Wandering Eyes

Between them, Irad and Jose Ortiz have accounted for four of the last six runnings of the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S., the third of three preps on the road to the championship meeting's main event, the GI Curlin Florida Derby four weeks down the road. The brother will have every chance to extend that dominance as they partner with two of the top fancies in Saturday's $400,000 contest, offering the winner 50 points and a virtual guaranteed berth in the field for the GI Kentucky Derby. Jose Ortiz reunites with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner), who makes his first trip to the races since running on nicely to round out the trifecta behind stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile nearly four months ago. In hindsight, his 2-year-old form looks pretty strong. A closing third to future SW & GSP Just Steel (Justify) at debut odds of 12-1 at Saratoga in August, the $425,000 Keeneland September grad thrashed GII Remsen S. third and this year's Jerome S. hero Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun) going the mile at the Spa the following month. The chestnut overcame a torrid trip to validate 3-4 favoritism in Keeneland's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity in October and just failed to catch 'Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) for second in the Juvenile, while 6 3/4 lengths behind Fierceness. Connections will be hoping for a strong pace in a race that is anything but a must-win. Irad Ortiz will get a leg up on Speak Easy (Constitution), who earned a field-best 100 Beyer when besting the reopposing Victory Avenue (Arrogate) in a seven-furlong maiden Jan. 27. Speak Easy opts out of a two-turn Friday allowance for this and it will almost certainly be pedal to the metal from gate on the 9-2 chance. In light of the Speak Easy decision, Merit (Mastery) was to be re-routed for the aforementioned softer Friday allowance. While the Mage connections are represented by Victory Avenue, the Kentucky Derby winner's full-brother will look to pick up where he left off in 2023. Dornoch (Good Magic) was placed in the Sapling S. as a maiden and looked very stylish in winning a two-turn test at Keeneland by open lengths Oct. 14. Favored in the Remsen, he looked a sure loser when 'Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) surged by in the final furlong, but somehow managed to claw his way back to score. The latter has since endorsed the form in the GII Risen Star S. 'Rising Star' Deterministic Returns in Gotham It has been over 200 days since 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) overcame a tricky trip to graduate in his only racetrack appearance to date and the $625,000 KEESEP yearling makes his sophomore debut in Saturday's GIII Gotham S., a race that lacks an obvious standout. The priciest of his sire's 58 yearlings to sell in 2022, the dark bay missed the kick, looked uncomfortable in the opening stages, was wide and bumped with favored Eliminate (Curlin) in upper stretch and still managed to win. “We're excited to see him run again,” said trainer Christophe Clement. “I wish I could have run in an allowance race in Florida or New York, but we could not find that race and the Gotham is really the only choice. But, I do like the horse very much.” 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic | Sarah Andrew Like Deterministic, Just a Touch (Justify) is only once-raced and also made the most of his debut over a sloppy six furlongs at the Fair Grounds Jan. 27. Away fairly, the bay set a tracking trip and finished full of run as the 1-2 mortal. Florent Geroux makes the trip up from the Big Easy to call the shots aboard the May foal, who has gate 10 to overcome. “He's very athletic,” trainer Brad Cox said of Just a Touch. “He's a good-sized colt and done everything right in the mornings and he showed up first time out. It's going to be a big ask shipping him up there, but I like the idea of stretching him out to the one-turn mile. I'm hopeful he can handle that and we'll see how it goes.” The Cox barn is also represented by Bergen (Liam's Map), yet another debut winner last October at Keeneland who toyed with four rivals to scoop a muddy renewal of the Jimmy Winkfield S. Jan. 27. The form of the local GIII Withers S. is on display in the form of El Grande O (Take Charge Indy), who finished a nose behind Parx shipper Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion) and 2 1/2 lengths clear of favored Lightline (City of Light). Nysos Towers Over San Felipe Fivesome 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) won't be traveling across the country for this year's Derby, but the Baoma Corp. colorbearer should be winning for the fourth time in as many trips to the races in Sunday's postponed GII San Felipe S. The $550,000 OBS April breezer has won his three races by a combined 26 3/4 lengths and was up in trip for the one-mile GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 3, but handled it like a consummate pro, shooting clear in the lane to post a 7 1/2-length victory over Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso), who had three-parts of a length on Scatify (Justify) in third. Mc Vay (Constitution), a distant fourth in the Lewis, tries again, and the Imagination (Into Mischief) is the third of the Bob Baffert trainees and is trying stakes company for the first time. Sophomore Fillies In A Supporting Role at GP While the 3-year-old boys continue on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the Fountain of Youth, their female counterparts take their next step toward the first Friday in May in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream. The one-mile test marks the seasonal debut of George Krikorian's Eclipse-winning 2-year-old filly Just F Y I (Justify), who was last seen proving a neck best as a 7-1 gamble in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies out at Santa Anita. She was running her record to three-from-three on that occasion, having won narrowly on Saratoga sprint debut Aug. 26 ahead of a more dominating victory in the GI Frizette S. at a rainswept Aqueduct Oct. 7. Junior Alvarado, fresh off the richest payday of his career in Saudi Arabia last weekend, has the return call. The queen of the hill, at least for the time being, Just F Y I will have to content with a race-fit 'TDN Rising Star' Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) in the comebacker. An eased-down 9 1/4-length winner of her 6 1/2-furlong bow at the Big A Nov. 19, the $1.15-million Keeneland September grad outslugged Gun Song (Gun Runner) to take a seven-furlong first-level allowance by a length Jan. 11 and the latter flattered the form with a 5 3/4-length tally going this track's one-turn mile Feb. 9. “We thought she'd run well the first time because we had high hopes for her, but that even exceeded our expectations,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I liked the way she came out of that, I liked the way she handed herself stepping up into her next race and she's continued to train very professionally.” Into Champagne (Into Mischief) is perfect in two starts, including a 1 1/4-length success in the Glitter Woman S. run over a sloppy strip Jan. 7. One race prior, 3-year-old turf fillies get their chance in the GIII Herecomesthebride S. Cheyenne Stable's Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) will try to take her local record to three-for-three, with previous scores in the Dec. 9 Wait A While S. and a last-out defeat of Life's an Audible (Audible) in the Jan. 6 Ginger Brew S. Big 'Cap A World Cup Trial For Newgrange? Newgrange (Violence) is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line for Sunday's GI Santa Anita H., with potentially bigger fish to fry in four weeks' time. A four-time winner since being acquired for $325,000 as the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale in the summer of 2022, the 5-year-old is in peak form entering the Big 'Cap, including a 2 1/4-length defeat of Mixto (Good Magic) in the GII San Antonio S. on opening day of the meet Dec. 26 before successfully defending his title in the GII San Pasqual S. Jan. 27. Connections reportedly elected to stay home for the San Pasqual over the GI Pegasus World Cup with the goal of minimizing travel with a trip to the G1 Dubai World Cup being mulled over. Godolphin's unexposed Highland Falls (Curlin) makes the trip out for Brad Cox, with Florent Geroux named. The chestnut son of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Round Pond (Awesome Again) earned a 98 Beyer for a two-length Churchill allowance victory Nov. 17 and exits a 3/4-length tally in a second-level Fair Ground allowance Jan. 13. Newgate (Into Mischief) went missing off a neck tally in the 2023 GIII Robert B. Lewis S. and has run well in his two starts since–a second to next-out GIII Palos Verdes S. winner Big City Lights (Mr. Big) in allowance company Jan. 6 before splitting Newgrange and Mixto last time. Phil D'Amato also saddles the likely favorite in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S., Easter (Fr) (Lonhro {Aus}), who looks for four straight. A half-length winner of the 2023 Lure S. when under the care of Graham Motion, the 6-year-old beat Hong Kong Harry (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}) on the square in the GII Seabiscuit H. at Del Mar and added a 1 1/4-length defeat of subsequent GIII San Marcos S. hero Missed the Cut (Quality Road) in the GII San Gabriel S. Du Jour (Temple City) is capable at this level on his very best. The unluckiest sort of loser in the 2023 Kilroe, he was impressive in taking out the GII Del Mar Mile Sept. 2 and though he was only 10th in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, he was beaten just 3 1/2 lengths. Goliad (War Front) exits an audacious pillar-to-post victory beneath Kazushi Kimura in the GIII Thunder Road S. over this course and distance Feb. 3 and tries Grade I company for the first time at age seven. The post Locked, Dornoch Clash In Fountain of Youth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

America's Best Racing's Bob Ehalt handicaps the Gotham Stakes (G3).View the full article

Steve Asmussen has indicated an interest in saddling a starter at the 2024 Sandy Ride at Red Mile Quarter Horse meet, according to stallionesearch.com. The Hall of Famer did not have a set number of confirmed runners, stall applications were due Thursday, Feb. 29, but Sandy Ridge racing manager Terry Oliver was reportedly instrumental in getting Asmussen back to his roots in Quarter Horse racing. His family had been involved in the industry in the early 1970s, originating with parents Marilyn and Keith Asmussen. It would be his first such starter since 2014. The 2024 meet, averaging daily purse totals of $200,000 per eight-race card, is set to go Mar. 17 to Mar. 26 at the Lexington track. “Quarter Horse racing is and always has been extremely important to me and my family's origins in the sport of horse racing,” Asmussen told stallionesearch.com. “To have the opportunity to run Quarter Horses at the Red Mile is something that I am looking forward to doing, as I am all for supporting the industry.” “Both Wayne [Lukas] and I do not forget where we came from, and we are both proud of our backgrounds in running Quarter Horses that has been so instrumental with making us the horsemen we are today.” The post Steve Asmussen to Run Quarter Horse Starter at Sandy Ridge at Red Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kevin Costello has officially won the 2023 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour, the first ever in the contest's 16 year history to win twice, announced the NTRA via press release Friday. Having previously won in 2021 and qualifying every year since 2016, Costello secured a seat to the 2025 NHC in addition to the prize money and is eligible to take home a $5-million bonus should he become a three-peat winner at the 25th NHC competition in Las Vegas. Costello finished the 2023 Tour season with 24,053 points from 31 contests. It was a close race for spots behind him as Michael Mulvihill finished in second with 22,991 points; Evan Trommer finished in third with 22,709 points; Sally Goodall placed fourth at 22,600 points; and Brett Wiener came in fifth with 22,399 points. The complete 2023 Tour results can be found here. The post Kevin Costello Makes History as First Repeat NHC Champion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

South African dual-grade 1 winning sprinter Isivunguvungu is slated to join the barn of trainer Graham Motion this spring for a potential bid in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).View the full article

Marco Ghiani, the champion apprentice in the UK in 2021, has been handed a 34-day ban by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA)'s Whip Review Committee. Ghiani broke the whip rules for the fifth time in the last six months. A total of nine days of his ban have been deferred for a period of six months, and he will also need to complete a two-day training course. The rider already has a win at Royal Ascot to his credit with Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and is also a group-winning rider. Previously suspended for six months due to a cocaine positive, the rider was aboard group winners Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the G3 Prix de Meautry and Roberto Escobarr (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Italian St Leger. Also receiving a lengthy ban is apprentice Tommie Jakes, who has to serve a 24-day ban. Eight of his days have been deferred for six months, and he too, will need to complete a two-day training course. The post Ghiani Cops 34-Day Ban Due To Breaking The Whip Rules appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The $300,000, San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park has traditionally been an important prep race on the Southern California road to the Kentucky Derby (G1), but it appears this year will be different.View the full article

America's Best Racing's Bob Ehalt handicaps the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.View the full article

There were few more deserving winners at this year's ITBA Awards than Amy Marnane. At just 30 years of age, Marnane has crammed a lot in. From breeding to pinhooking and even consigning horses under her own name, Marnane has accomplished plenty in the industry, which led to her scooping the Next Generation Award. Of course, that award was tinged with sadness after the death of Marnane's mother, Theresa, at the age of 61 in December. In this week's Q&A, Marnane discusses how the bloodstock industry has served as a tonic in times of sadness, her hopes for Givemethebeatboys and much more. In all of his 25 years hosting the awards, Master of Ceremonies Leo Powell said he'd never seen a standing ovation like the one you received at the ITBA Awards last Sunday? That must have been pretty special. It was a very emotional night. Sure I just thought there would be a small award and everyone would clap but there was a standing ovation when I went up to the stage and then again when I came back down after I got the award. It was just unbelievable. It meant a lot and it certainly put a lump in my throat. Although I might not show it on the outside, it was very special. For the ITBA to even put my name to paper initially, and then to be picked as the winner, it's just incredible. Obviously the award was tinged with sadness after we lost Mum in December but this industry is like a big family. Whenever anyone is going through something, the whole industry rallies around them. It's very special. We've been through some desperately sad times as an industry. Take the death of Pat Smullen or Jack de Bromhead as an example. The sport tends to pull together in hard times and I gather it was no different when Theresa passed away. To that extent, I think we can be immensely proud of our industry. Completely. It's an amazing game. We found out that Mum had cancer the morning of the breeze at the Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale. We tried to keep it quiet but people knew that there was something up and that something was wrong. By the time the yearling sales came around, the word was out that Mum was sick. Any consignment we went to visit, you wouldn't be met with a, 'hello, how are ya? What would you like to see?' You were met with a, 'how's your Mum and is there anything we can do?' Mum passed away during the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls. It's the biggest funeral I have ever seen but, if that sale hadn't been on, there would have been even more people there. The phones were hopping. We got through Christmas and headed off to Australia for a holiday. Even at the Goffs February Sale just gone, people have still been amazing. Frances Smullen, in particular, has been very good to us. Obviously she has been through everything with Pat and was there to offer us a helping hand. I must say that, in the sales ring or on the track, everyone in the industry is ready for a dog fight but, when you go through something like this, you couldn't ask for better people to rally around you. The industry has shown this time and time again and I'm hugely proud to be a part of it. Your life has been a soundtrack of horses for as long as you can remember. I can only imagine that, for all of the big days and success that you have enjoyed, the horses and working closely with them were just as important to you when you were going through such difficult times. Absolutely. Going out to the yard every morning and keeping yourself busy was important. Con is a bit like a child, you need to keep him busy all the time, but even he will tell you the very same-it was getting up every morning and getting into the yard to watch the horses canter or to simply just be around them, that proved to be a major therapy for us and helped us to take our minds off everything else that was going on. They're incredible animals and the team of people we have working with us are equally as important. I couldn't thank them enough for what they have done for us. They would literally stand on their heads for you. They look after us just as much as they look after the horses. Particularly Mike O'Brien, Mr Ribchester himself, he has been an absolutely saint. He manages everything at home and without him we'd be lost. You've gathered up a lot of experience in the industry in your 30 years. Is there a certain path you'd like to go down or are you happy to continue as you are with your finger in so many pies? I think it's important not to put all of your eggs in one basket. Some years the breeze-up horses can be very lucrative and the next year it might be the foals that you bred or the yearlings that you pinhooked that do well. Once you have your finger in every pie, something is bound to go right every year. That has to happen to keep the whole thing afloat. If the truth be known, we're probably completely addicted. If there's any Flat sale on, we'll be there. Trading horses is our business. I suppose you're getting sick talking about Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) but he provided you all with plenty to smile about last year and the best may yet be to come in 2024. I'll never get sick of talking about that horse. He has been a revelation. The Brickley brothers, who sold him to us, have been unbelievable and have tracked his journey the whole way through. The horse was bred by Mrs Rogers at Airlie Stud and you just can't beat those families. Givemethebeatboys got us through last year. To go and make that kind of money at the Goffs London Sale, to win the Marble Hill and to run such a good race in the Coventry Stakes, he's just been phenomenal for us. He's done very well over the winter-he's grown and filled out. Hopefully this time next year we'll be sending mares to him. The Commonwealth Cup would presumably be the big aim for him this year? Look, Royal Ascot is what it's all about for us. We finished second in the Commonwealth Cup with Sands Of Mali (Fr) so we'd love to go and win it. The King's Stand Stakes is also an option and, to be honest, it would just be a dream to win any of the big sprint races with him. The Sands family own the majority share in Givemethebeatboys and they have been so good to us. They are really, nice genuine people and I just hope the horse can go on for them this year and that we have a very exciting horse to look forward to together this summer. What was the result that got the whole thing off the ground for you? I had just finished my honours degree in Equine Science when I went over to America in 2015. I had been buying a few foals here and there in Ireland and, before I went to America, Con told me that if I saw a nice foal in America, to go and get it bought. I saw this Orb foal-it was his first crop-and I bought him for $13,000. I gave him to Gerry Dilger, who has been so good to me, to prep him for the year. Gerry rang me and told me that the horse was getting into Book 2 at Keeneland in September. I was expecting him to tell me that the horse got into Book 4 or something. We chanced it anyway and the horse went on to make $125,000 and he turned out to be a Stakes horse. We were delighted with the price and even more delighted that he turned out to be a good racehorse. His name was Zero Gravity. What do you do with $125,000 in your mid-20s? I know what I'd do! I reinvested the money. Con told me to go back and buy a couple of breezers and I did. I bought an Uncle Mo colt for $40,000. We brought him to the Craven Breeze-Up Sale and he made 150,000gns. He turned out to be a very good horse called Corrosive and was sold on again at the Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale in October 2018 for 450,000gns, so that was another good result. To have someone like Con in your corner must be brilliant. I know he said it half tongue in cheek at the awards night on Sunday, but you really couldn't have learned off many better people in the industry, could you? I'd never say this to him but I'm probably the luckiest person in the world. We get up at seven o'clock in the morning to feed the horses together. I watch them galloping with him, and see all the things that he does with them, which is a lot-there's a treadmill, a swimming pool, the go away to gallop and we've five different gallops. His mind is working overtime. He never dwells on the past and never stops thinking about what he can do next to improve. Whether that's staying up to three in the morning Googling how to produce his own Alfalfa hay in Ireland or looking at the next gadget for the yard, he never stops. He'd always say that you never stop learning in this game and he's a prime example of that. He's a bit of a freak lately. It's not just Con that you have struck up a good relationship with. You've enjoyed some good results with his brother and your uncle David through buying a number of yearlings to race in the famous MRC International silks each year. Lady Tilbury (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) and Night Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) are two good examples given that both horses made six figures at the horses-in-training sale last year. David has been so good to us and the whole family has grown closer in recent times. I buy all of David's yearlings and we've had plenty of luck. We never spend huge money on a horse and we have to try and think outside the box. Lady Tilbury cost us just 18,000gns and was sold to Paddy Twomey for 150,000gns and I hope she's very, very lucky for him. She's a very good filly. Night Moon came from Germany. He's a bit different to the horses that I usually buy but he won impressively for David at Listowel and was sold to Harold Kirk on behalf of Willie Mullins for 100,000gns. He could be an exciting horse going forward over hurdles for them. There you go. You grew up watching with the Bansha Bullets but a nice horse is a nice horse no matter what the code and you can clearly spot them, whether they are out-and-out speedsters or middle-distance types. What is it that you look for at the sales? You know a nice horse when it comes out of the box. The horse literally needs to take one or two steps and it's either a yes or a no. You need an intelligent-looking horse who has a good ear and a good eye. Different people like Mike and Mary Ryan, Niall Brennan, Gerry Dilger, Peter and Ross Doyle and even a lot of vets, they'd forgive a horse for not being perfect in front. I don't think we should start messing with them in terms of putting screws in and things like that. It can cause more trouble than good. I usually find that, if a horse is strong enough behind, he'll keep the weight off his front legs. Finally, your family is known for unleashing top-notch two-year-old talent so I can't let you go without nominating one or two for us to keep an eye on this year. I wish we had a Pinatubo (Ire) in the yard. We tried and tried to buy one last year but we kept coming up short. I think he is in for a big year. We have a couple by Sand Of Mali and they are very nice. They have super temperaments and have huge hind quarters. His progeny remind me a lot of him because they have such good attitudes. We have 24 to breeze this year. There are some very special horses in there-four Blue Points, four Havana Greys, a very talented Starspangledbanner (Aus) out of a sister to The Tin Man (GB) and a half-brother to Sands Of Mali himself who goes really well. There's a lot of quality in there. The post Amy Marnane Q&A: ‘This Industry Is Like A Big Family – It’s Very Special’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Slider (Jimmy Creed), third last out in the GII San Vincente S. to Nysos (Nyquist), will miss Saturday's Gotham S. at Aqueduct with a bruised front foot, according to part-owners Rob Murphy and West Point Thoroughbreds' Terry Finley. Murphy, one of the West Point Partners, said that Slider had shipped to New York on Tuesday to prepare for the race, but came up with the issue Friday morning. Finley, a partner in the horse, said that X-rays of Slider's foot and ankle had come up negative. Slider broke his maiden in his second start at Del Mar on Sept. 9, before winning the Speakeasy S. at Santa Anita. He was 9th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint before making his 2024 debut in the Jan. 6 San Vincente. The partners had no word on Slider's next start. Murphy pitched in the major leagues for 11 years and was one of the most effective left-handed relievers in the game, playing primarily for the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox. The post Slider to Miss Gotham With Bruised Foot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A starter bonus of $50 will be paid to all trainers who start a horse in an overnight race that finishes outside of the top-five. The starter bonus is not applicable to stakes races. View the full article

The Road, sponsored by Gainesway and Darby Dan FarmView the full article

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association named the winners of the Renaissance Champion Awards Thursday with Intrepid Daydream (Jess's Dream) topping the list as Maryland-bred Horse of the Year. The Miller Racing LLC-owned filly also added honors as Champion Older Female and Champion Sprinter. Other winners include: Champion 2-year-old Male–Catahoula Moon (Golden Lad) Champion 2-year-old Filly–Kissedbyanangel (Golden Lad) Champion 3-year-old Male–Seven's Eleven (Bandbox) Champion 3-year-old Filly–Bosserati (Holy Boss) Champion Older Male–Double Crown (Bourbon Courage) Champion Turf Runner–Wet My Beak (Union Rags) Breeders of the Year–Dr. And Mrs. Thomas Bowman Trainer of the Year–Brittany Russell The video announcement of all winners can be viewed here. The post Intrepid Daydream Tops 2023 Maryland-Bred Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mostahdaf (Ire), the joint top-rated horse in Europe in 2023, has had his first five mares tested in foal, Shadwell announced on Friday. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Mostahdaf retired with an impressive strike-rate having won 10 of his 17 career starts, including back-to-back Group 1 victories last year when he struck in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and Juddmonte International at York. He is standing his first season at Beech House Stud in Newmarket in 2024 at a fee of £15,000. Stephen Collins, Shadwell's European bloodstock manager, said, “We are delighted with how Mostahdaf has commenced his first book. “He has been well-received by breeders as a horse with immense ability, good looks as well as an exceptional pedigree packed with natural speed. Mostahdaf is being supported by many leading breeders and will cover a high-quality first book.” The post Mostahdaf has First Five Mares Tested in Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Laura Gibson-Brabazon of Newmarket Racecourses has launched a fundraising campaign to aid her friend Lucy Horan to seek urgent cancer treatment in Germany. Horan, 28, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer earlier this year. The money raised will be used to help her receive groundbreaking vaccine treatment which is unavailable in the UK. A Newmarket resident since 2017, Horan is employed by bloodstock insurers Weatherbys Hamilton and has also ridden out regularly for trainers in the town, including Lucy Wadham, James Ferguson and more recently Charlie Fellowes. In 2022, she finished second in the Ride of Their Lives charity race at York, having successfully raised over £5,000 for the Macmillan cancer charity. “Fast-forward 18 months and now Lucy is the one needing the support,” said Gibson-Brabazon, who set up a Go Fund Me page on Friday. “On Thursday, Lucy will begin an intense course of chemotherapy, but to get this vaccine treatment, which will give her the greatest chance to beat this disease, she has to travel to Germany on Tuesday prior to her beginning her chemo. “We all know how incredible this industry can be when people need help and support, so we are asking for you to donate as much as you can to help Lucy get the help she needs to pay for this life changing treatment.” The post Fundraiser Launched for Cancer Sufferer Lucy Horan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

MGSW/GISP Tizamagician (Tiznow) was represented by his first foal, a filly, born Feb. 26 at Milky Way Farm in California. Out of the winning mare Esfera (Orb), the foal was bred by Starlene and David Justice's Vendetta Racing Stables. Tizamagician, winner of the GII Cougar S. and the GII Tokyo City Cup S. in California and runner up to Tripoli (Kitten's Joy) in the GI TVG Pacific Classic, retired to stud last year at Milky Way Farm with earnings of over $740,000. The post First Foal A Filly For Tizamagician appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What started out as a normal, busy Saturday in February at Shawhan Place quickly turned into an unforgettable day for the Paris-based farm when two horses foaled and raised at Shawhan celebrated breakout victories. First, fan favorite Senor Buscador (Mineshaft)–owned by Shawhan's longtime client Joey Peacock Jr.–won the $20 million G1 Saudi Cup. A few hours later Lemon Muffin (Collected) broke her maiden in the GIII Honeybee S. The entire Shawhan crew was ecstatic, but two team members in particular were especially over the moon. Let's start with Teddy Kuster, who co-founded Shawhan nearly 20 years ago. Lemon Muffin's win at Oaklawn was particularly memorable for the octogenarian as he co-bred the filly. “When you've been in the horse business for as long as I have and you have two horses like that in one day, it's phenomenal,” Kuster enthused. “I mean, you don't do that as a small breeder. After Senor Buscador I said, 'Well this is good even if we just hit the board with the other one.' When Lemon Muffin came on at the end I was just flabbergasted. I was by myself hollering and having a good time.” Sold by Shawhan Place as a yearling for $20,000 and pinhooked for $140,000, Lemon Muffin had been knocking on the door of getting that maiden win for some time. She ran second four times over the course of three months before earning 50 points on the road to the Kentucky Oaks with her three-and-a-half length Honeybee score for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner Aaron Sones. Lemon Muffin breaks her maiden in the GIII Honeybee S. | Coady “She would run second all the time, just keeping running second, but I said that Wayne Lukas will get her going somewhere and he did,” Kuster said proudly. “You break your maiden in a Grade III race, that doesn't happen very often.” Lemon Muffin is a second-generation homebred for Kuster, who was KTFMC Farm Manager of the Year in 1986. In 1990, Claiborne's farm manager Gus Koch–the father of Shawhan's co-founder Matt Koch–wrote Kuster a letter telling him about a well-bred, unraced filly that was going to go through the ring at the Keeneland January Sale. Kuster purchased that Claiborne homebred, Fee (Spectacular Bid), for just $9,500. Fee was responsible for several stakes horses including MGSW High Stakes Player (High Brite). Kuster sold the majority of her offspring but retained the last filly she produced, Pelt (Canadian Frontier). Now 18 years old, Pelt is responsible for five winners, with Lemon Muffin being her first stakes winner. The mare has a yearling filly by Complexity and is barren this year, but was just bred to Cairo Prince. Lemon Muffin ranks near the top of the list of talented horses that Kuster has bred, but he is also the breeder of Hilda's Passion (Canadian Frontier), a Grade I winner and the dam of WinStar sire Yoshida (Jpn). Kuster sold Hilda's Passion as a yearling before she went on to become a five time graded stakes winner, including the 2011 GI Ballerina S., and then sell for $1.225 million to Katsumi Yoshida. Kuster figured he probably wouldn't have much connection to the mare again, but pretty soon her son Yoshida rose to the top of the game in the U.S. Kuster is now a strong supporter of Yoshida, who has his first 3-year-olds this year. For Kuster, the results of this weekend were dimmed only by the absence of the person who has always watched races alongside him. Last June, his wife Betsy passed away at the age of 80. “My wife and I were in this together and we always bred as Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Kuster,” he said. “She and I were very close and had been married over 55 years. She liked the horses and enjoyed going to the races. [This weekend] she would have been very excited and would have said, 'I told you so. It would happen. I told you so.' She was always my number one supporter.” Asked about the possibility of seeing Lemon Muffin get to the Oaks, Kuster said, “I thinks she's got a good shot at getting there and if so, I'll be there.” Senor Buscador and Rose's Desert | courtesy Shawhan Place So what about the other star of the show for Shawhan Place, Senor Buscador? Courtney Schneider, Shawhan's broodmare manager and director of sales, has long been regarded as president of the Senor Buscador fan club. Schneider foaled the son of Mineshaft, like she has for all but one of his siblings, and has tuned in to every one of his races over the past five years. The Saudi Cup victory was no exception. “You go into weekends like that hoping for the best, but you don't expect to come out with wins like that,” Schneider said. “For myself personally, when Senor Buscador hit the wire I was in instant tears. He's very special. With Lemon Muffin as well, I foaled and raised her, so to have a weekend like that was just truly unbelievable.” Senor Buscador has amassed seven wins from 18 career starts and boasts almost $12 million in earnings as he now points to the G1 Dubai World Cup. Schneider said she's itching to book a plane ticket to Dubai for next month if foaling season will allow her to get away. “I've traveled to follow him from very early on,” Schneider said. “I flew to New Orleans when he ran in the Risen Star. I was at Churchill when he won the GIII Ack Ack S. in 2022. It's very special for me to have clients that will allow me to still be a part of everything and to follow these horses, because that's why I do it–for the love of the horse.” Senor Buscador's dam Rose's Desert (Desert God) has been the broodmare of a lifetime for the Peacock family. A homebred for Joe Peacock Sr., Rose's Desert was a seven-time stakes winner in New Mexico, but her resume continued to expand every year of her breeding career as her first four foals all earned stakes victories. The Peacock family has never sold one of her foals, although they did send her first foal Runaway Ghost (Ghostzapper) through the ring as a yearling only to snap him back up after he RNA'd and race him in their own silks. The winner of the 2018 GIII Sunland Derby, Runaway Ghost was pointing for the GI Kentucky Derby until he suffered a fracture to his shin. The Peacock family had already traveled from their home state of Texas up to Kentucky, so when they no longer had a Derby contender to watch they stopped by the farm to visit their star mare. Rose's Desert was due to foal any day and she of course waited until the morning after they left, but in their family photo with the mare, she is carrying none other than Senor Buscador. The Peacock and Rose's Desert, with Senor Buscador in utero | courtesy Shawhan Place The mating proved to be a special one in more ways than one as it was the last of Rose's Desert's matings that Joey Peacock Jr. picked out with his father before his passing. Schneider said this foal was a standout from the start. “I found a text that I had sent to Joey when he was just a few weeks old saying, 'Oh my gosh, he's out here running laps around everybody else in the field.' For him to run laps around everybody else in a $20 million race is just mind blowing now. But he was always one that was forward and he was a little bit of a different model from her typical foals. He had a little bit more leg, a little bit leaner, a little more athletic than the rest of them.” But all of Rose's Desert's foals have proven their talent on the racetrack. After her four straight stakes winners, the mare was barren for two years. Her 3-year-old of this year, Aye Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), won on debut on Nov. 28 at Zia Park and that filly's 2-year-old half-sister Rose A (Hard Spun) recently joined the Todd Fincher barn. Rose's Desert has a yearling colt by Authentic called The Hell We Did (named after how when Joe Peacock Sr. heard what the family had named Senor Buscador, he exclaimed, 'The hell we did!'). She is currently in foal to Into Mischief and will be bred back to Uncle Mo. “I think she gets knocked a little bit being a New Mexico-bred, but if you go and look at her pedigree, it's deep with Fappiano and all these really good racehorses,” Schneider explained. “Her foals all normally come in plain brown wrappers. I wouldn't say necessarily right off the bat that they would win any beauty contests, but they're big, strong individuals and they've proven that they run.” Rose's Desert's legacy now continues as her oldest daughter Our Iris Rose (Ghostzapper), a dual stakes winner for the Peacock family, is now a producer. She recently had her first foal, a colt by Curlin. “I'm very exciting for what the family has coming,” Schneider said. “Rose's Desert has been such a special mare for the Peacocks. It's great because we've had the entire family. To have a client like that who keeps the family here and keeps us involved is incredibly special. It says a lot about their trust in us that they've had this much success and they've stuck with us just as they've stuck with Todd Fincher. I think that speaks volumes to the character they have.” For a farm with less than a dozen employees that will foal around 50 mares this year, these resent results are significant. Schneider admitted that they aren't quite used to the limelight. “It's exciting though, because everybody here has worked so hard for so many years,” she explained. “Not that we necessarily didn't get the recognition we deserved before, but just to see this come through, it's a little bittersweet but just very humbling as well. We do this because we love the horses. We all work hard and it's nice to see all that pay off.” The post Shawhan Place Riding High After Memorable Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Te Akau Racing make their presence felt in a volume of top-flight New Zealand races, with Karaka Millions, Guineas, and weight-for-age crowns in constant flow. However, the iconic Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) is one that has eluded the Matamata giant since cult hero Gingernuts in 2017, and co-trainer Sam Bergerson is hopeful their fortunes can change on Saturday, when Ascend The Throne and What You Wish For contest the Ellerslie feature. A high-priced son of Savabeel, Ascend The Throne has been a Derby hopeful since producing a comprehensive maiden victory over 2000m in January, consolidated by a hard-fought Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) success in his next start. In a market dominated by Derby favourite Orchestral, the gelding posted the second-fastest closing sectionals when finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), warranting his $10 TAB third favouritism for the Derby. “Opie’s (Bosson, jockey) done a lot of work with the horse the whole way through, and has always thought the further the better with him,” said Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. “Even after trackwork on Tuesday, he said he’s going to love the 2400m, which is massive for Saturday. “We’re really happy with him, he’s going in as best as we can have him. He’s fit, happy and healthy. “His sectionals were really good late in the Avondale Guineas, only Orchestral’s were better. She looks extremely hard to beat on paper, but stranger things have happened in horse racing. We think our fellow deserves to be right up there in the market.” What You Wish For was less than half-a-length from his stablemate in the Waikato Guineas, but Bergerson admitted the stable was left scratching their heads when he finished at the tail in the Avondale Guineas. “To be honest, his run in the Avondale Guineas was pretty woeful. He got vetted straight after the race, and nothing was amiss, then he had a warrant of fitness when he got home, which was also clear,” he said. “He galloped between races at Matamata last Saturday and his work was really good, and it was even better on the course proper on Wednesday with Mehzebeen. “If he could produce a run like the Waikato Guineas, he could give the Derby a really good shake. We just don’t know what to expect.” The Embellish gelding sits in the middle-market at $51 and will be partnered by Joe Doyle out of barrier five, while Ascend The Throne will jump from gate 10 under Bosson. “We’ve got two very good jockeys on, so we’ll be leaving it up to Opie and Joe as to where they go from the jump. What You Wish For is drawn well, but he’ll be ridden pretty neutral as that’s where he’s typically best, and then Ascend The Throne, Opie doesn’t need to be told much,” Bergerson said. Te Akau will be represented with runners in all three remaining black-type events at Ellerslie, with promising Trelawney Stud-owned mare Petrucci contesting a talented line-up in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Kings Plate (1200m). “She ran really well in the Concorde on Karaka Millions Night, we gave her a gallop between races at Matamata and her work was very good,” Bergerson said. “It’s a field light on numbers but very good on quality, so it’s going to be tough to beat the Group One performers, but she’s in good form and hopefully we can sneak some more black-type.” Multiple Group performers Trobriand and Talisker will contest the Gr.3 Mainstream Plumbing Mufhasa Stakes (1400m), alongside promising filly Certainly, who could be set for Australian targets will a solid performance. “Certainly is a very nice up-and-coming filly, and still lightly-raced,” Bergerson said. “She was beaten by a very short-priced favourite last time, but they just walked and then sprinted home, and from where she was, she would’ve had to get home in about 32/33 seconds, which was almost impossible on the day. “We’re happy with her and if she was to run well, there could be some Australian targets later on in the Autumn. “Trobriand was disappointing in the Waikato Guineas, we’ve kept him very fresh dropping back to the 1400m and put the blinkers on. Hopefully that sharpens him up, if he wasn’t to turn his form around, he would probably find himself a gelding. “With Talisker, we were scratching our heads a bit after the Karaka Milliosn 3YO, whether he didn’t enjoy the shifty track by the end of the day, we’re not sure. “We opted to scratch from Otaki last weekend because of the forecast, so he goes into Saturday quite fresh. We’ll probably roll forward from the sticky gate. On his day, with the Crocetti form, he can go a real race.” The Vertical Logistics Nathans Memorial could act as a final stepping-stone to the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) for Mehzebeen. “She’d probably have to win to have a crack at the Cup,” Bergerson said. “We were quite confident heading into the Avondale Cup and were left wondering a bit, Michael (McNab) gave her a lovely ride and she couldn’t find anything up the straight. “We couldn’t find anything amiss and her work has been great at home, so she’ll be ridden a bit colder and hopefully she can finish off well.” Promising staying filly Qali Al Farrasha will take the step-up to black-type level in the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase, while her full-brother, also a Te Akau Stud home-bred in Nucleozor, will run on debut at Wingatui earlier in the day. “She (Qali Al Farrasha) won super well at her home track, but this is a massive step-up in class. It looks a pretty even field, so we’ll know a lot more after Saturday,” Bergerson said. “We’ve taken the blinkers off her as Opie felt she went quite keenly over the mile, and was the same in her trackwork, though worked top-notch with Ascend The Throne. “It’s quite bizarre to have a two-year-old running over 820m, then the three-year-old full-sister running over 2100m on the same day, so hopefully it will be a nice day for the pedigree.” Almanzor gelding Nucleozor, alongside stablemate Discretion Rules, will kick-off a quieter meeting at Wingatui for the Riccarton-based contingent in the Dakota Boutique & Lifestyle (820m). “It’s always extremely hard to get a line on these kinds of fields, but we’re happy with our two, they’ve settled in well in Christchurch.” Bergerson said. “Discretion Rules’ trial at Tauranga was super, they ran a slick time in his heat and he was beaten by a pretty sharp horse by the looks. “Nucleozor had a quiet trial before the races at Riccarton last week, he was super and has gone the right way.” The Wingatui meeting is headlined by the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m), where Te Akau will line-up a trio of fillies in Mazzucato, Sense Of Timing and Lady Of Court. “Mazzucato has a nice draw (2), and she’s travelled down well since a nice run at Wanganui last time. She should get a kind enough run, she tends to put her tail down in the gates but has been much better this time in,” Bergerson said. “Sense Of Timing went well in the Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1500m), but just has a very awkward gate (15) and will need a lot of luck. Hunter (Durrant, foreman) thinks she has improved from then, so hopefully she can continue that trajectory. “Lady Of Court was super in her maiden win, and the second horse won the other day (Rubicon Reigns). We think she can take the step-up to black-type, but with that gate (9), hopefully she can get some cover mid-field and will be a nice each-way chance.” View the full article

What Hong Kong Classic Cup Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, March 3, 2024 First Race 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) Visit Dabble The Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) — the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series — takes top billing on a quality 10-race program at Sha Tin this Sunday. The rail is in the B+2 position for the entire circuit, and with no rain predicted, it should be a genuine Good 4 surface. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1pm local time. Hong Kong Classic Cup: Helios Express Helios Express bolted up in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on February 4, kicking clear to score by 1.8 lengths. Based on how he travelled through the line last time out, the step up to 1800m shouldn’t hold any concerns for this son of Toronado. With another soft run in transit all but guaranteed from barrier two, it is hard to go past Helios Express in the 2024 Hong Kong Classic Cup. Hong Kong Classic Cup Race 7 – #1 Helios Express (2) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Hugh Bowman (57kg) Bet with Neds Best Bet at Sha Tin: Magnificent Nine Magnificent Nine may be winless in his three Hong Kong starts to date, but that should all change on Sunday. The Toronado gelding was sensational after travelling three wide without cover in his latest attempt at this course and distance, clinging onto fourth place despite a torrid run throughout. He finally draws a soft gate, and with Zac Purton likely to lob into the one-one position, Magnificent Nine gets the perfect opportunity to pick up his first Hong Kong victory for the John Size camp. Best Bet Race 10 – #11 Magnificent Nine (3) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (55kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Sha Tin: Sky Heart Sky Heart continues to get no help from the barriers, drawing gates 10 and 14 to kick off his debut Hong Kong campaign. The three-year-old showed a scintillating turn-of-foot on both those occasions, managing to finish in the top three despite being forced to the rear of the field. He is likely to drag back again courtesy of barrier 13, so look for Blake Shinn to bide his time before unleashing Sky Heart down the centre of the course. Next Best Race 6 – #7 Sky Heart (13) 3yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Blake Shinn (58.5kg) Bet with Unibet Best Value at Sha Tin: Massive Sovereign Massive Sovereign appears to have settled in nicely after making his way to the Dennis Yip camp. The gelding was a two-time winner in Europe and has been trialling exceptionally well behind the likes of Romantic Warrior and Russian Emperor heading into his Hong Kong debut. It will be a tough ask first-up over 2000m, but with the booking of Zac Purton showing strong intent from the stable, Massive Sovereign should be a genuine contender in this C3 contest. Best Value Race 9 – #4 Massive Sovereign (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Dennis Yip | J: Zac Purton (58.5kg) Bet with Ladbrokes Hong Kong quaddie tips – Sunday 3/3/2024 Sha Tin quadrella selections Sunday, March 3, 2024 1-2-6-14 4-5-8-10-11 2-4-6-12 1-6-11-12 Horse racing tips View the full article

Interlinked will contest the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Seven years after settling for second in their last raid on New Zealand’s premier classic, expat trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are resigned to running into one better again when Interlinked contests the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Busuttin and Young tackled the 2017 edition of the Derby with Rising Red, who ran a gallant second behind Gingernuts. That hugely popular chestnut later proved himself to be among the better Derby winners in recent years, adding the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) in Sydney and Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings to his impressive record. A return to Ellerslie for last month’s Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) left Busuttin with an all-too-familiar feeling. Interlinked finished strongly into third in a highly satisfactory Derby trial, but he was more than five lengths adrift of the runaway winner Orchestral. Interlinked heads into Saturday’s rematch as an $8 second favourite with horse racing betting sites in a Derby market that is completely dominated by Orchestral at $1.40. “We thought his Avondale Guineas run was very good,” Busuttin said. “It was his first spin right-handed and first time around Ellerslie, and he handled everything really well. “But unfortunately for us, the reality is that the filly is in a different pay grade. She looks like she’s a class above the rest of the field. There’s every chance that we’ll look back in a couple of years and say she’s one of the better fillies to have come out of New Zealand in recent times. I’m sure she’ll go across to Australia later on and prove herself there too. “On what we saw in that lead-up race a couple of weeks ago, realistically she’s going to need to strike a lot of bad luck if she’s going to be beaten.” But despite the daunting task that awaits Interlinked in Saturday’s $1 million showpiece, Busuttin believes his promising stayer has had a flawless preparation. By Savabeel out of a daughter of the multiple Group One winner Daffodil, Interlinked has had five starts for two wins, two placings and a fourth. He won his first two starts at Kilmore and Caulfield in November and December, then finished fourth at Flemington behind the subsequent Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) and Launceston Guineas (2100m) winner Bold Soul. Interlinked later warmed up for his trans-Tasman venture with a solid second at The Valley on January 27. “He’s had a perfect preparation,” Busuttin said. “He’s been staying at Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s beautiful property at Karaka and he’s absolutely thriving there. “I think we’ve got as good a chance as anybody of running second on Saturday. He’s drawn beautifully in gate six and won’t have to do much work. Sam Weatherley knows him pretty well now and should be able to give him a lovely run. “He’s going to stay the 2400m on his ear. He doesn’t have a lot of brilliance or a turn of foot, but he’ll stay all day. He’s a fit and happy horse and we’re expecting him to run well. “You never want to wish bad luck to anyone in a race, but who knows – if something did happen to go wrong for the favourite, we might be the best placed to take advantage of it.” Horse racing news View the full article

Orchestral will contest the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Winning a Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) is nothing new for Roger James, with the Cambridge trainer looking to extend his tally in the Classic to an even half dozen at Ellerslie on Saturday, while training partner Robert Wellwood will be looking for his first. Tidal Light (1986), Roysyn (1995), Zonda (1997), Hades (1999), and Silent Achiever (2012) currently fill Kingsclere Stables’ honour roll of New Zealand Derby winners, and they have a $1.40 chance in Orchestral to enhance their record this weekend in the Trackside-sponsored contest. Wellwood is now into this sixth season training in partnership with James, and while they have had plenty of success in that time, including a Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) victory with Pinarello, a New Zealand Derby has so far eluded him, and he is keen to change that on Saturday. “When I first started with him (James) I said, ‘you have got to teach me how to win a Derby’. We have done it in Queensland, but I haven’t done it in New Zealand yet, so hopefully this year is the year,” Wellwood told TAB NZ. “Any Group One or $1 million race is extremely special, but the New Zealand Derby is certainly one I want to tick off and hopefully carry on the tradition for Kingsclere Stables.” Orchestral looks the horse to do it, having accrued an enviable record of four wins and two placings from seven starts. Her only unplaced run came in her sole spring outing when 10th in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1400m) at Hastings in September, and Wellwood said the decision to put her aside has been a masterstroke. Orchestral has subsequently been runner-up in the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe in December before winning her next three starts, including the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). “In the spring we weren’t going the right way and fortunately we had the support of the owners to back off her and it is paying dividends now,” Wellwood said. “I think that is why we have got her in the order we do at this stage of her career. “Craig (Grylls, jockey) was a bit blown away after the Avondale Guineas. He said he thought he was going to win and then got to the 200m and he said she kept accelerating, got to the 50m and she accelerated more and gave him an incredible feel. Hopefully he is saying the same after the Derby.” Grylls also has a proud record in the Derby, having won it aboard Crown Prosecutor in 2019 and Rocket Spade in 2021. James is delighted to have another exciting Derby prospect and believes Orchestral will lap up the 2400m with her two-kilogram advantage against the boys. “She had her first run over ground in the Avondale Guineas, she ran through the line, and I am very confident a mile and a half will be right up her alley,” he said. “We are aware that she has become a bit of a public figure. It is so good for racing if we share the journey and give a lot of people joy, hopefully.” Like Wellwood, the Derby has always been the pinnacle race in New Zealand for James, who would love to add another to his mantle this weekend. “It was the race when I got my trainer’s ticket that I most wanted to win, so I am never going to get sick of them,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

What Moruya Races Where Moruya Jockey Club – 100 Donnelly Dr, Moruya NSW 2537 When Sunday, March 3, 2024 First Race 12:55pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) headlines a massive eight-race program at Moruya on Sunday afternoon, with the action set to get underway at 12:55pm local time. The rail returns to the true position throughout the entire circuit, and with no rain forecast to hit the surface, it should be a Good 4 throughout the afternoon. Country Championships Qualifier: Associate Associate picked up a much-deserved win at Goulburn on January 30 and did it nicely despite the 61kg on his back, with runner-up Chaotic Beauty franking the form by winning her next race. Prior to that effort, this son of Star Witness was luckless in Highway company behind race rival Bon Frankie. With a swing in the weights and a bit more tactical speed to get across from stall 14, and Associate looks like a solid each-way play in the Moruya Country Championship Qualifier. Country Championships Qualifier Race 7 – #6 Associate (14) 4yo Gelding | T: Danielle Seib | J: Alysha Collett (56kg) +1000 with Bet365 Best Bet at Moruya: Xspiritous Xspiritous managed to find the minor money on debut at Wagga Wagga on February 8 and should take plenty of improvement into this second-up run. The daughter of Xtravagant whacked away gallantly despite an awkward run on the three-wide line for much of the 1000m journey. She stays at the same trip on Sunday, and with the three-year-old filly sure to take major benefit from that race-day experience, Xspiritous will take plenty of beating when striding forward under Amy McLucas. Best Bet Race 3 – #3 Xspiritous (6) 3yo Filly | T: Tash Burleigh | J: Amy McLucas (58kg) +180 with Neds Next Best at Moruya: Sunchyme Sunchyme will be looking to make it three wins from as many starts at Moruya as she resumes from a 156-day spell. The four-year-old has only ever had success at this track and trip, most recently winning by 1.3 lengths on September 29 before being sent to the paddock. She returns with no official barrier trial, suggesting the Keith Dryden stable has her wound up for this event, and with Tommy Berry in the saddle, Sunchyme looks prepared for a first-up assault. Next Best Race 2 – #7 Sunchyme (1) 4yo Mare | T: Keith Dryden | J: Tommy Berry (58kg) +230 with Unibet Best Value at Moruya: Sooboogeliscious Sooboogeliscious just can’t seem to crack a win this campaign, with the four-year-old mare running into the minor placings in three of her five starts. She was beaten less than a half-length in her most recent start at Sapphire Coast on February 19 when caught in the shadows of the post. There was plenty of merit in that runner-up effort, and with a strong on-speed racing pattern, watch for Sooboogeliscious giving a bold sight in the Moruya finale. Best Value Race 8 – #7 Sooboogeliscious (2) 4yo Mare | T: Nick Olive | J: Jeff Penza (57kg) +750 with PlayUp Moruya Sunday quaddie tips – 3/3/2024 Moruya quadrella selections Sunday, March 3, 2024 2-3-6-7-8 1-2-3-6-8 1-3-6-7-8 5-7-8-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Callsign Mav winning the 2021 edition of the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m). Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery The curtain has come down on the decorated career of Callsign Mav following his sixth placed run in last Saturday’s Group 1 Otaki-Maori Classic (1600m). Purchased as a weanling out of Windsor Park Stud’s 2017 National Weanling, Broodmate, & Mixed Bloodstock Sale for $3,000, he belied his initial purchase price when going on to win eight and place in 12 of his 38 career starts on both sides of the Tasman, accruing more than $1.6 million in prizemoney. The son of Atlante showed plenty of promise from the outset for trainer and part-owner John Bary, winning on debut as a juvenile over 800m at Hastings. At just his fourth start he finished runner-up in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1600m) behind boom three-year-old Catalyst. The following season he caused a major upset when taking out the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) first-up as a four-year-old, paying a winning dividend of +8100. He went on to show that victory was no fluke, placing in the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) behind glamour mares Melody Belle and Avantage a fortnight later. He continued a memorable four-year-old term when runner-up in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), Group 1 Otaki WFA Classic (1600m) and Group 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), and was third in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m). Callsign Mav returned in dominant fashions as a five-year-old, winning the Tarzino Trophy and Windsor Park Plate, before crossing the Tasman where he ran seventh in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m). He subsequently joined Danny O’Brien’s Victorian barn and continued on an upward trajectory, finishing runner-up first-up for his new trainer in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m). He returned in the spring of 2022 to post his first elite-level victory in Australia in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and was runner-up in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m). Having met his mark in Australia, he returned to Bary’s care last spring where he placed in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings and posted the same result in the Group 1 BCD Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa earlier this month. Following his run in the Otaki WFA, the decision was made by Bary, in consultation with his ownership group, to retire the well-performed seven-year-old from racing. “Mav’s career has been one of the highlights of my training career and he bows out gracefully from the racing world,” Bary said. “Along with his fantastic Australian owners, he will forever be a stable champion, whose determination, heart and spirit inspired those who had the privilege to witness his feats on the turf.” Horse racing news View the full article

Quintessa will contest the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Legarto catapulted herself into the spotlight in last year’s $1 million Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), and Te Akau Racing is hopeful another Kiwi filly can follow suit in the Flemington feature on Saturday. That filly is Quintessa, a daughter of Shamus Award that has only once finished out of the top two in seven raceday starts, with her quartet of victories including the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham in January. Mark Walker, and his New Zealand co-trainer Sam Bergerson, gave Quintessa her biggest challenge to date in last month’s Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, and she lost no admirers in a barnstorming run into fourth behind Bonny Lass, recording the fastest closing sectionals in a quality field. “We were stoked with her run, she got back and rattled off some really good sectionals late on a track that was probably hard to make ground on,” Bergerson said. “She was a three-year-old filly against some hardened older weight-for-age horses, so it gave us the confidence to put her on the plane and take on the Aussies.” Quintessa soon headed across the Tasman to join Te Akau’s Cranbourne base headed by assistant trainer Ben Gleeson, with reports she has settled in well ahead of her assignment on Saturday, where she will be partnered by last year’s winning jockey Mick Dee. “She galloped really well on Tuesday, Mick rode her, and the team said she’s handled everything really well since she arrived there,” Bergerson said. “We’re very pleased with how she is heading into Saturday, it’s hard to know how she will go against some of the best three-year-olds in Australia, but we’re confident she can run a good race.” One of just two fillies in the 16-horse affair, Quintessa is currently rated a +1700 chance with horse racing bookmakers jumping from barrier eight, directly alongside +140 favourite Riff Rocket, Chris Waller’s Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner. Fellow Kiwi The Pendragon, now based with trainer Michael Moroney at Flemington, is just adrift in the market at +2000. “We think the New Zealand form will stack up well with her and Pendragon, she’s a little bit friendless in the market, but on her day, she’s more than capable,” Bergerson said. “She’s a Group One winner over a mile at Trentham, and the Flemington track is quite similar being a big, roomy course. “She’s pretty adaptable, she can go forward or back, so I’m guessing they’ll leave it up to Mick really, the draw gives her a few options.” Horse racing news View the full article

Emerging filly Mislead (Shamexpress) could be set for higher tasks with a trip to Adelaide to chase black type on the radar for the Sportsbet Future Stars Series winner. Rachael Frost’s three-year-old took out the $300,000 1400m final on Thursday evening at Pakenham having won a heat two weeks earlier. Making the occasion even more special, Frost recently put family members into the horse. Her parents flew in from New Zealand and her brother travelled from Washington DC to be there. “To have mum and dad and my brother here, it’s been so good, unbelievable,” Frost said. “There’s not a heap of options in the next few weeks so she might even back up, or she might go to Adelaide, it depends how much weight she loses because she does suck up quite quickly.” Frost has won stakes races before, with Travimyfriend (NZ) (Tavistock) the highlight winning The Sofitel during Covid, but the New Zealand export said this win was extremely satisfying. “She’s just taken time to get it together really,” Frost said. Damian Lane was the standout rider during the series and as such took out the leading jockey ahead of Craig Williams, taking home a cool $30,000 thanks to Sportsbet. View the full article