Wandering Eyes

Wrote To Arataki will be trainer Matthew Williams’ first Derby Day runner. Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams will break new ground when he saddles his first runner on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington. Williams has been training horses for more than 20 years and Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote), who runs in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday, will be his first starter on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. “We used to go to Derby Day when we were kids with my uncle,” Williams said. “So, to finally have a runner there, having been training for 20 something years and not having a runner on Derby Day, it will be good. “It’s not easy to get one good enough.” Wrote To Arataki will be having her first start at 1600m when she steps out on Saturday. Williams said he has been hesitant to try the mare at the trip, but jockey Dean Yendall is confident she will handle it. Yendall knows what it takes to win the Empire Rose having won it on I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) (2016) and aboard Shoals the following year. “She has a bit of a high head carriage on her, and she looks like she will be too keen, but Dean says she is not that keen when riding her,” Williams said. “I’m backing his judgement there and it’s a Group One race. She’s five runs into the prep now, so it’s the right time to try and if it doesn’t work, then we don’t do it again. “Being her first time to the mile, we want to ride her for a little bit of a sit, so she might be second pair back or third pair back, or something like that. “We just want to find a bum and put her to sleep early. She has been switching off much better with the earmuffs, so we’re hoping she switches off on Saturday and runs a strong mile.” Wrote To Arataki has gradually worked her way through the grades and was successful in Group Three company during the autumn. Williams kicked her off with a placing at Caulfield in September and in her three subsequent efforts, Wrote To Araktaki has a win, in the Gr.2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, a third at Flemington and a disappointing second-up fading 12th behind Amelia’s Jewel at Flemington. “The only race she didn’t finish off and looked a bit weak was three runs ago at Flemington when they went too hard up front,” Williams said. “But she’s so honest if she gets sectionals to suit.” By Wrote, Highview Stud’s Group One winning son of High Chaparral, Wrote To Arataki is out of the multiple winning Align mare Galloping Gerte. She was bred by Noelene Bishop, who along with husband Bill, is good friends with Highview Stud’s Brent Gillovic. Wrote To Arataki finished third in her only trial in New Zealand for former trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne before her private sale to the Williams stable through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo. View the full article

Chris Waller has put blinkers on Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park) to sharpen him up for a slight distance drop. The Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) came under serious consideration for Kovalica, but his performance in the Gr.3v King Charles III Stakes (1600m) convinced connections the $10 million Golden Eagle was the right target. The Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner was one of the few horses to make headway from back in the field, coming from last on the corner to finish fifth behind stablemate Fangirl (Sebring). That 1600m effort has proved the determining factor in resisting the temptation to step Kovalica up to 2040m in last Saturday’s Cox Plate and instead fit him with blinkers for a Golden Eagle (1500m) assault. “Had he not sprinted as hard as what he did in the King Charles, the Cox Plate would have been the logical race to go to,” trainer Chris Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said. “But the fact he was reeling in older weight-for-age stars, and that he’s only four once …. the Cox Plate is still going to be there for him next year.” Waller won the inaugural Golden Eagle with Kolding, who like Kovalica was raced by Neville Morgan and sported the prominent owner’s blue and white colours. But they aren’t the only commonalities the horses share. Both are by Ocean Park, both won the Queensland Guineas the previous winter and like Kolding, Kovalica will tackle the Golden Eagle fourth-up and off the back of a Group One mile run at Randwick. Duckworth can make cases for all of the stable’s runners but says Kovalica’s fast finishing second in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and his King Charles Stakes effort make him Waller’s top seed. “He pretty much has to be,” Duckworth said. “Despite only running second and fifth, you couldn’t have asked more from any horse in his last two runs.” The commitment of jockey Tommy Berry has also been a confidence boost. Berry has been retained for the Golden Eagle mount after riding Kovalica last start and hasn’t missed an opportunity to sit on his back since. “Tommy has come in and galloped him on the Saturday, Tuesday, (last) Saturday and again on Tuesday. “He is putting the hard yards in and he has got bags of faith in the horse.” Kovalica ($10) will lead a five-pronged Golden Eagle bid for Waller, although he has been a market drifter since landing gate 16 at Tuesday night’s barrier draw. His barn mates fared better with Rediener drawing three, Osipenko and Vienna Princess alongside each other in barriers eight and nine respectively, while Age Of Kings will jump from gate 11. View the full article

Racing Tauranga will mark their 150th anniversary at their meeting on Saturday, and they intend to celebrate in style. The longevity of the club is something all organisations strive for, and Racing Tauranga General Manager Louise Dean said she is proud to be at the helm of the club when reaching the momentous milestone. “I don’t think there will be many clubs around Tauranga that would have been in existence for 150 years and still be thriving like Racing Tauranga is,” she said. “We get good crowds here and we get a lot of community support. I like the fact we can put on racedays that are really inviting for everyone. It is a nice and inclusive feel. “I get a real thrill about how many people turn up to the races that aren’t necessarily huge racing people, they bring their kids along on the lawn and enjoy watching the horses. “It is a testament to the community for supporting racing and also the racing community for supporting Tauranga. It is a great milestone.” To mark the 150th anniversary, Racing Tauranga are offering a variety of entertainment on Saturday to help the local community celebrate. “We are having a big community day where we are inviting everyone to come in and celebrate with us and thank them for supporting us,” Dean said. “We have got a lot of kids entertainment, market stalls, and a fashion competition through the ages – with people encouraged to dress up in a different era. “We have also got a vintage photo booth and vintage cars. It’s going to have a really nice carnival atmosphere. “Whether people want to spend 10 minutes here or the whole day, there will be something for everyone. It is free entry, and everyone is welcome to come and celebrate with us.” Dean is expecting a bumper crowd, which is set to continue over the summer months. “Coming into our Christmas at the Races events, the next two are sold out already. We have had huge support from businesses and locals, it is fantastic,” she said. What: Racing Tauranga 150th Anniversary Race Meeting Where: Racing Tauranga, 1383 Cameron Road, Greerton, Tauranga When: Saturday, November 4, 2023 – First race is at 12pm Entry: Free View the full article

The connections of Classic contender Luberon can breathe easy again after the gifted filly produced a flawless trial performance on the synthetic track at Cambridge on Thursday. Trained by Lance Noble for breeders Cambridge Stud, the daughter of Embellish’s final race day outing ahead of the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) turned into a nightmare at Pukekohe last Saturday. Luberon started favourite in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and looked to be travelling easily in the straight before she veered out sharply under visiting Melbourne apprentice Celine Gaudray and hit the outside fence. The filly finished at the tail of the field, but came through relatively unscathed and was ordered to trial to the satisfaction of the stewards, which she accomplished with her runner-up finish in an open 1300m heat on Thursday. “It was a relief and she went really well. It wasn’t ideal bringing her back to the trials four days after something like that, but she jumped out and we rode her quietly, with plenty of horses to follow,” Noble said. “She came out and came around the corner perfectly and Warren (Kennedy) gave her a slap down the shoulder and she quickened up and went nice and straight.” Luberon’s effort confirmed her passage south for the Guineas at Riccarton on November 18. “It’s all systems go now, she’s done everything right and the stewards have cleared her. I’ll be able to sleep again,” Noble said. Prior to the Soliloquy, Luberon had won at Te Rapa and Matamata in her first two outings for the season and is currently the equal second favourite with Mary Shan at $7 for the Guineas behind the $4.50 market leader Molly Boom. Luberon’s well-performed stablemate Polygon also stepped out in the same trial at Cambridge and after a tardy start, made ground to finish midfield. “She’s had a gap between runs and has never really performed on the synthetic so she will run over a mile at Te Rapa, a track where she’s unbeaten, next week,” Noble said. Polygon won three times last season, including successes in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m). View the full article

What VRC Derby Day 2023 Where Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 When Saturday, November 4, 2023 First Race 12:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble VRC Derby Day is one of the biggest days on the Australian horse racing calendar, and this year’s edition looks to be one of the best in recent years. A massive nine-race meeting is set down for decision at Flemington, with all nine of those races at Group level. Headlining the action is a trio of Group 1 races: the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), VRC Derby (2500m), and Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). A perfect spring day is forecast, and with a track rated a Good 4 and the rail in the true position, every runner will have their chance. A massive day of racing is set to commence at 12:20pm AEDT. Keep reading for our free race-by-race preview and quaddie selections for VRC Derby Day 2023 Race 1: Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) The Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) is the traditional opener to the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and it is impossible to go past Brave Mead. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained colt was a soft Caulfield winner on October 21 in a field that is no harder than what he faces on Saturday. Jamie Spencer takes the steer from barrier five and if he can lob in the one-one position upon settling, Brave Mead could have the race sewn up a long way out from home. Selections: 1 BRAVE MEAD 2 HEMAN 5 INFLUENTIAL 7 ERSA Next Best Race 1 – #1 Brave Mead (5) 3yo Colt | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Jamie Spencer (58kg) +180 with Dabble Race 2: Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) Win and you are in to the 2023 Melbourne Cup (3200m), that is what is on offer for five of the seven acceptors in the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m). Ladies Man was a dominant winner in the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2000m) on October 14 and looks well-placed to bring his New Zealand form to these shores. The six-year-old gelding has a thunderous turn of foot for a stayer and despite not winning at a distance further than 2200m, he has shown that a trip like this is right up his alley. Dean Yendall will have Ladies Man building through his gears 600m out, where he should blouse his rivals inside the final 100m and book his spot in the Cup on Tuesday. Selections: 1 LADIES MAN 3 ATHABASCAN 4 MOSTLY CLOUDY 5 UNITED NATIONS Archer Stakes Race 2 – #1 Ladies Man (5) 6yo Gelding | T: Allan Sharrock | J: Dean Yendall (59kg) +650 with Picklebet Race 3: Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m) Dancing Alone has built an impressive record thus far, winning six of her first seven starts, and can claim her first black-type success on Saturday. The I Am Invincible mare was a smart Flemington 1100m winner two runs back, before smashing her rivals at the Caulfield 1100m on October 18. She returns to the Flemington 1100m and with Billy Egan on board from barrier 10, can lead from barrier to box. Selections: 10 DANCING ALONE 8 HYPOTHETICAL 4 RED CARD 6 ROSE QUARTZ Begonia Belle Stakes Race 3 – #10 Dancing Alone (10) 4yo Mare | T: Bryce Heys | J: Billy Egan (55kg) +360 with PendleburyBet Race 4: Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) Chain Of Lightning returned with an eye-catching third in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) and can go on with the job in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m). She was taking off substantial ground off Uncommon James and eventual Asfoora at Caulfield, to suggest the step up to 1200m second-up is ideal. She has two wins from three second-up starts and in a race that is going to be run to suit those with a sit off a hot speed, Chain Of Lightning should prove too hard to hold out. Selections: 2 CHAIN OF LIGHTNING 7 SPACEWALK 5 TRIPLE MISSILE 4 IT’SOURTIME Rising Fast Stakes Race 4 – #2 Chain Of Lightning (5) 5yo Mare | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Billy Egan (58kg) +650 with Betfair Race 5: Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) Our best of the day comes up in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) when Zardozi looks to build on her dominant win in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m). The three-year-old filly put 1.5 lengths on her rivals that day and looked every bit a VRC Oaks (2500m) chance when only getting warm through the line over 1600m. The extra 400m on Saturday looks perfect and as long as James McDonald can find a spot midfield with cover from barrier 10, Zardozi should prove too powerful for her rivals over 2000m. Selections: 1 ZARDOZI 4 HARLOW MIST 3 KONASANA 7 SUBRISING Best Bet Race 5 – #1 Zardozi (10) 3yo Filly | T: James Cummings | J: James McDonald (57kg) +380 with Bet365 Race 6: Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200M) Often referred to as a stallion-making race, the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) has assembled a massive field of 19 three-year-old sprinters. The trifecta from this year’s Golden Slipper will line up in the event, while several other Group winners will feature. Cylinder heads the market at +340 indicating how open an affair the Coolmore Stud Stakes is for 2023. Click here for our full preview of the 2023 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes Race 7: Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500M) First run in 1855, the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) is one of the most prestigious races in Australia. Chris Waller is hunting a second straight win in the race as Riff Rocket jumps as a short-priced favourite. Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) quinella Apulia and Verdad are looking to cause minor upsets, whilst there looks to be a few chances that horse racing bookmakers might have missed at a price. Click here for our full preview of the 2023 Group 1 VRC Derby Race 8: Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) The third and final Group 1, the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) as always has attracted an even field of mares for the $1 million event, and this year is no exception. Hope In Your Heart is one of the most consistent mares in the country and looks set to break her Group 1 maiden at the ninth time of asking. The Kerry Parker-trained five-year-old was beaten two-lengths in the Epsom Handicap (1600m), before finishing on the heels of Kovalica and Think It Over in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m). She will a bit of luck from barrier one considering she will be towards the rear of the field upon settling. Hope In Your Heart has an elite turn of foot and with even luck, should prove too good for her rivals in the Empire Rose. Selections: 3 HOPE IN YOUR HEART 12 LIFE LESSONS 2 PRINCESS GRACE 14 WISHLOR LASS Empire Rose Stakes Race 8 – #3 Hope In Your Heart (1) 5yo Mare | T: Kerry Parker | J: Tim Clark (57kg) +700 with Neds Race 9: Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m) The inaugural running of The Damien Oliver (1400m) (formerly the Linlithgow Stakes) brings a close to a jam-packed Derby Day. Ayrton returned a smart winner in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) and in doing so looks to be back to somewhere near his best. He loves the 1400m, having won four times and placed on a further two occasions from 10 goes and can build on that record at Flemington. He will need some luck early from barrier 17 under Mark Zahra, but if the pair can hold a spot in the three wide line with cover, Ayrton can send us home a winner at a nice price. Selections: 4 AYRTON 1 VILANA 5 TAMERLANE 10 HERE TO SHOCK The Damien Oliver Race 9 – #4 Ayrton (17) 6yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Mark Zahra (56.5kg) +1000 with BoomBet Flemington quaddie tips for VRC Derby Day 2023 Flemington quadrella selections Saturday, November 4, 2023 1-2-5-6-10-17-18 1-4-8 2-3-4-7-8-12-14 1-4-5-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

The Group 1 $1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) is shaping up as a tough race for the punters at Flemington on Saturday with a trio of mares battling for favouritism in the markets. Princess Grace is one of the best in 2023 Empire Rose Stakes betting for this weekend at Flemington. Photo: Steve Hart. Victoria Derby Day features a bumper all-Group race card headlined by three Group 1 events including the Empire Rose Stakes for the female gallopers run over a mile. Currently the Chris Waller-trained stablemates Atishu and Princess Grace are installed as the equal $6 favourites in Empire Rose Stakes betting at Ladbrokes. They are followed closely by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained $10 million import Alcohol Free who is hot on their tail at Empire Rose Stakes odds of $6.50. Princess Grace, due to jump from barrier 12, is the early market mover with early support to finally secure a well-deserved win this spring. The perennial place-getter has finished runner-up in three of her four starts this prep including Group 1 placings in the Winx Stakes and Memsie Stakes. She was fourth two back to Mr Brightside, who franked the form with a Cox Plate second last weekend, in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) before going down as the beaten odds-on favourite in the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) here on October 7. The American-bred seven-year-old is after atonement now back up to a mile at headquarters. Waller chases a third Empire Rose Stakes trophy following previous victories with Red Tracer (2013) and Shillelagh (2018). Along with Princess Grace he also saddles-up the aforementioned Atishu to be ridden by James McDonald and fellow Group 1 winner Hinged ($20). Alcohol Free meanwhile is drawn to get a charmed run from barrier five with New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson in town and taking the mount. The six-year-old is a four-time Group 1 winner overseas but remains a maiden down under for Yulong Investments who paid a record 5.4 million guineas ($10.8 million) for her at a Tattersalls sale last December. She hasn’t won since taking out the Group 1 July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket back in July last year. This weekend she is on the quick back-up off an improved run for fourth when under a length off Espiona in the $2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick last weekend. “She ran a sensational race (last weekend),” co-trainer Gai Waterhouse told Punters this week. “When you see her over a mile and 2000(m), she’ll come into her own. “Even though she won sprinting races in England at Group 1 level, it’s different. “Their six-furlong races are like mile races in Australia, the tracks are so testing.” A further two runners are also at single-figures for the win with the Kerry Parker-trained Hope In Your Heart ($8) drawn the rails who also has form around Mr Brightside from the autumn and the flying Wishlor Lass ($8.50) chasing a fourth win on the trot. Wishlor Lass comes off three straight wins including the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield and the Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) last weekend at The Valley with 59kg. She is rock hard fit now and will relish the drop back to 57kg. The Empire Rose Stakes is scheduled as the penultimate Derby Day event running as Flemington Race 8 at 5:00pm (AEDT). 2023 Empire Rose Stakes Field & Barriers No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 4913x0x404 ALCOHOL FREE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Opie Bosson 5 57kg 113 2 23x31x2242 PRINCESS GRACE (USA) Chris Waller Jamie Spencer 12 57kg 111 3 2x1442x368 HOPE IN YOUR HEART Kerry Parker Tim Clark 1 57kg 108 4 3x216Px520 ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller James McDonald 8 57kg 110 5 x26844x407 HINGED Chris Waller Blake Shinn 13 57kg 106 6 5x12116x03 FOXY FRIDA Andrew Noblet Billy Egan 6 57kg 103 7 9x6124x512 RENAISSANCE WOMAN (NZ) Bjorn Baker Harry Coffey 14 57kg 103 8 3102341742 BARBIE’S FOX Ben, Will & JD Hayes Mark Zahra 16 57kg 101 9 33112×3031 WROTE TO ARATAKI (NZ) Matthew Williams Dean Yendall 10 57kg 102 10 7x4298x626 PRIDE OF JENNI Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Declan Bates 17 57kg 101 11 15931×1736 DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) Michael Kent Ms Jamie Kah 7 57kg 97 12 112x74x421 LIFE LESSONS (NZ) Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Daniel Stackhouse 15 57kg 99 13 121146×852 SHUFFLE DANCER Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Luke Nolen 2 57kg 92 14 1115×4111 WISHLOR LASS Symon Wilde John Allen 11 57kg 103 15 12x614x125 AUSBRED FLIRT Brad Widdup Ms Rachel King 9 57kg 92 16 413x353x53 MORE SECRETS Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Damien Oliver 4 57kg 97 17e 15x27213x1 JENNILALA Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jamie Spencer 3 57kg 86 Table Credit: Racing Australia. The post Empire Rose Stakes 2023 Field & Odds Update: Top Three Hard to Split appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

The James Cummings-trained Cylinder is tipped to return to winning form when he steps out favourite in the Group 1 $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. Cylinder is favourite to win Saturday’s 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes in Melbourne for Godolphin. Photo: Steve Hart. The four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival gets underway this weekend with VRC Derby Day – a day for racing purists! All nine races on the card at Flemington hold Group status including a trio of elite level races including the Coolmore Stud Stakes which is a sprint down the famous ‘Straight Six’ for the three-year-old horses. Cummings took out the event last spring with classy filly In Secret and looks to have a genuine shot at back-to-back wins saddling-up this year’s favourite. Exceed And Excel colt Cylinder pays $4.50 in the latest Coolmore Stud Stakes odds at Ladbrokes despite a wide barrier 14 draw in the bumper 19-horse field. Tim Clark has the ride on the multiple Group winner who comes off some strong form lines. Two back he backed-up from his Group 2 Run To The Rose victory when third to Militarize a neck beaten in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) in Sydney. At his latest he ran only a length back fifth in Randwick’s $20 million The Everest (1200m) and should relish facing a field of his own age this weekend back down south according to Cummings. “Cylinder pulled up fantastic from The Everest and he just should be perfectly at his prime and ready to launch,” Cummings told SENTrack’s Giddy Up. “This will be a vital race for the horse’s whole career not just this preparation. “Everything this preparation leads us to this Coolmore.” Four other runners are currently at single-figures to win including the Chris Waller-trained Golden Slipper winner Shinzo ($7) drawn a treat in gate four. Jockey James McDonald, who is gearing up for the ride on defending champion Gold Trip in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup field, has ridden the past two Coolmore Stud Stakes winners and is after the hat-trick this weekend. Waller’s Snitzel colt is looking for his first win since beating Cylinder in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) during the autumn. He is looking to bounce back from two below par runs this prep running back-to-back ninths in the Golden Rose and The Everest and there is money for him to return to better form now. King’s Gambit is next best in the markets at $8 with the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained I Am Invincible colt coming off a confidence boosting Group 1 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) win by 1.68 lengths over the distance at Rosehill in early October. I Am Unstoppable ($16 into $9.50) is the early market mover, while Stretan Angel ($9.50) is the other best in betting having firmed in from double-figures over the past couple of days. Blake Shinn partners the Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans-trained I Am Unstoppable in the place of Zac Spain in the Group 1 with the horse coming off two good seconds at the track. Two back he was a half-length off Archo Nacho in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m), a race King’s Gambit finished third in. He was up in grade here last month in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) and just went down to the filly Stretan Angel with the two facing off in a rematch in Group 1 grade now. The Coolmore Stud Stakes is scheduled to run as Flemington Race 6 at 3:40pm (AEDT) on Saturday. 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes Field & Barriers No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 3211×99 SHINZO Chris Waller James McDonald 4 57kg 104 2 x1127x1135 CYLINDER James Cummings Tim Clark 14 57kg 107 3 42426×7833 DON CORLEONE Peter & Paul Snowden Opie Bosson 3 57kg 90 4 114×152 VEIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy Ms Jamie Kah 18 57kg 100 5 1x233x31 KING’S GAMBIT Peter & Paul Snowden Mark Zahra 2 57kg 92 6 111×113 STEPARTY Paul Preusker John Allen 1 57kg 98 7 1x037x01 ARKANSAW KID Ben, Will & JD Hayes Jye McNeil 16 57kg 86 8 2x3325x103 SNAPBACK Peter & Paul Snowden Ms Winona Costin 13 57kg 79 9 11×5547 SCHEELITE Ken & Kasey Keys Luke Nolen 11 57kg 77 10 11×322 I AM UNSTOPPABLE Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans Blake Shinn 12 57kg 85 11 11×13 OZZMOSIS Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 6 57kg 78 12 26x8x142 MEXICO Michael Freedman Jordan Childs 10 57kg 79 13 2108×344 BUTCH CASSIDY Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jamie Spencer 19 57kg 90 14 1226 MORAVIA Michael Freedman Damien Oliver 7 57kg 87 15 120×11 CELUI Brent Stanley Craig Newitt 5 57kg 74 16 26×130 NADAL Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 15 57kg 78 17 42×1116 TIZ INVINCIBLE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 9 55kg 92 18 21×21 STRETAN ANGEL Phillip Stokes Daniel Stackhouse 17 55kg 92 19 33331×8055 TREASURWAY Jason Warren Billy Egan 8 55kg 72 Table Credit: Racing Australia. The post Coolmore Classic 2023 Field & Betting Update: Cylinder Firm Favourite appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Illicit Dreams will contest the Juice Signs (1400m) at Ashburton on Sunday. Photo: Race Images South Trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams are hoping Illicit Dreams can get her Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) preparation back on track at Ashburton on Sunday in the Juice Signs (1400m). The daughter of Vancouver was eased down in the concluding stages of the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m), finishing last in the 10-horse field last start, with a post-race veterinary examination putting the performance down to dehydration. “We got her bloods done and she was quite dehydrated that day,” Williams said. “With all the severe winds that we had down here, we ended up with no power or water for three days, so we couldn’t bring them into the boxes. “She didn’t drink as much from the trough, she is quite fussy. Hopefully she has come right and will improve on what we saw last time.” Illicit Dreams has pulled through the run well and Williams has been pleased with her work in the lead-up to her weekend assignment. “She galloped well today (Thursday),” she said. “Jason Laking has been riding all of her gallops for me and he is happy with her. He knows her very well, he has been riding her right through.” Illicit Dreams has drawn barrier 11 and Williams is hoping the wide gate will help jockey Tegan Newman find cover to help settle the three-year-old filly. “She is just going too hard at the start and we would like to see her settle a bit more and show us we are heading in the right direction for the Guineas,” Williams said. “This race will tell us whether she carries onto that.” Williams will also line-up evergreen galloper The Buffer in the Agraforum Growing Innovation (1600m). He has once again been lumbered with 62kg, but will get some weight relief courtesy of apprentice jockey Danika Wilson’s four-kilogram claim. “Last start at Riccarton was a bit tougher for him,” Williams said of the gelding’s unplaced run in the Mile Trial (1400m). “It is a bit tricky now with the weight he carries and the fields he comes up against. This field is a bit weaker and hopefully the mile will be better for him. “We would like to get him back to the country meetings. I am not sure whether he will start over 2000m for Cup Week yet. We will just play it by ear as he has had a lot of racing already.” Williams’ team will be rounded out by Proisir filly Zlatna in the Gary McCormick Transport (1600m). “She is a progressive type. She needs more ground and is still quite immature and green,” Williams said. “Jasmine (Fawcett, jockey) seems to like her and thinks she has got ability. We are just trying to get a win with her and get her up over more ground.” More racing news View the full article

Zambezi Khan will contest the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) An ambitious long-range plan will be put to the test at Flemington on Saturday. Bargain buy Zambezi Khan was set for the Melbourne spring carnival months ago and her lead-up form will now see the daughter of Mongolian Khan take on Australia’s best fillies. She will step out in Saturday’s Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and, all going well, the Guy Lowry-trained representative will return to Flemington next Thursday for the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m). “It’s been the plan since January to have her there, it’s been the goal since she ran fifth in the Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1100m),” Lowry said. “We put her out for a break then and brought her back to prepare her for Melbourne in the spring. She’s such a big, scopey filly and showed a good enough turn of foot to suggest she was good enough to go over there.” Zambezi Khan had won on debut at Tauherenikau before the Wellesley and returned to finish fifth at Taupo in August before crossing the Tasman. “She had a really good grounding before she went. She was a little bit on edge at Taupo and probably ridden a bit too handy, but we’ve never altered the preparation, it’s all been about the Wakeful and the Oaks.” Zambezi Khan was unplaced over 1200m at Seymour in her Australian debut before she won over 1550m at Mornington and backed that up with a solid last second over 1880m at Kyneton and will again be ridden by Billy Egan. “It’s been a pretty good path for her and it looks like the further she goes the better she will be,” Lowry said. The filly is a daughter of the Makfi mare Zafiki, who was successful up to 1800m and is a daughter of the Zabeel mare Zingo who claimed an edition the Listed Rain Lover Plate (2600m). Zambezi Khan was bred by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry and purchased via the Gavelhouse platform by part-owner Mark Evans for $5,000. “This is the first horse I’ve had for them, but when I built a house about 15 years ago, Mark did the timber flooring and that’s how we met and he sent me this filly,” Lowry said. He was also thrilled to see his former charge Jimmysstar strike at the first time of asking in Australia at Bendigo on Wednesday. Lowry prepared the son of Per Incanto to win two of his three starts before he was purchased by clients of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s stable. “He won well and he is a very good horse, Grid Girl has also been sold and she’s over there now with the Hayes boys,” Lowry said. The daughter of Time Test placed in both of her starts before her relocating to Lindsay Park. Meanwhile, Lowry will also be keeping a close eye on Saturday on Trentham where he has The Stoney One and Candle in the Manawatu ITM Handicap (1200m) and Epairama in the intowin.co.nz Join A Syndicate Handicap (1400m). “All three are going really well and I’m sure they will all be competitive, I couldn’t split any of them,” Lowry said. More racing news View the full article

Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) contender Luberon. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The connections of Classic contender Luberon can breathe easy again after the gifted filly produced a flawless trial performance on the synthetic track at Cambridge on Thursday. Trained by Lance Noble for breeders Cambridge Stud, the daughter of Embellish’s final race day outing ahead of the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) turned into a nightmare at Pukekohe last Saturday. Luberon started favourite in the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and looked to be travelling easily in the straight before she veered out sharply under visiting Melbourne apprentice Celine Gaudray and hit the outside fence. The filly finished at the tail of the field, but came through relatively unscathed and was ordered to trial to the satisfaction of the stewards, which she accomplished with her runner-up finish in an open 1300m heat on Thursday. “It was a relief and she went really well. It wasn’t ideal bringing her back to the trials four days after something like that, but she jumped out and we rode her quietly, with plenty of horses to follow,” Noble said. “She came out and came around the corner perfectly and Warren (Kennedy) gave her a slap down the shoulder and she quickened up and went nice and straight.” Luberon’s effort confirmed her passage south for the Guineas at Riccarton on November 18. “It’s all systems go now, she’s done everything right and the stewards have cleared her. I’ll be able to sleep again,” Noble said. Prior to the Soliloquy, Luberon had won at Te Rapa and Matamata in her first two outings for the season and is currently the equal second favourite with Mary Shan at +600 for the Guineas behind the +350 market leader Molly Boom. Luberon’s well-performed stablemate Polygon also stepped out in the same trial at Cambridge and after a tardy start, made ground to finish midfield. “She’s had a gap between runs and has never really performed on the synthetic so she will run over a mile at Te Rapa, a track where she’s unbeaten, next week,” Noble said. Polygon won three times last season, including successes in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m). More racing news View the full article

Semper Magico will contest the Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan is hoping a change of tactics will see Semper Magico return to the winner’s circle at Trentham on Saturday when the in-form galloper contests the Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m). The consistent eight-year-old is having his best campaign to date, having recorded four wins and two minor placings from his last six starts, most recently finishing third in the Staphanos Classic (2100m) at Trentham a fortnight ago. “We were pretty happy with the run, he raced pretty handy and he was reasonably strong at the finish,” Oulaghan said. “But we possibly learnt a thing or two about racing at Wellington with him, and we might ride him slightly differently on Saturday. “A soft track would suit him but he’s pretty versatile on anything really, he handled it at Waverley when it wasn’t too bad that day and then Hawke’s Bay in the heavy.” Comignaghi has made several recent raceday appearances in the Central Districts and will partner with Semper Magico again when she returns to Trentham on Saturday. “After her ride the other day she knows the horse now, so we’ll be more confident in that respect this weekend,” Oulaghan said. Semper Magico’s superior form has resulted in an extended preparation, however, Oulaghan is mindful that a spell is nearing for the gelding. “We haven’t done a lot with him since Wellington, he had a gallop here (Awapuni) on Saturday morning and a quiet gallop yesterday, so we’ll probably just work him and swim him a bit,” he said. “He’s at the stage where he doesn’t need a lot of work, so we’re just ticking him over. “He raced through the winter in sprint races so it’s a pretty big ask for him to race and then continue right through so we’re going to have to back off him at some stage, whether it’s after this race or after one more I’m not sure. “We’re just going off how he’s performing.” Seven-year-old Super Flash will be another Oulaghan-bred, part-owned and trained runner at the Trentham meeting when he contests the Ratanui Development Company 2100. The son of Super Easy has mixed hurdling assignments with flat racing this campaign and will jump from a wide draw of 14 when guided by Lisa Allpress on Saturday. “To be quite honest, he wants it wet and when we looked at the long-range forecast before nominating him it was meant to be raining down there Friday and Saturday, but I think that’s changed a wee bit now,” Oulaghan said. “It’s probably got to be soft to heavy for him, and if we got those conditions I think he’d be a show.” More racing news View the full article

What Golden Eagle Day 2023 Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 When Saturday, November 4, 2023 First Race 12:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble This Saturday is one of the biggest days on the racing calendar. It’s Golden Eagle (1500m) Day as the four-year-olds take centre stage at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. The quality racing doesn’t end there, with a stacked 10-race program to support the feature event, including the Giga Kick Stakes (1300m) as we get an Everest rematch between Think About It and Private Eye. The rail is in the true position for the meeting, and although the surface is currently rated a Good 4 at the time of writing, rainfall is predicted for race day, so we’re expecting conditions to downgrade into the Soft range. 2023 Golden Eagle Day is set to get underway at 12:10pm AEDT. Keep reading for our free race-by-race preview and quaddie selections Race 1: Class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m) Bandi’s Boy smashed his rivals in Highway company last Saturday at Randwick and we’re happy to stick with him on the one-week back up. He stormed over the top to score by a length on the wire and gets a 3kg penalty for that victory heading to Rosehill. Hannah Williams takes the reins this time, with the apprentice offsetting that with a 3kg claim. We trust Danny Williams has his gelding firing and can make it back-to-back wins. Selections: 2 BANDI’S BOY 1 DOLLAR MAGIC 6 TRIBECA STAR 4 LISZTOMANIA Race 2: BM78 Handicap (1500m) Nails Murphy gave a terrific account of himself on Australian debut at Randwick on October 14, with the son of Sioux Nation powered into a third-place finish. He showed enough to suggest the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained three-year-old is worth following second-up in the campaign and should relish the extra 100m on Saturday. Ben Melham hops aboard from barrier four, and with the box seat from the one-one a major possibility, Nails Murphy will prove hard to beat. Selections: 4 NAILS MURPHY 3 I’MINTOWIN 1 PEACE OFFICER 5 FALL FOR CINDY Race 3: BM78 Handicap (1900m) Mountain Guest gets the nod in the third event of the afternoon as she comes back in grade after a strong performance in the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. She was a massive price with online bookmakers on that occasion but managed to outrun her quote to finish 2.7 lengths away. Stepping up to the 1900m is much more ideal for the daughter of Tarzino and with BM78 company a manageable assignment, Mountain Guest could be finishing best. Selections: 8 MOUNTAIN GUEST 1 CABOCHE 5 QUEENMAKER 4 PESHMERGA Race 4: Fillies & Mares BM78 Handicap (1200m) Shohei is one of the better bets on the Rosehill program as she gets set to return from a 217-day spell. She challenged some quality opposition towards the end of her four-year-old campaign, just being nosed out in the Bendigo Gold Bracelet on April 1. The daughter of Mikki Isle seems to be travelling beautifully for the Hawkes team, with two outstanding barrier trials heading into race-day. Jay Ford gets the appointment for Saturday, and if Shohei runs up to her work at home, it should be easy work for the experienced hoop. Selections: 2 SHOHEI 8 CHOLANTE 1 MISS HELLFIRE 9 LEANDRA Best Bet Race 4 – #2 Shohei (7) 5yo Mare | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Jay Ford (57.5kg) +130 with PendleburyBet Race 5: BM78 Handicap (1300m) Overriding was impressive first-up behind a quality line up at Randwick on October 21. The Nathan Doyle-trained mare ran into Kazou and Commerative who look like progressive types. We are trusting that’s the correct form for a race like this as Overriding showed her scintillating turn-of-foot in a moderately run affair. This appears to be a weaker race on paper, and we’re confident if the four-year-old is ridden to hold a spot by Koby Jennings, Overriding will be too classy. Selections: 5 OVERRIDING 1 ROBUSTO 3 ZOE’S PROMISE 6 FLOATING Race 6: Four Pillars Midway (1500m) There’s a massive 20-horse field engaged for the $500,000 Four Pillars Midway (1500m) and is comfortably the most wide-open race on the card. The darts have been thrown and we’ve landed with Epicus on top with moderate confidence. He’s third-up into the preparation after two luckless efforts, with his latest at Randwick on October 21 catching the eye. He was chopped out at a crucial stage by Peace Officer who went on to score by 3.5 lengths on our selection; however, clearly should’ve been much closer with even luck. He’s drawn the carpark in barrier 18 this time, but at least Epicus can stay out of trouble and can expect to be in the finish when the whips are cracking. Selections: 12 EPICUS 19 MODERN MILLIE 10 BACKROWER 13 SATNESS Race 7: Giga Kick Stakes (1300m) Registered as the Winners Stakes, The Giga Kick Stakes is named in honour of the previous year’s Everest winner. There’s $3 million on the line as 2023 Everest rivals Think About It and Private Eye go head-to-head again. We want to make the case for Cascadian on the each-way basis, however, as the three-time Group 1 winner makes his return from a 203-day spell. His profile is better than the market might imply, with his first-up form reading (10:2-1-3), and if the rain does hit Rosehill, his chances will only be bolstered with a record of (23:7-2-4) on wet decks. He’s a well-raced eight-year-old now for the James Cummings barn, and at the price, we’ll take on the favoured pair. Selections: 2 CASCADIAN 1 THINK ABOUT IT 4 PRIVATE EYE 6 BELLA NIPOTINA Giga Kick Stakes Race 7 – #2 Cascadian (1) 8yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Ben Melham (58.5kg) +750 with Betfair Race 8: Golden Eagle (1500m) The $10 million Golden Eagle is the headline act this Saturday as the four-year-olds take centre stage at Rosehill. Hawaii Five Oh has been the big firmer with online betting sites and could jump favourite at $4.00. Amelia’s Jewel has been a slight drifter out to $4.20, while Legarto ($8.00) and Obamburumai ($11.00) have had steady support throughout betting. It’s a wide-open affair with chances scattered all over the page in the 2023 Golden Eagle. Click here for our full betting preview & $100 betting strategy for the Golden Eagle (1500m) Race 9: Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) Canberra Legend is a firm favourite for the $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) and it’s easy to see why. The James Ferguson-trained galloper brings elite European form to Australia, with his minor placing behind Desert Hero in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes jumping off the page. He was then well-beaten in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on August 23, unable to match motors with Continuous on a testing track. European imports generally perform well in their first run off the float, and we think that trend continues with Canberra Legend. Selections: 6 CANBERRA LEGEND 1 NO COMPROMISE 9 STROKE OF LUCK 2 DIAMIL Next Best Race 9 – #6 Canberra Legend (10) 3yo Horse | T: James Ferguson | J: Kerrin McEvoy (53kg) +160 with Dabble Race 10: BM78 Handicap (1100m) With Your Blessing can send punters home happy in the final race of the program after an excellent return at Randwick on October 21. He chased gamely after being headed by Dashing Legend and had every right to knock up in the closing stages. He never shirked the task, however, holding a second-place finish one-length away. There’s speed to burn in this final event, so we’ll be hoping Joshua Parr takes With Your Blessings back for cover, getting the last crack at his rivals in the shadows of the post. Selections: 5 WITH YOUR BLESSING 9 JEDIBEEL 3 WAY TO THE STARS 2 TRISTATE Best Value Race 10 – #5 With Your Blessing (10) 5yo Gelding | T: John Thompson | J: Joshua Parr (59.5kg) +850 with Neds Rosehill quaddie tips for Golden Eagle Day 2023 Randwick quadrella selections Saturday, November 4, 2023 1-2-4 1-5-12-16-18 1-2-6-9 2-3-5-9 | 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, November 4, 2023 First Race 12:24pm AWST Visit Dabble Ascot Racecourse will host a massive day of racing this Saturday afternoon, with the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes and Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes headlining a nine-race card. Hot and dry weather is forecast for Friday and Saturday, so we expect the track to remain in the Good range for the whole program. The rail will be in the +7m position for the entire circuit, which should favour leaders and on-speed runners over the shorter races. Asian Beau Stakes Tip: Alsephina Grant & Alana Williams’ lightly raced mare will be seeking her 10th win from 12 starts. This five-year-old has won her last six starts, with her most recent win coming in the Group 3 La Trice Classic in January. This daughter of Star Turn has been given three trials to get ready for this fresh run, and after winning her last over 1450m, she appears ready to go. William Pike will be in the saddle again, and if he can find the one-one from barrier four, Alsephina should be able to extend her win streak to seven. Asian Beau Stakes Race 8 – #7 Alsephina (2) 5yo Mare | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (54kg) +175 with Betfair Prince Of Wales Stakes Tip: My Bella Mae My Bella Mae flew home in the RS Crawford Stakes to finish second behind Red Can Man, whom she will meet again on Saturday but with a 3.5kg weight swing in her favour. Patrick Carbery settled this mare too far back last time, and the leaders got away with a cheap time out in front, which didn’t benefit her. On Saturday, there looks to be an abundance of speed, which should allow this girl to settle midfield and run on strongly. With a similar run and more pressure up front, My Bella Mae should go very close again. Prince Of Wales Stakes Race 7 – #9 My Bella Mae (9) 4yo Mare | T: Dion Luciani | J: Patrick Carbery (56.5kg) +300 with PendleburyBet Best Bet at Ascot: Malkar Pindari Malkar Pindari had strung two wins together before her runner-up finish behind Laquetta’s Gift at this track on October 21. The Simon Miller-trained galloper settled towards the back of the field and let down with a blistering turn of foot but couldn’t grab the leader before the winning post. On Saturday, this daughter of Gingerbread Man has drawn barrier three and has a 1.5kg weight swing on Laquetta’s Gift, so we expect her to settle closer to the speed. If Chris Parnham can have this girl within three lengths of the leaders at the top of the home straight, she will be very hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 2 – #6 Malkar Pindari (3) 4yo Mare | T: Simon Miller | J: Chris Parnham (57kg) +140 with Neds Next Best at Ascot: Metallon Grant & Alana Williams and William Pike will link up again with Metallon, who is returning from a seven-month spell. This five-year-old gelding is undefeated first-up during his career, and he will be seeking his fourth win when fresh and his fourth win from five starts at the track and trip. The son of Oratorio has drawn well in barrier five, and Pike should be able to settle him outside the likely leader, Puli. If Pike can keep his mount in a rhythm around the final corner and release the brakes at the 300m mark, Metallon will prove difficult to run down. Next Best Race 5 – #9 Metallon (5) 5yo Gelding | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (55.5kg) +360 with Boombet Best Value at Ascot: Scenic Eclipse Scenic Eclipse led from start to finish at this track and trip on October 14 when defeating Triple Jay, who came out and smashed a similar field last Saturday. This daughter of Mahuta loves to find the front and run the race to suit herself before giving a big kick at the top of the home straight, much like her most recent win. From barrier one, Scenic Eclipse should be able to hold the rail and lead the field at her own tempo before kicking clear at the 300m mark to give her rivals something to chase. Best Value Race 4 – #5 Scenic Eclipse (1) 5yo Mare | T: Liz Strempel | J: Victoria Corver (a2) (57.5kg) +1100 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Ascot races Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, November 4, 2023 4-5-7-11 1-2-9 4-7 2-3-5-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What 2023 Golden Eagle Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 When Saturday, November 4, 2023 Prizemoney $10,000,000 Distance 1500m Conditions Set Weights 2022 Winner I Wish I Win (5) | T: Peter Moody | J: Luke Nolen (57.5kg) Visit Dabble It’s a capacity 20-horse field set to line up in the 2023 Golden Eagle (1500m) as the four-year-olds take centre stage at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday. There’s $10 million up for grabs as form-lines converge from all across Australia and around the world, with representatives from New Zealand, Japan and Europe all attempting to etch their names in racing history. Some seven of the 20 horses engaged have succeeded at Group 1 level in the past. History tells us in all four editions of the Golden Eagle so far, the winner has either won or finished behind the winner in those two races before going on to win this event. GOLDEN EAGLE 2023 ODDS Despite a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) last start, online bookmakers haven’t hesitated installing Amelia’s Jewel a +300 favourite post-barrier draw for the 2023 Golden Eagle. Hawaii Five Oh is already a market mover into +350 on the second line of betting after a mid-field finish in The Everest (1200m). Legarto is back in Australia for the first time since securing victory in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and is being respected at the +700 quote, while Kovalica rounds out the horses in single digits at +800 looking to build on his performance in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m). Japanese challenger Obamburumai (+1000) and Godolphin gelding Pericles (+1200) are the best supported at bigger odds. GOLDEN EAGLE 2023 SPEED MAP The James Cummings-trained pair have the option to lead, with Pericles drawing barrier one and Golden Mile drawn out in 18 looking to cross under Zac Lloyd. Rediener sat close in a slowly run Epsom and will do the same again drawn in gate three. Hawaii Five Oh (4) can find a forward position, while Amelia’s Jewel (5) and Legarto (6) can slot in better than mid-field. We expect Obamburumai (2) to hold his spot from the inside. Kovalica (16) has no choice but to drag back toward the rear from the awkward stall along with Ruthless Dame (20). GOLDEN EAGLE 2023 FORM & BETTING PREVIEW We can’t get away from the price of Legarto with online betting sites, as the Ken & Bev Kelso-trained mare returns to Australia. She’s building an impeccable resume, with seven wins in nine career starts – including a Group 1 win across the ditch and here in Australia. She kicked-off her campaign with a third-place finish in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) before demolishing her rivals in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m). She gets an economical run from barrier six under Michael Dee, and if we’re racing on a Soft track on Saturday, Legarto will relish the conditions. Hawaii Five Oh is the main danger. His effort in The Everest was sensational against the best weight-for-age sprinters Australia has to offer and should only improve getting to a more suitable trip. Nash Rawiller returns from suspension to take the reins and will undoubtedly be fighting out the finishing. The Japanese raider Obamburumai warrants respect and has looked excellent since getting off the float. His trackwork for the Keiji Yoshimura barn has been noteworthy, and while his form doesn’t jump off the page, his times and sectionals do. He could be the blowout chance – particularly if the weather stays clear of Rosehill. You can make a case for many others – including Amelia’s Jewel, Kovalica and Osipenko in what’s sure to be a mouthwatering edition of the Golden Eagle. GOLDEN EAGLE 2023 SELECTIONS & BEST BETS Selections: 18 LEGARTO 1 HAWAII FIVE OH 12 OBAMBURUMAI 16 AMELIA’S JEWEL $100 betting strategy $100 win #18 Legarto @ +700 with Bet365 More horse racing tips View the full article

Talented young jockey Zac Lloyd has been given the ride on UK raider Valiant King in next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. View the full article

The Melbourne Cup — the race that stops the nation — is here again with a field of 24 local and international horses racing over 3200m for a whopping $8 million in prizemoney. View the full article

What Eagle Farm Races Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot, QLD 4007 When Saturday, November 4, 2023 First Race 12:30pm AEST Visit Dabble The Brisbane Racing Club will host a very competitive nine-race card at Eagle Farm Racecourse this Saturday afternoon. The track is rated a Good 4, and with no rain on the forecast and warm weather expected on Friday and Saturday, expect the track to stay in perfect condition for the whole program. The rail will be in the +5m position for the entire circuit, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 12:30pm AEST. Best Bet at Eagle Farm: Ekaterina Ekaterina was underwhelming first-up; however, she returned to form with a close win over 1200m at this track on October 14, keeping her unbeaten second-up record intact. After settling midfield from barrier one, this daughter of Russian Revolution had to wait for a gap to appear at the top of the straight, and when it did, she exploded with a blistering turn of foot. The extra 200m on Saturday will suit, and if she savages the line like she did last start, Ekaterina should be notching her eighth career win. Best Bet Race 8 – #8 Ekaterina (7) 4yo Mare | T: Robert Heathcote | J: Martin Harley (57kg) +100 with Betfair Next Best at Eagle Farm: Bonded Affair The Stuart Kendrick-trained Bonded Affair broke his maiden at the third time of asking last start, running away from his rivals at Ipswich over 1350m to record a three-length victory on October 18. This son of Nicconi has never finished outside the top two in his three career starts, and now that he has broken his maiden, he can go on with it. Although he has drawn the widest barrier (8), Ben Thompson should be able to cross and settle outside the leader or in the one-one position behind the leading duo. If all goes according to plan, Bonded Affair will prove very hard to hold out. Next Best Race 4 – #3 Bonded Affair (8) 3yo Gelding | T: Stuart Kendrick | J: Ben Thompson (57kg) +300 with Boombet Best Value at Eagle Farm: Already A Star Returning for his second preparation, Already A Star has gained a start in the first leg of the quaddie as the seventh emergency. The Natalie McCall-trained galloper was last seen at the trials on October 17 at the Sunshine Coast, where he settled second-last, made up a stack of ground on the tearaway leader, and worked home nicely under no riding to finish second over 850m. This son of Better Than Ready hasn’t finished outside the top four in his three starts to date, and with a light weight in this race, he should perform well fresh. With a patient ride from Damien Thornton, Already A Star will be rattling home down the outside late at nice odds. Best Value Race 6 – #21 Already A Star (15) 4yo Gelding | T: Natalie McCall | J: Damien Thornton (54.5kg) +1100 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Eagle Farm races Eagle Farm quadrella selections Saturday, November 4, 2023 6-8-9-13-21 4-6-7 7-8 1-3-7-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Morphettville Races Where Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville, SA 5043 When Saturday, November 4, 2023 First Race 11:32am ACDT Visit Dabble Feature racing returns to Morphettville on Saturday afternoon, with the Listed John Letts Cup (1800m) headlining a stacked 10-race meeting. Perfect spring conditions are set to greet punters, while the track rated a Good 4 and the rail is out 6m the entire circuit. The action from the ‘City of Churches’ is set to commence at 11:32am ACDT. John Letts Cup Tip: Arran Bay Arran Bay brings some excellent form lines to the Listed John Letts Cup. He chased home Future History and Young Werther at Moonee Valley; went down by 1.5 lengths to Brayden Star, who was beaten by a lip in Wednesday’s Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m); and was outclassed in the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield. While he has only five wins from 23 starts and needs things to be just-so on the day, the step back to 1800m in Listed company looks ideal. If Lachlan Neindorf can find the one-one from barrier nine, Arran Bay should prove too strong for a weak field like this. John Letts Cup Race 9 – #4 Arran Bay (9) 5yo Gelding | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Lachlan Neindorf (56kg) +400 with Picklebet Best Bet at Morphettville: Deepfloat Diva Deepfloat Diva has two wins from two starts to begin his career. The three-year-old gelding wore down Wiggum at the Morphettville 1100m on October 21, and on his return to the track and trip, he looks to be too good once again. He draws perfectly in barrier one, from where Jake Toeroek can stalk the speed throughout. The son of Deep Field needs a touch of luck in the home straight, but if Deepfloat Diva is anywhere near his best, he can put this race away in a couple of strides. Best Bet Race 2 – #2 Deepfloat Diva (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Richard & Chantelle Jolly | J: Jake Toeroek (58.5kg) +150 with PendleburyBet Next Best at Morphettville: Jenkins The Phillip Stokes-trained Jenkins has grown another leg since coming to Adelaide this campaign. He blew the cobwebs out over 1200m first-up before finishing too strongly for his rivals at 1400m and then again at 1600m. Despite dropping back to 1522m on Saturday, this race is no harder than what he has been competing in. The eight-year-old gelding draws perfectly in barrier five, and with Hannah Edgley sticking on board and claiming 3kg, the pair look set to gain every advantage. He will settle in the second half of the field, but with a well-timed sprint, Jenkins can finish over the top of his rivals once again. Next Best Race 8 – #1 Jenkins (5) 8yo Gelding | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Hannah Edgley (a3) (62kg) +700 with Betfair Best Value at Morphettville: Celsius Star Celsius Star returned with an impressive effort in BM82 company, so the step back to BM72 company looks ideal second-up. The five-year-old gelding has a win and a second to his name, and he can build on that record on Saturday. With plenty of speed drawn underneath him, he can take a sit off what looks to be hot speed over the 1050m. With Hannah Edgley’s 3kg claim, he gets in perfectly with 59kg on his back. With even luck, Celsius Star can finish over the top of odds-on favourite Sghirripa and cause a minor upset. Best Value Race 5 – #1 Celsius Star (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Hannah Edgley (a3) (62kg) +750 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Morphettville Morphettville quadrella selections Saturday, November 4, 2023 1-2-5-6-7-9 1-10 3-4-5-8-10-11 2-4-5-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

George Krikorian has been around the game of racing for a long time and has owned a lot of good horses. But a win in the Breeders' Cup has eluded him. He's 0-for-11. But he has two strong candidates this year in Just FYI (Justify) in the GI Juvenile Fillies and War Like Goddess (English Channel) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, where she will tackle males for the second straight year. Will this be Krikorian's year? Those were among the questions our team asked Krikorian on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Green Group Guest of the Week. “I'm pretty excited to be here and to have this opportunity and with two horses,” he said. “This is the first time that's happened for me. So it's going to be a pretty special weekend.” In War Like Goddess, Krikorian owns one of the biggest over achievers in the sport. She sold for $1,200 as a weanling before RNA'ing for $1,000 at Keeneland September 2018. She showed up next at the 2019 OBS June Sale, where bloodstock agent Donato Lanni convinced Krikorian to take a shot on the filly. He bought her for $30,000. All she's done since is earn $2,495,184 and win eight stakes, including three Grade I's. “You have to give kudos to Donato Lanni because he called me one day and said, 'I've seen this horse and she should not be in this sale and she's going to be overlooked,'” Krikorian said. 'He said, I see in the future that she could be a very special horse.' I told him that I knew that he didn't mind taking the time it takes for a horse to develop. And so that's exactly what we did. We took our time. Just as he predicted, she turned out to be an incredible horse.” George Krikorian Joins the TDN Writers' Room from Thoroughbred Daily News on Vimeo. Just FYI is 2-for-2 and coming off a win in the GI Frizette. Despite her strong credentials, this might be a tough spot for her and only because she'll have to take on Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), considered by many to be the most likely winner of any Breeders' Cup race. “I know that Tamara is going to be a tough, tough horse,” Krikorian said. “The bottom line is you're challenged by any horse that's in a race like this. I think that Just FYI has shown to be a incredibly talented horse and I think that she's going to be a very tough competitor in that race.” Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm, XBTV.com and 1/ST Racing, the team of Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss went through all the Breeders' Cup races, offering their insights and handicapping opinions. Both Moss and Finley loved longshot Roses for Debra (Liam's Map) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Moss had a less positive take on the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, calling this one of the weakest Classic fields ever assembled. Yet, everyone agreed that this might be the best field ever assembled for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Moss also made a compelling case why Elite Power (Curlin) should turn the tables on Gunite (Gun Runner) in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. To watch the podcast as a video, click here. For the audio version, click here. The post George Krikorian Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Breeders’ Cup Preview Show appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of Santa Anita's regular stewards, Luis Jauregui, has recused himself for the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) and will be replaced by safety steward David Nuesch, CHRB executive director Scott Chaney said Nov. 1.View the full article

GI Haskell S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}–Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo), who was pulled up with an open condylar fracture earlier this week in routine morning work at Santa Anita, was euthanized Wednesday afternoon. He had undergone successful surgery Sunday evening, but did not recover as well as hoped, said owner Pin Oak Stud in a Monday update. Pin Oak gave a final update on X, formerly known as Twitter, late Wednesday, saying “Our hearts are broken but Geaux Rocket Ride is at peace. We will miss you forever, Rocket.” Pin Oak's official statement said: “It is with very heavy hearts that we report that, at the recommendation of the medical team, Geaux Rocket Ride has finally reached peace. His mind and his spirit never quit, but his body never recovered from surgery. He had a very rare response post-op and he wasn't able to stand up again. He fought hard and our team of vets tried everything they could. “We are grateful for Dr. Bramlage, Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Slovis, Dr. Klohnen and all of the other doctors and medical staff who helped Rocket. We are appreciative of all of the support that we've received from everyone. We made sure he knew how loved he was. Geaux Rocket Ride was the first member of our Pin Oak family and he will never be forgotten. We will miss you forever, Rocket.” Our hearts are broken but Geaux Rocket Ride is at peace. We will miss you forever, Rocket pic.twitter.com/RINqzRcoEw — Pin Oak Stud (@PinOakStud) November 1, 2023 Bred by OXO Equine LLC in Kentucky, Geaux Rocket Ride was a $350,000 purchase on behalf of the Pin Oak team at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale in 2021. Sent to Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, he burst onto the scene this January with a 5 3/4-length maiden special weight win at Santa Anita. After winning the Affirmed S. in June, he shipped across the country to Monmouth Park and won the GI TVG.com Haskell S. He also placed in both the GI Fanduel Racing Pacific Classic and the GII San Felipe S. His final record was 5-3-2-0 with earnings of $980,200. The Breeders' Cup also released a statement late Wednesday, saying: “The immense effort that went into Geaux Rocket Ride's medical care following Saturday's injury is a testament to his team's deep commitment to his wellbeing. Our thoughts are with Pin Oak Stud LLC, Richard Mandella, and everyone affected by his loss.” The post Geaux Rocket Ride Succumbs to Injuries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup undercard begins with the $250,000 1 5/8-mile Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2), for 3-year-olds and up over the Santa Anita main track.View the full article

In a Nov. 1 press conference outlining safety and integrity protocols ahead of this year's Breeders' Cup Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park, officials noted the advantages of collecting important statistical information.View the full article

It's easy to understand why someone might overlook Meikei Yell in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park. But Meikei Yell is as wild of a wild card as there gets. View the full article

The bond jockey Mike Smith has with the brilliant 2-year-old filly Tamara extends beyond the two times he has ridden her in a race. View the full article