Wandering Eyes

James McDonald delivers a perfect ride on The Golden Scenery. Tony Cruz has lauded James McDonald’s precision ride to snare the Class 1 Chevalier Cup Handicap (1600m) on The Golden Scenery with a ground-saving display which catapulted McDonald to a double at Sha Tin on Sunday. Untried beyond 1400m and regarded as suspect at 1600m, The Golden Scenery did not leave the fence after jumping smartly from barrier one to triumph in a slowly-run race for McDonald, who arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday morning to start a short-term stint which runs until January 1. Cruz booked McDonald to ride The Golden Scenery as soon as he learned the New Zealander was heading to Hong Kong as the dual Hong Kong champion trainer mulled the idea of thrusting The Golden Scenery out to a mile – uncharted territory. “James rode a perfect race. I was thinking ‘Don’t tell me this horse, by Deep Field, he needs a mile’,” Cruz said. “So, I thought ‘Why not give it a shot?’ and I’ll put James on it and we can hope for the best result and that’s what happened,” Cruz said. “We made a gamble and we got the best jockey on and we got a good result – that’s how we work.” Having announced himself in perfect fashion by striking immediately with his first ride for John Size, McDonald was at his best on The Golden Scenery with a rails-hugging ride. “It worked out well, to have barrier one behind a moderate tempo and he was able to sprint home well,” McDonald said. “Obviously, he’s suspect at a mile but today wasn’t really a genuine run mile, so he was able to get it.” Trailing leader Telecom Fighters into the straight, McDonald resisted the temptation to angle to the outside but instead stayed on the fence before The Golden Scenery (125lb) denied Atullibigeal (118lb) by a short head. Happy Together (115lb) was third, one and a half lengths further away. The overall time of 1m 34.67s was slower than standard. After another bountiful Australian spring, McDonald started his short-term contract in ideal circumstances when promising sprinter Wunderbar won with ease. “The monkey is straight off the back and it needed to be done. I’ve got some nice rides, I needed to convert,” McDonald said. “He’s a beautiful horse, beautifully educated. He just jumped, bridled all the way through – I think he’s extremely talented.” Pierre Ng extended his lead atop the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a double as I Give became the first horse to post five wins this season. The Per Incanto gelding started the season in Class 5 with a rating of 37 but his rich vein of form has carried him through Class 4 and, with today’s triumph in the Class 3 Chevalier Construction Handicap (1200m) under Andrea Atzeni, Ng is confident even more is to come. “I don’t think anything can stop him at 1200 (metres) at the moment, so hopefully he can do a little bit more for us in three or four weeks’ time,” said Ng, who has 26 wins for the campaign. “He’s fit and well. I think we just go along as the season goes.” Drombeg Banner landed the Class 2 Chevalier Car Dealership Handicap (1400m) under a masterful ride by Andrea Atzeni. The Starspangledbanner gelding collected a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus in logging his second win this season and fourth overall from only nine starts in Hong Kong. Chancheng Glory edged closer to Four-Year-Old Classic Series participation with his third win in a row for Francis Lui. The Mor Spirit gelding responded brilliantly under Lyle Hewitson to land the Class 3 Chevalier Cold Storage & Logistics Handicap (1600m). Apex Top posted his second win for Douglas Whyte and Luke Ferraris when the South African-bred gelding edged to a narrow success in the Class 5 Chevalier Insurance Handicap (1400m) before David Hall-trained Aca Power won the Class 4 Chevalier Property Development Handicap (1200m, dirt) under Alexis Badel. “He’s such a little professional, he’s easy to have around the stable and he paraded beautifully today. He just doesn’t get excited and he enjoys his work – it was good that his owners were rewarded today,” Hall said. Michael Chang and Keagan De Melo combined with Smokey Bear in the Class 3 Chevalier Property Management Handicap (1200m, dirt). A son of Kodiac, Smokey Bear has won his only two starts on Sha Tin’s dirt circuit. Karis Teetan moved into second place on the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with victory aboard Whyte-trained Mister Dapper in the Class 4 Chevalier Aluminium Engineering Handicap (1600m). Teetan boosted his tally to 21 wins and with more minor placings overtook Hugh Bowman, who is sidelined with injury. Benno Yung’s Fun Together made it two wins in a row with an easy victory in the Class 4 Chevalier Building Supplies & Engineering Handicap (1400m) for Jerry Chau. More horse racing news View the full article

Jamie Kah’s blameworthiness and recklessness was substantiated because “she ought to have known her actions were being filmed”, counsel acting for stewards said in closing submissions to her white powder hearing on Monday. View the full article

Leon "Blue" Blusiewicz, a horse trainer of over 40 years, has died at the age of 92.View the full article

Mr Fisk put himself on the map as a horse to watch in next year's older male division with a game win over Skinner in the $100,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar.View the full article

With the Kentucky Derby (G1) still 23 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of "All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2021 Foal Crop" closed as the 6-5 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.View the full article

The pari-mutuel field of “All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2021 Foal Crop” closed as the 6-5 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, while GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness (City of Light) was the 8-1 second choice. Other horses who attracted mild interest from bettors: Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Locked (Gun Runner) (14-1); 10 1/4-length maiden winner Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) (18-1); 10 1/2-length debut winner Knightsbridge (Nyquist) (19-1); and maiden special weight winner and full-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Dornoch (Good Magic) (19-1). Total handle for the Nov. 23-26 KDFW pool–the second of six scheduled wagering pools in advance of the 2024 Derby–was $206,800 ($163,037 in the Win pool and $43,763 in Exactas), a 27.6% increase from last year's $162,112 ($129,213 in the Win pool and $32,899 in Exactas). In the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, “All Other Sires” was favored at 7-2, with Nyquist and Gun Runner progeny, both at 11-1, attracting the most attention from bettors. Total betting on the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager was $104,112 ($77,417 in the Win pool and $26,695 in the Exactas), up a lofty 208.6% from last year's $33,732 ($24,557 in the Win pool and $9,175 in the Exactas). The KDFW Pool 2 and Sire Future Wager combined to handle $310,912, up 58.8% from last year's $195,844. Other Future Wager dates are set for Jan. 19-21 (Pool 3); Feb. 16-18 (Pool 4); March 15-17 (Pool 5); April 4-6 (Pool 6). The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will coincide with Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5. For complete fields, visit KentuckyDerby.com/FutureWager. The post ‘All Others’ Favored at Close of Derby Future Pool 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sent to post at long odds once again, Gigante rewarded his backers—for the third time in stakes company—with a win going away in the off-the-turf $257,500 Commonwealth Turf Stakes Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Leon Blusiewicz, a retired trainer whose charisma, enthusiasm and knowledge of Thoroughbred pedigrees far eclipsed his winning percentages, died Nov. 26 in a Maryland hospital while under hospice care for kidney failure. He was 92. David Grening of Daily Racing Form first reported Blusiewicz's passing on Sunday, recalling that the veteran conditioner stood out as a “Damon Runyon-type character.” Beyond being a Grade I-caliber backstretch storyteller with a penchant for weaving colorful racetrack tales, “Blu” was known for his keen eye for horsemanship, and his reliance on old-school conditioning methods enabled him to get the most out of modest stock. His training record prior to retirement in 2017 predates the advent of the Equibase statistical database, which credits Blusiewicz with 184 wins and $4.5 million in earnings from 1,243 starts. Based in Maryland and later New York, he conditioned Grade I stakes victresses Willa On the Move and Snow Plow, plus five other Grade III winners and a number of listed stakes winners. The Baltimore-born Blusiewicz often said that the first horse racing memory he could recall was witnessing Seabiscuit beat War Admiral in their famous match race at Pimlico on Nov. 1, 1938, when he would have been seven. In a 2010 profile for The Saratogian, Nicole Russo wrote that Blusiewicz had a grandfather who trained horses in Poland, but that as a young man, Blu originally pursued a career as a merchant seaman before finding his true calling at the track. After taking odd jobs as a groom and hotwalker during his shore breaks, Blu managed to cash a sizable bet and, according to legend, decided to purchase a 2-year-old. That horse won his first start. “From there, there was no looking back,” Russo wrote. As the Washington Post's Andrew Beyer wrote in a 1997 profile, “Blusiewicz is an avid student of pedigrees, and over the years he has been successful in picking out bargains at yearling sales. But he never cultivated the type of clients who would give him a blank check (or even a large check) to buy horses, and he has always operated a stable of modest scope… “Nobody relishes the action and the gambling more than Blusiewicz,” Beyer continued. “In contrast to the many members of his profession who have the prudence and demeanor of bankers, Blusiewicz is unabashedly ebullient and outspoken. If you have even a nodding acquaintance with 'Blu' and ask him what he thinks of a horse he has entered, he's apt to exclaim: 'My horse can't lose! Can't lose! Bet all you want!'” As Blusiewicz himself told the New York Post in 2010 after winning with a first-time starter at Saratoga who got zealously backed to 5-2 odds after he had touted the horse liberally, “I have a golden rule, I don't cold-water nobody. It's bad luck. Give with open hands, and you'll receive with open hands.” Funeral services are pending. The post Leon Blusiewicz, Raconteur and Racehorse Trainer, Dies at 92 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nominations are now open for the Stablehand of the Year Award to be awarded at the annual NZB Standardbred Harness Racing NZ Awards night on 19th February 2024. Nominations can be sent in by trainers who employ a stablehand who always goes the extra mile, has the horses best interests at heart, always puts in 100% and and has a fantastic working attitude. All nominations must be emailed to courtney@hrnz.co.nz by Thursday 7th December at 5pm. Nominations must include a couple of paragraphs as to why you are nominating and a couple of examples of the fantastic work that your Stablehand does All nominees will be notified and the winner announced at the awards evening on 19th February 2024. Last year Penny Boyle won the award. She was nominated by Michael House. View the full article

What Tamworth Races Where Tamworth Jockey Club – 28 Britten Rd, Taminda NSW 2340 When Tuesday, November 28, 2023 First Race 1:50pm AEDT Visit Dabble NSW country racing heads to the Tamworth Jockey Club on Tuesday afternoon, with a competitive seven-race program set for decision. The rail is out +3m the entire circuit, and with the unrelenting showers continuing in the lead-up, the surface will sit somewhere in the Heavy range. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1:50pm local time. Best Bet: Zedari Zedari heads to Tamworth fourth-up and finds an ideal setup to break his maiden status. He attempted to make every post a winner at Kempsey on November 10 and just peaked on his run with 50m to travel. It was an unfamiliar role for the son of Menari, and with Jenny Duggan set to utilise similar tactics, watch for Zedari to give a bold front-running sight — this time, to victory. Best Bet Race 6 – #8 Zedari (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Damien Lane | J: Jenny Duggan (57.5kg) +190 with Bet365 Next Best: More For Us More For Us was unfortunate not to pick up his first victory at Armidale on November 12. The four-year-old was forced out wide turning for home after missing his gap early in the straight, losing all momentum to go down by a half-length. Mikayla Weir gets a chance to rectify things second-up in this 1400m contest, and with more luck when the race goes on, More For Us will be hard to hold out. Next Best Race 4 – #3 More For Us (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Stirling Osland | J: Mikayla Weir (58kg) +380 with Neds Best Value: Mangoola Mangoola represents terrific each-way value as he resumes from a 267-day spell. This lightly raced six-year-old has been a work-in-progress for the Cody Morgan barn, and his latest barrier trial at Scone on November 22 suggests he is well over the odds. The son of Denman has never had a double-figure starting price with online bookmakers, and with 53kg on his back after the claim of Braith Nock, Mangoola can outrun his quote. Best Value Race 3 – #8 Mangoola (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Cody Morgan | J: Braith Nock (a2kg) (55kg) +2500 with Betfair Tamworth Tuesday quaddie tips – 28/11/2023 Tamworth quadrella selections Tuesday, November 28, 2023 1-2-3 1-2-4-5-7 2-8 1-4-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Horse Racing on Monday, November 27 will feature four meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meeting at Taree. Monday Racing Tips – November 27, 2023 Taree Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For November 27, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $23.87 odds return: Monday, November 27, 2023 Ararat Race 6 – #7 Kusini Sapphire Coast Race 2 – #4 Les Goh Taree Race 3 – #6 Overextend Warwick 1 – #5 Granny’s Reward | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on November 27, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Downes has called at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., for their last two race seasons and comes to Golden Gate with over two decades of experience in the announcer's booth.View the full article

A total of 90 horses spread over eight races were entered for the 25th Claiming Crown, to be held for the first time since 2011 at New Orleans' Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Dec. 2.View the full article

Bill Downes has been named track announcer for the upcoming winter/spring meet at Golden Gate Fields. Downes, who has called the races at Emerald Downs for the Washington track's last two seasons, has over two decades of experience in the announcer's booth. “We look forward to having Bill call our races,” said Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan. “He has called all over the country and provides viewers and listeners with an accurate description of a race.” Along with his stint at Emerald, Downes has also described the on-track action at Beulah Park, Ellis Park, Indiana Grand, Presque Isle Downs, and River Downs. He began his race calling career at Arapahoe Park in 1999. A Chicago native, Downes grew up attending Arlington Park with his father, a practice which quickly culminated into a lifelong passion for Thoroughbred racing. Matt Dinerman, who has called the Golden Gate races for the last six years, had his final day at the track Sunday and will be calling the races this winter at Oaklawn Park. Santa Anita announcer Frank Mirahmadi will be calling the final two weeks of Golden Gate's Fall Meet, which ends Dec. 10. The track's winter/spring meet begins Dec. 26 and runs through mid-June on a Friday through Sunday basis. The post Bill Downes Named Golden Gate Track Announcer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Del Mar, $61,500, Msw, 11-26, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:16.13, ft, 3 3/4 lengths. KOPION (f, 2, Omaha Beach–Galloping Ami {Outstanding Broodmare-Can}, by Victory Gallop) did not disappoint her backers who made her the 1-5 favorite for this debut. The $270,000 Keeneland September buy trailed towards the rear of the field as a pair showed the way up the backstretch. Given her cue around the far turn, the Richard Mandella trainee ranged up and let the throttle out to graduate by 3 3/4 lengths over She's a Tempest (Connect). The winner is a half-sister to Aragorn Ami (Aragorn {Ire}), SW, $112,535, Ami's Flatter (Flatter), GSW & GISP, $536,931 and Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo), Ch. 3-year-old Colt-Can, GSW, $800,022. A full-sister to Victorious Ami, who herself is responsible for Canadian Champion female sprinter Ami's Mesa (Sky Mesa) and GSW Ami's Holiday (Harlan's Holiday), unraced dam Galloping Ami produced a yearling colt named Authentic Gallop (Authentic). She also foaled a filly Apr. 16 by Essential Quality and was bred to Uncle Mo for next year. Kopion is the 21st winner for her first-crop sire (by War Front). Sales History: $270,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Tall Oaks Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. What a debut! #6 KOPION ($2.60) kicks off her career–and today's Del Mar card–in style, winning her first career start under a hand ride. The 2-year-old filly by @spendthriftfarm's Omaha Beach was piloted by Flavien Prat for trainer Richard Mandella and @spendthriftfarm. pic.twitter.com/fjiBxS8vyE — TVG (@TVG) November 26, 2023 The post Daughter Of Omaha Beach Surfs Home A Debut Winner At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The annual Thanksgiving weekend “Stars of Tomorrow” card at Churchill Downs is designed to highlight aspiring 2-year-olds right before they launch into their sophomore seasons. An intriguing subplot to this year's edition, however, put the spotlight on several human rather than equine participants who could be on the cusp of bigger and better things. Eighteen-year-old jockey Axel Concepcion just might be on his way to winning an Eclipse Award as the nation's top apprentice for 2023 despite not starting racing at American mainland tracks until Feb. 19 and also having to sit out back-to-back reckless riding suspensions imposed by the Delaware Park stewards that forced him to the sidelines between Oct. 6 and Nov. 22. The Puerto Rican native was in the midst of a planned move from the mid-Atlantic circuit to Kentucky when he was penalized for twice causing Delaware spills, and when Concepcion resurfaced at Churchill on Thanksgiving Day, the asterisk next to his name designating “bugboy” status perhaps should have been replaced by an exclamation point. Concepcion won with just his second mount at Churchill last Thursday, then scored in two races on the Friday card. He was no worse than fourth from six tries on the first two days of his Kentucky foray, and has been riding well-bet horses for well-stocked trainers like Brad Cox, Chris Hartman, and Philip Bauer. He's represented by agent Bryson Cox, Brad's son, who told TDN back in early October that the plan would be just to get Concepcion noticed at the end of the Churchill meet before settling in for the four-month Turfway Park season that starts this Wednesday. Milestone Win for Whit Trainer Whit Beckman broke through with his first graded stakes victory when he saddled Honor Marie (Honor Code) to a last-to-first, two-length victory in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill. Although Beckman is a new-ish name in the program, he's no kid at age 41. And he's certainly no stranger to winner's circle celebrations at the highest levels of the game, having served as an assistant to several well-respected conditioners, including Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher, as well as spending a year as a head trainer in Saudi Arabia prior to launching a one-horse stable in 2021 that has since grown in size and stature. A native of Louisville who is the son of an equine veterinarian, Beckman said post-win that getting his first graded stakes score at Churchill resonated with him, “especially just being here at home, from Louisville, and this is the first place I ever worked. [I feel] so many feelings that are just part of the process it's taken to get here. And, yeah, I'm just thrilled. I've been in a lot of spots like this before, but working for other people, [so] it's awesome to be here with my name of the program.” Beckman plans to winter in New Orleans with Honor Marie (90 Beyer Speed Figure) and the rest of his outfit. “Working for Todd and Chad I saw a lot of programs leading up to the Derby, and obviously, that is what the goal is with all of these horses,” Beckman said. “I've never gone to the Fair Grounds for the entire winter, so we're going to give it a shot.” Frequent Philly Flyer Mychel Sanchez, currently the leading jockey this year at Parx in both victories and purse earnings, has decided to give Tampa Bay Downs a go this winter. He won with his first mount of the meet there on Friday, but don't expect him to vanish from the entries at his home track in the Philadelphia area just yet. The 27-year-old rider is currently in the midst of some whirlwind commuting. Last Monday, Nov. 20, he won with two of six mounts at Parx. Sanchez was blanked there on Tuesday and Wednesday, but after riding in the ninth race at Parx, he trekked 120 miles west for the night card at Penn National, where he won two Thanksgiving Eve stakes with his only two mounts there by a combined 16 lengths. After taking the holiday off to travel south, Sanchez won with three of his first eight Tampa mounts. Now he's back up north at Parx to start the racing week anew, with 13 mounts booked this Monday-Wednesday prior to going back to Tampa, where racing will be conducted largely on a Wednesday-Friday-Saturday schedule this season. “It's a new experience for me, and it's good because I get to learn a little more every day,” Sanchez told the Tampa Bay Downs media department. “I really like it. I just want to keep doing better every day.” He's still trying, we're still rooting… Storm the Court (Court Vision), who upset the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at 45-1 odds but hasn't won a race since, came within a half-length of making his first return trip to a winner's circle in more than four years on Friday when he dead-heated for second at Tampa in an allowance/optional claimer over five furlongs on the grass. Following his Breeders' Cup shocker, Storm the Court was blanked in five prep races for the GI Kentucky Derby during the pandemic-altered 2020 season that saw the Derby staged in September. He ran a credible sixth, beaten nine lengths in that Derby, then tried everything from graded-stakes turf routes to dirt sprints to 1 1/2-mile main-track marathons in multiple attempts to regain his winning ways. Storm the Court was never badly beaten in terms of lengths, but only managed one second and one third in all of his post-Derby tries while padding his bankroll to just shy of $1.4 million during that time frame. Now six and still owned by several of the principals who campaigned him in the Breeders' Cup (David Bernsen and Susanna Wilson), Storm the Court's ownership line also includes his initial conditioner, Peter Eurton, who trained him through 2022. Tom Amoss had trained Storm the Court for two starts earlier this year at Saratoga and Churchill before William Morey took over for an Oct. 4 start at Horseshoe Indianapolis and the Tampa try Nov. 24. The post The Week in Review: ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ Showcases Aspiring Humans as Well as Horses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every day, just as the the lull of the afternoon wants to take hold, Dad walks into the office from the farm and proclaims the rhetorical: “How lucky are we?” You see, Dad frequently goes out to greet our guests on our Mill Ridge-Horse Country tours, most often after they have fed carrots to mares standing by the fence. To a person they will look him in the eye: “You know how lucky you are to do what you do?” This is the reward we did not anticipate as we built out Horse Country. As a result of Horse Country and sharing our land, horses and history with our visitors, we have grown to appreciate something we took for granted and something our visitors remind us daily. We are so lucky to do what we do, to work with horses. It is easy to take this privilege for granted, without the daily reminder from others. These past few months have been very hard. Through trying to process the uncertainty of our industry, I found inspiration in the Australian racing community. 'Kick Up For Racing' has empowered their community with facts, information, skills and confidence to proudly talk about our industry. They are changing the narrative and affirming our social license. One thing we have learned is these industry issues are global and through social platforms, we all have the opportunity to have a more centralized message. With that, I hope you will join in bringing a similar forum to America. 'Light Up Racing' (shine some positive light) is our community advocating for the horse and holding each other accountable to them. Together, we will be proud of our transparency and inspired by our collective passion for the horse. As the Thanksgiving season transitions to the holidays, it allows us to pause and reflect on the year and dream of next. We are all so lucky. We have learned though our visitors that sharing is inspiring. I hope you will take a moment to sign up with “Light Up Racing” and learn more about an initiative to shine more on the positive aspects of our industry with helpful facts and information. Price Bell, Mill Ridge Farm The post Letter to the Editor: Price Bell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEXT stop New Zealand for Australia’s top three-year-old trotter Not As Promised. Father-son training team Graham and Layne Dwyer said they were looking forward to facing the best of the Kiwis after Not As Promised snared his second Group 1 victory of the season at Melton last night. First came the Victoria Trotters’ Derby as a rank outsider, but Not As Promised was a $2 favourite when he worked to front and won as he liked in the $75,000 Breeders Crown final last night. “It’s a relief to get this one, but we’re not finished yet,” Layne Dwyer said. “We’ve got New Zealand to come and hopefully we can do the same thing over there.” Not As Promised is booked a flight on Wednesday from Melbourne to Auckland and then down to Christchurch for the huge December 10 meeting at Addington. “I know they’ve got some really nice young trotters over there and it’ll be hard,” Graham Dwyer said. “But it’s not just about winning, for us its about competing and having a crack.” Australia’s leading driver Nathan Dawson, who is rapidly closing-in on 400 wins for the season, confirmed he would make the trip to Addington. It’ll mean a quick turnaround from night three of his home state Inter Dominion final on the Saturday night to get to Christchurch for the following day. Not As Promised, who owner Tony Veivers bought from Greg Sugars and Jess Tubbs just a few months ago, has raced nine times for the Dwyers for eight wins and a fourth. X X X YOU can add rejuvenated pacer Hi Manameisjeff to Jason Grimson’s Brisbane Inter Dominion team. The six-year-old made it six wins from just seven starts in Grimson’s care when he thrashed a handy field in the Tony Turnbull free-for-all at Menangle last night. “Jase (Grimson) has made a few gear changes and thinks he will get around the track (Albion Park) better than he did in the Victoria Cup (Melton),” driver Cam Hart said. X X X WHEN David Moran bought Timmy Rictor at the Bathurst yearling sales he had one stipulation, Clayton Tonkin and Emma Stewart had to train the colt. It may sound strange from a rival trainer, but it’s proven a fantastic formula. Timmy Rictor blitzed his rivals in last night’s $250,000 Group 1 Breeders Crown 2YO colts and geldings final at Melton. It made up for Timmy Rictor’s only defeat in six starts when he ran second in the Bathurst Gold final back on March 25. Although Moran doesn’t train the colt, he does all the driving and his clients own him. X X X THIS is one heck of a crop of Aussie two-year-old fillies. Just a few weeks after the brilliant Lux Aeterna broke the Australasian two-year-old fillies’ record at Menangle, she found one better in Victoria. Very Pretty capped a short but stunning first campaign when she made it five wins from as many starts winning the $250,000 Breeders Crown final last night. The daughter of American Ideal led, copped some pressure at times, but won easily in a slick 1min54.9sec mile rate for 2240m. Lux Aeterna lost no admirers with a fantastic second, while another NSW filly Millwood Bliss ran a terrific third. The only disappointment of the race was the Very Pretty’s previously unbeaten stablemate Draw A Dream, who sat parked and overraced before tiring badly to finish eighth after winning her first six starts. X X X LUKE McCarthy’s hit-and-run Melton trip certainly paid dividends last night McCarthy had a handful of drives for Emma Stewart and snared a double with Like A Wildfire winning the free-for-all and Perfect Class taking out the $150,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old colts and geldings. X X X IT was only fitting Major Delight gave Emma Stewart a clean sweep of the Breeders Crown pacing finals last night. The daughter of Bettors Delight is unashamedly one of Stewart’s absolute stable favourites and she sat parked to beat classy stablemate Joyful in stunning style. Major Delight’s record is amazing with 19 starts netting 16 wins, three seconds and almost $600,000. X X X VETERAN media man Ken Casellas is usually writing stories about feature harness races, but he made news of his own last Friday night. Casellas is a part-owner of former Kiwi mare Simply Shaz, who scored an upset win in the WA’s biggest mares’ race, the $150,000 Group 1 Westral Mares’ Classic (2536m) at Gloucester Park. Simply Shaz, a five-year-old daughter of American Ideal, came off the back of leader and $1.40 favourite Wonderful To Fly to gun her down in the last few strides and win by 2.1m in a 1min56.7sec mile rate for the long 2536m trip. It was the perfect time for the Peter Anderson-trained mare to break a 20-race losing streak with Trent Wheeler aboard. Earlier, former WA Pacing Cup winner Wildwest returned to winning form in the free-for-all for trainer Gary Hall Sr and son, Gary Jr. It was just his second win in 21 starts since winning the WA Pacing Cup on February 4, last year. View the full article

By Mike Love Betterwithbling got a well deserved win when he won the Moore Walker Davey Searells Accountants Mobile pace at Banks Peninsula yesterday. West Melton trainer Jesse Wederell could not be happier with the result. “He always tries his best! I’m very very happy with him,” said Wederell. Betterwithbling, the 7 year old Betterthancheddar gelding, went forward off the gate and sat parked the entire journey for driver Carter Dalgety. At the top of the straight Betterwithbling took the race to pacemaker Flyaway, which escalated into a dog fight all the way down the straight seeing Betterwithbling edge out Flyaway by 1⁄2 a neck. “Carter (Dalgety) was stoked and said he (Betterwithbling) felt really good and actually latched on at the top of the straight, so he just let him do his own thing. “He went great fresh up, then last start at Rangiora he blew out a bit with his condition. I gave him a couple of decent runs during the week to keep on top of him.” Wederell’s Uncle, Tony Wederell, bred Betterwithbling after purchasing the mare Reincarnation (by Holmes Hanover) from the mixed sale in around 2014, and is in ownership with Jesse. “It was a really big thing to have Tony there. It was absolutely amazing. My partner (Eddie) and some of her friends were there too, so it made it just that bit more special. “Eddie works for Stephen Boyd, but before she goes to work she helps out and feeds the horses and mucks the yards for me in the morning.” Wederell is a busy man, rises most mornings at 3am to attend his job as a butcher, before heading home to work his team in the afternoon. “I get a bit tired at the other end of the day.” This was Betterwithbling’s 2nd win from 47 starts, that also includes 17 placings, amassing over $47,000 in stakes. Betterwithbling made it Wederell’s 8th training success as a trainer, and made it 2 wins on the card for Carter Dalgety as he also steered Harrison to victory for trainer John Morrison earlier on in the programme. View the full article

James “Jimmy” Alexander, a known and respected horseman, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, Nov. 24. Born to Russell and Mattie Alexander in Lexington, Kentucky on Oct. 15, 1948, Alexander was a proud third generation horseman. He was raised on the prestigious Bwamazon Farm in Winchester, Kentucky where he thoroughly enjoyed learning from and working with his father as he grew up. The family later relocated to Ocala, Florida when Jimmy was in his teens. His love for working with horses continued in Ocala where he also enjoyed playing baseball into his adult years. He graduated from Ocala High School in 1967 and after graduation he proudly served his country by joining the United States Air Force. Alexander served in the Vietnam War and after his four-year enlistment was complete he was drawn to return to the Thoroughbred industry. He was a manager with the notable operations Franks Farm, Bwamazon Farm and Live Oak Plantation before becoming farm manager of Double Diamond Farm. Alexander resided at Double Diamond for over 30 years and was very active in his role before succumbing to his short illness. He additionally loved playing golf with his diverse group of friends, he could often be found heading to or on the golf course. An avid and knowledgeable sports fan, he followed the Kentucky Wildcats and Florida Gators sports teams. His positive outlook and kind personality will forever live through memories and stories about him from all that loved him. He is survived by his wife Deni Alexander of Ocala; two fourth generation horsemen sons Chris, and his wife Lisa, with McKathan Brothers in Ocala and Kevin, and his wife Lori, with Middlebrook Farm in Lexington; grandchildren Ashton Alexander, Justin Alexander, Matthew Alexander and step-grandson Brandon Kessel; step great-grandson Bryson Kessel; stepchildren Kris Spencer and Bethany Spencer-Smith; cousins Rusty Arnold (trainer), Terry Arnold (trainer), Debbie Arnold, Lenny Arnold, Scott McClene, and Steven McClene. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made in his name to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. An informal celebration of life will be hosted by the family Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Ocala National Golf Club from 1-4 p.m. EST. A similar event will be held in Kentucky on a future date. The post Respected Horseman James “Jimmy” Alexander Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Online bookmakers have released their racing promotions for Monday, November 27, including several great bonus back offers. The top Australian racing promotions for November 27, 2023, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Have A Crack At JMac Guaranteed best odds on all James McDonald ridden Hong Kong runners. Eligible clients only. Offer available between 24/11/2023 to 1/1/2024, General PlayUp T&C’s apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Mega Multi – Get up to $50 Bonus Cash back Place a Fixed Win/Place Multi across Australian Thoroughbred racing this Monday to Friday and if your multi fails by the selected number of legs, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available once daily. Applies to first resulted 3+ leg multi with selected losing leg(s). Available once daily. Ladbrokes T&C’s apply. Login to Ladbrokes to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting has reviewed the top horse racing bookmakers in Australia and has unveiled exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions and specials for Monday, November 27, 2023. These horse racing promotions persist almost daily, showcasing the commitment of Australia’s top horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker lacks a promotion, rest assured that another is presenting enticing promotional offers in the realm of gallops. HorseBetting.com.au is your go-to source for the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses every day. Gain the most value out of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses with the most competitive horse racing odds available for each race. It’s imperative to note that these thoroughbred racing promotion offers cater exclusively to existing customers. Accessing these special promotions and claiming the bookmaker’s offers requires logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting offers a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay informed, stay strategic, and make the most of your horse racing experience with these exclusive promotions. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Full fields and great betting opportunities will be the highlight of Wednesday's opening night program as live racing returns to Turfway Park Racing & Gaming for the 2023-24 season.View the full article

Trailing Panthalassa by 20 lengths through the first half of the 2,400 meter (about 12 furlongs) test Equinox showed why he is truly the world's best racehorse in more than just name. View the full article

Planteur (Ire), sire of the outstanding stayer Trueshan (Fr), heads the trio of stallions at Roisin Close's Chapel Stud, where his fee remains at £4,000 for 2024. Both Planteur and Bangkok (Ire), who has first foals on the ground this year, including four for sale at Tattersalls, are owned by Simon Davies's DalhBury operation, sponsor of the Coronation Cup at Epsom. Bangkok's fee is also unchanged at £3,000, while the fee for Hellvelyn (GB) remains at £2,500. Chapel Stud director Roisin Close said, “Planteur continues to produce results on the racetrack. His flag-bearer on the Flat, Trueshan, had another good season and was crowned Cartier Stayer of the Year for a second time. Similarly, his top performer over fences, Gran Diose, had a fantastic 12 months, winning two Grade 2 chases and recently finishing second in a Grade 1 chase at Auteuil. “Bangkok has his first foals for the Flat selling at Tattersalls this week. They are strong, correct, and attractive foals, very much in his likeness. As a half-brother to the Group 2-winning two-year-old and three-year-old The Foxes, as well as five more stakes horses, I think people will be very surprised at how precocious they are, and they could be buying themselves the winner of the 'Bangkok Bonus'.” The Bangkok Bonus is a £10,000 payment to the breeder and the owner respectively of the stallion's first black-type two-year-old winner, with a further £5,000 to the horse's trainer of £5,000. The breeder of any two-year-old winner by Bangkok also receives a free return. Walzertakt (Ger), who joined Chapel Stud two years ago from Haras de la Croix Sonnet, will not be covering in 2024 having undergone “a surgical procedure” in the summer. Chapel Stud will again offer the 'Pick a Nom' initiative for Planteur and Bangkok. Simon Davies said, “We appreciate that breeders, as our clients, have very different needs and budgets, and therefore wanted to offer a choice with our stallion nomination terms as well as ensuring value options for everyone.” The post Chapel Stud Stallion Fees Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK–After a brief pause between sales to fill up the lungs before the next push, Tattersalls is now braced for some frenetic action throughout the coming fortnight at Park Paddocks. And in in time-honoured fashion, the December Sales begin with a session of yearlings which numbered 162 at the last count. Just to guarantee strong interest in Monday's proceedings right through to the end, we have a Dubawi (Ire) colt in the ring last of all. Lot 188 is the second foal of the G2 German 1,000 Guineas winner Nyaleti (Ire) (Arch), whose first offspring Grey Nyle (GB) (Frankel {GB}) made his first start in the colours previously worn by his mother for Charlie Johnston back in November. A little before him will be the final opportunity to buy a yearling by the late champion Galileo (Ire) when Lot 171, a Coolmore-bred three-quarter-brother to the Listed Prix de la Seine winner Hidden Dimples (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), is offered by the Castlebridge Consignment. Much earlier in the day, the Anstock family's Clearwater Stud offers a three-part-brother to Public Sector (GB) (Kingman {GB}) by Haras d'Etreham's first-season sire Persian King (Ire) as Lot 4. Public Sector was himself a graduate of October Book 1, bought by Mike Ryan for Klaravich Stables, and his career in America has extended to five wins, including three graded stakes. There was much ado about the Niarchos draft at the Goffs November Sale on Friday, and anyone looking for a male-line descendant of one of the operation's good families should make a stop at Box 136 in Highflier Paddock G to check out the Fastnet Rock (Aus) colt in the New England Stud draft (Lot 11). The half-brother to two black-type performers is a grandson of Whakilyric (Miswaki), his dam Pleione (Fr) (Sadler's Wells) being a sister to the Group 1 winner Johann Quartz (Fr) and half-sister to another in Hernando (Fr) (Niniski). Similar comments apply to Lot 77, the Staffordstown-consigned colt by Study Of Man (Ire) out of the Listed winner Beta (GB), a Selkirk half-sister to the Arc winner Bago (Fr) and his fellow Group 1 winner Maxios (GB). Lot 49 presents a blend of the two most recent Triple Crown winners: by sire of the moment Justify, the filly is out of the once-raced American Pharoah mare The Girl Herself, who is a half-sister to the GI Hopeful S. winner Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch). A first foal, she is consigned by Barton Sales and her dam was sold earlier this month at Keeneland in foal to Munnings for $225,000 to Walmac Farm. The G1 Fillies' Mile winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer) has produced six winners from her six runners and her May-foaled filly by champion first-season sire-elect Blue Point (Ire), bred by Godolphin, is among the Castlebridge Consignment as Lot 62. Kilmoney Cottage Stud brings the pinhooked Sea The Moon (Ger) colt out of La Rosetta GB) (New Approach {Ire}) as Lot 159. His further family includes Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), whose race record has been extended to include victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile since the catalogue was published. Much closer to home, however, the colt's weanling half-brother by Blue Point (Ire), who, like the yearling, was bred by Frances Crowley's Brickfield Stud, sold for €250,000 last week at Goffs. Plenty of the foals have already arrived at Tattersalls for the start of Tuesday's sale, and a new name on the consignors' list for this week is Tennyson Farm and Stud. The Lincolnshire-based operation is run by 27-year-old Joe Robinson, and will offer three foals on Tuesday, and another three on Saturday. Half the draft are members of the first crop of Mickley Stud stallion Ubettabelieveit (Ire). “I sold one Study Of Man yearling that we bred in October under the name of Carrington Stud but there's a new guy started up recently as Carrington Bloodstock, so I didn't want people to get confused and I knew I had to change the name,” says Robinson. The young consignor has returned home to join the family business of “farming, furniture, a bit of everything really.” That bit of everything also includes hopes of expanding the consignment business in which his sister Grace is helping him at home, while family friend Lucy Parker is helping out at the sales. “Home is quite near where [breeder and consignor] Bumble Mitchell is based, in the Lincolnshire Wolds,” he says. “I was at Goffs last week but didn't manage to buy anything, though I am hoping to pinhook a few foals and to build up a broodmare band at home.” Having completed the BHA Graduate Scheme followed by the National Stud Diploma Course, Robinson has spent some time working in New Zealand and has recently finished a two-year stint at Tweenhills. “A lot of people have helped me to get this far, and my sister Grace has given me a huge amount of help at home,” he says. “I flew Zoustar out to Australia this year which was a great trip. I loved working at Tweenhills. Everyone gets roped in to do a bit of everything and it was great working there, but I decided that it was time to go home and try to do my own thing. It's now or never.” As has been remarked upon already this year, the influx of new, young faces on the sales grounds, generally pinhooking foals and yearlings, has been noteworthy, and it is also encouraging to see some new names on the consigning front. Temperatures have plummeted over the weekend in Newmarket and, with the first frost on the ground on Sunday, it is now officially December Sales weather. Park Paddocks is already abuzz with bobble hats and we can report great trade for the excellent broccoli and Stilton soup on offer at Castlebridge, while the the Green Room boasted Yorkshire puddings as big as your head. The first of more than 2,000 horses catalogued to sell through until Thursday, December 7 will be in the ring at 11am on Monday. The post December in November as Tattersalls Begins Two-Week Run appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article