Wandering Eyes

Mr Brightside, the beloved superstar from the Lindsay Park stable, made a dramatic comeback in the 100th edition of the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield, stealing the show in a thrilling finish. C.F. Orr Stakes winner 2024 Mr Brightside won by a nose on the line first-up at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. Despite a slow start, the champion settled comfortably behind a frantic pace set by Pride Of Jenni. Jockey Craig Williams expertly guided him through the pack, unleashing a powerful finishing kick in the final 50m to snatch victory from the brave mare. “He’s a great horse. He’s so dear to our hearts. It panned out he was slow away, but it worked out prefect with the pace,” said co-trainer JD Hayes, relieved after Mr Brightside’s impressive return, speaking to Racing.com. This triumphant return marked Mr Brightside’s fourth win from five starts at Caulfield and his second Group 1 victory on the track/trip. The win was particularly meaningful after a series of frustrating runner-up finishes last season, including in his heart-breaking loss in the Cox Plate. “He’s an absolute freak,” said Mr Brightside’s strapper, Will Evans, echoing the team’s excitement. “He just knows where the winning post is.” The victory cemented Mr Brightside’s position as a leading contender in the upcoming autumn carnival. His next target is the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) on Blue Diamond Stakes Day, followed by a title defence in the All-Star Mile taking place in 2024 at Caulfield, and a potential tilt at the prestigious Australian Cup at Flemington on March 30. 2024 C.F. Orr Stakes Results Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price 1 1 MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 4 59kg $1.95F 2 8 PRIDE OF JENNI Ciaron Maher Declan Bates 0.1L 3 57kg $9 3 5 BUFFALO RIVER (USA) Michael Moroney Ms Celine Gaudray (a) 0.3L 1 59kg $61 4 9 VEIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy Damian Lane 1.3L 2 55.5kg $6 5 6 AYRTON (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Ms Jamie Kah 2.8L 8 59kg $19 6 2 PERICLES James Cummings Mark Zahra 4.05L 5 59kg $6.50 7 3 MUNHAMEK (GB) Nick Ryan Blake Shinn 4.55L 9 59kg $21 8 7 ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller Michael Dee 6.55L 7 57kg $12 9 4 BUSTLER Neville Parnham Steven Parnham 6.65L 6 59kg $31 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Mr Brightside Shines in Thrilling Return in CF Orr Stakes 2024 appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Ceerseven (NZ) provides Victoria-based trainer Mitch Freedman with his first Sydney at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au An astute piece of placement by trainer Mitch Freedman combined with a perfect Ben Melham ride has resulted in Ceerseven pulling off a successful Sydney raid, when running out a ready winner of a BenchMark 78 Handicap over a mile at Randwick on Saturday. The son of Complacent was in a stalking position throughout as favourite Nana’s Wish and Canadian Ruler set moderate fractions up front, and pounced when Melham pressed the go-button to score a dogged victory. Ceerseven had previously won at Moonee Valley over 1600m in BenchMark 70 company and despite believing the four-year-old gelding will be seen to better effect over further in the future, Ballarat trainer Freedman identified the Sydney target and was duly rewarded with his first Sydney success. “It looked a great race for him, being a three and four-year-old 78 mile,” Freedman said. “He came up on Thursday night and it was a nice little rise in grade for him. He came off a very restricted race at Moonee Valley but he was impressive and he’s a horse with a bit of upside. “He is a horse that is still maturing and we thought a trip away from home would harden him a bit. “He might be just off the top tier Country Cup horse going forward for us, but at the moment we will race him through the ratings and see where he ends up.” Horse racing news View the full article

Mr Brightside and Craig Williams return to scale after a fifth Group One success. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Cult horse Mr Brightside commenced his autumn campaign in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday and after looking beaten for much of the contest called on all his fighting qualities to mow down bold front runner Pride Of Jenni and Buffalo River in the shadows of the post. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained gelding has a never say die quality that has endeared him to racing fans and has been scarcely out of the money since crossing the Tasman from New Zealand. The non-descript son of Bullbars was a near certainty beaten in a Matamata maiden exactly three years ago to the date and has gone on to bag five Group One victories plus an A$5 million All-Star Mile in his 15 victories since. Sent out a $1.85 favourite, Mr Brightside was slow from the gates but quickly mustered under regular rider Craig Williams, who got him into fifth position one off the fence. Bonny Trelawney Stud-bred mare Pride Of Jenni adopted her customary front-running role under Declan Bates, setting a strong tempo that had most of the field gasping. But after playing second fiddle to Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington last spring, Mr Brightside turned the tables on resumption on Saturday to collar the mare on the line. 2024 Group 1 CF Orr Stakes Replay JD Hayes said the win can be the start of a huge campaign for the son of Bullbars, who until Saturday had never won first-up in the autumn. “He’s a great horse. He’s so dear to our hearts. He was slow away, but it worked out perfectly with the pace on,” Hayes said. “Pride Of Jenni was so brave there, but I was glad that he got there late and there’s so much improvement in him to come. Hopefully it’s the start of a big autumn.” The stable has also been vindicated in their belief that Mr Brightside’s slightly underwhelming jumpouts were of no concern as they build towards a campaign targeting the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m), A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m). “He’s been beaten in the autumn first-up every time so if history repeats, this is a first for him, and we’re very happy,” Hayes said. “He’s a seasoned campaigner now and there was nothing to read into the trials and jumpouts. We thought it was nothing for him just being an older horse. “I’d just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone at home and all of the clients supporting us. It’s such a team effort and when a horse like Mr Brightside is able to fly the flag, it gives us a reason to have a sore head in the morning.” Horse racing news View the full article

Kallos ridden by Blake Shinn returns to the mounting yard after winning the Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) High-quality performer Kallos secured a spot in the esteemed Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), making a remarkable comeback from a 23-week hiatus to triumph in the $300,000 Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Under the skilful guidance of jockey Blake Shinn, riding for trainer James Cummings, Kalios made a decisive move down the centre of the track, clinching victory by a length over the short-priced favourite Asfoora (-133.33), with stablemate Zapateo (+750) finishing a long head back in third. Boasting his fourth stakes success, Kallos now boasts a record of seven wins, two seconds, and a third from 19 starts, accumulating earnings of $797,205. 2024 Group 2 Rubiton Stakes Replay – Kallos Stable representative Nacim Dilmi shed light on the challenges Kallos faced, stating, “He’s had a few things wrong; we’ve had to put a tongue tie on him and all kinds of other gear, but it was good to see him win the way he did today.” “He’s been in a better mental state at this stage, had a nice training session at Osborne Park, and arrived here a few days ago. “It was great to see him back in the winner’s enclosure.” “The way he’s done it today, it took him a while to get into gear, he was strong late. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him again in two weeks (Oakleigh Plate).” Following his first-up win, Kallos is now a +1000 chance for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate with leading horse racing bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article

Fully Lit was a class above in the Inglis Millennium. Photo: RacingNSW The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn continue to add to their list of well-performed two-year-olds as Fully Lit (+190) smashed his rivals in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m). It was the stablemate Trunk (+700) leading them up on a break-neck speed, as he and Art’s Alive (+8000) went head-to-head for the lead, ensuring the back markers would come into play. Fully Lit sat three wide for the entire journey under Regan Bayliss and did a mountain of work from barrier 15, but it didn’t seem to blunt his turn-of-speed as the two-year-old son of Hellbent made a long-sustained run to the first turn. Rue De Royale (+600) loomed largely into the picture at the top of the straight and seemed to be prepared to go past the leading trio, while the David Payne-trained Rag Queen (+3300) was screaming home as he did in his first-up victory. They simply couldn’t match motors with the undefeated colt from the Waterhouse & Bott stable, as his consecutive wins put him well in-play for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 23. 2024 Inglis Millennium Replay – Fully Lit Adrian Bott spoke with media in the aftermath of his dominant colts’ performance and didn’t leave a possible tilt at the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) off the table either. “It’s fantastic to see,” said Bott. “We’ve had some great support so I’m very thankful to everyone who’s been able to support us throughout the year and the team at home that’s worked so hard to educate these horses. “We like to make that a big part of our stable and the education of these young ones and it’s great to see that the results are there. “He’s certainly going in the right direction, that’s for sure. Obviously it was a restricted race today so we’ll sort of look at the options, whether we do tempt a Blue Diamond. “We kept him in calculations there. He may stay here in one of the Slipper lead-ups, just keep him at home and look at one of those lead-ups and give him that opportunity to see how he does stack up against the grade. Because every time we’ve raised the bar he’s responded in a big way.” Regan Bayliss was delighted with the win of his two-year-old and praised his toughness after a tough journey. “Very tough win,” said Bayliss. “I got more confident as the day grew on, just how the track was racing that I didn’t need to find that fence. I was quite happy giving him a bang out, and I was so confident in the horse I was happy to sit three-deep and just get him into a rhythm. It was a really tough effort today.” Depending on where the team elect to head next, Fully Lit is currently +1000 in the Blue Diamond and +2000 in the Golden Slipper markets with top horse racing bookies. Horse racing news View the full article

Hayasugi ridden by Jamie Kah returns to the mounting yard after winning the Blue Diamond Prelude (F) at Caulfield. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Hayasugi is set to embark on a rare and impressive journey as she aims for victory in Melbourne’s premier juvenile race at Caulfield, the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 24. Trained by Clinton McDonald, the two-year-old has already secured victories in the Blue Diamond Preview and the Blue Diamond Prelude. Attempting to achieve a feat not accomplished by a filly since Midnight Fever in 1987, Hayasugi faces a significant challenge. The last colt to win the treble was Sepoy in 2011, following in the footsteps of Bel Esprit in 2002 and Rancher 20 years prior. With jockey Jamie Kah aboard, Hayasugi (+750) clinched victory by a narrow margin, defeating South Australian contender Kuroyanagi (+450) and Matisse (+1600) in third place. 2024 Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude – Hayasugi Clinton McDonald expressed confidence in Hayasugi’s toughness. “She’s one of those fillies that’s just tough,” said McDonald. “She cops anything you throw at her, and you saw today she had a horse on her inside pushing her off the track, but she was good enough to balance up and find the line.” McDonald acknowledged there is still room for improvement in Hayasugi’s performance, emphasizing the filly’s ability to handle challenges. “I thought there was a lot of credit to the win, and I know there’s still improvement to come.” Reflecting on Hayasugi’s temperament, jockey Jamie Kah commented, “They obviously have to be fast to win good races but she’s just so easy to deal with.” Kah also discussed potential adjustments, saying, “Today was the first time she’s ever been a bit difficult to ride on the turn. “She didn’t like that tongue tie, so I’ll speak to Clinton about it.” Following the victory, Hayasugi is now a +1000 chance for the Blue Diamond Stakes with top horse racing betting sites. Horse racing news View the full article

The CF Orr Stakes was the epitome of what Group 1 racing should be. View the full article

Caballus was too slick for his rivals in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW Joshua Parr and Bjorn Baker have combined with Caballus (+700) making it back-to-back wins to start the new campaign, smashing his rivals in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. The change of stables has seemingly done the trick for the son of I Am Invincible, with the Bjorn Baker barn unlocking the best of this three-year-old colt. He was forced to do it the hard way on Saturday, as Caballus sat three-wide without cover for the duration of the 1200m journey, but it didn’t seem to affect his ability to sprint when asked by Joahua Parr, as the field simply couldn’t match motors with the eventual winner. All the money came for Moravia (+250), who was backed into favouritism with leading horse racing bookmakers. and had all the map favours according to punters pre-race, and that’s exactly how things unfolded, as he and previous Group 1 winner Griff (+450) strode to the front on a moderate tempo. It left Caballus stranded, while the only filly in the race, Makarena (+400), tracked the eventual winner every step of the way, racing into a comfortable second-place finish. 2024 Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes Replay – Caballus The stunning performance of Caballus now has the Bjorn Baker barn targeting bigger targets in the future, as he spoke about in his post-race assessment. “Well, he’s as good a looking horse,” said Baker. “He’s the second best horse I’ve ever trained after Ozzmosis. I was very lucky. Darby Racing have been unbelievably good to me. He’s been an absolute pleasure to train. I was lucky to be the benefactor of a ready made horse. It’s been very straight-forward and everything’s worked out well. He is a very, very nice horse. “The aim when we bought him was to go to the Inglis Three-Year-Old race at Flemington, so I don’t think we’ll divert from that. It’s a $1 million race and then we might have a race like the Arrowfield Sprint.” Every other runner engaged in this event was first-up, which Parr alluded to in his confidence hopping aboard Caballus. “I thought today, the best way for me to take advantage of this horse having a run under his belt compared to his opposition was to the as close as I could, comfortably,” said Parr. “So pre-race I made sure I was pretty adamant that I was going to press forward a little bit, all within reason. “Obviously we didn’t get the cover but with that south-easterly blowing we’re running down wind down the side and he did no work to the 400m. From the top of the straight I knew with this horse’s turn of foot and with his race-fitness as well, there was no way they were going to beat him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Quality mare Yonce (NZ) (Proisir) scored a richly-deserved Group Three victory when landing the Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday for trainer Ciaron Maher. The highly-talented daughter of Proisir rewarded her connections faith with her first stakes victory at her third start this campaign, having been off the scene for 20 months due to a tendon strain. The now six-year-old mare won six of her first seven starts, with her only defeat in her maiden campaign a brave fourth in the Gr.1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m). Maher had built the mare back to full fitness with solid runs in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) and a close-up fifth placing in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) prior to Saturday’s triumph. Jockey John Allen was back in the saddle and elected to take luck out of the equation, leading throughout on the game mare, kicking away to score by three-quarters of a length from Foxy Cleopatra (American Pharoah) and Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock). “First it is a credit to the owners,” Maher said. “She had a little injury and she could have gone to stud. She had a pretty good record but I said there is still a lot more to offer and they were patient. “She promised so much. She went all the way through to be a Group One performer basically in one preparation. “It is great to have her back and Johnny (Allen) knows her so well. There wasn’t a lot of speed and she jumped well. I was a little bit nervous when I did see him in front because she has been a little bit aggressive this preparation, but he took luck out of it and it was full credit to him.” Maher said the Queen Of The Turf Stakes was potentially again on the radar, but he quipped he’d love another wildcard entry for the A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m), which was handed to stablemates Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto). “I’d love to get her up there (to Sydney, for the Queen Of The Turf). I think she’d appreciate it. She ran so well at the end of a long first prep. “We’ll see if Matty (Racing Victoria’s general manager of racing Matt Welsh) is around and we can get another Wildcard. “She has got a lot of options now and it is just great to have her back in form.” Out of the Zabeel mare Ziva, Yonce was passed in as a yearling for $30,000 during the New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Sale from the Woburn Farm draft. She was later purchased by Cambridge trainer Ross McCarroll, for whom she finished third in two trials and caught the eye of prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir. Kheir bought an interest in the Proisir mare, but McCarroll and his fellow Kiwi owners – Shane McAlister, Stephen Kneebone and Lyn McMullan – remain in the ownership. View the full article

New Zealand-bred gelding Snow Patrol (NZ) (Contributer) dug deep as he defeated classy rival Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) in a stirring edition of the Gr.2 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Contributer was fresh-up but had trialled well leading into Saturday’s assignment. Winning jockey Mark Zahra made sure he never let chief rival Southport Tycoon and Damian Lane out of his sight, with that duo pulling away to fight out a two-horse war, with Snow Patrol just shading his rival at the post. Snow Patrol and Southport Tycoon were two and a half lengths clear of Perth raider Zipaway (Playing God), who made good ground for third, setting up another mouth-watering clash in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in three weeks’ time. Michael Kent Jnr was quick to pay tribute to one of the founding members of emerging syndication company Ace Bloodstock, whose colours are sported by the three-year-old gelding. “We knew he was going really well but we left plenty in the tank and I’m delighted for all the (Ace Bloodstock) boys,” Kent Jnr said. “I’d like to dedicate the win to Tim Mangan, who along with his son Darcy got Ace Bloodstock going. We lost Tim last year, he was in I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking), and I’m rapt for all the boys. They are awesome guys to be in a horse with and it is a really big win. “I was taken with his last 100m where the second horse really kicked back and made it tough for him and he just fought it out. We have got three weeks now until the Guineas, which is ideal. “Being by Contributer, we hope he will get out to 2000m, why wouldn’t he? He’s a big strong clean-winded sound horse and the race worked out beautifully for him. The pace was on and how good is Mark Zahra.” Zahra is the first jockey to win the Autumn Stakes on four occasions and the hoop admitted he was taken by the lightly-tried gallopers trial leading into Saturday’s victory. “The plan was to follow Southport Tycoon everywhere he went, and I did,” Zahra said. “Frosty (Lane) was travelling really strong and I thought if I waited for him to kick, I wouldn’t be able to pick him up. “Mick Price and Junior always have their horse fit, even first-up, so I opted to rush him a bit at the top of the straight and it became a two-horse war. There was nothing in it but it was a great battle and I just got the head over the line at the right time and I think he will improve a lot from that too.” Amongst the throng of supporters to welcome the gelding back to scale was Ace Bloodstock Director Chris Fraraccio. “It was very exciting. It’s our first stakes win – a Group Two – it’s his second prep and his first start, so onto the Guineas,” Fraraccio said. “Ace Bloodstrock has been around for about a year and a half. It is a group of mates – me, Darcy Mangan and Rob Colaneri. “We really focus on bloodstock from New Zealand and this guy came out of the Ready To Run Sale at Karaka. We have about 15 on the books now.” Snow Patrol is another quality galloper to come out of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, purchased for $170,000 by Price from the draft of Derek and Sophia Nolan’s Lilywhites Lodge at the 2022 sale. By Mapperley Stud stallion Contributer, Snow Patrol is out of the O’Reilly mare O’Rocker (NZ) (O’Reilly), a half-sister to smart galloper Keefy (All Too Hard) who was fourth in last year’s Hong Kong Derby (2000m). The three-year-old was bred by Bruce, Mark and Raelyn Wallbank from Pukekohe. Contributer continues to do a sterling job at stud with three limited books due to a misplaced kick from a mare, but now back to full-health the Group One winning son of High Chaparral operates off an impressive 6.5 percent stakes winners to runners with bigger books to come. View the full article

If Saturday’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa was the final New Zealand appearance for Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High), the Group One-winning filly farewelled her homeland on a high. The daughter of Ace High established herself as one of the standouts of her generation in the late spring, scoring scintillating victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m). Molly Bloom’s winning sequence was interrupted in last month’s Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), where she got a long way back, was never able to get into the race and finished seventh behind Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel). But she bounced back in style on Saturday, playing a starring role in her first attempt at 2000m. Jumping as a $2.60 favourite as a heavy shower drifted over the course, Molly Bloom settled in sixth spot and one off the rail for jockey Joe Doyle. She began to cruise forward out wide coming down the side of the track, then pounced as the field straightened for home. Molly Bloom dashed up alongside the front-running Harlow Rocks (NZ) (Roc De Cambes), and despite getting her head to the side and drifting inwards through the last 200m, her superiority shone through and she edged ahead to win by three-quarters of a length. It was a winning reunion for Doyle and Molly Bloom, whose previous race together was the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 18. “I’m delighted and so grateful to the connections for putting me on,” Doyle said. “She’s an exceptional filly, and these are the types of horses you want to ride. She has bags of class and ability. “She was the class act in the race today. We got a very smooth run, and then I switched her to the outside and she took off. She probably got there a little bit early, but when you’re on class horses like these you don’t want to run the risk of getting stuck behind horses. She was too strong in the end.” Molly Bloom was bought by Wexford Stables trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott for $150,000 from Seaton Park’s draft at Karaka 2022. She has now had eight starts for four wins, a placing and $566,800. Molly Bloom had an ownership change during the week, with prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir coming on board alongside the existing syndicate. “This is a great result for Ozzie, who’s been very keen on this filly since day one,” O’Sullivan said. “I’m thrilled for him. There’s always a bit of pressure in the first race after making a purchase like that, so for her to win the way she did is fantastic. It’s great for her previous owners as well, who have retained a 50 percent share. “And we’re just delighted to win this race. We’ve known David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis for a long time now, so it’s certainly a special race to win.” Molly Bloom will remain in the O’Sullivan/Scott stable for the rest of her three-year-old racing, but she is likely to chase Australian black-type, with potential targets including the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in Sydney and the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) in Brisbane. She will then join an Australian stable. “That’s still to be decided and Ozzie is going to have input on that, but I’m sure she’ll end up with a top Australian trainer,” O’Sullivan said. Although Molly Bloom is not expected to play any further part in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, she has now won three of the eight legs that have been run so far and holds a commanding lead with 28 points. Her nearest challenger is Impendabelle (NZ) (Impending) with 15. Saturday’s runner-up Harlow Rocks earned her first four points of the series, while the third-placed Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir) earned two points and now also has a total of four. Molly Bloom completed a race-to-race double at Te Rapa on Saturday for O’Sullivan and Scott, who had previously saddled Kingfisher (NZ) (Savabeel) to win the Dr John Southworth Memorial Vase (1200m). View the full article

A strong tempo and a perfect Blake Shinn ride played to the strengths of handy stayer Wertheimer (NZ) (Tavistock) as he ran out a strong winner of the Herald Sun Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The six-year-old son of Tavistock is prepared by Matthew Enright at Bendigo and is racing consistently well this campaign for the ex-pat Kiwi conditioner, showing no signs of fatigue at the ninth start of his preparation. Wertheimer settled second-last in the run and tracked Oceanic Flash (NZ) (Sacred Falls) throughout as Divine Purpose (Divine Prophet) set a strong tempo up front. Shinn timed his run to perfection, claiming the lead shortly after straightening and staved off the late challenge of Galilaeus (Galileo) to score by a half-length. “I thought with Peter Moody’s horse (Divine Purpose) going 12 seconds to the furlong it suited me as he is not a sit and sprint horse,” Enright said. “He likes a genuine tempo, and I was happy where we were in the run. I didn’t give Blake any instructions. You don’t have to. I was surprised he was that far back, but it was a beautiful ride and he’s the master.” Enright said his facilities at Bendigo, where he has a water-walker, have enabled him to keep the horse happy throughout a lengthy campaign, and he is now eyeing a tilt at the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) on March 11. “This is run number nine (this preparation) and I said to Blake that there is no sign of him training off,” Enright said. “He goes on the water-walker for four days after each run. I don’t do anything with them and then I just regenerate them. He seems to be coping so hopefully we might sneak to Adelaide for the Adelaide Cup. “I think it is probably a year for a horse like him. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of high-class stayers around, so he will sneak there on the minimum I presume. It is certainly an option.” It was the fifth win of a 34-start career for Wertheimer and incredibly it had been 19 years since Shinn had previously ridden a runner for Enright. Bred and part-owned by Tommy Heptinstall, Wertheimer has now earned A$295,335 in stakes. He is by Tavistock out of the winning Lonhro mare Wild About Me (NZ) (Lonhro), whose dam Like Me Wild (NZ) (Cape Cross) was a Listed placegetter in Sydney. View the full article

Bodyguard ridden by Mark Zahra wins the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) at Caulfield. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Bodyguard (+320) demolished his rivals in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, staking his claim for Group 1 glory later in the campaign. The son of I Am Invincible was given a confident steer by Mark Zahra from barrier nine, sliding across to sit three wide throughout, gaining cover on the eventual runner-up Stay Focused (+240). The speed was genuine courtesy of Innervisions (+5000) who elected to bowl along on speed, ensuring a testing 1100m for the two-year-old, allowing some eye-catching performances in behind the speed. Bodyguard showed an electric turn-of-foot at the top of the straight, bounding clear of his rivals and putting some significant margins through the field despite not gaining the most economical runs in transit. Favourite backers may be a shade disappointed in High Octane (+130), but it was a forgivable effort as the Snowden stablemate didn’t have much room to move on the inside running rail, unable to be tested in the concluding stages. It was all honours the winner however, as Bodyguard appears primed to tackle the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) in a fortnight. 2024 Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude Replay – Bodyguard Co-trainer Peter Snowden was on course to breakdown the win and believes Bodyguard will be primed for a Group 1 tilt. “I think it was a perfect ride,” said Snowden. “First time at Caulfield, Sydney horses if they get on the wrong leg you’ve just got to coax them around the corner but when you’re buried away inside and can’t see air it takes longer for them to change stride but he’s a very professional horse this bloke, it was good to see what he did late. “He’s a very talented horse.” Mark Zahra rode High Octane for his debut and joked he though he may have hopped aboard the wrong Snowden galloper. “He’s a bit of a race day horse and to be honest after the last one I said to Peter “do I have to ride a certain one here” and he said just stick with Bodyguard and he knows more than me,” joked Zahra. “His trials were okay, I wouldn’t say amazing, I said after his last one he trialled good, could’ve trialled better, but the difference is, race day vibe, good atmosphere, he was up and about, one around his bum and he was away, he had it won a long way out. It was a good victory.” Bodyguard has now firmed into the third line of betting for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and is currently a +500 chance with horse racing bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article

Yonce (NZ) ridden by John Allen wins the Carlyon Cup at Caulfield Racecourse. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Yonce ($3.30) held off all challengers in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup at Caulfield on Saturday, making every post a winner to secure victory in the 1600m feature. The lightly raced six-year-old mare was third-up into the campaign after suffering a lengthy setback and had only recently returned from the paddock after 626 days off the scene. Two moderate performances at this course at Listed level were both clearly short of her best journey, with the 1100m and 1400m proving too sharp for the daughter of Proisir. That simply wasn’t the case on Saturday, as Yonce was able to recapture the form that allowed her to storm to victory on six consecutive occasions in her last preparation. John Allen utilized her early speed to cross to the lead from gate five and was able to steal a few cheap sectionals, staving off her rivals all the way to the wire. Both Foxy Cleopatra ($4.00) and Young Werther ($2.70) were impressive returns to bound into the minor money but were no match for the battle-tested Yonce on the weekend. 2024 Group 3 Carlyon Cup Replay – Yonce Trainer Ciaron Maher was on course to speak post-race and praised his resilient mare. “Super,” an excited Maher said. “She promised so much, she went all the way through to Group 1 performer basically in one prep so great to have her back and Johnny. “There wasn’t a lot of speed; she jumped well. “I was a bit nervous when I did see him in front because she has been a bit aggressive this prep, but he took luck out of it, and full credit to him.” John Allen spoke about his mount in the aftermath and seemed to suggest that leading wasn’t always the plan. “It probably wasn’t the plan to lead,” Allen explained. “Ideally we wanted a bit of cover because she can overdo it a little bit, but she began well, and when Craig tried to kick up and cross me. “I didn’t want to get into an argument at that stage; it was just getting her into a rhythm, little bit strong with me, but she wasn’t overdoing it too much, and she’s obviously a class filly. “Last prep she was very good; she’s been out a while, but she’s been building this prep very good, and she’s a quality horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

Snow Patrol (outside) denies Southport Tycoon in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Mark Zahra and the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr team have combined with Snow Patrol (+800) to grind away to victory in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. It was a perfectly timed steer by Zahra who elected to stalk the favoured runner Southport Tycoon (+110) every step of the way, taking a mid-field sit throughout the 1400m journey. There was a strong tempo mid-race setup by the team Hayes-trained Carbonados (+550), as the third market elect strode to the front under Luke Currie, attempting to make every post a winner. As the leader was fading turning into the home straight, the eventual quinella pair cleared out on their respective rivals as Snow Patrol and Southport Tycoon sat down to fight out the finish, with the former just able to get the upper hand in the shadows of the post. Hey Fat Cat (+500) was the clear firmer in the market but bombed the start significantly, putting an end to his winning chances despite flashing home into a fourth-place finish, while Western Australian invader Zipaway (+650) managed to hold third. 2024 Group 2 Autumn Stakes Replay – Snow Patrol It was all about the winner though, as Snow Patrol puts his hand up for Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) contention next month. Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr was on course to discuss the win of his improving three-year-old and gave a glowing assessment of the gelding heading towards the Guineas. “I suppose the last hundred (metres), the second horse really kicked back and made it tough for him and he just fought it out,” said Kent Jnr. “He’s got three weeks now to the Guineas, that’s ideal. “Being by that stallion (Contributer), we hope he’ll get 2000 metres, why wouldn’t he, a big strong, clean winded, sound horse, the race worked out beautifully, the pace was on, how good’s Mark Zahra? He can go enjoy the NFL on Monday,” joked Kent Jnr. Mark Zahra spoke to his tactics post-race as well, allowing his mount to tuck in behind the preferred Southport Tycoon. “I loved his trial,” said Zahra. “My plan was just to follow Southport Tycoon everywhere he went, and I did, Frosty (Damian Lane) was travelling really strong and I thought if I waited for him to kick, I wouldn’t have been able to pick him up so, Mick Price & Junior always have their horses fit, even first up, so I opted to rush him a bit at the top of the straight. “It became a two-horse war and there was nothing in it, it was a great battle and I got the head over the line at the right time but I think he’ll improve a lot from that too.” Snow Patrol is now an +700 chance with online bookmakers in the Group 1 Australian Guineas on March 2. Horse racing news View the full article

Blake Shinn drives Wertheimer to a strong win at Caulfield. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli A strong tempo and a perfect Blake Shinn ride played to the strengths of handy stayer Wertheimer as he ran out a strong winner at Caulfield on Saturday. The six-year-old son of Tavistock is prepared by Matthew Enright at Bendigo and is racing consistently well this campaign for the ex-pat Kiwi conditioner, showing no signs of fatigue at the ninth start of his preparation. Wertheimer settled second-last in the run and tracked Oceanic Flash throughout as Divine Purpose set a strong tempo up front. Shinn timed his run to perfection, claiming the lead shortly after straightening and staved off the late challenge of Galilaeus to score by a half-length. “I thought with Peter Moody’s horse (Divine Purpose) going 12 seconds to the furlong it suited me as he is not a sit and sprint horse,” Enright said. “He likes a genuine tempo, and I was happy where we were in the run. I didn’t give Blake any instructions. You don’t have to. I was surprised he was that far back, but it was a beautiful ride and he’s the master.” Enright said his facilities at Bendigo, where he has a water-walker, have enabled him to keep the horse happy throughout a lengthy campaign, and he is now eyeing a tilt at the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) on March 11. “This is run number nine (this preparation) and I said to Blake that there is no sign of him training off,” Enright said. “He goes on the water-walker for four days after each run. I don’t do anything with them and then I just regenerate them. He seems to be coping so hopefully we might sneak to Adelaide for the Adelaide Cup. “I think it is probably a year for a horse like him. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of high-class stayers around, so he will sneak there on the minimum I presume. It is certainly an option.” It was the fifth win of a 34-start career for Wertheimer and incredibly it had been 19 years since Shinn had previously ridden a runner for Enright. Bred and part-owned by Tommy Heptinstall, Wertheimer has now earned A$295,335 in stakes. Horse racing news View the full article

Race 9 WHITE ROBE LODGE WEIGHT FOR AGE (G3) 1600m NOBELLEM (B Murray) – Trainer Mr. T Kennedy advised Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of the mare and it his intention to carry on with NOBELLEM’S current preparation. The post Otago Racing Club @ Wingatui, Saturday, 3 February 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Mugen forges clear under Karis Teetan. Trailing only Zac Purton in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, Karis Teetan hopes to enhance another productive season when he partners emerging talent Mugen in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Chinese New Year Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Monday when the Mauritian takes a full book of rides. With 43 wins so far, Teetan is second in the 2023/24 standings behind six-time champion Purton (63) after 44 meetings and hopes Pierre Ng stablemates Mugen and Galaxy Patch continue to make impressive headway. Mugen (115lb) faces only five rivals in the afternoon’s feature – Courier Wonder (135lb), Duke Wai (131lb), Super Wealthy (131lb), Red Lion (125lb) and Running Glory (125lb) – and Teetan hopes the gelding can continue the form which has seen him notch three wins and a third from four placings this term. “He’s taking on stronger horses again, but he goes in with a nice weight. It’s a small race and I think he’s going to have his chance,” Teetan said. “The speed is going to be a tactic in the race, but if he can get the right run – of course, he’s been doing very well this season – he should run well.” Galaxy Patch contests the Class 2 Yue Yee Handicap (1200m) bidding for a fifth win from six starts this campaign but faces a field packed with quality gallopers, including Flying Ace and Howdeepisyourlove and three fellow last-start winners – Good Luck Friend, Majestic Knight and Bundle Of Charm. “It’s going to be interesting to see him (Galaxy Patch) come back. He’s done everything right,” Teetan said. “His last trial was good. He’s getting better with time, so just looking forward to riding him again.” By Wandjina, Galaxy Patch arrived in Hong Kong on a rating of 63 after winning his only Australian start for Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea at Morphettville, Adelaide when racing as Gulinga Spirit in January, 2023. The gelding has since risen to 96 in the handicap. Dual champion Hong Kong trainer David Hayes rates his entry of nine runners as “probably one of the nicer teams of progressive horses I’ve saddled up during my second Hong Kong stint” and will saddle Running Glory in the Chinese New Year Cup Handicap. “I know his form has been a bit off of late but he’s had a little holiday, put a bit of weight on and hopefully he’ll strip well fresh. He’s a good horse, we all know that. He was always going for this race,” Hayes said of the former John Size charge. “He’s a very awkward horse to place because of his rating so I targeted this race from the moment I inherited him from John.” With 21 wins and 52 minor placings from 248 runners, Hayes is optimistic his team can deliver on Monday with Storm Rider (Class 3 Kut Cheong Handicap, 1400m), Ka Ying Rising (Class 3 Prosperity Handicap, 1200m) and Master Mastermind (Class 4 Good Fortune Handicap, 1200m). “Storm Rider has been very good, Ka Ying Rising will love looking up and not seeing Wunderbar and Master Mastermind ran very well first up – I think he’s a nice horse and he’s trialled well since,” Hayes said. “Lucky Encounter (Class 2 Yue Yee Handicap) has also trialled well and he’s ready to run a good race. He looks well placed in that class now. He responded in the ear muffs, he was over-racing a bit, and his last run he relaxed and worked home. The last 200m was really good and I think he’s come on from that. I really like him.” Frankie Lor hopes Irish import Unbelievable – a Hong Kong Derby (2000m) hopeful – can erase the frustrations of a challenging preparation with a strong debut performance in the Class 3 Red Packet Handicap (1600m) under Derek Leung. “He (Unbelievable) hasn’t been lucky. Early December, I wanted to trial him but suddenly he had a temperature. I started to work him again and he got a quarter crack in his hoof,” Lor said. “I have been waiting for this race. Everything revolves around the Derby but it’s all a bit rushed. He’s still not 100 per cent fit. We need to give him a run and then we will know more about him.” Formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien, Unbelievable won two races in England and Ireland is a full brother to unbeaten Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) winner City Of Troy. Australian jockey Ben Thompson starts his Hong Kong stint with four rides – Devil And Gold, Le Maillot Jaune, Solar Partner and Powerful Wings. “It’s happened very quickly. I only received an opportunity to ride for the Hong Kong Jockey Club last Monday, so honestly to be standing here is super surreal,” Thompson said. “I’m very excited to and looking forward to settling in with my wife (Stephanie) and little boy (Harry) and we’re really excited to be here. It’s coming together well and all the help and support the Hong Kong Jockey Club has given me has made the move very comfortable. “I’m still young, willing to learn – I just want to take in the experience – and ride as many winners as I can. I want to work hard and make the most of my opportunities.” Horse racing news View the full article

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) has published the likely fields for the Saudi Cup meeting to be held Saturday, Feb. 24, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. The United States is set to be represented by a five-strong entry in the $20-million richest race in the world, a team headed by White Abarrio (Race Day), who will be making his first start since besting Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 4. The 5-year-old, trained by Richard Dutrow, Jr., has remained in California since and has logged seven workouts dating back to Dec. 24, including a five-furlong drill that was timed in :59.60 (3/120) Feb. 3. Also making the trip over from the states are National Treasure (Quality Road) and Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), first and second, respectively, in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 26; GII Cigar Mile H. hero and Pegasus fourth Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft); and Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), last year's GI Pennsylvania Derby hero and recent winner of the GIII Louisiana S. Derma Sotogake is one of five Japanese-based horses gearing up for the nine-furlong test and will be joined on the trip over by Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), the 2023 G1 Dubai World Cup winner and a good fifth in the Classic; champion Japanese dirt horse and dual Group 1 winner Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid); G2 UAE Derby and G3 Korea Cup victor Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}); and multiple Group 3 winner Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro). Most intriguing among the probables is the globetrotting Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for trainer Aidan O'Brien. A Group 1 winner at ages two, three and four in Europe, the 5-year-old will make his first start on the dirt, having just missed behind Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup Dec. 10. The home team fields the remaining three runners, including the recently imported American Grade I winner Defunded (Dialed In); Power in Numbers (Girvin), undefeated in four starts in Saudi Arabia since selling for $400,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale; and Carmel Road (Quality Road), who aired by 7 1/2 lengths in a valuable 1600-meter race Jan. 13. Emergency runners include the Doug Watson-trained 2023 G2 Godolphin Mile winner Isolate (Mark Valeski) and Scotland Yard (Quality Road), a close second to Power in Numbers in the King's Cup last time. The probable starters for the remaining Saudi Cup races may be accessed here. LIKELY FIELDS RELEASED! $37.6m in total prize money 13 countries represented #TheSaudiCup (23-24 Feb) See who's set to run below. — The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 9, 2024 The post White Abarrio, National Treasure Lead U.S. Challenge Into Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darwin apprentice Emma Lines, 17, pictured after winning a race in the Top End recently, maintained her remarkable consistency with a winning double at Fannie Bay on Friday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) You could wax lyrical about the success of Darwin-based apprentice Emma Lines all day. The 17-year-old, who debuted in December 2022, continued her amazing strike rate with a winning double at Fannie Bay on Friday. That made it 54 wins for the teenager, who won last year’s Darwin Guineas (1600m) aboard Tubthumper for trainer and her master Phil Cole. The leading apprentice in the Top End and Country premiership last season with 21 wins, she finished third in the jockeys’ premiership behind Jarrod Todd, who has won the past four titles, and Sonja Logan. After booting El Magnificence ($3) – making its 62nd start – and Whitten ($3 fav) home for Cole, Lines (19) remains second behind Todd (28) in the 2023/24 premiership. Cole’s Looking For You ($13), whom Lines rode to victory in her first career race start, buckled at the 700m in the opening race over 1300m (0-58) when the nine-year-old gelding trailed the leader Desarmer ($9). Lines somehow held on before Looking For You recovered to finish fifth behind Gary Clarke’s Desarmer (Todd) – with Tom Logan’s fast-finishing Queen In The North ($2.90 fav) and Tayarn Halter’s I’m A Dreamer ($17) filling the minor placings. Desarmer, Turn Me Loose’s five-year-old gelding from Victoria, was making its NT debut before saluting with half a length to spare. El Magnificence, a nine-year-old gelding by Magnus, had finished second in its past three starts, but wouldn’t be denied yesterday when prevailing over 1100m (0-76). Chris Nash’s Mr Have A Chat ($2.50 fav) – a new face from SA – shared the early lead with Patriotic King and El Magnificence before Lines settled in third place leaving the back straight. Approaching the final bend, El Magnificence accelerated along the fence to catch the leader Mr Have A Chat, who drifted wide in the home straight to win by 2.2 lengths – Clarke’s backmarker Vallabar ($18) finished strongly for third. For El Magnificence, seventh in last year’s Palmerston Sprint (1200m), it was his seventh win from 25 starts for Cole. Whitten, a four year-old gelding by Written Tycoon, made it two wins from his past three starts after swooping late at the end of 1200m (Class 2) for the three and four-year-olds to nail Clarke’s Starspangledancer ($3.70) right on the line. Camped in fifth place, Whitten made his move at the 500m and finally caught a tiring Starspangledancer to win by half a length – Logan’s Erroneous ($6), a debutante from Queensland, was third. Jason Manning’s Bon’s Pride ($2.40 fav) secured three wins on the bounce when the four-year-old gelding by Bon Aurum stepped up in grade to overcome Clarke’s Bel’s Banner ($3.60) and Cole’s Vunivalu ($3.90) over 1200m (0-70). With Vanessa Arnott as the pilot, Bon’s Pride was third behind Vunivalu and Fromthenevernever exiting the back straight before winding up at the 400m and kicking clear with 200m to go when Bel’s Banner threatened to win by two lengths. Having finished among the medals in the first four races, Clarke capped off a good day when Wilsons Prom ($4.40), with Adam Nicholls in tow, blitzed his rivals by 6.5 lengths over 1600m (0-64). After two straight wins, the five-year-old son of Xtravagent, finished 11th on Australia Day over 1300m (BM73) – the meeting was eventually abandoned when Fannie Bay resembled a muddy lake following relentless rain. It was a different story on Friday when after sharing the early lead, Nicholls, who missed last week’s meeting through illness – flicked the switch at the 600m before Wilsons Prom left Peter Stennett’s New Enterprise ($8.50) and Halter’s Kippax ($16) in its wake. Horse racing news View the full article

The first foal by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner and Sequel Stallions sire Fire At Will (Declaration of War–Flirt, by Kitten's Joy) was born recently. Bred in New York by Horse Haven Racing and born on Jan. 30, the colt is the first foal out of the unraced Marital Joy (Practical Joke). The mare is from the same extended family as Breeders' Cup winner Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect) and her Breeders' Cup-winning daughter Sharing (Speightstown). “The colt has a lot of scope to him,” said Sequel's Becky Thomas. “He has a good hind end, like his sire, and is overall very well balanced. This is exactly what we were hoping to see out of the first crop for Fire At Will.” Fire At Will will stand the 2024 season at Sequel in New York for $5,000. The post First Foal for Sequel’s Fire At Will appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-Fair Grounds, $57,000, Msw, 2-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.97, fm, 3 1/2 lengths. TARNEEMA (f, 3, Kitten's Joy–Mooghareadh, by Malibu Moon) rallied from the clouds after a poor beginning but came up 4 1/4 lengths short of a pair of next-out winners in her debut over course and distance Dec. 31, an effort for which she received a 70 Beyer Speed Figure. Favored at even-money under Florent Geroux, the Shadwell homebred had a mildly better start and found herself mid pack while able to save ground against the fence. Angled outside of rivals from fifth turning for home, Tarneema unleashed a drive into the final furlong, easily got past late leader Tempting Lady (Enticed) and opened up to the wire to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Tarneema's dam, Mooghareadh, is a full-sister to MGSW/GISP Malibu Pier, herself the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner up and $1.3m FTKNOV broodmare Coasted (Tizway) and MGSP Malibu Stacy (Tizway). Shadwell purchased Mooghareadh as a yearling for $675,000 out of the 2014 KEESEP sale and has bred three winners from her from four to race. She has a 2-year-old Medaglia d'Oro colt, a yearling Street Sense colt and was covered by Jack Christopher for this year. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $39,920. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Shadwell Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. An impressive Fair Grounds victory by Kitten's Joy filly #4 TARNEEMA ($4.00) with @flothejock in the irons for @bradcoxracing and owner @ShadwellRacing. pic.twitter.com/Vr9goOmV1Z — TVG (@TVG) February 9, 2024 The post Shadwell’s Tarneema Graduates Impressively At Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“It's a really difficult thing, to let go of something that you've spent your whole life building,” acknowledges Nick de Meric. “I don't know if 'letting go' is quite the right way to put it. But to actually cut that umbilical cord, it's a leap of faith.” The Ocala horseman, who reflected on a colorful past in yesterday's TDN, now turns his attention to the future. For the evolution of a successor program, parallel to his own, makes the de Meric family a particularly pertinent case study for our series on how horse people handle the challenges of dynastic transition. And, really, Nick couldn't have used a more apposite analogy. The “umbilical cord” to which he refers, of course, is the one extending four decades to the foundation of the pinhooking and pre-training business he operates with his wife Jaqui. Albeit not by much, it even predates the advent of their son Tristan and daughter Ali. But while that literally umbilical connection between parents and their children is never truly severed, the handover of a family business requires long habits of filial duty and parental authority to be gently renounced. And that's a process that demands imagination, flexibility, generosity. As so often in these situations, Nick and Jaqui first had to establish whether, through nature or nurture, they had passed on a sense of vocation around horses-not to mention the accompanying skills. “The guys I grew up with in the business, they're mostly around my age,” Nick remarks. “Some have kids who are looking like they're ready to assume the mantle; others don't. And when you've devoted your whole career to building a business, it's gratifying to have someone who can carry the torch forward for you, rather than just having to end it.” Brandon and Ali Rice | Photos by Z Ali married another who was born to the game, in Brandon Rice, and in 2009 they started their own program very much in the same manner as Nick and Jaqui around 25 years previously. They scraped together enough for a couple of cheap yearlings, notably a $7,000 colt who made $200,000 at OBS the following April before going on to become a graded stakes winner. Building on that remarkable start, Ricehorse Stables has proceeded to become a respected presence on the national sales scene. Tristan and his wife Val, meanwhile, have become integral to the home operation, while maintaining a degree of independence that has evidently worked well on both sides. That they, too, know what they are about is evident from the fact that they and prepared subsequent champion juvenile Corniche (Quality Road) to make $1.5 million at OBS. But perhaps an even bigger turning point, for Tristan and Val, had come when Gabriel Dixon put back on the market a 60-acre tract he had previously bought from Nick and Jaqui, with access to their Eclipse Training Center complex. “Tris and Val were looking for something to invest in, so they jumped at that chance,” Nick explains. “And since then two more barns have been built, which they're able to lease out and so make the real estate itself turn into a good investment.” (Again, this has strong echoes of Nick and Jaqui's own story: we saw yesterday how they once paid off their own mortgage in much the same way.) “So their business runs adjacent and parallel to mine,” Nick explains. “They use our racetrack. We pinhook together, but they also do plenty independently and so do I. And I hope that eventually this way of doing things will make for a fairly seamless transition.” So was this incremental model a deliberate strategy, or did it just evolve organically? “I would say a little bit of both,” says Nick. “In life generally, but particularly in our business, we all know that the best-laid plans can go sideways in a heartbeat. So I would not so much say that it was my plan, but that it was my hope. Because while you can't project anything in cast-iron, at the same time you at least need some drift and direction.” With both their children, Nick and Jaqui imparted their horse lore more by osmosis than by formal instruction. “Ali was always obsessed,” Nick recalls. “If I left for the barn in the morning without taking her, and I'm talking like 5:30, she would have a meltdown. She used to come with me to the Keeneland 2-Year-Old Sale, I'd let her out of school for a few days. And later she worked sales in Korea, Europe, all over the States. “Tris was always more of a homebody, and not so much engaged in the horses as a kid: it was baseball, dirt bikes, boy stuff. So when he did decide that this really was his thing, it surprised us how much he had absorbed, just from being around us, from conversations at the dinner table and that kind of thing. “Certainly he didn't come round to it through any pressure from us. This business is tough on a good day, and I would never press anybody to enter it unless they're passionate. But ever since then, he's taken it and run with it.” Evidence of Tristan's inherited flair emerged during what are perhaps the two most critical weeks for all these programs, in scouting the September Sale at Keeneland. Tristan de Meric | Photos by Z “We all know how that's as much an exercise in logistics and stamina as in horsemanship,” Nick says. “You've just got to keep plugging on, and Tris was right there doing a very good job. And from early on I found, more and more, that I could absolutely rely on his eye. I could send him ahead to do this or that barn, and we could compare notes later. I was always super impressed with how analytical and critical an eye he had for horses, at such a young age. Some things you can teach, some you can't, and he just had that knack.” And that trust has become the foundation of their teamwork ever since. “It's a totally subjective thing,” Nick stresses. “It's about judgment, intuition, instinct. So you don't always agree on everything. But he not only could pick athletes, but also had a very good fix on the economics of what we do. Picking the right horse is not always the hardest part. Actually, getting them brought at a price you can make sense of, that's a big part of the equation too. And knowing what you can and can't live with, in terms of vetting and conformation. He's done incredibly well with all of that, way beyond anything I can take credit for.” So much for the innate skills. In terms of structuring their professional responsibilities, however, the together-but- separate model appeals as one that other families might usefully emulate. “On a normal training day at home, when we're just doing our thing in the winter, we're right next to each other,” Nick explains. “I'm usually on a pony, and Tris is right there, either on a pony himself or in the viewing stand with Valerie. So we're actually talking all the time. We're watching each other's horses. We help each other out, whenever we can, or need to. But those over there are his horses, his riders; and these over here are my horses, my riders. Tristan, Nick and Jaqui | Christie DeBernardis “We have clients in common, a lot of friends in common. But they have a following all of their own, which to their credit they have acquired quite independently of Jaqui and me. Conversely, most of my clients are now very familiar with them, and understand that we overlap a lot in our businesses. During a sale, they know they can talk to any of us and get all the information they may need.” Nick is absolutely not going to pretend that it has been plain sailing all the way. At the best of times, it's never easy for one generation to know when and how much rein should be permitted to the next; and that's harder yet when the decision-making doesn't just affect personal development but the prosperity (or otherwise) of the whole family. “I don't know if 'baggage' is quite the right word, but there's all the history that led you to this point,” Nick agrees. “As they say, the child is father of the man. So for someone in my position, who with his wife and partner has been making all the decisions, for better or worse-financial decisions, training decisions, client decisions-there comes a point when I have to say, 'Okay, you're in charge, it's your baby; I'm taking a sabbatical, I'm stepping back.' So far I've been easing back, but not pulling back. “Sometimes you will see things a little differently. And that's where you have to learn to bite your lip and say, 'Okay, I might have done it this way instead-but I understand where he's coming from, let it go.' But most of us in this business, almost by definition, are control freaks to some extent. Because we have to be on top of everything. So that's a transition, too.” That, however, is a price he considers well worth paying in order to see a life's work taken forward by his own flesh and blood. He cites friends whose children have no interest in doing that, and who will just have to call in a realtor someday. “Neither Jacqui or I have any interest whatsoever in cashing in our chips and moving to a gated community,” Nick admits. “We are farm people. We have more dogs, cats, peacocks, goats, chickens, cows than you could count. Same for all the pets buried in the woods behind the house. We'd never move off the farm unless we absolutely had to. Behind every rock and tree, there's some little memory. And we're always going to ride, as long as we're physically capable. “But that doesn't mean we have to keep going hammer and tongs. We've had so little time to really enjoy the farm for what it is. Just to get up in the morning, take a stretch, tack up our horse and just go wandering around. We've always been pedaling the bike. “And we can see Tris and Val are doing a great job. It's great what they have done, working independently of me and alongside me. I can see the buyers are completely comfortable interacting with them. And that's allowing me to take a little step back. Maybe not quite as fast as Jaqui wants me to, but I'm working on that! I do worry, for both our kids and their families, about the collective legacy we're handing them in this sport. But I couldn't be prouder of what they have accomplished.” The post ‘Succession’ Presented By Neuman Equine Insurance: De Meric Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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