Wandering Eyes

All-weather specialist returns to his favourite surface in Sunday’s Class Two Tsuen Fu Handicap (1,200m) at Sha TinView the full article

Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip has stamped his authority on upcoming spring majors with an unbelievable performance in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m). View the full article

Nash Rawiller guides Magic Time to victory in The Nivison. Photo: Racing NSW Nash Rawiller picked up his treble in the penultimate race at Rosehill on Saturday, steering home Magic Time (+140) in the Group 3 Nivison (1200m). The plunge landed nicely for favourite backers as the Grahame Begg-trained mare was a strong firmer from +300 to +140 with online betting sites prior to the jump. Punter would’ve rejoiced with the ride of Nash Rawiller, taking luck out of the equation heading towards the front on the daughter of Hellbent. The second market elect, Parisal (+290) was unable to match motors with the eventual winner, while Dalchini (+4000) put some spice into the multiples for trifecta followers. It was all honours to the winner, however, as Magic Time solidified herself as a galloper on the rise, and, has plenty of option heading further into the spring. Part owner of Magic Time John Muir was on course and talked about nobody wanting to buy her mare in the early part of her career. “We took her to the Magic Millions sales, no one wanted to buy her,” said Muir “So I’ve had a wonderful arrangement with Grahame Begg over the years, gave her to Grahame and the rest is history. I was delighted with what she’s done up to date.” “I thought she would’ve sold quite easily. But after the sale the box was empty and no one wanted to buy her. It happened with Secret Admirer too that I’ve had a great pleasure of racing.” Man of the moment, Nash Rawiller spoke to the confidence Grahame Begg had given him pre-race and didn’t seem deterred making all on Saturday. “Grahame (Begg) gave me great confidence this morning after talking to him,” said Rawiller. “The five weeks in between runs was more placement of her and he’s been able to give her a tickover jump out there, probably more than likely at Mornington I would imagine. “It certainly wasn’t the plan to be that aggressive early but she lobbed out the gates very quick and once she did that I was able to take advantage of it and cross them. “I was actually begging Parisal (2nd) to go on with it at the half mile but he wanted to slow up too much and I was forced to hold my position. She was very strong, really good effort and certainly a mare with a good future.” More horse racing news View the full article

Gold Trip ridden by Mark Zahra wins the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) The reigning Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip (+1800) has taken out the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes in impressive fashion, destroying a strong field of spring contenders by just under two lengths, after being eased down in the final 50m. After settling towards the rear of the field in the feature event at Flemington, Mark Zahra pushed the button on the son of Outstrip and within a few strides, he had gathered up the field and hit the front with 200m to go. By the 100m mark, Zahra had enough of a lead over West Wind Blows (+600) to have a cheeky look over his shoulder, put the whip away and sit up for the photo in splendid isolation. Running on along the rail was Soulcombe (+500), who finished third behind West Wind Blows and the race favourite Romantic Warrior (+140) ran into fourth at his first start in Australia. Ciaron Maher & David Eustace have now gone back-to-back in the Turnbull Stakes, after Smokin’ Romans won the race last year, and Maher spoke post-race. “That really gets you going doesn’t it,” Maher said. “He put the writing on the wall with his run at The Valley, and just looking at him in the yard, he looks amazing. “Credit to everyone and his owners, they had to be patient but they are getting well rewarded now. “I’d say he would have another Cox Plate on the table. “It’s probably his best win, if you can say that, from a Melbourne Cup winner, but he was dynamic today and very impressive.” When Maher was asked if they will aim Gold Trip at all three majors in Victoria, he didn’t rule anything out. “I think Mark (Zahra) might play a big role in the decision, he might push for a Cox Plate because he has one in the Caulfield Cup.” Mark Zahra was elated and clearly surprised by the win of Gold Trip, and he spoke post-race. “Unbelievable, I’m tingling,” Zahra said. “I can’t believe he won like that, what a win. “He’s such a race day horse, he goes down the straight and looks at the crowd and he’s an absolute ripper. “I had him just switched off and I don’t like to cuddle him and when I give it to him, I like to give it to him. “He is a stallion so he does think about, but when I give it to him, he hit the front at the 200 (metres) and he was just gonna bolted in. “Ciaron (Maher) and Dave (Eustace) have got him going so well, this prep it won’t matter what condition the track is.” Gold Trip is now the second favourite at $5 in the Cox Plate futures market with online bookmakers. More horse racing news View the full article

Star Patrol ridden by Ben Melham wins the Gilgai Stakes. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Star Patrol (+160) has remained undefeated this preparation after taking out the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes at Flemington, with Ben Melham giving the race favourite a great ride. The Clinton McDonald-trained galloper was successful in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) first-up and was heavily backed in what seemed to be a weaker Group 2 contest second-up on Saturday. The son of Starspangledbanner jumped well from his wide barrier and held the lead with Snapper (+7000) and Jigsaw (+700), who were closer to the inside running rail. Melham bided his time Star Patrol and he appeared to be losing ground on the quickening leaders, but as soon as he pushed the button, his gelding kicked into overdrive and took the leader with 200m to go. After kicking clear, the winner started to roll in towards the inside running rail, but there was no worries as he was more than a length clear of the runner-up Triple Missile (+750). Clinton McDonald was on track for Turnbull Stakes Day and he spoke about the win post-race. “He used himself well today and he went through his gears,” McDonald said of Star Patrol. “Once Ben (Melham) got busy on him, he really let down and found the line strong. “He come through the run really well after the Bobbie Lewis, which was surprising. “He galloped really well here on Tuesday, and we came here with our tail up thinking he could win here again.” Ben Melham picked up his third win at his fourth ride on Star Patrol, and he spoke post-race. “We were just mindful of the nature of his run, and he obviously had a hard run the other day,” Melham said of the tactics on Star Patrol. “He bounced through the run well enough, he’s a tough bugger. “He’s not a horse you want to get into a battle with because he is a big creature and very powerful, so we just let him do what he wants. “It was a good solid performance from the horse, and he is in for a great preparation.” Star Patrol is a +1400 chance in the Champions Sprint futures market with online bookmakers. More horse racing news View the full article

Montefilia recaptured her best form to take out the Group 2 Hill Stakes. Photo: Racing NSW Five-time Group 1 winner Montefilia (+220) stormed away with the $2 million prize packet on Saturday afternoon in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill. It was an astonishing finish by the six-year-old mare, who was idling worse than midfield, turning for home under Nash Rawiller before swallowing up her rivals in the shadows of the post. Mount Popa (+10000) and Hoo Ya Mal (+380) ensured a genuine galloper throughout the 1900m and were always going to leave some back markers coming into play. Initially, it seemed Hoo Ya Mal had pinched a big enough break with 200m to run; however, Protagonist ($6.50) slipped up the rail to cause a grandstand finish before Montefilia produced her scintillating best to snag the prize. Stable representative Charlie Duckworth spoke post-race on behalf of the Chris Waller team and gave huge credit to former trainer David Payne for how well he’d initially kept up this well-tried galloper. “It’s obviously a credit really to David Payne leaving plenty of horse left in her,” said Duckworth. “Everyone is so conscious of longevity nowadays and making sure you’re retiring sound horses and not breaking their hearts. There was obviously some still left in the locker but she’s achieved great things. “We’re just thrilled obviously to reward Yulong with offering us the opportunity to train such a great mare and it’s great for the racing public to see these mares continue to race on. “Where we go from here is up to Chris (Waller), he can work that problem out but it’s a nice problem to have and it’s been on a Good 4 track too so she not obviously dependant on that ground.” Nash Rawiller was very confident in the motor he had underneath him and alluded to that in his post-race assessment. “If there was another 100m she wins by three and a half or four (lengths),” said Rawiller. “She was motoring that last 100m. “She’s a big horse; she quickened well. I felt we were able to sneak through ok, I don’t know how the replay looked but it felt that way. I thought I’ll take my time. “It’s a fine line between keeping them balanced, keeping momentum at such a crucial stage of the race and try not to cause interference. Full credit to her, she got herself up off the deck and get there.” More horse racing news View the full article

‘He did extremely well to finish fourth carrying a penalty. I think a Cox Plate will suit him much better,’ says Kiwi jockeyView the full article

Craig Williams returns to the mounting yard on Future History after winning the The Bart Cummings at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace have taken out their third Bart Cummings in four years with Future History (+900) booking his place in the 2023 Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November. Craig Williams couldn’t have ridden the son of Showcasing much better after jumping well and finding the lead without doing too much work, before leading every step of the 2500m journey to win the Group 3 contest at Flemington. When the field rounded the home turn, Williams allowed his mount to quicken, and he dropped off Shaiyhar (+1600) to put up a couple of lengths on Serpentine (+1400) and Alaskan God (+1400) who challenged at the 300m mark. At the 200m mark, the race favourite, First Immortal (+260), let down with a blistering turn of foot and appeared as though he was going to run straight past the eventual winner. However, once Future History felt the horse on his outside, he found another gear and pulled away from the favourite in the final strides to claim a tough, all-the-way victory. David Eustace represented the Maher & Eustace stable, and he spoke post-race after another success in the Bart Cummings. “It was great from both horses, I thought Ashrun was great from the back as well,” Eustace said. “I thought Craig (Williams) gave him a great ride and got the fractions absolutely spot on. “I will have a chat with the boss, but I think he will probably go straight in (to the Melbourne Cup). “He’s been in work a long time this horse.” Criag Williams brought up his second win on Turnbull Stakes Day after riding Bodyguard to victory earlier in the day. “Confidence that I had a big, fit horse,” Williams said of his exhibition ride on Future History on Sunday at Sandown. “I got a big understanding of his mannerisms. “I thought that if anything got close to him, he would be able to hold it and beat it, and he saw that her when Levi & Mark Kavanaghs really progressive four-year-old horse challenged him. “He’s a deserved winner of the golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup and he was very dominant today.” Future History is now a +2500 chance in the Melbourne Cup futures market with online bookmakers. More horse racing news View the full article

Exciting two-year-old prospect Poetic Champion produced an emphatic first victory for young Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth at Hawera on Saturday. Prepared by Cambridge trainer Tony Pike, Poetic Champion exuded confidence in the birdcage before the 950m contest and he looked every part the professional from the jump, striding up to sit outside the leader and race-favourite Cognoscenti through the running. The imposing chestnut travelled seamlessly under a hold into the home straight and bounded to the lead for jockey Craig Grylls when he released the gelding, displaying a dashing turn-of-foot to score by an extending six-and-a-quarter lengths. “He’s a real little beauty, he knows what he’s here for and he’s been a dude from day one,” Pike stable representative Mark Hills said. “From his trial at Cambridge, his turn of foot was good and his jump-out the other day was good, he’s a real little professional.” Grylls couldn’t have been more impressed with the two-year-old in his race-day debut, which followed a sharp trial win on the Cambridge synthetic track last month. “He jumped really good and sat outside the leader, he was travelling well but once I straightened him up and gave him a squeeze he absolutely took off,” he said. “He’s not big but he’s quite well put together and strong for his size, he’s a very nice little galloper.” Poetic Champion was passed in when not reaching his $80,000 reserve at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales, which saw the gelding’s breeders GSA Bloodstock, who were also the previous owners of Super Seth, retain full ownership. The two-year-old produced shades of his sire’s devastating finishing sprint when claiming the 2019 Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), bolting home to defeat eventual six-time Group One-winner Alligator Blood. Super Seth’s impressive record for trainer Anthony Freedman also included victories in the Gr.3 McNeil Stakes (1200m), Gr.3 Manfred Stakes (1200m), and a runner-up finish in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) against the older horses in his three-year-old season. A son of Dundeel, Super Seth was retired to Waikato Stud in 2020 and stands at the Matamata nursery for a fee of $35,000, Poetic Champion’s victory rewarding the belief that stud principal Mark Chittick had in the stallion from the beginning. “It was just amazing,” Chittick said. “It will be four years ago next week that Super Seth won the Caulfield Guineas and beat the unbeaten Alligator Blood, and immediately after that there was a move made between myself and Mike Rennie to secure him, because I felt like he was just the right horse that we wanted to be breeding racehorses by. “The deal between Jonathan Munz (GSA Bloodstock) and Dean Hawthorne (bloodstock agent) went through smoothly, but it involved a hell of a lot of money and the last four years we’ve been under intense pressure, today we hope was the start of what we believe in. “We’ve always had the most belief in him because he’s the sort of horse that makes a great stallion and that was the ultimate start. “It’s only early days, but what we’ve seen and heard so far is just what we wanted.” View the full article

While most people were surprised to see Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock) hold out the late charge of multiple Group One winner Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) as she took out the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeder’s Stakes (1400m), trainer Royden Bergerson wasn’t necessarily one of them. Bergerson had expected Prowess to be the hardest to beat in the feature race at Hawera on Saturday but when he heard the track would be in the Soft range on the day, his confidence grew that he could spring an upset with his six-year-old daughter of Tavistock. Rider Johnathan Parkes took the bull by the horns from barrier rise as he set up a steady pace on his charge, who looked to be travelling easily approaching the home bend. Town Cryer shook off the challenges of Darci La Bella and Mazzolino shortly after straightening before Prowess appeared out wide with a powerful burst. Having her first start for the season after a delay caused by a minor injury, Prowess peaked on her run slightly as Town Cryer kicked strongly at the 100m to hold a one length advantage at the line, with Mazzolino battling nicely for third. “It was great to come back to my old hometown and pick up the big one today,” Bergerson said. “We knew she was flying, so we waited and waited and I said to the manager of her syndicate of owners that we would chuck her in the deep end have a crack at a big one. “I didn’t think we would be racing against Prowess and beat her, maybe the track tripped her up, but you take the wins where you can and I’m proud of her. “As soon as she came into the stable as a two-year-old I said to my old mate GV (Gary Vile) she was a Group horse and he laughed at me. “She has just matured and it was a great ride by Parkesy, who rode her at the trials the other day and was confident as well.” Bergerson had been contemplating sending the mare south to the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on 15 November but admitted he may change those plans. “I had been thinking I would send her to the Coupland’s Mile, but I might keep her back and aim her at something a little bigger in the North Island now,” he said. Parkes admitted he heard the footsteps coming when Prowess launched her claim but was confident he had the situation in hand. “Full credit to Royden as he had this mare spot on for today,” Parkes said. “She looked amazing and trialled up really well. “She got a nice lead, put pressure on when I wanted to and stuck on really well. “She pinned her ears back and fought hard, Prowess is a superstar but I was on the better horse on the day and that is a nice win to get.” Town Cryer has now won six of her 25 starts for Bergerson and her large group of owners and just under $200,000 in prizemoney. Co-trainer Roger James, who prepares Prowess in partnership with Robert Wellwood, was satisfied with the run by his stable star, who had trouble negotiating the tricky Soft7 surface. “She dipped quite badly in the ground and he (rider Michael McNab) said he had to pick her up and get her travelling again,” James said. “She has got such a big action, so it just wasn’t’ ideal for her and she was beaten by a better horse on the day. “It’s six months since she has a run and two and a half months since she had a trial, so like the All Blacks having their first game of the season, she will improve with it.” View the full article

Promising filly Luberon confirmed she is right on schedule for a trip to Christchurch later in the spring with a comprehensive winning performance at Matamata. The Lance Noble-trained daughter of Embellish had opened her three-year-old campaign with a comfortable win at Te Rapa over 1200m last month and took a rise in distance in her stride on Saturday as she overcame her six rivals in the 1400m contest. Settled outside pacemaker Tears Of Victory by rider Warren Kennedy, Luberon took over rounding the home bend and quickly established a winning break. Although wanting to race greenly in the final 200m she comfortably held out a late charge from Loch Katrine and Tulsi who both closed off nicely to fill the minor placings. Noble was happy to excuse the wayward behaviour of his charge, preferring to praise the way she accomplished her task. “She wants a little more practice left-handed as it was only her second start going that way around,” Noble said. “She came around the corner a bit green and was out on her own for a fair way, while she was also getting a little tired near the end. “I think there is a lot of improvement to come. “It has been three weeks since her last run and she has done well so I was a little worried she may have been underdone, but to her credit she has stuck to the task and got the job done.” Noble indicated the filly would have one more start in the north before heading to Riccarton where she holds a nomination for both the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). “The Soliloquy Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m at Pukekohe) is in three weeks and I think we will go to that option and then head to Christchurch,” he said. “Her father won the 2000 Guineas so I don’t think she is going to have any problem getting the distance (1600m) down there.” Kennedy was also pleased to see how well Luberon finished off her task. “She is still learning about left-handed racing and just needs some practise,” he said. “She was quite green and never really let down as she was running about, so it was a good win and done purely on ability. “Lance is doing the right thing giving her the practise and it will stand her in good stead when she goes to those bigger races down south.” TAB Bookmakers reacted swiftly to the win by moving Luberon in from $26 to $5 on the Fixed Odds market for the 1000 Guineas where she is equal favourite with Molly Bloom. Bred and owned by Cambridge Stud couple Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Luberon is the second foal of Fastnet Rock mare Elegant Achiever and comes from a family littered with European stakes sperformers along with Industrialist, the champion middle distance performer for the 1999-2000 season in Hong Kong. Noble made it a winning double for the day when producing Iffin Doubt Dance to win the third race on the card, again with Kennedy in the saddle. View the full article

King’s Gambit was a class above in the Roman Consul Stakes. Photo: Racing NSW King’s Gambit (+400) has charged home along the rail to score a dominant victory in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday. Tommy Berry elected to head straight to the rear of the field, estimating a strong tempo with Ozzmosis (+120) and Royal Tribute (+900) likely to surge for the lead, and that exactly was what eventuated. The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained colt simply bid his time as the inside running rail opened for the three-year-old and when Tommy Berry pushed the button, King’s Gambit letdown with a blistering turn-of-foot. Co-trainer Peter Snowden spoke on behalf of the stable and suggested The Everest (1200m) might be on the cards next year, meanwhile the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) would be the major target this spring season. “He’s a very very talented horse and he’s only had a handful of starts,” said Snowden. “He’s only going to keep getting better and better. Once everything falls into place, he really does relax. You’ll see a very very good horse. “I’ve done a lot of travelling with him, a lot of petrol money spent on this bloke. But it’s all worthwhile, we wouldn’t have done it if we never thought he was worth it. “Paul and I both had a lot of confidence in this horse and it’s good to see him reward us with that sort of win.” “The Coolmore that Henry (Field) and the team really want to win with him. “We might even get another run in before the Coolmore and the more racing he has the better he’ll be and the more relaxed he’ll be and you get a better product. “He’s certainly a talented horse once you get it all worked out I think we’re going to see a nice horse.” Tommy Berry only recent resumed riding after a length suspension and has seen immediate success back in the saddle. “It’s hard to think I’ve only been back riding a week and a half and I find a horse of this quality,” said Berry. “It’s had a week to sink in but you do pinch yourself when you get good rides like this and my whole book today and next week for Everest Day, it’s quite amazing. “I do pinch myself. It’s unbelievable to have this support so early in my comeback. I’ll keep working hard, and keep repaying these guys.” King’s Gambit is now on the third line of betting in futures markets at +500 in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on November 4. More horse racing news View the full article

Daniel Stackhouse after Life Lessons won the Rose of Kingston Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman have won their first Rose Of Kingston Stakes as a training partnership, with their five-year-old mare Life Lessons (+500) holding off a wall of challengers to claim the Group 2 contest at Flemington. With very little speed expected in the race, Daniel Stackhouse took the daughter of Tavistock to the front and settled outside the leader, Starlight Scope (+4000), and held a good length over the race favourite Princess Grace (-166.67). Once the field rounded the home turn, Stackhouse went for his mare and took over in the lead, but didn’t have a huge margin on the race favourite, who challenged with 200m to go. However, as Princess Grace died on her run, Waltz On By (+2000) and Wrote To Arataki (+1800) began to charge home on the outside, but none of them could catch the winner, and she pulled away late to win by just under half-a-length. Co-trainer Katherine Coleman was clearly jubilant in the post-race interview. “Thrilled with her, she’s come on well after running second behind Amelia’s Jewel,” Coleman said. “She’s maintained condition, and we brought her here thinking that she would run really well. “She needed a good spell. We tried to freshen her up over the summer and bring her back for the autumn, but it just didn’t work out. “She needed a good break, which she had, and she has come back bigger and stronger.” When asked if the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes would be next, Coleman didn’t want to rule her mare out. “Look, the way she was finishing off the race there, I definitely wouldn’t be saying no.” Daniel Stackhouse remains the only jockey to win on Life Lessons, with this win bringing up his fourth success from six rides. “My plan was to be in front of her (Princess Grace), because I knew the turn of foot that I’ve got,” Stackhouse said of his plan during the race. “Moods (Peter Moody) gave me good confidence that she would run well after she worked really well on Tuesday. “I thought I was controlling the race from where I was. “I think she has mentally and physically filled out now and when I rode her the other day, she gave me a good feel and I felt like there was a lot more improvement to come.” Life Lessons is now +1100 in the Empire Rose Stakes futures market with online bookmakers. More horse racing news View the full article

Danehill Stakes winner Stretan Angel (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Despite a late drift with online bookmakers, Stretan Angel (+600) has proved too strong in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday afternoon. The Phillip Stokes-trained filly was given a tactically superior ride by Damian Lane, electing to sit outside the leaders and gaining a prominent position throughout the 1100m journey. She and I Am Unstoppable (+230) led both their respective packs heading for home, as Stretan Angel was able to get the upper hand of the race favourite, setting up a mouthwatering clash in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) in a month. Phillip Stokes was on course for the win of his dynamic filly and ensured Stretan Angel will now charge towards the Group 1 feature in early November. “She jumped well today and taken a lot out of her first-up run,” said Stokes. “We came here today knowing how much improvement she had to come, so she’s done a super job. “We still think she’s only 85 percent, so it’s exciting going into her next run, which is got to be there now (Coolmore). It was Damian Lane’s first sit on Stretan Angel, and he was glowing about the result in his post-race assessment. “She was super,” said Lane. “I was hoping I’d get her to begin better than she had been, but the pace was only steady, so it gave her a really good run in transit, being able to be there. “I had to join in a touch earlier than I would’ve liked, but she was strong through the line.” “Now she’s shown a bit of tactical versatility; she’s tough, she’s quick, and Phillip (Stokes) said she’d improve out of the first-up run, and I dare say she’ll improve again.” Stretan Angel is now a +800 chance with online bookmakers in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on November 4. More horse racing news View the full article

Zardozi ridden by Chad Schofield wins the TABEdward Manifold Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) James Cummings and Chad Scofield have combined with Zardozi (+1000) taking out the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) in stylish fashion at Flemington on Saturday. The Godolphin filly showed plenty of promise in her two-year-old season, winning three in a row before being tipped out for a spell. She was then placed on a Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) path that didn’t eventuate, now landing in Melbourne for what could now be a live chance in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m). She sat quietly behind a genuine tempo for Chad Schofield, as the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Amazonian Lass (+3300) bold along up on speed. When the race went on with 400m to go, Zardozi and Aprilia (+1000) sat down to fight out the finish, with the former finding best to score by 1.5 lengths. Stable representative Sean Keogh was on course to discuss his winning mare, and what could be next for the daughter of Kingman. “She had a wonderful start to her career for James (Cummings),” said Keogh. “After two disappointing runs up in grade, James saw that race last Sunday at Sandown just looked ideal to get some confidence back. “We were happy with how she ran, she never got the opportunity to unleash to show how well she was going. “It lined up beautifully, and it’s super to get a win like that.” “I suppose James looking at her pedigree would’ve earmarked races like the Oaks going forward if she continues that form. “Races like the Ethereal and an Oaks path looks like a promising way to go.” Chad Schofield has now ridden Zardozi to success on four occasions and was elated with the victory, moving onto a possible Oaks tilt. “She’s turning into a lovely filly,” said Schofield. “I always thought she would. “I won her first three races on her as she raced through the grades, and she improved quickly over that short amount of time. “She’s really settled into her prep now, and she’s won really impressively there.” “She just wants to relax and find a nice rhythm, so she’s going to give herself every opportunity to run the (Oaks) trip, and she was very strong through the line there.” Zardozi is currently +800 in futures markets with most top online bookmakers for the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m). More horse racing news View the full article

Luberon dashes to Group 1 1000 Guineas (1600m) joint-favouritism with her win at Matamata on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) In a stellar display at Matamata, the promising filly Luberon, trained by Lance Noble, confirmed her readiness for a journey to Christchurch later in the spring. This victory marked her second win in her three-year-old campaign, following a comfortable triumph at Te Rapa over 1200m last month. Ridden by Warren Kennedy, the daughter of Embellish showcased her prowess over an increased distance, conquering the 1400m contest against six rivals. Positioned outside pacemaker Tears Of Victory, Luberon took charge around the home bend, establishing a winning lead. Despite some green racing tendencies in the final 200m, she fended off late charges from Loch Katrine and Tulsi to secure victory. Noble, content with Luberon’s performance, attributed her slight waywardness to inexperience, emphasising her accomplishment in the task. “She wants a little more practice left-handed,” Noble said. “It has been three weeks since her last run, and she has done well, so I was a little worried she may have been underdone, but to her credit, she has stuck to the task and got the job done. “The Soliloquy Stakes (Group 2, 1400m at Pukekohe) is in three weeks, and I think we will go to that option and then head to Christchurch.” Warren Kennedy acknowledged Luberon’s learning curve in left-handed racing and praised her finish. ” “She is still learning about left-handed racing and just needs some practice,” said Kennedy. “Lance is doing the right thing giving her the practice, and it will stand her in good stead when she goes to those bigger races down south.” Noble revealed that Luberon, bred and owned by Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, would make one more start in the north before heading to Riccarton, where she holds nominations for both the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). “Her father won the 2000 Guineas, so I don’t think she is going to have any problem getting the distance (1600m) down there,” said Noble. The win prompted online bookmakers to adjust Luberon’s odds, moving her from +2500 to +400 on the Fixed Odds market for the 1000 Guineas, where she now shares favouritism with Molly Bloom. Luberon, the second foal of Fastnet Rock mare Elegant Achiever, hails from a lineage rich in European stakes performers, including Industrialist, the champion middle-distance performer for the 1999-2000 season in Hong Kong. Noble completed a winning double for the day with Iffin Doubt Dance’s triumph in the third race, once again guided by jockey Warren Kennedy. More horse racing news View the full article

Candied made a sweeping four-wide move and powered away to win the $600,000 Alcibiades Stakes (G1) for 2-year-old fillies going two turns on opening day of Keeneland's fall meet.View the full article

Practical Move returned to the races for the first time since winning the April 8 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and picked up where he left off, taking a $63,700 allowance Oct. 6 while coasting home by four lengths, again at Santa Anita, where he's 4-for-4.View the full article

While rookie trainer is on the board, 12-time champion continues his search for his first success of the season at Sha Tin on SundayView the full article

Gone since his nose victory in the spring in the GI Santa Anita Derby over Japanese invader Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby), Practical Move (c, 3, Practical Joke–Ack Naughty, by Afleet Alex) made it look like he never left–jumping in service of first-time Lasix, comfortable at every call before inhaling the leading GISW Tripoli (Kitten's Joy) coming off the turn, and cruising home to a stylish victory, his fourth in a row. Tripoli hung on for second while MGSW Newgrange (Violence) fought back from the rail to hold third. Sales history: $90,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $230,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR. O-Leslie A. & Pierre J. Amestoy and Roger K. Beasley; B-Chad Brown & Head of Plains Partners (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. PRACTICAL MOVE ($2.80) and @JockeyRamonVazq made his return to the races a winning one in @santaanitapark race 8. This colt by @coolmoreamerica's Practical Joke was trained by @timyakteen. One to go at Santa Anita, wager on https://t.co/nBYFHiPrdh! pic.twitter.com/WswX2nYy9d — TVG (@TVG) October 6, 2023 The post Practical Move Makes Stylish Return to the Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Injured in Japan in the off-season, Ho says the ban will allow him to ‘take the time to heal 100 per cent rather than pushing the boundaries every meeting’.View the full article

By Jonny Turner Walkinonsunshine showed why she’s the best three-year-old trotting filly in New Zealand with her victory in the Southland Trotting Oaks. Driver Blair Orange took control of the feature event, utilising his charge’s gate speed to set up a front-running victory at Ascot Park. After bagging her second Oaks title, following her Northern Oaks win earlier this year, Walkinonsunshine is on track for another tilt against the boys for trainer Tom Bagrie. The runner-up in the Group One Northern Trotting Derby will head to the Hambletonian at Ashburton to continue what is set to be a big spring and summer campaign. “We are going to take on the boys next in the Hambletonian,” Bagrie said. “Then we will probably leave Cup Week alone, the main target is the New Zealand Trotting Oaks.” Walkinonsunshine showed all the tactical speed needed to win the feature. Bagrie describes his filly as one that has all the attributes needed for top-level racing. “She has got all the things you want in a nice horse.” “She just makes it too easy – she is easy to train.” “She eats up and tries her heart out.” “She is not real flash, she doesn’t have high speed or anything but she is just really genuine.” Walkinonsunshine isn’t flash on the breeding front, considering her dam is by the pacing sire Falcon Seelster. Despite her pacing breeding, Blackjacky was a handy mare trotting mare, trained by Bagrie’s father Peter. And she has left a classy filly in Walkinonsunshine for owners Reg and Bella Storer. “It is great for Reg to have a nice horse because he has put so much into the industry,” Bagrie said. Sarah O’Reilly put herself in prime position to win her fourth New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship title with a winning double at Ascot Park. The championship came to Invercargill for the first time and O’Reilly took out two of three heats. O’Reilly piloted Ellz Angel and With A Bang to victory to end the second day of the three-day competition in first place. O’Reilly leads with 60 points ahead of Zev Merideth on 54 points and Carter Dalgety on 47 points. Gemma Thornley took out the third Invercargill heat with Gift Card, taking her to fifth in the competition’s standings. The championships now head to the final day at Methven on Sunday. View the full article

By Michael Guerin They were two perfect comebacks by two wonderful horses but their connections left Alexandra Park on Friday knowing far greater challenges lie ahead. Old Town Road and Bolt For Brilliance overcame vastly different handicaps after vastly different spells to both win their comeback races on Friday and remind us just how special they are. First up it was Old Town Road in the Kerry Hoggard Memorial – Holmes D G, a race trainer John Dickie was worried his star was going into short of peak fitness. His task got easier with the unfortunate scratching of the injured Copy That and then when Old Town Road stepped straight on to the back of the small field and there were four different lead changes while he relaxed and waited. That left Zachary Butcher able to aim to win but to win without gassing Old Town Road in his first start since the Auckland Cup. He waited until the last possible moment and launched and Old Town Road sprouted wings to charge past Simply Sam and a very brave Whispering Artist. The winner’s amended time at 3:22.7 represented a 2:0.7 mile rate for the 2700m stand, tough enough to bring him on but not so harsh as to hurt him. “It was an ideal comeback and a great drive by Zac,” said Dickie. “I had had some sleepless nights because he had his issues but now we can head south with win under his belt. “But we know there are some very good horses waiting there for us so it is only going to get tougher.” Dickie says Old Town Road will head to Ashburton for the Flying Stakes and then could race again at Addington before the Cup on November 14. As good as Old Town Road was there was no mistaking the star of the show as Bolt For Brilliance was stunning in his first start since fracturing a bone during the Inter Dominions in Victoria last December. After just two trials he had to overcome a 50m back mark but he did so with ludicrous ease, looping his rivals in the first half of the last lap before racing clear to a 10 and a half length victory. The margin was greatly exaggerated by All Cashed Up galloping at the 150m mark when he was going to run second and probably beaten by no more than two lengths but to put the exclamation mark on his resounding return Bolt For Brilliance broke the national 2700m stand record. He trotted 3:23.3, a 2:1.1 mile rate and looked like he could have gone faster. If he comes through the race well be could be in Christchurch by the middle of next week and ready to resume his arch rivalry with Muscle Mountain at Addington next Friday night. Whether Bolt For Brilliance can beat Muscle Mountain, who has had a year of hard racing that the northerner has missed out on, remains to be seen but he could have the advantage of better standing start manners and, possibly in the Dominion, being on the front line while Muscle Mountain could be on the unruly. “It is great to have hin back and we train him now like the injury is in the past because it seems to have healed so well,” says Herlihy. “He did that easily tonight but I know he will need to step it up a level against Muscle Mountain.” He will, but the next round of open class trotting races and the Dominion in particular just got a hell of a lot more interesting. View the full article

The only thing missing was a stakes victory from Hoist the Gold's résumé. That unlucky void was filled Oct. 6 when the tough campaigner stole the show in the $349,375 Phoenix Stakes (G2) opening day at Keeneland.View the full article

2nd-KEE, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:32p.m. ET GALLANT MISCHIEF (Into Mischief), a $480,000 KEENOV purchase in 2021, will put his best foot forward in this first juvenile maiden on a packed Keeneland card for conditioner Mark Casse and owner Tracy Farmer. A half-brother to MGISW Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid), he comes into this contest with a string of very strong works at Ellis Park, including three successive bullets starting Aug. 17 (1/12), Aug. 30 (1/17) and Sept. 10 (1/22). Gallant Mischief is out of a half-sister to a host of accomplished 'Berties' including MGSW Hurricane Bertie; MGSW & GISP Allamerican Bertie-dam of MSW Homerun Berti and graddam of multiple course-record setter MSW & GSP Believe in Bertie. TJCIS PPs. 11th-KEE, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 6:18p.m. ET Booth (Mitole), a $225,000 OBSMAR procurement this past spring, will take to the track after a Super Saturday of racing at Keeneland with an eye on breaking his maiden for trainer Steve Asmussen and the Heiligbrodts. Half-brother to GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Bright Future (Curlin), the colt can also count GI Hopeful S. winner Nutella Fella (Runhappy) in his extended female family. To his inside and unveiling for the powerhouse WinStar and Siena Farms partnership is Rapoport (Consitution), who hails from the young broodmare Tiz Breathtaking (Tiznow), winner of the GIII Mazarine S. in Canada. This is the female family of the venerable Shared Account, dam of fellow Breeders' Cup champion Sharing, and of GSW Sparkle Blue (Hard Spun). The $300,000 KEESEP grad is trained by Todd Pletcher. Flying the flag for homebreds will be Godolphin's Nash (Medaglia d'Oro), who is out of a multiple graded stakes-winning half-sister to GSW Just Louise, dam of MGSW & MGISP Forbidden Kingdom. The half-brother to GSP Sara Street (Street Sense) will break from the rail for Brad Cox. TJCIS PPs. 6th-SA, $61k, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 6:39p.m. ET A princely $1.7 million KEESEP acquisition for Zedan Racing, Coach Prime (Quality Road) will debut from the far outside of a packed maiden for Bob Baffert. A half-brother to MSP Dr Oseran (Kitten's Joy), he hails most notably from the female line of Spunoutacontrol, who accounts for MGSW & MGISP Fed Biz; SW Spun Silk–dam of GISW Joking (Distorted Humor) and granddam of MGSW Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance); and the dam of three stakes winners on the New York circuit. This is the extended family of noted stallions Tale of the Cat and Johannesburg. TJCIS PPs. The post Oct. 7 Insights: Well-Related Juveniles Debut on Both Coasts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article