Wandering Eyes

Second Stride's Champions Night fundraiser will convene at The Manhattan Project, 2101 Frankfort Ave. in Louisville from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Monday, Apr. 29, the retired racehorse organization said in a release Thursday. An admission donation is set at $25, while the restaurant is giving 10 percent of its bar business during the Derby Week event to Second Stride. Also, the Smoke Easy Cigar Lounge will put on both live and silent auctions of racing memorabilia and experiences. As in the past, the centerpiece will be the Kentucky Derby and Oaks handicapping panel, which this year includes Byron King, Andie Biancone, Steve Byk and Doug Nachman. “Aftercare is no longer an afterthought, as the industry has embraced its obligation to take care of the horses who take care of so many of us at the track and breeding farm,” said Kim Smith, Second Stride's founder and executive director. “Every dollar raised on Champions Night will go to helping off-the-track racehorses and other Thoroughbreds in need such as broodmares and horses that never made it to the races. Click here for more information. The post Second Stride’s Champions Night Fundraiser Relocates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Classic-placed Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) has died after suffering a heart attack while cantering last Monday. Alan Cooper, the Niarchos family's racing manager, confirmed the news to TDN Europe on Thursday. The G3 Ballysax S. winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up was five. “Very sadly he had a heart attack last Monday doing a regular canter under Gavin Ryan who landed safely on his feet,” Cooper said. “No previous indications that this would be likely to happen. He was a lovely individual who everyone liked.” A Flaxman Stables homebred, the Donnacha O'Brien trainee was also placed in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and the G2 Mooresbridge S. and made his final start a winning one in Dundalk's Listed Dubai Diamond S. in September. His record stands at 9-3-2-2 and $334,337 in earnings. Piz Badile's dam That Which Is Not, a Listed winner in France who ran second in the G2 Prix Corrida, has also foaled the G3 Anglesey S. second Yosemite Valley (GB) (Shamardal). She was sold for €3.3 million to Coolmore at Goffs last November. His second dam Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector) won the 1999 Tattersalls Gold Cup, and her Kingmambo half-sister Light Shift triumphed in the 2007 edition of the G1 Oaks before foaling Piz Badile's dual Group 1 winning sire Ulysses to the cover of Galileo (Ire). The post Piz Badile Suffers Fatal Heart Attack appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

John Fairley's top sprinter Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) has been retired from racing with immediate effect after suffering a “very serious and concerning” injury in her stable on Tuesday morning. The mare's trainers John and Sean Quinn, via a statement issued on social media on Thursday, said, “That morning she was transferred to Rainbow Equine Hospital and has been in their care ever since. Her progress over the pas few days has been encouraging and whilst she still has a way to go to make a full recovery we are hopeful that with time and care she will be OK.” The seven-year-old was bred by Fairley from the Danehill mare Pure Illusion (Ire). Unraced at two, Highfield Princess plied her trade in handicaps as a three-year-old before shooting up the ranks in the ensuing seasons. She claimed her first black-type success in the Listed Queen Charlotte Fillies' S. at Chelmsford at four before a standout season as a five-year-old when she posted back to-back Group 1 victories in three different countries in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five. She claimed another top-level success last year in the Prix de l'Abbaye. In total, her 14 wins from 39 starts included six Group victories. Fairley said, “What a fantastic mare she has been. An Australian owner commented last year that she was probably the fastest mare in the world. To have bred and raced a mare to win three Group 1 races in five weeks in 2022 was fantastic. We hope that she will make a full recovery and be fit to take up broodmare duties next year.” The post Highfield Princess Retired With ‘Serious and Concerning’ Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Injured horses are enjoying a second chance provided by a program launched in 2020 by 1ST/Racing to provide financial aid for surgeries when horses suffer fetlock injuries. View the full article

Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy) is following in some famous Te Akau Racing footsteps, becoming the fifth Group One-winning mare from the stable to be offered for sale on Gavelhouse Plus. Te Akau Racing has previously sold Avantage (Fastnet Rock) for a world-record price of $4.1 million, followed by Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock) for $900,000, Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) for $1.1 million and Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy) for $800,000. Like Belle En Rouge, Maven Belle was bred by Te Akau’s David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis – this time in partnership with Mark and Julia Walker. Maven Belle is by former high-class Te Akau racehorse Burgundy (NZ), who went on to sire 11 stakes winners including three at Group One level in a sadly short-lived stallion career at Cambridge Stud. The dam of Maven Belle is Te Akau’s six-time winner and stakes-placed Doyenne (NZ) (Kilimanjaro), who is a half-sister to the four-time Group One winner Levante (NZ) (Proisir). Maven Belle made her mark on the racetrack immediately, winning all of her first three starts as a two-year-old including the Group Two Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and the Group Three 2YO Classic (1200m). She was a desperately unlucky third in the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m), then scored a brilliant win in the Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) to clinch champion two-year-old honours. The following season brought further black-type success for Maven Belle, who won the Group Three Almanzor Trophy (1200m) and finished fourth against older opposition in the Group One BCD Group Sprint (1400m) under weight-for-age conditions. Maven Belle collected another Listed placing as a four-year-old, and in the end her 12-start career produced six wins, two placings and $429,345 in stakes. “Each year we syndicate what we think are the best two or three yearlings that we’ve bred,” Ellis said. “We’ve had some fantastic results doing this with horses like Belle En Rouge, who won the Oaks and was NZB Filly of the Year. “And the year after Belle En Rouge, we did the same thing with Maven Belle. She was champion two-year-old, a top-class filly, and she comes from a beautiful family that goes back to some really top horses. “From the day we first galloped Maven Belle, we knew she was a very good horse. Her win in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes delivered a first Group One for her trainer Mark Walker since his return from Singapore, so she was a very special horse for us at Te Akau and I’m sure she’ll make a lovely broodmare.” Burgundy has had only seven runners so far as a broodmare sire, but three of them have won including Te Akau’s Group Three placegetter and leading Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor). Meanwhile, Te Akau Racing is also offering Maven Belle’s stakes-performed stablemate Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel), who is currently located at Cranbourne, on Gavelhouse Plus. By champion Australian sire Snitzel out of the Group One-placed mare Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing), Rhetorical had eight starts for two wins and two placings. She ran third in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) as a two-year-old, and she finished fourth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) as a spring three-year-old last September. “She had a huge amount of potential and unfortunately didn’t get the chance to completely fulfil that on the track,” Ellis said. “She won twice at two and was Listed-placed. I thought she was extremely unlucky not to win at stakes level. “She’s a beautiful foal out of a mare that exuded a lot of class and really tested our champion filly Avantage in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). It’s not easy to buy such a well-bred filly by a champion sire like Snitzel.” Snitzel also boasts impressive statistics as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced 512 winners from 784 runners, with 29 stakes winners including Golden Slipper (1200m) heroine Mossfun (Mossman), last week’s Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Celestial Legend (Dundeel) and the standout two-year-old of the current New Zealand season, Velocious (Written Tycoon). Bidding on the two mares will end from 7pm (NZT) on Thursday 21st March. Buyers looking to bid on the Gavelhouse Plus mares must set up their usernames and profiles well in advance of the close of auction if they have not bid on the site before by registering here. Meanwhile also online is a 75 Lot fortnightly auction featuring a full to Unforgotten, a stakes-placed Savabeel mare and Fantastic Honour who is in foal to Satono Aladdin. Bidding in this sale ends from 7pm (NZT) on Monday 18th March. View the full article

The catalogue for Arqana's annual Breeze-up Sale, set to be held May 9-11 at Deauville, is now available online. This year 207 two-year-olds are on offer, including the progeny of leading European stallions such as Dubawi (Ire), Frankel (GB), Sea The Stars (Ire) and Siyouni (Fr), as well as top US-based sires such as Gun Runner and Justify. More than 80 stallions are represented altogether. The breezes will take place on the grass at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse on Thursday, May 9, followed by a day of inspections on Friday, May 10. The sale takes place on Saturday, May 11, beginning at 11am. All horses offered at the Breeze-up Sale are eligible for the Arqana Series which boasts guaranteed minimum prize-money of €1.2 million. Four races will be run at Deauville on the Thursday evening before the August Sale starts, including three two-year-old races and one three-year-old race. Another contest for juveniles will be run on the Saturday of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend. The post Arqana Release Catalogue for Breeze-up Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Most expensive purchase to carry the black, red and white colours will become just the second galloper to provide members with a win in Class Two or above if he can salute on SaturdayView the full article

Improving galloper will have the help of the Australian ace in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m): ‘With his hands, I think he’ll be very suitable’View the full article

What Coolmore Classic Day 2024 Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 When Saturday, March 16, 2024 First Race 12:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday afternoon, where a massive 10-race program awaits punters. The Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) for the fillies and mares headlines the meeting, with a stacked undercard of racing to go alongside as the two-year-olds get their last chance to impress before next weekend’s Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m). The rail returns to the true position the entire circuit, and with only minimal rainfall to hit the course, expect the track to sit no worse than a Soft 5 when the opening event gets underway at 12:30pm AEDT. Race 1: Midway Handicap BM72 (1200m) The opening race is a nightmare to dissect, with online bookmakers unable to separate the majority of the 16 runners engaged. Mayrose appears a good each-way throw at the stumps, however, as she gets set to resume from a 136-day spell. The daughter of Pride Of Dubai may want the rain to come to be a leading hope in a race like this, but with her winning barrier trial effort at Randwick on February 2 raising the eyebrows, she can produce a bold performance first-up for the John Sargent barn. Selections: 10 MAYROSE 16 FIELD WIRI 3 RHYTHMIC PULSE 13 MAD DARCEY Race 2: BM78 Handicap (1900m) Circle Of Fire holds a nomination for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) later in the autumn and needs to be competitive in a race like this to justify heading that way. The European import was only warming up late in his first Australian start for the Ciaron Maher stable at Flemington on February 17, finding the 1600m too sharp as the son of Almanzor worked his way through the wire. He challenged some quality opposition before heading down under, and although the stable have bigger targets in mind moving forward, there is no reason Circle Of Fire can’t take out this BM78 along the way. Selections: 1 CIRCLE OF FIRE 2 DASHO LENNIE 8 WYMARK 12 SUNLORD Best Value Race 2 – #1 Circle Of Fire (10) 4yo Horse | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jason Collett (60.5kg) +700 with Neds Race 3: Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) The Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) gets the two-year-old features underway, and this one is for the fillies. Fly Fly has strong claims after an impressive runner-up defeat at the hands of Manaal in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 2. She was storming through the line despite getting well-back from stall 11 on that occasion, and with Jason Collett likely to sit much closer from barrier five on Saturday, the team Hawkes-trained filly should give a strong account of herself and hit the line best in the Magic Night Stakes. Selections: 3 FLY FLY 2 CASTANYA 1 ENEEZA 4 DRIFTING Magic Night Stakes Race 3 – #3 Fly Fly (5) 2yo Filly | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Jason Collett (55.5kg) +230 with Dabble Race 4: Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) It’s the boys turn to step out in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), where the James Cummings-trained Parkour warrants plenty of respect. He was a dominant winner at Randwick on December 30 before being tipped out for a spell, and despite what the 4.8-length margin may suggest about his first-up return, it was much better than it reads. The blinkers have been applied for the first time to keep the son of Extreme Choice’s mind on the job, and with barrier two allowing Parkour to take a more prominent role throughout, watch for this guy to be finishing off best at odds. Selections: 2 PARKOUR 7 GATSBY’S 1 COLEMAN 10 AGENDA SETTER Pago Pago Stakes Race 4 – #2 Parkour (2) 2yo Colt | T: James Cummings | J: Kerrin McEvoy (55.5kg) +1700 with Playup Race 5: Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) Lindermann must be considered one of the better bets of the Rosehill program as he returns to his favoured circuit for the first time since saluting in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) almost a year ago. The gelding by Lonhro brings the best form to this event after finding the minor money second-up in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) last start. Provided the Chris Waller-trained galloper continues to improve as the campaign goes on, James McDonald should be striding clear aboard Lindermann in the Sky High Stakes. Selections: 3 LINDERMANN 4 JUST FINE 8 ATHABASCAN 2 EXPLOSIVE JACK Best Bet Race 5 – #3 Lindermann (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (58kg) -111.11 with Bet365 Race 6: Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) Red Card showed versatility to score first-up at this course and distance on February 24, taking a sit in behind the speed before fending off all challengers. It was a change from her usual just and lead tactics she has utilized throughout most of her career and should allow Adam Hyeronimus to take any given option that falls his way from stall one on Saturday. She won a tick-over trial heading into this event, and although some key opposition do get a swing on her in the weights, Red Card can still be right in the finish again. Selections: 4 RED CARD 1 AIRMAN 7 OMNI MAN 10 DASHING LEGEND Maurice McCarten Stakes Race 6 – #4 Red Card (1) 4yo Mare | T: James Cummings | J: Adam Hyeronimus (55kg) +700 with Picklebet Race 7: Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) Saltcoats is yet to win after three Australian starts under the Chris Waller banner, however, the gelding appears close to a victory. He was bolting through the wire first-up at this course on February 3, but gave a significant fitness edge Infatuation and was unable to reel in the already winning break. The son of Androssan has been sent back to the trials to keep him up to the mark heading into this second-up target, and with the team happy to send him to a testing Group 3 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), punters should be taking the lead that Saltcoats is up to this challenge. Selections: 5 SALTCOATS 6 KINTYRE 11 ZARDOZI 14 MAKARENA Phar Lap Stakes Race 7 – #5 Saltcoats (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (56.5kg) +400 with Boombet Race 8: Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) The fillies & mares take centre stage in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m), where a competitive field of 18 are set to take their place in the $1 million feature. The Chris Waller-trained Zougotcha has held firm favourtism for the event post-barrier draw and hasn’t budged from the $4.00 quote with horse racing betting sites. Tropical Squall has been a slight drifter out to $7.50, and the same can be said for the Ciaron Maher-trained Semana. The big market mover comes in the form of three-year-old filly Kimochi opening $15.00 and has almost halved in price at $8.00. Will the older horses prove too good? Or can a lightly weighted younger horse cause a minor upset? Click here for HorseBetting’s Coolmore Classic 2024 preview. Race 9: Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) Although he was only winning a BM88 last start at Randwick on January 27, Glory Daze did it nicely under top weight. He was forced to lug 61kg to victory and did it with ease under Nash Rawiller, putting together his third win across six starts since arriving to the Ciaron Maher stable from the UK. The 1500m is arguably well-short of his best trip moving forward, but with no weight on his back, Glory Daze might just have the class to put them away again, this time securing stakes success for the first time in Australia. Selections: 11 GLORY DAZE 5 DEMOCRACY MANIFEST 13 AMOR VICTORIOUS 14 TERRITORY EXPRESS Ajax Stakes Race 9 – #11 Glory Daze (8) 5yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Dylan Gibbons (53kg) +380 with Betfair Race 10: BM88 Handicap (1400m) Tavi Time might just be far superior to this lot. He is a star on the rise for the Kris Lees camp, and with a four-length demolition job at Newcastle on March 2, the son of Tavistock couldn’t have been more impressive on resumption. He is a six-time winner heading into start 10, and provided he gets out when the whips are cracking, win number seven should be all but assured. Selections: 7 TAVI TIME 10 RAZORS 9 GENTLY ROLLED 1 FRANKIE PINOT Next Best Race 10 – #7 Tavi Time (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Dylan Gibbons (57kg) -142.86 with Picklebet Rosehill free Saturday quaddie tips Rosehill quadrella selections Saturday, March 16, 2024 2-5-6-11-12-14 1-3-4-6-9-14-17 2-3-5-11-13-14 7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Tony Pike believes the big, roomy Trentham track will suit his promising three-year-old Witz End right down to the ground in Saturday’s Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m). Unbeaten in his first two starts, the Savabeel gelding’s picket fence form line came to an end last Friday when beaten by December on the tight-turning Taupo track over 1300m. “It was just disappointing having to take him to Taupo. He needed the run, but he is just such a big-actioned horse, he really got lost around the tight turns from the half-mile to the corner at Taupo,” Pike told Trackside NZ. “He looked in all sorts of trouble, like he was going to drop out and run last, but once he balanced up in the straight, he was really strong over the final stages. “Getting him back to Wellington is going to be key. He has won down there and that big, roomy track with his action is really going to suit. “He is an exciting horse going forward and I am looking forward to Saturday with him.” Pike will also trek south with Harlow Rocks and Sign Of Peace, with the pair both set to contest the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Harlow Rocks has been a consistent performer for Pike, winning one and placing in three of her seven starts, including a runner-up performance behind Molly Bloom in the Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa last month. She subsequently finished fourth in the transferred Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Taupo last week and Pike has been pleased with her progress ahead of Saturday’s Group One assignment. “It (Lowland) was a funny run race, she got attacked through the mid-stages of the race, which was unfortunate,” Pike said. “I think it was a lot better run than her placing suggested. “It had been a mixed-up preparation with the Lowland being abandoned originally. I think that run will have her at her peak for Saturday. She is a real staying filly and she will run a big race.” Sign Of Peace has also been in consistent form for the stable, winning one and placing in four of her five starts to date, and heads into Saturday off the back of a dead-heat for second in the Lowland Stakes last Friday. “She is a filly with a bit of timing,” Pike said. “She has had a long time between runs, but it was a big performance stepping up in class (in the Lowland). I think she is peaking at the right time. She is a filly that is bred to stay and I think she will round out the 2400m better than most.” View the full article

Promising gelding Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) is likely to have one more run at Rosehill before attempting to deliver trainer Kris Lees a sixth win in the Provincial-Midway Championship Final. The Newcastle trainer has dominated the feature since its inception in 2015, capturing the past three in succession, including producing the quinella last year when Spangler (Starspangledbanner) downed stablemate Loch Eagle (Lonhro). Tavi Time is a $2.80 favourite in pre-nomination markets for this year’s Final, run on April 13, having already secured his place in the field with an emphatic four-length victory in the recent Qualifier at Newcastle. It was the gelding’s sixth win from nine starts and while Lees was anticipating Tavi Time would prove too strong for his rivals, he didn’t bank on the performance being quite so comfortable. “I expected him to win, you never say how far they win by,” Lees said. “But he’s a pretty smart horse, probably a bit better than that level. “He will probably go to the benchmark race and that would give him four weeks into the Final.” That benchmark race is the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1400m) on Saturday for which Tavi Time is a dominant $1.75 favourite. It is set to be his final lead-up to the A$1 million Provincial-Midway Championship Final (1400m) on day two of the Randwick carnival, with Lees also eyeing a longer-term tilt at the A$500,000 The Coast (1600m) at Gosford four weeks later. It is the same path Lees followed with Newcastle Stakes winner Rustic Steel (Deep Field) two years ago when that horse claimed the Championships qualifying heat at Newcastle before finishing a close fourth to barn mate Kinloch (I Am Invincible) in the Final two starts later. Rustic Steel then plundered The Coast and the Scone Cup at his next two runs. “After the Provincial Championships, we might look at a race like The Coast,” Lees said. “It’s not a stakes race, but it’s a good money race.” View the full article

Stephen Autridge has triumphed in many of New Zealand’s most iconic races, and the Matamata horseman would rate a victory in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) among the headliners. Autridge, a former Group One-winning jockey, has accumulated 98 domestic stakes victories as trainer, with periods at the helm of Te Akau Racing, a stint training Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Racing stable, and also trained in partnership for a time with Graeme Rogerson. Over recent seasons, Autridge has downsized his operation, focusing on a more select team of 15 gallopers, and among them has emerged two leading hopes for the time-honoured fillies’ feature in Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir). A daughter of last year’s Oaks-winning sire Satono Aladdin, Still Bangon has been a model of consistency this season, her record boasting a tough victory in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) before finishing second in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m) on New Year’s Day. The filly’s campaign was blemished slightly when finishing back in the field in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa last month, a performance rectified with a scorching finish from near-last to third in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m), earning her place alongside stablemate Livid Sky in the Oaks field a fortnight later. “She (Still Bangon) was outstanding at Ellerslie, her sectionals said that, and she’s come through it really well,” Autridge said. Proisir filly Livid Sky has followed suit with repeatedly solid raceday efforts, with her five black-type starts on the bounce this campaign including a pair of thirds and fourths behind the likes of Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) and Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High), alongside a strong last-start sixth in the Sunline Vase. “Initially, I thought Livid Sky was a little bit disappointing in the Sunline Vase, but Sam Weatherley (jockey) told us it was a really good run, and her sectionals would reflect that,” Autridge said. “They ended up being pretty much second best of the race behind Still Bangon, so we’ve got to be happy going forward.” A step-up to the 2400m distance now beckons the pair, and Autridge is optimistic after the barrier draws revealed gates four (Livid Sky) and nine (Still Bangon), with Weatherley and Matt Cameron taking the respective rides. “When the sectionals say they’re just about first and second-best going 2100m, you’ve got to be quite confident they can run out the extra 300m. We believe they’re a big chance of doing that,” Autridge said. “For these two horses, they’re very good draws, they haven’t had many good draws between them, so we certainly aren’t complaining. “From the better draws they should be able to race a bit closer, hopefully around midfield which would be ideal, they usually race near last. “I’ve had a few Oaks runners and you need luck in the running. It’s usually a pretty roughly run race, so let’s hope they stay out of trouble.” Still Bangon is currently rated a $4.80 second-favourite for the Oaks, while her stablemate lies an equal-fourth fancy at $8.50, but according to Autridge, the contrasting fillies enter on equal terms for their grand final. “Their personalities have always been quite different, Still Bangon is a lovely, kind filly, but Livid Sky was very erratic and strong-willed to start with. She is coming around to it now though,” he said. “At the end of the day, I can’t split them. “This is their grand final, they’ve done a great job this season and have been in a while. They’ve raced well every time they’ve gone out and I think they’re going into the Oaks at 100 percent. I’d hate to be saying they’re doing anything afterwards, other than going to the paddock.” Autridge hopes to take one step closer to the elusive century of stakes winners on Saturday and indicated that an Oaks win would rank alongside any of his major crowns in New Zealand and Australia. “At the moment, with now only having 15 in work in a small stable, having two fillies in the Oaks is great to start with,” he said. “To win it, that would be right up there with everything I’ve done as a trainer.” View the full article

The well-related Naxos (NZ) (Harry Angel) may lack size but possesses a determined nature that was emphasised when successful at the first time of asking last month at Tauranga. He will return to the scene of his debut triumph on Saturday for the Frocked Up Girls 3YO (1200m) and is expected to give another good account of himself. The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained Naxos will be joined at the northern venue by Mineshaft (NZ) (Merchant Navy) and Madame Le Fay (Smart Missile) while the stable will also have black-type contenders Pericles (NZ) (Rubick) and Reputation (NZ) (Iffraaj) in action at Trentham. A grandson of multiple stakes winner Santagostino (Giant’s Causeway), Naxos has progressed well since his opening victory and the Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced son of Harry’s Angel will again be ridden by Billy Jacobson. “He’s only a little fellow, but he’s got a big heart and tries hard. We’ve given him a bit of time between runs and he worked super the other morning,” Gerard said. Successful two runs back, Mineshaft will bid to return to winning ways in the Manco Handicap (1600m) off the back of an unplaced effort in the Remutaka Classic (2100m). “He won over a mile and was second-up at Wellington, so it was quite a big ask,” Gerard said. “We gave him a freshen-up after that and we just think he’s better ridden back a bit more and can then finish off strongly.” Jacobson will guide his fortunes and also takes the reins aboard last-start course and distance winner Madame Le Fay in the Super Liquor Greerton (1600m). “We had to late scratch her from Matamata a couple of weeks ago after a mishap, but she’s good now and likes the track and the mile,” Gerard said. Meanwhile at Trentham, Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1600m) hope Pericles won the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m) two runs back before everything went wrong for him when out of the money in the Gr.3 Mufhasa Stakes (1400m). “You can put a line through that, I never want to see that race again,” Gerard said. “He’s a really nice horse with a lot of potential. It’s nearly the end of his season and his first trip away so it’s a bit of a learning curve for him. “He’s drawn well so we’ll be positive with him and go forward.” Highly regarded four-year-old Reputation goes into the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) off the back of a top effort for fifth after a wide passage in the Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m). “It was a huge run last start considering she lost her shoes and was slipping and sliding,” Gerard said. “I really like this mare and think she can go a long way.” Thatsallshewrote (NZ) (Wrote) completes the stable’s team at Trentham and looms as an each-way chance in the Harrison’s Flooring Handicap Premier (1600m). “She has been unlucky in her last couple of starts and doesn’t always help herself,” Gerard said. “The one draw isn’t ideal for her, she’s a mare that gets back and has to be held up for one run. She’s got a nice low weight (54kg) and is far better than what her form reads.” View the full article

Phantom calling races in his childhood bedroom is a key memory for Justin Evans, and he is pinching himself that he is now able to live out his lifelong dream of being a race caller. Growing up in Palmerston North, Evans became hooked on the sport after attending race meetings with his family at Awapuni, and his senses were captivated by the event. “I don’t have any family in racing, but I would go to the races with my family as a kid,” Evans said. “I just got the bug madly and loved everything about it – the sights, the sounds, the smells.” While many budding racing fans are fascinated about becoming a trainer or jockey, Evans was more intrigued by the voice coming out of the speakers and the theatre behind describing a race. “For some reason as a young fella I cottoned on to this idea of being a race caller,” he said. “As far back as I can remember that is what I wanted to do. I was just mad on it from a very young age. “I would sit in my bedroom and practice race calling as much as I could. I would go to the races and sit at the back of the stand and call the races to myself. It is all I have ever wanted to do.” Intent on pursuing a career in race calling, a young Evans plucked up the courage to pen a letter to local commentator Alan Bright, who fostered the enthusiasm of his young fan and invited him up to the commentator’s box. “I wrote Alan Bright, who was the CD (Central Districts) caller at the time, a letter when I was nine-years-old telling him I wanted to be a race caller,” Evans said. “I met him and he took me up to the Awapuni race callers box and I met all of the jockeys and had a great time.” While Bright was his introduction to race calling, Evans said it was his successor Tony Lee who made the biggest influence on him. “It was really when Tony came along a few years later that really lit the fire in me,” Evans said. “I was lucky enough to be taken under Tony’s wing, he was very much my mentor. I would do all of the trials and helped Tony out as a teenager going into my early twenties. He really nurtured me.” While his ambition and passion for race calling never wavered, opportunities did, and Evans was forced to turn away from his dream vocation to pursue a career in radio. “I got out of racing for an extensive period. There was no gig happening, so I needed to pay the bills and get on with life, so an opportunity came up to get into music radio, so I took it,” Evans said. “I spent 15 years in a really rewarding and fun career on the air at various stations and I had an absolute blast, it was great fun. “In radio you learn so many skills and how to think on your feet. It is just a really fast-paced, dynamic job, and I loved it.” While he enjoyed his time in radio, the pull of race calling was always there, and he decided to chance his arm once more and put out feelers to test whether he still had the talent to pursue his passion. “I got in touch with both Mark Rosanowski and George Simon (commentators). I knew George from years ago,” he said. “Initially it was purely could I even call again? I hadn’t called a race for 15-odd years and I just wanted to see if I could still do it and I still had it. People said it was like riding a bike and I wasn’t so sure, but it turns out it was. “George was very accommodating and fed me a lot of trials. I was back in Palmerston North at the time and I remember driving up to Te Teko at 3:30am to call 30 heats there and then I was back in Palmy by about midnight (ready to head back to my radio job the next day). I did that for a year or so. “I was then given the Manawatu trots to call and it just picked up from there. The big opportunity came through a full-time (race calling) job in the south, which I took with both hands.” Evans took up his southern commentating role in 2020 and enjoyed more than three years calling in Otago and Southland before the opportunity came to return to his home region earlier his year and take over the Central Districts commentating reins from his mentor Tony Lee. “I can’t put into words how much Tony has meant to me and has done for me,” Evans said. “He was my absolute hero and I idolised him. I would record all of his race calls on Radio Pacific and listen to them over and over again. “When I got to be under him, he really did take me under his wing. I would describe Tony as a father figure, a mentor, a friend and co-worker. His influence on me has been enormous. It was very special, albeit daunting, to take over from your hero. “I really stand on his shoulders as I do the job. There wouldn’t be a more influential person in my race calling career than Tony. I will be eternally thankful for what he did for me and it’s a massive thrill to take over from him.” Evans returned to his home region earlier this year and was honoured to share the commentating duties alongside Lee in his final day of calling at Trentham’s Wellington Cup Day meeting in January. “That was Tony’s call to do that,” Evans said. “He really wanted me to share the stage with him on what was his day. It was a surreal day as I very much remember the boy who would follow Tony up to these boxes like a lapdog. “The Wellington Cup might no longer be the enormous race it once was, but from a traditional point of view that was always the biggest day when I went to the races, it was a big deal and there is something special about Trentham. It was a massive privilege to share that stage and day with Tony.” Evans has enjoyed being the new voice at many of the tracks he frequented as a young racing fan and his biggest test awaits him this weekend as he gets set to call at New Zealand Oaks Day at Trentham on Saturday. “It will be the biggest day so far,” he said. “I called my first Group One a couple of weeks ago at Otaki, but the Oaks is a big race and is one of several (Group Ones) I will get to do. “In terms of the courses, I think there is something special about calling at Trentham, and I know it was Tony’s favourite track. The Oaks is a great race with a big field on a big track, so I will need to be on my toes. I am very much looking forward to it.” While Evans didn’t take his desired direct path into race calling, he is glad the way his career has panned out and is grateful to have finally secured his dream job in racing. “Race calling was my childhood dream and I love the game,” he said. “I am glad I had that radio life because the experiences you get to do when you are in that job are unbelievable, and now I am back doing my initial love.” View the full article

Te Akau Racing’s The Mighty Spar (NZ) (Savabeel) made it back-to-back wins in the Holster Engineering Lally And Symes South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Piloted by apprentice jockey Jessica Allen, The Mighty Spar settled in the one-one early on behind Langkawi (NZ) (Helmet) and enjoyed an economical trip before Allen asked her charge to improve three-wide from the 300m and the pair quickly hit the lead, with the Mighty Spar able to hold out the late challenge of Arby (NZ) (Proisir) to win by a short-head. Mark Walker, who trains the gelding in partnership with Sam Bergerson, was delighted to see The Mighty Spar defend his crown in the Matamata feature and was full of praise for their stable apprentice. “It was great to see him win the South Waikato Cup two years in a row and a lovely ride by Jess to get him into the perfect spot,” he said. “She pinched a break to gain the winning margin and rode a perfect race. I think Jess will really come into her own over the next few months, especially with the three-kilo claim.” Following the Mighty Spar’s win in last year’s edition of the South Waikato Cup, the son of Savabeel spent the winter months jumping over hurdles, highlighted by a placing in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3100m), and he may return to that discipline in the coming months. “He’s a bit of a marvel The Mighty Spar, winning five races on the flat and one over hurdles, and we’ll decide whether we keep him on the flat or go back over jumps,” Walker said. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, who purchased the gelding as a yearling, was pleased to see him back in winning form. “He’s come back to racing in great fettle and I’m thrilled for the owners to win this race again, which had a pretty good mid-week stake,” Ellis said. “They way he hit the line fresh-up over a mile at Hastings suggested that he was in the right shape to go 2000m second-up, and it’s a really good training performance by Mark and Sam to have the horse spot on.” View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Saturday, March 16, 2024 First Race 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing heads to Sha Tin for a rare Saturday meeting, with both the all-weather and turf circuits being utilised throughout the afternoon. The rail is out in the C+3 position on the turf surface, and although there is some chance of rainfall hitting the track, punters shouldn’t anticipate a downgrade from the current Good 4 rating. All the action is set to get underway at 1pm local time. Best Bet at Sha Tin: Chateauneuf Chateauneuf produced an impressive debut Hong Kong victory at this course and distance on February 18 and appears classy enough to go on with the job. The David Hayes-trained gelding bolted away by a half-length on that occasion and looked to be holding his rivals comfortably on the wire. He should get a very similar setup on Saturday, and with Zac Purton happy to stick in the saddle, Chateauneuf must be considered the one to beat as he looks to win his way out of Class 4 company. Best Bet Race 3 – #3 Chateauneuf (6) 3yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Zac Purton (60.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sha Tin: Devas Twelve It took Devas Twelve six starts to break his maiden status, but he proved far too good in his most recent effort at Sha Tin on March 3. The son of Headwater stormed over the top of his rivals over the 1600m and looked to have plenty in hand as he crossed the winning post, suggesting the 1800m should be no issue on Saturday. Zac Purton should lob into a soft position in transit from barrier two, and a repeat of his last start victory will have Devas Twelve connections celebrating back-to-back wins. Next Best Race 4 – #1 Devas Twelve (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris So | J: Zac Purton (60.5kg) Bet with Unibet Best Value at Sha Tin: Affordable Affordable makes his debut for the David Hayes barn and has done enough at the trials to suggest he is worth following on Saturday. His most recent tick-over trial caught the eye when he was striding comfortably behind Victor The Winner down the Sha Tin straight course and looks to have acclimatised well to conditions. Gate six should allow Brenton Avdulla to find a midfield sit with cover, and at a good each-way price with horse racing bookmakers, Affordable can send punters home happy. Best Value Race 4 – #5 Affordable (6) 4yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Brenton Avdulla (56.5kg) Bet with Playup Sha Tin quaddie tips Hong Kong quadrella selections Saturday, March 16, 2024 1-3-4-6-7 1-4-5-7 1-6-7-9-10 1-2-5-9-14 Horse racing tips View the full article

What Darwin Races Where Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 When Saturday, March 16, 2024 First Race 2:08pm ACDT Visit Dabble St Patrick’s Cup Day is one of Darwin’s big off-season meetings of the year with 48 accepting for the six-race card. The St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) is one of only two $40,000 races in the Top End outside the Darwin Cup Carnival, and has attracted a good field. Damp conditions prevailed a year ago and it looks like being wet once again this weekend with over 160mm of rain falling in the Top End since Monday. The rail will be in the true position and despite the rain it will be a good Fannie Bay dirt surface. BEST BET: Saccharo Arguably one of the best horses in the Top End, Saccharo suffered a narrow loss at the hands of the talented Son Of Bielski over 1300m (BM76) two weeks ago. Both horses trailed their rivals in the five-horse field with Saccharo (60.5kg) forced wide in the home straight, while Son Of Bielski (54.5kg) kept to the fence before getting home by a neck. Saccharo, an eight-year-old gelding, continues to carry the big weight, but only spots the other four runners 4kg on this occasion. The son of Magnus, who boasts a win at Flemington, should have the class to make it five wins from 14 starts at Fannie Bay. Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Saccharo (4) 8yo Gelding | T: Phil Cole | J: Wayne Davis (60kg) Bet with Bet365 NEXT BEST: Pop Magic Pop Magic returns after a slashing last start win on February 3 when he saluted by 6.8 lengths against 0-70 opposition over 1200m. Sharing the early lead, after jumping from the inside gate, Pop Magic (57kg) never left the fence before flicking the switch once turning for home. The son of Wandjina, who was stepping up to 0-70 grade for the first time, was easing up on the line to suggest that he had plenty of petrol in the tank. Pop Magic boasts five wins and four seconds from 14 Darwin starts. He will certainly take some stopping if he picks up from where he left off six weeks ago. Next Best Race 3 – #1 Pop Magic (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Ella Clarke | J: Stan Tsaikos (58.5kg) Bet with PlayUp BEST Value: Wolf Queen It was hard to fault Wolf Queen’s performance three weeks ago when she finished second by 0.8 lengths to Tyquendo over 1100m (0-58). Wolf Queen settled midfield and was travelling comfortably before winding up when the gaps appeared in the home straight. At the 250m, the five-year-old mare lost all momentum when she was forced to shift to the middle of the track and although she recovered it cost her the race as it allowed Tyquendo to swoop down the outside. Unplaced in her first four Darwin starts, the daughter of Tivaci appears to be on the improve. Best Value Race 4 – #4 Wolf Queen (8) 5yo Mare | T: Tom Logan | J: Sonja Logan (57.5kg) Bet with Unibet Fannie Bay quaddie tips – Saturday 16/3/2024 Darwin quadrella selections Saturday, March 16, 2024 1-3-5 1-2-3-4 3-5-8 1-2-4-5 Horse racing tips View the full article

Witz End will contest the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Tony Pike believes the big, roomy Trentham track will suit his promising three-year-old Witz End right down to the ground in Saturday’s Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Unbeaten in his first two starts, the Savabeel gelding’s picket fence form line came to an end last Friday when beaten by December on the tight-turning Taupo track over 1300m. “It was just disappointing having to take him to Taupo. He needed the run, but he is just such a big-actioned horse, he really got lost around the tight turns from the half-mile to the corner at Taupo,” Pike told Trackside NZ. “He looked in all sorts of trouble, like he was going to drop out and run last, but once he balanced up in the straight, he was really strong over the final stages. “Getting him back to Wellington is going to be key. He has won down there and that big, roomy track with his action is really going to suit. “He is an exciting horse going forward and I am looking forward to Saturday with him.” Pike will also trek south with Harlow Rocks and Sign Of Peace, with the pair both set to contest the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Harlow Rocks has been a consistent performer for Pike, winning one and placing in three of her seven starts, including a runner-up performance behind Molly Bloom in the Group 2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa last month. She subsequently finished fourth in the transferred Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Taupo last week and Pike has been pleased with her progress ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 assignment. “It (Lowland) was a funny run race, she got attacked through the mid-stages of the race, which was unfortunate,” Pike said. “I think it was a lot better run than her placing suggested. “It had been a mixed-up preparation with the Lowland being abandoned originally. I think that run will have her at her peak for Saturday. She is a real staying filly and she will run a big race.” Sign Of Peace has also been in consistent form for the stable, winning one and placing in four of her five starts to date, and heads into Saturday off the back of a dead-heat for second in the Lowland Stakes last Friday. “She is a filly with a bit of timing,” Pike said. “She has had a long time between runs, but it was a big performance stepping up in class (in the Lowland). I think she is peaking at the right time. She is a filly that is bred to stay and I think she will round out the 2400m better than most.” Horse racing news View the full article

Central Districts commentator Justin Evans. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Phantom calling races in his childhood bedroom is a key memory for Justin Evans, and he is pinching himself that he is now able to live out his lifelong dream of being a race caller. Growing up in Palmerston North, Evans became hooked on the sport after attending race meetings with his family at Awapuni, and his senses were captivated by the event. “I don’t have any family in racing, but I would go to the races with my family as a kid,” Evans said. “I just got the bug madly and loved everything about it – the sights, the sounds, the smells.” While many budding racing fans are fascinated about becoming a trainer or jockey, Evans was more intrigued by the voice coming out of the speakers and the theatre behind describing a race. “For some reason as a young fella I cottoned on to this idea of being a race caller,” he said. “As far back as I can remember that is what I wanted to do. I was just mad on it from a very young age. “I would sit in my bedroom and practice race calling as much as I could. I would go to the races and sit at the back of the stand and call the races to myself. It is all I have ever wanted to do.” Intent on pursuing a career in race calling, a young Evans plucked up the courage to pen a letter to local commentator Alan Bright, who fostered the enthusiasm of his young fan and invited him up to the commentator’s box. “I wrote Alan Bright, who was the CD (Central Districts) caller at the time, a letter when I was nine-years-old telling him I wanted to be a race caller,” Evans said. “I met him and he took me up to the Awapuni race callers box and I met all of the jockeys and had a great time.” While Bright was his introduction to race calling, Evans said it was his successor Tony Lee who made the biggest influence on him. “It was really when Tony came along a few years later that really lit the fire in me,” Evans said. “I was lucky enough to be taken under Tony’s wing, he was very much my mentor. I would do all of the trials and helped Tony out as a teenager going into my early twenties. He really nurtured me.” While his ambition and passion for race calling never wavered, opportunities did, and Evans was forced to turn away from his dream vocation to pursue a career in radio. “I got out of racing for an extensive period. There was no gig happening, so I needed to pay the bills and get on with life, so an opportunity came up to get into music radio, so I took it,” Evans said. “I spent 15 years in a really rewarding and fun career on the air at various stations and I had an absolute blast, it was great fun. “In radio you learn so many skills and how to think on your feet. It is just a really fast-paced, dynamic job, and I loved it.” While he enjoyed his time in radio, the pull of race calling was always there, and he decided to chance his arm once more and put out feelers to test whether he still had the talent to pursue his passion. “I got in touch with both Mark Rosanowski and George Simon (commentators). I knew George from years ago,” he said. “Initially it was purely could I even call again? I hadn’t called a race for 15-odd years and I just wanted to see if I could still do it and I still had it. People said it was like riding a bike and I wasn’t so sure, but it turns out it was. “George was very accommodating and fed me a lot of trials. I was back in Palmerston North at the time and I remember driving up to Te Teko at 3:30am to call 30 heats there and then I was back in Palmy by about midnight (ready to head back to my radio job the next day). I did that for a year or so. “I was then given the Manawatu trots to call and it just picked up from there. The big opportunity came through a full-time (race calling) job in the south, which I took with both hands.” Evans took up his southern commentating role in 2020 and enjoyed more than three years calling in Otago and Southland before the opportunity came to return to his home region earlier his year and take over the Central Districts commentating reins from his mentor Tony Lee. “I can’t put into words how much Tony has meant to me and has done for me,” Evans said. “He was my absolute hero and I idolised him. I would record all of his race calls on Radio Pacific and listen to them over and over again. “When I got to be under him, he really did take me under his wing. I would describe Tony as a father figure, a mentor, a friend and co-worker. His influence on me has been enormous. It was very special, albeit daunting, to take over from your hero. “I really stand on his shoulders as I do the job. There wouldn’t be a more influential person in my race calling career than Tony. I will be eternally thankful for what he did for me and it’s a massive thrill to take over from him.” Evans returned to his home region earlier this year and was honoured to share the commentating duties alongside Lee in his final day of calling at Trentham’s Wellington Cup Day meeting in January. “That was Tony’s call to do that,” Evans said. “He really wanted me to share the stage with him on what was his day. It was a surreal day as I very much remember the boy who would follow Tony up to these boxes like a lapdog. “The Wellington Cup might no longer be the enormous race it once was, but from a traditional point of view that was always the biggest day when I went to the races, it was a big deal and there is something special about Trentham. It was a massive privilege to share that stage and day with Tony.” Evans has enjoyed being the new voice at many of the tracks he frequented as a young racing fan and his biggest test awaits him this weekend as he gets set to call at New Zealand Oaks Day at Trentham on Saturday. “It will be the biggest day so far,” he said. “I called my first Group 1 a couple of weeks ago at Otaki, but the Oaks is a big race and is one of several (Group Ones) I will get to do. “In terms of the courses, I think there is something special about calling at Trentham, and I know it was Tony’s favourite track. The Oaks is a great race with a big field on a big track, so I will need to be on my toes. I am very much looking forward to it.” While Evans didn’t take his desired direct path into race calling, he is glad the way his career has panned out and is grateful to have finally secured his dream job in racing. “Race calling was my childhood dream and I love the game,” he said. “I am glad I had that radio life because the experiences you get to do when you are in that job are unbelievable, and now I am back doing my initial love.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Ascot Races Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, March 16, 2024 First Race 12:29pm AWST Visit Dabble The Listed Natasha Stakes and J.C. Roberts Stakes will headline the nine-race program at Ascot Racecourse this Saturday afternoon. Although the track was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday, with warm weather forecast for Friday and Saturday, the track will improve into the Good range by raceday. The rail will go back into the true position for the entire circuit, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 12:29pm AWST. Natasha Stakes Tip: Own The Queen Own The Queen comes into the Natasha Stakes off the back of bringing up a hat-trick of wins in her first racing preparation, with her most recent victory coming in the Listed Ascot 1000 Guineas. The Justine Elkins-trained filly showed a blistering turn of foot to run away from her rivals at the top of the home straight and held Miss Skyhigh at bay in the final 100m to win by just under one length. If Troy Turner can settle this girl in the one-one position from barrier six and allow her to build momentum around the home turn, Own The Queen will prove very hard to beat again. Natasha Stakes Race 6 – #1 Own The Queen (6) 3yo Filly | T: Justine Elkins | J: Troy Turner (56kg) +140 with Dabble J.C. Roberts Stakes Tip: A Lot Of Good Men A Lot Of Good Men was made to settle three-wide without cover and still battled on well to finish second behind Russian To The Bar in the Lex Piper Piper Stakes. Now that this son of A Lot is fourth-up and rising in distance to 1800m—a distance that he finished 1.6 lengths off the winner in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes—it is expected that he will be peaking this weekend. Paul Harvey will continue his affiliation with the colt, and from barrier five, he will be able to settle worse than midfield and not get trapped out wide. With a solid tempo expected, A Lot Of Good Men will be one of the strongest late, and his class should see him prevail. J.C. Roberts Stakes Race 8 – #2 A Lot Of Good Men (5) 3yo Colt | T: Trevor Andrews | J: Paul Harvey (55.5kg) +250 with Playup Best Bet at Ascot: Angel Undercover Angel Undercover has been very impressive in recent starts, recording back-to-back victories over 1200m at Belmont and Ascot, and she will seek a hat-trick of wins on Saturday. The Sean & Jake Casey-trained filly has won three of her last four, with her last win being the best of the those, where she ran home from midfield and won by two lengths over Wubin Gold. Although she is competing against older horses in this contest, there appears to be a good amount of speed on paper, and the race should be set up for a swooper such as Angel Undercover to run home strongly down the outside in the final 300m. Best Bet Race 3 – #7 Angel Undercover (8) 3yo Filly | T: Sean & Jake Casey | J: Jade McNaught (55kg) +180 with Picklebet Next Best at Ascot: Sapphire Street Coming off three straight third-place finishes, Sapphire Street will be looking for a change of fortune and a little more luck this weekend. In her most recent start, the Daniel Morton-trained filly found the fence from a wide barrier but was held up before the home turn and had to pick her way through gaps between runners late. After drawing barrier nine, Chris Parnham will more than likely settle midfield, off the rail, and allow this daughter of Street Boss to build her momentum before the home turn. If Sapphire Street gets into clear air and shows her customary turn of foot, she will prove hard to hold out late. Next Best Race 9 – #10 Sapphire Street (9) 3yo Filly | T: Daniel Morton | J: Chris Parnham (54kg) +380 with Neds Saturday quaddie tips for Ascot races Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, March 16, 2024 1-2-3 1-3-4-8 1-2 2-3-8-9-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Naxos (centre) will contest the Frocked Up Girls 3YO (1200m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The well-related Naxos may lack size but possesses a determined nature that was emphasised when successful at the first time of asking last month at Tauranga. He will return to the scene of his debut triumph on Saturday for the Frocked Up Girls 3YO (1200m) and is expected to give another good account of himself. The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained Naxos will be joined at the northern venue by Mineshaft and Madame Le Fay while the stable will also have black-type contenders Pericles and Reputation in action at Trentham. A grandson of multiple stakes winner Santagostino, Naxos has progressed well since his opening victory and the Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced son of Harry’s Angel will again be ridden by Billy Jacobson. “He’s only a little fellow, but he’s got a big heart and tries hard. We’ve given him a bit of time between runs and he worked super the other morning,” Gerard said. Successful two runs back, Mineshaft will bid to return to winning ways in the Manco Handicap (1600m) off the back of an unplaced effort in the Remutaka Classic (2100m). “He won over a mile and was second-up at Wellington, so it was quite a big ask,” Gerard said. “We gave him a freshen-up after that and we just think he’s better ridden back a bit more and can then finish off strongly.” Jacobson will guide his fortunes and also takes the reins aboard last-start course and distance winner Madame Le Fay in the Super Liquor Greerton (1600m). “We had to late scratch her from Matamata a couple of weeks ago after a mishap, but she’s good now and likes the track and the mile,” Gerard said. Meanwhile at Trentham, Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1600m) hope Pericles won the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m) two runs back before everything went wrong for him when out of the money in the Group 3 Mufhasa Stakes (1400m). “You can put a line through that, I never want to see that race again,” Gerard said. “He’s a really nice horse with a lot of potential. It’s nearly the end of his season and his first trip away so it’s a bit of a learning curve for him. “He’s drawn well so we’ll be positive with him and go forward.” Highly regarded four-year-old Reputation goes into the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) off the back of a top effort for fifth after a wide passage in the Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m). “It was a huge run last start considering she lost her shoes and was slipping and sliding,” Gerard said. “I really like this mare and think she can go a long way.” Thatsallshewrote completes the stable’s team at Trentham and looms as an each-way chance in the Harrison’s Flooring Handicap Premier (1600m). “She has been unlucky in her last couple of starts and doesn’t always help herself,” Gerard said. “The one draw isn’t ideal for her, she’s a mare that gets back and has to be held up for one run. She’s got a nice low weight (54kg) and is far better than what her form reads.” Horse racing news View the full article

Stephen Autridge will line-up Livid Sky and Still Bangon in this Saturday’s Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Stephen Autridge has triumphed in many of New Zealand’s most iconic races, and the Matamata horseman would rate a victory in Saturday’s Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) among the headliners. Autridge, a former Group 1-winning jockey, has accumulated 98 domestic stakes victories as trainer, with periods at the helm of Te Akau Racing, a stint training Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Racing stable, and also trained in partnership for a time with Graeme Rogerson. Over recent seasons, Autridge has downsized his operation, focusing on a more select team of 15 gallopers, and among them has emerged two leading hopes for the time-honoured fillies’ feature in Still Bangon and Livid Sky. A daughter of last year’s Oaks-winning sire Satono Aladdin, Still Bangon has been a model of consistency this season, her record boasting a tough victory in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) before finishing second in the Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m) on New Year’s Day. The filly’s campaign was blemished slightly when finishing back in the field in the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa last month, a performance rectified with a scorching finish from near-last to third in the Group 3 Sunline Vase (2100m), earning her place alongside stablemate Livid Sky in the Oaks field a fortnight later. “She (Still Bangon) was outstanding at Ellerslie, her sectionals said that, and she’s come through it really well,” Autridge said. Proisir filly Livid Sky has followed suit with repeatedly solid raceday efforts, with her five black-type starts on the bounce this campaign including a pair of thirds and fourths behind the likes of Orchestral and Molly Bloom, alongside a strong last-start sixth in the Sunline Vase. “Initially, I thought Livid Sky was a little bit disappointing in the Sunline Vase, but Sam Weatherley (jockey) told us it was a really good run, and her sectionals would reflect that,” Autridge said. “They ended up being pretty much second best of the race behind Still Bangon, so we’ve got to be happy going forward.” A step-up to the 2400m distance now beckons the pair, and Autridge is optimistic after the barrier draws revealed gates four (Livid Sky) and nine (Still Bangon), with Weatherley and Matt Cameron taking the respective rides. “When the sectionals say they’re just about first and second-best going 2100m, you’ve got to be quite confident they can run out the extra 300m. We believe they’re a big chance of doing that,” Autridge said. “For these two horses, they’re very good draws, they haven’t had many good draws between them, so we certainly aren’t complaining. “From the better draws they should be able to race a bit closer, hopefully around midfield which would be ideal, they usually race near last. “I’ve had a few Oaks runners and you need luck in the running. It’s usually a pretty roughly run race, so let’s hope they stay out of trouble.” Still Bangon is currently rated a $4.80 second-favourite for the Oaks, while her stablemate lies an equal-fourth fancy at $8.50, but according to Autridge, the contrasting fillies enter on equal terms for their grand final. “Their personalities have always been quite different, Still Bangon is a lovely, kind filly, but Livid Sky was very erratic and strong-willed to start with. She is coming around to it now though,” he said. “At the end of the day, I can’t split them. “This is their grand final, they’ve done a great job this season and have been in a while. They’ve raced well every time they’ve gone out and I think they’re going into the Oaks at 100 percent. I’d hate to be saying they’re doing anything afterwards, other than going to the paddock.” Autridge hopes to take one step closer to the elusive century of stakes winners on Saturday and indicated that an Oaks win would rank alongside any of his major crowns in New Zealand and Australia. “At the moment, with now only having 15 in work in a small stable, having two fillies in the Oaks is great to start with,” he said. “To win it, that would be right up there with everything I’ve done as a trainer.” Horse racing news View the full article

The Mighty Spar winning the South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Te Akau Racing’s The Mighty Spar made it back-to-back wins in the Lally And Symes South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Piloted by apprentice jockey Jessica Allen, The Mighty Spar settled in the one-one early on behind Langkawi and enjoyed an economical trip before Allen asked her charge to improve three-wide from the 300m and the pair quickly hit the lead, with the Mighty Spar able to hold out the late challenge of Arby to win by a short-head. Mark Walker, who trains the gelding in partnership with Sam Bergerson, was delighted to see The Mighty Spar defend his crown in the Matamata feature and was full of praise for their stable apprentice. “It was great to see him win the South Waikato Cup two years in a row and a lovely ride by Jess to get him into the perfect spot,” he said. “She pinched a break to gain the winning margin and rode a perfect race. I think Jess will really come into her own over the next few months, especially with the three-kilo claim.” Following the Mighty Spar’s win in last year’s edition of the South Waikato Cup, the son of Savabeel spent the winter months jumping over hurdles, highlighted by a placing in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3100m), and he may return to that discipline in the coming months. “He’s a bit of a marvel The Mighty Spar, winning five races on the flat and one over hurdles, and we’ll decide whether we keep him on the flat or go back over jumps,” Walker said. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, who purchased the gelding as a yearling, was pleased to see him back in winning form. “He’s come back to racing in great fettle and I’m thrilled for the owners to win this race again, which had a pretty good mid-week stake,” Ellis said. “They way he hit the line fresh-up over a mile at Hastings suggested that he was in the right shape to go 2000m second-up, and it’s a really good training performance by Mark and Sam to have the horse spot on.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Eagle Farm Races Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, March 16, 2024 First Race 11:38am AEST Visit Dabble Brisbane Racing Club will host a competitive 10-race card at Eagle Farm this Saturday afternoon. The track is rated a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, but with little rain on the forecast, it is expected that the going will improve into the Good range before the start of the meeting. The rail will be pushed out slightly to the +0.5m position for the entire circuit, with racing set to kick off at 11:38am AEST. Best Bet at Eagle Farm: Press Link After returning from a 16-week spell with a dominant win at Doomben in mid-week grade, Press Link appears ready to step up to Saturday metropolitan level this weekend. The Robert Heathcote-trained gelding was able to settle behind the speed before peeling off the leaders back to run straight on by at the 250m mark. The son of Press Statement showed a devastating turn of foot as he put two lengths on his rivals within a few strides to career away with a 2.3-length victory. Although this bloke has drawn an awkward barrier (11), Michael Rodd has been on his back in both of his career starts, and he will give Press Link every chance to remain undefeated. Best Bet Race 8 – #2 Press Link (11) 3yo Gelding | T: Robert Heathcote | J: Michael Rodd (59.5kg) +160 with Picklebet Next Best at Eagle Farm: Tribeca Star Tribeca Star returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in four starts as the Matthew Dunn-trained galloper recorded a soft win at Grafton over 1410m on February 17. Since that win, Dunn has given his four-year-old gelding a four-week break, which should do him well considering he has been up since September of last year. Ryan Maloney will be legged aboard for his first ride on this son of Star Turn, and from barrier nine, he should be able to slot into a midfield position off the rail. If Tribeca Star lets down with a similar finish to his last start, he will prove very hard to hold out late. Next Best Race 5 – #4 Tribeca Star (9) 4yo Gelding | T: Matthew Dunn | J: Ryan Maloney (57kg) +200 with Neds Best Value at Eagle Farm: Hyde Hyde ran home nicely from midfield to finish third behind Boom Torque first-up and was only beaten by 1.3 lengths on the line over 1350m. Rising in distance to 1600m second-up (3:2-1-0) in a slightly weaker race looks to be the ideal step for the Annabel Neasham-trained gelding. With the aid of Bailey Wheeler’s 2kg claim, this son of Snitzel gets in very well at the weights and should be able to land in a good spot midfield from barrier six. With even luck from the 600m mark, Hyde will be running home strong to play a prominent role in the finish. Best Value Race 10 – #1 Hyde (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Bailey Wheeler (a2) (60.5kg) +800 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Eagle Farm races Eagle Farm quadrella selections Saturday, March 16, 2024 Field 2 1-4-7-11 1-5-10-16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Moments In Time powers away for Ellis Wong. Ellis Wong celebrated a significant milestone in his fledgeling career at Happy Valley on Wednesday night when the apprentice exploited his 10lb claim to maximum effect with a double on Happy Horse and Moments in Time. Wong, 23, made the most of his opportunities by striking in tandem with Manfred Man when Happy Horse prevailed before sealing his first double when Chilean Group 1 winner Moments In Time swept to victory. “It feels amazing. Thanks to Danny and Manfred for their support,” Wong said. “I’m very happy. “Moments In Time was really strong, we had a good pace and he followed really nicely and he won easily. It’s a great night.” Indentured to four-time Hong Kong champion Caspar Fownes, Wong returned to Hong Kong last season after riding 88 winners in South Australia, highlighted by a quartet at Gawler on January 7. Wong was in the best of company tonight, matching the feats of three senior jockeys who also produced braces – six-time champion Zac Purton, Brenton Avdulla and Harry Bentley – while Mark Newnham took training honours with a double. Purton boosted his tally of wins for the 2023/24 season to 79 to sit 29 clear of Karis Teetan (50) in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship after victories on Copartner Prance and Raging Blizzard, who continued a strong season with his fourth win of the preparation with success for John Size. Rated 55 at the start of the season, the Per Incanto gelding was dominant under 135lb at the top of Class 3 at his seventh start of a productive campaign, which has seen the four-year-old earn HK$4.6 million and rise to 79 (pre-race) in the handicap. Purton also combined with Francis Lui’s Copartner Prance. Douglas Whyte-trained King Eccellente overcame barrier 12 and unwound a powerful finish under a strong ride from Harry Bentley. “He obviously had a really wide draw, which was always going to make things difficult but we got a nice run, actually – three-wide but with cover,” Bentley said. “He travelled like a dream, actually, and it was just a matter of letting him down and he really picked up for me. “Good training performance, as well.” Bentley sealed a double aboard Mark Newnham’s Show Respect – also securing a brace for Newnham. Riding with supreme confidence after winning the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on Tony Cruz-trained California Spangle last Sunday, Brenton Avdulla struck aboard Master Of Luck for Newnham. Avdulla closed the meeting victoriously when he teamed with Cruz’s Beauty Charge to have 22 wins for the season. Resuming from suspension, Matthew Poon took only two rides to strike, scoring with Cody Mo’s Happy Fat Cat to slot his ninth win of the season. “I had two long suspensions and, at the beginning of the season, I think I missed the kick – I didn’t have too many rides,” Poon said. “So, it was pretty tough. “But now, everything is going the right way and slowly getting better. Thanks to Cody and the owners for trusting me. The owners have given me great support with the ride, and not only with the horses, but they have also given me mental support, so I’m very pleased for the owners. “I’m very happy to win on this horse.” Horse racing news View the full article