Wandering Eyes

What Eagle Farm Races Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, April 19, 2025 First Race 10:59am AEST Visit Dabble The Listed Daybreak Lover and Ascot Handicap will headline the 10-race card at Eagle Farm on Saturday afternoon. The track was rated as a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, but with warm weather forecast in the coming days, it is expected that the track will firm into the Good range by raceday. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit, with the first race scheduled to jump at 10:59am AEST. Daybreak Lover tip: Give Me Space Give Me Space will return from a 13-week spell to contest the Daybreak Lover, following an impressive preparation over the summer months. The Barry Lockwood-trained gelding concluded his campaign with a slashing second-place finish in the Magic Million 3YO Guineas on January 17. This son of Cosmic Force has a booming turn of foot on him, and if he is within four lengths of the leader rounding the home corner, Give Me Space will be right in the finish. Daybreak Lover Race 9 – #13 Give Me Space (8) 3yo Gelding | T: Barry Lockwood | J: Luke Dempsey (57kg) Ascot Handicap tip: Spacewalk James Cummings has chosen to switch Spacewalk from Victoria to Queensland after recording a fourth-place finish in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap at Flemington first-up. This son of Exosphere was held up behind runners going past the 300m mark before getting into clear air to finish off nicely. Now that he strikes an easier race up north, expect a better performance from Spacewalk at great each-way odds with horse racing bookmakers. Ascot Handicap Race 8 – #3 Spacewalk (12) 5yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Ryan Maloney (58.5kg) Best Bet at Eagle Farm: Depth Of Character Depth Of Character was very good in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick last start and he will drop back in grade to compete against lesser rivals here. Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald must be more than happy with how the son of Deep Field is going, after choosing to not put a claiming apprentice on board and allow him to carry 61.5kg. If Ryan Maloney can settle behind the speed and work off the fence before the home turn, Depth Of Character will prove too strong late. Best Bet Race 5 – #1 Depth Of Character (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibals | J: Ryan Maloney (61.5kg) Next Best at Eagle Farm: Demon Darb After last weekend’s meeting at Doomben was cancelled, Demon Darb was made to wait another week before racing again, but it appears that he has found another winnable race on Saturday. The Robert Heathcote-trained gelding was a dominant 3.7-length winner over 1600m at Doomben on April 1, when he proved way too good for his BM70 rivals. Although he will need a scratching to get into the race, if things fall his way, Demon Darb can bring up back-to-back wins with another strong performance. Next Best Race 7 – #17 Demon Darb (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Robert Heathcote | J: Bailey Wheeler (56.5kg) Best Value at Eagle Farm: Sicilian Tony Gollan and Emily Lang will combine with Sicilian for the second straight start, when she competes in a BM70 contest over 1200m. This daughter of I Am Invincible finished second behind Enterprise Lucia over 1000m first-up, after settling on speed and slightly peaking on her run with 100m to go. With natural improvement expected in between runs, the +1200 on offer with Neds is over the odds for Sicilian in this contest. Best Value Race 4 – #5 Sicilian (18) 4yo Mare | T: Tony Gollan | J: Emily Lang (a1.5) (60.5kg) Saturday’s quaddie tips for Eagle Farm races Eagle Farm quadrella selections Saturday, April 19, 2025 4-10-12-17 1-3-4-9 1-2-3-5 4-6-9-22 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Giga Kick. (Photo: George Sal – Racing Photos) Dual Group 1-winning sprinter Giga Kick will launch his autumn campaign in The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 10, bypassing a return trip to Queensland for the Doomben 10,000. The five-year-old, owned by Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing, impressed in a 1000-metre jump-out at Balnarring on Wednesday, clocking a slick 59.03s. That performance sealed the decision to head south instead. “We spoke to Jonathan, and it’s too tempting with the minimum weight, so rather than go to the Doomben 10,000, he’s going to go to The Goodwood,” racing manager Rod Douglas told Racing.com. “He ran a fast time (59.03s) this morning, as quick as they go down there and reeled in that decent mare of the Freedmans (Austmarr). “He seems good, Mark (Zahra) was happy with him, he had a bit of a blow, so he’ll probably have a trial the week after next and that will leave him with ten or 12 days into The Goodwood.” Giga Kick, winner of the 2022 Everest and 2023 All-Aged Stakes, is expected to race just twice this autumn, with the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 also on the agenda. Mark Zahra will take the ride in Adelaide, with horse racing bookmakers rating Giga Kick a $3 favourite for The Goodwood. Horse racing news View the full article

Waltham. (Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au) Trainer Matthew Smith has the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in mind for Waltham following the import’s eye-catching second in last Saturday’s Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m). Sent out at $51, the gelding stormed home under Reece Jones to finish three lengths off Arapaho, and Smith believes the result could have been even closer with a cleaner run. “He got chopped out in the last 300 metres. It might have been interesting if he didn’t,” Smith told Racing.com. “That should nearly get him qualified for the Melbourne Cup. We’ll see what (rating) they give him and that will determine what we do.” The run came just a week after Waltham was unplaced in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m), but Smith said the conditions made all the difference. “We were expecting a run like that the week before, but the tempo didn’t suit him. They went slow. “He’s a genuine mile-and-a-half, two-miler and with the good speed on Saturday it suited him. “It was a really good ride and he was just a bit unlucky I suppose.” A dual winner in Ireland, Waltham notched his first Australian win three starts back in a Benchmark 85 (2400m) at the Gold Coast and also finished third in the Group 3 St Leger Stakes last spring. “I’ve been really excited about this horse since he arrived,” Smith said. “He’s a good horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Mornington Cup Day 2025 Where Mornington Racecourse – 320 Racecourse Rd, Mornington VIC 3931 When Saturday, April 19, 2025 First Race 11:50am AEST Visit Dabble Feature racing in Victoria heads to Mornington Racecourse on Saturday afternoon for a stacked 10-race card commencing at 11:50am AEST. The Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) headlines the program, with the winner set to receive ballot exemption for the 2025 Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m). Mostly clear skies are forecast for race day, with the slight chance of a shower in the second half of the card, but with the rail in the true position, there should be no excuses for fancied runners. Mornington Cup Tip: Night Endeavor Night Endeavor caught the eye first-up from a short spell in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m). The son of Shalaa settled midfield on that day, and if it wasn’t for a hold-up in running for the first half of the home straight, the six-year-old arguably should have won. Jye McNeil only needs a bum to follow approaching the home turn, and Night Endeavor should be able to overhaul his rivals in the 2025 Mornington Cup. Mornington Cup Race 8 – #9 Night Endeavor (9) 6yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jye McNeil (54kg) Hareeba Stakes Tip: Regal Vow Regal Vow has three wins from as many starts when second-up into a campaign, and if she takes any form of improvement from her fresh run at Caulfield over 1400m, she is sure to produce a bold showing stepping back to 1200m. The race was run to suit those up on speed, so the fact the Swear mare rattled home late to be beaten by a length reads pretty well. Hareeba Stakes Race 8 – #6 Regal Vow (3) 5yo Mare | T: Charlotte Littlefield | J: Beau Mertens (54kg) Best Bet at Mornington: Verdad Verdad was simply awful last time out at Moonee Valley on March 22, but there were plenty of horses who put in a stinker on a poor track that day. The four-year-old gelding was excellent the start prior at Flemington when winning by 1.3 lengths. Verdad needs to lug 61kg, but Ben Melham will have him close to the speed throughout and poised to kick away in the home straight. Best Bet Race 3 – #2 Verdad (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths | J: Ben Melham (61kg) Next Best at Mornington: Foujita San Foujita San has been impressive in his last three starts, albeit without breaking through for a victory. The five-year-old gelding was beaten by the barest of margins in the Group 3 Easter Cup and finished ahead of Night Endeavor, which reads well. Jye McNeil will need a touch of luck from barrier two, but if he can have Foujita San in the moving line, his finishing burst should prove too much for this field. Next Best Race 4 – #3 Foujita San (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Jye McNeil (56kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Mornington Mornington quadrella selections Saturday, April 19, 2025 2-7-11-14 1-2-5-6-9 1-2-3-4-6-9 2-3-4-8-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Kiwi Skyhawk will contest the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. (Photo: Peter Rubery – Race Images Palmerston North) Stephen Marsh will have numbers on his side on Saturday when he looks to build on his personal best tally of black type winners in a season. The Cambridge trainer has 14 stakes victories to his credit, two behind the Te Akau duo of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and he will be heavy handed in two of the feature contests at Ellerslie. Marsh has Kiwi Skyhawk, Bourbon Proof and Roctave in the Group 3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) with Sneak Peek on the ballot and Little Black Dress, Lady Iris and Mazino to look forward to in the Listed Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m). He also has Tardelli set to take on the older horses in Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m) with regular rider Michael McNab to guide the three-year-olds chances and a wider gate (12) isn’t a concern. “I don’t mind the draw for him, it will give him a little bit of room to move and it certainly won’t worry him,” Marsh said. “There’s a good run down the back straight from the mile and with McNab on, I’m very keen on him.” Tardelli was successful on the course two runs back before he was unplaced after clipping heels in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Of his trio in the Championship Stakes, Marsh is leaning toward impressive last start Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) winner Kiwi Skyhawk with Matt Cartwright retaining the ride. “He has a beautiful gate in one and Bourbon Proof has 18, which won’t make it easy for him, and I’m happy with them both but Kiwi Skyhawk was great last time so the draws very much favour him,” he said. “They will go to the paddock after this, they’ve both had solid campaigns. “Roctave is only coming out of a maiden distance race and won it very well, we know he’s good and strong and he’s certainly a sneaky chance.” Star Way Stakes contenders Little Black Dress and Lady Iris won their respective debuts at Pukekohe and Matamata while Mazino was runner-up behind the former at the first time of asking. “They are three nicely bred fillies that deserve their chances at black type,” Marsh said. “The way Little Black Dress won, I think I’d learn her way if she gets a touch of luck from the draw (nine).” Wiremu Pinn will be on Little Black Dress again, George Rooke guides Lady Iris and Courtney Barnes partners Mazino. Horse racing news View the full article

You Say D’Orsay is among the key contenders for Saturday’s Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie. (Photo: Kenton Wright – Race Images) Cambridge trainer Chris Wood will head north to Ellerslie on Saturday with a trio of runners, headlined by his in-form gelding You Say D’Orsay, who will be aiming to secure an early easter treat in the Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m). The four-year-old son of Under The Louvre just went down by a head to Saturday race-rival Sacred Satono over 1300m at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, and Wood is hoping his charge can turn the tables on the Group One performer this weekend. “He went a good race last time and just got beaten by Sacred Satono,” he said. “There wasn’t much in it and I see he (Sacred Satono) has got 60kg this week and we have got 53kg, which is similar to what it was last time. “There will be a bit of rain around, which won’t worry us too much, and the horse has trained on well. “This is his grand final this time around and he will go out for a break after this for six to eight weeks and then come back and we should have a nice, handy horse for the spring.” Earlier on the card, Wood’s promising juvenile That’s Gold is also set to have his last start before a break in the Listed SkyCity Star Way Stakes (1200m), but Wood said if the wet weather persists, he may head to the paddock a little earlier. “I like him, he just hasn’t had a lot of luck,” Wood said. “If it rains too much and it gets too wet, I will probably take him out and take his shoes off and give him six weeks out as well. “If he goes, I have put blinkers on, and he has worked well with them on. He is nice and bright and he has come through his last run well.” Wood’s trio of representatives will be rounded out by Noble Boy in the Trackside.co.nz 1600. The five-year-old son of Redwood has placed in his last two outings, and he will have to overcome his wide barrier to score a similar result this weekend. “He is well out in 18,” Wood said. “I don’t mind big fields, it gives the punters an option. He will probably go as long as it’s not bottomless, which I don’t think Ellerslie will be. He worked up well, has done everything right and he is a happy horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) has added two Group One victories to her record this season and she will attempt to make it a third when she heads to Randwick on Saturday to tackle the All Aged Stakes (1400m). The lightly-raced mare has just had three runs this season, winning the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last September before doubling up in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in January. She didn’t handle the firm going when sixth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa a month later and has been freshened ahead of her hit-and-run Australian mission. She travelled over to Sydney on Sunday, and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have received positive reports ahead of her Easter weekend assignment. “She did a good, solid gallop in Matamata on Saturday, and we think her work was as good as it has ever been,” Scott said. “She went over on Sunday and Linda Burton, her regular attendant, accompanied her. She has really settled in well and it has just been quiet work on her arrival. We will just canter her through to the weekend. Linda is really pleased with her and she knows her really well.” While pleased with his mare ahead of her Australian debut, Scott is wary of the star-studded line-up and her tricky barrier of 12. “We would have liked to have got a bit better barrier to aid our chance, but hopefully she can step-up on the weekend and give us a good line going forward,” he said. “She is going as well as she can go, it’s just the quality of the field is somewhat stronger than what she has faced before. “We didn’t anticipate it would be this strong of a field, but it just means we are going to get a really good line on next season and where we set our targets. “Jason (Collett) is a good jockey, and he is in terrific form at the present time, and he is going to get off and give us a good lead forward too.” Grail Seeker will continue the one-and-done theme of her season and return to New Zealand in preparation for the spring following her All Aged Stakes run. “We are looking to bring her straight home afterward this,” Scott said. Back in New Zealand, the stable will be represented by a quartet of runners in the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, including Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time Test), Mosinvador (NZ) (Vadamos), Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos), and Desert Mystic (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). “Little Bit Of Love loves when there is a bit of moisture in the ground,” Scott said of the last start winner. “He just needs a bit of luck and he’ll get a bit of one of these races. “Mosinvador is a promising young horse that is only getting better with age. He is going to be in these races next season, but it might just be 12 months away. “Desert Mystic got caught wide from a wide gate last time and didn’t draw much better on the weekend (16). He is another that gets around Ellerslie really well and he loves a bit of give in the ground.” On the undercard, Scott is also upbeat about the chances of Monday Melody in the Trackside.co.nz (1600m), Reptak (NZ) (Shocking) in the Trackside.co.nz 1200, and Grande Gallo (NZ) (Belardo) in the Join TAB Racing Club 1200. “Monday Melody is racing super consistent,” Scott said. “He has been drawing pretty wide gates and he just needs a good bit of fortune in the run to give him his best chance. “We think Reptak will sprint well fresh. He is owned by the same connections as Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) and he trialled really well up there (Ellerslie) not so long ago. “Grande Gallo gets around Ellerslie well and is improving with racing. She is a big, burly mare that has certainly taken a bit of racing to get fit, and we think she is close to top fitness. With any kind of moisture in the ground that will only improve her chances as well.” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Chris Wood will head north to Ellerslie on Saturday with a trio of runners, headlined by his in-form gelding You Say D’Orsay, who will be aiming to secure an early easter treat in the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m). The four-year-old son of Under The Louvre just went down by a head to Saturday race-rival Sacred Satono over 1300m at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, and Wood is hoping his charge can turn the tables on the Group One performer this weekend. “He went a good race last time and just got beaten by Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin),” he said. “There wasn’t much in it and I see he (Sacred Satono) has got 60kg this week and we have got 53kg, which is similar to what it was last time. “There will be a bit of rain around, which won’t worry us too much, and the horse has trained on well. “This is his grand final this time around and he will go out for a break after this for six to eight weeks and then come back and we should have a nice, handy horse for the spring.” Earlier on the card, Wood’s promising juvenile That’s Gold is also set to have his last start before a break in the Listed SkyCity Star Way Stakes (1200m), but Wood said if the wet weather persists, he may head to the paddock a little earlier. “I like him, he just hasn’t had a lot of luck,” Wood said. “If it rains too much and it gets too wet, I will probably take him out and take his shoes off and give him six weeks out as well. “If he goes, I have put blinkers on, and he has worked well with them on. He is nice and bright and he has come through his last run well.” Wood’s trio of representatives will be rounded out by Noble Boy (NZ) (Redwood) in the Trackside.co.nz 1600. The five-year-old son of Redwood has placed in his last two outings, and he will have to overcome his wide barrier to score a similar result this weekend. “He is well out in 18,” Wood said. “I don’t mind big fields, it gives the punters an option. He will probably go as long as it’s not bottomless, which I don’t think Ellerslie will be. He worked up well, has done everything right and he is a happy horse.” View the full article

Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls) has seen plenty of New Zealand this season, but he won’t have to travel far to defend his crown in Saturday’s Kennedy Building Riverton Cup (2147m). A winner of nine races and more than $300,000 in prizemoney, Prince Alby earned a deserved victory in last year’s local feature, form he continued into the new season finishing fourth in the Listed Metropolitan Handicap (2600m) and third in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m). The son of Sacred Falls earned two points in the Southern Cups Bonus Series at Wingatui, which he doubled when finishing third in the Wyndham Cup (2000m). With limited options leading into Saturday’s contest, his trainer Kelvin Tyler headed north to Trentham, where he completed a two-run campaign with a strong performance into sixth behind Waitak in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2400m). “I thought it was a good run, the track was probably a bit good for him really and it was a very tidy field, and he ran home nicely,” Tyler said. “I took him up there as there aren’t many options down here for him, so he went as a mate for Freddie (Time). “He’s travelled back 100 percent, he’s done a fair bit of travelling now so it doesn’t worry him at all. He had a few days off when he came back and I can’t have him any better, the track looks like it’s going to be nice for him so I couldn’t be happier. “We’ve had a good frost and a beautiful day today (Wednesday), the forecast looks like it’s going to be pretty similar right up to Saturday so I’m picking the track is going to be in the Heavy8 range.” Prince Alby is well within striking distance to take out the $50,000 bonus attached to the series, with 10 points on offer to the victor of the Riverton Cup. Tyler will also be well-represented in the Riverton Rural Transport Francolin Stakes (1400m), with Go Lotte (NZ) (Telperion) and Albatross (NZ) (Sacred Falls) entered in the fillies and mares event. Go Lotte was a winner two-starts back of the Beaumont Cup (1500m), which she nearly replicated when caught late by Exchange (NZ) (Ghibellines) at Wingatui on March 28. “She’s the same every day, she loves what she’s doing and set weights is a great option for her, with her rating points,” Tyler said. “She’s coming in quite strongly, especially with a nice claim on her back.” A six-year-old by Sacred Falls, Albatross is resuming off a spell, having had the best campaign of her career through the winter and spring last year. Tyler hopes to follow a similar route through the softer surfaces this preparation, where she is particularly effective. “She’s coming up really well, she had a jump-out a couple of weeks ago and the track will suit her,” he said. “She’s a wet tracker so she would struggle on firmer ground. “She typically has had a few feet issues, but she’s had no problems this time. “She’ll probably improve with the run and get out over a bit more ground, but I’m happy with her and she’ll run a nice race. We’ll pick out the wet tracks for her going forward, hopefully we can find enough races as we’re a bit restricted with so many on the synthetic track.” View the full article

Hollie Wynyard is in the process of relocating her training base, but it will be a quartet of strong chances at Ellerslie on Saturday that has her immediate attention. The Cambridge trainer’s runners are spearheaded by talented youngster Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the Listed Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m), with Up The Anti (Manco 2100m), Colorado Silver (trackside.co.nz, 1600m) and Pitkin County (KRA Trophy, 1400m) strong supporting acts. Wynyard and her partner, jockey Ryan Elliot, are currently developing a new property. “We bought 30 acres up Victoria Road so we’re moving everything there and we’ll have a track, we are building boxes and we should be in there in a couple of weeks,” she said. “We’ll only be 10 minutes from the Cambridge track, so we’ll still use that every day. “We’ll also have the option of doing something different with the uphill 600m track at home, which will be especially good for the younger horses.” The new property provided a blank canvass and had since undergone significant change. “Goat farmers owned it and they just used it to cut the grass for the goats, so it was a big paddock with no fencing,” Wynyard said. “We’ve done it all from scratch, which has been really cool and done it how we want, it’s been a bit costly but we’re getting there.” A good day at Ellerslie this weekend will be welcome, and Toretto is in the right order to potentially contribute to the development fund. The son of Ardrossan has a win and two placings from five appearances and has been freshened since a luckless unplaced run in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). He emphasised his readiness to return when he was an easy winner of his 800m heat at Foxton on Tuesday. “He probably surprised me how easy he did it and how forward I have got him,” Wynyard said. “It’s going to be a wet track on Saturday, he appreciates a bit of moisture and he’s going so well.” With Elliot suspended, Vinnie Colgan will partner Toretto while George Rooke is on last start second Up The Anti and Warren Kennedy will ride Colorado Silver, another who was runner-up at her most recent start. “Up The Anti and Colorado Silver both like Ellerslie and getting their toes into the ground,” Wynyard said. “Up The Anti was massive last time and he has won over 2100m there before and Colorado Silver had a bit of a niggle last prep and she has come back super, I think they should both go pretty close.” Masa Hashizume will be aboard Pitkin County, who has benefitted from her last two outings following a lengthy stint on the sideline. “She had really bad kissing spine, so she had surgery and a long time off,” Wynyard said. “She pulled up really well from last Sunday, she bounced through it so I thought we might as well strike while the iron’s hot.” View the full article

Stephen Marsh will have numbers on his side on Saturday when he looks to build on his personal best tally of black type winners in a season. The Cambridge trainer has 14 stakes victories to his credit, two behind the Te Akau duo of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and he will be heavy handed in two of the feature contests at Ellerslie. Marsh has Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer), Bourbon Proof and Roctave (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) in the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) with Sneak Peek (NZ) (Almanzor) on the ballot and Little Black Dress, Lady Iris (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Mazino (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) to look forward to in the Listed Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m). He also has Tardelli set to take on the older horses in Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) with regular rider Michael McNab to guide the three-year-olds chances and a wider gate (12) isn’t a concern. “I don’t mind the draw for him, it will give him a little bit of room to move and it certainly won’t worry him,” Marsh said. “There’s a good run down the back straight from the mile and with McNab on, I’m very keen on him.” Tardelli was successful on the course two runs back before he was unplaced after clipping heels in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Of his trio in the Championship Stakes, Marsh is leaning toward impressive last start Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) winner Kiwi Skyhawk with Matt Cartwright retaining the ride. “He has a beautiful gate in one and Bourbon Proof has 18, which won’t make it easy for him, and I’m happy with them both but Kiwi Skyhawk was great last time so the draws very much favour him,” he said. “They will go to the paddock after this, they’ve both had solid campaigns. “Roctave is only coming out of a maiden distance race and won it very well, we know he’s good and strong and he’s certainly a sneaky chance.” Star Way Stakes contenders Little Black Dress and Lady Iris won their respective debuts at Pukekohe and Matamata while Mazino was runner-up behind the former at the first time of asking. “They are three nicely bred fillies that deserve their chances at black type,” Marsh said. “The way Little Black Dress won, I think I’d learn her way if she gets a touch of luck from the draw (nine).” Wiremu Pinn will be on Little Black Dress again, George Rooke guides Lady Iris and Courtney Barnes partners Mazino. View the full article

Chantilly Lace will be one of three runners for Chrissy Bambry at Ellerslie on Saturday. (Photo: Peter Rubery – Race Images Palmerston North) Dubai’s Potiki has inherited all the better qualities of his talented dam and Chrissy Bambry hopes he can follow in her Group Three-winning footsteps at Ellerslie on Saturday. He is the youngest and final foal out of Dubai Belle, a winner of the Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m) in the care of Bambry’s father Tony. The mare passed away only days after Dubai’s Potiki was born, and after being passed in at the National Yearling Sales, he has been retained by the family to race. “She died when he was about three days old, but we had another mare here that had lost her foal two weeks prior and fortunately we managed to get her to take him,” Bambry said. “He’s a pretty special little horse. “They’ve both had their little quirks, but he is a really athletic type like her as well. She did good things as she got older and I think he’ll develop into a really nice Cups horse.” While still a maiden after 12 appearances, the gelding has placed on six occasions, highlighted by an impressive last-start second behind Kiwi Skyhawk in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2100m). He started at a quote of $37 with horse racing betting sites on that occasion, and he may fly under the radar again when taking on the Group 3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m). In between the two contests, Bambry has taken Dubai’s Potiki back to her local trials at Foxton twice, including on Tuesday where he comfortably took out his 1200m heat. “He’s just taken a bit to mentally mature, but he’s always been a horse I’ve thought a heap of,” Bambry said. “He’s only going to get better with a little bit more time. “He can over-race a little bit and we’ve been trying to ride him cold, and he did the six-day back-up into the Manawatu Classic, so I thought this would take the sting out of him a little bit. “He’ll work on the water treadmill until he goes to Ellerslie, so it’s a system that works well for him.” Bambry had initially been aiming for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) last month, but a trip to Brisbane is still on the cards for her charge if he was able to build on his last-start effort. “I thought he was going to be my Derby horse, but it just came around too quickly for him,” she said. “The Queensland Derby (Group 1, 2400m) is still in the back of our minds if he could do something similar on Saturday.” Bambry will travel north with another two runners, including proven stakes-performer Chantilly Lace, who will resume in the KRA Trophy (1400m). A four-year-old by U S Navy Flag, Chantilly Lace is a dual-Listed winner and will follow a similar path that she did last winter, after failing to get in foal in the spring. “She’s come up really well this prep, she didn’t get in foal last year which was unfortunate, but hopefully a blessing in disguise,” Bambry said. “It’ll be her first run back, so we’ve elected to claim with a lot of weight on. She’s run well right-handed at Tauranga before, so since we were going up, with the forecast rain we felt it would be a nice starting point for her. “There’s a nice fillies and mares race at Tauranga that I’ll target with her (Listed Tauranga Classic, 1400m), and the Wanganui weight-for-age (Listed AGC Training Stakes, 1600m) that she ran fourth in last year as well, where she was pretty unlucky. “They’ll be her two winter targets, then hopefully we can pick up some more black-type in the spring.” Completing her representatives will be Phats, a talented stayer aiming to bounce back to form. Another homebred galloper, Phats found his best form at this time in his three-year-old term, earning himself a two-race campaign over winter in Victoria. He continued that consistency into the early part of this season, but failed to produce his best as favourite a fortnight ago at Wanganui. “He was a bit of a head-scratcher at Wanganui, I think the sticky track played a part there, but he can be a little bit on the lazy side, so I just asked Ryan (Elliot, jockey) to make him think about what he was doing on Tuesday (at the Foxton trials),” she said. “He may need a bit of encouragement, but up to 2100 will suit him and I don’t think going right-handed will be a drama for him. “Hopefully we’ll see the best of him again.” Horse racing news View the full article

Grail Seeker will have her first Australian test in Saturday’s $1.5 million Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. (Photo: Peter Rubery – Race Images Palmerston North) Grail Seeker has added two Group One victories to her record this season, and she will attempt to make it a third when she heads to Randwick on Saturday to tackle the All Aged Stakes (1400m). The lightly-raced mare has just had three runs this season, winning the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last September before doubling up in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in January. She didn’t handle the firm going when sixth in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa a month later and has been freshened ahead of her hit-and-run Australian mission. Grail Seeker travelled over to Sydney on Sunday, and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have received positive reports ahead of her Easter weekend assignment. “She did a good, solid gallop in Matamata on Saturday, and we think her work was as good as it has ever been,” Scott said. “She went over on Sunday and Linda Burton, her regular attendant, accompanied her. She has really settled in well and it has just been quiet work on her arrival. We will just canter her through to the weekend. Linda is really pleased with her and she knows her really well.” While pleased with his mare ahead of her Australian debut, Scott is wary of the star-studded line-up and her tricky barrier of 12. “We would have liked to have got a bit better barrier to aid our chance, but hopefully she can step-up on the weekend and give us a good line going forward,” he said. “She is going as well as she can go, it’s just the quality of the field is somewhat stronger than what she has faced before. “We didn’t anticipate it would be this strong of a field, but it just means we are going to get a really good line on next season and where we set our targets. “Jason (Collett) is a good jockey, and he is in terrific form at the present time, and he is going to get off and give us a good lead forward too.” Grail Seeker will continue the one-and-done theme of her season and return to New Zealand in preparation for the spring following her All Aged Stakes run. “We are looking to bring her straight home afterward this,” Scott said. Horse racing news View the full article

A Americ Te Specso makes it three wins for Andrea Atzeni. Photo: HKJC Andrea Atzeni continued a blazing form run to slot a treble as Jamie Richards posted his first double of the season to share training honours with Mark Newnham at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Atzeni’s sizzling strike rate continued with a three-timer, teaming with Mark Newnham’s Crimson Flash (118lb) to land the first section of the Class 3 Violet Handicap (1200m), Giant Leap (119lb) for Ricky Yiu in the second section of the Class 3 Violet Handicap (1200m) and A Americ Te Specso (116lb) for John Size in the Class 3 Chamomile Handicap (1650m). Boosting his haul this season to 43 wins, Atzeni has slotted 17 wins across the past 11 meetings as Crimson Flash collected a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million. “It’s good going, we hit the ground running but I’ve had good support,” the Italian said. “It’s always nice to come racing with good chances and because I can ride light, it makes my job a little bit easier especially with horses like Crimson Flash, who was up in class with a light weight. “He looks like a nice horse and the plan was to go forward, but he jumped slow but Plan B worked out.” Atzeni’s strength and timing were apparent on both Giant Leap and A Americ Te Specso, who delivered Size’s 48th win of the campaign and a seven-win lead over David Hayes (41) with Yiu (38) next. Newnham continued an excellent season with Fatal Blow’s impressive win in the first section of the Class 4 Dianthus Handicap (1200m) under Luke Ferraris to have 36 wins for the term, while Yiu was delighted with Giant Leap’s triumph, showing rare emotion in victory. “It’s not often you see a horse win straight away from Class 4 to Class 3. The biggest encouragement, like I said to the jockey, he was 15 pounds lighter and he’s racing fit. He’s a very genuine horse at the Valley,” Yiu said. “You haven’t seen the best of him yet. He’s still got something in the tank. In the closing stages, I yelled and shouted and the officials (in the weigh-in area) were surprised – they said: ‘You haven’t yelled for a long time, not even for a Group 1′.” Richards boosted his seasonal tally to 15 wins, having endured a string of near misses with 18 seconds and 20 thirds and was clearly relieved after Iconical and Sunday’s Serenade scored under seven-time champion jockey Zac Purton. “It’s been a pretty tough old struggle to be honest, but hopefully we can get things going again. It’s not the sort of place you want to have a lean spell in, but we’re working hard, made a few little changes and hopefully we can be strong towards the end of the season,” Richards said. Iconical led all the way to land the first section of the Class 4 Thistle Handicap (1650m) while Sunday’s Serenade ran on strongly from the tail of the field to snare the Class 4 Ewo Challenge Trophy Handicap (1650m). “We probably weren’t in the positions we thought we would be with both horses,” Purton said. “With Iconical, preferably we would have liked to get cover but he came out strongly and nothing was going forward so he took himself to the front. “He was quite eager through the first couple of sectionals until he started to relax and in the straight, he was quite one-paced and out on his feet but he’s lightly-raced and did a good job in the circumstances and hopefully he can go on. “Sunday’s Serenade did the opposite. I got a little bit further back than I thought I would be and, as it turned out, the pace was strong and it suited him and he came with a strong run. He’s another one who’s turned the corner – it’s taken him a few runs – but he’s going the right way now.” Lucky Planet swept to successive wins with a four-length romp in the second section of the Class 4 Dianthus Handicap (1200m) for Cody Mo. Urged to the front by Matthew Chadwick, the Pariah gelding ran his rivals ragged to continue the form which delivered a solid Sha Tin victory on 23 March. Benno Yung posted his 100th winner at Happy Valley when Hong Kong International Sale (HKIS) graduate Day Day Victory finished powerfully under Alexis Badel to land the Class 5 Aster Handicap (1000m). “That’s great,” Yung said of the milestone. “This horse is a late maturer, so I think he can still improve. He has just taken time to mature.” Wednesday’s success boosted Yung’s career tally to 354 before fellow HKIS purchase Management Folks paraded his stamina with a tough win in the Class 4 Bellflower Handicap (2200m) under Karis Teetan for David Hall. Horse racing news View the full article

What Good Friday Racing 2025 Where Echuca Racing Club – Corner Scott Road and Murray Valley Highway, Echuca, VIC, 3564 When Friday, April 18, 2025 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble Good Friday racing in Victoria heads to Echuca this year, where the $500,000 Country Discovery (1000m) headlines a stacked eight-race meeting. A top of 31 degrees is forecast for race day, and with the rail in its true position, it should mean every runner will get their chance at success if good enough. Public holiday racing from Echuca is set to commence at 1pm AEST. The Country Discovery Tip: Johnny Rocker Johnny Rocker returns off a near 23-week spell and considering he tends to fire fresh from a spell, he’s easy to side with in The Country Discovery. The five-year-old was competitive in much tougher races than this during his spring campaign, and considering he has finished on the heels of Group 1 winner Mornington Glory at his last two fresh runs, he presents great value with . Billy Egan will look to slot in the one-one from barrier nine, and barring any bad luck, Johnny Rocker should prove hard to hold out. The Country Discovery Race 7 – #4 Johnny Rocker (9) 5yo Horse | T: Nick Ryan | J: Billy Egan (56.5kg) Best Bet at Echuca: Miss Winslet Miss Winslet well and truly has her hoof on the till and gets a perfect chance to register a third win at start 16. The four-year-old mare was beaten by the barest of margins at Geelong on April 1 in a case where the winner had the better run in transit, which proved to be the difference. Craig Williams should give the Shamus Award mare the run of the race behind the leaders, and if she holds her recent form, Miss Winslet should be winning the Echuca opener. Best Bet Race 1 – #8 Miss Winslet (4) 4yo Mare | T: Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | J: Craig Williams (58.5kg) Next Best at Echuca: Alma Rise Alma Rise has not had much luck this time in, but if the breaks go her way on Friday, she should be accounting for this field. The Almanzor mare finished three lengths off Wrote To Arataki in the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) before seeing nothing but backsides in a BM78 at Ballarat last time out. Craig Williams will likely have her settled in the second half of the field, but armed with an electric turn of foot, as long as Alma Rise sees clear air, she should be too classy for her rivals. Next Best Race 6 – #4 Alma Rise (9) 4yo Mare | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Craig Williams (57kg) Friday quaddie tips for Echuca Echuca quadrella selections Friday, April 18, 2025 1-2-3-6-7-8 1-4-8 1-2-4-9-10 2-4-5-10-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Good Friday Family Raceday Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Friday, April 18, 2025 First Race 12:15pm AWST Visit Dabble Ascot Racecourse will host back-to-back meetings over the Easter long weekend, kicking off with a very competitive nine-race card on Good Friday. The track is expected to remain in the Good range, with no rain in the forecast in the lead-up to the program. The rail will be in the +11m position for the entire circuit, with the first race scheduled to jump at 12:15pm AWST. Best Bet at Ascot: True Blue Bondi True Blue Bondi quickly put a debut placing behind him by claiming a dominant victory at Pinjarra over 1500m second-up. The Simon Miller-trained gelding settled behind the speed from a wide barrier and travelled like the winner a long way from home before taking over at the 300m mark to sprint clear of his rivals. William Pike will retain the ride on True Blue Bondi for the third straight start, and from barrier two, they can repeat the dose. Best Bet Race 6 – #8 True Blue Bondi (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Simon Miller | J: William Pike (57.5kg) Next Best at Ascot: Exceed The Planet Exceed The Planet will return from a 20-week spell and attempt to break his maiden at start number seven for Sue Olive. The son of Exceedance recorded back-to-back placings in Listed races last campaign and showed plenty of ability against his own age group. This race is much weaker than what Exceed The Planet has been contesting throughout his career, and with even luck, he will break through for a win. Next Best Race 4 – #1 Exceed The Planet (7) 3yo Gelding | T: Sue Olive | J: Holly Watson (57kg) Best Value at Ascot: Dug Another Hole After being nabbed in the shadows of the post at this track over 1400m last start, Dug Another Hole will step up in trip to 1500m. The Neville Parnham-trained galloper led every step of the way but was only run down in the final strides by Hymns Of Eladdair. With no other speed influence in this race, Dug Another Hole will get things his own way and is a great each-way bet with top horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 9 – #2 Dug Another Hole (8) 4yo Gelding | T: Neville Parnham | J: Brad Parnham (60kg) Friday quaddie tips for Ascot races Ascot quadrella selections Friday, April 18, 2025 1-4-8 1-2-5-6 1-2-3-4 2-3-4-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL – It was mid-morning Wednesday when Kerri Radcliffe made the first seven-figure purchase of the day, going to $1.05 million for a son of Nyquist, and, by the time the bloodstock agent made a session-topping bid of $1.45 million for a colt by Gun Runner just three hips from the end of the day, a total of six juveniles had sold for seven figures during the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday. Through two sessions of the auction, seven 2-year-olds have sold for $1 million or more, smashing the previous Spring record of five to hit that mark with a full two days of selling to come. Asked to describe the day, OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said succinctly, “Wow.” He continued, “It was a great day. It was a lot of fun. I said before the sale started that I am always amazed that the consignors continuously up the quality of the horses that they bring. I think that was in evidence today having six horses bring $1 million or more.” At the halfway point of the four-day auction, 325 horses have sold for $46,393,500. The average of $142,749 is down just slightly from last year's corresponding figure of $143,298, while the median of $60,000 is down 25% from last year's midway figure of $80,000. OBS Day Two | OBS VidHorse Photo “It's the same cliche,” Steve Venosa, who consigned the session topper under his SGV Thoroughbreds banner, said. “The ones they want, they find and they pay for, and the rest struggle. So we just try to come over here with a good product and hopefully other people realize that as well and we get rewarded for our effort.” From a catalogue of 604, 406 juveniles have gone through the sales ring with 81 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 20%. Through two days, 19 juveniles have sold for $500,000 or more, compared to 13 a year ago. Mahmud Mouni, who signed for two of the six million-dollar babies Wednesday, is the leading buyer at the sale so far, with three head purchased for $2.69 million. Through two sessions, de Meric Sales is the leading consignor with 16 sold for $4.19 million. The OBS Spring sale continues through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10:30 a.m. ET. With Pair of Million-Dollar Babies, Radcliffe Gets the Memo Kerri Radcliffe helped get the parade of seven-figure juveniles started early in Wednesday's second session of the OBS Spring sale when she bid $1.05 million to acquire a colt by Nyquist (hip 378) from the Harris Training Center consignment and the bloodstock agent was still at it late in the day, making a session-topping $1.45 million bid to secure a son of Gun Runner (hip 601) from Steve Venosa's SGV Thoroughbreds consignment. Both were purchased on behalf of the newly formed American-based partnership Memo Racing. Hip 378 | OBS VidHorse Photo “He's a Gun Runner,” Radcliffe said of the session topper's appeal. “It's hard to get away from that. He was a gorgeous horse who breezed really well. Physically, he is lovely. He is going to take a bit more time probably than the Nyquist, but we came here to buy nice colts. And we got two. We got outbid on the [$1.3-million] Yaupon, which I loved, but we got two out of three. So it's not bad.” The colt, bred by Capital Bloodstock, is out of Vanquished (Empire Maker) and is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Takeover Target (Harlan's Holiday). He RNA'd for $475,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. Of the session-topping result, Venosa said, “You never know any time you lead one up here, a horse like that with a stallion's pedigree and a Breeders' Cup horse under the first dam. He came up here and did everything he needed to do on the racetrack and showed well all week. I have a great team behind me that was able to help me get him here. And he was rewarded for his effort today. He went to a person who has a great eye for a horse. We are happy all the way around.” $1.4-Million Into Mischief Colt to Tagermeen Racing Mahmud Mouni purchased two seven-figure juveniles from Raul Reyes's Kings Equine consignment during Wednesday's second session of the OBS Spring sale, first going to $1.4 million to acquire a colt by Into Mischief (hip 416) and later in the session making a $1.05-million bid to secure a daughter of Tiz the Law (hip 578). The purchases were made on behalf of the newly formed Tagermeen Racing partnership. Mouni admitted he had missed out on the record-setting colt who topped the OBS March sale, but the Libyan bloodstock agent was determined to get his horse this time, going to $1.4 million to acquire the son of Into Mischief. Hip 416 | OBS VidHorse Photo “I was specifically focused on buying this one,” Mouni said after signing the ticket on hip 416. “I was unlucky at the last sale with the $3-million Gun Runner colt, so I came specifically to get this horse. We are happy to get him.” The colt, who worked a furlong last week in :9 4/5, is out of Silk Route (Empire Maker) and is a full-brother to unbeaten multiple stakes winner Taraz. “We haven't decided on a trainer yet,” Mouni said. “We will see. The horse was purchased by a syndicate of three people. Some of them are in England, but all from the Middle East. All of the horses that we purchase in the future will be purchased under this name. Each one has a share and maybe more owners will come in in the future.” Bidding for the same partnership, Mouni purchased another colt by Into Mischief (hip 855) for $450,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. “Maybe two or three horses. Maybe this is the last one,” Mouni said when asked how many horses the group might be looking to buy. “As you know, this is very competitive.” The $1.4-million juvenile was consigned by Raul Reyes's Kings Equine on behalf of his breeders, Scott and Evan Dilworth and Randy Andrews. The Dilworths purchased Silk Route for $175,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale, some nine months after running second to her daughter Taraz with O Seraphina (Congrats) in the 2020 Martha Washington Stakes. “We had a great plan that worked out perfectly,” Scott Dilworth said. “We ran second to Taraz in the Martha Washington down at Oaklawn. My partner Randy fell in love with Taraz and then when we found out that the mamma was for sale at Keeneland, we bought her, saying we are going to breed to Into Mischief and we are going to get one just like her. And it worked out perfectly.” The mare's Into Mischief colt failed to meet his reserve at $375,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale last August. “He just wasn't ready,” Dilworth said of that result. “He was ready today. He has just grown into himself and just made a nice horse. We have always been on the bubble about keeping him ourselves or selling him. [But with a $1.4-million price tag] that's pretty easy. You don't come back from that.” Mouni had already acquired the juvenile's dam, paying $10,000 for Silk Route, in foal to Maximus Mischief, at last year's Keeneland November sale. The mare was exported to Libya. Late in the day, Mouni went back to the Kings Equine consignment to acquire a filly by Tiz the Law for $1.05 million. The juvenile is out of stakes winner Tulsa Queen (Cactus Ridge). With the pair of million-dollar juveniles, Reyes was jubilant while accepting congratulations all the way from the sales pavilion back to his barn. “It feels great,” Reyes said. “I had a bad year last year and I worked hard this year to be where I am.” Of the two results, Reyes admitted, 'It didn't surprise me. The filly worked fantastic. And the colt, he was so popular.” Also Wednesday in Ocala, Mouni purchased a colt by Charlatan (hip 305) for $240,000. @JessMartiniTDN Career Score for Sanchez Family Leonardo Sanchez, who has been pinhooking for 10 years, had his biggest score to date Wednesday when selling a filly by Tiz The Law (hip 578) for $1.05 million to Mahmud Mouni. Sanchez had purchased the filly for $70,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. Leonardo and Gerardo Sanchez (Hip 578) | Stefanie Grimm “He was a very strong, correct horse and we liked his sire,” Sanchez said of the colt's appeal. “Tiz the Law is very hot right now. And the mother's pedigree was very good. It looks like we might the right decision.” Sanchez and his son Gerardo, who will pinhook a dozen horses this year, prepared the colt at the Oak Ridge Training Center. Asked what it was like to watch the colt bring seven figures in the sales ring Wednesday, Sanchez had one word. “Incredible,” he said. The younger Sanchez added, “It's the realization of a dream that we've had for 10 years, since we started doing this. It's the fruit of all the hard work that we have done. My grandfather is not with us anymore, but my dad and I love horses and it's always been something that unites us. It's amazing. And it's a tribute to the team that we have built here.” As for the father-son team's plan for the upcoming yearling sales, “We will keep trying. We will keep trying very hard to achieve once more this dream that we had today.” @JessMartiniTDN K S I Adds Yaupon Colt for $1.3m K S I and trainer Steve Asmussen went to $1,300,000 late in the day Wednesday to secure a son of first-crop stallion Yaupon (hip 585). Consigned by de Meric Sales, the colt worked his eighth in :9 4.5. “You walk up on him and he has so many characteristics of his dad temperament wise,” Asmussen said. “We went back and looked at him multiple time and I liked him more every time I saw him. Obviously, we paid more than retail for him but we loved who he is compared to a lot of other good horses.” Purchased as a yearling by de Meric for $275,000 at FTKJUL, the colt is out of a full-sister to GISW Stormy Lucy (Stormy Atlantic) and to the dam of GSW Big Runner (Stormy Atlantic). Twitterpated sold for just $10,000 at KEEJAN in 2021 and this Yaupon colt is her first foal. Kaleem Shah shakes hands with Tristan de Meric | OBS VidHorse Photo “It seemed like the stars were definitely aligning for the horse,” said Tristan de Meric of the pinhook. “He is a special horse and definitely one we had high expectations for. I'm very happy with the result, we're tickled to death. Best of luck to Kaleem and Steve. We're just lucky to be in the right place at the right time and have a horse like him.” Asmussen was willing to risk the high price on the reward potential of the horse. “Of course you would have been more comfortable getting him for less but the question was, do you think he's the right horse,” he said. “And I believe that he is.” The result continued a strong run for Spendthrift stallion Yaupon who now has five six-figure horses in addition to this get. “I'm unbelievably excited (about the Yaupon's) because they look as athletic as he was,” Asmussen continued. “And obviously at the training sales, they're showing the same sort of speed that he did. What is comforting for me is the first time I ever saw Yaupon, was working at an in training sale so it's easy to recollect that's what your dad looked like, and it worked out beautifully for us.” @SGrimmTDN Tiz the Law Colt to Zedan for $1.15m One month after striking a sales-topping $3 million dollar-bid for a Gun Runner colt at OBS March, Amr Zedan went to $1,150,000 to secure a colt from the second crop of GI Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law (hip 508). Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the colt breezed a quarter in :20 3/5. “He had a great work and came back really good,” said agent Donato Lanni who signed the ticket on Zedan's behalf. “[He] vetted really good. We're really happy with him. He was a horse who [Zedan] really wanted to bring home with him.” Donato Lanni | OBS VidHorse Photo Out of a winning mare, the colt is a half to stakes winner Let My People Go (Pioneerof the Nile) and to GSP Der Lu (Orb). Another half-sister, Smartly Agree (Smart Strike), was also stakes placed and produced MSP Towhead (Malbu Moon). Second dam, GISW Dream of Summer, is responsible for GISW and sire Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway), MGSW/GISP Destin (Giant's Causeway) and GISW Vexatious (Giant's Causeway). “It's a deep family,” Lanni continued. “He's a cool dude. Real quiet and really, really fast.” Wednesday was the colt's second trip through the ring having brought $150,000 when selling to McCrocklin as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Sale last summer. Of the price, Lanni said, “Looking at what the other ones brought, he was certainly one of the top colts. It's hard to separate them all but this is the one we gravitated to. The other ones were nice as well.” –@SGrimmTDN 'Man Among Boys:' Nyquist Colt Brings $1.05 Million Hip 378 bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, is out of Saucy Dame (Distorted Humor), who is a daughter of Storm Beauty (Storm Cat) and a half-sister to graded winner Buffum (Bernardini). “He was just gorgeous,” Radcliffe said of the colt. “Pure class, by a great stallion, Nyquist, out of a Distorted Humor mare. Bred by Stonestreet, which it doesn't get much better than that. As they say, he ticked all the boxes.” Hip 378 was consigned by Harris Training Center and had been purchased by Robbie Harris and Eric Sparks for $135,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. “We loved him,” Harris said of the colt. “I was ecstatic to get the horse. The stallion has done so well, he had a winner at Keeneland last week. And this colt was a man among boys at my farm. I break 100 head a year and you'd know where he was at any time on the track.” Of the colt's seven-figure price tag, Harris said, “I had a $249,000 reserve on him, but I knew he was going to sell well. People were telling me there was a lot of chatter about him that he was one of the top-end colts. Glad it worked out. This felt pretty good.” Radcliffe's acquisitions on behalf of Memo also include a €190,000 daughter of Starspangledbanner (Aus) purchased at the Goffs October sale last year. “It's a new fund that we put together,” Radcliffe said of Memo Racing. “It's American-based, but we also have a filly in U.K. that we just bought. This horse will stay here. Don't know about a trainer yet.” @JessMartiniTDN Next Level Thoroughbreds Finds Success with First Consignment In his very first consignment, Abraham Gardea's Next Level Thoroughbreds pinhooked a colt from the first crop of the Uncle Mo stallion Galilean (hip 356) for $250,000 during Wednesday's second session of the OBS Spring Sale. The colt was making his third trip through the OBS ring having sold first for $15,000 at the Winter Mixed Sale and then $24,000 post-sale at the OBS Yearling Sale in October. “I was working right across the barn from where he was [last year]”, said Gardea. “And I liked the way he looked. After seeing him walk through the ring, I called my owner right away because he was an RNA. I told him we had a nice opportunity to buy a horse so we got it done.” The colt is out of a successful producer in Royale Michele who won the GII Barbara Fritchie Handicap on the track and has produced seven winners from nine to race in her broodmare career including Royale Paradise (Unbridled's Song), herself the dam of both GSP Queen of Thorns (Violence) and SW Bano Solo (Ghostzapper). “I had an owner who trusted me,” Gardea said of opening his first consignment. “Feeling really happy now, really excited.” The Florida-bred worked his furlong in the sale's co-fastest time of :9 4/5. “He prepped really well,” Gardea continued. “He's been working good all year for us.” Of the six-figure winning bid, Gardea admitted he was pleasantly surprised. “I was kind of worried actually,” he said. “Just because of the way the market is. But it's very exciting.” Next Level Thoroughbreds has one other hip who will sell late in the day during the third session Thursday and Gardea has no intention of stopping there. “We're going to hopefully go up to Kentucky this year [for yearlings] to bring back to [OBS] March next year,” he said. –@SGrimmTDN The post ‘Wow:’ $1.45-Million Gun Runner Leads Million-Dollar Parade At OBS Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin One of the first stars of the new season pacing crop in Australia will make a surprise trip to Auckland next week. Bathurst Tiara-winning filly Ripples will come to Alexandra Park for a heat of the Young Guns Delightful Lady series next Friday and hopefully the $70,000 final on May 2. It will also mark a rare appearance in New Zealand for a horse trained by Victorian superstar Emma Stewart, who has had incredible success on Australia’s Eastern Seaboard but while the mega stable has threatened to bring horses to New Zealand in the past they have never made it. This time they will though with owner Mick Harvey behind the idea to bring Ripples across the Tasmam. “She was actually bred over there, out of a sister to Nike Franco, and broken in there,” says Harvey, an enormously popular figure in harness racing. “So she is eligible and paid up for all sorts of races over there so I am keen to give her the chance to show us how good she is. “So if things go well on this trip I’d love to bring her back for other races later in the season.” Ripples has already looked very sharp in New South Wales, where she travelled to from her new home in Victoria, to dominate the Gold Tiara. She bolted away with her heat and then won the A$150,000 final in a 1:53.9 mile rate for the 1730m after being three wide early then parked and still too strong in the hands of Luke McCarthy. “She is a good filly and good on them for taking her to New Zealand, they will need a good filly to beat her over there,” says McCarthy. Harvey has been following the New Zealand form and knows there has only been small fields for the northern juvenile fillies races so far, even though the last qualifying heat next week is expected to draw some more southerners north. “We have spoken to Blair Orange about driving her and hope to get him and I am really excited,” says Harvey. “Brooke Wilkins will look after her as I am sure Emma and Clayton [Tonkin] will be too busy to go across and she will stay at Nathan Purdon’s place, who I have had horses with before.” While Stewart is unlikely to make the trip having one of her horses, especially an unbeaten Gold Tiara winner, race in New Zealand is a promising sign as her stable is a magnet for punters and any horses she sends across the Tasman can only help with turnover and eyeballs. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Tim Williams will be doing everything he can to hold an early advantage with his best chances on Winton Cup Day. Williams will combine with a powerful line-up of drives, including key All Lay Carpet & Drapes Winton Cup runner Double Jeopardy and Seaside Rose, a major player in the Vetsouth Equine Southern Belle Final. Both will wear the number one saddlecloth and both will carry plenty of punter support. And if they are going to justify that faith, Williams knows making the best possible beginning will set up both horses’ chances. “The start is going to be crucial for both of them.” “Obviously, Double Jeopardy is only having his second stand start, so he is going to need to get it right.” “He stepped away well from barrier one at Wyndham, and hopefully he can do the same on Thursday.” “Seaside Rose will need to hold her own early, (barrier) one looks ideal on paper, and hopefully it works out that way.” Double Jeopardy dealt to his lower grade rivals on his last trip to Southland for trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer. The win came just days after he had beaten many of his Winton Cup rivals at Wyndham. Betterthancash took honours that day, with Double Jeopardy getting a 10m handicap advantage over the favourite this time. “He got that easy kill last time, and his work since then has been really nice,” Williams said. “It feels like his confidence levels are pretty good. He’s had two runs back and hit the line nicely both times.” “It looks a nice race for him if he can make another good beginning.” Seaside Rose took her game up a notch when cruising away with the final heat of the Southern Belle Series. “She seemed to thrive on her last trip south, she did it really nice in that last heat,” Williams said. “She’s come back and worked really well since then too.” “We will be trying to hold our spot early. I’m sure there will be a bit going on.” “But if she can stay handy or follow the right one, she will be a nice chance.” Williams and Stonewall Stud have plenty more winning chances at the Winton Cup meeting. Elektra King looks a genuine hope in the final Macca Lodge – Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks heat, as does Treasure Cove, who faces a tricky draw in the final Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes heat. The combination also starts Toffee Potts in Thursday’s Group 2 Entain Southern Fillies Classic. View the full article

Thoroughbred racing in California, currently consolidated in the southern part of the state, could include summer fair dates in the north if fair organizers successfully secure regulatory approval for race dates and eventually licenses.View the full article

There are five horse racing meetings set for Australia on Thursday, April 17. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Albury & Pakenham. Thursday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – April 17, 2025 Albury Racing Tips Pakenham Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on April 17, 2025 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! 4 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 5 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

One of the last hips through the ring, a colt by leading sire Gun Runner (hip 601), consigned by S G V Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), went to Kerri Radcliffe as agent for Memo Racing on a final bid of $1,450,000 to top the second session of the OBS Spring Sale. A half-brother to MGSW Takeover Target (Harlan's Holiday) and to the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner More Than Looks (More Than Ready), the colt worked a furlong in a co-bullet :9 4/5. He RNA'd for $475,000 at Keeneland September last year. The post Radcliffe Secures Gun Runner Colt For $1.45M appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Shortly after buying the $1.4m session topper from the same consignment, Mahmud Mouni went to $1,050,000 to secure a filly by Tiz the Law (hip 578) consigned by Kings Equine. Purchased as a yearling for $70,000 at FTKOCT, the filly worked her furlong in a co-bullet :9 4/5. She is out of GSP Tulsa Queen who has one winner from as many to race. Tiz the Law now has two seven-figure 2-year-olds from the same session Wednesday. The post Tiz The Law Colt To Mahmud Mouni For $1.05 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After originally being pulled from Kentucky Derby (G1) contention following a sixth-place finish in the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, Flying Dutchmen's Owen Almighty was declared back into the 20-horse field April 16.View the full article

The team at Coolmore Australia have already begun compiling a list of potential matches for Switzerland after confirming that the Australian star would join their 2025 stallion roster where he will stand for an introductory fee of AU$60,500. View the full article