Wandering Eyes

The connections of Rothschild, as impressive a maiden winner as they come in late summer at Del Mar, hope a change in surface could reignite the brilliance the colt displayed when dominating his second outing in the Dec. 3 Cecil De Mille Stakes.View the full article

It is one of the most dangerous jobs in horse racing: being an assistant starter.View the full article

Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was set to become the first American-based participant at the Longines Hong Kong International Races in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase a week from Sunday, will instead remain stateside and receive a break before returning to action in 2024. “We worked him on Sunday [5f in 1:03.45 over the Belmont main track] and I was not satisfied with the work,” trainer Christophe Clement said of the 5-year-old gelding, campaigned by Madaket Stable, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso. “He came back and I don't think he is as good as he could be–not bad, but when you go for such a long trip and such a prestigious race, you want to make sure everything is OK. I wasn't comfortable about it, so we'll give him a break and bring him back next year.” The hard-knocking bay gelding, who has raced competitively with the likes of globetrotting multiple Grade I/Group 1 winners such as champion Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) since arriving on these shores in 2021, made six trips to the post this season. Though winless, he ran with credit, with four runner-up efforts in Grade I company, and most recently charged home to miss by a neck in the GII Red Smith S. at Aqueduct Nov. 11. It has been 30 years since Clement ran his first horse in Hong Kong when Adam Smith (GB) (Sadler's Wells) finished eighth in the race then called the Hong Kong International Cup. Since then, he has started another half-dozen horses, the last coming with Winchester in the 2010 Vase. Pure Sensation was set to represent the stable in the 2016 Sprint and did make the trip over, but was withdrawn in the days leading up to the race. With few options at home for Soldier Rising at this late juncture, Clement once again looked to Hong Kong. “Soldier Rising ran a really nice race in the Red Smith and I thought he was doing well, so you just look at your choices,” he said. “The Vase has a big purse of $2 million and we are sure that he stays. So it was attractive at the time to think about it and think a little bit outside the box. But I am a New York trainer, the owners are New York-based and obviously he finished second five times in graded stakes this year, including four times in Grade Is. So that is the priority for next year. For now we'll play it safe and bring him back for the same sort of a program.” While there are potential early-season targets in the Middle East for a horse like Soldier Rising, the timing isn't quite right, Clement said. “He could have been one for Saudi or Dubai. I am certainly not against it, but the problem with that is that my idea was to try to go once more [in 2023] and then give him a break and have a fresh horse for next year,” he offered. “Now we are passing Hong Kong and still going to give him a break, which means we also need to pass Saudi and Dubai, as it comes too early.” Still, it will come as no surprise if Clement circles Sha Tin on his calendar come next December. “Maybe Big Invasion (Declaration of War) for the Sprint, too,” he said. “Good horses from America compete well in the Breeders' Cup and there's no reason they can't also do so overseas. International competition is good for all of us.” The post Soldier Rising To Skip Longines Hong Kong Vase appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Woody Stephens S. hero Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze) was relocated to War Horse Place for the 2024 breeding season where the 7-year-old will stand for $5,000 LFSN, the farm said in a release Friday. Joining recent arrival GI Preakness S. champ Rombauer (Twirling Candy), Hog Creek Hustle was campaigned by Something Special Racing and trained by Vickie Foley. Retired in 2021, he earned $774,546 over the course of his racing career which spanned 24 starts with 13 in-the-money finishes and included a thrilling runner-up effort to MGISW Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) in the 2019 edition of the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. Hog Creek Hustle is out of Candy Fortune (Candy Ride {Arg}) and counts as a half-brother GSW Majestic Dunhill (Majesticperfection). Breeders are invited to schedule inspections at their convenience by contacting Dana McCreary at (859) 509-3157. The post GISW Hog Creek Hustle Relocated To War Horse Place appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Over 250 people attended the first edition of the TBA ACCESS Foal Forum in the Tattersalls sales ring on Thursday night, the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) announced on Friday. The free-to-attend event welcomed both TBA members and non-members, and aimed to inform and educate attendees about the intricacies and challenges of breeding and pinhooking foals. The forum was led by Vanessa Ryle and featured insights into the first steps and considerations of breeding a foal, nurturing the growth of a young foal with the expertise of Kate Sigsworth of West Moor Stud, and Ed Harper from Whitsbury Manor Stud. Considerations when buying and re-offering stock at sales were covered by Mimi Wadham and Violet Hesketh of WH Bloodstock and leading bloodstock agent, Alex Elliott and some of the key mistakes both have made when first starting out. Robert Dallas of Rossdales provided excellent insight from a veterinary perspective across all areas. A recording of the Foal Forum will soon be available to view on the TBA website. The post First Edition Of The TBA ACCESS Foal Forum Well-Attended appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The rulebook for the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, is now available for review on the organization's website, the Retired Racehorse Project said in a release early Friday morning. Revisions to rules are indicated in red and clarifications are indicated in blue. A free webinar presentation about the application process will take place for any interested individuals via the Retired Racehorse Project's Facebook page on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The post Thoroughbred Makeover Rulebook Out appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

His father had long since ceased training, but they still always stood at the same point by the Santa Anita paddock. “There was a spot there, where the horses come out from the saddling enclosure and make a right,” Evan Ferraro recalls. “From there you could look at them straight on, so you could see their conformation, their joints, and my dad would point stuff out to me.” And there was one filly by In Excess (Ire) that just blew the veteran horseman away: a Harris Farms homebred, saddled by Carla Gaines to win on debut down the turf chute. This was 2005, soon after Evan had graduated USC as an English major. Since then, he has become a familiar face through 15 years at Fasig-Tipton, where he is now director of marketing. But at the time he was still wondering about emulating his father Stephen, who had for 20 years operated a small barn on the Southern California circuit before retiring in 1990 to join the family's vending-machine business. Stephen Ferraro | Ralph Merlino “He liked to have a 12-to-16 horse stable, and back then you could make a good living doing that,” Evan says. “It was a different time. But he was well respected and had some nice graded stakes horses.” Evan was doubly blessed, then, not only to grow up in the immaculate climate of Sierra Madre-around the corner from Charlie Whittingham-but also to have many formative experiences on the backside. “I just loved getting up early and hanging out at the track,” Evan says. “I'd sit in the tack room while Dad worked, walk out with him to watch training, or he'd put me on the outrider's pony, things like that. Santa Anita was still getting 30,000 people at the races during the week, and 50,000 on the weekends, as standard.” To this day, Stephen retains a box at Santa Anita. But his attention over recent months has shifted to Kentucky-and all thanks to that In Excess filly. Her name was Never to Excess, and Stephen knew the family well. The dam had won the Torrey Pines S. at Del Mar and was a half-sister to elite winners Fabulous Notion (Somethingfabulous) and Cacoethes (Alydar). Never to Excess only managed a couple more starts. “But my dad just loved her in the paddock, every time, and it was a family he'd always revered,” Evan says. “In fact the first broodmare he ever owned, in the '60s, was from this family. So eventually he inquired whether John Harris would consider selling her. Mr. Harris already had a lot of the family, so fortunately he agreed and let us into it.” The Ferraros sent her to Tribal Rule, a son of Storm Cat who tore up the track a couple of times in a curtailed career for Pam and Martin Wygod. Here they had some extra encouragement from Evan's mom Richmond, who had brought her own Turf pedigree from the opposite coast. Her mother had managed several farms in northern Virginia, including a stint running a training barn for none other than Liz Tippett. View from the Santa Anita Park grandstand | Horsephotos “Oh yeah, we're a racing family,” Evan says. “That's how I got the bug, being around it so much. My paternal grandmother was a racing commissioner [in California] in the '80s. And my mother did stallion advertising for years, and worked for Barretts during that company's whole existence. Anyway she was doing advertising for the Wygods, so we knew how talented Tribal Rule had been. He never won a stake or anything, but in his few races he'd put up a couple of incredible, open-length romps in fast times. And that speed was what worked for us, raising Cal-breds.” So they bred Never to Excess to Tribal Rule three times running. The first foal was stakes-placed on his second start, albeit didn't really build from there. But the Ferraros struck gold with the third, a 2009 filly they named Ismene. (She was Antigone's sister, never inclined to excess: Stephen, demonstrably, had also majored in literature!) “She was raised by Russell Drake, Mr. Wygod's farm manager,” Evan says. “And all along he told my dad, 'This is a really nice filly you've got here.' Dad put her in training with Bill Spawr, an old buddy of his. Patrick Valenzuela rode her at Del Mar in her first race, and she 'whistled.' And then she came back and won two stakes: the Anoakia at Oak Tree, against open company, and then the Cal Breeders [Champion S.] on opening day at Santa Anita.” That qualified Ismene as champion state-bred filly of her crop. Unfortunately she had to sit out her sophomore campaign with a knee chip, but she returned to finish runner-up three times in stakes company at four. She even took a swing at the GI Breeders Cup' Filly and Mare Sprint, but that proved a bridge too far and they retired her. Never to Excess had shown speed, class and versatility, being effective on dirt, turf and synthetic. Throw in the looks that had captivated Stephen, and some elite blood close up, and Ismene appeared a very eligible proposition for her next career. Clocker's Corner | Zoe Metz Her first date was with Lucky Pulpit, freshly exalted by his son California Chrome. And there was a sentimental connection here, too, Evan having held Lucky Pulpit in the breeding shed during his first season at stud. “I'd gone to Harris Farms to get some experience,” he explains. “I'd worked at TVG for my last semester of college, as a production assistant, but wanted to get closer to the horses. So I went to work there and did a little bit of everything: breeding shed, worked with mares and foals, yearling sales prep, sales consignments, just learning all the aspects of a horse farm.” Then one morning at Clockers' Corner he was introduced to Walt Robertson, at the time president of Fasig-Tipton, and sent him a resumé. Evan was offered an internship, and has never looked back. “So that's how I ended up not being a trainer,” he says with a smile. “The hours were better, and it was a lot of fun. I got to travel-and I saw that these Fasig-Tipton guys all eat pretty well!” We'll come back to life at Fasig, but meanwhile let's not forget the mare we left with Lucky Pulpit. Their daughter made $90,000 as a yearling and won a stakes. Next came an Acclamation filly, who brought $160,000 and was placed in four stakes. “She was gorgeous, still is,” Evan says. “I think she was as high a priced filly as her sire ever had. So after those first two, because she was showing herself to be a good producer, we decided to bring Ismene to Kentucky.” Her first couple of covers in the Bluegrass did not prove productive, but then they rolled the dice with an upgrade to Arrogate. “He was a horse my dad saw coming up the ranks in California, and always loved,” Evan explains. “And he believed strongly in a cross to Caro [grandsire of In Excess]. That's what he got with that first foal, with Lucky Pulpit [whose dam is by Caro's son Cozzene]. And then with Arrogate, you get it through Unbridled's Song [out of a Caro mare].” Right from the outset, James Herbener Jr. was upbeat about the resulting colt. “Jimmy was just as good a horseman as there was in Kentucky,” Evan says. “And though he usually never said a whole lot, he was pretty high on this foal the whole way.” So was there a temptation to convert that promise into dollars and cents, at a certain auction house down the road on the Newtown Pike? “Yeah, we hemmed and hawed about it,” admits Evan. “You had to, because that's how you keep the whole thing going. But this was such a cool horse. And finally my dad just said, 'I want to race him.' We thought that potentially he could be a bit special, certainly he was the best-bred we'd ever had, and at my dad's age [80] he'd rather just give the horse a shot.” Liberal Arts | Coady Photography As a pair of English majors, with a mare named from Greek myth, Stephen and Evan named the colt Liberal Arts. They put him into pre-training with Robbie Medina. Then at Blackwood, Medina subsequently decided to open a public stable based at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington. “And when Robbie went out on his own, we just kept it simple, kept the horse where he was doing well,” says Evan. “Robbie had broken the horse for us, he'd spoken highly of him and wanted to continue on with him. I'd met Robbie several years back, through a good friend and colleague at Fasig-Tipton, Max Hodge. They'd worked together for Shug [McGaughey] way back when, and remained very close friends. So I knew how good a horseman Robbie was.” For these patrons, Medina had to meet high standards. For Stephen had learned much about their calling from his friend Willard Proctor, the Texas hardboot who had trained his first winner in 1933. Sure enough, Liberal Arts has been given a fairly throwback grounding as a 2-year-old. “He's had an old school campaign, really,” Evan notes. “He ran five furlongs at Churchill in May, six furlongs a month later at Ellis, and then broke his maiden five or six weeks later, going seven furlongs. Then he had a one-turn mile race in the [GIII] Iroquois. He had a bit of trouble, almost clipped heels in the stretch. I don't know if he would have caught the winner, but I think that cost him second anyways.” But that's the whole point: if a horse gets to learn its trade by racing, those little reverses can be worn as learning experiences. Okay, this year we had a GI Kentucky Derby winner unraced until late January; but runner-up Two Phil's (Hard Spun) showed that the time-honored “school of hard knocks” remains as valid as ever. In the big picture, then, the Iroquois could be counted a net gain. “Absolutely,” agrees Evan. “That was the deal all along. He was just starting to mature, and we knew that he was going to like going two turns. Robbie was really excited to stretch him out in the [GIII] Street Sense S., and he relished it. I know there was the off-going, but I think he benefitted from the distance more than anything.” Certainly it was a revelatory performance, Liberal Arts bursting through from the rear to take control in the stretch, hitting the wire in full cry. While you sometimes see odd scenarios in slop, this just looked like a horse for whom everything is falling into place. “I watched every race that day, and nobody else made up that much ground,” Evan reflects. “He's really learned to relax and turn off a little bit. He's an unusual horse. Truthfully, we thought he'd be a fall 2-year-old. He's a good-sized horse by Arrogate. I think Arrogate's only had one other 2-year-old colt win a graded stakes, and that was Cave Rock.” “But Robbie broke this horse and then just went on with him, because he kept picking it up. He didn't want to stop on him, when he was going along so naturally. The horse has learned with each race, and hopefully he's only going to get better as he gets older. He's got a great foundation now, with five starts in him, and I think he's only just getting into what he wants to do. Hopefully, that bodes well for him as a 3-year-old.” Liberal Arts under the Twin Spires | Coady Photography The Ferraros know the game too well to be getting carried away. Its vagaries have already intruded poignantly, in that Ismene is no longer around. But for all the lows that must be weighed against its occasional highs, somehow the captivation of our sport never fades. Certainly Evan adores the life. “I love going to farms, being on the road, working with the people breeding and raising these horses, and trying to direct them to the best place possible to get the best return they can,” he says. “I do advertising and marketing, but I'm also inspecting horses, recruiting for the November Sale, handling certain accounts. We all wear a lot of different hats at Fasig-Tipton. We have a tremendous team and a wonderful working environment.” That team spirit at Fasig has certainly contributed to the enjoyment Evan and his father are deriving from Liberal Arts. Even the heartbreaking loss of Herbener, in September 2021, ended up widening the circle of engagement. “We were all just rattled, it was such a sad deal,” Evan recalls. “And then when his family decided not to go on with a boarding operation, we had to find a spot for Liberal Arts to be raised. So then Bayne Welker, another colleague at Fasig-Tipton, steps in and says, 'I need one more colt on my farm to pair some stuff up. I'd be happy to take him.' So he and his wife Chris raise him as a yearling for us.” Those extra layers have made the emergence of Liberal Arts feel extra special. “I think about all that stuff,” Evan says. “We bred our only mare to this horse my dad always really liked; decided not to sell; he was raised by Jimmy; Jimmy passes away, a colleague and friend steps in; and then another one introduces us to the guy who trains him. Robbie goes out on his own, and Liberal Arts becomes his first graded stakes winner. And it's actually the first time I've been in partnership with my dad, the first time our names have ever been on the program together. “So there's a lot of different pieces all fitting together. I can't say enough about the job Robbie has just done, developing this horse. He's a first-class horseman, with great staff. It's a long ways to get this horse to the big dance. If we get there, it's because he's going to take us there; we're not going to take him. But before the Breeders' Cup, he was the top-ranked horse by Derby points. That felt pretty wild. You've got to stay grounded, because so much can change or go wrong. But no, we're really excited.” The post Liberal Arts A Ferraro Family Adventure appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chad Brown has shipped in to win five of the last six runnings of the Matriarch and has four for this year's edition vs. three from local turf leader Phil D'Amato.View the full article

Godolphin's Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) has been the best dirt horse in Japan this year at distances up to a mile, but the 5-year-old faces a stamina-stretching test from a horrible draw when he faces 14 others in Sunday's G1 Champions Cup (1800m) at Chukyo Racecourse. A $70,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase, the chestnut won the G3 Negishi S. over 1400 metres at Toyko in January and silenced those who questioned his ability to stay an extra furlong when running out a comfortable winner of the G1 February S. the following month. Sent to Dubai for the G1 Golden Shaheen over a 1200-metre journey that was too sharp, he was only 10th, but rebounded with a front-running romp in the Listed Mile Championship Nambu Hai Oct. 9. He tries a two-turn route for the first time and Ryusei Sakai will have to judge it right from the 15 hole. “While there is a worry about the 1800 metres this time, and how balanced he might be in the run, he's been successful so far, so we can only think of him making a big challenge here,” said trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka. “It'll be interesting to see what kind of race he can run. We'll rely on the jockey to get the best out of him.” 重戦車のような力強さが伝わる一枚を。 レモンポップです。水曜朝のワンシーン。#レモンポップ#チャンピオンズＣ pic.twitter.com/0s78euWIN1 — 日刊ゲンダイ　競馬 (@gendai_keiba) December 1, 2023 Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}) was an unlucky loser of this year 12 months ago, but has put together a very formidable record this season. Fifth to Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai World Cup in March at Meydan–site of his 2022 G2 UAE Derby score–the dark bay was just beaten by Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro) in the valuable Listed Teio Sho June 28 and overwhelmed compatriot Gloria Mundi (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) by 10 lengths in the G3 Korea Cup at Seoul Sept. 10. “There are some strong horses in the race again this year, but with the condition he's in, it should put him right up there with them,” commented trainer Koichi Shintani. “He hasn't been losing by much in his previous races, and the way he won last time in Korea certainly gives us confidence here.” T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister), the 2021 Champions Cup winner and fourth last year, has acquitted himself well without winning this term. Fourth in the World Cup, he was a head behind Crown Pride in the Teio Sho and third to the progressive King's Sword (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) and Notturno (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the Listed JBC Classic Nov. 3. Three-year-old Seraphic Call (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) is the X-factor in the Champions Cup, as he is perfect from his five starts to date, all this season. After winning his first four in the lower grades, he rattled home from the latter half of the field to stamp his authority on Kyoto's G3 Miyako S. Nov. 5, pulling away to best Make a Leap (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) by three emphatic lengths. A pair of females are in this year's line-up, including JBC Ladies' Classic heroine Icon Tailor (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), and Ater Astraea (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}), beaten 4 1/2 lengths into third in the same event.` The post Lemon Pop Has Work Cut Out In Champions Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The @FreedmanMitch-trained Guido is set to line up in the Haymes Paint Jericho Cup at @wboolracingclub Securing a victory in Sunday’s $304K race, on top of becoming a G1 winning trainer this Spring, would mark a significant highlight in Mitch’s career to date. The @FreedmanMitch-trained Guido is set to line up in the Haymes Paint Jericho Cup at @wboolracingclub @OTIRacing pic.twitter.com/BHR5GowAdr — Racing Victoria (@RacingVictoria) December 1, 2023 View the full article

Highflyer Bloodstock's Anthony Bromley has been named bloodstock agent of the year for 2023 by the Federation of Bloodstock Agents (FBA). Operating in both the Flat and National Hunt spheres, Bromley has been represented by the winners of 10 Group/Grade 1 races in England, Ireland and France this year. That record could yet be extended as one of the group, Impaire Et Passe (Fr), is set to run in Sunday's GI Hatton's Grade Hurdle. The English and Irish Arkle winner El Fabiolo (Fr) is another flag-bearer in the 'double green' of Bromley's long-standing clients Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, while on the Flat the agent was behind the purchase of star stayer Trueshan (Fr), G1 King's Stand S. winner Bradsell (GB) and G2 Lowther S. victrix Relief Rally (Ire), who is catalogued to sell in next week's Sceptre Sessions as Lot 1798. Geoffrey Howson, honorary president of the Federation of Bloodstock Agents, said, “I first met Antony through David Minton and the late Peter Calver – a good judge of horses and men. I can recall Peter telling me that 'Brains' as he called Anthony, would go far in the industry. Anthony's knowledge of English, Irish and French jumping form is phenomenal. “I have always been impressed by Anthony's management of the Souede and Munir horses and his dealings with the media regarding their runners.” Bromley said, “I am thrilled to receive this award and it is particularly rewarding to be given something by your peers. Whilst it has indeed been a great year on the track for some of my buys, I have to thank my numerous amazing owners who continue to keep the faith by giving me the chances and of course to the trainers and jockeys who are so consistently top class. I am only the agent and would be nothing without those good teams supporting me.” The post Bromley is FBA Agent of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star Victorian jockey Blake Shinn will be in action in New Zealand on Boxing Day and at the Karaka Millions Meeting. Photo: (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Champion Victorian jockey Blake Shinn will be in action in New Zealand on Boxing Day at Pukekohe Park as well as at the lucrative Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 27. Shinn, who was in New Zealand just over a week ago for the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sales, has been engaged to ride star filly Molly Bloom in the Group 2 Eight Carat Stakes (1600m) for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on Boxing Day. The last-start winner of the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) will be one of four rides for the Matamata trainers on the feature day of the festive season, with Molly Bloom also a likely candidate for the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 27. “I am extremely excited for the opportunities ahead in New Zealand and being a part of two such wonderful race days,” Shinn said. “I am forever grateful for the hospitality and warm welcome shown when visiting New Zealand and it will be great to link up with good friends in Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on the 26th, as well as any opportunities that may arise from other trainers and owners at the meeting. “I had the privilege of partnering Summer Passage for Lance and Andrew in 2017 when he won the Sistema Stakes (Group 1, 1200m) and I am grateful they have entrusted me with such an exciting filly in Molly Bloom. “I eagerly look forward to the Karaka Millions as well with its return to Ellerslie and am grateful for any support endeared to me across the two meetings” Shinn’s agent Liam Prior confirmed a handful of candidates had made an approach regarding rides in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) and said Shinn was keen to pick up as many rides as possible at the meet. More horse racing news View the full article

Capo Dell Impero (inside) will contest the Cromwell Cup (2030m) on Sunday. Photo: Race Images South Leading Otago trainers Brian and Shane Anderton are set to make their presence felt with two well-credentialled runners in Sunday’s $50,000 Cromwell Cup (2030m). Shane Anderton expects the step up to 2030m to be ideal for Capo Dell Impero and Burgie, who are both coming out of the Group 3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) during last month’s New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch. Capo Dell Impero produced one of the eye-catching performances in that $250,000 feature, finishing strongly out of the back half of the field to finish fifth. He ended up only 2.8 lengths behind Puntura, and he clocked a slick 33.46 for his last 600m – half a second faster than the winner. “I thought it was a bloody great run,” Anderton said. “He was one of the few in the field who made up ground. They were coming from the back in the early part of that day, but in that race the first four around the corner were the first four home. He did a really good job to finish it off the way he did.” Anderton is looking forward to seeing Capo Dell Impero step back up over a middle-distance. This will be the Ghibellines gelding’s first attempt at the unique 2030m trip, but his two starts at 2000m have produced a three-length win in the Hornby Club Founders Cup and a runner-up finish behind Times Ticking in the Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup. “We’ve been quite happy with him since his last-start run,” Anderton said. “The mile is short enough for him and he’s really looking for that 2000m now. “He’s had a good build-up to the race. The only thing that hasn’t quite gone to plan is that he’s drawn a bit awkwardly with a wide gate (15). We’ll have to ride him for a bit of luck and hope that we can get some cover.” The increased distance is also expected to favour Capo Dell Impero’s talented stablemate Burgie. The daughter of Ghibellines won the Listed Warstep Stakes over 2000m as a three-year-old. She stuck mainly to 1600m last season, placing in the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes in March, and Anderton was satisfied with her last-start eighth in the Coupland’s Mile. “She’s another one who’s crying out for more ground,” he said. “I thought her run in the Coupland’s was pretty good too. Kozzi (Asano, jockey) just said she got held up at the wrong time. We’ve been happy enough with how she’s been doing since the race. “Both of our runners will really appreciate the step up to 2000m this weekend and should be nice chances in the race.” The stable has 10 entries throughout Sunday’s card, and another interesting runner is Exchange. The six-race winner is making his first start since April. “He’s had a jumpout and did a pretty good job in that,” Anderton said. “His work’s been good. We wouldn’t be surprised at all if he proved to be pretty competitive first-up.” More horse racing news View the full article

Middle-distance specialist Defibrillate will contest Saturday’s Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m). Photo Credit: Kristin Ledington Handicap conditions won’t be in the favour of middle-distance specialist Defibrillate when the classy gelding contests the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday. The nine-year-old son of Shocking was a key figure in the top-flight middle-distance events last season and looked to be returning to solid form at Pukekohe last start when finishing fourth behind proven mares Aquacade and Aromatic. A winner of 12 races and more than $1 million in stakes, Defibrillate enters the Wanganui feature with a testing 59 kilograms with Johnathan Parkes aboard. “It’s a bit of a tough call with 59kg on his back, especially when the next ones have 56, 53.5 and the rest have 53,” trainer Graham Richardson said. “It’s a nice race for him so we’re hopeful, and he’s been working really well.” Since returning to Kiwi shores more than 12 months ago following three seasons with Patrick Payne in Victoria, Defibrillate claimed a sensational victory in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m), a race Richardson hopes to target again on Boxing Day. Closer to Richardson’s Matamata base, he and training partner Rogan Norvall will have three representatives at the Te Rapa meeting on Saturday. Leading a relatively inexperienced group of runners will be Snazzytavi, the lightly-raced four-year-old contesting the Lodge Real Estate 1400. Warren Kennedy will retain the ride aboard the Cambridge Stud-owned mare after the combination were a game second behind Doddle fresh-up at Pukekohe in just her fourth career start. “It’s a shame she’s drawn wide (barrier 14) because her work has been first class,” Richardson said. “She’ll be aimed towards the Stella Artois Final (1500m).” Expat-South African jockey Billy Jacobson will seek his first New Zealand victory at Te Rapa and will likely partner both Chante Moi and Therapeutic for Richardson’s stable, with Moving Melody a doubtful starter. “Chante Moi is a nice filly that’s still learning, but whatever she does tomorrow she will improve on, as with Therapeutic.” More horse racing news View the full article

Luxembourg leads Aidan O’Brien’s charge. With Luxembourg fronting a squad which is represented in each one of the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), it is unlikely that Aidan O’Brien will have ever arrived at the meeting with such strength in depth. It may well be a reflection of the standard of horse at Ballydoyle, which includes the Derby and Breeders’ Cup winner Auguste Rodin and Europe’s most exciting two-year-old, City Of Troy. Luxembourg, who was beaten only half a length by Auguste Rodin in attempting to defend his title in September’s Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m), leads the line in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and is one of the highest profile runners that has been brought to Sha Tin by one of the world’s foremost trainers. “We were training him for the Champion Stakes (Group 1, 2000m) in England and he got a foot bruise, it just held him up for a couple of weeks that’s why didn’t go there,” O’Brien said. “Obviously it was a great run in the Irish Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter, he’s versatile we think and he likes nice ground. We’re looking forward to him.” O’Brien has a record three victories in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and this time he has nominated the filly Warm Heart, winner of the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks and Group 1 Prix Vermeille at 2400m and fresh from a neck defeat to Inspiral in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at 2000m. “We were debating what we’d do, I suppose either of them could have gone either way but we just felt it was a very good run in the Irish Champion Stakes from Luxembourg,” the trainer explained. “Warm Heart ran over 10 furlongs in America but she’d won her two Group 1s over a mile and a half. “She’s been very progressive, she’s thrived physically, loves nicer ground, she’s tactically quick and she doesn’t surrender. She’s been unbelievable really.” One about whom we may well hear more of in the future is Group 1 Hong Kong Mile-bound Cairo, who was second to his prolific stablemate Paddington in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m) and returned from a break over the European summer to finish a close third in a Listed race over the same distance at Leopardstown in late October. “We were hopeful he’d get into Hong Kong but he had to have a run,” O’Brien said. “We were delighted with him. He obviously got a bit tired, the ground was very soft and wasn’t ideal but his run before when he was second to Paddington was on nice ground and we’ve been very happy with his work since. “We think he’s progressed plenty. We always thought and hoped he could be a horse that could go on to a lot of those races all over the world.” The last member of a quartet due to arrive this weekend is in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). Three-year-old colt Aesop’s Fables has finished a narrow third in two Group 1 events over 1000m, behind Highfield Princess in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp and then Nobals in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. O’Brien said: “He’s been progressive all the time. We put the blinkers on before France, we were delighted there and then he ran a stormer in America. “He’s a big horse, maybe he just took a bit of time to get the hang of it. “His best two runs were over five furlongs but he looks like he’s been coming home well in both runs. There’s every chance he should be ok over six but we’ll learn a lot more about him.” More horse racing news View the full article

Caspar Fownes has two Hong Kong Derby wins to his credit. Plotting a third Hong Kong Derby (2000m) conquest, Caspar Fownes will unveil Classics contender Awesome Fluke at Sha Tin on Sunday. Rated 77 after winning the Group 2 WATC Derby (2400m) at Ascot Racecourse on April 8, Awesome Fluke will carry 130lb this week after Alfred Chan’s 5lb-claim as Fownes sets a path to the 2024 Hong Kong Derby on March 24. Previously trained by John O’Shea in Sydney, Awesome Fluke raced as Awesome John in Australia where he won three races from 1600m to 2400m from 13 starts. Bidding to add to his stable’s Hong Kong Derby honour roll of Super Satin in 2010 and Sky Darci in 2021, Fownes has modest initial expectations ahead of his newcomer’s debut. “He (Awesome Fluke) looks like a real staying proposition – 1400 (metres) first-up is going to be on the sharp side – but you would like to see him taking some ground off them late, that would be nice,” Fownes said. “He looks like a dead-set 2000 (metres) to 2400 (metres) horse. On his trials and everything, he sorted of stayed through the line strong. Let’s see on Sunday, the racing pace up front might suit him and just make him hit the line better. “He’s starting on a rating of 77 and you just like to see them hopefully after a couple of races adjust to Hong Kong’s tempo and put the writing on the wall with a win. Hopefully, once you get to a rating of 85, you’re there.” Since joining Fownes’ stable, Awesome Fluke has had five trials for his new trainer with the latest over 1700m at Happy Valley on November 25 when fourth behind Legion Of Merit. With 16 wins so far this season, Fownes is fifth in the trainers’ championship and will saddle eight runners on Sunday at Sha Tin including Kurpany, who contests the Class 2 The Peninsula Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup (1200m, dirt) under Ellis Wong. “It’s nice that the handicapping department are looking at these races and making a couple of changes so that horses can get an opportunity to race. He’s rated 102, he’s a very honest horse, he handles the dirt surface well, he’s got a 10-pound claim on and I just think he’ll make his presence felt on that surface,” Fownes said “He should be a first-three chance.” More horse racing news View the full article

Group 1 racing takes place in WA as the Perth Carnival’s elite levels continue with the $1.5 million Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on Saturday. Overpass is the horse to beat in the 2023 Winterbottom Stakes in WA this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart. A quality line-up of sprinters faces off in this year’s Winterbottom field with the latest markets at Ladbrokes led by the autumn’s The Quokka winner Overpass at $3.10. Bjorn Baker’s smart Vancouver gelding was good here posting a narrow upset over local star Amelia’s Jewel in mid-April to claim the inaugural $4 million The Quokka race at the track and trip. At his latest he was four lengths back 10th in the $20 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney. Freshened-up since Overpass is now the one to beat back in Perth against an easier line-up. Three other runners join Overpass at single-figure Winterbottom Stakes odds including the $7 second elect Ripcord. The Luke Fernie-trained Written By three-year-old is out to break a notable drought of youngster’s in the race with the last of his age to win being Hardrada back in 2002. The up-and-comer is putting together a nice Ascot track record (5:2-1-1) and comes off a narrow win here from barrier 14 of 14 in the Listed $500,000 Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) on November 18. He is drawn to get an easier run this weekend in the Group 1 from barrier seven with Clint Johnston-Porter retaining the ride. Triple Missile ($8.50) in barrier one for Damien Oliver’s penultimate Group 1 ride before retirement and the consistent Oscar’s Fortune ($9) wider out in gate 13 for the ‘Wizard of the West’ Willie Pike round out the single-figure fancies. The Lindsey Smith-trained Smart Missile six-year-old Triple Missile has a 50% winning strike rate over the 1200m at Ascot and is back west after a solid spring in Melbourne. Two back he was a length second to Star Patrol in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) before another run down the ‘Straight Six’ at Flemington when sixth in a blanket finish in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) a month ago. Oscor’s Fortune meanwhile is another three-year-old out to beat the older sprinters with the Dion Luciani-trained Rich Enuff gelding having lost just one of his five starts to date. He posted four straight wins before going down a nostril flare in the Placid Ark, a devastatingly close loss he is out to atone for in the rematch with Ripcord on the weekend. The others most likely chasing an upset at double-figures include the Lou Luciani-trained Hot Zed ($11) coming off a Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes win and the returning market mover Resortman heavily backed in from $41 to $17. The Winterbottom Stakes is set to run as Ascot Race 9 at 5:20pm (AWST) on Saturday’s 10-race card. 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Barriers No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 6690x12x20 OVERPASS Bjorn Baker Joshua Parr 11 58.5kg 113 2 x22630x136 RED CAN MAN Steve Wolfe Paul Harvey 10 58.5kg 107 3 x110x3230x SAVATOXL Will Savage Ms Holly Watson 8 58.5kg 106 4 6x7156x371 HOT ZED Lou Luciani Jason Whiting 2 58.5kg 107 5 11340x473x RESORTMAN Michael Lane Brad Rawiller 9 58.5kg 107 6 x3043x0x40 LAVERROD Sean & Jake Casey Jordan Turner 15 58.5kg 101 7 x3113132x1 SNOWDOME Neville Parnham Chris Parnham 18 58.5kg 100 8 11x42x7x26 TRIPLE MISSILE Lindsey Smith Damien Oliver 1 58.5kg 100 9 46x2x11328 PHANTA Chris & Michael Gangemi Brad Parnham 17 58.5kg 101 10 221x5244x8 CLEMENCEAU Chris & Michael Gangemi Jarrad Noske 14 58.5kg 95 11 552150×529 MAN CRUSH Luke Fernie Michael Poy 12 58.5kg 90 12 1x353x4484 GO FORWARD Chris & Michael Gangemi Laqdar Ramoly 6 58.5kg 82 13 x1159x5255 MY BELLA MAE Dion Luciani Patrick Carbery 5 56.5kg 99 14 x1336541x6 FLYING MISSILE Neville Parnham Steven Parnham 3 56.5kg 88 15 13×2281 RIPCORD Luke Fernie Clint Johnston-Porter 7 54.5kg 86 16 11112 OSCAR’S FORTUNE Dion Luciani William Pike 13 54.5kg 84 17e 213421234x CORN COB Julia Martin Austin Galati 16 58.5kg 84 18e 135×231182 VALENCY Robyn Lockwood 4 56.5kg 78 Table Credit: Racing Australia. The post Winterbottom Stakes 2023 Field & Odds Update: Overpass Firm Favourite appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Jockey cuts contract short to return to Australia with his young family, while French rider expected to be fit to take his mounts at Sha Tin on SundayView the full article

Champion Victorian jockey Blake Shinn will be in action in New Zealand on Boxing Day at Pukekohe Park as well as at the lucrative Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 27. Shinn, who was in New Zealand just over a week ago for the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sales, has been engaged to ride star filly Molly Bloom in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Stakes (1600m) for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on Boxing Day. Star Victorian jockey Blake Shinn will be in action in New Zealand on Boxing Day and at the Karaka Millions Meeting Photo: (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) The last-start winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) will be one of four rides for the Matamata trainers on the feature day of the festive season, with Molly Bloom also a likely candidate for the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 27. “I am extremely excited for the opportunities ahead in New Zealand and being a part of two such wonderful race days,” Shinn said. “I am forever grateful for the hospitality and warm welcome shown when visiting New Zealand and it will be great to link up with good friends in Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on the 26th, as well as any opportunities that may arise from other trainers and owners at the meeting. “I had the privilege of partnering Summer Passage for Lance and Andrew in 2017 when he won the Sistema Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) and I am grateful they have entrusted me with such an exciting filly in Molly Bloom. “I eagerly look forward to the Karaka Millions as well with its return to Ellerslie and am grateful for any support endeared to me across the two meetings” Shinn’s agent Liam Prior confirmed a handful of candidates had made an approach regarding rides in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m) and said Shinn was keen to pick up as many rides as possible at the meet. Prior can be contacted on +61434379706 View the full article

Champion Victorian jockey Blake Shinn will be in action in New Zealand on Boxing Day at Pukekohe Park as well as at the lucrative Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 27. Shinn, who was in New Zealand just over a week ago for the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sales, has been engaged to ride star filly Molly Bloom in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Stakes (1600m) for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on Boxing Day. Star Victorian jockey Blake Shinn will be in action in New Zealand on Boxing Day and at the Karaka Millions Meeting Photo: (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) The last-start winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) will be one of four rides for the Matamata trainers on the feature day of the festive season, with Molly Bloom also a likely candidate for the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 27. “I am extremely excited for the opportunities ahead in New Zealand and being a part of two such wonderful race days,” Shinn said. “I am forever grateful for the hospitality and warm welcome shown when visiting New Zealand and it will be great to link up with good friends in Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on the 26th, as well as any opportunities that may arise from other trainers and owners at the meeting. “I had the privilege of partnering Summer Passage for Lance and Andrew in 2017 when he won the Sistema Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) and I am grateful they have entrusted me with such an exciting filly in Molly Bloom. “I eagerly look forward to the Karaka Millions as well with its return to Ellerslie and am grateful for any support endeared to me across the two meetings” Shinn’s agent Liam Prior confirmed a handful of candidates had made an approach regarding rides in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m) and said Shinn was keen to pick up as many rides as possible at the meet. Prior can be contacted on +61434379706 View the full article

Champion Victorian jockey Blake Shinn will be in action in New Zealand on Boxing Day at Pukekohe Park as well as at the lucrative Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 27. Shinn, who was in New Zealand just over a week ago for the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sales, has been engaged to ride star filly Molly Bloom in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Stakes (1600m) for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on Boxing Day. Star Victorian jockey Blake Shinn will be in action in New Zealand on Boxing Day and at the Karaka Millions Meeting Photo: (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) The last-start winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) will be one of four rides for the Matamata trainers on the feature day of the festive season, with Molly Bloom also a likely candidate for the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 27. “I am extremely excited for the opportunities ahead in New Zealand and being a part of two such wonderful race days,” Shinn said. “I am forever grateful for the hospitality and warm welcome shown when visiting New Zealand and it will be great to link up with good friends in Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on the 26th, as well as any opportunities that may arise from other trainers and owners at the meeting. “I had the privilege of partnering Summer Passage for Lance and Andrew in 2017 when he won the Sistema Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) and I am grateful they have entrusted me with such an exciting filly in Molly Bloom. “I eagerly look forward to the Karaka Millions as well with its return to Ellerslie and am grateful for any support endeared to me across the two meetings” Shinn’s agent Liam Prior confirmed a handful of candidates had made an approach regarding rides in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m) and said Shinn was keen to pick up as many rides as possible at the meet. Prior can be contacted on +61434379706 View the full article

Shock ‘Em Ova’s (NZ) (Shocking) spring campaign is over after trainer Alex Rae scratched him from Saturday’s Gr.2 Zipping Classic at Caulfield. Rae made the decision to scratch after his stable star suffered from “some very mild inflammation in a fetlock”. “I have had to pull Shock ‘Em Ova out of the Classic on Saturday due to some very mild inflammation in a fetlock incurred galloping Tuesday morning,” Rae told racing.com “The horse is 98 percent but we just feel we need to be at our best to be racing at WFA and mindful of the fact the horse’s best is still to come, He will now be sent for a spell.” A terrific Rosehill Cup run turned out to be the last of his campaign with the talented five-year-old was enormous in the A$750,000 contest, charging from the back to place at his first attempt going in the clockwise direction. “He was terrific; the first time that way of going was always going to be a big test, but he dealt with it really well,” Rae said. “If a few more things went his way, he probably finishes up even closer.” View the full article

Handicap conditions won’t be in the favour of middle-distance specialist Defibrillate when the classy gelding contests the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday. The nine-year-old son of Shocking was a key figure in the top-flight middle-distance events last season and looked to be returning to solid form at Pukekohe last start when finishing fourth behind proven mares Aquacade and Aromatic. A winner of 12 races and more than $1 million in stakes, Defibrillate enters the Wanganui feature with a testing 59 kilograms with Johnathon Parkes aboard. “It’s a bit of a tough call with 59kg on his back, especially when the next ones have 56, 53.5 and the rest have 53,” Richardson said. “It’s a nice race for him so we’re hopeful, and he’s been working really well.” Since returning to Kiwi shores more than 12 months ago following three seasons with Patrick Payne in Victoria, Defibrillate claimed a sensational victory in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m), a race Richardson hopes to target again on Boxing Day. Closer to Richardson’s Matamata base, he and training partner Rogan Norvall will have three representatives at the Te Rapa meeting on Saturday. Leading a relatively inexperienced group of runners will be Snazzytavi, the lightly-raced four-year-old contesting the Lodge Real Estate 1400. Warren Kennedy will retain the ride aboard the Cambridge Stud-owned mare after the combination were a game second behind Doddle fresh-up at Pukekohe in just her fourth career start. “It’s a shame she’s drawn wide (barrier 14) because her work has been first class,” Richardson said. “She’ll be aimed towards the Stella Artois Final (1500m).” Expat-South African jockey Billy Jacobson will seek his first New Zealand victory at Te Rapa and will likely partner both Chante Moi and Therapeutic for Richardson’s stable, with Moving Melody a doubtful starter. A daughter of Savabeel, Chante Moi will have her debut raceday appearance in the Lodge Commercial 1300, while stablemate Therapeutic will resume in the Cambridge Real Estate 1300 at his second start. “Chante Moi is a nice filly that’s still learning, but whatever she does tomorrow she will improve on, as with Therapeutic.” View the full article

Racing commentator Tony Lee is set to call his final Wellington Cup meeting following a long and iconic career behind the microphone stretching back to the 1980s. Dunedin-based race caller Justin Evans is preparing to move north where he will take over the reins from Mr Lee as Central Districts commentator in the New Year. Entain Managing Director – New Zealand, Cameron Rodger, said he wanted to acknowledge the enormous contribution Mr Lee had made to Trackside’s broadcast team over the years, which will conclude at the end of the Wellington Cup meeting on 20 January next year. “Tony has produced some incredible calls in the commentary box, like Castletown’s three Wellington Cups and his description of the flying megastar Xcellent in the 2005 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings,” Cameron Rodger said. After four years based in Dunedin as a commentator covering all racing codes, Mr Evans will take over the thoroughbred mantle from Mr Lee and will also call harness racing and back up Central Districts greyhound commentator Mark Rosanowski. “Justin will also be an integral part of the studio team with more programming and initiatives being introduced under the Entain broadcast banner,” Cameron Rodger said. Trackside’s latest commentary box recruit, 20-year-old Dan Fogarty, will take over as the regular Southland greyhound commentator, while Craig Rail will look after both harness and thoroughbred meetings in the Otago/Southland region. “Dan is a great success story from the Trackside internship programme and in just 12 months has called all three codes at a standard well beyond his years,” Cameron Rodger said. View the full article

Leading Otago trainers Brian and Shane Anderton are set to make their presence felt with two well-credentialled runners in Sunday’s $50,000 Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m). Shane Anderton expects the step up to 2030m to be ideal for Capo Dell Impero (NZ) (Ghibellines) and Burgie (NZ) (Ghibellines), who are both coming out of the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) during last month’s New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch. Capo Dell Impero produced one of the eye-catching performances in that $250,000 feature, finishing strongly out of the back half of the field to finish fifth. He ended up only 2.8 lengths behind Puntura, and he clocked a slick 33.46 for his last 600m – half a second faster than the winner. “I thought it was a bloody great run,” Anderton said. “He was one of the few in the field who made up ground. They were coming from the back in the early part of that day, but in that race the first four around the corner were the first four home. He did a really good job to finish it off the way he did.” Anderton is looking forward to seeing Capo Dell Impero step back up over a middle-distance. This will be the Ghibellines gelding’s first attempt at the unique 2030m trip, but his two starts at 2000m have produced a three-length win in the Hornby Club Founders Cup and a runner-up finish behind Times Ticking in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup. “We’ve been quite happy with him since his last-start run,” Anderton said. “The mile is short enough for him and he’s really looking for that 2000m now. “He’s had a good build-up to the race. The only thing that hasn’t quite gone to plan is that he’s drawn a bit awkwardly with a wide gate (15). We’ll have to ride him for a bit of luck and hope that we can get some cover.” The increased distance is also expected to favour Capo Dell Impero’s talented stablemate Burgie. The daughter of Ghibellines won the Listed Warstep Stakes over 2000m as a three-year-old. She stuck mainly to 1600m last season, placing in the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes in March, and Anderton was satisfied with her last-start eighth in the Coupland’s Mile. “She’s another one who’s crying out for more ground,” he said. “I thought her run in the Coupland’s was pretty good too. Kozzi (Asano, jockey) just said she got held up at the wrong time. We’ve been happy enough with how she’s been doing since the race. “Both of our runners will really appreciate the step up to 2000m this weekend and should be nice chances in the race.” The stable has 10 entries throughout Sunday’s card, and another interesting runner is Exchange (NZ) (Ghibellines) in the Positive Signs + Print (1400m). The six-race winner is making his first start since April. “He’s had a jumpout and did a pretty good job in that,” Anderton said. “His work’s been good. We wouldn’t be surprised at all if he proved to be pretty competitive first-up.” View the full article