Wandering Eyes

Jessica Harrington revealed on Monday that she is leaning towards skipping the 2,000 Guineas in favour of the French equivalent with last year's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB), with Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) reported to be the stable's most likely representative at Newmarket. Green Impact won two of his three starts as a two-year-old, including September's G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown when last seen, beating last month's G3 Ballysax Stakes winner Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by half a length. On that form there isn't much between Green Impact and Hotazhell, with the latter horse's Futurity Trophy victory at Doncaster also being achieved at the expense of Delacroix when getting the verdict by a nose. That was Hotazhell's fourth win of a productive two-year-old campaign–which also yielded triumphs in the G3 Tyros Stakes and G2 Beresford Stakes–and next up could be a tilt at the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. “We've got through the winter with them, so now it is deciding [where to go],” Harrington said of her two Classic prospects. “They're both in the English Guineas, they're both in the Irish Guineas and they're both in the French Guineas. “We're still waiting to see but the vague plan is ground permitting, as they've had no rain in Newmarket for about six weeks. Ground permitting, Green Impact will go to the English Guineas and the plan at the moment is that Hotazhell will go to the French Guineas because the owners are coming over. “If those plans don't work or they get changed, they are both in the Irish Guineas. Green Impact is also in the Dante at York over a mile and a quarter. That's what we're thinking at the moment, but everything could change. “They've got to work to get there and the ground's got to be right on the day. They both go on good ground. I think both of them will go on anything but extremes–too quick or too soft.” Harrington, who can count Classic wins in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks on her decorated CV, believes Green Impact will be suited by Newmarket should he take his chance in the first British Classic of the season. She added, “He looks like a Guineas type. He can quicken up off a good, fast pace and he can take the hustle and bustle. He's a big, strong horse. He showed plenty of pace at Leopardstown to get to the front and stay there in spite of having a little bit of harassment. He's a well-balanced horse, he's very uncomplicated, and he'll take the proceedings very well. He'll be very relaxed. “I'd love to win the Guineas. I got very close with Lucky Vega [beaten half a length when third behind Poetic Flare in 2021]. That was a great thrill but I'd just love to win the Guineas. I'd love to win any English Classic–that'd be great. “The English Guineas looks wide open and whatever happens, I'll go there without a wander. It's a long season and it's not all in the spring, there's a lot of good races all the way through, if you go abroad, up to November.” The post France the Likely Destination for Hotazhell, with Green Impact on Newmarket Duty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's one sentence among tens of thousands encompassing 900 pages, but when it comes to the future of and welfare of the nation's wild horses and burros, it is frightening and to be taken seriously. “Congress must enact laws permitting the BLM to dispose humanely of these animals.” The “BLM” is the Bureau of Land Management and “these animals” are the estimated 73,000 wild horses and burros under BLM control. The sentence appears in Project 2025. According to its website, “Project 2025 is a historic movement, brought together by over 100 respected organizations from across the conservative movement, to take down the Deep State and return the government to the people. Its Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, published in April 2023, is a product of more than 400 scholars and policy experts from around the country. The book offers a menu of policy suggestions to meet our country's deepest challenges and put America back on track…” It was published in April, 2023 by the Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank, in anticipation of Trump winning the 2024 election. It was not written by Trump and Trump is under no obligation to follow it. It is, nonetheless, a road map for the President to follow as he pushes his conservative agenda. The argument being made by The Heritage Foundation and others is that the wild horse population has gotten so big as to become a burden for the government. Another passage from Project 2025: “There are 95,000 wild horses and burros roaming nearly 32 million acres in the West–triple what scientists and land management experts say the range can support. These animals face starvation and death from lack of forage and water. The population has more than doubled in just the past 10 years and continues to grow at a rate of 10 to 15 percent annually. This number includes the more than 47,000 animals the BLM has already gathered from public lands, at a cost to the American taxpayer of nearly $50 million annually to care for them in off-range corrals.” “With this administration we're scared that wild horses will be slaughtered,” said Chris Heyde, the founder of Blue Marble Strategies LLC, the country's leading animal protection lobbyist. “Will this be encouraged as a way of getting rid of costs? That was put forward in Project 2025. This is very scary because (Trump) has actually followed it to the letter so far. Russell Vought, the guy who wrote Project 2025–even though they claimed there was no connection to Trump–was caught on tape admitting Trump knew about it and supported it. He's now the director of the office of management and budget. Did he write that section on the wild horses? I don't know that. But he was the author of the whole paper. That's the concern because we are seeing a slash-and-burn approach to things. This could come up.” The Office of Management and Budget serves the President of the United States in overseeing the implementation of his vision across the Executive Branch. OMB's mission is to assist the President in meeting his policy, budget, management and regulatory objectives and to fulfill the agency's statutory responsibilities. “We are taking it very seriously,” said Celeste Carlisle, the biology and science program manager for the advocacy group Return to Freedom. “The way that Project 2025 frames the wild horse issue gives it the desperation. They say they've 'invaded private and permitted public lands,' and 'turned sod into concrete.' These are arguments that can easily be used to justify euthanasia. As if there's no other way. What a tragedy.” She says there are many inaccuracies in the way Project 2025 has framed the issue. “Project 2025's section about wild horse and burro management isn't accurate,” Carlisle said. “We have used our public lands in lots of ways, through many extractive uses that have been hard on the land. Making horses seem the only, and a desperate problem, with no way out other than euthanasia, for one thing isn't true, and for another thing, falls back onto a call for euthanasia for the sake of management that has been a stopping point for compromise and forward progress since the method was tried in the early 80's. There are ways to manage wild horses and burros, even at this challenging juncture, comprehensively, sustainably, and non-lethally. Not only that, but broad, bipartisan organizations support and embrace it.” The group Friends of Animals suggests contacting Secretary of the Interior Chief Stipe Burgum. When he was Governor of North Dakota, he was seen as a supporter of wild horses. He backed efforts to protect the herd at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park as said that wild horses are “an iconic part of the Badlands experience.” They also suggest contacting your own elected representative. What Trump and the authors of Project 2025 might not have taken into account is that the public at large would no doubt be outraged if the wild horses were euthanized. According to the group American Wild Horse Conservation, A 2017 poll revealed that 83% of Trump voters and 77% of Hillary Clinton voters supported protecting wild horses and burros from slaughter. “This is very alarming,” said Oscar Gonzalez, a member of the California Horse Racing Board and a horse advocate. “I never thought that I'd see something like this. Horses are the foundation of our nation in terms of what they've done. They've helped us win wars and build frontiers and create communities. True Americans honor horses. We have a lot of work to do when it comes to how best to manage the wild horses, but to even think about disposing of them is misguided. In my opinion, it's un-American. Whoever put this part of the document together has no understanding whatsoever about the beauty of horses and what they've done for our great nation. This should be a rallying cry to all horsemen and horsewomen around the country that we have to monitor this issue very carefully. I believe in engaging with members of Congress and other elected officials, especially where there are large concentrations of wild horses. I'll continue to do my share.” Said Heyde: “I think the public backlash would be significant. The pubic is already on full alert when it comes to things that don't seem to be part of our American values and will push the clock back instead of moving progress forward. If you want to talk about an issue that can unify rural and urban, Democrats and Republicans, this is the kind of issue. We pay tribute to horses. There could not be a more unifying issue. I'm confident that when this is known people will bring this up to their members of Congress. Everyone needs to reach out to an equine organization and lend their resources and time. We have a lot of work to do to make sure our policy makers know what horses, wild or not, mean to us as a county. I guarantee you all hell with break loose if they even suggest killing these wild horses. That will be the most contentious issue of my career.” The post Under Project 2025, Will the Nation’s Wild Horses be Safe? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Grade I-placed 'TDN Rising Star' Ferocious (Flatter) has succumbed to laminitis after being sidelined with a foreleg injury, the connections announced Monday afternoon on X. Twice a runner-up at the highest level in the GI Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in 2024, the son of Flatter emerged from his fourth place in the GIII Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1 with a muscle tear. When first reported, the connections said it was a minor injury that just required time to heal, but also included that the time frame would knock him off the Triple Crown trail. At some point afterward, the connections say he suffered from a 'terrible' cellulitis infection before ultimately losing his battle with laminitis. “RIP Ferocious,” tweeted Ramiro Restrepo. “Talented, gorgeous, and noble. Loved by your partners, we never got to see you fulfill your true potential.” “Sidelined due to a very unique foreleg injury suffered in his last race, along with a terrible cellulitis infection. Ultimately succumbing to Laminitis today.” The post Ferocious Succumbs to Laminitis After Foreleg Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A little trip down Street Cry memory lane last week prompted a call to Dan Pride in Kentucky and one of the best lines anyone in the bloodstock community has ever offered up during an interview. In discussing the initial market hesitation around Street Cry's European lineage and not-quite-movie-star looks, Pride opined that it was a good early lesson that, in the stallion market in particular, horses can often makes fools of man. “It taught me that nobody knows nothing,” he said. They are words to live by. When it comes to last week's hot political topic of tariffs being imposed by the American government, we can also say at this stage that nobody knows nothing–certainly not anything concrete until we hear what, if any, retaliatory measures will be taken by the EU and UK. It is not hard to guess, however, that there will be significant consequences for our sector, particularly at the sales. A document provided by the British government on Friday contained an indicative list of products that may be subject to a future UK tariff response. Items one and three on that list that ran to thousands of items across 417 pages were “pure-bred breeding horses” and “live horses”. No doubt the various breeders' associations and racing authorities across Europe will be attempting to remind their respective governments of the economic impact of the Thoroughbred business, and of the importance of American participation in this part of the world. But, even with no retaliation from Europe, or a reduction in the tariffs imposed by President Trump, both of which seem unlikely at this early stage, there will still surely be a reduction in the level of spending by American owners who are intending to take home horses bred in Europe. From this Wednesday, for now at least, a 10 per cent tariff will have to be paid on horses with a GB suffix, and 20 per cent on those bred in Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and other EU member states. Somebody Knows Something Francis Graffard could not have dreamed of a stronger start to 2025 for his team of horses. It seems almost impossible to tune into a French race meeting at the moment and not find one of this string in the winner's enclosure, and on Sunday he won two of Longchamp's three group races and was a close second in the third, as well as winning the first two maidens of the day at the reopening of France's premier track. For good measure, he also sent out the Aga Khan Studs' Dalakir (GB) (Zarak {Fr}) to win at Lion d'Angers for a Sunday five-timer. The previous day, stable star Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) had posted some impressive closing sectionals when narrowly failing to claw back last year's Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile (Jpn) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on his first start since British Champions Day. He'll be a force to be reckoned with in his intended next start in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. Let's hope we see Danon Decile racing in Europe this year, too. Bateel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had already done much for the Graffard stable in winning the G1 Prix Vermeille, G2 Prix de Pomone, G2 Prix Corrida and G3 Pinnacle Stakes during 2017 and 2018, but the now-13-year-old mare is still providing the team with memorable days. Across three of the last four weekends, Bateel's offspring Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Tajlima (GB) (Kingman {GB}) have won group races, with the former adding Sunday's G2 Prix d'Harcourt to his victory in France's first group race of the turf season, the G3 Prix Exbury. Another step up the ladder is next, to the G1 Prix Ganay on April 27. The four-year-old Map Of Stars completed a memorable weekend for Wathnan Racing after the victory of Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the G1 Dubai World Cup. Returned at 66/1, the five-year-old was perhaps not even particularly fancied by his trainer Brad Cox, who hadn't made the trip to Meydan to see Hit Show land his £5.5 million share of the night's biggest prize. Perhaps the potentially most significant winner of Graffard's over the weekend was Mandanaba (Fr), who, in the G3 Prix Vanteaux, became the first group winner for her young sire Ghaiyyath (Ire) and gave her owner-breeder Princess Zahra Aga Khan just cause to dream of Classic glory in the coming months. In a slightly later start to her own racing career, Mandanaba's dam Mandesha (Fr) (Desert Style {Ire}) missed out on the Classics but soon notched a string of three consecutive Group 1 victories in the Prix d'Astarte, Prix Vermeille and Prix de l'Opera. Mandanaba, now unbeaten in her two starts to date, was her 12th and final foal and is doubtless very special to her breeder, who had herself raced back from Meydan to be present at Longchamp to see Mandanaba become her dam's second stakes winner. Japan's Big Night – Again Perhaps the after-effects of their epic tussle in the Saudi Cup were to blame for Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) not quite being able to live up to huge expectations at Meydan, but neither folded tamely. Mere millimetres separated Romantic Warrior and Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) at the line for the G1 Dubai Turf, while Forever Young, though clearly beaten a long way out in the Dubai World Cup, dug deep to rally to take third behind the American duo of Hit Show and Mixto. Even without Forever Young, the Japanese still managed to lift three of the races on World Cup night. Along with Soul Rush, Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) took the Dubai Sheema Classic, and in the G2 UAE Derby Admire Daytona (Jpn) narrowly denied a father-daughter victory for Jamie and Saffie Osborne on the afternoon that father and son Willie and Patrick Mullins won the Grand National. After Crown Pride (Jpn), Derma Sotogake (Jpn) and the aforementioned Forever Young, this was a fourth consecutive win for the Japan in the UAE Derby. The previous trio has gone on to run 13th, sixth and third in the Kentucky Derby, for which the winner in Meydan earned 30 qualifying points. Perhaps Admire Daytona, by the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Drefong and out of a mare by Shackleford, who was fourth in the Kentucky Derby, can continue that upward trajectory. Props should also go to the 2021 UAE Derby winner Rebel's Romance (Ire), who did not go on to run at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of May, but was fourth in this year's Sheema Classic after winning last year and lining up for that race three years running. Don't Stop Believing When Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) fetched the third-top price of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale at 3 million gns it would have been easy to assume that we had seen the last of her on the track. After all, she'd done plenty to earn her place in the Coolmore broodmare band, with six wins at that stage, including the G2 Sapphire Stakes and a run of Group 1 placings. But the decision was swiftly taken to keep her in training at five and hats off to George Boughey, and to her new owners – that familiar Coolmore trio of Magnier, Tabor and Smith having been joined by John Stewart – for they now have a Group 1 winner on their hands following Believing's hard-fought victory in the Al Quoz Sprint. With his sixth crop of runners now taking to the track, Mehmas continues to grow in stature as a sire of increasing note. Seven Group 1 winners have emanated from those earlier years at stud and it is reasonable to hope that there is plenty more to come as the quality of his books has risen. Boughey had a handful of his first runners as a trainer the year before Mehmas but he too properly burst onto the scene in 2020 and has done nothing but impress in the intervening years. For the three seasons prior to 2025 he has trained more than 100 winners, including 1,000 Guineas victrix Cachet (Ire) and the mighty Via Sistina (Ire) prior to her departure to Australia. Thank Goodness for Girls When is a Derby not a Derby? Perhaps the answer to that is when 15 of the 18 runners are geldings, as was the case for the ATC Australian Derby at Randwick on Saturday. Preventing a meltdown among bloodstock purists at the idea of a gelding winning a Derby was the gallant heroine Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio {Aus}), the sole filly of the field, who trounced the boys by more than five lengths. Star Turn On the subject of trailblazing females, on Saturday the news broke that Hayley Turner has retired from her magnificent career in the saddle. It's not the first time Turner has retired – she initially announced the end of her race-riding days almost a decade ago, but that was short-lived. She returned, first in France, and then back in her native Britain, to add several more milestones to her notable record of achievements. The first female champion apprentice in Britain, the first woman to ride 100 winners in a year in the UK, the first of her sex in Europe to ride 1,000 winners and the first female in Britain to win a Group 1 outright: Hayley Turner OBE pushed the door wide open for plenty of women coming along behind her. These days it is no longer remarkable to see females booked to ride in even the biggest races, and that is perhaps Turner's greatest achievement of all. The post Seven Days: Nobody Knows Nothing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

3rd-KEE, $120k, OC125k/NW1, 3yo, 6f, 2:04 p.m. ET. Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister's Tip Top Thomas (Volatile), who was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his debut win at Saratoga last August, returns to the races for the first time since finishing second behind Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in the GI Champagne Stakes last October. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the $160,000 FTKOCT yearling is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Gray Attempt (Graydar) and to multiple graded placed Dua (Arrogate). CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Gunmetal (Gun Runner) is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the nine-horse field. The Brad Cox trainee, a $410,000 KEESEP yearling, was a first-out winner at Fair Grounds in December and was most recently third in the Feb. 1 Swale Stakes. TJCIS PPs. The post Tuesday’s Racing Insights: ‘Rising Star’ Tip Top Thomas Returns at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For America's Best Racing, Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers, and jockeys as they travel the Road to the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) May 3 at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Bookended by a strong opening week and a robust Santa Anita Derby weekend, the track's total all source handle topped $510 million. The total handle on just Santa Anita's races increased 5% from the 2023-24 Classic Meet. View the full article

By Dane McLeod/Renee Geelen/TTR AusNZ The 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale saw fireworks and frenzied buying action continue from Day 1 into Day 2. Another 15 yearlings reached the coveted A$1 million mark, giving the sale a total of 25 million-dollar lots. Buyers' thirst for quality continued as the sale ended on a very strong note. Lot 217–Zoustar (Aus) x The Actuary (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) (filly)–A$2,600,000 The momentum of Zoustar continued as Lot 217, a classy filly out of the talented juvenile The Actuary, attracted a flurry of bids before ultimately being knocked down for A$2.6 million to John Stewart of Resolute Racing–marking Widden Stud's third million-dollar offering for the sale by their outstanding stallion. The Actuary was a precocious filly herself, winning twice as a juvenile, including the Listed The Phoenix Stakes. Her first foal, a full brother, was sold at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for A$760,000 to Highway Farm. Now named Algorithmic (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), he has shown early promise in his career, running fourth in the Listed Lonhro Plate and fifth in the G2 Sires' Produce Stakes on his most recent start at Flemington. The filly also boasts a powerful pedigree on the page. She is a three-parts sister to the brilliant three-time Group 1 winner Zougotcha (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Listed winner Persuader (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}). Her third dam, Crystal Wit (Aus) (Distorted Humor), was also successful at Listed level and has produced nine individual winners. She is a half-sister to the G1 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}). “It's been an exciting morning!” said Widden's Antony Thompson. “We've had two lovely Zoustar's through in the first hour and, obviously, The Actuary has been a star from day one and the filly has been much-admired this week. She's hardly seen a box. We had 260 parades for her and the vets have been from all parts of the world. “I guess she had that X factor and had international appeal as well, so we're thrilled to see John Stewart of Resolute Racing purchase.” The Actuary has visited Zoustar every year since her retirement to stud. Following this filly, she has produced a full brother and was again served by him last spring. Lot 217, Zoustar x The Actuary from the @widdenstud draft sells for $2.6 million to @resracingky!!! Massive congratulations to those involved! #InglisEaster pic.twitter.com/MGmzT1brt0 — Inglis (@inglis_sales) April 7, 2025 At A Glance Fifteen lots sold for A$1 million or more on a strong day of trading, making 25 in total for the sale, compared to 18 in 2024 and 26 in 2023. This year's sale topper was sold on Day 1 for A$3 million, while the top lot of Day 2, the Zoustar (Aus) filly out of The Actuary (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), made $2.6 million, one of only two fillies in the top 10 lots on Day 2. Last year, the yearling filly out of champion racemare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) broke the highest price yearling record selling for A$10 million, with the previous record being A$5 million. The record number of seven figure lots occurred in 2008 when there was 28. The median price across both days was A$360,000, compared to A$375,000 on the first day of the sale. The sale average was well up on 2024 at A$451,913 (332 sold) compared to A$429,786 (356 sold) at close of business. Last year, the average without the Winx filly was A$396,774 from 355 lots sold–a staggering increase in the market climate. The clearance rate is currently 86 per cent. Last year, the clearance rate at the end of sale was 79 per cent and rose to 80 per cent over the next week. The gross topped A$150 million compared to A$151.8 million last year including the Winx filly. The highest spending buyer across both days of the sale was Coolmore's Tom Magnier who spent A$10.4 million on seven yearlings at an average of A$1.4 million. KPW was the leading buyer for most yearlings purchased with 10 horses costing A$4.7 million, while Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock was equal with Chris Waller and Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock with nine purchases each. Arrowfield Stud led the vendors list with A$22 million worth of yearlings across 39 sales at an average of A$565,600, ahead of Coolmore who sold 33 yearlings for A$17.8 million. Widden Stud were the leading vendor by average price at A$734,000. Tyreel Stud came in second, selling three yearlings at an average price of A$713,000. Snitzel (Aus) led the sires list by aggregate with 31 yearlings sold for A$22 million at an average of A$718,000, edging out Zoustar (Aus) whose 28 yearlings sold made A$18 million at an average of A$660,000. Across the two days of selling, the leading first season sire was Home Affairs (Aus) with 22 yearlings sold for an average of A$395,000, including the sale-topping A$3 million colt on the first day. Lot 333–I Am Invincible (Aus) x Covent Garden (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) (colt)–A$1,800,000 Tom Magnier and Coolmore Stud continued their buying spree in style, winning out in a fierce bidding war for Lot 333–an I Am Invincible colt secured for A$1.8 million. The colt is the first live foal out of Covent Garden, a half-sister to none other than the legendary Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), the extraordinary mare who claimed an astonishing 25 Group 1 victories. The colt is also closely related to Group 3 winner El Divino (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), while his second dam, Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar {Aus}), was a talented mare in her own right, winning seven races including two at Listed level. A beautifully balanced son of 'Vinny', he was offered by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds. It's a sensational start to Covent Garden's broodmare career and Coolmore will no doubt be hoping this colt follows in the footsteps of their past I Am Invincible star colt in Home Affairs (Aus). “He was a colt that was always a standout from day one,” said Brian Clarke of Segenhoe Stud. “From the day he was born he was a beautiful horse. He had the real I Am Invincible quality, beautiful head, great colour, physically very impressive. “Because of that we always had big expectations coming here, hopefully thinking he will be a million-dollar horse, or one of our better or bigger lots, but to make A$1.8 million really exceeded expectations.” Since producing this standout colt, Covent Garden has left a weanling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and was subsequently left empty last spring. .@SegenhoeGroup's Lot 333 (I Am Invincible x Covent Garden) sells to @CoolmoreAus for $1.8 million! Congratulations to those involved! #InglisEaster pic.twitter.com/DGIFZNHIgv — Inglis (@inglis_sales) April 7, 2025 Lot 297–Zoustar (Aus) x Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto) (colt)–A$1,700,000 It was an exciting and emotional moment for Sam and Catriona Williams of Little Avondale Stud, as they celebrated their first ever million-dollar yearling sale. Lot 297, a striking Zoustar colt out of Belluci Babe, realised A$1.7 million when knocked down to Sam Wright and Douglas Whyte. The colt is the first foal out of Belluci Babe, a winner of the G3 Wenona Girl Handicap. She is a three-parts sister to last Saturday's G3 Carbine Club Stakes winner and the R. Listed “The Kiwi” runner-up Evaporate (Aus) (Per Incanto), as well as fellow Per Incanto-sired Listed winners Magnum (NZ) and Pure Incanto (NZ). “It's a huge result, massive result for the stud,” said Little Avondale's Sam Williams. “We're 85 years old and the oldest in New Zealand. This colt goes back to the direct descendant of my grandmother's first ever yearling she sold 85 years ago. So this is very satisfying. “Belluci Babe, we raced over here with a group of guys and syndicated her on a lease deal. She went on to be a pretty damn good racehorse on the track, winning six including the Wenona Stakes. We decided to keep her here to go to Zoustar rather than bring her home that first year.” When questioned on how he come about selecting Zoustar for his talented mare's first mating, Williams said, “Always send them to a proven sire off the track. It's always been a stud policy. If you think you've got one of the best ones you've got, go to one of the best ones you can afford. Obviously, Zoustar was that boy and the result has just been magnificent for the stud. “I've never had a horse have over 200 parades at a sale, and I think, as of the end of today, it was 226.” Since producing this colt, Belluci Babe was served by Russian Revolution (Aus) and exported to New Zealand. She then left a Russian Revolution weanling colt and was subsequently served by Proisir (Aus) last spring. This beautiful Zoustar x Belluci Babe (Lot 297) colt from the @littleavondale draft, sells for $1.7 million to Douglas White! Congratulations #InglisEaster pic.twitter.com/mbRcQlocAI — Inglis (@inglis_sales) April 7, 2025 The post Resolute Racing Pounce on Zougotcha Relation for A$2.6 Million at Inglis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the Sunday conclusion to Santa Anita's Classic Meet, the 2024-25 season enjoyed significant gains in handle, attendance, field size, and safety, the track announced Monday morning. The all-source handle topped $510-million with players from around the world responding favorably to the modifications to the wagering menu. The handle on just Santa Anita's races increased five per cent from the last Classic Meet. Opening day Dec. 26 brought the third largest opening day handle in the venue's 90-year history, and the final three-day weekend claimed more than $40.6-million in wagers on the local races with on track attendance drawing almost 50,000 people. Field sizes bucked the overall national trend as the number of starters per race rose by 7% over last year, granted partially due to the influx of Northern California horses transitioning to the single circuit. Santa Anita offered 61 more races during this season's Classic Meet as a result. In the realm of safety, the track saw 99.9715% safe trips which translate to a fatality rating of .285 per 1,000 starters. It was a 17I improvement from the same time last year and the rating is less than a third of the national average of .90 per 1,000 starters. Those figures are as reported by tracks covered by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). Racing returns for the Hollywood Meeting Friday, Apr. 18 and will continued to Sunday, June 15. On the back of the successful Classic Meet, the purses for the upcoming Hollywood meet will increase. “The value proposition and positive momentum carries forward to the upcoming 29-day Hollywood meet with a 10% increase to overnight purses,” said Bill Nader, president & CEO of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. “California racing is showing renewed life and the transition to a single circuit is fulfilling its purpose.” The post Santa Anita Classic Meet Posts Increases in key Metrics, Field Size and Safety Improve Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Newsells Park Stud resident A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire} became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Karl Burke-trained daughter Ali Shuffle (GB) shed maiden status at the first attempt tackling five furlongs in Monday's Flat Is Back On Racing TV EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice Stakes at Redcar. Breaking well to race in a prominent third from flagfall, the 9-4 second favourite was shaken up to gain an edge soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly under mild urging inside the final furlong to comfortably defeat Bleep Test (GB) (Time Test {GB}) by two lengths. An instant hit Ali Shuffle defies market weakness to strike on debut and provide first-season sire A'Ali with his first winner.@karl_burke | @newsellspark | @NBradleyRacing pic.twitter.com/8yAvGQZDE8 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 7, 2025 The post Freshman Sire A’Ali Off the Mark at Redcar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Danny Shum’s champion pulls up well from his shock defeat in Saturday night’s Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) at Meydan.View the full article

Sardinian jockey will look to add to his 38 winners for the campaign on Wednesday night.View the full article

Te Akau jumper Leaderboard is set to head to the Warrnambool carnival later this month following his triumph in the Open Steeplechase (3250m) at Ballarat on Sunday. The 10-year-old son of Street Cry, who is raced by syndicator Fortuna, won seven races on the flat in New Zealand, including the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m). He then transferred to Te Akau’s Cranbourne base where he has added three further wins to his tally, along with placings in last year’s Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Grand National Steeplechase (4500m). Trainer Mark Walker was pleased with his winning performance on Sunday and is looking forward to tackling some feature jumping assignments at Warrnambool, including the Brierley Chase (3450m) and Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m). “It was a brilliant win,” Walker said. “He’s a terrific jumper and it’s great to see him back at the races and win the way he did. “It’s all systems go towards the Warrnambool carnival, and he looks as though he’s in for another really good season. “I’m looking forward to seeing him again at Warrnambool. It’s a unique carnival and it’ll great to be a part of it.” Prior to the two assignments at Warrnambool, Fortuna’s John Galvin said the plan was for Leaderboard to back-up in the Spencer Memorial Steeplechase (4000m) at Pakenham this coming Sunday. “I don’t think that will worry him and after that he’ll go to the Warrnambool carnival,” Galvin said. “I think Mark (Walker) has got the base fitness into him. “It was a lovely ride by Will (Gordon) and kudos to Mark and Ben (Gleeson, assistant trainer), they’ve prepared the horse beautifully, and Mark loves his jumpers. “We’ve owned him since 2018 and he’s a marvel, really. He had a wonderful period of flat racing and was very consistent provided he got yielding tracks, but his future was always going to be as a jumper when he wasn’t so competitive on the flat. “Mark’s got a few jumpers in his stable, with Prismatic and The Mighty Spar, and Leaderboard has become the flagbearer with the successes he’s had.” View the full article

Shaun and Emma Clotworthy didn’t quite get their fairytale finish with Willydoit in Saturday’s A$2 million Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m), but the couple walk away with plenty to look forward to in the gelding’s future across the Tasman. Willydoit triumphed in emphatic style in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie last month, warranting a trip to take on Australia’s best staying three-year-olds on the first day of The Championships at Royal Randwick. Reuniting with Kiwi expat jockey Mick Dee, Willydoit jumped well and was handy early, eventually settling in the three-wide train behind Tsitsipas. The son of Tarzino got on the back of the eventual winner Aeliana on the home turn, but the Kiwi-bred filly was simply dominant, putting a five-length space on the field with Willydoit fighting hard into fourth. “We’re really proud, his grand final was the New Zealand Derby so it was just a bonus getting here,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “He’s done well, we would never have beaten the winner as she was too good, but with a slightly more economical trip he might’ve run second. He’s not far off them and he’ll definitely continue to develop. “He’s run great in fourth, it was his first trip away from home and he settled in well, everything’s been great with him. It’s a good experience for the horse and everyone is happy with the result.” While rapt with the result, the Clotworthys will return to New Zealand without their star galloper, as he joins Ciaron Maher’s powerful operation across New South Wales and Victoria. It won’t be the last they see of Willydoit though, as they remain in the ownership alongside Bryan Black and Australian syndication company MyRacehorse. “It’s a little bit sad, but it is what it is,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “It was always part of the deal and he’s been a great horse, we’ll come over and watch him and see how it goes. “We had a talk with Ciaron the other day and he’ll head for a spell, probably six to eight weeks. He may even head up to Queensland for a spell, he’s just had a few environmental problems in his feet caused by the heat in New Zealand, they were getting a bit crumbly. “He’ll look after him and see where he ends up after that.” The future looks bright for the gelding, and Clotworthy has no doubt he can match it with the best as an older horse in some of Australia’s most iconic staying races. “Mick said he just tugged a little bit, possibly with the month between races, but he’s very easy to train and I think he can be a real top-class stayer when he furnishes into a mature horse,” Clotworthy said. “I can see him having an easier four-year-old spring and then coming back in the autumn, then maybe the Melbourne Cup that year as a five-year-old. “He’s not a dour out-and-out staying horse, he’s won over 1400 and 1600 with a turn-of-foot. We elected to go for the Derby path and he did that, and he’s come here and certainly hasn’t embarrassed us in Australia either. “It’s been great.” View the full article

Ross McCarroll didn’t have to think very long or hard to name a filly he bought for loose change at Karaka in 2007. The Cambridge horseman handed over $100 for a yearling offered through Wentwood Grange’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Autumn Mixed Bloodstock Sale and her subsequent moniker was apt on two fronts. “Because she was by Desert Fox, we called her Stole which is worn around your neck (often a fur), but now it’s become more the other way (price),” McCarroll said. “I watched her at Karaka and she was a good walker, there were no bids so I got her, and she ended up a really good mare. It’s probably the best $100 I’ve ever spent.” Stole emphasised the value of the bargain basement transaction during a career that netted six wins, a runner-up finish in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and banked more than A$230,000. McCarroll has successfully bred from Stole and at Ellerslie on Saturday the money theme continued when he prepared her son Embezzler to win the open 2200m handicap. The Contributor gelding is one of a quartet of winners for the mare, who collected three victories and six placings from her first 13 starts before she was sent to McCarroll’s good friend and expatriate Kiwi trainer Brian Jenkins in Melbourne. “I already had a horse called Figure Of Speech over there and he was coming to the end of it, so I sent Stole over to Brian and brought the other horse back,” he said. “I’ve got the mare in the paddock at home and she’s retired now. She’s got a little bit of a breathing problem, hopefully she should be around for a few more years.” Stole’s last foal is a colt by Super Easy, who is making all the right moves. “I really like him, he’s a two-year-old and is very much like Embezzler. She’s also had Pinched (three wins), who was good but broke down and Contraband was another really good horse. “He won for us and we sold him to Hong Kong, but he didn’t do quite as well up there as I thought he would.” Embezzler is a lightly tried five-year-old who has amassed three wins and two placings from his 15 appearances and could also venture across the Tasman. “He’s not overly big so we have to be a bit careful with him,” McCarroll said. “He may end up in Australia if they hammer him too much with the weight.” View the full article

Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson is no stranger to success on Australia’s biggest stage, but even he watched in awe as the filly he co-bred in Aeliana stormed away with Saturday’s $2 million Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). A bridesmaid in each of the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Aeliana had proven she was right up with the boys and they were no match as she stepped over a mile and a half for the first time, capitalising off a perfect run in transit to power clear and score by over five lengths. Horses with the calibre of Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Prince Of Penzance and 10-time Group One winner (King) Mufhasa headline the honour roll at the Matamata nursery, where Thompson assures Aeliana now holds her own pride of place as just the 10th filly to win the three-year-old showpiece. “Going into the race we knew she had a turn of foot, and we knew she had class, but I guess the question was could she run out the 2400m against horses already proven over that distance,” he said. “She certainly fulfilled all of our expectations, it was a pretty incredible performance. “The reason we’re all in it is to breed a horse like her, we’ve been lucky to have produced Melbourne Cup winners and horses like King Mufhasa, who won 10 Group Ones, but it’s pretty special to have bred a filly who beat the colts in the ATC Derby, it doesn’t happen very often.” Thompson and Greg Tomlinson’s Nearco Stud had gone to A$200,000 to purchase Aeliana’s dam Temolie in-foal with the filly at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions Broodmare Sale, a decision that continues to reward the pair as she produced three subsequent fillies by Rich Hill’s leading sire Proisir. While she didn’t win a race, Temolie had plenty of appeal as a broodmare prospect, as a half-sister to Group One winner Invincibella, Group Three winner Secret Blaze and Listed winner Extreme Flight. “We were looking to upgrade our broodmares with Proisir going the way he is, which is why we purchased this mare a couple of years ago on the Gold Coast, in-foal to Castelvecchio,” Thompson said. “She was from a great New Zealand family. Going through her pedigree she is by Star Witness out of Galileo mare, and that mare is out of a Zabeel mare,” he said. “It was quite incredible to combine probably the two greatest broodmare sires in history. “The next dam was by Noble Bijou, who was another great New Zealand stallion, and she probably has those stamina influences through those the Galileo, Zabeel and Noble Bijou lines. It’s a great family that was developed by Jack Lindsay from Balcarres Stud, which was one of our leading farms back in the day. “When I first started out, I helped prepare their yearlings for the Karaka Sales and knew the family very well.” Aeliana was among the first crop by Arrowfield Stud’s young sire Castelvecchio, a multiple Group One-winning son of Dundeel. She made a good impression on Thompson and potential buyers as a youngster, reflected by the $180,000 outlaid by Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds to secure her at Karaka. “We paid $200,000 for the mare, then Aeliana went through Karaka and made $180,000, so for a first-season sire that was quite a good price at the time,” he said. “She’s worth a hell of lot more than that now though. “She was always a nice quality filly, she wasn’t overly robust at the time and was typical of that High Chapparal sire line, very athletic. “It was a little bit hard to know how far she would go, she looked like a very nice miler and was unlucky not to win a Thousand Guineas earlier in the season, then she probably should’ve beaten Broadsiding at Rosehill, that was the real hint of how much talent she had. “Any Group One is a great achievement, a lot goes in to getting there and this filly really deserved it. She had been running so well and Chris Waller (trainer) alluded to that, that she could be something pretty special. “It’s very exciting going forward.” Back at Rich Hill, the third of Temolie’s Proisir fillies is about to be weaned, with the late nature of her foaling persuading Thompson to leave the mare empty with the potential of going to another of his successful sires in the new season. “She’s got a filly at foot that we are about to wean, she was the last foal born last year in late November,” he said. “Temolie had been in foal for four years running, so we decided we’ll give her a break so we can get her back on a nice early cycle next year. “All the great old horseman have said that if you like a mating, repeat it three times, which we’ve done. She’s had three Proisir fillies now, the second of those was purchased by Denise Martin, who bought Aeliana and races her through her syndication company. “We haven’t decided at this stage, but we’re probably leaning towards Satono Aladdin, just depending on the feedback we receive. The two-year-old filly is in work with Ciaron Maher, so we will wait to hear some feedback with her first. “We’ll make that decision in a few months’ time.” View the full article

Nick Bishara was left pinching himself on Saturday after he watched his filly Belle Detelle breakthrough for her maiden stakes victory in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. The Ardmore horseman looks to have struck gold for the second time, with Belle Detelle being a three-quarter sister to his ill-fated champion racemare Verry Elleegant, who recorded 11 Group One victories. Like Verry Elleegant, Belle Detelle is trained by leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller, and has now accrued an envious record of two wins and three placings from five starts and earned more than A$190,000 in prizemoney. “It was terrific. I am just trying to sit back and take it all in,” said Bishara, who co-bred and part-owns Belle Detelle. “She’s not Verry Elleegant, but for Lightning to strike twice and to have a stakes winner out of the family is great. To get a Group Three at your fifth start is pretty impressive.” The victory was a full-circle moment for Bishara, who has been involved with the family for nearly two decades. He initially bought Belle Detelle’s granddam Opulence for $5,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Autumn Mixed Bloodstock Sale and trained her to win two races, and subsequently offered her in-foal to Towkay at Karaka in 2011 where she was purchased by the late Don Goodwin for $14,000. Goodwin in turn returned to Karaka the following year with the resulting foal, who Bishara purchased for $2,000 and would go on to name her Black Lace. She posted three victories for Bishara before retiring to the broodmare paddock, with her first foal being Belle Detelle. “Matt Duffie and I raced her (Black Lace) mother Opulence, which ended up being Verry Elleegant’s mother,” Goodwin said. “We put her in-foal to Towkay and put the mare through the ring (where she was bought by Don Goodwin). Don presented Black Lace at the weanling sales and looking back we thought we didn’t want to get out of this family, so we bought her back quite cheaply for $2,000. “We kept her, raced her, and sent her to stud at the end of her five-year-old season. Luckily we had Verry Elleegant and we decided to send her to Zed. She missed the first time and connected the second (resulting in Belle Detelle). “We wanted a filly, the family is very light on fillies, and we don’t intend on selling her anytime soon.” Black Lace is currently domiciled at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, where she has been since a partnership with the leading stud farm was formed a couple of years ago. “Brian de Lore is good friends with my late father, and he put us into contact with John Messara from Arrowfield, and he was very interested in doing a foal share with Black Lace,” Bishara said. “We took the punt and that’s why Belle Detelle doesn’t have a New Zealand suffix next to her name, she was foaled down at Arrowfield. We have got a couple of Dundeels in partnership with Arrowfield to look forward to. “We have a two-year-old Dundeel gelding with Arrowfield and he will probably go to Chris (Waller). “We have also got a weanling colt by Dundeel out of Black Lace to go to next year’s Sydney Easter Sale. It’s exciting times.” Black Lace missed to Admire Mars this season and Bishara said a decision on her next mating will be made in the near future. “Unfortunately, she is empty and we are hoping for an early service,” Bishara said. “We will sit down with John and the crew and decide where we go. He has got a new stallion (Vandeek) on the roster out of Europe, or we go back to Dundeel or Admire Mars, and I may even be cheeky and ask if there is a Snitzel nomination open.” Bishara is excited about what the future holds for Belle Detelle, who he said has an uncanny similarity to her star relation Verry Elleegant. “It is kind of scary,” he said. “You look at her mannerisms and her head carriage and her awkwardness, she is the spitting image of Verry Elleegant. “It’s really exciting and we have got so much more to look forward to.” While she shows many similarities to Verry Elleegant, one feat she won’t replicate is a Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) victory, with her trainer Chris Waller electing to bypass Saturday’s contest. “His (Chris Waller) immediate thoughts are that she won’t back-up this week in the Oaks,” Bishara said. “She is still quite a leggy, lightly-framed filly. “We will more than likely go to the paddock for a week and set her for a Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m). There is an outside chance that she could go to Adelaide (for the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks, 2000m), which would probably mean she wouldn’t get a week in the paddock.” Bishara can’t believe his luck that that he has his hands on another quality filly, and the feat isn’t lost on the humble horseman. “I am super blessed,” Bishara said. “You dream of having a Verry Elleegant and then you look back and say ‘I have had my go, it is a career highlight, and you can take it to your grave’ and then this filly comes along and it’s almost a repeat story of Verry Elleegant. “I am not saying she will crack the heights of Verry Elleegant, but she has done more than enough already, but I do think there is the promise of a lot more to come. “How lucky I am to have Verry Elleegant and now Belle Detelle?” View the full article

What Goulburn Races Where Goulburn & District Racing Club – Racecourse Dr, Goulburn NSW 2580 When Tuesday, April 8, 2025 First Race 1:35pm AEST Visit Dabble Goulburn is the destination for NSW racing on Tuesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-part program set for decision. The rail moves out +2m the entire circuit, and with pristine conditions forecast in the lead-up, punters can expect the surface to be rated a Good 4 on race-day morning. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1:35pm local time. Best Bet at Goulburn: Maison Louis Maison Louis returns to the same course and distance where he broke his maiden two starts back and appears well placed in this Class 1 contest. He was a dominant three-length winner on that occasion before running into a smart one at Gosford on March 15, running into a clear second behind Exclusive Artist. This race lacks depth in comparison, and with Andrew Atkins likely to find a stalking position throughout from gate six, Maison Louis should prove too classy, justifying the short price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Bet Race 5 – #7 Maison Louis (6) 3yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | J: Andrew Atkins (57.5kg) Next Best at Goulburn: Twinkling Star Although she was beaten handily at Hawkesbury on March 18, punters can expect Twinkling Star to bounce back. The Michael Freedman-trained filly was heavily backed with BlondeBet prior to the jump and seemingly had every chance under the urgings of Regan Bayliss as the daughter of Zoustar seemed to fade at the end of 1300m. The second horse has been competitive in metro company since, and with Twinkling Star far better suited back to 1200m, expect the three-year-old to have her rivals chasing in vein as they turn for home. Next Best Race 4 – #3 Twinkling Star (5) 3yo Filly | T: Michael Freedman | J: Keagan Latham (58kg) Best Value at Goulburn: Stormy Reign Stormy Reign got a pass mark returning at Scone on March 21, closing to within three lengths of Fortissimo on testing Heavy ground. She was the last one turning for home, and didn’t seem to be travelling on the wet track; however, her final furlong suggested that perhaps she simply needed the run after a 156-day spell. Expect dramatic improvement back on top of the ground, and with Stormy Reign set to get the last crack at her rivals, she represents good value at the each-way price with . Best Value Race 2 – #10 Stormy Reign (8) 2yo Filly | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Ashley Morgan (55kg) Tuesday quaddie tips for Goulburn Goulburn quadrella selections April 8, 2025 2-3 7 4-9 7-10-12-15 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Leaderboard will contest Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Te Akau jumper Leaderboard is set to head to the Warrnambool carnival later this month following his triumph in the Open Steeplechase (3250m) at Ballarat on Sunday. The 10-year-old son of Street Cry, who is raced by syndicator Fortuna, won seven races on the flat in New Zealand, including the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m). He then transferred to Te Akau’s Cranbourne base where he has added three further wins to his tally, along with placings in last year’s Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Grand National Steeplechase (4500m). Trainer Mark Walker was pleased with his winning performance on Sunday and is looking forward to tackling some feature jumping assignments at Warrnambool, including the Brierley Chase (3450m) and Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m). “It was a brilliant win,” Walker said. “He’s a terrific jumper and it’s great to see him back at the races and win the way he did. “It’s all systems go towards the Warrnambool carnival, and he looks as though he’s in for another really good season. “I’m looking forward to seeing him again at Warrnambool. It’s a unique carnival and it’ll great to be a part of it.” Prior to the two assignments at Warrnambool, Fortuna’s John Galvin said the plan was for Leaderboard to back-up in the Spencer Memorial Steeplechase (4000m) at Pakenham this coming Sunday. “I don’t think that will worry him and after that he’ll go to the Warrnambool carnival,” Galvin said. “I think Mark (Walker) has got the base fitness into him. “It was a lovely ride by Will (Gordon) and kudos to Mark and Ben (Gleeson, assistant trainer), they’ve prepared the horse beautifully, and Mark loves his jumpers. “We’ve owned him since 2018 and he’s a marvel, really. He had a wonderful period of flat racing and was very consistent provided he got yielding tracks, but his future was always going to be as a jumper when he wasn’t so competitive on the flat. “Mark’s got a few jumpers in his stable, with Prismatic and The Mighty Spar, and Leaderboard has become the flagbearer with the successes he’s had.” Horse racing news View the full article

Applications are now open for a new scheme to help harness racing clubs around the country with small to medium-sized projects. Funded by Harness Racing New Zealand, the Infrastructure Grant Scheme has $250,000 per annum to allocate to projects that improve racing and training venues. The maximum grant per project is $50,000, with each successful club required to contribute 50 per cent to the project’s cost as well. To find out more click here For Terms and Conditions and Application Form click here View the full article

By Mike Love Ashburton trainer Laurence Hanrahan scored a “special” double at Cheviot’s meeting at Addington yesterday. Maiden winner Bautista was too strong in the GH Building LTD pace over 2000m with driver Ricky May. May and Bautista began quickly from their outside draw to end up parked for the first section of the race. Cover came with favourite Whatz My Choice, who softened up the leader, setting it up for May and Bautista to pounce. Sustaining a run from the 400m to grind away and win, beating a very tough Whatz My Choice with final sectionals in 58.3 and 28.4. That was the four-year-old Art Major gelding’s first win at his sixth race day start. Two races later Hanrahan was at it again, this time with six-year-old A Rocknroll Dance gelding Woodbine Rocks and driver Gerard O’Reilly in the Donaghys Proequine Handicap Pace. Beginning well from their 10 metre handicap, O’Reilly was able to secure the one by one position for the majority of the 2600m journey. Peeling at the top of straight, O’Reilly and Woodbine Rocks were able to bury them, getting up to win by half a length from The Coalman with closing sectionals of 57.8 and 27.6. “He’s been so unlucky in those Country Cups races. They’re brutal races. I’m really pleased for the owners they’ve stuck with me, and its really cool,” Hanrahan said. “It was a drop in grade for him today, and he really deserved that. “I talked my father into coming today. So it’s a very special day today.” The pair will likely head to Methven next Sunday. In the other features Mark and Nathan Purdon trained the quinella in the Group 3 Cobbity Equine Farm Leonard Memorial Mobile Pace when Alecto was too strong with driver Jonny Cox, beating the short priced favourite Secret Wish. The Purdons also trained Blacklaz to win on debut in Race 2, the Christchurch South Community Patrol Mobile Pace with Blair Orange. Meanwhile the Cheviot Businesses Cheviot Cup was taken out impressively by the Brendon Hill trained and Craig Ferguson driven Renegade. Starting off 30m, the Captaintreacherous four-year-old circled the field three wide to lead with a lap to go and then held Xlendi and Double Time to win by nearly two lengths. It was his seventh win in just 18 starts. View the full article

Quokka contender, Headwall. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au In-form Sydney sprinter Headwall has earned his shot at a major payday in this month’s $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot, with connections confirming the gelding will represent slot holders Unibet and Chief Racing in WA’s richest sprint on April 26. The five-year-old, trained by Matt Smith, was on Monday announced as the latest addition to the 1200m feature, just 48 hours after an eye-catching performance in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. Held up for much of the straight, Headwall flashed home late to grab third behind Briasa and dual Quokka champion Overpass, further franking his form after impressive runs in the Oakleigh Plate (4th) and Newmarket Handicap (2nd) earlier in the campaign. Smith revealed talks with Unibet and Chief Racing were already well underway before Saturday’s run, with Headwall’s slashing second to Joliestar in the Newmarket convincing connections the horse was ready for a big challenge. “We’ve been speaking with the Unibet and Chief Racing team since his Newmarket run,” Smith said. “Saturday’s performance just confirmed what we’ve been thinking – that he’s flying and ready to take on a race like The Quokka.” A six-time winner from 14 starts, Headwall shapes as a serious contender heading west, having proved his credentials at Group 1 level this preparation without much racing luck. “His run on Saturday showed he can match it at weight-for-age level,” Smith said. “He didn’t get clear running until late but still hit the line super. We believe he’s peaking at the right time and we’re excited to be a part of The Quokka.” Headwall is one of three TJ Smith runners now confirmed for The Quokka, joining runner-up Overpass – the $2.50 favourite chasing a third straight win in the race – and I Am Me, who finished down the track but holds firm at $8. Horse racing bookmakers have installed Headwall on the second line of betting at $6, reflecting growing confidence in the Sydney gelding’s ability to handle the trip and deliver a big performance in Perth’s showpiece sprint. Horse racing news View the full article

Vauban after winning the Group 3 Sky High Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Vauban (Galiway), the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import, is set to take his place in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), following a strong showing in last week’s Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill. The six-year-old, now raced by Australian Bloodstock, finished a credible third behind Dubai Honour and Duke De Sessa, and will again line up against the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour this weekend as he continues his path towards a third tilt at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. “We were open to both,” Bott said of choosing between the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Sydney Cup for Vauban. “We know he can run two miles but we have also seen he can be effective over these shorter trips.” “We’re also trying to prepare him for two miles down the track and I don’t mind the idea of trying to get him competitive at this weight-for-age racing first,” Bott added. “It’s great being there and exciting to have him being part of it. He is well and truly capable of being competitive there.” “Most importantly, he came out of his last run really well and even though he didn’t win, there were some improvements we saw out of it off the back of his first-up win. “It’s not easy going to that weight-for-age level and he’s got to step up again to go to the Queen Elizabeth but I think it’s a nice race for him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Tel Aviv ridden by Ben Allen winning at Mornington Racecourse. Photo: Scott Barbour (Racing Photos) Tel Aviv broke through for her first win at Mornington on Sunday and could now be set for a Group assignment, with a trip to Adelaide on the cards for the promising filly. Trained by Ciaron Maher, the three-year-old led from start to finish under Ben Allen to claim the 2050-metre maiden by two lengths over Just Landed. The win came at her fifth career start, and Allen believes there’s plenty more to come once she gets on a bigger track. “On paper, she was the best horse in the race, and I rode her like that,” Allen told Racing.com. “Once we hit the crossing, she spat the bit out and relaxed nicely. I was more worried about getting her around the bend – she’s got a big stride. “She was getting a bit unbalanced, but she was too good today. When you’re winning, that’s all you can do.” While acknowledging the race lacked depth, Allen was impressed by how she went about her work and expects her to improve further with experience. “She didn’t beat much today, but the way she did it was nice,” he said. “She’ll probably be better on a bigger track, and with a few to follow, she was a bit green in front. Adelaide’s a big, wide-open track, and if anyone’s going to get her there, it’ll be Ciaron.” A trip to Morphettville for the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) or the Group 3 SA Fillies’ Classic (2500m) is now on the radar. Horse racing news View the full article