Wandering Eyes

John Size’s three-year-old galloper wins an incident-packed Class Two Yan Chai Trophy at Sha Tin over the Classic Series finale’s course and distanceView the full article

After leading all the way to claim his first black-type win in last year’s Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly) returned to defend that crown with an even more spectacular front-running performance at Trentham on Saturday. Sagunto defied $20 odds for his narrow victory over Subtle Point (NZ) (Nadeem) and Soprano Supreme (NZ) (Contributer) in the 2022 edition of the Cup, and the Peter and Shaun McKay-trained runner started as a distant $10 second favourite on Saturday behind dominant market leader Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) ($1.65). However, almost from the moment the starting gates opened, all eyes were firmly on Sagunto. Jockey Lisa Allpress has formed a successful partnership with Sagunto, guiding him to three wins from four rides including last year’s Cup. She is well aware of the O’Reilly gelding’s fondness for doing his own thing out in front, and she was happy to let him roll on Saturday. Sagunto took command within the first few strides of the $120,000 race, and by the time he swung around into Trentham’s back straight, he was in full flow. A margin of three lengths quickly grew to seven, eight and 10. Still loving his work and doing it with ease, Sagunto led by almost a dozen lengths coming around the side of the track and approaching the home turn. He was showing no sign of slowing down, and the chasers were beginning to panic. Allpress drove Sagunto down the Trentham home straight to complete a dominant victory, beating Fierce Flight (Flying Artie) and Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking) by six lengths. “That was very cool,” Allpress said. “I had Peter in the back of my mind, saying, ‘Whatever you do, don’t look back. Just trust that you can judge the speed.’ “He’s such a neat horse and had no weight today – 55 is a seriously light weight for a horse like him, who’s been carrying 60 kilos in his previous races. Dropping down today, he felt like a different horse. He was so bouncy out in front and just pinging off that track. He literally leaped over the back gap there. Sagunto with co-trainer Shaun McKay. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) “I was counting my furlongs, thinking that even though we were going quick, he felt so good and I thought I still had plenty there. He wasn’t overly pulling. He was just nicely on the bit. I didn’t want to look back, but I couldn’t hear anyone. “He loves to roll along and get his own way, and he’s just such a neat horse.” Sagunto was bred by Waikato Stud, who offered him at Karaka as a yearling in 2017, where Peter and Kim McKay bought him for $120,000. His 65-start career has now produced nine wins, 16 placings and $369,046 in stakes. “That was a dominant performance,” Shaun McKay said. “I was a little bit nervous around the back when he rolled forward like that, but that’s what he likes doing. He had five or six on them at the corner and just kept going. It was great to watch. “People sometimes ask why we ride him like that, but that’s the way he likes to go. The faster he goes, the more he keeps going. “He’s won nine races now and gone back-to-back in this race, so he’s been a great horse for us. He’s definitely the stable pet. “He can be quite hard to place. When you go through the fields and there doesn’t seem to be any other speed, you’re pretty confident he’s going to run well. It’s when there’s another horse in the race that’s going to put pressure on him that you get a bit nervous. But when you get days like this, it’s amazing. “It’s a big thrill to defend the title. He was carrying only a couple of kilos more this time around, but up against some good horses. He keeps getting better and better.” Seaton Park will offer a Per Incanto half-sister to Sagunto as Lot 338 in Book 1 of Karaka 2024 next month. Manifique was the disappointing runner in the Manawatu Cup, finishing a clear last with rider Michael McNab reporting that she hung badly throughout the race View the full article

After leading all the way to claim his first black-type win in last year’s Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly) returned to defend that crown with an even more spectacular front-running performance at Trentham on Saturday. Sagunto defied $20 odds for his narrow victory over Subtle Point (NZ) (Nadeem) and Soprano Supreme (NZ) (Contributer) in the 2022 edition of the Cup, and the Peter and Shaun McKay-trained runner started as a distant $10 second favourite on Saturday behind dominant market leader Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) ($1.65). However, almost from the moment the starting gates opened, all eyes were firmly on Sagunto. Jockey Lisa Allpress has formed a successful partnership with Sagunto, guiding him to three wins from four rides including last year’s Cup. She is well aware of the O’Reilly gelding’s fondness for doing his own thing out in front, and she was happy to let him roll on Saturday. Sagunto took command within the first few strides of the $120,000 race, and by the time he swung around into Trentham’s back straight, he was in full flow. A margin of three lengths quickly grew to seven, eight and 10. Still loving his work and doing it with ease, Sagunto led by almost a dozen lengths coming around the side of the track and approaching the home turn. He was showing no sign of slowing down, and the chasers were beginning to panic. Allpress drove Sagunto down the Trentham home straight to complete a dominant victory, beating Fierce Flight (Flying Artie) and Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking) by six lengths. “That was very cool,” Allpress said. “I had Peter in the back of my mind, saying, ‘Whatever you do, don’t look back. Just trust that you can judge the speed.’ “He’s such a neat horse and had no weight today – 55 is a seriously light weight for a horse like him, who’s been carrying 60 kilos in his previous races. Dropping down today, he felt like a different horse. He was so bouncy out in front and just pinging off that track. He literally leaped over the back gap there. Sagunto with co-trainer Shaun McKay. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) “I was counting my furlongs, thinking that even though we were going quick, he felt so good and I thought I still had plenty there. He wasn’t overly pulling. He was just nicely on the bit. I didn’t want to look back, but I couldn’t hear anyone. “He loves to roll along and get his own way, and he’s just such a neat horse.” Sagunto was bred by Waikato Stud, who offered him at Karaka as a yearling in 2017, where Peter and Kim McKay bought him for $120,000. His 65-start career has now produced nine wins, 16 placings and $369,046 in stakes. “That was a dominant performance,” Shaun McKay said. “I was a little bit nervous around the back when he rolled forward like that, but that’s what he likes doing. He had five or six on them at the corner and just kept going. It was great to watch. “People sometimes ask why we ride him like that, but that’s the way he likes to go. The faster he goes, the more he keeps going. “He’s won nine races now and gone back-to-back in this race, so he’s been a great horse for us. He’s definitely the stable pet. “He can be quite hard to place. When you go through the fields and there doesn’t seem to be any other speed, you’re pretty confident he’s going to run well. It’s when there’s another horse in the race that’s going to put pressure on him that you get a bit nervous. But when you get days like this, it’s amazing. “It’s a big thrill to defend the title. He was carrying only a couple of kilos more this time around, but up against some good horses. He keeps getting better and better.” Seaton Park will offer a Per Incanto half-sister to Sagunto as Lot 338 in Book 1 of Karaka 2024 next month. Manifique was the disappointing runner in the Manawatu Cup, finishing a clear last with rider Michael McNab reporting that she hung badly throughout the race View the full article

After leading all the way to claim his first black-type win in last year’s Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly) returned to defend that crown with an even more spectacular front-running performance at Trentham on Saturday. Sagunto defied $20 odds for his narrow victory over Subtle Point (NZ) (Nadeem) and Soprano Supreme (NZ) (Contributer) in the 2022 edition of the Cup, and the Peter and Shaun McKay-trained runner started as a distant $10 second favourite on Saturday behind dominant market leader Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) ($1.65). However, almost from the moment the starting gates opened, all eyes were firmly on Sagunto. Jockey Lisa Allpress has formed a successful partnership with Sagunto, guiding him to three wins from four rides including last year’s Cup. She is well aware of the O’Reilly gelding’s fondness for doing his own thing out in front, and she was happy to let him roll on Saturday. Sagunto took command within the first few strides of the $120,000 race, and by the time he swung around into Trentham’s back straight, he was in full flow. A margin of three lengths quickly grew to seven, eight and 10. Still loving his work and doing it with ease, Sagunto led by almost a dozen lengths coming around the side of the track and approaching the home turn. He was showing no sign of slowing down, and the chasers were beginning to panic. Allpress drove Sagunto down the Trentham home straight to complete a dominant victory, beating Fierce Flight (Flying Artie) and Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking) by six lengths. “That was very cool,” Allpress said. “I had Peter in the back of my mind, saying, ‘Whatever you do, don’t look back. Just trust that you can judge the speed.’ “He’s such a neat horse and had no weight today – 55 is a seriously light weight for a horse like him, who’s been carrying 60 kilos in his previous races. Dropping down today, he felt like a different horse. He was so bouncy out in front and just pinging off that track. He literally leaped over the back gap there. Sagunto with co-trainer Shaun McKay. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) “I was counting my furlongs, thinking that even though we were going quick, he felt so good and I thought I still had plenty there. He wasn’t overly pulling. He was just nicely on the bit. I didn’t want to look back, but I couldn’t hear anyone. “He loves to roll along and get his own way, and he’s just such a neat horse.” Sagunto was bred by Waikato Stud, who offered him at Karaka as a yearling in 2017, where Peter and Kim McKay bought him for $120,000. His 65-start career has now produced nine wins, 16 placings and $369,046 in stakes. “That was a dominant performance,” Shaun McKay said. “I was a little bit nervous around the back when he rolled forward like that, but that’s what he likes doing. He had five or six on them at the corner and just kept going. It was great to watch. “People sometimes ask why we ride him like that, but that’s the way he likes to go. The faster he goes, the more he keeps going. “He’s won nine races now and gone back-to-back in this race, so he’s been a great horse for us. He’s definitely the stable pet. “He can be quite hard to place. When you go through the fields and there doesn’t seem to be any other speed, you’re pretty confident he’s going to run well. It’s when there’s another horse in the race that’s going to put pressure on him that you get a bit nervous. But when you get days like this, it’s amazing. “It’s a big thrill to defend the title. He was carrying only a couple of kilos more this time around, but up against some good horses. He keeps getting better and better.” Seaton Park will offer a Per Incanto half-sister to Sagunto as Lot 338 in Book 1 of Karaka 2024 next month. Manifique was the disappointing runner in the Manawatu Cup, finishing a clear last with rider Michael McNab reporting that she hung badly throughout the race View the full article

Puntura (NZ) (Vespa) showed he will be a force to be reckoned with over the coming months as he scored in dominant fashion in Saturday’s Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham. Having his first start since a memorable victory in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton during New Zealand Cup Week, the Robbie Patterson-trained six-year-old was fitted for his first up run with a comfortable win over 1000m at the Foxton trials during the week. Unlike his Riccarton victory where he led most of the way, this time regular pilot Craig Grylls let the son of Vespa settle near last and remained there until making a wide run approaching the home turn. With a wall of horses across the track it looked like Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto) would get the victory when she hit the front at the 200m however Grylls had Puntura wound up and finishing powerfully to grab the game mare at the 50m and win drawing away by half a length. Patterson had expressed plenty of confidence leading into the race and was well satisfied with the result. “It didn’t pan out the way I had envisaged it although the final result did,” Patterson said. “He actually did that in the Glasshouse (Listed, 1400m) at the Sunshine Coast during the winter and flashed home then, so we might end up riding him that way. “He was fantastic today and it is fantastic for the Lynskey’s, who put a lot into the game and he is finally backing things up now as he has come of age.” Patterson has expressed doubts in the past about the horse’s ability to take the step up to Group One company but is now prepared to take that gamble as he targets the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham next month. “We are going to have to go to the Thorndon after that,” he said. “He loves a big roomy track and his work has been enormous so we have to have a go.” Grylls admitted he had to go to Plan B shortly after the start when he wasn’t anywhere near the lead. “He lost his back end out of the gates as he slipped and I had to ride him back from there,” he said. “He was nice and relaxed and travelling that good he was always going to get over the top of them. “I think he is in career best form and deserves his shot at a Group One.” Bred and raced by John and Carole Lynskey, Puntura is out of the Magic Of Sydney mare Mumzahoney (NZ) who was successful on two occasions with the Group winners Ellakapella (NZ) (Pompeii Court) and Jason Belltree (NZ) (Ferlax) the stand-out names on her pedigree page. Mumzahoney is also the dam of Puntura’s full-sibling and stablemate Margherita Veloce (NZ), who has won three races, and she also has an unraced three-year-old sister to the pair named Gigi Galle (NZ) and a yearling colt by Vespa. View the full article

Well-related four-year-old Raetihi (NZ) (Savabeel) showed his rivals a clean pair of heels as he led virtually throughout to score a narrow victory in the Cirka Group Handicap (1600m) at The Valley. The son of Savabeel is prepared by Emma-Lee and David Browne from their Pakenham base and has found his winning groove this campaign, having commenced it a maiden. The gelding has won three of his last five starts and finished no worse than fourth since resuming in August, with Saturday’s triumph making it successive wins at The Valley. Sent to the front by rider Billy Egan shortly after jumping well from barrier eight in the 10-horse field, Raethi dictated terms nicely and was travelling well as he skipped clear rounding the home bend. Chased hard by eventual runner-up Cradle Of Life (Written Tycoon), Egan got the best out of his mount to hold out the stout challenge and win by a neck at the line. “He’s finally turned the corner. He used to be a hairy little horse that we knew had ability, but he is just loving life at the moment and Billy gave him a lovely ride,” Emma-Lee Browne said. “He’s not the easiest, but Billy seems to just get a tune out of him. “He is a very strong-willed horse and doesn’t like to take a sit easily.” Egan confirmed Raetihi was nearly out of gas late but said he had gained some insights to the son of Savabeel having partnered him to his previous success at The Valley. “He has been a little bit difficult but the (last two) races have worked out nicely for him,” Egan said. “I learnt something from riding him the other day. I took my time when getting there the other day. I didn’t want to rev him up, but he is that way anyway so you can use him a bit early and cross them quickly because he is probably going to race a bit boldly no matter how kind you are to him. “He can sustain a pretty good gallop. He just sustained it for long enough today and I don’t think he needs it any further than a mile.” Bred by Waikato Stud, Raetihi is by Savabeel out of the O’Reilly mare Lego (NZ), a winning daughter of multiple Group One winner Legs (NZ) (Pins). Under their Sparta Racing banner, the Brownes went to $155,000 to purchase the gelding from the draft of Ohukia Lodge at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale. View the full article

When Stars Align (NZ) (Zoustar) and Unbridled Joy (Snitzel) kicked off their careers with a quinella in the Japac Homes (1100m) at Trentham on Saturday, adding their names to a bumper list of two-year-old talent in the Te Akau Racing stable this season. Premiership-leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson headed into the $40,000 race with half a dozen winners already among the 2023-24 juvenile ranks. Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) was a dominant three-length winner of the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) earlier this month, while boom colt Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) made a huge impression on debut at Te Rapa last weekend. Bellatrix Star (Star Witness), About Last Night (NZ) (Capitalist), Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) and Maracatu (NZ) (Ardrossan) have also recorded stylish victories. On Saturday the spotlight shifted to When Stars Align and Unbridled Joy, who both arrived at Trentham as trial winners and dominated the betting at $2.10 and $2.20 respectively. When Stars Align narrowly shaded his stablemate for favouritism, and that was also how it played out on the track. Ridden positively from the inside gate by Michael McNab, When Stars Align slid forward to take the lead in the early stages of the race. He dominated proceedings from there, accelerating impressively at the top of the straight and kicking clear. Unbridled Joy emerged from the pack and was the only one to eat into the leader’s margin, closing to within a length and a quarter at the line, but there was no catching When Stars Align. The Te Akau pair dominated the finish, with the third-placed The Tattler (Dubious) finishing another two lengths behind the runner-up Unbridled Joy. When Stars Align is by Zoustar out of the Group Two-placed Darci Brahma mare Shenandoah (NZ). The colt was bred by the Hawkins family’s Llanhennock Trust and offered under their Wentwood Grange banner in Book 1 at Karaka earlier this year, where David Ellis purchased him for $400,000. Wentwood Grange will offer a half-brother by Almanzor in Book 1 of Karaka 2024 in late January. Saturday’s debut win earned $23,000 in prize-money for When Stars Align, which puts him in seventh place on the order of entry for the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 27. Te Akau has celebrated seven consecutive victories in the $1 million juvenile feature, and they also have Bellatrix Star, Maracatu and About Last Night among the top 10 in this season’s order of entry. “It always comes around pretty quickly, but hopefully we’ll be there in force again,” Bergerson said. “We’ve got another couple of first-starters in on Boxing Day at Pukekohe who can hopefully put their hands up as well. “We’re really happy with When Stars Align’s win today. Nabber (McNab) was pretty keen to find the fence. He worked the horse on Tuesday and said that he does have a bit of an awkward action and an awkward way of going, so he was pretty keen to find the rail and follow it. Thankfully he did. “He’s still a pretty raw colt and doing a few things wrong, changing legs there, but it’s all in front of him. He looks like a nice type going forward. “The Karaka Millions would be nice, but we’ll see how he comes through this. He’s a nice, big, strong horse. He’s still a bit immature, but it’s all in front of him.” Bergerson was also more than satisfied with the performance of Unbridled Joy – a Snitzel colt bought by Ellis for A$650,000 on the Gold Coast. “He got in behind them, relaxed nicely and was strong to the line,” Bergerson said. “He will have learned a lot from this race, I think. He’s another nice prospect.” View the full article

In her first Saturday assignment, exciting filly Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto) took it all in her stride at Trentham on Saturday going back-to-back in the Tui Backing A Winner Since 1889 1200. Bedtime Story was a close-up second on debut at Woodville and soon went one better with a comfortable maiden victory at her local Hastings track last month for trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos. Stepping into Open three-year-old company on Saturday, the filly was well supported to continue her winning form as she started a $4.50 third favourite behind Fashion Icon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) ($2.50) and Superbly Written (Written Tycoon) ($3.70). Jockey Kozzi Asano allowed Bedtime Story to settle comfortably in the trail behind Party Rocking (NZ) (Belardo) and angled his mount into a gap between the leader and Bella Corno (NZ) (Charm Spirit) turning for home, before the daughter of Per Incanto showed a dashing turn-of-foot to race clear and score comfortably by 1½ lengths. Zydenbos, who recently entered into partnership with Lowry, was thrilled to see the filly perform in her first Trentham excursion. “She was really impressive today, we thought it would be good for her to have the trip down here and have a go down the straight, so we were rapt,” she said. Zydenbos indicated Bedtime Story will only continue to improve as she matures, with her Per Incanto bloodlines offering versatility over further distances. “She’s a little bit immature both physically, and still learning the game mentally, so we think as a four and five-year-old will be her go,” she said. Waikato-based hoop Asano was equally impressed with the filly’s performance, and went on to earn an early double on the Trentham undercard with the Ashley Meadows-trained Waitui Rose (NZ) (Tarzino). “She always gets cover and gets into her rhythm. She’s done everything right today and wasn’t scared of the little gap,” he said. “She’s still small, so I think she’s going to improve a lot over time, hopefully I can stick with her.” Bedtime Story was bred and is part-owned by Henrietta Duchess of Bedford out of an unraced mare in Happy Endings (NZ) (Tavistock). Her granddam is Snap (NZ) (Kingdom Bay), the Duchess’ former Joint Champion Three-Year-Old and New Zealand Filly of the Year who was a five-time Group One winner. Brighthill Farm will offer a half-brother by Savabeel as lot 118 at the New Zealand National Yearling Sales at Karaka through their Book 1 draft in January next year. View the full article

By Jonny Turner A brilliant tactical drive saw the Group One dreams of driver Sarah O’Reilly and trainers Brent and Tim White come true with American Me in the Invercargill Cup at Ascot Park yesterday. O’Reilly added the biggest prize yet to her already glittering resume as a junior driver with a pinpoint effort to win Southland’s biggest harness race. But before she could taste the joys of victory, the reinswoman had to be told she won the race as she wasn’t totally sure after crossing the line. “It is pretty amazing; I can’t believe it – I didn’t think I had won.” In a crucial move, O’Reilly made the second favourite Self Assured work hard to take the lead off her in the second lap of the race. With American Me able to wear down the former New Zealand Cup winner in a thrilling finish, there was little doubt afterwards that O’Reilly’s tactics were a crucial factor in her horse’s win. “I knew I probably had to make them work a little bit because my guy is quite tough, and I knew he could handle it,” O’Reilly said. American Me’s victory also handed trainers Brent and Tim White their maiden Group One successes, both individually and as training partners. “It is a super result for the old boy and me, and the whole team at home,” Tim White said. “We couldn’t do it without all of our helpers; it is a team effort and it is a credit to the team.” The White stable has been an unstoppable force since father and son went into partnership. Though the momentum has been building for years since Brent White went training on a full-time basis. Yesterday’s result left no doubts about the White stables’ status as one of New Zealand’s top-class barns. “It is always your goal to be better; we have been in the class races this year, which is great for the stable,” White said. New Zealand’s trotting star again shone brightest when Oscar Bonavena sped to victory in the Group Three David Moss Stakes at Ascot Park. A strong tempo early in the race left the Dominion-winning star well off the pace, but it wasn’t long until Mark Purdon slotted the trotter into a perfect one-one sit. From there, there was only going to be one result. “He is just lethal when he gets that sort of drag into the race,” Purdon said. “I was forced to go when the others went before me, but it worked out perfectly.” With his victory, Oscar Bonavena has earned some quiet time over the Christmas-New Year period before the Purdon stable looks for his next target. View the full article

What Tamworth Races Where Tamworth Jockey Club – 28 Britten Rd, Taminda NSW 2340 When Sunday, December 24, 2023 First Race 1:50pm AEDT Visit Dabble Christmas Eve racing heads to Tamworth on Sunday afternoon, with a competitive seven-race program set to get underway at 1:50pm local time. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with a minor chance of showers hitting the course proper, the current Soft 5 rating at the time of writing should hold true for race-day. Best Bet: Macleay Macleay almost made a winning return to racing at Armidale on December 3 after 334 days off the scene. The son of Ready For Victory had zero luck turning for home, running into nothing but backsides at a crucial stage, before savaging the wire when getting clear with 200m to travel. The Cody Morgan barn sent Macleay back to the trials to regain that winning feeling since, and with an extra 100m to be a major benefit, watch for this guy to be storming over the top in this Class 2 contest. Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Macleay (10) 6yo Gelding | T: Cody Morgan | J: Aaron Bullock (61.5kg) +230 with Bet365 Next Best: Custo Custo was impressive lugging 64.5kg to victory first-up into the campaign but was unable to make it back-to-back wins in a testing Highway contest at Randwick on November 7. He pinged the lids to sit three-wide on speed on that occasion and knocked up after a torrid run in transit. We anticipate similar tactics in this event; however, this time Aaron Bullock will attempt to cross to the rail – and if he does, Custo will take plenty of chasing in the concluding stages. Next Best Race 5 – #4 Custo (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Stephen Jones | J: Aaron Bullock (59kg) +200 with Neds Best Value: Seahaven After chasing home Indifference in open company for his first two starts of the preparation, Seahaven should be much better suited taking a step back in grade on Sunday afternoon. The gelding by Mikki Isle has never missed the frame at this course and distance, and the appointment of Cobi Vitler seems to be a key one. It should allow Seahaven to use his early toe to lead, and with 60kg on his back in this BM66 affair, the five-year-old looks perfectly placed to chalk up career win number four. Best Value Race 4 – #1 Seahaven (4) 5yo Gelding | T: Janne Clement | J: Cobi Vitler (a3kg) (63kg) +900 with Betfair Tamworth Sunday quaddie tips – 24/12/2023 Tamworth quadrella selections Monday, December 24, 2023 1-2-4-5 4-9 8-9-11-12 1-2-3-5-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Anisette heads the home squad against a pair of ambitiously placed invaders in the American Oaks (G1T) on opening day at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

The San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) on the Santa Anita Park turf has a compact field of six but no shortage of diversity.View the full article

The San Antonio Stakes (G2), a traditional prep for the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 2, drew an intriguing collection of contenders, from an Argentinian sensation to a speedy Cal-bred sprinter.View the full article

Classy filly Impendabelle will go up against her male counterparts in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has elected to pit his handy filly Impendabelle against the boys at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. A last start runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Impendabelle will bypass her own sex in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) in favour of dropping back to the more favourable 1400m of the Group 2 Auckland Guineas. Pike has been pleased with the way she has returned from her southern venture and said she has enjoyed some downtime ahead of her resumption next Tuesday. “Coming back in trip we decided to go against the boys in the Guineas rather than the Eight Carat. We have got plenty of depth in our three-year-olds this year, which is good to see,” Pike told TAB NZ. “She has come back from Christchurch in great order. She had 10 days in the paddock when she got home. “She had an exhibition gallop with Not Guilty at Tauranga last Friday and I was really pleased with her work.” The daughter of Impending will also have the addition of blinkers to help sharpen her for her fresh-up run. “I have decided to put the blinkers on coming back in trip for the Auckland Guineas. She tends to get a bit wayward when she hits the front and Kozzi (Asano, jockey) has copped a couple of suspensions because of that,” Pike said. “Her work with the blinkers on Friday was exceptional.” Depending on the outcome of Tuesday’s race, Pike is weighing up between the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January 13 or the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27 with his filly. “We will see how she pulls up after the Auckland Guineas to see whether she runs in the Levin Classic or alternatively head straight to the Karaka Million Mile. There is a chance she could do both,” he said. “I think those three races will be enough for her this preparation and if she holds her form then we might pick out one or two races in Sydney heading into the autumn.” More horse racing news View the full article

Mazzolino will contest the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) In-foal mare Mazzolino already has that motherly glow according to trainer Stephen Marsh, and he is hoping she can translate that into Group One success at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. The Waikato Stud-bred and raced four-year-old is a full-sister to Go Racing’s multiple Group One-winner Atishu, and they would dearly love to get a Group One result with their mare before her raceday retirement. The Group Three winner came close when fourth in the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) in March but will get another opportunity on Tuesday in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m). “She is in-foal to Super Seth. She is working great and has almost got a glow on,” Marsh told TAB NZ. “I liked her run (for fourth) in the Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m) and she has bounced out of it super. “We trialled her up at Ellerslie the other day and I think she is going super, and blinkers have been applied. “It is certainly a step up. It is a nice, even field without it being over the top. I think she is up to it.” A race prior, stablemate Glamour Tycoon will be shooting for a hat-trick of wins in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m). The daughter of Written Tycoon was a last start victor of the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui and Marsh said she is taking a power of confidence into her Boxing Day assignment. “Two starts ago we took her up (to Ruakaka) where we were hoping to get a confidence boost. She did that and went down and won the O’Learys race well,” he said. “Her work has been good, she is going great and I think the couple of wins have really boosted her. “The step up to a mile is a bit of a question mark, but if you can get a mile I think that opens up a few more doors, whether that’s up here for the Karaka Mile or go down for the Levin Classic. “I think it is probably one of the best Eight Carat’s I have seen for a while, which is great. Prizemoney is up and racing is starting to become great again, it is good to see.” Marsh will also have a two-pronged stakes representation in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) with Sinhaman and Tossuforit. “Sinhaman has had a week in the paddock, his bloods were out a little bit, but his work has been good. He will improve with the run but he is going really well and is a worthy contender,” Marsh said. “Tossuforit ran really well last start for second and potentially could have won. She is going great.” More horse racing news View the full article

The Irish-bred son of Dandy Man is the only stakes winner and among three graded-placed runners in the field of the $200,000 Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T).View the full article

Pennyweka winning the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Photo: Race Images – Peter Rubery A year is a long time in racing and in 2023 the connections of Pennyweka experienced it all. The daughter of Satono Aladdin took her seventy-strong The Galloping Wekas Jazweka Syndicate on a whirlwind ride in autumn, winning the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham before crossing the Tasman to claim the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick. But the wheels came off their fairytale ride in spring when she finished 13th in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and seventh in the Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni a month later, which would prove to be the last outing of her racing career. “After her last run at Manawatu in the mud and the slush, she didn’t recover quite as well as we expected her to. After a while we scoped her and she was found to have an epiglottic entrapment, which got ulcerated and very enlarged,” said trainer Jim Wallace, who bred Pennyweka in partnership with his brother Les. “We sent her through to the Waikato Equine people who did a surgical procedure which they expected to take care of it, but it wasn’t as successful as we would like it to be. “She couldn’t race to the level that she had before so the decision was made in consultation with the vets to call time. “She has been a good mare and won a couple of Group Ones and had a couple of Group placings, so she has got plenty of good credentials as a broodmare.” Pennyweka retires as the winner of three of her 12 starts and more than $1.1 million in prizemoney, with her Oaks victories being supported by placings in the Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m), and Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). Pennyweka’s win in the New Zealand Oaks was particularly sentimental for the Wallace family, who had gathered to celebrate the life of Madeleine Wallace, the late wife of Jim and Mary’s son David, at Ardsley Stud, and a day after Jim and Les’ mother, Margaret, died. “The day at Trentham in itself was really special because of the circumstances surrounding it with the family, that was an absolute magic day,” Wallace said. Initially not intending to head across the Tasman with his charge, Wallace quickly changed his mind a couple of days after Pennyweka’s New Zealand Oaks victory, and he is glad he did. “I had declined the opportunity to make the second payment for the (Australian) Oaks before she ran at Wellington because I thought win, lose or draw she probably would have had enough,” he said. “On the Monday following (her New Zealand Oaks win) she had a bit of a trot around and the girl that rides all the work for me, Vania Mason, came back and said she was better that day than she was on Friday. “After a couple of days, we had a consult with the syndicate, made the payment, went to Sydney and the rest is history. “Any time you can take something over to Australia is great. It had been a long time since I had one good to go. It was really satisfying.” Wallace also enjoyed the atmosphere her sizeable syndicate brought to her races. “They were magic,” he said. “I didn’t have a lot to do with the syndicate, my sister-in-law (Janine) runs those syndicates and she does a wonderful job with them. We had them all here the day after we got back from Australia. They were a fantastic group to deal with, they were so enthusiastic. They are all devastated with the news, but racing is a fickle business.” The focus will now turn towards her future broodmare career, but Wallace said he and Les have yet to decide whether to breed from her themselves or accept one of the many offers on the table from several interested international breeders. “We haven’t discussed that (future) as such yet,” he said. “There has been a huge amount of interest in her from commercial breeders throughout Australasia and further afield, but we will worry about that in the New Year. Les is away, so when he comes back we will have a sit down and talk about it and make some decisions.” While the curtain has come down on the racing career of Pennyweka, the Wallaces still have plenty to look forward to from her family. “We have got a half-brother going to the Karaka sales and the mare is safely in-foal to Satono Aladdin again, so there is a bit to look forward to,” he said. Pennyweka’s half-brother will go through their Ardsley Stud draft at Karaka as lot 483, and Wallace said he is a more impressive type than his Group One-winning sibling. “Looking at him physically, he is a much better type than she is. She is a pretty plain mare than can run like hell,” Wallace said. “He is a very nice colt and is a strong, powerful and correct animal. Indications are that he should be able to run, he is a really nice horse.” With the year quickly coming to an end, Wallace is taking the time to reflect on the highs and lows it has brought, and the thrill a homebred mare has brought to him, his family, and her sizeable syndicate. “It has been a great ride,” he said. More horse racing news View the full article

Trans-Tasman trainer Andrew Forsman. Photo: Trish Dunell Andrew Forsman is relocating his Victorian stable after being granted 13 boxes at Flemington. The Cambridge trainer established a permanent Australian base earlier this year at Macedon Lodge, roughly 60km north-west of Melbourne. But when Flemington made stables available via a competitive tender, Forsman jumped at the opportunity. “I’m thrilled to get those boxes at Flemington,” he said. “It sounds like there were a few other applicants, so it’s an opportunity we have to grab with both hands and make it work. “It should work out really well, with Flemington being so accessible and with all of the options it provides for trainers. Macedon was great, but it just seemed to be a little bit tricky to train some horses there. Flemington is more similar to what we’re used to at home in Cambridge, and it’s going to be easier to train different types of horses. You’ve really got a wide range of options available. “We won’t be full all the time, but it’s nice to have a box or two free if we think there’s a suitable race for a horse from New Zealand.” Forsman currently has the talented half-siblings Mr Maestro and Riproar based in Australia, and they are expected to be his first horses to use the new Flemington base. Back on home soil, Forsman is preparing a team of eight runners for the iconic Boxing Day meeting at Pukekohe on Tuesday. The headline act is Aegon, who is a +230 second favourite behind Campionessa (+150) for the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m). Aegon was one of the standout performers in the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham earlier this month, albeit after remaining in the starting gates while most of the field ran up to 400m in a false start. Aegon dropped out to last in the 17-horse field in the second running of the $400,000 feature, then produced a flying finish for a close fourth. He clocked the fastest times in the race for the last 800m (45.78 seconds), 600m (33.58), 400m (22.24) and 200m (11.61). “It was obviously a funny race, for a few different reasons,” Forsman said. “But he did his thing and ran home really well. We knew it was always going to be hard from the extreme outside gate, getting so far back and giving that much ground away, but we really liked the way he found the line. “He’s trained on great since then. The query will be whether he can produce that same strong finish over a bit more ground. He’s hardly raced at all over this sort of distance – just one previous run in this race a couple of years ago (unplaced behind Tiptronic over 2000m at Ellerslie in 2021). “That hasn’t necessarily been deliberate. It’s just that we haven’t really had the right opportunities to step him up over ground. “He is a horse that often runs his best races fresh. Whether that’s a sign of a horse who can run a strong 2000m, I’m not sure, but there’s probably no better time than now to give him that chance.” Mary Shan has been luckless in her last two starts, featuring prominently in stewards’ reports while finishing second in the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and fifth in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Forsman is expecting her to make her presence felt in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day. “She didn’t get many favours at Riccarton, having to make a big searching run and being very tight for room late in the race,” Forsman said. “But she’s bounced through it well. We gave her a week in the paddock after that. She’s looking good, has been working nicely and should run well again.” Forsman had a high enough opinion of two-year-old filly Macaluso to line her up against Velocious, Bellatrix Star, Poetic Champion and Savaglee on debut in last month’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). She finished a creditable fourth in the strongest juvenile race of the season so far, and she will line-up over the same course and distance for the second start of her career. “I thought it was a pretty solid effort on debut,” Forsman said. “It was a bit of a muddling run race and she just got left flat-footed when the speed went on. She’s taken good improvement from the run.” More horse racing news View the full article

Vincent Ho is fifth in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship. Keen to convert quality opportunities into more wins after a frustrating recent run, Vincent Ho hopes Joyful Hunter and The Heir can add further lustre to an unforgettable December at Sha Tin. With the memories of Golden Sixty’s colossal Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) triumph on December 10 still vivid, Ho is eager to capitalise tomorrow after slotting three wins and 11 minor placings from 47 rides this month. A four-time winner of the Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong’ top homegrown rider and runner-up in last season’s jockey’s championship with a career-high 96 victories, Ho made a delayed start to this season after suffering injuries in a Japanese race fall. With 16 wins and 32 minor placings from 120 rides so far this term, Ho has eight mounts this weekend, including Joyful Hunter for Francis Lui. Unbeaten in two runs last season, Joyful Hunter has had three runs this term for two thirds and an 11th but Ho is confident the gelding is primed to return to form despite drawing the outside gate in the 11-horse field. “He’s a quality horse and he’s ready to go. Unfortunately, it’s a tricky draw but we’ll see,” Ho said. “He’s a nice horse and if everything goes well, hopefully he can still be in the Four-Year-Old Series. He’ll definitely need longer but he’s had some time off, so he’s starting off at 1200 (metres).” Ho also takes the reins on Caspar Fownes-trained The Heir. “Lovely horse – actually, he’s a very nice horse. We’re excited that he’s stepping up now and he should perform very well. He’s a nice horse to ride, quite easy,” Ho said. Keith Yeung is optimistic Woodfire Bro’s racing pattern will be an advantage when Michael Chang’s charge contests the Class 2 Yan Chai Trophy Handicap (2000m). To carry only 115lb against nine rivals headed by Tourbillon Diamond (135lb), Woodfire Bro rises to Class 2 for the first time after a last-start second to Chancheng Glory over 1600m on November 26. “I’m not so worried about the draw (barrier eight) because usually he just rolls forward and in a 2000 metre race, there won’t be too much speed, so (hopefully) I can get to the front in a comfortable way” Yeung said. “He’s an honest horse and also he’s very settled in the race during the run. He lets you wait for you to ask him and then he switches on.” Pierre Ng will saddle nine runners tomorrow as he bids to produce at least one winner for the 15th consecutive meeting. Leading the Hong Kong trainers’ championship by 15 with 37 wins, Ng has snared 25 winners across 14 meetings stretching back to 5 November. The second-season handler will attempt to continue his remarkable sequence with two last-start winners – Starship Eighty and I Give, who is bidding for a sixth straight win. More horse racing news View the full article

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Opportunity knocks for the field of 3-year-old fillies racing in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

A pair of graded stakes races will signal that the Gulfstream Park Championship season is officially underway on Saturday. First, the GIII Sugar Swirl S. for older females going six furlongs on the main track includes veteran mare Bluefield (Field Commission), who won by a neck against state-breds in a Tampa black-type race Dec. 9. “She went up to Tampa and it was nice to get a stakes win on her resume at this age,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “She came to us late but she just keeps getting better and better. She's never run back this quick, but she's in good order so I think she should run well. Hopefully she has a good week leading up to it.” Bluefield will be joined by her new stablemate Intrepid Daydream (Jess's Dream). Purchased privately just last week, the filly rides in on a four-race win streak at the Mid-Atlantic tracks. Also entered is Napa Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}). The chestnut prepped for this spot when she came from off the pace to win an optional claimer at Churchill Downs Nov. 22. Joining her will be Headland (Paynter), who was third last out in the Garland of Roses S. at Aqueduct Dec. 9, while AMO Racing's SP Olivia Darling (Palace) will look to improve after a fifth-place finish in the GIII Princess Rooney S. in Hallandale Oct. 7. The other half of the graded stakes Saturday offering is the seven-furlong GIII Mr. Prospector S. for older males. Last year's edition was used as the springboard for Sibelius (Not This Time) as he won three straight, including traveling to Dubai to collect the G1 Golden Shaheen S. “Maybe it's the time of year where he's best, I don't know,” said trainer Jeremiah O'Dwyer. “We'll find out this year. It's going to be his second year in a row trying to take the same path. We're looking forward to it. I couldn't be happier with the horse.” Sibelius might not have such an easy task ahead with the presence of MGSW Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy). After winning both of his starts at Gulfstream over the summer, the 7-year-old returns here with the capability to run this field off their feet. Trainer Brendan Walsh sends Gilmore (Twirling Candy) back to the post to finish off what could be considered a consistent year for the 3-year-old colt. The gray was the runner-up in the GIII Bayshore S., then was third in both the GII Pat Day Mile S. and GI Woody Stephens S. An entry who could be a pace factor is AMO Racing's Hurricane J (Nyquist). Formerly under Paulo Lobo's care, the dark bay colt made his first start for Jorge Delgado over the Gulfstream main track against optional claimers and won by 2 3/4 lengths Nov. 19. The post Gulfstream Championship Season Graded Races Ready To Unwrap appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As part of a larger $32 million improvement plan, Santa Anita's training track should re-open in mid-January after it was closed for construction Nov. 12, as it changes from a sand-based surface to an all-weather synthetic one, the track said in a release Friday afternoon. Constructed by Tapeta Footings, the new surface is designed to improve safety while also helping to limit weather-related training disruptions. “The main thing is having synthetic will alleviate a complete stoppage of training because of weather,” said Jason Egan, Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. This week has provided a perfect example of the potential impact of a synthetic training track at Santa Anita. With back-to-back rainstorms hitting the area, the main track was “sealed” on Tuesday and has since been closed entirely for training. “We have some unique situations in California with rules as it relates to weather,” Egan said. “Like with the rain this week. It either closes our racetrack entirely or limits what our training activities can be.” With the worst of this week's rainstorms having passed, Santa Anita's main track is expected to be unsealed Friday. Per rules of the California Racing Board, only joggers will be allowed on the track Saturday. Full training is slated to resume on Sunday given the current forecast. “Having a synthetic training track, we can continue on with workouts, gallops, that sort of thing. I think it will be a big assist,” Egan added. The post New Training Track At Santa Anita On Course For Mid-January Opening appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On Saturday, December 23, horse racing enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling day with 11 meetings set to unfold across various locations in Australia. Our team of committed racing analysts at horsebetting.com.au has meticulously selected the top bets and crafted quaddie numbers tailored for the upcoming events at Eagle Farm, Moonee Valley, Randwick, Ascot, Murray Bridge, and Sha Tin (HK). Saturday Racing Tips – December 23, 2023 Eagle Farm Racing Tips Moonee Valley Racing Tips Randwick Racing Tips Ascot Racing Tips Murray Bridge Racing Tips Sha Tin (HK) Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For December 23, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $131.53 odds return: Saturday, December 23, 2023 Eagle Farm – Race 9 #10 Bezique Moonee Valley – Race 6 #8 Yellow Sam Randwick – Race 3 #2 Underpants Ascot – Race 9 #4 Aristonous Murray Bridge – Race 4 #2 La Defense | Copy this bet straight to your betslip For avid Australian racing fans, numerous promotions await your exploration. Be sure to peruse the offerings from top online bookmakers, as daily promotions can enhance your horse racing experience. If you’re in search of a new bookmaker to elevate your horse racing ventures on December 23, 2023, consult our comprehensive guide to the finest online racing betting sites. We’re committed to keeping you informed and enhancing your horse racing betting journey. More horse racing tips View the full article

As part of a larger $32 million improvement plan for Santa Anita Park announced this summer, Santa Anita's training track is changing from a sand-based surface to all-weather synthetic produced by Tapeta Footings.View the full article