Wandering Eyes

After four races, four different countries have been represented by winners on Dubai World Cup night and the G2 UAE Derby went to Japan, once again. Already an international sensation after taking the G3 Saudi Derby over 1600 metres last month, FOREVER YOUNG (JPN) (c, 3, Real Steel {Jpn}–Forever Darling, by Congrats) overcame a wide break from stall 11 and a wide trip for most of the race to prevail over pacesetter Auto Bahn (Arg) (Asiatic Boy {Arg}) and run up his record to a perfect five-for-five. The $1-million contest over 1900 metres is a qualifier for the GI Kentucky Derby in May and worth 200 points (100-50-25-15-10) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The final time was 1:57.89. O-Susumu Fujita. B-Northern Racing (Jpn). T-Yoshito Yahagi. FOREVER YOUNG フォーエバーヤング!! The Japanese raider books his ticket for the @KentuckyDerby with a win in the the UAE equivalent. #DWC24 pic.twitter.com/7aVESHaoHr — World Horse Racing (@WHR) March 30, 2024 The post Japan’s Forever Young Remains Undefeated In G2 UAE Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

After wins for America and Ireland in the first two races on Dubai World Cup night, it was Hong Kong's time to shine, as CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Pearlitas Passion {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) set a new track record when running out a dominant winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1200 metres. The time of 1:07.50 bettered the stakes mark set by Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) of 1:08.39 set in 2019. The 6-year-old gelding was always prominently placed on the far side several paths off the fence with most of the field, and gradually edged to the front before withstanding the closing rush of Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), receiving a 13-pound break in the weights, running second by three-quarters of a length. Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence) was third by the same margin. O-The Executors of the Estate of the Late Howard Liang Yum Shing. B-Mr M. Enright (Ire). T-Tony Cruz. CALIFORNIA SPANGLE flies the flag!! The Hong Kong raider smashes the track record with a dominant performance in the Al Quoz sprint. #dwc2024 Will we see him at @Ascot in June? @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/dTWmKhUc6J — World Horse Racing (@WHR) March 30, 2024 The post Starspangledbanner’s California Spangle Shatters Record In Al Quoz Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Class came to the fore in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup as Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ran out an authoritative winner for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. A brother to St Leger hero Capri (Ire), Tower Of London came into the Group 2 contest at Meydan off the back of a cheeky victory in the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia. Tower Of London built on that victory to post a career best at odds of 2-1, storming home from the rear to run out two lengths too strong for 80-1 shot Al Nayyir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), with Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) just over a length further behind in third. Moore said, “He was better again again. The pace slackened up down the back [straight] and I had to move him forward but he quickened up very well. He was impressive.” Tower Of London's victory represented the perfect start at Meydan for O'Brien and Moore, who have Auguste Rodin to look forward to in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. Ballydoyle strike! TOWER OF LONDON secures the Middle Eastern double with a win in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan. #DWC24 @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/jDjURctGjz — World Horse Racing (@WHR) March 30, 2024 The post “He Was Impressive” – Tower Of London All Class In Dubai Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TWO RIVERS OVER (g, 4, Tamarkuz–American Cowgirl, by Cowboy Cal) closed like a freight train to pip dueling leaders Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Isolate (Mark Valeski) and win the G2 Godolphin Mile on Saturday. Walk Of Stars was 3/4 of a length back in second, only a nostril in front of a very game Isolate, who boxed back after appearing beaten close home. The final time for the 1600 metres over a fast strip was 1:37.49. It was the first group win for the 2023 Listed Zia Park Derby winner. O-Todd Cady & Ty Leatherman. B-Allied Racing Stable, LLC (KY). T-Chief Stipe O'Neill. Two Rivers Over, trained by @Chief StipeONeill1, dazzles in the @Godolphin Mile sponsored by @emaardubai Take a bow, @MaldonadoJockey! #DWC24 pic.twitter.com/JpbDKOOJrB — Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 30, 2024 The post Tamarkuz’s ‘Rivers’ Runs Through Godolphin Mile, Defending Champ Isolate Third appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes-winning trainer Robertino Diodoro was allegedly found in possession of the banned substance levothyroxine and faces up to a two-year suspension. View the full article

Promising up-and-comer Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) added a fifth win to his record with a stylish come-from-behind performance in Saturday’s HKJC World Pool Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill. The four-year-old gelding has now had 11 starts for five wins and five placings, with his only unplaced finish being a fifth – and only 1.1 lengths from the winner – at Randwick in September. Gringotts was sent out as a $3.50 favourite for Saturday’s A$160,000 Benchmark 88 handicap, which was his first raceday appearance since November. He settled in the back half of the field and was caught three wide, but jockey James McDonald managed to get on the back of another runner coming up to the home turn. McDonald brought Gringotts into clear air in the straight and turned him loose, and he wore down the runaway leader Iknowastar (Star Witness) to win by a length. “He was comfortable in the running and the pace was nice,” McDonald said. “We were able to get a little breather when we got on the back of one from the 700m to the 500m and they gave us a little cart up, but apart from that he did it the tough way and did it really well.” Gringotts is trained by Ciaron Maher, who was represented at Rosehill on Saturday by Johann Gerard-Dubord. “That was a very good win,” he said. “He’s a horse who showed us plenty in his work last preparation. He’s always worked like a very good horse, but he just wasn’t quite there mentally. He’s come back a lot more mature this time in. “Obviously he had to cover a bit of ground today, but James just kept him comfortable. It was good to see him finish the race off the way he did. “I think the owners have got a lovely horse going forward and there should be a lot more to come. With his position at the ratings at the moment, there’s plenty of options coming up. We’ll just take him through the grades for now, but I’m sure we’ll see him in better races in the future.” Gringotts was bred by Totara Park Stud and is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto out of the Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell (NZ). Herself unraced, Miss Bluebell is a daughter of Operavega (NZ) (Stravinsky), whose half-sister Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar) was the dam of the legendary Winx (Street Cry). Gringotts was offered by Archer Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Kasa Bloodstock bought him for $100,000. He was re-offered at the Ready to Run Sale later that year, but failed to meet his $450,000 reserve. He has so far earned A$387,300 for his syndicate of owners. View the full article

Emerging stayer Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) capped a dream day for Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood when he won Saturday’s Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington and secured himself a ballot-free entry into the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m). Mark Twain’s heroics in the A$500,000 staying feature came less than an hour after his superstar stablemate Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) won the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in Sydney. That Savabeel filly will deservedly dominate headlines for her blockbuster performance at Rosehill, but Mark Twain’s supporting act was also something well out of the ordinary. The four-year-old son of Shocking came into the race with only 11 career starts to his name. He had won three of those and placed in another three, headed by a last-start third in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on March 9. He was also a fourth placegetter in last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) before finishing well outside the placings on heavy ground in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). Mark Twain was thrown in at the deep end against some seasoned staying opposition for Saturday’s Roy Higgins, and that difficult task looked close to impossible as he was a clear last and almost detached from the rest of the field coming down the side of the track. But jockey Mick Dee brought him to the outside in the straight and let him rip, and Mark Twain produced an astonishing finish to bound past all of his 11 rivals and win by half a length. “I can hardly believe what this horse did today,” James said. “At the 600m, I had all but given up hope. He was flat catching the second-last horse. The big expanses at Flemington helped him, but it was a mighty staying effort. “You didn’t see him at his best on a bottomless track when he came over for the Derby in Sydney last year. Otherwise, he’s not blotted his copybook. No doubt that staying is the name of his game, and big tracks. The fact that we’ve got the golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup now makes it so much easier to plan his spring campaign. It was such a dominant staying effort today.” Mark Twain made a big impression on Dee, who was having his first ride on the horse. “To be honest, I was just trying to get him around the track,” Dee said. “We’re here at Flemington and he wanted to hang out on me the whole way and I didn’t have a lot of steering in the straight. “Once he finally changed legs and balanced up in the straight, that was when you saw that turn of foot. It was a super effort, but he didn’t give me the easiest of rides. He can pull and reef and tear, but I was able to manage that. He was wanting to get on one rein, but he’s certainly got great staying ability and we definitely saw it then.” Mark Twain was bred by Taikorea Thoroughbreds Ltd. He became the 24th individual stakes winner for Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking, joining a list that features Group One stars I’m Thunderstruck (NZ), Defibrillate (NZ), Fanatic (NZ) and El Vencedor (NZ). The dam of Mark Twain is the Prized mare Pinders Prize (NZ), who has produced three winners from seven foals to race including the Moonee Valley Cup (Gr.2, 2500m) Wellington Cup (Gr.2, 3200m), New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) and Lexus Stakes (Gr.3, 2500m) placegetter Pentathlon (NZ) (Pentire). View the full article

A daughter of two-time Riverton Cup (2147m) winner Miss Three Stars (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) lined up on the same raceday on Saturday for the same trainer and jockey, delivering a major victory of her own in the Bupa Care Services Francolin Stakes (1400m). The fillies and mares’ feature was run over 1400m on Riverton’s biggest raceday of the year, and emerging five-year-old Miss Pearl (NZ) (Tavistock) rose to the occasion with an outstanding come-from-behind win. Miss Pearl is trained at Ascot Park by Tommy Beckett, who guided Miss Three Stars through a 56-start career that earned more than $300,000 with 11 victories including the 2015 and 2016 Riverton Cups. She also won the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) in 2016. Miss Three Stars was ridden to 10 of those wins by Samantha Wynne, who put on the purple and white colours again on Saturday to win the Francolin Stakes with that special mare’s first foal. “It means a lot to win a good race with a daughter of Miss Three Stars, and especially with Sam Wynne in the saddle as well,” Beckett said. “It was a great result.” Miss Pearl went into Saturday’s race as the winner of only one of her 15 career starts, but the Tavistock mare had collected another six placings including five this season. Patiently ridden by Wynne, Miss Pearl settled in seventh place before quickening impressively through the Heavy10 ground in the straight. She surged up on the inside of the front-running Emanon (NZ) (Burgundy) – an 11-race winner who was carrying 3kg less with an apprentice allowance. Miss Pearl outfought that rival through a testing final 100m, scoring by a neck. Miss Pearl’s 16-start career has now produced two wins, six placings and $110,545 in stakes, with Beckett eyeing up a shot at a lucrative new race on the South Island calendar – the inaugural TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) on April 13. “It was a lovely win today by a very good wee mare,” Beckett said. “It’s taken her a while to learn to do what we want her to do, settle back and have the last run, but she did everything perfectly today. “We’re qualified for that new $350,000 race in Christchurch in a couple of weeks’ time, so we might as well have a crack at that. We might not win it, but even a placing in a race like that would be a great result.” View the full article

A year after winning the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) with Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood returned to Rosehill on Saturday and achieved a repeat result with another special filly. Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) headed across the Tasman as one of the most-hyped New Zealand three-year-olds in recent memory. She had won all of her four previous starts in succession, including the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and a runaway victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). The latter performance received a further boost when the distant second placegetter Antrim Coast (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) won last Saturday’s Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley in his next start. Champion expat jockey James McDonald was legged aboard Orchestral as a $1.60 favourite on Saturday despite facing a well-credentialled field that included Godolphin’s Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) and Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) winner Zardozi (Kingman). The pair also had to overcome a daring ride by Nash Rawiller on Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun), who sat in third place before powering to the lead and throwing down the gauntlet with 600m remaining. He held a clear advantage over Orchestral rounding the home turn, and the superstar Kiwi faced her biggest test yet. But McDonald got her balanced up in the straight and pushed the button, and Orchestral took care of the rest. She worked through her gears and began to eat into Tutta La Vita’s margin, surging past her in the final 100m and winning by just under a length. Zardozi finished third. “She had to have all the quality today,” McDonald said. “She was out on her feet, but like good ones do, she overcame it. She’s just very good. It’s a weird feeling riding her, because the first time I ever sat on her, I hopped off her and thought, ‘There’s something damned, damned good about this thing.’ “I haven’t had this much confidence going into a race since I was riding Anamoe, when I knew he was just unbeatable. I thought she was unbeatable today. I thought she would win a little bit easier, but she was a little bit ring-rusty. She took the last bend a little bit awkwardly. On fast ground, she had to really dig deep and it wasn’t to our liking, and the slowly run race wasn’t really to our liking. Stepping up in trip next start is just going to be perfect for her. Jockey James McDonald is all smiles when returning on Gr.1 Vinery Stakes winner Orchestral. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli “I knew two days ago, with Nash booked on Tutta La Vita, something was going to happen. So I was aware it was going to happen, it was just a matter of when and just being alert to it. I would have preferred to sit and not have to chase from that far away, but it shows how tough she is. “She had to do all the donkey work to chase that horse, which is not that easy to do. She cornered not that well and then she was a sitting duck, so for her to fight like that was incredible. She pulled up having a bit of a blow, so she’ll improve.” Raced by long-time James and Wellwood clients Colin and Helen Litt, Orchestral has now had nine starts for six wins, two seconds and almost $2 million in stakes. “We’re a small stable from New Zealand and to do it with horses we’ve bought ourselves and then bring them across and win this race two years in a row is thrilling,” Wellwood said. “It’s a great effort by the filly, coming back from a mile and a half to now win over 2000m. That residual fitness kicked in at the end. “I thought we were tracking into it nicely, but Tutta La Vita got a little break on us. Halfway up the straight, I thought we were going to have to be very tough to win, and she was that.” James and Wellwood will now decide whether Orchestral will carry on to the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick next Saturday or the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) a week later. “No decision will be made until we see her trot up and have a chat to connections, but the best thing is she has ticked the first box and got a Group One in Australia,” Wellwood said. Orchestral was bred by Barneswood Farm and is one of 33 individual Group One winners for Waikato Stud’s champion sire Savabeel. She is the first named foal out of the O’Reilly mare Symphonic (NZ), who herself won four races and placed in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). Offered by Haunui Farm in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, Orchestral was bought by James and Wellwood for $625,000. Orchestral was bred on the Savabeel-O’Reilly cross that has produced more than 30 other stakes winners, including Saturday’s Gr.2 Toyota Forklifts Tulloch Stakes (2000m) winner Wymark (NZ). View the full article

Flemington’s ‘Straight Six’ has brought the very best out of Te Akau Racing’s Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt), who improved her record at the venue to four-from-four with a valuable black-type win in the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) on Saturday. Previously a black-type placegetter in New Zealand with a second behind Group One performer Best Seller (NZ) (Wrote) in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), Sans Doute relocated to Te Akau’s Cranbourne base for the spring and kicked off her Australian career with a second at Moonee Valley, a sixth at Seymour and a third at Moonee Valley. But everything has changed since she started racing at Flemington. The four-year-old won a Benchmark 70 handicap on December 20, followed by a Benchmark 78 on January 20 and a mares’ handicap on March 2. Saturday marked the step up to stakes level, and she delivered in style with a breathtaking finishing burst. Ridden by expat Kiwi jockey Mick Dee, Sans Doute was slow to begin and found herself a long way off the leaders at the halfway stage. She was still a clear last at the 300m, but then she produced a spectacular turn of foot to roar down the outside of the track. She reeled in Najem Suhail (Starspangledbanner) and snatched a stunning victory by a head. “I’m not sure we’ll see a more impressive win today,” Dee said. “I’d planned to settle in behind them and then get her to the outside, but I didn’t anticipate being slow away and settling a good two lengths off the second-last horse. Once we joined the course proper, the leaders would have been about 10 in front of me. For her to get up and win the way she did was a very, very strong performance.” The win continued a remarkable run in Melbourne’s sprint features this season for Te Akau and their head trainer Mark Walker. Their headline horse Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) has won the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1000m), Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m), Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m), Gr.1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) and Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m). “It was a pretty impressive win today by Sans Doute,” assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said. “Mick’s ride was 10 out of 10. He was patient and knew her turn of foot was elite. The pace was on and the race mapped out as perfectly as we could have hoped. “This mare has an incredible turn of foot and her confidence is skyrocketing. It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago she was running at Seymour and producing a pretty plain performance. “Obviously her first win at Flemington grew her confidence, and it’s amazing what confidence can do for a horse. Mark came up with this plan to ride her cold, and those tactics are working perfectly.” Sans Doute now had 15 starts for seven wins, five placings and A$391,757 in stakes. View the full article

Race favourite Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls) carried the hopes of the locals in Saturday’s Kennedy Building Riverton Cup (2147m), and he didn’t let anyone down as he ground out a terrific victory in the feature event on the day. Prepared on the track by Kelvin Tyler, the five-year-old gelding rounded out his preparation for the contest with a narrow victory over 1500m at Wingatui a fortnight earlier. Tyler has made no secret of his admiration for the son of Scared Falls, and his charge looked the winner a long way out as he glided around the outer for rider Terry Moseley approaching the home turn, before taking control out wide shortly after. Chased hard by Astradeel (Dundeel), Prince Alby never shirked his task as he maintained a length margin to the winning post with gallant pacemaker The Tui Toiler (NZ) (Highly Recommended) fighting bravely to hold third. Tyler, who purchased his charge for just $3,000 from the Mapperley Stud draft during Book 3 at Karaka in 2020, was full of praise for the effort on the testing Heavy10 surface. “The way he went today is his best style, and we would have been disappointed if he hadn’t performed as his work has been so good this week,” Tyler said. “He loves the big roomy track here and with some cut in the ground he got everything to suit. “He did it well even though it got a bit tight towards the end, but when he is on his game, he is pretty hard to get past. “This is the third time we have won this race and with the family and a big group of supporters here today it is very special.” Tyler is keen to take on northern rivals at the gelding’s next start as opposed to one of the middle-distance features coming up at Riccarton. “The way that Riccarton track has been lately it would be too firm for him,” he said. “I’m pretty keen to send him north to Otaki for a race there on the 13th of April (Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup 2200m), so as long as he pulls up well then I think that is what we will do.” Bred by Rosemont Stud, Prince Alby is a son of the Black Minnaloushe mare Oya (NZ) and has now won seven of his 27 starts and over $209,000 in prizemoney for Tyler and his wife Vanessa who own him. View the full article

Another Wil was a class above in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m). Photo: RacingNSW Another Wil (-125) has made a mess of his rivals in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, booking his ticket to the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) next weekend. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding put the writing on the wall with a hat-trick of wins to begin the campaign, stamping himself as a possible star on the rise heading into Saturday’s Doncaster Prelude as an odds-on commodity. The win was never in doubt after the jump, with Jamie Kah taking luck out of the equation to sit outside the leader throughout the 1500m journey. Amor Victorious (+800) rolled along at a moderate clip, allowing the favourite to sit on his hammer every step of the way. Jamie Kah only pulled the whip with 300m to go, and in a flash, the son of Street Boss had put his rivals to the sword. Welwal (+2500) and last year’s winner Bandersnatch (+4000) put some value in exotics for trifecta and first four players, but they were simply no match for Another Wil in the concluding stages. Stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord was on track to discuss the win of Another Wil and his chances moving into next weekend. “Very good,” said Gerard-Dubord. “He still does a lot wrong. Pre-race, that’s him. He’s very energetic. But he keeps raising the bar. There’s a lot more to come. He’s got a very good racing style. He puts himself there on-speed. The team at Ballarat have done a great job with him. He’s had a faultless preparation and hopefully there’s more to come. “He’s fit. It’s just about keeping him fresh and happy and making sure he recovers well from that. The extra 100m next week on a bigger track will only suit him. “There’s a drop of rain predicted, that won’t hurt him. He’s won on a heavy track. He’ll have a light weight there, Jamie Kah will stick with him. He should be a good chance.” Jamie Kah has taken the reins every start of the preparation and believes there is more to come from Another Wil. “I thought he was a freak, and he is one,” said Kah. “It’s nice to see him do that. “He keeps stepping up and I still think we haven’t got anywhere near his peak yet. So bring it on (the Doncaster).” Another Wil is now a firm +250 favourite for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 6. Horse racing news View the full article

Michael Dee returns to scale on Mark Twain after winning the Roy Higgins at Flemington. (Photo by Ross Holburt/Racing Photos) Roger James & Robert Welwood have topped off their outstanding day with Mark Twain (+850) earning a start in the 2024 Melbourne Cup after a barnstorming finish in the final 400m to claim victory in the Roy Higgins at Flemington. After finishing third in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m), the son of Shocking made the trip across the ditch to try and earn his spot in the Cup and with a calm ride from Michael Dee, he proved way too strong late. Major Beel (+2000) made sure the race was run at a strong speed, as he led the field from Gear Up (+650) and Port Guillaume (+25000), while the race favourite Glentaneous (+360) worked his way through the pack to settle behind the leading trio. However, as the leader kicked away at the top of the home straight, none of the leading division could go with him and it appeared as though Jye McNeil had pinched it, but the swoopers were coming fast by the 200m mark. Mark Twain, Strawberry Rock (+1000) and Mostly Cloudy (+650) ascended on the leader and it was the Kiwi runner on the outside that would get his head down on the line and claim the golden ticket into the race that stops the nation. Roger James was on course to witness the big win and he spoke post-race. “I can hardly believe that this horse did that today,” James said of the winner. “At the 600 (metre mark) I have all but given up hope. “He was flat catching the second horse. “The big expanse of Flemington has helped him. A mighty staying effort. “It was a bottomless track that day (in the ATC Derby) and other than that he has hardly ever blotted his copybook and no doubt that staying is the name of his game, and big tracks. “That we have a golden ticket makes it a lot easier.” Michael Dee produced two perfectly timed swooping rides on Australian Cup Day, and he spoke about the win on Mark Twain post-race. “To be honest, I was just trying to get him around the track. We’re here at Flemington and he wanted to hang out on me the whole way and I didn’t have a lot of steering in the straight,” Dee said. “Once he finally changed legs and balanced up in the straight, that was when you saw that turn-of-foot. “It was a super effort but he didn’t give me the easiest of rides. “He’s certainly an out-and-out stayer but he is a difficult horse. He can pull and reef and tear but I was able to manage that. “He was wanting to get on one rein so he’s certainly got great staying ability and we definitely saw it then.” Mark Twain is a +2500 chance in 2024 Melbourne Cup futures markets with online bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article

Cascadian (left) claiming Pride Of Jenni to win the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m). Photo: Racing Photos Cascadian (+650) has become the second horse since 2000 to win back-to-back Australian Cups, after getting a peach of a ride from Ben Melham to finish over the top of the brave Pride Of Jenni (+270) in the concluding stages at Flemington. The James Cummings-trained gelding put the writing on the wall with a strong finish in the All-Star Mile last start over 1600m when he finished third, and he has produced a similar run to claim his first victory since winning the same race 12 months ago. As always, Declan Bates took Pride Of Jenni to the front and allowed her to bowl along at her own speed, and they put four lengths on the rest of the field at the halfway mark. The race favourite Mr Brightside (+190) was one of the first favoured runners to be asked for an effort, but Atishu (+380) and Cascadian went straight past him with 300m to go, but the former began to struggle to go with the winner a few strides later. Under the urgings of Melham, the son of New Approach continued to find and he nabbed the front-runner in the shadows of the post, while Atishu held on from a fast-finishing Vow And Declare (+2500) in third and fourth. Nacim Delmi represented the Godolphin stable on course and he spoke about the win post-race. “We knew tactics were going to be tricky obviously with Pride Of Jenni over the 2000-metres and Declan rode a great race,” Delmi said. “The temp suited him perfectly. When they came up to the top of the straight and he was travelling we knew he was going to give it a good shake. “Once he peeled out and Ben Melham timed it perfectly, it was great. “He is easy to do anything with. He has been really fresh the last few days and we had to keep him as calm as possible. “He came here today in great order and when we saddled him up and did the girth, he grabbed hold of the strapper’s arm and wouldn’t let go. We knew he was on song today. “Back-to-back, it is unreal.” Ben Melham also went back-to-back in the Australian Cup after he partnered Cascadian in the 2023 edition. “That’s the way he loves it. James and the Godolphin team have done a tremendous job with this horse. “He ran really well the other day, like he did last year in the All-Star Mile and came out and won. “I tell you what, if you could ever declare a horse on the way to the barrier, this is him. “Couldn’t have been in better order which gave me the confidence to ride him like I wanted to. “He loves pinching runs and sneaking around the place. He’s just too good for them. “To see horses his age still beating the best horses in the land at this trip is phenomenal to see. “Massive feat for him to win two in a row. “Ride of the year, I reckon.” Horse racing news View the full article

Kalapour holds out More Felons to claim Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) glory. Photo: RacingNSW Kalapour (+3300) has caused a major upset in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, giving Dylan Gibbons his second career Group 1 victory as a jockey. The Kris Lees-trained seven-year-old was considered one of the outside chances leading into Saturday, with the son of War Command unwanted in the market as a +3300 chance with online betting sites prior to the jump. He was third-up into the campaign on Saturday and was always going to benefit from a step up in trip after finishing runner-up in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) behind Lindermann on March 16. Dylan Gibbons got the ideal position throughout the journey, slotting in midfield as the eight runners ran along in a single file in the early stages. Post Impressionist (+150) and Buckaroo (+360) were dragged back towards the rear of the field and ridden with confidence, however, both were unable to muster when asked to sprint with 500m to travel. More Felons (+500) was picking up for James McDonald, and at one stage appeared to be hitting the line best, as Kalapour kicked back to secure his first Group 1 victory. Kris Lees was on course and admitted he was cautious about heading to this event before praising the ride by Dylan Gibbons. “At 8.30am on Wednesday I nearly was going to run him in the Neville Sellwood Stakes,” said Lees. “I ummed and ahhed which way to go and it looked like it was falling away a little bit, this race, so we thought we’d give him his chance. “I came here hoping he’d earn a nice cheque for connections, probably not that confident. But I’m really happy. “Super. He’s a super kid (Dylan Gibbons. What you see is what you get. That’s him, all the time. He’s just a pleasure to have around. I know he’s already won a Group 1 but he’s got many more (to come). Finally we got one together, that’s great.” It’s the first time Gibbons has ridden a Group 1 winner for his boss Kris Lees and couldn’t have been happy with the achievement. “It meant a lot,” said Gibbons. “If you asked me a longtime goal would have been to do something like this for Kris, because I go back through my whole career and every step and stage I made with his support and what he helped Dad plan for me, I know for a fact I’d be lost without it. So to give him one on the biggest stage, it means a hell of a lot.” Horse racing news View the full article

Orchestral arrived in time to claim the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW The journey across the Tasman has paid immediate dividends for the Roger James & Robert Wellwood barn, with New Zealand raider Orchestral (-166.67) justifying the short quote in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. James McDonald partnered the daughter of Savabeel three starts back at Ellerslie in the Listed Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 27, and always suggested a trip to Australia would be ideal for the three-year-old filly. The race panned out perfect for McDonald gaining the one-one throughout the journey, parking in behind a moderate speed throughout. Zardozi (+320) was able to slide in behind her, while the Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi (+850) was allowed to stride forward under Rachel King. The race shifted gear at the 1000m marker as Nash Rawiller pulled out a three-wide line aboard Tutta La Vitta (+1000), playing a game of ‘catch me if you can’ aboard the Chris Waller-trained filly. Rawiller pinched a three-length break on his rivals, forcing McDonald’s mount to knuckle down to the task, proving too strong at the wire. Orchestral has now claimed back-to-back Group 1 victories after taking on the boys in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) on March 2, and will now press on towards the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) on April 13. Co-trainer Robert Wellwood spoke on behalf of the stable and there was a sense of relief getting the result, before confirming the team are undecided on where to head next. “My heart rate is still coming down,” said Wellwood. “It was a bit of a freight there. As you say, she (Tutta La Vita) took off and got a real break on us. She had to fight really hard to win but class prevailed. “We’re going to trot her up tomorrow, talk to the connections and make a decision after that. It was a great effort coming back from a Derby to now win a 2000-metre race here. She’s a Group 1 winner on both sides of the Tasman now, so it’s very thrilling for some really good owners. It’s amazing to win the race two years in a row.” James McDonald was delighted with the win and was always confident in the engine he had underneath him when asking Orchestral for the ultimate effort. “She had to have all the quality,” said McDonald. “She was out on her feet, like good ones do, she’s just very good. It’s a weird feeling riding her because the first time I ever sat on her, I was, ‘right, good filly’ ride the winner and forget about the next one. But when I hopped off her I thought, there’s something damned, damned good about this thing. “And I haven’t had this much confidence going into a race since I was riding Anamoe when I knew he was just unbeatable. I thought she was unbeatable today. I thought she would win a little bit easier but she was a little bit ring rusty.” “She took the last bend a little bit awkwardly. Fast ground, she had to really dig deep and it wasn’t to our liking, and the slowly run race wasn’t really to our liking. Stepping up in trip is just going to be perfect for her.” Horse racing news View the full article

Bandi’s Boy claimed the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW The Danny Williams-trained Bandi’s Boy (+1400) has launched late to claim victory in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. The son of The Brothers War may have been the forgotten horse early by online betting sites, with punters firming the four-year-old gelding from $34.00 at the open to as short as +1400 prior to the jump. Many would have thought the Country Championship Final (1400m) next Saturday at Randwick would be the grand final target, but thanks to a perfectly timed ride by Jay Ford, Bandi’s Boy has added some black-type to the resume. The Bjorn Baker-trained Malkovich ($26.00) rolled to the front early under Joshua Parr and gave a bold sight when asked for the ultimate effort in the straight. Bandi’s Boy was the only notable chaser with 200m to travel, with the likes of Hawaii Five Oh (+450), Libertad (+600) and Zou Tiger (+550) never sighted in the concluding stages, while the Chris Waller-trained Roots (+1300) was doing her best work late to sneak into the minor money. Danny Williams admitted this was more of a turn up for next Saturday but was delighted with the display of Bandi’s Boy. “He wasn’t wound down for this race,” said Williams. “Obviously he was in today for next week which is our Grand Final (in the Country Championships Final). Look, the horse just keeps going to another level. He keeps lifting the bar and obviously the 1400-metres is going to suit him better than the 1200. “He had a nice weight today and from a very nice ride. He’s got so much upside and he’s only going to improve. “The back-up is what we’ve planned. “Obviously there is a bit of rain forecast next week and he needed that fitness. We’ve been a little bit soft on him coming into today, he’d only had the one gallop and a barrier trial leading in in the last four weeks. He went to the paddock for a week and he’s done extremely well and the horse just keeps getting better.” Jay Ford credited the maturity of his mount and believes he’ll be ready to go again next week in the Country Championship. “He’s always had really good ability,” said Ford. “This prep has probably been the real making of him. “He’s always done the little things wrong, wanting to run off the track and just getting the one-percenters wrong. But this prep he has really started to put it all together and he has just flown through the grades. He’s qualified for the Country Champs and it’s not a bad lead-up is it, winning a stakes race leading into that. “He’s a very talented horse. Danny has managed him very well. He got injured a long time ago, he had a long time off and now they’re reaping the rewards. “He’s the right horse for the Country Championships. I always thought that from a fair few months ago. He’s flying through the grades so all things being equal, if he turns up in this sort of form next week he should be hard to beat.” Bandi’s Boy is a clear +150 favourite for next Saturday’s Country Championship Final (1400m). Horse racing news View the full article

Wymark’s (NZ) (Savabeel) connections are likely to pay a late nomination fee for next week’s Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) after the rapidly improving three-year-old collected his fourth win in a row in Saturday’s Gr.2 Toyota Forklifts Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. The Randwick classic was not originally on the radar for the Savabeel gelding, who began his career with six consecutive top-four finishes over distances ranging from 1200m to 1500m. But the step up over ground has lifted the talented New Zealand-bred to another level, beginning with a maiden victory over 1600m at Newcastle in February. He won by nine and a half lengths over 1850m in his next appearance at the same venue, then beat older horses in a 1900m race at Rosehill on March 16. On Saturday he did it again in the Tulloch – a race that has produced five Derby winners since 2017 with Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj), Levendi (Pierro), Angel Of Truth (Animal Kingdom), Quick Thinker (So You Think) and Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel). “We’ll probably have to pay that late entry fee for the Derby now – it’s a big carrot dangling there,” Wymark’s trainer Michael Freedman said. “This race has been a great guide to the Derby in recent years. “He’s bred to run a mile and a half, and I thought he ran a very solid 2000m there on a day where the track might be favouring on-pace runners a little bit. “He’s done a great job. Now we’ll look forward to him hopefully having a good week and backing up next Saturday. “I ballsed it up with this horse and thought he’d be a miler or 1400m horse. I sent him up to the Gold Coast for the A$250,000 Magic Millions Maiden race there, thinking he might not have many chances to run for A$250,000. He ran well that day for fourth over 1400m, but since we’ve stepped his distances up, he’s relished it and made me look like an idiot.” Wymark completed back-to-back stakes wins on the Rosehill card for jockey Tommy Berry, who had previously won the Gr.3 Hyland Race Colours Baillieu (1400m) aboard fellow Kiwi-bred Linebacker. Wymark settled in sixth place among a strung-out Tulloch Stakes field, then Berry switched him out at the turn to make his run down the centre of the track. He quickly overpowered the front-running Kintyre (Hallowed Crown) and stretched out stylishly to score by three-quarters of a length over Noisy Boy (Real Steel) and the New Zealand-bred Saltcoats (NZ) (Ardrossan). “I came in after his work on Tuesday and I told Michael this horse was oozing confidence,” Berry said. “I said, ‘He won’t get beat on the weekend.’ It was just that bit of work. Last time I said to Michael one wouldn’t get beat, I think it was Stay Inside in the Golden Slipper (Gr.1, 1200m). So that’s how good he’s been going at home. “He was very enthusiastic today. He doesn’t feel like a horse that has had a heap of runs. He’s feeling really good. But just with how quickly he picks them up and puts them away – even Jay Ford said to me coming back to scale, ‘I felt like I had you a few times, but yours was just waiting for us and then just kept picking up and going away.’ So he’s got a few more gears there. “I’m not saying he’ll win, but he will be mighty hard to beat in the Derby. I haven’t ridden a stayer that has given me a feel like this since The Offer, and he was just good the whole way through. So he’s pretty good.” If Wymark backs up into next Saturday’s Derby, he will attempt to deliver back-to-back wins in the race for Savabeel, who sired last year’s winner Major Beel. Wymark was bred by Waikato Stud and is out of Pasadena (NZ), an unraced O’Reilly full-sister to multiple Group One winner Alamosa. The Savabeel – O’Reilly cross has produced 32 stakes winners, including Major Beel. Wymark was purchased at the Gold Coast yearling sales by bloodstock agent Mick Wallace for A$200,000. View the full article

Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) became the first stakes winner for freshman Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth with a classy and tenacious victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hyland Race Colours Baillieu (1400m) at Rosehill – a performance that also earned him a shot at next month’s Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. Held in high regard by trainer John O’Shea, Linebacker made a perfect start to his career with a four-length win on debut at Hawkesbury in late February. The Bailleu was a big step up for his second start on Saturday, but Linebacker rose to the occasion. Ridden positively from the inside gate by jockey Tommy Berry, Linebacker settled in second before moving up to eyeball the front-running Anode (I Am Invincible) at the home turn. That rival fought back fiercely and it developed into a desperate duel down the straight, but Linebacker kept lifting and took top honours by a nose. The third placegetter finished more than two lengths behind the first pair. “I pulled up with a lot of admiration for this horse,” Berry said. “There’s so much more under the bonnet than what you’ve seen today. “A few things were against him. He’s gone from a soft track to a firm deck, and he handled that quite well. We also drew in and had that pressure from the outside – I think he’ll be better when he draws out a little bit and can take that time to get into his spot. “He’s got such a big stride, and horses like that just need to bowl along and get into their rhythm. But he knows how to win, and it’s great for his connections.” Linebacker’s two-start, two-win career has so far earned A$161,550 for an ownership group that includes Mystery Downs’ Francis and Christine Cook. “He’s a real racehorse,” O’Shea said. “Further down the track, I think he’ll run a mile, a mile and a quarter. “It was a big challenge for him today, coming out of a maiden at Hawkesbury and into a Group Three, and we had to ride him a bit different. “There was plenty for him to learn, and he did a great job. He wants to be a racehorse. He wants to win, wants to stick his neck out. Tommy gave him a beautiful ride and taught him plenty. He’s on an upward spiral and has a bright future. “Now we want the other two-year-olds to beat each other up in the Sires’ (Gr.1, 1400m) next week and have a hard run. Then we’ll head into the Champagne with fresh legs and a nice young colt on the way up.” Bred by GSA Bloodstock, Linebacker was purchased out of Haunui Farm’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $160,000 by O’Shea and Suman Hedge Bloodstock. He is a son of the English-bred Oasis Dream mare Garden Of Swans, who is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Sandown Eclipse Stakes (2000m) winner and sire Mukhadram. Linebacker’s brother was also secured by O’Shea with James Bester Bloodstock for A$80,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Super Seth has been represented in New Zealand by the winners Poetic Champion (NZ), who also placed in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) and the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), and Diablo Blanco (NZ) from just six representatives. His progeny were keenly sought after at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in January, with a top Book 1 price of $700,000 paid by Patella Bloodstock for Pencarrow Stud’s half-brother to Group winners Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock) and Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar). View the full article

Perennially under-rated mare Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto) had a richly deserved day in the Ellerslie sun on Saturday, bringing her high-class New Zealand racing career to a close with a successful defence of her title in the Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The Lisa Latta-trained mare has spent most of her career under the radar and has defied double-digit odds for many of her previous successes – including a $22 upset in last year’s Breeders’ Stakes at Pukekohe and a $21 boilover in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie two months ago. But despite the lack of plaudits, Belclare has banked more than $980,000 for her ownership group, which includes her breeder David Woodhouse. Her outstanding 36-start career has produced 11 wins and six second placings. “Lisa has done such a magnificent job with this mare,” Woodhouse said. “I’m very grateful to my ownership partners, who stuck it out through quite a slow start to her career. But then we sent her to Lisa, who really turned this mare around, and we’ve had so much fun together over the last couple of years. “It’s almost unbelievable that I’m thinking of selling her now, but that will set me up so that I can hopefully keep racing horses for the rest of my days.” Belclare became the sixth mare to record back-to-back wins in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, joining Tudor Light (NZ) (All A’Light II) (1976-77), Orchidra (NZ) (Oncidium) (1978-79), Waikiki (NZ) (Crested Wave) (1990-91), Aimee Jay (NZ) (Famous Star) (1998-99) and Saint Cecile (NZ) (Pompeii Court) (2001-02). The race was elevated to Group One status for the second of Saint Cecile’s wins, so Belclare is the first to win the race twice at the elite level. Belclare returns victorious after winning the Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Ellerslie. Photo: Trish Dunell Belclare’s second Breeders’ Stakes victory came as a $4.90 second favourite, starkly contrasting with last year’s three-length upset over the subsequent Group One winner Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel). The six-year-old was ridden again on Saturday by Sam Spratt, whose potent partnership with Belclare has produced victories in the Westbury Classic and both editions of the Breeders’ Stakes. After being slightly slow to leave the starting gates, Spratt drove Belclare forward and soon took up a position on the outside of the front-running Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock). Belclare cruised up on the outside of that rival approaching the turn, then took command quickly after straightening for home. She produced the same powerful kick that carried her to her previous big-race successes, pulling ahead of Town Cryer and opening up a winning margin of a length and a half. “What a super mare,” Spratt said. “I don’t normally get emotional, but she almost brought a tear to my eye today. She’s been such a tough little mare. “She’ll be heading off to be a mum soon, I think she’s going to be sold in Australia, so to go out like that today is awesome. “She’s often a stride slow to begin, so I was a bit worried about her draw today. But we managed to kick up, and as soon as I got up beside Town Cryer, I thought I was in a pretty good position. It panned out perfectly – exactly the way I was hoping it would, which doesn’t often happen. She was just travelling so well, then kicked clear in the straight. It was easy as. “She’s such a cool little mare. She’s always been the underdog, but she’s got huge ability.” Latta was relieved and delighted to see her stable star sign off in Group One style. “It’s been a really nerve-racking day, considering it’s likely to be her last race for us,” she said. “I’m proud of her. “I didn’t think there’d be a whole lot of speed today, and I thought Town Cryer would be it. She got into a good spot on the outside of that runner, and the rest is history. “It was good for her to have the experience from coming up here and winning the Westbury Classic earlier in the season, and she obviously goes really well right-handed. “The owners have been so loyal, and to go out on a winning note in this race, it couldn’t be better.” The Roydon Bergerson-trained Town Cryer held on for second in an all-Awapuni quinella, while the John Bary-trained Blissful Belle (NZ) (Belardo) completed a clean sweep for the Central Districts with her third placing. View the full article

A drop back in distance paid dividends for progressive filly Nepheti (NZ) (Charm Spirit) when she bounced back to winning form at Ellerslie in a three-year-old 1400m contest. Prepared by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray at Cambridge the pair had given the daughter of Charm Spirit her chance to stretch out to a middle distance when she took on the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) at the venue at the beginning of the month. That experiment didn’t pay off as she faded to a midfield position after a tough trip early in the race, but after a brief freshen up and a drop back to the 1400m journey on Saturday, Nepheti showed she has a touch of class when finishing strongly to take out the Barfoot & Thompson 1400 in the hands of the in-form Sam Weatherley. Given a perfect trip in the trail by Weatherley, Nepheti was full of running when she angled into the clear at the 300m and quickly joined issue with race favourite My Annie Belle (NZ) (Snitzel) before dashing away to win by a length and a quarter at the post. Ritchie revealed he has some Trans-Tasman ambitions with the filly although her ability to go further than a mile has him in two minds on whether to press ahead with that plan. “She is a nice filly who is putting a good strike rate together now,” Ritchie said. “We had a couple of softer options at Hastings in the past where she looked impressive, but it’s nice to come to Ellerslie and beat a better quality of three-year-old. “We had a rethink after the 2100m last time and although she had to work hard into the first corner that day she got it too soft down the back not to run out the distance that day. “There is an 1800m Group Three race in Adelaide in a fortnight but that 1800m makes you nervous and there is a mile at Riccarton at the same time. “You don’t want to go to the well too many times but they are only three once and we want to get some black-type with her.” The options referred to by Ritchie were the Gr.3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville and the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton. Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Nepheti is raced by the Stud along with the Galaxy Racing No. 7 Syndicate and is out of the race-winning Thorn Park mare Nymph (NZ). She is the granddaughter of Auraria Stakes winner Fairy Oak (NZ) (High Chaparral) and comes from an extended family that includes Group One winners Just A Dancer (NZ) (Star Way) and Field Dancer (NZ) (Star Way). View the full article

Talented filly Grey Haze (NZ) (Dalghar) earned her connections a lucrative payday in claiming the inaugural Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Loyal sponsors NZB Insurance in partnership with the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Entain revamped the Pearl Series this season, with all race bonuses doubled, alongside the introduction of the $100,000 Pearl Series Bonus Final, which offered a $70,000 cheque to the winning connections on top of the race earnings. A daughter of Dalghar, Grey Haze displayed her ability early claiming a Pearl Series Maiden contest over 1200m in December, defeating subsequent Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placegetter Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor). The Stuart Manning-trained filly encountered a couple of luckless performances through the summer period but looked to be back to form when finishing a close-up third behind New Millennium at Taupo, with that runner subsequently placing in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). After opening with TAB bookmakers at $8.50, punters showed confidence in Grey Haze and backed her into joint-favouritism at $4.50 with fellow three-year-old Imperial Empress (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), and the filly instilled confidence settling in the box seat third under Jasmine Fawcett. Tracking the leaders into the home straight, Grey Haze burst into winning contention and sustained a tough gallop to fend off a late-closing challenger in Modernise (NZ) (Reliable Man) by ¾ of a length, with 61kg top-weight I Choose You (I Am Invincible) finishing in third. Fawcett had partnered Grey Haze to a trial win prior to her debut and was pleased that the race had panned out as she had hoped. “I knew the horse was really well and she would suit being on top of the ground. I knew if I got a good run, I’d be right in it,” Fawcett said. “She just got a wee bit far back last time, and today we were a bit handier, which really helped.” Tauranga-based Manning revealed post-race that the filly had encountered some soundness issues through her campaign but was full of confidence ahead of Saturday’s assignment. “I’m not often very confident, but we were today,” he said. “She ran third at Taupo after being off the scene for 37 days, and two of those weeks were with a foot she couldn’t put on the ground. She’d lifted somewhat from there, and we thought she’d be able to win today. “She (Fawcett) gets on well with the horse, she won a trial on her so she may suit her.” Out of the Stravinsky mare Vinskible (NZ), Grey Haze was sold via gavelhouse.com for $2,500 as a yearling to Robert Good, and has earned $46,040 in stakes from seven race-day appearances, in addition to the $70,000 winning bonus from Saturday’s Final. “I wish I was walking away with the bonus,” Manning quipped. But it’s great.” View the full article

Australian joins Cody Mo and Manfred Man as the latest dual-site handlers: ‘I think it’s a fantastic addition to my training’View the full article

What Stawell Cup Day 2024 Where Stawell Racecourse – Black Range Rd, Stawell, VIC, 3380 When Sunday, March 31, 2024 First Race 1pm AEDT Visit Dabble Country racing in Victoria heads to Stawell on Sunday afternoon, where an eight-race meeting awaits punters for Stawell Cup Day. Perfect autumn conditions are forecast for the clubs marquee day, and with the track already a Good 4 and the rail in its true position, there will be no excuses for runners. Stawell Cup Day is scheduled to commence at 1pm AEDT. Stawell Cup Tip: Toogoodfortoorak Matt Laurie’s Toogoodfortoorak was narrowly defeated in the Yarra Valley Cup by Suizuro by the barest of margins, and looks primed to go one better in the $70,000 Stawell Cup. Having hit the lead at the top of the straight, the son of Toorak Toff was vulnerable late when pipped on the line. Linda Meech sticks on board, and if the six-year-old repeats his effort that saw him beat Mostly Cloudy and Tycoon Bec in the Wangaratta Cup two starts back, Toogoodfortoorak should have a bit too much class on his side in the Stawell Cup. Stawell Cup Race 7 – #4 Toogoodfortoorak (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Matt Laurie | J: Linda Meech (56.5kg) +500 with Playup Best Bet at Stawell: Keepmeinthelope Keepmeinthelope has run into a couple of smart ones in both starts this time in, but it will be third times a charm as Ciaron Maher’s gelding lines up over 1300m. The three-year-old chased home subsequent City winner Isthmus before being swamped late by Jackie’s Maid at Echuca. A repeat of those performances should see him break maiden ranks on the fifth time of asking. John Allen will have him stalking the speed throughout, and as long as the pair find clear air at the top of the straight, Keepmeinthelope should prove too hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 2 – #6 Keepmeinthelope (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: John Allen (58kg) +180 with Neds Next Best at Stawell: Nokhbah Nokhbah was scratched on Friday night at Cranbourne to be saved for this, and if the five-year-old mare is anywhere near her best, she should prove too slick for her rivals. First-up, she found the 888m at Moonee Valley too sharp, before going stride-for-stride with Epic Centre at the same track when narrowly missing. The I Am Invincible progeny looks to have the speed to land outside the lead upon settling, and third-up from a spell, Nokhbah looks like a great play in the Stawell finale. Next Best Race 8 – #8 Nokhbah (9) 5yo Mare | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Blaike McChief Stipeall (57kg) +240 with Picklebet Sunday quaddie tips for Stawell Stawell quadrella selections Sunday, March 31, 2024 1-2-5-11-12 1-4-6 3-4-6-10 2-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article