Wandering Eyes

Race 7 KEVIN MYERS STABLES 1200m CHARMROSE (A Lawson-Carroll) – Te Akau Racing Manager Mr. R Trumper advised Stewards, the stable is satisfied with the recovery of the CHARMROSE, and it is their intention to carry on with her preparation. The post Wanganui Jockey Club @ Wanganui, Sunday 27 April 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 2 POLYTRACK RACING SEASON STARTS 1 MAY MAIDEN 1400m LADY MARMAC (L Hemi) – Trainer Ms. A McLeod reported to Stewards, she was satisfied with the post-race condition of the filly, however, LADY MARMAC will have a short freshen-up prior to resuming its preparation. The post Canterbury Jockey Club @ Riccarton Park, Saturday 26 April 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 6 WINDSOR PARK STUD CAMBRIDGE BREEDERS’ STAKES 3YO 1200 (G3) VELOCIOUS (W Pinn) – Trainer Mr. S Marsh advised Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of VELOCIOUS, and it is his intention to carry on with her preparation, where he may look to nominate VELOCIOUS for the Auckland TR meeting on Saturday 17 May. The post Waikato Thoroughbred Racing @ Te Rapa, Saturday 26 April 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 6 HORIZON BY SKYCITY MAIDEN 1400m THE MAUKU EXPRESS (T Moodley) – Trainer Ms. C Cameron reported to Stewards, the filly has been retired. The post Auckland Thoroughbred Racing @ Pukekohe Park, Wednesday 23 April 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Greg Sugars will be honoured in a variety of ways, including a race named in his honour, at Melton in Victoria on Saturday night. Sugars’ wife, Jess Tubbs, trains three of the nine runners in the Vale Greg Sugars Free-For-All (Race 5). Australia’s premier driver, James Herbertson, has jetted back from a working holiday in the US and will drive favourite, Rocknroll Hammer, in the race. Trailblazing female Kerryn Manning will drive veteran former Kiwi pacer Triple Eight for Tubbs, while Craig Demmler will be aboard former Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse. Drivers will compete in black armbands at the meeting. Between races four and five, a tribute ceremony will be held at Melton. There will also be a pause in the Menangle meeting in Sydney so that ceremony can be simulcast on that track’s big screen. The ceremony will see Greg’s colours and other items of significance placed on a shrine at the winning post. All participating drivers will form a guard of honour around it. Sugars, 40, died in his sleep last Sunday while in Sydney campaigning horses. The harness racing world has been rocked and in mourning since. Tributes have poured in from all around the world, including Sweden where Sugars raced Just Believe in 2023, and the US. He was almost as well loved and admired in NZ as in Australia, given his many friends and great racetrack success. Herbertson said he “wasn’t in the right headspace” to stay in the US. “I needed to get back home and support Jess (Tubbs),” he said. “I’m not sure how long I’m back for, I’ll play it by ear.” Herbertson, like so many others, is awaiting details of Sugars’ funeral and memorial service, which will be held at Melton on a non-raceday. Tubbs said a date has yet to be finalised for the funeral. Sugars had a Hall of Fame record with over 4000 wins, including 71 at Group 1 level. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Palmerston North is not the most convenient place to get to for Crystal Hackett but the effort last night was certainly worth it. The Auckland-based junior driver won four races on the seven race card at Manawatu with Ragnar Lothbrok, Kenny Hill, Colin McBride and Skys Legacy. “A few of them just stuck their heads out at the right time and they all tried really hard so it was a good night,” says Hackett. So which one was the most satisfying? “All of them,” Hackett says without hesitation. “I thought beforehand I had a nice book and that I could get one or two wins so to get four was great.” “They’d all been racing well and deserved it.” Ragnar Lothbrok’s win in Race 1, the Andrew and Lyn Neal Stables Mobile, was arguably Hackett’s best drive of the night. Drawn two, the favourite was three and then four back the fence and looking in real trouble a lap from home. But at around the 600 metre mark the gaps opened and Hackett made her move three wide. Ragnar Lothbrok was not going to be denied, beating a game Call Security by half a length. “The race certainly didn’t pan out the way I thought it would,” says Hackett, “he’s only a little fella but he toughed it out.” Named after a Viking hero, it was Ragnar Lothbrok’s second win in 13 starts. It was the second time that Hackett’s had four wins at one meeting, replicating her efforts with Run Forest Run, Pixie, Claude and Ilsas Son at Cambridge in July 2023. It was also good reward for the time and effort needed to get to Palmerston North. Hackett usually flies down from Auckland at lunchtime on the day of the meeting and then gets a lift home after the meeting with fellow driver Emily Johnson and her father. “It’s six hours from Palmy to my place – I got home about two this morning,” says Hackett. The hard work though is certainly paying off. “I got 43 wins last year and I set myself a target of 50 this year and I am already at 32 so things are going really good.” View the full article

A new Rowe Cup champion will be crowned at Alexandra Park tonight. The $200,000 feature has three trotting millionaires in Oscar Bonavena, Muscle Mountain and Queen Elida all vying for more Group 1 glory, but none of the 12 horses that will line up at 9.28pm have won it before. Since the first Rowe Cup in 1918, there have been an elite group to have won it multiple times. The great Lyell Creek is the only trotter to have won three times and two-time winners include Sundees Son (2019-2021), I Can Doosit (2011-12), Single Cash (1968-69) and Pohutukawa (1962-63). Before them there was Fantom, who came from royal pacing stock, and won the most prestigious northern trotting race in 1943 and 1944. The story of Fantom and Harry Styles By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After disappointing at his early attempts to be pacer, Fantom (U Scott – Fantine) was given away by his trainer Roy Berry as a hack to an old bloke who just happened to be called Harry Styles. He was the clerk of the course at Hutt Park (and clearly had no idea his name would later be associated with a 21st century pop icon) It’s been reported that Styles worked out that Fantom could trot and to help him improve his technique he put logs down at intervals and made the horse trot over them. This account has been questioned over the years (but it makes a good story). The decision was made for the horse to go back to Berry who trained at Yaldhurst in Christchurch. Fantom’s owner Sid Kelly died in 1943 having seen him win one race, at Trentham. His horses were then sold and Fantom was bought by John McKenzie, of Roydon Lodge fame. McKenzie of course was well acquainted with the stock of U Scott – he brought the star stallion out to New Zealand from North America. McKenzie’s private trainer George Noble then went about developing a champion. At the time Noble said “he was a light framed little fellow, about 15.2 hands, a nice bay colour and a very safe trottr.” “He had a very peculiar way of going in his preliminary – he sort of shuffled along – but once you clicked him up it was a different story.” In December that year he won the Rowe Cup in 4:35.4 beating Echoist (Leo Berkett) and Steel King by a length. It was a rare Rowe Cup success for such a young horse with the only other previous three-year-old winner being Garner in 1932. He repeated that success a year later coming off 24 yards to again beat Steel King and Forewarned by a short head in 4:33.2. Such was his longevity and ability that Fantom trotted a world record 4:16 for two miles (3200m) first up as a 10-year-old! He had four starts as a 11-year-old before being retired as the winner of 13 races from94 starts stretched over nine seasons. Among his 13 wins were the NZ Trotting Stakes the Dominion Handicap, and a qualifying heat of the Inter-Dominions. He also won over two miles against good class pacers at Auckland. “He was, without a doubt, the gamest horse I ever sat behind,” said Noble. View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, May 4, 2025 First Race 12:30pm HKT (2:30pm AEST) Visit Dabble The Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) headlines a bumper 11-part program at Hong Kong’s Sha Tin Racecourse this Sunday. The rail moves out to the B course, and although some rainfall is forecast in the lead-up, it should have no effect on the initial Good 4 rating. The action at Sha Tin is scheduled to get underway at 12:30pm HKT. Queen Mother Memorial Cup Tip: Bundle Award A select field of six line up in the 2025 Queen Mother Memorial Cup, with the John Size-trained Bundle Award set for a peak performance. The son of Shamus Award didn’t have much luck at a crucial stage last time out, held up behind a wall of horse when trying to get clear running. The 2400m must be considered a query, but as the staying journey poses some questions for most of this field, Bundle Award should get every chance to secure a stakes victory. Queen Mother Memorial Cup Race 8 – #4 Bundle Award (2) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (56kg) Best Bet at Sha Tin: Crossborderpegasus Crossborderpegasus would be undefeated heading into start four were it not for a torrid run in transit last time out. The son of Rich Enuff was forced to sit three wide without cover on that occasion but showed plenty of fight to be narrowly headed in the shadows of the post. Zac Purton gets legged aboard from gate 10, and whether he elects to lead or take a sit, it simply shouldn’t matter with Crossborderpegasus oozing class amongst this lot. Best Bet Race 5 – #2 Crossborderpegasus (10) 3yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (57.5kg) Next Best at Sha Tin: Spirit Of Peace You won’t witness a better run in defeat than what Spirit Of Peace produced at Sha Tin on March 23. The Harry Angel gelding bombed the start and was tailed off by five lengths in the early stages, circling the entire field to somehow get within two lengths of Sky Deep. He’s had three trials to get his barrier manners in check, and provided he can leave with them this time around, Spirit Of Peace should be rattling home at a good price with Dabble. Next Best Race 9 – #1 Spirit Of Peace (12) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Brenton Avdulla (61kg) Best Value at Sha Tin: Shamus Storm The David Hayes-trained Shamus Storm has been mixing his form this season, producing two minor placings in his three starts. He caught the eye when sliding up the inside running rail to finish third behind key rival Mr Cool on April 6 and gets a 2.5kg swing in the weights after that half-length defeat. Zac Purton takes the reins from gate four and should get a tactical advantage over the likely favourite with horse racing bookmakers, and provided he can sprint taking closer order, Shamus Storm should be right in this. Best Value Race 7 – #6 Shamus Storm (4) 3yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Zac Purton (59kg) Sha Tin Sunday quaddie tips – 4/5/2025 Sha Tin quadrella selections Sunday, May 4, 2025 3-4-6 1-4-5-8 2-3-6-7-9 1-2-7-8-9 Horse racing tips View the full article

What SA Derby Day Where Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043 When Saturday, May 3, 2025 First Race 11:52am ACST Visit Dabble The Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) is the feature event on a quality nine-race program at Morphettville this Saturday. A perfect autumn day is forecast for race day, and with clear skies set to grace Adelaide in the lead-up, the Good 4 track rating alongside the rail being out 2m, means there will be no excuses for fancied runners. The first event on SA Derby Day 2025 is set to commence at 11:52am ACST. SA Derby Tip: Lavalier Lavalier may be a one-time winner from 11 starts, but the way the son of Microphone hit the line last time out in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) suggests the trip will suit him down to the ground in the 2025 SA Derby. He took a while to build through his gears over the 2000m, but his final 200m was as good as it gets. Jamie Melham will need a touch of luck early to not be caught wide, but if she can slot this bloke in midfield, Lavalier will be the one to beat. SA Derby Race 8 – #8 Lavalier (15) 3yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Jamie Melham (56.5kg) Best Bet at Morphettville: Albertville Clinton McDonald seems to have a smart one on his hands, with Albertville winning his first two starts with his new trainer. The son of Ilovethiscity won on hands and heels at Mornington on April 6, while his on-speed win first-up at Kyneton showed a tactical versatility that should offset the draw in barrier 10. Wherever Jamie Melham looks to settle him, Albertville has a class edge on his rivals and should prove far too good. Best Bet Race 2 – #5 Albertville (10) 3yo Gelding | T: Clinton McDonald | J: Jamie Melham (60kg) Next Best at Morphettville: Savagery Vibe Savagery Vibe returned a winner at Pakenham over 1000m, and despite only getting the job done by the barest of margins, she looks poised to go on with the job. The Brutal filly arguably should have won by much more, but she did plenty wrong when laying in under pressure in the final furlong. Mark Zahra sticks on board, and as long as her race-day manners have improved, Savagery Vibe should be winning again. Next Best Race 3 – #3 Savagery Vibe (7) 3yo Filly | T: Nick Ryan | J: Mark Zahra (61kg) Best Value at Morphettville: Esternay Esternay has been impressive in her last two starts at 1400m, winning with a touch of class from a rearward position and sprouting wings late. The three-year-old filly produced some of the best closing sectionals on the ANZAC Day card at Flemington, and with a repeat performance on Saturday, she will give the Adelaide Guineas (1600m) a shake at a price with horse racing bookmakers. If Blake Shinn has her in clear air on the home turn, the turn of foot Esternay possesses will be too much for her rivals. Best Value Race 7 – #11 Esternay (12) 3yo Filly | T: Mark Walker | J: Blake Shinn (55.5kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Morphettville Morphettville quadrella selections Saturday, May 3, 2025 1-2-3 1-3-8-9-11 1-2-3-4-7-8 2-4-6-13-16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Making a determined bid inside the final furlong, Los Melli's Sarawak Rim wore down the favored Martana to win the 1 1/4-mile Gran Premio Criadores (G1) on dirt at Hipodromo de Palermo May 1 in Buenos Aires.View the full article

The $1 million Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) promises a field of 11 talented runners. But because many of those runners are looking for consistency, the morning-line favorite is listed at a healthy 4-1. View the full article

Not long after scratching Rodriguez from the Kentucky Derby (G1), Bob Baffert picked up his first stakes win at Churchill Downs since his suspension from the track came to a close with Fort Bragg in the St. Matthews Overnight Stakes May 1.View the full article

Three of the top four finishers from the March 1 Honey Fox Stakes (G3T) will square off again in the $750,000 Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2T) May 3 at Churchill Downs. Special Wan, winner of the Honey Fox, is primed to win her second race of 2025.View the full article

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Andrew Campbell has had plenty of success in Australia, highlighted by his former Group One-winning stars Tavistock (NZ) (Montjeu) and Werther (NZ) (Tavistock), and this month he is hoping Croupier (NZ) (Ace High) can add his name to that honour roll. The Otaki trainer has struck gold with his first horse to the races since deciding to return to the training ranks earlier this season, and he thought enough of the son of Ace High to test his talent across the Tasman. Croupier has won two of his three career starts to date, with his ticket across the Tasman secured with a smart victory over a mile at Ellerslie last start. It’s been a long journey to Queensland, with no direct flights from Auckland, and Campbell has broken up the trip with a week-long stay in Sydney. “We flew to Sydney and stayed at Craig Ritchie’s and he has done super, he has probably done too well,” Campbell said. “He has been at Craig Ritchie’s for a week and he is just a different horse. They always say the trip away makes a horse, and I certainly think it has made him. “We are at Paul Shailer’s (Gold Coast), he has got a great set-up, it’s very nice.” Croupier was a dual acceptor at Eagle Farm’s meeting on Saturday, and Campbell has strategically opted to contest the BRC Members Class 3 Plate (1600m) over the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m). “It was a hard call because we made both races, but we were thinking if he goes a good race in the Guineas but doesn’t get any points, we are going to miss out on the next two races, the Rough Habit Plate (Gr.3, 2000m) and Derby (Gr.1, 2400m),” Campbell said. “We thought we would play it safe and hopefully he can win that race, and he will be up to going for the next two races. It is still good money, it is worth A$75,000, so that can’t be sneezed at.” Campbell was pleased with Croupier’s final piece of work on Thursday and expects a bold showing on Saturday, where he will be ridden by former New Zealand jockey Mark Du Plessis. “We gave him a good, hard gallop (on Thursday morning), and he probably needed it. He looks amazing, I couldn’t be happier,” Campbell said. “He (Du Plessis) rode for us back when he was riding in New Zealand, he rode Werther in the early days,” Campbell said. “It is always good to have that Kiwi connection.” Campbell is enjoying his time campaigning in Australia once more, and he is looking forward to spending plenty of time in Queensland over the next month. “I love it, it’s what you get up in the morning for,” he said. “It’s exciting times.” View the full article

Classy, tenacious and mega-durable mare Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy) is set to be offered in a special sale launching next week on Gavelhouse Plus. The daughter of Super Easy was raced by her breeder Sandy Moore in partnership with Brent and Wendy Cooper and their Social Racing Starting Gates Syndicate. She was trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall through a 26-race career that produced eight wins, eight placings and $774,950 in stakes. Bonny Lass was a five-time Group winner, headed by the Group One BCD Group Sprint (1400m). She backed that up with another four placings at Group One level. “She was an absolutely amazing horse for her big group of owners,” Brent Cooper said. “Mark Baker at Hallmark Stud researched it and found that only two mares in New Zealand history won Group races at every age from two to six – Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) and Bonny Lass. “The great Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun) was a Listed winner as a two-year-old from only a handful of starts, so we might be splitting hairs a little bit there. But even so, winning Group races in four consecutive seasons puts Bonny Lass in an incredibly exclusive club.” Bonny Lass burst on the scene as a two-year-old with wins in her first two starts including the Group Two Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), followed by placings in the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). In her three-year-old season, Bonny Lass won three races including the Group Three Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), along with a third behind Group One winners On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) and I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1400m), plus a fourth in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). Bonny Lass won the Group Three Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) as a four-year-old, then returned at five for luckless placings in the Group One Sistema Railway (1200m) and Telegraph (1200m). She had her deserved moment in the sun in the BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa in February, where she edged out the previously unbeaten three-year-old Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) by a long head. A six-start campaign as a six-year-old was headed by a superb first-up win in the Group Two Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa last August, beating the likes of Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel), Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh), Puntura (NZ) (Vespa) and Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). But out of all of those outstanding performances against top-flight opposition, Cooper has no doubt which performance sits at the top of the pile. “Her Group One win at Te Rapa was such a special day for all of us,” he said. “I’m good friends with Daniel Nakhle, whose horse Crocetti was defeated for the first time in his career when he ran second that day. He gave all of us his congratulations and said he was delighted for Bonny, and that if anyone had to beat Crocetti in that race, he was glad it was her. “He said no horse in New Zealand deserved to win a Group One race more than Bonny Lass, and we heard those sentiments from quite a few people that day. It was an outstanding win and an obvious career highlight.” Bonny Lass is one of three winners from five foals to race out of Posh Bec (NZ) (Le Bec Fin), who herself won three races and placed in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). Posh Bec is also the dam of Clark Kent (NZ) (Super Easy), who placed in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m), while her half-brother Time To Celebrate (NZ) (Per Incanto) placed at Group Two level in Hong Kong. Cooper believes Bonny Lass has the attributes to be a quality broodmare. “Another of her most memorable performances was in the Railway, where she was almost knocked over in the straight but somehow managed to pick herself up and finish second,” he said. “If she can pass any of that bravery and tenacity on to her progeny, she’ll be an outstanding broodmare.” The sale of Bonny Lass will run on Gavelhouse Plus from 10am (NZT) on Wednesday 7th May to 7pm (NZT) Thursday 15th May. View the full article

The six-furlong race over Woodbine's all-weather track will put the value of experience to the test. All but one of the five fillies and mares have raced at least 14 times. The other just three.View the full article

The undefeated Nysos, a colt dubbed trainer Bob Baffert's next big star after his scintillating three-race win streak, returns to action for the first time in 15 months in the $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) May 3.View the full article

As you review the entries for the marquee races this weekend at Churchill Downs, namely the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the GI Kentucky Derby on Saturday, you'll notice a common name listed among the connections: Brereton C. Jones. Though many outside of the Thoroughbred industry will recognize the name as that of the former governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, for those within it, it's one that evokes immense pride and gratitude for a man who was a true stalwart of the sport. Sadly, Brereton–the founder and master of Airdrie Stud alongside his wife, Libby–passed away Sept. 18, 2023 at the age of 84 following a lengthy illness. But his legacy, one he curated through years of intuitive breeding decisions amongst a standout broodmare band, lives on through his son, Bret Jones, and his family. This weekend, Airdrie Stud is proudly represented by three Classic contenders in the form of Kentucky Derby entrants Publisher (American Pharoah), bred and co-owned by the Estate of Brereton C. Jones, and Chunk of Gold (Preservationist), bred by Brereton C. Jones; and Kentucky Oaks contender Fondly (Upstart), also bred by Brereton C. Jones. Publisher (right) stretches his legs at Churchill | Sara Gordon All raised together on the farm in Midway, Ky., as part of the same foal crop in 2022, each Airdrie-bred was sold as a yearling: Publisher for $600,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, Fondly for $50,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, and Chunk of Gold for $2,500, also at the Kentucky Fall Sale. When it comes to the colts, Bret acknowledges the two opposite ends of the spectrum they represent. “Publisher was a very obvious horse from the day he was born. Just a beautiful foal. We really thought, honestly, he was as good a yearling as we had ever raised, or certainly as long as [General Manager] Ben [Hanley] and I have been around. That's why we took him to Saratoga, which we hadn't done in about 50 years, because we just thought he was deserving of that sort of marketing and thought it would be a way to show the farm was trying a few different things,” said Jones. “Ron Moquett loved the colt and bought him on behalf of Gus King, and we pretty much begged to stay in for a piece because we really thought he had a chance to be very special. Gus was very kind and let us partner with him. “At the other end of the spectrum is Chunk of Gold, who literally spent two days trying to climb out of his stall at the Fasig-Tipton October Sale. He was tough. I feel like with horses like that, it can go one of two ways: they won't be able to handle training at all or they'll be such tough, competitive horses that they'll want to go out there and beat your backside. And I'm thankful [the latter] that seems to be the horse that he is.” Though Bret is immensely proud of all of Airdrie's connections amongst the Kentucky Derby weekend entries, there is a special place in his heart for Publisher as he is the first foal out of the farm's star mare, Indian Pride (Proud Citizen). Earning a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut for trainer Chad Brown in the summer of 2019 as a 3-year-old, she went on to finish third in the GII Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland that fall, before returning as a 4-year-old to dominate an allowance at Belmont Park and later securing her first stakes victory in Saratoga's Shine Again Stakes. Despite her career being cut short due to a bout of colic while training up to the 2020 GI Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga, which led to her retirement after four starts, Indian Pride had more than proven the high caliber of racehorse that she was. “I really do think that Indian Pride was as talented as any horse that we ever put in training. She didn't get to fully show it because she got very sick as a 2-year-old and then got sick again as a 3-year-old. At the time, you're devastated when you can't make a race like [the Ballerina] because I really think she was deserving to be a Grade I winner,” said Jones. Chunk of Gold with Ethan West | Sara Gordon “Her dam, Ms. Cornstalk, got us two champions in Canada in Biofuel and Tu Endie Wei. That family goes way back with dad. When I was just a kid, I can remember Dansil running in the [1989] Kentucky Derby and he was a horse that dad had bred from that family. Hopefully we continue to add to what's already a pretty special page for us.” When it comes to Publisher, the colt actually represents Airdrie on both sides of the pedigree as a son of American Pharoah, whose dam Littleprincessemma (Yankee Gentleman) was bred and sold by Airdrie. For Bret, the pairing of Indian Pride with the 2015 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year was a no-brainer. “We are a very simple people. The thinking [behind that] was breed the most talented horse that we've ever raced to the most talented horse we've ever seen. We thought she was the right type to take to Pharoah. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it sure worked with him because he's an absolutely beautiful colt.” Publisher has yet to break his maiden in seven tries, but has certainly shown the wherewithal to do so at the highest level. He's shown improvement in each start this season, most recently finishing a valiant second-place finish to Sandman (Tapit) in the March 29 GI Arkansas Derby. “[Steve] told us early on, 'Look, this is a very talented horse but he's really got to strengthen up right now. He's just a little bit physically immature, so we're not going to push him too hard,' with the thought we could have a very good 3-year-old. Obviously, that progression has worked out just as Steve thought that it could. His last race was his best race and hopefully his next race is even better,” said Jones. Indian Pride, the dam of Publisher; Play for Gold (Cairo Prince), the dam of Chunk of Gold; and Lifetime Memory (Istan), the dam of Fondly, all represent generations upon generations of families handcrafted by Bret's father. Though all three of their Classic contenders sold for a range of prices as yearlings, Bret sees those sale results serve as a testament to what Airdrie does best: breeding a quality horse for clients at every level to find and enjoy success with on the track. “[Multiple graded stakes winner] My Boy Jack is from Chunk of Gold's family. We sold him to Keith Desormeaux, who always does great buying inexpensive horses from us and doing exceptional things with them. I think he was a $20,000 yearling, and Chunk of Gold was a $2,500 yearling, so cumulatively $22,500 will get you two spots in the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby,” said Jones. Fondly works for her big day in the Oaks | Sara Gordon And when it comes to the Kentucky Derby, there's something to be said for the smile that alights Bret's face when he talks about Mage (Good Magic), winner of the 2023 Kentucky Derby, who joined Airdrie's stallion roster last season and has first foals on the ground this year. “That was a big deal for the farm. We had never stood a Kentucky Derby winner and we signed the deal for Mage the day after dad passed, so there was pretty amazing timing involved in all of that. The hope is that he can be an important one around here for a long time,” said Jones. Riding alongside Bret as he drives through Airdrie's main farm and the sister properties throughout Versailles while visiting the horses that graze upon the storied pastures, it's as if you're physically thumbing through each chapter of the poignant story that Brereton authored himself over the decades. And when it comes to the continuation of Airdrie's story, it's clear that there's no one more fitting than Brereton's son to hold that pen and put it to paper. “I think about dad every day and I will be thinking about him even more on that first Saturday in May. Watching his grandkids that the walk over will be very emotional, but that's the amazing thing about horse racing. Horse racing in itself is incredible, but when you can share it with the people you love, that is what makes it the greatest in the world.” When the connections make the walk over to the Churchill Downs paddock ahead of Saturday's featured race, as the Jones family accompanies their contender Publisher, there is no doubt that Brereton will be there with them too. The post The Jones Legacy Lives On Beneath The Twin Spires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rodriguez, winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2), has scratched from the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. Co-owner Tom Ryan reports Rodriguez has a foot bruise and will be pointed to the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1).View the full article

After winning the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in which he pressed the pace before holding on for the neck win, Zulu Kingdom will try to add a grade 1 victory to his résumé in the $1 million American Turf Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs May 3.View the full article

LOUISVILE, Ky. – After last year's Breeders' Cup, it wouldn't have come as much of a surprise to see an unbeaten, Godolphin homebred trained by Brad Cox bringing a perfect record into the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. But with last year's champion 2-year-old filly Immersive (Nyquist) unraced since capping her brilliant four-for-four season in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies–she's recently returned to training–it will instead be her unbeaten stablemate Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) that will be in the spotlight for those same connections on the first Friday in May. Good Cheer has raced twice so far this year, easily winning both of her preps in New Orleans–the GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 15 and GII Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 22. The latter was good for a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure. The striking, blaze-faced bay went four-for-four as a 2-year-old, including wins in the Rags to Riches S. Oct. 27 and GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 30, both beneath the Twin Spires. “Look, I would love to sit here and tell you that I thought Good Cheer was gonna be the one,” Cox said with a laugh. “I've always felt Good Cheer would handle the 1 1/8 miles and beyond. When she won the allowance race (by 17 lengths) at Churchill in the fall in September, I thought, 'Man, this could be our Alabama filly.' That would probably be as much dreaming as I did last fall with her. We were obviously gonna try to separate them. If they were gonna meet up, it would've been in the Kentucky Oaks.” Cox added, “Once Good Cheer won the Golden Rod, we knew that she was the real deal. She's definitely filled the gap short term–they're two great fillies. Looking forward to getting Immersive back later in the season, too.” Cox has won the Kentucky Oaks twice–with Monomoy Girl in 2018 and with Shedaresthedevil two years later. Godolphin captured the 2023 renewal with the Brendan Walsh-trained Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief). “Obviously, if Good Cheer can win this race, she puts her name right there with those fillies,” Cox said. After winning last year's Kentucky Oaks with subsequent Horse of the Year and 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna)–she'll be in action in the GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne on the sensational Oaks undercard–trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. will look for a repeat with Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy). Her foot issue seems to behind her–McPeek announced on Twitter earlier this week that her foot abscess has healed–and she enters off a very good rallying second behind the speedy La Cara (Street Sense) in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland Apr. 7. 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) (how cool has it been seeing Kentucky Derby alumni turned John Ortiz stable pony Barber Road accompanying her to the track this week!), winner of Oaklawn's GIII Honeybee S. Feb. 23 and GII Fantasy S. Mar. 29 and drawn widest of all in post 14, figures to go off as the second choice, while the Bob Baffert-trained GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks winner Tenma (Nyquist) will also be well-supported at the windows. With plenty of speed still signed on despite the defection of Five G (Vekoma), stretch-running GIII Gazelle S. winner Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) is an interesting longshot to consider. The 13-race Kentucky Oaks program also features a heavyweight showdown between Todd Pletcher-trained 'TDN Rising Stars' Fierceness (City of Light) and Locked (Gun Runner) in the GII Alysheba S.; the GII Edgewood S., headed by the talented Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro); the GIII Modesty S., topped by MGISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}); the GII Eight Belles S.; and the GIII Unbridled Sidney S. The weather forecast for Louisville continues to be fluid for the next few days with rain expected around noon Friday and continuing into Saturday. The post Good Cheer Brings Perfect Record into Kentucky Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The demand for American Pharoah in Japan might explode if his son, Luxor Cafe, follows in his sire's hoofprints and wins the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill DownsView the full article

While there are thousands of partnerships formed each year in Thoroughbred racing, only a handful, if any, experience the euphoric thrill of Triple Crown success.View the full article

The day after the Kentucky Derby (G1) is typically a time to relax, but there will be no rest for the weary May 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article