Wandering Eyes

Barbara Kennedy is looking forward to kicking off her training career in New Zealand next month. Photo: Trish Dunell Warren Kennedy has made waves in the New Zealand jockey ranks since moving from his native South Africa, and now his wife, Barbara, is hoping to do the same as a trainer. The 32-year-old horsewoman has spent her life in racing and trained in South Africa for a few seasons before moving to New Zealand with her husband and children a couple of years ago. “I have been in the industry my whole life,” Kennedy said. “My Dad was a jockey for 24 years. When he retired, he became the course manager at one of the tracks in South Africa for 21 years. My sister went to the jockey academy and was an apprentice for a couple of years, but it didn’t work out for her. Our whole family is into racing, so I was born into it, it is in my blood.” Upon leaving school, Kennedy went to work in a racing stable and that is where she got hooked on the sport and decided she wanted a career in the industry. “I worked in the yard straight out of school. I had a really great opportunity with a trainer in South Africa where I ran his satellite yard in Durban where we had about 50 horses, and I was with him for four years,” she said. “That is where it hit me that that (training) is what I wanted to do, and I took out my own trainer’s license. I had my first daughter at that time, and I went into a training partnership with my brother, and I trained for three years. We were pretty successful, we had 59 winners in the three years, with one of those being hindered by COVID. “Warren then decided that we needed to get out of the country to give our girls a better life. It was always a goal to get back into it in New Zealand, we just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.” While Warren has been kicking goals in the saddle, Kennedy said she felt a bit lost in the early stages of their move to New Zealand, but found comfort in helping out Byerley Park trainers Peter and Dawn Williams. “It was really tough coming over here because I went from that busy lifestyle of training. Coming over here, Warren kicked off as normal and I sat at home not doing anything and I did get a bit depressed during those times,” she said. “It has been good to see him come here and do so well from the get-go. It is really difficult coming to a new country, but the amount of support that he has been given has been great. “Since we moved to New Zealand, they (Williams’s) had always been very good to Warren, and Warren has ridden a lot for them. They extended to come out to the yard with the girls and I did mornings there mucking out stables and we have become really close with Peter and Dawn, we have adopted them as our family here.” With Peter and Dawn Williams deciding to retire from racing at the end of the month, they approached Kennedy to see if she was interested in taking over their stable, and she has jumped at the opportunity. “We have become really close and we were chatting recently, and with this decision of them retiring, they thought I was young, willing to do it, so let’s give this a shot. “It is exciting. It has happened quite quickly, but we are taking this opportunity with both hands. I am grateful that Peter and Dawn have trusted me enough to hand everything over to me, so we will be forever grateful for that. “I officially start on the 1st of June. For the month of June, they will be around and I can bounce as many questions off of them as possible. “The majority of the clients have agreed to stay on with me, which is really positive. We will be getting in contact with all the clients during the next week or so and get to know everyone and get our career and relationship going.” In her time in New Zealand, Kennedy has noticed a few differences from racing in South Africa and is looking forward to tackling those challenges. “The tracks are the biggest one,” she said. “We are not used to racing over the winter season in such heavy going. That will be a big adjustment for me, getting used to running horses on these different tracks. We don’t travel as much as the horses here, our racecourses are fairly close to each other and there aren’t as many. “I have got Warren behind me, and Peter and Dawn, and I can give them a call whenever I have any questions, they are here to help me.” Kennedy said she is lucky to have family in New Zealand to help make the transition smoother. “We have two girls – Jamie, 5, and Ryleigh, 3,” she said. “We have got Warren’s family over here, so his mum is going to join us for a couple of weeks and help out with the girls.” While having a husband as the country’s leading jockey is a bonus, Kennedy said Warren will continue to have his priorities outside of the stable. “It is a bonus having Warren around, but he has got to keep his ties with Cambridge Stud,” she said. “As much as he will be a part of the yard, he won’t be tied down and he has to fulfil his own obligations to Cambridge. He will help me out as much as he can, but he will be keeping with his Cambridge connections.” In terms of what Kennedy is looking forward to the most with her return to training, the answer is easy – winning. “It is just getting back out there and getting the success with winners,” she said. “Everyone aims to win the big ones and they are definitely on my radar.” Horse racing news View the full article

Knock Off broke a two-decade winless drought for his trainer Gerard Cvitanovich when he went to Hawera on Sunday to score in the Trans Ag Centre Ltd “Kelly & Rosie Myers” 1400. The semi-retired dairy farmer had just 50 prior starts to his name for seven wins, and he was delighted to add to that tally on the weekend with a horse bred by his son. “We just wanted to give him the run, I was quite surprised he went as well on that track. It was a great ride from Lisa Allpress,” Cvitanovich said. “My son, Nick, bred the horse and he seems to enjoy that side of things.” Cvitanovich grew up with horses on his family farm and has always had a passion for them, but it wasn’t until his mid-thirties that the 65-year-old horseman took out his trainer’s license. “We did pony club and worked horses on the farm when we were young fellas. There is a lot of racing in the area we live,” he said. “My father had racehorses and so did my grandparents, so I have drifted that way. Kevin Myers has helped us out a lot and so have a lot of other Wanganui trainers. “I just like riding and working horses.” Cvitanovich won six races in his first three seasons of training, and over the following two decades he has generally only had one start per season, and he was glad to gain his first win on Sunday since the 2002/03 season. “I have had a few slow ones in the meantime,” he quipped. “We don’t really race many. We milk cows and Nick has taken over the cows now and I have gone back to doing the horses now that I have a bit more time. “I just have the one in work, but we also have another unraced Keano horse with Jo Rathbone.” Cvitanovich is looking forward to racing Knock Off over winter and he is hoping his next win isn’t too far away. “I think he would be more suited to winter racing,” he said. “He will have a week off and then we will go quietly with him., he is a big, weak horse and we will need to nurse him through it.” View the full article

With a season of experience under his belt, Auld Jock returned to the hurdles in winning fashion at Hawera on Sunday for Peter and Jessica Brosnan. The six-year-old made four appearances over jumps last year, with his best result a second-placed effort behind former Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Mondorani over the steeplechase fences at Rotorua in August. Auld Jock headed to Hawera a fit horse with trio of flat runs under his belt and was an underrated $19.30 chance in the Daryl Hurley Action Moto “Garry Phillips” Maiden Hurdle (2800m), with Run Jakko Run the top-elect at $2.30. In the hands of Portia Matthews, Auld Jock settled midfield early and remained there for majority of the 2800m contest as Home Rule controlled the tempo from the front. As the pressure came on at the 800m, Run Jakko Run became prominent and looked to be pulling away turning for home, but Auld Jock found another kick and came out on top by a short head in a driving finish. The son of Adelaide is owned by the Brosnan’s, who were especially pleased with his effort after returning to their Matamata base late on Sunday. “We got home pretty late last night so we’ve just watched the replay now at lunchtime, and it was good, he didn’t get the easiest of runs so he had to be a bit tough,” Jessica Brosnan said. “He’s a little bit older and matured a bit this year, I can’t really say he’s any bigger in size because he’s a little mouse of a horse. “He’d had three runs on the flat so he was pretty fit for yesterday going into it, but he was actually just having a bit of a run around before he goes steeplechasing. “He’ll go between the two with hurdling and chasing like he did last year, we like our horses to be multi-functional as in this day in age we’ve only got a couple of tracks with live jumps, so they’ve got to be able to jump the put-up fences, just possibly with an extra lap.” Brosnan has earmarked the Maiden Steeplechase over 3500m at Te Aroha on June 3 for Auld Jock, while stablemate Jakama Krystal may return to the Central Districts on Sunday to contest the Awapuni Hurdles (3000m) at Woodville. The Jakkalberry mare continued to improve through her second jumping season with two victories and a minor placing last year, and kicked off her new campaign finishing 3 ¼ lengths off Verry Flash in the Norwood Hawera ‘Jim Walker’ Hurdles (2800m) on Sunday. “She was good, we were pretty rapt with her race. She didn’t have too hard of a run, so that was good going forward for the winter,” Brosnan said. “She’s a tough little horse, but just needs a bit of rain, so we’ll see what the weather does and she’ll either step out on Sunday in the Awapuni Hurdles, or we’ll wait for another day. “She’s got a good race in her somewhere.” The Brosnans intend to follow the jumps circuit with a number of their team this season, with one of their recently-trialled horses Rocem stepping out in the Riverrock Farm – Chad Ormsby (1750m) at Taupo on Wednesday. “We have about 12 horses in work in the winter, and there’s probably eight stepping out over the jumps through the season. We’ve got to support the jumping and keep the numbers up,” she said. View the full article

Shaun Fannin’s priorities will change this winter with his primary focus on the Awapuni stable he runs with Hazel Schofer. Fannin has multiple jumps jockeys’ premierships to his credit but will restrict his riding, with one notable outside exception. “We’re getting pretty busy with the training and plenty of horses around us,” he said. “We’ve got about 20 on the books and training is our main business, so that’s definitely to the forefront of my mind. “I will ride my own ones and West Coast obviously.” Fannin and the Mark Oulaghan-trained West Coast have been a potent combination with two Grand National Steeplechases (5600m) to their credit. They have also combined to triumph in the Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m), Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) and Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). “He’s had a couple of flat runs and is coming up well and is heading to Woodville on Sunday for the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m), so I’m looking forward to that,” Fannin said. Fannin is in good form after partnering stable representative Fourty Eight to a debut victory in the Holdem Contracting Legend Hawera Riders’ Hurdle (2800m) at Sunday’s Egmont meeting. “He won it well and he’s showed a fair bit at home and he’s got good flat ability,” he said. “He’s still a green jumper, he doesn’t jump as fluently yet as some of the open hurdlers and he will improve a lot with the experience. “He will be a much-improved jumper the next time you see him out.” That won’t be until next season with Fannin firstly eyeing off a flat target with the son of Ekraar. “He doesn’t handle the really heavy tracks and we might give him a break now until later in the season,” he said. “He goes quite well on the synthetic tracks and there’s a good money race ($100,000) at Cambridge in August, so we might look at that and then hurdling in September with him.” Fourty Eight has been patiently handled with the five-year-old posting his three flat wins from just 12 starts on the polytrack at Awapuni. “He didn’t get broken in until he was a three-year-old and physically and mentally he’s been quite a weak horse,” he said. “He got broken in up in the hills in Wairoa where his breeder and main owner lives, who is my cousin (Sheena Martin). We haven’t rushed him, he’s taken a bit of time.” The top-rated horse in Fannin’s team is last-start Waverley winner Sailor Jack, whose longer-term future lies over the jumps. “He’s out having a spell, he’s had quite a long preparation. He’ll probably run on the flat in the late spring and summer,” he said. “If he’s in good form we might look to get him over to Australia early next year for the jumping over there, he likes good tracks.” View the full article

The anniversary of Kovalica’s (NZ) (Ocean Park) biggest success comes up in the next week and Chris Waller is hoping to celebrate the milestone with another Brisbane Group One win. The four-year-old son of Ocean Park will chase his first win since last year’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) when he steps out in this Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben. Kovalica won the 2400-metre Derby on May 27 last year but had his next seven starts between 1300m and 1600m, the best of which was a narrow second placing in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). He finished ninth in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) early last month before getting out to 2000m in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), in which he finished fifth, ahead of a last-start third placing in the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m). Waller is comfortable with the team’s decision to chase the big-money races for milers with Kovalica, but he is now keen to give him his chance out over a little further. “After the Derby last year, we decided to go the shorter route and he just missed in an Epsom – he was nosed out and run second – then went to the Golden Eagle and things didn’t work out,” Waller said. “So, he’s now back into the swing of things over 2000 metres and hopefully it’s onto The Q22 after that (Doomben Cup). “He’s never had an issue, he’s got no soreness, he’s got no major problems, he just needs a bit of distance.” Kovalica is pre-post favourite for the Doomben Cup from Huetor. The field for the Doomben Cup will be finalised after the barrier draw takes place on Tuesday morning. Bred by Nearco Stud, Kovalica was purchased out of Curraghmore’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale draft for $110,000 by Guy Mulcaster. Kovalica is out of the winning Makfi mare Vitesse, a half-sister to triple Group One winning sprinter The Bostonian. View the full article

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Wednesday, May 22, 2024 First Race 6:40pm HKT (8:40pm AEST) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to the bright lights of Happy Valley on Wednesday evening, with a competitive nine-part program kicking off at 6:40pm local time. The rail is in the C+3 position, and with rain continuing to fall in the lead-up, punters should expect a yielding track. Check out our best bets and quaddie numbers below. Best Bet: Telecom Speed Telecom Speed was nailed on the wire at this course and distance on May 8 after a torrid run in transit. The son of Street Boss travelled three deep on speed for the entire journey, unable to gain any cover before being asked for the ultimate effort. The run had plenty of merit under testing circumstances, and with Angus Chung’s 1.5kg claim giving him some relief in the weights, Telecom Speed looks set to go one better in this competitive Class 4 contest. Best Bet Race 6 – #1 Telecom Speed (2) 6yo Gelding | T: Me Tsui | J: Angus Chung (1.5kg) (61kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best: Fighting Machine Fighting Machine was beaten by 5.3 lengths first-up at Happy Valley on May 1 and didn’t have much luck. He was forced back to last from barrier 12 before getting baulked for a run early in the straight, with the gelding by War Decree unable to go through his gears. He’s drawn awkwardly again in gate 10, but with a positive steer from the outset, watch for Fighting Machine to get across to mid-field with cover before exploding in the final furlong. Next Best Race 3 – #2 Fighting Machine (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Pierre Ng | J: Zac Purton (60kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value: Draco Draco missed the start on debut at Sha Tin on April 20 but recovered well to finish within four lengths of Multisuper. He had to be ridden up to hold a position under Vincent Ho, with the son of Deep Field using his energy early to stay within striking distance. Now that he has some race-day experience under his belt, punters should expect dramatic improvement from Draco second-up. Best Value Race 2 – #2 Draco (8) 3yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Lyle Hewitson (58kg) Bet with Bet365 Hong Kong Wednesday quaddie tips Happy Valley quadrella selections Wednesday, May 22, 2024 1-2-8 1-3-8-11 1-2-4-6-7-11 2-4-5-7-12 Horse racing tips View the full article

What Warwick Farm Races Where Warwick Farm Racecourse – 2 Hume Hwy, Warwick Farm NSW 2170 When Wednesday, May 22, 2024 First Race 12:50pm AEST Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to Warwick Farm on Wednesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-race program set for decision. The rail is out +3m for the entire circuit, and although the surface is rated a Soft 7 at the time of acceptances, the sunny skies predicted in the lead-up should have the track upgraded into the Good range prior to the opening event at 12:50pm local time. Below are HorseBetting’s free Warwick Farm betting tips for May 22. Best Bet at Warwick Farm: Little Jeanie Little Jeannie broke her maiden with relative ease last start at Canterbury on April 17. The daughter of Savabeel was never in doubt after lobbing into the one-one under James McDonald, bounding away to score by 1.5 lengths. She won with plenty in hand to suggest she can go on with the job, even though this BM68 presents tougher opposition. Best Bet Race 2 – #4 Little Jeanie (2) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (58kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Warwick Farm: Inquiring Minds Inquiring Minds managed a runner-up performance at Kembla Grange on April 20, giving a good account of himself on his Australian debut. The European import was cast wide throughout and knuckled down to the task despite the torrid run in transit. He’ll strip fitter for that effort, and with James McDonald set to gain an economical run from stall six, watch for Inquiring Minds to be launching down the centre of the course. Next Best Race 3 – #5 Inquiring Minds (6) 4yo Horse | T: John O’Shea | J: James McDonald (58.5kg) Bet with Neds Best Value at Warwick Farm: Perennial Perennial found himself in the unfamiliar leading role at Rosehill on April 27 and faded out to be beaten by 3.8 lengths; however, punters should be willing to forgive the effort. It was the first time the Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich-trained galloper had missed the frame in five career starts, and as he heads to this wide-open BM64 contest, Perennial can get back to winning ways at a enticing price with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 5 – #2 Perennial (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich | J: Chelsea Hillier (a3kg) (62kg) Bet with Unibet Wedneday quaddie tips – 22/5/2024 Warwick Farm quadrella selections Wednesday, May 22, 2024 4-6-7-13 1-2-4-9 2-4-5-6-9 3-4-5-8-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Handler suspects Tomodachi Kokoroe has ‘more to give’ as he lines up alongside stablemate Harmony N Blessed at the city circuit on Wednesday nightView the full article

A former Hong Kong jockey was charged in 1999 with raping an employee while his wife was away. Hung Wai-tak was found guilty, and sentenced to five years in prison for the attack.View the full article

What Ballarat Synthetic Races Where Ballarat Turf Club – 240 Kennedys Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 When Tuesday, May 21, 2024 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble The Ballarat Turf Club’s synthetic track will host its first meeting of 2024 this Tuesday afternoon, with eight races set down for decision. There is no rain on the forecast, but overcast conditions are predicted throughout the day. The rail will be in the true position, with racing scheduled to kick off at 1pm AEST. Best Bet at Ballarat: Miss Sunshine Miss Sunshine is yet to miss the top four from five starts and is coming off a credible fourth-place finish in Saturday grade at Morphettville on May 4. The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained filly led the field up but was run over in the concluding stages, only beaten by 1.2 lengths. Returning to her home track and dropping back to 1000m should prove to be the recipe for success, as Harry Coffey will find the front and lead every step of the way. Best Bet Race 8 – #6 Miss Sunshine (3) 3yo Filly | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Harry Coffey (57kg) +100 with Bet365 Next Best at Ballarat: Silent Alert Silent Alert returned from an 18-week spell with a gallant runner-up finish behind Valetudo at Benalla on May 7. The Leon & Troy Corstens-trained gelding settled behind the leader and eventual winner but couldn’t bridge the gap late. The son of Shamus Award will have taken a lot of improvement from his fresh run and should be ready to win in an easier race. Next Best Race 1 – #2 Silent Alert (6) 3yo Gelding | T: Leon & Troy Corstens | J: Ben Allen (58kg) +100 with Picklebet Best Value at Ballarat: Finance Legend After just holding them off to win at Horsham first-up over 1400m, Finance Legend rises to 1500m second and is expected to adopt similar tactics. With Jarrod Fry taking the reins, he will take this guy straight to the front. With only one other speed influence in the race, and a run under his belt, Finance Legend should get things his own way in the lead and prove hard to run down again. Best Value Race 5 – #3 Finance Legend (9) 3yo Gelding | T: Tom Dabernig | J: Jarrod Fry (61.5kg) +750 with Neds Ballarat Tuesday quaddie tips Ballarat quadrella selections Tuesday, May 21, 2024 2-3-5-6 1-2-3-5-6 2-3-4 3-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Pierre Ng continues to lead the Hong Kong trainers’ championship. Pierre Ng swept to his 100th Hong Kong winner and Ellis Wong notched his most important success when Taj Dragon forged to victory in the Class 1 Racing Heritage Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 May). In only his second season as a trainer, Ng took 1,033 runners across 159 meetings to reach a mark achieved faster by only John Size (113 meetings), Frankie Lor (137) and Ivan Allan (144) – to enhance hopes of landing the 2023/24 championship. Ng leads this season’s trainer standings with 59 wins from Francis Lui (56), Ricky Yiu (47), John Size (45), Tony Cruz (44), David Hayes (44), Caspar Fownes (44) and Danny Shum (43). “For a new team to win 100 races in two seasons is amazing. It’s well deserved for the team and I’m very happy with what we’re doing,” Ng said. “We don’t think about the 100 (wins) too much, we just tick along and try and get some more winners. Now, we can look for the next 100 maybe in the next two seasons.” Posting his sixth course and distance victory, Taj Dragon was ridden quietly by Wong, whose seven-pound claim proved decisive in staving off Atullibigeal by a short head in 1m 21.56s. “He (Taj Dragon) has won a few already this season and he got another one today, so it’s just brilliant. We thought it would be like a trial for him and if the weather was like it was, I just told Ellis to be patient in the straight and build him up. Luckily, we got to the front and got the result,” Ng said. “He always travels so well. He keeps winning more and more and hopefully he can win a few more for us this season.” Ng will set Taj Dragon, who won three two-year-old races in England for Karl Burke as Taj Alriyadh, for the Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m). Wong, 23, was delighted with the with the gelding’s latest win. “It’s my first Class 1. He’s a pretty nice horse. There were only six horses in the race and he got cover and the pace was comfortable for him and I thought he could win the race and he sprinted really well,” Wong said. “He tries really hard and I’m really happy.” Hugh Bowman took riding honours with a treble aboard The Winnabe, Sky Trust and Hong Kong International Sale graduate Patch Of Theta to snare his first three-timer since March 3 and take his season tally to 55 wins. “I had a few nice rides. I thought a couple of my horses ran under par, but certainly the first starter (The Winnabe) was no surprise for him to do what he did, Patch Of Theta was no surprise either – I thought he was my best ride for the day – and Sky Trust has got scope for more in store,” Bowman said. “I’m just delighted to have a few winners, I’ve been chipping away, going well but it’s my first multiple-win day for a while.” Size-trained The Winnabe downed fellow first-starter Super Infinity to claim the Class 4 Racing Passion Handicap (1200m). “Nice horse – very natural. He was aided by an advantageous draw (barrier two) today, but his trials have been good. He’s very sensible. We didn’t know what we were going to get when we asked for an effort but the response was very encouraging,” Bowman said. Bowman made it a double with three-year-old Sky Trust’s victory for Caspar Fownes in the Class 4 Sha Tin Clubhouse Handicap (1400m) before closing the meeting in style with Patch Of Theta’s triumph in the Class 3 Beijing Clubhouse Handicap (1400m). Derek Leung also had a fruitful afternoon, scoring aboard Jimmy Ting-trained Glory Elite in the Class 4 Racing Club Handicap (1200m) and Frankie Lor’s impressive Voyage Samurai, who continued an excellent season by winning the Class 3 Members Cup Handicap (1600m). By Dissident, Voyage Samurai improved his career record to three wins and two seconds from five starts before Strathpeffer slotted his first win at his 19th start for Chief Stipelas Whyte by clinching the Class 4 Beas River Country Club Handicap (1400m) under Matthew Chadwick. Full Credit continued to make strong progress for Mark Newnham by leading all the way under Lyle Hewitson in the Class 3 Levade Handicap (1200m) after Satirical Glory struck for David Hayes and Zac Purton in the Class 4 Hilltop In The Valley Handicap (1800m). Mr Good Vibes provided David Hall’s stable with its fourth winner from 11 starts with breakthrough success under Karis Teetan in the Class 5 Ownership Pride Handicap (1200m). Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (22 May). Horse racing news View the full article

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Warren Kennedy has made waves in the New Zealand jockey ranks since moving from his native South Africa, and now his wife, Barbara, is hoping to do the same as a trainer. The 32-year-old horsewoman has spent her life in racing and trained in South Africa for a few seasons before moving to New Zealand with her husband and children a couple of years ago. “I have been in the industry my whole life,” Kennedy said. “My Dad was a jockey for 24 years. When he retired, he became the course manager at one of the tracks in South Africa for 21 years. My sister went to the jockey academy and was an apprentice for a couple of years, but it didn’t work out for her. Our whole family is into racing, so I was born into it, it is in my blood.” Upon leaving school, Kennedy went to work in a racing stable and that is where she got hooked on the sport and decided she wanted a career in the industry. “I worked in the yard straight out of school. I had a really great opportunity with a trainer in South Africa where I ran his satellite yard in Durban where we had about 50 horses, and I was with him for four years. “That is where it hit me that that (training) is what I wanted to do, and I took out my own trainer’s license. I had my first daughter at that time, and I went into a training partnership with my brother, and I trained for three years. We were pretty successful, we had 59 winners in the three years, with one of those being hindered by COVID. “Warren then decided that we needed to get out of the country to give our girls a better life. It was always a goal to get back into it in New Zealand, we just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.” While Warren has been kicking goals in the saddle, Kennedy said she felt a bit lost in the early stages of their move to New Zealand, but found comfort in helping out Byerley Park trainers Peter and Dawn Williams. “It was really tough coming over here because I went from that busy lifestyle of training. Coming over here, Warren kicked off as normal and I sat at home not doing anything and I did get a bit depressed during those times,” she said. “It has been good to see him come here and do so well from the get-go. It is really difficult coming to a new country, but the amount of support that he has been given has been great. “Since we moved to New Zealand, they (Williams’s) had always been very good to Warren, and Warren has ridden a lot for them. They extended to come out to the yard with the girls and I did mornings there mucking out stables and we have become really close with Peter and Dawn, we have adopted them as our family here.” With Peter and Dawn Williams deciding to retire from racing at the end of the month, they approached Kennedy to see if she was interested in taking over their stable, and she has jumped at the opportunity. “We have become really close and we were chatting recently, and with this decision of them retiring, they thought I was young, willing to do it, so let’s give this a shot. “It is exciting. It has happened quite quickly, but we are taking this opportunity with both hands. I am grateful that Peter and Dawn have trusted me enough to hand everything over to me, so we will be forever grateful for that. “I officially start on the 1st of June. For the month of June, they will be around and I can bounce as many questions off of them as possible. “The majority of the clients have agreed to stay on with me, which is really positive. We will be getting in contact with all the clients during the next week or so and get to know everyone and get our career and relationship going.” In her time in New Zealand, Kennedy has noticed a few differences from racing in South Africa and is looking forward to tackling those challenges. “The tracks are the biggest one,” she said. “We are not used to racing over the winter season in such heavy going. That will be a big adjustment for me, getting used to running horses on these different tracks. We don’t travel as much as the horses here, our racecourses are fairly close to each other and there aren’t as many. “I have got Warren behind me, and Peter and Dawn, and I can give them a call whenever I have any questions, they are here to help me.” Kennedy said she is lucky to have family in New Zealand to help make the transition smoother. “We have two girls – Jamie, 5, and Ryleigh, 3,” she said. “We have got Warren’s family over here, so his mum is going to join us for a couple of weeks and help out with the girls.” While having a husband as the country’s leading jockey is a bonus, Kennedy said Warren will continue to have his priorities outside of the stable. “It is a bonus having Warren around, but he has got to keep his ties with Cambridge Stud,” she said. “As much as he will be a part of the yard, he won’t be tied down and he has to fulfil his own obligations to Cambridge. He will help me out as much as he can, but he will be keeping with his Cambridge connections.” In terms of what Kennedy is looking forward to the most with her return to training, the answer is easy – winning. “It is just getting back out there and getting the success with winners,” she said. “Everyone aims to win the big ones and they are definitely on my radar.” View the full article

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Just four and a half years after deciding he wanted to become a jockey, 25-year-old Jaime Torres reached the pinnacle of his sport as he guided Seize the Grey to victory in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1).View the full article

Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds boasts a diverse group of prospects for the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.View the full article

Cypress Creek Equine's Barksdale is set to make his stakes debut in the $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1), a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores on Belmont Stakes Day June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Baltimore, MD–The journey from the First Saturday in May through the Preakness can be an arduous one, fraught with activity and often times challenges that can try the most steady nerves. Young and old alike could be heard complaining about exhaustion by the time they made it through Preakness day, however, for some, it provided enough buoyancy to raise the Titanic. Such was the case with D. Wayne Lukas Sunday morning, the day after his colt Seize the Grey (Arrogate) wired the second jewel in the Triple Crown. Despite the haul, in addition to launching his day at 3 a.m., the 88-year-old was in good form, accommodating the periodic wave of visitors passing by the barn. And there was a definite twinkle in his eye. Something only a seventh Preakness win, and his 15th Classic overall, can inspire. “He looked really good [this morning],” enthused Lukas, seated in his customary spot outside the track room. “He was the first one out. He looked very sharp. I think he knew he won.” According to Lukas, both the Preakness winner, and Just Steel (Justify), would ship out of Baltimore Monday. Just Steel, fifth behind his stablemate, sustained a condylar fracture to his right foreleg during the race. Lukas indicated that the GI Belmont S., which will be held at Saratoga this year, was a likely target for Seize the Grey. “I would have to see a good energy level and that soundness, we would go,” he said. “If I had to make a decision today, we would go. But I'll give it a couple of days. That's just common sense.” He added, “He'll go back to Churchill before heading to New York, should it be decided to run in the Belmont. I'm sure that Todd [Pletcher] and Chad [Brown], with the depth they've got in their stables, will be involved. And that's their own backyard. Given the fact that it's a mile and a quarter, I think it makes it more enticing.” D. Wayne Lukas, Ned Toffey, Mark Toothaker and Bob Baffert | Christina Bossinakis Later in the morning, Kenny McPeek, seated on a tackbox with new-found celebrity Sonny afoot, was clearly a bit deflated following Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents)'s runner-up finish the day before. Despite the disappointment of having a possible Triple Crown run dashed, the trainer gave all the credit to the man who beat him. “He is amazing. He is super human,” he said of Lukas. “I don't see myself, at 88, doing what he is doing. No shot. He is fearless, and I think that is why he wins races like this. He has done it many times because he is so fearless. I have done it a few times myself, but not at the level he has done it.” Also making an appearance later in the morning (needless to say it was much later than Wayne's appearance Sunday), Bob Baffert arrived with his wife Jill to get a look at his own team, including Imagination (Into Mischief), who finished seventh at odds of 4-1. The colt was ridden by Frankie Dettori. “I talked to Frankie after the race. He broke really well. He said, 'In hindsight, I probably should have just gone.' It didn't work out. We'll just have to get him back home. But he came out of it well.” “I think I've finally figured out what he wants to do. I have been thinking about taking the blinkers off because he's been working so well sitting off a horse. We had that in our mind. He's still pretty immature. He just broke so well. I think if Frankie had to do it again, he would have just let him run. You live and learn. I don't know if we would have beat the winner, he was very good. But this horse still needs to catch up.” Baffert confirmed that Muth (Good Magic), who was scratched Wednesday after spiking a temperature, would remain a bit longer at Pimlico before shipping home. “He was supposed to leave Tuesday, but I am going to keep him here until Saturday, so I can make sure he's completely recovered,” said Baffert. During the course of the interview, Seize the Grey was pulled out of his stall so Spendthrift's Ned Toffey and Mark Toothaker could have a look at the Preakness winner. Without missing a beat, Baffert quipped, “Let me see why I didn't buy this horse.” The Wayne and Bob show had begun. “Let's get [bloodstock agent] Donato Lanni on the one so I can find out why we didn't buy this horse,” he said to ripples of laughter. Seize the Grey the morning after his Preakness win | Christina Bossinakis Baffert trained the colt's ill-fated sire Arrogate, who was named Champion 3-year-old Colt following wins in the GI Travers S. and GI Breeders' Cup Classic in 2016. Lukas has enjoyed success already with the sire, having most recently led Arrogate's initial Classic winner, Secret Oath, to victory in the 2022 GI Kentucky Oaks. Seize the Grey was purchased by Roderick Wachman on behalf of MyRacehorse for $300,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. To that point, Lukas said, “I have had so much luck with Arrogate. I probably would have endorsed the purchase because I've done so well with him.” He added, “He's really a well-conformed horse. He's a lovely horse that has a lot of balance to him.” After plenty of playful banter among the group, the two Hall of Famers often broke off into shop talk, unable to resist the chance to catch up. Baffert, who has been under plenty of fire since the disqualification of Medina Spirit from the 2021 Kentucky Derby, had been muted, largely avoiding speaking to the press, ever since. While not winning the Preakness Saturday, the trainer appeared in a notably lighter mood Sunday morning, enjoying the moment with a good friend while regaling the group with the trademark wit and sharp tongue that may have appeared to have been casualties of the past two years. However, both trainers appeared to take in the moment all morning, with Lukas summing things up with a playful jab at the media. “All of you came by here first today, but next time, none of you will,” he said. As one of his longtime fans, there was no mincing words. “Wayne, some of us will always stop by your barn first.” The post Lukas Basks In Preakness Afterglow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DeVaux won with all three of her runners on Friday's Black-Eyed Susan (G2) Day program—Pyrenees in the $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3), She Feels Pretty in the $100,000 Hilltop, and Shotgun Hottie in the $100,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff.View the full article

German raider Borna (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) ran out a comfortable winner of Sunday's G2 Premio 141 Derby Italiano at Capannelle Racecourse in Rome, his third win from five career starts for Markus Klug. Stepping up to the 2,200-metre trip for the first time, Borna proved well suited by the extra emphasis on stamina in a race run on soft ground. He was soon in a prominent position on the outer in the hands of Andreas Starke, with Amonet (Ity) (Faydhan) leading the 15-strong field until he was passed with 600 metres to run. Despite hanging right, Borna produced a strong run which took him to the front inside the final 400 metres and from there he quickly forged clear to secure the lion's share of the €640,200 prize fund at odds of 87-20. At the line, he was two and a half lengths clear of Andrew Balding's Royal Supremacy (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), with Caos Calmo (Ity) (Affaire Solitaire {Ire}) faring best of the locally-trained runners in third. Offered by Haras des Capucines at the Arqana October Yearling Sale, Borna sold to the HFTB Racing Agency for €20,000 and later made the perfect start to his career when winning a conditions race at Baden-Baden in August last year. He was then fourth in Germany's premier two-year-old race, the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne, before filling the runner-up spot in the G2 Premio Gran Criterium at San Siro. Returning from six months off in a conditions race back at San Siro in April, Borna relished the step up to 2,000 metres as he stayed on strongly to head Caos Calmo in the final strides. 141. Derby Italiano (G2) 2200m – 640 000 EUR Roma Borna(FR) (3C Saxon Warrior-Kingdom Come , by Kings Best) J: J: A. Starke T: M. Klug O :Darius Racing B :Haras D'Ecouves pic.twitter.com/k0c3aWKNC3 — (@WorldRacing1) May 19, 2024 Pedigree Notes Borna is the fifth Group winner for Coolmore Stud resident Saxon Warrior and the first from his second crop of three-year-olds. The standout performers from his first crop included the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road (Ire), G2 Blandford S. winner Lumiere Rock (Ire) and G3 Prix Greffulhe victor Greenland (Ire). Bred by Haras D'Ecouves, Borna is the second winner from four runners out of the King's Best mare Kingdom Come (Fr). She ran 18 times in France without managing to win a race, but there is nothing wrong with her pedigree as a half-sister to the G2 Prix Hocquart winner Top Trip (GB) (Dubai Destination) and the multiple G3 winner Believe In Love (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). Their dam, Topka (Fr) (Kahyasi {Ire}), was a black-type performer who finished third in the G2 Prix de Malleret as a three-year-old. Sunday, Rome, Italy PREMIO 141 DERBY ITALIANO-G2, €640,200, 5-19, Rome, 3yo, 2200mT, 2:17.20, gd. 1–BORNA (FR), 128, c, 3, by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) 1st Dam: Kingdom Come (Fr), by King's Best 2nd Dam: Topka (Fr), by Kahyasi (Ire) 3rd Dam: Tipsy Topsy (GB), by Ashkalani (Ire) 1ST GROUP WIN. (€20,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Darius Racing. B-Haras D'Ecouves/Frankreich (FR). T-Markus Klug. J-Andreas Starke. €247,350. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, €321,025. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Royal Supremacy (Ire), 128, c, 3, Make Believe (GB)–Adelasia (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB). 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (65,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Michael Blencowe. B-J O'Connor (IRE). T-Andrew Balding. €108,834. 3–Caos Calmo (Ity), 128, c, 3, Affaire Solitaire (Ire)–Eurirs (Fr), by Indian Ridge (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Elia Tanghetti. B-Rz Del Velino Srl (ITY). T-Stefano Botti Turf Srl Soc Al. €59,364. Margins: 2HF, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.35, 5.80, 10.40. Also Ran: Melfi (Ire), The Tweed (Ity), Chicotai (Ire), Dark Defence (Ire), Argentum (Ger), Man With The Plan (Ire), Amonet (Ity), Maturlo (Ire), Believer (Fr), Shahbazi (Ger), Thekingofmyheart (Ire), Bateau Blanc (GB). Click for the SNAI chart & video. The post Saxon Warrior’s Borna Proves Too Strong In Italian Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Believe it or not, trainer D. Wayne Lukas may grow old. But that cannot be said of the thrill he receives from winning a Triple Crown race.View the full article

Keeping five or six different people in the same ownership group happy can be a difficult task. Pleasing 2,570 owners is, well, a reason why there are medications for headaches.View the full article

In terms of positive momentum, the best result in the aftermath of every year's GI Preakness S. is for the GI Kentucky Derby winner to triumph again in Baltimore, setting up a potential Triple Crown bid that infuses the sport with a three-week burst of buoyancy leading up to the GI Belmont S. In the majority of years that doesn't happen, which is why the elusive Triple Crown is so special. So the next-best result is an exciting race with a compelling storyline. Saturday's 149th Preakness didn't quite deliver on the “exciting race” wish, either. Tactically, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown unfolded like a lot of eight-horse routes conducted over muddy conditions at any level of the game over any track in America: A 9-1 speed horse who relished the “off” going went straight to the front, contenders who were expected to press him either weren't up to the task or couldn't get good footing, and the hard-trying favorite, despite enjoying a no-excuse stalking trip, simply had too much work to do at the top of the stretch to reel in the mudlark. But the “compelling storyline” angle? The Preakness slammed this one out of the park. It's difficult not to crack a smile at the witticisms of 88-year-old Hall-of-Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas while feeling an appreciative glow for how, in the autumn years of a storied career, he's honed the overachieving Seize the Grey (Arrogate) into a Classics winner, mentored and motivated 25-year-old rookie rider Jaime Torres, and taken 2,570 MyRacehorse micro-share owners for the ride of a lifetime by orchestrating an upset for his seventh lifetime Preakness win, second-most by a trainer behind only Bob Baffert's eight. “The last one is always the sweetest,” is how Lukas led off his post-victory media conference. “The last girl you dance with is the one you take home.” Derby Bypass Pays Off… Lukas, whose throwback style includes racing his stock more often than contemporary trainers, laid the foundation for Seize the Grey's Preakness score by uncharacteristically passing on entering the Derby. Seize the Grey only had 27 qualifying points, and he would have been parked down on the also-eligible list as the likely third-preference to get into the race. “We'd have been running in the Derby if we'd have had the points,” Lukas explained. “It would give that many [micro-share owners] a chance to have a Derby entry. But if we'd have entered, we can't double-enter in Kentucky. So if we'd have entered the Derby and ended up [on the also-eligible list], which we would have, we wouldn't have been able to run in the [GII] Pat Day Mile [S.].” “So [MyRacehorse founder] Mike [Behrens] and I had to make a decision to skip the Derby, go to the Pat Day Mile, or we wouldn't have run anywhere. We'd have had to sit the whole Saturday out. I firmly believe that the Pat Day Mile put us in position to win the Preakness,” Lukas said. In that May 4 stakes on the Derby undercard, Seize the Grey stalked in a tight pack behind quick fractions under Torres, came with a four-wide bid, survived some bumping and split foes to win the Pat Day Mile at 9-1 odds. But was that win an outlier? In the lead-up to the Triple Crown series, Seize the Grey was a no-impact seventh in the GI Blue Grass S. at Keeneland and had run third with a wide bid over Tapeta in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. at Turfway. With Preakness mounts at a premium, Lukas was inundated with offers from more seasoned riders shortly after he declared Seize the Grey would be Baltimore-bound. “I had phone calls from about six agents that after he won the Pat Day Mile,” Lukas said. “It's a tough business, because they said, 'Well, you know, you're going to change riders for the big one, aren't you?'” But Lukas remained loyal to Torres, believing that the jockey, who had only been riding since August of 2022, deserved a shot at a Triple Crown race based on his raw talent and willingness to learn. “I said, 'Not a chance, he's staying right there,” Lukas recollected. Seize the Grey and Jaime Torres win the GII Pat Day Mile on Derby Day | Coady Media Coaching, Not Over-Coaching… Back on July 29, 2023, Torres, who had graduated from a jockey school in his native Puerto Rico before breaking in at Gulfstream, had been trying to make his mark as an apprentice at the ultra-competitive Saratoga meet. He was mired in a 1-for-22 slump when “The Coach” first named him to ride. The mount was a second-time starter shipping in from Ellis Park who looked overmatched on paper at 16-1 odds. That maiden colt was Seize the Grey, who wired a 6 1/2-furlong sprint in the slop. The win kick-started an upward arc for Torres, who ended 2023 as the leading apprentice rider on the New York circuit before giving Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds a go over the winter. Seize the Grey wintered at Oaklawn with Lukas, who had moved on to a different jockey. But when the Derby meet opened at Churchill, Lukas shipped there and began riding Torres again. The results weren't spectacular, but Lukas believed Torres had what it takes to compete at that demanding level. “He rode a few horses for me at Churchill and rode a few just general horses, nothing real special,” Lukas said. “I thought he had a lot of talent and I loved working with him, but I really feel good about taking him to this level. “A couple of weeks ago he rode one not so pretty, and I followed him all the way through the tunnel, all the way up the steps to the jocks' room, and I chewed him out,” Lukas said. “I said, 'You'll be back in Puerto Rico picking oranges if you're going to ride like that,” Lukas recalled, adding that he believes Torres remembered those words when he rode Seize the Grey with purpose in the Preakness. “I know that when he turned for home, that was echoing in his ears, that he'd better get down and scrubbing because I think it really hit home,” Lukas said. Lukas, over the years, has proven to be an effective coach primarily because he does not over-coach. “I don't get into the mechanics of riding so much, but I get into I want them to dedicate themselves beyond [their expectations],” Lukas said. “I want him to be better than he thinks he can be. I always push that to him: 'I'm going to push you. I want you to do more than you actually think you can do and I want you to be better than you think you can be. I want you to really, really dedicate yourself.'” “If you don't do that, get a job bagging groceries at the grocery store, because this is a tough, tough business and very competitive,” Lukas said. “I have to represent a number of owners, so when I put him on, I'm making a commitment that he's okay.” Late-Career Resurgence… The last time Lukas won the Preakness was in 2013 with the 15-1 Oxbow. One of the horses he beat that day was Goldencents, the sire of the 2024 beaten Preakness favorite, Mystik Dan. In the 11-year interim, it looked for a time like Lukas was fading off the Thoroughbred grid. In 2019, his stable managed only 15 wins. In the pandemic-altered 2020, Lukas barely earned $1 million in purses. Both figures paled in comparison to his gravy years of the 1980's and early 90s, when 200-300 trips to the winner's circle were common, and Lukas's annual purse earnings in the $10-to-17-million range routinely topped the sport. “D. Wayne off the plane!” was the catchphrase turf writers relied on to describe Lukas's mastery for shipping in to win major stakes races in bunches. “Now, what happened to me in that 11-year span?” Lukas asked rhetorically on Saturday. “I lost [owner] Bill Young of Overbrook. I lost Gene Klein of the San Diego Chargers. I lost Bob Lewis, and you can't replace those kind of people…” “You're only as good as your clientele,” Lukas continued. “If the clientele will back you, give you a chance to get in that yearling market. That's where we've always built our stable, in the yearling market…” “The thing about it is every time we've been lucky to win [the Preakness], it's been with a different client, and so that is what makes it special,” Lukas said. “That's what makes this one special, 2,000-plus [micro-share owners].” “That's what I get paid for, to let them live the dream,” Lukas said. Not only did the large MyRacehorse ownership group comprise a crowded winner's circle, but the phalanx of well-wishers wanting to make contact with Lukas made it difficult for him to reach the Preakness podium. “Boy, I'll tell you what. I didn't think we'd get up there,” Lukas said. “They really turned them loose. I've been in some cattle drives that were more organized than that. It was really chaotic…” “One of the things that was very significant to me today–and maybe it's because I'm getting a little bit older–but as I came out of the grandstand and out across the racetrack, every one of the guys that were in that race stopped and hugged me and give me a handshake,” Lukas said. “That meant more to me than any single thing. Baffert, Kenny McPeek, right down the line.” On Sunday morning, Lukas confirmed that Seize the Grey (100 Beyer Speed Figure) exited the Preakness in decent shape and would be pointed for the June 8 Belmont S., which because of a two-year reconstruction project at Belmont Park, will be conducted in 2024 and 2025 at Saratoga at the abbreviated distance of 10 furlongs instead of 12. There shouldn't have been much doubt about whether Lukas would be aiming for the third leg of the Triple Crown. All six of his previous Preakness winners entered the Belmont S., although Timber Country, who scratched the day before the 1995 edition with a fever, was the only one who didn't start. Tabasco Cat in 1994 was Lukas's only Preakness/Belmont doubler. Oxbow in 2013 ran second; Charismatic in 1999 was third; Winning Colors in 1988 finished sixth; Codex in 1980 was seventh. “It's a whole different deal,” Lukas said Sunday, speaking about the venue and distance change for the Belmont S. “I want to get a hold of the [New York Racing Association] race secretary and see how this thing will shake out and what the deal is. We'll get new faces. There are some guys sitting in the wings. I'm sure that Todd [Pletcher] and Chad [Brown], with the depth they've got in their stables, will be involved. The fact that it's a mile and a quarter, I think it makes it more enticing.” The post The Week In Review: Seize The Grey Won The Preakness; His Trainer’s Glow Illuminates The Sport appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

My Boy Prince, Canada's champion 2-year-old colt of 2023 and a leading King's Plate fancy, returned to the winner's circle with an authoritative victory in the King Corrie S. at Woodbine Sunday. Second in last year's GI Summer S. and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, the heavy favorite was returning to the synthetic surface for the first time since dominating in the Simcoe S. at Woodbine last August. He attended the pace of Maximus Magic (Maximus Mischief) through fractions of :24.38 and :47.82, took charge approaching the stretch and easily strode clear down the lane. “He's an easy horse,” jockey Sahin Civaci said of the winner. “Raffie [jockey Rafael Hernandez] did break sharper than my horse, but he is very versatile. He can sit off the pace and can be in the front. We had an easy pace up front and when it's time to kick, he sure does kick on. “I made sure I slept early to have energy for this race. It's great being back on him, I was looking forward to it. I've worked him a couple of times in the morning. I'm very pleased with him.” My Boy Prince, the C$115,000 sale-topper at the 2022 CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, broke his maiden over Woodbine's Tapeta surface last June before romping to a 14-length victory in the Aug. 27 Simcoe S. He was second in his first outing on turf in the Sept. 16 Summer S. and set a course record while winning the 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer S. in October before concluding his juvenile season with a third-place effort in the Breeders' Cup. In his first start of 2024, the gray colt was eighth in the 5 1/2-furlong Palisades S. at Keeneland Apr. 7. Canadian stakes winner Hopping Not Hoping produced a filly by Classic Empire this year. Her now 2-year-old, Athlete (Kitten's Joy), was exported to Great Britain after selling for $585,000 to China Horse Club and Qatar Racing at last year's Keeneland September sale. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. KING CORRIE S., C$114,200, Woodbine, 5-19, 3yo, 7f (AWT), 1:23.04, ft. 1–MY BOY PRINCE, 124, c, 3, by Cairo Prince 1st Dam: Hopping Not Hoping (SW), by Silent Name (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Delray Beach, by Harlan's Holiday 3rd Dam: Matter of Law, by Matter of Honor (C$115,000 Ylg '22 CANSEP). O-Gary Barber; B-Murray Graham Smith (ON); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Sahin Civaci. C$72,000. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 8-4-2-1, $485,038. 2–Roi Soleil, 118, c, 3, More Than Ready–Eden's Moon, by Malibu Moon. ($28,000 3yo '24 KEEAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Zilli Racing Stables; B-Al Shaqab Racing (KY); T-Steven Chircop. C$20,000. 3–Midnight Mascot, 122, c, 3, Army Mule–Midnight Embrace, by Midnight Lute. ($200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Manfred & Penny Conrad; B-Yvonne Schwabe Thoroughbreds (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$13,200. Margins: 6 3/4, 2HF, 1. Odds: 0.15, 10.50, 6.20. Also Ran: Maximus Magic, Break the Spell. The post Cairo Prince’s My Boy Prince Romps in Woodbine Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Cherie DeVaux, who won three stakes races on Black-Eyed Susan day Friday, took home the top prize of $50,000 in the Maryland Jockey Club's $100,000 trainer bonus competition held over the weekend at Pimlico. The first female trainer to earn the top honor, DeVaux took wins in the GIII Pimlico Special S, the Hilltop S. and the Allaire du Pont Distaff on Friday and finished with 34 total points over the two days of stakes racing, four more than runner up Steve Asmussen. Mike Trombetta finished third with 28 points and leading Maryland trainer Brittany Russell was fourth with 23 points. Bonus money was also awarded to trainers having the most points in non-stakes races on Friday and Saturday with Brittany Russell taking the top prize of $25,000 with 48 points ahead of Kieron Magee. The post Cherie DeVaux Tops Preakness Weekend Trainer Standings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article