Wandering Eyes

Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) has officially been retired to stud, trainer Ken McPeek announced Friday. But fans will have one final chance to see the colt beneath the Twin Spires on Saturday when he parades in the paddock for the fourth race from approximately 2:05-2:30 p.m. EST. Owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm, Mystik Dan will stand at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., for $15,000. The 4-year-old retires with a record of 16-5-3-1 and earnings of more than $4.8 million. Along with his victory in the GI Kentucky Derby, Mystik Dan captured this year's GII Lukas Classic and GIII Blame Stakes as well as last year's GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He joins the roster at Airdrie along with Beau Liam, Cairo Prince, Collected, Complexity, Divisidero, Girvin, Happy Saver, Highly Motivated, Jonathan's Way, Mage and Upstart. The post Derby Winner Mystik Dan To Parade At Churchill Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

BUDDS, one of the UK's leading specialist auctioneers of sports memorabilia, will offer a selection of horse racing items at Newmarket's National Horse Racing Museum on November 12-13. Under the spotlight at the auction, held in partnership with Weatherbys, will be memorabilia linked to King Edward VII, legendary horses and jockeys, and a royal mistress, Lillie Langtry. Featured lots include Oath's 1999 Derby-winning silks signed by Henry Cecil; the racing silks of the 13th Earl of Eglinton, worn by the jockey of the legendary racehorse The Flying Dutchman, c.1849; the number cloth from Nijinsky's St Leger victory when he completed the Triple Crown in 1970; the no.24 number cloth worn by Troy when winning the 200th Derby at Epsom in 1979; a gold, diamond and enamel stick pin gifted to royal jockey John Watts by the Prince Of Wales, later King Edward VII, circa 1896; and Lester Piggott's racing saddle he used in the early '80s. Visit the BUDDS website for more information about the auction and to browse the available lots. The post BUDDS to Auction Horse Racing Memorabilia Featuring Nijinsky’s St Leger Number Cloth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8-year-old Bango (Congrats), Churchill Downs's winningest horse, has been retired, his connections announced on social media Friday. In a video posted to X, trainer Greg Foley said, “Mr. Churchill Downs has blessed Barn 11 in so many ways. Career has been just a testament to what horse racing is all about. Thanks for everything Bango. Enjoy the next chapter.” Retired with career earnings over $1,644,000, Bango raced 42 times, winning or placing in 24 of them. Nearly all of his starts came at Churchill Downs and he became their winningest horse of all time when he picked up his 12th total, an allowance victory in Sept. 2024. He raced just twice this year and finished up a well-beaten seventh in his final start Thursday. His career highlights include a placing in the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes in 2023. He was a nine-time stakes winner, picking up wins in consecutive editions of the Aristides Stakes in 2021 and 2022 and the Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes in 2021 and 2023. The post Bango, Churchill’s Winningest Horse, Retires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racing journalist and horseman Josh Pons has been named the recipient of the 2024 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, presented by the Ryan family's Castleton Lyons, for excellence in thoroughbred racing literature published in 2024. He received the winner's $10,000 check during a Nov. 6 reception at the Lexington, Ky., farm. Pons won for 'Letters from Country Life: Adolphe Pons, Man o' War, and the Founding of Maryland's Oldest Thoroughbred Farm', a retrospective of the Golden Age of racing as viewed through a remarkable trove of correspondence to his grandfather, Adolphe Pons. Early in the 20th century, the senior Pons had served as private secretary to Racing Hall of Fame breeder August Belmont, a role in which he played an integral part in the breeding and eventual sale of Man o' War. “Josh Pons already had established his writing talent, but Letters from Country Life is another level of literary achievement,” said lead judge Kay Coyte. “In it, you discover historic gems just as Josh does, and worry along with him about the future of Maryland racing and his beloved farm.” Two other finalists were honored at the Castleton Lyons ceremony, Arthur B. Hancock III for his autobiography, 'Dark Horses: A Memoir of Redemption', and John Perrotta, for his international mystery thriller, 'A Beggar's Ride'. The post Josh Pons Named 2024 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Tom Bagrie has a late message for slot holders in the $500,000 Ascent at Addington next Friday. “Just in case anybody has anything go wrong, and we hope they don’t, you can tell them we are keen to help out,” says Bagrie. The “we” in that sentence are Bagrie and the other owners of high-class filly Dash Dosh, who recorded the fourth win of her career very convincingly in the Horses Perform Better On Betavet Trot at Addington on Friday. In a race that changed complexion enormously when $1.20 favourite Ya Rite Darl galloped at the start, Dash Dosh showed both manners and a touch of class to beat Tribbiani. Bagrie says he would love to be in next Friday’s slot race but as the majority owner of his filly he didn’t have the lions share of $30,000 lying around so couldn’t quite stretch to a slot. “Hey we know the slots are all full and good luck to everybody in the race but if somebody did have something go wrong over the weekend well she is here and we’d love to help out.” If Dash Dosh doesn’t get the emergency call-up Bagrie won’t have to wait long for the next perfect target with the NZ Trotting Oaks the following Friday. “The Trotting Oaks has been the race we have set her for all along and she is going to head there confident and in a really good place. “She has always had that real ability but like a lot of young trotters she went through a phase where she had to learn what it is all about. “But she has come out the other side of that now a better horse and her last four starts at Addington has now been for three wins and a second.” Bagrie is doing okay with 12 horses in work including five racehorses but says there is always more room for owners who think a young trainer with a smaller team might suit their horse. While Dash Dosh was putting her hand up as a contender to whatever the next month brings, Ya Rite Darl’s connections will be hoping the old saying “a poor dress rehearsal makes for a great show” is proved right as they look forward to the Ascent. She turned multi tickets into waste paper just a stride after the start in a race she was thrown into to keep her ticking over before next Friday’s slot race. Still, you suppose it is better to make that mistake for $15,000 this Friday and learn from it than make it next Friday for about 33 times more money. Team Dunn had more lucky with another young filly in the first trot of the night when Petite Armour got things right and recorded her second in just four starts. Cyclone Rebel regains winning form at Alexandra Park By Michael Guerin Trainer Tate Hopkins knows his weekend could have been so much different for he and Cyclone Rebel. But after a win at Alexandra Park on Friday night he has no regrets about missing the far richer Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on Tuesday. Cyclone Rebel qualified for the final by winning his heat at Alexandra Park on debut, no mean feat in itself which suggested he is a smart young pacer. Hopkins was planning to take him to Addiington until he only finished third in a moderate race at Alexandra Park last week, hardly the sort of form that inspires you to spend thousands heading to a Group 1 to butt heads with Jumal. “We were thinking about it but last week dented my confidence,” says Hopkins. “Looking back it shouldn’t have because it was probably trainer error. “He won his trial so well the week before I thought he didn’t need much more so I think I was too easy on him leading into last week. “But he was fitter tonight and that was much more like it.” But even though Cyclone Rebel was able to make it two wins in just four starts, Hopkins says he will watch Tuesday’s Group 1 for the babies at Addington feeling he has done the right thing. “You look at horses like Jumal who have had that extra racing and are clearly very good and you realise how hard it would be done there, especially now he has drawn barrier three. “We could have gone down there and maybe gutted in early in his career whereas he has had a confidence-boosting win tonight.” Hopkins says the logical last aim for the season for Cyclone Rebel is the Golden Gait Finals at Alexandra Park on December 19. “I am sure he is qualified now with four starts here but it won’t matter because he will need at least another race here before he heads there anyway. “I know the stake has been reduced to $50,000 but it is still $50,000 on your home track so we are glad to have that as a target and then he has plenty of good three-year-old races he can target next season which we think he could be competitive in.” Another impressive two-year-old winner on Friday night was debutant Nazare who justified his hot favouritism to win in a 1:57.4 mile rate with a slick 26.6 second last 400m. He is one of 14 two-year-olds Arna Donnelly has in work and rated a horse who will make an even better three-year-old, with the Cambridge trainer realistic about the fact she might run out of races to qualify him for the Golden Gait. And in one of the more unusual trotting doubles at Alexandra Park in recent years driver Joshua Dickie drove a winner for his father John training Paramount Spur and one for his fiancee Sammy Kilgour training Loteria won later in the programme. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The World Driving Championship (WDC) is heading towards an exciting and close finish after five more heats were held at Addington on Friday night. After 15 of the 20 heats Canada’s former world champion James MacDonald has 130 points, just nine ahead of Australian Gary Hall junior (121). Mats Djuse (Sweden) is third on 111 with New Zealand’s Blair Orange well within striking distance on 107 (23 behind MacDonald). Orange’s big moment was his win with Always A Menace in the first of the night’s five heats. Not only did it continue his move up on the leaderboard but it was his 3000th New Zealand victory, a win made all the more special wearing the Silver Fern and coming on his home track in front of family and friends. As well as MacDonald (Waihemo Hannah) and Orange the other three heat winners were Pierre Vercruysse (France) with One Eye Bandit, Djuse (Mr Cash Man) and American Brett Beckwith who romped away to a huge victory with Look To Da Stars. The WDC now heads to Winton for four more heats then there is the final heat at Addington as part of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day on Tuesday. The points leaderboard (after 5 heats) is : James MacDonald (Canada) 130 Gary Hall junior (Australia) 121 Mats Djuse (Sweden) 111 Blair Orange (New Zealand) 107 Michael Nimczyk (Germany) 91 Pierre Vercurysse (France) 91 Giampaolo Minnucci (Italy) 83 Jaap van Rijn (Netherlands) 83 Brett Beckwith (USA) 80 Santtu Raitala (Finland) 74 View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Blair Orange has today become the youngest ever harness racing driver to bring up 3000 winners in New Zealand. The Canterbury-based 47-year-old brought up the milestone winning with Always A Menace in Heat 11 of the World Driving Championship in front of friends and family at his home track, Addington. “It hasn’t sunk in but it’s a pretty cool thing,” he said post race. He is just the fourth driver to get to 3000, following on from Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry and Ricky May. Herlihy was the youngest driver previously, achieving the milestone at 52 years of age. “Things are a lot different now, there are so many meetings and so many opportunities. To do what they have done just shows how great they are.” From a non harness racing family the milestone has prompted Orange to reflect on how far he’s come. “I was pretty average when I started out,” he says frankly, “specially when you think of how good some of the young ones are now.”. His first win was with the Tim Butt-trained Whizza Nova at Reefton in 1996. His first 100 win season was not until 2014. He has had 100 or more winners every season since, with his best tally being the 267 he had during the elongated 2021 season. Along the way there have been so many huge moments. “The first New Zealand Cup on a horse that was not the favourite – that was surreal. I remember thinking ‘how did that just happen?'” That was 2019 with Cruz Bromac, the third stringer in the Mark Purdon – Natalie Rasmussen barn behind Thefixer and Spankem. Later that week Orange completed the Cup – Dominion Trot double with Habibi Inta. Orange has won the New Zealand Cup three times, also going back to back with Copy That in 2021 and 2022. It was another Purdon horse that gave Orange his first Group 1 in 2005. It was the 2005 New Zealand 2YO Championship at Alexandra Park. “It was with Jays Debut – that was a cool moment,” “I also won the first ever Harness Jewels race with the one trained by Andrew Faulks.” That was G T H Aveross , paying $81, in the 4YO Diamond at Ashburton in 2007. In all Orange has won the last seven premierships, following on from Dexter Dunn who’d won 10 in a row before heading to North America where he’s now established as arguably the best driver in the sport. Over the years Orange has also been a tireless supporter of Blue September, the annual fund-raiser for the New Zealand Prostate Cancer. He’s done all sorts of stunts to promote the cause. While he has been driving for 30 years he hopes he’s got plenty more to come. One target potentially is overhauling Herlihy at the top of the winners’ leaderboard. “Obviously Tony’s the most winningest driver – see how things progress over the next couple of years whether that is a target or not.” “I’ve probably got another 10 years of what I’m doing but there will be a time to pull pin.” But right now he is in a good space. “I’m really enjoying life and the racing at the moment … mentally and personally.” When he does decide to step back or away from what is currently a rigorous schedule he doesn’t have to look far for an heir apparent. Teenage son Harrison Orange has been a sensation in the sulky since he started last year. “I’m very proud of Harry.” “I hope he is better than me, everyone wants their kids to be healthy first of all and happy and enjoying what they do – I get a massive thrill watching him.” New Zealand’s 3000 win club – November 7, 2025 Tony Herlihy (3719) Maurice McKendry (3429) Ricky May (3190) Blair Orange (3000) View the full article

Prix de l'Opera winner Barnavara (Calyx) and Listed-winning sprinter Saratoga Special (Mehmas) are set to shine at the upcoming Sceptre Sessions of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Both fillies are trained by Jessica Harrington and have carried the colours of Alpha Racing to some notable successes this year. Few fillies boast as progressive a profile as Barnavara, who went from strength to strength this season, culminating with that victory at the highest level in the Prix de l'Opera. She is one of the standout offerings at the Sceptre Sessions and connections are suitably excited about what could be in store. Reflecting on her Group 1 triumph at ParisLongchamp, Harrington said, “My only worry was that she had never travelled – she had only ever raced in Ireland prior to that. But she was brilliant.” Harrington added, “She was determined to win – she has an unbelievable attitude. She has a big, long neck and she stuck it right out at the line. It was just amazing. “Shane [Foley] got everything right. He's a very, very good jockey from the front and he gets the fractions right. He had unbelievable faith in her. He said, 'of course she can do it.' She is a pretty willing partner for him.” Barnavara has won five of her 13 starts and placed on a further five occasions for the Harrington team. Along with her Group 1 triumph, she was victorious in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes at the Curragh as well as the Group 3 Al Shira'aa Jannah Rose Stakes at Naas. All of her big-race triumphs have come over 1m2f and Harrington believes that Barnavara could be even better as a four-year-old and revealed that she has even mapped out a theoretical plan for the filly next year. She said, “You would think she would have to improve as a four-year-old because it's only now that she is filling into her frame. We'd go to York followed by the Pretty Polly in Ireland and then the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. And then, maybe, you could even try her over a-mile-and-a-half. Who knows? She goes on any ground.” Saratoga Special is in a different mould to Barnavara given she is a Listed-winning speedster. Her finest hour came when landing a Listed contest over the minimum trip at Ayr this year and she makes up an impressive two-pronged attack on the Sceptre Sessions for connections. Harrington concluded, “She wasn't a bad two-year-old. She didn't win at two but was Listed-placed. She came out and won her maiden at the beginning of the year and, you know, it can be tough for these three-year-old sprinters but she went to Ayr and won her Listed race there at odds of 66-1 when ridden by our stable apprentice Keithen [Kennedy]. She's a smashing, sound filly and hopefully she will sell well for them [the Alpha Racing Syndicate] as well.” The post Barnavara Team Brimming With Excitement For The Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1-winning sprinter Arizona Blaze has been retired by Amo Racing and will stand at the Irish National Stud next year. His fee has been set at €12,500. An impressive winner of the first two-year-old maiden of the season in March 2024, Arizona Blaze quickly established himself with a defeat of the subsequent Classic winner Camille Pissarro in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh in May. Over the remainder of his juvenile career, he continued to match the best two-year-olds around with a succession of cracking efforts, placing in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes, the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and the Group 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. At three, Arizona Blaze laid down a notable early-season marker when he broke the track record over five furlongs at Chantilly in the Group 3 Prix Sigy – a race which has previously been won by the likes of Sands Of Mali. However, his career highlight came when successful in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, which turned out to be his final start. Arizona Blaze retires to stud with a Timeform rating of 119 and Amo boss Kia Joorabchian commented, “Arizona Blaze has always demonstrated exceptional strength, speed and mental toughness and we have complete confidence in his ability to pass on his class, power and temperament. “We are delighted to partner with the Irish National Stud for this next chapter which we believe is the perfect home for him. Amo Racing is committed to fully supporting Arizona Blaze throughout his stud career.” Meanwhile, Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale, said, “We are delighted to stand Arizona Blaze, new for 2026, at the Irish National Stud. He was teak tough and remarkably consistent at the very highest level over five and six furlongs. He is a horse with great quality, strength and terrific action.” The post Amo Racing’s Group 1 Winner Arizona Blaze To Stand At Irish National Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sea The Stars, who has headed the Aga Khan Studs roster for 16 years and is the sire of this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz, has had his fee for 2026 raised to a career high of €300,000, from €250,000. Top of the list of the remaining four Aga Khan Studs stallions, all standing at Haras de Bonneval in Normandy, is Siyouni, whose runners in 2025 included Zarigana, winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Having stood at €200,000 in 2025, Siyouni's fee has been reduced to €150,000 for the forthcoming season. His stud-mate Zarak, out of the great Zarkava and who, along with Erevann, is one of two sons of Dubawi on the roster, will remain at €80,000. The champion three-year-old Vadeni and Group 2-winning miler Erevann have each covered three-figure books in their first two seasons at stud and have their first foals about to grace the sales rings. Vadeni's fee for 2026 has been clipped to €15,000 from €18,000, while Erevann – who is out of Siyouni's three-time Group 1-winning daughter Ervedya – will remain at €8,000. The post Sea The Stars at €300,000 as Aga Khan Studs Release Fees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Frankel will once again lead the Juddmonte roster at £350,000 while new addition Lead Artist, a Group 1 winner in the Lockinge Stakes, will stand for £12,500 in 2026. Frankel added 24 individual stakes winners to his record in 2025, 13 of them at Group level. He has now sired an extraordinary 40 individual Group 1 winners and stands as the most successful active sire of Northern Hemisphere Classic winners, with 12 to his name, including 2025 Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria and dual-Classic winner Minnie Hauk. His success also continues in the sales ring, where for the third year in a row he topped the Tattersalls October Book 1 sires list both by aggregate and by average. Meanwhile, Lead Artist is by a world-class stallion in Dubawi and hails from one of Juddmonte's most storied families, the dynasty of the iconic blue hen mare Hasili. Hasili herself produced five individual Group 1 winners as well as the influential sire Dansili, and her descendants have now accounted for no fewer than 59 Group 1 performances. Speaking about Juddmonte's new addition to the roster at Banstead Manor Stud, Simon Mockridge commented, “Lead Artist represents a fantastic opportunity to further strengthen our stallion roster. He combines pedigree and performance with an outstanding physical, possessing great balance, strength, and movement, all attributes which will appeal to the commercial breeder.” Chaldean covered 323 mares in his first two books, covering more Group winners, stakes winners, and black-type performers than any other first-season sire in Britain or Ireland in his debut year. He maintained that momentum in 2025 with another exceptional book, including 14 Group winners, 28 stakes winners, and 52 black-type performers. Chaldean will stand his third season at a fee of £20,000. Kingman continued to assert his status among the elite, siring 20 individual stakes winners in 2025, including nine Group winners. He became the second-fastest stallion ever to reach 100 individual Northern Hemisphere-bred stakes winners, behind only Frankel, and ahead of Deep Impact, Dubawi and Galileo. His son Field Of Gold reigned supreme in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes, taking Kingman's tally to 14 Group 1 winners, and five individual Classic winners. Kingman's fee is unchanged at £125,000. Oasis Dream, a stalwart of the Juddmonte roster, will stand for £15,000 while Bated Breath's fee has been reduced to £5,000. The post Frankel Heads Juddmonte Roster At 350k – New Addition Lead Artist To Stand For 12.5k appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There’s no bigger race day in this country than IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington. And to provide you with all the information you need, including previews, selections and backgrounders, we have produced a special Cup day Liftout To see the Liftout click here View the full article

The fields are now complete for the two $500,000 slot races at Addington Raceway on Show Day (November 14). Always Dreaming, a seven-race winner for Nathan Williamson, will fill the slot taken by Arna Donnelly Racing in the Hill, Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY. He is the 10th and final horse to be confirmed. The two emergencies for the races will be : Berrettini (THE VELOCITY) and Illicit Love (THE ASCENT). View the full article

After recording her 1,000th win in the saddle in September, veteran jockey Kylie Williams had just one final goal she wanted to achieve before hanging up her riding boots – ride against her son, Logan Bates. That dream will become a reality at her local track of Riccarton Park on Saturday, with Australian-based Bates returning home to ride during New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch. The 24-year-old hoop landed back in New Zealand on Friday afternoon and he is looking forward to competing against his Mum. “The main reason (to come back to New Zealand) was to ride against mum,” Bates said. “The timing worked perfectly being the first day of Cup Week. “I am very proud of her. To have three kids and to span a career of over 28 years and to ride 1000 winners is an enormous effort.” While Bates was always intrigued about following is mother into a career as a jockey, pursuing that vocation wasn’t always on the cards. “It was in the back of my mind growing up,” he said. “I wasn’t great in school, so I left early when I was about 14. It gave me the time and the ability to try different things. “I did carpentry for a bit and figured I was too small for that. I worked with greyhounds and Craig Roberts for a few years and got some good knowledge and that helped ease me into racing. “I went over to Australia and worked in the stables with Cindy (Alderson, trainer) but came back and drove trotters for Paul and Graham Court (in Canterbury). I learned a lot of hands-on skills with the horses working for them, it gave me a good grounding.” It was while working for the Courts that the opportunity arose to return to Australia and commence a jockey apprenticeship with Alderson, and Bates took it with both hands. “When the opportunity arose that I could become and apprentice in Melbourne it was pretty silly not to give it a crack,” he said. “I fell in love with it and I am very lucky to have the people I do around me. The likes of Mum and Dad, the Alderson family, the jockey coaches at Racing Victoria of Darren Gauci and Alf Matthews, and also the jockey ranks in Melbourne and some of the people you can be around. “I rode at Flemington yesterday (Thursday) and you had the likes of Joao Moreira, James McDonald, Tommy Berry, Mark Zahra, Damian Lane and all those boys around you. You can pick a few things off them that helps in the steps going forward in your own career.” Bates was delighted to get the opportunity to ride on Oaks Day at Flemington, where he partnered Statuario to a runner-up result in the popular greys only race, the Subzero Handicap (1400m), behind Geatafix and fellow expat Kiwi jockey James McDonald. “It is a special race the greys race,” Bates said. “I was fortunate enough to have quite a nice ride for David and Emma-Lee Browne. They gave him a little freshen-up and it was good to see him hit back into a bit of form. He hit the line well carrying a big weight. It took a pretty sensational ride from James McDonald to beat me. It was a good day to be a part of.” Bates has had a stellar spring in Melbourne, highlighted by his Yarra Valley-The Valley double last month where he rode Empire Song in the opening race at the former venue before hopping in his car to drive to The Valley an hour and a half away to ride Jigsaw to victory in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) for his employer on Cox Plate Day. “I have been pretty lucky right through the spring carnival with some of the days I have ridden at,” Bates said. “I rode a winner early in the season on a Group One day at Caulfield and then was able to burn down the road and get to Moonee Valley from Yarra Valley on the last Cox Plate Day and ride a winner, which was pretty special. “It would be a rare move to even think to ride at Yarra Valley and then drive to Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day and try to get there for a Group Two. I was fortunate enough to win both of them, which was pretty cool. “To be a part of that last day at Moonee Valley and to knock off my first Group Two for my boss Cindy on that horse that I have had a bit to do with, was great. “You know you have done something pretty well when you have got Luke Nolen coming up next to you and giving you a pat on the back after your first Group Two win, so it was a special day.” Bates has continued to build on a breakthrough season last term where he won 59 races in the country and was subsequently crowned Country Racing Victoria Apprentice Jockey of the Year. “I was able to pick that up, which was cool,” he said. “I rode 59 winners in the country and altogether in the state I got 79. I was also able to take out the Rising Star Award, which is voted by all the other jockeys. It was another special moment to be well-respected by my peers so early in my career. It was very humbling.” Fresh off competing in the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Bates is excited to have his first rides in his homeland during his hometown’s biggest week in racing. “It is a great week and the first time I am going to be a part of it, albeit just the first day because I have got to get back to duties back in Melbourne,” he said. “To come over early in my career and have 10 rides on the first day of New Zealand Cup Week is pretty cool.” Four of those rides are for local trainer Lyn Prendergast, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Enterprise in the One Good Horse At Avonhead Tavern Premier (1100m) and Giannis in the Scenic Hotel Group Premier (1200m). “I am lucky enough to pick up a couple off mum from Lyn Prendergast, which was nice of her,” he said. “I do like Enterprise. He has been running around in that sort of grade. He draws a tricky gate (7), there looks to be a bit of speed in the race. He is in good form and gets a kilo off in the weights. If we can get a soft run in transit, he will be right in the finish. “Giannis finished well (for second) with Mum on last start. He strikes a similar sort of field and I think he will be there in the finish.” Bates will also compete in all four stakes races on the card where he will ride Slipper Island in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m), The Entertainer in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Just Charlie in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m), and Bona Sforza in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “I am very grateful to get the opportunity to ride for Tony Pike in the Pegasus Stakes with a pretty smart horse (Slipper Island),” Bates said. “He looks to have come back alright, gets a soft draw (5) and will get a soft run, and hopefully he runs well. “I will ride The Entertainer for Anna Furlong in the Breeders’. She has been a model of consistency this prep. She has drawn a soft gate (2) and if we can look for a couple of splits up the straight, we should hopefully be alright. “The main one that I am looking forward to is one for Kevin Myers – Just Charlie. He looks a nice stayer, he is a big horse, he carries 55.5kg and it looks like he is proven at the trip. He looks a nice ride in what looks a nice race for him. I see he holds a nomination for the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), which he ran fourth in last year, so I am pretty excited to ride him and hopefully he can run up to his best. “I am very grateful to pick-up a ride on Bona Sforza in the Group One for Samantha Finnegan. She won her first start quite impressively and ran well second-up. She just got caught deep and didn’t have much luck last start. “She does look a little keen, but from the five (draw) we should be able to lob into a nice midfield position with a bit of cover. It looks a strong race, and the favourite looks pretty hard to beat, but if we can get that horse to switch off and relax for the first part of the race, I think we will see her true colours. She does possess quite a nice finish, but we just need things to fall into place.” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Roger James is already the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with six wins to his credit, and on Thursday he and training partner Robert Wellwood unveiled another Classic type when Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) swept to victory at Avondale. The three-year-old son of Circus Maximus relished the step up to 1400m when winning the Funtime Catering Maiden after finishing seventh over 1200m on debut at Ellerslie in October. “We said at the end of his two-year-old preparation that we thought he was potentially a Derby horse for next year,” James said. “We weren’t disappointed by the first run at all. We thought he might have to go a mile before he broke maiden ranks, but he was quite impressive at Avondale. He ran a good time and won by a good margin and there was quite a margin back to the third horse. “He’s still feeling his way and he’s got a lot of upside. He relaxes beautifully, breathes beautifully and he trotted up this morning nice and free.” Road To Paris is now likely to step into Group company as he extends in distance. “He surprised us yesterday, very pleasantly, so the Derby is certainly firmly in the back of our minds,” James said. “He’s probably the sort of horse that won’t take a lot of runs, but having said that if all goes well, we will step him up to a mile next start at Otaki in the Gr. 3 Wellington Stakes (1600) on November 30. “That gives him a nice break until then, and then he’ll progress quietly from there. He’s a quality animal and we are lucky to have him.” Bred and raced by Ron and Judi Wanless, Road To Paris is out of the four-time winning Savabeel mare Spirit Of Heaven, who is a three-quarter sister to Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) winner Lights Of Heaven. Road To Paris is by Windsor Park Stud’s promising young sire Circus Maximus, a triple Group One winning European miler by Galileo. “Ron and Judi are quite involved in New Zealand and have a number of broodmares over here and we have always had an association with them, we buy the odd one for them,” James said. “They breed to race and this guy was just one that they sent us last year and Ron’s got a philosophy that if they’re not up to Group company in New Zealand, he’ll take them to Queensland, where he lives. “But you would think this one would stay. We had a horse last year in Oceana Dream who went to the Derby as second or third favourite for them after placing in the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m). “Unfortunately he choked down at about the 600m and didn’t take another breath and dropped out. “We thought he was a big hope and things didn’t go right. We’d love to win a major for them and hopefully this is the horse that can do it.” View the full article

There is never a soft Group One option during Melbourne Cup week, but Sydney trainer Joe Pride is hoping he has picked that softer option on the final day of the carnival at Flemington. Pride had the option of remaining at 1600m with Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) or stepping up to the 2000m of the Gr.1 Champions Stakes. Ceolwulf will contest the former on Saturday where he will be pitted against the likes of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Pericles (Street boss), Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) and in the process bypass an assignment against Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) in the Champions Stakes. Pride pointed out Ceolwulf was a three-time Group One winner over 1600m, including most recently in the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 18. That victory was Ceolwulf’s second in the King Charles III and his first success since winning the Gr.2 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on April 1. Pride is confident that Ceolwulf can go on from that victory and has booked regular jockey Chad Schofield to again ride the gelding. “He is always confident,” Pride said. “Horses that need confidence are the ones that are coming back from injury or that have been getting beaten up a lot. “He’s quite an arrogant horse. There was no crisis of confidence there.” Pride will break new ground with Ceolwulf on Saturday with the gelding having his first start left-handed after 24 starts, all on Sydney metropolitan tracks. “I can’t believe I haven’t travelled him,” Pride said. “He’s had twenty-odd starts, and he has never been away. “He’s going to have his first trip away from home which will be good seasoning and experience for him and I’m looking forward to it. “Hopefully we get a bit of wet ground for him as well, which will be perfect.” The Melbourne Bureau of Meteorology is predicting between 10 and 30mm of rain at Flemington on Saturday after anywhere up to 6mm on Friday night. In an open betting race, Mr Brightside heads the market at $4 ahead of Pride Of Jenni at $4.20 and Ceolwulf on the next line at $6. View the full article

The A$2 million Listed Five Diamonds (1800m) is anything but an afterthought for Lindsay Park raider Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor), his trainers confident the race is an ideal fit for the dual stakes winner. Co-conditioner Will Hayes says Saturday’s Rosehill feature has been earmarked for the gelding for some time and the rails draw has only enhances his chances. “This was our spring grand final,” Will Hayes said. “It’s an incredible race, the Five Diamonds, being restricted to five-year-olds at set weights and penalties. “We felt it was the perfect profile, and we think he’s going to thrive at the 1800.” Rise At Dawn has a terrific strikerate with eight wins from 20 starts and has performed admirably at his only two appearances in Sydney. Beaten less than a half-length when fourth to Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in April, he was again game when leading and defeating all but Waterford (Awtaad) in the Gr.2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) two starts ago. Subsequently freshened, Rise At Dawn was third at his final lead-up run in the Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day when Hayes said he struggled on the tight-turning track. However, back to the wider expanses of Rosehill the stable expects him to be hard to beat. “His run in the Doncaster was nothing short of exceptional and that’s going to stand him in pretty good stead,” he said. “The biggest thing we’re pleased about is we’ve drawn tactically a good barrier, and it should play right to his advantage. “We think his best runs are when he can bowl and sustain a high speed like he did first-up this spring when he was beaten by Café Millennium (in the Tontonan Stakes). “He didn’t quite handle the Valley as well as we hoped (last start). He crabbed around the bend and he’ll be suited to the bigger track.” View the full article

Champion jockey Opie Bosson will miss all three days of the New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch after a fall at Avondale on Thursday. Bosson rode Karyon into a fourth placing in the Avondale Main Street Rating 60 (1200m), but was dislodged after the finish line when his mount abruptly ducked outwards while pulling up. He was stood down for the remainder of the Avondale card and now faces a longer stint on the sidelines. “He went to the doctor this morning and unfortunately didn’t pass his concussion test,” Bosson’s manager Michael Coleman said. “That means an automatic stand-down of 12 days, and he’ll need to pass another test before he gets clearance to resume riding.” Bosson had a strong book of rides for the opening day of the carnival at Riccarton on Saturday, including the impressive last-start Ellerslie winner Belle Cheval, who is the $6 equal second favourite for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Bosson was also due to ride Captured By Love in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Beavertown Boy in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m), and Peekay, Insatiable, Noivern, Cognoscenti and Vivacious on the undercard. “It’s hugely disappointing, especially for a jockey of his calibre, and especially for it to happen now and rule him out of such a great week of racing,” Coleman said. “It’s really bad luck, and I feel for the connections he was going to ride for, such as Te Akau. We thought we had a very good chance in the 1000 Guineas with Belle Cheval. “But it’s the nature of the game. I had a number of setbacks like these myself in my own riding career, and it’s just one of those things that happens. All we can do is hope that he makes a quick recovery, passes that next test and can get back to doing what he does best.” Sam Weatherley will take over the mount on Belle Cheval, with Bruno Queiroz is booked for Captured By Love and Rory Hutchings replaces Bosson on Beavertown Boy. Bosson, who temporarily retired from race riding last season, has made an impressive return to the saddle this spring. He sits in second on the New Zealand premiership with 28 wins from 134 rides, narrowly trailing Craig Grylls (31 wins from 181 rides). View the full article

A relentlessly wet spring has provided a frustrating start to the season for David Greene, but things might be turning the corner as the Te Rapa trainer prepares to unleash his emerging star First Five in Saturday’s Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Pukekohe. Greene opened his winning account for 2025-26 when Goldiluxe took out the Avondale Main Street Rating 60 (1200m) on Thursday, and now he is excited to see First Five get underway in what could be a career-best season. “Goldiluxe won pretty well at Avondale on Thursday and it was good to see,” Greene said. “It was probably a bit of an overdue win, she’d been racing well and deserved to pick another one up. “Now I’m looking forward to seeing First Five kick off on Saturday. The one issue we’ve had with him is that he’s a genuine good-track horse, so like many others in the racing industry, we’ve been pretty frustrated to see it raining almost every day for however many months. Now that the weather and tracks seem to be starting to come right, First Five is going to be much more at home.” First Five will be the only runner this weekend for Greene, who has long held a good opinion of the lightly raced gelding. The son of Almanzor has recorded five wins from a 15-start career to date, including four victories from just 10 starts last season – a 1600m Rating 75 at Ruakaka on September 7, a 1400m Rating 65 at Matamata on December 20, a 1400m Rating 75 at Tauranga on February 7, and a 1400m Rating 75 at Te Aroha on March 29. First Five then stepped up into open company for his final start of the season and finished second over 1400m at Te Rapa on April 26, beaten by a short head by Super Photon with a similar margin back to the third-placed Stonybreck. “He certainly has the look of a black-type horse in the making, and I’ve thought that for a while,” Greene said. “He had a very good second half of the season last time in and made it through to open class, and he’s really fully matured into himself now. I think he’s in for a big season. “This was the race we were keen to have him resume in, and his build-up has gone well leading into Saturday. His work has been very good and I think he’s right where we want him to be.” Despite four of his wins coming over 1400m and the other one at 1600m, Greene believes First Five has the brilliance to be highly competitive over 1200m in a fresh state on Saturday. The five-year-old will be ridden by Lynsey Satherley in Saturday’s first-up assignment, in which the TAB has him on the third line of betting at $7.50. He shares that quote with Force Of Nature, while the two market leaders are I’munstoppable ($3) and I’m All In ($6). “I think he’s definitely sharp enough to be very effective over the 1200m,” Greene said. “We’ll get this race out of the way before deciding what else to target with him and what distance might suit him best, but my feeling is that up around 1400m might be his main go.” View the full article

Drexel Hill, runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), returns to the starting gate for her first race since the Run for the Lilies in the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G2) Nov. 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continued to churn out double-digit increases over its 2024 renewal as the eight-day auction's Book 2 section concluded Thursday. “It felt like a complete continuation from yesterday,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said Thursday evening. “The momentum was there and there was the same enthusiasm for quality stock. The market never seemed to waver all day. It seemed to be steady and strong and consistent. Which was very encouraging. It jumped out of the gates well and hit the wire hard.” Through the two Book 2 sessions, 474 horses sold through the ring for a gross of $91,389,000. The Book 2 average of $192,804 was up 25.9% from 2024, while the median of $160,000 was up 28.0%. Twenty-five horses sold for $500,000 or more over the two sessions, compared to just five to hit that mark last year. During last year's Book 2 section of the November sale, 413 horses sold through the ring for a gross of $63,236,500. The average was $153,115 and the median was $125,000. The 4-year-old broodmare Taylor Swifter (American Pharoah), in foal to Flightline, brought the highest bid of Thursday's session when selling to Bryant Prentice's Pursuit of Success for $700,000. The mare was consigned by Gainesway. “The mares have been the flagbearers of the last few days,” Lacy said. “As long as they are not overly exposed, there is a market for them.” Through the two Book 2 sections, 200 weanlings sold through the ring for a gross of $34,496,000. The average was $172,480–up 27.4% from last year–and the median of $150,000 was up 36.4%. During Book 2 in 2024, 157 weanlings sold through the ring for $21,257,000 for an average of $135,395 and median of $110,000. “The weanling market was sensational again today,” said Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “We had 239 sales through the ring today to 179 different buyers. So we are maintaining yesterday's ratio. We are into day three and the consistency of the day is really supported by the depth of the buyer base that is here. The top 20 weanlings sold today were by 19 different stallions and bought by 19 different buyers.” A colt by Nyquist (hip 830) was the highest-priced weanling on the day, selling for $600,000 to the phone bid of Clover Leaf Bloodstock. Bred by Viking Breeding and consigned by Indian Creek, the chestnut is out of Intense Honor (Honor Code), a half-sister to graded winners Money Multiplier (Lookin at Lucky) and Intense Holiday (Harlan's Holiday). “We thought he would sell very well today,” said Indian Creek's Sarah Sutherland. “Obviously, you are always thrilled when it actually pans out. We had end-users and pinhookers on him–everybody appreciated the horse.” Indian Creek offered its first weanlings of the Keeneland sale Thursday. “We had one earlier that sold great and the Nyquist colt obviously sold super,” Sutherland said. “We are two for two and they have both gone to great homes. “I think it's the same old story, when you have a quality horse with a nice pedigree, they bring premium prices.” Despite the competitive weanling market, Tami Bobo has been a prolific buyer through the first three sessions of the Keeneland sale. The Ocala pinhooker signed for five weanlings Thursday, bringing her total Keeeland November haul to 13 head purchased for $1.81 million. “The market is strong, but I think if you put in the time and diligence there are horses to be bought,” said Bobo. “Like any sale, we all get hyped on how the market is playing and I think a lot of us talk ourselves out of buying horses because of that. I felt like there was value and that's why I signed a lot of tickets today. There is going to be a marketplace with the new beautiful bill, so in 10 months, if we really evaluate the marketplace, I think there are a lot of us who need to put money in the market and I think there are a lot of people who will be there at the other end.” The Keeneland November sale continues through Tuesday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. Swifties Line Up for Taylor Swifter In a moment of life imitating art, Taylor Swifter, the four-legged version, received plenty of attention while leading the way with a $700,000 final bid early in Thursday's Book 2 finale at the Keeneland November Sale. Consigned by Gainesway, the daughter of American Pharoah, who is in foal to Flightline, was purchased by Pursuit of Success' Bryant Prentice. Handling the signing duties on the 4-year-old filly was agent Archie St. George. “She's a very nice physical,” said St. George. “She's by American Pharoah, who looks to be possibly a very good broodmare sire. And she's in foal to an exciting stallion, Flightline. The team, Mr. Prentice and Bill Oppenheim seemed to like the mare.” The unraced filly is out of SW and GSP Taylor S (Medaglia d'Oro), herself a daughter of GSW Miss Macy Sue (Trippi). Her siblings include GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Woodward Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) and GSW and GISP Not This Time. Bred by the Albaugh Family, Taylor Swifter was a $725,000 KEESEP yearling purchase before bringing $170,000 at this season's Fasig-Tipton February Sale. Taylor Swifter's filly by Flightline brought $1.5 million at Keeneland September in 2024. Her brother by Into Mischief, named Taylor's Version, won a pair of races at Churchill Downs this season. “It's a big pedigree with stallions on there, Not This Time and Liam's Map,” said St. George. “There's a lot of upsides to her and there's a half-brother that potentially could run.” “She will go back to us now and, hopefully, we'll have a Flightline colt, and [her offspring] can run.”–CBoss Apple Picker Goes to Family & Friends for $650K Early in Thursday's Book 2 session, Grade III winner Apple Picker (Connect) drew $650,000 from the partnership of Martha Jane Mulholland and Judy Pryor, who signed as Family & Friends. “I buy horses mostly on conformation and she was a beautifully-conformed mare,” said Mulholland. “They have to be pretty first, and then we start looking how much race record we can afford.” Consigned by Elite, Hip 678 is out of Silent Fright (Yes It's True), a half-sister to Canadian Champion Grass Horse Grand Adventure (Grand Slam). Victorious in the GIII Barbara Fritchie Stakes in a career that saw her amass $478,433 in earnings, Apple Picker hails from the family of Classic-winning filly Lakeway. Pryor's early experience stems from the Quarter Horse show industry and the Nebraska-based horsewoman maintains about 50 Thoroughbreds at her 400-acre Pryor Ranch near Omaha. “Judy was in the Quarter Horse show business and then she came into the racing business in Nebraska a few years ago,” explained Mulholland. “She is trying to step up the game a little bit with some really quality mares. We have a lot of high aspirations and goals for racing. In the meantime, we are going to breed some mares and make some money.” Pryor appears to have somewhat loftier ambitions. “I want to win the Kentucky Derby and the Oaks!” she said. “I am not going to work this hard to say I am going to win in Nebraska. But I do want to win there, too.” Also purchased at Keeneland this week, the team signed for Ms. Tart (Maximus Mischief) (Hip 141), a Book 1 buy that brought $375,000 and Low Mileage (Mineshaft) (Hip 477), in foal to Nyquist, for $385,000. “She is a gorgeous mare in foal to a very hot stallion,” Mulholland said of Low Mileage. “The way the market is going, I expect we can get out on a foal or two and if not, we are pleased to run them.” Additionally, the partnership secured Hip 539, Promise of Hope (Ghostzapper) for $240,000 and Hip 851 Know It All Audrey (Shackleford), a $310,000 investment. The former is in foal to National Treasure, while the latter has a Vekoma in utero. All the mares are expected to head to Mulholland Springs to foal and board. “We are excited about buying a mare in foal to [new sire] National Treasure,” said Mulholland. Asked about who they expect to breed to the partnership's open mares, Mulholland added, “I think for [Apple Picker], we can go with a little bit bigger stallion with more stretch. She has all the power and muscle so she has a lot to give to the stallion.” “We'll go around tomorrow and look at the freshman horses as well as the wonderful proven horses like Yaupon and Omaha Beach and of course, all the big stallions.” Also acting as a seller, Mulholland Springs sold all six of its offerings through the ring for gross receipts of $1.355 million. Averaging $225,833, the consignment was headed by a weanling colt by Taiba (Hip 699), who realized $385,000 on Thursday. “We have done very well, we've been very blessed,” said Mulholland of the operation's selling activity at Keeneland. “You have to focus on what the market wants. The market is wanting the solid, proven stallions like the Yaupons and Omaha Beach and the top horses like Into Mischief and Not This Time. She continued, “We want solid commercial stallions because the market is forcing us in that direction and we will try to give them what they want.”—Cboss Taiba Colt Pays for Mulholland Springs Martha Jane Mulholland says she has one criteria above all others when she buys a mare. “I try to always buy very, very pretty mares, she said. “Above all else, they have to be pretty.” She found a mare that fit the bill at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton February sale, going to $120,000 to acquire the then 9-year-old stakes-winning mare Bet She Wins (First Samurai) from the Lothenbach dispersal. “She was a very pretty mare,” Mulholland said of Bet She Wins. “I was very pleased to get her for that price.” Bet She Wins' filly by Gun Runner sold as a yearling at that same auction for $225,000 and Mulholland bred her new mare to that stallion's son Taiba, who was standing his first season at Spendthrift for a fee of $35,000. “I think Taiba is one of the most beautiful sons of Gun Runner that is standing at stud right now,” Mulholland said. “And I was hopeful with the kind of body this mare has and that Taiba has, that we would get a stunning foal. And we did.” Bet She Wins' Taiba weanling colt (hip 699) went through the ring at Keeneland Thursday, selling for $385,000 to Go Go Greys, BSW/Crow, agent. “Well, this was a little more than I was expecting,” Mulholland said of the result. “But the market is so strong that, at the same time, I am not surprised.” Bet She Wins is currently in foal to Muth. @JessMartiniTDN The post Shake It Off: $700k Taylor Swifter on Top as Gains Continue at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lisa Latta is often a force to be reckoned with when she takes her horses to Riccarton for New Zealand Cup Week and hopes this year will be no exception. The Awapuni horsewoman will look to add another Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m) and Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) to her mantelpiece on Saturday, with key hopes in Platinum Attack and Connello engaged in the feature races. A five-year-old by Santos, Platinum Attack has won two of three attempts at the 1000m trip, his only defeat coming when running blistering sectionals into sixth in last year’s Pegasus. He went on to finish fifth in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 Railway (1200m) against the best of the country’s sprinters, and just missed when runner-up in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) in autumn. Platinum Attack asserted his favouritism with a sharp trial win at Awapuni last month, boosted by the services of leading hoop Craig Grylls. “He has been set for this, he’s just been looking for those better tracks,” Latta said. “Even though they said it was a heavy track at Awapuni, it played way better than that. He has a good turn of foot on a good track, that’s for sure.” As she did last year, Latta intends to back the gelding up in next Saturday’s Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m). Breeders’ contender Connello is no stranger to the big Riccarton circuit, having travelled down on three separate occasions including for last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), where she finished fifth behind race rival Captured By Love. The daughter of Time Test picked up where she left off this term as a four-year-old, placing in the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders Stakes (1400m) before a tough trip for fifth last start at Trentham. Also to be ridden by Grylls, Connello will carry the same silks worn by Latta’s 2022 victor Belclare. “She’s got a really nice draw to utilise and a top jockey on,” Latta said. “She drew wide at Wellington and that track was definitely a bit tricky, and she had a bit of weight to carry there as well. I think she looks well placed here.” Their stablemate Platinum Pantheon has been based at Riccarton over the past three weeks after a stunning maiden win at Ashburton, setting him up nicely for in the Scenic Hotel Group Premier (1200m). “He’s been at Andrew Carston’s and he’s been really happy with him, he’s drawn wide (12) again so we’ll have to see how he jumps and go from there,” Latta said. Latta’s focus will turn to Tauherenikau on Sunday, where progressive staying mare Manzor Blue takes her place in the Wrights Cabins and Construction R75 (1600m). “I’d expect her to be right in the mix of it again, it’s not the strongest of fields and she is a lovely mare that has shown a fair bit,” Latta said. “We decided to give her another mile before we stepped her up over ground.” View the full article

Genuine filly Miss Ziggy ticked a significant box for trainer Andrew Carston during her trouble-free build-up to Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. The local hope has spent most of her career competing in strong age group company and delivered an overdue victory two runs back. “I needed to get a win out of the way, and I thought I might have got that before I did, but since she won it has been plain sailing,” he said. “I’m very happy with my horse and the one thing I’ve said through this prep is that we haven’t had to do any travelling, we’ve just had to go across the fence.” Miss Ziggy placed in her first two starts last term before heading north to finish fourth in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and then ventured further afield. Her following four starts were all at Ellerslie where ran a gallant third in the Karaka Millions (1200m) behind La Dorada and the now Victorian-based Vega For Luck. Most recently on her home Riccarton turf, the daughter of Brazen Beau finished fifth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and third in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) with her maiden win in between times. Miss Ziggy will again be ridden by Kylie Williams, who has the task of overcoming a potentially tricky draw of 10. “The barrier is no help and some of the more favoured fillies from the north have drawn to get pretty soft runs,” Carston said. “I just have to worry about my filly though, and everything has gone to plan so fingers crossed for some luck. “I don’t think she will have trouble with the distance and I’ve got her the best she can be, it’s a pleasure to have a filly in a Group One at a big carnival for one of my biggest supporters.” Raced by the Ritchie family, Miss Ziggy is currently at $41 in the Guineas market despite her consistent run of past and current form. “She was near enough to a 100 to one in the Karaka Million, so I’m not worried about that,” Carston said. He will have five other representatives in action on the opening day of the New Zealand Cup carnival, including two in the Blue Star Taxis Premier (1400m). “Say Satono hasn’t had the rub of the green, but I can’t fault her and gets Kylie back on which is a big help and the other mare Maybe Diva has done nothing wrong during the prep,” Carston said. “Mogul has been close enough and Ess Vee Are has been slightly disappointing, but he drops a long way in grade and I expect to see a good showing from him.” Mogul runs in the Scenic Hotel Group Premier (1200m), Ess Vee Are takes on the Road Metals Premier (2000m) with Hard Attack to step out in the Garrards Horse & Hound Premier (1200m). “Her best runs have been when we’ve ridden her quietly, so hopefully she can get some cover down the chute and get her chance,” Carston said. View the full article

Trans-Tasman trainer Andrew Forsman is hoping his stable can feature on both sides of the ditch this weekend. His Cambridge stable will have strong representation at Pukekohe and Tauherenikau on Saturday and Sunday respectively, while his Flemington barn will have a two-pronged attack on Champions Stakes Day at their iconic Melbourne base. Force Of Nature will lead the charge on the home front at Pukekohe where he will be fresh-up in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). Initially set to be run at Te Rapa, Saturday’s meeting was transferred to Pukekohe following the Hamilton track’s Labour Day meeting abandonment, with the club immediately undertaking renovation work ahead of the busy summer season. The change in venue is the biggest query for Forsman, but he said the Tony Rider-bred and raced gelding has been working well leading into the sprint feature. “We are a little bit disadvantaged that we targeted a race at Te Rapa and now we are at Pukekohe,” Forsman said. “He is a horse that is certainly more comfortable left-handed, that is the only negative, but we can’t really fault his work heading into it.” Forsman will also be represented at the South Auckland venue by last-start winner Rambling On in the Show By SkyCity 1500 and Trust Alone in the TAB 2200. “It was a very game win (by Rambling On) last start,” Forsman said. “He hadn’t raced for a couple of months and I thought he was vulnerable fitness-wise late. He had to work a little bit mid-stages, but it was a really game effort. It is a decent enough step up on Saturday. “Trust Alone was a little bit disappointing at Te Aroha the other day. She was another one that had a bit of time between runs. I think she will be the big improver and she should be very competitive on her work.” On Sunday, Forsman will line-up a couple of debutants at Tauherenikau, including OTI Racing’s Lassidfied in the LA Stud 2YO (1000m). “It is nice to give her a trip away and I am sure we will get a decent surface down there, which will be good,” he said. “1000m first time out, drawn well with a good rider on, I think she has got a lot of things in her favour. The Stay Inside filly has placed in both of her trials to date and Forsman is looking forward to stepping her out on raceday this weekend. “It is nice to give her a trip away and I am sure we will get a decent surface down there, which will be good,” he said. “1000m first time out, drawn well (1) with a good rider (Craig Grylls) on, I think she has got a lot of things in her favour.” Stablemate Autumn Queen will also make her debut in the Liquorland Masterton Maiden (1400m), where she will jump from barrier nine with Craig Grylls aboard. “She is a nice filly but is maybe a preparation away,” Forsman said. “She has had a couple of quiet trials. We will give her a run and then decide whether we press on now or give her a bit more time and she might be one for into next year.” Stakes targets await Privy Garden, who will be kept up to the mark for the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) later this month with a hit-out in the Wrights Cabins & Construction (1600m). “She is just having a run to keep her up to the mark for the Wanganui Cup, that is our target with with her at this stage,” Forsman said. “She had a bit of time out in the paddock after her last run and Sunday is very much a tune up run to have her ready and fit for 2000m.” Forsman will also be represented on Sunday by Retrostar in the Wairarapa Music In The Country (1400m) and Nedelin in the Lamb Peters Print (1000m). “Nedelin was a little bit unlucky (when fifth on debut), he just had to work from the widish gate,” he said. “I think there is a fair bit of speed in his race, so it would be nice to see him take a good sit off them and chase a nice tempo. He has a good amount of ability and we expect him to run really well. “Retro Star is going back to a track he has run well at before. I think the smaller field really suits him and we are taking him down there to try and get him back to his better form.” Across the Tasman, Group One performer Positivity will contest the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) on Champions Stakes Day at Flemington, while stablemate Yaldi will feature in the HKJC World Pool Grand Handicap (1100m) following his first-up runner-up performance over 1100m at Bendigo last month. “We are testing the waters with Yaldi a little bit,” Forsman said. “There won’t be a race for him down the straight for a little while and we thought while we have got the opportunity, and he is in his right grade for a decent stakes, we would give him a go. “It will be interesting to see how that sets up for him. He hasn’t drawn really well (19), but I think the outside part of the track will be the place to be. “Positivity is going great, she is just racing without a lot of luck at the moment. Hopefully the race is genuinely run.” View the full article

Shisospicy and Bentornato are back in their stalls at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, happy and sound, but the Jose D'Angelo-trained Breeders' Cup winners are hardly going to rest on their laurels.View the full article