Wandering Eyes

Manfred Man-trained, Zac Purton-ridden speedster becomes the first galloper to win all four of the city’s Group One dashes in the same calendar yearView the full article

Any questions about Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) loosening his grip on the world’s best sprinter mantle were swept aside when Manfred Man’s speedster surged to victory in the HK$26 million Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. It was a redemptive triumph for Lucky Sweynesse, who had no luck in last year’s sprint finishing sixth behind Wellington after a tiring horse took him back through the field. Lucky Sweynesse was sent off as the raging favorite last year and it was repeated again this time around. Momentarily it looked like Lucky Sweynesse was again in need of a big slice of luck at the top of the straight when Zac Purton had to get off heels and hook him around runners to get a clear passage up the straight but he quickly accelerated to score from the fast-finishing outsider Lucky With You with Wellington finishing third. Wellington, now under the care of ex-pat kiwi trainer Jamie Richards, hasn’t won a race in seven attempts since winning last December’s big sprint. It was the gelding’s second run back after finishing 10 of 16 in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in June. Hong Kong horses filled the first five positions with Victor The Winner fourth and 8yo Per Incanto gelding Duke Wai fifth. After resuming with two seconds, Lucky Sweynesse scored a narrow victory in the Gr.2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin last month. But the doubters still questioned whether the five-year-old gelding would return to his absolute best, but he won so comfortably he was visibly eased up over the final 50 metres. Victor The Winner and Jasper Krone were both in the traditional roles in the front early, with Lucky Sweynesse positioned not far off them. When Lucky Sweynesse got clear running, he surged past Victor The Winner, to score by three quarters of a length from the fast finishing Lucky With You, while Wellington was a length and three quarter away in third. Victor The Winner was a further two lengths from the winner in fourth. The winning time was 1m 09.25s. “That’s horse racing,” Purton said after the win. “I had the run inside Victor The Winner but when James (McDonald) went for him, he shifted in and hampered me a little bit but he (Lucky Sweynesse) accelerated so quickly, I was able to come out across his heels and he had his chance from there – he did what he had to do. I love him.” Purton said Lucky Sweynesse deserved the win. “He’s been our best sprinter for the last year, and he was able to atone for last year,” said Purton, who predicted pre-race Lucky Sweynesse was back to his best after a relatively modest start to the season. “I could feel in the morning his trackwork had improved, and his action was getting a little bit better. His all-around demeanour in the morning was getting back to where it was last season. I could see he was blossoming at the right time.” It was Purton’s 11th overall Group One win at the Hong Kong International Races. It was his third victory in the Hong Kong Sprint after a pair off wins by Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins) in 2014 and 2016. Lucky Sweynesse was sold at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale out of Woburn Farm’s 2020 draft for $90,000 to Joe Barnes’ J & I Bloodstock. The gelding was a six length trial winner at Ellerslie out of Shelley Hale’s Cambridge stable before transferring to Hong Kong. View the full article

Te Akau Racing has announced their star 8-time Group One winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) will remain in Australia for her 2024 Autumn campaign. Imperatriz was a dominate winner of her four spring races, starting off with a spectacular victory over Giga Kick in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at The Valley before Gr.1 wins in the Moir Stakes (1000m), Manikato Stakes (1200m) and Champions Sprint (1200m) to complete her faultless campaign. “After careful consideration, the decision has been made that Imperatriz will resume in the Gr.1 VRC Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington in February 2024. She will remain in Australia for her autumn campaign, thus will not be travelling to the Northern Hemisphere,” said David Ellis CNZM. “We have received a number of international approaches and invitations, and have worked diligently through the various options available to our special mare. Our guiding principle is to always make decisions based on what is right for Imperatriz and her continued well-being, and longevity, while maximising her further opportunities to win at the elite level. The champion mare returned back to training this week in Australia in superb condition. “Once safely through the Lightning Stakes, Imperatriz will defend her Gr.1 MVRC William Reid Stakes crown at The Valley and then contest the Gr.1 ATC TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick in April 2024. She will then return home to Te Akau Stud for a well deserved spell. “Te Akau Racing, together with her owners, are very humbled by respect and huge support Imperatriz (Berri as we know her) has attracted. The warmth of the welcome wherever she steps out underlines how she has truly endeared herself to the public through her huge heart and will to win,” Ellis concluded. View the full article

Lucky Sweynesse careers to his fourth Group 1 victory. Any questions about Lucky Sweynesse loosening his grip on the world’s best sprinter mantle were swept aside when Manfred Man’s speedster surged to victory in the HK$26 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. It was a redemptive triumph for Lucky Sweynesse, who had no luck in last year’s sprint when he was trapped with nowhere before finishing sixth behind Wellington after a tiring Lim’s Kosciuszko went back through the field. Momentarily it looked like Lucky Sweynesse was again in need of a big slice of luck at the top of the straight when Zac Purton had to get off heels and hook him around runners to get a clear passage up the straight but he quickly accelerated to score from the fast-finishing outsider Lucky With You. 2022 winner Wellington finished third. Hong Kong horses filled the first five positions with Victor The Winner fourth and Duke Wai fifth. And what a difference year makes. 2023 Hong Kong Sprint Replay – Lucky Sweynesse | T: Manfred Man | J: Zac Purton “That’s horse racing,” Purton said after the win. “I had the run inside Victor The Winner but when James (McDonald) went for him, he shifted in and hampered me a little bit but he (Lucky Sweynesse) accelerated so quickly, I was able to come out across his heels and he had his chance from there – he did what he had to do. I love him.” Purton said Lucky Sweynesse deserved the win. “He’s been our best sprinter for the last year, and he was able to atone for last year,” said Purton, who predicted pre-race Lucky Sweynesse was back to his best after a relatively modest start to the season. “I could feel in the morning his trackwork had improved, and his action was getting a little bit better. “His all-around demeanour in the morning was getting back to where it was last season. I could see he was blossoming at the right time.” It was Purton’s 11th overall Group One win at the Hong Kong International Races. It was his third victory in the Hong Kong Sprint after a pair off wins by Aerovelocity in 2014 and 2016. After resuming with two seconds, the gelding scored a narrow victory in the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin last month. But the doubters still questioned whether the five-year-old gelding would return to his absolute best, who visibly eased up over the final 50 metres. Wellington, now under the care of Jamie Richards, hasn’t won a race in seven attempts since winning last December’s big sprint. It was the gelding’s second run back after finishing 10 of 16 in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in June. Europe’s best sprinter Highfield Princess, a four-time G1 winner in three different countries, was aiming to be the first raider to win the sprint since Japanese champion Danon Smash’s 2020 success. Coming off a last start win in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m), the John Quinn-trained British star was faced with the obstacles of both a European and a mare never previously winning the race. The British sprinting queen bypassed last month’s Breeders Cup at Santa Anita in favor of the Hong Kong assignment for trainer John Quinn as she aimed to add the Asian conqueror title to her list of credits, but she finished sixth. Lucky Sweynesse was sent off as the raging favorite last year and it was repeated again this time around. Victor The Winner and Jasper Krone were both in the traditional roles in the front early, with Lucky Sweynesse positioned not far off them. When Lucky Sweynesse got clear running, he surged past Victor The Winner, to score by three quarters of a length from the fast finishing Lucky With You, while Wellington was a length and three quarter away in third. Victor The Winner was a further two lengths from the winner in fourth. The winning time was 1m 09.25s. Lucky With You’s jockey Andrea Atzeni said the gelding ran a blinder. “He finished off quite nicely and he was beaten by a champion,” he said. More horse racing news View the full article

Junko delivers for Andre Fabre and Maxime Guyon in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase. Andre Fabre’s reputation as an international target trainer is unsurpassed and, nine years after his last victory at Sha Tin, the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) was the Frenchman’s for a third time on Sunday. A trailblazer at the Breeders’ Cup, winner of virtually every European Classic and an eternal champion of his homeland, Fabre had flown slightly under the radar with his runner Junko in what had looked hot competition from around the world in the 2400m showdown. Fabre, though, insisted afterwards that he had felt confident that there was plenty to come from the strapping four-year-old and the positivity was shared by his rider Maxime Guyon, who had also been in the saddle back in 2014 when the globetrotting Flintshire had struck for the same combination. It was only a month ago that Junko had made his top-level breakthrough in the Grosser Preis von Bayern (2400m) in very different conditions on soft ground against three rivals but the gelding produced by the famed breeding operation of Alain and Gerard Wertheimer eventually scored with similar conviction. Settled at the rear of a modest pace set by La City Blanche, Guyon had conceded first run to Ryan Moore and Warm Heart as the gallop picked up turning for home. Junko came wide of rivals on the bend and tore past Warm Heart and Japanese runner Zeffiro with 200m remaining. 2023 Hong Kong Vase Replay – Junko | T: Andre Fabre | J: Maxime Guyon Guyon punched the air in celebration as he crossed the line, a length in hand over Zeffiro with Moore’s mount fading to third, two and a quarter lengths in arrears. “I’m really happy because it’s time to win this race (again). Nine years ago, it was Flintshire,” said Guyon. “We didn’t know before the race if he would like this ground or not because normally he prefers the soft ground but today in Hong Kong the ground was good. “We had a good race, we have not a lot of runners so I’m not too far back and just after the last turn, he has a good turn of foot. “He’s very relaxed and of course the pace is not way fast but the most important thing with the horse is if he’s breathing really good and everything is okay. That’s why I relaxed with him because he he’s very relaxed.” Guyon quickly offered praise to the trainer who has given him so many fine moments. “Everybody knows Andre Fabre. He’s the best trainer,” he said. “He has done a really good job with this horse because he has just won a second Group 1 with this horse – he’s just won a Group 1 in Germany – and he comes to Hong Kong for a win and it’s not easy to do that. “I’m really happy for the team. “It’s a really important place, all the jockeys want to come to Hong Kong to finish the year and it’s a really good weekend.” Fabre himself had been on the end of three seconds in the Vase since 2014, with Flintshire again a year later, Talismanic in 2017 and Botanik 12 months ago. His first had been with Borgia (1999), who was another of the sort of accomplished frequent flyers that he feels Junko could become. “I’m really delighted,” he said. “It was expected because he’s improving race after race. He’s not had a lot of races, he’s only four. “He had a setback in Deauville so he couldn’t run in the Grand Prix and he had the race in Germany. “He didn’t run that much. He will be back in Dubai, we kept him for that and for the international races.” More horse racing news View the full article

Trainer Andre Fabre and rider Maxime Guyon combine to great effect in the stamina test again, following up their success with Flintshire in 2014View the full article

Six weeks after dropping his nose down on the line ahead of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars {Aus}) to win the G1 Cox Plate in Melbourne, Peter Lau's ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE) (g, 5, Acclamation {GB}–Folk Melody {Ire}, by Street Cry {Ire}) was the 13-10 favourite to go back-to-back in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin and held off a stubborn late rally from Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) to prevail by a head. Perfectly placed in fourth by James McDonald, who flew back from Perth overnight, having just been beaten aboard the Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki (GB) in Saturday's G1 Northerly S., Romantic Warrior traveled comfortably through the opening 1300 metres, but McDonald's hand was forced when Ryan Moore set Luxembourg alight on the turn. Quicker to the spot than the Ballydoyle raider, Romantic Warrior went for home, pinched a bit of a break and looked on his way to victory, only to have to call on every ounce of his class to hold on in the dying strides. He becomes only the second repeat winner of the Cup, joining California Memory in 2011 and 2012. A 300,000gns purchase by Mick Kinane and the Hong Kong Jockey Club from the draft of Corduff Stud at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale, Romantic Warrior was sold to Lau for HK$4.8 million at the Hong Kong International Sale in 2021. CHAMPION! Romantic Warrior grabs his fifth Group 1 in a thriller by landing consecutive Hong Kong Cups. @mcacajamez @LONGINES | #HKIR | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/3S3vdy4OPM — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 10, 2023 The post Romantic Warrior Holds Off Luxembourg To Defend Hong Kong Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making his first start since winning the G1 Champions Mile some 224 days ago and his first start as an 8-year-old from the widest barrier in a full field of 14, three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) (g, 8, Medaglia d'Oro–Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor) turned in arguably the most dominating performance of an incredible career to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile for the third time Sunday at Sha Tin. Sent away as the 13-10 favourite despite all that was against him, Golden Sixty was one of the first to break the line and Vincent Ho–the only rider he's ever known–was able to get down into the three-wide line and had cover on the back of Japan's Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Aus}) as Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) led from California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Going well approaching the lane, Golden Sixty was switched off heels, quickly gobbled up the front-runners and broke clear to the cheers of a packed Sha Tin grandstand. Golden Sixty, winning a 10th Group 1 race and his 25th from 30 career starts, joins Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) as three-time winners of the Mile. SIMPLY. THE. BEST. Golden Sixty wins a third Hong Kong Mile, overcoming gate 14 to triumph for @Vincenthocy and Francis Lui… @LONGINES | #HKIR | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/eYx8M1e4aN — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 10, 2023 The post Golden Sixty Defies All Odds To Win Third Hong Kong Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rider Penalties C Butler | Taranaki 7 December; use of whip; suspended 17-24 December inclusive. T Abel | Auckland 9 December; careless riding; suspended 17-23 December inclusive. J Allen | Auckland 9 December; use of whip; suspended 17-26 December inclusive. B Jacobson | Auckland 9 December; use of whip (3 charges); fined $1,000. T Moodley | Auckland 9 December; medical clearance required. O Bosson | Wellington 9 December; careless riding; suspended 17-24 December inclusive. D Danis | Rotorua 10 December; careless riding; suspended 17-28 December inclusive. J Doyle | Rotorua 10 December; careless riding; suspended 17-24 December inclusive. W Kennedy | Rotorua 10 December; careless riding; suspended 17-24 December inclusive. S Weatherley | Rotorua 10 December; medical clearance required. Trainer Penalty S Marsh | Rotorua 10 December; neglect in saddling; fined $400. Horse Penalties MEGATRENDZ | Taranaki 7 December; pulmonary haemorrhage; veterinary clearance required. AREYOUOKAY | North Canterbury 8 December; late scratching after becoming cast in barrier; must complete 2 trials. KAIDU’S PRIDE | Auckland 9 December; lame; veterinary clearance required. THEMOONSTOODSTILL | Wellington 9 December; refused to jump with field; must complete trial. Protest LORD JIMMY | Rotorua 10 December; caused interference; relegated from 1st to 2nd. The post 4-10 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Driver Penalties M White | Auckland 8 December; contacted track markers; fined $150. R Holmes | Geraldine 9 December; use of whip; suspended 10-17 December inclusive. J Versteeg | Geraldine 9 December; careless driving; suspended 10-15 December inclusive. S Tomlinson | Geraldine 9 December; allowed runner to start in advance of correct barrier position; suspended 11-15 December inclusive. G Smith | Geraldine 9 December; allowed runner to start in advance of correct barrier position; suspended 11-15 December inclusive. G Thornley | NZ Metropolitan 10 December; improper driving; suspended 11-22 December inclusive. Trainer Penalties G Telfer | Geraldine 9 December; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. J Reedy | Geraldine 9 December; failed to lodge horse movement notification; fined $200. Horse Penalties MAZEPPA | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; broke in running; must complete trial. JETHRO BODINE | Auckland 8 December; bled; stood down for 30 days and must complete trial with veterinary clearance including scope required. THE IVY LEAGUE | NZ Metropolitan 10 December; tendon injury; veterinary clearance required. EUROKASH | NZ Metropolitan 10 December; broke in running; must complete trial. Protests FLYING SCOTSMAN | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. YUROK | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. PRESIDENT FLYNNTIN | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. YA KNOW | Waikato Bay of Plenty 7 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. WILLANGUS LAD | Forbury Park 8 December; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 4th. TRAIL BOSS | Forbury Park 8 December; unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. FLYING FOR ME | Geraldine 9 December; caused interference; relegated from 3rd to 5th. ZSA ZOE | Geraldine 9 December; started in advance of barrier position; disqualified from 6th and declared a late scratching. GREENBANK DON | Geraldine 9 December; started in advance of barrier position; disqualified from 13th and declared a late scratching. LOVE IN THE PORT | NZ Metropolitan 10 December; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 5th. The post 4-10 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Dog Penalties ZHENYE BALE | Christchurch 4 December; failed to pursue the lure (2nd offence); stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. THRILLING SPIRAL | Palmerston North 5 December; failed to pursue the lure; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. OPAWA NOAH | Waikato 7 December; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. ISMAY BALE | Christchurch 7 December; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. The post 4-10 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Darwin trainer Chloe Baxter and Alice Springs apprentice Ianish Luximon celebrating the win by Shecanmixit, who broke the track record in a 1000m maiden, at Fannie Bay on Friday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) It was an eventful Darwin meeting on Friday. After Rising Sphere ($3.50) won the feature race, leading trainer Gary Clarke sealed a treble when Wilsons Prom ($2.90 fav) and Daunting Decision ($6.50) saluted. Clarke’s No.1 rider Jarrod Todd managed a double after partnering Rising Sphere and Daunting Decision. The Chole Baxter-trained Shecanmixit ($1.50 fav), once a $6.50 quote with the top bookmakers, was making its Top End debut in a 1000m maiden before prevailing by 9.7 lengths and breaking the track record. Trainer Tom Logan, hit with a recent $5000 fine when his horse Blueant returned a positive swab in September, could afford to celebrate when Fromthenevernever ($5.50) held on for victory. Fellow trainer Chris Pollard had his first Fannie Bay win since Dream Weaver was victorious on Palmerston Sprint Day in August when Lucky Dog ($4) swooped with a late finishing burst. Rising Sphere, a six-year-old gelding by Exosphere, had gone eight races without a win, but yesterday he led throughout over 1100m (0-70) in a five-horse field to sink Phil Cole’s El Magnificence ($2.45 fav) and Clarke’s Bel’s Banner ($4.40) by 2.2 lengths. The race honoured 2008 Darwin Cup winning jockey Nathan Stanley, who rode in the NT intermittently from 2006-2011, following his recent passing. Stanley rode Clarke’s Sunshine Resource to victory in the ROANT Cup prior to the 2008 Darwin Cup Carnival. Rising Sphere was too good, clocking 1.02.10 – stablemate Patriotic King broke the track record for 1100m (1.01.84) in September. After four seconds from his last five starts, Wilsons Prom (Adam Nicholls) – a five-year-old gelding – finally delivered when he kicked clear in the home straight to overcome stablemates Patria ($6) and Zourisky ($6.50) by four lengths over 1300m (BM54). For Nicholls, who had the son of Xtravagant camped on the fence in fourth place before flicking the switch at the 400m, it was his first win since October 14 in Alice Springs – during that period he was also sidelined with injury. Four-year-old mare Daunting Decision broke her duck in her third Darwin start when she held on to edge out Logan’s Beatification ($2.60 fav) and Ella Clarke’s Gunshot Glitter ($2.80) in another 1000m maiden. The daughter of Charge Forward, who had five SA starts, has had her issues in Darwin, and after leading on Friday, she looked like succumbing to Gunshot Glitter over the final 400m before finding her second wind en route to a courageous win. Gary Clarke’s I’m Too Hot broke the track record for the 1000m (56.07) on Darwin Cup Day in 2019 when he won by 6.5 lengths in the Simone Montgomerie Lightning, so for five-year-old mare Shecanmixit to clock 56.02 in a maiden is outrageous. Ridden by Alice Springs apprentice Ianish Luximon, the daughter of Danerich pinged out of the inside gate and had Jason Manning’s She’s Tuff Enuff ($21) for company before edging clear at the 500m. Shecanmixit, who had five seconds from 15 starts in Victoria, ACT and NSW, was devastating, with NT debutante She’s Tuff Enuff and Tayarn Halter’s Vetiver ($20) filling the minor placings. It was Baxter’s first win since July, when He’s The Ultimate secured the $50,000 Metric Mile during the Darwin Cup Carnival. Logan employed daring tactics when Fromthenevernever (Sonja Logan) sprinted clear when the five-horse field jumped over 1200m (0-64) with the seven-year-old gelding five lengths clear at the 700m. The son of Bold Expectation, winless since March, led by seven lengths, passing the 400m and in the home straight, his lead seemed insurmountable. Global Wonder ($1.65 fav), from the Clarke-Todd camp, set sail after the leader, but he couldn’t bridge the gap with Fromthenevernever – running on empty – surviving by 0.2 lengths with Peter Stennett’s New Enterprise ($5) 2.6 lengths adrift in third place. For Tom Logan, it was his first win since Mister Monaro delivered in September. It was another win for apprentice Emma Lines when Lucky Dog bounced back to form with a memorable win over 1000m (0-58) after pipping Baxter’s unlucky Aplomado ($6) right on the line. Lucky Dog, a six-year-old gelding by Time For War, hadn’t won since February, and it looked like that trend would continue when all seemed forlorn at the 300m. Jumping well from gate one, the six-year-old gelding by Time For War settled in front before Aplomado moved up on his outside, exiting the back straight. Aplomado got to the fence down the side to lead by two lengths at the 600m, but for Lucky Dog, Dick Leech’s Pride Of Limassol and Jo Banks’ Colour De Roy it was far from smooth sailing before finding their feet. Turning for home, Aplomado had a healthy lead with Pride Of Limassol and Colour De Roy the likely threats before Lucky Dog, who rallied over the concluding 300m, finally left the fence to get up by 0.6 lengths with Colour De Roy ($6.50) hitting the line strongly for third. More horse racing news View the full article

Promising youngster Star North (NZ) (Savabeel) has got his first win in the S$20,000 Open Maiden Division 1 race (1200m) at Kranji on Saturday. The four-year-old had been knocking on the doors at his first three starts this year with two seconds and a third in similar races over the same trip. After a seven-month break, he resumed first-up in early November when he ran sixth to Sacred Buddy. With jockey Saifudin Ismail on board, Star North broke cleanly from barrier two but was snagged back behind the leaders on the rails moving steadily forward as they straightened for home. With a few reminders from the whip, Star North pulled away from the rest at the 100m. He won by three parts of a length from Prince Lonhro while Royal Commission finished another head away in third. Though Star North had been kept to the six furlongs in all his runs thus far, Saifudin thought the PSM Racing Stable-owned gelding could step up in trip in future. “It’s the first time I rode him and everything went according to plan,” said the veteran Malaysian jockey. “I sat him midfield on the rails and the blinkers also helped him to focus. “At the last 250m, I thought he hesitated a bit when he was inside horses, but as soon as he got through the gap, he quickened away. “I think he can go up to 1400 or 1600m no problem.” Assistant-trainer Zairi Othman reckoned Star North has matured from before and agreed he can go over longer. “I think he’s quite good. When he first started out here, he was immature, now he’s settled down well,” said Zairi, who stood in for trainer James Peters as the latter flew to Hong Kong on Friday to attend the Hong Kong International Races. “He came back after a long break and needed the run at his last start, but he’s had a good prep this time. “We told Saifudin to ride him where he’s comfortable and be in third or fourth. “He’s still young and from the way he ran, he can go over longer.” Other New Zealand bred winners in Singapore on Saturday included Lim’s Zoom (NZ) (Zacinto), Tennet Tentennet (NZ) (Telperion), Roda Robot (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), Outfit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) & Surrey Hills (NZ) (Sweynesse). View the full article

Progressive mare Flamebird (NZ) (Shooting To Win) made up for an unlucky run in stakes company at her last start to register career win number four when she dashed home to take the Stella Artois 1500m Championship Qualifier (1400m) at Pukekohe. The Brendan and Jo Lindsay-owned daughter of Shooting To Win had finished last in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) last month after a tardy start and home straight interference cost her any chance of victory. Rider Craig Grylls, who replaced regular pilot Warren Kennedy, got her away with the body of the field this time and although he allowed her to find her feet early in the contest he had the Lance Noble-trained four-year-old ready to strike approaching the home bend. Angled to the centre of the track, Flamebird let down powerfully to sweep to the front at the 200m before holding out a late rails finish from Arby, with Adam I Am and Reverberations dead-heating for third. Noble was on-course at Trentham with Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) runner Habana, who finished fifth in a race where his chances weren’t helped by a false start to the contest. Unfortunately, he was busy saddling Habana when the Pukekohe race jumped and completely missed all the action. “I haven’t seen the race yet so can’t really comment on the performance,” Noble said. “We had been confident she could turn her form around as last time things didn’t go to plan as she put her head in the next stall at the jump and cost herself any chance. “She is still learning, and she is definitely a mare that will take the step up to stakes racing as she has a lot of potential. “There is an open handicap 1400m on Boxing Day at Pukekohe where she will get in on the minimum, so that looks a nice race for her before we lift our sights again.” Bred by the Lindsay’s, Flamebird is the younger half-sister of talented performer Hiflyer who won twice at Group Three level while also finishing runner-up to Melody Belle in the 2018 Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). She has now won four of her 12 starts and more than $142,000 in prizemoney. Noble did manage to see the winning performance by stablemate Terra Mitica earlier in the day which was the first leg of a stable double and provided rider Craig Grylls with one of his four wins on the programme. “We got Terra Mitica from the UK where she had won two races and came with a pretty high rating,” he said. “It has taken me a bit to get the hang of her, however we have both been learning and she won today like we hoped she would. “She has a nomination for the Dunstan Stayers Championship Final (2400m) on Boxing Day as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr.2, 2400m) a week later but we might stick to the Boxing Day race as I think the other race might be just a bit too soon for her as she will get to that level but maybe a little later on.” View the full article

Lightly raced sprinter Is That So (NZ) (Sufficient) made a welcome return to winning form when he showed plenty of determination in a tight finish to take out the open sprint at Trentham. The Clinton Isdale-trained seven-year-old was having just his sixteenth start in a career that saw him put together three wins in succession on the Cambridge synthetic surface during the winter of 2022 before recording his fourth success with a victory at Trentham in October last year. A further nine starts had yielded just three further placings however he made amends on Saturday courtesy of a heady ride by leading South Island jockey Tina Comignaghi. Comignaghi was happy to settle the son of Sufficient in behind pacemaker and race favourite Express Yourself, before angling for a run one-off the fence mid-way down the home straight. Just as Express Yourself was being hailed the winner, Is That So mounted a final challenge and put his head in front when it mattered to score in a slick 1.01.73 for the 1100m contest. “Last start the wet track tripped him up as he was travelling then lost all his momentum when he hit a tricky spot,” Isdale said. “He is more effective on a good track as we have seen today. “He has been a hard horse to get a gauge on as he has had everything go wrong with tracks and rain however today I was really confident as his work has been exceptional. “We will probably try to keep him to the open races for now as we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. “If we look after the horse he will look after us.” Comignaghi was delighted to travel north and collect a victory in a race which panned out how she had expected. “It panned out as I had planned as I wanted to get cover then get out (clear) at the last minute,” she said. “He doesn’t have much of a sprint but the gap opened at just the right time. “I wasn’t that confident I could get there but he tried hard and it was nice not to run second.” Is That So is the only foal of two-race winner Sheez Torkin and has now won five of his 16 starts and over $132,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Cambridge Stud’s imported mare Terra Mitica (Ulysses) recorded her first New Zealand win with a powerful staying performance in Saturday’s $65,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (2100m) at Pukekohe. A two-time winner from seven starts in England, the chestnut was bought by Cambridge Stud for 100,000 guineas from the Tattersalls December Mares Sale at Newmarket a year ago. Trainer Lance Noble has brought her up slowly and steadily in this campaign, starting off with three trials between June and September. Terra Mitica made her New Zealand debut with a third placing over 1400m at Te Rapa on October 21, then did her best work late when finishing midfield in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) in early November. After a trial placing behind star stablemate Habana at Ruakaka on November 28, Terra Mitica returned to the races on Saturday, stepped up over ground and showed her true colours. The third winner on the Pukekohe card for jockey Craig Grylls, Terra Mitica settled into a smooth rhythm in third, a big margin behind an energy-sapping pace set by Sagunto and Rua Rocks. Terra Mitica was doing things easily at the top of the home straight, and the five-year-old soon sailed past Sagunto and opened up an emphatic winning margin of two and a half lengths. Ess Vee Are produced a strong finish into second, with another two lengths back to the third-placed Selva Verde. Terra Mitica’s 10-start career has now produced three wins, five placings and $89,752 in stakes. She holds a nomination for the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Day, as well as the Dunstan Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) on Boxing Day. Noble and Cambridge Stud won the latter event last season with the quality mare Aquacade. “That was a good, strong staying performance today,” Noble said. “She won two races over 2000m in England, and we just started off by giving her a couple of runs over shorter distances here to get her acclimatised and settled into her new surroundings. “Getting up over ground was always going to suit her, and she got a good run today and a very nice ride and was able to finish it off strongly. It was pleasing to see “She’s a nice staying prospect, and we’ll look to keep developing her through the summer months. She holds a nomination for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Dunstan Stayers’ Championship, but it might be just a little early to step her up into that sort of company. We could potentially take a bit more time to develop her through this campaign. But we’ll see how she comes through this, discuss it with the Cambridge Stud team and pick out a path that suits her.” Terra Mitica is the first New Zealand winner for Ulysses, who is by the legendary stallion Galileo out of the Gr.1 Epsom Oaks (2400m) winner Light Shift. Ulysses himself won five races including the Gr.1 Juddmonte International (2050m) and the Gr.1 Eclipse Stakes (2000m), and he stands for a £9,000 service fee at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket. He is the sire of 71 individual stakes winners worldwide, with half a dozen at stakes level. The dam of Terra Mitica is the Giant’s Causeway mare Mississippi Delta, whose seven wins included Belmont Park’s Gr.3 Intercontinental Stakes (1400m) and three Listed races. She also placed three times at Grade Two level in the United States and Canada. View the full article

What Orange Where Towac Park Racecourse – 57 Canobolas Rd, Orange NSW 2800 When Monday, December 11, 2023 First Race 2:05pm AEDT Visit Dabble Country racing heads to Orange on Monday afternoon for a competitive seven-race program set for decision. The scorching hot conditions are likely to continue in the lead-up as the meeting is scheduled for 2:05pm local time. The rail is out +3.5m the entire circuit with the cutaway applied between the 500m-300m post on what should be a fair Good 4 surface. Orange Best Bet: Redford Redford was a dominant winner on his debut at Bathurst on November 18, where the Annabel Neasham-trained gelding scored by 1.8 lengths. The son of Snitzel was able to take a mid-field sit under Clayton Gallagher before careering away with the prize. He seems to have plenty of upside compared to some of his key rivals, and with gate one giving Redford every chance to secure back-to-back wins, we think he can manage exactly that. Best Bet Race 6 – #4 Redford (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Clayton Gallagher (56.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Randwick: Redford Flying Chevrolet has impressed in her two barrier trials leading into her race-day debut and should be competitive in this capacity field. She ambled up to her rivals in her latest jump-out at Warwick Farm to secure victory and we can see Gavin Ryan utilizing similar tactics on Monday. She’s drawn barrier six to give Ryan plenty of options aboard the daughter of Flying Artie, and with even luck in running, we’re confident Flying Chevrolet can only run well here. Next Best Race 5 – #10 Flying Chevrolet (6) 3yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Gavin Ryan (55.5kg) Bet with Dabble Orange Monday quaddie tips – 11/12/2023 Orange quadrella selections Monday, December 11, 2023 2-3-5-7-9-10 1-2-7-8-10 4 1-4-5-10-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Taking charge entering the first of two turns, Nothing Like You was never challenged in rolling to victory in the $200,500 Starlet Stakes (G2) Dec. 9 at Los Alamitos Race Course.View the full article

Taking charge entering the first of two turns, Nothing Like You was never challenged in rolling to victory in the $200,000 Starlet Stakes (G2) Dec. 9 at Los Alamitos Race Course.View the full article

Nothing like her, indeed. Nothing Like You (f, 2, Malibu Moon–Miss Derek, by Brother Derek) came home the easiest of winners to pick up her career first graded black type in the GII Starlet S. It was a wire-to-wire effort ahead of 29-1 longshot Great Forty Eight (Constitution), who impeded Chatalas (Gun Runner) in the stretch and ultimately ended up disqualified from second. The final running order was then Nothing Like You, Flynn's Chance (Medaglia d'Oro), and the bothered Chatalas. It is Bob Baffert's seventh straight win in the Starlet. Sales history: $67,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $190,000 '23 2yo OBSAPR. O-Hunt, Georgia Antley, Giglio, Jeff and Rogitz, John L.; B-Notch Hill Farm, Wolverton Mountain Farm & Spendthrift Stallions, LLC; T-Bob Baffert. NOTHING LIKE YOU ($6.20) pulls away from trouble in the stretch and takes the GII Starlet at @LosAlRacing with @JJHernandezS19 in the saddle for @BobBaffert's seventh straight win in the stakes. Congratulations to owners Hunt, Giglio or Rogitz! pic.twitter.com/SpCPA3xX4D — TVG (@TVG) December 10, 2023 The post Nothing Like You Coasts In to Win Starlet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Noted rebounded from a disappointing ninth-place showing in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last month to score his second stakes victory of the season in the Pulpit S. Victorious in Monmouth's Sapling S. in August after breaking his maiden at Saratoga, he missed graded victory by a nose Oct. 8 in Keeneland's GII Bourbon S. and finished way back in the field last month at the Breeders' Cup. Breaking as the 6-5 favorite and bumping with the outside runner, Noted settled in seventh for the lion's share of the race before being coaxed along into the far turn. Angled out sharply leaving the bend and causing tight quarters for a pair to his outside, he kicked on from eight wide into the final furlong to nail Reminder in the final strides to win by a neck. With the victory here, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. completed his sweep of the turf features on the card. “I was a little concerned with the 7 1/2 [furlongs, today] but he seemed to come out of the Breeders' Cup well, he carries good condition and he's an easy horse to train, so I felt like he was ready to run back,” Pletcher said. “We're not going to rule [dirt] out. If he trains really well we might give him another shot at some stage. He's got that win in the Sapling that looks good on paper, but in the Breeders' Cup, he didn't fire.” #8 NOTED ($4.40) was stuck in a crowd but got out late to storm home and win the Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The son of Cairo Prince was ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and is trained by Todd Pletcher. Nice call @bernier_matt who gave out 26-1 2nd place finisher #4 Reminder pic.twitter.com/nZsKKc5aok — TVG (@TVG) December 9, 2023 The first to the races after his eldest full-brother died in 2021, Noted leads the way for his young dam's broodmare career. She produced a yearling filly by Global Campaign as well as a 2023 filly by Upstart. Sea View Nellie, out of MSW & GISP Pocho's Dream Girl–making her a full-sister to MGSW Mark Valeski and a half to GSW & GISP Albano (Istan), went back to Upstart for 2024. This is the extended female family of MSW Pacific Pink, herself the dam of GSP Make the Boys Wink (More Than Ready), and SP Caironi (Cairo Prince). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. PULPIT S., $100,000, Gulfstream, 12-9, 2yo, 7 1/2fT, 1:27.30, fm. 1–NOTED, 120, c, 2, by Cairo Prince 1st Dam: Sea View Millie, by Proud Citizen 2nd Dam: Pocho's Dream Girl, by Fortunate Prospect 3rd Dam: True to Romeo, by Gallant Romeo ($200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $58,900. Lifetime Record: GSP, 6-3-2-0, $338,525. 2–Reminder, 118, c, 2, Audible–Mom's Deputy, by War Chant. ($100,000 Ylg '22 OBSWIN; $200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $185,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Tami Bobo; B-Courtney L. Meagher (FL); T-Jose Francisco D'Angelo. $19,000. 3–Palm Tree, 118, g, 2, Street Boss–Desert Gazelle, by Smart Strike. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $9,500. Margins: NK, HD, NK. Odds: 1.20, 26.30, 2.70. Also Ran: General Ledger, Double Your Money, Prevent, Ship to Shore, Tocayo, Summer Storm Stric, Liam's Journey. Scratched: Okiro. The post Noted A Determined Winner in Gulfstream’s Pulpit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The beloved equine friend of the late Cody Dorman, MGISW Cody's Wish (Curlin), was voted the first back-to-back winner of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award, the website Secretariat.com said in a release Saturday. Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery created the award in 2010 to annually recognize the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport. Though he retired to stud duty with 11 wins and career earnings of $3,106,030, it was the Godolphin homebred's connection to Cody Dorman that elicited widespread admiration and affection from fans. “Cody's Wish embodies all that the Secretariat Vox Populi Award represents. He has wowed us with his performances on the racetrack and touched countless people's hearts with his profound connection with Cody Dorman,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery. Representatives of the Cody's Wish team will return to Santa Anita Park Jan. 13 for the Vox Populi Award trophy presentation as part of the day's activities. The post Cody’s Wish Brings Home Another Secretariat Vox Populi Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cody's Wish's story is inextricably linked with that of his namesake, Cody Dorman, who lived courageously with a rare genetic disorder and passed away on Nov. 5, only a day after witnessing Cody's Wish win a second Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).View the full article

It looks like the future may be green for Repole Stable's Noted, as the Cairo Prince colt rebounded from a ninth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) to take the $100,000 Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Tejano Twist is not fast early, but the sprinter is quick when it counts, such as when dashing to the finish. The late-running 4-year-old went from last to first in the $150,000 Ring The Bell Stakes Dec. 9 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article