Wandering Eyes

Continuing the profiles of the favourite horses of TDN Europe's editorial team in 2023, Sean Cronin selects an unheralded sprinter who could hit the big time next year. Royal Ascot's 2023 edition produced its plethora of lip-quivering moments and there was scarcely a dry eye in this quarter when Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) halted a seven-race losing streak by annexing the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. for Tom Clover's Fordham Road yard. Purchased for 35,000gns as an unraced two-year-old out of the Shadwell draft at Tattersalls' 2021 December Sale, she became the Kremlin House incumbent's first Royal scorer and instigated joyous scenes among the multitude of Rogues Gallery syndicate members assembled in the hallowed winner's enclosure. Her best effort, in four subsequent outings, following that career high was a runner-up finish in Leopardstown's G1 Matron S. on Irish Champions weekend, but she made little impression and was not unduly punished when finishing last of 11 in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc day. Earlier on the card, Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) had wowed the Bois de Boulogne throng with an Arc performance for the ages, but it was a notable performance in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye, one race and 35 minutes after the Opera, which piqued this correspondent's interest. Rogue Lightning (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), another well-bought Rogues Gallery representative, had backed up a brace of five-furlong handicap triumphs with a black-type breakthrough in September's Listed Scarborough S. at Doncaster. An 80,000gns October Book 2 yearling-turned-42,000gns Craven Breezer, his next assignment was the final stakes race of the Arc weekend extravaganza, but Rogue Lightning was allotted a nightmare draw in the car park, stall 18 in a field of 18, for the five-furlong dash. The die had been cast and all hope was lost, or so it seemed. The gelded three-year-old broke alertly and, with little fuss from Robert Havlin in the plate, was soon among the pack racing towards the stands' side rail. Rogue Lightning was a hostage to fortune throughout, but picked off rivals from halfway and somehow weaved a charmed passage into contention. He closed relentlessly inside the final furlong only to run out of real estate, finishing fifth in a four-way photograph for second place, just one length and a flurry of pixels adrift of Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at the line. The vastly underrated Havlin had earned every cent of his riding fee in getting his mount so close. Rogue Lightning had one further assignment to fulfil and accompanied stablemate Rogue Millennium on the journey to Ascot for the British Champions meet, where the latter was no match for the supreme performance of Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., running a never-nearer fifth in the one-mile procession. Rogue Lightning was not in Berkshire to race, but to compete for bids as one of five lots catalogued for the boutique Goffs QIPCO Ascot Champions Day Sale. Another performance of note transpired as Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock signed the £1-million docket on behalf of Wathnan Racing's burgeoning operation. Much to the relief of Clover, Rogue Lightning will remain at Kremlin House and is set to target the majority of Europe's top sprints in 2024. “He's been a great horse for the Rogues and for us, as an ambitious yard, to keep him for some fantastic new owners in the yard is very exciting,” the trainer reflected. “We'll have to speak to Richard Brown, but the plan for now is that we'll bring him back fresh in the spring. He's the type of horse where you'd hope that the programme would work itself out and he should shape into a top-class sprinter.” Royal Ascot's G1 King's Stand, York's G1 Nunthorpe and another crack at the Abbaye are on the agenda and maybe, just maybe, Clover will be savouring his maiden Group 1 success in 2024. The post TDN Horses of the Year: Rogue Lightning appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Superstar miler will miss next month’s Stewards’ Cup, opening the door for a fresh face to taste Group One gloryView the full article

Legendary trainer believes his superstar miler can bounce back in the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) on New Year’s DayView the full article

by Michael Guerin Champion trainer Mark Purdon is adamant Don’t Stop Dreaming is ready to step up to the big time at Alexandra Park tonight but whether than means beating stablemate Akuta is another matter. Don’t Stop Dreaming races in open class for the first time in tonight’s $60,000 Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup, the highlight of a New Year’s Eve meeting far smaller than it used to be at The Park. One of our two star three-year-olds this season (alongside Merlin), Don’t Stop Dreaming clearly has the motor for open class and will eventually be a serious force in that grade but Purdon says it often takes even the best young pacers time to adjust. “He will make a good open class horse because he is such a great stayer,” says Purdon. “And he will go well this week, he could even win because while it is his first standing start I think he will handle it well as he is a very sensible horse. “But Akuta is still the better of our two chances. He has been there, done that.” Akuta hasn’t raced since surprisingly being beaten by Self Assured in the NZ Free-For-All at Addington on November 17, just days after a brave second to Swayzee in the New Zealand Cup. Before that he had dominated the New Zealand spring including two huge wins at Ashburton and Kaikoura which could mirror tonight’s 2700m standing start. On both those occasions he was allowed to find his feet early before launching mid-race and was still too strong for better fields than he meets tonight and he will again have to come from last from his 30m handicap tonight. Purdon thinks he can do it even though he hasn’t raced for six weeks. “He was tired after Cup week so we gave him five days off but he had that residual fitness when he came back into work,” he explains. “So it is not like back in the spring when he needed racing to get fit. “He has had one trial and a couple of good workouts and I think he is ready and the field doesn’t have the depth of the races he was winning in the spring. “I think he has that edge over Don’t Stop Dreaming but I do think John Dickie’s horse (Old Town Road) will be hard to beat now he is back home.” Akuta opened $2.10 with the TAB which looked generous as he could start around $1.60 or $1.70 tonight. Safely through tonight’s race both Akuta and Don’t Stop Dreaming head to Australia where Akuta will target the Hunter Cup at Melton on February 3. “I am looking forward to getting back over there, we haven’t done it much since Covid and I have built up a lot of contacts over there over the years,” says Purdon. Tonight’s other Cup for the trotters has lost one of its key chances with the scratching of Dream Of You so Resolve is now the $1.80 favourite. She was beaten fair and square by Dream Of You last start but trainer John Dickie believes she will be better tonight and with her last-start conqueror out and only a small field her 20m handicap doesn’t look that daunting. LAST BETS OF 2023 Best: Akuta (R7, No.8): His $2 fixed odds quote is very fair for the best pacer in the country. Each way: Kiss And Run (R6, No.14): Took on the open class trotters last start so drops a long away tonight and consistent filly. Fresh: Christopher Dance (R5, No.6): Stable rate him the fastest of their hot juvenile team and if he can get cover could beat them for speed. View the full article

The slushy track was no problem for Sharkie’s Girl with her dominant win last night in Race 3, the Happy New Year From Woodlands Stud Mobile Pace. Trained by John Dickie, the mare was rated perfectly by Stephanie Burley in the event for Junior Drivers. From a starting draw of 5, Burley sent Sharkie’s Girl forward to lead where she remained throughout before kicking away from the field to win by 5 and 3 quarter lengths in a time of 2.42. “I was quietly confident as I thought she was the best horse in the field” said Burley “I found the front easier than expected and she was travelling easy throughout and let down really well.” Pixie, driven by Crystal Hackett finished 2nd and Bet West, driven by Nate Delany was 3rd. The Maiden races of the meeting also look to have unveiled some talent to follow with both being taken out by 2 year olds. Irresistible took out Race 2 for Pukekohe based trainer Penny Fensom, who also trained the 2nd place runner Savarna, giving her a quinella with her two starters. Driven by Rhys Fensom, Irresistible was sent forward to lead and proved too good in front, winning by 3 and a half lengths. “We started Irresistible fresh without a workout on the 21st December where she ran 6th” says Fensom “we knew she would have improved from the run and were happy with her heading into the race last night.” Race 6, The Off The Track Food and Bev Mobile Pace, was won by first starter Justcallmemiki for trainer Brent Mangos in the hands of Maurice McKendry. McKendry sent the 2 year old colt forward where he remained before skipping away from the field in the straight to win by 3 lengths. The meeting was Cambridge Raceway’s final event for 2023 with their first meeting in the New Year on Sunday 7th January. View the full article

What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King St, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Monday, January 1, 2023 First Race 2:40pm AEDT Visit Dabble The New Year of racing is set to get underway at Canterbury on Monday afternoon as they get set to host a bumper eight-race program, headlined by the $200,000 Listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m). The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with improving conditions forecast in the lead-up, the course should firm into the Good range prior to the opening event at 2:40pm AEDT. Canterbury Sprint Top Tip: Zou Tiger There’s speed drawn across the map in the Listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m), hopefully allowing a returning Zou Tiger to finish off best. The son of Zoustar returns after a 219-day spell and a gelding operation, with the John O’Shea barn targeting a strong race first-up. He’s only had one trial prior to this event, however, with Tommy Berry taking the sit aboard the four-year-old, it gives us confidence the four-year-old is ready to go, so expect a bold showing from this multiple Group 1 placed galloper. Canterbury Sprint Race 7 – #5 Zou Tiger (6) 4yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea | J: Tommy Berry (55.5kg) +800 with Neds Best Bet at Canterbury: Fickle On the back of two strong barrier trials, Fickle makes her debut for the Peter & Paul Snowden barn and looks prepared for a first-up assault. The filly by I Am Invincible travelled beautifully for Zac Lloyd in a recent jump-out at Randwick on November 20, trucking between runners to score by 1.7 lengths. She oozes quality, and provided Fickle can bring some of that quality to race-day, we’re confident she can only run well on Monday. Best Bet Race 2 – #5 Fickle (4) 3yo Filly | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Zac Lloyd (56kg) +280 with Bet365 Next Best at Canterbury: Suit Of Armour Suit Of Armour tackled Class 1 company last start Kembla Grange and wasn’t disgraced when powering home behind Genetic Freak on December 14. He drops back to the 1900m on Monday and should relish the opportunity to get back into restricted maiden class. The son of Camelot appears to have plenty of upside compared to some of his key rivals, and with this only his fourth-career start, Suit Of Armour seems to be a stayer on the rise. Next Best Race 1 – #2 Suit Of Armour (5) 3yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea | J: Kerrin McEvoy (59kg) +180 with PlayUp Canterbury Monday quaddie tips – 1/1/2024 Canterbury Park quadrella selections Monday, January 1, 2024 1-7-9-10-11 1-6 1-2-3-4-5 1-2-3-6-9-11-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

The feature event on the programme at Taupo on Saturday came down to a battle between two of the best riders in the country with victory in the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) going the way of Michael McNab on Mehzebeen ahead of Town Cryer and Opie Bosson. Bosson, who recently became only the eighth local jockey to register 2000 career wins, was at his brilliant best aboard the front-running topweight Town Cryer (60kgs) as they attempted an all-the-way victory for trainer Roydon Bergerson only to be pipped by McNab on the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Almanzor who enjoyed a 6kg pull in the weights. McNab sat back near last in the 10-horse field as Town Cryer raced away in front and at one stage was more than eight lengths in arrears of the pacemaker. McNab picked a path one off the fence approaching the home turn before finding clear air at the 300m as the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up charged to the front with 50m to run, downing a gallant Town Cryer with Pep Torque three lengths adrift in third ahead of favourite Nom De Plume. Sam Bergerson was delighted to see the mare burst back into winning form in her first start since returning from the Riccarton Spring Carnival in November although he admitted the victory made it a little awkward in the jockeys room where he watched the race with his father. “We had a big swing in the weights which was probably the winning of the race in the end, along with a magical ride by Michael,” Bergerson said. “She was really stiff down at Riccarton when finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2600m) and she has done really well since she got back home. “She has really matured in the last six months and we think there is more to come from her as she continues to strengthen up. “We’re not sure where she will go to next but there is a special conditions race over 2100m on Wellington Cup Day at Trentham that is worth $350,000 so that holds a lot of appeal given she absolutely thrives on a big roomy track like that. “Some of her owners are here today so it is good to be sharing this with them, although I watched the race with Dad (Roydon) in the jockeys room and when they went past the post I was trying to celebrate while also feeling for him. “All I can say is I’m glad Christmas is over as if we had done this beforehand the presents may have been a little scarce.” Bred by Sir Peter Vela under his Pencarrow Thoroughbreds banner, Mehzebeen is the younger half-sister to two-time Hong Kong winner Smiling Pride and hails from an extended family that includes Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Te Akau Coup and multiple Australian stakes winner Sacramento. She has now won three of her 11 starts for her large group of owners that includes Waikato Hospital radiologist Xavier Kos and his wife Beatrice Hild who purchased her under their Sarai Stud banner for $50,000 during the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka. Her younger brother Lovely Friends, who was a $475,000 purchase for Jamie Richards and Andrew Williams Bloodstock at the 2022 Ready To Run Sale at Karaka, is likely to make his raceday debut in a maiden three-year-old 1200m contest at Hastings on Sunday. View the full article

Quality stayer Dunkel lumped 61kgs to an emphatic victory at The Valley on Saturday in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (2040m), as the Patrick Payne-trained galloper notched the seventh victory of his career from just ten starts. Perfectly ridden by jockey Billy Egan, Dunkel tracked the leader Grand Promenade throughout and was able to take an inside run when that runner lugged out rounding the home bend to score by just over a length. Winner of the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) last season, Dunkel is being readied for a return trip to the City of Churches with the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 11. Payne has said that fitness is the key to the New Zealand-bred son of Dundeel, who was able to race his way into fitness and still win as a three-year-old but is lumping big imposts as an open class four-year-old. The gelding finished runner-up in a Kyneton jumpout a fortnight ago having finished second at Caulfield over 1800m when resuming last month when beaten by lightweight Let’srollthedice. “He’s getting ready for the Adelaide Cup so we didn’t need to be rushing back to the races, we just had to work on his fitness level a little bit,” Payne said. Jockey Billy Egan was aware the stayer had taken good improvement from the first-up run and jumpout. “It was a really good win today,” Egan said. “The race worked out quite nicely. We didn’t want to give them too much of a head start with the big weight and it was just a matter of getting the runs at the top of the straight. “He has certainly taken really good fitness (from the first-up run). The other day he came out and built into the race and just peaked on his run not long after entering the straight. He probably just maintained that gallop to the line. “Today, even though he had a very cruisy run in behind them, he sprinted quite well and he was very good through the line. He was getting away from them. “I certainly think an Adelaide Cup would be right up his alley.” Dunkel has finished outside the top two only once, when ninth in the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley last March. He bounced back eight weeks later to win the South Australian Derby with Egan in the saddle. Dunkel was bred by Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Thoroughbreds and is out of the Cape Cross mare Kudamm. A four-time winner and placed in the Listed South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), Kudamm is the dam of five winners from five foals to race. In addition to Dunkel, Kudamm’s progeny include Mint Julep (5 wins), Remington (5 wins), Garfunkel (4 wins) and Marcolt (3 wins). Dunkel was a $40,000 purchase from Pencarrow Stud’s Book 1 yearling draft at Karaka 2021 by Steven Ramsay. Presented at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale later that year through the Ohukia Lodge draft, Dunkel was purchased by Central Districts trainer Kevin Myers for $100,000 on behalf of long-time family friend Payne. View the full article

The burgeoning rivalry between Sacred Satono and Babylon Berlin will kick up a gear when the pair meet at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day. Sacred Satono got the better of his older rival at the South Auckland venue in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) in November and trainers Grant Cooksley and Bruce Wallace are hoping for a repeat performance in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on Monday. Cooksley and Wallace liked him the moment they saw him at Karaka as a yearling and they are pleased the $34,000 purchase out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 draft is fulfilling his promise. “I trained his half-sister and she went alright,” Cooksley told TAB NZ. “I went and had a look at him at the sales and liked what I had seen. His first couple of gallops we knew we had something then. “You wouldn’t get a better horse to do anything with. He is just so relaxed and nothing seems to worry him. He just does his work and walks off the track like a pony, but when he switches on he is a different horse. “The older he has got, the better he has got. He relaxes in his races and when you ask him to do something he can sprint well.” Sacred Satono will once again be piloted by Michael McNab and the leading hoop believes his charge is a massive chance of snaring Group One success. “He beat her (Babylon Berlin) really comfortably. Obviously the big swing in the weights is the big talking point, and she is a proven Group One horse, but I think he is the better ride,” McNab said. “He is a big, strong horse so I don’t think carrying extra weight, I think he has got to carry another three kilos, is going to be an issue. If he gets to the level he promises he could, I don’t think it is going to matter.” Cooksley is hoping McNab is right, as the former jockey, who recorded 66 Group One wins in the saddle, would dearly love to tick another one up as a trainer. “Everyone wants to win a Group One, so it will be great if I could,” he said. View the full article

Matamata mentor Graham Richardson will attempt to win one of his favourite races for the third time on Monday when he and training partner Rogan Norvall line-up Bonny Lass in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe. Richardson was first successful in the blue riband sprinting contest back in 1997 with Kailey before striking gold once again in 2018 with outstanding mare Volpe Veloce. He believes Bonny Lass is well-qualified to add her name to the winner’s list for the race after she impressed when running third behind race rivals Maven Belle and Babylon Berlin in a 1000m trial on her home track prior to Christmas. “We are very happy with her and I couldn’t have asked any more of her in the last trial she had,” Richardson said. “It was a first-class effort where she worked home well under a good hold and since then she has continued to thrive and we think she is ready to run a big race. “I guess at the moment the weather is the biggest consideration as she can handle a reasonably wet track although if it became a bog then we would have to reconsider with her. “The Railway is one of my favourite races and it would be nice to think we could add another trophy to the cabinet with her.” Richardson and Norvall have a small but strong support team in on the day with two of their four runners lining up in the first race on the card, a special conditions maiden over 1500m, where To Catch a Thief will look to put his first win on the board after finishing third in eight of his nine starts, with three of those at Group One level, including his most recent effort behind Crocetti in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. “This looks a nice race for To Catch A Thief as long as it doesn’t get too wet,” Richardson said. “It is the perfect lead in for the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) next month so we would like to run if we can get the track to suit. “He has thrived since coming home from Riccarton and is just the coolest horse to do anything with as he is so laidback and has been like that since his first day in the stable. “He has a nomination for the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) and we would like to see if we can get him there as they are only three once and this is his shot at the race. “We also have Sorghaghtani entered who did well to run third off a 13-month break last time and has come on from that. “She is going to be better over more ground, but this is all part of getting her back racing regularly and we like her a lot.” The stable’s fourth runner on the day is two-year-old filly Lotus in the Gr.2 SKYCITY Eclipse Stakes (1200m) where she has the formidable task of taking on ultra impressive debut winner Move To Strike and the current TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) favourite Velocious. “She (Lotus) has good ability but it is a big ask against some of those other horses in the race with better form credentials,” he said. “It is only a small field (8) and if she could sneak in and get some black type to her name then it would be a job well done.” View the full article

Lance Noble had a bumper New Year’s Day race meeting 12 months ago and has the firepower for a repeat at Pukekohe on Monday, but weather and track conditions have dented the Cambridge Stud trainer’s confidence. Last year’s New Year’s Day card was staged at Te Rapa, where Noble came away with a big-race double courtesy of Polygon in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Aquacade in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m). Noble has a team of five entered for Pukekohe on Monday, including feature assignments for Habana in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m), About Time in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m) and Terra Mitica in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m). Those black-type contenders are backed up by impressive recent winners Frostfair and Ominous in undercard races. It looks like a particularly strong team on paper, but Noble is unsure how his runners will fare on the Pukekohe track, which was rated a Heavy8 on Saturday morning. “Obviously the weather is the big concern,” he said. “It’s such a shame for everybody that it’s packed up the way it has, and at the moment it doesn’t look like the track is likely to be much better than a Heavy8. It’s probably going to come down to who handles the conditions best. “Habana gets through rain-affected ground to an extent, but he may not be entirely comfortable in heavy, and I’m not sure how the others will go. But I’m really happy with them all, and if they can handle the conditions, they should run well.” The Rich Hill Mile was not originally on the agenda for Habana, who was a last-start fifth in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham on December 9. Three of the four horses that beat him had been left standing in the gates in the false start, while Habana was one of the 14 that jumped and ran most of the way down Trentham’s back straight before being pulled up. “The Trentham race was a bit of a disaster for a lot of horses and I think we can put a line through his performance,” Noble said. “The Rich Hill Mile wasn’t on our radar. We went down to Wellington hoping that we might run in the top three there, which probably would have meant he’d be weighted out of a race like this. As it turned out, this race has come back into our calculations, although he’s still ended up topweight. “That makes it a bit tricky, but he’s come through the Wellington trip really well and has such a great record around Pukekohe, so we’re happy to have a go.” Habana’s six starts at Pukekohe have produced five wins and a placing. Notably, that one defeat was a second placing on a heavy track in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) in April. Noble will attempt to defend Polygon’s Royal Stakes title when About Time lines-up in the 2024 edition of the three-year-old fillies’ feature, which has been renamed in honour of the late, great Sir Patrick Hogan. About Time recorded a win and two placings from her first three starts, including a third in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m). The daughter of American Pharoah is backing up from the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day, in which she finished sixth behind standout filly Molly Bloom. “I thought her Eight Carat run was okay,” Noble said. “The very best fillies in this crop are probably just a little bit sharp for her at this stage, and the tempo of the race on Boxing Day was pretty full-on as well, but she wasn’t far away at the finish. “She’s come through it well. There’s only seven in this field now and it’s just down the road, so we’re happy to take our chance. “Her pedigree suggests that she’ll get up over a bit of ground, so the step up to 2050m should suit her. It may well be a case of half of the field not really getting through the conditions, so we’ll just have to hope that we’re in the half that do.” Imported stayer Terra Mitica faces her first black-type test in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, having made a big impression with a dominant win in a 2100m open handicap at Pukekohe on December 9. “It was a very strong win that day and I’ve been pleased with her progress since then,” Noble said. “I’m just mindful that she’s a three-win horse jumping straight up into Group Three company. That’s a significant jump to make. “But that last-start win was a particularly strong performance and we believe she’s a true stayer, so we’re happy to give her this chance. Hopefully she can take the next step.” Noble also has a good opinion of debut winner Frostfair, who lines-up in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1200m), along with the Ellerslie Events (1600m) contender Ominous. “This is a step up for Frostfair, but I thought her debut win was good,” Noble said. “She’s a big, strong filly. She has a reasonable draw and her race is reasonably early in the day, which is an advantage with the conditions. She’s come through that debut run well. “Ominous is in the last race of the day but is drawn out a bit, so that might be the place to be by then.” View the full article

What Flemington Races Where Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 When Monday, January 1, 2024 First Race 1:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble Feature racing heads to Flemington Racecourse on Monday afternoon, where a competitive eight-race meeting awaits punters. The Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) and Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) headline proceedings on a track rated a Good 4. Perfect conditions will greet participants on Monday, and with the rail remaining in its true position, every runner will get their opportunity if they are good enough. Action from Flemington gets underway at 1:10pm AEDT. Bagot Handicap – Glentaneous Having been a frustrating conveyance for punters, Glentaneous has finally hit his straps in recent times, recording two smart victories at Sandown and then again at Moonee Valley. The six-year-old gelding has won at 2400m and 2500m and the step up to 2600m should prove to be no issue for the son of Gleneagles, considering how he hit the line last time out. Damian Lane will look to find cover around midfield upon settling, and with the long straight of Flemington at his disposal, Glentaneous can build through his gears and finish over the top of his rivals in the Bagot Handicap. Bagot Handicap Race 6 – #8 Glentaneous (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Damian Lane (54kg) +220 with Playup Chester Manifold Stakes – Pascero Pascero is another who has started to hit his straps in recent times, winning two of his last three starts. He was a smart Flemington 1400m winner three runs back when getting the better of Bermadez and Chorlton Lane, and despite struggling in Group 3 company two starts back, was an easy winner at Caulfield on December 16. A dry track is key to his chances, and he gets that on Monday. Aided by barrier three, and with Daniel Moor sticking on board, Pascero looks the obvious play to us in the Chester Manifold Stakes, and we are getting a great price about him with top online bookmakers. Chester Manifold Stakes Race 7 – #4 Pascero (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Daniel Moor (56kg) +550 with Dabble Best Bet at Flemington – Mornington Glory We will be looking to kick 2024 off in style, as the Gavin Bedgood-trained Mornington Glory looks hard to go past in the Flemington opener. The five-year-old gelding narrowly missed winning the Flemington 1100m on December 20, but a return to the track and distance on Monday should see him return to the winner’s enclosure. Beau Mertens will have the son of Shalaa settled just off the leader’s, and when asked to quicken, Mornington Glory has a sharp turn of foot, which should prove to be more than good enough to account for his rivals. Best Bet Race 1 – #4 Mornington Glory (12) 5yo Gelding | T: Gavin Bedggood | J: Beau Mertens (59kg) +340 with Picklebet Best Value at Flemington – Hasseltoff In the quaddie opener, Tom Dabernig’s Hasseltooff returns to Flemington, a track with which he has a strong affiliation. With three wins and five minor placings from 13 starts at Flemington, the son of Toorak Toff returns to the Flemington 1800m, a track and trip he tasted success at on December 17, 2022. He backed that win up with a 1700m win on this day in 2023, and despite not bringing outstanding form into this event this year, he looks ready to strike fourth-up. Best Value Race 5 – #3 Hasseltoff (15) 7yo Gelding | T: Tom Dabernig | J: Damian Lane (61kg) +2000 with Neds Monday quaddie tips for Flemington Flemington quadrella selections Monday, January 1, 2024 3-10-11-14 1-2-6-8 2-3-4-5 2-3-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More racing tips View the full article

Golden Sixty forges to Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) victory. Golden Sixty will bypass the 2024 Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin on January 21 after the champion miler presented with a minor leg issue on Wednesday. Trainer Francis Lui said the record-breaking Golden Sixty – brilliant last-start winner of the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 10 December – would be restricted to trotting exercises over the next three to four weeks, ruling out a bid at a record-extending 11th international Group 1. “We found, the day before yesterday (Wednesday) in the morning, a little bit of filling and a little bit of heat (in his front left leg). The vets did a check, a scan and an MRI – there’s nothing serious, but they sent a report to England,” Lui said. “It’s very slight but, of course, for the safety side, we don’t want to push him because the race is only three weeks’ time. “The vets said we can give him light trotting for three or four weeks and progressively we can check on him. The issue is just inside the pastern on his front left leg.” Winner of the Stewards’ Cup in 2021 and 2023, Golden Sixty was beaten in the 2022 edition by Waikuku when attempting to match Silent Witness’ Hong Kong record of 17 successive victories. Hong Kong’s champion, Golden Sixty has won 10 Group 1s, 26 of 30 starts and a record HK$165.85 million in earnings. At Happy Valley on Friday night (29 December), Hugh Bowman posted his first win since suffering injuries after a race fall on November 11 when Caspar Fownes-trained Valhalla landed the Class 5 Nam Long Shan Handicap (1200m). “It didn’t take long, but it’s nice to get the support and it’s nice to be back,” Bowman said, who has recovered from shoulder and spinal injuries. “I’ve still got a bit of work to do to get to where I want to be. “I was out for a long time so it’s good to be back and good to be on the board.” Fownes notched a double when Lyrical Motion won under Alexis Badel. Super Baby provided Luke Ferraris with a belated 22nd birthday present when Mark Newnham’s galloper won the first section of the Class 4 Middle Gap Handicap (1650m). “It’s a nice present, Mark’s team is going well and I’m extremely grateful for the support,” Ferraris said after the South African slotted his 16th victory for the season. The outsider of the field, Green Laser broke through for his first Hong Kong success for Chris So and Keith Yeung. Last approaching the 600m, the seven-year-old, who won at Group 3 level in South Africa in 2020, triumphed at his 24th Hong Kong start. Alfred Chan posted his second win of the season when Tony Cruz-trained Atomic Beauty swept to victory before Ernest Feeling continued his strong run of form with his third win in four starts. The gelding provided the first leg of a brace for Jamie Richards, who also scored with Armour Eagle. “It’s been a good night for the stable,” Richards said. “Hopefully we can carry the momentum into the new year. All credit to James (McDonald) on Armour Eagle – it was a beautiful ride – and Antoine did a good job on Ernest Feeling.” David Hayes and Lyle Hewitson combined to close the meeting in style with Star Contact, who cruised to victory. Now a three-time course and distance winner, Star Contact provided Hayes with his 14th success of the campaign. More horse racing news View the full article

Bonny Lass will contest the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on Monday. Photo: Trish Dunell Matamata mentor Graham Richardson will attempt to win one of his favourite races for the third time on Monday when he and training partner Rogan Norvall line-up Bonny Lass in the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe. Richardson was first successful in the blue riband sprinting contest back in 1997 with Kailey before striking gold once again in 2018 with outstanding mare Volpe Veloce. He believes Bonny Lass is well-qualified to add her name to the winner’s list for the race after she impressed when running third behind race rivals Maven Belle and Babylon Berlin in a 1000m trial on her home track prior to Christmas. “We are very happy with her and I couldn’t have asked any more of her in the last trial she had,” Richardson said. “It was a first-class effort where she worked home well under a good hold and since then she has continued to thrive and we think she is ready to run a big race. “I guess at the moment the weather is the biggest consideration as she can handle a reasonably wet track although if it became a bog then we would have to reconsider with her. “The Railway is one of my favourite races and it would be nice to think we could add another trophy to the cabinet with her.” Richardson and Norvall have a small but strong support team in on the day with two of their four runners lining up in the first race on the card, a special conditions maiden over 1500m, where To Catch a Thief will look to put his first win on the board after finishing third in eight of his nine starts, with three of those at Group One level, including his most recent effort behind Crocetti in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. “This looks a nice race for To Catch A Thief as long as it doesn’t get too wet,” Richardson said. “It is the perfect lead in for the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) next month so we would like to run if we can get the track to suit. “He has thrived since coming home from Riccarton and is just the coolest horse to do anything with as he is so laidback and has been like that since his first day in the stable. “He has a nomination for the Derby (Group 1, 2400m) and we would like to see if we can get him there as they are only three once and this is his shot at the race. “We also have Sorghaghtani entered who did well to run third off a 13-month break last time and has come on from that. “She is going to be better over more ground, but this is all part of getting her back racing regularly and we like her a lot.” The stable’s fourth runner on the day is two-year-old filly Lotus in the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) where she has the formidable task of taking on ultra impressive debut winner Move To Strike and the current Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) favourite Velocious. “She (Lotus) has good ability but it is a big ask against some of those other horses in the race with better form credentials,” he said. “It is only a small field (8) and if she could sneak in and get some black type to her name then it would be a job well done.” More horse racing news View the full article

Sacred Satono beating Babylon Berlin in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The burgeoning rivalry between Sacred Satono and Babylon Berlin will kick up a gear when the pair meet at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day. Sacred Satono got the better of his older rival at the South Auckland venue in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) in November and trainers Grant Cooksley and Bruce Wallace are hoping for a repeat performance in the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on Monday. Cooksley and Wallace liked him the moment they saw him at Karaka as a yearling and they are pleased the $34,000 purchase out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 draft is fulfilling his promise. “I trained his half-sister and she went alright,” Cooksley told TAB NZ. “I went and had a look at him at the sales and liked what I had seen. His first couple of gallops we knew we had something then. “You wouldn’t get a better horse to do anything with. He is just so relaxed and nothing seems to worry him. He just does his work and walks off the track like a pony, but when he switches on he is a different horse. “The older he has got, the better he has got. He relaxes in his races and when you ask him to do something he can sprint well.” Sacred Satono will once again be piloted by Michael McNab and the leading hoop believes his charge is a massive chance of snaring Group One success. “He beat her (Babylon Berlin) really comfortably. Obviously the big swing in the weights is the big talking point, and she is a proven Group One horse, but I think he is the better ride,” McNab said. “He is a big, strong horse so I don’t think carrying extra weight, I think he has got to carry another three kilos, is going to be an issue. If he gets to the level he promises he could, I don’t think it is going to matter.” Cooksley is hoping McNab is right, as the former jockey, who recorded 66 Group One wins in the saddle, would dearly love to tick another one up as a trainer. “Everyone wants to win a Group One, so it will be great if I could,” he said. More horse racing news View the full article

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen Association, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, and 1/ST Racing announced a one-year deal to continue live horse racing in Maryland until Dec. 31, 2024. View the full article

The connections of Lord Bullingdon thought highly enough of their horse to jump him up into graded-stakes company after running second to 'TDN Rising Star' Prince of Monaco (Speightstown) at Los Alamitos July 9. Second again in the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf S., he was denied again back in maiden special weight company at Santa Anita Oct. 7 before finally breaking through in the Qatar Golden Mile S. Nov. 3. Fourth last out in the GIII Cecil B Demille S., Lord Bullingdon stuck to what he knows best in his fifth straight try over the mile distance Friday. Tucked in to save ground from third, the 2-1 favorite was patiently handled by Umberto Rispoli and navigated through a gap around the far turn to launch a bid. Once clear, Lord Bullingdon was the class of the field and opened up with authority for the easy score. “It was a very good trip,” said Rispoli. “I sat behind the speed. Last time I have to say it was my fault, I didn't give him a chance to get his legs under him. Today he was a different horse. He dragged me up there, I found the gap at the top of the stretch and he did the rest. He is a very good horse today, acting more professionally.” One of six stakes winner for Lord Nelson, Lord Bullingdon has a yearling Accelerate half-sister and a weanling Tonalist half-brother still to race. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. LORD BULLINGDON ($6.80) and @umbyrispoli snuck up the rail and ran away with the $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at @SantaAnitaPark. This 2-year-old Lord Nelson colt is trained by @mwmracing! Catch the late Daily Double on the @FDSportsbook:https://t.co/5VcRa4VxbO pic.twitter.com/HDYb0J60Xc — TVG (@TVG) December 29, 2023 EDDIE LOGAN S., $100,500, Santa Anita, 12-29, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.15, fm. 1–LORD BULLINGDON, 122, c, 2, by Lord Nelson 1st Dam: Ms Silver Oak, by Leroidesanimaux (Brz) 2nd Dam: Songthrush, by Unbridled's Song 3rd Dam: Virgin Michael, by Green Dancer ($22,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $55,000 2yo '23 EASMAY). O-Colbart Stables and Michael McCarthy Racing Stable, Inc.; B-Veloce LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Umberto Rispoli. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GSP, 6-2-2-0, $186,220. 2–Charge for Gold, 118, c, 2, Omaha Beach–Gasp, by Hennessy. ($55,000 RNA Wlg '21 KEENOV; $60,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-John P. Warren; B-Brad Shattuck (KY); T-Philip A. Oviedo. $20,000. 3–Twirling Point, 120, g, 2, Twirling Candy–Kitten's Point, by Kitten's Joy. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Augustin Stables; B-George Strawbridge (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas. $12,000. Margins: 2, HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.40, 18.20, 6.50. Also Ran: Miracle Mark, Final Boss, American Hope. Scratched: Invincible, Practically Broke, Stay Hot. The post Lord Bullingdon Commanding In Eddie Logan Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen Association, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, and 1/ST RACING have announced a one-year deal to continue live horse racing in Maryland until December 31, 2024. The deal ensures that the GI Preakness S. will be run at Pimlico in May and provides for ongoing racing operations throughout 2024. “We are pleased to come to terms on a one-year extension to the 2012 agreement with The Stronach Group, 1/ST RACING and Maryland Jockey Club and appreciate the work by all that went into finalizing this deal,” said David Richardson, Executive Director of MTHA. “This agreement provides our horsemen, the state's breeders, and backstretch workers stability while the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority continues their important work on a long-term plan for our industry. We look forward to the final Authority report and a bright and sustainable future for thoroughbred horse racing in Maryland.” During the 2023 legislative session, Governor Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, and members of the Maryland General Assembly created the Maryland Thoroughbred Racing Operating Authority by law to outline a plan for the future of Maryland racing. Over the past decade, Maryland leaders have dedicated funding to stabilize this historic industry but needed more legal authority to implement a plan. “The Stronach Group, 1/ST RACING and the Maryland Jockey Club are committed to a successful 2024 racing season as we work in good faith with other stakeholders to develop a long-term, sustainable racing model for Maryland,” said Craig Fravel, Executive Vice Chairman, 1/ST RACING. “We are pleased to have worked constructively with Maryland stakeholders on this agreement and look forward to continuing to work with the Maryland Racetrack Operating Authority in the best interests of racing in Maryland.” The Maryland racing industry, one of the oldest in the United States, has an economic impact of more than $2 billion in addition to preserving thousands of acres of open space statewide. The Authority, chaired by veteran attorney at Venable LLP Gregory A. Cross, is expected to issue its interim recommendations next month. The post Maryland’s Thoroughbred Horsemen and Breeders Announce One-Year Extension with 1/ST Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael Lund Petersen's KINZA (f, 2, Carpe Diem–Secret Wonder, by Quality Road) debuted in 'TDN Rising Star' style Friday, leading a field of maiden fillies gate-to-wire at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. Purchased for $350,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale, the 5-1 shot took pressure to her outside by race favorite Ms Bo J (Mitole) before drawing off in convincing fashion down the lane to win by open lengths under little asking by Juan Hernandez. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-JD Business Ventures LLC, Brushy Hill Stable & Carpe Diem Syndicate; T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $350,000 2yo'23 EASMAY, $30,000 ylg '22 OBSOCT, $17,000 wlg '21 FTNMIX. The post Carpe Diem’s Kinza A ‘Star’ In Santa Anita Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Class prevailed when Alta Meteor bounced back to winning form in the Motukarara Christmas Cup on Friday. Driver Tim Williams took no chances with the Stonewall Stud pacer, parking out over the last 800m of the event before the three-year-old ran away to score. Williams was thrilled with the performance, which looks to have booked Alta Meteor a trip north to the upcoming Nelson meeting. “Speaking with Mandy (Telfer) after the race, we might go for one of the days at Nelson next,” Williams said. “He will let us know in the next few days with how he pulls up.” “But we have been rapt with him the last couple of weeks and how he has handled his work.” “He seems to be in a good space at the moment.” Though Alta Meteor looked to race like a pro, he showed Williams signs he still needs to focus on his racing a little more. “He is one of those horses, even with the racing he has had and a trip to Australia, he is still a little bit of a baby.” “Even in the warm-up, he was looking around.” “Up the straight, he was cruising, but I just had to remind him what he was there for.” “Hopefully, with more time, he will come out of that; you would think he is going to be racing in quite a few more races like this going forward.” Hacksaw Ridge showed he is a horse that is likely to progress to the country cups grade with his dominant win in race 11 on Friday. Trainer Ricky Gutsell trekked north from Southland with the pacer who added to his dam Insar’s incredible record as a grass track producer when he cruised away for an easy win for driver Matthew Williamson. Friday’s meeting opened with a special moment for the Whittaker family. Luke Whittaker returned from his permanent base in Queensland to win with Zoltan Boscik, trained by his father Jeff and raced by several of his family members, including his mother Tracey. The victory was Luke’s first driving win in New Zealand since scoring with Pull The Other Leg in November of 2021. View the full article

Medoro's first stakes race looked eerily similar to her Del Mar debut Dec. 1 with both resulting in narrow, hard-closing wins. Stretching out from five furlongs to one mile Friday, the Peter Eutron trainee broke from an outside gate and was content to settle off the speed while kept wide and in the clear by Antonio Fresu. Racing in the back half of the field of nine, the 2-1 favorite began to make up ground into leader Chatalas and drew alongside that rival at the head of the lane. Unleashed into the final furlong, Medoro swept onto even terms on the outside and just out-dueled the runner up for the win. The stewards looked into a pair of events during the race, one involving Zona Verde (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) and the third-place runner Mo Fox Givin in the stretch, but opted to let the order of finish stand. “I would have liked to stay third or fourth and not wide,” said Fresu. “Unfortunately I was caught wide around the first turn and I didn't have any place to go, so I just tried to reduce pace, just to hold her there to save some energy and just give her a breather. At the quarter pole, I asked her because at Del Mar she had an exceptional turn of foot, so I just wanted to see if today at a mile she would have the same. When she switched leads, she just flew home.” One of 18 stakes winners for sire Honor Code, Medoro is the first foal out of a half-sister to the dam of Perryville S. record-setter and new sire Nashville (Speightstown). Further back in the family is GI Kentucky Derby upsetter Giacomo (Holy Bull) along with MGISW Tiago (Pleasant Tap) and GSW/MGISP Stanwyck (Empire Maker). The winner has a Speightstown yearling half-brother and a weanling half-brother by Honor A.P. while her dam is pregnant to Not This Time. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #7 MEDORO ($6.80) by Honor Code kicks it into high gear coming to the stretch to get up and win the $100,000 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita. @Antonio1Fresu was in the irons for @EurtonRacing. Congrats to all the connections! pic.twitter.com/SmpZO5F7Cf — TVG (@TVG) December 29, 2023 BLUE NORTHER S., $102,000, Santa Anita, 12-29, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:35.80, fm. 1–MEDORO, 118, f, 2, by Honor Code 1st Dam: Achira (MSP, $151,852), by English Channel 2nd Dam: Styler, by Holy Bull 3rd Dam: Set Them Free, by Stop the Music 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Parks Investment Group, LLC (KY); T-Peter Eurton; J-Antonio Fresu. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $96,600 2–Chatalas, 122, f, 2, Gun Runner–Indian Safari, by Indian Charlie. O-Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, Dan J. Agnew and William Chatalas; B-Dan Agnew (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $20,000. 3–Mo Fox Givin, 120, f, 2, Mo Town–Givine (Fr), by Blackdoun (Fr). ($2,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-Woo Pig Stables; B-Liberty Road Stables (KY); T-Leonard Powell. $12,000. Margins: NK, 2, HF. Odds: 2.40, 8.40, 3.70. Also Ran: Zona Verde (Ire), Antifona (Fr), April Vintage, Highlands, Hattie T, Blue Oasis. The post Medoro Stays Perfect In Blue Norther appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Warrnambool Races Where Warrnambool Racing Club – 2-64 Grafton Rd, Warrnambool VIC 3280 When Sunday, December 31, 2023 First Race 2:05pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Woodford Cup headlines the traditional New Year’s Eve meeting at Warrnambool on Sunday afternoon as part of a competitive eight-race meeting. Perfect conditions for racing are forecast for the day, and despite the track coming up a Soft 6, we expect to be racing on a Soft 5, bordering on a Good 4 on raceday. The rail will stick in the true position throughout, with action commencing at 2:05pm AEDT. Woodford Cup Top Tip: Station One The Liam Howley-trained Station One has been successful in the Dunkeld Cup and Traralgon Cup at his last two starts with determined front-running efforts. There looks to be no reason why he cannot pick up a third straight Country Cup on Sunday, with Alana Kelly looking to continue their undefeated affiliation. From barrier seven, the pair look to be the only ones who will take up the running, and with an uncontested lead, Station One can pinch the Woodford Cup under a perfectly-timed ride. Woodford Cup Race 7 – #2 Station One (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Liam Howley | J: Alana Kelly (59kg) +360 with Neds Best Bet at Warrnambool: Thailess Although Andrew Bobbin’s Thailess was beaten a nostril at Stawell last time out, she now has the opportunity to break the maiden ranks at start five. Having enjoyed the run of the race and looking like the winner, the Needs Further filly found one better in the final stages. She draws to gain a similar run in transit on Sunday under Jack Hill, and considering the third-placed horse from that Stawell affair has since come out and won, the form suggests Thailess is the one to beat over 1100m on the weekend. Best Bet Race 3 – #13 Thailess (5) 3yo Filly | T: Andrew Bobbin | J: Jack Hill (56kg) +180 with Picklebet Next Best at Warrnambool: Ring Bearer Ring Bearer showed enough on his debut at Werribee to suggest he was worth following, having settled up on speed over 1400m, and as he steps up to the 1700m, he looks hard to beat. He was headed inside the final furlong but kicked back to be defeated by under a length, suggesting he may have above-average talent. He retains the services of Linda Meech, a jockey who rides front-runners better than anyone else at Warrnambool, and from barrier nine, the pair will look to dictate terms and make all, or sit outside the lead. Ring Bearer looks to have the most upside amongst this lot, and he should be winning here. Next Best Race 2 – #6 Ring Bearer (9) 3yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Linda Meech (58kg) +230 with Dabble Sunday quaddie tips for Warrnambool races Warrnambool quadrella selections Sunday, December 31, 2023 2-3-5-6-7-8 2-3-5-7 1-2-5-7 2-8-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

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Nearly seventy years ago, Sports Illustrated turf writer, Jim Murray, penned a love-letter to Santa Anita, and its opening day sonata of sun and sport unmatched by any East Coast oval stunned into icy retreat by the “fierce howlings of blue northers spun across finish lines.” Santa Anita, Murray wrote, was an “extravagance of beauty.” It was also a well-oiled money-spinner. Huge purses lured the best horses to Los Angeles, and the best horses lured the biggest crowds, their pockets brimming with the spoils of a post-war industrial boom transforming this callow cow-town into a maven of modernity. “One day (Handicap Day in 1947), so many people showed up (85,500) that a crisis was created (the plumbing caved in under the strain) and the card almost had to be canceled,” Murray wrote. This year's opening day at Santa Anita tells a different tale. A crowd of over 37,000 contributed to the “best handle ever among a total of 17 opening dates conducted on a Tuesday,” as the track's publicity department put it. Putting inflation adjustments aside for the moment, that still constitutes a 30% drop from last year's total–the sort of back-foot number stakeholders desperately wanted to avoid as the track embarks upon another grueling six-month marathon into one of the most consequential years yet for the state's racing industry. Amid an economic landscape of consolidation and contraction–which gives the distinct impression of a giant puzzle set where the pieces don't quite fit together–decisions will be made that will set this ship's course for the foreseeable future. Icebergs abound. The compass guiding many of these decisions is this spinning dial: Can a sustainable long-term racing circuit in Northern California be pieced together in the void left by Golden Gate Fields? TDN tried unsuccessfully in recent weeks to reach California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) executive director, Larry Swartzlander. The LA Times, however, this week quoted Swartzlander as saying that he was “60%” certain a deal could be reached whereby the fair circuit would take over Golden Gate's dates, though would likely reduce them from 132 days a year to 103. Tom “Bomber” Doutrich, CARF racing secretary, told the TDN he's “hopeful” an announcement about any such plan will arrive early in 2024. “There are two things you can say about CARF,” he added. “We need to get the purses right. And we've got to get a facility that we can turn into a top-class facility. We're working on that right now.” NORCAL To say that time is of the essence when it comes to these negotiations does a gross disservice to ticking clocks everywhere, as well as to the heads of racing operations juggling families, employees and their own tentative futures. Golden Gate Fields is scheduled to race through June 9, 2024, after which the facility is set to close permanently. Next year's fair schedule is currently set to close out with a fall fair meet at Fresno from Oct. 2 through the 13th. In the aftermath of the announced closure of Golden Gate, Swartzlander made several proposals for a restructured Northern California circuit, including a permanent base split between Santa Rosa and Cal Expo, or only at the latter track. But such plans would require reaching an agreement with California's harness racing industry, which only last year extended its lease of operations of the Cal Expo Harness racetrack until May 2030. Jack Liebau (right) with Tim Yakteen | Benoit In the event no concrete proposal for Northern California materializes, a legislative fix may be sought to expand the menu of Thoroughbred races offered at Los Alamitos, said Bill Nader, president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). “We're on the clock and we're moving into 2024, so we have come up with alignment between the three tracks in the south for horses in the north to have suitable opportunities to compete in the south at Los Alamitos, Del Mar or Santa Anita,” said Nader. This “alignment,” explained Nader, would include a statutory change to permit Los Alamitos–outside of their scheduled Thoroughbred meets–to stage Thoroughbred races beyond the current limit: 4 1/2 furlong races capped at a $5,000 claiming price. “Provided there's no operator or plan that comes forth in the north, it would allow for those horses to remain in California and have a suitable opportunity to compete within their own state seamlessly. At least we have that,” said Nader, about such a proposal. According to Jack Liebau, vice president of Los Alamitos, a legislative fix to go into immediate effect–as opposed to the start of January 2025, like most bills passed next year–needs an “urgency clause” requiring a two-thirds vote by the legislature. “I think we can get the legislative change if it's fully supported by the industry as a whole. I don't know why anybody would oppose that,” said Liebau. “The devil, of course, will be in the details.” According to Liebau, Los Alamitos can accommodate around 300 additional horses. In Golden Gate right now, there are around 1,150 horses. But how motivated are trainers currently stabled at Golden Gate to funnel their horses south, in the event plans to furnish an alternative Northern calendar fall apart? Answers are buffeted by other gusty headwinds. Purses at Golden Gate's final meet have been slashed by 25%, a result of the purse account being overdrawn by $3.1 million. (Nader told the TDN that Santa Anita's purse account is also in the red to the tune of $3.7 million) In January, Berkeley City Council might vote on an ordinance that could essentially close Golden Gate before its anticipated June curtain call. Ed Moger, a leading trainer at Golden Gate, recently said that while a 25% purse cut would likely spur some barns to cross state lines and relocate to Turf Paradise, he might shift a significant portion of his horses to Santa Anita instead. “It's tougher to win a race at Santa Anita,” said Moger, at the time. “I'll have to play it by ear.” But not everyone appears as ready to pack up box and truck for a trip south–not trainer Tim McCanna, who said that such a wholesale move would come only after every other alternative had been exhausted. Blaine Wright | Benoit “Seventy-five percent of the horses in the north won't fit the south,” McCanna explained, estimating that about 15 of his 40-horse Golden Gate string might suit the Southern circuit. “Most of the trainers can't go there either,” he added, alluding to the increased costs of Southern California living. McCanna said he's “quite hopeful” an alternative Northern California circuit can be pieced together. But he also feels as though the Northern California trainer colony has been largely ignored by industry leadership during the travails of the past year. “We were ambushed by this,” said McCanna, adding that an ownership group had recently moved five of his horses to Turfway Park, because of the purse cuts. “The mood around the track is that it feels like we've been shot in the back,” said trainer Blaine Wright, who currently has around 50 horses at Golden Gate. “My clientele is not very happy with this purse reduction.” Like McCanna, Wright is playing it by ear, hoping that in the New Year, news of a new viable Northern California circuit will trickle through. If it doesn't, Wright said that he's already warned two of his staunchest patrons that the tough economics of maintaining a SoCal barn might behoove them to shut up shop. “I said to them, 'if you don't want to race on the West Coast and you'd like to go to the Midwest or East where things are happening good, that would be fine,'” said Wright. “But I warned them, 'if you want to stay on the West Coast, my advice would be to get out of the business because the horses we have aren't going to do at Santa Anita.'” Wright added: “How do you tell the people who have basically made your living for 16 years to get out of the business? I'm just trying to be truthful when I'm telling them I think the writing's on the wall here and the end's coming soon.” BREEDERS Back in August, long-time owner and breeder, Nick Alexander, warned the consolidation of racing in the south would be a body blow for the state's breeding industry. Has his thinking evolved since? “No, is the short answer,” said Alexander, who added that he still expects to maintain his 35-strong broodmare band through next year. Adrian Gonzalez | Fasig-Tipton From a squad of five racehorses previously at Golden Gate, Alexander has shifted three south, and plans to do the same with one of the other two horses remaining. More broadly, he said he's “not optimistic” an alternative Northern racing circuit can be formed. “It's a damn shame for the breeders up there,” said Alexander. “I'm 81 years old. If I was fifty and had kids in college and was trying to be a trainer in Northern California, what the hell would I do?” Adrian Gonzalez of Checkmate Farm-a 66-acre ranch in Parkfield, California-is one of those trying to build a business for his young family. Of Gonzalez's 30-strong broodmare band, about half are headed to Kentucky stallions, he said, and he's in two minds whether to bring them back to California to foal. “If there's no commercial market left in California, we need to make sure our stock is something that can be sought after in other markets,” Gonzalez said. “Most of our clients are doing something similar,” he added. Given this trend, Gonzalez said he's concerned about a sharp dip in Cal-breds in three years–what would be especially troubling if the state racing industry can be fortified against further erosion in the meantime, he added. “The long-term impacts are definitely something we need to be focused on,” said California Thoroughbred Breeding Association (CTBA) president, Doug Burge. As positives, Burge singled out how active California buyers were at Keeneland's November breeding stock sale. While Golden Gate's purses have been cut, he added, lucrative Cal-bred bonuses remain in place. “I think in the future we'll see a major focus on quality,” Burge said, pointing to the recent run high-profile successes for horses bred in the state, including a 1-2 finish in the recent G1 La Brea S. for Cal-breds. “But we obviously need the numbers as well.” Indeed, while California's foal crop has steadily declined–by nearly 25% between 2012 and 2021–Cal-breds have been playing an ever more important role in propping up the California racing calendar. During Santa Anita's 2022-2023 six-month meet, Cal-breds made up about 37% of all individual starts, and Cal-bred races constituted more than 20% of the overall races carded. Is there a number of foals bred annually below which the state's breeding industry becomes an unsustainable model? Tom Clark | Jill Williams “That depends on how much racing we'll have here in the next few years,” Burge said. “When you announce the closure of a major racetrack, it's obviously going to have a major impact.” Tom Clark, the owner and manager of Rancho San Miguel–a mainstay of the state's breeding industry–estimates double digit declines in the number of mares bred in the state next year. Last year, 1,874 mares were bred to California stallions. Twenty years prior, the number was about three-times that. “The response so far from clients generally has been to cut back or exit the breeding industry in the state,” said Clark. “The only exceptions are some of the larger farms–Barton [Thoroughbreds] and John Harris and Loveacres [Ranch]–who have continued to invest in broodmares for their own account.” While the popularity of Clark's stallions means Rancho San Miguel has so far been fairly insulated from the worst of the declines, he said, unintended consequences are percolating through. “I've got about 20 mares people want me to find homes for,” said Clark. “I just gave three away to new homes as of this morning. It's happening.” Which begs the question: How will recent events impact California's flagship off-track Thoroughbred rehoming program? “When they first announced that Golden Gate Fields would close, I had three different owners call me, and I took in three different horses,” said Lucinda Lovitt, executive director of the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA). “They didn't know what the future was, and they just wanted to make sure their horse had a good place.” As the sport rolls into the New Year, however, Lovitt said she doesn't anticipate a situation where California's aftercare facilities are swamped with urgent requests. That said, “I would expect we will continue to see what we've seen this past year, which is less space available in aftercare charities, and higher demand for these fewer slots,” said Lovitt. STATISTICS It was the author Fletcher Knebel who made the observation, “smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics.” If only horse racing could so readily dismiss its numerical DNA. This recent New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) backed study by a cohort of Yale undergrads highlighted how a common feature of a contracting market is consolidation, and how this trend is impacting everything from the training population to racetrack management. Indeed, nationally over the last 20 years, the industry has lost nearly 55% of its trainers, they found. Most have been “micro-trainers” and “midsize” trainers with a maximum 40 discreet horses respectively. At the opposite end of the scale are “super trainers” who operate stables with 80 or more horses. Bill Nader | Horsephotos The number of super trainers has stayed relatively constant in the midst of declining trainer numbers. In 2003 there were 123 super trainers, and in 2022 there were 114. The same trends play out in California, with the bottom end getting clobbered while the top end stays remarkably strong. According to numbers crunched for the TDN using DRF chart data, the number of trainers making at least one individual start in California decreased by nearly 50% between 2007 and 2022. The trainers with 20 or less individual annual starters decreased a similar 50% during that period. The number of trainers with at least 100 individual annual starters in California, however, has remained around the 8-10 mark since 2009. Last year, nine trainers with at least 100 individual annual starters in California–just 3% of the total trainer colony–accrued 35% of the total prize money and made 21% of the total starts. In another worrying trend, training in California is becoming less and less of a young person's game. According to data put together by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), the median age of a licensed trainer in California was 52 in 2003. As of this year, that statistic has matured to 61. The guiding light behind these numbers is field size, which in turn drives handle, which in turn fuels purses. Field size has been especially problematic during Santa Anita's six-month winter-spring meet these past five years, though it has rebounded very slightly. For the six-month meet in 2021-2022, the combined dirt and turf field size was 7.12. For the 2022-2023 meet, the combined field size was 7.2. With that in mind, Nader said he doesn't expect the recently announced purse cuts to make a dent into the $3.7 million Santa Anita purse overpayment. “I don't think it'll reduce at all, based on the current trends in business. If anything, the overpayment might even go up a little bit,” said Nader. “That's why the wish list for 2024 is to secure a secondary source of income to preserve and protect the purse structure and the industry going forward.” But what could that be? Twin sports wagering measures were torpedoed on last year's state ballot, casting dark clouds over future efforts. And though horse racing's standing in Sacramento has improved since the nadir of the 2019 Santa Anita welfare crisis, how likely is legislative support, even for an industry estimated to directly contribute over $4.5 billion to the state's economy, and over 77,700 jobs? “It's incumbent upon all of us here to try to get something where the state legislature provides some type of recognition to the industry, and a level of support–again, maybe not the same advantages the other competing states enjoy–but something that gives us a chance to compete,” said Nader, declining, however, to speculate upon any specifics of what that “recognition” might look like. Furthermore, should the heightened impact from the state's super trainers on field size during a period of such accelerated contraction be high up on the TOC's agenda for next year? “In terms of trying to get more competitive field sizes and better business results, it's better if there's more parity. Sure. But how you manufacture that, it's tricky,” said Nader. “It's hard to say to an owner, 'you need to give your horse to this trainer and not that trainer.' It has to be carefully thought through.” SANTA ANITA The variables weighing in on the future of the sport are–for want of a less utilitarian phrase–multifactorial. Just take the topic of Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW). CAW players constitute a small group of high-volume and largely anonymous gamblers with an outsized impact on the betting markets—including in California—due to the use of sophisticated wagering tools. Because of their high stakes play, they're offered inducements in the form of rebates and reduced takeout rates largely not available to the average punter. Last summer, Del Mar introduced measures to help curb CAW play. By the meet's end, Del Mar's total handle was down some 10% compared to the year prior, according to the DRF. The TDN asked the CHRB for a breakdown of CAW play per-pool for last summer's meet at Del Mar. The agency said it does not yet have those granular figures. Santa Anita's new Tapeta surface being installed | Santa Anita But the CHRB provided a total breakdown of handle per betting location, including from the most influential of these computer syndicates, the Elite Turf Club, a Curacao-based company owned by The Stronach Group and NYRA Bets LLC. According to this data, Elite Turf Club total handle during Del Mar's summer meet dropped 23.7% from 2022 to 2023: $116.9 million last year compared to $89.1 million this year. How industry leaders in California manage the thorny topic of CAW play next year, therefore, will be a key driver of revenues. For many stakeholders, another key tangible will be the roll-out of TSG's much vaunted $30 million-plus investment into the Southern California racing furniture, including new stabling at Santa Anita, new tracks at the facility, and industry support funds. The replacement of Santa Anita's dirt training track with Tapeta is scheduled for a mid-January finish. According to Craig Fravel, chief executive office at 1/ST Racing, there are tentative plans to modify one of the barns at Santa Anita next summer. The other big-ticket items slated for development in 2024–including a new one-mile turf chute, an equine swimming pool and horse exercisers–have been put on hold, however. “We've wanted to focus on getting the synthetic surface done. The price tag on that has come in higher than we had expected,” said Fravel. “Right now, we're just very much focused on the racing calendar, trying to enhance the prospects for horses moving down here and improving the product in Southern California.” The post What Does Next Year Hold For California Racing? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article