Wandering Eyes

Trainer Phillip Stokes is taking a different approach 12 months on in his bid to have Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange) peaking for the Melbourne Cup. Stokes elected to bypass The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington last week in favour of the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Success in The Bart Cummings would have secured Daqiansweet Junior a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup, but Stokes is banking on attrition and the potential of a penalty, if successful on Saturday, in rising up the Melbourne Cup ballot order. Daqiansweet Junior currently sits number 30 in the Melbourne Cup Order of Entry while he also remains in the Caulfield Cup, but at number 27 will need to win on Saturday to gain a ballot exemption if he is to take his place. “He’s still got to earn his way to the Melbourne Cup,” Stokes said. “So, we’re hoping for a bit of attrition, or if we can win on Saturday and get a bit of a penalty.” Stokes said he doubts Daqiansweet Junior would back-up in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday week if successful on Saturday, but the option remains open. Daqiansweet Junior ran sixth in last year’s Melbourne Cup carrying 53kg and drops to 51.5kg this year. Stokes said in bypassing The Bart Cummings, he felt Saturday’s Herbert Power and the three-and-a-half weeks into the Melbourne will work better for the stayer. “He had been off the scene for a while leading into this campaign,” Stokes said. “Last time, he had a lot of residual fitness all the way through from the Adelaide Cup and Sydney Cup, so I just thought the three-and-a-bit weeks into the Melbourne Cup this year would be better. “The horse is going great. “He’s still got a nice turn of foot in him, but he just needs to get up to his right trip.” With Daniel Stackhouse, who has ridden the stayer in his past two starts in the Heatherlie Stakes and Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield heading to Sydney to ride Benedetta in The Silver Eagle at Randwick, Blake Shinn takes the ride on Saturday “We won’t lose anything there,” Stokes said. View the full article

Glenn Old’s phone has been ringing red hot over the last couple of weeks after Adam I Am’s (NZ) (Almanzor) impressive maiden victory at Matamata last month, but the talented four-year-old will remain in New Zealand. A notable trader of horses, Old purchased the son of Almanzor as a yearling at Karaka for $100,000 and put together the Adam I Am Syndicate to race the horse, with co-breeders Philip and Catherine Brown, as well as Kilgravin Lodge retaining shares in the gelding. Old has taken his time with the now four-year-old, who made a statement when winning his 1200m maiden by five lengths at just his second raceday start. “I have had a lot of interest,” Old said. “We sell all of our horses, but we decided to keep this one and hopefully have a bit of fun. “It is quite exciting times. He has got a long way to go yet but he looks good. “His mother was very good, I trained her, she was a Group Two winner and Group One placed. Hopefully he is what we are after.” The Matamata trainer has been pleased with the way his gelding has come through his last start heroics and is looking forward to heading south to Hastings with him this weekend to contest the Dan D’Esposito Memorial (1400m). “We are really happy with him, he has come through it well. He hasn’t missed an oat and he is happy in his work,” Old said. “The step up to 1400m should suit and barrier two should be okay. The only concern would be if he got over racing behind a couple if he was tardy away, but he should jump better this time hopefully.” A freshen-up could follow Saturday’s $65,000 MAAT race, with Old looking towards a start in the new $1 million four-year-old mile race at the Karaka Million meeting in January, “That is why we kept him here, there is some nice prizemoney here,” Old said. “There is that $1 million four-year-old mile, if he is good enough. There is a MAAT race over a mile in February worth $350,000, so if he is not quite good enough for the Karaka Million race, he can run in that one. “We will just take one race at a time. He will probably get a break somewhere before January. If he ran well on Saturday we may give him a couple of weeks in the paddock.” While many of Old’s barn are traded offshore, he is excited to have a quality horse to race himself. “It is always nice to have a good horse to take to the races and have some fun with,” he said. “Most of the horses we race are just bread and butter. It is hard to get a good one.” View the full article

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) has announced that as a result of pattern and scheduling changes, there will be a number of adjustments to the ATR racing season. These changes sit across the breadth of the season and encompass date, pattern, venue and name changes, with the modifications designed to create a more functional season of racing for all stakeholders. The modifications are led by a number of changes to both the Christmas and Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Week carnivals with a poignant moment forming part of the list of announcements. With the passing of racing and breeding icon Sir Patrick Hogan last season, ATR has announced that in acknowledgement of the immense impact Sir Patrick had on the industry, the Club has selected a race to be renamed in his honour. The 3YO fillies 2050m race run on New Year’s Day at Pukekohe Park, once known as the Royal Stakes, is now to be known as the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes in recognition of his significant contribution. Further changes to the carnivals consist of: The Dunstan Horse Feeds Stayers Championship Final, traditionally run on New Year’s Day, has been moved to 26 December (the Boxing Day Races) to better reflect the depth of New Zealand’s staying division. The new date will allow horses to run in both the Dunstan Horse Feeds Stayers Championship Final as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (ex. City of Auckland Cup) six days later. Further changes to the race scheduling on Boxing Day will see the Auckland Guineas form part of the Boxing Day Races with the distance reduced to 1400m and will act as an ideal leadup to the newly positioned Levin Classic at Trentham on Saturday, 13 January 2024. As a result, the Uncle Remus Stakes (previously run on Boxing Day) moves to Saturday, 17 February with the distance reduced to 1200m. This race will act as an ideal lead up to the recently promoted Mufhasa Stakes (1400m), now of Group 3 status, on Saturday, 2 March 2024. The Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Week carnival will see both the New Zealand Derby and Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup nomination date shift to Monday, 11 December 2023, a month later than the prior closing date. The new nomination date will enable trainers to be more selective about their nominations especially with respect to the New Zealand Derby. The Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup is also moving to handicap conditions. ATR has changed the weight conditions from set weights and penalties to a handicap to provide a far bigger spread of weights and a more competitive contest as a result, which will consequently have a positive impact on wagering. In addition to the adjustments to ATR’s major carnivals, Waikato Thoroughbred Racing (WTR) and ATR jointly recommended to the New Zealand Pattern Committee (NZPC) a change to the Autumn 2YO pattern which was subsequently approved and will see the following movement which reflects a far more logical spread of 2YO races: Saturday, 20 April – 2YO 1200 – Listed, now to be run at Ellerslie Racecourse by ATR (Star Way) Saturday, 4 May – 2YO 1400 – Listed, now to be run at Te Rapa Racecourse by WTR (Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes) Saturday, 25 May – 2YO 1600 – Listed, to be run at Ellerslie Racecourse by ATR (Staphanos By Deep Impact Champagne Stakes) ATR Executive General Manager – Racing & Operations, Craig Baker said that the Club is continuously evaluating their racing product to ensure it is fit for purpose. “The changes to the upcoming season were done to ensure that ATR’s racing calendar remained relevant and reflected the current status of racing in New Zealand. “ATR is committed to providing the best possible racing product and the changes announced today support this objective. “Our thanks to the New Zealand Pattern Committee, Waikato Thoroughbred Racing, and David Smith and his team at Dunstan Horse Feeds for their help and support.” The Club has also committed to further supporting those at the grassroots of the New Zealand racing industry by offering a $12 lunch voucher to the primary strapper of each runner at ATR racedays. ATR plans to conduct 20 race meetings over the 2023/24 season from both Pukekohe Park and Ellerslie, with racing at Ellerslie set to return in 2024. View the full article

Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock) has enjoyed a faultless preparation and will strip at the top of her game for Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings. The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained daughter of Tavistock has impressed in both lead-up runs and is now ready to shine in her first crack at a middle distance. “We have been building toward this and, with that in mind, we have ridden her very cold in her first two starts this prep, partly because of the barrier draws and being proactive in teaching her to relax so she runs out the 2040m,” Ritchie said. “The way she has relaxed in her last couple of races we’re confident she will get the trip.” Pearl Of Alsace will jump from the ace draw and she won’t be conceding as much ground to her rivals this time. “There’s no point in riding her cold from barrier one on Saturday, punters can rest assured that she won’t be giving away the big starts that she has in her first two runs,” Ritchie said. “We won’t be bustling her out of the barrier, but she won’t be out the back door either.” Pride Of Alsace claimed the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last season and ended her campaign with a luckless fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe. Following a break, the five-year-old powered home for second when resuming at Ruakaka over 1400m and then stepped up to a mile at Te Rapa to go one better. “We took her up to Ruakaka for a week and took advantage of working her at the beach and galloping on the track and I felt she was ready for her first start,” Ritchie said. “When we got her home, we backed off a bit and maybe a little too much, she put a bit of weight on and she was a bit vulnerable second-up. “She looked like she was going to clear away from them at the top of the straight when she jogged into it, but lacked a little bit of fitness so it was a good effort to win. “We have certainly fixed that mistake and put the foot on the accelerator since then and she is in superb order. Her coat is terrific and she’s going to take some holding out.” Future plans for Pearl Of Alsace will be determined after Saturday following discussions with breeder-owner Sir Peter Vela and Racing Manager Garry Cossey. “It will be performance based and I’ll be talking to Sir Peter and Garry post-race,” Ritchie said. “This is a big test and the program we have mapped out and only having the two runs going into this opens up a number of options. “There is a chance she could go to Melbourne, there are some nice mares’ races there, or there’s the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham where she’s got a good record. “It will all come back to her performance on Saturday and then we’ll make some decisions. “Certainly, she is not at the bottom of her prep and this is her first New Zealand target and we think we’ve got her right.” Ritchie is also confident Pearl Of Alsace’s stablemate Roc Dancer (NZ) (El Roca) can make an impact in the Water Bar Napier Premier (2200m) following her last-start fifth on the course on the middle day of the carnival. “She drew out a bit and got caught three wide and had to sustain a big run and never gave it away, she kept coming,” he said. “She’s been up a while, but she continues to train on very well so from a better gate and a more economical trip she can be right in the finish.” View the full article

The Simon Miller-trained Amelia’s Jewel is firm favourite to secure a second career Group 1 when the classy mare from WA lines-up in the Group 1 $1 million Toorak Handicap (1600m) on Saturday. Amelia’s Jewel is dominant favourite to win Melbourne’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. The Toorak is one of three Group 1 events on the Neds Caulfield Guineas Day card and features a smart line-up of potential Cox Plate-bound horses. Heading the markets at Ladbrokes is Siyouni four-year-old Amelia’s Jewel at $2.25. Damian Lane partners the bonny mare from gate 12 as she looks to make it three-from-three in Victoria this prep. Winner of the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) in Perth as a filly, she continues to impress and comes off good wins in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington and Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at The Valley. She is unbeaten at the distance, is all class and lines-up as a hard to beat top fancy for the punters. It is a near capacity field but only two rivals are also at single-figure Toorak Handicap odds including the $7 second elect Antino for Brisbane horseman Tony Gollan. The Redwood five-year-old is also two-from-two at a mile ahead of Saturday’s tough assignment where he will need luck from the outside barrier. Antino has won nine of his 11 starts however so is putting together a nice record, and was strong through the line with 58kg at the start of the month defeating Here To Shock in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m). He drops to 54.5kg this weekend and with the right run from Blake Shinn this horse can step it up now. There has been an early move for the John Keys-trained Tassie raider The Inevitable meanwhile who has been heavily backed in from $15 to $9.50 to return to winning form. The Dundeel eight-year-old has form around the country’s premiere miler Mr Brightside when only a length third to him in the $5 million All-Star Mile during the autumn. He has had two runs since when runner-up to Golden Mile by a narrow margin in Rosehill’s Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) and then eighth with only 2.5 lengths off Rediener carrying 55.5kg in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). The Inevitable stays at a mile now, but carries 56.5kg in Melbourne with likely improvement to come. Pride Of Jenni ($12) is the other best in Toorak betting with the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained mare drawn a treat in gate five for jockey Declan Bates. It has been a long time between drinks for the now six-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai with her last victory being in September last year. She has been competitive in plenty since however including her second to one of Saturday’s $20 million The Everest contenders in Sydney – Espiona – in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) back in March. Pride Of Jenni comes off back-to-back runs behind Amelia’s Jewel with the latest producing a second in the Stocks Stakes when the winner, who she faces again here, set a new track record. Natural improvement has her fit and ready to fire dropping right back from 57kg to 52kg so she meets her last start conqueror far betting in the weights for a potentially close rematch. The 2023 Toorak Handicap is set to run as the last at Caulfield on Saturday jumping as Race 10 at 5:50pm (AEDT). 2023 Toorak Handicap Field & Barriers No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 6x6026x647 MY OBERON (IRE) Annabel Neasham Mark Zahra 15 57kg 109 2 1111113×28 THE INEVITABLE John Keys David Pires 8 56.5kg 108 3 1211x12x11 AMELIA’S JEWEL Simon A Miller Damian Lane 12 56kg 111 4 x534113x21 PINSTRIPED Enver Jusufovic Ben Allen 11 56kg 107 5 111263×640 POUNDING Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Billy Egan 9 55kg 105 6 31x1111x41 ANTINO (NZ) Tony Gollan Blake Shinn 17 54.5kg 104 7 3x1152x520 ATTRITION Mitchell Freedman Beau Mertens 10 54kg 103 8 x6362598x7 BANKERS CHOICE (NZ) Michael Moroney Patrick Moloney 16 53.5kg 102 9 3x24120x33 CORNER POCKET Lindsey Smith Craig Newitt 4 53.5kg 102 10 37x4298x62 PRIDE OF JENNI Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Declan Bates 5 52kg 101 11 402369×901 IRONCLAD (GB) Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea Ms Linda Meech 1 52kg 99 12 111432×142 SAVANNAH CLOUD (NZ) Phillip Stokes Daniel Moor 14 52kg 99 13 731x22x124 SEE YOU IN HEAVEN Richard & Chantelle Jolly Michael Dee 13 52kg 99 14 x26111x822 HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Dean Yendall 3 52kg 98 15 36x254x156 AMENABLE Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Wiremu Pinn (a) 6 52kg 97 16 91316x32x6 CHARTERHOUSE (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jye McNeil 2 52kg 97 17 3126114×04 BELTORO Robert Hickmott Teo Nugent 7 52kg 96 Table Credit: Racing Australia. The post 2023 Toorak Handicap Field & Betting Update: Amelia’s Jewel Firm Favourite appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

The country’s best miler, Mr Brightside, is looking to extend a remarkable winning streak when he heads up to Sydney for the inaugural edition of the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m). Mr Brightside is favourite to keep the Group 1 wins coming heading to Sydney for the $5 million King Charles III Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. The event was formerly known as the George Main Stakes and held earlier in the carnival but has now been revamped and complements an incredible Randwick race card for The Everest Day. The second richest event on the program second in prize money only to the $20 million The Everest (1200m), the King Charles III Stakes field has attracted a line-up of the season’s leading middle-distance horses. Heading the King Charles III Stakes odds at Ladbrokes chasing his sixth win on the trot is the Team Hayes-trained Mr Brightside at $2.25. The six-year-old son of Bullbars will take his prize money up over $10 million should he run fist or second and jumps from barrier eight with Craig Williams continuing associations. Mr Brightside is at his pet distance here boasting an imposing 1600m record of 10 wins from 14 starts including the $5 million All-Star Mile at The Valley and the Doncaster Mile at Saturday’s track and trip over the autumn. He has been on fire down south this spring winning all three starts including completing the Memsie Stakes – Makybe Diva Stakes Group 1 double. That form was franked with the Makybe runner-up Alligator Blood going on to win the Underwood Stakes next start and now the punters are predicting Mr Brightside to do something similar in Sydney. He is the obvious class horse in the race and will take the power of beating on the weekend. Three of his rivals are also under double-figures in King Charles III Stakes betting to score an upset including the early market mover Zaaki ($9.50 into $8). Annabel Neasham’s nine-year-old marvel chases his first victory since the Group 2 Hollindale in Queensland over the winter. The 2022 All-Star Mile champ and dual Mackinnon Stakes winner is third-up this weekend and continues to race like a much younger horse. He has run well in both his Sydney lead-ups when third only a half-length off Fangirl fresh in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) and then second by a nostril flare to Think It Over in the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) on September 16. Zaaki faces both of those same horses again here with Fangirl also at $8 in betting drawn ideally in gate with James McDonald aboard Chris Waller’s smart mare while the Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over looks value at $12 in gate four with the season’s in-form jockey Nash Rawiller to ride. Rounding out the single-figure fancies at King Charles Stakes III odds of $9.50 is the promising Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained import Light Infantry Man ($9.50). Hong Kong hoop Zac Purton is in town and takes the mount from gate six aboard the consistent Fast Company entire who makes his Australian race debut in the lucrative mile event. Back in Europe he has been a perennial place-getter of late running top three in his four latest runs, three of which were in Group 1 company, and he is looking to finally secure a win at the distance after some frustratingly close calls (7:0-2-3). The 2023 King Charles III Stakes runs as Race 9 on the 10-race Randwick card at 5:35pm (AEDT). 2023 King Charles III Stakes Field & Barriers No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 x14241x631 THINK IT OVER Kerry Parker Nash Rawiller 4 59kg 120 2 3x5211x111 MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 8 59kg 119 3 341x217x32 ZAAKI (GB) Annabel Neasham Ms Jamie Kah 7 59kg 118 4 8x0653216x HUETOR (FR) Peter & Paul Snowden Joshua Parr 12 59kg 111 5 2x6x372332 LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Zac Purton 6 59kg 110 6 6x6026x647 MY OBERON (IRE) Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 3 59kg 109 7 x216x143x2 BUCKAROO (GB) Joseph O’Brien Hugh Bowman 10 59kg 107 8 121735×454 ZEYREK (FR) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Sam Clipperton 13 59kg 106 9 1113553×40 NUGGET (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Dylan Gibbons (a) 9 59kg 104 10 3x1761x015 DEMOCRACY MANIFEST Chris Waller Tyler Schiller 16 59kg 101 11 x2400x9013 GOLDEN MILE James Cummings Zac Lloyd (a) 5 58.5kg 109 12 11x3131x92 KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller Tommy Berry 15 58.5kg 108 13 x641211x11 REDIENER Chris Waller Ms Kathy O’Hara 1 58.5kg 107 14 62x3227x13 FANGIRL Chris Waller James McDonald 2 57kg 114 15 23x216Px52 ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 11 57kg 111 16 42x1442x36 HOPE IN YOUR HEART Kerry Parker Jason Collett 14 57kg 109 Table Credit: Racing Australia. The post Mr Brightside Heads 2023 King Charles III Stakes Field & Odds appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Trials and race meetings are set to cease at Avondale racecourse for the foreseeable future. Photo: Trish Dunell A dark cloud has come over racing in West Auckland, with its future in doubt following New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s (NZTR) announcement that no further trial meetings will be held at Avondale Racecourse for the foreseeable future. There have been growing concerns relating to track safety at Avondale, which escalated following the abandonment of the Avondale Jockey Club’s (AJC) September 6 meeting due to the unsafe nature of the track. With the subsequent breakdown in communication between the two parties, NZTR decided it was in the best interests of its stakeholders to cease trials at the track and enter discussions with TAB NZ to revoke the allocation of race dates to the AJC for the current season. “Avondale haven’t really engaged since the abandonment in September. We needed to bring it to a head, we couldn’t keep going around in circles,” NZTR chief operating officer Darin Balcombe said. “We have got obligations to stakeholders in terms of race meetings and to give surety to everyone as to where they are going to trial and where they will be racing. “We have tried to make contact (with AJC) several times since the abandonment and we have had one response, which was pretty underwhelming. “We have had our regional track advisor, Jason Fulford, on course carrying out testing of the problem area. “They (AJC) unfortunately don’t have a track manager at the moment and don’t seem to want to accept any support to prepare the track. “We have got to the end of our tether, and we have got no faith that they can provide a safe racing surface, and that is why the decision had to be made. “The decision was all about a safe racing surface and we can’t have our industry participants going all the way to Avondale and have meetings called off. “Currently we can’t race any distance over 1350m there and have no surety that the club has a plan to remedy that.” NZTR are now working with the Northern programming chair and other clubs to look for alternate venues for the affected trials and race meetings. “It (decision to revoke trials and race meetings) is for the foreseeable future until we can gain some comfort and some surety that they (AJC) have the right people and practices in place,” Balcombe said. “We are in the early stages (of discussions with the TAB) and we are starting to look at what our options are as far as alternate venues.” Avondale Jockey Club has refuted its lack of cooperation with NZTR and are engaging legal advice. “The Club is going to its lawyers because NZTR’s media release of today is inaccurate regarding alleged lack of cooperation by the Club,” AJC president Tracey Berkhahn said. The Club did not want to make any further comment. Avondale’s next race meeting was set to take place on Wednesday, November 8. More horse racing news View the full article

If ever there was a horse whose CV matches his pedigree, it is Mendelssohn. He topped the Keeneland September sale on a bid of $3 million from Coolmore in 2016, the year before capturing the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. And that pedigree? When he won the Breeders' Cup, he pushed his dam, the reigning Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady, into rare territory: she became what was then one of five mares to produce two Breeders' Cup winners. Only the year before, her multiple champion daughter Beholder captured her third Breeders' Cup. If that isn't enough of a 'wow' factor, Mendelssohn has another pretty well-known half-sibling as well, four-time leading sire Into Mischief. “All of our team loved Mendelssohn from the first time we saw him as a yearling and he developed into a magnificent-looking horse,” said Coolmore's Charlie O'Connor. “Being by our own Scat Daddy and a half-brother to Into Mischief and Beholder, you couldn't ask for a better pedigree and he showed real brilliance when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar and the [G2] U.A.E. Derby by a street, recording a new track record. He is currently the No. 4 leading sire of 2-year-olds in North America… With big crops to come he should keep rising up the ranks.” Mendelssohn (2015 bay horse, Scat Daddy–Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek) Lifetime record: Hwt. at 3-U.A.E, GISW-U.S., GSW-U.A.E., G1SP-Eng, SW-Ire, 13-4-2-2, $2,542,137 Breeders' Cup connections: B-Clarkland Farm (KY); O-Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. Current location: Coolmore America/Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky. The post Catching Up with 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Winner Mendelssohn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Under his Quarter Pole Enterprises banner, noted yearling-to-juvenile reseller Eddie Woods signed for the two top horses during Wednesday's second and final session of the OBS October Sale in Central Florida. The veteran horseman paid $250,000 for a colt by promising young sire Mitole about a third of the way through the session and hung around to the bitter end, when he gave $150,000 for a colt from the first crop of Global Campaign (Curlin). The topper was the most-expensive at the October Sale since 2018, when a colt by Cairo Prince was knocked down for $340,000. Over the course of two days of trade, OBS reported sales on 386 yearlings for gross receipts of $7,692,100, good for an average price of $19,928. The number declined by 25.7% from last year's sale–which featured a 'select' session followed by an open session–when 394 horses sold for $10,560,900 or an average of $26,804. The median also took a hit, dropping 26.5% to $12,500. In 2022, some 15 horses sold in excess of $100,000, while seven crossed the six-figure threshold this year. “The horses near the top of the market sold good, but at the lower levels of the market, there certainly was some weakness,” said OBS General Manager and Director of Sales Tom Ventura. “I think it's the nature of the market reacting. We have been spoiled somewhat post-pandemic where the market has been moving, even in the face of increased interest rates and the financial markets and the general financial situation. We just keep doing what we can, recruiting horses, recruiting people trying to put the best product we can in front of our clientele.” Woods struck first for hip 507, a Sue Vacek-consigned Florida-bred son of Mitole and Midnight Magic (Midnight Lute) and was the recipient of a positive update when his half-sister, last year's GIII Delaware Oaks heroine and two-time OBS graduate Midnight Stroll (Not This Time), padded her resume with a close runner-up effort in the GII Presque Isle Downs Masters S. Sept. 18. With time ticking away on the sale, Woods snapped up hip 745, another Florida-bred, who fetched $82,000 when offered as a short yearling at the OBS January Sale. The late February foal was consigned to the October Sale by Richard Kaizen's Kaizen Sales, agent. “The two horses I bought, I loved. I didn't think I could get them bought, but I did,” Woods said. “I might have stretched on the [Mitole] a little bit, but gosh, he's gorgeous, by a sire that's on the come with a fashionable pedigree, he just did everything right and that mare throws a good-looking horse. “The Global Campaign was a magnificent-looking horse, it's just a family of runners. He looked a bit like [the stakes-winning] A. J. Melini (Matty G) [who appears in the second dam], that's a horse I had for Marion Montanari once upon a time, just a bit of a stronger version of him. Two really good, strong, physical colts.” Ice Cold, a 2-year-old daughter of Mitole and a graduate of the Woods program, won the Oct. 4 Miss Indiana S., and the consignor thinks Mitole is a stallion with a bright future. “They're showing up and as they get older, they're starting to get a little bit better, which is a good sign,” he said. “I thought they may be a little quick and early, but they're getting a route of ground and that usually augurs for a decent kind of stallion.” Both of Woods's purchases are naturally ticketed for next year's breeze-up sales, and Woods is equal parts pragmatic and optimistic. “We've got a long ways to go,” he said. “If everything goes right, they're perfect for resale candidates. They need to be quick, they need to vet well and have good videos. But they both move really well, they're both quite handsome and there's no reason to think they wouldn't do well going forward. The post Woods Signs For Top Two At OBS October Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When a grade 1 winner is entered in a turf race for the first time during a rainy period, the logical conclusion is that the connections are hoping for soggy ground and a switch to the main track. But that's not the case with Leave No Trace. View the full article

TAB is thrilled to launch TAB’s Everest Mega Millions – a free to play competition with a life changing prize. The Everest, the world’s richest horse race on turf, will be run this Saturday in Sydney (6.15 pm NZST). TAB is giving Kiwis a free chance to get involved with its new Everest Mega Millions competition. To enter, a TAB customer must pick the final finishing order of the 12 horses in the race and if correct, they will be walking away with $10m. “We are so excited to be able to give New Zealanders a free and easy opportunity to get involved in this extraordinary event and we can’t wait to see if a Kiwi can pull it off and take the $10m home on Saturday. It could be a life changing sixty seconds for one sharp customer,” Entain New Zealand (TAB) Managing Director Cameron Rodger said. There will be plenty of New Zealand interest in The Everest with Kiwi born and bred star, I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel), racing in the Trackside Media slot: “I Wish I Win is currently one of the favourites for the big race (at $4.80 for the win), so we are sure plenty of entrants will have him at the top of their pickings in their Everest Mega Millions order selections. “I Wish I Win is a Kiwi star, who has already proved himself at the elite level in Australia. We’re confident he’ll do the team at Waikato Stud and the whole nation proud come Saturday” Rodger says. Kiwis will be able to catch all The Everest action live on Trackside, TVNZ+ and via a dedicated pop-up channel (Trackside Premier – Sky Channel 64) this Saturday. To enter TAB’s Everest Mega Millions competition race to tab.co.nz/everest-mega-millions or visit the mobile app. The competition closes 5.30pm October 14 and Terms and Conditions apply (R18 Bet Responsibly). Key Information: TAB is launching our free-to-play competition today, The Everest Mega Millions. Anyone with a TAB account can play (R18). Correctly select the finishing order of all 12 runners in The Everest to win $10m! If more than one entrant selects the correct finishing order the prize will be shared equally. This is a life changing amount of money to win in less than 60 seconds and costs nothing to enter. NZ based Trackside Media is the slot holder in The Everest race and has a NZ bred and NZ majority owned star running for them in I Wish I Win. I Wish I Win has a real shot to win The Everest and is currently joint favourite at $4.80. Catch all the action from The Everest on Trackside, TVNZ + and via a dedicated pop-up channel, Trackside Premier (Sky Channel 64). View the full article

Race 6 TEAM WEALLEANS MATAMATA CUP 1600 (Listed Race) HEART OF GOLD (L Satherley) – Co-trainer Miss. B Weatherley advised Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of HEART OF GOLD, however, the gelding has now been transferred to the racing stable of Ms S Mynott. The post Matamata Racing Club, Saturday, 7 October 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 5 JOHNNY NEIL BUILDERS LTD 1400m PITKIN COUNTY (L Allpress) – Co-trainer Mr. J Benner advised Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of the mare, however, in his opinion PITKIN COUNTY may have not been suited to the Soft 7 track conditions. J Benner further advised it is the stables intention to continue on with the mare’s current preparation. The post Egmont Racing Club @ Hawera, Saturday, 7 October 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

The New York Racing Association said Oct. 11 that it has purchased Maple Sugar Farm in Duchess County, N.Y., with the intention of using the 466-acre horse farm for a variety of purposes.View the full article

Il Malocchio, a daughter of Souper Speedy, has finished off the board just twice in the last two years. View the full article

Race 1 DAVE GRANT & NEIL KINGSTON MAIDEN 1200m BORNHOLM (B Murray) – Trainer Ms. M Cunneen reported to Stewards, that on Monday 9 October, the gelding underwent a veterinary examination, which included blood tests, with results showing the BORNHOLM to have a low white blood cell count. M Cunneen further advised it is her intention to continue on with BORNHOLM’S current preparation and may look to nominate the gelding for the Ashburton RC meeting on Sunday 22 October. Race 7 MICHAEL & MATTHEW PITMAN MILE 1600m HEMI RIDAPEST (T Comignaghi) – Trainer Ms L. Latta advised Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of the gelding, and it is their intention to continue on with HEMI RIDAPEST’S current preparation. The post South Canterbury Racing Club @ Phar Lap Raceway, Friday, 6 October 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. The TDN also posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)-related rulings from the same week. These include decisions from around the country. California Track: Santa Anita Date: 09/06/2023 Licensee: Edwin Maldonado, jockey Penalty: Three-day suspension Violation: Careless riding Explainer: Jockey Edwin Maldonado, who rode Where's My Ring in the second race at Santa Anita Park on October 1, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (October 14, 15 and 20, 2023) for failure to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding). Track: Santa Anita Date: 09/06/2023 Licensee: Abel Cedillo, jockey Penalty: Three-day suspension Violation: Careless riding Explainer: Jockey Abel Cedillo, who rode Sea of Cortez (IRE) in the third race at Santa Anita Park on October 1, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (October 14, 15 and 20, 2023) for altering course without sufficient clearance in the stretch, causing interference resulting in the disqualification of his mount from third to fourth; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding). Track: Santa Anita Date: 09/09/2023 Licensee: Juan Hernandez, jockey Penalty: Three-day suspension Violation: Careless riding Explainer: Jockey Juan Hernandez, who rode Endlessly in the sixth race at Santa Anita Park on October 8, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (October 20, 21 and 22, 2023) for altering course without sufficient clearance in the stretch; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding). Kentucky Track: Churchill Downs Date: 10/01/2023 Licensee: Declan Cannon, jockey Penalty: Three-day suspension Violation: Careless riding Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Declan Cannon, who rode Levy in the second race at Churchill Downs on September 24, 2023 is hereby suspended 3 racing days, October 11 through October 13, 2023 (inclusive) for careless riding in the stretch that resulted in the disqualification of his mount. Track: Churchill Downs Date: 10/01/2023 Licensee: Martin Garcia, jockey Penalty: Three-day suspension Violation: Careless riding Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Martin Garcia, Who rode Candy Landy in the third race at Churchill Downs on September 21, 2023 is hereby Suspended 3 racing days, October 14, October 15 and October 18, 2023 for Careless riding near the six and one-half-furlong pole that resulted in the disqualification of his mount. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. This does not include the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously. One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race. Violations of Crop Rule Fresno Brayan Pena – violation date Oct 8; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling Horseshoe Indianapolis Ferrin Peterson – violation date Oct 3; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling German Terraza – violation date Oct 9; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling Parx Racing Angel Castillo – violation date Oct 4; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling Presque Isle Downs Maicol Inirio – violation date Oct 4; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling Pending ADMC Violations Date: 09/28/2023 Licensee: Barbara Hippie, veterinarian Penalty: Provisional Suspension Alleged violation: Possession of banned substances Explainer: For the possible possession of Bisphosphonate; Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin); Levothyroxine (Thyro-L); Isoxsuprine. This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances Date: 09/28/2023 Licensee: Scott Shell, veterinarian Penalty: Provisional Suspension Alleged violation: Possession of banned substances Explainer: For the possible possession of Bisphosphonate; Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA); Isoxsuprine. This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances Read more on the two cases above here and here. Date: 09/16/2023 Licensee: Keith Desormeaux, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Auto Dial. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 09/10/2023 Licensee: Carlos Mancilla, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged Violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Gabapentin—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Cara in the City, who finished second at Pimlico on 9/10/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 09/03/2023 Licensee: Debbie Van Horne, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged Violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from You're the Cause, who won at Emerald Downs on 9/3/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 08/25/2023 Licensee: Daniel Kenney, trainer Penalty: Provisional Suspension Alleged violation: Possession of banned substances Explainer: For the possible possession of Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances Date: 08/12/2023 Licensee: Ron Moquett, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Lundberg. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 08/05/2023 Licensee: Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, trainer Penalty: Pending Explainer: For the presence of Flunixin—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Matty Bo, who won at Laurel Park on 8/5/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List Workout). Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 09/07/2023 Licensee: Ismael Bahena, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Explainer: For the presence of Diclofenac—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Yammy Yammy Bella, who finished second at Kentucky Downs on 9/7/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 09/1/2023 Licensee: Jonathan Thomas, trainer Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314—Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method—on the horse, Bay Storm. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4222—Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout. Date: 08/28/2023 Licensee: David Wayne Baker, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Gerlach's. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 08/25/2023 Licensee: Sammy Stevens, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final Decision by HIWU Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Pandora Who. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 08/17/2023 Licensee: John Guciardo, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final Decision by HIWU. Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone and Trichloromethiazide—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Cuz, who won at Presque Isle Downs on 8/17/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List Workout). Date: 07/07/2023 Licensee: Chad Brown, trainer Penalty: A written reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Explainer: For the presence of Omeprazole—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Forced Ranking. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers. Date: 06/09/2023 Licensee: Luis Jorge Perez, veterinarian Penalty: 14-month period of Ineligibility, beginning on June 14, 2023; a fine of $5,000. Final Decision by Arbitral Body Explainer: Possession of a Banned Substance, Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). Rule 3214(a): “Other Anti-Doping Rule Violations Involving Banned Substances or Banned Methods. The following acts and omissions constitute Anti-Doping Rule Violations by the Covered Person(s) in question: (a) Possession of a Banned Substance or a Banned Method, unless there is compelling justification for such Possession.” Date: 06/07/2023 Licensee: Dennis VanMeter, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of the Covered Horse's race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)— in a sample taken from Templement, who finished sixth at Thistledown on 6/7/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance. The post Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Oct. 3-9 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ten stakes races worth $1.025 million in purses highlight the West Virginia Breeders Classics at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races Oct. 14.View the full article

The American Association of Equine Practitioners on Oct. 11 published a series of safety recommendations with the goal of complementing the current risk assessment processes already in place for Thoroughbred racing in the United States. View the full article

It’s come around again, the biggest thing to shake up Australian racing in years, and while it may not be a Group 1 and though two of the best sprinters in these here parts won’t be there, the stage is set for a gripping seventh running of The Everest on Saturday. View the full article

New York's Sugar Maple Farm, comprising 466 acres and located about one hour from Belmont Park and two hours from Saratoga, has been acquired by the New York Racing Association (NYRA). NYRA's Patrick McKenna released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: “NYRA, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has acquired a large parcel of land in Duchess County, N.Y. known as Sugar Maple Farm. The 466-acre property, which was previously utilized as a breeding farm, could be appropriate for a wide array of uses including as a new center for equine health and safety research, veterinary education programing, Thoroughbred aftercare as well as off-track training and layup services. “The acquisition of Sugar Maple Farm will, for the first time, allow NYRA to directly contribute to New York's breeding industry and strengthen the NY-bred program. NYRA jumped at the opportunity to protect Sugar Maple Farm because it will strengthen the foundation of New York State's Thoroughbred racing ecosystem, create jobs in the Hudson Valley, enhance equine safety and preserve important open space.” The transaction record can be found by doing a search at gis.dutchessny.gov/parcelaccess/. The transaction record appears to show the sale date as Dec. 29 of last year with a price of $12.1 million. The post NYRA Acquires Sugar Maple Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Frankie Dettori believes he will have some "absolute weapons" at Ascot on British Champions Day for his final day riding in Britain before his planned retirement.View the full article

It was a huge week for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and its President and Founder Aron Wellman. Over a 24-hour period, Eclipse swept the two Grade I stakes races run during Keeneland's Fall Stars Weekend. It began with a win by Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Alcibiades S. on Friday. Twenty-four hours later, 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) came through with a determined win in the GI Breeders' Futurity. Both will now head to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup. Eclipse couldn't quite pull off the trifecta when Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) ran a game second in the GII Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita. To talk about his Keeneland wins, his Breeders' Cup plans and the latest on Nest (Curlin), who did not run well in the GI Spinster S., Wellman was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. Wellman admitted that he wasn't overly confident with Candied. She was coming off a three-quarter length win in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga and would be facing the likes of 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole), who won the GIII Pocahontas by 8 3/4 lengths, and the undefeated Grade I winner Brightwork (Outwork). Aron Wellman Joins the TDN Writers' Room from Thoroughbred Daily News on Vimeo. “I'll give (Trainer) Todd Pletcher, of course, the credit,” Wellman said. “Any time you train a filly to win her debut going six furlongs and then win a Grade I race after that with just that one start under her belt, well, that is just an epic achievement. I would say I was mildly surprised by the win. We were hoping to get valuable Grade One black type with her. We thought we would accomplish that, and anything beyond that would be cherry on top of the cake. She's a very gifted filly. She's done nothing wrong.” While Candied was 4-1, Locked was sent off at 3-5, not surprising since he was coming out of a super maiden effort at Saratoga, where he got a 96 Beyer figure in a 7 1/4-length win. This time around, it wasn't easy. Locked was caught four to five wide on both turns and then he had to battle a determined The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) in the stretch before edging clear to win by a half-length. “In my handicapping, I didn't make him 3-5 by any stretch of the imagination,” Wellman said. “When the post positions came out, I didn't mind that he was drawn wide because he's such a big, long-striding, high-cruising speed type individual. I thought that if we could keep him in the clear, that would be okay. We just didn't want to be five wide going into the first turn and five or six wide around the far turn. But Jose (Ortiz) had to make some decisions during the course of this race. He was wide and chasing into a pretty soft pace and Jose pushed the button at the right time, which under normal circumstances probably would have been a little premature. But considering the slow fractions, knowing that it was the short stretch finish, I thought it was a really smart ride on Jose's part. It did concern me a little bit when he had so much momentum coming off the elbow of the turn and then didn't separate from The Wine Steward. I was very concerned inside the eighth-pole that The Wine Steward, who was an undefeated horse with three races, wasn't going to back down and he didn't. But you could tell that Locked was kind of reserving something in the tank.” The one thing that didn't go right for Eclipse was Nest's race in the Spinster. She was fourth, beaten 11 1/4 lengths. In her prior start, the GI Personal Ensign, she finished third, losing by 4 1/4 lengths. Eclipse co-owns Nest with Mike Repole. “Nest didn't have her best day on Sunday in the Spinster,” Wellman said. “So far as going to the Breeders' Cup, I think we're just going to have to evaluate her over the next 10 days to two weeks and see how she responds. Todd Pletcher is going to consolidate all of his Breeders Cup hopefuls at Keeneland, so she's already there, which is nice.” Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the 1/ST Racing, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, WinStar Farm, the KTOB, XBTV and West Point Thoroughbreds, the team of Zoe Cadman, Randy Moss and Bill Finley took a look back at the dozens of major stakes races run over the weekend. Finley said that the win by Up to the Mark (Not This Time) in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. was the performance of the weekend. The team was also high on the win by 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) in the GI American Pharoah S. Repole's pronouncement that the owners need to take greater control of the sport was a major subject of discussion. The consensus was that it will be hard for Repole to pull this off, but that if anyone can do it it is him. Click to either watch this podcast as a video or to listen to the audio. The post Aron Wellman Joins the TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Brigette Solomon With seven drives at tonight’s meeting at Cambridge Raceway Peter Ferguson reckons he’s got one winner at least – and probably more. And the one he’s circling is Sweet Lou three-year-old filly Wicked Wanda who fronts up against just five other rivals in Race 8, the IRT Your Horse, Our Passion Mobile Pace over 1700m. A winner of one from 10, Wicked Wanda’s recent form makes for compelling reading. The Graeme Rogerson and Dylan Ferguson trained filly most recently ran second when beaten just 1.8m by the impressive Mantra Blue a fortnight ago over the same distance in a Nevele R Fillies Heat. “She’s a very nice filly who has been racing well against nice horses and you’d expect she should be hard to beat” says Ferguson. “I also like Our Benson in Race 3, he went a good race last start despite pulling a touch in behind them but having drawn one this week that shouldn’t be an issue.” Ferguson’s other drives of the night also include three runners for the Peter and Vaughan Blanchard Partnership including Ruby Ridge (R2). “She has been racing well enough and brings Alexandra Park form but starting off 30 metres is always tough,” says Ferguson. “And Sunshine Shelby hasn’t had any luck the last couple of starts and could be a good enough chance.” Ferguson’s other drives are Rossellini (R4), Greater Good (R5) and Super Duper Dude (R6). Pukekohe Reinsman Todd MacFarlane is another with a handy set of drives including three runners trained by Clare and Dave McGowan. “Mr Muscle in Race 2 is definitely a work in progress but Whitfield in Race 5 has been improving with each run and hit the line really well last start,” says MacFarlane, “and It Ain’t Me Babe (R9) is fresh up but was a nice workout winner last week.” MacFarlane also drives You Little Beauty (R6) – “she always goes a good race and is a tough, honest race horse” – and No Mercy who is resuming from a spell in race 7. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Outstanding filly Raklou will make her return to racing a little later than first planned at Wyndham today. The Peter Hunter trained two-year-old showed outstanding talent as well as plenty of grit and determination when stringing together three wins in the autumn. Raklou looked destined for top-level racing in the spring and it is hoped that race 1 at Wyndham will be a springboard for that. But not everything has gone completely to plan this time in and today’s outing will give Hunter a real line on where Rakalou will go next. “It looks a nice starting point for her, she was supposed to go to the Sires Stakes heat last week but I felt she wasn’t quite ready for it,” the trainer said, “We have got to start somewhere and this race will give us a line on where she goes next.” “If she races well we will look at the Ashburton heat next.” Raklou has warmed up for her return with two workouts. The filly hit the line stylishly in the first of those before trialling a little plainly at Ascot Park. “I was really happy with her first workout, but she wasn’t quite as sharp in her next one,” Hunter said. “But it was a terrible day so we can forgive her for that.” “I have been reasonably happy with her since then.” Raklou’s relative Raknruin looks the main threat to favourite in race 1. Raknruin was wiped out of her last start by a breaking runner when she headed to last week’s Sires Stakes heat for two-year-old fillies at Addington. Hunter lines up two more chances on the Wyndham card and both are likely to need some luck from tricky draws. Henry Maguire won’t be able to use his gate speed after drawing the second row in race 9, while Emerald Abbey will have to overcome drawing the outside of the front row in race 3. “Henry will be relying on the horses in front of him, it is a shame he didn’t draw the front because he has got good gate speed.” “He had a workout last week and he has improved with that run.” “Emerald Abbey has a tough draw but it is a pretty even field and she’s no inferior to a lot of them, but she will need some luck from the draw.” Punters won’t get the chance to see impressive debut winner Itoje at Wyndham today after he was scratched out of race 6. The pacer is expected back at the races soon as he was taken out as a precaution by new trainer Nathan Williamson following a minor issue. View the full article