Wandering Eyes

A downpour of rain at Hastings on Saturday was welcomed by consistent stayer Semper Magico (NZ) (Per Incanto), who skipped through the heavy conditions to continue his red-hot form. Prepared by Awapuni conditioner Mark Oulaghan, Semper Magico was aiming to add a fourth victory in five starts this season in the Betta Inspect It Premier (2000m) and couldn’t have looked more comfortable, travelling third and one off the fence behind a strong tempo set by front-runner Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly). Eventual runner-up Hit The Road Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) was first to make a mid-race move outside the leader, and apprentice Jess Allen sent Semper Magico forward to track the gelding into the straight, the pair effortlessly striding to the lead at the 250m and scored by two-and-a-quarter lengths. “He had the three-kilo claim which obviously helped him, but I think when the track deteriorated like that, he handles bad ground fairly well, so it probably gave him a bit of an advantage, but we were certainly happy with the end result” Oulaghan said. “He was always a good galloper, he could always gallop since he was a young horse, but he was just a bit immature in the mind, and couldn’t quite put it together. “He was mainly running over 1400m and 1600m earlier on and this is the first preparation we’ve got him out over 2000m and he seems to be handling it pretty well. “He’s come a fair way in his last four or five starts, he possibly may run at Rotorua in three weeks’ time (Open 2000m) I’m not sure. While he’s maintaining his form we’ll keep him going but he raced a bit during the winter in the sprints so he’s probably getting to the stage where he’ll need a spell soon.” Oulaghan entrusted Allen with the ride aboard his charge after she guided him to victory at Te Rapa last start, and Semper Magico thrived under the featherlight 52.5kg weight. “Jess rode him well, she’s only an apprentice but we were pleased with the way she handled him,” he said. Allen, who is apprenticed to Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Te Akau, was thrilled to pick up a winner at Hastings’ Premier meeting, her fourth for the season from just 19 rides. “It’s pretty cool to win on a premier day, he’s a tough little horse and he didn’t mind the wet track today,” she said. “He’s been in a really good patch of form lately and he won really impressively last time.” The Per Incanto eight-year-old brought his career earnings to more than $192,000 for Oulaghan, who races the gelding with wife Penny, and also bred him with mother Pam out of their Group Three-winning mare Semper Fidalis (NZ) (Grosvenor). “He’s out of a Grosvenor mare who was a good stayer, the Per Incanto’s aren’t renowned for being stayers, but I guess he gets it from his mother’s side,” Oulaghan said. Oulaghan has enjoyed a strong start to the new season with seven winners including the Grand National Hurdle/Steeplechase double with Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry) and West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), the latter also securing the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) a fortnight ago. He will see out the 2023/23 Jumps Season with three runners at the rescheduled Woodville meeting on Thursday, with Super Flash, Tweedledee and Super Spirit all to be piloted by stable member Portia Matthews. Oulaghan believes seven-year-old Super Flash is a good chance in a compact six-horse field in the Marty and Di Catering Maiden Hurdle (3000m), coming off a strong third on the flat last start at Awapuni. “He’s had one hurdle run, he went fair but he had to find his way around a bit so hopefully that’s brought his jumping on a fraction,” he said. “He’s had a flat run in the meantime, which was good. I think he’s pretty fit so if he jumps okay I think he’ll be a real show in that race.” Proven hurdler Tweedledee will take his place in the Tararua Hedge Cutting LTD Open Hurdle (3000m), while Super Spirit (NZ) (Super Easy) will contest a competitive Ellen & David Oliver Open Steeplechase (4000m) later in the card. “He (Tweedledee) likes better ground, he’s not a real heavy tracker but we’ll probably run him anyway and hopefully the track would’ve dried out a bit by Thursday,” Oulaghan said. “Super Spirit’s a maiden chaser and they have them all together so it’ll probably be a bit hard for him, he’ll probably go around with the idea that it’ll be his third steeplechase run to get a bit of experience into him, and that should set him up for next year. “We aren’t really expecting a winning run from him in an Open chase at this stage.” Star jumpers West Coast and Berry The Cash have both been sent out for a break following their successful campaigns over the fences, however, Oulaghan was hopeful the latter could’ve had a run in the Road To The Jericho (3210m) prior to his spell but failed to make the final field. “They pulled up pretty well, West Coast is good and we were hoping to take Berry The Cash to the two-mile race at New Plymouth (Road To The Jericho) but he got balloted out which was a bit disappointing, I thought he had better form than some that were there but that’s the way it goes,” Oulaghan said. “I think it would’ve been good to try him over two miles and I think it would’ve really suited him, but we’ve been pretty pleased with his jumping efforts this year already.” View the full article

Kiwi trainer introduces Boniface Ho’s two-time Australian winner Sports Legend on Wednesday night before Unison makes his first competitive startView the full article

Multiple grade 1 winner Cody's Wish likely has one more race left in a brilliant career. Judging by what happened Oct. 1 in the $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes (G2), it should be dazzling. View the full article

What Swan Hill Races Where Swan Hill Jockey Club – 17 Gray St, Swan Hill VIC 3585 When Tuesday, October 3, 2023 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Swan Hill Jockey Club is set to host an eight-race program on Tuesday afternoon, with big and competitive fields the theme of the day. The track is rated a Good 4, but with rain forecast throughout Tuesday morning, we expect to be racing on a soft track come race one. The rail sticks to the true position, with racing getting underway at 1:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Swan Hill – Dirty Grin The Simon Zahra-trained Dirty Grin was nothing but consistent last campaign in arguably stiffer competition than this, and in a BM58 at Swan Hill, he should just be winning first-up. With a couple of nice Flemington jumpouts under his belt, Dirty Grin will bring a certain element of fitness into this. He’ll need a bit of luck from barrier 13, but with Harry Coffey on board, Dirty Grin looks a touch too good for this lot upon return. Best Bet Race 7 – #3 Dirty Grin (13) 4yo Gelding | T: Simon Zahra | J: Harry Coffey (60.5kg) +160 with Betfair Next Best at Swan Hill – Watergate Hailing from the Archie Alexander Barn, Watergate is hunting a third-straight win along with back-to-back successes at the Swan Hill 2400m. The five-year-old gelding managed to put 4.5 lengths on his rivals at Donald two runs back, then led throughout in a determined victory at Swan Hill on September 19. Jaylah Kennedy hops on board and claims 2kg, which keeps Watergate’s weight at 60.5kg in a similar race to last start. In a race where he should have an uncontested lead, this guy should prove too tough to catch once again. Next Best Race 5 – #1 Watergate (9) 5yo Gelding | T: Archie Alexander | J: Jaylah Kennedy (62.5kg) +260 with PendleburyBet Best Value at Swan Hill – Lonely One The Heath Chalmers-trained Lonely One ran a massive race on debut when going around at cricket-score odds and finishing second. The run was at the Swan Hill 1200m, and now she returns to the track and trip in a race that is no harder for start number two. She looks to be a natural front-runner, and from barrier five, Madison Lloyd should have no issue dictating terms. With a majority of these being long-time maidens, Lonely One can salute at a nice price. Best Value Race 3 – #13 Lonely One (5) 3yo Filly | T: Heath Chalmers | J: Madison Lloyd (55kg) +800 with Dabble Tuesday quaddie tips for Swan Hill Swan Hill quadrella selections Tuesday, October 3, 2023 1-3-5 1-2-3-5-6-7 3-8 1-2-3-6-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Horse Racing on Monday, October 2 will feature five 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 Ballarat and Warwick Farm. Monday Racing Tips – October 2, 2023 Ballarat Racing Tips Warwick Farm Racing Tips Monday’s Best Racing Bets Of The Day – October 2, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $117.04 odds return: Monday, October 2, 2023 Warwick Farm Race 6 – #4 Spacewalk Ballarat Race 2 – #12 Gumdrops Gawler Race 6 – #3 Exopipi Muswellbrook Race 7 – #9 Genzano Beaudesert Race 6 – #2 Bullion Boy | 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 2, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

After flying around the 1 1/4-mile turf course at Santa Anita Park Oct. 1, the Kentucky-bred son of Distorted Humor can add some bold print to his name courtesy of his triumph in the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T).View the full article

Lightly raced but full of heart, Touch'n Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) would not let the filly go in the final yards and bravely got by Elysian Fields (Hard Spun) to prevail by the slimmest of margins, determined by a photo. Last seen finishing fifth in the Kings Plate S. won by familiar face Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman)–where the runner-up here again played bridesmaid–and gone since then, Touch'n Ride was content to track from fifth in a packed field of 14 as the speed went on its way. Cruising along in the second flight among cover down the backstretch, Kazushi Kimura was forced to wait for room behind a three-strong wall of leaders at the half-mile, but found his seam entering the top of the stretch. Locking horns with Elysian Fields as she bravely fought off his challenge, and the pair drifting far into the course midway home, it took the length of the stretch and a photo to separate them, but succeed he did, beating her by a nose. Paramount Prince faded to next to last while Prince of Wales S. runner-up Kaukokaipuu (Mr Speaker) finished seventh. A rider's claim of foul from Sahin Civac, aboard Elysian Fields, afterwards was disallowed by the stewards. “It feels amazing,” said Kimura, who notched his first win in the series. “I've always tried to win the Triple Crown and I've finally made it. Last week, I got on him in the morning and he was a very nice horse on the turf. I was quite comfortable staying behind Paramount Prince, the King's Plate winner [during the race].” Added conditioner Layne Giliforte: “It's nerve-racking when you watch a horse get herded out like that…I had a great feeling going into the race and for him to come through the way he did and Kazushi to give him the ride that he did, it's fantastic.” With his victory here, Touch'n Ride continuous something of a familial tradition, joining elder brother Neepawa (Scat Daddy) as a winner of the Breeders' S. He's also a half-brother to SP Niigon's Spin (Hard Spun) as well as a 2023 half-sister by American Triple Crown hero, Justify. Niigon's Touch went to Twirling Candy for 2024. #4 TOUCH'N RIDE ($10.20) battled with Elysian Field in the final furlong, but narrowly bested that foe to win the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes at @WoodbineTB! Touch'n Ride was piloted by @kazushi0096 for trainer Layne Giliforte and Chiefswood Stables Limited. pic.twitter.com/1lXfDk4Zxl — TVG (@TVG) October 1, 2023 Sunday, Woodbine Racetrack BREEDERS' S., C$403,000, Woodbine, 10-1, (C), 3yo, 1 1/2mT, 2:27.56, fm. 1–TOUCH'N RIDE, 126, g, 3, by Candy Ride (Arg) 1st Dam: Niigon's Touch (SW, $204,615), by Niigon 2nd Dam: Laser Touch, by Touch Gold 3rd Dam: Laser Hawk, by Silver Hawk 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Chiefswood Stables Limited (ON); T-Layne S. Giliforte; J-Kazushi Kimura. C$240,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $238,513. *1/2 to Neepawa (Scat Daddy), SW, $307,222. 2–Elysian Field, 123, f, 3, Hard Spun–Elysian, by Smart Strike. ($50,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $70,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Team Valor International and Gary Barber; B-Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$80,000. 3–Twowaycrossing, 126, g, 3, English Channel–Double Guns Girl, by Langfuhr. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B/T-Roger L. Attfield (ON). C$40,000. Margins: NO, 4, 3/4. Odds: 4.10, 3.55, 51.65. Also Ran: Philip My Dear, Tito's Calling, Wickenheiser, Kaukokaipuu, British Artillery, Tiburon, Sammy Stone, Simcoe, Hemlo Gold, Paramount Prince, Midnight in Malibu. Scratched: Enjoythesilent, Greystone, Legal Catch, Over and Ollie. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Touch’n Ride Survives Inquiry Scare to Win Breeders’ Stakes Thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Missed the Cut proved a marathoner to watch after a dazzling performance in the Oct. 1 Tokyo City Cup Stakes (G3). View the full article

Five years after Neepawa romped by 3 1/2 lengths in the final jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, his younger sibling Touch'n Ride secured a Breeders' Stakes victory of his own Oct.1 at Woodbine.View the full article

Winning her fifth consecutive race, Adare Manor led through the Zenyatta and won easily by 5 1/4 lengths under jockey Juan Hernandez.View the full article

Hawaii Five is Everest bound. Photo: Darren Winningham Hawaii Five Oh secured a coveted spot in The Everest’s (1200m) lineup late on Sunday, clinching a place in the $20 million race after his narrow defeat in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the four-year-old will proudly carry the colours of Aquis Farm in The Everest (1200m) on October 14, stepping in for the injured Sunshine In Paris. This substitution was necessitated by Sunshine In Paris being ruled out for the spring, prompting slot-holder Tony Fung to seek an alternative. Hawaii Five Oh delivered a close second-place finish to the frontrunner Think About It over the weekend. Think About It, set to compete in the Newgate-GPI slot, shares the top spot as a favorite for The Everest with Imperatriz, the victor of the Group 1 AJ Moir Stakes (1000m) on Friday night. Mark Walker, the trainer for Imperatriz from Te Akau Racing, suggested once again that the mare is likely to stay in Melbourne for the remainder of the spring. Sally Williams, racing manager for Tony Fung Investments, confirmed that Hawaii Five Oh, owned by Gerry Harvey and John Singleton, would indeed run in The Everest. James McDonald has been enlisted to ride the promising four-year-old, a sibling to the late stakes winner Libertini, who graced the Everest fields in 2020 and 2021. Hawaii Five Oh, boasting victories in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) and Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) during the autumn, followed by a commendable third-place finish in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) behind Think About It, is gearing up for his third start this season heading into The Everest. In his first outing, he finished sixth in the Group 2 Shorts (1100m), a race won by Think About It’s stablemate Private Eye, who is also bound for the Everest. More horse racing news View the full article

Rheinberg (centre) stretches to get in front of his rivals to score at Sandown. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Lightning may have struck twice for some of the connections of multiple Group One winner Mr Brightside, who have now won four races in a row with another promising galloper sourced from New Zealand. Rheinberg, who also represents the Lindsay Park stable of Mr Brightside’s trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes, collected the fifth win of his 10-start career at Sandown. The Swiss Ace gelding is now unbeaten in his last four, having previously scored at Sale on July 7, Sandown on August 9 and Caulfield on September 2. “A lot of the ‘Brightside’ owners are in this horse as well, and they bring their families and kids along to the races,” Ben Hayes said. “This horse is doing a great job for them so far, and hopefully he can keep stepping up. “He’s doing his job, going through the grades and everyone’s having a lot of fun. As long as he pulls up well from this, we’ll go again, because he’s a happy horse at the moment.” Rheinberg was a +160 favourite for Sunday’s race and did the job well in the hands of expat Kiwi jockey Michael Dee. The five-year-old overhauled the front-running Faretti in the straight, then had enough in reserve to turn back a late challenge from Dashing in the final few strides. “Credit to this horse, he’s flying at the moment,” Dee said. “He’s not winning by big margins, but he keeps getting the job done. “He always travels well into his races, and you’ve just got to nurse him for as long as possible. He gives you a good kick when you go for him. “I’m not sure if the 1400m finds him out in the last few strides or he just floats and stargazes, maybe a bit of both, but he holds on.” Rheinberg was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and began his career with three starts in Harvey’s blue and white colours in New Zealand. Trained by Cody Cole at Matamata, he recorded a second, a third and a fifth from his three appearances in March and April of last year before being sold to clients of Lindsay Park. Rheinberg is by Westbury’s high-strike-rate stallion Swiss Ace, who is the sire of 342 winners from 500 runners. The dam of Rheinberg is the Snitzel mare Schiffer, who won two races and finished third behind Karuta Queen in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m). More horse racing news View the full article

Stoltz claims his most important Hong Kong victory. Francis Lui accelerated a blistering start to the season with a Sha Tin treble crowned by Stoltz’s courageous victory in the HK$4.2 million Group 3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) to extend his lead at the top of the Hong Kong trainers’ championship on Sunday. Stoltz was the third leg of Lui’s three-timer after earlier victories by Moduleconstruction and Chancheng Glory to leave the veteran handler with 11 wins for the campaign, three clear of nearest pursuer Caspar Fownes (eight) and Pierre Ng (seven). Providing six-time Hong Kong champion Purton with successive wins in the National Day Cup after last season’s success aboard David Hayes-trained Super Wealthy, Stoltz improved his record to six wins – all over 1000m – from 14 Hong Kong starts. The chestnut was previously trained by Annabel Neasham in Australia, where he won three races at Wyong Racecourse before transferring to Lui’s stable. Lui praised Purton’s composed ride and was typically self-effacing over his start to a season he hopes will again be highlighted by the heroics of champion Golden Sixty, who is slated to resume in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on December 10. “The jockey (Purton) is a champion and he knows this horse very well. He did a good job. His form is very good,” Lui said. “This horse (Stoltz) had two trials at Conghua and his trackwork has been good.” Stoltz (124lb) was the second pillar of Purton’s brace and gave the Australian a seamless ride after settling in third place before clocking 55.91s to defy Adios (117lb) by a neck with Kurpany (119lb) a length further back. “It was pretty straight-forward. It’s a small field, a straight race – he’s got speed. He’s always put himself in the right spot. It was just a matter of him putting himself where he was comfortable,” Purton said. “Kurpany wanted to wander in and hamper me a bit in the last 300m, but my bloke has got a really good will to win and that spurred him on even more to make sure he got the job done. When he heard Adios coming late, he found a bit more. “That’s been typical of him, he’s a very honest horse – when the going gets tough, he gives everything he’s got. Francis has done a great job with him. He’s turned out to be a very good horse.” Chris So could target the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) on November 5 with Super Sunny Sing after the 2023 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner clinched the Class 2 Beijing Handicap (1600m) as Vincent Ho notched a treble. “It’s good, he ran well. He carried 132lb – lucky, three-wide with cover,” So said of his stable flagbearer. “I don’t think I will rush him in the middle of October. Maybe we aim for the 1800m, the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (on 5 November), so he can have a two or three-week break and come back. “I saw in the last (200m), he was just a little bit tired, but still good. Vincent did a good job, he knows the horse well, but lucky we got three-wide with cover. Maybe in future, after this run, he’ll be (rated) 99 or 100, I don’t know. We aim for the Group race and let’s see.” Ng’s long-range planning paid off with a double with debutants Galaxy Patch and Ka Ying Cheer to leave the second-season trainer third in the trainers’ standings. “It’s definitely exciting. We planned it from last season,” Ng said. “We have much better new horses that we got towards the end of the (2022/23) season and they’re doing very well. They’re trialling very well and we’re getting the results now.” Galaxy Patch earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million after surging late under Karis Teetan. By Wandjina and formerly known as Gulinga Spirit when trained by Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea in South Australia, where he was unbeaten in one start before export to Hong Kong, Galaxy Patch justified Ng’s pre-race expectations with a powerful finish. “I expected that first-up. I was hoping he didn’t do anything wrong, but he did – he missed the start, didn’t jump very cleanly. He showed us he could really finish off in his trials, so he did what he did in the trials,” Ng said. “This one is a nice type and quite a promising one. “We’ll keep rolling along and hopefully he’ll get more and more mature and we’ll see if he can go any further but he might just be a sprinter. He did brilliantly.” Ng hopes the Reward For Effort gelding can strike again in Class 4 before advancing to higher levels after winning for Keith Yeung. “We didn’t expect it to be so close and Keith said he was still a little bit fat. I hope this run will bring on his fitness. He should just get five points and we’ll progress from here, (I’ll look for a race) in two or three weeks and keep him going. He’s a hard worker, so we’ll just work him hard,” Ng said. Francis Lui and Ho combined in familiar fashion with Moduleconstruction before Harry Bentley successfully teamed with Lui aboard Chancheng Glory. Bentley closed the meeting with a double after Douglas Whyte’s Blue Marlin prevailed. Splendid Star cruised to a three-and-a-quarter length win under Purton for Whyte in his second win over the 1800m course before Lyle Hewitson drove Sparkling Dolphin to the gelding’s his fifth Sha Tin 1000m triumph, providing Me Tsui with his first win off the season. More horse racing news View the full article

When you look at Zandon's career record of three wins in 13 starts it is definitely misleading. View the full article

With a spring in her step, GISW Adare Manor (Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway by Giant Gizmo) dispatched three other competitors as she won easily by five lengths in the GII Zenyatta S. on a Sunday afternoon at Santa Anita. Setting the pace from the bell, the 4-year-old filly took command into the first turn, controlled the fractions throughout and won for fun in the end over Desert Dawn (Cupid). This is the Bob Baffert trainee's fifth win in a row. Sunday, Santa Anita Park ZENYATTA S.-GII, $196,000, Santa Anita, 10-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.70, gd. 1–ADARE MANOR, 126, f, 4, by Uncle Mo 1st Dam: Brooklynsway (GSW-USA, MSW & GSP-Can, $724,597), by Giant Gizmo 2nd Dam: Explosive Story, by Radio Star 3rd Dam: Maya's Note, by Editor's Note ($180,000 Ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN). O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 13-7-4-0, $981,600. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Desert Dawn, 122, f, 4, Cupid–Ashley's Glory, by Honour and Glory. ($32,000 RNA Ylg '20 OBSOCT). O/B-H & E Ranch (AZ); T-Philip D'Amato. $40,000. 3–Micro Share, 122, f, 4, Upstart–Who'sbeeninmybed, by The Daddy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($10,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $125,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $450,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $24,000. Margins: 5 1/4, 6 1/4, 22 1/4. Odds: 0.10, 5.40, 6.70. Also Ran: Window Shopping. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #1 ADARE MANOR ($2.20) wires the G2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita for her fifth consecutive victory. The G1-winning daughter of @coolmoreamerica's Uncle Mo was ridden by @JJHernandezS19 for trainer Bob Baffert and Michael Lund Petersen. pic.twitter.com/AZxasmREzQ — TVG (@TVG) October 1, 2023 The post Adare Manor Cruises To Win Zenyatta S. At Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rogueish, a son of Into Mischief, was represented by his first winner, Pardy Pleaser, who broke her maiden in a Sept. 30 claiming race at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Forte (Violence), off since his disappointing fourth-place finish in the GI Travers S. Aug. 26, is receiving treatment for a quarter crack. His connections, including trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole, still believe there is time to prepare him for a start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 4. Per the Daily Racing Form, farrier Ian McKinlay patched the quarter crack on Forte's left front foot and the horse has been training at Churchill Downs, where he galloped Sunday morning. “Just trying to get everything right before we start breezing,” Pletcher said Sunday. “I think we're still in position to get a couple of good breezes into him, but we got to get this in proper shape before we start doing that.” Forte was shipped from Pletcher's Saratoga barn to Churchill to get evaluated and “everything checked out,” Pletcher said. In order to feel comfortable about running him in the Breeders' Cup, Pletcher said he would like to get three breezes into Forte before the race. That would likely mean getting him back to the worktab by Oct. 14. “We need things to go smoothly from now on but I think we still have time to get there the right way,” Pletcher said. The post Bad Hoof Luck Continues For Team Forte; Classic Still In Play appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple grade I winner Cody's Wish likely has one more race left in a brilliant career. Judging by what happened Oct. 1 in the $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes (G2), it should be dazzling. View the full article

In a decision that took 17 minutes from NYRA stewards, Sterling Silver and Headland, the first and second-place horses across the finish line, were taken down and Caramel Swirl was declared the winner of the Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2).View the full article

Blue Rose Cen dug deep in the home straight to get back up to defeat Jackie Oh and Lumiere Rock in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp Oct. 1 to cap a brilliant 3-year-old campaign.View the full article

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione and trainer Brad Cox entered the final day of racing at Churchill Downs by already locking up their respective titles for the September Meet through dominating performances across the 14-day stand.View the full article

The 3-year-old filly went gate to wire, edging a late-charging Lavender Lil by a neck in 1:43.28 over one mile and 70 yards at Prairie Meadows. View the full article

Highfield Princess wins her first group 1 of the season in the Abbaye while Kelina upsets Kinross in the Foret Oct. 1. View the full article

Going into Saturday's wiring of the GI Awesome Again S., Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) hadn't won a dirt race in 1 1/2 years, and he still has the same habit of swishing his tail in the stretch when lifelong riding partner Mario Gutierrez implores him for run. But this Reddam Racing homebred trained by Doug O'Neill had been finishing respectably behind some A-list names in his company lines, so bettors made him favored for the first time in 15 months, and at 2-1 odds Slow Down Andy rewarded that confidence by doubling their money en route to his first Grade I victory. The 4-year-old led at every call (101 Beyer Speed Figure) in a “Win and You're In” chance for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, and this year that nine-furlong prep carries extra emphasis because it was run over the same Santa Anita Park surface that will host the Breeders' Cup championships Nov. 3-4. “He's becoming better with age. You can see it on his record. His last few races he's just given us his all. Right now, he's fit, he's ready to run in the Breeders' Cup,” Gutierrez said. Slow Down Andy's win also shifts the balance of power in the Classic division ever so slightly more toward the Left Coast. A pair of Grade I-winning sophomores, 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) and Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), the one-two finishers from the GI Pacific Classic (in which Slow Down Andy ran third), already call Santa Anita home. And even though their campaigns this year were not based in California, two other top Classic contenders-the GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate) and MGISW White Abarrio (Race Day)-have already shipped to Santa Anita well in advance of other Eastern-based divisional rivals. Winning a race over the track theoretically should have a little more significance for Slow Down Andy. But the obvious question moving forward for him (and other possible Breeders' Cup starters who raced on the Sept. 30 Santa Anita card) is whether or not the “wet-fast” main track from that afternoon will be a useful barometer in trying to prognosticate the championships. Friday's opening day at Santa Anita produced fairly uniform results on a dirt surface labeled “fast.” Of four main-track races, one was won in wire-to-wire fashion, one by a speed horse who pressed the pace, one by a stalker, and one by an off-pace closer. Rain prior to Saturday produced the wet-fast designation. In eight main track races, four horses wired their fields and four others scored by forcing the issue close up to the frontrunners. Stalkers and closers got completely shut out. More Than…Impressive While a triple-digit Beyer performance in a stakes at this stage of the season usually invokes aspirations of running in the Breeders' Cup, the connections of More Than Looks (More Than Ready) indicated they'll likely stay on a late-season course that bypasses Santa Anita and the championships, even after the 3-year-old son of More Than Ready uncorked a devastating late kick and a 101 Beyer when dismantling the field in Saturday's $200,000 Jefferson Cup at Churchill Downs. Ridden by Cristian Torres and trained by Cherie DeVaux for owner Anthony Bartolo's Victory Racing Partners, More Than Looks rated three wide at the back of the pack into the clubhouse turn and had one horse beaten turning for home as the 1.63-1 favorite in the mile turfer over “firm” ground. Tipping widest into the lane under a full head of steam out in the seven path, More Than Looks inhaled his eight rivals while responding to rousing between the quarter and sixteenth poles, eventually drawing off by his lonesome late in the lane to score by 2 3/4 lengths As Churchill announcer Travis Stone articulated with admiration in his call, the colt “looked hopeless with three furlongs to go” before out-torqueing the field in a visually impressive effort. Now 4-1-1 from seven starts, More Than looks won the GIII Manila S. at Belmont Park on July 7 and ran third in the GII Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 11. “This was one of the first times he really put his head down and ran through the wire,” De Vaux said. “Sometimes he got a little green and would hang a little bit once he got in front.” DeVaux said More Than Looks would likely be aimed at the GIII Bryan Station S. at Keeneland Race Course Oct. 28 and could then attempt the GI Hollywood Derby (GI) at Del Mar Dec. 2. Landing Spot TBD Numbers aren't everything when considering the Breeders' Cup, especially when it comes to younger horses. A case in point is Air Recruit (Air Force Blue), who won the $150,000 Laurel Futurity on Saturday over 1 1/16 miles on a “good” turf course at Laurel Park. His win only registered a 67 on the Beyer scale. But the 2-year-old colt caught the eye by breaking well, conceding the lead, and rating midpack at the fence while covered up before tipping his big, white blaze out to the three path and wearing down the frontrunners with a determined effort. Jockey Charlie Marquez rode for trainer Arnaud Delacour and owner Mark Grier. Air Recruit won his Aug. 5 debut over 5 1/2 furlongs at Colonial Downs, beating a pair of next-out winners. He then finished third behind three-time stakes winner No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) over the same course and distance in the $125,000 Rosie's S. Sept. 9. “He went short the first two times out and the first time he really surprised us. We sat right behind the speed [in the colt's debut] and came flying and [were] able to win,” Marquez said. “We put him back in the stake at Colonial and he ran a huge race [behind a] very nice horse. We knew that he wanted to go longer so we stretched him out today and you guys saw what he did.” Added Delacour: “He always showed a lot of speed. His first breeze from the gate he went like 47 [seconds] in hand, so we knew we had something. I didn't know about the distance, to be honest. That was kind of an experiment, but it was the right time to do it after two races.” The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is a possible option, but it's annually a race that gets oversubscribed. “We'll look at our options,” Delacour said. “Depending on how he comes back, if we can get in the Breeders' Cup it could be an option. He did it impressively enough that we could give him a shot-if we get in.” Maryland Dates Reduction? Craig Fravel, the chief executive officer for 1/ST Racing, which owns Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, told the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority on Friday that a reduced racing schedule is one option that could be considered as the circuit grapples with numerous near- and longer-term issues related to viability and relevancy. Frank Vespe of The Racing Biz broke the story, reporting that when Authority member and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) general counsel Alan Foreman asked 1/ST Racing executives to better define what the company meant by an allusion to “realigning the racing calendar,” Fravel responded this way: “We've made a proposal [to the MTHA] about taking a break in the calendar and shifting racing, the focus of racing, to Colonial during the summer months because they're paying $600,000 or $700,000 today in purse money.” Vespe reported that 1/ST Racing's analysis “envisions a much shorter Maryland racing season,” but that “fewer days of racing would mean larger per-race purses,” noting that Maryland hosted 175 days of live racing in 2022 and has hosted as many as 187 days in recent years. “We think that 80 to 90 days can be a very viable racing calendar,” Fravel said. “Even with that, though, operationally there needs to be some reconsideration of the distribution of revenues. But we also think that those days can be run with purses in excess of $500,000, maybe even $600,000 a day, which is highly competitive in the local, regional marketplace.” The post The Week In Review: Breeders’ Cup Berths Not All About Speed Numbers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“After Sheikh Mohammed purchased Stonerside Stable in 2008, he graciously kept on the entire Stonerside staff,” said Vicky Van Camp, who was formerly the Research and Information Director of Stonerside Stable and is now Godolphin's U.S. Racing Research Coordinator. She was at Stonerside when Midshipman was born and is now at Darley, where Midshipman stands. “Midshipman, the last Grade I winner for Stonerside, became the first Grade I winner from the purchase for Sheikh Mohammed with his Breeders' Cup Juvenile win just a month later. I'm happy to say a great many of us are still with Godolphin, 15 years on. And yes, I admit 'Shippy' gets extra apple slices from me every week, something Nyquist has long been suspicious of as he peers at us from across the aisle of the stallion barn.” Midshipman (2006 chestnut horse, Unbridled's Song–Fleet Lady, by Avenue of Flags) Lifetime record: Ch. 2yo colt, MGISW, 8-5-1-1, $1,584,600 Breeders' Cup connections: B-Stonerside Stable (KY); O-Darley Stable; T-Bob Baffert; J-Garrett Gomez. Current location: Darley America, Lexington, Ky. The post Catching Up with 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner Midshipman appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article