Wandering Eyes

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Every Vote Counts in New York. Third Start The Charm For Pinatubo Filly Klaravich Stables' Every Vote Counts (Pinatubo) strolled to a 1 1/4-length victory during the Belmont at the Big A meeting on November 2 (video). Trained by Chad Brown and bred by The Sparkle Roll Partnership, she was making her third start. A 220,000gns Tattersalls October yearling, the daughter of G2 Ribblesdale Stakes-placed Sparkle Roll (Kingman) has yearling and weanling half-sisters by Kameko. Sparkle Roll is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Wings Of Eagles. Darley stallion Pinatubo, priced at £17,500 next year, has sired 63 winners from 127 runners worldwide with his first two crops. Four of his progeny are stakes winners, with his flagbearer G2 Prix de Malleret heroine Qilin Queen. Strictly in the U.S., the son of Shamardal is responsible for six winners from seven starters (86%). His GIII With Anticipation Stakes third Cavallo Bay is his best there. Repeat Winner Three Diamonds Farm's Bunratty Manor (No Nay Never) returned to the winner's circle in a Churchill Downs affair for trainer Rusty Arnold on November 6 (video). The daughter of Sapphire Ring (Galileo) was winning for the second time in seven starts. Fresh off a career high when third in the GIII Waya Stakes on this circuit in October, Alluring Angel (Fastnet Rock) earned a graded win of her own in the GIII Long Island Stakes on November 8 (video). The five-year-old mare is owned by Lawrence Goichman and trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott. The Big Con (Dark Angel), who is owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Tony Weintraub and Brandon Dalinka, captured the GIII Grey Stakes at Woodbine for trainer Miguel Clement (video). The full-brother to U.S. graded winner Heredia was taking his first stakes victory. Klaravich Stables' Growth Trajectory (Lope De Vega) won for the second time in three starts in New York on November 2 (video). The relative of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl (Lope De Vega) is trained by Chad Brown. The post Making Waves: Vote Carries The Day In New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Blackout Time, scratched by regulatory veterinarians from the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, remains targeted toward races next year leading to the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, trainer Kenny McPeek said.View the full article

Coolmore's young stallion Tiz the Law picked up a second graded stakes winner in less than an hour Saturday as FULLY SUBSCRIBED (f, 3, Tiz the Law–Sweet Baby, by Candy Ride {Arg}) ran clear of a calvary charge of pursuers down the lane to capture the GII Mother Goose Stakes. Off as the 7-2 favorite, the Klaravich Stables-owned filly was in no early rush up the backstretch but came with a big move as the field bunched up nearing the quarter pole. Part of a five-wide battle for the front at the top of the stretch, she scampered clear inside the final furlong to win safely over a returning Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro) who ran well in her first start since finishing second in the GI Kentucky Oaks. The final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:49.73. FULLY SUBSCRIBED ($9.00) fires under @DavisJockey to win the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G2) earning a fourth win on the Aqueduct card for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables. Congrats to the connections with this 3YO filly by @CoolmoreAmerica's Tiz The Law. pic.twitter.com/WYWenAFDfD — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 8, 2025 Saturday, Belmont Big A MOTHER GOOSE S.-GII, $300,000, Aqueduct, 11-8, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:49.73, ft. 1–FULLY SUBSCRIBED, 118, f, 3, by Tiz the Law 1st Dam: Sweetbaby, by Candy Ride (Arg) 2nd Dam: Rutherienne, by Pulpit 3rd Dam: Ruthian, by Rahy 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($65,000 RNA Wlg '22 KEENOV; $35,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Payson Stud Inc (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Dylan Davis. $165,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $245,300. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Drexel Hill, 120, f, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Ascot Walk, by Daaher. ($20,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Legion Racing; B-Tuscany Bloodstock (KY); T-D. Whitworth Beckman. $60,000. 3–Lemon Zest, 118, f, 3, Nyquist–Larkin, by Bernardini. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $36,000. Margins: 4HF, NK, NK. Odds: 3.50, 4.91, 4.11. Also Ran: So There She Was, Ourdaydreaminggirl, Queen Azteca, Filly Freedom, Being Myself, Cue the Duckboats. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Another Graded Winner For Tiz The Law As Fully Subscribed Takes The Mother Goose appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz Dashing (Tiz the Law) was consigned to a bit of a wide trip in Saturday's GIII Hill Prince Stakes at Aqueduct but overcame that adversity to post a cozy success and become the newest stakes and graded stakes winner for his sire, who carried the very same color to victory in races like the GI Champagne Stakes, GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers Stakes in 2019 and 2020. Drawn widest in a field of nine and entering off a torrid trip when a flattening-out eighth in the Sept. 6 Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs last time, the $215,000 Fasig-Tipton November weanling was away smoothly and was able to get down into about the three path with cover on the back of longshot Lazlo (English Channel) as the rail-drawn Noble Confessor (Quality Road) galloped them along at a comfortable tempo. Continuing to race covered up into the far turn, Tiz Dashing was pulled out three wide by Javier Castellano, went to the front three off the fence approaching the final furlong and held the resurgent pacesetter by a long neck. Church and State (Caravaggio) won a photo for third, while favored Stars and Strides (American Pharoah) enjoyed the run of the race from the box seat, but came up empty when the real running began to finish last but one. “It's very special,” Sackatoga Managing Partner Jack Knowlton said when asked how it feels to win a race of this variety with a son of Tiz the Law. “This horse [Tiz Dashing] is the only time we've ever bought a weanling. I was with the Coolmore guys at the sale, and they told me, 'Jack, that's the horse you want to buy.' They were right. “We're thrilled with how Tiz the Law is doing [at stud]–we just bought a yearling at the Maryland sale in September. We'll keep supporting our boy.” Sackatoga acquired a colt out of Golden Delicious (Harlan's Holiday), bred on a similar cross to Tiz Dashing, for $100,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Yearling Sale. Pedigree Notes: Tiz Dashing is the 10th stakes winner and fifth to strike at the graded level for Tiz the Law and is the first graded stakes winner for trainer Barclay Tagg since the 2021 GII Fort Lauderdale Stakes. Tiz Dashing is one of two winners from three to race out of a winning daughter of Que Belle, winner of the G2 Henkel-Rennen (German 1000 Guineas) and G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) in 1997, champion of her generation at four and later the dam of GSWs Osidy (Storm Cat) and Quetsche (Gone West). Breaking Beauty is the dam of the 2-year-old filly Just a Minute (Not This Time), a $325,000 Keeneland September yearling, a yearling colt by Charlatan that RNAd for $120,000 at KEENOV last fall and a weanling colt by Gunite. The mare was most recently covered by Prince of Monaco. TIZ DASHING ($17.46) and @jjcjockey team up with Barclay Tagg and @sackatogastable to win the $200,000 Hill Prince Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. Another graded stakes winner by @coolmoreamerica's Tiz The Law. Bet The Big A with @FanDuel Racing.https://t.co/mGeXnEqN9C pic.twitter.com/i8eiE8AU6n — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 8, 2025 Saturday, Aqueduct HILL PRINCE S.-GIII, $200,000, Aqueduct, 11-8, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.23, fm. 1–TIZ DASHING, 118, c, 3, by Tiz the Law 1st Dam: Breaking Beauty, by Into Mischief 2nd Dam: Que Belle, by Seattle Dancer 3rd Dam: Qui Bid, by Spectacular Bid 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($215,000 Wlg '22 FTKNOV). O-Sackatoga Stable; B-Camas Park Stud (KY); T-Barclay Tagg; J-Javier Castellano. $110,000. Lifetime Record: 9-2-1-3, $292,207. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Noble Confessor, 118, c, 3, Quality Road–Sweeter Than Wine, by Noble Mission (GB). O/B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $40,000. 3–Church and State, 120, g, 3, Caravaggio–Full Snow Moon, by Vindication. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($15,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN). O-Domenic Dilalla; B-DP Racing, LLC (KY); T-Dale A. Desruisseaux. $24,000. Margins: NK, 1HF, NO. Odds: 7.73, 4.93, 28.56. Also Ran: Lazlo, Soleil Volant, Mayor of Midnight (Ire), Griffin's Wharf, Stars and Strides, Thundering. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Tiz the Law’s Tiz Dashing King of the ‘Hill’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Disco Time looked like he could be a horse of any kind Nov. 8, prompting a heated pace before drawing away to win the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes in a scintillating performance at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France, post time: 13:58, PRIX HEROD-Listed, €54,900, 2yo, 7fT Field: Gazi (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Ikotofetsy (Fr) (Threat {Ire}), Siciliano (Fr) (Time Test {GB}), Dorzal (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Imperior (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Aigeas (Fr) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Major Neigh Sayer (Ire) (No Nay Never), Miss De Paname (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Thora (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Alarming (GB) (A'Ali {Ire}), Quiescent (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Wathnan Racing's dual nursery handicap victrix Quiescent bids for a fourth straight victory in this black-type debut and is one of many possessing solid claims in a wide-open renewal. Britain's four-strong raiding party also includes Deauville maiden scorer Aigeas and last-out winners Major Neigh Sayer and Alarming. The home defence features Andre Fabre representative Gazi, Listed Prix Delahante third Siciliano and Dalibor Torok trainee Dorzal, who posted a 5 1/2-length win at this venue last month. Miss De Paname and dual Group 3 fourth Ikotofetsy also boast course-winning form. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France, post time: 16:23, PRIX SOLITUDE-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, f, 10fT Field: Azaniya (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), La Bonne Etoile (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Narkala (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Lada (Ire) (Time Test {GB}), Pinatique (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Romance Certaine (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Mahiya (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Seona (Fr) (Seabhac), Princesse Trezy (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), Day Of Grace (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Anakova (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Iron Bird (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). TDN Analysis: Sunderland Holding's Day Of Grace completed a hat-trick of handicap victories when successful at Newbury last month and gets the assistance of Christophe Soumillon in this black-type debut. The William Haggas-conditioned daughter of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Sea Of Grace is accompanied by Listed Prix Charles Laffitte victrix Azaniya on this cross-Channel trek. The home team's leading lights include Listed Prix Coronation runner-up Anakova and Listed Prix Melisande third La Bonne Etoile. Former Aidan O'Brien trainee and G3 Park Express second Ecstatic, a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', has finished eighth in both starts for Satoshi Kobayashi and requires an uptick in form to feature here. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Four On The Bounce For Quiescent In Herod? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-WO, $115K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 3:34 p.m. ET. Mike Repole's European purchasing run last year included TOLD (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The owner took home the colt for €200,000 out of Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Yearling sale. Sent to Kevin Attard, Told is out of Cartesienne (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). The dam's own half-siblings include the Eclipse Award-winning Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Ire}) and English stakes winner Modern News (GB) (Shamardal). TJCIS PPS The post Sunday Insights: Goffs Orby Yearling Buy For Repole Unveiled At Woodbine On Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for Arqana Online's November Sale, featuring 19 lots including a breeding right in Group 1 sire Mehmas (lot 1) is now online. The sale will be held from 4-6 p.m. French time on November 27 and features stallion shares and breeding rights. A total of 15 shares and breeding rights are Flat oriented, with a breeding right to fellow Group 1 sire Space Blues (lot 4) also on offer, beside a breeding right to group sire Palace Pier (lot 8). Mehmas has 47 stakes winners, nine of them top-tier, so far. Space Blues already has G1 Phoenix Stakes hero Power Blue to his credit, while Palace Pier has sired five black-type horses including group winners Royal Fixation and A Bit Of Spirit. Other stallion shares set to be offered are for Hello Youmzain (lot 3), Ace Impact (lot 6), Muhaarar (lot 7), Armor (lot 10), The Grey Gatsby (lot 11), Sealiway (lot 12), Goken (lot 13), Wooded (lot 16), Persian King (lot 17), and City Light (lot 18). There are also breeding rights to Victor Ludorum (lot 15) and Thunder Moon (lot 18). Over Jumps, the four lot are breeding rights to Goliath Du Berlais (lot 2) and Latrobe (lot 14) and shares in Moises Has (lot 5) and Prince Gibraltar (lot 9). The post Breeding Right In Mehmas Leads Lots In Arqana Online’s November Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rolling into the Big A for the Dwyer Stakes, Disco Time (Not This Time–Disco Chick, by Jump Start) owned a perfect record and it stayed that way as the 3-year-old dominated the race on Saturday. The winner of the GIII Lecomte Stakes last spring, the colt was tabbed as the 6-5 choice here. The favorite tracked 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Tip Top Thomas (Volatile) up the backstretch. When it was time to go around the far turn, Disco Time turned on the moves, took the lead and the race was all but over. Winning by at least eight lengths, the Brad Cox trainee was followed by Crudo (Justify), who was the runner-up. The final running time was 1:33.86. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. The undefeated streak is Stayin' Alive! DISCO TIME is now 5-for-5 after dominating the Dwyer Stakes under @flothejock for trainer @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/XMHU3X2clR — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 8, 2025 The post Disco Time Boogies In Dwyer Stakes At Big A To Stay Perfect appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Victorious Forever's Bay City Roller (New Bay) went unbeaten in a three-race juvenile campaign, but was winless in six starts this term, and last year's G2 Champagne Stakes victor powered clear off the front end in Saturday's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern at Munich to cap a banner season for Newmarket-based conditioner George Scott. “It coudn't have gone any better,” proclaimed Adrie de Vries, whose previous win in the contest came aboard Campanologist (Kingmambo) in 2010. “The trainer was extremely confident in the horse beforehand and that is why I delayed my trip to Dubai. The colt displayed awesome form and the trainer told me if we were ahead of the favourite in the straight that he would find it a really tough task to pass us. Of course he was correct and that is how it unfolded.” “This has been a fantastic experience, Munich have been great hosts, and we're very relieved and delighted to come home with a win,” said Billy Jackson-Stops. “It's huge credit to Sheikh Nasser and his brother Sheikh Khaled for allowing this horse to come here. It would have been easy to put him away for the winter, but they're great sports, it's a great result and a huge traininig performance by George Scott. It's a winter break for sure for him now and we'll but him away for Group 1 campaign with a view to hom joining our stallion ranks at the end of next year. He'll be a fantastic addition.” The 53-5 chance was no match for Convergent (Fascinating Rock) when fourth behind that reopposing rival in last month's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris and recovered from a slightly awkward to seize early control of Europe's final Group 1 contest of the year. Holding sway at a sensible tempo throughout, he came under pressure when threatened by last year's runner-up Tiffany (Farhh) with 500 metres remaining and found plenty for continued urging inside the final quarter-mile to claim a career high in utterly dominant fashion. The winning margin was seven lengths back to Tiffany, who ran second in this once again, with Rashford (Zarak) faring best of the remainder and four lengths adrift in third. Convergent, who started as the 3-5 favourite, threatened to feature in early straight, but floundered on turf which appeared much deeper than the official description of soft and was not unduly punished in the latter stages, finishing seventh of eight. BAY CITY ROLLER lands the final European G1 of 2025! What a performance by the @GScottracing star in the Grosser Preis von Bayern under Adrie de Vries. #WorldPool | @wettstar_de pic.twitter.com/1F9Bbb5HVU — World Pool (@WorldPool) November 8, 2025 Pedigree Notes Bay City Roller, the fourth Group 1 winner for his sire, is the third of five foals and leading performer from two scorers out of the dual stakes-winning G3 Give Thanks and G3 Munster Oaks runner-up Bloomfield (Teofilo), whose first foal was Listed Foundation Stakes and Listed Doncaster Mile placegetter Botanical (Lope De Vega). Bloomfield is a three-parts sister to G3 Athasi Stakes victrix Prima Luce (Galileo), herself the dam of stakes-winning GII Connaught Cup runner-up Emmaus (Invincible Spirit). Prima Luce is also the second dam of Listed Marwell Stakes third Indispensable (Ten Sovereigns). The February-foaled bay's second dam Ramona (Desert King) is an unraced half-sister to G1 July Cup runner-up and dual Group 2-winning matriarch Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge), whose elite-level descendants include Halfway To Heaven (Pivotal), Magical (Galileo), Rhododendron (Galileo), Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact), Photo Call (Galileo) and Victoria Road (Saxon Warrior). Bloomfield has the unraced 2-year-old filly Blooming Rose (Blue Point) and a yearling colt by Blue Point to come. Saturday, Munich, Germany GROSSER ALLIANZ PREIS VON BAYERN-G1, €155,000, Munich, 11-8, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:38.13, sf. 1–BAY CITY ROLLER (IRE), 127, c, 3, by New Bay (GB) 1st Dam: Bloomfield (Ire) (MSW & MGSP-Ire, $136,764), by Teofilo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Ramona (GB), by Desert King (Ire) 3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€320,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Victorious Forever; B-John Connaughton; T-George Scott; J-Adrie de Vries. €100,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng & MGSP-Fr, 10-4-4-0, €331,760. *1/2 to Botanical (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), MSP-Eng, $152,618. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Tiffany (Ire), 129, m, 5, Farhh (GB)–Affinity (GB), by Sadler's Wells. O/B-Elite Racing Club; T-Sir Mark Prescott. €30,000. 3–Rashford (Fr), 132, h, 5, Zarak (Fr)–Randium (Fr), by Sinndar (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Friedrich Hodel; T-Marian Falk Weissmeier. €15,000. Margins: 7, 4, HF. Odds: 10.60, 5.90, 39.50. Also Ran: Lazio (Ire), Ami De Vega (Ire), Junko (GB), Convergent (Ire), Cold Heart (Brz). Scratched: Alleno (Ire). The post Bay City Roller Makes All for Group 1 Glory in Munich appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars LITTLE PARADISE - R9 (2) Resumed in fine fashion and can carry on winning Jay Rooney LUCKY SAM GOR - R9 (13) Can make it three in a row with a light weight up in class Owen Goulding LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R10 (2) Looked the real deal last season and will come on from Group Three return Phillip Woo AUDACIOUS PURSUIT - R4 (9) Can salute with a step up to 1,600m sure to suit Shannon (Vincent Wong) PERFECT PEACH - R1 (3) Two solid runs over C&D this term should salute from inside...View the full article

by Kit Gow/TTR AusNZ The mighty eight-year-old mare of Yulong struck again on Saturday at Flemington when felling all before her in the G1 Champions Stakes. Master tactician Chris Waller had faith in his star galloper despite a developing bog track and she dutifully delivered a 2 3/4-length victory. Second last as they entered the home turn in the 2000-metre event, it wasn't hard for James McDonald to pick a path out wide for Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) and send the mare hurtling to the front when the pack parted around them. Leader Tom Kitten (Harry Angel) stuck on bravely as the mare passed him but was no match for her turn of foot – neither was emerging talent Zambardo (Belardo), the winner of his last four starts, who chased bravely for second. The latter was having his first start at stakes level altogether. “Seeing the Sprint, the Mile and now this race, it's giving everyone an extra taste of the great horses,” said Waller. “She was tough today. She went back from the draw, James didn't panic and it was awesome to see her in the straight.” It's hard to believe what the mare has achieved to date, a sentiment echoed by Waller when reflecting on the last two years with the star mare in his stable. “We were told she was a very good horse,” he said. “Her international form was something special and it's rare for us to get a really high-class horse down here like her, and she was just maturing. We've got her at the right time. They did an amazing job with her over there looking after her. She was a big, raw mare and don't worry about her age. She's just matured. “They are great owners, Yulong. They're sportsmen, they love their racing. I knew not to ask because I knew they'd have liked her to race here. It was a simple as that. “They have given the racing public something to cheer for and what a great day it's been with Ceolwulf, Giga Kick and now Via Sistina. Three serious horses on an amazing day of racing. They're tough horses and when you look after them, they look after you.” The win also marked a remarkable 50th Group 1 win for Waller and James McDonald as a team, to which Waller said, “It is an honour to be working with him. It makes my job and possibly his job that little bit easier. There's no pressure, no pre-race stress, and I didn't even give any instructions. “He said 'I'll go and ride her like Hughie used to ride Winx', best horse in the race, give her some clean air, and I said, 'that sounds good to me'. “I don't see it as a milestone. He's great to work with. That's a privilege in itself. The relationship works well. There's less pressure when you trust each other. I'd go to war with him and he'd do the same for me.” “We're not far off one of the greatest combinations in racing history,” said McDonald. “That's something to aim up at. He's been a great supporter of mine and I'm happy to be a part of his team when you ride superstars like this, it's always a pleasure. It was basically a copy and paste from last year, sit back and let her rip.” Pedigree Notes Bred by Laundry Cottage Stud in Ireland, the bay cost a mere snip when acquired by Stephen Hillen Bloodstock for 5,000gns from the Jamie Railton consignment out of the 2019 Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. During her European tenure, the daughter of Fastnet Rock secured the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes. Sent back through that same ring in 2023 by Grove Stud, Via Sistina joined the Yulong fold when purchased for 2.7 million gns by Evergreen Equine at the December Mares Sale. At the same sale, her unraced dam Nigh (Galileo) brought 200,000gns on the bid of Lucky Vega, another Yulong entity, in foal to Too Darn Hot. One year later, Yulong also snapped up Via Sistina's Bated Breath half-sister Via Sienna for €400,000 out of Arqana's Vente d'Elevage and signed the ticket as Willingham. Nigh is a half-sister to Britain's champion three-year-old sprinter Kingsgate Native (Mujadil). Nigh produced a colt by Too Darn Hot in 2024 as her most recent documented foal. Saturday, Flemington, Australia CHAMPIONS STAKES-G1, A$3,000,000, VRC, 11-08, 3yo/up, Open Weight, 2000mT, 2:07.91, hy. 1–VIA SISTINA (IRE) , 57.0, m, 7, by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 1st Dam: Nigh (Ire) (Broodmare of the Year-Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Native Force (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire) 3rd Dam: La Pellegrina (Ire), by Be My Guest (5,000gns Ylg '19 TATDEC; 2,700,000gns HRA '23 TATDEC). O-Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang); B-Laundry Cottage Stud Farm (Ire); T-C J Waller; J-J B Mc Donald; A$1,811,500. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, 29-16-4-5, A$19,481,893.Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Zambardo (NZ), 58.5, g, 4, Belardo (Ire)–Zambezi (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-C E Holt, P W Steele, Mrs S A Steele, M C Power, Miss V Joli, P J Crotty, P I Sweeney, D M Fallon, R J Fleetwood, L R Matthews, E Campbell, C S Racing (Mgr: A J Boyd), H M Bastone, L A Agosta, J M Storer, R K Stephens & N Hasell; B-Fairdale & Goodwood Studs, Central, (NZ); T-M Price & M Kent Jnr; J-Jamie Kah; A$540,000. 3–Tom Kitten (Aus), 59.0, g, 5, Harry Angel (Ire)–Transfers (Aus), by Street Cry (Ire). O-Godolphin; B-Godolphin Australia (Vic); T-Anthony & Sam Freedman; J-B Melham; A$270,000. Margins: 2 3/4, 3/4, HD. Odds: 0.80, 13.00, 9.00. Also Ran: Pier (NZ), Light Infantry Man (Fr), Attrition (Aus), Alenquer (Fr), Golden Path (NZ), Point King (Ire), Kovalica (NZ), Benagil (Aus). Click for the Racing Australia chart. VIDEO. The post Twelve Group 1s And Counting For Via Sistina appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) landed the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington after a stirring 400m battle with runner-up Pericles with a nose margin in his favour. The five-year-old son of Tavistock was well and truly headed by Pericles (Street Boss) inside the final furlong but relished the fight when galvanised under rider Chad Schofield on a testing Heavy 9 track. The last start winner of the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) is now a four-time Group One winner at a mile and proved he had no issue with interstate travel when racing outside of Sydney for the first time. “That was fantastic, really special. I love winning races here,” Pride said. “This horse has really turned it on in the second half of the preparation and has strung a couple of very good wins together. “I thought at the 200m that he wasn’t enjoying it. He was wandering around a little bit but as soon as Pericles challenged him he rallied and then it was a really good go to the line with two good horses. “I’ve thought for a long time he’s the best horse I’ve trained and with his last two wins, he’s certainly cemented his spot there. It’s great work from the team at home and it’s a big effort to get these horses here on the big days. He’s never travelled away before, but he’s handled it really well and we’ll be back. “I’d love to be back here for the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m). Whether or not he is as good at 2000m as he is at a mile, we’ll find out in the autumn (and) probably in the Queen Elizabeth. “I normally travel my horses at some stage of their career but through circumstance he hadn’t had a trip away, but it’s nice to see him do that today as some horses don’t like it, don’t enjoy it, but he’s relished it.” Winning rider Chad Schofield said the win was gutsy. “He jumped really well today and he took the most out of that good jump and put himself in a more forward position and when the race heated up around the 600m, I was still going really well,” he said. “Mr Brightside was gone and I had to get off his back and get going. He ambled into it and then he had a good look when he hit the big Flemington straight for the first time and he got a bit lost for a while until Pericles got in front of him and then he could see him with his blinkers and he was the stronger horse late. “If you had asked me how I was feeling at the 400, I’d have said it was race over. He ambled up and came into it but in the Flemington straight he put his head up and baulked. That allowed Pericles to get a margin on me, and when he saw him he went again.” Ceolwulf was bred by Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay and is a son of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas. The gelding is a graduate of the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, where Pride and part-owner Leighton Howl went to $170,000 to secure him from Riversley Park’s draft. Ceolwulf has now had 25 starts for seven wins and seven placings to advance his career earnings to A$10,936,795. View the full article

Stephen Marsh had to wait until the 24th season of his career to win his first Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), but an emerging superstar gave the Cambridge trainer his missing piece at Riccarton on Saturday with a performance that was worth every moment of that wait. Well Written (Well Written) joined Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) (2022) and Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross) (2005) as only the third unbeaten winner of the 1000 Guineas in the last 20 years, and her three scintillating victories have come by a combined margin of more than 12 lengths. It has been a dizzying rise to the top of the three-year-old crop for Well Written, who began her career with a three-length debut victory over 1200m at Ellerslie less than two months ago on September 20. She then stepped into stakes company for the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on October 18 and blew her rivals away by six and three-quarter lengths. Those two breathtaking performances made Well Written one of the highest-profile runners of the entire New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch this year, and she jumped as a red-hot favourite for Saturday’s 1000 Guineas at $1.50. In the end, the only nerves she provided for her connections and supporters came before the race even started. She got stirred up behind the gates and kicked and reared and had to be loaded into the starting gates riderless. But from that point on, the race could hardly have gone better. Well Written was given a perfect run by regular rider Matt Cartwright and settled in fourth on the outside of Cream Tart (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) as Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) and Origin Of Love (Snitzel) set a moderate pace out in front. The Te Akau Racing pair still led the field rounding the turn into the home straight, but Well Written cruised up alongside them without Cartwright having to make a move. When Cartwright finally pushed the button, the race was immediately over as a contest. Well Written exploded away with a turn of foot that stamped her as one of New Zealand racing’s most exciting prospects. Cartwright began to ease Well Written down in the final 50m, then stood up in the saddle in a celebratory salute as the favourite crossed the finish line two and a half lengths in front of Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) and Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel). “There’s a lot of relief,” Marsh said. “I was nervous today with the expectations there, and it wasn’t good for the heart when she wouldn’t load. “But I’d just told Matt to ride her like the best horse and don’t panic. I wanted him to pretend it’s just another race, put her there and put her to sleep. I was happy when he didn’t peel off at the top of the straight. He just sat in the slipstream for a bit longer and then came out. “From that point on, it was something else to watch. It was pretty special. It’s the first 1000 Guineas we’ve won, and she’s just a special filly. She’s got that bit of freakishness about her. It’s exciting to have horses like that in your stable and makes the job so much easier.” Marsh and his bloodstock agent Dylan Johnson paid a sale-topping $80,000 to buy Well Written from Brighthill Farm’s draft in the 2024 NZB National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. Her flawless three-start, three-win career has now earned $462,875 in stakes. Marsh’s large syndicate of owners that originally raced Well Written all sold down their share after the Soliloquy Stakes, with major international player Yulong Investments coming into the ownership. Saturday’s blistering performance came carrying their familiar emerald green and white colours. “This is a great result for the Yulong team, we’re delighted to have them involved, and it’s also great for all of our previous owners that sold down – a lot of them are here today,” Marsh said. “I want to make mention of a special lady, Jane Henderson, an owner who’s very sick and had to late-scratch from coming down here today. I hope this is a real tonic for her, and we’re all thinking of her.” Well Written became the second Group One winner for Cartwright, who won last season’s Tarzino Trophy (1400m) aboard Grail Seeker. “She’s a very, very good horse,” Cartwright said. “The only concern she gave me was when she got a bit hot behind the gates, but as soon as they opened, she knew the job was on. She travelled beautifully. I tried to count to ten in the straight before letting her go, but I probably only got to six. “Gee, she’s exciting. She was a bit green out in front, she was going that fast that her legs couldn’t really keep up. I don’t know where her ceiling is, but she’s one of the best horses I’ve sat on.” Well Written’s victories in the Soliloquy Stakes and 1000 Guineas have carried her to the top of the table in the NZB Filly of the Year Series with 20 points. Lollapalooza sits in second place with 16 points. Saturday’s big win was also a Bonus Eligible race for the NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 7, meaning Well Written could compete for the $1 million bonus pool on offer alongside the slot race’s $4 million stake. The winner of any of those races is eligible for a share of the lucrative bonus pool if they go on to finish in the top three in the NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie on March 7. View the full article

Canada’s James MacDonald has just a nine point lead heading into Sunday’s four heats of the World Driving Championship at Winton. After 15 of a total 20 heats, he has 130 points, with Australia’s Gary Hall junior next on 121. New Zealand’s Blair Orange is fourth on 107 and still very much in contention. Strong southern connection for Gary Hall junior at Winton By Jonny Turner Southland trainers will have a foot in two camps when the World Driving Championship comes to Winton on Sunday. The southern harness racing fraternity would love to see Blair Orange score plenty of points in the four heats in Southland, especially considering the important impact the star New Zealand reinsman makes in the region. But at the same time, seeing Australian Gary Hall Jnr in the winner’s circle will also be a welcome sight. Southern-bred horses have been an important part of Hall’s incredible success in Australia, none more so than the champion pacer Im Themightyquinn. Hall will be out to add to his long list of wins with southern performers when he links up with a strong book of championship drives including the Brett Gray trained Jaccka Evan. The reinsman is no stranger to driving horses developed by Gray, with the Hall camp purchasing and racing one of the trainer’s best performers in You’re So Fine. Jaccka Evan looks well placed with the early toe he has to take advantage of a nice draw in barrier 3. “It looks quite a suitable race for him, he likes to go forward and he’s won over the mile before,” Gray said. “His run last week was good fresh up and he has definitely improved with it.” Durrant looks another key hope for Hall on Sunday. The pacer has been racing honestly without luck and now drops back into what looks like a very winnable grade. Hall also links up with veteran trotter Andy Hall at Winton. The nine-year-old rematches with Jordan Anne after their one-two finish at the same track last week. Barrier 8 is no help to the Lyndon Bond trained square-gaiter, but it hardly extinguishes his chances. Rakero Lightning looks one of Hall’s rougher chances in Sunday’s heats. After a series of consistent efforts, the mare looks well capable of filling a top-four spot. WDC leader James MacDonald back to mile racing at Winton By Jonny Turner Winton could turn out to be one of the most important places on earth for Canadian reinsman James McDonald. The star driver admits he hadn’t heard of the Southland town or its Central Southland Raceway before he was confirmed to compete in the 2025 World Driving Championship. But he is eager to get there and maintain the lead he has established over a star-studded line-up of international horsemen. “I am really looking forward to seeing more of this beautiful country and another of its racetracks,” McDonald said. “I don’t know a lot about the horses I am driving but I have seen some replays and they are at pretty good odds.” “Hopefully I can put them in good spots and they can race as well as possible.” “I will be doing my best because there are a lot of great drivers right on my heels.” McDonald should feel right at home at Winton – compared to previous tracks like Cambridge and Kaikoura – with the championship heats run over a mile on the bigger circuit, just like back home in Canada. “The mile racing should be really good,” McDonald said. “I have raced in Australia once before.” “It is a little bit different here, but also in the series you have guys from all over the world bringing their styles to the races.” “So the heats are not like the normal New Zealand races.” “It has been great so far, the racing is close and you are competing with a great bunch of guys.” “Probably the one thing that is different from back home is the circling they do here before the start.” McDonald links up with Trendy Van Gogh, Sherwood Maggie, Xerion and Insarchatwist at Winton on Sunday. None of his charges have drawn inside barrier 6, which means the Canadian may have to decide whether to press forward and attack early to find a handy position. Sherwood Maggie hinted she was ready to return to form with a solid last-start third at Winton. The mare has plenty of gate speed, which McDonald could call on. The reinsman’s phone has been running hot during his New Zealand trip, and if he is able to keep his winning momentum going, he is sure to get plenty more messages. “I have been getting lots of messages. We are racing during the night over there, so when I am sleeping they are messaging, and when they’re sleeping I am messaging them back.” Jonny Turner’s four runners to watch at Winton Side Hustle – Race 2 (1.15pm) This youngster lines up for start number two after an excellent debut at Oamaru last month. After sitting parked in what looked a slightly stronger field, Side Hustle fought on bravely for fourth. The winner, Utah Blaze, will go on to compete in the Group One Sires Stakes Final on New Zealand Cup Day at Addington. Keeping pace with a quality rival like that looks like outstanding form for Side Hustle to bring to his Winton assignment. From a workable draw in barrier 5, he should get his winning shot. Markthewarrior – WDC Heat No 18 – Race 7 (4.08pm) He’s a little risky and by no means a standout, but Markthewarrior looks a potential value option on Sunday. The trotter has made mistakes in his past two starts, but he gets the key benefit of starting behind the mobile this time. Before his recent mistakes, Markthewarrior ran some tidy races in stronger grades than he takes on this Sunday. From barrier 4 over a mile, don’t be surprised if the five-year-old rolls forward and runs a cheeky race. Jaccka Evan – WDC Heat No 19 – Race 9 (5.02pm) This bold-striding pacer looks to have all of the attributes needed to take out his heat of the World Driving Championship. Jaccka Evan has gate speed, a nice draw, and also has the services of Gary Hall Jnr, who looks set for a big day at Winton. The four-year-old chased home Step It Up A Notch in his last start at Winton, running into second. The key factor is that he’d had two months between runs, and he should strip fitter for this week’s assignment. Drawing inside his key rivals, expect Jaccka Evan to take some catching. Axel Rose – Race 4 2.24pm It is probably fair to say Axel Rose is the best horse in Sunday’s Gold Chip Final. Whether he shows that or not is questionable. His last start at Winton was marred by an early gallop, but he still managed to run a nice fourth. Complicating things, the trotter appeared to hit a flat spot on the home turn before powering home late. He’ll be at short odds which won’t be enticing considering he’s a little bit risky, but Axel Rose still rates a clear top pick. View the full article

David Eustace will wheel out the three highest-rated horses in his stable this weekend and the trainer hopes at least a couple of them can give him reason to think big as the season progresses. Still searching for his first victory since his 2024 Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) success, Massive Sovereign is second up in the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) after a strong fourth in last month’s Class Two Panasonic Cup (1,600m). That was only the galloper’s second run since undergoing fetlock...View the full article

Racing returns to the Sha Tin turf on Sunday for the first time in two weeks, with the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) the highlight of the 10-race card. Jay Rooney is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five L’Oreal Paris Handicap (1,600m) Perfect Peach followed a good win with a sound second to Ninja Derby last start and looks the one to beat here. Race 2 – Class Four Grace One Handicap (1,000m) Ka Ying Warrior has trialled very nicely for...View the full article

A perfectly judged front-running victory on Just Charlie (NZ) (Zed) in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) capped a memorable New Zealand riding debut at Riccarton on Saturday for apprentice jockey Logan Bates. Born and raised in Canterbury and a son of leading southern rider Kylie Williams, Bates is forging a successful career as an apprentice in Victoria. The 24-year-old has ridden over 110 winners, headed by a first black-type success with Jigsaw in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley last month. Bates jumped at the opportunity to return to his homeland on Saturday and ride against his mother for the first time. Both mother and son got on the board early in the afternoon – Bates with Enterprise (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) in the One Good Horse At Avonhead Tavern Premier (1100m) and Williams aboard Platinum Pantheon (Hanseatic) in the Scenic Hotel Group Premier (1200m). But then Bates stole the show with a feature-race triumph as he guided the Kevin Myers-trained Just Charlie to an all-the-way win in the Metropolitan. Bates took up the lead within the first 100m of the race and was able to dictate terms from that point on. He began to up the ante and pull ahead of the field coming down the side of the track, and then Just Charlie kicked off the home turn and put three or four lengths on his nearest challenger. Titicaca (NZ) (Tarzino) launched a powerful finish from the back of the field and got to within three-quarters of a length at the finish, but there would be no catching Just Charlie. Bates exchanged fist bumps with his proud mother after unsaddling and was loudly cheered by family members on the front of the stand. “It’s a big thrill and I have to give credit to ‘Dummy’ (Myers) and his team, they presented the horse in super order,” he said. “I was quite excited to ride him today after looking through his replays, because I could see his staying capability. “There wasn’t a lot of pressure in the race and I was able to just let him do it his own way. He’s a big, strong, big-striding horse. I let him roll and ramped it up from the 1000m. He just gave me a wonderful feel. I was even able to have a couple of looks at the big screen to see how far in front we were.” Just Charlie has had 24 starts for six wins, six placings and $206,435 in prize-money, and he now shares $4 favouritism with Titicaca for next Saturday’s Gr.3 Martin Collins 162nd New Zealand Cup (3200m). “We think he’ll love going up to 3200m for the New Zealand Cup next week,” Myers’ son Jason said. “He was rated beautifully in front today by Logan and he just outstayed them in the end. Logan is a very good rider – we wouldn’t mind having him back home in New Zealand a bit more. “Just Charlie’s ready to race now and we’ll just keep him ticking over through the week ahead of the Cup next Saturday.” View the full article

Progressive stayer Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) (Redwood) showed his versatility when winning his second race at Rosehill in the space of a couple of weeks for trainer Bjorn Baker. The five-year-old son of Redwood was gallant on Saturday carrying 59kg topweight under Dylan Gibbons when winning the Chandon Handicap (2400m) on a Good track, having saluted last start on soft ground. Given a good ride by Gibbons, Thebudgiesmugla was taken out of his comfort zone when the pressure came on early but still proved too good. “He is just an out-and-out stayer,” Gibbons said. “He’s a funny sort of horse. It was a completely different race to the other day, where I had a lap full of horse. “The two times I have ridden him on top of the ground, he is just a casual bugger.” When War Ribbon took off with 800m to run, Gibbons was forced to push forward three-wide and he had enough in the locker to defy Claim The Crown (Acclamation) and Sting In The Tail (NZ) (Savabeel). “Because the move was about a 100m sooner than I would have liked, the last hundred he was out on his feet, but he has pure stamina,” Gibbons said. “I was always subconsciously aware that when you are on the favourite, people are always trying to do what they can to beat you. “I had my guard up and he was able to get out when I needed to. Full credit to the horse, he was able to ping off the mark and then sustain a long gallop.” Raced by Darby Racing, Thebudgiesmugla was a private purchase from New Zealand where he won two races for original trainer Jo Rathbone. Rathbone paid just $3,000 for the son of Redwood who was sold via gavelhouse.com as a broken-in gelding. Bred by Bradbury Park, Thebudgiesmugla is out of the winning Keeper mare Hot Pants. View the full article

Progressive galloper Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) returned to racing with a vengeance as he took out the feature event at Pukekohe, the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), courtesy of a rails-hugging ride from Triston Moodley. The Tony Rider-bred and owned son of Savabeel swept through the grades during the autumn and winter months, winning three of his four starts before finishing sixth of eight runners at Te Rapa in early August where he was found to be lame in a hind leg following the run. Trainer Andrew Forsman wasn’t prepared to risk him at that stage and put him away for a break to recover before beginning a summer preparation with a second-placed finish over 1100m at the Te Rapa trials towards the end of September. Forsman concentrated on building the five-year-old’s fitness to have him cherry ripe for his resuming run and the horse repaid that approach in spades as he held out local runner Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) in a blanket finish to add some invaluable winning black type to his record. Rider Triston Moodley, who had earlier found success aboard impressive juvenile Speed Demon (NZ) (Yes Yes Yes) in the second event on the card, made full use of an inside barrier for his mount to have him travelling sweetly in the trail behind race favourite I’munstoppable (NZ) (Charm Spirit) throughout. Moodley quickly angled Force of Nature around the weakening pacemaker at the 300m and dived through a yawning gap on the fence to join Moving Melody and Jaarffi in a three horse war that went right to the wire as he defeated Jaarffi by a nose with a head back to Moving Melody (Deep Field) and less than half a length over the late-closing First Five (NZ) (Almanzor), Whiskey ‘N Roses (NZ) (Belardo) and Pour the Wine (NZ) (Telperion). Forsman had been concerned about the gelding’s fitness for a tough run 1200m and was pleased everything had fallen into place for his charge. “I thought he might be a little vulnerable late as it has been quite a while since he has had a run, so credit to the team at home to have him right,” Forsman said. “It was a very game effort and he is a talented horse, so hopefully he can come through this well and we can press on. “We haven’t plotted out a path beyond today as this was the race we wanted to have him spot on for. “He is now a stakes winner which is important for Tony as he is breeding from the family, so it’s a massive result. “It is a good feather in his cap so hopefully he can go on with it.” Force of Nature is out of the O’Reilly mare Elusive Nature (NZ) and is the younger brother of Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) winner Shezzacatch (NZ) (Savabeel) who also ran 4th in the 2023 Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) behind Levante. He has now won six of his 11 starts and more than $182,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Group One winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) returned to the scene of her biggest win and was right back at the peak of her powers in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The daughter of Written Tycoon showed her class as a three-year-old with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) during last season’s New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch, and she was also a placegetter in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). Captured By Love’s form fell away through the rest of that season, finishing only seventh in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie before venturing to Melbourne and running fourth in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) and eighth in the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes (1600m). The chestnut mare kicked off her four-year-old season in the North Island with a fifth over 1400m at Ellerslie and a second in a 1300m race at Taupo. A return to Riccarton was something of an afterthought, only coming on to the radar after the abandonment of the Te Rapa meeting on Labour Day, and she flew back down to Christchurch just days out from Saturday’s race. But the change of scenery in Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton stable brought the very best out of Captured By Love last spring, and the same thing has happened 12 months later. Captured By Love jumped from the outside gate in the 14-horse field, and rider Bruno Queiroz was unable to get her any closer than three wide turning out of the back straight to come down the side of the track. But despite covering extra ground, Captured By Love cruised forward around the outside of her rivals and was breathing down the neck of the leaders Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) and Nepheti (NZ) (Charm Spirit) before the turn for home. Captured By Love took command and dashed to a clear lead at the top of the straight. It briefly looked like her wide run might take its toll as the chasers began to eat into her margin, but Captured By Love lifted again in the last 100m. She swept past the finish line two lengths clear of The Radiant One (NZ) (Darci Brahma), with a neck and a head back to Candycane (NZ) (Pins) and Girls Light Up (NZ) (Sacred Falls) respectively. The time was 1:21.53, the third-fastest in the history of the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes. “It’s fantastic to see her back like that,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. “She was obviously a 1000 Guineas winner here last spring. She’s had a bit of a rough time since then and hasn’t always had the rub of the green. “We took a bit of a risk deciding to bring her back down here again, but she’s an experienced traveller now and she just handled it so well. The change of scenery has done her good. “She did it tough today. The plan was to be positive from the wide gate. Bruno wasn’t able to get cover, but he had her travelling really well and then presented her at the top of the straight. “I thought she was there to be beaten with 200m to go, but she kept finding and won really well. “She’s a Group One winner, and now that we’ve got her back in winning form, we can hopefully target some nice races through the summer.” Captured By Love was bought by David Ellis for A$525,000 from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She has now had 16 starts for six wins, six placings and $804,486 in stakes. With Ellis still at recuperating at home after undergoing major surgery earlier in the season, the stable was represented at Riccarton on Saturday by his wife Karyn Fenton-Ellis. “David hasn’t been in the best of health, but he’ll be watching at home and this will be a big boost for him,” she said. “This horse won a Group One here in Christchurch at this time last year, and she’s obviously happy to be back – and so are we.” View the full article

Progressive sprinter Platinum Attack (Santos) finally got the firm track conditions he thrives on at Riccarton on Saturday to serve up a stunning performance when winning the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m). The Lisa Latta-trained speedster hadn’t been seen on raceday since finishing sixth in Listed company at Trentham back in April when clearly unsuited by the tricky wet underfoot conditions that day. Given a long break by Latta, the five-year-old son of Santos was fitted for his reappearance on Saturday with two trials which included a win over 1000m on his home track at Awapuni in early October. Latta was confident she had her charge at peak fitness for the 1000m dash, even taking the precaution to ensure rider Craig Grylls was well aware that his responsibilities included ensuring the horse didn’t get loose travelling around to the start as he was that full of himself. “He has been scarily well in himself the last two weeks,” Latta said. “We said to Craig to get a lead on him went he got around to the start as I hadn’t come all this way for him to get loose.” Grylls did everything asked of him as he bounced the $2.30 favourite away cleanly from the barriers before relaxing nicely towards the rear as former Aussie galloper Azeezle (Exceed And Excel) set up proceedings from in front. Azeezle was still going strongly in front at the 300m and looked to have all runners covered except Platinum Attack who was out in the middle of the track and starting to steam home at a rate of knots. Grylls never had to use the whip as Platinum Attack gobbled up Azeezle and cleared away for a comfortable two-length victory, as local Texas Dolly (NZ) (Ace High) finished off bravely for third. “He struck that many wet tracks last year and all we have ever needed is a decent track that he got today,” Latta said. “He’s pretty smart and I think he is up to winning a Group One. “He will back up next Saturday (Listed Stewards Stakes, 1200m) and we will definitely be looking at the Group Ones later in the year.” Bred by Aquis Farm, G1G Racing & Breeding and Fly Horse, Platinum Attack was purchased by owners Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms Bloodstock for $37,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Weanling Sale and has now won six of his 16 starts and over $254,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Cambridge-based horseman Nick Kneebone tasted his first success in the training ranks when two-year-old gelding Speed Demon (NZ) (Yes Yes Yes) caused a minor upset in the Hallmark Stud 2YO (1100m) at Pukekohe. Most attention before the start was centred around the Stephen Marsh runners Rupeni (Home Affairs) ($4.00) and well-backed debutant Perfect Pour (NZ) (Dundeel) ($2.40), who headed the market after some impressive raceday and trial form respectively. In contrast, Speed Demon, a son of former The Everest (1200m) winner Yes Yes Yes, was allowed to drift out to $21 despite having finished off nicely for fourth on debut at Ellerslie behind stylish winner Harvey Wallbanger (NZ) (Home Affairs). Rider Triston Moodley allowed Speed Demon to find his feet early, settling third last in the seven-horse field as the Marsh pair set up proceedings from the front. Speed Demon tracked Justin Case (NZ) (Banquo) into the race on the home bend and once balanced up by Moodley, he burst past that runner and drew clear to win nicely by just over a length from Justin Case, who battled on strongly and the late closer Miss Perna (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). Kneebone was all smiles as he savoured his first winner after just a handful or runners. “That was really good and I’m just stoked he won like that,” Kneebone said. “It all went to plan as I said to him (Moodley) if they go hard early, which they did, just slot in and it worked out perfectly. “He finished really nicely last time and I thought this long straight would suit him, and clearly it did.” Speed Demon is likely to be seen in stakes company at his next outing. “My first thought is that he will come back here in two weeks for the Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m),” Kneebone said. “He just improved so much off that first-up run and he has put away quite a good field today.” Kneebone, who saddled his first runner as a trainer at Tauranga back in June, is the son of long-time auctioneer and New Zealand Bloodstock’s Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone. The 27-year-old spent a large part of his early 20s gaining international experience to set him up for his move into the training ranks, including taking a senior role with John Sargent in Sydney before returning home. Kneebone trains from the Cambridge stable that was formerly owned by the now Cranbourne-based Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. The talented horseman has also prepared horses for next week’s Ready To Run Sale, in addition to sending out impressive trial winner Law By Law (Toronado). Despite being a Karaka graduate, Speed Demon is not paid up for the Karaka Millions, but Kneebone said there are plenty of options for the youngster. “I think he will get out to a mile as a three-year-old and has good scope to train-on,” he said. “We picked him up quite cheaply from Book 2 at Karaka and he was one we just didn’t want to leave without as we really liked him. Bred by Helen-Gaye and Graham Bax, Speed Demon is out of the Proisir mare Devotioninmotion (NZ) and from an extended family that includes Hong Kong Group Two winner Amazing Star (NZ) and seven-time Grade One USA winner Snow Chief who was rated the Champion 3YO Colt in the USA in 1986. View the full article

It’s one of the more competitive editions in recent memory and Sunday’s Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) features a pair of former winners of the race, two Hong Kong Derby heroes and a host of other gallopers hoping to stake their claim for next month’s Longines Hong Kong International Races. The 2023 Ladies’ Purse victor, Encountered, and reigning champion Ensued chase repeat successes at Sha Tin this weekend, while the past two Derby winners, Massive Sovereign and Cap Ferrat, remain in...View the full article