Wandering Eyes

The obstacles were already considerable for three-time reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) long before connections of the 44 runners for Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting took their seats for Thursday's morning barrier draw in the Sha Tin parade ring. Already a nine-time Group 1 winner and victorious in 25 of his 29 career starts, the 8-year-old has not started since defeating Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in the G1 Champions Mile in late April, a 224-day hiatus. Only twice in his career has he been dealt a double-digit gate, and his chances to register a third victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile took a serious blow when owner Stanley Chan selected gate 14 in a field of 14. “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 (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) 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.” California Spangle, who prevented a Golden Sixty three-peat 12 months ago, fared far better, as he will break from stall three with Christophe Soumillon taking the ride. Whether he is loose up front is another question, as the Andre Fabre-trained Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) will have to roll forward from the 13. No horse as old as eight has won the mile, though Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), whose record Golden Sixty is trying to equal, won the last of his three Miles aged seven. Beauty Flash (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) won the 2010 Mile from the 14, though he was an on-pace runner, while standout milers like Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) and Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) won from double-digit draws. Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) will be favoured to successfully defend his title in the richest of the afternoon's four events, the HK$36-million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup over his pet distance of 2000 metres, and while he drew a decent middle gate in seven, he, too, has a few questions to answer. The 5-year-old makes his first local appearance this season, having finished fourth in the G1 Turnbull S. at Flemington Oct. 7 ahead of a hard-fought success in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley three weeks later. Since clearing quarantine, he's had a winning barrier trial, and connections remain bullish on his chances. “He's been good. In the morning, that kind of horse is always good,” trainer Danny Shum said of Romantic Warrior, who cost Mick Kinane and the Hong Kong Jockey Club team 300,000gns at Tattersalls October in 2019 before selling to owner Peter Lau for HK$4,800,000 (€517,894) at the Hong Kong International Sale in 2021. “But I think he's still improving. He's been great since Australia, no problem at all.” Aidan O'Brien is the only trainer with runners in each of Sunday's four races, selecting gate one for G1 Yorkshire Oaks and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) for the Vase and Sprint, respectively. Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road), who will be a longshot in the Mile, drew barrier nine, while Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) has a potentially tricky alley in 10 with a short run to the first corner in the Cup. The Ballydoyle maestro has started 29 horses at the HKIR for a record of 3-2-1, each of the victories coming in the Vase (Highland Reel, 2015 & 2016, Mogul, 2020). But he feels he's got the right horses to make an impact this year. “I think there is no doubt that it is,” O'Brien replied when asked if this was the best team he'd brought to Hong Kong. “It's very difficult to win races here and you don't come with second-raters.” Champion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) will jump favoured in the Sprint from gate five, while G1 Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) will try to become the first European-based winner of the race from gate nine, with Japanese multiple group-winning speedball Jasper Krone (Frosted) leaving just to her inside. “It's very difficult to win races here and you don't come with second-raters.” AOB fields 4⃣ this year: Warm Heart (Vase), Aesop's Fables (Sprint), Cairo (Mile) and Luxembourg (Cup)… @LONGINES | #HKIR | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/5U50Qzhms2 — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 7, 2023 The post ‘It’s Going To Be Difficult’: Golden Sixty Draws Widest For Hong Kong Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com “The Breeders' Cup. Going in, so many races looked ultra-competitive, and the results bore out with exciting stretch runs and thrilling finishes. When I'm on horseback, I don't get to see the stretch run, so all I have is Larry Collmus's race call, which, in so many of the races, had me guessing about who the winner would be until they literally hit the wire. In some cases, we didn't know until after they crossed the wire and the photo finish results were posted. Two of the best days of racing I've witnessed in a long time.” –Donna Brothers, NBC Sports The post What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Donna Brothers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Applying the core principles of breeding to stallions who were top racehorses while enhancing their own core families, Dietrich and Annabel von Boetticher's Gestut Ammerland has forged a reputation as one of the best owner-breeder operations in Europe. The results of the Bavarian farm speak for themselves but let us offer a reminder here. At one stage Ammerland was home to around 50 mares, but generally the average number has been closer to 30: not quite boutique but also not behemoth. Over the last 30 years or so, 60 group race wins have come their way, including 17 at Group 1 level, and not just any old Group 1s either. First Hurricane Run (Ire) and then Waldgeist (GB) won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Hurricane Run had won the Irish Derby in his breeder's colours before being sold to Michael Tabor, who had also raced his sire and fellow Arc winner Montjeu (Ire). And though von Boetticher must have been smarting when Hurricane Run had been beaten a neck in the Prix du Jockey Club, his conqueror Shamardal would later do the breeder a huge favour as the sire of Ammerland's dual French Classic winner Lope De Vega (Ire), who is now one of the most important stallions in the world. Crispin de Moubray, who has been helping Ammerland as a consultant for the last 25 years, says of von Boetticher, “He's been passionate about winning big races. His passion has always been for top racehorses and his policy has been to use them as stallions, even if they're not particularly fashionable, and to set up a breeding operation where everything is carefully worked out using the same trainers, the same staff.” With the breeder now in his 80s, the decision has been taken to wind down the Thoroughbred breeding activities at Ammerland. It has been a gradual process over recent years and now comes the first part of the official dispersal at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale, where 12 fillies and mares and one colt foal will be offered for sale on Saturday. He adds, “There have only been three stud managers in the 25 years since I've been involved. Daniela Nowara, Nicolas Schenke, who arrived when Bernried was bought, and then the last 10 years there's been Steffi Fuchs. “Steffi is staying until the end of August next year when we'll sell the eight yearlings in Arqana in August. There is one Almanzor [foal] in the sales because he's big and he's strong and we're selling the mare, and we just thought it made sense to sell them next to each other. The other eight foals are being raised at Ammerland and the plan is for them to be sold in the August sale next year.” Gestut Ammerland was founded in 1989 on Lake Starnberg, outside Munich, the year after von Boetticher won the Deutsches Derby with Luigi (Ger), the first racehorse he bought. He later purchased Gestut Bernreid on the other side of the lake, which for a time was home to the stallions Hurricane Run (after his return from Coolmore), his homebred G1 Coronation Cup winner Boreal (Ger), Ito (Ger), and most recently Iquitos (Ger), who subsequently moved to Gestut Graditz and has now been transferred to Rottgen ahead of the 2024 season. Iquitos has made an eye-catching start from his first crop of only five foals. Two of them are stakes winners, both out of Hurricane Run mares and both bred by Ammerland. His son Mr Hollywood (Ire) is a Group 3 winner who was second in the G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, while daughter Drawn To Dream (Ger), a Listed winner and Group 3 runner-up, will be sold in training as Lot 208. Her half-sister, the GI Beverly D S. winner Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}), was recently sold in foal to Flightline at Keeneland for $1.65 million. “If you look at Ammerland over the last 25 years, they have averaged 20% black-type horses to foals,” says de Moubray. “If you take this year's three-year-old crop, for example, there were 18 and 16 of them have run, which is astonishing. Fourteen have won and four are stakes winners: Mr Hollywood, Drawn To Dream, Chesspiece and Sevenna's Knight. “If you don't breed for the market, but you breed for the racecourse, in my opinion, you have a much better chance of producing racehorses. They're raised in the same paddocks in Ammerland. It's great land, they have great staff, everything about it is carefully managed. They all go through the same regime. They didn't go to the sales as foals, yearlings. They have gone to be pre-trained and then they go to Peter Schiergen or John Gosden or Andre Fabre. They were never sold until recently. It's been a well-run small operation based around the idea of producing top horses.” From such good foundations, the mares and fillies offered this weekend should clearly be coveted by other breeders. It is hard to look past Lady Frankel (GB) as the potential star of the draft. The Group 3-winning daughter of Frankel (GB) is a half-sister to Lope De Vega and is offered as Lot 172 with an April 9 cover by New Bay (GB). Her second and third foals by Shamardal and Camelot (GB) have sold for €1.6 million and €850,000 respectively. Similarly, the five-year-old Wildfeder (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), the full-sister to Waldgeist (GB) and half-sibling to Group 3 winners Waldkonig (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), will be presented with a Siyouni (Fr) cover as Lot 202. Form an orderly queue. Borgia's Best (Ire), whose parents are both Ammerland-bred Classic winners, Lope De Vega and the Deutsches Derby-winning filly Borgia (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), is another to be sold in foal to New Bay (Lot 98). The eventual product of that mating will be a full-sibling to the dual winner and 94-rated three-year-old Liftoff (Fr). Despite these mares being sold and the prospect of a batch of yearlings appearing next August, the distinctive red-and-green silks will still be seen on racecourses for a while at least. “What's in the sale, apart from the eight foals, that's it,” says de Moubray. “We have put three yearlings into training with Andre Fabre because they were always going to be kept for various reasons, so we haven't changed our mind. There's still a couple of two-year-olds with Fabre and the three yearlings that have just arrived. “Dietrich is going to be 82 in March and Annabel does like racing, and they will carry on. They've got a dressage stable at Ammerland, which will also carry on.” He continues, “If we'd had this dispersal three years ago, it would've been really big. But it has been winding down for the last five years.” Of the rare purchases made by Ammerland, the most recent, Sea The Sky (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a sister to Sea The Moon (Ger) from an outstanding family of multiple German Classic winners, is also catalogued for Arqana as Lot 171. Now four, the Listed winner and Group 3-placed filly topped the BBAG September Yearling Sale at €820,000. “Sevenna was a mare that I bought for €50,000 as a yearling in Baden-Baden, and now Dietrich has a whole lot of that S-line, which before he didn't have,” de Moubray says. “Then there's the Lope De Vega family and there's the Waldgeist family and the Borgia family. That is an advantage, if you're breeding and you know the grandmothers, you know what to look out for, so when you're doing your matings, you're thinking, 'This family tend to do this. So let's see if we can balance it out by doing that.' And also managing them to race, not to sell, makes such a difference.” De Moubray also signed for the Monsun (Ger) filly who would become known as Waldlerche (GB) when agreeing a private sale for her with breeder Newsells Park Stud as a yearling. The two operations formed a partnership which would result in the G3 Prix Penelope winner breeding Waldgeist among her six winners, along with his aforementioned sister. He says, “Waldlerche went through the August Sale and no-one liked her apart from me and she didn't sell. So I called Dietrich afterwards and said, 'You should buy her.' Andreas [Jacobs] took my phone and walked off and came back half an hour later and said, 'We've agreed that Dietrich pays €50,000 for half and we'll race her together'.” Another significant association for Ammerland was formed with Ballylinch Stud, which is now home to Lope De Vega and Waldgeist. “Ballylinch has been a great partner,” says de Moubray, “And Andre Fabre, obviously, over the years, as has Peter Schiergen, who won the Coronation Cup with Boreal. There are some headline horses really.” He continues, “It's one of those rare operations in the last 35 years that has been set up by someone new, and those Ammerland colours, they've won races in America, Hong Kong, England, Ireland, and particularly in France. Lope De Vega won the Guineas and the Derby and the following year, Golden Lilac won the Guineas and the Oaks in France. That was in successive years, they won those four Classic races. “Ammerland don't go for fashionable stallions and they don't go for typical German stallions. They're not really interested in precocious speed at all. Most of their horses, they breed to top racehorses, and a horse that doesn't stay a mile is basically of no interest whatsoever. It's a Classic breeding operation looking to produce Classic winners.” The post Classic Principles Underpin the Success of Ammerland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Superstar Hong Kong galloper Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) will start from the outside stall in Sunday’s Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile. The now eight-year-old, who was purchased as a two-year-old at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, holds the record for the most Group One wins in Hong Kong (nine) and will attempt to join Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) as the only three-time winner of the Hong Kong Mile. A winner of 25 of his 29 career starts, he first won the mile in 2020, before collecting his second in 2021. Golden Sixty was surprisingly upstaged by California Spangle (Starspangledbanner) in this race last year, though connections remain confident he can make it Group One win number 10 on Sunday. Unbeaten in six previous first up attempts, the stable elected to bypass last month’s Jockey Club Mile and will go into Sunday’s feature off a 224 day break. Installed as a warm favourite prior to the draw, he has now drifted to $2.60 which would be his biggest starting price since September 2019. Fellow Hong Kong superstar Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) fared much better on Thursday morning, drawing barrier five in the Hong Kong Sprint. Beaten at his first two starts to begin this preparation, Lucky Sweynesse returned to his winning ways last start when scoring narrowly in the Jockey Club Sprint. Much better suited under the set weights conditions on Sunday, he looks to get a charmed run for Zac Purton with notable speed horse Victor The Winner drawn directly to his inside. Lucky Sweynesse has been building nicely towards his Grand Final and a peak performance will see Purton collect his third Hong Kong Sprint, having won twice aboard Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins) (2014 and 2016). View the full article

After a slew of outside barrier draws in big races, John O’Shea is celebrating a welcome change of fortune for his trio of runners in the A$3 million The Ingham. Kirwin’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit), Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer) and recent acquisition Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) have come up with gates two, five and 10 respectively after all drawing double-figure alleys at their most recent starts. Lion’s Roar jumped from barrier 20 when second to Spangler (Starspangledbanner) in the Little Dance (1600m), Kirwin’s Lane from gate 12 of 13 when fourth to Unspoken (Territories) in the Filante Handicap (1600m), while former Kiwi Dark Destroyer came from 12 of 13 when midfield in The Hunter (1300m). “We can’t believe it,” O’Shea said. “That’s why they were so late getting the barriers out (on Wednesday) because they were trying to work out how to get us a little bit closer.” Jokes aside, O’Shea is confident all three are capable of bobbing up. Two of them, Kirwin’s Lane and Lion’s Roar, finished one-two in the corresponding race last year and the latter has been an early firmer from $13 into $8.50. A Group 1 winner of the Randwick Guineas at three, Lion’s Roar carried 56kg in The Ingham (1600m) 12 months ago after being unplaced in two lead-up runs. He drops to 53.5kg on Saturday and arrives off a slashing Melbourne Cup Day second. “I think (his form) is significantly better and he is weighted significantly better,” O’Shea said when comparing Lion’s Roar’s credentials. “I thought to myself, maybe it’s a harder race, but they beat home Atishu last year, so the race last year had more merit to it than I first thought. “He looks to map beautifully in a fast-run race, and we couldn’t be happier with him.” In contrast, Kirwin’s Lane was in a rich vein of form last spring, winning the Ladies’ Day Cup at Hawkesbury and finishing third in the Festival Stakes prior to taking out Sydney’s summer carnival centrepiece. This time around, his efforts have been sound without placing, and he is six weeks between runs after being scratched from The Gong due to a wide gate. However, the gelding has been kept up to the mark with two barrier trials and O’Shea is adamant Saturday’s low draw is key. “He’s a horse that needs soft draws and he gets that Saturday,” O’Shea said. “He gets to follow Attractable, which will be a really good horse to follow, and he’s in good form. “His run the other day, it was a pretty leaderish track, and I thought he ran very well. He came to the centre, which doesn’t suit him, whereas this week he gets to drop down on the rail and get a suck up into the race, which is a much better scenario for him.” Dark Destroyer will be having just his second start for O’Shea and looks a handy pick-up for the stable having shown his quality as a winter three-year-old when taking out the 2022 Rough Habit Plate at Eagle Farm and finishing fourth in that year’s Queensland Derby. He trained on to claim a Group 1 in New Zealand last spring and O’Shea said he had come on in leaps and bounds since The Hunter. “He was good first-up in an unsuitable race and he has made a massive step forward this week,” O’Shea said. “Albeit his best form is on rain-affected ground, I still think that he’s a quality animal that is going to get a good run in the race and we couldn’t be happier with him at home.” A full field of 20 will contest The Ingham, including first emergency Williamsburg (Snitzel) who enters the fray following the scratching of Excellent Proposal (Exceed and Excel) on Thursday. View the full article

Paul Preusker has always had a big opinion of Captain Envious (NZ) (Savabeel), which was why he ran him in the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes behind Soulcombe (Frankel) at Flemington at only his sixth start. However, early this year when Captain Envious returned to racing over autumn, Preusker felt he didn’t race to his early potential. This spring Preusker has gone about things differently with Captain Envious, with a focus country Cups while not pushing him out in distance. And the trainer believes Saturday’s Listed Ballarat Cup provides a perfect opportunity for his galloper. “It’s the right race for him at the right time,” Preusker said. “He’s probably not that well off on the handicaps, but he is if he had won his last start which he probably should have,” he said. Preusker was referring to Captain Envious’ last-start third in the A$500,000 Country Cup Final (2000m) behind Claidheamh Mor (Dundeel) at Caulfield when he suffered interference early in the race and gave away a big start. Preusker said this preparation had been about working Captain Envious out and not pushing him out over a staying trip. “I’ve just felt him out where he was, so he didn’t get lost. The first preparation sapped him a little and he’s starting to come together now.” “In terms of his future, we’ll keep it open. We’re trying to plot our path to better things and a Ballarat Cup would be nice.” “We’ve just let him tick over and earn a dollar.” Captain Envious, who will be ridden by Michael Dee, has drawn barrier two and is $8 with Sportsbet to win the Ballarat Cup. View the full article

Despite leaving this year’s International Jockeys’ Championship empty-handed, racing’s glamour couple could one day swap Hungerford for Happy ValleyView the full article

Shadai Stallion Station has set the introductory fee for Equinox (Jpn) at ¥20 million (€124,000), which is equal to his own sire Kitasan Black (Jpn), whose price has been doubled for 2024. Father and son are the two most expensive stallions on Shadai's 33-strong roster. The Shadai website already has a 'Book full' note posted alongside the name of Equinox, who retires to stud as the top-rated horse in the world in 2023. The four-year-old has won eight of his ten starts and signed off with a facile victory in the Japan Cup over the Fillies' Triple Crown winner Liberty Island (Jpn) ((Duramente {Jpn}). This season's leading first-season sire in Japan, Suave Richard (Jpn), has also had his fee increased for next year to ¥15 million (€93,000). The same fee will be commanded in 2024 by his stud-mates Epiphaneia (Jpn) and the Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn). The latter is another who is already fully booked for next season. The post Equinox Already Full at Opening Fee of ¥20 Million (€124,000) appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Owner Peter Lau draws same numbered Hong Kong Cup gate as the one from which James McDonald rode the Danny Shum-trained star to his two greatest winsView the full article

NT trainer Tom Logan has copped a $5000 fine over abnormal blood samples taken from Blueant before a race on September 2. Darwin trainer Tom Logan has been fined $5000 after his horse Blueant returned an abnormal blood sample following a race at Fannie Bay in September. Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory stewards imposed the fine following an inquiry late last month. The hearing followed analysis of blood samples collected from Blueant prior to a race at Fannie Bay during the Darwin Turf Club’s meeting on September 2 where he finished fifth. The certificates of analysis for the pre-race blood sample detected the presence of fluticasone propionate. Evidence was considered from Logan, ARFL general manager John Keledjian, Racing & Wagering Western Australia industry veterinarian Dr Judith Meed, and Jamin Farebrother from the Howard Springs Veterinary Clinic at the Darwin Turf Club on November 23. Fluticasone propionate is a prohibited substance within Part 2 (Division 1) on List B in the Australian Rules of Racing. Fluticasone propionate is an anti-inflammatory agent with topical and inhaled applications commonly used in the treatment of asthma in steroid-dependent individuals. The drug is used in racehorses to treat Inflammatory Airway Disease. Subsequently, Blueant, a seven-year-old gelding, was disqualified from the race on September 2 and the result was amended accordingly with commensurate implications to stake money and TROBIS bonuses. In determining a $4000 penalty for Logan, stewards took into account the following: The seriousness of the offence The nature of the prohibited List B substance being a therapeutic and that the product containing the substance was prescribed by a veterinarian The low detected level and veterinary evidence indicating that in all likelihood an administration had occurred within the prescribed withholding period recommended The administrations of this product were not recorded in the stable treatment records Logan’s guilty plea, co-operation and personal circumstances His disciplinary record over three years while licensed as a trainer His previous penalty precedents relating to prohibited List B substances Logan also pleaded guilty for failing to record that a prescription medication was administered by way of metered dose inhaler to Blueant in the lead-up to the race on September 2. For this breach, he was fined an additional $1000. More horse racing news View the full article

Nine-time Group One winner’s momentous international day task becomes even more complicatedView the full article

New Zealand is renowned as a nursery of world-beating thoroughbred talent, and the catalogues for Karaka 2024 are filled to the brim with those outstanding Kiwi bloodlines. Even by its own high standards, Book 1 is exceptionally strong in 2024. There are 114 siblings to stakes winners, along with 109 progeny of stakes-performed mares. There are enough highlights to fill a catalogue all by themselves, but here is just a small selection of some of the highest-profile lots. Book 1, Day One (Sunday January 28) Lot 15 is by freshman Cambridge Stud stallion Hello Youmzain and from the stakes-placed Distinctive Lass (Orientate). This Curraghmore yearling is a half-sister to the Group One winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma), and stakes performers Kuro (NZ) (Denman), Southern Lad (Ocean Park), Distinctive Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Wairau Cove (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Hallmark Stud’s filly catalogued as Lot 21 is by Proisir out of Donna Marie (NZ) (Don Eduardo). That makes her a full-sister to the top-class Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), who won five races in a row last season including the $1m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and the Group One New Zealand Stakes (2000m). Waikato Stud’s Super Seth has made a statement with his two-year-olds this spring, and he is the sire of Lot 131. This colt is a half-brother to the Group One winner and NZB Filly of the Year Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel), and closely related to Group performers Sweet Ride (Deep Field), Japanese Emperor (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga), North Pacific (Brazen Beau) and Missybeel (NZ) (Savabeel). Lot 138 is a Trelawney Stud colt by super-sire Snitzel out of the three-time Listed winner Indecision (NZ) (Per Incanto). The winner of six races, Indecision is also a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner Viadana (NZ) (Towkay). The colt by U S Navy Flag catalogued as Lot 139 is a half-brother to triple Group One winner and successful sire Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj). Pencarrow Stud will offer a Super Seth colt from one of their most exciting families as Lot 146. The colt is out of the Group Two-placed mare Irion (NZ) (Danroad), whose three foals to race are all winners and include the Group winners Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar) and Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock). Lot 181 on account of Ainsley Downs Stud is a colt by Darci Brahma (NZ), a half-brother to Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern) who won last season’s Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) and Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m), plus Laure Me In (Ad Valorem) who has won eight races and more than A$750,000, headed by the Listed Scone Cup (1600m). A notable member of the Wentwood Grange draft is Lot 187, a colt by champion sire Proisir. The dam of this colt is Leigh Valley (NZ) (Bianconi), who won at Group Three level and has been represented by four winners including Group One winner Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman). Lot 210 is the only yearling in the Karaka 2024 catalogue by champion racehorse and superb Juddmonte stallion Kingman. This colt is out of a Camelot mare whose half-sister Many Colours (Green Desert) is the dam of three stakes winners including Group One 1000 Guineas (1600m) heroine Mother Earth (Zoffany). Highline Thoroughbreds offer Lot 224, an I Am Invincible colt who is a half-brother to the Group One winner Seabrook (NZ) (Hinchinbrook). Prima Park will offer Lot 229, a Contributer filly who is a full-sister to the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Lion’s Roar (NZ). Lot 238 is a colt by the Blue Diamond-winning freshman sire Tagaloa. This colt is the first foal out of Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Miss Sentimental (NZ) (Reliable Man). Group One Robert Sangster Stakes winner Ruthless Dame (NZ) Book 1, Day Two (Monday January 29) Early on Day Two, Curraghmore’s Lot 247 is a filly by Ocean Park (NZ) and is a half-sister to the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock). Lot 261 comes from the draft of Blandford Lodge and is by all-conquering racehorse and top sire So You Think (NZ). This colt is a half-brother to dual Group One winner Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman) and Listed winner Le Gai Soleil (NZ) (Tavistock). Inglewood Stud’s Lot 295 is a filly by Dundeel (NZ) out of the Snitzel mare Parmalove, making her a half-sister to New Zealand’s leading two-year-old Velocious (NZ) (Written Tycoon). From two starts, Velocious has recorded two highly impressive wins including last month’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). The Snitzel colt catalogued as Lot 360 from Haunui Farm is the first foal out of Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park). Herself a Group One placegetter on both sides of the Tasman, Rondinella is also a three-quarter-sister to Group Three winner Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park) and a half-sister to multiple Group winners Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Vilanova (NZ) (Commands). Curraghmore’s colt by Ocean Park (NZ), going through the ring as Lot 366, is a half-brother to last season’s Group One Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) winner and Group One Surround Stakes (1400m) runner-up Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock). Lot 399 is a colt from the first crop of multiple Group One-winning Galileo stallion Circus Maximus. This colt is being offered by Wentwood Grange and is a half-brother to Group One winner (She’s) Licketysplit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose). Lot 401 is a colt by Savabeel out of Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar), who won 12 races including four at Group One level. Shez Sinsational has followed up those racetrack heroics with three winners from her four foals to race so far, including the Group Two winner and Group One-placed Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma), along with the Group Three winner and Group One-placed House Of Cartier (Alamosa). Blandford Lodge will offer a colt by quality sire Almanzor as Lot 437. The colt is a half-brother to the triple Group One winner Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), who in turn is the dam of the Group One-placed Luella Cristina (Snitzel). The Proisir filly catalogued as Lot 480 is a half-sister to four black-type performers, headed by last season’s Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) and the Listed winner Steal My Kisses (I Am Invincible). Ardsley Stud present Lot 637, a full sister to dual Group One winner Sierra Sue (NZ) Book 1, Day Three (Tuesday January 30) The quality yearlings continue to come in quick succession on Book 1’s final day, including an early highlight with Lot 483. The colt will be offered by Ardsley Stud and is a half-brother to their Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) and New Zealand Oaks (2400m) heroine Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). Lot 501 is a colt by Ocean Park (NZ) out of the Group Two-winning Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano), whose only foal to race so far is last season’s Group One Levin Classic (1600m) winner Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca). Waikato Stud offers a Savabeel filly as Lot 549, with a pedigree page soaked in high-quality black type. Close relatives include Group One winners Espiona (Extreme Choice), Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat), Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie) and Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer). Woburn Farm’s draft features Lot 553, one of only three yearlings in the catalogue by Written Tycoon. This colt is a half-brother to the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock). Lot 599 will be offered by Phoenix Park and is by Circus Maximus out of Bak Da Chief (NZ) (Chief Bearhart). That makes the colt a half-brother to the super-talented dual Group One winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle). From the draft of Ardsley Stud, Lot 637 is a full-sister to the dual Group One winner Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Wentwood Grange’s filly catalogued as Lot 654 is a full-sister to the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Manzoice (Almanzor). Lot 668 is a Savabeel colt from the draft of Hallmark Stud. He is a full-brother to the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel). The Hello Youmzain filly catalogued as Lot 679 is a half-sister to the dual Group One winner Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) from Windsor Park Stud. Book 2 The enormously high standard of yearlings available during Karaka 2024 continues into the Book 2 session, which features siblings to 26 black-type winners and the progeny of 37 stakes-performed mares. Book 2 will commence Wednesday 31 January and Friday 2 February from 11am Lot 683 is a half-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) placegetter Perfect Rhyme (Poet’s Voice). The Derryn colt catalogued as Lot 761 is a full-brother to last season’s Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Mischief Managed (NZ). Lot 765 is a Turn Me Loose half-brother to the multiple Listed winner and Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) placegetter Helena Baby (NZ) (Guillotine). Lot 805 is a Derryn half-brother to the three-time Listed winner and Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m) placegetter Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto). A colt by Puccini (NZ) going through the ring as Lot 830 is a full-brother to the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) placegetter Le Villi (NZ). A filly from the Cambria Park draft, catalogued as Lot 888, is a half-sister to Group Two winner Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange), who also finished fifth and sixth in the last two runnings of the Melbourne Cup (3200m). Lot 949 is a half-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) placegetter Premise (NZ) (Contributer) by Eminent. American bloodlines are available through Lot 979, offered by Ainsley Downs Stud. The Dirty Work colt is out of the Listed-winning mare Spirited Away (Awesome Again), who is the dam of seven winners including two at stakes level in the US. Lot 1018 is a Redwood half-brother to the Group One-placed Trojan Warrior (NZ) (Postponed). Haunui Farm’s Lot 1019 is by Belardo out of Group One-placed Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky), the dam of Listed winner La Flora Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj). Tsarina Belle is also a half-sister to Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj), who is the dam of the incredible Group One-winning machine Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), along with the multiple black-type winner Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock). Lot 1051 is a half-brother to stakes performer Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing), the dam of the Listed winner Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel). Book 2 also features the progeny of the siblings to more than 30 Group One winners, including the likes of Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel), Bonham (Per Incanto), Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home), Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry), Champagne (NZ) (Zabeel) and Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle). New Zealand Bloodstock’s 98th National Yearling Sale Series will take place from Sunday 28 January through to Friday 2 February at the Karaka Sales Centre. Continuing NZB’s traditional sale format, Book 1 runs from Sunday 28 January until Tuesday 30 January from 10am (NZT) each day, followed by Book 2 between Wednesday 31 January and Friday 2 February from 11am (NZT) each day. The stage is set for a week-long thoroughbred extravaganza in Auckland, kicking off with an extraordinary TAB Karaka Millions race day at the new and improved Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 27 January. The six-race card now carries total stakes of $4.45m, headed by the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the all-new $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) for four-year-olds. All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2024 are eligible for the Karaka Millions Series. View the full article

Adam I Am made quite the impression with his two eye-catching wins over spring and trainer Glenn Old said he has returned a more furnished animal ahead of summer racing. The four-year-old gelding broke through for his maiden win in emphatic style at Matamata in May when winning by five-lengths, and doubled his win tally a month later at Hastings. He has since had a freshen-up and Old is looking forward to tackling the big prizemoney on offer this summer with the son of Almanzor. “He had a bit of a break after Hastings and he has matured up yet again, he looks great,” Old said. “He is going to be a really big horse. He is bordering 16.3 (hands) now and has put on 20kg since Hastings.” Old, who purchased Adam I Am as a yearling at Karaka for $100,000, has taken a patient approach with the gelding, and he is hoping to reap those rewards in the coming months. “We are going a bit like the old ways, letting him mature up before we put the pressure on,” he said. Adam I Am will have his first summer outing in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier (1200m) at Pukekohe on Saturday, with his summer programme hinging on the result. “He is in good order. He is a naturally fit horse and doesn’t take a lot. We will just take it one race at a time and analyse each race,” Old said. “The only concern (about the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final) would be the back-up of 16 days, but he needs to do things really well on Saturday to do that. “There is a lot of money around this summer. There are a couple of those $350,000 races deep in the summer we can look at.” The $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie January 27 is another big carrot Old is contemplating, but he said he may bypass the rich feature In favour of some softer targets a month later. I have kept an open mind about that (Aotearoa Classic). If Legarto and Prowess go there, I think I will avoid them. There is no rush at this stage,” he said. Old could also be chasing a berth in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) with last start victor Choose ‘Em Big. “Choose ‘Em Big looks quite promising. He is a big horse as well,” Old said. “He is going to Te Rapa on December 23. If he won that he will qualify for that MAAT mile in February worth $350,000.” View the full article

Cannon Hill’s performance in Saturday’s age group feature at Pukekohe will determine the summer path for the colt. The son of Ardrossan has earned his first crack at black-type in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), which will give trainer Tony Pike a clearer guide on where the three-year-old is best placed for the rest of the campaign. “He’s still a bit immature, but he’s heading the right way and it’s a small but quality line-up. It will be interesting to see how he fits in,” he said. “Obviously, there are some very nice races coming up in the next couple of months, one is at Group One level (Levin Classic, 1600m) and one’s worth a lot of money ($1.5 million Karaka Million, 1600m). “It would be nice to think he would be heading that way, if not then there’s plenty of other options around through the summer and autumn.” To be ridden by Masa Hashizume, Cannon Hill won his first two starts this preparation before he finished third last time out over this course and distance. “He travelled up like the winner in that race and it was still a good, solid run for a horse still learning his trade,” Pike said. “We’ve changed the blinkers to visor blinkers this weekend, which will hopefully help him and he’s really well.” Pike will also be represented by Slipper Island and Tellall in the Stella Artois Championship Qualifier (1400m). Ryan Elliot will partner the former while apprentice Tristan Moodley has been booked for Tellall. “Slipper Island has drawn to get a lovely trip behind the speed. It’s a good quality Rating 75 and he should be hitting his peak after his fresh-up run,” Pike said. “Tellall has come back from injury and his run at Tauranga on a wet track, which he hates, was reasonable but he is a very hard horse to place at the moment. “He’s struggling in open handicap grade, so we’ve dropped him back with a claim and he’s going to need a lot of luck from that barrier (14).” Pike will also have leading chances at Trentham with Poetic Champion in the Gr.2 Mode Technology Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Promised Land in the Blue Star Premier (1600m). Poetic Champion romped home in his Hawera debut before he finished third in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). “On face value he was probably a touch disappointing, but they did go quite quickly and put the pressure on early in the home straight,” Pike said. “We think a lot of him and his work was sensational on Tuesday morning. We’ll take the blinkers off and hopefully he can get back to winning ways.” Vinnie Colgan will ride the Super Seth gelding while Michael McNab will again team up with Echoes Of Heaven four-year-old Promised Land after their last-start Te Aroha success. “He is a nice, progressive staying horse who is still learning and blinkers will help him on Saturday,” Pike said. “The long-term target is for him to get back to Trentham for the Innovation race ($350,000 Remutaka Classic) over 2100m.” View the full article

Fashion Icon has made a stylish start to her career and she looks to have another gilt-edged opportunity on Saturday to again star on the Trentham stage. The Peter Didham-trained daughter of U S Navy Flag was a last-start winner over 1200m on the course and will progress in distance when she tackles the Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors’ Premier (1400m). The filly was to have stepped out in black type company last weekend, but a minor issue prevented her running in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes (1340m). “I’ve been really happy with her work after she missed Wanganui with a tooth problem, but she’s good to go again,” Didham said. “It’s all worked out fine and we’ve got Michael McNab on her, she’s got a good draw and the track should suit so she ticks all the boxes.” Fashion Icon has yet to race beyond 1200m and her performance on Saturday will dictate her future path. “She’s a nice type of U S Navy Flag and we’re just going to see how she does at 1400m and where we go from there,” Didham said. “Some of the U S Navy Flag’s have got up to a mile so we’ll just see how our girl does. “Last time out she beat the older horses, which is really hard to do, and she wasn’t stopping at the end so don’t I think it will be a problem.” Fashion Icon didn’t have the best of runs when she was a debut fifth on the all-weather track at Awapuni before posting consecutive wins at Woodville and at Trentham last month. Didham will have two other strong chances on Saturday with Manifique in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (2200m) and Havarti in the TAB Super Saturday Bonus Back Premier (1000m). By Savabeel out of the multiple Group One winner Shez Sinsational, Manifique was an easy last-start winner at New Plymouth and will also be partnered by McNab. “She’s flying and that win was outstanding, she got checked and held up and still burst away,” Didham said. “We’re just trying to get into some of the cup races on the minimum, so she needs to get a few more points on Saturday. “If she went really well, and we think she will, we’ll probably look at the Manawatu Cup (Gr.3, 2300m).” Swiss Ace’s son Havarti, who will be ridden by Johnathan Parkes, was a winner at Woodville two runs back before he finished a last-start third at Wanganui. “If he had run straight he would have won, he doesn’t usually bore in but he took a trail and then came off the rail and ducked in a couple of times and that cost him the race,” Didham said. “Sinbin looks maybe a shade above them, but my bloke tries hard and he’s drawn well. There looks to be a lot of speed in the race, so he’ll get every opportunity.” View the full article

Prise De Fer was rewarded for his consistency when recording his first elite-level victory in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are hoping for a repeat dose in this year’s edition, when run as the TAB Classic on Saturday. The Savabeel gelding was five-times Group One placed before his breakthrough victory at elite-level, and followed that up with another placing in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) on Boxing Day last year. His trainers have elected to take a similar path this year, with the eight-year-old gelding taking a last start runner-up result in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) into Saturday. “I thought his run on Saturday was really good. It was good to see him back in form and hitting the line like he did,” Sam Bergerson said. “We can’t fault him here at home. He has come through the run really well and he is bouncing around the stable and looks as good as he ever has.” Te Akau Racing will also line-up Group One performer Brando in the Trentham feature, and Bergerson said he is another horse deserving of an elite-level victory. “I thought his run last time (for third in the Gr.2 Tauranga Takes, 1600m) was okay. The rain came at Tauranga and the ground got really shifty. He can obviously handle a rain-affected track but I am not sure he loved that type of heavy,” he said. “He is another that seems in good form and it would be good to see him win a Group One because he is such a stable favourite for everyone at home. He is a real character. “He was probably a bit stiff not to win the Levin Classic (Gr.1, 1600m) as a three-year-old down there, so hopefully he can pick this one up. “He had a fantastic season last season. We think he is going the right way but he is going to need a little bit of luck and to improve a bit to beat a couple of these. “Opie (Bosson, jockey) rode him on Tuesday on the course proper at Matamata and was really happy with him.” The stable has a third bullet in the chamber for the race in Fashion Shoot, who has won two of her three starts this preparation, including the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton last month. “Her last start win was fantastic. It was a very patient ride and she is going to need something like that to win,” Bergerson said. “It is a step up to a Group One but one I think she is deserving of, she has been a really good consistent mare for us who is in really good form. “Opie onboard is a massive plus and we will look to ride her similar to last start – go back and have one last run at them. “It seems a very even field on paper. We have three nice chances and hopefully they can all have nice runs in transit. Hopefully, with a bit of luck, they can be there or thereabouts.” View the full article

Town Cryer upset the applecart when downing multiple Group One winner Prowess in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera in October and trainer Roydon Bergerson is hoping she can cause another upset this weekend. The six-year-old mare will tackle the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday where she is rated an $11 winning chance with TAB bookmakers, with the Andrew Forsman-trained Aegon at the top of the market at $4.50. Town Cryer was a last start runner-up over a mile at Trentham and Bergerson is hoping she can continue that form when she steps up to elite company. “Her work indicates that she has trained on really well,” Bergerson told TAB NZ. “We thought we would have a throw at the stumps. She likes Wellington and loves the mile. We will throw her in the deep-end and hope she comes up swimming.” Town Cryer has drawn well in two and is set to take on a front-running role this weekend. “I can’t wait for Saturday, I am just hoping nothing takes her on and she can bowl on up front and Parkesy (Johnathan Parkes, jockey) will dictate and sneak away on them,” he said. “She likes to free-wheel and get out and roll along.” While confident in her ability, Bergerson said Town Cryer needs to bring the right attitude to Trentham as well. “It’s just what mood she turns up in,” he said. “We thought she would win her first start and she ran 10 lengths last. She just gets in the mood and she is hard to beat. View the full article

Andrea Atzeni will ride live chances in both the Hong Kong Cup and Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin’s HKIR meeting. Andrea Atzeni has hit the ground running in Hong Kong and will bid to underline his potential as one of the brightest talents in the weighing room with two rides at the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The jockey won the Group 1 Prix Morny aboard Vandeek in August but made the decision to depart Great Britain for Hong Kong shortly afterwards and he has already made an immediate impact with the locals in the first few months of his initial stint. Atzeni has been able to draw on his experience from when he was licenced in Hong Kong during the 2014/15 season and on the weekend he will bid to win a Group 1 in an eighth different racing jurisdiction. “It’s going pretty good,” he said after riding trackwork. “I’ve been here for just over three months. It took a bit of time to settle in with the time difference and getting to know the track and the trainers. I’ve had three doubles since I’ve been here and ridden 13 winners. “I’ve adapted to the racing style a lot quicker than I thought. It’s completely different from the European style of racing, it’s much sharper. The average races are from 1000m to 1600m, with only a few over 1800m or 2000m and that’s as far as you go. Everything happens a lot quicker here and Happy Valley is very sharp. “You’ve got to be mentally quite strong. It’s a very tight system, there are only so many horses, trainers and jockeys. It’s tough anywhere in the world but I can’t complain.” The focus on tempo and positioning is not the only thing Atzeni has had to get used to, as Hong Kong’s jockeys are responsible for sourcing their own rides. However, he has quickly discovered he has an edge over some of his weighing room colleagues. “I had a guy called Roy that the Club provided to help me find rides in the first three months,” he said. “Now I’m starting to do it on my own – it’s different because I’ve always had an agent. You have to keep an eye on entries. “One of the good things is I can do pretty much any weight so if I get an offer for a good ride I can just take it without having to worry about that, because a lot of trainers can book you two or three weeks in advance for a horse. “The Group races here are handicaps so a horse can carry 8st 3lb, which I can do, whereas other jockeys have to wait until they can commit, so that works to my advantage sometimes.” The Italian-born jockey is hoping his promising start in Hong Kong extends to Sunday’s headline meeting, when he will partner six horses including Nimble Nimbus in the HK$36 million Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and Lucky With You in the HK$26 million Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). “Nimble Nimbus ran very well the last day,” he said of the Ricky Yiu-trained five-time winner. “It’s a big step up in grade and he’s got to improve on the ratings quite a bit but he’s a consistent horse, I just hope he runs well.” Atzeni has ridden Lucky With You on both his starts since joining Frankie Lor’s stable and believes his attitude can stand him in good stead against the likes of Lucky Sweynesse, Highfield Princess and Mad Cool. “Lucky With You is the same,” he said. “He’s a very straightforward horse. I won a Class 2 on him and he ran okay last time. They’re two outside chances, it would be nice to pick up some pieces.” More horse racing news View the full article

Fashion Icon will contest the Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors’ Premier (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Fashion Icon has made a stylish start to her career and she looks to have another gilt-edged opportunity on Saturday to again star on the Trentham stage. The Peter Didham-trained daughter of U S Navy Flag was a last-start winner over 1200m on the course and will progress in distance when she tackles the Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors’ Premier (1400m). The filly was to have stepped out in black type company last weekend, but a minor issue prevented her running in the Listed Fillies’ Stakes (1340m). “I’ve been really happy with her work after she missed Wanganui with a tooth problem, but she’s good to go again,” Didham said. “It’s all worked out fine and we’ve got Michael McNab on her, she’s got a good draw and the track should suit so she ticks all the boxes.” Fashion Icon has yet to race beyond 1200m and her performance on Saturday will dictate her future path. “She’s a nice type of U S Navy Flag and we’re just going to see how she does at 1400m and where we go from there,” Didham said. “Some of the U S Navy Flag’s have got up to a mile so we’ll just see how our girl does. “Last time out she beat the older horses, which is really hard to do, and she wasn’t stopping at the end so don’t I think it will be a problem.” Fashion Icon didn’t have the best of runs when she was a debut fifth on the all-weather track at Awapuni before posting consecutive wins at Woodville and at Trentham last month. Didham will have two other strong chances on Saturday with Manifique in the Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (2200m) and Havarti in the Premier (1000m). By Savabeel out of the multiple Group 1 winner Shez Sinsational, Manifique was an easy last-start winner at New Plymouth and will also be partnered by McNab. “She’s flying and that win was outstanding, she got checked and held up and still burst away,” Didham said. “We’re just trying to get into some of the cup races on the minimum, so she needs to get a few more points on Saturday. “If she went really well, and we think she will, we’ll probably look at the Manawatu Cup (Gr.3, 2300m).” Swiss Ace’s son Havarti, who will be ridden by Johnathan Parkes, was a winner at Woodville two runs back before he finished a last-start third at Wanganui. “If he had run straight he would have won, he doesn’t usually bore in but he took a trail and then came off the rail and ducked in a couple of times and that cost him the race,” Didham said. “Sinbin looks maybe a shade above them, but my bloke tries hard and he’s drawn well. There looks to be a lot of speed in the race, so he’ll get every opportunity.” More horse racing news View the full article

Prise De Fer following his win in the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last year. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Prise De Fer was rewarded for his consistency when recording his first elite-level victory in the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are hoping for a repeat dose in this year’s edition, when run as the TAB Classic on Saturday. The Savabeel gelding was five-times Group 1 placed before his breakthrough victory at elite-level, and followed that up with another placing in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) on Boxing Day last year. His trainers have elected to take a similar path this year, with the eight-year-old gelding taking a last start runner-up result in the Group 3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) into Saturday. “I thought his run on Saturday was really good. It was good to see him back in form and hitting the line like he did,” Sam Bergerson said. “We can’t fault him here at home. He has come through the run really well and he is bouncing around the stable and looks as good as he ever has.” Te Akau Racing will also line-up Group 1 performer Brando in the Trentham feature, and Bergerson said he is another horse deserving of an elite-level victory. “I thought his run last time (for third in the Group 2 Tauranga Stakes, 1600m) was okay. The rain came at Tauranga and the ground got really shifty. He can obviously handle a rain-affected track but I am not sure he loved that type of heavy,” he said. “He is another that seems in good form and it would be good to see him win a Group 1 because he is such a stable favourite for everyone at home. He is a real character. “He was probably a bit stiff not to win the Levin Classic (Group 1, 1600m) as a three-year-old down there, so hopefully he can pick this one up. “He had a fantastic season last season. We think he is going the right way but he is going to need a little bit of luck and to improve a bit to beat a couple of these. “Opie (Bosson, jockey) rode him on Tuesday on the course proper at Matamata and was really happy with him.” The stable has a third bullet in the chamber for the race in Fashion Shoot, who has won two of her three starts this preparation, including the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton last month. “Her last start win was fantastic. It was a very patient ride and she is going to need something like that to win,” Bergerson said. “It is a step up to a Group One but one I think she is deserving of, she has been a really good consistent mare for us who is in really good form. “Opie onboard is a massive plus and we will look to ride her similar to last start – go back and have one last run at them. “It seems a very even field on paper. We have three nice chances and hopefully they can all have nice runs in transit. Hopefully, with a bit of luck, they can be there or thereabouts.” More horse racing news View the full article

Cannon Hill will contest the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Cannon Hill’s performance in Saturday’s age group feature at Pukekohe will determine the summer path for the colt. The son of Ardrossan has earned his first crack at black-type in the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), which will give trainer Tony Pike a clearer guide on where the three-year-old is best placed for the rest of the campaign. “He’s still a bit immature, but he’s heading the right way and it’s a small but quality line-up. It will be interesting to see how he fits in,” he said. “Obviously, there are some very nice races coming up in the next couple of months, one is at Group 1 level (Levin Classic, 1600m) and one’s worth a lot of money ($1.5 million Karaka Million, 1600m). “It would be nice to think he would be heading that way, if not then there’s plenty of other options around through the summer and autumn.” To be ridden by Masa Hashizume, Cannon Hill won his first two starts this preparation before he finished third last time out over this course and distance. “He travelled up like the winner in that race and it was still a good, solid run for a horse still learning his trade,” Pike said. “We’ve changed the blinkers to visor blinkers this weekend, which will hopefully help him and he’s really well.” Pike will also be represented by Slipper Island and Tellall in the Championship Qualifier (1400m). Ryan Elliot will partner the former while apprentice Tristan Moodley has been booked for Tellall. “Slipper Island has drawn to get a lovely trip behind the speed. It’s a good quality Rating 75 and he should be hitting his peak after his fresh-up run,” Pike said. “Tellall has come back from injury and his run at Tauranga on a wet track, which he hates, was reasonable but he is a very hard horse to place at the moment. “He’s struggling in open handicap grade, so we’ve dropped him back with a claim and he’s going to need a lot of luck from that barrier (14).” Pike will also have leading chances at Trentham with Poetic Champion in the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Promised Land in the Blue Star Premier (1600m). Poetic Champion romped home in his Hawera debut before he finished third in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). “On face value he was probably a touch disappointing, but they did go quite quickly and put the pressure on early in the home straight,” Pike said. “We think a lot of him and his work was sensational on Tuesday morning. We’ll take the blinkers off and hopefully he can get back to winning ways.” Vinnie Colgan will ride the Super Seth gelding while Michael McNab will again team up with Echoes Of Heaven four-year-old Promised Land after their last-start Te Aroha success. “He is a nice, progressive staying horse who is still learning and blinkers will help him on Saturday,” Pike said. “The long-term target is for him to get back to Trentham for the Innovation race ($350,000 Remutaka Classic) over 2100m.” More horse racing news View the full article

Adam I Am will contest the Championship Qualifier (1200m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Adam I Am made quite the impression with his two eye-catching wins over spring and trainer Glenn Old said he has returned a more furnished animal ahead of summer racing. The four-year-old gelding broke through for his maiden win in emphatic style at Matamata in May when winning by five-lengths, and doubled his win tally a month later at Hastings. He has since had a freshen-up and Old is looking forward to tackling the big prizemoney on offer this summer with the son of Almanzor. “He had a bit of a break after Hastings and he has matured up yet again, he looks great,” Old said. “He is going to be a really big horse. He is bordering 16.3 (hands) now and has put on 20kg since Hastings.” Old, who purchased Adam I Am as a yearling at Karaka for $100,000, has taken a patient approach with the gelding, and he is hoping to reap those rewards in the coming months. “We are going a bit like the old ways, letting him mature up before we put the pressure on,” he said. Adam I Am will have his first summer outing in the Championship Qualifier (1200m) at Pukekohe on Saturday, with his summer programme hinging on the result. “He is in good order. He is a naturally fit horse and doesn’t take a lot. We will just take it one race at a time and analyse each race,” Old said. “The only concern (about the Championship Final) would be the back-up of 16 days, but he needs to do things really well on Saturday to do that. “There is a lot of money around this summer. There are a couple of those $350,000 races deep in the summer we can look at.” The $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie January 27 is another big carrot Old is contemplating, but he said he may bypass the rich feature In favour of some softer targets a month later. “I have kept an open mind about that (Aotearoa Classic). If Legarto and Prowess go there, I think I will avoid them. There is no rush at this stage,” he said. Old could also be chasing a berth in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) with last start victor Choose ‘Em Big. “Choose ‘Em Big looks quite promising. He is a big horse as well,” Old said. “He is going to Te Rapa on December 23. If he won that he will qualify for that MAAT mile in February worth $350,000.” More horse racing news View the full article

What Northerly Stakes Day Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, December 9, 2023 First Race 12:05pm AWST Visit Dabble The Group 1 Northerly Stakes will headline a nine-race card at Ascot Racecourse this weekend on the fourth day of The Pinnacles. With warm and dry conditions forecast on Friday and Saturday, the track is expected to stay at the current Good 4 rating for the whole raceday. The rail will be moved from +8m to the +2m position for the entire circuit, and the first race will jump at 12:05pm AWST. Check out our Northerly Stakes preview and $100 betting strategy here G.A. Towton Cup Tip: Queen Alina Queen Alina will be seeking her first win in just under a year when she steps out in the Listed G.A. Towton Cup fourth-up over 2200m. The Daniel & Ben Pearce-trained galloper has run on well from the back of the field in all three of her starts this time in, finishing fourth and third in her last two. The daughter of Mahuta has drawn well to settle off the rail, just worse than midfield in a small field, meaning she shouldn’t be too far off the leaders when turning into the home straight. If Chris Parnham can navigate a clear run from the turn, Queen Alina will be running home strong. G.A. Towton Cup Race 4 – #8 Queen Alina (5) 5yo Mare | T: Daniel & Ben Pearce | J: Chris Parnham (54kg) +300 with Picklebet Best Bet at Ascot: Starry Heights William Pike gave Starry Heights a peach of a ride to overcome trouble and sprint away with an arrogant victory first-up. Grant & Alana Williams chose to kick off the preparation over 1400m, and after such an impressive display, the son of Star Turn has won five straight and appears to be in for another big campaign. With Pike sticking as Starry Heights steps up to a more suitable 1600m second-up, this guy will be very hard to beat again. Best Bet Race 9 – #6 Starry Heights (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (58kg) +100 with Neds Next Best at Ascot: Hanchi Hanchi has been running in the top three-year-old races in his first two starts back, running second behind Oscar’s Fortune in the Placid Ark Prelude and fifth behind Ripcord in the Listed Placid Ark Stakes. The Sean & Jake Casey-trained galloper will drop back in grade and take on the older horses in a Benchmark 72+ third-up and is drawn to do no work from barrier one. The son of Squamosa should be able to settle behind the leaders in the box seat, and if he gets clear air in the home straight, Hanchi will play a prominent role in the finish. Next Best Race 7 – #10 Hanchi (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Sean & Jake Casey | J: Chris Parnham (55kg) +240 with Boombet Best Value at Ascot: Celebrity Prince Celebrity Prince will be hoping to snap a six-start losing streak that includes three runner-up finishes. This son of Xtravagant has lost by a combined 0.8 lengths over his last two starts, but with more speed expected in this race, Brayden Gaerth should be able to cross and settle midfield from barrier 13. Gaerth will need to make his move before the 400m mark, and if he is within four lengths of the leaders with 300m to go, Celebrity Prince will go very close. Best Value Race 6 – #3 Celebrity Prince (13) 4yo Gelding | T: Takahide Ikenushi | J: Brayden Gaerth (a3) (58.5kg) +700 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Northerly Stakes Day Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, December 9, 2023 1-3-5-13 3-10-12 1-5-11-15-16 5-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Navigating international form can be a minefield for punters, but the Post is here to help you back a winner at Sunday’s Hong Kong International RacesView the full article

Navigating international form can be a minefield for punters, but the Post is here to help you back a winner at Sunday’s Hong Kong International RacesView the full article