Wandering Eyes

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Frankie Dettori brought the curtain down on his career in the saddle by claiming Group 1 glory in Brazil on Sunday. His final appearance in the saddle at Gavea racecourse could not have begun any better when Dettori came from the rear to score aboard Speak Alpha on the undercard, a success that prompted his trademark flying dismount celebration. The fairytale finish was completed when Dettori partnered Bet You Can to victory in the Grande Prêmio Estado do Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian 2,000 Guineas, securing the first leg of Brazil's Triple Crown. “I can rest now, whatever else happens today,” Dettori told Racing Post after his opening win. “I couldn't have asked for a better way to finish. From the minute I got on the horse, it felt phenomenal. It's a great place to finish – trust me. I'm very happy.” The post Dettori Bows Out From The Saddle With Classic Glory In Brazil appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen is confident Regal Gem can capitalise on his light weight and clinch the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge crown in the series finale at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Leading the Million Challenge on 42 points, Regal Gem will carry only 116lb when he faces several leading series rivals in the Class Two Blue Pool Handicap (1,200m). The annual Million Challenge is for runners of all races Class Three and above from September 10 until Wednesday night, with points awarded to...View the full article

Another chapter in the career of one of Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay’s most treasured broodmares was written at Ellerslie on Saturday when Liguria won the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m). The Lance Noble-trained filly is a grand-daughter of Zonza, who was bred by the Lindsays nearly 20 years ago and has since established her own dynasty. In 2007 they sent their Gold Brose mare Sonet to champion Cambridge Stud stallion Zabeel, producing the filly who was to become Zonza. Trained by Roger James, she carried the Lindsay colours to five wins headed by the Gr.3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) at the 2013 Caulfield Cup meeting. Zonza has surpassed those racetrack achievements by producing three stakes winners – Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Pinarello, Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Vernazza and Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) winner Bavella. Vernazza, who followed her Matamata Breeders’ Stakes win with second place to Karaka Million winner Cool Aza Beel in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), is now the dam of Saturday’s Colin Jillings 2YO Classic winner Liguria, the result of her maiden mating with champion Australian sire Snitzel. After finishing fourth on debut at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, the member of Noble’s Karaka-based racing string stepped up to stakes company. That win capped a memorable week for the Lindsays after their Cambridge Stud draft had topped vendor standings at the 100th National Yearling Sale. “Zonza and J’Adane were the two standouts in Brendan and Jo’s early foray into bloodstock, so both mares will always hold a special place,” Cambridge Sud spokesman Scott Calder said. “Unfortunately we lost Vernazza after she had produced just two fillies, but the stud has retained Liguria as well as her yearling by Proisir. “Zonza is 17 and still breeding, and has a lovely Chaldean filly at foot, while we also have Bavella and Zonza’s unraced Tavistock daughter Zazon in the broodmare band.” Noble, the Lindsays’ private trainer, claimed a notable result early in his tenure when he returned to his former home track to win the 2020 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes with Vernazza and he hopes to follow the same path with Liguria on Saturday week. “It’s a credit to Lance and the whole team on the Karaka farm to win another feature race,” Calder said. “She ran well in her first start on Boxing Day and showed huge improvement the way she hit the line on Saturday. “The Matamata Breeders’ Stakes is a race that Lance has a genuine attachment to given he trained on the track and was also on the club committee. It’s great to think that he now has the chance to write another chapter in what is already a wonderful story.” View the full article

Bill Thurlow endured his share of trials and tribulations with Whangaehu before the stayer’s latest show of form at Ellerslie. The Waverley trainer, who operates in partnership with Sam O’Malley, was delighted with the son of Proisir’s effort on Saturday to finish third over 2200m. Whangaehu came from the back of the field with a stout run under 61kg, conceding seven kilos to the Stephen Marsh pair of Sinhaman and Kiwi Skyhawk. “Hopefully, we’ve got him back where he should be and it hasn’t been easy, so we were very happy with him,” Thurlow said. That performance elevated the seven-year-old to an $8 second favourite for next month’s Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). “It’s working out well and we’ll be trying to get him to the Cup. He’ll go to the Avondale Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) next, so he’s going to have to go to Ellerslie three times,” Thurlow said. “It’s a lot of travelling from where we’re based, but there’s no good lead-up races down here. It’s just the way the calendar is.” It will be Whangaehu’s second crack at the Cup after he finished seventh in the 2024 edition. “He went quite a good race, but he was a bit sharper and keener then and he’s got more dour since,” Thurlow said. Whangaehu was second-up in his preparation on Saturday after two unplaced efforts during the spring. “We thought we had him not far away, but he wasn’t quite clicking and not clearing the gates very well,” Thurlow said. “When we looked back at his races, they were over a mile and he’s never been a horse that’s been able to jump and sprint away from the gates. “He needs time to get into his rhythm and when you get up in grade in those mile races on good tracks they do jump and run but then put the brakes on and a horse like him gets flat-footed and makes it quite difficult.” Whangaehu’s return to form was encouraging on a bittersweet day for the stable after Field Of Gold was pulled up in the Douro Cup (1600m) at Trentham and subsequently humanely euthanised. “It was very said, he was just an absolute gem of a horse,” Thurlow said. “He was another one we thought we had got right. He was really working so well and then that happened, it was a great shame for everyone.” Field Of Gold was successful on four occasions, including victory in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) and Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) when trained by Tony Pike. He subsequently joined Thurlow as an older horse to add to his winning record and more recently finished in behind the major players in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m). View the full article

Luigi Muollo has been involved with the family of his foundation mare Explosive for more than two decades, and it continues to produce for the Novara Park principal. On Saturday, Special Sakura, a fourth generation of a branch of that family, secured black-type when taking care of a handy field to win the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie. Bred and raced by Muollo, Special Sakura’s victory was a great result for his Waikato farm, with the four-year-old mare becoming the third individual stakes winner for Novara Park resident stallion Staphanos, joining Group One winner Pignan and Basilinna. Entrusted to the care of New Plymouth trainer Janelle Millar, Muollo said Special Sakura has shown plenty of ability in her prior nine starts and he wasn’t surprised by her 1-3/4 length victory on the weekend. “She has always shown a huge amount of ability and has been well placed by Janelle,” Muollo said. “She finished second to Hinekaha a few starts back and look at what she has gone on to do (win the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes, 1600m, and finish runner-up in the Gr.3 Aotearoa Classic, 1600m). The form has stood up around her and we knew she had run times very fast before. “She probably could have gone for stakes races a bit earlier, but we have shown a bit of patience to get her right and now she has got it all ahead of her.” Special Sakura’s victory has not only increased her value as a broodmare prospect, but also her immediate family, with Muollo still breeding from her dam, Mia Mamma, and he owns several of her siblings. “It is valuable for me owning Special Sakura, her mum, Mia Mamma, another half-sister called Speedy Swey and another two-year-old in Janelle’s stable who I have leased to Janelle that is a full-sister to Special Sakura,” Muollo said. Special Sakura is also a half-sister to Special Swey, who went on to win the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) for trainer Chris Waller. “Special Swey was a very smart horse and I sold him to my brother after he won a race here by four lengths,” Muollo said. “He ended up winning the Rough Habit Plate impressively. “There are not many mares around who have had three foals to race for two black-type winners. “Mia Mamma is in-foal to Sweynesse to get a full-sibling to Special Swey.” Special Sakura’s victory comes quickly off the back of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales, and while Muollo only offered a couple of yearlings himself, preferring to retain some to race, it was a pleasing one for Staphanos, with his colt out of Group One winner Quintessential selling to Australian trainer Mick Price for $140,000 in the Book 1 session. “It was a very good result,” Muollo said. “I have kept a number of fillies myself and not enter them in the sale because the fillies have got a very good strike-rate, especially on Group One winners and performers to runners. He (Staphanos) is tracking well.” View the full article

Like many young athletes, Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Nearly's introduction to sports was playing soccer in his field at Wind Hill Farm, adding to the agility and athleticism that has placed him on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail.View the full article

Frankie Dettori notched an emotional winner on his final day as a jockey in Rio de Janeiro Feb. 1—and then made a great day even better by claiming the first leg of Brazil's Triple Crown.View the full article

Jockey Junior Alvarado, regular rider for 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, is expected to return to action Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park after being shaken up late on Saturday's Holy Bull (G3) program.View the full article

As we crest the three-month mark to the GI Kentucky Derby, the breakthrough performance by Nearly (Not This Time) in the Jan. 31 GIII Holy Bull Stakes raises several questions related to timing, taking into account both macro and micro perspectives. The first relates to the timing of Nearly's 5 3/4-length score over five rivals barely 48 hours after the news that juvenile champ and TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) had been diagnosed with bone bruising and was declared off the Kentucky Derby trail. Both Ted Noffey (owned by Spendthrift Farm) and Nearly (owned by Centennial Farms) are stablemates in Todd Pletcher's barn, and both colts have been regularly ridden by John Velazquez. Considering the lack of dominant, standout contenders in the sophomore ranks at this stage of the season, is it reasonable to install Nearly as the new No. 1, with his three-race win streak and best-in-2026 divisional Beyer Speed Figure of 98 good enough to leapfrog other highly heralded horses, several of whom are still awaiting their first starts as 3-year-olds? A second timing question projects forwardly: With Nearly tasked with only one more Kentucky Derby prep between now and May 2 (and with Pletcher indicating that single prep is likely to be the Mar. 28 GI Curlin Florida Derby), will a five-race base (with just two starts around two turns) be enough to establish this colt's credentials in a chaotic 20-horse race over 10 furlongs? Yet another timing question relates to the in-race clocking of Nearly's victory in the Holy Bull, which was the product of an exaggerated fast early/slow late pace. Nearly and 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Cannoneer (Into Mischief), respectively, broke inward and outward leaving the gate, coming together for a mild “Ya wanna go?” bump before tearing off together into a sprint for the first turn of the 1 1/16-miles stakes. With both Velazquez and Irad Ortiz Jr. avoiding the rail like it was strung with barbed wire, the outermost Nearly (the 1.7-1 second choice) and inside-running Cannoneer (the 3-2 fave) dueled four paths off the fence through a first quarter in :22.82 before fanning out to lane six on the backstretch. After a high-octane second-quarter split in :23.14, the two dropped down closer to the fence for the far-turn run. Nearly began to edge away from Cannoneer at the 3 1/2- furlong marker, which under Gulfstream's short-stretch configuration for 1 1/16 miles (finish line at the sixteenth pole) means just three furlongs to the wire. By the 2 1/2 furlong pole, Nearly was pulling away in hand with Cannoneer being asked but not responding. By the quarter pole, Nearly was clearly in front and again shifting back out while bracing for the anticipated late move by the 5.9-1 Bravaro (Upstart). Bravaro had enjoyed a primo stalking trip, and as the torrid tempo slackened (third-quarter split of :24.36), the 2-for-2 New York-bred looked primed to pounce, with Tyler Gaffalione taking aim on what appeared to be a softened-up speedster who had survived a demanding duel. But Nearly would have none of that scenario. He required only mild urging from Velazquez to dig in for the drive, and although it helped that Bravaro's stretch bid never truly materialized, Nearly cracked the race wide open under his own power, padding a 1 1/2-length mid-stretch lead (fourth-quarter split of :27.10) into a 5 3/4-length winning margin, cruising home through a last sixteenth in a leisurely :7.10 for a final clocking of 1:44.52. The loss by Cannoneer, who faded to fourth behind Bravaro and the 40-1 Project Ace (War of Will), extended a decade-long rough go for favorites in the Holy Bull, who have now gone down in defeat in nine of the last 10 runnings. “We rode like a match race,” Ortiz conceded after getting off Cannoneer. Velazquez added that he didn't expect Nearly “to be that aggressive.” But, the Hall-of-Famer rationalized, “that's what good horses do.” Visually, Nearly scored style points and credibility for being directly involved in an intemperate pace and having enough oomph left late to seal the deal. But from a raw numbers perspective, you do have to wonder whether Nearly could get away with enduring such a fast clip at longer distances when faced with more robust competition and larger fields. Consider that the fractions for the first six furlongs of the of the two-turn, 1 1/16-miles Holy Bull (:22.82, :45.96, 1:10.32) eclipsed those set in the one-turn, seven-furlong Swale Stakes (:23.30, :46.52, 1:10.92) earlier on Saturday's card. You don't often encounter a same-day route stakes whose internal pace is that much faster than a sprint stakes for horses of the same age and sex. It's also interesting to note that in the Swale, the riders' roles were tactically reversed from what would occur two hours later in the Holy Bull: In the sprint stakes for sophomores, it was Velazquez who got pinned down on the rail by Ortiz, losing both the internal duel and the overall race. Recent history of 1 1/16-miles Derby prep races also suggests the Holy Bull pace was aberrational. Since 2022, there have been 65 points-awarding Kentucky Derby qualifying stakes at that distance. In only three of them was a first quarter-mile contested faster than the :22.82 in the Holy Bull. In none of them was the fourth quarter-mile split slower than the :27.10 in the Holy Bull. And in only one out of those 65 most recent 1 1/16-miles Derby prep races was the final sixteenth slower than Nearly's last half-furlong in :7.10. The Beyer team's assessment of 98 for Nearly's win in the Holy Bull means this colt now owns the top two speed figures for any 3-year-old so far in 2026. Nearly had earned a 97 Beyer when winning a scratch-depleted allowance/optional claimer over seven furlongs at Gulfstream Jan. 2. One caveat is that number-assigning in dirt routes can be tricky at Gulfstream-for the Beyer team or any other entity that produces figures-because there are often so few main-track races there for comparison, with turf and Tapeta now comprising the bulk of cards. Besides the Holy Bull, on Jan. 31 there were only three other dirt races at Gulfstream, and none of them were routes. Nearly's 97 Beyer from Jan. 2 had been earned on a day when there was only one other Gulfstream dirt race. It had been preliminarily been reported as a 96, but subsequently got revised upward one tick prior to Saturday's Holy Bull. For comparison, the best Beyers put up by any Derby contender in the 2-year-old portion of the 2025-26 campaign were the run of 98-97-97 earned by Ted Noffey when he swept the Grade I trio of the Hopeful Stakes, Breeders' Futurity Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The post For Nearly, Timing Is Everything, In More Ways Than One appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Magnitude will not travel to Saudi Arabia to participate in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 14 after developing an illness.View the full article

The Jimmy Ting-trained Little Paradise ran out an impressive winner of Sunday's HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin, emphatically defying stamina doubts as he forged clear in the final furlong to land the spoils by two lengths. Infinite Resolve (Snitzel) finished second, with another half a length back to the former Joseph O'Brien trainee, Beauty Bolt (Night Of Thunder), in third. “Today, he relaxed very well,” said winning rider Vincent Ho. “Once I pressed the button, he just kicked it. He finished off very well, so he can definitely handle a mile without a problem. I told Jimmy, even for 1,800 metres, he will also produce that sort of kick as long as we relax him early. So, I'm looking forward to the [Hong Kong] Classic Cup and the [BMW Hong Kong] Derby. I'm very grateful for the support I've had in coming back from injury and to win the [Hong Kong] Classic Mile is encouraging. I'm always grateful for everything.” The second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Cup, which takes place over 1,800 metres on March 1, is next on the cards for the son of Toronado. That contest is followed by the HK$26-million BMW Hong Kong Derby, which takes place over 2,000 metres on March 22. Ting, who won this race as a jockey on Industrialist in 2000 when it was known as the Hong Kong Classic Trial, added, “This is my dream and it's come true. I'm so happy for the owner [Ko Kam Piu] – he's a very lucky owner. What a perfect win. I didn't think before the race he would win so easily. In the last 300 metres, I was thinking, 'Oh no, can he get a run?' But when he got clear it was all over.” Pedigree Notes Little Paradise was offered at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Wayne and Pauline Alchin's Carramar Park on behalf of their son Tim, who bred him. He was purchased by the combination of Chris McAnulty (Dullingham) and Bond Li (Legends Bloodstock) for A$270,000. It was a dream result for Tim Alchin, who had bought his dam, Devil In Her Heart (Star Witness), when she was carrying Little Paradise for just A$27,500 on Inglis Digital in February 2021. The unraced Devil In Her Heart is herself a half-sister to eight winners, including the G2 Emancipation Stakes scorer Olentia (Zoustar), G3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap heroine Wandabaa (Wandjina) and multiple Listed winner Malkovich (Choisir). The post Little Paradise Much the Best in Hong Kong Classic Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FORCED ENTRY (f, 3, Charlatan–Violent Times {SW, $228,701}, by Violence) contested the pace before fading to last in her six-furlong debut over the lawn Jan. 11. Moving to the main track and stretching out to a mile in this second start, the 7-2 shot sprinted out to the early lead and was shadowed by favored Wolf Hill (Upstart) down the backstretch through a quarter in :23.05 and a half in :47.07. She skipped clear nearing the stretch and sailed home unchallenged to graduate by 7 1/4 lengths. Wolf Hill trailed her home in second. Forced Entry was a $375,000 KEESEP yearling purchase. Violent Times produced a colt by American Pharoah last year and was bred back to Constitution. “Eight lengths with the breaks on.” #2 FORCED ENTRY an impressive maiden winner in Race 2 at @santaanitapark. A riding double for @JJHernandezS19 on the daughter of Charlatan out of stakes winner Violent Times. pic.twitter.com/XZ3YdqYH0s — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 1, 2026 2nd-Santa Anita, $70,000, Msw, 2-1, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:38.28, ft, 7 1/4 lengths. FORCED ENTRY (f, 3, Charlatan–Violent Times {SW, $228,701}, by Violence) Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $42,500. O-Michael Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Stoneriggs Farm (KY); T-Bob Baffert. The post Charlatan’s Forced Entry Romps to Maiden Score at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Junior Alvarado, regular rider for 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, is expected to return to action Thursday at Gulfstream Park after being shaken up late on Saturday's GIII Holy Bull Stakes program. The 39-year-old, replaced on his three scheduled mounts Sunday, took off his final two mounts Saturday, both in stakes, after being thrown to the turf by Multiverse (Practical Joke), who clipped heels on the first turn in an optional claiming allowance for 4-year-olds and up. Multiverse was not injured. Agent Mike Sellitto said Sunday that Alvarado, who was transported to the hospital following the spill, received stitches on his knee but was otherwise unharmed. He was cleared to ride Sunday but took the afternoon off to further his recovery. Alvarado won earlier on Saturday's program aboard 5-year-old Roar Ready (Do the Roar) for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. and was second on Patrick Biancone-trained Redland Rebels (Uncle Chuck) in the Kitten's Joy Stakes. Entering Sunday, Alvarado ranked fourth with 26 wins and third with more than $1.7 million in purse earnings from 145 mounts at the Championship Meet, which began Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27. Among his victories are Destino D'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) in the GII Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, Grand Job (Justify) in the GII Inside Information, Knightsbridge (Nyquist) in the GIII Mr. Prospector and GIII Fred Hooper and Layabout (Laoban) in the Tropical Park Derby. Alvarado is named in four of 10 races Thursday including Godolphin homebred Spirit of Hope (Street Sense), a 4-year-old half-sister to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish making her career debut, in a Race 6 maiden special weight going one mile on the main track. The post Junior Alvarado Slated to Return at Gulfstream Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When a flight carrying several American-based Saudi Cup contenders departs Florida Monday, Magnitude (Not This Time) will not be on it, trainer Steve Asmussen told DRF on Sunday. The 4-year-old Winchell Thoroughbreds runner, who won the GII Clark Stakes last November, spiked a fever Sunday and would not ship out of his Fair Grounds base as planned. Magnitude registered his most recent work at Fair Grounds, covering five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.40 (1/18) on Jan. 29. Winner of last season's GII Risen Star, the colt also annexed the Iowa Derby, finished third in the GI Travers Stakes and was runner-up in the GI Pennsylvania Derby in September. In his Clark victory, Magnitude most notably bested last season's G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Ire}). The post Magnitude to Miss Saudi Cup Due to Illness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Centennial Farms' Nearly was feeling his oats at Palm Beach Downs the morning of Feb. 1 in the aftermath of his eye-catching 5 3/4-length triumph in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31.View the full article

Freshly anointed champion juvenile filly Super Corredora (Gun Runner), GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies fourth-place finisher Meaning (Gun Runner) and GSP Nimah (Gun Runner) were among a sextet of 3-year-old fillies nominated to next weekend's Las Virgenes Stakes who recorded timed workouts Sunday at Santa Anita. Super Corredora worked four furlongs in :48.0 (13/84) for trainer John Sadler. The bay was last seen winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31 at Del Mar. Working five furlongs on Sunday, Meaning completed the task in 1:01.60 (30/71). Nimah, who was third in the GII Starlet Stakes in December, worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 (5/71) for Baffert. The $550,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling purchase is campaigned by Zedan Racing Stables. Sunday's workers also heading to the Las Virgenes includes SW Cee Drew (Cistron) (4f :50.20 70/84) and Fortunate Truth (Authentic) (4f :50.20, 70/84), both trained by Dan Blacker; and Wild Like the West (Into Mischief) (4f :49.40, 26/33) for trainer Richard Baltas. Baffert also worked 3-year-old colts GISP Plutarch (Into Mischief) and GI Hopeful runner-up and TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard Buetane (Tiz the Law), who are both nominated to Saturday's GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Buetane, a $1.15-million OBS Spring Sale juvenile purchase, is also entered in this Friday's GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. Buetane worked four furlongs in :47.80 (8/84), while Plutarch, who broke his maiden last out on turf Nov. 30 at Del Mar, worked six furlongs in 1:12.2 (1/6). The post Las Virgenes Noms Super Corredora, Meaning Head Santa Anita Worktab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Centennial Farms' Nearly (Not This Time) was no worse for wear at Palm Beach Downs Sunday morning after an impressive victory in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. “He came back well,” Todd Pletcher said. “He was feeling frisky [Sunday] morning.” Making his two-turn and stakes debuts in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds, Nearly stamped himself as a leading prospect for this year's GI Kentucky Derby. It was his third straight victory at the Hallandale Beach oval. “We thought it was a really strong performance. He put himself in a good spot. They were going pretty quickly early on, but it seemed like he was in a good cruising speed,” Pletcher said. “We liked the two-turn stretch-out. It was pretty much what we were hoping for.” The dark bay debuted with a sixth-place finish in his Oct. 26 debut at Aqueduct before posting a pair of overpowering victories at Gulfstream, including the most recent in a seven-furlong allowance optional claimer on Jan. 2. “I haven't had a chance to sit down with anybody to talk about what we're doing for sure. I don't like making any decisions immediately after a race. One of the things we talked about was [Saturday's] race was his third race in a relatively short period, but we wanted to give him some two-turn experience and he handled that,” Pletcher said. “Now that he handled that, we're probably in a position where we can give him a little extra time for the next one.” Among most likely scenarios, Nearly is more likely to train up to the GI Curlin Florida Derby on Mar. 28 at Gulfstream rather than return in the 8 1/2-furlong GII Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 28. “Since he's 3-for-3 at Gulfstream, I think the Florida Derby would be a logical target, but we'll see how he does and how he bounces back, which will kind of dictate what we do,” said Pletcher. “I would say once we have that discussion, that's probably the most likely scenario.” Pletcher-trained Audible, winner of the 2018 Holy Bull before going on to win the Florida Derby in his next start, finished third in that season's Kentucky Derby. Pletcher has saddled eight winners of the Florida Derby. Conversely, Albert Ciuffetelli, Steffani Brennan, Shining Stables LLC, BAG Racing Stables and Paul Braverman's Bravaro (Upstart), who finished second in the Holy Bull, is likely to return in the Fountain of Youth, according to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The New York-bred was closest in pursuit of the dueling pacesetters and held well in the stretch to finish second. Bravaro, undefeated in two starts in New York-bred company at Aqueduct, last raced when winning the Oct. 25 Sleepy Hollow Stakes. “We wanted him to show up around two turns off the layoff, and he did,” Joseph said. “He's a very nice horse and should move forward off that race.” Bravaro's sire Upstart captured the 2015 Holy Bull before finishing second in the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby. Joseph raised the possibility that Chris Fountoukis' Solitude Dude (Yaupon), whom he saddled for a 3 3/4-length victory in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes could join Bravaro in the Fountain of Youth. “Nothing yet as far as we're we'll go. If he did stretch out it would be the Fountain of Youth,” Joseph said. Undefeated Solitude Dude, a debut winner at Gulfstream last November, won Tampa's six-furlong Inaugural Stakes on Dec. 6. “I think he's an upper-level talent. Two turns is a question mark, but I think he's an upper-level talent,” Joseph said. The post “Feeling Frisky”: Nearly Feeling Good After Holy Bull Win, Likely to Train Up to Florida Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Florent Geroux, based at Fair Grounds this winter, is expected to shift his tack to Santa Anita this week, according to the DRF on Sunday. According to DRF, the rider is set to arrive in California on Thursday and is scheduled to ride on Friday. Representing Geroux during his California sojourn, Matt Nakatani is also the agent for Umberto Rispoli, recently sidelined after falling during a race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24. “I went to visit [Rispoli] in the hospital,” Geroux told DRF Sunday morning. “We talked it over. I decided to jump on the opportunity.” Explaining the decision for the move, Geroux added, “Business has been a bit slow at the Fair Grounds. I'm winning, but I'm not riding a lot.” Geroux, who out of limited occasions has won four Grade I races at the venue, will be riding full-time for the first time at The Great RIP. The post Florent Geroux Shifts Tack to Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Winter Watch returns from a brief hiatus to recap some of the key action that you might have missed during what always feels like the longest month of the year. In truth, if there was ever a good time for this column to take a break, then January was probably it, with several of the biggest trainers in the sport having essentially shut up shop during the first few weeks of the new year. John and Thady Gosden, for example, followed a hugely successful December (10 winners from 24 runners) by sending out only two runners in all of January, while Charlie Appleby has continued to fill his boots at Meydan whilst more or less turning a blind eye to the domestic action – albeit with one very significant exception. Here, we've skipped to the good bits from a seemingly never-ending January, highlighting five performances, ranked in reverse order, that you really should go back and revisit if you missed them whilst polishing off the last of the Quality Street. 5. Martagny – Cagnes-sur-Mer, January 24 Martagny, the winner of two of his three starts to date, is the first of two entries into the top five for Marseille-based trainer Jerome Reynier, with his latest victory being achieved in impressive fashion on the turf at Cagnes-sur-Mer. After getting off the mark at the second attempt, when winning a maiden at Salon-de-Provence on November 27, Martagny then faced six other previous winners when returning from eight weeks off for the Prix Sky Lawyer. Racing in a clear second for much of that 2,150-metre contest, the son of Zarak moved up to challenge the long-time leader, Muhaaria (Muhaarar), early in the straight, before forging clear to beat the running-on Saint Martin (Time Test) by two and a half lengths. Gerard Augustin-Normand's homebred Martagny is the second winner from three runners out of the G3 Prix des Reservoirs runner-up Montviette (Le Havre), a full-sister to the G3 Prix Messidor second Longvillers. Montviette's first foal was the high-class sprinter Monteille (Cable Bay), who can count last year's Prix du Gros-Chene and Prix du Petit Couvert among his three Group 3 victories. Whilst Monteille has shown his best form at up to six furlongs, Martagny clearly takes more after his sire, having already proved that he stays beyond a mile-and-a-quarter. He will be well worth trying in a higher grade, with one of the early trials for the Prix du Jockey Club appealing as a suitable target. Prix Sky Lawyer @hippocotdazur Cagnes Sur Mer – Classe 1 – 3 ans – 2150m -7 Pts – Tres Souple (4.1) – 27 400 € Martagny (m3) Antonio Orani (Zarak?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Zarak (Fr) @AgaKhanStuds – Montviette (Fr) par Le Havre (Ire)) Jerome Reynier @EcurieReynier… pic.twitter.com/tB2Y93FThd — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) January 24, 2026 4. Blanc De Blanc – Dundalk, January 9 We go next from Cagnes-sur-Mer to County Louth where Blanc De Blanc, a $575,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, made a successful debut in a Dundalk maiden for Amo Racing and rookie trainer Robson Aguiar. Admittedly, the performance itself wasn't as smooth as connections would have liked. Blanc De Blanc hung right when shaken up early in the straight and hampered the favourite, Astronomically (No Nay Never), to the extent that she had to survive a stewards' enquiry before eventually being declared the winner. The first two, separated by just a neck at the line, pulled a further two and a half lengths clear of the remainder. Astronomically came into the race as a two-race maiden – and has since filled the runner-up spot again in a similar event at the same venue – so it's hard to get too excited about the form, but it was a promising debut nonetheless from Blanc De Blanc, who certainly has plenty to recommend her on pedigree. By the stateside sensation Not This Time, she is one of five winners out of the winning Galileo mare Wonderful, a full-sister to the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Breeders' Cup Turf hero Magician. Only time will tell whether Blanc De Blanc is worthy of her own lofty entries in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks. Either way, she seems sure to progress and win more races for the excellent operator that is Aguiar, who has made a fine start to his first full season as a licence holder with four winners from 11 runners in January. $575k purchase finishes in front! Blanc De Blanc (Not This Time) beats Astronomically at the line on debut @DundalkStadium but a stewards' enquiry is called pic.twitter.com/Xspu61aHcA — Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 9, 2026 3. Eostre – Cagnes-sur-Mer, January 20 A few days before the success of Martagny, Reynier was also on the money at Cagnes-sur-Mer with Eostre, who looked another exciting prospect from the first crop of St Mark's Basilica when winning on debut by four and a half lengths. Facing nine rivals over one-mile of the Cagnes all-weather track, Eostre travelled smoothly with only three ahead of her through the first half of the race. Easing into a challenging position on the home turn, she proceeded to move through the gears in the style of a filly potentially out of the very top drawer, certainly in a different league to this class of opposition as she hit the line having appeared to barely break sweat. Eostre's Swedish owner-breeder Erika Gilliar purchased her dam, the five-race maiden Tanita (Frankel), for 105,000gns out of the Juddmonte draft at the 2020 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Tanita, in turn, is out of Shoal (Oasis Dream), a winning full-sister to the multiple top-level heroine Midday and a half to the Group 3 winners Hot Snap (Pivotal) and Sun Maiden (Frankel). Eostre is the first foal out of Tanita, who has a two-year-old filly by Dark Angel still to come. This filly is bred to stay beyond a mile, but the turn of foot she showed on debut suggests her connections don't need to be in any rush to step her up in distance. She's very much one to follow for Reynier, whose team of fillies to go to war with in 2026 includes Eostre's fellow Cagnes winners in January, Al Rateel (Violence) and Nay (Zelzal). A potentially smart type! St Mark's Basilica filly Eostre storms to a debut success at Cagnes-sur-Mer… pic.twitter.com/vLB8looGqF — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 20, 2026 2. Frankish – Cagnes-sur-Mer, January 15 Not to be outdone by Reynier, Yann Barberot unleashed a potential top-notcher of his own at Cagnes-sur-Mer last month when Frankish made a successful debut in the Prix Ace Impact, a race named after its brilliant 2023 winner. This year, Jean-Claude Rouget saddled Ace Impact's half-brother, Armano (Waldgeist), in his quest for a fourth straight win in the contest, having also struck in 2024 with Arrow Eagle (Gleneagles) – another of Ace Impact's siblings – and last year with Leffard (Le Havre). Incidentally, Arrow Eagle and Leffard both ended the latest campaign as Group 1 winners for the Rouget stable, having plundered the Prix Royal-Oak and Grand Prix de Paris, respectively. In the event, Armano could finish only fifth under a considerate ride from Cristian Demuro, but once again the race threw up a winner who looks destined for bigger and better things. Ideally positioned throughout, slipstreaming the leader in a steadily-run affair, Frankish was ultimately well on top at the finish after moving to the lead a furlong out, striding clear from there to beat Cosmic Boy (De Treville) by two lengths. Jockey Hugo Journiac resorted to the whip just once aboard the blue-blooded Frankish, a son of Lope De Vega and the 1,000 Guineas winner Miss France (Dansili), who is open to any amount of improvement with this experience under his belt. Sporting the familiar blue and white silks of Wertheimer et Frere, he must be considered a very smart middle-distance prospect in the making, certainly no forlorn hope to follow in the footsteps of Ace Impact, Arrow Eagle and Leffard in the months and years ahead. Prix Ace Impact @hippocotdazur Cagnes Sur Mer – Inédits – Males – 3 ans – 2000m – 13 Pts – 21 000 € Frankish (m3) (Ire) Hugo Journiac @HugoJourniac (Lope De Vega (Ire) @BallylinchStud – Miss France (Ire) par Dansili 'Gb)) Yann Barberot @BarberotYann… pic.twitter.com/wYHN4eH75P — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) January 15, 2026 1. Palladas – Kempton, January 28 Godolphin's Palladas completes a clean sweep of the first two places for his sire, Lope De Vega, having been named a 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard when kicking off his career in style at Kempton last week. Palladas was the only British runner saddled by that man Charlie Appleby in all of January, but the Moulton Paddocks boss always saves a good one for the one-mile maiden run on Wednesday's card, and so it proved once again as this colt emulated the likes of Notable Speech (2024) and Opera Ballo (2025) with a sparkling display on the Kempton all-weather. Sent off the 6/5 favourite in a field of 12, he travelled fluently into contention and was never stronger than at the finish, really motoring through the final furlong as he registered an emphatic success to the tune of two and three-quarter lengths. A 750,000gns purchase at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Palladas was bred by Jeffrey and Phoebe Hobby at Brightwalton Stud. He is one of three winners from as many runners out of the Listed River Eden Stakes third Isabella (Galileo), with the others including the GIII La Jolla Handicap winner and GII Del Mar Derby second Maltese Falcon (Caravaggio). Both Notable Speech and Opera Ballo went from this maiden to the”European Road To The Kentucky Derby” Conditions Stakes, run over the same course and distance in late-February. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, so surely Palladas is a safe bet to appear there for the next step in his education, before being given the opportunity to test himself in Group company when the turf season gets underway. 2026 2025 2024 2203 2022 2021 Palladas, a 750,000gns son of Lope De Vega, continues stunning run of Charlie Appleby in this Kempton maiden.@godolphin pic.twitter.com/GCB2Je2ybz — Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 28, 2026 The post Winter Watch: Five Names for the Notebook from the Last Month of Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Little Paradise overcame traffic and distance questions Feb. 1 at Sha Tin Racecourse to win the Hong Kong Classic Mile, first leg of the Hong Kong Derby series.View the full article

Young trainer Stephen Hanlon saddled his first winner when Diggin Deep won a handicap hurdle at Musselburgh in November 2018, but his name had been absent from racecards in recent years after the Covid-19 pandemic delayed his plans to enter the training ranks in a full-time capacity. That was until January this year when Hanlon sent out his first runners as the licence holder at Sun Hill Farm in Leyburn, with Azucena providing the breakthrough in this second phase of the trainer's career when successful at Newcastle on January 13. Now, Hanlon reveals his big plans for the future as the latest person to face the TDN question master. How did you first become involved in racing? I found my way into racing through my father and my uncle. They were friendly with the late Frank Ennis, who trained around 25 horses on the Curragh. My father got me a job with Frank in 2007 and that's how I started, really. Initially, I had aspirations to be a jockey, but I grew too tall and got heavy. I realised then that it just wasn't going to be possible, so I changed course very quickly and had my sights set on training from then on. You're now training from Sun Hill Farm in Leyburn following the retirement of Ann Duffield. Can you tell us a bit about how that opportunity came about? I was starting to pull together a small team of horses and I based them with Harry Whittington between Lambourn and Wantage while I was trying to find a yard. Harry knew Ann Duffield and that she wanted to retire. Harry suggested that I give Ann a call and I discussed with Ann what I would like to do. Ann invited me to Sun Hill to have a look around and it went forward from there, really. Ann confirmed that it was her plan to retire at the end of last year. We agreed that I should take on the role as assistant trainer, so that I could get an idea of how Sun Hill works and to get to know the facilities. I very much enjoyed the role working with good people. When Ann and I had discussed the idea of taking over the licence, I then felt that any step other than going training at that point would have been a step backwards. Ann has enjoyed a long and successful career in her own right and is an incredibly astute businesswoman. She and her owners have been very supportive with advice and guidance as we transferred the business over into my name. I'd like to think that has prepared me well for what I am trying to achieve now. I worked with Ann as her assistant for six months from June to December last year. It is a fantastic place, a purpose-built yard with wonderful facilities. I'm very grateful to Ann and George for the opportunity that they have afforded me. How many horses do you have in training? We have 32 horses in training at present, with the capacity to train 70 plus, so I will be predominantly focusing on growing the business numerically in 2026. In turn, I wish to attract some more good owners, which is the most important factor for sustainable growth. Throughout my time in the industry, I have built good relationships with some fantastic owners, who really understand racing and without whom it would not have been possible for us to start training. It was great to hit the ground running so early with a winner [Azucena at Newcastle on January 13] on our first day with runners. I have an amazing team ensuring that the horses continue in good form as we prepare for the turf season. What was your defining memory of 2025? While it was always my ambition to train, there comes a point when you have to set the wheels in motion, so I suppose the defining moment was making that decision to set out on my own path in 2025 after four seasons with Ralph Beckett. Ralph was extremely helpful with advice and guidance. He had known for quite a while that I wanted to train, so I had plenty of conversations with Ralph about what my plans were. What motivates you? Success. What keeps you awake at night? I sleep very well, as long as I know I've done my job to the best of my ability and acted in the best interests of my horses, owners and staff at all times. You can rest assured that I won't lose much sleep worrying about matters beyond my control. What is your biggest regret? I don't have any regrets. All life experiences, both good and bad, have led me to where I am now. I am 31 now and the most important lesson that I have learned to date is that time is your most valuable asset in life. Everyone gets the same 24 hours, but how you invest it is the true secret to success. Give us an underrated sire to keep the right side of in 2026… I think Phil Cunningham's Rajasinghe is outstanding value and massively underrated and underutilised as a sire. People forget he broke the track record at Royal Ascot when he won the Coventry, which still stands. We've just recently seen Aisling Oscar do the magnificent seven consecutive wins in handicaps – something that hasn't been done for over 30 years. I would like to see him get some better quality mares to cover, because I'm adamant that he can hold his own in producing black-type performers. And a horse to follow on the racecourse in 2026… Royal Fixation looks the type of filly who will improve from two to three. She was impressive in winning the Lowther last year and followed it up with a solid performance in the Cheveley Park. She has subsequently been moved to Karl Burke in Middleham who excels with fillies of her profile. I would expect to see her being competitive at the top level in 2026. Tell us something that people don't know about Stephen Hanlon… Many people assume because of my surname that I am related to Shark Hanlon. I have no family relations to Shark Hanlon! Who is your inspiration? There is nobody in this world than can truly inspire you. I think that is something that can only come from within – you have to want to do better, to want to succeed, and to want to perform to the very peak of your ability. I think the intense level of drive that is required to be successful is either in a person or it's not. I believe the most influential and successful people in history, in any capacity, were all self inspired. However, I do have admiration for the trainers I have worked for – Willie Mullins, Dessie Hughes and Ralph Beckett – all exceptionally talented people who would have achieved huge success in whatever they channelled their brainpower into. For me, Henry Cecil, Michael Stoute and Vincent O Brien are the three greatest trainers that this sport has ever produced. They had something very, very different – a natural gift from God and a genius touch with horses. What has been the proudest moment of your career to date? I don't have a standout proudest moment. I continually take personal satisfaction from doing anything to the best of my ability, win, lose or draw, whether in a professional or personal capacity. I derive huge satisfaction from achieving the best possible outcome for the team of horses, owners and staff that I am building around me. It's hugely important to be working with the right people and I'm very lucky to have good people around me. The post In The Hot Seat: Stephen Hanlon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Classy galloper Patch Of Theta returned to winning ways with a game performance to defy joint top weight of 135lb in the Class One Mirs Bay Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Last seen in a winning mood when landing the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) 13 months ago, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained galloper made good on a gilt-edged opportunity despite the weight burden. Travelling midfield in the six-runner affair under Hugh Bowman, Patch Of Theta travelled up well and was...View the full article

John Size continued his classic midseason march up the trainers’ championship table with a treble at Sha Tin, headlined by Super Express’ brilliant win in the Class Three Yan Chau Tong Handicap (1,400m). By his own admission, it has been a slow campaign thus far for the reigning champion trainer, but he was always going to get his skates on as winter loomed and another three-timer has seen him jump up to fifth in the table. It has left Size just 10 winners off the current leader Mark Newnham and...View the full article

Little Paradise emerged from an almost impossible position to stamp himself as a rising star of Hong Kong racing with a breathtaking victory in Sunday’s Classic Mile at Sha Tin. Held up for clear running from the top of the straight until the 250m, the Jimmy Ting Koon-ho-trained gelding was hooked to the centre of the track by Vincent Ho Chak-yiu and unleashed a blistering turn of foot to soar past his rivals in the blink of an eye. In a testament to his class, Little Paradise romped in by two...View the full article