Wandering Eyes

Mixedwave (Ire) (Gentlewave {Ire}), a winner at Market Rasen last week, has become the first horse disqualified under the new whip regulations in 7,903 races through Nov. 26, 2023, according to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Ridden by Alex Edwards, the Pam Sly trainee was struck 16 times, nine above the permitted number of strikes. Edwards has been suspended for 24 days from Dec. 12-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 6. Edwards was found to have used his whip “without giving his mount time to respond from approaching the third-last flight.” The permitted number of strikes is six on the Flat and seven over jumps. “Disqualification was introduced as the ultimate deterrent for overuse of the whip and there can be no excuse for exceeding the permitted level by nine uses,” said a BHA spokesperson. “As well as extensive consultation and communication, jockeys were required to undertake online training modules which clearly set out the new rules prior to riding under them. “The wide-ranging understanding of what may trigger a disqualification, and the steps taken by jockeys to adapt well to the new rules, is demonstrated by the fact that this is the first time in almost 8,000 races that the rule has been invoked following a winning ride.” The post Mixedwave Is First To Be Disqualified Under Whip Rules appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Easter in the Seabiscuit H. at Del Mar on Saturday. Easter Came Early At Del Mar Madaket Stables' Easter (Fr) (Exosphere {Aus}) secured his first graded victory in the GII Seabiscuit H. at Del Mar last weekend (video). It was trainer Phil D'Amato's fifth victory in the race in the past nine years. Bred by Aleyrion Bloodstock, Ltd., the gelding won two of his first three starts in his native land for Samantha Amar and trainer Fabrice Chappet. Madaket's Sol Kumin, among others, bought into the horse prior to his fourth start, and he was eventually stakes-placed in France. He sold for €150,000 during the 2021 Arqana Arc Sale to Mandore International Agency on behalf of his current connections. Already a winner of the Lure S. in the U.S., Easter is a half-brother to the G3 Prix Miesque heroine Sweety Dream (Fr) (Dream Ahead), and the listed-placed Roccia Nera (Fr) (Dream Ahead). Dam Excellent Girl (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who was third in the G3 Prix Cleopatre, has since produced a weanling full-sister to that duo. This is the family of GI Garden City Breeders' Cup S. heroine Luas Line (Ire) (Danehill). Easter is the lone representative for his sire in America. Worldwide, the son of Lonhro (Aus) has eight stakes winners to his credit, including G2 Edward Manifold S. winner Thermosphere (Aus). EASTER (FR) ($5.40), with @Antonio1Fresu on board, ran down stablemate Hong Kong Harry (IRE) in the $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at @DelMarRacing. @PhilDamato11 trained the top 3 finishers in the race! Congrats to the connections! pic.twitter.com/fQb6XvyGOY — TVG (@TVG) November 25, 2023 Fourth Time's A Charm For Awtaad Gelding One Of These Days (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Saints or Sinners and Sterling Stables, LLC, rewarded the patience of his connections with a maiden win at Del Mar for trainer Phil D'Amato on Sunday (video). He was making his second start in California. The Manister House Stud-bred was a £20,000 yearling purchase out of the Goffs UK Premier and Silver Yearlings Sale by Peter and Ross Doyle. The gelding was unplaced in a pair of Irish starts for trainer Willie Mullins in the colours of his wife Jackie, before finding his way to the U.S. Out of the winning mare Scealai Aonair (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the gelding is a half-brother to Thekingofmyheart (Ire) (Magna Grecia {Ire}), who was stakes-placed in Germany. His yearling half-brother by U S Navy Flag brought €25,000 from Paul Harley Bloodstock out of the Goffs Orby Book 2 yearling sale, while his dam also foaled a New Bay (GB) filly this year. Influential matron Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}) is his third dam. From just four runners in the U.S., Awtaad boasts a 75% strike rate, as three have won. His Anisette (GB) has been successful in a pair of graded races, among them the GI Del Mar Oaks. The post Making Waves: Exosphere’s Easter Sets Holiday Tone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Havana Grey-vy train is showing no signs of stopping as foals by the sire sensation proved all the rage on the opening day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale on Tuesday where some of the key figures took a hit compared to 12 months ago. Hazelwood Bloodstock's Adrian O'Brien signed for two colts by Whistsbury Manor Stud's ace sire for just over 100,000gns, including the top lot, a Havana Grey colt out of Singspiel (Ire) mare Ebrah (GB), already a proven producer of sprinters with Cityman (GB) (Slade Power {Ire}) and Celestial Flight (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}) winning four races respectively. O'Brien confirmed himself a huge fan of Havana Grey–who supplied four of the top six foals on the day–after signing for lot 450 at 65,000gns. O'Brien said, “That particular horse is a May foal and I think he has an awful lot of improvement to do. I certainly hope that will be the case. Each year, since even before he [Havana Grey (GB)] has had a runner, I have bought a foal by him and had a bit of luck. I love him, obviously, and he is proving to be an outstanding sire. Athleticism is the key, and, although they come in all shapes in sizes, they run. That's it in a nutshell.” Asked if he had tried on many foals on Tuesday, O'Brien added, “No, two. I don't know whether that suggests I paid over on both or not. Only because I have a bit of room this year, but depending on how the market plays out over the next couple of days, I will try and buy a couple more–maybe something other than a Havana Grey. Just for variety!” Hazelwood Bloodstock also signed for lot 404, a Havana Grey colt out of The Castlebridge Consignment, but it wasn't just to shrewdies rowing in behind the stallion at Tattersalls. Novice breeder and neighbour to Whistsbury's Ed Harper Tina Yarrow, who has just one mare, netted a cool 52,000gns for her colt by the sire to WH Bloodstock. It was Harper who sourced My Law (GB) (Mayson {GB}) on behalf of Yarrow, clearly overcome with delight with the result of her first offering through the ring. Yarrow explained, “I'm a neighbour of Ed Harper's and he told me I needed a thoroughbred mare so I asked him to help me find one. He found My Law, who had belonged to Harry Wigan, who's a son of my other close neighbours, James and Anita Wigan. “Ed always said I'd have to go to Havana Grey, so I said 'okay, I'll do whatever you tell me,' and that's how I bred this colt on a foal share with Ed.” She added, “I've never been to Tattersalls before but it's been a sensational experience-it's the most wonderful place. I've loved it and the colt has been bought by someone I know, which makes it even better. I always thought he was a nice foal and Selwood Bloodstock have prepared him beautifully. I can't thank them enough.” Despite a smaller offering [15%] compared to this day 12 months ago, just 135 of the 227 lots offered were sold, equating to a clearance rate of 59%–down 29% on last year. The aggregate was down 51% to 1,517,450gns, the average fell 32% to 11,240gns and the median dropped 38% to 8,000gns. 'Strong' A'Ali Colt Fetches 55k To Coleman A colt by the blisteringly-quick G2 Norfolk S. winner A'Ali (Ire) paid a handsome compliment to his young sire when selling to bloodstock agent Matt Coleman for €55,000. Out of G3 Fred Darling S. winner Maureen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), the A'Ali colt was consigned by Newsells Park Stud, who also stand the multiple Group-winning speedster. Coleman said, “He has been bought for a syndicate and he has probably been bought to come back as a yearling and be reoffered. Anthony [Stroud] obviously bought A'Ali with Simon Crisford for Sheikh Duaij. We are keen to support the stallion and we thought this is the best A'Ali here today.” A'Ali is best remembered for that Norfolk S. triumph at Royal Ascot but he also proved himself a high-class sprinter at three, winning the G2 Sapphire S. at the Curragh. He stands for £5,000. Coleman continued, “This colt is strong, very athletic and we thought he has plenty of scope for a sprinting horse. Maureen was a top racehorse herself and has produced Whenthedealinsdone (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who was 100-odd rated. I thought he had a great attitude, great outlook, strength and is a very good mover. He looks like a horse who will run. “I have seen a couple of nice ones by the stallion for tomorrow and he looks to be making a nice shape of a foal. A'Ali is a small horse, but he has got plenty of foals here with plenty of size, I think that is encouraging. “ He added: “The syndicate is made up of some of our clients. I don't know what the plan is from here, but he is likely to appear in a sale somewhere next autumn.” 'He Has A Lot Of Potential' – Nathaniel Colt Catches The Eye The speedily-bred foals held sway but there was still room for the mile-plus horses to make their money in the ring. Namely, a Nathaniel (Ire) colt out of Chesapeake Shores (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who was sold by Mickley Stud on behalf of breeder Wood Farm Stud to Jamie Railton Sales for 55,000gns. “He has been bought to come back to Book 2,” Railton said afterwards. “He is an awfully good-looking horse. He has a lot of potential and the second dam produced a Derby winner [Frozen Fire (Ire)]. He will go to Ireland from here.” The post Grey Is The Colour As Super Sire Lights Up Tough Day At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Super Sunday for bloodstock enthusiasts is fast approaching, with stallion farms in Newmarket set to open their doors for breeders on the quiet day between the end of the foal sale and the start of the mares sale at Tattersalls. In addition to those based in Newmarket, there will be a few visiting stallions in town throughout the week, and the viewing is by no means restricted to Sunday, as the guide below shows. Darley, Dalham Hall Stud Darley will be showing its two new recruits to the British roster, the Group 1 winners Modern Games (Ire) and Triple Time (Ire), while Native Trail (GB) will also be visiting from Ireland. Established residents Cracksman (GB), Masar (Ire), Space Blues (Ire), Palace Pier (GB), Perfect Power (Ire) and Territories (Ire) are also on show from Saturday to Wednesday, at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Please register via the Darley website. Dullingham Park The brand new stallion yard at Dullingham Park is now home to the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Shaquille (GB) and Soldier's Call (GB), who will stand his first season in Britain in 2024. Visitors are welcome from Saturday to Tuesday, 8am to 4pm. Juddmonte, Banstead Manor Stud This season's 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) has joined his sire Frankel (GB) on the Juddmonte roster and the pair will be available for viewing, along with Kingman (GB), Bated Breath (GB) and Oasis Dream (GB), from Saturday to Wednesday, 10.30am to 3pm. Please note that Sunday's open house starts at the slightly later time of 11am. Lanwades Sea The Moon (Ger), Study Of Man (Ire) and Bobby's Kitten will be shown at Lanwades on Sunday at 11.30am and 1.30pm. Please register with the stud via this link. Longholes Tweenhills' Classic winner Kameko, whose first runners will take to the track in 2024, and Newsells Park Stud's A'Ali (Ire), who has his first foals for sale, will both be on show at Longholes from Sunday to Tuesday, 10am to 3.30pm. The National Stud New recruit Mutasaabeq (Ire) will be on show alongside Stradivarius (Ire), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Rajasinghe (Ire) and Time Test (GB) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Shadwell, Beech House Stud Regularly used during the December Sales by Shadwell, Beech House Stud is now the permanent home of its British-based stallions. The line-up has been enhanced by Mostahdaf (Ire), one of the top-rated horses in the world in 2023, who joins Baaeed (GB) and Mohaather (GB). All three will be on show from Saturday to Tuesday, on the hour from 10am to 3pm, with a break at 12 noon. The post Open House for Newmarket Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Tingle Creek Sale of point-to-pointers, which had been scheduled to take place at Sandown Park Racecourse on Saturday, December 9 to coincide with the running of the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase, has been cancelled, Tattersalls announced. Last year's Tingle Creek Sale was staged by Goffs and all 16 jumpers offered were sold for a total of £1,985,000 with a top price of £380,000. A statement issued by Tattersalls on Tuesday read, “It has been deemed to be in the interest of all stakeholders concerned that the best course of action is to not continue with this sale and offer those horses with places the opportunity to sell at the market-leading and long-established Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale [on December 15].” The post Tattersalls Cancels Tingle Creek Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Del Mar will open its 2024 summer meeting Saturday, July 20, according to a press release from the track. The slightly later-than-usual start to the season was keyed by the fact that the San Diego Country Fair will operate a bit past its usual closing date July 4, going forward instead to Sunday, July 7. Del Mar will need the extra time from July 8 onward to prepare its racing surfaces and stable area for the start of the meet and to ensure its safety protocols are all in place, the release stated. The summer meet will conclude Sunday, Sept. 8. Del Mar also has finalized fall racing dates, which will be highlighted by the 41st edition of the Breeders' Cup, the third time the championship event has come to the track. Opening Day of the Bing Crosby Season will be Thursday, Oct. 31. Then that Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 and 2, will showcase the 14 Breeders' Cup races. The fall meet will operate for five weeks and conclude Sunday, Dec. 1. Del Mar's allocation of the 2024 Southern California racing calendar was approved this past August by the California Horse Racing Board. The post Del Mar to Open Slightly Later, and on a Saturday, in ’24 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack (FLGR) reported growth in handle at the recently concluded 2023 race meet, according to a press release. Total handle increased by 18.7 percent to $120,541,745. On-track handle also bumped up by $4,024 to $1,973,368. The 2023 numbers built off of the increases from the previous year, when total wagering was up 16.5 percent, despite racing one fewer day (88 total). The total number of races dipped 2.9 percent from 730 to 714, but field size grew to an average of 6.88 starters per race compared to 6.78 in 2022. Average per-race handle surged by 21.4 percent, from $139,014 to $168,825. Purses paid out decreased to $14,442,094, or 3 percent. That was a result of fewer races being run and the cancellation of the New York Oaks due to lack of entries. “We thought offering free Equibase programs online would help us and based on the number of downloads, our fans responded in kind,” said Chris Riegle, president and general manager of FLGR. Riegle said he was optimistic purses will increase in 2024. “It seems like we're all fighting for racehorses and based on back-to back excellent seasons we're looking at an across-the-board purse increase for next season,” Riegle said. The post Finger Lakes Reports Handle Growth at ’23 Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A fundraising auction for injured jockey Graham Lee has been organised and can be viewed here. The jockey was recently moved closer to home after sustaining neck and spinal injuries in a Newcastle fall earlier this month and undergoing surgery. All of the money raised will be managed by the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) and go directly to the 47-year-old rider. Some of the lots include mornings on the gallops with trainers like Paul Nicholls, Karl Burke, Harry Derham, Donald McCain and Fergal O'Brien. In addition, there are also stud tours up for bid, as well as racecourse hospitality packages. There is also a chance to play a four-ball round of golf with retired champion jockey Sir AP McCoy. A JustGiving page has also been established by Lee's daughter. It has raised more than £165,000, so far. A nomination in incoming stallion Paddington (GB) will be offered by Coolmore during the upcoming Tattersalls December Mare Sale, with all proceeds going to Lee. The post Fundraising Auction Organised For Graham Lee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kildangan Stud's first-season sire sensation Blue Point (Ire) hit a remarkable new high on Tuesday when his daughter Word's Out (Ire) became his 50th individual winner at Deauville. Sixth on debut at Chantilly last month, the Andre Fabre-trained Godolphin homebred raced towards the rear early. Delivered with perfect timing by Mickael Barzalona to overhaul Tazara (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in the final strides, the 7-1 shot had a neck to spare at the line for the landmark win. The dam Voice Of Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was sold by Godolphin for €35,000 to Gary Mullins at the 2021 Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale, has since proven herself a broodmare of some potential by producing this year's GII Sands Point S. and GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. winner Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). As a consequence, her yearling full-sister to that smart campaigner was bought by Godolphin for €190,000 at this year's Goffs Orby Book 1. A half-sister to Rahy's accomplished triple Group 1 winner Rio De La Plata and G1 Raul y Raul E. Chevalier-winning fellow sire El Expresivo (Arg) (Candy Stripes), she also has a colt foal by Australia (GB). 5th-Deauville, €30,000, Cond, 11-28, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f (AWT), 1:17.65, st. WORD'S OUT (IRE) (f, 2, Blue Point {Ire}–Voice Of Truth {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, €15,000. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. WORD'S OUT Blue Point – Voice Of Truth , by Dubawi TAZARA Blue Point – Lexplora , by War Front Deauville #Deauville #France #Shamardal #Dubawi #Danzig #SadlersWells #Darshaan pic.twitter.com/IS5U6QChaI — Aydın Stud (@aydin_stud) November 28, 2023 The post Blue Point Reaches Milestone 50 Winners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The shortlisted nominees for the various 2024 UK Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards were announced on Tuesday. Organised by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and sponsored by Godolphin, the awards, worth £128,500, will be hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin at Ascot Racecourse on Feb. 26, 2024. All shortlisted nominees will receive a £250 prize to recognise the significant achievement of having reached this stage of the judging process. The shortlisted nominees for each category are: David Nicholson Newcomer Chloe Blaikie (Katie Scott) Daria Bogash (Charlie Longsdon) Tyler Bowden-Falvey (James Ferguson) Fred Daly (Sir Mark Prescott) Bethan Nelson (Warren Greatrex) Bella Nicholls (Jedd O'Keeffe) Abel O'Gorman (Alice Haynes) Henry Pugh (Tim Vaughan) Molly Roberts (Ed Walker) Hollie Wiltshire (Alan King) Leadership Cheryl Armstrong (Charlie Fellowes) Kirsty Huff (Nick Gifford) Annabelle Johnson (Scott Dixon) Oliver Kozak (Warren Greatrex) Lucinda Lingwood-Rix (Tim Vaughan) Jeremy Mahot (Chris Gordon) Kathryn Martyn (Richard Mitford-Slade) Liz Mason (Amy Murphy) Andrew McIntyre (William Haggas) Eamonn O'Donnabhain (Tom Lacey) Rider/Groom Chloe Angus (Jedd O'Keeffe) Clive Banwell (Christian Williams) Vicky Boyle-Atkins (Richard Phillips) Chelsea Brooks (Ollie Pears) Lyndsey Bull (Ian Williams) Alice Kettlewell (Karl Burke) Keagan Kirkby (Paul Nicholls) Emily Meek (Jeremy Scott) Madan Singh (Mick Appleby) Lorena Walsh (Lucinda Russell) Stud Staff Csaba Babas (Hascombe & Valiant Stud) Jaqueline Birkhead (The Royal Studs) Anna Carruthers (Fittocks Stud) Noel Challinor (Northmore Stud) Jack Conroy (Chasemore Farm) Melinda Hertelendy (Fittocks Stud) Scott Marshall (David Redvers Bloodstock) David Porter-Mackrell (Newsells Park Stud) Cara Stephen (Bumble Bloodstock) Laura Wright (Hazlewood Bloodstock) Dedication Claudia Carruthers (Nick Alexander) Chris Carter (James Tate) Martin Coulson (Blue Diamond Stud) Shamus Donkin (Habton Racing) Andrew Fairchild (North Farm Stud) Kerry Jones (Sir Michael Stoute) Andrea Kelly (Tim Vaughan) Fiona McGlone (Hascombe & Valiant Stud) Linda Murphy (Rae Guest) Brian Taylor (Luck Greyer Shipping) Community Award Rory Bevin (Habton Racing) Steph Collett (HEROS) Claire Edmunds (National Horseracing College) Joanna Flaherty (Chelmsford City Racecourse) Catherine Leeson (Injured Jockeys Fund/Jack Berry House) David Letts (Racing With Pride) Samantha Luton-Hughes (Racing Together) James Rennard (The Jockey Club) Lauren Semple (Police Scotland/Scottish Racing Academy) Emma Tranter (Salisbury Racecourse) Julie Harrington, chief executive of the BHA, said, “Congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted for an award. It is a fantastic achievement, and all those shortlisted should be very proud to be recognised by their peers, employers and the judges. “We are delighted with the nominations received this year, both in terms of the number and the high quality. This has made for a very competitive judging process. “I wish our shortlisted nominees the very best of luck in the next round of judging.” The post Shortlist For The 20th UK TIEA Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Howden, the global insurance group, has partnered with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and continued its relationship with The Bahrain Turf Club (BTC) in a pair of sponsorships, the company announced on Tuesday. Howden is already an official partner in Ascot Racecourse. Howden is now the Official Partner of the VRC. The VRC hosts the Melbourne Cup Carnival. They have also been named sponsors of the G1 Howden Australian Guineas over 1600m. The company is now in its third year of sponsoring The Crown Prince's Cup Meeting in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and will become a platinum partner of the Bahrain Turf Series. A pair of races during The Crown Prince's Cup Meeting in February will be sponsored by Howden, as well. David Howden, Founder and CEO of Howden and the president of the Cornbury House Horse Trials, said, “We're now into our third year sponsoring at The Crown Prince's Cup meeting in Bahrain and given the success to date are delighted to further expand our sponsorship programme with The Bahrain Turf Club. We opened our Bahrain office earlier this year, are fully invested in the Kingdom and wider region, working towards building one of the leading insurance brokers to service clients here. “The Victoria Racing Club is renowned the world over and it's a privilege for Howden to be affiliated with a racing jurisdiction steeped in such history. “The partnerships reinforce our passion and commitment to the equine world and bring immense excitement and opportunity, both to the Howden brand and our wider business development ambitions, as we continue to build the Howden brand through global racing events.” The post Howden Renews Sponsorship In Bahrain, Expands Sponsorship To Australia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Sporting Art Auction, a collaboration between Cross Gate Gallery of Lexington and Keeneland, celebrated its 11th edition with gross sales of $2,826,671, headlined by the sale of LeRoy Neiman's iconic Secretariat, a signed oil on board dated '73, for $146,875. Held last week in Keeneland's Sales Pavilion, the globally prominent auction attracted 112 buyers from four countries who participated in person and remotely. Eighty-eight percent of the 213 works representing fine Sporting Art, American paintings and sculpture by renowned artists were sold. “We were blown away by the interest we received from buyers both new and old at this year's auction,” said Catherine Ladd Kenneally of Cross Gate Gallery. “A shocking amount of works went well beyond our highest estimates, which is a testament to the growing interest collectors and buyers have in sporting art. We were fortunate enough to host our auction at Keeneland after an exceptional season of racing and sales, which undoubtedly inspired more fans to become owners of equine art themselves.” Among the auction's highlights were eight original works by regional favorite Henry Faulkner. His By Gratz Park, an homage to downtown Lexington's popular neighborhood, and Still Life with Flowers, both signed oil on board pieces, fetched $90,475 and $47,000, respectively. Neiman's sale-topping Secretariat was one of an impressive grouping of works offered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Big Red's Triple Crown campaign. Two other works honoring the racing legend were among the auction's top prices. A bronze titled Secretariat, signed and inscribed by the sculptor, Edwin Bogucki, brought $82,250 while Richard Stone Reeves's Secretariat, an oil on canvas signed and inscribed by the renowned equine artist, fetched $76,375. Other notable works included Pheasant Country, an oil on canvas signed, dated 1944 and titled verso by artist Aiden Lassell Ripley, sold for $76,375; Summer, a signed oil on canvas by Andre Pater, brought $70,500; and Flightline, a signed oil on canvas by Charles Church, sold for $55,225. Keeneland's portion of the auction proceeds continues its mission to benefit non-profit initiatives. “The Sporting Art Auction is a highlight of our fall season at Keeneland, and we are thrilled with the support it receives from sporting art enthusiasts and the community,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “It's a wonderful way to combine fun and philanthropy in support of our mission.” For more information, visit thesportingartauction.com. The post LeRoy Neiman’s Secretariat Tops Sporting Art Auction at $146K appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It has been more than two weeks since 60 Minutes aired a piece on horse racing and its myriad problems, but it's still a smoldering issue. Many within the industry thought 60 Minutes had been unfair to the sport, presenting a piece that was unbalanced and focused far more on what's going wrong than what's going right. The Jockey Club said they did not ask 60 Minutes to do the segment, but did agree to participate and its chairman, Stuart Janney III, was among those interviewed. So what did Janney think of the piece? Did he think it was unfair? And what role, if any, did The Jockey Club play in contacting 60 Minutes to suggest they take a look at horse racing? The TDN reached out to Janney to ask those questions and more. TDN: A simple question to start, what did you think of the segment? SJ: I don't think there were any inaccuracies. What was reported was, basically and arguably, true. They did oversimplify the reasons that horses break down. They came to some conclusions early on. A lot of the questions they asked me were about trying to find a simple solution to the breakdown issue. I pushed back and thought I had won that argument, that horses break down for a variety of reasons and that it would misleading to say there was just one thing or that it was because of performance-enhancing drugs. It can happen for a lot of reasons. There's not one simple solution to that problem. I talked to them in June. They talked to me for about three hours. They talked to Lisa Lazarus for at least an hour. That was a big subject of the discussion. I think they oversimplified that. TDN: As we are sure you know, a lot of people were upset by the piece and thought that it was unfair. Do you understand why some people were so angry? SJ: I get it. There are a lot of people who say let's have more nice stories about horse racing. Let's have a story about Cody's Wish. I agree with that. I'd love to have more of those stories out there. But there are other stories that are going to be a part of the landscape until we get to a better place on some of these issues. Let's not be fighting with each other about that. We have to understand that is the reality. I thought we were going to get a much more positive story. But I think it could have been worse. It could have been a lot worse. I have a view that some people seem to disagree with. In today's world you have to deal with the realities that news organizations are going to do what they're going to do and there's no running away from that. Had we not participated, the story would have been worse. I thought to tell our side of the story it was important that we participate. Having said that, let's be honest, when they interview you for three hours and it comes down to a 15-minute segment and your part is maybe a quarter of that a lot can go wrong. TDN: How was this story initiated and what roll, if any, did The Jockey Club play in suggesting to 60 Minutes that it explore doing a segment on horse racing? SJ: We did not have discussions with them in any way to initiate the segment. Over the last two or three years, (Meadowlands owner) Jeff Gural had promoted this project and had some contacts with them. Our contacts with 60 Minutes evaporated when Jeff Fager left CBS in 2018. He is the son of the famous Dr. Fager, who the horse was named after. They called us a several years ago and asked if we would be interested in being interviewed on this story. We said, people are still awaiting trial, the investigation is in no way concluded and the legislation we've been pushing hasn't passed. We said we're not ready to participate at this time. At some point, Gural got their interest going again. His interests and our interests are different. He owns a racetrack and has conducted a lonely crusade to get drugs out of harness racing. He has been opposed not only by people doing bad things but by the leadership of the harness racing world. His interest was to stir things up and keep the heat on. We look at things differently than he does. CBS came to us again in April. The concept of the show was there's been a big investigation, you hired 5 Stones and 5 Stones got the federal government involved. People were arrested, there were wiretaps, there were trials and now you have legislation that changes the landscape. That's our story. We said, yes we would participate with that. We did have a couple of conditions. We told them we don't want to be involved with something that is going to show old canned footage of horses breaking down on the track and we're not going to appear on a show where you're also going to involve PETA and Horseracing Wrongs. They said, that's fine. We said ok, that we would then talk to them when they were ready. Unfortunately, since when we had that conversation, we had the situation at Churchill Downs and another problem at the Preakness. They were up front about it. They said due to amount of publicity that has occurred lately with the breakdown issue we can't overlook that. You're going to have to deal with it. But the thrust of the story will still to be what I just described to you. Under those conditions, we agreed to go forward. They did most of their filming in June. Then, over the summer we had two really horrible and well-publicized breakdowns at Saratoga. Saratoga did not have a good year in terms of breakdowns. When it came time to edit, they went more in that direction. TDN: So what took place when they interviewed you? SJ: I was interviewed for three hours and two hours of the interview was all about the original intent of the show. The other hour was about breakdowns. My response was that we were working on it and that we have a new team in place that has the authority to get something done. Secondly, we have some of the best people out there who are working on this and we have the tracks and HISA working together. I cited what happened at Churchill, where everybody was on board and agreed on the right strategy. That wasn't happening in the past. To the extent that they called into question racing's degree of commitment to fixing the problems, I said we used to have an industry regulated by the state racing commissions and, in my opinion, they let us down very badly. I talked about how you could not imagine any other sport that is regulated on a state-by-state basis. It wouldn't work. There was a system in place that was built to fail. Here we are and we have a new system. TDN: What would you have liked 60 Minutes to have done differently? SJ: I would have liked them to have emphasized the story of what has taken place with our industry. The federal government has said to us that we are the only industry in their memory that has called on them to come in and clean house and are the only industry that cooperated as fully as we did. 60 Minutes didn't do enough to emphasize that aspect of the story. I would have liked there to have been more discussion of how bad the old system was. There are many more good people in racing than the handful of very bad people. But if you don't have a system with rules, proper penalties, uniformity and accountability the bad guys are going to win. Every racing commission I ever had anything to do with was undermanned and uninterested. That way of doing things was a failure. The commissions were not doing their job. Look at New Jersey, where you had Servis and Navarro. Did they ever lose a race? Those are the things that I thought would be a bigger part of the story. TDN: In your interview, you spoke of telling 5 Stones to not be afraid to go after the biggest names in the sport. Did that mean you gave them a laundry list of trainers to investigate? SJ: People are taking issue with comment I made in the interview about going after the 'big fish.' They've conflated that with us somehow targeting people. We didn't. They also made comment that wouldn't it be interesting to see who else they wiretapped? I don't have any idea who the FBI did or did not wiretap. 5 Stones didn't ask to The Jockey Club or anyone else so far as who they were going to investigate and we did not specify who or how they would investigate. What 5 Stones did was to create a body of work to take to the federal government that said here is what we found and suggested that a lot is going on in this industry that shouldn't be happening and that is big enough and important enough that you should be interested. After that, the federal government was in charge. To suggest that I targeted anybody is really to misunderstand how the process worked. TDN: What else do you think people are getting wrong when they complain about The Jockey Club and the segment? SJ: People seem to assume that The Jockey Club is interested in running the sport. We are not. The reason we took on the issues we took on, hired 5 Stones and were pushing very hard for the bill that led to HISA goes back to 2010 or so. We started saying that we have a big integrity problem in this sport and we're not going to continue to have a sport unless we solve this. I felt that was falling on deaf ears. Nobody was doing anything and there was no unity in the industry. By 2014, 2015, we started to feel that The Jockey Club had to do something. The Jockey Club has, basically, two missions. One is to protect the integrity of the stud book. When you have all sorts of racing results contaminated by performance-enhancing drugs you're not doing a very good job of protecting the stud book. Secondly, it is to grow the sport. It was our view that we have to be competitive with other forms of gambling and if you're not addressing the integrity issue you're not doing what needs to be done to grow the sport. That's when we hired 5 Stones and went forward. I don't look at social media but (Jockey Club CEO and President) Jim (Gagliano) has sent me some things when they are posted. It bothered me that there were people saying that Bessemer Trust had been making millions off the industry by managing The Jockey Club's funds. Bessemer Trust has never taken any money from The Jockey Club. We have helped The Jockey Club select third-party managers, which we have done for free. We will occasionally give them advice regarding their portfolio. We do that for free, as well. All the money that is paid out from any of the portfolios goes to outside managers that we have no financial interest in. The post Addressing the 60 Minutes Piece, A Q & A With Stuart Janney III appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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

Breaking records seems to come quite easily for Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro) – Hong Kong’s superstar racehorse who has already gone where no other has been before. The Pride of Hong Kong – Golden Sixty – is the city’s all-time leading earner (HK$147.93 million), only three-straight Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23) recipient and only nine-time Group One winner. Across 29 starts, Golden Sixty, who was purchased as a Ready To Run 2yo in New Zealand, has won 25 times, remarkably ranging from 1200m to 2000m, which includes a Four-Year-Old Classic Series sweep in 2020 and two conquests over Romantic Warrior – recent victor of the G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) in Australia. Once again though, Golden Sixty has the chance to rewrite history in the HK$32 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), by doing so after a record number of days between runs – 224 – since his most recent outing on FWD Champions Day last April. Glorious Days won the 2013 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile after a 189-day break, the current record, while the next closest since the race was extended from 1400m to a mile in 1999 is Firebreak, who prevailed after 57 days in 2004. Even before 1999, no horse won what was then known as the Hong Kong International Bowl (1400m) – which was first run in 1991 – with more than 100 days between runs. Outside of Glorious Days in 2013, Admire Mars is the only horse since Firebreak to win the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile with 50 or more days between runs. Ahead of his highly anticipated return, Francis Lui’s charge trialled over a mile on the turf at Sha Tin this morning (Tuesday, 28 November) under jockey Vincent Ho, who has been ever-present throughout Golden Sixty’s storied racing career, which features a pair of LONGINES Hong Kong Mile crowns in 2020 and 2021. “It’s exciting. It’s a privilege to be on Golden Sixty. To have such a connection with an animal like him is very special. It’s hard to explain – I’m proud,” Ho said. The upcoming HK$118 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 10 December at Sha Tin will be Golden Sixty’s fourth in succession but first fresh, after crossing the line third today in 1m 37.15s behind Romantic Warrior and Helene Feeling, respectively. “It looked good. They went slow at the corner and someone jumped a cone, we were at the back and then in the straight I just let him build up slowly and he came along nicely. “I wish the pace was faster but it was good. He knows what I want – if I don’t move he comes back and relaxes but he knows when I just ask him even a little bit for an effort, he gives it to me straight away – I was happy,” Ho said. Golden Sixty is five out of five when resuming but he is yet to restart against international competition. An armada of race-fit overseas challengers await, comprising five Japanese runners, led by Namur – last-start winner of the G1 Mile Championship (1600m) on 19 November at Kyoto, as well as Soul Rush – second in that race. “It looks challenging, the overseas horses and Hong Kong’s horses. There’s a couple of good ones in there but it’ll be fun. He is always good when he runs fresh. We needed this trial just to let him have a nice blow,” Ho said. Serifos, Danon The Kid and Divina also feature for Japan, while last year’s winner California Spangle shoots for another upset victory and the emerging Beauty Eternal seeks a first top-level win at his initial attempt. Victory would see Golden Sixty join Good Ba Ba (2007, 2008 & 2009) as the only three-time winners of the race. View the full article

It’s nearing that time where the movie Love Actually finds its way onto television screens around the world, but it’s a mare by the same name that is getting Thomas Russell and his partner Pip D’Arcy-Brain excited this festive season. The Wanganui couple own the 11-year-old Swiss Ace mare and are enjoying plenty of thrills with her two progeny to date – King Of Hearts (NZ) (Jakkalberry) and Black Orlov (NZ) (Unusual Suspect). Bred by Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, Love Actually was initially purchased as a yearling at Karaka by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $25,000 and went on to win one and place in one of her eight starts for trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards. Her racing career was curtailed by injury and she was subsequently offered on gavelhouse.com where she caught the eye of D’Arcy-Brain, whose bid of $4,000 secured the mare. A date with Novara Park Stud stallion Jakkalberry was quickly organised, with the resulting foal being King Of Hearts, with the couple electing to support local stallion Unusual Suspect for her next mating the following year, resulting in the Black Orlov. Russell has trained King Of Hearts to win three of his 15 starts and he has entrusted Black Orlov to good friend and fellow Wanganui trainer Malcolm Hill. Black Orlov broke through for her maiden win at the second time of asking at Trentham earlier this month, which was a standout day for Russell and D’Arcy-Brain, with King Of Hearts also scoring on the card. Their success spurred the couple’s decision to get Love Actually back in foal this season. “She is at stud and being served at the moment and we are just waiting to see if she is positive. We went back to Unusual Suspect,” Russell said. King Of Hearts and Black Orlov had an exhibition gallop at Wanganui last Saturday and Russell was pleased with what he saw from the pair. “They had an exhibition gallop on Saturday and went well and the jockeys were happy,” he said. “King Of Hearts worked nicely this morning, so I am looking forward to Saturday.” The five-year-old gelding was nominated for the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) but looks unlikely to gain a start, so will likely line-up in the Stella Artois 1500m Championship Qualifying Race (1600m) as a consolation. “It looks like we are not going to get into the Cup, so we will likely run in the mile. It would have been nice to have a run in the local Cup, we think he is going to be a better horse over 2000m,” Russell said. While King Of Hearts will likely miss out on a stakes tilt this weekend, if he continues on the same trajectory he is on, Russell has big plans instore for the gelding. “We did chuck a nomination in for the Thorndon (Gr.1, 1600m), but he would have to win two races, and one of those would need to be an Open Handicap, to even have a chance of making it. It is a far off dream at this stage,” he said. View the full article

Trainer has his sights set on the 2,000m Classic with his progressive four-year-old: ‘It’s a big challenge, but I’m looking forward to taking it on’View the full article

Joshua Parr will travel to Perth to link up with Overpass in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes on Saturday. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) The Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes will headline the third day of The Pinnacles at Ascot Racecourse this Saturday afternoon. With 18 runners accepting for the $1.5 million feature, a full field of 16 is expected to compete in the 1200m contest. Overpass heads the field and will return to Ascot for the first time since his success in the $4 million The Quokka in April. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding will carry the number one saddlecloth and will go into the race as the highest-rated runner, opening at the short quote of +160 with online bookmakers. Damien Oliver will jump aboard the Lindsey Smith-trained Triple Missile (+400) in what is set to be one of the last Group 1 rides of his career. The son of Smart Missile performed well down the straight at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, running only a length behind Spacewalk in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes. The only three-year-olds in this year’s Winterbottom Stakes will be the top two from the Placid Ark Stakes, with Ripcord (+600) and Oscar’s Fortune (+800) set to take on Group 1 level for the first time in their young careers. Ripcord unleashed a finish that could rival the mighty Chautauqua in his prime as he launched from the back of the field to run over the top of Oscar’s Fortune when taking out the Placid Ark. If one of the top four runners in the market doesn’t win, there is plenty of value to be found, with the likes of Snowdome (+1200), Hot Zed (+1200) and Red Can Man (+1600) coming through strong lead-up races such as the Prince Of Wales Stakes and Colonel Reeves Stakes. 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Final Field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Overpass Bjorn Baker Joshua Parr 11 58.5kg 2 Red Can Man Steve Wolfe Paul Harvey 10 58.5kg 3 Savatoxl Will Savage Holly Watson 8 58.5kg 4 Hot Zed Lou Luciani Jason Whiting 2 58.5kg 5 Resortman Michael Lane Brad Rawiller 9 58.5kg 6 Laverrod Sean & Jake Casey Jordan Turner 15 58.5kg 7 Snowdome Neville Parnham Chris Parnham 18 58.5kg 8 Triple Missile Lindsey Smith Damien Oliver 1 58.5kg 9 Phanta Chris & Michael Gangemi Brad Parnham 17 58.5kg 10 Clemenceau Chris & Michael Gangemi Jarrad Noske 14 58.5kg 11 Man Crush Luke Fernie Michael Poy 12 58.5kg 12 Go Forward Chris & Michael Gangemi Laqdar Ramoly 6 58.5kg 13 My Bella Mae Dion Luciani Patrick Carbery 5 56.5kg 14 Flying Missile Neville Parnham Steven Parnham 3 56.5kg 15 Ripcord Luke Fernie Clint Johnston-Porter 7 54.5kg 16 Oscar’s Fortune Dion Luciani William Pike 13 54.5kg 17 Corn Cob (1E) Julia Martin Austin Galati 16 58.5kg 18 Valency (2E) Robyn Lockwood TBC 4 56.5kg More horse racing news View the full article

Last weekend, we had feature racing from Ascot as the Perth Summer Carnival held its first Group 1 weekend. It was also Cranbourne Cup Day on Melbourne’s south-western fringe. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have picked out three runners from those two meetings that are worth following over the summer months in various states. Cranbourne Track rating: Soft 6 (up to Soft 5 after R7) Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 10: Class 3 Set Weights (1500m) | Time: 1:32.67 Horse to follow: Jimmysstar (1st) Jimmysstar remained undefeated in Australia after an impressive win at Cranbourne on Saturday, where he attempted 1500m for the first time in his short career. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained import came over from New Zealand in September and has only had two starts since, winning both in fine style. Although this son of Per Incanto had to travel wide and carry 60kg, he was able to settle nicely for Craig Williams before booting clear at the 200m mark to record another strong win on Aussie soil. When to bet: This lightly raced four-year-old gelding has plenty of upside and handled the rise in class with ease. The Listed Lord Stakes over 1700m at Caulfield on Boxing Day stands out as a potential target for this progressive galloper. Race 6: Benchmark 70 Handicap (1300m) | Time: 1:18.50 Horse to follow: Bel Air (2nd) Bel Air continued what has been a frustrating preparation with a second consecutive second-place finish over 1300m on Saturday afternoon. After finishing second behind Stripped Back at Bendigo two starts back, the son of Written Tycoon has now lost his last two races by less than a length combined. At Cranbourne, this four-year-old gelding had to give most of his rivals weight and settled near the back of the field before launching down the outside with an explosive finish to just go down in a photo finish. When to bet: After having his runs spaced throughout this campaign, it appears as though the Anthony & Sam Freedman stable will target the Magic Millions Carnival in early January with Bel Air. The Magic Millions Cup over 1400m or the Magic Millions QTIS Open over 1300m are both viable options. Ascot Track rating: Good 4 Rail position: +6m entire circuit Race 7: Group 2 WA Guineas (1400m) | Time: 1:36.35 Horse to follow: A Lot Of Good Men (2nd) The Trevor Andrews-trained A Lot Of Good Men was one of the better two-year-olds in Western Australia, winning three of his first six starts and finishing fourth in the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic. Since returning as a three-year-old, the son of A Lot has been running on well over 1200m, 1400m and 1600m against the best of the best in his age group. His last-start second behind Zipaway in the Group 2 WA Guineas was his best performance of the campaign, and he seemed to relish the rise in distance to the mile. When to bet: This colt is nominated for both the Damien Oliver–Gold Rush over 1400m and the Group 1 Northerly Stakes. After such a strong performance in the Guineas, expect A Lot Of Good Men to go to the Northerly, where he will only have 52kg. Latest horse racing tips View the full article

Superstar galloper and Cox Plate hero Romantic Warrior limber up for next month’s Longines Hong Kong International RacesView the full article

By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway) Queenslander Tony Veivers has already laughed terminal cancer in the face, and now the 60-year-old is keen to create Australasian harness racing history with his Group 1-winning trotter, Not As Promised. While all the big pacing guns are flocking to the Sunshine State to try and win Inter Dominion glory starting this Saturday (December 1), Veivers has paid up to $30,000 in international return flights to try and become the first Australian owner to win the coveted $110,000 New Zealand Trotting Derby on Grand Prix Day at Addington Raceway on Sunday week (December 10). No other Australian has ever competed in the coveted 80-year-old Group 1 event, let alone win it. The gifted three-year-old will leave for New Zealand tomorrow (Wednesday) and will land in Auckland the same day before catching another flight to Christchurch on Sunday. The son of Betting Line will then have another 55-minute float trip south where he will be housed at Brent and Tim White’s Ashburton Raceway stable. Not As Promised will line up in Race 3, the King Of The North New Zealand Trotting Derby. It is worth $110,000, with the winners pocketing $60,500, plus a trophy and dress rug. It’s part of the Grand Prix Day which will comprise eight Group 1 events, including the New Zealand Pacing Derby, the New Zealand Oaks, and the New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All. Veivers knows about winning a Group 1 event. On Sunday October 29, Not As Promised, became the first Queensland horse to compete in, and then win the 109-year-old Group 1 $75,000 Victorian Trotters Derby 3yo Final at Maryborough. He is owned by Veivers Purchasers Ltd and was bred by Jess Tubbs, who had the horse for his first six starts. It was Veivers’ first Group 1 Victory. Then last Saturday night (November 25) at Tabcorp Park, Melton, Not As Promised justified his $2 favouritism when winning the $75,000 Breeders Crown 3yo Trotting Colts and Geldings Grand Final. He has now won nine of his 15 starts and placed in five others for $125,535. “I had to commit to New Zealand before he won on Saturday, but I honestly think he’s that good he can give the Kiwis a run for their money. His Victorian Trotting Derby win sealed the deal,” Veivers said. He then deflected all the praise on to the father and son training combo of Graham and Layne Dwyer, and driver Nathan Dawson. “Layne (Dwyer) has done an absolutely brilliant job looking after the horse down south for us at Dennis Reeve’s property in Victoria, and he will again play a big part with his dad in New Zealand. “And speaking of Graham – what an amazing trainer he truly is. He’s right up there with the best yet he trains so many people’s broken-down horses and cast-offs, and then gets them up to win. “I have 20 horses in Australia, and I only use him or Jack Butler, because I believe they are two of the best trainers in Queensland. Also, Colin Knox, manages my 50-acre farm – 45 minutes from the Brisbane CBD – also trains for me. “I think Not As Promised is the one of a few decent horses Graham’s been given that wasn’t hurt or sore. I can’t speak highly enough of the whole Dwyer family – Martine included.” “I offered $35,000 for Not As Promised when he was originally for sale at $40,000 …I bought him there and then, and I’m so glad I did. He’s the best horse I’ve ever owned. We all dream of Group 1 glory and now I have it. It would be the icing on the cake to win across the Tasman,” Veivers said. “It’s every owner’s dream to win a Group 1 at Addington Raceway, simply because it’s rarely achieved, and the owners here have obviously not had the horseflesh or thought it was viable enough to head to New Zealand.” The retired Brisbane fruit and vegetable businessman believed his trotter had a big advantage going into the New Zealand Trotting Derby, simply because he had a genius in the bike. “Nathan Dawson is the best in Australia and one of the best drivers going around in Australasia currently. He’s driven for me for eight years. His statistics speak for themselves. He is a computer in a seat when he gets out there. He’s a thinking driver. Not a leader and take it from there. I wouldn’t want to have any other driver in the sulky. Nathan gives our horse extra metres. “I’m so grateful for Nathan getting on the plane soon after his Inter Dominion heat. I’m still a bit crook but have offered to fly with Nathan on the Saturday before the race. Nathan wants me to go over with him. I’ll see how my health is, but I’m determined to get there,” Veivers said. Terminal bowel cancer is deadly serious, but you wouldn’t know Veivers has suffered from it for three years this January. “The chemotherapy for the structure of my bowel can be pretty severe for the first two days but after that I’m leaping and jumping again. I’ve been told it’s terminal, but that’s a part of life. I’ve had one mate that was told the same 15 years ago and he’s still with us. “Even though its terminal, it’s a matter of being strong and positive and not allowing this ugly disease to control my life. Having a horse like Not As Promised lifts my spirits, but life is way too short to get down in the dumps. I want to get to New Zealand and win this race. “I have good people all around me plus the horse. I am in good hands, and not seeking sympathy, just another Group 1. My daughter, Sarah, is a health scientist at Spring Sciences Australia, on the Sunshine Coast and looks after my health,” Veivers said. “I’ve had over 70 goes at chemo at Greenslopes Hospital here in Brisbane where the staff have been fantastic. I’m not alone – over 100 people go there every day for chemotherapy.” Veivers said Not As Promised would return home immediately after The New Zealand Trotting Derby and be spelled before taking on the open classers next season. “The Square in June or July is a $150,000 race that Graham is targeting. Then I’d like to think he would be good enough to take on Australia and New Zealand’s best open class trotters. He’s such a big fella at 17-plus hands, and still only three so he’s got plenty of time to fill his big frame. “I rode and pre-trained gallopers for a lot of my early life, but now I’m very proud to say I’m a passionate harness racing owner and breeder,” Veivers said. View the full article

By Mike Love Deny Everything scored a well-earned victory when he won Saturday’s Tyre General Timaru Summer Cup at Phar Lap Raceway. The Mark Jones-trained seven-year-old capitalised on his good manners, securing the trail with driver Samantha Ottley before peeling off the back of the pacemaker and third placegetter Heisenberg, to win by one and a quarter lengths from Tanzania. “It was awesome, very satisfying,” says Ottley. “We’ve all had to be so patient with him. Everyone is rapt.” Deny Everything has had an interrupted career, having three wind operations among other niggles. He has now won seven from 22 starts and over $65,000 in stakes. “It was a big advantage being off the front. He was a happy horse today. Travelled nice and I was hoping he would let down as good as he felt, and he did.” One of the outsiders of the field, Deny Everything paid $32 and $9.10, while Tanzania was also at lucrative odds, paying $7.40 for the place. Deny Everything could be in for a busy summer. “Mark is a genius at mapping plans for them,” says Ottley, “so no doubt there will be something for him. He’s pretty versatile.” Deny Everything is raced by Damian Love and the estate of his father Neil Love. Earlier on the card Major Hot won the two-year-old Timaru Nursery stakes for Rolleston trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon, just edging out the game debutant Dawson for Tony Stratford. Major Hot settled midfield on a hot speed for driver Blair Orange, before being sent from the 900m to sit outside the leader Dawson. Major Hot got the better of the pacemaker just short of the line to win by a head, as the pair broke away from the field sizzling home in 55.7 seconds for the final 800m. Blair Orange had a very successful day in the sulky winning five races – Whispering Over, Shepherds Delight, Major Hot, Dalness Arizona and Idle Stuartia – while Bob Butt trained a back to back double with Sophia’s Dream and Bet N Win. View the full article

Golden Sixty heads to the barriers at Sha Tin to trial. Breaking records seems to come quite easily for Golden Sixty – Hong Kong’s superstar racehorse who has already gone where no other has been before. The Pride of Hong Kong – Golden Sixty – is the city’s all-time leading earner (HK$147.93 million), only three-straight Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23) recipient and only nine-time Group 1 winner. Across 29 starts, Golden Sixty has won 25 times, remarkably ranging from 1200m to 2000m, which includes a Four-Year-Old Classic Series sweep in 2020 and two conquests over Romantic Warrior – recent victor of the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) in Australia. Once again though, Golden Sixty has the chance to rewrite history in the HK$32 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m), by doing so after a record number of days between runs – 224 – since his most recent outing on FWD Champions Day last April. Glorious Days won the 2013 Hong Kong Mile after a 189-day break, the current record, while the next closest since the race was extended from 1400m to a mile in 1999 is Firebreak, who prevailed after 57 days in 2004. Even before 1999, no horse won what was then known as the Hong Kong International Bowl (1400m) – which was first run in 1991 – with more than 100 days between runs. Outside of Glorious Days in 2013, Admire Mars is the only horse since Firebreak to win the Hong Kong Mile with 50 or more days between runs. Ahead of his highly anticipated return, Francis Lui’s charge trialled over a mile on the turf at Sha Tin this morning (Tuesday, November 28) under jockey Vincent Ho, who has been ever-present throughout Golden Sixty’s storied racing career, which features a pair of Hong Kong Mile crowns in 2020 and 2021. “It’s exciting. It’s a privilege to be on Golden Sixty. To have such a connection with an animal like him is very special. It’s hard to explain – I’m proud,” Ho said. The upcoming HK$118 million Hong Kong International Races on December 10 at Sha Tin will be Golden Sixty’s fourth in succession but first fresh, after crossing the line third today in 1:37.15s behind Romantic Warrior and Helene Feeling, respectively. “It looked good. They went slow at the corner and someone jumped a cone, we were at the back and then in the straight I just let him build up slowly and he came along nicely. “I wish the pace was faster but it was good. He knows what I want – if I don’t move he comes back and relaxes but he knows when I just ask him even a little bit for an effort, he gives it to me straight away – I was happy,” Ho said. Golden Sixty is five out of five when resuming but he is yet to restart against international competition. An armada of race-fit overseas challengers await, comprising five Japanese runners, led by Namur – last-start winner of the Group 1 Mile Championship (1600m) on November 19 at Kyoto, as well as Soul Rush – second in that race. “It looks challenging, the overseas horses and Hong Kong’s horses. There’s a couple of good ones in there but it’ll be fun. He is always good when he runs fresh. We needed this trial just to let him have a nice blow,” Ho said. Serifos, Danon The Kid and Divina also feature for Japan, while last year’s winner California Spangle shoots for another upset victory and the emerging Beauty Eternal seeks a first top-level win at his initial attempt. Victory would see Golden Sixty join Good Ba Ba (2007, 2008 & 2009) as the only three-time winners of the race. Ho also rides Senor Toba in the HK$24 million Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and Straight Arron in the HK$36 million Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m). “Senor Toba ran well last start. Let’s see, the Europeans and Japanese look very strong,” Ho said. The developing Straight Arron claimed the HK$5.35 million Group 2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) last start but is yet to face Romantic Warrior over Sunday week’s trip. “He’s going well. Hopefully we’ll be competitive – it’s a strong field but he is fit and he is ready,” Ho said. More horse racing news View the full article

Kingsclere Stables will have a slew of stakes representatives this week, with the first set to step out at Otaki on Thursday. Promising three-year-old Zabmanzor (NZ) (Zabmanzor) will lead the Cambridge stable’s charge in the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (1600m). The son of Almanzor takes an impressive 3-/14 length victory into the race, but Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are well aware of the step up in company at Otaki this week. “It is a pretty handy race, there are some nice horses in there,” Wellwood said. “We couldn’t be happier with where we are at with him and I think the mile is really going to suit him, but it is certainly going to be a test.” On the undercard, Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) is set to make his raceday return in the Riverbank Construction (1400m), having last raced in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) where he finished fourth and 10th respectively. While he was set to make a return earlier in the spring, his conditioners elected to give the gelding more time in the paddock. They have been pleased with the way the four-year-old has returned and readied him for his first-up assignment with a 1150m trial at Te Awamutu earlier this month. “He came in earlier in the year and didn’t really thrive, so we just gave him more time,” Wellwood said. “He has done really well since then – he looks well and his trial was very good. It was nice to see him jump and put himself in the trial. “1400m is going to be far short of his best this week but it is a starting point. “We will just play it by ear and go through the grades and hopefully find our way to a nice race in the autumn with him.” The stable will also be represented at Otaki by last start runner-up Pizzazz (NZ) (Vadamos) in the UZA Bus (1300m) and Avalene (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Fieldtech Communications (2200m). “Pizzazz has pretty much had no luck right throughout her career. Hopefully she can get her rub of the green. She is more than capable of winning that race with any luck,” Wellwood said. “I am really looking forward to seeing Avalene up over further. She has drawn a nice gate (2) and hopefully she can get into a good rhythm and see room. The key to her is seeing her up over ground.” Looking ahead to the weekend, the stable will have strong stakes representation at Wanganui on Saturday with Pinion (NZ) (Pins) in the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1340m). “I hope the weather stays good for Pinion. He is a horse that enjoys a good track,” Wellwood said. “It has made things hard with Defibrillate coming in there, but he is well, and we are looking forward to the Cups over summer with him. “I am looking forward to seeing Orchestral come back. She worked really nicely this (Tuesday) morning. It is certainly just a first-up run for her and we are looking forward to some of the nice fillies races over Christmas and the New Year.” Closer to home at Te Rapa on Saturday, Apostrophe (NZ) (Tavistock) will contest the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m). “Her last run was superb up at Pukekohe,” Wellwood said. “Her Achilles heel is that she doesn’t jump away very well. If she can jump and put herself a few steps further forward she is going be right there in the finish.” View the full article

Southern raider Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto) is set to kick-off his northern campaign when he heads to Otaki on Thursday to contest the Vale Bav (Mick) Preston (1200m). The Group One performer had put together two placings prior to a disappointing last start performance when finishing last in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Mile (1600m) at Riccarton earlier this month. Trainer Kelvin Tyler said the better track conditions took their toll on the son of Per Incanto, but he has bounced through the run well. “Lightning Jack carried on up after Riccarton. I thought we would try and head to tracks with a little bit of give because those Good2s are not doing him any favours,” the Riverton trainer said. “He took a good week to get over his last run. He jarred up and he has never jarred up in his life. We have just put a line through it, he seems well.” Tyler bases himself out of Otaki for his northern raids and said Lightning Jack has settled in well and he has welcomed the current wet conditions in the north, with the Otaki track rated a Soft5 on Tuesday morning. “We have got a really good family connection with Lorraine and Howie Matthews, they are always welcoming and have got a really good property there,” Tyler said. “It (rain) makes all the difference – a little bit of give in the ground and the horses are happier. He has settled in really nicely and did a nice bit of work on Saturday and seems to be on target.” Thursday’s run will ready Lightning Jack for his main target at Trentham on Saturday-week, the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), and the seven-year-old gelding also holds nominations for the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in January. “He is having a bit of a run after Riccarton. Being the (temporary) home track and with a bit of give in the track we thought we would give it a go,” Tyler said. “He has got a tonne of weight (62kg) to lug around, so I would be pleased if he runs in the top four. His main target will be the week after in the TAB Classic. “The Thorndon Mile, he was pretty unlucky in that race last season (when third). That is his next target, but we put him in the Telegraph just in case he needed a wee freshen-up.” The Tyler stable northern raid is set to get some reinforcements this weekend when Lightning Jack is joined by Prince Alby and Lady Sass. “Prince Alby is going to target races at Wellington and Laddy Sass will go to the three-year-old race at Wellington next weekend and a race like the Eulogy (Gr.3, 1600m),” Tyler said. “She is quite a mature three-year-old, has come through her racing well, so we thought while she’s flying we will attack it as there is nothing down here for three-year-olds in the next wee while.” Meanwhile, Tyler is looking forward to heading to Cromwell this weekend where he will line-up half a dozen runners over the two-day meeting. The southern meeting is one of the highlights on the racing calendar for Tyler, and his stable make the most of the iconic summer meeting. “It is always a good weekend, I quite enjoy going up there,” he said. “We rent a house up there, take the staff and have a fun weekend. Hopefully the weather plays its part. The track is always good up there. “We have got six or eight horses we will end up taking up there. I have got Za Beauteous in the maiden 2000m and she has been close to winning. Albatross is going well and Go Lotte is back in her grade. I have got some nice chances.” View the full article