Wandering Eyes

America's Best Racing cheat sheet provides short bios on each Kentucky Oaks (G1) filly.View the full article

We only have a handful of races to base wet track form on but some are compelling and worth noting.View the full article

For the 20 3-year-old Thoroughbreds expected to compete in the Kentucky Derby (G1), racing luck can make or break their Derby run from the start. Some of that luck comes into play several days beforehand: the luck of the post-position draw.View the full article

To celebrate Sandman being in the 151st Kentucky Derby and to highlight the importance of taking care of Thoroughbreds after their racing careers, Ken Freirich wanted to do something big for the heart and soul of the sport: the horses.View the full article

Bobby Flay's Go Go Boots (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a June 6 G1 Betfred Oaks entry, justified long odds-on favouritism for John and Thady Gosden with a three-length triumph in Monday's Download The Raceday Ready App Fillies' Novice Stakes over 10 furlongs at Lingfield. Last year's €230,000 Arqana Breeze-Up graduate had previously won at the track having annexed her debut over one mile in December. Go Go Boots remains unbeaten with a straightforward success at @LingfieldPark! This Epsom Oaks-entrant looks a filly to follow for John and Thady Gosden! pic.twitter.com/hL2K9Do3ZA — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 28, 2025 4th-Lingfield, £7,200, Nov, 4-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f (AWT), 2:06.67, st. GO GO BOOTS (GB) (f, 3, Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Hertford Dancer {GB} {SW & GSP-Eng}, by Foxwedge {Aus}), a G1 Oaks entry who shed maiden status after a dawdling getaway in her Dec. 4 debut over one mile at this venue last time, broke from the outside stall and stalked the tempo in a close-up second for most of this sophomore bow. Sent to the front rounding the home turn, the 2-11 favourite was beyond recall in the straight and stayed on powerfully under whipless coaxing in the latter stages to easily account for Knickerbocker (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) by three lengths. Go Go Boots is the third of five foals and one of two scorers produced by Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial victrix and G2 Ribblesdale Stakes third Hertford Dancer (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}). The April-foaled chestnut's third dam, dual Group-placed Listed Empress Stakes-winning producer Massarra (GB) (Danehill), is kin to six black-type performers headed by G1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning sire Invincible Spirit (Ire). Go Go Boots is full to a 2-year-old colt and half to a yearling colt by Saxon Warrior (Jpn). Sales history: 97,000gns RNA Ylg '23 TATOCT; €230,000 2yo '24 ARQBRU. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £7,290. O-Bobby Flay; B-Highclere Stud & Mrs Michelle Morris (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. The post Bobby Flay’s Oaks Entry Go Go Boots Goes Two-For-Two at Lingfield appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland will offer campus-wide enhancements for the community celebration of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, and tickets for that event are now on sale, the organization shared via press release Monday morning. General admission for Derby Day at Keeneland is $10 and children 12/under are free when accompanied by an adult. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. and parking is free. Fans are welcome to bring their own seating or enjoy a variety of public seating areas including the grandstand as the broadcast of the race will be shown through the afternoon on the infield tote board as well as monitors around the track. There is no ticket or reservation requirement to tailgate on The Hill for Derby Day. In addition to the usual programming, Keeneland will also offer enhanced campus-wide activities like live music, food trucks, family events, and more. Drive Thru Betting will also be offered near the Entertainment Center for the May 2 GI Kentucky Oaks as well as the May 3 Kentucky Derby via Gate 1. Signage with directions will be displayed to help with navigation. To pre-purchase tickets for Derby Day at Keeneland, please visit the Keeneland website. The post General Admission Tickets to Derby Day at Keeneland On Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Any week which included the return of Kyprios (Ire) should be considered a good week indeed. Yes, this time of the year is really all about exciting maiden winners and Classic trials, but any horse who can stick around in the Flat pack for as long as Kyprios has done must be cherished. Four members of the final crop of his sire Galileo (Ire) have entries in the Derby and/or Irish Derby, but otherwise we will be relying on his older runners, including last year's St Leger one-two Illinois (Ire) and Jan Brueghel (Ire), to give the late champion something of a last hurrah. Kyprios, who on Saturday won his third consecutive Vintage Crop Stakes en route to Leopardstown then Royal Ascot, will once again lead the charge. It was hard to imagine that so soon after Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) we'd be treated to another stayer of such a high calibre. But, three years ago, the then-four-year-old Kyprios announced himself as the new staying king as Stradivarius's superiority waned slightly with his advancing years. Following their first meeting at Royal Ascot when Stradivarius might have seemed an unlucky loser in the Gold Cup, the two bright chestnut sons of half-brothers delivered their most thrilling tussle on a truly glorious afternoon on the Sussex Downs with just a neck separating them at the finish of the G1 Goodwood Cup. That was Stradivarius's fifth appearance in the race that he had won four times between 2017 and 2020, and Kyprios's first. The baton was passed. Kyprios won the Goodwood Cup again last year during a magnificent season of Group 1 victories in the Gold Cup, Irish St Leger and Prix du Cadran, at distances ranging between 1m6f and 2m4f. Here's hoping for more of the same this year, though his trainer Aidan O'Brien has suggested that, just as Stradivarius was in 2020, Kyprios may be aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this year instead of the Cadran. Waltzing Wootton Anyone preparing to strike up a rendition of Waltzing Matilda as the jolly Swagman (Ire) led them a merry dance in the Sandown Classic Trial on Friday may well reasonably have assumed that the colt was a son of the 2014 Derby winner Australia (GB). However, this Ballydoyle runner is more Wiltshire than Wagga Wagga as he is instead by Wootton Bassett (GB), who has a strong portfolio of potential Classic contenders for the coming season. Following Monday's confirmation stage, he is responsible for seven of the 17 colts left in Saturday's Betfred 2,000 Guineas. A number of those are out of Galileo mares and that is also true of Swagman, but he started his life in Germany, rather than Ireland, at Gregor and Julia Baum's Gestut Brummerhof, most famous internationally for having produced the Arc and King George winner Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). The Baums bought Swagman's unraced dam ten years ago from the Wertheimers' breeding operation for €350,000. She is from a line tracing back to Baron Guy de Rothschild's G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Lady Berry (Fr) (Violin d'Ingres {Fr}), with a slew of black-type performers under Swagman's granddam Featherquest (GB) (Rainbow Quest) alone. BBAG Graduates Shine Swagman had been bought from Brummerhof by Alex Elliott on Coolmore's behalf at the BBAG Yearling Sale of 2023 for €180,000. The top lot that day, at €300,000, was a filly from the final crop of Adlerflug (Ger) consigned by her breeder Gestut Rottgen. Named Eleganz (Ger), she too left Germany, to be trained in Chantilly by Andre Fabre. Bought by Imad Al Sagar, whose breeding operation has recently been expanded from Newmarket to Kentucky, she won on debut at Saint-Cloud last Wednesday. Fabre is also the trainer of the Al Sagar homebred Burhan (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who made it a good week for the breeder when winning the Listed Prix du Pont Neuf at Longchamp. Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud was also represented this week by first-time-out winner Remmooz (GB). The son of Blue Point (Ire) was sold as a foal for 37,000gns and later fetched 250,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 2 when bought by Federico Barberini for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum. Another from that same crop of Blue Diamond graduates is last year's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who holds entries in the 2,000 Guineas of Britain, Ireland and France. Eleganz, meanwhile, has an entry for the G1 Prix de Diane, which was won by Al Sagar in 2022 with Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is now in foal for the first time to Dubawi (Ire). Enora's Family to the Fore It has also been a good week for the Gestut Rottgen-bred G1 Preis der Diana winner Enora (Ger), who was sold privately to Katsumi Yoshida in 2016. Not only is she the granddam of the aforementioned Eleganz, but Enora's three-year-old son Energico (Jpn) won Saturday's key trial for the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), the G2 Aoba Sho. Energico's sire Duramente (Jpn) died in September 2021 at only nine years of age and, just as the premature loss of Eleganz's sire Adlerflug that same year was deeply unfortunate for Germany, Duramente's untimely demise increasingly looks a blow for Japan. The winner of the Japanese Derby and 2,000 Guineas a decade ago, Duramente's best offspring include the Triple Tiara winner Liberty Island, who tragically suffered a fatal injury in Sunday's G1 FWD QEII Cup, as well as fellow Classic winners Stars On Earth (Jpn), Titleholder (Jpn), and Durezza (Jpn), along with the Grade 1 winners Lugal (Jpn), Dura Erde (Jpn) and Champagne Color (Jpn). Their top-level wins have been recorded across the distances, from the Sprinters Stakes to the Japanese St Leger. Like Galileo and Adlerflug, Duramente's final crop are three-year-olds this year, and Energico looks well placed to emulate his father with a Derby victory on June 1. Yes For No Whistlejacket (Ire) was a bit of a favourite of this column last year when his busy juvenile campaign included wins in the G1 Prix Morny and G2 July Stakes. The laidback colt was overshadowed towards the end of the season by some of his later-emerging stable-mates who are now hogging the Classic limelight but it was good see Whistlejacket back in the winner's enclosure at Navan on Saturday after the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes. Carrying a Group 1 penalty, he had to work hard to overcome the fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained Ides Of March (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) but win he did, en route to the G1 Commonwealth Cup, on what was a good day for his sire No Nay Never. Charles Darwin (Ire), the full-brother to Blackbeard (Ire), became the first two-year-old TDN Rising Star in Europe this year following his wide-margin win in the 6f maiden which has been won in the past by the likes of Camille Pissarro (Ire) and River Tiber (Ire). Then No Nay Never popped up as the broodmare sire of Wemightakedlongway (Australia {GB}), the front-running winner of the G3 Salsabil Stakes for Joseph O'Brien. Bred by the trainer's mother, Annemarie, the filly's price was subsequently cut for the Oaks, though the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes later in June has been mooted as a more likely target. Stars Out in Force at Longchamp Another sire to have enjoyed some notably good results on Sunday was Sea The Stars (Ire), who had the first two home in the first Group 1 of the European season, the Prix Ganay, with Sosie (Ire) and Map Of Stars (GB). This came just 35 minutes after Aventure (Fr), also by the Gilltown Stud resident, had won the G3 Prix Allez France in taking fashion, making it a particularly special weekend for the Wertheimer brothers, owner-breeders of both Sosie and Aventure. Last year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner, Sosie was making a return to action after finishing fourth in the Arc to Bluestocking (GB) and Aventure, but his immediate family has already been represented by another group winner this season, with his three-year-old half-brother Uther (GB) (Camelot {GB}) having landed the G3 Prix Noailles a fortnight earlier to put himself in the picture for the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. One of the very useful features of the excellent France Galop website is that it has a breeders' table, and this currently shows the Wertheimers to be way out in front with 40 winners already this year. High Earners from Modest Origins Liberty Island's fatal injury cast a pall over proceedings at Sha Tin on Sunday but the other two Group 1 races on the card provided a shot in the arm for smaller breeders at a time when so many of the world's best races are being dominated by the major owner-breeder operations. Leaving aside the fact that some people believe that geldings have no place in Group 1 contests, the FWD Champions Mile, won by 90/1 outsider Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), flew the flag for Tattersalls Ireland's mixed December sale, which was where the six-year-old was initially sold by breeder Patrick Harney for €7,000. Trained originally in Ireland by Andrew Slattery under the name of Fiach McHugh, he was later a vendor buy-back at £240,000 at the Goffs London Sale of 2022. Following his seventh-placed finish in that week's Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, he changed hands privately to join the Hong Kong stable of John Size. You don't have to look too far back in Red Lion's pedigree to find some smart connections. His third dam Lionne (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) is a three-parts-sister to the Dewhurst and Derby winner Sir Percy (GB) and her offspring included the dual Group 3 winner and Irish Oaks fourth Grace O'Malley (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) as well as March Stakes winner Jadalee (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}). From humble beginnings, Red Lion has now won almost £3.5 million following this breakthrough at Group 1 level. Hong Kong's current star package Ka Ying Rising (NZ) is the best sprinter in the world and has won his last 12 starts, including Sunday's G1 Chariman's Sprint Prize. He has now amassed earnings in excess of £6 million, but he too has modest origins. The four-year-old was himself never offered at public auction but was sold privately to race in Hong Kong after winning his trial at Levin on New Zealand's North Island for his initial trainer and breeder Fraser Auret. His sire Shamexpress (NZ) stood for a fee of just NZ$8,000 last year, the equivalent of roughly £3,500, and Ka Ying Rising's dam, the five-time winner Missy Moo (NZ) (Per Incanto), had been sold as a yearling for the paltry sum of NZ$500, while his granddam Royal Rhythm (NZ) (Rhythm) changed hands at Karaka as a 12-year-old in 2011 for NZ$1,000. You don't always need the deepest pockets to breed a good one. But it helps. The post Seven Days: From High Born to Humble Beginnings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After the eighth race at Churchill Downs Thursday, May 1, horse owner and philanthropist Ken Freirich will make a $100,000 donation to four Thoroughbred retirement charities to be split evenly amongst them, it was revealed in a joint press release. The four aftercare organizations are New Vocations, Second Stride, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and the Thoroughbred Charities of America. Freirich, who is a part of owner of Kentucky Derby hopeful Sandman via his involvement with West Point Thoroughbreds, will present the check in the winner's circle after the eighth race on the card, dubbed 'The Run for the Retired Racehorses'. Owners and fans are encouraged to do the same by going to this link to make their donations to Thoroughbred aftercare. “The horses are the heart and soul of the sport, and they are also like family to all of us,” said Freirich. “It's so incredibly important to take care of them after their racing careers. I am thrilled to partner and contribute to these wonderful organizations, the 'After Caregivers;' they need our support to continue their amazing work.” “When Ken approached us with his desire to donate, we jumped at the chance to help surprise our longtime partners, New Vocations, Second Stride, TAA and TCA,” said Cathy Shircliff, director of Equine Industry Relations for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “It's such an honor to facilitate this donation and give these organizations the recognition they deserve.” The post Ken Freirich, Co-Owner of Derby Runner Sandman, to Make Donations to Four Aftercare Organizations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Farnan, the G1 Golden Slipper winner, has had his fee increased at Kia Ora Stud in Australia to $77,000 following a strong start to his second career. Kia Ora's Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright said the 2025 service fees were set with a strong focus on providing value and supporting breeders. “We've set our fees with careful consideration for the challenges facing smaller breeders and have positioned them to deliver value and maximise returns. Each of our stallions offers a unique set of elite qualities, and we believe they represent outstanding value at this stage of their careers, with exciting futures ahead,” Wright said. Farnan has been extremely popular at the yearling sales and on the racetrack, and his fee will increase from $55,000 inc GST to $77,000 inc GST. Farnan features prominently at the top of the Australian first-season sires' championship throughout the season and currently sits second by winners, stakes winners and third by prize-money. “I couldn't be happier with the way that Farnan has launched his stud career,” Wright continued. “His progeny have always shown the early maturity, physicality, and temperament needed to compete at the highest level. We expected him to hit the ground running, and he's delivered exactly that. “It's a huge achievement for Farnan at this stage of his career. When you look at what he's already accomplished with his progeny, not just winning Group races, but also producing quinellas. It really highlights the strength of his first crop, with large numbers still on their way through.” The post Golden Slipper Winner Farnan Has Fee Increased Following Strong Start At Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kentucky Derby Museum is celebrating 40 years of telling stories Monday as they officially opened their doors to the public Apr. 28, 1985 and have served more than 7.2-million guests since then, the organization announced Monday morning. Established thanks in part to an endowment from the James Graham Brown Foundation and support of private donors, the museum credits its partnership with Churchill Downs as a key part of its ongoing success. The Derby Museum welcomes nearly 38,000 students annually through its outreach and in-house education efforts, and in the past 10 years, has invested $10-million in exhibit upgrades and facility improvements to ensure future generations may continue to explore Derby history in evolving, engaging ways. On Founder's Day 2025, to mark the 40th anniversary, the museum will unveil the $2-million upgrade to its signature movie, The Greatest Race. “This anniversary is deeply personal to so many of us,” said Patrick Armstrong, Kentucky Derby Museum president and CEO. “For 40 years, this museum has served as the heartbeat of Derby history. We've faced challenges, celebrated incredible milestones, and evolved with our city, state, and the sport of horseracing. Through it all, our team has remained passionately committed to making every guest's experience unforgettable. I could not be more proud of what we've built together.” The post Kentucky Derby Museum Turns 40, Celebrates Four Decades of Telling Stories appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

The Sardinian is aiming to edge closer to his half-century after another stellar season.View the full article

Reminder from Brad Steele, Chief Executive HRNZ : The sudden passing of Greg Sugars has deeply saddened the entire harness racing community. Greg was admired by so many for his talent, leadership, and genuine character, and his loss is already being felt profoundly by many. Processing such a tragedy is not easy, and everyone does it differently, and I just want people to know that there is help out there if needed. Support is available through OnTrack. They provide a confidential service for everyone involved in racing and can be contacted at 0800 667 224. If you are finding things difficult or simply need someone to talk to OnTrack staff can help. To find out more about OnTrack click here Take care of yourselves Brad View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand wants to hear from you. The marketing department has come up with a short survey and wants to know what do we do right and what needs improvement. To fill out the survey click here View the full article

By Mike Love West Melton trainer Andrew Drake didn’t have to wait long for Rack’em Up to break his maiden status. The Betting Line three-year-old, who he also co-owns, took out the DMJ Builders-Anne Thompson Graduation (Heat 2) Mobile at Rangiora yesterday. “It’s super. We are rapt with that,” said Drake. Rack’em Up, driven by Jonny Cox, settled four back the markers for the majority of the 2600m journey. Gaps presented when the acid went on and Cox was able to work off the fence into a prominent position, going on to win by a neck at the line. “I didn’t want to get too far back, but the run suited him fresh up,” said driver Jonny Cox. “We chose the right gap to get out. He did it well.” It was Rack’em Up’s first win from just two starts – and yesterday’s performance backed up the talent shown on debut back in June last year when running second to the talented Renaldo at Addington. “He needed time. His first up run was super,” said Drake. “He showed speed in his first start, but Coxy couldn’t steer him. So the time off helped.” There were obvious signs of improvement still to come for the big gelding too as he looked to have plenty in store at the line. Drake works at Kentuckiana Lodge for Chrissie and Cran Dalgety. “I’m very lucky to be allowed to have him there and it helps to work him in with those ones.” Other highlights on the programme included an emotional victory for driver Gavin Smith on the Robert and Jenna Dunn trained Dance Till Dawn in the Waimakariri Businesses Rangiora Winter Cup following the tragic death of his good friend Greg Sugars across the Tasman. Both of the trotters’ heats of the Anne Thompson series were won easily. Heat one taken out by the James and Jim Geddes trained Just Easy, while the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Paddy McDaddy opened up an eight length margin victory winning the second heat and will be hard to beat in the $20,000 final on May 18. View the full article

By Michael Guerin The harness racing community on both sides of the Tasman is reeling after the sudden death of one of its superstars in Victorian horseman Greg Sugars. The 40-year-old was found dead in his hotel room near the Menangle racetrack outside Sydney on Saturday afternoon. He is believed to have died in his sleep. Sugars had driven from Victoria to Sydney on Friday to campaign horses trained by his wife Jess Tubbs, who confirmed his passing on social media on Saturday night. When Sugars didn’t turn up to attend to the horses at a friend’s stable on Saturday morning there was concern and when phone calls weren’t answered that local trainer went to Sugars’ Campbelltown Hotel. When calls to his room still went unanswered the trainer was let into Sugars’ room and found him unresponsive. The death of the fit, healthy and immensely popular Sugars has left the tight-knit harness racing industry in a fog of disbelief as he had emerged as one of its brightest lights at a time when one has never been more needed. He had matured into one of Australasia’s best big race drivers but it was the emergence of champion trotter Just Believe over the last three years that thrust Sugars and Tubbs on to the world stage. That brought into two extended campaigns in New Zealand and a trip to Sweden, where Sugars and Tubbs were treated like rockstars at the famous Elitlopp meeting. While Just Believe didn’t win in Sweden it was still a career highlight for Sugars who reined over 4000 winners and won over A$40milliion in career stakes. Sugars spent much of 2024 in New Zealand campaigning both Just Believe and Better Eclipse and last May 24 he enjoyed one of the greatest nights ever by a visiting horseman as he reined Better Eclipse and Just Believe to win the Auckland Cup and Rowe Cups respectively. While Sugars’ popularity and place at the top table of harness racing were never in doubt in Australia his time here in the last two years saw him become New Zealand’s favourite Australian reinsman. What endeared him to so many was his obvious love of the horse. When Just Believe retired this year Sugars spoke about how he missed his equine mate, how a perfect afternoon would be buying a six pack of beer and sitting in the retirement paddock just hanging out with the champion who took him around the world. Sugars would spend much of his time when campaigning in New Zealand with close friend and fellow horseman Joshua Dickie. Like so many Dickie was struggling to process the news on Sunday. “I can’t believe it,” says Dickie. “He was the ultimate professional on the track, so talented and hard working. “But off the track he would let his guard down and was a lot of fun. He was a great guy and the word I’d use to describe him the most is loyal. “We just miss him, he was our friend.” Sugars is from a famous harness family, with his father Ross a trainer. So too is Tubbs and the pair had ascended to be the glamour couple of Australian harness racing. Away from the personal tragedy and brutal shock of his loss for those closest to him, his death will leave a crater-sized hole on the harness racing landscape. Sugars was the embodiment of what is good in racing: skilled, polite, respected for his integrity and with a deep love for the horse. In his famous driving colours with stars emblazoned across the chest he was every inch the struggling code’s “Captain Australia”, a man to be aspired to. He was the hero horseman harness racing needed, who sadly went to bed on Anzac Day and never woke up. Harness community mourn the loss of one of its best By Adam Hamilton Greg Sugars was not only one of the brightest stars in Australian harness racing, but one of its greatest ambassadors and most popular figures. He drove his first winner as a 16 year-old at Globe Derby on December 5, 2000 and went on to drive over 4000 winners, including 71 at Group 1 level. For all of Sugars’ feature race success, his career was propelled to another level when he teamed with Tubbs in life and in business, then again in recent years through the deeds of Just Believe across three countries. Such was the lasting impact Sugars made, sometimes in just brief visits, drivers in race meetings throughout Sweden, NZ and Australian will wear black armbands in his memory on the day of his funeral. Australia’s premier driver James Herbertson, speaking from the US where he is on a working holiday, credited Sugars for shaping his career. “He was one of the best, as a driver, a trainer and a human being,” he said. “When I say he was like a parent to me, I mean it. He took me under his wing and made me into the driver I am today. “I’ll really miss him and I know everyone back home is feeling numb.” Champion rival Luke McCarthy bonded with Sugars when they shared a room together for 10 days at the 2004 Australian Young Drivers’ Championship in Perth. “We just clicked and became very close,” he said. “It’s hard to get your head around this. He’s one of the best drivers the game as seen and a great bloke on and off the track.” Australia’s most successful driver Chris Alford spoke of how he and Sugars started as heated rivals, but Sugars’ nature transformed their relationship. “When he first moved to Victoria things were rough between us because we’re both fierce competitors, but he quickly grew to earn my respect and that of everyone,” he said. “He was a brilliant and hard competitor on the track but a great friend off it. I’m remembering all the great trips we had to NZ and elsewhere together.” Premier trainer Andy Gath said Sugars was one of most talented people he had seen in racing. “He was as gifted as you would witness and you could always see the love he had for the horses he was associated with. The mutual respect from his fellow competitors said it all.” Harness Racing Australia CEO Andrew Kelly fondly remembers being in awe of the impact Sugars and Tubbs had during their 2023 trip to Sweden with Just Believe. “That was on full display when they took Just Believe over. To see the respect and admiration they gained and the great way they represented their country was remarkable,” he said. Harness Racing Victoria abandoned Saturday night’s Melton meeting when news of Sugars’ passing broke. “The industry is devastated. We’ve lost of the game’s best, a wonderful person and great ambassador,” HRV chairman Bernard Saundry said. “Our hearts go out to Jess and the entire Sugars’ family and we’re here to support all those in the industry struggling with the loss.” Sugars is survived by wife Jess, father Ross, mother Kerry and sister Kylie. Details of his funeral are yet to be finalised. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Delightful Peg delivered a tight-knit crew a special thrill when showing her true worth to win the Group 2 Macca Lodge-Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks. The Canterbury pacer had flown into a gallop when taking the passing lane in her last two starts leading into Southland’s premier race for three-year-old fillies. But when driver Matthew Williamson angled the Brad Mowbray-trained filly into exactly the same spot on Diamonds Day at Ascot Park, she delivered a powerful and professional victory. Williamson and Mowbray’s association dates back to around the time they produced Delishka to run fourth in the 2017 Southern Oaks Final, making the win special for them. “That would be one of my more special wins, just because Brad has been a great mate of mine and we have had a lot to do with each other,” Williamson said. “It is just super to win a nice race for him.” Delightful Peg’s victory also gave Mowbray and his family a moment to treasure. The pacer is raced by the trainer alongside his mother-in-law Jenny Knight and wife, Melanie. “Mel does a lot at home, she is looking after the team while we are down here,” Mowbray said. “Jenny is a great supporter of ours as you would expect, so it is great to be able to win a nice race for her.” While she had made errors in her last two starts, some tinkering on the training track with Delightful Peg’s gear by Mowbray proved crucial when the filly was at her best on Diamonds Day. The trainer admitted it had been a process to get the three-year-old to become a Group Two winner, but he had had faith in her ability. “She has been a project right the way through, we are just over the moon.” “We have taken small steps, there have been setbacks but times like today make it worth it.” Williamson landed back-to-back Southern Oaks wins with Delightful Peg after taking out the race last year with Flying Ellie. The reinsman was denied another Group race victory late when Duchess Maria downed Who’s Ya Daddy to win the Group 3 Entain Southern Classic on Diamonds Day. Williamson’s brother Nathan produced the filly for a slick and professional win in her first start. Five Crowns left a strong field with few excuses when clearing out to win Sunday’s feature for three-year-old colts and geldings. Driver Blair Orange burnt early with the Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained pacer, who still had plenty in reserve to race away to win the Group 2 Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes. Though the pacer looked in full control throughout, Orange admitted there were some nervous early moments in the sulky. “The one draw was always in the back of my mind, that it wasn’t ideal for him.” “ I would have loved two or three, I asked him for an effort early and I nearly lost him around that first corner.” “But he gathered himself up nicely and he was pretty strong to the line.” Five Crowns set a new 2200m Ascot Park track record for three-year-old male pacers with his 2.38.2 time. Delightful Peg set a new three-year-old fillies track record when stopping the clock in 2.38.6. View the full article

By Jonny Turner There is only going to be one argument between Steven Reid and Samantha Ottley after Jumal’s Group 1 win on Diamonds Day. The two-year-old justified his red-hot favouritism with a brilliant win in the Group 1 Diamond Creek Farm Classic at Ascot Park. While Reid and Ottley are in complete agreement on Jumal being a classy customer, the pair are yet to agree on who is the bigger fan of the exciting youngster. “I think Steven thinks he’s his number one fan, but no, I certainly am,” Ottley said. “He is just a wee gem, for having three starts he is just such a wee professional.” “If you look at him now, you wouldn’t even know he has had a race.” Ottley’s big opinion of Jumal was part of the reason the reinswoman took no chances in Sunday’s Group One feature. After runner-up Freeze Frame took the lead off the favourites early, Ottley immediately retook the front. “I thought on paper he was the best horse in the field, so I thought I would take luck out of it.” “I knew he would be good in front or in behind.” Reid and Ottley have formed a winning association in the months since the trainer moved from Auckland to Canterbury. The reinswoman was full of praise for the trainer, who has unearthed yet another star pacer in Jumal. “You get a lot of confidence driving for Steven,” Ottley said. “He has his horses ready to go and they’re very, very sharp.” “I have been lucky not just to drive this fellow, but I have had a few winners for him and I hope it can continue.” Jumal is raced by Malcolm Wrigley from Reid’s old stomping ground in Pukekohe. The northern owner, who made the trip south to take in Jumal’s Group One triumph, shares in the ownership of the pacer with Reid’s partner, Bella Storer. Ottley and Reid contributed to a special result for the Dawe family on Diamonds Day with Rakero Lightning. The pacer ran second to Midnight Babe in Sunday’s opener, with both horses raced by Dawe Contracting. The quinella came days after the passing of Ray Dawe, who owned both Dawe Contracting and Rakero Racing Stables alongside Ronnie and Kevin Dawe. Midnight Babe is by champion sire Bettor’s Delight from the outstanding former race mare Beaudiene Bad Babe, who won the Group 2 Southern Oaks Final on Diamonds Day in 2009. View the full article

Leaderboard has been a force to be reckoned with since his transition to jumps racing, and this week he will be seeking his crowning glory at the Warrnambool May Carnival. The 10-year-old son of Street Cry will have two bites at the cherry, firstly in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) on Tuesday before backing up two days later in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m). Raced by New Zealand syndicator Fortuna, Leaderboard performed with distinction on the flat, winning seven races, including the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed NZ St Leger (2600m). He had the one unplaced hurdle run in New Zealand before heading to Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne barn where he has been a standout for trainer Mark Walker. He hasn’t finished out of the money in his nine jumping starts across the Tasman, posting four wins and five placings, including placing in the Thackery Steeplechase (3450m), Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) last winter. He heads to Warrnambool in good form, having won his last two races, and Walker is confident of a bold showing in his opening contest of the week. “We are really happy with him, and I think he gets into it nicely at the weights (67.5kg) for what he has done,” Walker said. “He has been around the course, so he knows his way around, it is quite a unique course. I think he should acquit himself very well.” He will be joined in the Brierly by stablemate The Mighty Spar, who has placed in his last three starts, including a 3450m steeplechase at Warrnambool last month. “The distance suits him and he has had a look around the course. He gets in off the minimum (65kg), which is good,” Walker said. “It is a competitive field, there’s seven that could win it really.” Earlier on the card, the stable will be represented by Dreamflight in the opening race of the carnival, the Maiden Hurdle (3200m). The six-year-old son of Frankel will also carry the silks of Fortuna and will be having his first raceday outing over hurdles following a couple of hurdle trials. “He has had two hurdle trials and whatever he does tomorrow he will improve with the experience,” Walker said. “It is good to have Will Gordon in the saddle.” On Wednesday, Walker will be represented by just the one runner, with Prismatic set to contest the Victory Dunroe BM120 Steeplechase (3450m). “The question mark is that he is top weight, but he has had a look around the course in a trial and I think he will acquit himself well,” Walker said. Walker is looking forward to heading to Warrnambool this week, a highly anticipated event on the Victoria racing calendar. “There is a big vibe about it over here that’s for sure,” he said. View the full article

Annabel and Olly Tuthill will be in search of another Swiss Beauty in Sydney next week after her daughter Betty Spaghetti starred on the big stage at Riccarton Park on Saturday. A mare with a name to match her ability, Betty Spaghetti was a stakes performer and five-race winner prior to her deserved triumph in the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m), the first stakes winner for her sire Stratum Star. The victory came to great satisfaction for the North Canterbury couple, who bred the five-year-old under their Beaufort Downs banner. “It was really exciting for us, I think she was really well overdue a stakes win and she’s been very unlucky at times,” Annabel Tuthill said. “She’s been so tough and thereabouts so many times, so it was cool to see.” A young thoroughbred operation, Beaufort Downs was very much in its infancy when the Tuthill’s travelled to the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale in 2019. In search of a mare to add to their growing band, they came across Swiss Beauty, a New Zealand-bred daughter of Swiss Ace who initially trialled in her homeland before winning two races in Australia. The pedigree was strengthened by her granddam in Our Squeezer, a half-sister to a former New Zealand Horse Of The Year in Bonneval and Group winners Full Of Spirit, Lord Arthur, Imposing Lass and Lady Cumquat. The Tuthill’s were taken by her page and secured the mare in-foal to multiple Group One winner Stratum Star for A$32,000. “We bought the mare at the broodmare sale because we loved her pedigree, with Bonneval and a number of other amazing horses in there,” Annabel Tuthill said. “She was a good racehorse as well, so we bought her, and Betty came out as a bonus. “She (Betty Spaghetti) was always a really lovely, strong filly and always looked like she would run. We weren’t too worried about the first foal being by a bit of a non-commercial stallion, so we took her to the yearling sales to get her into a good home and racing for the mare.” Presented in their Book 1 draft, Betty Spaghetti was secured for $20,000 by Robert Dennis, who entrusted the filly to Anna Furlong. Based in Canterbury herself, Furlong sends most of her horses to spell at Beaufort, meaning the mare has never been far from her adoring breeders. “We were lucky with Betty, we wanted to get her into a good stable to race and that’s our main aim when we’re breeding, to get them out and about,” Annabel Tuthill said. “Robert picked her and ended up stopping training for a bit, so she’s gone to Anna, where she’s had every opportunity to succeed. “People love her name, it’s iconic. We’ll never forget her win at Riccarton on Cup Day, we were in the stands watching her and all of the owners were in front of us. The atmosphere during the race was electric and even more so after she won, they were all singing “there’s only one Betty”. “We love having her back on her holidays, Anna rang us and said that she’ll be coming out again at some point soon. It’s really nice to follow her, see her at the races then have her at home with her mum, brothers and sisters. “It’s all turned out very well.” After Betty Spaghetti, Swiss Beauty went on to produce two-win gelding Mogul, who finished fourth in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) as a three-year-old. The most recent of her progeny to step through the sales ring was a Proisir colt, knocked down for $110,000 in January, while another filly by the champion sire awaits her turn in the Karaka auditorium next year. “We’ve got another Proisir weanling filly who is lovely, she’ll be going to next year’s sales,” Tuthill said. “She’s a dark bay, a strong filly and probably stronger than the last Proisir that we sold, a nicer type. We’re pretty excited about her. “She (Swiss Beauty) got quite late having her last foal, she seems to go overdue and holds on to them a little bit. She just got too late to send away, so we decided to leave her, give her a break and send her away early this year. “We might send her to an Australian stallion, we haven’t quite decided which one, but that’s the plan.” Still elated after the weekend’s result, the Tuthill’s are looking forward to their return to Sydney, aiming to further boost their ever-growing collection of quality mares. “We’ve got about 17 of our own broodmares, we try to get another one every season because they obviously get older, and it’s nice to have a young mare each year to keep commercial,” Annabel Tuthill said. “There are a lot of mares to choose from in the sale over there, we like to get something in-foal to an Australian stallion and then leave them there, then get back in-foal to an Australian sire. It has worked really well for us so far, it’s good to have some diversity in the draft. “We’re going to go over to this sale again next week and have a look over there, hopefully we can find another like Swiss Beauty.” View the full article

It’ll be the same old story for Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry) in his Australian debut at Warrnambool on Tuesday, carrying a clear topweight as he contests the time-honoured Brierly Steeplechase (3450m). The class Awapuni jumper is no stranger to sitting on top of the book, carrying 73kg to victory in last year’s Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) and Grand National Hurdles (4200m), as well as 72.5kg at Hawke’s Bay. With most of New Zealand’s hurdling trophies locked away, trainer Mark Oulaghan decided it was time for Berry The Cash to take on his trans-Tasman counterparts at the famous May Carnival. Berry The Cash competed solidly in Rating 75 company in two fitness-building runs before departing for Victoria on April 9. Having travelled and settled in well, the son of Jakkalberry stepped out in a hurdle trial at the course with regular hoop Portia Matthews in the saddle. “He seems happy enough and healthy, he’s pretty well,” Oulaghan said. “He’s working well and condition-wise, we don’t have too many worries. He’s done everything right. “He had a couple of runs there (New Zealand) first, it’s always hard for a jumping horse to compete against flat horses especially on firmish ground, which is what he was running on. We were happy with the runs. “He came over here and had a jumping trial, it didn’t quite pan out how we’d wanted but he jumped well and finished it off so that was the main thing.” Oulaghan has campaigned a number of horses in Australia previously, including at Oakbank, but this will be his first runner at the ‘Bool’. “This is our first one down at Warrnambool,” he said. “Hopefully he’s the right horse, we don’t know that yet but he had good hurdle form in New Zealand. “You probably need a hurdler if you’re going to come to Australia, it seems to be a good transition to hurdle in New Zealand then steeplechase here, so we followed that path.” Berry The Cash is also nominated for Thursday’s showpiece, the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5550m), with Oulaghan intending to run in the A$350,000 event providing all goes to plan in the Brierly. “He’ll have to go pretty well tomorrow to back up, but we intend to do so if possible,” he said. After opening at $7, Berry The Cash has drifted to $16 in the TAB market, with Port Guillaume (Le Havre) ($3.70) and the Te Akau-trained Leaderboard (Street Cry) ($3.80) currently leading the market. Other Kiwi-bred contenders runners include The Mighty Spar (NZ) (Savabeel), Duke Of Bedford (NZ) (Tavistock), Blandford Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) and Heir To The Throne (NZ) (Pentire). View the full article

Globetrotting champion Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has ‘pulled up well’ and will return home soon following his disappointing performance, finishing last in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m). Co-trainer Will Hayes said that the initial signs were that the horse had pulled up ok from the race but had over raced in the run, getting his mouth open and never settling, with his regular rider Craig Williams in the saddle. “His performance was really disappointing,” Williams said. “Most importantly, let’s see how he recovers. He was in a nice position. I was under pressure from the top of the straight and he just failed to find, which is very unusual for him.” Lindsay Park posted to X after the race that the horse had recovered fine after the race. “Thank you to everyone who got behind Mr B in the Champions Mile,” the stable posted. “It wasn’t our day today, but Mr B has pulled up well and is already home in his box getting stuck into his dinner. After today he will spend a couple of weeks in quarantine in Australia before travelling home to Euroa.” View the full article

What Warrnambool May Carnival Day 1 Where Warrnambool Racing Club – 2/64 Grafton Rd, Warrnambool VIC 3280 When Tuesday, April 29, 2025 First Race 11:20am AEDT Visit Dabble The Warrnambool May Racing Carnival commences on Tuesday with a massive 10-race meeting to kickstart one of the best weeks of country racing on the calendar. The $150,000 Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) headlines proceedings on a track rated a Soft 6, but with showers forecast, it is likely to be a Heavy surface come race day. The rail will stick to its true position, with Day 1 in Warrnambool set to commence at 11:20am AEST. Brierly Steeplechase Tip: Duke Of Bedford The 2025 Brierly Steeplechase has attracted a strong field of 11, but it is the Andrew Bobbin-trained Duke Of Bedford who gets the nod. The six-year-old gelding managed to lead from barrier to box in a Pakenham 3200m steeplechase on April 13, showing a clean pair of heels throughout. Will McCarthy will look to dictate proceedings throughout once more, and in a race where he should get a relatively uncontested lead, Duke Of Bedford will prove hard to run down if his jumping holds up. Brierly Steeplechase Race 6 – #7 Duke Of Bedford (10) 6yo Gelding | T: Andrew Bobbin | J: Will McCarthy (65kg) Best Bet at Warrnambool: Stokke The Patrick Ryan-trained Stokke is set to resume from a five-month spell, and based on a recent Terang trial victory, she looks to have returned in top order. The four-year-old mare won under a tight hold in that trial on April 14, and with two wins from two fresh runs, she is seemingly primed to strike in the Day 1 finale. Blake Shinn will need a bit of luck to not get caught wide without cover from barrier nine, but if he gets it, Stokke should have a class edge on her rivals. Best Bet Race 10 – #4 Stokke (9) 4yo Mare | T: Patrick Ryan | J: Blake Shinn (59.5kg) Next Best at Warrnambool: Meisho Meisho was rolled first-up as a $1.35 favourite by Petit Artiste in the Listed Without Fear Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville, but she still put a decent margin on third place. In her initial campaign, the two-year-old was beaten a half-length by multiple stakes winner Shining Smile. From barrier three, Daniel Moor will be stalking the speed throughout, and with even luck in the home straight, Meisho can bounce back in style. Next Best Race 5 – #3 Meisho (3) 2yo Filly | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Daniel Moor (57kg) Tuesday quaddie tips for Warrnambool Warrnambool quadrella selections Tuesday, April 29, 2025 1-5-6-7-11-13 1-2-3-4-5 1-3-4-5 4 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Ardalio winning the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Talented filly Ardalio has already done more than enough to take her place alongside her dam in Elsdon Park’s broodmare band, but there are expectations she can further boost her value next season. Bred and raced by farm principal Lib Petagna, the three-year-old produced a stirring performance to win Saturday’s Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Ardalio’s Te Rapa success, the third of her six-start career, followed a luckless midfield finish in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) after racing three wide without cover from a wide gate. “We were quietly confident going into The Kiwi, but unfortunately I picked the barrier draw and she was wide for the whole trip and still finished on, so we were really pleased with her,” Elsdon Park General Manager Kerrie Cox said. “She came home this (Monday) morning for a break and we will then gear her up for her four-year-old season. “She’s pretty exciting and Stephen (Marsh, trainer) thinks she’s got Group One potential so hopefully she can fulfil that. If for any reason she doesn’t she’s still definitely done her job.” Ardalio is a daughter of the Written Tycoon mare Bridgewater, who was a A$300,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase with her dam a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Index Linked. Bridgewater only raced twice and has made an excellent start to her breeding career with her first foal Pure Alpha, a brother to Ardalio, a dual metropolitan winner from Chris Waller’s Sydney stable. “We kept a share in Pure Alpha, who’s quite a big, raw sort of type and Ardalio is smaller and nuggety,” Cox said. “She’s also got a rising two-year-old brother, who we’ve retained, and he’s been broken in and is back at the breakers for a refresher. “He’s quite similar to Ardalio, really well put together, and Stephen will train him as well. “The mare’s also got a Per Incanto colt, who has just been weaned and he’s a lovely sort with a bit more size and she’s in foal now to Sword Of State.” Elsdon Park have a sizeable broodmare band, with the 600-acre Waikato farm regularly culling and upgrading. “We run around 70 or 80 mares and try to keep it in that range,” Cox said. “We bought quite a few nice mares last year and have seven others going on Gavelhouse next week, and that will be our reduction for the year. “We like to keep within those numbers to utilise all our stallion shares and add a bit of Australian flavour and use some of the new stallions coming in here.” Horse racing news View the full article

Driver Penalties J Young-Grant | Banks Peninsula 21 April; use of whip; suspended 22-27 April inclusive. S Hill | Banks Peninsula 21 April; contacted track marker; fined $100. M McKendry | Auckland 25 April; careless driving; suspended 26 April – 29 May inclusive. O Thornley | NZ Metropolitan 25 April; use of whip; fined $400. H Orange | NZ Metropolitan 25 April (heard Rangiora 27 April); contacted track marker; fined $100. N Burton | Rangiora 27 April; careless driving; suspended 1-5 May inclusive. Trainer Penalties S Smolenski | Banks Peninsula 21 April; incorrect gear; fined $100. T Bagrie | Banks Peninsula 21 April; late gear notification; fined $50. J Gray | Banks Peninsula 21 April; late scratching denying runner a start; fined $400. B Ward | Rangiora 27 April; late to present runners on course; fined $100. D Broadhurst | Rangiora 27 April; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. Horse Penalties POPNROCK | Banks Peninsula 21 April; broke in running; must complete trial. LONNEKERS | Banks Peninsula 21 April; broke in running; must complete trial. AUCTIONEER | Waikato Bay of Plenty 22 April; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. HE’S ROBYN | Invercargill 24 April; sore; veterinary clearance required. THE HUMBLE ONE | Invercargill 24 April; late scratching after falling in preliminary; veterinary clearance required. BRONSKI | Rangiora 27 April; atrial fibrillation; veterinary clearance including ECG required and must complete trial. ALL CONQUERED | Rangiora 27 April; refused to come into line; must complete standing start trial. REGAL SPIRIT | Rangiora 27 April; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. Protests RONDO TROUBLE | Banks Peninsula 21 April; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 3rd. SON E | Rangiora 27 April; lapped on; relegated from 4th to 5th. ALL CONQUERED | Rangiora 27 April; unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. The post 21-27 April 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article