Wandering Eyes

Rodeo Creek Racing's GIII Gazelle-winner Ballerina d'Oro worked a half-mile on Saturday over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the GI Kentucky Oaks, NYRA said in Saturday press release. Trained by Chad Brown, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro breezed under jockey Dylan Davis and was caught by NYRA clockers covering the distance in 48 seconds flat outside of 'TDN Rising Star' & GISP Hill Road (Quality Road), who the conditioner said is pointing to the GIII Peter Pan Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meet May 10. Hill Road was forced to miss the GII Wood Memorial Stakes in early April after he spiked a fever on the Thursday before the race. “She [Ballerina d'Oro] worked super and is cooling out good, so she'll ship over to Churchill and leave tomorrow,” said Brown, who added he was also pleased with the way Hill Road galloped out. “She's been pretty uncomplicated in her races, so I'm not sure she what happened coming off the turn in the last race.” Ballerina d'Oro was a hard-fought nose winner over Early On (Union Rags) in the Gazelle Apr. 5, but she drifted out considerably down the lane. Brown said the talented grey reminds him of champion 3-year-old colt & 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who has been working at Payson Park throughout April and is expected to arrive at Belmont Park soon to train towards the GI Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs June 28. “I'm not going to react to that. It was such an isolated thing for me,” Brown said of the Gazelle stretch run. “She has enough steering equipment on her between her bit and a small blinker. I'm not going to overreact here. “She cruised around there with Hill Road and Dylan gave us good feedback and said, 'Chad, I don't know where that came from, because she was straight for me today.' She might hold her head in a little bit, but she's a lot like Sierra the way she trains. He [Sierra Leone] might cock his head a little bit, but in the mornings, we have never seen him on one line or had a rider complain about him–same as her. “I think with more going on in a full field of the Oaks, she's not going to come off the turn six-wide with no one in either five lanes of her,” Brown said. “That's kind of the way she was [in the Gazelle], and she's going to have horses near wherever she is in this race.” The post Ballerina d’Oro Works For Oaks Start, Brown Also Offers Plans For Hill Road, Sierra Leone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-Gulfstream, $44,770, Msw, 4-19, 3yo, 1m, 1:38.45, ft, 9 3/4 lengths. VIBE (c, 3, Into Mischief–Nonna Mia {GISP, $127,150}, by Empire Maker) ran a disappointing and money-burning fourth on career debut over six furlongs of this main track Mar. 15. With the addition of blinkers here, the colt stretched out to the one-turn mile and put it all together en route to an easy victory at Gulfstream on Saturday afternoon. Away without incident, the 3-2 favorite took up a stalking position behind pacesetting Mahovlich (McKinzie). The leader posted an opening quarter-mile in :23.92 and began to pour on the pressure through a very quick next internal sectional that was timed in :22.69. Sent into the lead by Emisael Jaramillo with fully three-eighths of a mile to run, the $3-million topper out of the 2023 Keeneland September Sale opened up a sizeable advantage passing the quarter pole, felt the crop in upper stretch, failed to swap his leads until deep inside the final furlong, but was too far in front to make any difference. The winning margin over 6-1 Radical Rhetoric (Always Dreaming) was 9 3/4 lengths. His dam's last registered foal of record, the winner is a half-brother to current sire Outwork (Uncle Mo), GISW, $701,800 and Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor), MSP, $299,044. Nonna Mia is also responsible for Nonna Bella (Stay Thirty), who herself produced Champion 2-year-old colt Fierceness (City of Light) and his full-brother GSW Mentee. Sales History: $3,000,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $29,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV . O-Repole Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Stables, Woodford Racing, Lane's End Racing and Patrick K. McGee; B-Repole Stable, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Vibe and @JaramilloJockey win by a daylight in race 6, first leg of the Rainbow Pick6. #GulfstreamPark #RoyalPalmMeet pic.twitter.com/X4oTjRC5YM — Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) April 19, 2025 The post Into Mischief Keeneland September Topper Vibe Romps at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1/ST TV has curated the workouts by contenders for the 151st Kentucky Derby in one location on their website under the heading “Triple Crown Trail,” the platform said via a release on Saturday. With the Kentucky Derby just 14 days out, fans, horsemen and horseplayers alike will have free access to not just the penultimate workouts of those looking for a spot in the starting gate, but previous drills for the contenders as well. The “Triple Crown Trail” portal is part of the thousands of workouts that the 1/ST TV teams around the country capture, log and upload each year. Click here to sign-up and access the library. The post 1/ST TV: ‘Triple Crown Trail’ Portal Has Array Of Derby Works appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was impressed with Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Sovereignty's first breeze over the Churchill Downs surface April 19 ahead of the Kentucky Derby (G1).View the full article

With two weeks remaining until the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1), seven of the race hopefuls currently stabled at Churchill Downs appeared on the work tab April 19.View the full article

Trainer Ian Wilkes discusses Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Burnham Square after he breezed four furlongs in :49 2/5 at Churchill Downs April 19.View the full article

Frankie Dettori's switch to riding in the U.S. and the rivalry of owners Mike Repole and John Stewart are just two of the storylines viewers can expect to see in "Race For The Crown," the latest sports documentary to air on Netflix. View the full article

Trainer Brendan Walsh discusses East Avenue's reemergence as a Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful following his runner-up effort in the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.View the full article

The $350,000 Bewitch Stakes (G3T), won three times by multiple grade 1 winner War Like Goddess in 2021-23, marks the final graded stakes feature of the 15-day Keeneland spring meet.View the full article

Part of a favored Klaravich Stable entry favored at 70 cents on the dollar, STRATEGIC FOCUS (c, 3, Gun Runner–Curlin's Mistress, by Curlin) turned in a highly polished debut effort, outfinishing a pair of older rivals to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' for his boom sire. Drawn widest in a field of eight, the $500,000 Keeneland September purchase broke fractionally to his right and was taken in hand by Dylan Davis to race in the second half of the field behind a good pace. Kept out in about the six path passing the half-mile marker, the clean chestnut was asked to go a bit on the turn and tracked into it nicely three wide, following the move of his more-experienced entrymate Duration (Mitole). Steered out to the grandstand side in upper stretch, Strategic Focus sustained his run to hit the front five off the inside at the entrance to the final furlong and edged clear late to best the well-backed 4-year-old Hop Sing (Curlin), a big-figure second at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27 where he was more or less on even terms at the wire with Duration, who was officially fourth. The winner is a full-brother to Klaravich's Headline Numbers, who earned the first stakes victory of her career in the Top Flight Stakes at Aqueduct on Apr. 12. The winner's dam is a full-sister to Curlin's Approval, the dam of the Brown-conditioned recent GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes third Praetor (Into Mischief). Sales history: $500,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Klaravich Stable; B-Alter's Racing Stable Inc (KY); T-Chad Brown The post Gun Runner Firster Bests Elders Stylishly, Becomes a ‘Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Under what was described as “perfect conditions” by analyst Kaitlin Free, a busy Saturday morning at Churchill Downs ensued as seven GI Kentucky Derby contenders logged published workouts for the “Run for the Roses” and a pair of GI Kentucky Oaks contenders also drilled for their connections, according to a press release from the track on Saturday morning. The tab included top Derby point getter Burnham Square (Liam's Map), who went a half-mile in :49.40 under pilot Brian Hernandez Jr. Trained by Ian Wilkes, the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes hero clipped through fractions of :24.40 and :37 and galloped out five furlongs in a composed 1:02. Burnham Square breezes 4F in :49.40 for trainer Ian Wilkes. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/1zuKINjzLb — Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 19, 2025 “It was just a maintenance work this morning since he just ran 11 days ago,” Wilkes said. “If I don't do something with him, he'll get too upset. I know I needed to run him more because he was making too many mistakes, and I thought I needed to educate him more so he doesn't make those mistakes in the Derby.” Putting in their own licks were Publisher (American Pharoah) and Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) who worked in company for their trainer Steve Asmussen. They completed their penultimate work for the Derby with a five-furlong move in :59.60. The former, with exercise rider Carlos Rosas aboard, and the latter, with jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle, began their move with an eighth-mile clocking of :12.80. Publisher briefly took advantage over his stablemate, working a quarter-mile in :24.20 and three-eighths in :36. Tiztastic's splits were :24.40 and :36.40. The colts galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.80. Steve Asmussen's #KyDerby contenders, Tiztastic & Publisher work 5F in company in :59.60 pic.twitter.com/1Nqjf5zlAS — Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 19, 2025 Also making moves were: 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) (four furlongs, :47.60); Final Gambit (Not This Time) (five furlongs, 1:00.80); Flying Mohawk (Karakontie {Jpn}) (five furlongs, 1:00); and Sovereignty (Into Mischief) (five furlongs, 1:00.60). Kentucky Derby contender Sovereignty works 5F in 1:00.60 for trainer Bill Mott pic.twitter.com/jNWzLLDWFX — Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 19, 2025 At Turfway Park, GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby runner-up Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) worked a half-mile in :50 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02. Also of note, likely Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism breezed a half-mile in 47 flat alongside stablemate Feel the Magic (Good Magic) at Santa Anita on Saturday morning. The Michael McCarthy trainee is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday. As for the Oaks hopefuls, trainer Whit Beckman's duo of Simply Joking (Practical Joke) and Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro) lit up the Saturday work tab–cruising five furlongs in :58.40. That time was the fastest of 56 works at the distance. Simply Joking, with Florent Geroux aboard, and Drexel Hill, with Ben Curits up, posted a sharp opening quarter-mile of :22.60 while continuing three furlongs in :34. The pair galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.60, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols. Kentucky Oaks contenders, Drexel Hill and Simply Joking work 5F in company in :58.40 for trainer Whit Beckman pic.twitter.com/U8wHoX9CrS — Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 19, 2025 Easter Sunday is expected to be a quiet morning at Churchill Downs. The next group of Derby contenders is scheduled to breeze Tuesday, led by Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) and Coal Battle (Coal Front). The post Burnham Square And Simply Joking Drill On Busy Churchill Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Never in the history of the breeze-up game have the top horses been worth more. That was evident at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale last week when the record for the most expensive horse ever sold at the sale was broken not once but twice and top agents Richard Brown and Billy Jackson-Stops admitted to finding it hard to land a blow. Malcolm Bastard's 1.75 million gns record-breaking Havana Grey colt played a pretty significant role in the turnover reaching an all-time high of nearly 20 million gns. On top of that, the clearance rate rested at an extremely healthy 83%, suggesting there was a real depth to the market. Another encouraging sign for vendors going forward. However, Con Marnane, who sold the fifth most expensive horse in the sale–a 650,000gns Havana Grey colt to Godolphin–says there are still gaps in the market, pointing to the fact that he brought home two expensively-bought Too Darn Hot colts from the sale. “Hats off to Tattersalls,” Marnane said, “it was a remarkable sale–the crowds that were there and the money that was around the place was phenomenal. We enjoyed a fantastic result with the Havana Grey colt but we also took two Too Darn Hots home with us, which I was shocked about. But they are mile/mile-and-a-quarter horses who didn't do a time and, unfortunately, that's the way the thing is gone. We'll just have to race them now and, if they show something on the track, they'd sell like hot cakes to Australia.” Few agents, if any, can boast the roll of honour that Blandford Bloodstock's Brown has in recent years and, despite buying on behalf of a country, he could only come away with two horses–colts by Starman and Starspangledbanner for a combined 590,000gns–from the Craven. Reflecting on the trade, Brown said, “It must have been the strongest breeze-up sale ever. The top was very strong but, for me, it also felt as though there was a lot more depth to the market than normal. People say that there can be a knock-on effect to the top end of the market being strong. I don't necessarily agree with that because you are only talking about two or three very select lots that obviously made big money. I actually felt there was a lot of depth in that 50,000-200,000 range, which is so important.” He added, “Olly Tait [Wathnan Racing Manager] has been very clear that we set a value on these horses and stick to that value. We didn't value horses as highly as other operations did so we didn't buy very much last week. If that continues to be the case at Doncaster, Arqana and beyond, so be it. It may well be the case that we don't buy many breeze-up horses this year if they keep exceeding the valuations that we put on them.” Con Marnane | Tattersalls Jackson-Stops said he found filling orders at the Craven to be “tricky”. He spent 390,000gns on three horses but admitted to being surprised by the strength of Amo Racing–who spent 3.16 million gns on seven lots, ending the sale as the leading buyer–, who played a pivotal role in the sale exceeding all expectations. He said, “It was definitely tricky. But it always is. When you are spending between 150,000-250,000, you always end up on the 400,000 and 500,000 horses and you're just hoping that it might fall into your bracket. I didn't think the Craven would be as strong as it was. I thought buyers like Amo Racing, for example, would not be as active given they had filled their boots at the yearling sales but clearly they wanted to continue. So it was difficult. But we have managed to buy nice horses out of Doncaster, France and Tattersalls Ireland, so there is no panic. There are enough sales so patience is key.” With all of this money floating about and leading buyers openly admitting to struggling to fill orders, a case could be made that there has never been a better time to be a breeze-up handler. Not quite. Of the 133 pinhooks that went through the ring, 80 made a profit and 53 fell flat on their face. That means that 60% of the yearlings that were purchased for the sole purpose of going breezing made a profit. Another promising statistic, it must be said, but lest we forget that the cost of production has never been higher and the Craven is very much an elite sale. For many handlers, when they have a horse that can jump through the hoops, it needs to go on and make a premium to pay for the others. A case in point being Marnane's performance last week in netting a cool 650,000gns for the Havana Grey but bringing home two horses that stood him six figures. Rest assured there were plenty of others in that boat and the handler has put forward a quirky suggestion that might help prop up the middle market in the years to come. Marnane said, “I think that something should be done to help the sales houses, the consignors and the purchasers. A bonus scheme could work well and I've floated the idea before. Say for example if you took 2% of the turnover from the breeze-ups sales last year, there would be a million worth of bonuses. If you had, say, 100 bonuses to the value of 10,000 per bonus for every breeze-up horse that went on to win a race, it could be a huge help. How that money was collected would need to be decided upon by the sales companies, the vendors and the buyers but it could be something that would help the middle market going forward. The prize-money in Britain and Ireland is a disgrace and there's no doubt that it's hurting the middle to lower end of the market so we need to do something.” Billy Jackson-Stops | Tattersalls Goffs chief Henry Beeby was far from dismissive of such an idea and, speaking ahead of his breeze-up sale next week, revealed that the sales house has gone to great lengths to attract buyers from all over the world–particularly the Middle East–to help prop up the middle to lower tiers. Regarding the top end of the market, Brown, who purchased last year's Queen Mary heroine Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) along with many other top-notchers from the sale, warned that Wathnan's principals would not be changing. If people thought the ace agent was sitting on his hands at the Craven in anticipation for Doncaster, they may think again. Brown says he will only be shopping if the price is right. “It's very simple,” he explained. “We value the horses. Olly and I sit down, he then goes to the powers that be in Qatar for approval, and they give us approval or they don't. That's it. The values are set. For me, there were a lot of horses there [at the Craven] that went a long way beyond our valuations. Like I said, it may well be that we don't buy many breeze-up horses this year if the market continues like that. We've set out to be very disciplined and I think that will stand to us in the long run.” He added, “We'll see what's up there [at Doncaster]. But how hopeful am I? Not very given the marketplace. There will be other opportunities that will present itself if the market is very strong but we will go up there and work the sale hard and, if there are some nice horses up there, I am sure we will try. But we may only be trying. We don't feel we have to go and buy a load of breeze-up horses. We're not under pressure. We have the horses-in-training market, we have our own two-year-olds coming through from the yearling market and then we buy off the track as well. So we're not under pressure to go and buy, say, 10 breeze-up horses. We just deal with each sale, each horse and each opportunity that presents itself.” The post Market Reflections: Record-Breaking Trade At Tattersalls Points To More Of The Same At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-Keeneland, $110,000, Msw, 4-19, 3yo, 7f, 1:28.47, ft, 7 1/4 lengths. CRUDO (c, 3, Justify–Blossomed, by Deputy Minister) was looking to atone for a debut fourth at odds-on at Gulfstream Feb. 8 in which he had some trouble at the break but was nevertheless there to win the race in upper stretch before weakening late. Favored this time at 44-100, the $350,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase was fastest of the sextet into stride and quickly opened up on his rivals, requiring just :24.02 to negotiate the first couple of furlongs with token pressure to his outside. Lobbing them along ears pricked into the turn, Crudo was saved for a finish and responded when asked by John Velazquez, widening at will to take it by 7 1/4 lengths. Crudo is the full-brother to the 5-year-old mare Awesome Result, MSW-Jpn, $1,108,666, perfect in her eight career starts and who went over the $1-million mark in career earnings in the Listed Queen Sho at Funabashi this past February. That was her first start since being scratched from a potentially mouth-watering clash with eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 2. Crudo is also a half-brother to Bodacious Babe (Mineshaft), GSP, $154,259, the dam of recent Heavenly Cause Stakes heroine Royal Spa (Violence); and to Saayedd (Malibu Moon), SW-UAE, $136,825; and Sippican Harbor (Orb), GISW, $262,650. Sales history: 350,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $520,000 RNA Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $70,148. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-James Ventura & B Flay Thoroughbreds; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher. Check out CRUDO ($2.88)! Wow!@ljlmvel was on board the three-year-old by @CoolmoreAmerica's Justify in the 2nd at @KeenelandRacing. @PletcherRacing trains the colt for James Ventura and @bflay. Action right here https://t.co/XjcuFHFoEq pic.twitter.com/qjYEQFYwDL — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 19, 2025 The post Justify’s Well-Related Crudo Airs At Second Asking at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday, Toulouse, France, post time: 16:07, PRIX AYMERI DE MAULEON – FONDS EUROPEAN DE L'ELEVAGE-Listed, €55,000, 3yo, 8fT Field: Tipinso (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Instant Fragile (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Eggleston (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Charengo (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}), Merano (Swi) (Vanishing Cupid {Swi}), Rue Roy (Fr) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Eponine (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Medusa Merger (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), Stupor Mundi (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Given the time of year, there is still scope for this to be a Classic trial if the right type steps up and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulcihes entry Eponine could be just that after two wins from two starts at Pau. Out of a half to the 2017 winner of that Classic, Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), the Cotton House Bloodstock homebred meets last year's Listed Criterium du Languedoc winner Tipinso, who was not disgraced under a penalty on his seasonal bow here last month. Sunday, Toulouse, France, post time: 16:42, PRIX CARAVELLE – HARAS DES GRANGES – FONDS EUROPEAN DE L'ELEVAGE-Listed, €55,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT Field: Zakharova (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Ginalyah (Ire) (Chachnak {Fr}), Rabbit's Foot (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Pinatique (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Porte Molitor (Fr) (Taj Mahal {Ire}), Three Pearls (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), Feve (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Soccer Sister (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Another unbeaten and unexposed type shows up here in Pinatique, a G1 Prix de Diane entry who hails from the distinguished family of Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). While she needs to up her game on her last-out win at Bordeaux-le-Bouscat in March, with her genetics and connections it is hard to say how far she can go at this stage. The debut course-and-distance winner Rabbit's Foot is interesting, being by the sprinter Golden Horde but endowed with stamina from the dam who has already produced last year's G2 Prix d'Harcourt scorer and G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes runner-up Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Eponine Tests Classic Future In Prix Aymeri de Mauleon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars SOLID SHALAA - R3 (1) Went close on his return from a long layoff and can go one better here Jay Rooney BUNDLE AWARD - R6 (7) Comes off a solid run in the Derby and drops back to C&D of an impressive win Trackwork Spy BOTTOMUPTOGETHER - R7 (4) Trials indicate he should relish first start on dirt Phillip Woo TRIUMPHANT MORE - R9 (2) Ran into a smart one last time out and can go one better here Shannon (Vincent Wong) SO AWESOME - R1 (12) Kept on well enough for fourth last start and go close from inside gate Racing Post Online SING DRAGON - R7 (6) Drawn better this time round and looks to have a good chance today Tom Wood BUNDLE AWARD - R6 (7) Returns after an admirable seventh in the Derby, looks to get in nicely for thisView the full article

Consistent sayer Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines) continued a run of consistent form when he took full advantage of a rails hugging ride by apprentice Donovan Cooper to take out the feature event at Riverton on Saturday, the Kennedy Building Riverton Cup (2170m) Cooper only secured the mount on the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained six-year-old after regular pilot Corey Campbell broke his foot late in the week, but produced an absolute gem as he never went around a horse throughout the race to secure victory The winner of the Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) four starts back, the son of Ghibellines was rock hard fit for his assignment on a testing Heavy 8 surface that had favoured horses staying closer to the inside rail throughout the day. Allowed to settle in behind pacemakers Taimate Diva (NZ) (Telperion) and Complicate (NZ) (Complacent), Cooper bided his time on his mount before starting his closing push with 300m to run. Mayor Of Norwood dashed through and quickly put a winning break on his rivals as he ran out a comfortable four length winner at the finish. Brian Anderton was at home watching all the action in the comfort of his living room and was chuffed with the performance of his charge. “He can be a tricky horse to ride and a lot of jockeys have got back on him, but young Donovan got him away nicely and had him the perfect spot all the way,” Anderton said. “He had him nice and handy, stayed hard on the rail and the horse found a tremendous turn of foot just when he needed it. “It was a ten out of ten ride and I’m thrilled for Donovan and for the owner of the horse, Janice Smith, as she is a wonderful person and took over the horses with the very untimely death of her husband Pat. “I rang her when we knew Corey (Campbell) couldn’t take the mount and she just said go ahead and put Donovan on and run the horse if you think you should. “He (Mayor Of Norwood) hasn’t had a lot of luck lately but he definitely made amends today. “He is not really a heavy track horse so we might have a look at going to Brisbane with him if the travel works out, but we won’t be doing that without speaking with Mrs Smith and getting her approval first.” Raced by the estate of his breeder, the late Patrick Smith, Mayor Of Norwood is out of the useful race mare Gallant Babe and is the younger brother of his stakes placed stablemate Capo Dell Impero (NZ) (Ghibellines). He has now won six of his 30 starts and $218,750 in prizemoney. View the full article

Versatile Kiwi-bred galloper Bankers Choice has provided himself with a shot at one of the biggest prizes on the Victorian spring racing calendar with victory in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). The seven-year-old son of Mongolian Khan provided trainer Glen Thompson with his first solo victory since the shock passing of his co-trainer Mike Moroney when he won his last start at Caulfield. Bankers Choice has often looked a capable stayer and Saturday’s victory was not only his second straight success over 2400m but the victory also makes him ballot exempt for the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) later this year. Regular rider Daniel Stackhouse was all out to hold off a strong late challenge from the Ciaron Maher-trained Strawberry Rock who lunged late to get within a nose of Bankers Choice at the winning post. Stable representative Anthony Feroce was all smiles as he provided a glowing report on the change to the horse who had gone through a form slump during the spring. “It’s just amazing as last year the plan was to get him into the Caulfield Cup after he ran second in the Sandown Classic (Gr.2, 2400m) but he ran poorly during the spring,” Feroce said. “He went out to Jake Noonan’s partner Mariah’s place and she freshened him up nicely, so a big thank you to her. “Daniel gets on really well with him and when he jumped on him at Moonee Valley he decided to go forward on him, which worked out well and ever since he has been a different horse”. “It worked out perfectly today as we got into the place we wanted (third) early on, although I thought he was tugging a little bit and he hit the wall. Thank God that post came up when it did”. “We may look at Warrnambool (Cup, 2300m) next or we might just put him away until the spring. He is the sort of horse that seems to like continual racing so we will look at that when we are making any decisions.” Stackhouse was also rapt with the victory after the pre-race plan went exactly as he had hoped. “A big thanks to Glen Thompson as he has done an amazing job with this horse,” he said. “The plan worked out perfectly, near the speed which was just fine and he travelled so well”. “I nursed him into it at the 600m with plenty of horse underneath me and he was just too tough”. “He is jumping out of the gates so well now and is a very happy horse.” Bred and raced by South Waikato farming couple Ross and Corrine Kearney under their Okaharau Station banner, Bankers Choice won five of his ten starts for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh before a majority interest was sold to clients of the Moroney stable in a private transaction. Out of the Conatus mare Signorina, Bankers Choice is a full-brother to the highly talented three-year-old Checkmate, a Listed winner and third-place getter in last month’s NZ$3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). With nine wins and eight placings from 45 starts, Bankers Choice has been a great money spinner for connections, amassing A$1,475,502 in prize money. View the full article

Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar has stamped himself as one of the most exciting sprinters in Australia with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained five-year-old was given a masterful ride by Ethan Brown, tracking Broadsiding midfield on the fence throughout before patiently waiting for the gaps to appear. When the son of Per Incanto found clear air, the acceleration was instant as he ran out a ready winner from Joliestar and Sunshine In Paris. Jimmysstar has now won nine of his 18 starts with a further five placings and commenced the campaign with a stunning win in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m). He was subsequently third on an off track at The Valley in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) and fourth after blundering at the start in the Gr.1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m). “He is such a ripper,” a delighted Ciaron Maher said. “This prep, he has come out this time with the Oakleigh Plate (Gr.1, 1100m) and his next two runs have been absolutely outstanding. He has run in four Group Ones and to claim two of them is pretty special. “He’s a cool horse, Jimmy with a great ownership group and he’s got a pretty cool jockey as well. I’m just thrilled. This has been a real come-out preparation for Jimmy”. “Credit to Ozzie (Kheir, part-owner) and his team, with Matt Becker finding these horses. They’re very good at it”. “A couple of states, it doesn’t matter, he performs and I take a lot of pride in that.” The winner of two of his three starts in New Zealand for Hastings trainer Guy Lowry, a majority share in Jimmysstar was sold to clients of Maher following a Rating 65 win at Hawke’s Bay, and the chestnut has now gone on to amass A$2,139,272 in prizemoney. Further lucrative targets loom, with the A$20 million The Everest (1200m) an obvious target in the spring and Maher drawing comparisons with recently retired stablemate Bella Nipotina, who won the lucrative contest. “I was thinking about The Everest after the Oakleigh Plate,” Maher said. “The other day, he ran home a quicker time in the TJ Smith than he did in the Oakleigh Plate, and his Oakleigh Plate was blistering”. “He’s just a very good horse and I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt in The Everest.” Jimmysstar was bred by Wairarapa couple Pete and Chrissy Algie in partnership with Masterton’s Little Avondale Stud. Stud proprietors Sam and Catriona Williams along with the Algies remain in the ownership of the star galloper. The chestnut gelding is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding stallion Per Incanto out of Anniesstar. The Zed mare won five races including the Listed Feilding Gold Cup (2100m), while her full-brother Jacksstar was a seven-time winner up to Group Two level and also placed in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) and her half-brother Bourbonaire was runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). Anniesstar is the dam of three named foals, all of them have been winners, including Charms Star, winner of the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m), and she was also runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Queensland Oaks (2200m) as a three-year-old. View the full article

Saturday’s Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie capped a rapid and popular rise to stardom for Waverley visitor Doctor Askar (NZ) (Derryn). The time-honoured $150,000 feature was the fifth win in a row for the Derryn gelding, who has now earned $271,145 from a 15-start, six-win career. Doctor Askar is trained by his owner-breeder Joanne Moss, who named him after a Waikato Hospital doctor who she credits with saving her son’s life. The equine Doctor Askar took nine starts to win his first race, eventually leaving maiden ranks with a narrow victory over 1400m at New Plymouth on December 27. He ran third in his next start at Trentham on January 11, and the four-year-old has never looked back since then. His next four races produced four wins in succession. He took out a special conditions maiden at Trentham on January 18, followed by Rating 75 successes at Waverley on February 28 and Trentham on March 22. Moss raised the bar with a first black-type assignment in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) on March 29, and Doctor Askar rose to the challenge and scored another narrow win. Saturday’s Easter was by far his toughest test. It was his first time at Group Three level, first time at Ellerslie, first time right-handed and first time racing over 1600m. But Doctor Askar took all of those new challenges in his stride and came out on top again. “That’s pretty impressive, I wasn’t expecting that,” Moss said. “He’s a homebred horse that’s really done us proud. A lot of people are following him and backing him now, so it’s been great. “I always wanted to come to Auckland and win the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m), but that’s not run here at Ellerslie any more. But I’ll take an Easter!” Moss said the human Dr Askar has been following his namesake’s progress with interest. “He’s very happy and says it’s funny hearing his name being called out by the commentators,” Moss said. “He’ll be watching again today.” Another major player in the Doctor Askar story has been jockey Joe Doyle, who has guided the horse to five wins and a placing from six rides. Gate 14 in a 16-horse field presented another challenge on Saturday, but Doyle drove Doctor Askar forward to sit just behind the front-runner Electron (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) by the time the field reached the turn out of the back straight. The pressure was on all the way around the track, but Electron and Doctor Askar were both still full of running as they turned for home. Doctor Askar slowly but surely got the better of Electron down the straight, but she was not the only rival he had to worry about. Talented three-year-old Tardelli launched a big run down the outside of the track and quickly drew up alongside the leading pair. Doctor Askar saw him coming and lifted again, holding on to win by a neck. Electron was another nose away in third. “It’s been a fantastic training performance by Jo with this horse,” Doyle said. “I don’t think you’d find a more popular winner in the country today. There’s such a great story behind the horse and they’ve been rewarded again. It’s fantastic. “I can’t wait until next year with this horse. He still has a touch of greenness and newness, so he’s only going to improve. “I said before the race that with the long run up to the first turn, we’d be able to roll forward from our wide gate. I was hoping they wouldn’t be going mad in front, but the pace was certainly strong, so fair play to the horse. “He was probably running on fumes near the end, but it’s a credit to his toughness and resilience that he had his head out at the right time. “He’s such a fun horse. He’s a great horse for the public to follow, with that story behind him and his fantastic will to win.” Doctor Askar’s six wins have come by margins of a short neck, half a length, a long head, a length and a quarter, a head and a neck. View the full article

What Stawell Cup Day 2025 Where Stawell Racecourse – Black Range Rd, Stawell VIC 3380 When Sunday, April 20, 2025 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble Country Cup racing heads in Victoria heads to Stawell on Sunday afternoon, where the $70,000 Stawell Cup (2000m) headlines proceedings. Showers are forecast later in the day, meaning it is likely the Good 4 track rating will hold for most of the card, before likely deteriorating late in the day. The rail will be in its true position, with Stawell Cup Day 2025 set to commence at 1pm AEST. Stawell Cup Tip: Fortune Outside of a poor showing in the Yarra Valley Cup two runs back, the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Fortune has been racing competitively, albeit without winning. The son of De Treville was beaten a half-length at Caulfield last time outwhen overhauled in the shadows of the winning post. Will Price will look to find cover midfield from the wide barrier, and with the right run in transit, Fortune should have no issue in overhauling his rivals in the 2025 Stawell Cup. Stawell Cup Race 7 – #9 Fortune (14) 5yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Will Price (54kg) Best Bet at Stawell: Gin Baba Gin Baba is a frustrating punting conveyance, winning once in her last six starts, but finishing second in all five remaining events. The four-year-old mare simply does not know how to run a poor race and looks to be the runner with most upside in the Stawell finale. From barrier three, Declan Bates will have the Invincible Spirit filly stalking the speed throughout, and barring any bad luck, Gin Baba should be too good this time around. Best Bet Race 8 – #9 Gin Baba (3) 4yo Mare | T: Archie Alexander | J: Declan Bates (56kg) Next Best at Stawell: Sweltering Sweltering is another who loves to finish second, having done so in four of her previous five starts, but she will never get a better opportunity to break her maiden than on Sunday. The Too Darn Hot filly missed by the barest of margins at Terang in a driving finish over 1850m, and despite stepping back to the 1600m, she just looks to good for her rivals on paper. John Allen will look to slot in midfield with cover, and when asked to quicken, Sweltering should be justifying her short quote with horse racing bookmakers. Next Best Race 3 – #12 Sweltering (9) 3yo Filly | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: John Allen (57kg) Sunday quaddie tips for Stawell Stawell quadrella selections Sunday, April 20, 2025 2-4-8-9 1-3-5-8-10 5-8-9-15 9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Blair Orange, the country’s leading driver for the past seven years, will again wear the silver fern at this November’s World Driving Championship (WDC) in New Zealand. To read the release click here View the full article

Mazu winning the 2025 Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes. (Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au) The Joseph Pride-trained pair of Mazu ($4.40) and Coal Crusher ($9.50) have fought out the finish in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with the former getting the upper hand in the concluding stages to secure his ninth career win. The son of Maurice appeared set to peak fourth-up into the campaign after tackling the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) last time out, where the six-year-old was overhauled by General Salute. Mazu was getting a big swing in the weights against some key rivals, including the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Ostraka () who looked to dictate throughout under Jason Collett. Coal Crusher sat to his outside the entire journey and looked to be travelling well throughout, while Mazu and Givemethebeatboys () were poised to strike settling behind the leading pair. Jamie Melham was quick to put the race to bed as she loomed to the front at the furlong pole, and although the stable companion was in the fight, Mazu got the better of Coal Crusher in the shadows of the post. Click here for all Randwick replays. Joe Pride was on track and couldn’t have been happier with the performance as he spoke post-race. “It was a funny run race in the end,” said Pride. “He was coming up underneath them. Ostraka didn’t seem to want to cross and that kept Coal Crusher in an awkward position. He ran bravely as well. It was a good run and Dragonstone had things against him coming from back in the field. “Jamie (Melham) seems to have a real affinity with this horse and we’ll see if we can get her on for something in Queensland. “There isn’t so much a plan (in Brisbane) but he’s a weight-for-age winner, he’s a Doomben 10,000 winner. The sprinters probably aren’t at that elite level this year so we’ll probably freshen him up and give him a couple of targets in Brisbane.” Jamie Melham picked up her first win of the carnival as she spoke to media post-race. “I love this horse,” said Melham. “He’s a horse that you can’t tell what to do, you’ve got to ask him. It is up to him if he wants to produce his best on the day and everything was perfect in the run for him, I thought, because he likes being covered up and having that last crack at them. “If he gets to the front too far (soon) sometimes he overthinks it. It was perfect for him and you have to ask him nicely. If he wants to produce, he’ll produce. “Today he decided to bring his best.” Mazu is currently a $15 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 17. Horse racing news View the full article

Ethan Brown salutes after winning the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes on Jimmysstar. (Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au) The Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar ($6) has come with a withering burst to claim the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, giving the progressive five-year-old his second Group 1 victory of the campaign. The son of Per Incanto had been sensational this preparation since claiming the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up, tested in weight-for-age company against Briasa ($3.80) in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) on Day 1 of The Championships. He was the flashing light on that occasion, finishing in fourth place, with the step-up to 1400m seemingly ideal for the maturing gelding. Ethan Brown lobbed into the ideal stalking position mid-field with cover, while Briasa was forced to sit to the outside of Belclare () in the early stages as the pair ensured a genuine tempo. Broadsiding () was heavily backed with horse racing bookmakers prior to the jump and looked to get the run of the race under James McDonald from barrier three, while Joliestar ($10) was ridden cold by Zac Lloyd to get the last crack at their respective rivals. Briasa gave a good kick at the furlongpole;, however, it was only a matter of time before Jimmysstar took over, with Ethan Brown managing to get clear running in the concluding stages, while Joliestar loomed to his outside. He was able to hold off the Chris Waller-trained mare in the end, with Jimmysstar picking up a much-deserved victory in the 1.5 million feature to round out the Group 1 action in Sydney for the autumn. Click here for all Randwick replays. Ciaron Maher was on track to break down the win post-race. “He is such a ripper,” said Maher. “This prep, he has come out this time with the Oakleigh Plate and his next two runs have been absolutely outstanding. Four runs at group one level. Browny as well. That was a very cool ride. “He’s a cool horse, Jimmy. Great ownership group and he’s got a pretty cool jockey as well. Just thrilled. This has been a real come out preparation for Jimmy. “A couple of states, it doesn’t matter. He performs and I take a lot of pride in that. “To pull off two group ones with this horse; they get the raps then the raps come off them. The owners have been so patient. “I was thinking about The Everest after the Oakleigh Plate, the other day, he ran home a quicker time in the TJ than he did in the Oakleigh Plate, and his Oakleigh Plate was blistering. “He’s just a very good horse and I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt in The Everest. “He’s a horse that, if they can run home in that ridiculous time, normally they can’t do it at both ends and he’s just a very good horse and I’m sure he’ll be better again next prep.” Ethan Brown then spoke post-race. “He needed a cool ride today,” said Brown. “Sometimes it doesn’t always go our way being a backmarker. We were able to get in front of Antino. That was one box ticked and then it was just holding it together and looking for a gap. “He was able to clove through and when he hits top gear, there’s not many other horses that can go that quick. “Very grateful that I’ve done that. I’ve always felt I’ve ridden well but it helps when you have the cattle under you and a lot of experience, too, over the last six months which has helped. Feels like I’m furnishing well as a rider.” Jimmysstar is now on the second line of betting at $7 for The Everest (1200m) on October 18. Horse racing news View the full article

Kiwi-bred filly Movin Out made a successful switch from Sydney racing to a tilt at Victorian riches when she came from well back to race to a dominant victory in the Mornington Guineas (1600m) on Saturday. The three-year-old daughter of Novara Park- stallion Staphanos originally began her career out of the Bill Thurlow stable at Waverley where she broke maiden status at her second start before finishing a meritorious third in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) behind Captured By Love and Alabama Lass at her third and final New Zealand run. Subsequently purchased by thoroughbred powerhouse Yulong, the filly joined Chris Waller’s operation in Sydney where she ran an eye-catching fourth first up in the Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) before dropping out to finish last in the Gr.1 Vinery Stakes (200m) behind Treasure The Moment. Sent south by Waller, Movin Out was having just her third Australian outing on Saturday and she showed just what she is made off as she buried her rivals with a powerful home straight surge in the hands of Ben Melham to power away with the Guineas by more than two lengths. Waller stable representative Lizzie Collett was delighted with the filly who has already shown the stable she has a few tricks up her sleeve, both on and off the track. “She only arrived Monday morning with us but she travelled down well,” Collett said. “She is a fairly quirky character and I think the Sydney stable would agree with that, but she did everything right today as she was quiet and relaxed, and you couldn’t fault her in the mounting yard. “I was happy with the way she settled and she just did everything perfectly and next week we hope to back her up and go to Adelaide for the (Australasian) Oaks (Gr.1, 2000m).” Melham was taken by the run and is keen to stick with the filly if she makes it to Adelaide. “She was very good and has been running in the right races where she was very unlucky in that first start in a slowly run race,” he said. “She got it all wrong in the Vinery but she has good ability and is still learning. She’s very aggressive and was much better today. You just have to switch her off and you can see the turn of foot she has. “I wasn’t happy to come around the lot of them but she had a class edge on them and when she relaxed, I was happy to take luck out of the equation and she was too good. “I would definitely ride her in Adelaide as she is more than good enough to win as long as she can get some tempo in the race.” Movin Out is a daughter of the Stravinsky mare Wahaha, a half-sister to four-time Group One winner Wall Street and was bought out of Anistay Lodge’s Book 2 yearling draft for NZ$24,000 at Karaka last year. View the full article