Wandering Eyes

The Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale will be held Tuesday at Fairplex in Pomona, with bidding scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. PT. A total of 266 yearlings have been catalogued for the one-session auction. “It's been strong,” Fasig-Tipton's California representative Mike Machowsky said of activity around the sales barns ahead of Tuesday's sale. “There were quite a few people out here looking yesterday. And they are starting out again today. Interest is always strong for these Cal-breds.” The catalogue, made up predominantly of California-breds, includes yearlings by Army Mule, Authentic, Clubhouse Ride, Corniche, Cyberknife, Drain the Clock, Early Voting, Good Magic, Grazen, Hard Spun, Justify, Knicks Go, Liam's Map, Maxfield, Maximus Mischief, McKinzie, Nashville, Olympiad, Omaha Beach, Oscar Performance, Practical Joke, Sir Prancelot (Ire), Stay Thirsty, Tiz the Law, and Vekoma. “We have a good, balanced catalogue with a little bit of everything,” Machowsky said. “We have some productive stallions in the catalogue, both California sires and Kentucky-sired Cal-breds that are eligible for the state's breeding program.” California Fall sale graduates who have won stakes races this year include graded stakes winner Big City Lights (Mr. Big), Old Pal (Grazen), Pushiness (Kantharos), and Santa Barbarian (Bodexpress). Barton Thoroughbreds will offer a half-sister by Bodexpress (hip 255) to recent Daisycutter Handicap winner Pushiness, who sold for $115,000 at the 2022 California Fall Yearling sale. “If you enjoy racing Cal-breds or race in California, this is the only market that gives you the chance to look at a number of Cal-breds,” Machowsky said. The post Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale to be Held Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There's never a good time for a spill, but the one Sunday at Churchill Downs that landed Brian Hernandez Jr. in the intensive care unit at the University of Louisville Hospital could not have come at a worse time. Hernandez sustained seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a liver laceration that was treated by a minor surgical procedure. The doctors have told Hernandez he should expect to be out six to eight weeks. That means he will not be able to ride Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in Saturday's GII Lukas Classic at Churchill or Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the Oct. 5 GI Spinster Stakes at Keeneland. Both horses are trained by Kenny McPeek. When reached Monday by text, McPeek said he had not yet decided who would take over for Hernandez. A possible substitute could be his brother, Colby Hernandez “I am sore, of course,” Hernandez said Monday when reached at the hospital. “I'm just laying in the hospital bed now. They did a little small surgery on my liver last night, but we still have the seven broken ribs. They're going to do a surgery on the ribs [Tuesday] and, hopefully, that will be something that will get me going in the right direction. The doctors are saying between six and eight weeks. We'll know more here in the next few days after we do the surgery on the ribs. That's when we'll have a whole lot better idea of when we can get back.” With just five weeks to go before the Breeders' Cup, it appears that Hernandez will not be able to ride in that event either. Hernandez was aboard Sgt. Garcia (Audible) in the maiden race for $30,000 claimers when the horse injured one of his front legs near the 5/16th pole and threw Hernandez to track. Sgt. Garcia was euthanized. “Any time you're dealing with a profession where an ambulance follows you around the track proves the point that it's a pretty dangerous job,” Hernandez said. “Riding-wise you know that going into it, so you have to keep that in the back of your mind. At the same time yesterday sitting there in the back of the ambulance, at one point you're saying I don't ever want to ever do this again. The next second, you're thinking 'When can I come back? I have all these good horses to ride.' You start preparing to get back out there and you try to miss as few days as possible.” The post Brian Hernandez Jr Out Six to Eight Weeks After Churchill Spill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three more wildcards have been added to the Arqana Arc Sale, bringing the total number catalogued for the October 4 auction to 40. The newcomers are led by Zakharova (lot 32), the winner of the Listed Prix Joubert on her most recent start for Francois Belmont trained filly The three-year-old daughter of Zelzal was also was also placed in the Prix de Thiberville and Prix Caravelle. Relaxx, who is also three and a daughter of City Light, will be offered as lot 40. Third in the G3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon over the weekend, the Carlos and Yann Lerner trainer also won the Listed Prix Bagatelle earlier this season and hails from the family of Never On Sunday. The trio is completed by the thrice-raced Romanised juvenile Dorado (lot 59), who was recently third for trainer Alicja Karkosa and is a half-brother to GIII Florida Oaks winner Outburst (Outstrip). The post Trio of Wildcards Added to Arc Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It should never be underestimated the magical journey that just one horse can bring a person on and owner-breeder John Farrell is a good example of exactly that. Taking the advice of his wife – which is always a wise thing to do – , Farrell purchased an unraced filly by Derby winner Alamshar before putting her into training with Joanna Morgan back in 2008. That was 16 years ago now and the filly in question, Snap Alam, won five races before producing a host of winners that carried the Snap prefix. The latest of which, Snapretend (Make Believe), won at Punchestown last week. That was quite a timely boost given her half-sister by Ghaiyyath [lot 119] sells at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, which gets underway on Tuesday at 10am. She represents an exciting new chapter for Farrell, who will also offer a Sioux Nation filly [215] from the Snap Alam family. Both horses are being consigned by Moyfinn Stud. “Basically, I bought a yearling filly by Alamshar on my wife's advice back in 2008 and now here we are,” Farrell sums up his success story. “I am entirely blessed to do it. The name Snap comes from my family – Shane, Niamh, Aisling, Paul and Patricia. We try to keep that with all of the horses we name.” He added, “Joanna Morgan, who lives just across the river from us here in County Meath, took her on to race and she won five times. Pat Smullen, lord have mercy on him, won twice on Snap Alam while Declan McDonogh also won twice on her. The fifth win was ridden by none other than Joseph O'Brien and that's how we came to use him as our trainer. Snapraeterea (Buratino) and Snapraeceps (Canford Cliffs) were rated above 100 while Joseph also got Snapius (Buratino) and Pedisnap (Footstepsinthesand) to win races and achieve a decent level. They are all sons and daughters of Snap Alam so you could say it has grown organically.” Farrell is quick to pour cold water on attributing his success down to anything other than luck. Luck and the fact they are trained by O'Brien. He commented, “A lot of our success is down to the great trainer – I think he is the common trend. It's been fantastic to be associated with Joseph. He really is brilliant. I'm very lucky that I was born and bred on a farm and we have the space for the horses. We have plenty of room and can do a lot of the work ourselves. It started off through Patricia, who is a school teacher by trade but came from a farming background and always had riding horses down through the years. I probably was reluctantly dragged into it and then the children started riding so it grew from there. When you put the hours in yourself, you gradually build up your confidence. We started off small with half-breds and now we're involved in the Flat. What's really brilliant about this breeding game is the great people we have met along the way. It's been a joy and we're learning as we go along.” O'Brien is not the only common trend here. Farrell's philosophy on breeding is an interesting one given he doesn't get sucked into fashion and, ultimately, is ruled by his pocket when it comes to deciding on mating plans for his mares. “I do a bit of research and I take advice from people but I usually pull the trigger myself. I make my decision from a judgment and a financial point of view. I try to get the balance right between speed and stamina and I just think I have been very, very lucky. There has been a lot of luck involved. But it's a constant debate I would be having with myself, weighing up which stallions might suit the mares best and getting that balance between stamina and speed. It's a bit of an art in itself.” He added, “We were extremely lucky with Buratino for example. And he was an unfashionable stallion. Likewise Canford Cliffs. He didn't turn out to be a fantastic stallion but we were extremely lucky with him as well. I just try to do as much research as I can.” That being said, Farrell has fashion on his side at Tattersalls Ireland this week. Young stallion Ghaiyyath appears to be all the rage thanks to the exploits of Opera Ballo, Mandanaba and more in Europe, while Irish import The Padre looked genuinely exciting when landing a Grade 2 on debut for Phil D'Amato at Del Mar. Then there is Sioux Nation, who speaks for himself, and Farrell says both of his fillies are good models by their respective stallions. He said, “We have a lovely Ghaiyyath filly – and she actually is lovely – out of Pedisnap, who I mentioned won twice for Joseph and is a daughter of Snap Alam. I chose Ghaiyyath because I absolutely loved him as a racehorse and please God she goes down well. She has a lovely temperament. Then we have a Sioux Nation filly out of Snapollentia and I think she is a very nice model with a great temperament, also. Paul Giles of Moyfinn Stud, who does a brilliant job, is consigning them for us so it will be something different to look forward to for us this week. I suppose this is something we'd like to expand on. You'd love to be in a position to keep them all but it would be nice to have the whole thing paying its way a little bit. We've been extremely lucky on the track but, I genuinely think that our luck is down to the fact we became associated with Joseph. That's not blowing smoke. But this is a very expensive game so it would be great if we could wash our face to a certain degree.” He added, “But to be honest, we don't rely on getting a touch at all. You nearly have to operate on the assumption that you will not get a touch. Any of those kinds of things are a bonus. You just can't rely on getting a big payday in this game because, as soon as you start relying on that, that's when a horse will get injured on you or something bad will happen. That's a big reason why we like to work within our means and cut our cloth to measure. But are going to Fairyhouse with a degree of confidence because we have two nice models by nice sires and out of two good mares as well. So, please God it goes well. Nothing can replace the thrill you have on the track but selling is necessary because you need to replenish the vessels.” None of this would have been possible without Snap Alam. Farrell reports the 18-year-old darling of the farm to be in rude health and is already dreaming about what could be in store for his blue hen when it comes to covering time next year. He reported, “Snap Alam has a very sweet Ten Sovereigns filly foal at foot. Ten Sovereigns has gone off the radar a little bit but Snapraeceps bred a lovely colt by Ten Sovereigns. He [Snapaurum] actually won on debut at Dundalk and we got him sold to Hong Kong so we have had a lot of luck with the sire. We didn't cover her this year because it went a bit late but, all going well, we'll cover her with something cheap like Wootton Bassett next year!” He concluded, “On a serious note, I will be open to a load of suggestions on that. At the start of every year, it's a blank canvas and you can really dream. I have to say I was impressed by Delacroix at Leopardstown and he could be interesting if he goes to stud because he would be one who has that nice blend of speed and stamina. We will try to put a bit of speed into her and hopefully we won't lose too much stamina. It's nice to dream about it for now.” The journey continues. The post Owner-Breeder Farrell Looking Forward To ‘Something Different’ At Tattersalls Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eight races with purses and awards totaling more than $1.5 million will be offered as part of the undercard of Breeders' Cup championship weekend at Del Mar Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, the Breeders' Cup and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club announced Monday. Five undercard races will be contested as part of the Oct. 31 Future Stars Friday program, highlighted by the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes for 2-year-olds at one mile on turf, and the $200,000 Listed Senator Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on the turf. Also on the Friday card are two stakes races for California-breds on the main track: the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies and the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile, both at seven furlongs. There will be three undercard races on the Championships Saturday program Nov. 1, anchored by the $300,000 GIII Goldikova Stakes Presented by Yaamava' for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, at one mile on the turf. As is the case with the 14 World Championships races, all eight undercard races will be conducted free of medication. Final race order and post times for both Friday and Saturday programs will be announced Oct. 22. Nominations for all undercard stakes close Oct. 23 with the Del Mar racing office. The post Lucrative Races on Breeders’ Cup Undercard appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was injured Sept. 21 when he was dislodged from his mount in the third race at Churchill Downs.View the full article

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has released a list of panelists for its upcoming Pedigree and Conformation Clinic, which will be held in Lexington at Fasig-Tipton Oct. 20. The topics and speakers at the clinic include: Pedigrees/Conformation/Horse Selection, presented by Jacob West (Claiborne Farm/Bloodstock Agent); Purchasing at Public Auction, presented by Jeffrey Bloom (Bloom Racing Stable); The Role of an Auction House and the Auction Process, presented by Anna Seitz Ciannello (Fasig-Tipton); Yearling Prep for the Sales, presented by Francis Vanlangendonck (Summerfield Sales Agency); Equine Nutrition, presented by Anthony Koch (Hallway Feeds); The Role of the Veterinarian at Public Auctions, presented by Dr. Jeff Berk; Genetics and Nicking, presented by Byron Rogers (Stable Analytics LLC); and Equineline and Pedigree Resources, presented by Tim Leith (The Jockey Club). The clinic is open to the public, with a special discount for TOBA members. Registration is available online until Oct. 16 at: toba.memberclicks.net/seminars-clinics. Questions about TOBA's clinics and seminars may be directed to Brooke Purcell at brooke@toba.org or (859) 899-8480. The post Panelists Announced for TOBA Clinic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club's Free Lifetime Starts for Thoroughbred breeders, which provides a complimentary race record for Thoroughbreds that is updated after each domestic or international start, has been expanded to include all registered racehorses, as well as younger horses that are registered, but have not reached the track. The service was launched earlier this year and more than 8,500 horses are now enrolled, representing approximately 2,250 unique breeders. Breeders may subscribe to this service during the registration application process. Breeders of Thoroughbreds already registered, including those currently racing, can enroll by completing the Breeder Race Records Request available at registry.jockeyclub.com. The service for breeders to receive free Lifetime Starts in Past Performance Format was developed by TJC Innovations, in conjunction with The Jockey Club Registry. The post The Jockey Club Extends Free Lifetime Starts for Breeders appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We are very good at depressing ourselves in the racing industry, aren't we? Threats of the betting tax going up and the foal crop going down are currently on the doom loop of news, and they are of course reasons to be concerned. But my daily coping strategy has always been to look for reasons to be cheerful and I am, therefore, naturally happy to say that there are still plenty of those to be found in this sport, or business, or whatever we want to call it. Let's go with sport, because sport sounds much more fun than business, and racing is, after all, supposed to be fun. In my work life I go to a lot of the top race meetings – the obvious crowd-pullers with the best horses on show – and it remains an absolute privilege to have a ringside seat on those days. My home life, in a small stable, takes me to many of England's less prestigious tracks, but it is these venues that provide the most cause for optimism. It is here that you will find the racing tragics, and I mean that as a compliment. The people who rarely miss a meeting at their local track, who cheer the course specialists with gusto, and perhaps enjoy a drink, a few bets, and a proper day out in the fresh air – they are what racing is all about. From the top to the bottom of the country the stalwarts are out in force from Hexham (if you haven't been, make sure this stunning Northumberland track goes to the top of your racing bucket list) to Brighton (similarly, a must-visit). And let's not forget those five Scottish gems of Perth, Kelso, Ayr, Hamilton and Musselburgh. In the last fortnight I've been fortunate to return to my home track of Windsor followed by Yarmouth and then Pontefract, and each of these meetings, admittedly blessed by autumn sunshine, boasted an enthusiastic and engaged turnout of people simply enjoying themselves. No concerts, no punch-ups, just a bunch of nice middle-of-the-road races to enjoy. It remains a source of bewilderment that a growing number of the national newspapers in Britain, which not so long ago each boasted several dedicated racing correspondents, now largely ignore the country's second-largest spectator sport. The perceived power of the click-through has a lot of answer for, and these figures overlook the fact that many racing fans are of the generation of people who still buy a newspaper and would love a bit of news on their favourite sport, along with the day's race cards. And, yes, we have to attract the next generation of racegoers, who take their news in different formats, but get out onto the racecourses around the country and you will find plenty of the younger crowd. For the midweek meetings, however, it would be folly to overlook the importance of pensioners, with perhaps some spare money in their pocket instead of TikTok on their phones. Enjoying the view at Hexham | Emma Berry Last Saturday and Sunday, Newmarket staged the Henry Cecil Open Weekend – one of a range of events around the country, including the popular Lambourn and Middleham open days, aimed at giving a behind-the-scenes look at the sport for its fans. On Sunday morning, 25 of the town's stables were open from 9am to 12.30, following exhibition canters on Warren Hill from a host of the Newmarket's better-known equine residents, including the John and Thady Gosden-trained Royal Ascot-winning trio of Ombudsman, Trawlerman and Field Of Gold. William and Maureen Haggas opened their Somerville Lodge yard for the first time and pulled out all the stops in giving their visitors a memorable day out, with the chance to view stable stars such as Dubai Honour, Economics and Hamish at close quarters. Over at Sefton Lodge, Richard Spencer and Phil Cunningham were rightly showing off their trophies for the Ayr Gold Cup and Silver Cup as Run Boy Run and Candy made their way home after their epic triumphs in Scotland. On the Severals in the afternoon, Kevin Philippart de Foy kept up his good strike rate for his new boss Kia Joorabchian by winning the Amo Racing-sponsored celebrity showjumping competition. So delighted was he with his clear round that the trainer temporarily adopted the more flamboyant nature of his compatriot Christophe Soumillon by throwing his whip into the crowd. Our yard, Beverley House Stables, which was once home to the 1903 Triple Crown winner Rock Sand and 1946 2,000 Guineas winner Happy Knight, has no such stars these days. The top-rated of our 16 horses in training has a mark of 76, and there are people that argue that there is no place for the 50- or 60-rated handicappers at a time when prize-money is thinly stretched. I beg to differ. Well, of course I would, but hear me out. All morning long, we had a steady stream of visitors, some coming from or going to William Haggas's stable, but others who made a point of saying that they had come especially to see my husband, John. He is not alone among a range of trainers who will give freely of their time, both at the races and at home, to talk to people who share a passion for racing and do their bit to promote the sport. To say that racing is John's whole life is not an overstatement. He rarely leaves the yard, other than to go to the races, and every winner, every horse, counts. What was so uplifting about Sunday morning was that it was clear that we are not the only ones – apart from the horses' owners – who care about the residents of our small stable. Our homebred multiple winner Dereham appears to have a growing cult following. He's rated 57, but in his mind he's Frankel, and there's something about the English that makes them appreciate an underdog battler every bit as much as a champion. Perhaps that's why in racing you can be a John Gosden, a statesmanlike trainer for some of the wealthiest owners in the world, or a John Berry, more of an everyman, and still have your supporters. This is indeed a sport, perhaps like no other, in which it is important to be able to walk with kings while not losing the common touch. Fortunately, we have the horses and the people who can fulfil both needs. Long may that continue. The post Op/Ed: Some Reasons Still To Be Cheerful 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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What Moe Races Where Moe Racing Club – Waterloo Rd, Moe VIC 3825 When Tuesday, September 23, 2025 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble Racing in Victoria heads to Moe on Tuesday afternoon with a bumper nine-race program set down for decision. Following plenty of rain leading into the meeting, the track is likely to be in the Soft 7/Heavy 8 range, while the rail comes out 6m the entire circuit. The first race at Moe on September 23, 2025 is set to jump at 1pm AEST. Best Bet at Moe: Omamori Fresh off a dominant maiden win here over 2069m on September 4, Omamori looks ready to go on with it, rising to 2447m in this BM62. From barrier two, Ethan Brown can have the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained gelding parked in the first four, and his Soft-track profile (4:0-2-1) says the give won’t worry him. With the rail out 6m and a smaller field engaged, the race shape should be kind to a handy, grinding type, and 60kg is acceptable at this level given his recent figures and upward trajectory. Best Bet Race 7 – #1 Omamori (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Ethan Brown (60kg) Next Best at Moe: Blue Bandit Blue Bandit was excellent on debut when third at Mornington over 1200m and should take natural improvement second up. He draws out in 10 over the Moe 1217m, but with Jye McNeil aboard the four-year-old can roll forward or find a back to follow before letting down. He gets the same trip, carries the standard 59.5kg for the maiden, and brings race experience against a field with several lightly raced or new faces. If he begins cleanly, Blue Bandit looks the one they’ll have to get past this time. Next Best Race 4 – #2 Blue Bandit (10) 4yo Gelding | T: John Leek (Jnr) | J: Jye McNeil (59.5kg) Next Best Again: Mr Tickles Seasoned sprinter Mr Tickles profiles as a solid play in a busy 1017m BM56. He rarely runs a bad race at this trip (24:2-8-2) and handles Soft going (9:2-4-1). From barrier three, the six-year-old can park just off the speed and use his late strength, with a 1.5kg claim helping offset the 61.5kg impost. His recent runs — a Bendigo fourth, a synthetic win, and a close second — read well for this grade, and Moe’s short-course layout suits those who can hold a spot. Next Best Again Race 8 – #3 Mr Tickles (3) 6yo Gelding | T: Mitchell Leek | J: Emily Pozman (a1.5) (61.5kg) Tuesday quaddie tips for Moe Moe quadrella selections Tuesday, September 23, 2024 1-8-11-12 1 2-3-5-9 1-3-8-10-13 Horse racing tips View the full article

Twelve-time Champion Trainer Mark Walker, who ticked over 2000 career wins last year, added to his achievements at The Australian Jumps Racing Association (AJRA) 2025 AJRA Mosstrooper Awards, held on Saturday in Melbourne. The Mosstrooper Awards celebrate the very best in jumps racing: the horses, trainers, jockeys, ground staff, and all those that make jumps racing thrive. In a series of jumps races, Walker recorded the highest number of points to win the JJ Houlahan Championship – Champion Trainer Award. Walker has always had a soft spot of jumpers, highlighted by training some of the best in the past two seasons in Victoria, from the Te Akau stable at Cranbourne, and made history in August this year when becoming the first trainer to ever trifecta the prestigious Grand National Steeplechase (4500m), won by Leaderboard (Street Cry), followed by stable-mates The Mighty Spar (Savabeel) and Prismatic (Savabeel). In 2024, Walker had six wins and four seconds from 13 starts over fences last season, shared two wins apiece by Prismatic (Savabeel), The Mighty Spar (Savabeel), and Leaderboard (Street Cry), while the same trio were to the fore this season, with The Mighty Spar winning four steeplechases in a row and Leaderboard, the former Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) and St Leger (Listed, 2600m) winner, notching three wins during the jumps season. “It was an honour to win the Jumps Trainer Award, especially named after the legendary Jim Houlahan, who was a true icon of the sport and Hall of Fame trainer,” Walker said. “It was a great day the Grand National day, the first time in history in Australia that the trifecta in the Steeplechase came from the same stable, and quite amazing because we only had the three jumpers going around throughout the season. “I’ve always found the jumpers to be great in helping to educate the yearlings and giving them confidence. We’ve always had a few jumpers over the years – not many – just a handful, and they’re great schoolmasters. “It’s a twofold thing, the enjoyment we get out of having a few runners through the winter, when we don’t have many for wet track racing on the flat, and it keeps up the staff’s enthusiasm through the long, cold, wet, winters, and also, as mentioned, the help in educating the young ones.” View the full article

Bold front running mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) will be out to light up The Valley once again when she chases back-to-back wins in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night. Ciaron Maher’s eight-year-old will be first up since May and had Declan Bates in the saddle for her Monday morning gallop at the tight inner city circuit, with Maher receiving positive feedback from the Irishman. “He said he felt she was pretty relaxed for the first half of the gallop and wanted to rip down the second, so he was pretty happy,” Maher said. Pride Of Jenni has endured a topsy turvy time over the past twelve months. The three-time Group One winner won the Feehan Stakes last spring and was an emphatic winner of the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) in the autumn, however, she has also suffered resounding defeats in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m), Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m), Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) during that period. Maher suggested though that Pride Of Jenni still had the zest for racing. “She’s a pretty easy read, she lets you know when she’s had enough,” he said. “All the signs are pretty good, but I suppose, older mare, you always want to see it.” Pride Of Jenni has had two jumpouts leading into her first up run for the spring, where the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) looms as a potential target for her. “She’s improving with each gallop and jumpout,” Maher said. “The first one she was a bit soft; her second trial she trialled a lot better. She’s come on nicely for that, Dec was pretty happy with her this morning. “She’s heading in the right direction.” View the full article

Superstar Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), the odds-on favourite for this year’s The Everest (1200m), has arrived safely in Sydney. The David Hayes-trained speedster touched down mid-morning on Monday in what was the biggest step in his quest towards the $20 million sprint at Randwick on October 18. The son of Shamexpress reportedly travelled well and Australian Turf Club racing manager Nevesh Ramdhani said it was a coup to have Hong Kong’s best horse in town for the Spring Carnival. “Absolutely, the ratings on this horse after his 13 wins have just been incredible,” Ramdhani said. “In the 10 years we’ve been doing it, I can’t remember another horse that has been rated as highly as he has. “It’s also building on the relationship we already have with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “That’s also a very important component of why we did it, to build and strengthen relationships between Sydney racing and Hong Kong.” Ka Ying Rising landed in Sydney a winner of 14 of his 16 starts, with two narrow second placings, and he has not been beaten since January last year. The five-year-old is the highest-rated sprinter, and one of the highest-rated gallopers in the world, with a peak Racing And Sports Rating of 132. To put that into perspective, Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) ran a 132 rating in last year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) romp, while Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and Winx (Street Cry) retired with peak figures of 136 and 134 respectively. Shortly after arriving, he was transported to the Canterbury Quarantine Facility where he will serve his two-week isolation period before ramping up preparations for The Everest with a Randwick trial on October 7. Ka Ying Rising is the first of a number of international gallopers who will descend on Sydney this week with last year’s Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest (No Nay Never) and Sam Hawkens (Galileo) to arrive on Tuesday. Their stablemate Bullet Point (Advertise) is also coming, scheduled to land on October 14, in the same shipment as Panja Tower (Tower Of London), Seagulls Eleven (Galileo Gold) and Luther (Frankel). View the full article

Former northerner Martell and heavy-track specialist Vamos spearheaded a dominant Sunday afternoon at Gore for trainer Kelvin Tyler. The Riverton horseman scored a winning treble on the eight-race card, alongside three runner-up placings and two fourths from his eight starters. He got off to the perfect start in the opener with homebred More Sass, who put away a maiden field comfortably over 1100m. More Sass, like her well-performed sister Lady Sass, has a few quirks, so Tyler was rapt to see a more professional display from the now four-year-old. “She’s got loads of ability, but unfortunately the brain doesn’t quite follow sometimes,” Tyler said. “After last year, we gave her a good break to let her mature mentally, and she has come a long way. “Her work has been really good, but you never quite know what you’re going to get with her. It wasn’t too strong of a maiden field, so it was good to see her do that. “I have a couple of Ancient Spirit’s by the mare (Lady In Charge) who are ticking away quietly, but the family all have similar traits, not as bad as More Sass, but they have a bit of cheekiness amongst them. “It’s just a matter of managing her as best we can, hopefully she can keep going forward from here.” Later in the day, it was the turn of Martell, who joined Tyler’s barn after performing up to open class in the North Island for Jim Collett. He showed that ability first-up winning at Wingatui earlier in the month, and stepping out in the Advance Agriculture Open 1100, he was patiently ridden by apprentice Floor Moerman and hugged the inside rail to pick up the leader in the straight and kick clear by 1-3/4 lengths. Tyler was surprised to see the son of El Roca starting at a price of $4.80, knowing the ability he possesses. “I’m not a betting person, but I couldn’t believe the odds, he’s a really good horse and showed that again on Sunday,” he said. “We’ll just stick down this end of the country going forward, there are some nice races coming up and he’ll go to Invercargill in a couple of weeks, there’s a good race there (Open 1200m). As long as the tracks have plenty of give in them and he’s going well, we’ll carry on.” Tyler bookended the programme with a quinella in the Kevin Doyle Memorial Open 1800, which by the 500m, was clearly going to be a battle between Vamos and stablemate Prince Alby. Prince Alby looked to be cruising up to Vamos, who had led throughout under Moerman, but when she asked for an effort, race fitness was on his side and the gelding extended the margin to eight lengths, with nearly 20 lengths back to Call Me Al in third. The win followed Vamos’ 14-1/2 length romp in a Rating 75 over 2000m at Riccarton last month, and Tyler had expected the son of Vadamos to have the edge on his other runner on this occasion. “His work has been unreal and he loves wet tracks, and he just had that race fitness over Alby,” he said. “I couldn’t really see him getting beaten and he just wants to run and keeps running. “We put the visor blinkers on for the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) and they probably just went a bit quick for him in that, but they’ve certainly worked well for him since. As long as the tracks have a bit of give in them, Vamos will stick down here and possibly drop back for a mile race at Invercargill. “Alby is coming up quite nicely and still has to strip his coat a bit, so he’ll have plenty of improvement to come out of that. He is hopefully on the path for the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m).” Tyler had been at Trentham on the previous day with Freddie Time, who put in another strong effort in Rating 75 grade to finish third behind progressive type Ma Te Wa, the winner dictating the tempo throughout. “It was a great run by Freddie, but to be honest, I was sitting in the stand shaking my head thinking why was no one taking on the leader, just to sprint up the straight” Tyler said. “They all should’ve been taken in the room and fined really. “His run was massive coming from where he did and he’s coming up really nicely. There’s a nice 75 mile race at Otaki on the 11th, he’ll take a bit of improvement from Saturday and should go a good race there. “I shoot up there (Otaki) once a month or when it’s close to a race, but Howie and Lorraine (Mathews) do a fantastic job, I don’t have a worry in the world. They love him and he’s happy up there, it’s a great connection that we’ve got.” Tyler will be back on the road this week, with King Of The Castle taking on the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m) on Saturday at Riccarton and Fourofus also making the trip for the 3YO SW+P (1400m). “The stable is going well, so hopefully we get a bit of luck up there,” he said. View the full article

Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray are hoping to spend plenty of time on the road this spring with a pair of The Oaks Stud’s representatives. The training partnership earned a winning treble across the weekend, with two of those carrying the familiar Oaks silks, headlined by Tajana’s gutsy victory in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The $150,000 contest was pinned as a match race between the Darci Brahma filly and rising star Lollapalooza, and it proved to be just that, with the former coming out on top by a nose. Ritchie said Tajana had pulled up well from the race, with their focus now turning to the Gr.2 Windsor Park Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) back at Ellerslie on October 18. “We’ve got the luxury at our stable of having a quarter-acre paddock per horse, so she could go and stand under a willow tree and have mates all around her,” he said. “They stay that much more supple and they tend to eat up when they’re outside, and the recovery is fantastic. “She’s eaten up since the race and we’ve got a good window of four weeks before the Soliloquy Stakes, which is lovely, because at the 1400m, she needs to be on the fresh side.” Ritchie had questioned whether the seven furlongs would be too sharp for his filly, and while he is still of that belief, the Soliloquy is a necessary step towards the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, where she holds equal-favouritism with Lollapalooza. “I still think 1400 is nowhere near her optimum trip because she relaxes so well, but you’ve got to take your stepping stones through the fillies races before you can get over further,” he said. “I think the key with keeping her fresh is keeping that speed in her legs, which helps her let down very quickly over the 1400m. As she gets further into her campaign, I’m sure 1400m will be too short.” Those white and blue silks were to the fore again at Te Aroha on Sunday, with stablemate Tempest Moon breaking maiden status in the Waitoa Haulage Maiden (2200m). The daughter of Turn Me Loose found her sweet spot at the 2200m, keeping up a strong gallop in the straight to hold off History Maker for amateur rider Abhay Seesa. Ritchie had been waiting for a suitable trip for the five-year-old, who now he hopes to qualify for the A$304,000 Jericho Cup (4600m), a race the stable won in 2023 with Nassak Diamond. “She’s a real dour staying mare, she reminds me a lot of Nassak Diamond who we won the Jericho Cup with in the same colours a couple of years ago,” he said. “The distance races in the lower grades have never really been far enough for her, but now that she can get to 2200m-plus, and maybe even that 3000m race down in Christchurch, if she can win that it’s qualifying race for the Jericho Cup. “The Jericho is a fantastic trip to be part of, I would advise anyone with a horse capable of going to go and enjoy the week. They lay it on thick and it’s a great tribute to the veterans and the light infantry through town.” The southern qualifier will be run at Riccarton on October 25, with the winner earning an automatic place in the iconic Warrnambool feature on November 30. Another late-blooming five-year-old, Giveusawink, completed their successful weekend when winning the Frac Club (1600m) at Te Aroha. A full-brother to the stable’s Group One-winning filly Jennifer Eccles, Ritchie said Giveusawink has the ability to match his breeding but has struggled to put it together on raceday. “That was his 10th start and he’s still doing the silly things, like deciding when he’s going to quicken up or not and making things difficult for Jonathan (Riddell, jockey),” Ritchie said. “If he actually relaxed and decided to be a racehorse, he would be well past maidens by now. “We know he’s got so much ability and he’s a beautiful horse. He’s got some very resilient owners in him who have stuck with us, because the talent is there, but it’s also extremely frustrating. “It’s not something we can train out of him, we just have to wait, so perhaps now we’ll back him up over the next couple of weeks so that he has regular racing and hopefully taking that edge off him.” The stable will look to continue their momentum into the new week, with several runners headlined by Tuxedo taking on Saturday’s Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa. The Group Two winner stuck on bravely to finish a close-up seventh in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie earlier this month, but Ritchie is under no illusions about the challenge he now faces against stiff weight-for-age competition over a mile. “You see horses like El Vencedor, Legarto and the two Te Akau mares galloping between races at Ellerslie, they are hardened, strong weight-for-age horses that have been there,” he said. “We are dealing with a four-year-old, that I have no doubt at five or six with some more maturity to him will catch up to that level, as many of those did as well. I think he’s going to be a good weight-for-age stayer in the future, but that may be six or 12 months away. “Which is why, after the weekend, we will assess the race and perhaps look at the Karaka Million four-year-old race ($1 million Aotearoa Classic) over a mile because we’ll be back in our own age group. I think that could be the right race for him this season. “In saying that, he’s working with us, he’s eating well, but he just lacks that touch of strength that you need sometimes to win at weight-for-age level. We’re sure he’s going to run well or we wouldn’t be running him, but we need to know exactly where we sit on Saturday. “A little bit of rain in the forecast won’t hurt him either.” The son of Tivaci is currently a $12 hope for the second leg of the triple crown, with Legarto leading the market at $3.80. View the full article

Dean Hawkins admits to shedding a tear or two when With Your Blessing was sold as a yearling. The family offered the stunning looking youngster under their Wentwood Grange banner at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Classic Sale where he left the ring with a A$70,000 price tag. “He was absolutely beautiful as a yearling and, hand on heart, the only horse that I’ve loved that much that I cried when he was sold, he was my all-time favourite horse,” Hawkins said. The son of Vadamos has since earned more than 10 times his purchase price, with seven wins from the Randwick quarters of John Thompson. With Your Blessing posted his latest and most important success on his home course on Saturday when he broke through at stakes level in the Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m). He had previously placed in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m), the Gr.3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) and Gr.3 Show County Quality (1200m). “He’s been knocking on the door and really stepped up this year and he’s come out and performed very well in good quality fields,” Hawkins said. “They’ve looked after him and been really patient and every campaign he’s better and stronger.” With Your Blessing is out of the Darci Brahma mare Super Trouper, who was successful on five occasions. “We bred her and raced her down the line with Kevin Hughes, she was very, very fast and had a lot of ability but we just couldn’t get black type with her,” Hawkins said. “She’s got a filly by the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m) winner State Of Rest, who stands at Newgate, and she was covered the other day by Switzerland. “We took a bit of a gamble but loved the physical and paper mating. Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong, so we’ll see.” With Your Blessing continued a hot recent run of success for the Waikato operation. Wentwood sold the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) winner Quintessa on behalf of Peachester Lodge owners Graham and Linda Huddy at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $170,000 to Te Akau’s David Ellis. They also offered the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) winner Affirmative Action at Karaka where he was bought for $115,000 by Ballymore Stakes, Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman. The son of Yes Yes Yes had been a A$40,000 pinhook at the Inglis Weanling Sale by Odyssey Bloodstock. “It’s been a great start to the new season and let’s hope it carries on,” Hawkins said. The farm also bred and sold Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) placegetter Intention, winner of last season’s Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). A $65,000 yearling buy for trainer Mike Breslin and InToWin Syndication, she is a daughter of Bivouac and the unraced Snitzel mare Beela Hudood. “She’s got a cracking Super Seth filly, who will head to Karaka next year, and she’s in foal to Noverre,” Hawkins said. View the full article

Melbourne Cup aspirant Trav secured his plane ticket across the Tasman with a pleasing performance over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday. It was the Bulls gelding’s first appearance at the Auckland track since winning the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) on Champions Day in March, and his run was very similar to that triumphant performance. Reuniting with Cup-winning hoop Masa Hashizume, Trav settled at the rear of the field, where he enjoyed an economical passage before being presented wide at the turn where he once again showed a good turn of foot to eat into the frontrunners’ lead to finish fourth, just three-quarters of a length off winner Diamond Jak. Trainer, co-breeder and co-owner Raymond Connors was pleased with the run and said it has given him the confidence to press on with his Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) plans. “We were happy enough with the way he went,” Connors said. “He seems to have come through it alright, so I think we will have to have a go now and carry on with the plan and see where we end up.” The six-year-old son of Almanzor currently sits in 53rd place in order of entry for the Melbourne Cup, with an allocated weight of 51kg, and two Melbourne Cup ballot-exempt races are now firmly in the crosshairs. “We have pencilled in for him to fly over next week,” Connors said. “We will start him in The Bart Cummings (Gr.3, 2500m, at Flemington on October 4), see how he goes and make a decision after that. “It is a big step up over there obviously.” Trav will likely be joined in the race by fellow New Zealand-trained Melbourne Cup aspirants Mark Twain and (Mister) Wolfgang, who currently sit 46th and 47th in order of entry, while Te Awamutu mare La Crique is already assured of a start in 14th place, with an allocated weight of 54.5kg. Connors is hoping for a strong performance from Trav in his opening Australian assignment, and if he performs up to expectations, he will be given another chance at gaining an automatic spot in the Melbourne Cup in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 22. “There are obviously plenty of options for him over there, but If he runs well, the Geelong Cup is his next target most likely,” he said. View the full article

Half Yours ridden by Jamie Melham winning the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. (Photo: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Following his dominant win in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday, which secured him a golden ticket into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Half Yours has been handed a 1.5kg weight penalty for the $5 million Caulfield showpiece. As a result of his penalty, Half Yours – who is co-trained by the father and son team of Tony and Calvin McEvoy – rises to 52.5kg in the weight scale for the Group 1 feature, which will be held at Caulfield on Saturday, October 18. With his 3.5-length defeat of Berkshire Breeze, Half Yours became the fourth horse after Bankers Choice, Kovalica and Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) winner Sir Delius to earn Caulfield Cup ballot exemption. Team McEvoy’s lightly-raced five-year-old is now the joint $6 Caulfield Cup favourite with horse racing bookmakers alongside Chris Waller’s Underwood Stakes runner-up Buckaroo, who was assigned the joint topweight of 59kg alongside Light Infantry Man. Half Yours also holds an entry for the $10 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) and, although he remains at 51kg in the iconic race due to the 2kg difference in weight scales between the two cups this year, the penalty effectively applies against the weight-for-age scale so he progresses from his previous mark of 60th in the order of entry to 47th place. “Half Yours won the Naturalism Stakes in effortless style, and the dominant nature of his performance by an expanding margin is worthy of a reassessment in both cups,” said David Hegan, Racing Victoria’s (RV) Head of Handicapping. “In the Caulfield Cup, he takes a 1.5kg penalty from his previous minimum weight of 51kg, which was the same penalty handed to the 2022 Naturalism winner Smokin’ Romans when he was also on the minimum weight in the Caulfield Cup. “In the Melbourne Cup, his true weight based on his handicap form would now be 50.5kg, however with the minimum lifted to 51kg this year he was already handicapped on the limit weight and thus his weight won’t change. This takes into account the fact that Caulfield Cup weights are 2kg higher than Melbourne Cup weights this year due to the topweights. “As Half Yours is now 9kg below the weight-for-age benchmark for an older male in the Melbourne Cup, he moves up the order of entry to 47th. To guarantee a start in the Melbourne Cup, he will likely need to gain a further penalty or win a golden ticket race.” Another move made over the weekend was by Kris Lees’ imported stayer Adelaide River, who is part-owned by seven-time Melbourne Cup winner Lloyd Williams. Following his narrow runner-up finish behind Birdman in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, Adelaide River (54kg) has now passed the first elimination clause for the Caulfield Cup and moves from 66th to 32nd in the updated order of entry. As the Kingston Town is run under set weights and penalties, the Chris Waller-trained Birdman is not eligible to receive a penalty after breaking through for the first time in Australia. Only the winners of Group or Listed handicap races of 1600m or further can be penalised in the Caulfield Cup. This applies in the Melbourne Cup also, along with the winners of Group or Listed non-handicap races of 2300m or further – which the Kingston Town was not. On Friday, the Australian Bloodstock-owned Royal Supremacy boosted his chances of getting a run in the Caulfield Cup when he finished second in the Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m), thereby passing the first elimination clause and moving from equal 76th to 58th place on the order of entry. Horse racing news View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Top Aussie trainer Jess Tubbs is looking forward to unexpectedly early return to New Zealand. It will be an emotional return for Tubbs, who will do it alone this year, instead of sharing the load with her husband Greg Sugars, who tragically died in his sleep in April. Together they had one of their biggest thrills in the game when former champion trotter Just Believe won the Group 1 Dominion at Addington last November. They campaigned former Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse and then three-year-old Hes From Heaven in NZ at the same time. Hes From Heaven finished fifth in the inaugural $500,000 Velocity slot race at Addington on November 15. “I didn’t think I’d be going back so soon, but along comes Tracy The Jet and changed all that,” Tubbs said. Tracy The Jet is a three-year-old trotting filly with 10 starts netting five wins and a second. She will be a starter in the Majestic Horsefloats ASCENT at Addington Raceway on Show day, November 14 along with fellow Aussie trotter Gatesys Gem. The $500,000 slot race has attracted a capacity 10 slot-holders, as has the pacing equivalent THE VELOCITY. Tracy The Jet won her first two starts of 2025 before a terrific second to Gatesys Gem in the Group 1 NSW Trotters’ Oaks at Menangle on May 10. She’s since won all three starts back at Melton, including feature victories in The Holmfield (August 16) and last Saturday’s $125,000 Nutrien Sales final. She’s gone to a new level and packs lethal early gate speed. “(Owner) Dom (Martello) was keen to tackle NZ and bought a slot in the Ascent for her to run in, so that’s the target,” Tubbs said. “Races like this don’t come along too often, so we’ve got to have a shot at it.” It means sacrificing a tilt at Tracy The Jet’s another obvious big Aussie target, the Vicbred series at Melton. “The Vicbred heat is on the same day as The Ascent, so it’s out,” Tubbs said. “The Vicbred final is only worth $60,000, so it’s worth changing course.” Gatesys Gem, who beat Tracy The Jet in the NSW Oaks and then upstaged the boys in the Group 1 NSW Trotters’ Derby, has been secured in THE ASCENT by Aussie trotting giant Duncan McPherson of Aldebaran Park and Yabby Dams’ Pat Driscoll. Gatesys Gem hasn’t raced since that May 17 win in the NSW Derby. She boasts eight wins and three seconds from just 12 starts. The daughter of Aldebaran Eagle looked sharp winning a Geelong trial last Monday night, beating other high-class three-year-olds Watts Up The Hill and Commodus. Tracy The Jet and Gatesys Gem have big hoofprints to follow after the freakish Victorian Keayang Zahara thrashed her Kiwi rivals in last year’s inaugural Ascent. View the full article

In his first year as a Blue September ambassador, Harrison Orange has been a standout performer during week three of the campaign. The 18-year-old secured a win at Cambridge on Thursday night (Conrad H), two at Auckland on Friday night (Two Jules and Sooner The Bettor) and then a fourth win in as many days with his victory in the Junior Drivers’ race at Motukarara yesterday (Scarlett’s Legacy). He has now five for the month making him fourth overall of the 11 ambassadors/drivers involved. Father Blair Orange, the country’s leading driver, had another two wins at Addington on Friday night to take his total to nine. That’s equal top with John Dunn, who continued his great run of late with another four wins at Addington on Friday. Matty Williamson is third, on six wins. The two Blue September Invited Drivers’ race at Motukarara yesterday were won by Sam Thornley (Prince Teka) and Tony Cameron (Swift Guy) while Jonny Cox had his first win for Blue September with Ideal Conqueror, who he also trains. From Thursday to Sunday the first Big Blue Drive was held. It is a concentrated campaign to encourage everyone to donate money to the cause. With a week to go, $28,532.20 has been raised for the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation so far. There have been 40 wins in total, with money raised every time a Blue September driver wins during the month with funds raised through their own individual sponsors. There are also contributions from clubs and HRNZ ($100 per win). Among the highlights over the weekend was the annual Blue Bolt. It pitted all the ambassadors against each in a 100 metre sprint down the home straight at Motukarara. As always it was full of hijinks and only some of the field playing by the rules! To see the Blue Bolt click here There are just five meetings left : Cambridge (Thursday), Auckland and Addington on Friday and then Timaru and Gore on Sunday. For those wanting to donate click here View the full article

By Mike Love Millionaire trotter Oscar Bonavena has firmed in favouritism for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot following his jaw-dropping win at Motukarara yesterday. After starting off the back mark of 30 metres, driver and co-trainer Mark Purdon had no option but to bide his time in the Group 3 Elite Stride DG Jones Memorial Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup. It wasn’t until the 450-metre mark that Purdon angled the Majestic Son eight-year-old to the very outside. He then produced a devastating turn of foot to move his opposition down, winning by an ever increasing eight and a half lengths from Paris Prince and Cody Banner. “He felt enormous,” said driver Mark Purdon in a post-race interview on Trackside. The win was Oscar Bonavena’s second in the race, having won it in 2023 with Olivia Thornley in the bike. It was his 36th career victory, bringing his earnings up to $1.3 million. It was Purdon’s third training success in the race, with I Can Doosit winning in 2012. “I was hoping we were going to get more of a drag into the race before having to make a move. I could see Johnny (Dunn) doing his best to skip away at the right time.” Dunn had set the tempo for most of the race with I Dream Of Jeannie and skipped away about the 400m mark, putting a decent six or seven-length gap on them. “When I asked him to run, he just felt terrific,” says Purdon. “He’s in great order and really loving the racing. He’s really in the zone, and it’d take a good horse to beat him on his merits.” It was Oscar’s second win in a row following his Ordeal Cup win at Addington earlier in the month which secured his place in the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion on IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day on Tuesday, November 11. At the time he was installed a $4 favourite to win his second Dominion (the first being in 2023). After yesterday’s extraordinary performance his odds have now shortened to $2.80. Australian visitor Arcee Phoenix is next at $4.50, just ahead of Bet N Win ($4.60). View the full article

Every month HRNZ has a breeder and owner of the month award. It is selected randomly with the only proviso being that their horse must have won a race during the month. Lynne Paterson was awarded Owner of the Month after Confessional’s win at Addington on August 22 while Vin Devery was named Breeder of the Month following Share A Dream’s success at Winton on August 3. Owner of the Month – Lynne Paterson Lynne Paterson had the perfect excuse not to see Confessional’s win at Addington in the flesh – she was holidaying in Italy. She did however watch it live on-line. “It was fantastic, it was a great win as he had been out for so long after an injury and first run back into it he made it look easy.” Winning by nearly three lengths, Confessional had not started since October last year. Bred and raced by the Patersons along with Birchbrook Breeding (David and Catherine Butt) Confessional is by Father Patrick out of Habibti, who the Patersons and Butts also raced. She had 16 wins including victory in the 2013 New Zealand Trotting Derby. “She was so exciting to have racing and now Confessional is doing a great job,” says Paterson, “we are looking forward to the season ahead with him.” “I ended up getting into the horses through my hubby (Bolty). It started with Burn Up quite a few years back with Rodger and Jill Austin and have had a few others along the way and we have some younger ones waiting to go.” “We plan on continuing breeding with Habibti – she is off to Muscle Hill – this year and we are waiting for Astound to foal.” The plan is also to breed from 11-race winner Resolve (Andover Hall – Habibti) this year. “They are a great family to be breeding out of with lots of fun years ahead,” says Paterson. Breeder of the Month – Vin Devery Now a three race winner, Share A Dream is by Art Major out of Follow The Dream and is the dam’s third and most successful foal to date. Follow The Dream is one of three broodmares Vin Devery is breeding from, along with Chapel Gate and outstanding producer Christian Dreamer. Among her progeny have been superstar mare Amazing Dream, a multiple Group 1 winner with 20 wins in Australasia before heading to North America, and Chase The Dream (13 NZ wins). The Deverys have long been a stalwart of Southland harness racing. Vin himself has been breeding horses for half a century, initially with his brothers Allan and Ray. HRNZ records show he has bred around 100 horses in total. As well as Amazing Dream and Chase The Dream his other star performers include Western Dream (14 wins) and age group champion Honkin Vision (16 wins) . Devery, who is now “nearing 80”, plans to keep breeding up to three foals a year. Plaques have been sent to both our winners – congratulations. View the full article

Following a period of consultation and feedback from owners, licence-holders, and other stakeholders, the trial of adjusted mobile starts over 2600m and 1980m at Addington Raceway has been adopted permanently. The initiative, which involved horses filing further back when approaching the mobile arm, began on 6 June 2025 and was trialled through July and August. HRNZ thanks everyone who contributed their feedback during the trial period. View the full article

Comedy kicks clear under Liam Kauri to take out the Manawatu Toyota and John Turkington Forestry LTD 2100 at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Improving stayer Comedy knocked off a Rating 75 victory at just the second time of asking with an impressive performance at Trentham on Saturday. The Harvey Wilson-trained seven-year-old was among the better-backed runners in the Manawatu Toyota and John Turkington Forestry LTD 2100, but punters were picking a two-horse race between Group 3 162nd New Zealand Cup (3200m) hopefuls McKhan and Just Charlie, closing at $3.50 and $3.30 with betting sites. Continuing his association with in-form apprentice jockey Liam Kauri, Comedy jumped well from barrier three and settled one off the fence in the back half of the field, while McKhan and Tai pushed forward to contest the early lead. McKhan took up his usual pacemaking role and dictated the tempo in front, and while there was a host of chances turning for home, Comedy looked to be travelling sweetly for Kauri and found the front at the 200m. The son of Mongolian Khan kept finding in the closing stages and powered through the line, while the favourite Just Charlie struggled to find clear air and was unable to challenge until late in the contest, finishing fourth with a strong So Call Me and Deadly Pony filling the placings. Kauri, who has already ridden 12 winners in the seven weeks of the new NZ racing season and is one victory off losing his three-kilogram claim, had been confident in his mount a long way from home. “He was bolting a long way out and when I asked him to go, he didn’t want to stop,” he said. “He was strong through the line. “I didn’t want to get buried on the fence, the way the track is playing you don’t want to get caught napping.” The 26-year-old has guided Comedy to three wins and three placings from nine starts, and Wilson was pleased to see Saturday’s race pan out just as they had planned. “He was in the perfect position, he’s better to be out a little bit and we were happy at the top of the straight,” Wilson said. The Waverley horseman, also known for his prowess preparing jumpers, said schooling and farmwork had been involved in the gelding’s preparation, crediting his wife Ann with the success. “He does a bit around the farm, he’s schooled a couple of times with Nicole Sinclair and he’s galloped well lately,” he said. “Ann looks after him, I just do what I’m told and it works very well.” Bred by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry (NZ) Ltd, Comedy has earned over $108,000 for the Wilsons with four victories and nine placings from 27 attempts. View the full article