Wandering Eyes

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

Veteran stayer Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock) produced a remarkable come-from-behind performance to land his fourth black-type win in Saturday’s A$200,000 Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Rosehill. The seven-year-old son of Tavistock has been a grand performer for syndicators Proven Thoroughbreds and trainer Joe Pride, winning nine of his 49 starts and more than A$1.7 million in stakes. He had previously won the Gr.3 Sky High Stakes (2000m), the Listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) and the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m), while his stakes placings include a runner-up finish in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m). Stockman had gone winless for more than a year since his victory in the A$500,000 St Leger (2600m) at Randwick in October of 2022, but he had shown promising signs with a fourth in the A$750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) on November 4. A very firm track at Newcastle tripped him up in The Beauford (2300m) two weeks later, but on Saturday he returned to Rosehill right at the peak of his powers. Patiently ridden by Reece Jones, Stockman went back from his wide gate and spent most of the race at the tail of the field. Rounding the home turn, he still had only two horses behind him. But Jones went to work in the straight and Stockman worked through his gears, lengthening stride and gaining ground on the leaders. He and Little Mix (Mahisara) strode to the lead together with 100m remaining, and in a head-bobbing duel to the wire, Stockman prevailed by a nose. “The plan was to try to be a bit handier today, but we jumped from a wide draw and a couple just held their spots underneath us, so we had to drift back,” Jones said. “They rolled along nicely and we had a good trip in transit. From about the 1000m, he was a typical stayer – I started to ask him and there wasn’t an immediate response, but the further we went, the stronger he got. “He’s a true campaigner and very honest. He probably would have relished a bit more rain today and gone even better, but it was good to see him get this win. Joe and the rest of the team have done a great job with him.” With Pride on a family holiday in Japan, he was represented at Rosehill by racing manager Orla Pearl. “Stockman really deserves this,” Pearl said. “We didn’t quite get the rain today, but there was just enough in the ground for him to get his toe in. It was a brilliant ride by Reece. “Newcastle was too firm for him last time, but he ran a super race in the Rosehill Gold Cup here in similar track conditions. It’s really good to see him fit and running home as strongly as he did today.” Bred by Sir Patrick & Lady Justine Hogan, Stockman was purchased out of Cambridge Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds and John Thompson for $175,000. He has now earned almost 10 times that amount. Stockman is out of the Group Two winning Zabeel mare Crimson (NZ) (Zabeel), dam of multiple Group Two winner Abidewithme (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) runner-up Miss Scarlatti.(NZ) (Stravinsky). Stockman headed a quartet of New Zealand-bred winners on Saturday’s Rosehill card. Philipsburg (Per Incanto) had earlier won the Midway Handicap (2000m), followed by Toesonthenose (Ocean Park) in the Vale Ray Markey Handicap (1800m) and Lekvarte (Reliable Man) in the Doyle’s Breeding and Racing Handicap (1400m). View the full article

A patient ride by Bailey Rogerson paid off in spades as she guided Just As Sharp to a convincing victory in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at Te Rapa. Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson, who prepares the three-year-old in partnership with wife Debbie, was on hand to cheer on his granddaughter, who didn’t panic when the son of Swiss Ace slipped at the start and she found herself last of the seven runners. With hot favourite Grail Seeker ($1.80) stalking pacemaker Leroy Brown, the task for Just As Sharp looked a tough one but he found his rhythm as Rogerson guided him to the outer in the home straight. Just as Grail Seeker was being hailed the winner, Just As Sharp sailed down the middle of the track to claim her at the 100m and register his third win from just four starts for an ownership group that includes breeder Gerry Harvey, Craig Leishman, Australian couple Merv and Meg Butterworth and Graeme Rogerson himself. “Ryan (Elliot) thinks he is a Derby horse and told me to just ride him quietly,” he said. “I was disappointed the day he got beaten, but it was Crocetti who beat him although we then had him gelded. “I think, with any luck, he can be a Derby horse. “He will go to the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) next and then we will look at the Derby. “I think there is a hell of a lot of improvement still in him.” With regular pilot Ryan Elliot suspended, Rogerson was struggling to get a rider for the horse before settling on his granddaughter for the mount. “We offered the ride to ten jockeys, seven of them were suspended, two went to Wanganui so then Bailey,” he said. “I’d rather she was a trainer than a jockey, but I can’t stop her as she is too old now.” The twenty two-year-old had a grin a mile wide as she made her way back to the winners’ enclosure after capturing the first black-type victory of her career. “I’m trying to let it sink in but it is pretty neat eh,” she said with a giggle. “The plan was to head forward but he lost his footing coming out of the gates, so that went out the window. “He settled nicely and when I let him rip on the corner, he has really found the line. “His breeding suggest he shouldn’t go much further, but I think he will, as he is very promising. “Being such a big race, this is very special and it’s good to get one for Granddad.” A $145,000 purchase by Rogerson out of the Westbury Stud Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2022, Just As Sharp is out of the stakes winning mare Readyor and hails from an extended family that includes five time Australian Group One winner Triscay, along with Gr.1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) winner and now successful sire Astern. View the full article

New Zealand’s oldest racing club celebrated its 175th anniversary with the running of Saturday’s Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m), and the Listed feature could have had no more fitting and popular winner than Kelly Coe (NZ) (Proisir). The Proisir mare races in the colours of owner-breeders Humphrey and Fiona O’Leary – a surname that has been synonymous with racing in the region for decades. The other black-type feature on Saturday’s card was the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m), which has been sponsored by Humphrey O’Leary and his three brothers since 2010. The clan have also raced a long line of quality racetrack performers over the years – perhaps most notably the multiple Group One winner and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) placegetter Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital), who earned more than $4 million in a remarkable 57-start career spanning both sides of the Tasman. Kelly Coe’s connections celebrated a feature win much closer to home with an outstanding local victory in Saturday’s $80,000 Wanganui Cup. Ridden by Lisa Allpress, the six-year-old Kelly Coe settled in midfield as Illusion Of Paris (NZ) (Pure Champion) set a strong pace and ensured the Cup would be a true test of stamina. In-form gelding Semper Magico (Per Incanto) swept past Illusion Of Paris at the home turn and went for gold, but Kelly Coe soon set her sights on him and started to wear him down. Kelly Coe drew level with Semper Magico with 100m remaining, and she slowly but surely gained the upper hand and edged ahead to win by a length and a quarter. Kelly Coe with Ashley Meadows and connections following the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) “It was a great local victory for the O’Learys, which is always good,” trainer Ashley Meadows said. “They’ll be humming tonight. “I’m very happy with the mare’s performance today. They went quite hard in front, which really played into our hands, and she was able to finish the race off strongly. “This race has been the target that we’ve been working towards, so it’s great to get the job done and get this result. We’ll get her home now, see how she comes through the race and make a plan from there. It’s really good to have picked up that black type today.” Kelly Coe is the best of four winners out of the Fasliyev mare Floridita, who the O’Learys bought for only $3,500 from the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka. From 30 starts, Kelly Coe has recorded six wins and nine placings. She has earned $209,450, with Saturday’s Wanganui Cup a new peak performance at black-type level. She had previously finished second in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) and third in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m). Kelly Coe headed a successful day for Meadows, who also saddled The True Believer (NZ) (The Bold One) for a close second in the final race on the card. The son of The Bold One was beaten by a half-head by Unscripted (NZ) (Wrote) in the $45,000 Loaders Wanganui (2040m). View the full article

2023 Winterbottom Stakes winner Overpass. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Bjorn Baker’s Overpass claimed a deserved Group 1 victory when making a mess of his rivals in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m). Having claimed The Quokka (1200m) earlier in the year, Overpass added another Ascot 1200m feature event to his name, this time with Group 1 status next to it. Overpass hadn’t been seen since finishing 10th of 12 runners in The Everest (1200m) on October 14, but the Sydney-based sprinter showed no signs of ring rust when putting a space on his rivals. Josh Parr’s plan was clear to see from the outset, as the gun hoop settled his mount outside Savatoxl from the get-go. Parr opted to go to the middle of the track when the field turned for home, Overpass obliged and sprinted quickly to put a winning margin on his rivals in the space of a couple of strides. Three-year-olds Oscar’s Fortune and Ripcord filled the placings, but it was all honours the winner as Overpass justified his favouritism in grand style. 2023 Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes Replay – Overpass | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Joshua Parr It was clear how highly Bjorn Baker holds Winterbottom Stakes success, reeling off some of the starts who claimed Group 1 glory in the race. “It’s an amazing race,” Baker said. “Four international superstars, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Ortenzia and Buffering, to win this race is pretty special. “Josh Parr rode him like the best horse, and what a year he has had, he’s a big race rider. “This horse deserves it, no doubt.” The win handed Josh Parr his third feature success of the year, having partnered Overpass to victory in The Quokka, before steering Japan’s Obamburumai to success in the Golden Eagle last month. “He’s just kept raising the bar… I’m just thrilled for the horse and thrilled for the team,” said Parr who picked up his 9th Group 1 win on Saturday. “I’m so proud of this horse, he’s deserved a Group 1 victory. “Really pleased to come out and trust the horses ability.” Post-race, it was confirmed by connections of Darby Racing that a deal had been done with RAM Racing to have Overpass return to Ascot in the autumn to defend his crown in The Quokka and set up a tantalising rematch with Amelia’s Jewel. More horse racing news View the full article

El Vencedor claims the Group 3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday under Joe Doyle. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Enigmatic galloper El Vencedor capped off some consistent form and provided trainer Stephen Marsh with a winning black-type double when he bolted clear to win the Group 3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. Marsh had produced promising three-year-old filly Glamour Tycoon twenty minutes earlier to career away with the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui before her stablemate followed suit as he left his rivals to fight out the minor placings with a home straight burst that produced a three length victory. Rider Joe Doyle used his inside barrier to perfection to settle the son of Shocking behind pacemaker Clever Ruds before easing one off the fence rounding the home bend. El Vencedor quickly claimed Clever Ruds as he established a winning break before coasting to the line to win comfortably from Prise De Fer, Mali Ston and Zaila, who fought out the minor placings. 2023 Group 3 Eagle Technology Stakes Replay – El Vencedor | T: Stephen Marsh | J: Joe Doyle Marsh was quick to pay tribute to owners Mark Freeman and David Price who also bred El Vencedor, the younger brother of their Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) winner Chocante. “He really deserved that as he is such an improving horse,” Marsh said. “I’m rapt for the owners, Mark Freeman and David Price, who are great supporters of our stable. “He is a horse that has always shown a lot but has let himself down a bit. “Today he was dominant and I’m very proud of him and how far he has come. “He has always tended to go a bit hard in his races but the way the programme has worked out has been perfect as he is up to the mile now and he has some good races ahead of him.” Doyle, who had taken out the previous race aboard Waitak, admitted the effort was very similar on this occasion. “It was a bit like the last race really as he picked up really well and last time he was very competitive in a good race where he ran second (Listed Fulton Family Stakes, 1500m),” he said. “We thought we would just sit in the trail and try and pick them up and he was very good to the line. “It’s nice to win a good race for Stephen as he has been a big supporter of mine.” A model of consistency throughout his career, El Vencedor has now won six of his 27 starts with a further 11 placings for over $263,000 in stakes earnings. More horse racing news View the full article

Glamour Tycoon gains a deserved black-type victory in the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) A reputation for being a perennial placegetter is now a distant memory for Glamour Tycoon, who scored her second win in a row with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui. The daughter of Written Tycoon went winless in the first six starts of her career, but she placed in four of them including a runner-up finish in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1200m). She was also a close sixth in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and only two lengths from the winner when fifth in the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), which later produced all of the first seven placegetters in last month’s Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Trainer Stephen Marsh dropped Glamour Tycoon back to maiden grade at Ruakaka on November 14, and her long wait for a breakthrough win ended in emphatic style with a powerful victory by three and a half lengths. On Saturday, she stepped back up into black-type company and went back-to-back. Ridden by Sam Spratt, the classy chestnut settled in eighth in a strung-out field and was close to 10 lengths behind the front-running Shoes. Spratt angled Glamour Tycoon off the rail coming up to the home turn, and at the top of the home straight she was in wide open spaces out in the middle of the track. She went into overdrive with 200m remaining, charging to the lead and opening up an impressive winning margin of two and a half lengths. The longshot Race Ace ran on from second-last to be the best of the rest, with Egyptian Queen close behind her in third. “She had that good form out of the Soliloquy, which is probably the benchmark race for the fillies so far this season,” Marsh said. “They were all in that race. “Going to that maiden at Ruakaka after the Soliloquy, I think she just got so much confidence from that win. She’s a different horse. “Today she was very dominant. It was great to see her win like that, and she’s certainly a filly going places.” Glamour Tycoon was bred by Diamond Park Breeding and Racing. She is one of 58 individual stakes winners by star stallion Written Tycoon, while her dam Glamour Gal is a half-sister to the Group 2 Doomben Roses (2000m) winner Etana. Her eight-start career has now produced two wins, four second placings and $89,360 in stakes. More horse racing news View the full article

Apprentice jockey Bailey Rogerson claims an emphatic first black-type victory at Te Rapa aboard Just As Sharp. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A patient ride by Bailey Rogerson paid off in spades as she guided Just As Sharp to a convincing victory in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at Te Rapa. Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson, who prepares the three-year-old in partnership with wife Debbie, was on hand to cheer on his granddaughter, who didn’t panic when the son of Swiss Ace slipped at the start and she found herself last of the seven runners. With hot favourite Grail Seeker ($1.80) stalking pacemaker Leroy Brown, the task for Just As Sharp looked a tough one but he found his rhythm as Rogerson guided him to the outer in the home straight. Just as Grail Seeker was being hailed the winner, Just As Sharp sailed down the middle of the track to claim her at the 100m and register his third win from just four starts for an ownership group that includes breeder Gerry Harvey, Craig Leishman, Australian couple Merv and Meg Butterworth and Graeme Rogerson himself. “Ryan (Elliot) thinks he is a Derby horse and told me to just ride him quietly,” he said. “I was disappointed the day he got beaten, but it was Crocetti who beat him although we then had him gelded. “I think, with any luck, he can be a Derby horse. “He will go to the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) next and then we will look at the Derby. “I think there is a hell of a lot of improvement still in him.” With regular pilot Ryan Elliot suspended, Rogerson was struggling to get a rider for the horse before settling on his granddaughter for the mount. “We offered the ride to ten jockeys, seven of them were suspended, two went to Wanganui so then Bailey,” he said. “I’d rather she was a trainer than a jockey, but I can’t stop her as she is too old now.” The twenty two-year-old had a grin a mile wide as she made her way back to the winners’ enclosure after capturing the first black-type victory of her career. “I’m trying to let it sink in but it is pretty neat eh,” she said with a giggle. “The plan was to head forward but he lost his footing coming out of the gates, so that went out the window. “He settled nicely and when I let him rip on the corner, he has really found the line. “His breeding suggest he shouldn’t go much further, but I think he will, as he is very promising. “Being such a big race, this is very special and it’s good to get one for Granddad.” More horse racing news View the full article

Michael Dee returns to the mounting yard on Revolutionary Miss after winning the Summoned Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Revolutionary Miss (+250) has brought up back-to-back wins for the first time in her career, after taking out the Group 3 Summoned Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday under the urgings of Michael Dee. After recording a dominant victory at Cranbourne last Saturday, Peter & Paul Snowden chose to back the mare up after seven days and she had proved too tough in the final strides and held on from a wall of challengers late. The daughter of Russian Revolution settled outside Picaroon (+800) who led the field up, while Thalassophile (+300) and Forbidden City (+1600) received great runs in behind them. On the home turn, Dee had a good grip on the eventual winner but was challenged on the inside by Forbidden City, who ran up the rail after the leader wobbled wide upon turning. Revolutionary Miss quickly got the better of the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained galloper, and as soon as she appeared to have the race won, Lady Jones (+500), Thalasophile and Zenzella (+3000) challenged in the final 100m. Dee got everything he could out of his mare, and she just held on in a driving finish to defeat Thalasophile and Zenzella, who filled the placings. 2023 Summoned Stakes Replay – Revolutionary Miss | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Michael Dee Peter Snowden was on track to see the win of Revolutionary Miss, and he spoke post-race. “It wasn’t on the radar to run her last week but as I said earlier, three weeks was too long for her, she’s such a great doer, it probably made the difference the last furlong or so,” Snowden said. “I won’t say it was a masterstroke but luckily on this occasion it paid off and she was able to win both races so very excited for her and the ownership group and even around Triple Crown it’s been a very good ride with this filly especially. “She’ll have a little freshen up, she is eligible for the Magic Millions so she won’t get many sleeps but she’ll have probably ten days off and turn around and back again. “We might look at taking her up there (Gold Coast), but it all depends on how she comes through today and she’ll always come first.” Michael Dee has had one of his best spring carnivals of his career, and he spoke post-race after another feature win. “She pretty much did it all herself,” Dee said. “The plan wasn’t to be as close as we were, I know we were probably the only speed horse on paper. “(She) ended up outside leader by default and she travelled really strong, hit the front very early in the straight. “It was credit to her to fight off those challengers who were coming very fast. “Didn’t want any further but credit to her to hold them off on the line.” More horse racing news View the full article

Kelly Coe and Lisa Allpress gain a popular victory in the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) New Zealand’s oldest racing club celebrated its 175th anniversary with the running of Saturday’s Wanganui Cup (2040m), and the Listed feature could have had no more fitting and popular winner than Kelly Coe. The Proisir mare races in the colours of owner-breeders Humphrey and Fiona O’Leary – a surname that has been synonymous with racing in the region for decades. The other black-type feature on Saturday’s card was the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m), which has been sponsored by Humphrey O’Leary and his three brothers since 2010. The clan have also raced a long line of quality racetrack performers over the years – perhaps most notably the multiple Group One winner and Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) placegetter Who Shot Thebarman, who earned more than $4 million in a remarkable 57-start career spanning both sides of the Tasman. Kelly Coe’s connections celebrated a feature win much closer to home with an outstanding local victory in Saturday’s $80,000 Wanganui Cup. Ridden by Lisa Allpress, the six-year-old Kelly Coe settled in midfield as Illusion Of Paris set a strong pace and ensured the Cup would be a true test of stamina. In-form gelding Semper Magico swept past Illusion Of Paris at the home turn and went for gold, but Kelly Coe soon set her sights on him and started to wear him down. Kelly Coe drew level with Semper Magico with 100m remaining, and she slowly but surely gained the upper hand and edged ahead to win by a length and a quarter. “It was a great local victory for the O’Learys, which is always good,” trainer Ashley Meadows said. “They’ll be humming tonight. “I’m very happy with the mare’s performance today. They went quite hard in front, which really played into our hands, and she was able to finish the race off strongly. “This race has been the target that we’ve been working towards, so it’s great to get the job done and get this result. We’ll get her home now, see how she comes through the race and make a plan from there. It’s really good to have picked up that black type today.” Kelly Coe is the best of four winners out of the Fasliyev mare Floridita, who the O’Learys bought for only $3,500 from the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka. From 30 starts, Kelly Coe has recorded six wins and nine placings. She has earned $209,450, with Saturday’s Wanganui Cup a new peak performance at black-type level. She had previously finished second in the Group 3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) and third in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m). Kelly Coe headed a successful day for Meadows, who also saddled The True Believer for a close second in the final race on the card. The son of The Bold One was beaten by a half-head by Unscripted in the $45,000 Loaders Wanganui (2040m). More horse racing news View the full article

Lekvarte overcomes a big weight to down rivals ) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Talented New Zealand-bred mare Lekvarte may have earned herself a Group Three opportunity with her victory at Rosehill on Saturday. The Joe Pride-trained mare had kicked off her five-year-old season with a win at Newcastle on November 18, and she lined up in the same Benchmark 78 grade on Saturday and delivered a repeat result. Carrying a tough impost of 61kg, Lekvarte sat second-last rounding the home turn, but jockey Tommy Berry angled her across heels and let her rip. The grey mare launched an irresistible run down the outside, hitting the lead just over 100m from the finish and scoring by a length. Lekvarte has now earned A$437,230 in stakes from a 24-start career that has produced six wins and five placings. Pride’s racing manager Orla Pearl confirmed that the Group 3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford on December 28 is now a likely target. “That most definitely looks like a nice race for her,” Pearl said. “She ran really well today. She’s one of my favourite horses, so I wanted to see her run well. “We’ve been really confident in her in this preparation. She had surgery on her knees earlier in her career, and she came back and had a really good preparation afterwards. She just drifted off after that for whatever reason. I don’t know what happened, but I think we just put a line through that whole preparation. Now she’s back to the horse that we knew. “I was pretty confident today. When I saw her peel out, I knew she was going to let down well. With that weight on her back, it was a pretty impressive performance.” Saturday’s win was Berry’s first raceday ride on Lekvarte, having missed the mount at Newcastle because of suspension. “That’s what happens when you get suspended – you give up good rides like her,” Berry said. “It was a brilliant training performance by Joe Pride and his team, keeping her fresh enough at 1400m second-up today and letting down like she did with that weight on her back. A lot of credit goes to the team, and she’s above average, that’s for sure. She was just a class above them today.” More horse racing news View the full article

Military Mission (IRE) ridden by Jye McNeil wins the Zipping Classic at Caulfield Racecourse on December 02, 2023 in Caulfield, Australia. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Military Mission (+1100) has kept the strong record of Melbourne Cup runners winning the Group 2 Zipping Classic, as the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained stayer took out the feature race at Caulfield after running 10th in the race that stops the nation at his last start. After taking out the Zipping Classic, the five-year-old gelding became the sixth runner in the last 10 years to win the $750,000 race after running in the Melbourne Cup. The son of Mastercraftsman was a track and trip winner in the Herbert Power Stakes two starts back and he won in very similar fashion, running on from the back of the field to outstay his rivals in the concluding stages. Deny Knowledge (+400) led the field from Duke De Sessa (+250) and the race didn’t change much but when the sprint went on, the leader started to struggle at the 400m mark and Duke De Sessa took over and kicked clear at the top of the straight. Behind him was a wall of horses, with the race favourite Muramasa (+240) and Amade (+2000) making their runs on the outside; however, it would be Military Mission who would run straight past them with 300m to go and past the slowing leader with 150m to go. Bankers Choice (+750) ran home strong along the inside rail to nab second, but there was no doubt about the winner as he recorded a 2.75-length victory. 2023 Zipping Classic Replay – Military Mission | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Jye McNeil With Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott in Sydney, Rebecca Shanks represented the stable in the post-race interview. “Absolutely amazing for these owners, they’re such big supporters of our team and they’re all so much fun to go to the races with, it’s so rewarding to get a win like this one,” Shanks said. “When it started to open up at eight o’clock at the stables this morning, we definitely thought we were a good chance, this horse’s wet track form is super, three runs on a heavy for a win and a third. “He’s been exceptional this preparation, so brave to run in his first Cup over that distance he’s never stepped over before in a high pressure race and then to step back in trip today and be so competitive, he’s so tough.” Jye McNeil picked up his biggest win of the spring in the Zipping Classic, and he spoke post-race. “It didn’t really go to plan,” McNeil said. “I was in a bit of a jostle for positioning, ended up having to take my medicine, come back, keep the horse happy, I had one run at them, and he let go with an amazing change of speed and he was too good for them. “I was looking to be one-out, three pairs back and there was a rider wanting the same position as me which was becoming awkward and rather than getting into a bumping duel I took my medicine, came back and he found a fantastic rhythm, spent no energy and made an amazing run. “He was really relishing the conditions, I wasn’t too sure about the part of the track we were in but he let go fantastic there and as the day’s gone and we’ve continued to get the rain perhaps it’s starting to be the place to be.” More horse racing news View the full article

Talented New Zealand-bred mare Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man)may have earned herself a Group Three opportunity with her victory in the A$160,000 Doyle’s Breeding and Racing Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Joe Pride-trained mare had kicked off her five-year-old season with a win at Newcastle on November 18, and she lined up in the same Benchmark 78 grade on Saturday and delivered a repeat result. Carrying a tough impost of 61kg, Lekvarte sat second-last rounding the home turn, but jockey Tommy Berry angled her across heels and let her rip. The grey mare launched an irresistible run down the outside, hitting the lead just over 100m from the finish and scoring by a length. Lekvarte has now earned A$437,230 in stakes from a 24-start career that has produced six wins and five placings. Pride’s racing manager Orla Pearl confirmed that the Gr.3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford on December 28 is now a likely target. “That most definitely looks like a nice race for her,” Pearl said. “She ran really well today. She’s one of my favourite horses, so I wanted to see her run well. “We’ve been really confident in her in this preparation. She had surgery on her knees earlier in her career, and she came back and had a really good preparation afterwards. She just drifted off after that for whatever reason. I don’t know what happened, but I think we just put a line through that whole preparation. Now she’s back to the horse that we knew. “I was pretty confident today. When I saw her peel out, I knew she was going to let down well. With that weight on her back, it was a pretty impressive performance.” Saturday’s win was Berry’s first raceday ride on Lekvarte, having missed the mount at Newcastle because of suspension. “That’s what happens when you get suspended – you give up good rides like her,” Berry said. “It was a brilliant training performance by Joe Pride and his team, keeping her fresh enough at 1400m second-up today and letting down like she did with that weight on her back. A lot of credit goes to the team, and she’s above average, that’s for sure. She was just a class above them today.” Out of the black-type Encosta de Lago (Fairy King) mare Plumm (AUS) (Encosta De Lago), who was runner-up in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) for Grahame Begg, Lekvarte is by Group One sire Reliable Man (Dalakhani), who stands at Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud. The talented grey was sold as a yearling through the Westbury Stud Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2020, knocked down to BK Racing & Breeding in conjunction with Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $210,000. View the full article

A reputation for being a perennial placegetter is now a distant memory for Glamour Tycoon (AUS) (Written Tycoon), who scored her second win in a row with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui. The daughter of Written Tycoon went winless in the first six starts of her career, but she placed in four of them including a runner-up finish in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1200m). She was also a close sixth in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and only two lengths from the winner when fifth in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), which later produced all of the first seven placegetters in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Trainer Stephen Marsh dropped Glamour Tycoon back to maiden grade at Ruakaka on November 14, and her long wait for a breakthrough win ended in emphatic style with a powerful victory by three and a half lengths. On Saturday she stepped back up into black-type company and went back-to-back. Ridden by Sam Spratt, the classy chestnut settled in eighth in a strung-out field and was close to 10 lengths behind the front-running Shoes. Spratt angled Glamour Tycoon off the rail coming up to the home turn, and at the top of the home straight she was in wide open spaces out in the middle of the track. She went into overdrive with 200m remaining, charging to the lead and opening up an impressive winning margin of two and a half lengths. The longshot Race Ace ran on from second-last to be the best of the rest, with Egyptian Queen close behind her in third. “She had that good form out of the Soliloquy, which is probably the benchmark race for the fillies so far this season,” Marsh said. “They were all in that race. “Going to that maiden at Ruakaka after the Soliloquy, I think she just got so much confidence from that win. She’s a different horse. “Today she was very dominant. It was great to see her win like that, and she’s certainly a filly going places.” Glamour Tycoon was bred by Diamond Park Breeding and Racing. She is one of 58 individual stakes winners by star stallion Written Tycoon (AUS) (Iglesia), while her dam Glamour Gal (AUS) (Foxwedge) is a half-sister to the Gr.2 Doomben Roses (2000m) winner Etana (AUS) (Shamus Award). Offered by Highline Thoroughbreds in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, Glamour Tycoon was bought by Marsh for $220,000. She races in the colours of part-owner Dennis Foster’s Bourbon Lane Stable, and her eight-start career has now produced two wins, four second placings and $89,360 in stakes View the full article

Enigmatic galloper El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) capped off some consistent form and provided trainer Stephen Marsh with a winning black-type double when he bolted clear to win the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. Marsh had produced promising three-year-old filly Glamour Tycoon (AUS) (Written Tycoon) twenty minutes earlier to career away with the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui before her stablemate followed suit as he left his rivals to fight out the minor placings with a home straight burst that produced a three length victory. Rider Joe Doyle used his inside barrier to perfection to settle the son of Shocking (AUS) (Street Cry) behind pacemaker Clever Ruds (NZ) (El Roca) before easing one off the fence rounding the home bend. El Vencedor quickly claimed Clever Ruds as he established a winning break before coasting to the line to win comfortably from Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) , Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca) and Zaila (AUS) (Street Boss), who fought out the minor placings. Marsh was quick to pay tribute to owners Mark Freeman and David Price who also bred El Vencedor, the younger brother of their Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) winner Chocante (NZ) (Shocking). “He really deserved that as he is such an improving horse,” Marsh said. “I’m rapt for the owners, Mark Freeman and David price, who are great supporters of our stable. “He is a horse that has always shown a lot but has let himself down a bit. “Today he was dominant and I’m very proud of him and how far he has come. “He has always tended to go a bit hard in his races but the way the programme has worked out has been perfect as he is up to the mile now and he has some good races ahead of him.” Doyle, who had taken out the previous race aboard Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), admitted the effort was very similar on this occasion. “It was a bit like the last race really as he picked up really well and last time he was very competitive in a good race where he ran second (Listed Fulton Family Stakes, 1500m),” he said. “We thought we would just sit in the trail and try and pick them up and he was very good to the line. “It’s nice to win a good race for Stephen as he has been a big supporter of mine.” A model of consistency throughout his career, El Vencedor has now won six of his 27 starts with a further 11 placings for over $263,000 in stakes earnings. View the full article

Serasana ridden by John Allen wins the Sandown Guineas at Caulfield. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Serasana (+1200) has produced a devastating turn of foot to run away from her rivals to take out the Group 2 Sandown Guineas at Caulfield, giving Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock their first victory in the race and John Allen’s second in six years. The three-year-old filly hadn’t won since her debut 12 months ago, but after running fourth in a Benchmark 64 Handicap at Sandown last start, the daughter of Snitzel proved too slick on Saturday. Craig Williams took Modown (+500) to the lead and Allen chose to push forward and settle outside the unlikely leader, with Power Of The Brave (+650) forced to race three-wide outside of Riverina Power (+4000) and Vivy Air (+360). The market elect, Arkansaw Kid (+180), trucked up to the leading quartet five-wide, but as he looked the winner, Serasana kicked strongly on the inside and booted clear at the 200m mark to put two lengths on her rivals. Maintaining her margin on the race favourite, who held onto second place, Serasana ran through the line as strong as anything to record a 2.5-length win, with Vivy Air running home into third. 2023 Sandown Guineas Replay – Serasana | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: John Allen Mathew de Kock represented the stable post-race after bringing up their second win at Caulfield. “This was the goal when we set out as a partnership, thank you so much to everyone involved in us for the support,” de Kock said. “It’s lovely to get a result like this because we’ve always thought really highly of this filly and John just gave it an absolutely perfect ride so what a day to have a Group Two double. “We never left the winner’s box from the last one! “We’ve had Group Two success before but this is definitely our first Group double on the one day, that’s for sure. “I had to go to my pedigree guru Robbie Griffiths to ask him about Snitzel’s in the wet but he was pretty confident that they handle it and she was fit and well and there was no reason not to run today.” John Allen was pleasantly surprised by the margin of Serasana’s victory, and he elaborated on that post-race. “To be honest I was pleasantly surprised how well she won, she gave me a nice feel the last day but I probably didn’t see a performance like that coming,” Allen said. “She really benefited from the run and the conditions and improvement to step up to the mile, she was very strong. “She jumped well, there was a bit of pressure early on so I just took my time to get there but once we got outside the lead she relaxed nicely, got into a good rhythm and I was always travelling like a winner. “I could see there was something coming to my outside, I wasn’t sure who it was but when I clicked my horse up she really responded and picked up the whole way to the line. “She never peaked on her run and really ran through the line so a good performance.” More horse racing news View the full article

King Magnus ridden by Thomas Stockdale wins the Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock have taken out the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes with Thomas Stockdale piloting King Magnus (+450) to victory second-up at Caulfield on Saturday. After kicking off his campaign with an eighth of 16 in the Group 2 Damien Oliver during Cup week, the son of Magnus relished the soft conditions and proved too good for his rivals, careering away to win by a length on the line. Stockdale allowed his mount to jump and settle behind the speed, which was set by Glint Of Silver (+1400) with Unusual Culture (+550) sitting outside of him giving the eventual winner a nice cart into the race. The sprint went on at the 400m mark and as the leader began to weaken, King Magnus was only getting stronger and took the lead at the 200m mark. Race favourite Vilana (-125) appeared as though he was going to throw out a strong challenge; however, when Jamie Kah went for the gelding, he couldn’t go with the winner and was eventually nabbed by Unusual Culture in the final strides to finish third. 2023 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Replay – King Magnus | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock| J: Thomas Stockdale Robbie Griffiths was on track at Caulfield, and he was very pleased with the victory when speaking post-race. “He is like an ATM, that’s what we always say about Magnus,” Griffiths said. “Magnus means money and he keeps delivering ‘The King’, a good day to do it, it’s my anniversary today. “It’s a great race to win because Kevin Heffernan was a dear friend and we’ve tried a few times to win this and run second so to win with The King and in partnership with Matt and on my anniversary, it’s a pretty special day. “We are going to be rewarded and the proof’s in today’s win, there’s not many owners and trainers that cheer for Winter conditions on the second day of Summer but it suited The King and it suited us. “We wanted to have a crack at it (today) but in saying that we were in at Kilmore last week and they got called off so probably a blessing in disguise that it worked out.” “Whether he has more runs depends on his recovery but in himself he’s got a lot to offer.” “He (Stockdale) rode him a treat. The game plan was to try and be in the one-one and move in at the right time and everything worked perfectly so kudos to Tom.” Thomas Stockdale picked up his first Group 3 winner in Melbourne aboard King Magnus and he was quite emotional post-race. “It means a lot, I’ve managed to pull off a stakes win in Adelaide but to do it in Melbourne is a whole other thrill,” Stockdale said. “To come out of my apprenticeship and to have things go the way they’ve gone and get the support from such good stables, to get on a horse like him and win a Group race three weeks out of my time is pretty special. “He just tries so hard, he’s just a little horse but he’s got plenty of heart, it was probably a blessing that Kilmore got called off and he came here today. “With the wet track it just increased his chances and with the spot in running that we had tracking Unusual Culture into the race, he was just travelling through that ground so well, he’s was always bolting underneath me.” More horse racing news View the full article

Toesonthenose produced a strong finish to overcome rivals at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Leading Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller is forming a potent partnership with New Zealand-bred gelding Toesonthenose, who scored a comfortable win at Rosehill. Rawiller had his first ride on the Ocean Park gelding at Newcastle on November 18, scoring a two-length win in a Midway Handicap (1600m). He was back aboard again on Saturday and delivered a similar result as a $2.50 favourite. “Nash has probably been the turning point with this horse,” expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent said. “When he got the ride at Newcastle, he said he wanted to ride the horse a little bit colder. I wasn’t sure if that was the way to ride him, but he seems to know more than the trainer. “He did it again today. He just held him up and came at them late, and it seems to suit him nicely. “I’ll see if there’s another race for him over the next few weeks, seeing as he’s in such good form and going through the grades. I’ll see what the owners, the Tricolours Syndicate, want to do.” That patient approach saw Toesonthenose settle comfortably in midfield for most of Saturday’s race, then loom ominously behind the leaders at the top of the home straight. Rawiller spotted a gap and drove Toesonthenose through, bounding to the lead and going clear to win by a length and a half. “He’s a horse in really good form,” Rawiller said. “He seems to be appreciating having a little bit of the sting out of the ground. The race was over a bit further today and he travelled even better. I was very confident that he’d be strong at the finish, and he didn’t let us down. It was good.” From 19 starts, Toesonthenose has now recorded six wins and six placings, earning A$328,960 in stakes. More horse racing news View the full article

Serifos, trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, is a major contender in this year’s Hong Kong Mile. Mitsumasa Nakauchida began his JRA training career in 2014 after accumulating over 10 years of international experience in four different countries: England, France, America, and Japan. He has, to date, trained five individual Group 1 winners, with this year’s Japanese Triple Tiara winner Liberty Island being a notable highlight. However, despite his successes, the 44-year-old, still relatively young within the JRA training ranks, has yet to secure a top-tier crown outside of Japan. Serifos and Prognosis represent the Nakauchida Stable in the 2023 Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin. Four-year-old Group 1 winner Serifos is set to compete in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile. The son of Daiwa Major remained unbeaten until he faced subsequent Japanese Derby winner Do Deuce in the Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes as a juvenile. Serifos finished fourth in both Group 1 races, the NHK Mile Cup and the Yasuda Kinen, during his three-year-old spring campaign. However, later in the year, he secured his first Group 1 title in the Mile Championship against older and more seasoned rivals. This year, Serifos traveled to Dubai, finishing fifth in the Group 1 Dubai Turf and returned to domestic Group 1 action when he finished runner-up in the Yasuda Kinen behind multiple Group 1 winner Songline. Unfortunately, his last start was a disappointing eighth place finish in the Group 1 Mile Championship, failing to defend his title. This below par performance can be forgiven as it was his first race since June. Nakauchida’s second raider is Prognosis, who is set to compete in the Hong Kong Cup. This lightly-raced five-year-old is by champion sire Deep Impact. Prognosis secured his first graded stakes title in the Group 2 Kinko Sho on just his eighth career start. On April 30th, he finished second in the Group 1 QEII Cup behind the Hong Kong champion middle distance horse Romantic Warrior, beaten two lengths. During the summer, Prognosis secured his second Group 2 victory in the Sapporo Kinen as a preparation race for the Tenno Sho (Autumn). Following this, he hugely enhanced his reputation in JRA G1 company by finishing third behind the world’s highest-rated horse Equinox, with Justin Palace in second. Nakauchida’s charges face stiff competition, as they will compete against the best local horses Hong Kong has to offer. Romantic Warrior and Golden Sixty are running in the Cup and the Mile, respectively. The 11-time Japan Racing Award-winning trainer is hoping to fulfil a huge career milestone on the global stage of the Hong Kong International Races on December 10th on the famous Sha Tin turf. More horse racing news View the full article

Just Folk ridden by Mark Zahra wins the Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Just Folk (+190) has grounded out a tough victory in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes to record his first win for new trainer Gavin Bedggood. The seven-year-old gelding was gallant in defeat behind Charterhouse and Foxy Cleopatra in the Cranbourne Cup seven days ago, with more suitable conditions on Saturday, Bedggood chose to back him up, and it paid dividends. Joining his stablemate Keats (+340) at the front of the field, Just Folk settled on the outside with Danish Fortune and Sir Lucan just behind them. As they rounded the home turn, Beau Mertens on Keats shook up his mount, while Mark Zahra still had a good hold on the eventual winner, and he took the lead with 300m to go. However, Danish Fortune (+2000) burst through a gap and let down with a strong finish to challenge in the final 150m, but the outsider of the field couldn’t get past the winner as he held on to claim a narrow victory. 2023 Eclipse Stakes Replay – Just Folk | T: Gavin Bedggood | J: Mark Zahra Gavin Bedggood was very happy to see Just Folk win and he spoke post-race. “It’s great, it was an afterthought to come here today,” Bedggood said. “He’d pulled up so well and had a really good blood on Wednesday, just did a little bit of work on Thursday morning and with the rain predicted. “We’re obviously coming into December now, the chances are going to become slim so we sort of had to take the opportunity today and it paid off. “He’s been racing consistently all preparation, he finally got his toe into the ground today properly and he was given a good ride. “Josh (Julius) has done a great job with him, he came to us a really well looked after horse, we didn’t have to do much different with him. In what was a short post-race interview, Mark Zahra spoke about the win. “He is very quirky, he has a good think about it,” Zahra said. “I sort of used the stablemate for as long as I could but had to let him go at some point. “He actually had a crack when I went for him, he had a bit of a look around, but to the horse’s credit, when he’s seen the horse coming up the inside, he found again.” More horse racing news View the full article

Alice Springs apprentice Ianish Luximon after sealing victory on the Phil Cole-trained Tubthumper, a four-year-old mare by Zoustar, in Darwin’s main race at Fannie Bay on Friday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) Returning from a spell, Phil Cole’s Darwin Guineas winner Tubthumper impressed by taking out the feature at Fannie Bay on Friday. Starting at $14, the win by the four-year-old mare by Zoustar was perhaps unexpected, but Cole rated Tubthumper’s chances before the race. “Tubthumper has been a bit of a surprise package since returning from her a spell,” he said. “Definitely matured a lot and her work has been far better than what it was in the past, so we’re very happy with her.” With Alice Springs apprentice Ianish Luximon on board, Tubthumper settled nicely on the rails in fourth place with stablemates Star Magnum and Vunivalu setting a cracking pace out in front – Garry Lefoe’s $3.30 favourite Mighty Murt was cruising in third place. Approaching the home turn at the 400m mark, Mighty Murt and Tubthumper were making ground on the leading pair as the backmarkers also started to build momentum. In the home straight, Luximon left the fence and looked to split Star Magnum and Vunivalu as Tubthumper was finishing with a wet sail – Mighty Murt was still in the mix despite sitting three deep. With 200m to go it appeared as though it would be either Tubthumper, Star Magnum or Mighty Murt before Cole’s Cielo D’Oro ($4.20), an unlikely prospect at the half-way stage, and Saccharo ($9.50), a clear last at the 800m before flicking the switch at the 600m, swooped. In an exciting finish, Tubthumper pipped Cielo D’Oro (Aaron Sweeney) by 0.3 lengths with third-placed Mighty Murt (Jade Hampson) half a length away and Saccharo (Emma Lines) close by in fourth place. Tubthumper was a deserved winner, but with 53kg he had a significant advantage over Cielo D’Oro (58kg) and Saccharo (60.5kg) – Might Murt lumped 55.5kg. Arriving from Annabel Neasham’s stable, where her best efforts were three minor placings at the Gold Coast and Ipswich, Tubthumper won a 1200m maiden in her Darwin debut before saluting over 1600m at 0-58 level in June. When the Darwin Cup Carnival started in July, Cole’s mare won the $75,000 Darwin Guineas (1600m) to provide teenage apprentice Lines with her biggest win. With Cole’s former leading rider Wayne Davis as pilot, Tubthumper wasn’t far away when fourth in the NT Derby (2050m) before a last start eighth over 1600m (BM72) on Darwin Cup Day in early August. For Luximon, who has punched home four winners in the Red Centre this season, it was his first win of the 2023/24 campaign in the Top End. Lines once again showed her ability by guiding Cole’s Fly Nice, a four-year-old mare by Impending, to victory over 1200m (Class 2) after finding a path along the rails once turning for home. After two thirds from two Darwin starts, Fly Nice ($4.80) – camped in third place – pounced to overcome Gary Clarke’s fast-finishing Wilsons Prom ($8.50) by a length with Cole’s Lord Fenrir ($21), who led for most of the race, third. Starting as a $1.60 favourite, the Clarke-trained American Jazz (Jarrod Todd) is arguably the best horse in Darwin at present after making it four straight wins in a five-horse field over 1600m (BM76). Leading from the outset, the four-year-old son of American Pharoah gapped his rivals in the home straight before toppling Peter Stennett’s in-form The Albion ($8) by 2.6 lengths with Clarke’s Vallabar ($4.60) a further 2.5 lengths adrift in third place. At the previous meeting on November 18, Dick Leech’s Prince Of Mercia (Hampson) returned from a 10 week break after racing at Kununurra to seal victory over 1100m (0-76) from Mighty Murt and Star Magnum. Leech and Hampson repeated the dose on Friday when Envenomate, a last start winner at Kununurra in early September, rallied over the concluding 300m to beat Clarke’s Global Wonder ($2.70) and Angela Forster’s Spielberg ($21), who flashed home after trailing the leaders by 12 lengths, over 1200m (0-64). Patriotic King ($2 fav), Fromthenevernever and Wolf Queen set a ferocious pace early to lead by five lengths, so it was no surprise to see the trio capitulate and finish unplaced in the six-horse field. Pop Magic ($5) made it four wins from 12 starts for trainer Ella Clarke – Gary’s daughter – when he showed his rivals a clean pair of heels en route to an emphatic victory over 1100m (0-58). The five-year-old gelding by Wandjina, who has only missed the top four in Darwin on four occasions, sat outside front-runner New York Spirit for the first 700m before taking over at the final bend and kicking clear at the 100m to prevail by 2.3 lengths from Pride Of Limassol – Leech’s $5 hope – and Retiro – Forster’s $4.80 chance, who were far from disgraced. More horse racing news View the full article

David Hayes hopes three-year-old can carry his impeccable trial form into Sunday’s Class Four Hankow Handicap (1,200m)View the full article

Frankie Lor’s dirt specialist gets a look at the all-weather 1,200m for the first time in six months at Sha Tin on SundayView the full article

By Michael Guerin One of our great trotting trainers has had a week of tragedy and triumph with his trotting fillies. Phil Williamson trained Empire City to win the $64,000 Lone Star Sires’ Stakes Championship at Addington on Friday night just a few days after losing his best young filly Isolate in mysterious circumstances. Williamson was stunned and saddened to lose the Hambletoian winner suddenly on Tuesday and still doesn’t know what caused her death. “She got a temperature for no reason we can work out and it never went down,” explains Williamson. “The vet came and treated it and we thought it was okay but then it went up again and she ended up going to the vets down in Dunedin and very sadly we lost her. “They are doing an autopsy because we still don’t know what happened but it is horrible losing any horse and she was one of our best and most promising.” The Williamsons got a distraction from that loss when Empire City combined manners and class to win Friday night’s Group 2, trotting straight to the front and never looking like being beaten with Phil’s son Nathan driving. “She is a real pro and has plenty of ability and it is great to get one of these big races because the young trotters don’t get too many opportunities like that. “Obviously she has another one next week (Sunday) so we would love to pull off the double.” Empire City is the first horse Williamson has trained by northern owners and breeders Peter and Janet Argus, who less than 24 hours earlier also won at Alexandra Park with her half sister American Muscle. “Peter and Janet sent her down to Debbie and Mark Smith to be prepared for the sales and she had an issue so they decided not to take her there and we were lucky enough to get her.” She was one of the stars of a wonderful night at Addington that saw Millwood Nike maintain her unbeaten record to 17 as she won her lead-up to next Sunday’s NZ Oaks, the Hydroflow Hilarious Guest 3YO Fillies Classic. She sat parked and cruised clear, her task made easier by second favourite Mantra Blue galloping early before staging a huge recovery, only to be disqualified. Her driver Zachary Butcher had better luck in the male three-year-old pace the Ian Dobson Memorial when Merlin led throughout to beat stablemate Sooner The Better, the pair well clear of a slightly disappointing Don’t Stop Dreaming in third. The race sets up next Sunday’s NZ Derby as a great end to the three-year-old boy’s pacing season. Sunnys Sister embellished her future broodmare value when the sister to Sundees Son won the $112,000 What The Hill NZ Trotting Oaks, picking the right race to get her manners right beating Julie Jaccka and Shez Bella. And Resolve lived up to her open class form beating the mares in the $60,000 Continental Event Hire Trot, overcoming her 30m backmark. View the full article

Italian rider will partner Lucky With You and Nimble Nimbus on the city’s biggest race dayView the full article