Wandering Eyes

Peter and Dawn Williams have fond memories in past editions of the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), and the Byerley Park trainers are hoping another crown lies ahead with Desert Lightning on Saturday. The Williams’ claimed back-to-back victories in the Trentham feature, now known as the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), in 2013 and 2014 when represented by classy mare Shuka, a winner of more than $700,000 in prizemoney. In this year’s event, they will prepare ever-consistent gelding Desert Lightning, a classy three-year-old returning to stakes company for the first occasion at four. Peter Williams recalled Desert Lightning’s first start at Ruakaka as a two-year-old in February 2022, where the talented juvenile showed his promise, saluting on debut ahead of future Group One-winner Skew Wiff. “He didn’t really show a lot until he went to the races, he’d trialled but the day he won at Ruakaka was pretty impressive,” Williams told TAB NZ. “When he won that day, he beat Skew Wiff and a couple of nice horses, so we thought we had something.” Desert Lightning was among the lesser celebrated three-year-olds last season, despite securing black-type success in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) alongside placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m), and only once finishing out of the first five placegetters. Returning in his four-year-old season in October, Desert Lightning was explosive when dominating a competitive Open 1200m field, getting home in an eye-catching 32.26 last 600m. His campaign continued onto Tauranga last start, where the gelding posted a creditable third placed performance on unfavourable Heavy8 track conditions. “He always tries, he always runs a good race. Some of the three-year-old races we had trouble with him over-racing and doing little things wrong, but he seems a lot better this year,” Williams said. “He has his little ways, he can be quite a toey horse when he wants to be but most of the time if you keep him in a routine he’s fine.” Desert Lightning will partner with regular rider Vinnie Colgan on Saturday, the Northern hoop having been aboard in all but three of his 14 starts. The son of Pride Of Dubai sits a current $9.00 fourth-favourite for the TAB Classic, with the well-travelled gelding Aegon sitting atop of the TAB market on his Kiwi return at $4.80. “Vinnie’s really pleased with him this season, he said he’s a lot better to ride in a race. Vinnie stuck with him last year all the way through and some of the times he wasn’t racing that kindly, but he seems to have improved now and matured,” Williams said. “His work on Tuesday morning was very good, I was very happy with it and that was the deciding factor for whether we’d definitely go. “He’s a good horse, whether he stacks up against the best we’ll wait to see but he’s done a good job so far. He just needs a bit of luck in some of his races and he’ll be alright. “We raced him over ground last year but I do think he’s probably a 1400m-1600m horse, he got away with it because he was a three-year-old, some three-year-old’s, if they’ve got a bit of ability, get away with it.” As of Friday morning, the Trentham course rated a Soft5 with a positive forecast ahead, perfectly suited to Williams’ charge. “The firmer the better for him, he’s a firm track horse. I know he’s won on a soft track, but his best form has been on firm ground. Looking at the weather forecast, the track should be perfect,” he said. Desert Lightning races in the colours of Barneswood Farm, owned by Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer. An influential pair in South Island racing, Green and Beemsterboer have a successful history with the Williams barn, having raced both Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m)-winning fillies Planet Rock and Media Sensation. “They’re very good clients of ours, the more races they win, the better it is for them and us. They’ve had a great run with their horses, hopefully it keeps coming.” View the full article

Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will bank more than $1.7 million in two starts if he can win the Gr.2 The Ingham (1600m). The rural surrounds of Maher Racing’s supplementary Bong Bong Farm facility has been put to good use ahead of Detonator Jack’s bid to deliver the leading yard a first win in The Ingham. The gelding enjoyed a bit of R & R at the property following his dynamic Gong victory last month and co-trainer David Eustace said it had helped to keep the horse fresh for his Randwick mile bid. “He had a week at Bong Bong and that has really helped, he’s thrived doing that,” Eustace said. “Then we brought him in (to Warwick Farm), and he’s just had a piece of work since. “He’s going two weeks, two weeks, so he’s having a relatively busy time, but it will almost certainly be his last run, there will be nothing left for him anyway.” The Ingham (1600m) will be Detonator Jack’s seventh start in a campaign that has included a stakes placing and two minor prize finishes in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) and the Five Diamonds (1800m), along with his Gong triumph. If he can add Saturday’s $3 million Ingham to his resume, he will become the first horse to claim the rich spring-summer double, superseding the effort of Quackerjack (Not A Single Doubt) who was second in the 2019 The Gong (1600m) before going one better in what was then known as the Gr.2 Villiers Stakes (1600m). Jason Collett retains his association with Detonator Jack and Eustace isn’t overly perturbed by the five-year-old’s wide draw in barrier 15. “Tempo will be key,” he said. “He’s put in some very good performances ridden from off the pace so without having had a good look at the race yet and the speed, I’d say if they went quick we’d just ride him patiently and he has got a good turn of foot.” The winner of The Ingham is granted a ballot exemption from the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), a race Eustace believes could work for Detonator Jack, particularly if Sydney has a wet autumn. “It would be the obvious race to work back from, especially if we got wet ground,” Eustace said. “We’ll get through Saturday but it’s a nice carrot going into the race.” View the full article

Sprinter Waihaha Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) won’t get his preferred rain-affected conditions at Randwick, but he will have another couple of factors in his favour when he lines-up in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m). The six-year-old resumed with a solid fifth over the same course and distance on Melbourne Cup Day, the effort satisfying trainer John O’Shea he had returned in good shape. Knowing the gelding appreciates his races spaced, O’Shea has given him a month between runs and significantly, Waihaha Falls arrives at the Razor Sharp second-up. The horse has four wins and four placings from 17 starts, half of those coming at his second run from a spell, and the timing of his appearance in a stakes race is no coincidence. “It has been on our radar for a while,” O’Shea said. “He would have preferred a little toe (in the ground) but he’s a horse that loves being three or four weeks between runs and he gets that on Saturday. “He gets a good gate (barrier three) and he’s taken a really big step forward from his first-up run. “It’s a nice race for him.” View the full article

Highly talented three-year-old Lupo Solitario has pleased Matamata trainer Danica Guy in the build-up to his return to racing, but a last-minute setback has cast some doubt over his participation in Saturday’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. The Satono Aladdin gelding towered over the TAB’s market for the $120,000 feature at a quote of $1.70 on Friday, but Guy revealed that a stone bruise has made him an uncertain starter. “He’ll be absolutely fine moving forward, but he might not be fine for the race tomorrow,” Guy said on Friday afternoon. “It turns out he’s just got a minor bruise on one heel. It’s nothing major, but he’s feeling it a little bit today. We obviously can’t treat him for it today, so we’ve just got to let things take their course. If he’s still not quite right in the morning, he won’t be running. “The back-up option would be going straight to Boxing Day and running in the Auckland Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m), and then into the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) off just that one run. “We’re not worried about it at all. This was just going to be a nice step along the road.” Lupo Solitario launched his career with impressive back-to-back wins at Te Rapa and Tauranga in August and September. The placegetters in the Te Rapa maiden race were Glamour Tycoon and Mary Shan, who have both gone on to perform at black-type level. Lupo Solitario stepped on to the big stage for his third start, lining up in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa. He suffered the first defeat of his career, finishing second and a length and a half behind standout three-year-old Crocetti. That rival has now won all of his six starts including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), while Sarten third placegetter To Catch A Thief filled the same position in the Riccarton classic. The big trip south for the 2000 Guineas was never on Guy’s agenda for Lupo Solitario, instead giving him a brief let-up before setting her sights on the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO at Ellerslie in late January. “Up until that little stone bruise today, everything had gone really well with him,” Guy said. “We gave him two weeks off after the Sarten, then we just slowly built him back up from there. “I was very pleased with how he went in a recent exhibition gallop at Counties, and his last gallop with Ryan (Elliot, jockey) aboard was just what we were looking for.” Lupo Solitario is also prominent in Karaka Millions 3YO betting, currently rated a $6 third favourite behind the $4 equal favourites Molly Bloom and Tokyo Tycoon. Lupo Solitario headlines a three-horse team for Guy at Pukekohe on Saturday, where bold performances are also expected from stablemates Wild West and Suzuka in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier (1200m). It will be the first start in just over a year for Wild West, who has previously won in a fresh state. He showed good signs with a second placing in a Taupo trial on November 22, chasing home quality sprinter Bonny Lass. The lightly raced Suzuka ran fourth on debut in December of last year and has made a strong return in three starts this spring. He ran second behind budding star Adam I Am at Matamata in September, then won at Taupo before a last-start third in heavy ground at Tauranga. The TAB has Suzuka on the second line of favouritism at $6 behind Titled ($5.50), with Wild West not far behind on an $8 quote. “I’m rapt with both Wild West and Suzuka,” Guy said. “I’m just a little disappointed that Suzuka drew out wide. He’s a forward-running horse, so the lower the draw, the better. But it doesn’t look like there’s a whole lot of speed, so I just hope he can get forward without doing too much. I’m really happy with him. “I think the old boy Wild West is looking really good too. He should run well.” View the full article

Globetrotting Swedish jockey Ulrika Holmquist has made a homecoming of sorts, returning to New Zealand to ride for the summer. Holmquist arrived in New Zealand a decade ago to work in the racing industry, but soon found herself in the saddle and on a career path to becoming a jockey. She was initially apprenticed to Lee Somervell before transferring to Anne Herbert, and enjoyed plenty of success downunder, recording 40 wins before returning to Europe to continue her riding career. “I loved it here,” Holmquist said. “I think it is a beautiful country and the people here are very kind and helpful. “I have a lot of close friends here and I like the racing here, it is a high standard and you get a lot of black-type racing in New Zealand for being such a small country. “Getting to ride with some of the world’s best jockeys on the big days here was memorable.” Upon her return to Sweden, Holmquist quickly made a name for herself as a rising star in the European riding ranks and over the last few years she has taken advantage of the winter off-season in her homeland to experience riding in racing jurisdictions all around the world. “I have done a lot of riding in other countries as well because we don’t have a winter season,” she said. “Last winter I was riding in France. The year before that I was riding in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, which was very cool. I have also been over to America a few times with racing. “I have really enjoyed trying racing in different countries, you learn something new from each country and each surface you race on.” With racing in Sweden entering its winter hiatus, Holmquist thought it was timely to return to the country where her riding career began. “I thought it was a good opportunity to come back here and ride. I also wanted to see some of my friends and connections that I made over here. I am really happy to be back,” she said. “I will be here until at least March and if I like it I might stay longer. Last time I was over I stayed for a long time. I like it here.” Holmquist arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday and isn’t wasting anytime, engaged to ride at Arawa Park on Sunday. “Like any other jockey, you don’t want to have too much time off, especially now when the weather is nice and the racing is good. I am really looking forward to getting back in the saddle,” she said. Holmquist will ride No Agenda Nigel in the Greenlight Insurance Brokers 1400 for Stephen Ralph and Covermeinsunshine in The Rotorua Club 1230 for Trevor Da Cruz. “I have ridden for both of the trainers before when I was an apprentice. It is nice that they are supporting me again,” Holmquist said. Basing herself in Cambridge for the summer, Holmquist is utilising the services of jockey agent Ted McLachlan and said she is looking forward to reacquainting herself with the local trainers. “I am staying in Cambridge, but I am going to see if I can ride out a little bit in Matamata as well,” she said. “I wouldn’t be shy to travel either if it is a nice horse, but I am going to mostly be riding up north.” While looking to ride as many winners as she can, Holmquist said she would like to tick one particular goal off her list before returning to Europe. “It would be great to win a black-type race during my stint here, it is something I have been wanting to do in this country,” she said. View the full article

Lance Noble is sending just one horse down to Wellington this weekend, hoping his rising star Habana can deal to some unfinished business in the race now known as the Gr. 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham. Noble saddled Viadana in the 2013 edition of the race, which was then called the Captain Cook Stakes. Badly blocked early in the home straight, Viadana eventually found a way through and surged to the front in the final 100m. However, she was edged out by Shuka in the last few strides and had to settle for second, beaten by a head. That was Viadana’s first start in a Group One weight-for-age race, and she had won twice at that level by the time the season was out – the NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha. Now a private trainer for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Noble is hoping to see Habana’s promising career hit similar heights. The Zoustar gelding rose through the ranks with four wins from seven starts last season, culminating in a runner-up finish on unsuitable heavy track conditions in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) in April. Habana has continued that upward trajectory this spring, resuming with an eye-catching third in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1200m) before collecting his first black-type win with a last-start success in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m). “I’ve been really happy with both of his runs this time in,” Noble said. “He seems to have carried on from where he left off with the progress he was making last season. “He was great in the Sweynesse first-up, then stepped up to the 1500m and won nicely at Counties. The form out of that race seems to be stacking up well too, with the runner-up El Vencedor going on to win easily at Group Three level the other day. So we’re pretty happy with how he’s tracking. “He’s been working well and seems to be as good as he can possibly be. It’s a bit different this time, being weight-for-age, but he had to carry 59kg last start and did it well. We think he’ll be okay taking this next step.” Habana will be ridden by Warren Kennedy, whose nine previous rides on the horse have produced five wins and two placings. The TAB rates Habana a $7.50 second favourite behind the market leader Aegon, who is at a quote of $4.80. Saturday’s TAB Classic will be only the second attempt at 1600m for Habana, who made his debut at the distance in the Easter in April. “His only previous attempt at 1600m was that Easter Handicap placing in wet ground, but I think he’ll handle it this weekend,” Noble said. “Warren knows the horse so well and seems to time his runs perfectly. The horse has always given us the impression that 1600m will suit him.” View the full article

California Spangle and Zac Purton hold off the late charge of Golden Sixty and Vincent Ho to win the Hong Kong Mile during HKIR at Sha Tin Racecourse. Photo by: Evers/HKJC California Spangle was the giantkiller in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) last year when defeating the outstanding champion Golden Sixty and his trainer Tony Cruz believes the combination of a new jockey and an excellent draw can be inductive to a similar performance in Sunday’s showpiece. The classy miler handed Cruz his 11th win at the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) last year, meaning he returns as the meeting’s most successful trainer, and the former top jockey is confident changes within the team will not stop California Spangle producing another electric display. Zac Purton rode him to make most of the running and defeat Golden Sixty by a neck in a dramatic running of the Hong Kong Mile last year, but Hong Kong’s six-time champion jockey has not ridden the five-year-old for his two starts this campaign. Hugh Bowman was aboard when the gelding made a winning reappearance in the Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) in October, while Matthew Chadwick partnered him to a fourth-placed effort in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m) last time. Cruz is turning to a trusted figure to deliver him back-to-back victories in the race, with Christophe Soumillon booked to ride California Spangle for the first time. The Belgian rider will be bidding to win his third Hong Kong Mile after success with another locally trained star Good Ba Ba in 2008 and Admire Mars in 2019. “We’ve had to change the jockey but at least we can get hold of Christophe Soumillon and I think that will make a big difference,” Cruz said in Sha Tin’s parade ring on Thursday. “I know him very well, he’s ridden for me in the International races before, so I’m very happy to have him. “There’s been a lot of change in jockeys and also the owner sadly passed away, but California Spangle is in very good form coming into this race. I’m very happy with his condition and I’m delighted with the barrier draw.” California Spangle was handed stall three at the official ceremony, just one position wider than when he was victorious last year, and his trainer believes it will allow him to take advantage of his blistering early speed. “I don’t believe anybody can take him on for the lead,” he said. “He’s still the fastest horse there and he’s got an inside draw. He’s going to dictate the race again.” Golden Sixty broke from stall four last year but this time will have to negotiate the widest berth in 14, a factor Cruz believes will make life difficult for Stanley Chan’s behemoth. “It doesn’t seem like a good place to be,” he said. “Last year we were lucky because we were in front and he had to go around the field on the turn. In doing that he came too late to catch California Spangle.” Cruz will also run last year’s fourth, Beauty Joy, in the race, while he is also doubly represented in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) with Five G Patch and La City Blanche. Champion Dragon lines up for him in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m). The Hong Kong International Races take place on Sunday at Sha Tin racecourse. More horse racing news View the full article

Jamie Richards is plotting Group 1 success with Wellington. It would be fitting, to say the least, if Wellington were to provide Hong Kong-based New Zealand trainer Jamie Richards with a first major Hong Kong win and success in one of the world’s great sprint races when he tackles Sunday’s HK$26 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). Richards, who transferred to Hong Kong at the beginning of last season, could – had he stayed at home – have been basking this year in the glory of the major sprint race exploits of Imperatriz, which he trained through her first two seasons of racing. Imperatriz was unbeaten in four races through the recent Melbourne spring carnival; the latter three at Group 1 level, culminating with the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington. Not to mention, that Richards was also the original trainer of Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes winner and Everest runner-up I Wish I Win. Remarkably, the two horses were in Richards’ care when they quinellaed a Group 3 race in New Zealand in September 2021. However, the 53 times Group 1-winning trainer is not dwelling on any of this. “The focus is very much on Hong Kong now. I’ve enjoyed watching Imperatriz. She’s a low flying jet and Mark (Walker) and the Te Akau team have done a wonderful job with her. She’s immensely talented and just keeps getting better and better and I did have I Wish I win for a while as well. “I had my time in the sun before that, at home, and now it’s very much channelling all my energy into Hong Kong, consolidating on a good opening season last year and looking forward to Sunday and the rest of the month,” said Richards, who prepared notable horses such as Melody Belle, Probabeel, Te Akau Shark, Xtravagant, Gingernuts and Avantage in New Zealand and Australia. Richards and his fiancee Danielle Johnson are expecting their first child at the end of the month and, this week, will welcome a “few friends” visiting Hong Kong on the eve of Wellington’s quest for successive Hong Kong Sprint wins. Last year, Wellington was prepared by Richard Gibson (who’s since left Hong Kong) and Richards said he hasn’t “reinvented the wheel” in preparing the seven-year-old whose last run was an unsuccessful assault on the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June. “He had a break after Ascot and we sent him to Conghua for a change of scenery. He’s a bit quirky so we keep things pretty simple with him and he’s come back into training in good order. “My assistant Jones Ma worked with Richard (Gibson) and obviously knows the horse well and we think he’s in pretty good shape. He ran well first-up and it’s just been a case of maintenance work since then. He had a good stretch on Monday and it’s all systems go for Sunday. “He’s probably had to have improved again from the Jockey Club Sprint and he’s got Lucky Sweynesse to deal with plus the Japanese and the Europeans so it’s no easy task but I’d expect him to run very well,” Richards said. Meanwhile, Richards remains committed to clawing his way up the trainer’s ranks. “I love Hong Kong. It’s very competitive and very challenging here. It’s not easy to win races here but we’ll keep working hard. There’s plenty to look forward to this month and for the remainder of the season,” he said. More horse racing news View the full article

The in-form O’Sullivan/Scott partnership have a strong contingent across the Northern meetings this weekend. Photo: Race Images South A strong start to the season sees Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott sitting fourth on the New Zealand trainers’ premiership with 19 wins, and the Matamata pair can continue their form with another big and talented team of weekend runners. O’Sullivan and Scott are already more than halfway towards their 2022-23 total of 32 wins, with a hugely productive spring headlined by black-type successes from Molly Bloom in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Dragon Leap in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). Wexford Stables will be represented by 19 runners across the meetings at Pukekohe on Saturday and Rotorua on Sunday, including a number of well-credentialled chances. Promising five-year-old Uderzo kicks off the weekend in the first race on the Pukekohe card, the $65,000 Happy Milestone Birthday David Ellis (1200m). The Vadamos gelding has been a four-time winner from 11 starts to date. He made good progress through the grades with two wins and three placings from eight starts last season, and he kicked off his 2023-24 campaign with a dominant victory in a Rating 75 sprint at Tauranga on November 18. “He surprised us a wee bit with that very easy win on heavy ground,” Scott said. “We’ve kept him to 1200m again for his second-up run on Saturday, just to try to continue to teach him a little bit. When he got up over further in his last preparation, he just tended to get a bit eager and wanted to get along. He relaxed nicely over the six furlongs first-up, so we’ll give him another run at that trip here. “This is going to be quite a step up. Bonny Lass looks like she’ll be very hard to beat. But we’re pleased with the horse, he’s won at Pukekohe before and we think he has another good sprint performance in him. “How he handles this grade on Saturday will guide us in terms of what we do through the rest of his campaign.” Another son of Vadamos, Mosinvader, is expected to relish the step up in distance for Saturday’s Barfoot & Thompson (1600m). The three-year-old colt made his debut over 1400m at Taupo on November 9, and he made up good ground late in the race to finish seventh. “He found the line pretty strongly on debut and is a real improver,” Scott said. “We think the step up to the mile will suit him. He’s got a good gate (three) and a good rider (Craig Grylls). “He’s a colt that we think will continue to improve over the summer months and he should appreciate longer distances. He’s quite a promising staying three-year-old in the making.” Magawa lines up in the Championship Qualifier (1200m), having flashed home for second at Tauranga on November 18. “He got home very nicely last time behind a horse carrying a lot less weight than him, and he goes well right-handed,” Scott said. “He just lacked a bit of concentration during that last-start run, so the blinkers will go on for the first time this weekend. “We’ve mixed his work up a bit with some jumping, and we think he’s going into this race in good shape.” Jaffira is on the ballot for the Ellerslie Events (1500m), but could be one of the stable’s best chances of the weekend if he makes the field. The son of Iffraaj won twice as a three-year-old last season and contested the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). He caught the eye with a strong finish for third when he resumed over 1400m at Te Rapa on November 11. “His sectionals were very good that day,” Scott said. “He’s looking great and will appreciate the extra distance second-up. Now that he’s been gelded, we think he’s a lot more focused and consistent. “It’s a hot little field on Saturday, but if he gets a run, he can definitely be thereabouts at the finish.” Scott is also upbeat about the prospects of the stable’s 12-strong team at Rotorua on Sunday, which includes three-year-olds I Am Groot, Ever Charm and Forseti. “We’ve got a bit of time for I Am Groot,” Scott said. “He’s placed in his last two trials, and the winners of those trials have both come out and won races (Wind Of Change and We Can Party). He could be a nice staying type of three-year-old. “Ever Charm is another one on debut on Sunday. He won his trial in good style. He’s a nice horse who could have a big summer in front of him. “Forseti ran fifth on debut and might be a quick improver on that. We don’t think she was comfortable in the heavy ground that day and she’s made good progress since. “If they all run up to what they’ve been showing at home, it could be quite a good day for the team on Sunday.” More horse racing news View the full article

Desert Lightning will contest the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday for two-time victors Peter and Dawn Williams. Photo: Trish Dunell Peter and Dawn Williams have fond memories in past editions of the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), and the Byerley Park trainers are hoping another crown lies ahead with Desert Lightning on Saturday. The Williams’ claimed back-to-back victories in the Trentham feature, now known as the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m), in 2013 and 2014 when represented by classy mare Shuka, a winner of more than $700,000 in prizemoney. In this year’s event, they will prepare ever-consistent gelding Desert Lightning, a classy three-year-old returning to stakes company for the first occasion at four. Peter Williams recalled Desert Lightning’s first start at Ruakaka as a two-year-old in February 2022, where the talented juvenile showed his promise, saluting on debut ahead of future Group 1-winner Skew Wiff. “He didn’t really show a lot until he went to the races, he’d trialled but the day he won at Ruakaka was pretty impressive,” Williams told TAB NZ. “When he won that day, he beat Skew Wiff and a couple of nice horses, so we thought we had something.” Desert Lightning was among the lesser celebrated three-year-olds last season, despite securing black-type success in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) alongside placings in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m), and only once finishing out of the first five placegetters. Returning in his four-year-old season in October, Desert Lightning was explosive when dominating a competitive Open 1200m field, getting home in an eye-catching 32.26 last 600m. His campaign continued onto Tauranga last start, where the gelding posted a creditable third placed performance on unfavourable Heavy8 track conditions. “He always tries, he always runs a good race. Some of the three-year-old races we had trouble with him over-racing and doing little things wrong, but he seems a lot better this year,” Williams said. “He has his little ways, he can be quite a toey horse when he wants to be but most of the time if you keep him in a routine he’s fine.” Desert Lightning will partner with regular rider Vinnie Colgan on Saturday, the Northern hoop having been aboard in all but three of his 14 starts. The son of Pride Of Dubai sits a current $9.00 fourth-favourite for the TAB Classic, with the well-travelled gelding Aegon sitting atop of the market on his Kiwi return at $4.80. “Vinnie’s really pleased with him this season, he said he’s a lot better to ride in a race. Vinnie stuck with him last year all the way through and some of the times he wasn’t racing that kindly, but he seems to have improved now and matured,” Williams said. “His work on Tuesday morning was very good, I was very happy with it and that was the deciding factor for whether we’d definitely go. “He’s a good horse, whether he stacks up against the best we’ll wait to see but he’s done a good job so far. He just needs a bit of luck in some of his races and he’ll be alright. “We raced him over ground last year but I do think he’s probably a 1400m-1600m horse, he got away with it because he was a three-year-old, some three-year-old’s, if they’ve got a bit of ability, get away with it.” As of Friday morning, the Trentham course rated a Soft5 with a positive forecast ahead, perfectly suited to Williams’ charge. “The firmer the better for him, he’s a firm track horse. I know he’s won on a soft track, but his best form has been on firm ground. Looking at the weather forecast, the track should be perfect,” he said. Desert Lightning races in the colours of Barneswood Farm, owned by Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer. An influential pair in South Island racing, Green and Beemsterboer have a successful history with the Williams barn, having raced both Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m)-winning fillies Planet Rock and Media Sensation. “They’re very good clients of ours, the more races they win, the better it is for them and us. They’ve had a great run with their horses, hopefully it keeps coming.” More horse racing news View the full article

Lupo Solitario will make an awaited return in Saturday’s Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) After making an enormous impression in his first three starts in the spring, all eyes will be on Lupo Solitario when he returns to action against a small field in Saturday’s Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. Lupo Solitario heads the line-up for the $120,000 feature, which originally had eight acceptances but has been reduced to six with two scratchings. The Satono Aladdin gelding is a commanding favourite in the market, sitting at a quote of $1.70 on Friday morning. Trained by Danica Guy at Matamata, Lupo Solitario launched his career with impressive back-to-back wins at Te Rapa and Tauranga in August and September. The placegetters in the Te Rapa maiden race were Glamour Tycoon and Mary Shan, who have both gone on to perform at black-type level. Lupo Solitario stepped on to the big stage for his third start, lining up in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa. He suffered the first defeat of his career, finishing second and a length and a half behind standout three-year-old Crocetti. That rival has now won all of his six starts including the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), while Sarten third placegetter To Catch A Thief filled the same position in the Riccarton classic. The big trip south for the 2000 Guineas was never on Guy’s agenda for Lupo Solitario, instead giving him a brief let-up before setting her sights on the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie in late January. “Everything’s gone really well with him,” Guy said this week. “We gave him two weeks off after the Sarten, then we just slowly built him back up from there. “I was very pleased with how he went in a recent exhibition gallop at Counties, and his last gallop with Ryan (Elliot, jockey) aboard was just what we were looking for. He should be spot on heading into this race on Saturday. “Further down the track, there’s a three-year-old mile on New Year’s Day that looks like a really suitable race to head to next. As long as everything’s still going well with him, we’ll carry on into the Karaka Millions after that.” Lupo Solitario is also prominent in Karaka Millions 3YO betting, currently rated a $6 third favourite behind the $4 equal favourites Molly Bloom and Tokyo Tycoon. Lupo Solitario headlines a three-horse team for Guy at Pukekohe on Saturday, where bold performances are also expected from stablemates Wild West and Suzuka in the Championship Qualifier (1200m). It will be the first start in just over a year for Wild West, who has previously won in a fresh state. He showed good signs with a second placing in a Taupo trial on November 22, chasing home quality sprinter Bonny Lass. The lightly raced Suzuka ran fourth on debut in December of last year and has made a strong return in three starts this spring. He ran second behind budding star Adam I Am at Matamata in September, then won at Taupo before a last-start third in heavy ground at Tauranga. Top racing betting sites has Suzuka on the second line of favouritism at $6 behind Titled ($5.50), with Wild West not far behind on an $8 quote. More horse racing news View the full article

Northern gelding Habana carries the hopes of trainer Lance Noble in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham. Photo: Trish Dunell Lance Noble is sending just one horse down to Wellington this weekend, hoping his rising star Habana can deal to some unfinished business in the race now known as the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham. Noble saddled Viadana in the 2013 edition of the race, which was then called the Captain Cook Stakes. Badly blocked early in the home straight, Viadana eventually found a way through and surged to the front in the final 100m. However, she was edged out by Shuka in the last few strides and had to settle for second, beaten by a head. That was Viadana’s first start in a Group 1 weight-for-age race, and she had won twice at that level by the time the season was out – the NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha. Now a private trainer for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Noble is hoping to see Habana’s promising career hit similar heights. The Zoustar gelding rose through the ranks with four wins from seven starts last season, culminating in a runner-up finish on unsuitable heavy track conditions in the Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m) in April. Habana has continued that upward trajectory this spring, resuming with an eye-catching third in the Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes (1200m) before collecting his first black-type win with a last-start success in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m). “I’ve been really happy with both of his runs this time in,” Noble said. “He seems to have carried on from where he left off with the progress he was making last season. “He was great in the Sweynesse first-up, then stepped up to the 1500m and won nicely at Counties. The form out of that race seems to be stacking up well too, with the runner-up El Vencedor going on to win easily at Group Three level the other day. So we’re pretty happy with how he’s tracking. “He’s been working well and seems to be as good as he can possibly be. It’s a bit different this time, being weight-for-age, but he had to carry 59kg last start and did it well. We think he’ll be okay taking this next step.” Habana will be ridden by Warren Kennedy, whose nine previous rides on the horse have produced five wins and two placings. Online bookmakers rates Habana a $7.50 second favourite behind the market leader Aegon, who is at a quote of $4.80. Saturday’s TAB Classic will be only the second attempt at 1600m for Habana, who made his debut at the distance in the Easter in April. “His only previous attempt at 1600m was that Easter Handicap placing in wet ground, but I think he’ll handle it this weekend,” Noble said. “Warren knows the horse so well and seems to time his runs perfectly. The horse has always given us the impression that 1600m will suit him.” More horse racing news View the full article

By Brigette Solomon The father and son training partnership of Ray and Jeff Darby had their first winner at Cambridge Raceway last night with Neymar taking out Race 2, the Dunstan 100% New Zealand Mobile Pace. To make it extra special Jeff Darby was also the successful driver, in the amateur drivers’ event. It was a patient and composed drive from Darby who dropped Neymar back to settle last on the fence after starting from barrier 8. Neymar enjoyed an easy trip before coming off the markers just after the 400 metre mark to sprint home down the outside for a comfortable win. “It’s my first season as a trainer and it was nice to get the first win with Neymar and to have driven him too,” says Jeff Darby. “Dad and I not only train the horse together but also own him, he’s not been the easiest so the win should help build his confidence.” Drivers Andre Poutama and David Butcher also scored double driving successes at last night’s meeting. Poutama’s first win came in Race 1, the Dunstan Horse Feeds Handicap Trot, with the Ival Brownlee-trained Emily Bay who led from start to finish to win by three lengths. Poutama’s second winner came by way of Beaudiene Rocknroll with another front running drive in Race 6, the Dunstan Speedfeed Mobile Pace over 1700m. Major Achievement finished second giving Ray Green the quinella with his only two starters for the night. Butcher’s first success of the night came from Caulfield in Race 5, who he also trains. “He’s a lovely, honest horse with a heap of owners in him so it was great for them to get win number five with him,” says Butcher. It was a tough win by the four-year-old gelding who briefly trailed after leaving the gate before coming round to lead. With the last half run in 57.5s Caulfield fought hard to the line to win when challenged by Bad Medicine (2nd) and Katie’s Princess (3rd). Butcher ended the night with a win on Turnpike Joe, trained by Arna Donnelly, in Race 7, the Merry Christmas from Dunstan Mobile Pace over 2200m. It was the Raging Bull gelding’s third start after two fourths at Manawatu a fortnight ago. “He won well, the trip to Palmerston North seems to have been good for him,” says Butcher. View the full article

By Frank Marrion, courtesy of the HarnessXpress This just isn’t supposed to happen. A Southland hobby trainer with just the odd horse in work downing the might of the All Stars in a race for two-year-old fillies at Addington. A ‘stallion’ with no more than one foal per crop beating up on fillies by Bettor’s Delight and Captaintreacherous. But that is exactly what happened at Addington last Friday night when the Lord Forbes filly Louies Girl downed Treacherous Baby and Madrid. And it could easily happen again in a Group 1 at Addington on Sunday when Louies Girl tackles the $110,000 Ace of Diamonds and pretty much the same fillies. For breeder-owner Gavin Forbes, who trains out of Oreti Beach after giving the game away for several years, Louies Girl was his first win at Addington since Lord Forbes won there in June, 2008. “He was actually in the name of Ray Faithful at the time as I had a son that needed to be in hospital for a while,” said Forbes. “Ray started him three times and he won three times for him.” Forbes trained Lord Forbes for his other 115 races however and would have been training Louies Girl, but for handing him over to Craig Ferguson when she was ready for the trials in early October. “Part of the reason for that is that Louies Girl is so damn lazy it’s hard work just getting her to jog. She jogs like a donkey. “With Craig having the swimming pool at the Wyndham track, she has the choice to sink or swim. “Craig says you can slip a little extra work into them without them really knowing that way. “Lord Forbes was really lazy like that himself and so is Huki Fella. “You have to take his ear plugs out just to get him going in the prelim. “But they’re all fine once they have a horse alongside them.” Three-year-old Huki Fella is Lord Forbes’ first foal and had two wins and two seconds from four races in his latest prep for Ferguson before being freshened. Louies Girl has impressively won her last three races to give Lord Forbes a 100% record and now he’s begun ‘stud duties’ at Macca Lodge. “I’ve done three mares with him myself, including two of my own, and on Monday he went to Macca Lodge, where there’s another three mares waiting for him. “Grant Hunt, who bred Lord Forbes, rang the other day to say he was sending a couple and there’s also been interest from as far afield as Auckland. “I’ve been taking a lot of calls in recent days.” One must really wonder just where all this is going after Forbes only got involved in the game again because he decided to breed a foal a year by Lord Forbes. He now has four of them and doing their early educations led to him training Mach’s Back, who won a race at Winton in June to give Forbes his first win in over 12 years. That was at Winton with Nothingsweetaboutme, a half-sister to Lord Forbes that Forbes trained for a while for Hunt. That was not long after Lord Forbes’ last win in a Wyndham Cup, where he sat parked for the last lap before racing away to score by five lengths in 3.58 for the 3200m stand. Soon after Lord Forbes finished third in an Invercargill Cup and he started in several features, including the New Zealand Cup when Monkey King beat Smoken Up in 2010.In all, Lord Forbes won 11 races and $149,000, setting several Southland records along the way. “Lord Forbes was a tough wee horse but he also had early speed and won a two-year-old race at Winton beating Robyn’s Cullen. “I’ve often wondered what he might have done if he’d been in a big stable actually.” Louies Girl is a real chip off the block of Lord Forbes in many ways. Also a dark bay horse, she clearly has the same ample speed and toughness, while also having a very similar temperament as Lord Forbes. Or Lord Forbes has stamped her, like good sires do. The now 18-year-old son of Live Or Die will never be commercial, but he clearly has plenty to offer. While Forbes has long held Louies Girl in high regard, her rapid progress has been a pleasant surprise for Craig Ferguson and Mark Hurrell, the latter driving her to her first two wins recently. She was showing promise when she raced in the Kindergarten and Diamond Creek Farm Classic in the autumn, finishing sixth on each occasion in her first two starts. Then Ferguson drove Louies Girl for the first time in a maiden at Winton, where she performed poorly in finishing last and was tipped out. “She was crook that day but she’d probably come to the end of it as well,” said Fergsuon. “She was working well enough when she came to me, but I didn’t really have any expectations given her breeding – I didn’t know what to think. “Her first win suggested it was worth thinking about a trip to Canterbury, but then she went to another level again. “Her last three runs have each been a big step up each time and she’s surprised me with how much she’s improved. “The harder they go, the more she likes it, and she’ll definitely run time with the right trip. “She’s also still got a bit of filling out to do, so she has the makings of a really nice filly next year.” Louies Girl initially went two slashing trials with Hurrell driving. In the first of them she would have been giving the leader around 15 lengths at the half, which they ran in 58 with Louies Girl storming home to be beaten less than three lengths. When she resumed in a maiden at Winton, Louies Girl worked to an early lead and left them to it, winning by six and a half lengths in 1.57.4, home in 27.5 on an easy track. Then in a race for two-year-old fillies at Wyndham, Louies Girl led before trailing Raklou, and winning by almost two lengths in 1.55.4, home in 26.7. Taking on the top two-year-old fillies at Addington from a second line draw was supposed to be a whole new ballgame however. Nobody told Louies Girl though. Four back in the running line before Ferguson made his move passing the 400m, Louies Girl came five wide and powered home over the top of them, with Mark Purdon’s surprised glances across from the runner-up Treacherous Baby probably summing things up. Louies Girl has drawn eight on Sunday, but they’re probably going to go hard, so staying out of the early rush could easily work in her favour. Louies Girl is the first foal that Forbes has bred from One Bad Dream, a Badlands Hanover mare that Forbes bought a few years ago along with her dam, Dream Angel, from Murray Little. Dream Angel is a Dream Away sister to One Dream and produced Mach’s Back (9 wins) and Lou’s Dream along with the dam of Christianshavtime (1.55.4, 6 NZ wins, $92,000). Lou’s Dream has won six races in Queensland this year, the latest at Albion Park recently in 1.53.6. “Murray had just got a few too many mares around him and I jumped at the chance to buy Dream Angel and One Bad Dream.” One Bad Dream has also produced a yearling filly by Captain Crunch and Dream Angel has just left a filly foal by him, but they’re both going to Lord Forbes this season. Forbes has also bred a weanling colt by Lord Forbes from Dream Angel, while his fourth one by him is a yearling colt from the Lis Mara mare Livy Franco. Forbes is going to race the latter colt with his 90-year-old auntie Val Heads and her daughter Judy who runs their farm at Edendale. “I’ve given that one to Alex Milne nearby and he kind of keeps Val going. “He’s a good size and has a neck on him like a stallion despite being gelded. “In fact he’s built like Arnold Schwarzenegger.” View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A speed machine and stable favourite, Franco Norton looks to have run his last race. “We are 99.9 per cent sure he’ll be retired,” says trainer Steven McRae. Bred and raced by Spreydon Lodge, Franco Norton has won 10 races from 24 starts, and just over $95,000 in stakes. “It’s frustrating because we know just how good he is.” Problems surfaced with the five-year-old gelding after his fast finishing second to Ohoka Connor in last weekend’s Methven Four Square Supermarket Green Mile. The problem is with a front deep flexor tendon. “He’s not lame or anything but there is swelling in there.” The five-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance has had a constant battle with injuries throughout his career. “Usually it’s the back legs that are the problem and we didn’t see this one coming,” says McRae. He was due to start in tomorrow’s Geraldine Cup, before being scratched. “The last seven or eight races he’s been going as well as ever .. we thought he was going to have even bigger 12 months and was a (New Zealand) Cup horse in the making.” His 10th and last career win came in the Winton Cup on April 13 when he made a great start off his 25m backmark to lead. He then reeled off a last 800 in 54.2 to beat One Change and Cya Art. As for his post racing life Franco Norton will remain at Spreydon Lodge’s West Melton property just outside Christchurch in the meantime. “He’s the stable pet and just loves attention and lots of pats,” says McRae, “we will take our time to find the right home for him.” View the full article

What Ballarat Cup Day Where Ballarat Turf Club – 240 Kennedys Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 When Saturday, December 9, 2023 First Race 12:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) is the feature event on a bumper 10-race program in Victoria’s Central Highlands this Saturday. The rail is out +2m from the 400m to the winning post, then sitting true for the remainder of the course. There are some scattered showers forecast in the region, so punters may want to anticipate a possible downgrade into the Soft range at some stage. Ballarat Cup Tip: Foxy Cleopatra Foxy Cleopatra’s connections have opted for Ballarat over the Ingham Stakes or the Santa Cup at Randwick this weekend. The daughter of American Pharoah finished runner-up in both starts to kick off the campaign, with the latest coming in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) behind Charterhouse on November 25. She is set to peak third-up, and with the 2000m seemingly ideal for Foxy Cleopatra, watch for her to be storming home to pick up career win number two. Ballarat Cup Race 8 – #8 Foxy Cleopatra (12) 4yo Mare | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Craig Williams (54kg) +500 with Neds Best Bet: Shohei We are willing to forgive Shohei after a lacklustre first-up performance at Rosehill on November 4 when returning from a 217-day spell. Her lack of race-day fitness showed and she was clicked up a long way out by Jay Ford to stick on for a mid-field finish. Her best performance to date came on the anti-clockwise circuit at Bendigo in the Gold Bracelet (1400m) back in April behind Foxy Frida, and if she can hold that form on Saturday, Shohei will take a power of beating. Best Bet Race 4 – #7 Shohei (5) 5yo Mare | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Jye McNeil (57kg) +380 with Bet365 Next Best Bet: Divine Purpose Formerly trained by Clinton Taylor in Queensland, Divine Purpose made a strong debut for the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman barn at Caulfield on November 18 and was unfortunate not to salute. The mare by Divine Prophet closed off heels and was forced to chase in limited space along the inside rail, so she did well to run second. Carlee Hefel sticks aboard in this BM78 contest, and although Divine Purpose may be better suited over further, she is capable of winning at the mile. Next Best Race 6 – #16 Divine Purpose (9) 4yo Mare | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Carleen Hefel (a1.5kg) (54kg) +280 with BoomBet Best Value Bet: Alhambra Lad Nothing went to plan for Alhambra Lad at Caulfield first-up on November 18, as the son of Proisir missed the start in what ended up as a glorified barrier trial over 1600m. The six-year-old is a genuine stayer, confirmed by his run of four-straight victories over 2000m or further last campaign. Billy Egan will press forward from barrier six and has the option to lead if he wants to, and from there, Alhambra Lad will give a bold sight at an each-way price with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 5 – #1 Alhambra Lad (6) 6yo Gelding | T: Patrick Payne | J: Billy Egan (61.5kg) +1600 with Bet365 Ballarat Cup Day 2023 quaddie tips Ballarat quadrella selections Saturday, December 9, 2023 3-6-8-10-12 1-8 3-8-9-11 1-6-8-10-12-14-16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Danny Shum craves more HKIR success with Romantic Warrior. A smile spread across the face of trainer Danny Shum and the connections of Romantic Warrior the instant the barrier draw was revealed for Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m). Seven has been a particularly lucky number so far. “Last year in the Hong Kong Cup we drew seven. Also in the Cox Plate, we drew seven.” said owner Peter Lau, who had picked the slot at random at the ceremony in Sha Tin’s parade ring. Romantic Warrior has already been the horse of both Shum and Lau’s racing lives. A Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner and the jurisdiction’s four-year-old champion in 2022, he has locked horns with other greats of the modern era such as Golden Sixty and California Spangle. His remarkable victory in last year’s Hong Kong Cup is one that will live long in the memory as he demolished a classy international field by more than four lengths, so comfortably that jockey James McDonald could showboat before he had even reached the line. The handsome bay gelding has also achieved something that even Hong Kong’s biggest equine celebrity, Golden Sixty, has not managed. His team’s laudable plan to campaign him overseas has seen his reputation spread far beyond the shores of the South China Sea. They chose the long-term strategy of the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Australia’s keynote weight-for-age prize, and at the end of October Romantic Warrior would become the first horse from Hong Kong to win it, flying home with clinical timing from McDonald to lead on the line. “To win it was great for myself, for Hong Kong racing and for the whole of Hong Kong,” Lau said at the draw ceremony on Thursday. “I think it was like winning a gold medal in the Olympics, it lifted the morale of the whole country.” Shum reports that Romantic Warrior has thrived since his trip overseas but his biggest concern is the standard of rivals in wait, with the likes of Irish ace Luxembourg, French rising star Horizon Dore and a formidable Japanese challenge headed by Prognosis and Rousham Park. “It (the opposition) will be quite strong I think, very strong,” the trainer said. “He’s been good. In the morning, that kind of horse is always good. But I think he’s still improving. He’s been great since Australia, no problem at all.” Shum said that he would not make any decisions about further overseas campaigns until after Sunday’s race. Lau, who co-founded the Japan Home Centre, a popular chain of homeware shops in Hong Kong, also seems to want to enjoy the ride, one step at a time, with the finest horse he has owned. “We won this last year so now there’s even more pressure,” he said. “In Australia I was as proud as I’ve been in all my life as an owner, it’s my greatest win so far. “He’s only five, going to six. I think he’s still got some improvement in him, I certainly hope so. “His form has been good since he came back, and the rider James gave a good comment about his condition so far. I’m very much looking forward to Sunday.” More horse racing news View the full article

Australian has been working with Danny Shum’s star since before his Cox Plate adventure and is rapt with how he is tracking ahead of Sunday’s Hong Kong CupView the full article

Race 5 LODGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 1100 TIVAAN WARRIOR (K Myers) – Trainer Mr. D Wiles advised Stewards, TIVAAN WARRIOR has been retired from racing. The post Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa, Saturday, 2 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 8 STEELFORM ROOFING GROUP WANGANUI CUP (Listed Race) 2040m PINION (M Hashizume) – Co-trainer Mr. R Wellwood reported to Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of PINION although in his opinion the gelding may not of handled the Good 4 track conditions. R Wellwood further advised the gelding will be sent for a freshen up, however, the stable will continue to exercise PINION on the water treadmill. The post Wanganui Jockey Club @ Wanganui, Saturday, 2 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 8 RIVERBANK CONSTRUCTION 1400m ASTRON (M Cameron) – Trainer Mr. C Cole advised Stewards, that on Wednesday 6 December, ASTRON underwent a veterinary examination which included an ECG with results showing the gelding to have inflammation of the heart. C Cole further advised ASTON has been placed on a course of steroids to help with the inflammation and has also been sent for a six-month spell. The post Levin Racing Club @ Otaki, Thursday, 30 November 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Golden Sixty has drawn barrier 14 in the Hong Kong Mile. Golden Sixty must overcome the widest draw of all in stall 14 if he is to reclaim his Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) crown on Sunday, in a turn of events which drew audible gasps from the assembled audience at Thursday morning’s barrier allocation ceremony in Sha Tin’s iconic parade ring. Golden Sixty won his first Hong Kong Mile in 2020 from box seven of ten and 12 months later he followed up when peeling to the outer after an inside trip from stall two. He failed to reel in California Spangle when drawn four in the 2022 edition and, in addition to attempting to win a third title on what will be his seasonal reappearance, Vincent Ho will now need to plot a path from out wide on the eight-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro. “Of course, it’s not an ideal draw and it makes things difficult for Vincent,” said trainer Frances Lui. “Midfield with cover, of course (would be best). If you look at the field, I think California Spangle will lead and he will slow down the pace. “Probably this race will be run at a slow pace. It’s going to be difficult.” Asked how stall 14 changes the task for Hong Kong’s pre-eminent miler, Lui added: “I think I will leave it to the jockey. I think the horse knows what to do, he has run so many races, and it all depends on the situation.” Christophe Soumillon will have a much more straightforward task from stall three aboard California Spangle, and the rematch from 12 months ago sets up with a similar scenario, albeit the two principals are drawn much wider apart this year. Yuga Kawada is housed just outside in four on Serifos but three more of Japan’s five-strong challenge were less fortunate, with Danon The Kid, Soul Rush and Namur filling stalls ten, 11 and 12 respectively. Lucky Sweynesse will break from stall five in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), with Zac Purton able to eyeball defending champion Wellington in three from flag-fall. The draw means the pair are physically separated by another leading home hope in Victor The Winner, who also split them across the line in the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on 19 November. Four-time Group 1-winner Highfield Princess must make the best of her way home from nine in a final field of ten declared on Thursday morning. Big race jockey Jason Hart is scheduled to link up with her on the all-weather track at Sha Tin on Friday morning, after trainer John Quinn elected to give the six-year-old Night Of Thunder mare a quiet time in the quarantine stables on Thursday, following her turf breeze 24 hours earlier. One trainer who didn’t wait for the barrier draw to declare his intentions was Hideyuki Mori. Outside pressure seems assured from the Mori-trained Jasper Krone – the mount of Yuga Kawada – who made all in a pair of Group 3 victories in Japan this summer and attempted to repeat the tactic when fourth in the Sprinters Stakes before disappointing at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1000m). Mori told the international media assembled for a Hong Kong Jockey Club press conference immediately prior to drawing stall eight: “He will lead on Sunday and set a good pace.” Two more rivals that have been drawn in close proximity are the defending champion in the Hong Kong Cup (2000m), Romantic Warrior, and Japan’s number one hope for the HK$36 million feature, Prognosis, who drew stalls seven and six, respectively. Still riding a wave of goodwill following Romantic Warrior’s historic win in the Cox Plate, owner Peter Lau told the audience: “Since he came back (from Australia) he has eaten better, his body weight is normal, and James McDonald says that in his training and trials, he feels even better.” The Aidan O’Brien-trained quartet was mostly handed favourable post positions but Cup contender Luxembourg is parked out in ten on the short run to the first bend over 2000m. France’s Horizon Dore has the opposite problem from stall one, given the hold-up tactics thus far employed with the three-year-old, and while he should be guaranteed to go the shortest way round, Mickael Barzalona will need the gaps to appear at the right time. O’Brien managed to draw stall one for Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille heroine Warm Heart in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), a potentially enticing prospect for Ryan Moore on the basis she was ridden positively in both those wins over 2400m by James Doyle. With Shahryar withdrawn on Thursday morning, the leading Japanese chance on form would now appear to rest with Lebensstill, aboard whom Joao Moreira will break from stall seven. More horse racing news View the full article

Meetings don’t get much better than Grand Prix day. On Sunday Addington will host eight Group 1s as part of an action-packed 10-race programme. So we’ve produced a Punting Guide to provide with all the information you need to enjoy what should be a brilliant day. Punting Guide Here View the full article

Online bookmakers have released their racing promotions for Friday, December 8, including several great bonus back offers. The top Australian racing promotions for December 8, 2023, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Double Winnings Races 1-4 at Moonee Valley Double Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. Max Bonus $50 First Bet Only. T&Cs apply Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Moonee Valley Race 1 & 2 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back Up to $50 Back a runner in races 1 & 2 at Moonee Valley this Friday and if it runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $50 in Bonus Cash. Fixed Win bets only. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. General betting rules apply. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Bonus Back for 2nd ALL Races at Moonee Valley Minimum 6 runners. Fixed odds win bets only. Check Vault for eligibility. Limits may apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Bonus Back for 2nd & 3rd at Moonee Valley Races 1-4 Get your stake back in bonus bets. Eligible Clients only. General PlayUp T&C’s apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting has reviewed the top horse racing bookmakers in Australia and has unveiled exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions and specials for Friday, December 8, 2023. These horse racing promotions persist almost daily, showcasing the commitment of Australia’s top horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker lacks a promotion, rest assured that another is presenting enticing promotional offers in the realm of gallops. HorseBetting.com.au is your go-to source for the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses every day. Gain the most value out of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses with the most competitive horse racing odds available for each race. It’s imperative to note that these thoroughbred racing promotion offers cater exclusively to existing customers. Accessing these special promotions and claiming the bookmaker’s offers requires logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting offers a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay informed, stay strategic, and make the most of your horse racing experience with these exclusive promotions. More horse racing promotions View the full article

What The Ingham Charity Raceday Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, December 9, 2023 First Race 12:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Group 2 Ingham Stakes (1600m) headlines a massive 10-race program at Randwick this Saturday. The rail moves back to the true position and the track is rate a Good 4, so it should play fairly throughout the afternoon. The opening is set to get underway at 12:20pm local time. Ingham Stakes Pick: Hinged Hinged is yet to step out since finishing mid-field in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on November 4. The daughter of Worthy Cause was found to be lame in both offside legs in the washup, giving the five-year-old clear excuses after she travelled wide without cover throughout. The Empire Rose has produced four subsequent winners, and with Hinged trialling nicely since, she can add to that tally in the Ingham Stakes. Ingham Stakes Race 7 – #13 Hinged (7) 5yo Mare | T: Chris Waller | J: Zac Lloyd (55kg) +2600 with Bet365 Best Bet At Randwick: Iowna Merc Iowna Merc heads to Randwick with an unblemished second-up record and will seek to maintain that in the final race of the program. The son of Winning Rupert was tackled on the wire first-up at this course on November 7 when attempting to make every post a winner under Anna Roper. Rachel King regains the ride after an eye-catching barrier trial on November 20, and with King boasting a strong record on the four-year-old, expect her to get the most out of Iowna Merc. Best Bet Race 10 – #11 Iowna Merc (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Rachel King (57kg) +400 with Dabble Best Value at Radwick: Promitto Promitto hasn’t won since February 2022, but his latest effort at Newcastle on November 18 suggests he is close to recapturing his best. The son of Divine Prophet ran into the smart Tavi Time on that occasion and was clearly the best of the beaten brigade, running second despite sitting close to last entering the home straight. Promitto needs to lug 61.5kg here, but if Zac Lloyd can hold a position from barrier six, watch for this guy to be powering home once again. Best Value Race 9 – #1 Promitto (6) 4yo Gelding | T: David Atkins | J: Zac Lloyd (61.5kg) +1400 with Betfair Randwick Saturday quaddie tips – 9/12/2023 Randwick quadrella selections Saturday, December 9, 2023 1-2-4-6-8-10-13-14-19 3-10 1-2-3-5-8 1-7-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article