Wandering Eyes

Friday, La Teste, France, post time: 15:28, PRIX MILLKOM-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, 8fT Field: Kaadi (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), Selenien (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Alem (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Charengo (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}), Grecian Destiny (Fr) (Masar {Ire}), Jenilat Bright (Fr) (Birchwood {Ire}), Skytree (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), Madero (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Belong Together (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Jokla (GB) (Zarak {Fr}). TDN Verdict: Improving for a step up to this mile, Kaadi registered a clear-cut win in the course-and-distance Listed Prix la Sorellina last time but carries a penalty for that. Thought good enough to run in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Selenien was only beaten around four lengths and enjoys a class drop for confidence. [Tom Frary]. Friday, La Teste, France, post time: 16:38, PRIX OCCITANIE-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, f, 9 1/2fT Field: Al Dhaby (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), Dune (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Paix Des Dames (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), She's A Tease (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Ilda Rosa (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ecology (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}), Pyramide (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Miss Of Change (Fr) (King Of Change {GB}), Darkava (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Iron Bird (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Place Fontenoy (Fr) (War Command). TDN Verdict: A winner at Dax and Cholet, Al Dhaby has scope to improve being out of the Australian Group 3 winner Zargos from a top yard. Place Fontenoy sets the standard on her third in the G2 German 1,000 Guineas and may only need to reproduce that to win. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Listed Action Takes Centre Stage at La Teste appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jay Briscione, one of the six owners that make up Atlantic Six Racing, knows how lucky he has been. Some two years ago he and his partners privately bought a Jersey-bred son of Bucchero (Kantharos) out of a mare named Adorabella (Ghostzapper). At the time, Bucchero was an unproven sire and Adorabella never made it to the races. Briscione admits all he was looking for was a horse who could win New Jersey-bred races at Monmouth. What he got was a winning lottery ticket named Book'em Danno. It's been quite the story, the Jersey-bred who, with his win the in the GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga, has emerged as the fastest sprinter in the East. To talk about Book'em Danno and the ride he has taken his owners on, Briscione joined this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of The Week. “Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would have anything like this,” Briscione said. “I don't think anybody else thought he was the racehorse he is.” Book'em Danno, a 4-year-old gelding, has won three straight stakes races–the Forego, the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes and the GIII True North Stakes–all of them at Saratoga. He also won last year's GI Woody Stephens Stakes at the Spa. He's earned $1,855,425, the most ever by a horse bred in New Jersey. “To dream when you buy young horses, it makes you feel like you're a little kid again,” he said. “You're getting an at-bat in Little League, trying to hit a home run. You're thinking you're going to win the game. When you buy young horses, you're always thinking, 'Hey, maybe this one's the one.' But at the level we play at, chances are that's never gonna happen. In this case, our dream came true.” Surprisingly, trainer Derek Ryan is on the record saying he is opposed to running in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Briscione said it's too early to make a final decision. “It's a cliche, but I'll say it anyway,” Briscione said. “We'll sit back and take every race as it comes, one at a time. We'll have to see how he comes out of it. For the most part, he's been a pretty resilient race horse. He comes out of these races very good. We can get him back to the track pretty quickly, which is great. Obviously, we know that the Breeders' Cup is out there. Whatever has been said has been said, but the Breeders' Cup is in the picture. Where we're going to go, I think that would also depend on what he looks like over the next couple of weeks. We'll try to do maybe a more extensive physical just to see where he is.” He's from humble origins and has a catchy name, reasons why he has become one of the more popular horses in the sport. “So the name is catchy to the 40-and-up crowd,” Briscione said. “I think a couple of things are playing into this. We're the underdogs. We're the little guys. It's nice to see the little guys do good. And the horse is from New Jersey, so everybody says he's of modest means. Again, I disagree with that. I think Bucchero is an up-and-coming sire. He's just a very cool horse and, like I said, we're really blessed to be involved in something like him. It's really a dream come true. A couple of my friends always say, probably after a couple of drinks, what's your passion in life? Your passion may not be what you do. I'm in real estate. My passion is horse racing.” The “Fastest Horse of the Week” was GI Travers winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who got a 115, the highest Beyer figure any horse has run this year. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by 1/st TV, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association and West Point Thoroughbreds, the team of Bill Finley and Randy Moss talked about the passing of Secretariat's jockey, Ron Turcotte. They reviewed the other Grade I stakes on last Saturday's card at Saratoga and looked ahead to the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, the GI Pacific Classic and the meet at Kentucky Downs. Click here to watch the podcast and click here to listen. The post Book’em Danno Co-Owner Jay Briscione Joins the TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a blue-blooded daughter of Wootton Bassett making her racecourse debut. 5.20 Newbury, Mdn, 2yo, f, 6fT SPLISH SPLASH (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the second foal out of the high-class Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy), who was successful in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, G2 Debutante Stakes and G3 Silver Flash Stakes. Eve Johnson Houghton has been handed the responsibility of training the homebred, who races in the silks of Anthony and Sonia Rogers and who encounters Jeff Smith's fellow newcomer Stormy Music (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), an Andrew Balding-trained daughter of the G3 Sceptre Stakes winner Foxtrot Lady (Foxwedge). The post Splish Splash, Daughter of Skitter Scatter, Debuts at Newbury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While this weekend's Pacific Classic (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) will bring the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) into a sharper focus, grade 1 winner Locked will be using the Sept. 27 Woodward Stakes (G2) as his prep for the Nov. 1 showdown.View the full article

 Madaket Stables, Molly Willis, and Paul Willis' Jimmy P defends his title in the Aug. 27 Jonathan Sheppard Stakes (NSA-G1), a 2 3/8-mile hurdle handicap at Saratoga.View the full article

DONCASTER, UK — For the third year in succession, Highflyer's Anthony Bromley and owner Phil Cunningham dominated the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale, coming away from day one with six horses bought for a combined sum of £717,000. That spend included one of the most expensive horses sold on Wednesday – a Showcasing half-brother to high-class sprinter Washington Heights – at £180,000. It was at this sale in 2023 when Cunningham enlisted the services of Bromley, widely regarded as one of the best judges of equine talent there is. The pair came home with seven yearlings for £888,143 before upping that spend to £1,010,000 on 10 yearlings here last year. Of course, Cunningham rightly has an affinity to Doncaster given it is here where Bobby O'Ryan sourced dual Guineas winner Cockney Rebel for just £30,000. Meanwhile, horses like high-earners The Man and Yah Mo Be There have been bought here in recent years. Speaking about this year's trade, the majority of which took place later in the day and was headed by Bearstone Stud's Showcasing colt, Bromley said, “We kept our powder dry for most of the day. We bought a Sioux Nation filly [lot 39] for £70,000 and a Space Traveller colt [105] for £52,000 but one of our picks of the sale was the Starman filly [160, consigned by Pa Doyle's Galberstown Stables] who was actually picked out by Phil Cunningham snr – he picked it on pedigree and gave her five stars. “When we went and looked at her we absolutely concurred – we thought she was a really smashing filly. Phil has a nice Starman filly called Gold Digger who was a good sixth in the Albany but found the ground a little quick that day. She's going to be a nice filly and obviously Starman needs no introduction so we were really happy to get her. The Showcasing colt [161] definitely surprised us by how much she made. He is a very athletic and scopey horse. We loved him and wanted to take him home.” He added, “But it's interesting, this is a sale for smaller horses and when you get a nice scopey one, they stand out. Billy Jackson-Stops pushed us quite hard but Phil was on the phone and he didn't want to get beaten. He's an exciting horse and comes from a great nursery. That's not to be underestimated. I don't think I've ever bought a horse off them that hasn't won. They are great breeders and are very straightforward to deal with. It's nice to see an English stud having a good sale.” Bearstone Stud has enjoyed massive success down through the years, with Group 1-winning sprinters Glass Slippers and Bradsell both being graduates from the farm. Stud manager Mark Pennell was rightly in jubilant form following the sale and joked “there will be a few drinks tonight!” Bearstone ended day one with four lots sold for £467,000. Pennell commented, “We brought some nice horses here this year and decided to target an early sale before people get too fed up of going to sales. It certainly paid off. The horses we sold today, we were expecting them all to make half of what they made. So it's been a great result.” The Cunningham-Highflyer spend was completed by the already-named Tippytwo, a Baroda Stud-consigned full-brother to Tip Two Win (Dark Angel) [185] at £150,000 and another Bearstone offering in lot 167, a Perfect Power colt that cost £140,000. Speaking about the overall market, Bromley commented, “I thought the sale was quite sticky to start with and I did manage to get quite a few bought. I bid on eight horses in the first 50 lots and I got seven. Then, the next nine horses that I bid on, I was the underbidder on seven or eight of those. I think it has been quite a healthy market but it took a little bit of time to get going. I thought I did okay buying some cheaper ones earlier in the sale and there are some nice horses tomorrow as well. It's interesting that there are 70 less colts catalogued but that's worked out that there are 70 less colts. There are the same number of fillies in the sale compared to last year. It's 50-50 this year between colts and fillies so I think it will push up trade on colts. I'm definitely keeping an eye on all of the fillies. Shadwell Support For Minzaal Top Lot Jane Allison's Manor Farm draft made a late splash on day one, shooting to the top of the charts with a homebred filly from the first crop of Group 1 winner Minzaal. A good-walking filly with an attitude to match, the daughter of the Listed winner Hateya (Mastercraftsman) caught the eye of Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold, who duly went to £190,000 to secure her for the operation. Gold said of lot 205, “We like to support our stallions where we can and I came up here to have a good look at them all. We've got three at home which we like a lot and, like everybody, I was impressed with the [Minzaal] foals last year and I have been impressed with what I've seen here. “There weren't any in France so this was the first chance we've had to see them and I just thought that this filly had a bit extra about her. She was as nice a filly as I saw. She had a good good outlook about her and is a lovely mover. She's a good advertisement for the stallion and if there are a few more that look like her he'll do alright.” The name's Kelly, Jason Kelly Bond Thoroughbreds has been a growing force on the track and in the sales ring in recent times through bloodstock agent Jason Kelly, who once again made a major splash by signing for the Havana Grey filly on day one of the Premier Yearling Sale at £180,000. She was consigned by Ashbrooke Stud, who shrewdly sourced the filly for €55,000 at Goffs last November. Kelly commented, “She has been bought by Bond Thoroughbreds to go to Bryan Smart. They have a long history together and have had plenty of success with sharp two-year-olds down through the years so hopefully she'll work. Bryan was on the ground here working hard and he loved her. She looks a tough racy filly – good and strong. We had to stretch to get her but the stallion is very successful.” Asked if he has had much luck with the progeny of Havana Grey in the past, he commented, “With David O'Meara, we had Star Of Lady M, who was an exceptional filly. She was a very good two-year-old, lost her way a little but then came back and was better than ever as a four-year-old.” The Havana Grey filly is out of a winning two-year-old by Cotai Glory and from the family of Irish 2,000 Guineas third Decrypt. She is the latest addition to what is an ever-expanding team of quality horses for Bond Thoroughbreds, which has been enjoying a good run of things, highlighted by the recent Group 1-placed Maranoa Charlie. “We've had a lot of nice horses this season and Geoff Oldroyd has done a great job and is operating at a great strike-rate,” Kelly commented. “York is the home track and I'm not sure if it was good or bad. We were banging on the door and had a lot of placed horses there but, to be competing in those types of races is good. Air Force One and Big Leader can hopefully make the step up from handicaps into stakes company next year and obviously Maranoa Charlie is flying the flag at Group 1 level so it's exciting times.” Hughes and Durcan Team Up One of the stories of this season has been the rise and rise of Richard Hughes and, returning to the source of No Half Measures, his breakthrough Group 1 winner as a trainer, the Lambourn handler came away with five horses to the tune of £384,000. That outlay was headed by a Blue Point filly consigned by Longview Stud who was bought by bloodstock agent Ted Durcan for £175,000. Lot 177 boasted one of the best pedigrees in the sale given she is out of Listed winner Fig Roll, who is the dam of Group 3 scorer Al Raya. Durcan commented, “She is a lovely filly – very racy and Richard knows the family extremely well. He had an owner in mind going in to buy her and, while they had to be brave and strong, thankfully we got her.” No Half Measures was sourced for just £34,000 by Hughes at this sale in 2022. The daughter of Cable Bay has won over £500,000 in prize-money and proved herself one of the fastest horses in training when landing a 66-1 shock in the July Cup at Newmarket. She is rightly one of the poster girls of the sale. Durcan and Hughes bought five horses on Wednesday for £384,000 and found owners for all of them. Durcan said, “We bought five all told. A few of those were bought on spec but, luckily, we found owners for all of them by close of play on Wednesday which was great.” Dream Debut For Kent Finbar Kent marked his debut as a consignor by selling a Persian Force colt and a Dandy Man filly for a combined £168,000. It was Kia Joorabchian and Robson Aguiar who landed the Persian Force colt for £110,000 while Peter and Ross Doyle signed for the Dandy Man filly for £48,000. Kent had acquired the two horses as foals for €30,000 and €20,000 respectively. “It was above and beyond our expectations,” the young consignor said after selling the Persian Force colt. He added, “I loved the horse but I didn't know where the ceiling was. It's great when a man like Kia turns up. He's here and he means business and is keen to support the stallion. And this fellow is a great advert for the stallion. “I think he's one with a real future. He's always been a standout. He has a very noble head, great constitution and a great attitude. Really, really happy. It's been amazing. It's been a great start.” Amo Racing's recent Group 1 scorer Power Blue was sourced for just £44,000 at this sale last year and Joorabchian revealed that a conscious decision was made within the camp to shop the Premier Yearling Sale hard in order to have some sharper types to go to war with next season. In many ways, the Persian Force colt was a fitting purchase given it was in the purple silks of Amo Racing that the son of Mehmas carried to victory in the July Stakes at Newmarket. Joorabchian said, “He's obviously a sire we know well. My team were looking at him and actually thought he was the best physical of the sale. We had him as a target and we weren't going to let him go. They [buying team] called me last night to tell me that I have to come and see this Persian Force colt and that was our target and we got the target. This sale has been good to us – Power Blue came from this sale and he won a Group 1. Last year we were a little bit quieter in this sale because we obviously went for the deeper pedigrees and we found that, come June, we were a little bit short of speedier two-year-olds. Our season has come good recently but we felt that we should do a bit of shopping at this sale and a little bit less at Tatts!” Talking Points While the day one aggregate was down by 6% to £7,796,000, the average climbed 12% to £45,326 and the median by 13% to £34,000. The clearance rate rested at 87% with 172 of the 198 horses offered finding buyers. Barry Kennedy and Anna Murphy of Rigsdale Stud enjoyed their first six-figure sale when their homebred Sioux Nation colt went to Billy Jackson-Stops on behalf of trainer George Scott for £100,000. A visibly emotional Kennedy commented, “It's great. We work down in Castlehyde Stud and it's our first ever six-figure lot. We still have the mare so it's great. I need a minute to gather my thoughts!” We are running out of different ways to describe the explosive start Starman has made at Tally-Ho Stud. The market has clearly latched onto the first-season sire with 11 horses selling for an average combined £744,000 and average £67,636. Perfect Power seems to be going down well. Tally-Ho Stud sourced a colt by the stallion for €75,000 during the V2 session at Arqana last week and, along with Highflyer and Cunningham, Amo Racing went to £85,000 for a filly by the young Darley-based sire on Wednesday. Buy of the Day Anthony Bromley may have dominated at the top end of the market but he may well have come home with one of the best value buys of the sale through lot 55, a quality filly by Without Parole on behalf Eve Johnson Houghton. The pair have already struck gold with Without Parole through the stallion's highest-rated runner Zavateri and Bromley secured the only yearling in the sale by the Newsells Park Stud resident for just £20,000. Bromley commented, “I have a soft spot for the stallion and she was the only one in the sale. She doesn't necessarily look an early sort but she has a nice walk and is very powerful. The dam wanted a mile-and-a-quarter so we don't expect her to be a whizzbang two-year-old but there was a lot to like about her. Trade has picked up a lot since we bought her so I think I was able to get a bit of value earlier on in the sale. Let's see.” Golden Touch There were some notable pinhooks at the top end, including the £180,000 Havana Grey [bought for €55,000] and Finbar Kent's Persian Force colt who sold for £110,000 [sourced for €30,000]. But sometimes little fish are sweet and Paul Winters, who works closely with Peter Kelly, deserves a shout out for turning his 12,000gns foal purchase by Tasleet into a £37,000 yearling [lot 10]. It was Anthony Bromley who bought the filly on behalf of George Baker. The post Donny Domination For Bromley And Cunningham With Over 700k Spent On Day One At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-KD, $250K, Alw, (R), 2yo, f, 6fT, 5:23 p.m. ET. Patricias Hope and Carolyn Wilson's Sassy C W (Yaupon) looks for her fourth consecutive victory while trying the grass for the first time. Earning the TDN Rising Star tag when galloping off to an impressive 5 1/4-length victory at Churchill Apr. 30, the $350,000 OBS March grad made it two straight with a three-length score in Saratoga's Astoria Stakes in June. Favored when holding on to win by a neck in the 5 1/2-furlong Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes July 4, the filly fired off a bullet five-furlong work at Hawthorne (1:00 2/5, 1/7) Aug. 21. Chief Stipe Scharbauer's Collective Beauty (Collected) debuted with an impressive 9 3/4-length victory at Indiana Aug. 5. The daughter of SW and MGISP Beautician (Dehere) gets the services of Tyler Gaffalione, leading rider of the recently concluded Ellis meet. TJCIS PPS 2nd-Sar, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:42 p.m. ET. Repole Stable unveils Big Imagination (Jpn) (Kitisan Black {Jpn}), a ¥40,700,000 (approx. $253,048) purchase at the JRHA Select Sale last year. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the filly has been preparing steadily over Belmont's training track, including the most recent a four-furlong move in :51 (40/45) Aug. 22. TJCIS PPS 8th-Sar, $100K, Msw, 3yo, 9fT, 5:03 p.m. ET. Joseph Allen's Operation Overlord (Into Mischief) gets going for trainer Todd Pletcher. Out of GI Flower Bowl Invitational winner War Flag (War Front), the homebred will be accompanied by Kendrick Carmouche. Trying turf for the first time, Pin Oak Stud's Limo (Uncle Mo) finished a well-beaten sixth going a mile at the Spa Aug. 10. The $1 million KEESEP yearling purchase stretches out in this second go. Junior Alvarado will ride for the first time. TJCIS PPS The post Thursday’s Racing Insights: TDN Rising Star Sassy C W Tries Turf at Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Among this week's rulings, Dr. Larry Rickman Overly has been issued a 23-month suspension and a combined $40,000 fine (including arbitration costs) for the possession of testosterone and isoxsuprine, both banned substances, during a search of his truck at Los Alamitos on July 23 last year, according to the final decision by an arbitral panel. Overly contended that the jar of isoxsuprine powder and the four injectable vials of testosterone were for other horses in his practice, outside of HISA's jurisdiction. About 66% of the horses he saw and almost 80% of the treatments he performed at Los Alamitos were for non-HISA regulated horses (known as “non-covered” horses), Overly argued. More specifically, Overly argued that he had the testosterone to treat his veterinary technician's horse, Cosmo, while the jar of isoxsuprine was for a client, to treat her non-covered horse, “Brownie.” The arbitration panel, however, found that Overly did not have compelling justification for carrying the testosterone and the isoxsuprine in his truck on that date last year. For one, Overly was scheduled to treat Cosmo with testosterone a week later, on July 30, while his veterinary truck was typically loaded and unloaded/reloaded twice a day, five days a week, the arbitral body found. As such, “there was no reason Dr. Overly could not have had Testosterone he needed to treat Cosmo loaded after he returned from the Los Alamitos track on the days he was scheduled to see Cosmo,” according to the final decision. Furthermore, “The veterinary records produced by Dr. Overly did not show a single instance in which he had treated a Non-Covered horse with Isoxsuprine and thus do not establish a compelling justification to prophylactically carry Isoxsuprine for that part of his mixed practice,” according to the final decision. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 08/26/2025 Licensee: Eduardo Rodriguez, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Aminocaproic Acid–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from All About Tonite, on 7/2/25. Date: 08/26/2025 Licensee: Jesus Nunez, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 27, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Erebus, who finished second at Los Alamitos on 7/6/25. Date: 08/25/2025 Licensee: Dr. Larry Rickman Overly, veterinarian Penalty: 23-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 26, 2025; a fine of $25,000; payment of $15,000 towards arbitration costs. Final decision of arbitral body. Explainer: Possession of Testosterone and Isoxsuprine–both banned substances–for an event dated 7/23/24. Date: 08/25/2025 Licensee: Tomas Medina, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled substance on Night Kiss during the race period dated 7/5/25. Night Kiss did not make a start that day. Date: 08/25/2025 Licensee: Michael LaCesse, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Triamcinolone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Gimmedamoney, who finished fourth at Finger Lakes on 7/14/25. Date: 08/25/2025 Licensee: Raymond Paquette, trainer Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Vet's list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Michi on 7/13/25. Date: 08/25/2025 Licensee: Scott Lake, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 26, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Texas Air Force, who finished second at Parx Racing on 5/19/25. Date: 08/22/2025 Licensee: Steve Asmussen, trainer Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Jackman on 6/20/25. Date: 08/21/2025 Licensee: Ruben Siera, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Juan Mo Time, who did not finish a race at Gulfstream Park on 5/16/25. Date: 08/20/2025 Licensee: Ilias Tapsas, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 21, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Modern Midas on 7/7/25. Pending ADMC Violations 08/27/2025, Hector Palma, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Uncle Evco on 7/30/25. 08/27/2025, Jane D. Cibelli, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Inveigled, who finished second at Laurel Park on 6/21/25. 08/25/2025, Helen Alice Beckman, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Pentoxifylline–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Stand Up Charlie, who finished fifth at Belterra Park on 7/17/25. 08/22/2025, Marcus Vitali, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Yankee Dollar, who finished second in the Illini Princess Handicap at Hawthorne on 6/15/25. 08/22/2025, Billy Miller, trainer: Per HIWU, “Rule 3510(b)–Refusal/failure to cooperate promptly and completely with HISA/HIWU under the ADMC Program Rules; Rule 3510(d)–Refusal/failure without compelling justification to comply with any other provision of the ADMC Program Rules (where such refusal or failure does not constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation).” The horse in questions is Ranch Badge. 08/21/2025, Eduardo Rodriguez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Aminocaproic Acid–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from All About Tonite, on 7/2/25. 08/21/2025, Elias Lopez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)–a banned substance–in a sample taken from La Clasica, who did not finish when running at Hawthorne on 6/5/25. Violations of Crop Rule Del Mar Ruben Silvera–violation date August 22; $500 fine, one-day suspension Prairie Meadows Alberto Pusac–violation date August 22; $250 fine, one-day suspension The post Weekly Rulings: August 21-27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Snow Face Princess (Midshipman), Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton August Digital sales topper for Winchell Thoroughbreds, will head to Kentucky Downs, trainer Steve Asmussen confirmed to the TDN Wednesday. The recent winner of the 5 1/2 furlong Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 17 will stretch out just a bit and target the $1,000,000 Untapable Stakes Sept. 7 going 6 1/2 furlongs for her new connections. Winchell Thoroughbreds, whose Ron Winchell co-owns the unique track in Franklin, KY, bought the 2-year-old daughter of Crusin Alone (Honor Code) for $775,000 Tuesday. Snow Face Princess, who is undefeated since switching to the grass, already has career earnings of over $140,000 in three starts for trainer Todd Pletcher. The family already has proven form over the Kentucky Downs track as Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro), by Crusin Alone's half-sister A.P. Sonata (A.P. Indy), set a course record last year in the GII FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes. “She's a stakes winner on the turf so that made her attractive to us,” said Winchell's racing manager David Fiske. “We've had good luck with a previous Bolton Landing Stakes winner [Winchell homebred Simple Surprise, the dam of MGISW and young sire Gunite].” And though Winchell Thoroughbreds has previously sold horses through the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform, Snow Face Princess is the group's first digital acquisition. “I told Steve [Asmussen], I called him yesterday and said we bought that filly and I'm not sure what the next step is now,” Fiske said laughing. “So that's our entry into the digital world.” And while Snow Face Princess is set for the Untapable, Fiske acknowledged that, should she stay on track through that start, they'd have to take a look at something like the Breeders' Cup in November. “That's a long way off,” he said. “She's already made three starts and Kentucky Downs would be four with a ship [from Saratoga]. But I think if she ran well, we'd have to take a look at it.” Ascot Walk To Join Erdenheim Farm Broodmare Band The top-selling broodmare through the August Digital Sale, Ascot Walk (Daaher), will join the Erdenheim Farm broodmare band on a final bid of $550,000. The 10-year-old mare has produced three stakes runners from as many foals, leading things off with GSP Regaled (Mohaymen) and following up with Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro) who is back on the work tab after suffering a minor injury when running second in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks. Most recently, her 2-year-old daughter Grazie (Modernist) ran third in the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 22 for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Repole Stable. “She's a proven broodmare,” said Erdenhiem owner Peter McCausland. “And we're looking for a few really good, different broodmares. Physically she's a great individual and we're glad to have her. [The price] was within the range that we were expecting.” Ascot Walk sold in foal to Horse of the Year Cody's Wish whose first foals hit the ground earlier this year. “Cody's Wish is unproven,” McCausland said, “but we had someone look at a few of his foals and they're very attractive so that was a minor factor [in the purchase].” Future mating plans for Ascot Walk, whose youngest foal is a yearling Redesdale filly, are still to be determined. Erdenheim Farm has been active across the Fasig-Tipton platforms recently, going to $1.475m to acquire a filly by Gun Runner (hip 200) out of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) at the Saratoga Sale earlier this month. The post Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale Topper Heads For Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Thursday at Saratoga. Thursday, August 28, 2025 Saratoga 1, $90k, 2yo, f, (S), 6f, 1:10 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Shayaprayer (Bolt d'Oro), FTMMAY, 40,000, G C-Golden Rock Thoroughbreds LLC, agt; B-Sean Shay Saratoga 2, $100k, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:42 p.m. Free Spin Kim (Code of Honor)-AE, OBSMAR, 15,000, :10 3/5 C-McKathan Bros Sales, agent; B-Travis & Eddie Racing Stable Market Hours (Practical Joke), OBSAPR, 150,000, :10 C-Niall Brennan Stables, agent; B-Klaravich Stable Inc Rosie Dozie (Beau Liam)-AE, OBSAPR, 40,000, :10 1/5 C-Grassroots Training & Sales, agent; B-Black Horse Bloodstock Saratoga 6, $90k, 2yo, f, (S), 6f, 3:53 p.m. Absolute Smoke (Honest Mischief), OBSAPR, 125,000, :10 C-Lucan Bloodstock (Karl Keegan), agt; B-Clear Stars/Mitre Box Clap Back (Galilean), FTMMAY, 55,000, :10 2/5 C-Julie Davies LLC, agent; B-Arms Farm Princess Azara (Central Banker), FTMMAY, 30,000, :11 C-Grade I Investments, agent; B-Sport of Kings Racing Partners The post Summer Breezes Sponsored By OBS: Thursday, August 28, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ag Bullet returns to 6 1/2 furlongs and will try to keep her record perfect at that distance against a loaded field in the $2 million Ladies Turf Sprint (G2T) at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30. View the full article

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown eyes back-to-back victories in the Aug. 28 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course when he saddles Klaravich Stables' Capital Partner, an impressive debut winner at the Spa Aug. 2. View the full article

Cheshire-based trainer Hugo Palmer will be traveling to Kentucky Downs this week to saddle group-winning filly Cheshire Dancer in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) worth $2,000,000 Aug. 30.View the full article

While he's not one of the three acknowledged "monsters" signed up to contest the Aug. 30 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, Midnight Mammoth shares a history with top California runners that just might make him a contender in the $1-million race.View the full article

71-year-old jockey Perry Ouzts–who just this summer surpassed Russell Baze for the most rides by a jockey in North American racing history–will be honored with the Mr. Fitz Award along with track executive Joe Harper, turf writer Steve Andersen and broadcaster Nick Luck during the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters' 65th Annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 29 in Del Mar, Calif., the NTWAB announced. The 2025 NTWAB Awards Dinner, which is the organization's only fundraiser, will be held at The Brigantine Del Mar, overlooking nearby Del Mar Racetrack. Harper will be honored with the Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to racing, having served as a track executive at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club since 1978, guiding the Southern California track through a period of significant growth. Andersen is the recipient of the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in turf writing. A longtime news correspondent, Anderson joined the Daily Racing Form in 1994. Luck, one of international horse racing's most respected and recognizable broadcasters, is the recipient of the Jim McKay Award for broadcast excellence. In the United States, Luck has been a vital presence in American horse racing television for nearly two decades, widely recognized for his analysis and interviewing skills on display during NBC's broadcasts of the Breeders' Cup and Triple Crown. Tickets for the NTWAB Awards Dinner can be purchased at the NTWAB website here. Tickets are $85 for NTWAB members and Breeders' Cup credentialed media and $115 for non-members and guests. The post NTWAB To Honor Jockey Perry Ouzts And Others At 2025 Awards Dinner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Daniel and Claire Kübler have announced their intention to relocate to Bahrain later this year. The Lambourn-based husband-and-wife training partnership has sent out over 130 winners from its Lambourn base, but this move will see the Küblers “scale back” operations in Britain, having been presented with a “remarkable opportunity” to move to the Middle East. A statement released by Kübler Racing read, “After five successful seasons training under a joint licence from our stables at Sarsen Farm in Lambourn, we have been given a remarkable opportunity to train for His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa and other members of the royal family in Bahrain, and assist in developing a new training facility. “The move follows an approach we received from His Highness Shaikh Isa, on behalf of the Royal Stables, who outlined his vision and ambition for racing in Bahrain. It provides the chance to work with an exciting and expanding group of horses, together with an ambitious team of people, contributing to the growth of a racing jurisdiction that is rapidly establishing itself on the global stage. “We expect to begin training in Bahrain from October 2025, coinciding with the start of the 2025/26 season. In the meantime, our UK operation will scale back with the horses currently in training continuing to be campaigned with the same usual care and attention, ensuring every owner and horse is fully supported during this transition.” The Küblers added the decision was “by no means easy”, explaining, “We owe thanks to so many owners. Particular thanks to Gary and Lesley Middlebrook, whose commitment and belief in our approach has provided the platform on which Kübler Racing has been built. Their support has been instrumental in developing Sarsen Farm and enabling the yard to reach a level of success that makes this next step possible. “We would also like to acknowledge the fantastic team of people who have worked together with us, both now and over the years. Their dedication, skill, and care for the horses have been at the heart of everything we have achieved, and none of this would have been possible without their contribution. “We remain deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us in the UK and look forward to building on those achievements as we embark on this exciting new adventure.” The post Daniel and Claire Kübler to Relocate to Bahrain for “Remarkable Opportunity” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jose Ortiz had three stakes wins including the Lake Placid (G2T) and the Ballerina (G1) for a total of nine wins for the week. The panel of racing experts voted Ortiz Jockey of the Week for Aug.18-24.View the full article

Geoff Lewis, rider of the great Mill Reef and later a key figure on the Epsom training scene, has died at the age of 89. The Welshman was aboard the Ian Balding-trained Mill Reef when he won the both the Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1971, an association that was the highlight of a hugely successful career in the saddle. Lewis partnered the colt to win 12 of his 14 starts, with his other Group 1 victories during that exceptional three-year-old season coming in the Eclipse and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Mill Reef's Derby featured among five British Classic triumphs for Lewis, who also celebrated a famous win in the the 1959 Stewards' Cup aboard Tudor Monarch, owned by Sir Winston Churchill. Queen Elizabeth II's Magna Carta was another significant ally when winning the Ascot Stakes and Doncaster Cup in 1970. After retiring from the saddle in 1979, Lewis began training from Thirty Acre Barn in Epsom. From a relatively small stable he enjoyed great success with horses such as the top sprinter Lake Coniston, who he trained for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the early days of their enterprise. Lake Coniston's triumphs included the July Cup and the Duke Of York. “It is incredibly sad news. Geoff really got us going at Highclere,” said Harry Herbert, founder and chairman of the syndicate. “He trained our first champion, Lake Coniston, to win the July Cup in 1995 and he was such an incredible character. Anyone who had horses with us and Geoff in those early days will never forget the stable visits. His daughter Mary would cook our members the most delicious lunches and Geoff and his wife Noelene were like a double act. They were wonderful; warm, welcoming and great entertainers. “We were fortunate enough to have some really good horses with Geoff, not just Lake Coniston but Referendum too, who was second in the National Stakes in Ireland. “He was very generous in his efforts to get Highclere started. He called on friends of his and other owners and we probably ended up having seven or eight horses with him because he was so supportive. “It was a sad day when he gave up training. We have wonderful memories of a marvellous man, a hugely talented jockey, a hugely talented trainer and one of racing's great characters. We will miss him.” Lewis setting up his stable in Epsom was a return to where his career had started as an apprentice for Ron Smyth, whose yard is now the base of trainer Simon Dow. “Ron was Geoff's mentor from when he was a 15-year-old boy, so there is a strong connection between all of us,” said Dow. “He had been in a local care home and had been unwell for some time. Sadly, he died yesterday. “He was an Epsom legend, an icon, of course he won the Derby on the great Mill Reef. He was a force to be reckoned with, both as a jockey and as a trainer. For 20 years as a trainer he was extremely successful from Thirty Acre Barn. It is very unusual for good Flat jockeys to go on to be top Flat trainers, but he was one of the few who made the transition. “He was part of the fabric of Epsom. People of my age and generation have fantastic memories of him. He was a great character who was also extremely supportive and a friend to everyone in Epsom.” The post Geoff Lewis, Rider of Mill Reef, Dies at 89 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tattersalls has been announced as the sponsor of three prestigious two-year-old contests at Newmarket on Saturday, September 27, including the G1 Middle Park Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes. The Middle Park for colts and Cheveley Park for fillies both take place over six furlongs and offer total prize-money of £275,000, while Tattersalls also extends its backing to the £125,000 G2 Royal Lodge Stakes, a one-mile contest for colts and geldings. Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Tattersalls have long been proud supporters of British racing and Newmarket Racecourses, and we are delighted to sponsor the 2025 editions of the time-honoured Middle Park, Cheveley Park and Royal Lodge Stakes. “These races complement our existing Newmarket sponsorships, which include the G1 Falmouth Stakes, the G3 Tattersalls Stakes and the Somerville Auction Stakes and October Auction Stakes – both of which will be run for a minimum of £200,000 from 2026. “The Cambridgeshire Meeting is one of the highlights of the British racing calendar, and we look forward to an outstanding programme of two-year-old races of the highest calibre and to working with Newmarket Racecourse in their promotion.” The post Tattersalls Announced as Sponsor of Middle Park, Cheveley Park and Royal Lodge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A nomination to Darley's Too Darn Hot topped Wednesday's Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale when selling to Taisen Maddern for A$255,000. The sale of the Too Darn Hot nomination was a collaboration between Godolphin, Watership Down Stud and CatWalk, with all proceeds going directly towards funding critical research to help those living with spinal cord injuries. Maddern has earmarked his Street Boss mare Sliders to be the beneficiary of the Too Darn Hot nomination purchase. “I actually had Sliders booked into Too Darn Hot last year, but when he didn't come out we obviously missed out,” said Maddern. “It's been hard to get into him, so I thought I'd just buy the nom when I saw it come online with Inglis Digital. “Hopefully, this foal can be the next Broadsiding–that's the plan or the dream.” Godolphin CEO Andy Makiv was delighted with the outcome. “It's a wonderful result for Catwalk,” he added. “The Thoroughbred industry gets behind good causes and this is extremely important. “Too Darn Hot has quickly stamped himself as an elite young sire and the level of support for this nomination shows the confidence breeders have in him and in the initiative. “We're delighted that Taisen Maddern secured the nomination. He has been a great supporter and friend of Darley for many years and it came as no surprise that he bid more than anyone else.” The post Too Darn Hot Nomination Fetches A$255,000 via Inglis Digital appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tenacity. The trait seems to be woven into the very fabric of every jockey. After all, they put their lives on the line every time they break out of a gate perched atop a 1,000 pounds of heaving horseflesh. It is also the very thing that propels them to the finish line, driving them to win. Emma-Jayne Wilson is the embodiment of tenacity, the thing that has driven her to the pinnacle of racing and in more challenging times, has helped her overcome adversity. Wilson, who returned to the saddle this past June after sustaining serious injuries last October, was sent back to the sidelines after a fall at Woodbine July 27, the third incident in less than a year. As a jockey, the physical challenges are pretty obvious, however, the psychological warfare following serious injury often defines the athlete. “Injuries for any athlete, be it human equine, be it jockey or basketball player, are a part of the sport that you compete in,” Wilson said. “It's how you manage them that is of utmost importance.” Rewind the tape. A glimpse into Wilson's past seems to offer a road map to the mental fortitude and discipline that have led her to become one of Canada's leading riders. Born in Brampton, Ontario, Wilson had notions of being a jockey, however, her parents had other ideas for their horse-crazed daughter. “For me and my parents, post-secondary education was an important part of life preparation. And, being a jockey was always in my mind, but it was never something that had come to fruition,” she recalled. “So the goal was to get to post-secondary education and make a decision from there.” While studying equine management at Kemptville College, part of the University of Guelph, fate intervened, presenting itself in the form of a Canadian and U.S. Hall of Fame rider. “In between the two-year program that I was in, I had the opportunity through a friend of my mom's to meet with Sandy Hawley,” she recalled. “He connected me with a couple of trainers to give me a chance to try out being an exercise rider. So that was where my true racetrack journey began with that one phone call.” While the dream was given wings, it took some time for it to take flight. “School gave me a lot of a foundation that really was helpful for life as well. School's important, kids,” she opined. “The following season, when I finished school, my goal was to go where the horses went–start at a breeding farm and build from there. It gave my dream of being a jockey 100% focus.” Wilson rode her first race at Woodbine on Aug. 27, 2004, and the 20-year-old recorded her first win one day later with only her second career mount. An Eclipse Award-winning apprentice rider in 2005, she was also awarded Canada's Sovereign Award in 2005-06 in the same division. Victorious in the Queen's Plate in 2007 with Mike Fox, she became on the second female rider in Canada to reach the 1,000-win mark. On July 11, 2024, she attained a new high after winning the fourth race at Woodbine, becoming the all-time earning female rider, surpassing Hall of Fame rider Julie Krone. A head liner on the North American racing scene and one of Canada's most sought after riders last summer, it appeared that the world was her oyster. The wheel of fortune turned. Wilson faced one of the biggest challenges of her life last fall when her mount Ready Shakespeare went down in a race at Woodbine after suffering from cardiac arrest. “I suffered probably the worst injury I've experienced where I did some serious damage to my pelvis, as well as a fairly significant fracture to my neck,” she explained. “The recovery of that was extensive. I had to have surgical repair of my pelvis, and luckily, despite the severity of the neck fracture, immobilization and cautious treatment was what was required..it was successful.” Notably, the discipline and laser-focus that the 43-year-old had always relied on to scale the heights of racing was the very same tool that she leaned on in the difficult times. “It was a long seven and a half, eight months,” she admitted. “But the one thing that the doctor said to me post-surgery were two words that I held onto and it was 'full recovery.' And I took that day by day because that's all you can focus on.” Wilson made her long-awaited first start back at Woodbine on June 12. “There's good days and bad, but I knew that full recovery was something that I was going to achieve,” she said in retrospect. “And when I returned to racing at Woodbine, it meant a lot to get out there and ride some races. It meant a lot, but full recovery was achieved when I hit the wire first the first time and went into the winner's circle again to add to my tally, that was full recovery. It meant a lot.” Then, another curve ball. On Woodbine's July 4 card, Wilson's mount, Punkin Boy, unseated her before the first race. Treated and released from Sunnybrook Hospital within hours of her admittance, the rider remarkably avoided serious injury that day. Without missing a beat, Wilson was back again firing on all pistons, piloting Charles Fipke's Ready for Shirl (More Than Ready), trained by Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield, to victory in Woodbine's GII Canadian Stakes on July 20. The pendulum swung once again. Suffering another setback, Wilson's mount went down after sustaining a catastrophic injury during a workout at Woodbine July 27. Not as lucky as her previous incident only a couple of weeks earlier, Wilson fractured her collarbone, necessitating more time away from the races. “With any athlete, injuries happen,” she said. “Unfortunately, I sustained a second serious enough injury where I needed to take time [following] a long, extensive hiatus.” Explaining her latest injury, she said, “[The injury is] pretty typical for most equestrians. You know, a clavicle fracture is pretty par for the course. This is the third time I've done this one, so whether severe or moderate, it's about the time and giving the time to properly recuperate.” She continued, “Short-term plan for this injury is like every other–one day at a time. Doctors give quite extensive and detailed restrictions in order to accelerate the healing, which in some ways seems a bit counterproductive as an athlete, because you want to get back up and show everybody how good you really are.” “Routine rest days are almost more important than the work [rehab] days so that's the focus and you take it one day at a time.” While not offering a specific time frame for her return, Wilson underscored that, when she does ultimately come back, she will be fit and ready for service. She said, “When I return, I can guarantee you that when I'm back in the saddle, you are getting the 100% Emma Jane Wilson ride that you count on.” The 'Other' 4-Letter Words Sitting down with Wilson seemed to offer an intensive course into the psychology of jockeys. What drives them? How do they overcome challenges? Do they experience fear like the rest of us mere mortals? “Fear in horse racing is real,” she said. “But I like to pretend that fear, for me, is my superpower. It makes me 10 times stronger. It makes 10 times faster. It makes my reaction proper. I assess the situation even better. So I embrace fear for what it's worth in terms of its benefit.” She continued, “If you're deer in the headlights scared, you're not gonna make it. But if you can take that reality and know what the risks are–help them to enable you to be bigger, badder, stronger. I have Spider-Man costume and I tell my kids my superpower is like SpiderMan's Spidey sense.” The prospect of injury can also bring to the forefront another four-letter trigger word for most professional athletes–pain. Wilson explains that it often comes down to a matter of perspective. “Key things that helped me understand, do better, was we changed the word that we use for pain,” she said. “I think, to jocks it's different. [Pain] is acute, there's a sharpness. Whereas discomfort is different. I think that's what doctors and nurses are looking for, because there's a different level of management that needs to be obtained.” She continued, “Once I acknowledge discomfort, I'm okay. If we change that and I say, what's my level of discomfort on a scale of 1 to 10? My pain is a two, but my discomfort is a six or an eight–I'm uncomfortable. Okay, we can manage that a little differently. So when you say pain tolerance, I think it's how it's perceived. Same as fear. There's a way to embrace it and make it useful and get over it.” On the mend and looking forward to her latest return to the saddle, Wilson's journey has been anything but easy. And after a brief meeting with the rider, it was very clear that the prospect of hanging up her boots doesn't appear to be an option right now. “I think when you're sitting, especially in a hospital bed, unable to weight bear as my injury with my pelvis and my neck had put me into such stoic behavior, you think through things,” she said. “But that's where full recovery isn't just about the physical, full recovery is about the mental. So to sit and make decisions about the future in such a way when you are still recovering, I think is unfair to yourself.” “[The goal is to] get back to being yourself, who you are as an athlete. For me, it was [returning to] full recovery capabilities and then consider those potential options. Until full recovery was achieved, those options weren't even in my brain.” So, what is in that razor-sharp brain right now? “It was about who's going to win the first race and how can I get on that horse?” Maybe a Wonder Woman costume should also be thrown into the rotation. The post Tenacious Emma-Jayne Wilson Poised for Next Comeback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Wagga Races Where Murrumbidgee Turf Club – Travers St, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 When Thursday, August 28, 2025 First Race 1:05pm AEST Visit Dabble Best Bet at Wagga: Magnucat Now with Luke Pepper, the form of Magnucat through late summer reads well for this: a Canterbury BM64 third (1250m) and a Kembla Grange BM64 second (1400m) before contesting stronger Sydney company. She’s trialled up and returns to a country BM64 with Jean Van Overmeire booked and 58.5kg. The wide gate (15) should be an asset if they’re fanning by the last; expect her to blend in three wide with cover and produce a sustained run from the 500m. With any tempo up front, Magnucat will blouse them late. Best Bet Race 8 – #2 Magnucat (15) 5yo Mare | T: Luke Pepper | J: Jean Van Overmeire (58.5kg) Next Best at Wagga: Region Time Region Time brings the right recent platform for a country BM58 mile and draws to stalk the speed from gate five. The six-year-old mare has been knocking on the door at this grade and was rewarded at Albury on August 19, finishing off strongly to win a 1500m Heavy 8 BM58 following a solid third at Murwillumbah over 1660m on August 5. Back to 1600m suits, and her soft/heavy record reads well for any give in the ground. With Jack Martin taking over at 59.5kg, she maps midfield-with-cover and should be strongest late. Next Best Race 5 – #3 Region Time (5) 6yo Mare | T: Gratz Vella | J: Jack Martin (59.5kg) Best Value at Wagga: Cassimir Cassimir is humming along and strikes a very winnable 1000m BM58 with a handy 3kg claim. The Tumbarumba sprinter comes here off back-to-back wins, both ridden positively and running time. He returns to a provincial BM58, but the claim gets him in at 59kg and his 1000m record (11:3-2-0) stacks up. From barrier 12 he has the speed to offset the draw and land on-pace or outside the lead. If he begins cleanly, he can pinch a break and prove hard to run down late at a price with horse racing bookmakers. Next Best Race 6 – #2 Cassimir (12) 6yo Gelding | T: Mont Waters | J: Jordan Quince (a3) (62kg) Wagga quaddie tips – 28/8/2025 Wagga quadrella selections Thursday, August 28, 2025 2-4-9 15 1-2-8-10-12 1-5-8-10-11-13-14 Horse racing tips View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Cam Hart admits there was some level of relief mixed in with excitement when dual IRT NZ Trotting Cup hero Swayzee brilliantly won a Menangle trial today. It was the mighty stayer’s first public outing since finishing fourth as favourite in the $1.25m Group 1 Nullarbor at Perth’s Gloucester Park on April 25. And it cemented a first-up tilt at next Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle. “I drove him in work last week and told Jase (Grimson, trainer) he felt as good as ever, so to then go and back that up with a trial like that was fantastic,” Hart said. “He’s getting older and he’s had lots of hard racing, but having that break he did after a busy campaign has been perfect. “I honestly think he felt as good as he ever has out there today.” Swayzee was behind leader and stablemate Hi Manameisjeff with Max Delight last of the three in a solidly run mile trial. Swayzee came off the leader’s back to rush past him and Max Delight happily just followed the winner to the line in a scorching 1min49.9sec mile. They ripped home in 54.1 and 27sec flat. “He felt fresh and sharp. Even at the start he wanted to try and run the gate, which was a great sign,” Hart said. “He’s had a good build-up, but that was just what he needed, a perfect hitout, a week-and-a-half out from the race (Len Smith).” Swayzee is a $4.60 second favourite for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup behind Leap To fame ($1.60), with nominations for this year’s race closing at 3pm (NZT) tomorrow (Thursday). Old marvel Max Delight, who stalked and ran down Swayzee when they last met in April, hit the line full of running behind him today. Driver Will Rixon took plenty of heart from the trial, ahead of the Len Smith. “I couldn’t have been travelling any easier on his back and decided not to pull out because it was just a trial,” he said. “He felt like he had plenty left and, although Swayzee can be a hard horse to get past, we have before and it felt like we’d have at least got right up to him if I’d asked my guy. “Old Max is absolutely flying. He ran home in 52.8sec to win last start and I think we’re going into the Len Smith with as good a chance as any. Now we just need a good draw. “No doubt Swayzee will take plenty of beating, but he’s first-up and we’ve had a really strong foundation of racing, including two recent 1min48sec mile wins at Menangle.” Max Delight will be part of a big TAB Eureka night for Rixon, who will partner the John Hawkes-owned Seathestars in the main event. Seathestars, one of a trio of three-year-olds already guaranteed a TAB Eureka start, won his Menangle trial easily today. “He led and it was very windy, but he finished it off really well,” Rixon said. Seathestars dashed clear to win by 11.4m in a 1min54sec mile, sprinting-up the closing splits in 54.3 and 26.4sec. “He’s really going places, this horse. That Queensland Derby run really showed his potential and I loved the way he won at Menangle last time,” Rixon said. “I know it’s a wide-open Eureka, but he can win it with the right run and he felt right on target today.” View the full article

100 training wins for Jeremy Young, Terror To Love retiring from stallion duties, stunning sections from Menangle and a request for racing memorabilia all feature in this week’s News Briefs. 100 wins for Jeremy Young Jeremy Young recorded his 100th training success when Big Herb and driver Sailesh Abernethy combined to win the Woodlands Stud – Here for the Horse Mobile Pace at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The outsider in the seven horse field prevailed by a length, paying $13.90. It was Young’s ninth win this year. His first win came with American Angel, driven by Maurice McKendry, at Alexandra Park in 2013. Stud duties over for Terror To Love Three-time New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Terror To Love has officially retired from stallion duties. The now 17-year-old, who won 31 races and nearly $2.5m in stakes, has been standing at Pinelea Farm in Canterbury since retiring in 2015. His NZ-bred progeny have earned more than $2m in earnings. Among his best performers have been the Group winning Smiffy’s Terror and 18-race winner Terry. Mare off to be a mum Group 1-winning mare High Energy (Father Patrick – High Gait) is off to the broodmare paddock. Breeder and owner Breckon Farms has called time on the five-year-old’s racing career after 12 wins from 37 starts and $239,991 in stakes. Among her stand out performances was her win in the 2YO Group 1 Ace Of Hearts Mobile Trot in 2:26.0 (MR 1:58.6) which set a New Zealand record for 2YO Trotting Fillies over 1980 metres. Her last start was a second at Alexandra Park on July 11. Telfers and Orange well clear With 115 wins this year, the Stonewall Stud team of Steve and Amanda Telfer are now 35 clear of nearest challenger Michael House in the national trainers’ premiership while the country’s leader driver Blair Orange has 112 wins, to be 26 ahead of Tim Williams on 86. In the junior drivers’ premiership Wilson House is on 62, his total for the whole of 2024, to be 12 wins ahead of Carter Dalgety. Such has been House’s success rate this year he is fourth overall behind Orange, Williams and Sam Ottley (64) though he’s been quieter than usual of late with just two wins in August. New race for Addington An additional race has been included at Addington for Friday, September 12. It will be a R40-50 Special Handicap Pace, with a stake of $17,000. The night will also feature the $50,000 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Harness 7000 (Listed) and the $25,000 Second Mares’ Spring Sprint Series Mobile Pace. Sires’ Stakes success story A capacity 13-horse field will face the gate for an always exciting 1700-metre race at Alexandra Park this Friday night (7.40pm). The opening heat of the 2025 Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires Stakes Series is already being hailed a success regardless of the result as far as NZSS Executive Martin Pierson is concerned. To see the latest NZ Sires’ Stakes newsletter click here Off The Canvas qualifies A third TAB racing Club horse may not be far away from the racetrack. The Nathan Williamson-trained Off The Canvas qualified at Gore over the weekend in 2:48 to win by a neck. He was bought by the TAB Racing Club for $40,000 at the 2024 National Yearling Sales in Christchurch. The club’s first runner Eun Sogno won on debut at Addington this month while the sales-topping No More Dreaming, bought for $340,000, finished seventh debut in a good field at Alexandra Park last Friday night. Among the TAB Racing Club’s goals is to drive awareness and support for racing ownership and to give members the experience and benefits of ownership at zero cost. There are currently over 17,000 members, Dunn creates Canadian history Driven by Kiwi champion Dexter Dunn, Aetos Kronos has created Canadian harness racing history by becoming the first trotter ever to break 1:50. It happened in the Maple Leaf elimination at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario when the Marcus Melander-trained nine-year-old won in 1:49.8. It continues a golden patch for Dunn of late. He has stakes earnings of more than $6.3m for the year and is fourth overall in North America, with Jason Bartlett leading the way at $9.5m. Meanwhile, two-year-old colt Al Papi has paced his way into the record books in Pennsylvania. Driven by Yannick Gingras at The Meadows, Al Papi beat the record for 2YO colts on a 5/8 mile track by winning in 1:49.4. It beat the old record of 1:49.8. It was Al Papi’s third win in five lifetime starts. 7 in a row for Miki Shan An eight-race winner in this country for trainer-driver Maurice McKendry, Miki Shan has now won nine in North America this year. His latest success came at Prince Edward Island over the weekend. He is undefeated in nine starts in Canada after winning twice in the USA. Bred by Alabar, he sold at the 2021 NZB Standardbred national yearling sale for $55,000. Among his victories in NZ was the 2024 Group 2 Franklin Cup. Catch A Wave’s huge finish Enigmatic pacer Catch A Wave reeled off some incredible closing splits in winning at Melton in Victoria over the weekend. Over 1720 metres he came home from four and five wide from the 400 in 52.8 and 25.5 seconds. It was his 27th win from 59 starts, with his earnings edging towards $2.3m. The eight-time Group 1 winner will now head to the Len Smith at Menangle on September 6. Hawkes with dual code double John Hawkes is in the unique position of having a runner in the richest races of both equine codes in Australia. Hawkes, a passionate harness follower who raced many horses, has snared a slot in the $2.1m TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 6 with his emerging Geoff Webster-trained three-year-old pacer Seathestars. Already, the Hawkes-trained sprinter Briasa has a slot in the $20m TAB Everest – Australia’s richest thoroughbred race, at Royal Randwick on October 18.“Wouldn’t it be something to win them both,” Hawkes laughed. “It’s a big thrill to get Seathestars into the Eureka.” Seathestars has so far had six wins and eight placings from just 18 starts. Breeders talk stallions The Southern Standardbred Breeders Assn (SSBA) is hosting a special “Stallion Choice” evening at Ascot Park, Invercargill on Monday, September 1. The night will tackle subjects such as Stallion selection, breeding decisions and racehorse development. Start time is 7pm, with drinks and supper provided. Anyone keen to go should contact Gail Paisley at: gail.alan@outlook.com Racing memorabilia wanted The New Zealand Racing Heritage Group is forming a committee to preserve the history of racing over all three codes, with plans for website and a permanent display. They are on the lookout for racing memorabilia including stallion books, photos and scrapbooks as well as old Harness Weeklies or other publications. Anyone wanting to get in touch can contact the Group through nzracingheritage@gmail.com View the full article

By Jonny Turner Brad Williamson made the inaugural Southern Surge Finals Day one to remember when driving his 500th winner in New Zealand. The Oamaru horseman completed the feat in his own colours when Aint No Angel produced a decisive victory. Williamson won’t find some of the biggest moments of his career among those 500 wins. That’s because he’s driven seven winners in Australia, including three at Group 1 level and one Group 2. “It took me a long time to crack the Group 1 thing but I got there eventually and managed to get three in Australia,” Williamson said. “So yeah, that has probably been the career highlight.” In early 2021, Williamson and Majestic Man dominated the trotting scene across the ditch, clinching those three elite level wins. They were part of an epic racetrack career for the horse Williamson rates as the best he’s been associated with. “He had such a long career and I think of his 100 starts I think 70 of them were in Group races so that’s quite incredible.” “He basically raced against the best company his whole career and he was always competitive and tried his very hardest.” “He was a very genuine trotter and hardly ever made a mistake, he was a privilege to handle and a thrill to be a part of his career.” Williamson’s resume in New Zealand is still outstanding, with 13 Group and listed wins and a New Zealand Junior Driver’s Premiership to his name among his many achievements. On his way to 500 victories, Williamson has made his mark in the training ranks. His 126 training wins have come at an excellent strike rate, with the latest two of those victories coming on Sunday. It was Williamson’s grand campaigner Aint No Angel who carried him to his 500, carrying on a trend of standing up on harness racing’s big days. “She’s a handy mare on her day, she’s gone some really nice races in the past.” “I have had troubles with her, she doesn’t seem to race quite as good in the summer.” “She’s a lot happier horse in herself in the winter months.” “She’s gone some cracking races in the winter and today’s race is no different.” “It worked out well obviously with a steady tempo being up front from a tough draw.” “She actually won quite well at the finish.” Training win number two at Gore and career driving win number 501 came when Mixed Faith dug in to win one of Sunday’s Southern Surge Finals. Like Aint No Angel, the trotter has campaigned for several seasons for Williamson. As well as driving his 500th winner at Gore, Williamson broke through for his first victory at the same track with Graceandtemika in 2011. View the full article