Wandering Eyes

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Tom Lacy, the renowned breeder of Persian Force who is famed for providing Pat Smullen with his start in racing during his time as a trainer, has died. He was 89. Lacy rode 50 winners as a jockey and found only Arkle and Flyingbolt too good aboard Height Of Fashion in two Irish Grand Nationals. As a trainer, he sent out hundreds of winners from his yard in Rhode, County Offaly, spearheaded by Ingabelle, who went on to become a hugely important foundation mare at Ballylinch Stud. But it was his role as a breeder where Lacy received so many accolades in recent years. Along with his son Barry, he bred Group 1 performer Persian Force (Mehmas) from €1,200 mare Vida Amorosa (Lope De Vega). Lacy's other son Tony is a familiar face on the international bloodstock circuit and holds the role of Vice President of Sales at Keeneland. Persian Force is not the only high-class runner that Lacy bred out of his bargain mare Vida Amorosa as Gubbass first put the pedigree in lights when landing the Super Sprint Stakes. It was off the back of Persian Force's achievements, which included victory in the July Stakes and multiple placed efforts at the highest level, that led to Lacy being crowned small breeder of the year at a memorable ITBA awards ceremony in February, 2023. Fittingly, it was John O'Connor who presented Lacy with that award, and the Ballylinch Stud boss recalled the genuine outpouring of emotion for the Offaly native on the night. Paying tribute to Lacy, O'Connor said, “That was a very nice moment for us. I have known Tom since I worked in Baroda Stud back in the eighties. Tom brought one of his best racemares, Bodelle, to Bob Back and bred a very fast filly called Caurselle. He and I stayed in contact after that and, when his very good filly, Ingabelle, came up for sale, we went down to meet him at his home in Rhode and we came to an agreement. Ingabelle was sold in foal to Bluebird and the filly she was carrying turned out to be Wild Bluebell, who was a very good filly as well. Tom kept some of the family and I suppose you could say we helped each other.” O'Connor added, “But he was just a very, very nice man to deal with and his family are all excellent horse people. The one thing about Tom's horses is that they always looked so well – be that when they went racing or at home on the farm. And the horses he trained, they were so versatile – they could win sprint races, hurdle races, you name it. He was an outstanding horseman. He was just a lovely man who knew his horses extremely well. It was just a coincidence that we were able to present him with his prize but it was very appropriate.” Barry and Tom Lacy | Emma Berry Lacy sat down with TDN Europe shortly after the ITBA Awards where he spoke of his genuine appreciation for being acknowledged by his peers. He also shared tales of driving hard bargains with Tally-Ho Stud boss Tony O'Callaghan, who now stands Persian Force, along with his sire Mehmas. More importantly, O'Callaghan has been a long-standing friend of Lacy's, and he paid a heartfelt tribute on Monday morning. He said, “I have known Tom Lacy for more years than I care to remember, and every one of those years revealed him as a true lover of life. Others are better placed to speak about his deep and unwavering love for his family, but it was through the other great constant in his life – horses – that our paths crossed. “Tom often regaled me with tales from his riding days with Height of Fashion, his training of Ingabelle, and most recently, his breeding of Persian Force. These three horses, each marking a different stage of his journey, reflected his lifelong passion for the game and this made him a joy to be around.” O'Callaghan added, “He was a tough negotiator – another of his constants – especially when it came to selling a horse. But that toughness came from a genuine love and respect for the animals. It's that same enthusiasm, that deep-rooted love for the horse, which I will remember most vividly – and which will always bring a smile to my face whenever I think of him.” The post ‘Outstanding Horseman’ And Breeder Of Persian Force Tom Lacy Dies Aged 89 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Matthew Poon Ming-fai “can’t wait” for Wednesday night as he bids to hold off Matthew Chadwick and Derek Leung Ka-chun and win his first Tony Cruz Award at Happy Valley’s season closer. The 31-year-old sits on the 36-win mark for the campaign, one clear of Chadwick and a further victory ahead of Leung in pursuit of his maiden local riders’ premiership. After he fired a blank at Sha Tin on Sunday and both his rivals took advantage and drew one win closer, Poon sits in a precarious position...View the full article

by Michael Guerin Gemma Thornley may find herself forced to make a tough decision if the second half of 2025 goes as well as she hopes. The 25-year-old was the punter’s princess at Addington on Sunday when she reined favourites Belmont Valor and Action Major to win consecutive races before her aunty Olivia Thornley won the very next race for an unusual family treble. It wasn’t Gemma’s first daily double and she even drove at treble at a deep south meeting a couple of years ago but she acknowledges the importance of taking control of a race when on the favourite. “I think it is important to prove to people you can do that, handle the pressure of being on favourites and getting them home,” she told HRNZ. “I might get some recognition for having the family name but on the whole I haven’t had big stable backing in my career so when you do get on favourites you want to show other trainers you aren’t easily intimidated.” The double takes Thornley to 88 career wins here, a number which would already be a lot higher had she not taken 10 months off last year to work at an equestrian stable in England. “I loved it and learning news things but I also missed the excitement of driving,” she explains. “So while it was a great experience I am loving being back and this season is going well.” The question is whether that might be too well as Gemma is already on 21 wins for 2025. “Ideally I’d like the opportunity to drive as a junior again next season seeing how I missed more or less a year last year. But if I get to 100 wins (career) by the end of the season I probably won’t get my junior licence back.” “So I might have some thinking to do if I get to like 98 or 99 wins a month out from the end of the season whether I am better off sitting a few meetings out to stay a junior and keep learning next season.” But Thornley, who these days works for Greg and Ben Hope, also realises she is on pace to get to the 100 career wins mark well before December and couldn’t face sitting out two or more months at such an important time of the year. “But I will think about that closer to time and I the moment I am just really enjoying my driving and thankful for the support I am getting.” She wasn’t the only young female starring on a Sunday afternoon at headquarters but the other one was equine in debuntante trotter Request, who took out the first on the card for trainer Ken Barron. “She is bred to trot well and she does it well, although we still have some tidying up to do on how she corners,” says Barron. “I think she will keep improving and the long-term aim is the Trotting Oaks at the end of the season if she gets to that level.” Request is one of 25 horses Barron has in work with more to come in so he is not really sticking to a promise he made to himself to start slowing down a few years ago. “Ultimately young Sam Thornley wants to buy into the business and eventually I see him taking it over,” explains Barron. “But he might still be a bit too young to take it over yet and I might not be old enough to retire so we will keep going for a while,” he smiles. View the full article

by Adam Hamilton The first 200m will go a long way to deciding young Kiwi star Bet N Win’s winning chances next Saturday night’s $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final. Bet N Win drew well in gate five and will move even closer into four if emergency Sir Fahrenheit doesn’t gain a start, but his main danger Arcee Phoenix drew even better in barrier one. All eyes will be on the start and whether trainer-driver Chris Svanosio can muster enough early speed on Arcee Phoenix to hold the lead. In contrast, Bob Butt will be charging out as quickly as he can aboard Bet N Win in search of the lead. While leading isn’t everything, around Albion Park it’s a huge advantage. “Bob will come out and have a look at the start, but I doubt he’ll have enough speed to get across. We’ve got to have a look,” Bet N Win’s co-trainer David White said. “It’s a balance. You can’t afford to burn too much at the start especially over a long trip (3157m) like this. “We’d love to be in front because the whole series has shown how hard it is to be off the pegs. Arcee Phoenix and Gus have gone enormous both weeks and not won.” Arcee Phoenix firmed from $4 to $2.50 after the draw, while Bet N Win eased froom $2.50 to $3.50. The other Kiwi trotting finalist, Oscar Bonavena landed gate 12 after being ruled out of the draw following another gallop in his second round heat. “It’s a good thing. He seems to make his mistakes when he’s off the front,” co-trainer Nathan Purdon said. “We thrilled he managed to sneak into the final and we know he’s good enough to be right in the finish if he gets it all right.” In the pacing final, not even the worst possible barrier draw should stop champion pacer Leap To Fame from winning a second Inter Dominion title. Trainer-driver Grant Dixon initially shook his head in disbelief when Leap To Fame drew gate one, after having barrier eight (inside the back row) in both qualifying heats. “Most horses would love the pole, but it’s the one draw we didn’t want,” he said. That’s because Leap To Fame has only average early gate speed and, if he’s crossed at the start, traffic and luck in running becomes a potential issue in the $1 million race. But Dixon’s initial look at the rivals drawn on the front row, eased his frustration somewhat. “It’s not a really fast front row. There’s nothing explosive, who looks certain to get across us,” he said. “I think we’re a chance to hold up and lead. That’s what I’ll be trying to do anyway. “At least it’s a real staying race (3157m) so if he is crossed, we’ve got plenty of time to find some clear air.” Leap To Fame will start the shortest priced Inter Dominion favourite in history, but did ease from $1.10 to $1.25 after drawing the pole. The six-year-old hasn’t been beaten at Albion Park since November 4, 2023. He’s won 20 successive races at the track since. Just as he did in the 2023 Brisbane Inter Dominion, Leap To Fame is aiming for a clean sweep after winning all his qualifying heats. Leap To Fame missed last year’s Sydney Inter Dominion through illness, which paved the way for Don Hugo to win. Don Hugo then upset Leap To Fame in the Miracle Mile on March 8, but Leap To Fame has beaten him in all three other clashes, including last Saturday night’s heat when Don Hugo had torrid run and tired for seventh. Don Hugo has gate six and loads of early speed, but will trainer-driver Luke McCarthy dare to unleash him over an untried marathon distance? Leap To Fame is one of three finalists for Dixon. His wife Trista will drive Aroda (gate 13) and Jack Chapple will partner Tims A Trooper (gate eight). Queensland trainer Shannon Price said “ask me Thursday” who stable driver Adam Sanderson will partner out of Speak The Truth (gate three) and Sure Thing Captain (12). Menangle trainers Kerry Ann and Robbie Morris also have two runners, Cya Art (gate four) and old marvel Petes Said So, who will contest his fourth consecutive Grand Final at his 215th start. Victorian star Catch A Wave drew outside the front (gate seven) and is a $21 shot. GRAND FINAL DRAWS PACERS Front row: Leap To Fame, Rakero Rebel, Speak The Truth, Cya Art, Petes Said So, Don Hugo, Catch A Wave. Back row: Nyack (E1), Captains Knock, Tims A Trooper, Max Delight, Sure Thing Captain, Aroda. TROTTERS: Front row: Arcee Phoenix, Love Gun, Sir Fahrenheit (E1), Parisian Artiste, Bet N Win, Not As Promised, Golden Sunset. Back row: Constantinople, Harry Stamper, Zealous Spur, London To A Brick, Oscar Bonavena, Gus. View the full article

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Group One winner Warmonger has been sidelined due to injury, with plans for a tilt at this year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in tatters. The son of War Decree has suffered a tendon injury that will see the four-year-old out of action for at least 12 months. The runaway winner of last year’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby finished second in the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) behind Alalcance in the autumn and raced without luck when unplaced in both the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes and Gr.1 Sydney Cup. View the full article

The Jamie Richards-trained Bulb General crowned his return from serious illness with an impressive breakthrough victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. The three-year-old son of Embellish had begun his Hong Kong career in encouraging style with a debut third earlier this year before he was sidelined. “He raced very well in February and the form out of the race was strong and, unfortunately, he did get held up with a little bout of colic after his first run,” trainer Jamie Richards told the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “He’s made a full recovery, and it looks like he’s got a few rating points up his sleeve. We’ll let the horse do the talking next season and hopefully he can work his way through the grades.” The three-year-old delivered his first winning strike over 1200m under rider Zac Purton, scoring by two and a half lengths over King Oberon. Bulb General was bought out of Cambridge Stud’s Book 1 draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $175,000 by Richards and Andrew Williams Bloodstock and was a juvenile trial winner at Te Rapa before relocating to Hong Kong. He is the first winner for the Fastnet Rock mare Stylish Achiever who has since produced another son, Bellish Boy, and daughter of Embellish and is back in foal to the sire. View the full article

It was a proud moment in the Taiaroa family on Sunday when amateur jockey Evan Taiaroa recorded his first win in the saddle aboard Grand Prospect at Woodville for Foxton trainer Sue Walsh. “It was great to finally get the monkey off the back,” Taiaroa said. The 47-year-old hoop has had a lifetime involvement in racing, having followed his jockey father, Arnold Taiaroa, into the sport. “Dad showed me the ropes when I was six to about 12-years-old,” Taiaroa said. “My mother was really against it because she didn’t want me to get hurt. “When Dad was riding for Bill Skelton, he was taking me down there. I was riding them in the yard and mum didn’t even like me doing that. “It was hard for Dad to get me going, but it has always been in the blood. I always had a passion because I wanted to be with Dad, with the horses and making Dad proud.” Taiaroa followed his passion and started working in the industry, commencing his jockey apprenticeship in the 2006/07 season, however, weight would quickly curtail his dreams of being a jockey. “I started off with Errol Skelton in Levin and I was there for two years before I signed up with a trainer in Levin (to start apprenticeship). I then went down to Trentham where I was with Noel Waddell and I was there for another two years,” Taiaroa said. “At that time, I had to make a decision as my weight wasn’t the best at that age, I was sitting at around 58-59kg as a four-and-a-half kilo claimer. I couldn’t get my weight down, no matter how much I dieted, and back in those days if you couldn’t claim your weight you weren’t going to get put on.” While loathe to do so, Taiaroa stepped away from raceday riding for more than a decade but seeing his daughter, Temyia, commence her riding career relit a desire in him, and he elected to return to raceday riding as an amateur. “I made a comeback when my daughter Temyia started riding and I was based with Suzy Gordon then, who gave me my first ride back,” he said. “Seeing Temyia out there rekindled the love of the horses. “Temyia had the same feeling as myself – wanting to make us proud and carrying on that legacy. She has done well. She has done her apprenticeship and is now a fully-fledged jockey. She is having a bit of a break at the moment, but she will be back.” Taiaroa is in his fifth season in the amateur ranks, and he said he loves the camaraderie amongst his peers, and he said amateur riding is a great stepping-stone for aspiring young riders. “I love riding in the amateurs, there is no pressure, and it is a good class to have for up-and-coming riders to lead onto an apprenticeship,” he said. After getting his first taste of victory, Taiaroa is keen for more, and he is hoping there are many more years in the saddle to come. “I will keep kicking on until the body gives up,” he said. View the full article

Southern horsewoman Samantha Wynne is recuperating in Christchurch Hospital after sustaining serious head injuries in a horse-related incident on Saturday morning. Wynne, who relocated to New Zealand from her native Ireland over a decade ago, has made Canterbury home, where she has been both a successful jockey and more recently a trainer. She had enjoyed a memorable season, highlighted by three stakes victories with Pivotal Ten, who she rode in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March. As she does on a regular basis, the 36-year-old had taken a team of horses into the track on Saturday but can’t recall anything further after she was kicked in the head and taken to hospital where she underwent surgery for a fractured skull and badly damaged ear. Her family, friends and colleagues were relieved to hear from Wynne on Monday after a couple of days resting in hospital. “I’ve been in hospital for the last couple of days and I’m feeling a little bit better this morning,” she said. “I can’t really remember what happened but the girls filled me in. One of the two-year-old fillies wouldn’t walk into the tie-ups and she ran backwards and kicked me in the head. It pretty much took my ear off and I’ve got a fractured skull. “I was knocked out for about five or six minutes and apparently when the ambulance came I was fighting them because I didn’t want to go to the hospital. Once they got me in, they gave me some good painkillers and I went into surgery that night. “I got my ear sewed back on, they removed fragments out of the fractures and pulled a bone out of my head. They had to make sure I had no brain injuries, and I’m very lucky that I don’t think I have. There is just a lot of swelling, but hopefully that will go down and the fracture will heal. “My partner has spoken to a lot of people and I’ve responded to a couple. I’ve been able to use my phone a little bit more today after being a bit too dizzy over the last couple of days.” While hoping to be discharged on Monday, Wynne said it is more likely that she’ll be heading home on Tuesday and is grateful to have the support of her staff. “I was hoping to go home today, but the doctors think it’ll be tomorrow,” she said. “I have to go for a hearing test later on and a couple of other tests as well. “I just feel upset and frustrated because I don’t know what happened, but I’m grateful for the support I’ve had. “I’d be lost without the girls, I’m so grateful for them. They’re just the best team that you could have. We’re doing okay.” The news comes during an extremely tough period for the racing community, with the tragic passing of apprentice jockey Ngakau Hailey last Wednesday, and fellow rider Triston Moodley also recovering from a kick to the head at the Waipa trials last Tuesday. View the full article

The Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) has always been the major target for Fourty Eight this preparation, and the hopes of reaching the iconic race took a massive step forward at Woodville on Sunday when he took out the Cody Singer Memorial (4000m) in convincing fashion. Raced by a large contingent of owners, including breeder Sheena Martin and the Frac Club, Fourty Eight had been suffering from feet issues over the last couple of months and trainers Shaun and Hazel Fannin thought their hopes of getting to the Great Northern were dashed. However, he revived those hopes with a front-running display when scoring his maiden hurdle victory by 4-3/4 lengths over Mr Fabulous, with a further 30-3/4 lengths back to Muse in third. “It was a good result,” said Shaun Fannin, who also rode the six-year-old gelding. “He does have a fair bit of ability, he just can be a bit temperamental sometimes. “He doesn’t have great feet and we have had a couple of setbacks in the last couple of runs with those feet. We have got a good farrier and we have managed to keep on top of them and get him back on track, and it was just nice to see him back on track yesterday. “He can jump a little bit high sometimes over the brush fences, so I thought he might jump those first two quite high and get into his rhythm after that, but he jumped pretty well from the outset yesterday and finished it off strongly.” Another hurdle assignment is looming for Fourty Eight, with Fannin not ruling out their initial target of the Great Northern in September. “The long-term plan was the Great Northern Hurdles, but it all just went up in the air after he won at Hawera on the flat and then his next two runs we had foot issues there and that put us on the back foot again,” he said. “Yesterday was more about getting back on track, and he showed that, so we will just see what he does in the next week and make a plan from there.” The stable also picked up two placings on the nine-race card, including Sweet Ada in the MacDougalls (2100m) and Flying Celebration in the Farmlands Pahiatua & Mitchpine (1600m). “Sweet Ada has had four runs for us now and she has run a couple of fourths, a third and a second. It seems improving form, so hopefully next start is a win for her,” Fannin said. “Flying Celebration went as good as she could go on that track. It was a good day for the stable.” Meanwhile, it was a bittersweet moment for Fannin when riding champion jumper West Coast to a courageous runner-up result behind Smug in the Glenanthony Simmentals Stud Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). “He was unreal, he is just a champion,” Fannin said. “He has carried 73 kilos start after start. “I thought I was almost beaten at the 600m and then we got over the third-to-last (fence) and he found another gear, like he always does. It’s only in the last couple of strides that Smug came back and beat me. “He is such a good jumper and a remarkable stayer.” Fannin will have to hop off West Coast in next month’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) to ride his own stable runner Jesko in the Riccarton feature. The pair have won the last three editions of the race and Fannin said he isn’t looking forward to facing off against West Coast for the first time. “I have always been on his back, and he gives you so much confidence when you hop on his back, so it will be a very different feeling going out against him,” he said. “It is not something I am looking forward to.” View the full article

Roydon Bergerson will see a number of Central Districts racecourses over the coming week, with the busy period kicking off at Hawera’s rescheduled meeting on Tuesday. The Awapuni-based trainer had entered two runners for the card set to run last Saturday, but after heavy rain and surface water on the course, the races were pushed back three days. The guarantee of a soft surface will pose no issue for Farravallo, who will represent the stable in the Property Management Specialist @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m). In a compact field of just five runners, Farravallo is currently the second-elect in the market behind Lazio, who he defeated first-up in May when the pair filled the placings behind Ima Brazen One. “He’s an open 1200m horse that enjoys the cut out of the track, so this was the right race for him,” Bergerson said. “I thought the field might be a bit small, so that’s why we put in the nomination. “He’s really good, he’s bouncing and I’m really happy with his work. “He’s rock-hard fit now.” A winner of four races on either soft or heavy ground, the son of Belardo has been thereabouts since that resuming effort, and struck the worst part of the home straight last start at Trentham. “I thought his run at Wellington was okay, I told Jimmy (Chung, jockey) to get to the outside where we had to be, but he didn’t get out there in time,” Bergerson said. “When he got out there in the end, he said he came on quite strongly. “The track tied him up a bit in the last couple of runs, he just needs it a bit looser. “He should go really well.” Joining Farravallo on the journey west will be Wonderboy, who resumes off a long spell when lining up in the Sharna Caskey @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m). A rising five-year-old by Sacred Falls, Wonderboy is raced by Bergerson and Chris Rutten, and the pair have allowed him plenty of time to mature, recording three placings from six starts over the last year. “He’s coming up super really, he went very well at the jump-outs a couple of weeks ago, then Kelly (Myers) said he was really strong to the line in his trial,” Bergerson said. “I see the horse that beat him (Sam’s Turn) won the other day on the poly, so that’s good form coming into a maiden race. He should get through the track, he’s a nice strong horse now that has taken a long time to mature. “We’ve given him the time, so hopefully he can repay us this preparation.” Bergerson intends to start Charlotte’s Way at his local synthetic meeting on Thursday, which could also feature Turn It Up, while last start winner Testing will head across to New Plymouth on Saturday. “Charlotte’s Way has been a bit disappointing in her last couple of runs, she’s just not jumping out of the gates so I’ll try a change of jockey with her this time,” he said. “I’ve got Turn It Up in the maiden 1000m, but she’s also entered at New Plymouth in the 1100m there. “Testing is off to New Plymouth, she won nicely and has come through that race really well. It’s a good stake at New Plymouth and we know she’ll handle the track. “I know she’s going up a grade into a Rating 75 1200m, but I think she’s quite a good galloper.” Bergerson has elected to bypass Saturday’s Listed Sinclair and Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) with Bradman, with the gelding set to trial next Tuesday at Foxton before heading south for the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton. The ever-consistent gelding finished an agonisingly tight third in last year’s edition, and this year, he’ll likely contend with a topweight with a rating of 97. “He’s going to go to a trial at Foxton, then he’ll head down to Riccarton,” Bergerson said. “I think he’s had enough racing, so he’ll have a quiet trial and after a big trip down there, he should be ready to go. “My only worry for him is the handicapper really, he’ll probably get 60 kilos and it’s hard to win at that weight. He ran well in this race last year, I thought he was a bit unlucky not to hold on after being checked around the 800m. “He’s going down in the same form that he was in last year, so I’m pretty happy with him.” View the full article

New Zealand racing has lost a highly respected and popular administrator with the passing of Ian Boyland at the age of 81. He was a former long-serving Secretary of the Wanganui Jockey Club and came from an accounting background to take up the role in 1971. It was a notable and bold appointment as Boyland was then the youngest Secretary in the country and served until 1997. “I first met Ian at a secretaries’ conference at Ellerslie in 1977 and he was representing the Wanganui contingent,” long-time friend and colleague Tony Enting said. Enting was formerly with the Counties Racing Club before moving to the Waikato Racing Club and a secretarial post he held for 34 years. “Ian was always a very sociable fellow and very well-liked by everybody in the industry, that’s for sure, a great mate to sit down with for a chat and a beer,” he said. During that era, clubs took their own nominations and acceptances, and meetings in the River City thrived under Boyland’s stewardship with northern stables regularly in attendance with multiple runners. “One of the first things Ian said to me was, ‘now listen young fellow, just remember a good secretary always knows his nominations’,” Enting said. “Back then, we would take hand-written nominations, we could take 700 to 900 entries for a meeting. “They were taken about two and a-half weeks before the race meeting, so stables tended to put in their whole racing team and sort out later where they wanted to go.” The affable Boyland was at the helm when Wanganui played host to a two-day Queen’s Birthday meeting, run on the Saturday and Monday with a popular dinner and dance on the Sunday evening. Its spring meeting was also formerly staged on consecutive Saturdays and featured the then Gr.3 Trust Bank Central (1600m), Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Listed Wanganui Guineas (1600m) and opening two-year-old event of the season. Formerly known as the Jackson Stakes and Tim Rogers Stakes, the Trust Bank was run at weight-for-age with home-town hero Veandercross, Bonecrusher, Horlicks, The Phantom, Shivaree, Secret Seal and Axeman featuring on the honours board. It was subsequently downgraded to Listed status and now run as the AGC Training Stakes (1600m). Boyland shone in a promotional role, regularly visiting local and northern trainers to sing the praises of Wanganui and was well known for his hospitality on the eve of race meetings. “He was the Wanganui Jockey Club and a great man for enthusing visiting trainers to race at Wanganui, the likes of the late Bill Sanders and then his son Graeme and many others,” Enting said. Boyland’s administrative skills were acknowledged as one of two New Zealand representatives on an Asian study tour to Japan and gained first-hand experience of the industry in Australia and the United States. He also shared in the ownership of a number of horses, including Young Pirate with great friends, the late Dave MacNab and George Bristol who were both past Wanganui Jockey Club Presidents. Trained by MacNab, he won the 1993 edition of the Listed Duke Of Norfolk Stakes (3200m) at Flemington in the hands of 10-time Group One-winning jockey, former Sky Racing Channel presenter and now Racing Victoria apprentice Jockey coach Alf Matthews. Young Pirate also placed at Group Three level in the Manawatu Cup (2300m) and Waikato Guineas (1600m), finished fourth in the Listed Geelong Cup (2400m) and was subsequently unplaced behind Vintage Crop in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). View the full article

Tauranga’s race meeting on July 6 marked the beginning of an exciting new venture for Nick Kneebone. The Cambridge-based horseman saddled his first raceday runner, the appropriately named Nick Time, who finished sixth in the Container Co Maiden (1400m). Kneebone, son of long-time auctioneer and New Zealand Bloodstock’s Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone, has spent a large part of his 20s gaining international experience to set him up for his move into training. “It’s something that’s been a fair few years in the making,” he said. “I started off over in Sydney with John Sargent, who obviously trained very successfully in New Zealand before making the move to Australia. I learned so much during my time with him, and now it’s great to be back home and putting that knowledge into practice with my own career. “I want to give it a crack at a time when it looks like New Zealand racing is on the up. The prize-money increases have been great news for the industry here in recent times and I’m very keen to be a part of it.” Kneebone has purchased the Cambridge stable that was formerly owned by the now Cranbourne-based Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. “I’ve taken over Trent and Natalie’s old stable, which in more recent times has been leased by Hollie Wynyard,” he said. “We’ve been putting a lot of work into whipping it into shape and it’s all coming together nicely. There’s still a little bit of paddock fencing to go and things like that, but I’m really happy with how it’s all coming together.” While a large part of his operation will centre around preparing horses for the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka every November, Kneebone will also serve as a public trainer. “I’ve got 20 boxes here,” he said. “The number of horses will go up and down a bit depending on the time of the year. I’ve got eight pointing towards the Ready to Run Sale, so they’re not far off coming back in to start their preparations. “There’s a few older horses that are up and racing too. I’m lucky enough to have some outside clients that are giving me some really good support in this early part of my career. “We’re only a small team, so there’s plenty going on to keep us busy.” A key member of that team is Tony Allan, whose successful career in the saddle has produced over 1000 wins, headed by the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with Empire Rose in 1988. Allan has trained his own team of horses at Otaki in recent times but has made the move to Cambridge to be Kneebone’s main trackwork rider. He has brought his own horses with him, including his first runner at his new home track, Perfect Posy, who he rode into second place in Thursday’s Cambridge Equine Hospital (970m). “Tony and I go way back, I’ve known him for years,” Kneebone said. “I was struggling a bit for trackwork riders, so I just sent him a message one day saying that I’d love to have him up here at Cambridge if he was keen. He jumped at the opportunity. “He’s been an awesome help. He does a lot of the gallops for me, and his knowledge and insight has been so valuable. He seems to have settled in really well in Cambridge and he’s loving it. “He’s also brought up some of his own horses and nearly had a win at the local meeting last week. It’s good to have the team coming into a bit of form. Hopefully we can continue with that and it’s onwards and upwards from here.” View the full article

Jean-Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro have scaled the greatest heights in tandem, but there can surely never have been as emotional a triumph shared by the two men as Leffard's nail-biting win in the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) at Longchamp July 13.View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Debbie Harris will head south to Hawera’s postponed meeting on Tuesday with just the one runner, but she is hoping that is enough to bring home a winner’s cheque. Harris had two runners initially entered for Saturday’s meeting, which was postponed due weather and track conditions, but she has been forced to withdraw debut placegetter Daysofbliss from the Sharna Caskey @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m) after she presented lame on Monday morning. That leaves four-win gelding Urenui as her sole representative, with the five-year-old son of Derryn set to kick off his preparation in the Scott Roberts @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1600m). Urenui has been pleasing Harris with his progression this time in, winning his 1400m trial at Foxton last month, and she is confident he is forward enough to put in a bold performance first-up. “He has been working really well so fingers crossed we can have a race meeting and he goes well,” Harris said. “He has done plenty of work and has had a few jumpouts and a trial, so he should be pretty forward. “The draw (2) isn’t ideal, but Jimmy (Chung, apprentice jockey) has ridden him in his jumpouts and trial this prep, so he has a bit of a feel of him so he will figure it out.” Harris has plenty of time for the gelding, who made his stakes debut in the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) in his last start in November, and she said Urenui will likely target the feature once more as she feels they have unfinished business in the Cup. “All going well we will try and look for a few nice staying races with him,” Harris said. “He was pretty competitive in some open company races last year so hopefully we can get a nice win for him and the owners. “He didn’t get much luck during the running in the Wanganui Cup last year so that is something we will probably look at again this year. “He is a pretty handy horse, he has got a bit of ability. We do have a few feet problems with him, so he is a little bit hard to keep sound, but when he is right, on his day he is not a bad horse.” While upbeat about the future with Urenui, Harris is also excited about the prospects of one of his promising stablemates who is set to make their debut in the near future. “I have got a nice three-year-old by Darci Brahma called Chibra,” she said. “He trialled a couple of weeks ago and I think he is going to be a nice progressive type of horse. He isn’t too far off coming to the races.” View the full article

On Saturday 26 July, the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding community will gather at the National Breeding Awards — not only to celebrate excellence, but to invest in the future of our people and our industry. At the heart of the evening is a fundraising effort supporting the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship, which gives emerging Kiwi leaders a unique nine-month global experience to build the skills, confidence, and connections our industry needs to thrive. Over 20 past recipients have gone on to contribute significantly across the industry, here and abroad — click here to see the full list of Sunline Scholarship alumni. The Sunline Scholarship continues a proud tradition of investing in people. In both 2001 and 2012, stallion nominations were generously donated and auctioned to raise funds for the programme — a testament to the industry’s willingness to support its own and secure opportunities for the next generation. Thanks to the vision and generosity of some of New Zealand’s leading stud farms, the scholarship’s next chapter can begin. Three of New Zealand’s leading stallions will have service nominations auctioned on the night — Proisir, offered by the Proisir Syndicate and standing at Rich Hill Stud; Circus Maximus, standing at Windsor Park Stud; and Sword of State, standing at Cambridge Stud — with all proceeds going to the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship. Proisir, from humble beginnings, has rocketed to prominence with a string of Group 1 winners and was crowned New Zealand’s champion sire for the 2023–24 season. Standing at Rich Hill Stud, his progeny continue to impress both on the track and in the sales ring; this season alone he has sired eleven individual stakes winners, and his yearlings have sold up to $1.1 million at Karaka 2025. Circus Maximus, a triple Group 1-winning champion miler in Europe, is already making a strong impression with his first two-year-olds, which include stakes winners and impressive metropolitan performers. His progeny are showing the same class and toughness that defined his racing career. Sword of State, New Zealand’s leading first-season sire at the 2025 yearling sales, was a brilliant juvenile himself, winning the Group 1 Sistema Stakes by a wide margin and defeating top-level performers like Imperatriz and On The Bubbles along the way. His first yearlings sold for up to $540,000 and have been praised for their precocity and quality. The leaders of these farms spoke passionately about why they chose to support the scholarship. John Thompson, owner of Rich Hill Stud, said: “The Sunline Management Scholarship gives young New Zealand horse people the chance to travel abroad, expand their knowledge and skillset and ultimately contribute to the New Zealand industry. The achievements of some of our previous Sunline winners reflect how successful this initiative has been. The Proisir Syndicate recognise the opportunity the management scholarship provides for the next generation of thoroughbred industry leaders. We are gifting this nomination to be auctioned with the funds generated helping finance future Sunline recipients to continue this great legacy.” Scott Calder, Head of Sales & Nominations at Cambridge Stud, added: “You only need to look at the list of alumni and the positions they now hold to see the value the Sunline Scholarship provides to our industry. It’s essential we continue to provide opportunities for our best young people, which is why we are committed to helping fund the scholarship’s future.” Steve Till, General Manager at Windsor Park Stud, agreed: “At Windsor Park, we’ve always prided ourselves not just on investing in thoroughbreds, but in people. Supporting initiatives like the Sunline Scholarship is our way of giving back to an industry that has given us so much — and of helping to inspire and equip the next generation to carry it forward.” Nick Johnson, CEO of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and a trustee of the Sunline Trust, summed up: “The Sunline Scholarship has opened doors, broadened minds, and built confidence in the leaders our industry needs. To see the Proisir Syndicate and Rich Hill Stud, Windsor Park Stud, and Cambridge Stud stand behind this cause with their stallions shows the kind of vision and generosity that makes our industry special. We hope everyone will get behind the auction and help secure this opportunity for the next generation.” For more information about the Sunline Scholarship and the National Breeding Awards, visit www.nzthoroughbred.co.nz, or to discuss supporting the scholarship further, contact nick@nzthoroughbred.co.nz. View the full article

Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables' Governor Sam showed the talent that made him a three-time stakes winner and grade 1-placed at 2 as he conquered his five foes in the $175,000 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course July 13.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS – On Saturday, there were three $100,000 maiden special weight races at Saratoga Race Course. All of them were won by a 2-year-old with prior experience. On Sunday the beat continued as Malus (Into Mischief) rolled to a three-length win in his second career start. Originally scheduled for the Mellon Turf Course at 5 1/2 furlongs, it was moved to the main track at the same distance because of Saturday rain. And it was just what Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher ordered. Malus, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario, got it right after finishing a non-threatening fifth in his career debut, which came at Saratoga on June 8 during the Belmont Stakes Festival. After that first race, which was also run at 51/2 furlongs on dirt, Pletcher made an equipment change and put blinkers on the colt. “We thought he was a little bit green, looking at horses, so we put the blinkers on,” Pletcher said after winning his third race on the Sunday card. It certainly didn't hurt. Malus powered past even-money favorite Augustinian (Galilean) just outside the five-sixteenths pole and began to widen into the stretch. Augustinian, the only other runner in the seven-horse field to have started, was caught by Pletcher's Final Score (Not This Time), who was making his first career start. “He had the experience edge today,” Pletcher said. “It seems like a big advantage with the way the track has been playing. It's been demanding and a start somewhere really helps you.” Final Score was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Augustinian, ridden by Jose Ortiz, is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse. Malus, a homebred, owned by Brookdale Racing, Inc., is the second foal out of Lady Apple (Curlin) and was the first to make it to the races when he debuted last month. When the colt came to Pletcher, he thought he had some ability. “He is like a lot of the Into Mischiefs,” Pletcher said. “He was precocious and was one of the early ones in. He had trained forwardly, which is typical of that stallion.” Malus covered the distance in 1:05.23 and paid $13.60, $7.60 and $3.50. Brookdale Racing Inc., co-owner of champion Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), has had four winners on its own this year, including 'TDN Rising Star' Hypnus (Into Mischief), with two seconds in 21 starts. Three wins today for trainer Todd Pletcher! Malus gets blinkers and wins easy in R6 at Saratoga! @jrosariojockey was aboard. pic.twitter.com/8QnY6QnMrX — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 13, 2025 6th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 7-13, 2yo, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:05.23, ft, 3 lengths. MALUS (c, 2, Into Mischief–Lady Apple {MGSW & GISP, $1,078,324}, by Curlin) faded to fifth in his debut over this track and trip June 8 and was adding blinkers for this second start. The 5-1 shot broke sharply, but had to settle for a stalking second as even-money favorite Augustinian (Galilean) took control on the front end through a quarter in :22.63. Malus darted through an opening along the rail to take the lead out of the bend and was clear as the half went up in :45.89. The bay sailed under the wire a geared-down three-length winner. Final Score (Not This Time) closed strongly late to be second, a half-length in front of Augustinian in third. Multiple graded stakes winner Lady Apple, a $1.2-million purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale, has a yearling colt by Gun Runner and was bred back to that stallion this year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $59,000. O-Brookdale Racing, Inc.; B-Phoenix Thoroughbreds (III) LTD (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented by Keeneland: The Beat Goes on As Experience Keys Victory for Malus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After winning leading trainer titles at both Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and Churchill Downs, trainer Joe Sharp hopes to keep the momentum rolling into the Saratoga Race Course summer meet.View the full article

Well-known New Jersey breeder John Bowers Jr. enjoyed the gift that keeps on giving July 6 when his homebred He'spuregold won the Irish War Cry Handicap at Monmouth Park for a fifth consecutive year. View the full article

Winless since October of his juvenile year, Governor Sam (Improbable) finally broke out of his slump with a smart effort in the GIII Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga. The George Weaver charge managed to string together four victories in a row last season, and begrudgingly faded to third Nov. 1 at Del Mar in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to wrap that campaign. Back in action Apr. 30 at Churchill Downs for his 3-year-old bow in the William Walker Stakes, Governor Sam again faded to third behind SW Bridle a Butterfly (Country House) and GSP Out On Bail (Tiz the Law). He similarly faded in an allowance dash at that venue last out June 6 when it came off the turf, failing to outkick SW Dreamaway (Flameaway) for the lead and finishing fourth. Outrun by his lightly-raced stablemate SP Ortley Avenue (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) for the frontrunning spot, the 3-5 favorite was content to watch the situation unfold from third behind an opening quarter in :21.71 and was traveling comfortably as the field went into the bend. Moved to the outside as Supersonic Blue (Air Force Blue) joined the pacesetter up front as they arrived at the head of affairs, the eventual winner needed little urging from Irad Ortiz Jr. before he inhaled his inner rivals and kicked away to score stylishly by open lengths. Ortley Avenue held on to second to give Weaver the exacta while No Evidence (Vekoma) had to settle for third in a photo when his rally up the fence came short. The final time was 1:02.68. GOVERNOR SAM easily wins the Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes presented by @trfinc under @iradortiz for trainer George Weaver. Congratulations to co-owner @ABREG_1 and connections! pic.twitter.com/1P0KyYjWo0 — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 13, 2025 The post Governor Sam Returns to Winning Ways in Quick Call Masterclass appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After exiting her July 12 victory in the Diana Stakes (G1T) in good order, trainer Chad Brown said plans are undecided for Excellent Truth's next start.View the full article

Down on the Lone Star Park turf, Ritzaphena (Lexitonian–Ritz and Glitz, by Desert Party) held on late to graduate at first asking and also hand her first-crop sire his first win. The 2-year-old exited from the extreme outside and worked her way over nicely to rate in third around the far turn. Gearing up through the backstretch, the filly started to make her move on the leader and she took control around the far turn. Ritzaphena was pursued by Shidoni (Gormley) down the lane, and she found the wire in time to don cap and gown. A Calumet homebred by Speightstown who stands at the farm, Lexitonian's racing days were marked by a massive score in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga in 2021. Currently, the freshman sire has 59 foals of racing age. The winner's dam Ritz and Glitz (Desert Party) is responsible for a yearling filly by Volatile and she was sent to Echo Town for last spring. Her own unraced dam, Tani (Theatrical {Ire}), is a full-sister to GI Flower Bowl Handicap heroine Dahlia's Dreamer. 5th-Lone Star, $33,000, Msw, 7-13, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:31.18, gd, head. RITZAPHENA (f, 2, Lexitonian–Ritz and Glitz, by Desert Party) Sales History: $20,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $75,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Sandeep Patel; B-Brandywine Farm (Jim & Pam Robinson) (KY); T-Jayde J. Gelner. The post Lexitonian’s First Winner Comes From Deep In The Heart Of Texas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Before this year, the last time Victor Espinoza rode at Saratoga was the summer of 2015, the year of American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile). “That was not a great memory,” Espinoza said, recalling when the Triple Crown winner was upset in the Travers by Keen Ice (Curlin). The 53-year-old Hall of Fame jockey is hoping to make a better impression 10 years later as he is spending the summer at the Spa for the first ever. Espinoza, who owns 3,520 career victories, has been working the Saratoga backstretch daily, looking for a professional rejuvenation. He has spent the majority of his jockey life riding in California, but recently decided to take some time off. After a three-month respite, it was time to go back to work and also have a change of scenery. About three weeks ago, he was visiting Saratoga and liked what he saw. “When I was here, I saw many trainers and so many horses,” Espinoza said on the Saratoga backstretch. “I have never seen so many horses. I think I will have more opportunities here than I would in California.” Things out west had pretty much dried up for Espinoza, who had ridden two horses–California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in 2014 and War Emblem (Our Emblem) in 2002–to victories in the first two legs of the Triple Crown only to lose in the GI Belmont Stakes. In 35 mounts this year, he had three wins, four seconds and six thirds. It was time for a move. “I still have the fire, 100 percent,” Espinoza said. “When I came here, it was like heaven. I feel like I can get more opportunities. In California, there are like three or four trainers that dominate the circuit and if you don't ride for them, what's the point in staying?” Espinoza's agent here is Jose Santos Jr., the son of Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos. Santos Jr. picked up Espinoza after the first Saratoga condition book was out, so it has been hard to get business. He expects that will pick up as the meet goes on. “What we are focusing on is finding some quality,” Santos Jr. said. “Showing up as late as we did, well, people have been coming up here to start getting ready for the meet since mid-May. Starting with book two, I think things will pick up.” Espinoza has had three mounts thus far at the meet and finished third on two of them. “I am going to hustle every morning,” he said. “Hopefully, I can do good around here.” Trainer Abreu Chasing First Spa Grade I With Scottish Lassie Scottish Lassie | Sarah Andrew There will always be a spot in trainer Jorge Abreu's heart for Scottish Lassie (McKinzie). She gave the 44-year-old trainer his first Grade I win when she won the Frizette Stakes last October. That spot will get bigger if the 3-year-old filly can find a way to win the GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on Saturday. That would be the first Grade I Saratoga win for Abreu. “I think I am knocking on the door,” Abreu said outside his barn at the Annex across the street from the Oklahoma Training Track. Abreu, 44, a former assistant to Chad Brown, has been training on his own since 2016. Scottish Lassie was last seen finishing third in the GI Acorn Stakes at Saratoga on June 6. She was beat just a head for second by Look Forward (Bolt d'Oro). La Cara (Street Sense) was a three-length winner in the Acorn, which was run over a sloppy track. Scottish Lassie tuned up for the CCA Oaks Sunday, working four furlongs in 48.87 (55/143) with Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario on board. He will ride her for the first time on Saturday. “She is coming into this race at 100 percent,” Abreu said. “I think she is coming into this race the same way she went into the Frizette.” Scottish Lassie romped to a nine-length win in that race, one race after she started her career with a third-place finish in a maiden last September at Saratoga. She was third in an allowance race before her Acorn effort. That was her first start since finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies race at Del Mar in November “I thought she was going to be second in the Acorn,” Abreu said. “She got a little tired. She was stretching out from a mile to a 1 1/8 miles with a different caliber of horses. I really think she fits with these horses. It's not like she is going to embarrass herself.” A field of six was entered for the CCA Oaks on Sunday. Scottish Lassie drew post No. 3. The field, in post-position order with trainer: Immersive (Nyquist), Brad Cox; Sweet Seraphine (Quality Road), Cherie DeVaux; Scottish Lassie; Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy), Kenny McPeek; Dry Powder (Gun Runner), Chad Summers; La Cara (Street Sense), Mark Casse. Jose Ortiz Off To Fast Start At Saratoga Jose Ortiz enjoyed a four-win day at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew Jockey Jose Ortiz knows how to win a riding championship at Saratoga. Here's the proof: he's done it three times. The 31-year-old also knows how to win four races in one day at the Spa. On Saturday, he did it for the third time in his career. With the four-bagger, Ortiz took the early lead in the annual competition between the best jockey colony in the country. Going into Sunday's card, Ortiz had eight wins. “It's not easy to win one race, let alone four,” Ortiz said on the Saratoga backstretch Sunday morning. “I have a pretty good business, and we are coming here thinking about winning the meet. We think we are good enough. It's early, but I love the start we've had.” Ortiz is represented by agent Steve Rushing, who also works with Ortiz's brother, Irad Ortiz Jr. Irad Ortiz Jr. has won the Saratoga meet six times and is the three-time defending champion. Jose Ortiz has already had a good year after winning the winter riding title at Fair Grounds (97 wins”) and then the spring meet at Churchill Downs (63 wins). He was the champ at Saratoga in 2016, 2017 and 2019. “I had good momentum going from Fair Grounds to Churchill and good momentum from Churchill coming here,” he said. “I built up a nice business with the Kentucky people and I have had plenty of business here with the New York people because I have ridden here for 12 years. The combination is paying off.” Jose Ortiz also won four races at Saratoga Aug. 15, 2016, and July 17, 2022. The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Espinoza Making Saratoga His Summer Home for First Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Racing Association announced July 13 that the mandatory quarantine covering horses previously stabled in Barn 66 at Saratoga Race Course has been lifted by the New York State Department of Agriculture effective immediately.View the full article