Wandering Eyes

The six 2024/25 Irish National Hunt season champions were confirmed at Punchestown on Saturday afternoon. JP McManus was named the champion owner for the 22nd time, and he said, “To be crowned champion owner is a huge honour for my family and me. Huge thanks to all the trainers, jockeys and stable staff and all who play a huge part in our success.” Other season-end leaders were: Willie Mullins, who was winning the champion trainer title for the 19th time; Mullins's son Patrick, who earned his 17th champion amateur title; seven-time champion jockey Paul Townend; champion female amateur Jody Townend; and champion conditional jockey Tiernan Power Roche. “I thought we could never top last season but this season has been the stuff of dreams,” said the elder Mullins. “Patrick winning the Randox Grand National was a very special moment for Jackie and me which will be hard to top. We have tremendous owners and none of our success would be possible without their support nor our hugely dedicated team who leave no stone unturned when it comes to the care of our horses, so a huge thanks has to go to them.” The post Irish Jumps Champions Crowned At Punchestown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

Trainer Brad Cox is amazed that Good Cheer has managed to stay unbeaten through seven career starts after her victory in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. Despite the growing target, the trainer said he's not feeling any pressure yet.View the full article

Thorpedo Anna, last of seven in the May 2 La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs, will be x-rayed and examined by renowned Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage, trainer Kenny McPeek posted May 3 on social media.View the full article

Patrons arriving at Churchill Downs for the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) did so with ponchos in tow along with their betting acumen as steady rain soaked the Louisville area throughout the morning hours.View the full article

Although Kentucky Derby (G1) morning loomed cold and rainy May 3, the dreary weather couldn't dampen the spirits in trainer Brad Cox's barn the day after Good Cheer's dominating victory in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).View the full article

Trainer Whit Beckman speaks about Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Drexel Hill the morning after the race. He also shares his thoughts on Simply Joking's Oaks trip and how he expects a wet track to benefit Flying Mohawk in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1).View the full article

The Florida Legislature concluded policy discussions for the 2025 regular legislative session, effectively killing the proposed decoupling provisions of SB 408, HB 105, and HB 1467, all of which the Senate declined to approve for final passage.View the full article

Kentucky-bred Ruling Court, a son of Justify, continued Godolphin's brilliant recent record in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) May 3 with victory for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.View the full article

One of several speed types among the nine horses that entered the gate for Saturday's GII Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs, MACHO MUSIC (c, 3, Maclean's Music–Southern Girl, by Tapit) proved the quickest of the quick, leading virtually every step of the way to score at odds of 13-1. Exiting an 11 1/4-length tour-de-force from the front in the state-bred restricted Sophomore Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Mar. 30, the $50,000 Keeneland September yearling and $60,000 OBS March juvenile headed off his rivals leaving the chute and was moving right along through an opening quarter in :22.43 as market leaders Madaket Road (Quality Road) and Gaming (Game Winner) tried to keep pace. Past the half-mile in a lively :44.93, Macho Music was still going great guns on the engine and was looking increasingly tough to reel in, with nothing coming from the back. Madaket Road and Gaming continued to plug away in the final couple of furlongs, but Macho Music never game them a chance, reporting home a two-length winner. Madaket Road got the better of stablemate Gaming to complete the exacta. Macho Music puts on a show in the G2 Pat Day Mile presented by SAP! Javier Castellano was aboard the Rohan Crichton trainee. pic.twitter.com/LmbIw9Ppg1 — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025 Saturday, Churchill Downs PAT DAY MILE S. PRESENTED BY SAP-GII, $539,500, Churchill Downs, 5-3, 3yo, 1m, 1:35.65, sy. 1–MACHO MUSIC, 118, c, 3, by Maclean's Music 1st Dam: Southern Girl (SW, $120,905), by Tapit 2nd Dam: Ponche de Leona, by Ponche 3rd Dam: Perfect and Proud, by Nonparrell 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($50,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $60,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Mark Fletcher Taylor, Rohan Crichton, and Daniel L. Walters; B-Bridlewood Farm (FL); T-Rohan Crichton; J-Javier Castellano. $297,600. Lifetime Record: 8-4-2-0, $501,857. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Madaket Road, 118, c, 3, Quality Road–Frolic's Dream, by Smoke Glacken. ($650,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $116,000. 3–Gaming, 122, c, 3, Game Winner–So Stylish, by Johannesburg. ($40,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman; B-Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $58,000. Margins: 3 1/4, NK, 5HF. Odds: 13.93, 2.64, 3.72. Also Ran: Gate to Wire, Perfect Force, Smoken Wicked, Innovator, California Burrito, Built. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Maclean’s Music’s Macho Music Steals Away In the Pat Day Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — “Well that was good timing,” said a beaming Freddy Powell, a man with a sale to sell next week. The work had just been done for him. Ruling Court was known only as Oak Tree Farm's Justify colt at this time last year – a colt that would soon top the Arqana Breeze-up Sale at €2.3 million. Next year, he will be the sale catalogue's cover star. Big prices, however, are not always a guarantee of big results, but this horse had on his side the fact that he had been prepared for the sale by a man known to a certain generation as one of the finest jump jockeys of his era. Norman Williamson's skills have been transferred so smoothly to this sphere – it really just comes down to horsemanship – and he now has a list of Classic winners to his credit as impressive as most of the major trainers, though he would quickly deflect the credit elsewhere. He was too busy to be at the Rowley Mile on Saturday as at lunchtime, Williamson had dispatched the latest batch of horses to Deauville for this year's date at Arqana. There just happens to be another son of Justify among the quintet en route, and it is a safe bet that Anthony Stroud and David Loder will be beating a path to the Oak Tree Farm draft having bought two Guineas winners from Williamson in the last four years. Native Trail, Godolphin's 2022 winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas, came from the Craven Sale for the more modest sum of 210,000gns. The son of Oasis Dream was also champion two-year-old. “I loaded the horses onto the lorry and Josh and Janet have gone to Punchestown,” said Williamson by telephone. “I'm sitting here on my own, shaking.” He continued, “I'm so delighted for Godolphin – they are such great supporters of the breeze-up sales. And this is great for the breeze-up consignors, too, as we've proved that we can breeze a St Leger winner, a Guineas winner, a top sprinter, you name it.” We could soon be naming a Derby winner. After a racecourse gallop in Craven week for Ruling Court and his third-placed stable-mate Shadow Of Light, Charlie Appleby was already then speaking of today's winner with Epsom in mind, and the race won by his damsire High Chaparral 23 years ago. He said that morning, “They always say that the Guineas in the best Derby trial, so we'll start him there.” They do say that, and let's not let ourselves get carried away by the thought of a Triple Crown bid. But it's hard not to allow the mind to wander, particularly in a year when Betfred, the sponsor of all five British Classics this year, has put up a £2 million bonus for a winner of that particular challenge, not completed for 55 years. The trainer doesn't appear to have changed his view. “You could see him as a Derby horse and that's what we had our minds set on in the winter. There will be nice, healthy discussions on Derby plans,” Appleby said amid a press scrum at Newmarket after Ruling Court had been cut to 5/1 favourite in the Epsom betting. A Derby winner would give Williamson a kind of Triple Crown all of his own, as he was also responsible for breezing the 2022 St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov, while his first brush with the Classics had come with a horse who, like Ruling Court, had been bought at Keeneland. War Of Will, another Arqana graduate, returned to America and won the Preakness Stakes after finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby. “It was such a thrill that day when War Of Will ran in the Kentucky Derby,” he recalled. “But then came Native Trail and now this lad. From the day we started breezing [Ruling Court] he showed us that, and you could see it in the way he quickened. In a way he's too kind, in that he'd almost run through a brick wall for you, but then when he pulled up after the race he was like a pony. I think this horse really is something special.” Brick walls he won't need to face. Just Tattenham Corner and all the wonderful weirdness of Epsom. After that, who knows? The post ‘I’m Sitting Here On My Own, Shaking’: Williamson Revels in More Classic Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

3rd-Churchill Downs, $127,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 5-3, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.83, sy, 3/4 length. GOAL ORIENTED (c, 3, Not This Time–Bizzy Caroline {MGSW, $347,935}, by Afleet Alex) topped a 'Rising Star' trifecta in this third contest on Derby Day. Racing three wide along the first bend, and clear of Sorcerer's Silver (Good Magic) as that one was pulled up and vanned off the track, the Baffert-trainee clicked off :23.63, :47.15, and 1:11.36 fractions over the sealed sloppy track. Maintaining his advantage as they swung for home, a pair of fellow 'Rising Stars' behind him were also making their moves with Hypnus (Into Mischief) and Tiz Secure (Maximum Security) working to close the margin. The former was brave, but his rally fell short by three-quarters of a length behind the 6-5 favorite. Regarding Sorcerer's Silver, West Point Thoroughbreds's racing manager Erin Birkenhauer tweeted that the son of Good Magic has a fractured sesamoid and was going to Rood & Riddle for fusion surgery. Goal Oriented is out of an accomplished half-sister to champion turf female MGISW Lady Eli (Divine Park). He is his dam's most recent to the races after she came up barren from a visit to Colelcted in 2023. Her 2024 Oscar Performance foal was stillborn and she is due to Up to the Mark for 2025. In addition to that champion turf mare, Bizzy Caroline is also a half-sister to Sacre Caroline (Blame), who is the dam of MGSW & G1SP-Eng Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). This is a female family heavy on elite runners with extended members including the likes of MGISW Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger); G1SW-Eng & GSP Palace Episode; GSW & MG1SP-Ire Laughing Lashes (Mr. Greeley); and Canadian champion juvenile filly GISW Spring in the Air (Spring at Last). Sales history: $425,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $111,960. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Runnymede Farm LLC & CWC Investment 2, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Goal Oriented wins the Pleasant Colony presented by GE Appliances! Flavien Prat was aboard for trainer Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/HFr5nSfHST — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025 The post ‘Rising Star’ Goal Oriented Holds Off Hypnus To Stay Perfect appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday, Newmarket, Britain, post time: 15:35, BETFRED 1000 GUINEAS STAKES-G1, £548,450, 3yo, f, 8fT Field: Chantilly Lace (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Duty First (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Elwateen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Hey Boo (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Remaat (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), SImmering (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). TDN Verdict: The keenly-anticipated clash between the excellent fillies Desert Flower and Lake Victoria is on, with the former possibly straighter than her Irish rival. This will represent a speedier test than the G1 Fillies' Mile she dominated and Lake Victoria has an abundance of that. She bids to become the first winner of the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes to win this since 2009, but she is no ordinary sprinter-type and could be exceptional. Despite the obvious credentials of the front two, this has become a graveyard for short-priced runners in recent years and there is room for another TDN Rising Star in Red Letter to bloom. Patiently-handled last year, she has a razor-sharp turn of foot which could prove crucial if either of the front two misfire. Duty First was very good in the G3 Fred Darling Stakes, but isn't guaranteed to stay this far. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Newmarket, Britain, post time: 14:20, BETFRED DAHLIA STAKES-G2, £125,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 9fT Field: Beautiful Love (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal), Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion), Secret Satire (GB) (Advertise {GB}). TDN Verdict: Last year's 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka didn't fire afterwards, but back on home turf this could be a relaunch, but Cinderella's Dream is here to test her along with Running Lion. Cinderella's Dream became a big deal in the States last summer and will love the fast ground coming off a return second in Meydan's G2 Balanchine. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Cologne, Germany, post time: 13:30, KARIN BARONIN VON ULLMANN – SCHWARZGOLD-RENNEN-G3, €70,000, 3yo, f, 8fT Field: Bright Smiles (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Goldaue (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Lady Ilze (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Lady Sahara (Ger) (Counterattack {Aus}), Lips Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Nicoreni (Ger) (Brametot {Ire}), Santagada (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Sunny Silence (Tale Of Verve), Tigress Of Gaul (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Turf Sumy (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}) TDN Verdict: This sees the return of last year's G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Nicoreni, re-opposed by Goldaue who was fourth in that Baden-Baden feature for the Marcel Weiss stable and is now with Francis-Henri Graffard. Tigress Of Gaul was fourth behind Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G3 Prix de la Grotte and is not yet done improving. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 14:33, PRIX D'HEDOUVILLE-G3, €80,000, 4yo/up, 12fT Field: Sibayan (Fr) (Blame), Mont De Soleil (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Sevenna's Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Pleaseman (Fr) (Al Wukair {Fr}), Arrow Eagle (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}). TDN Verdict: The 2023 G1 Hong Kong Vase and G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern hero Junko is back from a lengthy lay-off, having last been seen winning the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly in June. Andre Fabre also saddles the solid stayer Sevenna's Knight, who was fifth in the Arc over this course and distance and runner-up in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak. He is back up to a more suitable trip after running a creditable third under a penalty in the G3 Prix Exbury and it could be that he's getting sharper as he gets older. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Newmarket, post time: 13:45, THE BETFRED PRETTY POLLY S.-Listed, £60,000, 3yo, Open, 10f 0y Field: Anna Swan (Ire) (Almanzor {Fr}), Falakeyah (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Janey Mackers (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Life Is Beautiful (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Likealot (GB) (Camelot {GB}), Qilin Queen (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Sand Gazelle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Trad Jazz (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). TDN Verdict: The Oaks is on the horizon and Shadwell's TDN Rising Star Falakeyah is the current favourite for this early tester, but there are a clutch of other likely types in here including the wide-margin Doncaster maiden winner Janey Mackers and Meon Valley's Chelmsford scorer Likealot. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 13:23, PRIX DE LA SEINE-Listed, €55,000, 3yo, f, 11fT Field: Kiamba (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Konada (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}), Queen Of Science (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), Sunly (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Most Glamorous (Mo Town), Cortella (Fr) (Telecaster {GB}). TDN Verdict: Juddmonte's Sunly comes back to the scene of her taking debut win last month and the relative of Logician is the race's most appealing Classic prospect. Godolphin's Queen Of Science probably has more to give after losing out to Ghaiyyath's Al Uqda last month at Saint-Cloud. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Lake Victoria Versus Desert Flower In 1000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade I winner Starlust has booked a spot at stud in the Hunter Valley at Riverstone Lodge. He will stand for A$27,500 (inc GST) after a Royal Ascot campaign. Out of G3 Prix de Saint-Georges heroine Beyond Desire (Invincible Spirit), the son of Zoustar was bred by Branton Court Stud in Great Britain. Sold for 55,000gns out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 to Dermot Farrington on behalf of Jim and Fitri Hay, Starlust is currently trained by Ralph Beckett and is pointing to the G1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. A six-time winner, he won the G3 Sirenia Stakes and was third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at two. At three, he added a third in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes prior to his Breeders' Cup heroics. Overall, he has earned $915,137 in 19 starts. “This is a genuine game-changer for us,” said Nick Taylor, managing director of Riverstone Stallions. “To have a stallion of Starlust's calibre, one who has conquered the world's fastest horses on the biggest stage, as our foundation stallion is beyond exciting.” The half-brother to stakes winner Queen Of Desire (Dubawi) is also related to G2 Zipping Classic winner Beautiful Romance (New Approach). The post Breeders’ Cup Hero Starlust To Stand For A$27,500 At Riverstone Lodge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), who finished seventh in Friday's GI La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs, moved fine the next morning and will be given ample time off, according to a post on X by her trainer Kenny McPeek. “Thorpedo Anna walked well this morning,” McPeek wrote. “We are going to X-ray her ankles and knees then send her to Rood and Riddle for Dr Larry Bramlage to examine her. The first turn incident may have thrown her off her game, or maybe the three week turnaround wasn't my best choice. She showed no signs she couldn't handle that. I'm more critical of myself than anyone. Regardless, she won't be rushed back soon.” In the La Troienne, the champion was caught between horses heading into the first turn and she came through that traffic to run second behind the pacesetter. Thorpedo Anna began to fade down the lane and ended up finishing the last of seven as Raging Sea (Curlin) won the day. The loss was the filly's first since the GI DK Travers Stakes last August. Thorpedo Anna walked well this morning. We are going to X-ray her ankles and knees then send her to @roodandriddle for Dr Larry Bramlage to examine her. The first turn incident may have thrown her off her game, or maybe the 3 week turnaround wasn't my best choice. She showed no… — Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) May 3, 2025 The post McPeek Says Thorpedo Anna ‘Won’t Be Rushed Back Soon’ After Running Seventh In La Troienne appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darley America-based stallion Maxfield was represented by his first winner Saturday as PIEDRA PRECIOSA (f, 2, Maxfield–Dancing Alone, by Kingmambo) took the opener at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Riding the rail through the five-furlong sprint over a muddy track, the filly just got up in time to defeat race favorite Wanna Go Home (Instagrand) by a nose in a blanket finish that also involved Mescat (Cupid) on the outside. Maxfield stands at Darley for $40,000. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Doyle, Alex and Hernandez, Rey; B-Highlight Thoroughbreds & Haugh Stables; T-Rey Hernandez. Sales History: $27,000 RNA ylg '24 KEESEP. The post Piedra Preciosa Becomes First Winner For Maxfield appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Flying the flag for Justify in Saturday's G1 Betfred 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket, Ruling Court provided Charlie Appleby with a third renewal in four years. Selected by William Buick over the 2-year-old champion Shadow Of Light, the 9-2 second favourite travelled notably strongly held up towards the stand's side and when delivered to overhaul his stablemate with half a furlong remaining gave generously to see out the mile the better of the pair. It was the 15-8 favourite Field Of Gold who came home best, but at the line there was half a length between them, with Shadow Of Light looking to run out of stamina late on and finish the same margin away in third. TDN Rising Star Ruling Court, who was the Arqana May Breeze-Up topper at 2.3million, had won the Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas at the start of March having been off since finishing third in the G3 Acomb Stakes at York in August. RULING COURT strikes in the @Betfred 2000 Guineas! pic.twitter.com/RX22jGbpEY — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 3, 2025 The post 2000 Guineas Glory For Justify’s Ruling Court appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With more than 100,000 in attendance on what became a wet Oaks Day, Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) reported that all-sources wagering on the GI Kentucky Oaks was $22.7 million, which was up four percent from last year, but betting from all-sources on the full race day card was $73.9 million, which was down 1.9% from last year's record $75.3 million, the company said in a release late on Friday. TwinSpires, the official betting partner of the Kentucky Oaks, handled a new record of $20.9 million in wagering on Churchill Downs races for the Kentucky Oaks Day program, compared to last year's record of $20.3 million. That mark included all settled future wagers and affiliate wagering. Concerning the turnstiles, 100,910 passed through them, which was the smallest tally since 2022 when 100,118 made the races. In 2016 the Oaks record was set at 124,589. The post CDI Reports Rainy Oaks Wagering Up Despite Overall Handle Down appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars DAZZLING FIT - R9 (5) Improving galloper looks well placed to break through here Jay Rooney DAZZLING FIT - R9 (5) Talented type should relish the rise to 1,400m and go very close here Trackwork Spy CROSSBORDERPEGASUS - R5 (2) Is racing in top form and can salute again today Phillip Woo SHAMUS STORM - R7 (6) Has caught the eye in two of three starts and should win from a good draw Shannon (Vincent Wong) HONG LOK GOLF - R4 (5) In-form galloper continues to race well and looks hard to beat over 1,600m today Racing Post Online CROSSBORDERPEGASUS - R5 (2) Narrowly beaten last start and can make amends Tom Wood CALL ME GORGEOUS - R3 (1) Down in grade with a good draw and looks ready to run a raceView the full article

Trained by Brendan Walsh, the 5-2 morning line favorite Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) has been scratched from the GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes by the state veterinarian, according to Team Valor's Barry Irwin on Saturday morning. “Brendan [Walsh] told me that the state vet was there this morning and jogged her and thought she was just a tick off,” said Irwin. “Brendan jogged her himself and thought she looked fine, but did it again later and she was off. She was supposed to have a workout two weeks ago, and she spread a shoe. “I have a hunch she's got an abscess,” said Irwin. “We will get her ready for the Just a Game Stakes. We skipped the Jenny Wiley for this race because we thought it was a better opportunity.” Team Valor owns the 5-year-old mare along with Steven Rocco. In her lone start this year, Special Wan took home by 1 1/4 lengths the GIII Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park Mar. 1. The GI Just a Game Stakes is scheduled for June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. The post Special Wan Scratched From Churchill Distaff Turf Mile By State Vet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Kilmore Races Where Kilmore Racing Club – East St, Kilmore VIC 3764 When Monday, May 5, 2025 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble A new week of racing in Victoria commences with an eight-race meeting at Kilmore Racing Club on Monday afternoon. A perfect day for racing is forecast for race day, which should see the surface get an upgrade to a Good 4 from the Soft 5 at time of acceptances. The rail will be out 3m the entire circuit, with the opening race at Kilmore set to jump at 1pm AEST. Best Bet at Kilmore: Vain Champagne Vain Champagne did all but win on debut at Geelong when denied by the barest of margins but has found the perfect maiden to go one better in on Monday. The three-year-old filly stalked the speed throughout but found one better in the shadows of the winning post over 1121m. The Magnus filly sticks to the 1107m and as long as Billy Egan can find cover from barrier eight, then Vain Champagne showed plenty to suggest her second start will be a winning one. Best Bet Race 1 – #10 Vain Champagne (8) 3yo Filly | T: Nick Ryan | J: Billy Egan (58kg) Next Best at Kilmore: Wats Normal Wats Normal was a dominant maiden winner at Werribee on April 12 over 1400m and with natural improvement coming to Kilmore third-up, he should handle the step up to the 1457m with great aplomb. Drawn barrier one, the son of Vancouver will be stalking the lead throughout under Jake Duffy and as long as the gap appears at the top of the straight, there is no reason why Wats Normal cannot dispose of his rivals in the quaddie opener. Next Best Race 5 – #4 Wats Normal (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Jake Duffy (61.5kg) Best Value at Kilmore: Electrozino Electrozino was well beaten over 2025m at Cranbourne last time out, but if the son of Tarzino produces something like he did two runs back at this track and trip, he can run a bold race at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. He clearly didn’t handle the trip last time, but the way he was hitting the line at the mile previously has him right in the calculations. Thomas Stockdale will have him settled midfield with cover, and as long as the pair see clear air at the top of the straight, Electrozino will take some holding out. Best Value Race 6 – #9 Electrozino (6) 5yo Gelding | T: Andrea Leek | J: Thomas Stockdale (59kg) Monday quaddie tips for Kilmore Kilmore quadrella selections Monday, May 5, 2025 4-5-6 2-4-8-9 1-3-4-6-8-11 1-2-3-5-6-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Trainer Ciaron Maher and the Ozzie Kheir-John O’Neill ownership group have had a stellar run with New Zealand imports in recent times, and Sunshineinmypocket (NZ) (Proisir) put his hand up as another one to watch with his come-from-behind victory in Saturday’s A$130,000 Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield. That owner-trainer combination has celebrated three Group One victories in 2025 with their Per Incanto geldings Jimmysstar (NZ) and Gringotts (NZ). Jimmysstar took out the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and All Aged Stakes (1400m), while Gringotts won the George Ryder Stakes (1500m). Saturday’s Benchmark 84 handicap was well below those heights, but Sunshineinmypocket has now won five of his eight starts and has banked A$254,125 in prize-money. A strong-finishing second placegetter over 1300m at Bendigo last start, Sunshineinmypocket stepped out as a $3.50 second favourite on Saturday and produced an outstanding performance. Sunshineinmypocket jumped only fairly from the starting gate and was taken back to second-last by jockey Ethan Brown. He crept closer down the side of the track, moving up into ninth spot and well within striking distance as the field turned for home. Brown angled Sunshineinmypocket to the outside in the straight and pushed the button. The four-year-old showed a brilliant turn of foot, racing past six rivals in the final 200m. Mollynickers (Pierro) had herself accelerated stylishly to take command late in the piece, but Sunshineinmypocket flew up alongside her in the last few strides and pipped her by a nose right on the finish line. “It’s becoming common for Ciaron to have horses like this that keep stepping up and improving, and especially in these colours,” Brown said. “This horse will definitely work his way up through the grades too. The heights he can get to, you never know, but I can see him continuing to progress and surprising people. “I didn’t really want to be that far back today, but they were rolling along early. When they came up for a breather mid-race, I was able to tack up into that three-wide train. We got a lovely cart into the race. He was always going to win in the last 50m. “This was my first time riding him in a race, but I remember riding him in trackwork one morning. I said, ‘Hey, Ciaron, what’s this thing?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, it goes alright, doesn’t it?’ And I think that was my only sit on him. “He put the writing on the wall last start and he’s always shown ability. Winning form is good form. This will be good for his confidence, and he’s certainly on an upwards spiral.” Maher was represented at Caulfield on Saturday by assistant trainer Jack Turnbull. “He’s a good horse,” Turnbull said. “We’re going to keep him to the shorter distances, and when you keep him fresh and you ride him like that, he has the ability to finish like he did today. He’s definitely a horse that can go on to higher grades than this.” Sunshineinmypocket was bred by Daniel Nakhle. He is by Proisir out of the Jimmy Choux mare Sunrise Ruby (NZ), whose dam A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins) won the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and is a close relative of Saturday’s Listed Tile Importer Anniversary Vase (1600m) winner Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai). Sunshineinmypocket was a $6000 purchase from Haunui Farm’s draft at the 2021 National Weanling Sale at Karaka. He returned as a member of Prima Park’s draft for Book 2 of Karaka 2022, but failed to meet his $35,000 reserve. He was purchased privately after winning a trial at Avondale in February 2023 for Matamata trainer Kurtis Pertab. View the full article

Caulfield has been a happy hunting ground for Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in recent weeks, and the reigning Australian Horse of the Year produced another spectacular front-running performance at that venue in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Tile Importer Anniversary Vase (1600m). The Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni has now had 38 starts for 10 wins, 12 placings and A$10.44 million in stakes. She was a triple Group One winner in last season’s Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Champions Mile (1600m) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). The daughter of Pride Of Dubai has had some ups and downs as a seven-year-old this season, but announced her return to form with a powerhouse performance in the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on March 15. After another blip in the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) two weeks later, she headed back to Caulfield on Saturday and again demonstrated her extraordinary front-running prowess. As expected, Pride Of Jenni was sent straight to the lead by jockey Craig Newitt and dominated the race from the front. The $2.70 favourite began to pour on the pressure approaching the home turn, and she kicked away at the top of the straight. None of her seven rivals were able to make much headway down the straight as Pride Of Jenni swept to victory by two and a quarter lengths. “She’s always fun to ride,” Newitt said. “She was good in the early part of the race, but I just wanted to get to the top of the hill at the 1300m, 1400m there before I let her roll. “She knows where she is – she was trained here originally – so she got to the top of the hill and she changed stride, and then she started to string them out. “I reckon the speed we were going at the 1000m mark was the same as the speed we were going at the winning post. She never quickened any more, but she never weakened either. She just maintained her gallop, which was good. Probably the last 200m was the most impressive, because her stamina kicked in and she just kept up that good gallop.” Owner Tony Ottobre is now keen to take Pride Of Jenni to the Queensland Winter Carnival. “She’s fantastic, isn’t she,” he said. “To see a horse do what she’s just done there, it’s incredible. I’m glad that she’s back. “She’s still got a bit more condition than we’d like, so there’s more to come for the Doomben Cup (Gr.1, 2000m). We’re looking forward to that race.” Pride Of Jenni was bred by Trelawney Stud and is out of the O’Reilly mare Sancerre (NZ), who was prepared by Cambridge trainer Tony Pike to win on four occasions for the stud. The star mare stems from a family fashioned over generations at the famed Kiwi nursery, which has been in the Taylor family’s ownership since 1993, having been established by Seton Otway in the 1930s. Group Two winner Real Success (Success Express), the taproot of star Trelawney Stud graduates Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel), Loire (NZ) (Redoubte’s Choice), A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins) and Pride Of Jenni and many others around them, was one of the first families the Taylors bought into upon taking ownership of Trelawney. Pride Of Jenni was sold at the Sydney Classic Sale for A$100,000 through the Segenhoe Stud draft, where she was purchased by Tony and Lynn Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud. Sancerre has a two-year-old filly by Per Incanto which has been retained by the Taylors named Pouilly Fume (NZ). The mare foaled a filly by Hello Youmzain last spring, which unfortunately died, but she is back in foal to the young Cambridge Stud stallion who has made a promising start with his eldest just two. View the full article

A pair of New Zealand-breds drew clear to fight out a thrilling finish to the A$150,000 Evergreen Turf Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday, with Rogan (NZ) (Super Seth) edging out Stylish Secret (NZ) (Sweet Orange) to score an upset win. The Cliff Brown-trained Rogan went into the three-year-old race under the radar, having recorded one win and one placing from his eight career starts beforehand. His maiden win came over 1600m at Kilmore on April 5, and he followed that up with close fourth under 61kg in a Benchmark 58 handicap over 2025m at Cranbourne on April 18. Rogan was sent out as a $31 outsider on Saturday but vastly outperformed those expectations. After settling in third-last for jockey Patrick Moloney, Rogan began to improve his position out wide as the field made their way down the side of the track. At about the same time, Stylish Secret and his jockey Jake Noonan made a big move out of midfield and swooped around the outside to challenge for the lead straightening for home. Stylish Secret took command at the 200m mark but was quickly joined by the strong-finishing Rogan. That pair moved more than two lengths clear of the rest of the field and fought out a head-bobbing finish, which Rogan won by a head. Rogan’s nine-start career has now produced two wins, a placing and A$110,970 in stakes. He is trained by Cliff Brown, who was represented at Caulfield on Saturday by his assistant trainer Tony Lane. “This horse has always been a stayer in the making,” Lane said. “It’s taken a while for the penny to drop, and he was still a bit wayward today. “We planned to be a bit more positive in this race, but he didn’t step all that great at the start and Patrick had to take his medicine and go back. “He got into a bit of a tricky spot, but then he just kept building and building and was really strong through the line. It was a good win.” Rogan was bred by Waikato Stud and is a son of their exciting young stallion Super Seth, whose service fee was this week increased from $45,000 to $75,000 for the upcoming season. Super Seth sired his first three Group One winners in March – Feroce (NZ) in the Australian Guineas (1600m), Linebacker (NZ) in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and La Dorada (NZ) in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). Rogan’s dam is the winning O’Reilly mare Tiara (NZ), a granddaughter of the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner and Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) placegetter Royal Tiara (NZ) (Blanco). Tiara is also the dam of the Brown-trained Savabeel gelding Von Hauke (NZ), whose three wins include the Gr.3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) at Flemington in March of last year. “Von Hauke’s manners don’t help him a lot of the time, so I think he could get up over more ground if his racing manners were a bit better,” Lane said. “But this bloke has always shown that he was going to be a stayer.” Waikato Stud offered Rogan in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where Cliff Brown Racing bought him for $50,000. Saturday’s runner-up Stylish Secret is by Sweet Orange out of the Savabeel mare Scarlet’s Secret (NZ). The gelding has recorded two wins and two seconds from a 10-start career to date. View the full article

Emerging stayer Immediacy (NZ) (Tarzino) backed up his last-start victory at Mornington on April 19 with a repeat result in Saturday’s A$150,000 MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield. The New Zealand-bred Immediacy is trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and has now had 12 starts for five wins and A$479,790 in stakes. Immediacy made an exciting start to his career with wins in all of his first three starts including the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield in February of 2024, but then the Tarzino gelding’s form began to taper off with fifths in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and five subsequent unplaced runs. The four-year-old bounced back in style at Mornington a fortnight ago, and Saturday brought more of the same. Jockey Blake Shinn gave Immediacy a perfect run in fourth, one off the rail, as Aramco (Sea The Moon) and Shaiyhar (Camelot) showed the way. The field bunched up approaching the home turn, but Shinn was able to switch across heels and present Immediacy on the outside of the leading pair. Immediacy lengthened stride and raced to the lead, going on to beat Aethelflaed (Saxon Warrior) by three-quarters of a length. “We’ve got a Brisbane campaign in the back of our minds with this horse,” Young said. “That’s why we ran him today instead of in the Warrnambool Cup (Listed, 2350m). We didn’t want him to have a really hard run on a testing track that had three days of traffic over it. “It panned out nicely today. Blake gave him a beautiful trip. He was the only one really travelling coming to the corner, and he let down nicely in the straight. “He’s come back big and strong. He was a Group Two winner as a three-year-old. It’s always a hard step going from three to four. We gave him the time, he had a good long break, and he’s come back now and furnished into a lovely horse. He’s come back into some really good form. “Hopefully he can carry on now into races like the Chairman’s Handicap (Gr.3, 2000m) and Brisbane Cup (Gr.2, 3200m).” Immediacy was bred by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay and is a son of Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino. The dam of Immediacy is the three-race-winning Pivotal mare But Beautiful (NZ), who is also the dam of Group Two winner Bella Waters (NZ) (Sacred Falls). Originally bought as a yearling by Guy Lowry’s Game Lodge for $15,000 from the draft of Kiltannon Stables at Karaka 2022, Immediacy returned to Karaka later that year as a member of Riverrock Farm’s draft at the Ready to Run Sale. He was bought by Busuttin Racing and Group 1 Racing for $200,000. Saturday’s runner-up Aethelfled is a half-brother to Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock), who won the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in 2020, as well as the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) winner and Group One-placed Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner). View the full article