Wandering Eyes

By Adam Hamilton Young gun Cam Hart is staying strong with Swayzee. The New Zealand Cup hero was beaten for the second successive time in the Brisbane Inter Dominion series last night, but nothing went right. Swayzee was headed-off from barrier one and shuffled to four back on the pegs in a nasty pocket. Hart never saw daylight until the last 130m and Swayzee charged home for fourth to the classy Victorian pacer Better Eclipse. Earlier, Swayzee’s stablemate Nerano underlined why he has been the “find” of the pacing series with a sparkling win in the first of the round three heats. Like Swayzee, Nerano was buried on the pegs, but Hart got him into the clear much earlier and he rocketed home to easily beat Spirit St Louis and Speak The Truth. Nerano finished the series well ahead of Swayzee on the points table, courtesy of two wins and a slashing second to Leap To Fame on opening night. But Hart didn’t hesitate before saying he would drive Swayzee in the final. That paves the way for former Kiwi horseman Jack Trainor to partner Nerano in the big one. “He mightn’t have won, but I’ve been thrilled with Swayzee’s past couple. He’s right on target,” Hart said. “Nerano is flying. He’s so fast. I said last week he’s as fast a horse as I’ve driven over 200-300m and he showed it again tonight. “I’m happy for one of my mates to pick the drive up on him.” Just as Nerano did, Better Eclipse finished the heats with two wins and a second. “He’s taken the next step. He’s the complete package now,” co-trainer and driver Greg Sugars said. “He couldn’t really cope with the hard racing back-to-back 12 months ago, but he’s thriving on it now. “He can win the final. He’ll need a few things to go right, but he’s shown before he can follow any speed and finish strongly.” Leap To Fame finished the series the only unbeaten pacer when he was never out of second gear winning last night’s third heat. Once again, his 1min55.1sec mile rate for the long 2680m trip was the fastest pacing heat of the night. “He did that well,” trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. “He had a hard run on the second night, so it’s nice to get things a bit easier this time. “He seemed to come through the hard run (last Tuesday) well and tonight really showed that. “I know he’s had some hard runs over the past few months, but we think he’s as good as we’ve had him.” In the trotting series, star Kiwi-owned mare Queen Elida returned to her sparkling best with a runaway heat win last night. Part-owners Tony Barron and Gordon McKenzie were trackside and buzzing as they greeted trainer Brent Lilley after the win. “That’s what we wanted to see,” said McKenzie, who also bred Queen Elida. “She looked really sharp tonight. Lilley added: “Chris (Alford, driver) didn’t pull the plugs, either. Each of her runs in the series has been better. “Lots of horses would be flat after a tough run like she had on Tuesday, but not her. She just bounces through it.” The most exciting and potentially important part of last night’s win was the blazing gate speed Queen Elida showed to lead easily. “That was electric, wasn’t it?” Lilley said. “She’s always had it, but you don’t want to use it unless you have to. Hopefully get a draw to use it in the final.” Queen Elida drew inside the back row (gate eight) when third to Just Believe in last year’s final. “She’s a lot tougher and more seasoned now,” Alford said. “I’m sure we can take it right up to him next week if we get a decent draw.” Just as he did last year, Just Believe completed a cleansweep of the trotting heats with an easy win last night. Despite being attacked in front by the headstrong Gus through the middle stages, Just Believe dashed away to win by almost nine metres. “He’s just an incredible horse,” co-trainer and driver Greg Sugars said. “I’m a bit lost for words. He did that in second gear. It’s amazing.” INTER DOMINION GRAND FINAL FIELDS PACING FINAL (not in barrier order): Leap To Fame, Nerano, Better Eclipse, Swayzee, Classie Washington, Pete Said So, Spirit Of St Louis, Speak The Truth, Future Assured, Kanena Provlima, Turn It Up, Our Money Rocks. Cantfindabettorman (emergency). TROTTING FINAL: Just Believe, Ollivici, Queen Elida, Plymouth Chubb, Sir Fahrenheit, Mufasa Metro, Funny Face, Adelle, Majestic Lavros, Van Sank, Gus, Thebestbourbon. Constantinople (emergency). View the full article

Jockey agent Joe Santos, aka Santos Inc., flexed his muscle on the opening-day Oaklawn Park card Dec. 8.View the full article

Online bookmakers have released their racing promotions for Sunday, December 10, including several great bonus back offers. The top Australian racing promotions for December 10, 2023, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions This Sunday use your punters Toolbox. Get Price Boosts, Bet Backs, Fluc Ups, Back Ups & Extra Nudge tools! Available to use on ANY races of your choice. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. General betting rules apply. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Saturday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd ALL Races at Sha Tin Minimum 6 runners. Fixed Odds only. Check Vault for eligibility. Limits may apply. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Jmac Rides at Sha Tin. Guaranteed best odds on all James McDonald Ridden Hong Kong Runners. Eligible clients only. General T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting has reviewed the top horse racing bookmakers in Australia and has unveiled exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions and specials for Sunday, December 10, 2023. These horse racing promotions persist almost daily, showcasing the commitment of Australia’s top horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker lacks a promotion, rest assured that another is presenting enticing promotional offers in the realm of gallops. HorseBetting.com.au is your go-to source for the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses every day. Gain the most value out of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses with the most competitive horse racing odds available for each race. It’s imperative to note that these thoroughbred racing promotion offers cater exclusively to existing customers. Accessing these special promotions and claiming the bookmaker’s offers requires logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting offers a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay informed, stay strategic, and make the most of your horse racing experience with these exclusive promotions. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Horse Racing on Sunday, December 10 will feature nine meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meetings at Nowra, Werribee and Sha Tin (HK). Sunday Racing Tips – December 10, 2023 Sha Tin Racing Tips Nowra Racing Tips Werribee Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For December 10, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $85.44 odds return: Sunday, December 10, 2023 Werribee – Race 2 #6 Belnera Werribee – Race 6 #14 Humming Nowra – Race 1 #6 Pretty Sassy Sunshine Coast – Race 4 #3 Starvirgo | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on December 10, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Trainer Reed Saldana, provisionally suspended by HIWU this summer for the presence of the banned substance diisopropylamine in a urine sample from one of his horses, was issued a formal 24-month suspension and fined $25,000 by an arbitrator Dec. 4.View the full article

Ryan Moore was full of praise for Hong Kong after landing World's Best Jockey award.View the full article

After missing an intended start in the GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S. at Santa Anita on Breeders' Cup Saturday due to a fever, the streaking marathon specialist Next (Not This Time) is currently being turned out for 45-60 days, according to trainer Doug Cowans. “This fall, we were planning on going to California, but the Sunday before he was supposed to get on the plane, he got a little temperature,” Cowans said of Next missing the 1 5/8-miles event, a race he won at Keeneland in 2022. “He was fine a couple of days later, but I tell 'ya, with flying and going out there I just said, 'Better not do it.' I scratched the whole idea. Everything had gone perfect all year and I wasn't gonna push the issue.” Perfect, indeed. Claimed by Michael A. Foster off owner/breeder Silverton Hill and trainer Wesley Ward for $62,500 at Keeneland last spring, the gelded 5-year-old has found his calling in the marathon division. He's won five out of his last six starts either on or just off the lead, including the GII Brooklyn S. going 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park June 10, the Birdstone S. going 1 3/4 miles at Saratoga July 27 and the GIII Greenwood Cup S. going 1 1/2 miles in the slop at Parx last time out Sept. 23. He's won his last two starts by a combined margin of a whopping 36 3/4 lengths. “He'll go back into training Jan. 1,” Cowans said. “We're pointing towards either the ($200,000) Temperence Hill S. (at Oaklawn Mar. 29) or the Isaac Murphy (Marathon S. at Churchill Downs).” He continued, “Everybody in the barn is excited. He brings a little bit of a different type of energy with his specialty of running in these marathon races. These kind of horses don't come along too often. He's a unique horse. Me and my assistant have both checked in on him at the farm once a week and he is doing great. We're excited to get him back in here in about three weeks.” Next, one of 13 graded winners for Not This Time, was produced by the multiple stakes-placed Awesome Again mare Bahia Beach. The post Temperence Hill or Isaac Murphy Up ‘Next’ for Streaking Marathon Man After 45-60 Days Off appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-GP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 2:34 p.m. ET. I SEE YOU LOOKIN (City of Light) makes his first start Sunday for trainer Todd Pletcher. The $400,000 Keeneland September Sale grad is a half-sister to MGSP Lady Aces (Constitution), who was purchased for $200,000 at Keeneland November last year by the China Horse Club. Dam Economy of Motion (Pleasantly Perfect) is herself a half to MGISW Paradise Woods (Union Rags). Digging deeper into this extended female family, we find this debut runner's third dam is a half-sister to MGSW Mr. Greeley (Gone West). TJCIS PPS 8th-GP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, 3:33 p.m. ET. Hill 'n' Dale homebred and Josie Carroll trainee Royal Ascot (Justify) will look to get her dam off to a winning start as a broodmare. Second dam Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), winner of the G1 Irish Oaks and runner-up in the G1 French Oaks, is a half-sister to Irish Group 1 winner and globetrotting turf specialist Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). TJCIS PPS The post Sunday Insights: Son Of City Of Light Debuts Over Gulfstream Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A winner of the G1 Prix de Diane, CHANNEL (IRE) (Nathaniel {Ire}–Love Magic {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) (lot 215) was knocked down for €1.2 million on the bid of Katsumi Yoshida/Narvick International during the first day of Arqana's Vente d'Elevage. In foal to Wootton Bassett (GB), the granddaughter of G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Magical Romance (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) was consigned by La Motteraye Consignment. The seven figure mark has been broken again at the #VentedElevage as CHANNEL (lot 2⃣1⃣5⃣), Prix de Diane (Gr.1) winner in foal to #WoottonBassett @coolmorestud was sold to Katsumi Yoshida/ Narvick International by @La_Motteraye for €1,200,000. pic.twitter.com/zvgsukZWas — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) December 9, 2023 The post Katsumi Yoshida And Narvick International Snap Up Channel For 1.2m At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky welcomed Godolphin's GI Travers S. hero Alpha (Bernardini) on Friday, Dec. 8, the retirement farm said in a release Saturday. Bred by Darley in America, Alpha was trained by Kiaran P. McLaughlin and owned by Godolphin his entire career. He finished with a record of six wins and $1,815,667 in earnings over 22 starts, which included the first dead heat in the Travers since 1874. Alpha began his stud career in 2015 at Sequel Stallions in New York, before moving to Haras Bagé do Sul in Brazil in 2019. He returned stateside and arrived in Florida Nov. 29, where he completed quarantine. Shipping to Kentucky, the recent retiree was inspected to ensure he was in good condition and then sent to Old Friends. “While Alpha was small in stature, he was big in heart,” said Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA. “He was a Saratoga specialist, winning multiple graded races there during his career. He became the second Travers winner for our stable, with his sire, Bernardini, being the first. But it's also special being able to facilitate his return to Kentucky and Old Friends.” The post Travers Hero Alpha Comes To Old Friends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton has added two late entries to its December Digital Sale. Bidding for the December Digital Sale opened this past Thursday and runs through this coming Tuesday, Dec. 12. The pair of additional entries are: Por Que No (Hip 309): Five-year-old mare won the Boiling Springs S. at three on her way to career earnings of nearly $150,000. Her dam, Cryptic Message, was a multiple stakes winner and graded stakes placed earner of $533,677. Offered pregnant to Constitution carrying her first foal, she is consigned by Burleson Farms, agent. Breeze Easy (GB) (Hip 310): Four-year-old daughter of Bated Breath was a winner and multiple stakes placed at two in England. Transferred to the U.S., she placed in two stakes at three, including the GIII Soaring Softly S. at Belmont. A half-sister to group stakes winner Artic Sound, she enters the sale off an allowance win over the turf at Fair Grounds Dec. 8. Consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by St. George Sales, agent. These entries may now viewed online. Bidding closes this coming Tuesday, December 12 at 11 am eastern. Prospective buyers may register to bid by visiting digital.fasigtipton.com. The post Stakes-Winning Broodmare, Graded Stakes-Placed Winner Added to Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com “For me personally, National Treasure winning the Preakness! It was my third win in my favorite race of the year. My favorite racing moment outside of my stable was watching Jena (Antonucci) win the Belmont S. Pure joy! Loved seeing it.” –Sol Kumin The post What Was Your Favorite Moment of 2023: Sol Kumin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Frankel (GB)'s Sibila Spain (Ire) (lot 204) was another mare to reach seven figures at Arqana on Saturday, bringing €2 million from Newsells Park Stud while carrying her first foal by Dubawi (Ire). Consigned by Haras de l'Hotellerie, the bay won the G2 Prix du Muguet and is a full-sister to group winner and Group 1-placed Master Of Reality (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The duo are out of L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), a listed winner who ran second in the G1 Irish Oaks and the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She, in turn, is a full-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (Ire). Another top lot at the #VentedElevage as @jlambbloodstock & @newsellspark went to €2,000,000 to secure Group winner SIBILA SPAIN (lot 2⃣0⃣4⃣) in foal to #Dubawi @DarleyEurope. She was consigned by @l_hotellerie. pic.twitter.com/i9jxoHBJ5L — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) December 9, 2023 The post Sibila Spain Brings Two Million Euros From Newsells Park Stud At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Angel of Empire (Classic Empire), a powerful winner of this spring's GI Arkansas Derby and a rallying third as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby, has returned to training at WinStar Training Center and is expected to rejoin trainer Brad Cox at either Fair Grounds or Oaklawn Park within the next month. The Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer was given a freshening after concluding his six-race sophomore campaign with a dead-heat fourth-place finish in the GI Belmont S. June 10 and a close third-place finish in a roughly run renewal of the GII Jim Dandy S. in the slop at Saratoga July 29. Angel of Empire was also a come-from-behind winner of the GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds Feb. 18. “The Triple Crown is a big ask to get through all those races and he never really had a break since he started,” Albaugh Family Stable's General Manager Jason Loutsch said. “We try to listen to our horses. After the Jim Dandy, he came back and you could tell he had enough. We did the right thing–we obviously would've liked to press on and make the Breeders' Cup–but we gave him some time and thought that he could have a really big 4-year-old season. We're excited to get him going. I think he'll be one of the top handicap horses next year if he continues to go forward. He's doing really well right now.” Angel of Empire, one of four graded winners for young sire Classic Empire, is the first foal out of the 7-year-old To Honor and Serve mare Armony's Angel, who brought $1.8 million from Katsumi Yoshida while in foal to Gun Runner at last month's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Bred in Pennsylvania by Forgotten Land Investment Inc. and Black Diamond Equine Corp., Angel of Empire was purchased by Dennis Albaugh's operation for just $70,000 during the eighth session of the Keeneland September Yearling sale. He previously RNA'd for $32,000 as a Keeneland November weanling. “He'll get a start around March or so and we'll probably target something on (Kentucky) Derby Day,” Loutsch said. “The end goal would be to try to get to the Breeders' Cup.” Loutsch concluded, “He's such a cool horse and he tries hard every time. He deserved the time off and we're expecting a big year from him.” The post Angel of Empire Gearing Up for 4-Year-Old Campaign – ‘We’re Expecting a Big Year From Him’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}–Traffic Jam {Ire}, by Duke of Marmalade) added plenty of excitement Saturday when drawing €4,025,000 from Portofino Bloodstock bidding online at the Vente d'Elevage in Deauville. Consigned by Haras de Bouquetot, the 4-year-old filly recorded her most important victory in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. The €260,000 Arqana Deauville yearling purchase hails from the family of G1 Coronation victress Lillie Langtry and Classic heroine Tuesday. The post Group 1 Winner Place Du Carrousel Lands 4.025M Euros at Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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A member of the Gestut Ammerland dispersal, listed winner Sea The Sky (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Sanwa {Ger}, by Monsun {Ger}) realized a €1.25 million final bid from Godolphin during the opening session of Arqana's Vente d'Elevage in Deauville Saturday. The €820,000 Baden-Baden September yearling purchase is a full-sister to German Derby victory Sea The Moon, a sister to German Classic winners Schiaparelli, Samum and Salve Regina. The post Sister to German Classic Winner Yields 1.25M Euros in Deauville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Abdulla Al Mansoori's West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), a multiple group winner, has been withdrawn from the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase after sustaining an injury to his left foreleg, the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced on Saturday. Successful in the 2022 G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange and 2023 G3 La Coupe, the 4-year-old gelding is trained by Ed and Simon Crisford. Also placed in Sandown's G1 Eclipse, West Wind Blows has had a fruitful campaign Down Under this season, running second in both the G1 Turnbull S. this October and in the G1 Caulfield Cup later that month. He was ninth in his final Australian start, the G1 Champions S. at Flemington on Nov. 11. The statement from the Department of Veterinary Regulation, Welfare & Biosecurity Policy read, “Upon examination this afternoon, West Wind Blows has an injury to the left fore leg and accordingly has been withdrawn from the Longines Hong Kong Vase on veterinary advice.” The post West Wind Blows Withdrawn From HK Vase With Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's top tips from the SCMP analystsView the full article

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.” https://twitter.com/sazoconnell/status/1733460040399360359 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. The post Emotional Scenes At Arqana As Without Words Lifts Longways Stables’ Spirits appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand-bred juvenile Beau Dazzler was thrown in at the deep end for Saturday’s A$200,000 Listed Eureka Stud Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm, and he rose to the occasion with a bold black-type win. The Ardrossan colt was making only the second start of his career on Saturday, having debuted with a second placing in a 1000m race at Toowoomba on November 25. After settling at the back among a field of only four, Beau Dazzler and jockey Robbie Dolan came across heels in the straight and set out after the front-running Mishani Explorer and Butwedid. Beau Dazzler began to move through his gears and lengthen stride, and despite racing greenly and having his head to the side, he finished over the top of the leading pair to win impressively by half a length. “I don’t think you’ll find a horse that will try to get himself beaten as much as he did then,” said Maddysen Sears, who trains in partnership with her father Tony. “He’s very green. We never expected him to race this early to be honest. He’s surprised us, but I think he’s got a bright future when he starts thinking about being a racehorse.” Beau Dazzler was offered by Mapperley Stud in Book 2 of Karaka 2023, where he was bought for $85,000 by Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Catheryne Bruggeman and Sears Racing. The Phelan Ready Stakes is often used as a stepping stone towards the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast a month later, but this year’s edition has the potential to be a springboard to a very different race for sales graduates. Beau Dazzler is eligible for the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 27, and the talented colt’s trainers have indicated that they are open to the possibility of making the trans-Tasman trip. Beau Dazzler’s earnings of A$120,150 put him clearly at the top of the order of entry for the $1 million feature. Beau Dazzler became the first Australian stakes winner for promising Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan, who has also been represented by Codigo, Loch Katrine and Saltcoats in New Zealand. Bred by the Dewar Partnership, Beau Dazzler is out of the Pentire mare Pwerfect, who comes from the family of northern hemisphere Group One stars such as Fame And Glory and Legatissimo. View the full article

Emerging stayer Captain Envious took his career to a new level with a runaway victory in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m), leading home a Kiwi-bred quinella in Saturday’s A$500,000 feature. With a highly impressive win over Young Werther, Captain Envious collected the first black-type success of a 16-start career that has now produced five wins, six placings and A$523,350 in stakes. The five-year-old son of Savabeel had been something of a perennial placegetter through this spring. He won the Murtoa Cup (2050m) on October 7, but then had to settle for third in the Horsham Cup (2100m), second in the Listed John Letts Cup (1800m) and a last-start third in the A$500,000 Victorian Country Cups Final (2000m) at Caulfield. Trainer Paul Preusker was working towards his main target of the Ballarat Cup throughout that itinerary, and Captain Envious got the job done in style on Saturday. Ridden by expat Kiwi jockey Mick Dee, Captain Envious settled in third-last behind a strong pace through the early part of the race. Dee moved off the fence rounding the home turn, and Captain Envious changed gears and stormed home down the centre of the track. He hit the lead with 150m remaining and powered clear, opening up a winning margin of two and a half lengths. “He was super,” Dee said. “It’s heavy ground today, but he quickened up like it was a good track. He ploughed through those conditions and was running away from them at the line. It even took a bit to pull him up afterwards, so it was a super effort today. “He didn’t jump the cleanest, so we ended up a little bit further back than we’d planned. I was going to stay on the fence with the way things have been going in previous races, but that wasn’t going to eventuate for us this time. I ended up peeling him out, and he took off and did the rest.” Preusker was pleased to achieve his long-term spring mission in Saturday’s feature. “I actually don’t know if I’ve had any Ballarat Cup runners before,” he said. “You like to have the right horse for the right job, and it’s only now that I’ve had that for this race. We’ve been targeting him towards this race for a bit now, so it’s a good achievement today. “He’s got a blistering turn of foot and has turned into a really nice horse. Wet or dry ground, it doesn’t matter to him. “We’ll take some time to digest this before making any other plans. I think he’s a horse that will get over a fair bit more ground in time. It’s just a matter of building up some points at the moment, and today was good for that.” Captain Envious races in the colours of his breeders, Ultra Thoroughbred Racing. He is by Savabeel out of the Italian-bred mare My Central, who won seven races including the Gr.3 Balanchine Stakes (1800m) in Dubai. All of the Central Park mare’s four foals to race have been winners, with Captain Envious the first to win at stakes level. My Central is also the granddam of Umgawa, who has won four races and finished second in the Gr.3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) in Melbourne. My Central produced another Savabeel colt in 2020, who was named Captain Electric and is being trained by Emma-Lee and David Browne. View the full article

In a race thrown into disarray by a false start, quality four-year-old Desert Lightning stood tall and claimed his first Group One victory in Saturday’s TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham. The enduring story out of the $400,000 weight-for-age feature will be the auxiliary gates failing to open and the horses with the three widest draws – Faraglioni, Desert Lightning and Aegon – being left behind. Fortunately the remainder of the field all pulled up before the end of the back straight, but when the race was re-run several minutes later, those three horses all finished in the top four. That result indicates that it was clearly an advantage to have avoided the exertion of the aborted first running of the race, but dwelling on that would be doing a disservice to Desert Lightning. He was one of the standout male three-year-olds of last season, winning the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) and a star-studded running of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). The son of Pride Of Dubai has come back strongly as a spring four-year-old, winning first-up at Pukekohe before finishing third on heavy ground at Tauranga. He stepped up on to the big weight-for-age stage on Saturday and showed that he belonged. Rider Vinnie Colgan had to use up some petrol after Desert Lightning eventually left that wide gate, pushing forward to take up a position outside the front-running Town Cryer. Desert Lightning swept past Town Cryer soon after rounding the home turn, and he was all alone in front down the long Trentham straight. Faraglioni, Malt Time and Aegon came at him with powerful late finishes, but Desert Lightning kept finding and held them all out to win by a length. “It was unfortunate that we had the false start, and I imagine some of the other horses have tired legs now,” Colgan said. “But full credit to my horse. We had an awkward gate and I had to use him up early. He got off the nickel a little bit at the 600m and I was a little worried, but then he came back up underneath me again and made me feel a lot better. “He’s a very good horse and was strong right to the line. I think if something else had got to him a bit earlier in the straight, it would have actually helped him. It’s pretty windy today and I was out in front all by myself, and he did start to lug the last little bit. But every time he felt the presence of a horse coming, he lifted again. He’s a very good horse.” Desert Lightning is trained by Peter and Dawn Williams, who saddled Shuka for back-to-back wins in this race in 2013 and 2014. The Byerley Park-based couple bought Desert Lightning for $150,000 from the Little Avondale Stud draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2021. He is raced by the Williams team’s long-time clients, Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer’s Barneswood Farm. From 15 starts, Desert Lightning has now recorded four wins and five placings and earned $584,895 in stakes. “That was quite exciting, really,” Peter Williams said. “I was a nervous wreck after the false start, but fortunately he stayed very settled at the barrier. People might say that it was an advantage that he didn’t get away in the false start, but a lot can go wrong when the gates don’t open too – they can hit their heads and things like that. So there are factors for and against. “The owners are here today, so this is a great result. We’ll go home now and play it by ear in terms of the rest of his campaign.” Faraglioni ran second, a nose in front of Malt Time, with Aegon flashing home from last to be close up in fourth. Malt Time’s trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy were proud of the seven-year-old’s effort, being the only horse who took part in the first take of the TAB Classic to end up in a top-four position in take two. “We’re really happy,” Emma Clotworthy said. “She seems to just keep getting better with age, and she showed how tough she is today – especially with that false start. “She’s run huge races in a couple of Group Ones over 1600m now, and she was hard to pull up after the line, so maybe we could even look at further. But she’s pulled up well and we’re really happy. I think she’ll go home and have a good break now, and then we’ll regather and go from there.” View the full article

Dom To Shoot claimed the Group 1 Northerly Stakes at Ascot. (Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Dom To Shoot (+2000) has toppled Zaaki (+160) and Zipaway (+1600) in a tight photo finish in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes to give his trainers Sean & Jake Casey and rider Jarrad Noske their first Group 1 victory. The father-son combination had attempted to break their Group 1-winning duck on multiple occasions but had never seen their horses number go into the frame after a race at the top level. As for the race on Saturday, the six-year-old gelding was given a peach of a ride by Jarrad Noske from barrier one, as he allowed the race to unfold and ease his way off the fence upon settling. Marocchino (+2500) set a solid tempo throughout, with the race favourite Zaaki settling on his back, while the Neville Parnham-trained gallopers, Zipaway and Bustler (+600) settled just off the top two. The Annabel Neasham-trained favourite took the lead at the top of the home straight and kicked clear with 250m to go; however, Zipaway and Dom To Shoot were letting rip with their finishing bursts on the outside. Under the urgings of Noske, the son of Shooting To Win lunged at Zaaki and got his nose down right on the line to claim his first Group 1 victory of his 40-start career. 2023 Northerly Stakes Replay – Dom To Shoot | T: Sean & Jake Casey | J: Jarrad Noske Both Sean & Jake Casey were very emotional post-race as they spoke to the media after the Northerly Stakes victory. “He had the right man on him but also had to let Dom (To Shoot) do the thinking aswell and he took it all in,” Sean Casey said. “When he came around the corner and got him to where he could get them, I knew he would. “He’s just a super horse. “To be quite honest I didn’t think it would ever happen (winning a Group 1) but I’ve got my idols as trainers and jockeys… but today is quite fitting. “I’m quite close to all the families involved (in Dom To Shoot) right back through the years and it’s a really big thrill. “I can’t believe it.” Jarrad Noske was just as emotional post-race when he spoke about his maiden Group 1 success. “He’s always had it (Group 1 win) over me dad,” Noske said about his Group 1 winning father, Jeff Noske. “When the barriers came out, I thought it wasn’t the best barrier but he got a dream run from there. “I was pretty happy following Stevey (Parnham), Bustler and Zaaki, so I was pretty happy for most of the run and he got out when he needed to. “I wasn’t sure, I thought ‘me beating Jmac in a photo, no hope surely’, but somehow he got the bob.” More horse racing news View the full article

Eight-year-old makes his last appearance at the Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on SundayView the full article