Wandering Eyes

Continuing the profiles of the favourite horses of TDN Europe's editorial team in 2023, Emma Berry selects the French raider who took QIPCO British Champions Day by storm. I'd been impressed by Christopher Head since the day I first visited his stable in July 2019 and found him on the end of a broomstick sweeping the floor outside the rented boxes of the five horses he had in training at that time. His ascent has been rapid, and by now his string must be 20 times that size. And, yes, he has a surname that would open doors in France and beyond, but it is hard not to respect the progress made within the short time Head has been training. In 2023, his first Classic win with Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who had also been his first Group 1 winner in the previous season's Prix Marcel Boussac, was followed by his first Group 1 success outside France. Big Rock (Ire) first caught the eye with his dominant performance in the G3 Prix La Force at Longchamp. Off he went in front, and when Padishakh (Fr) came for him in the straight he kicked again, repelling that challenger and ultimately winning eased down. This he repeated, even more impressively, when winning the G3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly, with Aurelien Lemaitre simply having to coax him with hands and heels to put five lengths between himself and Horizon Dore (Fr). The runner-up would go on to record four straight stakes wins including two Group 2s. Big Rock stepped up to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and, for much of the race, the front-running son of Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) looked as though he would once again have things all his own way before Ace Impact (Ire) set sail from the back of the pack. Chalk and cheese in their running styles, the trailblazing Big Rock and stalking Ace Impact set the French scene alight this year. While the latter continued to storm through his season unbeaten, deploying a similarly devastating late turn of foot to win the Arc before retiring to stud, Big Rock thrice ran into just one that would get the better of him. They were good ones, mind. Inspiral (GB) took his scalp the next time in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, and then Sauterne (Fr) in the G1 Prix du Moulin. But then came Ascot. There is often much gnashing of teeth in the build-up to QIPCO British Champions Day, which is usually accompanied by typically wet autumn weather, making the ground testing. It was no problem for Big Rock, however, who coped with the soft ground just as he had done in his five-length romp at Chantilly in May, turning his seasonal finale into a procession. This time it was a six-length pasting he gave his rivals in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., making all to rout a quality field that included the multiple Group 1 winners Tahiyra (Ire), Nashwa (GB), Paddington (GB) and Chaldean (GB). A dazzling performance to cut through the gloom of the day. Big Rock looks a big star in the making for his late sire who had his own dazzling brand of magic over a mile, and the Yeguada Centurion homebred has a strong pedigree to recommend him once he makes it to stud. His Aga Khan-bred dam, by Sea The Stars (Ire), is out of a half-sister to one of that stallion's best sons, the dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire). But before we even think about his stallion career, let's applaud his owner Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals for allowing him to race on and enjoy Big Rock back on the track in 2024. The post TDN Horses of the Year: Big Rock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) has never looked better, according to Te Akau Racing’s head trainer at Cranbourne, Ben Gleeson. It’s an ominous warning to rivals. Although Imperatriz dominated the spring with a Group 2 win in the McEwen Stakes followed by three Group 1 wins, Gleeson said she had returned to work in an amazing fettle. “She looks better now than she did all her last preparation. She’s dappled up and she looks amazing. She spelled really well,” Gleeson said. He said Imperatriz returned to work at Te Akau’s Cranbourne stables after a two-week break. “She’s such a good doer; we didn’t want her to put on too much weight. She had a week on the water walker and now she’s got two or three weeks of ticking over quietly before she starts pace work.” “She won three Group 1s last preparation and she looked amazing, but she never dappled up which you love to see in mares. Sometimes it takes the individual a bit longer to come out of the spring into summer and that was her. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.” Te Akau Racing’s Principal David Ellis recently revealed the plan for Imperatriz in the first half of 2024. Imperatriz will run in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 19, then the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on March 22. Imperatriz will then contest the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 6 before the five-year-old mare returns home to New Zealand for a spell. View the full article

Ciaron Maher can hardly contain his enthusiasm for what 2024 might hold for his dual Group One winner Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) after showing no ill effects from her potential grueling spring carnival. Maher said it was normal for horses to lose weight for some days after such a tough seven days where she won the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) and the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) when employing breathtaking front-running tactics. But he said it was nearly the opposite case for the Trelawney Stud-bred Pride Of Jenni. “She went out and thrived,” Maher said on Monday. “Normally if they’ve had a tough campaign, and it’s affected them, they lose weight for another 10 days or two weeks. “She’s put on about 45 kilos in three weeks back in the stable and looks amazing.” “She came through those runs during Cup week in super order. “It takes a long time for a horse with that racing style to season. If you look at her form in the past, she’d have one of those big runs in her in a prep and then taper off. “At the Valley (Stocks Stakes) she ran, and then came to Caulfield for the Toorak and then probably dropped off a bit again, because they broke a record at The Valley. “But she’s a stronger, well-established mare now.” “If you look at mares like Verry Elleegant, it takes a long time for those mares who can do a bit wrong to race well. “Verry Elleegant used to do a bit wrong, she used to over race and stuff like that. Pride of Jenni used to do a lot of things wrong, charging and too keen, both in trackwork and in races and trials. “If you look at both those races during Cup week, Declan (Bates) rode her with a beautiful long rein. She’s going quick but she’s relaxed. You can’t go that quick and not travel tractably or else there’s no way you will finish off.” “Tony (Ottobre, her owner) has always had a lot of faith in the mare, as you would I suppose. But when she won the first one (the Empire Rose), I said to Declan ‘what do you think (about backing up)?’ and he said, ‘probably not’ and I was thinking the same.” “And then I said to Tony, ‘oh well, we’ll see’ and Tony said, ‘well it’s up to you’. Then I rang him back and I said, ‘I can’t fault her, I think we should roll the dice’ and there wasn’t a heap of acceptances.” Despite her incredible record at 1600 metres, Maher said it was not inconceivable that Pride Of Jenni may also excel over further. “He (Ottobre) was very keen on the Cox Plate this year, but it was never going to work out for her, she just needed a bit of time early in the preparation to come on,” Maher said. “We planned for it from the outset, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t going to work.” Maher said a race like the G1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in February might be a good starting point for the mare that could have a date with the All-Star Mile (1600m) and possible the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) in Sydney as possible autumn targets. View the full article

It has been a basic tenet of bloodstock since the early days that Classic form is to be respected when a colt or a filly retires to stud. Some Classic results stand out, with the 1984 Prix du Jockey-Club often cited thanks to Darshaan (GB) leading home Sadler's Wells and Rainbow Quest in a trifecta of future superstar sires. As regards fillies, the 1990 Prix de Diane takes some beating, with Rafha (GB) coming home ahead of Moon Cactus (GB) and Colour Chart. All three ended up breeding at least one Group/Grade 1 winner, but ultimately the significance of the result goes way beyond merely first-generation success. Rafha and Moon Cactus were both daughters of Kris (GB) (Sharpen Up), an outstanding miler who became champion sire of Great Britain and Ireland in 1985 when his oldest offspring were three-year-olds, thanks largely to the terrific season enjoyed by Britain's Fillies' Triple Crown heroine Oh So Sharp (GB). Oh So Sharp became an excellent broodmare, responsible for Rosefinch (Blushing Groom {GB}) who edged out Dancing Brave's full-sister Jolypha in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary in 1992. Rafha and Moon Cactus, though, did even more to advertise Kris's talent as a sire of broodmares. Moon Cactus bred four stakes winners including the 1995 G1 Oaks heroine Moonshell (Sadler's Wells) and her younger full-brother Doyen, who excelled on firm ground in the summer of 2004 when firstly breaking Ascot's 12-furlong track record in the G2 Hardwicke S. at the Royal Meeting and then following up over course and distance five weeks later with a superb win in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. Ultimately, though, Rafha has proved the most influential of these eminent matrons. Her legacy continues to expand, 33 years after her Prix de Diane triumph, and she is now even more revered than she was on that glorious summer's afternoon when she galloped to Classic glory at Chantilly. It is not unfair to say that Rafha did not produce a racehorse of the distinction of either Moonshell or Doyen (or, indeed, of Colour Chart's G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies-winning daughter Tempera) but four of the seven black-type performers whom she produced were stakes winners. Easily the pick of these was Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert). Trained, as his mother had been, for owner/breeder Prince AA Faisal by John Dunlop, Invincible Spirit was a tough sprinter who raced for four seasons, winning a listed race as a two-year-old and at Group 3 level at four before enjoying his best campaign as a five-year-old in 2002, taking the G3 Duke of York S. over six furlongs in the spring and the G1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup over the same distance in the autumn, putting in his best performance on the 17th and final start of his career. A first-season stud fee of €10,000 was fair for Invincible Spirit when he started out at the Irish National Stud as a six-year-old in 2003. He had maybe lacked some of the precocity that a lot of the breeders who patronise sprinting stallions like to see, but he was a Group 1-winning sprinter and had shown himself to be a durable one at that. Furthermore, it helped that he was a son of Green Desert (Danzig) who was very popular at the time, buoyed in part by his superb son Oasis Dream (GB) who had been an outstanding two-year-old in 2002, most notably breaking Newmarket's six-furlong juvenile track record when winning the G1 Middle Park S. Green Desert, himself formerly an outstanding sprinter, was already on the way to being respected as a sire of sires, not least because his Group 1-winning son Cape Cross (Ire) was starting to do well. Curiously, Cape Cross ultimately became best known for his Derby and Oaks winner Sea The Stars (Ire), Golden Horn (GB) and Ouija Board (GB) but that slight anomaly shouldn't deflect attention away from the fact that Green Desert was a terrific conduit of Danzig's speed. Oasis Dream has been much more typical of the Green Desert line, becoming an absolute stalwart of the ranks of British-based sprinting sires over an extended period, just as his father was before him. Invincible Spirit was an immediate success as a stallion. He had his first runners in 2006 and got off to a flying start when his first runner Spoof Master (Ire) won Britain's first two-year-old feature of the new season, the Brocklesby S. Invincible Spirit continued to churn out winners as the year went on, so much so that his fee rose from €10,000 to €35,000 for the 2007 season. Invincible Spirit's position was further consolidated in 2007 when his first three-year-olds included the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club hero Lawman (Fr), whose Classic triumph was instrumental in Invincible Spirit's fee shooting up again to €75,000 in 2008. Also running for Invincible Spirit in 2007 was the very fast two-year-old filly Fleeting Spirit (GB), winner of the G3 Molecomb S. and G2 Flying Childers S. as well as being runner-up in the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G2 Lowther S. She subsequently developed into a wonderful sprinting mare, arguably her sire's second-best daughter behind Moonlight Cloud (GB), and her finest hour came when she won the G1 July Cup as a four-year-old. With his career thus heading onwards and upwards, Invincible Spirit ultimately had his fee peaking between 2016 and 2019, when his nominations cost €120,000. The six seasons 2015 to 2020 inclusive were particularly good ones for Rafha with both Kodiac and Invincible Spirit featuring in the top ten every year. Although Rafha ended up as the dam of four stakes winners, her second most distinguished child was not one of them. Kodiac (GB) can be described as a three-parts brother to Invincible Spirit as each is by a son of Danzig, Kodiac being by Danehill. Like Invincible Spirit, Kodiac was a tough sprinter, but unlike his superior sibling he couldn't quite manage to score in stakes company, his four wins (from 20 starts) consisting of a maiden-race success and three triumphs in handicap company. He did at least manage a couple of minor placings in stakes company, finishing second in the G3 Hackwood S. over six furlongs at Newbury and fourth in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over 1300m at Deauville as a five-year-old in 2006. Under normal circumstances, Kodiac's achievements would perhaps not have been enough to secure him a place at stud. However, there's nothing quite like being in the right place at the right time. As the 2006 racing season drew to a close, it was clear that Invincible Spirit was about to be priced out of reach of many of the Irish small breeders who had used him so satisfactorily in his early years. At the time Danehill was at the peak of his popularity as a sire of sires, so it made sense for Tally-Ho Stud to take a chance that Invincible Spirit's fast three-parts brother by Danehill might appeal to many breeders and might become a successful sire. That was the theory and, happily, it proved to be a sound one. Kodiac started out at a fee of €5,000 in 2007 (which had to be lowered to €4,000 a couple of years later) but once he began to have runners in 2010 he soon started to pay back many of those who had put their faith in him. He quickly established himself as an ultra-reliable source of tough, precocious and very fast horses, both colts and fillies. In a pleasing piece of symmetry, ten years after retiring to stud he was standing at a fee ten times higher than it had been at the outset. The price subsequently continued to rise after that and, now aged 22, he is still churning out fast, precocious horses such as 2023 G2 Lowther S. heroine Relief Rally (Ire), who recently sold for 800,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. It is frequently noted that the 1993 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Urban Sea (Miswaki) usually has two sons in the top five of the General Sires' Table of Great Britain and Ireland. The 2019 season was her pièce de résistance as her two Derby-winning children Galileo (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Sea The Stars (Ire) occupied the first two places in the championship. Under the circumstances, the fanfare justly directed at Urban Sea possibly takes some of the spotlight away from Rafha, whose feat of also having two sons consistently in the upper echelons of the sires' championship should not be underestimated. The six seasons 2015 to 2020 inclusive were particularly good ones for Rafha with both Kodiac and Invincible Spirit featuring in the top ten every year. Kodiac in particular has been remarkably consistent. He first broke into the top ten of the sires' table in 2015, having finished 15th in 2014 (in which year Invincible Spirit achieved his best position, finishing second to Galileo). From 2015 until this current season Kodiac has never been out of the top ten, and he regularly tops the table for the most number of winners in a season. In one sense, Rafha's sons merit even greater respect than do Urban Sea's stars. Galileo and Sea The Stars were Derby winners who started out covering high-class mares from the outset but Invincible Spirit and Kodiac did not have that luxury, having instead had to 'make their own luck' as stallions. Despite these relatively humble beginnings at stud, the influence of both Invincible Spirit and Kodiac will not end when they cease to have runners because they have already started to establish their own sire-lines. Just as Lawman was Invincible Spirit's first headline-maker as a racehorse, so he was his first successful son at stud. Lawman's first crop included G1 St. James's Palace S. winner Most Improved (Ire) and the star of his second crop was G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas and G2 Rockfel S. winner Just The Judge (Ire). G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Marcel (Ire) and G1 St Leger winner Harbour Law (Ire) followed, although disappointingly Lawman seems subsequently to have fallen out of commercial favour, notwithstanding that he is still in action at Haras du Mazet in France (having started out in Ireland at Ballylinch, where his fee peaked at €25,000). The popularity of Invincible Spirit's best son Kingman (GB), winner of four consecutive Group 1 mile races as a three-year-old in the summer of 2014, shows no sign of waning. An immediate hit at stud with his first-crop son Calyx (Ire) winning the G2 Coventry S. in June 2018, Kingman has gone from strength to strength and consistently posts eye-catching statistics when measured by totals of individual stakes winners or black-type ratios. With, to name but three sons, Calyx at Coolmore, four-time Group 1 winner Palace Pier (GB) at Dalham Hall and three-time Group 1 winner Persian King (Ire) at Haras d'Etreham, Kingman could well become a notable sire of sires. Calyx currently lies in third place in the 2023 first-season sires' table for Britain and Ireland. Invincible Spirit's grandson thus sits ahead of three sons of Invincible Spirit with their first juveniles this year: Inns Of Court (fourth), Invincible Army (eighth) and 2019 2,000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia (12th). All have a chance to become established as long-term residents of the stallion ranks in this part of the world, joining their elders Territories (Ire) and Mayson (GB) and Swiss Spirit (GB). The 2011 crop which featured Kingman also contained Charm Spirit (Ire), winner of three Group 1 mile races during the 2014 season. He too is currently in vogue thanks to his very fast son Shaquille (GB), winner during the summer of the G1 Commonwealth Cup and the G1 July Cup. Shaquille looks sure to be popular at Dullingham Park, where he will have a first-season fee in 2024 of £15,000. Another likely future flag-bearer for Invincible Spirit's line is his three-time Group 2-winning son Mutasaabeq (GB) who starts off at the National Stud in 2024 at a fee of £6,500. Kodiac too is well represented by sons and grandsons at stud. As was the case with their father, Ardad (Ire), Kodi Bear (Ire), Prince Of Lir (Ire) and Coulsty (Ire) all started out without any significant blaze of publicity. Each has done plenty to raise his profile since starting to have runners, while Ardad's three-time Group 1-winning first-crop son Perfect Power (Ire) is about to stand his second season at Dalham Hall Stud. The one drawback for the furtherance of the line is that Prince Of Lir's fastest son, G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Live In The Dream (Ire), is a gelding. Being represented by a 2,000 Guineas winner at the age of 27 would be unusual, but for the redoubtable Invincible Spirit it may well happen. Sons of Kodiac who have yet to have runners include the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Hello Youmzain (Fr), G2 Coventry S. winner Nando Parrado (GB) and G2 Flying Childers S. winner Ubettabelieveit (Ire). Furthermore, this year's G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Good Guess (GB) will join his father on the Tally-Ho roster in 2024 at a fee of €17,500. Elsewhere, Best Solution (Ire) had his first two-year-old runners this year in Germany, in which country he recorded two of his three Group 1 victories (at, untypically for the progeny of Kodiac, 2400m). International stud success for stallions sired by Rafha's sons is, of course, commonplace. Most notably, Invincible Spirit briefly shuttled to Australia early in his career and there produced the tough sprinter I Am Invincible (Aus) who has become astonishingly prolific sire of stakes winners of all ages. He deservedly became Australia's champion sire in 2021/'22, retained the title last term, is currently leading the standings this season, and is already respected as a sire of sires. The Invincible Spirit horses Cable Bay (Ire), National Defense (GB) and Shalaa (Ire) have all enjoyed success at stud in both hemispheres, while Cable Bay is about to get under way as a sire of sires with his fast son Dragon Symbol (GB) retiring to Whitsbury Manor Stud. Invincible Spirit's G1 King's Stand-winning son Profitable (Ire) has headed out to Turkey ahead of the 2024 season, notwithstanding that he started out well on the Darley roster in Ireland with his first crop of juveniles containing 2021 G2 Queen Mary S. heroine Quick Suzy (Ire). Looking to spread Rafha's influence even farther afield will be the Invincible Spirit horse Digital Age (Ire), a Grade I winner in the USA in 2020 of the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. over nine furlongs on a firm turf track at Churchill Downs. Digital Age stands in South Africa at Mauritzfontein Stud. It should also be mentioned that the treble Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire), a great grandson of Rafha through his female line, and successful on turf and dirt, is about to make his belated debut at Sumbe in France. To return to Invincible Spirit and Kodiac, their success at stud has been one of the most heartening bloodstock stories of the 21st century to date. The sire-sons of each look set to ensure that this story will run and run, not to mention that each has plenty of good racehorses still to come. Most obviously, Invincible Spirit's unbeaten two-year-old son Ghostwriter (Ire) stamped himself as a serious Classic prospect for 2024 when he extended his winning run in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket at the end of September. Being represented by a 2,000 Guineas winner at the age of 27 would be unusual, but for the redoubtable Invincible Spirit it may well happen. The post Rafha’s Influence Prevails Through Her Dominant Sons appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With both of the miler’s previously booked riders, Harry Bentley and Vincent Ho, unavailable, the veteran trainer sticks with the perennial championView the full article

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have been playing the catch-up game with Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) for next month’s $1 million Elsdon Park Aoteoroa Classic (1600m), and they seem to be winning. The talented four-year-old placed first-up at Otaki last month over 1200m before trialling at Matamata over 1000m last week to ready him to tackle the Barfoot & Thompson 1400 at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. After sitting three back on the fence throughout, Bosson was able to find a passage through runners down the home straight and Wild Night hit the front with 200m to go and was able to hold out the late challenge of Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) to win by a short neck. Walker said Wild Night has been a tough horse to manage and he was pleased to see the son of Vanbrugh return to winning form ahead of his rich target next month. “He has got such a big frame and he hasn’t really had the best of legs. He takes quite a bit of management,” Walker said. “Unusually, we trialled him on Friday and you wouldn’t normally do that. We are just trying to catch-up a little bit as he is a little bit behind where we should be for the Karaka Millions 4YO. “This will bring him on a lot and he will run at Ellerslie in that race on the twilight night. It was a good win today.” Walker said Bosson’s experience was a telling factor in the concluding stages of the race. “It was good to have Opie back in the saddle, he was suspended last week. Gee he is good in a tight finish, no one really beats him,” he said. The victory continues Wild Night’s great association with Pukekohe’s Boxing Day meeting, having won the Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) 12 months prior. It was one of five victories for the gelding in a standout three-year-old season, with his other wins including the Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m), and he also placed in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Wild Night was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of Windsor Park Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale for $50,000. The Cambridge farm are offering his half-brother by Circus Maximus at next month’s New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale at Karaka. View the full article

Blake Shinn made the difference between winning and losing. Exciting Kiwi filly Molly Bloom is Sydney bound for 2, Group 1’s during the Spring. Lance O’Sullivan says she has one more NZ mission this prep. Listen on Apple Podcasts: CLICK TO PLAY View the full article

Continuing from where they left off, Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson produced debutantes Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) and Quintefeuille (Xtravagant) to quinella the Maiden 2YO 1100m at New Plymouth on Wednesday. The stable had a memorable day on Boxing Day, with six wins including Group One winner Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer), Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) winner Kai (NZ) (Ocean Park), and exciting debutante two-year-old winner Cool ‘N’ Fast (NZ) (Savabeel) who quickly trimmed from $21 to $3.50 for the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Able to sweet-seat in the trail behind Quintefeuille, who had company in front, Damask Rose was out to challenge early in the straight and drew an advantage in the final stages as the pair raced clear from their rivals. Ridden by Michael McNab, Damask Rose had wound up nicely in the straight for third in her sole trial on 5 December at Waipa, and appeared ideally drawn (2) to race well. “It was a lovely ride of Michael McNab’s and a good winning effort by the filly,” said co-trainer Mark Walker. “She’s a filly with a lot of scope about her and going to be a lovely three-year-old, but doing it at present on pure, natural, ability. “We’ll get her home and let the dust settle, but if we’re really happy with her she could be a contender for the Karaka Millions. “She’s got a bright future and we’ve thought a bit of her for awhile, and Dave (Ellis) bought her from a very good farm at Milan Park.” In winning, Damask Rose gained enough prize money to make her eligible, at present, among 14 runners for the Karaka Millions 2YO, joining five others from the stable headed in earnings by Cool ‘N’ Fast. Damask Rose was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000, from the draft of Milan Park, at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and is owned by Te Akau Coming Up Roses Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). View the full article

A trip north to Trentham next month is on the cards for Noble Knight (NZ) (Ghibellines) following his victory in the Grand Casino 2200 at Wingatui on Boxing Day. It was a return home of sorts for the son of Ghibellines, who was born just down the road at White Robe Lodge. The six-year-old gelding took winning form into the race and trainer Sandy Cunningham was full of confidence until the rain arrived and they were met by a Heavy10 track. He had three previous starts on the surface for a placing, but Cunnigham went into the race with reserved expectations and was delighted to see her charge storm home late on the outside to win by half a length in the hands of jockey Samantha Wynne. “It was a vey good run because it is not a track that is ideal for him, but Sam rode him lovely,” Cunningham said. “I was reasonably confident until it rained. I think he is a better horse on top of the ground, but it gives you confidence going into a bigger race that if the weather changes you have still got half a chance.” Nominated for the Gr.3 NZ Campus For Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham next month, Noble Knight has earned a trip north for his first tilt at stakes level, which will likely come in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) at the Upper Hutt track on January 13. “I will probably head up the week before (the Wellington Cup) for the Trentham Stakes,” Cunningham said. “He is unknown over 3200m, so if the race is run to suit him, I think he will make the 3200m, but it is a nice 2100m race and I know he is good over 2000m.” It will be Noble Knight’s first trip across the Cook Strait, but Cunningham believes he will handle the trip well. “He hasn’t gone that far before. It is quite easy going down to Wingatui because they stay at White Robe Lodge where he was born. He likes going there because he can get in a paddock and stretch his legs,” she said. “It was good to do that trip before he goes to Trentham because it gets their travel legs in. They have got to learn to travel.” Cunningham is looking forward to next month and said she will make the most of racing her gelding at Group level. “I haven’t had a nice one for a wee while and it just shows that when you get them you have got to make the most of it,” she said. View the full article

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Friday, December 29, 2023 First Race 7:10pm HKT (10:10pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing heads to the city circuit of Happy Valley for a rare Friday meeting to be run under lights. The first of eight races is scheduled to get underway at 7:10pm local time, and with the rail in the C+3 position throughout the evening, we’ll be giving a slight advantage to those gallopers utilising their early speed. It should be an outstanding night of racing for all participants, with perfect conditions forecast heading into the weekend. Best Bet at Happy Valley: Quantum Patch Quantum Patch will be seeking redemption for favourite backers after a last start defeat at this course and distance at the hands of Silver Sonic on December 6. He meets his key rival 3kg better off at the weights and gets a much more suitable barrier to hold a position from stall three. His win prior to that was sensational when going on to score by 2.3 lengths, and provided the son of Gleneagles can maintain his form, Quantum Patch will prove too classy in the Happy Valley finale. Best Bet Race 8 – #4 Quantum Patch (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Pierre Ng | J: Jerry Chau (a1kg) (57kg) Bet with Unibet Next Best at Happy Valley: Snowalot Snowalot continues to prove a model of consistency for the David Hayes barn, and although he’s winless in his last eight starts, this guy is building to a victory. He finished an impressive runner-up two starts back at this track and trip before gaining a luckless run in transit behind an airborne M Unicorn on Hong Kong International Jockey night. He draws to get an economical run from barrier two on Friday, and with his chances only bolstered by the booking of James McDonald, Snowalot can pick up a much-deserved victory in this Class 4 contest. Next Best Race 3 – #1 Snowalot (2) 6yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: James McDonald (61kg) Bet with Neds Best Value at Happy Valley: Satirical Glory We’ll be looking for a race-to-race double for the David Hayes camp as Satirical Glory makes his second attempt at Class 4 company. The gelding by So You Think returned to Sha Tin on December 17 over 1600m and was unable to give his customary kick at the top of the straight due to a lack of race-day fitness. A return to Happy Valley second-up should do wonders for the five-year-old, and as James McDonald takes the reins from a wide draw, look for Satirical Glory to cross and attempt to make every post a winner. Best Value Race 4 – #3 Satirical Glory (11) 5yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: James McDonald (61kg) Bet with Bet365 Happy Valley Wednesday quaddie tips – 20/12/2023 Happy Valley quadrella selections Friday, December 29, 2023 2-5-8-12 1-3-6-9-10 1-2-8-9-11 4 More horse racing tips View the full article

What Gosford Races Where The Entertainment Grounds – 4 Racecourse Rd, West Gosford NSW 2250 When Thursday, December 28, 2023 First Race 1:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) headlines an ultra-competitive seven-race program at Gosford on Thursday afternoon. The rail is in the true position throughout the entire circuit for the meeting, and with only minor showers predicted in the lead-up, expect the surface to upgraded into the Good range prior to the opening event scheduled for 1:10pm local time. Belle Of The Turf Stakes Tip: Zoe’s Promise The Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) is for the fillies & mares, where Zoe’s Promise will be seeking back-to-back wins for the campaign. Since joining the Kris Lees barn in September, the daughter of Swear has been showing steading improvement, culminating in a terrific last-start victory in BM78 company at Randwick on December 9. She led all of the way despite being forced to lug 60kg on her back, and with tactical versatility a major asset in this event, watch for Zoe’s Promise to produce something similar in the Group 3 feature. Belle Of The Turf Stakes Race 6 – #4 Zoe’s Promise (6) 4yo Mare | T: Kris Lees | J: Dylan Gibbons (57kg) +320 with Neds Gosford Guineas Tip: Royal Tribute The three-year-olds step out in the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m), where Royal Tribute must be considered the one to beat. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained colt was no match for King’s Gambit in the Group 2 Roman Consul (1200m) on October 7, however, was only narrowly defeated by Ozzmosis, who would then go on to secure victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). That appears to be the strongest form for this, and after an 82-day freshen to go along with a strong tick-over trial, Royal Tribute will take a power of beating. Gosford Guineas Race 5 – #3 Royal Tribute (3) 3yo Colt | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Adam Hyeronimus (56kg) +170 with PlayUp Best Bet at Gosford: Concello Concello couldn’t have been more impressive when breaking her maiden status at Hawkesbury on December 10, rounding up her rivals to score by 3.3 lengths. The daughter of Trapeze Artist appreciated getting out to the 1600m after failing to fire a shot on debut at Canterbury and finds a very similar setup on Tuesday. Tyler Schiller should get a lovely sit in transit, and when asked for the ultimate effort, watch for Concello to be charging down the centre of the course in the opener. Best Bet Race 1 – #6 Concello (6) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: Tyler Schiller (56kg) +160 with Picklebet Best Value at Gosford: Study Study failed to make an impression in her only run of the preparation at Newcastle on August 29, but caught the eye at the barrier trials as she resumes from a 121-day spell. She’s been allowed to stride out under her own steam in both, with her latest jump-out at Hawkesbury having Tyler Schiller get a feel for the filly before taking the reins for race-day conditions. She’s likely to get back from barrier nine, but with a strong tempo expected in this 1100m contest, Study appears ready to sprint well first-up. Best Value Race 3 – #20 Study (9) 3yo Filly | T: James Cummings | J: Tyler Schiller (56.5kg) +1000 with Bet365 Gosford Thursday quaddie tips – 28/12/2023 Gosford quadrella selections Thursday, December 28, 2023 1-9-14 3-4-6-9 1-4-6 2-3-4-6-11-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Wild Night winning at Pukekohe on Tuesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have been playing the catch-up game with Wild Night for next month’s $1 million Aoteoroa Classic (1600m), and they seem to be winning. The talented four-year-old placed first-up at Otaki last month over 1200m before trialling at Matamata over 1000m last week to ready him to tackle the Barfoot & Thompson 1400 at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. After sitting three back on the fence throughout, Bosson was able to find a passage through runners down the home straight and Wild Night hit the front with 200m to go and was able to hold out the late challenge of Uderzo to win by a short neck. Walker said Wild Night has been a tough horse to manage and he was pleased to see the son of Vanbrugh return to winning form ahead of his rich target next month. “He has got such a big frame and he hasn’t really had the best of legs. He takes quite a bit of management,” Walker said. “Unusually, we trialled him on Friday and you wouldn’t normally do that. We are just trying to catch-up a little bit as he is a little bit behind where we should be for the Karaka Millions 4YO. “This will bring him on a lot and he will run at Ellerslie in that race on the twilight night. It was a good win today.” Walker said Bosson’s experience was a telling factor in the concluding stages of the race. “It was good to have Opie back in the saddle, he was suspended last week. Gee he is good in a tight finish, no one really beats him,” he said. The victory continues Wild Night’s great association with Pukekohe’s Boxing Day meeting, having won the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) 12 months prior. It was one of five victories for the gelding in a standout three-year-old season, with his other wins including the Group 2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m), and he also placed in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). More horse racing news View the full article

Snazzytavi continued her rise to higher targets with victory in the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) at Pukekohe Park. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Promising galloper Snazzytavi outlined her credentials for higher honours when she defeated a quality line up of intermediate-graded gallopers at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. Sporting the familiar colours of Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the four-year-old daughter of Tavistock looked to be in for a profitable summer after kicking off a new campaign with a close second over 1400m at the venue last month before winning stylishly at Te Rapa earlier this month. Having her first attempt beyond 1400m, the Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained runner took it all in her stride as she settled in midfield for rider Vinnie Colgan, who was substituting for the suspended Warren Kennedy, before building her momentum approaching the home bend. Momentarily pocketed behind runners at the 300m, Colgan eased her into a needle-eye gap before balancing up and driving clear to win going away by more than a length from the fast-finishing pair of Rudyard and Sindacato. Richardson was justifiably proud of the effort after the mare overcame a muddling pace and some mid-race interference. “That was a big effort today as they walked down the back (straight), where she got her head up as one came back on her,” he said. “I thought then she was going to need a lot of luck but he (Colgan) rode her well as he didn’t panic and she showed she is a good mare. “When she is strong enough she will get over more ground but she is still a little immature. “Brendan and Jo are great to train for and it’s nice to have a quality mare like this.” Colgan was also taken with the effort. “The pace slackened off and my horse was over-racing,” he said. “She travelled into it nicely turning for home and I had to make a few choices in the straight, but luckily enough we got through the gaps. “She really pulled away the last little bit.” More horse racing news View the full article

Noble Knight is set to head north to compete at the Wellington Cup Carnival at Trentham next month. Photo: Race Images South A trip north to Trentham next month is on the cards for Noble Knight following his victory at Wingatui on Boxing Day. It was a return home of sorts for the son of Ghibellines, who was born just down the road at White Robe Lodge. The six-year-old gelding took winning form into the race and trainer Sandy Cunningham was full of confidence until the rain arrived and they were met by a Heavy 10 track. He had three previous starts on the surface for a placing, but Cunnigham went into the race with reserved expectations and was delighted to see her charge storm home late on the outside to win by half a length in the hands of jockey Samantha Wynne. “It was a vey good run because it is not a track that is ideal for him, but Sam rode him lovely,” Cunningham said. “I was reasonably confident until it rained. I think he is a better horse on top of the ground, but it gives you confidence going into a bigger race that if the weather changes you have still got half a chance.” Nominated for the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham next month, Noble Knight has earned a trip north for his first tilt at stakes level, which will likely come in the Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) at the Upper Hutt track on January 13. “I will probably head up the week before (the Wellington Cup) for the Trentham Stakes,” Cunningham said. “He is unknown over 3200m, so if the race is run to suit him, I think he will make the 3200m, but it is a nice 2100m race and I know he is good over 2000m.” It will be Noble Knight’s first trip across the Cook Strait, but Cunningham believes he will handle the trip well. “He hasn’t gone that far before. It is quite easy going down to Wingatui because they stay at White Robe Lodge where he was born. He likes going there because he can get in a paddock and stretch his legs,” she said. “It was good to do that trip before he goes to Trentham because it gets their travel legs in. They have got to learn to travel.” Cunningham is looking forward to next month and said she will make the most of racing her gelding at Group level. “I haven’t had a nice one for a wee while and it just shows that when you get them you have got to make the most of it,” she said. More horse racing news View the full article

Times Ticking will contest the Timaru Heritage Cup (1600m) at Phar Lap Raceway on Thursday. Photo: Race Images South Wairarapa trainer Alby MacGregor has enjoyed spending time in Canterbury with his family over the Christmas period and he is hoping for a leaving gift at Phar Lap Raceway on Thursday prior to his trip back north. MacGregor’s stable star Times Ticking has been ticking along nicely since his fourth placed effort behind Puntura in last month’s Group 3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton. He headed back to the Christchurch venue last week for a 1200m trial on the synthetic track to ready for this week’s assignment and MacGregor was pleased with what he saw. “I have been down here for about a month, it’s been great to spend some time with family. They enjoy racing and my son has his owner-trainer license, and he has got a few about him now,” MacGregor said. “He (Times Ticking) has done so well (since the Coupland’s) and that is why we took him to the trial because he had done a bit too well. “He just had a quiet trial, but he went well on the polytrack.” The eight-year-old gelding will line-up in the Timaru Heritage Cup (1600m) on Thursday where he has been assigned top weight of 62kg and gate 11 in the 15-horse field. MacGregor has secured the services of three-kilogram claiming apprentice Denby-Rose Tait, bringing his allotted weight down to 59kg, 1kg less than race rival Perfect Scenario. “It will be good to get some weight off his back,” MacGregor said. “It is not a bad field but nothing like they have got up north. Perfect Scenario and a few others will be tough to beat.” MacGregor is hoping Tait can find a somewhat handy position from their wide gate, with MacGregor heeding the warnings of local trainers. “If he can race midfield that would be nice,” he said. “I don’t know the track at all, but they tell me you don’t want to be too far out of it as you are making a move.” While MacGregor is set to return home, Times Ticking will remain down south, with a final southern stakes assignment on the cards before he reunites with his handler. “I am coming back up but the horse will stay down,” MacGregor said. “He thrives down here, he loves it down here. “There is the White Robe Lodge (Group 3, 1600m) and that is weight-for-age in early February.” While he won’t return home with his pride and joy, MacGregor said there is some young stock awaiting his return that he is looking forward to spending some time with. “I have got a yearling at home a mate and I bred by Vadamos and we might have a look at him and play about,” he said. More horse racing news View the full article

Kai winning the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe on Tuesday. Photo: Monica Toretto Pint-sized mare Kai showed her undoubted ability on wet and loose footing when she stormed down the outskirts of the Wingatui track to take out the feature race there on Boxing Day, the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m). Heavy overnight rain and persistent showers during the day saw the track downgraded to a Heavy 10 which played into the hands of the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained northern visitor as three of her previous four career wins had come on similar surfaces. Handled patiently by Kylie Williams, the daughter of Ocean Park sat three-wide with cover beyond midfield and was still amongst the tailenders early in the run home. Williams had her winding up nicely though and she swamped her rivals in the last 100m to defeat local galloper Adannaya and pacemaker Emanon with her sustained burst. Walker, who was at Pukekohe where their team won five of the 10 races on the programme including the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) with Campionessa, was delighted with the win which came off a solitary trial over 1000m for the mare, following a two-month break. “It’s great when a plan comes together as after her last start win back in October her owners were thinking about sending her to a stallion to be served,” Walker said. “We had a chat about it and I said I thought she could definitely get some black type if we placed her right and this race today became the target. “It’s a hell of a long way to go from Matamata to Wingatui for a race but when she drew the outside and the rains came, everything just started to fall into place. “It was a very good ride by Kylie as she used the mare’s great finishing speed to perfection. “This is fantastic for her owners and I think she hasn’t stopped winning just yet either.” Walker hadn’t set any concrete plans for the mare but said a Listed 1400m open event at Riccarton on January 27 was definitely an option worth considering. More horse racing news View the full article

Santa Anita Park's Classic Meet opener Dec. 26 proved a rousing success, as an on-track crowd of 37,143 contributed to all-sources handle of $18.3 million, which rates as the best handle ever among a total of 17 opening dates conducted on a Tuesday.View the full article

Race 6 ANCROFT STUD 1600 INVINCIBEEL (C Grylls) – Te Akau Racing Manager Mr. R Trumper advised Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of the mare, however, has now been retired from racing. The post Matamata Racing Club, Friday, 22 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

CARSTON RACING REMEMBERING MEGAN MAIDEN 1400m HEY GIRLFRIEND (C Campbell) – Trainer Mr. J Blackadder advised Stewards that HEY GIRLFRIEND has now been retired from racing. The post Ashburton Racing Club, Wednesday, 20 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Watsonville shook off two unsuccessful attempts in graded stakes and proved that graded company is where he belongs with a gutsy win in the one-mile, $200,000 Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Speed Boat Beach, a 3-year-old son of Bayern, held off a tenacious Hejazi to win by 1 1/2 lengths and capture his first grade 1 win for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who also trains Hejazi. View the full article

In a battle of California-breds, Daddysruby set a hot pace and lasted by a nose over Big Pond to win the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Jethorse LLC, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber's DADDYSRUBY (f, 3, Frac Daddy–Youtheprizeandi, by You and I) set a pressured pace, braced for a late challenge from fellow Cal-bred Big Pond (Mr. Big) and just got the bob in to take Tuesday's co-featured GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita. Though not the quickest into stride, having scratched down into the innermost gate in the field, Daddysruby speared through make the running inside of favored Howl (Practical Joke) linking up with the course proper, as Big Pond tracked that pair from three off the inside. The chalk, looking to remain unbeaten in three starts, had run her race by the time the La Brea field hit the three-furlong pole, and it was left to Daddysruby and Big Pond to settle the contest. The former pinched a bit of a break and looked on her way to a relatively easy victory, but Frankie Dettori kept after Big Pond in the final 50 yards to make the end result very interesting. Daddysruby won her maiden impressively at first asking for Jethorse and trainer Tim McCanna over the Golden Gate Tapeta before Adam Wachtel and Gary Barber saw fit to buy in. Winner of consecutive state-bred races in March and August, respectively, the gray was fourth in an age-restricted two-turn allowance on the grass at Del Mar Sept. 3, but atoned with a 5 1/4-length victory against older fillies and mares sprinting on the dirt here Oct. 27. Daddysruby is the first graded winner of any variety for her Ontario-based sire, his fifth black-type winner overall and first outside of Woodbine. O-Jethorse LLC, Wachtel Stable & Gary Barber; B-Jethorse LLC (CA); T-Peter Miller. From allowance winner to Grade I victress, DADDYSRUBY hangs on to win the GI La Brea Stakes at @santaanitapark! pic.twitter.com/WO5bdrAFJr — TDN (@theTDN) December 27, 2023 The post Daddysruby Leads Home Cal-Bred Exacta One-Two in the La Brea appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mrs Chrissie gave a commanding front-running performance at Caulfield. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli New Zealand-bred mare Mrs Chrissie began a new campaign in style at Caulfield on Boxing Day with a commanding front-running performance. The Benchmark 70 Handicap was the Per Incanto mare’s first appearance since early July, and she brought a strong fresh-up record into the race – recording two wins and a placing from four previous starts in that state. She added another win to that record on Tuesday, sliding forward from gate four and dominating the race from the front for apprentice jockey Carleen Hefel. She had Rubicon Crossing keeping her company on her outside until the home turn, but then Mrs Chrissie kicked away from that rival in the straight and drew clear to score by two and a quarter lengths. “She loved it today,” Hefel said. “She was relaxed and jumped super and was really strong to the line. She’s a bit stronger this time in, I think. She feels really good.” Mrs Chrissie has now had 10 starts for three wins and three placings, banking A$106,925 in stakes for her ownership group. Co-trainer Ciaron Maher believes Mrs Chrissie is coming into her own as a five-year-old. “Her development has been good,” he said. “She does have a very, very good fresh record and had trialled well, so we were reasonably confident. But it was a good ride by Carleen, taking luck out of it and going forward, and it was a pretty easy watch today.” More horse racing news View the full article

After reading Nick de Meric's letter, I felt a strong urge to add my voice to this crucial discussion. His insights inspired me to write “Public Opinion: Mastering Thoroughbred Racing's Media Plan.” Like many others, I have a deep passion for this sport and am dedicated to its future. My article takes a deep dive into the powerful role of public opinion in shaping the Thoroughbred racing industry. It's more than just image; it's about how this perception influences everything from policy decisions to consumer and investor confidence. The piece highlights the necessity of having a solid crisis communication plan and the importance of effective storytelling, especially in challenging times. I also discuss the significance of positive public relations, emphasizing our commitment to horse welfare and the need to celebrate the brighter aspects of racing. The role of digital media in connecting with our audience and maintaining a positive narrative is another key point in the article. Echoing Nick, it's clear that a strong, coordinated PR strategy is essential. The article presents several strategies we could employ to improve our industry's public image. If you're interested in the full discussion, please feel free to read the article HERE. It offers insights that are vital for anyone invested in the future of our sport. Thank you, Nick, for igniting this conversation, and to Thoroughbred Daily News for providing a platform for these important discussions. Let's continue to collaborate and ensure our sport is seen in the best possible light. Kind regards, Clark Shepherd, Shepherd Equine Advisers The post Letter to the Editor: Clark Shepherd appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article