Wandering Eyes

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lucy In The Sky (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) made history on Saturday as the winner of the first stakes race run on a synthetic track in New Zealand, but Cambridge Stud had other reasons to savour the talented filly’s victory in the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m). Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Lucy In The Sky is a first-crop daughter of the stud’s exciting shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain. On Saturday she became his first stakes winner in the southern hemisphere. The Tony Pike-trained Lucy In The Sky showed bright promise in the North Island earlier this year. She scored an impressive front-running win on debut at Ellerslie on February 22, then returned to the same venue two weeks later for a close and highly creditable sixth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). Pike later set his sights on an autumn black-type success in Saturday’s Champagne Stakes at Riccarton, and the Cambridge trainer breathed a sigh of relief when the Pattern Committee ruled on the Friday that the $80,000 feature would retain its Listed status despite a weather-enforced switch from the turf to the Polytrack. Lucy In The Sky drew gate seven in an eight-horse field and broke only fairly from the starting gate. But jockey Jasmine Fawcett allowed her to stride forward, taking the lead and crossing to the rail within the first 200m. The $1.30 favourite controlled the race from there and was travelling easily coming up to the home turn. Te Akau Racing filly Queen’s Evidence (NZ) (King’s Legacy) briefly loomed as a threat on her outside coming into the straight, but Lucy In The Sky quickened again and left her behind. She dashed to victory by a length and three-quarters, with Queen’s Evidence finishing another four lengths clear of the third-placed Alottago (Tagaloa). Lucy In The Sky clocked 1:09.77 for the 1200m. “Tony Pike asked me if I’d come down here to ride her today and it was an absolute no-brainer,” Fawcett said. “She’s still a bit green – she changed legs early in the race and actually jumped a shadow. But she’s a class horse and she still managed to get the job done. I was confident turning for home that she was going to put them away easily.” Lucy In The Sky has now had three starts for two wins, earning $77,250 in stakes. Pike was pleased to add valuable black type to the filly’s CV, while the trip down to Christchurch – albeit to race on a different surface – will also hold her in good stead ahead of a potential Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) campaign in the spring. “We came down here to try to get a stakes win on the board, so it’s mission accomplished in that sense,” Pike said. “She’ll also go down in history as the first horse to win a black-type race on the synthetic in New Zealand. “She’s a really nice filly who ran in a Group One race up north. She still has a bit to learn, so it’s all positive heading into her three-year-old season. I think the best two fillies ran the quinella today and have the makings of good three-year-olds. “Our filly had to work a bit to get across and lead, but she’s done it well. I told Jasmine to just allow her to get into rhythm, which she did. “There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge yet, but it would be great to see her back here in November for the 1000 Guineas.” Lucy In The Sky and Queen’s Evidence continued a dominant run for fillies in the Champagne Stakes. They have now won 10 of the last 11 runnings, with the only exception coming from Te Akau gelding Discretion Rules (Alabama Express) last year. Before that, the winners were Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) (2023), Diss Is Dramatic (NZ) (Dissident) (2022), Unusual Countess (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) (2021), All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing) (2019 – race not run in 2020), Secret Allure (NZ) (Zacinto) (2018), Prom Queen (NZ) (Super Easy) (2017), Zigwig (NZ) (Zacinto) (2016), Peach Cove (NZ) (Buffalo Man) (2015) and Elusive Catch (NZ) (Elusive City) (2014). View the full article

Champion jockey believes 2,400m is a query for talented four-year-old in Sunday’s Group Three feature.View the full article

Resolute Racing's John Stewart has sold 25% of the yearling full-brother to Mage (Good Magic) and Dornoch, and half-brother to Saturday's Kentucky Derby starter Baeza (McKinzie) to MyRacehorse, he told the TDN Friday evening. Stewart bought the dam of all three of those colts, Puca, as a post-sale purchase at the 2023 Keeneland November sale for $2.9 million in foal with this colt. At Resolute Racing, they refer to the yearling as “Preaky,” a reference to the fact that Mage won the Derby, Dornoch won the Belmont Stakes, and the only Triple Crown race that Puca's offspring are lacking is the Preakness Stakes. “I wanted to do this because most of the time–well all of the time–there's no way the everyday fan would ever have a chance of owning a horse like this because he's just such a special horse,” said Stewart. “And so I wanted to do something to partner with fans. And I think My Racehorse is a good solution.” Interested investors will pay $98 for a microshare in the colt, with the promise of having their money returned if he does not ever go into training. With Baeza's expected Saturday start, Puca's offspring will have been starters in the Triple Crown races the past three years. The figure puts the colt at a $4.5 million valuation. “I think the people that pay $98 for a share of Puca '24 understand that that's a microshare,” said Stewart. “And so they're kind of sharing in that opportunity. And so just for me, it's less about the money, more about the chance to engage with the fans.” Stewart has always been clear that he feels the yearling is a special individual. “When he was born, he was over 150 pounds and he came out and he's like a perfect physical specimen. And we've had every stallion farm come and visit him already,” said Stewart. “So there's just that quality about the horse. He's got a perfect conformation, and these special horses they kind of breathe different air when you're around him. And he's had that attitude. He poses in the field when people take pictures. He's just kind of just been full of himself from the beginning. And of course we were hoping that Baeza was going to make it into the Derby, and so we timed it so that we could pick up with the excitement of this so that fans can be a part of this going forward.” Stewart said that Chad Brown has already been chosen to be trainer of the horse. “He's my main trainer,” said Stewart. “I use a variety of trainers, but I like the way Chad trains and with an investment of this quality, we agree that he is in really good hands with Chad.” Brown trained the sire of the three colts, Good Magic. Stewart has recently opened his farm up to Horse Country tours, and said that fan engagement was not only crucial for the industry, but important to him personally. “I started as a fan, a horse player, and I think people drive by the horse farms and they see the gates and it feels like, `don't come in,'” said Stewart. “And we did the Brunch with the Babies. We did a farm party last fall. I have fans here right now from Australia and Japan that we invited, paid their way to go to Kentucky Derby this year. I'm just trying to include people in everything. And what I want people to understand is, is that the barrier that people may see that there is to being a participant in the industry really doesn't exist. And I thought that way for a long time, even with my resources, I didn't think that it was something that was achievable. And by and large, the community has embraced us and they're welcomed to them. And so I'm just trying to help others have that same experience to help to grow the game.” The post John Stewart Sells 25% of Yearling Full Brother to Mage, Dornoch to MyRacehorse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Low-profile jockey aims to strike on a rare chance when he again teams up with Francis Lui’s promising four-year-old.View the full article

After Immersive won the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), many thought trainer Brad Cox and Godolphin might have a future Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner in the barn. And now they do—only the Oaks winner isn't Immersive; it's Good Cheer.View the full article

Ahead of Baeza being Puca's third consecutive foal to race in the Kentucky Derby (G1), John Stewart announced May 2 that he has partnered with MyRacehorse to sell shares in her Good Magic yearling, a full brother to Mage and Dornoch.View the full article

What The Archer Day 2025 Where Callaghan Park Racecourse – Reaney St, North Rockhampton QLD 4701 When Sunday, May 4, 2025 First Race 11:53am AEST Visit Dabble The $1 million Archer will headline the massive nine-race meeting at Rockhampton on Sunday afternoon, where the first event is scheduled to jump at 11:53am AEST. The track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, and with some rain forecast over the weekend, expect a Soft track throughout the day. The rail will be in the +0.5m position for the entire circuit. The Archer tip: Sandpaper Following his tough victory in a BM100 at Randwick last start, Sandpaper appears perfectly placed to claim the feature event at Rockhampton on Sunday afternoon. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding settled on speed over 1400m before taking over on the home turn and fought hard to the line to claim a half-length win. From barrier three, Nash Rawiller can settle in a similar spot behind the speed, and if he gets away from the field with 400m to go, Sandpaper will prove hard to run down again. The Archer Race 8 – #4 Sandpaper (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Nash Rawiller (57.5kg) Best Bet at Rockhampton: Spellhound Stuart Kendrick and Kyle Wilson-Taylor will combine with Spellhound in the first leg of the quaddie, where the three-year-old gelding will seek back-to-back wins at Rockhampton. The son of Hellbent was sent around as an odds-on favourite with horse racing bookmakers and duly saluted for his followers by two lengths over 1200m. Wilson-Taylor will push forward from a wide barrier (11), and if he settles like he did previously, Spellhound should have too much ability for this lot. Best Bet Race 6 – #8 Spellhound (11) 3yo Gelding | T: Stuart Kendrick | J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor (56.5kg) Next Best at Rockhampton: Fine Shot Fine Shot will return to his home track seeking his second win of the preparation after finishing midfield in his last start at Eagle Farm over 1400m. The Nick Walsh-trained gelding was caught three-wide without cover throughout the trip but still battled on gamely to only finish four lengths off the winner. With a fast tempo expected in this contest, Fine Shot will settle back in the field and be saved up for the last crack at the leaders in the final 300m. Next Best Race 4 – #3 Fine Shot (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Nick Walsh | J: Ashley Butler (58kg) Sunday quaddie tips for The Archer Day Rockhampton quadrella selections Sunday, May 4, 2025 3-8-10 2-4-12-13 1-4-5-11 1-4-6 More horse racing tips View the full article

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Godolphin homebred Good Cheer remains undefeated in seven starts after winning the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) by three lengths. She is the third Oaks winner sired by Darley America's stallion Medaglia d'Oro. View the full article

A pair of Matt Winn Turf Course records marked two grade 3 events on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard May 2 at Churchill Downs. She Feels Pretty romped in the Modesty Stakes (G3T), followed by Queen Maxima in the Unbridled Sidney (G3T).View the full article

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Journalism (Curlin) has gotten plenty of ink–and rightfully so–ahead of the 151st running of the GI Kentucky Derby. But here's something that you may not know about the 3-1 morning-line favorite. How did Journalism–campaigned in partnership by the powerhouse partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 and the Coolmore partners (Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith)–get his name? “We have always tried to mimic the Claiborne tradition of naming horses with one-word names with a clever connotation to its pedigree,” Eclipse frontman Aron Wellman said. “Curlins are hard to name, so we opted to go off the dam's name, Mopotism (Uncle Mo), so we wanted a name that ended in 'ism.' I was the Sports Editor of my high school newspaper and am accused of being a disgruntled sports writer. Journalism has always been in my blood and I admire responsible and creative journalists. So, we went with Journalism.” Wellman added, “I find it poignant that in this day and age when the truth is so hard to discern in today's media that all eyes will be on a horse named Journalism for the Kentucky Derby.” Speaking of media, here are some of the other main storylines to keep an eye on for this year's Kentucky Derby: Following a much-discussed, three-year suspension, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert makes his Kentucky Derby return with champion 2-year-old Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Closing in on 90 years of age (his birthday is Sept. 2), the legendary D. Wayne Lukas will saddle his 51st Kentucky Derby starter, American Promise (Justify). After becoming the eighth jockey to pull off the Kentucky Oaks-Kentucky Derby double, Brian Hernandez, Jr. will ride the gelded Burnham Square (Liam's Map). Nine geldings have won the Derby. Last year's Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek, meanwhile, has longshot Render Judgment (Blame) entered. Publisher (American Pharoah) will attempt to break his maiden in the Derby as will his Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who is 0-for-26 on the first Saturday in May. Buchanan (1884), Sir Barton (1919) and Brokers Tip (1933) are the only maidens to win the Derby. Asmussen will also be represented by Tiztastic (Tiz the Law). Everyone loves to root for an underdog. Just a $2,500 FTKOCT yearling purchase, Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) earned his spot in the Derby with a runner-up finish for trainer Ethan West in the GII Louisiana Derby. Already the producer of 2023 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) and 2024 GI Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch (Good Magic), sensational broodmare Puca (Big Brown) could make it three straight years with a Classic winner with Baeza (McKinzie), who drew in off the also-eligible list. After coming painfully close with Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in last year's Derby, Japan will be represented by Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) and Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah), who were assigned neighboring posts. Godolphin and Brad Cox, the winning team behind Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), will have separate chances for a sweep. Sheikh Mohammed's operation will be represented by 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) and Sovereignty (Into Mischief) for a first Kentucky Derby victory. Cox will tighten the girth on Juddmonte homebred Final Gambit (Not This Time). With more showers in the forecast and a first post of 11 a.m. ET, the 14-race Kentucky Derby program also features: the GI American Turf S.; GI Churchill Downs S.; GI Derby City Distaff S.; GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic; GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile; GII Pat Day Mile S.; and GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. The 2025 'Run for the Roses' marks NBC Sports' milestone 25th presentation of the Kentucky Derby. For profiles on all 19 of the Kentucky Derby runners–Rodriguez (Authentic) & Grande (Curlin) have been withdrawn–click here for our special preview edition. The post Front Page News: Journalism Headlines Kentucky Derby 151 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sent off right at her morning-line odds of 6-5, Godolphin's GOOD CHEER (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Wedding Toast, by Street Sense) provided her sensational Darley America-based stallion with his third winner of the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, sustaining an irresistible run from three furlongs out to stamp her dominance on America's greatest and most important race for the 3-year-old filly set. The homebred becomes the second Oaks winner in the space of three years for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation, joining Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) in 2023, a third winner of the Oaks since 2018 for trainer Brad Cox (Monomoy Girl, Shedaresthedevil) and a second riding victory for Luis Saez (Secret Oath, 2022). Drawn in gate 10 in a field reduced to 13 by the earlier scratching of GII Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Five G (Vekoma), Good Cheer was void of early speed and was settled in mid-division by Saez, as GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes heroine La Cara (Street Sense) sparred on the front end with the once-beaten California raider Tenma (Nyquist). Kept out of harm's way and out of the kickback over a track rendered sloppy by rains that struck greater Louisville around 4 p.m., Good Cheer was given her cue about three furlongs out and caught the eye with a five- or six-wide sweep around 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) as heads were turned for home. Tenma got the better of the pace battle with La Cara, but Good Cheer began to bear down approaching the eighth pole, took command soon after and set sail for home. When all was said and done, she had about three lengths on Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro) and Bless the Broken (Laoban) in third. Medaglia d'Oro also accounted for Oaks winners Rachel Alexandra (2009) and Plum Pretty (2011). Lifetime Record: 7-7-0-0. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad Cox. Good Cheer stays perfect in the Kentucky Oaks!! @bradcoxracing @luissaezpty @godolphin TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/oSv5L4EJm2 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) May 2, 2025 The post Undefeated Good Cheer Gives Medaglia d’Oro a Third Winner of the Kentucky Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As the race was moved up to avoid incoming storms, Look Forward was unfazed and provided an emotional win for her connections in the $579,660 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs May 2.View the full article

The Moyglare Stud Farm homebred made her first start in the United States a winning one at Aqueduct Racetrack May 2 in the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G3T) for older fillies and mares.View the full article

Taking her game on the road and gradually coming east since starting her season in January, California invader Look Forward (Bolt d'Oro–Troublesome, by Into Mischief) set her sights on Churchill Downs on the first Friday in May and took home top prize in the GII Eight Belles Stakes right before racing was interrupted for a severe weather delay. With a menacing patch of storms bearing down on Churchill, the race was on to get the field out and over the track in advance of the forecasted heavy rain and winds. They just managed to complete the race when the worst of it rolled onto the grounds, whisking papers onto the track as Mother Nature joined the sea of pink in Louisville. Post times for the following GIII Unbridled Sidney Stakes and GI Kentucky Oaks were moved back as a result. Bearing the colors of GI Kentucky Derby hero I'll Have Another (Flower Alley) beneath the same Twin Spires that saw him claim the nation's top prize 13 years ago, and ridden by the man who will sit atop the expected favorite in Saturday's 151st running, Look Forward entered this race off a fading sixth-place finish Apr. 7 in the GI Ashland Stakes. It was her second consecutive poor break as she bobbled at the jump two back Feb. 23 in the GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn that Kentucky Oaks runner 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) claimed en route to her date with the lilies. Sent off here at 7-1 odds, Look Forward was close to the action in third behind fractions of :21.92, a half in :44.17, and swung into the lane after six furlongs in 1:08.80 with an open advantage having taken command nearing the furlong marker after navigating through traffic. Holding firm in the final strides, it was 1 1/4 lengths back to Blue Fire (Aurelius Maximus) in second and Evanescence (Munnings) flew late to take third after spending most of the race in another zip code. Look Forward, looks to the wire and takes the G2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs! She is trained by Michael McCarthy and was ridden by @umbyrispoli! TwinSpiresRacing pic.twitter.com/rdYHZUqsBq — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) May 2, 2025 Pedigree Notes: The victress is a half-sister to multiple Listed winner Amidst Waves (Midshipman), who was also graded placed last year in the GIII Soaring Softly Stakes. Their most recent half-sibling to reach racing age is the juvenile filly Classic Chaos (Classic Empire). The dam has a yearling colt by Yaupon to her credit and currently awaits her 2025 foal by Flightline. This is the extended female family of MSW Chasing Liberty (Constitution). Friday, Churchill Downs EIGHT BELLES S. PRESENTED BY SYSCO-GII, $579,660, Churchill Downs, 5-2, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:22.36, ft. 1–LOOK FORWARD, 118, f, 3, by Bolt d'Oro 1st Dam: Troublesome, by Into Mischief 2nd Dam: Apple Pie Baby, by Not For Love 3rd Dam: Time to Dream, by Time for a Change 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($285,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC & Ballyfair Bloodstock (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Umberto Rispoli. $351,400. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $505,675. *1/2 to Amidst Waves (Midshipman), MSW & GSP, $292,400. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Blue Fire, 118, f, 3, Aurelius Maximus–Mystic Blue, by Maimonides. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($32,000 Ylg '23 OBSWIN; $100,000 Ylg '23 FTKJUL). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC and Peter Leidel; B-J. Adcock & Nathan Granger (LA); T-Steven Asmussen. $94,000. 3–Evanescence, 118, f, 3, Munnings–Lovely Carina, by Pioneerof the Nile. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Green Lantern Stables LLC; B-Stud TNT, LLC (KY); T-Eddie Kenneally. $57,000. Margins: 1 1/4, 1, 1. Odds: 7.52, 13.30, 14.99. Also Ran: Mendela, Verity, Whatintheliteral, Bourbon Memory, Impulse Buy, Eclatant, Princess Aliyah, Kimchi Cat. Scratched: Unchained Elaine. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Look Forward Looks East, Conquers the Eight Belles as Severe Weather Delays Oaks Card appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Califorinia raider QUEEN MAXIMA (f, 4, Bucchero–Corfu Lady, by Corfu) jumped out of the ground at the eighth pole and displayed her electric turn of foot to turn Friday's GIII Unbridled Sidney Stakes into a one-horse affair, scoring by the better part of four lengths. The owner of a four-race winning streak, including a facile success in the GIII Monrovia Stakes down the hillside turf course at Santa Anita Apr. 5, fell into the perfect chasing position in fourth as Epona's Hope (Adios Charlie) scrimmage up front with Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy), the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint third who was as long as 9-5 before firming into 3-2 favoritism at the off. In the meantime, Queen Maxima was ridden patiently by Juan Hernandez and began to draw in while wide on the turf, as Ag Bulet found herself in a jackpot behind now loose leader Epona's Hope. Ag Bullet went for a rails run nearing midstretch, but had the door completely slammed on her by Epona's Hope, losing all chance. It may or may not have mattered, as Queen Maxima showed her trademark acceleration and drew clear to the wire. Sales history: $40,000 2yo '23 OBSJUN. Lifetime Record: 9-6-2-0. O-Dutch Girl Holdings LLC & Irving Ventures LLC; B-Saul Rosas (FL); T-Jeff Mullins. Queen Maxima romps home in the G3 Unbridled Sidney Stakes presented by Cygames! Juan Hernandez was aboard for trainer Jeff Mullins. pic.twitter.com/qCG3x2S3jb — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 2, 2025 The post Bucchero Filly Queen Maxima Flies Home In Unbridled Sidney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hours after the disappointment of his Kentucky Derby (G1) entrant Grande being scratched from the May 3 race, owner Mike Repole was in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs, celebrating a victory in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) from Fierceness. View the full article

Copernium, trained by Jack Sisterson, won his racing debut by 2 1/4 lengths May 2 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article