Wandering Eyes

I Wish I Win galloped this week, and Pete and Katherine Coleman have a huge team heading to Flemington on Saturday. Click to play View the full article

Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto), a one-time The Everest (1200m) second favourite, has been retired. Trainer John O’Shea elected to bring down the curtain on his star sprinter’s racing career following his disappointing last-placed finish in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, a race he won last year. “Lost And Running has run his last race. We have decided to retire him. He has been such a great horse for our stable,” O’Shea said. “The fact that he just didn’t give his best on Saturday tells us that he is ready for a new career and as a result we are going to retire him effective immediately. “He is a very popular horse with a great attitude, and he will make a fantastic friend and companion for someone. “We look forward to following him in the future.” The son of Per Incanto won nine of his 21 starts, including the Premiere Stakes, Gr.3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m), Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m), and A$1 million The Hunter (1300m), accruing more than A$4.3 million in prizemoney. The seven-year-old gelding was one of the favoured runners heading into last year’s A$15 million The Everest, a race he finished fourth in 2021, but O’Shea was forced to scratch the gelding on race morning after he failed a veterinary examination. Lost And Running was bred by JML Bloodstock’s Lib Petagna and raised at Blandford Lodge in Matamata. Petagna retained an interest in the six-year-old gelding, who raced in the colours of Carl Holt, with partners including Frank and Christine Cook and O’Shea’s wife Isabel. View the full article

Spring hasn’t been kind to La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) in New Zealand and punters might get their last glimpse of her racing during the fickle season in her homeland when she contests the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) on Saturday. The five-year-old mare’s spring preparation has been interrupted by track conditions for the second year in a row, leading trainers Katrina and Simon Alexander to contemplate heading straight to Australia next year with their stable star. The daughter of Vadamos was set to contest the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), a race she won last year, at Hastings on Saturday, but the Alexanders decided to scratch her from the Hawke’s Bay feature after being met by a rain-affected track. “We may not have a spring preparation here at all. It is becoming quite difficult to get a good track horse ready for that Hawke’s Bay Carnival,” Katrina Alexander said. “We got the first day under our belt, but that wasn’t the day that she is most suited to. “We need to rethink the timing there for that type of horse. I think it is okay if you come off the winter with a hardened warhorse that can cop a range of surfaces, but I don’t think we will necessarily have that in our sights next year. “It does make you rethink just how early you would bring a horse like her in for next season.” The Alexanders are backing their decision to withdraw their mare from the race and are looking forward to pursuing their plan b this weekend. “I don’t regret the decision not to run, even though the horse was down there,” Alexander said. “We kind of got ourselves into that position last year, thinking we had to run. Where she is at in her prep, there was really no need to. The horse has come home in really good shape and we are able to press on. “We had a couple of options going forward on two different timeframes and that will still work out for us. It (week delay) is not really a problem at all.” La Crique has been lumbered with 60kg for Saturday’s test and Alexander is intrigued about how she will handle the weight. “It will be interesting to see how she manages to carry weight. We all know she is not a strongly built horse and it is something she hasn’t been asked to do before,” she said. “We just want to get a solid run under her belt. She is just there for a hit-out, there are no expectations for her on Saturday. “It was either there or have a trial and she needs to have a solid hit-out, which they don’t always get in a trial, so we thought we might as well run around and see if we can pick up a little bit of money and we can advance from there.” La Crique will be ridden on Saturday by Jasmine Fawcett, with regular rider Craig Grylls committed to ride at Hawera this weekend. “Unfortunately, because it (Matamata Cup) wasn’t on the cards early on, it clashes with the Hawera meeting, and Craig is fully committed to Hawera with that being the more feature meeting for a lot of the jockeys this weekend,” Alexander said. “Jasmine Fawcett has been engaged for this Saturday. She rode her very early on in her career (at the trials), so she has had the feel of the horse before.” Following the weekend, La Crique is set to fly to Sydney where she will have a two-run campaign, culminating in a tilt at the A$2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 11. “After a meeting with the owners yesterday, we have picked out a path,” Alexander said. “At this stage she is going to go to Sydney. The end target is a race called the Five Diamonds over 1800m, which we think will suit her nicely. Heading into that is the Craven (Gr.3, 2000m). “There was an option to take on one earlier, but we just think with the timing we would have had to get her on a plane this Sunday, which is a little but rushed.” View the full article

Trainer Mark Walker is hoping his talented mare Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) can bring her New Zealand form to Flemington on Saturday where she will line-up in the Gr.2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m). The Waikato Stud bred and raced four-year-old made a great start to her spring preparation in her homeland, finishing runner-up in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa in August before scoring her maiden Group One victory in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last month. Her performance sealed her trip across the Tasman to join Te Akau Racing’s newly-established Cranbourne barn and Walker is hoping she can continue the stable’s great start in Victoria. “She carries the Group One winners’ penalty, but she has earnt it, she is a Group One winner and we think that she is a nice mare,” Walker told Racing.com. “She did have all favours in the Tarzino, she had a nice draw. She has a very short sprint and Opie (Bosson) tactically rode a brilliant race to hold her up as long as he could.” The daughter of Savabeel was runner-up in the Gr.1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), and Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) last year, and Walker believes she will be ideally suited to the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) in Sydney next month. “She was placed in a couple of Group One races as a three-year-old but probably 1400m is her pet trip and if she went well enough (on Saturday) we would consider going up to Sydney for the Golden Eagle,” Walker said. Meanwhile, Walker reported stable star Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) has come through her win in the last Saturday’s Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley in good order and is on track to return to the Melbourne course later this month to contest the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m). “She was a little bit scratchy the next day but by Sunday she was pretty good and was pretty bouncy again, so we are really happy,” Walker said. “It (Manikato) should be really good for her. She is pretty versatile, as a three-year-old she won up to a mile, so 1200m will be a perfect fit. “She will probably go and have a look at Flemington one morning, we are hoping (prior to the Manikato). I will have a chat with Ben (Gleeson, assistant trainer), but we might even be able to take her back to The Valley on the Monday or Tuesday before she runs there again as it is four weeks to the Manikato.” View the full article

Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners Hill Stakes Group Two Betting Guide Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023 Location: Rosehill Racecourse – Sydney, New South Wales Prize Money: $2,000,000 Distance: 1900m Held at Rosehill Gardens, the Hill Stakes is a 1900m Group 2 horse racing event. Run in early October annually, in 2023 the Hill Stakes is run for $2,000,000. Just two mares have won the Hill Stakes, with Verry Elleegant (2019) and Miss Marielle (2009) the only females to have won this race since 2003. Several superstars of the turf have gone on to win the Hill Stakes. The most notable winners of the Hill Stakes include: Cascadian (2022), Think It Over (2021), Verry Elleegant (2019), Hartnell (2016), Preferment (2015), Desert War (2005/2006), Tie The Knot (1999), Saintly (1996), Super Impose (1991), Emancipation (1983), Gunsynd (1972), Baguette (1971), Eskimo Prince (1965), Sky High (1962), Redcraze (1956/1957), Hydrogen (1952/1953), Bernborough (1946), Shannon (1945), Peter Pan (1932/1935), Chatham (1933/1934), Phar Lap (1930/1931) and Gloaming (1922). 2023 Hill Stakes Betting Odds Cascadian winning the 2022 Hill Stakes. Photo: Racing NSW The 2023 Hill Stakes odds as of October 3 look like this: Montefilia – +300 Hoo Ya Mal – +350 Atishu – +500 Duais – +500 Hope In Your Heart – +700 Zeyrek – +1000 Complete Hill Stakes odds available at Dabble. Best Hill Stakes bookmakers The Hill Stakes is one race during the Sydney spring carnival that is attracting plenty of early betting interest, so online bookmakers tend to open early all-in markets. Bookmakers will have markets for Hill Stakes throughout the week of the race, and punters will still get great odds and the best value. All of our recommended horse betting sites offer betting on the Hill Stakes and bookmaker bonuses will also be available in the days leading up to the race. These horse racing betting sites generally have apps available for iOS and Android smartphones. Sport Table Latest Hill Stakes News Hill Stakes attracts classy field of 14 runners Australia horse racing news 4 hours ago The time-honoured Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) moves back to Rosehill Gardens this Saturday for the first time since 2011 … Read More Pennyweka being set for Sydney spring New Zealand horse racing news 3 weeks ago Multiple Group 1 winner Pennyweka is set to make her way to Sydney for an exciting spring campaign according to … Read More Cascadian wins Hill Stakes at Randwick Australia horse racing news 1 year ago He might not consistently wow punters like Anamoe or Zaaki, but for an eight-year-old, Cascadian still commands plenty of respect … Read More Randwick full racing tips & quaddie picks | Saturday, October 1 Horse Racing Tips 1 year ago Royal Randwick plays host to a massive 10-race program on Saturday afternoon headlined by the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) … Read More 2023 Hill Stakes Final Field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Numerian Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 15 59kg 2 Zeyrek Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 7 59kg 3 Young Werther Danny O’Brien Billy Egan 14 59kg 4 Luncies Kris Less Tim Clark 3 59kg 5 No Compromise Chris Waller Tyler Schiller 16 59kg 6 Protagonist Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons 1 59kg 7 Hoo Ya Mal Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 6 59kg 8 Sky Lab Paul Perry Kathy O’Hara 4 59kg 9 Hosier Mark Minervini Rachel King 8 59kg 10 Mount Popa Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Koby Jennings 10 59kg 11 Montefilia Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 2 57kg 12 Hinged Chris Waller Brett Prebble 5 57kg 13 Magical Lagoon Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 9 57kg 14 Fireburn Gary Portelli Jason Collett 11 56kg 15 Hezashocka (1E) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Zac Lloyd 12 59kg 16 Ironclad (2E) Will Clarken & Nikki O’Shea TBC 13 59kg Previous Hill Stakes Field 2022 Hill Stakes field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Cascadian James Cummings James McDonald 8 59kg 2 Numerian Annabel Neasham Tommy Berry 3 59kg 3 Stockman Joseph Pride N/A 2 59kg 4 Yonkers Chris Waller William Pike 1 59kg 5 Elephant Emma-Lee & David Browne Hugh Bowman 6 59kg 6 Luncies Kris Lees Tim Clark 4 59kg 7 Kiss The Bride Bjorn Baker Dylan Gibbons 7 59kg 8 Montefilia David Payne Jason Collett 5 57kg 2022 Hill Stakes result 1st – Cascadian (+180) 2nd – Numerian (+140) 3rd – Montefilia (NTD) Recent Hill Stakes winners 2022: Cascadian thrashes rivals He might not consistently wow punters like Anamoe or Zaaki, but for an eight-year-old, Cascadian still commands plenty of respect. He was far too good for his competitors in the Hill Stakes at Randwick, comfortably winning the $1 million Group 2 feature over 2000m by almost 3.5 lengths. When the $2.20 favourite Montefilia ran out of gas at the 300m mark, that was when $2.80 winning chance Cascadian pounced for James Cummings, with star jockey James McDonald aboard. 2021: Think It Over arrives in time In the wake of Verry Elleegant’s withdrawal from the 2021 Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) to compete in Melbourne, the spotlight turned to Think It Over. Despite the absence of his formidable rival, Think It Over faced a challenging battle as the $1.75 favourite. The determined gelding, guided by Nash Rawiller’s expertise, navigated the length of the Randwick straight. It wasn’t until the final moments that he managed to overtake leader Shared Ambition ($6.50), securing victory by a narrow margin of a short head. The gallant Cepheus ($51) finished a commendable 1.25 lengths behind in third place. 2020: Kolding hands Waller another Hill Stakes win Guided by the unstoppable James McDonald, Kolding showcased an impressive performance in the 2020 Hill Stakes. Positioned strategically on the speed, Kolding maintained an unyielding gallop, ultimately triumphing over Avilius by a convincing two lengths, with Fierce Impact closely following in third by a mere half-neck. The victory came a year after Kolding’s success in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and a recent triumph in the George Main Stakes (1600m). Despite initial skepticism about Kolding’s ability to excel beyond a mile, his champion trainer remained unwavering in confidence. In the race, Fierce Impact, the $2.30 favorite, opted for a restrained strategy, settling to the rear of the field from barrier six of eight under Nash Rawiller. Meanwhile, Kolding ($3.60) and Avilius ($6.50) positioned themselves ahead in the running order. As the race unfolded, Just Thinkin’ ($9) secured an uncontested lead but relinquished the advantage upon straightening. It was then that Kolding seized the opportunity, and Avilius, equipped with blinkers for the first time, gave chase. Kolding maintained a two-length advantage at the finish line, securing James McDonald a remarkable achievement of four winners on a Group 1 race day. 2019: Verry Elleegant gets nose down in time Verry Elleegant made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle, securing a dramatic victory in the Hill Stakes at Randwick and rekindling her prospects for major spring races. Trainer Chris Waller, buoyed by the mare’s impressive performance, expressed that both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup are once again viable options for Verry Elleegant following her Group 2 Hill Stakes triumph. The Australian Oaks champion from the spring, Verry Elleegant, had faced challenges with her racing manners in the past. Waller and his dedicated team, however, diligently addressed these concerns, and their hard work paid off in the Hill Stakes. Overcoming a moderate tempo, Verry Elleegant, priced at $2.40, showcased her resilience by making a compelling late surge from near-last. In a thrilling finish, she managed to edge past Samadoubt ($5.50) in the final bound, clinching victory by a mere nose. Life Less Ordinary ($7.50) finished a commendable three-quarters of a length behind in third place. Hill Stakes winners Hill Stakes Past Winners Year Horse Jockey Trainer 2022 Cascadian James McDonald James Cummings 2021 Think It Over Nash Rawiller Kerry Parker 2020 Kolding James McDonald Chris Waller 2019 Verry Elleegant James McDonald Chris Waller 2018 Ace High Tye Angland David Payne 2017 Classic Uniform Michael Walker Gary Moore 2016 Hartnell James McDonald John O’Shea 2015 Preferment Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2014 Junoob Blake Shinn Chris Waller 2013 Moriarty Nash Rawiller Chris Waller 2012 Lamasery Peter Robl David Vandyke 2011 Trusting Joao Moreira John Thompson 2010 Descarado Peter Robl Gai Waterhouse 2009 Miss Marielle Peter Robl Joseph Pride 2008 Fiumicino Glen Boss John Hawkes 2007 Race Not Held 2006 Desert War Larry Cassidy Gai Waterhouse 2005 Desert War Jim Byrne Gai Waterhouse 2004 Natural Blitz Danny Beasley Doug Harrison 2003 Excellerator Jim Cassidy Gai Waterhouse 2002 Dress Circle Lenny Beasley Gai Waterhouse 2001 Mulan Princess Chris Munce Gai Waterhouse 2000 Pasta Express John Marshall Paul Cave Hill Stakes winners pre-2000 Hill Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 Year Horse 1999 Tie The Knot 1998 Arena 1997 Ebony Grosve 1996 Saintly 1995 Stony Bay 1994 Slight Chance 1993 Silk Ali 1992 Muirfield Village 1991 Super Impose 1990 Eastern Classic 1989 Riverina Charm 1988 Natural Habit 1987 Beau Zam 1986 Colour Page 1985 Greatness 1984 Trissaro 1983 Emancipation 1982 Cossack Prince 1981 Canarthus 1980 Silver Wraith 1979 Imposing 1978 Marceau 1977 Carlaw 1976 Ngawyni 1975 Skyjack 1974 Leica Lover 1973 Grand Cidium 1972 Gunsynd 1971 Baguette 1970 Flagrante 1969 Black Onyx 1968 Eternal Youth 1967 Winfreux 1966 Prince Grant 1965 Eskimo Princee 1964 Toi Port 1963 Toi Port 1962 Sky High 1961 Lord Fury 1960 Waipari 1959 Noholme 1958 Skyline 1957 Redcraze 1956 Redcraze 1955 Somerset Fair 1954 Prince Cortauld 1953 Hydrogen 1952 Hydrogen 1951 San Domenico 1950 Playboy 1949 Vagabond 1948 Dark Marne 1947 Columnist 1946 Bernborough 1945 Shannon 1944 Mayfowl 1943 Yaralla 1942 Yaralla 1941 High Caste 1940 Beau Vite 1939 Gold Rod 1938 Gold Rod 1937 Talking 1936 Silver Ring 1935 Peter Pan 1934 Chatham 1933 Chatham 1932 Peter Pan 1931 Phar Lap 1930 Phar Lap 1929 Winalot 1928 Limerick 1927 Limerick 1926 Valicare 1925 The Hawk 1924 Ballymena 1923 The Hawk 1922 Gloaming 1921 Beauford View the full article

The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) has released its 2022-23 Annual Report, recording numerous successes, including Queensland-first initiatives to support animal welfare and the highest level of integrity in Queensland racing. In the 2022-23 financial year, QRIC supported an increased number of race meetings across the state, providing staff and operational support for approximately 30 race meetings per week, and customer service support to almost 50,000 participant enquiries. QRIC also boosted its compliance and animal welfare efforts during the financial year, introducing an intelligence-led approach to prohibited substance testing that led to the testing of 20,882 racing animals and participants throughout the financial year. Proactive, reactive, and out of competition anywhere, anytime testing is leading to a higher detection of prohibited substances, compared to a similar number of swabs the previous year. In addition, a three-pronged inspection strategy implemented by QRIC greyhound stewards resulted in a 36% increase in inspections at registered properties. Further measures were taken to uphold the highest animal welfare standards, with Queensland-first pre-race veterinary examinations for all Group 1, Group 2 and Battle of the Bush starters running in the 2023 Thoroughbred Winter Carnival. This resulted in fewer pre-race scratching and decreased welfare incidents on-track. QRIC also worked to maximise adoptions for retired racing greyhounds by optimising the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP), resulting in 299 adoptions throughout the year, 32 more than in 2021-22. QRIC took additional steps to crack down on misconduct in the racing industry, including a new partnership with the Queensland Police Service Rural and Stock Crime Squad. QRIC Commissioner Shane Gillard said that milestone steps were also taken over the past financial year to provide transparency regarding decision-making related to penalties, and a faster path to appeal. “Our establishment of penalty guides for the three codes of racing ensures that licensed and non-licensed participants have a clear understanding of the penalties they may incur for breaching the Rules of Racing,” said Mr Gillard. “In addition, we worked with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to make the penalty appeals process smoother and quicker for participants by establishing the Racing Appeals Panel, which launched in March 2023.” To continue supporting the sustainability of racing in Queensland, QRIC implemented a stewards remuneration framework, modernising the employment conditions for the stewarding cohort, including by implementing a salary increase, improved rostering practices and the provision of tool-of-trade vehicles for enhanced safety and service delivery. Mr Gillard said that QRIC also increased its regional footprint by decentralising its operations. “By establishing new integrity roles in Cairns, Townsville, Toowoomba and Rockhampton, we are proud to have introduced new country racing social and economic benefits to regional communities,” he said. “In further support of regional economies, several integrity roles have also been transitioned from thoroughbred racing clubs across Queensland to QRIC in locations such as Longreach, Cairns, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Warwick and Roma, and we look forward to continuing this rollout this financial year.” More horse racing news View the full article

Race 10 PLOUGH HOTEL 1200m THIRD DECREE (K Chowdhoory) – Co-trainer Mr. M Pitman advised Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of THIRD DECREE, and it is their intention to continue on with the mare’s current preparation. The post North Canterbury Racing Club at Riccarton Park, Saturday, 30 September 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Rosehill Gardens will host the Roman Consul Stakes this weekend. The Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) for the three-year-olds has drawn a small but quality field of eight this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens. After a dominant win in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) on September 23, Ozzmosis has earned clear favouritism at +160 with most online betting sites. Celestial Legend, who was a strong runner-up to Ozzmosis in the Heritage, is next at +320 and is already seeing early support. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Royal Tribute (+500) started as an equal favourite in the Heritage Stakes and was a shade disappointing after his first-up victory at Hawkesbury on September 7. For Godolphin, Barber (+500) closed off strongly in the Heritage Stakes and will improve second-up, while Balkans (+1500) makes a big step up in grade from a Warwick Farm victory on September 20. The Peter & Paul Snowden barn has sent King’s Gambit (+500) back to Sydney after running third in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington, and the same can be said for Mexico (+2500) running into fourth place in the same race. The winner of the 2023 Roman Consul Stakes will get a major share of the $300,000 in prizemoney and will also state their case for the final slot in The Everest (1200m) on October 14. Roman Consul Stakes 2023 field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 King’s Gambit Peter & Paul Snowden TBC 7 56.5kg 2 Barber James Cummings Nash Rawiller 1 56.5kg 3 Ozzmosis Bjorn Baker Rachel King 6 56.5kg 4 Namesake Ciaron Maher & David Eustace TBC 8 56.5kg 5 Celestial Legend Les Bridge Kerrin McEvoy 4 56.5kg 6 Royal Tribute Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 2 56.5kg 7 Mexico Michael Freedman Ryan Maloney 3 56.5kg 8 Balkans James Cummings Zac Lloyd 5 56.5kg More horse racing news View the full article

Romantic Warrior heads a cracking field in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington has attracted a full field of 16 runners, with two emergencies awaiting scratchings to get a start in the hot field on Saturday afternoon. The Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior will be the highlight of the 2023 Turnbull Stakes, which has been earmarked as the Hong Kong raider’s kickoff point for his Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival for some time now. The son of Acclimation has won 10 of his 14 starts, with three of those wins coming at Group 1 level, including back-to-back victories in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2022 and 2023. However, a less-than-ideal draw in barrier 11 will not help Romantic Warrior’s chances in the Flemington feature. Also hailing from abroad is the Simon & Ed Crisford-trained West Wind Blows, who brings solid Group form from England and appears to be on a Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup path. As for the local hopes, Chris Waller and the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace team each have four runners in the Turnbull Stakes. Of those two powerhouse stables, Waller has received much more favourable barrier draws. Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (18) and 2022 Turnbull Stakes winner Smokin’ Romans (17) have drawn horribly and will be joined by Right You Are (16) and Duke De Sessa (12), giving the Maher & Eustace-trained horses four of the eight widest barriers. As for the Waller contingent, Soulcombe (2), Francesco Guardi (7), Osipenko (6) and El Bodegon (9) have all drawn good barriers and should receive economical runs from inside-to-middle gates. The 2023 Turnbull Stakes should prove to be a good form reference going forward, as several runners will be pushing onto big Group 1 features throughout the Victorian and Sydney spring carnivals. Turnbull Stakes 2023 final field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Romantic Warrior Danny Shum James McDonald 11 59kg 2 Gold Trip Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 18 58kg 3 Smokin’ Romans Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jamie Mott 17 58kg 4 Francesco Guardi Chris Waller Damian Lane 7 57kg 5 West Wind Blows Simon & Ed Crisford Jamie Spencer 8 56.5kg 6 Emissary Mike Moroney Jamie Kah 5 56kg 7 Osipenko Chris Waller Damien Oliver 6 56kg 8 Uncle Bryn Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Daniel Moor 1 56kg 9 Berkeley Square Dan O’Sullivan Harry Coffey 14 56kg 10 Bank Maur Richard Laming Craig Newitt 4 56kg 11 Soulcombe Chris Waller Craig Williams 2 56kg 12 Duke De Sessa Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 12 56kg 13 Spanish Mission Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman TBC 10 55kg 14 El Bodegon Chris Waller Ben Melham 9 55kg 15 Right You Are Ciaron Maher & David Eustace TBC 16 56kg 16 Lunar Flare Grahame Begg Michael Dee 15 54kg 17 El Patroness (1E) Danny O’Brien Jye McNeil 3 53kg 18 Goldman (2E) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs 13 55kg More horse racing news View the full article

Montefilia heads a strong field for the 2023 Hill Stakes at Rosehill this weekend. (Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos) The time-honoured Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) moves back to Rosehill Gardens this Saturday for the first time since 2011 and has attracted a strong field of 14 set to stake their claim on the $2 million prize packet. Chris Waller dominates the field with four runners engaged – including the race favourite Montefilia, who has opened +260 after a bold display in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m). Waller also has Hinged in the mix at +1000 with online bookmakers, while Magical Lagoon and No Compromise are both +5000 outsiders. The Kris Lees-trained pair of Protagonist (+500) and Luncies (+2500) will be looking to improve second-up into the campaign. Meanwhile, Hoo Ya Mal (+360) will have his third Australian run for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn, with Adam Hyeronimus set to take the reins on the lightly raced four-year-old. Numerian (+2500) is the only galloper in the race first-up and will wear the number one saddlecloth in the weight-for-age contest after a lacklustre winter preparation. Billy Egan and Danny O’Brien will combine with the in-form Young Werther (+2500) searching for his third-straight win of the campaign, after saluting at Moonee Valley on September 9 in BM100 company. Team Hawkes has two gallopers set to start; Zeyrek (+700) will be looking to make an impression third-up, while Mount Popa (+5000) will appreciate the step up in trip after finding it too sharp in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle last start. The 2023 Hill Stakes will kick off the quaddie at Rosehill on Saturday in the seventh race, which is scheduled for 4:10pm AEDT. Hill Stakes 2023 final field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Numerian Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 15 59kg 2 Zeyrek Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 7 59kg 3 Young Werther Danny O’Brien Billy Egan 14 59kg 4 Luncies Kris Less Tim Clark 3 59kg 5 No Compromise Chris Waller Tyler Schiller 16 59kg 6 Protagonist Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons 1 59kg 7 Hoo Ya Mal Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 6 59kg 8 Sky Lab Paul Perry Kathy O’Hara 4 59kg 9 Hosier Mark Minervini Rachel King 8 59kg 10 Mount Popa Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Koby Jennings 10 59kg 11 Montefilia Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 2 57kg 12 Hinged Chris Waller Brett Prebble 5 57kg 13 Magical Lagoon Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 9 57kg 14 Fireburn Gary Portelli Jason Collett 11 56kg 15 Hezashocka (1E) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Zac Lloyd 12 59kg 16 Ironclad (2E) Will Clarken & Nikki O’Shea TBC 13 59kg More horse racing news View the full article

When the 4-year-old runs this distance on dirt, she wins. Equally impressive is that she's won all five of them by no less than 2 1/4 lengths. View the full article

Woodward Stakes (G2) winner Zandon and Awesome Again Stakes (G1) winner Slow Down Andy surged into the top 10 in the latest Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, while Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Arcangelo maintains the overall lead.View the full article

Partnerships in racing are nothing new. The days are upon us where programs are filled with syndicates and lists of names that can rival even the race entries themselves. It's a way to spread risk, cost and reward across multiple parties while increasing the comradery of racing. And while those partnerships are oftentimes consolidated in the form of a sale at the end of a horse's career, the 2023 Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover event has given opportunity for new kinds of teams to form, even across industries. Enter Gina Robb, trainer and co-owner of Maryland's No Guts No Glory Farm. The daughter of a jockey, Gina has spent her life around racing including marrying fellow trainer Jerry Robb. Together, the pair is responsible for $800,000-earner Anna's Bandit (Great Notion) who reported her first foal, a Tapit colt, this spring. Early this year, Gina had a quartet of horses ready to come off the track to pursue second careers along with a broodmare who'd been down on her reproductive luck and in need of perhaps a third career. Gina also had a teenage daughter conveniently taking lessons at Talbot Run Equestrian Center and, with the help of Talbot Run's head trainer Robin Petrasek, a new alliance was formed. “I went to Robin [one day] and said 'hey, I've got a few off-track thoroughbreds and I'd really love to do something',” said Robb. “So we got together and I supplied the horses and Robin and I decided 'okay, let's try this.' Next week, a team of five horses and riders from Talbot Run will travel to Kentucky to take on hundreds of other ex-racehorses across ten disciplines over a three-day event. Petrasek's program is a bit unique in that it has allowed each rider, the other four being amateurs, to train their own horses. “We decided to kind of gear towards helping juniors learn how to retrain the horses,” said Petrasek. “So it's kind of a teaching and building program so that we can build up their interest in the industry and shine awareness on what it takes and where these horses came from.” Seany P cleans up at the World Equestrian Center | Talbot Run Photo The Talbot Run team, consisting of Petrasek, CC Forgione, Gretchen Wolfe, Chloe Pleune and Angelina Rosenthal, will display four Maryland-bred horses and one Kentucky-bred broodmare. Petrasek and her mount Seany P (Nicanor) will compete in Dressage and Freestyle while Forgione will take the full-brother to Anna's Bandit, Little Bold Bandit (Great Notion), in Competitive Trail. The other three riders will compete in the youth divisions: Wolfe aboard Vampish (Bodemeister) in the Broodmare division along with Eventing and Show Jumping, Pleune with Scintillio (Uncle Lino) also in Eventing and Show Jumping and Rosenthal, Gina Robb's daughter, with Belfour (Super Saver) in Eventing and Show Jumping as well. “Gina provided us with five horses that have a high potential for sport,” added Petrasek. “It's not only been good in that aspect, but also that the horses have been very safe, especially for the kids to handle.” “It's great we take these awesome horses into a second career,” continued Robb. “My husband retires them early before they're not able to do any of these things. And that's important because the other [entries], they have to sit on for a long time before they finally feel well enough.” In speaking to the importance of the Makeover's new Broodmare division, Robb was nothing but complimentary. “There are a lot of farms out there with mares like her [Vampish] and I think this division is going to be a God send. They're older, they've already raced and raised their babies and now we're setting them up for potentially a third career. It's exciting because people need to know that [these mares] can have another job. I'm very excited about it.” And while the team has their work cut out for them in what will be large and competitive divisions in Kentucky, both women maintain that a safe, happy experience for all is the priority. “Our main goal at the end of all this is to have safe horses for our lesson program,” said Petrasek. “The Makeover is an opportunity to showcase what they want to do but, no matter what the outcome is, they've all come so far with these horses. They hadn't done anything except race and now look at what they can do.” Robb hopes a continuing alliance between track and barn will lead to an avenue of new youth into racing. “I want these young kids to get into the business,” she admitted with a laugh. “We need to find some new-timers and let them see what it's like to do these things. I'm hoping it sparks them.” Talbot Run had the pleasure of a behind-the-scenes tour of Laurel Park earlier this Spring and, from all accounts, Robb may have gotten her wish. Vampish, Scintillo and Belfour at the Maryland State Fair TB Show | Talbot Run Photo “Some of the girls have already signed up to come get a license to gallop horses when they're old enough,” she said. “I tell the moms that that's the best place to start. Riding in a ring is very different to riding on the track but these girls are very, very capable so they'll make the transition easier. I'd like to say I might have been able to bring an upcoming jockey on!” The Thoroughbred Makeover, which runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 14 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, does allow trainers to also market their horses. But Talbot Run's entries will return home to Maryland where they'll join the lesson program and maybe just inspire next year's team and a new generation of racing fans. The post TB Makeover Puts Maryland-Breds On Display For Talbot Run appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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Celebrating 40 Years of the Breeders' Cup with Living Legends There are great racehorses and there are great sires. One doesn't always equal the other. Sometimes, but not always, a horse is equally adept at both. “It's rare for world-class racehorse to become a world-class sire. It's two different resumes, two different achievements,” said John Sikura, owner of Hill 'n' Dale. Rarely, ever so rarely, a top racehorse becomes a sire so good and so prolific in generating top-class horses that his own championship race record becomes almost an afterthought. That happened with Northern Dancer. He was a sire in such uncommon air that his own Hall of Fame achievements and Classic wins have been virtually relegated to a footnote amongst the heights of his accomplishments. Is the same thing happening to 2007 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and Hall of Famer Curlin? When a horse wins the Breeders' Cup, particularly the Classic, that is generally–and rightfully–considered the pinnacle of his or her career. Many are retired shortly afterward as there's a belief they've achieved all they can on the racetrack. A select few might add a second Breeders' Cup win or other Grade I races, but they are always referred to and remembered as a Breeders' Cup winner. Not so with Curlin. His Classic win was merely the launching pad of his impact on the World Championships. “He's on the cusp of siring the most Breeders' Cup winners ever in different categories, sexes, distances,” said Sikura, who stands Curlin at Hill 'n' Dale. “The uniqueness of him producing world-class horses will be unparalleled in the breed. “You'd be greedy if you thought the sire you were standing would accomplish this, but Curlin is a force and is unique.” Curlin | Sarah Andrew Indeed, of all the Breeders' Cup winners who have sired Breeders' Cup winners, Curlin ranks only one behind the late Unbridled's Song with five individual winners, making him the leader among living North American sires. A handful of other living sires have matched or exceeded that number–Dubawi (Ire), Into Mischief, and Tapit–but none of them won the Breeders' Cup themselves. Rare air, indeed. “Any time you've sired more Breeders' Cup champions than any of those horses,” continued Sikura, “it's the highest distinction. What a testament among sires that have sired Breeders' Cup winners. Hopefully we can break the record this year or tie it. He had three winners last year which has never been achieved if you look at all the history of the Breeders' Cup. “Curlin's accomplishments speak for him. If the ultimate goal with a sire is siring a Breeders' Cup winner and if you've done that more than any other sire, then it doesn't really need a graphic or more explanation. He's the best of the very best, that's what that achievement says.” When Curlin retired as America's richest racehorse with earnings north of $10 million to stand his initial season in 2009, no one could have logically predicted the dual Horse of the Year's best and biggest contribution to the sport was still ahead. But one person did. His majority owner, Jess Jackson, told the media in late 2008: “He is one of the best examples of the breed–fast, strong, and durable. I predict he will make a substantial contribution to our sport through his gene pool, and I am looking forward to seeing his foals compete and possibly exceed his unequaled race record.” Jackson, the late founder with his wife, Barbara Banke, of the then-fledgling Stonestreet Farm, was never shy with bold, sometimes flamboyant statements, but perhaps even he would be floored at the stark truth in his prediction these 15 years later. Curlin, with that gleaming golden coat, has the Midas Touch as a sire. And unlike many stallions, who have their best horses early on with those initial good books of mares, Curlin seems to be getting better and better. In 2022 alone, he became the first sire in the history of the Breeders' Cup to have three winners in one day. More specifically, it was three winners in less than three hours: races 5, 7, and 9. Curlin's Breeders' Cup Classic win | Sarah Andrew/Equi-Photo Curlin's own Classic in 2007 was a powerhouse performance in a soggy rendition at Monmouth Park. He'd never faced a sloppy track before, but it proved no obstacle. In a foreshadowing of his future, he manhandled his opponents on the racetrack and drew away with authority, just as he would do so on many indicators of the sire charts. Curlin was Jackson's first major racehorse; Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) would be his second. Incidentally, and perhaps relevant to today's ongoing debate over synthetic surfaces, Curlin's only career off-the-board finish was a fourth when attempting to defend his Breeders' Cup Classic title at Santa Anita in 2008 over the then-synthetic. Jackson publicly stated at the time his horses would never compete over a synthetic surface again. True to his word, the next year, he did not enter Rachel Alexandra in the Breeders' Cup when it returned to Santa Anita despite her undefeated sophomore season which included wins over the boys in the GI Preakness, GI Haskell, and GI Woodward, as well as a 10 1/4-length GI Kentucky Oaks romp. Jackson passed away in 2011 when Curlin's first foals were still short yearlings. He had been an incredibly sporting owner in his short time at the top level of the sport, proven by his decision to campaign Curlin at age four. Many would have retired the chestnut after a 3-year-old season that included that included wins in the GI Preakness, GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Classic, plus a head second to Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) in an unforgettable GI Belmont S. battle. Curlin rewarded Jackson with another three U.S. Grade I wins at four, as well as a trip around the world to bring back a G1 Dubai World Cup trophy. “He was the best horse in the world [at that time],” said Sikura. “I think his body of work as a racehorse was special and unique. He's passing on that quality, that ability, that soundness, that tenaciousness. All those things that made him such a great horse he's passing on to his progeny.” Curlin initially stood at Lane's End upon retirement, but a change in his ownership brought him to Hill 'n' Dale for the 2016 season, when his first crop had completed their 5-year-old campaigns. Stellar Wind would be named the 2015 champion 3-year-old filly, Keen Ice had won the GI Travers S., Palace Malice had captured the GI Belmont S. and the GI Met Mile, and Curalina had taken the GI Acorn S. and GI CCA Oaks–all career-making accomplishments for the majority of sires. But most sires are not Curlin. He was just getting warmed up. “There was an opportunity we seized upon when a 20% interest arose,” said Sikura. “It was ahead of his ability, but when it arose we certainly did everything to secure him. Look at all the Breeders' Cup winners along the way [since then]. He's done great things and hopefully will consistently continue to do them.” Cody's Wish, shown winning the 2023 Met Mile. After his Saturday score in the Vosburgh, Godolphin's Michael Banahan said, “The major goal was trying to win the Met Mile, which we achieved. Everything else was just bonus to top it off.” | Sarah Andrew Among Curlin's 21 Grade I winners and/or seven champions are Breeders' Cup winners Vino Rosso (2019 Classic) and Good Magic (2017 Juvenile), as well as his trio in 2022: Malathaat (Distaff), Elite Power (Sprint), and Cody's Wish (Dirt Mile). Amazingly, his runners have had another nine placings in Breeders' Cup races. “If they make the starting gate, they're dangerous,” said Sikura. “He is multidimensional at the highest level; that's what makes him so special. “He has done everything but be leading sire by progeny earnings. He's been carefully managed with fewer starters and fewer earners, but more importantly, he's siring more Grade I horses than any other horse during the last few seasons. When he breaks the Breeders' Cup record he can singularly be the horse.” Sikura is right; by Grade I winners, Curlin currently leads North America's 2023 leading sire list and did in 2021 and 2022 as well. “He's a horse whose achievements will be seen throughout the history of racing,” continued Sikura. “He's a true classic sire. His accomplishments prove that he is that special and unique horse.” Sikura believes in Curlin's abilities so much that he did a deal for the breeding rights of Good Magic during that colt's 3-year-old year and now stands him as well. Hill 'n' Dale had consigned Good Magic to the 2016 Keeneland September sale as a yearling for his breeder, Stonestreet. Good Magic brought $1 million and broke his maiden in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, then went on to have a stellar sophomore season, sandwiching wins in the GII Blue Grass S. and GI Haskell S. around a second in the GI Kentucky Derby. Good Magic at Hill 'n' Dale | Sarah Andrew “He's not quite as coarse as Curlin. He's medium-sized and he moves very well. If he's successful, he reminds you of Curlin. If not, he reminds you of the dam,” said Sikura with a laugh. “He's successful, so Curlin gets that attribution. He has a soundness quality and is probably a little earlier than Curlin was. I see, in the performance of his offspring, some similarities to Curlin, but he has his own ability to transmit those qualities.” Good Magic leads the second-crop sire list by the standard measurement of earnings and got this year's Kentucky Derby winner, Mage, in his first crop. This marks the second consecutive year one of Curlin's sons has sired the Derby winner, as Keen Ice sired Rich Strike last year. Curlin has four sons to date who have sired Grade I winners. “It's hard for a stallion to be trending any better than Good Magic. The secret is out,” said SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan two weeks ago at the Keeneland September sale after purchasing a $700,000 session topper by the son of Curlin. “At this point, when you have a stallion producing horses at that elite level, the price bracket can get to an elite range as well. At the end of the day, you try to buy them as reasonably as possible, but it's our job to buy them.” Curlin himself had two of the seven-figure yearlings at that sale and another two at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, including the $4-million topper out of champion Beholder (Henny Hughes). Despite a few more yearling sales remaining on the 2023 calendar, that Curlin yearling is likely to be the highest-priced yearling of the year. “Everyone has given their best to the horse and he has rewarded that faith and opportunity by giving his best,” said Sikura. “Quid pro quo: we give our best, he gives his best. That's rewarding.” Sikura pointed to the support of Stonestreet as one of the keys to getting Curlin those opportunities. “Stonestreet has been great supporters. They were active in supplying those great mares ahead of the marketplace. That's a reward in itself and now other people are emulating that. There's synergy between owner and horse. They have that belief in him.” Curlin's 12th crop of 2-year-olds is at the races this year. No fewer than 16% of all his foals aged three and up are stakes performers. If one looks only at starters, the number jumps to a provocative 20%. Curlin has 97 black-type winners bred in this hemisphere; 55 of those are graded winners; 21 are Grade I winners; seven are champions. Heady numbers, indeed. And he's showing no sign of slowing down. Another of Curlin's 2022 Breeders' Cup winners, Elite Power, has come back to be a repeat Grade I winner in 2023. Curlin has five Grade I winners this year, top in the nation. | Sarah Andrew “He's doing fantastic,” said Sikura. “He's a 19-year-old horse and is very, very fertile. He continues to sire elite-level horses. When the market looks at stallions when they get middle-aged, it is receptive if they are still performing. He is current and popular at the racetrack with representation and performance at the highest levels every year.” From Breeders' Cup winner to Breeders' Cup sire, Curlin can no longer be considered on the cusp of greatness. He hurdled that superlative long ago. Perhaps an avalanche is a better term to describe his momentum as he sweeps up and overwhelms everything in his path, but he leaves things improved, not bereft as an avalanche does. He may not be Northern Dancer yet, but don't count him out. “He is a self-made man. He brought just $57,000 as a yearling, but he's overcome every prejudice and at every opportunity he continues to elevate. That proves how great he is. We can just nod our head to that greatness level,” said Sikura. Northern Dancer himself was famously an unsold yearling before his Hall of Fame racing career and unprecedented success as a sire. Curlin may have sold as a yearling for what now looks to be the bargain of the century, but he, too, was inducted to the Hall of Fame and is certainly proving himself as a sire and a burgeoning sire of sires. It's early days yet for him as a broodmare sire, but there's already 15 black-type winners and seven graded winners out of his first daughters. Curlin knows he's special. “He's like a politician. When someone shows up, he has a big smile because he knows he's going to get his picture taken,” said Sikura. “He has that aura about him, that life force. He knows he's the dominant male. He's not a fractious horse, doesn't bounce around, just looks around like 'I own the place.' Well, I own the place, but he paid for it. He's my best banker.” The post Curlin, from Breeders’ Cup Winner to Breeders’ Cup Sire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Copy That’s bid for a record-equalling third New Zealand Cup is over. It’s been revealed the champion pacer has a knee injury which has him ruled out of the country’s biggest race at Addington on Tuesday, November 14. Copy That has had two runs this campaign, a third and a second at Alexandra Park in September. The winner of 33 races and more than two million dollars in stakes Copy That was vying to be just the fourth horse ever to win three New Zealand Cups in a row, joining Indianapolis, False Step and Terror To Love. With Copy That out, Akuta is now the $2.30 favourite on the fixed odds, with Self Assured next at $7.50. To see more click here View the full article

A son of Nyquist brought a sale-topping $205,000 during Tuesday's second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale in Timonium, MD. With a catalogue some 20% smaller than it was last year, the 2023 renewal of the auction saw 289 head fetch $7,078,000 at an average of $24,491 (down 7.9% year over year from $26,597) and median of $12,000 (down 20% from last year's cumulative figure of $15,000). Last year there were 23 horses to sell for $100,000 or more–there were only 12 to reach that number this week. For Tuesday's longer session, which came after a later-starting afternoon of selling Monday, 190 yearlings changed hands for gross receipts of $4,715,000. The average was $24,816 and median was $12,000. “I thought it was fairly consistent, very much in line with previous years,” said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning, Jr. “The catalogue was smaller this year, which obviously had an impact on the gross. Average declined slightly, median declined a little bit, which are trends we've been seeing in the regional markets. All in all, I thought the sale was fine, it was fair, it was consistent, and really as expected–it was in line with our expectations and what we've seen in this marketplace in recent years.” The overall buy-back rate was 21.5% compared to 17% 12 months ago. The RNA rate was 25.5% at the conclusion of the session Tuesday–it had been 16.2% at last year's corresponding session and was 19.5% on Monday–but Browning noted that post-sale transactions were still being processed and the RNA rate would come down as those additional sales were finalized and recorded. Nick Sallusto's Thorostock LLC and Seth Morris Thoroughbreds purchased the sale and session's top two lots Tuesday: hip 160, a Maryland-bred Nyquist colt from Becky Davis Inc., agent; and hip 376, a $175,000 son of fellow Darley resident Street Sense offered by Northview Stallion Station. The sales top five sellers all went through the ring Tuesday. Eight of nine toppers for the sale were colts, with the lone filly in that group hip 368, a Maryland-bred miss from the first crop of Vekoma. Northview also consigned that filly, who was purchased by Golden Lion Racing. “I think, generally speaking, the average person would generally rather have a colt than a filly to go to the races with,” Browning said. “And I think that's even more so the case in a regional marketplace where you don't have collector-type pedigrees, generally speaking, so I think there's always going to be an affinity for colts.” Yearling season will wrap up later this month when Fasig holds its four-day Kentucky October Yearlings sale Oct. 23-26, and Browning isn't anticipating any more surprises back in Lexington: “There were no real emerging great signs or negative signs with the marketplace [in Maryland]. We already have a pretty good idea of where things are, it was in line with what we've already seen this year and I would when we go back to Kentucky in a few weeks for the last yearling sale of the year it'll again be very similar to what we've been seeing.” Visit www.fasigtipton.com for complete sales results. Sallusto 'Stocks' Up Nick Sallusto's Thorostock, in partnership with Seth Morris Thoroughbreds, took home Tuesday's top two lots, the $205,000 Nyquist colt consigned by Becky Davis, Inc. as hip 160; and hip 376, a $175,000 son of Street Sense bought out of the Northview Stallion Station consignment. The purchases, along with four other more inexpensive pick-ups ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, will be heading to next year's 2-year-old sales. Hip 160 is out of Laurel debut winner How My Heart Works (Not For Love), who has been a very productive mare for Maryland breeders Bowman and Higgins Stable. Her first foal Monday Morning QB (Imagining) fetched $25,000 at this sale in 2018, but has racked up more than $334,000 in earnings, including two stakes victories and a graded placing. A 3-year-old full-sister to hip 160 sold to Carrie Frommer for $200,000 here in 2021, then brought $450,000 back in the Timonium sales ring last May. Now named Asawer, she was third in this year's G3 U.A.E. Oaks. A still-unraced Arrogate colt from the mare sold for $180,000 to Cash Is King and LC Racing here 12 months ago. “I think he's very much like his father–he's got a very similar physical to his daddy; very beautiful type of horse,” Sallusto said of hip 160's appeal. “He's very, very well put together–near perfect conformation. He's got plenty of development left in him, he's still a little bit of a baby. I'm a big fan of the sire, he's got a stallion's pedigree, he already has a full-sister who's graded-placed, the mare already has two graded stakes horses from two with a 2-year-old who hasn't started yet. There were just too many things to like about him to not take a swing at him. We just felt lucky that we had the money to buy him today.” The dark bay also hails from the family of last year's MGISW sophomore colt Cyberknife (Gun Runner), highest-level winners Well Armed and American Patriot, et al. Sallusto said the final price paid for hip 160 was in line with what he was expecting. When asked if the absence of the colts groups, which have been such a force at the major yearling auctions in Kentucky and Saratoga, made for an easier time shopping for higher-end male prospects, he said, “There's a little less resistance I would say, but I think he was fairly bought,” adding of the market as a whole: “There's good support for the locally based Maryland-bred horses, and overall I think the horses who vet clean and have good physicals are bringing fair money.” Later in the session, Sallusto was back at it acquiring another top-end Maryland-bred colt by an established Kentucky sire. Hip 376 is the second foal out of Victory Rally (Jump Start), who was a stakes winner going a main-track mile. His second dam is SW American Victory (Victory Gallop) and third dam is MGSW and good producer Who Did It and Run (Polish Numbers). Hip 376 had RNA'd for $90,000 in August at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. He was bred by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds. A now 2-year-old half-brother by Union Rags sold for $75,000 here last term and has most recently been breezing in Kentucky. Nyce Sale for Davis Consignor Becky Davis admitted that she knew heading into the Midlantic Fall Yearlings sale that she was coming with some standouts, and the market agreed. Davis's consignment grossed $1,005,000 from 25 sold, led by Tuesday's session and sale-topping Nyquist colt as well as another $110,000 son of the Darley stalwart. “I haven't gone to Saratoga or Kentucky in a long time. I've specifically focused on bringing everything to Maryland and trying to improve our offerings,” Davis said during a brief lull in the action Tuesday. “A lot of what we sell are horses we've raised on our farm. We started sending a lot more mares to Kentucky and improving what we were breeding to when we started missing out on the Two Punch and Not For Love and the Allen's Prospect era. So, I know that we're breeding some of the higher-quality horses in the region. A couple years ago, I made a commitment–along with some other consignors–to try and make the Maryland sales better and take everything we had here. There was a group of us who decided that the sales weren't going to get any better unless we brought our own best, so that's what I've done.” Davis had also consigned each of hip 160's aforementioned prior foals. “I think overall, he's been the nicest foal the mare has had. He's phenomenal. I sold his full-sister here two years ago, and she sold for $200,000, but this is a nicer horse than she is,” Davis said of the Apr. 26 foal. “Honestly, he's darn near perfect. Since he was a foal, you just couldn't really pick out anything wrong with him. Some people may have liked to see him be bigger because he's a colt–I would call him average sized–but he's just so well put together, and such an athletic horse with a really good walk. He moves in the field like a dream. He's just the whole package. I was not disappointed by what he brought, but I wouldn't have been surprised if he brought a good bit more.” Davis notably includes footage of her offerings in the field as part of her promotional walking videos (click for hip 160's video). When asked why, she explained: “In [2002], I sold [eventual GII Pennsylvania Derby winner] Love of Money (Not For Love) here [for $70,000]. The sale was huge, there were 600-some horses and we had tents in the infield. That horse got loose from a lot of my handlers, and he was running loose in the infield a couple of times. Samantha Siegel (of Jay Em Ess Stable) bought him from me and she told me later that she bought him because she got to see him run. “I believe it was the very next year–it's been a good 20 years now that I've been doing videos like that. I used to send DVDs out to people. I've been selling horses for a long time, and I've always done so much of it myself. I've prepped all the horses, raised half of them, so I started even doing the videos myself. “This year, I did a lot of the footage myself… Then my 16-year-old daughter edited all the footage and put the videos together… Even with [hip 160], he was so tired [after being inspected so much]. I don't do any forced exercise on the farm, so none of them have been on walkers or lunged or anything like that. They're healthy horses, but they're not like fit athletes–they're babies. So when they get here, and they get shown as much as he did, they get tired. So, I want people to be able to see more than just a tired horse dragged up and down the asphalt… I've had a lot of people buy a lot of really good horses and tell me that they've bought it off of video.” Davis's other Nyquist colt offering was hip 253, who was sold on behalf of breeder Glenangus Farm and purchased by David and Lori Hughes's Mens Grille Racing. The Maryland-bred is the second foal out of stakes winner and graded-placed turfer Peach of a Gal (Curlin). Second dam Richetta (Polish Numbers) was a Maryland standout herself, and also responsible for MSW/GSP Concealed Identity (Smarty Jones) and two other black-type performers. “He's also another really impressive, big, strong colt, but not nearly the same [as hip 160],” Davis said of the chestnut. “He was bigger and taller, but not conformationally the same as the other horse. I think he benefitted from being behind the other horse because people who didn't get the first Nyquist I think were in there a little bit on this one. But, he's an athletic horse himself. He didn't have all the conformation to make him top dog… He's a nice colt. I think he'll be a good racehorse.” Hip 253 had RNA'd for $185,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga while consigned by a different outfit. Davis acknowledged that while she was having a good sale, not everyone was. “I've seen a lot of disappointments, for sure,” she said. “For me, it's going very well. But I think I brought the best group of horses I've ever brought here, and it's probably one of the best consignments this sale has ever seen overall… I honestly think the market is more realistic. To be honest, things have been so over the top; people quadrupling their stud fee. Nobody is happy anymore with just doubling their stud fee. You get caught up in these overinflated numbers and get disappointed… at some point we have to realize that people are losing their shirts and spending too much money and maybe everyone's just becoming a little more realistic.” The post Son of Nyquist on Top at Fasig Midlantic Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hugh Bowman has made a strong start to the season. Leading Australian compatriot Zac Purton by just one win in the 2023/24 Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, Hugh Bowman hopes to successfully harness Caspar Fownes’ powerful start to the season when the pair combines at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. With 11 wins and 10 minor placings from 50 rides so far this season, Bowman narrowly holds sway in the jockey title race from six-time Hong Kong champion Purton (10 wins and 20 minor placings from 57 mounts), while Fownes sits second behind Francis Lui (11 wins) in the trainers’ standings with eight victories. Bowman has provided two of Fownes’ winners so far – Lucky Gor and June Planet – and he reunites with the latter at Happy Valley tomorrow evening as Fownes looks to close the gap to Lui. “He’s hit the ground running this season, Caspar, and I know he prepared his team to do exactly that and the results are coming thick and fast and hopefully they continue to do so on Wednesday evening,” Bowman said. “It was a good win last time by June Planet, he’s been a consistent horse since he arrived here. Last time I rode him with the blinkers on, I couldn’t get him to relax but he still battled on and the other night when I rode him without the blinkers, he relaxed and that’s one thing I would be hopeful of again – that it’s a good, fast-run race, which I think plays to his strength. “He’s effective at the track and I think he can do a repeat at the track.” Bowman also partners Explosive Witness for four-time Hong Kong champion Fownes, where Harmony N Blessed bids for his fifth win at the course and distance for David Hayes and Derek Leung. “He’s (Harmony N Blessed) been very honest and at 1000m, he’s pretty straight-forward. He doesn’t need to lead, he can sit handy and just keep the momentum and he will fight to the end,” Leung said. “He won’t do anything wrong, (I) just make sure he jumps start and go forward. This time he will carry the top weight (135lb) and it will be a little bit different to last time, so we will see. Last time he won by a small margin (short head) and this time he has to carry top weight, so it will be more difficult for him.” Upbeat after Ka Ying Cheer’s debut triumph at Sha Tin on Sunday, Keith Yeung hopes to extend a winning sequence with Joy Coming. “He’s not a very eye-catching horse in the morning, he’s very lazy and laidback but whenever he comes to the race, he shows his big heart,” Yeung said. “(In races), as soon as he hits the front, he’ll wait for others and as soon as he sees the others coming, he’ll kick again – so, he needs a challenge.” Drawn in barrier 12, Yeung hopes Joy Coming is able to cross the field without using too much energy. “It’s a very trick gate, especially with the weight (134lb) but he’s got speed and there doesn’t look to be much speed in the race so hopefully we can get across without doing too much. He jumps quick and he’s a quick horse,” Yeung said. View the full article

Horse Racing on Wednesday, October 4 will feature four meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meetings at Pakenham, Randwick-Kensington and Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday Racing Tips – October 4, 2023 Pakenham Racing Tips Randwick-Kensington Racing Tips Happy Valley (HK) Racing Tips Wednesday’s Best Racing Bets Of The Day – October 4, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $80.51 odds return: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Pakenham Race 1 – #6 Tidal Force Randwick Kensington Race 1 – #6 Princess Mary Ipswich Race 5 – #11 Try Everything Kalgoorlie Race 8 – #6 Magnificent Andy | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on October 4, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Romantic Warrior is a three-time Group 1 winner. He might be one of the world’s best middle-distance racehorses, however, Romantic Warrior will have to defy a worrying trend for Hong Kong-trained runners racing in Australia if he is to deliver victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m). Using this weekend’s contest at Flemington as his springboard into the Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) on 28 October, Romantic Warrior will need to become just the second Hong Kong-trained runner to secure Australian victory following 47 previous attempts from 18 individual horses. Cape Of Good Hope – a Group 1 winner in Great Britain also – boasts Hong Kong’s sole victory in Australia, securing the (now known as the William Reid Stakes) 2005 Group 1 Australia Stakes (1200m). He also placed in three other top-level contests Down Under. Super Kid finished second twice, while Lucky Nine fell agonisingly short to a rampaging Buffering in the 2013 Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m). Romantic Warrior’s crusade snaps an eight-year dry spell that a Hong Kong horse has made the journey to Australia, but for trainer Danny Shum and his team, travelling is nothing out of the ordinary. “There are a lot of challenges, especially to Australia. I’ve travelled to Dubai, England, Singapore, Japan, and it’s not as difficult as Australia. The quarantine, even his schedule changes in Hong Kong before he leaves,” said Shum, who also had to source new feed for Romantic Warrior in Australia. Alongside Ivan Allan, Shum campaigned horses to Japan, Dubai and more. He also famously won at Royal Ascot with Little Bridge as a fully-fledged trainer in 2012. “But it makes me and my team tougher; we will solve the problems and we are working very hard to ensure the horse is in the right spot. Ben, Gary, the mafoo – they are all looking after the horse very good, it’s a good team,” he said. Travelling long distances for a horse based in Hong Kong is a rather unfamiliar process, with most rarely venturing any further from their Sha Tin stables (which is situated on the racecourse) than the occasional 45-minute float trip to Happy Valley for a midweek race. The training centre at Conghua – situated roughly four hours north – has opened the door for travel experience and it regularly accommodates many of Hong Kong’s elite horses, although much like Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior has remained housed exclusively at Sha Tin, where he trains and has done most of his racing. Stepping out of his comfort zone and racing abroad might be a new frontier for Romantic Warrior, but no shortage of international rivals have ventured to Sha Tin to challenge him. The son of Acclamation boasts triumphs over Panthalassa, Danon The Kid, Geoglyph, Jack D’Or, Lei Papale, Order Of Australia, Geraldina and Prognosis. He also beat dual Australian Group 1 winner Dubai Honour last April by two and a half lengths. Romantic Warrior stretched out for a turf gallop on the course proper at Flemington on Sunday morning (1 October) alongside stablemate Romantic Charm. “He should improve after his gallop, and he should improve after this weekend. We have a good jockey. That’s it this week for him, he’ll just keep cantering,” Shum said. James McDonald was in the plate for Sunday’s gallop and will be chasing a fourth win aboard the five-year-old gelding this weekend and third at Group 1 level. The Turnbull Stakes is worth $750,000 (approx. HK$3.789 million), with first place taking home $450,000 (approx. HK$2.236 million). 2022 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Gold Trip is entered to run, as is Smokin’ Romans, Lindermann, Francesco Guardi, West Wind Blows, Osipenko, Soulcombe and more. More horse racing news View the full article

Del Mar will present its 10th fall racing session—dubbed the Bing Crosby Season to honor the track's iconic founder—starting on Friday, Nov. 10 and highlighted by a stakes schedule that features 15 major events over the course of its 13-day run.View the full article

Trainer Kenny McPeek about V V's Dream: "I'm looking forward to a rematch. I'm pretty confident in our filly's talent level."View the full article

Florida's Six K's Training & Sales, owned and operated by Scott Kintz and family, is relocating from Midwest Thoroughbreds in Anthony to Woodford Thoroughbreds in Reddick by the end of the month. Kintz used to work for Woodford, in addition to Taylor Made Farm and Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, prior to starting his own training and sales company in 2019. “I couldn't be happier to be moving back home,” said Kintz. “I came to Florida to work for Woodford and now we're taking Six K's back there. My son Nick, who is my assistant, grew up there and worked on the farm while in high school, so we both know the farm very well. We are grateful that Mr Sykes has allowed us the opportunity to come to what I feel is the best farm in Florida and grow our business. I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Papiese and the entire staff at Midwest for our time there.” The post Six K’s Training & Sales Relocates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Scratches, vet lists, trainer records, and injection policies all topics of interest following the breakdown of New York Thunder.View the full article

Speaking during a Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee meeting, officials from Turfway Park indicated the Northern Kentucky track plans to expand its race dates to four days a week throughout the winter and early spring.View the full article

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel will kick off its 2023-24 season the evening of Oct. 6. Live racing will begin at 5:15 p.m. CT each week until the season comes to a close Feb. 24.View the full article