Wandering Eyes

Mike Moroney has his sights set on a first Australian Guineas success after confirming his New Zealand-based gelding Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is poised to make the trip to Melbourne this autumn. Pendragon almost fell after slipping on the home turn during last Saturday’s Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie, but after recovering to finish second, Moroney said he feels he is the right horse to aim up at the $1 million Group One over 1600m at Flemington on March 2. “He was like many that lost his footing,” Moroney said on Tuesday from the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka. “If you watch the replay turning for home, he almost fell and Mark (Zahra) thought he was going to drop right out when it happened, but he picked himself right up and fought on bravely. “He was beaten by pretty good filly (Orchestral) and I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger (James) didn’t bring her to Australia from what we’ve seen. “I think he’s better left-handed. Mark said he was a little bit on the one rein going right-handed, although he’s already won right-handed before. But he’s just more tractable left-handed.” Sportsbet has Pendragon marked a $17 chance for the Group One classic at Flemington on March 2 in a market where fellow New Zealand three-year-old Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) is the early favourite after stringing together seven wins in a row at home to start his career. Moroney said it was obvious from an early age that Pendragon was good enough to chase such a race as the Australian Guineas. “He’s a pretty talented horse,” he said. “We liked him enough as a two-year-old to throw him in the deep end in a Stakes race early in his career when we knew he wasn’t really a two-year-old type. “He’s always shown any amount of talent and now he’s gotten stronger and learned the craft, I am sure he’s going to be up to it.” Moroney said the Australian Guineas will not necessarily be his final run as a three-year-old. “I’d like to think that we could get a bit more racing out of him at three but keeping in mind he’s got a trip over there (Australia) and that might be it,” Moroney said. “But we will see. He’s a nice, strong horse and he looked in great order the other afternoon.” View the full article

The Satono Aladdin half-brother to Group One winner On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa) and a filly with similar traits to Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) were among a small but select group of purchases for champion trainer Mike Moroney during Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka. The Melbourne Cup-winning trainer and his bloodstock agent brother Paul made five purchases together between Sunday and Tuesday and indicated that several of the higher-priced lots are headed to his Flemington stable. Moroney paid NZ$460,000 for Lot 661, a son of Japanese shuttler Satono Aladdin out of Cold Shoulder (NZ) (Volksraad), who is a half-sister to brilliant stayer Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel). The mare has already produced Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes winner On The Rocks. On Sunday, he parted with NZ$240,000 to secure Lot 69, a Proisir filly from Rich Hill Stud’s draft. He said the filly boasts similar physical attributes to current stable star Coeur Volante, who won multiple Stakes races during the spring before running fourth in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas. “She’s very much like Coeur Volante, expect she was an earlier foal,” Moroney said. “She’s got a bit of growing to do but I think she’ll do it now, whereas Coeur Volante did it a bit later because she’s a later foal. “She looks like a real runner to me and Proisir fillies have a great record. “She’ll probably stay here and have a go at the two-year-old race (Karaka Millions) and as long as she’s coming up quick enough, we’ll leave her here for that race and then go to Australia.” Moroney said he and his brother will be active during Book 2 of the sale, which begins on Wednesday. View the full article

Helene Feeling salutes under Zac Purton last season. Zac Purton has won every big race available in Hong Kong – nearly. The HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) is the only major Hong Kong contest to elude Purton and this Sunday at Sha Tin he rides Helene Feeling in a bid to complete the set. “I’ve always focused on trying to win the Derby and put more importance on a horse that has a little bit more stamina who would be able to peak on the big day and overlooked the Classic Mile,” Purton said. Purton has won 33 out of Hong Kong’s 34 principal feature races. 31 of these carry Group status, while the remaining three comprise the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which kicks off with the Hong Kong Classic Mile before the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on March 3 and HK$26 million 147th Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on March 24. Helene Feeling is trained by Danny Shum and is a two-time Class 2 winner. The Irish-bred placed in the HK$4.2 million Group 3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley last start. “The race has fallen away a little bit. There’s a few horses in there with quite low ratings and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of depth to it. The horses that stand out are going to be pretty hard to hold out – Helene Feeling has been racing fairly consistently,” Purton said. Purton won twice aboard Helene Feeling last season, closing that term with a success over this weekend’s course and distance. “He seems healthy, so we’ll see what we get and where he is at,” Purton said. “His better form is probably at Happy Valley compared to Sha Tin. Although, he has managed to win at Sha Tin as well, I rode him. He’s capable but the weekend will show us where he is at.” Purton’s closest result in the Hong Kong Classic Mile came aboard Garlic Boy in 2013, who finished second to Gold-Fun by a neck. The Australian has placed third three times in the race aboard Dibayani (2014), Beauty Generation (2017) and Packing Treadmill (2023). Moving to 61 wins this season with a six-timer last Sunday (28 January), Purton holds a 21-win lead over the second placed Karis Teetan (40) in the 2023/24 jockeys’ standings. More horse racing news View the full article

After winning his first Group One in last year’s Oakleigh Plate, the 26-year-old earns a short-term Jockey Club contractView the full article

Australian rider withdraws appeal and faces another lengthy stint on the sidelines, while Golden Sixty is ‘nearly back to normal’ after scan reveals infectionView the full article

Trainer Matt Williams is banking on the fresh ability of his class mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote) to take her to victory for the second year in a row in Saturday’s Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Wrote To Arataki takes a major ratings advantage into Saturday’s defence of her first Stakes victory, but Williams said from the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale on Tuesday that a late end to her 2023 campaign means she has been taken along slowly this time in. “She’s just had the one trial so there should be a bit of improvement to come,” Williams said. “She’s coming off that short break where she went pretty deep into the spring, so there’s not a lot of turnaround time there, so there’s a bit of natural fitness still under her belt. “Last week she had a little jumpout at Warrnambool and came through that well and she had a gallop on the grass this morning and all reports (are) she came through that well, so she should be there to take her spot.” Wrote To Arataki carries a 102 rating off the back of her G2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) success at Caulfield in the spring, meaning she enjoys a break of 15 ratings points over her highest-weighted rivals, Diamond Dealer and Sneaky Paige (87). Wiliams said Wrote To Arataki enjoyed her short break and was not screwed down for her first outing for 2024. “We were able to get on about 15 kilograms on her out in the paddock and she’s had a pretty soft preparation going into Saturday, so we are sort of using it as a run to bring her on and get her out to seven furlongs (1400m), which is probably more her trip,” he said. “But she does always run really well fresh, so if she is ridden off the speed and gets a bit of luck in running, I can see her diving through and being in the finish there somewhere. “She has improved each preparation we’ve brought her back from a break. She’s just gone a length or two better again, so you probably don’t know when they are going to tap out. “She’s up in a higher grade now. We’re hopeful that if we give her a light autumn – she might only have three runs – and then we’ve got the opportunity to give her a nice six-week break and then in the spring get into one of those good races like the Rupert Clark (Stakes) where she gets right down in the weights and give her another crack at a Group 1. “We need to go to the (Frances) Tressady or Mannerism (Stakes) second-up and possibly the Sunline Stakes will be her prep this time in. “She’s not the sort of mare that we will travel away too much as she’s got her quirks and probably in the spring, there are more options for her to go in different ways.” View the full article

Ayrton’s (NZ) (Iffraaj) love affair with Caulfield is set to be pushed to the limit, with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr set to nominate the John Dillon Stakes winner for the A$750,000 Gr.1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) next Saturday (February 10). Ayrton has won six of his seven starts at Caulfield, five of them over 1400m and four with Jamie Kah aboard, with his only defeat at the track having come at the top level when sixth in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last November. Mr Brightside dominates betting for the race at $2 following the news Alligator Blood won’t be taking his place, with Ayrton rated $26. “He just loves Caulfield, I don’t know what it is, Caulfield, Ayrton and Jamie Kah is a good recipe,” Kent Jnr said. “We had him a bit fresh to be fair and wasn’t totally wound up, so there’s improvement to come off that break in Perth. “We are going to nominate him for the C.F. Orr, he’s not as good as Mr Brightside or Alligator Blood of course but why wouldn’t you have a look at that race, he loves that course and distance.” View the full article

There are limited chances left to secure progeny of dominant Hong Kong stallion Deep Field, and Jamie Richards jumped at the opportunity to buy a well-credentialled colt for $500,000 at Karaka on Tuesday. Deep Field has topped the Hong Kong sires’ premiership in both of the last two seasons, and he again holds a runaway lead in the current term with total progeny earnings of HK$46.7 million – well clear of the second-placed Starspangledbanner with HK$27 million. The outstanding Northern Meteor stallion has sired a total of 39 winners from 78 runners in Hong Kong, headed by Group One winners Voyage Bubble and Sky Field. The latter was a $175,000 purchase from the Karaka sale ring in 2018. Fertility issues brought a premature end to Deep Field’s career at Newgate Farm, finishing up with crops of 64 and 37 foals respectively in his final two seasons. His last crop will be yearlings next season. Two colts by Deep Field were catalogued in Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale this week, and Richards was determined to add the first of them to his Hong Kong stable. Offered by Kaha Nui Farm, the colt went through the ring as Lot 630 and is out of the winning I Am Invincible mare Californiasurprise. “Deep Field has a real affinity with Hong Kong, and they’re not making any more of them,” Richards said. “But first and foremost, he’s a beautiful colt – great colour, lot of quality to him. I saw him here when I got here on Friday morning, and it’s been a long time waiting for him. “He’s going to end up being a medium-sized horse, but he’s very athletic. I’m not sure when he’ll go up, but he’ll just go back to the farm and we’ll get him broken in and get him educated. We’re looking forward to him arriving into Hong Kong at some stage. He’s a beautiful horse. Thrilled to get him.” Richards won four trainers’ premierships in New Zealand before relocating to Hong Kong, where he has already racked up more than 50 wins. “Speed is what they need up there – they’ve got to be fast,” he said. “This colt’s sire obviously does very well up there, which is important, and we just loved him as a physical, so very happy to get him.” View the full article

Little Avondale Stud’s yearling drafts have yielded plenty of success for Bjorn Baker, and the expat New Zealand trainer returned to the same formula with his purchase of another Savabeel colt at Karaka on Tuesday. Baker has trained several winners with the distinctive ‘LA’ brand, including Addictive Nature, who was bought for $775,000 from the Karaka sale ring in 2016. That son of Savabeel won the Gr.3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) and placed in the Gr.2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) and Gr.2 Expressway Stakes (1200m). On Tuesday, Baker went to $525,000 to secure Lot 562 from Little Avondale’s 2024 draft. The colt is out of the twice-winning High Chaparral mare Alam Mo Na, who is a half-sister to the stakes performer Explosive Mischief. Their dam, the Danehill mare Queen Of The Hill, was a dual Group Three winner in Melbourne. “Thrilled to get him,” Baker said. “Obviously I’ve had a bit of luck with the Little Avondale graduates over the years. “We really liked this colt. He was the colt that we came here and wanted. We had to wait a bit longer – I like to strike on the first day – but he’s a lovely-looking colt and he looks like he’s a chance to get up and go early.” Baker’s purchase of Lot 562 took Savabeel’s aggregate for the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale through the $10 million barrier. The Waikato Stud kingpin has an average price of more than $270,000. “Savabeel’s one of the great stallions and he’s had a strong sale again,” Baker said. “They’re great horses and they win races. The more Savabeels I get, the more I’ll be able to stay competitive in Sydney, and that’s what it’s about. “I was lucky enough to get a good Savabeel off Little Avondale a few years back, called Addictive Nature, and this guy reminded me a lot of him. He’s a good-looking horse, plenty of quality, and I can’t wait to get him into the stable.” The recent innovations and prize-money increases in New Zealand racing have not escaped the notice of Baker, who will consider bringing his new purchase back to this side of the Tasman. “We’ll try and get him underway relatively quickly, and we’ll definitely sign up for the Karaka Millions,” he said. “If not that, maybe we can get him back here for The Kiwi (1500m) when it’s a $4.5 million race. “There’s a lot of good opportunities here in New Zealand now. I’m just hoping one or two of the good Kiwi trainers in Aussie move home!” View the full article

The first Wootton Bassett yearlings to be sold in New Zealand have made a big impression at Karaka this week, headed by a well-related filly that fetched $800,000 on Tuesday morning. Best known in our part of the world as the sire of multiple Group One winner and star Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Almanzor, Wootton Bassett is by the former Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj and was champion two-year-old in France in 2010. He started his stud career in France in 2012, but only began shuttling to the southern hemisphere when Coolmore added him to their roster in 2021. Wootton Bassett’s nine crops in the northern hemisphere have produced 265 winners from 464 runners, with 40 individual stakes winners headed by Almanzor and eight other Group One winners. Nine members of Wootton Bassett’s first southern hemisphere crop are being offered in Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales this week. Across the first two days of the Book 1 session on Sunday and Monday, five of his yearlings sold for a total of $1.4 million and an average price of $280,000. But those figures were blown out of the water on Tuesday morning when Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy went to $800,000 to secure Lot 513. The filly was offered by Curraghmore on behalf of breeders Fairway Thoroughbreds and is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Via Napoli. Herself a three-time winner on the racetrack, Via Napoli’s only foal to race is the highly talented Petrucci, who has won four races and collected her second Group Three placing with a runner-up finish in Saturday’s Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie. Via Napoli is a full-sister to Listed winner California Turbo and half-sister to Group One winner Gathering and the Group Three-winning Florentina. The latter is the dam of exceptional mare In Italian, who has won four times at Grade One level in the United States. Gabbedy has been the Australian and New Zealand representative for French auction company Arqana since 2008, so he has become familiar with the progeny of Wootton Bassett. “There was a lot of competition for this filly,” he said. “She’s a beautiful filly from a proper pedigree. I go to France every year with my role with Arqana, so I’ve seen a lot of good Wootton Bassetts, and this is one of the most outstanding types I’ve seen. “And I think the pedigree speaks for itself. She’s closely related to a champion, In Italian, and from a proper pedigree with good depth. She’s from a great breeder, John Camilleri, and raised at Segenhoe, so hopefully we’ll have a bit of luck with her. “Wootton Bassett is a proven stallion already, so I think he’s a no-brainer. He’s a champion stallion, and I reckon he’ll do the same down here as he’s done in the northern hemisphere, for sure. “I bought her for a new client from Hong Kong, so that’s good. We don’t know who the trainer is yet, so we’ll just leave her here for a little while and figure that out in the next month or two.” View the full article

Group One-winning mare Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) will be vying for more topline honours this preparation for Te Akau Racing. The Waikato Stud-bred and raced daughter of Savabeel was runner-up in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) as a three-year-old last season, before breaking through to claim her first elite-level scalp in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings in September. Skew Wiff then flew across the Tasman to join trainer Mark Walker’s Cranbourne barn where she won the Gr.3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. The four-year-old had her first trial of her preparation on the new Caulfield Heath track on Monday morning, finishing fifth in her 1000m heat in the hands of Blake Shinn. “She did all she needed to do,” Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Ben Gleeson told Racing.com. “She stepped a little bit slow away, but she quickly mustered and sat in behind them. We asked Blake not to give her a solid one as she’ll go two weeks now to her next one, where she will be asked to do a little bit more. “Blake said she was building through the line nicely and did everything she needed to do.” Skew Wiff is set be tested at Group One level first-up when she tackles the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 24. “We think she’s a good chance in an Oakleigh Plate depending on what weight she gets, so once she has a second one, she will be cherry ripe for a first-up assignment,” Gleeson said. Skew Wiff has also spent time with renowned horse handler Julien Welsh, which the stable is confident will quieten her down on raceday, particularly in the barriers. “We are very confident we are on top of that and she had a barrier session last week,” Gleeson said. “She now has a barrier blanket, which keeps her completely settled and (a) happy horse to go into the stalls. “We tend to have a session every now and then where we stand her in the barriers where she doesn’t move for 45 minutes, and it really helps with her attitude towards the gates and in the gates.” View the full article

Renegade Rebel (NZ) (El Roca) will make the second middle distance appearance of his burgeoning career on Wednesday in his final lead-up to the country’s Blue Riband age group staying feature. The Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa will provide the stage for his dress rehearsal for the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 2. Renegade Rebel has already displayed his depths of stamina with a stylish last-start victory in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) off the back of a maiden success at just his third outing. “He’s flying, but I just think that two and a-half weeks between runs might not suit him that well at Te Rapa but four and a-half weeks leading into the Derby will,” trainer Cody Cole said. Renegade Rebel’s progress hasn’t surprised his Matamata handler, who also has confidence in his free-going son of El Roca mastering the Classic distance. “He has continued to step up and keep improving and after the Guineas he won’t run again until the Derby, I think that will be the ideal build-up for a horse like him,” Cole said. Out of the Duelled mare Regalia (NZ), who was successful on five occasions, Renegade Rebel has won his last two races with dominant front-running performances in the hands of Matthew Cameron, who takes the reins again. “We went into the Salver knowing he would run the trip and he gets to the front and into his own rhythm,” Cole said. “He does it very easily and covers the ground well. It’s pretty effortless for him and winds up when he needs to, and we know he will keep finding. “You go into a lot of these three-year-old staying races riding a horse conservatively hoping they run the trip out, but we don’t need to take that approach. “We know he is best out there doing his own thing and it’s just a matter of whether he can hold the rest of them out.” Cole was also in the market for a pair of youngsters during the second session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka on Monday, including a daughter of El Roca. “He is a sire that has been pretty good to me so there’s no point changing, we’ve got a few others with ability,” he said. Lot 474 offered by Westbury Stud was purchased with Andrew Williams Bloodstock and is out of the unraced Testa Rossa mare Test My Resolve, a half-sister to the South African Group Three winner Roy’s Riviera. Cole also teamed up with fellow trainer Kurtis Pertab to secure Lot 331 for $110,000 out of Curraghmore’s draft. “He’s one that we will look to trade, most likely at the Ready to Run Sale,” he said. The Almanzor colt is a half-brother to the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) winner Tomelilla- (NZ) (Tavistock), who also claimed a brace of Listed events, and to the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) winner Viktor Vegas (NZ) (Tavistock) with their dam the Dubai Destination mare Purnima. View the full article

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing administration ranks will receive an injection of youth and enthusiasm in April with the addition of Brad Taylor to the RACE team. Taylor has enjoyed nearly seven years as the racing manager for Freedman Racing in Melbourne, but felt it was the right time to return to New Zealand and take up a new opportunity as General Manager of Racing with Race, the operator of Awapuni and Trentham racecourses. “I am looking forward to the opportunity, it is going to be a good challenge,” Taylor said. “New Zealand racing is going the right way at the moment with the recent announcements and prizemoney increases, and this is the next stage of my career. “I have been the racing manager for Anthony and Sam Freedman for a number of years now and enjoyed great success. I have got no interest in training, and administration is where I always wanted to go. “When this opportunity presented itself, it was a good opportunity to get home and be closer to family. We have a young family that is growing up quickly. We have got two kids, Pippa was four yesterday and Luca is two, so it will be nice to get them home and settled in before Pippa starts school next year. “Jayne’s (Ivil, partner) family are from Palmy and mine are from Dunedin, so we will be a lot closer to everyone.” While set to oversee racing operations at Trentham and Awapuni from his Palmerston North base, Taylor said his role will also incorporate Hastings. “They are three great tracks that host some of New Zealand’s biggest racing carnivals, so I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said. Taylor has enjoyed a lot of success in Melbourne with Freedman Racing, but rates Without A Fight’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) double last year as the clear highlight. “Nothing beats the spring we have had,” he said. “To be a part of a Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup winner, growing up those are the races you dream of being a part of, and to have a small part in the team to win like that was incredible. “There has been a lot of success with Anthony and Sam. They are right up there with the best trainers in Victoria, without having a huge team. I will always be indebted to them for the opportunity they have given me. It has been great to be a part of their journey. “I have learnt a lot over here and I am looking forward to hopefully add a little bit of difference to New Zealand and build on what is there already.” The move back to New Zealand will also mean Taylor’s partner, Jayne Ivil, will leave her presenting role with Racing.com. “She has built a wonderful profile while over here and hopefully we can find something for her in New Zealand, I am sure there will be a few offers,” Taylor said. Taylor said he will miss many aspects of Melbourne, but he is looking forward to the next stage of his life back in New Zealand. “I will certainly miss Melbourne, and what Melbourne has to offer, but I am looking forward to getting home and getting stuck into the new job,” he said. View the full article

Over the Australia Day long weekend, we had feature racing on Friday and Saturday at Caulfield, Moonee Valley, and the Sunshine Coast. From the Caulfield meeting on Australia Day and the Sunshine Coast program on Saturday, we have found three runners that we will be placing into our Blackbook with one of the many online bookmakers that offer the ability to follow horses and receive notifications for their upcoming starts. Caulfield (26/1) Track rating: Good 4 Rail position: True Entire Circuit Race 5: Listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) | Time: 0:56.92 Horse to follow: Sweet Ride (3rd) Sweet Ride was given a month between his first and second starts of this preparation after he finished second last in the Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day, which appears to have been a master stroke by Annabel Neasham. On Australia Day at Caulfield, the four-year-old entire contested Listed grade again, but over 1000m this time, and he ran home stylishly from the back of the field to finish third behind Queman and Najem Suhail. This son of Deep Field ran home in the fastest 800m, 600m, 400m, and 200m sections of the entire meeting. When to bet: With the autumn carnivals in Melbourne and Sydney around the corner, we expect Neasham and her team to enter Sweet Ride in a Listed or Group 3 race over 1000m, where he will seek to keep his undefeated third-up record intact (3:3-0-0). Race 6: Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) | Time: 1:09.59 Horse to follow: King Colorado (2nd) After being unwanted in betting first-up in the Manfred Stakes, King Colorado produced one of the best finishing bursts of the day, running home from the back of the field to finish second behind Brave Mead over 1200m. As a Group 1 winner over 1600m in the J.J. Atkins as a two-year-old, 1200m was always going to be short of his best distance, and it wasn’t his target race for the campaign. This son of Kingman clocked the fastest last 1000m sectional of the meeting and recorded times that ranked inside the top 10 in the final 600m, 400m, and 200m. When to bet: Post-race, Ciaron Maher confirmed that the Group 1 Australian Guineas on March 2 is the target for King Colorado. We expect that he will have another run, potentially at 1400m, before going into the Guineas third-up. As the Guineas favourite at +450 in futures markets with top horse betting sites, he is worth a bet and will only shorten if he wins his next start. Sunshine Coast (27/1) Track rating: Soft 5 (up to Good 4 after R3) Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 10: Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) | Time: 1:24.23 Horse to follow: Lady Le Da (6th) Lady Le Da was a horrible watch for the punters that piled into the Paul Jenkins-trained mare, who shortened from +900 to +600 in the closing minutes of betting. Most punters would have been following this girl after she went down as a beaten favourite first-up at the track and trip. After getting a cosy run throughout the race, Jim Byrne angled out to try and push through the pack to get a run, but he was blocked and crowded for room. By the time this daughter of Domesday burst through a gap and started to let down, the race was already over, and she flew home into sixth place, only to be beaten by 1.9 lengths. When to bet: With six of her 10 career starts coming at the Sunshine Coast, we anticipate Jenkins and his team will try and find the right race for her at her home track. If Lady Le Da is entered in a race of similar grade or slightly weaker over 1400m, she should go very close to winning third-up. Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Latest horse racing tips View the full article

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The racing industry is fondly remembering former jockey Mr Bill Camer, who passed away aged 92 on Saturday, as a remarkable rider who lived and breathed the sport. “Bill was highly respected not just by his former colleagues in the jockeys’ room, but by all those in the racing industry that had the pleasure of meeting this gentleman of the turf,” said Racing NSW’s Chief Executive, Mr Peter V’landys AM. “Bill had a long and distinguished career competing in a golden era of jockeys and will be greatly missed. We pass on our sincere condolences to his wife Barbara and their family.” Bill Camer, who was born in Italy, first started working as a newspaper delivery lad in the rural town of Ayr, about an hour south of Townsville in Queensland. “I was 14 and that was towards the end of my school days, and being so small I delivered the papers on a pony,” Bill had recalled. “I had a split bag over the front of horse and carried the papers in that. “A trainer’s son noticed me riding past and asked if I would like to be a jockey. Mum and Dad agreed to move to Townsville, and I eventually ended up at Randwick with trainer Pat Murray.” Camer went on to become one of the country’s best lightweight jockeys and was once described as “The kind of hard-working man who helps form the sport’s backbone.” Camer was the oldest living Cox Plate-winning jockey at his passing, having taken out the race in 1954 aboard Kingster. Due to his lightweight frame, Bill had a special saddle made for Doncaster Handicap and Stradbroke winner Karendi which was carrying huge weights: “The saddle was made so the lead was built into it, and you didn’t have a lead bag rolling over the horse.” Camer also won the 1958 Stradbroke on two-year-old Wiggle (carrying 44kg) and the 1970 edition on Divide and Rule. Wiggle won five successive races including the Champagne Stakes prior to her Stradbroke victory and ultimately won 21 of her 55 starts before being sold to the USA where she won another 20 races. Camer was still competing at the elite level in 1975 when he took out the 1975 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on the Tommy Smith-trained roughie Authentic Heir. Mr Camer, who initiated the original Australian Jockeys Association in the 1960s, is survived by his wife Barbara, son Bradley and daughter Tina. More horse racing news View the full article

Matt Damon, one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars, will be tuning in to watch a lowly midweek two-year-old race at Randwick’s Kensington meeting on Wednesday. View the full article

With Churchill Downs having ruled that any horse that remained in the Baffert barn as of Jan. 29 would be ineligible to run in the GI Kentucky Derby, Monday was decision day for Baffert's owners. In 2022 and 2023, several moved their horses into the barn of former Baffert assistant Tim Yakteen prior to the Derby, but that may not turn out to be the case this year. At least four owners who have Derby candidates with Baffert have said their horses will remain under the care of their Hall of Fame trainer. Owners Jack Liebau, Tom Ryan and Mike Pegram told the TDN that they will not be taking their horses away from Baffert, even though that means they cannot run in the Derby. In addition, Ed Nevins, the director of the Baoma Corp, the owner of the highly regarded 3-year-old Nysos (Nyquist), told Horse Racing Nation that the undefeated colt will also remain in Baffert's care. The TDN reached out to other owners who have Derby prospects with Baffert, including Amr Zedan, but, at deadline for this story, had not received a response from them. Baffert has had little to say about his situation and was unavailable for comment Monday. The New York-bred Wynstock (Solomini) is entered in Saturday's GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn. The winner of the GII Los Alamitos Futurity, he is co-owned by Liebau and Dr. Edward Allred, the owner of Los Alamitos. “When Wynstock won the Los Alamitos Futurity, Dr. Allred, who is the majority owner, said that the horse was not going to go to the Kentucky Derby because he thought Churchill was treating Baffert unfairly,” Liebau said. “I guess we will look at the Preakness, but who knows what the status of the horse will be by Preakness time and how good the horse is. Dr. Allred calls the shots.” Ryan is the managing partner of SF Bloodstock, which partners with Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables, a group that is among Baffert's biggest owners. “Our horses will be in their own stalls tomorrow morning, and that says it all, doesn't it?” said Ryan. Jack Wolf, the managing partner of Starlight Racing, added: “Tom Ryan is the managing partner and I agree with the decision he has made, which is we're not changing trainers. We just feel like it is the right thing to do and not just from a loyalty standpoint. We have nothing against Tim Yakteen. We think he is a very good trainer and this has nothing to do with him. It can be very destructive to these horses at this young age to go to a different barn and change conditioners, change their feed, change everything.” Pegram, who has had horses with Baffert ever since he switched over to Thoroughbreds and has a Derby candidate this year in Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso), responded to a text from the TDN, writing: “We're doing the same as we have the last two years, staying with Bobby.” Nysos has won his two starts by a combined margin of 19 1/4 lengths and may prove to be the best of Baffert's 3-year-olds. “Unfortunately, our country is devolving into a nation where excluding the top competition is considered a legitimate way to win,” Nevins told Horse Racing Nation's Ron Flatter. “Bob Baffert is our trainer, and we stand with him and any decisions he makes regarding our horses.” After Medina Spirit (Protonico) tested positive for the medication betamethasone following the 2021 Derby, Churchill banned Baffert from its tracks. The suspension initially was for two years but Churchill later amended that and included 2024 to the ban. In addition, in 2023, it gave owners until the end of February to move their horses from Baffert in order to be eligible for the Derby. This year decision day was moved up by one month. The post Despite Churchill Ban, Key Owners Keep Their Horses With Baffert appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winner Skew Wiff. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Te Akau’s Group 1 champion, Skew Wiff, is gearing up for her upcoming campaign, with the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 24 marking her return. The four-year-old recently underwent her first trial on the new Caulfield Heath track, covering 1000 metres and finishing fifth under the guidance of jockey Blake Shinn. Te Akau Racing’s Ben Gleeson shared insights with Racing.com, stating, “She did all she needed to do. She stepped a little bit slow away, but she quickly mustered and sat in behind them.” “We asked Blake not to give her a solid one as she’ll go two weeks now to her next one, where she will be asked to do a little bit more. “Blake said she was building through the line nicely and did everything she needed to do.” Expressing optimism about Skew Wiff’s chances in the Oakleigh Plate, Gleeson added, “We think she’s a good chance in an Oakleigh Plate depending on what weight she gets, so once she has a second one, she will be cherry-ripe for a first-up assignment.” Gleeson also mentioned the possibility of considering the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9 as part of Skew Wiff’s campaign, keeping the options open for the talented winner of the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), last seen competing in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke (1400m) in November. Skew Wiff is rated as a +3300 chance for the Oakleigh Plate with top horse racing bookmakers. More horse racing news View the full article

Jimmysstar on his way to victory. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Ciaron Maher eagerly anticipates the return of Jimmysstar at Caulfield on Saturday, where the 77-rated Kiwi import aims to maintain his perfect Australian record under the guidance of the esteemed trainer. “He’s a ratings horse at the moment, but you’d think he may be better than that,” Maher told Racing.com. “He was really well managed from the guys over there (New Zealand). Lightly raced, well-placed, and really well managed. “He came out here as a four-year-old, not many miles on the clock. He’s a neat horse, but they’ve given him time to develop. “Clearly, he’s going very well.” Jimmysstar is slated to be piloted by Blake Shinn in a Benchmark 84 over 1400 metres on the weekend. “He’s a horse with a bright future and he’s clean-winded, he’s good actioned and I think he’s pretty adaptable,” added Maher. “You could train him for whatever you want really.” Ciaron Maher and connections of Jimmysstar clearly have high hopes for Jimmysstar, and top horse racing bookmakers have him listed as a +5000 chance for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 6. More horse racing news View the full article

What Sandown Lakeside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, January 31, 2024 First Race 3:40pm AEDT Visit Dabble For a fourth straight Wednesday afternoon, metropolitan racing in Victoria heads to Sandown Racecourse, with an eight-race meeting scheduled for the Lakeside circuit. A perfect Good 4 track awaits punters, and with the rail sticking to the true position, it means every runner can stake their claim for success throughout the day if they’re good enough. Sandown Lakeside action is set to get underway at 3:40pm AEDT. Best Bet at Sandown: The Devil In Her The Patrick Payne-trained The Devil In Her disposed of her BM64 rivals on the Hillside track on January 10, and she looks well-placed to build on the 3.3-length victory when she steps into BM70 company. The Sebring mare managed to round up her rivals in a small field and kicked clear inside the final furlong to win with plenty in reserve. She strikes a similarly small field on Wednesday, and despite her main market rival Vinnie’s Spirit set to dictate terms throughout, we’re confident Billy Egan will have The Devil In Her in a striking position, and when asked to quicken, reel in the leader and continue her progression through the grades. Best Bet Race 6 – #6 The Devil In Her (7) 4yo Mare | T: Patrick Payne | J: Billy Egan (58kg) +130 with Neds Next Best at Sandown: Limburg In the opening event, Limburg from the Hawkes stable is set to return from a 15-week spell, and we’re anticipating he returns a winner. The three-year-old gelding steps out of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), where he was well beaten, back to maiden company on Wednesday and looks to have a class edge on his rivals. Prior to his effort in the Guineas, the son of Justify managed to finish fourth, beaten two-lengths behind subsequent Caulfield Guineas winner Griff when chasing him home in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m). He returns at the 1300m, and with Jordan Childs engaged, we expect to see Limburg find the front, dictate terms throughout, and prove too hard to run down. Next Best Race 1 – #5 Limburg (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Jordan Childs (58kg) +250 with Picklebet Best Value at Sandown: Master Montaro Having chased the classy duo Jungle Jim and Is It Me down the Flemington straight on January 13, Master Montaro looks well-placed to bring up an overdue win on Wednesday. Since arriving back from Hong Kong, the seven-year-old gelding looks to have found his groove in Australia, and with this set to be a slightly easier task, it is hard to pass up the each-way odds available with top horse racing bookmakers. Mark Zahra will have Master Montaro settled towards the rear of the field, and if the pair can get a genuinely run 1300m affair, Master Montaro possesses the finishing burst to blouse the leaders. Best Value Race 8 – #4 Master Montaro (7) 7yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Mark Zahra (60kg) +700 with Playup Sandown Lakeside Wednesday quaddie tips – 31/1/2024 Sandown Lakeside quadrella selections Wednesday, January 31, 2024 2-3 6-7 1-4-7-9 1-3-4-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Horse Racing on Tuesday, January 30 will feature two 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 Benalla. Tuesday Racing Tips – January 23, 2024 Benalla Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For January 30, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $20.77 odds return: Tuesday, January 30, 2024 Benalla – Race 6 #7 Yongtai Benalla – Race 8 #5 Simple Times Goulburn – Race 1 #7 Sir Ming | 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 January 30, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Haymarket Farm's Chip Montgomery. “I've always been enamored with the deep pedigrees of the stalwarts of the industry and have gravitated recently to granddaughters, etc. of Personal Ensign, My Flag and Storm Flag Flying,” said Montgomery. “About once a quarter, I will put on the video of the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff to hear Tom Durkin's call of Personal Ensign's nose win against Winning Colors to retire undefeated. It's an honor to own several fillies and mares with this royal blood in their veins, and makes me proud to be a Kentuckian!” BLESSING THE FLAG, 6, (Distorted Humor–Fly the Flag, by Giant's Causeway). To be bred to Medaglia d'Oro. We bought her as a yearling and made $130,000 but couldn't win a race! As a maiden, we will breed her to Medaglia d'Oro as this cross works very well, not only in the population in general, but also within her family (Vigilantes Way and Major Dude, among others). FLY THE FLAG, 17, (Giant's Causeway–My Flag, by Easy Goer). To be bred to Upstart or Annapolis. Honoring our investment in stallion shares here as she's in foal to Upstart (bred like Zandon and Trademark) and will likely go back to Upstart or possibly Annapolis. STAND FOR THE FLAG, 8, (Super Saver–Raise the Flag, by Awesome Again). To be bred to Proxy. A winner of $290,000, we bought her as a broodmare prospect and she is in foal to Olympiad and going to Proxy. Both good crosses and beautiful animals! WYCHWOOD, 8, (Tale of the Cat–Queens Wood, by Tiznow). To be bred to Street Sense. A daughter of a GI-producing mare, she has already produced our homebred stakes winner Cats inthe Timber (Honor Code) as her first foal. Barren this year, she will be bred to Street Sense, needing that size and two-turn power. QUEENS WOOD, 16, (Tiznow–Salon Prive, by Private Account). To be bred to Forte. The queen herself, currently in foal to Jackie's Warrior, will be bred to Forte, a proper cross and a powerful two-turn hopeful. CTIMENE, 15, (Consolidator–Persimmon Hill, by Conquistador Cielo). To be bred to Mitole. A half-sister to GI producer Once Around, she had a breakthrough stakes winner this past year with Katonah (Klimt) and is being bred to Mitole. A big, course mare, she will benefit from Mitole's sprinter physique. GOOD TOHAVE AROUND, 4, (Good Samaritan–Ctimene, by Consolidator). To be bred to Yaupon. A more elegant rendition of her mother, as a maiden, will be bred to the magnificent looking Yaupon. Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com. The post Mating Plans, Presented By Spendthrift: Chip Montgomery And Haymarket Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Haymarket Farm's Chip Montgomery. “I've always been enamored with the deep pedigrees of the stalwarts of the industry and have gravitated recently to granddaughters, etc. of Personal Ensign, My Flag and Storm Flag Flying,” said Montgomery. “About once a quarter, I will put on the video of the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff to hear Tom Durkin's call of Personal Ensign's nose win against Winning Colors to retire undefeated. It's an honor to own several fillies and mares with this royal blood in their veins, and makes me proud to be a Kentuckian!” BLESSING THE FLAG, 6, (Distorted Humor–Fly the Flag, by Giant's Causeway). To be bred to Medaglia d'Oro. We bought her as a yearling and made $130,000 but couldn't win a race! As a maiden, we will breed her to Medaglia d'Oro as this cross works very well, not only in the population in general, but also within her family (Vigilantes Way and Major Dude, among others). FLY THE FLAG, 17, (Giant's Causeway–My Flag, by Easy Goer). To be bred to Upstart or Annapolis. Honoring our investment in stallion shares here as she's in foal to Upstart (bred like Zandon and Trademark) and will likely go back to Upstart or possibly Annapolis. STAND FOR THE FLAG, 8, (Super Saver–Raise the Flag, by Awesome Again). To be bred to Proxy. A winner of $290,000, we bought her as a broodmare prospect and she is in foal to Olympiad and going to Proxy. Both good crosses and beautiful animals! WYCHWOOD, 8, (Tale of the Cat–Queens Wood, by Tiznow). To be bred to Street Sense. A daughter of a GI-producing mare, she has already produced our homebred stakes winner Cats inthe Timber (Honor Code) as her first foal. Barren this year, she will be bred to Street Sense, needing that size and two-turn power. QUEENS WOOD, 16, (Tiznow–Salon Prive, by Private Account). To be bred to Forte. The queen herself, currently in foal to Jackie's Warrior, will be bred to Forte, a proper cross and a powerful two-turn hopeful. CTIMENE, 15, (Consolidator–Persimmon Hill, by Conquistador Cielo). To be bred to Mitole. A half-sister to GI producer Once Around, she had a breakthrough stakes winner this past year with Katonah (Klimt) and is being bred to Mitole. A big, course mare, she will benefit from Mitole's sprinter physique. GOOD TOHAVE AROUND, 4, (Good Samaritan–Ctimene, by Consolidator). To be bred to Yaupon. A more elegant rendition of her mother, as a maiden, will be bred to the magnificent looking Yaupon. Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com. The post Mating Plans, Presented By Spendthrift: Chip Montgomery And Haymarket Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Recent Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner National Treasure and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hero White Abarrio were among the 1,423 nominations received for the $30.5 million Dubai World Cup card on March 30.View the full article