.5kg) (61kg) +440 with Unibet Best Value at Albury: Boss Lady Rocks Boss Lady Rocks is a lightly raced seven-year-old from the Ron Stubbs barn and gets ready to resume after 250 days off the scene. The daughter of Street Boss is yet to miss the frame at this track, with three wins and three minor placings to her name, and there is no reason that trend can’t continue Friday afternoon. Although she needs to overcome barrier 13, leave it to the capable hands of Jason Lyon to weave a passage aboard Boss Lady Rocks in the Albury finale. Best Value Race 8 – #2 Boss Lady Rocks (13) 7yo Mare | T: Ron Stubbs | J: Jason Lyon (59kg) +680 with Neds Albury Gold Cup Day quaddie tips – March 22, 2024 Albury quadrella selections Friday, March 22, 2024 1 2-4-6-8 1-2-3-6-7 1-2-3-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Cranbourne Races Where Cranbourne Turf Club – 50 Grant St, Cranbourne VIC 3977 When Friday, March 22, 2024 First Race 6:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Cranbourne Turf Club will host a competitive seven-race card this Friday evening. The track is expected to begin and stay in the Good range for the whole meeting, as a perfect autumn day is forecast. The rail will be pushed out slightly to the +3m position for the entire circuit, with racing set to kick off at 6:15pm AEDT. Best Bet at Cranbourne: She’s Bulletproof She’s Bulletproof returned with an impressive third-place finish behind Diamond Decorator in her first look down the Flemington straight. Given that the runner-up from her previous start has come out and won since, the Charlotte Littlefield-trained filly should be ready to do the same second-up as she rises from 1100m to 1200m on Friday. Ethan Brown will have his first sit on the daughter of Shooting To Win, and from barrier five, expect him to settle She’s Bulletproof near the rear of the field and round up her rivals in the final 400m. Best Bet Race 6 – #7 She’s Bulletproof (5) 3yo Filly | T: Charlotte Littlefield | J: Ethan Brown (58kg) +110 with Neds Next Best at Cranbourne: Queen Of Tuscany After recording a dominant 1.8-length victory at Pakenham last start, Queen Of Tuscany from the Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock yard will seek to record back-to-back wins when she takes on a small field in Benchmark 64 grade. The daughter of Fiorente has finished inside the placings at all four starts this preparation, including her recent victory, and there is no reason why she can’t win again here. Joe Bowditch will allow Queen Of Tuscany to settle where she is comfortable, and with even luck in the home straight, she will play a prominent role in the finish. Next Best Race 3 – #6 Queen Of Tuscany (5) 4yo Mare | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Joe Bowditch (58kg) +600 with Picklebet Next Best Again at Cranbourne: Cattrall Cattrall was severely held up on the home turn last start at Moonee Valley before the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained filly flew home to finish fourth, beaten 4.6 lengths by Isthmus. Although this daughter of Into Mischief was never going to win, her maiden victory two starts back was as impressive as any win on the day, and if she can bring that form on Friday, expect a much better performance. Michael Dee was aboard for that maiden success, and if he can settle this girl off the fence and get into clear air at the 400m mark, Cattrall will be flashing home down the outside late to stake her claim. Next Best Again Race 5 – #6 Cattrall (7) 3yo Filly | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Michael Dee (58.5kg) +140 with Dabble Friday quaddie tips for Cranbourne races Cranbourne quadrella selections Friday, March 22, 2024 3-4-6-7-9 1-5-6 1-4-7 1-4-5 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson is looking forward to heading to his home meeting on Friday where he will line-up a dozen runners. He will have a four-pronged attack in the Grangewilliams Stud 1400, including It’s Doris, who he has labelled the stable’s best chance of the day. The three-year-old daughter of Telperion has won one and placed in two of her five starts to date and was fourth last start in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth last month. She heads into Friday’s assignment in a fresh state and Patterson is expecting her to perform well ahead of a trip south to Riccarton next month where she will target the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) and Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m). “It’s Doris is going onto the two fillies’ races at Riccarton next month,” Patterson said. “She has been jumping out really well and she will be competitive. I would say she is our best chance of the day.” She will be met in Friday’s race by debut winner Smug, and fellow stablemates Belladonna Lilly, and O’Ceirin’s Dream. Patterson is hoping enigmatic galloper The Chopper brings his manners to the meeting after he ran out in his last start at Trentham as a well-supported favourite and finished last, while he is also upbeat about the chances of last start runner-up Bow Hill in the Tradies Raceday Saturday 11th May 2024 1600. “Hopefully The Chopper can make amends after he ran off the other day, and Bow Hill is a horse with ability,” he said. Meanwhile, Patterson is set to welcome back his Group One-winning miler Puntura back to New Zealand following a disappointing last placed result in last Saturday’s All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield. While it may not have been the result he had hoped for, Patterson is pleased he went on the quickfire hit-and-run mission after being offered a wildcard into the race just 10 days prior. “He was just out on his feet a little bit at the end of the season, and racing against that quality he couldn’t keep up to the pace that she (Pride Of Jenni, winner) set,” Patterson said. Looking on the bright side, Patterson said it was a good opportunity to check out Melbourne and meet some contacts ahead of future campaigns. “The Underbelly will definitely target there and One Bold Cat may as well when the ground eases a bit,” Patterson said. “I made some good contacts. Steve Richards trains at Flemington and Dean Williams is over there and I have a good association with Dean, it was good. We know what we are going into next time. “He (Puntura) flies back today (Wednesday) and will be back in the paddock for a couple of months. He has had a big season and to have three stakes wins in a row was great. “We don’t regret going, the horse has pulled up sound and that is the main thing.” View the full article

Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will head to Riccarton on Saturday in search of black-type in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The five-year-old daughter of Jakkalberry came close when fourth in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui last month before she won the Southland Stakes (1400m) at Ascot Park a fortnight later. She has since been freshened and has pleased trainer John Blackadder with her work in the lead-up to her weekend assignment. “Her run in the White Robe was good. She just came to the end of it, she wasn’t far away. It was a nice run,” Blackadder said. “It was a pretty impressive win last start. “She had a good week-and-a-half off. She is fresh and nice and fit. She had a gallop on Saturday and went down to the beach again today (Wednesday) and did some nice pace work. I am very happy with her. “All she needs is a bit of luck and she will be right in it.” Blackadder utilises the beach to add some variance to his team’s work, and he said they love they change in environment. “They love it down there, it keeps their minds fresh,” he said. “They would typically go down three or four times a week. My philosophy is that as long as they are hopping on the float and going somewhere, it keeps their minds active as opposed to going around and doing the same thing every day.” Ears Back has drawn gate seven on Saturday and will be ridden by northern hoop Jasmine Fawcett. “Gate seven is good, she flies the gates pretty well,” Blackadder said. “Jasmine will ride and they get on pretty well.” All going to plan after the weekend, Blackadder will aim his mare towards next month’s inaugural $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton. “She will go to the $350,000 race in a couple of weeks, which is just marvellous,” he said. Blackadder will also look to gain a berth in the race, restricted to South Island-trained horses, with new stable acquisition Phelan The Power (NZ) (Power) if he performs well in the Johnny Fresh Darfield & Yaldhurst Open Sprint (1400m) on Saturday. Previously in the care of dual-code trainer Mark Jones, Phelan The Power joined Blackadder’s Rangiora barn in the last month and he has used the beach to his benefit to try and rejuvenate the six-year-old. “If he goes a good race, I would like to have a crack at it (Southern Alps Challenge) with him,” Blackadder said. “In the past he has gone some really good races. This will be my first start with him and whether he wants to still do it I am not too sure. I have been taking him down to the beach trying to change his mindset.” Stablemate Kahma Suitsya’s (NZ) (Tavistock) weekend performance will also dictate her future plans, with a trip to Southland next week to contest the Riverton Cup (2147m) on the cards. The daughter of Tavistock will be fresh-up in the Seaton Family Memorial Hororata Gold Cup (1800m), having last raced in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui last month where she finished eighth. “She will need the run as she hasn’t had a run for quite a while,” Blackadder said. “I would have liked to have got a trial into her, but she is a nice horse all the same. If she goes well, I will probably take her to Riverton next week.” Meanwhile, consistent filly Amiinit (NZ) (Eminent) will be looking to get her preparation back on track after knuckling down shortly after the start of the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui last start, losing rider Lee Callaway. “I really wanted to get a gauge on her last time, so that was disappointing,” Blackadder said. “She comes up against a fairly solid field again on Saturday, but she is not a bad horse. She is a consistent horse.” Prior to last start, Amiinit had strung together four consecutive placings, and Blackadder said he will give her another stakes opportunity at Riccarton next month in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m). “There is a 1600m coming up soon and we will probably build up to the Warstep (Listed, 2000m) as she is looking for more ground,” he said. View the full article

Chris Wood took an early shine to You Say D’Orsay (Under The Louvre) and his judgement has proved on the money with the three-year-old making a strong start to his career. The Cambridge trainer was expecting the gelding to make an impression when asked serious questions and with two wins and a runner-up finish from three starts his young charge has answered positively. You Say D’Orsay will bid to further his record when he likely makes the final appearance of his current preparation in Saturday’s Bayleys Tauranga & Mt Maunganui 3YO (1400m) at Tauranga. “I think he’ll just have the one more run and then he’ll go to the paddock for six or eight weeks and bring him back for the spring,” Wood said. “He’s pretty much untapped at the moment and doing it on raw ability.” You Say D’Orsay was successful at Te Rapa at the first time of asking before he won again at Matamata and then finished second in a competitive line-up behind Hat Trick (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) at Ellerslie. He will be ridden at the weekend by Joe Doyle, who guided him to his debut victory and was aboard in his most recent outing. “He’s kept stepping up to the mark and it was a good run at Ellerslie and Joe said he just got beaten by a better horse on the day,” Wood said. “It was a good field and he beat quite a few promising horses and it was good to see him take a sit because he led in his first two starts. “He didn’t have any trouble and he balanced up nicely and came home well. Joe said the horse will keep on improving and there’s plenty ahead of him.” Promising trial performances last year and words of encouragement from New Zealand’s leading rider had also reinforced Wood’s opinion of You Say D’Orsay. “We knew he had plenty under the bonnet and he’s done a very good job. He had three trials before he raced and ran three seconds,” he said. “I put Warren Kennedy on him in the middle trial and he said this is a very smart horse and I’d like to ride him when he goes to the races, but unfortunately for him it just hasn’t panned out that way.” A son of the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1200m) winner Under The Louvre, You Say D’Orsay was secured for A$50,000 at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale. “I couldn’t get there that year and asked Paul Moroney to find a horse for me,” Wood said. “This one came up late in the day and pleased now that I went a little bit further than my budget. “We syndicated between stable clients and a few new people and they’re pretty happy already with two wins and a second. “He’s a very good-natured horse and he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. “He’s a lovely, kind horse to have around the stable and that makes the job a lot easier.” View the full article

Militarize heads the betting for the 2024 Rosehill Guineas. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The time-honoured Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) is one of five Group 1 events at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday afternoon, where 11 three-year-olds are set to take their place in the $750,000 feature. The Chris Waller-trained Militarize has been installed as the early +200 favourite post barrier draw, with online bookmakers quick to acknowledge the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) as the most traditional lead-up to this contest. Militarize finished runner-up on that occasion, while the second market elect, Tom Kitten (+260) wasn’t far away managing a fourth-place finish. Hugh Bowman makes the trip across from Hong Kong to take the ride aboard the James Cummings-trained galloper and looks to be drawn ideally in barrier two. The Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner Riff Rocket (+450) makes his return to Sydney after achieving a minor placing in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington second-up on March 2. Nash Rawiller is set to take the reins from barrier eight and is the beneficiary of James McDonald sticking aboard stablemate Militarize. Training duo Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young send their undefeated gelding Immediacy (+750) to Sydney for the first time and is well-respected in the market after a dominant performance in the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on February 28. The Ciaron Maher-trained King Colorado (+1100) leads the charge of those at double-figure odds, along with Cafe Millennium (+1500) and Ganbare (+1500) likely have some support in the lead-up. The 2024 Rosehill Guineas is race six on the Rosehill program and is set to get underway at 3:15pm local time. 2024 Rosehill Guineas Final Field 1. Militarize (7) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 56.5kg F: 22×85 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Amerindia (GB) +220 -153.85 2. Riff Rocket (8) T: Chris Waller J: Nash Rawiller W: 56.5kg F: 31×12 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: AMerican Pharoah (USA) Dam: Missile Coda +450 +105 3. Cafe Millenium (6) T: John O’Shea J: Tom Marquand W: 56.5kg F: 39×04 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Not a Single Doubt Dam: Veloce Forte +1600 +290 4. Tom Kitten (2) T: James Cummings J: Hugh Bowman W: 56.5kg F: 456×1 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Harry Angel (IRE) Dam: Transfers +280 -133.33 5. King Colorado (3) T: Ciaron Maher J: Mark Zahra W: 56.5kg F: 022×0 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Kingman (GB) Dam: More Aspen (USA) +1200 +240 6. Ganbare (4) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Tim Clark W: 56.5kg F: 97×38 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Maurice (JPN) Dam: Mardi +1600 +290 7. Immediacy (12) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: Luke Currie W: 56.5kg F: 111 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Tarzino (NZ) Dam: But Beautiful (IRE) +800 +180 8. Cap Ferrat (9) T: Chris Waller J: Ryan Moore W: 56.5kg F: 76×23 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Snitzel Dam: C’est Beau La Vie +2500 +450 9. Ceolwulf (11) T: Joseph Pride J: Blake Shinn W: 56.5kg F: 66x6x Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Colt Sire: Tavistock (NZ) Dam: Las Brisas (GB) +2000 +340 10. Ducasse (1) T: Michael Freedman J: Tyler Schiller W: 56.5kg F: 781×3 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Trapeze Artist Dam: Custard +5000 +850 11. Cosmic Lad (10) T: Edward Cummings J: Chad Schofield W: 56.5kg F: 0314 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Adelaide (IRE) Dam: Halimede +5000 +850 12. Steel Blaze (5) T: Brett Lazzarini J: Reece Jones W: 56.5kg F: 9187x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Real Steel (JPN) Dam: Aliyana Tilde +10000 +1800 Horse racing news View the full article

Ozzmosis ridden by Rachel King winning the 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) There will be speed to burn in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) as a capacity field of 14 and four emergencies get ready to scorch the turf at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. Punters aren’t sure where to look, with chances strung out all over the page, however, online bookmakers have installed the retuning Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) winner Ozzmosis as +320 favourite. It comes as no surprise as the Bjorn Baker-trained colt gets into this event with only 53kg on his back, as Rachel King continues her associate on Saturday. Aft Cabin was luckless in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) on March 9, and online betting sites didn’t miss his effort, with the James Cummings-trained galloper placed on the second line of betting at +400. The Joe Pride-trained Private Eye (+600) also comes through that event but is now third-up into the campaign after managing a runner-up placing in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on resumption. Two very intriguing returns come in the form of Uncommon James and Sunshine In Paris both priced at +800 apiece. The chances simply don’t end there, however, with the likes of Kings Gambit (+1000), Passive Aggressive (+1300) and Buenos Noches all having strong claims. The 2024 Galaxy is the penultimate race on the Rosehill card and is scheduled to get underway at 5:20pm AEDT. 2024 The Galaxy Final Field 1. Private Eye (14) T: Joseph Pride J: Nash Rawiller W: 58kg F: 62×23 Age: 6YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Al Maher Dam: Confidential Queen +700 +200 2. King Of Sparta (11) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Blake Shinn W: 56.5kg F: 11282 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Octavia +1500 +320 3. Mazu (15) T: Joseph Pride J: Jason Collett W: 55.5kg F: 5×450 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Maurice (JPN) Dam: Chatelaine +2200 +450 4. Uncommon James (1) T: Steven O’Dea & Mathew Hoysted J: Damian Lane W: 55.5kg F: x323x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Cable Bay (IRE) Dam: Pickabee +800 +220 5. Aft Cabin (8) T: James Cummings J: James McDonald W: 55kg F: 3×941 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Astern Dam: Shelters +400 +115 6. Buenos Noches (4) T: Matthew Smith J: Dylan Gibbons W: 55kg F: 94×28 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Supido Dam: Koi +1800 +350 7. Kallos (12) T: James Cummings J: Tom Marquand W: 55kg F: 01×77 Age: 5YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Medaglia D’oro (USA) Dam: Calliope +8000 +1800 8. Remarque (6) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: Tommy Berry W: 54.5kg F: 4x51x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Snitzel Dam: Response +2000 +400 9. Asfoora (8) T: Henry Dwyer J: Tim Clark W: 54kg F: 02×91 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Flying Artie Dam: Golden Child +2200 +450 10. Passive Aggressive (10) T: Grahame Begg J: Jordan Childs W: 54kg F: 1x80x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Miss Judgement +1200 +270 11. Sunshine In Paris (2) T: Annabel Neasham J: Ryan Maloney W: 53.5kg F: x1x12 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Invader Dam: Zenaida (NZ) +800 +220 12. Zapateo (9) T: James Cummings J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 53kg F: 23×60 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Brazen Beau Dam: Jerezana +2800 +650 13. Ozzmosis (13) T: Bjorn Baker J: Rachel King W: 53kg F: x131x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Zoustar Dam: No More Tears (NZ) +320 +100 14. Front Page (16) T: Matthew Dale J: Tyler Schiller W: 52.5kg F: x61x6 Age: 7YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Magnus Dam: Stacey Lee +2500 +550 15 (1E). Queen Of The Ball (3) T: Michael Freedman J: Zac Lloyd W: 51kg F: 70×51 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Miss Debutante +6000 +1400 16 (2E). King’s Gambit (5) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Jamie Kah W: 50kg F: 8x13x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Sultry Feeling +1100 +260 17 (3E). Derry Grove (7) T: Matthew Dunn J: TBC W: 51kg F: 521×9 Age: 5YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Star Turn Dam: True Malt +8000 +1800 18 (4E). Quick Tempo (18) T: Mark Minervini J: Reece Jones W: 51kg F: 56×62 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Rubick Dam: Tawfiq Valley +20000 +2000 Horse racing news View the full article

Think It Over heads the market for the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Racing NSW The Ranvet Stakes will be one of five Group 1 features on the massive 10-race program at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday afternoon, with a small but quality field of eight runners accepting for the 2000m race. Due to the small field, most of the runners are marked under double figures, with last start Verry Elleegant Stakes winner Think It Over opening as the +180 favourite with most online bookmakers. The Kerry Parker-trained gelding will connect with Nash Rawiller once again as the duo seek to claim back-to-back Group 1 successes for the first time. Chris Waller will have three runners in the small field, with Buckaroo and Via Sistina locked together at +300 on the second line of betting. Ryan Moore will have his first ride on Buckaroo, who is coming off a solid performance in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, when he ran home strong from the back of the field over 1400m. Via Sistina will gain the services of James McDonald for her Australian debut as the ex-European galloper steps out for her first start since running at Ascot in October last year. The third of the Waller runners and only three-year-old in the race will be Riff Rocket (+650), who will compete in open Group 1 company for the first time after running third in the Australian Guineas last start. Place Du Carrousel (+800) is the last of the chances in single figures, as the daughter of Lope De Vega makes her debut for the Anthony & Sam Freedman barn on Saturday. The Ranvet Stakes is scheduled to jump at 2:35pm AEDT, and it will be race five on the Rosehill card. 2024 Ranvet Stakes Final Field 1. Think It Over (2) T: Kerry Parker J: Nash Rawiller W: 59kg F: 13×61 Age: 8YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: So You Think (NZ) Dam: Personal Service +180 -303.03 2. Military Mission (6) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Adam Hyeronimus W: 59kg F: 3×101 Age: 6YO Color: Grey Sex: Gelding Sire: Mastercraftsman (IRE) Dam: Atlantic Isle (GER) +1600 +230 3. Buckaroo (3) T: Chris Waller J: Ryan Moore W: 59kg F: 5×572 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Roheryn (IRE) +300 -200 4. Zeyrek (4) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: TBC W: 59kg F: 9×010 Age: 7YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE) Dam: Zerkaza (IRE) +10000 +1100 5. Bois D’Argent (7) T: Annabel Neasham J: Chad Schofield W: 59kg F: 2×476 Age: 7YO Color: Grey Sex: Gelding Sire: Toronado (IRE) Dam: Madonna Lily (IRE) +5000 +600 6. Via Sistina (8) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg F: x2x23 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Nigh (IRE) +300 -200 7. Place Du Carrousel (5) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Tommy Berry W: 57kg F: x011x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Traffic Jam (IRE) +800 +120 8. Riff Rocket (1) T: Chris Waller J: TBC W: 54.5kg F: 31×12 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Americain Pharoah (USA) Dam: Missile Coda +650 +100 Horse racing news View the full article

Think About It heads a capacity field of runners in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. The Group 1 George Ryder Stakes will be one of the most anticipated races on Saturday afternoon at Rosehill Gardens, with a capacity field of 19 runners accepting for the $1 million feature. After online horse racing betting sites opened their market with only three horses marked under +900, there appears to be plenty of value to be found in the 2024 edition of the George Ryder. The reigning Everest champion and last start runner-up in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes, Think About It will carry the number one saddlecloth and has opened as the race favourite at +280. Joseph Pride’s stable star returned with a solid first-up run over 1300m, and he will step up to 1500m second-up for the first time in his career on Saturday. Militarize (+400) from the Chris Waller barn sits on the second line of betting, but he has also accepted for the Rosehill Guineas on the same day, which leaves punters guessing as to where he will head. Kovalica (+1600) will join his stablemate in the race as the 2023 Queensland Derby winner seeks to win his first since his triumph in the Derby at Eagle Farm on July 27 of last year. Encap (+800) from the Gary Portelli stable sits on the third line of betting, even though this will be his first crack at open age Group 1 level after finishing fifth in the Randwick Guineas last start. Ciaron Maher will be represented by three runners in the George Ryder, as he has accepted with New Energy (+1800), Cosmic Vega (+3300) and Tiz Invincible (+2500). From the Annabel Neasham yard, last start Canterbury Stakes winner, Lady Laguna (+900), will look to continue her rich vein of form, and will be joined by Mighty Ulysses (+1800), who will make his Australian debut for Neasham. After being beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap, Amenable (+1800) from the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr stable will test his ability in Group 1 company north of the border for the first time. The George Ryder Stakes is scheduled to jump at 3:55pm AEDT at Rosehill Gardens. 2024 George Ryder Stakes Final Field 1. Think About It (17) T: Joseph Pride J: Sam Clipperton W: 59kg F: 2×311 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: So You Think (NZ) Dam: Urban Royal +280 -105.26 2. Cepheus (14) T: Matthew Dunn J: Adam Hyeronimus W: 59kg F: 0x021 Age: 7YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE) Dam: Crimson Cheer (USA) +15000 +3000 3. Pericles (15) T: James Cummings J: Hugh Bowman W: 59kg F: 526×2 Age: 4YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Accessories (GB) +1800 +400 4. Kovalica (19) T: Chris Waller J: Nash Rawiller W: 59kg F: 4×052 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Vitesse (NZ) +1600 +360 5. Golden Mile (5) T: James Cummings J: Tommy Berry W: 59kg F: 87×39 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Astern Dam: Calaverite +4000 +900 6. Navajo Peak (10) T: David Payne J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 59kg F: 74×08 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Territories (IRE) Dam: Ship Rock +8000 +1800 7. Unspoken (1) T: Navajo Peak J: Tom Sherry W: 59kg F: 8×111 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Territories (IRE) Dam: Silent Secret (IRE) +4000 +900 8. Bandersnatch (11) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: Jordan Childs W: 59kg F: 7×428 Age: 7YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Casino Prince Dam: Divine Faith +15000 +3000 9. Loch Eagle (9) T: Kris Lees J: Dylan Gibbons W: 59kg F: 68121 Age: 5YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Lonhro Dam: Song Street (IRE) +5000 +1100 10. Mighty Ulysses (3) T: Annabel Neasham J: Tom Marquand W: 59kg F: x615x Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Ulysses (IRE) Dam: Token of Love (GB) +1800 +400 11. New Energy (16) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jason Collett W: 59kg F: 2x34x Age: 5YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: New Bay (GB) Dam: For Joy (GB) +1800 +400 12. Amenable (4) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 2×465 Age: 4YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Lonhro Dam: Caribbean Sunset (IRE) +1800 +400 13.Williamsburg (13) T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou J: Joshua Parr W: 59kg F: 5×206 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Snitzel Dam: Fenway +25000 +5000 14. Cosmic Vega (18) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jamie Kah W: 59kg F: x7535 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Pivotal Era (GB) +3300 +750 15. Lady Laguna (12) T: Annabel Neasham J: Tyler Schiller W: 57kg F: 12111 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Overshare Dam: Catalina de Lago (NZ) +900 +225 16. Militarize (7) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 56kg F: 22×85 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Amerindia +400 +125 17. Veight (8) T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy J: Damian Lane W: 56kg F: 241×5 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Grunt (NZ) Dam: Neena Rock +1000 +250 18. Encap (2) T: Gary Portelli J: Blake Shinn W: 56kg F: 523×5 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Capitalist Dam: Enquare +800 +220 19. Tiz Invincible (6) T: Ciaron Maher J: Zac Lloyd W: 54kg F: 86×96 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Amuletum (GB) +2500 +550 Horse racing news View the full article

Mark Walker‘s champion mare Imperatriz headlines the field for the 2024 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley this Saturday. Imperatriz is out to become a 10-time Group 1 winning mare in the William Reid Stakes 2024 this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. The I Am Invincible mare is a short-priced favourite at $1.85 at Ladbrokes to defend her title and notch her tenth career Group 1 victory. Imperatriz boasts an unblemished record (4 wins from 4 starts) at the tight Moonee Valley circuit. Following a narrow second in the Newmarket Handicap while carrying top weight, she returns to the weight-for-age conditions that favour her. A victory on Saturday would see Imperatriz join elite company: becoming the first back-to-back William Reid Stakes winner since Apache Cat (2008-09) and the first to achieve consecutive wins since Black Caviar (2011, 2013). Godolphin‘s Cylinder, fresh off his Newmarket Handicap victory, presents the main threat to Imperatriz’s dominance. Drawn barrier 1, the Exceed And Excel colt boasts a strong record over the 1200m distance but has yet to race at Moonee Valley. He’s currently priced at $4.60 at Ladbrokes to cause another upset. Last year’s runner-up Bella Nipotina ($7) and the fellow Ciaron Maher-trained mare I Am Me ($10) are the other notable contenders. Bella Nipotina, a Moonee Valley specialist, is drawn well and has a consistent record at the track. I Am Me, resuming from a break, has an impressive first-up record and finished second to Imperatriz in last year’s Manikato Stakes. See below for the complete 2024 William Reid Stakes final field and barrier draw with markets available through Ladbrokes here. 2024 William Reid Stakes Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 62725×9573 THE ASTROLOGIST Leon & Troy Corstens Declan Bates 9 58.5kg 104 2 x9275x440x THE INFERNO Cliff Brown Jake Noonan 8 58.5kg 101 3 631x117x11 QUEMAN Shane & Cassie Oxlade Harry Coffey 4 58.5kg 105 4 17x244x271 JOHNNY ROCKER Nick Ryan Rhys McLeod 11 58.5kg 75 5 21x1111x12 IMPERATRIZ Mark Walker Opie Bosson 10 56.5kg 119 6 6x33315x45 BELLA NIPOTINA Ciaron Maher John Allen 3 56.5kg 114 7 117x16122x I AM ME Ciaron Maher Ben Melham 2 56.5kg 110 8 8x27415x07 QUEEN OF THE BALL Michael Freedman Billy Egan 7 56.5kg 96 9 3x24221x42 HYPOTHETICAL Anthony & Sam Freedman Michael Dee 6 56.5kg 104 10 7x11350x61 CYLINDER James Cummings 1 56kg 113 11 1x233x31x8 KING’S GAMBIT Peter & Paul Snowden Jamie Mott 5 56kg 95 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Imperatriz Aims for Historic Repeat in 2024 William Reid Stakes appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Massive Sovereign stretches out under Zac Purton at Sha Tin. Massive Sovereign burst onto the scene earlier this month and Zac Purton believes the Irish-bred’s ability to quickly adapt to different circumstances can prove decisive in Sunday’s (24 March) HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin. The four-year-old demolished a solid Class 3 field on debut in Hong Kong over this weekend’s course and distance. He’ll make just his second start in the city when he lines up in Sha Tin’s most-famed and desired contest after arriving as a two-time winner in Ireland for trainer Aidan O’Brien. “What he has got going for him is his temperament, he’s just a lovely horse to do anything with – he’s very relaxed and he takes everything in his stride,” Purton said. Formerly known as Broadhurst but now trained by Dennis Yip, Massive Sovereign made light work of 13 rivals at Sha Tin on March 3 – who between them had combined for 23 wins in Hong Kong – to surge into Hong Kong Derby calculations. “I think it’s going to work in his favour that he has already had a run over the 2000 metres because he knows where the barriers are and he knows what the crowd is going to do. He’s already had that experience and a lot of horses on Derby Day can get a bit wound up by the crowd at the start. So, he’s had the benefit of going through that process already,” Purton said. The Hong Kong Derby fixture regularly draws a crowd of over 50,000 at Sha Tin. Purton partnered the gelding on Tuesday on the turf at Sha Tin under light rain as Yip watched on meticulously, clocking 26.2s, 28.5s, 24.2s (1:18.9s). “He’s a very relaxed horse. He just does what you ask him to do, the work partner (Travel Golf) just went off and he gave me something to follow. Every time I clicked him up a little bit, he found a little bit more until we joined him on the line. “He had a little bit of a blow when we pulled up which will bring him on a little, just to clean him out and he won’t have to do too much between now and the race,” Purton said. Purton won the 2015 Hong Kong Derby aboard Luger. He has placed in the race seven times, finishing third aboard Dibayani (2014), Beauty Generation (2017), Exultant (2018), More Than This (2020) and Beauty Eternal (2023), while he was a close second on Victory Magic (2016) and California Spangle (2022) – both horses missed once-in-a-lifetime glory by a head. “It’s been a frustrating race for me. The number of times I’ve been beaten by small margins is incredible, I could easily be standing here having won five or six times if a few of those photos had gone my way or if I had just been on the better horse,” Purton said. “I keep running into something that’s better all of the time. For me, it’s been a really frustrating race but I get another chance and hopefully I can win another one.” The superstar jockey has won six riding titles and 1,689 races in Hong Kong. Although optimistic ahead of this weekend, he is still wary of the task at hand. “History is against him. It’s extremely hard for any PP (Privately Purchased Horse) to win first time out in Hong Kong. It’s even harder to do it at the distance that he did it at and then it’s even harder again to back that performance up and he has to do it in the Derby, so he has all of that against him,” Purton said. Both the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) were won by Helios Express, who will look to emulate Rapper Dragon (2017) and Golden Sixty (2020) with a Four-Year-Old Classic Series clean-sweep. “It looks like it’s going to be a really slowly run race. They walked in the Classic Mile, they walked in the Classic Cup and there’s nothing there that tells us they’re going to go any quicker in the Derby, and it’s meant to rain on Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday. “If the track happens to be wet and soft then they just go even slower again, so I think his (Massive Sovereign) temperament at whatever speed is going to allow him to relax and that will give him a chance to run the trip, whereas some of the other horses in the race have a tendency to want to overdo it and that could work against them. Hopefully that works in our favour,” Purton said. Sunday’s pairing with Massive Sovereign will be Purton’s 14th ride in the Hong Kong Derby. His first came aboard Legend Of Colour in 2009 for former trainer Paul O’Sullivan. “It’d be nice to win another one. I feel like I deserve it after all of the efforts I’ve put in,” he said. Purton currently leads this season’s jockeys’ standings with an unmatched 79 wins. Horse racing news View the full article

Speed Dragon is a one-time Hong Kong winner. Lyle Hewitson is confident Speed Dragon can handle the distance rise in Sunday’s HK$26 million 147th Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin. Untested over the trip, Speed Dragon finished an impeded fourth in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) before travelling wide throughout when ninth in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) – both races were won by Helios Express. Hewitson, 26, returns from suspension when he takes five rides on Wednesday night at Happy Valley, while this morning (Tuesday, 19 March) he partnered his BMW Hong Kong Derby mount in a turf gallop at Sha Tin. Click here for HorseBetting’s preview of Happy Valley races on March 20. “This morning he galloped beautifully, so it’s all systems go,” said Hewitson of Speed Dragon’s work alongside stablemate Chancheng Glory in 33s, 28.8s, 27.8s (1:29.6s). Trained by Francis Lui, Speed Dragon has won once in Hong Kong from six starts, scoring over the mile in Class 3 last December. “The top-quality horses in the race do have question marks over the trip and whether they’ll settle. Speed Dragon is a horse that I know will get the trip. He’s uncomplicated and he is a very, very genuine horse. “So, put a line through his last run and his Classic Mile run was excellent,” Hewitson said. Hewitson has 24 wins this season and HK$45.5 million in stakes for connections from his mounts. “We bowed out a winner that day (before suspension) and hopefully we can come back with one too. It’s nice to get this meeting under the belt before going to the big weekend as well, I’m very much looking forward to this week,” he said. Hewitson will look for a third win aboard Golden Empire. “We were just looking at the programme and I asked Francis (Lui) if he would consider running the horse at Happy Valley and while he’s in good form we thought we would take the chance – I’m happy to be aboard him and he’s a nice, uncomplicated ride to look forward to at my first meeting back,” Hewitson said. Golden Empire (129lb) faces last-start winners Colourful Emperor (129lb) and Solar Partner (125lb). Sugar Sugar (133lb) and more feature in the contest. “He’s (Golden Empire) doing well. He doesn’t show much in the morning, he is quite a laidback track horse, but that’s just the way it is – he knows when it is game day,” Hewitson said. Golden Empire will step away from barrier five. Hewitson’s other engagements at the Valley are Falcon Court, Gorgeous Vitality, Win Win Fighter and Grateful Heart. Horse racing news View the full article

Picklebet is stirring up excitement among horse racing enthusiasts with its thrilling 25% Boosted Winnings promotion for today’s Happy Valley races. This exhilarating offer enables punters to enhance their potential winnings, injecting an additional layer of excitement into the already electrifying action on the track. Thanks to Picklebet’s innovative promotion, bettors can seize the opportunity to maximise their returns while immersing themselves in the thrill of supporting their favourite runners at Happy Valley. Happy Valley – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. T&Cs Apply. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo This promotion excludes punters from NSW and SA. Max winnings of $250. First fixed win bet only. Paid in Bonus Cash. Must use available balance. See Picklebet website for full terms & conditions. Picklebet.com are one of the new bookmakers making a splash on the horse racing scene and with inviting promotions like the one they are offering at Happy Valley, they will continue to make an impact in Australia. HorseBetting’s Happy Valley racing tips View the full article

Horse Racing on Wednesday, March 20 will feature six meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and provided free quaddie tips for the meetings at Sandown, Wyong & Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday Horse Racing Tips – March 20, 2024 Sandown Racing Tips Wyong Racing Tips Happy Valley Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For March 20, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $31.27 odds return: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Sandown – Race 1 #5 The Shaper Sandown – Race 6 #4 Donegal Wyong – Race 1 #1 Just Party Wyong – Race 8 #9 Commememorative | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on March 20, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article