Wandering Eyes

An ambitious four-race tilt would present trainer Ricky Yiu with the perfect opportunity to find out whether his charge is more than just a star milerView the full article

British rider has made a solid start to 2024 and hopes to add to his 11 wins so far this campaign at Wednesday night’s all-weather meetingView the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Wednesday, January 24, 2024 First Race 7:15pm HKT (10:15pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing heads to the bright lights of Sha Tin on Wednesday evening, with an eight-race program lined up on the all-weather circuit. Conditions should be ideal for all participants, with perfect weather forecast in the lead-up. The opening race is set to get underway at 7:15pm local time, with the rail in the true position throughout the meeting. Best Bet at Sha Tin: Blissful Star Back-to-back minor placings on the all-weather circuit should hold Blissful Star in good stead for the opening event on Wednesday night. The gelding by Power was narrowly defeated at this track and trip two starts back on December 3, as All Are Mine pushed through the pack to get the head down on the line. The quinella pair cleared out by 2.3 lengths back to third position, and since that effort, the six-year-old produced another strong performance over the 1650m on December 23. Blissful Star appears set to peak at his third start on the surface, so watch for this guy to be closing best. Best Bet Race 1 – #5 Blissful Star (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Jimmy Ting | J: Antoine Hamelin (57.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sha Tin: All For St Paul’s All For St Paul’s secured victory at this course and distance on October 25 and hasn’t really been able to replicate that performance on the turf. He has finished a combined 18 lengths away from victory in his two starts and looks desperate to get back to his favourite surface. This race lacks speed, so All For St Paul’s should get a relatively uncontested lead throughout the 1650m trip. Angus Chung gives him some weight relief courtesy of his 2.5kg claim, and with on speed gallopers usually getting an advantage during these night meetings, All For St Paul’s will look the winner at some stage. Next Best Race 2 – #2 All For St Paul’s (2) 7yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Angus Chung (a2.5) (59.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Next Best Again at Sha Tin: Flying Dragon Flying Dragon has been ultra-consistent for the Dennis Yip barn and makes his return to the all-weather circuit after a terrific performance down the Sha Tin straight course. He was no match for Fun Elite and Baby Crystal who were off to fight out the finish, however, the son of Per Incanto showed his tenacity and knuckled down to finish 4.3 lengths away in fifth. His last run at this course and distance was an eye-catching minor placing behind Judy’s Great, and with Hugh Bowman having a strong association with Flying Dragon, we’re confident he can be fighting out the finish again. Next Best Again Race 5 – #1 Flying Dragon (5) 6yo Gelding | T: Dennis Yip | J: Hugh Bowman (61kg) Bet with Picklebet Hong Kong Wednesday quaddie tips – 24/1/2024 Sha Tin quadrella selections Wednesday, January 24, 2024 1-4-8-10 1-4-6-7-8 1-2-3-10 2-4-5-10-12 More horse racing tips View the full article

What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, January 24, 2024 First Race 3:40pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Sandown Hillside track is in action once again on Wednesday afternoon with a competitive eight-race program set down for judgement. An overcast day is forecast, with a top of 29 degrees, and with the track already a Good 4 at the time of acceptances and the rail out 9m, we should see every runner get their chance if good enough. Twilight racing from Sandown is set to commence at 3:40pm AEDT. Best Bet at Sandown: Star Vega Our best bet of the day comes up in the last, as Star Vega looks to build on his track and distance win on January 10. Having competed at the 1800m for the second time, Star Vega showed a nice turn of foot to reel in the front-runners, despite settling towards the rear of the field. Luke Currie sticks on board which is an added bonus, and from barrier seven, if the pair can land midfield with cover, the race looks perfectly set up for the Lope De Vega progeny to thunder home and bring up a second straight win for the first time in his career. Best Bet Race 8 – #11 Star Vega (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Luke Currie (58kg) +360 with Neds Next Best at Sandown: Intrepid Eagle Intrepid Eagle was a smart Moonee Valley victor on December 30, and we anticipate he can go on with the job on Wednesday. With a narrow runner-up effort coming prior to that win off a five-month break, the son of Alpine Eagle has returned in fine style and has seemingly found the right race once again. Having been held up on the home turn, Intrepid Eagle produced a strong finish to score, and a similar finishing burst on Wednesday should see him pick up a fourth win here at start 12. Next Best Race 7 – #1 Intrepid Eagle (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Luke Currie (60kg) +380 with Picklebet Best Value at Sandown: Hot City Despite being well held at Warrnambool on January 7, we’re hoping the Henry Dwyer-trained Hot City can run a big race in the Sandown opener. Despite being beaten three-lengths by Crackle ‘N’ Burn, this son of Ilovethiscity was hitting the line nicely over 1400m, and as he steps up to the mile third-up into his career, he looks a nice play. He gets on firmer going on Wednesday, and despite most likely giving his rivals a start on the home turn, we’re confident Hot City can power over the top of his rivals and in doing so, salute at a nice price with top horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 1 – #6 Hot City (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Henry Dwyer | J: John Allen (57kg) +600 with Playup Sandown Hillside Wednesday quaddie tips – 24/1/2024 Sandown Lakeside quadrella selections Wednesday, January 24, 2024 Field 1-2-3-4-7 1-3 2-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Gareth Downey was delighted to take out the inaugural $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) with The Odyssey on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell An $8,000 purchase in 2003 has continued to pay dividends for Gareth Downey over two decades later, when the filly’s son won the inaugural $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham last Saturday. Downey, a former General Manager of Valachi Downs Stud, relocated to take up the same role at Lindsay Park Racing in 2022, and was near speechless after watching The Odyssey charge to the post from his Australian base. “The only trouble we’re having is coming back down to earth after all our yelling and screaming,” he said. “It’s a genuine honour to win the first running of it, it’s such a wonderful innovation for New Zealand racing to have these races and we were just happy to have a runner, so to win was an honour.” Downey possessed an extensive interest in the breeding and pedigree analysis throughout his life, and his first investment proved life changing when purchasing The Odyssey’s dam Macavelli Miss for $8,000 at a Sydney yearling sale in 2003. Under the care of Cambridge conditioner Roger James, Macavalli Miss won six races and $177,000 in stakes, highlighted by a sensational victory as the $121 outsider in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in 2006. Following her racing career, the daughter of Vettori produced five foals for Downey and wife Mel Gamble, including seven-race winner Gauguin, and Fleetwood Maca, who was runner-up behind Oaks-winning mare Amarelihna in the 2020 Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m). Macavalli Miss’ final foal was born in 2019, a son of Zacinto that emulated her triumph on the champagne turf on Cup Day. “She was an incredibly special mare to us, it was a life changing experience to have her in our lives and to share her journey,” Downey said. “She has been a very successful broodmare, she actually died very soon after foaling The Odyssey, so we’ve always had a special attachment to him because of that. “We’ve been close to him all the way through his life, he’s a gorgeous horse, and to have him running in the Remutaka Classic on Thorndon Mile day after his mother won that felt like a real omen. “To be cheering him down that straight, and for him to be tough and talented enough to win was indescribable really.” The Odyssey’s late sire Zacinto has been to the fore in high-profile races already this season, particularly with the success of Crocetti, a top-line three-year-old unbeaten in six starts, including the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). “I was working at Valachi at the time and Zacinto stood there, so that was the immediate appeal for Macavalli Miss,” Downey said. “We do a lot of pedigree analysis to find the right match, we loved this stallion and the mating paired really well, so it all just felt like the right thing to do. “I think it’s a combination of the natural resources of the country in New Zealand, that makes it one of, if not the best places in the world to raise young horses. The quality of horsemanship involved in the country adds to this as well, they get the best start in life.” Downey shared his appreciation to Ben and Ryan Foote, the father-and-son training partnership preparing The Odyssey to his four career victories from eight starts, and now more than $233,000 in stakes. Also credited with the victory was jockey Courtney Barnes, the Northern-based hoop guiding the four-year-old to all of his successes to date. “The Foote’s are wonderful people, they are extremely good to us and to our horses. We love the association, we’ve got four with them now, all of our racehorses have been trained by them for the past two or three years,” he said. “Courtney really deserves this as well, she has been riding this horse for all of his career and they have a special partnership. “She may not be one of the most high-profile jockeys in the country, but she couldn’t possibly have ridden him any better and we were delighted to have her on board.” More horse racing news View the full article

Superstar milers Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) have both been handed All-Star Mile wildcards by Racing Victoria. RV made the announcement on Monday morning with the duo both set to go head-to-head in the March 16 feature at Caulfield. Mr Brightside was just edged out by Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in the Cox Plate and was seen for the first time publicly last Friday in a jumpout at Flemington. “He only had a few weeks in the paddock but he really enjoyed his time out and is now looking as good as ever,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes. “We’ll follow the same program as last autumn and hope for the same result in The All-Star Mile. He’s such a versatile horse, he goes well on any ground and on any racetrack but it obviously gives us extra confidence that he has a very good record at Caulfield. “The ownership group is having the times of their lives, some of them are first-time owners and they can’t believe their luck. Some people go their whole lives without owning a horse half as good as him, so they’re loving every minute of the ride and hopefully we can create some more memories this prep.” All-Star Mile eyes will be switched to New Zealand this weekend with two ‘win-and-you’re-in’ races set for Ellerslie’s Karaka Millions meeting. The winners of the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) for four-year-olds will be offered a guaranteed start in The 2024 All-Star Mile, which will this year feature a field of 16 runners. View the full article

Stakes targets await Pericles (NZ) (Rubick) after he recorded his second win from his last three starts in the Join The BGP KM Punters Club Via TAB.co.nz 1400 at Pukekohe on Sunday. The son of Rubick showed good gate speed from his outside alley in the eight-horse field to find a handy position outside leader There Goes My Hero (No Nay Never). Pericles put his nose in front with 200m to go and was able to hold off the fast-finishing Tanganyika (NZ) (Ace High) to win by half a length. It was the gelding’s second win from six career starts, with Pam Gerard, who trains the three-year-old in partnership with Michael Moroney, saying track conditions have played a key factor in those results. “He’s a pretty good horse and it’s only a couple of wet tracks and indifferent rides that have tripped him up,” Gerard said. “He just cannot cope with wet tracks and is still very green, but once he works it out he could have a bright future if we do the right things by him and don’t rush him.” Stakes targets could now be in the offing for Pericles, whose grandam Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm) won the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). “Depending how he comes through the race, we might try and find a suitable stakes race over 1200m or 1400m and then probably give him a break,” Gerard said. “Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) said he still doesn’t really know what he’s doing and wants to go a bit hard. He’s got the pedigree to go a lot further, but in the meantime, he’s showing plenty of natural speed over shorter trips. “It’s good to see him racing so well while he’s still working it all out, which just shows he’s got the talent.” Selected by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and purchased for $110,000 by Ballymore Stables out of Pencarrow Stud’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Sale, Pericles races in the Fletcher tartan colours and shares similar ownership of triple Group One placed stablemate Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma). View the full article

Annabelle Johnson had a day to remember at Pukekohe Park on Sunday, saddling two impressive winners from as many starters. Commencing Johnson’s successful afternoon was Rightly So (NZ) (El Roca), the four-year-old contesting the Brighthill Farm Yearling Draft 1300 after a creditable fourth in her first raceday appearance under the Pukekohe Park trainer’s name. The daughter of El Roca travelled comfortably midfield under Kozzi Asano and dashed down the inside part of the track to salute by a half-length over Saluto (NZ) (Ardrossan), a deserved maiden victory for the mare after previously recording seven minor placings from 10 attempts. “I was very pleased with her run,” Johnson said. “It was only her second start with me, I thought her first run was good so we thought she would go well on Sunday. She just needs to be ridden back and held up.” Rightly So donned the familiar silks of breeder Gerry Harvey, as did stablemate Salonius (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who fittingly scored a second win on the day for Johnson in the El Roca At Karaka 1200. In the hands of Kelly Myers, Salonius was taken into the front-running role by design and controlled the tempo inside of race favourite in Cornelia (NZ) (Swiss Ace). The Swiss Ace five-year-old maintained a solid pace rounding the turn and responded sharply under Myers’ urgings to stave off the late challenge of Marengo to win by a neck. It was Salonius’ second victory from just the nine starts, and Johnson was pleased to see a change in tactics pay off after a challenging start to his campaign. “I’ve had Salonius for quite a while, in his first run back this preparation the track didn’t suit him, and he’s better when ridden in front, so it was tough from the wide barrier draws,” she said. “He jumped and led on Sunday, which is the way he likes to go, and he finished off well.” Johnson’s association with Harvey originated in a pre-training role before several of the Westbury Stud owner’s racehorses remained in her stable to be prepared for raceday. Promising sprinter Savonoski produced several top performances for Johnson in recent seasons, being victorious in four of his nine starts before being exported to Australia. “I’ll have to talk to Russell Warwick (Westbury Stud General Manager) and see what the plans are next for these two (Rightly So and Salonius), I’m not too sure yet,” she said. “But it was a very satisfying day, I have a couple of girls that work with me so it was special for all of us.” Johnson is also looking forward to having her daughter, former Champion jockey Danielle Johnson, back in New Zealand this week, as she attends the Karaka Yearling Sales with fiancé and Hong Kong trainer Jamie Richards, and their young baby Spencer. “I have been able to get up to Hong Kong to see him, and Danielle is back in New Zealand this week for the Karaka Sales with Jamie which will be great,” Johnson said. View the full article

David Benjamin, a noted marketing innovator in the thoroughbred breeding industry, passed away on Friday. Benjamin played a pivotal role in establishing the now iconic hospitality area at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, and Ray Knight, who worked with him at Fieldhouse Stud, said he was a brilliant marketer. “He was before his time in many ways. He was very good with marketing and promotion, and always led a pretty good ship,” Knight said. “He started the tents and hospitality areas at the national sales when they were originally at Trentham. It started out as feeding the staff lunch and it developed into what it has become today. “I don’t know if David had seen it in the States, he may have because he spent a lot of time in the States. “Part of his legacy is what we are seeing throughout Australasia now (in sales hospitality).” Knight said Benjamin was also a great promoter of stallions, most notably with Grosvenor, who he syndicated. “He was very good at promoting his stallions. He was very much into his promotions and was very good with the clients,” he said. “I took over as manager of Fieldhouse when it was sold, and we topped the averages the first year they had it at Karaka. Grosvenor was top of the pops at the time and even though David had sold the farm, he was still the manager of the Grosvenor syndicate and had an ongoing presence in that. “He did some amazing promotions. We did a promotion for his first crop of yearlings – ‘Grosvenor, the ultimate stallion’, which included the ‘ultimate car’ which was a Rolls-Royce, and the ‘ultimate woman’ who was Miss Universe at the time, Lorraine Downes. It got a lot of publicity.” Benjamin went on to establish the revered Fayette Park Stud, near Tirau, in the late 1980s, which he ran until health issues led him to sell the property to Gary Harding in 2004. “It was a lovely property. He was very good with what he built and did, but his health wasn’t that great,” Knight said. “He has been struggling with his health for some time. It was a bit sad in recent years that his health was as it was, but he kept in touch with everyone and what was going on.” Throughout his years in the industry, Knight said Benjamin was ably supported by his wife Masey. “Masey, his wife, was very integral in everything that went on,” he said. “She is a very good horsewoman in her own right, as is their family.” View the full article

Westbury Stud has an enviable feature race roll of honour with graduates of the farm excelling to the highest level over a wide range of distances. The Gerry Harvey-owned Karaka nursery has bred, raised or sold multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year winners, complimented by Australasian stakes success from 1200 to 3200m. Westbury graduate Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi) was a two-time Horse of the Year with the Harvey-bred and part-owned Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) the current titleholder following his stellar three-year-old season. The son of resident stallion Redwood won at Group One level for Team Rogerson against his own age group in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and the New Zealand Derby (2400m) and in between times beat the older horses in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). “Sharp ‘N’ Smart is back on track and at 1600m (in the $1 million Aotearoa Classic) on Saturday you’d like to think he will be competitive, but ambitious to think he could beat Legarto,” Westbury General Manager Russell Warwick said. “If he can run top four then he’ll be right on target to defend his Herbie Dyke title.” Tarzino’s son Jungle Magnate (NZ) was another Classic winner (Gr.1 South Australian Derby, 2500m) sold by Westbury at Karaka while Oaks winners Bonneval, Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man), Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi) and Miss Mossman (NZ) (Mossman) also originated from the nursery. So too did last season’s Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) winner Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) while the honours board further features the Karaka Million winner Ruud Awakening (Bernardini), Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) hero Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon), Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Mascarpone (NZ) (Shooting To Win), successful in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m). Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca) is a multiple Group Two winner in Hong Kong and at the other end of the distance scale, Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood) claimed last year’s Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). The current crop of success stories includes the likes of Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man), Tuchel (NZ) (Redwood), Just As Sharp (NZ) (Swiss Ace), Renegade Rebel (NZ) (El Roca), Viva Vienna (NZ) (All Too Hard), Solidify (NZ) (Redwood), The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor), Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man), Essonne (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Expat (NZ) (Makfi). “We had 12 stakes winners off the farm last year, but as everyone says the clock goes back to zero on August 1 and we’ve had four in the new season, which is great,” Warwick said. Russell Warwick. Photo: Trish Dunell Westbury will offer abundant opportunities to secure future stars at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. “Personally, I’ve got a real liking for the Redwood colt (Lot 570) out of Alta Floresta, he’s a really nice horse,” Warwick said. “He’s a seven-eighths brother to Tuchel, who was narrowly beaten in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and we’d like to think he will attract a fair bit of interest, particularly from the Asian market.” Warwick is also keen on Lot 528, a daughter of Reliable Man out of the Encosta De Lago mare Wednesday Rocks (NZ). “She’s a really good filly and is a half-sister to Platinum Command (Gr.3 Winter Cup, 1600m) and Group performer Platinum Rapper,” he said. “Reliable Man has already sired two Oaks winners (Miami Bound, Miss Sentimental) and there’s another two Oaks winners in the pedigree, Dizelle and Pinot.” Westbury graduate Massive Talent (NZ) (Swiss Ace) was a timely winner in Hong Kong on Sunday night as the draft also includes his half-sister, Lot 665. “She’s also by Reliable Man and a very good type and Roger James bought the half-sister by Tarzino last year for $240,000 and Kris Lees has the Swiss Ace half-brother Cloudland, who has won five of 11 and is obviously a talented horse.” Warwick said both Westbury’s Book 1 and 2 drafts also featured quality representation of resident stallion El Roca. “We have concentrated on getting consistency right across the drafts and we’ve got some really nice El Rocas in both catalogues,” he said. “El Roca is doing a marvelous job and is currently ahead of Proisir, Per Incanto and Satono Aladdin on the New Zealand Sires’ Premiership. The only live stallion above him is Savabeel. “He has appeal as he’s had two Group One-winning fillies and his colts have done exceptionally well with the likes of Lucky Patch and Mali Ston. “That’s been borne out at the sales in the last couple of years with two of our El Rocas going to Hong Kong and in the Ready to Run Sale we got $400,000 for Lot 1 and later on Bjorn Baker bought a filly for $190,000. “Australia and Asia have decent respect for El Roca as a sire.” View the full article

An $8,000 purchase in 2003 has continued to pay dividends for Gareth Downey over two decades later, when the filly’s son won the inaugural $350,000 The Oaks Stud Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham last Saturday. Downey, a former General Manager of Valachi Downs Stud, relocated to take up the same role at Lindsay Park Racing in 2022, and was near speechless after watching The Odyssey (NZ) (Zacinto) charge to the post from his Australian base. “The only trouble we’re having is coming back down to earth after all our yelling and screaming,” he said. “It’s a genuine honour to win the first running of it, it’s such a wonderful innovation for New Zealand racing to have these races and we were just happy to have a runner, so to win was an honour.” Downey possessed an extensive interest in the breeding and pedigree analysis throughout his life, and his first investment proved life changing when purchasing The Odyssey’s dam Macavelli Miss (Vettori) for $8,000 at a Sydney yearling sale in 2003. Under the care of Cambridge conditioner Roger James, Macavalli Miss won six races and $177,000 in stakes, highlighted by a sensational victory as the $121 outsider in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in 2006. Following her racing career, the daughter of Vettori produced five foals for Downey and wife Mel Gamble, including seven-race winner Gauguin (NZ) (Dalghar), and Fleetwood Maca (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop), who was runner-up behind Oaks-winning mare Amarelihna (NZ) (Savabeel) in the 2020 Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m). Macavalli Miss’ final foal was born in 2019, a son of Zacinto that emulated her triumph on the champagne turf on Cup Day. “She was an incredibly special mare to us, it was a life changing experience to have her in our lives and to share her journey,” Downey said. “She has been a very successful broodmare, she actually died very soon after foaling The Odyssey, so we’ve always had a special attachment to him because of that. “We’ve been close to him all the way through his life, he’s a gorgeous horse, and to have him running in the Remutaka Classic on Thorndon Mile day after his mother won that felt like a real omen. “To be cheering him down that straight, and for him to be tough and talented enough to win was indescribable really.” The Odyssey’s late sire Zacinto has been to the fore in high-profile races already this season, particularly with the success of Crocetti (NZ), a top-line three-year-old unbeaten in six starts, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). “I was working at Valachi at the time and Zacinto stood there, so that was the immediate appeal for Macavalli Miss,” Downey said. “We do a lot of pedigree analysis to find the right match, we loved this stallion and the mating paired really well, so it all just felt like the right thing to do. “I think it’s a combination of the natural resources of the country in New Zealand, that makes it one of, if not the best places in the world to raise young horses. The quality of horsemanship involved in the country adds to this as well, they get the best start in life.” Downey shared his appreciation to Ben and Ryan Foote, the father-and-son training partnership preparing The Odyssey to his four career victories from eight starts, and now more than $233,000 in stakes. Also credited with the victory was jockey Courtney Barnes, the Northern-based hoop guiding the four-year-old to all of his successes to date. “The Foote’s are wonderful people, they are extremely good to us and to our horses. We love the association, we’ve got four with them now, all of our racehorses have been trained by them for the past two or three years,” he said. “Courtney really deserves this as well, she has been riding this horse for all of his career and they have a special partnership. “She may not be one of the most high-profile jockeys in the country, but she couldn’t possibly have ridden him any better and we were delighted to have her on board.” View the full article

Rightly So commenced a raceday double for Annabelle Johnson at Pukekohe on Sunday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Annabelle Johnson had a day to remember at Pukekohe Park on Sunday, saddling two impressive winners from as many starters. Commencing Johnson’s successful afternoon was Rightly So, the four-year-old contesting the Brighthill Farm Yearling Draft 1300 after a creditable fourth in her first raceday appearance under the Pukekohe Park trainer’s name. The daughter of El Roca travelled comfortably midfield under Kozzi Asano and dashed down the inside part of the track to salute by a half-length over Saluto, a deserved maiden victory for the mare after previously recording seven minor placings from 10 attempts. “I was very pleased with her run,” Johnson said. “It was only her second start with me, I thought her first run was good so we thought she would go well on Sunday. She just needs to be ridden back and held up.” Rightly So donned the familiar silks of breeder Gerry Harvey, as did stablemate Salonius, who fittingly scored a second win on the day for Johnson in the El Roca At Karaka 1200. In the hands of Kelly Myers, Salonius was taken into the front-running role by design and controlled the tempo inside of race favourite in Cornelia. The Swiss Ace five-year-old maintained a solid pace rounding the turn and responded sharply under Myers’ urgings to stave off the late challenge of Marengo to win by a neck. It was Salonius’ second victory from just the nine starts, and Johnson was pleased to see a change in tactics pay off after a challenging start to his campaign. “I’ve had Salonius for quite a while, in his first run back this preparation the track didn’t suit him, and he’s better when ridden in front, so it was tough from the wide barrier draws,” she said. “He jumped and led on Sunday, which is the way he likes to go, and he finished off well.” Johnson’s association with Harvey originated in a pre-training role before several of the Westbury Stud owner’s racehorses remained in her stable to be prepared for raceday. Promising sprinter Savonoski produced several top performances for Johnson in recent seasons, being victorious in four of his nine starts before being exported to Australia. “I’ll have to talk to Russell Warwick (Westbury Stud General Manager) and see what the plans are next for these two (Rightly So and Salonius), I’m not too sure yet,” she said. “But it was a very satisfying day, I have a couple of girls that work with me so it was special for all of us.” Johnson is also looking forward to having her daughter, former Champion jockey Danielle Johnson, back in New Zealand this week, as she attends the Karaka Yearling Sales with fiancé and Hong Kong trainer Jamie Richards, and their young baby Spencer. “I have been able to get up to Hong Kong to see him, and Danielle is back in New Zealand this week for the Karaka Sales with Jamie which will be great,” Johnson said. More horse racing news View the full article

Pericles (outside) on his way to winning at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Stakes targets await Pericles after he recorded his second win from his last three starts at Pukekohe on Sunday. The son of Rubick showed good gate speed from his outside alley in the eight-horse field to find a handy position outside leader There Goes My Hero. Pericles put his nose in front with 200m to go and was able to hold off the fast-finishing Tanganyika to win by half a length. It was the gelding’s second win from six career starts, with Pam Gerard, who trains the three-year-old in partnership with Michael Moroney, saying track conditions have played a key factor in those results. “He’s a pretty good horse and it’s only a couple of wet tracks and indifferent rides that have tripped him up,” Gerard said. “He just cannot cope with wet tracks and is still very green, but once he works it out he could have a bright future if we do the right things by him and don’t rush him.” Stakes targets could now be in the offing for Pericles, whose grandam Ethereal won the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). “Depending how he comes through the race, we might try and find a suitable stakes race over 1200m or 1400m and then probably give him a break,” Gerard said. “Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) said he still doesn’t really know what he’s doing and wants to go a bit hard. He’s got the pedigree to go a lot further, but in the meantime, he’s showing plenty of natural speed over shorter trips. “It’s good to see him racing so well while he’s still working it all out, which just shows he’s got the talent.” Selected by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and purchased for $110,000 by Ballymore Stables out of Pencarrow Stud’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Sale, Pericles races in the Fletcher tartan colours and shares similar ownership of triple Group 1 placed stablemate Harlech. More horse racing news View the full article

Westbury Stud graduate Sharp ‘N’ Smart will resume in Saturday’s $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Trish Dunell Westbury Stud has an enviable feature race roll of honour with graduates of the farm excelling to the highest level over a wide range of distances. The Gerry Harvey-owned Karaka nursery has bred, raised or sold multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year winners, complimented by Australasian stakes success from 1200 to 3200m. Westbury graduate Bonneval was a two-time Horse of the Year with the Harvey-bred and part-owned Sharp ‘N’ Smart the current titleholder following his stellar three-year-old season. The son of resident stallion Redwood won at Group 1 level for Team Rogerson against his own age group in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and the New Zealand Derby (2400m) and in between times beat the older horses in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). “Sharp ‘N’ Smart is back on track and at 1600m (in the $1 million Aotearoa Classic) on Saturday you’d like to think he will be competitive, but ambitious to think he could beat Legarto,” Westbury General Manager Russell Warwick said. “If he can run top four then he’ll be right on target to defend his Herbie Dyke title.” Tarzino’s son Jungle Magnate was another Classic winner (Group 1 South Australian Derby, 2500m) sold by Westbury at Karaka while Oaks winners Bonneval, Miami Bound, Sofia Rosa and Miss Mossman also originated from the nursery. So too did last season’s Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) winner Romancing The Moon while the honours board further features the Karaka Million winner Ruud Awakening, Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) hero Music Magnate, Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Julius and Mascarpone, successful in the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m). Lucky Patch is a multiple Group 2 winner in Hong Kong and at the other end of the distance scale, Platinum Invador claimed last year’s Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m). The current crop of success stories includes the likes of Renaissance Woman, Tuchel, Just As Sharp, Renegade Rebel, Viva Vienna, Solidify, The Inferno, Lekvarte, Essonne and Expat. “We had 12 stakes winners off the farm last year, but as everyone says the clock goes back to zero on August 1 and we’ve had four in the new season, which is great,” Warwick said. Westbury will offer abundant opportunities to secure future stars at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. “Personally, I’ve got a real liking for the Redwood colt (Lot 570) out of Alta Floresta, he’s a really nice horse,” Warwick said. “He’s a seven-eighths brother to Tuchel, who was narrowly beaten in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and we’d like to think he will attract a fair bit of interest, particularly from the Asian market.” Warwick is also keen on Lot 528, a daughter of Reliable Man out of the Encosta De Lago mare Wednesday Rocks. “She’s a really good filly and is a half-sister to Platinum Command (Gr.3 Winter Cup, 1600m) and Group performer Platinum Rapper,” he said. “Reliable Man has already sired two Oaks winners (Miami Bound, Miss Sentimental) and there’s another two Oaks winners in the pedigree, Dizelle and Pinot.” Westbury graduate Massive Talent was a timely winner in Hong Kong on Sunday night as the draft also includes his half-sister, Lot 665. “She’s also by Reliable Man and a very good type and Roger James bought the half-sister by Tarzino last year for $240,000 and Kris Lees has the Swiss Ace half-brother Cloudland, who has won five of 11 and is obviously a talented horse.” Warwick said both Westbury’s Book 1 and 2 drafts also featured quality representation of resident stallion El Roca. “We have concentrated on getting consistency right across the drafts and we’ve got some really nice El Rocas in both catalogues,” he said. “El Roca is doing a marvelous job and is currently ahead of Proisir, Per Incanto and Satono Aladdin on the New Zealand Sires’ Premiership. The only live stallion above him is Savabeel. “He has appeal as he’s had two Group One-winning fillies and his colts have done exceptionally well with the likes of Lucky Patch and Mali Ston. “That’s been borne out at the sales in the last couple of years with two of our El Rocas going to Hong Kong and in the Ready to Run Sale we got $400,000 for Lot 1 and later on Bjorn Baker bought a filly for $190,000. “Australia and Asia have decent respect for El Roca as a sire.” More horse racing news View the full article

Ellerslie will play host to the inaugural running of The NZB Kiwi in 2025. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Excitement is building for the future of New Zealand racing as a groundbreaking collaboration between New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, TAB New Zealand, and Entain leads to the launch of the Southern Hemisphere’s most lucrative three-year-old race – The NZB Kiwi. Sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock, this inaugural thoroughbred slot race is set to headline a significant overhaul of the NZ summer racing calendar. The NZB Kiwi takes centre stage as a major highlight within the newly established ‘Champions Day,’ boasting over NZ$9 million in total prizemoney in its first year, with a projected increase to NZ$10 million in the second year. The event, held on the second Saturday of March at Ellerslie Racecourse, becomes a pinnacle in NZ’s racing calendar, featuring the New Zealand Derby and three other iconic Group 1 races. Champions Day is part of an ambitious revamp of the summer thoroughbred racing calendar, presenting a series of world-class races and meetings with more than NZ$23.8 million in stakes across 51 black-type races from January to early April. Cameron George, NZTR Chairman, envisions the revamped Summer Carnival attracting the finest horses and jockeys from New Zealand and Australia, marking a monumental phase of growth for the industry. The highlight of the summer program, The NZB Kiwi, a new three-year-old 1500-metre slot race, is poised to be the richest race ever held in New Zealand, carrying black-type status. With fourteen slots available to graduates of NZB Sales and horses bred in NZ, the race becomes a true destination event for star Kiwi-bred horses globally. NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook expresses enthusiasm for being part of the country’s richest-ever race, stating, “We loved the concept and the direction that racing is heading in at the moment.” The race will carry prizemoney of at least NZ$3.5 million in 2025, escalating to NZ$4.5 million by 2027, solidifying its status as the Southern Hemisphere’s premier race for three-year-olds. An additional NZ$1 million in bonuses annually will be available to the three placegetters of The NZB Kiwi, further enhancing the allure of the race. Bruce Sharrock, NZTR Chief Executive Officer, acknowledges the global reputation of the NZ industr. “The NZB Kiwi gives the cream of the New Zealand-bred crop a chance to return home and take on the best locally trained horses for what will effectively be a world championship,” said Sharrock. Lachlan Fitt, CFO and Deputy CEO of Entain Australia and New Zealand, comments on the strategic placement of The NZB Kiwi in NZ’s summer racing calendar, anticipating intense competition among slot-holders. The new-look summer program also introduces a two-day Karaka Millions Carnival, enhancing the famous NZB National Yearling Sales Series. The Group 1 Railway, now part of a Super Sprint Series, offers a NZ$500,000 bonus for exceptional performance across three NZ legs, along with soon-to-be-named races in Australia during the Autumn Carnival. The revised summer racing program, shaped by collaborative efforts, is poised to inject over NZ$9 million in stakes and bonuses in 2025, escalating to an additional NZ$12.7 million by 2026, marking a transformative period from December 26, 2024, to March 31, 2025. Nick Roberts, TAB NZ Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the TAB NZ Dates Committee, emphasizes the collaborative efforts that have led to this game-changing announcement, highlighting the critical role of the new racing calendar in ensuring the growth and sustainability of the domestic industry. More horse racing news View the full article

What Gosford Races Where The Entertainment Grounds – 4 Racecourse Rd, West Gosford NSW 2250 When Wednesday, January 24, 2024 First Race 1:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Provincial racing heads to the central coast of NSW on Wednesday afternoon, as The Entertainment Grounds at Gosford get set to host a competitive seven-race program. The rail is in the true position throughout the entire circuit, and with minimal showers expected in the lead-up, we don’t expect the surface to shift from the current Good 4 rating at the time of acceptances. The first race is scheduled to get underway at 1:45pm AEDT. Best Bet at Gosford: Maximum Ride Maximum Ride gave a good account of himself on debut at Muswellbrook on January 4 and just found the 900m a bit too sharp. He chased gamely behind an impressive Magnucat, sliding up the inside rail to finish less than 3.3 lengths away in the runner-up spot. There was a good margin back to third on that occasion, and with the winner going on to frank the form by producing a subsequent victory, we’re willing to trust that race as a guide. Getting to the 1100m should only be a positive for the son of Stryker, and with Adam Hyeronimus booked to ride from stall three, watch for Mxiumum Ride to dictate terms up on speed. Best Bet Race 4 – #3 Maximum Ride (3) 4yo Colt | T: Damien Lane | J: Adam Hyeronimus (59kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best at Gosford: Memoria Memoria brings an element of class to this BM64 contest as she returns from a 144-day spell. She finished runner-up behind Peace Officer at Wyong on September 1 before being tipped out to the paddock by the Kris Lees barn. Her two barrier trials leading into this event have caught the eye, as the daughter of Caravaggio secured victory in her latest jump-out at Newcastle on January 5, striding clear by a half-length. She needs to lug the top weight on resumption; however, with Benjamin Osmond taking 3kg off with the claim, Memoria looks perfectly placed to put in a bold first-up effort. Next Best Race 6 – #1 Memoria (6) 4yo Mare | T: Kris Lees | J: Benjamin Osmond (a3kg) (61.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value at Gosford: Notabadbuy It’s been a lengthy 62 weeks away from racing for Notabadbuy, as the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained gelding returns to NSW. After such a long layoff for the son of The Bold One, we love the way he was asked to win his latest trial at Canterbury on January 9. He was urged to lead throughout that jump-out, and those are the tactics we expect to see on race-day. Adam Hyeronimus will look to ping the lids from barrier nine, and although Notabadbuy lacks match-day fitness, we’re hopeful he can pinch a break and take some serious chasing down. Best Value Race 5 – #2 Notabadbuy (9) 5yo Gelding | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Adam Hyeronimus (60kg) Bet with Neds Gosford Friday quaddie tips – 24/1/2024 Gosford quadrella selections Wednesday, January 24, 2024 2-3-10 1-2-5-7-8 1-4-5-7-13 2-4-5-6-11-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

A new dimension is being added to Harness Racing New Zealand’s Teal Pants campaign this year. For the first time two trainers will be involved. They will be Amber Lethaby in the South Island, and Nicky Chilcott in the North Island. Every time one of their horses win $100 will be donated to the cause by HRNZ. They will join a roster of five drivers or ambassadors. They are: Sarah O’Reilly Kerryn Tomlinson Kim Butt Crystal Hackett Neita Balle The drivers will wear teal pants and teal silks throughout the campaign and will have individual sponsors as well who may donate. Every time a female driver wins, wearing the distinctive Teal Pants, money is donated by HRNZ ($100), Racing Clubs and individual sponsors. Team Teal runs for 6 weeks from February 1 – March 15 and is an Australasian wide campaign increasing raising awareness of ovarian cancer, and raising funds towards research. It has been held in this country since 2018, after originally starting across the Tasman in 2014. 2024 is going to be a tough act to follow after last year’s campaign was a record-breaker with 75 individual wins by the ambassadors and a total of $35,000 being raised. To see more click here : https://www.hrnz.co.nz/teal-2024 View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Australia’s champion pacer Leap To Fame is heading to New Zealand. Leviathan owner Kevin Seymour said it was no longer an if, but a when Leap To Fame crossed the ditch to chase the $1m Race by Grins at Cambridge on April 12. “The race is a target and we are well advanced in talks with slot holders,” he said. “We said a while back he wouldn’t be going to the Perth race and that New Zealand was the aim. “We’ve got a pretty clear plan in place and it includes taking him to Cambridge. “We might have a slot announcement sooner than people expect.” Leap To Fame returned for his first start since winning the Brisbane Inter Dominion final on December 16 when he cruised to victory at Albion Park last Saturday night. But trainer-driver Grant Dixon thinks the five-year-old would do with another run before heading to the Hunter Cup at Melton on Saturday week. “We’ll run him again this week … if the race stands-up,” he said. Then Leap To Fame will be flown to Melbourne for a hit-and-run $450,000 Hunter Cup raid. From there, Dixon and Seymour are looking at the $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile on February 23. “It looks a better option to try and book his Miracle Mile spot than going to the lead-up sprints the week before the Mile,” Dixon said. “He’d have to go 1min48sec or so in a lead-up sprint and quicker again in the Miracle Mile the week after. “Getting more of a break between Newcastle and the Miracle Mile suits better.” The $1m Miracle Mile is at Menangle on March 10. “Providing he comes through that well, Cambridge will be the next target after that,” Dixon said. “He’s thriving on the racing and we get to space his runs a bit, so there’s no reason he shouldn’t be fine to go.” Dixon played down the need for Leap To Fame to have a “decent spell” at some stage. “I’m not sure about that,” he said, “he does so well with a week or two off here and there. He’s raring to go again after that. “I actually don’t know how he’d go if we turned it out for a while and had to bring him right back up again.” Leap To Fame could have another “mini” break after the Race by Grins before targeting his home town riches through the Queensland Constellations in July. Deeper into the year, the Victoria Cup and Sydney Inter Dominion loom large. Dixon said consideration would also be given to the New Zealand Cup, but that’s a discussion for well after the Race by Grins. “It (NZ Cup) is a race I’d love to be part of and I think the two miles would suit him, but we’ve got plenty of time to think more about that,” he said. View the full article

Katsu ridden by Jordan Childs winning the Kensington Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on December 20, 2023. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Following Katsu’s recent triumph in the Kensington Stakes (1000m), trainer Grahame Begg has confirmed that the four-year-old sprinter will make his next appearance in the Listed W.J Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Friday. The W.J Adams Stakes serves as a ‘win and you’re in’ race for the prestigious Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 24. Begg, impressed by Katsu’s performance in the last start, decided to target this week’s race, believing that the horse has made significant progress in pacing himself during races. “We’ve always had a high opinion of him, and he went super last start as the way the track played, the wind and having the inside gate was going to make it hard for him to get to the right position, yet he was still able to win,” said Begg Acknowledging Katsu as a work in progress, Begg emphasised the horse’s controlled and impressive performance, both in jump-outs and training. “He was very controlled, he raced like it in the jump-outs and he’s training like it as well, but I want to see him do it again.” With the W.J Adams Stakes providing a ‘win and you’re in’ opportunity for the Oakleigh Plate, Begg viewed it as an inviting chance for Katsu. “It’s a win and you’re in a situation for the Oakleigh Plate, so it looked a very inviting opportunity for us. “It’s a long time to go a couple of months between runs, so it looked like a logical race to target.” Top horse racing bookmakers have Katsu rated a +1600 chance in Oakleigh Plate futures markets. More horse racing news View the full article

Talented three-year-old Wolfy winning at Flemington. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Trainer Nick Ryan, based at Flemington, has disclosed that his three-year-old colt Wolfy is set to commence his autumn campaign in the Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Australia Day. During the spring, Wolfy showcased his talent with consecutive victories at Sale and Flemington but faced a challenging outing in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), finishing 11th. Ryan expressed uncertainty about whether the 1600m was ideal for the colt. “We’re not sure whether the 1600m is his go for this preparation,” said Ryan. “In his first prep, he went a long way as he had a run in July as a two-year-old then he went through to the Guineas.” Ryan emphasised that they are still in the process of understanding Wolfy’s preferences, acknowledging that the 1600m might still be a target. “It’s still early days with him. I’m very happy with him as he has had a good break. He won’t be wound up as he’s got plenty of improvement to come.” Top horse racing bookmakers have Wolfy marked as a +5000 chance for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 2 at Flemington. More horse racing news View the full article

The connections of National Treasure circled the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on the 2024 calendar following the Quality Road colt's heartbreaking nose defeat to Cody's Wish in November's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). View the full article

Warm Heart will try to become the first female to win the Pegasus Cup Turf Invitational (G1T) since it was renamed from being the Gulfstream Park Turf in 2019.View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk By his own admission Tom Bamford had “a ripper of a day” at Blenheim on Sunday. The 28-year-old recorded the first training double of his career when Muscle Bank and Millwood Indie both recorded strong and definitive victories at Waterlea Raceway. That also completed a double for Muscle Bank after her win on Friday, while Millwood Indie went one better than her second behind Tokyo Rose on the first day. “Sometimes you worry about how they are going to back up, especially Muscle Bank after she had a hard run on the first day but she out-toughed them.” “It was a ripper of a day to be fair.” In the Seddon Shields Series Marlborough Trotters Cup Muscle Bank started off 10m with Sam Thornley securing a great position in the one-one before peeling out just before the home turn and reeling in Boyz Invasion. She went on to win comfortably by three lengths. It was her seventh win in 36 starts. “She hasn’t got high speed but she can sustain a run and just keeps trucking,” says Bamford. It was an impressive double for the seven-year-old, especially considering her gait “is not 100 percent.” “She can be a bit hitchy but the grass helped ….. she has soreness issues over my her back so we try to manage that.” Millwood Indie’s win was arguably even more emphatic. She was last early before being launched by driver Carter Dalgety. She cleared out to win by more than three lengths, her sixth victory in 30 starts. “She’s pretty sharp when right.” Thanks to yesterday’s double Bamford has now trained 10 winners from 71 starts. It’s been a big 18 months for Bamford. Last year he won “cadet of the year” at the HRNZ awards and now he trains exclusively for well-known breeder-owner Ronnie Dawe next to Rangiora Racecourse and is a finalist in the “newcomer to training” category in this year’s awards at Addington Raceway on February 19. “It’s great to be able to repay some of the faith he’s shown in me.” And Bamford has yet to start the best horse in his stable this year. “That would be Rakero Rocket, he won on debut at Addington and then had a second.” Rakero Rocket went out a warm favourite on debut after earlier winning a trial by 18 lengths, and was then beaten by McCrikey second up. Working a team of around a dozen and “some younger stock” Bamford’s clearly going to be one to watch in 2024 and beyond. View the full article

The winners of Harness Racing New Zealand’s monthly breeder and owner awards have been decided for December. In an initiative to highlight those that help keep our sport going, HRNZ has been making the monthly awards since October last year. All owners and breeders who win a race during the month are eligible, with a random number generator selecting the two winners. December’s winners are breeder Mark Booth for Lizzie Richter’s win at Ashburton on December 21 and Shona Nairn, who is one of the owners of El Conqueror who won three times in the month. Coincidentally both live in Leeston in Canterbury. Mark Booth has bred or co-bred horses since his first Vance Marie (Sir Vancelot – Donna Marie) in 2000, including a number with the well-known “Richter” name. Max Richter, for instance, was bred by Booth and Hemi Waretini and sold to Australia in 2013. He went on to win 30 races. “When I first started breeding I couldn’t afford the good sires and went with what I could afford,” says Booth. “With a bit more money to use I went with Sweet Lou because he was new on the scene and had speed whereas my breed seemed to have stamina but couldn’t sprint quickly when asked and had to work up into a top speed.” Lizzie Richter (Sweet Lou – Vance Marie) has now won nine races, and Booth was on course to see her gutsy win at Ashburton just before Christmas. She was last with a lap to go, circled three wide, sat parked and managed to get up by a nose to beat the pacemaking Haley Robyn. “I was definitely on course at Ashburton. I have only missed a couple of her wins last year at Oamaru due to helping my neighbours with their harvest in late January early February.” December was a good month as an owner of El Conqueror for Shona Nairn. She is the mother of well-known trotting trainer Paul Nairn and the daughter of harness racing legend, Jack Litten of Caduceus and False Step fame. El Conqueror lived up to his name at Ashburton on December 21, and at Westport and Reefton on December 28 and 30 and they were very contrasting victories. The son of Sebastian K just got up by a nose to beat Mainbocher at Ashburton only to have much easier victories on the grass on the Coast. At Reefton he cleared out to win by nearly three lengths. “I wasn’t there but I was certainly watching it on Trackside,” Nairn says, “he had a great run of form didn’t he?” Horses have always played a big part for the wider Nairn family, with Shona and/or husband Graeme having an interest in more than 40 trotters over the years. Naturally enough Paul Nairn has been their go-to trainer. “It’s helpful isn’t it?” she laughs about the family connection. As well as El Conqueror (5 wins) other horses she’s been involved with include Conon Bridge (8 wins), Insist (4 wins), Inspire (9 wins) and Outamyway (9 wins). HRNZ would like to congratulate both winners and your trophies are on the way. View the full article

When bidding opens Tuesday at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Winter Mixed Sale, buyers shopping in the back walking ring will have another tool available to them with Summerfield Sales offering Spanish translations of its vets reports. Summerfield's Andrew Vanlangendonck saw the need for the translations and hopes providing them will support the consignment's lower-market horses. “Summerfield sells anywhere between 250-350 horses a year and our largest sales are typically in January and October at OBS,” Vanlangendonck said. “A large number of those buyers are Hispanic and a lot of them buy out of the back ring. They don't do what the big buyers do, which is to go look at a horse three or four times, have them vetted, because they are working and vetting horses costs a ton of money.” While Spanish-speaking buyers can often grasp the basic findings on the vet reports, Vanlangendonck said he has seen some buyers walk away from horse's with more verbose comments on their vet reports. “Some of these vet reports could potentially have a ton of verbiage and it could mean nothing,” he said. “It's just something that is noted, but it's not a defect, it's not anything negative. It's just that's what it is. I would see a lot of these guys–grooms, riders–they would look at it and there would be too much verbiage on there for them to understand, so they would just turn around and walk away. The Latin words, like sesamoid and things like that, they know that. They understand that. But there were things that I would find would stump them, things like 'mild flattening of the mid-sagittal ridge.' They would understand mid-sagittal ridge, but they would say, 'What is mild flattening?' As a consignor, I'm not a veterinarian, so I try my best not to interpret X-ray reports for individuals because, if it's not done absolutely correct, it could be a liability.” Vanlangendonck spent 10 years in the military and was stationed overseas, so he has first-hand knowledge of the issue. “Being in the military, I lived overseas for eight years, in five different countries and none of those countries spoke English,” Vanlangendonck said. “So I know exactly how it feels to be completely encased in a country that does not speak the language that you speak.” To make the information available on vet reports more easily accessible to Spanish-speaking clients just seemed a logical next step, Vanlangendonck said. “The Latin community is a large–if not a majority–purchaser of our lower level horses,” he explained. “And they've made a lot of money doing that–buying horses for $5,000, $10,000 and selling them for $50,000 or $60,000, or $150,000. So not catering to that market, I felt was kind of wrong. Everything is translatable, so I wondered why we wouldn't have X-ray reports that cater to the biggest buyers at that level.” Vanlangendonck originally faced push-back from vets who balked at translating the work of other vets, but he's found support from Dr. Alberto Rullan of Performance Equine Veterinary Services and Equine Performance and Innovation Center (EPIC), for whom Vanlangendonck works as a rehabilitation manager. Rullan sees the translations as a huge step forward in providing additional information to another population of prospective buyers. “It's the same thing I do every day,” Rullan said. “It's what I do for my clients. They call me and I need to explain to them in Spanish. I think the idea of translating [vet reports] and putting it in writing, I am providing that as an official service. Let's start making it official. I think it will be ground-breaking. You know how many buyers there are from Panama, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, even Mexicans, and a lot of people living in the United States speak more Spanish than English, so it's a very, very good idea.” Asked if his translations of the vet reports should be viewed as straight translations or interpretations, Rullan said, “I would say, it's a little bit of both. As a veterinarian, just by default, I cannot just translate without interpreting. How am I going to do that? The client is always going to ask, 'So what prognosis does this carry?' You know it will happen. So there will be an overlap in translating versus interpretation on the report.” Vanlangendonck hopes this first offering of translations at OBS this coming week will provide valuable feedback on what works and what could be done differently in the future. “Summerfield has a large consignment at OBS all the time, so I am able to do stats–how well is it received–because if I can do it for 40 horses, that gives me a pretty good idea of what people like and don't like,” he said. “[Rullan] is going to do it for free this go-around just to test it. And then later on, whatever price, he puts on it will be what he decides to do. “Once people are readily able to read it in their own language, even if they don't buy the horse, they might go and raise their hand once. So even when the service is charged, if these buyers raise their hand once, they've already paid for this translation service several times over. If they bid once, it's at least $1,000.” In addition to the translated reports, Rullan and EPIC will also be providing buyers with translation support over the phone this week at OBS. “EPIC will have–we are calling it the bat phone for now, but I am sure we will come up with a different name,” Vanlangendonck said. “But the phone is essentially going to go to one of the Spanish-speaking veterinarians that are basically on stand-by. This time it will be free because we want to see how it goes, but they can quickly give you the yes or no. [Buyers] will be able to talk to a Spanish-speaking vet and that's what they are there for. They are not doing additional stuff. This will be somebody sitting there ready to do this.” Rullan said he sees a real need for the added information in the sales arena. “Every sale, without fail, I have a buyer who comes to me after they buy a horse and that horse is not suitable for resale or racing,” he said. “So if I could help even a little bit, it would make a huge economic difference for a lot of these investors. They couldn't understand or there was a translation issue–it all happens very fast. The person who shows the report in the ring is trying to explain to the best of their abilities, but a lot of them don't speak Spanish, right? And what can they do? It goes really fast, the horse goes, the client bids on them–'Oh. I thought it was nothing.' Sometimes I go back to the consignor and he says, 'I told the guy, I told him specifically that this was going on.' But it doesn't matter what you tell them, it matters what they hear and what they understand.” Rullan thinks the translation services will benefit both sides of the sales transaction. “I think it's a win-win for everybody,” he said. “Because it increases the credibility and takes it to another level and to another population.” The post Summerfield to Offer Spanish Translations of Vet Reports at OBS appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article