Wandering Eyes

As California begins transitioning the hub of the state's Northern circuit from the permanently closing Golden Gate Fields (June 9) to Pleasanton (June 12-July 9 and Oct. 16-Dec. 25, with other county fair meets running in between), the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on Thursday greenlit the first meet in the expanded NorCal schedule after hearing an optimistic update from Larry Swartzlander, the executive director for the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF). “What I'm really enthused about is the fact that we have 1,150 stall applications, which is 200 more than we had last year,” Swartzlander said. “It's a good picture, and right now we're putting up new stalls [and] we're looking at 1,100 horses already coming by the end of the summer, so it's very positive in that vein. I feel very comfortable with that. We always want to have [horse population around] 700-750, and I think this year we'll make it.” Swartzlander explained that even as additional stalls are getting built at Pleasanton, CARF will utilize auxiliary stabling at Cal Expo to accommodate overflow. Average daily purses for 13 dates of racing at the first Pleasanton meet will be $160,000, Swartzlander said, terming that figure “a little bit less” than last year's comparable level of “about $170,000.” Golden Gate Fields | Shane Micheli, Vassar Photography Swartzlander told the CHRB of a recent recruitment trip he made to Turf Paradise in Arizona “to get the temperature of the owners and trainers on the backside” about competing in NorCal. “This year we do have quite a few [California-based] owners and trainers over there, because this year [Turf Paradise] made an agreement with the state on sports wagering,” Swartzlander said. “They received a significant amount of money for purses. So the purses actually were better than they were at Golden Gate. “But that will not be true with this [recently announced] three-year [Turf Paradise contract] extension,” Swartzlander said. “That money will no longer exist. They'll go back to the purse level that they had, which was probably 20 to 30% less than we have here on the fairs. “Do I look at them as competition?” Swartzlander asked rhetorically. “You know, they run through May and then shut down for the [California] fair meets. Then no, they're not any competition. We get a lot of these owners and trainers to come, and based on our recruitment over there, we did get two or three new trainers that have 50-60 horses in their stables that are coming over this year.” “And they like what they see is going on in the North,” Swartzlander summed up. “They see some stability. They see that we're going to take over racing. They've raced on the fairs before. They have trust in what we do, and I think it's going to be great.” Beyond polite prodding from commissioners about the stabling and purse details, no regulators or stakeholders voiced objections to or major concerns with Swartzlander's assessment of the situation. The post Upbeat Outlook For Pleasanton As NorCal Hub Shifts Away From Closing Golden Gate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The field for the GI Preakness S., ranked in “likeliest winner” order: 1) MYSTIK DAN (c, Goldencents-Ma'am, by Colonel John). O/B-Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby & 4G Racing, LLC (Ky); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-3-1-1, $3,650,050. Last start: WON May 4 GI Kentucky Derby. The Derby champ will go favored in the Preakness on Saturday after the scratch of 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic). This son of Goldencents upset the first leg of the Triple Crown at 18-1 odds. In the last three Derbies, three very different types of colts (Rich Strike, Mage, Mystik Dan) have won after executing perfect trips that not only demonstrated the deft skills of their jockeys, but the role that racing luck plays in determining which holes or seams in a 20-horse pack open to allow passage to the winner's circle. And while the last two Derby winners failed to win again at any level, there are plenty of upsetters who won at inflated mutuels in Louisville, then rolled into Baltimore and won again at much lower odds, in part because their Derby victories didn't take all that much out of them. Despite having to fight hard to win a three-horse photo, Mystik Dan could end up being just that type of colt. It the Derby, Mystik Dan broke on top and led through the first sixteenth before Brian Hernandez, Jr. conceded the lead and opted to rate at the rail, solidly surrounded by horses. Mystik Dan edged up five furlongs out, made it to within two lengths of the leaders a half-mile from home, then raced “on hold” through the far turn with no openings available to tip out. Off the far turn, Hernandez made his own space with a bold, now-or-never move, blasting through at the fence by shouldering aside a caving Track Phantom (Quality Road). Mystik Dan briefly opened up by two lengths three-sixteenths out, and although he was tiring in the final furlong with two onrushing closers threatening to swallow him up, this colt dug in and never quit, surviving a three-way bob. One concern about running back on two weeks' rest is that earlier this year, trainer Kenny McPeek was on record as saying that Mystik Dan does better with more spacing between his races. But McPeek also purposely skipped a prep race between Mystik Dan's eight-length blowout in the Feb. 3 GIII Southwest S. and a trip-troubled third in the Mar. 30 Arkansas Derby, with the stated goal of bypassing the GII Feb. 24 Rebel S. to “give us a little more confidence to come back in the Preakness.” Over the past week McPeek has disclosed that Mystik Dan–whom he has repeatedly described as a “smart” horse all season long–has been thriving since winning the Derby, and that all of his diagnostics (scoping, bloodwork, hydration and inflammation markers) have come back normal, accompanied by a robust appetite. The bottom line is that while Mystik Dan might look a little vulnerable on paper, you should think twice about betting against one of the more sensible, respected conditioners in the sport. According to DRF's Formulator, over the past five years McPeek's winning percentage with horses running back in 13-15 days is 16% (20-for-129), which is actually two percentage points higher than his overall strike rate of 14% (369-for-2,571). Tuscan Gold | The Stronach Group 2) TUSCAN GOLD (c, Medaglia d'Oro-Valadorna by Curlin). O-William H Lawrence, Walmac Farm & Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY) 'TDN Rising Star.' T-Chad Brown. Sales history: $600,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-1, $147,100. Last start: 3rd Mar. 23 GII Louisiana Derby. Trainer Chad Brown's previous two Preakness winners were both colts with three starts who had bypassed the Derby. Tuscan Gold fits that profile too, but he differs from Cloud Computing (2017) and Early Voting (2022) in that he's coming into the second leg of the Triple Crown off an eight-week hiatus instead of six. At 8-5, Tuscan Gold debuted as the heavier-favored of two Brown entrants in what turned out to be a “loaded” one-turn-mile MSW at Aqueduct Nov. 4. But while 4-1 stablemate Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) ended up winning that afternoon, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status, Tuscan Gold got a decent education out of the effort, absorbing bumping at the break that put him at the back of the pack before gaining five wide on the turn. He rallied to chase the top two before being outkicked late and finishing fourth. This son of Medaglia d'Oro garnered his own 'Rising Star' honors in start number two at Gulfstream Jan. 31, which was an off-pace, driving, short-stretch-configuration win going 1 1/16 miles. Start number three was when Tuscan Gold first started to get noticed as a potential “wiseguy” contender for a Triple Crown race. Drawn wide in post 10 of the GII Louisiana Derby, he was four wide on both turns while ambitiously up close to a moderate pace, and he unleashed a nice rally between the three-sixteenths and sixteenths poles before getting collared by two deep closers. Tuscan Gold ended up third, galloping out well and getting credited with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. Tuscan Gold didn't make the qualifying points cut for the Kentucky Derby. He was entered in last Saturday's GIII Peter Pan S. at Aqueduct, but Brown scratched him to run in the Preakness and was subsequently impressed with the colt's final pre-Preakness workout. 3) CATCHING FREEDOM (c, Constitution-Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile). O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-WinStar Farm (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Sales History: $575,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-0-1, $1,127,350. Last start: 4th May 4 GI Kentucky Derby. In the Derby, Catching Freedom got shuffled first time through the lane from post four, raced midpack near the inside, found a good far-turn spot at the fence to use as his late-race launch point, then followed the eventual winner up the rail. True to form, this colt tried hard through the final furlong. But Catching Freedom lacked the extra spark that would have put him on even terms with the front three in the run to the wire. He stayed on for fourth, beaten only 1 3/4 lengths. Catching Freedom | Jim McCue Catching Freedom earned a 97 Beyer, matching his winning number from the Louisiana Derby. Being a medium-framed stayer who doesn't seem to impose a pounding on himself contributed to trainer Brad Cox's decision to go on with him to Baltimore. But Catching Freedom also lends the impression that he's not going to suddenly reveal any new tactical wizardry in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. He resonates as a reliable, what-you-see-is-what-you-get closer. And that one sustained run doesn't earn him a blanket of Black-Eyed Susans without a little help from a Preakness pace meltdown on the front end. 4) IMAGINATION (c, Into Mischief-Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan & Tom Ryan; B-Peter Blum Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $1,050,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-3-0, $406,800. Last start: 2nd Apr. 6 GI Santa Anita Derby. The speed-centric Imagination has some appeal from the perspective that he has five races of experience around two turns, and in each of his last three races at Santa Anita he's engaged in prolonged stretch fights. Even though he lost two of those tussles, he's never been beaten by more than a neck at a mile or longer. The reason why this Into Mischief colt isn't ranked higher is that despite always being in the hunt until deep into his races, I can't quite figure out if he's a resilient sort who punches back when headed, or if he just likes to spar without sealing the deal. In each of his last two losses he held the lead in deep stretch but let a re-rallying rival get by him. Having said that, there are other aspects of Imagination's way of going could align to produce a big effort on Saturday. In the GI Santa Anita Derby, he forced the issue through a quick opening quarter (:22.72), made two moves at the leader on the far turn, then held the lead for most of the stretch while taking pressure from eventual winner Stronghold (Ghostzapper). But then again, the Santa Anita Derby wasn't a particularly fast race. Stronghold (who finished seventh in the Derby) and Imagination (who has been unraced since Apr. 6) shared 89 Beyers. And the :25.98 split for the fourth quarter of that stakes was the slowest clocking for a fourth quarter out of all nine 1 1/8-miles prep stakes on the Kentucky Derby qualifying calendar this season. The scratch of stablemate Muth brings this likely pacemaker one gate closer to the inside from his outermost-drawn post assignment. 5) JUST STEEL (c, Justify-Irish Lights {Aus}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}). O-BC Stables, LLC; B-Summerhill Farm (Ky); T-D. Wayne Lukas. Sales History: $500,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISP, 11-2-4-1, $724,545. Last start: 17th May 4 GI Kentucky Derby. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has described Just Steel as a big, robust colt who not only can withstand the rigors of frequent racing, but needs that seasoning to round into the performer that Lukas believes he can be. The Preakness will be Just Steel's 13th lifetime start, tied for the most in the field along with Mugatu (Blofeld). This son of Justify got bumped at the break of the Derby, engaged in a three-way duel, then capitulated to finish 17th. Lukas's assessment was that Just Steel was uncharacteristically aggressive in Louisville, and he indicated that he'd like to see a performance more along the lines of the colt's runner-up effort in the GI Arkansas Derby two starts back. In that Oaklawn stakes, Just Steel was always near the pace despite going four wide on the first turn, and he maintained a persistent (but not electrifying) run through the lane to finish capably behind the well-regarded Muth. Just Steel will also reunite with jockey Joel Rosario, who was aboard in the colt's 2-year-old season for his only two victories, over distances of 6- and 6 1/2-furlongs. Seize the Gray | Coady Media 6) SEIZE THE GREY (c, Arrogate-Smart Shopping by Smart Strike). O-MyRacehorse; B-Jamm, Ltd. (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. Sales History: $300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). Lifetime Record: GSW, 9-3-0-3, $619,938. Last tart: WON May 4 GII Pat Day Mile S. Seize the Grey stalked in a tight pack behind quick fractions (:22.12, :44;59, 1:09.48), came with a four-wide bid, survived some bumping, and split foes to upset the GII Pat Day Mile S. at 9-1 odds on the Kentucky Derby undercard. He earned an 88 Beyer, his lifetime best over a nine-race career that has spanned from 5 1/2 to nine furlongs. Prior to that he 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. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will be saddling his 47th and 48th Preakness starters on Saturday, a race that he has won six times. The last time Lukas won was in 2013 with the 15-1 Oxbow. One of the horses he beat that day was Goldencents, the sire of Mystik Dan. 7) UNCLE HEAVY (c, Social Inclusion-Expect Wonderful, by Tiz Wonderful). O-Michael Milam and LC Racing LLC; B-Barbara Reid (PA); T-Robert E Reid Jr. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-0-0, $323,580. Last start: 5th Apr. 6 GII Wood Memorial S. Uncle Heavy, a stout-framed colt befitting of his name, was hooked four- and three-wide around both turns of the GIII Withers S. back on Feb. 3. He advanced into third but still looked beaten 100 yards out, then closed with a surge to bob for the photo, earning both the win and an 84 Beyer. This Pennsylvania-bred son of Social Inclusion next attempted the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 6, but was a no-factor fifth after being parked in twelfth for the early stages of the race. He managed a seven-wide rally that picked off half the field, and although he raced alongside a horse who fell in upper stretch, the spill didn't directly affect his momentum. Uncle Heavy will get a jockey change to Irad Ortiz, Jr. for the Preakness. 8) MUGATU (Blofeld-Union Way, by Union Rags). O-Average Joe Racing Stables, Ltd. and Dan Wells. B-JSM Equine, LLC (Ky); T-Jeff Engler. Sales History: $14,000 '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 12-1-1-3, $80,570. Last start: 5th in GI Blue Grass S. Mugatu | Jim McCue Mugatu was on the also-eligible list for the Derby but failed to draw in. He sports only a maiden victory from 12 starts, and if he upsets the Preakness, it will mark exactly six months since his only other trip to the winner's circle, in a mile and 70-yard Tapeta try at Gulfstream. Joe Bravo rode him that day, and will be aboard again in Baltimore after not having ridden Mugatu since. In his last start, Mugatu finished fifth in the Blue Grass S. at 181-1 odds. The most optimistic line in Mugatu's recent form was actually an eighth-place try, in which he was only beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the Rushaway S. over Tapeta at Turfway two starts back. The winner of the Rushaway, Trikari (Oscar Performance), orchestrated a 47-1 shocker in the GII American Turf S. on the Derby undercard two weeks ago. The bulk of Mugatu's racing experience has been on turf or Tapeta. His only three tries on dirt have yielded fourth-, fifth- and sixth-place finishes. The post TDN Preakness Preview: Muth’s Scratch Plays In Favor of Derby Hero Mystik Dan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Training legend Barry Purdon remembers the moment he decided to launch his renaissance. It was eight years ago when the Hall of Fame trainer with nothing left to prove, decided he was sick of watching other trainers win the races he wanted to. “I wasn’t enjoying being beaten,” says Purdon, “I have had a great career but I knew I wasn’t finished and I had a good young training partner in Scott (Phelan) and a wonderful team around us. “But were weren’t winning the major races as much as I would have liked and I thought that came back to the horses we were buying. “So I decided to be more active at the sales, go after the ones we wanted, within reason. “I knew if we did that and trained them well and looked after them like we always have we could get the results I wanted.” That strategy started a snowball effect that has become an avalanche of winners at the highest level this season. He and Phelan have won a feature race most weekends they have contested one this year, with the team’s stars winning over $2million worth of races since December. It doesn’t quite rival Purdon’s record-breaking days when he would take NZ and Auckland Cup winners and Miracle Mile heroes Chokin and Christopher Vance to the races in the same float. But allowing for the changing nature of trans-Tasman harness racing and the horses he has on his South Auckland property, Purdon is training as well as he ever has in his storied career. “You need the horses but you also need the people,” he explains. “Scotty is now such a big part of the partnership it almost doesn’t need pointing out anymore but we have great staff right across the board. “Then we have bought a lot of the horses we want for good owners and Dean (Shannon) has come on board and been a wonderful supporter.” So is Purdon training any differently as he approaches 70 next year? “Not really. I stick to the same fundamentals as I always have but I know we look after our horses very well. “They all get walked in the afternoon, brushed until they shine and well fed. “We still feed oats like we used to in the old days but these days they are mixed in more with pre-made feeds, which are very good. “But the basics are still the same. Look after the horses and they will look after you.” The results are staggering and that run should continue at Alexandra Park tonight as Duchess Megxit is red hot for the $140,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Final. “She is a very good filly and has a perfect draw so she has to be hard,” says Purdon. Opening at $1.85, Duchess Megxit was $1.65 before key rival All You Need Is Me was withdrawn, then shortened into $1.28 and could start $1.15 tonight. Merlin and Sooner The Better are in the paddock and Mach Shard waiting for next week’s Auckland Cup so the Purdon/Phelan stable can’t win the $50,000 Roy Purdon, named after Barry’s legendary father. But they can win the $50,000 Young Guns Trot, with Barry saying there is little between Meant To Be (stronger) and Higher Power (better manners). Don’t Stop Dreaming is the obvious in the Roy Purdon if the race is run to suit but any of the eight starters could win depending on standing start manners, a rarity in open class pacing. Muscle Mountain has the class and form edge even off a 15m handicap in the $60,000 Anzac Trot while whoever ends up in front out of Paramount Kiwi and Empire City after 400m of the Sires’ Stakes Trot will hold the aces. Barry Purdon (and Scott Phelan’s) amazing last 5 months : Dec 10, 2023: $250,000 NZ Derby (Merlin); $110,000 Ace of Diamonds (Duchess Megxit) January: Largely no feature harness racing. Feb 16, 2024: Alex Park feature pace with Mach Shard; beaten a nose in both 3-year-old Harness Millions March 1: $55,000 Alabar Classic (Cold Chisel). March 9: A$100,000 Ainsworth Free-For-All at Menangle (Merlin) March 22: $200,000 Northern Derby (Cold Chisel) April 4: $60,000 Cambridge Flying Mile (Merlin) April 12: $1million Race by Grins (Merlin) April 19: Won three age group races in one night at Alex Park April 26: $110,000 Taylor Mile (Mach Shard at $155) May 3: $110,000 Messenger Pace (Mach Shard at $21). View the full article

Last year's Grand National hero Corach Rambler (Ire) (Jeremy) has been retired, trainer Lucinda Russell announced on Thursday. Corach Rambler won seven of his 18 career starts under Rules, with his other notable victories including back-to-back editions of the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022 and 2023. He also finished third in the Gold Cup on his most recent appearance at Prestbury Park in March, before unseating jockey Derek Fox at the first when trying to win the Grand National for the second year in succession. Having followed that mishap with a laboured effort when pulled up in the Punchestown Gold Cup, the decision has now been taken to call time on the career of a 10-year-old who is set to remain at Russell's Kinross yard in his retirement. “After a lot of thought and discussion we have decided that our brilliant 2023 Grand National winner Corach Rambler is going to be retired,” Russell told her website, www.lucindarussell.com. “In some ways the decision is laced with sadness. Corach has been a horse of a lifetime for his seven-strong syndicate of owners who won the greatest steeplechase in the world. He also has had a special relationship with our jockey Derek Fox and has brought so much joy to all our staff here at Arlary. “But the decision is also a joyous one. Corach Rambler will always be a special horse for us, we owe him so much. More than anything we want him to go out at the top, in excellent physical condition and able to hopefully enjoy a long and happy retirement.” The post Russell Announces Retirement Of Grand National Winner Corach Rambler appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Understandably, life since winning the Kentucky Derby would not be described as normal for Sharilyn Gasaway. Mystik Dan's scintillating triumph in the first leg of the Triple Crown has thrown Gasaway's life for a curve literally and figuratively. View the full article

The conference is hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Stoll Keenon Ogden, and The Green Group. The panel was sponsored by OCD Pellets.View the full article

1st-Belmont The Big A, $87,300, Msw, 5-16, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:06.12, my, 9 lengths. DELIGHTFUL FLAME (f, 2, Flameaway–Delightful Mary {Ch. 2yo Filly & GSW-Can, MSW & GISP-US, $588,055}, by Limehouse) was smashed into 7-10 favoritism for her Gulfstream debut Apr. 12, but was off to an awkward beginning and never reached contention en route to a distant sixth-place finish. The 3-2 second choice–with $685 on her nose less than the well-meant Moonlight Promises (Promises Fulfilled)–the homebred hit the ground running in this rained-off contest and was soon joined to her outside by the post-time favorite. Matching motors around the turn, it was clear that Delightful Flame was going the better of the two as they reached the stretch and she pulled readily clear in the rain-affected conditions to score by a distance. It was another five lengths back to Triple Sweet (Big Brown) in third. A $500,000 OBS April juvenile, Delightful Mary was the Sovereign Award-winning 2-year-old of her generation in 2010, having finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Delightful Mary is a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris), GSP Honour the Deputy (Honour and Glory) and to Chesutoke Rose (Uncle Mo), the dam of Japanese MSW & MG1SP Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Delightful Flame is the most recent live produce for her dam. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $49,900. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-John C Oxley (KY); T-Wesley A Ward. DELIGHTFUL FLAME lights up the track, breaking her maiden impressively under @ljlmvel for trainer Wesley Ward. pic.twitter.com/Thha8i4QzL — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) May 16, 2024 The post Flameaway Filly Delightful Flame Frolics In The Mud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bidding opens Sunday, May 19 for Box B30, a second floor Saratoga Clubhouse finish line two-seater for the 2024 Belmont Stakes Festival, which is being auctioned off over the course of 10 days by The Jana Domino Foundation, the non-profit said in a Thursday press release. The box was donated by Lynwood 'Doc' O'Cain with the cooperation of the New York Racing Association. Proceeds from the auction will be used to fund the organization's work in supporting Thoroughbred aftercare, the PDJF and the children of backstretch workers. “Words cannot express my gratitude to Doc O'Cain,” said Carl Domino, founder of the Jana Domino Foundation. “His generosity in helping the foundation raise funds during the Belmont Festival, for the causes that were important to my late daughter Jana is a wonderful opportunity. “Any seat at the Belmont Stakes in 2024 is coveted, and this box is the ultimate place to watch the races as Doc always did with his late wife, Suzie. With the money we raise, we will make sure that more Thoroughbreds are enjoying a happy and safe retirement or second career.”' Click here to register for the auction. The post Jana Domino Foundation To Auction Box For Saratoga Belmont Stakes Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kenny McPeek's 2020 Preakness Stakes (G1) victory with the filly Swiss Skydiver does not have any kind of symbol attached to it, but it was the most unique running of the middle jewel in the Triple Crown. View the full article

International standout dirt runner Kabirkhan, a flesh-and-blood example of the adage that a good horse can come from anywhere, has arrived in the United States where he'll be conditioned by multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox.View the full article

Aidan O'Brien's Gold Cup picture will be a lot clearer by Friday night, with the 2022 hero of that Royal meeting's feature Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G3 Red Sea Turf H. and G2 Dubai Gold Cup winner Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in action across the Irish Sea. The latter, who is beginning to fulfil his TDN Rising Star tag over staying trips, takes aim at the York Dante festival's G2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup before Ryan Moore flies to Leopardstown to steer Kyprios to an almost inevitable success in the G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. Tower Of London faces stiff opposition in the Yorkshire Cup, with the prolific group winner Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) looking to provide Yorkshire-born William Haggas with an emotional victory and Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), compatriot Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), last year's winner Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) all similarly unexposed in the staying category. Ryan Moore said of Tower Of London, “I always thought a lot of him at three, but he is really blossoming now. He shaped very much like a group one-winning stayer in waiting when winning at Meydan last time, so I'd hope and expect he will be going close here even under his three-pound penalty.” Kyprios, who gave all the right signals when winning on his seasonal bow in Navan's Listed Vintage Crop S. last month, is following a tried-and-trusted route back to the Gold Cup and Aidan O'Brien said, “I've been very happy with him so far this year. He did really well to come back at all last year after his injury and to get two runs into him was a credit to the team.” The post Ballydoyle Stayers Out In Force On Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-BAQ, $90k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, post time: 1:05 p.m. ET SHINY LURE (Catalina Cruiser) was hammered down to Jonathan Thorne's Thorndale Farm for $320,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, making her the most expensive of her sire's 68 youngsters reported as sold that season (86 through the ring). Debuting with Lasix for the usually patient Danny Gargan barn, the chestnut is out of 2009 GII Forward Gal S. winner Frolic's Dream (Smoke Glacken), whose daughter Bode's Dream (Bodemeister) was a dual stakes winner as a juvenile. Frolic's Dream is also the dam of Grade III-placed Wyeth (Candy Ride {Arg}). Making a belated first career start is Refuse to Lose (Union Rags), a half-sister to Australian MGSP and Canadian GSP Victory Kingdom (Aus) (Animal Kingdom), whose dam Victory Party is a Yankee Victor half-sister to Into Mischief and Beholder. TJCIS PPs 3rd-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, post time: 1:43 p.m. ET D J Stable and trainer Mark Casse have been on a roll of late with juvenile firsters and look to stay hot with ACHIEVE (Justify). A $525,000 of last year's Keeneland September Sale, the Apr. 20 foal is out of a winning full-sister to MGSP Stellar Sound (Tapit) and a half to SW Smart As Me (Malibu Moon) and GISP 'TDN Rising Star' Luminance (Tale of the Cat). The four-time Grade I-winning third dam Versallies Treaty (Danzig) produced GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner George Vancouver (Henrythenavigator) and GSW/GISP Saarland (Unbridled). Tracy Farmer's La Cara (Street Sense) is out of a full-sister to MGISW To Honor And Serve (Bernardini) and GISW Angela Renee (Bernardini) and a half to SW/GISP Elnaawi (Street Sense). Under the third dam is dual-surface Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}). Anakarina (Vekoma) is kin to MGSW & MGISP Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft) as well as SP Mucho Macho Girl (Mucho Macho Man). TJCIS PPs The post Friday Insights: Expensive Catalina Cruiser Filly Gets Going For Gargan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Owners and previous owners of former racehorses in the UK are encouraged to participate in a new survey launched by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) on Thursday. The purpose of the survey is to find out the different factors that influence a successful outcome in rehoming racehorses. It is part of the RVC's wider 'Life After Racing' project, which seeks to improve understanding of retraining and rehoming former racehorses by outlining the processes involved in rehoming and assessing the different factors that influence a former racehorse's suitability for entry into a second career. The survey is available online here. The post Rehoming Survey For Former Racehorses Launched By Royal Veterinary College appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dalham Hall Stud's first-season sire Pinatubo (Ire) was off the mark on Thursday as his son Andesite (GB) battled to success in York's Frank Whittle Partnership ebfstallions.com Novice S. Sent off the 7-2 second favourite for the six-furlong test, Clipper Logistics' half-brother to the G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Temple S. winner Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) travelled notably strongly behind the leading duo early but looked booked for second as Yah Mo Be There (GB) rolled by in his bid to become the first winner for his sire Mohaather (GB). It was not until the dying strides that the Karl Burke trainee edged ahead and at the line the margin was a short head, with 3 1/2 lengths separating two smart colts and the remainder. TWO smart juveniles Pinatubo colt Andesite proves tough in the finish as he edges out the hanging Yah Mo Be There, with the pair clear. Both are likely to be Royal Ascot-bound.@karl_burke pic.twitter.com/SATNTHitXh — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 16, 2024 The post First Winner For Pinatubo At York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), the champion of the GI Kentucky Oaks, returned to the Churchill Downs work tab Thursday with a half-mile breeze in :48 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle, according to a track press release. Owned by Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing, the filly began her training session soon after the track opened at 5:30 a.m. ET. Clocker John Nichols reported that the Kenny McPeek trainee covered an opening quarter-mile in :24 and continued her work past the wire, galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.60. Per her conditioner, the 3-year-old will target the June 7 running of the GI Acorn S. at Saratoga, which is part of the Belmont Stakes Festival. The post Kentucky Oaks Heroine Thorpedo Anna Returns To Work Tab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was a proper Yorkshire feel to the winner of the Dante S., from breeder to trainer. William Haggas was absent from the Knavesmire but loves nothing more than having a winner at York, and Economics (GB), like his trainer, was born and bred in the county. The strapping son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) was bred by one of Yorkshire's finest farms, Copgrove Hall Stud, from a family nurtured by the late Guy Reed, who bred the colt's first three dams. Copgrove Hall Stud manager Brian O'Rourke was all smiles after the race, standing in the company of Adrian O'Brien of Hazelwood Bloodstock, who pinhooked Economics as a foal. O'Rourke said, “Guy Reed bred and raced his dam, and her sire Peintre Celebre was also raised on the stud by the Wildensteins. “Andre Fabre trained the mare and she was a Group 2 winner. Guy said 'Please breed her for me', but she's had no luck. She had a dead foal and she had produced one winner before this guy. I loved him as a foal and Adrian bought him for 42,000gns and then sold him to Jake Warren for 160,000gns as a yearling.” He added, “Guy would have loved this – winning the Dante. He would be so proud. He won the Ebor but this is wonderful. This is what it's all about.” O'Rourke confirmed that Economics's dam La Pomme d'Amour (GB), who won back-to back runnings of the G2 Prix de Pomone, is now in foal to Stradivarius (Ire), and her current yearling by Nathaniel (Ire) was sold at last year's December Sales. “We're trying to breed racehorses, not sales horses,” he said. The post ‘Guy Would Have Loved This’: Yorkshire Breeding Triumph in the Dante appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

York's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. played host to one who put some pyrotechnics into the current season on Thursday, but there was a twist in the tail at the end of the Derby's premier trial as the impressive Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–La Pomme D'Amour {GB}, by Peintre Celebre) will not be at Epsom on the first Saturday in June. Off the mark over a mile at Newbury last month, Isa Salman Al Khalifa's 160,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 purchase had been removed from the Blue Riband entries by William Haggas to avoid any temptation to run the colt judged too physically imposing for the Classic. Making a mockery of a Dante which boasted Godolphin's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), the flashy chestnut was held up at the back early by Tom Marquand and allowed to saunter to the front in his own time two out. From there it was exhibition stuff as the 6-1 shot surged to the line despite drifting left out in the clear, registering a six-length winning margin over the disappointing 7-4 favourite Ancient Wisdom, with TDN Rising Star War Rooms (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) half a length away in third. “To be honest I couldn't really believe it, I just thought he had so much to learn after Newbury but that was a mile and obviously going up on trip was always going to help,” Marquand said. “When I lit his fuse, he was electric and did it a lot faster than I anticipated and hit the front too soon. I think he's a very talented horse, he's still learning on the job as he just had a wander when he hit the front, but he's exciting for the future.” “He looked pretty good today and beat probably the best there is around at the moment,” Maureen Haggas said. “William has always liked him a lot, but he's a very big horse who has needed time and still looked very babyish there so there is still a fair bit of improvement. We'll see how he is and there will be a discussion about where he goes, but I'm not convinced he'll stay a mile and a half. The more racing ha has, the sharper he will become and a mile and a quarter is probably his trip.” “The Derby is the one we all want to win and we'd love to win it again, but we have a very nice horse and there are a lot of other nice races to win,” she added. “We need to make sure he stays a nice horse and that has to be the priority. We took him out because we didn't think he'd stay and I'm still not sure he would. You've got to be switched on to go around Epsom, it's a big ask for any horse and he's an inexperienced, big baby.” Pedigree Notes Economics, who had been fourth on his sole juvenile start behind the subsequent Listed Prix Herod winner and G3 Greenham S. runner-up Zoum Zoum (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) over seven furlongs at Newmarket in November, is the sixth foal out of La Pomme D'Amour who captured two renewals of the 12 1/2-furlong G2 Prix de Pomone. This is a family nurtured by the aforementioned Guy Reed, who had many successes at this track down the years including with relatives of one of his first good colts Warpath (GB) who features in this pedigree. Other Reed colour-bearers on the page are Warpath's half-brother Dakota (Ire), who captured the venue's flagship Ebor H., and the group performer Apache (GB) trained at Reed's Spigot Lodge. La Pomme D'Amour also has a yearling colt by Nathaniel (Ire) who was a bargain 19,000gns purchase by Midland Equine at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. What a performance! Economics runs out a thrilling winner of the @ABE_Dubai Dante Stakes in the manner of a very exciting colt for @TomMarquand, @WilliamHaggas and Isa Salman Al Khalifa pic.twitter.com/MRGgn1IH9s — York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 16, 2024 Thursday, York, Britain AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI DANTE S.-G2, £192,200, York, 5-16, 3yo, 10f 56yT, 2:09.30, gd. 1–ECONOMICS (GB), 128, c, 3, by Night Of Thunder (Ire) 1st Dam: La Pomme D'Amour (GB) (MGSW-Fr, $313,702), by Peintre Celebre 2nd Dam: Winnebago (GB), by Kris (GB) 3rd Dam: Siouan, by So Blessed (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (42,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 160,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Copgrove Hall Stud (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £108,997. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $152,256. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Ancient Wisdom (Fr), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Golden Valentine (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). TDN Rising Star. (€2,000,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & LNJ Foxwoods (FR); T-Charlie Appleby. £41,323. 3–War Rooms (Ire), 128, c, 3, Churchill (Ire)–Apticanti, by Aptitude. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. (200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Brook Farm Bloodstock; B-Lynch Bages & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £20,681. Margins: 6, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 6.00, 1.75, 25.00. Also Ran: Cambridge (Ire), God's Window (GB), Caviar Heights (Ire), Al Musmak (Ire). The post Night Of Thunder’s Economics In A Class Of His Own In The Dante appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juddmonte's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}–Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) had failed to get her nose in front since attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status at Salisbury in September 2022, but bounced back from six straight stakes defeats to outshine all four rivals with a dominant display in Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York. Positioned in a handy third through the halfway mark of this extended 10-furlong contest, the 5-2 second favourite loomed large racing hard on the steel approaching the quarter-mile pole and powered clear once seizing control with a furlong remaining to easily account for 15-8 chalk Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' Infinite Cosmos (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by six lengths and a neck. “It's about time, isn't it?” said trainer Ralph Beckett. “She was a bridesmaid too many times last year and it's great to get that race under our belt. She has been frustrating and I said to [Juddmonte's] Barry Mahon yesterday that I felt we'd done everything right, but you never know with her. I thought she looked well all week and saddling her I thought she could have looked better, but she's put it all together well today on a track that really suits her. She ran well here in the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks last year and I was quite happy to come back even if the ground did dry out. We tried the cheekpieces on her last start last year and had them on again. I always think the cheekpieces are pretty much a halfway house, you can take them off pretty easily and put them on pretty easily, and I don't think she'll always need them. Perhaps she's just come of age today and we had all of our ducks in a row. She was full of confidence and Rossa [Ryan] rode her that way.” Looking ahead, Beckett added, “We're well entered up and we'll work it out as we go along, I think. The [G1] Coronation Cup is a possibility, but it's quite soon. We'll have a think and see how she comes out it. All options are open.” Last year's winner Free Wind was put firmly in her place by the winner, but John Gosden was far from downcast in defeat. “She stayed on nicely, but she needs the mile-and-a-half now,” the trainer commented. “She's that bit older, she's won a [G2] Park Hill over a mile-and-six, so I was very happy with that run. She was doing all her best work in the last furlong, the [G2] Lancashire Oaks at Haydock is the obvious race, but this is the only one you can run in early in the year, so we'll step her up. She only just got up to win this last year, but this year the winner has improved mightily from three to four. I was delighted with our filly, she got beaten a nose in the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks last year and we'll try that again, but we're likely to meet this filly [Bluestocking] there. She's won a Group 2 the last three seasons and the idea is to get a Group 1 this year.” Pedigree Notes Bluestocking, the fifth of eight foals, is the leading performer from four scorers out of G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}), herself a full-sister to G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron victor First Sitting (GB) and Listed Criterium de Vitesse victrix Daring Diva (GB). Daring Diva, in turn, is the dam of three black-type performers headed by G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. and G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud S. victrix Brooch (Empire Maker), herself the dam of GI Haskell S. hero and upgraded GI Kentucky Derby second Mandaloun (Into Mischief). Descendants of her stakes-placed second dam Aspiring Diva (Distant View) also include Group 3-winning GI Canadian International runner-up Alounak (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). The February-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to the unraced 2-year-old gelding Dissident (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and a yearling filly by Kingman (GB). Thursday, York, Britain AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI MIDDLETON FILLIES' S.-G2, £150,000, York, 5-16, 4yo/up, f, 10f 56yT, 2:09.80, gd. 1–BLUESTOCKING (GB), 128, f, 4, by Camelot (GB) 1st Dam: Emulous (GB) (G1SW-Ire, $528,533), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Aspiring Diva, by Distant View 3rd Dam: Queen Of Song, by His Majesty 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. TDN Rising Star. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Rossa Ryan. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 8-2-4-1, $459,218. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Free Wind (Ire), 128, m, 6, Galileo (Ire)–Alive Alive Oh (GB), by Duke of Marmalade (Ire). (325,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-George Strawbridge; B-Mrs Sue Ann Foley (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £32,250. 3–Infinite Cosmos (Ire), 128, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Waila (GB), by Notnowcato (GB). TDN Rising Star. O-Anthony & David de Rothschild; B-South Court Stud (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £16,140. Margins: 6, NK, NK. Odds: 2.50, 1.88, 7.00. Also Ran: Sapphire Seas (GB), Caernarfon (GB). Scratched: Novus (Ire). Bluestocking, a two-time runner-up at Group 1 level, makes a fine start to her four-year-old career with a big performance in the @ABE_Dubai Middleton Stakes. Many congratulations to @Rossaryan15, @RalphBeckett and @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/wLXCJDgU8w — York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 16, 2024 The post Camelot’s Bluestocking Powers to Impressive Middleton Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Big Pond was a big deal at Santa Anita Park over the winter, winning the Feb. 18 Spring Fever Stakes after a nose defeat when second in the Dec. 26 La Brea Stakes (G1). Now, she races May 18 in the $175,000 Vagrancy Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here is one horse of interest for this Saturday running at Kyoto Racecourse: Saturday, May 18, 2024 1st-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m BEL DINAH PHAROAH (JPN) (f, 3, American Pharoah–Gianna Schicchi, by War Front) is out of a half-sister to His Highness The Aga Khan's Shareta (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), runner-up to Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) in the 2011 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and winner of the G1 Prix Vermeille the following season. Gianna Schicchi was unplaced in two starts and was offered with this filly in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, but was led out unsold on a bid of $275,000 and subsequently changed hands privately. The mare is also related to the stakes-placed Shazand (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), Londres (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Shaywan (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}). The deeper female family includes fellow Vermeille and G1 Irish Oaks winner Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), the dam of 2012 G1 St Leger hero Encke (Kingmambo). B-Tsuji Bokujo The post American Pharoah Filly Down To Debut at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Equine nutritional best practices from foals to racehorses was covered in the third panel of the 2024 OwnerView webinar series held May 14, said co-hosts The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association via a press release Thursday morning. The virtual panel consisted of trainer Cherie DeVaux; Anthony Koch, Hallway Feeds; Dr. Joe Pagan, Kentucky Equine Research; and Bradley Purcell, Claiborne Farm. The guests discussed everything from the feeding late pregnant mares to the importance of water and hay intake. Click here to watch a replay of the Q&A, and here to access previous sessions. Seven additional virtual panels are scheduled for the remainder of the year. The next session covering “Horseman's (Owner) Relations & Owner Liability.” will be held June 11 at 2 p.m. ET. The post Equine Nutrition Focus Of Latest OwnerView Virtual Panel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainer Graham Motion on the industry's safety efforts.View the full article

Promising apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll can’t wait to make the most of his opportunity on one of New Zealand’s fastest horses at Trentham on Saturday. Lawson-Carroll, who is apprenticed to Shaun Clotworthy in South Auckland, will ride the Ben Foote-trained Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) in the open sprint, with his 2kg claim reducing the Group One performer’s impost from 62kg to 60kg for the Happy 80th Birthday Garry Chittick 1100. A multiple Stakes winner, Babylon Berlin has four times placed at the elite level, including a narrow defeat in last season’s Telegraph at Trentham, going down by a long neck behind Levante (NZ) (Proisir). Lawson-Carroll has ridden sprinters the quality of Group One winner Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy) and Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) on race day in the past, but said he is excited at the prospect of partnering Babylon Berlin. “My boss Shaun is good mates with Ben Foote and that’s helped secure the ride and my riding is going well and I’d like to think that’s been a factor in me getting on her as well,” Lawson-Carroll said. “It’s a great opportunity for me. Hopefully now she can win. She’s got a lot of black type to her name and drawn well on Saturday, she should be right there and hopefully find a good kick on the turn. “She’s a mare who looks to get out and get going and I don’t think the weight is going to be that much of an issue.” Foote is expecting a forward showing from Babylon Berlin, confident his stable star is well recovered from a throat infection and an eye ailment. “Everything seems good with her. She seems back to 100 per cent,” he said. “We had that throat issue and she got a bit of bacteria in her eye and that took a bit to recover, so we’ve just taken our time. “Unfortunately, she’s ready at not the best time of the year and there’s not really a lot around, hence why she’ll head down to Trentham. “We’ll just go race by race with her. She might have one or two races and then we could freshen her up and get ready for the spring or if she did race well at Trentham, we could look overseas. But we’re not making any decisions till after Saturday.” Later on the card, Lawson-Carroll will get the chance to secure his first Stakes win when he rides Lincoln Falls (Dundeel) for Palmerston North-based trainer Lisa Latta in Saturday’s feature, the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup (1600m). “I really like Lincoln Falls in the Stakes race. He’s been running some really nice races and is in good form going into this one,” Lawson-Carroll said. “Lincoln Star should be a good chance in the Rating 75 stayers race earlier in the day for the same stable too.” Lawson-Carroll, 19, is in his third full season of riding and is approaching 50 wins. He is ambitious but wants to ensure he gets a thorough grounding in riding before spreading his wings. “It’s a bit harder now, I’m only claiming two kilos, but hopefully I can keep on getting on good horses and riding for good trainers like Lisa Latta and things can keep going like they are now,” he said. “I’ve still got to learn my craft here but if I get the chance to travel further afield I’d grab that opportunity with two hands. I’m always wanting to learn more and improve. “I study the form a lot, not just my horse but the other horses in the field and how I expect different riders to ride their horse. My boss’ son Harrison Clotworthy goes through my past rides with me and that’s been a great help too.” View the full article

Benchmark 56 races rarely feature in fairytales, but for David Dempsey, they may as well be the Melbourne Cup. Dempsey reckons the replay of Not A Brass Razoo’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) win in the lowly handicap at Gawler last Wednesday will be on loop in his mind when he takes his last breath. Unfortunately, that will be soon. Stricken with terminal cancer and given only weeks to live, the passionate Mt Gambier-based owner paid $4000 for the tried-race mare via Inglis Digital and hoped trainer Peter Hardacre could orchestrate a miracle win in his final days. “Three years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and I’m pretty much on my last hurrah now,” Dempsey said. “I was sitting at home thinking I only have a little bit of time left and I thought to myself that if I bought a horse online, whether Peter would train it and we’d just go halves. “He was obliging and we came to a gentlemen’s agreement. “I picked Not A Brass Razoo out because it was in my black book, we bid $4000 and bought her.” The miracle win, although not entirely unexpected by the stable, means Dempsey will likely die a happy man. “I bought the horse and three weeks later it has won a race, you wouldn’t dream about how that’s happened,” he said. “Kudos to Peter for getting her over the line because I didn’t even think she’d be up and racing that quick. “I was rapt, it brought a tear to me eye. “I had my two brothers up here, one of my best mates and my partner and we couldn’t believe it. “I said to Peter that I was happy to just race for the prizemoney and he said that if I could get 10-1, I should have something on it, so I did.” Not A Brass Razoo will chase another win at Mt Gambier on Sunday week and Dempsey hopes to be trackside for what could be one of his final outings. Win or lose, he’s just keen to cuddle the mare who has helped put a smile on his face these past few weeks. “She’s going to come down here on the 26th to Mt Gambier and I’ll definitely be out there, no matter how I do it,” he said. “I want to go out there and give her a pat. “I don’t care if she wins or not, she’s done the job now. “More than likely, I’ve got about three or four months left. “It’s all getting pretty bad at the moment. “I see my oncologist next week and I’m going to tell them that I don’t want any more chemo because I’m pretty flat. “I’ve had a fair go at it.” View the full article

Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson continued to extend their unassailable lead in the National Trainers’ Premiership at Riccarton’s Synthetic meeting on Thursday, recording a winning double courtesy of Caravella (NZ) (Caravaggio) and Treaty Of Paris (NZ) (Tavistock). Caravella kicked off proceedings in the Coca-Cola Open Handicap (1200m) when getting the better of the Les Collins-trained Dear Oh Dear (NZ) (Atlante) by a long head. “It was a great effort to win like she did today,” Walker said. “She’s really started to mature and come into her own now and Dave (Ellis, Te Akau Racing principal) loves buying horses from Wentwood Grange. They’re great breeders and they breed tough, sound, racehorses that continue to improve with age. “She had to do it the hard way, from back in the field, which indicates she’s competitive and capable of winning more races under Open Handicap conditions. “She’s continued to improve consistently through the grades and I think she’ll be competitive at stakes level next season as a five-year-old.” Caravella is a half-sister to Our Abbadean (NZ) (Lookin At Lucky), a dual Group Two winner and twice Group One placed for Te Akau. “She was very unlucky last start at Wingatui, so it was pleasing to see things go her way, and it’s great to have had good success with both her and Our Abbadean,” Ellis said. “It’s a terrific effort to have won four times this season and she seems to have really settled in well and thrived at our stables on the course at Riccarton. “Hunter (Durrant, Riccarton stable foreman) and the staff down there are doing a great job and we have always loved stabling and racing horses in the South Island. “We had her half-sister Our Abbadean in the stable for the Hawkins family at Wentwood Grange, who performed very well. “She ran in all three legs of the Triple Crown during the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival, and came of age as an older mare when winning the Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m) and Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). “She was a really good stakes quality mare and the more wins Caravella can get on the board the more valuable she becomes. “It’s a good family and Wentwood Grange is one of the very astute breeders in our industry.” As they did a day earlier at Cambridge, Walker and Bergerson produced back-to-back winners at Riccarton when Treaty Of Paris took out the Fire Fighters Challenge – Phil Leabourn Rating 75 (2200m). “It was a really good win and a lovely ride of Warren’s (Kennedy),” Walker said. “He’s been a slower maturing horse, but now he’s getting some age on him he’s getting stronger and becoming a decent staying type. “He was a magnificent sort of yearling when Dave (Ellis) bought him, now coming to it as a proven racehorse and he’s certainly got a good record on the poly track. “We’ve always rated his ability, but he’s just needed the time to develop, and I think he’ll make a nice Cups horse next year with even more maturity.” View the full article