Wandering Eyes

Thursday's G2 Dante Stakes hero Pride Of Arras (New Bay) has improved to a Timeform rating of 119p after his performance at York. The rating is the highest given to any of the winners of the middle-distance Classic trials this spring. Topping all 3-year-olds via rankings is G1 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court (Justify) at 123. G3 Acomb Stakes victor and Dante favourite The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) is third at 118+. Leopardstown's G3 Derby Trial Stakes winner Delacroix (Dubawi) and G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes scorer Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot) are rated 116p and 116, respectively. Timeform reporter Kieran Clark said, “Not only had Pride Of Arras clearly learnt plenty from his debut at Sandown nine months ago, but he appears to have strengthened up appreciably in that period. “This puts Pride Of Arras, who is a fine-looking type with bags of scope, firmly in the Derby picture. The longer trip is likely to be within range and the track is unlikely to pose a problem considering two of his dam's first three foals have won round Epsom. He has leading claims of becoming the sixth winner of this to follow up there this century and is fully deserving of his place towards the head of the Derby betting.” North Light, Motivator, Authorized, Golden Horn and the late Desert Crown have all completed the Dante-Derby double this century. The post Pride Of Arras Leads Middle-Distance Classic Trial Timeform Ratings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien trainee Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), a 450,000gns Tattersalls December foal and half-brother to G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes hero Vandeek (Havana Grey), made a winning debut in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Navan. The 7-1 chance produced a determined effort to deny stablemate True Love (No Nay Never) by 3/4-of-a-length nearing the line in the six-furlong contest. NOT the finishing order the market expected 450,000gns Starspangledbanner colt , a half-brother to Vandeek, makes a winning start to his career by getting up late on to beat well-fancied stablemate True Love.@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/DUrnluXRSn — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 17, 2025 The post Vandeek’s Half-Brother Gstaad Makes Winning Debut at Naas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Liberami (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) opened up more options for his trainer Robbie Griffiths when he stretched out beyond 1600m for the first time in his career and took out Saturday’s A$130,000 Murray Cox Handicap (1800m) at Flemington. The New Zealand-bred gelding brought a rich vein of autumn form into the Benchmark 84 handicap, with his four previous starts producing second placings over 1300m and 1500m at Sandown, a third over 1600m at Bendigo, and a last-start Benchmark 70 victory over 1600m at Sandown. He looked well placed at the bottom of the weights for the final race on Saturday’s Flemington card, where he lived up to expectations as the $2.40 favourite. After settling in 11th among a strung-out 15-horse field, Liberami and jockey Jye McNeil began to improve their position coming up to the home turn. By the top of the straight, they had closed to within five lengths of the leader. McNeil released the brakes and Liberami quickly bounded into contention, hitting the front 250m from the finish and going on to win by a length and a quarter. Mathew (NZ) (Tavistock), Trosettee (NZ) (Jimmy Choux), and Le Zebra (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) completed a clean sweep of the first four placings for New Zealand-breds. “He went straight to sleep for me, which is always important with him,” McNeil said. “But the further we went in the race, the more it was hard to see in those conditions. He started towing me up through the field and had got to within about five lengths by the time I changed goggles at the home turn, so he’s done a pretty good job riding himself.” The four-year-old Liberami has now had 16 starts for four wins, six placings and A$283,675 for an enthusiastic group of connections named the ‘Rami Army’. “They pulled their caps out before the race, so I was a bit worried and it put me under some pressure,” Griffiths said. “But it didn’t stop him from winning today. “Watching the race, the most worrying part was seeing Jye pulling his goggles down. I was just hoping he could see. “But once he angled out in the straight, he looked the winner a long way from home. He did the job very well in the end, so it was great. “This performance has given us a bit of confidence that he’ll run 2000m. We could be cheeky and back him up for another 1800m race at Sandown next Saturday, or there are some other options over the next few weeks. We’ll let him tell us as we go. But he’s a developing horse that’s coming along really nicely.” Liberami was bred by Lindsay de Souza, who was a part-owner of the gelding’s multiple Group One-winning sire Turn Me Loose. Standing at Windsor Park Stud for a service fee of $7,500, Turn Me Loose is the sire of 105 winners, including eight at stakes level. Liberami is the first named foal out of the Nicconi mare Loose Goose, who herself won three times in an 18-start career. Loose Goose is a half-sister to the seven-race winner Fuerza (Snippetson), who placed in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. Loose Goose has made several return visits to Turn Me Loose in recent seasons, producing colt foals in 2021, 2022 and 2023. View the full article

The Queensland Winter Carnival is proving to be a happy hunting ground for Imperialist (NZ) (Churchill), who collected his second Brisbane black-type prize in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 HKJC World Pool Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben. The New Zealand-bred son of Churchill opened his winning account in the Listed The Phoenix (1500m) at Eagle Farm last June, which was only the third start of his career. The Chris Waller-trained gelding had gone winless in nine races since then, but collected three placings earlier in his three-year-old season, including the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) and Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) in Melbourne. Imperialist went into the Rough Habit Plate as an overlooked $46 outsider after finishing outside the placings in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) in his previous two starts. He turned that form upside down with a standout performance on Saturday in the hands of jockey Tommy Berry. Drawn the outside gate in the field of 14, Berry pushed Imperialist forward to sit outside the leader Shangri La Spring (Castelvecchio) as the field passed the finish line with a lap to go. Imperialist swung wide around the bend out of the home straight, but kept pressing forward to take up a front-running position heading down the back of the Doomben track. There were some shaky moments just before home turn as Imperialist was headed and looked likely to be swallowed up, but then he lifted again. With another powerful kick early in the home straight, Imperialist shook free of his challengers and took command. Imperialist put himself out of reach of the late-closing backmarkers, who were led by fellow Kiwi-breds Deep Focus (NZ) (Deep Field), King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci), Maison Louis (NZ) (Super Seth) and Our Benefactor (NZ) (Contributer). Berry and Imperialist swept past the finish line with a length and a half up their sleeve. “Full credit to the team behind this horse,” Berry said. “He has always had ability, but it hasn’t been easy to get the best out of him. Chris took the blinkers back off and we just changed things up a little bit in the hope that we’d get a result. “Chris is the best trainer of stayers around, so if he thinks he can get the horse to stay, then he can get the horse to stay.” Racing in the colours of long-time Waller client Noel Greenhalgh, Imperialist has now had 13 starts for two wins, three placings and A$387,850 in stakes. “We didn’t know what to do with this horse after his last start, where we tried blinkers and it didn’t work,” Waller said. “So we took them off and suggested to Tommy that we ride him a bit closer to the speed today. He had a nice soft time up front and it sparked some interest. “He brought some good form to Sydney from Melbourne, but then didn’t quite stay the 2400m in the Derby. I’ll have a chat to Tommy to see what he says, but I do still have some concerns over the 2400m in the Queensland Derby. The Churchills tend to be slightly speedier horses, so we’ll have a think over the next few days about where we go with him next.” Bred by Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham in conjunction with Demi O’Byrne’s Arkle Bloodstock, Imperialist is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Dancing Hare, who in turn is out of a Sadler’s Wells daughter of outstanding producer Solo De Lune, whose 11 winners included an incredible eight stakes performers headed by the Group One winners Cerulean Sky, L’Ancresse and Moonstone. Imperialist was purchased for $170,000 from the draft of Curraghmore at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale at Karaka by Chris Waller Racing and Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock. Dancing Hare has a yearling filly by Satono Aladdin and a weanling filly by Ocean Park. She was served by exciting Cambridge Stud shuttler Chaldean last spring. View the full article

Emma-Lee and David Browne’s victory in the A$300,000 Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday was enormously valuable in more ways than one for the Kiwi couple. A first black-type success for their homebred mare Basilinna (NZ) (Staphanos) carried plenty of value in itself, but the Andrew Ramsden also guarantees its winner a ballot-free spot in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. “I’m a bit overwhelmed actually,” Emma-Lee Browne said. “Now we just have to wrap her up in cotton wool, and then we can be back here for the Melbourne Cup in November. That’s a massive thing for our stable, we’re a tiny stable, and I can’t believe it.” Saturday’s Andrew Ramsden victory capped a strong run of autumn form for the New Zealand-bred Basilinna, who was a first-up winner over 2040m at Moonee Valley on March 22 before second placings in the A$150,000 Country Oaks (2100m) at Echuca and the Listed Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) at Morphettville. The four-year-old was given a perfect run on Saturday by jockey Dean Yendall, who moved her across from gate 14 and took up a position along the rail in third-last. Basilinna handled the deteriorating Soft7 track better than most in the Andrew Ramsden field, and she trucked into the race with ease coming up to the home turn. Yendall angled her out into clear air at the top of the straight, and Basilinna quickly powered past Berkshire Breeze (Mastercraftsman) to take command with just under 400m to run. Basilinna began to drift around while out on her own in the closing stages of the race, but she kept going strongly enough to beat the late-finishing Glentaneous (Gleneagles) by a length and a quarter. “I’ve only recently started riding for the Brownes, who are a lovely family and great to ride for,” Yendall said. “To get this mare into the Melbourne Cup is a great thrill for them and also for me. “She’d been knocking on the door. She put the writing on the wall with some nice runs in recent starts. She relished the soft ground today. We were able to get across from the wide gate and had a great run in transit, just following the fence and then getting out when we needed to. She found the line strongly down the straight.” Basilinna is the second stakes winner for Novara Park stallion Staphanos, joining the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner Pignan (NZ) (Staphanos). Basilinna is out of the Shinko King mare So Royal (NZ), who the Brownes bought for just $500 on Gavelhouse.com in 2019. From 19 starts, Basilinna has now recorded three wins and seven placings. She has earned A$535,000 in stakes. As a three-year-old, she placed in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m), Gr.2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m). “This is a horse that means a lot to me,” Emma-Lee Browne said. “We bred her and it’s absolutely amazing. “David actually bought her mum for me after I lost my good jumper Monarch Chimes – she’s by the same sire, Shinko King. I laughed at the time and said ‘you can’t replace him’, but now I think he’s done a pretty good job. “I just can’t believe she did that today. When the rain started coming, we were pretty confident. But she’s an absolute princess and I started to worry whether it had rained too much for her. But she just did it so well. “This is the second time Dean has given her an absolute peach of a ride. I can’t thank him enough. “Credit to all of our team. We’ve had a great season, but this has really topped it off.” View the full article

Making his Australian bow, Sir Delius (Frankel) ran out a 1 1/4-length winner of the G3 JRA Chairman's Handicap over 2000 metres at Doomben on Saturday (video). The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trainee topped the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale at 1.3 million gns last autumn. Sold to Waterhouse and Bott who were part of a partnership with Go Racing, De Burgh Equine, and McKeever Bloodstock, the bay stalked in midfield before rallying just off Floating (Puissance De Lune) in upper straight and forging clear at the 100-metre mark. The 4-5 pick, Sir Delius is now owned by Go Bloodstock Australia as part of an ownership group and was ridden by Tim Clark. Manzoice (Almanzor) was third. “It was great to see him put it all together and he's only going to improve from here off the back of that experience,” said Bott. “He's still well short of his best distance, and you saw how strong he was through the line. “He's bred to get over much further and his form in Europe suggests that as well. He was always purchased as a [G1] Melbourne Cup prospect, he's got that quality about him and everything we do in this preparation will be geared towards that. No firm commitments about another run this prep, but if we did a race like the Q22 looks suitable.” Bred by Mr. Mrs. David Brown in the UK, Sir Delius won his first three starts in France at three including the G3 Prix du Lys in the Coolmore partners' colours. Third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris last July, he was second in the G2 Prix Niel and wound up eighth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe prior to his sale Down Under. Out of the Daylami mare Whatami, the 675,000gns Tattersalls December foal is a half-brother to G3 Hoppings Stakes winner Nkosikazi (Cape Cross) and a full to stakes winner and five-time group-placed runner Juan Elcano (Frankel). This is the extended family of G2 Royal Lodge Stakes hero and G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes third Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko), who was runner-up in the G2 Dante Stakes this past week. Sir Delius impresses in his Australian debut, surging to victory at Doomben! @GaiWaterhouse1 @clarkyhk pic.twitter.com/aG9pLQSIVF — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 The post Seven-Figure Tattersalls Autumn HIT Topper Takes Chairman’s Handicap For Waterhouse And Bott appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

About a week ago the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) had the look of a grade 3 stakes race.View the full article

The class of Group 1 Champions Sprint winner Sunshine In Paris shone brightly at Doomben Racecourse on Saturday, as the mare bravely conquered the heavy track conditions to claim a hard-fought victory in the $1.5 million Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 (1200m). The win marked the first Group 1 of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and a […] The post 2025 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 Results: Sunshine In Paris Salutes for the Punters appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Visiting Brazilian hoop Bruno Queiroz is making every post a winner in his local riding stint by adding a maiden New Zealand stakes success to his bag of tricks as he guided gallant mare Francee (NZ) (Iffraaj) to a thrilling victory in the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup (1600m) at Trentham. Queiroz, who had ridden for Kiwi trainer Stephen Gray during a successful Singapore excursion after leaving his native Brazil, joined Gray in New Zealand earlier this month and immediately made an impact by riding a winner on his first day in the saddle here. Te Akau Racing entrusted the natural lightweight to take the reins aboard the five-year-old mare Francee, and he produced a peach of a ride on the daughter of Iffraaj, who landed the major spoils in a blanket finish from race favourite Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale) and Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan). Francee settled nicely just behind the pace with Queiroz sitting quietly on her until bringing her into contention along the rail approaching the home bend. Knights Realm, Bradman (NZ) (Pins) and Khanshe were strung across the track as Francee joined in to thrust her head in front in the final bound and collect her maiden black type success. Co-trainer Mark Walker was delighted to see the mare pick up the thick end of the stake, along with the black-type and other benefits that go along with the victory. “She tries really hard and it is just great for Haunui Farm, the Chitty family and everyone involved in her,” Walker said. “I actually watched the race here in Melbourne and not long after I got a call from Caroline Chitty who was just so thrilled with what the mare had achieved. “It really hits home why you participate in this industry when you get recognition like that and the win couldn’t have happened for a nicer group of people.” Walker was also pleased about the effort from Queiroz, a talent he had seen first hand when training in Singapore. “It was a tremendous ride from Burno as he had her in the right place and was strong on her in the closing stages,” he said. “We are lucky to have these experienced international riders coming to New Zealand and you can see just what they bring to the saddle in everything they do. “We will sit down and talk with Mark (Chitty) about where we go now but I think this might have been an excellent grand final for her, so she could well be off to the paddock before the Chitty family have a think about whether she comes back for another campaign or goes to the broodmare barn.” Francee carries the silks of co-breeder and owner Haunui Farm and is a daughter of 10-win mare, Calveen (NZ). A serious talent on the track, among Calveen’s victories were the Gr.1 Easter Handicap (1600m), Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m), Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) and Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). She also placed in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield. Francee has now won four of her 22 starts and over $215,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Promising three-year-old Celestial Wonder (Xtravagant) showed plenty of courage as she put in a resolute finishing burst to take out the Evergreen Bloodstock (1100m) at Ellerslie. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared filly had looked good during her opening campaign, where she won her second start before being put aside for a spell after finishing runner-up behind Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish) in the Listed O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) in November. A narrow defeat over 1200m at Te Rapa in her first start of a new campaign was followed by a midfield finish in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) late last month. The daughter of Xtravagant stripped a picture of health for her assignment against her fellow three-year-olds on Saturday, and she lived up to those looks with a comprehensive performance courtesy of a lovely ride from Jockey’s Premiership leader, Craig Grylls. Grylls bounced the filly away nicely to sit in fourth behind pacemaker Lucullan (Rich Enuff), with Grylls edging her forward to issue her challenge rounding the home bend. Lucullan fought strongly, but Celestial Wonder gained her measure at the 200m before holding out a swooping late run from Chicago Jack (All Too Hard), who got to within a head of the winner but no closer. Te Akau Racing Manager Reece Trumper was delighted by the ride from Grylls and just how tough the filly was in the closing stages. “It was a great ride by Craig as we told him to be positive and he was,” Trumper said. “She got the suck run off a good tempo, dropped in on them and was too good. “She went a good race last time and just folded at little at the 200m whereas back to 1100m today and off a good speed, she was able to take a sit and that was the key to it. “Craig is there riding work for us most mornings, including raceday and we are glad to have him in the tangerine colours.” Grylls was also quick to praise his mount who showed plenty of grit in the concluding stages. “It worked out good as she began well but I was able to slot into the one-one as there was plenty of speed on,” Grylls said. “She travelled nicely throughout and found a good kick although at the 250m she wandered a little bit, but when the second horse came up to her, she dug deep. “She’s got plenty of toe but finished off from a good position today so it was a good effort.” Bred by Te Akau Racing CEO David Ellis, Celestial Wonder carries the colours of Te Akau Racing, who trained her Group One-winning sire Xtravagant, and her three-win dam Meteoric Lass. View the full article

A masterful front-running ride by Warren Kennedy and a powerhouse performance from Do You Just (So You Think) turned Saturday’s Listed Skycity Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie into a one-horse race. The pair led every step of the way in New Zealand’s longest two-year-old race and romped home by six and a half lengths. Do You Just has always been held in high regard by his Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and after being unplaced in two early-season appearances in November and December, he made a promising return to action in the autumn with a second placing and then a last-start sixth in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa. Many of that Te Rapa cast headed to Ellerslie for Saturday’s rematch in the Champagne Stakes, and the increased distance put Do You Just in his element. Kennedy sent the So You Think colt straight to the lead and controlled the race from there, with only an over-racing Wyndstorm (NZ) (Wyndspelle) for company within the first 400m of the race. Kennedy began to up the ante down the side of the Ellerslie track, and Do You Just soon shook free of Wyndstorm and pinched a break on the field. Do You Just kicked again in the straight and went further and further in front, powering away to score one of the most dominant victories of the two-year-old season. “When I first rode this horse, I put him behind horses, and he was very raw and erratic,” Kennedy said. “He’s been over-racing and just hasn’t been using himself the way he should. “I was happy to go forward and lead today, let him use his action, and he showed what he can do when he extends off that. That was a dominant performance by a horse that still has a lot of improvement to come. “I think he’s a really smart horse. He’s just got to learn his trade. He’s still very raw and has a few rocks in his head. Once we do a bit more work with him and put some cement there, I think he’ll be very good.” Do You Just was offered by Carlaw Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2024, where Wexford Stables bought him for $250,000. Racing in the distinctive white, blue and green colours of majority owners Waikato Stud, he has now had five starts for a win, a second and $65,275 in stakes. “Big congratulations to Waikato Stud, who came in with us at the yearling sales and own most of this horse,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve actually been surprised that he hadn’t produced any performances like that before today. He’s shown enough at home all season for us to expect him to be very competitive in this sort of company. “We decided to go forward with him today, get him into a good rhythm, and it was great to see him gallop out so strongly down the straight.” The ownership group also includes O’Sullivan’s daughter Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle, along with her husband Tom Doyle. “Mark Chittick is the majority owner, followed by Dad, while Tom and I are the esteemed one-percenters,” O’Sullivan Doyle said. “But it doesn’t really matter what percentage you have – the excitement is the same. “It was a real thrill today. We’ve always really loved this horse the whole way through, so it’s awesome to see him do it on the track.” Do You Just became only the fourth individual stakes winner sired by champion racehorse and influential stallion So You Think. View the full article

Saturday’s Stout Roofing (1200m) was the second year in a row that Erin Hocquard has used a May meeting at Trentham as a first-up assignment for Spencer (NZ) (Derryn), and the Waverley trainer’s stable star has struck gold on both of those occasions. A Rating 75 sprint at Trentham on May 25 provided a winning start to Spencer’s campaign last winter, and the son of Derryn went on to collect another three wins, including the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa in October. He was also runner-up in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m). An unplaced finish in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on October 27 was Spencer’s last raceday appearance for six months, but he warmed up for Saturday’s return with a bold trial win over 1000m at Otaki on April 15. The five-year-old was allotted a testing topweight of 61kg on Saturday, but Hocquard booked in-form apprentice jockey Amber Riddell and reduced that impost to 58kg. After settling in third behind Bold Belle (NZ) (The Bold One) and Tavis Court (NZ) (Tavistock) through the early stages of the $40,000 sprint, Riddell got Spencer into clear air out wide at the top of the home straight. The classy gelding took care of the rest, quickening stylishly to take command and going on to win by a length and a quarter from the strong-finishing Meritable (Snitzel). “He’s pretty happy with himself at the moment and he knows he’s good,” Hocquard said. “Amber rode him well and he travelled nicely in behind them before quickening in the straight. “He had a bit of weight to carry today, but I thought he’d handle that okay because he carries me around every day. “This is a good way to start what could be a big preparation. We’ve got the Opunake Cup and a few other options to look at, and I hope we might even be able to get him all the way through to the Spring Carnival. “He’s a pretty easy horse to manage, apart from being a bit of a handful at times. If we pick out the right races for him, he’s a pretty good horse to have around.” Hocquard’s former employer Aidan Schumacher bred and races Spencer in partnership with his brother Kieran. Spencer has now had 20 starts for seven wins, four placings and $242,855 in stakes. View the full article

Progressive galloper Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) made it a winning double at Ellerslie to open his current campaign when he took full advantage of a superb Warren Kennedy rails-hugging ride to capture the Network Visuals (1400m). The four-year-old gelding had suggested he was reaching a new peak in this preparation after he dashed clear first up at the venue in open-class company over 1200m. Up to a more favoured 1400m trip on Saturday, the son of Shamexpress was one of the main chances in a very even contest that saw three-year-old Whiskey ‘N Roses (NZ) (Belardo) start the $3.10 favourite with Sterling Express at $6.20. Outsider Billy Lincoln (NZ) (Belardo) set up a steady pace in front with Kennedy comfortable settling Sterling Express three back against the rail, although that position started to look increasingly precarious as runners swept around him wide out to make their challenges early in the run home. Kennedy didn’t panic and when Billy Lincoln rolled off the fence at the 150m he had his mount through in a flash to dash away from a game Imprevu (NZ) (Wrote), who fought hard in the middle of the track for second, with Sinhaman (NZ) (Tivaci) snatching third off Dusty Road (NZ) (Shamexpress) at the line. Brosnan had been confident of a good showing before the race after the improvement his charge had shown since his first-up performance, although he had his concerns when the horse was bottled up against the fence with nowhere to go. “I was worried but he (Kennedy) got him through,” Brosnan said. “He has got a lot stronger and has improved mentally so he was a lot better today, so onwards and upwards I hope. “It wasn’t a surprise today as he has been working really well, although he is going to be awkward to place as he doesn’t handle the very heavy tracks we are likely to get. “The Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) is something I’m thinking of, but we will wait and see.” Kennedy was also full of praise for the effort of his mount, who he believes has untapped potential. “I know he has a great turn of foot about him, but if you had asked me at the 400m if I would be first past the post I couldn’t have said yes as there was just nowhere to go with him,” he said. “Fortunately, half a gap opened and I had so much horse under me he was able to scoot through and win. “It was a really great win from a horse going places.” The race was also one of the first qualifying events for the Whangārei Racing Club’s ITM/GIB sponsored 2025 Winter Championships series, which concludes with finals day at Ruakaka on 28 June. The series will feature five $60,000 finals on the day with results from the qualifying events dictating the final field in each of the five finals. Brosnan may well be looking to go one better in 2025 with Sterling Express, who finished runner-up behind Tide And Time (NZ) (Time Test) in the 2024 Three-Year-Old Winter Championship Final (1600m). Raced by his breeders Gloria Macrae and Joanne McKeagg, Sterling Express has now had sixteen starts for six wins and $165,925 in stakes earnings. View the full article

Saturday’s Harrison’s Carpet Hard Flooring 3YO (1600m) at Trentham brought the curtain down on Coulthard’s (NZ) (Redwood) three-year-old season and hinted at an even brighter future as a four and five-year-old. The Lisa Latta-trained Coulthard has made a favourable impression in his first racing preparation, which kicked off with a second and a fifth from his first two appearances in December and January. He was a three-length maiden winner at Waverley in February in his third start, then was beaten by a nose when second at Wanganui in March. A first shot at black-type company produced a close seventh in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) at Trentham on March 29, followed by a big finish for third at Wanganui a month later. Latta picked out Saturday’s $35,000 three-year-old race as a suitable sign-off point for the Redwood gelding’s debut campaign. Sent out as a $2.30 favourite among a six-horse field, Coulthard settled in second-last before beginning to improve his position coming down the side of the track. Jockey Jonathan Riddell had Coulthard under a tight hold as he loomed outside the leaders at the home turn, and despite showing greenness in the run home, the favourite quickly put the race to bed. He dashed to the front and went on to win by three-quarters of a length from Canasta (NZ) (Ace High) and Kosta (NZ) (War Decree). “He still does a fair bit wrong, but he’s a pretty smart horse,” Latta said. “He relaxed nicely today, and then Jonathan got him into clear air and he finished it off strongly. “I’ll give him a bit of a let-up now and then bring him back for the spring. I think he’ll continue to get better.” Bred and raced by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey under his NZ Thoroughbred Holdings banner, Coulthard has now had seven starts for two wins, three placings and $51,255 in stakes. Coulthard is out of the More Than Ready mare Best Of British, who is also the dam of eight-race winner and Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) fourth placegetter Trident (NZ) (Smart Missile), along with the promising Hong Kong galloper Dragon Air Force (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who has won three times from an 11-race career to date. View the full article

Local jockey and Australian rider are confident they can strike on veteran handler’s all-weather pair on Sunday.View the full article

Making her first start for trainer Brad Cox and since WinStar Farm partnered with Baron Stables, Margie's Intention grinded out a victory in the $300,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at a sloppy Pimlico Race Course May 16.View the full article

Veteran handler eyes first-up victory with smart trialler a week before Group One bid with stable star.View the full article

By Michael Guerin Robert Dunn knows what to do with Always B You long term but the problem is what to do with her right now. The talented mare scored the biggest win of her career after a beautiful Peter Ferguson drive saw her take all the short cuts to grab the $30,000 Powell Transport North Island Breeders Stakes at Alexandra Park on Friday. She wasn’t the best away from her 10m handicap but in a race with some pressure she ducked to the passing lane at the right time and just got up to beat leader Diamonds Are Forever. Favourite Mantra Blue never got a cart into a winning position and ran on okay. The win was no surprise as Always B You had been racing the likes of The Surfer and Jeremiah recently and Dunn said his stable knew last year she was a good horse in the making. “We thought she would be up with the good fillies but she hurt herself in a paddock so didn’t get the chance to show it,” he explains. “We are confident she will be good enough to take on the best mares race later in the season. “The problem is what do we do with her now? I will have a look at the programmes but she will be getting up in the grades for the sort of races they have available up here. “So she might even need to have a break and get ready for those better mares races later in the year and early next year.” The win continued a consistent run for the northern arm of the Robert and Jenna Dunn stable with the stable now a constant and very important force at Alexandra Park. “We had 16 up here a few weeks ago but I have sent six back home but two more are coming up,” says the patriarch of the Dunn family. “We love having a stable up here and the opportunity it gives us to find the best place for horses to race. “We will have 6 or 7 racing here next Friday.” The other standout performers on a night where Alexandra Park played second string to Addington were Iron Love and Greased Lightnin. Iron Love overcame a 20m handicap to win the main trot, nosing out Hillbilly Blues and Halberg for a Wallis/Hackett trifecta. And Greased Lightnin outsprinte a brave Runkle Crunch in the last race after a sizzling early burn set the race up for the swoopers, with the runner-up giving the winner the perfect cart into the home straight. The winner paced a 1:54.9 mile rate for the 1700m and showed once again how hard Derby contenders are to beat when dropping back into grade racing. View the full article

By Michael Guerin One of New Zealand’s proudest harness racing regions turned back the clock to the glory days by dominating Addington on Friday night. Southland-based trainers won three of the six Group races on the stacked programme and two Southland mates in Regan Todd and Craig Ferguson combined with our best young pacer Marketplace to win the night’s Group 1, the $200,000 Garrards Sires’ Stakes Final. Todd may not live in the deep south any more but it only takes about 10 words to come out of his mouth to realise he is a proud southern man who he will be glad to be lumped in as part a stunning night for the South. Marketplace’s win in the historic race was hardly a surprise but the way he did it was with Ferguson finding a magical path through the field early to be in front after 400m. Then the question was how much would he win by and who would run second. The answers: three quarters of a length and Got The Chocolates, the latter one of our bravest young pacers just cursed to be born at the same time as Marketplace. The latter is a magnificent animal and there is no doubt he will go on to be an open class force but before then he has a stack of major races at the back end of the season with no emerging rivals on the horizon. His connections should buy their slot for The Velocity now, although finding nine rivals brave enough to take him on might be the issue. There was little surprise in Southland filly Duchess Maria winning the Sport Nation Trotting Stakes even if the fact she has now won her first three starts in three different provinces is the rarest of feats for a juvenile trotter. Like Marketplace she will go for a spell with the back end of the season promising so much. Kennington horseman Greg Hunter got in on waving the Southland flag (is there a Southland flag? There should be) when his tough mare Beach Day won the Rico Lodge Uncut Gems for the girls, with Mark Hurrell pulling all the right reins to out passing lane Seaside Rose. Perhaps the surprise of this wonderful southern domination with not the fact that Miki’s Deal won the $70,000 Ricoh Bionic Chance Bracelet but that she started $2.70 after opening at $6.50. She won like a $1.50 chance as she led, trailed and was then parked and when the chasers came at her she went again to remain unbeaten in two starts, both very strong through the line. She is trained by Brett Gray, who not only wasn’t at Addington after a family holiday but only just made it back to Auckland in time to watch the win in the hands of a confident Matty Williamson. “She is a good filly but I think she will get better as she is a touch immature,” says Gray. “She has always had speed but she has developed stamina to go with it now and she can go for a spell, which will do her the world of good. “She is eligible for the Sires’ Stakes when she comes back and while we tried to get flights back to Christchurch in time and couldn’t her owner Marty Fairburn was there to see it. “I have already spoken to him and they might struggle to get him out of the place.” As heartwarming as it was to see Southland so dominant the locals did hold their own with Eurostyle a stunning winner of the Uncut Gem Trot while Sideshow Bruce suggested he will be in open class by Christmas with a comprehensive victory in the Uncut Gems for the older male pacers. Add in Fugitive making it four from five starts in the two-year-old boys race and you had one of Addington’s best nights of the year. And Southland’s brightest night of harness racing glory in at least a decade. View the full article

After a series of near misses, Candied made it back to the winner's circle May 16, winning the $125,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. It was the millionaire's first win since the 2024 Lady's Secret Stakes.View the full article

Luck was truly on the side of trainer Norm Casse in the $250,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) May 16 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

Now a winner from six furlongs to 1 3/16 miles, Awesome Aaron continued his positive trend for trainer Norm Casse with an off-the-pace upset in the GIII Pimlico Special Stakes. After a career spent at nearly every level of racing, the 6-year-old gelded son of Practical Joke proved his 5 3/4-length roll in an allowance/optional claimer at Oaklawn last time out was no fluke (nor was the 104 Beyer Speed Figure that accompanied it). That win on Apple Blossom day Apr. 12, his first since getting claimed for $40,000 at Churchill Downs off a win going six furlongs last September, was the latest in an uptick of ability for Casse, marking his fifth-straight Beyer increase dating back to December. Making his 34th overall start and just his second run in a graded stakes (he was sixth to Elite Power in 2023 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap), the 7-1 shot had plenty of clear running room at the break and settled into a perfect stalking trip outside of the two favorites in Encino (Nyquist) and Phileas Fogg as the field passed the wire for the first time. Still widest of a host of pursuers as Encino put up an opening half-mile in :47.17, Awesome Aaron pulled away into a clear third into the far turn and was poised to strike from the top of the lane as Encino gave way up front. Phileas Fogg, second throughout, got first jump on the lead but Awesome Aaron always had his measure and pushed right on past inside the sixteenth pole to victory. “Just from Day One since we got him, he acted like a really good horse,” said Casse. “It was pretty obvious to me, basically right away, at some point we were going to stretch him out. That was working; he was running really well stretching out, but there was just something missing. So last time we just took the blinkers off, and that allowed him to settle just a little bit more, let him finish a little bit better. And he beat a quality field of horses at Oaklawn that day. I knew he was going to run really well today, especially stretching out even a little more. So, we expected to go over there and run really well. And we did. Johnny rode him perfect. It's truly a gratifying win. That's a big-time race that anybody would like to win, so we're very proud of that.” The 49th stakes winner for Practical Joke, Awesome Aaron is out of a stakes-winning first dam in Do the Dance who is herself a half-sister to Japanese stakes winner/MGSP Randonnee (Blame). A classy 2-year-old, Awesome Aaron brought $350,000 from Bradley Thoroughbreds from the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale. Do the Dance has not been bred or produced a foal since her now 3-year-old Nyquist colt named King Dance was exported to Hong Kong. Congratulations to the connections of #FasigGrad AWESOME AARON, winner of the Pimlico Special S. (G3)! O: Turman Racing Stable & AJ Suited Racing Stable T: Norm Casse J: @ljlmvelpic.twitter.com/i8ZOuZ96t2 — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) May 16, 2025 Saturday, Pimlico PIMLICO SPECIAL S.-GIII, $250,000, Pimlico, 5-16, 3yo/up, 1 3/16m, 1:56.67, ft. 1–AWESOME AARON, 122, g, 6, by Practical Joke 1st Dam: Do the Dance (SW, $198,980), by Discreet Cat 2nd Dam: Loure, by A.P. Indy 3rd Dam: Loving Pride, by Quiet American 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($130,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR). O-Turman Racing Stable, LLC and AJ Suited Racing Stable LLC; B-Lester Kwok & Dr. Naoya Yoshida (KY); T-Norm W. Casse; J-John R. Velazquez. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 34-6-3-6, $571,263. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Phileas Fogg, 122, g, 5, Astern (Aus)–Merino, by More Than Ready. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($55,000 3yo '23 KEENOV). O-Jupiter Stable LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Gustavo Rodriguez. $50,000. 3–Star of Wonder, 122, c, 4, Uncle Mo–Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. O-WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $25,000. Margins: 3/4, 4 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 7.00, 2.50, 1.90. Also Ran: San Siro, Cataleya Strike, Time for Trouble, Encino, Just Steel, Red Route One. Scratched: Pyrenees. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Awesome Aaron An Upset Winner Of The Pimlico Special appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making her first appearance since an ownership interest was purchased by WinStar Farm, Louisiana-bred MARGIE'S INTENTION (f, 3, Honor A. P.–Playful Dancer, by Into Mischief) came after long-time leader Paris Lily (City of Light) deep inside the final furlong and outslugged her rival to take Friday's GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico, a race delayed by about an hour and 15 minutes by an afternoon storm that triggered a shelter-in-place warning from track officials. Sent off the 5-2 favorite and trying open company for the first time in her young career, Margie's Intention was beaten for speed and settled third last and inside into the first turn as Paris Lily was hounded along through opening splits of :22.73 and :46.38. Margie's Intention continued to chart an inside course and made steady progress to race on the back of the leader approaching the half-mile and was under a vigorous ride from Flavien Prat passing the three-eighths. Pulled out with every chance turning for home. Margie's Intention took aim in Paris Lily, who held the lead into the final eighth of a mile, but the latter jumped off onto her incorrect lead with about a sixteenth of a mile left to race and Margie's Intention was able to seal the deal. She becomes the first winner at the graded level and third stakes winner overall for Lane's End's Honor A. P. Sales history: $57,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT; $185,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0. O-Baron Stable & WinStar Farm; B-Coteau Grove Farm LLC (LA); T-Brad Cox. MARGIE'S INTENTION ($7.00) prevailed in the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at @PimlicoRC! The three-year-old filly by Honor A.P. (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer @bradcoxracing and owners @WinStarFarm and Baron Stable. pic.twitter.com/regvSkmDmi — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 16, 2025 The post Honor A. P.’s Margie’s Intention Guts It Out In Black-Eyed Susan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gabriel Duignan's Echo Sound cruised to a two-length win in the $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) May 16 at Pimlico Race Course, earning her first graded stakes win off a nearly six-month lay off.View the full article

This is the story of an obscure big-league baseball journeyman from a half-century ago and the Preakness Stakes (G1) horse that bears his name. Gosger the horse is a gray/roan colt named for the largely forgotten player, Jim Gosger.View the full article