Wandering Eyes

Millionaire The Chosen Vron was named 2023 California-bred Horse of the Year at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting March 12 at Le Meridien Hotel in Arcadia.View the full article

Ross Fuller has been appointed the new stud manager at Main Chance Farms in South Africa, the stud announced on Wednesday. The Sporting Post first reported the new appointment. Previously a team member at prestigious farms Wilgerbosdrift, Drakenstein and Ridgemont, Fuller returns to South Africa after stints in Australia and England. “While our horses are the proud flagships of our brand, we pride ourselves on quality and professionalism of the highest order and our people are an integral factor in our success,” Maine Chance's Dr. Andreas Jacobs told the publication. “We thus have great pleasure in welcoming Ross Fuller, a leader in his profession, and a man who will be well known to many in the South African breeding fraternity. “Ross Fuller has demonstrated that he shares our ethics and a love of the thoroughbred racehorse. He will be part of a dynamic team that includes passionate horsewomen in Hundra Prins and Danni Kuttel, horsemen Tom Quata and Jackson Nkomphela, and a loyal staff complement that we are justly proud of.” The operation has been champion breeder in South Africa multiple times, and is the breeder of record of reigning Equus Horse of the Year Princess Calla (SAf) (Flower Alley), who is making a Breeders' Cup bid later this year. Fuller added, “After spending a number of years abroad, I look forward to the opportunity of returning and working with an industry leader in Maine Chance.” The post Ross Fuller Appointed Stud Manager Of Maine Chance Farms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran handler confirms star Englishman will ride Classic Cup runner-up Chancheng Glory in the city’s most prestigious raceView the full article

It's safe to say that no horse has retired to stud in recent memory with the fanfare of Flightline, who won all six of his starts by a combined 71 lengths, including four Grade Is. He was the world's highest-ranked racehorse of 2022, and earned triple-digit Beyers in all six of his starts. With an initial fee of $200,000, Flightline covered just over 150 mares in 2023 in his initial book, and those in-foal mares averaged $1,074,431 at the sales, the highest average for a first-crop covering sire in 15 years. For 2024, his fee was reduced to $150,000, and he is expected to cover around the same number of mares this year. Bill Farish talked to us about his second book of mares. “It is fascinating how evenly spread out it is with different sire lines. He's got five Dixie Union mares, five Into Mischief mares, six Candy Ride mares, six Medaglia d'Oro mares. He's got eight either by Empire Maker or Pioneerof the Nile, which is kind of interesting. He's got two La Brea winners, Fair Maiden (Street Boss) and Fun to Dream (Arrogate). Almost every one of his mares is either a graded stakes winner or has produced a graded stakes winner or is a half to a Grade I winner. It's fun to go down and just see the people who are supporting him: Juddmonte, heavily, St. Elias; WinStar; Phipps Stable; Whisper Hill. There is quite a bit of Japanese participation. And we've got 10 (Lane's End) mares going to him. He'll be right at 150 again this year. We bred him to 152 last year, just because we had a couple of people we couldn't say no to. But the goal was always to keep him right around 150. He really is kind of funny. Last year, he walked right off the van and sort of took a look around and let the other guys know that he was there and then he really never had turned another hair. It's incredible. From the first time he was turned out to the way he handles himself in the breeding shed, he's just a very smart, very relaxed horse. I wish they were all this way. He is a very good breeder, very fertile and he's certainly one that if we wanted to go to these huge books that other people are breeding, he certainly could. I mean, he does it all, does it all very, very easily and kind of on demand. It's really becoming the norm to drop a stallion's fee in the second year. With these larger books going to the first-year horses, they're taking so many mares out of the market that they might normally go to these types of stallions. And they're also taking, I think, a lot of mares that would go to made stallions. There's such a bonus in the yearling market when you go to sell a first-year stallion that people are opting for the lower fee and a first-year horse than the proven stallion that probably has a much better chance of getting him a runner. But look at Into Mischief and others. It's not all about how good their book is, it's how good they are as stallions and the good ones, no matter how they start out, are going to rise to the top. I think that right now, there are fewer mares in that top-end category and more stallions in that category. So the combination of those two things, with many mares that have been bought and taken overseas that might be in that category, definitely hurts these higher price tags, the made ones. For his second book, going down the list, we have Reunited (Dixie Union), who is the dam of Code of Honor, who won the Travers. Royal Flag (Candy Ride {Arg}), who won the Beldame and is a half-sister to Catalina Cruiser and a full-sister to Eagle (who won the GIII Ben Ali S. and was runner-up in the GI Stephen Foster) and she's a Candy Ride mare that we're breeding to him. I think he fits a lot of mares physically because he's not a overly big horse or a small horse. He is a real kind of ideal-size stallion, so you wouldn't hesitate to breed a smaller mare to him and you also wouldn't mind breeding a larger mare to him. So physically, he fits a lot of different mares. He's got great length and conformationally, he's awfully ideal. From a physical standpoint, I think he's open to a lot of mares. Pedigree-wise, not it's not unique to us, but with a young stallion, you want to try a lot of different things. Dirt, turf, European mares, and just all sorts of different sire lines. So, he has Ghostzapper mares, Lemon Drop Kid mares, quite a few Into Mischief Mares. And the breeders are pretty savvy about what they're breeding to them, so it's not something we really have to overly manage. Technical Analysis (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), for instance, who won the GII Ballston Spa, GII Lake Placid, and the GIII Gallorette and was ssecond in the GI Diana and Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup, is owned by the JS Company, Japanese interests, and she's going to him. Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic), who won the Ashland, she's owned by Northern Racing, and she'll go to him. Midnight Lucky (Midnight Lute) won the GI Acorn, and she's going to him. She's Juddmonte breeding. Mexican Gold is a Medaglia d'Oro mare. She's a group three winner, and she's a half-sister to Announce who won the Romanet. Juddmonte's also breeding Sun Path (Munnings). She's a full-sister to Bonnie South who won the Fair Grounds Oaks. WinStar is breeding So Darn Hot (Ghostzapper), who's the half-sister to Come Dancing who won the Ballerina. He's also covering one of the exciting kind of older mares, Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), who's the dam of New Year's Day and Mohaymen. We've got the GI Jaipur winner that Team Valor is breeding. She's by Animal Kingdom, and a very different kind of mare for him. Her name is Oleksandra. We have A Song of Mine, another Ghostzapper mare who is a half-sister to Songbird. As I said, Lane's End has 10 mares going to him, who are either ours or who we own in partnership. Among them are Salty As Can Be (Into Mischief), a full-sister to Salty. We have Finding Fame (Empire Maker), who is a full-sister to multiple stakes winner Mei Ling. We are breeding High Opinion (Lemon Drop Kid), who was second in the GII Ballston Spa. She is a stakes winter, and multiple graded placed. And then we're breeding a Blame mare named Acting Out who's a Listed stakes winner and graded placed. We also have a Kitten's Joy mare named Adorable Miss, who is the dam of the Battle of Normandy. There's Exotic West, a Hard Spun mare who's a stakes winner and graded placed. And there are the older mares, like Lemons Forever (Lemon Drop Kid) who won the Kentucky Oaks and who is the dam of Unbridled Forever and Forever Unbridled. And Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) herself is also coming too. She was the (2017) Champion Older Dirt Female. The post Mating Plans: Flightline’s Second Book appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale, which takes place after racing at Prestbury Park on Thursday, has the highest profile among the expanding market of boutique jumping sales and takes a break from the norm by offering a mare entered to run at the Festival on Friday. Traditionally, the auction has offered winning point-to-pointers and bumper horses with the potential to be stars of the future, as Grade 1-winning graduates such as Bravemansgame (Fr), Gerri Colombe (Fr), Santini (GB) and Slate House (Ire) have demonstrated. However, there could be a much quicker return on investment for the buyer of the first lot through the ring on Thursday evening, Harmonya Maker (Fr). The seven-year-old daughter of Saddler Maker (Ire) has been declared to run in Friday's G2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase by her trainer Gordon Elliott. To date, Hamonya Maker has won five of her 15 races, including the G2 Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares' Novice Chase in January. She has been kept busy this season and has never been out of the first three in her five starts since November, which include two victories. The remainder of the 30 lots catalogued for the sale are aged either four or five and have recent winning or placed form in the point-to-point field. Lot 10, from Ballycrystal Stables, is the half-sister to Grade 1 winner Stay Away Fay (Ire) (Shantou), who runs in today's G1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. Named The Big Westerner (Ire) (Westerner {GB}), she won on debut at Ballycahane earlier this month. Last year's catalogue of the same size saw 20 horses sold on the night (67%) for a total of £3.45 million. The co-top lots, Romeo Coolio (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}) and Jalon d'Oudairies (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}), were bought by Gordon Elliott for £420,000 apiece and they both line up for the trainer at Cheltenham in today's G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper. The post Festival Sale Top Lots Go Head to Head in Champion Bumper appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The inaugural NZTR innovation races have been a massive hit this season and there is still one to come, with southern trainers getting their chance at racing for $350,000 in the Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton next month. The race is restricted to horses trained in the South Island as at December 31, 2023, and Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman are keen to get a slice of the pie. They have already qualified Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) for the rich feature after he took out the TAB Southern Alps Golden Ticket (1400m) at his home track last month. It is one of three golden ticket races into the Southern Alps Challenge, with the first three eligible placegetters in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) also gaining ballot-exempt entry into the southern innovation race. Michael Pitman is a big fan of the concept and said it gives owners added incentive to race a horse in the South Island. “It is a huge incentive for local owners and trainers, and for people to have horses here, it is great,” he said. “We are hoping to qualify at least a couple for the race.” Stakes performer Proserve (NZ) (Proisir) is one of those hopefuls and he will kick off his campaign towards the race in Thursday’s Agraforum Comcat (1200m) at Ashburton. “He is kicking off without a trial,” Pitman said. “He showed a bit earlier on in his career. It (1200m) will probably be a bit short for him now, but it is a case of getting a couple of runs under his belt to qualify for the Southern Alps.” Stablemate Third Decree (NZ) (War Decree) will also be fresh-up in the race, having won her last start over 1150m at Kumara in January. “She has drawn out a bit (10) which probably won’t help, and there is a bit of speed in the race, but Kylie (Williams, jockey) has won on her before so that should help. “She will probably go to Riccarton for an Open Sprint after this and then we will make a decision on whether we start her at 1400m or not.” Pitman will line-up seven other runners at the mid-week meeting and has highlighted debutant Inspiration (NZ) (War Decree) as the stable’s best chance in the Team Ashburton Thank You (1200m). “He is a nice horse by War Decree who has had two trials and has won them both,” Pitman said. “I have also got him in at Dunedin (on Sunday), but he drew wide there so we will probably go to Ashburton.” Meanwhile, the stable will have strong representation at Wingatui this weekend, with Pitman highlighting Express Coup (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the Lindsay Moyle Memorial & Green Island Grizzlies (1200m) and Wind In My Wings (NZ) (Proisir) in the Helensbrook Properties (2200m) as their two best chances. “Express Coup was unlucky last start, she got in behind a couple that weren’t travelling and then when she went to make a run a horse pulled out in front of her,” he said. “Wind In My Wings has got a terrible record at Riccarton on the turf, but a good record on the all-weather. He went a great race the other day (for third on the Riccarton turf). He has only had two starts at Dunedin for a second and a third, so you would think that he should improve from Riccarton to Wingatui just on his previous record.” View the full article

Terri Rae hopes to continue a flow of winning performances by her consistent team of gallopers at Ashburton on Thursday. Among her recent successes has been promising filly Kindling Spark, with the lightly-tried daughter of Manhattan Rain set for a black-type challenge following a start as likely-favourite in the Farm Source (1600m). “It really suits her getting over a bit of ground at the mile and she’s getting better each time with a bit more ringcraft,” Rae said. “It’s not an overly strong field on Thursday, she should be pretty hard to beat at her best. “All going well through tomorrow, she’ll line up in the NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Riccarton on April 13.” Seven-year-old sprinter Rockland (Snitzel) will look to build on a solid second-placed finish behind Listed Lincoln Farms Lightning Handicap (1200m) contender Our Echo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) at Wingatui last-start when lining up in the Agraforum Comcat (1200m). “He’s just a horse who needs everything going his way, a good track, the right sort of tempo, and a good draw,” Rae said. “We’re trying to make the most of the good tracks while they’re still here. “He’s usually pretty honest, he can get some not so helpful draws which is when he’s been stuck wide or gone back, but if we can get him in a good handy position, he should go a good race.” Lisa Allpress will venture south to continue a long-time association with Rae in partnering Rockland, while local hoop Kylie Williams will attempt to complete a hat-trick of victories aboard Spot On Time (NZ) (Time Test) in the Good Luck Team Barneswood Farm (1400m). “Spot On Time has kept stepping up each time we’ve asked, and he’s a pretty genuine sort of horse,” Rae said. “After tomorrow, we’ll look for a nice race for him over Easter, then he won’t be far off going out for a spell.” Meanwhile, stable stars Dazzling Miss (NZ) (Proisir) and Sir Albert (NZ) (Savabeel) are being prepared for more lucrative targets after the talented pair comfortably quinellaed the Open 1400m race at Riccarton Park last Thursday. “Dazzling Miss will run in the Breeders’ (Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, 1600m) next Saturday (March 23),” Rae said. The $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) is the final of five Entain/TAB innovation races of the season, with all horses trained by a South Island-based trainer eligible for entry for the Riccarton Park feature on April 13. Rae is hopeful Savabeel gelding Sir Albert will be one of eight non-automatic qualifiers, as six places will be filled by winners of three ‘Golden Ticket’ races, alongside the first three home in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m). “Albert will go straight into the Southern Alps Challenge, he just needed a few more rating points to ensure he would make the field. There are only eight spots as he hasn’t won a qualifying race, so it was just a matter of getting him a place,” she said. “He won’t race again, he may have a trial or an exhibition gallop, but it’s best to keep him fresh, which he appreciates over the shorter distances.” Rae currently lies 11th on the National Trainers’ Premiership with 25 winners, mostly impressively due to having just 17 horses in her Riccarton Park stable, accumulating a strike-rate of 3.84. Despite already equalling her last-season’s winning total, Rae remains focussed on each raceday as they come. “I don’t usually think too far ahead, I just try to get the horses to put their best foot forward being consistent and happy, without putting too much thought into setting goals,” she said. View the full article

A Group One challenge awaits Red Sea (NZ) (Pierata) next month following the youngster’s runaway success in the AKW Farrier Two-Year-Old (1200m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the Andrew Forsman-trained son of Pierata was sent out a short-priced favourite and justified his support with an effortless 3-1/4 length victory. “In a perfect world, we would have wanted a couple to follow, but Warren realised there wasn’t going to be a heap of early pressure, so he took up the running,” Forsman said. “He’s a good galloper and hopefully he will improve off that, he will need to because he’ll be going up to another level.” Red Sea had finished runner-up in his summer debut behind subsequent Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Velocious (Written Tycoon) and was then fifth in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) after a tardy start and a wide run without cover. He was subsequently freshened and returned last month to run fourth in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m). “He put it all together nicely today and was spot on. He needed that first-up run, he was a bit underdone, and the blinkers have helped as well,” Forsman said. Red Sea’s success has confirmed plans for a crack at the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham next month, which is the first bonus race for next year’s inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), for which Cambridge Stud secured a slot in last month. “We’ll head that way and Cambridge Stud will want to, it’s a NZB Kiwi bonus race and they have got a slot,” Forsman said. “It’s the logical play to have a crack so we’ll see how we go.” View the full article

Group 3 winner Military Style has had his first mares scanned in foal, it was announced on Wednesday. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Military Style achieved a smart level of form as a two-year-old and had the subsequent Group 1 winners Van Gogh (American Pharoah), State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) behind him when gaining his biggest success in the Tyros S. at Leopardstown. A half-brother to City Of Troy, the top-rated juvenile in Europe in 2023, Military Style is standing his first season at Haras du Taillis in 2024 at a fee of €3,500. The post First Mares In Foal For City Of Troy Sibling Military Style appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Kembla Grange Classic Day Where Kembla Grange Racecourse – Princes Hwy, Kembla Grange NSW 2526 When Friday, March 15, 2024 First Race 1:05pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) for the three-year-old fillies headlines a bumper eight-race program in Illawarra on Friday afternoon, with a capacity field of 16 set to fight it out for the $250,000 prize. The rail returns to the true position for the entire circuit, and with approximately 12mm of rainfall expected to hit the region, there is a strong possibility of racing in the Soft range. The action is set to commence at 1:05pm AEDT. Kembla Grange Classic Tip: Harlow Mist Harlow Mist did enough first-up in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 24 to suggest she has returned in good order. An immediate step up to the 1600m should only be a positive for the daughter of Contributor, with the John Sargent-trained filly competing in some of the elite staying features during the spring carnival. A wet track on Friday will bolster her chances, and with a soft run from gate two all but guaranteed under Reece Jones, Harlow Mist should give followers a bold sight in the Kembla Grange Classic. Kembla Grange Classic Race 7 – #3 Harlow Mist (2) 3yo Filly | T: John Sargent | J: Reece Jones (54kg) +600 with PlayUp Best Bet at Kembla Grange: Notabadbuy Notabadbuy has produced two wins in four runs back from a spell, and despite going down by three lengths last start at Warwick Farm on March 6, he lost no admirers. He is a tough on-speed gelding who continues to fight his way to the wire, which is exactly what he’ll be doing on Friday. Apprentice Amy McLucas gets 2kg off his back after the claim, and with the son of The Bold One looking to make every post a winner, he will take plenty of chasing in this BM68 contest. Best Bet Race 3 – #1 Notabadbuy (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Amy McLucas (a2kg) (62kg) +150 with Unibet Next Best at Kembla Grange: Waihaha Falls Waihaha Falls was an impressive winner two starts back in a BM100 at Randwick on December 23 and appears perfectly placed after a seven-week letup. The John O’Shea camp has taken its time finding his next target, and despite needing to lug the top weight in this event, the son of Scared Falls appears to have the class to manage the task. He will be last turning for home from stall nine, but watch for this guy to be doing his best work late under Zac Wadick. Next Best Race 5 – #1 Waihaha Falls (9) 6yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea | J: Zac Wadick (a3kg) (62.5kg) +380 with Bet365 Best Value at Kembla Grange: O’so Demanding O’so Demanding was unsuited to the bottomless Heavy track at Nowra on February 26. She still managed second place on that occasion, and considering she was first-up after a year off the scene, the effort had plenty of merit. She will take major benefit from that performance, and with the Kembla Grange circuit unlikely to get into the Heavy range, O’so Demanding will be a different horse on Friday. Best Value Race 4 – #11 O’so Demanding (7) 3yo Filly | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Rachel King (56.5kg) +3300 with Neds Kembla Grange quaddie tips – Friday 15/3/2024 Kembla Grange quadrella selections Friday, March 15, 2024 1-6-7 1-2-3-4-6-9 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-6-7-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What All-Star Mile 2024 Where Caulfield Racecourse – Gate 2, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145 When Saturday, March 16, 2024 Prizemoney $3,750,000 Distance 1600m 2023 winner Mr Brightside (2) | T: Ben & JD Hayes | J: Luke Currie (59kg) Visit Dabble The sixth running of the All-Star Mile (1600m) headlines a stacked 10-race program at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. Despite plenty of controversy in terms of the quality in the field, 12 runners will vie for the lucrative purse on offer in the marquee event of the Melbourne autumn carnival. Mr Brightside is an odds-on favourite as he looks to defend his crown after winning this race 12 months ago, while Pride Of Jenni leads the challengers. 2024 All-Star Mile odds If the markets with horse racing betting sites are anything to go by, the 2024 All-Star Mile is a two-horse race. Mr Brightside (-142.86) is clearly the one to beat, with Pride Of Jenni (+270) the only other runner at a single-figure quote. Cascadian (+1100) and Ayrton (+1700) are the best of the rest. 2024 All-Star Mile speed map There is speed to burn this year in the All-Star Mile, with four known leaders all looking to take up the running. Buffalo River and Pride Of Jenni will most likely be the first two in running, while Attractable and Desert Lightning will look to heap the pressure on the leading brigade. That leaves plenty of room for the likes of Mr Brightside, Ayrton and Puntura to camp off the speed. Cascadian and Munhamek will be making their runs from the rear of the field. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top tips and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 All-Star Mile. All-Star Mile 2024 preview & form Mr Brightside could not have been more impressive in his two Group 1 victories from as many starts this campaign. He chased down Pride Of Jenni and Buffalo River first-up in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) before disposing of a similar field in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) last time out. He is three weeks between runs, and considering he has five wins from six goes at Caulfield, this guy has everything on side. Craig Williams will have him camped off the hot speed, and when asked to quicken, Mr Brightside should have no issue rounding up the leaders once more. The last horse to beat Mr Brightside was Pride Of Jenni when proving too hard to run down in the Champions Mile (1600m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. She was able to build up a massive lead during the middle stages of the race and left the champ with too much to do in the final 200m. If Declan Bates can take up those tactics, with little pressure from the likes of Buffalo River, she is certainly classy enough to knock off Mr Brightside. The main knock is she has only won once at Cauflield in nine attempts, but if anyone is going to cause an upset, it’s Pride Of Jenni. Outside of the top two, it is a lotto as to who will fill the remaining spot in the trifecta. Buffalo River has a strong Caulfield record, but the 1600m at this level means he is only a place chance. Ayrton, despite lacking the runs on the board in company like this, is another Caulfield specialist and looks a great play in top-three or top-four markets for same race multis. All-Star Mile 2024 selections & best bets Selections: 1 MR BRIGHTSIDE 12 PRIDE OF JENNI 6 BUFFALO RIVER 9 AYRTON $100 betting strategy $100 win Mr Brightside (#1) @ -142.86 with Picklebet 2024 All-Star Mile Final Field 1. Mr Brightside (11) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Craig Williams W: 59kg F: 11×22 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Bullbars Dam: Lilahjay -142.86 -714.29 2. Cascadian (7) T: James Cummings J: Ben Melham W: 59kg F: 49x7x Age: 9YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: New Approach (IRE) Dam: Falls of Lora +1200 +170 3. Attractable (2) T: Sara Ryan J: Linda Meech W: 59kg F: 8×214 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Affable +2000 +270 4. Munhamek (10) T: Nick Ryan J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 67103 Age: 8YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Dark Angel (IRE) Dam: Cadenza +5000 +650 5. Dom To Shoot (12) T: Sean & Jake Casey J: Damian Lane W: 59kg F: 4×913 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Shooting To Win Dam: Princess Rouge +5000 +650 6. Buffalo River (9) T: Mike Moroney J: Celine Gaudray W: 59kg F: 333×0 Age: 8YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Noble Mission (GB) Dam: Fashion Insider +3300 +450 7. Pinstriped (1) T: Enver Jusufovic J: Ben Allen W: 59kg F: x0051 Age: 5YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Snitzel Blitz +3300 +450 8. Desert Lightning (8) T: Peter & Dawn Williams J: Vinnie Colgan W: 59kg F: 31131 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Geling Sire: Pride Of Dubai Dam: Isstoora +2000 +270 9. Ayrton (5) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) J: Jamie Kah W: 59kg F: 35106 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Iffraaj (GB) Dam: Odessa +1700 +230 10. Puntura (4) T: Robbie Patterson J: Craig Grylls W: 59kg F: 91119 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Vespa (NZ) Dam: Mumzahoney +8000 +1000 11. Holymanz (3) T: Ciaron Maher J: Blake Shinn W: 59kg F: 24151 Age: 4YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Almanzor (FR) Dam: Blake Shinn +5000 +650 12. Pride Of Jenni (6) T: Ciaron Maher J: Declan Bates W: 57kg F: 2×116 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride Of Dubai Dam: Sancerre +270 -250 Horse racing tips View the full article

Zougotcha overpowers Lady Laguna to claim the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes. (Photo: Racing NSW) The Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) takes top billing at Rosehill this Saturday afternoon, with a star-studded field of 18 fillies and mares set to line up in the $1 million feature. The Chris Waller barn has produced a strong hand for the race with four acceptors, including Zougotcha opening as a +320 favourite with online bookmakers after drawing barrier two. She heads into Saturday looking to build on an impressive first-up victory in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) on February 24 where the daughter of Zoustar bolted away from her rivals. Two-time Group 1 winner Tropical Squall is on the second line of betting at +500 after scoring first-up in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) a two weekends ago. Despite drawing barrier 17, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained galloper is likely to gain strong market support due to his on-speed style of racing. The trend of last-start winners at the top of the market continues with the Ciaron Maher-trained Semana (+750) rounding out those in single figures, while stablemates Jennilala (+900) and Yonce (+1000) also make the trip from Melbourne to Sydney. The Waller pair of Vienna Princess and Hinged are both solid in the market at +1500 apiece. Meanwhile, the Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi (+1300) brings an element of intrigue to this event as the lightweighted three-year-old takes on the older horses for the first time. The 2024 Coolmore Classic is race eight on the Rosehill Gardens program and is set to get underway at 4:35pm local time. Coolmore Classic 2024 field 1. Zougotcha (2) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg F: 1×646 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Zoustar Dam: Fast Talker +360 +110 2. Revolutionary Miss (13) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Michael Dee W: 55.5kg F: 11311 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Russian Revolution Dam: Purcentage +1000 +270 3. Semana (11) T: Ciaron Maher J: Dylan Gibbons W: 55.5kg F: 112×5 Age: 4YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Winning Rupert Dam: Festivity +700 +190 4. Vienna Princess (8) T: Chris Waller J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 55.5kg F: 4×611 Age: 4YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Snitzel Dam: Graciousness +1400 +360 5. Hinged (15) T: Chris Waller J: Tommy Berry W: 55kg F: 2×687 Age: 5YO Color: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Worthy Cause Dam: Tints +1400 +360 6. Tropical Squall (17) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Tim Clark W: 54.5kg F: 1×021 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Filly Sire: Prized Icon Dam: Squalls +500 +140 7. Deny Knowledge (9) T: Mick Kent J: Tom Sherry W: 54.5kg F: x7146 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: The Paris Shrug (GB) +1400 +360 8. Foxy Frida (12) T: Andrew Noblet J: Billy Egan W: 54.5kg F: 4×103 Age: 6YO Color: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Foxwedge Dam: Family Portrait +2500 +600 9. Madame Pommery (16) T: Chris Waller J: Jason Collett W: 54.5kg F: 3×740 Age: 4YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: No Nay Never (USA) Dam: Cancel +2500 +600 10. Renaissance Woman (5) T: Bjorn Baker J: Rachel King W: 54.5kg F: 8×021 Age: 4YO Color: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Reliable Man (GB) Dam: Mrs Kennedy +5000 +1200 11. Yonce (1) T: Ciaron Maher J: John Allen W: 54kg F: 158×4 Age: 6YO Color: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Proisir Dam: Ziva +1000 +270 12. Barbie’s Fox (10) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: TBC W: 53kg F: 50×02 Age: 7YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Foxwedge Dam: So Barbie Says +5000 +1200 13. Hell Hath No Fury (3) T: Annabel Neasham J: Tyler Schiller W: 52kg F: 13112 Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Hellbent Dam: Diamond Cove +2500 +600 14. More Secrets (6) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: Jay Ford W: 51.5kg F: 3×035 Age: 6YO Color: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: More Than Ready (USA) Dam: Secret Indulgence (NZ) +2500 +600 15. Ausbred Flirt (18) T: Brad Widdup J: Alysha Collett W: 51kg F: 6×052 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Maurice (JPN) Dam: Seven Year Itch +5000 +1200 16. Jennilala (4) T: Ciaron Maher J: Craig Newitt W: 51kg F: 1x01x Age: 4YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Shalaa (IRE) Dam: Rosarian +1000 +270 17. Kimochi (14) T: Gary Portelli J: Zac Lloyd W: 50.5kg F: 71×23 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Brave Smash (JPN) Dam: Summer Fun +1400 +360 18. Barby’s Doll (7) T: Jerome Hunter J: TBC W: 50kg F: 3312 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Fighting Sun Dam: Barbaretta +20000 +3900 Horse racing news View the full article

The latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com gives buyers access to a pair of blue-blooded broodmare prospects that have recently been retired from the Te Akau Racing stable. The first of these high-class offerings is the black-type performer Belle Of The Ball (NZ) (Savabeel). Bred by Waikato Stud, she is by super-sire Savabeel out of two-time winner and Melbourne Group Two placegetter Lady Tatia (Duke Of Marmalade). Belle Of The Ball’s second dam is a sister to Group One winners Shogun Lodge (Grand Lodge), Singing The Blues (Bluebird) and Referral (Dr Grace). David Ellis selected Belle Of The Ball from Waikato Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2020, where he bought her for $300,000. She had 22 starts for three wins and six placings, winning twice at Riccarton and once at Matamata. She also finished second in the Group Three Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham, second in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton, fourth in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton and fourth in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton. “She was a high-class mare who never had the best of luck on the racetrack, but she certainly showed a huge amount of ability,” Ellis said. “That placing in the Anniversary at Trentham was a top run from a long way back, finishing second behind her Group One-winning stablemate Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy). Never Forgotten Photo: Supplied “Going forward, I think that breeders just won’t be able to get enough of these high-quality Savabeel mares. They’re going to be enormously valuable.” An eight-time champion New Zealand sire and holding a dominant lead on the premiership in 2023-24, Savabeel is also making a name for himself as a broodmare sire. His daughters have so far produced 420 winners from 700 runners, with 26 stakes winners including Group One stars Savatoxl (Kuroshio), Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls) and Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci). The other Te Akau offering on gavelhouse.com is the beautifully bred Never Forgotten (Fastnet Rock). The three-year-old filly is a full-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400) winner Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), as well as Special Memories (Fastnet Rock), who was a black-type performer in the Te Akau tangerine. “She comes from a wonderful family that we know very well,” Ellis said. “We had her sister Special Memories, who was placed at stakes level and also finished fourth in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “A daughter of Fastnet Rock of her quality is going to be a huge asset for any stud. I have no doubt that she’s going to leave magnificent foals.” Fastnet Rock has an outstanding record as a broodmare sire. His daughters have been represented by 1269 winners from 1996 runners, with 110 individual stakes winners including the likes of Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega), Warm Heart (Galileo), Russian Emperor (Galileo) and Zougotcha (Zoustar). The latest gavelhouse.com fortnightly auction is now open for bidding with 75 Lots on offer and the first closing from 7pm (NZT) on Monday View the full article

Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) scored black-type last start when runner-up in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) on her home track and trainer Kim Reid is hoping she can go one better in the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. “I thought she would go well there,” Reid said. “The track conditions work in her favour if they are a bit off because she will run on anything, where some of the others won’t. “It was nice to get that (black-type), but it would be nice to go one better than that, and I am sure we will get there.” The five-year-old daughter of Complacent has been a consistent performer for Reid, who also co-bred and owns the mare, and she has been pleased with her career trajectory to date. “I think she is improving all of the time,” Reid said. “She is one of those neat, progressive horses, which I guess is what you like to see. She loves her work and her routine.” It has been more than a month between runs for Hi Yo Sass Bomb and the mare readied for her weekend assignment with a trial win over 1200m at Foxton last week. “She ran super last week. She was strong to the line and Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) was happy with her,” Reid said. Expat Irish jockey Joe Doyle will partner Hi Yo Sass Bomb for the first time this weekend where she has drawn the ace barrier. “There is a good incentive with the one draw to run a bit handier,” Reid said. “She does draw out and it has become her pattern to sit back and relax a bit, but we will look to go forward from that draw. I think she will run forward and I think she will tough it out at the end.” While confident of a good showing this weekend, Reid thinks her mare is better suited over more ground and is looking forward to stepping her back up over 2000m in next month’s Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham. “I still think up over 2000m is her ideal distance,” she said. “We will use this race as a lead-in to go over 2000m in the Manawatu Breeders’. She is always consistent and is there or thereabouts and is always flying at the end.” If Hi Yo Sass Bomb performs well on Saturday, Reid hasn’t ruled out changing up those plans and heading to Ellerslie for the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) a week prior. “We will see how she goes on Saturday,” she said. “It (NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’) is a really nice race and I think she is capable over a mile as well in the right conditions.” View the full article

Imwonderfultonight has been a standout performer for Cambridge trainer Sam Mynott this season and she is hoping her mare can be rewarded for her consistency with victory in Saturday’s Listed Lincoln Farms Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham. The I Am Invincible five-year-old featured prominently over the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton in November, finishing fourth in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) before going down by a mere nose to Maria Farina in the Listed Stewards’ Stakes (1200m). She was then a game fourth in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in January before placing in the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) on Karaka Millions Night at Ellerslie, but had a sub-par showing when last in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa last month. She has since been freshened, and Mynott, who is also a jumps jockey, has varied her work in the lead-up to her weekend assignment. “She went out for 10 days following Te Rapa and we have been doing a lot of different things with her since she has come back into the stable – a bit of jumping and taking her to the beach. She is thriving and is in a real happy place,” Mynott said. Imwonderfultonight is set to carry 53kg on Saturday and will jump from barrier two with Joe Doyle on her back. “It is a nice draw, she can just pop out and will ideally be on the pace somewhere, or just in behind the pace and let her roll along. Hopefully she can finish off nicely,” Mynott said. “I don’t think there is a horse around that deserves it more than her.” Mynott could also line-up Aquilifer in the Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) but is leaning towards heading to Tauranga on Saturday instead to contest the Frocked Up Girls 3YO (1200m) ahead of next month’s Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa. “We change our mind every hour, but at this stage we might go to Tauranga and keep her closer to home over 1200m and then aim for the Breeders’ in April with her,” Mynott said. “I think she will cop the trip (to Trentham), but I think the step up to 1400m plus the trip might be a bit much.” Mynott was pleased with her last start placing behind December and Witz End at Taupo last week and is looking forward to stepping her back up to stakes level. “I thought it was a super run behind those two really nice horses,” she said. “She has definitely got the ability to head there (Breeders’ Stakes).” View the full article

Robbie Patterson will be soaking up the atmosphere at Caulfield on Saturday but acknowledges his stable’s best chances of success this weekend lies on the home front. The Taranaki trainer is in Melbourne with his Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner Puntura, who faces the daunting task of taking on Mr Brightside and company in the A$3.75 million All-Star Mile (1600m). “He travelled over here very well and settled in super, everything is going pretty well,” Patterson said. “We are realistic though and if he could run midfield and pulled up sound then we would be ecstatic. It’s an opportunity we will probably never get again so we’ve got to make the most of it.” It’s at Trentham where Patterson has serious winning prospects with two strong Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) contenders and three in The Bold One & Agraforum New Zealand St Leger (2600m). Contribute and The Hottie will run in the fillies and mares’ feature with the former looking to turn her fortunes around after an interrupted run when a last-start sixth in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m). “She was super unlucky and would have finished closer if she didn’t get checked out of it,” Patterson said. The daughter of Contributer had previously won the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) and will be ridden by Matthew Cameron. “She has been working well and The Hottie is a last-start winner with a heap of ability so I can’t really split them. A shower of rain wouldn’t worry either of them,” Patterson said. The Hottie will be partnered by Michael McNab, who will also ride The Underbelly in the St Leger in the absence of Craig Grylls, who is in Melbourne to team up with Punturra. Stablemates Nom De Plume, who will be dropping back in class after running fifth in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m), and Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Mary Louise complete a formidable St Leger line-up. “Craig said the way The Underbelly has been going that he would take a fair bit of holding back and he’s ridden all of them,” Patterson said. The Underbelly will be bidding for his fifth win on the bounce after a last-start romp to victory in the St Leger Trial (2300m) at Otaki. Cameron will be aboard Nom De Plume and Joe Doyle takes the reins on Mary Louise. “I liked the way Nom De Plume ran in the Cup, she got stronger as the race went on and I think she’ll be another massive chance,” Patterson said. Mary Louise finished at the tail of the field last time out on a firm surface in the Avondale Cup and an easing of the track will boost her prospects. “If we got a shower of rain, Mary Louise would come right into it. She won the Wellington Cup with 56kg and now she’s got 54kg on her favourite track,” Patterson said. View the full article

Clinton Isdale will beat a familiar and successful path to Wellington this week with his under-rated sprinter Is That So (NZ) (Sufficient). The Cambridge trainer has found Trentham a happy hunting ground with his sparingly raced seven-year-old and will bid to add the Listed Lincoln Farms Lightning Handicap (1200m) to his record. Is That So has made seven appearances on the track for a brace of wins and three top four finishes and had no luck in his last visit in January when out of the money in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m). The son of Sufficient knuckled over at barrier rise and subsequently copped severe interference in the straight. “The riderless horse (Lincoln’s Kruz) knocked him over, so it wasn’t his fault,” Isdale said. “When you look at the replay, he was starting to come into it at the time.” Is That So has since finished runner-up to the in-form Pour The Wine (NZ) (Telperion) and at Ellerslie last Saturday he was hemmed in and denied any chance in the straight when a close fifth behind the impressive Adam I Am (NZ) (Almanzor). “He went to the line untested and was very unlucky,” Isdale said. “He came through the race really well and I’ve only ever backed him up once before and he ran second.” Is That So has been lightly raced for his age with five wins, including three on the bounce on the Cambridge all-weather track, and five placings from 20 appearances. “We’ve had to be pretty patient with him and looked after him and he’s kept rewarding us,” Isdale said. “He’s been a slow maturing horse and after his first start at Matamata as a five-year-old he went shin sore. I couldn’t believe it so we had to tip him out and he’s kept coming back better and better.” Is That So is raced by Isdale with fellow trainer Graham Falconer and breeders John and Sue Trumper, grandparents of Te Akau Racing Manager Reece Trumper. “I was talking to Reece one day at the races and he put me onto the horse and it’s worked out really well,” Isdale said. Is That So is the only foal to race out of the Electronic Zone mare Sheez Torkin (NZ), who was a two-time sprint winner. “The only time I’ve ever tried him any further than 1200m was last week and that didn’t go to plan, the only time he saw clear air was when he jumped out of the gates,” Isdale said. The gelding will be ridden on Saturday by Tina Comignaghi, who has won on him before and also guided stablemate Mahoe (NZ) (Alamosa) to success at Trentham last weekend. Is That So will be accompanied south by Natural Lighting And Ventilation Wellington Premier (2200m) hope Marcella (NZ) (Sweynesse), who ran a creditable fifth at Ellerslie before blowing her chances at the start on a return to northern headquarters. “Two starts ago, she was three deep the whole way and only got beaten a bit more than two lengths,” Isdale said. “The other day she was slow away and never got into it, it’s hard to come from behind on that track.” View the full article

The stage is set for another thrilling edition of the Coolmore Classic this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens. Zougotcha is the mare to beat second-up in Saturday’s 2024 Coolmore Classic field at Rosehill. Photo: Steve Hart. Chris Waller’s Zougotcha emerges as the early favourite at $4 through Ladbrokes, looking to extend her winning streak and add to her impressive Rosehill record. Star hoop James McDonald retains the ride on the mare, who is aiming to achieve the Millie Fox Stakes – Coolmore Classic double for the first time since Daysee Doom (2018). Waller boasts a strong presence in the race, fielding four runners in total. However, Zougotcha faces stiff competition from a talented field brimming with last-start winners. Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott‘s Tropical Squall is a major contender at $7. This dual Group 1 winner is coming off a victory in the Surround Stakes fresh and appears well-suited for the 1500m distance despite drawing barrier 17. Ciaron Maher‘s airborne four-year-old Semana ($8) is another threat, chasing a three-race winning streak and boasting strong form lines. With apprentice Dylan Gibbons in the saddle, she has the potential to cause an upset. At $12, Revolutionary Miss shouldn’t be overlooked. This Peter & Paul Snowden-trained mare has won four of her past five starts and comes into the race with impressive form in the Frances Tressady Stakes and Mannerism Stakes in Melbourne. The 2024 Coolmore Classic promises to be an exciting spectacle with several fillies and mares boasting legitimate winning chances. The race goes down as Rosehill Race 8 at 4:35 pm (AEDT) this Saturday. 2024 Coolmore Classic Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 x419x646x1 ZOUGOTCHA Chris Waller James McDonald 2 57kg 108 2 9×78511311 REVOLUTIONARY MISS Peter & Paul Snowden Michael Dee 13 55.5kg 105 3 121215×211 SEMANA Ciaron Maher Dylan Gibbons (a) 11 55.5kg 105 4 2162x116x4 VIENNA PRINCESS Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 8 55.5kg 105 5 44x40786x2 HINGED Chris Waller Tommy Berry 15 55kg 104 6 1x13120x1 TROPICAL SQUALL Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 17 54.5kg 104 7 1x1736417x DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) Michael Kent Tom Sherry 9 54.5kg 103 8 116x0301x4 FOXY FRIDA Andrew Noblet Billy Egan 12 54.5kg 103 9 07x28047x3 MADAME POMMERY Chris Waller Jason Collett 16 54.5kg 103 10 124x5120x8 RENAISSANCE WOMAN (NZ) Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 5 54.5kg 103 11 111114×851 YONCE (NZ) Ciaron Maher John Allen 1 54kg 102 12 3417420×05 BARBIE’S FOX Ben, Will & JD Hayes Matthew Cartwright 10 53kg 100 13 685×421131 HELL HATH NO FURY Annabel Neasham Tyler Schiller 3 52kg 98 14 x353x530x3 MORE SECRETS Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jay Ford 6 51.5kg 97 15 614x1250x6 AUSBRED FLIRT Brad Widdup Ms Alysha Collett 18 51kg 92 16 27213x10x1 JENNILALA Ciaron Maher Craig Newitt 4 51kg 91 17 x322232x17 KIMOCHI Gary Portelli Zac Lloyd (a) 14 50.5kg 96 18 2133 BARBY’S DOLL Jerome Hunter Reece Jones 7 50kg 65 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Waller’s Zougotcha Leads Contenders in Wide-Open Coolmore Classic 2024 appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Imwonderfultonight will contest the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Imwonderfultonight has been a standout performer for Cambridge trainer Sam Mynott this season and she is hoping her mare can be rewarded for her consistency with victory in Saturday’s Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham. The I Am Invincible five-year-old featured prominently over the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton in November, finishing fourth in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) before going down by a mere nose to Maria Farina in the Listed Stewards’ Stakes (1200m). She was then a game fourth in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in January before placing in the Group 3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) on Karaka Millions Night at Ellerslie, but had a sub-par showing when last in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa last month. She has since been freshened, and Mynott, who is also a jumps jockey, has varied her work in the lead-up to her weekend assignment. “She went out for 10 days following Te Rapa and we have been doing a lot of different things with her since she has come back into the stable – a bit of jumping and taking her to the beach. She is thriving and is in a real happy place,” Mynott said. Imwonderfultonight is set to carry 53kg on Saturday and will jump from barrier two with Joe Doyle on her back. “It is a nice draw, she can just pop out and will ideally be on the pace somewhere, or just in behind the pace and let her roll along. Hopefully she can finish off nicely,” Mynott said. “I don’t think there is a horse around that deserves it more than her.” Mynott could also line-up Aquilifer in the Group 2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) but is leaning towards heading to Tauranga on Saturday instead to contest the Frocked Up Girls 3YO (1200m) ahead of next month’s Group 3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa. “We change our mind every hour, but at this stage we might go to Tauranga and keep her closer to home over 1200m and then aim for the Breeders’ in April with her,” Mynott said. “I think she will cop the trip (to Trentham), but I think the step up to 1400m plus the trip might be a bit much.” Mynott was pleased with her last start placing behind December and Witz End at Taupo last week and is looking forward to stepping her back up to stakes level. “I thought it was a super run behind those two really nice horses,” she said. “She has definitely got the ability to head there (Breeders’ Stakes).” Horse racing news View the full article

Puntura winning the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham in January. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Robbie Patterson will be soaking up the atmosphere at Caulfield on Saturday but acknowledges his stable’s best chances of success this weekend lies on the home front. The Taranaki trainer is in Melbourne with his Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner Puntura, who faces the daunting task of taking on Mr Brightside and company in the A$3.75 million All-Star Mile (1600m). “He travelled over here very well and settled in super, everything is going pretty well,” Patterson said. “We are realistic though and if he could run midfield and pulled up sound then we would be ecstatic. It’s an opportunity we will probably never get again so we’ve got to make the most of it.” It’s at Trentham where Patterson has serious winning prospects with two strong Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) contenders and three in the New Zealand St Leger (2600m). Contribute and The Hottie will run in the fillies and mares’ feature with the former looking to turn her fortunes around after an interrupted run when a last-start sixth in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m). “She was super unlucky and would have finished closer if she didn’t get checked out of it,” Patterson said. The daughter of Contributer had previously won the Group 3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) and will be ridden by Matthew Cameron. “She has been working well and The Hottie is a last-start winner with a heap of ability so I can’t really split them. A shower of rain wouldn’t worry either of them,” Patterson said. The Hottie will be partnered by Michael McNab, who will also ride The Underbelly in the St Leger in the absence of Craig Grylls, who is in Melbourne to team up with Punturra. Stablemates Nom De Plume, who will be dropping back in class after running fifth in the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m), and Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Mary Louise complete a formidable St Leger line-up. “Craig said the way The Underbelly has been going that he would take a fair bit of holding back and he’s ridden all of them,” Patterson said. The Underbelly will be bidding for his fifth win on the bounce after a last-start romp to victory in the St Leger Trial (2300m) at Otaki. Cameron will be aboard Nom De Plume and Joe Doyle takes the reins on Mary Louise. “I liked the way Nom De Plume ran in the Cup, she got stronger as the race went on and I think she’ll be another massive chance,” Patterson said. Mary Louise finished at the tail of the field last time out on a firm surface in the Avondale Cup and an easing of the track will boost her prospects. “If we got a shower of rain, Mary Louise would come right into it. She won the Wellington Cup with 56kg and now she’s got 54kg on her favourite track,” Patterson said. Horse racing news View the full article

Proserve will kick-off his campaign towards next month’s $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Ashburton on Wednesday. Photo: Race Images South The inaugural NZTR innovation races have been a massive hit this season and there is still one to come, with southern trainers getting their chance at racing for $350,000 in the Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton next month. The race is restricted to horses trained in the South Island as at December 31, 2023, and Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman are keen to get a slice of the pie. They have already qualified Mystic Park for the rich feature after he took out the Southern Alps Golden Ticket (1400m) at his home track last month. It is one of three golden ticket races into the Southern Alps Challenge, with the first three eligible placegetters in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) also gaining ballot-exempt entry into the southern innovation race. Michael Pitman is a big fan of the concept and said it gives owners added incentive to race a horse in the South Island. “It is a huge incentive for local owners and trainers, and for people to have horses here, it is great,” he said. “We are hoping to qualify at least a couple for the race.” Stakes performer Proserve is one of those hopefuls and he will kick off his campaign towards the race in Thursday’s Agraforum Comcat (1200m) at Ashburton. “He is kicking off without a trial,” Pitman said. “He showed a bit earlier on in his career. It (1200m) will probably be a bit short for him now, but it is a case of getting a couple of runs under his belt to qualify for the Southern Alps.” Stablemate Third Decree will also be fresh-up in the race, having won her last start over 1150m at Kumara in January. “She has drawn out a bit (10) which probably won’t help, and there is a bit of speed in the race, but Kylie (Williams, jockey) has won on her before so that should help. “She will probably go to Riccarton for an Open Sprint after this and then we will make a decision on whether we start her at 1400m or not.” Pitman will line-up seven other runners at the mid-week meeting and has highlighted debutant Inspiration as the stable’s best chance in the Team Ashburton Thank You (1200m). “He is a nice horse by War Decree who has had two trials and has won them both,” Pitman said. “I have also got him in at Dunedin (on Sunday), but he drew wide there so we will probably go to Ashburton.” Meanwhile, the stable will have strong representation at Wingatui this weekend, with Pitman highlighting Express Coup in the Lindsay Moyle Memorial & Green Island Grizzlies (1200m) and Wind In My Wings in the Helensbrook Properties (2200m) as their two best chances. “Express Coup was unlucky last start, she got in behind a couple that weren’t travelling and then when she went to make a run a horse pulled out in front of her,” he said. “Wind In My Wings has got a terrible record at Riccarton on the turf, but a good record on the all-weather. He went a great race the other day (for third on the Riccarton turf). He has only had two starts at Dunedin for a second and a third, so you would think that he should improve from Riccarton to Wingatui just on his previous record.” Horse racing news View the full article

Is That So will contest the Listed Lincoln Farms Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Clinton Isdale will beat a familiar and successful path to Wellington this week with his under-rated sprinter Is That So. The Cambridge trainer has found Trentham a happy hunting ground with his sparingly raced seven-year-old and will bid to add the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) to his record. Is That So has made seven appearances on the track for a brace of wins and three top four finishes and had no luck in his last visit in January when out of the money in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m). The son of Sufficient knuckled over at barrier rise and subsequently copped severe interference in the straight. “The riderless horse (Lincoln’s Kruz) knocked him over, so it wasn’t his fault,” Isdale said. “When you look at the replay, he was starting to come into it at the time.” Is That So has since finished runner-up to the in-form Pour The Wine and at Ellerslie last Saturday he was hemmed in and denied any chance in the straight when a close fifth behind the impressive Adam I Am. “He went to the line untested and was very unlucky,” Isdale said. “He came through the race really well and I’ve only ever backed him up once before and he ran second.” Is That So has been lightly raced for his age with five wins, including three on the bounce on the Cambridge all-weather track, and five placings from 20 appearances. “We’ve had to be pretty patient with him and looked after him and he’s kept rewarding us,” Isdale said. “He’s been a slow maturing horse and after his first start at Matamata as a five-year-old he went shin sore. I couldn’t believe it so we had to tip him out and he’s kept coming back better and better.” Is That So is raced by Isdale with fellow trainer Graham Falconer and breeders John and Sue Trumper, grandparents of Te Akau Racing Manager Reece Trumper. “I was talking to Reece one day at the races and he put me onto the horse and it’s worked out really well,” Isdale said. Is That So is the only foal to race out of the Electronic Zone mare Sheez Torkin, who was a two-time sprint winner. “The only time I’ve ever tried him any further than 1200m was last week and that didn’t go to plan, the only time he saw clear air was when he jumped out of the gates,” Isdale said. The gelding will be ridden on Saturday by Tina Comignaghi, who has won on him before and also guided stablemate Mahoe to success at Trentham last weekend. Is That So will be accompanied south by Natural Lighting And Ventilation Wellington Premier (2200m) hope Marcella, who ran a creditable fifth at Ellerslie before blowing her chances at the start on a return to northern headquarters. “Two starts ago, she was three deep the whole way and only got beaten a bit more than two lengths,” Isdale said. “The other day she was slow away and never got into it, it’s hard to come from behind on that track.” Horse racing news View the full article

Hi Yo Sass Bomb will contest the Group 3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images Palmerston North) Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb scored black-type last start when runner-up in the Group 3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) on her home track and trainer Kim Reid is hoping she can go one better in the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. “I thought she would go well there,” Reid said. “The track conditions work in her favour if they are a bit off because she will run on anything, where some of the others won’t. “It was nice to get that (black-type), but it would be nice to go one better than that, and I am sure we will get there.” The five-year-old daughter of Complacent has been a consistent performer for Reid, who also co-bred and owns the mare, and she has been pleased with her career trajectory to date. “I think she is improving all of the time,” Reid said. “She is one of those neat, progressive horses, which I guess is what you like to see. She loves her work and her routine.” It has been more than a month between runs for Hi Yo Sass Bomb and the mare readied for her weekend assignment with a trial win over 1200m at Foxton last week. “She ran super last week. She was strong to the line and Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) was happy with her,” Reid said. Expat Irish jockey Joe Doyle will partner Hi Yo Sass Bomb for the first time this weekend where she has drawn the ace barrier. “There is a good incentive with the one draw to run a bit handier,” Reid said. “She does draw out and it has become her pattern to sit back and relax a bit, but we will look to go forward from that draw. I think she will run forward and I think she will tough it out at the end.” While confident of a good showing this weekend, Reid thinks her mare is better suited over more ground and is looking forward to stepping her back up over 2000m in next month’s Group 3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham. “I still think up over 2000m is her ideal distance,” she said. “We will use this race as a lead-in to go over 2000m in the Manawatu Breeders’. She is always consistent and is there or thereabouts and is always flying at the end.” If Hi Yo Sass Bomb performs well on Saturday, Reid hasn’t ruled out changing up those plans and heading to Ellerslie for the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) a week prior. “We will see how she goes on Saturday,” she said. “It (NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’) is a really nice race and I think she is capable over a mile as well in the right conditions.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Pakenham Cup Night 2024 Where Pakenham Racecourse – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 When Friday, March 15, 2024 First Race 5:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) headlines a competitive nine-race meeting at Pakenham on Friday night with $300,000 on the line in the feature. Perfect conditions are forecast, with the track rated a Good 4 and the rail in its true position for the entirety. Pakenham Cup Night is set to kick off at 5:45pm AEDT. Pakenham Cup Tip: Ashrun Resuming at Caulfield on February 24 over 2000m, Ashrun hit the line with great intent in his first run since finishing fourth in the Melbourne Cup (3200m). As he steps up to the 2500m second-up, he gets the right conditions to break a winless stretch that dates back to 2020. He gets a 2kg weight advantage on Dunkel, who he lost to by 1.5 lengths first-up, and with some race fitness under his belt and the rise in distance, Ashrun should have no issue in turning the tables in the Pakenham Cup. Pakenham Cup Race 8 – #3 Ashrun (3) 8yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Mark Zahra (58kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Bet at Pakenham: Illative Illative caught the eye when flashing home for second at Flemington on March 2, and a repeat of that finishing burst should be enough to break maiden ranks at the fourth time of asking. The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly has always had a ‘boom’ about her, but she is yet to break through for that illusive victory. With even luck on Friday night, Illative will simply be winning. Best Bet Race 3 – #8 Illative (11) 3yo Filly | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Damian Lane (56kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Pakenham: United Kingdom United Kingdom was simply outclassed in Group 2 company at Caulfield on February 24, but his maiden win at Geelong on debut showed plenty of promise. He gave his rivals a massive start on that occasion but showed a strong turn of foot to salute. Barrier 13 on Friday is offset by his want to get back in the field, and if he can get a genuinely run mile, the 1600m at Pakenham will suit him perfectly. Next Best Race 9 – #6 United Kingdom (13) 3yo Colt | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Damian Lane (59kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Pakenham: Housay Shea Eden’s Housay looked in need of his first-up run at Bendigo, but that should have prepared him well for this task. The lightly raced sprinter maps to gain a beautiful run in transit behind the leaders under Jaylah Kennedy, who claims 3kg. Housay will have no issue in sprinting under the 58.5kg load, and if he is anywhere near his best, the son of Zebedee can dispose of his BM64 rivals at a nice price with horse racing betting sites. Best Value Race 2 – #1 Housay (2) 7yo Gelding | T: Shea Eden | J: Jaylah Kennedy (a3) (61.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Friday quaddie tips for Pakenham Pakenham quadrella selections Friday, March 15, 2024 1-2-4-9 3-5-7-8 1-3 1-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Race 6 LINDAUER 2000m AMAZON GODDESS (U Holmquist) – Trainer Mr. K Moore advised Stewards, AMAZON GODDESS pulled up with swelling to the off-hind leg, which has now subsided. K Moore further advised the mare has now been sent for freshen up. The post Amberley Jockey Club at Riccarton Park, Thursday, 7 March 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article