Wandering Eyes

6th-TAM, $53K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:04 p.m. ET. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred, ARI'S MAGIC (Good Magic) initially went for $150,000 during Keeneland September. After rolling a :10 flat at last year's under tack breeze show, the juvenile sold for $725,000 at the OBS March Sale. Owned by LSU Stables and trained by Christophe Clement, the newly-minted 3-year-old is out of Ari the Adventurer (Pioneerof the Nile), who Stonestreet bought for $350,000 at the '13 OBS Select 2-Year-Old Sale. TJCIS PPS The post Friday Insights: $725k OBS Grad Debuts At Tampa Bay Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Houston Race Park celebrates the start of its 30th anniversary season Jan. 5. The milestone season will be primarily an on-track and Texas affair due to the ongoing dispute between the Texas Racing Commission and HISA. View the full article

Founded in 2022, the NAIAHF honors and recognizes the indigenous sports cultures throughout North America by recognizing outstanding leadership and achievement in individual and team athletics.View the full article

Bob Baffert has won 12 runnings of the San Vicente Stakes (G2) and has two leading 3-year-olds in pursuit of a record-extending 13th when Muth and Pilot Commander face four rivals in the $200,000, seven-furlong race at Santa Anita Park Jan. 6.View the full article

What Geelong Races Where Geelong Racecourse – 99 Breakwater Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219 When Saturday, January 5, 2024 First Race 12:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Feature racing in Victoria heads down the highway to Geelong Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, where a bumper 10-race program is scheduled. The $300,000 Coastal Classic and Listed Geelong Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) at Listed level headlines proceedings for the meeting set to be run on a Good 4 rated surface. The rail will stick in the true position, giving us perfect conditions for the card commencing at 12:15pm AEDT. Coastal Classic Tip – Junipal Junipal has been racing in fine form this campaign, and based off his run in the Listed Lord Stakes at Caulfield, he looks ready to win once again. He was beaten by the classy Zennzella on that day when finishing fourth, beaten less than a length, and despite chasing home Keats, who he meats again on Saturday, there isn’t much separating the two. This looks to be a deeper race, but if John Allen can land a midfield spot on this of of Reset, Junipal looks to be the best horse in the race, and at a nice price with horse racing bookmakers, we’re happy to side with him in the Coastal Classic. Coastal Classic Race 8 – #1 Junipal (12) 8yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: John Allen (58kg) +700 with Picklebet Geelong Black Pearl Stakes Tip – Va Via Va Via ran on well from the rear of the field first-up at Randwick on December 23, and with the run under her belt, we expect she will exert her class in the Listed Geelong Black Pearl Stakes. Despite being beaten 2.75 lengths on that day, the Astern mare produced a nice finish to suggest she was worth following wherever she went. She strung together three straight wins last campaign in fields no harder than this, and with the step up to 1200m, she looks poised to strike. Damian Lane will have Va Via in the second half of the field, but with a thunderous turn of foot, she’ll prove too good for her rivals. Geelong Black Pearl Stakes Race 9 – #2 Va Via (7) 4yo Mare | T: James Cummings | J: Damian Lane (57kg) +240 with Bet365 Best Bet at Geelong – Rey Magnerio Rey Magnerio from the Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock barn has not been seen since winning in impressive fashion at Flemington on November 11. A winner of four of his six starts, the four-year-old gelding is certainly a horse worth following throughout his career, and we expect he will be too good for his rivals on Saturday. From barrier six, Jye McNeil will be able to stalk what looks to be a genuine speed over the 1100m, and with a few non-winners amongst this lot, Rey Magnerio should be bringing up a third straight win on Saturday. Best Bet Race 6 – #9 Rey Magnerio (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Jye McNeil (56.5kg) +140 with Dabble Next Best at Geelong – Speranzoso We were with Speranzoso when he smacked his rivals at Cranbourne on December 22, and we expect he will go on with the job on Saturday. The five-year-old gelding put a space on his opponents when leading throughout and eventually eased down inside the final 100m in BM64 company. Stepping up to a BM70 on the weekend should prove to be no issue, considering he took subsequent Bagot Handicap winner Galentaneous to within two-lengths two starts back at Sandown. From barrier 13, Jordan Childs will have the son of Siyouni doing as he pleases out in front with an uncontested lead expected, where Speranzoso should prove too hard to run down. Next Best Race 4 – #11 Speranzoso (13) 5yo Gelding | T: Clayton Douglas | J: Jordan Childs (58kg) +450 with Playup Best Value at Geelong – Zou Sensation The Leon & Troy Corstens-trained Zou Sensation was a handy Moonee Valley winner on December 23, and based on how he has returned this campaign, he looks like a nice each-way play on Saturday. The four-year-old gelding settled up on speed on that day and managed to kick clear inside the final 100m to win in impressive style. He steps up to 1400m for the first time in his career, and despite needing to lug 62kg, Blaike McDougall will have him settled on the heels of the leaders throughout from barrier one. With an economical run expected, Zou Sensation should be able to pounce and prove too good once again. Best Value Race 3 – #2 Zou Sensation (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Leon & Troy Corstens | J: Blaike McDougall (62kg) +900 with Neds Saturday quaddie tips for Geelong races Geelong quadrella selections Saturday, January 6, 2024 1-2-4-5-6-7-8-9 1-2-4-5-9 2-3 1-3-4 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Breeder, consignor and pinhooker Ronan Burns of Herbertstown House Stud is first up in our series of mild interrogations to start the new year. What are your goals for 2024? To jump out of bed keen and excited every day. Give us a horse to follow… Zaphod (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}). And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on… George Connolly. Who do you think will be champion first-season sire in 2024? Earthlight (Ire). And the best value stallion in Ireland, England, and France? Not much value this year: Awtaad (Ire), Harry Angel (Ire), Galiway (GB). Your best buy of 2023? We'll see in a few years…Irish Rookie (Ire). The best yearling/weanling you saw at the 2023 sales (that someone else bought)? Of what I saw I'll be excited to see the Kingman (GB) half-brother to Dragon Symbol (GB) on the racecourse in a couple of years. Who is or was the perfect Thoroughbred? Galileo (Ire) in the early 2000s. Your biggest professional regret? Not listening to my gut (and my wife) and selling Libertarian (GB) for a big loss rather than racing him (he was then sold privately in training for a life-changing amount). Always trust your gut! If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why? Rory Mahon, just to be able to wander through the fields of Juddmonte weanlings everyday and spot the next potential superstar(s). The post In the Hot Seat: Ronan Burns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It is hard to remember a time when France had a stronger intake of new stallions than the group which comprises the class of 2024. At Haras de Bonneval, the domain of the Aga Khan Studs' French line-up, the deluxe stallion unit contains two of the most sought-after sires in the country. They have recently been joined by another duo who will be aimed at emulating the feats of their elders. For the new recruits Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr) it will be no easy task to follow in the wake of France's leading sire Siyouni (Fr) and the fast-rising Zarak (Fr). But then again, few would have predicted the lofty heights that Siyouni has reached when he started out on his second career in 2011 at a fee of €7,000. He is now the most expensive stallion in France at €200,000. Only Frankel (GB) and Dubawi (Ire) command a higher fee in Europe, and the latter is well represented in the Bonneval quadrangle, as both Zarak and Erevann are sons of Dubawi, whose sire-line extends with each passing year. It would be to do those two a disservice, however, simply to label them as sons of Dubawi, for at the Aga Khan Studs the emphasis has always been on creating families. Here, broodmare power is every bit as important as sire power. Zarak's female line tells the century-long story of one of the most successful breeding operations of all time. His dam Zarkava (Ire) wrote a few important chapters of her own to follow, some 50 years later, that of his sixth dam, the champion Petite Etoile (GB), and back through another four generations to the hugely influential Mumtaz Mahal (GB), who in many ways was the start of it all. Indeed, Zarak's rise, from a €12,000 stallion to the upper tier at €60,000, will have pleased many within the Aga Khan Studs, and for more significant reasons than mere fiscal concerns. What then of Erevann, who brings with him more Siyouni blood, his dam Ervedya (Fr) having been the first Classic winner by the stallion back in 2015, and arguably the most important member of his first crop? “Erevann's dam was very special to us,” says Georges Rimaud, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France. “Unfortunately we lost her a couple of years ago, but she still has a couple of offspring coming. So Erevann is very special to the family and to the operation. He's a beautiful horse, a beautifully-bred son of Dubawi, who is a sire of sires now. Ervedya was a multiple Group 1 winner at three and at four, and we are all very proud to have offspring from her worthy of being a stallion.” Erevann, the mare's second foal, sailed unbeaten thorough his first three starts, which included the G3 Prix Paul Moussac, before finishing third in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, just half a length behind the winner Inspiral (GB) but ahead of Group 1 winners Coroebus (Ire), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), Order Of Australia (Ire) and State Of Rest (Ire). The winning continued when Erevann completed his three-year-old season with victory in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein. Though winless at four, Erevann again posted some decent performances, notably in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan and G1 Prix du Moulin. Rimaud continues, “Erevann is very interesting, in a similar fashion to Zarak, as a son of Dubawi from a very good broodmare and racehorse. When we attempt to stand a horse as a stallion, we think about his pedigree. We think of what he can offer to breeders in terms of performances, and pedigree is very important in that case. “And there's probably a large amount of luck in this, but there's also a little bit of knowhow from His Highness and his way of wanting to develop not only the broodmare band but also the stallion operation. We certainly would not put a stallion at stud without wanting to use him ourselves. So we think [Erevann's] pedigree, his performances are really worthy of of standing him at stud. It's a great adventure every time we start and we hope for the best. Sometimes it doesn't happen but we've been fortunate so far.” One way in which Zarak and Erevann differ is that the former, like his dam, was a Group 1 winner over 2,400m. Tall and elegant, Erevann has plenty of scope, but he emulated his dam in doing his best work over a mile, a factor which is increasingly appealing to breeders with a more commercial focus. Of the same vintage as Erevann is Vadeni, the colt who ensured that the centenary year of the Aga Khan Studs in 2022 was truly memorable. From his Classic trial victory in the G3 Prix de Guiche, the son of Churchill (Ire) set a new record time when winning the G1 Prix du Jockey Club against a field which included Modern Games (Ire) and Onesto (Ire). It is one thing to beat your contemporaries but the first real test of a three-year-old comes when pitted against his elders, as Vadeni was for the G1 Coral-Eclipse. Three of his five rivals that days, Mishriff (Ire), Native Trail (GB) and Bay Bridge (GB), are also about to embark on their own first covering seasons. Talented though each of them is, they had no answer for Vadeni at Sandown, who had been supplemented for the race and duly became the first French-trained winner of the Eclipse in more than 60 years. Vadeni showed an impressive turn of foot over 10 furlongs, but the question was how he would fare going two more for the Arc. Following a close third behind Luxembourg (Ire) in the G1 Irish Champion S., Vadeni then set about answering that query at Longchamp, where he was a staying-on second to Alpinista (GB) in arguably the best performance of his career. Vadeni is a second-generation Aga Khan homebred, his grand-dam, the G1 Prix Saint Alary winner Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain), having been purchased among the stock acquired from the family of her breeder Jean-Luc Lagardere. “It is an achievement of the families that His Highness has been buying or developing over the last decades that at the end of the centennial year and the next year following that, he has been able to produce two horses worthy of being stallions,” says Rimaud. “Vadeni's performances were incredible. He is a mid-sized stallion with strong hindquarters, very deep shoulder, very deep girth, a lovely correct horse, and quite chic in himself.” Vadeni, who gilded the lily by snaring the title of Cartier Champion Three-Year-old Colt in 2022, starts his stallion career at a fee of €18,000 while Erevann has been introduced at €8,000. “We have set up two new horses in a very attractive bracket, and Vadeni in a higher bracket because he really deserves it with his performances, his quality and his overall genetic proposition,” says Rimaud. “There is a very strong interest in the French racing and breeding industry and there is definitely a strong market for stallions in France,” says Rimaud. “Our intention was to develop that in France when we started [at Bonneval] really from the year 2000. It takes a while to settle it down and make it work but I think it's given confidence to [other] stallion operations to stand good horses. For some it's a large investment – we have been fortunate to breed these stallions – but I hope and think they do get a return from their investment. “The prize-money in French racing really helps, along with the breeders' premiums, owners' premiums and all this. It's very important to to keep that up because it attracts a number of people from overseas – particularly from Europe, from England and Ireland, and even some German and Americans breeders – to use France as a breeding base. “You can go to just about anything you'd like. If you want a sprinter, if you want a a mile-and-a-half horse, stayer or a miler, you have a great array of choices in just about in all price brackets.” The post Vadeni and Erevann Boost Bonneval’s Sire Power appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mauritian jockey and trainer Douglas Whyte team up for a Happy Valley double on Thursday nightView the full article

The finalists for the 2023 Eclipse Awards will be announced live on FanDuel TV Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at noon ET, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) and Daily Racing Form (DRF) announced Thursday. Eclipse Award ballots were due by Jan. 3. The awards, which honor excellence in Thoroughbred racing, are voted upon by the NTRA, represented by member racetrack racing officials and Equibase field personnel, NTWAB and DRF, and are produced by the NTRA. The announcement of the Eclipse Awards finalists on FanDuel TV is sponsored by John Deere, Keeneland and The Jockey Club. The 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards Presented by FanDuel, John Deere, Keeneland and The Jockey Club will be televised live on FanDuel TV Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, from The Breakers Palm Beach. The evening begins with the Keeneland Red Carpet show at 6:30 p.m. followed by the awards at 7:30 p.m. Britney Eurton, Acacia Courtney Clement and Nick Luck will co-host the ceremony and Caton Bredar will once again serve as announcer. The evening will be capped by the announcement of 2023 Horse of the Year, the finalists for which will first be revealed during the ceremony. The post Eclipse Finalists To Be Announced on FDTV Jan. 6 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Dubai Racing Carnival continues at Meydan on Friday, with a pair of group races on tap for the turf milers and main track sprinters, with the G2 Zabeel Mile the highlight of the nine-race card. Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is the clear standout on ratings, and won this contest in 2022 before placing second in both the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Queen Anne S. back on UK soil for trainer Saeed bin Suroor. Now seven, the gelding is aiming at a return to form after running a too-keen fifth in the G2 Al Rashidiya to fellow royal blue colourbearer Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) locally on Dec. 22. “Real World won this contest a couple of years ago and ran two excellent races over a mile in Europe the same season,” trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said. “He has been running over further since but should appreciate the drop back in trip. It looks as though he has improved for his run in the Al Rashidiya.” A former steady fixture in Italian group company, G3 Premio Ambrosiano hero Sean (Ger) (Excelebration {Ire}) now races in the Barratt Racing silks and will make the Godolphin runner's task more difficult. “It's his first run for us so this is a bit of a fact-finding mission,” said Jamie Osborne, whose multiple Dubai successes include Toast Of New York in the G2 UAE Derby. “It's possible he will need further on this track.” American ex-pat Doug Watson will saddle the Classic-placed San Donato (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and he has drawn widest in stall 13. The multiple listed winner ran second in the Listed Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup at Abu Dhabi on Dec. 3. “It's a bit tough from out there but it's a great race for him, albeit Real World is in there and Marbaan for Michael Costa,” said Watson. “I'm looking forward to seeing how he finishes. Hopefully he can get some nice splits from off the pace.” The race is further enhanced by the presence of G2 Vintage S. hero Marbaan (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and trainer Charlie Fellowes. Sprinters Primed For Dubawi Stakes In the G3 Dubawi S., one race earlier on the card, Watson will saddle both Sound Money (Flatter) and Colour Up (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). The former won the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Saturday last March and was unplaced in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night, while the latter, a dirt-loving son of Mehmas, earned his first listed badge in the Al Garhoud Sprint last out on Dec. 8. “Both Sound Money and Colour Up are in really good shape,” said Watson. “The draws are good for both of them; they're horses who don't need to go to the lead; they can settle off it. Colour Up has to step up a bit, with Mouheeb and Tuz and Sound Money in there, so it will be interesting to see how he goes. I'm really happy with Sound Money and looking forward to getting him started.” Successful in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas at three and the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint over Group 3 winner Tuz (Oxbow) at four in 2022, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Mouheeb (Flatter) went winless in 2023. “He's had a kind first half of season with the aim of heading towards 8f [1600metres] later on,” said trainer Michael Costa of Mouheeb. “He's a much more relaxed horse this year.” Another Mahab Al Shimaal hero alongside Sound Money, Eastern World (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will attempt to bounce back to form after making just one start in 2023–a 12th place to Tuz in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint in February. The post Where The Real World Begins, As Baker’s Dozen Clash In Zabeel Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred industry continues to shrink and has a massive damage control and marketing issue. As things stand, we look like a passenger ship on a collision course with an iceberg. There are many screams, but no well-funded, established industry organization appears to want control of the wheel. Clearly the anti-racing lobby is well supported and now getting prime time slots on mainstream media. If you are making a living from this industry as a sales company, stallion owner, farm owner, trainer, agent, pinhooker etc; or a provider such as a vet, feed company, van company, industry publication, supply vendor etc, you have a stake in its destiny. This is our livelihood and you likely have a substantial investment that is in grave danger of being significantly devalued at the very least. We've all seen what happened to Greyhound racing, and horse racing seems to be on the same fateful path. Anyone reading this should be asking themselves: What drew me to this wonderful industry and what am I doing to insure its future? It is time for the agenda-driven squabbling to stop and for everyone to put their shoulders to the wheel and try to take control of our industry's destiny. Light Up Racing has been started based on the successful Kick Up For Racing model in Australia in an effort to find alignment and provide a voice through fact based resources for those who want positive change as well as to protect and preserve this industry for future generations. For more information visit www.lightupracing.com. The post Letter to the Industry: Roderick Wachman appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A year after setting the earnings record, Irad Ortiz Jr. did it again in 2023 with $39,192,585. He led all jockeys in wins, seconds, and thirds. He was also leading rider by earnings for Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Santa Anita Park meets.View the full article

Mike Moroney’s classy filly Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) will miss the early part of the autumn carnival as she takes time to recover from a busy schedule in 2023. Coeur Volante won three straight races last year, two of those at group level, before finishing fourth in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas in the middle of November. The Melbourne Cup-winning trainer suggested that, more broadly, it would be a quiet start to the autumn for his Flemington stable. “We’re going to be more late autumn and into Queensland mainly,” Moroney said. “We made a decision with our good filly Coeur Volante that we’d leave her out for a bit longer. She came off a short break and she’s pretty immature, so we just thought we’d miss the early part of the autumn and just join in the latter part, possibly on the way to Queensland. “We’d like to think we could run in a Stradbroke, all going well.” While it appears that Moroney won’t be a major player in the early features on this side of the Tasman in 2024, he has enjoyed plenty of success in New Zealand recently. Moroney has recently returned to Australia from his time in his home country over the festive season and was there to see his smart three-year-old Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) win the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas on Boxing Day. The gelding by US Navy Flag will have his next start in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic on January 27, with Moroney suggesting that he thinks he’ll eventually travel to Australia to race here. “He’ll be pretty hard to beat, I think, in the big three-year-old race there on Karaka night,” Moroney said. “He won well when I was over there, won a Group 2 and won it well, and won the start before, too. He’s beaten the better three-year old’s; he’s still got to beat the horse that won the 1000 Guineas (Molly Bloom), but of the males, he’s beaten the rest of them.” View the full article

Champion Sydney jockey James McDonald is set to return to his homeland to ride at the revamped TAB Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 27. The expat Kiwi tasted success at the meeting in 2019 aboard the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Long Leaf in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) for a group of owners that included his good friend and supporter Sir Peter Vela. “This (Ellerslie) is one of my favourite tracks out of everywhere I have ridden,” said McDonald at the time. “I haven’t ridden here for three years and everything has changed, the stables look magnificent.” McDonald will be met by further improvements at Ellerslie later this month, with the Auckland venue undergoing a recent $50 million track redevelopment, with the installation of a StrathAyr track. The meeting will also include the running of the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aoteora Classic (1600m) for four-year-olds, which will accompany the traditional $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), which has gained an additional $500,000 boost for the 2024 running. View the full article

God Of Eros (Pierro) was never intended to be a long-term member of Shane Crawford’s stable, but the Cambridge horseman isn’t dwelling on the unexpected outcome. Originally purchased as a trade horse, he will attempt to complete consecutive wins when he runs in Friday’s Trigg Construction Northland Cup (2200m) at Ruakaka on Friday. “He’s a typical Pierro and they take little bit of extra time and if you give them that you get rewarded,” Crawford said. “He’s lightly raced, he’s only had nine starts, and I’ve been dying to get him up to 2200m and beyond. “I was tempted to put in a late nomination for the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m), but bypassed that and might look at it next year if he shows form over the staying trips.” God Of Eros was originally secured for A$140,000 by Crawford’s Regal Farm, McKeever Bloodstock and Tenglong at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale with the aim of re-offering him at auction in Australia. He was also entered in the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. “He had a bit of an issue and that’s why we couldn’t sell him, hence we’re racing him,” Crawford said. “He was meant to go to Sydney for the Ready to Race two-year-old sale, but he had lesions on his scope. We had to treat that, but it didn’t clear up in time. “His function is fine and he breathes well, it was more of a cosmetic thing and it prevented us from selling him. “He won his first trial but we couldn’t get any bites so we got stuck with him, but it’s not the worst thing.” God Of Eros has subsequently been handled patiently and he broke his maiden at Ruakaka earlier this year and doubled his tally when he posted an upset resuming victory over 1600m at Tauranga last month. “I had him pretty well-tuned up for that and it didn’t surprise me at all,” Crawford said. “I think he is a better horse on the fresh side and everything went to plan that day and he’s ready to crack on. “I’m really happy with him and he’s the sort of horse that appreciates his races spaced. “We’ll take it one race at a time with him and we won’t plan too far ahead. He definitely likes the better tracks and while they are around, we will keep going.” Crawford also has the promising son Wallen (NZ) in his stable and the son of Tarzino has a win and four placings from his six appearances, a record that would read better had luck been more on the four-year-old’s side. Wallen made late ground from the back to finish a last-start fifth at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day. “He went awesome, but the track tripped him up a bit and he was only a length off the winner,” Crawford said. “We were hoping to head to Wellington for the Remutaka Classic ($350,000, 2100m), but I don’t think he will get in with his rating and that’s a real shame. “We’ll see what we do now, we might freshen him up and look at the Auckland Cup meeting.” View the full article

Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking) has come a long way in a short time and he will bid for further black-type staying honours at Hastings. The lightly raced son of Shocking will take aim at the Listed Marton Jockey Club Marton Cup (2200m) on Saturday with Leah Hemi, who is unbeaten in two previous rides on the gelding, booked for the mount. Never Look Back has won three of his nine appearances for Foxton co-breeder, part-owner and trainer Gail Temperton, including consecutive Rating 75 contests before he acquitted himself well last time out when third in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m). “I am rather thrilled with him and he’s come along quite quickly for a staying horse,” Temperton said. “This is a big ask for him on Saturday and I’ve pushed him along, which is not like me. Usually, I am very conservative and then I live to regret it.” Never Look Back is a half-brother to Tamahine (NZ) (Proisir), who was successful on five occasions for Temperton and finished runner-up in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). “I sold her as a broodmare several months ago and then her mother (Pirinitete) died, but I do have a filly by Vadamos out of her so getting black-type would be great as I will still be breeding from the family,” she said. Johar mare Pirinitete (NZ) was a half-sister to the stakes winners Lady Annaliese (NZ) (Groom Dancer) and Hinemoa (NZ) (Elusive City), whose daughter Hinerangi (Fastnet Rock) was successful in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m), and also the family of the Gr.2 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Graphic (NZ) (Volksraad). Never Look Back may also be given the opportunity to double the family’s roll of honour in the Trentham feature. “I paid a late nomination for the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), I was confident enough to do that, and I think he’s eligible for the Remutaka Classic ($350,000, 2100m) the same day,” Temperton said. “We will just see what he does on Saturday, it could be that he’s had enough and if he tells us that then we’ll pull the plug and give him a spell.” However, Temperton hasn’t seen any signs at home that Never Look Back is in need of a break. “He has galloped twice this week and both times he has been very impressive so he’s not looking like he’s had enough at the moment, but race day is what tells,” she said. “While he is racing like he is, we’ll have a crack on Saturday and distance-wise it’s not too far away. It would be better if it was at Awapuni but never mind, we just have to get on with it.” View the full article

Stakes targets are in the offing for promising juvenile The Victress (Zousain) following her debut win in the Lindsay Goudie & Brian Hare Memorial 1000 at Te Aroha on Wednesday. Backed into $1.20 favouritism, The Victress began well for jockey Opie Bosson to take an early front-running role and the pair didn’t relinquish their advantage, holding out a fast-finishing Elegant Jazz (NZ) (Russian Revolution) to win by half a length. “It was a lovely ride by Opie, taking bad luck out of the equation, he controlled the speed, and she’ll improve with that,” said Mark Walker, who trains the filly in partnership with Sam Bergerson. “She’s got a really good constitution and great brain on her.” The Victress won her only trial in August over 650m at Te Rapa and her trainers were pleased to make a winning start to her career on Wednesday after an interrupted spring campaign. “We had a bit of a setback with her in the spring, after she’d won the trial, and providing she pulls up well we’ll look at the Wellesley Stakes,” Walker said. Te Akau have a strong recent history in the Listed IRT Wellesley Stakes (1000m), having won the 2021 and 2022 editions with Quattro Quinta (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Hanalei (NZ) (Darci Brahma) respectively. They will be hoping to make it three wins in four years when they head to Trentham on Saturday-week with The Victress, who was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $250,000. Te Akau were back in the winner’s circle later on the card when Caravella (NZ) (Carravagio) took out the Thames Harness Racing Club Sprint (1200m) in the hands of Opie Bosson. The victory continues the four-year-old mare’s purple patch of form, having won first-up at Taupo in November before placing at Rotorua last month. “It was a top ride by Opie and the owners have been patient with her,” Walker said. “She’s been a slower maturing horse, and has had a few niggles and issues, but she’s now stringing together a solid record. “She’ll be up to Rating 75 now, which is quite a strong grade, but it will be interesting to see how she measures up.” The daughter of Caravaggio was another yearling purchase by Ellis, who bought her out of Wentwood Grange’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $115,000. “She’s going pretty well this mare and had to be good to win today,” Ellis said. “She’s not the biggest but shows plenty of determination and is probably going to step over a bit more ground as well. “We had her half-sister Our Abbadean in the stable for the Hawkins family at Wentwood Grange, and she performed very well. She ran in all three legs of the Triple Crown during the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival and came of age as an older mare when winning the Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m) and Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). “She was really good stakes’ quality mare and the more wins Caravella can get on the board the more valuable she becomes. “It’s a good family and Wentwood Grange is one of the very astute breeders in our industry.” View the full article

After a mixed spring preparation, Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) announced herself as a key figure in the upcoming southern Guineas series with a dominant Rating 75 victory at Omoto on Wednesday. The talented daughter of Vancouver was a Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) winner as an autumn two-year-old and came off second-best to Te Akau filly Viva Vienna (NZ) (All Too Hard) in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in September. With the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in the offing, trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams looked to step the typically on-speed filly beyond the sprint distances, but Illicit Dreams found the mile too testing at Riccarton after leading early and finished near the tail. Returning from a freshen-up, punters regained faith in the filly as she contested a more preferable 1100m event in the Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts, starting a shortening $2.80 favourite ahead of her older rivals. A sizzling pace was taken up early by O’Jessica (Deep Field), with Illicit Dreams and apprentice Danika Wilson maintaining the pressure by settling off the fence in second down the back stretch. Poised to pounce turning for home, the filly took the lead at the 150m and drew clear by an eventual 1-/14 lengths under a hands and heels ride from Wilson. Williams was delighted to have Illicit Dreams back in winning form and had hoped to see such a performance while aiming her for the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) on January 20. “It was a fresh-up run for her, we brought her up here for a trip away to prepare for what we have in store next,” she said. “We needed to see her go well today to warrant carrying on to the Southern Guineas races, so she’ll go to the Gore Guineas now.” Williams was philosophical about the three-year-old’s spring performances and indicated Illicit Dreams’ range would be limited to 1400m for now. “At the moment, we’ll just stick with under the 1400m mark because she’s just too much of a sprinter. We gave the mile a go, they’re only three once but it wasn’t for her, so we’ll just keep at the shorter distances for now.” Stablemate Berbezier (Foxwedge) also provided a tidy third-placed performance earlier on the card in a hotly run Greymouth Star/Greymouth Businesses Sprint (1100m), closing strongly in behind Russian Rosette (NZ) (Russian Revolution) and Patsy Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit). “He’s not a wet tracker, he got further back than we thought he would, but he flew home. We’re very happy with that run, so he’ll possibly back up on Tuesday (at Reefton),” Williams said. The father-daughter duo have travelled to the West Coast circuit with several other runners and hope to emulate fond memories with The Buffer (NZ) (Reliable Man) in Saturday’s Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m). In the hands of apprentice Kelsey Hannan, The Buffer ran his rivals ragged in the 2023 edition of the time-honoured Kumara feature and contests this year’s running alongside stablemate Follow Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer). Williams reported the Reliable Man seven-year-old had recovered well from a close second-placing in the Kurow Cup (1400m), and heads into Saturday’s event a top chance with Wilson’s claim reducing his weight to 56.5kg. “The Buffer has come through that race really well, it was his first-up run in little while after having a couple of weeks off,” she said. “He’s very well in himself, I galloped him myself today around Greymouth and he handled the wet track. All going well, he should be a good chance on Saturday.” Runner-up in her last two starts, Proisir filly Zlatna (NZ) (Proisir) will contest the Recreation Hotel/Alex Hayward/Noel Wafer Pow Memorial (1810m), while Williams will also have Descaro (NZ) (Ghibellines) appearing earlier on the eight-race card at Kumara. View the full article

Little Brose, ridden by Michael Dee, wins the 2023 Blue Diamond Stakes at Sandown. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Victoria’s premier juvenile race is set to gain an even more extensive international presence next month as the Blue Diamond Stakes is included as a World Pool event for the first time. In 2023, three Australian races, including the Cox Plate in October secured positions in the top five World Pool turnover races. The Cox Plate, with approximately $A11.4 million staked, claimed the second-highest turnover of any race in 2023 and ranked as the fifth-highest World Pool turnover race ever conducted. Michael Fitzsimons, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s executive director of wagering products, emphasised the success of introducing World Pool to Australia in 2023. “The introduction of World Pool in Australia in 2023 was a major success story, with six new race days being opened up to global punters and exceptional turnover being generated,” said Fitzsimons. Fitzsimons expressed optimism about building on this momentum in 2024 and expressed enthusiasm that World Pool will be operational on Blue Diamond Stakes Day for the first time. After its Australian debut at Flemington’s Lightning Stakes meeting in February of the previous year, World Pool extended its presence to five more Australian race meetings: Turnbull Stakes Day, The Everest Day, Caulfield Cup Day, Cox Plate Day, and Victoria Derby Day. The $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), scheduled to take place at Caulfield on February 24, will be the second World Pool race for 2024, following the Cape Town Met Day at Kenilworth Racecourse in South Africa on January 27. Highlighting the global reach of the World Pool, the Saudi Cup Race Day at King Abdulaziz Racecourse is set to be part of the World Pool for the second consecutive year, coinciding with the Blue Diamond Stakes on the same day. More horse racing news View the full article

Never Look Back will contest the Listed Marton Cup (2200m) at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Never Look Back has come a long way in a short time and he will bid for further black type staying honours at Hastings. The lightly raced son of Shocking will take aim at the Listed Marton Cup (2200m) on Saturday with Leah Hemi, who is unbeaten in two previous rides on the gelding, booked for the mount. Never Look Back has won three of his nine appearances for Foxton co-breeder, part-owner and trainer Gail Temperton, including consecutive Rating 75 contests before he acquitted himself well last time out when third in the Group 3 Manawatu Cup (2300m). “I am rather thrilled with him and he’s come along quite quickly for a staying horse,” Temperton said. “This is a big ask for him on Saturday and I’ve pushed him along, which is not like me. Usually, I am very conservative and then I live to regret it.” Never Look Back is a half-brother to Tamahine, who was successful on five occasions for Temperton and finished runner-up in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). “I sold her as a broodmare several months ago and then her mother (Pirinitete) died, but I do have a filly by Vadamos out of her so getting black type would be great as I will still be breeding from the family,” she said. Johar mare Pirinitete was a half-sister to the stakes winners Lady Annaliese and Hinemoa, whose daughter Hinerangi was successful in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m), and also the family of the Group 2 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Graphic. Never Look Back may also be given the opportunity to double the family’s roll of honour in the Trentham feature. “I paid a late nomination for the Wellington Cup (Group 3, 3200m), I was confident enough to do that, and I think he’s eligible for the Remutaka Classic ($350,000, 2100m) the same day,” Temperton said. “We will just see what he does on Saturday, it could be that he’s had enough and if he tells us that then we’ll pull the plug and give him a spell.” However, Temperton hasn’t seen any signs at home that Never Look Back is in need of a break. “He has galloped twice this week and both times he has been very impressive so he’s not looking like he’s had enough at the moment, but race day is what tells,” she said. “While he is racing like he is, we’ll have a crack on Saturday and distance-wise it’s not too far away. It would be better if it was at Awapuni but never mind, we just have to get on with it.” More horse racing news View the full article

Illicit Dreams winning at Omoto on Wednesday. Photo: Race Images South After a mixed spring preparation, Illicit Dreams announced herself as a key figure in the upcoming southern Guineas series with a dominant Rating 75 victory at Omoto on Wednesday. The talented daughter of Vancouver was a Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) winner as an autumn two-year-old and came off second-best to Te Akau filly Viva Vienna in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in September. With the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in the offing, trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams looked to step the typically on-speed filly beyond the sprint distances, but Illicit Dreams found the mile too testing at Riccarton after leading early and finished near the tail. Returning from a freshen-up, punters regained faith in the filly as she contested a more preferable 1100m event, starting a shortening +180 favourite ahead of her older rivals. A sizzling pace was taken up early by O’Jessica, with Illicit Dreams and apprentice Danika Wilson maintaining the pressure by settling off the fence in second down the back stretch. Poised to pounce turning for home, the filly took the lead at the 150m and drew clear by an eventual 1.25 lengths under a hands-and-heels ride from Wilson. Williams was delighted to have Illicit Dreams back in winning form and had hoped to see such a performance while aiming her for the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) on January 20. “It was a fresh-up run for her, we brought her up here for a trip away to prepare for what we have in store next,” she said. “We needed to see her go well today to warrant carrying on to the Southern Guineas races, so she’ll go to the Gore Guineas now.” Williams was philosophical about the three-year-old’s spring performances and indicated Illicit Dreams’ range would be limited to 1400m for now. “At the moment, we’ll just stick with under the 1400m mark because she’s just too much of a sprinter. We gave the mile a go, they’re only three once but it wasn’t for her, so we’ll just keep at the shorter distances for now.” Stablemate Berbezier also provided a tidy third-placed performance earlier on the card, closing strongly in behind Russian Rosette and Patsy Spirit. “He’s not a wet tracker, he got further back than we thought he would, but he flew home. We’re very happy with that run, so he’ll possibly back up on Tuesday (at Reefton),” Williams said. The father-daughter duo have travelled to the West Coast circuit with several other runners and hope to emulate fond memories with The Buffer in Saturday’s Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m). In the hands of apprentice Kelsey Hannan, The Buffer ran his rivals ragged in the 2023 edition of the time-honoured Kumara feature and contests this year’s running alongside stablemate Follow Your Dreams. Williams reported the Reliable Man seven-year-old had recovered well from a close second-placing in the Kurow Cup (1400m), and heads into Saturday’s event a top chance with Wilson’s claim reducing his weight to 56.5kg. “The Buffer has come through that race really well, it was his first-up run in little while after having a couple of weeks off,” she said. “He’s very well in himself, I galloped him myself today around Greymouth and he handled the wet track. All going well, he should be a good chance on Saturday.” Runner-up in her last two starts, Proisir filly Zlatna will contest the Recreation Hotel/Alex Hayward/Noel Wafer Pow Memorial (1810m), while Williams will also have Descaro appearing earlier on the eight-race card at Kumara. More horse racing news View the full article

The Victress winning on debut at Te Aroha on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Stakes targets are in the offing for promising juvenile The Victress following her debut win at Te Aroha on Wednesday. Backed into -500 favouritism with top horse racing bookmakers, The Victress began well for jockey Opie Bosson to take an early front-running role and the pair didn’t relinquish their advantage, holding out a fast-finishing Elegant Jazz to win by half a length. “It was a lovely ride by Opie, taking bad luck out of the equation, he controlled the speed, and she’ll improve with that,” said Mark Walker, who trains the filly in partnership with Sam Bergerson. “She’s got a really good constitution and great brain on her.” The Victress won her only trial in August over 650m at Te Rapa and her trainers were pleased to make a winning start to her career on Wednesday after an interrupted spring campaign. “We had a bit of a setback with her in the spring, after she’d won the trial, and providing she pulls up well we’ll look at the Wellesley Stakes,” Walker said. Te Akau have a strong recent history in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m), having won the 2021 and 2022 editions with Quattro Quinta and Hanalei respectively. They will be hoping to make it three wins in four years when they head to Trentham on Saturday-week with The Victress, who was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $250,000. Te Akau were back in the winner’s circle later on the card when Caravella took out the Thames Harness Racing Club Sprint (1200m) in the hands of Opie Bosson. The victory continues the four-year-old mare’s purple patch of form, having won first-up at Taupo in November before placing at Rotorua last month. “It was a top ride by Opie and the owners have been patient with her,” Walker said. “She’s been a slower maturing horse, and has had a few niggles and issues, but she’s now stringing together a solid record. “She’ll be up to Rating 75 now, which is quite a strong grade, but it will be interesting to see how she measures up.” The daughter of Caravaggio was another yearling purchase by Ellis, who bought her out of Wentwood Grange’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $115,000. “She’s going pretty well this mare and had to be good to win today,” Ellis said. “She’s not the biggest but shows plenty of determination and is probably going to step over a bit more ground as well. “We had her half-sister Our Abbadean in the stable for the Hawkins family at Wentwood Grange, and she performed very well. She ran in all three legs of the Triple Crown during the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival and came of age as an older mare when winning the Awapuni Gold Cup (Group 2, 2000m) and Travis Stakes (Group 2, 2000m). “She was really good stakes’ quality mare and the more wins Caravella can get on the board the more valuable she becomes. “It’s a good family and Wentwood Grange is one of the very astute breeders in our industry.” More horse racing news View the full article

What Ascot Races Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, January 6, 2024 First Race 12:29pm AWST Visit Dabble Ascot Racecourse will play host to a very competitive nine-race card this Saturday afternoon. With warm weather and no rain forecast for Friday and Saturday, the track is expected to be firm and stay in the Good range for the whole program. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit, with the meeting scheduled to kick off at 12:29pm AWST. Best Bet at Ascot: Here For Cheques After recording back-to-back placings in recent starts, Here For Cheques has found a very winnable race this Saturday. The Bernie Miller-trained gelding was trapped out wide for the entire trip last start but battled on gamely to finish third, beaten 1.1 lengths behind Civvy Street over 1600m at this track. This son of Universal Ruler has been working up to a win this campaign, and his tough effort over this trip in his most recent run suggests that a win is around the corner. From barrier three, Holly Watson should be able to settle in the one-one position and allow her mount to get rolling before the home turn and kick clear at the 300m mark. Best Bet Race 2 – #2 Here For Cheques (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Bernie Miller | J: Holly Watson (58.5kg) +160 with Neds Next Best at Ascot: Rocket Juice Neville and Steven Parnham will combine with Rocket Juice as they seek to record a second win in four starts with this three-year-old gelding. After breaking his maiden three starts back, this son of Bondi has run into the placings at his next two, with his most recent start suggesting that he will appreciate a rise in distance after he ran through the line strongly over 1200m. With him attempting 1400m for the first time in this race, we expect that he will settle just worse than midfield and work his way around the field to run on strong. Steven Parnham knows this guy well and should have him in the perfect position to strike at the 300m mark. Next Best Race 3 – #5 Rocket Juice (6) 3yo Gelding | T: Neville Parnham | J: Steven Parnham (56kg) +240 with Boombet Best Value at Ascot: Oly’s Choice Oly’s Choice went very close to starting his career under new trainers Daniel & Ben Pearce in fine style, when he finished second behind Rock This Town at Pinjarra over 1000m first-up. After jumping awkwardly and being held up at a crucial stage in the final 300m, this five-year-old gelding let down with a strong finish to go down by a neck on the line. Now that he is second-up and rising in distance to 1200m, we expect that he will improve further. Luke Campbell will take the ride and 2kg off this gelding’s back, which will see him get into this race very well at the weights. From barrier one, Oly’s Choice can settle in the box seat behind the speed, wait for a run to appear and burst through to challenge the leaders late. Best Value Race 5 – #1 Oly’s Choice (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Daniel & Ben Pearce | J: Luke Campbell (a2) (60kg) +1000 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Ascot races Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, January 6, 2024 1-2-5 1-2-3 1-4-7 3-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Randwick Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, January 6, 2024 First Race 12:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble Royal Randwick is the destination for NSW metro racing this Saturday as they get set to host an ultra-competitive 10-race program. The rail moves out +6m between the 1600m marker to the winning post, while the remainder of the rail sits out +4m. Improving conditions are forecast leading into the weekend, so expect the course to be a genuine Good 4 prior to the opening race at 12:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Randwick: Our Kobison Our Kobison is returning from a 150-day spell on Saturday and will be looking to continue building on his already impressive resume. The lightly raced four-year-old has three wins in five career starts to date, with his latest barnstorming effort to secure victory coming at BM72 level at Warwick Farm on August 9. Trainer Angela Davies has kept the son of Kobayashi fresh since that performance, only allowing the gelding to step-out once in an outstanding tick-over barrier trial at Wyong on December 15. This will prove to be Our Kobison’s toughest task to date, and with some luck from barrier seven, we’re confident he can continue his winning ways. Best Bet Race 2 – #8 Our Kobison (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Angela Davies | J: Tommy Berry (56kg) +300 with PlayUp Next Best at Randwick: Hellsing Hellsing looks ready for a first-up assault as he makes his Australian debut for the Annabel Nesham barn. The son of Dandy Man brings strong credentials to this BM88 contest, already boasting a Listed victory at Tipperary in August of 2022. The four-year-old has only had one jump-out leading into this contest but couldn’t have been more impressive in securing victory at Warwick Farm on December 22, ridden with a sit before powering over the top to score. He appears wound up for this event, and with James McDonald returning to the saddle after his Hong Kong stint, Hellsing should prove to be one of his better rides on the program. Next Best Race 7 – #4 Hellsing (7) 4yo Horse | T: Annabel Neasham | J: James McDonald (57.5kg) +360 with Neds Best Value at Randwick: Flamin’ Romans After a dominant maiden victory at Bendigo on December 17, Flamin’ Romans makes his way to Sydney for the first time as the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained four-year-old searches for back-to-back wins. He made every post a winner on that occasion and justified the short quote with horse racing bookmakers clearing out by 1.3 lengths. The margin back to third was significant and that race has already produced another subsequent winner since. This guy is dual-accepted for a race at Geelong, however, if the team elect to send Flamin’ Romans to Randwick, watch for Zac Lloyd to attempt similar front-running tactics. Best Value Race 6 – #6 Flamin’ Romans (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Zac Lloyd (55kg) +850 with Bet365 Saturday quaddie tips for Randwick Randwick quadrella selections Saturday, January 6, 2024 2-3-4-9 3-6-11-13-15 1-2-7-9-13-14 3-7-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What The Wave Raceday Where Gold Coast Turf Club – Racecourse Dr, Bundall QLD 4217 When Saturday, January 6, 2024 First Race 12:48pm AEST Visit Dabble The $250,000 Wave will headline the massive nine-race program at Gold Coast Turf Club this Saturday afternoon. Although there is rain forecast in the Gold Coast area on Friday and Saturday, we don’t anticipate that the track will improve much from Thursday’s Soft 7 rating. The rail will be in the True position for the entire circuit, with the opening race of the day scheduled to jump at 12:48pm AEST. The Wave Tip: The Vowels The Vowels turned in his best performance of this preparation last start, when the Toby & Trent Edmonds-trained galloper finished third behind Acquitted in the Listed Bernborough Plate over 1600m at Eagle Farm on December 23. This four-year-old gelding has a Group 2 and Group 3 placing to his name during his three-year-old season, and he appears to be working his way up to a win. Stepping up to 1800m should suit this son of Better Than Ready, and regaining the services of leading jockey James Orman is another positive. With good speed expected, The Vowels can settle worse than midfield and run on strong from the back. The Wave Race 7 – #1 The Vowels (13) 4yo Gelding | T: Toby & Trent Edmonds | J: James Orman (58.5kg) +400 with Picklebet Best Bet at Gold Coast: Arabian Summer Tony & Calvin McEvoy will send Arabian Summer to the Gold Coast for her fourth start this preparation, coming off a dominant victory in the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic over 1000m. After recording a valuable Group 3 placing in the Ottawa Stakes at Flemington the start prior, this two-year-old filly led from start to finish to rocket up the Order Of Entry for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 13. As the only Listed or Group placed runner in the field, Arabian Summer should prove too classy for her rivals and bring up back-to-back victories. Best Bet Race 3 – #1 Arabian Summer (5) 2yo Filly | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Harry Coffey (58kg) +100 with Neds Next Best at Gold Coast: Payline Payline has finished as the runner-up in three of his four starts, with his most recent second-place finish being one of the unluckier runs of his short career. The Chris Munce-trained gelding settled worse than midfield and went searching for a run at the 300m mark, only to be held up until the 150m mark before launching at the leader late. Robbie Dolan would have learned a lot from his first ride on this guy, and from barrier 12, he will have to take his medicine and settle at the rear of the field. With even luck and clear running from the home turn, Payline should be able to break his maiden at the fifth time of asking. Next Best Race 4 – #4 Payline (12) 3yo Gelding | T: Chris Munce | J: Robbie Dolan (57kg) +250 with Boombet Best Value at Gold Coast: Warby Warby has been in great form this campaign, finishing in the top four in each of his four runs, including back-to-back victories two and three starts back. The Tony Gollan-trained galloper is coming out of a strong form race at his most recent start, where he finished third in The Gateway over 1400m at Eagle Farm. Since that race, the runner-up and fourth-place finishers have won their next starts in slightly weaker grades. This son of Hellbent will drop back in distance to 1300m but should be able to settle towards the rear of the field, enjoying a strong tempo. If the leaders go too quick and start to tire late, Warby will be flying home late to stake his claim. Best Value Race 9 – #8 Warby (13) 4yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: Robbie Dolan (58.5kg) +1000 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Gold Coast races Gold Coast quadrella selections Saturday, January 6, 2024 2-7-10-11 1-4-10-13 4-11-12-15 1-5-8-11-16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article