Wandering Eyes

Saturday’s Novara Park (1400m) at Rotorua will be the first raceday appearance in six months for talented mare Fabulous Gal. From a 15-start career, Fabulous Gal has recorded two wins, four placings and three fourths. She began her career with Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, for whom she scored a stylish maiden win on her home track in January of 2023 before contesting the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) and the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). She had a change of scenery last year and moved to the Te Aroha stable of Peter Lock. The daughter of Fabulous resumed with a fourth, a third and a seventh, then romped to victory by two and a quarter lengths at Wanganui in late December. In her most recent appearance, some 182 days ago, Fabulous Gal ran third behind Nancy She Wrote in a $65,000 Rating 65 on Wellington Cup Day at Trentham on January 18. “She definitely showed a lot of ability in that last campaign and she’s a mare that’s always been held in quite high regard,” Lock said. “She began her career in Matamata and put in some good performances there, but then she came over to us with a few niggly problems. We worked on sorting those out through her last campaign. “She’s had a good break and has come back bigger and stronger and really matured into a beautiful mare. “Her trial at Waipa (a win over 1150m on July 8) was fantastic. She didn’t carry a lot of weight, with a young apprentice on, but she won with authority and pulled up super well. That told us that we were pretty much on the mark with her.” Fabulous Gal has previously won fresh, but Lock admits to some reservations about Rotorua’s Heavy10 track. “I think very, very testing ground would have to be a massive question mark,” he said. “I wouldn’t be as worried about it if she’d had some runs under her belt already. “I guess everyone’s in the same boat and they all have to get through those conditions. But a few of her opponents have that race fitness and seasoning under their belts, which might be a bit of an advantage for them. “But it’ll be good to get her campaign underway, even though she’s wanting a better track. Safely through this, I think she’s got an exciting preparation ahead of her. She’s well above average.” Lock also gave a positive update on stable star Debit. The five-year-old Darci Brahma mare has won four of her five starts and has the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on August 23 on her radar. “She’s good,” Lock said. “She also trialled up well at Waipa (second over 850m on July 8). She’s coming to hand nicely. “She’s a year older now and had a very good break after her last campaign. She probably did a bit too well during that time off. It took her four trials to get fit last time around, and she’s had two trials so far this time in. “It’s a bit frustrating with the very heavy tracks and trials getting called off, and the synthetic surface doesn’t suit her. But we’re getting there and I think one more trial should have her close to the mark.” View the full article

Last year’s runner-up Spencer will try to turn the tables on Belardo Boy when they line up for a rematch in Saturday’s Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth. The 2024 edition of the Opunake Cup, which was run at Hawera, was Spencer’s first appearance at Group or Listed level. The Derryn gelding took a three-race winning streak into that first big test of his career, and he performed creditably with a second placing behind two-length winner Belardo Boy. Spencer has added another two wins to his burgeoning record since then, including a black-type breakthrough in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa in October. That has brought a rise in the ratings, lifting the five-year-old up to 58.5kg for Saturday’s $120,000 feature while topweight Belardo Boy has 60kg. They meet much closer at the weights this year than 12 months ago, when Belardo Boy carried 59kg and Spencer had 53kg. But despite that, and despite a disappointing last-start ninth in a northern mission at Ellerslie in early June, Spencer’s trainer Erin Hocquard believes the star of her Waverley stable can make his presence felt on Saturday. “I’m not sure how well he handled that big trip to Auckland, and then he didn’t get much of a breather in the run either,” Hocquard said. “So a few things went wrong. It’s just one of those things that can happen sometimes in racing. “I’ve kept him ticking along in between times, but for one reason or another he hasn’t had a run since then. He was meant to go to the trials, but they got cancelled too. So he’s freshened himself up in a way. “But he galloped very well at Hawera on Tuesday and did a similar bit of work at Wanganui a week or two before that, so we’ve managed to get a good amount of work into him. “I think he compares pretty well to what he was like going into the race last year. Hopefully he’ll go alright again. Going so long without a run is a bit of a concern, especially if the track is really heavy, but I think a few of the others will be in a similar boat.” Spencer has drawn the inside gate and will be ridden by Kavish Chowdhoory. “There’s not much we can do from that draw apart from pushing forward,” Hocquard said. “Hopefully we won’t get stuck in the worst part of the track.” Spencer will attempt to deliver a popular local result in the Opunake Cup, racing in the colours of Taranaki owner-breeder Aidan Schumacher. The TAB rates Spencer a $13 sixth favourite. Belles Beau is the $4.20 favourite, just ahead of Joshua Brown at $4.80. They are followed by Belardo Boy ($6), Little Bit Of Love ($7) and Sinbin ($10) View the full article

Thought Process returned from a layoff to capture an allowance race by 5 3/4 lengths after winning two stakes as a 2-year-old.View the full article

A quality cast of four-year-olds will clash in Malaysia’s richest race this weekend, with a significant NZB influence throughout the 16-horse field. Sunday’s Selangor Mile (1600m) is worth RM1m (NZ$395,000) and is marketed as ‘One Race, One Million, One Champion’. Five of the 16 runners in the 2025 Selangor Mile are graduates of the Karaka sale ring, plus New Zealand-bred Shinjuku (NZ) (Tarzino). ANTIPODEAN (NZ) The number-one saddlecloth will be carried by the race’s highest-rated runner and likely favourite Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn). Breeders Grangewilliam Stud offered Antipodean in Book 2 of Karaka 2022, where he failed to meet his $40,000 reserve. He returned to Karaka for the Ready to Run Sale later that year and was bought by Malaysian-based trainer Simon Dunderdale for $23,000. Antipodean’s high-class career has so far produced 10 wins and five placings from only 16 starts. He has banked RM396,900 (NZ$157,015) in prize-money. Antipodean won nine races last year including the 3YO Pacific Cup (1200m), the New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Trophy (1400m), the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) and Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup (1400m). Antipodean was transferred to a different stable at the end of last year, and his 2025 campaign has so far produced a series of placings in the Chinese New Year Prosperity Trophy (1600m), Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) and 4YO Sprint Championship (1200m). He has returned to Dunderdale for the build-up to the Selangor Mile, in which he will be ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro and will jump from gate 11. “With the Selangor Mile coming up, the owner (Yee Kin Kong) probably thinks the horse needs a change of luck,” Dunderdale commented to the Selangor Turf Club this week. “I have been working him for the past month and I am happy with him. I’m happy with the draw too. It means the jockey can place him anywhere in the race.” LUCKY MAGIC (NZ) Lucky Magic (NZ) Vendor: Prima Park The next Karaka graduate in the Selangor Mile field is Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn), whose jockey Shafiq Rusof won more than 50 races in New Zealand between 2017 and 2019 including the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Arrowfield Stud Plate (160m) on Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands). Lucky Magic was offered by Prima Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Ben Kwok bought him for $35,000. He was subsequently re-offered by Prima Park at the Ready to Run Sale and sold to the HY Cheng Racing Stable for $75,000. Lucky Magic has had 12 starts for seven wins, two placings and RM161,182 (NZ$63,745) in stakes. His victories include the Penang Gold Cup (2000m) and Perak Derby (2000m). He is heading into Sunday in some of the best form of his career, having won four of his last five starts. Lucky Magic has drawn well for Sunday’s blockbuster mile, jumping from gate five for trainer, and well-known buyer HY Cheng. PLATINUM GLORY Platnium Glory (NZ) Vendor: Riversely Park Platinum Glory (Showtime) was offered by renowned Ready to Run Sale vendors Riversley Park during the 2022 edition of the world-leading sale of two-year-olds. He was bought by the Macau Jockey Club for $30,000. From just five starts to date, Platinum Glory has recorded three wins, a second and a fourth. Platinum Glory strung together three impressive wins in a row, starting with a four-length romp over 1400 metres at Selangor in February. He won over the same course and distance in March, this time by three and a quarter lengths, then returned from a freshen-up with a neck victory in May. He stepped up to 1600 metres last start on June 15 and finished second. Platinum Glory has drawn awkwardly on Sunday in gate 14 for trainer CW Choi. DON’T FORGET BOSS (NZ) Don’t Forget Boss (NZ) Vendor: Riverrock Farm Don’t Forget Boss (NZ) (Preferment) caught the eye of successful pinhookers Riverrock Farm during Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where he was bought for $30,000 from the draft of Wentwood Grange. He was offered in the Riverrock draft at the Ready to Run Sale and knocked down to trainer David Kok for $75,000. Don’t Forget Boss has had 22 starts for five wins and six placings. He won three times in Singapore and has added another two victories since relocating to Malaysia. His total earnings are the equivalent of more than NZ$100,000. He was rated highly enough during his Singapore career to contest the Singapore Guineas (1600m) and the Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m). Jockey Harmeet Singh Gill will take the mount on Don’t Forget Boss on Sunday, and the pair will jump from the handy draw of gate three for trainer David Kok. RED DRAGONFLY (NZ) Red Dragonfly (NZ) (Rubick) was a $55,000 purchase from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2022 Ready to Run Sale. Red Dragonfly (NZ) Vendor: Riversley Park He has had 17 starts for six wins and a placing. He began his career in Singapore, placing once from eight starts, then moved to Malaysia and made a huge impression with wins in six of his first seven starts. Red Dragonfly has drawn the inside gate on Sunday, and trainer Ooi Chin Chin intends to use that to his advantage. “It means we can go with the pace,” he said. While the NZB Bloodstock team are currently canvassing around the world for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale and Karaka 2026, NZB’s Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone is in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the inaugural running of the Selangor Million-dollar Mile. “On Sunday, we have a big chance to add another NZB graduate to the impressive winning tally this season, so it is timely to visit this significant market.” “To kick off the big weekend for Malaysia, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia, HE Michael Walsh and myself are hosting a dinner at the New Zealand Residency this week with the most influential racing people in the country,” he added. NZB’s Mike Kneebone & Selangor Turf Club Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Richard Cham Hak Lim “Selangor Turf Club have continued to improve and innovate, and the RM 1,000,000 Selangor Mile is another step forward, advancing horse racing here. “Our buying bench for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale is shaping up to be incredibly strong, and no doubt with vendors full support to bolster the catalogue, we will see some incredible results again. “The horses that continue to perform on the racetrack from this sale is unbelievable. Ten Group Ones this season alone is phenomenal, and the results in Malaysia are no different.” “Last year I predicted that we would sell a million dollar two-year-old, this year we might sell more.” The Selangor Mile will be run as Race 9 on Selangor’s bumper 12-race programme on Sunday. The scheduled start time of the Selangor Mile is 4.30pm local time (8.30pm NZT). The 2025 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October. Entries for the Sale are open now and close at 5pm on Friday 1 August. To nominate your rising two-year-olds for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale, visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz. Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand. Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand. View the full article

A quality cast of four-year-olds will clash in Malaysia’s richest race this weekend, with a significant NZB influence throughout the 16-horse field. Sunday’s Selangor Mile (1600m) is worth RM1m (NZ$395,000) and is marketed as ‘One Race, One Million, One Champion’. Five of the 16 runners in the 2025 Selangor Mile are graduates of the Karaka sale ring, plus New Zealand-bred Shinjuku (NZ) (Tarzino). ANTIPODEAN (NZ) The number-one saddlecloth will be carried by the race’s highest-rated runner and likely favourite Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn). Breeders Grangewilliam Stud offered Antipodean in Book 2 of Karaka 2022, where he failed to meet his $40,000 reserve. He returned to Karaka for the Ready to Run Sale later that year and was bought by Malaysian-based trainer Simon Dunderdale for $23,000. Antipodean’s high-class career has so far produced 10 wins and five placings from only 16 starts. He has banked RM396,900 (NZ$157,015) in prize-money. Antipodean won nine races last year including the 3YO Pacific Cup (1200m), the New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Trophy (1400m), the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) and Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup (1400m). Antipodean was transferred to a different stable at the end of last year, and his 2025 campaign has so far produced a series of placings in the Chinese New Year Prosperity Trophy (1600m), Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) and 4YO Sprint Championship (1200m). He has returned to Dunderdale for the build-up to the Selangor Mile, in which he will be ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro and will jump from gate 11. “With the Selangor Mile coming up, the owner (Yee Kin Kong) probably thinks the horse needs a change of luck,” Dunderdale commented to the Selangor Turf Club this week. “I have been working him for the past month and I am happy with him. I’m happy with the draw too. It means the jockey can place him anywhere in the race.” LUCKY MAGIC (NZ) Lucky Magic (NZ) Vendor: Prima Park The next Karaka graduate in the Selangor Mile field is Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn), whose jockey Shafiq Rusof won more than 50 races in New Zealand between 2017 and 2019 including the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Arrowfield Stud Plate (160m) on Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands). Lucky Magic was offered by Prima Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Ben Kwok bought him for $35,000. He was subsequently re-offered by Prima Park at the Ready to Run Sale and sold to the HY Cheng Racing Stable for $75,000. Lucky Magic has had 12 starts for seven wins, two placings and RM161,182 (NZ$63,745) in stakes. His victories include the Penang Gold Cup (2000m) and Perak Derby (2000m). He is heading into Sunday in some of the best form of his career, having won four of his last five starts. Lucky Magic has drawn well for Sunday’s blockbuster mile, jumping from gate five for trainer, and well-known buyer HY Cheng. PLATINUM GLORY Platnium Glory (NZ) Vendor: Riversely Park Platinum Glory (Showtime) was offered by renowned Ready to Run Sale vendors Riversley Park during the 2022 edition of the world-leading sale of two-year-olds. He was bought by the Macau Jockey Club for $30,000. From just five starts to date, Platinum Glory has recorded three wins, a second and a fourth. Platinum Glory strung together three impressive wins in a row, starting with a four-length romp over 1400 metres at Selangor in February. He won over the same course and distance in March, this time by three and a quarter lengths, then returned from a freshen-up with a neck victory in May. He stepped up to 1600 metres last start on June 15 and finished second. Platinum Glory has drawn awkwardly on Sunday in gate 14 for trainer CW Choi. DON’T FORGET BOSS (NZ) Don’t Forget Boss (NZ) Vendor: Riverrock Farm Don’t Forget Boss (NZ) (Preferment) caught the eye of successful pinhookers Riverrock Farm during Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where he was bought for $30,000 from the draft of Wentwood Grange. He was offered in the Riverrock draft at the Ready to Run Sale and knocked down to trainer David Kok for $75,000. Don’t Forget Boss has had 22 starts for five wins and six placings. He won three times in Singapore and has added another two victories since relocating to Malaysia. His total earnings are the equivalent of more than NZ$100,000. He was rated highly enough during his Singapore career to contest the Singapore Guineas (1600m) and the Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m). Jockey Harmeet Singh Gill will take the mount on Don’t Forget Boss on Sunday, and the pair will jump from the handy draw of gate three for trainer David Kok. RED DRAGONFLY (NZ) Red Dragonfly (NZ) (Rubick) was a $55,000 purchase from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2022 Ready to Run Sale. Red Dragonfly (NZ) Vendor: Riversley Park He has had 17 starts for six wins and a placing. He began his career in Singapore, placing once from eight starts, then moved to Malaysia and made a huge impression with wins in six of his first seven starts. Red Dragonfly has drawn the inside gate on Sunday, and trainer Ooi Chin Chin intends to use that to his advantage. “It means we can go with the pace,” he said. While the NZB Bloodstock team are currently canvassing around the world for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale and Karaka 2026, NZB’s Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone is in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the inaugural running of the Selangor Million-dollar Mile. “On Sunday, we have a big chance to add another NZB graduate to the impressive winning tally this season, so it is timely to visit this significant market.” “To kick off the big weekend for Malaysia, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia, HE Michael Walsh and myself are hosting a dinner at the New Zealand Residency this week with the most influential racing people in the country,” he added. NZB’s Mike Kneebone & Selangor Turf Club Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Richard Cham Hak Lim “Selangor Turf Club have continued to improve and innovate, and the RM 1,000,000 Selangor Mile is another step forward, advancing horse racing here. “Our buying bench for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale is shaping up to be incredibly strong, and no doubt with vendors full support to bolster the catalogue, we will see some incredible results again. “The horses that continue to perform on the racetrack from this sale is unbelievable. Ten Group Ones this season alone is phenomenal, and the results in Malaysia are no different.” “Last year I predicted that we would sell a million dollar two-year-old, this year we might sell more.” The Selangor Mile will be run as Race 9 on Selangor’s bumper 12-race programme on Sunday. The scheduled start time of the Selangor Mile is 4.30pm local time (8.30pm NZT). The 2025 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October. Entries for the Sale are open now and close at 5pm on Friday 1 August. To nominate your rising two-year-olds for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale, visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz. Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand. Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand. View the full article

A quality cast of four-year-olds will clash in Malaysia’s richest race this weekend, with a significant NZB influence throughout the 16-horse field. Sunday’s Selangor Mile (1600m) is worth RM1m (NZ$395,000) and is marketed as ‘One Race, One Million, One Champion’. Five of the 16 runners in the 2025 Selangor Mile are graduates of the Karaka sale ring, plus New Zealand-bred Shinjuku (NZ) (Tarzino). ANTIPODEAN (NZ) The number-one saddlecloth will be carried by the race’s highest-rated runner and likely favourite Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn). Breeders Grangewilliam Stud offered Antipodean in Book 2 of Karaka 2022, where he failed to meet his $40,000 reserve. He returned to Karaka for the Ready to Run Sale later that year and was bought by Malaysian-based trainer Simon Dunderdale for $23,000. Antipodean’s high-class career has so far produced 10 wins and five placings from only 16 starts. He has banked RM396,900 (NZ$157,015) in prize-money. Antipodean won nine races last year including the 3YO Pacific Cup (1200m), the New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Trophy (1400m), the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) and Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup (1400m). Antipodean was transferred to a different stable at the end of last year, and his 2025 campaign has so far produced a series of placings in the Chinese New Year Prosperity Trophy (1600m), Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) and 4YO Sprint Championship (1200m). He has returned to Dunderdale for the build-up to the Selangor Mile, in which he will be ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro and will jump from gate 11. “With the Selangor Mile coming up, the owner (Yee Kin Kong) probably thinks the horse needs a change of luck,” Dunderdale commented to the Selangor Turf Club this week. “I have been working him for the past month and I am happy with him. I’m happy with the draw too. It means the jockey can place him anywhere in the race.” LUCKY MAGIC (NZ) Lucky Magic (NZ) Vendor: Prima Park The next Karaka graduate in the Selangor Mile field is Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn), whose jockey Shafiq Rusof won more than 50 races in New Zealand between 2017 and 2019 including the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Arrowfield Stud Plate (160m) on Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands). Lucky Magic was offered by Prima Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Ben Kwok bought him for $35,000. He was subsequently re-offered by Prima Park at the Ready to Run Sale and sold to the HY Cheng Racing Stable for $75,000. Lucky Magic has had 12 starts for seven wins, two placings and RM161,182 (NZ$63,745) in stakes. His victories include the Penang Gold Cup (2000m) and Perak Derby (2000m). He is heading into Sunday in some of the best form of his career, having won four of his last five starts. Lucky Magic has drawn well for Sunday’s blockbuster mile, jumping from gate five for trainer, and well-known buyer HY Cheng. PLATINUM GLORY Platnium Glory (NZ) Vendor: Riversely Park Platinum Glory (Showtime) was offered by renowned Ready to Run Sale vendors Riversley Park during the 2022 edition of the world-leading sale of two-year-olds. He was bought by the Macau Jockey Club for $30,000. From just five starts to date, Platinum Glory has recorded three wins, a second and a fourth. Platinum Glory strung together three impressive wins in a row, starting with a four-length romp over 1400 metres at Selangor in February. He won over the same course and distance in March, this time by three and a quarter lengths, then returned from a freshen-up with a neck victory in May. He stepped up to 1600 metres last start on June 15 and finished second. Platinum Glory has drawn awkwardly on Sunday in gate 14 for trainer CW Choi. DON’T FORGET BOSS (NZ) Don’t Forget Boss (NZ) Vendor: Riverrock Farm Don’t Forget Boss (NZ) (Preferment) caught the eye of successful pinhookers Riverrock Farm during Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where he was bought for $30,000 from the draft of Wentwood Grange. He was offered in the Riverrock draft at the Ready to Run Sale and knocked down to trainer David Kok for $75,000. Don’t Forget Boss has had 22 starts for five wins and six placings. He won three times in Singapore and has added another two victories since relocating to Malaysia. His total earnings are the equivalent of more than NZ$100,000. He was rated highly enough during his Singapore career to contest the Singapore Guineas (1600m) and the Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m). Jockey Harmeet Singh Gill will take the mount on Don’t Forget Boss on Sunday, and the pair will jump from the handy draw of gate three for trainer David Kok. RED DRAGONFLY (NZ) Red Dragonfly (NZ) (Rubick) was a $55,000 purchase from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2022 Ready to Run Sale. Red Dragonfly (NZ) Vendor: Riversley Park He has had 17 starts for six wins and a placing. He began his career in Singapore, placing once from eight starts, then moved to Malaysia and made a huge impression with wins in six of his first seven starts. Red Dragonfly has drawn the inside gate on Sunday, and trainer Ooi Chin Chin intends to use that to his advantage. “It means we can go with the pace,” he said. While the NZB Bloodstock team are currently canvassing around the world for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale and Karaka 2026, NZB’s Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone is in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the inaugural running of the Selangor Million-dollar Mile. “On Sunday, we have a big chance to add another NZB graduate to the impressive winning tally this season, so it is timely to visit this significant market.” “To kick off the big weekend for Malaysia, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia, HE Michael Walsh and myself are hosting a dinner at the New Zealand Residency this week with the most influential racing people in the country,” he added. NZB’s Mike Kneebone & Selangor Turf Club Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Richard Cham Hak Lim “Selangor Turf Club have continued to improve and innovate, and the RM 1,000,000 Selangor Mile is another step forward, advancing horse racing here. “Our buying bench for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale is shaping up to be incredibly strong, and no doubt with vendors full support to bolster the catalogue, we will see some incredible results again. “The horses that continue to perform on the racetrack from this sale is unbelievable. Ten Group Ones this season alone is phenomenal, and the results in Malaysia are no different.” “Last year I predicted that we would sell a million dollar two-year-old, this year we might sell more.” The Selangor Mile will be run as Race 9 on Selangor’s bumper 12-race programme on Sunday. The scheduled start time of the Selangor Mile is 4.30pm local time (8.30pm NZT). The 2025 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October. Entries for the Sale are open now and close at 5pm on Friday 1 August. To nominate your rising two-year-olds for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale, visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz. Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand. Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand. View the full article

A quality cast of four-year-olds will clash in Malaysia’s richest race this weekend, with a significant NZB influence throughout the 16-horse field. Sunday’s Selangor Mile (1600m) is worth RM1m (NZ$395,000) and is marketed as ‘One Race, One Million, One Champion’. Five of the 16 runners in the 2025 Selangor Mile are graduates of the Karaka sale ring, plus New Zealand-bred Shinjuku (NZ) (Tarzino). ANTIPODEAN (NZ) The number-one saddlecloth will be carried by the race’s highest-rated runner and likely favourite Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn). Breeders Grangewilliam Stud offered Antipodean in Book 2 of Karaka 2022, where he failed to meet his $40,000 reserve. He returned to Karaka for the Ready to Run Sale later that year and was bought by Malaysian-based trainer Simon Dunderdale for $23,000. Antipodean’s high-class career has so far produced 10 wins and five placings from only 16 starts. He has banked RM396,900 (NZ$157,015) in prize-money. Antipodean won nine races last year including the 3YO Pacific Cup (1200m), the New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Trophy (1400m), the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) and Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup (1400m). Antipodean was transferred to a different stable at the end of last year, and his 2025 campaign has so far produced a series of placings in the Chinese New Year Prosperity Trophy (1600m), Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) and 4YO Sprint Championship (1200m). He has returned to Dunderdale for the build-up to the Selangor Mile, in which he will be ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro and will jump from gate 11. “With the Selangor Mile coming up, the owner (Yee Kin Kong) probably thinks the horse needs a change of luck,” Dunderdale commented to the Selangor Turf Club this week. “I have been working him for the past month and I am happy with him. I’m happy with the draw too. It means the jockey can place him anywhere in the race.” LUCKY MAGIC (NZ) Lucky Magic (NZ) Vendor: Prima Park The next Karaka graduate in the Selangor Mile field is Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn), whose jockey Shafiq Rusof won more than 50 races in New Zealand between 2017 and 2019 including the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Arrowfield Stud Plate (160m) on Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands). Lucky Magic was offered by Prima Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Ben Kwok bought him for $35,000. He was subsequently re-offered by Prima Park at the Ready to Run Sale and sold to the HY Cheng Racing Stable for $75,000. Lucky Magic has had 12 starts for seven wins, two placings and RM161,182 (NZ$63,745) in stakes. His victories include the Penang Gold Cup (2000m) and Perak Derby (2000m). He is heading into Sunday in some of the best form of his career, having won four of his last five starts. Lucky Magic has drawn well for Sunday’s blockbuster mile, jumping from gate five for trainer, and well-known buyer HY Cheng. PLATINUM GLORY Platnium Glory (NZ) Vendor: Riversely Park Platinum Glory (Showtime) was offered by renowned Ready to Run Sale vendors Riversley Park during the 2022 edition of the world-leading sale of two-year-olds. He was bought by the Macau Jockey Club for $30,000. From just five starts to date, Platinum Glory has recorded three wins, a second and a fourth. Platinum Glory strung together three impressive wins in a row, starting with a four-length romp over 1400 metres at Selangor in February. He won over the same course and distance in March, this time by three and a quarter lengths, then returned from a freshen-up with a neck victory in May. He stepped up to 1600 metres last start on June 15 and finished second. Platinum Glory has drawn awkwardly on Sunday in gate 14 for trainer CW Choi. DON’T FORGET BOSS (NZ) Don’t Forget Boss (NZ) Vendor: Riverrock Farm Don’t Forget Boss (NZ) (Preferment) caught the eye of successful pinhookers Riverrock Farm during Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where he was bought for $30,000 from the draft of Wentwood Grange. He was offered in the Riverrock draft at the Ready to Run Sale and knocked down to trainer David Kok for $75,000. Don’t Forget Boss has had 22 starts for five wins and six placings. He won three times in Singapore and has added another two victories since relocating to Malaysia. His total earnings are the equivalent of more than NZ$100,000. He was rated highly enough during his Singapore career to contest the Singapore Guineas (1600m) and the Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m). Jockey Harmeet Singh Gill will take the mount on Don’t Forget Boss on Sunday, and the pair will jump from the handy draw of gate three for trainer David Kok. RED DRAGONFLY (NZ) Red Dragonfly (NZ) (Rubick) was a $55,000 purchase from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2022 Ready to Run Sale. Red Dragonfly (NZ) Vendor: Riversley Park He has had 17 starts for six wins and a placing. He began his career in Singapore, placing once from eight starts, then moved to Malaysia and made a huge impression with wins in six of his first seven starts. Red Dragonfly has drawn the inside gate on Sunday, and trainer Ooi Chin Chin intends to use that to his advantage. “It means we can go with the pace,” he said. While the NZB Bloodstock team are currently canvassing around the world for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale and Karaka 2026, NZB’s Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone is in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the inaugural running of the Selangor Million-dollar Mile. “On Sunday, we have a big chance to add another NZB graduate to the impressive winning tally this season, so it is timely to visit this significant market.” “To kick off the big weekend for Malaysia, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia, HE Michael Walsh and myself are hosting a dinner at the New Zealand Residency this week with the most influential racing people in the country,” he added. NZB’s Mike Kneebone & Selangor Turf Club Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Richard Cham Hak Lim “Selangor Turf Club have continued to improve and innovate, and the RM 1,000,000 Selangor Mile is another step forward, advancing horse racing here. “Our buying bench for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale is shaping up to be incredibly strong, and no doubt with vendors full support to bolster the catalogue, we will see some incredible results again. “The horses that continue to perform on the racetrack from this sale is unbelievable. Ten Group Ones this season alone is phenomenal, and the results in Malaysia are no different.” “Last year I predicted that we would sell a million dollar two-year-old, this year we might sell more.” The Selangor Mile will be run as Race 9 on Selangor’s bumper 12-race programme on Sunday. The scheduled start time of the Selangor Mile is 4.30pm local time (8.30pm NZT). The 2025 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October. Entries for the Sale are open now and close at 5pm on Friday 1 August. To nominate your rising two-year-olds for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale, visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz. Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand. Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand. View the full article

Sunday’s Glenmoa Farms Ltd River Plate Trophy (1200m) at Oamaru is an unexpected detour for Epee Beel in her build-up to the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 2. Epee Beel is a proven big-race performer over the course and distance of the Winter Cup, having taken out the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) last year and the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) in March. Trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman had no hesitation in pointing her towards the $110,000 feature on the opening day of this year’s Grand National Carnival. However, their Winter Cup preparations hit a snag when Epee Beel missed a run at Ashburton on July 3. Torrential rain forced the meeting to be abandoned over visibility and safety concerns. That means Epee Beel will instead line up in Sunday’s feature sprint at Oamaru. It will be the four-year-old mare’s first start since the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) some 85 days earlier. “She’s coming up really well,” Matthew Pitman said. “She’s heading towards the Winter Cup. She’s already won a couple of stakes races over 1600m at Riccarton, so that’s an obvious target. “We had a little hiccup with the abandonment at Ashburton a couple of weeks ago. That was Plan A, so we’ve had to go to Plan B and go to Oamaru. The 1200m is certainly going to be short of her best on Sunday, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see her run a bold race fresh. It should set her up nicely for the Winter Cup in a couple of weeks.” Epee Beel is one of three runners in Sunday’s $40,000 open sprint for the Pitman stable, who are also represented by Express Coup and Makabar. Express Coup has won seven times over 1200m, including stylish wins at Timaru and Ashburton in two of her last three starts. She was a placegetter in her only previous visit to Oamaru. “She’s in really good form at the moment and seems to be a happy horse,” Pitman said. “As a three-year-old, she wasn’t far off some of the best of her age group down here in the South Island. We had a few setbacks in her next campaign, but those are behind her now. She’s very fit and she’s about as well as we’ve ever had her. Hopefully she can continue her good form this weekend.” Makabar is a 10-race winner, with eight of those successes coming on heavy tracks. “He often comes into form around this time of year,” Pitman said. “He’s done a good job at the Grand National Carnival, including winning the sprints on both Saturdays a couple of years ago. He’s also been a previous winner at Oamaru. “His last-start run might not look very good on paper, but he had to come from last and we thought he was strong through the line. He seems to be progressing well towards another National Carnival.” El Vaquero boasts standout credentials for Sunday’s One Smart Coffee 2YO (1200m). His last two starts have produced close seconds behind Te Akau Racing’s smart filly Cool Aza Rene, beaten by a head and a half-neck. “Those were a couple of good efforts, and the field doesn’t appear to be as strong this weekend,” Pitman said. “He’s drawn one, which is always a big plus for a two-year-old. “Only three horses in the field have exposed form, and he’s already beaten the other two, so on paper he looks very hard to beat.” Pitman also gave a push for Proserve, who steps up in distance for Sunday’s Mariner Suites Oamaru (2200m). “He was a good second over 1600m at Ashburton last time, where he was just a bit one-paced and outsprinted late over a distance that’s short of his best,” Pitman said. “Going up to 2200m will be ideal. He’s probably one of our better chances on the day.” View the full article

Icon Racing, the syndicate group created by MLB all-star and World Series Champion Jayson Werth, earned its first win July 17 with its first starter as Sacred Goddess won a New York-bred maiden race at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

The Illinois Racing Board on July 17 approved a request from Hawthorne Race Course to reduce its remaining 2025 schedule from three days per week to two.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The first six days of Saratoga have been hot. As in really hot. Blast furnace type hot. Trainers have felt it. Jockeys. Patrons. New York Racing Association executives. Parking attendants. Everybody. And, of course, the horses. But the stars of the show have been watched very carefully by those entrusted to take care of them. Some horses, like people, can't stand the heat. “Some horses can be extreme sweaters,” trainer Gary Contessa said on yet another steamy Saratoga morning on Thursday outside his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. “Horses can struggle in this weather. Some come back and just don't cool out. You get them back in the stall and they start sweating again.” Other horses, Contessa said, don't pay the heat no mind. Trainer Dale Romans said the key is to cool horses down as quick as possible. He also keeps an eye on the thermometer when making his entries. Tap Into This gets hosed | Sarah Andrew “If I have a horse that I knew could not handle it, it would definitely make me think about scratching,” he said at his barn on the Saratoga backstretch. “The weather has not been the best; the worst thing it does is affect my golf game!” The key is keeping the Thoroughbreds hydrated and that is a major priority in weather like this. Just about every horse has a fan in his or her stall. All precautions are taken. According to Christina Speciale, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Albany, the average temperature for the first six days of the meet has been 88 degrees. Heat indexes have made that feel much warmer. She said that, so far during July, the average temperature has been nearly five degrees higher than usual. But there is good news. Friday promises to be much more comfortable. “When you wake up, you will be like, 'wow, someone flipped the switch,” she said. “The humidity will be gone. We are going to get a little break.” But not for long. Speciale said that by the end of next few weeks, we'll be back in the steam bath as temperatures are predicted to be in the high 80s to low 90s. Mullikin Arrives, Set For A.G. Vanderbilt There were options for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. In the end, he decided that the best one would be for Mullikin (Violence) to run in Saturday's GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga. The 5-year-old, owned by WinStar Farm LLC, could have headed to California for the GI Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar, which, like the Vanderbilt, is run at six furlongs. A third option was to have Mullikin sit them both out and defend his title in the GI Forego Stakes at seven furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 23, Travers Day. Mullikin goes to school at the Spa | Sarah Andrew Mullikin arrived in Saratoga on Wednesday from Brisset's Kentucky base at Keeneland and galloped a mile on the Oklahoma Training Track Thursday morning. The decision to go in the Vanderbilt was simple enough for the trainer. He has another horse, the 4-year-old 'TDN Rising Star' World Record (Gun Runner), who he is pointing to the Crosby. “Everything was up in the air until last week,” Brisset said outside his Oklahoma barn Thursday morning. “One of them was going to go to the Crosby. [Mullikin] is doing really good and he only has two races this year. I want to run him at six furlongs here and get a little more speed into him. I have the luxury of having two good horses in the sprint division and I want to keep them separated.” Mullikin finished second in his last start, the GIII True North Stakes at Saratoga June 7–1 1/4 lengths behind Book 'em Danno (Bucchero)–who is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Vanderbilt. Mullikin is the 7-2 second choice. In his other start this year, he was fifth–beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Mindframe (Constitution) in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes. Both those races came over sloppy tracks. For his career, Mullikin has five wins, five seconds and a third in 13 starts. “He is a dream horse to train,” Brisset said. “Easy go be around and does all we ask and always shows up. We know he loves the track here.” Jose Ortiz will ride Mullikin for the first time. Flavien Prat who has ridden Mullikin in six of his last eight starts is at Monmouth on Saturday. It Seems Like It's Always Game Day For Englehart After saddling Sacred Goddess (Kantharos) to win Thursday's sixth race, trainer Jeremiah Englehart's day was just starting. He hopped in the car and headed for the nearby town of Cambridge, about 24 miles away, to watch one of his boys play in a youth baseball tournament. The Englehart squad in the winner's circle | Sarah Andrew Then, back in the car for a nine-mile trip to the town of Greenwich in the hopes of catching the last three of four innings of another son's game. All summer long, it's rinse and repeat for Englehart. When the kids have games, you can be darn sure dad is going to be there whenever he can. Here's the lineup: daughter Raelyn, the oldest, will be a sophomore at Schuylerville High School this fall. She plays lacrosse, basketball and soccer. Twins Anna (lacrosse, basketball and soccer) and CJ (football, basketball and baseball) are heading into the eighth grade. Eli, on his way to seventh grade, is busy with football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse. Finally, fourth grader Jax, has the same sports resume as brother Eli. Papa Englehart and wife Robin do their best to get to all of the summer games. Last weekend, Jeremiah scooted up to Vermont to watch a lacrosse tournament. “My parents always did a real good job of making sure they were there for us,” Englehart said Thursday. “I set up my barn where I can try to get away when I can. Being there and being present is extremely important because we are raising future generations, and I want them to know it is going to be important for them to be there for their kids.” Next weekend will be a tough call, Englehart will be saddling Mo Plex (Complexity) in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes. The kids have games to play. Here's the rub. The kids would rather be at the track watching the big horse. “My kids really enjoy the horse racing, especially this time of year because of Saratoga,” Englehart said. “They want to be out every day. But it won't be up to them until they are 18. As they get older, and get more competitive, it will be a lot more of like, 'let's go play!” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: The Heat Has Been On, But Relief Is On The Way appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse reflects on winning his 4,000th career race, which he accomplished with It's Witchcraft taking the 11th race at Colonial Downs July 17.View the full article

Total racing wagering turnover for the season was HK$138.85 billion, representing a 3.0% increase on the 2023/24 season. View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will aim for his fifth win in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks at Woodbine Racetrack July 20, where he brings a five-horse contingent to the 1 1/8 mile race over the all-weather track. View the full article

Wesley Ward will send out the talented Kehoe Beach to tango with the boys for the first time in nine starts in the July 20 CA$175,000 Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine.View the full article

Kentucky-based trainer Garry Wayne Simms, Sr. passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 after a 15-year bout with cancer. He was 73. A conditioner and the owner of Garry Simms Racing, his obituary on the Ratterman Funeral Home site described him as having had a passion for developing Thoroughbreds. According to Equibase, Simms amassed 248 wins in 1,665 starts, which resulted in over $6-million in earnings. The post says he was one of only three trainers to win the Debutante Stakes and Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs in the same year. He achieved that feat in 2012 with Blueeyesintherein (Magna Graduate) and Circle Unbroken (Broken Vow). Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. ET Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Ratterman & Sons Funeral Home, 10600 Taylorsville Road, Jeffersontown, KY 40299. The burial will take place at the Grove Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville, KY. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 from Noon to 8 p.m. ET and on Thursday from 10 am. to 1 p.m. ET. The post Funeral Services Scheduled For Trainer Garry Simms Who Battled Cancer For 15 Years appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Friday, Newbury, post time: 16:10, THE IRE-INCENTIVE – PAYS TO BUY IRISH ROSE BOWL S.-Listed, £45,000, 2yo, Open, 6f 0y Field: Amorim (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Do Bronxs (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), First Legion (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Kolkata Knight (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Nuevo Slovo (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}), Rock On Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Wise Approach (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Wise Approach sets the standard on his Norfolk Stakes second, with this trip sure to suit better than the five at Ascot. Amorim broke his maiden by six lengths at Windsor last month and comes here with confidence high, which may not be the case with the Coventry and Norfolk also-rans Rock On Thunder and First Legion. [Tom Frary]. Friday, Hamilton, Britain, post time: 19:10, BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF GLASGOW STAKES-Listed, £55,000, 3yo, 11f 15y Field: Arabian Force (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Great David (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}), Nahraan (GB) (Make Believe {GB}), Rogue Millions (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Square D'Alboni (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Tiernan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Secret Of Love (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). TDN Verdict: Two-for-two entering this St Leger pointer, Nahraan will carry the burden of favouritism given his profile and connections but he'll have to be as progressive as he promises to be with some proven black-type performers in here. Secret Of Love was runner-up in the Cheshire Oaks, backtracked in the Prix de Royaumont but retains potential as one of those prized Kirsten Rausing homebreds. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:40, JUDDMONTE IRISH OAKS-G1, €290,000, 3yo, f, 12fT Field: Bay Colony (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Butterfly Wings (Justify), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Merrily (No Nay Never), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Subsonic (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Wemighttakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}). TDN Verdict: Few will bet against Minnie Hauk completing the Oaks double in this impoverished field which doesn't deserve its Classic status. Only the well-beaten Oaks fourth Wemightakedlongway and a relative miracle stands in the way of Ballydoyle's Epsom heroine and it will be one of the biggest upsets of recent times if she can't get the job done. This race says more about the state of modern European racing than it does about the protagonists, three of which come from the long odds-on favourite's own yard and have been found wanting of late. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Curragh, post time: 14:35, GAIN RAILWAY STAKES-G2, €72,000, 2yo, 6fT Field: Learntodiscover (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Power Blue (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Puerto Rico (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never). TDN Verdict: This is slightly more of a poser than the farcical feature, despite having just four runners led by Ballydoyle's Queen Mary winner True Love. More macho than most colts, she looks to dominate the Marble Hill runner-up and Coventry fifth Power Blue and last month's course-and-distance maiden one-two Learntodiscover and Puerto Rico, with the latter representing Rosegreen's boys' brigade. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:05, BARBERSTOWN CASTLE SAPPHIRE STAKES-G2, €72,000, 3yo/up, 5fT Field: Erosandpsyche (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}), Rumstar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), The Highway Rat (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), Mgheera (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Powerful Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Grande Marques (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus]), Songhai (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}). TDN Verdict: At last, a Group race not in name only. Mgheera won the Temple in the manner of an improved mare and has unfinished business, having been forced out of the King's Stand with a spread plate. She is taken on again by compatriot Rumstar, who was below-par when sixth at Haydock in between taking the Palace House and Sandown Sprint but the three-year-olds could hold the key. Arizona Blaze gave his all in customary style when second in the Commonwealth Cup and will be a tough nut to crack, while the Midsummer Sprint winner Powerful Nation promises to make his mark in this category. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Curragh, post time: 16:15, MICHAEL JOHN KENNEDY CURRAGH CUP-G2, €72,000, 3yo/up, 14f 16yT Field: Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Harbour Wind (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Leinster (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), London City (Justify), Queenstown (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Uxmal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Comic Book (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Drawn To Dream (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), Shackleton (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). TDN Verdict: A welcome drop in class for Al Riffa, despite this race mysteriously holding the same status as the Hardwicke in which he was a gallant second last month. While the trip is an unknown, the quality gap isn't with Ballydoyle's perpetually-disappointing Shackleton the most likely danger if he can pull his finger out with weight-for-age to help. It is interesting that the Niarchos Family have held on to a six-year-old gelding, but then Uxmal is a Royal Ascot winner whose form figures read well on the face of it. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Newbury, post time: 14:57, THE HALLGARTEN AND NOVUM WINES HACKWOOD STAKES-G3, £85,000, 3yo/up, 6fT Field: Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence), Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Ferrous (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Jarraaf (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), King Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), King's Gamble (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Russet Gold (GB) (Al Kazeem {GB}), Fair Angellica (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Rage Of Bamby (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Ain't Nobody (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}). TDN Verdict: Time for the real Kind Of Blue to stand up, please. Unrecognisable this term, the sprinter seemingly destined to reach even greater heights at four is threatening to head into the abyss and unfortunately this is a category that takes no prisoners. Last year's winner Elite Status is another going the wrong way and this really could be a straightforward task for the King's Stand regular Regional, who is too hardened to give any quarter. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Rose Bowl Stakes Sees Return Of Wise Approach, As Irish Oaks Field Is Drawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nysos, one of the top horses in the nation, is expected to run in the July 26 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. View the full article

In the midst of a Saratoga rainstorm, STARS AND STRIPES (c, 3, Not This Time–Pearl River, by Quality Road) faced winners for the first time and came away with another authoritative win for Bill Mott. The 4-5 favorite, who broke his maiden by 10 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct over a sloppy track June 15, took his time getting into the race until it almost seemed too late as pacesetter Rocketeer (Curlin) had a several-length cushion at the quarter pole. But, once called upon, Stars and Stripes responded with enthusiasm, quickly overhauling the leader and clearing off at will under Jose Lezcano. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1. O-Frassetto Stables LLC; B-Pam & Martin Wygod; T-Bill Mott. Sales History: $100,000 ylg '23 KEESEP. The post Stars and Stripes Just As Good Against Winners At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse celebrated his 4,000th winner July 17 when It's Witchcraft prevailed in a three-way finish to win the eleventh race at Colonial Downs. View the full article

Ballydoyle's Minnie Hauk (Frankel) looks to have a relatively straightforward task of completing a Classic double in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh, with three of her six rivals from her own stable. Set to start long odds-on, the Oaks heroine will be joined by Butterfly Wings (Justify), Island Hopping (Wootton Bassett) and Merrily (No Nay Never). Joseph O'Brien re-opposes again with Cayton Park Stud's Oaks fourth Wemightakedlongway (Australia), with the other runners being Craig Bernick's Bay Colony (New Bay) from the Fozzy Stack stable and Newtown Anner Stud Farm's maiden Subsonic (Lope De Vega) from the Johnny Murtagh stable. The post Minnie Hauk Faces Six In The Irish Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dual Hall-of-Fame Trainer Mark Casse picked up the 4,000th win in his illustrious career when D. J. Stable's It's Witchcraft (Tapit) prevailed by a nose in a three-horse photo finish in the 11th race at Colonial Downs July 17. Assistant Nick Tomlinson posed in the winner's circle with the sign congratulating Casse on the milestone score. Casse was at his Saratoga base where he had numerous chances to pick up the win there. “That was a close one. It's unbelievable to me to be honest. 4,000 that's a lot of wins and I joked that that means I lost a lot (of races), too,” Casse said from Saratoga. “For someone like me, who has spent my entire life–this is all I've ever done, this is the cherry on top. I told my wife I'd retire if hit 5,000–she doesn't believe me, so I said maybe 6,000.” The score was also number 2,600 for owner D.J. Stable, who have teamed with Casse on runners like champion 2-year-old filly Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief), GSW Webslinger (Constitution) and MGSW Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro). 11th-Colonial Downs, $73,200, Alw, 7-17, (NW2L), 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:37.48, fm, nose. IT'S WITCHCRAFT (f, 3, Tapit–Lady's Island {MGSW, $665,575}, by Greatness) became Mark Casse's 4,000th career winner Thursday in dramatic fashion at Colonial Downs. This seven-figure daughter of Tapit, who earned a black-type placing as a juvenile in the Our Dear Peggy Stakes at Gulfstream over he same distance, was coming off back to back stakes runs and was last fourth going 1/16th longer in the Martha Washington at Gulfstream June 7. Cutting back to the mile Thursday and racing without blinkers, It's Witchcraft split the field around the clubhouse turn before making headway towards the front to challenge for the lead past the half-mile pole in :49.90. Caught between runners in a thrilling stretch duel, It's Witchcraft just prevailed by the narrowest of margins over Ambaya (Ghostzapper) to give Casse the win. The first foal out of MGSW Lady's Island who herself RNA'd at KEENOV in 2023 for $575,000, It's Witchcraft has three full-brothers all still to race behind her. Lady's Island went back to Tapit for another full-sibling in 2026. Sales History: $1,100,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SP, 9-2-2-1, $124,833. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD. (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. Trainer @markecasse gets his 4,000th career win! It's Witchcraft gets the headbob in R11 at @colonialdowns! @jockeygallardo was aboard. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/OgauB1l3Sq — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 17, 2025 The post It’s Witchcraft Gives Trainer Mark Casse His 4,000th Career Win In Dramatic Fashion At Colonial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A dual graded stakes winner and millionaire, Scylla will try for her first win in more than a year when she battles Jody's Pride, R Disaster, and other female sprinters in the $200,000 Honorable Miss Stakes (G2) July 20 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Darby Dan Farm's first-year stallion Blazing Sevens, a Classic-placed son of Good Magic and impressive winner of the Champagne Stakes (G1) at 2, will be shuttling to Chile for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.View the full article

Five weeks ago, Miller Racing's Dazzling Move (Not This Time) and Alpha Delta's Raging Sea (Curlin), sent off at 12-1 and even-money respectively, met in a sloppy renewal of GI Ogden Phipps and it was the less fancied filly that finished best of the two, placing 4 3/4 lengths behind winner Dorth Vader (Girvin). Meanwhile, this season's GI La Troienne winner Raging Sea found herself 1 3/4 lengths behind the runner up that day, but has shown a definite affinity for the upstate New York oval, having won three of seven lifetime starts there while hitting the board in an additional two attempts. The pair return to Saratoga to face off in Friday's GII Shuvee Stakes. “That was terrific,” trainer Chad Brown of the La Troienne effort. “She came off a layoff and ran super. She's in great form right now and training really well.” Of her last out defeat, he explained, “Last time, on that wet track, it was speed favoring, and it didn't really set up for her. If there's some speed in the race and, hopefully, we catch a drier track, that would be great.” Brown, who also won this event with Paid Up Subscriber (2017) and Royal Flag (2021), will also send out the lightly-raced Prides Crossing (Quality Road), who makes her stakes debut for owner OXO Equine. Benefitting from the lack of pace in the Ogden Phipps, Dazzling Move won Gulfstream's 1 1/16-mile Royal Delta in her first start for Saffie Joseph Jr. before finishing fifth in the seven-panel GI Madison at Keeneland. The 4-year-old Ontario bred finished runner-up in the Allaire duPont Distaff going nine furlongs at Pimlico prior to her Ogden Phipps effort. Elliot Campbell and Gary Capuano's Malibu Beauty (Buffum) enters the fray off a pair of recent victories, including the June 14 Obeah Stakes at Delaware. “She's come back this year really running well. She's had two really good races,” said Capuano, who sends out his first Spa starter since Grundlefoot ran sixth in the 2002 Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap. “It looks like she's on top of her game and we thought we'd give it a shot and see if we can get some graded black type on her.” The post Raging Sea, Dazzling Moon Re-Engage in Friday’s Shuvee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article