Wandering Eyes

A rematch of last month's Limestone Stakes could resurface in the $225,000 Mamzelle Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies May 10 at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Tom Law, managing editor of ST Publishing which produces The Saratoga Special and Thisishorseracing.com, has been named recipient of the Old Hilltop Award for covering Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Moyglare Stud homebred Bellezza during the Belmont at the Big A meeting on GI Kentucky Derby eve. Siyouni's Bellezza Shines In New York Bellezza, making her American debut, waltzed away with the GIII Sheepshead Bay Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meet on Friday (video). The daughter of Siyouni, trained by Christophe Clement, already sported a victory at listed level in Ireland when trained by Ger Lyons. Out of the stakes-placed Galileo mare Terrific, the bay is the fifth foal of her dam and is a half-sister to the G3 Marble Hill Stakes second Tough Talk, by Kingman, as well as three-year-old filly Favolosa (Sea The Stars) and a half-sister by Palace Pier born in 2024. Terrific joined the Moyglare portfolio when picked up for $1.9 million in foal to War Front out of the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale after racing for Glen Hill Farm and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. She is a full-sister to G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes heroine Together, second in five other Group/Grade 1 races–the 1,000 Guineas, Irish 1,000 Guineas, First Lady Stakes, Fillies' Mile and Matron Stakes. Also a 1.3 million gns Book 1 yearling buy at Tattersalls October by Demi O'Byrne, Terrific is a half-sister to Montjeu's G1 Criterium International winner Jan Vermeer. Based at Haras de Bonneval for The Aga Khan Studs, Siyouni has sired 22 winners from 49 runners (45%) in the U.S. Bellezza is his seventh stakes winner there and fifth at Grade III level. He stands for €200,000 in 2025. BELLEZZA wins her first race in the US in the Grade 3 Sheepshead Bay Stakes at 10-1 with Jaime Rodriguez up for trainer @clementstable! pic.twitter.com/cbSwWlPJik — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) May 2, 2025 Kingman Colt Prevails At Second Asking Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown teamed up with Uncatalyzed (Kingman) in a Belmont at the Big A maiden, and the dark bay duly obliged, running out a 1 1/2-length winner on Sunday (video). Bred by Al Wasmiyah Farm, the three-year-old colt is out of Queen's Code (Shamardal). Sold for 300,000gns during the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 from the Watership Down Stud draft, the May foal caught the eye of Mike Ryan. A half-brother to Group 3 winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes third Umm Kulthum (Kodiac), Uncatalyzed has a yearling half-brother by Frankel yet to race. This is the same clan as multiple group winner Dubai Prince (Shamardal). Juddmonte's Kingman has a North American winners strike rate of 58% with 46 winners from 79 runners. The sire of eight stakes winners, including one at Grade I level there, his 2025 fee is £125,000. Third Time's The Charm For Armada Rising Trainer Robert Falcone, Jr. saddled Armada Rising (Phoenix Of Spain) to a 2 3/4-length tally at Gulfstream on May 2 (video). Bred by Martha Kellaghan in Ireland, the four-year-old filly is owned by Beast Mode Racing, Michael Nentwig, John Rochfort and Flying P Stable. Third for Gavin Cromwell in the colours of C G Lynch on the all-weather at Dundalk last February, the filly was a €30,000 Goffs November weanling acquisition by the Irish National Stud, and she made the same price when bought by Get In The Game during the Sportsman's Yearling Sale in 2022. The second foal and second winner for her dam Urban Hunt (Born To Sea), Armada Rising counts three-year-old Kodiac gelding Justified Risk as a half-sibling, as well as a yearling half-sister by Dark Angel. Her dam is a half-sister to Hunt, also by Dark Angel, who did his best work in the U.S., good for five stakes victories including the GI Shoemaker Mile Stakes. The Irish National Stud's Phoenix Of Spain has his first four-year-olds this year, and Armada Rising is his first winner from three to race in the U.S. (33%). Standing for €10,000 in 2025, the grey is credited with a trio of stakes winners worldwide, among them group winners Haatem, second in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas, and Atsila. Repeat Winners Chad Brown trainee Zulu Kingdom won his first race at the highest level when taking the GI American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 3 (video). A silksbearer for Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael J. Caruso, the three-year-old ridgling is by Coolmore stallion Ten Sovereigns. Saturday's GIII Whimsical Stakes went to 'TDN Rising Star' and Making Waves alum Earhart in the colours of LNJ Foxwoods (video). The Siyouni filly was winning her first black-type race and is trained by Josie Carroll. Now a winner of half of her eight starts after taking a Belmont at the Big A contest on the weekend (video), Scarlet Poppy is trained by Wesley Ward. Owned by Stonestreet Stables LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, the four-year-old filly shares her sire, Darley's Night Of Thunder, with Sunday's G1 Betfred 1,000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower. Zulu Kingdom (IRE) closes with a rush to win the G1 American Turf presented by Ford! Flavien Prat up for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/PsFSop6wpU — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025 The post Making Waves: Moyglare’s Bellezza Lands Sheepshead Bay Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Jaxon Traveler (Munnings–Listen Boy, by After Market), winner of both the GIII Maryland Sprint Stakes and the GIII Whitmore Stakes, has been retired sound at the age of seven, West Point Thoroughbreds announced Wednesday. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the son of Munnings earned more than $1,131,643 from 37 career starts between the ages of two and seven and was twice named a Maryland-bred champion as both a 2 and 3-year-old. “Jaxon Traveler has been an absolute dream to have in the barn,” said President and CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds Terry Finley. “Steve did a Hall of Fame job managing his career, getting aggressive at the right times and being conservative at the right times. As hard as it is to say goodbye to a horse who still walks the shedrow with such pride, we know it's prudent to avoid the 'one more race' mentality. That philosophy is a gift we give to horses like him.” Asmussen added: “We've loved having Jaxon in the barn. His name fit: he traveled, year in and year out, at a high level. Horses as sound and durable as him just don't come along very often.” Stud plans for Jaxon Traveler have not yet been finalized. The post MGSW Jaxon Traveler Retired; Stud Plans Pending appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The GIII Nashville Derby leads the lucrative 2025 Kentucky Downs meet which will feature 18 total stakes offering over $30.5 million in purses over seven racing days from August 28 through September 10. One of five stakes held Saturday, Aug. 30 on NBC, the 1 5/16-mile GIII Nashville Derby will again be America's richest race for 3-year-olds behind only the GI Kentucky Derby. The card also includes a 'Win and You're In' race–the GII Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, whose winner earns a fees-paid berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. The Sept. 6 card will feature an additional six stakes each worth at least $2 million for Kentucky-breds, with the 'WAYI' GII Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational and the GIII Mint Millions Invitational both awarding $2.5 million. The winner of the 1 1/2-mile Turf Cup earns a fees-paid berth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. The Sept. 6 card also includes the GI Franklin-Simpson for 3-year-old sprinters, the GII Music City for 3-year-old filly sprinters, the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon and the mile Gun Runner Stakes for 3-year-olds. Another five stakes are worth $1 million with KTDF supplements, including four stakes for 2-year-olds. The post Nashville Derby Leads Stakes-Laden Kentucky Downs Meet Worth Over $30.5M appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tom Law, a two-time Eclipse Award-winning turf writer and managing editor of ST Publishing–which produces The Saratoga Special and Thisishorseracing.com–will receive the 'Old Hilltop Award' for covering Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction during the annual Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course on Thursday, May 15. A native and current resident of Saratoga Springs, New York, Law began covering racing at The Saratogian in 1994 and is a past president of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) and has also been recognized with the Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Award , the David F. Woods Memorial Preakness Writing Award, and is a two-time Joe Hirsch Memorial Belmont Stakes Writing Award. “It's an incredible honor to receive the Old Hilltop Award, joining my friend and colleague Joe Clancy and so many others on the list of recipients,” Law said. “So many people have helped my career through the years, from writers and editors at The Saratogian, Thoroughbred Times and now with ST Publishing and Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred, and I can't thank them enough. A special thanks to all the horsemen and horses I've had the pleasure to write about and interact with through the years. They are, and always will be, the true stars of the show and it never gets old seeing the best of the best.” Tradition holds that the Alibi Breakfast's humble beginnings go back to a few trainers sipping coffee on the porch of Pimlico's old clubhouse in the late 1930s, extolling the virtues of their horses and offering up excuses–or alibis–should their horse not win. The post Law To Receive ‘Old Hilltop’ Award At Alibi Breakfast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After enduring 50 winless runners, the 53-year-old enjoys a brilliant night thanks to the successes of Goko Win and Ivy League.View the full article

A total of 772 2-year-olds in training and additional horses of racing age have been catalogued for the OBS June Sale, newly consolidated over the course of two sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 17 and 18 beginning each day at 10 a.m. ET. Five under-track previews are scheduled between June 10 and 14, with a start time of 7:30 a.m. ET The opening day of the sale will see hips 1-386 plus supplemental entries go under the hammer with the session on June 18 encompassing hips 451-833, along with supplements. The horses of racing age, hips 901-903, plus any supplements, will also sell on June 18. Supplements will be sold at the conclusion each session catalogued in order of the starting letter of the dam's name. Names beginning with 'T' through 'I' will be added to the end of the first session; names beginning with 'J' through 'S' will be added to the conclusion of second session. HRA supplements will follow hip 903. The order of hips each day for the under-tack show will be determined after supplemental entries are complete. Like the March and April auctions, the 2025 OBS June sale offers the entry option of “gallop only” where sellers can enter their horses with this designation which will be on the catalogue page. Recent notable graduates of the June Sale include Queen Maxima (Bucchero), a $40,000 purchase by Mike Pender, agent out of the 2022 renewal, who took her current winning streak to five in the GIII Unbridled Sidney Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 1. OBS will again offer online bidding during the June Sale. Buyers may go to the OBS website and register to gain bidding approval, then access the OBS Bidding Screen with their credentials. For complete information on registration and online bidding please go to the OBS website: obs-internet-bidding. The OBS June Sale will be streamed live at www.obssales.com and at the the TDN homepage. The post OBS Catalogues 772 Horses For June Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chester's May Festival is all about Ballydoyle these days and they were at it again on Wednesday's opening fixture with Lambourn bringing up a feature-race double in the G3 Chester Vase. Like the yard's preceding Cheshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk, the G3 Ballysax Stakes runner-up was well-supported and with Ryan Moore able to gain a prominent pitch behind the leading pair soon after the start the writing was already on the wall. In the end, it was the Charlie Johnston-trained G3 Prix de Conde winner Lazy Griff who had most to say about whether the 11-8 shot would keep the party going for favourite-backers but that game son of Protectionist could only do so much and had to lie down close home. There was a 1 1/2-length margin between Ballydoyle's 11th Chester Vase winner and that 25-1 shot at the line, with the long-time leader Convergent two lengths away in third after a solid trial that demanded stamina on the well-watered ground. Lambourn, who has the unusual distinction within his stable of being a winner of Craon's Listed Criterium de l'Ouest, showed plenty of lethargy on that occasion despite getting to the post first. That probably led to the decision to fit blinkers for the G2 Beresford Stakes, but that backfired as he was last of five before signing off. Evidently still highly rated by Aidan O'Brien, he was handed the chance to start the term with a clean slate in the Ballysax and travelled with more urgency there as he chased home Delacroix. His movement through the initial stages of this contest from a wide draw which could have compromised him was also a marked improvement on his juvenile dallying and at this stage he is an improving type with stamina guaranteed for the Blue Riband. Paul Smith was taking up his usual spot on Chester's Roodee and was basking in yet another Cheshire Oaks-Chester Vase double for the stable. “He's lazy in the way he runs and he's first off the bridle often and a little bit green, but he will learn a lot from today and he's got a big engine. Ryan likes him, he's a big, honest horse,” he said. “I think he's a good horse who will stay the trip, will do anything for you and he has to be in the Derby mix.” Top class from Ryan Moore and Lambourn at @ChesterRaces! pic.twitter.com/ZQOzWeDIN0 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 7, 2025 Charlie Johnston said of runner-up, who traded at unfathomable odds, “It was a fantastic run, particularly given he missed a bit of work three weeks ago and it was touch and go whether we'd get here for a short while. I'm sure we can have him fitter than he was today, he was only about 80 per-cent fit, so that bodes well going forwards.” “Joe [Fanning] said he appreciated the juice in the ground,” he added. “Any other week, I'd have been on the phone having a go about watering, but he needed it! We'd be a little bit hesitant about very fast ground going forwards, which might dictate where we go. He's in the English, Irish and German Derbies and you'll certainly see him in one.” Pedigree Notes Lambourn is the second foal out of the contrastingly-quick G2 Queen Mary Stakes runner-up and G2 Flying Childers Stakes third Gossamer Wings, who is a full-sister to the Stakes scorer Lavender Chrissie and half to the GIII Victory Ride Stakes winner Baby J by J Be K, as well as Bernstein's Stakes scorer and GI Secretariat Stakes-placed Laureate Conductor. The third dam Mighty Milk is kin to the GIII John B. Campbell Handicap scorer Hot Brush and the Summer Stakes winner Blazing Hot, in turn the second dam of the GII Super Derby hero Going Ballistic. Gossamer Wings' 2-year-old colt Action is by Frankel. Wednesday, Chester, Britain BOODLES CHESTER VASE STAKES-G3, £140,000, Chester, 5-7, 3yo, c/g, 12f 63yT, 2:40.12, gd. 1–LAMBOURN (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Australia (GB) 1st Dam: Gossamer Wings (MGSP-Eng, SP-Ire), by Scat Daddy 2nd Dam: Lavender Baby, by Rubiano 3rd Dam: Mighty Milk, by Hero's Honor 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs John Magnier, Mr M. Tabor & Mr D. Smith; B-Coolmore; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £79,394. Lifetime Record: SW-Fr & GSP-Ire, 5-3-1-0, $169,547. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Lazy Griff (Ger), 128, c, 3, Protectionist (Ger)–Linarda (Den), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). (€75,000 Ylg '23 BBAGS). O-Middleham Park Racing & Mr G Griffiths; B-Gestut Westerberg; T-Charlie Johnston. £30,100. 3–Convergent (Ire), 128, c, 3, Fascinating Rock (Ire)–Monty's Miracle (Ire), by Shamardal. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Newtownanner Stud Farm; T-Karl Burke. £15,064. Margins: 1HF, 2, 6HF. Odds: 1.38, 25.00, 4.50. Also Ran: Pinhole (GB), Furthur (Ire), Thrice (Ire), Faire La Nouba (Ire), Square D'Alboni (Fr). The post Australia’s Lambourn Brings Up Ballydoyle Double In The Chester Vase appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Entering Wednesday's Listed Cheshire Oaks with great expectations, Ballydoyle's €1.85 million 2023 Goffs Orby Book 1 topper Minnie Hauk duly delivered to enter the Oaks picture. Sent off the 13-8 favourite for the extended 11-furlong trial for that Epsom Classic, the daughter of Frankel tended to race a touch lazily behind the pace-setter Queen Of Thieves but was able to answer every call from Ryan Moore to take command inside the final three furlongs. Sticking to her task in the home straight, the relative of Kingman and Oasis Dream had a length to spare over Sea The Moon's Andrew Balding-trained Listed Montrose Stakes runner-up Secret Of Love at the line, with Camelot's Caspi Star another 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “I was very happy with the filly, as she'd been a little bit behind the others and she needed the experience,” Aidan O'Brien said of the winner, who was blowing hard in the winner's enclosure after her first start since Leopardstown in October. “We sent her over, though, because we think she's got that little bit of quality, so we were very happy to see her do that. We'll have to see what happens in the other trials now, but we ran her today thinking that she would then go on to Epsom.” Minnie Hauk – who was purchased for €1,850,000 in 2023 – takes the Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks under Ryan Moore! It's a ninth win in the race for Aidan O'Brien… pic.twitter.com/ObHKKSa2uL — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 7, 2025 Multilingual is out of Zamindar's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Zenda, dam of one of the finest milers of recent times and established sire in the aforementioned Kingman, as well as the G3 Tercentenary Stakes winner Remote also by Dansili and Frankel's First Eleven who was a strong stayer at a mile and a half as he proved when third in the G3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes. Zenda's daughters Present Tense, Panzanella and Pleasantry and Rio Carnival all proved black-type producers in their own right, with the former's son Macduff by Sea The Stars finishing second in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial and starting last year's Derby as one of the key protagonists. Multilingual's 2-year-old filly is by No Nay Never. WEATHERBYS EPASSPORT CHESHIRE OAKS-Listed, £120,000, Chester, 5-7, 3yo, f, 11f 75yT, 2:29.15, gd. 1–MINNIE HAUK (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Multilingual (GB), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Zenda (GB), by Zamindar 3rd Dam: Hope (Ire), by Dancing Brave 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (€1,850,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-B V Sangster; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £68,052. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $106,176. *1/2 to Tilsit (First Defence), MGSW-Eng, G1SP-Fr, $234,843. 2–Secret Of Love (GB), 128, f, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–So In Love (GB), by Smart Strike. O/B-Miss K Rausing; T-Andrew Balding. £25,800. 3–Caspi Star (GB), 128, f, 3, Camelot (GB)–Encapsulation (Ire), by Zoffany (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€100,000 Ylg '23 ARAUG). O-Mr Nurlan Bizakov; B-Highview Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Johnston. £12,912. Margins: 1, 1 1/4, 3. Odds: 1.63, 7.00, 12.00. Also Ran: That's Amore (Ire), Kate O'Riley (GB), Modern Utopia (Ire), Queen Of Thieves (GB). The post Cheshire Oaks Success For Frankel’s Goffs Orby Topper Minnie Hauk appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The TDN article “In Lab Variability, Horse Racing Playing Catchup With Human Sports” raises some important issues and, although its consideration of them is fair, it only does this from a USA perspective. While this is understandable, it is also relevant to look at the achievements made in this space internationally, much of which has been pioneered by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), which is the global leader for Thoroughbred racing. Firstly, I want to congratulate HISA/HIWU on their significant progress in enhancing testing standards in racing laboratories across the USA. As events like the Kentucky Derby gain greater international prominence, further harmonization of testing protocols–specifically pre- and post-race testing–is essential both domestically and globally. Secondly, I would like to highlight some of the IFHA's key achievements in doping control harmonization, contributing to the integrity of racing worldwide: International Agreement on Breeding, Racing, and Wagering (IABRW): This IFHA agreement outlines best practices for equine doping control in Article 6, covering prohibited substances, genetic therapy/gene doping, prohibited practices, medication in training, and out-of-competition testing. It includes crucial control criteria such as thresholds and performance specifications for laboratories; Reference Laboratory Program: Since 2017, six laboratories from Australia, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, USA and Japan have been designated as IFHA Reference Laboratories to support significant races relevant to IFHA world rankings. The heads of the original five laboratories contribute to the IFHA Reference Laboratory Technical Committee, which trains laboratory assessors and recommends practices for harmonizing doping control testing. Collaborations have been conducted for many years internationally among Reference Laboratories; Advisory Council on Equine Prohibited Substances & Practices: This group of international experts updates the IABRW and addresses contemporary issues like gene doping; Harmonization of Therapeutic Detection: The IFHA has established International Screening Limits and International Residue Limits to ensure consistent reporting of therapeutics and environmental substances by racing laboratories; Collaboration with ILAC: The IFHA has an MoU with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, aimed at standardizing practices across racing laboratories via consistent accreditation requirements and operating criteria; Racing Integrity Handbook: Released in October 2024, this handbook details the components ensuring integrity in racing in all jurisdictions, with a comprehensive chapter on doping control; Collaboration with AORC and IGSRV: The IFHA works closely with racing chemists and regulatory veterinarians to implement best practices for racing integrity and horse welfare. Horse racing is a leading sport regarding integrity measures and doping control, often surpassing human sports. For instance, annual testing numbers reveal that approximately 522,000 racehorse samples were tested in 2022, compared to about 257,000 human athlete samples. Further, comprehensive blood testing and hair analysis have long been standard in horse racing, enhancing detection capabilities. Additionally, while human gene-doping testing has focused on a single gene, horse racing has advanced to include various genetic modifiers. Innovative testing methodologies and data analytics are continually evolving, providing racing's regulatory authorities with effective tools for doping control. Andrew Harding is the Executive Director of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities The post Letter to the Editor: The IFHA’s Role In Doping Control appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand bred gelding Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) is on the verge of making history by aiming for consecutive victories in the Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on Saturday, a feat not achieved in over five decades. The last horse to secure back-to-back wins in this race was Dark Diamond in 1971 and 1972. Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Hezashocka showcased his prowess on heavy tracks by clinching the 2024 edition of the race, held at Newcastle due to renovations at Gosford Racecourse. Despite trailing leader Sir Lucan by six lengths at the home turn, jockey Chad Schofield guided Hezashocka to a remarkable victory, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead. That win ended a 22-month drought for the gelding who would subsequently go on to win the Gr.3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm. “Hezashocka won this race last year on a Heavy 10 at Newcastle,” Price said. “Then he went to Queensland and won. He is on a similar program but the sweet-spot for him is 2400m on the wet. “The wetter the better for him, but it looks like the tracks are improving at the moment but who knows with Sydney, it is dry one day and you get a deluge the next.” The Gosford track was rated a Slow 7 on Wednesday. Hezashocka began his career with in New Zealand with Shaun and Emma Clotworthy and won the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie before OTI Racing bought into the horse. Originally purchased at Karaka for $18,000 out of the draft of Grangewilliam Stud, Hezashocka has now won five of his 39 starts with a further nine placings and A$$1,442,103 in prize-money. View the full article

Maël Thibault has joined the bloodstock team at Arqana ahead of the breeze-up sale which takes place on Saturday. Thibault's role will eventually see him take charge of the inspections for Flat and National Hunt yearlings, as well as stores in France. The appointment sees Thibault return home from Australia where he had been managing the stallions at Newgate Farm, having previously spent a full sales season at Yarraman Park. In Europe, his experience includes spells at Écurie des Monceaux and the Irish National Stud, while he also completed a Master's degree in Sports Management at the Win Sport School in Nantes. “I'm delighted to be joining the Arqana team and highly motivated by this opportunity, which fits in perfectly with my career path,” said Thibault. “I'd like to thank Ludovic Cornuel, Freddy Powell and Olivier Delloye, who have placed their trust in me to take up this new challenge.” The post Maël Thibault Joins the Bloodstock Team at Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kieran Shoemark has been dealt a blow with the news announced on Wednesday that John and Thady Gosden will be adopting a “best-available-rider strategy” for the foreseeable future. It follows the criticism Shoemark received in the wake of Saturday's 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket where his mount, Field Of Gold, was a fast-finishing runner-up as the 15/8 favourite, with John Gosden expressing his view in the aftermath that the son of Kingman had been disadvantaged by his track position. “The race probably wasn't run in quite the right fractions and we were sitting some way back,” he told ITV Racing. “Ruling Court has kicked and gone and we ran out of racetrack–it is as simple as that.” Shoemark had been in his post as number one jockey to the Gosdens since Frankie Dettori relocated to America at the end of 2023, but the fallout from Field Of Gold's defeat will now see him play a reduced role at Clarehaven Stables. Speaking to the Nick Luck Daily Podcast on Wednesday, Thady Gosden said, “Naturally, since Saturday myself and John have gone through things together and we decided that the best policy moving forward for the stable is to adopt the best-available-rider strategy. “It's still very early in the season and there's plenty of time left to go, but we believe that's the right decision for the stable to have the best-available rider, alongside the significant number of retained riders pre-existing within the yard.” When asked if it was the intention to keep the 29-year-old on their team of jockeys, Gosden added, “Yes, exactly. Of course, it's a best-available-rider policy and we will see how that progresses as the year goes on.” Shoemark will be in the saddle when the stable's Queen Of Thieves lines up in Wednesday's Cheshire Oaks, but it was confirmed that alternative riding arrangements have been made for Detain and Zanzoun when they bid for Classic glory at ParisLongchamp on Sunday. Colin Keane has been booked to ride Detain in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, with Christophe Soumillon taking over aboard Nell Gwyn heroine Zanzoun in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. The post Kieran Shoemark Loses Job as Number One Jockey to the Gosdens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kango’s retirement, the countdown to the Industry Excellence Awards and a harness racing establishment going under the hammer all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Kango retires Multiple Group-winner Kango has been officially retired after a racing career that netted 14 wins from 76 starts and earnings of $556K. The Arna Donnelly-trained son of American Ideal’s last race was a seventh in the Waikato Flying Mile at Cambridge on March 28. A noted and rugged front-runner among his biggest successes were the 2023 Roy Purdon Memorial, the 2021 Franklin Cup and the 2022 Kaikoura Cup. He was bred and raced by Bruce and Marie Brodie. Donnelly wrote : “You flew the flag season after season and even when the going got tough you never flinched .. you’ll always be my champ.” Nominations close May 18 There are under two weeks left to get your nominations in for the Industry Excellence Awards, powered by Entain, set to be held on June 29. Winners of the nine awards categories will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The supreme winner will receive an extra $5,000 on top of their $10,000 category win, and a $5,000 educational package. These awards are designed to recognise the future leaders and rising stars under 40 of New Zealand racing codes. Category winners last year included Jo Ferguson (nee Stevens) and Chanelle Dickie, from within and around the harness racing industry. To nominate someone for the awards, simply visit https://entaingroup.com.au/industryawards/. Nominations close at 5pm on Sunday, 18 May. If you have any questions about the nomination process, check out the FAQs on the link above, or email industryawards@entaingroup.co.nz Win 10 start 100 Times Are A Changin marked her 100th start in the best possible fashion at Rangiora on Sunday. The Barry Ward-trained seven-year-old mare took out race 1, the Resonate Health Mobile pace to chalk up career win number 10. Driven by John Dunn, she paid $24 for the win. Based at West Melton, it was Ward’s 145th success, his first coming with Lobell Star at Forbury Park in 1987. Most of his horses are named after famous bands and singers, with The Times They Are a-Changin’ being a Bob Dylan anthem released in 1964. 30 group 1s for Cran Cran Dalgety brought up his 30th Group 1 success when Republican Party dealt to his rivals in the Roy Purdon Memorial Handicap Pace at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The Bettor’s Delight six-year-old was four back the fence before heading to the front. From there it was game over as he chalked career win number 21. It was Dalgety’s second Group 1 for the night after Fugitive took out the Breckon Farms Yong Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes 2YO Mobile Pace. Of Dalgety’s 30 Group 1s he’s won 20 on his own account, nine with wife Chrissie and one with Nathan Purdon. Christen Me is the most successful with six Group 1s, followed by Republican Party and Krug, both with four. Change of venue and date for Northern Pacers Final The Northern Regional Pacers Final will now be held at Cambridge on Thursday, May 15. Originally the race was going to be held at Alexandra Park on ANZAC day but didn’t go ahead because of insufficient entries. The Final will be programmed similarly to the Auckland edition but with a $27,500 stake and a lower rating limit of R45 to try to attract more intermediate grade pacers. The race will still have a maximum back mark of 30 metres and be run over 2700m. Utilisation roadshows head north The last of the HRNZ roadshows explaining the latest initiatives by the Utilisation Reference Group will be held today (Wednesday). They will be at the Clubhouse at Cambridge Raceway at 1pm and then at the Pukekohe Training Centre at 7pm. Zoom calls will be arranged for other trainers including those in the Seddon Shields areas and the Central North Island at dates and times to be advised. The roadshows started at Invercargill, with the latest at Addington Raceway on Monday night. Finals fortnight for Sires’ Stakes The NZ Sires’ Stakes’ finals fortnight begins with the IRT 3YO Trot and Magness Benrow 3YO Fillies’ at Auckland this Friday. It’s time to get excited. Check out their latest newsletter here Helium wins first race in USA A seven race winner in this country, Helium has had his first overseas win. Bred by Trevor Casey, the Sky Major five-year-old headed to the USA in March this year. His first win came in 1:50 at Miami Valley in Ohio. He is now trained by Dan and Christi Noble, who have had a lot of success with NZ horses in North America. Auction for harness racing establishment tomorrow The eight hectare property currently owned by dual code trainer Jackie Burrows and her family will go under the hammer tomorrow (May 8). Located in Canterbury between Rolleston and West Melton the property includes a 760 metre oval sand training track, a four bedroom house and other accommodation as well as 19 paddocks. The property will be auctioned at 11am at Harcourts Grenadier in Moorhouse Avenue. View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz It was a great night at the office for trainer-driver Andre Poutama at Cambridge yesterday, with the promise of more to come at Auckland on Friday night. The northern reinsman won three on the bounce last night, starting in race 5, the Off the Track Food and Bev Mobile Pace when he led all the way with his own runner Desert Dawn to win by a commanding three lengths. “He’s been going good he’s just had bad draws, I put the blinds on him because he drew one and I knew that would work to get him off the gate,” he said. “For him to kick away like he did was great and it’s the wife’s horse as well so I’m in the good books.” He also aided Hunterville trainer Scott Dickson in securing a double, winning Race 6, the Hire A Venue at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace with Dixieland Delight and then piloting Trippy Tyron to victory in Race 7, the NZMCA Parking at Cambridge Raceway Handicap Trot. Dixieland Delight was three back the fence throughout his race and was last at the 400 metre mark before getting the perfect split up the passing lane to win by a length while Trippy Tyron made short work of his 30 metre handicap to settle in fourth place before Poutama made his move turning for home. He overhauled the favourite Stash The Cash to win by more than two lengths. “He (Dickson) only brought them up because he was disappointed with their runs at Manawatu, so it felt good to get the chocolates,” said Poutama. Poutama is hopeful his good fortune will carry over to Friday night’s premier meeting at Alexandra Park where he has a nice book of drives. In Race 1, “The Alex” The Place to Celebrate Mother’s Day Mobile Pace he will take the reins of the Greg Shirley-trained Words ($3.50 FF) who has made a promising start to her career, amassing three wins and one second since her first start in January. “She’s been going great – she went good last start considering it was her first run in six weeks.” He is also looking forward to his own filly Miss Kawaii ($51FF) racing in the Group 3 IRT Young Guns 2YO Trotters Final. “I’m just happy with her getting around the whole way, she’s not very big but hopefully she gets everything right and we can get a bit of the money.” “She’ll go out on a spell after Friday night.” Poutama also takes the reins behind Johnny Trotter ($91 FF) for Robert and Jenna Dunn in the Group 1 IRT NZ Sires Stakes 3YO Trotters Championship and has picked up the drive on the Mark and Nathan Purdon runner Without You ($21 FF) in the Group 1 Magness Benrow NZ Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Final. View the full article

Chris Waller will saddle up to five runners in his quest for a fourth win in the Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) but in a rare position for the champion trainer, all are set to start at double-figure odds. Waller has First Light (Dubawai) ($101), Etna Rosso (Decorated Knight) ($26), Scarlet Oak (Kermadec) ($15), Medatsu (NZ) (Staphanos)($13) and Mr Waterville (Camelot) ($41) in Saturday’s 2100m feature and confirmed the market’s top pick of his quintet, Medatsu, would back up from his fourth in last Friday’s Listed Wagga Cup (2000m). The gelding settled worse than midfield in the country feature and made late ground, Waller hoping a low draw in barrier two at Gosford would enable him to take up a handier position. “From a wide draw the other day he just got a long way back so we will try to use the draw and have him a bit closer,” Waller said. “He ticks a few boxes and he’s a decent horse.” Medatsu has been racing consistently without winning, finishing fifth in the Listed Albury Cup (2000m) two starts ago before his fourth at Wagga and top jockey Kerrin Mcevoy sticks with him. Waller has had to pivot the campaign of stablemate Mr Waterville, who was being aimed towards the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) but missed out on a start when he was made an emergency. While his best form is over genuine staying trips, he has been freshened since a midfield effort in the Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) and Waller is hoping the Gosford race can provide a springboard towards next month’s Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m). “He’s had lots of excuses along the way but he’s well and he’s a rough place chance on Saturday,” Waller said. View the full article

Barbara Kennedy was delighted to score her first winning double on New Zealand soil at Ellerslie on Wednesday, with her husband Warren guiding both Matzden and Hero Of War in consecutive races. In the fourth on the mid-week card, Matzden was among the favoured runners for the Auckland Co-Op Taxis 1400 after performing gamely on debut in heavy track conditions at Pukekohe. Back on an improving soft surface, the gelding still had to contend with the extreme outside draw, eventually forced to settle three-deep near the tail of the field. In the hands of last season’s premiership-winning hoop in Kennedy, Matzden got on the back of Just Like This into the home turn, but opted to switch down the centre while that runner headed down the outside of his rivals. Timetoplaythegame had hit the lead early in the straight and held on for a long way, but Matzden, Just Like This and Natoya came powering up behind him, catching the leader in the shadows of the post with the former finding the edge to score by a long neck. His trainer had been pleased with the three-year-old’s debut effort and her confidence into Wednesday’s contest was justified. “He might’ve found a little bit too heavy last time, but it was a good first-up run and he showed a lot of courage,” she said. “Coming here on a better track I was a little bit confident, aside from the draw that he had. “Warren managed to get him into a good spot and it was good to see him fight out the finish like that. He’s the kind of horse that is a little bit insecure, so to see him going past horses like this is good for his confidence.” A son of Darci Brahma, Matzden is out of a two-win Swiss Ace mare in Dentelle. The Byerley Park horsewoman had admitted to lower expectations for stablemate Hero Of War in the following race, with the daughter of Nicconi having her first raceday appearance after initially trialling for Peter and Dawn Williams before Kennedy took over their operation. Kennedy was pleasantly surprised with what unfolded, as Hero Of War found a prominent position in the running and found plenty in the straight to fend off Compulsory by a short head, defying her closing price of nearly $30. “This is my first double in New Zealand so I’m over the moon, and even better to get it at Ellerslie,” she said. “She’s a filly that doesn’t give too much away at home and is such a big filly, so I thought she might need a little bit further. I don’t think the penny has quite dropped with her yet, so to see her rally like this and pull off the win first-up, it gives me a bit of confidence going forward with her. “I think ability and class got her through today.” Kennedy echoed his wife’s comments, indicating a distance beyond Wednesday’s 1400m trip will play in the favour of the long-striding filly. “She’s shown glimpses but she’s pretty one-paced in her workouts, so we didn’t come in with a lot of confidence,” he said. “We really wanted to see where she was on the racing spectrum, so I put her in the race. “I think I got her there in the right spot and she is pretty much one-paced, but when that horse came up she really knuckled down and kept her head in front all the way. I think going another furlong, she would’ve stayed in front, she was really fighting and it’s good to know she’s got that competitive streak in her. “She was gallant, she fought all the way to the line and it was great for Barbara to have a first-up win for Barneswood (Farm, owners), they were big supporters of Peter and Dawn Williams who Barbara has now taken over from, so it’s great for them. They’ll be thrilled, I’m sure. “I think she’ll go 2000m-plus, so the further she’ll go, the better she’ll get.” Hero Of War is out of a Group Two performing Australian mare in Assertive Eagle, and was purchased by Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer for $140,000 when presented in the draft of Wentwood Grange at Karaka 2023. View the full article

Well-related filly Paravane (Merchant Navy) broke through for her maiden win in pleasing fashion at Ellerslie on Wednesday when taking out the Join TAB Racing Club 1200 in the hands of senior hoop Vinnie Colgan. The daughter of Merchant Navy jumped well and was taken straight to the front by Colgan, who set a good tempo upfront, and the pair were never tested, with Paravane running out a comfortable 2-1/2 length victor for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. Out of Group Two performer In The Vanguard, Paravane is a half-sister to Te Akau’s former Group One winner Sword Of State (Snitzel), who now stands at Cambridge Stud. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis purchased Paravane out of Newgate Farm’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for A$120,000. She finished fifth on debut over 1200m at Te Rapa in December before being freshened, and impressed with her trial win over 800m at Ellerslie last month prior to her resuming run. “She had trialled well in front and I didn’t want to change too much with her pattern, and in doing so she won pretty easily,” Colgan said. “She was a bit disappointing when she debuted in December at Te Rapa, but I did take a sit. I pulled back and she got quite lost in behind horses but was in control today.” Te Akau’s Racing Manager Reece Trumper was pleased for her winning connections, saying they have been rewarded for their patience with the filly. “Paravane has taken a bit of time to mature, but the owners have been very patient,” he said. “Mark and Sam did the right thing in giving her a bit of time after her first start and I think the owners will be rewarded now. “It was a great ride by Vinnie to have her travelling beautifully in front and it looked like she would be hard to beat turning for home. “She had trialled very well at Ellerslie, a month ago, when ridden on speed, and she’s certainly a filly we think a lot of. “As she matures and gets stronger, she should develop into a lovely four-year-old mare. “She obviously has a lot of residual value, being a half-sister to Sword Of State, and it’s always great to have Sir Owen Glenn in the ownership group.” View the full article

It would be hard to find a bigger fan of Gavelhouse.com than Gavin Sharrock, with the Taranaki horseman producing yet another winning graduate of the online auction platform at Hawera on Tuesday. Sharrock purchased Spandeedo (NZ) (Ferrando) out of Rogerson Bloodstock’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Online Yearling Sale draft on Gavelhouse Plus for $5,000, and he more than repaid his purchase price when taking out the Aquashield Roofing Two-Year-Old Maiden (1100m) on Tuesday. The two-year-old son of Ferrando has shown a lot of promise for Sharrock, however, it hasn’t been all smooth-sailing. “I trained his half-brother, Notsomodest, by The Bold One, and he was a very good galloper but he was a weak horse, he wind-sucked and he wouldn’t eat after he galloped. But he showed enough upside that I thought I would buy his half-brother,” Sharrock said. “He (Spandeedo) has won a lot of jumpouts, but he has been shin sore four times and that is why it has taken me a little while to get him to the races.” Spandeedo made his debut last month when runner-up over 1100m at Waverley, and while confident in his charge ahead of his second-up run, Sharrock was wary of stakes-performed filly Sierra Leone. “He won his last two jumpouts prior to Waverley, and he should have won their first-up, but he ran off the course a little bit, he was just a bit green and wayward,” Sharrock said. “I was rapt with him yesterday, I didn’t think he could beat Sierra Leone because she had been in the top two-year-old races up north and she was a $1.70 favourite, but he might be a bit better than I thought.” Stakes targets are now in the offing for Spandeedo, with Sharrock eyeing next month’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. “He might have a go at the Castletown now, he doesn’t mind a bit of cut out of the track,” Sharrock said. Spandeedo continues Sharrock’s great association with Gavelhouse, having also bought Daylight Robbery and Brave Rebel through the same sale last year. He secured Daylight Robbery off Waikato Stud with a single bid of $10,500, while Brave Rebel was a $1,600 purchase out of Hortlinks draft. Daylight Robbery, a son of Super Seth, was victorious in his second start last December and took Sharrock on a great ride the following month when he contested the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie, where he finished midfield. Brave Rebel has placed in two of his four starts, and Sharrock said both are set to return to the stable following a spell in preparation for spring targets. “Brave Rebel and Daylight Robbery have been out for two months, and they are coming back in next week,” Sharrock said. “Daylight Robbery was a bargain, especially now that the service fee (of Super Seth’s) has gone up to $75,000. He went really well this season. “If Daylight Robbery comes up, I will be having a go at the good ones. I think he will be better as a three-year-old than he was a two-year-old. I will aim him towards the (New Zealand 2000) Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), but everything has to go right.” Meanwhile, Sharrock will head to Trentham with two runners on Saturday, including Soldier Boy in the Trust House Masterton Cup (1400m) and homebred two-year-old Country Salon in the Ladies Man 2YO (1200m). “Soldier Boy is having his second run back and I expect a bit of improvement out of him,” Sharrock said. “He stood in the gates and missed the jump by five (lengths) at his first run back at Waverley, but he has been working well. “Country Salon is a two-year-old that I bred. I actually thought he would win at his first start at Waverley, I thought he was slightly better, but he got carved up a bit in the last 50m.” Country Salon will jump from barrier five with apprentice jockey Jim Chung aboard, while fellow apprentice Elle Sole takes the ride aboard Soldier Boy from barrier seven. View the full article

Well-performed mare Our Jumala (NZ) (Zed) is back to her best following a recent hiccup and is in the right order to add to her black-type record. The six-year-old will head north for the Listed Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m) on Saturday with jockey Craig Grylls to continue his association with the Robbie Patterson-trained representative. Grylls guided Our Jumala to victory in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) three runs back before they finished in behind the major players in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) and Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m). “She just wasn’t 100 percent at Wanganui, we had a couple of issues with her health going into that,” Patterson said. “She was then just a little bit too fresh for the Travis and raced too fiercely, but that will take the edge off her for Saturday, and she should race kinder.” Patterson believed her Cuddle Stakes performance was a more genuine guide to her chances at Rotorua. “The Cuddle was a strong field when she beat Pearl Of Alsace, she is finally maturing and being by Zed it’s taken a while,” he said. “She’s been a horse that has had niggles through immaturity, the trip should suit her and with that last run under her belt and two weeks between races she should relax a lot better. “As long as it’s a nice, autumn heavy type of track it will suit her.” Another bold showing in the Rotorua Cup will confirm winter targets for Our Jumala. “We’ll keep going and probably head to Wanganui for the weight-for-age race (Listed AGC Training Stakes, 1600m) and then freshen her up for the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) and on to Riccarton for the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m),” Patterson said. The stable will also have a strong hand in the Rating 75 contest at Trentham on Saturday with Belladonna Lily, Bay Express and Ragamuffin to cross swords in the West Coast Sponsored by Wairepo Herefords (1600m). The former was a sound fourth before circumstances brought about her defeat on the course last time out. “Belladonna Lily will be the best chance, she likes Trentham and especially if there is rain about,” he said. “They absolutely walked in front and she was out the back. She had to make a mid-race move and then they sprinted, it was just one of those farcically run races.” “Ragamuffin has got to start putting his foot in the till and Bay Express has won his last two. “They were both at home (New Plymouth) and they were in soft races so he’s going up a couple of grades and we’ll find out where we are with him. “He’s another one that will appreciate the sting out of the track.” View the full article

The highly anticipated return of former The Everest champion Giga Kick headlines Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville, the grand finale of the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival. Trained by Clayton Douglas, the five-year-old son of Scissor Kick is the clear $2.20 favourite at Ladbrokes as he embarks on his latest campaign. […] The post Giga Kick Heads 2025 The Goodwood Field & Odds appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Kelvin Tyler was unstoppable on his home track over the Easter weekend, and he’ll be hoping for more of the same with a big team lining up at Riverton on Friday. Tyler won six races across the two-day carnival, including four when combining with Central Districts apprentice jockey Amber Riddell. The rising hoop will travel to the deep south again to partner a number of Tyler’s representatives, including the ever-consistent mare Go Lotte in the Chief Stipe Horrell Contracting/Ricki Egerton Dagging Handicap (1600m). The pair won the Francolin Stakes (1400m) at that meeting before Go Lotte ran seventh in the Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m), her last appearance as Tyler opted to scratch her off Riccarton’s synthetic track on Saturday. “She stayed up for the week (after the Easter) and came home on Friday, she’s quite a hardy traveller now so it didn’t seem to worry her too much,” Tyler said. “She’s good as gold and racing well “It was a really good run, she’s always been a handy wee horse and every time we go to the big stage, she’s just been a couple of lengths off them. Her run was still good in the Easter, she was hitting the line nicely, but back to the lower grade open handicaps are probably best for her.” The daughter of Telperion will be joined by stablemates Albatross and King Of The Castle, the latter also not suited to the change of surface in Canterbury and was scratched from the Easter Cup (1600m) last Saturday. “The 2000m was probably a bit far for him (King Of The Castle) in the Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr.3), he loomed up on the turn and back to a mile is probably his best distance,” Tyler said. “It’s only a small field and from what he’s done, he should be pretty competitive. “Albatross on the way up really, up to a mile is probably her favourite distance and the wetter the better for her. She’s a really clean-winded horse so I think she’ll be hitting a bit of form soon. “Her work has been really good.” Last-start maiden winner Flash Roca has continued to improve since her success at the course over Easter, making her a real threat in the Riverton Fresh Choice / Barnes Oysters / Riverside Rentals Handicap (1200m) before she heads to the paddock. “She’s come through that run really well, she’s had a quiet time, so we’ve brought her back to 1200, I didn’t want to bottom her out on a heavy track,” Tyler said. “She’ll probably go out for a spell but going forward I think she’s going to be a really nice horse. I quite like her.” Reprobate is another recent victor aiming to building on that form on Friday, contesting the Otautau Farmlands / Uncle Bucks Second Hand Shop Handicap (1400m). As he did over Easter, Tyler will look to back up the gelding at Invercargill on Sunday. “He loves the quick back-up and he’s a tough little horse,” Tyler said. “He’ll do the same with the 1400 on Friday and then up to a mile on Sunday. “He’s come through his racing really well and hopefully he can hold his form.” While Tyler will keep an eye on his local meetings, he will do so in the sunshine of Queensland, with his promising three-year-old Freddie Time taking on the Brisbane Winter Carnival over the coming weeks. The trip has been far from smooth so far, with delayed flights and a missed run on Saturday keeping plans up in the air. “He’ll go to Sydney (Tuesday) and stay there before floating up to Caloundra and arriving there about mid-morning on Thursday,” Tyler said. “I really wanted to give him a run at Riccarton so that’s really thrown a spanner in the works, but there is a couple of lead-up races over there. “There is the Rough Habit (Gr.3, 2000m), or three days later there is a nice three-year-old race at Ipswich on the 31st. His main target is the Queensland Derby (Gr.1, 2400m), if he’s up to that and does everything right. “We’ve been there a little bit, so we know our way around now. We’ve got a nice apartment on the beach so it’s a holiday for the humans and the horses.” View the full article

It was a case of always the bridesmaid and never the bride for Riverton trainer Ebony Turner at her local Easter meeting, but she is hoping to turn those tables when she returns to her home track on Friday with a septet of runners. Whiny Meow and Tommy Perfect were two of those Easter placegetters, and they will be hoping to go one better in the Otautau Farmlands/Uncle Bucks Second Hand Shop Handicap (1400m). Turner has been particularly impressed with the form of Whiny Meow over the last few months, with the son of Iffraaj posting five consecutive placings, and he is now after an elusive victory. “Both have trained on really well,” Turner said. “Whiny Meow has been a model of consistency for a while now and I would love to see him get a win onboard. I can’t complain with his work. “Tommy Perfect came through his runs over Easter really well and it wouldn’t surprise me if I saw both of them in the top three.” Stablemates The Motivator, The Advisor, Ali Nel and De Russian Rocket also featured in the money at Riverton over Easter weekend, and Turner is pleased with the quartet ahead of their respective races on Friday. “Ali Nel has come through her last run probably the best out of all of them,” she said. “It didn’t knock her around at all. I am just hoping that she gets a good, economical run on the rail from that gate (4) and they leave her alone, so she doesn’t overdo it in the early stages. “The Motivator has come through his race a completely different horse, he has grown a leg, so I would be surprised if we don’t see him in the top three again. “We are just hoping De Russian Rocket can pip someone at the post rather than him being pipped at the post. He had a couple of days out on grass and has bounced back good as gold. “The Advisor has worked on really well and hopefully she can get that elusive win. She is doing everything right.” Deciphering Me is Turner’s only contender that didn’t get a run over Easter, and Turner is hoping that has worked in her favour when she lines-up in the Waiau Valley Shearing/Aparima Electrical Maiden (1400m). “It was really disappointing that she didn’t get a run over the Easter carnival, but it is probably a blessing in disguise because she has trained on really well and in the last 10 days she has really turned a corner and feels like she wants to be there,” Turner said. “I am excited to see what she can do. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of April 28-May 4View the full article