Wandering Eyes

In this TDN series, we curry lessons and wise counsel from veteran Californian figures who, like gold nuggets panned from the Tuolomne River in the High Sierras, have unearthed career riches on arguably the toughest circuit in the States. The series started with John Shirreffs and Art Sherman, and continues here with Eddie Truman, who announced his retirement last month. The land around Mulvane, Kansas, has been flattened as though by some colossal steamroller, and the vast, leafy battalions of maize and wheat and sorghum stretch outwards on and on until the horizon appears to meet another universe entirely. “Imagine what's out here,” it seems to say (this is the Bible Belt after all). “Go on, take a look.” But before you do, it's best to go equipped with a few basic life lessons. “I don't know who taught my dad or how he figured it out or what, but we would re-break horses from these other farms around us. Everybody else would get a horse and then ruin them,” said Eddie Truman, when asked where the foundation stones of his long training career were cemented. He then laid out a formula for how the Truman family successfully rehabilitated those four-legged delinquents on their little Kansas farm. These would have been the years of chrome fenders, subway vents straddled by platinum blonds, and the distant shadow of “Ike” Eisenhower. “We had a small corral and we would start totally over with them all. We would start lunging then driving them,” said Truman. “By the time we got on them, they were responding to the bit, and he [dad] taught us that you correct them hard and fast, but then let them go and say, 'hey, we'll give you another chance.' “We didn't buck-break them out or anything like that. This is where dad had the edge–our horses never bucked. No. As soon as we got them out of the pen, we'd take them out in a plowed field. It was deep stuff, so they couldn't do too much. But it really taught us, all of us, to be kind, gentle hands, and to let horses relax–correct them, but then give them a chance. It was good.” Good for horse. Good for rider. “We learned some really valuable horsemanship that way,” said Truman. In a neatly ironed plaid shirt and navy-blue jeans, the recently retired trainer cut a relaxed silhouette on a warm early February morning outside the Starbucks in Sierra Madre, a sedate little town just north of Santa Anita, where the treasure lies in the view itself–the painterly backdrop provided by the San Gabriel Mountains that could have been stolen from the set of a John Huston spaghetti Western. If Mulvane opens out, Sierra Madre leans in. One place easy to leave, the other easier to stay. And Truman has lived in and around Sierra Madre since the 1970s. At 77, he's as wirily trim as a bantamweight boxer. Thank a lifetime in the saddle–peddle-bike and horse–for that, amid a near 50-year training career defined not so much by the usual barometers of success (Kentucky Derby garland, a laundry list of graded stakes wins), as by a more indeterminate metric, and one that, as a result, is perhaps more readily brushed aside. Especially in an age that covets above all else the religion of certainty. Sure, he's trained plenty of winners–763 of them, to be exact. “But to see a horse get good and see them just develop, get confidence, that was really fantastic to me–more so than even having a real nice horse that just goes out there and wins every time or runs hard every time,” said Truman, acknowledging what many regard a strength of his approach to training–the prospector's gift for panning gold from grit. “Maybe they weren't great horses, but they would go out there and perform for you.” Indeed, two of Truman's most accomplished works are horses that joined him half-made. Go West Marie had shown just fair form on the East Coast before joining the Truman stable halfway through 2014. Under his watch, the daughter of Western Fame won four stakes races and was just a length away from winning the 2015 GIII Las Cienegas S. He got the best out of Fairy King's son, Casino King, an Irish import who showed up time after time in some ferocious bouts on the turf, including a clear second behind triple Grade I winner Bienamado (Bien Bien) one June at Hollywood Park, a second-place finish in a Grade II at Woodbine and a stakes victory at Remington Park. But those wayward types, they were the ones Truman really could got a tune out of. “I would not actually search them out,” he explained. “But if I liked their form and I saw they were like that, I figured they could be better. Yeah. That would be one thing that I didn't mind at all. “A lot of times the reason horses are acting up or not performing is because they're hurting. That's a lot of it–something's wrong,” Truman added. “You need to get them happy. Try to get them sound and get them happy again. And then just patience. Patience with horses I think comes down to mainly repetition.” Ah yes, repetition–10,000 hours of it to make a genius, or so says Malcolm Gladwell. To illustrate, Truman recalled how one of his last trainees arrived with a pre-existing phobia, one especially ill-suited to the low-drooping lids of Santa Anita's backstretch barns. “They couldn't get her under the shedrow. She didn't want to go in the stall–she was scared of it,” he explained, cutting a cross with a hand. “Nope.” Carefully, persistently, Truman and his team successfully weaned the filly from her neurosis. “After about three weeks, she's going in pretty good. And after about a month, month and a half, she's like a normal horse walking in,” said Truman. “It just shows that time and patience are the key to horsemanship.” True to his days on the Mulvane flats, Truman preferred to meet challenges posed by his equine Rubik's Cubes hands-on. That he was an accomplished rider didn't hurt. Even into his sixties, Truman could be seen of a morning bobbing on horseback around Del Mar and Santa Anita (sometimes in shorts, to the consternation of anyone with skin on their knees). Truman's racing teeth were cut out on the dusty country roads of Kansas and Oklahoma, back then the epicenter of Quarter Horse match racing. As it was being laid out, Interstate 35, which cut a slice up through the spine of the country, proved a useful trial-ground. “I'm getting on these Quarter Horses and they're flipping over, rearing up in the gate. I'm 11 years old. I weighed like 80 pounds or something, 85 pounds wet through. Oh, man–it was years before I was real comfortable in the gate. “When you think about kids now, they would've locked up our parents. They would have hauled them away in handcuffs. But hey, that's the way it was.” Truman rode his first winner aged 12, on a Thoroughbred going half a mile. At 16, he followed into the professional ranks his brother, Jerry, already an established jockey. Truman was contracted to the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks. “They were kind of a gambling outfit, but [trainer] Paul [Kelly] was really a good horseman, very well respected.” So much so, Truman was leading rider one year at Sportsman Park. When the scales became too much of an enemy, he took a year or two jumping from role to role–exercise rider, veterinarian's assistant, patrol judge–to eventually becoming private trainer to an owner called David Kelly in Detroit [no relation to Paul]. “I knew basic horsemanship and being a jockey and understanding the fitness of a horse, the way he's traveling. I was pretty good at that. But still, I hadn't really paid that much attention to the legs before then. I didn't really have the whole thing about training down pat. But I did take really good care of my horses.” Less than a year in, Kelly's business empire went belly up. Truman was cut loose once more, flinging open the doors to what proved his “Eat, Pray, Love” years. He headed to Europe with little itinerary and even less luggage. “I was just bumming around, traveling all over, just trying to decide what I wanted to do,” said Truman. Six months later he was back in the States, headed west to Bay Meadows for a paddock judge position, then south to Santa Anita, exercise riding for a claiming trainer making his name as an unusually astute conditioner of the Thoroughbred racehorse. “Most of the time it would be all about less,” said Truman, when asked what abiding lessons he took from his time working for Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel. “Most of the time we'd just jog them. Pretty simple. That's what I often did, too, as a trainer,” Truman added. “Though I maybe carried that too far. I was too conservative sometimes. But he just kind of knew where horses were at, and which horses to go on with more. “We had some horses you'd think were pretty sore. He'd say, 'go work him.' I would say, 'man, Bobby.' But he just knew. 'Don't worry about it. Go ahead.' And nine times out of 10, it would work out. But I was always scared to death to do that.” Given the stock in the Frankel barn at the time, it figures that the old racing adage, “keep yourself in the best possible company and your horses in the worst,” was another useful tool that Truman took with him when he eventually set up on his own. “When I started, we got lucky. We claimed a horse that won like six out of nine races. Claimed another one that won four out of five. We would run them where they belonged. Run them up north,” said Truman. “That was one of my favorite games: Claim a horse here [Santa Anita, Hollywood Park] while they were in jail, run them up north, win, come back here, run them for what I claimed them for–I'd already won a race with them–and go on. You build up their confidence. Confidence–it's a big thing. People don't understand that. “Around the barn the next day–maybe the horse gets it from the people being happy, who knows–but that horse is different when he wins than when he loses. He's different. He has more confidence. He might be tired, but he's stronger. And man, get him to win a couple races, they're tough. They'll lay their body back for you. You run a horse over its head too many times, it doesn't matter where you put them, they run just the same.” Training, of course, is anything but a solitary pursuit. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it would take a census to count the number of hands that have touched, brushed, ridden, prodded, picked and shod any horse along its route to the winner's circle. Frankel, it seems, had particular ideas about what that village should resemble. So does his protege. “If [Frankel] saw a groom wasn't handling a horse a certain way, I think he'd be more inclined just to get rid of the groom instead of taking the horse away from him,” said Truman. “I kept one old guy with me for about 25 years,” Truman added. “He'd fight with everybody. Cranky? Oh, man. He'd want to get his horses out first. He'd get up at 2:30 in the morning. We'd start at six. Oh man, what a pain. But he loved his horses. Loved his horses. A good horseman. That's a big deal.” Truman wears the cheerful veneer of your friendly neighborhood postman. He tosses the phrase “oh, man” into the conversation like a frisbee. Breezy optimism suggests he's figured out the pursuit of happiness. But all this personability hides an examining mind–one clearly not shy of turning inwards. Truman admits he's glad he's not starting out a trainer in today's racing ecosystem. For one, he said, the era of the super trainer has led to the lopsided distribution of horses concentrated among fewer and fewer hands. Good horses especially. “When I came out here, every barn you walked under, it didn't matter if they had six horses, they had 12 horses, they had 32 horses, every barn had a big horse. Every barn. And that's what I'm talking about when I talk about the distribution. Every barn had a big horse. And now here we are,” said Truman, arguing that California should reinstitute the 32-stall limit per-trainer at each licensed racetrack. “I really think it's ruined racing,” he said. “I think it hurts everybody.” He also sees the multi-faceted roles of a modern trainer–data analyst, PR guru, TV personality, navigator of bureaucracies–as an evolution that takes the job further and further away from its core tenets of horsemanship and animal husbandry. “If you're a trainer, you might have a problem if you don't have a college education,” he said. “Why is that? You need to talk to these people, the owners, the media. You need to post stuff, take pictures of the horses, send them videos of workouts. And so, I think the game's changed. It's definitely evolved into one more focused on the owners, so that the training of the horses is secondary. “Another thing that I learned later on is that all this stuff we do is meaningless if the horse isn't able to run,” Truman added. “Maybe the odd horse, you can do this or that a little different. But hey, everybody's feeding the same. They're basically training about the same. The horse has got to be able to run. And so don't worry about all this other stuff.” In stripping the game of some of its starry romanticism, Truman lays out a case for balancing his professional and personal lives, not letting the two intermingle. No social gatherings at the barn. No long evening fireside chats on the telephone, all shop talk with the owners. No busman's holidays, families in toe. “Charlie [Whittingham]'s favorite saying was, 'owners are like mushrooms. Just feed them shit and keep them in the dark.' But Bobby was the opposite. He would say, 'don't come to the barn, I don't want to talk to you. Don't bother me. I'll see you at the races,'” said Truman, who said his approach hued closer to his old mentor's. “I didn't want people bothering me at night either–I wanted to spend time with my family. So that's what I chose–that's the road I chose. I said, 'I'm going to enjoy spending time with my daughter and my family. Put my life first and the horses second.' That's the choice I made.” Does he regret that approach now? “Hey, I would have loved to have had a horse for the Derby and this and that. But again, that was my own fault, too. I didn't capitalize on the communication with people, with owners.” Truman recalled the time Ed Friendly, a heavy-hitting California owner-breeder, approached a mutual friend with the offer of sending a squad of horses Truman's way. “I gave him my phone number,” Truman recalled. “[Friendly] says, 'now, is this your home number?' I said, 'no, I don't give out my home number. I don't want anybody to call me at night.'” Friendly was unimpressed. “He told my friend afterwards, 'who does he think he is? I'm going to give him some horses and he doesn't want me calling him?'” The Friendly horses remained strangers. As the hot February sun reached its midday zenith, the conversation turned to the legacies of long-passed California trainers–names, institutions that pepper the history books and old Daily Racing Forms, but have slipped from our everyday lexicon, lost amongst the detritus of lives lived in haste. “I wonder, if you were to walk out here today and ask most of the trainers who Charlie Whittingham is, how many would have a clue? I think they would say, 'oh yeah, he used to be a trainer.' But how many would know why he was a good trainer?” Truman asked, before listing other dusty names. Buster Millerick. Robert “Red” McDaniel. “Now go out there and see if they know who they are.” Truman paused, interrupted by passers-by who recognized him, wished him well in his retirement. When they strolled on, Truman quietly gathered his thoughts. “You never know if it would've worked out anyway,” he said, eventually, still lingering on past chances. “But I wanted to spend time with my family. So, that's the road I chose,” he added. “And I never really regretted my choice that way.” The post Eddie Truman: No Regrets on the Road He Chose appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Erin Sharkey of Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds. “We have been working on upgrading our bloodstock over the last several years with a focus on good-running mares that might not have a Kentucky commercial pedigree up front, but still have the ability to create excellent racehorses and future stallion prospects. If you look at the current stallions in Kentucky, you will see that around half are out of mares with non -commercial Kentucky sires. My personal opinion is that it is time to shift focus back to creating sound-running horses that also appeal to buyers in the ring. We have always focused on what our babies will be doing at three, five, 10 and 15 years old-creating a sound horse that can be utilized in many different fields, not just racing. That being said, we at Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds have shifted our focus partly away from True Nicks and have started utilizing the G1 Goldmine match more. For us personally, I feel like G1 gives you a more complete deep dive, if you will, into the overall pedigree-putting a lot of emphasis on mom's side and how the overall group of horses in the pedigree perform when crossed. Most of our mares' current pregnancies and upcoming breedings match this.” RICH IMAGE (7, Imaging-Richetta, by Polished Numbers) to be bred to Gunite. We have had this mare from the beginning of her breeding career. Every foal has just gotten nicer and nicer. She throws excellent balance and size. Her first foal by Maximum Security is currently in training with Eric Reed. We have her Tiz the Law yearling filly, who is phenomenal. Anxiously awaiting her Early Voting this year and going to Gunite was a no-brainer. He is beautiful. Retired sound and moves like a well-oiled machine. Gun Runner is really hot right now and the cross was excellent. This female family is really taking off with Ruby Nell (Bolt d'Oro) now a graded stakes winner. APPEALING WAY (10, Tizway-Turkappeal, by Turkoman) to be bred to Annapolis. This is another mare we have had since the beginning of her breeding career. She is currently in foal to Mandaloun. She had her first foal last year by Complexity. This is a deep family with a lot of black-type. Older pedigree, but produced sound horses. She is a half-sister to Grade III winner Pink Champagne (Awesome Again) and most of the siblings were excellent runners. She crosses well with Annapolis. He was a winner at two, three and four. He's from a great dirt family but won on turf. I think he will be versatile. It was a G1 Goldmine cross. Navy Sword will visit Goldencents in 2024 | Coady photo SAFFRON GIRL (7, Tapizar-Mattie Camp, by Forest Camp) to be bred to Speaker's Corner. We are breeding Saffron Beach to Speaker's Corner. This is a big, tall mare. Lots of leg. Her first foal by Spun to Run was well put together and nicely balanced. We then bred her to Speaker's Corner because it was off the charts both on G1 and TrueNicks. We are currently waiting for that foal to come and breeding her back to him seemed like a sensible idea. Speaker's Corner won some excellent races, had some excellent Beyer figures and raced into his 4-year-old year. I'm excited to see the foal coming this year. We have had this mare up for sale but she's such a nice mare that its really been a back and forth of not wanting to let her go. She has a lot to offer and is a fan favorite at the barn. MONEY INTHE STARRS (8, Abraaj–Our Monstarr, by Demons Begone) to be bred to Yaupon. This is a nice mare. I sent her to the sale this year and she got overlooked. I was happy to take her home. She was a stakes winner on the track and clinched Champion 2-year-old filly in Washington. She is currently in foal to Epicenter and I'm counting the days. Yaupon was well received at the sales and physically he matches her very well. Her pedigree isn't really seen here in Kentucky so its hard to find a great cross for her on paper, so for this mare we are going in a different direction than our other mares. We really liked what she produced with the Knicks Go filly she had last year and are pretty confident with what she will throw in upcoming years. Her mother was an excellent horse and Demons Begone horses are hardy runners. NAVY SWORD (7, Bodemeister-Wooden Nickel, by Divine Park) to be bred to Goldencents. This is a nice mare. She ran well in her company. She was a stakes winner of almost $200,000. We ran her G1 report and she really crossed well with Into Mischief sons. Goldencents is proven and is dependable to get you a good runner. This is a mare we are looking forward to having for many years and feel like we are starting her strong with a reliable sire. DELIGHTFUL DREAMER (7, Animal Kingdom-Age of Silver, by Silver Deputy) to be bred to Jimmy Creed. This is a mare I had been trying to get for a while. I lost her on a shake last year and was lucky enough to be able to get her this year when she retired. This is a nice family. Mom has proven to be quite fruitful on the blacktype scale. Since Distorted Humor works so well with this family we decided Jimmy Creed was an excellent choice for a first foal. He is also reliable, tried and true. Her mom produced some excellent horses on the Distorted Humor cross so we are hopeful she can do the same. PENDOLINO (8, Honorable Dillon-Wonzit, by Tizow) to be bred to Yaupon. We got this mare in New York. She was a hard-knocking mare who won over $200,000. She comes from the immediate family of Naughty Gal (Into Mischief). She's currently due any minute to Rock Your World. Again with Yaupon, he was a great runner, his foals have been very well received at the sales and physically, he matches her well. She has been a dream at the farm and we are excited to see what this family continues to produce. The post Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Wednesday, February 28, 2024 First Race 6:40pm HKT (9:40pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Happy Valley on Wednesday evening for a bumper nine-race program. The rail is back in the A position for the meeting, and with no rain predicted to hinder the Good 4 surface, it should be a fair track throughout the night. The opening race is scheduled to get underway at 6:40pm local time. Best Bet: Beauty Infinity Beauty Infinity launched late at Happy Valley on February 7 and just missed out on his second career win. The son of Toronado just got a pair or two further back in transit than Zac Purton would’ve liked but was the only danger as Super Joy N Fun fought off the four-year-old gelding. The John Size barn has this guy ticking over beautifully in his debut campaign, and with the way he has been closing in his four starts to date, Beauty Infinity gives the impression he is simply better than Class 4 company. Best Bet Race 8 – #1 Beauty Infinity (7) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (61kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best: Raging Blizzard Raging Blizzard has been a beaten favourite at this course and distance in back-to-back starts. The gelding by Per Incanto has been a shade disappointing in those efforts, attempting to sit outside the leader on both occasions to be found out late. He seems like a galloper that races better when slotted in for cover, and with a change of tactics this time around, hopefully Raging Blizzard can repay the faith for those that stick with this progressive four-year-old. Next Best Race 5 – #5 Raging Blizzard (5) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (57kg) Bet with Unibet Next Best Again: Super Joy N Fun Super Joy N Fun was ultra-impressive in his Hong Kong debut on February 2. He was ridden forward under Jerry Chau and cruised to the front before being asked for the ultimate effort turning for home. The Benno Yung-trained gelding obliged, putting a three-length margin on his rivals before Beauty Infinity produced a barnstorming finish. Super Joy N Fun only needs to deliver something similar on Wednesday to make it back-to-back wins. Next Best Again Race 6 – #2 Super Joy N Fun (7) 3yo Gelding | T: Benno Yung | J: Jerry Chau (a1kg) (60.5kg) Bet with Neds Hong Kong quaddie tips – Happy Valley Happy Valley quadrella selections Wednesday, February 28, 2024 1-2-3-5-9 2-3-4-7-9 2-3-5-7-8 1 Horse racing tips View the full article

Last-start winners M Unicorn and Sugar Sugar spearhead King of the Valley’s team of seven runners on Wednesday nightView the full article

What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, February 28, 2024 First Race 3:40pm AEDT Visit Dabble Metropolitan racing in Victoria returns to Sandown’s Hillside track this Wednesday afternoon. The weather promises a delightful summer’s day, with expectations of a Good 4 track at the outset, possibly improving as the day progresses. The rail remains in its true position, with racing scheduled to commence at 3:40pm AEDT. Best Bet at Sandown: Et Tu Brute Et Tu Brute was only beaten by 4.2 lengths in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) on February 17 at Flemington. Prior to that run, the three-year-old gelding returned with a dominant 1300m win on the Lakeside track at Sandown, and a repeat of that effort should be enough as he steps up to the mile third-up. With a strong finishing burst, Et Tu Brute should have no issue in disposing of this lot. Best Bet Race 3 – #2 Et Tu Brute (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Damian Lane (59.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sandown: Hazel Baby Ciaron Maher’s Hazel Baby was a dominant Moonee Valley BM64 winner on February 9. When the gap appeared on the rail turning for home, the Toronado mare produced a slick turn of foot to go on and win by just over a length. She meets a similar field at Sandown and, from barrier two under Jamie Kah, draws to gain every favour in running. With the long straight on the Hillside track, the gap will eventually come — and when it does, look for Hazel Baby to charge through it. Next Best Race 7 – #4 Hazel Baby (2) 4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jamie Kah (60.5kg) Bet with Playup Best Value at Sandown: Kodiak With three wins and six seconds from 10 starts, the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Kodiak looks more than up to this grade as he faces his toughest yet. He is a natural frontrunner, and from barrier three, Mick Dee should have no issue in finding the rail and dictating terms throughout. With six weeks between runs, and an easy lead expected, Kodiak will look like the winner at some point and has what it takes to fend off his rivals late. Best Value Race 8 – #13 Kodiak (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Mick Dee (59.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Sandown Hillside Wednesday quaddie tips – 28/2/2024 Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, February 28, 2024 2-4-5-6 1-2-4-10 3-4-10 1-9-10-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Harlow Rocks announced herself into the Oaks equation last-start behind Molly Bloom, and won’t have the star filly to contend with in Wednesday’s Gr.2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings. Under the care of Cambridge conditioner Tony Pike, Harlow Rocks was a gallant pacemaker in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) on February 10, holding off her more favoured rivals, bar Molly Bloom, at the Te Rapa finishing post. The daughter of Roc De Cambes will line-up in the Hawke’s Bay fillies’ feature with Ryan Elliot retaining the ride, and Pike is hopeful of a confident display as a final prelude to the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 16. “She keeps improving in each run as she gets further into her preparation, and it’s certainly no disgrace to be beaten by Molly Bloom, she ran second in a high-class field of fillies,” he said. “She looks to be a strong staying filly, she’s trained on well and hopefully she can perform well as a final lead-up to the Oaks. “The barrier (13) is a bit sticky, but she’ll roll forward from that gate and take up a handy position. She’s usually quite sharp out so whether she takes the lead or sits outside the leader, we’ll leave that up to Ryan.” Joining Harlow Rocks will be stablemate Sign Of Peace, the Preferment filly stepping into black-type company after four top-three finishes in as many attempts, including breaking maidens over 1400m in mid-January. “She’s a staying filly that will have her first time over a middle-distance trip, but she’s always suggested that she’d prefer the staying distances,” Pike said. “This is a big jump in class for her, but she’s trained on well. This will determine whether she presses onto the Oaks or not.” Pike found success in last year’s Lowland with Val Di Zoldo, and his pair currently sit as $8 (Harlow Rocks) and $21 (Sign Of Peace) chances on the TAB Fixed Odds to go back-to-back. Unbeaten in two classy raceday performances, Witz End will headline a competitive group of undercard chances for Pike at Hastings, when contesting the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance 3YO (1300m). Sam Weatherley earned praise for a positive front-running ride on the son of Savabeel at Trentham, winning form that was franked with runner-up Terra Preta finding success at her next start, and third placegetter Hasstobeawinner narrowly falling short in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m). “He’s a very progressive three-year-old, I’ve got a lot of time for him,” Pike said. “He’s stepping up to the open three-year-old race, but he won the special conditions maiden at Wellington with reasonable ease, so he’s a horse I think is well up to stakes company this preparation. “We’ll be using this race as a lead-in for the Wellington Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) on Oaks Day.” Weatherley will remain on board, while Per-Anders Graberg will partner stablemate Cannon Hill in the same event, with the Ardrossan gelding an impressive winner during the Spring Carnival. “He performed in some decent three-year-old races last preparation, he’s been gelded since and trialled up nicely. He’ll run a cheeky race in a fresh state,” Pike said. Dimaggio has established an impeccable track record at Hastings, with each of his three career successes coming on the Central Districts course, and the Almanzor four-year-old will target a fourth in the Hawke’s Bay Racing Function Centre Handicap (1400m). “He loves Hawke’s Bay, he’s won three races there and he’s in really good form at the moment, he was probably unlucky not to win at Te Rapa last start,” Pike said. “If he gets a bit of luck from another tricky draw (11), he’ll be hard to beat again.” Pike also favours the chances of the recently gelded Lanikai in the Linden Estate Winery Maiden, while stablemate Maldini also will return in a fresh state for the 1400m event. “Lanikai is a horse we really like as a staying three-year-old going forward. We decided to geld him since his last run, he was just doing a fair bit wrong in his races, but I think he could go to quite a good level this preparation,” he said. “Even though the 1400m will be well short of his best, I think he’ll be extremely hard to beat from a good gate. “Maldini didn’t really come up last preparation, but he’s going a lot better this time in and with a good draw, he’s definitely got the ability to clear maidens.” View the full article

Lisa Latta celebrated a winning double at Otaki on Saturday, and the Awapuni trainer is hoping to continue that form at Hastings on Wednesday. Eight-year-old gelding Lincoln Falls got Latta’s weekend off to a winning start when taking out the Vets On Riverbank Handicap (1600m) in convincing fashion by 3-3/4 lengths. It was a popular win by the son of Dundeel who hadn’t graced the winner’s stall in more than three years. “I got a big thrill out of that one. We have put a lot of work into him with his tendon, and It was good to see him back to his best,” Latta said. Latta quickly added to her winning tally, with stablemate Platinum Attack taking out the following race, the Riverstone Café Handicap (1200m). It was the second consecutive win for the three-year-old son of Santos, who has failed to run in the money only once in his four careers starts to date. “He has always shown a bit,” Latta said. “He got beaten second-up when he was red-hot favourite, but it was quite a wet track and he just didn’t handle it. Back onto a decent surface, he has run well.” While he is showing plenty of promise, Latta said she will continue to take a patient approach with her gelding. “We are just going to take him along quietly at the moment,” she said. “He is just getting better and better, and is a horse we have got a bit of time for. He will go to a three-year-old 1000m at Wellington in a fortnight.” Looking ahead to Wednesday, Latta will have a two-pronged attack in the Per Incanto Proven Open (1400m) courtesy of Group One winner He’s A Doozy and Group Three winner Diss Is Dramatic. “Diss Is Dramatic is getting ready to go to the Cuddle Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) after this,” Latta said. “She has drawn a bit tricky (8) but she should be finding the line well. “He’s A Doozy has a lot of weight to carry (62kg). I have just had a few niggles with him, but I think I have got him right now. I am just looking forward to getting him back on a decent track.” Latta will also be represented by stakes performer Chikira Lass in the Hawke’s Bay Racing Function Centre Handicap (1600m). “Back to the mile, it seems to be a better distance for her than over ground at the moment, she just gets up and travels a bit keen,” she said. Latta’s Hastings team will be rounded out by Get Funky, who will be partnered by northern hoop Joe Doyle in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance 3YO (1300m). View the full article

The emergence in Australia of the unbeaten three-year-old Immediacy has provided further impetus for breeders Cambridge Stud as they head into selling mode across the Tasman. Immediacy retained his perfect record in outstanding style at Caulfield on Saturday for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young with a hollow victory in the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at his third appearance. The son of Tarzino will now head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). Immediacy’s timing has been immaculate for the Cambridge nursery, who will offer six quality youngsters at the upcoming Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. “It’s a really nice group of horses and they have come on in the last few weeks. Coming into a sale, it’s always nice to have a farm graduate like Immediacy flying the flag for us,” said the stud’s Head of Sales & Nominations Scott Calder. Immediacy is a son of Pivotal’s Irish-bred daughter But Beautiful, a half-sister to European stakes winner Ayrad and Dawn Of Hope, whose four foals to race have all been successful. But Beautiful was sold as a yearling for 320,000gns and won three races in England up to 1600m before she was purchased for 20,000gns by Paul Moroney Bloodstock at the 2011 Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale. “She later came up for sale on Gavelhouse, she was over at Waikato Stud and Cameron Ring (Cambridge Stud Sales & Nominations) was familiar with her and some of her progeny he prepped when he was there,” Calder said. “He was really keen on her and we decided to buy her with a view to breeding her to Tavistock. “She is from the family of Stravinsky, who had obviously crossed really well with Tavistock, and Pivotal is an exceptional broodmare sire.” But Beautiful was secured for $48,000 in foal to Sacred Falls and the result of that union is the winner Bella Waters. “She was covered once by Tavistock and unfortunately she missed and by the time she was ready to go back again he was out of service after getting hurt,” Calder said. “She was sent to Tavistock’s son Tarzino and that proved to be a stroke of luck with the resulting progeny Immediacy.” He was subsequently part of Kiltannon Lodge’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. “Mark and Lorraine (Forbes) prepped him for us, we don’t have a draft at Book 2 so we always have a couple with them,” Calder said. “He was passed in and Guy Lowry had a look at him and decided to buy him (for $15,000) and that turned out well for him.” Immediacy was reoffered at the Ready to Run Sale by Riverrock Farm and realised $200,000 with Busuttin Racing and Group 1 Racing signing the ticket. “The mare has done well for everybody down the line,” Calder said. But Beautiful’s filly by Hello Youmzain was offered by Cambridge Stud at Karaka this year and sold to Busuttin and Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $280,000. “She’s in foal to Embellish on a nice, early service and Embellish is making a good fist of things with three-year-olds like Luberon and Talisker so we’re excited,” Calder said. “It will be a big boost for the Embellish foal being a half-sibling to a Group Two winner in Australia and the way Immediacy won that race, we’re hoping there’s more to come and he could be a potential topliner.” Cambridge’s selling focus is now on the Melbourne Premier Sale at the Oaklands complex from March 3-5. “It’s a really solid draft and we’ve got a lovely Hello Youmzain (Lot 200) from the Eight Carat family and an Almanzor (Lot 351) out of Las Brisas, who is a half-sister to a stakes performer in Ceolwulf in Sydney with Joe Pride,” Calder said. “The Almanzor colt (Lot 75) out of Zenella has got a fantastic pedigree and is an attractive colt while the Toronado filly (Lot 469) is another real cracker.” View the full article

What Launceston Cup Day Where Tasmanian Turf Club – Jellico St, Mowbray TAS 7248 When Wednesday, February 28, 2023 First Race 12:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Tasmanian Turf Club will host one of its marquee meetings this Wednesday afternoon as the Group 3 Launceston Cup takes centre stage. The track was rated a Good 4 at the time of acceptances, but with rain forecast for Wednesday, there is potential for a downgrade during the day. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 12:45pm AEDT. Launceston Cup Tip: Aurora’s Symphony Aurora’s Symphony will be seeking his third straight Launceston Cup success. Since returning from an eight-week break, the Symon Wilde-trained gelding has recorded back-to-back wins. This son of Glass Harmonium couldn’t have been more impressive when thrashing his rivals by 2.8 lengths in the Group 3 Hobart Cup last time out. Although he will have to carry 2kg more in this, Aurora’s Symphony will meet a similar field and looks extremely hard to beat. Launceston Cup Race 8 – #1 Aurora’s Symphony (2) 7yo Gelding | T: Symon Wilde | J: Jordan Childs (61.5kg) +230 with Picklebet Vamos Stakes Tip: Yellow Sam Lindsey Smith and Fred Kersley will combine in the other Group 3 contest as Yellow Sam looks to bring up a hat-trick. The four-year-old mare was a very strong winner at Geelong two starts back before claiming the Group 3 Mystic Journey Stakes, where she let down with a blistering turn of foot to sprint away from her rivals late. As she takes on a similar field and should get the same run from barrier seven, Yellow Sam should prove too good once again. Vamos Stakes Race 9 – #4 Yellow Sam (7) 4yo Mare | T: Lindsey Smith | J: Fred Kersley (57kg) +220 with Dabble Hellova Street Stakes Tip: First Accused First Accused was only run over late by Just A Tribute in the Listed Thomas Lyon Stakes last start. The Glenn Stevenson-trained galloper won the Listed Tasmania Stakes over 1600m three starts back before dropping back to 1200m and then 1400m in his next two runs. This son of Turffontein will appreciate the return to 1600m, and with an economical run under Codi Jordan from barrier one along the fence, he should be primed and ready to go. Hellova Street Stakes Race 7 – #3 First Accused (1) 6yo Gelding | T: Glenn Stevenson | J: Codi Jordan (59kg) +320 with Unibet Best Bet at Launceston: Bello Beau Bello Beau has mixed his form a bit this campaign, recording two wins but also throwing in a couple of bad runs in his five starts. However, this son of Brazen Beau has drawn barrier three and will gain the services of Jason Maskiell, while he drops back to a 1200m affair in open company. Maskiell can push forward and settle in the first four, and as the class horse in this field, Bello Beau should prove very hard to run down. Best Bet Race 6 – #1 Bello Beau (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Adam Trinder | J: Jason Maskiell (59.5kg) Bet with Neds Launceston Wednesday quaddie tips – 28/2/2024 Pinjarra quadrella selections Wednesday, February 28, 2024 1-2-3-8 1-2-4 1-3-4-6-8 1-2-4-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Rosehill Races Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 When Wednesday, February 28, 2024 First Race 2:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is the destination for NSW metro racing on Wednesday afternoon as a competitive seven-race program awaits punters. The rail moves out +6m for the entire circuit, and with no substantial rainfall forecast in the lead-up, the surface should be rated a Good 4. The action is set to get underway at 2:20pm AEDT. Best Bet: Lovero Lovero couldn’t have been more impressive on resumption at Canterbury on January 19, going on to score by 3.5 lengths. The daughter of Astern was ridden out of her comfort zone to lead throughout the 1100m journey and did not seem to take any issue with the instructions, bolting clear with plenty left in the locker. Jay Ford has all the options from stall two, and a repeat of that first-up effort will have connections celebrating back-to-back wins. Best Bet Race 6 – #4 Lovero (2) 5yo Mare | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Jay Ford (59kg) Bet with PlayUp Next Best: Cormac T Cormac T didn’t miss the frame in four starts in the UK and has arrived in supreme order. The European import has had two jump-outs in Australia, with the latest allowing the four-year-old to stride forward and score by 3.3 lengths. It was an eye-catching piece of work by the son of Nathaniel at Warwick Farm on February 12, and Nash Rawiller didn’t ask for much when turning for home. The class jockey elects to stick aboard, and with a bit of luck from gate six, Cormac T can figure in the finish. Next Best Race 4 – #1 Cormac T (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Nash Rawiller (60.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best Again: Firestorm Firestorm brings a Group 1 profile to this BM72 for the fillies and appears beautifully placed by the Chris Waller barn on her Australian debut. The Paul Mirabelli barn thought highly enough of this girl to send her to the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), where she produced a mid-field finish 4.3 lengths away. The three-year-old seems to have acclimatised well to her new stable after a soft piece of work at Rosehill on February 15, and although she may have bigger targets moving forward, there is no reason Firestorm can’t win this along the way. Next Best Again Race 5 – #1 Firestorm (7) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: Nash Rawiller (59kg) Bet with Neds Wednesday quaddie tips – Rosehill Gardens Rosehill quadrella selections Wednesday, February 28, 2024 1-2-6-7-14 1-3-4-8 1-2-4-5-9 2-6-7-8-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Group 1 Australian Guineas contender Southport Tycoon. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Jamie Kah is set to ride Southport Tycoon for the first time as the dual Group 2 runner-up aims to secure his first stakes race victory in the upcoming Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m). Speaking to Racing.com, managing owner Nathan Bennett expressed confidence in the horse. “I know he got beat (in the Autumn Stakes) but I still think he’s a pretty good horse and I think grand final day he’s ready to peak and ready for a top run and out to the mile suits,” Bennett said. “I think if he had his time again Damian (Lane) probably would have built a bit of momentum and not sit so pretty … sometimes it’s a game of inches. “He is probably a $5 or $6 chance if he wins the other day.” Trained by Ciaron Maher, Southport Tycoon is aiming to return to winning form after securing victories in his first two starts last year. Southport Tycoon is currently a +1200 chance for the Australian Guineas with top horse racing betting sites. Horse racing news View the full article

Tasmanian Oaks winner Wings Of Song. (Photo by Jay Town/Racing Photos) Wings Of Song soared to her fifth consecutive triumph by claiming Sunday’s Listed Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) at Launceston in impressive fashion. Trained by Patrick Payne, the filly displayed her dominance by outpacing Very Sewreel, securing victory by half a length, while Ala Moana trailed behind by 1.25 lengths to clinch third place. Bred at Twin Hills Stud, Wings Of Song has now elevated her record to six wins, two seconds, and a third from 11 starts, accumulating a total of $330,830 in prize money. In an interview following the race, winning jockey Jye McNeil, who has guided her to victory in the last four outings, remarked, “She’s gotten better every time. “It was the second time at the 2100 meters, and I felt she was stronger today. She had a nice resting run. “There was a bit going on in the middle stages, and she adapted well. I loved the way she joined in with ease today, and she put the race away.” Horse racing news View the full article

Expect to see promising stayer Snazzytavi feature prominently in next season’s Cups, that’s the call from co-trainer Graham Richardson following her win in the Gavelhouse.com 2000 at Matamata on Saturday. The daughter of Tavistock was having her first start over ground on her home track over the weekend and Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, was impressed with her performance. In the hands of leading hoop Warren Kennedy, Snazzytavi was taken back to settle at the rear of the field where she enjoyed doing no work throughout. Rounding for home, she tracked Jolted into the race and was presented four wide at the top of the straight and showed her staying qualities in the concluding stages when securing a three-quarter length victory. “She won well,” Richardson said. “It was her first ever run over distance, so to win and do it going away in that last 30m was quite impressive. It was a pretty handy field.” Raced by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Snazzytavi is starting to accrue an impressive record, having now won four and placed in three of her eight starts, including securing valuable black-type when third in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day. “It’s important to get black-type with her because she is owned by Cambridge Stud and they want broodmares of high quality, which she should be,” Richardson said. Snazzytavi may now head to Trentham in April for the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m), although the spelling paddock is also a compelling option ahead of some big targets next season. “There is something for her (Manawatu Breeders’) at Trentham on April 6 but what she does between now and then is the hard part. We may tip her out, but I haven’t confirmed anything yet,” Richardson said. “Next year she will hopefully get a bit stronger and get even better. That (staying) is what she is bred to do and next year she could end up going to some of those nice Cup races.” While Snazzytavi put in a good showing in the last at Matamata on Saturday, stablemate To Catch A Thief continued a frustrating run for his connections when third in the Ancroft Developments 1400. The three-year-old son of U S Navy Flag has now run third in 10 of his 14 starts, including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), and Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). “He only got beaten a head (on Saturday) and all he needed to do was go straight,” Richardson said. “That was disappointing, he is going to go out for a while now.” Meanwhile, Richardson is looking forward to heading to Ellerslie on Saturday where Bonny Lass will be trying to replicate her last start Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) heroics in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m). Her handlers been pleased with the way she has been since her maiden elite-level victory and are hopeful of another bold showing this weekend. “It was great to get that Group One win with her, she certainly deserved it. She has done really well since, she is tough as boots,” Richardson said. View the full article

Little Avondale will celebrate their 11th year of sponsoring the Lowland Stakes at Hastings this week. Wednesday’s eight-race, twilight meeting features the Gr.2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) for three-year-old fillies which is set to run at 6.09pm. There is a strong field assembled with Group Three winner Sudbina, trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, currently heading the market. Little Avondale Stud’s Sam Williams said the race holds an important place in the New Zealand racing calendar and he is looking forward to upping the ante with hospitality this year. “The Lowlands Stakes is an important race in the NZB Filly of the Year Series,” he said. “It has been a significant form guide heading into the New Zealand Oaks and even the Australian Oaks.” “Entain are doing their bit, as well as northern racing, to boost racing. There are things happening behind the scenes and everyone needs to do their bit to change the experience of racing in New Zealand. “We can’t just rely on the increases in prizemoney so we are upping the ante with quality of food and beverages. The setting will have a great atmosphere with comfortable furniture in our marquee as well as a band. “It’s our 11th Year of sponsoring the race and we will be celebrating with Moët on arrival and have fantastic prizes on offer for Best Dressed Awards. Obviously there will be bonus points for those wearing LA colours!” Tickets are $120pp and include: Entry into the Hawkes Bay racecourse for the 2024 LA Lowland Stakes Ladies Day Hospitality in the LA marquee A glass of French champagne on entry and a further three drink tickets Canapés and fork food throughout the evening Live music Complimentary shuttle bus departing/returning from/to the Wairarapa. Please contact laoffice@lastud.co.nz to book your seat. To book your tickets go to: https://hbracingevents.flicket.co.nz/events/2c18fede-505a-42bf-b570-3d32c1c82fe5/reservation or email Greg.miller@hawkesbayracing.co.nz View the full article

Just Fine will be aimed towards the Group 1 Sydney Cup. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Just Fine, a contender for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), is poised to make a comeback to competitive racing after delivering commendable performances in two recent trials. In the words of Gai Waterhouse, who, in collaboration with Adrian Bott, trains the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) victor, “He’s going along very nicely. “He’s had two trials, he’s down to run in about two weeks’ time. “He’s on track for the Sydney Cup and races like that. “He’s a very exciting horse.” Just Fine is currently an +1000 chance for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) with top horse racing bookies. Horse racing news View the full article

A native of Barbados, the 37-year-old Joseph has won eight consecutive titles at Gulfstream Park since finishing second during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet. View the full article

What Scone Races Where Scone Race Club – 434 Bunnan Rd, Scone NSW 2337 When Tuesday, February 27, 2024 First Race 1:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Country racing returns to Scone on Tuesday afternoon for a competitive eight-race program. The rail is in the true position for the meeting, and with improving conditions forecast in the lead-up, the track should be upgraded into the Good range. The opening race is set to get underway at 1:15pm local time. Best Bet: Don’t Call Me Honey Don’t Call Me Honey was chased down in the shadows to the post at Tamworth on December 24 but showed plenty of fight when clinging onto the runner-up position. He led them up at a steady clip but just knocked up late on the Soft track conditions. The son of Sooboog should appreciate getting back on top of the ground on Monday, and with a lovely piece of work during his 65 days off the scene, Don’t Call Me Honey should be hard to hold out in this maiden contest. Best Bet Race 1 – #3 Don’t Call Me Honey (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Cameron Crockett | J: Jeff Penza (58.5kg) +100 with Neds Next Best: Plonk Forgive Plonk’s latest effort at Tamworth on February 16, when the daughter of Adelaide didn’t go a yard on the Soft track conditions while chasing on the worsening inside part of the course. Instead, look back to her debut effort at Dubbo on February 5, when the three-year-old filly still did plenty wrong but closed off with some impressive closing sectionals over 1200m. The firming Scone surface should be a major benefit third-up, so expect Plonk to be careering down the centre of the course. Next Best Race 4 – #13 Plonk (11) 3yo Filly | T: Rodney Northam | J: Grant Buckley (56.5kg) +1300 with Bet365 Next Best Again: Macleay Macleay hasn’t missed the frame since resuming at Armidale on December 3 and appears a strong each-way chance to do it again. The six-year-old gelding was a winner two starts back before heading into open company at Tamworth on January 25, when he ran second after looking like the winner on what turned out a be an on-speed track. It was still a gallant performance, and with a genuine tempo expected in this Class 4 contest, Macleay will be doing his best work late to give some leading hopes a scare. Next Best Again Race 7 – #8 Macleay (13) 6yo Gelding | T: Cody Morgan | J: Anna Roper (58kg) +1300 with PlayUp Scone Tuesday quaddie tips – 27/2/2024 Scone quadrella selections Tuesday, February 27, 2024 1-2-3-4-5-7-8 2-5-8 1-2-4-8-12 3-4-7-12-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

James McDonald prevails on Romantic Warrior. Enhancing status as one of the world’s premier middle-distance gallopers with gripping victory in the HK$13 million Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) after a stirring battle with Voyage Bubble at Sha Tin on Sunday, Romantic Warrior will be given the chance to create more history by chasing a record third Group 1 QEII Cup (2000m) win in April. The first Hong Kong International Sale graduate to win the Hong Kong Derby (2000m), Romantic Warrior today became only the third horse since the turn of the century after Vengeance Of Rain and Designs on Rome to snare all three of Hong Kong’s top-level 2000m contests – the Hong Kong Gold Cup, QEII Cup and Hong Kong Cup. Danny Shum’s champion will now bid for a fourth major this season by pressing for an unprecedented third QEII Cup win, having already snared the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October and a second Hong Kong Cup in December before adding a sixth G1 success today under James McDonald. Having partnered Romantic Warrior to a fifth Group 1 win, McDonald was awe-struck by the gelding’s effort to fend off fellow Hong Kong Derby victor Voyage Bubble by a neck after the pair forged clear at the 300m in an electrifying tussle. Having drawn the outside of 11 runners, McDonald crossed to the rails on Romantic Warrior after only 400m and then was stalked by Purton on Voyage Bubble until the field approached the turn. While Purton fanned into the clear as Sword Point and Money Catcher faded before taking the lead, McDonald angled between runners to challenge. After a fierce stoush in the straight, Romantic Warrior gradually edged out the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) winner in 2:00.31, with Nimble Nimbus a brave third, three lengths away under Andrea Atzeni. 2024 Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup Replay – Romantic Warrior “He (Romantic Warrior) is unreal, he just keeps surprising me – an unbelievable horse. He’s the undisputed champion. He deserves all the accolades he gets. I can’t stress how much of a privilege it is to ride him,” McDonald said, revealing his absolute faith in Romantic Warrior was critical to tactical decision-making. “He’s the horse that does it all. He makes you look good all the time. His tenacity (and) will to win is phenomenal. I suppose instincts kicked in and (I) went with the flow. When you ride such good horses, you can do what you want to do and even if I made a little mistake during the race, he is probably good enough to overcome it and that was probably my mindset. “Even though it worked out really, really well, I’ve got that much faith in the horse that you can do things on him that you would normally do.” McDonald was unflustered when Purton drove Voyage Bubble to the lead. “I was mindful obviously that (Voyage Bubble) was having his second time at the 2000m and he (Purton) committed early – so it was a really good ride,” McDonald said. “My thinking was that I was going to be stronger late, so I just let him (Romantic Warrior) build through his gears under his own steam and he got there really easily.” Revealing he was worried pre-race, Shum was jubilant after Romantic Warrior posted his 13th win from 18 starts and boosted his prize money to more than HK$127 million after being purchased by owner Peter Lau at the 2022 Hong Kong International Sale for HK$4.8 million. “I had a big concern (about the wide draw) because I didn’t think they (rival jockeys) would let him in and push him three or four-deep,” Shum said. “I talked to James this morning. I said ‘Give him his chance and if you jump good, you can push him and put him inside.’ James is very smart, he knows what to do.” Shum indicated a tilt at the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in Japan in June remains an option for Romantic Warrior. Horse racing news View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Monday, February 26. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these complimentary promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximize your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for February 26, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Place a 4+ leg multi, if one leg fails Bonus Back up to $50 Applies to your first eligible 4+ leg multi each day. Paid in Bonus Cash Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet 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. Thoroughbreds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions for February 26, 2024. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and exclusive promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Horse Racing on Monday, February 26 will feature three meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meeting at Nowra. Monday Racing Tips – February 26, 2024 Nowra Racing Tips 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 February 26, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. earned the 1,000th victory of his career when Palace Zip (Palace Malice) won the 10th race at Gulfstream Park Sunday. “It's amazing,” Joseph said after being recognized and posing for photos in a winner's circle ceremony. “I remember the first one and here we are at 1,000. The first probably 200 took five or six years and it was a struggle, and the last 800 have come pretty quickly. We've gotten the opportunities from the owners and that's what you need. Without the owners, you can't do it. There's no trainer without horses, and the owners produce the horses.” A native of Barbados, the 37-year-old Joseph has won eight consecutive titles at Gulfstream Park since finishing second during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet. He is on track for a third straight Championship Meet title, leading the 2023-2024 stand in wins (47), starters (223) and purses earned ($2.37 million). “We're only as good as what the owners give us. That's what makes trainers,” Joseph said. “We have to take care of them with the staff, and that's what makes me. I'm one person that is head of 80 people that make me and make us as a unit. It's not just me, it's a credit to the whole staff. It's a whole crew that makes this success possible and I'm very thankful to be in this position.” The post Career Win 1,000 for Saffie Joseph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas looks to have two solid prospects in both the 3-year-old filly and male divisions with Honeybee Stakes (G3) winner Lemon Muffin and allowance scorer Seize the Grey.View the full article

Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas looks to have two solid prospects in the 3-year-old filly, male division with Honeybee Stakes (G3) winner Lemon Muffin and allowance scorer Seize the Grey.View the full article

WinStar Farm's Timberlake (Into Mischief) exited his win in Saturday's GII Rebel S. in fine shape, according to Jorgito Abrego, Oaklawn Park assistant to trainer Brad Cox. “He looks good,” Abrego said. “Looks very happy.” Timberlake, winner of last year's GI Champagne S. and fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, collected 50 qualifying points for the victory and has 66 overall to rank number one on the Kentucky Derby leader board released Saturday by Churchill Downs. The Rebel was his first victory around two turns. “I'm very happy,” said Abrego, who saddled Timberlake with Cox in Saudi Arabia for Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup. “First time running as a 3-year-old. It's a good start for getting him to the Kentucky Derby.” Timberlake is expected to ship back to Cox's Fair Grounds base Monday and his next start is still to be determined. The Rebel victory continued Cox's domination of Oaklawn's Derby prep races. Since 2021, the trainer has won seven of the track's last 15 points races. He won Oaklawn's first 2024 Kentucky Derby points race, the Jan. 1 Smarty Jones S., with Catching Freedom (Constitution). “I love it,” Abrego said with a laugh. “Keep it going. Never stop.” The post Timberlake Fine After Rebel Win, Next Start Undecided appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article