Wandering Eyes

Group 1 Tancred Stakes contender, Vauban. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au A capacity field of 14 are set to line-up in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, with a strong international presence courtesy of the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour. The 2023 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth (2000m) winner makes the trip down under once again searching for more Group 1 glory and holds the call as $3.40 favourite with horse racing bookmakers after drawing barrier four. ‘Aussie’ Tom Marquand is set to be legged aboard the now seven-year-old gelding and brings imposing form-lines from his latest effort in Hong Kong, closing on the heels of Giavellotto in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) on December 8. Vauban couldn’t have been impressive first-up for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott barn, storming down the centre of the course at Rosehill on March 15 to claim the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m). The UK import is on the second line of betting at and appears to get every chance to replicate his first-up effort after drawing barrier three with Tim Clark in the saddle. Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Duke De Sessa makes the trip up from Melbourne and is garnering plenty of early support at the , while Arapaho ($5.50) represents the same price, as the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding attempts to turn the tables on Vauban from the Sky High Stakes. Every other runner is at double-figure odds in this year’s edition of the Tancred Stakes, including two intriguing European imports for Yulong, as River Of Stars ($11) and Zarir ($18) prepare to make their Australian debut for the Chris Waller barn. Meanwhile, New Zealand will be represented by La Crique ($18) making the trip down under as Nash Rawiller takes the reins for the first time. The 2025 Tancred Stakes is race eight on the Rosehill card, with the mouthwatering clash set to get underway at 4:35pm AEDT. 2025 Tancred Stakes Final Field 1. Dubai Honour (4) T: William Haggas J: Tom Marquand W: 59kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Mondelice (GB) +280 -142.86 2. Vauban (3) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Tim Clark W: 59kg Age: 7YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Galiway (GB) Dam: Waldfest (GB) +290 -142.86 3. Arapaho (6) T: Bjorn Baker J: Rachel King W: 59kg Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Alzubra (GB) +450 +110 4. Duke De Sessa (2) T: Ciaron Maher J: Harry Coffey W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Dark Crusader (IRE) +450 +110 5. Zarir (8) T: Chris Waller J: Tommy Berry W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Frankel (GB) Dam: Zarshana (IRE) +1500 +320 6. Circle Of Fire (10) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jason Collett W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Almanzor (FR) Dam: Fiery Sunset (GB) +2500 +500 7. Land Legend (11) T: Chris Waller J: Damian Lane W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Galileo (IRE) Dam: Landikusic (IRE) +2500 +500 8. Asterix (14) T: Chris Waller J: Josh Parr W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Tavistock (NZ) Dam: Mourasana (GB) +5000 +1000 9. Zechariah (7) T: Chris Waller J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Nathaniel (IRE) Dam: Nancy O (IRE) +5000 +1000 10. Waltham (12) T: Matthew Smith J: TBA W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Grey Sex: Gelding Sire: Roaring Lion (USA) Dam: Ruscombe (GB) +10000 +1900 11. Warmonger (9) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) J: Chad Schofield W: 58.5kg Age: 4YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: War Decree (USA) Dam: Princess Sapphire (NZ) +1500 +320 12. Kinesiology (1) T: Chris Waller J: Tyler Schiller W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Brown Sex: Horse Sire: Study of Man (IRE) Dam: Kinaesthesia (GB) +5000 +1000 13. La Crique (5) T: Simon & Katrina Alexander J: Nash Rawiller W: 57kg Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Vadamos (FR) Dam: Destiny Cove +1500 +320 14. River Of Stars (13) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE) Dam: Amazone (GER) +1100 +250 Horse racing news View the full article

Vinery Stud Stakes favourite, Treasurethe Moment. Photo: George Sal (Racing Photos) The Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) is the first of two Group 1 contests at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, with a field of nine three-year-olds set to do battle in the $750,000 feature. Melbourne raider Treasurethe Moment dominates betting with horse racing bookmakers as the $1.70 favourite after the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) winner produced back-to-back wins to kick-off the autumn campaign. Damien Lane makes the trip to Sydney to take the reins aboard the daughter of Alabama Express, and maps to gain the run of the race after securing gate five. The Chris Waller-trained pair of Movin Out and Declichy Boulevard are the only other runners in single figures at $6 with Dabble, with the duo both coming through the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) behind Lazzura at Rosehill on March 15. James McDonald is booked to ride Movin Out after taking the reins aboard the stable companion last time out, while Nash Rawiller will replace McDonald on Declichy Boulevard. You can get double-figure odds for every other runner in the event, including undefeated filly Verona Rose ($11) who looking to bounce from an impressive win in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) last time out. Meanwhile, Benagil ($11) brings some different form-lines from Melbourne after claiming the Vobis Platinum Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on March 15. The 2025 Vinery Stud Stakes is the sixth race on the Rosehill program and is scheduled to get underway at 3:25pm local time. 2024 Vinery Stud Stakes Final Field 1. Treasurethe Moment (5) T: Matt Laurie J: Damian Lane W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Brown Sex: Filly Sire: Alabama Express Dam: Draconic Treasure (USA) -166.67 -1000 2. Movin Out (7) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Staphanos (JPN) Dam: Wahaha (NZ) +600 -125 3. Powers Of Opal (8) T: John Sargent J: Tom Marquand W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Brown Sex: Filly Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Strada Cavallo (NZ) +1600 +210 4. Real Class (4) T: Chris Waller J: Tommy Berry W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Vadamos (FR) Dam: Mill Duckie (NZ) +1600 +210 5. Declichy Boulevard (9) T: Chris Waller J: Nash Rawiller W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Filly Sire: Snitzel Dam: Red Velvet Swing +600 -125 6. Benagil (2) T: Glen Thompson J: Tim Clark W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Filly Sire: Manhattan Rain Dam: Des Moines +900 +120 7. Verona Rose (6) T: Gary Portelli J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Castelvecchio Dam: Minamya (FR) +1200 +160 8. Canny Queen (1) T: Brad Widdup J: Tyler Schiller W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Ace High Dam: Quella Finale (NZ) +7000 +800 9. Ella Hazel (3) T: Richard Litt J: Joshua Parr W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Maid of Heaven +12500 +1400 Horse racing news View the full article

Pride Of Jenni ridden by Craig Newitt winning the Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The time-honoured Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) headlines the action at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, with the weight-for-age feature attracting a quality field of 10. The Ciaron Maher barn seemingly has a stranglehold on the event, according to horse racing bookmakers, with Pride Of Jennni holding the call at $2.70 after drawing barrier one. The Pride Of Dubai mare is in search of back-to-back wins after dominating the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on March 15 and is one of seven Group 1 winners set to line-up in the $2.5 million classic. Stable companion Middle Earth is on the second line of betting at after a blistering Australian debut in the Australian Cup Prelude (2000m) at the same course and distance on March 8. Zardozi ($6.50) couldn’t reel in the margin of Pride Of Jenni on the Peter Young Classic and will be attempting to turn the tables despite drawing out in gate nine. Jamie Melham retains the ride and should be aided by a genuine tempo this time around, with Deny Knowledge ($15) likely to inject an element of speed into the race. The Chris Waller-trained Atishu ($8) looks set to peak third-up into the campaign after producing a strong closing figure behind Tom Kitten in the Group 1 All Star Mile (1600m) on March 8. You can get double-figure odds for every other runner, with the likes of Light Infantry Man and Attrition representing good each-way value with . The 2025 Australian Cup is the second leg of the Flemington quaddie and is scheduled to get underway at 4:15pm AEDT. 2025 Australian Cup Final Field 1. Light Infantry Man (4) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ethan Brown W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Fast Company (IRE) Dam: Lights On Me (GB) +900 +180 2. Attrition (6) T: Mitchell Freedman J: John Allen W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Churchill (IRE) Dam: Queen’s Kiss +1100 +210 3. Young Werther (10) T: Danny O’Brien J: Daniel Stackhouse W: 59kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Tavistock (NZ) Dam: Romantic Time (NZ) +3300 +600 4. Middle Earth (8) T: Ciaron Maher J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Roaring Lion (USA) Dam: Roheryn (IRE) +400 -117.65 5. Shaiyhar (2) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: Daniel Moor W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Camelot (GB) Dam: Sharliyna (IRE) +3300 +600 6. Pride Of Jenni (1) T: Ciaron Maher J: Craig Newitt W: 57kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Sancerre (NZ) +170 -250 7. Atishu (7) T: Chris Waller J: Blake Shinn W: 57kg Age: 7YO Colour: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Savabeel Dam: Posy (NZ) +700 +140 8. Zardozi (9) T: James Cummings J: Jamie Melham W: 57kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Kingman (GB) Dam: Chanderi (GB) +550 +110 9. Deny Knowledge (3) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Craig Williams W: 57kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: The Paris Shrug (GB) +1300 +250 10. Feroce (5) T: Dominic Sutton J: Billy Egan W: 54.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Super Seth Dam: Corinthia (NZ) +1300 +250 Horse racing news View the full article

A trip to Riccarton Park next month for the $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) is already locked in for Our Approval (NZ) (Ghibellines), and his stablemate Cherryville (NZ) (Ghibellines will aim to earn a place of his own at Wingatui on Friday. The pair are trained locally by Brian and Shane Anderton, with Our Approval gaining his place in the lucrative feature after a game third behind Maximus Augustus in the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) earlier this month. Cherryville hasn’t been seen on raceday since defeating Iffididit to win at Wingatui in early February, his third success in just 15 starts. The son of Ghibellines will carry the topweight of 59kg under Courtney Barnes, a former Anderton apprentice who will ride a number of the stable’s runners. “He’s done well, he’s gone up another grade and we’re happy with him,” Brian Anderton said. “The other horse (Our Approval) is a very good horse in the making, we have a high opinion of him and he’s still quite immature, he has very patient owners. We were aiming for the ODT race because if you place, you automatically earn a spot in the Southern Alps. “It’s a lot of money, you wouldn’t turn that down. We would definitely take both if he (Cherryville) qualified and we’re hoping for a good run from the two of them on Friday.” Chupalla (NZ) (Per Incanto), Afire (NZ) (Ghibellines, Moor (NZ) (Per Incanto) and De Pazzi (NZ) (Almanzor) provide the Andertons with a strong hand in the Nellies Restaurant and Bar MDN (1400m), with the latter a four-year-old mare that was withdrawn from White Robe Lodge’s draft at the Karaka Yearling Sales in 2022. Brian Anderton alongside his brother and a friend retained the daughter of Almanzor, who will have her first start on Friday with an interesting spin behind her name. “We’ve got a horse called De Pazzi having her first start, my brother Hec, Eric Parr and I own her,” he said. “She was named after a sister that taught us at St Mary’s, she was a really growly old mug. We had previously called another horse De Montfort after another sister, she was from the same family and a very good horse.” Another aiming to break maiden status will be No Party (NZ) (Proisir), a gelding by Proisir who only narrowly missed on debut behind Sailor Girl at Gore earlier this month. The three-year-old will have to contend with barrier 10 on this occasion, but Anderton anticipates there is a plenty ahead of the lightly-tried galloper. “He’s a horse for the future, he hasn’t got the best of draws but it’ll be a good track and a long straight,” he said. “He’s done well since he raced so I expect another good run from him.” Among the remainder of their big team of runners is Southern Country (NZ) (Tavistock), who dashed home into third behind Ali Nel at the course in mid-March, setting him up well for a step out over a mile in the Convert It MDN (1600m). “We’ve been very patient with him and so have the owners, he’s coming to it now,” Anderton said. “The owner would like him to a go a mile, we may have preferred to climb the ladder and go to a 1400m first, but he’s trained on well.” Back at White Robe Lodge, the Andertons have announced the impending arrival of their new stallion Alflaila. “We’re going well, we’ve just bought the new stallion so that’s put our sights up a bit,” Anderton said. “It will be interesting.” View the full article

Promising three-year-old Mustang Morgan (NZ) (Preferment) will get his first taste of Australian racing when he heads to Rosehill on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m). It’s a race familiar to his conditioner Andrew Forsman, who won the 2017 (Jon Snow) and 2020 (Quick Thinker) editions when training in partnership with Murray Baker, and he believes his gelding is up to the task. The son of Preferment has had a pleasing three-year-old campaign to date, winning the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie in January and returned to the Auckland track earlier this month where he finished fourth behind Willydoit in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). Forsman said he has come through the run well and has been pleased with the way he has settled in Sydney, with his only concern being the inclement weather forecast ahead of the weekend. “I am just a little bit nervous looking at the weather forecast,” he said. “He has only had the one run on a rain affected surface and it wasn’t that flash, albeit as a young, inexperienced horse. “Otherwise, I am very happy with how he has travelled over and settled in, we just hope the track isn’t too bad and he gets the chance to prove where he’s at.” Back in New Zealand, Forsman will head to Trentham on Saturday where he will have a two-pronged attack in the Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m) courtesy of Way Out West (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Prochester (NZ) (Proisir). Way Out West has shown plenty of ability in her first two starts, winning on debut at Tauranga over 1400m in the hands of Craig Grylls before placing over a mile at Te Aroha earlier this month. Forsman is looking forward to seeing what the daughter of U S Navy Flag can do over Saturday’s middle-distance trip, with her performance dictating the remainder of her autumn preparation. “Way Out West is lightly-tried. We are not sure whether she will run a strong middle-distance, but we felt this was the best option to give her that opportunity,” Forsman said. “What she does on Saturday really determines how we place her heading forward.” Prochester heads into the Manawatu Classic off the back of two unplaced Guineas runs, and Forsman believes he will be better suited to Trentham this weekend. “Prochester has proven he is capable, he has just been a little bit in and out (of form),” Forsman said. “Back to left-handed we are hoping is key. I think a big, roomy track, he may be able to bounce back to some of his better form.” Forsman will also be represented in the Listed Branco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap (1400m) by last start winner Mr Mojo Risin’ (NZ) (Deep Field). “He has always been a handy horse, I just think he’s been quite physically immature right the way through,” Forsman said. “But this prep I thought for the first time he is really looking a fully mature horse. Hopefully that translates to a bit more consistent form, and this is a suitable race for him.” Forsman is also excited about the prospects of Retrostar (NZ) (Vespa) in the Herrick Perry Memorial 1400. The three-year-old son of Vespa showed early promise, winning two of his first three starts, but has failed to flatter in his latest raceday appearances, beating just the one runner home in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and tailing the field home in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). “Retrostar has been a bit of an enigma, but I think back to left-handed racing may be the key with him as well,” Forsman said. “A roomy track and (rating) 65 1400m, I think he is well placed and hopefully he can regain his best form.” Retrostar could be joined in his race by stablemate Transaction, however, Forsman will be on weather watch with the filly ahead of the weekend. “It will be track dependent. We don’t want to run on a firm track first time off a break,” he said. “I think she is a filly that just for now appreciates a little bit of cut in the track. “We will see what the weather does and how the track is going to present this Saturday as to whether we race her or she might be saved for the next week or two.” View the full article

Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) will carry the hopes of the Kiwi sprinting ranks in Perth next month as the Trackside NZ / Perth Racing slot runner in the A$5 million KIA Quokka (1200m). The winner of nine of his 14 career starts, Crocetti’s connections accepted the invitation from Entain New Zealand – the operators of New Zealand’s Trackside television network and the TAB and betcha betting brands – after he claimed the NZ$300,000 bonus for winning the Sport Nation NZ Champion Sprint Series over the summer. Crocetti’s owner and co-breeder Daniel Nakhle leapt at the opportunity to take his pride and joy to Western Australia for a date with sprinting destiny at Ascot Racecourse on 26 April. “This horse has already provided us with so much fun and excitement in his career,” Nakhle said. “To take it to the next level with this trip to Perth alongside the Trackside NZ and Perth Racing teams is another memorable step along a pretty amazing journey.” Trained by Danny Walker and Arron Tata at Byerley Park near Karaka, Crocetti won his first seven races before returning to perform at the top level over summer, securing placings in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) and the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Kings Plate (1200m) and a fourth in the Listed Haunui Farms Counties Bowl (1100m). He showed his brilliance at the perfect time in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m), with that win and the Kings Plate placing ensuring his Champion Sprint Series title. Entain ANZ’s Chief Media Officer Chris Haigh said securing Crocetti, who has proven himself as New Zealand’s leading sprinter, will bring plenty of story angles and punter interest to the trip to Western Australia. “Crocetti has really captured the New Zealand public’s imagination in his career, and we’ve loved telling his and Daniel’s story along the way,” Chris Haigh said. “I know the Trackside team is pumped that we’ll be taking on The Quokka with a horse with such a following.” Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring said the Western Australia racing public is looking forward to welcoming Crocetti and Trackside NZ to Perth. “We’ve watched the New Zealand racing with interest over the summer, and to get the Champion Sprint Series winner as the Kiwi representative is a fantastic result,” Oldring said. “We saw great wagering results on The KIA Quokka last year in New Zealand through our slot partnership with Trackside NZ, and with a boom sprinter like Crocetti, we expect that Kiwi interest in racing in Perth will continue to grow.” New Zealand turnover on the 2024 edition of The KIA Quokka, with Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) running in the Trackside Media slot, more than doubled the turnover of the 2023 inaugural edition. Last year’s Quokka was also the highest turnover race on New Zealand’s TAB that day (19 April). Crocetti is a $15 chance in The KIA Quokka market with New Zealand’s TAB and betcha betting platforms. View the full article

Our Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) has a well-documented love affair with the champagne turf and the Balcairn galloper will cross the Cook Strait again this week in pursuit of Saturday’s Listed Bramco and Granite Flying Handicap (1400m). The eight-year-old son of Echoes Of Heaven has made a number of trips to Trentham since early 2022 and rarely goes home without a prize, including last year’s Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m), which was followed by a game third to Bradman (NZ) (Pins) in the Flying Handicap. After a mixed spring preparation this season, Our Echo indicated he was near his best winning the Kurow Cup (1400m) in late December, and returning to Trentham during Wellington Cup Week, he downed a quality field with Tina Comignaghi in the saddle. That combination caused another minor upset last-start in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m), collecting his first mile victory in the historic Wingatui feature taking the photo finish over Perfect Scenario. “It was a very proud moment and I was genuinely honoured to receive that from Brian (Anderton) and the White Robe family,” trainer Danny Frye said. “They are stalwarts of Otago and Southland racing and it was a real thrill. “It was very satisfying, it was also his first time winning a race over a mile. He may have only got there by a lip, but there was about three or four lengths back to the third horse, which vindicated our faith in him this time.” Frye’s focus immediately turned to Saturday’s $110,000 contest, where he contemplated a trial but elected to work the gelding at home in North Canterbury prior to his journey north on Thursday morning. “Everything has been good since then, he’s been a really good doing horse this time around and we’ve had to keep him up to the mark a wee bit,” he said. “I was tentatively going to give him a trial on Monday at Riccarton Park, but they ended up getting enough rain the evening before to put that idea to bed. “He did some controlled fast work at home instead yesterday, he flew through his paces really well and I’m looking forward to putting him on the float in the early hours of Thursday. “We’ve always maintained with a big trip like this, through other people’s advice that I’ve heeded, that you make sure the horse is ready to go before you put him on the float. He’ll just have a nice trip up, he’ll tighten up enough on the trip then have some r and r on Friday to get over that. “He’s gotten pretty used to that trip by now.” With seven of his nine career successes coming on Good surfaces, Frye is hopeful the track may near that mark later come Saturday. “He’s got a pretty serious record at Trentham over the 1400, but at this time of the year, we’ll be playing on lady luck with track conditions,” he said. “We want it better than any softer, but it is what it is now. “Whether it’s the style of racing or just the saying of horses for courses, I don’t know, but he’s clicked every time we’ve taken him there, so we’ll keep going back.” One factor that will change on this occasion is Our Echo’s rider, with Comignaghi out of the country at present. “We’ve had to have a change of rider, as Tina is away on holiday for the next couple of weeks,” Frye said. “We’ve been lucky to get the services of Sam Spratt, we were keen to give her a go if she was available. In the hindsight, I’d still like to take him up to Ellerslie next season at some stage, so it may add a string to our bow if Sam does click with him. “Stature-wise, she is so much similar to Tina, she rides a lot like her, a little pocket battleship.” View the full article

Crocetti will fill the Trackside NZ/Perth Racing slot in the $5 million Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse on April 26. (Photo: Kenton Wright – Race Images) Crocetti will carry the hopes of the Kiwi sprinting ranks in Perth next month as the Trackside NZ / Perth Racing slot runner in the $5 million Quokka (1200m). The winner of nine of his 14 career starts, Crocetti’s connections accepted the invitation from Entain New Zealand – the operators of New Zealand’s Trackside television network and the TAB and betcha betting brands – after he claimed the $300,000 bonus for winning the Sport Nation NZ Champion Sprint Series over the summer. Crocetti’s owner and co-breeder Daniel Nakhle leapt at the opportunity to take his pride and joy to Western Australia for a date with sprinting destiny at Ascot Racecourse on April 26. “This horse has already provided us with so much fun and excitement in his career,” Nakhle said. “To take it to the next level with this trip to Perth alongside the Trackside NZ and Perth Racing teams is another memorable step along a pretty amazing journey.” Trained by Danny Walker and Arron Tata at Byerley Park near Karaka, Crocetti won his first seven races before returning to perform at the top level over summer, securing placings in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 Haunui Farm Kings Plate (1200m) and a fourth in the Listed Haunui Farms Counties Bowl (1100m). Crocetti showed his brilliance at the perfect time in the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m), with that win and the Kings Plate placing ensuring his Champion Sprint Series title. Entain ANZ’s Chief Media Officer Chris Haigh said securing Crocetti, who has proven himself as New Zealand’s leading sprinter, will bring plenty of story angles and punter interest to the trip to Western Australia. “Crocetti has really captured the New Zealand public’s imagination in his career, and we’ve loved telling his and Daniel’s story along the way,” Chris Haigh said. “I know the Trackside team is pumped that we’ll be taking on The Quokka with a horse with such a following.” Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring said the Western Australia racing public is looking forward to welcoming Crocetti and Trackside NZ to Perth. “We’ve watched the New Zealand racing with interest over the summer, and to get the Champion Sprint Series winner as the Kiwi representative is a fantastic result,” Oldring said. “We saw great wagering results on The Quokka last year in New Zealand through our slot partnership with Trackside NZ, and with a boom sprinter like Crocetti, we expect that Kiwi interest in racing in Perth will continue to grow.” New Zealand turnover on the 2024 edition of The Quokka, with Waitak running in the Trackside Media slot, more than doubled the turnover of the 2023 inaugural edition. Last year’s Quokka was also the highest turnover race on New Zealand’s TAB that day (April 19). Crocetti is a $15 chance in The Quokka market with horse racing bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article

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A class drop and an opportunity to race a shorter distance suggest FMQ Stables' Saudi Crown will be a force in the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3) March 29 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

The Queens M G, winner of the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) March 1, returns in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) March 29. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies offers qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10.View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and Godolphin have secured the riding services of Manny Franco for Sovereignty's highly anticipated start in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and Godolphin have secured the riding services of Manny Franco for Sovereignty's highly anticipated start in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

This week's schedule of racing on radio and television, compiled by America's Best Racing.View the full article

Manny Franco will accompany Godolphin's Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in Saturday's $1-million GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The New York-based jockey will fill in for regular rider Junior Alvarado, who sustained a shoulder injury in a racing mishap Sunday. Alvarado has been aboard the bay for all four starts, including a last-to-first victory in the Mar. 1 GII Fountain of Youth. Franco is currently atop- the jockey standings at the current Aqueduct meet. “I can rarely get him. He's never been easy to get to ride, but I think he won a couple of Grade Is for us on Channel Maker,” said Mott, who gave Franco a leg up for back-to-back victories in the 2020 GI Sword Dancer at Saratoga and GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont. “He's done well with the one's he's ridden for us.” Franco won the 2020 GIII Florida Derby and Holy Bull aboard Tiz the Law. Franco is currently sixth this year in North America in money won and third in wins behind Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz. Franco was tied for 10th in victories last year with 210. The post Franco to Fill in For Alvarado On Sovereignty in Floriday Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

White Abarrio returns after winning the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park in the Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) there March 29.View the full article

A bill that had a committee hearing on Monday in the Minnesota House of Representatives would make a one-time transfer of $7 million from the state's general fund to establish a Thoroughbred pilot program to award Canterbury Park horse owners $750 per start during the 2026 and 2027 race meets provided those horses have met a residency registration requirement by being stabled at the track for 120 days during the previous season. Bill HF 1540 would also earmark “at least” $500,000 in 2026 and 2027 for the state's commissioner of agriculture to award grants to Thoroughbred aftercare organizations, and “at least” another $500,000 each year would fund mental health and educational services for Canterbury's backstretch community. Horse owners would have to pay an application fee of $100 to be eligible for the program, and those fees would be added to the total amount to be distributed. Canterbury Park would be tasked with distributing the money via the horsemen's bookkeeper after each racing day, and then the track would be reimbursed by the state at the end of the season. The bill's text explicitly states that the program is to expire July 1, 2028, although it is possible that if the bill passes and is viewed as beneficial, new legislation could eventually renew it. Justin Revak, the president the Minnesota Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, testified during the Mar. 24 Agriculture Finance and Policy committee hearing that the average horse starts four or five times during Canterbury's season, which in 2025 will span May 24-Sept. 20. The bill's co-sponsor, Rep. Brad Tabke, a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party whose district includes the city of Shakopee, where Canterbury Park is located, underscored at the hearing that the payments would be triggered per start, and not per horse or per owner. Tabke also emphasized that the only starters who would get paid are those that met the previous-year residency requirements. So if the bill gets voted into law, owners wishing to collect in 2026 must establish each horse's residency at Canterbury in 2025. “Canterbury has an extremely loyal group of horsemen, owners and trainers, many who have been racing here since the '80s,” Revak told the committee. “But when you factor that in and then purses declining, that loyalty only goes so far before you can't make an honest business out of it and continue racing here… “So in summary, I'd say this bill increases purses to attract more horses to Canterbury, enhances the backside programs that we're able to establish, and also provides money for retired racehorses, which is another important factor,” Revak summed up. The hearing concluded with no action being taken on the bill, which was “laid over” by the committee. The post Minnesota Bill Would Pay $750 Per Start in 2026-27 for Horses Who Establish Previous-Meet Residency at Canterbury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The connections of Coal Battle hope his Oaklawn Park story comes to a satisfying conclusion March 29 as he faces eight rivals in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1).View the full article

Honeybee Stakes (G3) winner Quietside is set to defend her home dirt at Oaklawn Park March 29 against the undefeated Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots invader Simply Joking in the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2).View the full article

Trainer Bill Mott was not surprised Sovereignty was made the 8-5 favorite for the March 29 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. "I guess it's a good thing we've shown we can run over the (Gulfstream) track," he said.View the full article

Group winner Field Of Gold (Ire) anchors the Juddmonte Classic brigade, and he is pointing to a start in the G3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket, according to racing manager Barry Mahon. The G3 Solario Stakes-winning son of Kingman (GB) won second out at Newmarket last July. After his group tally in August, the John and Thady Gosden trainee went on to finish fourth in soft going in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in the autumn. He will be joined by Harry Charlton's fellow Kingman colt Cosmic Year (GB), who won his lone start at Sandown in September; and maiden winner Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who switched from Sir Michael Stoute's yard to Andrew Balding, in Guineas trials. All three are 'TDN Rising Stars', and, if they perform to expectations, the G1 Betfred 2000 Guineas would be next on their collective dance cards. Mahon said, “We've a few heading to trials. I think Field Of Gold will probably go to Newmarket for the Craven and Cosmic Year and Jonquil could go for the [G3] Greenham [Stakes at Newbury], so that'll tell us where we're going. “Cosmic Year has only run once so he needs the experience and Jonquil won his maiden and it was a bit of a non-event the next day. With him changing trainer as well, we'd just like to see him on track. “Field Of Gold is in good shape and could go straight to the Guineas, but I think John is keen to give him a run in a trial and see how he's progressed.” Mahon also had updates on a trio of fillies aiming for the G1 Betfred 1000 Guineas set for their 2025 bows in the coming days. 'TDN Rising Star' Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}), fourth to Cartier Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, is likely to head straight to the 1000 Guineas, while G3 Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes victress Tabiti (GB) (Kingman {GB}), fifth in the G1 Fillies Mile at Newmarket in October, and the winner Zanzoun (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) are both pointing to trials. “Red Letter, subject to the owners agreeing to it, is probably most likely to head straight to Newmarket, and Tabiti and Zanzoun will both probably run in fillies' trials,” Mahon added. “With Tabiti, I think it's more about learning her trip, whether she's going to get a mile or not. We probably didn't conclusively learn that last year. “Zanzoun won her maiden well and is probably not Guineas level at this stage, but we'll let her take her chance in a trial and see how we go.” Kodiac's Group 1 winner Babouche (GB) will be kept to shorter trips for now, according to Mahon. A 'TDN Rising Star', and a winner of her first three starts, including the G3 Anglesey Stakes and G1 Phoenix Stakes for trainer Ger Lyons, the bay was fourth to Lake Victoria in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes on Sept. 28. Mahon said, “That feels like it's the plan at the minute [to keep her under a mile]. We haven't fully locked it in and she's just starting to do a bit more now, but I think both Ger and Colin [Keane] felt sprinting was going to be more her cup of tea. “There's a [G1] Commonwealth Cup trial in Naas and we'll probably look at something like that and see are we going to go down the Commonwealth route.” The post Juddmonte Classic Crop Handed Trial Assignments appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Given their current trajectories, Tapit ($214.6 million) will soon be overtaken by Into Mischief ($205.2 million) as the highest-earning stallion in American history. In terms of volume, however, their respective output just now happens to be virtually identical: Into Mischief, with bigger books across four fewer crops, tallies 1,735 named foals and 1,440 starters against 1,718 and 1,447 for his venerable rival. And though Spendthrift's champion recently nosed ahead by stakes winners (170/166), his upgraded mares are still cycling through and Tapit for now remains clear in the elite indices: whether by graded stakes winners (105/82), graded stakes performers (199/158) or Grade I winners (32/22). With advancing years, moreover, Tapit is meanwhile consolidating another dimension of his legacy. His daughters have so far produced 129 stakes winners, including a Horse of the Year in Cody's Wish, compared with just 33 for Into Mischief mares (who have, of course, so far largely emerged from earlier, cheaper books). So while Tapit is being managed with due care, confined to 79 mares last spring, his $185,000 fee ($300,000 in his pomp) plainly provides access to a precious residue of genetic gold. That was reiterated last Saturday when both new GI Kentucky Derby contenders, Final Gambit (Not This Time) and Tiztastic (Tiz the Law), were out of Tapit mares-just like American Promise (Justify), who had stated his case the previous weekend. While time may be running out for a son to complete Tapit's resumé with a blanket of roses-at least pending Sandman's GI Arkansas Derby bid-his daughters will surely not prove so dilatory. In the meantime his male line continues to develop, with Essential Quality and Flightline entering competition with Constitution and company. And that makes the GII Louisiana Derby winner a particularly potent symbol of Tapit's prowess. For in emerging from the first crop of Constitution's son Tiz the Law, Tiztastic is inbred to Tapit as closely as 3×2. A smart pinhook ($80,000 short yearling to $335,000 in the same Keeneland ring that September), Tiztastic was bred by Capital Bloodstock from the unraced Keesha (Tapit). Keesha was culled by Brushwood as a 3-year-old at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale, to Horse France for $220,000. Brushwood had bred her from another unraced mare, Wile Cat (Storm Cat), who had evidently returned to the fold after going through the ring for as much as $1.3 million as a yearling. Wile Cat did eventually pay her way, selling several foals well after her first daughter Shumoos (Distorted Humor) was beaten a whisker in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. None of the others fared quite so well on the track, however, and Wile Cat was eventually sold on. In fact her only other black-type performer, Steady On (Pioneerof The Nile), won for the first time since a turf stakes at Gulfstream a couple of years ago when claimed for $20,000 at the Fair Grounds on Sunday. A curious double, over the weekend, for this family! But something has evidently percolated through these two unraced mares, who owed their expensive covers to next dam Strategic Maneuver (Cryptoclearance), winer of the GI Matron Stakes by a dozen lengths. Wile Cat's yearling valuation additionally reflected the rise of her sister Cat Fighter, who had won the GII La Canada Stakes earlier that year and would bring $2.3 million in the same ring a few weeks later. Moreover their half-brother Ishiguru (Danzig) had been a seven-figure yearling who won a Group sprint at the Curragh. So here we have a colt whose first two dams were unraced, and whose third dam owed her brilliance to parents who shared Mr. Prospector as grandsire. Some of the better horses in his pedigree were turf sprinters, and Tiztastic registered both his previous wins on that surface, too. Not, on the face of it, the most robust background for a Derby colt. But in steps Tapit, twice over, backing up a sire whose first two dams are by Tiznow and Go for Gin. And you get a thunderous finish over a mile and 3/16ths of dirt! As for Tiz the Law, sheer numbers just told against him in that incredible race for the freshman title last year, when Vekoma and McKinzie could respectively summon 154 and 150 named foals against his 89. Nonetheless he matched marginal champion Vekoma (and Complexity) with five stakes winners, and it's also worth noting that he has a much bigger second crop incoming. Vekoma has again made volume count with his sophomores, with five stakes winners already in 2023 from 77 starters. Of the other freshman protagonists, Tiz the Law has two from 42; McKinzie, one from 64. Arguably Tiz the Law is owed a Kentucky Derby, after the race's contentious rescheduling in 2020. Regardless, he's certainly the protagonist with the momentum now. Gambit's Dirt Gamble If you were seeking a Derby colt out of a Tapit mare a few weeks ago, you would probably have picked Poster (Munnings). It could yet happen, back on dirt, but their GIII Jeff Ruby performances instead switched attention to Final Gambit. This colt represents one of the great Juddmonte families. Admittedly his dam Pachinko (Tapit) contributed just a maiden to its record, and even that only at the eighth attempt (started out in France before crossing the water). But she's a half-sister to several useful runners in Europe, notably G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Announce (GB) (Selkirk). And their dam Hachita (Gone West), herself winner of a couple of races for Sir Henry Cecil, brings us towards Juddmonte royalty. Final Gambit | Coady Media For the next dam Choice Spirit (Danzig), a Listed winner in France, was half-sister to champion Zafonic (Gone West) and his sibling Zamindar, who was not quite so talented a runner but closed the gap at stud. Their dam Zaizafon (The Minstrel) was acquired in utero with the Juddmonte foundation mare Mofida (GB) (Right Tack {GB}) in 1981. Mofida's first cover for the nascent program, Roberto, proved barely less crucial to its development: the resulting filly, Modena, produced elite winners Reams Of Verse (Nureyev) and Elmaamul (Diesis) plus the dam of another in Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). All this quality, however, is accompanied by an obvious concern: the family is saturated with chlorophyll, with even a dam by Tapit reserving her one win for turf. And while Not This Time can get you literally anything, a fair amount of his anything has favored grass. Final Gambit having hitherto progressed on turf/synthetics, a Derby bid would have to draw on the various dirt strains that are certainly available across his pedigree, from the Florida speed of Not This Time's maternal family to the Classic brands carried by Tapit. Final Gambit is only Pachinko's second starter and the first, by Arrogate, has won a couple of modest prizes on dirt. But among Pachinko's useful siblings is Mexican Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), another classy grass performer who was Classic-placed over a mile in France. And her mating with Tapit's son Constitution produced quite a contrast to Final Gambit in Pure Force, who looked a potentially smart dirt sprinter in his first two starts as a sophomore last year. Having disappeared after bombing out in the GII Amsterdam Stakes, it's good to see him back on the worktab now. But whatever Final Gambit might be, he's hardly a sprinter, so we'll just have to see how finite their kinship may prove in terms of surface, too. A Route Worth Pursuing But my favorite winner out of a Tapit mare last weekend? Hands down, that was Red Route One (Gun Runner), whose flamboyant GIII Essex Handicap success takes him past $2 million in earnings. His new rider certainly got a tune out of the veteran and, if they can get a similar pace set-up, the partnership surely warrants another roll of the dice in a Grade I. He hasn't tried that level since the Belmont, but certainly deserves to put that kind of seal on his fourth campaign. And, who knows, perhaps a Grade I might prompt a stallion farm of sufficient imagination to replicate his old-school constitution? After all, while there are already plenty of Gun Runners open for business, few have a pedigree to match his. His dam is an unraced sister to champion Untapable (Tapit), and also half-sister to another Grade I winner in Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}). Her only other foal, also by Gun Runner, is a stakes winner; so too, is Red Route One's sidekick Unload, another son of Gun Runner out of a sister to his dam. Granddam Fun House (Prized) meanwhile sets a template by including a Grade II among five wins in 29 starts across four years; and she in turn was out of a half-sister to Olympio, himself never out of the first four in 16 starts (across 16 months, the last 10 all Grade I/II). Olympio was the best runner out of the Winchells' foundation mare Carols Christmas (Whitesburg), but her six daughters included four producers of graded stakes winners, plus a GII winner who became granddam of one of Tapit's early stars, Tapizar. The Winchells having been integral to the careers of sire and damsire alike, Red Route One must be one their most cherished horses. It would be nice to think that there are enough far-sighted breeders around eager someday to tap into that joint legacy. The post Breeding Digest: Another Big Weekend for Tapit Mares appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For those willing to lay out seven figures for a horse at the sales there are no guarantees. Some turn out to be very good horses and some can't run a step. The same goes for horses bought for a few thousand dollars. That doesn't mean they can't run. Case in point: Chunk of Gold (Preservationist). He's now run second in both the GII Risen Star Stakes and the GII Louisiana Derby. That gives him 75 points, more than enough to qualify for the race. That couldn't have been anything anyone expected when he was purchased for $2,500 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings sale. “This is a once-in-a-million thing or a case of catching lightening in a bottle or whatever you want to say about it,” said Larry Holt, the racing manager for owner Terry Stephens. “You know how many horses are born every year and everybody has the same dream. I trained for 50 years and never had a Derby horse. I have one now, but it's on the other side. Did I think he was a Derby horse? No. Did I think he'd be a nice, nice horse? I hoped so.” Chunk of Gold was bred by the late Brereton C. Jones and landed in a sale where the average sale price was just $48,045. He was purchased by Chris Melton, a trainer and pinhooker. Rather than resell the horse at auction he offered to sell half of him to Holt, a long-time friend. “Chris bought the horse,” Holt explained. “He approached me and said that he had a colt and that he'd like to sell a part of him. I went to look at him and liked what I saw.” Chunk of Gold was sent to trainer Anthony Farrior in Maryland to begin his career, but Farrior ran out of patience when the horse wasn't training forwardly, so Holt sent him to his current trainer, Ethan West. “Obviously, after I got him I looked up how much he sold for, but it was nothing that we discussed beforehand,” said West, who has been training only since 2018. “They told me they had a 2-year-old they liked a little bit and they wanted to run him at Turfway, where I was stabled. Why he chose me? I don't know. I've known Larry for a long, long time but this is he first horse I've ever had for him.” Chunk of Gold debuted on Dec. 19 at Turfway, winning a restricted maiden race. After that race, Holt bought out Melton's share in the horse. West decided to be aggressive and ran the colt back in the Leonatus S., also at Turfway. He finished second. “We didn't expect him to run at this level, but we knew when he started working that he had some talent,” said West, who doubles as Chunk of Gold's exercise rider. “He ran a real impressive first race. When he stepped up to that first overnight stakes, the Leonatus at Turfway, he was stretching out and had missed some training because of bad weather but still ran a respectable second that day. That's when we started getting pretty high on him.” He picked up his first Derby points when he finished second, beaten 9 3/4 lengths, in the Risen Star behind runaway winner Magnitude (Not This Time). “People say he was 43-1 in the Risen Star,” Holt said. “He can't read. He didn't know he was 43-1. How much did Mine That Bird cost ($9,500)? How much did Canonero cost ($1,200)? It's what's in their heart. If you could watch this horse walk and see what's in his heart you'd think differently. He's an athlete. He likes to run. He's a pleasure to be around.” Chunk of Gold showed improvement in the Louisiana Derby, again finishing second, but this time losing by just 2 1/4 lengths. The race was won by the Steve Asmussen-trained Tiztastick, a $335,000 Keeneland September purchase. Yinzer (Twirling Candy), a $1 million purchase at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, was last. “I thought his race was fantastic,” West said. “It set up just as we thought. (Jockey) Jareth Loveberry is a very studious rider and he knew where everybody was going before the gate opened. Or, I should say, he knew where they were supposed to go. He knew how the race would set up and he had his game plan mapped out. We were on the same page with it. The only thing that didn't go according to plan, and it's not such a bad thing, is that he was a lot more forwardly placed than we imagined. Jareth said he put himself there naturally and he wasn't going to take himself out of the race. At the top of the stretch I thought he was going to keep on going . He got a little tired but that was the most he had ever had to work that early on in a race. Usually, he makes that half-mile run and tries to mow 'em down. On Saturday, he had to work a little harder earlier and that was something he hadn't had to do before.” West sees a horse that has improved a lot and has done so over a short period of time. “He's gotten a lot stronger over the last six to eight weeks,” he said. “Between these last two races he really took a step forward size-wise and maturity-wise in his body. He didn't necessarily get taller, but he really started to fill out. He really started to muscle up. A lot of people who saw him before the Risen Star and then before the Louisiana Derby commented to me how much he had changed. I thought he took a big step forward physically and mentally. He was putting more into his training, getting more out of it. That was all on his own, he wanted to get more out of it.” The perfect ending to the story is that the $2,500 horse wins the Kentucky Derby. That's not impossible, but it is highly unlikely. He'll probably be about 50-1 and will be overshadowed by the horses who won the major preps. But Chunk of Gold keeps overcoming the odds, and West doesn't see why he can't do it one more time. “We'll need a lot of luck,” he said. “With 20 horses in the Derby, I don't think the best horse wins all the time. To get the best trip and to stay out of trouble means everything. As long as we can keep him healthy and happy I think we have as good a shot as anyone. That's what I believe.” The post Out of the Bargain Basement, The $2,500 Yearling Who Is On His Way to the Kentucky Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A last start sixth behind Marketplace in a Group 1 on IRT New Zealand Cup day reads like good form for Sacetas heading into Ashburton today. The Tom Bagrie-trained three-year-old is fresh up and a $1.70 favourite in Race 5, the Scenic Hotel Mobile Pace (4.40pm). He will be driven by Ricky May. As the highest-rated horse in the field he’s drawn the outside of the front row over the 1700 metre trip. He has won one from 10 so far. “His work has been really good and we thought this is a nice wee race for him,” says Bagrie, “but he does have some quirks.” The “quirks” he refers to have been some erratic behaviour at the trials in February. Twice he refused to play ball in the score up and was pulled up. His manners were much improved in his most recent trial though when he finished fourth behind Kasarani, Crunch Time and Miki B just last Thursday. “That last trial was really good,” says Bagrie, who was in the sulky at Rangiora. “Fingers crossed there won’t be any hiccups coming up to the gate.” “We are hoping for a good run with some good 3YO races coming up.” Sacetas’ last start was in the Sires’ Stakes 2YO Colts and Geldings Final at Addington on Cup day. He was sixth that day with the Group 1 taken out by Marketplace who has gone on to stamp himself as a budding star. Also in the final were the likes of Rubira, Got The Chocolates, and Demon Blue. Bagrie is upbeat about the chances of Hoof It Hagrid who is also fresh up in the Majestic Horse Floats Trot (2.54pm). He’s had just the three starts, winning on debut at Rangiora last year. “He’s still learning his craft but he’s come back stronger and I would say he’s a really good chance.” “At his most recent trial he was third behind Eurostyle and Father Time.” The $4 favourite for the race is the Michael House-trained Koko Kaboom. First race at Ashburton goes at 2.19pm. View the full article