Wandering Eyes

Courier Wonder steps out for the first time since July in Sunday’s Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) at Sha TinView the full article

Favoured fillies Velocious (Written Tycoon) and Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) have strengthened their status as headline acts for Saturday’s $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) after drawing neighbouring midfield gates for the 17th running of the lucrative juvenile feature. In a spectacular barrier draw beamed on to Auckland’s Sky Tower on Wednesday night, Velocious landed gate seven and Bellatrix Star gate six. With the emergency Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) drawing the inside barrier, the favoured pair will both move in by one gate if there are no scratchings. Velocious is trained by Stephen Marsh for syndicators Go Racing. The same combination teamed up to win this race in 2013 with Ruud Awakening (Bernardini). Go Racing paid $190,000 to buy Velocious from the draft of breeders Inglewood Stud at Karaka 2023, and she has had three starts for two stylish wins, a Group Two placing and $106,500 in stakes. Bellatrix Star was offered by Phoenix Park at Karaka 2023, where she was bought for $80,000 by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis in partnership with Fortuna Racing. Ellis and Fortuna joined forces to win this race with the great Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in 2017. That started an extraordinary streak of Karaka Millions-winning two-year-olds bought by Ellis at Karaka, which now stands at seven in succession – Melody Belle, Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau), Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor) and Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). Bellatrix Star has strong credentials to join that honour roll, recording two wins and two placings from four starts to date including an impressive last-start success in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m). Bellatrix Star heads a five-strong team in this year’s race for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. They also have a potential X-factor colt in Cool ‘N’ Fast (NZ) (Savabeel), who is a full-brother to the 2020 Karaka Millions 2YO winner Cool Aza Beel and was a bold winner on Boxing Day in his only start to date. He has drawn gate four and will be ridden by five-time Karaka Millions 2YO winner Opie Bosson. When Stars Align (NZ) (Zoustar) and Damask Rose also boast perfect one-from-one records and are drawn gates nine and one respectively. Te Akau’s other runner is Maracatu (NZ) (Ardrossan), whose three-start career has produced a win, a second and a fourth and who has drawn 11. Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan) was a Listed winner in Brisbane last month and will attempt to join Sister Havana (NZ) (General Nediym), Ockham’s Razor (NZ) (Any Suggestion) and Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing) as the fourth Australian-trained winner of this race. But he will need a slice of luck from gate 14. If the emergency Damask Rose is scratched, the speedy Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) will start from the inside gate. Notably, gates one and 14 have produced the most winners in Karaka Millions 2YO history with three each (a success rate of 18.75%). The TAB Karaka Millions 2YO will be run as Race 4 on the action-packed six-race programme at Ellerslie on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 6.04pm. 2024 Final Field: TOTAL STAKES NUMBER BARRIER DRAW NAME BREEDING TRAINER JOCKEY SALE PRICE VENDOR PURCHASER $147,150 1 14 Beau Dazzler B. C Ardrossan x Pwerfect Tony & Maddysen Sears Robbie Dolan Book 2 $85,000 Mapperley Stud Ltd Paul Moroney B/stock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing $63,000 2 8 So Naive Br. C U S Navy Flag x Altai Rose B Wallace & G Cooksley Joe Doyle Book 2 $37,500 Kilgravin Lodge Wallace T/breds $56,650 3 15 Poetic Champion Ch. G Super Seth x Regally Blonde Tony Pike Craig Grylls Book 1 $80,000 Haunui Farm $46,000 4 4 Cool ‘n’ Fast Br. C Savabeel x Cool ‘n’ Sassy Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Opie Bosson Book 1 $340,000 Hallmark Stud DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) $32,950 5 2 Savaglee B. G Savabeel x Glee M Moroney & P Gerard Mark Zahra Book 1 $400,000 Waikato Stud Ltd The Oaks Stud $24,700 6 11 Maracatu B. G Ardrossan x Cortado Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Blake Shinn Book 1 $190,000 Mapperley Stud Ltd DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) $23,000 7 9 When Stars Align B. C Zoustar x Shenandoah Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Michael McNab Book 1 $400,000 Wentwood Grange DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) $22,200 8 12 Full Force B. G Cosmic Force x Jawhara J Benner & H Wynyard Ryan Elliot Book 1 $135,000 Kilgravin Lodge Benner Racing $12,075 9 5 Force of Law B. C War Decree x Back Date M Moroney & P Gerard Matthew Cameron Book 2 $50,000 Inglewood Stud Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney B/stock / Catheryne Bruggeman $167,700 10 6 Bellatrix Star B. F Star Witness x Alana’s Party Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Warren Kennedy Book 1 $80,000 Phoenix Park DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) / Fortuna Racing $106,500 11 7 Velocious Ch. F Written Tycoon x Parmalove Stephen Marsh James McDonald Book 1 $190,000 Inglewood Stud Go Racing $19,760 12 13 Sunrise B. F Charm Spirit x Daily at Dawn John Bary Wiremu Pinn Book 2 $30,000 Windsor Park Stud TFI / John Bary $17,600 13 10 Macaluso B. F Savabeel x Chiaretta Andrew Forsman Masa Hashizume Book 1 $600,000 Elsdon Park Forsman Racing / Andrew Williams B/stock / Bevan Smith B/stock $13,300 14 3 Hard Attack Br. F All Too Hard x Vitriolic Attack Steven Cole Sam Spratt Book 1 $100,000 Westbury Stud Steven Cole Racing $10,360 15 (B1) 1 Damask Rose B. F Savabeel x Sombreuil Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Book 1 $200,000 Milan Park DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) View the full article

A return to a proven buying formula may once again deliver the ultimate reward for Albert Bosma’s Go Racing syndication company. He will bid to roll back the years with trainer Stephen Marsh with Velocious in the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday after they combined to win the juvenile feature with Ruud Awakening in 2013. Written Tycoon filly Velocious is the current $3 favourite after her debut victory at Te Rapa followed by success in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Counties, and she finished a last-start third in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m). The precocious youngster will also have premier rider James McDonald to guide her fortunes from gate seven. “Its quite funny really, Ruud Awakening drew the same barrier so here’s hoping,” Bosma said. “Velocious has ticked every box coming through, peaking at the right time and we’re happy with the draw. “After she won the stakes race, we gave her a little freshen-up and she went into the Eclipse with quite a bit left in the tank, improvement wise, still to come. “We’ve got the right jockey, arguably the world’s best, so we haven’t got anything to complain about.” With more recent stakes money increases, particularly in age group racing, Bosma and his team made a conscious decision to change their buying tack at Karaka and Velocious is a result of that. “In the last few years, we have been very much focussing on the Australian middle distance racing and we’ve had a lot of success with that,” Bosma said. “We haven’t bought a horse for the Karaka Million in probably seven years because that wasn’t our model. “It was only last year when we could see changes coming and looked in our crystal ball and said we needed to buy a couple of horses to try and get to the Karaka Millions. “We came up with Velocious and we had another one trial midweek, Pinky Pie, that we think is pretty smart. She hasn’t got to the race, but we’ve got one in and it’s the favourite.” Velocious was purchased out of breeder Inglewood Stud’s draft last year at Karaka for $190,000. “We really liked her, she’s a gorgeous filly and she was a touch long and that might have been why some people looked at her and thought she might not make a two-year-old,” Bosma said. “She’s by Written Tycoon, a source of speed, out of a Snitzel mare that won a couple in Australia and a key to her was that she’s got a half-sister called Mozzarella. “She had terrible legs and Inglewood Stud retained her, but she managed to win a couple of races in the spring as a two-year-old, so that said to us that this is a two-year-old family and one of the reasons we bought her.” Bosma and associate Matt Allnutt are this week casting their eyes over future prospects ahead of the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. “We will be looking for some fast horses for the Karaka Millions and the new races and buying middle distance horses for Australia as well, we’ll be buying for both markets.” Among Go Racing’s Australian success stories has been Skyman, who won four times at Listed level and earned more than A$1 million during his time with Chris Waller. He is now in Marsh’s care to target the inaugural summer series, which offers bonus purses of $650,000 with the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) on Skyman’s program. He finished fifth in his New Zealand debut under expatriate Kiwi jockey Daniel Stackhouse in the series opener, the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham last weekend. “The track deteriorated and that didn’t suit him, Daniel said he would have been right in it otherwise,” Bosma said. “He has come through the race well and it was his first run for a couple of months, so he has improved and will go to the Herbie Dyke.” View the full article

It will be a sentimental sale for Wentwood Grange at Karaka this year, with brothers Sean, Leigh, and Dean offering the final foal out of the mare that kicked everything off for the trio. Leigh Valley was the first horse the brothers raced together, and she gave them a great introduction to the sport, winning five of her 18 starts, including the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). They retained the daughter of Bianconi and bred some nice horses out of the mare, including Valley Girl, who won the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), and placed in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) for trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs. The brothers hold fond memories of the mare and are feeling nostalgic as they offer her Proisir colt through their New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft as lot 187. “Leigh Valley was the first horse Dean, Leigh and I got involved in 20-odd years ago,” Sean Hawkins said. “She went on to win a Group Three and she left a Group One winner in Valley Girl. “This is her very last foal. We went to Proisir to get the Danehill Dancer, the same as Valley Girl. We were hoping for a filly that we could retain and breed from, but she gave us a colt. He is a really good-looking colt, and it is very special for us to offer her very last one at Karaka.” Wentwood Grange will also offer a colt out of Valley Girl by The Autumn Sun, who will go through the sale ring as lot 505. “The Autumn Sun is just starting to hit his straps,” Hawkins said. “We have done the mating twice and the first one, Usk Valley, has had three starts for two placings and looks very promising. Hopefully there will be an update there in the future. She has certainly shown that she has got a bit of ability.” Hawkins is also looking forward to offering lot 280, the filly out of their Group Two winner Our Abbadean, from the first crop of Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain. “She is a ripper. She is a good mover with a lovely, deep girth, a beautiful head on her, and she is very well balanced,” he said. “We have got two Hello Youmzains in the draft and we are really happy with both.” Manzoice became the first Group One winner for fellow Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor when he took out the 2022 edition of the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m), and Wentwood Grange are excited to offer his full-sister (lot 654) through their draft. “Stephanie Hole, the breeder of Manzoice, has bred a full-sister and we are lucky that she is offering her up for sale. It is nice to have such a well-credentialed filly in the draft,” Hawkins said. Hawkins is also excited about the prospects of lot 399, the Circus Maximus half-brother to Group One winner Licketysplit. “He is a fantastic mover, he has got a massive overstep. He is probably the best mover in our draft,” he said. “He is beautifully balanced.” Wentwood Grange are offering 30 yearlings through their Book 1 draft by a variety of stallions, and Hawkins is buoyed by the level of enthusiasm at Karaka ahead of the sale, which kicks off at 10am on Sunday. “We have got a wide variety of stallions. One of the benefits of not having our own stallion is that we can pick and choose the stallions for our mares, and that gives us a nice diverse range,” Hawkins said. “The (stakes and NZB Kiwi slot race) announcements made earlier this week have been outstanding. Domestically there is a bit more chatter and excitement. The Australians have had it for a long time, but the way New Zealand horses have performed in Australia over the last 12 to 18 months has brought them over in their droves by the look of it. “It is nice to see plenty of people floating about and the horses seem to be coming out of their boxes quite a lot, so we can’t ask for much more than that.” View the full article

Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso couldn’t be happier with heir glamour mare Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) ahead of Saturday’s inaugural running of the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m). The Group One winner returned in superb fashion at Ellerslie earlier this month when taking out the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic Preview (1400m) by two lengths over Saturday race rivals Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood), and she has continued to please her handlers in her work. “She has really thrived since Ellerslie, she has thrived the whole preparation really,” Ken Kelso told TAB NZ. “She has done everything right this prep and I couldn’t be happier with her condition going into the race. All you need is a bit of luck.” Kelso has trained many topliners over his long training career and rates the daughter of Proisir at the top of that list. “I think she is probably the best, and that is a big call when you have Levante and going way back to Love Dance, Xanadu, and many more,” he said. “She has certainly got those attributes that make a great horse – she has got a great temperament, she is a good eater, and everything about her is what you look for in a horse.” Legarto carries the colours of part-owner Philip Brown, who was delighted when he saw gate seven beamed against the Auckland Sky Tower alongside his mare’s name at the barrier draw function on Wednesday night. “It’s absolutely ideal,” he said. “Catherine (wife) asked me when we were driving up what I would like to draw, and I said seven or eight will be perfect. It is a terrific draw and I think even Ken will be pleased. “She is in a great space and Ken and Bev do an amazing job. She will acquit herself very well on Saturday. “It’s exciting, but she has still got to win the race.” It wasn’t only Brown who was beaming at the barrier function, with punters also in a buoyant mood after TAB bookmakers announced they were paying out on futures bets on Legarto in the Aotearoa Classic. “We made the decision to pay Legarto out in the futures books in the Aotearoa Classic,” TAB bookmaker Thad Taylor said. “We have had a good look at the field and we thought this would be a nice promotion to get onboard with. “It is never a one-horse race, funnier things have happened, but we thought for the evening, for the promotion, for the event, and for the horse, we would pay Legarto out in futures. She was boosted in those markets as well, so all those bets are in TAB customers’ accounts now.” While shooting to claim the lion’s share in Saturday’s $1 million feature, Legarto will also be aiming to put herself in a good position to claim the $500,000 Summer Series Bonus on offer by Entain and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. The series kicked off in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) where Puntura claimed top honours, and the maximum nine points on offer to contribute towards his series total. The Aotearoa Classic is the second leg of the series, with horses having had to have contested either of the first two series races to be eligible for the winning bonus, before progressing on to the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 10 and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 9. At the conclusion of the series, the horse with the highest points will earn a $500,000 bonus for their connections, with the runner-up earning $100,000, and the third placegetter taking home $50,000. View the full article

Proven stayer Mahrajaan (Kitten’s Joy) will open his quest for another major distance title when he returns to action at Trentham on Saturday. The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained import will make his first appearance in the Happy 80th Birthday Jeff Berkett Handicap (1600m) since he claimed top honours in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton. While first-up fireworks aren’t expected from Mahrajaan, the American-bred six-year-old has pleased his connections in his lead-up work. “Each preparation he has got better and better and I don’t think we’ve had him in better order than we’ve got him right now,” Ritchie said. “He looks outstanding and we’re very happy with the condition he’s carrying.” To be ridden by apprentice Lily Sutherland, Mahrajaan will step out at Trentham on his way toward a crack at the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on March 9. “We’re probably pleased in hindsight that we didn’t go to the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) because he doesn’t handle wet ground and the slow track wouldn’t have suited him at all,” Ritchie said. “He had three weeks off after Riccarton and the goal is the Auckland Cup and this is a nice lead-up run, he’ll get back and hit the line well. “It will set him up nicely for the Avondale Cup (Gr.2, 2400m) and then three weeks to the Auckland Cup.” There is also a possibility that Mahrajaan could travel further afield this campaign. “The reason we have gone for this program is that it opens up the chance to perhaps get to the Brisbane Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) with a couple of runs beforehand,” Ritchie said. A son of Kitten’s Joy, Mahrajaan was a three-time winner in England before he was purchased for 75,000 guineas at the Tattersall’s Horses In Training Sale. “The owners had the faith in me to go and buy him there and the first prep he looked slow, and it didn’t look that great,” Ritchie said. “We always said he needed to go over further, but we didn’t know for sure, so once he put it together and got over the trips he needed, he showed what he’s got. “We believe he’s improved four to six lengths off the New Zealand Cup, and he needs to, the Auckland Cup will be a stronger race and we’re aware of that.” The stable also has the promising Nepheti (NZ) in the Adopt A Greyhound @ greymates.co.nz (1600m), although the daughter of Charm Spirit isn’t certain to make the trip south. “She’s really progressive, although there is rain predicted on the day and that would be a question mark and I’d be reluctant to run her if rain is still forecast,” Ritchie said. “She may be reserved for the Taranaki three-year-old fillies’ race (Listed Oaks Prelude, 1800m) next week.” Nepheti finished runner-up on debut at Hastings and returned there to break her maiden in style and is on a path toward the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m), a race Ritchie has previously won with Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), Artistic (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Keep The Peace (NZ) (Keeper). “That will be her target and we realise how hard it would be to win coming off a maiden race at this stage of the year,” he said. “The fillies we have won the Oaks with have gone through the usual series of races so it won’t be easy, but she will stay, and I think Trentham will really suit her.” View the full article

What Randwick Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, January 27, 2024 First Race 12:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble Randwick is the destination for metropolitan racing this Saturday, with a bumper 10-race program set for decision. The rail moves out +9m between the 1000m marker to the winning post, while the remainder of the rail is out +6m. The weather is improving across the region, with strong winds drying off the course proper, so we anticipate the track to sit in the Good range for race-day. The opening race is scheduled to get underway at 12:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Randwick: Glory Daze Glory Daze was impressive when producing two victories in his first Australian campaign and almost returned to the winner’s enclosure first-up at this course and distance on December 16. The son of Cotai Glory didn’t initially look as though he was going to figure in the finish on that occasion, as the five-year-old had to lift himself off the canvas, only being headed in the shadows of the post. That race has produced three subsequent winners, with two of those coming at stakes grade. It appears to be the strongest form for this BM88 contest, and provided Glory Daze has taken a step forward in the preparation after a month between runs, he must be considered the one to beat. Best Bet Race 4 – #1 Glory Daze (6) 5yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Nash Rawiller (61kg) +105 with PlayUp Next Best at Randwick: Ucalledit Ucalledit will resume from a 161-day spell in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m), and in our opinion, seems to be missed in the market. The double figures on offer with top horse racing bookmakers is too good to pass up after saluting at this track and trip at on two occasions last preparation. Both those wins were at Listed level, and the recent barrier trial at Newcastle on January 5 was enough to suggest the son of Zacinto is wound-up for this event. The Kris Lee-trained galloper has a strong first-up profile and we’re more than happy to have an each-way ticket on this returning six-year-old. Next Best Race 7 – #2 Ucalledit (8) 6yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Dylan Gibbons (59.5kg) +900 with Neds Best Value at Randwick: Almania There seems to be real intent first-up for Almania as he looks to return over 2000m after 315 days off the scene. He was made to win his latest jump-out at Newcastle on January 5, with the gelding by Australia rolling forward and kicking clear by a half-length on the wire. He should get an economical run from gate three on Saturday, and with form lines from last preparation that read much better than BM88 quality, we’re convinced that Almania can only run well to kick-off his third Australian campaign with Kris Lees. Best Value Race 6 – #1 Almania (3) 8yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Dylan Gibbons (59kg) +1700 with Bet365 Saturday quaddie tips for Randwick Randwick quadrella selections Saturday, January 27, 2024 1-2-4-8-12 3-8-10-11 1-2-3-6-13-14 1-2-3-5-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Karaka Millions Day 2024 Where Ellerslie Racecourse – 100 Ascot Avenue, Remuera, Auckland 1051, New Zealand When Saturday, January 27, 2024 First Race 4:19pm NZDT (2:19pm AEDT) Visit Dabble New Zealand racing’s biggest day, the Karaka Millions meeting returns to Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday where a stacked six-race program awaits. The Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) headline proceedings, with black-type races accompanying the lucrative affairs. Perfect conditions should greet punters, with the track rated a Good 4 at the time of acceptances, with the rail in the true position. Karaka Millions Day is set to commence at 4:19pm local time. Keep reading for our free race-by-race preview and quaddie selections for Karaka Millions Day 2024 Race 1: Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) Karaka Millions Day kicks off with the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy over 1200m where the last-start Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) victor Crocetti resumes from a brief spell. Unbeaten through six starts and already a Group 1 winner, the three-year-old gelding is without a doubt one of the more promising prospects in New Zealand, and is clearly the best horse in this race. Drawn barrier three, Warren Kennedy will take the son of Zacinto to the front, and despite there being a few natural leaders in the race, we expect Crocetit to dominate proceedings in the opener. Selections: 1 CROCETTI 5 MERCHANT QUEEN 4 STAR OF JUSTICE 7 EGYPTIAN QUEEN Race 2: Group 3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) Imwonderfultonight was beaten less than a length in fourth in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) last time out, and as she steps back to Group 3 company, she looks hard to go past. She gains our best bet tag, with a couple of others being far too short to tip you into, but she has the runs on the board to suggest she will be winning. The I Am Invincible mare was beaten a lip in Listed company two runs back by Maria Farina, and her form prior to that reads really well heading into the Concorde Handicap. From barrier one, we expect Joe Doyle will have her in a stalking position throughout, from where she can produce a strong turn of foot and finish the best. Selections: 4 IMWONDERFULTONIGHT 2 ROMANCING THE MOON 1 MAVEN BELLE 8 DAZZLED Best Bet Race 2 – #4 Imwonderfultonight (1) 5yo Mare | T: Sam Mynott | J: Joe Doyle (57kg) +400 with Picklebet Race 3: Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) Maria Farina was a horror watch for those on the mare in the Group 1 Telegraph last time out, and can right those wrongs in the Group 2 Westbury Classic. The Darryn & Briar Weatherley-trained mare was well beaten in the Group 1 Railway (1200m) two runs back, but her win the start prior over Imwonderfultonight has her right in the calculations for this race. The Contributer mare needs a genuine tempo over the 1400m, which is what she should get considering the amount of known leaders in the event. She will be close to last on the home turn, but armed with a thunderous turn of foot, we expect Maria Farina will prove too hard to hold out. Selections: 5 MARIA FARINA 8 EXPRESS YOURSELF 14 LUBERON 1 LA CRIQUE Best Value Race 3 – #5 Maria Farina (6) 6yo Mare | T: Darryn & Briar Weatherley | J: Sam Weatherley (56kg) +1200 with Neds Race 4: Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) Having won in impressive fashion over the Ellerslie 1200m on January 14, we’re confident So Naive from the Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley barn can cause an upset in the Karaka Millions 2YO. The two-year-old colt simply did too much when returning in Group 2 company first-up when well beaten by some of his rivals he faces on Saturday, but the son of US Navy Flag showed that once he settles in his races, his finishing burst is up there with some of the best at his age level. With plenty of pressure expected in the race, we’re confident So Naive can absorb that pressure from a midfield position, and when asked to quicken, he has what it takes to cause a boilover in the juvenile feature. Selections: 2 SO NAIVE 4 COOL ‘N’ FAST 11 VELOCIOUS 7 WHEN STARS ALIGN Karaka Millions 2YO Race 4 – #2 So Naive (8) 2yo Colt | T: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley | J: Joe Doyle (57kg) +1500 with Bet365 Race 5: Aotearoa Classic (1600m) Legarto is a genuine superstar in New Zealand and she showed all of her class when smashing a similar field to what she faces on Saturday at the Ellersie 1400m on January 14. The two-time Group 1 winner managed to round up her rivals in dominant fashion when fresh, with an undefeated record when second-up, it is hard to see how her rivals turn the tables on her. Ryan Elliot will have her in clear air towards the rear of the field from barrier seven, and when he asks for her to quicken, Legarto should put this race away in a couple of strides, and in doing so, book her spot in the All Star Mile (1600m). Selections: 12 LEGARTO 1 SHARP ‘N’ SMART 5 HOLYMANZ 3 SACRED SATONO Race 6: Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) The closer on Saturday is the $1.5million Karaka Millions 3YO, and we’re happy to side with Pendragon. The three-year-old gelding from the Mike Moroney & Pam Gerard barn proved too hard to run down in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) on December 26. He is a natural leader, and despite being challenged in the home straight, he refused to give in to Quintessa’s challenge and prevailed in smart fashion. He maps to get a relatively uncontested lead under Mark Zahra, and from barrier four, the US Navy Flag will have this race run to his liking. With his main rivals giving him a massive start from the rear of the field, we’re confident Pendragon can pinch a winning break and prove too hard to run down. Selections: 1 PENDRAGON 12 ORCHESTRAL 10 MOLLY BLOOM 2 TOKYO TYCOON Karaka Millions 3YO Race 6 – #1 Pendragon (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Mike Moroney & Pam Gerard | J: Mark Zahra (57kg) +650 with Dabble Ellerslie quaddie tips – Karaka Millions Day 2024 Ellerslie quadrella selections Saturday, January 27, 2024 1-5-8-14 1-2-4-7-11 1-12 1-2-10-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Ascot Races Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, January 27, 2024 First Race 1:08pm AWST Visit Dabble Feature racing will return to Ascot Racecourse this Saturday afternoon, where the Listed Scenic Blast Stakes will headline the nine-race card. Typical warm and dry conditions are forecast for Perth on Friday and Saturday, with a perfect Good 4 surface expected for the whole meeting. The rail will be pushed out to the +9m position for the entire circuit, which should see the track play favourably to on-speed runners. The opening race at Ascot will jump at 1:08pm AWST. Scenic Blast Stakes Tip: Gemma’s Son Gemma’s Son will enter the Scenic Blast Stakes third-up for this preparation, coming off a runner-up finish in the Listed Miss Andretti Stakes behind the talented Wild Belle. Since that run, this gelding has changed trainers to Embroja-Lee Altieri from David Harrison. Although this son of Snippetson was beaten at his most recent start, he was made to work wide around the home turn and lacked a strong finish. From barrier one on Saturday, Joseph Azzopardi should be able to lob in the box seat, get all the favours on the inside, and burst through late to claim a deserving win. Scenic Blast Stakes Race 8 – #8 Gemma’s Son (1) 6yo Gelding | T: Embroja-Lee Altieri | J: Joseph Azzopardi (54kg) +1000 with Picklebet Best Bet at Ascot: Autumn Rebel Autumn Rebel made it two wins on the bounce at Pinjarra on December 30, where the Darren McAuliffe-trained colt won as a long odds-on favourite over 1700m. After settling off the rail and just behind the speed, Clint Johnston-Porter had to get busy on this guy, but he responded quickly, as he ran to the lead at the 150m mark and won easily. This son of The Autumn Sun has won three of his last four starts, which were the first three victories of his career. With him stepping up in distance to 1800m with Johnston-Porter sticking, we expect Autumn Rebel to prove too good once again and bring up a hattrick of wins. Best Bet Race 5 – #10 Autumn Rebel (9) 3yo Colt | T: Darren McAuliffe | J: Clint Johnston-Porter (55kg) +100 with Playup Next Best at Ascot: King’s Parade Darren McAuliffe and Clint Johnston-Porter will combine once again in the following race with King’s Parade, who is also seeking a hattrick of wins after recording narrow victories in his past two. At his most recent start, this son of Impending ran home from midfield to nab Rocket Juice in the shadows of the post due to a strong finishing burst over the final 200m. From barrier five, Johnston-Porter will attempt to get this guy into a similar mid-field position off the rail and allow him to build his momentum on the home turn. If King’s Parade can let down with that turn of foot again, he will prove hard to beat again. Next Best Race 6 – #9 King’s Parade (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Darren McAuliffe | J: Clint Johnston-Porter (56.5kg) +300 with Neds Best Value at Ascot: Fashion Stakes Fashion Stakes recorded her first victory of the preparation at her most recent start, defeating a small field of rivals over 1500m at this track on December 28. The Neville Parnham-trained mare settled on speed and followed the leader every step of the way before letting down with a strong finish to take over and win by just under one length. With little to no speed in this contest on Saturday, Chris Parnham can push forward, settle in the first four, and build into the final 400m before letting down strong. If Fashion Stakes can get across the field without doing too much work, she can give a good sight at double figures with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 3 – #9 Fashion Stakes (11) 4yo Mare | T: Neville Parnham | J: Chris Parnham (55.5kg) +900 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Ascot races Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, January 27, 2024 1-5-6-9 2-7-8-9 3-4-6-8 6-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Some real X factor’s been confirmed for Monday’s Cross Code Challenge at Cambridge Raceway. The $40,000 Group 3 Waikato Trotting Breeders Stakes is the day’s feature and in between races the Cross Code Challenge will be held, with Team Standardbred taking on Team Thoroughbred. Included in the schedule is a dual sulky race that will see some great match-ups. Star jockey Opie Bosson and gun driver Zachary Butcher have been paired in one dual sulky, and will take on the likes of the Group 1 winners (jockey) Ryan Elliot and (driver) Dylan Ferguson, the girl power team of Crystal Hackett and Elen Nicholas, and “The Chief” David Butcher and NZ Thoroughbred Racing Chief Executive Bruce Sharrock. “It’s taken a fair bit of organising but we are happy with how it’s come together,” says Challenge organiser Jo Stevens, “and should be just so much fun.” Elliot will also take part in the Dunstan Horse Feeds Battle of the Breeds, which is an integral part of the Cross Code Challenge. It’s the third time the event’s been held and it features standardbreds and thoroughbreds in three different disciplines. They will be judged in-hand, then on their paces and manners, before being put over the fences (hunter jumping). Elliot will ride On the Rocks, a nine-year-old who was a more than half million dollar earner on the track. Among his Group victories was the Group 1 Herbie Dyke in 2019. Having been retired, the grey gelding is now with Stevens, a well known figure in Waikato horse circles. A harness racing trainer (and partner of Dylan Ferguson) she is also heavily involved in rehoming horses as well as marketing and social media, with her own very successful Track Chat Facebook page. Eliot will be joined in Team Thoroughbred by : Linda Wheeler and Sassenach Anna Jones and The Judge Dana Genefaas with El Disparo Team Standardbred is led by Dunstan Horse Feeds Marketing Manager Paxton Conder and the dual gaited Comedy Act, who won two races (one trotting, one pacing) for Tim Hall. Connor will be joined in Team Standardbred by : Lexi Nolan and eight race winner No Way Else Gemma Lovewell and Painted Black, who won three before being retired in 2013 Felicia Thomsen and Saul Good, who only raced twice before being retired There will also be an exhibition Monte trot race for standardbreds under saddle that will feature, among others, well-known harness racing driver Sailesh Abernethy. “We’ve had some great crowds at this before and one of best things is we get people along to Cambridge that wouldn’t normally go to harness racing meetings,” says Stevens. For regular updates go to Cambridge Raceway’s Facebook page. View the full article

Coolmore's Ashford Stud will enter breeders who have booked mares to Corniche, Epicenter, Jack Christopher, or Tiz the Law into drawings to award four no-guarantee nominations to Justify in a promotion called “THE JUSTIFY 4.” There will be a separate drawing for each of the four stallions, with one no-guarantee nomination awarded among each pool, for a total of four. The drawing will be held on Apr. 26. The farm said that the event was being held “to celebrate Justify's phenomenal year in 2023.” Justify is the cumulative leading third-crop sire by earnings in a group that includes strong competition from sires including Good Magic, Bolt d'Oro, Mendelssohn, and City of Light. He was the leading second-crop sire of 2023, not only by earnings, but in every black-type category. His six individual Grade I winners equaled the annual combined total of the rest of his crop year. His appeal is global; in 2023 alone, he was the sire of dual Grade I winner Just F Y I, the favorite to be named Champion Juvenile Filly; Hard to Justify, the winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; Opera Singer, winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac; Aspen Grove (Ire), winner of the GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational S.; Arabian Lion, winner of the GI Woody Stephens S.; and City of Troy, winner of the G1 Dewhurst S. Already in 2024, his Storm Boy (Aus) has won the A$3-million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic in Australia. “In a very competitive market, we hoped that this promotion would remind breeders of the incredible potential and upside of our younger stallions,” said Coolmore's Charlie O'Connor. “And who better to remind them of that than Justify? This is an amazing opportunity for breeders to use these stallions who are all Grade I winners on dirt. “Justify has enjoyed a sensational year,” continued O'Connor. “He's the first sire in North America since Mr Prospector to sire four Grade I-winning juveniles in a single season. His two Breeders' Cup winners are amongst the three finalists for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly at the upcoming Eclipse Awards, City of Troy and Opera Singer have been crowned European Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and European Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, while Ramatuelle was crowned French Champion 2-Year-Old. And if all that's not enough, he was also Champion First-Crop Sire in Australia. We think 'THE JUSTIFY 4' concept is a novel idea which is sure to catch the imagination of breeders given four seasons to this great stallion are up for grabs.” Justify's 2024 stud fee was initially listed at $200,000, but was later switched to private. The terms and conditions of the event are as follows: For each qualifying mare contracted to any of the four stallions by Apr. 26, 2024, a ticket will be entered with no limit on the number of tickets per client. One ticket will be drawn for each of the four stallions with the prize being a no-guarantee 2024 season to Justify in each case. The mare nominated must be approved and fit for breeding purposes. Mares over 17 or barren for the last two years are excluded. The qualifying mare must be bred before the nominated mare can be bred by Justify. All Coolmore employees and related parties are ineligible for these draws as are any of the partners in the participating stallions. In the event of a dispute, Coolmore is the final arbitrator. Corniche, Epicenter, and Jack Christopher are all standing their second season at stud with first weanlings arriving now. Corniche is the Breeders' Cup-winning Champion Juvenile; Epicenter is the Eclipse Award winning Champion 3-Year-Old and Travers winner; and Jack Christopher is a three-time Grade I winner. Tiz the Law was a Grade I-winning 2-year-old who went on to win the GI Florida Derby, Belmont S., and Travers S. He has first 2-year-olds this year. To participate in this draw, breeders may call the following Coolmore connections: M.V. Magnier, 011-353-86-821-6827; Dermot Ryan, 859-333-2562; Aisling Duignan, 859-333-2566; Charlie O'Connor, 859-333-2066; Adrian Wallace, 859-327-8302; Robyn Murray, 859-619-8770; Michael Norris, 859-753-1521; Blaise Benjamin, 859-333-2591; Charles Hynes, 859-753-3736; David O'Loughlin, 011-353-86-249-0821; or Christy Grassick, 001-353-86-255-1126. The post Novel Promotion Rewards Coolmore Breeders with Justify Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Moonee Valley Races Where Moonee Valley Racecourse – 1 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Saturday, January 27, 2024 First Race 12:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Black-type racing returns to Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon as the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) headlines the bumper 10-race program. $350,000 is on the line in Saturday’s feature, with a field of 11 accepting looking to claim Stakes success with Group 1 races just around the corner. Perfect conditions are set to greet punters, with the track coming up a Good 4, and the rail in its true position. Australia Stakes Top Tip: Recommendation Despite being on the second line of betting with top horse racing bookmakers, it is hard to go past Recommendation in the Australia Stakes. The four-year-old from the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace barn finished second in Listed company at Canterbury on January 1, and based on his form so far this campaign looks to be well-placed here. The son of Shalaa has a win and a narrow runner-up result in both of his starts at The Valley, and with four wins and three minor placings to his name from eight starts at the 1200m, he is clearly suited to the conditions. From barrier 10, look for John Allen to have him settled in the first half of the field, hopefully with some cover. Recommendation has a strong turn of foot, and considering a few of his key rivals want to get out over further, he might just prove too slick for them in the Australia Stakes. Australia Stakes Race 9 – #3 Recommendation (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Patrick Payne | J: Billy Egan (61kg) +360 with Bet365 Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Pereille Our best bet of the day at Moonee Valley comes up in the final race of the day as Godolphin’s Pereille returns to Moonee Valley second-up from a spell. The four-year-old gelding returned with a smart first-up run over 1200m at Rosehill, and as he comes back the Victorian way, he is poised to return to the winner’s stall. He put in two strong performances at The Valley last campaign, producing the best run of the day from the back when finishing second on a track that favoured leaders, before coming out and making a mess of his rivals at the same track and trip he competes at on Saturday. Damian Lane will have Pereille settled towards the rear of the field and with plenty of early speed engaged, the race sets up perfectly for Pereille to blouse his rivals. Best Bet Race 10 – #6 Pereille (10) 4yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Damian Lane (58kg) +150 with Picklebet Next Best at Moonee Valley: Tango Jewel Tango Jewel has finished second at all three starts this campaign, but as she gets to Moonee Valley for the first time in her career, we think she will take some catching. The Winning Rupert mare is a natural leader, and from barrier four on Saturday, she will do no work to find the rail under Craig Williams. The mare has only been gunned down in the final 100m at each start of this campaign, but with race fitness on her side, we’re confident Tango Jewel can run her rivals off their feet and prove too hard to run down and bring up an overdue win. Next Best Race 5 – #10 Tango Jewel (4) 4yo Mare | T: Jamie Edwards | J: Craig Williams (55.5kg) +600 with Dabble Best Value at Moonee Valley: Quite The Lass Quite The Lass was an impressive Wangaratta BM64 winner on January 11, and the five-year-old mare looks capable of causing an upset in BM70 company on Saturday. The Helmet mare gave her rivals a start and a beating last time out, and a repeat effort in a race like this has her fighting out the finish. With a genuinely run 1600m even expected, the race sets up perfectly for Quite The Lass to build through her gears in the final 500m. With a well-timed sprint under Celine Gaudray, Quite The Lass is going to prove tough too hold out at a double-figure price. Best Value Race 2 – #5 Quite The Lass (8) 5yo Mare | T: David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins | J: Celine Gaudray (a1.5) (58.5kg) +1400 with Neds Saturday quaddie tips for Moonee Valley races Moonee Valley quadrella selections Saturday, January 27, 2024 3-7-10 1-5-7 3-8 6-7-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Sunshine Coast Cup Day Where Sunshine Coast Turf Club – 170 Pierce Ave, Caloundra QLD 4551 When Saturday, January 27, 2024 First Race 12:13pm AEST Visit Dabble The Listed Sunshine Coast Cup will headline the massive 10-race card at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club on Saturday afternoon. With the track rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and very little rain forecast for Saturday, we expect that the track will improve into the Good range and see us race on a perfect surface for the whole meeting. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit, with the opening race on Sunshine Coast Cup Day set to jump at 12:13pm AEST. Sunshine Coast Cup Tip: Essone The feature race of the day represents a very good chance for the Richard Litt-trained Essone to break through for a deserving victory at her fifth start this time in. Recently, this five-year-old mare has been racing well without much luck at all. This daughter of Reliable Man was very unlucky in the Listed Nudgee Stakes when she ran up the rail and was blocked for a run by the eventual winner, Lady Laguna, who has since won again. From barrier five, Justin Huxtable should be able to settle off the rail and slightly worse than midfield. With even luck in the final 400m, Essone can run over the top of the leaders late with a strong finishing burst. Sunshine Coast Cup Race 8 – #6 Essone (5) 5yo Mare | T: Richard Litt | J: Justin Huxtable (56kg) +550 with Dabble Best Bet at Sunshine Coast: Bossed Up After returning with two impressive wins to kick off this preparation, Bossed Up missed the kick in the Magic Millions Syndicate at weight-for-age level last start, which saw him never contest the race. Even though the Tony Gollan-trained gelding was beaten 5.4 lengths behind Derry Grove, he was only 2.5 lengths off third place in a bunched finish. This son of Better Than Ready will appreciate the drop in grade and distance on Saturday. James Orman will jump back aboard, and if he can get this guy to jump better from barrier six, Bossed Up should prove very hard to beat. Best Bet Race 5 – #2 Bossed Up (6) 3yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: James Orman (59kg) +110 with Picklebet Next Best at Sunshine Coast: Solar Apex Solar Apex returned from a 26-week spell at Doomben on January 10, where the Jack Bruce-trained gelding ran on from midfield to go down in a tight finish behind Hollywood North over 1350m. First-up, this six-year-old gelding was given a great ride from barrier one but lacked the race fitness of the winner; however, he ran through the line strong enough to suggest a step up in trip would be ideal. This son of Deep Impact will get exactly that on Saturday, where he will be second-up and would have taken a lot of benefit from his fresh performance. With the aid of Cejay Graham’s 1.5kg claim and a good barrier (5), Solar Apex should go very close. Next Best Race 4 – #1 Solar Apex (5) 6yo Gelding | T: Jack Bruce | J: Cejay Graham (a1.5) (62kg) +450 with PlayUp Best Value at Sunshine Coast: Winburn Winburn will return to his home track on Saturday, coming off a narrow victory over Shamrock Lu at Ipswich over 1100m on January 13. The Stuart Kendrick-trained gelding settled on speed and appeared as though he had run his race 200m from home before kicking back strongly to claim a tight photo finish. Stepping up in distance to 1200m looks like the right choice for this son of Shooting To Win, who has a strong record at this track and trip (5:3-0-1). From barrier 10, Ryan Wiggins will have to push forward, and he should land in the one-one behind the leaders. If Winburn can get moving on the home turn and hit the front early in the straight, he will prove hard to run down late. Best Value Race 9 – #8 Windburn (10) 5yo Gelding | T: Stuart Kendrick | J: Ryan Wiggins (56kg) +1500 with Neds Saturday quaddie tips for the Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast quadrella selections Saturday, January 27, 2024 1-2-6 3-5-6-13 1-5-8-9-12 2-7-9-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

When the IEAH stable partnership closed down in 2013, it seemed like the sport had seen the last of its founder, Michael Iavarone. But after four years on the sidelines Iavarone returned as the solo owner of a small group of horses in 2017. Since, he has built his stable into a top outfit, as evidenced by the fact that he will have a starter in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) and in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in Master Piece (Chi) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). What brought Iavarone back to the sport, what are his goals and what on earth is the story with the crazy outfits he wears when he shows up at the track? Those were some of the questions we had for Iavarone when he appeared on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. Iavarone was this week's Green Group Guest of the week. “So when I left in 2013, obviously I ran a syndicate at the time and we were unwinding the syndicate but I always wanted to essentially come back,” Iavarone said. “I just didn't know when, but I wanted to come back, just not as a syndicate. I wanted to come back with only my own money and have a couple partners. Very much low key, more for the entertainment than a business side of it. So I had to wait for the right time. I went back into the securities industry for an extended period of time. In 2017, I talked it over with my wife and we felt the time was good for a reentry point. So that's when we dipped the toe in, per se.” Michael Iavarone Joins the TDN Writers' Room from Thoroughbred Daily News on Vimeo. He said he never enjoyed having the responsibilities that go hand in hand with running a big syndicate. One of his worst memories was having to tell the partners that I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even) was being scratched the morning of the 2009 GI Kentucky Derby. “I can tell you that having a conversation with 125 or 150 people that day was so incredibly difficult that at no moment did I get a chance to even accept or even understand myself what just happened,” he said. “It felt like the worst thing in the world for them. And it was one of the worst things in the world for me to have to tell them why we're being scratched. And from that moment forward, it kind of sucked the life out of me because nobody cared or asked me the question, why did the horse scratch? Is the horse okay? It was more of a question of what does that mean to us financially? What does it mean to my investment? What does it mean to my money? And I would say to them, I can't control that. I'm not going to put a racehorse on the racetrack that has the opportunity or even the remote possibility of breaking down. Nobody really cared about that.” And his outfits? In his IEAH days Iavarone looked and dressed like a Wall Streeter, wearing expensive and conservative suits. Now, he shows up in outfits that look like he stole them from Elvis Presley or maybe Michael Jackson. There are the jump suits, the bling, the deep tan and the ever present sunglasses. “When I met my wife, she was very much into fashion,” Iavarone said. “So I first tried on something that I thought was kind of outrageous and ridiculous. I was against wearing it out, but I did anyway. I got some compliments. Some people looked at me like I was crazy, but I started to grow more comfortable with it. I felt like I could express myself in an older age. When I was younger I felt like I needed to be molded. I'm comfortable in my skin and I feel like it's fun. I know some people don't like it. Some people, they love it. The good news is I don't have to answer anybody anymore. That's the best part of not being part of a syndicate. So I can kind of do it my way. I feel like the way I dress now and go to the racetrack, it's all about fun.” In the stallion spotlight segments, the podcast featured Coolmore's Epicenter (Not This Time), who stands for a fee of $40,000. The focus was also on Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), who stands at WinStar for $5,000. His best son, Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) was this week's Fastest Horse of the Week. He ran a 105 Beyer in his victory in the GIII Louisiana S. at Fair Grounds and is on his way to the Saudi Cup. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by WinStar Farm, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association,1/ST Racing, the KTA & KTOB, West Point Thoroughbreds, and XBTV.com, the team of Randy Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman looked at a trio of 3-year-olds who were impressive winners last weekend. All three agreed that GIII Lecomte S. winner Track Phantom (Quality Road) and maiden winners Hall of Fame (Gun Runner) and Maymun (Frosted) are horses to watch on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby. There were also discussions of the news that Bob Baffert and Amr Zedan had dropped their last lawsuits challenging the decision to disqualify Medina Spirit (Protonico) from the 2021 Kentucky Derby and the developments out of Saudi Arabia where The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced that it is, finally, moving closer to disqualifying Maximum Security (New Year's Day) from his win in the 2020 Saudi Cup. To watch the Writers' Room podcast video, click here. To listen to an audio version, click here. The post Michael Iavarone Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Wesley Ward's million-dollar claim against owner/breeder Ken Ramsey is nearing its trial date. Ramsey recently survived an attempted knockout punch in court but still faces obstacles in his defense of Ward's claims.View the full article

A short yearling by Omaha Beach (hip 409) topped the two-day Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Winter Mixed Sale when selling for $100,000 to Discovery Bay Bloodstock during the auction's open session Wednesday. Bred by Dominque Damico and consigned by her Fly By Thoroughbreds, the Florida-bred filly is out of Gardenista (Curlin), who is a daughter of multiple graded-stakes winner Valbenny (Ire) (Val Royal {Fr}). During Wednesday's open session, 163 horses grossed $2,009,900 for an average of $12,331 and a median of $5,200. The buy-back rate was 21.3%. Through two days, 274 horses sold for $4,428,800. The average was $16,164 and the median was $8,000. From a smaller catalogue, the 2024 January sale concluded with figures on par with the auction's 2023 edition. A year ago, 380 horses grossed $6,346,200 for an average of $16,701 and a median of $9,500. “I thought it was a solid sale,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “There was plenty of money for the perceived higher end. For some of the horses lower on that order, it was a little tougher for the sellers. One thing that hurt us this year from a gross number, we were pretty short in numbers on the horses of racing age section compared to last year. That's an ebb-and-flow situation from one year to the next.” The OBS sales season continues in two months with the company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. “I think we are going to continue to see what we've seen in the marketplace,” Wojciechowski said of expectations for the spring 2-year-old sales. “There will be a lot of money there for the perceived top-end horses. It can sometimes be a challenge in the middle and lower ends, but I anticipate a good group of 2-year-olds for the upcoming season and I think we will have some good sales.” Wojciechowski added the upcoming OBS March sale will include 2-year-old offerings from the dispersal of the late Robert Lothenbach. That dispersal begins at Fasig-Tipton with a digital sale opening next Monday and continues with the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed sale in February. The post OBS January Sale Concludes on Par with 2023 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Magniac seals a brace for Jamie Richards under Hugh Bowman. Jamie Richards erased the frustrations of a challenging opening to the season with a double at Sha Tin with Magniac and G Liner on Wednesday night as the New Zealander continued to build telling momentum in Hong Kong. Gathering impetus with four wins from his past 13 starters, Richards notched his first Sha Tin double of the campaign when Karis Teetan led throughout on G Liner before Hugh Bowman – substituting for an indisposed Zac Purton – triumphed on Magniac. “It’s been frustrating, to say the least, how things have started for us this season at Sha Tin,” Richards said after the all-dirt race programme. “You can only play the cards you’ve got and what happens here in Hong Kong is that if they don’t run well, they drop (ratings) points and then they can be effective. “Thankfully, we’re just taking our time and building for the back end of the season – our two winners tonight were courtesy of very good rides by the jockeys who were on board. It’s very important here in Hong Kong. You need every little percentage that you can get and we’re thankful for their good judgment.” Veteran galloper All For St Paul’s took his career earnings to beyond HK$14 million with victory, leading all the way for Angus Chung – and claiming a small but significant piece of history in trainer Frankie Lor’s stable. “For me as a trainer, this is my first horse to win nine races,” Lor, Hong Kong’s champion trainer in 2021/22, said. “He (Chung) got his pace right. The first two quarters (29.66s, 24.36s) were very slow, maybe the other horses thought it would be easy to pass him so that’s why they let him go slow, but this horse can always just keep rolling,” Lor said. Chiron struck under Derek Leung in the Class 5 Swan Handicap (1650m), charging from last at the 600m to win convincingly to the relief of trainer David Hayes. “He’s a tricky horse,” Hayes said after logging his 20th winner of the season. “He’s a bit of a thinker. If you push him too hard in the first half of the race, he won’t try. Tonight, he was ridden patiently and he ran well. “I put him over some small jumps this morning in the dressage ring and he loved it.” Chris So’s Strive For Glory was also a spectacular winner, sweeping from the tail of the field for Keagan De Melo before Sky Forever ended Brenton Avdulla’s 67-ride run of outs with victory for Manfred Man. “I’m happy, obviously things were going well early,” Avdulla said after posting his 12th win of the campaign. “I got suspended and then I had a three-meeting gap but it halted all of my momentum. “What I had worked for at the start of the season was really brought undone. I haven’t checked any numbers or anything, I’ve been riding well but just needed the opportunities.” Michael Chang’s So We Joy extended his affinity with the Sha Tin dirt with a fourth win over the course and distance for Andrea Atzeni. Jimmy Ting-trained Blissful Star’s recent consistency was rewarded with a gritty win under a ground-saving Antoine Hamelin ride. Responsible for a pair of minor placings at his two previous runs, the six-year-old was given a brilliant passage by Hamelin before edging out Winning Steps in the last stride. More horse racing news View the full article

Horse Racing on Thursday, January 25 will feature six meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and provided free quaddie tips for the meetings at Ballina and Pakenham. Thursday Horse Racing Tips – January 25, 2024 Ballina Racing Tips Pakenham Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For January 25, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $33.90 odds return: Thursday, January 25, 2024 Pakenham – Race 4 #9 Soar Beyond Pakenham – Race 8 #8 Queen Beira Ballina – Race 7 #5 Jewels Statement Ballina – Race 7 #3 Watchguard | 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 25, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

The always smiling Wayne Davis, who has punched home plenty of winners in the NT over the years, has returned to the Top End after relocating to Geraldton in Western Australia last September. Homesickness prompted colourful jockey Wayne Davis to return to Darwin after spending three and a half months in Geraldton. Davis, 52, spent over a decade in the Top End before deciding to relocate to WA when he felt that he could not cope with another build-up and wet season. By making the move he believed it would prolong his career, but in the end he just missed Darwin. Having ridden all over Australia in a career that is now entering its 36th year, Davis left for Geraldton following the Fannie Bay meeting on September 9. It was October 5 when Davis made his Geraldton debut. Davis had two wins, six seconds, and four thirds from 61 starts at Geraldton and was unplaced in two starts at Moora, 277km from home. It was January 13 when Davis made his last Geraldton appearance, and he has picked up five rides when the Darwin Turf Club hosts its annual Australia Day meeting. “There’s no place like home, the old boy got a bit home sick,” Davis said. “I had my sea change, but Darwin is for me having been here for so long – there was a lot that I did miss when I was in Geraldton. “It was nice to have a break and enjoy a change of scenery, ride at a different track, have a bit of a look around, meet some very good people and ride different horses. “I have a lot of terrific friends here in Darwin and there’s a lot of people in stable street at Fannie Bay that I’m very fond of and quite close to. “I was missing all of that, as well as the lifestyle, and headed back – I’m now looking forward to Friday.” Davis does not regret making the move to WA, adding that he enjoyed his time in Geraldton. The wet season is in full swing in the NT and it’s set to be a muddy dirt surface at Fannie Bay on Friday due to incessant rain, but Davis is relieved he missed build up. “I was riding back on grass in Geraldton – in the end I put it down to the fact that I basically had a working holiday,” he said. “It’s great to be back and apart from catching up with a lot of friends it hasn’t taken me long to feel comfortable back in Darwin.” He had no joy when he last appeared at Fannie Bay, but Davis could mark his return in style on Friday should the Chris Pollard-trained six-year-old gelding Lucky Dog salute against 0-70 opposition in the $40,000 Lightning Wet Season Series Final (1200m). Lucky Dog, the son of Time For War, finished second in the race last year. “He’s drawn a lovely gate in two and trainer Chris Pollard has got the polish on him,” Davis said. “I’m very excited because he’s also a last start winner – winning form is good form. “By no means is it going to be an easy mission, but hopefully he’ll be a major player.” Davis, who spent three and a half years riding for leading NT trainer Phil Cole before heading west, will freelance as a jockey and ride track work for the likes of Cole, Pollard and Peter Stennett. Returning to track work on Tuesday morning, it felt as though he hadn’t left Darwin. “I was only gone for three and a half months, not three and a half years,” he said. “I’ve got five rides out of the six races come Friday, but it’s going to be a tough day. “It’s a terrific card and there are some really smart horses going around, so it should be a great day for the Darwin Turf Club and everyone involved.” Finally, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Davis after farewelling Geraldton. “I made a couple of stops along the way at Carnarvon, Karratha and Broome,” he said. “Got to Kununurra and with the big floods there the roads were closed. “There was every chance I would be stuck in Kununurra. “I jumped on a plane on Friday and flew back to Darwin. “I was fortunate enough to leave my car at a mate’s place. “Had a few days off to rest up and straight back into track work Tuesday morning. “When things dry up and the roads are clear, I’ll hop on a plane, fly across to Kununurra, jump in the car and drive back – it’s only eight hours. “Until then it’s home sweet home for me and it’s now onwards and upwards.” Davis is also a Group 1 winning jockey having won the Winfield Classic – now the Coolmore Classic (1500m) – aboard Acushla Marie at Rosehill in 1992. He also won the 1992 Darwin Cup aboard Clam’s Comet for Cranbourne trainer Tony Harrison. More horse racing news View the full article

Leading Darwin jockey Jarrod Todd returns to the mounting yard after a recent win aboard the Gary Clarke-trained Tanaawol at Fannie Bay. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) Leading NT jockey Jarrod Todd will be aiming to defend his title in the Darwin Turf Club’s Lightning Wet Season Series Final (1200m) at Fannie Bay on Friday. Not only is it the feature event at 0-70 level during the annual Australia Day program, but it is also one of only two $40,000 races in the Top End outside the Darwin Cup Carnival. Todd, who has won the Top End and Country jockeys’ premiership for the past four years, won the Lightning Wet Season Series Final last year aboard the Angela Forster-trained Zoumist. The concept for the mid-range sprinters during the off-season started two years ago when Gary Clarke’s Blue Odyssey, with Barry Huppatz in the saddle, edged out stablemate Mr Cashman, ridden by Todd. A pointscore system applies to qualify for the final and it’s optional for a trainer to nominate their horse for the final, but a horse must have contested one of the six heats. Clarke, the Top End and Country’s leading trainer for the past 11 years, will have three runners in the nine-horse field on Friday with Todd riding Alpha Flight, Adam Nicholls partnering Patria and Aaron Sweeney accompanying Chief Mondo. The Ella Clarke-trained Pop Magic and the Chris Pollard-trained Lucky Dog – second in the final last year – are the only heat winners in the final, while Patrick Johnston’s Ankle Rolex was the early $3.80 favourite with top horse racing bookmakers. Clarke’s impressive Tanaawol, who won two of the six heats with Todd on board, didn’t accept for the final as the six-year-old gelding is recovering from a spider bite. “Gary wasn’t able to get the work into him,” Todd said. “Everything is all good with him, he just missed a gallop or two. “He’s exciting and we were hoping to get him the final, but he wasn’t right and we took precaution. “Gary is just going to have to wait for another day, but he’s back working now.” Alpha Flight, a $10 quote on Wednesday, was formerly trained by Richard and Chantelle Jolly in Adelaide and debuted over 1100m (0-64) at Fannie Bay on December 30 finishing last in a field of eight as the $2.60 favourite. A four-year-old gelding, the son of Akeed Mofeed had 15 starts in SA for three wins at Morphettville and placed on five other occasions in Adelaide. “He had pretty good form before he came to the Clarke stable, I’m willing to just put a line through his first up run,” Todd said. “He drew gate one and as we all know a lot of horses, when they get kick back for the first time, more often than not they don’t appreciate it. “The first run is trial and error, so to speak. “He just got caught in behind them and as soon as he got the kick back he didn’t want to go a yard. “I’m hoping he’s got that out of the way – his work leading up to Friday has been good. “If he does everything right and lives up to his prior form he is a chance. “It probably would have been better had he drawn out a bit, but at the end of the day barrier four is better than one. “If he jumps clean, he should be right up there in the first two or three. “He has shown in the past that he’s got really good early speed.” Todd, who has won a host of feature races in Darwin and Alice Springs, praised the field for Friday’s final, adding that there were plenty of hopes. “It’s actually a nice little compact field – there are many dangers,” he said. “Pop Magic is in very good form – he’s definitely going to be hard to beat. “You can’t discard Lucky Dog – in these sort of races he’s very competitive and ran second in last year’s final.” With 26 wins this season, Todd – 10 wins clear of apprentice Emma Lines in the Top End and Country jockey’s premiership – is hoping to go back to back on Friday. And he certainly endorses the Lightning Wet Season Series. “It’s a good incentive, especially during the wet season, which is our off-season,” he said. “It can get quiet at this time of year, but I’m a fan of the series. “We’re pretty lucky during Carnival time with all the good races, but a $40,000 race in January is great. “I’m still enjoying Darwin, in fact I’m loving it, and obviously we have wet conditions at the moment, but looking ahead I’m looking forward to the Carnivals that are coming up.” More horse racing news View the full article

Top-tier bookmakers have rolled out an enticing lineup of racing specials slated for Thursday, January 25. Standouts on the list include a slew of lucrative bonus-back incentives, elevating the thrill of the trackside action. Dive into these offers from top horse racing betting sites to maximise your wagering prospects. The top Australian racing promotions for January 25, 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 Place a 4+ leg multi, if one leg fails BONUS BACK UP TO $50 Applies to your first eligible 4+ leg multi each day. Paid in Bonus Cash. 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 on Trifectas by 10% with new Daily Trifecta Boosts. Thoroughbreds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au has conducted a thorough evaluation of Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers, unveiling exclusive bonus promotions and specials tailored specifically for Thursday, January 25, 2024. These horse racing promotions stand as a testament to the unwavering dedication of Australia’s top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, if one bookmaker is not currently offering a promotion, you can be confident that another is capitalising on promotional offers. Your go-to destination for the most rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses each day is HorseBetting.com.au. Take advantage of bookie bonuses and the best horse racing odds available for every race to increase the value of your betting endeavours. It’s important to note that these thoroughbred racing promotion offers are exclusively crafted for existing customers. To access these special promotions and claim the bookmaker’s offers, simply log in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to optimise their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting provides a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Sequel Stallions New York's GSW and MGISP Keepmeinmind (Laoban–Inclination, by Victory Gallop) was represented by his first foal recently, a filly. Bred by Sequel, the filly is out of the unraced Wintrily (Carpe Diem), a half-sister to Nov. 18 Key Cents S. winner Tricky Temper (Into Mischief). “We couldn't be happier with how this foal is built,” said Sequel's Becky Thomas. “She has a great size and shape to her, plenty of leg, and has all the parts and pedigree to be a great racehorse!” Keepmeinmind will stand his second season at Sequel for $5,000 S&N. The post First Foal for New York Sire Keepmeinmind appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Oaklawn has announced that beginning Jan. 25, a horse needing a repeated intra-articular corticosteroid injection to the fetlock joint requires the attending veterinarian to perform a radiograph of that fetlock joint. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features G2 Dante S. hero The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). 13.00 Southwell, Cond, £25,000, 4yo/up, 11f 23y (AWT) THE FOXES (IRE) (Churchill {Ire}) may not have hit the heights last term following his G2 Dante S. success, but King Power Racing's class act is back with the slate clean in this Winter Derby Trial Conditions S. Also runner-up in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational, the Andrew Balding trainee is a half-brother to all-weather specialist Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass) and to stablemate Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) who also proved proficient on the Polytrack having garnered last year's Betway Easter Classic All-Weather Middle Distance Championships Conditions S. The post The Foxes Returns At Southwell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The pilot program currently in place at Oaklawn Park under which veterinarians administer any intra-articular corticosteroid injections at the racetrack in a designated area and in the presence of Oaklawn's integrity department has an addendum: any repeated intra-articular corticosteroid injection to the fetlock joint will now require the attending veterinarian to perform a radiograph. The original program was in association with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and began Dec. 8 along with the track's 2023-24 race season. The new rule will be in place beginning Jan. 25, is in partnership with the Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), and is in consultation with the Grayson Jockey Club, according to a Wednesday afternoon release from Oaklawn. Oaklawn's statement said, in part: “Studies have shown the fetlock joint contributes to a larger portion of equine injuries and this rule will give veterinarians more tools to diagnose potential injuries. If the connections believe a Covered Horse should have an intra-articular corticosteroid injection of a fetlock joint within 60 days of a previous injection, the connections are required to have specific digital imaging (radiographs) taken by the attending veterinarian. The attending veterinarian will then assess the fetlock joint radiograph for potentially dangerous findings before the repeated injection is administered.” Oaklawn, in partnership with the Arkansas HBPA, will pay up to $250 for each required set of radiographs to assist with the costs. The program will continue through May 4, when the current Oaklawn meet draws to a close. The post Fetlock Joint Radiographs Required at Oaklawn for Repeated Intra-Articular Injections appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article