Wandering Eyes

DEL MAR, Calif. — Sovereignty (Into Mischief), the imposing 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, has spiked a fever and “there's a possibility that he won't make the race on Saturday,” according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. “He had a slightly elevated temperature and that remained through the night,” Mott said to a group of media assembled on the Del Mar backstretch Tuesday morning. “This morning at 5 a.m. and when we got here at 5:30 a.m., he still had a slight fever. Since 6 a.m., we gave him some medication to help with the fever and to help alleviate the fever. His temperature is down to normal right now. He's eating everything, he looks fine.” The GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers S. winner breezed four furlongs in :49.80 at Del Mar Monday. He walked the shedrow this morning. “As of right now, there's a possibility that he won't make the race on Saturday,” Mott said. “If we don't feel like he's 100 percent, he's not gonna run.” “If his temperature becomes elevated again, it's over.” BREAKING NEWS: @BreedersCup Classic favorite SOVEREIGNTY spiked a fever. Bill Mott with details here. pic.twitter.com/wmxXDn8q8F — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 28, 2025 The post Sovereignty Spikes Fever, Not 100% To Make The Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has released a new campaign advocating for passage of a bill that would repeal a wagering tax as part of legislation passed by Congress earlier this year, the NTRA announced Tuesday. As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law July 4, there was a tax change regarding wagering losses–reducing the deduction from 100% to 90%. In response, Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr has introduced the WAGER Act (Winnings and Gains Expense Restoration Act), new legislation which would restore the deduction back to 100%. “While there were many victories for our sport in the legislation passed this summer, we noted at the time that work needed to be done to repeal the language that would effectively tax horse players on phantom income. This provision will have a negative impact on our customers who fuel a $36 billion industry responsible for nearly half a million jobs, thousands of small agribusinesses, and millions of acres of open working space,” said Tom Rooney, President and CEO of the NTRA. Barr, Chairman of the Congressional Horse Caucus, added, “I'm working right alongside NTRA, Breeders' Cup, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, The Jockey Club, and all our Thoroughbred horse racing advocates to reinstate the full deduction for wagering. Estimates say this could reduce track handles by 5-8%. I'm going to keep pushing the WAGER Act to restore this full deduction so that our industry can flourish.” The post NTRA Advocates For New WAGER Act As Repeal Of Wagering Tax appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Halo, an AI-powered equine performance predictor and insurance platform, will launch this autumn. Its insurance capabilities have been developed in conjunction with reinsurance broker, Guy Carpenter, and underwriter, Markel. Halo is designed to integrate real-time predictive analytics with embedded, flexible cover to deliver protection that matches the way the industry operates, offering micro-duration policies tailored to owners, syndicates and buyers. Policies include Race-Day Cover, insuring a horse for a single race, from when it leaves the yard until its safe return – or even just from the parade ring to the finishing post. Fall of Hammer Cover is also available, providing instant protection from the moment a yearling is purchased in the sales ring until it arrives securely at its new yard. Underpinning Halo is Hailey, a GPT-based AI agent built exclusively for Halo users. Powered entirely by data, Hailey can provide sales, breedin and race-planning recommendations. Neil Sands, founder of Halo, said, “This is about reinventing equine insurance and ownership for the modern era. Through our work with Guy Carpenter and Markel, we're introducing products that match the way horses are actually bought, sold and raced. “Whether it's protecting a yearling the instant the hammer falls or covering a horse only for the few minutes it's on track, Halo delivers immediate, intelligent cover – and Hailey ensures those decisions are guided by the best data available.” Juliet Redfern, Markel's divisional managing director – equine & livestock, added, “The combination of artificial intelligence and equine insurance has the potential to transform how horses are valued and protected. We are delighted to be supporting Halo as it brings a new dimension of transparency and innovation to the market.” The global equine insurance market is currently estimated at around £450-475 million (€510-540 million) in 2023 and forecast to reach £1.3-1.5 billion (€1.5-1.7 billion) by 2031-33. The platform will launch in the UK and Ireland this autumn, with expansion into Europe, APAC and North America planned for 2026. The post Halo AI and Markel Launch New Platform for Equine Insurance and Performance Prediction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A week out from the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Australian Bloodstock team is increasingly confident that it has both the right horse and the right man for the job, having put its faith in the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett). The syndicate will be seeking a third success in 'the race that stops a nation', having previously lifted the famous trophy after the wins of Andreas Wohler's Protectionist in 2014 and the ex-French runner Gold Trip in 2022. This year the Australian Bloodstock colours will be strongly represented at Flemington, with Royal Supremacy (Make Believe) and Vauban (Galiway) both set to join Al Riffa in the Melbourne Cup line-up, but at this stage it is O'Brien's multiple Group 1 winner who is giving his connections most to get excited about. “He was the obvious horse and wasn't hard to find,” Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett said of Al Riffa's purchase, prior to his impressive victory in September's G1 Irish St Leger at the Curragh. “He's a high-quality horse in any era, I think, and for us it was an obvious choice – we were delighted to secure him. We had to give a good few quid for him, but he is certainly a horse you normally can't get your hands on. “Joseph has been delighted with the way he has travelled over. He's accustomed to travelling, but this would be the furthest he's ever had to travel, so you are always a little bit guarded. But I believe he has settled in beautifully and we're really excited. “The [Irish] St Leger win probably cemented our opinion of him, but he was already a highly-credentialled horse. But that brutally-run 2,800-metre race at the Curragh proved that two miles will hold no fears for him around the flat deck at Flemington. “I'd love to get a drop of rain for him, like most horses, but I think, if he turns up on the day in the same vein of form as he did at the Curragh, it's fair to say he will be more than competitive.” O'Brien is also bidding for a third win in the Melbourne Cup after those of Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020. Already the youngest trainer to win Australia's most prestigious prize, O'Brien could also surpass Dermot Weld to become Ireland's most successful handler in the marathon event if Al Riffa or stablemate Goodie Two Shoes (Fastnet Rock) can deliver next week. “We're really enjoying being in Joseph's yard and his communication has been fantastic,” Lovett said of Australian Bloodstock's association with the County Kilkenny-based trainer. “He's held in the highest esteem by Australians. The amount of trainers who have tried unsuccessfully [to win the Melbourne Cup] and to think that at such a young age he has won it twice, it's fair play to him. “He's got a great record everywhere, but to bring two horses down to Melbourne and win the Cup is incredible really.” Meanwhile, another dual Melbourne Cup winner will be doing the steering on Al Riffa, namely Mark Zahra, who was successful aboard the aforementioned Gold Trip, before repeating the dose the following year courtesy of Without A Fight. Zahra replaces newly-crowned Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, who has ridden Al Riffa in all but four of his 15 career starts. “We've had a lot of luck with Mark,” Lovett added. “A lot of the owners involved in this horse, he rides their horses and he rides a lot of our horses, so it made sense. “I don't enjoy doing something like this and, obviously, Dylan has got a great affinity with the horse and has ridden him fantastically. But it's a long way to come for one ride, so it just made sense to use Mark. “Going forward, there will hopefully be plenty of opportunities for Dylan to ride for us.” The post Confidence Building in Al Riffa Camp as Melbourne Cup Looms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Johannes (Nyquist–Cuyathy, by Congrats), the winner of the GI Shoemaker Mile as well as five other graded stakes on the turf, will begin his stallion career at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., following a final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, the farm announced Tuesday. The 5-year-old enters this year's Breeders' Cup with nine wins in 15 starts and earnings in excess of $1.2 million. Of those nine wins, eight wins have come in stakes company, and six were against graded stakes competition. A nine-length maiden special weight winner sprinting 6 furlongs in 1:08.47 as a 2-year-old at Santa Anita Park, Johannes then kicked off his sophomore campaign with dominant victories in the Baffle Stakes and the Pasadena Stakes, also at Santa Anita. Johannes, a homebred for Joe and Debby McCloskey, started his four-year-old season with a breakthrough graded victory in the GIII American Stakes at Santa Anita Park, running the mile in 1:32.08. From there, he posted Beyer Speed Figures of 100 or greater in six of his next seven starts, beginning with a victory in the GI Shoemaker Mile, his first Grade I effort. Johannes would go on to win five of six starts that year, adding the GII Eddie Read Stakes, GII City of Hope Mile Stakes, and GII San Gabriel Stakes. His only defeat that season came in the Breeders' Cup Mile, where he was by three-quarters of a length, tying a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103. Johannes comes into this year's Breeders' Cup Mile having once again secured a “Win and You're In” berth by virtue of his victory in the City of Hope Mile with a 100 Beyer. He has won races at six furlongs in 1:08.47, 6 ½ furlongs in 1:13.07, one mile in 1:32.08, and 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.50. “When I think of Johannes, instant acceleration comes to mind,” said Tim Yakteen, who trains for the McCloskeys. “He is a superior miler that has sprint speed as well as a wicked finishing kick. He moves like a cat and has a fantastic disposition around the barn. He's a trainer's dream.” The Kentucky-bred Johannes is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Congrats mare Cuyathy, who has produced four winners from four foals to race. The McCloskeys bought Cuyathy, their first horse, for $50,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “Johannes has given us the journey of a lifetime,” said Joe McCloskey. “He possesses the heart and determination that is rare, and we were so blessed to have watched him grow into a phenomenal racehorse. We will miss seeing him in training, but we can't wait to see how beautiful and fast his babies will be.” Cuyathy's produce also includes the multiple stakes winner Sea Dancer (Mastery) and stakes-placed Sea Runner (Gun Runner), as well as Soaring Angel (Knicks Go), who broke her maiden on debut at Del Mar in July. Cuyathy is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Join in the Dance, as well as the dam of Grade II winner Elm Drive and stakes winner Mother of Dragons. “Johannes is a very talented horse that has been on our radar for a while now,” said Claiborne's President Walker Hancock. “His father Nyquist has proven to be an elite sire, but he doesn't have a son standing in Kentucky yet, which makes Johannes that much more appealing. He is a beautifully made horse with a strong pedigree. His dam is by Congrats, his second dam is by Devil's Bag and his third dam is by Danzig, so he has Claiborne genetics all throughout his page. The McCloskeys are wonderful people that operate in an old school breed-to-race way that resonates with us. It's a great fit and we couldn't be more excited to debut Johannes alongside Mindframe. I think breeders are going to love what these two new studs have to offer.” The post Grade I Winner Johannes to Stand at Claiborne Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

And now there are eight. Four more trotters and pacers have been announced for the two big Show day slot races at Addington Raceway on Friday, November 14. Habibti Pat (Habibi Inta) and Rogue Hero (Ford Contracting) will join Tarragindi and Meant To Be in the field for the Majestic Horsefloats THE ASCENT while Fate Awaits (Solid Earth Pty Ltd) and Greased Lightnin (Diane Reilly) are the two latest additions to the Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY alongside Got The Chocolates and Marketplace. Habibti Pat is a filly in form having won two of her last three starts and seven overall while Rogue Hero has only had eight starts for three wins for the Ford/Tomlinson team. In THE VELOCITY Fate Awaits and Greased Lightnin give the race its first Australian involvement. Fate Awaits is owned by Kevin Seymour/Solid Earth Pty and trained by Grant Dixon, the same combination that is associated with superstar pacer Leap To Fame. The Always B Miki colt has a lifetime record of nine wins from 23 starts and is a multiple Group 1 winner across the Tasman. Hugely successful Australian owner Diane Reilly has secured Greased Lightnin. It’s her second involvement in the race, after having Renegade in 2024. View the full article

The withdrawal of the two Keayangs has seen a reshuffle in this week’s rankings for the Renwick Farms Dominion trot, to be held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The firm favourite in the TAB market Keayang Zahara was withdrawn from the race by her Victorian trainers Margaret and Paddy Lee last week, as was stablemate Keayang Chucky. That has seen their stablemate Jilliby Ballerini go from seventh to sixth, the Greg and Ben Hope-trained Mr Love move up two places to seventh after his third in Monday’s Tactical Landing Ashburton Trotters Sprint and stablemate Midnight Dash improve two places to eighth. Making an even bigger jump up the rankings is Maui. Trained by David McCormick and driven by son Lawrence, the Peak seven-year-old is now 13th, up from 18th last week, following his fifth behind Muscle Mountain and co at Ashburton on Monday. After winning at Albion Park in Brisbane on Saturday Gus has also jumped up three places to ninth. Third in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, won so impressively by Republican Party on Monday, Akuta has improved two spots in the rankings for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup. Pinseeker finished just behind Akuta and that has seen him now at 12th, up six places. The Team Dunn (Diamond Racing) pair of Dalton Shard and Who’s Delight have both been withdrawn. With Dalton Shard previously ranked at 14 that pushes Vessem into the cut-off for the field at 15th. The final rankings for both the Dominion and the Cup will be done following next Monday’s Kaikoura Cup meeting. To see the latest rankings click here View the full article

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), in conjunction with the Racing Integrity Board (RIB), has today confirmed that all trials and race meetings at the RACE Awapuni track will cease for the remainder of 2025, as RACE Inc. and NZTR work towards a long-term plan for the sustainability of the track. NZTR Chief Executive Officer Matt Ballesty said the decision followed extensive efforts to restore the track and careful consideration of its impact on participants. “NZTR acknowledges that the remediation process for the RACE Awapuni surface has placed a significant strain on our Central Districts participants and the wider industry. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, with horse and rider safety being paramount.” “Our team, the RIB, and the Club, with the support of independent experts and international advisors, have worked tirelessly in recent months, and we share the disappointment felt by many. “Despite these efforts, the surface has not consistently met the standard required to confidently host full race meetings during what is an incredibly busy period for our sport,” Ballesty said. Track consultant Liam O’Keeffe said the decision followed careful assessment of the track during recent trials and gallops. “Following recent trials and gallops at Awapuni, it’s evident that further, more aggressive renovation work is required to bring the surface up to the standard the industry needs. At the same time, we’re progressing a wider investigation into the track’s long-term suitability,” O’Keeffe said. As a result, the trials originally scheduled for Thursday 30 October at RACE Awapuni have been cancelled, with a replacement trial meeting set to be held at Woodville Racecourse on Monday 3 November. Nominations will close at 12 pm on Friday 31 October. NZTR acknowledges there will be date and programming changes as a result of the pause in racing at RACE Awapuni, including a revised racing programme to find new locations for the meetings scheduled for 14 November, 20 December, and 26 December. View the full article

The Kaikoura Cup will celebrate its 100th running this year. To mark the occasion Kaikoura Trotting Club historian Phil Gourdie is looking back at the history of the great race. This is Part 5 – Driver/Trainer records By Phil Gourdie The five winningest drivers at Kaikoura are: Blair Orange 35, Colin DeFilippi 34, Maurice Holmes 23, John Dunn 21 and Mark Purdon 19. Blair drove his first winner at Kaikoura in 2000. He overtook DeFilippi when he landed a treble last year. He also won the Kaikoura Cup with Harnetts Creek in 2004. DeFilippi drove his first winner at Kaikoura behind Captain Flak on 3/11/1975. He drove Michele Bromac to win Kaikoura Cup No 62 on 2/11/1987 and Master Musician, Kaikoura Cup No 67 five years later. Maurice Holmes gained his first win at Kaikoura behind Bingen Wilkes on 22/2/1930. His last win came behind Egyptian Acres on 29/10/1973. He drove Kaikoura Cup No 39 Fury River on 2/11/1964 and Cup No 37 Soanfra on 29/10/1962. John Dunn gained his first Kaikoura winner behind Franco Caesar on 3/11/2008. John has driven four Kaikoura Cup winners, Cup No 91, Franco Nelson on 31/10/2016 and cups Nos 94, 95 and 96 behind Classie Brigade on in 2019-21. Mark Purdon drove his first winner at Kaikoura behind Il Vicolo on 30/10/1995. Mark has driven 19 winners at Kaikoura, five of the 19 have been Kaikoura Cups – Cup No 70, Il Vicolo 30/30/1995, Cup No 71 IL Vicolo 4/11/1996, Cup No 75 Bogan Fella 30/10/2000, Cup No 88 Fly Like an Eagle 4/11/2013 and Cup No 92 Lazarus 30/10/2017. The top trainers are: Mark Purdon 39, Robert Dunn 23 and Frank Monk 11. Purdon has trained or shared in the training of 39 winners at Kaikoura since his first winner on 30/10/1995. Ten of those wins have been Kaikoura Cups. Mark has driven 5 Kaikoura Cup winners as detailed above and he has shared the other five with Tony Herlihy Cup No 72 Sharp and Telford, Natalie Rasmussen Cup No 87 Sushi Sushi and Cup No 89 Arden Rooney, Tim Williams Cup No 93 Spankem and Olivia Thornley Cup No 98 Akuta. Dunn has trained 23 winners including five Kaikoura Cups – Cup No 68 Master Musician 1993, Cup No 91 Franco Nelson 2016, Cup Nos 94,95 and and 96 Classie Brigade 2019, 2020, & 2021. Monk has trained 11 winners including Cup No 14 Arachne on 23/2/1929 Next time, the last of the six part series, will feature the horses to win the Kaikoura – New Zealand Cup double. View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will & JD Hayes will have one eye on Sydney and another on Melbourne as they prepare for one of the best week’s in racing. The Hayes camp will be chasing lucrative riches in Sydney this weekend, where Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) contests the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m). “His run last start when second in the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) was excellent when beaten by Transatlantic who has since come out and won well,” Ben Hayes said. “The form is good and it has been done before. The Toorak winner has won the Golden Eagle (I’m Thunderstruck, 2021) and he has been trained to peak. This is his grand final so from barrier seven, hopefully he will get a nice run and be very competitive.” Meanwhile, Group One winning stablemate War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) will run in the A$3 million The Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) after finishing tenth behind Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the Gr.1 The Everest (1200m). “We were a tad disappointed initially with his Everest run,” Hayes said. “He just got a little bit crowded and ended up further back than we wanted, but his work through the line was very good. He ran very quick sectionals and the only horse through the line better than him was Angel Capital. “His gallop at the farm on Monday was excellent and he will love the 1300m.” The stable are not perturbed by the prospect of a wet Melbourne Cup week when it comes to their stable star Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars). The eight-year-old gelding could surpass A$20 million in career prizemoney should he win the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) on the final day of the carnival. The veteran has enjoyed another strong campaign, finishing second in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) before winning the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and finishing a brave second in the Gr.1 King Charles III (1609m). “His run at the mile in the King Charles was excellent,” Ben Hayes said. “He has got a great record at the mile and there is actually rain forecast all week, which will work in his favour. “He is in great order, is racing consistently and he will turn up on final day and do what he always does. “I think he went 25 starts in a row without a wet track and he is a wet tracker. “But he is very good on top of the ground, there is no doubt about that, but it does help him because it slows the others down.” View the full article

The rescheduling of Monday’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) to Saturday at Tauranga could rule both of Andrew Forsman’s pair out of a trip south for New Zealand Cup Week. Forsman was set to line-up stakes placegetter Quondo and the lightly-tried Virgo Viva at Te Rapa on Labour Day, but the meeting was abandoned after a horse slipped turning for home in race two. As for many of the Sarten contenders, it was a crucial final step towards the Guineas races at Riccarton, with the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) now almost certainly off the table for Virgo Viva (NZ) (Ribchester). “It’s not ideal timing-wise for Virgo Viva, we really thought she was a Guineas potential as far as the 1000 Guineas is concerned, but it makes it a little difficult now,” Forsman said. “She’ll run on Saturday, and we’ll work it out, but given the timing, it will probably be too difficult to get her down to Christchurch. It is a shame, but she still has to prove she’s up to it.” The Ribchester filly won on debut at Taupo earlier in October, with the third-placegetter in that race Belle Cheval subsequently shooting into Guineas contention with a big win at Ellerslie on Saturday. Her stablemate Quondo (Wootton Bassett) is still a possibility for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) a week later, having placed behind Magic Carpet last start in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). The prospect of a soft surface at Tauranga is a positive for Quondo, who was set to start second-favourite for take one of the Sarten behind He Who Dares. “For Quondo, he would’ve probably appreciated a little bit of time between runs and the slower track would’ve advantaged him more than others, so it’ll be interesting to see how the track comes up on Saturday,” Forsman said. “It (the 2000 Guineas) is a possibility, but again, going down south is a hard ask and it’s not the be-all and end-all. There are a lot of nice races up closer to home, so we’ll see how he performs on Saturday and work that out.” Also on the Tauranga card, Forsman believes his talented mare Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) can bounce back from a tough run in the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera when she contests the Bayleys Mount Maunganui 1300. “She’s come through it fine, it was just too deep and testing,” he said. “She jumped well, then raced a bit keenly on a very tough track. “I think she does appreciate a track with a bit of give in it, but clearly not as heavy as it was last time. The way she’s worked, I think she can bounce back.” Dual-stakes performer Kitty Flash (NZ) (Ace High) will return to raceday after a 10-month absence in the Chook and Lisa Married Today (1200m), with two tidy trial efforts under her belt. As a three-year-old, the daughter of Ace High placed in a Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) behind Alabama Lass and Savaglee respectively, arguably the best horses of that crop. “She’s been a long time off the races, but I’m really happy with how she’s going,” Forsman said. “I think she’ll run really well fresh-up, but with good improvement for a horse that hasn’t been to the races for so long. Generally, you think they’re going well, but they might just need one first time out. “She went to Melbourne in the spring (last year) and was all ready for an autumn preparation there but just got a little bit sore. She started to feel the firm tracks and physically we just had to back off and give her a bit of time.” Another returning in a fresh state will be Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan), who represents Forsman’s Flemington barn when stepping out at Bendigo on Wednesday. A winner of the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) last December, Yaldi performed solidly in age-group company in Melbourne through the autumn and resumes off two jump-outs in a Benchmark 78 race over 1100m. “We know he’s got good ability and jump-outs are one thing, but raceday is another,” Forsman said. “We’re probably looking to kick him off at a distance short of his best, with the idea that he can settle off them, they go quickly and he can hit the line well. “I think 1400m is going to be his go, he was very competitive in those three-year-old races in the autumn but was just carrying a lot of weight. Now that he is in a rating band, hopefully we can work him through the grades and see how we go as an older horse.” View the full article

Rain, rain, go away – that’s the thoughts of many trainers around the country as the wet weather persists through the spring. One of those trainers is Barbara Kennedy, who has been holding out for better tracks for many of her team, and her patience is starting to wear thin, with the Byerley Park horsewoman set to be met by another Heavy track at Pukekohe on Wednesday. Kennedy was excited about the prospects of all three of her entrants, however, she said with the track unlikely to improve from its Heavy8 rating on Tuesday morning, all three will likely be scratched. “They have just shown that they go better on Good tracks,” she said. “At the moment it is already a Heavy8 and at Byerley here it is already raining, so I don’t see it getting any better than a Heavy8. “Everyone is just waiting for these better tracks, and this rain is just not going away. It is a bit unfortunate, I would have had three really nice runners tomorrow had we been on better tracks, but this weather is just not helping us out.” Kennedy’s attention has swiftly turned to Tauranga on Saturday where she is set to line-up Pour The Wine (NZ) (Telperion) in the Bayleys Mount Maunganui 1300 and Lachie in the Aztech Signs 1600. “Lachie is coming along really nicely,” she said. “His first-up run over 1200m at Te Aroha was a little bit short for him, he is looking for a bit further. “If we get a better track on Saturday, he will definitely be one running on, hopefully in the placings. “Pour The Wine had a bit of a foot issue, that is why we scratched her from Ellerslie. I have just put her in with the hope that she will be spot on for it.” While Kennedy’s trio of runners on Wednesday will likely be saved for another day, she has high hopes for all three this preparation. Three-year-old Frosted filly Glacial Storm (Frosted), who is out of stakes performer Jip Jip Rock, has shown plenty of promise, winning a trial at the start of winter, and Kennedy expects a bright future once her manners improve. “Glacial Storm is a little bit of a tricky filly,” she said. “In her trials she tends to do things the wrong way around, she gets very keen in the early stages. We just want to figure that out with her first. “She is a filly we don’t quite know where we are going to be at with her, she has shown quite nice work at home, but we just want to get that maiden out of the way first before we make any plans with her.” Kennedy has high ambitions with fellow Barneswood Farm mare Hero Of War (Nicconi), eyeing the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day if she continues on her current trajectory. The daughter of Nicconi won on debut over 1400m in May and has returned from a spell to finish runner-up in both of her trials this time in. “She is coming along the right way,” Kennedy said. “She is a filly who has taken a bit of time to get to where she is at the moment. “She is one that is going to go over a bit of ground and possibly heading towards the Dunstan Stayers Final if she stays over ground like we think she will.” Kennedy also believes Wee Nessy (NZ) (Savabeel) could be in for a good preparation after pleasantly surprising her connections with her debut performance at Ellerslie 10 days ago. “Her first run was really impressive,” Kennedy said. “We weren’t expecting a lot from her, but she was hitting the line pretty strong at Ellerslie, so we have stepped her up to the 1600m, which will probably suit her a bit better. “We will just take each race as it comes with her. She doesn’t give away too much in her work, that’s why her run surprised us that she was finishing so nicely. She could be anything.” View the full article

Chicflix (NZ) (Sacred Falls) has been knocking on the door of a maiden victory for some time and trainer Paul Mirabelli is hoping she can breakthrough for an elusive win in the Eagle Technology 2200 at Pukekohe on Wednesday. The six-year-old daughter of Sacred Falls has placed in six of her last starts eight starts, and while Mirabelli said she has yet to fully mature, all signs are pointing towards another bold showing on Wednesday. “She is very honest,” he said. “Even though she is a six-year-old, she is still quite weak, but she is doing well and we are just trying to get a win for her. “She hasn’t won so far, and she has had a few starts, so we are not counting our chickens, but she has worked up quite well since her last race and she looks as good as she has ever looked, so we are hopeful.” Later on the card, stablemate Singe (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) will also be vying to secure her maiden win in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1600m), and Mirabelli is expecting a bright future for the filly over further ground. “I really like her,” he said. “She is very small, but she shows a lot of heart in her gallops at home and her last race was very encouraging. “She has so much stamina and once we get her out in distance, she is going to be very promising.” Looking ahead to the weekend, the stable will be represented by Prometheus (NZ) (Ace High) in the Aztech Signs 1600 at Tauranga. The five-year-old gelding has been a model of consistency on Cambridge’s synthetic track over winter, winning one and placing in four of his five starts on the surface, including running third in the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m). Mirabelli has been buoyed by his return to form, with the Cambridge trainer having faced soundness issues with Prometheus. “We have had a lot of troubles with him, his record should be a lot better,” Mirabelli said of the three-win gelding. “In a race at Te Rapa, he slipped and spread himself behind and we have had so much trouble after that with his muscles over his hindquarter, which plagued us for about six or seven months. “He came right and has been perfect ever since, so I think that is behind us.” Prometheus has been freshened ahead of his return to grass track racing this weekend, with Group targets on the horizon for the son of Ace High if he performs up to expectations. “He is going super,” Mirabelli said. “His work on the training track has been absolutely incredible, so we are very hopeful with him. He has picked up from where he left off, so we have got bigger missions for him. “He is looking to go to the Counties Cup (Gr.3, 2100m) next.” Meanwhile, Mirabelli has been pleased with the way Shoma (NZ) (Contributer) has come through his seventh-placed performance in last Saturday’s Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton, and he said he will have a gear change before a hopeful start in next month’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). “He has come through the run really well, I am really happy with him,” Mirabelli said. “He has over-raced in his last two starts where we had the side winkers on him, so we are going to take them off him and go back to riding him very quiet. I think he will definitely bounce back.” The 2000 Guineas remains Shoma’s primary objective this spring, however, if he doesn’t make the field, Mirabelli is hopeful of picking up a consolation prize before heading back north. “We are bruised, but we are not out of it,” he said. “We just need a few to drop away to get in. “Plan B will be the three-year-old 1400m or the special conditions maiden on the middle day (of New Zealand Cup Week).” View the full article

Godolphin's GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), looking to cap an historic sophomore campaign, drew post six and was promptly installed the 6-5 favorite for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. “No complaints about that,” trainer Bill Mott told Britney Eurton at the post position draw held Monday afternoon in the Del Mar paddock. “There is some speed inside and it gives him a good opportunity to see what is unfolding in the race.” Since his win in the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty has added victories in the GI Belmont Stakes, GII Jim Dandy Stakes and GI Travers Stakes, looking more dominant with each start. “It's all been positive,” Mott said of the colt's progression. “I think he's gone the right way mentally, and physically he is stronger. His races have gotten faster as the year has gone on. He will need to improve a little bit to get the job done here.” One of the strongest Classics in recent memory also includes last year's defending champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who will break from post seven and is 8-1 on the morning line, as well as last year's runner-up Fierceness (City of Light), who drew post one and is 4-1 on the morning line, and third-place finisher Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who drew post five and is 6-1 on the morning line. In addition to Sovereignty, the sophomore class is also represented by GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin), who drew post nine and is 10-1 on the morning line, and GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Baeza (McKinzie), who drew post two and is 15-1 on the morning line. “It's a very competitive field,” said Mott. “I think it's a great race. You have the 3-year-olds against the older horses. There are arguably the three top 3-year-olds that have been around all year. And they are taking on the first three finishers of the Breeders' Cup from last year. So it's going to be a great race.” The complete Classic field, in post position order with morning-line odds, is: Fierceness (City of Light), 4-1; Baeza (McKinzie), 15-1; Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), 20-1; Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief), 50-1; Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), 6-1; Sovereignty (Into Mischief), 6-5; Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), 8-1; Mindframe (Constitution), 10-1; Journalism (Curlin), 10-1; and Antiquarian (Preservationist), 15-1. The post Sovereignty Draws Post 6, Made 6-5 Favorite, in Breeders’ Cup Classic for the Ages appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Although East Coast-based horses have captured the last three runnings of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), it's safe to say there is a strong chance a California-trained contender could take this year's $1 million prize.View the full article

After beating the boys in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) earlier this year, Ag Bullet aims to become the sixth filly or mare to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 1.View the full article

Straight No Chaser, who won the 2024 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), could become the fourth horse to win back-to-back editions of the race when he starts in the Nov. 1 edition at Del Mar.View the full article

Seismic Beauty will aim to use a well-timed arrival at the top level when she faces an expected 13 rivals in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.View the full article

There's an overpowering foreign flavor providing the spice in a field of 14 entered in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.View the full article

The Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar looms not only as a $7 million shoot-out at 1 1/4 miles but also a battleground on which Horse of the Year and other year-end titles may pivot.View the full article

Johannes will look to improve off last year's finish and take home the top prize against an international cast in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.View the full article

Three entered in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) are seeking their second World Championships win: 2024 Juvenile (G1) winner Citizen Bull, last year's Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano, and White Abarrio, who won the 2023 Classic (G1).View the full article

Five-time grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty's two-year wait to achieve World Championship glory is at hand as she headlines the field for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.View the full article

BH Interview: Robbie MedinaView the full article

Mike Smith, the all-time leader in wins (27) at the Breeders' Cup, has given patient and professional Breeders' Cup rides to some all-time greats in horse racing, including Lure, Skip Away, Azeri, Zenyatta, Royal Delta, Songbird, and Arrogate. View the full article