Wandering Eyes

Randwick Guineas Day at Royal Randwick this Saturday features a double dose of elite racing action, with the 2024 Canterbury Stakes showcasing a small but high-quality field of sprinters. The Everest winner Think About It is tipped to return to winning form first-up in the 2024 Canterbury Stakes this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart. Trainer Joe Pride holds a strong hand in the race with his returning Everest champion Think About It the clear favourite at short odds of $1.85 through Ladbrokes. The So You Think gelding boasts an impressive record of 11 wins and 2 thirds from just 13 career starts, including an undefeated first-up record and a flawless 4-for-4 record at Randwick. Following a well-deserved break after a surprise third-place finish in the Giga Kick Stakes at Rosehill, Think About It has put in two strong trial runs at Warwick Farm and appears primed for a winning return. With jockey Sam Clipperton in the saddle and drawn outside barrier, he is the one to beat in this reduced field of seven runners. Pride also saddles up Coal Crusher ($11) in the Canterbury Stakes. The six-year-old comes into the race with a slight fitness advantage as he goes for his third run this campaign. Following a narrow runner-up finish in the Expressway Stakes and a fifth last weekend, Coal Crusher should appreciate the drop in weight and the familiar track and distance. The main danger to Think About It is expected to be Espiona ($3.90) from the Chris Waller stable. Waller opted to withdraw her from the Newmarket Handicap in Melbourne in favour of this race against a smaller field over a longer distance in Sydney. The daughter of Extreme Choice finished a close third in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at headquarters and is tipped to perform well again back in Sydney, chasing her first win since last year’s The Invitation. Rounding out the best in betting are Pericles ($6.50) and Lady Laguna ($10). Pericles, a gelding from the powerhouse Godolphin stable, has put in two solid runs this campaign after narrowly missing out on the Golden Eagle prize in the spring. Lady Laguna, following a recent winning streak of three, will be looking to bounce back after a second-place finish in the Millie Fox Stakes. The Canterbury Stakes is scheduled as Race 7 at 4:00 pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card at Royal Randwick. 2024 Canterbury Stakes Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 1x111x113x THINK ABOUT IT Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 8 59kg 117 2 92x1132x62 PERICLES James Cummings Tom Marquand 1 59kg 110 3 10x3441x25 COAL CRUSHER Joseph Pride Adam Hyeronimus 5 59kg 109 4 04x765824x BANDERSNATCH Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jordan Childs 3 59kg 104 5 x1576x3633 MALKOVICH Bjorn Baker Joshua Parr 4 59kg 103 6 17x21714x3 ESPIONA Chris Waller James McDonald 2 57kg 113 7 3123×21112 LADY LAGUNA Annabel Neasham Tyler Schiller 6 57kg 107 8 349x22532x CALL DI Joseph Pride Nash Rawiller 7 57kg 91 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 Think It About It Poised for 2024 Canterbury Stakes Glory appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Three months after a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to set aside a 2020 stewards' decision and issue a new ruling disqualifying winner Justify from the 2018 GI Santa Anita Derby, a separate settlement has been reached that calls for the CHRB to pay $300,000 to Mick Ruis, the owner of runner-up Bolt d'Oro, and to order a redistribution for the $1-million purse of that stakes. Dick Downey of the Blood-Horse was first to report the settlement on Thursday, citing details made public in court filings. Neither the settlement nor the underlying lawsuit involved any direct claims against 'TDN Rising Star' Justify's then-ownership group (China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm) or the colt's trainer, Bob Baffert. Although, as Downey pointed out in the Blood-Horse, “Presumably they retain the right to appeal the stewards' ruling” and the purse redistribution. By winning the Santa Anita Derby, the undefeated Justify was able to earn necessary qualifying points to enter the GI Kentucky Derby. He then swept the remaining two Triple Crown races, the GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S, but was retired from racing six weeks later after developing a left front ankle filling. It wasn't until 15 months after Justify's Triple Crown romp that a September 2019 bombshell story in the New York Times revealed that Justify had tested positive for scopolamine after he won the Santa Anita Derby, and that the result had been kept hidden from the public. The Times further reported that CHRB officials arranged to handle Justify's positive “differently than usual” by holding an August 2018 executive session hearing during which CHRB members voted unanimously not to disqualify Justify or to sanction Baffert because the positive test was the result of contamination linked to jimson weed. The stewards subsequently claimed they had no jurisdiction on the matter as it had already been decided, a decision with which the CHRB later concurred. Ruis then began what would turn out to be a years-long legal quest to have the result of the race overturned with Bolt d'Oro declared the winner, alleging that the CHRB failed to follow its own rules when it decided not to pursue penalties after Justify's positive test. Carlo Fisco, one of Ruis's attorneys, told TDN via email Thursday evening that the settlement also will quell a separate civil case pending against the CHRB that sought monetary damages. “We have settled our monetary claims against the CHRB, which now has the additional duty to recover and redistribute the purse to the rightful owners including our client,” Fisco wrote. “It was never about the money. I'm hoping we can all move on and put the actions in 2018 of a few bad actors behind us. It's all been settled save for the purse redistribution.” According to the Mar. 5 court document that outlines the settlement, “within five days of [the CHRB] being served with the signed Judgment, the Board of Stewards will enter a new order disqualifying the horse Justify and redistributing the purse pursuant to Rule 1859.5 and ordering that all purse monies earned or awarded be returned to the Paymaster of Purses at Santa Anita within 30 days of their order. If the purse is not redistributed within 30 days, [the] CHRB shall use its best efforts pursuant to its rules [in] ensuring that the [court ruling] is upheld.” The settlement filing states that the CHRB's obligations “are expected to be fully performed by CHRB using its best efforts as expeditiously as possible.” The settlement also stipulates that “Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as an admission of liability, any wrongdoing, or any violation of law.” The post CHRB Settles with Ruis in ’18 Santa Anita Derby Dispute Involving Justify DQ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Millionaire turf mare Closing Remarks is retiring following a sixth-place finish March 3 in the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Following an unforgettable 2023, the ride could continue for Patrick Lewis when Red Carpet Ready returns to action in the March 9 $125,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

The California Horse Racing Board has agreed to pay Mick Ruis $300,000 and direct stewards to disqualify Justify and order a purse redistribution to settle a long-simmering dispute over the outcome of the 2018 Santa Anita Derby (G1) won by Justify.View the full article

The 2024 season for top-level older fillies and mares begins in earnest March 9 with Santa Anita Park's Beholder Mile Stakes (G1). View the full article

The Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) is being a billed as a match-race between Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner Velocious and undefeated Te Akau Racing filly Captured by Love, but Pam Gerard is keen to spoil the party with her Group Three winner Savaglee. Bred by Waikato Stud, the two-year-old son of Savabeel races in the colours of The Oaks Stud principal Dick Karreman after he purchased the colt out of the former’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $400,000. Entrusted to the care of Ballymore Stables’ Matamata operation, headed by Pam Gerard, Savaglee has won two and placed in one of his five starts to date, including a last start victory in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) ahead of Saturday race rival Poetic Champion. While Velocious ($2.10) and Captured By Love ($2.80) clearly head the market for the $450,000 juvenile feature, Savaglee’s last start performance has landed him as the only runner in single figures, rated an $8.50 winning chance on the TAB’s fixed odds. Gerard, who trains in partnership with Michael Moroney, is aware of the mammoth task ahead of her colt this weekend, but she believes he is up to the challenge. “They (Velocious and Captured By Love) are superstars, so it is a big ask, but he hasn’t been too far away from them when he has been doing things wrong,” Gerard told Trackside NZ. “His time he ran the other day was quicker than any of them, so he deserves to have his go. Back to Ellerslie, I think he might be better left-handed, but it is hard to know when he was doing things wrong before. “If he can have the same run (as the Matamata Slipper) he will be giving them a bit of a fright I think.” View the full article

Fresh off Orchestral’s dazzling display in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie last Saturday, trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will head back to the Auckland track this weekend hoping to add another feature scalp to their record. While Orchestral’s victory extended Roger James’ tally in the Derby to six, the Cambridge trainer hasn’t had the same luck in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), having yet to win the Barfoot & Thompson-sponsored staying feature. However, he will have two solid chances of rectifying that this Saturday with Mark Twain ($6) and Dionysus ($6.50) the second and third favourite’s respectively behind Wexford Stables’ Asterix ($4.20). Dionysus is accruing an enviable Cups record, having won the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m), Bulls Country Cup (2200m) and placed in the Waikato Cup, Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m), and Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) last start. The son of Ocean Park has been on the comeback trail since his Waikato Cup triumph in December, but showed he was back to somewhere near his best with his Avondale Cup performance. “Dionysus sustained quite a significant foot injury after his Waikato Cup win and had some time off,” James told Trackside NZ. “We have been playing catch-up and I think his last run signalled that we are right on track.” While featuring prominently in the Cup market, Mark Twain was in danger of not making the final Auckland Cup field earlier this week, and his connections breathed a sigh of relief when he made the cut. The son of Shocking returned to winning form at Te Rapa last month before finishing runner-up in the New Zealand St Leger Trial (2300m) at Otaki a fortnight later. “I thought it (run in the St leger trial) was really good,” James said. “He got hemmed up in a small field which wasn’t ideal, but when he got out, he made good ground.” James is happy with both of his runners ahead of Saturday and believes the weights may play a telling factor in the concluding stages of the two-mile test. “Dionysus has got more weight (55kg) but he has also got more maturity. He is probably a little more rideable, you can put him in the race a little bit if you have to,” he said. “The other horse doesn’t seem to have a lot of early pace, but he rounds them up really strongly late and he is beautifully weighted (52kg).” View the full article

Friday, March 8 promises an exciting day of horse racing with five meetings scheduled across Australia. Our dedicated team of racing analysts at horsebetting.com.au has curated the top bets and provided quaddie numbers specifically for the upcoming Moonee Valley & Newcastle meetings. Friday Racing Tips – March 8, 2024 Moonee Valley Racing Tips Newcastle Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For March 8, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $91.30 odds return: Friday, March 8, 2024 Newcastle – Race 3 #4 Just Party Newcastle – Race 5 #1 New Pharoah Moonee Valley – Race 5 #7 Martial Eagle Moonee Valley – Race 8 #4 Midtown Boss | Copy this bet straight to your betslip For avid Australian racing fans, numerous promotions await your exploration. Be sure to peruse the offerings from top online bookmakers, as daily promotions can enhance your horse racing experience. If you’re in search of a new bookmaker to elevate your horse racing ventures on March 8, 2024, consult our comprehensive guide to the finest online racing betting sites. We’re committed to keeping you informed and enhancing your horse racing betting journey. Horse racing tips View the full article

Newmarket Handicap Day will start at 10:45am AEDT. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Racing Victoria (RV) and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) have jointly announced adjustments to Saturday’s Flemington meeting due to anticipated hot weather conditions. Given the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast indicating a peak temperature of 39 degrees at Flemington later in the afternoon, the schedule for the eight-race program has been altered. Racing will now kick off at 10:45am AEDT, wrapping up by 2:30pm AEDT. The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) will now jump at 12:45pm AEDT. Here’s the updated race schedule (all times are AEDT): Race 1: 10:45 am Race 2: 11:15 am Race 3: 11:45 am Race 4: 12:15 pm Race 5: 12:45 pm (Group 1 Newmarket Handicap) Race 6: 1:20 pm Race 7: 1:55 pm Race 8: 2:30 pm The decision to commence early is rooted in safeguarding the welfare of horses and participants, aligning with RV’s Racing in Hot Weather Policy. To minimise exposure to the heat, arrival times for horses competing in Races 1 and 2 have been reduced to 60 minutes, while horses in Races 3 to 8 will now have 90 minutes before their races (previously two and three hours, respectively). Additionally, the time allotted for pre-race parades has been shortened. In a proactive measure, misting fans will be deployed to cool horses in designated areas, such as the float car park and pre-parade ring. Extra personnel will be stationed around the Mounting Yard to assist with post-race cooling efforts. Furthermore, considering the weather conditions, dress regulations in the members’ enclosure have been temporarily amended, allowing for optional jackets and ties. This adjustment prioritises the comfort of members and their guests for this specific Saturday and does not indicate a permanent change to the dress code policy. Horse racing news View the full article

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Gyarmati told DRF that she "failed a Breathalyzer after she was awakened by NYRA security when found in her truck, which was parked by the Belmont Park training track following training hours."View the full article

A total of 15 juveniles shared the bullet :9 4/5 furlong work time during the second session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Thursday in Central Florida. Three of the bullet workers came from the Wavertree Stables consignment: a filly by Nyquist (hip 304) out of High Heeled Girl (Malibu Moon); a filly by American Freedom (hip 400) out of Limitless (Discreet Cat); and a colt by Shancelot (hip 421) out of Magnolias in Bloom (Flatter). Wavertree also had a McKinzie colt who shared the :9 4/5 bullet time during Wednesday's first session of the under-tack show. Eddie Woods sent out a pair of colts by WinStar Farm first-crop sires to share the bullet :9 4/5 time. First up for the consignment was a chestnut colt by Promises Fulfilled (hip 316). Out of Hot Fun (Latent Heat), the Maryland-bred was purchased by the Quarter Pole Enterprises pinhooking partnership for $110,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. “I expected him to work well,” Woods said. “He is an amazingly good-looking colt by kind of an off-the-wall stallion, so to speak. I thought he would work really quick and he did. He's been like that from the first time we ever worked him. He just jumps right in there. He's a tall, leggy colt with great angles to him.” Also working in :9 4/5 Thursday for Woods was a colt from the first crop of champion Improbable (hip 395). The bay is out of Libby's Tail (Tiz Wonderful) and was purchased by Woods on behalf of Michael Rullo for $135,000 at Keeneland September. “The work was spectacular,” Woods said. “I can't always tell you a big horse like him is going to work in :9 4/5, but we expected a good work from him and he did that and then some. He galloped out great. He's a beautiful, big, long-striding horse. I think a lot of people are going to like him.” The colt was one of two sons of Improbable to work the furlong in :9 4/5 Thursday. Also sharing the bullet was hip 325, a colt by the WinStar stallion out of stakes-placed Inaugurate (Empire Maker) from the Majestic consignment. “As yearlings, I thought they were taller, leaner kind of horses,” Woods said of the progeny of Improbable he has seen. “But we had several in training here and they have come along really well. The one thing they do is move beautifully. They get across the ground really well. They are not huge, robust horses, but they are very athletic.” For the second day in a row, a filly by Munnings from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment worked her furlong in :9 4/5. Hip 229 is out of Firefoot (Tapizar), a half-sister to graded winner Bandbox (Tapit). The 2-year-old, a $125,000 Keeneland September purchase, is a half-sister to stakes-placed Freeburn (Mitole). A Bullet Bolt for Horseology Partners Sharing in the bevy of bullets Thursday at OBS, a colt by Bolt d'Oro (hip 422) worked the furlong in :9 4/5 for Katie Miranda's White Lilac consignment. The bay colt is out of Maisie (Stay Thirsty), a half-sister to multiple graded winner Lovely Bernadette (Wilburn). “The horse has always shown us positive things,” said Miranda. “He's had lovely breezes at the farm all year. I don't think we've ever had a bad breeze from him. And he prepped in :9 4/5 here [at OBS] last week.” Asked to describe the colt, Miranda said, “He's a tank. He is an absolute tank. He looks like a Quarter Horse and he has muscles popping out of every part of his body.” The colt was purchased for $150,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale by Brian DiDonato's Franklin Ave Equine on behalf of David and Jon Schlosser's Cliff Racing and Miranda and trainer Jena Antonucci's Horseology partnership. “He was one of our stretch purchases of the year,” Miranda said. “Obviously, partnering with Cliff and Brian allowed that to happen. We had very high thoughts of him from the jump and he's proven it day in and day out. He's just a class act.” Miranda and Antonucci have been working together for four years and this will be Horseology's second year of pinhooking partnerships. “We have a good mixture of owners,” Miranda said. “Our big goal is to get new people involved. We do smaller shares to give people the ability to start at just a smaller level because this is an expensive game. We bought 10 [yearlings] for this year. The Bolt d'Oro is one of them. And we've got a pretty big group of owners involved, a mix of owners we have worked with for years and some new ones.” Also earning the furlong bullet time Thursday: a filly by Caracaro (hip 225) consigned by Cesar Loya Training & Sales; a filly by Honest Mischief (hip 243) consigned by Jesse Hoppel's Coastal Equine; a filly by City of Light (hip 290) consigned by Top Line Sales; a colt by Violence (hip 301) consigned by New Hope AB; a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 398) consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp.; a filly by Maximus Mischief (hip 418) consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock; and a colt by Volatile (hip 420) consigned by Grade One Investments. A pair of juveniles shared Thursday's fastest quarter-mile time of :20 4/5: a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 252) consigned by Pick View and a colt by Cajun Breeze (hip 271) bred and consigned by Tom McCrocklin. While headwinds were a major factor later in Wednesday's first session of the under-tack show, conditions were more consistent throughout the second session Thursday, according to Miranda. “The headwind yesterday was terrible,” Miranda said. “We probably had a much more consistent track today. They said it was going to be overcast–which to me means you can't see the sun. And there was just one cloud in the sky. Which was annoying just because the track gets so hot and sticky so quick. But the track seemed to play fair all day.” Of wind conditions, Miranda said, “If anything we had a little bit of a tailwind at times, but definitely not the 12mph headwind people had to deal with yesterday.” The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 8 a.m. The March sale will be held next Tuesday through Thursday. Bidding begins each day at 11 a.m. The post Bevy of Bullets at OBS Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland welcomes VisitLEX, the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, as sponsor of the $350,000 Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) April 20. VisitLEX promotes Lexington and the Bluegrass region as a destination for leisure and convention travelers.View the full article

by Jonny Turner Sam Thornley is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of combining with a strong book of drives at Westport today. The junior reinsman will link up with two genuine hopes in both the feature pace and the feature trot at Patterson Park. Just Ask Paddy comes into the Kawatiri Cup after a spectacular win in his last start at Waterlea in which he fell after passing the post. Thornley is hoping to see a more polished version of the pacer when he returns to grass track racing today. And with manners, the pacer trained by Tony Thomas must rate a handy chance. “He must have shied at the winning post in that last start, but he’s won two of his three starts and run third in the other,” Thornley said. “It is great to get the drive for Tony, he stays with us at Ken Barron’s and he is a good fella.” “If the horse can do things right, he should be a pretty handy chance, but there are a couple of good ones in there like Mo’unga and Helium.” Thornley also links up with Muscle Bank for the first time since they won on both days of the January meeting at Waterlea. The mare trained by Tom Bamford looks a serious winning chance in race 7. “She went great at Marlborough and if she races like that she should be a good chance.” “Tom seems pretty happy with her, she has had two trials and she has gone pretty good.” “She has got a lot of high speed, so hopefully there is a bit of pace on and she can be finishing over top of them.” Barrier 8 in race 5 is far from ideal for the consistent Jaccka Opa, but his excellent recent form suggests he is an eachway threat for Thornley. “He has been going good, but he wasn’t as flash in his last start.” “But they ran home in fast time at Addington which probably wasn’t his go.” “If he can get a bit of luck from the draw he should go better.” Proven grass tracker Judgement Bay is another of Thornley’s drives who looks capable of featuring. “She hasn’t been as good in her last couple of starts, but on her best form she would be up with any of them in that field.” Rakero Lightning slots into barrier 2 in race 4 for Thornley which could help her boost her form. “I drove her at the trials and they ran home in fast time and she kept finding the line.” “She is definitely not the worst.” Miley Ace in race 11 looks the roughie among Thornley’s six drives at Westport. View the full article

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rohan Crichton, Daniel Walters, and Dennis Smith's Real Macho, fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), will remain at Gulfstream Park for his next start in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 30.View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Hanshin Racecourses: Sunday, March 10, 2024 3rd-CKO, ¥10,400,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400mT KAFUJI NIHONIUM (c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Broken Dreams, by Broken Vow) represents six generations of Glen Hill Farm breeding and is out of a Grade III-winning dam who produced Caribou Club (City Zip), a graded winner in California, Maryland and Canada. A $190,000 Keeneland September yearling, the May-foaled chestnut counts GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter One Dreamer (Relaunch) as his third dam. B-Glen Hill Farm (KY) 3rd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m JUN FIRENZE (JPN) (c, 3, Ghostzapper–Street Cash, by Street Boss), whose dam cost $95,000 with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November sale, is out of a daughter of 2000 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup winner Collect the Cash (Dynaformer), also the dam of 2010 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner Stately Victor (Ghostzapper) and the GSP duo of Hot Cash (Ghostzapper) and Bay Street Money (Street Sense). An April foal, the bay colt changed hands for ¥16.5 million ($120,495) at the 2022 Hokkaido Selection Yearling Sale. B-Yuki Dendo 11th-HSN, Fillies' Revue-G2, ¥99m ($688k), 3yo, f, 1400mT JUNE BLAIR (f, 3, American Pharoah–Lap of Luxury {Ire}) carried Yutaka Take to a half-length victory in a 1200-meter newcomers event at Nakayama Oct. 1 (see below, SC 1) and was not beaten far when seventh behind eventual champion Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai S. when tried over a mile at Kyoto Nov. 11. The $275,000 Keeneland September acquisition is out of a half-sister to Group 1-winning sire Dutch Art (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and a full-sister to GSW/G1SP Keeneland November topper Up (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose four winners from six to race include last year's GII Lake Placid S. winner Aspray (Quality Road), G1SP Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah) and GSP Khartoum (Pioneerof the Nile). She makes her first start in sex-restricted company here. B-Diamond Creek Farm (KY) The post Glen Hill Farm Family On Display At Chukyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Halo, the world's first equine AI technology platform and Palantir, Inc., a leading provider of AI systems, have joined forces in a strategic partnership, Halo announced at the AIP Conference in Silicon Valley, California on Thursday. This collaboration will offer analytics services to all members of the horse industry, starting with insurance solutions for owners, tailored to the unique risk profiles of their equine athletes. The Halo app is expected to launch on the eve of Royal Ascot at Kensington Palace. The partnership will give horse owners, trainers, and equestrian enthusiasts with precision in predicting risks associated with their equine investments–before they happen. Owners who use the Halo app get a free 360 degree profile of their horses which provide recommendations on breeding, sales and racing decisions. The Halo app has an in-built AI assistant called Hailey, that owners can pose questions to like: “What is the most commercial stallion under $15,000 that I should breed my mare to?” Or “What are the top three listed races to target my horse at this year?”. Hailey is powered by over 100 years of global racing performance, sales results, jockey, trainer, racecourse, and horse welfare data. “Halo is proud to join forces with Palantir to redefine the landscape of equine insurance,” said Neil Sands, a silicon valley design exec, and CEO of Halo. “We see a whole spectrum of applications for this technology, from breeding and auction, through to race selection, performance mapping and beyond. Our first mission however, is to transform horse welfare, by offering predictive insurance coverage that adapts to the ever-changing dynamics of the equine world. The equine industry has extensive pools of rich data that have never been taken from paper to a smartphone app like this before. “We are already seeing this technology creating advantages in F1 racing, so why not in horse racing? Through this collaboration with Palantir, we are combining multiple data streams to deliver data-driven protection that predicts each horse's specific needs at any given moment. We believe that every horse should have the cover it needs, and are welcoming investors and partners to participate with us at the outset of our journey. In short, Halo is horse powered AI.” Palantir's AI engine enables Halo to analyse a host of factors like a horse's pedigree, health status, activity level, competitive and environmental conditions, in real time. There is also synergy between racing updates and the insurance arm of Halo, i.e. after a horse wins a race, Halo instantly offers the owner the opportunity to increase the insurance on that horse. In addition, there is also an in-app marketplace, set to begin later in 2024, which will enable owners to sell their horses on a secondary market on an international scale. For more information about Halo and this new partnership, please visit Halo's website. The post Halo And Palantir Join Forces In AI Partnership To Revolutionise Equine Analytics appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The stars will be out for Joe Pride March 9 when the Warwick Farm-based trainer sends both Think About It and Private Eye to Randwick in search of further feature-race glory in the Canterbury (G1) and Challenge (G2) stakes.View the full article

Trainer Rusty Arnold has been suspended seven days and fined $1,000 after the two-year-old filly he trains, Figgy (Candy Ride {Arg}), tested positive for a metabolite of Tramadol. “I received notification and today am accepting the penalties for a horse in my care testing for a controlled substance under current HISA/HIWU regulations,” said Arnold in a letter circulated by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. “To be clear,” continues Arnold, “I have no issue that I have a positive post-race test. The problem is why it is a positive. We can't afford to just stand on the rail expressing outrage whenever one of our training colleagues gets ensnared in HISA and HIWU testing policies and penalties that defy common sense and ignore the realities of our environment. We need to speak not amongst ourselves but to speak up together to regulators–loudly–that the system in place is unfairly hurting livelihoods and reputations while doing nothing to make our horses and industry safer. I'm not anti-HISA (Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority). But I'm very much against some of the policies they've put in place–and allowed its enforcement arm HIWU (Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit) to put into place–in determining drug and medication violations.” Arnold said the drug was detected in Figgy's post-race test after her win in a Dec. 27 maiden race at Turfway, at a level of three nanograms per millileter of urine. Tramadol is a narcotic use for moderate to moderately severe pain, according to the Mayo Clinic, which says it is also used to treat severe pain when opioids cannot be used or are not effective. It is often given post-surgery. “I am accepting my penalty and will move on. However, I do 100 percent deny giving or instructing anyone on my staff to administer Tramadol to Figgy,” Arnold wrote. “We interviewed every person who came in contact with Figgy and no one had a Tramadol prescription. Figgy is under 24/7 state-of-the-art video surveillance supplied by Keeneland. This was offered to HISA, but they never responded to the offer to make that video available. We do not believe Figgy received Tramadol in our care. “It is our belief that Figgy was contaminated with Tramadol either on the van ride to Turfway Park that day or in the receiving barn where she was in her assigned stall for approximately eight hours prior to her race. We have no control over those factors.” Arnold said that he felt that HISA was unrealistic in its views and penalties for environmental contamination. “Horses are grazing animals,” he wrote. “They eat dirt. They love to lick smelly wet spots in stalls. They eat manure. They lick the walls of ship-in stalls. It is unreasonable to think we can control this.” The TDN has reached out to HIWU for comment. The post Arnold Receives Seven-Day Suspension for Tramadol Positive; Raises Contamination Questions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Winning would be a bonus when Old Town Road resumes at Alexandra Park tonight. That is not to say trainer John Dickie doesn’t want his stable star to win the $40,000 Lincoln Farms Founders Cup and he is adamant he can. But first and foremost Dickie is just happy the race, in fact the whole Alexandra Park meeting, is being held at all. The meeting will consist of just seven races with a total of 47 starters. The fields are quite even with few standout favourites so there is still value to be found. One of the those races could even be the Founders Cup, which only has five starters but needed to be held after a similar race last week was canned. Cambridge are a month away from holding the $1million Race by Grins and horses based in the north have to be given racing opportunities to prepare for it otherwise they will get spanked like a rock-hard fit superstar like Leap To Fame. “That is why I am so glad the race got off the ground,” says Dickie. “These horses need and deserve some racing. We are pretty sure we are in The Race by Grins but we need racing to get ready for it.” That is especially true for Old Town Road as the natural speedster doesn’t have the recent racing under his belt that key rivals Self Assured and Mach Shard do for tonight’s sprint. “He has had three workouts but in one of them he didn’t go so well and we found out he had a bug bothering him so we eased up for a few days and started again,” explains Dickie. Old Town Road won his Pukekohe workout two weeks ago and was second to Mach Shard last weekend when driven cold. Their draws suggest different tactics tonight with Old Town Road drawn barrier 2 and with the gate speed to reach and then hold the lead. “There is no point giving away that advantage so if he can lead I’d like to see him stay there,” says Dickie. In a a five-horse field over just 1700m it is hard to envisage much pressure so early intent from the drivers could be crucial as if either Self Assured or Mach Shard rush forward early a fresh-up Old Town Road may adopt more conservative tactics. So even the small field provides some intrigue. Two juvenile races, full of largely unknown talents, add interest to the meeting while Northern Oaks second favourite All You Need Is Me makes her Alexandra Park debut in the last race. She is a daughter of champion mare Adore Me by speed stallion Captaintreacherous so one of the most valuable pacers racing in the country. View the full article

Selections for Auckland today. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Trottech Form Analyst Race 1 6.35pm 4 Nelson’s Boy 2 Scout’s Honour 1 Skipper 5 Potter Race 2 7.05pm 5 It’s Electrifying 4 Lincoln Lou 2 Sadhaka 1 Justyouwait Race 3 7.34pm 3 Leo Lincoln 5 Precious Bet 2 Onyx Shard 4 Hadron Collider Race 4 7.59pm 6 Great White 4 Demon Blue 2 Sugar Ray Lincoln 5 Roy Kent Race 5 8.24pm 6 Shake A Leg 1 Dear God 9 Beta Prepare 3 Xcite Me Race 6 8.50pm 2 Old Town Road 5 Self Assured 4 Mach Shard 3 Kango Race 7 9.20pm 6 All You Need Is Me 5 Two Eye See 2 Throwyaarmsaroundme 1 My Copy View the full article

Jaber Abdullah's Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}–Danega {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) was scoreless in four starts since annexing May's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and regained the winning thread in this seasonal return. Last term's G1 Prix du Jockey Club placegetter settled third along the fence through halfway, but slipped one spot rounding the home turn. Coming under pressure approaching the quarter-mile marker, he went second entering the final furlong and was ridden out to deny long-time leader Topgear (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths nearing the line. “I am happy, very happy,” said winning trainer Andreas Schutz. “I am happy for the horse, happy for the owner and happy for the jockey. It looks like a mile is his best trip and it was the owner who suggested bringing him back to a mile, so it was a good decision. I was very happy with his run in the Jockey Club, but it looked like the distance was too much for him. He's entered in the [Apr. 1 G3] Prix Edmond Blanc [over this course and distance] and then we'll have to see. I would like to see him back in Group 1 company at some stage this season, but there's no fixed plan yet.” Marhaba Ya Sanafi, half to a yearling colt by Hello Youmzain (Fr), is the fourth of six foals and one of two scorers produced by an unraced half-sister to G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and G3 Ballysax S. placegetter Fergus McIver (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). The March-foaled bay's G3 Noblesse S.-winning second dam Danelissima (Ire) (Danehill) is out of the dual stakes-winning Zavaleta (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), herself a daughter of stakes-winning matriarch La Meilleure (Ire) (Lord Gayle). Descendants of Zavaleta include G1 Dewhurst S.-winning sire Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway) and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy). Thursday, Saint-Cloud, France PRIX ALTIPAN-Listed, €52,000, Saint-Cloud, 3-7, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:49.68, vhy. 1–MARHABA YA SANAFI (IRE), 126, c, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Danega (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Andreas Schutz; J-Mickael Barzalona. €26,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 10-4-1-1, €624,160. 2–Topgear (Fr), 126, h, 5, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Miss Lech, by Giant's Causeway. (€200,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Hisaaki Saito; B-Snig Elevage (FR); T-Christopher Head. €10,400. 3–American Flag (Fr), 126, c, 4, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Tres Americanqueen (Fr), by American Post (GB). (€102,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Malcolm Parrish; B-Chevotel de la Hauquerie (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €7,800. Margins: 1 1/4, 2, SHD. Odds: 2.80, 1.70, 2.40. Also Ran: Half Half (Fr), Russipant Fal (Mor), Arcandi (Ger), Breizh Eagle (Fr). Scratched: Anthorus (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Muhaarar’s Marhaba Ya Sanafi Makes Winning Return at Saint-Cloud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 105 entries for its March Digital Sale, which may be viewed at digital.fasigtipton.com. Bidding is now open and will close Tuesday, Mar. 12, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. The catalogue offers horses of racing age, breeding stock, 2-year-olds, and yearlings. Daddysruby (Frac Daddy) (Hip 1), winner of the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26, headlines the sale's catalogue. Her La Brea win capped an outstanding 3-year-old season in which she won five of six starts on her way to career earnings of $364,014. Now four, she is consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Bluewater Sales, agent. “Consignors have supported our March Digital Sale with another strong group of entries,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales. “We are particularly excited to offer our first current Grade I winner on the platform in Daddysruby. At just four years old, she has a lot of racing opportunities still ahead of her.” Other horses of racing age entries of interest include two in-form graded stakes level older horses, as well as recently graded stakes placed racing/broodmare prospects. Breeding stock offerings include mares in foal to Mitole, Violence, and Yaupon, as well as eight mares offered along with their 2024 foals at foot. Sires of yearlings represented include Curlin, Flatter, and Tapit. Fasig-Tipton February Digital sale topper Pounce (Lookin At Lucky) won the GIII Herecomesthebride S. at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old filly was purchased on Fasig-Tipton Digital by Resolute Racing just 11 days prior to her graded stakes win. “Pounce's impressive victory this past weekend demonstrates the level of quality that can be found on our digital platform,” Aaron said. “Her buyer was rewarded with a quick return on investment, while the filly never had to leave her stall or miss a day of training to be sold.” The post Led by GISW Daddysruby, Bidding Now Open for Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making his first start after being walked off in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), Skippylongstocking will try to repeat as the victor of the $100,000 Challenger Stakes (G3) March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs. View the full article