Wandering Eyes

Snazzytavi has seemingly flown through the grades this season, and the talented mare will prepare for another black-type target in Wednesday’s Holster Engineering Lally and Symes South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata. The daughter of Tavistock has been near faultless through her preparation, building from a Rating 65 victory over 1400m in early December to a comprehensive win in the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, followed by a narrow third placing in the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) last month. Stepping out over ground for the first time at Matamata last start, regular rider Warren Kennedy situated the mare back in the field throughout and her strong turn-of-foot was revealed in claiming the 2000m contest. Snazzytavi will shoulder 57.5kg in the Matamata mid-week feature, with co-trainer Graham Richardson indicating Wednesday’s race will act as a hopeful prelude to the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham on April 6. “The plan was to get back at her last start, as she was having her first time over ground and drawing wide, and they can tend to go hard early at Matamata,” he said. “We decided to sit off the pace, and it was a very good effort to win. “This race is a lead-up to the Manawatu Breeders’ all going well on Wednesday, and if the track is good down there. If it’s too wet, we’ll more than likely send her out and come back for the spring.” Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, will prepare a further four runners at their local meeting, including juvenile filly Lotus, who steps out of stakes company after contesting the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). “She missed the kick last start in a very strong field and had to be used up a bit to put her back in the race. She went okay, it was a pretty good run, and I was happy with her,” he said. “She’d be very competitive on Wednesday, she’s learning all the time and she’ll want further than this eventually. She’ll be a better and stronger three-year-old.” Lovearoadie was another representative who did little wrong in her last preparation, and Richardson is upbeat about the chances of the lightly-raced Savile Row mare fresh-up in the Tirau Vets 1200. “She’s flying, she’s doing really well. I’ve got Ace (Lawson-Carroll, apprentice jockey) claiming a couple of kilos on her and she’s got a nice draw (3), she is fresh-up but I’m happy with her work and she should be pretty competitive,” he said. Social Racing have enjoyed a fruitful season with the stable, highlighted by Group One hero Bonny Lass, and the syndicator will have three-year-old filly Mi Bella resuming in the Matamata Tractors & Machinery 1050. Richardson will also engage Royal Ace in the 1050m contest, the pair guided by Warren Kennedy and Bridget Grylls respectively. “Both of these horses show a fair bit of potential,” he said. “It’s first-up over 1000m, it’ll be interesting with a lot of speed in the race so they’ll both improve from the run regardless of how they go.” View the full article

Butterfield winning at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images Tauranga horseman Patrick McCarten enjoyed one of his more memorable days as a trainer when producing Butterfield to win on Auckland Cup Day at Ellerslie last Saturday. The eight-year-old gelding ran seventh at the Auckland track seven days prior after placing in his two previous starts this year, and McCarten was hopeful of a better showing in the Tempur Classic 1200. From his wide gate, Butterfield was fairly away and settled midfield for apprentice jockey Tayla Mitchell. The son of Niagara tracked Covermeinsunshine into the race and Mitchell presented her charge six-wide at the turn where he showed a good turn of foot in the final 200m to score a 1.25 length victory over Marengo, with a further 1.5 lengths back to race favourite My Annie Belle in third. While things didn’t go to plan in the early stages of the race, McCarten was ecstatic with the outcome. “The initial plan was to be positive from the start with the intentions of sitting handy. He missed the start fractionally, so we didn’t achieve that, and he was posted a little wide,” he said. “Tayla rode a great race in getting him to settle and make her move on the home turn. It was very pleasing to see him go to the line so well. He seemed to win it quite convincingly. “There may be time for another start before the winter, but he will have a few days off after racing both days at Ellerslie. We will see how he comes through the race. He will spell through the winter and we look forward to a spring preparation. “He will step up to rating 75 in his next start. We will just see what is available when he is ready.” McCarten has operated yearling video production company Equivision for the last three decades and in that time he struck up a good association with Butterfield’s Hong Kong-based part-owner Edmond Yue. “I started Equivision in 1991 and was pretty much the first one to start filming at the yearling sales. Through that I made a few contacts and started to sell horses as well,” McCarten said. “I had sold Edmond a couple of good horses, including High Five, who won five or six races in Hong Kong. He asked me to look for another horse for him, so I decided on Butterfield.” McCarten purchased Butterfield off Darryn Weatherley as a juvenile and enjoyed following his career before taking over training the gelding in 2020, with Butterfield winning first-up for McCarten after a 12-month absence from racing. “I bought him for Edmond quite a while back off the Weatherleys,” McCarten said. “I liked the look of him. He wasn’t a big horse, he was only 15.1 (hands) when I bought him as a two-year-old, but there was something about him. “He was initially with Finbarr Leahy for a couple of years.” McCarten is enjoying focussing more on training these days and is looking forward to adding to his stable numbers over the winter months. “I have been concentrating on training a bit more lately,” he said. “I have got a couple of horses that I am going to bring in over the winter, so hopefully we can have a bit of fun with them next season.” View the full article

Snazzytavi will contest Wednesday’s South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Snazzytavi has seemingly flown through the grades this season, and the talented mare will prepare for another black-type target in Wednesday’s South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata. The daughter of Tavistock has been near faultless through her preparation, building from a Rating 65 victory over 1400m in early December to a comprehensive win in the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, followed by a narrow third placing in the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) last month. Stepping out over ground for the first time at Matamata last start, regular rider Warren Kennedy situated the mare back in the field throughout and her strong turn-of-foot was revealed in claiming the 2000m contest. Snazzytavi will shoulder 57.5kg in the Matamata mid-week feature, with co-trainer Graham Richardson indicating Wednesday’s race will act as a hopeful prelude to the Group 3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham on April 6. “The plan was to get back at her last start, as she was having her first time over ground and drawing wide, and they can tend to go hard early at Matamata,” he said. “We decided to sit off the pace, and it was a very good effort to win. “This race is a lead-up to the Manawatu Breeders’ all going well on Wednesday, and if the track is good down there. If it’s too wet, we’ll more than likely send her out and come back for the spring.” Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, will prepare a further four runners at their local meeting, including juvenile filly Lotus, who steps out of stakes company after contesting the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). “She missed the kick last start in a very strong field and had to be used up a bit to put her back in the race. She went okay, it was a pretty good run, and I was happy with her,” he said. “She’d be very competitive on Wednesday, she’s learning all the time and she’ll want further than this eventually. She’ll be a better and stronger three-year-old.” Lovearoadie was another representative who did little wrong in her last preparation, and Richardson is upbeat about the chances of the lightly-raced Savile Row mare fresh-up. “She’s flying, she’s doing really well. I’ve got Ace (Lawson-Carroll, apprentice jockey) claiming a couple of kilos on her and she’s got a nice draw (3), she is fresh-up but I’m happy with her work and she should be pretty competitive,” he said. Social Racing have enjoyed a fruitful season with the stable, highlighted by Group One hero Bonny Lass, and the syndicator will have three-year-old filly Mi Bella resuming. Richardson will also engage Royal Ace in the 1050m contest, the pair guided by Warren Kennedy and Bridget Grylls respectively. “Both of these horses show a fair bit of potential,” he said. “It’s first-up over 1000m, it’ll be interesting with a lot of speed in the race so they’ll both improve from the run regardless of how they go.” Horse racing news View the full article

Waitak winning the Group 1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Wexford Stables will break new ground next month with their Group One-winning sprinter Waitak heading to Western Australia. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir has been confirmed as the slot runner for New Zealand’s Trackside Media and host club Perth Racing in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth. Trackside is the media and broadcast arm of the TAB, which Entain Australia and New Zealand operates under a 25-year strategic partnering agreement. The inaugural 2023 running of the weight-for-age The Quokka was won by expatriate Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker with Overpass, who is expected to return to defend his title at Ascot on April 20. “It’s exciting for the whole team here and the ownership group and we’re very appreciative of Entain offering us the slot,” Scott said. “It’s something new for us and we’re not going there to make up the numbers, he’s a very good sprinter and if he gets conditions and tempo to suit then he’ll be finishing off strongly.” Waitak opened his four-year-old season with victory in an open handicap at Te Rapa before he thundered home from last to claim the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m). He then finished midfield in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) after racing three wide without cover. Waitak subsequently bypassed the Group 3 Kings Plate (1200m) earlier this month due to a slightly elevated temperature and won’t race again before The Quokka. “We decided to leave him at home and he’s well and truly over that now and he had a wee breeze along on Saturday morning and moved well,” Scott said. “We will be giving him a quiet trial on Thursday and we might even look to trial him again on the 28th. “He races really well fresh and he’ll fly to Sydney and then to Perth. By the time we get a couple of trials into him this month and, on top of the travel, he will be ready when he arrives there. “We haven’t talked about a jockey yet but hopefully we’ll be locking in a top rider.” Perth Racing Chief Executive James Oldring welcomed the confirmation of Waitak as the Trackside Media runner. “It’s fantastic to have New Zealand representation in Perth for The Quokka and no doubt Waitak’s presence will generate plenty of interest from Kiwi racing fans,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming him and his team to Ascot in April.” Meanwhile, Waitak’s star young stablemate and Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Molly Bloom is progressing well. The daughter of Ace High is in the mix for a crack at the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on March 30, which has been relocated to Ellerslie. An inspection of the Te Aroha track last Friday deemed the current issues with the course will not be remedied in time. “Her progress will dictate whether she gets to that race and, at this stage, we are hoping to build toward it,” Scott said. “She will have a quiet trial on Thursday and everything will become a lot clearer after that.” A trip to the Brisbane winter carnival is also in the mix for Molly Bloom filly, who won last month’s Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at her most recent appearance. “Her progress toward race day fitness in the next couple of weeks will dictate where we look to run her,” Scott said. “We haven’t really made plans and want to get the trial under her belt first and then set a plan from there.” Horse racing news View the full article

Kiwi handler hopes seven-day turnaround can prove fruitful with impressive last-start winnerView the full article

Ever-green NT jockey Paul Denton, 60 years young these days, is currently leading the way in the Alice Springs and Provincial jockeys’ premiership. Veteran NT jockey Paul Denton, the current leader in the Alice Springs and Provincial jockeys’ premiership, is looking forward to the start of the 2024 Cup Carnival next Sunday. However, he isn’t necessarily sold on the Alice Springs Turf Club’s revamped format. The Carnival accommodates five meetings at Pioneer Park from March 17 before concluding on April 7 (Cup Day). In recent years, Carnival has started in early April ending on the first Sunday in May – Cup Day last year was April 30. Previously, Cup Day was the first Monday in May with Pioneer Sprint Day the preceding Saturday. The $35,000 St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) has been added to the Carnival and is now the Day 1 feature. The $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m) is the Day 2 feature on March 23, with the $40,000 Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) the Day 3 highlight on March 30. The two major races are scheduled for April 6-7 – the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) on Saturday (Day 4) and the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) on Sunday (Day 5). Denton, who rides predominately for Kerry Petrick’s stable in Alice Springs, said it will be interesting to see how the new schedule is received. “The new format probably suits some stables like us because we take horses to Darwin and it gives them more of a break between Carnivals,” he said. “In saying that, we’re going to race in hotter weather. “I don’t like the idea of racing Saturday and Sunday – horses can’t back up. “If you win the Sprint you can’t celebrate because you’ve got to ride Cup Day. “I was against the Friday and Sunday format at the end of Carnival, which was introduced a few years ago. “I liked the old days when they raced Saturday and Monday.” Meanwhile, Denton, who won a few premierships in Central Australia in the early 1990s, has 13 wins for the season. Denton saluted on Dan Morgan’s three-year-old gelding Don’t Be Dramatic at Pioneer Park on Saturday. He leap-frogged Sonja Logan (11.5), last season’s top rider, the previous week when he rode a double for Petrick and Lisa Whittle. The 60-year-old, with 1273 career wins, and Petrick are in good form after a quiet start to the season. Petrick has 12.5 wins and trails Paul Gardner (16) and Whittle (13). Following the Darwin Cup Carnival in early August, Petrick took a team to Kununurra a month later before having three months off. “Kerry had 16 horses spelling at the same time, we virtually had one runner over that period,” Denton said. “The others returned to track work and things are definitely rolling along. “A few of them are starting to fire up – Kerry had four winners on February 24. “I’m probably a chance in the Alice premiership this year as we’ve got a team of 19 here, they’re all coming into Carnival and are starting to hit form.” Denton has been riding in the NT since 1983 and has won a litany of feature races in Alice Springs and Darwin. Horse racing news View the full article

Michael McNab drives Adam I Am to a decisive return to the winner’s circle at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Three hours before pin-up mare Legarto lined up as the centre of attention in Saturday’s Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m), an up-and-comer carrying those same cream and brown colours earned his own share of the Ellerslie spotlight. Adam I Am lived up to his -111.11 favouritism with horse racing bookies in style with a bold victory in the $90,000 Go Racing 1400. The Rating 85 contest was the toughest test yet for the four-year-old Almanzor gelding, who has now won four of his seven starts and placed in another two. Adam I Am has earned $134,720 in stakes for a syndicate that includes his co-breeders, Ancroft Stud’s Philip and Catherine Brown. After showing a real X-factor with two dominant spring wins and a later victory in the Thames Cup (1600m), Adam I Am’s upward trajectory was briefly interrupted when he finished fourth as favourite in last month’s inaugural $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa. But the exciting chestnut was right back at the peak of his powers on Saturday, settling in fourth behind a slow pace before stretching out stylishly down the Ellerslie straight. He surged past Uderzo and Financier, cruising to victory by a length under a hands-and-heels ride from Michael McNab. “It’s a bit of a relief, really,” trainer and part-owner Glenn Old said. “We thought we managed to get a couple of little things ironed out since Te Rapa. “He was put to the test today, they cantered in front, but Michael got him to relax and he did everything well. “We’ll get him home now and see how he pulls up before we decide what we do next. We don’t have any plans set in place. “We don’t really know what his ceiling is. I believe he’s going to make a good 2000m horse in time. Hopefully that’s where we might end up in the spring. He’s exciting.” The win completed an early double on Saturday’s Ellerslie card for McNab, who also rode Pearl Of Alsace to victory in the Westbury Stud Royal Descent Stakes (1600m). “Great start to the day,” he said. “I was happy with where we were in the run. If you’re in the first four and you think you’re on a good horse, you’re in a good spot. “I rode him during the week and he really filled me with confidence with what I felt. He’s grown up a lot since I last rode him at Te Rapa. “He’s going the right way, and I think he’ll get to Group One level for sure – maybe not in this prep, but in the spring.” Horse racing news View the full article

California Spangle wins his second Group 1. Tony Cruz dedicated California Spangle’s victory in the HK$13 million Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday to late owner Howard Liang, while praising Brenton Avdulla’s “perfect” ride on the stable flagbearer. Unplaced at his previous four runs, California Spangle reprised his best form under Avdulla, who claimed his first Hong Kong Group 1 with a brilliant front-running ride to beat a charging Galaxy Patch by a length. Red Lion was third, a nose further away. Allowed to saunter through the first 600m in 36.26s, California Spangle gradually upped the tempo in covering the final 800m in 45.92s to have his main rivals, including Beauty Eternal (fourth) and Lucky Sweynesse (fifth), chasing from the home turn. Challenged late by Galaxy Patch, who had to change course under Karis Teetan to gain a clear run before accelerating powerfully, California Spangle was never under serious threat, while Lucky Sweynesse was taken to the tail of the field by James McDonald before fanning four-wide on straightening to finish one and a half lengths behind the winner. 2024 Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup Replay – California Spangle Cruz, who previously won the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup with Silent Witness (2005), Egyptian Ra (2009) and Beauty Flash (2011), jubilated in California Spangle’s redemptive triumph – his first at the elite level since the 2022 Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m). “It (victory) means everything, this horse was very important to the late Howard Liang. He bought the horse and I’m so glad he has won another Group 1. He is the best horse Howard raced and the exciting part of today is that California Spangle had to perform to go to Dubai – and now he’s heading to Dubai and everybody is thrilled about it,” Cruz said. “He had the perfect race today. I think Brenton rode a perfect race. He did exactly what I expected him to do. I’m so happy about that. We’re going to Dubai now and Brenton is going to ride him in Dubai.” Cruz has been invited to run California Spangle in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan Racecourse on March 30. Avdulla, who boasts 13 Group 1 victories in Australia, exulted in his most significant Hong Kong win. “I was able to get a controlled gallop. Probably on the ground everyone was a fraction reserved, but he just enjoyed it,” Avdulla said, referring to the steady rain which fell during the meeting. “He galloped along at a nice tempo and he gave a good kick for me. “I came here in May with an expectation of probably doing 10 weeks and go home. Even though I only had the three winners, I started to build a bit of relations at the end (of last season) and really enjoyed the racing and spending time with my family. “I was confident that given an opportunity that I could succeed here. I rode a winner for Tony at the beginning of the season and then I was quiet for a bit. But, then I had a four-timer and Group 2 win for John (Size). “All the hard work pays off and like anything, with an opportunity, I always thought I was good enough to capitalise and today shows that.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Warrnambool Races Where Warrnambool Racing Club – 2-64 Grafton Rd, Warrnambool VIC 3280 When Tuesday, March 12, 2024 First Race 1pm AEDT Visit Dabble The jumps season kicks off for another year as three races over the obstacles headlines the competitive eight-race meeting on Tuesday afternoon. With plenty of warm weather in the lead up to the meeting, the track was rated a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, with the likelihood of beginning on a Good track. The rail is out 6m the entire circuit, with action commencing at 1pm AEDT. Best Bet at Warrnambool: Active Duty It took a while for Active Duty to hit top gear when breaking his maiden at Terang over 1600m, but the way he hit the line over the final 100m suggests he has a bit of talent about him. The Lindsey Smith-trained three-year-old gained the gun run in transit, and despite needing virtually the whole straight to get there, he never really looked like getting beat on March 5. On the quick back-up, the National Defense progeny has found a weak BM64 to go on with the job. With a similar run in transit in the small field, Active Duty should prove too good for his rival. Best Bet Race 8 – #5 Active Duty (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Lindsey Smith | J: Fred Kersley (58kg) +130 with Picklebet Next Best at Warrnambool: Verbosity Andrew Bobbin’s Verbosity is deep into a campaign, and despite being well held at Stawell on February 22, his form prior reads perfectly against this BM64 field. The four-year-old gelding strung together handy victories in arguably stronger races three and four starts back, and a repeat of those efforts will be enough to score here. Will Gordon will hold the rail from barrier one, and in the small field of five, he will be on the tail of the leader throughout, and pounce late to score. Next Best Race 6 – #1 Verbosity (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Andrew Bobbin | J: Will Gordon (60.5kg) +135 with Dabble Next Best Again at Warrnambool: Instigator Instigator doesn’t win out of turn, but the veteran can break his Warrnambool duck when he lines up in the 3450m open class Steeple. Having had eight starts at the ‘Bool, Andrew Purcell’s 10-year-old has just three placings in those starts, but his trial leading into his jumps campaign suggests he is raring to go. He blew the cobwebs out at Ararat over 2200m on February 11, but his Terang trial win over the hurdles suggests a race like this is within his grasp. He will be stalking the speed throughout under Will McCarthy, and from there, Instigator should prove to be the superior jumper late on. Next Best Again Race 3 – #3 Instigator (7) 10yo Gelding | T: Andrew Purcell | J: Will McCarthy (71kg) +340 with Neds Tuesday quaddie tips for Warrnambool races Warrnambool quadrella selections Tuesday, March 12, 2023 1-4-6 1-2-3 2-3-4-5-7 3-5 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

The lightly raced Newgate (Into Mischief), last-out winner of the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 3 and Hopkins (Quality Road), narrowly second when last seen in the Feb. 10 GIII Palos Verdes S. at Santa Anita, will ship to Dubai for the G1 Dubai World Cup and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Mar. 30, respectively, SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan confirmed in a message Sunday. An $850,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Newgate won the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. last February before being sidelined for 11 months. Runner-up to subsequent Palos Verdes winner Big City Lights (Mr. Big) in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance Jan. 6, the bay completed the exacta behind Newgrange (Violence) in the GII San Pasqual S. three weeks later and was most recently up in the final jump to win the Big 'Cap by a head. Trainer Bob Baffert is a four-time winner of the World Cup, most recently with Country Grammer (Tonalist) in 2022. The commonly owned Hopkins will make his second consecutive appearance in the Golden Shaheen, after finishing fourth, beaten just one length, behind Sibelius (Not This Time) in last year's contest. A $900,000 KEESEP yearling, Hopkins was off 10 1/2 months following his overseas trip, returning to be runner-up after setting a fast pace in a Jan. 19 allowance at Santa Anita and he led deep into the final furlong of the Palos Verdes before being mugged on the money by Big City Lights. Hopkins breezed a half-mile in :47.80 (13/92) at Santa Anita Mar. 9. Ryan indicated that he and his partners are still in the process of firming up riding assignments. The post Newgate, Hopkins Confirmed For Dubai World Cup Night appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1/ST Racing's AmTote is a technology & services provider to numerous tracks, while Roberts provides the communication link between AmTote and client tracks.View the full article

Riverton galloper Shockallia is set to tackle his home Cup later this month following his victory in the AB Lime Wyndham Cup (2000m) at Gore on Sunday. The six-year-old son of Shocking has been in a purple patch of form, heading into the Southland feature off the back of two victories from his previous three starts, including the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui last month. He was duly backed into $1.60 favouritism for Sunday’s contest, where he was ridden by apprentice jockey Donovan Copper, whose four-kilogram claim brought his allotted weight down to 54kg. Shockallia settled towards the rear of the field in the early stages before Cooper asked him to improve three-wide from the 500m. Sutherland and The Tui Toiler had opened up an advantage on the remainder of the field at the top of the straight, but Shockallia took chase and was able to show his class when reeling in the pair in the concluding stages to score by a half-length. Trainer Kelvin Tyler was a relieved man when his short-priced favourite was able to get a result for punters. “Being a short-priced favourite, I was relieved to get it off my back,” he said. “He is above average and is probably too good to be down here, so we will enjoy it while we have got him. He is a big, strong horse and has been given the chance to mature. He is at his peak age really.” With his charge set to lumber 58kg, Tyler was pleased he utilised the services of Cooper and his claim. “He is going to be around the topweight for the next wee while, so I thought if we could get a nice three or four-kilo claimer that we could use would be quite handy. We gave him (Cooper) a chance and he has done a good job,” Tyler said. The Riverton Cup (2147m) is now firmly in the crosshairs for Shockallia, with Tyler hoping to give his local owners a victory in their home Cup after coming up just short in last year’s edition. “He will definitely head to the Riverton Cup,” Tyler said. “The syndicate is from here and it would be a big thrill if they could win a race like that, they got second in it last year with Kilowatt.” A stakes target then awaits the talented gelding before potentially heading for a spell. “He will then probably head to the Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr.3, 2000m) after that, it is weight-for-age and it is a good race for him. “He is not really a wet tracker, so we will just assess things after Canterbury and whether he goes out for a short break.” The stable also enjoyed placing with Classic Diva in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1335m) on Sunday, with the daughter of Proisir also earmarked to head to Riverton in a fortnight. “She always goes well fresh,” Tyler said. “The track was probably a bit too good for her. She has won quite a few races at Riverton, so if we could get a bit of cut in the track, she’ll hopefully be a good chance there.” View the full article

Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), the stunning winner of the Group 1 Railway Stakes on New Year’s Day, has been confirmed as the slot runner for New Zealand’s Trackside Media and host club Perth Racing in The Quokka in Perth on April 20. Trackside Media has partnered with Perth Racing for their slot in the A$5 million feature for the next three years. This partnership will help promote the very best of New Zealand racing in Western Australia and enhance growth of The Quokka into the important New Zealand market. Trackside is the media and broadcast arm of TAB in New Zealand, which Entain Australia and New Zealand operates under a 25-year strategic partnering agreement. The 4-year-old Waitak, who went from last to first in the Pukekohe straight to win January’s Railway, has the turn of foot to make a real impact in The Quokka at Ascot Racecourse next month. Cameron Rodger, the Managing Director – New Zealand for Entain Australia and New Zealand, said the team was excited to take a New Zealand-bred sprinter to Perth to take on the best short-course stars on offer in The Quokka. “The sprint he showed to win the Railway, particularly over the last 200 metres, blew us away,” Rodger says. “Waitak brings many strong qualities to the Trackside Media slot. He’s by Proisir, New Zealand’s leading sire last season, and is trained by the outstanding team at Wexford Stables in Matamata, led by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. “The tempo of these sprint races can often suit horses that are proven over more than the sprint distance, and Waitak’s record shows he can handle that.” Perth Racing Chief Executive James Oldring welcomed the confirmation of Waitak as the Trackside Media runner. “It’s fantastic to have New Zealand representation in Perth for The Quokka and no doubt Waitak’s presence will generate plenty of interest from Kiwi racing fans. We look forward to welcoming him and his team to Ascot in April,” James Oldring said. The Wexford Stables team of O’Sullivan and Scott are enthusiastic about partnering with Trackside Media for the slot in the 1200-metre dash, won last year by ex-pat Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker with Overpass. “This is a great opportunity to take one of our stable stars to uncharted territories for us. While we’ve campaigned horses in the eastern states of Australia, we can’t wait to take Waitak to Perth to have a red-hot go at the Australians,” Lance O’Sullivan said. Trackside also had a slot in The Everest in 2023, with I Wish I Win finishing a luckless second. The association with The Everest helped build the profile and awareness of that race in New Zealand and similar benefits are expected to flow through for The Quokka. Waitak is a $31 chance in The Quokka market with New Zealand’s TAB Waitak is going west! (youtube.com) View the full article

D J Stable and Robert Cotran's Hades certainly pleased trainer Joe Orseno during a five-furlong breeze and gallop-out March 10 at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a start in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 30.View the full article

Horse Racing on Monday, March 11 will feature five meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meetings at Ballarat & Morphettville. Monday Racing Tips – March 11, 2024 Ballarat Racing Tips Morphettville Racing Tips As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on March 11, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Horse racing tips View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Monday, March 11. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these complimentary promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximize your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for March 11, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Morphettville Races 1 – 4 Run 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $50 Back a runner in races 1-4 at Morphettville this Monday and if it runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $50 in Bonus Cash. Fixed Win bets only. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Morphettville All Races – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Place a 4+ leg multi, if one leg fails Bonus Back up to $50 Applies to your first eligible 4+ leg multi each day. Paid in Bonus Cash. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Monday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd ALL RACES at Morphettville Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Promotional limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions for March 11, 2024. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and exclusive promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Driver Penalties S McCaffrey | Non-raceday dated 4 March; failed to supply sample of urine as requested; suspended 12 December – 12 June inclusive and costs of $1,250. L Dobbs | Oamaru 6 March; drove in a manner capable of diminishing chances; suspended 7 March – 1 April inclusive. R Close | Oamaru 6 March; contacted track markers; fined $100. D Ferguson | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 March; careless driving; suspended 8-15 March inclusive. K Denifostova | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 March; breach of push out rule; fined $200. K Franks | Northern Southland 9 March; careless driving; fined $250. Horse Penalties BETTERTHANDIVA | Oamaru 6 March; lame; veterinary clearance required. SHEZA TRENDY ONE | Oamaru 6 March; broke in running; must complete trial. JEWEL ELLERY | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 March; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. TOPAZ CASTLETON | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 March; broke in running; must complete trial. EXECUTIVE BANNER | Reefton 10 March; lame; veterinary clearance required. ANNA’S BOY | Reefton 10 March; lame; veterinary clearance required. Protests KAIPAKI JACK | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 March; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 4th. MENTALIST | Westport 8 March; lapped on; relegated from 3rd to 4th. BEEPS | Westport 8 March; displayed unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. TANGANYIKA | Reefton 10 March; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. The post 4-10 March 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

A Canadian star at age 3, Paramount Prince successfully made his 4-year-old debut during a $91,000 allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park March 10.View the full article

Rider Penalties T Davies | Otaki-Maori 6 March; careless riding; suspended 10-16 March inclusive. C Barnes | Otaki-Maori 6 March; medical clearance required. K Williams | Otago 2 March (heard Amberley 7 March); careless riding; suspended 15-22 March inclusive. C Grylls | Auckland 9 March; weighted in heavier than weighed out; fined $200. R Muniandy | Wyndham 10 March; careless riding; suspended 18-30 March inclusive. K Mudhoo | Wyndham 10 March; failed to make weight; fined $100. D Bothamley | Wyndham 10 March; failed to make weight; fined $100. Trainer Penalties W Thurlow | Otaki-Maori 6 March; omitted towel when saddling; fined $150. M Walker & S Bergerson | Amberley 7 March; incorrect gear; fined $50. R McKay & A Harrington | Amberley 7 March; late gear change; fined $50. S Gordon | Wellington 9 March; late rider declaration; fined $50. Horse Penalties COOL IMPACT | Amberley 7 March; bled; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. EMBELLIER | Amberley 7 March; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. BOSS MAN | Amberley 7 March; leg injuries; veterinary clearance required. BURGUNDY IFF | Auckland 9 March; bucked in running; must complete trial. INFER | Auckland 9 March; lame; veterinary clearance required. SMOKESHOW | Auckland 9 March; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. THE CHOPPER | Wellington 9 March; lame; veterinary clearance required. THE RED KRACKEN | Wyndham 10 March; lame; veterinary clearance required. Protests ANNETARZ | Auckland 9 March; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. GOD OF EROS | Auckland 9 March; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. The post 4-10 March 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

When Domestic Product (Practical Joke) bullied his way through traffic to get his nose in front in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Saturday, he not only earned valuable qualifying points to the GI Kentucky Derby, he also provided a timely update for his half-sister who is scheduled to sell during the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales' Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Tuesday. “She's been very popular today, let's put it that way,” Becky Thomas said of the filly from the first crop of Complexity (hip 276) after a long day of showing Sunday in Ocala. Thomas's Sequel Thoroughbreds bred the daughter of Goods and Services (Paynter) and she is consigned under the Sequel Bloodstock banner. The tote delay that caused the Tampa Bay Derby post time to be pushed back a half-hour did, at least, allow Thomas to get home in time to watch the race. “I was afraid he was not going to be able to move around because he was in tight there at the end,” Thomas said. “Those kind of horses are so impressive because he obviously had so much horse left, he just needed to be able to go. So it was very, very cool.” Even before Domestic Product's win at Tampa Bay, Thomas was impressed with his 2-year-old half-sister, who worked a furlong during the OBS under-tack show in :10 flat and had shown even more promise when training over the dirt. “I really love her on dirt,” Thomas said. “She was a filly that I slated for Maryland May [Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale] and I moved her up here because she was training so good. She's got a really quiet demeanor, so I originally put her for May because she is a big, stretchy filly and I thought I would give her a little bit more time. They kind of tell you when you start breezing them who needs to move up and who might need to move down. But she's been really solid.” The dark bay filly is one of 19 juveniles by Complexity to work last week ahead of the OBS March sale. The son of Hill 'n' Dale stallion Maclean's Music won the 2018 GI Champagne S. and 2020 GII Kelso S. He stands at Airdrie Stud for a fee of $12,500. “I am a Maclean's Music fan,” Thomas explained. “I ended up buying a share in [his sons] Drain the Clock and I bred to Jackie's Warrior. I am a John Sikura disciple. When you have those horses who have shown such brilliance and have been a Grade I-siring stallion like him, I really like those kind of horses. And this filly is a big tall leggy, two-turn looking filly that's got a lot of parts. You can see why she can go so fast and you can also see why she should go two turns.” The large number of juveniles by Complexity in the March catalogue came as no surprise to Thomas. “We are a land of pinhookers and if we actually bought horses, it's because all of us like the shape of them,” she said. “The fact that there are that many in here and so many of them are pinhooks, they are the type the pinhookers like. They look quick.” Thomas purchased Goods and Services with the Complexity filly in utero for $37,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. “I couldn't be at that sale, but [bloodstock agent] Andrew Cary and my assistant Carlos Manresa sent me the link to her,” Thomas said. “So we decided to try on her. But it was all because of Andrew and Carlos.” The 2-year-old is the mare's last foal. “Unfortunately, she has passed away,” Thomas said of the mare. “We bred her to Drain the Clock and she was in foal, but she was really very laminitic. Unfortunately, even through our podiatrist, we were not able to keep her comfortable. This is the only baby we got out of her.” The three-day OBS March sale begins Tuesday at 11 a.m. The post Domestic Product Gives Complexity Filly a Big Update at OBS March appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

JD Thoroughbreds and Joey Keith Davis' Tejano Twist looks to live up to the race's name by earning a second-consecutive victory in the six-furlong $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park March 16.View the full article

In a first Japanese Group win for her sire, Etes Vous Prets (Ire) (Too Darn Hot (GB)–Nahoodh {Ire} (GISW-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $443,612), by Clodovil {Ire}) stubbornly held on to her advantage in the final metres, and claimed Sunday's G2 Hochi Hai Fillies' Revue, a trial for the G1 Oka Sho on Apr. 7. Twice the bridesmaid in a pair of maiden contests, she broke through by two lengths in her first start at this venue last September on her third attempt. From there she took another step forward to win the unlisted Fukushima Nisai S. by a nose over Kris Arthur (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}), and ran fourth Dec. 16 behind that familiar face in her seasonal close in the unlisted Sports Hochi Hai Chukyo Nisai S. at Chukyo. Off in line with the field, but briefly outrun as the speed to her outside found a touch more foot early, the grey forged to the front not long after as G2 Keio Hai Nisai victrix and G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies-placed Corazon Beat (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) tucked in behind her. Strong from that lead position, she'd given herself a narrow advantage entering the turn and coming through it as the field organised itself for the closing stages. Saving ground from the fence en route into the stretch, Yusuke Fujioka cut his charge loose and she responded eagerly, the top two kicking away from the rest. Corazon Beat tried valiantly but ultimately could not catch Etes Vous Prets, three-quarters of a length separating them on the line. Cecilie Plage (Jpn) (Bricks and Mortar) was produced in the final metres to claim third by a neck. G2 1400m Hochi Hai Fillies Revue (G1 Oka Sho Trial) at Hanshin Won by 3f 4. ETES VOUS PRETS ( Too Darn Hot x Nahoodh (Clodovil)) under Yusuke Fujioka for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum 1.20.1 for the 7F, gets a start in the Oka Sho!#JRA pic.twitter.com/sdR0uFrhdc — Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) March 10, 2024 Pedigree Notes Too Darn Hot (GB), a son of the venerable Dubawi (Ire), claimed his fifth Group winner from his first crop, and his first in Japan, with Etes Vous Pret's performance in this Japanese 1,000 Guineas trial. The filly's dam Nahoodh, an accomplished racemare in her own right with a win at the highest level in Great Britain when she claimed the G1 U.A.E. Hydra Properties Falmouth S., can also brag of a Group 1-placing in Ireland, runner-up at Leopardstown in the G1 Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron S. As a broodmare, she's had some success as the dam of UAE stakes victor Hawkesbury (GB) (Shamardal) as well as three other winners, but Etes Vous Prets has firmly established herself as the most successful of those offspring thus far. Her placed half-sister Naturelle (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) changed hands last month for 22,000gns at TATFEB to Broadhurst Agency. Nahoodh has a 2-year-old filly named Spicy Margarita (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}) in the wings and a yearling Mehmas (Ire) colt. Sunday, Hanshin, Japan HOCHI HAI FILLIES'REVUE-G2, ¥100,540,000, Hanshin, 3-10, 3yo, f, 1400mT, 1:20.10, fm. 1–ETES VOUS PRETS (IRE), 121, f, 3, by Too Darn Hot (GB) 1st Dam: Nahoodh (Ire) (GISW-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $443,612) by Clodovil (Ire) 2nd Dam: Mise (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire) 3rd Dam: Misbegotten (Ire), by Baillamont 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-H.H.Sheikh Hamdan; B-Godolphin; T-Kenichi Fujioka; J-Yusuke Fujioka; ¥53,078,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, ¥82,435,000. *Half to Hawkesbury (GB) (Shamardal), SW-UAE, SP-Eng, $138, 574. **Sire's First Group Winner in Japan. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Corazon Beat (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Suave Richard (Jpn)–Le Ciel d'Or (Jpn), by Orfevre (Jpn). O-Thoroughbred Club Ruffian; B-Big Red Farm; ¥21,308,000. 3–Cecilie Plage (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Bricks and Mortar–At the Seaside (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm; ¥13,154,000. Margins: 3/4, 1HF, NK; Odds: 34.20, 0.80, 41.20. Also Ran: Bouncy Step (Jpn), Omega Wink (Jpn), Rose Flair (Jpn), Culture Day (Jpn), Dona Betty (Jpn), Mercy Run (Jpn), Lady Marion (Jpn), Poetry (Jpn), Chicago Sting (Jpn), June Blair, Oasis Doll (Jpn). Steward Scratch: Can See Angel (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Etes Vous Prets? Oui! Too Darn Hot Filly had Winning in Mind appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's still not clear exactly what went wrong Saturday when a tote failure impacted several tracks, including Tampa Bay Downs. The Oldsmar, Florida track took a huge hit when it was forced to run the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby as a non-wagering event and to also cancel the last race of the day. Tampa Bay Downs Vice President and General Manager Pete Berube estimates that the track lost as much as $4.5 million in handle because betting wasn't available. There was a massive telecommunications network failure Saturday afternoon that affected much more than just the horse racing industry. Regardless of where wagers are placed, the transmission from the Amtote totalizator system to the host track's pools are redistributed via Roberts Communications Network. There was a telecommunications failure of several network carriers in the mid-Atlantic region, therefore Amtote and Roberts had no connectivity with the racetracks and therefore it was technically impossible to transmit bets. That it happened prior to Tampa Bay Downs' biggest race of the year and not the third race on a Tuesday was nothing more than an unfortunate coincidence. Other tracks, among them Santa Anita, Oaklawn, Laurel, Aqueduct, Fonner Park and the Meadowlands experienced similar problems, but none of them were forced to run races as non-betting events. On Sunday, Amtote and Roberts issued a joint statement, which read in part: “The issues were not the result of a tote system failure. Rather, the communications network (both primary and backup) that connects the Amtote Mid-Atlantic hub to other wagering hubs failed. Roberts Communications Network (“RCN”) provides the communications network that connects Amtote's Mid-Atlantic hub to all other tote company wagering hubs worldwide. RCN designs and installs the communications network in a manner designed to prevent outages of this type. However, the unprecedented nature of the connectivity outage yesterday, which impacted the third-party providers from which RCN provisions bandwidth, took down both the primary and back-up networks.” “Everyone needs to stop blaming Amtote,” said Todd Roberts, President and CEO of RCN. “This was an unprecedented failure in the primary and back-up connectivity provided to RCN by our third-party suppliers. “When the communications links at Amtote's hub were disrupted, it caused a breakdown in the flow of wagering data between Amtote's Mid-Atlantic hub and all other wagering locations. The communications disruption was not caused by any failure in RCN equipment or operations. Rather, both the primary and back-up bandwidth providers to the RCN network failed. RCN has not yet received an official reason-for-outage report from its third-party providers specifying a reason for this failure. However, it is believed that the outage, which was much broader than just the racing industry, affected at least three major telecom/internet bandwidth providers in the geographic region that services the Amtote hub.” The loss of the estimated $4.5 million in betting handle was a huge blow to Tampa Bay Downs, a racetrack that does not receive any revenue from casinos or slot machines and, therefore, can't afford a hit like it took Saturday. Berube says he wants some answers and has called for an investigation. “Only bits and pieces are coming in and that's why I have asked for an independent investigation,” he said. “You have a couple different vendors involved, the tote company and RCN communications. I'm not getting a clear story as to what happened at this point and that's why I've asked for an independent investigation. This is unprecedented. I've been in this business for over 30 years and I've never experienced or seen anything like what happened yesterday.” So who's to blame? That's the tricky part. Neither AmTote, which is owned by 1/ST Racing, nor Roberts nor Tampa Bay Downs apparently did anything wrong. This issue was caused by a utility company that provides network connectivity that carries the transmission of betting data. When that went down betting data could not be transmitted. And Tampa did what it had to do. “We waited as long as we could,” Berube said. “It wasn't fair to the horses, so we made the decision to go ahead and run the Tampa Bay Derby, even though it was not a profitable decision. But we needed to run the race and we were glad to run the race.” Yet both Berube and 1/ST President Aidan Butler, expressed similar sentiments, that no matter how complicated this issue might have been and no matter who was at fault, these sort of things can't keep happening. Remember, it was only a few months ago that FanDuel experienced a situation where bettors were able to make huge wagers on a race and only the base price of their tickets was deducted from their accounts. There still hasn't be a credible explanation as to how that occurred. “There needs to be a change and this should be a wake-up call for the industry,” Berube said. “I plan on being totally transparent once I get the information and the sequence of events, what happened and who was responsible. The customers need to have confidence in the system.” “This truly was not an AmTote issue,” Butler said. “But that doesn't really matter. I am looking at it through a gambling lens, and it is really unacceptable. Going forward, it doesn't matter whose fault it was. It's the year 2024 and there's no reason something like this can go on. This can never happen again and can't happen again and that will take a lot of work.” He's right. As with so many aspects of the game, racing can't afford these stumbles. They alienate the customers and make the sport look amateurish. It must do better. The post The Week in Review: In Light of Saturday’s Tote Failure, the Industry Must Search for Answers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SWEET REBECCA (American Pharoah–Sweet N Discreet, by Discreet Cat) made it harder than it needed to be but still got the job done on debut Sunday at Gulfstream to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'. After missing the break and rushing up rank through the opening quarter, she circled the field around the far turn and won going away under Tyler Gaffalione. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Michael J. Ryan and Mt. Brilliant Farm LLC; B-Mt Brilliant Farm & Ranch, LLC; T-Brendan P. Walsh. Sales History: $250,000 ylg '22 KEESEP. The post American Pharoah’s Sweet Rebecca Overcomes Trouble To Become Newest ‘TDN Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The March 9 computer interfacing issues involving the Tampa Bay Downs tote system that caused post time for the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) to be delayed by about a half-hour and the 12th race to be canceled have been resolved.View the full article