Wandering Eyes

Stakes performer Imwonderfultonight (I Am Invincible) will head to Trentham with fresh legs on Saturday to tackle elite-level company for the first time in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m). The five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible has been a revelation for young trainer Sam Mynott, having won two of her four starts for the Waikato horsewoman, and was runner-up at her last start in the Listed Stewards Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton in November. Earmarked for the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day, those plans were foiled with a foot abscess and the decision was made to target the Wellington sprint feature instead. “She missed the Railway, but she feels really good and she is going into Saturday with fresh legs, I am happy with that,” Mynott told TAB NZ. “She had a tiny foot abscess, and it was just a bit niggly. We thought we might get her there (Railway) but Monday morning I wasn’t 100 percent happy with her so we decided to save her for another day. “It was just a case of getting the blowout to come out, which happened last week. She has been happy, working well and the farrier is happy, and I am happy.” Mynott admits to being slightly nervous heading into her first Group One as a trainer, but said she is treating it just like any other race. “There have been plenty of sleepless nights and I have been pacing the box a little bit,” she said. “I am trying to not change anything. At the end of the day, it is a race and you can’t overdo it. “It feels like there is a lot of pressure but Rod (Schick, co-owner) and Ben (Kwok, co-owner) have been super supportive. They supported my decision not to run in the Railway and come to the Telegraph instead. “It is all systems go and we are doing everything to get her there in the best shape possible. “I think she deserves her place in the field. Her runs at Riccarton were full of merit, she was probably a little unlucky on both of those days. “The form around her is good, she can run the times and I think she can be competitive. “She is a genuine mare inside and out. She has got a beautiful nature and she knows when it is race time. She can be a bit full of herself, but she hasn’t got a nasty bone in her body. “I adore her, she is just a lovely mare.” Imwonderfultonight is currently a $14 winning prospect with TAB bookmakers, with Dragon Leap (Pierro) heading the market at $3. View the full article

Imwonderfultonight will contest Saturday’s Group 1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Stakes performer Imwonderfultonight will head to Trentham with fresh legs on Saturday to tackle elite-level company for the first time in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m). The five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible has been a revelation for young trainer Sam Mynott, having won two of her four starts for the Waikato horsewoman, and was runner-up at her last start in the Listed Stewards Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton in November. Earmarked for the Group 1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day, those plans were foiled with a foot abscess and the decision was made to target the Wellington sprint feature instead. “She missed the Railway, but she feels really good and she is going into Saturday with fresh legs, I am happy with that,” Mynott told TAB NZ. “She had a tiny foot abscess, and it was just a bit niggly. We thought we might get her there (Railway) but Monday morning I wasn’t 100 percent happy with her so we decided to save her for another day. “It was just a case of getting the blowout to come out, which happened last week. She has been happy, working well and the farrier is happy, and I am happy.” Mynott admits to being slightly nervous heading into her first Group 1 as a trainer, but said she is treating it just like any other race. “There have been plenty of sleepless nights and I have been pacing the box a little bit,” she said. “I am trying to not change anything. At the end of the day, it is a race and you can’t overdo it. “It feels like there is a lot of pressure but Rod (Schick, co-owner) and Ben (Kwok, co-owner) have been super supportive. They supported my decision not to run in the Railway and come to the Telegraph instead. “It is all systems go and we are doing everything to get her there in the best shape possible. “I think she deserves her place in the field. Her runs at Riccarton were full of merit, she was probably a little unlucky on both of those days. “The form around her is good, she can run the times and I think she can be competitive. “She is a genuine mare inside and out. She has got a beautiful nature and she knows when it is race time. She can be a bit full of herself, but she hasn’t got a nasty bone in her body. “I adore her, she is just a lovely mare.” Imwonderfultonight is currently a $14 winning prospect with online bookmakers, with Dragon Leap heading the market at $3. More horse racing news View the full article

Zabmanzor will contest the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Zabmanzor made a bold statement in his last journey down to the Central Districts, and Roger James is hoping for a repeat performance when the colt contests Saturday’s Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m). The son of Almanzor built to an eye-catching entrance to the winner’s circle at Tauranga in November and followed suit in his maiden black-type test with a four-length demolition in the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki. James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, elected to step Zabmanzor back in distance by design in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m), where he finished sixth in a competitive contest claimed by Pendragon. “He has progressed well since he raced last time,” James told TAB NZ. “A lot of people may have thought he looked a bit ordinary last start, but we did do a funny thing in bringing him back to 1400m to use as a preparatory race for the Levin Classic. “He’ll be spot on for Saturday. He ran a nice 1400m this morning (Tuesday), he looked good doing it and pulled up well afterwards.” The time-honoured Trentham feature will run for the first occasion on its reallocated January date, a move that could see a highly decorated trainer in James collect his elusive Levin Classic crown. As expected, a classy line-up of three-year-olds has assembled with visitors from North and South joining the CD hopefuls, something James is wary of when considering the form of Zabmanzor’s Otaki victory. “We’d always liked him, and it was nice to see him do that (at Otaki). The strength of the field there may not have been wonderful, but when they win like he did, it usually indicates they’re above average,” he said. “It’s probably a case of how the competition will measure up, because it will be a lot hotter. But, I’m not embarrassed to be putting him on a float and taking him down, I think he can be competitive.” Kingsclere Stables have nominated Zabmanzor for several majors this season, including the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), and a potential challenge against older company in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), though neither are a certainty at this stage. “He’s never really impressed me as a Derby-type horse, but at this stage of the season with a three-year-old, you keep your options open,” he said. In a market favouring his female counterparts, Zabmanzor currently lies a $5.50 third-favourite with online bookmakers, behind Northern-based fillies Mary Shan ($4.00) and Quintessa ($4.50). More horse racing news View the full article

Dragon Leap will contest the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will on Saturday bid to complete a premier sprinting double with Dragon Leap expected to be ideally suited at Trentham in his quest for top-flight honours in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m). The Matamata trainers bagged the opening leg at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day following Waitaki’s dashing Group 1 Railway (1200m) victory, with his stablemate fourth and with a genuine excuse for not finishing closer. “We were really pleased with his effort and, with the trouble we’ve had with his feet through his career, we knew losing a shoe would affect his performance,” Scott said. “Opie (Bosson) said he lost a strong gallop in the last 150 yards. We’re not saying it cost him winning the race, but it certainly affected him. “When they lose a shoe like that you always worry that they may feel it for a day or two, but with the shoe back on the following morning he hasn’t missed a beat.” The stable is also confident that Dragon Leap will improve with the outing, his first appearance since finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) in the spring. “We believe the run has brought him on and we’ve just ticked him over and in the wee bit of work he has done, he has looked really enthusiastic,” Scott said. “He comes in better at the weights in the Telegraph than he did in the Railway and we’ve always had a belief that the Telegraph will suit his style of racing. “It’s a high-pressure race and they go a true gallop, so we think he’ll run it out really strongly.” Meanwhile, Waitak will make his next appearance in the Group 1 BCD Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 10. “He races so well fresh and the quick back-up into the Telegraph wouldn’t have suited him and he races well at Te Rapa,” Scott said. “He came through New Year’s Day well and he’s in a good place.” The stable also has Geriatrix primed for Saturday’s Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) following his run for fourth last time out in the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m). “We went to Otaki with high hopes and walked away knowing a bit more about the horse and we will certainly look to ride him a little quieter,” Scott said. “We might have had him a fraction close and the way the race was run it was set up for the backmarkers. He’s had a wee gap between runs, but he turned in a really good piece of work on Monday. “He’s a really focussed colt and believe he’s got the ability to be competitive in these sorts of races with the right run.” Bramco Granite & Marble Premier (1600m) contender Cornwallis will complete the travelling party to Trentham and is considered a strong each-way prospect. “He’s been racing well and two starts back he lacked a bit of luck. He couldn’t get any momentum going at Tauranga and then at Matamata he got back in a slowly run race and pressed on well for third,” Scott said. Wexford Stables also has a number of representatives at Tauranga on Friday with Neighbourhood, Monday Melody and Jaffira among their leading prospects. Neighbourhood will bid to go one better in the Ray White Greerton (1400m) following a bold run for second when resuming at Matamata. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with his first-up performance, he really dashed at the line and is working well. He’s a horse that has benefitted from a patient approach and certainly one of our best chances,” Scott said. Monday Melody will drop back in grade from an unplaced run in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) in the Proudly Ray White (1600m), in which he will be opposed by Jaffira. “Monday Melody is going a bit better than it may look and he will be stepping up in trip, which he is bred to run,” Scott said. “He’s out of a Frankel mare and goes back to a stout New Zealand family and even though he’s by Snitzel, he’ll be more competitive over the mile. “Jaffira ran well at Pukekohe and Opie (Bosson) was pretty happy with him and he’s improved with recent racing.” More horse racing news View the full article

Russian Fable winning at Reefton on Tuesday. Photo: Race Images South Russian Fable was set to head to the spelling paddock following her last start fifth placing at Greymouth, but trainer Nayton Mitchell was pleased he made the decision to have one final roll of the dice with his mare. The West Melton horseman elected to back her up in the Greg Daly Real Estate/Birchfield Ross Mining (1400m) at Reefton on Tuesday and she rewarded him with her sixth victory and the second in Mitchell’s career. She jumped well and jockey Yogesh Atchamah was able to find the one-one with his mare. She enjoyed an economical passage until Atchamah asked her to improved at the 600m mark and Russian Fable sat three-wide outside June Bug and leader Wild Rover. June Bug began to tire, leaving Russian Fable and Wild Rover to fight it out in the straight, with the former getting the better of her rival in the closing stages to win by a neck. Mitchell was delighted to get the win, particularly for owner and fellow trainer Andrew Carston. “We were really stoked to get the win,” Mitchell said. “We set her up for the Miss Scenicland Stakes (1500m) at Greymouth where she did try hard but the track conditions just got to her. “She was going to go to the paddock after that but we decided to give her one more run. “Andrew is a big supporter of the stable, so it was great to get the win for him.” Russian Fable will now head for her planned spell before returning to racing closer to winter for the polytrack season. “She has been running really honestly but she just gets out-classed at this time of the year, so she is going to go in the paddock now and have a rest until the poly,” Mitchell said. “She won a couple on the poly in the second half of last season, so we will aim her for those races.” A former international showjumper, Mitchell has a family background in racing and said it was always on the cards to work in the industry following years in the sport horse world. “I went over to Ireland and competed for New Zealand over there and then came back to New Zealand and did the young rider series,” he said. “I moved to Palmerston North and had a sales business there for two years and then moved down to Christchurch and did the showjumpers for another year or two before the racehorses took over. “We had a team of 10 showjumpers going around the circuit, mostly young horses doing the age-group series, and specialised in buying, producing and selling young showjumpers. “I have always done trackwork and my family is quite involved with racing so I knew one day I would end up doing it.” Mitchell currently has a dozen thoroughbreds in work and is looking to add some younger members to his team when he heads to Karaka later this month for New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. “We will be at Karaka and hopefully buy a couple of yearlings,” he said. “I have an owner or two who want to buy a young one, so it will be great to have some younger horses to work with over the coming years.” More horse racing news View the full article

Town Cryer will be one of two runners for Roydon Bergerson in Saturday’s Group 3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Town Cryer may be the form horse in Saturday’s Group 3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham, but the mare’s stablemate Sindicato may pose as her biggest challenge. Prepared by Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson, Town Cryer claimed a career-best victory in the Group 3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in October, and has maintained solid form through her campaign, including a seventh in the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m), though she was scorched out of the gates in the false start. A daring front-running ride aboard the daughter of Tavistock last-start in the Taupo Cup (2000m) was almost executed to perfection by Opie Bosson, the mare only being caught in the final bounds by Mehzebeen, who carried six kilograms less. “I’m very happy with her season so far, the Wellington race (TAB Classic) was a bit of a debacle, but she got over that,” Bergerson said. “She ran super in the Taupo Cup, Opie gave her every chance, she fought hard and I think the weight just told in the last 50m. I’m really pleased with how she came through the race, and she worked really well on Tuesday. “She’s not giving the field as much as she was at Taupo, she gave the winner six kilograms there, so I’m pleased with 57.5kg on Saturday.” Bergerson had originally planned to set Town Cryer for the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on February 6, however, the mare indicated she preferred otherwise at their Awapuni base. “We were planning to go straight towards the Wairarapa Breeders’ but she bucked off Bruce Herd, her trackwork rider, the other morning so he said she’s ready to go back to the races now,” he said. “She loves Wellington and she races well there, the speed in the race won’t help her much but she doesn’t have to lead so she’ll end up in a good position with a great jockey on.” Town Cryer will once again be in the capable hands of Bosson out of barrier 11, while stablemate Sindicato will jump from the ace draw under Lisa Allpress. Only lightly-raced for his eight years, Sindicato has been in fine form this campaign, and was game in carrying the 59.5kg topweight to third behind Snazzytavi in the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. “Opie said after the race that if he’d drawn an alley, he didn’t think they would’ve beaten him,” Bergerson said. “He hit the line strong with a big weight, and he’s trained on very well. His condition is amazing, and his trackwork has gone up a level since he’s come back from Auckland, hence why we’re trying this race. I couldn’t be happier with him.” Though Town Cryer is the likely-favoured runner of Bergerson’s pair, he insisted the son of Per Incanto would be anything but playing second fiddle to his stablemate on Saturday. “He’ll push the mare, there’s not much between them in the way they’re working,” he said. “In an ideal world, Town Cryer would’ve drawn one and he would’ve drawn 11, but he should be up in the first half-dozen on the fence. “I’m not sure if she’ll (Town Cryer) lead, Sergio likes to go forward and a few others so I’ll leave that up to Opie. She likes to be in her own rhythm and quicken up when she can, but Sindicato won’t be giving her too many lengths of a head start.” The punters have been in agreeance with Bergerson’s confidence early, with Sindicato shortening from $9 to $7.50 with online bookmakers, while Town Cryer currently shares the top of an even market at $6 with Sumi. Though Sindicato holds a nomination for next Saturday’s Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), Bergerson indicated the Anniversary would be a likely final lead-in to the Group 3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) on February 3 at New Plymouth. Before chasing the spoils at Trentham, Bergerson will have a sole representative at Wanganui on Thursday when a fast improving La Bella Grande contests the Whanganui Chronicle Maiden F&M 1340. The daughter of Per Incanto showed her promise last start with a game runner-up finish behind Waitui Rose at Trentham under Allpress, who retains the ride. “She should run really well tomorrow. We planned to run her at Hastings but had a bit of a sore stomach on Friday, so we took her out but she’s back on track now,” Bergerson said. “Lisa gave her a quiet gallop on Tuesday morning and said she felt 100 percent, so we’ll push on.” As her name suggests, La Bella Grande has a notably large stature, and Bergerson has allowed the five-year-old to mature slowly with just the four raceday appearances to date. “She’s 17 hands and hasn’t quite filled into her frame yet,” he said. “We’ve taken our time and Sam (Williams, breeder and part-owner) and the syndicate have been very patient with her, which has been a blessing. She’s still yet to hit her straps, the autumn will be her best time I think.” More horse racing news View the full article

What Magic Millions 3YO Guineas 2024 Where Gold Coast Turf Club – Racecourse Dr, Bundall QLD 4217 When Saturday, January 13, 2024 Prizemoney $3,000,000 Distance 1400m Conditions Restricted Listed 2023 winner Fashion Legend (14) | T: Richard & Will Freedman | J: Joshau Parr (57kg) Visit Dabble The 24th edition of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas will co-headline the massive 11-race card at the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon. With eight of the 18 runners being last-start winners, this year’s edition of the Guineas sets up to be one of the better contests that we have seen in some time. Seven of the last eight editions of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas have been won by colts and geldings, and as there are only six fillies in the final field this year, the boys are expected to continue their dominance. 2024 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas odds Chris Waller’s lone runner in the 3YO Guineas has opened as a marginal favourite with online bookmakers at +400 in a wide-open betting race. Last-start Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate winner, Cifrado, sits on the second line of betting with the undefeated John O’Shea-trained Sydney Bowler at +450. After claiming the Listed Gold Edition Plate in her most recent start, Abounding (+700) from the Robert Heathcote yard rounds out the runners under double figures. 2024 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas speed map Most of the speed influences in the Guineas have drawn wide barriers, so we expect that the first 100m will be the charge of the light brigade, with the likes of The King, Royal Tribute, Infatuation, Sydney Bowler and Zouphoria wanting to settle on-speed. Due to the number of on speed runners, Chrysaor, Sovereign Fund and Abounding can settle midfield without doing a lot of work from middle to inside barriers. Cifrado, Trifling and Sunset Dreaming will drop out to the rear of the field and appreciate the hot tempo. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. Magic Millions 3YO Guineas 2024 preview & form The lethal combination of Chris Waller and James McDonald will join forces when Chrysaor competes in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, where the colt will be attempting to go one better than his last start second in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate. Although this son of Better Than Ready was fresh from a nine-week spell in the Vo Rogue at Doomben, he was very good when running home from the back of the field, only to be nabbed by a fit Cifrado in the final 50m. This guy won the Group 2 Callander-Presnell over 1600m in his only start during the spring and has multiple Group-level placings to his name. From barrier eight, McDonald should be able to settle midfield off the rail and get a nice cart into the race on the home turn before letting down with a strong finish. Cifrado defeated our top tip in their most recent meeting when he recorded a deserving victory at his fourth start this preparation. The Rex Lipp-trained gelding raced against open-age horses in his first two starts before dropping back to three-year-old grade in his last two. This son of Encryption won back-to-back Group 2 contests as a two-year-old when he claimed the Spirit Of Boom Classic and the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes. There is no doubt that any of our top tips can win the Guineas as they bring the best form lines, but they are very hard to split at the top of the market and deserve to be the favoured runners in this race. Royal Tribute is coming off the back of a gutsy win in the Listed Gosford Guineas first-up, where the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained colt picked himself up off the canvas to defeat Infatuation over 1200m. This son of Snitzel is lightly raced compared to most of his rivals in the 3YO Guineas, with only five race starts under his belt. With Adam Hyeronimus in the saddle, this colt is expected to push forward from barrier 11 and get involved in the speed battle in the early stages. If Royal Tribute can settle in the first four and get a good trail, don’t be surprised if he runs a cheeky race and fills a place. The second of the two Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained runners in our top four is Zouphoria, who is coming through the same form line as Chrysaor and Cifrado. This filly led the Vo Rogue Plate field until the 150m mark, where she started to struggle in the concluding stages and faded slightly to finish fifth, beaten 1.8 lengths. From barrier six, Tim Clark should be able to push forward, settle alongside his stablemate in the first four and give a good sight with even luck. Magic Millions 3YO Guineas 2024 selections & best bets Selections: 2 CHRYSAOR 1 CIFRADO 4 ROYAL TRIBUTE 17 ZOUPHORIA $100 betting strategy $50 Win Chrysaor (#2) @ +400 with Neds $50 Win Cifrado (#1) @ +450 with Dabble More horse racing tips View the full article

What Gosford Races Where The Entertainment Grounds – 4 Racecourse Rd, West Gosford NSW 2250 When Friday, January 12, 2024 First Race 3:05pm AEDT Visit Dabble Provincial racing heads to the central coast of NSW on Friday afternoon as Gosford gets set to host a quickfire seven-race program. The twilight meeting is scheduled to get underway at 3:05pm local time, and with some scattered showers predicted in the lead-up, we’ll be eyeing off the possibility of a downgrade from the Good 4 surface currently listed at the time of writing. The rail is out +3m between 1100m-300m, while the remainder sits in the true position. Best Bet at Gosford: Ekeler A change of tactics secured maiden victory for Ekeler last start at Canterbury on December 15, as the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace barn gave instructions to lead. Dylan Gibbons obliged, sending the son of More Than Ready straight to the front and was able to bolt clear of his rivals by a half-length. It was a favourable night to be ridden on speed, but it was a promising showing by the three-year-old, and with this Class 1 contest lacking depth, we see no reason why Ekeler can’t chalk up back-to-back wins in the penultimate. Best Bet Race 6 – #1 Ekeler (5) 3yo Colt | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Andrew Gibbons (59.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best at Gosford: Community Community only found one better at Gosford on December 31 and closed off stylishly over 1600m. He got back to last on that occasion, but powered through the line to suggest getting to the 1900m on Friday will be a major benefit to his chances. Gate one should allow Keagan Latham to hold a position somewhere mid-field with cover, and when the race goes on, watch for Community to be making strong inroads, provided the breaks fall his way in the straight. Next Best Race 3 – #3 Community (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Kim Waugh | J: Keagan Latham (59kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best Again at Gosford: Merry Mac Boy Merry Mac Boy will need to bounce back from a Heavy track failure at Warwick Farm on December 20. The gelding by I Am Invincible didn’t go a yard in the bottomless conditions last start, however, his form prior to that effort should hold this guy in good stead for this BM64 contest. He’s drawn poorly in barrier nine, but with a positive steer and 3kg claim courtesy of apprentice hoop Zac Waddick to aid him on his journey, Merry Mac Boy may prove too classy regardless. Next Best Again Race 4 – #1 Merry Mac Boy (9) 4yo Gelding | T: Joseph Pride | J: Zac Waddick (a3kg) (61kg) Bet with Neds Gosford Friday quaddie tips – 12/1/2024 Gosford quadrella selections Friday, January 12, 2024 1-5-10 3-4-6-7-9-11-12-13-14 1-2 3-4-5 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Magic Millions 2YO Classic contender Arabian Summer. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Trainer Calvin McEvoy expressed optimism about Arabian Summer’s chances in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic, emphasising the perceived advantages of the middle draw in barrier nine. McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his father Tony, acknowledged the initial preference for a draw between one to five but found contentment in the outcome. “I’m happy with it, we wanted to draw probably one to five I think as it played out, the favourite’s drawn one outside us in ten. “She’s very versatile, she’ll be positive and she’ll hopefully be in the first four or five with some cover, and I think it’s a really good barrier,” McEvoy remarked. Arabian Summer, known for her speed, triumphed in the Ballarat Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1000m) in December and demonstrated adaptability by handling the rise in distance during her Gold Pearl victory last week. McEvoy and connections remain confident that the daughter of Too Darn Hot can tackle the additional 100 metres on Saturday. “Early on in her career we probably had her pegged as just a speed, 1000-metre filly but her last two starts she’s shown that she’s versatile, she’ll run out a strong, definitely 1100 and I think with a nice run she’ll certainly run the 12 out so I’m very happy with her,” McEvoy affirmed. Arabian Summer will be partnered by Harry Coffey in the feature event on the 11-race card at the Gold Coast and is currently rated a +600 with top horse racing betting sites. More horse racing news View the full article

Follow Your Dreams (inside) winning the Reefton Cup (1400m) on Tuesday. Photo: Race Images South Follow Your Dreams has been absent from the winner’s circle for the last 12 months, but he broke that drought, almost to the day, when victorious in the Reefton Cup (1400m) on Tuesday. The son of Contributer settled to the rear of the pack for jockey Corey Campbell in the West Coast of New Zealand feature as Diamond Girl set her customary blistering pace up front, opening up several margins on the main pack. Campbell pushed his charge forward at the 900m mark to sit parked in the main bunch as they continued to hunt down the pacemaker. They caught the leader with 150m to go and Follow Your Dreams entered a dogfight with Tap ‘n’ Go down the straight, eventually getting the better of his foe to win by a long neck, while stablemate The Buffer ran home well to finish a further 2-1/4 lengths back in third in the hands of stable apprentice Danika Wilson. “Both of the horses went well,” said Krystal Williams, who trains in partnership with her father Ken Rae. “Follow Your Dreams was more forward than the other one and it was nice to see him get a win again because he has been out of the winner’s circle for quite a while. “I thought over the last few runs Follow Your Dreams has been really close to picking up that win. The horse he is this time in is a lot better than he was over the winter, we have just been waiting for it to happen.” Williams was a little disappointed in The Buffer’s result, but was proud of her charge nonetheless. “His run wasn’t as good as it could have been. He came a bit wide on the home bend, but he has battled on for third like he always does, he is a tough little warhorse,” she said. Follow Your Dreams is now on a path towards the $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton on April 13. “We brought Follow Your Dreams down to the South Island stable for that mile race later in the year for South Island horses only,” Williams said. “That is something we are going to work towards, but whether or not we get him there I don’t know.” The stable also picked up two further placings on the undercard courtesy of Berbizier and The Roaring Tiger. “Berbizier and The Roaring Tiger both went well today. They were quite fast-run races so it was hope for the best and see what we could do,” Williams said. Williams has enjoyed the West Coast hospitality and said she looks forward to heading to the holiday carnival every year. “This is about my 11th year now (coming to the West Coast),” she said. “We have made some very good friends with the locals and we catch-up with them every time we come back. We have made new owners from each time we have come over. We always have a great time and the kids all really enjoy it.” More horse racing news View the full article

What 2024 Magic Millions 2YO Classic Where Gold Coast Turf Club – Racecourse Dr, Bundall QLD 4217 When Saturday, January 13, 2024 Prizemoney $3,000,000 Distance 1200m Conditions Restricted Listed 2023 winner Skirt The Law (2) | T: Tony Gollan | J: Ryan Maloney (55kg) Visit Dabble The 38th edition of the Magic Million 2YO Classic will co-headline the massive 11-race card at the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon. With rain forecast to fall in the Gold Coast area every day in the lead up to Magic Millions Day, many are curious to see what condition the track will be in on Saturday. After Skirt The Law claimed the 2023 edition of the race, she became the sixth filly in the last seven years to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. A full field of 16 runners is set to compete over 1200m, with only four maidens set to take their place in the $3 million race. 2024 Magic Millions 2YO Classic odds The top two runners in racebook order also sit at the top of the market for the 2024 Magic Millions 2YO Classic, with Storm Boy from the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable marked as the +140 favourite, ahead of the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Spywire (+400). On the third line of betting is Highness (+550) from the Michael Freedman yard, closely followed by the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Arabian Summer (+600). 2024 Magic Millions 2YO Classic speed map Much like most two-year-old races, there is an abundance of speed in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Storm Boy, Spywire and Arabian Summer will push forward from outside barriers, while Highness and Wolfgang are expected to make them work for the lead as they jump from inside gates. Any number of runners could settle midfield and towards the back of the field, but Parkour, Territory Ash and Poster Girl are the horses that are most likely to be swooping down the outside from the back. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Magic Millions 2YO Classic 2024 preview & form Arabian Summer has won her last two starts at Ballarat and the Gold Coast, which saw her climb to the top of the prize money-earning list for the 2YO Classic. The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained filly was a dominant winner in her two victories, with her last start performance being the best of her career to date. This daughter of Too Darn Hot raced in the Gold Pearl 2YO Fillies over 1100m, and even though she had to give her rivals 2kg, this girl booted away from the field with 250m to go and went on to win by 2.3 lengths. From barrier nine, Harry Coffey will be able to follow the race favourite across the field and settle in behind the speed. If Arabian Summer doesn’t get posted wide and settles in the first six, she will get every chance to continue the filly dominance in this race. The race favourite and number one saddlecloth, Storm Boy, is one of the two undefeated runners in this year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained colt has been dominant at both starts to date, with his last start 2.4-length victory in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes cementing his spot at the top of the market in this contest. This son of Justify will push forward from barrier 10 to settle on-speed, where he should find the front with company and ensure the race is run at a solid tempo. If the track is very wet and Storm Boy has to do a lot of work to find the front, it could make him vulnerable in the final 200m. James Cummings will only have one runner in the 2YO Classic, as Parkour will take his place in the $3 million feature. This two-year-old colt was an eye-catching runner on debut when flying home from the back of the field to finish second behind Arabian Summer at Ballarat, before dominating a small field at Randwick last start. This son of Extreme Choice has drawn very wide in barrier 17, which leaves Jamie Kah with only one option, get back and run on. Parkour appears to have the ability to run over the top of her rivals if the race is run at a strong tempo, but he may get too far back from the horrible gate. If Spywire were to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, it would give his trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace their third win in the race in the last five years. Although this colt hasn’t finished outside the top two in his three starts, drawing barrier 12 has hindered his chances slightly because he is expected to be a key speed influence in this race. If this son of Trapeze Artist is slow away, like last start, James McDonald will have to be at his very best to get him into a forward position without using too much gas in the early stages of the race. Magic Millions 2YO Classic 2024 selections & best bets Selections: 8 ARABIAN SUMMER 1 STORM BOY 3 PARKOUR 2 SPYWIRE $100 betting strategy $100 Win Arabian Summer (#8) @ +600 with Neds More horse racing tips View the full article

Happy Together continues to advance this season. Alexis Badel is hoping to time it right aboard the rapidly rising Happy Together in Wednesday night’s Group 3 January Cup Handicap (1800m). Amid a sparkling season with three wins from four starts, Happy Together continues to up the ante, enough so to warrant his shot at Happy Valley’s sole Group race with Badel confident he has found the key to unlocking even more success for the five-year-old. “I learnt from my mistake two starts ago at Sha Tin. You need to preserve his turn of foot and you have to be a bit more patient – I didn’t make the same mistake twice and it was a good win last start,” Badel said. “He’s doing very well and he keeps improving.” Trained by Frankie Lor, Happy Together will carry 115lb tomorrow. He most recently won a quality Class 2 at Happy Valley last month – his only race at the city circuit. “To his credit, he has a good turn of foot. He can quicken well and he trialled well at Happy Valley when he was younger, so I was confident he was going to run a good race last time, as long as he could relax for me,” Badel said. Check out HorseBetting’s Happy Valley preview here. Happy Together tackles the Valley’s 1800m trip for the first time in the January Cup, while five-year-old’s boast a strong record with 13 wins in the race since it was first staged in 1999, including five out of the last six renewals. “I’d prefer a good tempo – it’s easier for me. There’s no doubt he’s a nice horse and he’s in good form carrying no weight,” Badel said. Happy Together meets Encountered (135lb), Money Catcher (134lb), Sword Point (126lb), Telecom Fighters (124lb), Tourbillon Diamond (118lb), Champion Dragon (117lb), Helene Feeling (115lb), Nimble Nimbus (115lb), Rising From Ashes (115lb), La City Blanche (115lb) and Berlin Tango (115lb) in the January Cup. Lor and Badel combined to win the 2019 running with Simply Brilliant, who carried 114lb. Happy Together is one of three runners in the race for Lor, who also saddles Money Catcher and Sword Point. “He’s good but this time he’ll carry 134 pounds,” Lor said of Money Catcher, who won the 2023 January Cup. Sword Point was Group 2-placed two runs ago and pairs with Hugh Bowman this week. “He’s good, I put Hugh Bowman on for last week’s gallop – he was happy,” Lor said. La City Blanche contests his second Group 3 in Hong Kong in the January Cup. He finished third in November’s HK$4.2 million Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m). Karis Teetan will partner the bay – who has won once over 1800m at Happy Valley – from barrier one for Tony Cruz. “He goes in with a light weight and he’s won at Happy Valley before. Last start he ran into some really big horses. I think going into the race with a light weight that he has a chance – he’s run well at the Valley before,” Teetan said. “If he gets the right run this week, then he’ll get his chance.” Badel rides another swift improver at the city circuit. The Frenchman gets the leg-up on Healthy Healthy for trainer Pierre Ng. “He had a light weight last time but he’s the type of horse who is big enough to carry the weight, it isn’t a bother. He looks well and he’s recovered from his last run,” Ng said. More horse racing news View the full article

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm LEXINGTON, KY – During a session dominated for much of the day by the short yearlings, the supplemented broodmare Sebago Lake (Tapit) jumped to the lead in the final hips when selling for $700,000 to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. Overall, through two days of the four-day auction, 430 head have grossed $31,596,700 for an average of $73,481 and a median of $30,500. With continued strength at the top of the market, the Book 1 average dipped just 3.39% from a year ago, but the median is down 23.75%. “It started off very healthy,” Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said of Tuesday's session. “Through the day, there were some spots where it got a little slower, but it ended up really strong. Again, quality was to the fore. You saw some of those young mares, bred to some exciting new stallions were selling extremely well. Farms are reloading again. We saw the same pattern that we saw yesterday.” The two-day buy-back rate is 27.97%. It was 26.92% a year ago. Three short yearlings sold for $400,000 or over during Tuesday's session, with a colt by Not This Time and a filly by Candy Ride (Arg) sharing the day's top price of $430,000. “Foals that were by the right stallions, had the right physicals, vetted, there was a very strong, competitive environment for them,” Lacy said. “There is a lot of confidence out there. Speaking to the sellers, they felt like it was a really good market. The buyers found it to be very competitive to try to buy the stock they were interested in. I don't think it's inflated at all, I don't think it's depressed in any way. I think it feels like a very healthy, fair environment. If you bring the right stock to market, you are going to get rewarded for it. Today was just a continuation of the momentum we saw yesterday.” With 424 head catalogued for Tuesday's session, only 275 went through the ring. “It's sort of a factor of the time of year we are in,” Keeneland's Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said of the large number of outs. “It's a time of year when weanlings-into-yearlings are changing a lot. They don't always vet the way people intend them to vet and they are happy to wait until September in some cases. We did have more outs than we were expecting. They kind of came in early, though, so going into yesterday, we already had a lot of outs, and more than we would have had last year, and we had a couple dozen more during the session.” With close to 130 outs coming Monday evening, and not during Tuesday's session, Lacy said the scratches might not reflect a lack of interest from would-be buyers. “A lot of people don't have to sell,” Lacy said. “If they have something they think is in sort of an awkward stage or if they are sitting on an update, if there is something active in the family potentially, they hit pause. That's the time of year we are in. People weren't scratching, necessarily, for lack of action. They were scratching a little earlier for various reasons. It didn't feel in any way that there was concern from sellers.” “We ended very, very strongly here this evening. Young mares coming off the track or in foal to some exciting young stallions were very much in demand.” @ScottFDTV discusses the results of day two at @keenelandsales January with Tony Lacy and Cormac Breathnach. pic.twitter.com/X6pR53JRdu — TVG (@TVG) January 9, 2024 Breathnach admitted the decrease in median during the January sale's two-session Book 1 could be a reflection of the polarization of the market. “The average is fairly close [to the 2023 figure],” Breathnach said. “The median is down 20+% and that's what we watch. That maybe reflects some of the polarization in the market. The top of it is doing well, keeping the average up, but there is some selectivity in the middle to lower levels. It might reflect what brings a premium and what is tougher to sell.” The Keeneland January sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. Sebago Lake a Late Highlight at Keeneland Sebago Lake (Tapit) (hip 831), in foal to Justify, sparked a bidding battle late in Tuesday's second session of the Keeneland January sale when selling for $700,000 to the phone bid of Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. Hip 831 in the ring | Keeneland The 5-year-old mare, a half-sister to graded winner Family Way (Uncle Mo) and from the family of Caravaggio, was well beaten in a pair of racetrack appearances in September of 2021 for her co-breeder, Adam Bowden's Diamond Creek Farm. Eaton Sales consigned the gray mare to the sale on behalf of Diamond Creek. “She was probably one of the best mares in the sale, in my opinion,” said Eaton's Reiley McDonald. “She's a beautiful mare in foal to the right horse. She's by Tapit and looks like a Tapit. And I also think it helped that there is limited supply at the upper level.” Sebago Lake, whose first foal is now a short yearling colt by Uncle Mo, was a supplemental entry to the auction. “I think it was a late decision just to put her in,” McDonald said. “She was the real thing and that's why she sold well. They didn't pay too much and everybody came out of it with a win.” @JessMartiniTDN Pugh Strikes for Not This Time Colt Peter Pugh went to $430,000 to acquire a short yearling by Not This Time (hip 685) from the Warrendale Sales consignment Tuesday at Keeneland. “All of the top people were on the horse coming up here,” said Warrendale's Hunter Simms. “He was very well received. We are honored to sell a horse like that and wish the connections the best of luck.” Simms continued, “The horse was very straightforward. Good bone on him, very correct, walked well. He was a very nice horse.” Bred by Petaluma Bloodstock, the bay colt is out of Dalsaros (Unbridled's Song), a daughter of Grade I winner Ask the Moon (Malibu Moon). Bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe signed the ticket at $325,000 to acquire Dalsaros, in foal to City of Light, at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. The in utero City of Light colt went on to sell for $300,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The mare's Tiz the Law filly sold for $300,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. Of the colt's placement in the January sale, Simms explained, “There were a lot of foals in November and we figured he would stand out here. He is probably the second-highest priced foal that is going to sell at this sale, so we always try to concentrate on placement with horses and finding the right sale and finding the right book to put them in. Whether it's November, January, February, wherever, we try to find the right spot where they will stand out.” Peter Pugh | Keeneland After initial confusion about who had actually purchased the colt, who had already been led out of the ring, bidding was opened again and ended at $430,000 with Pugh, signing under the Cherry Knoll Farm banner, as the winning bidder. “It's always confusing,” Simms said. “There are a lot of people in every doorway and every nook and cranny and trying to be secretive. And it happens. They opened it back up and we were able to get $430,000, which is a nice price for that horse. It all worked out in the end.” @JessMartiniTDN Candy Ride Filly to Stewart John Stewart, active at the top level at the auctions last fall, got back into action at Keeneland Tuesday, purchasing a short yearling by Candy Ride (Arg) (hip 497) for $430,000 under his operation's new name, Resolute Bloodstock. The filly was consigned by Stone Farm. “She was absolutely stunning,” said Stewart's advisor Gavin O'Connor. “She had great size. She just ticked all the boxes for a Candy Ride, especially being a May foal. She was balanced with great conformation and she was squeaky clean. Just a high quality, classy filly. We will probably keep her and play the long game with her. She screams race horse. She is just a fabulous filly.” The chestnut filly is out of Rags Pauline (Union Rags), a half-sister to graded winner Keen Pauline (Pulpit). “She came up here and showed great,” said Stone Farm's Lynn Hancock. “She didn't turn a hair and was very popular. She has a great walk and moved well and showed well. I think she got all the right people on her.” Rags Pauline, with the filly in utero, sold for $80,000 to Jack Hirsch at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton December Digital sale. The yearling was bred by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Spearmaco. “A client of ours bought her,” Hancock said of Rags Pauline. “I haven't spoken to them yet, but I assume they are happy. It's hard not to be happy with that result.” Lynn Hancock | Keeneland The 8-year-old broodmare was bred back to Army Mule last year. Through two sessions of the four-day auction, Resolute Bloodstock has purchased seven horses for $905,000. In addition to hip 497, the operation acquired stakes-placed 4-year-old filly Smokie Eyes (Nyquist) (hip 134) for $140,000 and Indian Mound (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 768) for $250,000. O'Connor said the move of horses into Stewart's new farm in Midway was well under way. “So far, so good,” he said. “We are over there now. Some of the big girls are over there–[newly acquired broodmares] Puca, Pizza Bianca, and Lenni Girl–and we have a few more coming there this week. We have eight babies over there as well. So we are slowly transitioning the stock from where they are at the moment and getting established.” @JessMartiniTDN O'Callaghan Goes to $400,000 for Justify Colt A strong opening bid of $275,000 from the back wasn't enough to scare off P B Bloodstock and Jenny O'Callaghan, who went to $400,000 to purchase Hip 594, the only yearling son of Justify in the sale. “He's a beautiful horse from the first time we saw him at the barn,” said O'Callaghan. “We knew we had to have him–he was our star horse for the day.” Hip 594 | Keeneland The colt, bred in Kentucky by Justice Stables, is a half to GSP Conquest Babayaga (Uncle Mo) and to SP Sorrentina Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid) and out of a half-sister to Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Neligee (Northern Afleet). “He's by Justify who is an exceptional stallion on turf, dirt, with colts and fillies. We're hoping there will be a big market for him next year. That's the most expensive horse that we bought but we have full confidence in the stallion and he's just a natural horse that possesses so much natural athletic ability. We'll bring him back [to Keeneland] again as a yearling next year.” @SGrimmTDN Music Street Brings $210,000 Off Falls City Second Music Street (Street Sense) (hip 449) brought a final bid of $210,000 from Blanco Bloodstock early in the session Tuesday at the Keeneland January Horses of all Ages Sale, capping a racing career for Kim Valerio who initially bought the mare as a yearling at Keeneland in 2020. Campaigned for Valerio along with partners Prakash Sham Masand and Grandview Equine, Music Street finished her career with a second to Xigera (Nyquist) in the GIII Falls City S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 23. “I love Street Sense and I love [second dam] Xtra Heat,” said Valerio on buying the filly as a yearling. “And she's so pretty. She's such a sweetheart. It's bittersweet really, I didn't want to sell her but I had partners and she's turning five. But I just love her and I'm super happy with where she's going. They take great care of their mares.” After earning over $295,000 on the track, Music Street sold as a broodmare prospect only to Blanco Bloodstock Tuesday. @SGrimmTDN The post $700,000 Sebago Lake Charges Keeneland January Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We're inside the 120-day mark for the 150th GI Kentucky Derby, and the pecking order is hazily taking shape. There's a speculative, forward-thinking element (read: lots of guesswork) built into the equation, with the goal of projecting how these still-developing horses will blossom over the next four months. Get tied on and enjoy the ride. 1) NYSOS (c, Nyquist–Zetta Z, by Bernardini) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Baoma Corp; B-Susie Atkins (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $550,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $96,600. Last start: WON Nov. 19 GIII Bob Hope S. Nysos has won two West Coast sprints with devastating ease by a combined 19 1/4 lengths while pairing Beyer Speed Figures of 96 and 97, earning 'TDN Rising Star' accolades, and giving off the impression he has the mental makeup and physical prowess to handle tougher competition at longer distances. This Nyquist colt out of a Bernardini mare went through the auction ring three times ($130,000 KEENOV, $150,000 FTKOCT, $550,000 OBSAPR) before debuting over six furlongs Oct. 21 at Santa Anita. Seeing a Bob Baffert trainee win at first asking by 10 1/2 lengths isn't exactly a shocker, but not too many colts from that barn run up the score by such a gaudy margin while going off at 6-1 in the betting. Start number two was the seven-eighths GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar Nov. 19, and that four-horse race ended up being more or less a schooling session for 2-5 fave Nysos, who, racing with blinkers off, broke alertly and settled in last while always in touch with the leaders behind brisk splits. His sustained move enabled him to power past overmatched rivals while well in hand and never being asked for maximum effort, scoring by 8 3/4 lengths. Nysos has since recorded four regularly spaced workouts at Santa Anita and seems certain to next surface in a two-turn stakes, perhaps the Jan. 27 GIII Southwest S. over 1 1/16 miles or the Feb. 3 GIII Lewis S. at a mile. For the third straight year, Churchill Downs has banished Baffert related to Medina Spirit's drug DQ from the 2021 Derby, and his trainees are prohibited from earning qualifying points. However, the focus for TDN's Top 12 writeups will be on where Baffert's horses fit in the overall Derby picture and not the trainer's eligibility status. 2) FIERCENESS (c, City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Repole Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $1,102,750. Last start: WON Nov. 4 GI FanDuel Breeders Cup Juvenile. A two-prep path to Louisville–the Feb. 3 GIII Holy Bull S. and Mar. 30 GI Florida Derby–is trainer Todd Pletcher's plan for GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile victor and likely 2-year-old champ Fierceness. This 'TDN Rising Star' and Repole Stable homebred by City of Light powered home by 11 1/4 lengths (95 Beyer) as the 11-10 winner of his debut sprint at Saratoga over a sealed, muddy track. That wet-track fondness didn't carry over to the sloppy GI Champagne S. at Aqueduct, when the odds-on Fierceness lunged and got bumped at the break, loomed boldly with a four-wide move, then splashed home punchless in the stretch. Off that seventh-place drubbing, the betting public abandoned Fierceness at 16-1 in the Breeders' Cup. He responded by trouncing the Juvenile field by 6 1/4 lengths en route to a 105 Beyer victory. This colt checked a lot of boxes that day by showing speed in hand from the gate, a willingness to latch onto a pacemaker, good responsiveness to cues to quicken, and an ability to ratchet into a higher gear without appearing fully torqued before galloping out well ahead of everyone else. Fierceness only had to repel one single bid in upper stretch before cruising home in the Juvenile, a race in which the top three betting choices all failed to fire without obvious excuse. The fizzling of the faves might have indicated that the race wasn't that deep. But now, two months in the rear-view mirror, the Juvenile looks like it could be shaping into a key race, with its strength on paper solidifying after two of the four horses to run back won stakes in their next-out starts. Fierceness | Benoit The biggest hurdle for Fierceness might end up being historical: Since the advent of the Breeders' Cup in 1984, Juvenile winners have accounted for only two Kentucky Derby wins from 39 runnings (Street Sense in 2007 and Nyquist in 2016). Even some of the most electrifying 2-year-olds who excelled over 1 1/16 miles on the first Saturday of November have had trouble outrunning that daunting metric going 10 furlongs on the first Saturday in May. 3) MUTH (c, Good Magic–Hoppa, by Uncle Mo) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $2,000,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, $716,600. Last start: WON Jan. 6 GII San Vicente S. Muth (Good Magic) was named a 'TDN Rising Star' June 18 when he uncorked an 8 3/4-length debut win. With four total races at age two that included two routes and a Grade I win in the American Pharoah S., trainer Bob Baffert opted to sharpen this colt's speed by picking the Jan. 6 GIII San Vicente S. at seven furlongs for Muth's first start at three. This $190,000 KEESEP and $2 million OBSMAR colt earned a no-nonsense win by assertively stalking two pacemakers and breaking away at will to earn a 91 Beyer in the San Vicente, meaning Muth has now run at least a 90 Beyer in all five lifetime races. “This horse has a lot of class. He's learning a lot,” said jockey Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard Muth for all three wins and two seconds. “I think he finally learned to run by himself because he broke really quick, and he saw the other two horses in front of me and he just relaxed really well behind them.” Muth ran second behind Fierceness in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. He enjoyed a primo stalking trip over his home track, and seemed poised to take off in tandem with that rival on the far turn. But by the quarter pole Muth was already being driven hard, and he had no response to match Fierceness's full-flight winning move. Fierceness holds the head-to-head edge. But Muth owns the broader body of work, and I wouldn't bet against him the next time he hooks up with Fierceness. Given that these two colts are based on opposite coasts, that rematch is unlikely to happen until the Kentucky Derby itself. 4) BORN NOBLE (c, Constitution–Zapperkat, by Ghostzapper) 'TDN Rising Star' O-St Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $725,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. Last start: WON Dec. 30 Gulfstream MdSpWt. Bet to 13-10 favoritism first time out going seven furlongs at Gulfstream, Born Noble (Constitution) immediately put himself into the race, pressing the pacemaking second-fave from the outside. Irad Ortiz Jr. nudged this $725,000 KEESEP colt forward, got on even terms with the leader through the turn, and by the quarter pole forced his foe into submission while still being hand-ridden. But once alone on the lead and set down for the drive, Born Noble came unglued, veering sharply inward despite left-handed stick work and a right-handed yank of the reins. He remained on his left lead until just prior to the sixteenth pole, but Ortiz's rousing did spark a noticeable uptick in acceleration through mid-stretch before Born Noble got geared down while 5 1/2 lengths clear under the wire. The post-race focus might be on this firster's obvious greenness. But a glimmer of gravitas also shone through, and in the long view, Born Noble's zig-zagging antics didn't resonate as anything that can't be smoothed out with experience. He earned 'TDN Rising Star' status and a 93 Beyer–although precise figure-making can get tricky on a day like Dec. 30, when a “good” Gulfstream surface was drying out to “fast” and there were only three total dirt races (all at different distances) for comparison on the card. 5) SIERRA LEONE (c, Gun Runner–Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael B Tabor, Derrick Smith Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing LLC & Peter M Brant; B-Debby M Oxley (KY); T-Chad Brown. Sales history: $2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $96,750. Last start: 2nd Dec. 2 GII Remsen S. Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), the FTSAUG $2.3 million sales topper, in some ways ran a better race than winner Dornoch (Good Magic) when on the losing end of a nose photo in the nine-furlong GII Remsen S. Dec. 2. That's because this Chad Brown trainee built up serious back-of-the-pack momentum when rallying from last over a sealed, muddy track. His big, sweeping, seven-wide move was notable on a day when speed was so dominant in 10 races at Aqueduct that five winners wired their fields and the remaining five were either right up on the pace or re-rallied after losing their leads. Sierra Leone sling-shotted to the lead but lugged in once it looked like he'd blow past Dornoch, who resiliently clawed back command while pinned near the inside rail. The two co-earned 91 Beyers. Sierra Leone | Coglianese It was a costly lack of late-race focus in terms of the race outcome, but still, it's the type of lapse you'd rather see in December than in the spring. It was only Sierra Leone's second lifetime start, and two turns against stakes company is never a slam-dunk for a first try off a debut maiden win, even one that stamped him as a 'TDN Rising Star'. Brown told DRF.com post-win that Sierra Leone reminds him a bit of Early Voting, another Gun Runner colt he trained to a win in the 2022 GI Preakness S. “Now that he's lugged in [twice], I'll fool around with a little equipment to straighten him out,” Brown told DRF. “He's got a world of ability so we'll take him down [to Florida], regroup a little bit, and map out a campaign that hopefully gets him to the first Saturday in May.” 6) PARCHMENT PARTY (c, Constitution–Life Well Lived, by Tiznow) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-B Flay Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Bill Mott. Sales history: $450,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $141,960. Last start: WON Nov. 9 Churchill AOC. 'TDN Rising Star' Parchment Party, a large-framed June 5 foal, rallied stoutly up the rail from last and determinedly churned his way through traffic when winning a two-turn Churchill allowance Nov. 9 with a four-wide sweep. This son of Constitution wasn't fully dialed in and a looked touch unfocused through the final furlong, but he also wasn't even close to scraping bottom effort-wise, either. The third- and fourth-place horses in that race won allowance and stakes engagements in their next-out starts. Parchment Party is bred on the same cross that produced Tiz the Law, who won multiple Grade I stakes in 2020 (Travers, Florida Derby, the nine-furlong Belmont S.), plus fellow 'Rising Star' and 2022 GIII Peter Pan S. victor We the People. A $450,000 KEESEP colt out of trainer Bill Mott's barn, Parchment Party got sent to Payson Park following his 2-for-2 start, but he hasn't had a published workout since Dec. 16. 7) TRACK PHANTOM (c, Quality Road–Miss Sunset, by Into Mischief) O-L & N Racing LLC, Clark O Brewster, Jerry Caroom & Breeze Easy LLC; B-Breeze Easy LLC (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales history: $500,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $165,000. Last start: WON Dec. 23 Gun Runner S. Track Phantom, a $500,000 KEESEP colt by Quality Road, doesn't leap out as a no-brainer Derby prospect. But the speed-centric winner of the Gun Runner S. does have upside appeal when you read between the lines of his past performances. Trainer Steve Asmussen has started him four times, twice in one-turn miles and twice at 1 1/16 miles, with a Beyer progression of 74, 81, 88 and 89. Yet one intangible that doesn't come across on paper is how level-headedly Track Phantom has dealt with keyed-up rivals to his inside in both of his two-turn races. In his Nov. 25 maiden-breaker, he forced the fractions with a rank runner pinned down at the fence from the entrance of the first turn to the start of the second, then repulsed a challenge from the only other horse to draw within a half-length on the turn. Roused for run three-sixteenths out, this colt showed a hint of another gear a furlong from the wire before being wrapped up late. Facing winners for the first time against stakes company at Fair Grounds, Track Phantom was keen to make the lead from his outside post in the Gun Runner S., but a 36-1 speedster slipped up the open rail. The duo sparred down the backstretch before Track Phantom seized the lead three-eighths out and held off bids from two fresh challengers, including the 1-2 favorite. “It's impressive that both of his two turn races have been victories,” Asmussen said post-win. “I actually thought they went too fast in the middle [of the Gun Runner]. You know, [a :46.93 half] here in a two-turn race, you don't see horses see it out very often.” The Jan. 20 GII Lecomte S. is next. 8) DORNOCH (c, Good Magic–Puca, by Big Brown) O-West Paces Racing LLC, R A Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC, Two Eight Racing LLC & Pine Racing Stables; B-Grandview Equine (KY); T-Danny Gargan. Sales history: $325,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $257,400. Last start: WON Dec. 2 GII Remsen S. Dornoch (Good Magic) figures to be one of the more intriguing story lines as Derby 150 approaches because he's a full brother to last year's Derby winner, Mage. This $325,000 KEESEP colt started off his career for trainer Danny Gargan with a pair of seconds, one in a Saratoga maiden sprint and another in the Sapling S. going a mile at Monmouth. He then wired a 1 1/16-mile maiden field at Keeneland Oct. 14, running up the score by 6 1/2 lengths. Dornoch (inside) | Sarah Andrew Dornoch won the Remsen S. at Aqueduct by outsprinting five other rivals for the lead into the first turn over a speed-favoring track. Settling at the fence while pressured by a 27-1 shot, he knocked back bids from a couple of new challengers on the far turn, then fought gamely to surge back in front after seemingly being passed for good by Sierra Leone. He also brushed the rail in upper stretch, yet somehow overcame that too. “It's crazy. Usually when a horse hits the rail at the eighth pole like he did, they just stop running altogether,” Gargan said post-win. “I can't believe he re-rallied after that. He did see the other horse and get running back at him, but hitting the rail knocked him off stride and then it took him a few jumps to get back going.” Gargan mentioned the Mar. 2 GII Fountain of Youth S. over 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream as a possible next start, with the Feb. 3 GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct in the mix (which would be a second straight nine-furlong race for Dornoch). 9) CATCHING FREEDOM (c, Constitution–Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile) O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Brad Cox. Sales history: $575,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $237,350. Last start: WON Jan. 1 Smarty Jones S. Catching Freedom (Constitution) broke his maiden in a one-turn mile at Churchill, ran a credible fourth behind Parchment Party in a 1 1/16-mile allowance, then annexed the Jan. 1 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn with a long, grind-'em-down rally (87 Beyer). This $575,000 KEESEP colt rode the rail near the back in his stakes debut, sliced between rivals entering the far turn, got second run at a dueling duo, spun widest in the five path, then finished in workmanlike fashion with his head cocked to the grandstand before widening the winning margin to 2 1/2 lengths. “Very proud of the horse,” trainer Brad Cox said post-win. “I think he's still learning. I think he was a little green there down the lane, but overall showed that he does have a lot of stamina and talent.” Catching Freedom is a half-brother to Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), a stakes-placed sophomore who raced four times for Cox (different owners) in 2023. That colt had the distinction of posting Beyers of 97, 88, 97 and 96, and in one of those races Bishops Bay was beaten only a head by subsequent Belmont S. and Travers S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate). 10) CHANGE OF COMMAND (c, Into Mischief–Moi, by Medaglia d'Oro) O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald Adam); B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-Shug McGaughey. Sales history: $570,000 Wlg '21 FTKNOV; $1,050,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, $113,300. Last start: WON Jan. 5 Gulfstream AOC. It took four well-spaced starts for this son of Into Mischief ($570,000 FTKNOV, $1.05 million KEESEP) to bust out of the maiden ranks at 2-5 odds at Gulfstream. But he's now won two in a row in Florida after an 83-Beyer allowance score Jan. 5 over 1 1/16 miles, capitalizing on a trouble-free stalking trip to wear down a pesky pacesetter. Despite winning by a neck, trainer Shug McGuaghey said Change of Command “didn't want to finish as well as I'd like. I've got to do some work to figure things out. I hope this moves him forward. He had to kind of belly down and run, so that should help him. We'll take him back to Payson and find out.” Change of Command had previously compiled a robust set of company lines while finishing respectably behind well-regarded juveniles in New York. 11) ETHAN ENERGY (c, Uncle Mo–Sass and Class, by Harlan's Holiday) O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $34,250. Last start: Won Dec. 23 FG MdSpWt. This Fair Grounds maiden-breaker for trainer Brad Cox hit the winner's circle in start number two Dec. 23, adding Lasix. removing blinkers, and stretching to 1 1/16 miles for a 5 1/4-length tally (83 Beyer). Under a light hold on the outside while midpack behind a tepid tempo, Ethan Energy was encouraged to loop the group on the far turn. This Stonestreet homebred son of Uncle Mo stayed on and opened up under mild rousing through the lane, then got pushed out late under a steady hand ride before being geared down for the final stages. His debut at Keeneland, in which Ethan Energy was off last and allowed to lag with only mild progress inside, has thus far yielded three next-out maiden winners. One of them, Legalize (Constitution), also won the Sugar Bowl S., which was two races later on the same card as Ethan Energy's maiden score. 12) CARBONE (c, Mitole–Treasure in Heaven, by Street Sense) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-L William & Corinne Heiligbrodt (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $153,000. Last start: WON Dec. 31 OP AOC. This 'TDN Rising Star's sire, Mitole, was the blitzingly fast 2019 champion male sprinter. But there are enough longer-distance influences in Carbone's pedigree (Giant's Causeway and Seattle Slew up top, Street Sense for a damsire) to think he might stay on as a horse of interest as the prep season progresses. Carbone has been in front at every call in his 2-for-2 career for trainer Steve Asmussen, and this homebred for William and Corinne Heiligbrodt has paired 85 and 86 Beyers while stretching out from six furlongs to a mile. In his Oaklawn allowance win, Carbone effortlessly controlled the tempo and really only faced one serious challenge on the far turn, opening up under his own power and toying with that rival whenever he edged closer. His run into the stretch provided a nice visual, with jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. sitting chilly atop this colt while every other horse in his wake was being driven. Carbone won by four, but it could have been more had the race not finished at the sixteenth pole under Oaklawn's short-stretch configuration for the mile distance. The post TDN Derby Top 12: Dreams of Roses Take the Chill out of January appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran has career win number 20 Still winning as a 13-year-old Take After Me has been a remarkable horse for the Scotts at Kaiapoi. The dual gaited veteran won the Famous Grouse Hotel Lincoln Trot at Motukarara on Sunday by a nose from Ruthless Lizzie to register his 20th lifetime win in 349 starts. He has won four starts as a pacer and 16 as a trotter. The son of Holmes Hanover is trained by Fred Scott, who races the horse along with wife Jan. Holiday milestones Bringing up the half century over the holiday break have been talented junior driver Wilson House and trainer Amber Lethaby. Lethaby brought up the milestone of 50 training successes when she drove Big Mama Morris to victory at Motukarara on December 29, while House brought up his 50th driving success with Amelia Rose at Tauherenikau on January 2. On December 27 Rory McIlwrick brought up his 200th win with Dwindle Star at Gore. Dexter cracks $10m in stakes Ten-time Kiwi champion Dexter Dunn has finished 2023 as the fourth highest earning driver in North America. The US-based driver earned stakes of $10.8m in 2023, ranking him behind Yannick Gingras ($15.1m), Tim Tetrick ($14.1m) and David Millar ($10.9m). Dunn is a four-time winner of the Dan Patch Driver of the Year. History beckons for Alford Champion driver Chris “Puppet” Alford is closing in on yet another remarkable career milestone, after a winning treble at Melton last Friday night took him to 7984 wins. At his current rate, Alford will become the first Australasian driver to top 8000 career wins in the next two to three weeks. The 55-year-old is already a Hall of Famer and has achieved pretty much everything in his field, including the epic win aboard Golden Reign in the 1995 Christchurch Inter Dominion early in his career. He also holds the Australian record for the most wins in a single season with 456 in 2017/18. Grimson’s new star goes 7 from 8 With New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee out having a good break, Hi Manameisjeff has adopted “stable star” status for Jason Grimson. The injury-plagued gelding lived up to the tag when he resumed from a let-up to post his seventh win from just eight starts since joining Grimson’s stable at Menangle over the weekend. Driver Cameron Hart blasted Hi Manameisjeff out from gate six to wrest the lead and was happy to keep rolling for a 1min50.8sec mile, capped by closing splits of 53.7 and 26.4sec. The Miracle Mile is his major target. Former star Kiwi pacer South Coast Arden sat behind the leader and ran a solid second, while another former Kiwi Mach Da Vinci was third. Minstrel streets them at Gloucester Park High class former Kiwi pacer Minstrel has his mojo back. Long regarded as one of Western Australia’s most talented pacers, Minstrel is right back in peak form for Team Bond. The seven-year-old completed a hat trick of wins at Gloucester Park last Friday night. He put in a couple of rough strides when challenged for the lead early and headed by his main danger, Lavra Joe, but recovered to blitz his rivals by 12.6m in a slick 1min54.5sec mile rate for 2130m. 10YO goes back to back Former Kiwi veteran Northview Hustler is far from showing his age. After a long drought, the 10-year-old made it back-to-back Albion Park free-for-all wins when he beat a good field over the weekend. The gelding went a personal best 1min50.6sec for 1660m two runs back and went close to that again with a 1min51.2sec mile rate winning courtesy of a lovely Adam Richardson drive from three pegs. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Mark Purdon’s Aussie raid has been delayed another week. The champion trainer confirmed he and son Nathan were still focused on chasing Victorian riches with pacing stars Akuta and Don’t Stop Dreaming and had planned to send the pair across to focus on Ballarat Cup night on January 20. Now, the glamour pacing pair won’t arrive in Victoria until after Ballarat. “Don’t Stop Dreaming just didn’t pull up as well as hoped from the last start and needs a bit more time,” Mark Purdon said. “We’re on top of it and he’s had it before. It’s some jarring in his feet. “Brooke (Wilkins) is looking after him in Auckland and by all reports, he’s getting better by the day. “But we can’t take across until we’re totally happy with him, or things could really go wrong. “So, we’ll push it back another week and get him across a few days before the Casey Classic meeting (January 27) at Melton.” That means stable star Akuta’s trip will also be delayed to align with Don’t Stop Dreaming’s travel. “Yes, they’ll travel together, so Akuta will miss the Ballarat Cup now,” Purdon said. “He can run in the Casey Classic and go into the Hunter Cup the week after. “Depending on how Don’t Stop Dreaming is assessed, he could run in the Casey Classic as well, or there’s a ratings race he might be eligible for. “Either way, both will now run at Melton on the 27th (of January) and again the week after.” Akuta will head to the $450,000 Hunter Cup (February 3), while Don’t Stop Dreaming’s aim is the $100,000 4YO Bonanza on the same night. Muscle Mountain rules out Aussie trip By Michael Guerin Star trotter Muscle Mountain will be staying put at least for now. The giant multiple Group 1 winner is back in work after a setback ruled him out of the NZ Trotting Free-For-All on Grand Prix Day at Addington but driver Ben Hope says the intended Australian trip for the Great Southern Star is off. “We wanted to go to Victoria but being out of a work for a while he won’t be ready,” says Hope. “So he will stay here and race in a couple of the major races here then head north.” Top target when Muscle Mountain gets there will be the TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 12, which his connections hold a slot for so he is guaranteed a start. “It is pretty exciting and knowing he is in the race helps us plan backward from there.” Hope says the last part of Muscle Mountain’s year was disappointing after he was the best trotter in the country for much of 2023. “He missed out in some of those biggest races, like the Rowe Cup and the Dominion and obviously the last one wasn’t his fault (atrial fibrillation). “We realise that opens the door for Oscar Bonavena in the Trotter of the Year title. “So we want to get him back to his best and nail some of those big races this season.” View the full article

by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Following on from grandfather Frank, and her father Scott it’s now Ryleigh Phelan’s turn to make her way in the sport. On Sunday the youngster made a winning debut in a Kidz Kartz race at Cambridge. “I was nervous, I had butterflies,” Ryleigh said, “but it was real fun.” Ryleigh has been driving at club events and the like for two years. But it was only after she turned 10 last week that she was eligible to drive at Kidz Kartz events. Partnered with Franklin Kidz Kartz Club pony Dainty she had a fourth in the first heat and then a win. “She won by about three lengths,” says proud dad Scott Phelan, “it was three pony lengths though!” Ryleigh was pretty chuffed too – “it was very nice.” And there was no lack of support. “The whole family was there including the grandparents,” says Scott. Grandad Frank Phelan is a well-known figure in the sport. The starter at Alexandra Park, he is also a successful trainer (116 wins since 1990) as well as the winner of 30 races as an open or amateur driver. Son Scott followed him into the sport, he’s had 583 driving wins, dating back to 2000 and trained since 2008 either on his own account or in partnership with one of the sport’s greatest ever trainers in Barry Purdon. And with Barry and wife Katrina sponsoring the latest generation of Phelans to hit the racetrack Ryleigh was appropriately decked out in their distinctive silver and blue colours. Making it a day to remember Scott Phelan also got in the winners’ circle on Sunday, with the Purdon-Phelan trained Benson Dude taking out Race 6, the NZB Airfreight Mobile Pace. While Ryleigh enjoys sports, especially netball and soccer, it’s horses that are her number one. She’s been around them since she can remember. “She’s very confident around horses,” Scott says. And Ryleigh’s interest has ramped up big time of late, after getting her own pony Tex for Christmas. “He’s very well behaved,” says Ryleigh. Such is their bond it’s been said she would even sleep in his stall if given the chance. Tex is stabled with the Purdons at Clevedon, and it’s hoped he will qualify for Kidz Kartz racing later this month. “He hasn’t made it to Merlin’s paddock just yet!” laughs Scott. View the full article

What differentiates current law and the bill passed Monday is that the new bill requires the appropriation of funds for horse racing purses in an additional five fiscal years, through fiscal year 2029.View the full article

Russian Fable was set to head to the spelling paddock following her last start fifth placing at Greymouth, but trainer Nayton Mitchell was pleased he made the decision to have one final roll of the dice with his mare. The West Melton horseman elected to back her up in the Greg Daly Real Estate/Birchfield Ross Mining (1400m) at Reefton on Tuesday and she rewarded him with her sixth victory and the second in Mitchell’s career. She jumped well and jockey Yogesh Atchamah was able to find the one-one with his mare. She enjoyed an economical passage until Atchamah asked her to improved at the 600m mark and Russian Fable sat three-wide outside June Bug and leader Wild Rover. June Bug began to tire, leaving Russian Fable and Wild Rover to fight it out in the straight, with the former getting the better of her rival in the closing stages to win by a neck. Mitchell was delighted to get the win, particularly for owner and fellow trainer Andrew Carston. “We were really stoked to get the win,” Mitchell said. “We set her up for the Miss Scenicland Stakes (1500m) at Greymouth where she did try hard but the track conditions just got to her. “She was going to go to the paddock after that but we decided to give her one more run. “Andrew is a big supporter of the stable, so it was great to get the win for him.” Russian Fable will now head for her planned spell before returning to racing closer to winter for the polytrack season. “She has been running really honestly but she just gets out-classed at this time of the year, so she is going to go in the paddock now and have a rest until the poly,” Mitchell said. “She won a couple on the poly in the second half of last season, so we will aim her for those races.” A former international showjumper, Mitchell has a family background in racing and said it was always on the cards to work in the industry following years in the sport horse world. “I went over to Ireland and competed for New Zealand over there and then came back to New Zealand and did the young rider series,” he said. “I moved to Palmerston North and had a sales business there for two years and then moved down to Christchurch and did the showjumpers for another year or two before the racehorses took over. “We had a team of 10 showjumpers going around the circuit, mostly young horses doing the age-group series, and specialised in buying, producing and selling young showjumpers. “I have always done trackwork and my family is quite involved with racing so I knew one day I would end up doing it.” Mitchell currently has a dozen thoroughbreds in work and is looking to add some younger members to his team when he heads to Karaka later this month for New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. “We will be at Karaka and hopefully buy a couple of yearlings,” he said. “I have an owner or two who want to buy a young one, so it will be great to have some younger horses to work with over the coming years.” View the full article

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will on Saturday bid to complete a premier sprinting double with Dragon Leap (Pierro) expected to be ideally suited at Trentham in his quest for top-flight honours in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m). The Matamata trainers bagged the opening leg at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day following Waitaki’s (NZ) (Proisir) dashing Gr.1 Railway (1200m) victory, with his stablemate fourth and with a genuine excuse for not finishing closer. “We were really pleased with his effort and, with the trouble we’ve had with his feet through his career, we knew losing a shoe would affect his performance,” Scott said. “Opie (Bosson) said he lost a strong gallop in the last 150 yards. We’re not saying it cost him winning the race, but it certainly affected him. “When they lose a shoe like that you always worry that they may feel it for a day or two, but with the shoe back on the following morning he hasn’t missed a beat.” The stable is also confident that Dragon Leap will improve with the outing, his first appearance since finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) in the spring. “We believe the run has brought him on and we’ve just ticked him over and in the wee bit of work he has done, he has looked really enthusiastic,” Scott said. “He comes in better at the weights in the Telegraph than he did in the Railway and we’ve always had a belief that the Telegraph will suit his style of racing. “It’s a high-pressure race and they go a true gallop, so we think he’ll run it out really strongly.” Meanwhile, Waitak will make his next appearance in the Gr.1 BCD Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 10. “He races so well fresh and the quick back-up into the Telegraph wouldn’t have suited him and he races well at Te Rapa,” Scott said. “He came through New Year’s Day well and he’s in a good place.” The stable also has Geriatrix (Almanzor) primed for Saturday’s Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m) following his run for fourth last time out in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m). “We went to Otaki with high hopes and walked away knowing a bit more about the horse and we will certainly look to ride him a little quieter,” Scott said. “We might have had him a fraction close and the way the race was run it was set up for the backmarkers. He’s had a wee gap between runs, but he turned in a really good piece of work on Monday. “He’s a really focussed colt and believe he’s got the ability to be competitive in these sorts of races with the right run.” Bramco Granite & Marble Premier (1600m) contender Cornwallis (NZ) (Lonhro) will complete the travelling party to Trentham and is considered a strong each-way prospect. “He’s been racing well and two starts back he lacked a bit of luck. He couldn’t get any momentum going at Tauranga and then at Matamata he got back in a slowly run race and pressed on well for third,” Scott said. Wexford Stables also has a number of representatives at Tauranga on Friday with Neighbourhood (NZ) (Pins), Monday Melody (Snitzel) and Jaffira (NZ) (Iffraaj) among their leading prospects. Neighbourhood will bid to go one better in the Ray White Greerton (1400m) following a bold run for second when resuming at Matamata. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with his first-up performance, he really dashed at the line and is working well. He’s a horse that has benefitted from a patient approach and certainly one of our best chances,” Scott said. Monday Melody will drop back in grade from an unplaced run in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) in the Proudly Ray White (1600m), in which he will be opposed by Jaffira. “Monday Melody is going a bit better than it may look and he will be stepping up in trip, which he is bred to run,” Scott said. “He’s out of a Frankel mare and goes back to a stout New Zealand family and even though he’s by Snitzel, he’ll be more competitive over the mile. “Jaffira ran well at Pukekohe and Opie (Bosson) was pretty happy with him and he’s improved with recent racing.” View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a pricy sales grad. 18.30 Kempton, £8,000, Nov, 3yo, 8f (AWT) Godolphin's once-raced EL CORDOBES (IRE) (Frankel {GB}), a 2-million guineas Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate, is out of a half-sister to G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Tante Rose (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and returns off a debut sixth over course and distance last month. Opposition to the Charlie Appleby trainee includes Qatar Racing's hitherto untried West Hollywood (Uncle Mo), who is a half-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), from the Roger Varian stable. The post Two-Million Guineas Book 1 Graduate Set For Kempton Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A few days after the third-place finisher in the Remsen Stakes (G2) posted an initial stakes victory, the highly regarded winner of the mile-and-an-eighth stakes is taking his first steps toward matching his full brother's magical accomplishment.View the full article

On Wednesday, January 10, various horse racing bookmakers have unveiled their racing promotions, featuring a range of enticing bonus back offers for horse racing enthusiasts. The top Australian racing promotions for January 10, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Warwick Farm All Races – Same Race Multi 3+ Leg Bonus Back If 1 Leg Fails Up To $50 Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Warwick Farm this Wednesday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Sandown Races 1-4 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $50 Back a runner in races 1-4 at Sandown this Wednesday and if it runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $50 in Bonus Cash. Fixed Win bets only. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Sandown Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd Races 1-4 Place a bet in races 1-4 at Sandown on Wednesday and if your selection comes in 2nd or 3rd, you’ll get your money back in bonus bets. General T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Double Winnings – Sandown Races 5-8 Double Winnings in BONUS CASH Up To $50! First Bet On A Runner To Win (Includes a win selection in an SRM) Winnings does not include stake. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo 10 Again! 10% Winnings Boost Paid in Bonus Cash! Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH up to $100 (including SRM). First Bet Only at Warwick Farm, Matamata & Belmont. Paid on Winnings Only, Return of Stake Not Included. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd on R1-3 at Sandown & Warwick Farm Promotional Limits Apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed Odds only. T&Cs Apply Login to UniBet to Claim Promo BRAND NEW Daily Trifecta Boosts Boost your winnings on Trifectas by 10% with new Daily Trifecta Boosts. Thoroughbreds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au has meticulously assessed the premier horse racing bookmakers in Australia, revealing exclusive bonus promotions and specials tailored for thoroughbred enthusiasts on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. These horse racing promotions are a regular feature, exemplifying the unwavering commitment of Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker happens to lack a promotion on a given day, rest assured that another is stepping up with enticing offers within the realm of gallops. For your daily dose of the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses, HorseBetting.com.au stands as the ultimate destination. Maximise the value of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses boasting the most competitive horse racing odds for every race. It’s crucial to emphasise that these thoroughbred racing promotions are exclusively designed for existing customers. To access these special promotions and claim the bookmaker’s offers, log in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting provides a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay well-informed, adopt strategic approaches, and enhance your overall horse racing experience by capitalising on these exclusive promotions. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Horse Racing on Wednesday, January 10 will feature six meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and provided free quaddie tips for the meeting at Sandown, Warwick Farm and Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday Horse Racing Tips – January 10, 2024 Sandown Racing Tips Warwick Farm Racing Tips Happy Valley (HK) Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For January 10, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $133.71 odds return: Wednesday, January 10, 2024 Sandown – Race 4 #7 Silver Waves Sandown – Race 7 #7 Awash Warwick Farm – Race 4 #8 Mr Kennedy (P) Warwick Farm – Race 5 #2 Age Of Sail | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on January 10, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Fueled by strong wagering during the first seven weeks of its meet, Fair Grounds announced Jan. 9 a 10% purse increase across the board, along with $25,000 added to the purses of 10 stakes.View the full article