Wandering Eyes

Simon Sadler's TBT Racing was in the number one spot at Royal Ascot for the first time on Saturday as Noble Champion (Lope De Vega) dominated the G3 Jersey Stakes. Highly-regarded by Ed Walker, the half-brother to seven-furlong specialist Pogo had proved frustrating in three starts this term but not here as he came home alone under Kieran Shoemark. Always travelling easily tracking Godolphin's Spy Chief (Kingman) up the centre, the 25-1 shot swooped approaching the furlong pole and despite veering left from there recorded an emphatic 3 1/4-length success from that 20-1 shot, with another 2 3/4 lengths back to the 11-4 favourite Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett) in third. “He's driven me mad! He's so talented and it's remarkable that he's come back from those disappointing runs,” Walker said. “I thought he was one of the best horses we've had at home and we felt if it didn't work today it would be back to the drawing board. I'm so pleased for Simon Sadler, he's a top man and is donating his winning to a pancreatic cancer charity. It means a lot, as I lost my father to pancreatic cancer.” NOBLE CHAMPION IS THE JERSEY STAKES HERO! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/byzYHkfV2m — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025 The post Lope De Vega’s Noble Champion Wins The Jersey For Simon Sadler’s TBT Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes lived up to all the billing, with Lazzat (Territories) denying the Japanese challenger Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa) to provide Wathnan with a fifth Royal Ascot winner this week. Placed on the front end by James Doyle, the Jerome Reynier-trained G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner who was having only his second start over this six-furlong trip had too much power for that 2-1 favourite to prevail by half a length. There was a three-length gap back to Wathnan's other hope, Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel), in third. “That's capped an amazing week,” Richard Brown said. “What an amazing horse race, he's locked up with the Japanese horse there and they've gone a long way clear–it was an absolutely phenomenal race to watch and to be on the lucky side is just amazing.” “Japanese horses are very hard to beat, they've got world-class breeding operations and Satono Reve looked a monster walking round here beforehand so that is a very, very brave performance. That's two brilliant rides from James Doyle from the front this afternoon. It's just very exciting and we're very privileged to be involved with a horse of that quality.” LAZZAT WINS THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/QaQZ1vp3M8 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025 The post ‘That’s Capped An Amazing Week’: Brown Savours Lazzat’s Jubilee Win For Wathnan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bringing an end to a three-year winless streak at Royal Ascot for Charlie Appleby, Dubawi's international heavyweight Rebel's Romance came out punching in Saturday's G2 Hardwicke Stakes. Always travelling easily behind the genuine pace, the 6-4 favourite took control two out and drew away under William Buick to beat Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) by 1 3/4 lengths, with Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit) 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “He's a worldwide superstar and I said earlier I have a picture of him on my bedside table, he means so much to us,” Appleby said, whose last win at the meeting came with Naval Crown in the 2022 G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes. “If one horse was going to pull it out of the bag, it was Rebel's Romance.” The win also takes Godolphin to four wins this week, one short of the Coolmore partnerships in the owners' title. CHARLIE APPLEBY'S WAIT FOR A #ROYALASCOT WINNER IS OVER! REBEL'S ROMANCE TAKES THE HARDWICKE STAKES! pic.twitter.com/aR19759kyu — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025 The post Rebel’s Romance Comes Out Fighting To End Appleby Royal Ascot Drought appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin ran one-two in the seven-furlong Newmarket opener just not with the horse the market expected, as Pacific Avenue (Dubawi) stole a march on his Charlie Appleby stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Wild Desert (Too Darn Hot) to earn a 'Rising Star' badge of his own. The son of G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine and fellow 'Rising Star' Lumiere (Shamardal) settled in a tugging second while keeping a close eye on Commander's Intent (Victor Ludorum) who led the way over Newmarket's July course. A bit keen in the early going, the 9-1 shot focused on business under Dougie Costello and found another gear to challenge the pacesetter inside the final two furlongs. Meanwhile the 30-100 crowd's pick Wild Desert had been trapped against the fence in third throughout and had to wait before shifting off the inside and launching his attack. That delay proved decisive, as Pacific Avenue held the more experienced runner by a head at the line. A Godolphin homebred, the grey is a full-brother to the smart G3 Darley Stakes winner Highland Avenue and a half to G2 Cape Verdi heroine Silver Lady (Sea The Stars). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £5,154. O/B-Godolpin (Ire). T-Charlie Appleby. The post Dubawi’s Pacific Avenue Earns ‘Rising Star’ At Newmarket Over Godolphin Stablemate Wild Desert appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars LO PAN SPIRIT - R3 (2) Drops in grade, finally draws a gate and Purton gets back on Jay Rooney BLAZING WUKONG - R5 (2) Superb debut winner who looks to have improved on his recent trial Trackwork Spy BLAZING WUKONG - R5 (2) Made a perfect start to his career with a barnstorming win and can repeat today Phillip Woo SMART FAT CAT - R7 (9) Caught the eye on debut and looks poised to strike from a better draw Shannon (Vincent Wong) POPE CODY - R10 (5) Step up to 1,600m looks ideal,...View the full article

Emulating his full-brother Holloway Boy, Wathnan's Humidity (Ulysses) was in command in Saturday's Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Unlike his sibling who took this on debut in 2022, the Andrew Balding-trained chestnut had the benefit of a previous outing having won over six furlongs at Newbury last month and was professional in front from the outset under James Doyle. Tackled by Ballydoyle's Moments Of Joy (Justify) and then Thesecretadversary (St Mark's Basilica) at the business end, the 4-1 shot beat the latter by a length, with Moments Of Joy 1 1/4 lengths away in third. The winner is the fourth of the week for Wathnan, who purchased him from his breeders Cheveley Park Stud prior to the meeting. GUTSY! HUMIDITY WINS THE CHESHAM STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/l2smJPUcbj — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025 The post Wathnan’s Humidity Upholds Family Tradition In The Chesham appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four-year-old Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) returned to winning ways at Flemington, where he again emphasised his depths of stamina, repelling the challenge of Goldenstatewarrior (Golden Horn) and Muktamil (Sea the Stars) under apprentice jockey Thomas Prebble. The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained son of Embellish dug deep to score over 2540m in his first success since landing the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville 14 months ago. Earlier in that three-year-old preparation, he had previously claimed Listed wins in the Tasmanian Derby and the Launceston Guineas. “He was really good through his three-year-old year and then took a little while to measure up as a four-year-old, but it’s great to see him do it here today for owner Graham Cleary,” Michelle Payne said. “It was a terrific ride by Tom. He was a bit nervous as to how he was going to slot in but he did it to perfection and it’s great to see him continuing to progress as a rider. “I love this horse, I had him down in Tassie and in Adelaide last season. Patrick calls him an opportunist as if he can find a way out, he might lean that way, but he is starting to become a really genuine horse now and really wanted that win.” Runner-up on the course at his previous start, Bold Soul answered every call for Prebble in the run home to post the sixth victory of his 18-start career. “We landed in a lovely spot, and I was happy with the tempo,” Prebble said. “He travelled well all the way and was really game late.” Bold Soul was bred by Te Keeti Bloodstock and bought out of their Book 2 draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Hamish Auret for $20,000. He was a jump-out winner for the Wanganui horseman before his sale and relocation to Payne’s Victorian operation. Bold Soul is by Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish and out of the Irish-bred Singspiel mare Twin Soul (NZ), who was successful on three occasions up to 2400m. View the full article

After hard-luck stories in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) in both of the last two winters, Cork (NZ) (Complacent) made amends in style on Saturday with a $22 upset in the fillies and mares’ feature. Cork had already proven herself as a Tauranga specialist, winning three of her five previous starts at the track including a seven-length Rating 75 romp on the Tauranga Classic undercard in 2022. But the Bay Of Plenty’s midwinter black-type feature had proved frustratingly elusive. The 2023 edition was abandoned and rescheduled for Hawke’s Bay in early July, and Cork was unsuited by the change of venue and battled home in seventh behind Flower Of Wanaka (NZ) (Burgundy). Her tilt at last year’s Tauranga Classic was over almost before it began – getting a long way back after a slow start and making a late run into eighth behind Casino Princess (NZ) (Casino Prince). Saturday, finally, was Cork’s day. The seven-year-old collected the first black-type win of her 27-start, six-win career. The Tauranga Classic was the first raceday appearance in 251 days for Cork, whose last start was in the Staphanos Classic (1950m) at Rotorua on October 13. But she had shown promising signs in a trial placing at Waipa in late May, and trainer Pam Gerard took a quiet confidence into the $80,000 feature. “She’s a great little mare,” Gerard said. “She’s been all over the country and just keeps giving us a thrill every time. We know that she’s very hard to beat when she’s fresh up over 1400m at Tauranga. We were obviously up against some good mares today, but she’s been unlucky in this race a couple of times before. “I’m really stoked for the owners. We’ve been trying to get that black type for so long, and finally we’ve got it today. “Her work had been super leading into this. We’re lucky we got a very heavy track today, which she absolutely loves. “It’s always hard taking on seasoned horses fresh up in these testing conditions, but I know what she can do and I was pretty confident she could be in the first three anyway.” Cork was ridden by Samantha Collett, who has hit stakes-winning form barely a week after returning from an extended stint in Queensland. Collett took up a midfield position in fifth behind Electric Time (NZ) (Telperion), Midnight Scandal (NZ) (Belardo), Tristar (NZ) (Exceedance) and Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor). Cork was well within striking distance all the way, although Collett appeared to be urging the mare along as the field made their way past the golf course down the southern side of the Tauranga track. Electric Time quickly faded out of contention at the home turn and the race changed complexion. Lux Libertas burst through along the inside to take command, with Midnight Scandal and Tristar running on down the middle of the track. Collett angled Cork to the outside, got her balanced up and asked her to quicken. This time Cork had plenty to offer. She charged home out wide on the track and soon swept past Midnight Scandal and Tristar. It developed into a two-horse battle on opposite sides of the track, and Cork out finished Lux Libertas to score by half a length. Lux Libertas crossed the line two and three-quarter lengths in front of the third-placed Midnight Scandal. “It’s fantastic,” said Collett, who also won the last race on the card aboard Kai Moana. “It’s a pretty heavy track, so it really tested my post-Queensland fitness! “This mare’s work had been very good during the week and she toughed it out so well today. “Pam and her team have done a super job. She presented in great order. “I had to work on her a long way out, but I was able to find the fast strip in the straight and she was the toughest one there. She really gave me everything she had.” Gerard is now keen to take Cork to Christchurch for a third shot at the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 2. Cork was runner-up to Belardo Boy in the 2023 edition of that time-honoured feature, followed by an eighth behind Jay Bee Gee last August. “That’s where we’ll head again, probably with one more run in the north in between times,” the Matamata trainer said. Cork was bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax and was offered by Blandford Lodge in Book 2 of Karaka 2019, where Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables NZ bought her for $30,000. She has now had 27 starts for six wins, five placings and $188,068 in stakes for owners Dame Sian Elias, Natalie Walker, Ned Fletcher and Hugh Fletcher. Cork is by former Mapperley Stud stallion Complacent, who is the sire of 52 winners from 89 runners including Group Three winners Jay Bee Gee (NZ) and Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ). Cork is the Authorized stallion’s third stakes winner. View the full article

Three-year-old gelding Taken (NZ) (Ardrossan) is proving quite the money spinner for connections, with a victory in Saturday’s Rod Johnson Handicap (1620m) at Flemington the fourth in succession for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper. The son of Ardrossan carried 60kg topweight under rider Craig Williams, but his push-button style and ability to race on-speed are attributes that go a long way towards winning, as he made it successive wins at Flemington. “He was obviously less dominant than last start but carried a lot more weight and he is deep into a campaign, so you are always wondering when the end is,” Kent Jnr said. “It is so hard to win a race at Flemington, let alone two on the bounce, so it’s a credit to the team at home. “Whether he has one more run, we will just have a look, but he has done a really good job. “He is very tough, very sound and very clean-winded with a fantastic racing style. Any horse that can roll forward in a relaxed manner, drop the bit, conserve energy and then find off the bridle, it’s a great way to win races.” Taken, who races for a syndicate in the colours of prominent owner Carl Holt, has options to step up in distance whether that be in the coming weeks or next preparation. “I think he is a nice horse to go through the grades with,” Kent Jnr said. “We have all spoken about going to ten furlongs at some point in his career and that would open some more doors. “I’d say he deserves a spell at the right time and I wouldn’t be short-cycling into a deep spring campaign. He has got it all ahead of him. He is an immature horse that will be even better next autumn. “For today, we will go to the winner’s room and have a beer and a champagne.” Originally prepared in New Zealand by Sam Mynott, Taken was sold to the Price-Kent stable following a trial win at Tauranga. By Waikato Stud’s emerging young sire Ardrossan, Taken is out of the Henrythenavigator mare Katherine Wright (NZ) and stems from the same family as Ardrossan’s Group Three winner Beau Dazzler (NZ). Taken was bred by the Dewar Partnership, which was put together to support Ardrossan when he launched at stud by some people who raced the Group One performed son of Redoute’s Choice. The Dewar Partnership is managed and part-owned by Bruce Perry with Lib Petagna the majority supporter along with Max Brown, Tony Joyce and Dave and Nicki Wilson. View the full article

Topweight Conor O’Ceirin (NZ) (Dial A Prayer) enjoyed the 3kg claim of apprentice Liam Kauri, which allowed him to carry a manageable 58kg to a solid victory in the feature event at Riccarton on Saturday, the Greenwood Amberley Cup (1400m). The eight-year-old son of Dial A Prayer had earned his original 61kg handicap with nine career victories on the board along with two placings at stakes level, including running third in the 2023 Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at the venue. After doing his early racing from Robbie Patterson’s New Plymouth stable, the versatile galloper has now had four starts for local trainer Anna Furlong, winning his first for her back in March before going on to finish fourth in the Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m) in late April. Furlong turned him out looking a picture on Saturday and he lived up to those looks with a gritty performance that saw him sit wide early on before slotting one out and one back with 700m to run. Kauri took his mount to the outside fence rounding the home bend and briefly conceded a lead to Albatross (NZ) (Sacred Falls), who had snuck through to take over at the 400m. Conor O’Ceirin and Albatross set down to a torrid battle that went right to the wire and finished in favour of the Furlong runner by just a long head. Kauri was rapt to get the victory after having plenty of doubts heading around to the start. “He is an awesome old boy and thanks to Anna for giving me the ride,” Kauri said. “It is the first time I have ever met her, so it’s awesome she trusted me with him. “They must have gone a bit quick for this ground as he settled beautifully. I was worried going to the start as he bolted on me and I’m sure that was what Anna was thinking too! “He was beautiful in the running and he ran on well. I’ve been going through a rough patch, but this has fixed it.” Furlong noted some gear changes had helped her charge out along with a change of scenery. “He was with Robbie, who has been great at giving us horses,” she said. “He thought this guy might like a change of scenery and it has worked brilliantly so far. We took the blinkers off to try and help him settle a little, which also seems to have worked. “I think he has put his hand up for another shot at the Winter Cup, so that is where we will most likely head.” The Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) is the feature flat event on the first day of the Riccarton Winter Carnival that kicks off on 2 August. Bred and raced by the Keenan Family Trust, Conor O’Ceirin made it 10 wins from 45 starts and has now earned over $267,000 for his connections. View the full article

Five-year-old mare She’s Unusual (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) made the most of some cheap sectionals to lead her rivals a merry dance when winning the Elite Sand & Soil Handicap (1800m) on Saturday under an astute front-running ride by Tommy Berry. Prepared by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, She’s Unusual was off and gone rounding the home bend and had just under two lengths to spare at the post from runner-up Gentileschi (Dundeel). A maiden winner in New Zealand for Fraser Auret, She’s Unusual was subsequently purchased by OTI Racing. She’s Unusual was having just her tenth start on Saturday and has now recorded four victories with a further five minor placings. “She’s had a couple of setbacks through previous preparations with us, when already having a really good record,” Charlton said. “She got to probably her favourite trip today on a slightly sounder surface than she’s raced on recently and she was ridden beautifully by Tommy. It was a really pleasing watch. “She broke 34 seconds home, so she’s quite an effective horse. She’s not short on toe, and she can obviously handle herself at this 1800m and 2000m distance, which leaves us a lot of options going forward.” Winning rider Tommy Berry had no doubt the race was done and dusted in the early stages. “I knew we’d be hard to beat after I went across the crossing at the mile,” he said. “It helps when you’ve got a horse that can break away so well and when you find your spot within 100m. “Glen Boss and Corey Brown always said anything from a mile forward, you win the race in the first furlong or furlong and a half, and we did that today. “She got into a lovely rhythm. She gave me a lot of confidence when I rode her on Tuesday morning. Stepping up from 1400m to 1800m is always a bit of a query, but she’s so clean in the wind and when you get away with those sectionals, and quicken up at the 600m, they’re hard to beat.” The winner of an Awapuni maiden over 1400m for Fraser Auret in late 2023, She’s Unusual was bred by Auret’s parents Nigel and Adaire. She’s Unusual is a daughter of Unusual Suspect, who stands at the Auret family’s Letham Stud, where the stallion has carved a good niche producing middle-distance gallopers and is the sire of 48 winners from 83 starters. View the full article

Apprentice jockey Ashlee Strawbridge gained her first victory at Cambridge on Wednesday and didn’t take long to make it two when she guided What A Charma (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) to success in the Seeka Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) at Tauranga on Saturday. In a race filled with drama where Bruno Queiroz – riding eventual runner-up Gallant Hero (Fast Company) – lost the use of his irons for the majority of the contest, Strawbridge was happy to bide her time aboard the Mark Irwin-trained runner at the back of the seven-horse field. Queiroz was having a turbulent time keeping control of Gallant Hero, who loomed up three-wide with 1200m to run before Queiroz remarkably regained his irons passing the 600m mark and immediately poured on the pressure. What A Charma had tracked him up as Strawbridge kept her mount wide to steadily make ground in the home straight. He edged past Gallant Hero and the third-placed King Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in the shadows of the post to capture his third career victory. Strawbridge, the daughter of former top jumps jockey Michelle Strawbridge (nee Hopkins), was thrilled to get win number two aboard one of her favourite horses. “It was good as I didn’t plan on being that far back but he settled here nicely early on,” Strawbridge said. “He is a horse that will just try and try and try, no matter where you put him. “That is what got him home today. He just relishes the wet ground. “I was quite confident and hoping for the best as I knew how he is. When he comes around the bend, he gives it his all, and that’s what it takes to be a nice horse.” Raced by Irwin along with Cynthia and Craig Horn, What A Charma was bred by Richard Wood under his Chouxmaani Investments banner. He is out of the High Chaparral mare Urulu (NZ), who is the daughter of Gr.2 Waikato Gold Cup (2400m) winner Bak Da Chief (NZ), the dam of multiple Group One winner Te Akau Shark (NZ). View the full article

Progressive three-year-old Stop The Rock (NZ) (El Roca) continued his climb through the grades when the Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained gelding ran out a solid winner of the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. The hard-fought victory came under a typically patient Billy Egan ride as the son of El Roca advanced his career record to three wins from four starts. A last start winner at Swan Hill, Stop The Rock came from midfield to narrowly defeat the favourite Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking) and bring up an early double for the Payne stable after Buccleuch (Peltzer) claimed the opening race. “He’s just a lovely horse,” Michelle Payne said. “He’s a real sleeper, actually. All of his trials before he raced were pretty moderate and Patrick put the blinkers on for his first start and he won at good odds at Warrnambool. “He just seems to step up to the mark on race day. He’s just a lovely, progressive horse with a great group of owners in him. “They’re all out here today including Brendan Danaher and all the crew. It was a lovely ride by Billy too.” Stop The Rock is likely to be seen back at Flemington for the A$200,000 Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) at Flemington in a fortnight. By Westbury Stud stallion El Roca, Stop The Rock is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Shezablonde and stems from the family of Nothin’ Leica Dance. Stop The Rock is a graduate of the hugely successful New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, purchased for $75,000 by Patrick Payne from the draft of Westbury Stud. View the full article

Te Akau Racing’s powerful team of New Zealand two-year-olds brought up their 20th win of the season when Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) edged out El Vaquero (NZ) (Ferrando) in Saturday’s Bain McCall Memorial (1000m) at Riccarton. The $35,000 race was the fourth win from only a five-start career for Cool Aza Rene, who is now one of a trio of Te Akau two-year-olds to have won four races during 2024-25. Return To Conquer’s (Snitzel) unbeaten four-win haul culminated in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day, while the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) heroine La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) also won on four occasions. Cool Aza Rene has yet to emulate those stablemates with a black-type impact, having finished fifth in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) in December in her only appearance at that level. But her smart victories in both starts this month hinted that there could be bigger and better things in store as a three-year-old. Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson kicked off Cool Aza Rene’s latest campaign over 820m at Wingatui on June 1, where she got the better of El Vaquero in the final few strides to win by a head. Riccarton was the scene of a rematch between those same two horses on Saturday, and Cool Aza Rene came out on top for the second time. The pair dominated the race from the moment the gates opened, striding forward to sit side by side in the lead. They both quickened smartly in the straight and left the rest of the seven-horse field in their wake, moving more than three lengths clear to fight out another two-horse battle to the line. Again, El Vaquero fought for all he was worth, but again Cool Aza Rene found that little bit more to pip him by a half-neck. She was ridden to victory by Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman. “It was a really good win today, especially on quite testing ground, and a positive ride by Hayley,” Walker said. “She’s put together a really good record, winning four of her five starts, and she deserves a short break now. “We’ll have her back in work with a view to contesting a lead-up race over 1000m in late August before the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) in September. “Hunter (Durrant) and the team at Riccarton have presented the filly in great order, continuing on the work from the Matamata stable. She was prepped up north in the early stages of the season, and she’s done well following a freshen-up to win both starts in the South Island.” Bought by David Ellis for A$55,000 from Book 2 of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Cool Aza Rene has earned $105,000 from her five-start, four-win career to date. Cool Aza Rene comes from the first crop of Cool Aza Beel, who himself carried the Te Akau colours to four wins from six starts, including the Sistema Stakes and Karaka Millions 2YO. He was New Zealand’s champion two-year-old in 2019-20. Now standing at Newhaven Park in New South Wales, Cool Aza Beel has sired five winners headed by the Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m), Gr.2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Spirit Of Boom Classic (1400m) and Listed Dalrello Stakes (1000m) winner Cool Archie. That exciting colt strung together five consecutive wins during the Queensland Winter Carnival. “It’s satisfying to see Cool Aza Rene racing so well, and for Cool Aza Beel to have just had his first Group One winner,” Ellis said. “I bought Cool Aza Beel as a yearling for $150,000 at Karaka, from Fairdale Stud, having been to inspect the yearlings at their farm. They had three in the sale and I finished up buying all three. Clearly Cool Aza Beel was the best of them, but another was Brando, who won two Group Two races and a Listed race among his nine wins, and they all won races. “We were thrilled that a great breeder like John Kelly at Newhaven Park Stud bought Cool Aza Beel to stand at stud, and they had a very good opinion of his progeny right from the time they were foals. “We’ve got some other promising horses in the stable by Cool Aza Beel, that are still to race, and we’ve bred to him each year.” Adding to the Te Akau flavour of Cool Aza Rene’s pedigree, her dam Irene is a daughter of the multiple Group One-winning former Te Akau star Xtravagant. View the full article

Talented galloper Honey Badger (NZ) (El Roca) provided her trainer Tony Pike with the perfect present on his return from a winter break in Fiji as she trounced her three-year-old rivals in the Aongatete Avo-Ject 3YO (1200m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Sent out as a dominating $1.80 favourite, the daughter of El Roca began well and settled on the back of pacemaker Pleasing before rider Michael McNab eased her to that runner’s outside approaching the home bend. After a brief tussle, Honey Badger bounded clear and scored by nearly four lengths from the late-finishing debutant Beau Miller (NZ) (Preferment). Pike was delighted with the effort and believes the filly has more ahead of her due to her liking for the wetter winter tracks. “It was a good, positive ride today and she got track conditions to suit,” Pike said. “She is holding her condition really well and she loves these tracks, so we will definitely give her another couple of runs. She looks like a mare for next season who could pick up a nice black-type race.” McNab, who brought up an early double for the day after scoring aboard The Trendsetter (NZ) (Proisir) in race one with a similar ride, echoed Pike’s sentiments. “She jumped and put herself there (on the pace) while Pleasing was a touch slow and may have just overdone it to get to the lead. “She (Honey Badger) got track conditions to her liking today. It is hard work out there, so happy to be on the board in the first two races.” Bred by Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, Honey Badger was purchased for $30,000 out of the Westbury draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale at Karaka. Out of the More Than Ready mare Sacred Vow, she is a sister to the stakes-placed mare Miss Cartier (NZ) and closely related to Group Two winner Swissta (NZ) and Australian Group One placegetters The Cloisters and My Middi. Honey Badger has now won three of her eleven starts and over $73,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Matthew Chadwick is hopeful Pray For Mir can overcome a 21-point jump in the ratings and continue his strong late-season form in Sunday’s Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) at Sha Tin. Victorious in open company for the first time in last month’s Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m), Pray For Mir will attempt to complete the same feature-race double Galaxy Patch bagged last season. Penalised so heavily because his last-start win came from 17 points outside the handicap, Pray For Mir will carry...View the full article

Steve and Amanda Telfer had a good night at Addington raceway last night, training two winners to extend their lead in the trainers premiership. C C Ardern smashed them in the Garrards Horse & Hound Handicap pace with driver Tim Williams. The gelding negotiated the standing start well, was restrained but unable to slot in for the first six hundred metres of the race. From there Williams made all the right moves to end up 1×1 from the one thousand metre mark before the field broke up at the quarter. Williams and C C Ardern then shot clear to win by five and a quarter lengths from stablemate Carbon. That was C C Ardern’s third win from ten starts. Akatea made it four wins in a row by winning the Woodlands Winning Yearlings mobile pace. Williams went forward from the gate to lead quickly, before Spirit Of Anarchy and Carter Dalgety came out and around to arrest the lead soon after. From there Williams and Akatea were just biding their time for the passing lane, which they took, punching through to win by a neck from Cheer The Captain giving the Telfers a second stable quinella for the night. “She’s been consistent, getting the right runs and doing the job,” said cotrainer Amanda Telfer. “She will now go into the Silk Road final next week, so this run would have topped her off perfectly. “She will probably have a fortnight to a month off after that, then get ready for the good mares race on Show Day. The owners are the Stonewall Stud No.20 Syndicate. “The owners are lucky, they have her and Seaside Rose.” That was the four year old Art Major mare’s seventh win from thirty four starts. The Telfers now lead the premiership with eighty wins for the season, ahead of Michael House who sits on seventy three wins. It was a night of doubles at Addington, with Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson also making it a double with Atlantic City (Ricky May) and Jimmy Carter (John Morrison) bringing his total training wins to 799. The Dalgety team also joined in the double party by taking out the first two races on the programme with Forever Dream and Sugar Babe both driven by Carter. View the full article

Bidding to add to what has already been a fruitful campaign, Andrea Atzeni has declared he wouldn’t swap Patch Of Theta for any other ride in Sunday’s Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin. The Sardinian jockey has legitimate claims in the final two features of the season, with Patch Of Theta and his Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) mount Bundle Award shaping as strong contenders. Atzeni, who sits third in the jockeys’ championship with 54 wins, hops aboard Patch Of Theta for the first...View the full article

Saturday, Ascot, post time: 15:40, THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE S.-G1, £1,000,000, 4yo/up, 6f 0y Field: Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Grand Grey (Ire) (Havana Grey {GB}), Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), James's Delight (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}), Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), Run To Freedom (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Sajir (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Storm Boy (Aus) (Justify), Topgear (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Great Generation (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Nighteyes (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). TDN Verdict: As competitive as it gets, this renewal has leading lights coming from multiple countries with last year's G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin battling to ward off overseas threats. He looked a sharper model on his return at York last month and this track is tailor-made for his style. Last year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Lazzat is one of his chief rivals and has a lot to commend him on form and on the clock, while his compatriot Topgear drops back in trip and will be a threat to all if able to tighten up sufficiently. Whether Aidan O'Brien can turn Storm Boy around from his seasonal bow is open to question, but he seems to have his annual midas touch this week while the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Satono Reve shakes things up even more. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Ascot, post time: 15:05, THE HARDWICKE S.-G2, £250,000, 4yo/up, 11f 211y Field: Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Burdett Road (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Candleford (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Epic Poet (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Space Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Tabletalk (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Rebel's Romance keeps going and going and there is no reason why he won't stamp his class on this. Ghostwriter may stay a mile and a half, but it is not a given and Al Riffa is probably the biggest threat to Godolphin's globetrotter with first-time blinkers. Candleford has won impressively on his seasonal bow at this meeting before and although that was a handicap, it is an interesting move by William Haggas to come here first time. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Ascot, post time: 16:20, THE JERSEY S.-G3, £150,000, 3yo, Open, 7f 0y Field: Benevento (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Brian (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}), Caburn (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}), Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Dhitjari (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Marvelman (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Noble Champion (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), One Smack Mac (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Pellitory (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Remmooz (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Saracen (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Seagulls Eleven (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Spy Chief (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Yah Mo Be There (GB) (Mohaather {GB}), California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Unbeaten and unexposed, Remmooz warrants maximum respect from Owen Burrows who always knows his onions. Second to Henri Matisse in Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud Stakes in March, Comanche Brave is back to seven furlongs having run fifth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and gets the Ryan Moore treatment whichis probably worth two or three pounds in itself this week. Joseph takes on Donnacha with Saracen, who was third in a hot renewal of the G3 Greenham Stakes in April and is another unknown quantity. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Ascot, post time: 14:30, THE CHESHAM S.-L, £110,000, 2yo, Open, 7f 0y Field: Brave Hunter (GB) (Universal {Ire}), Humidity (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Tailgunner Joe (Knicks Go), Thesecretadversary (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Treanmor (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Waterford Castle (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Zooter (GB) (Australia {GB}), Moments Of Joy (Justify), Venetian Lace (Ire). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Treanmor puts his reputation on the line, having impressed with everything he did on debut at Newmarket. Ballydoyle will have something to say on the matter, with the filly Moments Of Joy the chosen one having opened her account at Leopardstown, while Humidity looked a smart prospect on debut at Newbury and can only improve over another furlong. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Dusseldorf, Germany, post time: 17:00, GROSSER PREIS VON GOTTFRIED SCHULTZ – DIANA TRIAL-Listed, €25,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT Field: Turf Sumy (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Asteria (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}), Dublone (Ger) (Belardo {Ire}), Laminaria (Ger) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Meeresbrise (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Raposa (Ger) (Frankel {GB}), Silaway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Sunshine Baby (Fr) (Areion {Ger}). TDN Verdict: The relatively unexposed Raposa, a clear-cut winner at this venue earlier this month when last seen, will bid to provide trainer Andreas Wohler with his first victory in this contest since 2021. Henk Grewe trainee Meeresbrise enjoys a similar profile to Raposa and shed maiden status–at Baden-Baden last month–in the second of her two starts after collecting place prizemoney on debut. Philippe Decouz sends three-race maiden Silaway across the border from France and she merits respect in an open affair having run third to subsequent G3 Prix de Royaumont victrix Sunly in April. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Milan, Italy, post time: 18:20, PREMIO OAKS D'ITALIA-TATTERSALLS-G2, €418,000, 3yo, f, 2100mT Field: Anatara (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Fast Spirit (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Grand Byshaman (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}), Ice Capades (Ire) (Kessaar {Ire}), Ismahane (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}), Klaynn (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Lili Marleen (Ger) (Masar {Ire}), Mystery Of Love (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Pink Black (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), Place Fontenoy (Fr) (War Command), Queen Of Maybe (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Sorceress (Ger) (Belardo {Ire}), Thine Be The Glory (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}). Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Inisherin And Lazzat Clash With Storm Boy In Jubilee Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rebel's Romance is the headliner in the June 21 Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot.View the full article

Tuesday's immigration raid at Delta Downs–which resulted in the reported apprehension of 84 undocumented individuals–reminds industry stakeholders once again of a frustrating conundrum. On the one hand, they must navigate an environment of ramped-up immigration enforcement, and the potential that what happened at Delta Downs could happen at any other racetrack around the country. On the other, they face a long-broken system that makes sourcing legal immigrant workers a bureaucratic nightmare. “It's insanely difficult,” said trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill, about a visa system that's necessary to properly staff the racetrack backstretch. “Though [many immigrant workers] may not have been fortunate to have a lot of schoolhouse education, they have a PhD in horse-care. It's virtually impossible to get someone out of high school or college [in the U.S.] and have them be able to learn, and have the work ethic, to do what is needed,” O'Neill said, adding how the raid at Delta Downs has unnerved horsemen and women around the country. It was all the way back in 1986 that major immigration reform was passed on Capitol Hill. And while several legislative vehicles exist that could contain conditions favorable to workers in the horse racing industry, they face a long, embattled path to ever getting through a gridlocked Congress. Last month, a bipartisan group of legislators reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would, among other things, reform the current H-2A visa program and create a pathway towards legal status for agricultural workers. As currently written, however, it contains no mention of equine workers. The Affordable and Secure Food Act, first introduced in 2022, was reintroduced last year with an amendment establishing a program for equine workers, their spouses and children, to earn legal status, including a pathway to a green card after 10 years of work. The plan is to reintroduce it this summer, said a legislative staffer for Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), a key figure behind the bill. “Our hope it to try to get some Republicans on board,” the staffer said. Federally, the backstretch workforce falls under the umbrella of the Fair Labor Standards Act, limiting them to H-2B visas only. The H-2B visa program–which affords non-agriculture seasonal immigrant workers jobs in such industries as hospitality or with animals–has its limitations. It comes with a restrictive annual quota. The visa is typically only granted for nine months, but it can be extended for up to three years. “When you do get lucky enough and you are able to get the one or two a year, they're here nine months, and they just start building great relationships with the rest of the crew and the horses, then they've got to go home for three months. And oftentimes, that three months turns into six months,” said O'Neill, who calls for backstretch workers to be categorized as agricultural workers. In 2022, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a bill called the Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H-2A Modernization Act that would have expanded the H-2A program–currently geared towards seasonal or temporary agricultural work–to additionally cover livestock, equine and other workers. That bill is once again knocking around Washington with an eye to a possible reintroduction, said James O'Neill, Director of Legislative Affairs for the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), a nationwide bipartisan coalition of over 1,700 employers and CEOs. “While we're certainly supportive of the expansion of the H-2A visa program, what that bill misses the mark on is the existing workforce that's already here without status,” said O'Neill. “Counterintuitively,” O'Neill added, “some of the biggest developments, legislative and somewhat, have come from the administration.” He pointed to guidance last week by the President and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that workplace enforcement should be paused at farms, hotels and restaurants, industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor. DHS officials, however, subsequently reversed that order. Sarah Andrew While this is indicative of a “split in the administration” on the topic of immigration, “more importantly, the President understands this issue, and is willing to engage in positive solutions,” said O'Neill. “We're very encouraged by what the President said the other day, and it helps open up space and political room for legislators to take up the mantle and find solutions for the farm workforce,” he added. While O'Neill sees the door open for legislative reform, Oscar Gonzalez, Vice President of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) and a former Deputy Chief-of-Staff for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, believes that executive action is the likeliest and quickest way to immigration reform in Washington. “That is what I believe is the best solution at this point in time,” Gonzalez said. “What that looks like is anybody's guess,” said Gonzalez. “But what we want to be aware of are a couple things that would be absolute deal breakers. We have to have a pathway or a visa program that really fits our industry.” One of those deal-breakers in any possible immigration reform, said Gonzalez, would be a “touch-back” requirement–in other words, that a law-abiding, undocumented worker must return to their home country as part of the application process. “We have to make sure, if they insist on them going to a foreign soil, that a worker has the ability to go to his or her consulate or something similar to get approved,” said Gonzalez. During his time in the agriculture department, Gonzalez said he witnessed first-hand the obstacles that thwarted immigration reform, as well as the hurdles impeding horse racing's voice in those conversations. “It's the federal agencies' difficulty in understanding horse racing because it is so different to any other industry,” said Gonzalez. There's the counterintuitive urban presence of many racetracks, along with the peripatetic nature of racing life–moving from track-to-track, state-to-state–that makes these conversations tricky. Another is the highly-regulated nature of the average racetrack. “These are the things I would have to explain when I'm talking to the Department of Labor, or Commerce, or the State Department,” said Gonzalez. But the “profound cost” from labor disruptions to horsemen and women who are already straining under the increased financial weight of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) means the sport has a sound footing from which to argue its cause, he said. “We're seeing costs go up. Labor's going to be tougher to come by. So, we could very well be seeing an acceleration of people's concerns of HISA on the financial front, especially if people's biggest expense is labor,” said Gonzalez, who added that he planned to reach out to HISA to see if they could communicate these concerns with other federal agencies. “There might be some elements in there that could help us make a case for some immigration relief,” he said. In the meantime, concerned trainers should relay to their local congressional representatives their worries, said Gonzalez. He pointed to a survey he conducted that identified 70 congressional members that represent all Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and harness tracks throughout the country. “Do we have sway in the state capital? I say we do. We just have to be self-aware that we do have that, and that we do have a story to tell,” said Gonzalez. “Even if the [politicians] don't have racing in their district, they probably have sports betting, of which many of their constituents are betting on a sport with a large immigrant workforce.” Gonzalez grew up on the backstretch in Southern California and was present some forty years ago when immigration enforcement officers swept the Del Mar backstretch, leading to hundreds of workers fleeing the track and to the cancellation of racing. “I was on the backstretch at Del Mar during those raids. I have lived this and I have experienced this,” said Gonzalez. “And I'll tell you, we have to start gearing up for some battles ahead if we're to save this great sport.” The post Immigration Reform: “It’s Insanely Difficult” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a 'TDN Rising Star'. 2.38 Newmarket, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT WILD DESERT (IRE) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) impressed sufficiently on debut when winning by five lengths at Haydock to earn TDN Rising Star status and is now aimed at the novice that Charlie Appleby used for last year's G2 Superlative Stakes winner Ancient Truth. With the 2022 winner Victory Dance also sent to that July Festival feature, this is a race that has come to serve as a course-and-distance prep and while the half-brother to Shadow Of Light and Earthlight is the number one, it is interesting that the stable also puts forward the unraced Pacific Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Lumiere (Shamardal) who was impressive enough on her debut to be a TDN Rising Star. He is also a full-brother to the smart Highland Avenue. The post Wild Desert Takes A Proven Path At Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was no doubting Joe Murphy's popularity after the 70-year-old from Tipperary realized his lifetime ambition thanks to Cercene's tenacious success in the June 20 Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.View the full article

The first five in the betting for the June 21 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot feature two horses trained in France and one each in Britain, Japan, and Ireland.View the full article

Trainer Karl Burke turned around a frustrating week as the highly regarded Venetian Sun burst home to land the June 20 Albany Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot under Clifford Lee.View the full article