Wandering Eyes

Start your working week with a gallop into thrilling horse racing promotions! Saddle up for a multitude of exhilarating offers from top-tier bookmakers, giving your betting experience an extra kick on January 8th. Check out these top Australian racing promotions for January 8, 2024: Top Horse Racing Promotions 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 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 Uncover the Secret Behind Horsebetting.com.au’s Bonus Offers HorseBetting.com.au diligently scours through Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers to unearth exclusive bonuses for January 8, 2024. These ongoing promotions showcase the dedication of top bookmakers. In the world of horse racing bets, when one bookie isn’t in the spotlight, another trots forward. Rely on HorseBetting.com.au as your guide to daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Boost your winning potential with competitive odds and exclusive promotions tailored for loyal customers. Access these offers easily by logging into each bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to make the most of your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

After 130 lots went through the virtual ring, including stallion nominations, mornings on the gallops, paintings, and memberships to various syndicates, over £70,000 was raised in the Racing For A Reason Online Charity Auction, announced ThoroughBid on Monday. The sales topper was the donation from Capital Stud consisting of a nomination to NH sire Triple Threat (Fr), which sold to Richie Cleary for £3,750, but nominations to Dawn Approach (Ire) (£3,000); Ocovango (GB) (£2,750); Shaman (Ire) (£2,500); and Inns Of Court (Ire) (£2,250) saw lively bidding as well. A two-year membership to the Byerley Indians Racing Syndicate sold for £1,700 while a yard visit to Willie Mullins proved most popular with a £700 bid. “I never imagined, when starting up Racing For A Reason, that it would ever grow to this scale. To see the online auction raise over £70,000 was staggering and I can't thank everyone enough for their involvement,” said Simon Besanson, the auction orchestrator. “It's fantastic to be able to donate over £35,000 to both the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, and very well-deserved.” The post Racing For A Reason Auction Raises Over £70,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An online community meeting for members will be hosted by the Board of Directors of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the reports recently released on behalf of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA). The MTROA has been examining options for the future of the Thoroughbred racing and breeding in the state, specifically facilities and operating models. The reports are to be considered by the Maryland General Assembly, which begins its 2024 legislative session Jan. 10. MTROA Chair Gregory Cross and Alan Foreman, a member of the Board of the MTROA, will make presentations and field questions from attendees. Registration is required. Join-in instructions will be provided by email following registration. Read T.D. Thornton's Week In Review for further analysis. The post MTHA To Host Community Meeting On MTROA Reports appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

I think we can all agree that Juddmonte both know what they are doing and have an eye on the bottom line. Last year they had two Group 1-winning Frankel colts with stud potential. Both have similar profile dam-lines and both are good-looking colts. One was rated seven pounds superior to the other. You can't get in to the winner of the less-than-vintage renewal of the 2,000 Guineas, the 119-rated Chaldean, at Banstead Manor, meanwhile the 126-rated Irish Derby winner Westover was quietly shuffled off to Japan without a whimper of protest, and I would suspect at a fraction of the price Prix du Jockey Club winner and his Arc conqueror Ace Impact is being syndicated for in France. Juddmonte know they would hardly get a Flat mare to Westover and certainly not at £25,000 because he is a 12-furlong horse and Flat breeders aren't interested, but the Champion two-year-old and Guineas winner is a hugely attractive proposition. We can also assume that Juddmonte believe that Chaldean is the better stallion prospect and they would prefer to use him for their own mares rather than Westover, who was by far the better racehorse. The Prix du Jockey Cub is without any doubt the preeminent stallion-making race for middle-distance horses in Europe. The reason is simple. It is a 10.5-furlong race and a proven success in the stallion-making business since it became so. St Mark's Basilica and Ace Impact are the next two in line. Westover is just the latest example of an Irish Derby winner unwanted by the European breeders. Certainly Juddmonte must think so. Shorten the Irish Derby. Patrick Cooper, BBA Ireland Do you agree or disagree with this view? Please let us know your thoughts by emailing emmaberry@thetdn.com. The post Letter to the Editor: A Tale of Two Frankels appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Anfield or Old Trafford it isn't, but that didn't stop Premierisation coming to Plumpton, a National Hunt track at the foot of the South Downs more easily associated with farmers, pensioners and Brighton sharps on country forays than marketing resets. The second track to stage a Premier fixture in a two-year trial of 170 meetings each season, dear old Plumpton didn't need labels to tell you how good it is. In the most valuable race since racing began here in 1888, a 5lb claimer called Joe Anderson found himself hanging from his horse's neck after a bad mistake, rode a circuit with no irons, finally hooked his feet back in and then thundered up the hill to win the new £75,000 stayers' hurdle on Transmission. It was a miracle ride. The Plumpton crowd fell in love with Anderson, who could make a living in rodeos. Premierisation is on a debut tour of British racing, picking out sellable, mass market meetings and adorning them with prize-money, banners and high hopes for the sport's future. Racing is playing catch-up here. There is a Premier League of darts, an Indian Premier League in cricket and Premierships scattered across professional sport. The use of a tag to bestow mystique on sporting events reflects trends in society, where seductive designations appeal to our social climbing. Premier accounts. Flex-Plus savings. Platinum clubs. And special-entry levels in short-term airport car parks that enable you to skip a whole flight of stairs to get to departures. It's the cachet, you see. The message it sends about you. And in case anyone thought racing would simply swallow these trends by Premierising only Cheltenham, Ascot and Newmarket, Plumpton became the first 'gaff track' to be invited behind the velvet rope, with a card that featured an 86% increase in prize-money for Sussex National raceday, from £105,000 last year to £195,000. Give them better runners and a prize-money injection and the crowd swells, the excitement grows, and the nectar-like local Harvey's Ale runs out even quicker than usual in the racecourse bars. As a Plumpton regular for 40 years, I motored down Sussex lanes half proud for the course and half in trepidation that Premierisation might compromise its character. Much as non-league football is a haven from the money mania of the Premier League, so Plumpton trades on its picturesque setting and authenticity. On Monday afternoons, mostly, a familiar cast of characters greet winners with murmurs of approval or resignation. This is National Hunt racing's heartland, and nobody ever expected to see it reclassified as 'Premier' sport, which is meant not as an insult but a compliment. The undemonstrative but hardcore Plumpton crowd knows what it wants on a cold January Monday, and none of it corresponds to what you might call glamour. But they know their horses. Give them better runners and a prize-money injection and the crowd swells, the excitement grows, and the nectar-like local Harvey's Ale runs out even quicker than usual in the racecourse bars. Plumpton's management are skilled at looking after the regulars while also trying to entice the uninitiated. Premierisation is largely about focusing attention on the top end while rebranding the rest as the sport's 'core' (in football, they call that the second-tier 'Championship.') Sundays are considered ripe for plunder, which is why Plumpton was followed by a scrubbed-up evening card at Wolverhampton, with £160,000 spread across eight races. Of the 1,468 fixtures in 2024, 170 are Premier. The launch could charitably be called low-key. Cheltenham kicked it off on New Year's Day without plastering itself in logos. At Plumpton the tannoy announcements made frequent reference to the course's first Premier event but it felt like any other Sussex National day. Unlike newcomers, aficionados don't need to be told what they're watching. From the directors' box a thoroughly enjoyable day was observed by Plumpton's joint-owner, Peter Savill, who also happens to be one of the prime movers behind Premierisation. And here's an irony. Savill, who has held secret talks with major players to improve the Premierisation concept, told the Nick Luck podcast recently that all his horses are now trained in France and Ireland. Why, Luck asked. “Prize-money,” Savill replied. At Plumpton, Savill's son Tom told me they have an interest in a horse trained by Charlie Johnston. Otherwise, Savill snr has voted with his feet while also doubling back with a mission to rescue British racing from its broken business model. A £90million funding boost over five years is an ambitious target, if labelling and higher prize-money are not backed up by better marketing and improved racecourse facilities. An overlooked part of racing's great survival debate is that the experience offered by many racecourses has not changed in 30 years. In other sports, what you might call infrastructure investment is far more conspicuous. Dated catering, too few toilets and a lack of comfortable places to sit are unlikely to appeal to a generation not inclined to tolerate a 1980s ambience. Was Plumpton's jump into the big time a success? You bet it was. But I doubt whether many attended just because someone called it a 'Premier' meeting. They went because Plumpton has charm and always draws a big Sussex National day crowd. Maybe Joe Anderson's ride on Transmission was an allegory for racing. You can be hanging on for dear life but recover and still come through to win. Dressing up 170 meetings a year may set off a rebirth. In its very earliest days, though, it seems to lack conviction. The theory will need supporting evidence. The post Plumpton Goes Premier as BHA Experiment Makes Unconvincing Start appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges eager for more emphasis to be put on the sporting aspect of the city’s favourite pursuitView the full article

Trainer also sends around Sword Point and Happy Together in Happy Valley’s only Group raceView the full article

Impendabelle came ever so close to picking up a maiden Group One crown at Riccarton last November, and Tony Pike is hoping the filly can go one better in Saturday’s Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m). Excusing her last-start seventh behind Pendragon in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) on Boxing Day, the daughter of Impending has been ultra-consistent through her three-year-old campaign and was only caught by Molly Bloom in the final strides of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) the start prior. With Group Two victories in the Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) already to her credit, Impendabelle heads into the Trentham three-year-old feature an ominous chance as an $10 equal fifth-favourite, with Mary Shan topping the TAB Futures market at $3.50. “She’s probably a little bit the forgotten about horse, she’s in great form and she’s proven at Group One level. I think she can run extremely well on Saturday,” Pike said. “She’s bounced through the Auckland Guineas really well. It probably wasn’t Kozzi’s (Asano, jockey) best work up there, she got a long way back which wasn’t ideal, and went to that slower inside part of the track, but her closing sectionals were some of the best in the race,” Pike said. While several possible Levin Classic race rivals are heading straight to the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Pike opted to give Impendabelle an opportunity for elite-level success at Trentham with a broodmare future in mind. However, the Cambridge horseman hasn’t ruled out an appearance in the $1.5 million spectacle at Ellerslie a fortnight later. “She’s a valuable filly and getting a Group One would continue to enhance that,” he said. “She’s come through Pukekohe well and it probably wasn’t an overly hard run, so we’re hoping to get that Group One with her on Saturday and if she pulled up well we would possibly consider running in the Karaka Million 3YO two weeks’ later. That would be the end of her preparation.” Pike’s stable will also be represented in the headline event on the card, with Not Guilty having her first top-flight start in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m). The five-year-old has proven to be somewhat of a straight-track specialist over recent campaigns, with multiple placings down the Trentham dogleg, including in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) behind race-rival Maria Farina in March. A daughter of Not A Single Doubt, Not Guilty broke her stakes-level bridesmaid’s streak with a classy Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) victory down the Riccarton chute in November, and heads into Saturday’s feature off the back of a fifth-placed run behind Imprevu at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. “Her run at Pukekohe was probably better than the placing suggested,” Pike said. “She went a long way back from the barrier draw, went to the inside, which was the slower part of the track, and made up really good ground late.” Pike’s last triumph in the time-honoured Telegraph came in emphatic style with Sacred Star in 2015, and he has faith that Not Guilty can put in a strong bid when the mare contests the likes of Dragon Leap and Bonny Lass. “She is proven down the straight at Trentham, obviously it is a step-up to Group One company, but she is a valuable mare who is very well-bred and has a stakes win to her name,” he said. “She galloped really well at Ellerslie this morning and she definitely has the ability to at least gain a Group One placing, which would further enhance her broodmare value.” Before chasing the Trentham riches over the weekend, Pike will have several runners aiming to break maiden status closer to home at Matamata on Wednesday. Unfortunate barrier draws will see Poetic Justice and Peachy Keen head to Te Rapa next week, however, the stable will prepare Per Incanto three-year-old Awatere in the Elsdon Park 1600. “He’s probably been a bit new and green in his last two starts, so we’ve put the blinkers on for Wednesday and the mile at Matamata will suit him,” Pike said. “The good barrier draw (7) should see him not get so far back, and he’s an improving three-year-old that should be an each-way chance.” Earlier on the eight-race card, Michael McNab will partner each of Centenario and Full Moon Fever, the latter looking to be a key chance in the Rich Hill Stud at Karaka 2024 1400 after finishing runner-up when resuming at Te Rapa. “He’s been in good form, he’s due to win a race and his fresh-up run was encouraging at Te Rapa. He’s drawn gate one, so he should get a lovely trip in transit,” Pike said. “Centenario got caught very wide at Taranaki with the rail out a long way last-start, and it was probably a better run than it looked. He’s a genuine staying three-year-old and it should be a nice race for him to break his maiden.” Mendelssohn filly Pax Mundi completes Pike’s cohort, jumping from an awkward draw of 13 in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1600m) in the hands of Craig Grylls. “She got a long way back at Rotorua, was held up, and never really got into the race there after some good form,” Pike said. “She’s drawn a bit wide but the step-up to the mile will suit, she’ll roll forward from a wide gate and is another due a winning turn.” View the full article

Wiremu Pinn will be a welcome addition to the New Zealand jockey ranks, with the talented hoop returning to his homeland after a stint riding in Melbourne. Initially heading across the Tasman in June last year for a three-month period to test the water, Pinn made an instant impact in the Victorian riding ranks and elected to stay on for what he intended to be a permanent move. Pinn’s partner Tayla Mitchell soon joined him in Melbourne after securing last season’s New Zealand apprentice jockey premiership, with the dream of also riding in Melbourne. However, it has proven difficult for Mitchell to attain a license and the couple decided to return to New Zealand where they can both pursue their riding careers. “Tayla had been over with me for five or six months and really struggled to get her license. She is passionate about the sport and she loves raceday riding. The move back was more to support her,” Pinn said. “It was a tough decision, I had been going pretty well over there and had some great support from some big stables. “It was a good learning experience. Getting to meet new people and see the different tracks really taught me a lot. I think I have taken my riding to that next level, but I still have a lot to learn. I am happy with my progress.” Pinn had several highlights in Australia, headed by his victory aboard the New Zealand-bred Dolphin Skin in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington in July. “Winning a stakes race at Flemington as an apprentice was my biggest thrill,” he said. “It is hard enough getting rides over there being an apprentice, let alone a stakes race, so it was a big thrill. Riding a treble on a Saturday was another big highlight.” While Pinn has moved back to New Zealand, he may not be completely lost to Australian racing, with the 25-year-old rider keen to spend some time back across the Tasman over the colder months. “I would like to go over every winter if possible. I am not a big fan of the winter here in New Zealand,” he said. Pinn didn’t let the dust settle when he arrived back in New Zealand on Sunday night, heading to Ellerslie on Monday morning to get a feel for its new StrathAyr track, with racing set to return to the Auckland venue this coming Sunday. “I just finished riding gallops at Ellerslie this morning and it is in great order, it is like a carpet,” he said. “They have done a really good job with it, so I am looking forward to getting back there and riding races.” With the growth of prizemoney and the lure of the upcoming TAB Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie, Pinn is excited to be back racing in New Zealand. “It is awesome. They have done a great job with the industry boosting the prizemoney. You can’t do anything without money so it’s great,” he said. “I am looking forward to the Karaka Millions meeting, it is like the Melbourne Cup of New Zealand, everyone wants to be there and it is a great meeting to ride at. I can’t wait. “Hopefully I can get some rides up there, that would be good. Galloping on the track this morning, it is like a carpet, so there will be no excuses.” Pinn and Mitchell will be looking to base themselves in Matamata, but Pinn said it’s a case of ‘have saddle, will travel’ for the couple. “I have missed home, so it is good to be back,” he said. “It is good to be home and to see my son and spend some time with him and see all of my mates. “We are going to have a look at some houses in Matamata. We wanted to live in Cambridge but there is not much on the market at the moment. It is only 20 minutes from Cambridge, so I can drive there each morning. “Australia taught me to work a bit harder. All the big jockeys are there (track) every morning, so whoever needs me I’ll show up.” New Zealand racing fans won’t have to wait long to see Pinn back riding at a New Zealand track, with the soon to be Matamata-based jockey set to ride Beautiful Spirit in the Prima Park 1050 at his new home track on Wednesday. “I have got one ride at Matamata and we will go from there. Chris McNab will be doing my rides,” he said. View the full article

Michael and Matthew Pitman will be represented by a big team of runners at Tuesday’s Reefton meeting and the prospect of a drying track will be welcomed by their feature race contender. The stable accepted with a quartet in the Ken Gray Memorial Reefton Cup (1400m), but the father-and-son combination’s hopes are likely to rest solely with Golden Harvest. The Ghibellines seven-year-old has a mixed form line, although he hasn’t enjoyed the best of luck in more recent times and is most effective on good ground. “I’ll probably only run Golden Harvest at this stage. He just wants a decent track and it’s a long time since he got one,” Michael Pitman said. “He was very unlucky on the first day at Cromwell and then didn’t back up, so we’ve waited for this meeting with him.” Golden Harvest did make one appearance between times at Ashburton where he began awkwardly from a wide gate and wasn’t a factor after that. “It’s really hot here and I’m expecting the track to come back and that will give him his chance in what will only be a small field,” Pitman said. The winner of four races, with a third placing in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) also to his credit, Golden Harvest will be ridden by the in-form Kylie Williams and has the benefit of the inside gate. “We’ll probably have 23 runners throughout the day, obviously eight of those I inherited from the late Paul Harris,” Pitman said. Williams will also be aboard Zoulander in the Greg Daly Real Estate/Birchfield Ross Mining (1400m) and they are expected to be a formidable combination. The Zoustar gelding, who doesn’t always help himself with tardy beginnings, got home late over 1100m at Greymouth last week to finish runner-up behind stakes winner Illicit Dreams. “I think Zoulander will be a very good chance in race six and I also think Epee Beel is a strong chance in race eight as well,” Pitman said. Epaulette filly Epee Beel will step out in the Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Handicap (1400m) and is a fresh runner on the West Coast circuit. She was a last-start sixth on heavy ground at Wingatui on Boxing Day and will have the services of Tina Comignaghi. Pitman is also bullish about starting the day on a good note with Benji’s Boy and Ocean Light in the Fahey/Gibson Memorial (2000m). “The two horses in the first race are better than maidens, and they will carry on with it,” Pitman said. “Ocean Light was unlucky again the other day and I’ve put my apprentice (Abdul Najib) on and claim 3kg, so we’ll see what happens.” The Ocean Park three-year-old finished third at Kumara on Saturday while Benji’s Boy was also a last-start placegetter at Kurow on New Year’s Eve Day and will be partnered by Lee Callaway. View the full article

Diane Andersen spent the best part of two decades away from training, but she is loving being back. The Waikato horsewoman previously trained for 16 seasons before a change of career path, and she is excited to have returned to the thoroughbred industry in a full-time capacity. “I used to train and I have been out of it for a while,” Andersen said. “I went and got an accounting degree and spent 20 years as an accountant. I got offered voluntary redundancy and it looked like a good opportunity to take up and we were in a position to put more into the horses.” Andersen is pleased she took the leap and dived back into racing, and she has been rewarded in her first season back in the training ranks with two victories, both recorded by her homebred Jack In The Box, who doubled his winning tally in the Tribute To ‘Tony Lee’ The Legend Handicap (2100m) at Hastings on Saturday. “I was thrilled for him because he is such an honest horse, but he is a ratbag of a horse, he owes me a few because he has ripped off about five covers off his mate in the last week. He is a hard case horse and everybody loves him,” Andersen said. Jack In The Box took a runner-up result into his weekend assignment and Andersen’s confidence levels rose when the rain came at Hastings. “I know he is an honest horse and I had him right,” she said. “When it rained, I was probably the only one at Hastings that was still smiling. He seems to go on any track, so it wasn’t like he needed the rain, but everything fell into his hands.” The $350,000 carrot of the Remutaka Classic (1600m) at Trentham later this month is in the crosshairs although Andersen said it will be very competitive to gain a berth in the inaugural running of the race. “We are just quietly looking at what else is around. There is a big race at Trentham (Remutaka Classic) and he fits the conditions for that, so we might have a look at that. No doubt there will be a lot of other horses heading for the same race.” Andersen is enjoying working her small team of horses out of Te Rapa, which she floats to every day from her Waikato property. “We are about half an hour away, so it is great,” she said. “It is quiet, the facilities are great, and the staff are pretty accommodating,” she said. While enjoying being back training, Andersen is also being kept busy preparing her half-dozen draft for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 Yearling Sale, which she will offer under her Platinum Bloodstock banner. “We are fairly new, we are just getting cranked up,” she said. “The first year we took one to Book 3 and we topped Book 3 with him and the last couple of sales we have taken three and four yearlings, and this year we have six.” Andersen is happy with all six of her yearlings ahead of the sale but highlighted lot 948, the Tivaci half-brother to stakes winners Sergio and Windsor, as a standout in her draft. “There is a Tivaci colt that is a half-brother to a couple of stakes winners. He is a nice colt,” she said. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Hailing from one of harness racing’s best known and most successful families, Chris and Kimberly Butt produced a notable first at Motukarara yesterday. The two siblings quinellaed race 2, the Bernie Hutton Memorial Pace, both driving five-year-old sons of Sweet Lou in Lord Mudrick and Spirited Lou. “We don’t drive against each other that often,” Kimberly told Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race. “And that is the first time,” she said of their quinella. Their father is three-time New Zealand Cup winning driver and now Australian-based Anthony Butt and Chris’ maroon colours were made famous by his great-grandfather, the late Derek Jones and then their uncle Tim Butt. Both horses were unfancied by punters, with Lord Mudrick the outsider in the 14-strong field and paying $69.10 and $14.10 while Spirited Lou was 9/9 in the bettting and paid $5.80 for the place. The Butt-Butt quinella paid $478.70! Lord Mudrick, who was bred and is raced by Chris Butt and his mother Karen Prendergast, went to the lead early before Kimberly and the Warren Stapleton-trained Spirited Lou took over. Chris Butt then capitalised on a passing lane run to win by nearly two lengths. “He was good two starts ago and terrible last time but he seemed pretty sharp,” Chris Butt told Armstrong. It was Lord Mudrick’s first win in five starts, with his best performance prior being a third behind Lewey Maguire at Rangiora in December. It was Chris Butt’s first winning drive since Kahress at Addington in June 2022, and his first training success since American Viking at Oamaru in September 2020. And it’s been a big weekend for junior driver Seth Hill, who had his first winning drive with Falcon’s Watch in the Woodlands Motors/Cromwell Motel Junior Drivers Mobile Pace at Wyndham on Saturday. The Robert Wilson-trained five-year-old led from start to finish with Hooroo looming over the final stages, only to gallop and be disqualified. “I thought the other one had me in the straight,” Hill told racing journalist Jonny Turner, “and I appreciate Robert putting me on the horse – it’s pretty cool.” Seth works at his father Brendon “Benny” Hill’s stables at Swannanoa and his debut success came with his 12th race day drive. View the full article

In a remarkable display of horsemanship, jumps jockey Joe Anderson produced a nomination for the ‘best recovery ride ever’ after being unseated from his mount Transmission (9-2) in the Sussex Stayers Handicap Hurdle (5026m) at Plumpton overnight. View the full article

Spendthrift stallion Omaha Beach got the first graded win of his nascent sire career with a blowout victory by Kopion (f, 3, Omaha Beach–Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) in Santa Anita's GIII Santa Ynez S. Sunday. Three of the four fillies in the gate were by first-crop sires, but it was the least experienced of the newly minted sophomore fillies whom the public pegged at 1-5 and who put herself firmly in the early GI Kentucky Oaks conversation. The Santa Ynez was worth 10 points on the Oaks trail on a 5-3-2-1 scale. Kopion broke smoothly from the Santa Ynez rail, but there was trouble just to her inside as 5-2 second-choice Tambo (Enticed) stutter stepped and stumbled. She was quickly left several lengths back as Kopion continued unbothered and under a hold while in front with authority. As the chestnut cruised through a :23.70 first quarter with her ears flicking back and forth, Tambo went outside horses and caught up with the short field. Both Kopion and rider Flavien Prat had enough of the stalking Don't Bring Crazy (Maximus Mischief) by the :46.55 half as Prat imperceptibly gave the filly his blessing to let it out the smallest of notches. She quickly opened up and the race was over before the stretch as Kopion put 5 3/4 lengths on the field while Prat sat almost motionless and never asked her. It was clearly a special performance. Don't Bring Crazy held second over Tambo, who got up for third. “Her trip was good,” said Prat. “She was a bit sharper today but she jumped well out of there and she looked around a bit when she was on the lead. Besides that she did everything perfect. It's always special when I ride for [Richard] Mandella.” Kopion debuted Nov. 26 in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar with a sharp win and an 83 Beyer Speed Figure. Prat was aboard that day as well. Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and Prat also teamed up to win this race last year with Ice Dancing (Frosted); Prat was making it three in a row and four of the last six in the Santa Ynez with additional wins in 2022 with Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile) and in 2019 with Bellafina (Quality Road). Just a week prior to Kopion's Santa Ynez, Mandella and Prat had joined forces to close out 2023 with Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah)'s win in the GII Joe Hernandez S. Forbidden Kingdom is co-owned by Spendthrift; Kopion is owned outright by the farm as a $270,000 Keeneland September buy. “It looked like when she went out to the track she settled down, she warmed up nice, and went to the gate nice,” said Mandella about Kopion's first graded win. “She left there running and she kind of gave us that feeling when we were in the paddock. She showed her class. “The only time she didn't work good was with Tamara; I can't explain it but she just didn't want any part of it.” It was just a few months ago that Tamara–a 'TDN Rising Star' and winner of the GI Del Mar Debutante S.–was the undisputed star of the crop for both Spendthrift and the Mandella barn. The daughter of the Spendthrift/Mandella multiple champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) has been sidelined since coming out of the Breeders' Cup with a fractured splint bone in her left hind leg. Pedigree Notes: Much has been made of the perceived underperformance of the 2023 freshman sires in the graded department, but Omaha Beach finished top of the class for the year by both graded performers with four and black-type horses with 11 before coming out firing with his first graded winner in the first week of 2024. The MGISW son of War Front–like Kopion, also trained by Mandella–has 25 winners in his first crop and three black-type winners. In addition to Kopion's graded victory, his GSP-Ire daughter Launch finished second Sunday in Gulfstream's Glitter Woman S. Kopian is out of a daughter of 1999 champion older horse Victory Gallop, reportedly still standing in Turkey at the age of 29 this year. Victory Gallop has 37 stakes winners as a broodmare sire. From the prolific 'Ami' family, Kopion is a half to 2016 Canadian champion Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo) and to GSW & GISP Ami's Flatter (Flatter). Others in the immediate family include dual 2017 Canadian champion Ami's Mesa (Sky Mesa). Kopion's dam has a 2-year-old colt named Authentic Gallop (Authentic), a yearling filly by Essential Quality, and was bred to Uncle Mo for this term. The juvenile was a $300,000 Keeneland September buy by Greg Tramontin. Galloping Ami was honored with the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Broodmare for 2016; her full-sister, Victorious Ami, was given the same award for 2017. Sunday, Santa Anita SANTA YNEZ S.-GIII, $98,000, Santa Anita, 1-7, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.89, ft. 1–KOPION, 120, f, 3, by Omaha Beach 1st Dam: Galloping Ami (Outstanding Broodmare-Can), by Victory Gallop 2nd Dam: Secret Ami, by Secret Claim 3rd Dam: Sybelle Ami, by Alwasmi 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($270,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Tall Oaks Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Flavien Prat. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $96,600. *1/2 to Aragorn Ami (Aragorn {Ire}), SW, $112,535; 1/2 to Ami's Flatter (Flatter), GSW & GISP, $536,931; 1/2 to Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo), Ch. 3-year-old Colt-Can, GSW, $800,022. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. *1st graded winner for first-crop sire (by War Front). 2–Don't Bring Crazy, 120, f, 3, Maximus Mischief–Lily Maria, by Paynter. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($60,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $140,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Mark Davis; B-Mullikin Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $20,000. 3–Tambo, 120, f, 3, Enticed–Flatter Me First, by Flatter. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($29,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $25,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $70,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-SAF Racing, Neil A. Haymes, James E. McCadden, and William Strauss; B-Thoroughbred by Design LLC (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $12,000. Margins: 5 3/4, 4 3/4, 5 3/4. Odds: 0.20, 16.00, 2.90. Also Ran: Bossy Bruin Gal. Scratched: Petit Filet. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Effortless Victory for Omaha Beach Filly in Santa Ynez appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With stablemate and fellow Spendthrift Farm color bearer Tamara on the sidelines, Kopion took advantage of her own chance to shine with a six-length romp in the $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Cambridge Stud are getting excited about autumn racing with their star Australian-based fillies Joliestar and Zourion after they returned to work this week. Joliestar was a phenomenon in spring for trainer Chris Waller, finishing runner-up in three races before her Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) triumph, including the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) and Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m). “It was wonderful to get that (Thousand Guineas victory),” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said. “She has had a decent spell since and is on the comeback trail. She kicks off in the water walker this week. “I would say she will have a reasonably quiet autumn and then look to the spring as a four-year-old mare. “Chris has always been pretty careful with her, notwithstanding that she won a Group One at the end of that campaign. “He is a master planner and put that race on our radar right back in August and said we would work steadily towards it. “He was pretty kind to her in the lead-up, he didn’t knock her around, she didn’t go for any big targets before the race, she ran second three times and it is really a question of preserving her because I think he felt there was a lot more for her to give this year.” Zourian had a light spring preparation for trainer Mark Walker, having just the three runs, including a placing in the Gr.2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) before finishing eighth in the Thousand Guineas behind her ownership-mate. “Zourion had the same sort of spell with Mark Walker,” Plumptre said. “She is back in work this week and she will stay over there and try and find an autumn target at the back end of a Melbourne campaign and during Sydney. “She was probably a little disadvantaged in the Thousand Guineas. She is a very good filly, as she showed in the Guineas Prelude. “They are both in good order and we are expecting a good autumn but even bigger spring for both of them.” Meanwhile, the Waikato farm is looking forward to selling eight yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which kicks off on Tuesday, including the first crop of their shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain. “We have brought a couple of Hello Youmzains (lots 191 and 982) over just to showcase him to the market. Westbury have also got a very nice colt by him (lot 769),” Plumptre said. “His first yearlings hit the sales this year. We are very hopeful that the Magic Millions buying bench, which traditionally likes to have those more forward precocious type of horses, will embrace them. “The ones that we have got are exactly that. They are quite forward types, they are strong and have got good scope. The colt at Westbury is a really lovely horse, they have done a great job with him.” Plumptre is also looking forward to the farm’s other half-dozen offering. “We have got a beautiful colt by Almanzor (lot 429) out of a Galileo mare called Anchovy,” he said. “She had a very nice Fastnet Rock at Magic Millions last year that made A$575,000 to the bid of Ciaron Maher. She is a mare that can throw a decent type and he is a beautiful colt. “We have got a Deep Field filly (lot 10). It is his last crop, he is no longer in service, which is a tragedy for breeders. She is a nice filly out of a good mare and I think she will go pretty well.” While hopeful of a good sale, Plumptre said he is keeping his expectations in check. “I would say we are hopeful rather than optimistic with a sale like this,” he said. “Our yearling market tends to follow economies and the economy has been pretty soft in New Zealand and Australia for a year and I would expect the market to reflect that.” View the full article

After delaying the first post due to inclement weather earlier in the day Jan. 7, Oaklawn Park has canceled the remainder of the Sunday card following race 1.View the full article

Wolfe Racing and Hugh Robertson's Two Emmys, winner of the 2021 Mr. D. Stakes (G1T), was euthanized the morning of Jan. 7 following a morning workout at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.View the full article

Into Champagne (Into Mischief) debuted a 6 3/4-length winner last summer when the Churchill Downs meet was forced to shift to Ellis Park. Returning to the worktab in early November after nearly a five-month break, the filly was well-backed as the 3-5 choice. Tracking Let Them Watch (Maximus Mischief) from the second flight along the rail, the 3-year-old bided her time under a firm hold into the far turn. With a half-mile of :45.91, at the quarter pole the bay uncorked her speed and she celebrated with a professional performance by 1 1/4 lengths over Launch (Omaha Beach). “I'm all about developing horses,” said trainer Ian Wilkes. “I like to use riders who'll stay with the horse. Julien [Leparoux] was quite happy and wanted to stay with her, and he was willing to come down, so that was the thing. It's all about developing horses and trying to win the right races.” The winner's dam is responsible for a 2-year-old filly by Not This Time. Bedford Land initially sold to Three Chimneys Farm for $1.075 million at the '14 Fasig-Tipton Summer Horses of Racing Age Sale. She was then bought by Robert and Lawana Low while in-foal to Malibu Moon at the '16 Keeneland November Sale. Second dam GISW Pool Land (Silver Deputy) also produced her full-sister, SW Old Chestnut. GLITTER WOMAN S., $100,000, Gulfstream, 1-7, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.58, sy. 1–INTO CHAMPAGNE, 118, f, 3, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Bedford Land, by Speightstown 2nd Dam: Pool Land, by Silver Deputy 3rd Dam: Slew City Slicker, by Slew City Slew ($300,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Six Column Stables, LLC, Randall L. Bloch, Jim Gladden, Mike Davis and Michael Steele; B-Robert Low & Lawana Low (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes; J-Julien R. Leparoux. $60,760. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $130,360. 2–Launch, 118, f, 3, Omaha Beach–Spark, by Speightstown. ($50,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Amo Racing USA; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Jorge Delgado. $19,600. 3–Kissedbyanangel, 122, f, 3, Golden Lad–Angelinthemorning, by Street Sense. O-Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon; B-Super C Racing Inc (MD); T-Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon. $9,800. Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.70, 9.30, 12.10. Also Ran: Let Them Watch, Indescriptable, Scootaloo, Caress. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #1 INTO CHAMPAGNE ($3.40) rallies to a first stakes victory in Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Glitter Woman Stakes! This is just the second start for the filly by @spendthriftfarm's Into Mischief. She was ridden by @JulienLeparoux for trainer @IanWilkesRacing. pic.twitter.com/Pohv9TUPk6 — TVG (@TVG) January 7, 2024 The post Into Champagne Pops Cork On First Stakes Win In Glitter Woman appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Edwin Maldonado sustained a shoulder injury during training hours on Saturday and is expected to be out for the next two to three weeks, his agent Tony Matos told the Santa Anita notes team. Maldonado, 41, was injured when he was unseated from his mount on the track. He was sent to a local hospital to be assessed and was later released. “We have an appointment tomorrow and will know more then. But right now it sounds like it will be about two to three weeks,” Matos said. Through Friday's action, Maldonado had recorded six victories from 15 rides thus far during the Classic Meet at Santa Anita. He is the regular rider of Spendthrift Farm's Ruby Nell (Bolt d'Oro), who he has piloted to wins in the Unzip Me S. back in October and the Dec. 31 Lady of Shamrock S. Maldonado has been riding professionally since 2002. He has won 1,544 races while banking more than $53.7 million in purse earnings according to Equibase statistics. Maldonado was scheduled on four mounts for Sunday's nine-race card. The post Maldonado Expected To Miss 2-3 Weeks Via Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Joe Cantey, who trained Loblolly Stable's Temperence Hill to defeat Genuine Risk in the 1980 Belmont Stakes (G1) and also trained numerous other graded stakes winners in the 1970s and 1980s, died Jan. 5 in his hometown of Camden, S.C.View the full article

Jockey Edwin Maldonado is expected to miss 2-3 weeks after sustaining a shoulder injury during training hours at Santa Anita Park Jan. 6, agent Tony Matos said. View the full article

By Brigette Solomon Only recently back from a stint in Australia, Josh Dickie reined a double at Cambridge Raceway yesterday. Both winners were trained by Dickie’s new employers, Steve and Amanda Telfer, the first being Slots in Race 3. The three-year-old colt by Sweet Lou was too good for his rivals powering away to win by a margin of three and a quarter lengths. From his starting draw of seven, Dickie allowed the gelding to work around to the lead and from there he never looked like being beaten. A hot favourite it was Slot’s first win in five starts, after earlier showing up at the trials. “He’s a nice horse, he’s very relaxed in running and happy to wait until you ask him to go,” says Dickie, “he gives you a lovely feel and he will head toward the three-year-old Harness Millions race in February.” Dickie’s second winner was Kashkeeper who also started as favourite in Race 5, the Gavelhouse.com Mobile Pace. Kashkeeper faced the breeze in the one wide line with around 1400 metres left to travel and was pushed by the fast-finishing God Dam to win by just a half head. It was the three-year-old gelding’s first win at just his third start. “He won well, he doesn’t quite know what he’s doing yet and should improve with racing,” says Dickie, “he stuck it out and fought on well to beat the second placed runner which I was pleased with.” The Tony Herlihy-trained Throwyaarmsaroundme was an impressive winner in Race 8, the Clubhouse Sports Bar Mobile Pace. Driven by junior Alicia Harrison, it was the gelding’s third win and it came in a scorching time of 2:39.5. Harrison initially settled Throwyaarmsaroundme back in running while Acushla Machree went forward to lead. With around 1200 metres left, Harrison set off to sit parked and applied the pressure running the last 800 metres in 56.9 seconds. The gelding had the better of third-placed Acushla Machree with 100 metres to go but was kept honest by Hampton who ran home strongly for second. Racing action returns to Cambridge Raceway next week on Thursday 11th January with the Group 3 Cambridge Flying Stakes Free-For-All Mobile Trot. View the full article

A combination of snow, rain and freezing temperatures over the course of the weekend prompted officials at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to cancel Sunday's live racing program after the opening race of the afternoon. “At Oaklawn, the safety of our equine and human athletes will always take priority,” said track president Louis Cella. “In consultation with our jockeys, horsemen, and outside engineers, we chose to cancel the remainder of the card so that we can prepare for next week's racing, highlighted by Saturday's Mockingbird S.” Racing is expected to resume next Friday, Jan. 12, with a scheduled first post of 12:30 p.m. CT. The post Wintry Weather Forces Oaklawn Cancellation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article