Wandering Eyes

Fallon storms to victory. The HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on March 24 shapes a potential target for Fallon after Tony Cruz’s young stayer showcased Four-Year-Old Classic Series potential with a spectacular win at Sha Tin on Tuesday. Carrying 135lb, the Galileo Gold three-year-old surged from the tail of the field at the 400m in 22.84s for Keith Yeung after starting from barrier 14 in a performance which left Cruz pondering a Classic tilt. The winner of his only start in 2022 in Ireland for Michael O’Callaghan when known as Rothko, Fallon has taken time to adjust to his new surroundings but Cruz believes the gelding could measure up as a Hong Kong Derby contender. “He was a very young horse coming here, he had only one start in Ireland and won, but he was a very immature horse, he was only a two-year-old when he came to Hong Kong, so I gave him plenty of time just so he could mature,” Cruz said. “I didn’t want to race him against older horses but this season, (but) with plenty of education with trials, he started to mature and he’s just got better and better. “I told Keith to ride him very quiet because he’s got no early speed – nothing at all – but the last quarter he’s going to finish strong and that’s what he did.” Asked if the Hong Kong Derby was an option, Cruz said: “I’m going that way – the 1600 metre race on the 12th of February and then after that another two races – an 1800m and a 2000m – before the Derby.” Cruz has previously tasted Derby success with Lucky Owners in 2004 and Helene Mascot in 2008. Vaulting into second place on the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a double to have 24 wins for the season to trail only Pierre Ng (39), Francis Lui outlined Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) hopes for Chancheng Glory, who gave Lyle Hewitson the final leg of a treble. “He hit the line well and the target is the Classic Mile,” Lui said. “In between now and then he could have one more race. I think he can handle further distance in the future, but at the moment I’ll keep him to a mile.” Hewitson, who also scored with Northern Beaches and Fun Elite, said: “They were horses coming into form, they needed the right ride and a bit of luck in the run, which they all seemed to get. “It’s been a fantastic day and it’s nice to get this sort of support, for which I am very grateful, and Chancheng Glory was a little bit of an extra special win. Honestly, he’s an improving horse and going for four on the bounce and we had to do it a bit differently today and go to Plan B when I saw everybody putting on pressure. It makes it a little bit more rewarding when that pays off.” Super Goldi, victorious under Derek Leung, gave 2021/22 Hong Kong Champion Trainer Frankie his first success with a Hong Kong International Sale graduate on a day when inexperienced gallopers featured. A HK$4.6 million purchase at the 2023 Hong Kong International Sale, Super Goldi is by Tavistock out of Pivotal mare Steer By The Stars. “This is my first ISG horse, so it’s great to win the race. He can go further in distance, but I don’t think we’ll be looking at the Derby at this moment. It was only a Class 4 today and we’ll see how he improves,” Lor said. Joining Super Goldi as a first-start victor was Benno Yung’s Fun Elite. Hewitson then continued his strong season with success on Northern Beaches. Trained by Chris So, Northern Beaches earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million in the process. At the other end of the age spectrum, eight-year-old Xponential (118lb) showed his versatility with success. “I’ve always said if I could have a dozen of him in my yard, I’d be ok. He never knows how to run a bad race. He’s so consistent, whether it be the dirt, Happy Valley, Sha Tin turf – he always seems to present himself and give him best,” trainer Douglas Whyte said. “An eight-year-old (winner) in Class 2, you don’t often see that. He’s got a lot of youth on his side. He’s as sound as ever. He’s just enjoying life. He just accepts everything I ask of him. It doesn’t matter the surface, he seems to handle it.” Teetan, who has 33 wins for the campaign after a double, said: “It was a very tough win. Dougie said ‘Let’s make use of the light weight from the nice gate’ and today the instruction was to try to get to the front,” Teetan said. “I just couldn’t get to the front, so I had to come back and he settled and once I pressed him, he went again. It was a really good win. “Some horses in that situation would give up because it’s too much work, but this just shows how tough he is. He’s got a big heart and he’s always trying.” Teetan also featured on Raging Blizzard, for John Size. Luke Ferraris maintained his perfect record aboard Diamond Flare with an effortless win for Mark Newnham. Ferraris has twice partnered Diamond Flare since the Deep Field gelding was imported to Hong Kong for two wins. The five-year-old was last season trained by Ricky Yiu but transferred to Newnham – who originally trained the grey to victory at Wyong in Australia in 2022. Purton leads the jockeys’ championship with 47 wins after the victory of Francis Lui-trained Noble One. Manfred Man and James McDonald combined with Miracles. By Better Than Ready, Miracles had tallied five minor placings in 18 previous winless outings, but was given a perfect ride today before surging to a 3.5-length winning margin. More horse racing news View the full article

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 Gr.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 Craigmore Sustainable Holdings 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 (Gr.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. View the full article

Promising galloper Snazzytavi outlined her credentials for higher honours when she defeated a quality line up of intermediate-graded gallopers to take out the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) 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.” Out of Zabeel mare Ritzy Lady, the winner of the 2007 Listed New Zealand St Leger (2500m) who was also runner-up in the 2006 Gr.2 Counties Cup (2100m), Snazzytavi hails from an extended family that includes stakes performers Playful Fingers, South African Group winners Hancock Park and Park Lane and Australian Group One winner Manuel. View the full article

A resolute finishing burst carried promising stayer Trust In You to his biggest career win when he took out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Pukekohe on Tuesday. A clear last after jumping slowly from a wide barrier (12), rider Michael McNab was happy to let the Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-prepared runner find his feet as the pair cruised along with majority of the 14-horse field in front of them. McNab began to get serious as he picked a path between rivals approaching the home turn before asking the son of Sweynesse to get serious as he found clear air early in the run home. Just as Liquid Sky looked to have mastered Canheroc and was heading to an upset victory, McNab got every ounce out of his mount and dived at the pair to win by a neck from Liquid Sky with a similar margin back to Canheroc. “He relaxed nice and got home nice likely he normally does,” Cooksley said. “He has been sitting two of three wide in most of his starts lately but he had a good run today. “We have him in the Queen Elizabeth so we will see how he pulls up and work it out from there.” Cooksley was referring to the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) back at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day, where he now sits at a $10 Fixed Odds quote in a market headed by Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) winner Dionysus at $2.80. Out of the six-win mare Shinko Bay, who won at Listed level, Trust In You is a half-brother to stakes-placed mare Donna Anne Billy and comes from an extended family that includes other black-type performers in Flying Free, Cool Storm and Matinee Idol. Offered by Novara Park during the Book 2 Sale at Karaka in 2020, he was purchased by Wallace for $26,000 and has now won three of his 21 starts and just under $153,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

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

Newgrange closed the 2023 season the same way he opened it—with a grade 2 victory at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Having won the pace battle with his sales-topping stable companion Hejazi (Bernardini), Watson, Weitman and Pegram's SPEED BOAT BEACH (c, 3, Bayern–Sophia Mia, by Pioneerof the Nile) went on to win the war as well, has he kicked on very gamely to take Tuesday's GI Malibu S. on opening day at Santa Anita. Hejazi, who topped the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale on Gary Young's bid of $3.55-million on behalf of Amr Zedan, won the break and took a narrow advantage through the opening exchanges, but Speed Boat Beach, last seen setting a quick tempo before finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, matched motors through a quarter in :22.21 and a half in :44.42. The 2-1 second choice, Hejazi perhaps had his nose in front passing the five-sixteenths, but when asked to kick by Flavien Prat, Speed Boat Beach found just a bit extra and went on to a hard-fought victory in 1:21.70. He is the third Malibu winner in four years for trainer Bob Baffert and his sixth overall, dating back to The Factor (War Front) back in 2011. The win represented firsts in the race for the Watson, Weitman and Pegram team and for Bayern, the GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero who now plies his trade in South Korea. Sales history: $12,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT; $200,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR. O-Watson, Weitman & Pegram; B-Caperlane Farm (FL); T-Bob Baffert. The post Speed Boat Beach Takes The Malibu For the Three Amigos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On Wednesday, December 27, various horse racing bookmakers have unveiled their racing promotions, featuring a range of enticing bonus back offers for horse racing enthusiasts. The top Australian racing promotions for December 27, 2023, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Eagle Farm Races 1-4 – 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $50. Back a runner in races 1-4 at Eagle Farm this Wednesday and if it runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $50 in Bonus Cash. Fixed Win bets only. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Geelong All Races – Same Race Multi 3+ Leg Bonus Back If 1 Leg Fails Up To $50 Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Geelong this Wednesday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Daily Trifecta Boosts Boost your winnings on Trifectas by 10% with new Daily Trifecta Boosts. Check Vault for eligibility. Limits may apply. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Geelong Bonus Back 2nd & 3rd – Races 1-4 Get your stake back in bonus bets if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd in Races 1-4 at Geelong on Wednesday.. Eligible clients only. General T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au has meticulously assessed the premier horse racing bookmakers in Australia, revealing exclusive bonus promotions and specials tailored for thoroughbred enthusiasts on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. These horse racing promotions are a regular feature, exemplifying the unwavering commitment of Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker happens to lack a promotion on a given day, rest assured that another is stepping up with enticing offers within the realm of gallops. For your daily dose of the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses, HorseBetting.com.au stands as the ultimate destination. Maximise the value of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses boasting the most competitive horse racing odds for every race. It’s crucial to emphasise that these thoroughbred racing promotions are exclusively designed for existing customers. To access these special promotions and claim the bookmaker’s offers, log in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting provides a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay well-informed, adopt strategic approaches, and enhance your overall horse racing experience by capitalising on these exclusive promotions. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Horse Racing on Wednesday, December 27 will feature five meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and provided free quaddie tips for the meeting at Eagle Farm. Wednesday Horse Racing Tips – December 27, 2023 Eagle Farm Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For December 27, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $23.87 odds return: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 Eagle Farm – Race 5 #7 Ring Of Steel Eagle Farm – Race 7 #4 Bullion Boy Geelong – Race 9 #3 Punch Lane Strathalbyn – Race 6 #3 Tahnee Treasure | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on December 27, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Anthropomorphization: Maybe we've always done it, but not to the extent as it appears to be taking over our collective consciousness in the 21st century. The attribution of human form or personality to things not human in the case of small animals has seen an expansion of the pet industry to something which would have been inconceivable 30 or 40 years ago. In parallel, the place of the horse in society has diminished, since the invention of motorised vehicles at the turn of the 20th century. Horses became less and less relevant to everyday life, to where today the majority of people living in our cities have possibly never actually seen a horse up close and personal. They have no connection, “so what,” you might say, but what you forget is we have had a relationship with horses for over 6,000 years, in the words of John Moore “Wherever man has left his footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to civilisation we will find the hoof print of the horse beside it.” We would not be here without the horse, and it is only in the last 100 or so years there has been an ever increasing disconnect. Even with that disconnect, people still recognised there was something in what the Greeks prescribed many centuries ago, and by mid-20th century Riding for the Disabled had been established around the world. Since then using horses as therapeutic facilitators has gained more and more momentum, to where today there are thousands upon thousands of programmes around the world using horses to help people…..and it IS Life changing. What we in the racing industry fail to recognise is the connection mankind has to horses. They are hard wired into our DNA, and as such the Horse is the most potent drug on the planet. We need to tell our story, yes, but we also need to package this beautiful gift we are lucky enough to spend our lives involved with, and to market it. We also need to realise we are living in a very different world today, where the horse has zero relevance to most people's lives, and anthropomorphization is the new norm. So when animal rights activists say racing is cruel, they are addressing a very different demographic from times past. Telling our story, showing how well we treat our horses and what a great game it truly is, is a fantastic start, but we need to do much more to resonate with today's population. Racing has survived through war, strife, famine, economic hardship, social unrest for over 2,000 years, but today it is facing the Grim Reaper of changing attitudes. One of which is “All use of horses is abuse.” We have to show how horses not only enrich those involved in the various equestrian fields, but society in general. The story we need to embrace is our age old connection to these magnificent and magical animals, and how we as a society are incomplete without them, in fact they are more relevant today than perhaps ever before. For we live in a world where technology has replaced the need for human connection, and where the ramifications of COVID 19 are being dramatically felt by a generation, especially the younger population. We are becoming more and more isolated and lonely, and unknowingly in need of what horses bring to our world–connection. We need to show people the complete cycle of the Thoroughbred from the beautiful nurture, nature of the breeding farms where their lives begin. Their playfulness and sheer joy of innocence. Then to the adrenaline-filled excitement, competitiveness, speed, beauty, strength, sheer power and determination of the of the Thoroughbred doing what they was bred to do over three hundred years ago–Race. To the third cycle, a stage which can take many forms. Those successful on the racecourse go back to the breeding farms. While others are re-trained by many wonderful Thoroughbred aftercare organisations to participate in other competitive fields. They do this because They Can. The Thoroughbred is an art form as close to perfection as you will ever find, and as such can excel in any field of endeavour. And what people are beginning to discover is that they are incredible empaths, and as such are creating an enormous buzz within the equine assisted activity world with programmes such as HorsebackUK, the Man O' War project, Racing Hearts, Stable Recovery, equine-facilitated prison programmes, and many, many more. It is to this, we need to turn our attention if the horse racing industry is to survive to see another decade. As a society we are in trouble. We are becoming more and more disconnected and isolated from each other, the consequences of which can manifest is depression, self-doubt, lack of esteem, anxiety and suicide. Ask yourself who has carried us to safe ground for thousands of years–the very being who has become totally irrelevant in the 21st century. It's time we as an industry begin to let the wider world in on our secret. We should not be taking a defensive stand, we need to show society what Horses can do for it, and in so doing we can re-establish our Social Licence, and the Horse's role in society. Suzi Prichard-Jones, owner, breeder and founder of the Byerley Turk & Godolphin Arabian Conservation The post Letter to the Editor: Suzi Prichard-Jones appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Anisette closed her strong 3-year-old season in style by seizing the lead from front-running Be Your Best in mid-stretch and then drawing off to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $300,000 American Oaks (G1T) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Anisette (GB) closed her strong 3-year-old season in style by seizing the lead from front-running Be Your Best (IRE) in mid-stretch and then drawing off to about a three-length victory in the $300,000 American Oaks (G1T) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Closing from last, Madaket Stables' Easter outfinished Missed the Cut and Tio Magico to win the $200,500 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Crunched into 3-5 favoritism to complete the Southern California turf Oaks double, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' ANISETTE (GB) (f, 3, Awtaad {Ire}–Tutti Frutti {GB}, by Teofilo {Ire}) sat the perfect trip just behind the pace and quickened up decisively in the final eighth of a mile to stamp her authority on Tuesday's GI American Oaks at Santa Anita. The dark bay, who swept the GII San Clemente S. and GI Del Mar Oaks over the summer, was content to lay third against the rails as Irad Ortiz, Jr. tried to make all the running aboard 'TDN Rising Star' Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}). The East Coast raider had things very much her own way on the engine and had every chance to finish the task at hand once heads were turned for home, but the chalk pushed away from the fence beneath Umberto Rispoli in upper stretch, easily gathered up the front-runner at the eighth pole and ran out a facile winner in 2:00.22. Be Your Best settled for second, while pace-pressing Musical Mischief (Into Mischief) re-rallied for third after appearing destined to finish off the board. It was the second win in the race in the space of three years for Aron Wellman's operation, who campaigned 2021 winner Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) in partnership in a race rained onto the main track. Anisette was catalogued as hip 179 to last month's Keeneland November Sale, but was ultimately withdrawn. Sales history: 26,000gns Ylg '21 TATSEP. O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Morera Partnership; T-Leonard Powell. GI Del Mar Oaks GI American Oaks What a season for the shining star, ANISETTE @santaanitapark pic.twitter.com/kJsF4BUIWM — TDN (@theTDN) December 26, 2023 The post Anisette Proves Far Too Strong In American Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by Mike Love Johnny Mac produced an outstanding stayers performance to win the Westport Cup at Paterson park yesterday for Prebbleton trainer Michael House. Johnny Mac was able to settle handy early for driver Wilson House from his front line draw. Electing to bring up the running line from the 2000 metres, House was able to find cover before being left parked again from the 600 metres when favourite Franco Marek worked to the lead. The pair broke away from the field with Johnny Mac outmuscling Franco Marek to win by a head from the fast finishing Homebush Lad who ran into second. “I thought with a bit of luck we could get a wee bit of it but we had a lot of competition,” said Wilson House. “Johnny’s runs at Palmerston North were both outstanding, and his training leading into the meeting was brilliant.” Johnny Mac has now won 12 races and is closing in on $120,000 in stakes. His win gave the House team a race to race double with Full Of Desire taking out the race beforehand. House has had plenty of success in the sulky in recent times and has now won 47 races and over $630,000 in stakes. “This is probably the biggest win of my career, and I know it means a lot to dad (Michael House) winning one of the coast circuit country cups because he grew up on the coast. “Dad’s team has been in a purple patch of form recently. It’s a credit to him and his team behind him.” The House team will line up 7 runners on day 2 of the meeting, with the first race set to get underway at 12.19pm tomorrow. View the full article

Four weeks before the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park, 11 older horses take aim at Gulfstream's Pegasus prep, the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) Dec. 30.View the full article

Najja Thompson is the executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. View the full article

Santa Anita's traditional Classic Meet has attracted some of the top jockeys in the world and Juan Hernandez seeks his second consecutive Classic Meet riding title.View the full article

Over the past year, there have been instances where greyhounds have been found to have high urinary arsenic levels in their systems, with the probable cause attributed to treated timber, which the greyhounds have been constantly licking or chewing. These cases highlight the fact that kennels made of treated timber could, through greyhounds chewing or licking them, cause elevated urinary arsenic levels. Trainers are advised to be cautious about this, especially if they have greyhounds who are more prone to chewing or licking. Trainers are also advised to be extremely cautious using vitamin supplements that contain arsenic close to racing, as these may also inadvertently lead to a rise in urinary arsenic levels. The post Greyhounds – caution re arsenic appeared first on RIB. View the full article

My favorite moment, Arcangelo winning the Belmont, plus the Travers. And his trainer Jena Antonucci's poise and professionalism during his career and how she carried herself through all the hoopla. The most poignant moment, for me, was seeing the empty stall of Maple Leaf Mel with the flowers from the trainer of the winner who showed such great class in declaring that Maple Leaf Mel was clearly the winner and offering his condolences to Melanie. The post What Was Your Favorite Moment of 2023: Delrene Sims appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We all have our favourites, and this week members of TDN Europe's editorial team each select a horse who provided particular enjoyment in 2023. Kicking off the series, Brian Sheerin puts forward the case for the sprinter whose victory in the G1 Flying Five was made all the more special by his human connections. I don't know about you, but I love an underdog story. Perhaps that is why I fell in love with National Hunt racing at a young age. Danoli (Ire), Bobbyjo (Ire) and Papillon (Ire) developed something of a cult following in the late nineties and early noughties in Ireland while Flemenstar (Ire) is another who caught the imagination when mopping up a host of Grade 1s for the late Peter Casey, one of the game's great characters. Sadly, it has been far too long since racing has supplied its audience with a narrative to grab hold of. Not only that, but the David and Goliath stories that we used to dine out on in the jumps sphere are now few and far between. The tables have turned. It seems as though the smaller trainers and owners can now hold genuine hopes of coming across a horse capable of mixing it at the highest level on the Flat. It's just not the same over jumps any more. Take Moss Tucker (Ire) winning the Flying Five for example. Already a Classic-winning trainer, Ken Condon is hardly what you would describe as a smaller trainer, but this is a result that resonated with many given that the horse was bred by his owner and former Munster rugby legend Donal Spring. Part of the Munster side which famously took the scalp of the All Blacks in Thomond Park back in 1978, Spring has a history of producing sporting shocks. Moss Tucker, named in honour of Spring's teammates, the late Moss Keane and Colm Tucker, was said to have about as much chance of winning the Flying Five as the experts gave that fabled Munster side of blindsiding the All Blacks. But therein lies the beauty of sport. Moss Tucker embodied everything that is brilliant about the game, chewing up the script and spitting out high-class sprinters like Highfield Princess (Fr), Bradsell (GB) and Art Power (Ire) in the process. It must be said, the heavy rain that fell before the race was in Moss Tucker's favour. But take nothing away from Condon's charge, who fought tooth and nail for his big day and was thoroughly deserving of a breakthrough win at the highest level. But it's the human side of this story that propels Moss Tucker to being one of the results of the year. You will be hard pressed to find a man who is as well-liked and respected universally as Condon. One of racing's good guys, Condon goes about his business in an understated manner and Moss Tucker proved once again that he is deadly when given the ammunition. By Excelebration (Ire) and out of a mare who won twice over hurdles as well as on the Flat, where she reached a modest mark of 76, Moss Tucker would have raised few predictions of Group 1 aspirations, not least over sprint distances. But here is a horse who has benefited from Condon's softly-softly approach, culminating with that big-race triumph at the Irish Champions Festival on his 30th racecourse start. It should also be noted that Moss Tucker winning the Flying Five came off the back of a below-par season by Condon's high standards. He has trained just nine winners in 2023, down from 17 in 2022 and 18 in the Classic-winning season the Curragh operator sent out Romanised (Ire) to land the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2020. To produce a result like Moss Tucker winning the Flying Five, one of the most fiercely-contested sprints in Europe, off the back of a difficult season is a measure of what a good trainer Condon is. Billy Lee riding Moss Tucker sugar-coated what was one of the sweetest successes of the year. Criminally under-appreciated, Lee is pound-for-pound one of the best riders in Britain and Ireland and would almost certainly have been crowned champion in his native country by now had God blessed him by being an inch or two shorter. The post TDN Horses of the Year: Moss Tucker appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Flat and jumps, north and south, in many ways Boxing Day belonged to the late High Chaparral (Ire), whose sons Karaktar (Ire) and Contributer (Ire) were responsible for group/graded doubles, one under each code, in Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. It is beyond dispute that High Chaparral was a brilliant racehorse. Retired to stud in the era of Galileo (Ire) and Montjeu (Ire), the horse who won two Derbys, two Breeders' Cup Turfs, an Irish Champion S. and a Racing Post Trophy perhaps never received quite the level of support he might otherwise have enjoyed but he was a good stallion nonetheless, and was notably successful in Australia. For his southern hemisphere stints, High Chaparral stood initially at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand before his good results prompted him to be brought 'in house' to Coolmore Australia. Among his good runners in Australasia, he sired the outstanding multiple dual-hempishere Group 1 winner So You Think (NZ), six-time Group 1 winner Dundeel (NZ), Australian Derby winner Shoot Out (Aus), and the VRC Derby winners Monaco Consul (NZ) and Ace High (Aus). The latter won the Derby at Flemington just three days before High Chaparral's British-foaled son Rekindling (GB) won the Melbourne Cup for Joseph O'Brien in 2017. Another of his sons from 'the north', Contributer, who was bred by the late Lady Chryss O'Reilly's Petra Bloodstock Agency, raced initially in Britain for Ed Dunlop and George Bolton before joining Godolphin's Australian stable of John O'Shea. To his two Listed wins in England, he added four group victories in Australia, including the G1 Chipping Norton and G1 Ranvet S. Syndicated by Darley in partnership with Mapperley Stud, Contributer has stood in New Zealand since 2016, two years after High Chaparral died at the relatively young age of 15. Already the sire of G1 Randwick Guineas winner Lion's Roar, Contributer's tally of Group 1 winners was doubled on Boxing Day when Campionessa (NZ) landed the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic at Pukekohe Park. Two hours later the aforementioned Lion's Roar won the G3 Schweppes Summer Cup in Sydney. Both horses are now six and are members of Contributer's first crop. In Europe at this time of year, the major action is of course all about the jumps and while it was 'King George Day' at Kempton Park, there was a three-way tie for the top race of the afternoon, with lovable underdog Hewick (Ire) landing the feature contest but receiving strong competition for top billing from the return of the best hurdler in training, Constitution Hill (GB), and French raider Il Est Francais (Fr), who won the G1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase. It is no faint praise for the man who has won 13 King George Chases, Paul Nicholls, to compare Il Est Francais to his mighty former stable star, Kauto Star, whose name is now attached to the race formerly known as the Feltham Novices' Chase. A scintillating prospect, the five-year-old Il Est Francais is from the first crop of Karaktar, an Aga Khan Studs-bred dual Group 3 winner on the Flat. On his retirement, he found his way to Haras de Cercy, where he was always likely to be given an excellent chance to succeed on the roster at one of the best National Hunt stallion studs in France. As a side note, the final race won by Karaktar was the 2015 G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange. Behind him that day in third was the indefatigable Not So Sleepy (GB), who is now 11 and won the G1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle earlier this month. As one might expect, Karaktar has a decent pedigree behind him and is from a family which includes the group-winning stayers Kasthari (Ire) and Kargali (Ire), as well as the G2 May Hill S. winner Karasta (Ire) who is now the dam of Listed-winning hurdler Karasenir (Ire). And with the weight of Cercy and its strong clientele of National Hunt breeders, he is making a noteworthy start to his stud career. Il Est Francais, who was already a Grade 1 winner in France, heads a list which includes his fellow French graded winners Incollable (Fr), Janeiro Verde (Fr) and Ile O Vent (Fr). Ten minutes before the victory of Il Est Francais in England, Karaktar was also represented by Kala Conti (Fr), who won the G2 Mercedes-Benz South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown. Karafon (Fr), who is by the same sire, was less than six lengths behind him in fifth. Both wins will have brought not just reflected glory to the Aga Khan Studs but also plenty of enjoyment to the team there as Fanny Cyprés, who works in nominations and client relations at Haras de Bonneval, is the daughter of Jacques and André Cyprés who are both heavily involved in the co-operative behind Haras de Cercy, while Amanda Zetterholm, who co-trains Il Est Francais with Noel George, also worked for a number of years for the Aga Khan Studs in France. Moreover, the victory of Il Est Francais was the first winner in his homeland in seven seasons for jockey James Reveley. The grandson and son respectively of trainers Mary and Keith Reveley, James left England in 2016 to pursue a career in France, initially working for champion trainer Guillaume Macaire. It was clearly a sensible decision as he is the reigning French champion jump jockey, a title he has won on three occasions, and is currently second in the table for 2023 behind fellow Brit Felix de Giles. The post High Chaparral’s Sons Boxing Clever Across the Globe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tony Cruz targets the city’s most prestigious race with his Irish import, who surged past his rivals in the Sha Tin home straight to win on Boxing DayView the full article

Three-year-old galloper lands his fourth consecutive victory at Sha Tin and adds to the South African rider’s wins on Fun Elite and Northern BeachesView the full article

Douglas Whyte’s evergreen sprinter breaks through in Class Two company at Sha Tin on Boxing Day, winning the Choi Hung Handicap (1,200m) on the dirtView the full article