Wandering Eyes

Both Charles Town Races and Mountaineer Park got approval Wednesday from the West Virginia Racing Commission (WVRC) to reduce live racing dates in 2024 compared to recent seasons. The Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) chapters at both tracks supported the diminished schedules based on available purse funds and projected horse populations. Right now the placeholders are 158 dates for Charles Town and 121 for Mountaineer. But the exact number of programs will ultimately be contingent on the outcome of several overlapping federal lawsuits that have to do with the legality of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). In July of 2022, the states of West Virginia and Louisiana won a preliminary injunction that has kept the HISA rules from being implemented in those two states until their lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of HISA gets decided in full. Then in September of 2023, the judge handling that case ordered it to be “administratively terminated” until the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals made a ruling in a separate (but related) suit in which the National HBPA is also alleging that HISA is unconstitutional. Oral arguments in the HBPA vs. HISA case were heard Oct. 4 but no Fifth Circuit decision has been issued yet. WVRC executive director Joe Moore explained during the Dec. 13 meeting that if HISA were to be deemed legal nationwide and/or the court's injunction barring implementation in West Virginia got lifted, both tracks would need to recalculate how much purse money was available and how many racing dates those funds could cover. That's because Charles Town and Mountaineer would be subject to HISA assessments for safety oversight and drug testing services that they currently don't pay because of the injunction that grants them an exception. According to HISA's 2024 budget, West Virginia's assessment for next year is $4,448,269 (Charles Town $3,281,367; Mountaineer $1,166,902). Moore said that “if HISA were to become effective in West Virginia, I suspect Charles Town and the horsemen would consider reducing their race days by a number to ensure that there were purse monies available after the [HISA] assessments were calculated for them.” Charles Town's director of racing, Charlie McIntosh, concurred. “If HISA were to come back into effect, we'd have to sit down and evaluate” funding options, McIntosh said. Mountaineer gate | Coady Photography No representative from Mountaineer spoke on the track's behalf during the meeting. The two tracks handled their dates reduction requests differently. Charles Town asked for and received 158 dates but left the door open to come back to the commission for a further reduction request if necessary. Mountaineer took the opposite approach, asking for and receiving the commission's approval for two dates contingencies so the track wouldn't have to come back a second time to request another trim if HISA gets legalized in the state. So the WVRC approved 121 dates for Mountaineer, with Moore explaining that “if feasible and [if West Virginia continues to] remain exempt from HISA, their number of live race days would increase to 128.” Moore said Mountaineer's season would run Apr. 28-Dec. 4 under the first contingency, with the meet extending through Dec. 11 if the second plan got utilized. Charles Town's 2024 schedule, according to the track's website, will consist of four- and three-date weeks nearly year-round, with breaks Aug. 25-Sept. 11 and Dec. 15-31. Charles Town's 158 dates for 2024 continues a downward trend. The track was awarded 164 dates in 2023 and 179 in 2022. Unless Mountaineer ends up running the bumped-up 128 dates, its 121-date allotment also represents a decrease, from 124 dates in 2023 and 130 dates in 2022. (All dates cited above are based on dates as originally assigned by the commission, and do not reflect any in-season program losses that might have occurred because of weather cancellations.) Even in years when the costs of HISA assessments have not been in play, the awarding of race dates in West Virginia has been a somewhat confusing several-step process. A state statute requires Charles Town to apply for 220 programs every year, and Mountaineer is required to apply for 210 dates. But those quotas haven't been reached for quite some time. What has ended up happening in recent seasons is that after the initial approvals of those mandated 220 and 210 dates every November by the WVRC, both venues have subsequently come back before the commission to ask for reductions that reflect what each track and its HBPA representatives think is a workable schedule. The dates reduction votes were unanimous Dec. 13, with WVRC chairman Ken Lowe Jr. and commissioner J.B. Akers voting in the affirmative, while commissioner Tony Figaretti was listed as being absent from the meeting because of a travel conflict. The post West Virginia Trims Dates For ’24, Exact Schedules Hinge On Outcome of HISA Legality appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2023 Wanamaker's December Sale catalogue is now available online with bidding open at 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 21, the first listing complete that day at 5:00 p.m. ET and subsequent listings to close in three-minute increments, the company said in a release Wednesday. With weanlings, yearlings, horses of racing age, open broodmares and broodmares in-foal all catalogued this month, top first-crop stallions of 2023 will also be represented. Yearlings by Mitole, Maximus Mischief and Vino Rosso are included. Highlights of the catalogue: A yearling filly by Mitole (Hip 6). Mitole is the leading first-crop sire by earnings and co-leader by winners. A yearling filly by Vino Rosso (Hip 3), out of SW Awesome Alexandra. A yearling filly by Maximus Mischief comes from the family of MGSW Candy Man Rocket (Hip 4). In-person inspections may be scheduled by contacting sellers with the information provided in the catalogue. The post Wanamaker’s December Sale Catalogue Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky State Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, (R-Georgetown), a staunch supporter of horse racing in the Bluegrass, will not seek re-election for the 17th Senate District and allow his term to expire in December 2024, the Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus said in a release early Wednesday afternoon. “I have decided not to seek re-election to the state Senate in 2024,” Senator Thayer said. “The end of my current term next year will mark 22 years in the Senate and 12 as Majority Floor Leader. After conversations with my adult children, close friends and colleagues, I have concluded this is the right decision.” Thayer is the longest-serving Republican Senate Majority Floor Leader in Kentucky history. The 17th Senate District, which includes Grant and Scott Counties and portions of Fayette and Kenton Counties, is within what has become known as Kentucky's Golden Triangle. As a leading voice for Thoroughbred racing, Thayer has championed the passage of historical horse racing and last year successfully co-led the fight to dissolve penny breakage, which has already returned millions of dollars back to horseplayers. The post Staunch Horse Racing Supporter Damon Thayer Will Not Seek State Re-election appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With more than 700 users registered to bid and buyers in 27 states plus another three countries, the Fasig-Tipton's December Digital Sale closed Tuesday evening with 186 horses sold for $3,167,000 across a catalogue, which was the largest ever offered on the platform to-date, the auction company said in a release Wednesday. The online sale featured broodmares, horses of racing age, broodmare prospects, yearlings, weanlings and a stallion share in and lifetime breeding right to first-crop sire Flameaway (Scat Daddy). Breeze Easy (GB) (Hip 310), a 4-year-old race filly, topped the sale when she went for $180,000 to Glenn Burrows from the consignment of St George Sales, agent. Fresh off an allowance win Friday at the Fair Grounds, Breeze Easy is a GSP daughter of Bated Breath (GB) and has earned just shy of $200,000 racing in England, Ireland and the United States. Out of the stakes winning Royal Academy mare Polar Circle, Breeze Easy is a half-sister to Group 2 placed and group stakes winner Artic Sound. KBS went to $150,000 to secure the sale's second highest-priced offering, Googol Joke (Hip 32), a two-year-old son of Practical Joke consigned by Greenfield Farms, agent. A maiden winner last time out at the Fair Grounds, Googol Joke came into the sale with one win and one third from two career starts and earnings of $35,978. Rounding out the top three prices of the sale was Sherif Ali (Hip 12), a two-year-old colt by American Pharoah, sold for $115,000 to Jonathan Green from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Sherif Ali broke his maiden on debut at Woodbine in October and came into the sale off a good second in allowance company over the same track and distance shortly after bidding opened on Thursday. The colt has a record of one win and one second from two lifetime starts and earnings of $29,628. “This was a 'slam dunk' to close out the year. I'm very happy with the results,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “The number of entries, registered bidders, and gross all exceeded previous records for our digital sales. We got the stallion share and lifetime breeding right done. We did in a week online what normally takes sales companies, stud farms, and buyers 60 days. I'm very proud of that and proud of our team at Fasig-Tipton.” Commented first-time Digital seller Paul Manganaro, seller of Por Que No (Hip 309), in-foal to Constitution: “The flexibility and ease of the process was great, and my mare never had to leave her stall on the farm. I am still amazed that it took only five short days from the time I called Fasig to the time my mare sold. I see the many benefits that digital sales can have for both sellers and buyers and I will make sure digital sales are part of my plan going forward.” The next Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale will be the February Digital Sale, which opens for bidding on Thursday, Feb. 15, and closes on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Nominations are now being accepted. The post Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale ‘A Slam Dunk’ After Largest Offering Ever appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Forever Young, a colt with Kentucky Derby-minded connections, jumped to the top of the leaderboard in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with a seven-length victory in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun Dec. 13.View the full article

Jonny Turner’s selections for Winton. Race Jonny Turner Racing Journalist Race 1 4.03pm 4 Major Envy 8 Northview Sweet 7 Cock A Hoop 3 Ledger’s Maid Race 2 4.30pm 4 Sonny Jim 5 Joeking 3 Burning Love 2 Boss Jo Race 3 4.56pm 5 Ultimate Weapon 11 Captain Meister 4 Pounamu 3 Vinchetto Race 4 5.22pm 5 Miraculous 6 Tycoon Banner 2 Wehavtime 1 Munroe’s Mate Race 5 5.47pm 3 Superfast 7 Livy Desma 4 Fireforefiddle 8 Franco Huntington Race 6 6.12pm 7 Ruby Roe 8 Flying Ellie 5 Remission 1 Mallory Maguire Race 7 6.37pm 13 Hidden Talent 4 Hot Saucy Betty 8 Sally Lindenny 12 Imperial Man Race 8 7.02pm 5 Itoje 13 Forever Arden 11 Bowlem Over 2 Lou’s Deal Race 9 7.27pm 8 Da Vinci 2 Carrera Sunset 9 Micaitlen Denario 7 Rakamurph Race 10 7.52pm 9 Tact McLeod 7 Robyns Playboy 4 Bizzie Lou 12 Brookies Player View the full article

An updated version of the Safeguarding and Human Welfare Strategy was published by the British Horseracing Authority on Wednesday. The Strategy, covering a four-year period, seeks to protect and promote the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in the sport. These objectives are supported by a comprehensive action plan, which includes: Enhanced safeguarding and human welfare education for industry leaders, employers and employees, with specific training around sexual abuse and misconduct Refining reporting mechanisms, simplifying the existing referral processes and ensuring appropriate support for those reporting allegations Improving how we manage concerns, so that cases are dealt with effectively, in a sensitive, timely manner and in accordance with regulatory best practice Creating a network of 'Respect in Racing champions' – role models who can help influence, inform, support and provide confidential advice to others An industry-wide awareness campaign to improve understanding of what sexual misconduct is, why it is unacceptable and what to do if it occurs Using the latest data and research most effectively to identify, better understand and respond to emerging risks and trends. This includes further research to explore the lived experience of people working in British racing. BHA Chair, Joe Saumarez Smith, said, “British horseracing is dependent on the hard work and dedication of the people who ensure our sport can take place throughout the year. Everyone involved in our industry should feel safe, supported and confident in the knowledge that they will always be treated with dignity and respect. “On behalf of British racing, I apologise unreservedly to anyone who has experienced harm and behaviour that is unacceptable. I also want to thank those who have shared their stories and provided powerful personal testimony. We are sorry and we will work determinedly to put this right. “There is no place in British racing for sexual misconduct, bullying or any form of discrimination or conduct that makes people feel inferior, inadequate or excluded. We must always maintain the highest standards, no matter our role or responsibility, and strive to build a universal culture of respect. “There is much more to do, and the updated Safeguarding and Human Welfare Strategy–which has the unanimous support of the BHA Board and racing's leadership–is another important milestone in this journey”. For more information, please visit the BHA's website. The post UK Safeguarding And Human Welfare Strategy Updated By BHA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

HISA has launched MedEnt, an app designed to give veterinarians a streamlined process for entering treatments into the HISA portal on mobile devices, the organization said in a release Wednesday. The app reinforces HISA's commitment to working with veterinarians and other stakeholders to improve HISA's processes as well as its focus on leveraging technology to advance equine health. Attending veterinarians can use the app on their smartphones or tablets to access the list of horses under their care, add treatment reports and update protocols. In cases where they are giving the same set of treatments to several horses, they can create a shortcut for those treatments rather than creating a new entry for each individual horse, thus reducing the amount of time they spend on data entry. Veterinarians may use the app even when offline, as it automatically will upload the new entries to the HISA portal the next time users have cellular or internet connectivity. “Serving as an equine veterinarian is an incredibly demanding job,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We aim to make their difficult jobs easier through the launch of this application, which is the latest in a series of steps undertaken by HISA to use technological solutions to promote the health and wellbeing of our equine athletes. This streamlined process, which allows veterinarians to submit multiple treatment reports with ease even while on the go, means that veterinarians have more time for the hands-on care of horses.” While the use of the new app is not mandatory, HISA's goal is to provide user-friendly technology for veterinarians across the country. Key features of the app include: The ability to create treatment reports and add information such as time, date and supporting photos, videos or documents, for any horse, including those not on the user's horses list. The ability to configure treatment protocols to speed up record entry. A convenient widget containing information about the user's horses and recent treatment reports. The option to use the app online or offline; data captured while offline automatically syncs when reconnected to the internet. The mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play. Users can access the tutorial video or PDF guide to learn more about the app and how to use it. The post HISA Launches App To Streamline Equine Treatment Report Entry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A rundown of this week’s horse racing coverage on TV and radio from America's Best Racing.View the full article

Forever Young, a colt with Kentucky Derby-minded connections, jumped to the top of the leaderboard in the "Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby" with a seven-length victory in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun Dec. 13.View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Imaboutago in Florida. Debut Winner For Calyx In Florida Wesley Ward sent out Imaboutago (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) to a debut victory at Gulfstream Park for e Five Racing Thoroughbred on Friday (video). Bred by Ennistown Stud, the juvenile filly is out of Newtown Pippin (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and brought €12,000 as a Goffs November weanling from Rockview Stables, before making 105,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 3 yearling on the bid of BBA Ireland. She was the joint-fifth highest price during that book at Park Paddocks. The half-sister to the stakes-placed Felix Natalis (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) has a weanling half-brother by Cotai Glory (GB). His granddam, Vista Bella (GB) (Diktat {GB}), won the Listed Masaka S., and ran third in the G1 1000 Guineas. All four of the Coolmore Stud resident's American runners–all fillies–have won. Calyx's best in that locale are the GIII Jimmy Durante S. heroine Zona Verde (Ire), and the dual listed-placed Angiolleta (Ire), who are both incidentally out of Dark Angel (Ire) mares. His quartet of winning U.S. fillies is completed by Ever So Sweet (Ire). 2YO IMABOUTAGO breaks her maiden in fine style @GulfstreamPark for trainer Wesley Ward. #GoffsNovember graduate sold by @TheCastlebridge to Rockview Stables #GoffsGrad pic.twitter.com/jLKfaK02Ep — Goffs (@Goffs1866) December 9, 2023 Repeat Winner: Cheyenne Stable's Ozara (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) returned to the winner's circle in the Wait A While S. at Gulfstream Park for trainer Christophe Clement (video) recently. #7 OZARA ($3.80) waited for room and got it under Irad Ortiz, Jr. to get thru and win the Wait A While Stakes at Gulfstream Park,. Congrats to all the connections, including trainer Christophe Clement and owners Cheyenne Stable. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/gOukSba2Wh — TVG (@TVG) December 9, 2023 The post Making Waves: Another Juvenile Filly Winner For Calyx In The States appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland Library's Lecture Series returns in winter/spring 2024 with four ticketed events that celebrate recently published works about Thoroughbred racing whose authors conducted research at Keeneland Library, the repository said in a release Wednesday. During programs planned from January through May, the following authors will discuss their books, with each presentation followed by a reception and book signing: 24 – Kim Wickens, Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse. 21 – Fred M. Kray, Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing's Golden Age. March 7 – John Paul Miller, False Riches. May 9 – Avalyn Hunter, The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies. “The authors in this lineup cover varied and engrossing territory,” Keeneland Library Director Roda Ferraro said. “From a chronicle of legendary racehorse and sire Lexington to a gripping account of superstar Alydar, and from a novel of race track intrigue to a comprehensive history of the Kentucky Oaks, this series is sure to please our fans of racing and newcomers alike.” Click here for tickets. The post Tickets On Sale For Keeneland Library’s 2024 Winter/Spring Lecture Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Real Steel (Jpn) gave the theretofore relatively unknown Yoshito Yahagi a first victory on foreign soil when taking out the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in 2016. There has been a stack of overseas success since then–including Real Steel's full-sister Loves Only You (Jpn) in America and Hong Kong–and Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) stands an excellent chance to add to the colorful conditioner's record following a smashing victory in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, 20 miles south of Central Tokyo. Drawn widest in a field of 12, the firming 11-10 favorite on the back of his victory in the Listed JBC Nisai Yushun at northern Mombetsu Nov. 3 broke a bit to his right, but was done no damage, as he quickly zoomed up to press the pace of longshot Oscar Brain (Jpn) (Danon Legend {Jpn}. Second choice Aigle Noir (Jpn) (Bricks and Mortar) chased the pair from out wide in third. The two market leaders made moves in unison entering the second turn, and Aigle Noir appeared to stick his nose in front nearing the straight, but Forever Young counterpunched inside and careered away in the final furlong to score convincingly. The win was worth 20 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Yahagi-trained Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) was an intended runner in last year's Run for the Roses, having competed in the G3 Saudi Derby the G2 UAE Derby, where he was behind last year's Zen-Nippon winner Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits). A physically below-par Continuar was withdrawn from the Derby in the days leading up to the race. Forever Young could chart a similar course, but Yahagi said that the owner is also keen on the new NAR Dirt Triple Crown, consisting of the Haneda Hai (1800m) in April, the Toyko Derby (2000m) in June and the Japan Dirt Derby (2000m), which moves from July to October. Fujita has made a big splash at home and abroad, paying sometimes-lofty sums for yearlings and 2-year-olds at public auction. Fujita, the founder of Japanese digital advertising company CyberAgent Inc, splashed out ¥517.1 million ($4.7 million) for a then-juvenile colt by Deep Impact (Jpn)–Premier Steps (Ire) (Foostepsinthesand {GB}) at the Chiba 2YO Sale in 2021. Dobune is a two-time listed winner and Group 2-placed in Japan this season with earnings north of ¥156 million. More recently, Fujita and Yahagi have been represented by Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Troimphe winner Sottsass (Fr) who topped the 2022 Arqana August Sale on a bid of €2.1 million. The chestnut colt is two-from-two in his young career, including a last-out victory in Group 3 company, and heads to the G1 Hopeful S. (2000mT) in two weeks' time. In 2021, Fujita paid a sales-topping $750,000 for the Practical Joke filly Clos de Mesnil at OBS March and from the same sale, he acquired Jasper Krone (Frosted), a $90,000 purchase who won twice at group level this term before traveling to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and last weekend's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Jean Gros (More Than Ready), bought out of the 2021 OBS March Sale for $265,000, gave Fujita his first winner at group level in 2022. Forever Young is one of three winners from four to race out of Forever Darling, whose marquee success came in the GII Santa Ynez S. in 2016. Second dam Darling My Darling was twice Grade I-placed at two in the colors of Debby Oxley and later won the Raven Run S. and Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland before producing 2017 GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), whose 'TDN Rising Star' son Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) was part of a thrilling finish in the GII Remsen S. Dec. 2. Shug McGaughey trained third dam Roamin Rachel to a victory in the GI Ballerina H. in 1994, and she was sold to Japanese interests for $750,000 in foal to Storm Cat at the 1998 Keeneland November Sale before producing Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), Japan's Horse of the Year and winner of the G1 Japan Cup in 2004. Forever Darling is also the dam of a yearling filly by Kizuna–like Real Steel a son of Deep Impact–and her foal of 2023 is a filly by Epiphaneia (Jpn). やりました！！嬉し〜！ 【全日本2歳優駿】フォーエバーヤングが無傷3連勝で2歳ダート王　藤田晋オーナーはG1初制覇 | 競馬ニュース – https://t.co/9KspeMenvw https://t.co/IIeLC9Omo0 — 藤田晋 (@susumu_fujita) December 13, 2023 Wednesday, Kawasaki, Japan ZEN-NIPPON NISAI YUSHUN (Jpn-G1)-Listed, ¥71,400,000, Kawasaki, 12-13, 2yo, 1600m, 1:43.50, yl. 1–FOREVER YOUNG (JPN), 123, c, 2, by Real Steel (Jpn) 1st Dam: Forever Darling, by Congrats 2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister 3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining (¥98,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Farm; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥42,000,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, ¥82,200,000. 2–Aigle Noir (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Bricks and Mortar–Ultima Blood (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm; ¥14,700,000. 3–Saint Honore (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Epicharis (Jpn)–Lingus Uno (Jpn), by South Vigorous. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-La Mere Inc; B-Matsuura Bokujo; ¥8,400,000. Margins: 7, 2HF, 1. Odds: 1.10, 1.60, 104.30. Click for the goracing.jp chart. The post Forever Young Another Potential Star For Yahagi appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Prolific trainer puts run of 55 losers behind him at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, citing health issues for his quiet patchView the full article

Shaun Hinds has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Newbury Racecourse, succeeding Julian Thick who announced his resignation in August, the racecourse announced on Wednesday. Thick served in the role for 10 years. Hinds will begin his tenure as CEO and join the company's board in the summer of 2024 once he has served out his notice period with his current employer, Manchester Central Convention Centre. He has held that role for the past 6 1/2 years. Dominic Burke, the chairman of Newbury Racecourse PLC, said, “Julian has made an enormous contribution to Newbury over the past ten years. We wish him the very best for the future. “The board is delighted to be announcing Shaun's appointment following a wide-ranging and competitive search. Shaun has a longstanding interest in racing stemming from his childhood in Newmarket and will work closely with clerk of the course, George Hill. Shaun's proven success in running a business with multiple physical assets combined with his wealth of commercial experience made him the outstanding candidate.” Hinds added, “It's a great privilege to be joining a racecourse with the prestige and heritage of Newbury, and I'd like to thank Dominic and the board for the opportunity. I'm tremendously excited to be joining such a fantastic team.” The post Shaun Hinds Appointed New CEO Of Newbury 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 “Cody's Wish was definitely one of my racing highlights of 2023.” –Susan Anderson, Trainer “There was no shortage of amazing horse racing memories in 2023. But one story that transcends racing is the incredible journey Cody's Wish and Cody Dorman (and his family) took us on. Beyond inspiring and heartwarming, it showed us in vivid color the genuine beauty of the magical connection between horses and humans. The Breeders Cup victory of Cody's Wish and celebration of Cody and his family is truly the feel good moment of the year.” –Jeff Bloom, Bloom Racing Stable and TAA President “There are several moments and races to choose from, but if I had to pick one, it would be the story of Cody's Wish and Cody Dorman, which was already incredible leading to the 2023 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The excitement and anticipation was huge and the way the race unfolded all the way to the end was absolutely breathtaking!” –Ramon Dominguez, retired Hall of Fame jockey Cody Dorman with Cody's Wish | Kelly Dorman “Cody's Wish showed his resolve and determination to win the 2023 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by a narrow margin and to remember his namesake, Cody, who brought us all together this year to root him on.” –John Dooley, track announcer “My favorite moment was Cody's Wish giving everything he had to win one last time for his namesake, Cody Dorman. Cody is a special, gifted horse who understood and fulfilled his mission, one that transcends racing.” –Deirdre Duke, racing fan “Cody's Wish and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. With a lot of talk throughout the year about what is wrong with the sport, the last eighth of a mile was a reminder of what makes horse racing so uniquely special.” –Amy Zimmerman, Executive Producer, Santa Anita Park The post What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Cody’s Wish appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FanDuel will join John Deere, Keeneland and The Jockey Club as a presenting sponsor of the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards, which will be held Thursday, Jan. 25 at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida, the NTRA said in a release Wednesday morning. “We are extremely grateful to our newest presenting sponsor FanDuel in joining John Deere, Keeneland and The Jockey Club to partner with the NTRA in presenting the Eclipse Awards to the whole of the thoroughbred racing industry,” said Tom Rooney, President and CEO of the NTRA. “Together with our other many supportive partners, we are excited to bring the Eclipse Awards back to the Breakers Palm Beach for the second consecutive year to celebrate another exhilarating year of racing.” FanDuel will also broadcast live the Eclipse Awards ceremony Jan. 25. The post FanDuel Joins Sponsor List For 53rd Eclipse Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Mike Moroney is hoping Jye McNeil can extract the best from Bermadez (NZ) (Tavistock) at Caulfield. As champion jockey Damien Oliver’s career draws to a close in Perth, one Melbourne trainer wishes he would extend his time in the saddle. Not indefinitely, but long enough to see out the career of Bermadez. Trainer Mike Moroney and Oliver have had a long and fruitful association of many seasons and have combined four times in Group One races in Australia. While Bermadez is not one of the Group One winners, Oliver does seem to hold the secret to the gelding. Bermadez runs in the Stow Robotics Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday and will have Jye Mcneil in the saddle. Oliver has partnered Bermadez in five of his six wins with Jamie Kah the only other jockey to have scored aboard the seven-year-old. “It would be great to have him on,” Moroney said. “So that will be a question mark about him now. He certainly got on with the horse and we’ve had a bit of success over the years together. “He rode four Group One winners for me – Sarrera twice, Glass Harmonium and Tivaci.” Oliver partnered Bermadez when the gelding resumed at Flemington over 1400m on Melbourne Cup Day and it was the first time he had partnered the horse in 12 months. In the nine starts during that 12-month period, that Flemington performance was the only time Bermadez had been placed. Bermadez had been entered at Ballarat last week but was scratched when the track was downgraded during the meeting to heavy. “He doesn’t mind it soft, but once it gets to the heavy, it’s a bit too much for him,” Moroney said. “He’s progressed well. We’d like to see him string a few together because he has been out of form, but he looks great, and he seems to be quite happy. “We’re just spacing his races a bit and keep him as happy as we can.” Moroney will also be represented by Not An Option in Saturday’s race who will benefit from the 2kg claim of Celine Gaudray. Not An Option was not suited on the wet track when fifth in the Gr.3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes over Saturday’s course and distance on December 2. “He struck wet ground the other day which he is hopeless in,” Moroney said. “He likes dry tracks, so that’s why we brought him back for this time of the year. “On his day he’s a pretty smart horse and that’s his favourite trip, 1400 metres.” View the full article

In Newmarket the rain is pouring and the sun, if it still exists, is being defiantly reclusive. But just one small click on a Zoom link and suddenly there is a backdrop of endless blue sky, and in the foreground the smiling face of Lucie Botti, back in Dubai for her umpteenth winter and looking understandably pleased to have escaped the English weather. Botti is of course married to Newmarket trainer Marco Botti, and for years their stable has had runners all over the world, but most often in Dubai for the Carnival. Now, with the rules changed to allow international participants throughout the racing season in Dubai, unsurprisingly the enterprising Bottis have been among the first to seize this opportunity, with Lucie Botti now licensed to train under her own name and at the helm of the stable's burgeoning dual presence in the UK and the UAE. “I think that we are going to call this adventure Botti International,” she says, and in many respects that global outlook has been at the heart of the family's operation since she and Marco set up their own operation at Green Ridge Stables in Newmarket in 2006. Some years later, they built their own 100-box yard, Prestige Place, which remains their primary base. Botti continues, “We have always had runners in Dubai since we set up and we are very privileged to own the yard in Newmarket. It was purpose-built and it's working really well. Now what we are able to offer to our clients is to have horses trained here too. Again we are lucky to have some locally-based owners who want to have horses in Dubai in the winter, and we can also offer them the opportunity to have horses with us in the UK. “We hope this new set-up with be a base for the Middle East in general, so we can run horses from here in Saudi, Bahrain, etc. Hopefully we can expand slowly and have a nice setting here for the winter. From a horse's point of view this time of the year is the best out here.” Soneva became the first winner for the Botti team in Dubai in the G3 Cape Verdi in 2010, but Lucie Botti's association with the emirate stretches back further, some 20 years or more, to the days of Endless Hall (GB), who was fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, when it was still a Group 2, in 2001. “When I first came to England I worked for Luca Cumani and I accompanied the first horse that he sent to Dubai, Endless Hall,” says the Czech-born former jockey. “After the Sheema Classic he went to Singapore and won the Singapore Cup. “Later I worked for David Loder as one of his assistants for a couple of seasons and was still going to Dubai in the winter with the International horses. “When we set up training we had runners in Dubai as soon as we could. Soneva was our first winner here, and I've been every year.” The stable's success during that time has included victory for Jakkalberry (Ire) in the G2 City of Gold. He was also third in the Sheema Classic, while Euro Charline (GB) was runner-up in both the G1 Dubai Turf and G2 Balanchine, and Planteur (Ire) was third in the G1 Dubai World Cup. Felix (GB), too, has been placed in the Dubai Turf, while Lazzam (GB) was runner-up in the UAE 2,000 Guineas. And the international roll call has not been restricted to Dubai, for Marco Botti has trained group/graded winners in America, Canada, France, Germany, and of course his native Italy as well. While Lucie Botti, as familiar with Meydan as she is with Newmarket Heath, stresses that it's very much business as usual, she does admit that next week will see two major landmarks for her personally. On December 20 she graduates in anthroposophic psychology. The following day she is set to have a first runner in her own name, the two-year-old Onigiri (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), who is owned by Ahmed Bintouq and partner. “It has always been in our mind and now obviously racing in the Middle East has really expanded over the last few years, which is great,” she says. “Dubai has always been a second home for us, so to have a base here was always a dream in my mind, and now that they have opened the season, that was the key. We can run at the other racecourses and in all the races at Meydan, and that is what has prompted us to make this decision this year. We are going to keep the base running all year round. If they are suitable horses to go back to the UK they will, and if they are suitable horses to go somewhere else, they can go there, or stay in Dubai for the summer.” In addition to Onigiri, Botti also has another juvenile, the Patrick Doyle-owned Drink Dry (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), and Saeed Sultan Al Rahoomi's Royal Dubai (Fr) (Seahenge) under her care at the moment, and she is assisted by a local rider and a groom. “The other two are set to run on 5 January. It's all building up and going fine so far,” she says. “We have another couple of horses arriving on 20 December and then Giavellotto will come out at the beginning of February.” Scuderia La Tesa's homebred Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) currently holds stable-star status in the Botti yard. The winner of the G2 Yorkshire Cup in May, he was also third in the G2 Lonsdale Cup and he will return to Dubai for another crack at the country's major staying contest, the G2 Dubai Gold Cup, in which he was ninth last season. His first intended start is a prep race in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy. “The Emirates Racing Authority has been super helpful and the BHA has also been very good,” says Botti.”It's a huge privilege to be here in Dubai and at Meydan. Over the years here the racing has been very good to us and we are lucky to have clients supporting us.” The post ‘Botti International’ as Lucie Botti is Set to Have First Dubai Runner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King St, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Friday, December 15, 2023 First Race 6pm AEDT Visit Dabble The summer series of racing continues at Canterbury on Friday evening with eight races set to be run and won. The rail moves out +6m the entire circuit, and with warm weather predicted in the lead-up, the course should be a genuine Good 4 prior to the opening event at 6pm AEDT. Below are our free Canterbury racing tips and quaddie selections. Best Bet: Miss Emma On the Kensington circuit at Randwick last time out, Miss Emma appeared to be savaging the line but was unable to reel in the leader and had to settle for a runner-up spot. The daughter of All Too Hard appeared tested over 1300m third-up, so with the Chris Waller barn electing to bring her back in trip, watch for Miss Emma to be much more effective closing at the Canterbury 1250m. Best Bet Race 1 – #2 Miss Emma (4) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: Tommy Berry (59kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best: Northern Eyes Northern Eyes was no match for Mogwai at this course and distance on November 17, but it was hard not to be impressed by the runner-up. The son of Zoustar drew wide and left Tyler Schiller no option other than to race towards the rear of the field, but he showed plenty of ability to cruise through the wire into a clear second. Tommy Berry takes the reins after hopping aboard in a tick-over trial, and we expect another bold showing by Northern Eyes. Next Best Race 3 – #7 Northern Eyes (7) 3yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: Tommy Berry (57.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Next Best Again: Head Of The Herd Head Of The Herd made every post a winner at Hawkesbury on December 3 and proved far too good for Class 1 company. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained colt will attempt similar tactics heading to Canterbury for the first time, and with 54.5kg allowing Tim Clark to go forward with confidence, Head Of The Herd will look the winner a long way out. Next Best Again Race 6 – #8 Head Of The Herd (3) 3yo Colt | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Tim Clark (54.5kg) Bet with Betfair Canterbury Friday quaddie tips – 15/12/2023 Canterbury Park quadrella selections Friday, December 15, 2023 3-4-7-9 4-7-8 1-2-3-4 1-2-4-6-13-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Ayrton will headline The Gold Rush field on Saturday afternoon at Ascot. The Gold Rush will headline the final day of The Pinnacles carnival at Ascot this Saturday afternoon, with a full field expected to clash over 1400m. As it is the final feature event of 2023, the Group 3 race has been renamed as the ‘Damien Oliver Gold Rush’ to honour Australia’s greatest jockey, who will retire after the Ascot meeting this weekend. Following the barrier draw on Tuesday, the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Ayrton firmed into favouritism with online bookmakers at +380 after drawing gate 11. The son of Iffraaj was last seen running sixth in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, which is the best form of any of the interstate runners in the field. Interestingly, the second emergency for the race, Super Smink, was the pre-draw favourite and still holds the second line of betting at +450. If she gains a start, the three-year-old filly will be dropping back to 1400m after struggling to run out 1600m in the WA Guineas last start. Nick Ryan will leg up his great mate Ollie for his final ride when he hops into the saddle to ride Munhamek (+450), who was a tragedy beaten in the Group 2 Damien Oliver at Flemington two starts back. Dom To Shoot (+1000) will be on the seven-day backup after claiming the Group 1 Northerly Stakes last Saturday. If 2023 Railway Stakes winner Bustler (+1000) backs up after running a credible fourth in the Northerly Stakes, he will have raced three times in the space of four weeks. Luke Fernie will seek another big payday when his three-year-old gelding Ripcord (+600) attempts 1400m for the first time after finishing third in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes last start. The Gold Rush 2023 Final Field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Dom To Shoot Sean & Jake Casey Jarrad Noske 14 59kg 2 Valour Road Simon Miller Chris Parnham 16 59kg 3 Bustler Neville Parnham Steven Parnham 15 59kg 4 Munhamek Nick Ryan Damien Oliver 17 59kg 5 Red Can Man Steve Wolfe Paul Harvey 8 59kg 6 Massimo Chris & Michael Gangemi Brad Parnham 7 59kg 7 Comfort Me Rhys Radford Shaun McGruddy 3 59kg 8 Savatoxl Will Savage Holly Watson 1 59kg 9 Hot Zed Lou Luciani Jason Whiting 19 59kg 10 Ayrton Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr Damian Lane 11 59kg 11 Resortman Michael Lane Brad Rawiller 10 59kg 12 Laverrod Sean & Jake Casey Craig Williams 13 59kg 13 My Bella Mae Dion Luciani Patrick Carbery 18 57kg 14 Baby Paris Colin Webster Peter Knuckey 2 57kg 15 Karli’s Karma Summer Dickson Michael Poy 6 57kg 16 Ripcord Luke Fernie Clint Johnston-Porter 9 54kg 17 Let’s Galahvant (1E) Daniel & Ben Pearce TBC 4 59kg 18 Super Smink (2E) Daniel Morton Craig Williams 12 52kg 19 Magnificent Andy (3E) Stephen Miller TBC 5 59kg More horse racing news View the full article

What Moonee Valley Races Where Moonee Valley Racecourse – 1 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Friday, December 15, 2023 First Race 6:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Racing heads to Moonee Valley this Friday evening for a very competitive seven-race program that will kick off at 6:45pm AEDT. With no rain forecast on Friday, the track should stay in the Good range for the whole meeting. The rail will be pushed out slightly to the +5m position for the entire circuit, which should play favourably to on-speed runners in the shorter races. Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Scuderia We were with Scuderia when she made a mess of her rivals last start, putting up a winning margin early before being eased down in the final 50m. Since that win, Moon And Back, who finished third, has come out and won, franking the form of this girl’s recent performance. She stays at track and trip, Declan Bates retains the ride, and if Scuderia finds the front, she should prove very hard to beat as he chases a hat-trick of wins. Best Bet Race 4 – #5 Scuderia (3) 4yo Mare | T: Thomas Carberry | J: Declan Bates (59kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best at Moonee Valley: Sisterhood Sisterhood returned from a lengthy break at Sandown on November 22, where she wore down Who Dares over the final 100m to record a tough win over 1200m. The daughter of American Pharoah will have taken a lot of benefit from her fresh run and should be fitter second-up. With the aid of barrier four and Carleen Hefel’s 2kg claim, we expect this mare to settle on-speed in a bid to replicate her last-start victory. Next Best Race 5 – #1 Sisterhood (4) 4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Carleen Hefel (a2) (61.5kg) Bet with Dabble Next Best Again at Moonee Valley: She’s Bulletproof Charlotte Littlefield will take She’s Bulletproof back to Moonee Valley, where she will be seeking to go one better than her debut runner-up effort over 1200m. This daughter of Shooting To Win showed that she can settle midfield and make up good ground late. Billy Egan will take the ride, and if he can settle in the one-one behind the leaders and peel three wide on the home turn, She’s Bulletproof will play a prominent role in the finish. Next Best Again Race 1 – #9 She’s Bulletproof (3) 3yo Filly | T: Charlotte Littlefield | J: Billy Egan (56.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Friday quaddie tips for Moonee Valley races Moonee Valley quadrella selections Friday, December 15, 2023 3-5 1-6-9 1-3-4 1-8-10-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Damien Oliver Gold Rush Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, December 16, 2023 Prizemoney $1,500,000 Distance 1400m Conditions Weight For Age 2022 winner The Astrologist (5) | T: Leon & Troy Corstens | J: William Pike (59kg) Visit Dabble The second edition of The Gold Rush will headline the nine-race card at Ascot Racecourse this Saturday afternoon. After The Astrologist claimed the inaugural edition of The Gold Rush for the interstate representatives, the locals have several hopes in this year’s event. With only three interstate runners accepting for the $1.5 million contest, Western Australia has a massive chance to claim victory in one of its biggest races during the summer carnival. The Gold Rush 2023 odds Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr have taken Ayrton across the Nullarbor to compete in The Gold Rush, where he is the bookmakers’ favourite at +380. Both Super Smink and Munhamek are on the second line of betting at +450, while Ripcord and Valour Road share the third line at +600. After claiming their first Group 1 wins in recent weeks, Bustler and Dom To Shoot are both given a chance at +1000. The Gold Rush 2023 speed map Savatoxl and Baby Paris are expected to burn along at the front of the field, with the likes of Red Can Man, Comfort Me and Massimo settling in behind them from inside barriers. With a big field of 16 engaged, a three-wide running line should be prevalent, with Valour Road, Dome To Shoot and My Bella Mae expected to settle out there from wide gates. Munhamek, Hot Zed, Ayrton and Ripcord will be towards the rear of the field, enjoying a solid tempo. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Damien Oliver Gold Rush. The Gold Rush 2023 preview & form Munhamek ran in some strong form races throughout the spring, with his third-place finish in the Group 2 Damien Oliver two starts back a clear standout. The son of Dark Angel was on the inside rail and was disappointed for a run multiple times before getting out at the 100m mark to flash home. There shouldn’t be as many problems on Saturday with Damien Oliver in the saddle when he jumps from barrier 17, as he should be in clear air on the outside of runners. With even luck and a strong finishing burst in the final 300m, Munhamek can send Ollie out a winner. After finishing an unlucky fifth in this race last year, Red Can Man represents great each-way value in the 2023 edition. The Steve Wolfe-trained gelding has finished in the top four in three of his four starts this time in, and his last-start fourth in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes was very good. With the experienced Paul Harvey in the saddle, this son of Gingerbread Man should find a perfect spot midfield from barrier eight and gain an economical run throughout. Simon Miller’s eight-year-old warhorse Valour Road comes in to this after taking out the Listed Lee Steere Classic last start. This son of Frost Giant has finished in the top two in each of his three starts since returning from a long layoff, and he should be peaking fourth-up. Barrier 16 is the worry, as he will most likely push forward and be forced to race three wide. Ripcord is enjoying an outstanding three-year-old campaign, claiming the Listed Placid Ark Stakes before running home strongly to finish third in the Winterbottom Stakes. The Luke Fernie-trained gelding possesses a lethal turn of foot, as shown in his breathtaking win in the Placid Ark. Clint Johnston-Porter knows this youngster well, and if he lets down with a similar finishing burst to his most recent starts, Ripcord will make his presence felt. The Gold Rush 2023 selections & best bets Selections: 4 MUNHAMEK 5 RED CAN MAN 2 VALOUR ROAD 16 RIPCORD $100 betting strategy $50 Win Munhamek (#4) @ +450 with Neds $25 Eachway Red Can Man (#5) @ +1400 & +350 with Betfair More horse racing tips View the full article

Leonard Stewart is one of the rare few welcoming the wet start to the summer, with the Timaru trainer trying to find some forgiving tracks for his seven-win mare Vague. The eight-year-old daughter of Tobique found the Good3 conditions at Riccarton over New Zealand Cup Week last month too taxing but appreciated the Good4 conditions at Cromwell earlier this month, placing on both days of the meeting, including the Cromwell Cup (2030m) last start. “We raced her on the middle day at Riccarton and it was a bit like concrete and she jarred up badly,” Stewart said. “She came right and with a bit of give in the ground she responds pretty well. She had every chance at Cromwell, but she went well.” A trip to the deep south is now on the cards this weekend, with Stewart believing the wet forecast, paired with Ascot Park’s Soft7 rating on Wednesday morning, will suit Vague down to the ground. “She has done well since Cromwell and with a bit of give in the ground she is going back down south,” Stewart said. Vague has drawn barrier six in the Tim Yeo Contracting Southland Crystals (2200m) and Stewart is hoping jockey Tina Comignaghi can find a handy position from that gate. “She is an honest horse and Tina gets on really well with her,” he said. “She does jump well and Tina is a good barrier rider. She should be able to get across and get handy. But it is in Tina’s hands and once the gates open, she had got to ride how they land.” Stewart will continue to keep his eye close on the weather forecast over summer, which will dictate where Vague heads over the warmer months. “We are just going to try and go where there is a good give in the ground and where they have good irrigations systems. We just have to go by the weather with her,” he said. Joining Vague on the float trip south this weekend will be stablemates Miss Miranda, Zadane, and Diamond Riviere. Miss Miranda is another in good form, taking a win and placing into the Howley Joinery Handicap (1200m), however, she may be saved for another day if rain persists. “She is still maturing,” Stewart said of the four-year-old mare. “If they did get rain she wouldn’t start. Anything worse than a Good4 is a bit stressful on her, so we are just taking our time and spacing her races.” Meanwhile, stablemates Zadane and Diamond Riviere will be looking to recapture form in The Edge Handicap (1600m) and Rex Cochrane Memorial Handicap (2200m) respectively. “I think Danika (Wilson, apprentice jockey) will suit Zadane,” Stewart said. “In the 65 race he is going to be well up in the weights (60kg) and Danika takes four off, so that will help a lot. I think her style of riding will help him. “Diamond Riviere has been working well. She hasn’t had a lot of luck lately, but she has been working well. If there is a bit of give in the ground that will be in her favour too.” View the full article

Go Racing’s talented European import Skyman has crossed the ditch to chase Group One glory. Previously based with Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller, Skyman has joined Stephen Marsh’s Cambridge barn this week and is being prepared for some lofty assignments this summer. The winner of nine races and more than A$1 million in prizemoney, Skyman is being aimed towards the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham next month and Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in March. “He’s been a terrific horse for us,” Go Racing’s Matt Allnutt said. “We purchased him from the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in Newmarket, England in 2019. We only paid 42,000 Guineas for him, so he has proven to be great value. “Chris Waller and his team have done an absolutely outstanding job with him but he’s just got to the stage now where he’s up in the handicaps and hard to place in Australia, so the decision was made to bring him to New Zealand and give him a crack at winning a Group One race here. “The majority of his ownership group are based in New Zealand, Wellington especially, so it’s a great opportunity for them to have him race on their home turf and they’ll get a thrill out of that win, lose or draw.” While he has yet to line-up in Group One company, Skyman has been successful at Listed level in Australia on four occasions and earlier this season he finished second behind subsequent A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) runner-up Pericles in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) and third in the Gr.3 Craven Plate (1800m) and Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m). “He’s been a terrific horse all the way through and he’s certainly got good form around him,” Allnutt said. “With the Thorndon Mile being at set weights and penalties, he should get in with a really good weight, and as long as he adapts to New Zealand and settles in and does everything right, he’d have to be a chance.” The son of Mukhadram arrived at Marsh Racing on Sunday night. “Stephen said that he’s settled in well, he looks good in his work and he’s moving well,” Allnutt said. “The whole team is excited to have him there.” View the full article