Wandering Eyes

5th-OP, $115K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 3:22 p.m. ET. A $700,000 Keeneland September purchase by Willis Horton Racing and trained by Eddie Milligan Jr., WILL TAKE IT (Tapit) is the first to the post out of unraced Lady Take Charge (War Front). The latter was the top-priced foal at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale when she was hammered down to Whisper Hill Farm for $3.2 million. Eclipse Award winner Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway), a daughter of Lady Take Charge's half-sister Charming (Seeking the Gold), was the overall topper when sold to John Sikura and Hill 'n' Dale Equine for $6 million. Last year, Lady Take Charge produced a full-sister to Will Take It, who went to Sinandigan Stable at the Keeneland September Sale for $1.3 million. The extended female family runs through influential second dam MGISW Take Charge Lady (Dehere), who is responsible for GI Florida Derby champ Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), Horton's champion 3-year-old colt Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GI Beholder Mile winner As Time Goes By (American Pharoah), and Take Charge Brandi's half-brother and top-five first-crop sire Omaha Beach (War Front). TJCIS PPS 5th-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 2:14 p.m. ET Trained by Todd Pletcher, Don Alberto and Bridlewood Farm homebred Carolo Rapido (Curlin) is out of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss). She was a Blandford Bloodstock buy last year during Fasig-Tipton's Fall Mixed Sale for $1.2 million while in-foal to Gun Runner. TJCIS PPS 6th-OP, $115K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:50 p.m. ET. SF Bloodstock bred Guarani (Speightstown), who will be making his first start for Three Chimneys Farm after they purchased him for $425,000 at Keeneland September. The Steve Asmussen trainee is out of MGSP Czechers (Indian Charlie), who also produced his full-brother, G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. hero Switzerland. TJCIS PPS The post Well-Bred Son Of Tapit And Lady Take Charge Debuts At Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By this stage, we can really talk about living in “the Into Mischief era.” Not just because the Spendthrift phenomenon ends 2023 by sealing a fifth consecutive general sires' title, but also because he has become the definitive stallion of our times. In some respects, New Year's Day is a more literal turning point for our sport than other walks of life. For bureaucratic purposes, the weanlings of today become the short yearlings of tomorrow; and Into Mischief himself takes one step closer to veteran status, as he enters his 19th year. On the other hand, our cycles demand too much patience for anyone simply to wipe the slate clean every year. Every program, on or off the track, enters 2024 with a pretty clear trajectory. That may depend on how many (or few) mares your stallion has covered over the past two or three years; or perhaps on the caliber of those randomly selected by fate for the injuries annually inevitable in the paddocks or in training. And, actually, it is precisely those two variables that have combined to create the age of Into Mischief, and the industrial system on which he has built his hegemony. Quality still sells, as he has shown, but nowadays it's commercially imperative to have a foundation of quantity. Into Mischief has not quite matched the new mark he set last year, when his stock exceeded $28.5 million in earnings. At $25,893,748 million this time round, however, he has eclipsed the record he had established the previous year, when narrowly becoming the first sire ever to tip $25 million. (He had already been the first to break $20 million, back in 2020.) His latest haul is the work of 209 winners overall, 26 at stakes and 14 at graded level, six of those in the top tier–figures unmatched in each category other than by Justify, whose half-dozen elite winners either side of the water appear to identify a young stallion with global potential. Into Mischief's overall 54 black-type performers, 31 graded stakes horses, and 13 Grade I placers similarly represent the highest in those indices, as well. (All these figures updated to December 30.) So, guess what: you breed to Into Mischief at $250,000, or buy one of his 15 seven-figure yearlings in 2023 (another record, overtaking Storm Cat's 13 in 2005), and he will almost certainly get you a racehorse; and very possibly a champion. But we know how the model works, on these high-volume farms, even for much less competent stallions–and the fact remains that Into Mischief also has the highest number of starters, at a staggering 462. That's more than the two on the other steps of the general sires' podium for 2024, Curlin (238 starters) and Gun Runner (201), combined! Curlin-Hill-n-Dale-09-18-2023-SA6_5728-PRINT-Sarah-Andrew-1-1024x745.jpg" alt="" width="567" height="412" /> Curlin | Sarah Andrew In terms of ratios, therefore, both those horses have this year beaten Into Mischief across the board. The simplest measure of all is earnings per starter: Into Mischief is on $56,047, which puts him 10th overall. Gun Runner, with only a third crop of juveniles to add to his first 4-year-olds and sophomores, this year has an average yield per starter of $87,027; and Curlin, $78,126. Gun Runner's 16 stakes winners in 2024 represent eight percent of starters, against 5.6 percent for Into Mischief; his dozen graded stakes scorers equated to six percent, doubling the champion's clip; and his trio of Grade I winners are among 11 elite performers overall, a remarkable 5.5 percent of starters, again doubling the rate of Into Mischief. Now it is true that Into Mischief's sophomores this year were his first foals conceived at $150,000; and his juveniles at $175,000. His incoming 2-year-olds, including all those seven-figure yearlings, were conceived at $225,000, and the next lot are the first at his current fee of $250,000. So his current racetrack stock is only just reflecting his emergence as an eligible partner for the very best mares around, their attention having been stimulated by the likes of Practical Joke (foaled 2014) and Audible (2015). Breeders who were finally won over only by Authentic (2017) or Life Is Good (2018) have not yet put their stretchy, Classic stock into play, and it's reasonable to expect Into Mischief to complete his rise from famously humble origins with stronger percentages. Remember both Curlin and Gun Runner were Horses of the Year that started out at $75,000/$70,000. Nonetheless he must divide the plaudits with both his pursuers. Curlin's haul of $18,594,100 consolidates his claims as one of the best never to have his status formally gilded by a sires' championship. He was runner-up as long ago as 2016, to Tapit, and again in Into Mischief's first year, 2019; and he finished third in 2021 and 2022, in which years he was the only sire to produce five and six Grade I winners respectively. He has mustered another five this year, including the pair who repeated their Breeders' Cup success, besides a landmark 100th stakes winner. Overall, he's going to get you a horse placed at Grade I level from every 25 named foals, essentially the same as Tapit and bettered only by War Front among active sires. And he's priced accordingly nowadays, too–having last year earned a hike from $175,000 to $225,000, he joins Into Mischief at $250,000 in 2024. As for Gun Runner, up to third place on $17,492,408 after reaching No. 6 with only his second crop last year, he has now confirmed that some of his maturing stock (though having shown unexpected precocity overall) will thrive as he did himself. Interestingly, his third crop of juveniles has made a better start than did his second, and he obviously has time on his side: he turns 11, as Curlin hits 20. The question now is whether his growing resources might close the gap on Into Mischief, or whether the champion will extend his dominion for two more years, so matching the storied seven-year streak of Bold Ruler himself. It's a whole different world from the one dominated by Bold Ruler, of course. True, the top three have now reached such inaccessible fees that even Into Mischief's book dwindled to “only” 177 mares last spring, from 202 the previous year; while Gun Runner covered 166 mares, having been busiest of all with 256 in 2022. But the commercial frenzy otherwise remains unabated. Two farms, in particular, appeared to be pointedly unfettered last spring after thwarting an attempt to limit books to 140 mares. Everyone will have their own views on a rookie turf sprinter covering 293 mares, but the bottom line is that Ashford and Spendthrift between them will be accounting for an astounding percentage of the 2024 foal crop. Their stallions collectively entertained well over 5,000 mares, and the foal crop is projected at 18,000. Don't get me wrong, many other farms would have no qualms about emulating them, as we see from the numbers they accommodate whenever possible. All I'm saying is that this kind of production line brings with it a lot of responsibility, in terms of what the modern Thoroughbred can or should be. Regardless, few will be quibbling with the way Into Mischief has made the numbers game work. He's obviously become a remarkable influence, serving as both prototype and paragon for an era we can now brand with his name. In his early struggles, remember, he was one of the original prompts for the late B. Wayne Hughes to shake things up with his 'Share The Upside' scheme. That was the “bold” bit, and now Into Mischief is threatening to prove a “ruler” of unprecedented longevity. Mitole | Sarah Andrew Freshmen Sires The same farm that has supervised Into Mischief's ground-breaking career dominated the 2023 first-crop sires' table throughout, in the process vindicating a conspicuous evolution in strategy to upgrade its roster. Again, the four Spendthrift sires who confined the freshman title race to their own barn were all able to benefit from much volume. Vino Rosso had 155 live foals in his debut crop, for instance, and Mitole 147. It actually remains tight enough at the top that the last couple of days could conceivably make a difference, but as things stand it is Mitole who claims the laurels, whether by prizemoney ($2,356,418 against $2,189,482 for Maximus Mischief, with Vino Rosso breathing down their necks on $2,146,186) or individual winners (33, two more than “Max”). Mitole's eligibility for the crown is underlined by his status as the only one of the top four to have managed a graded stakes winner, joining just Flameaway and Solomini in what has proved a historically underachieving class overall. Last year's intake accumulated 15 such scorers, and the preceding years managed 13, 11 and 12. The last group to underperform by this measure, in 2018, has duly turned out to contain no real stars, with only four still in the Bluegrass and none standing for more than $15,000. So the pressure is on this latest group. If you get volume, it's over to you. You have an opportunity denied to other perfectly feasible prospects, and must respond with results. In this day and age, when we know that most stallions will have their biggest and best books in their debut season, the whole commercial prejudice in favor of new sires makes no sense unless they capitalize on all those mares by producing a Grade I winner or two. That could very easily still happen, of course, once this lot are represented by their first sophomores: Vino Rosso had four horses placed at the elite level this year, and his own template suggests that his stock will keep thriving; while Omaha Beach, who will have received the classiest mares, has so far launched barely half his named foals, compared with two-thirds already out for Maximus Mischief. Even as it is, Omaha Beach's nine stakes performers are a joint high for the class at 15 percent of starters. Credit, regardless, to Flameaway for doing best of those trying to break up the Spendthrift monopoly. He admittedly had pretty good numbers behind him, as well, but stands alone with four stakes winners to date. Only Maximus Mischief and Solomini have three. And Solomini has 69 named foals in New York. How many of these high-volume sires have genuinely proved themselves to be better conduits of genetic prowess than Solomini or, say, Divisidero? Among the main protagonists, champion elect Mitole has the highest percentage of winners-to-starters at 42 percent. Divisidero has four winners from 10 starters including a Grade II-placed stakes winner (from three starts). But having been so recklessly uncommercial as to win graded stakes five seasons running, he has no more than 23 live foals in his debut crop. Congratulations, all the same, to those that have worked the system. Every year there are new sires that don't convert opportunity into commensurate results, but three of the Spendthrift four (the exception, curiously, being the champion) and Flameaway have all earned fee increases for 2024. Justify -at-Coolmore-Ashford-05-10-2023-SA5_5566-PRINT-Sarah-Andrew-1024x745.jpg" alt="" width="521" height="379" /> Justify | Sarah Andrew Second-crop Sires etc. The freshman class of 2023 will do well to emulate their predecessors, who have had an exceptional campaign. Good Magic got the Derby winner at the first attempt, while Justify has the world at his feet after producing six elite scorers either side of the Atlantic. The emergence of an outstanding champion juvenile in Europe seals the impression that Justify could become the crossover stallion urgently required to reconcile disastrously segregated gene pools. He too had the inevitable quantity behind him as well, but he's maintained a wholesome tangent between the two with 10 graded/group winners in 2023 representing a class-high 5.7 percent of starters. It was hard work, even so, to hold off Good Magic for the second-crop laurels at $9,886,177 to $9,433,728, with Bolt d'Oro third on $7,274,729. Good Magic got his dozen stakes winners this year at 8 percent of starters, measuring up to Justify's 15 at 8.5 percent, and he's actually top by earnings-per-starter at $63,314, though Justify ($56,171) has doubtless paid in that respect for having such good horses contesting internationally uncompetitive purses over the water! Justify has only started 62 percent of his named foals, perhaps partly because he may have a few later developers like himself. Be that as it may, the 70 of his 140 named juveniles to have made the starting gate sufficed to make him the leading sire of 2-year-olds by a handsome margin, banking $4,870,920, miles clear of Constitution on $2,798,468. Justify had six graded/group scorers among his 2-year-olds, with only Gun Runner getting close on four. Otherwise only Good Magic, Nyquist, Malibu Moon and Ghostzapper had two; Into Mischief was among those with one, but he made it count in the GI Champagne S. Even so, given the frantic demand for precocity, you will find some very expensive sires looking rather tepid in this table. TDN stats incorporate worldwide earnings but that rather distorts the turf title, where Medaglia d'Oro owed around 70 percent of his $7,987,931 earnings to Hong Kong moneyspinner Golden Sixty! Otherwise, another championship could be posthumously awarded to English Channel on $6,859,169. Let's call him the domestic champion, at any rate, in a division for now dominated by veteran (War Front next on $6,600,220) or departed sires. Much the youngest player here is American Pharoah, who confirms his aptitude for the discipline in finishing just cents off fifth-placed… Into Mischief! A lot of perceived dirt sires would prove barely less effective on turf, judging from the results achieved by lesser stock that will typically only even try it because they're not working out on the main track. Insular European stables take note! The post Quality And Quantity Together Secure Mischief Fifth Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Verifying (Justify–Diva Delite, by Repent), winner of the GIII Indiana Derby and a half-brother to Eclipse winner Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), will stand at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida for an introductory fee of $10,000 in 2024. Trained by Brad Cox, Verifying began his career at two with a win in his first asking at Saratoga before placing in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont at the Big A in his second start. In addition to winning the Indiana Derby, he placed second in both the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. and the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. along with the GIII Matt Winn S. He retired with earnings of nearly $853,000. “We are always looking for stallions we know will raise the bar in Florida,” said Pleasant Acres Stallions Owner Joe Barbazon. “We've had our eye on Verifying since he ran in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont. Not only has he shown athleticism and talent during his career, he has also lived up to his impeccable pedigree.” Verifying joins stallions Bodexpress (Bodemeister), Chess Chief (Into Mischief), Curlin's Honor (Curlin), Doppelganger (Into Mischief), Gone Astray (Dixie Union), Gunnevera (Dialed In), Leinster (Majestic Warrior), Magic on Tap (Tapit), Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday), No Never No More (Scat Daddy), Simplification (Not This Time) and Sweetontheladies (Twirling Candy), at the farm located just northwest of Ocala. The post GSW Verifying To Stand At Florida’s Pleasant Acres Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Born Noble (c, 2, Constitution–Zapperkat, by Ghostzapper) was as green as the St. Elias Stable silks he was carrying, but overcame his inexperience with a powerful 'TDN Rising Star' performance for Todd Pletcher at first asking in the opener on Pegasus Preview day at Gulfstream Park. The 6-5 favorite jumped well from his outside draw and secured a perfect spot in second behind second-time starter and 6-5 second-choice Bonus Move (Twirling Candy). Born Noble cruised up alongside the pacesetter at the five-sixteenths marker and took over with authority at the top of the stretch. Hanging on his left lead as they straightened for home, Born Noble ducked in sharply while well clear following a pair of left-handers from jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. He leveled off nicely while racing under a snug hold after finally switching over and crossed the wire six lengths to the good. Big City (City of Light) tagged Bonus Move for second. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:24.27. The winner's dam Zapperkat, third as the favorite in the 2016 GI Chandelier S., was disqualified from first and placed second for interference in the following year's GIII Torrey Pines S. Purchased by WinStar Farm for $485,000 as a broodmare prospect at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Zapperkat is also responsible for a Constitution yearling filly ($170,000 KEESEP purchase by Shaker Stable). She was bred to Life Is Good for 2024. Sales history: $725,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. O-St. Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Constitution Colt Kicks Off Gulfstream Card with ‘Rising Star’ Performance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Part four of BloodHorse's 2023 year-end survey. View the full article

The stallion business, just like many other aspects of life in the racing world, is a cyclical one. Riding the high waves is easy, but arguably of most importance is to keep paddling away below the water line when things are a little flat. Keen observers of the French scene will detect a swell on the horizon. Following the untimely demise of Le Havre (Ire) and the sale to Coolmore of Wootton Bassett (GB), Siyouni (Fr) has been almost a lone head bobbing along in the elite waters, but the pool of talent is swiftly being refilled. A strong intake of stallions in France this year has an obvious leading player in the unbeaten Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact (Ire), whose light shone brightly, if a little too briefly for some, during the summer of 2023. The son of Cracksman (GB) has joined Haras de Beaumont, which, in less than two years of existence, is already home to the busiest French stallion of the year in Sealiway (Fr). That dual Group 1 winner will now have to make room for Ace Impact as he embarks on his new career as the most expensive first-season sire in the country for 2024 at a fee of €40,000. Mathieu Alex runs Haras de Beaumont for Kamel Chehboub, who bought a 50% share in Ace Impact from Serge Stempniak midway through the season, and whose daughter Pauline is also heavily involved with the stud and the family's horses in training, who compete under the name of Gousserie Racing. “Serge Stempniak, who previously owned 100%, made it very clear when we approached him that he would like the horse to stand in France,” Alex explains. “Obviously Kamel and his family were very ambitious from day one. With Haras de Beaumont the idea was to try to have the best possible stallion prospects.” Plenty of breeders have already had the chance to inspect Ace Impact during the week of the Breeding Stock Sale at Arqana, just 10 minutes down the road from Beaumont, which sits on part of the estate of the storied Haras du Quesnay. It is a safe bet that the stud will also be inundated with visitors during La Route des Etalons on the weekend of January 20 and 21. “Haras de Beaumont was created last year, summer 2022, really. And when we had our first discussion with Kamel about this project, it was always very clear for him that standing stallions was an important part of the movement,” says Alex. “Obviously it started with Sealiway. He and his family were the owners of Sealiway, a top-class performer, so it was a nice introduction, you know, to be able to stand a horse like Sealiway. But we never could have thought that a year or two in we'd be standing on a horse like Ace Impact. It's great for the team. It's great for me. It's great for France.” He continues, “I think his acceleration is probably what everyone is talking about. And the fact that he's unbeaten is a big deal. His trainer did a wonderful job in the way he spaced time between the races and targeted the best races he could. He was extremely impressive in the French Derby because he was so far back, yet very relaxed. And when you think that he was probably ten lengths behind Big Rock at the end of the straight and won by two and a half lengths beating that Group 1 winner, it's extraordinary.” It is easy to forget that Ace Impact was still unraced at this time last year. Between the end of January and the beginning of October, he ran six times in a faultless progression from maiden to champion. Shortly after the horse's retirement, his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget told TDN why he had chosen to start the horse off at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January. “I prefer to give [my horses] experience and, to me, Cagnes-sur-Mer is a very good track,” he said. “I used to send 30 or 40 horses every winter. I did the same with Raabihah. She should have won the Diane for me. She was a close fourth, and after [Cagnes] she won [a Listed race] in Longchamp. I consider running in January to be the same as running in November. I don't push my horses to start. First time out I want there to be no risk.” With Frankel's son Onesto (Ire) retiring to Haras d'Etreham for the coming season, Ace Impact extends that line again to the next generation and also increases the amount of Galileo blood available at Beaumont. Alongside Galileo's grandson Sealiway, there is also the dependable Intello (Ger), a son of Galileo whose season has been lifted by his dual Group 1-winning son Junko (GB). Ace Impact's dam Absolutly Me (Fr) is a daughter of another Prix du Jockey Club winner in Anabaa Blue (GB), which brings in some inbreeding to the influential mare Allegretta (GB), whose daughters Urban Sea and Allez les Trois appear on opposite sides of Ace Impact's pedigree as the dams of Galileo and Anabaa Blue respectively. “Ace Impact is obviously from the Frankel line and his dam has produced five runners, five winners, and three black-type horses, including a champion. She's a good mare. And it's a nice combination between speed–Cracksman's dam is by Pivotal–and obviously stamina,” says Alex. “Because he never raced outside France, we've had a lot of people coming to see him–Americans, Japanese, obviously [breeders from] Europe, England, Ireland, Germany, France. You know, it's very exciting. They all come with the excitement of coming to see a champion, and to see him physically is very important. He's going down very well.” As Pauline Chehboub greeted those breeders through early December, she was able to bring them into the stud office for refreshments alongside the imposing trophy presented for the horse's final race, which is a replica of the Arc de Triomphe itself. She casts her mind back to that day at Lonchamp in October. “The preparation was so good. Jean-Claude Rouget was so happy with him, so there was no pressure until the week of the race,” she says. “It was crazy to have the Arc favourite, an unbeaten three-year-old. So it was a memorable day, maybe [the most memorable] in our life.” Chehboub continues, “It's special that we're just a new stud, a new project; and to have a champion like that, just one year after the beginning is incredible. And we are very happy with Sealiway, too, because he was the most popular stallion in France this season, for his first season.” But this year, it's the Cartier champion three-year-old colt that people are flocking to see. She adds of Ace Impact, “Everybody wants to see him, to touch him. He's not a legend, but he will be, I hope so. He's special and it means a lot to us.” The post Beaumont has Ace in the Hole in a Stellar French Intake appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Progressive mare Miss Tarzy has been in outstanding form this campaign and the daughter of Tarzino continued her rich run of form at The Valley on Saturday when running out a ready winner of the Blake Albones Memorial Handicap (2040m) under jockey Rhys McLeod. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained four-year-old has now won three races in succession, with wins at Seymour and The Valley preceding Saturday’s triumph. From barrier 1, Miss Tarzy sat just behind the leaders throughout and was nursed through a flat-spot by the in-form McLeod before extending impressively for a length and three-quarters victory. “She is three from three this prep,” stable representative Steve Adams said. “She was going OK last time in but this preparation she has found another gear and hopefully she can keep putting them together “It was always going to be tricky from barrier 1 and earlier in the day they were getting off the fence and I thought it might work out for her, but she came off the bit and was in a little bit of trouble there for a while but he made his way off and it was a great ride in the end.” McLeod, who with 37 wins from 209 rides this season has an impressive 17.7 percent winning strike-rate, was back aboard the mare after winning on her fresh-up at Seymour before Ben Allen was successful on the mare earlier in the month at The Valley. “She was right on-song today,” McLeod said. “Obviously three wins in a row now. First-up it was a good effort and then she backed it up last-start and again today. The stable have got her flying. “She was a little bit tardy to begin and I didn’t want to rub her too much, so I ended up in the box seat and I was a little bit wary of that but we ended up pushing our way out and having a nice run. It was a good win.” Bred and raced in a syndicate by Rosemont Stud, Miss Tarzy is a daughter of Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino and the French-bred mare Grise Leigh. The dam is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Criterium de Saint Cloud (2000m) winner Morandi with Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) winner Lord Glitters also a decorated family member. View the full article

Four-year-old gelding Grebeni notched his seventh career victory when narrowly prevailing in the Drinkwise Maroubra Mile (1600m) at Randwick in front of a throng of enthusiastic owners. The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained son of Ocean Park had scored a similarly resolute victory at Randwick a fortnight ago and after preforming consistently well across ten starts in 2023, heads to the paddock for a deserved break. “He’s good, isn’t he,” Ryan said. “He just wins, he just tries and I thought when the horse with the lighter weight (Riyazan) kicked at the top of the straight he might have his work cut out. He doesn’t win by big margins, but he wins. “I think Kerrin (McEvoy, jockey) had in the back of his mind that he got to the front too soon on him the other day. “He was just foxing with him a little bit to have the last crack at them. When he went past me, 25 metres out, I thought he was going to win by a head but he has pulled away and won by a neck. “He is a good honest horse that deserves a spell now.” With more than 50 owners, Grebeni has a vocal fan base every time he races. “They love it. They enjoy it,” Ryan said. “Tim Boland, when he was breaking him in after we had just bought him at the sales after he was passed in, he said he’d take a share in him and put a couple of mates in. Well I think he has got 50 mates in him. “Tim can look after him for the next four weeks now.” Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has now ridden Grebeni on six occasions for five wins. “He is a nice big horse that is lovely to ride,” McEvoy said. “He has got a good attitude and Gerald and Sterling had been happy with him. “The start was key today, making sure we moved him out and we were in a dominant spot then and he was able to travel nicely and have the drop on them. He did the rest. “He is just building a nice little record this horse. He has gone through the grades beautifully and he is going to have a break and come back and get ready for some nice races into the next couple of preparations.” Ryan and Alexiou celebrated their 250th winner together with Grebeni after four years in training partnership. The duo are looking forward to the next two campaigns with Grebeni, who can run for some mega-prizes, particularly as a five-year-old. “He gets the confidence of a couple of wins now, and we can miss most of the autumn and target a couple of good money races leading into Brisbane,” Ryan said. “You can run in The Coast (A$500,000, 1600m) and the Scone Cup (A$200,000, 1600m) and maybe have one in Brisbane before coming back for the Epsom (Gr.1, A$1.5 million, 1600m), the Big Dance (A$3 million, 1600m) and the Five Diamonds (A$2 million, 1800m). “There is such a good program of races for five-year-olds in the spring now. His year is already mapped out.” Grebeni has now won seven of his 15 starts, with a further four placings and A$535,475 in prizemoney. By high-class Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park, Grebeni is out of the three-win Medaglia d’Oro mare Dubrovnik and was a $100,000 Gold Coast yearling purchase. View the full article

Owner Mike Repole may be considered a coupled entry with Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, but there's another Hall of Famer waiting in the wings for 2024.View the full article

Continuing the profiles of the favourite horses of TDN Europe's editorial team in 2023, Sean Cronin selects an unheralded sprinter who could hit the big time next year. Royal Ascot's 2023 edition produced its plethora of lip-quivering moments and there was scarcely a dry eye in this quarter when Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) halted a seven-race losing streak by annexing the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. for Tom Clover's Fordham Road yard. Purchased for 35,000gns as an unraced two-year-old out of the Shadwell draft at Tattersalls' 2021 December Sale, she became the Kremlin House incumbent's first Royal scorer and instigated joyous scenes among the multitude of Rogues Gallery syndicate members assembled in the hallowed winner's enclosure. Her best effort, in four subsequent outings, following that career high was a runner-up finish in Leopardstown's G1 Matron S. on Irish Champions weekend, but she made little impression and was not unduly punished when finishing last of 11 in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc day. Earlier on the card, Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) had wowed the Bois de Boulogne throng with an Arc performance for the ages, but it was a notable performance in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye, one race and 35 minutes after the Opera, which piqued this correspondent's interest. Rogue Lightning (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), another well-bought Rogues Gallery representative, had backed up a brace of five-furlong handicap triumphs with a black-type breakthrough in September's Listed Scarborough S. at Doncaster. An 80,000gns October Book 2 yearling-turned-42,000gns Craven Breezer, his next assignment was the final stakes race of the Arc weekend extravaganza, but Rogue Lightning was allotted a nightmare draw in the car park, stall 18 in a field of 18, for the five-furlong dash. The die had been cast and all hope was lost, or so it seemed. The gelded three-year-old broke alertly and, with little fuss from Robert Havlin in the plate, was soon among the pack racing towards the stands' side rail. Rogue Lightning was a hostage to fortune throughout, but picked off rivals from halfway and somehow weaved a charmed passage into contention. He closed relentlessly inside the final furlong only to run out of real estate, finishing fifth in a four-way photograph for second place, just one length and a flurry of pixels adrift of Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at the line. The vastly underrated Havlin had earned every cent of his riding fee in getting his mount so close. Rogue Lightning had one further assignment to fulfil and accompanied stablemate Rogue Millennium on the journey to Ascot for the British Champions meet, where the latter was no match for the supreme performance of Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., running a never-nearer fifth in the one-mile procession. Rogue Lightning was not in Berkshire to race, but to compete for bids as one of five lots catalogued for the boutique Goffs QIPCO Ascot Champions Day Sale. Another performance of note transpired as Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock signed the £1-million docket on behalf of Wathnan Racing's burgeoning operation. Much to the relief of Clover, Rogue Lightning will remain at Kremlin House and is set to target the majority of Europe's top sprints in 2024. “He's been a great horse for the Rogues and for us, as an ambitious yard, to keep him for some fantastic new owners in the yard is very exciting,” the trainer reflected. “We'll have to speak to Richard Brown, but the plan for now is that we'll bring him back fresh in the spring. He's the type of horse where you'd hope that the programme would work itself out and he should shape into a top-class sprinter.” Royal Ascot's G1 King's Stand, York's G1 Nunthorpe and another crack at the Abbaye are on the agenda and maybe, just maybe, Clover will be savouring his maiden Group 1 success in 2024. The post TDN Horses of the Year: Rogue Lightning appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Superstar miler will miss next month’s Stewards’ Cup, opening the door for a fresh face to taste Group One gloryView the full article

Legendary trainer believes his superstar miler can bounce back in the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) on New Year’s DayView the full article

by Michael Guerin Champion trainer Mark Purdon is adamant Don’t Stop Dreaming is ready to step up to the big time at Alexandra Park tonight but whether than means beating stablemate Akuta is another matter. Don’t Stop Dreaming races in open class for the first time in tonight’s $60,000 Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup, the highlight of a New Year’s Eve meeting far smaller than it used to be at The Park. One of our two star three-year-olds this season (alongside Merlin), Don’t Stop Dreaming clearly has the motor for open class and will eventually be a serious force in that grade but Purdon says it often takes even the best young pacers time to adjust. “He will make a good open class horse because he is such a great stayer,” says Purdon. “And he will go well this week, he could even win because while it is his first standing start I think he will handle it well as he is a very sensible horse. “But Akuta is still the better of our two chances. He has been there, done that.” Akuta hasn’t raced since surprisingly being beaten by Self Assured in the NZ Free-For-All at Addington on November 17, just days after a brave second to Swayzee in the New Zealand Cup. Before that he had dominated the New Zealand spring including two huge wins at Ashburton and Kaikoura which could mirror tonight’s 2700m standing start. On both those occasions he was allowed to find his feet early before launching mid-race and was still too strong for better fields than he meets tonight and he will again have to come from last from his 30m handicap tonight. Purdon thinks he can do it even though he hasn’t raced for six weeks. “He was tired after Cup week so we gave him five days off but he had that residual fitness when he came back into work,” he explains. “So it is not like back in the spring when he needed racing to get fit. “He has had one trial and a couple of good workouts and I think he is ready and the field doesn’t have the depth of the races he was winning in the spring. “I think he has that edge over Don’t Stop Dreaming but I do think John Dickie’s horse (Old Town Road) will be hard to beat now he is back home.” Akuta opened $2.10 with the TAB which looked generous as he could start around $1.60 or $1.70 tonight. Safely through tonight’s race both Akuta and Don’t Stop Dreaming head to Australia where Akuta will target the Hunter Cup at Melton on February 3. “I am looking forward to getting back over there, we haven’t done it much since Covid and I have built up a lot of contacts over there over the years,” says Purdon. Tonight’s other Cup for the trotters has lost one of its key chances with the scratching of Dream Of You so Resolve is now the $1.80 favourite. She was beaten fair and square by Dream Of You last start but trainer John Dickie believes she will be better tonight and with her last-start conqueror out and only a small field her 20m handicap doesn’t look that daunting. LAST BETS OF 2023 Best: Akuta (R7, No.8): His $2 fixed odds quote is very fair for the best pacer in the country. Each way: Kiss And Run (R6, No.14): Took on the open class trotters last start so drops a long away tonight and consistent filly. Fresh: Christopher Dance (R5, No.6): Stable rate him the fastest of their hot juvenile team and if he can get cover could beat them for speed. View the full article

The slushy track was no problem for Sharkie’s Girl with her dominant win last night in Race 3, the Happy New Year From Woodlands Stud Mobile Pace. Trained by John Dickie, the mare was rated perfectly by Stephanie Burley in the event for Junior Drivers. From a starting draw of 5, Burley sent Sharkie’s Girl forward to lead where she remained throughout before kicking away from the field to win by 5 and 3 quarter lengths in a time of 2.42. “I was quietly confident as I thought she was the best horse in the field” said Burley “I found the front easier than expected and she was travelling easy throughout and let down really well.” Pixie, driven by Crystal Hackett finished 2nd and Bet West, driven by Nate Delany was 3rd. The Maiden races of the meeting also look to have unveiled some talent to follow with both being taken out by 2 year olds. Irresistible took out Race 2 for Pukekohe based trainer Penny Fensom, who also trained the 2nd place runner Savarna, giving her a quinella with her two starters. Driven by Rhys Fensom, Irresistible was sent forward to lead and proved too good in front, winning by 3 and a half lengths. “We started Irresistible fresh without a workout on the 21st December where she ran 6th” says Fensom “we knew she would have improved from the run and were happy with her heading into the race last night.” Race 6, The Off The Track Food and Bev Mobile Pace, was won by first starter Justcallmemiki for trainer Brent Mangos in the hands of Maurice McKendry. McKendry sent the 2 year old colt forward where he remained before skipping away from the field in the straight to win by 3 lengths. The meeting was Cambridge Raceway’s final event for 2023 with their first meeting in the New Year on Sunday 7th January. View the full article

What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King St, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Monday, January 1, 2023 First Race 2:40pm AEDT Visit Dabble The New Year of racing is set to get underway at Canterbury on Monday afternoon as they get set to host a bumper eight-race program, headlined by the $200,000 Listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m). The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with improving conditions forecast in the lead-up, the course should firm into the Good range prior to the opening event at 2:40pm AEDT. Canterbury Sprint Top Tip: Zou Tiger There’s speed drawn across the map in the Listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m), hopefully allowing a returning Zou Tiger to finish off best. The son of Zoustar returns after a 219-day spell and a gelding operation, with the John O’Shea barn targeting a strong race first-up. He’s only had one trial prior to this event, however, with Tommy Berry taking the sit aboard the four-year-old, it gives us confidence the four-year-old is ready to go, so expect a bold showing from this multiple Group 1 placed galloper. Canterbury Sprint Race 7 – #5 Zou Tiger (6) 4yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea | J: Tommy Berry (55.5kg) +800 with Neds Best Bet at Canterbury: Fickle On the back of two strong barrier trials, Fickle makes her debut for the Peter & Paul Snowden barn and looks prepared for a first-up assault. The filly by I Am Invincible travelled beautifully for Zac Lloyd in a recent jump-out at Randwick on November 20, trucking between runners to score by 1.7 lengths. She oozes quality, and provided Fickle can bring some of that quality to race-day, we’re confident she can only run well on Monday. Best Bet Race 2 – #5 Fickle (4) 3yo Filly | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Zac Lloyd (56kg) +280 with Bet365 Next Best at Canterbury: Suit Of Armour Suit Of Armour tackled Class 1 company last start Kembla Grange and wasn’t disgraced when powering home behind Genetic Freak on December 14. He drops back to the 1900m on Monday and should relish the opportunity to get back into restricted maiden class. The son of Camelot appears to have plenty of upside compared to some of his key rivals, and with this only his fourth-career start, Suit Of Armour seems to be a stayer on the rise. Next Best Race 1 – #2 Suit Of Armour (5) 3yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea | J: Kerrin McEvoy (59kg) +180 with PlayUp Canterbury Monday quaddie tips – 1/1/2024 Canterbury Park quadrella selections Monday, January 1, 2024 1-7-9-10-11 1-6 1-2-3-4-5 1-2-3-6-9-11-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

The feature event on the programme at Taupo on Saturday came down to a battle between two of the best riders in the country with victory in the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) going the way of Michael McNab on Mehzebeen ahead of Town Cryer and Opie Bosson. Bosson, who recently became only the eighth local jockey to register 2000 career wins, was at his brilliant best aboard the front-running topweight Town Cryer (60kgs) as they attempted an all-the-way victory for trainer Roydon Bergerson only to be pipped by McNab on the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Almanzor who enjoyed a 6kg pull in the weights. McNab sat back near last in the 10-horse field as Town Cryer raced away in front and at one stage was more than eight lengths in arrears of the pacemaker. McNab picked a path one off the fence approaching the home turn before finding clear air at the 300m as the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up charged to the front with 50m to run, downing a gallant Town Cryer with Pep Torque three lengths adrift in third ahead of favourite Nom De Plume. Sam Bergerson was delighted to see the mare burst back into winning form in her first start since returning from the Riccarton Spring Carnival in November although he admitted the victory made it a little awkward in the jockeys room where he watched the race with his father. “We had a big swing in the weights which was probably the winning of the race in the end, along with a magical ride by Michael,” Bergerson said. “She was really stiff down at Riccarton when finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2600m) and she has done really well since she got back home. “She has really matured in the last six months and we think there is more to come from her as she continues to strengthen up. “We’re not sure where she will go to next but there is a special conditions race over 2100m on Wellington Cup Day at Trentham that is worth $350,000 so that holds a lot of appeal given she absolutely thrives on a big roomy track like that. “Some of her owners are here today so it is good to be sharing this with them, although I watched the race with Dad (Roydon) in the jockeys room and when they went past the post I was trying to celebrate while also feeling for him. “All I can say is I’m glad Christmas is over as if we had done this beforehand the presents may have been a little scarce.” Bred by Sir Peter Vela under his Pencarrow Thoroughbreds banner, Mehzebeen is the younger half-sister to two-time Hong Kong winner Smiling Pride and hails from an extended family that includes Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Te Akau Coup and multiple Australian stakes winner Sacramento. She has now won three of her 11 starts for her large group of owners that includes Waikato Hospital radiologist Xavier Kos and his wife Beatrice Hild who purchased her under their Sarai Stud banner for $50,000 during the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka. Her younger brother Lovely Friends, who was a $475,000 purchase for Jamie Richards and Andrew Williams Bloodstock at the 2022 Ready To Run Sale at Karaka, is likely to make his raceday debut in a maiden three-year-old 1200m contest at Hastings on Sunday. View the full article

Quality stayer Dunkel lumped 61kgs to an emphatic victory at The Valley on Saturday in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (2040m), as the Patrick Payne-trained galloper notched the seventh victory of his career from just ten starts. Perfectly ridden by jockey Billy Egan, Dunkel tracked the leader Grand Promenade throughout and was able to take an inside run when that runner lugged out rounding the home bend to score by just over a length. Winner of the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) last season, Dunkel is being readied for a return trip to the City of Churches with the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 11. Payne has said that fitness is the key to the New Zealand-bred son of Dundeel, who was able to race his way into fitness and still win as a three-year-old but is lumping big imposts as an open class four-year-old. The gelding finished runner-up in a Kyneton jumpout a fortnight ago having finished second at Caulfield over 1800m when resuming last month when beaten by lightweight Let’srollthedice. “He’s getting ready for the Adelaide Cup so we didn’t need to be rushing back to the races, we just had to work on his fitness level a little bit,” Payne said. Jockey Billy Egan was aware the stayer had taken good improvement from the first-up run and jumpout. “It was a really good win today,” Egan said. “The race worked out quite nicely. We didn’t want to give them too much of a head start with the big weight and it was just a matter of getting the runs at the top of the straight. “He has certainly taken really good fitness (from the first-up run). The other day he came out and built into the race and just peaked on his run not long after entering the straight. He probably just maintained that gallop to the line. “Today, even though he had a very cruisy run in behind them, he sprinted quite well and he was very good through the line. He was getting away from them. “I certainly think an Adelaide Cup would be right up his alley.” Dunkel has finished outside the top two only once, when ninth in the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley last March. He bounced back eight weeks later to win the South Australian Derby with Egan in the saddle. Dunkel was bred by Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Thoroughbreds and is out of the Cape Cross mare Kudamm. A four-time winner and placed in the Listed South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), Kudamm is the dam of five winners from five foals to race. In addition to Dunkel, Kudamm’s progeny include Mint Julep (5 wins), Remington (5 wins), Garfunkel (4 wins) and Marcolt (3 wins). Dunkel was a $40,000 purchase from Pencarrow Stud’s Book 1 yearling draft at Karaka 2021 by Steven Ramsay. Presented at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale later that year through the Ohukia Lodge draft, Dunkel was purchased by Central Districts trainer Kevin Myers for $100,000 on behalf of long-time family friend Payne. View the full article

The burgeoning rivalry between Sacred Satono and Babylon Berlin will kick up a gear when the pair meet at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day. Sacred Satono got the better of his older rival at the South Auckland venue in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) in November and trainers Grant Cooksley and Bruce Wallace are hoping for a repeat performance in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on Monday. Cooksley and Wallace liked him the moment they saw him at Karaka as a yearling and they are pleased the $34,000 purchase out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 draft is fulfilling his promise. “I trained his half-sister and she went alright,” Cooksley told TAB NZ. “I went and had a look at him at the sales and liked what I had seen. His first couple of gallops we knew we had something then. “You wouldn’t get a better horse to do anything with. He is just so relaxed and nothing seems to worry him. He just does his work and walks off the track like a pony, but when he switches on he is a different horse. “The older he has got, the better he has got. He relaxes in his races and when you ask him to do something he can sprint well.” Sacred Satono will once again be piloted by Michael McNab and the leading hoop believes his charge is a massive chance of snaring Group One success. “He beat her (Babylon Berlin) really comfortably. Obviously the big swing in the weights is the big talking point, and she is a proven Group One horse, but I think he is the better ride,” McNab said. “He is a big, strong horse so I don’t think carrying extra weight, I think he has got to carry another three kilos, is going to be an issue. If he gets to the level he promises he could, I don’t think it is going to matter.” Cooksley is hoping McNab is right, as the former jockey, who recorded 66 Group One wins in the saddle, would dearly love to tick another one up as a trainer. “Everyone wants to win a Group One, so it will be great if I could,” he said. View the full article

Matamata mentor Graham Richardson will attempt to win one of his favourite races for the third time on Monday when he and training partner Rogan Norvall line-up Bonny Lass in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe. Richardson was first successful in the blue riband sprinting contest back in 1997 with Kailey before striking gold once again in 2018 with outstanding mare Volpe Veloce. He believes Bonny Lass is well-qualified to add her name to the winner’s list for the race after she impressed when running third behind race rivals Maven Belle and Babylon Berlin in a 1000m trial on her home track prior to Christmas. “We are very happy with her and I couldn’t have asked any more of her in the last trial she had,” Richardson said. “It was a first-class effort where she worked home well under a good hold and since then she has continued to thrive and we think she is ready to run a big race. “I guess at the moment the weather is the biggest consideration as she can handle a reasonably wet track although if it became a bog then we would have to reconsider with her. “The Railway is one of my favourite races and it would be nice to think we could add another trophy to the cabinet with her.” Richardson and Norvall have a small but strong support team in on the day with two of their four runners lining up in the first race on the card, a special conditions maiden over 1500m, where To Catch a Thief will look to put his first win on the board after finishing third in eight of his nine starts, with three of those at Group One level, including his most recent effort behind Crocetti in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. “This looks a nice race for To Catch A Thief as long as it doesn’t get too wet,” Richardson said. “It is the perfect lead in for the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) next month so we would like to run if we can get the track to suit. “He has thrived since coming home from Riccarton and is just the coolest horse to do anything with as he is so laidback and has been like that since his first day in the stable. “He has a nomination for the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) and we would like to see if we can get him there as they are only three once and this is his shot at the race. “We also have Sorghaghtani entered who did well to run third off a 13-month break last time and has come on from that. “She is going to be better over more ground, but this is all part of getting her back racing regularly and we like her a lot.” The stable’s fourth runner on the day is two-year-old filly Lotus in the Gr.2 SKYCITY Eclipse Stakes (1200m) where she has the formidable task of taking on ultra impressive debut winner Move To Strike and the current TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) favourite Velocious. “She (Lotus) has good ability but it is a big ask against some of those other horses in the race with better form credentials,” he said. “It is only a small field (8) and if she could sneak in and get some black type to her name then it would be a job well done.” View the full article

Lance Noble had a bumper New Year’s Day race meeting 12 months ago and has the firepower for a repeat at Pukekohe on Monday, but weather and track conditions have dented the Cambridge Stud trainer’s confidence. Last year’s New Year’s Day card was staged at Te Rapa, where Noble came away with a big-race double courtesy of Polygon in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Aquacade in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m). Noble has a team of five entered for Pukekohe on Monday, including feature assignments for Habana in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m), About Time in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m) and Terra Mitica in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m). Those black-type contenders are backed up by impressive recent winners Frostfair and Ominous in undercard races. It looks like a particularly strong team on paper, but Noble is unsure how his runners will fare on the Pukekohe track, which was rated a Heavy8 on Saturday morning. “Obviously the weather is the big concern,” he said. “It’s such a shame for everybody that it’s packed up the way it has, and at the moment it doesn’t look like the track is likely to be much better than a Heavy8. It’s probably going to come down to who handles the conditions best. “Habana gets through rain-affected ground to an extent, but he may not be entirely comfortable in heavy, and I’m not sure how the others will go. But I’m really happy with them all, and if they can handle the conditions, they should run well.” The Rich Hill Mile was not originally on the agenda for Habana, who was a last-start fifth in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham on December 9. Three of the four horses that beat him had been left standing in the gates in the false start, while Habana was one of the 14 that jumped and ran most of the way down Trentham’s back straight before being pulled up. “The Trentham race was a bit of a disaster for a lot of horses and I think we can put a line through his performance,” Noble said. “The Rich Hill Mile wasn’t on our radar. We went down to Wellington hoping that we might run in the top three there, which probably would have meant he’d be weighted out of a race like this. As it turned out, this race has come back into our calculations, although he’s still ended up topweight. “That makes it a bit tricky, but he’s come through the Wellington trip really well and has such a great record around Pukekohe, so we’re happy to have a go.” Habana’s six starts at Pukekohe have produced five wins and a placing. Notably, that one defeat was a second placing on a heavy track in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) in April. Noble will attempt to defend Polygon’s Royal Stakes title when About Time lines-up in the 2024 edition of the three-year-old fillies’ feature, which has been renamed in honour of the late, great Sir Patrick Hogan. About Time recorded a win and two placings from her first three starts, including a third in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m). The daughter of American Pharoah is backing up from the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day, in which she finished sixth behind standout filly Molly Bloom. “I thought her Eight Carat run was okay,” Noble said. “The very best fillies in this crop are probably just a little bit sharp for her at this stage, and the tempo of the race on Boxing Day was pretty full-on as well, but she wasn’t far away at the finish. “She’s come through it well. There’s only seven in this field now and it’s just down the road, so we’re happy to take our chance. “Her pedigree suggests that she’ll get up over a bit of ground, so the step up to 2050m should suit her. It may well be a case of half of the field not really getting through the conditions, so we’ll just have to hope that we’re in the half that do.” Imported stayer Terra Mitica faces her first black-type test in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, having made a big impression with a dominant win in a 2100m open handicap at Pukekohe on December 9. “It was a very strong win that day and I’ve been pleased with her progress since then,” Noble said. “I’m just mindful that she’s a three-win horse jumping straight up into Group Three company. That’s a significant jump to make. “But that last-start win was a particularly strong performance and we believe she’s a true stayer, so we’re happy to give her this chance. Hopefully she can take the next step.” Noble also has a good opinion of debut winner Frostfair, who lines-up in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1200m), along with the Ellerslie Events (1600m) contender Ominous. “This is a step up for Frostfair, but I thought her debut win was good,” Noble said. “She’s a big, strong filly. She has a reasonable draw and her race is reasonably early in the day, which is an advantage with the conditions. She’s come through that debut run well. “Ominous is in the last race of the day but is drawn out a bit, so that might be the place to be by then.” View the full article

What Flemington Races Where Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 When Monday, January 1, 2024 First Race 1:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble Feature racing heads to Flemington Racecourse on Monday afternoon, where a competitive eight-race meeting awaits punters. The Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) and Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) headline proceedings on a track rated a Good 4. Perfect conditions will greet participants on Monday, and with the rail remaining in its true position, every runner will get their opportunity if they are good enough. Action from Flemington gets underway at 1:10pm AEDT. Bagot Handicap – Glentaneous Having been a frustrating conveyance for punters, Glentaneous has finally hit his straps in recent times, recording two smart victories at Sandown and then again at Moonee Valley. The six-year-old gelding has won at 2400m and 2500m and the step up to 2600m should prove to be no issue for the son of Gleneagles, considering how he hit the line last time out. Damian Lane will look to find cover around midfield upon settling, and with the long straight of Flemington at his disposal, Glentaneous can build through his gears and finish over the top of his rivals in the Bagot Handicap. Bagot Handicap Race 6 – #8 Glentaneous (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Damian Lane (54kg) +220 with Playup Chester Manifold Stakes – Pascero Pascero is another who has started to hit his straps in recent times, winning two of his last three starts. He was a smart Flemington 1400m winner three runs back when getting the better of Bermadez and Chorlton Lane, and despite struggling in Group 3 company two starts back, was an easy winner at Caulfield on December 16. A dry track is key to his chances, and he gets that on Monday. Aided by barrier three, and with Daniel Moor sticking on board, Pascero looks the obvious play to us in the Chester Manifold Stakes, and we are getting a great price about him with top online bookmakers. Chester Manifold Stakes Race 7 – #4 Pascero (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Daniel Moor (56kg) +550 with Dabble Best Bet at Flemington – Mornington Glory We will be looking to kick 2024 off in style, as the Gavin Bedgood-trained Mornington Glory looks hard to go past in the Flemington opener. The five-year-old gelding narrowly missed winning the Flemington 1100m on December 20, but a return to the track and distance on Monday should see him return to the winner’s enclosure. Beau Mertens will have the son of Shalaa settled just off the leader’s, and when asked to quicken, Mornington Glory has a sharp turn of foot, which should prove to be more than good enough to account for his rivals. Best Bet Race 1 – #4 Mornington Glory (12) 5yo Gelding | T: Gavin Bedggood | J: Beau Mertens (59kg) +340 with Picklebet Best Value at Flemington – Hasseltoff In the quaddie opener, Tom Dabernig’s Hasseltooff returns to Flemington, a track with which he has a strong affiliation. With three wins and five minor placings from 13 starts at Flemington, the son of Toorak Toff returns to the Flemington 1800m, a track and trip he tasted success at on December 17, 2022. He backed that win up with a 1700m win on this day in 2023, and despite not bringing outstanding form into this event this year, he looks ready to strike fourth-up. Best Value Race 5 – #3 Hasseltoff (15) 7yo Gelding | T: Tom Dabernig | J: Damian Lane (61kg) +2000 with Neds Monday quaddie tips for Flemington Flemington quadrella selections Monday, January 1, 2024 3-10-11-14 1-2-6-8 2-3-4-5 2-3-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More racing tips View the full article

Golden Sixty forges to Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) victory. Golden Sixty will bypass the 2024 Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin on January 21 after the champion miler presented with a minor leg issue on Wednesday. Trainer Francis Lui said the record-breaking Golden Sixty – brilliant last-start winner of the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 10 December – would be restricted to trotting exercises over the next three to four weeks, ruling out a bid at a record-extending 11th international Group 1. “We found, the day before yesterday (Wednesday) in the morning, a little bit of filling and a little bit of heat (in his front left leg). The vets did a check, a scan and an MRI – there’s nothing serious, but they sent a report to England,” Lui said. “It’s very slight but, of course, for the safety side, we don’t want to push him because the race is only three weeks’ time. “The vets said we can give him light trotting for three or four weeks and progressively we can check on him. The issue is just inside the pastern on his front left leg.” Winner of the Stewards’ Cup in 2021 and 2023, Golden Sixty was beaten in the 2022 edition by Waikuku when attempting to match Silent Witness’ Hong Kong record of 17 successive victories. Hong Kong’s champion, Golden Sixty has won 10 Group 1s, 26 of 30 starts and a record HK$165.85 million in earnings. At Happy Valley on Friday night (29 December), Hugh Bowman posted his first win since suffering injuries after a race fall on November 11 when Caspar Fownes-trained Valhalla landed the Class 5 Nam Long Shan Handicap (1200m). “It didn’t take long, but it’s nice to get the support and it’s nice to be back,” Bowman said, who has recovered from shoulder and spinal injuries. “I’ve still got a bit of work to do to get to where I want to be. “I was out for a long time so it’s good to be back and good to be on the board.” Fownes notched a double when Lyrical Motion won under Alexis Badel. Super Baby provided Luke Ferraris with a belated 22nd birthday present when Mark Newnham’s galloper won the first section of the Class 4 Middle Gap Handicap (1650m). “It’s a nice present, Mark’s team is going well and I’m extremely grateful for the support,” Ferraris said after the South African slotted his 16th victory for the season. The outsider of the field, Green Laser broke through for his first Hong Kong success for Chris So and Keith Yeung. Last approaching the 600m, the seven-year-old, who won at Group 3 level in South Africa in 2020, triumphed at his 24th Hong Kong start. Alfred Chan posted his second win of the season when Tony Cruz-trained Atomic Beauty swept to victory before Ernest Feeling continued his strong run of form with his third win in four starts. The gelding provided the first leg of a brace for Jamie Richards, who also scored with Armour Eagle. “It’s been a good night for the stable,” Richards said. “Hopefully we can carry the momentum into the new year. All credit to James (McDonald) on Armour Eagle – it was a beautiful ride – and Antoine did a good job on Ernest Feeling.” David Hayes and Lyle Hewitson combined to close the meeting in style with Star Contact, who cruised to victory. Now a three-time course and distance winner, Star Contact provided Hayes with his 14th success of the campaign. More horse racing news View the full article

Bonny Lass will contest the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on Monday. Photo: Trish Dunell Matamata mentor Graham Richardson will attempt to win one of his favourite races for the third time on Monday when he and training partner Rogan Norvall line-up Bonny Lass in the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe. Richardson was first successful in the blue riband sprinting contest back in 1997 with Kailey before striking gold once again in 2018 with outstanding mare Volpe Veloce. He believes Bonny Lass is well-qualified to add her name to the winner’s list for the race after she impressed when running third behind race rivals Maven Belle and Babylon Berlin in a 1000m trial on her home track prior to Christmas. “We are very happy with her and I couldn’t have asked any more of her in the last trial she had,” Richardson said. “It was a first-class effort where she worked home well under a good hold and since then she has continued to thrive and we think she is ready to run a big race. “I guess at the moment the weather is the biggest consideration as she can handle a reasonably wet track although if it became a bog then we would have to reconsider with her. “The Railway is one of my favourite races and it would be nice to think we could add another trophy to the cabinet with her.” Richardson and Norvall have a small but strong support team in on the day with two of their four runners lining up in the first race on the card, a special conditions maiden over 1500m, where To Catch a Thief will look to put his first win on the board after finishing third in eight of his nine starts, with three of those at Group One level, including his most recent effort behind Crocetti in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. “This looks a nice race for To Catch A Thief as long as it doesn’t get too wet,” Richardson said. “It is the perfect lead in for the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) next month so we would like to run if we can get the track to suit. “He has thrived since coming home from Riccarton and is just the coolest horse to do anything with as he is so laidback and has been like that since his first day in the stable. “He has a nomination for the Derby (Group 1, 2400m) and we would like to see if we can get him there as they are only three once and this is his shot at the race. “We also have Sorghaghtani entered who did well to run third off a 13-month break last time and has come on from that. “She is going to be better over more ground, but this is all part of getting her back racing regularly and we like her a lot.” The stable’s fourth runner on the day is two-year-old filly Lotus in the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) where she has the formidable task of taking on ultra impressive debut winner Move To Strike and the current Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) favourite Velocious. “She (Lotus) has good ability but it is a big ask against some of those other horses in the race with better form credentials,” he said. “It is only a small field (8) and if she could sneak in and get some black type to her name then it would be a job well done.” More horse racing news View the full article

Sacred Satono beating Babylon Berlin in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The burgeoning rivalry between Sacred Satono and Babylon Berlin will kick up a gear when the pair meet at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day. Sacred Satono got the better of his older rival at the South Auckland venue in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) in November and trainers Grant Cooksley and Bruce Wallace are hoping for a repeat performance in the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on Monday. Cooksley and Wallace liked him the moment they saw him at Karaka as a yearling and they are pleased the $34,000 purchase out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 draft is fulfilling his promise. “I trained his half-sister and she went alright,” Cooksley told TAB NZ. “I went and had a look at him at the sales and liked what I had seen. His first couple of gallops we knew we had something then. “You wouldn’t get a better horse to do anything with. He is just so relaxed and nothing seems to worry him. He just does his work and walks off the track like a pony, but when he switches on he is a different horse. “The older he has got, the better he has got. He relaxes in his races and when you ask him to do something he can sprint well.” Sacred Satono will once again be piloted by Michael McNab and the leading hoop believes his charge is a massive chance of snaring Group One success. “He beat her (Babylon Berlin) really comfortably. Obviously the big swing in the weights is the big talking point, and she is a proven Group One horse, but I think he is the better ride,” McNab said. “He is a big, strong horse so I don’t think carrying extra weight, I think he has got to carry another three kilos, is going to be an issue. If he gets to the level he promises he could, I don’t think it is going to matter.” Cooksley is hoping McNab is right, as the former jockey, who recorded 66 Group One wins in the saddle, would dearly love to tick another one up as a trainer. “Everyone wants to win a Group One, so it will be great if I could,” he said. More horse racing news View the full article