Wandering Eyes

Hollie Doyle celebrated a landmark success when Handle With Care became her 1,000th winner in Britain in the opening six-furlong Fillies' Handicap March 24.View the full article

Resolute Racing's farm manager Noel Murphy is not one for interviews, especially when they take place in front of a camera, but when the topic of conversation is Goodnight Olive? Well okay, he will kindly acquiesce. For Murphy, the story of Goodnight Olive has always appealed to him. A $170,000 yearling purchase campaigned by First Row Partners and Team Hanley, the daughter of Ghostzapper developed into a four-time Grade I winner and dual Breeders' Cup champion. “I think it's the fact that she was not the chosen one at the start and it took her time to get there, but on the biggest days that's when she showed up,” Murphy explained. “I just love that about her–that when the most was asked of her, that's when she gave the most. It's special to have an equine athlete like that.” Purchased by John Stewart for $6 million in 2023, Goodnight Olive seems to have carried her outstanding tendencies into the latest chapter of her story. On Feb. 10 the champion female sprinter produced her first foal, a colt by Not This Time. Murphy said the foaling exceeded all expectations. “She was absolutely superstar,” he recounted. “She laid down exactly where we wanted her, never went to get back up and produced an absolutely spectacular individual for a maiden. He was 150 pounds–and that's 150 pounds confirmed on a weighing scale–and has not missed a meal since. At 20 days old he was 228 pounds, so he's gaining close to four pounds a day. As ever with 'Olive', she overachieves in everything she does and this was another example of overachieving. He's built just like his mom. He's not overly leggy, but he's got a huge shoulder and huge hip on him.” Goodnight Olive and her Not This Time colt stretch their legs at Resolute Farm | Sara Gordon The colt has already been nicknamed 'Ollie' by the Resolute team and Murphy described the youngster's personality as “big time all the time.” “He just enjoys everything he does,” he explained. “As soon as you go in the stall he'll meet you and even when he was younger, he was not scared or intimidated. He's waiting at the door and he just loves human interaction. He's a gift to us, like we just love the fact that John put this amount of trust in buying this mare and she has rewarded him with this caliber of a first-time foal. I've been doing this in Kentucky for 27 years and you're not going to get a better first-time maiden foal than him.” Murphy hypothesized that, based on Stewart's partiality toward Goodnight Olive, 'Ollie' will likely join the Resolute Racing stable one day. “I don't think there is a horse in Kentucky that has eaten more treats in the calendar year of 2024 than Olive,” he joked. “She can sense John coming and she knows the treats are coming. For people that don't know John, he truly does loves his horses, like nothing brings him more joy than to come out after a day in the office and spend time here on the farm. It's fun to watch.” This past weekend, Goodnight Olive was bred back to Gainesway's Seize the Grey, the winner of last year's GI Preakness Stakes and GI Pennsylvania Derby. Next month, the superstar mare will be a part of the 'Brunch with the Babies' event Resolute plans to host on April 13, giving fans the opportunity to visit the farm and meet Resolute's latest foal crop. Goodnight Olive was bred back to Seize the Grey this year| Sara Gordon “I can't express how proud I am of all Olive has done since she came here,” said Murphy. “She's been the center of attention and she has never, ever disappointed in whatever we've asked her to do whether it's greeting the public, taking pictures and just being a representative of the farm or getting pregnant, carrying the pregnancy and foaling down a 150 pound maiden foal. You've just got to love her. Everything she does, she seems to just get it right.” The post “Big Time All The Time,” Goodnight Olive’s First Foal at Resolute appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are three horse racing meetings set for Australia on Tuesday, March 25. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Ballarat. Tuesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – March 25, 2025 Ballarat Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on March 25, 2025 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! 4 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 5 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips 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. Tuesday's Observations features a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' returning from long absences. 2.30 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, c/g, 8fT GUN OF BRIXTON (FR) (Frankel {GB}) was one of the 2024 cast of TDN Rising Stars after his win at Clairefontaine in July and so this first subsequent outing will be the subject of close attention. Haras Voltaire's homebred who is out of a half to Harzand (Ire) reappears early enough for Andre Fabre to ascertain whether he is Classic material and he faces seven in this Prix Comrade which played host to the smart Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 2022. 4.15 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, f, 8fT ULTRAFRAGOLA (IRE) (Sottsass {Fr}) is another long-absent TDN Rising Star to be reintroduced on this card, with her striking debut win at Deauville in July the only evidence of her prowess to date. Jean-Claude Rouget pits the White Birch Farm homebred daughter of the multiple graded-stakes scorer Toinette (Scat Daddy) against nine other Classic wannabes including another daughter of Sottsass in the David Layani colour-bearer Safia (Fr), a Fabrice Chappet-trained descendant of Sophisticat (Storm Cat) and Serena's Song (Rahy) who was an impressive winner on her sole start at ParisLongchamp in October. The post Gun Of Brixton and Ultrafragola Return at Saint-Cloud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The California-based trainer will send out Straight No Chaser in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) April 5. The Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner followed that success with a blistering win in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia Feb. 22.View the full article

Hollie Doyle brought up a landmark 1,000th domestic career winner when partnering the Marco Botti-trained Handle With Care (GB) (Advertise {GB}) to victory in the opening six-furlong fillies' handicap at Lingfield on Monday. “I'm delighted to have got that done,” Doyle told Sky Sports Racing. “It's another milestone and hopefully there's another 1,000 under the bonnet somewhere! “I've had so much support over the years, so many people have been loyal to me, especially Archie [Watson]. Since I joined him, my career has really taken off. And Marco has also been a big supporter of mine, so it's quite fitting.” Doyle, whose first ride was a winning one when teaming up with The Mongoose in a lady riders' contest at Salisbury in May 2013, served her apprenticeship with Richard Hannon, before joining the Watson team in 2019. That year Doyle became the third woman to ride more than 100 winners in a single season on the Flat, after Hayley Turner and Josephine Gordon, with her annual tally of 116 winners seeing her break the latter's record of 106. She later recorded a new personal-best total of 172 winners in 2021, while it was in September last year that she made it to 1,000 career winners worldwide. Another landmark year in Doyle's career came in 2020 as she celebrated her first Royal Ascot winner when Alan King's Scarlet Dragon landed the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. She also rode a five-timer at Windsor, secured her first Group-race success on Dame Maillot in the G2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes and became retained rider for Derby-winning owner Imad Al Sagar. Perhaps even more significantly, Doyle became the first woman to ride a winner on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot when Trueshan gained the first of his three victories in the G2 Long Distance Cup, before recording a landmark first Group 1 success when making it a double on Glen Shiel in the Champions Sprint Stakes. Wider recognition for Doyle's remarkable achievements followed later in 2020 when she was crowned the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year, while she also took third place–behind Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson–in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. More recently, Doyle has also enjoyed successful associations with the likes of Nashwa and Bradsell, who are responsible for six of the rider's 10 Group 1 victories between them. Most notably, Nashwa's three wins at the top level included the 2022 Prix de Diane when she became Doyle's first European Classic winner. “It's crazy–I struggle to believe some of the things I've achieved and I'm pretty sure a lot of other people do as well,” Doyle added. “It's amazing and I just need to keep going.” The post Hollie Doyle Celebrates 1,000 Domestic Winners at Lingfield appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2024 champion turf mare GISW Moira (Ghostzapper) is set to make her debut for her new connections in her adopted home of Australia in the Apr. 5 G1 Doncaster Mile, according to racing.com. Purchased by Yulong for $4.3-million at FTKNOV after her sterling victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last season, the Australian site reports that Moira has been in quarantine at Canterbury and has reportedly been turning heads with her works. Yulong's general manager Vin Cox told the publication that the Doncaster is her first aim, and that while she will eventually join their broodmare band, a racing future will be decided by Moira. Zac Purton is confirmed to ride. “If she was to find her best form, there would be no reason why she couldn't train on for next season,” Cox said to racing.com. “She's thriving in her training and coping well, so we're looking forward to seeing her run.” Now in training with Chris Waller, Moira is also nominated to a pair of Group 1s at Royal Randwick Apr. 12. According to the report, her American stablemates GISW Full Count Felicia (War Front)–fourth behind the mighty multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) in last weekend's G1 Ranvet Stakes–and MGISW Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) are all being prepared in Sydney. The lattermost is among nominations for the G2 Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill Saturday. The post Moira Set for Australian Debut in Doncaster Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The comparison tool enables users to liken stallions according to user-defined criteria such as location, stud fee, and the year entering stud. Stallions can be categorized by metrics including starters, winners, black-type winners and percentages.View the full article

This week's Amercia's Best Racing's Kentucky Derby Prospect Profile takes a closer look at Tiztastic, the winner by 2 1/4 lengths of the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) March 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.View the full article

Alflaila (GB), Shadwell's dual winner of the G2 York Stakes, has been retired and will begin his stallion career later this year at White Robe Lodge in New Zealand, the stud announced on Monday. Trained by Owen Burrows, Alflaila retires as the winner of seven of his 19 career starts and over £550,000 in prize-money. His other notable victories included the G3 Strensall Stakes at York and G3 Darley Stakes at Newmarket in 2022, while last year he also finished fourth in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, before returning to the Knavesmire to win the York Stakes for the second consecutive year. “He repeatedly proved he belonged at the top level,” Burrows summed up. “He was sharp enough to win over six [furlongs] first out as a two-year-old and he showed a brilliant turn of foot that day.” Alflaila is one of three winners from as many runners out of the Listed-placed Adhwaa (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who, in turn, is out of the Listed Cheshire Oaks heroine Hammiya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). The team at White Robe Lodge has also been buoyed by the success another son of Dark Angel (Ire), Harry Angel (Ire), has enjoyed with his runners in the Southern Hemisphere, including at Rosehill on Saturday when Private Harry (Aus) won the G1 Kia Ora Galaxy. “With the way he's going in Australia, Harry Angel is the youngest stallion in the top ten at the moment,” White Robe Lodge's Jack Stewart told The Thoroughbred Report. “Everyone knows the sireline now. We're pretty lucky to have Australia right next door. They [New Zealand breeders] would have respected the Dark Angel line already, but it helps that a son is already down in this area and going well. “It's a great damsire line as well. The first two damsires are champion sires and the third damsire is Fairy King, who has been superb in this part of the world, too. It's just one of those things where him on type, and then his race performance and pedigree, too, it all just makes sense for us.” Stewart added, “He won seven races and five of them were at stakes level. He lined up and he pinned his ears back, and you could just tell when you watched the race, that he had a real will to win.” Alflaila will be offered in 2025 at an introductory fee of NZ$7,000, with a limited number of lifetime breeding rights available. The post Multiple Group Winner Alflaila Retired to White Robe Lodge in New Zealand appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following a scary incident at the top of the stretch in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park March 22, trainer Thomas Drury Jr. was happy to report California Burrito emerged from the race in good order.View the full article

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) launched Horses Work for Kentucky to share the impact, and lesser-known aspects, of the state's signature industry and are now seeking submissions, the group announced Monday morning. Supported by names such as Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Mt. Brilliant Farm, Red Mile, and the KEEP Alliance and Foundation, the initiative is set across digital platforms, social media, radio, and a new website in order to showcase the essential role horses play in driving Kentucky's economy and heritage forward. The campaign invites Kentuckians from all 120 counties of the Commonwealth to share their stories about how horses and the industry have changed their lives for the better. “People think of Kentucky, they think of horses. They don't think of dollars, they don't think of sales. They want to come from out there to see what we've got here. And that's really cool because we take it for granted,” said Kelly Curry, owner of K Bar C Ranch. “You know, we wake up in the morning, we see beautiful green grass and beautiful horses and our plank fences and we're just used to it. But that is Kentucky. Horses are Kentucky.” To learn more about how to participate, and where to share your story, please visit the Horses Work website. The post KEEP Foundation Launches ‘Horses Work for Kentucky” Initiative to Highlight Industry’s Impact appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sporting the Aga Khan silks so synonymous with the French Classics, the G1 Prix de Diane entry Cankoura (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}–Candarliya {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) came home alone on her 3-year-old bow at Chantilly on Monday to offer an early shot across the bows ahead of the 2025 renewal of that 10 1/2-furlong feature. Kept to the Polytrack surface and 9 1/2-furlong trip over which she had opened her account here in December, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained grey sauntered around the bends of the track which will host the Classic in June with Mickael Barzalona happy to wait to act in the four-runner Prix de la Pistole conditions event. Arriving at the fore approaching the two-furlong pole, the 2-5 favourite surged clear for an emphatic nine-length success in a time considerably faster than the opening handicap on the card. The modest maiden Big Surprise (Fr) (Chachnak {Fr}) followed her home, with the race's blue-blooded big-stable representatives Vegetale (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Yoga Master (GB) (Persian King {Ire}) perhaps running below expectations. The winner is a half-sister to last year's G3 Prix de la Grotte scorer Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}), who ultimately failed to build on that deeply promising success and was eighth in the 2024 Diane. Her strong-staying dam Candarliya captured the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, the Prix de Royallieu when it was formerly a group 2, and the G3 Prix Minerve and was runner-up to Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) in the 2015 G1 Prix Vermeille. Smart performance at Chantilly! Cankoura is out of a dual Group Two winner and doubles her tally with an easy success for @GraffardRacing and Mickael Barzalona! pic.twitter.com/EcpqJLUnSd — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 24, 2025 The post Persian King’s Diane Entry Dominates At Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien has revealed that long-time 2,000 Guineas favourite The Lion In Winter is unlikely to make the Newmarket Classic on May 3 and nominated Expanded and Twain as being the most likely Ballydoyle-trained representatives for the race instead. The news, which was delivered at the annual Ballydoyle press morning, saw Expanded usurp The Lion In Winter as the new 2,000 Guineas favourite while Twain has also shortened into odds of 9-1. “The Lion In Winter took a little bit of time to come right so he's a little bit behind the others,” O'Brien said. “We took him to the Curragh last weekend and he went well, the work was easy what he did. Whether he'll make it in time for the Guineas or not I'm not sure. We'll know in the next week or so but if he doesn't he might be trained for something like the Dante (at York) and go straight to the Derby, something like that. “There has to be a doubt about the Guineas but he's very well, he's just carrying plenty of condition so he might not make it, in the next couple of weeks we'll know.” Expanded: the new favourite for the 2,000 Guineas | Brian Sheerin O'Brien's leading filly from last year, Lake Victoria, who won Group 1 races over six and seven furlongs as well as over a mile, is also not certain to be ready in time for the 1,000 Guineas. “She's good, she had a long break, longer than the others because her year went very long,” said O'Brien. “She was at the Curragh last weekend as well on an easy piece of work. I'm not sure if she'll make the Guineas but we're training her for it. If she didn't (make it) she would go for the Athasi Stakes the day after at the Curragh if she didn't come in time. “Knowing her she probably will come in time because she's that type of filly. I'm very happy with her and we think she's done very well.” The post New Favourite For 2,000 Guineas As O’Brien Reveals The Lion In Winter A Doubt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Neil Callan has been given an eight-month ban following remarks made on social media, but the jockey will be able to continue riding after the sentence was suspended for two years. Callan was charged with three offences and breaches of the rules of racing. The first under rule J19a being that on December 15, 2023 he sent out a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, in relation to British Horseracing Authority (BHA) steward Anthony McGlone that was abusive, insulting and did not treat him with respect. The second charge came as a result of conduct on December 9, 2023 when Callan posted in relation to the BHA that was not a responsible use of social media and did not show adequate respect to the officials. The third allegation was in breach of rule J19 and related to conduct between August 16, 2023 and January 14, 2024 when he posted, reposted and commented on social media in a manner that was offensive, abusive and inappropriate, such that it was prejudicial to the proper conduct and good reputation of horse racing in Great Britain. Following a closed plea agreement, independent judicial panel chair Tim Grey said, “The agreement that was reached was that the sanction that will be imposed on Mr Callan for those breaches will be a sanction of an eight-month suspension of Mr Callan's licence and that suspension itself will be suspended for a period of 24 months, concurrent on each of those counts. “In addition, there will be a financial penalty that will be immediately payable in the sum of £1,500. The suspension will have an effect of acting as a deterrent. “It's also right to say that if Mr Callan were to commit any further breaches of the rules of racing, for standalone riding and riding-related offences dealt with by raceday stewards or the whip review committee, or a judicial panel hearing on whip, running or riding or related offences of interference referral, in the next two years, it would then be open to any future judicial panel to activate the suspension in addition to any new penalty.” The post Neil Callan Receives Suspended Eight-Month Ban for Social Media Breaches appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Cap Ferrat joins Massive Sovereign in scooping the city’s most prestigious race after being offloaded by the breeding powerhouse.View the full article

Group One performer Pearl Of Alsace has been retired. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Pearl Of Alsace came desperately close to a fairytale finish to her racing career, with the Group One performer retiring off the back of a second placing in Saturday’s Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). A serious talent from day one, the daughter of Tavistock rose rapidly through the grades in her first racing preparation for trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, winning her first five appearances, culminating in the 2023 edition of the Cuddle Stakes. Stepping up to elite level in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), she lost no admirers, finishing a luckless fourth. Bred and owned by Sir Peter Vela of Pencarrow Stud, Pearl Of Alsace secured her all-important Group One placing in the Livamol Classic (2050m) and performed admirably in her only start in Australia, finishing fourth to Deny Knowledge in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m). Her final season on the track produced a placing in the Group 2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) and a booming effort to only just fall short to Our Jumala at Trentham on Saturday, indicative of her consistency at the highest level. From just 21 starts, she bows out with seven wins, four minor placings and just shy of $400,000 in stakes. “She couldn’t have run any better on Saturday; she just came up short by a nose, but sectionally, she was outstanding,” Vela’s racing manager Garry Cossey said. “She’s going out on a good note. “She’s certainly done Pencarrow proud, and she’s been a great mare—Group One placed and a Cuddle Stakes winner. She also ran fourth in a Group Two in Melbourne, so she’s done a fantastic job in the time that she has been racing. “Sir Peter got an offer on her before she even raced, but we asked Shaune if he thought she could get black-type, and he believed she most certainly could. She won first up at Taranaki and then went bang-bang-bang; that first season was great, culminating in the Cuddle and an unlucky fourth in the Breeders’ Stakes.” Out of Group Two-performing mare Irion, Pearl Of Alsace has the pedigree to match her ability, setting her in good stead for her next chapter in the broodmare paddock. “She was always a nice filly and a good, genuine horse; we were always hopeful of her reaching Group class, which is what she did,” Vela said. “We’re very proud of her; she’s done really well, and she’ll be a beautiful broodmare. We thought she looked as good as a horse could look on Saturday, and the time is right for her to go and think about other things. “We tried with Proisir last season, but she’ll go back into the bundle now, and we’ll go through all of the stallions that are available to her. We will see which one we feel will make the best mate and keep our fingers crossed.” Pearl Of Alsace will join Irion in Pencarrow’s broodmare band, with the dam visiting Cambridge Stud’s shuttle stallion Chaldean in her most recent mating. “He has a beautiful pedigree and was a lovely racehorse, we’re very lucky to have him in New Zealand,” Vela said. “To have a horse of that quality and that pedigree, it was a gift.” Horse racing news View the full article

Alflaila defeats King’s Gambit in the Gr.2 York Stakes (2100m)Photo: Supplied Quality European galloper Alflaila has been secured for stud duties by White Robe Lodge, introducing one of the world’s great sire lines to New Zealand through his champion sire Dark Angel. Bred and raced by the famed Shadwell operation, Alflaila’s racing career is defined by resilience, consistency, and elite-level talent, as evidenced by back-to-back victories in the fiercely competitive Group 2 York Stakes (2100m), a race that has tested some of Europe’s best middle-distance horses. A winner on debut as an early two-year-old over 1200m, Alflaila would train on to showcase his class over the ensuing three seasons for trainer Owen Burrows. In six starts at three, Alflaila won on four occasions, commencing his Classic season with a victory at Ascot over 1400m before landing the Listed Pomfret Stakes (1600m), the Group 3 Strensall Stakes (1750m) at York and the Group 3 Darley Stakes (1800m) at Newmarket. On resumption at four, Alflaila swept past Group One performer My Prospero to land the York Stakes and produced a big run from last to finish fifth behind Auguste Rodin in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) in a field that featured high-class gallopers Luxembourg, Nashwa, and King Of Steel. He returned as a five-year-old to defend his York Stakes title and was also a fast-finishing fourth in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (2000m) at Royal Ascot. Alflaila’s peak Timeform rating of 125 placed him among the elite performers of his generation. “He repeatedly proved he belonged at the top level,” trainer Owen Burrows said. “He was sharp enough to win over six furlongs first time out as a two-year-old and he showed a brilliant turn of foot that day. “As a three-year-old, he never stopped improving, and as we stepped him up in trip to a mile, he was getting better. “That winter at the end of his three-year-old season, he travelled out to Bahrain, where he’d probably have started quite a short-price favourite for the Bahrain Trophy (Group 2, 2000m), but unfortunately, he picked up an injury out there. “But he was very resilient and came back and won the York Stakes on resumption, a race which he won again last year in tenacious fashion. “It was a very big run in both the Irish Champion Stakes and again last year to finish fourth in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, where he had his ground slightly taken, and he was right on the heels of some proper top-class horses. “He is a very athletic horse who was tough as well. He came back from a few little setbacks that plenty wouldn’t have, but he did really want it. “I think breeders will be impressed. He is very attractive and is all in proportion, moves well, and has a good athletic build on him. “I have trained a few by Dark Angel, and he is quite typical in terms of build and looks. He was champion stallion in Britain and Ireland last year, and he has been quite a phenomenon.” Dark Angel is one of Europe’s most sought-after stallions, with 17 individual Group One winners, including the likes of Harry Angel, Battaash, and Charyn. Harry Angel has taken the Southern Hemisphere by storm, with star performers like Tom Kitten, Private Harry, Angel Capital, and Stretan Angel propelling him into the top tier of Australia’s general sires’ standings, an incredible achievement for a stallion with only three crops racing. Alflaila is out of the stakes-placed Oasis Dream mare Adhwaa, who in turn is a daughter of the stakes-winning Darshaan mare Hammiya, also the dam of listed winner Shaqira. The third dam is the stakes-winning Fairy King mare Albacora, herself a half-sister to Group Three winner and Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (1600m) runner-up Pont-Aven. “Marcus Corban has been pivotal in helping us land Alflaila,” said Jack Stewart of White Robe Lodge. “He’s a great family friend but also one of the great minds of our industry, and he facilitated David Redvers inspecting the horse on our behalf. “He provided a glowing review, describing Alflaila as a very attractive, classy individual with a great action and very good confirmation standing at around 16hh. “As soon as I showed my granddad (Brian ‘BJ’ Anderton) his race performance, pedigree, and photos, he simply said, “get it done”. “BJ stood his first stallion at 18 years old and now, just recently turned 88, will be in his 70th year of owning and standing stallions, which is phenomenal and speaks volumes of where his judgement has got him over the decades. “Alflaila embodies what modern breeders seek—raw power, proven speed, an elite pedigree, and a stunning physical type. Being a debut winner as an early two-year-old was key for us in today’s market and also that he trained on to win at Group level at three, four and five across distances ranging from 1200-2100m. “Shadwell Stud has elected to retain a breeding interest in Alflaila, and we are buoyed by the fact Zabeel and Per Incanto are graduates of their successful racing and breeding program who have gone on to have a huge impact at stud in New Zealand. “We couldn’t be more excited to bring Alflaila to White Robe Lodge.” Alflaila will stand at an introductory fee of $7,000+GST, with a limited number of lifetime breeding rights available, presenting a unique opportunity to breeders to share in the stallion’s future success. Horse racing news View the full article

Zelia winning the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series – Noms Close 31 March (1000m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South David Walsh’s golden run continued at Riccarton on Saturday when he collected a winning double at his home track courtesy of in-form runners Zelia and Toa Haka, and now he has his sights on black-type targets. The former champion jockey returned to the training ranks this season, and he has now won four and placed in five of his 12 starts since his comeback, with the pair adding two wins apiece to his tally. Juvenile filly Zelia has shown a lot of promise for Walsh this season and continued her upward trajectory when taking out the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series—Noms Close 31 March (1000m) by a convincing 5-1/2 lengths, with Walsh believing the addition of blinkers were a great assist. “She just keeps improving and keeps putting her head in the feed bin,” he said. “Each time she has a day out, she just gets better. “I always thought the blinkers would help her a lot after giving her a gallop in them in track work one day. You just have to wait for the right time (to use them) because they have to be really ready to go when you use them. “She had two runs back from a spell; she had a trial at Ashburton 10 days before, so she was fit and ready to go, so it was a great time to put them (blinkers) on. It worked, and she was too good for them. “The fact it was a Pearl Series race as well was great, basically being worth double the stake money.” While Walsh believes Zelia is suited to better footing, he is pressing on with the daughter of Fierce Impact for at least one more run in a bid to gain black type in next month’s Listed Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton. “The track is nowhere near as firm as she would like. She will go a lot better on dry ground. She seemed to skip through it (Soft7) pretty well, but she was able to pick her line and go where she wanted,” Walsh said. “She is going to race on the 12th (of April) at Riccarton in a 1000m Listed two-year-old race, so while she is up and in form, she might as well have a crack at that. “She came through the race well; she looked beautiful yesterday; you wouldn’t have even thought she had been anywhere. “There is one more race that she can start in (after the Welcome Stakes), but by then she has probably done enough, so she will more likely head to the spelling paddock after her next start and have a month off and then start thinking about the springtime.” Walsh said she will likely be joined in the Welcome Stakes by stablemate Loose ‘N’ Vegas, who finished runner-up in her 1000m trial at Riccarton on Monday. “She went really well,” he said. “I did think that she might be able to win the trial, but the horse who won (El Vaquero) went really well at Ashburton with a light weight on. She (Loose ‘N’ Vegas) wasn’t totally happy in the ground (Soft7), the ground was pretty chopped up after racing on Saturday. “Being a Turn Me Loose, she is not really a 1000m horse; 1200m and further is going to be a big help to her. I do think if it had been 1200 m, she would have won.” Loose ‘N’ Vegas was set to make her debut against Zelia last Saturday, but Walsh said it was a blessing in disguise that she didn’t gain a start. “She was in on Saturday on the ballot but didn’t get a start, and that was probably a blessing because she would have had a hard race trying to chase Zelia,” he said. “She might have run in the money, but it is probably better having the trial today. “I am looking at running her in that black-type race first up. There is nothing else around for her unless you go to Riverton, which is a long way to go. If she can get a run at Riccarton, she will start there. “Whatever she does she will improve with the run. She should be competitive in that next black-type race (Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes, 1200m) on May 3, which is more up her alley than the 1000m.” Back at Riccarton last Saturday, Walsh completed his winning double when Toa Haka made it back-to-back victories in the Moorpork NZ Pig Farm Rating 75 (1200m). The victory brought his season record to two wins and three placings from eight starts, and nearly $60,000 in earnings. “He has been racing fantastic,” Walsh said. “His first run he half needed it and drew wide that day, so it was a real forgive run. Every run since has been good and he keeps improving every start. “He has got a lot of ticker and keeps showing plenty of heart in his races and when he gets challenged, he keeps finding. “He got the most beautiful run in the race (on Saturday) and he was just too good for them. Horse racing news View the full article

Fifth in Sunday’s feature, the four-year-old could lock horns with star Australian galloper Mr Brightside on Champions Day next month.View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A speedy customer on the track, Elite Stride had the perfect debut as a stallion when Who’s Ya Daddy won at Addington Raceway on Friday night. “He’s one from one,” says Alabar New Zealand’s General Manager Graeme Henley. “That was his first starter and first winner … he’s undefeated.” In just a three horse race Who’s Ya Daddy (Elite Stride – One Night Stand) was nursed along early in the Isaac Infrastructure Two-Year-Old Mobile Trot only to overhaul the pace-making Redpark Warrior to win by one and a quarter lengths. Trained by Trent Yesberg and driven by Bob Butt, the two-year-old gelding was a $1.40 favourite after impressing at the trials. On his Facebook page Yesberg posted : “From the moment he hit the track, his attitude and natural work ethic blew us away. We knew he had the potential, but seeing him shine in his first race was something special. And this is just the start – the future looks bright.” Yesberg’s Ripple Creek purchased Who’s Ya Daddy for $8000 at the 2023 National Weanling Sale at Karaka, with his debut win earning more than $20,000 in stakes and bonuses. “He does have a nice way of going,” says Henley of the winner, “and he’s out of a Love You mare and Elite Stride is a son of Muscle Hill so there’s a heck of pedigree right there.” Bred and raced in Australia by powerhouse owners Emilio and Mary Rosati, Elite Stride (Muscle Hill – Real Babe) had nine wins from 14 starts in Australia, with a best mile rate of 1:55.8 before injury put an end to his racing career. “He was Australian 3YO Trotter of the Year,” says Henley, “and he was very quick.” His first stud season was with Alabar Australia in 2021. He is still based in Victoria with his fresh chilled semen sent over here as required. So far he’s not been an easy sell in a very competitive market. “It’s amazing what’s available when you see the selection of frozen semen from Europe and the United States – it’s a tough gig,” says Henley, “there were 19 2YOs in his first crop in New Zealand and 37 in Australia.” But in Who’s Ya Daddy, Elite Stride has now produced a race winner. And everyone has to start somewhere. View the full article

Trainers as well as owners are being encouraged to get along to Addington Raceway’s annual Owners night this Friday. Starting at 5pm, the expo is free to all. The night will feature a number of stall-holders and an array of prizes and giveaways including an accommodation package to Australia worth around $3000, Bed and Breakfast at the Commodore Airport Hotel in Christchurch, and a free entry for a yearling at the 2026 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales. “We are hopeful of getting around 250 people along,” says Addington Raceway’s Sponsorship Manager Rachel Deegan. Harness Racing New Zealand will be among the stall-holders with Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden encouraging existing and prospective owners, as well as trainers to get along. “It’s a valuable forum for everyone in the sport,” says Peden, “and especially useful for trainers who have shares available in yearlings that they bought in February.” “It’s also a golden opportunity for trainers to promote themselves and get some free exposure.” All trainers who get involved will receive a $50 card for Addington’s Spectators Bar and Bistro. For more information click here Or contact Rachel Deegan at 021 734936 View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk With over 100 years between them, Alice Sinclair and Keira are a formidable combination. Earlier this month the Otago-based 89-year-old and her 13-year-old standardbred “Keira” completed the annual Cavalcade in the heart of the South Island. Organized by the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust, “cavalcaders” ride horses, wagons, or walk trails, retracing the steps of the old gold miners. For Sinclair it involved seven days of horse riding, covering around 40 kilometres a day. Crossing land that usually only musterers would see the destination, or host town, changes every year. This time the finishing point was at Twizel. It continued a remarkable run for Sinclair. She’s ridden in every Cavalcade since it started in the early 1990s though she admits it can take a toll. “My mind is willing but my body’s not,” she quips, “I’ve had three screws put into one hip and had the other one replaced twice.” Sinclair’s trusty companion on the Cavalcade was Nikeira, a now 13-year-old Changeover mare who was a one race winner at Addington in 2016. She was a pacer in her racing days but is adept at trotting under saddle. “I can’t ride a horse with a pacing action. They are like a rocking horse going side to side but a trotter is up and down and no trouble at all.” So was Keira willing during the week long trip? “She was too willing at times,” she laughs, “but she was no trouble.” “She loves being out there.” As does Sinclair. “It’s the people you are with, they come from all over, and the country you see – it’s such a wonderful time.” She takes part in the Tussock Creek Light Wagons and Riders category. That involves riding mostly over high country/farm 4WD tracks. They stay in woolsheds along the way. And there’s another bonus – it is fully catered and supported. “The Oamaru Sea Scouts looked after all our catering for the whole week. It was terrific. The best thing about the trip is that you don’t have to cook!” Sinclair was a relative latecomer to horse riding. She didn’t get own horse until she was in her 40s. She now has seven, including Keira, grazing on her 37 acre (15 hectare) farm at Mosgiel near Dunedin. Keen to give anything a go Sinclair remains super fit through her farm work. She went skydiving at 65 and for her 80th birthday she walked the 75km Camino Salvado trail in Western Australia. She’s also completed a number of Great Walks and many cycle trials around the country. Such have been her exploits that she’s featured in many magazine articles, including Woman’s Day and the Woman’s Weekly. 2026 may or may not be Sinclair’s final Cavalcade. “Next year will be number 33 when I’m 90.” And she thinks that has a pretty good ring to it. View the full article

A training first for Grant Milne and a welcome return to the winner’s circle for Murray Brown highlighted harness racing action at Oamaru and Winton over the weekend. First training win for Grant Milne By Jonny Turner Grant Milne lived up to his pedigree when producing his first winner as a trainer at Oamaru on Sunday. Milne is a blueblood in harness racing terms given both of his grandfathers have been leading Southland trainers, while his father and uncles have produced hundreds of winners between them. Milne is the son of Alex Milne and brother of Nigel Milne, the grandson of the late Alex Milne Snr and the late Les Norman, as well as being the nephew of Keith and Brian Norman. Cruising Fontana helped the rookie trainer begin to add to his family’s incredible legacy when breaking through for a deserved maiden win in the Well Done to Team Teal Mobile Pace for driver Blair Orange. Milne went into partnership with his father at the beginning of this year and Sunday’s victory is their first together. The junior training partner bred and races Cruising Fontana which made his first victory nearly perfect. There was just one aspect Milne missed out on, he wasn’t able to be on track or watch his horse win live. Milne previously worked in both touch and rugby league development and still volunteers as a coach. So rather than being tuned into his horse’s race from afar, his eyes were firmly on the road. “It’s pretty special, it is the dream result, really,” Milne said. “Well the dream would have been to be there, but I was driving a van load of kids home from a tournament in Christchurch.” “But it is still special, I have been hoping we could kick things off with this horse because I bred and own him.” Milne works in the harness racing industry full-time and he has plenty more horses he can tick off more milestones with in the future. “It is nice working with Dad and I love working on the farm.” “When I was working in Dunedin I was breeding horses and I have got a heap of them to come through.” “I have a couple of three-year-old fillies coming up to the workouts soon and a nice two-year-old by Captain Crunch coming through.” Having worked alongside all of his relatives at some point, Milne has no shortage of knowledge to call on as he builds his training career. And along the way he has made some great memories. “One of Grandad Milne’s last good horses was Camsplace Alec, he raced in the New Zealand Derby and a few good races and I remember going up with him to Addington.” “I would pop around and help him with trackwork.” “There are a lot of great stories of Grandad Les (Norman) too.” “And when I have worked with Brian (Norman) there has always been a lot of banter.” Milne credits Cruising Fontana’s win to careful placement, as well as the horse’s continued progression. “He showed us a bit breaking him in and even as a two-year-old, but he is five now.” “He has just taken a bit of time.” “It has taken careful study of the programmes to get him into the right races, either low-rated or on the grass where the big bangers won’t go.” “It is nice reward for a wee battler.” “He is a great horse to have around, we use him to educate the younger ones, he will just cruise along.” Milne will continue to place Cruising Fontana carefully and has plans to head to Ascot Park early next month with the pacer. Ted sees Murray Brown back in winner’s circle By Jonny Turner Murray Brown’s outstanding training career may have ended but his colours are still making their way into the winner’s circle. The outstanding Southland horseman enjoyed another victory when Lauren Pearson produced Ted to win the Winton Cup Day Thursday 17th April Mobile Pace for driver Nathan Williamson at Winton on Saturday. Ted transferred to Pearson’s stable earlier this year after Brown closed the doors on his Ascot Park barn after establishing himself as one of Southland’s best trainers during his 35-year training career. Brown won 551 races and just about all of Southland’s feature and cup races over that time and he has many career highlights to look back on fondly. “There are plenty of good memories to choose from and a few bad ones, you know what horses are like,” Brown said. “Beaudiene Bad Babe would have to be the best of them, she could do it all.” “She never knocked herself around, she was just the perfect horse.” “She would just run around with the rest of them at home but she knew when it was race day.” “We had a heap of good ones over the years, Highview Jude, Freeway Don and horses like Awesum Teddy.” “We won most of the cup races in Southland but I think there was one we missed out on.” Though he isn’t hands-on anymore, Brown’s horses will continue to be seen in Southland. “I qualified a two-year-old filly by Bettor’s Delight and we have a brother to Ted as well as a Sweet Lou foal.” Brown races Ted with Andrew Grierson of Woodlands Stud who he struck up a racing connection with many years ago. “I didn’t know him until he was billeted with us for the yearling sales tour down here, that was probably 15 years ago and we have had a few horses together since.” The Sweet Lou four-year-old hadn’t been handed much racing luck leading up to his Winton victory, but he’d been running home strongly in his recent races. On Saturday, it could have been a similar story until Williamson found clear air for the pacer late. “He has been going good races, but we always seem to draw badly with the preferential draws.” “He has always had speed, but he hadn’t shown that at the races.” “But he is getting better, they ran home in 27.6sec (400m) and he would have gone better than that coming from behind them.” The feature event at Saturday’s Winton meeting was taken out by another Sweet Lou pacer. Canterbury raider Piccadilly Pete took out a highly tactical running of the Central Southland Cup for trainer Matt Purvis and driver Matthew Williamson. View the full article