Wandering Eyes

What Darwin Cup Day 2025 Where Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 When Monday, August 4, 2025 First Race 11:52am ACST Visit Dabble Cup Day at Fannie Bay features a 10-race program on the sand (Good) with the rail true and fine conditions. First jumps at 11:52am ACST; the Darwin Cup is Race 10 (5:30pm, 2050m, $200k). Expect typical Darwin dynamics: on-speed/handy runners can be hard to catch, but strong, sustained closers are lethal late at 2000m+. Darwin Cup tip: Hadouken Last year’s Cup winner Hadouken sets up beautifully to go back-to-back over 2050m. He arrives race-fit after taking the Chief Minister’s (1600m) on July 12 and draws barrier 3 to secure an economical run behind the speed. With 58.5kg under the handicap, he meets several key rivals fairly and brings the ideal Darwin profile: tractable, tough, and able to quicken on the sand. Expect a positive ride from Blake Shinn to hold a pair or three back the fence before peeling at the 300m. Feature Tip Race 10 – #3 Hadouken (3) 7yo Gelding | T: Peter Robl | J: Blake Shinn (58.5kg) Best Bet at Darwin: Dakota Lee The Top End’s sprint queen Dakota Lee returns to her pet 1000m and simply brings superior ratings to this field. Even lumping 63kg, her gate speed and Fannie Bay record make her the one they must pass. With Blake Shinn partnering Zourata and a couple of others injecting tempo, expect genuine speed—perfect for Dakota Lee to stalk, then unleash her trademark 400–200m burst. She’s 4:3-0-0 at the trip locally and handles firm sand. If she begins cleanly and lands within two lengths of the lead, her class should carry her late. Best Bet Race 4 – #1 Dakota Lee (5) 7yo Mare | T: Terry Gillett | J: TBC (63kg) Next Best at Darwin: Stormfront Stormfront brings the right platform into the 1600m handicap. He’s a seasoned Fannie Bay miler with a sustained finishing style, and the booking of Blake Shinn is a significant plus. From gate eight he can slide across to a stalking position one-off, avoiding kickback before building from the 700m—exactly the pattern that wins at Fannie Bay- and especially here on Cup Day when pressure comes early and often. He cops a +2kg penalty, but his current ratings say he can absorb it. With a clean run into the bend, Stormfront should prove strongest through the last 150m. Next Best Race 6 – #4 Stormfront (8) 5yo Gelding | T: Peter Robl | J: Blake Shinn (60kg) Monday quaddie tips for Darwin Darwin quadrella selections Monday, August 4, 2025 1-2-5 1-2-3 1-4 2-3-5 Horse racing tips View the full article

Synthetic flyer Cosentino (NZ) (El Roca) silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni. In the care of local trainers Stephen and Kevin Gray, the speedy four-year-old had been near faultless through the winter period on Awapuni’s all-weather surface, recording two victories and a narrow placing to Platinum Designs in as many starts leading into the feature. Cosentino had to contend with the extreme outside draw in the 12-horse field, but had the luxury of the 54kg minimum, unlike a number of his key rivals including Lhasa (61kg) and Stonybreck (59kg). In the hands of his regular pilot Bruno Queiroz, the $3.20 favourite caused a bit of interference early when spooking abruptly inwards, but showed an electric dash to power up into the lead. Once there, Cosentino kept up a cracking tempo ahead of Lhasa, and the pair were well clear of the remainder of the field as they turned for home. Consentino kicked hard off the corner, and while he understandably started to feel the pinch late, the gelding had enough left in store to hold out an ultra-tough Lhasa by a length. Stonybreck was steaming home late to fill the minor placings under Opie Bosson, who made his return to raceday riding at the meeting. There was plenty of support in the crowd for the winner, but Stephen Gray was near-speechless after a nervous watch on the sidelines. “At the 600, I was (thinking) christ, steady up Bruno,” he said. “But, the idea was to go forward, and that was pretty impressive. “I’ve had great experience overseas in poly racing and you’ve got to keep them fresh and sharp, then take them on. That was the plan today, and he was either going to get the 1400 or run second or third. “I’m an advocate for poly racing, not just because I’m having winners on it, but also because the track is running well, they’re winning from behind, and winning in front. Having a $100,000 race on this track is awesome. “It’s a great result.” Queiroz was similarly lost for words, having also won the previous race on the card aboard Cosentino’s stablemate Exaggeration (NZ) (Embellish). “I don’t have words for it at the moment, this horse is very nice and he’s improving every day,” he said. “I’m very happy. “He was a little scared and went to the inside too quickly, I tried to hold him to the outside again but I got to the first position and he relaxed well in front. “It has been a great job from my trainer, Stephen Gray, and all the people who work at the farm.” A son of El Roca and a three-win Per Incanto mare Magico, Cosentino has boosted his earnings above $95,000 with Sunday’s success, with four wins from seven starts. View the full article

Promising filly Cashla Bay (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is headed for a Group Three target early in the new season after recording a comfortable first-up success at Ruakaka on Saturday. Bred and raced by The Oaks Stud, Cashla Bay debuted in stakes company when finishing fifth in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) run in early February, won by subsequent Group One winner Return To Conquer. She continued to improve through her juvenile campaign, defeating the older horses over 1400m in April, but headed for a short spell after finishing outside of the placings in the Listed Waikato Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m). Resuming on a soft surface in the north, Cashla Bay came out on the front foot under Matt Cartwright and sped up to sit outside the leader in Eliza James. The pair both showed a decent kick at the top of the straight, but Cashla Bay got the upper hand at the 200m, striding clear and holding off the challenge of Soundwave to salute by just under a length. The daughter of U S Navy Flag is trained by Andrew Forsman, who never doubted her class coming into the Ben and Nola Wortelboer Memorial Race 1100. “I thought on what she’d done on raceday to date, she would be hard to beat,” he said. “She was a little bit vulnerable fitness-wise, but that was the only question mark. “As it worked out, the race panned out very well for her, she’s very professional and has a great attitude. “She’ll take great improvement out of that.” The Cambridge horseman was on a fact-finding mission on Saturday, deliberating over whether Cashla Bay would head towards the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) or the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) later in the month. After seeing her performance, the former is looking the likely option. “She was up for a long time and had a lot of hard racing, but I think that will set her up quite nicely this time around,” he said. “She’s got a little bit stronger physically, but she hasn’t had all that long between campaigns coming back. “She’s pretty versatile, we took her up to Ruakaka to decide whether we would go to the Breeders up there or head to Wanganui. “I think on how strongly she won, and being vulnerable fitness-wise, has us leaning towards going back up there in a couple of weeks’ time.” The filly’s dam, Fastnet Lady, finished fourth in a Wanganui Guineas, and also filled the same placing in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) during her racing career. Cashla Bay was her final foal before passing, having produced multiple Group One performer and $674,000 earner Five To Midnight (NZ) (Domesday). View the full article

Former southerner Hidalgo (NZ) (Pure Champion) returned to the mainland to deliver an impressive debut victory over fences at Riccarton Park on Saturday. The son of Pure Champion started his racing career in the care of Danny Crozier, and over the coming years, would switch been Crozier’s Riccarton stable and John Phillips’ base at Winton, with his last start for the latter coming in mid-May. In pursuit of a career over jumps, Hidalgo travelled north to join Wanganui horseman Niall Quinn, and within a couple of months, was having his first jumping trial at Cambridge, of which he won over subsequent hurdle winner Roc Up Ralph. The well-travelled gelding crossed back over the Cook Strait to tackle his first hurdle start, where he started a narrow favourite over Group Three performer Inmyshadow in the Michael ‘Mickey’ Beecroft Memorial Maiden Hurdles (3100m). In the hands of Ellie Callwood, Hidalgo was full of running early, but was able to slot in a comfortable position in the trail of pacemaker Doctor Iris. Inmyshadow had sat outside the leader throughout and began to tire at the 800m, but Hidalgo was just warming up, striding past the first pair and powering clear in the straight, taking the maiden event under hands and heels by 8 – ½ lengths. Callwood was full of praise for her mount, who had shown professionalism well beyond his time in the jumping role. “He was brilliant, he made my job very easy today,” she said. “For his first time out, he jumped very well – I did have my heart in my mouth at the last though to be fair, I sent him. “I looked around and didn’t realise how far clear he was, he just travelled so easily and when he hit the front, he still wanted to do more. “You couldn’t ask any more from him.” The English hoop had been closely involved in the eight-year-old’s preparation, noting how influential that was in guiding his fortunes on Saturday. “Massively so, especially with this horse,” she said. “The first time he jumped a hurdle, I was on him, and I’ve taken him to his trial. “He’s quite a tricky horse, he was very keen today but he kept giving. He was a very professional gentleman out there.” Quinn was rapt with Hidalgo’s performance, crediting Phillips and his extended family for their preparation before he came to the stable. “I thought he went really well, I was a bit worried about him coming down here for his first jumps race and you never know how they’ll go in a first start, but he jumped really well,” Quinn said. “I’d like to thank the Phillips family, they sent him up in terrific order and had done a lot of work with the horse before we got him, so a lot of credit has to go to them. “We’re very excited about him, I think he’ll be a nicer horse next year and he’ll keep getting better with time.” While the Hospitality NZ Canterbury 135th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) will be staged at the course in seven days’ time, Quinn indicated Hidalgo will remain in the 0-1 hurdle category on the second day of the carnival. View the full article

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MyRacehorse and Peter Leidel's Seismic Beauty rattled off her third consecutive front-running victory, this time at the top stakes level, by outlasting Kopion in the Aug. 2 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar.View the full article

Four times in her career, My Racehorse and Peter Leidel's Seismic Beauty (f, 4, Unclo Mo–Knarsdale, by Medaglia d'Oro) has gone immediately to the lead and each time she's won big, but never bigger than she did Saturday in the $400,000 GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar. It was the first Grade I victory of her career following her first graded score in the GII Santa Margarita Stakes May 25 at Santa Anita. Saturday's win nets her a fees-paid berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff later this fall over this surface. Off at even money, Seismic Beauty went straight to the front and stayed there as favored Kopion (Omaha Beach) was briefly shuffled to last. Seismic Beauty set fractions of :22.85 and :46.63 and never relinquished her advantage, rounding the final turn with a two-length lead. Kopion came flying late, but finished about two lengths in arrears as Seismic Beauty crossed the wire much the best on the day. Her stablemate Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke) was third. Sales History: $250,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime record: 7-4-2-1. O-My Racehorse and Peter Leidel; B-2500 Determined Stud (MD); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan Hernandez. Watch SEISMIC BEAUTY win the G1 Clement L. Hirsch at @DelMarRacing from above. The four-year-old Uncle Mo filly took them all the way around! Congrats to the @MyRacehorse team! pic.twitter.com/1j81oqnn3W — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 3, 2025 The post Seismic Beauty Wires Field in ‘WAYI’ Clement Hirsch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Swift Delivery dashed to victory in the Aug. 2 Seagram Cup Stakes (G3) at Woodbine, outrunning defending race winner Paramount Prince and five other horses in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up on Tapeta.View the full article

Florida invader Beach Gold proved right at home Aug. 2 in the Bluegrass State, setting a course record in upsetting the $249,375 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes at Ellis Park.View the full article

Kilwin looked like she had a most impossible task ahead of her when the gates opened for the 100th running of the Aug. 2 Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 wager will be held Aug. 3 at Gulfstream Park, where track officials project a wagering pool of between $1 million and $1.5 million. There is a carryover of $110.621.01.View the full article

Swift Delivery dashed to victory in the Aug. 2 Seagram Cup (G3) at Woodbine, outrunning defending race winner Paramount Prince and six other older horses in the 1 1/16-mile race on Tapeta.View the full article

Saturday's 13-race Whitney Day program at Saratoga Race Course generated record wagering handle of $49,651,341, officials at the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) reported at the close of business. The figure represents a 22.7% increase over the prior Whitney Day record of $40,461,888, which was established in 2022. Five graded races worth $3.2 million in purses, including the GI Whitney Stakes–a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1 at Del Mar–and three other Grade I events, highlighted the stellar card at the Spa Saturday. The Whitney was also the highlight of a three-hour live broadcast on FOX as part of FOX Saratoga Saturday. Saratoga's paid attendance Saturday was 42,316, with on-track handle of $8,551,067. The post Record Handle for Whitney Day at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There was never really any thought about running Iron Orchard (Authentic) in Sunday's GIII, $175,000 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Trainer Danny Gargan said Saturday that Iron Orchard, the 5-2 second choice on the Adirondack morning line, will stay in the barn on Sunday. “I didn't really train her for this race,” Gargan said Saturday morning outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch. “I wasn't going to enter at all and (owners) said let's enter and look at it and then decided to wait.” Iron Orchard, owned by Edward Childs and Randy Hill's R.A. Hill Stable, broke her maiden by 5 1/2 lengths at Saratoga on July 3. It would have been a much larger margin if Joel Rosario had not stepped on the brakes down the Spa stretch. The New York-bred will instead be pointed to the six-furlong, $150,000 Seeking the Ante for state-breds on Aug. 22. “The owners want to run against New York-breds and I think they are making the right decision,” Gargan said. “She is very talented, a real nice horse, but I am in no hurry. We have all year. There is no rush. I want to do what is right by her. She only had on work, you noticed that, right?” Since blitzing that maiden field in early July, Lady Orchard worked July 25, a four-furlong breeze on the main track in :48.83 (24/60). Gargan said he has been training Lady Orchard with the idea that the Seeking the Ante would be her next visit to the races. As for the Adirondack, well, that point is now moot. “I didn't want to throw (stuff) on the wall and watch it slide down when I don't think I have her fit enough to go 6 1/2 (furlongs, Adirondack distance),” Gargan said. “She galloped in her first race and now I would have to go 6 1/2 off one breeze? It's not a smart thing to do.” Gargan is very high on the future for Lady Orchard. If all goes well after the Seeking the Ante, Gargan said the next stop would be the GI, $400,000 Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 4. “She is a super talented horse, we think,” Gargan said. “Why run when you're not ready?” Donegal Momentum Pointing to Bernard Baruch When last seen on the racetrack, 'TDN Rising Star' Donegal Momentum (Uncle Mo) was putting his connections through an emotional wringer. The 4-year-old avoided a catastrophic incident and showed his athleticism during the GIII Kelso Stakes on the Inner Turf Course. A bad step. A near stumble. Almost went down. But he recovered and miraculously finished the race. Donegal Momentum | Sarah Andrew Flash forward nearly a month and Donegal Momentum is preparing to return to the races. Trainer Tom Morley reported Saturday that his colt is doing fine and being pointed to the $150,000 Bernard Baruch, a 1 1/16-mile race on the grass. Donegal Momentum is prepping for the Baruch at Belmont Park. He had his first work since the Kelso incident on July 30, going four furlongs in :49.78 (18/43) on the dirt. Morley said Donegal Momentum, owned by Donegal Racing, will stay at Belmont and work there before shipping up to Saratoga for the race. It's the same routine he followed when Donegal Momentum won the GIII Poker Stakes at Saratoga on June 5. He trained at Belmont and then was vanned upstate. “I am happy with him, he is doing really well at Belmont,” Morley said at his barn on the Saratoga backstretch Saturday morning. “He had a pulled hamstring out of the Kelso and that has settled down. He really is a tough horse. I sent him back home because we executed the Poker going that way. That is his home environment.” Donegal Momentum has won two of five starts this year. Thorpedo Anna Back on the Work Tab 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), the 2024 Horse of the Year, had her first Saratoga work of 2025 this week. Trainer Kenny McPeek put her through a four-furlong work last Tuesday on the Oklahoma Training Track. She went in :50.60 (19/21) in her first work since June 26. “It was a nice half mile,” McPeek said at his office at his barn at the annex across from the Oklahoma Saturday morning. “Easy enough, a nice strong gallop. She is strong.” McPeek is pointing Thorpedo Anna to the GI Personal Ensign at the Spa on Aug. 23, Travers Day. She ran on Travers Day last year and finished second behind Fierceness (City of Light) in the Midsummer Derby. Thorpedo Anna is owned by Brookdale Racing Inc., Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek). She was originally supposed to work on Sunday, but bad weather forced him to call an audible. Mystik Dan | Sarah Andrew McPeek said Thorpedo Anna's next work will be early in the week as well. On Friday, McPeek worked 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) on the grass for the first time. He went five furlongs in 1:02.17 (5/10) on the Oklahoma. Mystik Dan is entered to make his turf debut in next Saturday's GI Arlington Million at Colonial Downs. “This is a horse that has done everything we've asked him to do,” McPeek told the publicity department at Colonial. “Being a Grade I going 1 1/4 miles, the Arlington Million seems like a perfect spot for our Derby winner.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Iron Orchard Skipping Adirondack, Waiting for Race Later in Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mirroring his winning performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) last fall, Sierra Leone rallied from behind a fast pace to defeat an all-star field in the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

World Beater did just that, defeating four international runners, including 2-1 favorite Hotazhell in the $750,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), winless in two attempts since capturing last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, came storming home from last to capture Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Whitney S. at Saratoga. Highland Falls (Curlin) was a length back in second. 'Rising Star' Disarm (Gun Runner) was third. The final time was 1:48.92. Sales history: $2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 12-5-4-3. O-Brant, Peter M., Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael, Smith, Derrick, Westerberg and Smith, Brook T. B-Debby M. Oxley; T-Chad C. Brown SIERRA LEONE wins the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes! Last year's @BreedersCup Classic champ books his return with a “Win and You're In” score under Flavien Prat for trainer Chad Brown! pic.twitter.com/Rh8BnPLdD7 — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 2, 2025 The post Sierra Leone Books Return Trip to Classic With Powerful Win in Whitney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Nathan Williamson’s tactics are going to have to be as flawless as Passchendaele’s record from his barn on day one of the Southern Surge at Winton today. A quiet winter for the trainer’s stable is set to heat up with the Southern Surge series luring four Williamson runners back to the races. Among them is Passchendaele, who has unleashed two outstanding performances in his only two starts for the trainer-driver. The four-year-old is arguably the best horse in the Diamond Creek/SBSR Southern Surge Series Mobile Pace (3.18pm) but barrier 13 looks a big leveller for his opposition. If nothing else – it sets up a tactical challenge for Williamson. “I think Passchendaele would be the best chance of my four – but the draw means it’s not going to be easy for him.” “He is quite an athletic horse and it doesn’t take a lot to keep him up to the mark, so he is quite forward.” “It will be interesting to see how it all works out, how they run it up front could dictate when we can work into it.” “But if he gets a bit of luck, they will know he’s there, for sure.” Williamson has gone with impressive recent trialist Party Up Denario as the biggest winning threat among his drives outside of his stable runners. The three-year-old zipped to a slick workout win at Winton last week. Though like Passchendaele, the filly has a tricky draw to contend with in barrier 8. “I was driving something else in that trial and she zipped past us quite impressively.” “The draw isn’t ideal but with only the nine in it, that should be a help.” “She looks to have a bit more upside than a few in that field and she looks a great chance.” Also, from the Brett Gray stable and also a good recent workout winner, Our Twinkle looks another key chance for Williamson. Foxing Easton, Sargent Best, Always B Royal and Southside Of Heaven all look each way threats for the reinsman. Clotilde Wainwright looks another good hope for the Williamson barn, though the mare runs into a potential emerging star in Tarragindi. “I was quite pleased with her at the workouts last week.” “Obviously Tarragindi will be very hard to beat but I think she will run a nice race.” Rise Up N Dance is set to start a short-priced favourite on day one of the Southern Surge, as he has done in many of his starts. That’s despite the horse not being seen on the trials track ahead of his return. “He hasn’t had a workout, so I am expecting him to improve with this run.” “He should be pretty competitive, but he is racing horses that have had a lot of racing.” Black Pat is also among the four-strong team Williamson starts on Sunday. View the full article

In high school, we'd call her a multi-sport athlete. A two-time varsity letter earner. Someone, horse or human alike, who has the skills to excel at more than one specialty is a rare commodity indeed and Kilwin (Twirling Candy) proved Saturday that she's as versatile as she is talented in taking the 100th running of the GI Test Stakes at Saratoga. This daughter of Twirling Candy, much like her sire, had plenty of early success on the grass, breaking her maiden at first asking for Rusty Arnold in a 5 1/2 furlong sprint at Ellis Park just over a year ago before capturing the Untapable Stakes next out. She outran her 16-1 odds when thrown into the one-mile deep end behind the classy Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf to finish out the year fifth beaten just 4 1/4 lengths at Del Mar. Kept on the turf and cutting back to sprinting to kick off her 3-year-old campaign, she gave up her first two starts to 'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole) in both the Limestone Stakes at Keeneland in April and the GIII Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill May 10. It was then that her connections made a change, switching their $225,000 Keeneland grad to the dirt to try the seven-furlong Leslie's Lady Stakes June 8. And what a response they got as Kilwin rallied from out the pack to win while posting a new career best 96 Beyer Speed Figure. It was a result that gave them the confidence to ship their filly to Saratoga. The connections of BBN Racing must have had their stomachs in their throats as Kilwin stumbled badly out the gate and quickly plummeted to the back of the field. The 6-1 shot left herself with plenty to do as longshot leader Me and Molly McGee (Vekoma) led a host of pursuers in a staked-up field through the opening quarter in :22.52. Still not even in the picture as the front seven began to corner, Kilwin just came into frame as 3-2 favorite Echo Sound (Echo Town) got first jump on the longshot pacesetter nearing the quarter pole. It was a three-wide calvary charge at the top of the lane as Echo Sound (Echo Town), Beauty Reigns (Into Mischief) and Artisma (Munnings) all hit the stretch together but Kilwin was just winding up. Stuck down inside behind the wall of runners with less than a furlong to run, she angled out under Jose Ortiz to come widest of them all and had to gut out a final few strides to get by 'TDN Rising Star' Ragtime (Union Rags) for the win. “Well, I thought this filly [Kilwin] was out of the race when she stumbled at the gate,” Arnold admitted. “Even Jose [Ortiz] said, 'I kind of picked her up, and she was running well enough, maybe I can get her Grade I-placed and get third because she stumbled so badly.' It wasn't like the way you drew it up, but it went well. I thought she was done. I was watching the other filly [No. 6, Echo Sound] run. I was watching the TV and she [Kilwin] wasn't on the TV. Her spot was off the TV and I didn't even consider that she was still in the race, actually, so it went well. Jose didn't give up on her and he kept riding.” Arnold noted that his filly would target the GII Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6. Ortiz added, “She was moving very well and I thought I had a shot turning for home. Honestly, I was following the right horse and I knew Junior [Alvarado, on Ragtime] was traveling really nicely. I cut the corner and I was following him, then I came out and she gave me that extra kick that I needed inside the eighth-pole.” Pedigree Note: Kilwin is the 12th Grade I winner for Lane's End stallion Twirling Candy who was himself a dual graded stakes winner on the turf before taking the GI Malibu Stakes on dirt in track record-setting style. First dam Spanish Star also continues to boost the broodmare sire portfolio for champion Blame whose daughters have already produced the likes of champion Forte (Violence) and G1SW Switzerland (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) who was announced to be standing at Coolmore Australia earlier this year. From four foals to the races, Spanish Star has produced four winners with Kilwin joining the likes of GSW One Timer (Trappe Shot) and SW/GISP Just Basking (Arrogate). The dam herself, who sold with Just Basking in utero for $275,000 at KEENOV in 2020 after bringing just $1,500 out of the same sale three years prior, is a half to GI Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston (Awesome Again). Her recent offspring include a 2-year-old Essential Quality colt named Mojacar who sold for $500,000 at Keeneland September last year to Belladonna Racing, a yearling filly from the first crop of Flightline and a weanling filly by Cody's Wish. She returned to Twirling Candy for a full-sibling to Kilwin in 2026. KILWIN rallies from last to win the 100th Grade 1 Test presented by @Ticketmaster! She stumbles at the start, then flies late under @jose93_ortiz for trainer Rusty Arnold in a thrilling finish. pic.twitter.com/pk1VMYlobR — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 2, 2025 Saturday, Saratoga TEST S. PRESENTED BY TICKETMASTER-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-2, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.10, ft. 1–KILWIN, 122, f, 3, by Twirling Candy 1st Dam: Spanish Star, by Blame 2nd Dam: La Gran Bailadora, by Afleet Alex 3rd Dam: Affirmed Dancer, by Affirmed 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($225,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $575,000 RNA 2yo '24 KEECHA). O-BBN Racing LLC; B-Gilder-Schwarz Farms LLC (KY); T-George R. Arnold II; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, $1,087,968. *1/2 to Just Basking (Arrogate), SW & GISP, $311,506 and One Timer (Trappe Shot), GSW-USA, SW & GSP-Can, $1,048,113. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Ragtime, 122, f, 3, by Union Rags 1st Dam: Burmilla (GSW, $170,285), by Storm Cat 2nd Dam: Nannerl, by Valid Appeal 3rd Dam: Allouette, by Proud Birdie 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott. $100,000. 3–Beauty Reigns, 122, f, 3, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Ilsa, by Tapit 2nd Dam: Sweet Way, by Giant's Causeway 3rd Dam: Sweet Life, by Kris S. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Tranquility Lake Farms LLC; B-Wygod Equine, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott. $60,000. Margins: NK, 3 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 6.20, 4.40, 10.10. Also Ran: Look Forward, Cash Call, Echo Sound, Artisma, Me and Molly McGee. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Kilwin Aces The 100th Running Of The Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Sandown Lakeside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Sunday, August 3, 2025 First Race 12:20pm AEST Visit Dabble Sunday racing swings to Sandown’s Lakeside circuit with a mixed jumps-and-flat eight-race card. The rail is true and the course is posted Soft 6 under fine skies. The jumps track is also a Soft 6. Race 1 (Crisp Steeple) jumps at 12:20 pm AEST; the closer is set for 4:50 pm. Heavy dew generally makes the inside edge a touch slower early, then the better going often creeps four-wide in the straight, so keep tabs on lanes through the first two. Grand National Hurdle tip: The Cunning Fox The Cunning Fox is chasing an extraordinary seventh win from as many hurdle starts and profiles perfectly for the 4200 m Grand National Hurdle. The reliable grey has already claimed the Galleywood and Australian Hurdles this prep, and while he goes up to 69.5kg, his class edge is undeniable. From gate six Tom Ryan can lob midfield, save ground for 3000m and let the gelding’s sustained turn of foot do the rest once the tempo lifts. Soft ground is a positive (12: 7-0-2 on soft) and his jumping is bulletproof. Affluential and The Mighty Spar look like logical dangers, but The Cunning Fox’s unbeaten hurdle record is hard to oppose. Grand National Hurdle Race 4 – #1 The Cunning Fox (6) 7yo Gelding | T: Patrick & Michelle Payne | J: Tom Ryan (69.5 kg) Best Bet at Sandown: Bring Forth Bring Forth finds an ideal set-up in the 2100m BM64. The NZ-bred gelding was only nailed late over a similar trip at Caulfield and now strips fitter third-up. He maps to park just behind the speed from barrier 3 and gets a key 3 kg claim, bringing him in at a juicy 58 kg on a testing surface. His sectional profile says he can sustain a strong 700m build-up – a proven winning pattern on Lakeside when the rail is true. With natural improvement and perfect map, Bring Forth looks ready to post career win number two. Best Bet Race 6 – #1 Bring Forth (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | J: Luke Cartwright (a3) (58 kg) Next Best at Sandown: Mr Vivaci Mr Vivaci appeals as the progressive miler to side with in a wide BM64. The Chris Waller-trained son of Tivaci resumed with a close second at Cranbourne (1400m, Soft 7) and now rises to 1600m third-up with Jye McNeil engaged — a set-up that should let him settle just worse than midfield and build into clear air on the Lakeside bend. His ratings say there’s more to come this prep, and a Soft 6 is within his comfort zone. From barrier nine he can track the right horse, present at the 300m and outfinish rivals that may be nearing their ceiling. Next Best Race 7 – #8 Mr Vivaci (9) 5yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Jye McNeil (59.5kg) Sunday quaddie tips for Sandown Sandown quadrella selections Sunday, August 3, 2025 2-4-6 1-2-7 1-7-8 3-7 Horse racing tips View the full article

Pin Oak Stud's World Beater (c, 3, Oscar Performance–Dabinett, by Blame), second last out behind Test Score (Lookin At Lucky) in the July 4 GI Belmont Derby, turned the tables on that rival and everyone else to give his young trainer Riley Mott the first graded stakes win of his career in Saratoga's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes Saturday. Breaking widest of all, World Beater bided his time and eventually found cover as 28-1 Juwuelier (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) opened up to lead the field by daylight through :23.92 and :47.67 early fractions as World Beater was easy to spot midpack with his wide blaze. Off the turn, World Beater tipped out as pickup rider Junior Alvarado encouraged him down the lane. The pair split horses gamely, mowed down Juwuelier, and held off Test Score to win by about half a length, getting the 1 3/16 miles in 1:52.82. World Beater, whose Beyer numbers have improved with every career start, broke his maiden May 2 on the Churchill Downs turf at 1 1/8 miles, then came back to win the Audubon Stakes there May 31. He was a $105,000 Keeneland September yearling in 2023. O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-Dr. John A Chandler; T-Riley Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. WORLD BEATER upsets the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at 11-1 with @JuniorandKellyA aboard for @Riley_Mott, who picks up his first graded stakes win! pic.twitter.com/vnNielaqmv — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 2, 2025 The post Oscar Performance’s World Beater Gives Riley Mott First Graded Win in Saratoga Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The presence of homebred Meringue in the Aug. 3 Adirondack Stakes (G3) and yearling colt Alekazam in Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale Aug. 4 shows how far Steve and Denise Smith have come in their breeding and racing operation over a few short years.View the full article

Deterministic successfully cut back to a mile to capture the $750,000 Fourstardave Stakes (G1T) Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Looking to earn a trip to the Breeders' Cup just like his sire did, 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map–Giulio's Jewel, by Speightstown) found his footing down the lane and won the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday afternoon. Last time he was at the Spa, the 4-year-old captured the GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes June 8 using pillar to post tactics. Off as a 9-2 shot here, this time Deterministic tracked just off the pacesetter My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) into the first turn and up the backstretch. The Miguel Clement trainee geared up for action around the far turn and taking aim at his target down the lane began to find his best stride. Passing the leader inside the final furlong, Deterministic cleared and comfortably picked up his ticket to the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. Intellect (Fr) (Intello ({Ger}) was the runner-up. The final running time was 1:33.87. Lifetime Record: 13-7-3-1. Sales History: KEESEP '22 $625,000. O-St. Elias Stable, Langone, Ken, Duncker, C. Steven and Vicarage Stable; B-Hinkle Farms (KY; T-Miguel Clement. DETERMINISTIC delivers again! That's back-to-back Grade 1 wins as he takes the @FanDuel Fourstardave with @KendrickCarmou1 up for @clementstable. pic.twitter.com/qdRVUFUpv6 — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 2, 2025 The post Deterministic Books Ticket To Breeders’ Cup With Fourstardave Win At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — You knew this wouldn't last much longer. Chad Brown's Saratoga barn has too much young talent inside of it. Eventually, the trainer was going to find his way to the winner's circle with one of his juvenile runners. That day was Saturday when Brown's Capital Partner (GB) (Kingman {GB}) unleashed a furious closing kick to win the second race at the Spa, a $100,000 maiden special weight for 2-yeasr-olds. With jockey Flavien Prat doing the steering, Capital Partner flew down the stretch in the 1 1/16-mile race on the Inner Turf Course and won by a half-length as the 9-5 favorite. Brown, who has been the leading trainer at Saratoga seven times, including the last four summers (he shared the title with Linda Rice in 2023), had started six 2-year-olds in $100,000 maiden special weights at Saratoga prior to Saturday. He had two seconds and a third. Then, Capital Partner got him on the board. “We have had some other horses that have really run well,” Brown said of his youngsters. “We have had really good performances that were not quite good enough first time to get there.” For a while, it looked like Capital Partner, owned by Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, might be one of them. The son of Kingman would have no part of that as he and Prat began to roll in upper stretch and then gobbled up the turf with gigantic strides. He passed British Invasion (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the shadow of the wire and got the narrow score in his first career start. Seth Klarman and trainer Chad Brown in the winner's enclosure | Tod Marks “The horse needed a real kick, and he got it,” Klarman said. “Another Kingman! They have been great for us. Chad though the horse was training really well. He needed some experience, and he got it today.” Last year, when Brown won the training title with 45 wins, 10 of them came with his 2-year-olds in 37 starts. According to Equibase, Brown won five of 17 2-year-old starts on grass last year. “We had high expectations for him, but you never know the first time out at Saratoga,” Brown said. “Dirt, turf, long, short–everyone brings their best and there are a lot of great trainers here and well-bred horses.” Brown and bloodstock agent Mike Ryan picked Capital Partner out at the 2024 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. He went for $484,088. Brown said he and Ryan have been attending the sale in England every year. “Mike does a fantastic job of shortlisting the horses and zeroing in on the ones he wants,” Brown said. “Often times, I am in agreement. He is great at what he does, and we have a great partnership.” Before coming to Brown's barn, Capital Partner was at Stonestreet Training Center in Ocala, Fla with farm trainer Ian Brennan. Brown said he went to visit his young horses there in March and got rave reviews from Brennan when it came to Capital Partner. “I have to give a lot of credit to Stonestreet and Ian Brennan,” Brown said. “He was very high on this horse. He rated him at the top of the male turf horses that I had there, and he was right. We have done a lot of work together through the years. He knows how to grade them based on previous horse that have gone through the program. (Capital Partner) got straight As.” Capital Partner was timed in 1:44.55 and paid $5.90, $3.50 and $2.60. Brown said he was not sure what might be next for his first 2-year-old winner of the meet. The post Saratoga Maidens, presented by Keeneland: Brown Breaks Through with Capital Partner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article