Wandering Eyes

Driver Penalties M White | Auckland 8 December; contacted track markers; fined $150. R Holmes | Geraldine 9 December; use of whip; suspended 10-17 December inclusive. J Versteeg | Geraldine 9 December; careless driving; suspended 10-15 December inclusive. S Tomlinson | Geraldine 9 December; allowed runner to start in advance of correct barrier position; suspended 11-15 December inclusive. G Smith | Geraldine 9 December; allowed runner to start in advance of correct barrier position; suspended 11-15 December inclusive. G Thornley | NZ Metropolitan 10 December; improper driving; suspended 11-22 December inclusive. Trainer Penalties G Telfer | Geraldine 9 December; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. J Reedy | Geraldine 9 December; failed to lodge horse movement notification; fined $200. Horse Penalties MAZEPPA | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; broke in running; must complete trial. JETHRO BODINE | Auckland 8 December; bled; stood down for 30 days and must complete trial with veterinary clearance including scope required. THE IVY LEAGUE | NZ Metropolitan 10 December; tendon injury; veterinary clearance required. EUROKASH | NZ Metropolitan 10 December; broke in running; must complete trial. Protests FLYING SCOTSMAN | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. YUROK | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. PRESIDENT FLYNNTIN | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. YA KNOW | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. WILLANGUS LAD | Forbury Park 8 December; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 4th. TRAIL BOSS | Forbury Park 8 December; unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. FLYING FOR ME | Geraldine 9 December; caused interference; relegated from 3rd to 5th. ZSA ZOE | Geraldine 9 December; started in advance of barrier position; disqualified from 6th and declared a late scratching. GREENBANK DON | Geraldine 9 December; started in advance of barrier position; disqualified from 13th and declared a late scratching. LOVE IN THE PORT | NZ Metropolitan 10 December; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 5th. The post 4-10 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Dog Penalties ZHENYE BALE | Christchurch 4 December; failed to pursue the lure (2nd offence); stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. THRILLING SPIRAL | Palmerston North 5 December; failed to pursue the lure; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. OPAWA NOAH | Waikato 7 December; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. ISMAY BALE | Christchurch 7 December; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. The post 4-10 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Darwin trainer Chloe Baxter and Alice Springs apprentice Ianish Luximon celebrating the win by Shecanmixit, who broke the track record in a 1000m maiden, at Fannie Bay on Friday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) It was an eventful Darwin meeting on Friday. After Rising Sphere ($3.50) won the feature race, leading trainer Gary Clarke sealed a treble when Wilsons Prom ($2.90 fav) and Daunting Decision ($6.50) saluted. Clarke’s No.1 rider Jarrod Todd managed a double after partnering Rising Sphere and Daunting Decision. The Chole Baxter-trained Shecanmixit ($1.50 fav), once a $6.50 quote with the top bookmakers, was making its Top End debut in a 1000m maiden before prevailing by 9.7 lengths and breaking the track record. Trainer Tom Logan, hit with a recent $5000 fine when his horse Blueant returned a positive swab in September, could afford to celebrate when Fromthenevernever ($5.50) held on for victory. Fellow trainer Chris Pollard had his first Fannie Bay win since Dream Weaver was victorious on Palmerston Sprint Day in August when Lucky Dog ($4) swooped with a late finishing burst. Rising Sphere, a six-year-old gelding by Exosphere, had gone eight races without a win, but yesterday he led throughout over 1100m (0-70) in a five-horse field to sink Phil Cole’s El Magnificence ($2.45 fav) and Clarke’s Bel’s Banner ($4.40) by 2.2 lengths. The race honoured 2008 Darwin Cup winning jockey Nathan Stanley, who rode in the NT intermittently from 2006-2011, following his recent passing. Stanley rode Clarke’s Sunshine Resource to victory in the ROANT Cup prior to the 2008 Darwin Cup Carnival. Rising Sphere was too good, clocking 1.02.10 – stablemate Patriotic King broke the track record for 1100m (1.01.84) in September. After four seconds from his last five starts, Wilsons Prom (Adam Nicholls) – a five-year-old gelding – finally delivered when he kicked clear in the home straight to overcome stablemates Patria ($6) and Zourisky ($6.50) by four lengths over 1300m (BM54). For Nicholls, who had the son of Xtravagant camped on the fence in fourth place before flicking the switch at the 400m, it was his first win since October 14 in Alice Springs – during that period he was also sidelined with injury. Four-year-old mare Daunting Decision broke her duck in her third Darwin start when she held on to edge out Logan’s Beatification ($2.60 fav) and Ella Clarke’s Gunshot Glitter ($2.80) in another 1000m maiden. The daughter of Charge Forward, who had five SA starts, has had her issues in Darwin, and after leading on Friday, she looked like succumbing to Gunshot Glitter over the final 400m before finding her second wind en route to a courageous win. Gary Clarke’s I’m Too Hot broke the track record for the 1000m (56.07) on Darwin Cup Day in 2019 when he won by 6.5 lengths in the Simone Montgomerie Lightning, so for five-year-old mare Shecanmixit to clock 56.02 in a maiden is outrageous. Ridden by Alice Springs apprentice Ianish Luximon, the daughter of Danerich pinged out of the inside gate and had Jason Manning’s She’s Tuff Enuff ($21) for company before edging clear at the 500m. Shecanmixit, who had five seconds from 15 starts in Victoria, ACT and NSW, was devastating, with NT debutante She’s Tuff Enuff and Tayarn Halter’s Vetiver ($20) filling the minor placings. It was Baxter’s first win since July, when He’s The Ultimate secured the $50,000 Metric Mile during the Darwin Cup Carnival. Logan employed daring tactics when Fromthenevernever (Sonja Logan) sprinted clear when the five-horse field jumped over 1200m (0-64) with the seven-year-old gelding five lengths clear at the 700m. The son of Bold Expectation, winless since March, led by seven lengths, passing the 400m and in the home straight, his lead seemed insurmountable. Global Wonder ($1.65 fav), from the Clarke-Todd camp, set sail after the leader, but he couldn’t bridge the gap with Fromthenevernever – running on empty – surviving by 0.2 lengths with Peter Stennett’s New Enterprise ($5) 2.6 lengths adrift in third place. For Tom Logan, it was his first win since Mister Monaro delivered in September. It was another win for apprentice Emma Lines when Lucky Dog bounced back to form with a memorable win over 1000m (0-58) after pipping Baxter’s unlucky Aplomado ($6) right on the line. Lucky Dog, a six-year-old gelding by Time For War, hadn’t won since February, and it looked like that trend would continue when all seemed forlorn at the 300m. Jumping well from gate one, the six-year-old gelding by Time For War settled in front before Aplomado moved up on his outside, exiting the back straight. Aplomado got to the fence down the side to lead by two lengths at the 600m, but for Lucky Dog, Dick Leech’s Pride Of Limassol and Jo Banks’ Colour De Roy it was far from smooth sailing before finding their feet. Turning for home, Aplomado had a healthy lead with Pride Of Limassol and Colour De Roy the likely threats before Lucky Dog, who rallied over the concluding 300m, finally left the fence to get up by 0.6 lengths with Colour De Roy ($6.50) hitting the line strongly for third. More horse racing news View the full article

Promising youngster Star North (NZ) (Savabeel) has got his first win in the S$20,000 Open Maiden Division 1 race (1200m) at Kranji on Saturday. The four-year-old had been knocking on the doors at his first three starts this year with two seconds and a third in similar races over the same trip. After a seven-month break, he resumed first-up in early November when he ran sixth to Sacred Buddy. With jockey Saifudin Ismail on board, Star North broke cleanly from barrier two but was snagged back behind the leaders on the rails moving steadily forward as they straightened for home. With a few reminders from the whip, Star North pulled away from the rest at the 100m. He won by three parts of a length from Prince Lonhro while Royal Commission finished another head away in third. Though Star North had been kept to the six furlongs in all his runs thus far, Saifudin thought the PSM Racing Stable-owned gelding could step up in trip in future. “It’s the first time I rode him and everything went according to plan,” said the veteran Malaysian jockey. “I sat him midfield on the rails and the blinkers also helped him to focus. “At the last 250m, I thought he hesitated a bit when he was inside horses, but as soon as he got through the gap, he quickened away. “I think he can go up to 1400 or 1600m no problem.” Assistant-trainer Zairi Othman reckoned Star North has matured from before and agreed he can go over longer. “I think he’s quite good. When he first started out here, he was immature, now he’s settled down well,” said Zairi, who stood in for trainer James Peters as the latter flew to Hong Kong on Friday to attend the Hong Kong International Races. “He came back after a long break and needed the run at his last start, but he’s had a good prep this time. “We told Saifudin to ride him where he’s comfortable and be in third or fourth. “He’s still young and from the way he ran, he can go over longer.” Other New Zealand bred winners in Singapore on Saturday included Lim’s Zoom (NZ) (Zacinto), Tennet Tentennet (NZ) (Telperion), Roda Robot (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), Outfit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) & Surrey Hills (NZ) (Sweynesse). View the full article

Progressive mare Flamebird (NZ) (Shooting To Win) made up for an unlucky run in stakes company at her last start to register career win number four when she dashed home to take the Stella Artois 1500m Championship Qualifier (1400m) at Pukekohe. The Brendan and Jo Lindsay-owned daughter of Shooting To Win had finished last in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) last month after a tardy start and home straight interference cost her any chance of victory. Rider Craig Grylls, who replaced regular pilot Warren Kennedy, got her away with the body of the field this time and although he allowed her to find her feet early in the contest he had the Lance Noble-trained four-year-old ready to strike approaching the home bend. Angled to the centre of the track, Flamebird let down powerfully to sweep to the front at the 200m before holding out a late rails finish from Arby, with Adam I Am and Reverberations dead-heating for third. Noble was on-course at Trentham with Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) runner Habana, who finished fifth in a race where his chances weren’t helped by a false start to the contest. Unfortunately, he was busy saddling Habana when the Pukekohe race jumped and completely missed all the action. “I haven’t seen the race yet so can’t really comment on the performance,” Noble said. “We had been confident she could turn her form around as last time things didn’t go to plan as she put her head in the next stall at the jump and cost herself any chance. “She is still learning, and she is definitely a mare that will take the step up to stakes racing as she has a lot of potential. “There is an open handicap 1400m on Boxing Day at Pukekohe where she will get in on the minimum, so that looks a nice race for her before we lift our sights again.” Bred by the Lindsay’s, Flamebird is the younger half-sister of talented performer Hiflyer who won twice at Group Three level while also finishing runner-up to Melody Belle in the 2018 Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). She has now won four of her 12 starts and more than $142,000 in prizemoney. Noble did manage to see the winning performance by stablemate Terra Mitica earlier in the day which was the first leg of a stable double and provided rider Craig Grylls with one of his four wins on the programme. “We got Terra Mitica from the UK where she had won two races and came with a pretty high rating,” he said. “It has taken me a bit to get the hang of her, however we have both been learning and she won today like we hoped she would. “She has a nomination for the Dunstan Stayers Championship Final (2400m) on Boxing Day as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr.2, 2400m) a week later but we might stick to the Boxing Day race as I think the other race might be just a bit too soon for her as she will get to that level but maybe a little later on.” View the full article

Lightly raced sprinter Is That So (NZ) (Sufficient) made a welcome return to winning form when he showed plenty of determination in a tight finish to take out the open sprint at Trentham. The Clinton Isdale-trained seven-year-old was having just his sixteenth start in a career that saw him put together three wins in succession on the Cambridge synthetic surface during the winter of 2022 before recording his fourth success with a victory at Trentham in October last year. A further nine starts had yielded just three further placings however he made amends on Saturday courtesy of a heady ride by leading South Island jockey Tina Comignaghi. Comignaghi was happy to settle the son of Sufficient in behind pacemaker and race favourite Express Yourself, before angling for a run one-off the fence mid-way down the home straight. Just as Express Yourself was being hailed the winner, Is That So mounted a final challenge and put his head in front when it mattered to score in a slick 1.01.73 for the 1100m contest. “Last start the wet track tripped him up as he was travelling then lost all his momentum when he hit a tricky spot,” Isdale said. “He is more effective on a good track as we have seen today. “He has been a hard horse to get a gauge on as he has had everything go wrong with tracks and rain however today I was really confident as his work has been exceptional. “We will probably try to keep him to the open races for now as we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. “If we look after the horse he will look after us.” Comignaghi was delighted to travel north and collect a victory in a race which panned out how she had expected. “It panned out as I had planned as I wanted to get cover then get out (clear) at the last minute,” she said. “He doesn’t have much of a sprint but the gap opened at just the right time. “I wasn’t that confident I could get there but he tried hard and it was nice not to run second.” Is That So is the only foal of two-race winner Sheez Torkin and has now won five of his 16 starts and over $132,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Cambridge Stud’s imported mare Terra Mitica (Ulysses) recorded her first New Zealand win with a powerful staying performance in Saturday’s $65,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (2100m) at Pukekohe. A two-time winner from seven starts in England, the chestnut was bought by Cambridge Stud for 100,000 guineas from the Tattersalls December Mares Sale at Newmarket a year ago. Trainer Lance Noble has brought her up slowly and steadily in this campaign, starting off with three trials between June and September. Terra Mitica made her New Zealand debut with a third placing over 1400m at Te Rapa on October 21, then did her best work late when finishing midfield in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) in early November. After a trial placing behind star stablemate Habana at Ruakaka on November 28, Terra Mitica returned to the races on Saturday, stepped up over ground and showed her true colours. The third winner on the Pukekohe card for jockey Craig Grylls, Terra Mitica settled into a smooth rhythm in third, a big margin behind an energy-sapping pace set by Sagunto and Rua Rocks. Terra Mitica was doing things easily at the top of the home straight, and the five-year-old soon sailed past Sagunto and opened up an emphatic winning margin of two and a half lengths. Ess Vee Are produced a strong finish into second, with another two lengths back to the third-placed Selva Verde. Terra Mitica’s 10-start career has now produced three wins, five placings and $89,752 in stakes. She holds a nomination for the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Day, as well as the Dunstan Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) on Boxing Day. Noble and Cambridge Stud won the latter event last season with the quality mare Aquacade. “That was a good, strong staying performance today,” Noble said. “She won two races over 2000m in England, and we just started off by giving her a couple of runs over shorter distances here to get her acclimatised and settled into her new surroundings. “Getting up over ground was always going to suit her, and she got a good run today and a very nice ride and was able to finish it off strongly. It was pleasing to see “She’s a nice staying prospect, and we’ll look to keep developing her through the summer months. She holds a nomination for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Dunstan Stayers’ Championship, but it might be just a little early to step her up into that sort of company. We could potentially take a bit more time to develop her through this campaign. But we’ll see how she comes through this, discuss it with the Cambridge Stud team and pick out a path that suits her.” Terra Mitica is the first New Zealand winner for Ulysses, who is by the legendary stallion Galileo out of the Gr.1 Epsom Oaks (2400m) winner Light Shift. Ulysses himself won five races including the Gr.1 Juddmonte International (2050m) and the Gr.1 Eclipse Stakes (2000m), and he stands for a £9,000 service fee at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket. He is the sire of 71 individual stakes winners worldwide, with half a dozen at stakes level. The dam of Terra Mitica is the Giant’s Causeway mare Mississippi Delta, whose seven wins included Belmont Park’s Gr.3 Intercontinental Stakes (1400m) and three Listed races. She also placed three times at Grade Two level in the United States and Canada. View the full article

What Orange Where Towac Park Racecourse – 57 Canobolas Rd, Orange NSW 2800 When Monday, December 11, 2023 First Race 2:05pm AEDT Visit Dabble Country racing heads to Orange on Monday afternoon for a competitive seven-race program set for decision. The scorching hot conditions are likely to continue in the lead-up as the meeting is scheduled for 2:05pm local time. The rail is out +3.5m the entire circuit with the cutaway applied between the 500m-300m post on what should be a fair Good 4 surface. Orange Best Bet: Redford Redford was a dominant winner on his debut at Bathurst on November 18, where the Annabel Neasham-trained gelding scored by 1.8 lengths. The son of Snitzel was able to take a mid-field sit under Clayton Gallagher before careering away with the prize. He seems to have plenty of upside compared to some of his key rivals, and with gate one giving Redford every chance to secure back-to-back wins, we think he can manage exactly that. Best Bet Race 6 – #4 Redford (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Clayton Gallagher (56.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Randwick: Redford Flying Chevrolet has impressed in her two barrier trials leading into her race-day debut and should be competitive in this capacity field. She ambled up to her rivals in her latest jump-out at Warwick Farm to secure victory and we can see Gavin Ryan utilizing similar tactics on Monday. She’s drawn barrier six to give Ryan plenty of options aboard the daughter of Flying Artie, and with even luck in running, we’re confident Flying Chevrolet can only run well here. Next Best Race 5 – #10 Flying Chevrolet (6) 3yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Gavin Ryan (55.5kg) Bet with Dabble Orange Monday quaddie tips – 11/12/2023 Orange quadrella selections Monday, December 11, 2023 2-3-5-7-9-10 1-2-7-8-10 4 1-4-5-10-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Taking charge entering the first of two turns, Nothing Like You was never challenged in rolling to victory in the $200,500 Starlet Stakes (G2) Dec. 9 at Los Alamitos Race Course.View the full article

Taking charge entering the first of two turns, Nothing Like You was never challenged in rolling to victory in the $200,000 Starlet Stakes (G2) Dec. 9 at Los Alamitos Race Course.View the full article

Nothing like her, indeed. Nothing Like You (f, 2, Malibu Moon–Miss Derek, by Brother Derek) came home the easiest of winners to pick up her career first graded black type in the GII Starlet S. It was a wire-to-wire effort ahead of 29-1 longshot Great Forty Eight (Constitution), who impeded Chatalas (Gun Runner) in the stretch and ultimately ended up disqualified from second. The final running order was then Nothing Like You, Flynn's Chance (Medaglia d'Oro), and the bothered Chatalas. It is Bob Baffert's seventh straight win in the Starlet. Sales history: $67,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $190,000 '23 2yo OBSAPR. O-Hunt, Georgia Antley, Giglio, Jeff and Rogitz, John L.; B-Notch Hill Farm, Wolverton Mountain Farm & Spendthrift Stallions, LLC; T-Bob Baffert. NOTHING LIKE YOU ($6.20) pulls away from trouble in the stretch and takes the GII Starlet at @LosAlRacing with @JJHernandezS19 in the saddle for @BobBaffert's seventh straight win in the stakes. Congratulations to owners Hunt, Giglio or Rogitz! pic.twitter.com/SpCPA3xX4D — TVG (@TVG) December 10, 2023 The post Nothing Like You Coasts In to Win Starlet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Noted rebounded from a disappointing ninth-place showing in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last month to score his second stakes victory of the season in the Pulpit S. Victorious in Monmouth's Sapling S. in August after breaking his maiden at Saratoga, he missed graded victory by a nose Oct. 8 in Keeneland's GII Bourbon S. and finished way back in the field last month at the Breeders' Cup. Breaking as the 6-5 favorite and bumping with the outside runner, Noted settled in seventh for the lion's share of the race before being coaxed along into the far turn. Angled out sharply leaving the bend and causing tight quarters for a pair to his outside, he kicked on from eight wide into the final furlong to nail Reminder in the final strides to win by a neck. With the victory here, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. completed his sweep of the turf features on the card. “I was a little concerned with the 7 1/2 [furlongs, today] but he seemed to come out of the Breeders' Cup well, he carries good condition and he's an easy horse to train, so I felt like he was ready to run back,” Pletcher said. “We're not going to rule [dirt] out. If he trains really well we might give him another shot at some stage. He's got that win in the Sapling that looks good on paper, but in the Breeders' Cup, he didn't fire.” #8 NOTED ($4.40) was stuck in a crowd but got out late to storm home and win the Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The son of Cairo Prince was ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and is trained by Todd Pletcher. Nice call @bernier_matt who gave out 26-1 2nd place finisher #4 Reminder pic.twitter.com/nZsKKc5aok — TVG (@TVG) December 9, 2023 The first to the races after his eldest full-brother died in 2021, Noted leads the way for his young dam's broodmare career. She produced a yearling filly by Global Campaign as well as a 2023 filly by Upstart. Sea View Nellie, out of MSW & GISP Pocho's Dream Girl–making her a full-sister to MGSW Mark Valeski and a half to GSW & GISP Albano (Istan), went back to Upstart for 2024. This is the extended female family of MSW Pacific Pink, herself the dam of GSP Make the Boys Wink (More Than Ready), and SP Caironi (Cairo Prince). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. PULPIT S., $100,000, Gulfstream, 12-9, 2yo, 7 1/2fT, 1:27.30, fm. 1–NOTED, 120, c, 2, by Cairo Prince 1st Dam: Sea View Millie, by Proud Citizen 2nd Dam: Pocho's Dream Girl, by Fortunate Prospect 3rd Dam: True to Romeo, by Gallant Romeo ($200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $58,900. Lifetime Record: GSP, 6-3-2-0, $338,525. 2–Reminder, 118, c, 2, Audible–Mom's Deputy, by War Chant. ($100,000 Ylg '22 OBSWIN; $200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $185,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Tami Bobo; B-Courtney L. Meagher (FL); T-Jose Francisco D'Angelo. $19,000. 3–Palm Tree, 118, g, 2, Street Boss–Desert Gazelle, by Smart Strike. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $9,500. Margins: NK, HD, NK. Odds: 1.20, 26.30, 2.70. Also Ran: General Ledger, Double Your Money, Prevent, Ship to Shore, Tocayo, Summer Storm Stric, Liam's Journey. Scratched: Okiro. The post Noted A Determined Winner in Gulfstream’s Pulpit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The beloved equine friend of the late Cody Dorman, MGISW Cody's Wish (Curlin), was voted the first back-to-back winner of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award, the website Secretariat.com said in a release Saturday. Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery created the award in 2010 to annually recognize the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport. Though he retired to stud duty with 11 wins and career earnings of $3,106,030, it was the Godolphin homebred's connection to Cody Dorman that elicited widespread admiration and affection from fans. “Cody's Wish embodies all that the Secretariat Vox Populi Award represents. He has wowed us with his performances on the racetrack and touched countless people's hearts with his profound connection with Cody Dorman,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery. Representatives of the Cody's Wish team will return to Santa Anita Park Jan. 13 for the Vox Populi Award trophy presentation as part of the day's activities. The post Cody’s Wish Brings Home Another Secretariat Vox Populi Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cody's Wish's story is inextricably linked with that of his namesake, Cody Dorman, who lived courageously with a rare genetic disorder and passed away on Nov. 5, only a day after witnessing Cody's Wish win a second Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).View the full article

It looks like the future may be green for Repole Stable's Noted, as the Cairo Prince colt rebounded from a ninth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) to take the $100,000 Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Tejano Twist is not fast early, but the sprinter is quick when it counts, such as when dashing to the finish. The late-running 4-year-old went from last to first in the $150,000 Ring The Bell Stakes Dec. 9 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

Tejano Twist is not fast early, but the sprinter is quick when it counts—in dashing to the finish. The late-running 4-year-old went from last to first in the $150,000 Ring The Bell Stakes Dec. 9 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

The overnight purses for Golden Gate Fields' final meet are potentially set for a 25% cut due to a longstanding overpayment of the purse account, according to Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) president and CEO, Bill Nader. The Bay Area racetrack is scheduled to race from Dec. 26 through June 9, 2024, after which, the facility is set to close permanently. The purse account, said Nader, is overpaid by some $3.1 million. “There's a pretty big overpayment that's been building,” said Nader. “They're looking to claw some of it back, but not all of it.” While the TOC is still in negotiations with 1/ST Racing and Gaming, which operates Golden Gate Fields, about the proposed cuts, such a decrease in overnight purses was a “distinct possibility,” said Nader. He added that further details should be available Tuesday or Wednesday, when the condition book would be issued. “You can increase and decrease purses pending purse generation at any point in any year, so, they're within their rights,” said Nader, who added that, as an example, Maiden Special Weights would drop from $30,000 to $22,500 under the proposed structure. “But this thing's blown out to a big number,” he said, of the purse overpayment. “Handle was down in 2023. They haven't really cut purses at all. Frankly, they wanted to cut purses last fall—we told them no, and they didn't.” Dave Duggan, Golden Gate vice president and general manager, confirmed that the track had been in discussions with the TOC to cut purses there “for quite some time.” Santa Anita's overnight purses are also scheduled to be cut around 5% for its upcoming Winter/Spring meet, underway Dec. 26, with $2 million cut from the track's stakes schedule, said Nader. Ed Mojer is currently leading trainer at Golden Gate, with around 40 horses stabled there. The anticipated cuts to Golden Gates' purses could lead to some Northern California trainers relocating elsewhere, he said. Officials for Arizona's Turf Paradise recently announced they hoped to operate a meet there from Jan. 29 through May 4, pending approval from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. If the 25% purse cut is enacted at Golden Gate, “there would probably be some barns that move there,” Mojer said, about Turf Paradise, adding that while he would not relocate to Arizona, such a purse decrease could see him shift a significant portion of his horses south to Santa Anita. “But it's tougher to win a race at Santa Anita,” said Mojer. “I'll have to play it by ear.” When asked about the allure from other tracks to Golden Gate's current trainer colony, Nader suggested that even with a 25% cut, Golden Gate's purses would still compare favorably with Turf Paradise. The Stronach Group (TSG) announced in July that it was closing Golden Gate Fields at the end of December with the goal of increasing field size and adding another day of racing a week at Santa Anita. After pushback from industry stakeholders who argued that such an abrupt closure would pose an existential threat to the future of racing in Northern California, TSG officials left the door open to delaying the track's closure another six months. But they appeared to make such a deal incumbent upon a reshaping of the way simulcasting proceeds are allocated in the state. The rule of thumb is that proceeds from wagers made in the “northern zone” stay in Northern California to pay for purses and operational expenses, while the proceeds from wagers made in the “southern zone” stay in Southern California for the same purposes. Initially, various stakeholders in Northern California—including representatives of the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF)—voiced resistance to TSG's idea of moving these proceeds south. In September, however, California lawmakers sought enough buy-in to pass legislation that meant if Golden Gate Fields is not licensed to operate beyond July 1 next year, proceeds from simulcast wagering in the north are funneled south when there is no live racing in the northern half of the state after that date. When asked about recent turn of events involving Golden Gate Fields, Mojer appeared resigned to the situation. “I've been here for almost 50 years,” said Mojer. “I'm not too happy about it.” The post Final Golden Gate Fields Meet Potentially Set For 25% Purse Cut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Keith Asmussen recorded his 64th career victory in Saturday's opener at Oaklawn, eclipsing the total of his father, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, during his riding career. Keith Asmussen, fittingly, reached the milestone on a horse trained by his father, Hern, who won the 1 1/16-mile claiming race. “Couldn't be more excited for today and the rest of the meet,” Keith Asmussen said. Steve Asmussen rode 63 winners in 1982-1984, according to Equibase. Asmussen turned to training after he became too heavy to ride. Keith Asmussen, 25, launched his full-time riding career in late 2022 after earning a master's degree in professional accounting earlier in the year from the University of Texas' McCombs School of Business. Asmussen's younger brother, Erik, 21, made his Oaklawn riding debut in Saturday's first race and finished sixth aboard What a Country for his father. “It was awesome to get to ride with my brother,” Keith Asmussen added. The post Jockey Keith Asmussen Passes His Dad with 64th Career Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Keith Asmussen recorded his 64th career victory in the Dec. 9 opener at Oaklawn Park, eclipsing the total of his father, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, during his riding career.View the full article

Ozara made the most of her first trip down south with a gutsy score over Milliat in the $100,000 Wait a While Stakes.View the full article

Coming off convincing stakes victories, including one against open company, Touchuponastar did exactly as expected back in against fellow Louisiana-breds, dominating the Dec. 9 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. View the full article

Tejano Twist is not fast early, but the sprinter is quick when it counts—in dashing to the finish. The late-running 4-year-old went from last to first in the $150,000 Ring The Bell Stakes Dec. 9 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

Like many TDN readers, I use online betting for playing the races. I had used one online site for a few years and felt that I needed another site that offered more “rewards”, thus I signed up for DRF.com bets. Nice rewards and free past performances as you accumulate “points.” Imagine my surprise to find out that I cannot place bets at Churchill Downs, Turfway, Fairgrounds and any other track that Churchill owns. And I cannot watch online live video either. Now, I don't know what the squabble is between DRF and Churchill, but it's unfair to the horse player. Another example of how the “big boys” really don't care much about the small bettors like myself and tens of thousands of others. So, what is the problem, DRF and Churchill? I'm sure we would like to hear why this is. So, DRF and Churchill, fix this ASAP. Give us horse players big and small a break. There are a lot of online betting sites now, easy to change if you are unwilling to make the fix. Sincerely, Joseph S. Bertino Jr. Guilderland, NY The post Letter to the Editor: Joseph S. Bertino Jr. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry DEAUVILLE, France — The sales at Arqana this year have largely retained their momentum, but the company was not immune to the retraction that has been present across the market for mares and foals this winter. With the clearance rate being lowered to 71% from the 78% of 2022, the turnover fell by 20% to €36,467,000, and the average was down by 7% to €227,919. Four millionaire fillies and mares featured in the opening session, compared to seven last year, but the one sector that did improve, and one which is usually the most important, was the median, which was up to €120,000 from €115,000. There was plenty of time to admire the statuesque Group 1 winner Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) as she topped the sale at €4,025,000. A prolonged spell of bidding which involved Northern Farm and Coolmore saw the eventual successful bid placed online, with the buyer believed to be Zhang Yuesheng's Yulong operation. In the latest example of the tedium which is facilitated by the online bidding process, the four-year-old filly was held in the ring for 14 minutes as the hidden buyer increased their offer in increments of 25,000gns – a practice which is not usually accepted for those bidding ringside when the price is already into the realm of millions. After a round of ping-pong between a bidder in the restaurant and the Northern Farm team in the seats in the ring, the bid went online at €3.5 million, with underbidder Coolmore making a play outside up to €4 million. Bred by Ballylinch Stud in partnership with Alexis and Fan Adamian, Place du Carrousel, whose wins include the G1 Prix de l'Opera and G2 Prix Foy, was trained by Andre Fabre for Al Shaqab Racing, who bought her as a yearling for €260,000, with Ballylinch retaining a share. John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud said, “It was a racing partnership and we thought she had done enough on the track and that it was time for her to move on to the next phase of her career. We were happy to put her in the ring. Everybody from the partnership has done well. [Lope De Vega's] fillies are in very high demand at the moment. It's not a surprise, because so many of his fillies are very good, and now his daughters are making an impressive start as a broodmare sire. He's one of those stallions who has succeeded all over the world with two-year-olds, sprinters, middle-distance horses and Classic milers. Spain to England via France Newsells Park Stud has been recruiting some select mares and foals in recent weeks, and Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) became the latest addition to the broodmare band on Saturday when Jill Lamb went to €2 million to buy the Group 2 winner from Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals. The five-year-old sister to G3 Vintage Crop S. winner Master Of Reality (Ire) from a family strewn with black type was bought in the same ring for €240,000 as an August yearling. In the now-familiar colours of Yeguada Centurion, she became the first group winner for her young trainer Christopher Head in the Prix du Muguet. The mare was consigned by Haras de la Hotellerie on behalf of her owner and Newsells Park's Graham Smith-Bernal couldn't hide his delight in acquiring her. He said, “She is a lovely mare – she's beautiful. Of course, she won a Group 2 and was very tough and competitive. She was fourth in two Group 1s and we loved her. She's in foal to Dubawi and the Frankel-Dubawi cross is very good. We thought we might have had to go a bit further but we were getting close to our final bid. We're absolutely delighted.” Through Lamb, Newsells Park also signed for G2 runner-up Sparkling Beauty (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from Haras des Capucines for €450,000 [in partnership with Bertrand Lemetayer] and Dubawi (Ire) mare Galibawa (GB) in foal to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) for €360,000. Smith-Bernal added, “That's our third purchase.The first two were bought with partners and we're very happy with those. One was bought in foal to St Mark's Basilica and we got a very nice Oasis Dream mare, but that was the big one we wanted.” Channel Heads to Japan at €1.2 Million Channel (Ire), the Classic-winning daughter of Nathaniel (Ire) from a family whose luminaries include the Group 1 winners Magical Romance (GB), Alexandrova (Ire), Chicquita (Ire) and Magic Wand (Ire), may have commanded a seven-figure sum but, at €1.2 million she could end up looking to have been well bought by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm. She is after all only seven, and she has fillies by Sea The Stars (Ire) and Wootton Bassett (GB) on the ground, as well as a colt by Kingman (GB), and she was offered through La Motteraye Consignment back in foal to Wootton Bassett. Indeed, the Prix de Diane winner was described by Emmanuel de Seroux, who signed for Channel on behalf of Northern Farm, as good value. He said, “There is a large choice of stallions for her. She was one of two or three Group 1 winners we were trying to buy today and she was the best value of them all. We are very happy with her price compared to some of the others. We didn't have to pay as much for the same quality. She was one of the top choices.” Completing the participation of all three Yoshida brothers in the higher echelons of Arqana's Breeding Stock Sale, French-based Japanese trainer Satoshi Kobayashi signed for the Group 3 winner Minaun (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) on behalf of Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm at €500,000, as well as Lightning Lady (Ire), by Kingman (GB) out of a half-sister to Lope De Vega (Ire), who was bought for €600,000 by Haruya Yoshida of Oiwake Farm. Ammerland's Leading Lights Outbid by Ammerland when the latter bought Sea The Sky (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for a sale-topping €850,000 at the BBAG Yearling Sale three years ago, Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation is now the owner of the Listed winner. Anthony Stroud was determined to secure the full-sister to Sea The Moon (Ger), going to €1.25 million in pursuit while standing in the gangway alongside the team from Shadai, who ended up as underbidders. Stroud said of Lot 171, “She's a very nice filly. We nearly bought her as a yearling and were very keen on her. [She's by] Sea The Stars, we can breed her to Frankel or Dubawi. Good racehorse, it's a wonderful family and I think she will be a good addition to our broodmare band.” The Ammerland draft provided plenty of Saturday's highlights in the Arqana sale ring. Bidding online, American breeder Bobby Flay had the final say for Lady Frankel (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the half-sister to Lope De Vega (Ire), who was sold in foal to New Bay (GB) for €900,000. Lady Frankel (Lot 172) was herself a Group 3 winner and, along with Lope De Vega, her other siblings include Group 3 winner Bal De La Rose (GB) and Listed winner Lord Of The Land (Ire). Flay bought two mares at Tattersalls last week for a little over 1.1 million gns, including Final Gesture (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Following the string of high-priced lots from the Ammerland dispersal, Lady Frankel's daughter, the aforementioned Lightning Lady (Ire), an unraced three-year-old by Kingman (GB), is heading to Japan after being bought by Haruya Yoshida for €600,000. Wildfeder (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), the winning full-sister to Arc winner Waldgeist (GB), was offered as Lot 209 in foal to Siyouni (Fr) and elicited a final bid of €450,000 from Nicolas de Watrigant. In total, the 12 horses sold from the Gestut Ammerland dispersal brought €4,002,000. Goldikova's Granddaughter to Sumbe Sumbe took the enterprising step of bringing its entire stallion roster to nearby Clairefontaine racecourse so that breeders in town for the sale could view them more easily, and one of that quintet will be the covering sire next year for the operation's latest purchase, Mirakova (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Bought from the Wertheimer draft for €850,000, the four-year-old filly had suffered an accident which meant she retired unraced, but she has strength in depth when it comes to pedigree. Her granddam Goldikova (Ire) needs no introduction, and dam Terrakova (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was herself pretty decent when winning the G3 Prix Cleopatre and finishing third in the G1 Prix de Diane. After signing for the filly, Sumbe manager Tony Fry said, “We'll take her home and have a think but I'd say it's likely she'll go to either Mishriff or Belbek.” He added, “These families don't come around very often so, when they do, you have to be strong. She's a lovely mare that comes from a stud that needs no introduction and produces very good horses. We're very happy.” Study Of Man's Sister to Fahrhof One leading breeding operation made a significant investment in one of the jewels of another when The Planets (Ire), a Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to Classic winner and young sire Study Of Man (Ire), was bought by Gestut Fahrhof at €700,000. Continuing the restructuring of the Niarchos operation, Baroda Stud offered three fillies on the family's behalf, with The Planets (Lot 121), a granddaughter of the great Miesque, being an obvious draw. Bidding opened for the three-year-old winner at €200,000 and it was Fahrhof's Stefan Ullrich who came out on top. He said, “We want to establish this family in Germany. She's very closely related to Miesque and everybody knows this family. We are looking to make our broodmare band more international and this is part of our plan in buying a filly like this. She's a winner and sound with no vices.” He added, “We had a very good partnership with the Niarchos family when we stood Maxios at the stud and we know their breeding well.” David Cox of Baroda Stud, who also consigned some of the Niarchos mares at the Goffs November Sale, said, “We've been working with the Niarchos family for over eight years now. They kept mares in Baroda Stud before we were there so they know the farm well. Maria and her family, including Electra and all the team — Alan [Cooper] and Aurelien [Voileau] — they're great people to work with. With pedigrees like this, they're just highly sought after. There were a good number of people who wanted that filly and, fair play, she sold very well. We're delighted.” He added, “It has been a credit to my team, they've done a great job with the Niarchos draft. I have really good staff and they handle everything really well for the amount of horses we had. Tattersalls and Arqana came quickly off the back of Goffs, so we have a well-oiled machine. The likes of Pauric [Gahan] and Noel [McDonnell] at home, they keep the show on the road while I am away.” Without Words Provides Boost for Longways There were emotional scenes in the early parts of the Saturday session at Arqana when Without Words (Mendelssohn), who Mick Murphy and Sarah O'Connell of Longways Stables failed to sell at the breeze-up here in May, was knocked down to Justin Casse on behalf of Joseph O'Brien for €450,000. Without Words carried O'Connell's colours to victory on her second start for trainer Francois Rohaut at Toulouse. There was a kaleidoscope of significance to the win and subsequent sale with Murphy revealing afterwards that his wife had recently been diagnosed with cancer and is due to undergo chemotherapy next week. He said, “We've had a good year but there have been ups and downs. Sarah is sick at the moment. She was diagnosed with cancer and starts her chemotherapy on Tuesday. She will be okay but she has a tough few months ahead of her.” It has been another successful year for Longways Stables on the track, highlighted by the Listed-winning and Group 2-placed graduate Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and Saturday's result in the ring clearly meant a great deal. Murphy continued, “We breezed her here in May. We liked her a lot and felt we weren't getting what we deserved so we bought her back at €175,000. “I bought her in America for $85,000 and thought that she was always going to be worth that because of her pedigree alone. We liked her, took a chance to race her, and Francous did a great job with her. He thinks she is a stakes filly. Sarah didn't want to sell her.” Without Words is a half-sister Combatant (Scat Daddy), a Grade I winner for John Sadler, and Long Lashes (Rock Hard Ten), a Group 3 winner for Saeed Bin Suroor. She was consigned by La Motteraye on behalf of O'Connell and Murphy. Hawthorne Recruits Two Well-Bred Fillies For Australia Dean Hawthorne spent just shy of €1.5 million on two fillies — Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and French Bob (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) — to go to Australia. Striking first at €675,000 for French Bob, the well-bred daughter of Galileo (Ire) out of Classic winner Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Hawthorne went on to snap up Mise En Scene for €800,000. He was accompanied by Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock. On Mise En Scene, a Group 3-winning daughter of Siyouni, Hawthorne said, “Mise En Scene is a really good filly who will suit Australia. Obviously she won a Group race at Goodwood, which is a good track, and Siyouni is getting a hell of a presence in Australia through Amelia's Jewel (Aus) and Amelia's Dream (Aus). It's blood we can do a lot with in Australia. Happy to get her and we had to pay for her but she was probably one of our main targets in the entire sale.” In Brief La Motteraye Consignment was the leading vendor on the day with 12 sold for €4,367,000. Buying on behalf of the China Horse Club, Matt Holdsworth landed the regally-bred Plumage (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), a daughter of Plumania (Fr) (Anabaa {Fr}) and from a deep Wertheimer family. Holdsworth revealed that Plumage–who was sold in foal to Intello (Fr)–would likely be mated with Siyouni next year (Fr). Lot 127, a Kingman (GB) filly foal out of a half-sister to Derby winner Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}), was sold by her breeder Haras de Montaigu to Frederic Sauque for €400,000. A filly foal by Too Darn Hot (GB) and her dual Listed-winning and Classic-placed dam Reine d'Amour (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) went through the ring in consecutive lots, bought by Anthony Stroud for €170,000 and €200,000. Lot 103 Too Darn Hot (GB) filly from Haras des Capucines for €170,000. The common theme of the breeding stock and foal sales in Europe this year has been the wave of support behind Pinatubo foals and mares in foal to the Darley stallion. Big things are clearly expected from Pinatubo when his first runners hit the track next year and it was interesting that Shadwell rowed in behind the stallion when buying a colt from La Motteraye for €300,000. Eddie Rosen, representing American-based owner Mike Repole of Repole Stable, signed for four horses on the day for a total of €780,000. The quartet included two mares in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) and one to St Mark's Basilica (Fr), and the two-year-old Siyiouni (Fr) filly High Handed (Ire), who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and producer Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Buy of the Day Lot 37: WATCHOUT (Fr), Golden Horn (GB) – Watchful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) Buyer: Billy Jackson-Stops, €35,000 Vendor: Fabrice Chappet As a half-sister to the G1 Prix Rothschild and G1 Coronation S. winner Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), this three-year-old filly already has plenty in her favour. Watchout raced just once for her owner/breeder Antoinette Tamagni but was far from disgraced in that outing. Another half-sibling, Watch Him (Fr) (Elvstroem {Aus}), has won at Listed level, and Watch Me has her first foal, the Siyouni (Fr) filly Why Not Again (Fr), to run for her next year. Watchout's third dam Sharaya (Youth) won the G1 Prix Vermeille for the Aga Khan, with the further family including the Classic winners Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) and Encke (Kingmambo). Cape Cross (Ire) is already proving his worth as a broodmare sire and there's every reason to expect his son Golden Horn to be similarly effective in this sphere. In this case, seeing mares by Galileo and Darshaan (GB) on Watchout's bottom line gives extra encouragement. Best of luck to Watchout's new owner Paul McDonnell, the manager of Triermore Stud, who will be breeding from her in Ireland. The post Place Du Carrousel Clears €4.025 Million at Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article