Wandering Eyes

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

Group 1 SA Derby winner, Femminile. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Lachie Neindorf secured his second Group 1 victory when claiming the South Australian Derby (2500m) aboard Femminile for trainer Phillip Stokes. Unlike his emotional first Group 1 win last year aboard Climbing Star in the Robert Sangster Stakes, Neindorf held back his tears this time. Femminile, a $19 chance with horse betting sites, fought off strong competition to clinch the victory. Neindorf rode a perfect race, sticking to the rails while the field spread out looking for better ground. He was initially following race favourite Statuario but lost him mid-race and decided to take his own path. With the seas parting for him on the turn, he took advantage of the inside run and held off Statuario in the final stages, denying John Allen a fifth South Australian Derby victory. The win continued the trend in 2025, where three-year-old fillies have dominated Derbies, following in the footsteps of Aeliana in the Australian Derby and Machine Gun Gracie in the West Australian Derby. Tommy Stokes, who saddled Femminile, was thrilled with the win and praised the hard work of the team at Pakenham and Morphettville. “I’m just so proud of the team, especially for OTI, who have now secured a Group 1,” said Tommy Stokes. The team had prepared Femminile perfectly after her seventh-place finish in the Australasian Oaks (2000m), with the quick back-up and step up in trip proving ideal. Femminile defeated the favourite Statuario by three-quarters of a length, with Lavalier finishing third. The victory gave Phillip Stokes his first South Australian Derby win. 2025 Group 1 South Australian Derby Replay – Femminile https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Morphettville-2025-Group-1-SA-Derby-03052025-Femminile-Phillip-Stokes-Lachlan-Neindorf.mp4 Horse racing news View the full article

The Florida Legislature has concluded policy discussions for the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, effectively killing the proposed decoupling provisions of Senate Bill 408, House Bill 105, and House Bill 1467, all of which the Florida Senate declined to approve for final passage, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association said in a press release late on Friday. However, Florida law requires the legislature to pass a balanced state budget each year. To meet this constitutional requirement, the legislature has extended the session through June 6, but has limited the focus to items related to the state budget. Lonny Powell, FTBOA CEO, issued the following statement to commend Florida leaders who have stood with the state's Thoroughbred industry, while emphasizing the importance of continued collaborative efforts to preserve and strengthen itself: “The conclusion of Florida's regular legislative session brings encouraging news for our beloved Thoroughbred legacy and the thousands of Floridians who dedicate their livelihoods to this proud tradition. The FTBOA–and the many horsemen groups, individuals, and elected officials who joined our efforts–once again defended our industry from an ill-advised attempt at decoupling, just as we did in 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2021. “We are deeply grateful to the many breeders, owners, trainers, vets, and horsemen who traveled to Tallahassee to share their heartfelt opposition with lawmakers. Your voices had a clear impact and made a real difference. We also thank the lawmakers who championed our industry's values, engaged thoughtfully with our members, and stood firm against proposals that threatened the foundation of Florida's $3.24 billion Thoroughbred industry. “As the legislature continues to consider matters related to the state budget in the coming weeks, we will remain firm in our opposition to any effort to weaken Florida's Thoroughbred industry. We look forward to continuing our work with Florida's leaders and stakeholders on long-term solutions that preserve and grow this vital industry for years to come.” A number of industry groups led the fight against decoupling which surfaced once again as a major issue for the Thoroughbred racing beginning in the early spring. Owners, trainers and proponents made repeated trips to state legislature to lobby for the sport's existence. Governor Ron DeSantis during a surprise visit to the OBS Sale expressed his support for the state's horsemen. The post Florida Decoupling Dead In The Water As Regular Legislative Session Ends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Oak Hill winning at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) A smart win by the New Zealand-bred Oak Hill at Caulfield on Saturday marked a changing of the guard. Oak Hill was guided through the early stages of his promising career by New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductee Mike Moroney, who passed away in February. Moroney’s partner Karen chose Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes to take over Ballymore Stables’ Flemington operation. Moroney’s former training partner Glen Thompson is now training in his own right and won last Saturday’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) with Benagil, while racing manager Anthony Feroce has moved across to join the Lindsay Park team. Oak Hill was the first former Moroney runner to race in Melbourne since the Hayes partnership took over the operation, and he provided a perfect result. Ridden by Blake Shinn, Oak Hill settled in a handy position in fifth on the inside. The front-runner Shirshov rolled off the fence coming around the home turn, leaving a gap along the rail. Shinn needed no second invitation and drove Oak Hill through that opening. Oak Hill changed gears and charged to the front, opening up a winning margin of 1.25 lengths. The four-year-old clocked 58.05 seconds for the 1000m. From 13 starts, Oak Hill has now recorded six wins and two second placings. He has earned $389,515 in prize-money. “We’re just really thankful for the opportunity that we’ve been given,” Ben Hayes said. “It was a great ride by Blake and a perfect result. “I have to thank Anthony and Glen. They prepared this horse so well. He’s been with us for only a little while, so we can’t take too much credit for it. “The horse was able to jump well today, settle nicely in a good position, and when the gaps opened, he really hit the line strongly. It’s very exciting. It’s always great to get a win with a new horse in the stable, and winning this race today will really help us going into the spring. “We’ve had a lot of help from Anthony, who’s here today. This is actually his first day officially working for us, so it’s a good way to start what we hope will be a good, long partnership – especially with Rupert (Legh) and his whole ownership group as well. “The plan was to try to pick up some rating points today to open up a few more options for this horse in the spring, so it’s always nice when a plan comes off.” Horse racing news View the full article

Immediacy kicked clear at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) Emerging stayer Immediacy backed up his last-start victory at Mornington on April 19 with a repeat result at Caulfield on Saturday. The New Zealand-bred Immediacy is trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and has now had 12 starts for five wins and $479,790 in stakes. Immediacy made an exciting start to his career with wins in all of his first three starts including the Group 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 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Group 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 and Shaiyhar 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 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 (Group 3, 2000m) and Brisbane Cup (Group 2, 3200m).” Horse racing news View the full article

Rogan tough to the line at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) A pair of New Zealand-breds drew clear to fight out a thrilling finish at Caulfield on Saturday, with Rogan edging out Stylish Secret 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 with horse racing bookmakers 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 $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 in the Australian Guineas (1600m), Linebacker in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and La Dorada in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). Rogan’s dam is the winning O’Reilly mare Tiara, a granddaughter of the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner and Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) placegetter Royal Tiara. Tiara is also the dam of the Brown-trained Savabeel gelding Von Hauke, whose three wins include the Group 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.” Horse racing news View the full article

Canadian Ruler winning at Hawkesbury. (Photo: Bradley Photos) Kiwi-bred gelding Canadian Ruler mastered a testing topweight and won impressively at Hawkesbury on Saturday. The four-year-old son of Vancouver headed into the race with two wins and seven placings to his name from a 12-race career, and he was lumbered with a big impost of 62.5kg. Trainer Matthew Dale secured the services of in-form apprentice jockey Braith Nock, whose 2kg claim reduced that weight to 60.5kg. Canadian Ruler was first to leave the starting gates, but Nock was happy to let Liquor Talk dash past and open up a two-length lead after the first 200m. After being squeezed back to fifth coming up to the home turn, Nock drove Canadian Ruler through a narrow opening one from the inside in the straight. Canadian Ruler quickened well in the Heavy 8 ground and soon burst to the lead. Pharoahzano finished strongly out of the pack in the last 100m and ate into his margin, but Nock did his best to keep Canadian Ruler’s mind on the job and guided him to victory by half a length. “He landed in front so easily at the start, but then I was happy to let one go around us,” Nock said. “He felt a bit uncomfortable for a while in the middle stages, but I just let him relax before starting to pick him up again. “It was looking sticky to get to the outside at the turn, so I just had to cut the corner and get him into the clear that way. “I thought he quickened quite sharply in the straight and put them away easily. He was left out in front for a long time and started to have a bit of a think, but we just had to try to stick it out.” Canadian Ruler has now had 13 starts for three wins, three seconds and four thirds. He has earned $168,975 for the Darby Racing syndicate. Horse racing news View the full article

Sunshineinmypocket winning at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) 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 put his hand up as another one to watch with his come-from-behind victory at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. That owner-trainer combination has celebrated three Group One victories in 2025 with their Per Incanto geldings Jimmysstar and Gringotts. 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 $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 with horse racing bookmakers 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 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.” Horse racing news View the full article

Pride Of Jenni successful in the Listed MRC Anniversary Vase at Caulfield. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) Caulfield has been a happy hunting ground for Pride Of Jenni in recent weeks, and the reigning Australian Horse of the Year produced another spectacular front-running performance at that venue in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m). The Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni has now had 38 starts for 10 wins, 12 placings and $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 Group 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 with horse betting sites 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 2.25 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.” Horse racing news View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Former Kiwi pacer Mister Smartee completed Western Australia’s big pacing double with a barnstorming $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup win at Gloucester Park last night. Just as he did a week earlier to win the $1.25 million Nullarbor, Gary Hall Jr drove a stunning race, this time escaping a tricky pocket at just the right time. It gave his father, Gary Hall Sr, a remarkable 11th win in the Fremantle Cup. It was Hall Jr’s 10th driving win in the Grand Circuit feature. “He’s just the best … what more can I say,” Hall Sr said. “He had a plan, stuck to it, backed himself to get out when it mattered and did just that. “We knew the horse would be electric if sat on the pegs and got a run late because he’s done so much of his racing away from the pegs. “As I said last week, he’s a really serious horse, this one. He’s second-only to Im Themightyquinn amongst all the good ones I’ve trained.” Defending champion Catch A Wave led as expected from the pole and Hall Jr pushed through behind him from an inside back row draw (gate 10) to trail. Team Bond’s big guns, firstly Gee Heza Sport, then Minstrel made early moves around the field to get on the speed. Minstrel sat outside Catch A Wave and ensured a strong tempo with splits of 29, 28.5, 28.1 and 28.4sec. Just as Minstrel moved alongside Catch A Wave, Hall Jr was able to edge Gee Heza Sport three-wide from the one-one trail and see open air. The race was over. Mister Smartee raced clear to win by 3.5m over a very brave Minstrel with Gee Heza Sport a close third. Catch A Wave tired late to finish fourth, beaten 14m. Hall Sr said he was comfortable with his decision not to chase this year’s Inter Dominion at Albion Park in July. “We thought long and hard, but it’s his first year in the big league and he’s only had 24 starts,” he said. “He can stay home and aim for the WA Pacing Cup late in the year and then we can travel with him next year. Even a race like the Hunter Cup would suit.” Team Hall completed a big night with the untapped three-year-old Cyclone Jordy easily winning the Group 3 Caduceus Club Classic. Another former Kiwi, Cyclone Jordy is unbeaten in nine WA runs. Before that, he raced five times in NZ for three wins and a second. View the full article

By Michael Guerin A relationship that dates back to the great Courage Under Fire combined to win the biggest race of the night at Addington on Friday. But this time it was with a trotter called Paige, who bounced around between Bruce Negus and Colin De Filippi early in her career. Negus and De Filippi were of course the combination that took the champion young pacer Courage Under Fire to 24 straight wins at the turn of the century before the horse moved to Brian Hancock’s care in New South Wales. They were mates before the little champ came along and have been ever since so when Paige was a two-year-old Negus sent her to De Filippi and wife Julie to train. “I thought she was going to make a nice trotter so asked them to train her,” recalls Negus. “But a while later they sent her back and Colin said she got on her knees too much. “So I sent him another horse called Oliver. But when this horse started going better I rang Col and told him I’d win $100,000 with her. “Colin just laughed and said if I can win $100,000 with Paige he’d win $200,000 with Oliver. “I hope he is right, I am looking forward to my share of that,” laughs Negus. Paige may have her gait issues that see her wear spreaders but her win on Friday’s TK Plastering “About Now” Trot was her 12th and she has won over $135,000 in stakes. “She has done a good job and so has young Sheree [Tomlinson] driving her,” says Negus. “She is a very good young driver and a hell of a nice person so I like having her on.” Tomlinson had Paige tucked away three deep on the markers and never went around a horse before holding out the late charge of Muscle Sass, the last 800m in 57.8 seconds putting paid to the chances of those back in the field. While Paige won the main trot of the night the best pacing race saw Arthur Shelby make it four wins from five starts but not without some nervous moments for favourite punters. Crossed at the start from barrier 1 he was locked away four deep before young driver Seth Hill went from the marker pegs to three wide and moving in the space of 50m down the back straight. That and Arthur Shelby’s courage saw him claw home over the top of Radha and considering the winner was three wide and then parked over the last 800m in 55.9 seconds he is developing into one of the more exciting pacers in the South Island. View the full article

By Michael Guerin History and the future met in perfect synergy when Republican Party won the $100,000 Roy Purdon Memorial at Alexandra Park on Friday. On face value it was simple stuff as the wonderful pacer made it four Group 1 wins in six months when he rolled to the front effortlessly at the 1600m mark and never looked like being headed. It capped a career-best night for young driver Carter Dalgety who drove two Group 1 winners after Fugitive won the $90,000 Breckon Farms Young Guns Final earlier in the night, both trained by his parents Cran and Chrissie. Both wins saw Carter, who turns 22 next Saturday, not scared to go forward and let his horse travel, a nod to his time in the United States last year. “That was the biggest thing I learned up there, they rate the horseman most on how they can get the them travelling,” says Dalgety. “So I have been trying to make that a huge part of my driving since I got home. Get them traveling and feeling good and put them in a position to do a job.” It worked with both on Friday night and in Republican Party’s case the modern tactics enabled Dalgety to make a nod to the past. “It means a lot to me and our family with this race being named after Mr Purdon,” says Dalgety. “My grandfather Jim was close friends with Roy and of course Dad worked for Roy and Barry and he says they taught him so much of what he knows. “So to win the race named in his honour with a horse that we love so much is really special.” Sooner The Bettor was a fighting second while the hard luck story of the race was We Walk By Faith, who was never really clear in third and had to go close to winning with a clear run. While it would be a surprise to see Republican Party go to Queensland to take on Leap To Fame and Don Hugo in the Interdoms, there is a chance Fugitive could head there for the Ladbrokes Protostar after he made it three wins from four starts on Friday. He looks a total little pro but went to a new level after having to sit parked and hold off the late charge of Allamericanplayer in a 1:55.8 mile rate for the 1700m, adding to a great week for his sire Downbytheseaside. “That was easily his best win and there are a few people asking about a spot in the Protostar,” says Dalgety of the A$500,000 slot race at Albion Park on July 12. “He is owned by Brendan James, who owns Rock N Roll Doo and obviously he lives in Australia, so he might be keen to see him over there,” says Dalgety. As for the biggest night of his career, Dalgety was buzzing. “It is amazing to win two Group 1s, both for Mum and Dad, and with two horses who try so hard. “What Republican Party has done this season and at the back end of last season is so huge and he has never let us down.” Other pacing highlights included an effortless win from General Jen against older horses to ready her for next Friday’s $200,000 Sires’ Stakes Final while Cool For Cats won a busy Delightful Lady Stakes on a great night for Team Dunn. She is owned by some huge Canterbury syndicates and picked the perfect Group 2 race to leave her maiden in, grabbing Victorian filly Ripples right on the line. View the full article

By Michael Guerin The biggest decision of David and Stacey Whites’ training career may have been the race they chose not to start in. The greatest moment came a week later, in the $200,000 Reharvest Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The Whites train Bet N Win, the horse we all thought would win a Rowe Cup one day but we were starting to doubt it might be this one. After starting 2025 so well the five-year-old was below par in his two runs at Cambridge and was found to have a virus before last Friday’s Anzac Cup. The Whites were forced to decide between scratching and missing a vital lead-up race and starting and possibly flattening their pride and joy. They chose right. “He was just starting to overcome the virus and actually worked okay last Friday morning and we almost started,” David explains. “Had he not been off a 10m handicap we might have started or had there been two weeks between last week and this race we might have risked it because we would have had more time for him to get over it. “But we knew he races well fresh so we decided to wait. It made for a nervous week but we are thrilled with how it has worked out.” Good manners and a cool Bob Butt drive helped do the rest as in an action-packed race Bet N Win never left the markers and showed great courage when his petrol tank was on empty to hold out Mr Love with Queen Elida a strong third as she farewelled the racetrack after a great career. It was an unusual race with some of the favourites having excuses and others not so much but Bet N Win was always likely to one day ascend to being our best trotter and while he is still improving he may already hold what almost felt like a vacant crown. His win sparked cool scenes in the Alexandra Park winner’s circle with some of the industry’s biggest names in the ownership but the stars of the show were the two White children Lachlan and William, adorable in their own little sets of stable colours. Whether the White family and their 470kgs son of What The Hill can star on a bigger stage we should find out in July as a trip to the Inter Dominions looks likely. “We were always going to wait until after tonight to make that decision but we’d like to go and the fact it is only two rounds of heats helps,” says David. “So while that isn’t certain it is what we will aim at and he might even fly into Sydney two weeks out for a lead-up run.” While the biggest win of any trainer’s career is a massive deal it came as the Whites wore red and green ribbons to honour their late friend Greg Sugar, who passed away last weekend. “Stacey and Jess are very close and because of that I was lucky enough to be mates with Greg and he was the greatest guy,” shares David. “To win this race the year after Just Believe, after the terrible week everybody has had, means more than anything. “To be honest, standing here right now I can’t believe either thing has happened.” Also in a state of disbelief earlier in the night may have been young driver Riley Harrison after she produced a gem of a drive to win the Northern Trotting Oaks on Frazzled, adding to a great night for stallion What The Hill. She blew past favourite Habibti Pat at the top of the straight and then held out stablemate Ya Rite Darl for a stable quinella for Harrison’s bosses Robert and Jenna Dunn. It was a mammoth night for Dunn racing as they also captured the Delightful Lady Classic with Cool For Cats, the opening trot with Bravehearthighlander and the Greg Sugars Memorial Race with Bruntwood Brigade. View the full article

A smart win by the New Zealand-bred Oak Hill at Caulfield on Saturday marked a changing of the guard. Oak Hill was guided through the early stages of his promising career by New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductee Mike Moroney, who passed away in February. Moroney’s partner Karen chose Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes to take over Ballymore Stables’ Flemington operation. Moroney’s former training partner Glen Thompson is now training in his own right and won last Saturday’s Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) with Benagil, while racing manager Anthony Feroce has moved across to join the Lindsay Park team. Oak Hill was the first former Moroney runner to race in Melbourne since the Hayes partnership took over the operation, and he provided a perfect result in Saturday’s A$150,000 Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1000m). Ridden by Blake Shinn, Oak Hill settled in a handy position in fifth on the inside. The front-runner Shirshov rolled off the fence coming around the home turn, leaving a gap along the rail. Shinn needed no second invitation and drove Oak Hill through that opening. Oak Hill changed gears and charged to the front, opening up a winning margin of a length and a half. The four-year-old clocked 58.05 seconds for the 1000m. From 13 starts, Oak Hill has now recorded six wins and two second placings. He has earned A$389,515 in prize-money. “We’re just really thankful for the opportunity that we’ve been given,” Ben Hayes said. “It was a great ride by Blake and a perfect result. “I have to thank Anthony and Glen. They prepared this horse so well. He’s been with us for only a little while, so we can’t take too much credit for it. “The horse was able to jump well today, settle nicely in a good position, and when the gaps opened, he really hit the line strongly. It’s very exciting. It’s always great to get a win with a new horse in the stable, and winning this race today will really help us going into the spring. “We’ve had a lot of help from Anthony, who’s here today. This is actually his first day officially working for us, so it’s a good way to start what we hope will be a good, long partnership – especially with Rupert (Legh) and his whole ownership group as well. “The plan was to try to pick up some rating points today to open up a few more options for this horse in the spring, so it’s always nice when a plan comes off.” Oak Hill was bred by the Mahoenui Partnership and is by Little Avondale Stud’s Per Incanto out of the High Chaparral mare Isstoora. That makes Oak Hill a half-brother to Desert Lightning, who has won six races including the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) and the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m). Oak Hill was offered in Little Avondale’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2022, where Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables bought him for $180,000. View the full article

A week after missing out on a black-type opportunity at Awapuni, Cannon Hill (NZ) (Ardrossan) eased his connections’ disappointment with victory in the Prezzy Card Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Cannon Hill was entered for the ANZAC Mile (1600m) on last Friday’s card at Awapuni, which was abandoned after one race. That Listed feature was rescheduled for Wanganui two days later, but many of the northern raiders were withdrawn. That led to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing increasing the stake of Saturday’s Prezzy Card Mile at Te Rapa to $60,000. In the end it was Cannon Hill who took the lion’s share of that consolation prize. Premiership-leading jockey Craig Grylls took up a handy position in fourth, then brought Cannon Hill out to the middle of the track to make his run. Front-runner Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale) still had plenty up his sleeve and fought hard all the way down the straight, but Cannon Hill would not be denied. He edged out Knights Realm by a nose in a desperately tight finish. Hasstobeawinner (NZ) (Vadamos), Mosinvader (NZ) (Vadamos), Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time Test) and Channel Surfer (NZ) (Derryn) finished another long neck, neck, long neck and neck away respectively. “He’s got a nice consolation prize after missing that Listed race last week,” Grylls said. “I wasn’t supposed to ride him that day, but I ended up picking up the mount when Matt Cartwright got suspended. The Tony Pike stable was pretty bullish coming into today, and they’ve got it right. “He jumped and put himself in a good spot. We managed to get out to the middle of the track, and then he was really tough and fought them off the whole way down the straight.” Cannon Hill was a $150,000 purchase by Pike Racing from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. The four-year-old son of Ardrossan has earned $166,325 from a 15-start career that has produced four wins and four placings. His Te Rapa victory capped a successful day for Pike, who was in Christchurch to saddle the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) winner Lucy In The Sky (NZ) (Hello Youmzain). The Cambridge trainer was represented at Te Rapa by Chris McNab. “The stable has had a pretty good hour or so,” McNab said. “With our first two runners here at Te Rapa today, it was like quicksand down on the inside. So the key with Cannon Hill was to get him to the outside. That was the winning of the race. I know it was still close at the finish, but he was in the right part of the track and that was a real advantage. “He’s coming through the grades very well and is going to be a good horse next year, and maybe even better as a six-year-old.” View the full article

The expected wet-track form was suddenly thrown out the window when wild weather forced Saturday’s Riccarton meeting to be moved to the Polytrack, but class shone through in the three open handicaps on the card. Tumuch (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) took out the Avon City Ford Easter Cup (1600m), Buoyant (NZ) (Dalghar) won the Bush Inn Open Sprint (1200m) and Star Ballot (NZ) (Tarzino) ran away with the Hornby Club Founders Cup (2200m). The trio won those races by a combined margin of 11 and three-quarter lengths. The surface switch proved to be ideal for Tumuch in the $80,000 Easter Cup. The highly talented son of Satono Aladdin had acquitted himself well on Heavy10 turf last weekend, finishing second and beaten by only a half-head by Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star) in the Listed Great Easter Stakes (1600m). But he had won his only previous race on the Polytrack, and he kept that perfect record intact on Saturday. In a field reduced by scratchings to just four runners, Tumuch and jockey Khrishna Mudhoo settled in third place along the rail as Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer) and Miss Layla (NZ) (Burgundy) shared the pace. Mudhoo released the brakes coming up to the home turn, and Tumuch effortlessly cruised up alongside Master Marko in the straight. There was little doubt about the result from there, with the $2.20 favourite kicking away to win by two and three-quarter lengths. Tumuch has now had 22 starts for six wins, six placings and $240,230 in stakes. He won the Listed Timaru Stakes (1200m) on Riccarton’s turf track in January. “He’s a very good horse,” Mudhoo said. “The wet track wasn’t in his favour at all last week, but he still managed to give it a very good crack and ran second. The moment this race moved to the Polytrack, I had a big smile on my face. “He did it easily all the way around. As soon as I pulled him out, he pinned his ears back and it was game on. “He’s one of the best horses I’ve ridden. He reminds me of another good horse I rode, Revelator, who was owned by Peter Lyon (and won nine races and more than $200,000 in stakes). But this one is probably better.” Saturday’s feature sprint winner Buoyant is also unbeaten on the synthetic surface. His only previous start was a 1400m race at Riccarton in June of 2022, which he won by four and a half lengths. The Dalghar gelding sat in second place on Saturday before pouncing in the straight and pulling away, beating Victor Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy) by two lengths. Buoyant’s 36-race career has produced eight wins, five placings and $266,148. He was the South Island’s standout sprinter in the 2022-23 season, when he won the Gr.3 Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) and Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) and placed in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m). “He’s a good horse, and it’s nice to have him back in form now after a bit of a glitch in Australia,” trainer and part-owner Sabin Kirkland said. “He’s had only two runs on the synthetic track here. He ran a track record (1:22.08) over 1400m here as a three-year-old. So I wasn’t concerned about the race switching to the Polytrack today. His work was exceptional the other day.” Star Ballot recorded the most dominant victory of all in Saturday’s Founders Cup. After enjoying a comfortable run just off the pace, he took command after straightening for home. Jockey Kavish Chowdhoory drove him clear down the straight and he opened up a winning margin of seven lengths. Star Ballot has had 44 starts for seven wins, 10 placings and $205,755 in stakes. He has had five starts on the Polytrack for two wins and two placings. View the full article

Handsome two-year-old Towering Vision (NZ) (Circus Maximus) broke his maiden status in the best possible fashion when he took out the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) in a torrid finish at Te Rapa. The win also provided his sire Circus Maximus, the European triple Group One winner who stands at Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge, with his first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner from his first crop on the track in Australasia. Having just his third start and second run since a summer break, Towering Vision settled nicely for rider Craig Grylls on the rails behind the pace before improving sharply approaching the home bend. With the field fanning wide Grylls picked a path between runners to hit the front at the 200m before being hot challenged by Navy Dreams (NZ) (Merchant Navy). The pair went head to head in the final stages with Towering Vision putting his nose in front at the right time to finish first past the post. An enquiry regarding a bump between the two was instigated by the Judicial committee however this was dismissed with the Mark Walker and Sam Bergson-prepared runner holding on to the victory. Bergerson was excited about the future prospects for his charge who believes will get better with age and a step up in distance. “We always liked the step up to 1400m, we thought he would also handle the track and he has just gone the right way of late,” Bergerson said. “He is a horse we think has plenty of upside and looks like a really nice three-year-old for next season. “He has the ability to do it now and that is a fantastic result for his owners, for Windsor Park and Circus Maximus. “We think he can go to the mile next time so the Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Ellerslie is a possibility once we get him home and see how he pulls up. “Fair play to him as well as he looked beaten when the other one went past him. He got a bit green and got lost but he kicked again which is a credit to him.” Grylls confirmed his mount had run a little greenly in the straight but was impressed with how he knuckled down to the challenge. “He hopped away nicely and put himself there before idling up to them in the home straight,” he said. “He got a little bit lost when he kicked away and the second horse has possibly headed him, but to his credit he picked himself up again. “You would think 1600m will be ideal for him as he is a big, long striding type.” Purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $105,000 during the Book 1 sale at Karaka in 2024, Towering Vision is closely related to multiple South Island stakes winner Who Dares Wins (NZ) (Iffraaj). His sire Circus Maximus, a son of champion stallion Galileo, will stand at Windsor Park for $17,500 + GST during 2025 breeding season. View the full article

In a week where wild weather affected a number of race meetings it was the aptly named Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) that continued a stellar run of form with victory in the Modern Transport Group (1200m) at Te Rapa. The Andrew Forsman-prepared son of Savabeel went into the Open 1200m contest off a winning performance in rating 75 company at the venue back in April, that kicked off his autumn campaign on the best possible note. Apprentice Tristan Moodley had the four-year-old travelling sweetly throughout on Saturday and angled to the middle of the track to launch a challenge shortly after rounding the home bend. Pacemaker Shoes (NZ) (Derryn) fought hard when joined by Force Of Nature but the race favourite had the momentum in his favour as he drew out in the final few strides to win by half a length at the post from the game Shoes and Baronet (NZ) (Contributer) who plugged on well to take third. Forsman was delighted with the effort of his charge who he believes will only continue to get better. “It was a good effort today as they didn’t go as hard as I thought they would,” Forsman said. “We all know how good a front runner Shoes can be and with her light weight (52.5kgs) I thought she could be very hard to catch. “My guy knuckled down well and really found the line in the last part which was very pleasing to see. “He is a Savabeel who has just needed time to mature and I don’t think he is finished yet. Tony (Rider) is a great owner as he has let us do what we have wanted with the horse and is reaping the rewards now. “He also handled what was quite a tricky track (Heavy 8) so that was good to see although I doubt whether he would go as well on the really deep surfaces that we can expect over the next few months. “He might have one more and then we could put him away with our sights set on something bigger and better in the Spring.” Bred and raced by Milan Park principal Tony Rider, Force of Nature is out of the O’Reilly mare Elusive Nature (NZ) and is the younger brother of Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy winner (1200m) Shezzacatch (NZ) (Savabeel)who also ran 4th in the 2023 Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) behind Levante (NZ) (Proisir). He has now won four of his eight starts and over $95,000 in prizemoney. View the full article