Wandering Eyes

Dive into an array of enticing horse racing promotions provided by leading bookmakers on Tuesday, January 30. Enhance your betting excitement with lucrative bonus back offers. Explore these promotions from top horse racing online bookmakers to maximise your wagering prospects. The top Australian racing promotions for January 30, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo TOP 4 BETTING Bet and win up to 4th place on every race Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo DAILY TRIFECTA BOOSTS Boost your winnings by 10% with our new Trifecta boosts T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au thoroughly evaluates leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, unveiling exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions for January 30, 2024. These ongoing offers highlight the commitment of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, if one bookmaker isn’t showcasing a promotion, another is stepping up. Rely on HorseBetting.com.au as your primary source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Boost your value with competitive odds and exclusive promotions crafted for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging into each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, rely on HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Jan. 22-Jan. 28View the full article

Never has the demand to get horses into the breeze-up sales in Europe been higher. It begs the question; how do the big sales companies limit their catalogues? Inspectors from Tattersalls, Arqana and Goffs have been out in force in recent weeks trawling through the breeze-up consignors' barns to come up with their shortlists. According to Harry Fowler, one of the main inspectors at Goffs, entries for the company's only breeze-up sale have sky-rocketed this year. With most of the viewing done at this stage, the Goffs inspectors will meet in the coming weeks before calling on vendors to make up their mind on Valentine's Day at the latest. By the end of February, the 210 slots for Goffs will be finalised and the catalogue will be sent off to be printed. Explaining the process, Fowler said, “You will have definite yeses, some maybes and then straight nos. With the nos, you would discuss them there and then with the consignor so that there are no surprises later on. “We get all of our inspections done by the end of January and then have a meeting and go through things on a horse-by-horse basis. We can't have any more than 210 horses in the sale. In the current economic climate that we are in, it's important that we keep it tight and it seemed to work well last year, as the sale leapt forward by 30 per cent on average and over 50 per cent on turnover. It was a rocking sale.” He added, “The results on the track proved buyers right as well. So we want to keep it tight and, by doing this, we basically allocate vendors a certain number and try to keep them to that number unless they have an exceptional bunch. In that case, we might give them a couple more slots. The same might be the case if, say, they didn't perform last year, we might cut them back a couple of spots. By Valentine's Day, we will have asked vendors to commit about who is going where and then we will send the catalogue off to get printed by the end of February.” Harry Fowler | Goffs It may seem a little soon to be making these calls. The Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale is the earliest of them all yet it doesn't take place until April 23 and 24. That's over two months of galloping to be done between making a decision about where you are going with a horse and the fall of the hammer. A lot of time for some to turn a corner and bob their heads above the parapet and, unavoidably, others to go the wrong way. Therein lies the risks. Tattersalls Ireland boss Simon Kerins is in a unique position in that, not only are he and his team of inspectors searching for that Royal Ascot two-year-old for the Craven Sale in mid April, but there are also slots to be filled for the Guineas Sale in early May and the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale later that month. Without a deep trust and strong working relationship with the vendors, Kerins explains, making these calls in February would be close to impossible. He said, “So much of it is down to the trust that we, as inspectors, have with the vendors. The guys who have been doing this a while will be able to tell you if they really think something is good or not. The bonus with the breeze-ups is, if you have a horse by a sire who is just about acceptable from a commercial perspective, they can surpass what they would ever make as yearlings if they go and breeze very well. The same can be said for a hose who is not one hundred per cent correct or if one is a little bit small. “From getting out and seeing a lot of the horses over the past few weeks, many of the vendors have done very little with them, and wouldn't have tested them in a way that would determine their ability. A lot of it is faith between the vendor and the inspector.” Kerins admitted that while some horses who are just about acceptable in terms of pedigree and conformation get into breeze-up sales provided they are showing the right signs to their respective handlers, the margin for error has become even narrower such is demand for sale slots. Kerins added, “The standard is rising. Certainly with our own Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale, the standard is rising exponentially. The challenge that we can sometimes face is we have some people who have been stalwart supporters of us down through the years and always sent us a similar type of horse. Now there are newer people on the scene with a better calibre of horse they want to send us and we have to just marry the loyalty and the quality. It can be very challenging managing numbers and managing expectations as well. We are ultimately delivering bad news to some vendors given there are only a certain number of slots up for grabs. Entries are through the roof but we do have the option in June for those horses who don't get into the Craven, Guineas or Tattersalls Ireland sales, to breeze at Dundalk and then sell online afterwards. That is an option.” One man who has had more good news than bad in recent times is Shane Power of Tradewinds Stud. It was his Beautiful Diamond (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) who lit up the breeze-up circuit when selling for £360,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale just seven months after being sourced for 30,000gns as a yearling. Those are the types of results that earn a hungry young consignor some clout by the time it comes to inspections. “It's like anything, when you turn up and get the results, they repay you the following year and the relationship grows,” Power explains. “We sold our first breezer five years ago at Donny. It was a little horse by Arcano (Ire) and he went and won a couple of races for Michael Dods. A couple of years ago we had only two breezers, last year we had five and this year we have 11, so we are trying to up our game the whole time. We've had all of the sales companies out already this year and you'd have a fair idea about where they are all going at this stage.” He added, “But, if you have sold a few good horses the previous year, it's definitely a big help to the sales companies coming back to you because, at the end of the day, that's what they want. We obviously want to get paid as well but the sales companies really need to sell the good horses year in year out to be able to compete with their rival sales companies. In fairness to the inspectors, they do use their imagination and they are well aware that the breeze-ups, in particular, are designed to produce racehorses, and not just sales horses.” Power also went on to pour cold water on the theory that it's too early to make a prediction on what horse should go where in January and February. Shane Power | Tattersalls He explained, “You'd probably have half an idea about who would be likely to go where at the yearlings sales. And, in fairness to the inspectors, they are nearly always on the same page as you when they do come out. The earlier bunch will end up in the Craven or at Donny and, those who need a bit more time, you have the Guineas Sale or Tattersalls Ireland. The horse tells you more so than anything else.” Power added, “It definitely helps when they have cost a few quid as yearlings. It's probably the most obvious barometer for which people can judge the horses on. It's the same for the foals to yearlings, the first thing a sales inspector can go off is what the market thought of the horse four or five months ago.” It was Fowler who inspected Beautiful Diamond this time 12 months ago. They don't always stick out like she did, but the Goffs scout recalled what drew him to Beautiful Diamond and how she encapsulates everything that the sale company searches for when out and about in the winter months. He said, “We understand that, for an earlier sale, our buyers are coming in search of Royal Ascot horses. In the past eight years, we have had nine Royal Ascot winners, and not all of those have been two-year-olds, many have trained on as well. “Perfect Power (Ire) and Bradsell (GB) are brilliant examples of top-class Goffs graduates who have not only gone on and won at Royal Ascot, but become stallions as well. Buyers come to Goffs looking for horses who will be early but it's not just the whizzbang two-year-old they are looking for, they want the horses who can train on, just like Perfect Power and Bradsell did.” He added, “I remember walking into Shane Power's yard last year and being taken by two lovely horses. Both were inexpensive yearlings but they had a lot of quality. One of them turned out to be Beautiful Diamond who, not only breezed very well and made £360,000 to Blandford Bloodstock, but she won first time out and then went on to finish third in the Queen Mary. That's your perfect Donny horse. She has her whole three-year-old career ahead of herself and, in the meantime, she paid for a new barn at Shane Power's yard. That's what we're all hoping for. We were just lucky enough that Shane wanted to bring her to us. He knew exactly what he had from an early stage. “The flip side of that is there are plenty of examples of when it doesn't work out but Beautiful Diamond was one who just hit you right between your eyes. You've got to rely on your instincts doing this job and, generally, the ones who look as though they might be a little bit chancy at this stage, they are the ones who need a lot of luck.” They say it's the talented breeze-up men and women who will know quicker than anyone else in the industry who will make it and who will drift away when it comes to the freshman sires. After all, these are the people who are separating the wheat from the chaff. But what do the inspectors think? Fowler mused, “You would get a fair feel at the yearling sales and again when going around and speaking with all of the breeze-up consignors. Pinatubo, for example, is the favourite for the first-season sires' championship but I have only seen a couple of those so far. A lot of the first-season sires, their progeny look as though they will make up into two-year-olds. I've seen plenty of Shamans and they look like they'll be two-year-olds. The Sergei Prokofievs are big horses so, whether the power of those horses will make them two-year-olds or not, I don't know.” He added, “I've seen a few sharp and early types by Sands Of Mali, some by Far Above who look to be big and powerful horses like he was and then a few nice Mohaathers. I think they have plenty of quality about them. Arizona is another stallion who I have seen a few nice two-year-olds by. They look to be very powerful horses. There are plenty of good reports on Earthlight but they look to be horses for later on in the season. They look as though they'll train on. The same could be said about Ghaiyyath. They look to be more three-year-old types.” Like Fowler, Pinatubo and Earthlight were nominated as the more obvious young sires to keep the right side of by Kerins, who admitted that the progeny of younger stallions can often be an easier sell at public auction. He concluded, “I have only seen a couple of Pinatubos and they were very nice. The same with Earthlight. I've seen a couple of those that were quite nice but that's quite obvious. It's the same with the foals and years, the progeny of the first-season sires sell like hot cakes, and the breeze-ups are no different. With the two-year-olds, if they can gallop and they look the part, they will be an easy sell if they are by any of the first-season sires. Again, it's buying that dream that appeals to so many people.” The post ‘Managing Numbers And Expectations’ – Breeze-Up Inspections In Full Swing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After an 18-month stint at Limerick Racecourse as General Manager, Tom Rudd has been reappointed to the Tattersalls Ireland bloodstock department, announced the auction house via press release on Monday. A 20-year veteran of the company prior to his departure for Limerick, Rudd also rode for the late Michael O'Brien until 2002 and counts victory in the 1999 Irish Grand National to his career tally as a jockey. On the reappointment, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said, “Tom rejoining could not have been timelier, with the Andy and Gemma Brown Dispersal Sale scheduled for next Monday [Feb. 5]. We also have nominations for the 50th Derby Sale closing on Friday [Feb. 2], and Tom will form an integral part of the inspection team tasked with putting together our National Hunt and Flat sales catalogues later in the year.” The post Tom Rudd Rejoins Tattersalls Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The post Escher: Baffert and Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

MIDDLETOWN, NJ–The Kentucky breeding industry didn't bite on 2021 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Max Player (Honor Code–Fools in Love, by Not For Love), not exactly a surprise considering he was overshadowed during his career by stars such as Flightline (Tapit), Tiz the Law (Constitution), Authentic (Into Mischief), Epicenter (Not This Time) and others. When that happens, it usually means that the horse will land in one of the stronger regional markets, like New York or Pennsylvania. Not Max Player. He's been retired to owner George Hall's Annestes Farm in New Jersey. He will represent the first stallion ever to stand at Hall's farm. It is a bit of a gamble. Monmouth Park is set to run for just 51 days this year and there will be 10 days of turf racing at the Meadowlands after that. New Jersey-breds do run for good money. At the 2023 Monmouth meet, the purse for a New Jersey-bred maiden race was $72,000. But with so few opportunities for Jersey-breds to run in restricted state-bred races, it's a constant struggle for the New Jersey breeding industry to convince people to breed in the state. “I know breeding is important to people in this state,” Hall said. “It's just a matter of finding a way to get all the pieces to fit together.” Could Max Player be one of those pieces? In 1987, when there was year-round racing in the state, the New Jersey foal crop numbered 1,075. In 2023, it was all the way down to 110. Nine stallions stood in the state in 2023. The hope for Max Player is that his status as a Grade I winner will set him apart from the rest and that he will be the first choice among breeders and owners who remain interested in the New Jersey program. Max Player is the first Grade I winner to stand in the state since 2004, the last year Evening Kris, the winner of the 1988 GI Jerome H., stood at Walnford Stud. “Any time you bring a Grade I winner to your state it is a big deal, especially here because we have not had many,” said Mike Campbell, the executive director of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey. “It shows that George Hall and his partners have faith, not only in New Jersey racing, but also New Jersey breeding. We're happy he's here and hope he does well.” Max Player had talent, but what he lacked was consistency. In just his third career start, he won the GIII Withers S. during the COVID year of 2020. He then ran third in both the GI Belmont S. and the GI Travers S. before finishing fifth in the GI Kentucky Derby, run in September because of the pandemic. It was more of the same when he finished off the board in the GI Preakness S. and, the following year, the Saudi Cup and the GIII Pimlico Special. And then he turned into a star, at least for two months. He won the 2021 GII Suburban S. by a neck over G1 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and came back two months later to win the Gold Cup over 2020 Gold Cup winner Happy Saver (Super Saver) in his next start. “Winning a Grade I, especially one at Saratoga, is very tough,” Hall said. “You know you're going to be facing the best competition. To win that race, it was an amazing experience.” After the Gold Cup win, Max Player again finished out of the money in his next four starts. His final appearance on the racetrack came in a Feb. 25, 2023 allowance race at Oaklawn in which he lost his action and had to be vanned off the track. He was sent to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington after the Oaklawn race and was treated for an infection. He then spent time at Spy Coast Farm in Lexington for rehabilitation, and made a full recovery. It was already too late for the 2023 breeding season, so Hall took a step back while deciding what to do. In the end, he owned a farm in New Jersey and thought there was an opening in the state for a Grade I-winning stallion. “In terms of New Jersey, New Jersey-breds get bonuses and I have the farm here,” Hall said. “If I didn't have the farm, we probably wouldn't be here. It was pretty easy to just bring him up here and stand him here. If a stallion farm in Kentucky said they really wanted Max and were going to support him, I would have considered that. In the absence of that, I wanted to bring him up here. Hopefully, New Jersey breeding will get better now that Max is here and, hopefully, some other strong sires will come to New Jersey.” Max Player's stud fee is $5,000, which, Hall hopes, people will come to realize is a bargain. “He's got a Grade I, two thirds in Grade I races, he won graded stakes as 3-year-old and as a 4-year-old,” Hall said. “And the Grade I's were not run of the mill Grade I's. They are some of the biggest races on the calendar. That's our pitch.” Hall's goal is for Max Player to attract 25 mares this year, a number he believes will increase once his foals hit the track and find some success. “If he hits a home run, we will keep him in New Jersey,” Hall said. “That would be great and would mean more mares will come into the state. I'm not going to move him. He's here. It would be great if New Jersey racing and breeding could advance because of Max.” The post Max Player Brings a Touch of Class to New Jersey Breeding Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bidding for the Fasig-Tipton Digital sale of the Lothenbach Dispersal of Horses of Racing Age opened Monday afternoon and will begin closing at 2 p.m. ET Friday. The catalogue, which can be viewed here, includes 76 entries of horses of racing age. All are consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency and will be sold without reserve. Robert Lothenbach, who passed away this past November, was one of North America's leading owners for nearly 30 years. His Lothenbach Stables amassed more than 800 wins and earnings of more than $30 million since 2000 and he was a top 10-ranked owner nationally in 2020 and 2022. “Opportunities to purchase ready-to-run racing stock from a leading operation like Mr. Lothenbach's happen very rarely,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “All of Mr. Lothenbach's horses have been in the hands of top-class horsemen, and buyers will find quality offerings that suit a variety of racing programs and conditions.” Among the horses in the catalogue with recent updates are the 4-year-old Earl of Dassel (Cairo Prince), who broke his maiden at Fair Grounds last Thursday and Happy American (Runhappy), who finished third in the GIII Louisiana S. Jan. 20. Horses are located at Fair Grounds Race Course and Delta Downs in Louisiana; Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Florida; Grace Full Oaks Training Center in Ocala, Florida; and in Kentucky at Skylight Training Center, Turfway Park, and Chesapeake Farm in Lexington. All entries are accompanied by photos and walking videos, X-rays, Daily Racing Form past performances, Thoromanager past performances, Ragozin speed figures, and race replays. To create an account or register to bid, visit digital.fasigtipton.com. The post Fasig-Tipton Digital Lothenbach Dispersal Open for Bidding appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Defending G1 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) features among 868 individual horses from 19 countries nominated to run at the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday, March 30. In total, more than 1,400 entries have been received across the nine races and Ushba Tesoro is one of 200 from Japan as he tries to become only the second dual winner of the $12-million Dubai World Cup (Sponsored by Emirates Airline) after Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in 2018 and 2019. Incidentally, Thunder Snow also won the G2 UAE Derby in 2017 and last year's winner of that race, Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), is another of the Japanese contingent entered in the showpiece event having ended 2023 with an excellent second in the Breeders' Cup Classic. White Abarrio (Race Day), who was gaining the third Grade I victory of his career when beating Derma Sotogake at Santa Anita, is another star name among the Dubai World Cup entries, along with GI Preakness S. and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) and local hope Kabirkhan (California Chrome), the recent winner of the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge which gained him an automatic entry. Aidan O'Brien's multiple Group 1 winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) has also been nominated for the Dubai World Cup, though he's unproven on the dirt and perhaps more likely to take up his entry in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. That tees up the prospect of another clash with stablemate Auguste Rodin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the dual Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero who had Luxembourg back in second when also winning the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), an impressive winner of the G1 Coronation Cup in 2023, is another notable European-based entry, while Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) also brings star quality to the table having won the Japanese Triple Tiara before chasing home the great Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn})–a breathtaking winner of last year's Dubai Sheema Classic–in the G1 Japan Cup at Tokyo on her final start of 2023. Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) finished a good fourth in the Japan Cup and went on to win the G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama, identifying him as a leading contender for the G1 Dubai Turf (sponsored by DP World). Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), a Group 1 performer in Hong Kong, is another to look out for from the Far East, while Charlie Appleby holds a strong hand with GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a rapidly progressive four-year-old who took the step up in grade in his stride with a decisive success in the G1 Jebel Hatta last time. Appleby is still seeking a first victory in the Dubai Turf and standing in his way once again will be John and Thady Gosden's stable stalwart Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who will be bidding for an unprecedented fourth win in the race. Already just the second horse after Thunder Snow to win three times on Dubai World Cup night, Lord North will certainly be one of the most popular winners on the card should he prevail again in 2024, while Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Sibelius (Not This Time) will also have their supporters as they try to repeat their 2023 victories in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (Sponsored by Azizi Developments) and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Sponsored by Nakheel) respectively. The full list of entries for all nine races is available here. The post Dubai World Cup Night Entries Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bloodstock agent Ed Sackville, a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start and Highclere Stud, is hedging his bets by choosing “a son of Shamardal” to be leading first-season sire Proudest moment of 2023? Attending the Godolphin Flying Start 20-year anniversary event. I think I had completely failed to acknowledge what an amazing course the Flying Start is. It wasn't until I looked around the room and saw my fellow graduates that I appreciated the legacy the Flying Start has created within the Thoroughbred industry. What is your biggest ambition for the new year? To convert from my paper catalogue to an iPad. I think it will make lists and time management at the sales more streamline. Give us one horse to follow and why? River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). I don't think we ever really saw the best of him. He had a setback before the Morny and couldn't run in the Breeders' Cup. However, he looked very good at Ascot and ran with credit in the Middle Park having taken a strong hold. And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on… I'm going to go with young people. I am consistently impressed by the yearlings sold by Tradewinds, Evergreen and Aughamore. I think the young lads behind these studs do a fantastic job and have a great understanding of the industry. Who do you think will be champion first-season sire this year? It's very open this year and could be any one of them, so I'm going to choose a son of Shamardal. And the best value stallion in Europe? Chaldean (GB). He's a Guineas winner, a Dewhurst winner, a son of Frankel (GB) and an absolute beauty. What's not to like? What's the one horse you wish you'd bought in 2023? Big Evs (Ire) is a horse that really captured my imagination. He was so cool and consistent and capped the year in such fine style in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Juvenile Turf Sprint has added a whole new dimension to the Breeders' Cup two-year-old races and is something I'd love to win. Biggest regret? I wish I had spent a year working with a vet. I'd then spend less time asking them to translate vet reports into layman's terms. Biggest influence on your career? I spent 11 years working for John Warren and he put a tremendous amount of time and effort into educating me. I will be forever grateful to both John and Carolyn for giving me so much of their time. If you could sit down for dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would they be and why? Richard, Duke of York. I'd like to be able to ask him who killed him and his elder brother whilst they were imprisoned in the Tower of London. Everyone assumes it was their uncle, Richard III, but the jury is out. My second choice would be Ayrton Senna. I've just re watched the Senna documentary film and I'm fascinated by him and his success. My third choice would be a member of the Tattersalls staff. I generally find they are incredibly generous with their hospitality allowance and if I'm going out with a murdered Prince and a dead Formula 1 star I imagine they are going to want to go somewhere fancy, so it'd be nice for someone else to pick up the tab. The post In the Hot Seat: Ed Sackville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Vincent Le Roy has joined the French sales company Auctav as a new member on its team of bloodstock agents. Born in Brittany, Le Roy previously worked at Haras de Gouffern, where, under the guidance of Jean-Pierre de Gasté, he trained Arabians for Sheikh Sultan of Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai. He later spent five years training in the Middle East. Switching his focus to National Hunt, Le Roy has had stints working with Guillaume Macaire, Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls, David Pipe and the Reveley family before settling back in Brittany to work as a pre-trainer. At Auctav, he will work alongside Toby Jones, Jacob Pritchard Webb, and Anthony Grueau for trotting. “At Auctav, I find a team of enthusiasts where I can leverage my experiences and continue to grow in my expertise. I have a strong network and solid experience with Arabians as well as National Hunt,” said Le Roy. “At Auctav, I see myself as the one who must provide solutions and facilitate connections between producers and breeders on one side and future investors, developers, and buyers on the other.” Arnaud Angéliaume, CEO of Auctav, added, “I am delighted with Vincent Le Roy's arrival in the Auctav team. We have common values. His diverse experiences make him a versatile polyglot with cross-cutting expertise in all horse races. I am confident that our current and future clients will also be won over by Vincent's enthusiasm and professionalism.” The post Auctav Recruits Vincent Le Roy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If the impact of his maiden elite-level success in 2017 is anything to go by, the local jockey has about five months to strike while the iron is hot.View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

After a record-breaking opening session, Day Two of NZB’s Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale rounded off with a late flurry of bids, cementing a strong day of trade. At the close of selling, the aggregate reached a record $58,905,500, while the average settled at $176,893, a 27% and 15% increase respectively when compared to the same time last year. Leading buyer David Ellis of Te Akau Racing continued his dominance in the ring, securing the highest priced lot today in Lot 360 (Snitzel x Rondinella colt) for $825,000 from Haunui Farm. Ellis commented on his prospective stallion acquisition. “We can see him being in the Karaka Millions. You could spell him for a week then line him up for the Golden Slipper,” he said. “He has a beautiful temperament and a great pedigree, I can see him standing at stud in the future.” A total of 14 lots have been purchased for $500,000 or more at the end of Day Two, compared to six lots during the entire Book 1 session in 2023. One of those was Lot 442, another from the Karaka-based nursery of Haunui Farm. The Savabeel filly out of Stolen Gem was knocked down to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock for $650,000. Mills was delighted to secure the half-sister to Group One performer To Catch a Thief (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) after being underbidder on several lots during the opening session. “I have been looking for another Savabeel filly for a while now, when this filly stepped out, I had an inkling I had found her,” he stated. “With the boost and hype around racing in New Zealand, we are definitely being swept in. “When I looked at her, my first thought was aiming her for the Karaka Millions, before a Blue Diamond even,” he added. NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was pleased with the results on Day Two. “It was a strong, solid day of trade and the New Zealand pinhookers came out to play.” “It was great to see so many markets active but the key buyers today were the Hong Kong Jockey Club,” he added. “They purchased seven horses for $2.3 million, and they are not done yet.” Selling continues on Tuesday for Day Three of Book 1, where lots 481 – 682 will go through the ring from 10am (NZT) at Karaka. To enquire about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz . Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Day Two online. View the full Book 1 results here. Karaka 2024: Book 1, Day Two Statistics (at end of selling) 2024 BOOK 1, DAY ONE & TWO 2023 BOOK 1, DAY ONE & TWO 2022 BOOK 1, DAY ONE & TWO 2021 BOOK 1, DAY ONE & TWO AGGREGATE $58,905,500 $46,425,000 $41,142,500 $34,711,000 AVERAGE $176,893 $154,236 $146,415 $124,860 MEDIAN $140,000 $135,000 $100,000 $100,000 CLEARANCE 77% 76% 74% 80% CATALOGUED 480 440 440 390 SOLD 333 301 281 278 TOP LOT Lot 21 Proisir – Donna Marie (Ch.F) $1,600,000 Lot 294 Too Darn Hot – Lady Sayyida (B.C) $750,000 Lot 161 Savabeel – Chandelier (B.C) $1,000,000 Lot 94 Zoustar – Scintillula (B.F) $800,000 Karaka 2024: Book 1, Day Two Top Lots LOT SIRE DAM SEX VENDOR PURCHASER PRICE 0360 Snitzel Rondinella Colt Haunui Farm Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) $825,000 0442 Savabeel Stolen Gem Filly Haunui Farm Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (Victoria) $650,000 0409 Savabeel Simply You Colt Waikato Stud Ltd The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) $620,000 0479 Savabeel Thee Auld Floozie Filly Jamieson Park Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Wellington) $620,000 0480 Proisir The Fairy’s Kiss Filly Kilgravin Lodge Gandharvi (USA) $600,000 0397 Per Incanto She’s Apples Colt Riversley Park Ltd Jamie Richards / Andrew Williams Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $500,000 0302 Savabeel Pendant Colt Waikato Stud Ltd Go Bloodstock Australia / Catheryne Bruggeman / Paul Moroney Bloodstock (New South Wales) $440,000 0438 Hello Youmzain Steer by the Stars Colt Cambridge Stud Chris Waller / Mulcaster Bloodstock (Waikato) $425,000 0405 Justify Shoulders Colt Jamieson Park Gandharvi / Michael Freedman Racing (USA) $420,000 0275 Ardrossan O’Misty Filly Elsdon Park Ladbrokes Racing Club / Newgate (New South Wales) $390,000 View the full article

Proisir already held a very special place in Philip Brown’s heart, and results in the Karaka sale ring on Monday have only added to his affection for the exceptional Rich Hill Stud stallion. Brown has seen his colours carried to a total of six Group One victories by Proisir’s daughters Levante and Legarto, who between them have earned more than $2.5 million in stakes. On Monday, three Proisir yearlings bred by the Ancroft Stud owner were offered at Karaka by Kilgravin Lodge. They sold for a total of $1.22 million, culminating in a $600,000 price tag for the final lot of the day. “Proisir is the gift that never stops giving, as far as I’m concerned,” Brown said. “There’s the racehorses, and then today we’ve got $260,000 for a colt, $360,000 for another one and our $600,000 filly, so thank you, Proisir.” Catalogued as Lot 480, the $600,000 filly is out of the Group Three-placed mare The Fairy’s Kiss, whose six foals to race are all winners and are headed by Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Ulanova, Listed winner Steal My Kisses and the stakes-placed Butter Blonde and Butch Cassidy. The Fairy’s Kiss is also a half-sister to Dame Giselle, whose five wins include the Gr.2 Reisling Stakes (1200m), Gr.2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m), Gr.2 Furious Stakes (1200m) and Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m). She also placed in the Gr.1 Coolmore Classic (1500m). Lot 480 was bought by Michael Wallace, who also purchased Ulanova for $150,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. “As you can see in the catalogue, this is a very well-related filly, full of black type,” Brown said. “The mare’s a half-sister to Dame Giselle, who was a great performer in Australia. “So it was one of those things. I was reluctant to sell this horse, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to keep the cashflow going in this business. “Michael Wallace bought Ulanova with Gandharvi, and I was thrilled that he bought this filly for the same connections. He’s got great faith in this family. It’s an old Wallace family, from Cent Home et cetera. So she’s gone to a good home and I’ve got a good price. I’m very pleased.” Brown said he was far from disappointed in Legarto’s second placing as a red-hot favourite in Saturday’s inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie, and he revealed he has some other progeny of Proisir coming through. “Legarto was gallant in defeat,” he said. “All credit to the winner. He kicked on the turn and is a class horse. They ran a very fast time, so they skipped along and on a track that wasn’t exactly perfect, but I’m sure it will bed down and become a great surface for us in the future. “She goes to the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) next start, and we just can’t wait to get her over 2000m, where she can sit back and relax a bit more and then come home. “We’ve got a Proisir two-year-old that the Legarto team are in – with Ken Kelso, naturally. Ken’s got 10 percent as well, and I hear she’s a lovely mover. But I just don’t think lightning can strike three times in the one place! “I’ve got another three filly foals by him in the paddock, and they look lovely. I’m just a huge fan of the horse, and I’ll just keep breeding to him. If we keep having this sort of luck, why wouldn’t you? “Levante is at Arrowfield and had a positive test to Snitzel in September. Everything she does, she does well. I’m looking forward to seeing her with a foal at foot when I get over there.” View the full article

As well as making an outstanding start to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale as a vendor, Elsdon Park principal Lib Petagna added an exciting young prospect to his racing team with a high-priced Savabeel filly late on Monday afternoon. Elsdon Park is in only its second year as a yearling vendor at Karaka, having sold 13 yearlings last year for a total of $2.3 million and an average price of $176,923. The Waikato nursery will far surpass those figures in 2024, already selling 10 horses for $3.15 million at an average of $315,500. But the purchase of Lot 479 for $620,000 on Monday put an extra spring in Petagna’s step. The filly was offered by Jamieson Park and is by Savabeel out of the Group One-winning mare Thee Auld Floozie. The well-related filly received a notable pedigree update over the weekend. Her half-sister Just A Floozie, who had beaten Orchestral, Molly Bloom and Still Bangon in a form-filled juvenile race at Avondale last autumn, returned to action with an eye-catching finish for fourth in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie. “Lib’s had a great sale as a vendor,” bloodstock agent Bruce Perry said. “I think one of the things that’s been noticeable is the comments around the fact that he’s got a lot of lovely young mares. It’s nice to be able to go back and keep purchasing some nice fillies for him. It’s exciting.” Petagna’s distinctive apple green, dark blue and yellow colours have been carried by some outstanding daughters of Savabeel, most notably the triple Group One heroine Lucia Valentina and fellow elite winner Nicoletta. “We’ve had a lot of success with Savabeel fillies in the past, and this filly reminded me a lot of some of those very best ones,” Perry said. “We actually loved Orchestral when she came through this sale in 2022 and had a really good crack at her. I also really liked the half-sister to this filly that ran in the three-year-old race the other night, so we know the family well. “I see quite a bit of James Chapman’s horses in the paddock throughout the year. I think, at one stage, I offered to him, ‘Will you take 600 for that filly in the paddock?’ And now that we’ve bought her in the ring, he reminded me. He said, ‘You offered me 600 in the paddock for that horse.’ “So, no, I thought she was a beauty, and I think she’s got residual value. The half-sister goes particularly well and ran a huge race the other night, so there’s a lot of upside. “This filly will go back to the farm now and get broken in, and we’ll just see how she goes. With what’s happening here in the industry, there’s a big carrot now to retain more horses in New Zealand. It gives you the confidence, I think, to get these nice horses and have a go. And Australia’s always only three hours away, so I think it’s brilliant.” View the full article

Fond memories of a Group One performer bought from Karaka more than a decade ago flooded back for Victorian bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills when he secured another Savabeel filly from the same sale ring on Monday. Mills went to $650,000 to buy Lot 442 from the draft of Haunui Farm. The brown filly is by Savabeel out of the winning Snitzel mare Stolen Gem, whose only foal to race is the triple Group One placegetter To Catch A Thief. This was one of the first Savabeel fillies Mills has bought from Karaka since 2011, when he paid $80,000 to buy You’re So Good. That purchase price was turned into more than A$300,000 in prize-money, with You’re So Good winning the Listed Alexandra Stakes (1600m) and placing in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Vanity Stakes (1400m). “I remember buying You’re So Good here a number of years ago, and I’ve wanted to buy another Savabeel filly ever since, really,” Mills said. “It’s been a while between drinks and I just hadn’t lobbed on the right horse. But when this filly came out, I had an inkling I’d found her.” It was finally a case of going one better for Mills, who came close to a couple of the blockbuster lots on Sunday’s opening day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. “We were the underbidder on both of those two top-priced fillies yesterday,” Mills said. “You have to have your breaking point, and we reached ours with those two. So it’s been hard to buy, and I think it’s becoming increasingly hard to buy these well-bred fillies. In the last two or three years, the market for those sorts of horses has really strengthened. “But we were very happy to buy this filly. She’ll go to Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr in Victoria. We have a good relationship with them and have had a great deal of success, so we’ll keep that partnership rolling.” But Mills is open to the idea of the filly returning to this side of the Tasman. “I did think about leaving this filly in New Zealand and getting her trained here,” he said. “I said to the owner that I’d love to have her here for the Karaka Millions next year. “The boost in racing and all the hype around New Zealand racing at the moment is fantastic. It’s something we got swept up in a little bit. When I saw this filly, instead of thinking Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m), I was thinking about bringing her back for the Karaka Millions. That raceday is potentially going to become a destination event for fillies, even trained overseas.” View the full article

Alligator Blood ridden by Tim Clark winning the 2023 Might And Power at Caulfield. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Champion thoroughbred Alligator Blood, may have concluded his illustrious career following a nasty injury sustained during trackwork, as expressed by owner Jeff Simpson. “It’s just one of those things, it happened at track work last Saturday morning,” Simpson lamented regarding the unforeseen setback that has cast doubt on the seven-time Group 1-winner’s future races. The injury, reportedly in his pastern, has left connections apprehensive about Alligator Blood’s return to competitive racing, with Simpson admitting, “I wouldn’t think that he’d come back, that’s my opinion.” Despite a promising trial at Rosehill just days prior, the anticipated autumn debut in the CF Orr Stakes is now off the table, leaving co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott disheartened. Simpson emphasised the collective disappointment, stating, “Gai is very upset about it, we are all really upset about it.” Reflecting on Alligator Blood’s remarkable journey, Simpson highlighted the horse’s resilience in overcoming adversity, notably the diagnosis of kissing spine, which initially threatened his career. “It’s amazing what we’ve been able to get out of him,” Simpson remarked, acknowledging the remarkable achievements despite earlier setbacks. While hopes were high for an autumn campaign, Simpson expressed resignation, acknowledging the possibility that the racing world may have seen the last of Alligator Blood in action. However, amidst the uncertainty, there remains a glimmer of hope for the future as Simpson affirmed, “He will recover, and he will end up at Living Legends, that’s where we always wanted him to finish.” More horse racing news View the full article

What Kensington Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Wednesday, January 31, 2024 First Race 2:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble Metro racing heads to the Kensington circuit at Randwick on Wednesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-race program set for decision. The rail moves out +3m the entire circuit, and with some scattered showers predicted in the lead-up, punters should be weary of a possible downgrade to a Soft 5 rating. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 2:20pm AEDT. Best Bet at Randwick-Kensington: Morning Sun Morning Sun produced a very promising Australian debut for the Annabel Nesham barn and only found one better in the form of Age Of Sail at Warwick Farm on January 10. The European import swung wide turning for home, while the eventual winner got favours on the inside running rail, holding off Morning Sun by less than a half-length on the wire. That was over 1600m, and with his best form suggesting the 1800m shouldn’t be a problem for this lightly raced son of Muhaarar, we simply must be with Morning Sun second-up. Best Bet Race 5 – #1 Morning Sun (6) 5yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Jett Stanley (a2kg) (62kg) +200 with Bet365 Next Best at Randwick-Kensington: Ironton Ironton makes his debut on Wednesday afternoon and appears ready to fire first-up for the Hawkes team. The son of Lope De Vega has two eye-catching barrier trials, with the latest at Rosehill on January 11 showing plenty of potential. He was untested while cruising into a fourth-place finish in the jump-out, stretching out comfortably over the 900m under Jay Ford. Zac Lloyd is lucky enough to get the nod for race-day, and with the 1250m showing intent on debut, we’re confident Ironton is wound-up to be figuring in this maiden contest. Next Best Race 4 – #5 Ironton (7) 3yo Colt | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Zac Lloyd (58kg) +380 with Neds Next Best Again at Randwick-Kensington: Hanau Hanau was a classy maiden winner in his most recent start at Newcastle on January 11 and looks set to go on with the job. The half-length margin may not seem impressive on paper; however, the gelding by Snitzel put them away nicely when stalking his rivals down the centre of the course. The biggest negative for Hanau is getting too far back on the Kensington circuit from gate 11, but provided we get a fair track on Wednesday afternoon, this guy is sure to be putting in the big strides late in the Randwick finale. Next Best Again Race 7 – #5 Hanau (11) 3yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Zac Lloyd (58.5kg) +340 with Unibet Kensington Wednesday quaddie tips – 31/1/2024 Randwick-Kensington quadrella selections Wednesday, January 31, 2024 1-3-5-10 1-2-3 1-2-4-5 2-4-5-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

It’s not all been plain sailing for the son of Galileo, but Douglas Whyte believes his stable star is ready to fire during Qatar raidView the full article

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has today revealed the initial New Zealand races that will allow the country’s fastest juveniles to compete for their share of an additional $1 million in bonuses associated with the country’s first Thoroughbred slot race, The NZB Kiwi. To be eligible for a share in the $1 million bonus pool, a horse must win one of the various Bonus Eligible New Zealand and/or Australian races, and also run a top three placing in The NZB Kiwi held on Champions Day (8 March 2025). The Bonus for horses that run a place in The NZB Kiwi (provided they have won a Bonus Eligible race), will be $600k for first, $250k for second, and $150k for third place. The first Bonus Eligible race will be the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) for two-year-olds, set to be run this season on 6 April 2024. The initial list of New Zealand Bonus Eligible races is outlined below: Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) – Manawatu Racing Club at RACE Trentham Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) – Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse Group 1 Barneswood Farm One Thousand Guineas (1600m) – Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) – Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park Group 1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m) – Wellington Racing Club at RACE Trentham Listed TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) – Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse Group 2 Cambridge Stud Alamanzor Trophy (1200m) – Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) – Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse NZTR’s Chief Operating Officer Darin Balcombe welcomed today’s announcement. “Off the back of The NZB Kiwi and Summer Carnival announcement NZTR made last week, we have seen a huge lift in optimism towards our industry.” “We wanted to build momentum for the inaugural running of The NZB Kiwi, with a two-year-old in the current season being the first Bonus Eligible horse, should they go on to run in the race next year. “This creates an opportunity for potential Slot Holders to start a conversation in securing the first Bonus Eligible horse once the Slot Auction has taken place on 27 February 2024 at Karaka,” he said. In the coming months, NZTR will look to announce a number of Australian Bonus Eligible races which will also form a part of The NZB Kiwi $1 million bonus pool. For more information about The NZB Kiwi, or the Slot Auction visit nztr.co.nz/the-kiwi View the full article

A day after winning the battle for a highly rated Kingman colt with a $650,000 price tag, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell struck again at Karaka on Monday and came away with another yearling that was near the top of their wish list. Rounsefell went to $620,000 to secure Lot 409 from the draft of Waikato Stud. The colt is by eight-time champion New Zealand sire Savabeel out of the winning O’Reilly mare Simply You. That makes him a full-brother to the dual Melbourne Group Two winner and Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) placegetter Forgot You. He also comes from the same family as the high-class mare Espiona, whose seven wins to date include the Gr.1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and this season’s A$2 million The Invitation (1400m). Other notable names on the pedigree page include the multiple Group One winners Glamour Puss and Vision And Power. “We bought this Savabeel colt for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, so he’ll join our team and head to the International Sale in a couple of years’ time,” Rounsefell said. “He was one of our main targets in this sale after inspections. Just on physical, he was top of the pops for us. In terms of pedigree, it’s a beautiful cross that’s already proven and a great family. And Waikato Stud is the best-producing farm in New Zealand, so there weren’t many negatives at all. “I think he’s a horse that’s going to improve with time, which is what we’re looking for – those horses that continue to get better with age.” The colt was the seventh purchase of the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for Rounsefell and the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Rounsefell was pleased to secure a son of Savabeel, who has sired 50 winners from 74 runners in Hong Kong. “He’s had a few good horses in Hong Kong,” Rounsefell said. “We’ve got a nice one up there right now, M Unicorn, who we bought out of this sale (for $400,000 in 2020) and has won four this season. But at the end of the day, Savabeel is a champion stallion, and this horse looks spot on for what we’re looking to buy. “He was one of our main targets. We got our colt yesterday, and we’ve had some really great-value purchases today as well that have made up our crew, but this guy was one of our main ones on the hit list.” View the full article

The Karaka sale ring provided countless major winners for Jamie Richards during his tenure at Te Akau Racing, and the four-time champion New Zealand trainer has returned to the same recipe for his fledgling stable in Hong Kong. Richards, who trained 35 winners in his first Hong Kong season in 2022-23 and has added another 16 so far in 2023-24, has made his presence felt across the first two days of the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale on Sunday and Monday. His two purchases on Sunday included a $725,000 colt by Zoustar, and he followed that up with another quality selection of colts on Monday afternoon. The second of those was Lot 397, by Per Incanto out of the Redoute’s Choice mare She’s Apples. Richards paid $500,000 for the Riversley Park colt, whose dam is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner and outstanding sire Tavistock. Richards was delighted to secure a quality son of Per Incanto, who has made a huge impression in Hong Kong with 42 winners from just 53 runners. Richards also acknowledged the Little Avondale stallion’s feats in Australasia, which includes Group One-winning progeny Roch ‘N’ Horse, Shadows Cast, Belclare, Little Brose, Santa Monica, Dal Cielo and Bonham. “Per Incanto is a wonderful stallion up in Hong Kong,” Richards said. “He’s a wonderful stallion everywhere, really. “He does a good job in Australia – winning a Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) with Little Brose – and does a good job here. He had another good winner there on Karaka Millions night at Ellerslie with Belclare. “This is a big, strong, powerful horse that should suit the Hong Kong environment. He’s already owned by a client up there in Hong Kong. We’ll just get him home and get him educated and we’ll see how things progress. Whether he goes up as a PPG (Privately Purchased Griffin) or whether he races here, I’m not sure. But he’s a horse that will appreciate a bit of time and should be a very nice horse up there as a three, four and five-year-old. “If you can find the right type, by the right sire, it’s a big help for Hong Kong. This colt is out of a Redoute’s Choice mare. I’ve had a bit to do with this family previously – I trained a horse called Kabugee, by Satono Aladdin, when I was at Te Akau. It’s a good old family of the Duchess of Bedford’s, so I’m thrilled to get this horse.” View the full article

Ciaron Maher is wary of getting ahead of the game with emerging former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto), but the country’s leading trainer admitted he, too, was looking forward to the horse’s return at Caulfield this Saturday. As a 77-rater there are any number of horses in Maher’s immense stable with far higher credentials, but few are spoken of more than Jimmysstar, who has been most impressive in two winning starts with Maher after being sold to Australian clients. “He’s a ratings horse at the moment, but you’d think he may be better than that,” Maher said on Saturday. “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.” Maher said Jimmysstar was likely to run fresh for jockey Blake Shinn in the BM84 over 1400 metres at Caulfield on Saturday, where he will attempt to further his record to five starts from six runs. From there, Maher said he remained open-minded as he believed the horse could be potent at several distances. “He’s a horse with a bright future and he’s clean-winded, he’s good actioned and I think he’s pretty adaptable,” Maher said. “You could train him for whatever you want really.” As an emerging four-year-old, a race like the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) in Sydney in April could be considered, despite his current low rating. “Everything would have to go the right way,” Maher said. “With any of those progressive horses, those handicap G1s, if you go the right way you can beat the handicapper. “There’s a lot of hype about him, He’s well managed and in great order. I am not getting carried away with races like that.” View the full article

It might’ve been a Sunday meeting at Geelong, but it seems a smart horse has emerged in the form of United Kingdom (NZ) (Almanzor), who caught the eye winning on debut. The Almanzor colt, who was smashed in betting and jumped the $1.35 favourite in the 1506-metre maiden, settled at the rear of the field but let down brilliantly to easily reel in his rivals. The performance was so impressive that the TAB has installed the colt as equal fourth favourite ($15) for the Australian Derby at Randwick in April. Ben Melham rode United Kingdom on Sunday and said the colt has a promising future. “He’s a lovely colt,” Melham said of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper. “I had to sort of bring him out early before the corner and wind him up but he’s got a lovely turn of foot. “He’s a definite Derby sort of horse, he’s got all the right attributes, he’s a lovely horse, lovely big stride on him and a good set of lungs, so it’s exciting to see what he can do.” View the full article

Feature races in Australia are on the agenda for star two-year-old Velocious (Written Tycoon) following her brilliant win in Saturday’s Karaka Million 2YO Classic. Speaking after purchasing Velocious’ Dundeel half-sister at Karaka on Monday, Go Racing’s Albert Bosma said the Stephen Marsh-trained filly has bounced through her win at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in Marsh looms as her next start before a decision is made about whether she campaigns in Sydney. A spring campaign in Melbourne is also on the radar later in 2024. “She’s come through it brilliantly,” Bosma said. “We’ll probably go to the Sistema with her, but the thought is that we might come for the Sires’ Produce in Sydney – that’s just a thought if she can win the Group One here, but we’ll map out the rest of her autumn after that. “She’s not just a squibby two-year-old. “She looks like she’s going to get a mile on her physical make-up and I would expect her to develop between two and three, so we’d certainly be looking at Australia in the spring.” Of the Dundeel filly, Lot 295, that he bought for $300,000 from the draft of Inglewood Stud on Monday, Bosma said he was keen to secure her regardless of the fact she is related to his current star. He confirmed she will also be trained by Marsh and be aimed at next year’s Karaka Millions. “We’re really happy to get her,” Bosma said. “We don’t buy horses simply because they are related to good ones we have – the saying is that Jimmy Hendrix’s brother couldn’t play the guitar – so it wasn’t an emotional buy. “Dundeel is doing an amazing job, particularly with his two-year-olds, so she looks like she may make a two-year-old as well. “I think the stallions have stamped both fillies – Velocious looks like a Written Tycoon filly with a bit of length and this girl looks like a Dundeel. “But what they both share is a great walk, a good depth of girth and I think the way they move and use themselves is the same.” View the full article