Wandering Eyes

Joey Peacock Jr., owner of Senor Buscador, discusses the pros and cons of being based in New Mexico, and his horse's Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) chances in a question-and-answer session with America's Best Racing.View the full article

The finalists for the 20th edition of the UK Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), sponsored by Godolphin, have been announced. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will be the guest of honour at Ascot Racecourse where the awards will be held on Monday, Feb. 26. Previously a three-day European eventing champion, Olympian, and amateur jockey, Princess Anne is involved in several equine-themed charities including Racing Welfare, the Injured Jockeys Fund and Amateur Jockeys Association. The finalists will be judged earlier in the day on Feb. 26, with the awards hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin. The finalists and their employers for the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, are as follows: David Nicholson Newcomer Award Bethan Nelson (Warren Greatrex) Molly Roberts (Ed Walker) Hollie Wiltshire (Alan King) Leadership Cheryl Armstrong (Charlie Fellowes) Andrew McIntyre (William Haggas) Eamonn O'Donnabhain (Tom Lacey) Rider/Groom Vicki Boyle-Atkins (Richard Phillips) Lyndsey Bull (Ian Williams) Alice Kettlewell (Karl Burke) Stud Staff Noel Challinor (Northmore Stud) Jack Conroy (Chasemore Farm) David Porter-Mackrell (Newsells Park Stud) Dedication Andrea Kelly (Tim Vaughan) Linda Murphy (Rae Guest) Brian Taylor (Luck Greayer Shipping) Community Award Joanne Flaherty (Chelmsford City Racecourse) David Letts (Racing With Pride) Lauren Semple (Police Scotland/Scottish Racing Academy) Each individual winner and runner-up will receive a share of the £128,500 prize money, again generously provided by Godolphin, with £30,000 in total for the overall Employee of the Year and their yard or stud. BHA chief executive, Julie Harrington, said, “I'd like to congratulate this year's finalists on this wonderful achievement. “The 2024 ceremony promises to be a truly memorable occasion and it is fitting that The Princess Royal will be with us as guest of honour as we mark 20 years of recognising the very best of British racing and breeding. “We are also very grateful to our sponsor, Godolphin, and award partners, the Racing Post, Racing TV and Ascot Racecourse Supports, for your ongoing commitment to shining a spotlight on the hard work, expertise and dedication of our people.” The post HRH The Princess Royal Guest Of Honour At 20th UK Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Live racing at Parx was cancelled for the second day in a row Tuesday in the wake of a winter storm which moved through the Philadelphia area Monday night. Frigid temperatures and wintry conditions also forced the cancellation of live racing Tuesday at Mahoning Valley in Austintown, Ohio and at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana. The post Winter Weather KOs Tuesday Racing at Parx, Mahoning Valley and Louisiana Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

Mahoning Valley canceled live racing for Jan. 16 but its simulcast theater is open. Parx Racing canceled training and live racing for Jan. 15-16.View the full article

What Pakenham Races Where Pakenham Racecourse – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 When Thursday, January 18, 2024 First Race 5:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Racing returns to Pakenham on Thursday night, where an eight-race program is scheduled, headlined by another two heats of the Future Stars series. With rain forecast in the region on Wednesday, it is unlikely we will be racing on anything better than a Soft surface, with the rail out 3m the entire circuit. Action from Pakenham Racecourse is set to commence at 5:45pm AEDT. Best Bet at Pakenham: Plus Fours Phillip Stokes will leg up Damian Lane aboard Plus Fours who will be looking to go one better than his last two runner-up performances at Caulfield. The five-year-old gelding has chased home Kusini and Mrs Chrissie in arguably tougher contests than what he faces on Thursday night, and despite needing to lug 60kg, he looks well-placed. From barrier six, Lane will look to have the son of Cable Bay settled outside lead throughout, and exert his dominance late. When asked to quicken, Plus Fours should prove too good for a BM64 against a field like this. Best Bet Race 1 – #1 Plus Fours (6) 5yo Gelding | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Damian Lane (60kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Pakenham: The Ballet Dancer The Ballet Dancer looks ready to peak third-up from a spell after being narrowly defeated at Cranbourne on January 5. The Rock ‘n’ Pop mare was hitting the line better than most of her rivals late on, but would miss in a driving finish over 1600m. Despite staying at the mile, the five-year-old mare looks to bring the right form into a race like this, and from barrier seven, she should gain a nice run in transit throughout. With a win to her name when third-up in the past, The Ballet Dancer will be primed for this, and barring any bad luck, she should be winning. Next Best Race 7 – #5 The Ballet Dancer (7) 5yo Mare | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Daniel Stackhouse (58kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Pakenham: Magic Defense Jerome Hunter’s Magic Defense didn’t have much luck at Mornington on January 1, but did hit the line nicely to suggest she would not be in maiden company for too long. The National Defense progeny was held up for clear running until the final 150m, but once clear made up nice ground. She gains the services of Damian Lane on Thursday night, which can only be a positive move, and from barrier seven should have clear air when it matters most. The long Pakenham straight will give her time to build through her gears, and with a well-timed sprint, Magic Defense can salute in the quaddie opener. Best Value Race 5 – #11 Magic Defense (7) 3yo Filly | T: Jerome Hunter | J: Damian Lane (56kg) Bet with Playup Thursday quaddie tips for Pakenham Pakenham quadrella selections Thursday, January 18, 2024 1-5-7-11 3-8-10-12 2-5 3-6-7-10-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

The New Zealand racing industry is chomping at the bit to get to Ellerslie next week for the biggest show in town over Auckland Anniversary Weekend, and Levin trainer Josh Shaw is looking forward to being a part of the action. The Central Districts horseman will head north for the rich Karaka Millions race meeting with his star mare Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) to tackle the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m), following her pleasing 1000m trial win at Foxton on Tuesday. The five-year-old mare has been a revelation for Shaw this season, winning one and placing in four of her five starts, including runner-up results in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) in her last two outings. “I gave her a couple of weeks off after that (TAB Classic),” Shaw said. “She trialled up really well. She wasn’t asked to do a lot until the last 100m and he (Jonathan Riddell, jockey) gave her a little squeeze and she quickened well through the line. It was a very good trial.” Shaw has been duly rapt with his mare’s progress and is looking forward to being a part of New Zealand Thoroughbred racing’s biggest meeting next week. “Every time you raise the bar she jumps over the top of it. She is a bit like an Olympic high jumper, you just keep putting it up and hopefully you don’t knock the bar off,” Shaw said. “She will go to the Westbury Classic on Saturday-week, a set weights and penalties fillies and mares race, so she will drop two-kilos on the weight she carried last month. “It will be my first runner up there on Karaka Millions night and it is even better taking a live chance up there.” While there are a number of top-class Australian jockeys coming across the Tasman for the meeting, Shaw has elected to stay loyal to the local pool of riders and has engaged Lisa Allpress to ride his mare in the $500,000 feature. “Lisa is going to ride her again, she knows the horse and sometimes loyalty doesn’t go awry,” he said. Shaw currently has his blinkers on, with the Westbury Classic the only race on his mind with Faraglioni, but he said if she continues on her current trajectory, a trip across the Tasman for the Queensland Winter Carnival could be on the cards. “After that (Westbury Classic) she will likely have a little let-up and we will concentrate on the autumn,” Shaw said. “We haven’t set anything firmly, we are just targeting the Westbury Classic next week, but if she comes through that race really well our plans will probably change a little bit and we will end up in Brisbane for the winter.” View the full article

Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto) has stepped up his game this season with a pair of wins and on Wednesday night he will attempt to emulate his Sha Tin heroics at Happy Valley in the HK$1.86 million Class 3 Chater Handicap (1200m). Trained by John Size and to be ridden again by Karis Teetan, Raging Blizzard has had only four starts in Hong Kong – all at Sha Tin. The four-year-old scored at his first time of asking in Class 3 last month with a smart success over Gorgeous Win. Teetan knows the improving Raging Blizzard well and he believes that effort combined with barrier three will stand the Per Incanto gelding in good stead as he encounters the tight turns, bright lights and unique atmosphere that Happy Valley offers for the first time. “It’s (barrier three) going to make a big difference at the end. The good thing about him is that he has some nice speed which will help him. I’m looking forward to riding him,” Teetan said. “It was a very good win last time. By saying that, I believe he had a lot of things go his way – he had a decent draw, nice trail into the race and got a nice split. Everything worked out pretty well and he has a nice draw on Wednesday, so let’s hope he gets a good run again.” The bay crossed the line third in a recent barrier trial at Sha Tin. He clocked 46.20s for that effort over 800m on turf. “He just had a little stretch. I was pretty happy, he was very comfortable and he is ready,” Teetan said. With 37 wins this season – including 16 since the start of December – Teetan is on track to eclipse last term’s return of 56 triumphs, which was hampered due to an extended stint sidelined with illness. View the full article

Ernest Feeling, Armour Eagle and Colourful Baron chase consecutive victories on Wednesday nightView the full article

After more than a decade training in partnership with Danny Champion, Kezia Murphy has enjoyed spreading her wings over the last month and tackling training under her own account. It’s been a bittersweet transition for the Riccarton trainer, with Champion’s move to Waipukurau last month ending a two-decade association between the pair. “We had been training in partnership since the 2010-11 season, but I had been working with Danny for 20-odd years,” Murphy said. “He has always wanted to train up north and the opportunity arose for him. I am really grateful for everything that Danny has taught me. “I think it was time and it (solo training) is something that I have been looking forward to. I have got a really nice team of horses, great staff, and excellent owners. I am really enjoying it.” The pair enjoyed plenty of highlights, with a few in particular standing out for Murphy. “Orovela winning the Canterbury Belle (Listed, 1200m) was a real highlight for us. Danny bought her as a weanling and only paid $1200 for her,” she said. “Shamrox winning her first four starts was great. She was my first runner to the races in partnership and she was a really important part of my career. “Getting Perfect Moment back to the races and winning in November was a more recent highlight. She had a really bad floating accident and we saved her and rehabbed her, and getting a win was a really rewarding result.” While reflecting fondly on her training career with Champion, Murphy is now focussed on her solo career and is excited for the future. It didn’t take long for Murphy to welcome back her first winner in a solo training capacity, with Royal Wings giving her a fairytale-like result at Kurow last month. The daughter of Proisir had been off the racing scene for 18 months with tendon issues and made the perfect return to the racetrack when winning first-up at the holiday meeting. “It was really rewarding to get her back to the races after her tendon trouble, and to win first-up was sensational,” Murphy said. “She tore a small hole in her tendon in March 2022. We did a full rehab programme with her but unfortunately when I worked her up again she tore another hole just below it. “The owner put her out at his place for a long break and we were undecided whether we would try her again, but we eventually agreed to give her another go and it has gone really smooth. “We didn’t want to trial her on the synthetic, so I just took her for a few outings to the beach to get her ready and she did the rest. “She has had a good, long prep and has got a lot of base fitness. I don’t gallop her, I just give her a lot of slow prep work and all of her work is on the poly to keep her nice, sound and happy. “She is a really nice horse, she has got loads of ability, and to get a little fairytale to win first-up was fantastic.” Murphy is hoping to keep that fairytale going at Riccarton on Thursday when she lines her up in the Karaka 2024 Rating 75 (1400m). ““She has trained on excellent but she might just be looking for a mile being second-up,” she said. “We just opted for a soft run rather than go for one of those tough qualifying miles.” Murphy is set to have four other runners at her local meeting and has highlighted Perfect Moment in the Ford Contracting Rating 65 as one of her better chances. “I like Perfect Moment, but she has got a sticky draw (10),” Murphy said. “Her Riccarton record is a wee bit average but I think it has mostly been circumstantial. I think she is going to be a nice chance if she gets a good run from the draw.” View the full article

After more than a decade training in partnership with Danny Champion, Kezia Murphy has enjoyed spreading her wings over the last month and tackling training under her own account. It’s been a bittersweet transition for the Riccarton trainer, with Champion’s move to Waipukurau last month ending a two-decade association between the pair. “We had been training in partnership since the 2010-11 season, but I had been working with Danny for 20-odd years,” Murphy said. “He has always wanted to train up north and the opportunity arose for him. I am really grateful for everything that Danny has taught me. “I think it was time and it (solo training) is something that I have been looking forward to. I have got a really nice team of horses, great staff, and excellent owners. I am really enjoying it.” The pair enjoyed plenty of highlights, with a few in particular standing out for Murphy. “Orovela winning the Canterbury Belle (Listed, 1200m) was a real highlight for us. Danny bought her as a weanling and only paid $1200 for her,” she said. “Shamrox winning her first four starts was great. She was my first runner to the races in partnership and she was a really important part of my career. “Getting Perfect Moment back to the races and winning in November was a more recent highlight. She had a really bad floating accident and we saved her and rehabbed her, and getting a win was a really rewarding result.” While reflecting fondly on her training career with Champion, Murphy is now focussed on her solo career and is excited for the future. It didn’t take long for Murphy to welcome back her first winner in a solo training capacity, with Royal Wings giving her a fairytale-like result at Kurow last month. The daughter of Proisir had been off the racing scene for 18 months with tendon issues and made the perfect return to the racetrack when winning first-up at the holiday meeting. “It was really rewarding to get her back to the races after her tendon trouble, and to win first-up was sensational,” Murphy said. “She tore a small hole in her tendon in March 2022. We did a full rehab programme with her but unfortunately when I worked her up again she tore another hole just below it. “The owner put her out at his place for a long break and we were undecided whether we would try her again, but we eventually agreed to give her another go and it has gone really smooth. “We didn’t want to trial her on the synthetic, so I just took her for a few outings to the beach to get her ready and she did the rest. “She has had a good, long prep and has got a lot of base fitness. I don’t gallop her, I just give her a lot of slow prep work and all of her work is on the poly to keep her nice, sound and happy. “She is a really nice horse, she has got loads of ability, and to get a little fairytale to win first-up was fantastic.” Murphy is hoping to keep that fairytale going at Riccarton on Thursday when she lines her up in the Karaka 2024 Rating 75 (1400m). ““She has trained on excellent but she might just be looking for a mile being second-up,” she said. “We just opted for a soft run rather than go for one of those tough qualifying miles.” Murphy is set to have four other runners at her local meeting and has highlighted Perfect Moment in the Ford Contracting Rating 65 as one of her better chances. “I like Perfect Moment, but she has got a sticky draw (10),” Murphy said. “Her Riccarton record is a wee bit average but I think it has mostly been circumstantial. I think she is going to be a nice chance if she gets a good run from the draw.” View the full article

After more than a decade training in partnership with Danny Champion, Kezia Murphy has enjoyed spreading her wings over the last month and tackling training under her own account. It’s been a bittersweet transition for the Riccarton trainer, with Champion’s move to Waipukurau last month ending a two-decade association between the pair. “We had been training in partnership since the 2010-11 season, but I had been working with Danny for 20-odd years,” Murphy said. “He has always wanted to train up north and the opportunity arose for him. I am really grateful for everything that Danny has taught me. “I think it was time and it (solo training) is something that I have been looking forward to. I have got a really nice team of horses, great staff, and excellent owners. I am really enjoying it.” The pair enjoyed plenty of highlights, with a few in particular standing out for Murphy. “Orovela winning the Canterbury Belle (Listed, 1200m) was a real highlight for us. Danny bought her as a weanling and only paid $1200 for her,” she said. “Shamrox winning her first four starts was great. She was my first runner to the races in partnership and she was a really important part of my career. “Getting Perfect Moment back to the races and winning in November was a more recent highlight. She had a really bad floating accident and we saved her and rehabbed her, and getting a win was a really rewarding result.” While reflecting fondly on her training career with Champion, Murphy is now focussed on her solo career and is excited for the future. It didn’t take long for Murphy to welcome back her first winner in a solo training capacity, with Royal Wings giving her a fairytale-like result at Kurow last month. The daughter of Proisir had been off the racing scene for 18 months with tendon issues and made the perfect return to the racetrack when winning first-up at the holiday meeting. “It was really rewarding to get her back to the races after her tendon trouble, and to win first-up was sensational,” Murphy said. “She tore a small hole in her tendon in March 2022. We did a full rehab programme with her but unfortunately when I worked her up again she tore another hole just below it. “The owner put her out at his place for a long break and we were undecided whether we would try her again, but we eventually agreed to give her another go and it has gone really smooth. “We didn’t want to trial her on the synthetic, so I just took her for a few outings to the beach to get her ready and she did the rest. “She has had a good, long prep and has got a lot of base fitness. I don’t gallop her, I just give her a lot of slow prep work and all of her work is on the poly to keep her nice, sound and happy. “She is a really nice horse, she has got loads of ability, and to get a little fairytale to win first-up was fantastic.” Murphy is hoping to keep that fairytale going at Riccarton on Thursday when she lines her up in the Karaka 2024 Rating 75 (1400m). ““She has trained on excellent but she might just be looking for a mile being second-up,” she said. “We just opted for a soft run rather than go for one of those tough qualifying miles.” Murphy is set to have four other runners at her local meeting and has highlighted Perfect Moment in the Ford Contracting Rating 65 as one of her better chances. “I like Perfect Moment, but she has got a sticky draw (10),” Murphy said. “Her Riccarton record is a wee bit average but I think it has mostly been circumstantial. I think she is going to be a nice chance if she gets a good run from the draw.” View the full article

Trainer Pierre Ng hopes a gear change ahead of a trial next week can help his speedster relax as he prepares to step up in trip.View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand would like to remind everyone in the sport that last week’s draft dates calendar is just that – a draft. Since it was released there has been an outpouring of comment, and in some case strong criticism, with many believing the new calendar is set in stone. “There has been a lot of feedback from people thinking this is a done deal. It is not,” says HRNZ General Manager – Racing, Catherine McDonald. Included in the draft is the potential to have upwards of 86 more meetings in the 2024/25 season, mainly at Alexandra Park, Cambridge and Addington. “It is great to have a partner in Entain that is so ambitious and forward-thinking and we have to be innovative when it comes to increasing turnover,” says McDonald. But the suggestion has seen many question how that would be happen given current horse numbers, and how and who would fund the extra races. “All these are good points and that’s exactly why the draft calendar is now out for discussion,” says McDonald. “It cannot be emphasised enough that Entain is testing the water here and now it’s up to everyone in the sport to respond.” In coming weeks HRNZ plans to extensively liaise with clubs, kindred bodies, trainers and other stake-holders. “We need to ensure all clubs and regions benefit from any changes and we need to grow the sport right through the country,” says McDonald. That consultation period will conclude on Monday, February 19 with HRNZ and the other codes needing to make a formal submission to the TAB Dates Committee by March 1. The three codes will then come together with the TAB/Entain to finalise the calendar. For any more information contact catherine@hrnz.co.nz To see the draft calendar click here View the full article

By Michael Guerin One of the reasons for Bolt For Brilliance’s below par spring has been revealed. After returning with a brilliant win at Alexandra Park after 10 months off the scene, the former Rowe Cup winner never hit his true peak on his southern campaign that left trainer-driver Tony Herlihy scratching his head. Bolt For Brilliance didn’t appear to be breathing well when he ran fourth in the Dominion and vet checks back in Auckland failed to diagnose why. It was only when Herlihy was able to get a scope that it was discovered the top trotter had an entrapped epiglottis. “It many ways it was a relief to discover what was wrong,” says Herlihy. “And when you think he has had that bothering him but he was still able to run fourth in the Dominion we are hoping having surgery means he can come back to his best.” The entrapped epiglottis surgery involves the flap being lasered off and Bolt For Brilliance will be back in work soon and should still be good to take the slot his connections have bought in the TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 12. “I am very confident he will be back for that and I will probably keep him up here in the lead up to that.” View the full article

The Macau Jockey Club announced on Monday that it had signed an agreement with the Macau Government to terminate the contract to race there. “Macau Horse Racing Company Limited has been operating at a loss, accumulate in excess of 2.5 Billion (NZ$501 million),” MJC said in a statement. “Moreover, there has been limited room for development and growth of the horse racing industry in Macau over the years, and including the adverse effect brought about by pandemic over these last three years, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain the operations. “The Board of Directors has had to make a difficult decision, and commencing from April 1, 2024, the company will cease all racing related operations. However, the current member facilities will remain available to the Club’s members.” The news comes in the wake of Singapore Turf Club’s announcement last year that racing would cease there in October, 2024. The MJC currently employs 570 staff and has approximately 205 horses racing in its jurisdiction, well below its one-time peak population figure of 1200 horses. View the full article

Trelawney Stud again celebrated outstanding results on the track last year, highlighted by a pair of heavy hitting graduates of Brent and Cherry Taylor’s operation. Off the back of a notable 2023, the Cambridge nursery will head to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale later this month in high spirits with another quality line-up of potential future stars. “We have been fortunate enough to breed some pretty good horses and certainly the likes of Pride Of Jenni and Lim’s Kosciuszko are a couple of out of the box,” Brent Taylor said. “Pride Of Jenni won those two Group One races and the first time in for 35 years it’s happened in that week. That was pretty special.” During last year’s Melbourne spring carnival, the Pride Of Dubai mare claimed the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) with a commanding front-running display and produced a repeat performance seven days later to land the Gr.1 Champion’s Mile. Kermadec’s son Lim’s Kosciuszko has been a star multiple stakes winner in Singapore and Trelawney will offer the 2022 Horse of the Year’s half-sister by Ocean Park at Karaka. “Lim’s Kosciuszko has won 17 races now and from 1200m to 2000m at Group One level in Singapore, which hasn’t been done before so that’s testament to not only his ability, but his tenacity,” Taylor said. Trelawney’s filly is the last foal of the late Keeper mare Jacquetta and a straight-forward business decision will see her through the ring as Lot 150. “We’re commercial thoroughbred breeders and we can’t invest in fillies without selling some,” Taylor said. “We’ve got quite a large racing team and they take a bit of feeding every month so we’ve got to sell some.” Toronado’s daughter, Lot 152, is another highly thought of yearling among the draft of fillies. “She’s out of Joan’s a Jett and purpose-bred on the same cross as Tivaci, which is down in the family and he’s obviously by High Chaparral out of the Fastnet Rock mare Breccia,” Taylor said. “Joan’s a Jett is by a son of Fastnet Rock and Toronado is by High Chaparral and you have ideas of what you want the foal to look like and this filly is exactly what we wanted. “She’s strong with plenty of length and strength with great bone. It’s what you would expect to see from a filly from this family, she’s just a great individual.” Among the colts, the sons of Snitzel, Lot 138, and Circus Maximus, Lot 354, are a couple of favourites. “The Snitzel colt out of Indecision is a bit of a flagbearer, not only because Snitzel goes from strength to strength, but he is a really decent colt out of a young stakes-winning mare that we were lucky enough to race,” Taylor said. “He’s just a good type, plenty of size and strength with lovely length. He is a quality individual.” By Per Incanto, Indecision won six races up to 1200m, including three Listed titles. “Circus Maximus is a stallion that I liked the look of when he first came down and was a very good racehorse,” Taylor said. “This colt is out of Rockadubai and we bred him on that very potent Fastnet Rock/Galileo cross and further down the pedigree it’s been franked by Warm Heart. “He’s a big, strong impressive looking colt with plenty of substance. When we bred the mare to Circus Maximus, this is the kind of individual we hoped to get. A daughter of Galileo, Warm Heart was a two-time European Group One winner out of Rockadubai’s three-quarter sister Sea Siren, who won three times at the highest level. The stakes placed Rockadubai is the dam of the Gr.3 South Australia Fillies’ Classic (2500m) winner Chabaud and multiple Hong Kong winner Ka Ying Victory. View the full article

Andrew Forsman is hopeful a drop back in distance will produce the best of Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) when the talented galloper contests the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. The well-travelled son of Sacred Falls has celebrated some of his greatest career highs over the 1600m distance, beginning as a three-year-old when winning the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas before claiming the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, alongside a trip to Hong Kong finishing 5th in the Gr.1 Champion’s Mile behind global star Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’oro) last year. Forsman, who part-owns the $1.88 million earner with the Zame Partnership, took a throw at the stumps in testing Aegon over 2050m in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day, though a steady tempo saw his strong racing pattern unsuited to the middle-distance feature. “Things just didn’t work out for him over the 2000m,” Forsman said. “I think if he’s ever going to go that trip everything has to go perfectly for him, and I don’t think we want to be risking that, so we’ve kept him fresh to go back to the mile, hopefully it all works out.” Returning to the venue where he finished an eye-catching fourth in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) last month, Aegon will be among the main dangers in a competitive affair which includes fellow elite-level victors Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer) and No Compromise (NZ) (Pins). The former currently sits atop of the TAB Futures market at $4 ahead of Habana (Zoustar) at $4.50, Aegon a joint-third fancy at $8 with Puntura (NZ) (Vespa). Forsman, while confident in the six-year-old’s ability at the shorter trip, is wary of the step-back in distance on Saturday. “He always seems to race better on the fresh side, but it’s hard to know how he’ll perform over the mile having dropped back from 2000m,” he said. “But he’s been great since (the Zabeel Classic), I can’t really fault him.” Closer to Forsman’s Cambridge base on Wednesday, he will have three competitive chances at Te Rapa aiming to break maiden status in Privy Garden (So You Think), Energize (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor). A three-year-old daughter of So You Think, Privy Garden has had a trio of distantly spaced race-day appearances, most recently a highly-creditable third placed effort behind I’munstoppable (NZ) (Charm Spirit) at Te Aroha. She will contest the BCD Group 1100 and Forsman is hoping to further establish the filly’s ringcraft before stepping up in distance. “She’s always looked promising, she’s just always been a bit keen and overdone things so we’re just keeping her at the shorter trips for now,” he said. “1100m may be slightly short for her would be the only concern, but it’s more about getting her racing tractably and doing things right. She’ll run well, but she’s looking for the step-up to 1400m soon enough.” Resuming after debuting in September, Charm Spirit gelding Energize lines up in the Countdown To Karaka 2024 3YO (1300m) in the hands of Masa Hashizume from barrier three. “Energize has been waiting for a decent draw for a while now, he’s been entered and scratched a few times,” he said. But he’s been going well and trialled well on the synthetic, so hopefully he can take that form to the races on Wednesday.” Completing Forsman’s representatives will be Moonlight Magic, the lightly tried filly a hopeful Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender after showing staying promise in her two raceday starts. “She’s nominated for the Oaks, and we do think she’s a chance as a three-year-old staying filly,” he said. “We just wanted to give her one more go at the mile, hopefully she can get a win on the board but if not, I think she’ll be ready for a step-up over 2000m pretty quickly. She’s in good form.” View the full article

Because the 8-year-old ridgling son of Mastercraftsman thrives in cooler weather, trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. has kept him in training at Belmont Park ahead of the Jan. 27 $1 million Pegasus Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Week of Jan. 8-Jan.14View the full article

After what his connections described in a tweet on X as 'works not showing the same sparkle' as in years prior, the 2023 G1 Dubai World Cup runner-up Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal) has been retired from racing. A multiple Group winner in Meydan in addition to his second-place finish to multiple Group 1 winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), he'd last been seen in Canada on Oct. 7, missing victory in Woodbine's GIII Durham Cup S. by half-a-length. A horse for Dubai's dirt courses, his first Group triumph came in 2022 when he took the G3 Jebel Ali Mile Sponsored by Shadwell and he won both rounds of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge series as the lead up to that World Cup attempt. His career concludes with seven victories and lifetime earnings of over $3-million. “Unfortunately, Algiers is not showing the same sparkle in his work and we have decided to retire him,” said co-conditioner Simon Crisford in that statement on X through the Gainsborough Thoroughbreds account. “He was a very consistent horse who loved Meydan. He showed his brilliance in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Maktoum Challenge before running a close second in the Dubai World Cup.” “He will now enjoy a happy retirement and I would like to thank his owners Sultan Ali and Hamdan bin Sultan Ali Alsabousi for their support.” The post Dubai World Cup Runner-Up Algiers Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Former Eclipse Award winner feels 'reborn' after riding two horses for Bob Baffert on Jan. 14 at Santa Anita. He hadn't competed in more than three months after winning only five times with 136 mounts last year.View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Oamaru trainer Eion Latimer says he “nearly fell over” after seeing the market move on his horse Wavewatcher at Ashburton today. The Downbytheseaside four-year-old will have his 19th start in race 3, the Red Park Farm Mobile Pace. While a win has so far proved elusive Wavewatcher has been crunched from an opening quote of $11 into $4.20 on the fixed odds, with Latimer as surprised as anyone about the amount of money on his horse. “It wasn’t me,” he said. “I didn’t believe it when I saw it,” says Latimer, “I nearly fell over.” The horse Latimer describes as an “enigma” was purchased off gavelhouse as a weanling. “He’s closely related to some nice horses, like Triple G.” So far he has had five placings in his 18 starts. He was 10th last start at Omakau “but the heat got to him that day” with an encouraging sixth at Gore before that behind the likes of Da Vinci, Major Torque and Watermelon Sugar. “He was really good in that three-year-old race at Gore.” Wavewatcher has drawn 3 over the 1700m distance, with Matty Williamson in the seat. “If he gets out of the gate he can go a good race – he’s a first four chance.” The Steven McRae-trained Little Biddy shares favouritism with Wavewatcher on the fixed odds (both at $4.20) with the Matt Purvis trained and driven Ultimatum next at $5. “Coming up 77” Latimer only trains two horses from his Oamaru base. The other one is Rural Cash. Whether he makes it career training win number 46, and his first since February 2021, will be known around 1.28 this afternoon. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Two of Akuta’s major Hunter Cup rivals return to racing this weekend. Recently crowned Inter Dominion champion Leap To Fame and Miracle Mile hero Catch A Wave will have their only Hunter Cup lead-up runs in different states. Leap To Fame, who has been freshened since his breathtaking Inter Dominion romp at Albion Park on December 16, returns at the same track in a 1660m free-for-all on Saturday night. While Catch A Wave, who sparkled winning a Melton trial last night (Monday), now looks set to resume on Saturday night in the $100,000 Group 2 Ballarat Cup. Trainer Andy Gath was re-thinking his plan to miss Ballarat after Catch A Wave gave away a start and beat proven topliners Mach Dan (who led) and Encipher (behind leader) in some mind-blowing closing splits to a three-horse 2240m Melton trial last night. Although the mile rate was just 1min58.3sec, the official closing splits were 54.2 and 25.8sec. Catch A Wave gave away a couple of lengths to Mach Dan at the 400m and was clocked to run his last quarter in 25.2sec. Long-time trial watchers said they had never seen a faster closing split at Melton. “The (Ballarat) Cup hasn’t been on the radar, but the nominations aren’t as strong as I’d always thought they would be,” trainer Andy Gath said. “I’d planned to go to a heat of the (1200m) Mercury80 series at Melton on Friday night, but the way he trialled, if he runs this week it will be at Ballarat. “We’d been really happy with him at home and the way he ran past really good horses tonight was terrific.” While trainer-driver Grant Dixon said he was thrilled to get any lead-up race with Leap To Fame ahead of the Hunter Cup. “He’s had a few fall through with lack of numbers before,” he said. “We didn’t trust the longer race to stand up here (Albion Park) next week, so we popped him in this week to improve our chances. It’s great they got a field.” Leap To Fame will start from outside the front row (gate seven) in the eight horse field. “He’s ready to go,” Dixon said. “He had that week or so off after the Inter Dominion win, but he came through the race so well, he didn’t really need it. “He was itching to get back into it after the time out and he seems as good as he’s ever been. “He’d had so much strong racing … he didn’t lose much fitness.” Dixon confirmed Leap To Fame’s Hunter Cup raid would be a quick hit-and-run by plane from Brisbane. In somewhat of a surprise, Leap To Fame will almost certainly then head to the $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile on February 23 to try and qualify for the Miracle Mile. “I think it’s a better option than going to the lead-up sprints the week before the Mile where he’d have to go 1min48sec or so to win one of them and then even quicker the week after in the big one,” Dixon said View the full article

French online auction house Auctav will host their January sale starting Tuesday, Jan. 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CET, and among the offerings are two flat runners, namely Qantiem (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) and Sinnerman (Fr) (Territories {Ire}). The former, a half-brother to MSP-Fr Layla (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), is out of a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Reliable Man (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and multiple Group winner Imposing (GB). Sinnerman claims Peruvian champion grass mare GSP-Arg Sissy Chanel (Tapizar) as a half-sister and hails from the female line of Old Domesday Book (GB), whose daughters produced no less than three multiple Group and Grade I performers. Both offerings are winners on the Polytrack while Sinnerman also has a victory over 1200 metres on the turf. The full catalog can be found on their website. The post Auctav’s First 2024 Sale Goes Live Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article