Wandering Eyes

By Adam Hamilton The path to the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup starts on Saturday night for champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame. The amazing six-year-old returns from a break to face just five rivals in a 2138m free-for-all at Albion Park. It will springboard his quest to add another three Group 1 wins for the remainder of this season to his already bulging CV. The biggest of them is the $1 million IRT NZ Trotting Cup at Addington on November 11. Before then, he will head to Melton to chase the one huge traditional open-class race to elude him so far in Australia, the $250,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 18. It’s the race they call the Cox Plate of harness racing. Leap To Fame’s 2025 Group 1 hunt will finish in his own backyard with the $250,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake – a race he won last year – in its new timeslot on December 6 at Albion Park. He already shares the Australian record with 12 Group wins (with Lombo Pocket Watch and Smoken Up) and is chasing Lazarus’ Australasian record of 15. Leap To Fame, who hasn’t raced since winning his second Brisbane Inter Dominion final on July 19, sharpened-up for his return to a remarkable 140m trial win – albeit against trotters – from a standing start at Albion Park last Thursday. The trial was as much to gain standing-start practice ahead of the NZ Cup, which is a stand. He won’t get the chance to race from a standing start before it. When he steps out on Saturday night, Leap To Fame will be chasing his 23rd successive win on the Albion Park track. His last defeat there was a luckless fourth way back on November 4, 2023. His last start Inter Dominion win made Leap To Fame the richest all-time pacer in Australasia with $A4,630,884, overtaking Blacks A Fake’s $A4,575,438. Trainer-driver Grant Dixon said the champ was primed for his return. “He didn’t have that long out, only a few weeks after the Inter Dominion and he seems great,” he said. “People ask me if he’s still getting better with the big past few months he’s had. I’d say he’s as good as ever. “It’ll be good to get this run into him, which will be the only run he has before the Victoria Cup.” Dixon didn’t buy into the Victoria Cup hoodoo theory given Leap To Fame had tried to win the race and had to settle for a brave and close third in 2023 and then being scratched with a throat infection just days before the race last year. “He’s won so many other big races, I don’t worry about the ones he didn’t win or that might have got away. He’s done an incredible job,” he said. Dixon confirmed the change of plans to have Leap To Fame get a flight from Melbourne to Auckland after the Victoria Cup, rather than return home to his Tambourine base outside Brisbane before crossing the ditch. “It’ll save him a flight and a long road trip to Sydney, so it makes sense,” he said. View the full article

The victory on Monday of Royal Chapel in the Listed Criterium de Bordeaux brought up the 100th stakes winner for the filly's sire Kingman. His speed in reaching this landmark century since retiring to stud a decade ago has been beaten only by Kingman's fellow Banstead Manor resident, Frankel. There can be few finer tributes to the vision of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah than these two third-generation homebreds standing alongside each other and continuing to fly the flag for the Juddmonte brand through their achievements at stud. The record of Kingman, the peerless champion miler of 2014, has been enhanced this year by his Classic-winning son Field Of Gold, who is being primed for a return on Champions Day to Ascot, where he won the G1 St James's Palace Stakes a month after landing the Irish 2,000 Guineas. After Elmalka, Persian King and Sparkling Plenty, Field Of Gold was the fourth Classic winner for Kingman, and among his 100 stakes winners are 14 individual Group/Grade 1 winners, their victories scattered across the world in England, Ireland, France, America, Australia, and Japan. Now standing at Haras d'Etreham, Persian King, from his sire's first crop, was his breakthrough winner at the highest level, taking the Poule d'Essai des Poulains before adding, at four, the Prix du Moulin and Prix d'Ispahan to his Group 1 record. From the second crop came the champion miler Palace Pier, who is now starting to make his way in the stallion ranks and has three first-crop stakes winners to his name in 2025. Palace Pier's contemporaries include the British-bred Domestic Spending, who landed three consecutive Grade I triumphs at Del Mar, Churchill Downs and Belmont Park for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables. Another of that crop of 2017 is Kinross, who has proved to be one of his sire's most talented and hardiest campaigners. Across seven seasons, Kinross has won 11 of his 35 races, including the G1 Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes and the G1 Prix de la Foret. He also won back-to-back runnings of the G2 City Of York Stakes, which has subsequently been upgraded to Group 1 status. With a fairly even split of eight colts/geldings to six fillies among the pool of Group 1 winners, Kingman currently has four sons standing at stud in Europe, while Schnell Meister recently completed his second season at Japan's Shadai Stallion Station. Calyx, another first-crop eye-catcher when winning the G2 Coventry Stakes, stood for six seasons at Coolmore prior to his untimely death in May 2025. His son Sepals won last month's G1 Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield in Australia. Easily the most influential son of Invincible Spirit, Kingman's reach extends to South America, too, where the Royal Ascot winner and Juddmonte-bred Sangarius, a grandson of the brilliant Banks Hill, stands in Brazil. Sangarius is also now a stakes producer via his daughter Odalisca, winner of the G2 Grande Premio Francisco Villela de Paula Machado. Kingman, whose Classic-winning dam Zenda (Zamindar) is a half-sister to another stalwart of the Juddmonte stallion ranks in Oasis Dream, had just two yearlings on offer at this week's Orby Sale – a half-sister to Group 3 winner Arrest who sold for €180,000 and a colt from the family of Mehmas who made €400,000. He has stronger representation next week at Tattersalls, where his 27 yearlings in Book 1 include half-siblings to the Group 1 winners Eshaada, Jannah Rose and King Of Change, and a colt out of the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Frankly Darling (Frankel). It will be no surprise to see American buyers pay particular attention to his stock given that, as well as Domestic Spending, Kingman has been represented in the USA by the Grade II winners Technical Analysis, Public Sector, Serve The King and Redistricting, and Grade I runner-up Summer Romance. In the current sires' championship for Britain and Ireland, Kingman sits in fifth position behind Night Of Thunder, the late Wootton Bassett, Dubawi and Frankel. Elite names all. He is deservedly in the best of company. The post A Regal Century for Kingman appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nine years since Aidan O'Brien gained the most recent of his two victories in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the Ballydoyle trainer has emphasised the importance of Europe's richest race and its standing in the sport as he prepares a two-pronged assault on the 2025 edition at ParisLongchamp on Sunday. Coincidentally, O'Brien endured a nine-year wait to double his Arc tally after Dylan Thomas overcame Youmzain and a prelonged stewards' enquiry to deliver the breakthrough on that nerve-jangling afternoon back in 2007. By contrast, in 2016, when the race was run at Chantilly with the redevelopment underway at ParisLongchamp, the closing stages must surely have been a much easier watch for the trainer, safe in the knowledge from some way out that the prize was heading back to his Ballydoyle base. Not only did he saddle the decisive winner, Found, but he was also responsible for the placed horses, Highland Reel and Order Of St George, in an unprecedented clean sweep of the podium positions. As for the near-decade since, O'Brien achieved his best result in that period when Irish Derby winner Los Angeles finished third behind Bluestocking just last year, beaten nearly three lengths at the line after being forced to make his own running. The imposing Los Angeles will be back for more this year as the stable's apparent second string, with the year-younger filly Minnie Hauk primed to lead the team into battle, but O'Brien refused to take anything for granted as the big day looms, knowing all too well at this stage just how difficult a prize the Arc is to win. “It's one of those races that really captures the imagination of breeders, owners, jockeys and fans all over the world,” O'Brien said of the €5-million showpiece. “It's one of those unique races that everybody wants to win. It's at a perfect time of the year in Paris and that weekend is where everybody wants to be. It's a unique race, in a unique country and a unique city. “It's a very difficult race to win and we don't take one little bit of that for granted. You need to have a top-class horse, you need to be tactical and you need to stay – a lot of stuff has to fall right for you. We try and go there with our best chances every year and we've been lucky to win two. I didn't realise it had been nine years since we won one. All we can do is try and go there with the best horse we have that year, really.” Whilst Los Angeles is clearly a very talented horse in his own right, having doubled his Group 1 tally when also winning May's Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, the son of Camelot has seemingly been superseded at the top of the Ballydoyle pecking order this autumn by Minnie Hauk. Certainly, the bookmakers see it that way, with Minnie Hauk currently vying for favouritism with Aventure (Sea The Stars) at around 7/2, while Los Angeles is available to back at 33/1. Minnie Hauk is set to be supplemented at a cost of €120,000 on Wednesday, exactly a year to the day that she made her first racecourse appearance at Cork. The daughter of Frankel was beaten on that occasion but hasn't looked back since with five consecutive victories, including three at the top level, having rattled off an Oaks hat-trick at Epsom, the Curragh and York in recent months. “She was a very expensive yearling [€1,850,000 from the Goffs Orby Sale] and we always liked her a lot,” O'Brien said of the filly who was last seen dishing out a three-and-a-half-length beating to fellow Arc contender Estrange (Night Of Thunder) in the Yorkshire Oaks. “We knew she had a little bit of catching up to do this year as she only had the two runs, so she went for the trial in Chester [the Cheshire Oaks] and obviously went from there to Epsom. The rest is history after that. “She's slowly progressed all year, really. We're very happy with her and she's done everything we've asked. At home she's been lovely. Christophe [Soumillon, Minnie Hauk's intended jockey in the Arc] sat on her the other day. That was the first time he had ridden her and he seemed very happy.” O'Brien added on the likelihood of a big field at ParisLongchamp, “Minnie Hauk is very straightforward and easy to ride. She is always happy to go forward and she's very uncomplicated. She's a filly who travels strongly and has plenty of stamina. At Epsom, there was a big field and she coped very well. She has early speed and usually finds a good position quite easily. I'd hope she will handle it well.” Last year things didn't pan out ideally in the Arc for Los Angeles, who O'Brien described at the time as still being “a bit babyish”, having led the 16-strong field from an early stage. Equally, he wasn't seen to best effect at Royal Ascot in June this year when he tired late on after chasing the strong gallop set by stable-mate Continous in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes. However, the seven-time winner looked much more like his old self when finishing fourth last time in the G2 Prix Foy over Sunday's course and distance, with O'Brien confirming that a second tilt at the Arc has been the plan ever since his good effort in defeat 12 months ago. “This is the race that has always been on our minds for him, absolutely, and he's been trained for it all year,” the trainer added. “All of his runs so far this year were just to keep him ticking over, really. Obviously, he ran a great race in it last year and wasn't beaten very far. He probably would have preferred to not be in front, but that's the way it fell for him.” O'Brien would not be drawn on who he thinks will come out on top between Los Angeles and Minnie Hauk, though, adding, “I'd never be surprised by anything that happens in a race. My two have never worked together – they've had two different preparations, totally – but it will be interesting. “She does look a very good filly, but he looks a horse who is slowly progressing back to his best, so it's impossible to say that [who'd come out on top]. All we can do is have them well, hope to get clean runs, and the acid test is then when you run them.” The post Nine Years On from Found, Another Star Filly Leads Ballydoyle Bid for Third Arc Crown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After finishing second and third in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3T), Heeere's Johnny and Capital Partner are back looking for their first stakes win in the $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack Oct. 3.View the full article

With his first start in the United States this season under his belt, Rebel's Romance was quick to be added to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll by the national media who vote every week.View the full article

Woodbine is proud to host its fifth annual Woodbine Aftercare Day for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Oct. 4.View the full article

A new four-year deal to continue showing exclusive, free-to-air coverage of UK horse racing from 2027 until 2030 was agreed upon by ITV on Tuesday. There will be 117 days of live coverage to be shown across ITV1, ITV4, STV and STV Player–all simulcast on ITVX–along with the morning racing programme The Opening Show. The live coverage will include some of the best races on the UK racing calendar, among them: the Randox Grand National, Royal Ascot, the Boodles Cheltenham Festival and the Betfred Derby. ITV4 will also include five races from the main site as a minimum for each fixture. Niall Sloane, ITV director of sport said, “This is a vital deal for ITV Sport and UK horse racing, ensuring the very best fixtures across the UK are available free-to-air on ITV until 2030. We are proud to deliver so much live coverage of this incredible sport and would like to thank Racecourse Media Group, The Jockey Club, Arena Racing Company, Ascot Racecourse and our other partners, and we look forward to continuing our relationship for years to come.” The post ITV Inks Four-Year Deal To Continue Showing UK Horse Racing Until 2030 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard fields a trio of runners in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with Aga Khan homebred Daryz (Sea The Stars) to be ridden by Mickael Barzalona. The three-year-old colt has been stepped up gradually this season, with a win in the Listed Prix Ridgway in June followed by a success in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud later that month. Unplaced in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August, the son of Daryakana (Selkirk) bounced back to be second in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange in very soft ground in September. He was just beaten by Japan's G1 Japanese Derby hero Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) that day, and will face that foe again on Sunday. “Daryz is a colt we've always held in high regard, and we believed he was the best three-year-old colt among the Aga Khan Studs' horses,” said Graffard at a Tuesday press conference. “But he's still mentally tender and physically very imposing, which is why we chose not to run him in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club or the Cygames Grand Prix de Paris. He will be ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, the retained jockey for the Aga Khan silks. “That performance [in the Prince d'Orange] earned him the right to line up in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with a legitimate chance.” White Birch Farm's Gezora (Almanzor) will have multiple G1 St Leger Stakes-winning jockey Tom Marquand in the saddle. Successful in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs last October for Nicolas le Roch, she joined the Graffard yard and was promptly third in the G3 Prix Vanteaux in April. A winner of the G2 Prix Saint-Alary, the filly claimed the G1 Prix de Diane in June. Given some time away, Gezora returned with a second in the G1 Prix Vermeille to Arc favourite Aventure (Sea The Stars) on September 7. “She will be ridden by English jockey Tom Marquand, who'll be aboard for the first time, but she's easy to handle, so I'm not concerned,” Graffard continued. “She had a three-month break, and we targeted a comeback in the Qatar Prix Vermeille. She wasn't quite 100% fit yet, but still ran very well, finishing second to Aventure, who is now the current favourite for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.” Rounding out the Graffard trio is Haras de la Perelle homebred Quisisana (Le Havre), who will have Alexis Pouchin at the controls. She is a winner of her last four starts including the G1 Prix Jean Romanet in August. “Quisisana is a magnificent mare, a real force of nature. She will be ridden by Alexis Pouchin, who has partnered her before I've always thought very highly of her, and her owner, Mr. Winter, agreed to keep her in training at five. She repaid that faith by winning the Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet comfortably–one of the races in the Arc Races program–which earned her a wildcard entry into the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.” Murphy Picks Up Byzantine Dream Ride In Arc In other booking news, Oisin Murphy will ride Japan's Byzantine Dream in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Japan has yet to win the Paris showpiece and the Kazumi Yoshida runner is well-regarded in the betting market. The son of Epiphaneia won the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap in February, before running second in the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) back in his native land. He eked out a half-length victory in the G2 Prix Foy over fellow Arc hopeful Sosie (Sea The Stars)–fourth in the iconic race in 2024–on September 7. Murphy was aboard Byzantine Dream in Riyadh and in the Foy. Murphy said of the Tomoyasu Sakaguchi-trained runner, “I was very happy with Byzantine Dream in the Prix Foy, he travelled round well and showed a nice turn of foot. It was a decent trial, where I didn't have to get serious with him, and I thought Sosie was a decent benchmark. Nice ground will be important for him and I'll be hoping for a dry week in France.” The post Graffard Confirms Arc Jockey Assignments For His Trio appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland has catalogued 3,075 horses for its upcoming November Breeding Stock Sale, the company announced Tuesday. The sale will run for eight days beginning Tuesday, Nov. 4 and running through Wednesday, Nov. 11, with the stand-alone November Horses of Racing Age Sale held the following day. Click here for the Breeding Stock Sale catalog, which features exciting broodmare prospects along with proven mares in foal to prominent stallions and well-bred weanlings by established stallions and popular young sires. Among the horses featured are the first mares in foal to such stallions as GI Preakness winner Seize the Grey, GI Belmont winner Dornoch and GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner More Than Looks along with the first weanlings by stallions including Horse of the Year Cody's Wish and GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage. The November Breeding Stock Sale will open with a single-day Book 1 on Nov. 4 with a select group of 213 broodmares, broodmare prospects and weanlings. The session will begin at 2 p.m. and Keeneland will accept select supplements to Book 1 until the auction starts. The November Sale catalog also includes these offerings: Dispersal of Bonne Chance Thoroughbreds–Gainesway is consigning seven broodmares and six weanlings. Hidden Brook is consigning 10 broodmares, one broodmare prospect and one weanling. Dispersal of Woodford Thoroughbreds (Phase 1)–Denali Stud is handling the sale of seven broodmares and one broodmare prospect. Taylor Made Sales Agency is consigning three racing or broodmare prospects. Previously announced curated reduction of bloodstock owned by Leonard and Jon Green's D.J. Stable. Taylor Made Sales Agency is consigning 31 broodmares, racing or broodmare prospects and one broodmare prospect. Hill 'n Dale at Xalapa is consigning one mare in foal to Curlin. “With the November Breeding Stock Sale, we carry forward the tremendous momentum of our record September Yearling Sale,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “The September Sale underscored the power of this community when we stand together, and the quality of the offerings in November give us reason to be optimistic about the road ahead.” Print catalogs for the November Breeding Stock Sale are scheduled to arrive in the mail the week of Oct. 13. The catalog for the November Breeding Stock Sale includes 1,360 weanlings along with 1,715 broodmares and broodmare prospects; racing or broodmare prospects; and stallions and stallion prospects. The auction will present the following schedule: Book 1 (Session 1)–Tuesday, Nov. 4. Session will begin at 2 p.m. with 213 horses in the catalog. Every remaining session begins at 10 a.m. Book 2 (Sessions 2-3)–Wednesday-Thursday, Nov. 5-6. A total of 790 horses are cataloged over the two days. Book 3 (Sessions 4-5)–Friday-Saturday, Nov. 7-8. A total of 837 horses are cataloged over the two days. Book 4 (Sessions 6-8)–Sunday-Tuesday, Nov. 9-11. A total of 1,235 horses are cataloged over the three days. New this year, Keeneland has adjusted the format of Book 4 to include three sessions. Sessions 6 and 7, which comprise the regularly scheduled Book 4, will sell Sunday, Nov. 9 and Monday, Nov. 10. On Tuesday, Nov. 11, Sessions 8 and 9 will be combined into a single day of selling. Horses cataloged to Session 8 will sell in the morning and will be immediately followed by horses cataloged to Session 9. Consignors with horses in Session 9 will sell those horses in the afternoon of Session 8 with the morning hours available for showing. “This adjustment means buyers have a full day of breeding stock to evaluate, rather than two shorter sessions at the close of the sale,” Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “We believe this format will maintain the dynamic marketplace for all participants.” Broodmares cataloged to the November Breeding Stock Sale are in foal to 156 stallions, including American Pharoah, Bolt d'Oro, Candy Ride (Arg), City of Light, Constitution, Curlin, Flightline, Good Magic, Gun Runner, Hard Spun, Into Mischief, Justify, Liam's Map, Life Is Good, Maclean's Music, Maxfield, Medaglia d'Oro, McKinzie, Munnings, Not This Time, Nyquist, Omaha Beach, Practical Joke, Quality Road, Street Sense, Tapit, Twirling Candy, Vekoma and War Front. Joining the aforementioned Seize the Grey, Dornoch and More Than Looks as stallions with their first in-foal mares in the catalog are such sires as Grade I winners Arabian Knight, Blazing Sevens, Bright Future, Casa Creed, Classic Causeway, Cogburn, Domestic Product, Gun Pilot, Kingsbarns, Muth, National Treasure, Newgate, Prince of Monaco, Shirl's Speight, Tapit Trice and Timberlake; and Grade II winner Charge It. A total of 140 stallions have weanlings in the catalog, including the aforementioned Cody's Wish and Mage. Other stallions with first-crop weanlings include champions Elite Power, Forte and Up to the Mark; GI Preakness winner Rombauer; Belmont winner Arcangelo; and Grade I winners Annapolis, Arabian Lion, Country Grammer, Dr. Schivel, Gunite, Proxy, Taiba and Zandon; Grade II winner Pappacap; and Grade III winners Fulsome and Two Phil's. They join additional sires of weanlings such as American Pharoah, Bolt d'Oro, Candy Ride (Arg), City of Light, Constitution, Curlin, Girvin, Good Magic, Gun Runner, Hard Spun, Into Mischief, Justify, Maclean's Music, Maxfield, McKinzie, Not This Time, Nyquist, Omaha Beach, Practical Joke, Quality Road, Tapit, Uncle Mo, Volatile, War Front and Yaupon. Weanlings who are graduates of the November Breeding Stock Sale include 2025 Grade I winners Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy) and Battle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), Grade II winners led by Carter Stakes winner Crazy Mason (Coal Front), 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Nysos (Nyquist) and Grade III winners led by Sovereign Award-winning 3-year-old filly Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach) and recent Oklahoma Derby winner Bracket Buster (Vekoma) amongst many others. The catalog for Keeneland's November Horses of Racing Age Sale is scheduled to be online Wednesday, Oct. 15. Keeneland will accept approved supplements for the auction until the Nov. 12 sale day. Keeneland sales are live-streamed here and as always, online and phone bidding is available. The post Keeneland Catalogues 3,075 Horses For Eight-Day November Breeding Stock Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple group and graded winner Wimbledon Hawkeye will run next in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in November, according to trainer James Owens. The son of Kameko, who won the 2024 G2 Royal Lodge Stakes and ran third in the G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes at two, was second in the G3 Craven Stakes to kickstart his sophomore year. Only fifth in the G1 2000 Guineas in May, he was third in York's G2 Dante Stakes and fourth in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. More recently, he rolled a pair of twos in the G2 Princess Of Wales Stakes at Newmarket in July and in the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood later that month. He was first by a head in the GIII Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes for the Gredley family on August 30 with Frankie Dettori aboard. Owen said, “He really enjoyed his trip to America, like we all did, and he's had an easy two weeks since getting back after the race. He's back doing routine canters now and looks fantastic and we're aiming at the Breeders' Cup Turf. “It is going to be a much stronger race, but an absolute privilege for myself and my team to be going there with a horse that has a chance. “I've never been to Del Mar, but it's a tight track and I think it will suit him as he's an agile horse and the extra furlong of the race will suit, so it's exciting. “Hopefully Frankie can ride and he's pretty much assured me he can and that will be great. He's been consistent and I was thrilled for the horse more than anything when he won in America. He's been busy this year, but this will probably be his longest break he's having now into a race.” The post Wimbledon Hawkeye Handed Breeders’ Cup Turf Target appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The launch of “Champions Give Back,” a campaign dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Breeders' Cup Charities, will coincide with this year's World Championships, according to an organization release Tuesday. Led by an annual donation of all royalties received on Breeders' Cup merchandise sales, “Champions Give Back” will support the enhanced Breeders' Cup Charities program announced earlier this year. Breeders' Cup Charities supports Thoroughbred aftercare, jockey health and wellness, backstretch and industry workers, equine research, and other impactful community initiatives. Featuring a selection of apparel, accessories, and décor, all Breeders' Cup royalties from every purchase will be donated to Breeders' Cup Charities. Fans can explore www.BreedersCupShop.com to shop the full collection. Fans can also support “Champions Give Back” by texting BCWC to +1 (855) 800-4975 to donate, or by visiting www.BreedersCup.com/Charities. A $50,000 match from international philanthropist and racehorse owner Ken Freirich will double the power of all donations received during the campaign, which will start Oct. 1 and run through the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar. Additionally, $1 from every official Breeders' Cup cocktail–the Torrie Cup featuring Maker's Mark bourbon and the Garland, featuring Chopin Vodka–will be donated to Breeders' Cup Charities. A post-event auction of donated Thoroughbred racing memorabilia will conclude the campaign, with additional details to be released after the World Championships. Owners of World Championships contenders are also given the option to dedicate a percentage of purse earnings to Breeders' Cup Charities. For 2025, Breeders' Cup Charities will support multiple established charities, including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, and the Race Track Chaplaincy of America. The post “Champions Give Back” Campaign Kicks Off Ahead of Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Justifying his G1 Futurity Trophy entry at Bath on Tuesday, Juddmonte's Item (Frankel) went through the gears to go two-for-two for the Andrew Balding stable ahead of next month's feature. Sent off the 4-6 favourite for the mile novice, the homebred who had scored at Kempton on debut earlier this month made all to readily record a 3 1/2-length success from the other previous winner Blue Courvoisier (Sea The Stars). “This isn't an easy course for a big horse like that, but the key was to educate him today and he felt like he had a big engine,” jockey Rob Hornby said of the son of the Natalma Stakes heroine Capla Temptress (Lope De Vega). “He finds the galloping part the easy part and would have learnt more before and after the race and Doncaster will suit him. He's only been on the grass once before at home, so it's exciting for connections. You'd love to use that beautiful big stride on a track like Doncaster and he has big feet, so cut in the ground wouldn't be an issue there.” Item remains unbeaten at @BathRacecourse! The son of Frankel leads his rivals from start to finish, finding plenty for pressure on the front end to land a contest that's been won by some nice types in previous years!@AndrewBalding2 | @rob_hornby18 pic.twitter.com/ba1kkYyA4d — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 30, 2025 The post Futurity Trophy Beckons For Frankel’s Item After Easy Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The new Each Way Extra Challenge Series, which begins at Gowran Park on October 3, will be sponsored by William Hill. The seven-month series runs until April of next year and is spread across 50 races at 28 meetings and 13 Irish racecourses. The William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series will allocate points per race to trainers and jockeys on a first to seventh place finishing basis (10,6,5,4,3,2,1) with an overall table to decide the prize winners at the final fixture on April 24, 2026. The winning trainer will receive €50,000, and the winning rider and stable staff will receive €10,000 respectively. All trainers can compete in the series races, but the bonus point element is only open to trainers with 50 or fewer winners in either of the last two seasons in either code. Any rider who rides for a qualifying trainer will have bonus points allocated, while riders who ride for ineligible trainers will not receive series points for those rides only. Stable staff from all yards will qualify for the bonus element, including staff of trainers who are ineligible. A €100 best-turned-out award will be given to the stable staff for each race in the series. Supported by key industry stakeholders the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association (IRTA), Irish Stable Staff Association (ISSA) & IJA (Irish Jockeys Association), the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series aims to incentivise the grassroots of Irish racing and demonstrate the leading bookmaker's commitment to the sport at every level. William Hill's director of horse racing, Sandro Di Michele, said, “We're thrilled to launch the new William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series. This initiative runs through the real backbone of the Irish National Hunt season and should have a positive impact on the grassroots of the sport.” The post William Hill Backs Grassroots Irish Racing With Each Way Extra Challenge Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The dedication ceremony for the Sunday Silence mural, a new equine art installation celebrating the legendary racehorse, is set for Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at 2 p.m. in downtown Paris, Kentucky. The event is free and open to the public. The mural, created by equine artist Jaime Corum, depicts the 1989 Kentucky Derby winner in his iconic victory. The artwork is located on the side of the new Hotel Thoroughbred, set to open in the spring of 2026. The mural is a project of the Legends of Bourbon County non-profit organization, in conjunction with Stone Farm. The dedication is part of the third annual Legends of Bourbon County festival, which will celebrate the legacy of Sunday Silence throughout the weekend. As part of the dedication, there is a day-long festival on Main Street in Paris that includes vendors and multiple musical acts. The Mountain Music Ambassadors will take the stage at noon; Kentucky Wild Horse at 1 p.m and Mash Grass are scheduled for 2:35 p.m. Jason Carter, the day's final act, performs at 4:30 p.m. The post Sunday Silence Mural to Be Unveiled in Downtown Paris, Kentucky Oct. 12 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The majority of the season's stars have held their ground after the latest acceptance stage for Britain's richest race day, the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 18. In the £1.3-million QIPCO Champion Stakes, the 2024 winner Anmaat (Awtaad) will lock horns with the G1 Princes Of Wales's Stakes/G1 Juddmonte International Stakes hero Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) and G1 Eclipse Stakes winner Delacroix (Dubawi). Also entered in that contest is the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Calandagan (Gleneagles), 2024 G1 Irish Champion Stakes scorer Economics (Night Of Thunder) and dual top-level winner Goliath (Adlerflug) are among the 25 acceptors. G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes winner Field Of Gold (Kingman) leads the 27 entries for the £1.1-million Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO. Docklands (Massaat), the victor of the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, and multiple Group 1 scorer Rosallion (Blue Point) remain among the entries as does dual Queen Elizabeth II Stakes runner-up Facteur Cheval (Ribchester). Delacroix has been cross-entered here. The £500,000 QIPCO British Champion Sprint Stakes features last year's winner Kind Of Blue (Blue Point) among its 30 acceptors. G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Lazzat (Territories) and Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel), third here last year are all entered on behalf of Wathnan Racing. Mohaather's Big Mojo, a winner of the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock last out and G1 July Cup winner No Half Measures (Cable Bay) have also stood their ground. Kalpana (Study Of Man) won the 2024 edition of the £500,000 QIPCO British Fillies & Mares Stakes and she retains her 2025 entry, as do fellow ParisLongchamp runners Estrange (Night Of Thunder) and G1 Oaks/G1 Irish Oaks/G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk (Frankel). The two-dozen fillies and mares set to take part also include G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Garden Of Eden (Saxon Warrior) and Bedtime Story (Frankel), third in the G1 Prix Vermeille earlier this month. The G2 Lillie Langtry Stakes one-two of Waardah (Postponed) and Danielle (Cracksman) are also set to compete. Trawlerman (Golden Horn) leads 15 rivals in the newly elevated £500,000 G1 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. The Godolphin runner broke the track record when winning the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and won this race in 2023. G1 Goodwood Cup and G1 St Leger hero Scandinavia (Justify) has been entered. Aidan O'Brien has also left Gold Cup second Illinois (Galileo) and King George fourth Jan Brueghel (Galileo) in the race. Sunday's G1 Preis von Europa winner Sibayan (Blame) has also been left in the Long Distance Cup by trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. For the first time this year, the £250,000 QIPCO British Champions Day Two-Year Old Conditions Stakes will open the card and it is concluded by the £200,000 Balmoral Handicap, Sponsored by QIPCO. The post Big Names Remain Among QIPCO British Champions Day Entries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade I winner Vahva (Gun Runner–Holiday Soiree, by Harlan's Holiday) has been entered in Book 1 of the November Breeding Stock Sale on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Lane's End, agent, will consign Vahva, who is cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect. She will become the first Grade I-winning daughter of Gun Runner to be offered at public auction, according to a Keeneland release Tuesday. Vahva is nominated to the GII Thoroughbred Club of America on Saturday during Fall Stars Weekend on Keeneland's opening three days. “Vahva is a high-class competitor who has faced and defeated many of the sport's most talented female sprinters in each of the past three seasons,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “A leading earner by Gun Runner, she will be a valuable addition to any program. Her graded stakes success at Keeneland makes her return to our sales ring especially meaningful, underscoring the unique connection between our racing and sales.” In four seasons of racing, Vahva has raced at seven tracks with seven victories, including five stakes wins, and earnings of $2,041,010. Last year, she bankrolled nearly $1 million with a campaign that featured a 2-length victory in the GI Derby City Distaff on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, where she next took the GIII Chicago Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths. Vahva also ran second in the GI Resolute Racing Madison at Keeneland and third in the GI Ballerina at Saratoga. In 2023, she won the GII Lexus Raven Run at Keeneland and the GIII Charles Town Oaks. This year, Vahva captured Churchill's Chicago, which was upgraded to a Grade II event, for the second consecutive season. The goal for her connections is a return to the $1-million GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar in advance of being showcased at the November Sale. “I've been fortunate to be around many successful mares, and Vahva has all the characteristics you look for in a future broodmare,” David Ingordo of Lane's End Farm said. “She is both elegant and strong with the kind of speed you want to see in a broodmare prospect, and I believe she will carry her racing success into the next generation. “It is strategic on our part to sell Vahva at Keeneland because we believe in the reinvestment of their dollars into the industry and community,” Ingordo added. “I also believe that being able to train her at Keeneland has played a huge role in her development and success.” Vahva's dam, SW and GISP Holiday Soiree, also produced Cherie DeVaux-trainee Ahavah, runner-up in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks in her second start earlier this year. Holiday Soiree's yearling filly by City of Light commanded $850,000 at the recent Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Trained throughout her career by DeVaux and based at Keeneland, Vahva raced for Belladonna Racing, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson, West Point Thoroughbreds, Twin Brook Stables, W.S. Farish, LBD Stable, Runnels Racing and Manganaro Bloodstock. The post Gun Runner’s GISW Vahva to Sell at Keeneland November Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If there's a star in the field for the Oct. 4 Champagne Stakes (G1) at the moment it would be Double Down Horse Racing's It's Our Time, whose astonishing debut went platinum in music parlance. View the full article

There was a sense of deja vu at Kildare Paddocks on Tuesday as Glenvale Stud's No Nay Never filly out of Muirin (Born To Sea) stole the show at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, with MV Magnier having to stretch to €1.9 million – the highest price of the sale so far – to outpoint Jacob West. Whilst perhaps best known for producing the dual Group 1-winning juvenile Blackbeard and this year's G2 Norfolk Stakes winner Charles Darwin from her previous trysts with No Nay Never, Muirin also made headlines at the Orby three years ago when her filly by the Coolmore stallion fetched a sale-topping €2.6 million. Later named Run Away, she made a winning debut as a three-year-old and finished placed at Listed level the following year when in training with Andrew Balding. As for this filly, she is set to follow in the footsteps of Blackbeard and Charles Darwin by heading into training at Ballydoyle, with Magnier keen to extol the virtues of No Nay Never in a year when Saturday's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine True Love and G1 City Of York Stakes winner Never So Brave have also put the stallion's name in lights. “She is a lovely filly and all of the lads liked her,” said Magnier. “Again, No Nay Never is having another brilliant year. He's a very good stallion. Blackbeard was a very good two-year-old and, to be fair to him, he's making very good stock and they are all selling very well. He has had a good sale here and there are a few nice ones heading to Newmarket, so that will be exciting.” He added, “Aidan [O'Brien] thinks that Charles Darwin is a very good horse. I'm not saying he is as good as Albert Einstein, but he's a very good two-year-old and we will see the best of him next year. Listen, the family works well and she [lot 280] is a very valuable filly, regardless of what she does on the racetrack.” Muirin, who won one of her seven racecourse starts for Eddie Lynam, has been mated exclusively with No Nay Never since retiring to the paddocks, with a colt foal by the son of Scat Daddy still to come. The post Sibling to Blackbeard and Charles Darwin Stars at Goffs Orby with €1.9 Million Sale to MV Magnier appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5. CRISIS MANAGER, CD, 9/25, 1 1/16 miles (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 81 (4th) (c, 3, by Liam's Map–Wilburnmoney, by Wilburn) O-Highlander Training Center. B-The Elkstone Group (Md). T-Tom Amoss. J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. You know it's a slow week for fast maidens when one race produces four of the top five, but fourth-place Crisis Manager gave a list-worthy performance when ground loss is considered: from his No. 12 post, he was marooned four-wide on both turns. Using data from Equibase's GPS charts (because it's the only game in town for these stats), he ran one second slower than winner Chillax but traveled 53 feet farther. Do the math, and the case can be made that Crisis Manager ran just as fast. 4. IGNITER, BAQ, 9/25, 1 mile (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 81 (c, 2, by Volatile–Malibu Prayer, by Malibu Moon) O/B-Three Chimneys Farm (Ky). T-Rick Dutrow. J-Manny Franco. Igniter was expected to improve off his wide-trip debut third behind talented Golden Tornado and Oscar's Hope, and he did, scoring at even money with a pace-stalking style. His Ned Evans owned/bred dam Malibu Prayer was a good one, taking the Grade I Ruffian with a 103 Beyer, then bringing $2 million at auction after her on-track career–and now each of her four foals to race has logged an 80 Beyer at least once. 3. MONEY MAN, CD, 9/25, 1 1/16 miles (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 82 (3rd) (g. 3, by Dialed In–Oro Blanco, by Hold for Gold) O/B-Everest Stables (Ky). T-Destin Heath. J-Frankie Dettori. Money Man has the same running style as Mom and Dad, and his lack of gate speed repeatedly gets him bumped and squeezed and puts him in strategically difficult spots: he trailed by 13 lengths early in this race. But he's also honest, and now has rallied for three consecutive third-place finishes. 2. UP COUNTRY, CD, 9/25, 1 1/16 miles (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 85 (2nd) (c, 3, by Practical Joke–A P Lucky, by Lookin At Lucky) O-Calumet Farm. B-Wolverton Mountain Farm (Ky). T-Brendan Walsh. J-Tyler Gaffalione. Revved up early by Gaffalione, Up Country secured a nice spot stalking pacesetter Woodson, briefly took the lead leaving the quarter pole but couldn't hold off Chillax while continuing to show Beyer improvement in his third lifetime start. His unraced dam A P Lucky is a half-sister to Grade II Beldame Stakes winner Horologist. Up Country was a 2022 $82,000 Keeneland November weanling from the Taylor Made consignment. 1. CHILLAX, CD, 9/25, 1 1/16 miles (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 90 (c, 3, by Bernardini–Keepshercool, by Smart Strike) O/B-Godolphin (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-Junior Alvarado. Chillax had made Five Fastest Maidens once before–a statement that needs two asterisks. On July 13 at Saratoga he was third to Classicist with an 87 Beyer, and they finished 1-2 on that week's list. Then on Aug. 10 at the Spa, he was a rough-trip second to Worthy Charge with an 82 Beyer that failed to make the cut–but upon further review, as they say in the NFL, the Beyers for that race were upgraded by six points. Thus he should have been No. 2 that week as well. And four races back, Chillax missed the top five by fractions of a point. Now he has a five-race fig profile of 90-88-87-86-86, which looks more like a top allowance or low-level stakes runner than a recent maiden graduate. The post Five Fastest Maidens, Presented by Taylor Made: Sept. 23-28 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars DOUBLE SHOW - R3 (13) Crawford's horses are going well and he can run over the top of them here Jay Rooney AURORA PATCH - R2 (3) Can take advantage of an improved draw and go one better than last start Owen Goulding VICTORY CHAMPION - R6 (5) Made giant strides after a tardy start on debut and can make it second time lucky Phillip Woo AKASHVANI - R9 (9) Looks ready to strike on the back of a solid second first up this term Shannon (Vincent Wong) AURORA PATCH - R2 (3) Ran an...View the full article

Mountarmstrong Stud's Noel O'Callaghan declared himself “delighted” after Amo Racing stretched to €1 million to secure his Night Of Thunder filly during Tuesday's session of the Goffs Orby Sale, telling the assembled press pack, “If you don't get a kick out of selling a yearling for €1 million, you never will.” Lot 298 is the second foal out of No Speak Alexander (Shalaa), Mountarmstrong's homebred winner of the G1 Matron Stakes. No Speak Alexander, in turn, is out of the Listed scorer Rapacity Alexander (Dandy Man), a full-sister to the G1 Hong Kong Sprint hero Peniaphobia. This filly was the second seven-figure lot to go through the ring on the second day of the Orby, after MV Magnier emerged on top from the bidding war for the No Nay Never filly who was offered as lot 280. Glenvale Stud's full-sister to the dual Group 1 hero Blackbeard and this year's G2 Norfolk Stakes winner Charles Darwin fetched €1.9 million, the highest price of the sale so far. “I hope she's very lucky for Amo Racing,” O'Callaghan said of his prize filly. “She'll be early. We're not surprised by what she made and, if she made more, we wouldn't have been surprised either. This is a great industry, isn't it? It's been a very good sale and, if you don't get a kick out of selling a yearling for €1 million, you never will.” Asked how he planned on celebrating, O'Callaghan concluded, “I'm off to Newmarket!” Lot 298 was the sixth purchase of the sale so far for Amo Racing, with bloodstock agent Alex Elliott hoping the latest addition to the squad can be an early flagbearer for the operation in 2026. “She is bred to be fast and I would say we will know our fate early because we view her as an Ascot filly,” said Elliott. “A very sweet and good-bodied filly out of a Group 1 winner and by Night Of Thunder. That's kind of what they cost, isn't it? That's what we expected to pay for her – it was in and around the top of our range. “She's going to have to be early because she's [been born in] January. There have been some really good horses here, as always. It's been solid. Goffs do a great job getting people here and, when you look at the board downstairs, from Minnie Hauk and more, a lot of good horses have come out of this sale. We're all pleased that Kia has come back and hopefully we have found him some good ones.” The post ‘If You Don’t Get A Kick Out Of Selling A Yearling For €1 Million, You Never Will’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

White Birch, who holds an entry in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, headlines the newly-published catalogue for the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, which takes place at Park Paddocks from Monday, October 27 to Friday, October 31. Trained by John Murphy, the son of Ulysses is already a winner at the top level, having defeated dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin in last year's Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. Last seen finishing fifth in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, he possesses a Timeform rating of 120+ and will be offered by trainer John Murphy's Highfort Stables as lot 709. Of the 1,627 lots, the Castlebridge Consignment will offer the largest draft of 234 horses in training, including the G3 Renaissance Stakes winner My Mate Alfie (Dark Angel) (lot 715), while the select consignments from Coolmore and Juddmonte also promise to attract plenty of interest. The Coolmore offering includes the dual Group 2 winner Tower Of London (Galileo) (lot 667), the recent G1 St Leger third Stay True (Galileo) (lot 673) and this year's G3 Classic Trial scorer Swagman (Wootton Bassett) (lot 674). Progressive three-year-olds Calla Lagoon (New Bay) (lot 1043) and Pinhole (Frankel) (lot 1045) feature as potential highlights of the Juddmonte draft, while the juveniles set to go under the hammer include the G3 Solario Stakes winner A Bit Of Spirit (Palace Pier) (lot 1080) from Jamie Railton and Ed Walker Racing's Do Or Do Not (Space Blues) (lot 1016), who has finished placed in the G2 Coventry Stakes, G2 July Stakes, G2 Vintage Stakes and G2 Gimcrack Stakes. Deira Mile (Camelot) (lot 302), who finished fourth in both the Derby and St Leger last year, is another accomplished performer set to be offered at the five-day sale, along with the unexposed three-year-old Push The Limit (Le Havre) (lot 1078) – one of 21 horses in training featuring in the Imperium Sales draft – and the Listed scorer Military Academy (Fastnet Rock) (lot 1121), another from the Castlebridge Consignment. Last year Coolmore's Delius (Frankel) topped the sale when purchased by De Burgh Equine, McKeever Bloodstock and Go Bloodstock for 1,300,000gns. Now trained in Australia by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse under the name of Sir Delius, he recently struck gold in the G1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield and is among the leading contenders for the G1 Melbourne Cup. Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale has a remarkable record of producing winners at the highest level, with purchases winning no less than 168 Group/Listed races since 2022. “Leading the way is last year's record-breaking 1,300,000 guineas sale-topper Sir Delius, who won the Group 1 Underwood Stakes, and Poniros, who won the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. “That continued success is the key to the sale's enduring appeal and this year's catalogue looks set to cater to the usual diverse cross-section of domestic and international buyers, both Flat and National Hunt.” The catalogue also features a yearling section following the conclusion of the Autumn Horses in Training on Friday, October 31. The session features 104 commercially-bred yearlings, all of which are eligible for both the £200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes and the £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes. The post Tattersalls Gold Cup Hero White Birch Headlines Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Beauty Waves has won six times in Hong Kong. (Photo: HKJC) Group 3 racing in Hong Kong continues this Wednesday at Sha Tin when eight runners – headlined by last year’s winner Beauty Waves (135lb) – face off in the HK$4.2 million Group 3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) as part of the 10-race public-holiday programme on National Day in Hong Kong. Trained by Tony Cruz and to be ridden by championship leader Zac Purton from gate two, Beauty Waves faces Invincible Sage (129lb), Raging Blizzard (126lb), Wunderbar (126lb), Fast Network (125lb), Magic Control (124lb), Bottomuptogether (123lb) and Baby Crystal (115lb) in the straight course clash, only three days after My Wish’s coming of age success in Sunday’s (28 September) HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin. Cruz said: “Beauty Waves is ready for this race. He won it last year. I believe he has a great chance again to repeat that, he’s all set and I have got Zac to ride him. Everything is in place.” A two-time course and distance winner, five-year-old Beauty Waves faces a similarly sized field to last year, but carries an added 20lb on his back this time after prevailing under 115lb in 2024 by half a length over Magic Control, who he opposes again tomorrow with 124lb assigned in the form of jockey Vincent Ho. Irish-bred Beauty Waves has won two of his past three starts. The chestnut, who rates a race-topping 114, set a new Happy Valley course record last season, covering 1200m in 1: 08.10s, as he sauntered to success over Tomodachi Kokoroe – who was a smart winner last weekend at Sha Tin in Class 2 over 1200m. Wunderbar, the only horse to defeat reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) Ka Ying Rising, is back in action first-up for record-breaking trainer John Size. The five-year-old boasts seven career wins from 13 appearances. The gelding by Rich Enuff overcame a setback in early 2024 to add a further three victories to his haul last term. Click here for our Sha Tin racing tips for October 1 “He looks normal. He’s had two trials and in the second one he was fit enough to trial properly. He looks like his normal self and I think he’s going to run well again,” Size said. “The 1000 metres suits him. If he gets any favours he’s going to be in the finish.” Hugh Bowman links with Wunderbar for Size from draw six, while stablemate Raging Blizzard pairs with Brenton Avdulla in barrier three after finishing sixth behind a runaway Ka Ying Rising first-up in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) under a persistent rainfall at Sha Tin on September 7. “It was hard to get a good guide on many of the horses because of the conditions and you’re racing against Ka Ying Rising. But the horse seems healthy and well, I think he raced alright on that occasion given most horses have some excuse for the conditions,” Size said. “He’s done well after that race. I think he should run a good race also. The 1000 metres does look a little bit short for him, but he’s never looked like running 1400 (metres), so we’ll run him in this and see if we can get some prize money.” Six-time winner Raging Blizzard makes his first start below 1200m tomorrow afternoon, while Size also saddles Gastronomique, Noble Deluxe, Club Ace, Perfect Pairing, Raging Rapids, Mickley and Must Go as the Australian Racing Hall of Famer pursues a record-extending 14th trainers’ championship. Horse racing news View the full article

What Sandown races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, October 1, 2025 First Race 2pm AEST Visit Dabble The Hillside circuit at Sandown is in action once again on Wednesday afternoon with a seven-race meeting scheduled. With showers forecast throughout the day, the track is likely to be in a Soft range having been posted as a Good 4 at the time of acceptances. Here our Sandown Hillside betting tips for October 1, 2025, with the meeting set to commence at 2pm AEST. Best Bet at Sandown: Zambardo Zambardo has gone to a new level this campaign and has the chance to bring up a third straight win as he steps up to 1800m. He was a determined winner second-up on the Pakenham synthetic before saluting with a bit in hand at Sale over 1728m. The four-year-old gelding is set to gain a perfect run in transit under Ethan Brown from barrier two and looks to be the horse with the most upside in the race. Best Bet Race 5 – #3 Zambardo (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Ethan Brown (60.5kg) Next Best at Sandown: Presser Presser has been racing well without winning, and a return to midweek company offers an ideal opportunity to bring up an overdue victory. The seven-year-old was only grabbed late by Al Duca at Caulfield on September 20 when ridden more aggressively. If connections opt to do the same on Wednesday, he will take some running down in the small field. Next Best Race 4 – #3 Presser (5) 7yo Gelding | T: Gavin Bedggood | J: Beau Mertens (58.5kg) Best Value at Sandown: Sea Poem Sea Poem has won in convincing fashion in weaker company on her last two starts, despite being held up in both runs. If she can translate those efforts into a BM66 in town, then she looks great value at $8.50 with horse racing bookmakers. The step up to 1300m seems ideal, and with even luck, Sea Poem can blouse her rivals. Best Value Race 3 – #2 Sea Poem (7) 4yo Mare | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Daniel Stackhouse (59.5kg) Wednesday quaddie tips for Sandown Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, October 1, 2025 3-4-6-7 1-3-10 1-3-8-11-12 1-2-5-6-10 Horse racing tips View the full article

What Rosehill races Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 When Wednesday, October 1, 2025 First Race 2:25pm AEST Visit Dabble A rare Wednesday meeting at Rosehill Gardens awaits punters this week, with a quickfire six-race program set down for decision. Perfect conditions above will match those on the track, with the Good 4 rating set to remain throughout the day, while the rail comes out 7m for the entire circuit. Below are HorseBetting.com.au’s free tips and value bets for the Rosehill races on October 1, with the action set to commence at 2:25pm AEST. Best Bet at Rosehill: Mergeila Mergeila could not have been more impressive when winning first-up at Canterbury on a Heavy 9. He settled just off the speed in a small field and ended up putting three lengths on his closest rivals. The 1300m here looks to be no issue, and with William Stanley claiming 3kg, the Justify mare gets in perfectly with 59kg. As long as she can find cover early, Mergeila should prove to be a class above BM72 grade. Best Bet Race 3 – #1 Mergeila (5) 4yo Mare | T: Chris Waller | J: William Stanley (a3) (62kg) Next Best at Rosehill: Perfect Apple Perfect Apple made his debut at Canterbury in June and was beaten three lengths behind Group-quality horses like Autumn Boy and Central Coast. With raceday experience and two promising trials under his belt, he can break maiden ranks at start two. James McDonald will have him towards the rear of the field, but with a strong finish, Perfect Apple should prove hard to hold out. Next Best Race 2 – #9 Perfect Apple (12) 5yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | J: James McDonald (56kg) Best Value at Rosehill: Officiate Officiate had to dig deep to break his maiden over 1550m at Canterbury on September 10. His economical run in transit was arguably the difference, and from barrier six here, he can gain a similar sort of passage. He looks primed third-up, and Kerrin McEvoy will only need a touch of luck on the home turn for Officiate to be fighting out the finish at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 5 – #10 Officiate (6) 3yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: Kerrin McEvoy (55.5kg) Rosehill Wednesday quaddie tips Rosehill quadrella selections Wednesday, October 1, 2025 1-3 4-5-7-9-10 1-7-10 1-6-9 Horse racing tips View the full article