Wandering Eyes

For most farms it is enough just to be introducing one new stallion to the market in a season. For Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe, that task is multiplied by three as the Normandy-based operation launches homebred Belbek (Fr) and Angel Bleu (Fr) at the same time as relaunching Mishriff (Ire) after a false start. It is unlikely that anyone has forgotten Mishriff but the stallion business is a fickle game. A misplaced kick to the wall of his stable at Haras de Montfort & Préaux at the beginning of the year left the multiple Group 1 winner with a foot injury which meant he was unable to start his new job in February. Instead, his covering debut will take place in February 2024. Last week in Deauville, he was on show with all five Sumbe stallions at Clairefontaine racecourse, enabling breeders to call in while at nearby Arqana. They won't have been disappointed by what they saw. Mishriff, always a fine-looking horse in his days in training, has developed into a truly imposing specimen during his year of leisure. To this beholder, he comes very close to being a textbook example of a Thoroughbred. “Mishriff, as everybody knows, had a setback last year,” says Sumbe manager Tony Fry. “It seems such a long time ago now that he won the Prix du Jockey Club. He won on turf, dirt. There was a few races that he was unlucky in, but he was a true world champion.” Fry notes that Mishriff is 1.66 metres tall – that's 16.3hh in old money – and it is easy to believe that breeders are renewing their initial interest in the horse, especially with his fee now reduced a little to €17,500 from what would have been his opening mark of €20,000. Mishriff remains the sole Group 1 winner for his sire Make Believe (GB). On his top line he traces back through Makfi (GB) to Dubawi (Ire), the horse who became such an effective conduit for the blood of Mr. Prospector on this side of the Atlantic, ensuring that his ill-fated sire Dubai Millennium (GB) could at least be remembered in stallion terms as a one-crop wonder. Underneath, Mishriff's family holds equally lofty claims to greatness. Bred by his owner Prince A A Faisal, he is a member of the family which has stood Nawara Stud in ample stead over the years. His dam Contradict (GB), by the increasingly useful broodmare sire Raven's Pass, fell just short of gaining black type herself but she has bred three black-type earners, with Mishriff, her third foal, way out in front. Contradict is out of the Group 3 winner Acts Of Grace (Bahri), making her a granddaughter of the G1 Prix de Diane winner Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}). The latter's success at stud has by now far outstripped her Classic credentials on the track, and through her sons Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB) especially, her imprint can be found in reams of modern-day racehorses. Mishriff makes his debut alongside a horse who has a special place in he heart of his owner: Belbek, a son of Showcasing (GB). His dam, the Makfi (GB) mare Bee Queen (GB), was purchased from Juddmonte and, as a granddaughter of Banks Hill (GB), represents one of that operation's key families. “He's a Sumbe homebred, so that gives him the pride of place,” says Mathieu Le Forestier, the former trainer who joined Sumbe last year. “It's very meaningful that the first stallion that we bred here in France in our first year here joins the roster as an exciting prospect. “He's been a champion two-year-old. And what's very interesting about him is that he started off in April, he was the first runner from André Fabre's yard. And even before the summer, he won the Prix du Bois. He clicked off fractions in the upper level of what's been seen in the last decade in France in this specific race. He went all through the year and picked up the crown in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, which is obviously an important race in the stallion business.” He continues, “He's been around all year at three and he eventually bowed out with a nice Group 3 win, beating horses of Group 1, Group 2 level, older horses. So it's a good starting point for a future stallion. He comes from one of the deepest families in Europe and is the close relative of 12 other Group 1 winners.” Tony Fry adds, “Belbek is a Juddmonte-bred through and through. Showcasing was Juddmonte and Bee Queen was Juddmonte. So, thank you to Juddmonte. “You can't make somebody use your stallion. All you can do is show them and say, 'Here they are. What do you think?' And people can stand in front of you for ten minutes and pick out faults and positives and whatever. But he's an exceptionally good-looking horse, a nice-moving horse with a great disposition. He took his racing well, he took everything well. And the mare is a very kind mare as well. She's just one of those sweetheart mares. And again, she'll always be special to us for providing Nurlan with his first Group 1 winner. So we're very hopeful. We'll send a good selection of mares to him, as we have with all our stallions. You can't ask people to use them unless you believe in them and follow it through yourselves.” Sumbe has somewhat cornered the market in winners of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagradère as joining Belbek is the previous year's victor Angel Bleu, who should be a valuable addition to the French stallion ranks. Though he went off to be trained in England by Ralph Beckett, the son of Dark Angel (Ire) was bred in France by Pan Sutong at Ecurie des Monceaux, and he recorded his two most significant wins there in the Jean-Luc Lagardère followed by the G1 Criterium International. His other five wins included the G2 Vintage S. and, at four, the G2 Celebration Mile and Listed Spring Trophy for Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen. Though they both won France's major two-year-old contest for colts, Belbek and Angel Bleu are very different types, with the latter a smaller and more compact individual than the tall Belbek. “He's 1.61 metres, a deep horse with a strong neck and very strong shoulder,” says Le Forestier of the dapple grey Angel Bleu. “He really looks to be the early-maturing, strong, sturdy type that may be very appealing to breeders.” Adding a bit of oomph to a decent race record is the fact that Angel Bleu's dam, Cercle De La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is a full-sister to the Group 1-winning stallions Highland Reel (Ire) and Idaho (Ire) from the family of the top Australian broodmare Circles Of Gold (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}), who in turn produced the stallions Haradasun (Aus) and Elvstroem (Aus). While the first books for the trio are being drawn up, there is also the anticipation next season of the first runners for Sumbe's G1 Commonwealth Cup-winning stallion Golden Horde (Ire), who, as a son of the G1 July Cup winner Lethal Force (Ire), also represents the Dark Angel sire-line. Then there's De Treville (GB), who doesn't have quite the same lofty race record but has the distinction of being the first foal of the great Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). A dual winner, he managed Group 3 placings on three occasions, and the stallion's family has been given a major boost by his high-flying half-brother Too Darn Hot (GB), both on the track and through the exploits of his first crop of runners in 2023. “We try our best to address every segment of the market,” says Le Forestier. “We have De Treville at entry level and then up to Mishriff at the top end. We have sprinters, we have middle-distance horses.” Tony Fry, who started his association with Nurlan Bizakov in England as manager of Hesmonds Stud, has seen plenty of change during his tenure. He says, “It's been 13 years now. When we started, it was six mares that we bought in December back in 2010. And now we're up to 55 mares, new stallions and two farms in France and still a farm in England. We have Haras de Montfort & Préaux and Haras du Mézeray in France, and Hesmonds in England. Montfort is the stallion station and we board mares here. Mézeray is more Nurlan's private farm, and we take in boarders there as well. They're only six kilometres apart.” He continues, “I remember we were we were driving out of Hesmonds one day and he said, 'One day I'd like to to buy a farm in France.' And I said, 'I hope you do. If you do, it means you enjoying the industry. It means you're having success. It means you want to expand.' So that was 12 years ago and it did happen. He still enjoys it. As we all know, with horses, there's plenty of downsides. It's normally more bad news than good news. But he's taken the bad news. We move on and he still wants to succeed and breed Group 1 winners, be in Group 1 races, be in the best races. So the ambition is still there.” Bizakov's ambition is plain to see, not least in naming Sumbe after his birthplace in Kazakhstan. The operation took on its first major sponsorship earlier this year when backing the G1 Prix Morny and the entire undercard on one of Deauville's major summer Sundays. “The long-term plan is to establish it as a top-tier brand,” says Le Forestier. “First of all, the boss sees himself as a breeder, and every venture he makes into the business is breeding-orientated. He has a very long-term view about things and it impacts everything in the company, be it horses in training or stallions. For instance, when we take in a new stallion prospect, the first client, the first user of the stallion would be Mr Bizakov himself. We're trying our best to make people understand that the brand is a multi-dimensional operation and that we stand behind our customers in the stallion business because we are our primary customers.” The post ‘We Stand Behind Our Customers’: Sumbe Launches Three New Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Chukyo Racecourse. The weekend feature comes up on Sunday at Hanshin with the running of the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity, where the US-conceived and Japanese-foaled Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) tries to run his record to three wins from three starts. Read our preview here: Saturday, December 16, 2023 5th-CKO, ¥13,720,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m WET SEASON (c, 2, Mendelssohn–Season Maker, by Pioneerof the Nile) is out of a daughter of Seasons Greetings (Ire) (Ezzoud {Ire}), a stakes winner and placed three times at group level in France, but better known as the dam of Grace Hall (Empire Maker), winner of the GI Spinaway S. and runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2011; as well as G1 Prix Ganay runner-up Wren's Day (Medaglia d'Oro). This colt's half-brother Hardwired (Hard Spun) won two of his first three starts, including his debut, and was most recently unplaced in Group 3 competition. B-Godolphin (KY) INDICATOR (JPN) (c, 2, Liam's Map–Ice Cream Silence, by Street Sense) is the first Japanese-foaled starter for his dam, upset winner of the 2013 GIII Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland for G. Watts Humphrey and Rusty Arnold and later sold to J S Company for $70,000 with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. Having been foaled Feb. 21, 2021, Indicator took his spot in the ring for the JRHA Select Sale about five months later and was hammered down for ¥19 million ($172,173). B-Okada Stud The post Mendelssohn Colt Favored At First Asking at Chukyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Caravel, winner of the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland, has been retired from racing and will be bred next year to Justify, according to the racing manager for one of her owners.View the full article

By Michael Guerin Kyle Austin is heading back to The Coast to try and win the Westport Cup his best ever pacer couldn’t. Austin trained Live On Legend to win the feature pace, the Betavet Mobile Pace, at Addington on Friday night, the four-year-old leading throughout in the hands of Blair Orange to beat a brave Fernetti. “Blair’s drive was a big help, he drove him perfectly,” says Austin of the 26.4 second last 400m quarter that secured him the win. It was Live On Legend’s fourth win and a good training performance from Austin as he hadn’t raced since mid-September. Now the Canterbury trainer, who only works three before his day job as a sign writer, says Living On Legend will head to Westport on Boxing Day. “I have had a couple of goes at winning it and finished second with Buster Brady,” he remembers when his future open class horse went down by a nose to Bronze Over in 2016. Buster Brady went on to win the second day and Austin says Live On Legend will get his shot at both days but then skip Reefton and chase another Cup at Nelson. As good as Live On Legend was his effort was challenged for performance of the night by Eurostyle in the main trot. The Derek and Adele Jones-trained Eurostyle sat parked for much of the 1980m to record her fourth career win in the hands of Kimberly Butt and she has the scope and speed to make an open class mare with another year of strengthening. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Jeremy Young never stopped believing in Lady Of The Light. Not when she went nine starts without winning a race last year. Not when she was beaten by Aardie’s Express in the Breeders Stakes a week ago. Not even when she drew the outside of the front line in the $110,000 Woodlands Stud Queen Of Hearts last Monday. And as it turns out, Young was right. His big, beautiful stable star turned a bad draw into good by using it as the surprise factor in the Alexandra Park Group 1 on Friday night, driver Maurice McKendry launching the mare to cross polemarker Manhattan. McKendry kept the speed on just enough on the Lady Of The Light before she rolled home her last 800m in 55.7 seconds to beat the late surging Lifes A Beach, with Manhattan third after trailing and not pacing cleanly on the last bend. The shock of the race was Aardie’s Express fading to finish eighth after having the one-one, a run well below her best. While that was a surprise to punters, Lady Of The Light’s win wasn’t to her Pukekohe trainer Young. “She is a very good mare and we decided at lunch time today to have a crack early,” says Young. “She is so genuine and loves being in front because she is a great stayer.” Young says while this rates alongside Best Western’s win for him in the Great Northern Oaks, it was even more emotional because of the large group of owners. “They are a great bunch,” said Young as the owners serenaded him with a There-Is-Only-One-Jeremy-Young chant. It was a scene rarely seen in the Alexandra Park stabling area and Young summed it up well. “This is what racing is all about, we could do with more of this at Alexandra Park.” Young says while he thinks Lady Of The Light can eventually become a New Zealand Cup horse his main aim for now will be the big Addington mares’ races, including the Group 1 NZ Breeders Stakes she finished second in earlier this year. Her win was matched for merit earlier in the night by trotter Dream Of You, who returned with a super win in the $50,000 Thames Members Handicap Trot. In his first start since July 28 he blasted past Dominion placegetter Resolve, trotting his last 800m in 57.1 seconds in a huge effort considering trainer Derek Balle thought he might need a run. Dream Of You has matured into a near foolproof trotter and as only a four-year-old he could be around in the top grade for a few seasons. The other highlight of the night was Miki Shan winning the Thames Goldfields Summer Cup, leading throughout to win the standing start contest for trainer Maurice McKendry, giving him the feature pacing race double. View the full article

Trainer Bob Baffert won seven consecutive editions of the GII Los Alamitos Futurity until that streak ended two years ago. The Hall of Famer will have half the field when Wynstock (Solomini), Coach Prime (Quality Road) and GSP Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) line up for his barn on Saturday. Coach Prime was a $1.7 million Keeneland September yearling, and began to pay back owner Zedan last out with a 7 1/4-length win at Del Mar Nov. 10, earning him the status of 'TDN Rising Star'. As for his stablemates, Wynstock broke his maiden by roughly the same margin as Coach Prime in what was his third attempt Oct. 15 at Santa Anita. While Wine Me Up returns after finishing second in the GI American Pharoah S. and then running eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, both at Santa Anita. Last year, trainer Tim Yakteen won the Futurity with Practical Move (Practical Joke) and he is back again, this time with debut winner Moonlit Sonata (Malibu Moon). The bay colt came from off the pace to win by 2 1/2 lengths at Del Mar Nov. 25. Rounding out the field is Doug O'Neill trainee Ace of Clubs (Mor Spirit) and Stronghold (Ghostzapper). The latter is a homebred trained by Phil D'Amato who was a well-beaten runner-up to 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in the GIII Bob Hope S. at the seaside oval Nov. 19. The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Coach Prime High Steps Into Los Alamitos Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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7th-LRC, $45K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 6:28 p.m. ET. MARCH OF TIME (Justify) debuts for the ownership group of Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor. The Bob Baffert trainee is out of GIII Sorrento S. winner Untouched Heart (Storm Cat), who is also responsible for the runner-up in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, Bodemeister (Empire Maker), and GII Summertime Oaks heroine Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile). A half-sister to the dam of GI La Troienne S. victress She's a Julie (Elusive Quality), Untouched Heart was purchased while in foal to Unbridled's Song for $5 million at the '12 Fasig-Tipton Fall Sale by M.V. Magnier. TJCIS PPS 8th-GP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, 3:33 p.m. ET. Homebred Sally Albright (Into Mischief) makes her first start for trainer Cherie DeVaux. The bay filly is a half-sister to GII Mrs. Revere S. champ Sparkling Review (Lemon Drop Kid), who is the dam of SP Fawning (Into Mischief), and is also a half to the dams of GSP Prince of Jericho (Munnings) and GIII Grey S. winner Bluebirds Over (English Channel). Her extended female family includes Grade I winners No Review (Nodouble) and Another Review (Buckaroo). Another homebred setting sail for her inaugural voyage is St. Susan (Quality Road). The Christophe Clement trainee is out of Canadian MGSW Akronism (Not For Love), who produced GII Hill Prince S. hero Have At It (Kitten's Joy). She's also responsible for the dam of GI Santa Anita Oaks winner Bellafina (Quality Road) and MGSP Diamond King (Quality Road). TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: Half-Brother To Bodemeister Debuts At Los Alamitos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Listed as Lot 1 next Wednesday, Thoroughbid's Christmas Sale will offer a breeding right to Aclaim (Ire)–sire of G1 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire)–as one of the highlights of the 32 strong mixed catalogue of horses in training, breeding and youngstock. Also on offer will be Fletchers Dream (GB) (Advertise {GB}) as Lot 10, a son of Poet's Princess (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), herself half-sister to the dam of GSW Raasel (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who won his sole start over the Newcastle all-weather last Saturday for conditioner Craig Lidster. He hails from the female family of G1SW Sakhee's Secret (GB) (Sakhee) and MGSW Santa Monica (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). “Our offer of risk-free consignment at what can be a tricky time of year for many has attracted a healthy catalogue of 32 nice prospects for both racing and breeding, with plenty of black-type and winners throughout,” said James Richardson, CEO of Thoroughbid. “To be hosting the sale of another breeding right, this time to Aclaim, is testament to the versatility of our platform and we're looking forward to another competitive bidding period next week.” Bidding for the sale goes live on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 9am and will run until midday. The full catalogue can be viewed here. The post Breeding Right to Aclaim Headlines Thoroughbid Christmas Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just one week after the Horseracing Welfare and Integrity Unit (HIWU) issued a public disclosure on its website that top Mid-Atlantic trainer Anthony Farrior had a horse test positive for the banned substance Metformin, Farrior's attorney Drew Mollica said that he has been informed by HIWU that the charges have been dropped. “The system worked and we are happy to clear his good name and his reputation,” Mollica said. Mollica said HIWU's decision came about after a review of the split sample, which was requested by Mollica and Farrior. Mollica said there were “issues” with the split sample, also known as the B sample. “Pursuant to the procedures available we sought verification of the alleged positive by requesting a B sample,” Mollica said. “Due to issues with the B sample and pursuant to the rules, HIWU withdrew the charges. There were issues with the B sample that precluded them from prosecuting.” Farrior faced a suspension of up to two years. When HIWU took over the role of drug testing and handing out penalties for infractions on May 22, trainers who had an alleged positive for a banned substance were issued provisional suspensions that went into effect immediately. It has since changed its rules and allows trainers to put off their suspensions until the results of the B sample have come back. “The fact that he was not summarily or provisionally suspended is a testament to the effort HIWU has made to seek some level of justice and we look forward to more modifications going forward to protect the innocent,” Mollica said. Metformin, is used in humans to combat Type II diabetes, but is not FDA approved for horses. In October, HIWU announced that following an internal review, it had discovered that not all of its participating laboratories had applied the same limit of detection in analyzing samples for the presence of drug. HIWU said it met with the six laboratories it works with to establish uniform limits of detection for the Metformin. Farrior, who has been training since 2011, has 840 winners from 3,725 starters. He is currently the leading trainer at Charles Town with 136 wins on the meet. The post HIWU Withdraws Farrior Suspension appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Building on an 11-length debut maiden victory at Presque Isle Downs in October, El Terreno (Speightstown–Palma, by Malibu Moon) stormed home a multiple-length winner against optional claimers over the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park on Friday afternoon. Though taken off the turf, the 2-5 choice set the pace from the bell, continued to blow through the fractions and the 2-year-old dark bay filly won easily over Bubbly Champagne (Bee Jersey). The final running time was :55.67. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Castleton Lyons; B-Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate; T-Christophe Clement. Post-time favorite #3 EL TERRENO ($2.80) doesn't let us down as she and @iradortiz go gate to wire in Race 2 at Gulfstream for @clementstable. The 2 year old filly by Speightstown is owned by @castletonlyons. LIVE racing continues on @FanDuelTV. Bet on @FDSportsbook. pic.twitter.com/jYyYghfYZU — TVG (@TVG) December 15, 2023 The post Speightstown’s El Terreno Blitzes Over Gulfstream Tapeta To ‘TDN Rising Stardom’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A field of 17 2-year-olds looks for a good finish to the year and expectations of later stardom in the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1) Dec. 17 at Hanshin Racecourse.View the full article

FX, a division of Disney Entertainment, has announced that its series “The New York Times Presents” will feature a documentary called “Broken Horses” that will examine “the systematic issues, questionable practices and urgent calls for change that have shaken horse racing to its core.” The series will air sometime in 2024 and will be shown on FX and Hulu. FX has posted a short video on-line featuring Arthur Hancock, who says: “We've got to get rid of the bad actors in the sport and we've got to get rid of all these drugs.” That is followed up by a recording of two individuals discussing how a horse “galloped” after given a substance that one of the individuals admitted was a doping agent. Over the last several years, The New York Times's coverage of horse racing has been extremely negative and focused on breakdowns and doping, so the sport should be prepared for the FX documentary to pick up on the same themes and to cast a harsh light on the sport. According to press release issued by FX, New York Times reporters Joe Drape, Melissa Hoppert, Rachel Abrams and Liz Day investigated the period surrounding this year's Triple Crown races when an unusually high number of horses broke down. The press release continues: “With confidential documents and recordings and exclusive interviews, “Broken Horses” provides a vivid tour of the business and political forces that control the Sport of Kings and resist measures to implement changes that could decrease horse deaths. It is a story of reckless breeding and doping, of compromised veterinarians and trainers, and of fans who are drawn to the sport's beauty and pageantry but increasingly wonder how long one of America's oldest sports can continue to have its social license renewed.” Executive Producers are Esther Dere, Jason Stallman, Liz Day, Sam Dolnick, Stephanie Preiss, Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver. Dere also serves as the Showrunner of “The New York Times Presents.” Rachel Abrams is Senior Producer. The post FX And New York Times To Team Up On Documentary Series That Will Focus On Racing’s Problems appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has renewed its sales and marketing partnership with John Deere for an additional three years, the association said in a release Friday. The agricultural giant will continue in its role as the exclusive equipment supplier to the NTRA and also maintain its participation in the NTRA Advantage group purchasing program. “John Deere tractors and horse racing go hand in hand,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “We are thrilled to renew our partnership with this great American company for another three years.” As part of the agreement, NTRA members will continue to be able to purchase or lease John Deere agricultural tractors, equipment, and implements with preferred member discounts, warranty programs and competitive financing packages. In 2022, the NTRA Advantage program topped the $1 billion sales mark with savings to the horse industry approximately $180 million since the inception of the NTRA's group purchasing arm just over twenty years ago. The post NTRA Renews Partnership Deal With John Deere appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Caravel (Mizzen Mast) was retired to Kentucky's Hunter Valley Farm by the ownership group of Qatar Racing, Madaket Stables and Marc Detampel, and will be bred for the 2024 season to Justify, as first reported on the Lancaster Farming website by Mid-Atlantic Horse correspondent Sam Cavalieri. Bred by Elizabeth Merryman and raised on her farm in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Caravel is heading to the breeding shed after she RNA'd for $2.4 million at the Keeneland November Sale. “The ownership group has very much kept me in the loop and it's been a lot of fun enjoying her successes,” said Merryman, speaking to Cavalieri. “I'm so glad that she's at Hunter Valley because I know the way she has wintered there the last few winters. She's loved it there.” Caravel earned nearly $2 million as a 15-time winner, which included her longshot performance in the 2022 Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. The ownership group decided to race her as a 6-year-old this year, and she rewarded them with three more stakes wins, including another Grade I victory against the boys at Belmont Park in the Jaipur S. “Caravel always has been a little bit of a freak of nature,” Merryman told Cavalieri. “She's incredible. She puts so much into her racing but from day one she had so much personality and talent. She's a once in a lifetime horse.” Her dam Zeezee Zoomzoom (Congrats) was also set to be sold at the same Keeneland November, but Merryman couldn't part with her life-changing mare. “It might not be the best business plan, but it was the right move for me,” Merryman told the publication. “The mare owes me nothing and she is really, really happy where she is. I didn't want to put her through the stress of shipping somewhere new. I was worried she might not take it that well and it might be really hard on her. I promised her a good life and didn't want to go back on it.” The 11-year-old is currently in foal to Justify and has also produced the MSW Witty (Great Notion), who is bred, owned and trained by Merryman. The post MGISW Caravel Retired, Date With Justify Scheduled appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was announced just Thursday that American Classic winner Palace Malice (Curlin) would be joining the Japanese stallion ranks at Darley beginning in 2024, and Shadai Race Horse Co.'s US-conceived Jantar Mantar (Jpn) can provide his sire with a timely boost in Sunday's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. going a right-handed 1600 metres at Hanshin Racecourse. A son of American Grade III winner India Mantuana (Wilburn) and bred on a variant of the wildly successful cross of Curlin over A.P. Indy-line dams, the dark bay colt debuted with an impressive 2 1/2-length victory going 1800 metres at Kyoto Oct. 8 and overcame a penchant to overrace with a fast-finishing defeat of Enya Love Faith (Jpn) (A Shin Hikari {Jpn}) and Namura Hooker (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) to win the G2 Daily Hai Nisai S. over this distance Nov. 11 (see below, SC 2). Leading jockey Yuga Kawada takes over in the saddle Sunday afternoon from a low draw. “There have been no problems with him, and his responses at the finish in training have been good, and he's moving well,” said trainer Tomokazu Takano. “He's had the same four-week period of time between races as he had before his last race. I'm not worried about it being his first time at the Hanshin track.” Carrot Farm's Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), whose dam Blumenblatt (Jpn) (Admire Vega {Jpn}) won the G1 Mile Championship S., demolished a field of Toyko newcomers by nine lengths in soft ground June 3, but was not seen again for four months, resuming with a third in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at headquarters in October. He stepped out to nine furlongs in the G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. Nov. 18 and returned to winning ways with a 1 1/2-length victory. Tom Marquand has the riding assignment from barrier 17 of 17 Sunday. “He might be a 2-year-old, but he feels quite mature,” the jockey said. “He stood out among the other horses in his last race, so I hope he can run in a similar way to how he did last time.” Danon McKinley (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), a ¥220 million (£1.22 million/US$1.62 million) purchase out of last year's JHRA Select Sale, tries the mile for the first time, having easily won his 1400-metre unveiling over the Hanshin course Sept. 30 before overcoming a tardy dispatch to easily scoop a 1-win class conditions test over the same trip Nov. 19. His time of 1:20.7 was 0.6 seconds quicker than the 1400-meter split of the Mile Championship S. a few races later. With Strauss drawn widest, it seems fitting that Ecoro Waltz (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) jumps from the inside box as he looks to make it three-from-three in his young career. He most recently carried Yutaka Take to a six-length victory in an 1800-metre conditions test at northern Sapporo Aug. 13. The post Jantar Mantar Looks To Remain Unbeaten In Asahi Hai Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com “The best moment from 2023 was the confirmation that the state of New York would be loaning NYRA nearly half a billion dollars to build a modern Belmont Park. I'd rate this occurrence as possibly the most positive development in the sport since the founding of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The seeds of this were planted in the years before VLT revenue started flowing in New York and it was decided NYRA wanted a slice of that revenue to go to a capital expenditure fund instead of just diverting it all to purses. That foresight was so very necessary. The future of the sport in New York is bright and that's monumentally important for every other stakeholder in the sport.” -Pat Cummings, National Thoroughbred Alliance The post What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Pat Cummings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michelle Cuozzo Borisenok, a longtime Thoroughbred owner, entrepreneur and philanthropist in the Capital region, and Najja Thompson, the executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., have been named to the Board of Directors of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, the organization said in a release Friday morning. “Michelle and Najja both have a deep appreciation for the mission of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy and they are widely admired throughout the Thoroughbred industry,” said Ramón Dominguez, the President of the NYRTC. “We are honored to have them as board members and we look forward to working with them.” Borisenok has supported women's leadership throughout her career and operates Brown Road Racing, a boutique Thoroughbred racing organization which aims to empower women, foster a sense of camaraderie and give back to the community. Thompson joined the Chaplaincy in 2020 and as the head of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, he works to enhance the status of New York-breds and promote the economic impact that breeders and racing can have on the state. The post Borisenok, Thompson Named to NY Race Track Chaplaincy Board appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

David Egan is the latest jockey to have been snapped up as the number one rider for Amo Racing, with Kia Joorabchian saying the 24-year-old will help bring “long-term stability” to the team. At just 24, Egan has already scaled some of racing's peaks. He won the Saudi Cup, the world's richest race, aboard Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in 2021 and more recently enjoyed great success with trainer Roger Varian, for whom he has partnered Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}}) to St Leger successes in Britain and Ireland. Joorabchian said, “I'm very pleased to announce David as our first jockey. We have had a brilliant ongoing relationship over the years and used David consistently on our horses, going back to Mojo Star's brilliant second in the [2021] Derby. We now feel it's the perfect time to consolidate our team and having David on board will be a valuable addition. “David is a talented, ambitious jockey with experience at the top of the sport having won races of the highest calibre all over the world, and growing up as Roger Varian's stable jockey has given him invaluable experience and maturity. Aware of the size of our organisation, we must implement systems to ensure longevity and I have tremendous confidence in this decision.” He added, “Having David on board for the next two years will help us develop long-term stability as a team. I would also like to thank Roger for his tremendous support, confidence and blessing in this decision.” Egan was crowned champion apprentice in 2017 and has also ridden as the retained jockey to Prince AA Faisal. He takes over as Amo Racing's new number one rider one a two-year deal from Kevin Stott, who was removed from his post in September just one season after taking over from Rossa Ryan. Egan commented, “I'm delighted to have signed a two-year contract with Amo Racing. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Roger and Hanako Varian, and all the Varian Stable team. “They have been like family to me since I first started in racing, and I'd just like to thank them for their friendship and support over the last seven years.” The post Amo Racing Announces David Egan As New Number One Rider appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Promising Southern mare Madam Dubai has given the extended Anderton family something to celebrate over recent months, and she will aim for a hat-trick of victories at Ascot Park on Saturday. The daughter of Pride Of Dubai commenced her career in Australia under the care of Philip Stokes, recording a win on debut and one further minor placing from six starts before being purchased on an Inglis Online Auction by Jack Stewart. Stewart plays a key role in the running of his grandfather and late grandmother, Brian and Lorraine Anderton’s White Robe Lodge, and identified Madam Dubai as an exciting racing and broodmare prospect, with her dam being a A$500,000 Inglis 2YO Classic (1200m) winner in Danehill Smile. Stewart, alongside wife Emma, combined with parents and Stud Managers Wayne and Karen Stewart in the ownership of the mare, and have been well rewarded, winning two of her three starts on Kiwi soil. Stepping up over the mile on Saturday, Madam Dubai will contest the Nigel Robertson Building Handicap (1600m), with Kylie Williams retaining the ride after guiding the four-year-old in her last two victories, including last start at their home track on November 7. “She’s going well, she’s bred to be a sprinter but she took the whole 1400m at Wingatui to get to the front,” said Shane Anderton, who trains in partnership with his father Brian. “We scratched her at Cromwell because of the barrier draw she got. We’ve got no excuses this time (drawing barrier two) so hopefully she’ll be competitive.” Madam Dubai is currently rated a $4.50 favourite with TAB bookmakers for the Racing 75 event, while stablemate Burgie sits atop of the feature event on the card at $3.20 for the Tim Yeo Contracting Southland Crystals (2200m). A winner of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) as a three-year-old, Burgie has recorded three wins and a further six minor placings in a successful 19-start career. The five-year-old daughter of Ghibellines was a creditable fourth in the Cromwell Cup (2030m) last-start, with Corey Campbell taking the ride on Saturday after claiming the Cup aboard classy stablemate Capo Dell Impero. “We were happy enough at Cromwell, but she’s just being a mare in taking a wee while to come up this year. We’re expecting a nice run from her,” Anderton said. “You do always need a bit of luck around the Invercargill track though.” Also flying the flag for White Robe Lodge’s sire Ghibellines will be Exchange, the six-win gelding completing the Anderton trio at Ascot Park when contesting the Shoe Clinic Handicap (1400m). Coming off an eighth-placed resuming run at Cromwell, four-kilo claiming apprentice Ruvanesh Muniandy will retain the ride giving weight relief to 56kg. “He’s probably looking for a wee bit further, he was slow out last time so if he can get out and put himself into the race he should be a good chance,” Anderton said. “He was going to be carrying 60kg, so getting the four kilograms off puts him at quite a competitive weight.” View the full article

Patience was rewarded at Tauranga on Friday for the connections of talented four-year-old Hasstobeawinner, who cleared maiden ranks with a performance that was well worth the wait. The Vadamos gelding has shown ability from the beginning of his career, producing eye-catching finishes in his first two starts last season before running third behind subsequent Group Two performer Warsaw. In his first two starts as a four-year-old, Hasstobeawinner finished second behind First Five at Ruakaka and second again at Te Aroha on November 29 – beaten by a mere head by Choose ‘Em Big. Friday was finally Hasstobeawinner’s day, and he romped to a runaway victory in the Icon Security Systems Maiden (1400m). Ridden by Craig Grylls for Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Hasstobeawinner settled in second behind Ready Eddie Go, who was sent forward from a wide gate to set the pace. Hasstobeawinner took command at the home turn and quickly put the result beyond any doubt. The $2.10 favourite changed gears and pulled away, opening up a winning margin of four and a quarter lengths over runner-up Sparkles. There was another three and a quarter lengths back to the third-placed Loose Change. Hasstobeawinner has now had seven starts for a win and three placings, earning $24,470 in stakes. “It was really pleasing to have such a good win today for some really long-standing clients of the stable,” Wellwood said. “The Hassalls have had quite a number of horses with us over the years and have had good success with horses like The Hassler. We’ve got four or five in work for them at the moment and it’s always a great thrill to have a win with that Hassall name in the book. “This horse was quite impressive today. He’s been thereabouts in his last two, so it was lovely to see him put everything together and score such a convincing win. “I think we most definitely have a fair bit more to look forward to with him. He’s by Vadamos, whose progeny usually get at least a mile, so we’re looking forward to stepping him up over a bit more ground in time. He’ll go to a mile next start and we’ll take it from there.” Hasstobeawinner was bred by Colin and Irene Thompson, parents of Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson. One of a dozen winners in New Zealand this season for Rich Hill stallion Vadamos, Hasstobeawinner is out of the seven-race-winning Keeper mare Keepereel, who is also the dam of the stakes performer He’s Got Power. Notably, Keepereel is a half-sister to The Hassler, who won four races for the Hassall family including the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) before being sold to Hong Kong, where he scored another three wins. Hasstobeawinner was offered by Rich Hill Stud in Book 2 of Karaka 2021, where he was bought by the Robt Dawe Agency for $45,000. View the full article

Peter and Dawn Williams have had an outstanding strike rate over the last few weeks, and the Byerley Park trainers will try to continue their high-flying form with a single shot at Group Two success at Te Rapa on Saturday. Volare will be the only runner all weekend for the Williams team, lining up in the Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares. The TAB rated her a $7 third favourite on Friday afternoon in a market headed by Pearl Of Alsace ($2.40) and Campionessa ($2.70). Leading into Saturday, the Williams stable has recorded five wins from just their last 16 runners, culminating in Desert Lightning’s win in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham last Saturday. Peter Williams is upbeat about Volare’s prospects of continuing that run in this weekend’s $175,000 feature. The Proisir mare has been admirably consistent throughout her 11-race career, collecting three wins, four placings and three fourths. She knuckled at the start in a 1400m Rating 75 at Pukekohe on November 7, but recovered impressively to finish into second place behind Flamebird. In her only appearance since then, Volare won a 1600m Rating 75 at Pukekohe on November 25, beating Reputation and Cal Isuzu Stakes rival Polygon. “She’s done really well in those last couple of starts and we’re very happy with her,” Williams said. “We’ve always liked her, and we decided to have a crack at this race because it’s a stakes race for fillies and mares and it’s not far away from us. “We were originally working towards the Dunstan Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m), but we decided to throw in a nomination for this race and see what else was there. As it turns out, if you take the top couple of mares out of it, it’s probably a Rating 75 race. Outside of those two favourites, the rest of them seem to be pretty even, so it’s a nice opportunity to run for a bit of black type and see how we go. “We’re very happy with the mare. Everything’s fine with her and she’s been working really well.” Volare has the chance to extend an outstanding run of success for owner-breeder Daniel Nakhle, whose colours have also been carried by standout three-year-old Crocetti through a perfect six-from-six career that includes victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) and Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). A daughter of the stakes-performed Pins mare Sans Souci, Volare was bred by Nakhle in partnership with his father Elias. Nakhle’s co-owners include the Sundgren Trust and former prime minister Sir John Key. View the full article

The well-performed Waisake will take a big step towards his sixth Wellington Cup Carnival with a run in Saturday’s Majestic Horse Floats (2200m) at Trentham. The winner of eight races overall from a 44-start career, the Zed gelding has saved some of his very best for Wellington’s summer showpiece meetings. He began his annual tradition of heading to Trentham every January with a pair of Rating 65 appearances, winning in 2019 and finishing a luckless eighth a year later. The 2021 carnival was Waisake’s big breakthrough, romping home by four lengths in a Rating 74 before powering to victory in that year’s Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m). He was the favourite to defend that crown after an outstanding win in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) on the opening day of the 2022 carnival, but was forced out of the Cup and sidelined for 10 months with a tendon injury. Waisake made it back to Trentham again in January of this year, finishing third in the Trentham Stakes before struggling in Heavy10 ground in the Cup. The nine-year-old’s trainer and part-owner Allan Sharrock is hoping to add to that record in January, and he sees Saturday’s $50,000 race as an ideal stepping stone. Waisake brings strong form into Saturday’s race. He produced an eye-catching finish from last to run fourth behind subsequent Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) winner One Bold Cat in the Feilding Gold Cup (2100m), then picked up a third placing in last month’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m). “He’s going well,” Sharrock said. “He was a bit unlucky in the New Zealand Cup. I thought I had him right that day, but he just didn’t quite get the rub of the green in the running. We were still pretty happy with his performance.” The TAB rates Waisake a $4.20 favourite on Saturday, but Sharrock warns that he is likely to benefit from this hit-out. “He came back and had an easy week after the New Zealand Cup,” Sharrock said. “He’s definitely going to improve off the race on Saturday, but it’s a nice starting point in a campaign that will probably see him go to the Trentham Stakes next, then hopefully carry on to the Cup a week later.” Stablemate Sumi is the $1.60 favourite for Saturday’s JAPAC Homes (1400m). The daughter of Atlante has won five of her 22 starts, including a first-up success over Belardo Boy in a 1340m race at Wanganui on November 5. Apprentice jockey Jess Allen’s 3kg claim will reduce Sumi’s weight to 52.5kg on Saturday, and Sharrock is hoping this race will put the mare on a path towards black-type features through the summer months. “She’s coming up really well,” Sharrock said. “She’s a pretty tidy mare and it was a good win first-up. I’m happy with her. “Safely through this weekend, we’ll probably look at a race like the Anniversary Handicap (Gr.3, 1600m) during the Wellington carnival. Another option could be the Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (Listed, 1600m) in February. It would be good to add a bit more black type to her record this season if we can.” View the full article

Te Akau Racing will hold a strong hand in each of the three stakes races at Te Rapa on Saturday. Leading their charge will be a four-pronged attack in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), where Romancing The Moon ($3.30), Cognito ($5.50), and Aris Aris ($6) fill the first three lines of betting. Romancing The Moon heads into the weekend off the back of a third placed run behind Sacred Satono and Babylon Berlin in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m) at Pukekohe last month, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson believe she will be suited by the step up in distance on Saturday. “I thought Romancing The Moon was good at Pukekohe over 1100m, which we think is short of her best,” Bergerson said. “She gets in very nicely in the weights (54kg) and Kozzi (Asano, jockey) knows her well. I am sure she will run a really good race.” Cognito has been in terrific form this preparation, winning one and placing in three of his four starts, including a last start third in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m). He was subsequently given some time in the paddock ahead of summer targets. “We gave him a little freshen following his last run. He has got a good record at 1400m, but in saying that he is probably more suited to the mile and potentially a little further over summer,” Bergerson said. Aris Aris was disappointing when finishing last in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) first-up last month but bounced back last start when finishing runner-up behind Waitak over 1300m at Te Rapa. “Aris Aris ran much better last start,” Bergerson said. “She was first-up in the Legacy Lodge and was ridden upside down and faded, but she was much better last time and hit the line strongly. “She has drawn well (1) and Warren (Kennedy, jockey) was pretty keen to stick with her. She is another that has trained on really well and keeps improving in the coat and fitness-wise as well.” Te Akau’s fourth representative in the race is Wolverine, who has failed to fire in her first two runs back in New Zealand and is being kept safe in the market at $12. “Wolverine has been a touch disappointing since we got her back,” Bergerson said. “She trialled super and she wasn’t beaten far first-up. We thought she had taken good improvement into her second-up run and it just went all wrong. We half missed the kick and then Opie (Bosson) sent her forward and was trapped wide and faded late. We are scratching our heads a little bit. “Drawn seven, we will probably go back and we just want to see her relax a bit better and hopefully see her flash home. “We have four really nice chances. We just need the right runs and I am sure they will be there or thereabouts.” Campionessa will be the stable’s sole representative in the Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), with the daughter of Contributer vying for back-to-back Group Two wins following her victory in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe last month. “She is in super form,” Bergerson said. “Earlier in the spring, her track work was only okay heading into Hawke’s Bay. She picked up a little bug following the Group One (Arrowfield Stud Plate, 1600m), so we had to give her a freshen-up and look after her. “Since she has come back she has been in fantastic form. She trialled only fair leading into her first-up run. At 1400m we thought she may have been a bit vulnerable, but she was aided by a gun ride. “She is pretty classy, especially last year racing in those Group Ones. She seems to have found that groove again because her track work has been super. “Opie rode her on Tuesday at Matamata and said she was in great form. We are really happy with her. “Pearl Of Alsace is in fantastic form as well. It looks a really nice race and she gets in well at the weights with her rating. It looks the perfect stepping stone to the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2050m) on Boxing Day.” Campionessa is a $2.70 second favourite with TAB bookmakers behind Pearl Of Alsace at $2.40. New Zealand’s leading stable also feature prominently in the market for the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m), with Aromatic the fancied runner of the 10-horse field at $3, while Prise De Fer has been marked a $12 winning chance. Aromatic has finished runner-up in her last two outings, the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m) and Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m), and Bergerson is hoping she can go one better on Saturday. “Aromatic is in great form and has been running fantastic,” he said. “She gets out there and tries so hard. “Unfortunately, she has just been pipped in her last two so hopefully she can get a result on Saturday. She seems in good form at home – she is fit, happy and healthy.” Prise De Fer was runner-up in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa two starts and was given no favours in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham last start. “Prise De Fer went down to the Group One and had the starting gates fiasco,” Bergerson said. “He has never looked better at home, he is bouncing around the stable. It is a step up in trip and we have taken the blinkers off. “It is a bit of a throw at the stumps, but it is probably not the strongest rendition of the race. He has to lug around topweight, but in saying that it is only 58kg, so he is giving some of them only five kilos when he is a proven Group One performer. “We are happy with both of them. We are leaning towards Aromatic and would be fantastic to see her get a result because she deserves it.” View the full article

The Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) holds fond memories for Te Akau Racing in recent years, having won two of the last four editions of the race, and they will be looking to add to that tally on Saturday. They will be represented in the Trentham feature by Mazzucato, My Lips Are Sealed, and Vivacious. The Fortuna Syndicate-raced Vivacious broke through for her maiden win at Te Aroha last start after placing on debut at the Waikato track last month, and heads the market at $5 alongside the Chrissy Bambry-trained Chantilly Lace. Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson hold a high opinion of Vivacious and they believe she is up to the task of securing black-type this weekend. “Vivacious is one we have always liked and it was good to see her get a result last time,” Bergerson said. “She is very lightly raced still and whether that counts against her I don’t know, and the barrier draw (12) is a bit niggly, so we will just have to leave it up to Parkesy (Johnathan Parkes, jockey) and see how the pattern plays and go from there. “We are leaning towards her being the strongest of the three. Going forward we think she is pretty exciting and is one to watch over summer.” Tivaci filly Mazzucato will make her first North Island appearance of the season on Saturday, having campaigned in Canterbury over spring, where she picked up two victories, including last start at Riccarton over 1400m. “Mazzucato went south for a Guineas campaign and was disappointing. We had a throw at the stumps at the three-year-old 1400m race on the middle day and she was super,” Bergerson said. “If she ran up to that performance, I am sure she can be in it. She is a bit of an enigma. She is a bit naughty in the barriers and tends to still do a few things wrong. “She has stayed down at our Riccarton base and Hunter (Durrant, Riccarton stable foreman) has been happy with the way she has come through that run and her work leading into Saturday.” Te Akau’s final representative in the race will be My Lips Are Sealed, who will be ridden by Joe Kamaruddin from gate eight. “I thought My Lips Are Sealed went a great race at Wanganui (for fourth last start). It was a pretty breakneck speed,” Bergerson said. “She has travelled back up to Matamata and has done really well since the race. Joe knows her really well and hopefully we can get a bit of cover. It would be nice to see her relax, she can tend to overdo it at times, but if she relaxes I am sure she can see out the mile and run a nice race.” View the full article