Wandering Eyes

With increases since 2017 in both the total value impacted and equine-related employment, the 2023 findings of the Equine Economic Impact Survey by the American Horse Council (AHC) reflect the positive contributions of the equine industry on the U.S. economy, the organization said via a release Wednesday. The survey offers a comprehensive overview of the economic impact and trends within the sector and highlights how the industry reaches far beyond the pastures and ranch land across the country. Highlights include: Diverse Economic Sectors Impacted: $177 billion. That's the total value added in 2023 from the equine industry, up from $122 billion in 2017. The equine industry's ripple effect extends beyond the traditional sectors, influencing a broad spectrum of industries. From agriculture and tourism to veterinary services and technology, the survey showcases the interconnectedness of the equine world with other economic realms. Employment Boost: The survey reveals a substantial impact on employment with 2.2 million jobs linked both directly and indirectly to the equine sector. Not only are breeders, trainers, veterinarians and farriers represented, but so are truck drivers, nutritionists, chemists, police officers and journalists. Slight Downshift in Population: While there is a slight downshift in the total population of horses from 2023 (6.6 million) compared to 2017 (7.2 million), that's only a slight consideration when compared to the growing numbers in jobs and expenditures. “The Economic Impact Study is the most effective tool in our advocacy quiver,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “When the industry needs to take aim at an issue, this data is invaluable in helping us paint the picture of the contributions the industry makes and the breath & depth of its composition.” Click here to purchase a copy of the study. The post Equine Economic Study Finds Diverse Sectors And Employment Positively Impacted Since 2017 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Australian serves up a perfect aperitif for Sunday’s Classic Mile thanks to the victories of Hercules, Telecom Speed, Noble Pursuit and Happy GolfView the full article

Horse Races S.A. announces that the organization and conduct of Greek horse races is ceased as of Jan. 30. The average number of registered horses in the Greek Jockey Club has been below 300 over the last two years.View the full article

Following the approval of the New York State Gaming Commission, the New York Racing Association has added a Thursday, February 29 card to the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Following the approval of the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has added a Thursday, Feb. 29 card to the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, the organization said in a release Wednesday. NYRA, with the support of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB), requested to add the additional card following the cancellation of racing Jan. 20-21 at the Big A due to arctic temperatures. The schedule is currently being conducted Friday-Sunday. Aqueduct will host a Presidents' Day card on Monday, Feb. 19 with four-day race weeks to resume Feb. 29. The winter meet, originally scheduled for 47 days, began on Jan. 1 and continues through Saturday, Mar. 30 and features 26 stakes races worth $3.5 million in purses. The post NYRA Adds Feb. 29 Card To Big A Winter Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the surface, the case against trainer Jeffrey Englehart seems pretty cut and dried. He had a horse test positive for Clenbuterol, the bronchodilator that is on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) list of banned substances. Trainers found using banned substances can be suspended for up to two years. But Englehart, who races at the NYRA tracks and at Finger Lakes, is adamant that he never gave the drug to the horse in question. “We don't use Clenbuterol. Period,” Englehart said. So is there more to this story? Dig a little deeper and you might conclude that there is. To Englehart, it's not about the fact that the horse tested positive. He doesn't dispute that finding. But when was the horse given Clenbuterol and by whom? He hopes the answers to those questions will clear his name and lead to HIWU dropping the case against him. The horse that tested positive for Clenbuterol was an unnamed 2-year-old by Classic Empire out of Fast Heart. Englehart bought the horse on behalf of owner Marcello Rosa for $14,000 at the OBS auction June 15. The horse broke down while training and had to be euthanized at Finger Lakes Nov. 21. Englehart's problems were just beginning. HIWU performed a battery of tests on the deceased horse, including blood, urine and hair. The blood and urine tests were negative. According to Rick Arthur, former equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, a standard dose of Clenbuterol will typically be detectable in the blood for about three to four days after administration. For urine, the detection window would typically be between 10 to 17 days after administration. But HIWU also performed a hair test, which revealed the presence of Clenbuterol. Englehart claims that hair tests can show the presence of the substance for up to a year after it was given to a horse. According to Arthur, Clenbuterol can be found in hair samples for at least six months after the drug was administered. Dr. Rick Arthur | Horsephotos “We've certainly seen Clenbuterol in hair up to six months,” said Arthur. “It could probably stay longer, we just haven't tried to look at it. We did a lot of hair testing for Clenbuterol in Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos. Trainers have contended that horses past six months have tested positive.” After learning about how long after administration Clenbuterol can be found in a hair sample, Englehart started to do the math. The horse broke down exactly five months and six days after the purchase at OBS. That means, Englehart contends, that it is entirely possible that someone gave the horse the drug before he purchased it and that he could be suspended for something someone else did. “(HIWU) say it's in the horse's system, so you are guilty,” said Englehart, who is still training while awaiting he results of the split sample test done on the Classic Empire colt. “It doesn't matter to them that it can stay in the system for up to a year and I only had the horse for less than six months. That's completely unfair. They are trying to upend my life.” The unraced colt was sold for $4,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale Oct. 26, 2022. The consignor was Vinery Sales and the purchaser was Juan Centeno. The latter, who sells under the name of All Dreams Equine, turned around and put the horse in OBS June. It was one of five horses who successfully went through the ring, including a horse named She She's Shadow (Bucchero), who was also purchased by Englehart. When asked if She She's Shadow was tested and what the results were, Alexa Ravit, the director of communications & outreach for HIWU, said in an email response to the TDN: “HIWU cannot comment on what horses have been sampled or their subsequent test results beyond what is published on our website in accordance with the ADMC Program's public disclosure requirements.” Englehart's theory is that Centeno gave the Clenbuterol to the horse in hopes that it would help the colt have a fast pre-sale workout. The horse put in a two-furlong breeze in :22. “I don't know the gentleman from All Dreams Equine,” Englehart said. “I just know it had to be him because I know it wasn't me.” Centeno did not respond to emails, text messages and phone calls from the TDN requesting a comment. Englehart alleged that Clenbuterol use is “rampant” at the 2-year-old sales. “This horse was probably training on (Clenbuterol) right up to day he sold,” Englehart said. “It's very well known that Clenbuterol use is rampant at sales. Every trainer knows that. I think if they did a hair test on every horse 70 to 80 percent would be positive for Clenbuterol.” Under OBS's conditions of sale, no medication may be administered within 24 hours of a horse's under-tack performance. Several specific medications may not be administered on the sales grounds or present in a test sample, including Clenbuterol. OBS tests around 10-15% of the horses who are going to sell, but does not do hair-sample tests, just blood and urine. This colt was not one of those randomly tested in June, the sales company said. Tom Ventura | Patty Wolfe When asked to elaborate on the sales company's rules regarding Clenbuterol, OBS President Tom Ventura said every step possible is taken to make sure that no horse in the sale has been given that particular drug. “With our policy for bronchodilators, including Clenbuterol, we were ahead of the racing curve, because the sales companies have the ability within the conditions of sale to put policies in place maybe a little quicker than jumping through the regulatory hoops that are required at the racetracks,” Ventura said. “OBS, in October of 2019, prohibited bronchodilators. Period. In any animal at any level, in any type of sale. “Since the very beginning of the tests, I think we had two early on who tested positive and didn't go through the ring, so two positives that we have had for Clenbuterol in four years. I know there weren't any in the last year. We test them as they're coming off the racetrack, and then the buyers have the right to test when they sign the sales ticket. We haven't had any returns for Clenbuterol from those tests.” In limbo while awaiting the results of the split sample, Englehart has continued his own investigation. He believes the answer to his problems may lie in what is called a segmented drug test, which can provide a time line so far as when a drug was used. According to the website cellmark.co.uk, by segmenting head hair samples into monthly one-centimeter sections, a month-by-month historic profile of drug use can be obtained. That goes for humans and horses. If the segmented test shows that the Clenbuterol was administered prior to the day when Englehart bought the horse, it would seem to prove his point that someone else must have given the drug to the horse and lead, he believes, to him being exonerated. Englehart has sent a hair sample off to the lab at Texas A&M and asked it to do a segmented test. “I'm just hoping they look at the science and I don't have to do the suspension,” he said. The problem is that he doesn't know if HIWU will also do a segmented test. Will they? Have they? HIWU won't say. “HIWU cannot publicly comment on the specific facts of pending cases, including whether segmented analysis was conducted on samples taken from specific horses,” Ravit said in another email. Finger Lakes | Sarah Andrew That's not reassuring to Englehart, who points out that the problem extends beyond sales. Horses often change hands, whether being bought at auction, being claimed or being privately purchased, and if they test positive for Clenbuterol through hair tests it would be unfair to automatically penalize the person who had the horse at the time it tested positive. “The average horseman who bought a horse or has a horse in their possession for only a short period of time, they can't be dropping the hammer on them when something can still show up in these tests after a year,” Englehart said. “You have to know when the horse was given the Clenbuterol.” We posed this question to HIWU: “Could a horse be given Clenbuterol by someone prior to being transferred to a new trainer and test positive? That would mean the current trainer would be getting penalized for something someone else did. Is this a plausible scenario?” Ravit's response did not answer that question. “HIWU cannot comment on the specific questions regarding Englehart's pending case, including the samples collected and type of testing conducted on Fast Heart 2021, the expected timeline to receive the B Sample results, and the plausibility of his defense,” she wrote. “Additionally, HIWU cannot speculate on the adjudication of the hypothetical case you described, for the outcome would depend on the specific facts of the case.” Englehart is worried that he is running short on time. Once the results of split sample are in and as long as it also shows the presence of Clenbuterol, he will be facing what could be an immediate suspension that can last as long as two years. “I'm just hoping that the tests comes back and vindicates me,” he said. “I will fight this as hard as you can and take this as far as necessary. I'm ready to take it to the courts. Meanwhile, this has been a nightmare for me.” Dan Ross contributed to this story. The post Facing A Two-Year Suspension For Clenbuterol, Trainer Jeffrey Englehart Says They’ve Got The Wrong Guy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

High-class juvenile Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is likely to begin his three-year-old campaign with a run in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, May 4 according to trainer Adrian Murray. Bucanero Fuerte won three of his five starts as a two-year-old in the familiar colours of Amo Racing, producing his best effort when easily winning the G1 Phoenix S. at the Curragh by four lengths from the subsequent G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio). On the sidelines since finishing well held in the G1 National S. in September, Bucanero Fuerte also has the option of waiting for the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas back at the Curragh on Saturday, May 25, but Murray is leaning towards a Newmarket return to action with a colt who he reports to have done well for his winter break. “He's great, he's been back cantering for two months now and I'm very happy with him,” said Murray. “He's got big and strong over the winter and I couldn't be happier with him. He's turned into a fine horse. “We're aiming to go to the 2,000 Guineas with him. We probably wouldn't go for a prep run and he'll be entered in both, but my preference would be the English I think.” Closer to hand, Murray is also planning an ambitious tilt at the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday, March 30. The horse in question is the four-year-old Elegant Man, who remains relatively unexposed after just three starts and was impressive when winning a Conditions race at Dundalk most recently. Though unproven on the dirt, Elegant Man has a pedigree which suggests he should come into his own on that surface and Murray is optimistic that we haven't seen the best of a colt who would be trying to emulate his sire, the 2017 Dubai World Cup winner Arrogate. “It was a lovely run and he's come out of the race well,” Murray said of the Dundalk performance. “He's nominated now to go to Dubai for the Dubai World Cup. He might not get in but that's the plan at the minute. “He's still quite green. He's learning and there's more to come from him once he gets a little bit more experience.” The post Guineas The Aim For Bucanero Fuerte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Outside the boxes of the foaling unit at Banstead Manor Stud are Juddmonte's versions of the blue plaques one sees across Britain on the former homes of famous people. Here, of course, the plaques are a subtle green, but when it comes to equine celebrities there can be no bigger name than Frankel (GB). He was born in one of the old brick boxes which should be granted special sporting heritage status on February 11, 2008. It is hard to believe that his 16th birthday is looming. Backing on to his foaling box is the one where Kingman (GB) entered the world, also in the month of February but three years later, and along the row is the birthplace of Dansili (GB), whose extraordinary mother Hasili (GB) is commemorated in bronze close to that illustrious foaling wing. In almost every instance, the Juddmonte stallions go and then they come back to live across the vast expanse of lawn from where their lives began in the lavish yard that was built 100 years ago initially to house the 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner Manna (GB). An outlier in this regard is this year's new recruit, another winner of the 2,000 Guineas, Chaldean (GB). Laying down an important marker as the first son of Frankel to retire to Banstead Manor, Chaldean was the result of a foal-share by Juddmonte with his breeders, the Harper family of Whitsbury Manor Stud. When the chestnut colt appeared at the December Foal Sale of 2020, the Juddmonte inspection team liked what they saw, so much so that Simon Mockridge duly bid 550,000gns to buy out the Harpers. It was a sound decision. Chaldean was still four days shy of his third birthday when he became a Classic winner. Still technically three, he now strides across the stallion yard like he owns the place: a proud, strong and correct young stallion. To the manner born, if not at the manor born. As he struts his stuff before posing without the hint of a fidget, Chaldean already has the professionalism of a stallion who has been putting on such a show for years rather than months. He certainly looks the part, but then the big, bay head of his father appears over the door of his stable as if to remind us that so far the bragging rights are all his. One of the plaques at Banstead Manor Stud's foaling unit | Emma Berry Frankel became the champion sire of Britain and Ireland for the second time in 2023. The Andrew Balding-trained Chaldean, who had also won the previous year's G1 Dewhurst S., just as his sire had done, was one of his 11 Group 1 winners. That list includes the Oaks winner Soul Sister (GB), Nashwa (GB), a Classic heroine herself a year earlier, and the brilliant six-time Group 1 winner Inspiral (GB). Remarkably, all three of those fillies reside in John and Thady Gosden's stable and have remained in training for the coming year. Chaldean's dam Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) had already dropped hints that she was something a bit special when her first two foals, The Broghie Man (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) and Gloves Lynch (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}), each earned black type. Her record improved again when her fourth foal became the G2 Mill Reef S. winner Alkumait (GB), by Whitsbury Manor Stud's home stallion Showcasing (GB), who was himself bred by Juddmonte. Alkumait is now at Capital Stud in Ireland. Then came Alkumait's full-sister Get Ahead (GB), a Listed winner who was runner-up in the G1 Flying Five S. last season before being bought by Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavey for 2.5 million gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. By then of course she was also a half-sister to a Classic winner. The next one to look out for, and once again in the Juddmonte silks, is the mare's two-year-old filly by Kingman (GB), who topped the foal sale of 2022 at a million gns. She has been named Kassaya (GB), after a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar II, one of the rulers of the Chaldean Empire. A classy touch by a classic operation. Shane Horan, Juddmonte's nominations manager, says of Chaldean, “He put together a very good sequence of wins following his maiden. He won three very prestigious two-year-old races in the Acomb at York, the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and the Dewhurst Stakes. The Dewhurst is obviously the crowning race of the year for the the two-year-old season, and he won that in the second-fastest time ever. And straightaway we knew we had a stallion prospect, even just based on that. “But then obviously he trained on as a three-year-old and won the 2,000 Guineas. That solidified his stallion career, and then with the credentials of being a son of Frankel out of a very fast mare who's a proven producer of fast two-year-olds and sprinters, we knew we had an exciting package to deal with.” Horan recounts how the interest in Chaldean “snowballed” as breeders came to view him during the December Sales. “I think just going back to people remembering what he was like as a foal and the commercial breeders, they're trying to produce foals like that. If he can throw [foals] like himself, there's the precocity on his dam side. She is by Dutch Art out of a Green Desert mare, so there's a lot of speed there,” he says. Horan reflects on another stellar year for Chaldean's sire in 2023, which has been followed up at the start of this new year by Inspiral winning the Eclipse Award for the Top Female Turf Horse, and Measured Time (GB) becoming his latest big winner in the G1 Jebel Hatta last Friday. “Frankel's first big son to stud was Cracksman,” Horan says. “And from his first crop, he gets an unbeaten French Derby and an Arc winner in Ace Impact. So that's very encouraging. And then throw in the fact that Chaldean was a very good two-year-old, and that's what people really want. So it is encouraging and fingers crossed.” However much crossing of fingers takes place, it will all be up to the magic of genetics now. Chaldean will certainly be served up a decent book of mares, even considering the competition he faces for blue-blooded females from within his own stable yard. He stands now in the box once occupied by Rainbow Quest, and he is the charge of Elliott Body, who proudly shows him off while vouching for how easy he has been to handle since his arrival at the stud late last year. Once stabled, Chaldean has to his right his own imposing father and the venerable Oasis Dream (GB), still covering at the age of 24 and with a record as both sire and broodmare sire that deserves plenty of respect. To his left is Bated Breath (GB), in the stable once occupied by his late sire Dansili and with a potentially big year ahead of him, and Kingman (GB), who is swiftly compiling his own solid line-up of sons at stud. The competition naturally continues beyond the walls of Banstead Manor, too. In Newmarket alone there are three new Group 1-winning sons of Frankel at stud this year – with Triple Time (GB) having joined Darley and Mostahdaf (Ire) at Shadwell – as well as Onesto (Ire), from one of Juddmonte's top families, in France.Father afield, Adayar (Ire) and Westover (GB), have joined the stallion ranks in Japan, while Hurricane Lane (Ire) has a jumps berth in Ireland. It is too early to be talking about succession when it comes to Frankel: he's still king of the hill and likely to be for years. But often the heir comes from within, and Chaldean has plenty in his favour to give him a chance to succeed. The post Chaldean Ushers in a New Age at Juddmonte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At least four states, including Kentucky, are withholding their simulcast signals from New Mexico to support the New Mexico Horsemen's Association's ongoing dispute with the New Mexico Racing Commission.View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK–In many ways the Tattersalls February Sale is to Flat racing what the January transfer window is to football, the chance to add a squad member or two–and perhaps get rid of a few more–potentially bringing rich rewards for those who traded cleverly when the season reaches action stations a few months from now. Owner/breeders including Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell feature among the high-profile teams set to ring the changes with significant departures, so too leading trainers such as John and Thady Gosden, William Haggas and Roger Varian, leaving the odd bargain to be had for those perhaps more accustomed to operating in the lower leagues. Missed The Cut (Quality Road), for example, won four races for George Boughey–including the Golden Gates H. at Royal Ascot–after being bought for 40,000gns at the February Sale in 2022 when offered as part of the Shadwell consignment through Barton Sales. More recently, Missed The Cut won the G3 Tokyo City Cup S. at Santa Anita last October having joined John Sadler earlier in the year. A horse like Missed The Cut doesn't come along at the February Sale every year, of course, but the one constant is a catalogue as diverse as any you're likely to find, with horses in training, broodmares and just-turned yearlings all featuring among the 378 lots on offer at the two-day sale beginning on Thursday. Buyers hoping for a quick return on their investment in the coming months will be training their eye on the two-year-olds, a select group featuring the progeny of well-established names such as Kingman (GB) and first-season sires including King Of Change (GB). The Kingman colt (lot 96) is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Prefer (Ire), a full-sister to the G1 1000 Guineas third Moth (Ire), while the King Of Change colt (lot 97) is out of the Authorized (Ire) mare Zubeida (GB), already the dam of two winners and a half-sister to the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Teggiano (Ire) (Mujtahid). Crowned the champion sire in Britain and Ireland for the second time in three years in 2023, Frankel (GB) has earned a sky-high reputation which was reflected at all the major sales, notably at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale where he was responsible for the top two lots. Don't bet against Frankel picking up where he left off as the 2024 sales season kicks off at Park Paddocks on Thursday. His three-year-old colt Retort (Ire) (lot 129) certainly appeals as one of the more interesting horses in training on offer at the February Sale, a grandson of the blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and a full-brother to the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Obligate (GB). The blue-blooded Retort wouldn't have been out of place at Book 1 had consignors Juddmonte wished to sell him as a yearling, but instead they raced him in France with Henri-Francois Devin for whom he recently won a Conditions race on the all-weather at Chantilly. Four-year-old gelding Composite (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) (lot 326) is another Juddmonte-bred sure to attract plenty of interest, a half-brother to the G3 Musidora S. winner Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Unraced when selling for just 5,000 guineas at last year's Tattersalls August Sale, Composite has since won twice on the all-weather for the Boughey stable and features in the bumper Castlebridge Consignment–the largest draft in the catalogue–along with the three-year-old gelding Alfred (Fr) (City Light {Fr}) (lot 328), he too a dual winner on the all-weather for Boughey this winter. Wildcard entry Billy Webster (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) (lot 275A), a three-year-old gelding consigned by George Scott's Eve Lodge Stables, is another unexposed sort who could have more to offer having won three of his four starts, while the catalogue also features a trio of older horses who have already proven themselves capable of mixing it at a higher level. They include the six-year-old mare Moracana (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) (lot 112), who gained valuable black type when winning a Listed race at Cork in 2023, plus four-year-old filly Lady Bullet (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}) (lot 111) and six-year-old gelding Max Mayhem (GB) (New Bay {GB}) (lot 341), both of whom finished placed in similar company. If the horses in training and two-year-olds provide the opportunity for a quick return, then the broodmares on offer at the February Sale will appeal to those looking to build for the future, hoping to produce homegrown talent to carry the team to success years down the line. The football metaphors might be wearing thin at this stage, but there is always an appetite for the Shadwell consignment which this year includes the 11-year-old Taqaareed (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 107), a full-sister to Taghrooda (GB) who memorably won the G1 Oaks and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. in 2014. Taqaareed is sold in foal to Pinatubo (Ire) and will be followed into the ring shortly afterwards by the four-year-old Tarjamah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 110), who happens to be out of a full-sister to Tarfasha (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), runner-up to the same owner's Taghrooda at Epsom. Other siblings to top-level winners to look out for include the Barton Sales-consigned pair of Crimson Rock (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 66) and Angel Terrace (Ghostzapper) (lot 67). Crimson Rock is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn (Danehill) and offered in foal to Saxon Warrior (Jpn), while Angel Terrace is a Grade 3-winning half-sister to star stayer Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), offered in foal to New Bay (GB). In 2023, the Classic-placed and multiple Group winner Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), consigned by Tweenhills Farm & Stud, topped the February Sale at 250,000gns to BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe. A total of 298 horses sold (84%) for 4,141,800gns. The average was 13,899gns and the median was 7,000gns. Thursday's session begins directly after the TBA Flat Stallion Parade that features Stradivarius (Ire) among others at 11am. The sales ring action kicks off a little earlier at 10am on Friday. The post Tattersalls February Sale Ready For Kick Off In Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ascend The Throne (NZ) (Savabeel) struck during his black-type debut on Wednesday winning the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa. After producing two notable performances on the course, Ascend The Throne had lengthened stylishly to win his maiden on 10 January at Matamata, and made the step up with aplomb. Sporting the addition of blinkers, drawn barrier one with Opie Bosson aboard, Ascend The Throne began smartly to take up a handy position, was sixth at the 1000m, tracked up camped on the leaders turning for home and kept up a defiant gallop to prevail in a close finish after reaching the lead 300m out. “We got a beautiful run and the gaps just opened up too easily for us, really, and he got there (lead) a bit soon and had a look around,” Bosson said. “But he’s a very good young stayer and he’s still learning. He tends to get a bit hot and has done before, too, but he’s well behaved and he’s got a good brain.” Trainer Mark Walker was equally impressed and indicated the son of Savabeel was on track for a tilt at a three-year-old feature. “It was a good tough win and lovely ride by Opie,” Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson, said. “He got him to relax in a nice position and there’s certainly still improvement to come from this horse. He’s still very lightly raced, so we think he’s right on track towards the Derby.” The $1m Gr.1 Trackside NZ Derby (2400m) will be contested on Saturday 2 March at Ellerslie. Ascend The Throne is now an $8 chance for the coveted event, while stable-mate What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish), who circled from last to grab third, is into $16.00. “We thought the blinkers would help him focus just that bit more and I think we saw that,” Walker added. “He comes off a very good farm of Tony Rider’s at Milan Park and we’re having plenty of success with horses bred and prepared by them – second in the Karaka Millions 2YO last Saturday and now a Waikato Guineas winner, plus The Perfect Pink, the 1000 Guineas winner we had for Tony. “They breed good, tough, horses that train on and Aromatic we bought from the Milan Park draft as well. “So, really thrilled to win the Waikato Guineas and as mentioned, there’s plenty of improvement still to come.” Owned by Te Akau 2022 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Ascend The Throne was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $575,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park. “He’s from the best family in the stud book,” said Ellis, from the sales grounds at Karaka. “It’s a great South Island family of the Dennis brothers (Tony, Joe, Martin and Ray Dennis) and they have always bred their mares to the best available stallions. “We rated him one of the best Savabeel colts in the sale when we bought him. We loved him. Out of an O’Reilly mare, which is an outstanding cross, from mares by Centaine and Grosvenor, and it’s the family of our 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner The Perfect Pink. “It’s a great family from the past and also a great current family with so many of the progeny performing well at stakes levels. “We’ve just finished buying for three days at the Karaka Book 1 Sale, and bought a few with the Savabeel/O’Reilly cross, so to win the Waikato Guineas with Ascend The Throne you couldn’t get better advertising for the bloodlines. “It’s a massive thrill to finish first and third in the Waikato Guineas, and they both looked pretty good lead-up runs to the Derby. “We’re very grateful at Waikato Thoroughbred Racing to Joan (Egan) at Legacy Lodge for her sponsorship and we’ve had a great relationship for over 25 years with the Egan family and Greenlea Meats where we sell all our cattle from Te Akau Stud. “Joan is a Life Member of the racing club and just a great ambassador for New Zealand racing.” View the full article

The bloodstock agent's dinner guests include a Benedictine monk and an Olympic gold medallist, but don't tell Harry Eustace that Hubie de Burgh no longer considers him a youngster. Proudest moment of 2023? Reaching 160 stakes races won by de Burgh Equine purchases since setting up the agency. What is your biggest ambition for the new year? Keep on the bright side of life. Give us one horse to follow and why? No Knee Never (Ire) (No Nay Never), purchased for Bronsan Racing. And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on… Ollie Sangster. A great first season in 2023 without the ammunition of the large stables. Harry Eustace was a close second but I wasn't sure he qualifies as a 'young person' anymore. Who do you think will be champion first-season sire this year? If it's European first-season then Hello Youmzain (Fr). If it's just Ireland and the UK then Earthlight (Ire). He was a good two-year-old, and there's plenty of them to run and in good hands. And the best value stallion in Europe? Camelot (GB) at €50,000 – a sire who consistently gets real Group-class horses. At a lower end, Bated Breath at £10,000 – a great value sire who upgrades his mares. What's the one horse you wish you'd bought in 2023? The Siyouni (Fr)-Lucerne (GB) yearling filly from Arqana. We were underbidder with Craig Bernick to his good friend Ramiro Restrepo of Mage fame. Biggest regret? Not being able to sing… I knew I was bad when once at a karaoke night in Hong Kong when I had finished my rendition of American Pie my host jumped up and clapped and then asked me to sing it seriously! Biggest influence on your career? My father. Not only a successful breeder but a thinker ahead of his time. He also advised me to take the job with Sheikh Hamdan when I was about to take another. If you could sit down for dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would they be and why? Mark Todd: great company and an even greater equestrian Olympian. Dom Perignon: the benedictine monk whose influence on the early development of champagne production is recognised worldwide. He will guarantee the quality of what we will drink. Sacha Baron Cohen of Borat fame: for a bit of humour if he hasn't already been shot by a disgruntled citizen of Kazakhstan. The post In the Hot Seat: Hubie de Burgh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King St, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Friday, February 2, 2024 First Race 6pm AEDT Visit Dabble The summer series of racing returns to the bright lights of Canterbury on Friday evening, with a competitive seven-race program set for decision. The rail moves back to the true position for the meeting, and with no rain forecast in the lead-up, punters should anticipate a Good 4 surface prior to the opening race at 6pm local time. Best Bet at Canterbury: Superstitious Superstitious produced a career peak on resumption at this course and distance on January 19 and appears set to go one better on Friday evening. The son of Snitzel chased home gallantly on the heels of Turned Down on that occasion, just hitting empty in the concluding stages to be defeated by less than a half-length on the wire. It was a bold effort to sprint off at such a moderate speed, and although there doesn’t seem to be much more tempo engaged in this 1250m contest, Joshua Parr gets the opportunity to be more positive from gate five. Watch for Parr to lead or sit one-off aboard the three-year-old, and when asked for the supreme effort, we’re confident Superstitious can figure in the finish. Best Bet Race 4 – #5 Superstitious (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Joshua Parr (57.5kg) +320 with Bet365 Next Best at Canterbury: Autumnmation Autumnmation powered into a runner-up finish on return at Canterbury on January 19 and almost proved victorious in a post-race protest. The claim was dismissed shortly afterwards, as Nash Rawiller attempted to make the argument his mount was impeded along in the inside running rail when searching for clear air. Would she have won the race? Jury’s out in that regard, however, you can’t deny the daughter of The Autumn Sun was closing best of her respective rivals. She returns to the scene of the crime second-up into the campaign, and with the extra fitness under her belt, watch for Autumnmation to finally go one better after finding the minor money in four of her five career starts. Next Best Race 1 – #1 Autumnmation (2) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: Nash Rawiller (59kg) +100 with PlayUp Next Best Again at Canterbury: Enhance The second race of the program has many intriguing first starters ready to make their respective debut, but we’ve been taken with the recent jump-out of Enhance for the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou stable. The colt by Exceed And Excel went on to score by 2.8 lengths at Rosehill on January 25 and did it under his own steam for Kerrin McEvoy. We love the front-running role he played on that occasion, and we’d love to see McEvoy adopt similar tactics on race-day conditions. Watch for this guy to ping the lids from barrier six, and when persuaded in the concluding stages, Enhance should give a bold sight for followers. Next Best Again Race 2 – #3 Enhance (6) 2yo Colt | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Kerrin McEvoy (57kg) +200 with Neds Canterbury Friday quaddie tips – 2/2/2024 Canterbury Park quadrella selections Friday, February 2, 2024 1-4-5 1-3-7-8-11 1-2-4-5 1-3-5-9-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

A bombshell report into Tasmania’s harness racing industry was released Wednesday, with shocking findings including animal abuse, race fixing and team driving. View the full article

It has been a momentous week for Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green, which kicked off on Saturday with a memorable double at Ellerslie. Green cheered home her pride and joy Desert Lightning to win the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), before putting on her breeding hat to barrack for farm graduate Orchestral, who took out the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in the following race. “It was such a special night on Saturday, it was unbelievable. We had 46 people with us who had flown up (from Ashburton), it was amazing,” Green said. Green and fellow Barneswood Farm principal Ger Beemsterboer have been active at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National yearling sale in recent years, purchasing fillies under the guidance of trainers Peter and Dawn Williams, with a view to future broodmare careers. However, they had one exception in 2021 when they purchased a Pride Of Dubai colt out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft for $150,000. “We always buy fillies, but we had left the sale that day and had gone over to Waiheke,” Green said. “Peter rang us to see if we were interested in buying a colt. We trust Peter and Dawn implicitly, so we said yes. They have never put us wrong, they have always bought the best of the best.” Their judgment proved to be correct, with that colt being Desert Lightning, who has won five and placed in five of his 16 starts to date, including victories in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), Aotearoa Classic and Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), supplemented by placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m). Green was vocal in her praise for Desert Lightning and said he is finally getting the kudos he deserves. “Turning for home he just went to another gear and that was so exciting to see,” she said. “He is a special horse, and it is really special to see him get the credit that he has deserved.” With Saturday’s victory, Desert Lightning earned a spot in the A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on March 16, and Green said he would take his place in the field all going well after the Gr.1 Trackside Otaki-Maori Classic (1600m) at Otaki next month. “To get the slot to the All-Star Mile is wonderful,” Green said. “I think he will go to the Group One at Otaki and then we will go to the All-Star Mile all going to plan. We will definitely be going to that if he goes.” Green didn’t have long to wait before she was celebrating more success at Ellerslie on Saturday, but this time as the breeder of Karaka Millions 3YO victor Orchestral. “By the time we got out of the presentation room (following Desert Lightning’s win) she (Orchestral) was about 400m from home, and I could hear her name being called out,” Green said. “We started screaming for her and it was unbelievable to see her win.” Orchestral is another New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, but it was Barneswood Farm doing the selling and not buying in 2022, with trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood going to $625,000 to secure the Savabeel filly out of Hanui Farm’s draft. Orchestral is out of Symphonic, who was purchased by Barneswood Farm as a yearling at Karaka for $330,000 and went on to win four races and finish runner-up in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) for the Williams’ before retiring to the broodmare paddock, where she has quickly become the matriarch of Barneswood’s broodmare band. Barneswood Farm’s broodmare gem Symphonic has a Savabeel filly foal at foot, a full-sister to Orchestral, and is back in-foal to Savabeel. Photo: Supplied “She (Symphonic) was always a tough mare, and she has put that into her foals,” Green said. “I remember not too long-ago Dawn said she would probably be our best broodmare, and think she is absolutely right about that. “We have had a number of good mares on the track but Symphonic has turned out to be one of the best broodmares.” While Green was overjoyed to see a product of her farm take out New Zealand’s richest race on Saturday, she said it doesn’t quite top the feeling of cheering home her own horse. “People always used to say to me ‘wait until you have bred your own’. I never thought it could get more exciting, but it was pretty special seeing something you bred go on and do that on Saturday for the owners and trainers she has now,” Green said. “I still don’t know that it eclipses seeing Desert Lightning racing like that, it is very special, not only for us but our family, who follow him. To get messages from people back in Ashburton who were watching was great.” The excitement didn’t stop on Saturday for Green, who headed to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka earlier this week to watch Orchestral’s full-brother go through the sale ring as lot 464. Lot 464, the Savabeel full-brother to Orchestral, was purchased out of Haunui Farm’s 2024 NZB Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $310,000 by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Photo: Supplied The Savabeel colt was knocked down to the $310,000 bid of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and while a little disappointed with the result, given his full-sister’s success over the weekend, Green is excited by the possibility of travelling to Hong Kong to watch him race. Symphonic has a Savabeel filly foal at foot, which will likely be retained, and is back in-foal to Waikato Stud’s Champion stallion. “I want to keep the filly at foot, I have become quite attached to her,” Green said. “My husband has other ideas, so we will see who wins that battle of the wills.” Barneswood Farm has had plenty of high-class fillies over the last decade, and Green is now enjoying watching them enter the next stage of their career as broodmares and seeing their foals go through the sales ring. “We have about seven or eight broodmares at the moment,” she said. “Most of them are here but we also have some over in Australia at Sledmere Stud in the Hunter Valley. “To see them go to the next stage of their career has been great.” “We have got an Exceed and Excel colt out of (Group One winner) Media Sensation that will go through the Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney, so that will be exciting to see.” In the meantime, Green will still be trying to come down from the high of her superb Saturday double. “We will never forget that night for as long as we live,” she said. 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A handsome colt by Ardrossan was one of the keenly sought-after lots on Day 1 of Book 2 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales with Ready To Run Sale vendors Lilywhites Lodge securing the prized target for $155,000. Catalogued as Lot 795, the colt by rising star Ardrossan out of the Per Incanto mare La Donna was prepared by Dave Duley and Jude Latimer’s Landsdowne Park. After a spirited bidding duel, it was Sophia Nolan, bidding while on the phone to husband Derek, who landed the winning blow and the colt is now likely to be seen back at Karaka for November’s Ready To Run Sale. “He’s a strong, well-bodied colt and a beautiful mover. He’s a very attractive horse and there was a lot to like about him,” Nolan said. “He looks like the perfect type to take through to the Ready To Run Sale. He should have good appeal. “I like Ardrossan. He is doing a good job with four stakes winners and another stakes-performer at this early stage, plus the market seems to like them. “I thought there was also a fair bit of Per Incanto in the horse, which the mother was by.” Hanna Örting and Sophia Nolan. Photo: Trish Dunell The Nolans both have a strong background in racing and prepared their first Ready To Run Sale draft in 2019. They have quickly built a good reputation as skilled breakers and pre-trainers, as well as Ready To Run preparers, complementing a small training operation at their South Auckland base near Ardmore. “We have about 60 boxes and our own track and it’s a perfect place for it,” Nolan said. “We had a beautiful Super Seth filly out of Perfect Fit at last year’s Ready To Run Sale who we sold for $525,000. She was just a ready-made racehorse and hopefully she can come out and be a poster-girl. “This is the first horse we have got this week. We had a tried on a couple but they went beyond budget. We maybe went slightly over the price on this one, but we were happy to get him. “There are a couple still on the short-list but we are happy we got the lot we came for. It just broadens the appeal of our draft at the Ready To Run Sale, having a colt like him.” The colt was bred by Dame Lowell Goddard and was one of four offerings by popular Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan, with Landsdowne Park also selling a colt by the sire out of the Iffraaj mare Exhibit for $100,000 to Wexford Stables. View the full article

It has been a momentous week for Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green, which kicked off on Saturday with a memorable double at Ellerslie. Green cheered home her pride and joy Desert Lightning to win the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), before putting on her breeding hat to barrack for farm graduate Orchestral, who took out the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in the following race. “It was such a special night on Saturday, it was unbelievable. We had 46 people with us who had flown up (from Ashburton), it was amazing,” Green said. Green and fellow Barneswood Farm principal Ger Beemsterboer have been active at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National yearling sale in recent years, purchasing fillies under the guidance of trainers Peter and Dawn Williams, with a view to future broodmare careers. However, they had one exception in 2021 when they purchased a Pride Of Dubai colt out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft for $150,000. “We always buy fillies, but we had left the sale that day and had gone over to Waiheke,” Green said. “Peter rang us to see if we were interested in buying a colt. We trust Peter and Dawn implicitly, so we said yes. They have never put us wrong, they have always bought the best of the best.” Their judgment proved to be correct, with that colt being Desert Lightning, who has won five and placed in five of his 16 starts to date, including victories in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), Aotearoa Classic and Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), supplemented by placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m). Green was vocal in her praise for Desert Lightning and said he is finally getting the kudos he deserves. “Turning for home he just went to another gear and that was so exciting to see,” she said. “He is a special horse, and it is really special to see him get the credit that he has deserved.” With Saturday’s victory, Desert Lightning earned a spot in the A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on March 16, and Green said he would take his place in the field all going well after the Gr.1 Trackside Otaki-Maori Classic (1600m) at Otaki next month. “To get the slot to the All-Star Mile is wonderful,” Green said. “I think he will go to the Group One at Otaki and then we will go to the All-Star Mile all going to plan. We will definitely be going to that if he goes.” Green didn’t have long to wait before she was celebrating more success at Ellerslie on Saturday, but this time as the breeder of Karaka Millions 3YO victor Orchestral. “By the time we got out of the presentation room (following Desert Lightning’s win) she (Orchestral) was about 400m from home, and I could hear her name being called out,” Green said. “We started screaming for her and it was unbelievable to see her win.” Orchestral is another New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, but it was Barneswood Farm doing the selling and not buying in 2022, with trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood going to $625,000 to secure the Savabeel filly out of Hanui Farm’s draft. Orchestral is out of Symphonic, who was purchased by Barneswood Farm as a yearling at Karaka for $330,000 and went on to win four races and finish runner-up in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) for the Williams’ before retiring to the broodmare paddock, where she has quickly become the matriarch of Barneswood’s broodmare band. Barneswood Farm’s broodmare gem Symphonic has a Savabeel filly foal at foot, a full-sister to Orchestral, and is back in-foal to Savabeel. Photo: Supplied “She (Symphonic) was always a tough mare, and she has put that into her foals,” Green said. “I remember not too long-ago Dawn said she would probably be our best broodmare, and think she is absolutely right about that. “We have had a number of good mares on the track but Symphonic has turned out to be one of the best broodmares.” While Green was overjoyed to see a product of her farm take out New Zealand’s richest race on Saturday, she said it doesn’t quite top the feeling of cheering home her own horse. “People always used to say to me ‘wait until you have bred your own’. I never thought it could get more exciting, but it was pretty special seeing something you bred go on and do that on Saturday for the owners and trainers she has now,” Green said. “I still don’t know that it eclipses seeing Desert Lightning racing like that, it is very special, not only for us but our family, who follow him. To get messages from people back in Ashburton who were watching was great.” The excitement didn’t stop on Saturday for Green, who headed to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka earlier this week to watch Orchestral’s full-brother go through the sale ring as lot 464. Lot 464, the Savabeel full-brother to Orchestral, was purchased out of Haunui Farm’s 2024 NZB Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $310,000 by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Photo: Supplied The Savabeel colt was knocked down to the $310,000 bid of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and while a little disappointed with the result, given his full-sister’s success over the weekend, Green is excited by the possibility of travelling to Hong Kong to watch him race. Symphonic has a Savabeel filly foal at foot, which will likely be retained, and is back in-foal to Waikato Stud’s Champion stallion. “I want to keep the filly at foot, I have become quite attached to her,” Green said. “My husband has other ideas, so we will see who wins that battle of the wills.” Barneswood Farm has had plenty of high-class fillies over the last decade, and Green is now enjoying watching them enter the next stage of their career as broodmares and seeing their foals go through the sales ring. “We have about seven or eight broodmares at the moment,” she said. “Most of them are here but we also have some over in Australia at Sledmere Stud in the Hunter Valley. “To see them go to the next stage of their career has been great.” “We have got an Exceed and Excel colt out of (Group One winner) Media Sensation that will go through the Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney, so that will be exciting to see.” In the meantime, Green will still be trying to come down from the high of her superb Saturday double. “We will never forget that night for as long as we live,” she said. 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Following a record-breaking Book 1, a quickfire day of selling saw 118 lots go under the hammer at the opening session of NZB’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale. Book 2 has been a happy hunting ground for Karaka Millions contenders over the years, highlighted by this year’s $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO runner-up Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who was a $110,000 purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables at Karaka 2022. In fitting fashion, the top lot of today’s session was Lot 790, a half-brother to the Karaka Millions performer by Time Test from the young Pour Moi mare Kerre, also knocked down to Paul Moroney in conjunction with Catheryne Bruggeman and Sears Racing for $220,000. Purchased from the Leanach Lodge draft, Maddysen Sears was elated to secure her ‘pick of the sale’. “We’ve had a lot of luck out of Book 2. We had this colt highlighted from the moment we saw him,” she commented. “We just looked at the athlete in front of us, he looks like a runner and he oozes class. “Hopefully you’ll see him line up for a Karaka Millions in the future,” she added. Lilywhites Lodge secures Lot 795 for $155,000. Established Ready to Run Sale vendors Lilywhites Lodge went to $155,000 to secure Lot 795, a son of emerging sire Ardrossan, offered by Landsdowne Park. Speaking to Sophia Nolan, the plan is to return him to the Karaka sales ring in November. “That’s the plan, he’s a lovely type for it,” she commented. “He will suit many overseas buyers and fit well into the draft we are putting together for the upcoming NZB Ready to Run Sale.” All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2024 are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series, featuring the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO and $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO. Yearlings purchased at the Book 2 Sale who nominate for the Karaka Millions Series are also eligible for the $200,000 Book 2 Bonus, to be won by the first horse across the finish line in the 2026 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO race. Selling continues on Thursday where lots 801 to 970 get underway from 11am (NZT) at Karaka. To enquire about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz. View the full Book 2 results and online catalogue here. Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Book 2 online. Karaka 2024: Book 2, Day One Statistics (at end of selling) 2024 BOOK 2, DAY ONE 2023 BOOK 2, DAY ONE 2022 BOOK 2, DAY ONE 2021 BOOK 2, DAY ONE AGGREGATE $2,652,000 $3,363,500 $2,919,000 $4,151,000 AVERAGE $44,949 $41,525 $36,037 $43,240 MEDIAN $37,500 $32,500 $30,000 $30,000 CLEARANCE 64% 60% 58% 68% CATALOGUED 118 156 164 170 SOLD 59 81 81 96 TOP LOT Lot 790 Time Test – Kerre (Br.C) $220,000 Lot 789 Proisir – Harriet Wilson (G.C) $180,000 Lot 756 Vadamos – Call Me Blondie (Br.C) $180,000 Lot 725 Churchill – Astrid (Ch.F) $200,000 Karaka 2024: Book 2, Day One Top Lots Lot Sire Dam Sex Vendor Purchaser Price 0790 Time Test Kerre Colt Leanach Lodge Ltd Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing (Queensland) $220,000 0795 Ardrossan La Donna Colt Landsdowne Park Ltd Lilywhites Lodge Ltd (Auckland) $155,000 0731 Sun City Flippity Lass Filly Westbury Stud Benner Racing Ltd (Manawatu-Whanganui) $130,000 0723 Time Test Fascino Lass Colt HGT Bloodstock Ltd John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $120,000 0690 Ace High Diggilou Colt Platinum Bloodstock Richardson Racing Stables (Waikato) $100,000 0719 Ardrossan Exhibit Colt Landsdowne Park Ltd Wexford Stables (Waikato) $100,000 0773 Contributer Isle du Cap Filly Mapperley Stud Ltd Topline Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (Queensland) $100,000 0704 Shocking Edmonton Colt Rich Hill Stud Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) $85,000 0711 Redwood Encosta de Nacre Filly Westbury Stud Ms R Carter (Auckland) $80,000 0685 Redwood Decimal Filly Westbury Stud Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing (Queensland) $75,000 View the full article

Toowoomba trainers Tony and Maddy Sears teamed up with Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman to purchase the top lot on Day 1 of Book 2 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales when going to $220,000 to secure a stunning colt by Time Test. Presented by Leanach Lodge, the brown colt enjoyed a significant pedigree update since the catalogue went to print, with his half-brother Pendragon now the winner of the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) and runner-up in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) for trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard. The father-daughter training combination were in attendance at Karaka for the first-time last year, where they purchased six yearlings, one of whom is the Listed winner Beau Dazzler who finished seventh in last Saturday’s Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), charging through the line late. “We bought a few last year and they look like they’re OK, so we’ve decided to come back and load the gun again and get a few more good ones hopefully,” Tony Sears said. “We waited all day hoping that we could get him for under $250,000, which we have, and I bought him for a client in Australia. “Most people would say that he’s a lovely type of horse and Paul Moroney told us early yesterday that he thought he was one of the picks of the sale in Book 2. We just go along with what he says, he’s never too far wrong.” Sears was able to lean on Moroney and Bruggeman’s knowledge of the family, with the duo having purchased both Pendragon and a Zacinto half-sister last year. The pair are out of the Pour Moi mare Kerre. “Paul said he’s thrown a lot to Sadler’s Wells and he was very keen on him,” Sears said. “He thought he was a great looking colt and we’re looking 12 months ahead when we think he’ll develop into a beautiful animal. “We were active in Book 1 and bought a couple of nice Ocean Parks. We paid a bit of money ($150,000) for one of them and we happened to buy a cheap one ($40,000) yesterday. Maddy and Leigh Sears. Photo: Trish Dunell “We also managed to purchase a Redwood filly ($75,000) this morning, who was another one on our list and now we’ve bought this colt. We’ll see how we go [on Thursday and Friday].” Leanach Lodge Principal Ross Mackay was pleased with the result and said the Time Test colt had been well-admired all week. “We were certainly hoping for that sort of money. His reserve was a fair bit under there but there had been a fair bit of activity, and he was busy all week,” Mackay said. “He behaved like and absolute trooper, he ploughed through his work and was fantastic all week. He is a beautiful colt and it was a dream result getting the pedigree uplift prior to the sale.” The colt was bred by Cambridge horseman Brett McDonald and his partner Tanya Donaldson, who purchased the colt’s dam for just $3,300 from the Valachi Downs Unreserved Reduction Sale via Gavelhouse Plus. “They own the mare and were lucky enough to buy her a couple of years ago,” Mackay said. “They had a good result last year with a Zacinto filly which we sold to Moroneys as well. “They obviously knew what Pendragon was capable of doing and the Zacinto filly had a trial last week and looks pretty smart as well. “This colt was another level again and had that little uplift on the page. He was a perfectly clean colt, lovely x-rays and great scope and was everything we could have dreamed for. “Collectively he was as busy as the whole draft.” Despite the highlight lot, Mackay said it was a buyers’ market with good opportunities to capitalise on the significantly bolstered New Zealand prize-money. “We’ll be selling some horses at value after what we have seen today. We have another 11 to sell over the next few days and we have some quality colts and lovely fillies,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity with the (enhanced) stakes to get behind it and get our mates back into racing. It’s a good opportunity to buy and it looks like people will be buying at value.” View the full article

Trainer Terry Kennedy is hoping the addition of some headgear will help sharpen his promising three-year-old Hakadecree (NZ) (War Decree) for Saturday’s Listed Dunedin City Motors Dunedin Guineas (1500m) at Wingatui. The son of War Decree has impressed in his four starts to date, posting two wins and two runner-up performances, including a last start second to Aberlour in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m). Kennedy was pleased with the result but said he got distracted in the closing stages of the race, which he thinks cost the gelding victory. “He got to the front and gawked around and didn’t concentrate that much, but he still went a good race,” he said. “He has got blinkers on this week so hopefully he concentrates a bit better when he gets there.” Hakadecree has drawn a wide alley of 10 in the 14-horse field, but Kennedy believes he will still be able to find a handy position from that gate. “He has got plenty of gate speed, so he should get across and be out of trouble somewhere, fifth or sixth,” he said. “He is getting better and better each time. He is going to be very competitive.” Kennedy’s plan is to compete in all three southern Guineas races with Hakadecree and is hoping to snare the lion’s share of the prizemoney in the latter two races before potentially sending his charge for a spell. “It is great money – $80,000, $100,000, and Invercargill is $120,000. If everything goes well on Saturday, he will head to Invercargill after that,” Kennedy said. “He is going to be a better horse next year, so I don’t want to overtax him this year.” The Wingatui horseman will also be aiming to gain some black-type with his last start winner Nobellem (NZ) (Belardo) in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m). “She won nice last start. I know it is a big step up in grade and she hasn’t run over further than 1335m, but the way she won the other day I think she deserves her chance to have a go at trying to get some black-type for her broodmare career,” Kennedy said. “It is always good to support the White Robe Day. Take the top three or four out and they are all pretty even horses.” Kennedy said he will wait and see how Nobellem handles the mile on Saturday before mapping out her future targets. “We will just play it by ear,” he said. “We are not quite sure whether she will get a mile. There is some pretty good racing coming up for her up to 1400m if she doesn’t get the mile, so we will work that out after Saturday.” Kennedy will line-up nine other runners on Saturday, and rates Bourbon Chique (NZ) (Telperion) in the Steve Anderton Memorial 65 1200m and Gordon in the Grand Casino Maiden (1400m) as his two best chances. “I have only had Bourbon Chique for one start and she went a really good race for second,” he said. “I have got a maidener called Gordon who went quite well on debut for fifth, and should be a good chance. The rest are all chances if everything pans out on the day.” Meanwhile, Kennedy was a proud father over the weekend when his jockey daughter Jayla rode her first Melbourne metropolitan winner when victorious aboard Ceerseven (NZ) (Complacent) at The Valley on Saturday, coincidentally beating Brookly Boss, a son of Zoe Brook, who Kennedy trained in New Zealand. “She only just made it but that is where you have got to win, on the line,” Kennedy said. “It was a big thrill for Debbie (wife/mother) and I, she is going really well over there.” View the full article

Stephen Autridge is in the enviable position of having a pair of well-performed three-year-olds in his stable and, if all goes to plan, they will give him a strong hand in the autumn fillies’ feature at Trentham. The Matamata trainer has Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir) and Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) tracking toward the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on March 16 and he has confidence in their ability to see out the trip. “I think they will both run the mile and a-half and after Ellerslie (last Sunday), a few fillies stepped up and a few didn’t and may not be going to the Oaks, so it could be a bit wider open,” Autridge said. To continue her preparation, Livid Sky will head south this week for a crack at Saturday’s Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth with the booking of Craig Grylls another plus for the daughter of Proisir. “She’s come a long way after a few problems with her in the early days, she was immature,” Autridge said. “Mentally and physically, she has turned the corner and we keep her to a set pattern. We don’t change anything because she doesn’t like change and she handles everything well now.” Livid Sky broke her maiden in the spring and in her last three appearances has matched up encouragingly in strong age group company. The filly finished third in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), fourth in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and then made a good fist of her middle-distance debut when third in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m). “It was a good run last start and I think she is going to continue improving,” Autridge said. “She’s the first Proisir I’ve had and she has come on in leaps and bounds and, looking at the sale results, everyone else wants one so it’s good to have her.” Rich Hill Stud’s champion sire produced the Book 1 Sale-topper with the Hallmark Stud-offered sister to star performer Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) selling for $1.6 million. Safely through the weekend, Livid Sky is likely to have one more outing before the Oaks while stablemate Still Bangon will target Saturday week’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) ahead of her Trentham grand final. “She will go around at Te Rapa and she has been going terrific,” Autridge said. Still Bangon has won twice from nine appearances and is another to have shed her maiden status before quickly proving her quality in stakes company. The daughter of Proisir’s hot stallion associate Satono Aladdin triumphed in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and then came from last to finish third in the Sir Patrick Hogan. View the full article

What Sunshine Coast Races Where Sunshine Coast Turf Club – 170 Pierce Ave, Caloundra QLD 4551 When Friday, February 2, 2024 First Race 6:08pm AEST Visit Dabble A seven-race night meeting awaits punters at the Sunshine Coast this Friday night. Although the track was rated a Heavy 10 at the time of acceptances, we anticipate the track improving into the Soft range by Friday evening, with no rain on the forecast for Thursday and Friday. The rail will be pushed out to the +6m position for the entire circuit, with the opening race set to jump at 6:08pm AEST. Best Bet at Sunshine Coast: Termagant On debut, the Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained Termagant was beaten as an odds-on favourite at Ipswich on January 13. From a wide barrier, this three-year-old filly was made to travel wide and eventually came around the home turn five horses of the fence, before letting down with a blistering turn of foot to run home into second place behind Runaround Sue. With the benefit of race experience and a good showing first-up, this daughter of Deep Field will appreciate the step up in trip to 1000m on Friday. With even luck, Termagant should be breaking her maiden in style. Best Bet Race 2 – #3 Termagant (3) 3yo Filly | T: Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted | J: Justin Huxtable (58.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best at Sunshine Coast: Shamrock Lu Shamrock Lu produced an impressive finish when first-up at Ipswich over 1100m on January 13, where the Tony Gollan-trained gelding flashed home down the outside and just missed in a tight photo finish with Win Burn. Going into this race second-up (5:2-1-0) and dropping back to 1000m at the Sunshine Coast appears to be a recipe for success. This son of Hallowed Crown has a very good record at the track and trip (4:3-1-0), and if he can replicate a similar performance to his third-place finish in tougher grade three starts back, we expect him to play a prominent role in the finish. Next Best Race 5 – #5 Shamrock Lu (9) 6yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: Angela Jones (60.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Best Value at Sunshine Coast: High Plateau After three runs for his new trainer, Simon Foster, High Plateau is still searching for his first win in Queensland. However, this Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1000m looks to be the ideal race for him to break through for his first victory since being transferred from James Cummings. Two starts back, this son of Lonhro settled worse than midfield and ran home nicely behind Invinovich at this track and trip in a Class 3 contest. With the benefit of Emily Lang’s 1.5kg claim and a good barrier (2), High Plateau should be able to settle midfield, appreciate the hot speed, and run on strong in the final 300m. Best Value Race 4 – #2 High Plateau (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Simon Foster | J: Emily Lang (a1.5) (62kg) Bet with Neds Friday quaddie tips for the Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast quadrella selections Friday, February 2, 2024 2-3-7-12 5-6-8-15 1-2-10-12-16 2-3-8-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Star Patrol ridden by Ben Melham winning the 2023 Gilgai Stakes. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Clinton McDonald has decided to put on hold plans to send his sprinter Star Patrol to the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) in Dubai on March 30. Despite an impressive season where the five-year-old gelding clinched victories in both the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) and Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m), his performance waned with a last-place finish in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington in November. “I wasn’t 100 percent happy with him, so we’ve elected to give him a little break and let everything settle down,” McDonald explained to Racing.com. He elaborated, “There’s nothing untoward with him other than he didn’t spell well and that affected how he returned to work as it didn’t really gel. “In a nutshell, he wasn’t quite at his best, so I’m going to give him a break and when he’s ready he can return to work.” “I’ll be guided by the horse. They don’t get a long time from the spring to the autumn, plus he had a virus after the Champions Sprint. That busy time flattened him a little bit and he just didn’t do as well as I was hoping. He needs some time off, which could be for a short period, and then we could look at the Queensland and Adelaide Carnivals with him.” Star Patrol is listed as a $51 chance in futures markets with top horse racing bookmakers for The Everest (1200m) in October. More horse racing news View the full article

Attrition returned in Geelong barrier trial on Tuesday. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Mitchell Freedman, the trainer of Attrition, the recent winner of the Toorak Handicap (1600m), is gearing up the four-year-old entire for more success at the highest level. Attrition recently underwent a trial at Geelong and earned commendation from jockey Beau Mertens, who rode him to victory in his last race. “Great to be back on him,” Mertens said of Attrition. “Unfortunately, he had the setback going towards the Golden Eagle, had to give it a miss, but Mitch [Freedman] has obviously done the right thing by him and put him out and given him that time to get over it because he’s come back and not had any issues. “I think he’ll improve even more this prep, I think he’s aimed at the Futurity first-up, he’s a horse that’s going well. “He’s seemed to come back super, he’s jumped out well this morning, Mitch gave me a call earlier and said he’s not up to doing much today, just a bit of maintenance work on him. “I was pretty quiet on him, he took me through the trial … I think he’ll take a stack of improvement out of that. “He’s got a lot of confidence and a lot of natural ability, he wants to get out there and do things so that will take him a long way this prep.” Attrition is a +1400 chance in the Futurity Stakes futures market with online bookmakers. More horse racing news View the full article

Ayrton prevailed in a thrilling finish in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m). Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Following his impressive victory in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, where he extended his remarkable record to six wins from seven starts at the track, Ayrton is now set to target the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) on February 10. Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the trainers of the six-year-old, expressed their confidence in his Caulfield prowess. “He just loves Caulfield, I don’t know what it is, Caulfield, Ayrton and Jamie Kah is a good recipe,” Kent Jnr told Racing.com. Reflecting on Ayrton’s previous performance in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m), where he finished sixth, Kent Jnr mentioned, “We had him a bit fresh to be fair and wasn’t totally wound up, so there’s improvement to come off that break in Perth.” Regarding the upcoming challenge, Kent Jnr stated, “We are going to nominate him for the C.F. Orr, he’s not as good as Mr Brightside of course but why wouldn’t you have a look at that race, he loves that course and distance.” Ayrton is currently listed as a +2500 chance with leading horse racing bookmakers for the prestigious Group 1 CF Orr Stakes. More horse racing news View the full article