Wandering Eyes

The latest intake of Godolphin Flying Start trainees for the 2025-2027 term was revealed on Monday. The two-year Thoroughbred Industry Management and Leadership Programme features trainees from Ireland, Morocco, Spain, India, New Zealand and the UK. Their course begins at Kildangan Stud, County Kildare, Ireland, on Monday, August 18. The scholarship facilitates trainees to learn and experience practical horsemanship, management operations and leadership in the global Thoroughbred industry with phases in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Australia and Dubai. The course is accredited by University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School as a Graduate Certificate in Management. Godolphin Flying Start executive director Clodagh Kavanagh said, “We are thrilled to welcome the 23rd intake of Godolphin Flying Start trainees this August. Their diverse talents and passion for the industry will sustain them as they commence the professional and personal development provided to them by Godolphin Flying Start.” The dozen trainees are as follows: Luke O'Neill, Ireland Saad Saidi, Morocco Kitty Ashby, UK Tara Carroll, Ireland Adrian Redondo, Spain Jamie O'Connor, Ireland Mageswar Periasamy Vishakan, India Harry Winnard, UK Emma Dillon, Ireland Callum Jeffries, New Zealand Raphael McCall, UK Emma Hunter, Ireland The post Godolphin Flying Start Trainees For 2025-2027 Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making every yard in Monday's G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly, Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) proved too tough and classy for a fascinating cast. Dropping back to 5 1/2 furlongs having finished a game third to Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Leopardstown's seven-furlong G3 Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes, the Adrian Murray-trained G3 Marble Hill Stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint runner-up and G1 Phoenix Stakes third was out of reach under David Egan as the 9-5 favourite Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) encountered traffic attempting to come from behind. At the line, the 10-3 shot had 2 1/2 lengths to spare over Estepona (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), with Polyvega 3/4 of a length away in third. “He's a beautiful horse who has done very well physically from two to three and is impressive now,” his jockey said. “Those two runs early in the season meant that he was ready for today and I loved the way he finished off after the post–it was quite a struggle to pull him up. He has a lot of natural speed and is a Commonwealth Cup type, a real sprinter.” Arizona Blaze takes them all the way in the Prix Sigy at Chantilly! The son of Sergei Prokofiev takes the drop back in trip in his stride to win impressively for @DavidEgan99 and @AMurrayRacing! pic.twitter.com/OHintogZl5 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 14, 2025 The post Sergei Prokofiev’s Arizona Blaze Wins The Sigy For Amo And Murray appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Al Pike is set to retire from his position as director of sales and the conditioner for 2-year-olds in-training at Highland Training Center, and will be replaced by Colin Brennan after the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale in May ends, the center announced via press release. While Pike will be retiring to Lexington, Kentucky with Brennan making the move to Texas, Pike will continue to work with Highlander in a consulting and advisory role. The retiring director and training began his career with horses in 1978 but eventually transitioned to a fruitful pinhooking career. Pike has sold three juveniles who went on to race in the GI Kentucky Derby–MGSW & MGISP Vyjack (Into Mischief), who earned north of $1.4-million in his career; MGSW Vicar's In Trouble (Into Mischief), winner of over $1.3-million; and MGSP Frammento (Midshipman). In 2016, he sold Modest Maven (Uncle Mo)–whom he had purchased for $80,000–for a million to Chester Broman, and she would go on to noteworthy success as a broodmare via her sons, SP Overstep (Into Mischief), who sold to Repole and St Elias Stables for $360,000 as a KEESEP yearling, and SW & MGSP Arctic Arrogance (Frosted), who was retained by the Bromans to race in their colors. Pike has also sold 2023 G3 UAE Oaks victress Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) and Hong Kong multimillionaire, Group 1-placed Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit). His most recent success story is the evergreen Louisiana-bred GSW Touchuponastar (Star Guitar), who got his start with Pike Racing. Pike came to Highlander in 2023 to focus on developing their 2-year-olds in-training program. “The people here at Highlander have been amazing to work with,” said Pike. “I can't thank them enough. And I can't think of a better person than Colin Brennan to come in and continue what we've started.” Colin Brennan hails from a horse family as the son of Niall Brennan, and who grew up in the sales ring. He holds degrees in Equine Business Management, Equine Anatomy, and Exercise Physiology, Brennan is also a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start program (known as Darley Flying Start program when was admitted in 2012). He's worked for Niall Brennan Stables, Bill Mott, and Mike Ryan, and with horses like Essential Quality, Mystic Guide, and Nyquist. Brennan will take over the sales position in time for the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearling Sale Aug. 10-11, which will be the first time where there is will be a 'Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center' consignment. It will be followed by the Texas Yearling sale Aug. 26 and the Keeneland September sale, where Highlander will be represented by a consignment under its own banner for the first time. “This is a huge opportunity,” Brennan said. “…[it's] the sort of opportunity a young horseman dreams about. Highlander is a first-class facility and this is a program that I'll be proud to represent.” “Colin is just the guy to take what Al has built and grow it into something even better, said Highlander's chairman and CEO, Jeff Hooper. “I'm very excited that we will be represented by Colin Brennan at Highlander consignments at major sales across the country, starting with the New York-bred sale at Saratoga, the Texas Thoroughbred Yearling sale, and the Keeneland September sale. I see a very bright future for Highlander.” The post Al Pike Retiring from Highlander Training Center, Colin Brennan to Take Reins appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ROSEGREEN, Ireland — It's that time of year again. The countdown to the Classics. Better than Christmas. And there are few better ways to indulge dreams of what may be about to unfold in the coming weeks than by annoying Aidan O'Brien for a morning at Ballydoyle. He must find it irksome, all these pesky journalists turning up, as surely as the first swallow of spring. But if he does, he hides it well, and almost seems to revel in sharing what he clearly finds the most rewarding part of his job – watching the horses in their morning exercise. It would be hard not to enjoy this daily cavalcade of some of the best-bred horses in the world, high-blowing their way past in a brisk canter and wandering back down the wood-chipped hill to repeat that task. Their riders are wired for sound back to the boss, and a reminder of the regality of their genes is emblazoned onto their saddle cloths and sheets. Where once there was a liberal sprinkling of the letter G to denote the many sons and daughters of Galileo (Ire) in the string, now it is more common to find F – his son Frankel (GB) – or indeed WB, Coolmore's big-money signing of a few years ago, Wootton Bassett (GB). There is still the odd G about. Kyprios (Ire), of course, the stable's mighty stayer who is back for more and reportedly as enthusiastic as ever at the age of seven, not to mention recent Leopardstown maiden winner Stay True (Ire), one of only 13 in the late stallion's final crop. A repeat assault on the Gold Cup at Ascot is Kyprios's major early-season target but O'Brien drops a tantalising hope of a somewhat different autumn finale for the eight-time Group 1 winner who is raced by Coolmore in partnership with his breeder Moyglare Stud. “We're over the moon with Kyprios,” he says. “We think he's forward. He is going to go to Navan and Leopardstown then Ascot, and if we got into the year as far as we got last year we might have a look at the Arc this year instead of going to the Cadran. “His whole demeanour hasn't changed at all since he was a two-year-old.” This being spring, however, we are really here to talk about the Classics, and in particular the quintet staged in England, all of which are now sponsored by Betfred, which is offering a £2 million bonus for a colt to win the Betfred Triple Crown. We passed one on the way in – Nijinsky, commemorated in bronze at the entrance to Ballydoyle, not far from a similar memorial in Rosegreen to the man who trained him, MV O'Brien. That was back in 1970 and the wait goes on for the next Triple Crown winner, despite the best efforts of Camelot (GB) in 2012. Only time will tell if there is one among the Ballydoyle ranks this year but among the most pressing of O'Brien's decisions to be made in the coming weeks will be in regard to which of the colts will go where. The G1 Criterium International winner and current Betfred 2,000 Guineas favourite Twain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) does appear to be heading to Newmarket, while G1 Dewhurst runner-up Expanded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) could remain at home for the Irish version. The two horses each made their debut in October and progressed straight into Group 1 company on their next starts, six days and seven days later, respectively. “Obviously Twain is a Group 1 winner so if the two are going well at the time I'd imagine that we might let Expanded go to the Curragh to start in the Irish Guineas Trial and Twain could go straight into the Guineas,” he says. “Twain never saw a horse in his maiden. The plan was to drop him in and to educate him but he jumped out and that was it, he won six lengths. So he really only went to France after having a racecourse gallop, because he went around by himself. Ryan [Moore] rode him in France and he was very green but he won very nicely.” O'Brien adds, “It was a hard thing to ask them to do, for both of them to back up six or seven days later. Expanded was going to the Dewhurst for experience for next year but when The Lion In Winter came out he got put in the front line unfairly and then there were't many runners in the race and he got into a duel with the third horse three furlongs down. So it was very hard on him what happened but he still ran a massive race.” The other pair of Wootton Bassett colts, Camille Pissarro (Ire) and Henri Matisse (Ire), are likely to be seen in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains. “We thought that race would suit them because it's around the bend and down the hill, whereas the English Guineas is on a straight at Newmarket which can de more demanding. That's the way we are thinking of splitting them up,” says the trainer. The destinations for last season's champion two-year-old filly Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G3 Killavullan Stakes winner Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who was twice placed in Group 1s last year, depend on how quickly the returning champion steps forward. O'Brien says, “Exactly is after having a run so the plan will be to go [to the 1,000 Guineas] and Lake Victoria is on the way back. We stepped her up a couple of weeks ago and she's really coming. She could be there in time. If she wasn't she would go to the Curragh [for the Guineas Trial], but it's very possible that she could be there in time and if that happens Exactly could go to the French Guineas.” Lake Victoria and Dean Gallagher | Emma Berry Erstwhile favourite The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is sidestepping the 2,000 Guineas but he will return instead to York, where he was last seen winning the G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes. “The Lion In Winter is going to the Dante,” says O'Brien. “We're very happy with him. He's 80-90 per cent for the Dante and if that goes well then we will see whether they want to go to the Derby with him. “He's a straightforward horse, and he's not slow. Most of the Sea The Stars [horses] seem to stay very well and we need to see if he stays. Obviously if he goes a mile and a quarter in the Dante we'll have a little idea.” He adds of recent G3 Ballysax Stakes winner Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), “He will go back to Leopardstown for the Derrinstown [Derby Trial] and then he could go [to Epsom], and if Twain won the Guineas the lads would probably want to go to the Derby with him for obvious reasons.” Also heading to Epsom, more immediately for the Blue Riband Trial on April 22, is Trinity College (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The last time we saw the Niarchos family's colours carried to victory in the Oaks was with the emotional 2007 success of Light Shift, trained by Henry Cecil. O'Brien puts forward a daughter of American Pharoah raced in partnership with the the family's Flaxman Stables as a “dark” horse for this year's fillies' Classic at Epsom. He says, “Dreamy (Ire) is a filly that could be an Oaks filly. She's a very big price but she's a real mile-and-a-half filly. And the filly that ran at the Curragh, [Whirl (Ire)], they'll step up in trip and they'll be better going up, but Dreamy is kind of a dark filly.” Dreamy, winner of the G3 Newtown Anner Stud Irish EBF Stakes and fourth in the G1 Fillies' Mile, could be seen first in a trial at Chester or York, while Ballet Slippers (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}, the first foal of Magical (Ire) who finished just ahead of Dreamy in the Fillies' Mile, is also being aimed towards Epsom eventually. With the sun outbattling the clouds to make a tardy appearance for second lot, it is hard to disagree with O'Brien when he asserts, “The horses are forward and well and they're fairly fit. There's three weeks to go.” Stripped of their saddles and exercise sheets for a post-exercise roll, the Ballydoyle battalions do indeed look forward in their coats and raring to go. As the press gaggle closes in for question time and the horses pick grass in the background, their trainer takes to the microphone and asks the pack with a grin, “What will I sing?” Every now and then an alarm buzzes in his pocket and he issues instructions to the riders through his walkie-talkie, even the period of relaxation for his charges timed to the minute. “It's all little decisions all the time at every minute of the day,” says O'Brien of his role at the head of some 300 staff at Ballydoyle. “Some of the decisions are wrong, some of the horses I might lean on a little too much and some not enough. “You do enjoy it because you love it and that's what you love doing – watching them and listening to everyone about them and working out their minds. But the problem is then they have to go and race. There'd be no pressure if they didn't have to go to the races.” He continues, “In sport, everyone knows about failure, disappointment…victory. I'm always surprised when they win – shocked, because there's so many things that can go wrong, so many variables that you can't control. For it to happen, when it does happen, I'm always delighted for the lads, who put in an awful lot, and for the people working with the horses.” Those people working with the horses right under our noses this bright morning feature plenty of former stars of the weighing-room, including Adrian Maguire and Dean Gallagher (the latter the rider of Lake Victoria and Kyprios). O'Brien adds, “Everything is about the people. All I do every day is go round to see everybody and try to keep everybody communicating. Everybody gets sick of me calling out people's names but they are the ones that are making it happen.” Communication beyond the walls of Ballydoyle is another important part of his daily life, to the core team of owners who either breed or buy the procession of bluebloods sent into O'Brien's care. He says, “The first thing the boss wants to know is, is he a Classic horse?” With Ballydoyle housing the favourites for the 2,000 Guineas and Derby once more, we won't have to wait too long for that question to be answered. The post ‘Is He a Classic Horse?’: O’Brien Seeking Answers to the Big Question appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ascot Racecourse announced on Monday that Jonathan Gregory has been appointed chief commercial officer. Gregory joins Ascot from the Goodwood Group, where he has been since September 2020, first as commercial director and then as chief commercial officer from October 2024. He previously served as commercial director at Leicester City Football Club and Fulham Football Club, as well as gaining experience in senior commercial roles at leading venues worldwide, including Wembley Stadium and the Bahrain International Circuit. “I'm thrilled to join Ascot Racecourse, one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world with such a prestigious history dating back over 300 years,” said Gregory. “Ascot has a truly unique blend of heritage and innovation, so I'm excited to bring my experience and knowledge to this role as we look to expand the world-class offering that Ascot brings both on and off the track.” Felicity Barnard, chief executive officer, Ascot Racecourse, added, “Jonathan impressed us from day one with his vision for Ascot and I'm pleased that he has chosen to join us in the next stage of our exciting journey. His experience in managing both venues and brands will be hugely beneficial in this role. “I'm confident that under Jonathan's leadership, our commercial proposition will continue to evolve, and Ascot will maintain its position as the leading name in horse racing, with an impact that extends beyond the track.” The post Jonathan Gregory Appointed Chief Commercial Officer at Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Billy Jackson-Stops has been appointed as the racing manager of Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa's Victorious Racing, with the former assistant trainer to Ralph Beckett describing the opportunity as a “great honour”. Victorious Racing's red and white silks have become an increasingly familiar sight in recent years, both at home in Bahrain and in Europe. High-profile runners for the team have included last year's G1 Nunthorpe Stakes and G1 Flying Five Stakes hero Bradsell (GB), as well as the George Scott-trained Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who completed the Bahrain Triple Crown in the first part of 2024, before returning to Britain to win the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Isle Of Jura was sourced and bought by Jackson-Stops, who established JS Bloodstock Consultancy in 2018 after working as assistant to Beckett and for Godolphin in Australia. “It is a great honour to have been appointed by His Highness Shaikh Nasser to serve as racing manager of Victorious Racing,” said Jackson-Stops. “His Highness, and the Kingdom of Bahrain, are big supporters of British racing, as has been shown in recent seasons here. I'm very excited to be joining such a dynamic global sports brand and am looking forward to working with everyone within the Victorious Racing team.” The post Jackson-Stops Named Racing Manager of Victorious Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's hitherto unraced No Tune (GB) (No Nay Never), a homebred half-sister to GI United Nations Handicap hero Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), made a winning debut in Monday's €30,000 Prix Epinard at Chantilly. Taking control approaching the final furlong, the 27-10 favourite was ridden clear in the closing stages to register an impressive 3 1/2-length success from Hold My Hand (Fr) (Threat {Ire}). Prix Epinard @fgchantilly Chantilly – Classe 3 – 2 ans – 1000m – Bon Souple (3.3) – 8 Pts – 30 000 € No Tune (f) Maxime Guyon @maximeguyon_off (No Nay Never (Usa) @coolmorestud – Foreign Tune (Gb) par Invincible Spirit (Ire))… pic.twitter.com/xwNh453dxu — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) April 14, 2025 2nd-Chantilly, €30,000, Cond, 4-14, 2yo, 5fT, :57.33, g/s. NO TUNE (GB) (f, 2, No Nay Never–Foreign Tune {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was well away to track the leader in third from the outset of this debut. Easing closer once past halfway, the 27-10 favourite was shaken up to seize control approaching the furlong pole and ridden clear in the latter stages to easily account for Hold My Hand (Fr) (Threat {Ire}) by 3 1/2 lengths. No Tune is the seventh of eight foals and fifth scorer produced by Listed Prix Coronation winner and G3 Prix de Lieurey runner-up Foreign Tune (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), herself kin to a quartet of black-type performers out of G3 Prix du Bois victrix Gwenseb (Fr) (Green Tune) headed by the Group 1-placed duo Spotify (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Attendu (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}). The February-foaled homebred bay is full-sister to Listed Prix Roland de Chambure third Neversay (Fr). She is also a half-sister to GI United Nations Handicap hero Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), the dual stakes-placed Angelissima (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Frankel (GB). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €15,000. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Christopher Head. The post Half-Sister to Adhamo Makes Winning Debut at Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Yulong have added unbeaten two-year-old colt Vinrock (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) to their collection of outstanding bloodstock, with the purchase confirmed on Monday. Winner of all his three starts, including a historic G2 VRC Sires' Produce and G1 Sires' Produce Stakes double, the colt will stay with trainer Matt Laurie. “We are extremely excited about the acquisition of Vinrock,” said Yulong's racing manager Troy Stephens. “He's an unbeaten two-year-old, the first Australian Group 1 winner [juvenile] for his champion sire I Am Invincible, and the first horse since 1981 to capture the VRC/ATC Sires' double, giving him an impressive CV. We have a great association with Matt and Kate and we are very happy we can continue this off the back of a tremendous season with Treasurethe Moment [winner of the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes and G1 Australian Oaks].” Laurie added, “Yulong have been great to me and we have already enjoyed huge success on the racecourse together with Treasurethe Moment. I'm delighted with their purchase of Vinrock. He's a ripping colt and we're looking forward to an exciting spring.” The post Yulong Buy Unbeaten Juvenile Vinrock 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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Group One winner cruises to trial win ahead of clash with Ka Ying Rising on April 27.View the full article

Whether it is considered an ambitious move or not to take on the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) so soon, Tony Gollan has just as higher aims for Antino (NZ) (Redwood) closer to home as the topline Queensland galloper returns to the races this Saturday. Antino trialled last week at Eagle Farm finishing behind Rothfire (Rothesay) with a heavier staff rider aboard, and since then Gollan has been happy for his versatile six-year-old to line up in the All Aged over the 1400-metre trip at Randwick before a campaign over longer trips in Brisbane. “He was getting a bit of kickback in that trial and the data from it is really good,” Gollan told RadioTab. “He’s not a horse that likes to get back on that Eagle Farm track when it is kicking back a lot of sand but he closed off well and his recovery was good.” Mark Zahra will take the ride on Antino this weekend after regular jockey Blake Shinn received a ten meeting suspension from a charge of careless riding aboard Nostringsattached (Extreme Choice) at Randwick last Saturday. “Mark rode him in the Champions Mile and we are fortunate to be able to get a hold of him,” he said with reference to Antino’s second placing in the Group One 1600-metre feature at Flemington in November. Described as a disaster by Gollan, Antino struck interference in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin in December and finished near last. It was a result far from Shinn and the gelding’s heroics in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) two starts before at Caulfield which earned Antino a career Racing and Sports ratings peak of 124. Putting the Sha Tin experience behind them, Gollan is ready for Antino to step up in distance further in the Stradbroke Season limelight. “He’s the fresh legs in the All Aged and building towards the winter carnival,” Gollan added. “Were his rating is, there aren’t a lot of options and I was keen to give him a good break after what was a really busy winter and spring. He needed to get over such a process.” Following the All Aged, Antino is likely to head to the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on May 10, followed by the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) before a possible tilt at the rich Gr.2 The Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June. “He is such a relaxed horse and if you look at him in the run, he goes to sleep so he gives himself every chance to get a trip,” Gollan said. “I’d be disappointed if I never gave him to opportunity to get out to those distances.” Antino heads to Sydney with a strong first-up record of four wins in six outings. He is rated an $11 chance in all-in markets with Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) winner Briasa (Smart Missile) the $3.50 favourite. View the full article

Sidelined jockey Darren Danis passed the first test in his journey to return to the saddle when he competed in the Ultimate Athlete Obstacle Race at Mount Maunganui Beach last Saturday. Danis sustained a fractured C4 and C5 vertebrae following an incident at the Waipa trials in November last year, and last weekend’s challenge was an important milestone in his recovery. The 32-year-old hoop had wanted to compete in the obstacle race and he was given the green light by his doctor to return to light physical activity just over a month ago, with the intention of building up enough fitness and strength to compete. “It is an obstacle course with some running as well,” Danis said. “I wanted to do it with a few mates last year as you can do it individually or in a team. “With the way things have been happening, the timing was quite good. The 12th of April (race date) was about six weeks since I got the green light to go to the gym and start working out. “The physio said to give it a month before I try to run. I have been going a lot to the gym and I having been doing a lot of bike work. In the last two weeks I thought I would try running and see how my neck held up, and it held up quite well.” Danis said the running component was his biggest worry heading into the race, however, there were a couple of obstacles that he was wary of. “I was quite confident with the obstacle course because jockeys are quite small, but we are strong for our size,” he said. “There were a couple of things I thought I would struggle with, like the 25-kilo sandbag carry and the 20-kilo jerry can carry. I am 55.5kg, so that’s half of my body weight. “But it was good, and I did it with my friend Isaac, he is one of my best friends. He was a good motivator as I got tired halfway through. “It was always going to be a challenge because six weeks isn’t a long time (to train), and it was just a question of how I felt after I pulled up after the run and I pulled up pretty good, the course itself didn’t affect the neck.” Danis said he also gained plenty of motivation from his fellow competitors. “Going to those sort of events you see all sorts of people – big, small, muscular – and everyone has gone through their own thing,” he said. “There was a guy running beside us who was an amputee and he was running with a prosthetic, and that gave me the motivation to keep going. Everyone has got their own story and it was quite cool to see everyone giving their best.” Danis will now continue his rehabilitation, and while there is still a cloud over whether he will return to raceday riding, he holds onto hope and said he will try his best over the coming months. “There is still a question mark on riding with my neck,” he said. “The doctor said it’s always going to be a dangerous job, but they know it is our livelihood, and you just have to let your body tell you. “I will come back in June to ride trackwork, so I might try to ride someone’s pony in May and see what happens. “I don’t really want to give up riding, but we have to listen to our body, so I will just do whatever I have to until I can ride.” View the full article

International racing journalist Andrew Hawkins’ imagination was captured by two things as a child, thoroughbred racing and the Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he was able to combine his two loves. As a teenager, with the hope of one day racing his own horse, Hawkins designed a set of silks based on the colours of his three-time NRL Premiership-winning Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he realised that dream when watching Bona Sforza carry those silks to victory in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton Park in Christchurch. It was just the third time his silks had been seen on raceday, and Hawkins was pleasantly surprised that their first success was in a stakes race. “I was born in Canberra and I have been a Canberra Raiders fan my entire life,” Hawkins said. “When I was 15 or 16 I designed these set of colours. It was one of those things where I was trying to manifest that one day I would hopefully have these colours. “Fast-forward to three or four years ago and I was going to get a set made and I decided to use what I had designed as a teen and bring that to life. “The colours have only been put on once before on a horse, who was a Karaka graduate we had called Tavirotti. She was a Tavistock filly and had two starts and was unplaced in both starts. “They ended up on her (Bona Sforza) and the third time they have been at the races it’s a stakes winner.” While pleased to see his colours to the fore at Riccarton, Hawkins was just as enthused for trainer Samantha Finnegan, who marked her first win with Saturday’s result. Hawkins has become close with Finnegan and her Group One-winning trainer husband Francis over the last few years, with their friendship having initially been formed over social media, and Bona Sforza is their first foray into ownership together. Purchased by Samantha Finnegan out of Highline Thoroughbreds’ 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $150,000, Hawkins was offered a share in the filly, and he is delighted he took the Finnegans up on their offer. “I had followed Francis Finnegan for a while and it is one of these social media things (how the association came about),” Hawkins said. “The amazing thing about social media is that you get to connect with all sorts of people, and I connected with him and Samantha a few years back and we would just talk racing. “They obviously went to Ireland and came back, and he got in contact saying he had bought this lovely filly at Karaka. A couple of judges that I really respect in Byron Rogers and Tom Wilson had cast their eye over her and said they really liked her. “He said he had a percentage that he couldn’t move, and would I be interested and I can put my colours on. I was umming and ahing and in the end I thought, ‘why not?’ I wanted to support Samantha starting out again in New Zealand.” New Zealand has become a sentimental place for Hawkins, who has strong family ties with the island nation, and it is also the place he had his first taste of success as an owner. “I am Australian born and bred, but my Dad is a Kiwi and I have got a big, extended family in New Zealand,” Hawkins said. “My first winner that was in my name was at Rotorua back in 2012, who raced in Lib Petagna’s colours, but myself and a group of friends had 50 percent. “Now I have had my first ever stakes winner in my colours over there as well, so maybe I need to keep to New Zealand.” Hawkins was unable to be trackside at Riccarton on Saturday to witness Bona Sforza’s win as he was just returning from covering the Dubai World Cup meeting, but he said he may head across the Tasman to watch her compete at Riccarton over the New Zealand Cup carnival in November. “She is going to have a bit of a break now and then I think the plan is to try and head towards the Gold Trail (Gr.3, 1200m) and long-term they want to get to the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m),” Hawkins said. “Whether she can get a mile is another thing, on pedigree you would probably say it’s a bit questionable, but the way she extended the other day it was great to see. “I have never been to Cup Week in Christchurch, so I might have to start making plans to head over.” To add the cherry on top of a stellar Saturday for Hawkins, his beloved Raiders dominated the Parramatta Eels in Darwin later in the day in their round six meeting, beating them 50-6. View the full article

Multiple Group-winner Nereus is being set for a Queensland campaign after powering into second in Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. The Waikato Stud-owned son of Savabeel has a strong affinity with the Upper Hutt course, having won the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2400m) last year before finishing sixth in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in Victoria. His trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray opted to take a different path with the gelding this season, winning the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) before testing his abilities over the two miles of the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), which wasn’t to his liking. Returning to 2200m, Nereus was right at home and after getting back, he recorded the fastest sectionals of the race to just come up short to Mehzebeen, who found the shortest way home up the rail. “It was a fantastic run, he’s had a little break since the Wellington Cup and he went a brave third first up, which led into this race,” Ritchie said. “I’ve got no doubt that he just didn’t run the two miles out there, it’s the only blotch in his record book really. He ranged up on the corner, but he just didn’t run the two miles out. “He always tries extremely hard, he’s got the kindest nature and he’ll be a beautiful pony for a kid when he’s finished racing. He never dances in the birdcage, he just does everything you ask him to do and he puts in on raceday. “His mark area is a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half, so I think if we stick in those distance ranges, then he’s going to do well.” Few opportunities remain for Nereus on home soil, so the stable are looking further afield with a likely kick-off point being the Gr.3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben on May 17. “There’s really a limited amount left for him in New Zealand now, so at the sales, Mark Chittick (owner) suggested that we take him to Queensland for the Brisbane Winter Carnival,” Ritchie said. “There is a stream of races that will suit him over there. “I’ve still got to confirm with Mark, but he’ll probably fly over in early May and the first run for him would be the Chairman’s Handicap then the Premier’s Cup (Gr.3, 2400m), but there is a laundry list of cups races for him, like the Caloundra Cup (Listed, 2400m) and Ipswich Cup (Listed, 2150m) as well. “He doesn’t mind a bit of cut in the track and you can often get a bit of rain in Queensland through the winter carnival there, so I’m sure that won’t be a bother to him at all.” Joining Nereus on the trans-Tasman journey will be newcomer Davideo, Ritchie’s latest purchase out of the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale in England. On a previous visit to the sale, Ritchie secured Mahrajaan, who went on to win the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and Gr.2 Auckland Cup (2400m), and was ruled out of running in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last November in a vet inspection. The Cambridge horseman, alongside De Burgh Equine, outlaid 130,000gns to purchase Davideo, a five-year-old by Galileo who made his first Kiwi appearance at the Ellerslie trials on April 3. “He’s being set for the Brisbane Cup (Gr.2, 3200m),” Ritchie said. “He’s a Galileo horse and is very much in the same mould as Mahrajaan. He’s looking like a two-mile sort of horse, he’s had one barrier trial so we’ll give him a run over a mile somewhere before he goes and he’ll be a good partner for Nereus for that campaign.” View the full article

Veteran handler is optimistic his consistent duo can go close at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.View the full article

Cap Ferrat faces strong opposition on FWD Champions Day. Photo: HKJC Cap Ferrat will aim to join one of Hong Kong racing’s most exclusive and esteemed clubs when he lines up in Sunday week’s (27 April) HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin. Trained by Francis Lui, Cap Ferrat prevailed in last month’s HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) by a short head at odds of $25 under Craig Williams, and the four-year-old is chanced with becoming the sixth horse to complete the Derby-QEII Cup double in the same season after Vengeance Of Rain (2005), Ambitious Dragon (2011), Designs On Rome (2014), Werther (2016) and Romantic Warrior (2022). Well-versed with four starts in Hong Kong and 13 pre-import in Australia, Cap Ferrat placed in Group 1 races before arriving at Sha Tin. His Australian form saw him mix it with top-level winners Ceolwulf, Tom Kitten, Riff Rocket, Southport Tycoon and Veight. He gamely landed the BMW Hong Kong Derby from barrier two—his first career win—while this morning (Monday, 14 April) he finished fifth in a barrier trial on Sha Tin’s dirt course in 1m 11.04s over 1200m behind Group 1-winning speedster Victor The Winner, Chancheng Glory, Invincible Shield, and Everyone’s Star. “Keith (Yeung) said he was ok. He trialled well, and it’s just to keep his condition. He’s fit and happy,” Lui said. “I think it’s a tough race. He won the Derby, but we don’t know his quality yet and what grade.” After being supplemented to run in the FWD QEII Cup, Cap Ferrat is expected to face seasoned Group 1 winners Goliath, Tastiera, El Vencedor, and more. “It’s open age now, and he will face international horses. I think he can do something, but we don’t know. It’ll be an exciting race,” Lui said. Williams returns to ride Cap Ferrat. Joao Moreira is engaged to partner stablemate Chancheng Glory in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m). The American-bred son of Mor Spirit clocked 1m 10.36s this morning at Sha Tin. “He hasn’t improved, but he’s the same as before—he is an honest horse. It’s another tough race, and he’s consistent. Joao Moreira can help him, and maybe he can surprise,” Lui said. Chancheng Glory is an eight-time winner in Hong Kong. He landed the HK$4.2 million G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin in January—his biggest win to date. Copartner Prance represents Lui in the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) against the might of the world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, completing the trainer’s big-race trio on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin. Horse racing news View the full article

Bona Sforza winning the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South International racing journalist Andrew Hawkins’ imagination was captured by two things as a child, thoroughbred racing and the Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he was able to combine his two loves. As a teenager, with the hope of one day racing his own horse, Hawkins designed a set of silks based on the colours of his three-time NRL Premiership-winning Canberra Raiders, and on Saturday he realised that dream when watching Bona Sforza carry those silks to victory in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton Park in Christchurch. It was just the third time his silks had been seen on race day, and Hawkins was pleasantly surprised that their first success was in a stakes race. “I was born in Canberra and I have been a Canberra Raiders fan my entire life,” Hawkins said. “When I was 15 or 16, I designed this set of colours. It was one of those things where I was trying to manifest that one day I would hopefully have these colours. “Fast-forward to three or four years ago and I was going to get a set made and I decided to use what I had designed as a teen and bring that to life. “The colours have only been put on once before on a horse, who was a Karaka graduate we had called Tavirotti. She was a Tavistock filly and had two starts and was unplaced in both starts. “They ended up on her (Bona Sforza) and the third time they have been at the races it’s a stakes winner.” While pleased to see his colours to the fore at Riccarton, Hawkins was just as enthused for trainer Samantha Finnegan, who marked her first win with Saturday’s result. Hawkins has become close with Finnegan and her Group One-winning trainer husband, Francis over the last few years, with their friendship having initially been formed over social media, and Bona Sforza is their first foray into ownership together. Purchased by Samantha Finnegan out of Highline Thoroughbreds’ 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $150,000, Hawkins was offered a share in the filly, and he is delighted he took the Finnegans up on their offer. “I had followed Francis Finnegan for a while, and it is one of these social media things (how the association came about),” Hawkins said. “The amazing thing about social media is that you get to connect with all sorts of people, and I connected with him and Samantha a few years back and we would just talk racing. “They obviously went to Ireland and came back, and he got in contact saying he had bought this lovely filly at Karaka. A couple of judges that I really respect in Byron Rogers and Tom Wilson had cast their eye over her and said they really liked her. “He said he had a percentage that he couldn’t move, and would I be interested, and I can put my colours on. I was umming and ahing and in the end I thought, ‘why not?’ I wanted to support Samantha starting out again in New Zealand.” New Zealand has become a sentimental place for Hawkins, who has strong family ties with the island nation, and it is also the place he had his first taste of success as an owner. “I am Australian born and bred, but my dad is a Kiwi, and I have got a big, extended family in New Zealand,” Hawkins said. “My first winner that was in my name was at Rotorua back in 2012, who raced in Lib Petagna’s colours, but myself and a group of friends had 50 percent. “Now I have had my first ever stakes winner in my colours over there as well, so maybe I need to keep to New Zealand.” Hawkins was unable to be trackside at Riccarton on Saturday to witness Bona Sforza’s win as he was just returning from covering the Dubai World Cup meeting, but he said he may head across the Tasman to watch her compete at Riccarton over the New Zealand Cup carnival in November. “She is going to have a bit of a break now and then I think the plan is to try and head towards the Gold Trail (Gr.3, 1200m) and long-term they want to get to the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m),” Hawkins said. “Whether she can get a mile is another thing, on pedigree you would probably say it’s a bit questionable, but the way she extended the other day it was great to see. “I have never been to Cup Week in Christchurch, so I might have to start making plans to head over.” View the full article

Multiple group winner Nereus is being set for a Queensland campaign after powering into second in Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. The Waikato Stud-owned son of Savabeel has a strong affinity with the Upper Hutt course, having won the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2400m) last year before finishing sixth in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in Victoria. His trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray opted to take a different path with the gelding this season, winning the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m) before testing his abilities over the two miles of the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m), which wasn’t to his liking. Returning to 2200m, Nereus was right at home, and after getting back, he recorded the fastest sectionals of the race to just come up short to Mehzebeen, who found the shortest way home up the rail. “It was a fantastic run. He’s had a little break since the Wellington Cup, and he went a brave third first up, which led into this race,” Ritchie said. “I’ve got no doubt that he just didn’t run the two miles out there; it’s the only blotch in his record book, really. He ranged up on the corner, but he just didn’t run the two miles out. “He always tries extremely hard; he’s got the kindest nature, and he’ll be a beautiful pony for a kid when he’s finished racing. He never dances in the birdcage; he just does everything you ask him to do, and he puts it in on race day. “His mark area is a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half, so I think if we stick in those distance ranges, then he’s going to do well.” Few opportunities remain for Nereus on home soil, so the stable is looking further afield, with a likely kick-off point being the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben on May 17. “There’s really a limited amount left for him in New Zealand now, so at the sales, Mark Chittick (owner) suggested that we take him to Queensland for the Brisbane Winter Carnival,” Ritchie said. “There is a stream of races that will suit him over there. “I’ve still got to confirm with Mark, but he’ll probably fly over in early May, and the first run for him would be the Chairman’s Handicap, then the Premier’s Cup (Group 3, 2400m), but there is a laundry list of cup races for him, like the Caloundra Cup (Listed, 2400m) and Ipswich Cup (Listed, 2150m) as well. “He doesn’t mind a bit of cut in the track, and you can often get a bit of rain in Queensland through the winter carnival there, so I’m sure that won’t be a bother to him at all.” Joining Nereus on the trans-Tasman journey will be newcomer Davideo, Ritchie’s latest purchase out of the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in England. On a previous visit to the sale, Ritchie secured Mahrajaan, who went on to win the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and Group 2 Auckland Cup (2400m), and was ruled out of running in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last November in a vet inspection. The Cambridge horseman, alongside De Burgh Equine, laid out 130,000 gns to purchase Davideo, a five-year-old by Galileo who made his first Kiwi appearance at the Ellerslie trials on April 3. “He’s being set for the Brisbane Cup (Group 2, 3200m),” Ritchie said. “He’s a Galileo horse and is very much in the same mould as Mahrajaan. He’s looking like a two-mile sort of horse; he’s had one barrier trial, so we’ll give him a run over a mile somewhere before he goes, and he’ll be a good partner for Nereus for that campaign.” Horse racing news View the full article

Croupier winning the Lisa Allpress Des Coppins Melbourne Cup Tour 1400 at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Quirky three-year-old Croupier has one more box to tick to book his passage to Brisbane. He might be a handful at times but has an abundance of ability, and comeback trainer Andrew Campbell has plans in place for Ace High’s son to showcase that talent at the Queensland winter carnival. Croupier was a luckless fifth on debut behind stakes winner Super Photon last month at Trentham and returned there on Saturday to post a narrow victory over 1400m after racing greenly. “It was a tough watch, but he was good in the last 50m. He’s come through the race super, he hasn’t left an oat,” Campbell said. “He’s got plenty of tricks up his sleeve and you have to go with the flow with him, you wouldn’t beat him even if you tried. His nickname’s Bully and just does what he wants. “He’s a grouse horse though and when the penny really drops, he’s going to be pretty good.” Croupier will be back in action at Ellerslie this weekend with a trip to Australia on the line. “I’m going to back him up at Auckland in a Rating 65 mile on Saturday and Michael McNab is booked to ride him again, which is great,” Campbell said. “He’d have to win, or be really unlucky, to go over.” All going to plan, Croupier will have two lead-up races into the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. “There’s the Queensland Guineas (Gr.2, 1600m), the Rough Habit Plate (Gr.3, 2000m) and then the Derby. “I think he’ll stay all day, he’s by Ace High and he relaxes and drops the bit, we’re all pretty excited.” Saturday’s victory also marked Campbell’s successful return to the training ranks after he changed tack three years ago for a career as a bloodstock agent, before returning to the fold after relocating from Cambridge to Otaki. Croupier was purchased by Campbell and Tommy Heptinstall for $160,000 out of Beaufort Downs’ draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. His dam Lady Zafira was a talented mare who won five races up to 1600 metres and the daughter of Iffraaj also ran third in the Listed Rotorua Stakes and fourth in the G1 Telegraph Handicap. “I’ve got three in work, and we bought six at the sales that are being broken in at the moment and a couple of nice horses in the paddock having a breather,” Campbell said. “I’m going to keep it at 10 horses, it’s so enjoyable with a small team like that, it’s great.” Horse racing news View the full article

The Southern Region is set to deliver two outstanding days of top-class harness racing this April, with Winton and Invercargill each hosting feature race days. Winton Cup Day — Thursday, 17 April, Central Southland Raceway The Winton Harness Racing Club’s signature meeting returns, headlined by the Group 2 Entain 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace, a $70,000 race. This year the club is delighted to welcome All Lay Carpets & Drapes on board as new sponsors of the Winton Cup. The day’s action-packed programme features: · The Group 2 Entain 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace, showcasing future stars · The Southern Belle Speed Series Final, backed by VetSouth Equine and Southern Standardbred Breeders Association · The All Lay Carpets & Drapes Winton Cup · Crucial final heats of the Nevele R Stud/Macca Lodge Southern Oaks and the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Series · The esteemed Murray Gray Memorial 2YO Colts & Geldings Mobile Pace · The undercard is also very strong with all races boasting impressive stakes First race is scheduled for around noon with free entry to the course. Diamonds Day — Sunday, 27 April, Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill Southern racing reaches its peak just 10 days later with the glittering Diamonds Day, hosted by the Invercargill Harness Racing Club — this meeting is the culmination of series finals and feature races in the southern calendar. Diamonds Day brings together the elite of the Southern Region, featuring: · The Group 1 Diamond Creek Farm 2YO Classic, a true highlight of the season · The Group 2 Nevele R Stud/Macca Lodge Southern Oaks Final · The Group 2 Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Final · The Group 3 Entain 2YO Mobile Trot · The Regent Car Court Southern Cups Final, crowning the best of the best · Stakes on offer on the day total $420,000 Off the track, excitement sparkles with the popular Coats & Schuck Jewellers and Invercargill Harness Racing Club ‘WIN A DIAMOND RING’ promotion. Every lady placing a $5 bet on course will go into the draw to win a stunning diamond ring valued in excess of $5,000! This is the fourth year the club has run this promotion which draws a large crowd, all ladies get a complimentary glass of wine on arrival. Free entry applies at both race days, making them the perfect opportunity to enjoy thrilling racing, top-class horses, and the unrivalled atmosphere of Southern harness racing at its finest. Limited hospitality options still available at both meetings. Contact: Southern Harness Racing 03 217 9117 Email: admin@southernharness.co.nz View the full article

A life after racing for Standardbreds can include all manner of things – from trekking and back country adventures to eventing and the show ring. And for one particular group of Canterbury-based Standardbreds and their NZSRA (NZ Standardbred Riding Association) member riders it is all about doing what they enjoy. “This is not the sort of competing we do often – it’s just about having fun and testing all the hard work we have put into our horses,” says one of the team members Melissa Whyte, a well-known owner and breeder. Whyte is part of “Pop N Good Ponies”, a quartet of like-minded enthusiasts who walked away with a win and a fifth placing at this month’s Harris Pegasus Team Trophies Day at the Rangiora Showgrounds. The team consisted of Whyte, Katrina Gosney, Lisa Wakefield and Tash Bol. All their horses are Standardbreds, with the “senior” team member being Bol’s unraced 26-year-old standardbred Master Jonty. The day is organised by the Pegasus Riding Club, who was formed in 1982 after seeing a need for an adult alternative to Pony Club. It consists of two competitions, the Harris Trophy and the Pegasus Trophy. “We don’t get coached or anything,” says Whyte, “it’s a social thing and getting our horses out more than anything else.” Teams of three or four riders compete in low key dressage, jumping (10cm to 70cm) and/or obstacles. The Harris Trophy is the dressage event with each rider completing two tests within their selected level. The top six scores for each team are used for final team placings while in the Pegasus Trophy competitors compete in what is called a “gamblers stakes versatility round” and the top three placings are added to the top three from the Harris Trophy. Gamblers Stakes is where riders jump over a stipulated number of fences, with points depending on their height and difficulty. Riders pick and choose which of the 15 obstacles and jumps they will tackle. “So you try and get the most points you can, but you have to be realistic because if you have refusals or stops you can have points taken off or be eliminated,” says Whyte. Pop N Good Ponies were fifth of 15 teams in the dressage – “that’s pretty good, last year we were eighth” and then came out on top, ahead of 13 teams, in the Pegasus Trophy. “And we won it by a lot,” beams Whyte. While it’s not all about winning and losing that certainly adds to the enjoyment. “It’s just a great day out and we love showing off our branded horses and showing how versatile and clever they are.” View the full article

By Mike Love Ashburton trainer John Morrison trained a double at yesterday’s Methven meeting, bringing up his 50th training success in the process. In Race 1, the Methven Resort and Opuke Hot Pools Trot Lottie’s Moment was far too strong. Driven by Morrison the four-year-old Majestic Son mare began well from their unruly mark to settle midfield. Peeling at the top of the straight, Morrison let the mare down, showing a strong turn of foot to burst away and win by three lengths from runner up Macho Man. “She can still be a bit headstrong at times which is why I put her on the unruly,” Morrison said. “Once she learns how to be a racehorse she’ll be alright. She has a bit of speed.” Lottie’s Moment is raced by “half of Ashburton” but her win was particularly special as she was bred and trained by the late Katie Cox. “Katie (Cox) made the horse. She trained and drove it as a two-year-old placing three times from three starts. It shows how good of a horsewoman she was.” Bringing up win 50 for Morrison was Destiny’s Dream in Race 6, the Advanced Joinery LTD (Invited Drivers) Mobile Pace with Maurice McKendry MNZM in the sulky. Sliding forward from their outside barrier, McKendry and Destiny’s Dream were able to get a soft lead which they held to the line, holding off challenges to win by a neck. “She’s a nice horse. Ben Waldron did all the work with her early. She worked well on Monday so I thought she wouldn’t be far away,” said Morrison of her win. Morrison’s first training win was No Fears at Addington in December 2018. Other highlights on the programme included a back to form win by Here’s Herbie for co-trainer/driver Colin DeFilippi in The Brown Pub Methven Mount Hutt TC Cup. It was the Sportswriter gelding’s eighth career victory, and first since December 2023. Driver Samantha Ottley also recorded a hat trick of wins in the sulky (Newbiemains Arden, Louis and Aveross Majesty) but that was not enough to win the Roseland Racing Drivers Challenge which was won by Team Legends (Ricky May, Maurice McKendry and Tony Herlihy). View the full article

The 2024 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival has cemented its status as a powerhouse on Australia’s major events calendar, delivering a record $785.1 million economic boost to the state. A newly released economic impact study from IER Pty Ltd found the three-month Carnival delivered its highest gross economic benefit in a decade, as almost 600,000 racegoers flocked to tracks across Victoria. The surge in spending across accommodation, transport, fashion, food and hospitality reflected the breadth of the Carnival’s impact – from marquee events at Flemington, Caulfield and The Valley to 26 country cups in rural towns. “This economic study reinforces that Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival is one of Australia’s largest major events attracting interstate and overseas visitors who invest in our state,” said Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison. “It was great to see an increased number of younger people dressing up and enjoying the action.” Crowds were up 4% on 2023 and 17% on 2022, with more than 83,000 visitors travelling from interstate or overseas. These guests accounted for more than 320,000 visitor nights and helped drive a record $351.4 million in value-added impact – a 25.8% rise on pre-COVID levels. In a state where the racing industry contributes over $4.7 billion annually to the economy, the Carnival remains a vital economic engine. “These record results once again highlight the enormous contribution Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival makes to the state’s economy,” said Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines. “The carnival brings visitors from all over Australia and the world, showing off our world-class racing events, fashion, food and more on an international stage.” The fashion and retail industries were also major beneficiaries, with over $60 million spent on fashion and grooming – including more than 80,000 dresses and 70,000 hats or fascinators sold during the Carnival. And for every dollar spent on course, another $1.12 was spent off-course in Victoria’s shops, hotels, restaurants and transport services – proving the impact of the Spring Racing Carnival is felt well beyond the track. From Melbourne to Manangatang, the figures paint a clear picture: racing continues to be big business for Victoria. Horse racing news View the full article

What Kembla Grange Races Where Kembla Grange Racecourse – Princes Hwy, Kembla Grange NSW 2530 When Tuesday, April 15, 2025 First Race 1:20pm AEST Visit Dabble Kembla Grange Racecourse is the destination for NSW racing on Tuesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-part program awaiting punters in the Illawarra region. The rail moves out +6m the entire circuit, and although some rainfall is forecast to hit the course, it shouldn’t affect the Good 4 rating at the time of acceptances. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1:20pm local time. Best Bet at Kembla Grange: Imperial State Imperial State was impressive when weaving a passage to victory at Gosford on March 27 and appears poised to claim back-to-back wins. The Autumn Sun gelding did it nicely despite the awkward run in transit and should be better suited stepping out to the 1200m third-up in the campaign. Gate one should allow Kerrin McEvoy to lob onto the leaders’ back throughout, and provided he can show a similar tturn of speed, Imperial State should have no issues justifying the short price with . Best Bet Race 4 – #3 Imperial State (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Kerrin McEvoy (58kg) Next Best at Kembla Grange: Ready To Rocket Ready To Rocket was a dominant debut winner last preparation, storming through the wire at Hawkesbury on November 21. The daughter of Smart Missile was near-last turning for home before showing good acceleration to claim an eye-catching half-length win. She’s trialled well leading into this first-up assignment, and although the 1000m could be too sharp for this progressive mare, expect Ready To Rocket to be right in this and at a good price with . Next Best Race 3 – #5 Ready To Rocket (3) 4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Tyler Schiller (57kg) Best Value at Kembla Grange: New Business New Business gets set for his Australian debut after being transferred to the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald barn. It’s been a lengthy absence for the son of Sea The Stars resuming off a 596-day spell; however, he’s been trialling well for his new stable, suggesting the now five-year-old is ready to fire first-up. Expect Anna Roper to be positive and take up the running from stall eight, and provided New Business can get across with relative ease, the UK import will give a bold sight at the each-way price with . Best Value Race 6 – #2 New Business (8) 5yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Anna Roper (1.5kg) (62kg) Tuesday quaddie tips for Kembla Grange Kembla Grange quadrella selections April 15, 2025 1-3 1-4-7-9-11-12 2-3-5 3-8-10-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Kimochi winning the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Kimochi (Brave Smash) will line up in Saturday’s Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in search of a second career Group 1 victory. The four-year-old mare, trained by Gary Portelli for Yulong, made her Group 1 breakthrough in last year’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and has returned in strong form this campaign. She resumed with a fast-finishing second in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) and followed that effort with a game fifth behind Briasa in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 5. “She’s come through the run (in the TJ Smith) well and she’s in good order,” Portelli said. “It’s a perfect preparation, she had a month between runs from first-up to second-up and two weeks to the third-up run. I’m pretty happy with her but it’s a pretty tough race.” Kimochi will be stepping back up to her pet trip of 1400 metres, a distance that delivered her biggest win to date, as she attempts to take down a high-quality All-Aged Stakes field. Horse racing news View the full article