Wandering Eyes

Sunday's top tips from the SCMP analystsView the full article

Newmarket's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. was stripped of an important runner in the certain favourite Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose dirty scope ruled her out of action on the eve of the race, leaving Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio–Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) to come through and claim the spoils in typically professional manner on Saturday. Following the pace set by Ballydoyle's Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never) throughout, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained G3 Albany S. winner, G1 Phoenix S. runner-up and G1 Moyglare Stud S. third edged ahead a furlong out and stayed on under Oisin Murphy to score by 1 1/2 lengths from another Aidan O'Brien trainee in Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never), with a head back to the G3 Princess Margaret S. scorer and G1 Prix Morny fourth Sacred Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in third. “She was back to her best there and the plan is to go to the Breeders' Cup if all is well,” Donnacha said. “If she did run well in America, she could run in a Guineas trial and we'll see then.” Porta Fortuna Royal Ascot winner Porta Fortuna relishes the return to quicker ground as she stays on strongly under @oismurphy to land the G1 @JuddmonteFarms Cheveley Park Stakes. That's three Group-race wins as a juvenile for Donnacha O'Brien's daughter of Caravaggio pic.twitter.com/dELDcA5O1a — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 30, 2023 Saturday, Newmaket, Britain JUDDMONTE CHEVELEY PARK S.-G1, £275,000, Newmarket, 9-30, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:10.66, g/f. 1–PORTA FORTUNA (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Caravaggio 1st Dam: Too Precious (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) 2nd Dam: Delicate Charm (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire) 3rd Dam: Kantikoy (GB), by Alzao 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Medallion, S Weston, B Fowler & Reeves Thoroughbreds; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien; J-Oisin Murphy. £155,953. Lifetime Record: GSW & MG1SP-Ire, 6-4-1-1, $408,564. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Pearls And Rubies, 128, f, 2, No Nay Never–Diamondsandrubies (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs Richard Henry & Mrs John Magnier; B-Premier Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £59,125. 3–Sacred Angel (Ire), 128, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Sacred Aspect (Ire) (SW-Ire), by Haatef. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (£52,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Johnston. £29,590. Margins: 1HF, HD, 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 33.00, 6.50. Also Ran: Cherry Blossom (Ire), Persian Dreamer, Jabaara (Ire), Soprano (Ire), Symbology (GB), Jasna's Secret (Fr), She's Quality (Ire), Shuangxi (Ire). Scratched: Juniper Berries (GB), Relief Rally (Ire). The post Caravaggio’s Porta Fortuna Takes The Cheveley Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Unbeaten entering Saturday's G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket but untried in black-type company, Jeff Smith's Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Moorside {GB}, by Champs Elysees {GB})) came through the test with flying colours to put himself firmly among the growing list of 2024 Classic contenders. Always travelling easily in the wake of Ballydoyle's front-running G2 Champions Juvenile S. runner-up Capulet (Justify), the 100-30 second favourite who hails from the Juddmonte family of a former giant to master this Rowley Mile in Zafonic took the measure of that 7-4 market-leader when sweeping to the fore two out. Pushed out by Richard Kingscote from there, the Clive Cox-trained 100,000gns Tatts December Foal purchase had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the Listed Ascendant S. scorer Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at the line, with half a length back to Capulet who looked every inch a Derby type as he rallied after being swamped entering the dip. Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) 1.610 m – 125.000 GBP Newmarket Ghostwriter (IRE) (2C Invincible Spirit- Moorside , by Champs Elysees) J : Richard Kingscote T :Clive Cox O :J. C. Smith B : Norelands Bloodstock/Irish National Studpic.twitter.com/qT9B0ouGMx — (@WorldRacing1) September 30, 2023 Saturday, Newmaket, Britain JUDDMONTE ROYAL LODGE S.-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 9-30, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:37.06, g/f. 1–GHOSTWRITER (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire) 1st Dam: Moorside (GB) (SP-Eng), by Champs Elysees (GB) 2nd Dam: Marching West, by Gone West 3rd Dam: Zaizafon, by The Minstrel 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (100,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE). O-J C Smith; B-Norelands Bloodstock & Irish National Stud (IRE); T-Clive Cox; J-Richard Kingscote. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $112,176. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Al Musmak (Ire), 128, c, 2, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Parton (GB), by Kitten's Joy. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (95,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £26,875. 3–Capulet, 128, c, 2, Justify–Wedding Vow (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £13,450. Margins: 1 1/4, HF, HD. Odds: 3.33, 7.00, 1.75. Also Ran: Macduff (GB), Son (GB), Defiance (Ire), At Vimeiro (Ger), Aablan (Ire), Caviar Heights (Ire). The post Invincible Spirit’s Ghostwriter Shows His Class In The Royal Lodge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Classy stayer Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}–Shao Line {Fr}, by General Holme) seized the initiative under Hollie Doyle from the bell and carried the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran field pillar-to-post on a sunny Saturday at ParisLongchamp. Pressed for most of the 4000-metre race by Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Frankie Dettori, the 7-year-old gelding dropped the hammer when cued by Doyle 500 metres from home, which burned off his main rival inside the final quarter mile. Moon Wolf (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) launched a mild bid later in the straight, but the 9-10 favourite skipped away to win by four lengths over that foe. Run For Oscar (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third. It was a dramatically different tale than occurred during the G2 Doncaster Cup S. earlier this month for the Alan King trainee, as he had fought Doyle for much of that contest, but gutted out the victory in soft going that day once given his head. The Cadran was the third top-level score for the Singula Partnership-owned bay, who took the 2021 edition of this race and the Goodwood Cup that same year. King, who did not make the journey to Paris, said, “I had a busy morning at home and I've just walked into Newmarket, but obviously I'm thrilled. “I spoke to Hollie this morning and we thought there wasn't going to be much pace in the race. We said if that was the case we'd let him bowl along in front and he obviously loved it. “He was more settled than he was at Doncaster and I think that was firstly because that run just knocked the freshness off him and second he just settled well in front today. “We were struggling with him in the early part of the year, but the little wind operation we gave him as clearly helped and it looks like he's right back to his best.” What a performance, what a duo Trueshan and @HollieDoyle1 win the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran at @paris_longchamp! pic.twitter.com/TxtDsiCGPI — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 30, 2023 “He's a special horse and all credit to everyone at Barbury Castle,” said Doyle, who was winning for the 10th time on the dour stayer. “He's trained by a super trainer and it's great for Alan to get him back to where he is, winning the Cadran for a second time. My mum and dad are here and I don't think my dad has seen me ride a Group 1 winner, so it's extra special.” A winner of his third G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup once again at Ascot to end his season, Trueshan was second in the Listed Further Flight S., and reported home fourth in the G3 Sagaro S. in May. After wind surgery, the Doncaster Cup was his first start since. He will target a fourth consecutive victory in the Long Distance Cup next month. “The good thing is we have a fresh horse for the backend of the season and obviously we hope to go back to Ascot in three weeks' time to win that race for a fourth time,” King added of the Didier Blot-bred Trueshan. “I'll give him an entry in the [G1] Prix Royal-Oak the following week just in case he needs that extra time, but Ascot would be the plan.” Pedigree Notes The leading runner by Chapel Stud resident Planteur, Trueshan is one of six stakes winners for the stallion, who also has G2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club hero Road To Arc (Fr). Out of the winning mare Shao Line, the €8,000 Osarus La Teste Sale yearling turned 31,000gns Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and HIT alum is a half-brother to four winners including Anecdotique (Fr) (Enrique {GB}), whose son True Marvel (Fr) (Masked Marvel {GB}) was second in the G1 Sydney Cup. Shao Line's latest foals are a pair of fillies by Planteur and Golden Horde (Ire) born in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France QATAR PRIX DU CADRAN-G1, €300,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-30, 4yo/up, 20fT, 4:19.52, g/s. 1–TRUESHAN (FR), 128, g, 7, by Planteur (Ire) 1st Dam: Shao Line (Fr), by General Holme 2nd Dam: Marie D'Altoria, by Roi De Rome 3rd Dam: Marie De Lempire (Fr), by Faristan (GB) (€8,000 Ylg '17 OSLATE; 31,000gns 2yo '18 TATHIT). O-Singula Partnership; B-Didier Blot (FR); T-Alan King; J-Hollie Doyle. €171,420. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 25-15-4-1, €2,057,680. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Moon Wolf (Fr), 128, g, 5, Intello (Ger)–Diyakalanie (Fr), by Ashkalani (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€45,000 Ylg '19 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Ascot, Emeric de Spa, Jean-Pierre Menville & Stephane Wattel; B-Haras de Sainte Gauburge (FR); T-Stephane Wattel. €68,580. 3–Run For Oscar (Ire), 128, g, 8, Oscar (Ire)–Run For Sol (Fr), by Solon (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Top Of The Hill Syndicate (IRE); T-Charles Byrnes. €34,290. Margins: 4, 3HF, HF. Odds: 0.90, 23.00, 6.60. Also Ran: Skazino (Fr), Vert Liberte (Ire), Emily Dickinson (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Planteur’s Trueshan And Hollie Doyle Outclass Cadran Rivals In Paris appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Christophe Ferland's stable had not been firing on all cylinders during the summer months, but gave notice of a return to form with Shalromy's Listed Prix Matchem victory at Saint-Cloud on Friday, and the trainer's upturn in fortunes continued after Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}–Dancequest {Ire}, by Dansili {GB}) annexed Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp. Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's homebred 3-year-old went untested as a juvenile and had run second in all three prior black-type starts, including a second to the reopposing Gallerist (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) in August's G3 Prix de Lutece over the same 15-furlong course and distance when last seen. Positioned behind the pacesetting Kahraman (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}) for the most part, he eased by that rival with 500 metres remaining and kept on in resolute fashion under a drive inside the final quarter-mile to hold the closers, headed by Harbour Wind (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), by 3/4-of-a-length for a first black-type success of any kind. Shembala (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) was a short-neck away in third. The post Double Major Strikes In Arc Weekend Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) looms as a fork in the road for talented four-year-old Golden Path (NZ) (Belardo). Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the lightly raced gelding needs to measure up in the race if he’s to justify the lofty goals his stable has for him. Golden Path will head into the Group Three feature second-up, after he was defeated as a short-priced favourite first-up over 1300m. “He’s really come on since his first-up run,” Kent Jnr said. “To be fair, we probably ran him over a trip short of his best and it just found him out; he kept closing hard. It was the ideal first-up run without winning and because of that, he’s really trained on the right way. We’re delighted with the way he’s moving, the way he’s galloping. “This is sort of the race where we need to win, if not run very well, to get our rating up a fair bit and hopefully sneak into the Toorak.” The younger member of the training partnership knows that Sunday’s task won’t be easy for Golden Path, as he’ll take on smart Queenslander Antino (NZ) (Redwood), who was desperately unlucky at Flemington last time. “Being realistic, if Antino brings his best, he’s extremely hard to beat and I don’t see why he wouldn’t bring his best,” Kent Jnr said. “He’s drawn to get a trouble-free run on a big, spacious track, he’s a very promising, progressive horse, who seems to win very regularly. “He’ll be very, very hard to beat.” Sportsbet has Antino at $1.65, while Golden Path is the third pick in their market at $5.50. View the full article

Harry Coffey was the beneficiary of another Australian winner for Mark Walker, with Rubicon Crossing (Rubick) scoring the first on Grand Final Day at Mornington to complement Imperatriz’s (I Am Invincible) stunning Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) win on Friday night at The Valley. The three-year-old daughter of Rubick was brought to Australia after showing good ability as a juvenile in New Zealand, winning her maiden on debut and placing in two listed events. Punters sided with the Australian form, sending the Hayes brothers’ Pride Of Sullivan out a $2.10 favourite following some good city form, leaving Walker’s runner a $5.50 second elect. But the Lindsay Park runner, who was mapped to lead, missed the kick, forcing him to race three-wide and giving Rubicon Crossing a lovely trail, barely two lengths from the leaders with cover. Coffey got moving on the long final bend, looping the field, and hitting the lead at the top of the straight. It was an easy watch late for followers, as the pair kicked three lengths clear and trotted to a comfortable win, with Zousuko ($6.50) grabbing Pride Of Sullivan late for second. Coffey was delighted with filly’s performance post-race, leaving all honours to his mount’s composed performance even after being a touch slow away. “We probably envisioned her being in the first two or three, but Ben (Gleeson) said to me Mark indicated that if she was to switch off, she’d have a good turn of foot,” he said. “Maybe it was a blessing that she missed the start, and there was good speed; we just tracked the race and she let rip. “The team is doing a great job with her, and I just come on race day and make her look good.” With the Te Akau Australian division in superb form, Coffey would gladly don their colours again if asked, but accepts that a stable of that size can operate these things according to a hierarchy. “I think it might be a bit of a pecking order, especially with Opie (Bossom) flying in and out as he pleases, and Mick Dee keeps a close eye on them too,” he said. “But really good to get an opportunity from the stable, don’t know how it came about but you make the most of it and that’s what I did.” Te Akau’s Ben Gleeson, who heads up the group’s Australian branch in Cranbourne, said while the filly still has some development to come physically, she appears to have returned with much improved racing manners. “She’s still developing, she’s a small, neat filly and she’s still got a bit to come in terms of muscling up,” he said. “Just to see her racing pattern today improve, it panned out really well for her missing the kick … she was able to get the back of the Hayes’ horse, Harry gave her a fantastic ride. “She’s got an awkward high head carriage, but she didn’t really over-race, he just let her build into it, and it was good to see that turn of foot after she’d relaxed for us.” View the full article

Emma Lee and David Browne have continued their strong start to the season, with Rhinoceros (NZ) (Vadamos) showing his affinity for dry tracks in a tough win at Mornington on Saturday. The Browne’s relocated to Pakenham from Cranbourne prior to the season’s beginning, and the move has so far proved a fruitful one, with a 13% winning strike-rate and 41% of runners finding the placings. While these winners have included exciting maidens such as Pondalowie (Deep Field) and Basilinna (NZ) (Staphanos), it was a more seasoned campaigner in Rhinoceros who showed his best on Grand Final Day. Sent straight to the front by Jake Noonan, the five-year-old travelled comfortably in front of Oubitsa (Palentino) ($6) and Pungo (NZ) (So You Think) ($3.90), with those three forging a gap to the rest of the field. As the backmarkers began to jostle, Rhinoceros continued to race well, prompting commentator Terry Bailey to point out the Good 3 surface and the horse’s ability to keep running on harder tracks. And that was exactly how it unfolded down the straight, with Noonan’s mount finding plenty to stave off Oubitsa and Pungo, finishing a three-quarter length victor. David Browne said it was always the plan to get rolling early, with his gelding backing up quickly from a run at Flemington just a week prior. “It worked well for him today, firm track, he loves just getting out and running and doing his own thing,” he said. “The Flemington run, you couldn’t really lead and win there, so Blake opted to take a sit … he’s gone around and run the right times and pulled up well. “We thought we may as well back him up and on the firm track this looked a really nice race for him.” Looking to the spring and beyond, Browne might take Rhinoceros back to the city and try to catch some more favourable leading conditions. “He’s sort of a horse that if we place him right, then he’ll keep winning the right races. But where we go from here, we’re not sure.” He discussed some of the differences between his experiences at Cranbourne and Pakenham, having found the slightly quieter training set-up beneficial. “I think it’s just a change, you know, the change of environment,” he said. “We’ve cut down the stable size; we’re not doing as many pre-trainers and just doing on our own ones. “We’re really concentrating on that and it makes a difference.” Browne also provided an update on Pondalowie, who caught the eye of many earlier this week with a dominant maiden victory at Bendigo on Wednesday. “She’s pulled up well … we’re not too sure where we’ll go, we’ll make a decision in the next few days,” he said. View the full article

Favourite backers were given a fright in the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday with the heavily-backed favourite Just Fine only just getting to the line in the final stride to salute at an odds-on quote of $1.75. 2023 The Metropolitan winner Just Fine is Melbourne Cup-bound this spring. Photo: Steve Hart. The European expat has now won three-from-three down under with Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott after fighting off the front-running Spirit Ridge ($41) who was huge nearly stealing the show in The Metropolitan on Epsom Day. Spirit Ridge, backing up from a second in the Newcastle Gold Cup, went straight to the front and only relinquished the lead right on the line when the progressive import Just Fine outclassed him late. It was a memorable Epsom meeting with a Group 1 double for the female hoops as Rachel King produced a peach of a performance to get Just Fine home following on from the Epsom Handicap success of Kathy O’Hara on the Chris Waller-trained Rediener. “It was very special, Kathy was the first person to come up next to me and give me a fist pump and I couldn’t have been happier to see her win the Epsom,” King said. “Kath’s been someone I’ve looked up to from the minute I’ve been in Australia so to follow her today and she won her Group 1 first and I got to get mine next. Girls are taking over.” King settled just off the front-runners in The Metropolitan saving Just Fine who got the gap on the straight, moved up to Spirit Ridge and went stride-for-stride with the roughie before scoring victory by a neck in a sensational edition of the Spring Cups lead-up. “I wanted to give my bloke as easy a time as possible and not give him too much work to do. Luckily once he got his nose in front he was very tough,” King added. There was a notable gap back to third with the Kris Lees-trained Kalapour rounding out the trifecta a further four and a half-lengths away. Co-trainer Bott confirmed plans to head to Melbourne now with Just Fine who proved his staying potential and now has the Group 1 $8.41 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7 in his sights. “Fantastic, I’m delighted for the horse, for everyone involved, there’s a lot of people,” Bott told Sky Thoroughbred Central. “For My Racehorse to support us, it’s a unique ownership opportunity that can touch so many people. “Hopefully it’s a popular win, glad we were able to deliver. “Thrilling finish, I wasn’t sure we were going to get the upper hand. It was tough, well done to the horse. “I think we might have to (head to Melbourne now), it’s hard to deny it after that. He just continues to improve and go the right way for us and he opened up more options for him today staying that trip. A new track record was also set with Just Fine winning in a slick time of 2 minutes 26.11 seconds. Current pre-field Melbourne Cup 2023 odds online at Ladbrokes have Just Fine installed as a $21 shot. 2023 The Metropolitan Results Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price 1 14 JUST FINE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ms Rachel King 2 50kg $1.75F 2 8 SPIRIT RIDGE (GB) Annabel Neasham Regan Bayliss 0.16L 13 52.5kg $41 3 10 KALAPOUR (IRE) Kris Lees Kerrin McEvoy 4.46L 3 52.5kg $18 4 13 MILITARY MISSION (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Zac Lloyd (a) 5.53L 15 51.5kg 1.5kg $21 5 12 BENAUD John O’Shea Ms Jamie Kah 5.77L 1 51.5kg $12 6 3 CLEVELAND (IRE) Kris Lees Damien Oliver 6.14L 12 54.5kg $16 7 5 BOIS D’ARGENT (GB) Annabel Neasham Dylan Gibbons (a) 6.44L 9 53.5kg $31 8 9 HO HO KHAN (NZ) Mitchell Freedman Ms Tahlia Hope 7.25L 11 52.5kg $71 9 18 WINEGLASS BAY (IRE) Chris Waller Ms Kathy O’Hara 9.06L 4 50kg $51 10 15 AL AABIR (IRE) Chris Waller Jay Ford 9.71L 7 50kg (cd 50.5kg) $18 11 11 TORRENS Marc Chevalier Ms Jenny Duggan 9.98L 10 52kg $71 12 7 MANZOICE Chris Waller Michael Dee 12.49L 6 53kg $31 13 2 NAVAJO PEAK David Payne Chad Schofield 15.45L 14 55.5kg $71 14 4 MAJOR BEEL (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 17.06L 5 54.5kg $16 15 17 MR WATERVILLE (IRE) Chris Waller Tyler Schiller 23.55L 8 50kg $12 1 KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 0 6 HOSIER (IRE) Mark Minervini Jason Collett 0 16 FUTURE HISTORY (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Dean Yendall 0 Table Credit: Racing Australia. The post 2023 The Metropolitan Results: Just Fine Narrowly Wins For Punters appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Jockey Kathy O’Hara enjoyed her third career Group 1 lunging late in a thrilling 2023 Epsom Handicap result to secure the mile classic aboard the in-form Chris Waller-trained Rediener. 2023 Epsom Handicap winner Rediener handed Waller his fifth win in the mile classic. Photo: Steve Hart. Four-year-old Rediener went around as an underrated $9.50 hope in this year’s Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) despite a last start win fresh in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) on September 16. He franked that form with a lovely on-speed run in the Royal Randwick feature on Saturday getting to the line just in time to hold out his fast-finishing stablemate Kovalica ($10). “When he (Rediener) won in Queensland we set him for this race, but setting horses for races is not easy,” Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-victory. “But to see him win like he did first-up it gave us a little bit of hope and the barrier draw (gate 2) was obviously a plus.” O’Hara had Rediener sitting in a prime position before making her move on the straight to close inside the final 50m. Golden Mile looked like he was going to lead from barrier to box off a gun ride by Blake Shinn with the galloper hitting another gear on the straight before being nudged out right on the line by Waller’s two. The winter’s Queensland Derby champ Kovalica improved on his first-up run when unplaced in the Theo Marks slashing home wider out late in a good sign as he gets over more ground this spring. Golden Mile was brave holding for third in the Epsom Handicap trifecta. Waller was thrilled for O’Hara and equally as happy to take home his fifth Epsom Handicap trophy. “Very special for Kathy (O’Hara), Charlie’s (Duckworth) wife. It’s great, Kathy is just an amazing toiler. Sydney racing 52 weeks a year she just gives it her best, amazing horse person. Gives you great feedback, she lives on a horse. Charlie is obviously so close to me,” the now 152-time Group 1 winning trainer said. 2023 Epsom Handicap Results Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price 1 17 REDIENER Chris Waller Ms Kathy O’Hara 2 50kg $9.50 2 10 KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller Joao Moreira 0.07L 7 54kg $10 3 6 GOLDEN MILE James Cummings Blake Shinn 0.23L 17 55kg $16 4 18 BARBIE’S FOX Ben, Will & JD Hayes Dean Yendall 1.22L 4 50kg $51 5 16 DEMOCRACY MANIFEST Chris Waller Tyler Schiller 1.28L 1 51.5kg 1.5kg $9 6 8 HOPE IN YOUR HEART Kerry Parker Craig Williams 1.92L 10 54kg $7.50EF 7 1 MY OBERON (IRE) Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 2.01L 15 56kg $21 8 3 THE INEVITABLE John Keys David Pires 2.63L 8 55.5kg $9 9 21e WILLIAMSBURG Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Andrew Adkins 3.37L 3 50kg $31 10 11 NUGGET (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Damien Oliver 4.03L 16 54kg $7.50EF 11 12 POUNDING Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Ms Jamie Kah 4.06L 13 54kg $10 12 9 DIAMIL (IRE) John O’Shea Jason Collett 4.36L 5 54kg $91 13 5 CONVERGE Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 4.75L 9 55kg $11 14 7 KIRWAN’S LANE (NZ) John O’Shea Tom Sherry 5.83L 11 54.5kg $51 15 13 COMMUNIST Michael Freedman Dylan Gibbons (a) 6.28L 6 53.5kg $19 16 22e POLITICAL DEBATE Chris Waller Ms Rachel King 6.33L 18 50kg $201 17 15 MADAME POMMERY Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 7.22L 14 51.5kg $41 18 4 GOING GLOBAL (IRE) Chris Waller James McDonald 7.41L 12 55kg (cd 55.5kg) $31 2 PERICLES James Cummings Nash Rawiller 0 14 DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Regan Bayliss 0 19 WATERFORD (IRE) Chris Waller Zac Lloyd (a) 0 20 OLENTIA Chris Waller Jay Ford 0 Table Credit: Racing Australia. The post 2023 Epsom Handicap Winner Rediener Wins for Waller & O’Hara appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Rediener under Kathy O’Hara claims the Group 1 Epsom Handicap. Photo: Racing NSW Chris Waller has trained his fifth Epsom Handicap winner, with Rediener (+900) getting the better of stablemate Kovalica (+900) in another close photo finish in the second of three Group 1 contests at Randwick. After drawing barrier two, Kathy O’Hara was able to settle her four-year-old gelding behind the speed and steer him through a gap late to finish off strong and hold off the fast-finishing Kovalica, with Joao Moreira getting everything out of the Queensland Derby winner. Mid-race the favourite Nugget (+600) was stuck three-wide, so Damien Oliver elected to set him alight around the outside and join Golden Mile (+1500) in the lead, which set the race up for something to run on from the back of the field. Although he had to absorb the pressure from Nugget and led for most of the 1600m, Golden Mile managed to hold on for third place and finished half-a-length off the Waller quinella. 2023 Group 1 Epsom Replay – Redeiner | T: Chris Waller | J: Kathy O’Hara Chris Waller was quite emotional speaking post-race about the win of Rediener. “Very special for Kathy (O’Hara), Charlie’s (Duckworth) wife. It’s great, Kathy is just an amazing toiler,” an emotional Waller said of the winning jockey. “Sydney racing 52 weeks a year she just gives it her best, amazing horse person. “When he won in Queensland we set him for this race, but setting horses for races is not easy. “But to see him win like he did first-up it gave us a little bit of hope and the barrier draw (gate 2) was obviously a plus.” Kathy O’Hara won her third Group 1 in the Epsom, and she spoke post-race about the success. “How bloody good, I can’t believe it,” O’Hara said. “Really thankful obviously to Chris (Waller) and Charlie (Duckworth – partner) and the whole team to be given these opportunities. “He was making me nervous, I was like ‘Can you stop being so weird? Just let this happen, you’re making me nervous.’ I think he was dreaming big, he’d be delighted. “Had a lovely run, it just panned out lovely for him and he produced the goods. “It was awesome. It was pretty much a carbon copy of last time (win in the G3 Bill Ritchie). “When (Damien) Oliver (on Nugget – 10th) come around at the half mile I was pretty happy that they put a bit more tempo on because I thought they could leave me a bit flat-footed here. “I was delighted to see a bit of tempo in the race and he was good late.” More horse racing news View the full article

Think About It (inside) returned a winner in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Racing NSW Think About It (-117.65) has continued his extraordinary winning run by claiming the Group 2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick, which has seen his career record improve to 10 wins from 11 starts. After being sent around as an odds-on favourite with online bookmakers, punters that took the short odds would have been worried when the runner-up Hawaii Five Oh (+750) charged at the leader in the final 100m, but as winners do, Think About It got his head down to get the photo. Unlike most of his wins to date, the son of So You Think had to bide his time on the inside and take an inside run along the rail, but once Sam Clipperton pushed the button at the 300m mark he exploded with a burst of acceleration to hit the front. Going off the performances of Hawaii Five Oh and Bella Nipotina (+600) – who filled the placings and finished off the race strong – you would expect that they would get two of the remaining spots in The Everest on October 14. 2023 Group 2 Premiere Stakes Replay – Think About It | T: Joseph Pride | J: Sam Clipperton After taking out the Premiere Stakes with his stable star, Joseph Pride was very happy with the return and he spoke post-race. “Overall pretty pleased with the way he’s handled himself today,” Pride said. “He sort of looked a bit lost when he got to the front there and he’s up against these big boys now he can’t afford to do anything wrong. “I’m sure it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him ridden in behind them on the inside, there’s not a lot of horses enjoy that. “He’s been a horse that Sam (Clipperton) has always been able to give a lot of galloping room to. “I’ve got two to worry about so I can balance my stress between two horses and we’ll be back here in couple of weeks’ time with two horses ready to go.” Sam Clipperton has continued his amazing run with Think About It, and he spoke post-race after recording his eighth win from as many rides. “When a horse like these returns, his picket fence is starting to get a little bit hard to ignore,” Clipperton said. “He’s a horse that even though he’s doing what he’s doing, multiple Group 1 winner, he’s still learning. “When I ended up on the fence, the place I didn’t want to be, when Lost And Running rolled off I had to just punch him through it and hit the front way too soon, but the run presented and I had to get him mobile. “One of this horse’s greatest attributes is if something is down in his sights he really surges towards it. He had nothing in front of him from the 300m. “I’m pretty certain my horse will be cherry ripe in two weeks’ time.” Think About It is the +300 favourite in The Everest futures market with online betting sites. More horse racing news View the full article

British trainer saddles his first runner in the prestigious French feature: ‘He’s been a huge part of my career. I’ll be forever indebted to him’View the full article

Adam Hyeronimus guides Tropical Squall to a dominant win in the Group 1 Flight Stakes. Photo: Racing NSW Tropical Squall (+800) has led from barrier to winning post in the Group 1 Flight Stakes, giving jockey Adam Hyeronimus his second Group 1 victory and trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott their third Flight Stakes success as a training partnership. After jumping the best of any runner in the race, the daughter of Prized Icon took up the lead without any challenge and was allowed to run the race at her own speed, while race favourite Tiz Invincible (+190) was made to travel three-wide without cover after crossing from her wide barrier. When the field rounded the home turn, Hyeronimus still had a vice-like grip on the leader, but when he said go, she booted two lengths clear of Kimochi (+450). Kimochi chased gamely over the final 300m and held down second place, while Tutta La Vita (+1000) and Mollynickers (+400) finished in fourth and fifth, respectively. 2023 Group 1 Flight Stakes Replay – Tropical Squall | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Adam Hyeronimus After claiming their third win of the day at Randwick, Adrian Bott spoke on behalf of the Waterhouse & Bott stable post-race about the win. “She’d been crying out for the mile, I was really confident coming here today if we could make it a nice test for them and try and draw a bit of the speed and brilliance out of those others, because we know she was prepped for this and ready,” Bott said. “Those colours out bowling along out front and delighted for Adam (Hyeronimus). “Very pleased on a lot of fronts. “He’s obviously a great front-running rider. He’s been keen on this filly for a long time, he’s spoken so highly. “He’s been spot on the money there and I’m delighted for him to get another big one.” Adam Hyeronimus brought up his first Group 1 success since returning from a long injury layoff, and he spoke post-race. “Everyone will get great satisfaction from it, it hasn’t been easy,” Hyeronimus said of his return to riding. “I didn’t think I’d ever ride again to be honest; I had no intentions. “It’s good to come back, I’d probably work with Gai and Adrian for the rest of my life to be honest. “She’s a very classy filly and from the first time I sat on her she’s shown that and it’s good to see her do what she’s done today. “Obviously I rode my first one for them (Group 1 winner – Shout The Bar) at the start of the pandemic, no one was there and celebrations were quite quiet but to ride another Group 1 winner for them is very special.” More horse racing news View the full article

The opening race on a star-studded card at Randwick on Saturday was dominated by New Zealand-breds, with Loving Cilla and Philipsburg running first and second in the A$120,000 Midway Handicap (1800m). Loving Cilla was an unlucky third in a similar race over 1600m at Randwick two weeks earlier, having struggled to obtain clear running down the straight. There were no such concerns on Saturday, with jockey Tyler Schiller taking the seven-year-old back to second-last before bringing her down the outside with an irresistible finishing burst. Philipsburg kicked through on her inside to provide a stern challenge in the final 100m, but Loving Cilla kept finding and claimed a narrow but impressive win. “She doesn’t work like a horse who’s looking for a trip, but she definitely races like one,” Schiller said. “Her first-up run was a bit disappointing, and she was very unlucky when she was held up last start. Today there were no hard-luck stories and it was a very good result.” Trained by Greg Hickman, Loving Cilla has now had 23 starts for four wins, seven placings and A$174,995 in prize-money. “It panned out perfectly today,” Hickman said. “It was like the Randwick of old – get back and then get home down the outside. “Her work had been up to scratch since her last run. She was probably a bit unlucky not finish a bit closer in that previous start, but we elected to come to the outside today and get an uninterrupted run. Happily it paid off. “She might even get over a little bit further than this yet. She doesn’t look like a stayer, but she’s going super.” Bred by Stewart Hume, Loving Cilla is by Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man. Loving Cilla’s dam is the Encosta De Lago mare Equivalence, who has been represented by five winners from six foals to race. Loving Cilla was offered by Westbury Stud in Book 2 of Karaka 2018, where she was bought by Ible Racing and DJI Bloodstock for $30,000. Saturday’s runner-up Philipsburg was bred by JML Bloodstock Ltd and is by Per Incanto out of the Darci Brahma mare Saint Martins. Bought for $110,000 from Blandford Lodge’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2019, Philipsburg has had 43 starts for six wins, nine placings and A$385,117 in stakes. View the full article

A year on from a breakthrough spring campaign that announced her arrival on the Group One stage, Mustang Valley did it again in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings on Saturday. The daughter of Vanbrugh began last season with a rating of 70, but a spectacular five-length romp on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival thrust her into the spotlight. In her next three starts, she won the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m), ran a strong-finishing second in the Arrowfield Stud Plate and romped home by five and a quarter lengths in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m). Mustang Valley is coming into her own again at the same time 12 months later, having resumed with an eye-catching sixth in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) before scoring an easy win over 1400m at New Plymouth on September 16. Deteriorating track conditions extinguished the hopes of some Arrowfield Stud Plate contenders, and even prompted the scratchings of Legarto and La Crique, but they only strengthened Mustang Valley’s claims. By the time the gates opened at just after 4pm on Saturday afternoon, she had come right into red-hot favouritism at $2.30. Ridden by Joe Doyle, Mustang Valley broke well from her midfield gate at the tricky Hastings 1600m start point. She slid forward and settled in fifth and well away from the rail. Doyle released the brakes coming down the side of the track, and by the time the field rounded the home turn, Mustang Valley had swooped around the outside and taken the lead. The 2021 winner Callsign Mav chased hard towards the inside, with 50-to-one longshot Malt Time producing a career-best performance to join in out wide. But Mustang Valley had their measure, driven to the line by Doyle and scoring by a length and a quarter from Malt Time. Callsign Mav finished another three-quarters of a length away in third. “A good ride and a very good horse is a good combination,” trainer Andrew Forsman said. “With the track the way it is today, you come into the race knowing that you’ve got things in your favour, but you also know that you’re in a field of quality horses. You never take it for granted. There’s a lot of good horses behind her, and they’re there for a reason. Group One races are never easy to win, and we’re rapt to have got it done.” Forsman will bring Mustang Valley back to Hastings on October 14 to defend her crown in the Livamol, and the TAB now rates her a $2.60 favourite. “The Livamol is the plan,” Forsman said. “At a mile today, we expected her to be competitive at weight-for-age on rain-affected ground. But I think getting up to 2000m now will really suit her. Everything’s gone to plan so far in this campaign, so hopefully that continues.” The win continued an outstanding start to the season for Irish jockey Joe Doyle, who rode three winners on Saturday and heads the New Zealand premiership with 30 wins. The Arrowfield was the second Group One victory for Doyle, who partnered Pignan to win the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in April. “We were three wide halfway, but I was happy with where I was – they weren’t going crazy in front,” Doyle said. “She got going at the 600 and it was game over. “It’s fantastic. I’m in a very privileged position. These are the races that you want to be riding in, and horses like her are the ones that you want to be riding. I’m so grateful to the connections for putting me on.” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh was thrilled to see his consistent four-year-old Financier return to the winner’s circle in the Collier’s Commercial HB Premier (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. The lightly-raced son of Tavistock settled midfield on the fence under a no-panic ride by Opie Bosson, and cruised through the field rounding the home turn to burst into contention at the 150m mark. Financier had been caught late when placing second to Jimmysstar on the first day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival but wasn’t to be denied on Saturday holding off runner-up Don Pauly to score by half-a-neck at the post. Marsh was in good humour despite the inclement weather that brought showers and a chill wind throughout the day. “I really like this horse, it’s funny the weather seems to be getting warmer here it’s not so cold,” Marsh quipped. “Opie gets on really well with him and he sort of said for the last couple (of starts) he’s got to the front too easy and knocks off. You could see today he ranged up to them and in the last five or six strides he started to knock off again. “He’s a horse with plenty of ability, I’ve been telling the owners how good he is for a long time and I think they were starting to look at me a bit sideways. “He’s a cool customer, he’s got a nomination for the Coupland’s Mile (Gr.2, 1600m) so he could end up getting down there at some stage but he’s a really nice horse.” The conditions at Hawke’s Bay had downgraded to a Heavy9 by the sixth event of the day featuring Marsh’s charge, and his first attempt at a heavy surface where many struggled through the day didn’t seem to faze the gelding. “He hadn’t done a lot on heavy tracks, this is certainly the wettest he’s ever been on even at the trials, so he got through that nicely and I thought he (Bosson) rode him beautifully,” Marsh said. Bosson, who returned to New Zealand this morning after a Trans-Tasman hit-and-run mission to claim the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley with Te Akau’s star sprinter Imperatriz, was impressed with the four-year-old’s efforts under the 60kg topweight. “He gets there and he pulls up on you, he did today and in the last five strides I felt like I was walking on the line. He just pricks his ears and has a look around,” Bosson said. “He got through the ground really well, he travelled nicely and all the gaps opened up at all the right times, we probably got there a little too easy.” Financier was purchased by Marsh and Dennis Foster for $220,000 out of the Curraghmore Stud draft at the 2021 NZB Karaka Book 1 Sale. View the full article

All eyes were on standout Satono Aladdin gelding Tokyo Tycoon in the lead-up to Saturday’s Gr.2 Animal Health Direct Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings, but another son of the same stallion stepped out of his shadow and stole the show. Lantern Way shook free of his maiden status with a stunning upset win, defying 20-to-one odds in outstanding style. While Tokyo Tycoon’s wheels were spinning in the Heavy9 track and he struggled to make an impression from midfield down the straight, Lantern Way launched a powerful finish from third-last and went straight past him. Lantern Way and jockey Jonathan Riddell had moved into third passing the 200m mark, and the Lisa Latta-trained gelding pinned his ears back and kept advancing, finishing over the top of Solidify and Burn To Shine to win by half a length. “That’s a good way to break maidens,” Riddell said. “He’s got a lot of talent and has always been a really nice horse.” Lantern Way was bred by Rich Hill Thoroughbreds, who stand Satono Aladdin for a service fee of $45,000. Rich Hill offered Lantern Way as a yearling in Book 2 of Karaka 2022 last year, where Latta secured him for $40,000. His six-start career has now produced a win and three placings, earning more than $136,000 in stakes. Although this was his first win, he had previously shown black-type quality with second placings in last season’s Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) and last month’s Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m). “He looked pretty ordinary in the Wanganui Guineas – his coat just wasn’t quite there,” Latta said. “We elected to give him the five weeks between runs. He had a nice jumpout at Levin in between times, where he ran in an open-class heat. He’s only a maiden, but he came from last and went through them just like that. “He’s a pretty good horse, this. I was just a little bit concerned about today’s track conditions, but he obviously handled it. “Craig McNeill has put together a fantastic bunch of owners to race this horse, and it’s great to get this result for them.” Lantern Way is nominated for the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) on November 11, and the TAB now rates him an $8 equal third favourite for the Riccarton classic. “A lot of his owners live down south, so it would be pretty special for them if we got him down there for the Guineas,” Latta said. “But obviously the horse comes first. We’ll get him through this and then go from there.” The time of 1:27.19 clearly illustrated how persistent rain through the early part of the day had affected the Hastings track. It was the slowest Hawke’s Bay Guineas since Finnegan Fox clocked 1:27.28 in 1989. Tokyo Tycoon’s jockey Opie Bosson believed those track conditions were the undoing of the $1.40 favourite, who finished fifth and almost eight lengths from the winner. “He just didn’t feel comfortable in that ground, so that’s what I’d put it down to,” Bosson said. View the full article

Classy customer Trobriand defied a late drift in betting to run out a worthy winner of the Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton. Carrying the familiar tangerine and blue colours of Te Akau Racing for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, the showy son of Kermadec was having his first start in the South Island after kicking off his three-year-old campaign with a third placing behind excitement machine Crocetti at Ruakaka last month. Expected to start a warm favourite in the hands of Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, Trobriand was challenged hard in the betting market by the Kevin Myers-trained Bozo who started the public elect at $3.20 and provided Trobriand ($3.60) with his toughest competition. After sitting three-wide for most of the race, Bozo lodged her claim at the top of the straight but was immediately tackled by Trobriand who had tracked her throughout. Trobriand drew a half-length in front and maintained the margin to the finish line to register his fourth career victory for owners the Te Akau Island Paradise Racing Partnership. Bergerson was at Hastings with a large team but caught the action on television where he was sporting a wide smile after the victory. “It was good to see him bounce back after his first up run as he was a very exciting two-year-old,” Bergerson said. “He was beaten at Ruakaka by a very smart individual but he has come on nicely since then. “He trialled well at Taupo before heading South and coped with the travel well. “It was a good, tough effort as he pinned his ears back and had a real go when the horse on his inner challenged him in the straight.” Bergerson confirmed the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) on 11 November is the main target for the horse, who would most likely have one more run in the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) on 28 October to fit him for the assignment. “The 2000 Guineas is his target, so we will see how he pulls up from this and then confirm his next start with that goal in mind,” he said. “As long as he is okay then that is likely to be the War Decree Stakes here in late October.” TAB Bookmakers have Trobriand on the third line of betting in the 2000 Guineas Fixed Odds market behind Crocetti ($2.40) and stablemate Tokyo Tycoon ($2.40), with Lantern Way ($8) the big mover after his victory in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Trobriand was a $260,000 yearling purchase by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis out of the stud’s 2022 Book 1 draft at Karaka. – View the full article

Blake Shinn (outside) gets the most out of Espionage to claim the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate at Randwick. Photo: Racing NSW After going down by the barest of margins in the previous, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott have gone one better in the Breeders’ Plate, with Espionage (+700) getting the better of the stablemate Straight Charge (+380) in another close photo at Randwick. The race favourite with online bookmakers, Scampi (+190), led the field up to the home turn, but as soon as the whips began to crack, the Waterhouse & Bott runners claimed the leaders within a few strides. With 200m to go, Blake Shinn and Regan Bayliss settled down to fight out the finish, with Shinn getting the upper hand in the final strides to claim the Group 3 contest in a tight photo. Rounding out the Waterhouse & Bott trifecta was the fast-finishing Prost (+1800), who burst through a gap late to charge at his stablemates in the final 50m. 2023 Breeders’ Plate Replay – Espionage | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Blake Shinn Representing the Waterhouse & Bott stable, Adrian Bott spoke post-race about the performance of their three runners. “Just trying to dissect it all. Obviously saw the two stablemates clear out there and have a great battle,” Bott said. “It’s an important race for these potential stallions going forward and each of those first three across the line are all big players in that department. “They’ve all got significant upside to them. “He’s an expensive horse ($1 million yearling), he’s been beautiful from the outset. “He’s done a great job, well deserved victory.” Blake Shinn brought up a riding treble at Moonee Valley last night and he has taken three races to get on the board at Randwick. “It was a tough effort,” Shinn said of the winner. “Forked out a bit of money for him but I can see why. He’s got a great demeanour and for a two-year-old you think you’re riding an old stager. “He got into a nice position, had to come out a little early but I was travelling so well. “He just didn’t know how to put that second horse away, but it felt like he’s got more upside and he’s a promising horse.” Espionage is now a (+2000) equal favourite in the Golden Slipper futures market with online betting sites. More horse racing news View the full article

Tommy Berry lifts Manaal to victory in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes. Photo: Racing NSW Manaal (+1800) has taken out the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes after showing an explosive finish at the end of 1000m at Randwick under the urgings of returning jockey Tommy Berry. The Michael Freedman-trained two-year-old filly settled just behind the speed after jumping well from barrier three, and as the field rounded the home turn, Berry was able to get her into clear air to let down in the final 300m. Joining in down the outside was another roughie, Repose (+2200) who looked to have taken the lead with 200m to go, but ultimately threw the race away by ducking out on Ryan Maloney in the final 50m of the race. The unlucky runner of the race was the runner-up Celestial Bling (+500) from the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable, who was held up on the fence behind the slowing leaders before bursting through a gap to finish off strong and fight out the finish. 2023 Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes Replay – Manaal | T: Michael Freedman | J: Tommy Berry Micheal Freedman was thrilled to take out the first big two-year-old race of the season and he spoke post-race. “It’s a big thrill all round. Emirates have been very good to me this year, giving me a couple of these Tassorts (stallion),” Freedman said. “It’s terrific to get a result like that and for Tommy (Berry) because we’ve got a long association. “He’s been doing it hard the last six to eight months and I’m sure he’ll be thrilled. “I think there’s better to come. “I said to the owners before the race ‘Whatever she does today it will be great but I can’t wait to see her in the autumn.’ “She’ll have a nice little break now and we might be there in the autumn.” Tommy Berry returned from an eight-month suspension during the week, and he has already found the winners circle on a big Saturday race day at Randwick. “I promised I wouldn’t get emotional and then these guys come along (hugs children),” Berry said. “It’s been a long road ahead, I learnt so much about myself while I was off. “There are so many people that I thank. My comeback, my family, my friends, my manager Paul Joice for sticking with me. I gave him hell these last six months. Dad at home, I love you mate. “She bounced really well, and I actually sent Michael Freedman (trainer) a message last night and said, ‘Is she alright?’ “Gee, Michael has a good team this year, I can’t wait.” More horse racing news View the full article

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The 4-year-old filly won her first race of 2023 but after that has been oh-so-close on numerous occasions. Her competitive spirit wasn't about to let that happen again. View the full article