Wandering Eyes

Eighty-three lots will be offered for sale during the next Tattersalls Online sale, which takes place on February 14 and 15 and includes the four-time winner Jilly Cooper (Ire). The five-year-old daughter of Lope De Vega (Ire) is being offered by Philip Makin's PJM Racing. The mixed offerings from the Flat and National Hunt include at least one horse who could do either job in the 84-rated dual winner Queen Of Seduction (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who is trained by Jessica Harrington. Along with the horses in training, the sale features a breeding right to Manton Park Stud stallion Aclaim (Ire), the sire of 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire). There are also nine broodmares catalogued, including Eltham Palace (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire), who is in foal for the first time to Without Parole (GB). The daughter of Group 3 winner Moment In Time (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) is from the family of Chaldean (GB). Bidding opens at noon on Wednesday, February 14. The post Jill Cooper to be Sold at Tattersalls Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Irish National Stud has joined forces with the EM Normandie business school in France to offer a certified course in equine industry management. Aimed at professionals who wish to acquire or perfect their general management skills, the 'Equine Management Executive Certificate' takes places over eight months, mostly online, but with two weeks spent in Kildare and Normandy with visits to businesses and farms, particularly involving Thoroughbreds. The €8,000 course will have a maximum of 15 to 20 students who will be coached by academic and equine industry experts. A range of management courses on leadership, entrepreneurship, economic performance, financial management, marketing and sales, and innovation are conducted in English and will take place online on Fridays and Saturdays from April to October. “This new professional and international training offer is an obvious choice for EM Normandie, a world-renowned business school based in both Normandy and Ireland,” said Elian Pilvin, group CEO and dean of EM Normandie. “Our aim is to develop programmes that reflect the excellence and specific characteristics of our region – Normandy is renowned for its equine industry – and to support students and professionals throughout their careers.” Cathal Beale, CEO of the Irish National Stud added, “For over 50 years, the Irish National Stud has been offering world-class equine education programmes, and we are delighted to be collaborating with EM Normandie on the Equine Management Executive Certificate program, combining our know-how and enhancing the skills of future participants in our courses.” Potential candidates must be proficient in English. Further details can be found on the EM Normandie website. The post Irish National Stud and EM Normandie Launch Management Course appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On a week when Sydney’s weather revived some childhood memories for Chris Waller, the champion horseman was hopeful a couple of his Randwick runners could revive some old form. Waller will saddle up three horses in Saturday’s ASI Solutions Handicap (1600m) – Bold Mac (NZ) (The Bold One), Manzoice (Almanzor) and Lord Ardmore (NZ) (Reliable Man) – the first two needing to turn back the clock after some below par performances. Manzoice hasn’t managed a placing in six starts since his Group One triumph in the 2022 Victoria Derby, but there is renewed hope he can rediscover some of his former brilliance when he resumes a little lighter on Saturday. “We’re hoping that gelding him has done the trick,” Waller said during his weekend preview on X. “He’s a Derby winner and he looks great. He is ready to run well.” Bold Mac is likewise on notice to lift his game after an inglorious first-up performance in the Carrington Stakes (1400m) where he failed to beat a rival home, finishing 23 lengths astern of winner Zou Tiger. The six-year-old has had a subsequent trial and Waller is banking on a middle draw and the three-kilo claim of apprentice Jake Barrett helping him turn around his form. “He has been a consistent horse and he’s paying the price for it now with the big weights,” Waller said. “Fresh up there he was still a bit soft, so hopefully with the trial since his first-up run, a soft draw, claiming three, we’re in the hunt.” Lord Ardmore rounds out the stable’s trio, dropping back to 1600 metres after finishing third in last month’s January Cup (2000m). Waller is keen to see him working to the line late as the gelding heads towards the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill in two weeks. He is also happy to see an improvement in Sydney’s weather after Rosehill was lashed by heavy rain during Tuesday morning’s trackwork session. Waller said he had rarely seen so much groundwater since his days growing up in the New Zealand countryside. “I was that wet, I took my shoes off and poured water out of them. That hasn’t happened since I I’ve been on the farm in New Zealand,” Waller quipped. View the full article

Bad luck thwarted the first racing campaign of Snow Patrol (NZ) (Contributer) who is set to make his racing return at Caulfield. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding is being aimed at the Gr.1 Australian Guineas at Flemington next month. First-up though is the Gr.2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Snow Patrol scored a debut over 1300m at Sandown last August before a ‘hard watch’ when the three-year-old finished third at Sandown behind Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) a month later. The Price and Kent team pressed the button once more with Snow Patrol finishing out of the money at Flemington in late September before being turned out for a break. Price said Snow Patrol had returned in good order this campaign and enters Saturday’s first-up assignment off a win in a Cranbourne jump-out on January 30. “He’s going very well, and we’re hoping to get him into the Australian Guineas,” Price said. “He’s a nice horse that should have won his first two starts. “The second start was a hard watch then subsequently, his last run, I was trying to get back the bad luch that he had at start number two. “He ran the race of a horse that had probably had enough, but he didn’t have much joy in that race either. “So, I’ll get a guide what to do with him after Saturday, whether we run in the Australian Guineas.” Price said if the decision was made to head to the Australian Guineas on March 2, then Snow Patrol would join stablemate, the unbeaten Otago (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the Group One contest. He said the three weeks would be ideal for Snow Patrol between runs while Otago would have his lead-up run in the Gr.3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday week. “Otago trialled very well at Cranbourne on Monday and will run in the C S Hayes and two weeks later to the Guineas,” Price said. View the full article

Trainer Benno Yung unearthed a three-year-old with potential in the second section of the Class 4 Kowloon Park Handicap (1,200m), with Super Joy N Fun (NZ) (What’s The Story) sticking on to salute at $13.6. Racing in the same colours as Joy And Fun, Super Joy N Fun was sent forward from gate nine by jockey Jerry Chau before eventually electing to settle outside leader Divine Era in a race without any great pace. Quick to respond when asked to extend in the home straight, Super Joy N Fun quickly took control before holding off fast-finishing $2.2 favourite Beauty Infinity by a head. Super Joy N Fun is a son of the Savabeel stallion What’s The Story and was a strong trial winner for New Plymouth trainer Debbie Harris before his sale to Hong Kong. Out of the Elusive City mare Citycenta, Super Joy N Fun was known as Buyback in New Zealand and is a half-brother to the stakes performer City Slicker. He was bred by Peter and Sue Westend who stand What’s The Story, a Group One performed son of Savabeel, at their Norweigan Park in Ohaupo. View the full article

One-win galloper Gold Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) faces a stern task in Friday’s Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) as he takes on in-form Patrick Payne-trained galloper Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish). Prepared by David and Coral Feek, Gold Wolf broke his maiden convincingly over 1600m at Moe in December before moderate performances over 2000m at Seymour and Pakenham. But David Feek has seen a newfound maturity in the son of Tivaci’s trackwork and, with the benefit of an additional run under his belt, is optimistic he can run a cheeky race in the Derby. “I like this horse,” he said. “We wanted to keep him in his own age group and for him, the further the better, so this was an obvious target at this stage of the calendar year. “I thought he was good winning his maiden first-up at 1600m and he was pretty sound at Seymour when the run just got blocked on him. “We were meant to go to a three-year-old 2000m race at Flemington, but he had a minor setback and missed the run, which meant that he was five weeks between runs at Pakenham last start. “We were disappointed with him on the night, but once we had a chance to watch the replay and take into account that time between runs, we decided to press on. “He worked really nicely yesterday, we weren’t out to break records but he’s just showing increased mental maturity in his fast work. “People looking at his replays will see a green, raw horse but we’re seeing a slightly more grown-up horse in his work since Pakenham.” Gold Wolf is a $17 chance in a market headed by Bold Soul at $1.60, who enters off the back of wins at Flemington and in the Listed Launceston Guineas (2100m), the latter when carrying 60kg topweight. View the full article

What Randwick Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, February 10, 2024 First Race 12:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) headlines a bumper 10-race program at Randwick this Saturday afternoon. The two-year-old feature should shed some light upon a fascinating contingent of gallopers putting their hand up for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) later in the season. The rail returns to the true position throughout the entire circuit for the meeting, and with no rain forecast to hinder proceedings, the track should be rated a Good 4 this weekend. The opening race is set to get underway at 12:30pm AEDT. Inglis Millennium Top Tip: Trunk There is no stable you’d rather trust with two-year-olds at the moment than the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn, seemingly turning out winners on a weekly basis. Trunk will be looking to continue that trend as he returns to Sydney after a solid debut performance at Geelong on January 6. The son of Snitzel attempted to make every post a winner on that occasion but ran into a smart one in the form of Stay Focused, who seems to be on a Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) path in Melbourne. His barrier trial at this course on January 22 was a suitable change of tactics to sit in behind the speed, and with a strong tempo here, we expect Trunk to be doing his best work late. Inglis Millennium Race 7 – #7 Trunk (5) 2yo Colt | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Tim Clark (56.5kg) +750 with Picklebet Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick: Caballus The Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) is a wide-open affair, signified by the fact that all seven runners engaged are at single-figure odds. Caballus is the one that gets the nod after a terrific first-up performance for the Bjorn Baker stable. The I Am Invincible colt burst clear of his rivals at Rosehill on January 20, careering away with the prize by 1.2 lengths. Three subsequent winners have been produced from that form since, and with the change of stable seemingly unlocked the best of Caballus, we’re hopefully he can continue his winning ways in the 2024 Eskimo Prince. Eskimo Prince Stakes Race 6 – #4 Caballus (6) 3yo Colt | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Joshua Parr (57kg) +320 with Dabble Best Bet at Randwick: Marquess Two impressive barrier trials seem to have the lightly-raced Marquess returning in terrific order after a 112-day spell. He produced three wins across five starts in his last campaign, suggesting the son of Tavistock has plenty of upside moving forward, and the James Cummings barn seemingly agree with that assessment as they elect to kick-off the five-year-olds preparation over 1600m. Racing in open company allows Zac Lloyd to hop aboard on the minimum 52kg, and with gate three to help him on his way, we expect a bold showing by Marquess in the penultimate. Best Bet Race 9 – #7 Marquess (3) 5yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Zac Lloyd (52kg) +190 with PlayUp Next Best at Randwick: Tintookie Tintookie has continued to be consistent since returning victorious at this course on January 6 and wasn’t far off making it back-to-back wins running into Our Kobison in consecutive starts. She clearly finished best of the rest at Rosehill on January 20, powering into a runner-up finish over the 1100m. She heads to the Randwick 1200m for the first time in the campaign, and with this seemingly an ideal setup to for this progressive four-year-old mare, Tintookie looks a strong play in the final race of the afternoon. Next Best Race 10 – #3 Tintookie (5) 4yo Mare | T: Brad Widdup | J: Kerrin McEvoy (59.5kg) +230 with Neds Best Value at Randwick: Embassy Embassy appears ready to produce a strong debut performance on the back of two eye-catching jump-outs – particularly his latest effort at Hawkesbury on February 1. The son of I Am Invincible was allowed to stride forward under his own steam under Tommy Berry and bounded away from his rivals to score by 3.5 lengths. It was an impressive piece of work, and with plenty of chances across this two-year-old contest, we’re willing to take the risk on Embassy running a bold race at each-way odds with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 2 – #2 Embassy (8) 2yo Colt | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Tommy Berry (56kg) +1100 with Bet365 Saturday quaddie tips for Randwick Randwick quadrella selections Saturday, February 10, 2024 1-2-4-7-9-12 2-3-5-7-8 4-7-8 3-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Melbourne Cup placegetter High Emocean (NZ) (Ocean Park) has run her final race and will be sold at auction in Australia in May. The seven-year-old daughter of Ocean Park, who was selected by renowned bloodstock agent John Foote for $80,000 at the 2018 Karaka yearling sale, would go on to win seven races and more than A$1.2 million in prizemoney. Maher informed owners this week of the decision via a lookback video of her career, with the mare having last raced in the Geelong Cup last spring. Having won her maiden at Ballarat in October 2019, it was the winter the following year she put together a hat-trick of wins, with triumphs at Sandown and Caulfield. She would soon after go on to win the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic and later the Group 3 Bendigo Cup, which secured her a start in the 2022 Melbourne Cup with just 50 kilograms. High Emocean would finish a strong, closing third behind Gold Trip (Outstrip) and Emissary (Kingman) under Teo Nugent. View the full article

While Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) was winning races from her two-year-old year through to retirement as a six-year-old, her trainer Peter Moody said she did not reach full maturity until her later racing years. Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is no Black Caviar, but he is about to embark on an autumn campaign in the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday as a fully mature six-year-old. The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained gelding has graduated from a Group One handicap winner to being a multiple Group One weight-for-age performer to running second, by the barest margin, in Australia’s greatest race, the Cox Plate. Jockey Craig Williams has been aboard Mr Brightside in 25 of the gelding’s 29 starts and has seen him develop and mature along the journey. That association began with a maiden win at Geelong through to a number of his major victories, although Williams did miss out on Mr Brightside’s win in the All-Star Mile and a second win in The Doncaster when sidelined through injury. Mr Brightside will on Saturday line up for his first start since running second to Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) in the Gr.1 Champions Mile at Flemington last November. Williams rode Mr Brightside in a jump-out at Flemington last Friday and was happy with the gelding’s performance and believes the six-year-old can rise to another level. “We joked about that at Flemington before his run in the Champions Mile and said, because he’s always improved, it’s going to be scary for his opposition if he does come back and keep improving,” Williams said. “When you see him he just looks more mature in regards to being hardened. “He hasn’t got an bigger, or any taller, he looks fantastic. He hasn’t got surplus weight, he’s not fat, he just looks more rounded, more seasoned, his muscle definition is a lot firmer. “He looks the horse that he is on his form guide.” Williams said the biggest transformation from Mr Brightside’s four and five-year-old years is that when he turns up for a Group One contest, he is ready for a fight. That fight has arguably set Mr Brightside as Australia’s best miler at present. “It took an international horse to beat him a small margin in the Cox Plate, so he’s arguably the best miler to 10 furlong (2000m) horse we have in Australia right now,” Williams said. “He will improve I feel with the run but he’s going well enough that he can definitely win on Saturday, and I’m looking forward to riding him.” View the full article

Darryn and Briar Weatherley have been well-represented in stakes events this season and that trend will continue at Te Rapa on Saturday with a trio of feature race contenders. The Matamata trainers have stable favourite Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca) and the progressive Arby (NZ) (Proisir) in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) while gifted filly Tulsi (The Autumn Sun) will step out in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). “We’re quite proud of our little team, we’ve only had three winners but most of our runners have been in Group or Listed races,” Darryn Weatherley said. “They’ve been going good races and we haven’t had any midweekers or maidens and it’s great to have a couple in the Group One, although it’s obviously going to be hard to beat Legarto. “Both my boys are really well and I couldn’t separate them to be honest and both deserve their spot in the field.” Mali Ston finished third in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) three runs back after he was held up in the run home and then finished eighth in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m), again denied room in the straight. The son of El Roca suffered a similar fate in his most recent outing when he charged home late once clear to run third at Tauranga. “I would get a great thrill if he could put his foot in the till, he’s got a lovely bunch of owners in the Matijasevich family,” Weatherley said. “It would be wonderful to kick a Group One goal for them.” Weatherley’s son Sam will partner Mali Ston while Joe Doyle will ride Arby, who finished well for a last-start fifth in the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and the Proisir four-year-old will appreciate the step up in distance on Saturday. “It was a four-year-old race over a mile worth $1 million so we tried to keep him as fresh as we could, but he is a stayer and was looking for 2000m,” Weatherley said. “He got outpaced early and was finding it a bit uncomfortable after a shower of rain and found it hard to get fraction. “When they straightened and he got balanced, he really came home strongly. He hasn’t got the speed to pounce and put himself in the race and he’s certainly going well. “If he can put in the sectionals that he did the other night at Ellerslie, they’ll know he’s in the race.” Younger stablemate Tulsi also had little luck when third in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and was then caught wide without cover when seventh in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m). At her last appearance, the daughter of The Autumn Sun overcame a bump in the run home to finish runner-up at Ellerslie. “She’s been running against the best fillies and has been thereabouts. Her run in the 1000 Guineas was huge, taking nothing away from Molly Bloom,” Weatherley said. “She had no favours from an outside gate and dragged Molly Bloom into the race and still fought on well. “At Ellerslie the other day, the winner (Fortunate Son) got slow sectionals across the top and we were back second to last and she really flew the last bit. It was a better run that it looked.” The Te Rapa team also includes the consistent Be A Roca, who will contest the Dr John Southworth Memorial Vase (1200m). “She loves the track, with a couple of wins, and that’s a big plus because it is a bit horses for courses there,” Weatherley said. “We gave her a week off after her last run on an unsuitable track at Hawke’s Bay and she still went a brave race for fourth. “She is really thriving and her work has been super and she looks a million dollars.” View the full article

Champion jockey Per-Anders Graberg is hoping to make an impression in New Zealand to add to the list of countries he has successfully ridden in. The vastly experienced Swedish jockey arrived last week on a four-month visa and has based himself in Cambridge. “I have been riding out for Tony Pike and, of course, for any others if they need me,” Graberg said. The 49-year-old finished fifth aboard the Pike-trained Full Moon Fever in his New Zealand debut at Matamata on Wednesday and will have two rides at Te Rapa on Saturday for the stable. The natural lightweight will partner the promising Vera Rose in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) and the capable but often unpredictable Dawn Parade in the Vertical Logistics Handicap (1400m). “I am very glad he has put me on and very much looking forward to it,” Graberg said. Fiorente filly Vera Rose has made a promising start to her career with the three-year-old winning her first two starts and most recently finished fourth in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Vera Rose is raced by breeder The Oaks Stud, the Cambridge operation managed by Rick Williams whose son Dean was formerly Pike’s Racing Manager and a key player in Graberg’s arrival in New Zealand. “I met Dean when he came over to Europe and stopped by Sweden on his way to Ireland and we had a chat about it and he said he could help to set it up,” he said. “I said yes, okay, and when they cancelled all the racing back home for the winter and none of my normal clients were going to Dubai like they normally do, I said let’s go for it. “My plan was to have come over a lot earlier, but it took longer than I expected to get my visa through, so I’ve only been here for five days.” Graberg has a career tally of 2062 winners, mainly in Sweden, and has been champion Scandinavian jockey on 12 occasions. “I have ridden winners in 11 different countries, mostly through Europe and in Dubai,” he said. “Back home, I usually ride at 54kg but down here where it’s warm I could go down to 53kg for a good ride, I’m a naturally light guy.” Graberg said he would be keen to return to New Zealand in the future if his current stay works out well. “The season starts back home in the middle of April, so Plan A is to be home for that,” he said. “If I like it and people like me and I have a bit of success then I would like to come back next year for three or four months, so this is a test really to see if I like it of course and can get going.” View the full article

A tilt at Group company is now on the cards for Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) following her convincing maiden win in the Wexford Stables (1600m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Heading into the meeting off the back of three successive placings, the daughter of Almanzor was backed into $2.10 favouritism at the midweek meeting and duly delivered for her supporters, running out a comfortable four length victor. “She looks a nice staying filly in the making, from a classy family, and we just love the progeny of Almanzor and have always been a strong believer in the stallion,” said Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson. Qali Al Farrasha has yet to be tested over further than a mile, but Walker believes she will be suited over more ground and is looking forward to taking her to Hastings later this month to contest the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m). “Once she gets to the Lowland Stakes, I think she’ll show her staying ability and it looks like she’ll measure up to Group racing,” he said. “She was building nicely to that win today, has a bit of race experience now, and it was a lovely ride of Opie’s (Bosson, jockey).” Bred and owned by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis and David Peacocke (Weston Lea Bloodstock), her Te Akau trained dam, Nucleonic (NZ) (Burgundy), impressed winning on debut over 1200m as a two-year-old, while her granddam Mexican Rose (NZ) (Volksraad) was Champion two and three-year-old in Singapore, having first impressed when winning two of her three starts in New Zealand. “Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud) and I bought Mexican Rose,” Ellis said. “We sold two O’Reilly colts out of her for good money and her weanling topped the sale in 2016. “She was pretty smart, Nucleonic, and this is her second foal, so it’s great to get a promising filly like this early in her breeding career. “The Peacocke family has had a lot of success with Te Akau, racing Avantage among others, and have a long family involvement in racing.” Following the purchase of about 40 yearlings in January from the Gold Coast and Karaka, Ellis has been busy with farm inspections and selling shares. “We’ve had people booked in during each day to come and see the yearlings in the paddocks at Te Akau Stud,” he said. “We’ve bought a lot of nice horses and it’s just so good going around the farm each day and showing them to people that are interested in getting involved at such a buoyant time for the New Zealand racing industry. “I must say I love the (Lot 601) Almanzor – Bavella filly that I bought at Karaka, from Cambridge Stud. She just looks a readymade racehorse to me. “People love coming out and having a look at the horses, they really do. They love going around the farm and seeing all the yearlings and other farm stock, and I love showing them what we’ve got out here.” View the full article

Lightweight Australian jockey will take four rides into Monday’s Lunar New Year meeting at Sha Tin: ‘Receiving the call was a dream coming true’View the full article

What CF Orr Stakes Day 2024 Where Caulfield Racecourse – Gate 22, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145 When Saturday, February 10, 2024 First Race 12:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Feature racing in Victoria heads to Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, with the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) headlining a stacked 10-race meeting. With six other black-type events scheduled, there will be plenty of good horse-flesh on display. Perfect conditions are forecast, and with a Good 4 track and the rail in its true position, we are set fair for a cracking day of racing from 12:15pm AEDT. Keep reading for our free race-by-race preview and quaddie selections for Caulfield Race 1: BM100 Handicap (2000m) Independent Road has returned a different horse this campaign, winning on three occasions from five goes. The seven-year-old gelding narrowly denied Flash Feeling at Moonee Valley on January 27 in a perfect front-running display over the 2040m. He does go up 5kg from that run, hence the better price, but in a race with little pressure on him out in front, we’re confident Jye McNeil can pinch it from the front once again. Selections: 2 INDEPENDENT ROAD 1 BERMADEZ 9 FLASH FEELING 4 SUPARAZI Race 2: BM78 Handicap (2400m) Oceanic Flash has not won in over two years, but the six-year-old from the Andrew Payne barn looks to have found the race to break that drought. He is a stayer who gets better with runs under his belt, and his third-up effort at Flemington when finishing second suggests he is ready to win on Saturday. He was forced to sustain a long run 900m out from home, and only just peaked on his run late after hitting the lead 300m out from home. From barrier three, Mick Dee will have the son of Sacred Falls covered up until the home straight, and as long as he can build through his gears, Oceanic Flash should prove to be the superior stayer over 2400m. Selections: 7 OCEANIC FLASH 6 PEARL RAIN 10 GALILAEUS 8 CHEVALIER DU FAU Next Best Race 2 – #7 Oceanic Flash (3) 6yo Gelding | T: Andrew Payne | J: Mick Dee (56kg) +380 with Playup Race 3: BM70 Handicap (1600m) Former West Australian First Encounter kicked off life in Melbourne with an eye-catching fourth at Sandown over 1600m, and despite staying at the trip, we’re confident he can run a big race at a big price. The four-year-old son of Dundeel was first-up off a six month spell on that day, and the small field of five just seemingly didn’t suit him. He is forced to carry 60.5kg once again, but with the run under his belt and a more hotly-contested affair expected, the John Leek (Jnr) stable looks to have placed this bloke perfectly. With a well-timed sprint from the rear of the field, First Encounter can blouse his rivals in style in this. Selections: 6 FIRST ENCOUNTER 9 ANOTHER WIL 4 ZAMBORGHINI 11 JABBAWOCKEEZ Best Value Race 3 – #6 First Encounter (4) 4yo Gelding | T: John Leek (Jnr) | J: Jamie Mott (60.5kg) +1800 with Neds Race 4: Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) Despite being an odds-on favourite, we’re happy to take on Southport Tycoon purely because of his $1.85 quote. Sandgroper Zipaway comes to Melbourne with top-tier formlines, including his narrow third-place finish in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) behind Dom To Shoot and Zaaki. The three-year-old gelding tired late on in a hotly contested affair, and considering he was beaten a nostril by Zaaki, we’re confident he can cause an upset here. The son of Playing God will most likely be giving his rivals a start on the home turn from barrier seven, but with a strong finishing burst, we’re confident he can overcome the 1.5kg weight difference against the favourite, and zip away with victory. Selections: 1 ZIPAWAY 4 SOUTHPORT TYCOON 2 CARBONADOS 3 FLYING TRAPEZE Autumn Stakes Race 4 – #1 Zipaway (7) 3yo Gelding | T: Neville Parnham | J: Steven Parnham (58.5kg) +600 with Bet365 Race 5: Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) Ciaron Maher’s Yonce has been progressing nicely in two runs this campaign, and looks primed to strike third-up from a long injury layoff. She return with a steady performance over 1100m at Caulfield, before coming out and finishing a luckless fifth in the Listed John Dillon Stakes behind Ayrton and Buffalo River who both line up in Group 1 company later in the card. John Allen will have the Proisir mare settled in the moving line with cover, and as long as she finds clear air at the right time, Yonce should have no issue in overpowering her rivals late. Selections: 4 YONCE 5 UNUSUAL CULTURE 1 YOUNG WERTHER 6 FOXY CLEOPATRA Best Bet Race 5 – #4 Yonce (5) 6yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: John Allen (55kg) +320 with Dabble Race 6: Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) The first of the Blue Diamond Prelude’s is for the boys, and based off his win in the Blue Diamond Preview (C&G), it is hard to see how High Octance gets nutted on Saturday. The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained colt was as green as grass in his debut win, but still managed to put close to a length on his rivals in dominant fashion. Barrier one on Saturday will mean he gets all the favours in running under Blake Shinn, and if the pair can get off the fence on the home turn, we’re confident High octane will space his rivals and in doing so, further rocket into Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) calculations. Selections: 1 HIGH OCTANE 4 STAY FOCUSED 3 BODYGUARD 5 HOLMES A COURT Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) Race 6 – #1 High Octance (1) 2yo Colt | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Blake Shinn (57kg) +160 with Betfair Race 7: Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) The juvenile fillies will kick off Saturday’s quaddie in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude, and we’re confident Matisse can salute at a nice price. The Microphone filly put in an eye-catching run when third on debut in the Blue Diamond Preview (F) on January 26, and with even luck she goes much closer to winning. She only went down by a half-length on that day, and with natural improvement and potentially a vulnerable favourite first-up, Matisse can spring an upset. Barrier 16 is a touch concerning, but if Damian Lane can have Matisse settled in the three wide line with cover, she showed plenty on debut to suggest she will take a power of beating with even luck. Selections: 8 MATISSE 1 BOLD BASTILLE 2 HAYASUGI 6 KUROYANAGI Blue Diamond Prelude (F) Race 7 – #8 Matisse (16) 2yo Filly | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Damian Lane (56kg) +1000 with Unibet Race 8: Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) The fact Asfoora is even-money or better with top horse racing bookmakers is ridiculous. Henry Dwyer’s five-year-old mare has three wins from as many starts at the Caulfield 1100m, and she can add further black-type success to her already glittering record. Look for Mitch Aitken to stalk the speed through from barrier six, and when asked to quicken on the home turn, Asfoora should have no issue in putting this race away in a couple of strides. Selections: 4 ASFOORA 9 REY MAGNERIO 14 HYPOTHETICAL 11 QUEEN OF THE BALL Rubiton Stakes Race 8 – #4 Asfoora (6) 5yo Mare | T: Henry Dwyer | J: Mitchell Aitken (57kg) +100 with Picklebet Race 9: Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) The Group 1 CF Orr Stakes is the first Group 1 race of the new year in Australia, and punters are set to be treated by the return of Mr Brightside. Will the champion be vulnerable first-up from a spell? Or will he blow his rivals away? Veight, Pericles and Pride Of Jenni have all had backing in final field markets, so it looks to be more than a one-act affair. Click here for our full preview of the 2024 CF Orr Stakes Race 10: Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m) So Glamorous has not been seen since claiming victory over 1400m at Caulfield in BM70 company, and as she steps into Group company for the first time in the Peter Le Grand Stakes, we’re confident she can stack up. With two wins and a second to her name from three starts, she looks to have plenty of upside, and under the care of Grahame Begg, is sure to be competitive in a field like this. Despite being eight-weeks between runs, she looks to gain every advantage in running drawn barrier one under Jye McNeil. So Glamorous will need a touch of luck on the home turn, but if she sees clear air at the right time, she can cause an upset in the last. Selections: 10 SO GLAMOROUS 7 BLANC DE BLANC 8 ESTRIELLA 2 EXPLORING Peter Le Grand Stakes Race 10 – #10 So Glamorous (1) 3yo Filly | T: Grahame Begg | J: Jordan Childs (56kg) +100 with Picklebet Caulfield free Saturday quaddie tips Caulfield quadrella selections Saturday, February 10, 2024 1-2-8 4 1-2-9 Field | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Cyril Flower Stakes Day Where Bunbury Racecourse – Brittain Rd, Bunbury WA 6230 When Saturday, February 10, 2024 First Race 12:29pm AWST Visit Dabble This Saturday, the Listed Cyril Flower Stakes will headline the nine-race program that has been transferred from Ascot to Bunbury due to the extreme heat predicted for Perth. With perfect summer conditions forecast in the Bunbury area for Friday and Saturday, the track is expected to stay in the Good range for the whole meeting. The rail will be in the true position, with racing set to kick off at 12:29pm AWST. Cyril Flower Stakes Tip: Wild Belle Wild Belle put an unlucky first-up run behind her and dominated her rivals in the Listed Miss Andretti Stakes at Pinjarra last start. The Luke Fernie-trained mare showed her blistering turn of foot to glide past the leaders and put the race to bed with 100m to go. Although William Pike won’t be in the saddle for her third start this campaign, Clint Johnston-Porter should be able to give this girl a great run from barrier two. Johnston-Porter should be able to settle in the one-one position behind the leaders, and if she gets even luck in the final 300m, Wild Belle should go very close. Cyril Flower Stakes Race 8 – #5 Wild Belle (2) 4yo Mare | T: Luke Fernie | J: Clint Johnston-Porter (56.5kg) +240 with Playup Best Bet at Bunbury: Autumn Rebel Darren McAuliffe and Clint Johnston-Porter will combine with Autumn Rebel when he seeks his fourth straight victory in a Benchmark 72+ over 1675m. This three-year-old colt has gone to a new level since stepping up in distance to 1600m-plus, with three of his four wins coming over a mile or more. Last start, this son of The Autumn Sun ran home strongly from midfield to record a narrow victory over Thorogood at Ascot over 1800m. Even though Autumn Rebel will drop back in distance slightly, he should prove too strong in the concluding stages once again. Best Bet Race 5 – #7 Autumn Rebel (8) 3yo Colt | T: Darren McAuliffe | J: Clint Johnston-Porter (54kg) +100 with Neds Next Best at Bunbury: Ruler Rocket Ruler Rocket returned from a 13-week spell with a good performance over 1000m at Ascot on January 27, when he ran on nicely from midfield to finish fifth — beaten one length by Rock This Town. The Bruce Watkins-trained galloper would have taken a fitness benefit from his fresh run and should be ready to win second-up. This son of Universal Ruler has drawn well in barrier two and should get the run of the race behind the speed, from where he can peel off the leader’s back as they round the home turn. If Ruler Rocket lets down with a similar finishing burst to last start, he can play a prominent role in the finish. Next Best Race 6 – #5 Ruler Rocket (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Bruce Watkins | J: Troy Turner (59.5kg) +500 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Bunbury races Bunbury quadrella selections Saturday, February 10, 2024 2-3-5-8 1-3-5 4-5-9 2-3-5-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Lucky Encounter, Storm Rider, Ka Ying Rising and Master Mastermind look to have more to give, while Running Glory lines up in the Chinese New Year CupView the full article

What Doomben Races Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, February 10, 2024 First Race 12:13pm AEST Visit Dabble This weekend, for the first time in 2024, the Brisbane Racing Club will host a Saturday metropolitan meeting at Doomben Racecourse. The track was rated a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, and with rain forecast on Friday and Saturday, it is expected to stay at that mark for the whole meeting. The opening race of the day will jump at 12:13pm AEST, and the rail will be in the +0.5m position for the entire circuit. Best Bet at Doomben: Anythink Goes After finishing second in his previous two starts, Matthew Smith has chosen to send Anythink Goes up to Queensland for his sixth run of the preparation. The five-year-old gelding chased home the smart Running By two starts back before being run over late by Buillt at Rosehill last start over 1500m. Smith appears to have found the perfect race for this son of So You Think, as there will be little to no speed and only two last-start winners in the race. With James Orman in the saddle, expect Anythink Goes to settle in the first four, build momentum around the home turn, and prove too classy for his rivals late. Best Bet Race 8 – #5 Anythink Goes (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Matthew Smith | J: James Orman (58.5kg) +140 with PlayUp Next Best at Doomben: Damo Dayz We were with Damo Dayz as he maintained his unbeaten start to his career with a stylish win over 1200m at Eagle Farm on January 26. The Tony Gollan-trained galloper has only had two race starts, where the four-year-old gelding has displayed a blistering turn of foot to claim back-to-back victories. From barrier one, James Orman should be able to give Damo Dayz an economical run along the fence, and with even luck in the final 400m, he should prove very hard to hold out. Next Best Race 6 – #8 Damo Dayz (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: James Orman (57kg) +350 with Neds Best Value at Doomben: Quothquan Quothquan broke maiden ranks at the fifth time of asking last start, backing up strong trial form to win first-up over 1200m at this track on January 24. This son of Rothesay will have taken a fitness benefit from the fresh run and should be full of confidence after his first victory. Considering how strong this guy ran through the line, the rise in distance to 1400m should suit him down to the ground. With the benefit of Jake Molloy’s 3kg claim and good speed in the race, Quothquan looks a good chance to record back-to-back victories. Best Value Race 5 – #2 Quothquan (14) 4yo Gelding | T: John Dann | J: Jake Molloy (a3) (59.5kg) +900 with Boombet Saturday quaddie tips for Doomben races Doomben quadrella selections Saturday, February 10, 2024 Field 5-14 2-3-9 4-7-11-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Arby will contest the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North) Darryn and Briar Weatherley have been well-represented in stakes events this season and that trend will continue at Te Rapa on Saturday with a trio of feature race contenders. The Matamata trainers have stable favourite Mali Ston and the progressive Arby in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) while gifted filly Tulsi will step out in the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). “We’re quite proud of our little team, we’ve only had three winners but most of our runners have been in Group or Listed races,” Darryn Weatherley said. “They’ve been going good races and we haven’t had any midweekers or maidens and it’s great to have a couple in the Group One, although it’s obviously going to be hard to beat Legarto. “Both my boys are really well and I couldn’t separate them to be honest and both deserve their spot in the field.” Mali Ston finished third in the Group 3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) three runs back after he was held up in the run home and then finished eighth in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m), again denied room in the straight. The son of El Roca suffered a similar fate in his most recent outing when he charged home late once clear to run third at Tauranga. “I would get a great thrill if he could put his foot in the till, he’s got a lovely bunch of owners in the Matijasevich family,” Weatherley said. “It would be wonderful to kick a Group One goal for them.” Weatherley’s son Sam will partner Mali Ston while Joe Doyle will ride Arby, who finished well for a last-start fifth in the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and the Proisir four-year-old will appreciate the step up in distance on Saturday. “It was a four-year-old race over a mile worth $1 million so we tried to keep him as fresh as we could, but he is a stayer and was looking for 2000m,” Weatherley said. “He got outpaced early and was finding it a bit uncomfortable after a shower of rain and found it hard to get fraction. “When they straightened and he got balanced, he really came home strongly. He hasn’t got the speed to pounce and put himself in the race and he’s certainly going well. “If he can put in the sectionals that he did the other night at Ellerslie, they’ll know he’s in the race.” Younger stablemate Tulsi also had little luck when third in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and was then caught wide without cover when seventh in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m). At her last appearance, the daughter of The Autumn Sun overcame a bump in the run home to finish runner-up at Ellerslie. “She’s been running against the best fillies and has been thereabouts. Her run in the 1000 Guineas was huge, taking nothing away from Molly Bloom,” Weatherley said. “She had no favours from an outside gate and dragged Molly Bloom into the race and still fought on well. “At Ellerslie the other day, the winner (Fortunate Son) got slow sectionals across the top and we were back second to last and she really flew the last bit. It was a better run that it looked.” The Te Rapa team also includes the consistent Be A Roca, who will contest the Dr John Southworth Memorial Vase (1200m). “She loves the track, with a couple of wins, and that’s a big plus because it is a bit horses for courses there,” Weatherley said. “We gave her a week off after her last run on an unsuitable track at Hawke’s Bay and she still went a brave race for fourth. “She is really thriving and her work has been super and she looks a million dollars.” Horse racing news View the full article

Top End trainer Garry Lefoe will run last-start winners Canton Kid and Barragunda at Fannie Bay this Saturday. (Photo: Caroline Camilleri/Darwin Photography Professionals) Although they will take on good opposition, Darwin trainer Garry Lefoe remains hopeful that Canton Kid and Barragunda can deliver at Fannie Bay on Friday. Canton Kid, a six-year-old gelding, hasn’t been spotted since Darwin Cup Day in early August and lines up in Heat 5 of the Summer Sprint Series (1100m) at 0-76 level. Barragunda, also a six-year-old gelding, returns after winning his first Top End race at the seventh attempt a fortnight ago over 1200m in 0-70 grade. Darwin horse racing tips & quaddie picks – Friday, February 9 After starting his career in NSW for Sydney trainer Mark Newnham for one win from six starts, Canton Kid debuted for Lefoe in May 2021 and saluted over 1100m in 0-64 grade. Since then, the son of Written Tycoon has had 21 starts in Darwin and one start in Katherine for a further four wins, finishing in the top four on 18 occasions. During last year’s Darwin Cup Carnival he won by 5.3 lengths over 1100m against 0-66 opposition before a last-start win by 3.3 lengths over 1200m in the 0-70 ranks where he broke the track record. Darwin Race 2 replay (19/7/2023) – Canton Kid Canton Kid stopped the clock at 1:07.09 to eclipse the time of 1:07.42 set by Jade City, who won the 2007 and 2008 Palmerston Sprint (1200m), in June 2007. Lefoe was serving a suspension at the time, with Canton Kid under the care of trainer Tayarn Halter. With two wins and two seconds following a spell in the past, Canton Kid cannot be dismissed on Friday; however, the opposition in the six-horse field is above average. Having returned to training late last year, Lefoe agrees that winning won’t be easy, but he isn’t waving the white flag. “He’s back from a break after racing well and he generally goes well fresh,” he said. “Tayarn had him going good, he was flying. “Let’s just see how he goes this prep, but I expect him to go well. “I reckon he’ll run a good race on Friday, he should be thereabouts. “He really improved last prep – he stood up – and hopefully he can keep it up and improve this prep. “All of his siblings are decent horses, so it just took him a little longer to mature.” Chris Nash’s Son Of Bielski was the early +220 favourite, while Gary Clarke’s Patriotic King and Phil Cole’s El Magnificence must be respected. There is likely to be a mad dash for the early lead on Friday, but according to Lefoe it won’t affect Canton Kid — regardless of whether he leads or sits off the pace. “There will be plenty of speed — there’s probably four leaders in the race,” he said. “We’ll just have to wait and see where he ends up and how the race pans out, I’ll just leave that up to Shiersy (jockey Paul Shiers).” And there was a reason why Canton Kid was off the scene for six months. “Just gave him a longer break because it was really hot during build up,” Lefoe said. “I took my time with him, plus there wasn’t too much on the program for him. “This was the first suitable race for him, so after Friday we’re probably going to have to go to Alice Springs for the carnival. “There’s not too many races for open-class sprinters here between now and the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, so to a degree you’re forced to take them down there.” Barragunda was pushed to the limit before finishing strongly on Australia Day, and he too will have his hands full when he faces six other runners over 1200m on Friday. Bon’s Pride, striving to make it three straight wins for Jason Manning, was the early +140 favourite with online bookmakers. After two seconds from five starts for Halter and then Tom Logan, Barragunda returned to Lefoe’s stable and was fifth over 1100m on December 30. He boasted good form in Victoria for Cranbourne trainer Lloyd Kennewell, with two wins from 12 starts. “I paid $42,000 for Barragunda in an Inglis Online Sale in March 2022 – he is by I Am Invincible,” Lefoe said. “He’s been frustrating for his owners, but he has had problems during his career. “However, he’s a horse with plenty of class when you get him right. “Touch wood, we’ve got him right at the moment and he came through that last run pretty well. “He is stepping up in grade as there wasn’t a suitable race in his grade for the distance I wanted with him. “He won well last start and I expect him to go well again on Friday, I just hope he can keep plugging away. “It’s a good field — he’s only a 62-rater, but I think he will handle himself.” Horse racing news View the full article

Waitak will be vying for back-to-back Group One victories in Saturday’s BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) After being nothing short of spectacular in the Group 1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day, emerging sprinter Waitak will hunt a Group One double in Saturday’s BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, who train Waitak out of their Matamata base, tested the gelding over various distances as a three-year-old, which included finishing second in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and fifth in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). The son of Proisir resumed off a decent break with a dazzling performance over 1300m at Te Rapa before a successful last-to-first triumph in the Railway indicated the sprinting distances may be his preferred range. “He steps out to the 1400m, and he’s working into the race really well,” Scott said. “We took him across to Te Rapa last Wednesday and galloped him between races, Craig, his regular trackwork rider, rode him for us and he was really pleased with him. “It’s another step-up for him, it’s going to be a pretty hot field in weight-for-age conditions but he’s a big boy and we think he’s ready to handle it.” The four-year-old was guided in the Railway by premiership-leading hoop Warren Kennedy, however, with Kennedy’s commitments to unbeaten three-year-old star Crocetti, Opie Bosson will take the ride at Te Rapa. “Opie’s familiar with him, he’s ridden him in the past and this horse loves Te Rapa, the big flat track really suits him,” Scott said. Bosson will have a prized opportunity to win a fourth BCD Group Sprint in five years, having taken out the Waikato feature aboard Te Akau headliners Te Akau Shark (2020), Avantage (2021) and most recently, last year’s edition with Imperatriz. Crocetti currently tops the market with horse racing betting sites at +150, with Waitak a +400 second favourite, while stablemate Dragon Leap sits an ominous +900 chance, fresh-off a tough run in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham last month. Prior to this performance, Dragon Leap had kicked-off the new season with an impressive Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) victory at Te Rapa before finishing second in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) behind Skew Wiff, and a close-up fourth in the Railway fresh-up, and will be partnered on Saturday by Vinnie Colgan. “Dragon Leap certainly deserves one of these races, not much went right for him at Wellington with the slow pace in the race and getting caught wide,” Scott said. “He should quicken well, we think 1400m is probably his peak distance now, and he won on the track earlier in the season there in the Foxbridge, he’s another that loves Te Rapa. “We hope he can bring his best form, because it would certainly be very satisfying and special for the team if he could win a Group One.” Horse racing news View the full article

Habana (outside) will contest the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Habana turned in an uncharacteristically below-par effort at his most recent outing and Lance Noble is understandably prepared to give the five-year-old the benefit of the doubt and move on. The son of Zoustar finished at the back of the field in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and his Karaka trainer has taken a forgive and forget approach ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. Habana will be one of three feature race contenders for the stable, with Aquacade in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and About Time in the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). That representation is no mean feat for Noble, private trainer for Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay, with 22 horses in work for a season’s tally of 16 winners, with four at Group or Listed level. “We’re pretty chuffed and proud of the fact that we’ve got these horses into these Group races and perform really well when they do get there, so we’re hoping they put their hands up again this weekend,” he said. Habana has contributed with success in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) before he failed to fire in the Thorndon. “I can only put it down to the track at Trentham, his form on soft ground is good but it was like two tracks that day,” Noble said. “The inside had been watered and no-one wanted to be there and we drew wide and thought that would be a good place to be. “He’s got a great action and he just didn’t want to let down. It was way out of character, he’s so honest and consistent. When he’s winning, he’s got a big stride and I just don’t think he felt comfortable in the ground. “It will be a good track on Saturday and we’ve freshened him to come back to 1400m and he ran really well when third first-up in the Sweynesse (Group 3, 1200m) at Te Rapa.” Aquacade also boasts an admirable mix of talent with a genuine nature, and the Dundeel mare goes into the Herbie Dyke off the back of a sound third in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m). “She’s very, very honest and she nearly pulled it off in the Zabeel,” Noble said. “This field is tougher, but she’s a Group Two and Three winner. We’re a breeding operation and there’s just so much more value added if she can get a Group One next to her name. “We’re very happy with her, a little bit of the sting out of the track would have suited her but she looks great and deserves her place.” The youngster About Time takes her place in the Fillies’ Classic after the American Pharoah filly successfully stepping up to a middle distance in the Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m) for her second win from five attempts. “She’s come a long way pretty quickly and done a great job to get that black type,” Noble said. “There’s a few there that haven’t been over 2000m before, and she has. We’re very happy with her and this is the next logical step.” Horse racing news View the full article

Sudbina will contest the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Kingsclere Stables couldn’t have won last year’s Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) more convincingly with Prowess, and have a chance to go back-to-back on Saturday with Sudbina. The recently retired Prowess won the 2000m feature by five lengths, an effortless performance that may be tough to emulate for her younger former stablemate, although a last start victory at Trentham in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) suggested Sudbina is swiftly improving. The daughter of Almanzor will line-up in a star-studded Group Two event under regular hoop Kozzi Asano, benefitting from the ace draw, alongside a left-handed track, having never finished outside of the top two in four attempts that way of going. Robert Wellwood, who trains the filly in partnership with Roger James, was pleased with her step-up to the mile at Trentham, but is mindful of the middle-distance task ahead. “We didn’t know what to expect stepping up to the mile last time, but she ticked that box very well and was strong through the line,” he said. “The big question is obviously stepping up to 2000m on Saturday. We’re pretty much just sitting and waiting to see really.” Sudbina currently lies a +380 Fixed Odds second-favourite for the Fillies Classic with top horse racing bookmakers, splitting classy duo Molly Bloom (+260) and Mary Shan (+500). Horse racing news View the full article

Well-known Australian owner Ozzie Kheir has had plenty of success buying thoroughbreds out of New Zealand, and now he is looking to boost his investment across the Tasman. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s announcement last month on the summer racing calendar revamp, prizemoney increases and introduction of the $3.5 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot race piqued the interest of many in the industry, and Kheir was not exception. Kheir has been a long-time fan of the New Zealand thoroughbred, and he is excited about the prospect of competing here with his Kiwi purchases. “There is a lot of substance to a New Zealand horse,” Kheir said. “They breed milers and staying types. I love racing horses that have that scope to improve from three onwards. That is probably why I love Europe and New Zealand racing.” Kheir is particularly keen to get his hands on a slot in The NZB Kiwi, set to be the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, with slots set to be auctioned at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka Sales Centre on February 27. “I am looking at the options available there. I would like to be involved if we can and support it,” he said. “I think it is fantastic because it gets to a point in New Zealand where if they (horses) are good enough, they have to leave New Zealand and chase the prizemoney in Australia. I think increasing prizemoney and putting these slot races on attracts the owners to stay and race in New Zealand, or in cases like us, come back and race in New Zealand. “We might be buying horses for Australia but when those races are available there is no reason why we wouldn’t come back and race in them ourselves, and that is how it all starts.” New Zealand has been a great source of thoroughbred talent for Kheir, who has experienced the high of Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) success and multiple Group One victories with Verry Elleegant, while his own colours have been to the fore through the likes of multiple Group One winner Sierra Sue. He is currently experiencing plenty of fun with Kiwi-bred Jimmysstar, who has secured a wildcard for the A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) following his three undefeated starts in Australia. “Jimmy has definitely been one out of the box,” he said. “He has been a nice surprise, we didn’t purchase him thinking that he would give us this ride. We were always hopeful that he would be a nice stakes horse but to be giving us the ride he is giving us at the moment is fantastic. “He is proving to be a good acquisition and it has been great partnering up with the owners who have stayed in because I think they would have had a lot of regrets if they had sold him completely. It is good to have those guys involved. We see each other regularly and wish each other the best of luck. It has been a good journey so far.” Earlier this week, Kheir also secured a majority share in Group One-winning filly Molly Bloom and is looking to gain immediate success when she lines-up in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday for Wexford Stables. “It has been a long time coming,” Kheir said. “We have liked her from her first run, where she ran third, and we have been following her ever since. We have stayed in contact with Lance O’Sullivan to try and cut a deal, we were always a bit apart, but the gap bridged a lot closer when she won her Group One and we were able to cut a deal after the Karaka race (TAB Karaka Millions 3YO, where she ran seventh). “She will run this week for the partnership. Hopefully she runs well and from there we will talk with Lance and the team and work out a plan. Most likely we will freshen her up post this run and target a Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m) path. A lot will depend on how she runs on Saturday.” While her future lies in Australia, Kheir said she will remain with current trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott this preparation. “We have got a few trainers that we work closely with (in Australia), but at this stage the decision is that we don’t need to do that as yet. We have got time, and we will make that decision later after we know what path she will take,” he said. Kheir is excited about the future of racing in New Zealand and said his presence could one day be extended to having a team of horses competing in the burgeoning racing jurisdiction. “We have always been active at the sales in New Zealand, both the ready-to-runs and the yearling market,” he said. “We are building some nice relationships with some trainers in New Zealand. Hopefully in the future we will have some horses in New Zealand to race ourselves, and that is only a matter of time. As that prizemoney does become more attractive, why wouldn’t we?” View the full article

Eight-year-old gelding Ace Royale (NZ) (Per Incanto) is set to make his raceday return following a three-year absence when he heads to Wanganui on Friday to contest the Liquorland Wanganui R86 1200. Bred and raced by his trainer John Kiernan, Ace Royale showed plenty of promise in his formative years, posting five wins and three placings in his 12 starts prior to an injury enforced layoff. “He has had two tendon injuries in the same spot,” Kiernan said. “He is a very big, heavy horse. He never went sore, I just picked it up beforehand and when he came back the second time after following all of the vet’s advice, I just turned him out the old fashioned way for a long spell. “He is a promising horse, otherwise I wouldn’t have gone through all of this.” Ace Royale returned to the trials last month where he finished fourth in his 1000m heat behind Group One performers Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) and Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner). Kiernan was happy enough with the trial, and while he is looking forward to seeing Ace Royale tested on raceday, he said there is still plenty of improvement to come from the son of Per Incanto. “It was just an ordinary trial, nothing to write home about,” he said. “He doesn’t do a lot of fast work and the training tracks aren’t the best every day, he is probably 85 percent (fit).” Ace Royale has drawn barrier two in his comeback race, with Wanganui rated a Soft5 on Thursday morning. “He is a hard track horse, but he has got to get going, you don’t have too many options now,” Kiernan said. Kiernan has plenty of time for his gelding, but said he isn’t getting too carried away with his return. “We will just take one step at a time and get him fit again,” he said. “You never know if they are going to be competitive after tendon injuries. If he comes back to what he used to be there is no reason why he won’t head to some good races.” Kiernan bred Ace Royale out of his six-win mare Criss Cross (NZ) (Cape Cross), and he is enjoying keeping his hand in the game after a long and successful career in the industry. Based on the Kapiti Coast, Kiernan first became hooked on thoroughbreds when he lived in Trentham as a child, and a fire was lit to pursue a career in the racing industry. “When I lived at Trentham, during my primary school years, I would go and help out Jack Winder and Bill Ford after school when they travelled down,” Kiernan said. “In those days they would come down and stay for two weeks for the three days at Wellington. They would do that about four times a year. “My mother’s father had some shares in horses when he was sharemilking up in the Waikato. A couple of my uncles were apprenticed to Jack Winder, but they outgrew it. “I always loved horses right from the first time I went to a race meeting. After I left school, I went and became a blacksmith and I used to ride work at Woodville. “The bloke I was apprenticed to always had a horse and I would always be down there riding work for other people. I would go down and light a fire in the blacksmith’s shop early in the morning and then go and ride a few in work and school a few horses. In those days Woodville was the equal biggest training centre in New Zealand.” Kiernan went on to grow his own farrier business in New Zealand before he decided to head across the Tasman where he shod some of the best equine athletes to grace Australian tracks. “I had the biggest business in New Zealand as a farrier in the seventies with Syd Brown, Eric Ropiha, and Jock Harris,” he said. “I then went wandering around Australia. When I was in Sydney I was travelling Syd Brown’s horses, he was New Zealand’s leading trainer many years ago. When he didn’t have any more carnival horses I went down and worked for a bookmaker in Victoria and he had a trainer’s license and I travelled some of his horses like Battle Sign that won a Sydney Derby and Philomel won a Perth Cup. “I lived in Perth for a few years after doing the travelling and had the largest thoroughbred business in Western Australia for several years. “As a blacksmith I was lucky enough to be there in a golden era. I have shod many horses for lots of different trainers. I would have done about eight Derby winners for Bart (Cummings). There used to be two Derbys held in Perth back in those days. In the seventies, all the big trainers like Colin Hayes, Cummings, Tommy Smith and Geoff Murphy would travel to Perth most years. “I was lucky enough to do those trainers horses for several years. Shoeing-wise, Kingston Town would have been the best horse (I shod), he was the Muhammad Ali of the whole lot. “Daryl’s Joy would have been only an inch behind him. He was the best two-year-old in New Zealand and the best three-year-old in Australia, and the best grass galloper in America. Gunsynd would be right there too.” While Kiernan had a successful time in Australia as a farrier, he also had a memorable time as a trainer. “I bought a broken-down horse in each state and have won a race in each state on the mainland, I didn’t go to Tasmania,” he said. Kiernan then returned to New Zealand in the early nineties where he pursued breeding thoroughbreds, alongside training his own horses, and had great success with homebred Pillage ‘N’ Plunder (NZ) (Victory Dance). He trained the son of Victory Dance to win the 2003 edition of the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup (2200m) before crossing the Tasman to take out the Gr.1 Adelaide Cup (3200m). It was a golden couple of years for Kiernan, who also trained No Mean City (NZ) (Star Board) to win the Gr.1 Auto Auctions WFA (1400m) at Trentham a year prior. “No Mean City was another broken down horse I got sent,” Keirnan said. “He won the WFA at Trentham over 1400m and gave Damian Browne his first Group One winner in New Zealand. Star Satire was second and she held the New Zealand record for the 1400m and had for many years. The third and fourth horses had won at Caulfield and Flemington. There were nine or 10 runners and he was the only non-Group One winner. He was backed from eighties to 12s, so at that stage he was probably New Zealand’s biggest shortener. “It was his first start in open company, it was Group One weight-for-age and that was how good he was. But he was very unsound. He pulled off a big betting plunge in Australia when he won at Newcastle. He was a really good horse.” Ten years later Kiernan enjoyed competing at Group One level once more with a couple of horses he trained for Tommy Heptinstall. “I am a public trainer, but I have only had Tommy Heptinstall send me two horses once when their trainer Andrew Campbell was having a break,” he said. “They both got to the Derby – Weissmuller and Travolta. Other than that, I have probably only ever had a couple of outside horses to train, and one of those was the mother to Ace Royale. I acquired her off the owners as they didn’t want to breed.” Ace Royale is the only horse Kiernan has in work at the moment, with his full-brother Headline News (NZ) on the sidelines after picking up an injury at Trentham last month. Kiernan has led a colourful life in racing, and he is hoping he is not done yet, believing Ace Royale may be able to take him towards the top once more if he recaptures his form of old. View the full article

Trainers Bev and Ken Kelso. Photo: Trish Dunell A trip to Melbourne last year not only gave Ken and Bev Kelso their biggest moment in racing, courtesy of Legarto’s victory in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), but also a filly that could prove to be just as exciting. The day following Legarto’s Guineas triumph, the Matamata couple trekked out to Inglis’ Premier Yearling Sale and were taken by an Alabama Express filly out of Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds’ draft, and went to A$120,000 to secure her in association with bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne. “I had an order to buy one at Karaka. I went to Karaka and got blown out of the water,” Ken Kelso said. “Everything that I liked, everyone else seemed to have more money. “I then said to the owners, ‘I couldn’t find anything here I really liked that we could buy within our budget’, which was $140,000, I said ‘let’s look around Melbourne’. “Dean Hawthorne has done a lot of work for us over the years and he did a short-list of about 30. I fell in love with this filly and we were lucky to get her for A$120,000, which was within our budget.” They named the filly Alabama Lass and she continued to impress the Kelsos, winning her first trial in October, beating subsequent Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner Velocious. She continued her winning run when taking out her second trial in impressive fashion last month and Kelso was relatively confident heading into her raceday debut at Matamata on Wednesday, but she far exceeded those expectations. Alabama Lass jumped well for jockey Sam Spratt and went straight to the lead, while race favourite Zelezniak was slow away and settled at the rear of the field. Spratt kept a solid tempo up front and Alabama Lass looked every inch the winner throughout. Spratt allowed her charge to extend at the top of the straight and she quickly opened up on her rivals, coasting away to a 9.5 length victory, with her time of 1.03.36 just 0.05 seconds outside of the track record. Kelso was duly rapt with the performance and has eyed a return to the track later this month with his filly to target the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). “She was very impressive,” he said. “She jumped well and then Sam said she relaxed when she got to the front and did it easily. “Hopefully, all going well and she pulls up okay, we will come back here for the Breeders’ in two-and-a-half weeks time.” While enamoured with the filly from day dot, Kelso said her precocity has taken him a bit by surprise. “When we bought her in Melbourne as a yearling, I didn’t think she would make a two-year-old, but she has surprised us and has kept progressing,” he said. “She is actually not bred to be a two-year-old. She is a half to Bad ‘n’ Bouj and a few in her family have raced up to 1400m and a mile. It will be interesting. As she develops, she will probably be wanting to go further. “Even looking at her now, she is still quite frail, but she has obviously got a lot of ability and she will definitely get better with age.” It was a bittersweet moment for the ownership group, with major owner Maurie Dunn having passed away six months ago. “Maurie Dunn and Eddie Tynan, from Auckland, raced Shoshone with us. They said they would like another one, but sadly Maurie died about six months ago,” Kelso said. “His wife Marie has continued to stay in the partnership. Maurie’s son Murray and his wife Jo are also in the ownership, along with John Moore, the former president here (Matamata Racing Club), Tony Egan and his wife Sue. “Maurie was a champion bloke. He had the TAB in Mt Maunganui for years, and was well-known in the industry.” The Kelsos are now hoping the victory is an appetiser for further success later in the week, with their star mare Legarto set to compete in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Horse racing news View the full article