Wandering Eyes

Harness Racing New Zealand advises that significant rainfall is forecast for Methven over the next 72 hours, including up to 30mm on Saturday, prompting the introduction of a contingency plan for this weekend’s meeting. A track inspection will be conducted at Mt Harding Racecourse, Methven, at 11am on Saturday 4 October. If the track is deemed unsuitable, the meeting will be transferred to Addington Raceway. In that event, race distances will be amended in line with Addington’s approved start points, and Race 8 will be reviewed to meet maximum field size requirements. HRNZ will confirm the outcome immediately following Saturday’s inspection. View the full article

Trevor Craddock, one of the great characters of West Coast harness racing, will be farewelled at Westport tomorrow (Friday). The 85-year-old is being remembered as someone who “loved his racing and rugby” and had “a great life”. Based at Patterson Park, Craddock had exactly 100 training wins between 1967 and 2014 with 27 successes as a driver. His first driving and training win was with Wheels at Reefton in 1967. Among his best horses were Clifford Jasper (10 wins), Chiola Reb (10 wins), and Brooksdale Pal, Oregon Heights, Jovial Jan and Rosewood Garrison, with five wins each. Another of his horses McCreedy also won the 1974 Marlborough Cup. Craddock served for many years on the Westport Trotting Club committee including stints as president. He was also a Life member with the club describing him as “a legend of West Coast racing”. “Trevor will be missed by many locally and to those that enjoyed catching up with him on their trips to the Westport trots. His big infectious smile will be missed on track this coming Christmas without doubt.” Craddock devoted a lot of his time to training horses after the sale of the family’s trucking business Craddocks Transport. Brother Bill Craddock described Trevor as “a character”. “He was very mischievous.” Trevor and his late wife Kathleen had a big family. “There were eight kids – at one stage they had five under five,” says Bill. Another who knew Trevor well was long-time friend John Reedy. “He looked like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth but it was just a facade!” “He was a hard worker, and a good man who had a great life” “One day he was hunched over the running rail and we thought he was feeling a bit poorly after a big night but it turns out he was having a heart attack.” laughs Reedy, “he thought he had indigestion.’ “He was very stoic,” Bill says of his brother. “He had a triple by-pass 23 years ago and also had prostate cancer later but he battled on.” As well as racing, rugby was also a huge part of Craddock’s life. Records show he played 28 games for Buller between 1959 and 1966 including some as captain and playing as halfback, first five and also loose forward. A career highlight came in 1965 when he scored a try against Canterbury while another was playing for the West Coast – Buller side against the touring British Isles in 1966. The Buller Rugby Union has paid tribute by saying : “BRU are saddened to acknowledge the passing of Trevor Craddock #469, a proud Buller man and White Star club player who wore the red and blue jersey with distinction. “We thank Trevor for his service and commitment to Buller Rugby, and extend our condolences to his family, friends, and the White Star club community. Once a Buller man, always a Buller man!” A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Canice’s Catholic Church, Westport, on Friday, October 3, at 2.00pm. View the full article

Jamie Richards will pin his faith on champion jockey Zac Purton and Bulb General’s talent when the four-year-old series prospect chases a third straight victory at Sha Tin on Saturday. Fresh from a sensational win at the season-opening meeting last month, Bulb General has been hit with a wide draw in barrier 12 and a 7lb rise on his last start for the Class Three Tung Lung Chau Handicap (1,200m). However, Richards is confident the son of Embellish has the ability to settle back from the gate and...View the full article

It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song (Written Tycoon), a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle (NZ), makes her debut. Raced by New Zealand syndicator Fortuna, Melody Belle won 19 races for former Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, including 14 at Group One level. She accrued more than $4 million in prize money and was crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Following her racing career, she was offered at Magic Millions’ 2021 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale where she was purchased by Yulong Investments for A$2.6 million. Her first mating was with resident stallion Written Tycoon, with the resulting foal being Lyrics ‘N’ Song, who would be entrusted to the care of Mark Walker at Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne barn. The now three-year-old filly has had three jumpouts, including winning her last outing over 1000m at Cranbourne, and she has made a good impression on Walker. “She has jumped out nicely and she has inherited some of mum’s ability, I don’t know how much yet, but I think she is well above average at this stage,” he said. “We are very grateful that Yulong gave us the first foal to train, and hopefully she is a good broodmare for them.” Lyrics ‘N’ Song will line-up in the Drummond Gold Plate (1200m) on Friday and Walker is looking forward to seeing how she performs under the pressure of racenight. “It has come up quite a strong field, there is a fair bit of depth to it, but she has drawn nicely (1) and should acquit herself well,” he said. On Saturday, Walker will take three runners to Flemington, including debut winner Azazel (NZ) (Shocking), who will contest the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m). “I liked it (debut run) because he was headed and he fought back and he was really strong through the line,” Walker said. “I think Flemington will suit him over 1800m, it is just hard weighing up different form lines. I see they have put him up as a $23 shot, but I certainly rate him a better chance than that.” A race prior, Walker will have a dual-pronged attack in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) courtesy of debutants Harry Met Sally (Yes Yes Yes) and Flash Of Class (Capitalist). “They have had three jumpouts and they have had the benefit of a jumpout down the Flemington straight,” Walker said. “They have been well schooled. “They are all first starters and have got different form lines, so it is hard to weight it up.” Meanwhile, back in New Zealand, Te Akau Racing’s Matamata barn will be seeking to take out their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), with My Lips Are Sealed (NZ) (Ace High). The Group Three winner had only been fair in her trials early in her prepation, but Walker, who trains in New Zealand in partnership with Sam Bergerson, was buoyed by her first-up run at Ellerslie last month. “Her trials before her first start were a bit below par, but I thought her run first-up was quite good and she has improved,” he said. “She is down on the minimum and a wet track shouldn’t worry her.” View the full article

Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile. While his Derby win showcased his staying prowess as a three-year-old, Berry believes the maturing son of Tarzino has sharpened considerably, now looking every inch a genuine miler with the strength to stretch out slightly further if required. The Group One winner carried 58kgs when an eye-catching eighth when resuming in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) behind Pericles and will drop to 53kgs on Saturday where he has drawn barrier 2. “It was no surprise to the stable (his good run in the Tramway),” Berry told Radio TAB. “Even though he has won a Derby, which horses can do at three and come back a little bit sharper at four, he had given the stable the indication he was working like a mile to 2000m horse. He was quite sharp and running good times.” That impression was reinforced by Willydoit’s first-up performance where he produced the fastest 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m of the race. “Another 200m first-up and he probably comes out and wins,” Berry said. “The step up to a mile with a month between runs and a trial looks like it will suit him perfectly.” Originally prepared by Shaun and Emma Clotworthy in New Zealand, the gelding, who sports the MyRacehorse silks, was transferred to Maher after his fourth placing in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). Berry is confident Willydoit will appreciate being ridden more positively from a better draw. “He has always had to be ridden too far back from bad alleys or sit wide and cover ground, and he has been able to overcome that adversity,” Berry said. “This is probably one of the first times he is going to have the opportunity to get into a rhythm and be happy.” With just 14 runners engaged, Berry is also expecting a more controlled tempo than the traditionally fast-run Epsom, a scenario he feels will play to Willydoit’s strengths. Standing in his way is the race favourite Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), unbeaten in six starts to date. “The favourite will be very hard to beat as an unbeaten mare. She is the right favourite in the race, but I am sure he will be snapping at her heels late,” Berry said. Beyond Saturday, the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) looms as a potential spring target, though Berry said the outcome of the Epsom will help shape the horse’s campaign. View the full article

Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday. During the afternoon, Rider celebrated three winners across the card at Tauranga with Savvysuper (NZ) (Super Seth), Just Call Me Jonny (NZ) (Eminent) and Vickezzlastcall (NZ) (Wrote), all horses that he bred and races under his Milan Park banner. But, later that evening, the latter’s half-sister Aromatic (NZ) died after complications having her first foal. “We lost Aromatic last night, she foaled on Friday night with a dead foal and the foal put a foot through her bowel, so we lost the mare as well,” Rider said. “It is very, very sad for us, but animals, like humans, we live and die. It’s just life.” The daughter of Sacred Falls was purchased out of Milan Park’s draft at Karaka in 2019 by Te Akau Racing, and after victories in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m), Rider bought her back as a valuable broodmare prospect, as the best-performing foal out of his mare Vickezzchardonnay (NZ) (Don Eduardo). Rider hopes Vickezzlastcall can reach similar heights in the care of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and like Aromatic, has shown a preference for the middle-distance trips, comfortably taking out the Team Wealleans 2100. “She just needs ground and Te Akau always thought she was a wet-tracker, but she may be following some of the Wrotes (sire) in liking the firmer ground, he said. “They seem to go pretty well in Hong Kong. “Hopefully she can step up to be like her half-sister.” Last season’s champion jockey Craig Grylls guided Vickezzlastcall to her second win in five starts, while he also steered both Savvysuper and Just Call Me Jonny in their respective victories. Savvysuper, a well-bred son of Super Seth and Oaks placegetter Savvy Dreams (NZ), was first-up in his three-year-old campaign and took out a dramatic Ultimate Ford Maiden 1400, where two separate incidents caused horses to dislodged their riders. “He was very good, Cody (Cole, trainer) rated him and Craig has ridden him a couple of times and thought a lot of him,” he said. “He has come up to expectations.” The gelding was passed in when offered for sale as a yearling, and Rider said he is very much still on the market. “We took him to the sales but he didn’t sell as a yearling, so the idea was to race him and sell him from there, which we intend to do now,” he said. “His full-brother in Australia, Savour The Dream (NZ) (Super Seth), has been unlucky in a number of group races, being drawn wide and things like that. “Savvy Dreams has a yearling filly by Sword Of State going to the sales, and she is foaling late this year (served by Per Incanto).” Eminent gelding Just Call Me Jonny completed the clean sweep, taking advantage of an inside run and kicking clear to take out the Bayleys Altogether Better 1400 for trainers Peter and Shaun McKay. “Craig and Peter were very positive and he’s such an honest horse, he tries very hard and he’s been slow maturing,” Rider said. “Hopefully we are looking for a reasonably good season out of him.” Looking further into the spring, Rider is excited about the prospects of his star mare Provence, who impressed in her Open 950m heat at the Cambridge Synthetic trials on Tuesday. “We can’t wait, Stephen Marsh (trainer) sent us a clip this morning saying how well she is and she’ll have one more trial, then she’ll be off to the races,” he said. “She originally was set for a race in Australia so she came in nice and early, but she got a blood infection, so she came home and we gave her a break for roughly six weeks to let it come right. “That has mucked up our original plan with her, but there is plenty of group races going forward and we’re all very excited.” The six-year-old had a breakthrough season last term for Rider and her co-owners, syndicator Social Racing, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m). View the full article

After a remarkable run in New Zealand that saw him notch an impressive 167 wins, Malaysian-born jockey Joe Kamaruddin is set to make a highly anticipated return to race day action at Selangor Turf Club. Kamaruddin, whose career flourished across the Tasman, earned a reputation for tactical finesse, consistency, and a deep understanding of race dynamics. His success in New Zealand included partnerships with top stables and victories across a range of distances and conditions, cementing his status as one of the region’s most respected riders. Following a hiatus from competitive riding, Kamaruddin’s comeback marks a significant moment for Malaysian racing. His return to Selangor Turf Club not only reconnects him with his roots but also injects fresh excitement into the local jockey ranks. This Sunday, he will be aboard six rides, offering plenty of opportunities to showcase his skill and regain his competitive momentum. “Joe’s return is more than a homecoming—it’s a statement of intent,” said a club spokesperson. “His international experience and proven track record bring added depth to our race day line-up. We’re thrilled to welcome him back.” As the gates prepare to open, all eyes will be on Kamaruddin—whose journey from promising apprentice to international winner now enters a compelling new chapter at Selangor Turf Club. View the full article

The road back to racing has been a long one for Tamara. Now the Spendthrift Farm homebred will try to make it a return worth waiting for in the Oct. 4 Chillingworth Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel. Badel, who won the race for the third time, was victorious last season aboard Beauty Waves, who faded to sixth place under champion jockey Zac Purton in a tame defence of his crown. The Frenchman said this time around he had pursued the ride on Fast Network as he rated his chances highly. “I knew he’d be a very strong contender in this race, so I was chasing the ride, and I’m grateful that the connections and the trainer gave me the confidence of the ride,” Badel said. “It’s always nice to deliver. I thought he won brilliantly. I probably hit the front too soon because of the draw, but he had plenty to offer. It was great.” The five-year-old son of Wrote was ridden under a hold until the last 200m when he was unleashed by Badel and quickly loomed to the head of the field along the outside. “He’s a late finisher, this horse,” Yip said, “So in the early stages, I told the jockey not to push him a lot. Just leave him alone, let him relax and then he will finish the last 300 (metres). A triumphant Yip acknowledged the improvement in his charge and switched his focus to further Group success down the line. “He’s a very honest horse. Since his last race (the Class 2 Tai Mo Shan Handicap, 1400m), his form has improved a lot in Conghua,” Yip said. “I think at the end of the month, there is a Group Two over 1200 for him (Premier Bowl, Handicap). I think that’s my target for him,” Yip added. Longer term, Fast Network is set to clash with fellow New Zealand bred Ka Ying Rising in December’s Gr.1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m). The sprint feature was the sixth win of a 13-start career for Fast Network who has now earned HK$10.17m for owner Ng Hung Yau. Bred by Highview Stud’s Kurtis Gillovic, Fast Network was purchased by Wexford Stables for $30,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 2 Yearling Sales. Originally named Donnie Malone, Fast Network won a trial at Te Rapa for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott before his sale to Hong Kong. Fast Network is one of eight individual winners from 11 runners in Hong Kong by Highview Stud stallion Wrote, a Group One winning son of High Chaparral. View the full article

Te Aroha horsewoman Emma Faber crossed over the Kaimai range to record her first training win at Tauranga on Wednesday, courtesy of Reckoning in the Tauranga Crossing Fashions In The Field November 1st (1400m). It was the second start for the Echoes Of Heaven four-year-old, having run seventh on debut over 1200m at Ellerslie last month, and Faber was confident of an improved performance. The gelding had shown plenty of promise at home and at the trials, winning his 1100m heat at Avondale prior to his debut, and Faber was thrilled he was able to realise that potential on raceday, running out a 2-1/4 length victor under jockey Samantha Collett. “It was very exciting,” Faber said. “He showed plenty and even before his first trial this campaign we knew we had a horse with plenty of ability. “He has just been quite slow coming to it mentally, he is a bit of a difficult horse to handle and he is still very green. “Even the race that he won, he still came around the corner on the wrong leg and was looking around. He is going to improve from that quite a lot, that’s the best part of it.” Hailing from the United Kingdom, Faber had a solid grounding in jumps racing in her homeland before moving to New Zealand. “I am from the UK and I rode in jumping stables over there before I came here. I came over on a work visa and worked in Takanini for Mark Sullivan,” she said. “I worked closely with my ex-husband, Mathew Faber, and we did alright back then.” Faber also had a seven-year stint in Japan, where she specialised in educating young horses. “I was in Japan for several years breaking-in horses,” she said. “I was up in Hokkaido, in the north of Japan,” she said. “There were lots of Kiwis and people from England and Ireland up there at the time. They had beautiful facilities, it was a good experience, and the money was very good at the time.” Back in New Zealand, Faber continued to focus on breaking-in and pre-training, and it wasn’t until last season that she took out her trainer’s licence at the behest of her clients. “I used to do a lot of breaking-in and pre-training. I have got such a lovely bunch of owners and they all persuaded me to take out my license and take those horses a bit further, so that is how it has all developed,” she said. “I have got 11 in work at the moment, so I am pretty busy.” There are a lot of youngsters in Faber’s care and she said there is plenty of potential among them. “Everything that I started off were mainly two-year-olds that we had just broken in,” she said. “I think a few of them have got ability, but it is just a time thing with young horses. “Bellavinsky that I raced yesterday, I do think a lot of her, she is just still a little bit weak, but I think she will be a nice filly in the autumn.” Faber is particularly upbeat about the prospects of Reckoning but she has yet to decide what his next step will be. “There are no definite plans as yet, we will see how he pulls up and then have a good look,” she said. “Whether we think he has to step up to 1600 or if he is better staying at 1400m for the minute. We will then have a look around and see what there is for him.” View the full article

A Group Three test is in the offing for Group Two performer Saint Bathans, who has transferred south to the care of Ascot Park trainer Robert Dennis. Previously trained by Andrew Forsman out of his Cambridge and Flemington bases, the son of Maurice won five races on both sides of the Tasman, with his career highlight being a runner-up performance behind Habana in last year’s Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m). The seven-year-old gelding has been leased to a group of Dennis’ clients and the Southland horseman has been pleased with the way he has settled into his barn. “He arrived in terrific order from Andrew’s stable. He is a lovely, older gelding,” Dennis said. “We have leased him down here and put together a group to race him.” Saint Bathans made his stable debut over 1100m at Gore 10 days ago and Dennis believes he will be more competitive over a mile on Friday in the Olphert Contracting Handicap (1600m) at Ascot Park. “His first-up run was more like a trial for him over 1100m,” Dennis said. “Stepping up to the 1600m on Friday is a more suitable distance and he drops in weight too. “The only concern is a Heavy10 track. If he can get through that he will be competitive.” Stakes targets await Saint Bathans if he performs up to expectations this week. “We threw a nomination in for the TAB Racing Club Mile (Gr.3, 1600m), and if he does recapture his best form, that is certainly a race that he could be aiming towards,” Dennis said. Saint Bathans will be met on Friday by stablemate Stolen Magic. “This has been her target for a little while,” Dennis said. “She gets a nice, light weight (54kg) and we expect a wet track, which is right up her alley. She has had a trial and a race, and I think she will be ready to go second-up.” Dennis has a four-pronged attack in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m), a race named after his late father, led by last-start winner Sir Sterling. The Greg McCarthy-bred and owned gelding won fresh-up over 1335m at Gore last month and Dennis is hoping he can double-up on Friday. “He was really good and he seems to have trained on well,” Dennis said. “Up two kilos in weight, we have stuck with Daniel Bothamley onboard. Dan has been doing a great job riding a bit of work for us lately. “We expect him to be competitive if he can get through the wet track. He has had one start here at Invercargill for one win, so he obviously likes the place.” Stablemates The Radiant One and On Song will resume in the STAC Weddings Handicap (1200m), with the former on a path towards next month’s New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch. “It will be a kick-off point for The Radiant One,” Dennis said. “A heavy track is certainly not ideal first-up for her, but she is aiming for Cup Week and we have no big expectation on her. “On Song goes really well fresh. She has a nice, light weight and a good front rider in Tina Comignaghi aboard. She is stepping up to open class, but at her best she will be right there.” Earlier on the card, three-year-old filly Swoomee Swan will be on trial for next month’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) when she contests the Nigel Robertson Building Maiden (1400m). Dennis has plenty of time for the daughter of Darci Brahma and expects her to improve on her debut runner-up effort. “Swoomee Swan is a very nice three-year-old filly that holds a 1000 Guineas nomination,” Dennis said. “I would prefer to see her on top of the ground, but it is hard to pass up a seven-horse field on her home track. “Her debut second has been franked with the winner just going down in a three-year-old handicap on Saturday, and one in behind her winning last week as well. “She is a pretty smart horse.” Dennis also holds high hopes for Pretty Fly in the One Agency Maiden (1200m). “In the maiden 1200m, we have got Pretty Fly resuming,” he said. “Hopefully she has matured a bit now, she was thereabouts last season. If she can find another length or two, she is going to be really hard to beat.” View the full article

The TAB Racing Club is set to wind down, with the business case for the experience-based programme no longer stacking up for operator Entain Australia & New Zealand. Modelled off sister company Ladbrokes’ popular Racing Club, the TAB Racing Club was launched last year and gives members the chance to experience the thrill of racehorse ownership without the cost. It has been well patronised, with around 18,000 New Zealand TAB customers joining the Club. They have experienced several highlights over the last year, starting with their first win at Ascot Park last November when Bella Ragazza scored for trainer Robert Dennis. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained In Haste has been a standout for the Club, carrying their silks to victory in two of her four starts and finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie last month. The TAB Racing Club’s latest victory came this past weekend when Transcend posted her second consecutive win for trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray at Te Rapa, much to the delight of several club members who got to experience the full raceday ownership experience. While the Club has been a hit, it requires a $2.5 million annual investment to operate, and Entain Australia & New Zealand has decided that business model is no longer viable. “This is a disciplined, responsible decision that allows us to get back to basics – selling bets and delivering strong returns to the New Zealand racing industry,” Entain ANZ chief executive Andrew Vouris said. “We are focused on our core business of responsibly selling bets and creating innovative products, while ensuring the horses are well cared for with their new owners, and our customers enjoy the experiences they’ve already secured. “This decision is about discipline, focus, and doing what’s right for the long term – winning, but not at all costs.” The TAB Racing Club currently has 28 thoroughbred and standardbred horses in its ownership, and Entain has commenced a process to sell the Club’s horses, which involves independent appraisal, and they said animal welfare will be a key priority as part of this process. Entain ANZ will honour all existing Racing Club experiences through to the end of New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch in November, and it said it remains committed to delivering strong returns to the New Zealand racing industry through its 25-year partnership with TAB New Zealand. View the full article

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Reckoning winning at Tauranga on Wednesday. (Photo: Kenton Wright/Race Images) Te Aroha horsewoman Emma Faber crossed over the Kaimai range to record her first training win at Tauranga on Wednesday, courtesy of Reckoning. It was the second start for the Echoes Of Heaven four-year-old, having run seventh on debut over 1200m at Ellerslie last month, and Faber was confident of an improved performance. The gelding had shown plenty of promise at home and at the trials, winning his 1100m heat at Avondale prior to his debut, and Faber was thrilled he was able to realise that potential on raceday, running out a 2.25 length victor as a $5.50 chance with horse betting sites under jockey Samantha Collett. “It was very exciting,” Faber said. “He showed plenty and even before his first trial this campaign we knew we had a horse with plenty of ability. “He has just been quite slow coming to it mentally, he is a bit of a difficult horse to handle and he is still very green. “Even the race that he won, he still came around the corner on the wrong leg and was looking around. He is going to improve from that quite a lot, that’s the best part of it.” Hailing from the United Kingdom, Faber had a solid grounding in jumps racing in her homeland before moving to New Zealand. “I am from the UK and I rode in jumping stables over there before I came here. I came over on a work visa and worked in Takanini for Mark Sullivan,” she said. “I worked closely with my ex-husband, Mathew Faber, and we did alright back then.” Faber also had a seven-year stint in Japan, where she specialised in educating young horses. “I was in Japan for several years breaking-in horses,” she said. “I was up in Hokkaido, in the north of Japan,” she said. “There were lots of Kiwis and people from England and Ireland up there at the time. They had beautiful facilities, it was a good experience, and the money was very good at the time.” Back in New Zealand, Faber continued to focus on breaking-in and pre-training, and it wasn’t until last season that she took out her trainer’s licence at the behest of her clients. “I used to do a lot of breaking-in and pre-training. I have got such a lovely bunch of owners and they all persuaded me to take out my license and take those horses a bit further, so that is how it has all developed,” she said. “I have got 11 in work at the moment, so I am pretty busy.” There are a lot of youngsters in Faber’s care and she said there is plenty of potential among them. “Everything that I started off were mainly two-year-olds that we had just broken in,” she said. “I think a few of them have got ability, but it is just a time thing with young horses. “Bellavinsky that I raced yesterday, I do think a lot of her, she is just still a little bit weak, but I think she will be a nice filly in the autumn.” Faber is particularly upbeat about the prospects of Reckoning but she has yet to decide what his next step will be. “There are no definite plans as yet, we will see how he pulls up and then have a good look,” she said. “Whether we think he has to step up to 1600 or if he is better staying at 1400m for the minute. We will then have a look around and see what there is for him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Group Two performer Saint Bathans. (Photo: Kenton Wright/Race Images) A Group 3 test is in the offing for Group Two performer Saint Bathans, who has transferred south to the care of Ascot Park trainer Robert Dennis. Previously trained by Andrew Forsman out of his Cambridge and Flemington bases, the son of Maurice won five races on both sides of the Tasman, with his career highlight being a runner-up performance behind Habana in last year’s Group 2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m). The seven-year-old gelding has been leased to a group of Dennis’ clients and the Southland horseman has been pleased with the way he has settled into his barn. “He arrived in terrific order from Andrew’s stable. He is a lovely, older gelding,” Dennis said. “We have leased him down here and put together a group to race him.” Saint Bathans made his stable debut over 1100m at Gore 10 days ago, and Dennis believes he will be more competitive over a mile on Friday at Ascot Park. “His first-up run was more like a trial for him over 1100m,” Dennis said. “Stepping up to the 1600m on Friday is a more suitable distance and he drops in weight too. “The only concern is a Heavy10 track. If he can get through that he will be competitive.” Stakes targets await Saint Bathans if he performs up to expectations this week. “We threw a nomination in for the TAB Racing Club Mile (Group 3, 1600m), and if he does recapture his best form, that is certainly a race that he could be aiming towards,” Dennis said. Saint Bathans will be met on Friday by stablemate Stolen Magic. “This has been her target for a little while,” Dennis said. “She gets a nice, light weight (54kg) and we expect a wet track, which is right up her alley. She has had a trial and a race, and I think she will be ready to go second-up.” Dennis has a four-pronged attack in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m), a race named after his late father, led by last-start winner Sir Sterling. The Greg McCarthy-bred and owned gelding won fresh-up over 1335m at Gore last month and Dennis is hoping he can double-up on Friday. “He was really good and he seems to have trained on well,” Dennis said. “Up two kilos in weight, we have stuck with Daniel Bothamley onboard. Dan has been doing a great job riding a bit of work for us lately. “We expect him to be competitive if he can get through the wet track. He has had one start here at Invercargill for one win, so he obviously likes the place.” Stablemates The Radiant One and On Song will resume, with the former on a path towards next month’s New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch. “It will be a kick-off point for The Radiant One,” Dennis said. “A heavy track is certainly not ideal first-up for her, but she is aiming for Cup Week and we have no big expectation on her. “On Song goes really well fresh. She has a nice, light weight and a good front rider in Tina Comignaghi aboard. She is stepping up to open class, but at her best she will be right there.” Earlier on the card, three-year-old filly Swoomee Swan will be on trial for next month’s Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Dennis has plenty of time for the daughter of Darci Brahma and expects her to improve on her debut runner-up effort. “Swoomee Swan is a very nice three-year-old filly that holds a 1000 Guineas nomination,” Dennis said. “I would prefer to see her on top of the ground, but it is hard to pass up a seven-horse field on her home track. “Her debut second has been franked with the winner just going down in a three-year-old handicap on Saturday, and one in behind her winning last week as well. “She is a pretty smart horse.” Dennis also holds high hopes for Pretty Fly. “In the maiden 1200m, we have got Pretty Fly resuming,” he said. “Hopefully she has matured a bit now, she was thereabouts last season. If she can find another length or two, she is going to be really hard to beat.” Horse racing news View the full article

Transcend carrying the TAB Racing Club silks to victory at Te Rapa last Saturday. Photo: (Kenton Wright/Race Images) The TAB Racing Club is set to wind down, with the business case for the experience-based programme no longer stacking up for operator Entain Australia & New Zealand. Modelled off sister company Ladbrokes’ popular Racing Club, the TAB Racing Club was launched last year and gives members the chance to experience the thrill of racehorse ownership without the cost. It has been well patronised, with around 18,000 New Zealand TAB customers joining the Club. They have experienced several highlights over the last year, starting with their first win at Ascot Park last November when Bella Ragazza scored for trainer Robert Dennis. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained In Haste has been a standout for the Club, carrying their silks to victory in two of her four starts and finished runner-up in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie last month. The TAB Racing Club’s latest victory came this past weekend when Transcend posted her second consecutive win for trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray at Te Rapa, much to the delight of several club members who got to experience the full raceday ownership experience. While the Club has been a hit, it requires a $2.5 million annual investment to operate, and Entain Australia & New Zealand has decided that business model is no longer viable. “This is a disciplined, responsible decision that allows us to get back to basics – selling bets and delivering strong returns to the New Zealand racing industry,” Entain ANZ chief executive Andrew Vouris said. “We are focused on our core business of responsibly selling bets and creating innovative products, while ensuring the horses are well cared for with their new owners, and our customers enjoy the experiences they’ve already secured. “This decision is about discipline, focus, and doing what’s right for the long term – winning, but not at all costs.” The TAB Racing Club currently has 28 thoroughbred and standardbred horses in its ownership, and Entain has commenced a process to sell the Club’s horses, which involves independent appraisal, and they said animal welfare will be a key priority as part of this process. Entain ANZ will honour all existing Racing Club experiences through to the end of New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch in November, and it said it remains committed to delivering strong returns to the New Zealand racing industry through its 25-year partnership with TAB New Zealand. Horse racing news View the full article

Sulek ridden by Billy Egan wins at Sandown Hillside Racecourse. (Photo: Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when victorious at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton. The gelded son of Super Seth was having just his second start and after racing a little keenly early, settled midfield under jockey Billy Egan before comfortably reeling in the leaders as a $3 chance with horse racing bookmakers and staving off the late challenge of runner-up Snitz Sonic. “He is still doing a little bit wrong. You could see in the home straight he just wanted to lug in slightly. I think it is just immaturity more than anything, but he definitely has a nice engine,” Sutton said. “He has done it in his trials, that is why we have put the winkers on to help him concentrate and make sure he is going as straight as possible, but with more experience under his belt, he will come good. “It looked a little bit messy early, just trying to get a spot and he just got up on the bridle a tad. He just had to bring him back and get him into a rhythm halfway through. Once he found that spot and he dropped his head, it was a pretty painless watch from there. “He has a contingent of UK owners in him, who are coming over for the carnival. It would be nice to be able to step him out for them when they arrive. But we will ultimately do what is best by the horse first. “They are only three once, so we will just have a look at the calendar and see if there is a nice race for him over Melbourne Cup week.” Winning rider Billy Egan said the wind was somewhat problematic, hence his decision to settle back with cover. “There was a big headwind down the back straight and a strong tailwind down the home straight,” he said. “He gave me a good feel. I think he is a pretty nice horse. He still has a few things to iron out, but he will make a nice horse when the penny drops. “He was very strong through the line. If get his racing manners in hand a bit early, that will help him settle and he will be able to run out a nice mile.” Horse racing news View the full article

Fast Network delivers for Dennis Yip and Alexis Badel. (Photo: HKJC) Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Group 3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network (125lb) blitzed an impressive field under Alexis Badel, who won the contest for a third time. Badel won the race last season aboard Beauty Waves (135lb), who faded to sixth place under champion jockey Zac Purton in a tame defence of his crown. The Frenchman said this time around he had pursued the ride on Fast Network as he rated his chances highly. “I knew he’d be a very strong contender in this race, so I was chasing the ride, and I’m grateful that the connections and the trainer gave me the confidence of the ride,” Badel said. “It’s always nice to deliver. I thought he won brilliantly. I probably hit the front too soon because of the draw, but he had plenty to offer. It was great.” The son of Wrote was ridden under a hold until the last 200m when he was unleashed by Badel and quickly loomed to the head of the field along the outside. “He’s a late finisher, this horse,” Yip said, “So in the early stages, I told the jockey not to push him a lot. Just leave him alone, let him relax and then he will finish the last 300 (metres). A triumphant Yip acknowledged the improvement in his five-year-old charge and switched his focus to further Group success down the line. “He’s a very honest horse. Since his last race (the Class 2 Tai Mo Shan Handicap, 1400m), his form has improved a lot in Conghua,” Yip said. “I think at the end of the month, there is a Group 2 1200 (metres) for him (Premier Bowl, Handicap). I think that’s my target for him,” Yip added. Jockeys’ championship pacesetter Purton registered a National Day treble to take his tally for the season to 13. The first leg of his trio of wins came aboard 24-race maiden Ragnarr (130lb), who finally got off the mark with victory in the Class 5 Nanning Handicap (1200m). The six-year-old had threatened a breakthrough for trainer David Hall in recent weeks, following two runner-up showings last term and a first-up third at Happy Valley in September. A return to Sha Tin for the first time in seven outings and a reunion with Purton proved just the tonic for the son of Olympic Glory. A typically calculated ride from Purton left a fast-closing Ragnarr with one to pass at 150-metre mark. He did so with some in hand. A plan came together in the Class 5 Jinan Handicap (1800m) for trainers’ championship front-runner David Hayes and his seasoned campaigner Oriental Smoke (135lb). The class-dropper’s last three wins have come at Class 4, and all seven of his career victories have come under Purton – by design, Hayes revealed. “I only ever put Zac on when (Oriental Smoke) is ready, and he was running in the shorter races to get into Class 4,” he said. A good servant to Hayes’ yard, the handler said this might be his last time under the winner’s arch. “Zac said, actually, he doesn’t feel so good. He’s an old boy, so if he’s pulled up a little bit sore, we might consider retiring (him) because I love these old horses winning in their last run. It’s very nice. We’ll see how he is tomorrow,” Hayes said. Purton’s treble was sealed with a fine steer on the Class 4 Chengdu Handicap (1400m) favourite Invincible Ibis (132lb). Held up at the back of the field, the progressive four-year-old, who was still without a career win, surged to score emphatically, blazing a trail through the centre of the track to salute by two lengths. “It was never going to be easy from gate 14,” handler Mark Newnham said, “But his best performances have been when he’s got to the outside. It’s the best way to ride this horse. “He’s always shown enough talent (for me to know) that when he’s got up to the right distance in the right circumstances, he’d put it together, and he put it together really well today.” On a red-letter day for veteran gallopers, Healthy Happy (131lb) – at nine years old – rose to claim the Class 2 Beijing Handicap (1400m), his first win in a little over two years, for trainer Frankie Lor. Two-pound claiming apprentice Jerry Chau successfully lifted the 44-start veteran – who won the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) in 2021 – to a surprise win at odds of $21 with horse racing bookmakers over market leaders Steps Ahead (125lb) and Hong Lok Golf (134lb). Britney Wong claimed the opener, the Class 5 Shenyang Handicap (1400m), following a confident ride aboard Tsuen Wan Glory (123lb) for Manfred Man. Drawn 12, she motored across to head the field before finding the rail. She was never in danger as she took her third win of the season by two-and-a-half lengths going away. A race-to-race double for Man was completed in the second section of the Class 4 Chongqing Handicap (1200m) when Hugh Bowman got home on the favourite Aurora Patch (131lb), with the five-year-old claiming his first win of the season. Chris So and Andrea Atzeni combined to take out the first section of the Class 4 Chongqing Handicap (1200m) following a determined showing from first-time winner Sunny Q (118lb). From the foot of the weights, the five-year-old weaved through the field a furlong out and overhauled favourite Do Your Part (134lb) on the nod, denying jockey Keagan De Melo a first winner of the season. Winning doubles were sealed for jockey and trainer when Hall-trained Kempes (117lb) – a Group 1 winner in Argentina – got up to snatch the Class 3 Shanghai Handicap (1200m) on the line under Atzeni. After flattering to deceive in the first seven outings of his young Hong Kong career, the 2023 Group 1 Estrellas Juvenile (1600m) winner broke his duck after rallying from the tail of the field to seize his local maiden victory by a nose. Newnham completed a double of his own in the fixture-closing Class 3 Tianjin Handicap (1400m) when his trainee Max Que (117lb) prevailed by a short head over Silvery Breeze (126lb) for David Eustace. Horse racing news View the full article

5th-Presque Isle Downs, $35,890, Msw, 10-1, 2yo, f, 6f (AWT), 1:10.89, ft, 5 3/4 lengths. HEN PARTY (f, 2, Into Mischief–Fair Maiden {GISW-USA, SW & GISP-Can, $324,778}, by Street Boss), sent off a 7-2 under a feathery impost of 110lbs, settled in a ground-saving third under Amanda Poston as Broadway Musical (Mendelssohn) carved out an opening quarter in :22.79. Roused by her rider at the head of the lane, the ultra-green Hen Party drew off to win by 5 3/4 lengths over Intimate (Connect). Favored Sun Kiss (Girvin) was third. Out of Godolphin's GI La Brea winner Fair Maiden, also trained by Eoin Harty, the winner is a half to GSW First Resort (Uncle Mo) $338,671. The daughter of Street Boss produced a filly by Flightline this season and was bred back to Gun Runner. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $21,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. The post Into Mischief’s Hen Party Debuts a Winner at Presque Isle Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 early version of the Inglis Digital USA October sale finished its Wednesday auction with a 74 percent clearance rate and leading the way among the catalogue's offerings was the broodmare prospect Presha (Omaha Beach), who sold to Headley Bell for $95,000, according to a press release from the online auction site late on Wednesday. The stakes-placed 3-year-old filly comes from a deep international family, with names under the second dam including Bubble Rock (More Than Ready), a Grade II winner in the U.S. who was Group 1 placed in Australia. “We considered Presha outstanding value, as she was stakes-placed in the Tepin, beaten three-quarters of a length to Laurelin, who is five-for-five and heading to the Breeders' Cup,” Bell said. She is from a foundation family in Dehere, and by Omaha Beach, out of a Distorted Humor mare. We are pleased to own her, and she will likely be bred to Oscar Performance.” The filly was consigned by Tessa Walden's Evergreen Equine whose outfit went three-for-three selling the stock it offered in the latest sale. “Inglis Digital USA is an intuitive platform to use, and I was most pleased about the additional marketing the sales representatives put into the three horses I sold, especially broodmare prospect Presha that sold for $95,000,” Walden said. “Many buyers contacted me directly, interested in her and the other two horses I was selling, showing me that the Inglis Digital USA platform has a wide and effective reach.” The buying bench was diverse with 34 unique purchasers among the 46 lots that sold during Wednesday's sale. The event saw 46 of 62 horses sell at the close of Wednesday's trade, grossing $321,500. “We had some good trade today, with activity from the top to the bottom,” said Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson. “As always, we're here to help with private sales. Thanks to all of our buyers and sellers.” Offerings that finished under their reserves on Wednesday are still available to purchase on the Inglis Digital USA website. Visit the site's catalogue page and click on “Make An Offer” next to the available horses. Entries are now open for the Inglis Digital USA October (Late) sale, and they will be taken through Monday, Oct. 20. The catalogue will be released Friday, Oct. 24, and bidding will close Wednesday, Oct. 28. To enter a horse in the October (Late) sale, register as a bidder, or make a bid on an RNA horse from the October (Early) sale, visit www.inglisdigitalusa.com. The post Daughter Of Omaha Beach Tops Early October Inglis Digital USA Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One wouldn't blame Thoroughbred owner Lance Gasaway for spending some time on Google this week researching second lightning strikes.View the full article

The 2024 Horse of the Year has won 12 of her 15 career starts and 10 of her 12 wins are in black-type stakes. The Spinster Stakes (G1) will be her 10th start in a grade 1 race.View the full article

Zeitlos, last year's winner of the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2), will look to add a repeat victory in the 6-furlong race when she faces a field of six fillies and mares, including multiple graded stakes winner Vahva Oct. 4.View the full article

Earlier this week, Carlo Vaccarezza reported to the BloodHorse that his trainer son, Nick, had been denied stalls at Gulfstream Park for horses owned by his father. Additionally, Carlo Vaccarreza claimed that despite taking steps to remove his name from the stable's limited liability ownership company–effectively shifting ownership of the horses to his son, Michael–track officials told Nick Vaccarezza that they would deny his entries. Carlo Vaccarezza described the action as an act of retaliation for his involvement in the contentious fight to stop the track's owners from decoupling its racing and casino licenses–a fight many industry stakeholders see as a matter of existential import for the future of horse racing in the state. As part of his efforts to stymie decoupling, Carlo Vaccarezza hired the influential Florida-based firm GrayRobinson, which helped lobby lawmakers on behalf of the newly-formed Thoroughbred Racing Initiative. On Wednesday, I/ST Racing and Gaming's vice president of communications, Tiffani Steer, issued a statement denying wrongdoing by the company, placing the blame instead on Nick Vaccarezza for not submitting his stall application on time. “The deadline for stall applications for the 2025/2026 Gulfstream Park Winter Meet expired on Sunday, September 28th. No application from Nick Vaccarezza was ever received. Last year, well before decoupling legislation was introduced, the application from Carlo Vaccarezza was denied based on the historical lack of starts and too few horses compared to stalls requested since 2021,” wrote Steer. 1/ST Racing and Gaming is the horseracing arm of TSG. “Additionally, Nick has never been told by anyone from 1/ST RACING that has [sic] his entries will be refused. Entries are considered on a case-by-case basis. To link this to the ongoing decoupling conversation is entirely false,” Steer wrote. Reached subsequently on Wednesday, Nick Vaccarezza said he submitted his application via text on August 28, well within the application window. He furnished the TDN with a screengrab of his text exchange with Steve Screnci, 1/ST Racing and Gaming's president of racing and business development. According to this text exchange, Screnci replied to Nick Vaccarezza's Aug. 28 stall application with a link to a GoFundMe that Carlo Vaccarezza had set up, asking for donations for the fight against decoupling. “Hey there! We're gearing up for another session in Tallahassee to protect Florida racing and the livelihoods of our horsemen and agriculture community. Your support means the world to us, and even a small donation can make a huge difference in our fight. Please consider clicking the link below to donate or share it with others who might help–thank you!” reads the text of the link that Screnci apparently used in response to Nick Vaccarezza's stall application, according to the screengrab sent by the trainer. Carlo Vaccarezza | Coglianese Carlo Vaccarezza also provided the TDN with other text exchanges with a Florida industry stakeholder, who he said acted as an intermediary in the situation. Carlo requested this person's name be omitted the story, due to the sensitive nature of the matter. According to these text exchanges, the industry stakeholder responds to the matter of Gulfstream Park refusing to take Nick Vaccarezza's entries by suggesting that he “let it go and try again next year.” When asked about the stall application that Nick Vaccarezza appeared to have submitted on August 28, Steer wrote that “No application was submitted to either Gulfstream Park or Palm Meadows.” Nick Vaccarezza, 25, took over training from his father earlier this year. He's currently stabled at Ellis Park with about 15 horses. The ongoing battle over decoupling has been a contentiously fought affair between TSG and breeders, owners, trainers and other stakeholders in the state. Back in 2024, the former Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's group initially agreed to support 1/ST racing's decoupling efforts, though the decision was reportedly heavily influenced by trainers' workers' compensation concerns. Sources explained to the TDN back in January that the insurance carrier for dozens of trainers at Gulfstream Park last year refused to continue coverage if that included exercise riders. Last September, Gulfstream Park picked up coverage of the track's exercise riders under a general liability policy, these sources explained. After a highly inflammatory meeting in January with industry stakeholders, in which TSG consultant Keith Brackpool warned “if there's no decoupling, then there's no guarantee of when we will continue to race” (among other threats), the group switched its stance in the battle. This owners' and trainers' group subsequently rejoined the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, forming the Florida chapter. During the last state legislative session in Tallahassee, decoupling was eventually thwarted in the Senate. The state legislature is cranking up for a new session, during which decoupling is expected to be once again hotly debated. The fight over decoupling has also entered other legal channels. In August, TSG filed a lawsuit against the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC), alleging the 2021 statute that allowed all classes of pari-mutuel licensees except Thoroughbreds to “decouple” from live racing as a condition of operating slot machines is an “unconstitutional special law and violates the equal protection clause of the Florida Constitution.” When asked, Carlo Vaccarezza said he has not yet sought counsel about the possible legal implications from Gulfstream's alleged actions. Interestingly, the decision doesn't appear to have been based on any regulatory concerns, as neither Carlo nor Nick Vaccarrezza have a checkered regulatory history as trainers. According to Thoroughbred Rulings, Carlo Vaccarezza was issued six minor regulatory penalties over the course of an 11-year training career, two of them for controlled medication overages and four for minor infractions. The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) also issued him a $3000 fine for a joint injection within seven days of a timed-workout. HIWU has issued Nick Vaccarezza a written reprimand for an Omeprazole (Gastrogard) overage. “What happens if I had to run a horse in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita?” Nick Vaccarezza explained, about the possible implications to his career. “What if I had to run in the Florida Derby? I told them I'm bringing a horse that I could run in the Pegasus Turf.” More broadly, said Nick Vaccarezza, he sees his stance as a matter of principle. “If you and I are both trainers, and I say something and I'm not allowed in,” he said, “you'd be inclined not to stand up against them.” The post Vaccarezzas Stand Firm, Despite Stronach Denial Of Retaliation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Variety is the key word for the Woodford Stakes (G2T) Oct. 4 at Keeneland, with runners aged 3 to 9 arriving from all directions.View the full article