Wandering Eyes

Barnes, Rodriguez, Gaming and champion Citizen Bull all worked for trainer Bob Baffert March 23 at Santa Anita. Also on the tab was Vodka With a Twist, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up.View the full article

There are two horse racing meetings set for Australia on Monday, March 24. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Newcastle. Monday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – March 24, 2025 Newcastle 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 24, 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

Report from Japan.View the full article

Breeding giant John Messara was almost lost for words before labeling Snitzel an absolutely amazing stallion" after third-starter Marhoona became the Arrowfield sire's third Golden Slipper (G1) winner March 22 at Rosehill Gardens.View the full article

Cap Ferrat used a good draw and a canny ride by Craig Williams to get his first career win in one of Hong Kong's biggest races, the Hong Kong Derby.View the full article

For much of his career, Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) was regarded as a good Louisiana-bred. Nothing more. Coming into Saturday's GII New Orleans Classic, he had won 14 races from 20 starts, but 13 of those wins had come in Louisiana-bred company. He beat open company in the 2023 Delta Mile S., but had never won a graded stakes race. Nothing figured to change in the Classic as Touchuponastar, a $15,000 yearling purchase, was set to face Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), last year's 3-year-old male champion who cost $2.3-million at the sales. Owner Jake Delhomme, the former NFL quarterback, respected Sierra Leone but did not fear him. He had the choice of instead running Touchuponastar in a state-bred stakes on Sunday. But his confidence level in his horse was so high that he decided to accept the challenge the New Orleans Classic presented. “We all have dreams,” Delhomme said. “We think he's a quality horse. When Sierra Leone's connections said he was coming that put a pause on our plans. But he was doing so well that we thought we would enter both the Classic and the Louisiana-bred race and then take a look at both. I was hearing rumors that a couple would be scratching from the Fair Grounds race and I knew that three were cross entered in the Essex at Oaklawn. (Five horses scratched, leaving a field of five). We thought was doing great, the race is in our backyard, so why not give it a shot? We felt he was doing as well as he's ever done. That was the main reason we ran. I respect the hell out of Sierra Leone but he was coming off a layoff. For us, it was worth taking a shot.” A shot that paid off. Touchuponastar won by 2 1/2 lengths over Hall of Fame (Gun Runner). It was another two lengths back to Sierra Leone in third. “What he's done is not only for me, it's for our community in Louisiana,” Delhomme said. “In Louisiana, we are prideful, passionate people and we love our race horses. Over the years we've had a lot of good ones who have competed in open competition and done very well.” Touchuponastar got a 109 Beyer. That ties him for first place in the category of main track races run at a mile or longer. The other two with 109s are Locked (Gun Runner) and White Abarrio (Race Day). Delhomme and his brother Jeff, who trains Touchuponastar, found the horse at the 2020 Texas Thoroughbred Association Yearling and HORA sale. He's still not sure why he had to spend so little. “I got lucky buying him for $15,000,” he said. “His mother was a quality race mare and I had more money to spend. That was in August after Covid had started in February and I think everything was a little down at that time. I think I just got lucky.” Though Touchuponastar might have the quality needed to win a Grade I race, Delhomme also knows that his horse is all but unbeatable in Louisiana-bred races and he'll have to figure out if they should grab the low hanging fruit or face tougher competition in open stakes. “I think I'll go back and forth (between state-bred and open company),” he said. “We don't travel with tracks. We stay at the training center year-round. The last couple of years we've tried the Grade III Sexton Mile and ran second both times. That race is still on our radar. I'm also looking at the Ben Ali at Keeneland. But, to be honest, I'm not sure yet.” Touchuponastar is a 6-year-old gelding and is in by far the best form of his life. For those reasons, Delhomme hopes that the run he is on won't end any time soon. “He's a gelding and he's ours,” he said. “He's very sound. We'd love to be able to run him for a couple more years. We're going to sit back and let him tell us what's net. We'll pick out a spot, try to give our best effort and enjoy what we've got.” No Stakes at Aqueduct It used to be unheard for their to be no stakes races on Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct. Yet, there wasn't one Saturday and there won't be another one this coming Saturday. While that may hurt the NYRA brand, it's the right thing to do. There are far too many stakes races in New York and throughout the winter we were treated to one stakes after another that had five horses or fewer. Yes, NYRA surely could have come up with a stakes race to card Saturday, but it no doubt would have meant a small field and a bad betting race. No one needs that. Rice Dominates Big A We're used to seeing Linda Rice doing well during the winter at Aqueduct, but what she has done at the current meet, which ends March 30, almost defies belief. She had 47 winners, 31 more than the runner-up in the standings, Rick Dutrow. Take the total combined wins of the trainers who are in second, third and fourth place in the standing and they have just 41 wins to their credit. For whatever reason, those numbers have not been enough for owners to give her a chance with a good horse. At least this year, she has a Derby contender. Sand Devil (Violence) won his first three starts, all of them coming in New York-bred races before finishing second in the GIII Gotham S. He's scheduled to run next in the GII Wood Memorial. Rice has never started a horse in the Derby. Final Gambit | Coady Media Rapidly Improving Final Gambit a Maybe For Derby Final Gambit (Not This Time) was an impressive winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks Saturday and earned more than enough points to qualify for the Derby field. But trainer Brad Cox said Sunday he'd not certain where the Juddmonte-owned colt will run next. The problem is that he has never run on the dirt, only on the grass and on synthetic surfaces. “The Derby is not 100%,” Cox said. “I spoke with Garrett (Juddmonte General Manager, USA) O'Rourke a little bit about it last night. “Ultimately it will come down to Prince Khalid's family and whether they want to take a swing. We'll see. He was training at Turfway last fall. I happened to be there one morning and he breezed well. From there I took him to Churchill, trained him on the dirt. I thought those works were ok, but it also led me to start him off on the turf, if that says anything.” According to the Beyer numbers, Final Gambit was easily the slowest horse in the race. His career best number coming in was a 66. The competition included two horses who ran in the 90s and several that had figures in the 80s. In the Jeff Ruby, Final Gambit got a 90, a 36-point improvement from his last start, a maiden win at Turfway. Cox said he doesn't think the improvement was as dramatic as the Beyer numbers suggest. “I don't know if he improved that much,” Cox said. “If you go back and look at the race where he broke his maiden, I thought it was a very impressive run. I pulled up the number and I thought, 'wow they gave him no credit for what I thought was moving forward.' Did he improve yesterday? Yes. He ran straighter down the lane and finished up well against better horses. Did he improve that much? I don't think so because I don't think they gave him enough credit for when he broke his maiden.” The post Week In Review: Louisiana Lightning Touchuponastar Shows He’s Among the Best Older Horse in the Country appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Middleham trainer Ed Bethell on a career-best season in 2024, stable star Regional and some exciting new recruits to the team at Thorngill Stables Everywhere from Doncaster to Dubai, Ed Bethell is preparing to unleash a handful of his stable stars in the next fortnight, fresh from a “tremendous” 2024 which saw the Middleham trainer scale new heights in his fourth full season as the licence holder at Thorngill Stables. “I couldn't have asked for it to go any better,” Bethell says of the latest campaign, which yielded 58 winners and over £1 million in total earnings in Britain, with Mickley (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) providing the highlight when he came out in top in the cavalry charge that is the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. “Having a winner at Royal Ascot any year is huge, but to have my first one was very exciting. It was just a tremendous year and I was really proud of what the team achieved. Hopefully, we've got a bigger and stronger team this year to keep the improvement going.” After saddling 22 winners in both 2021 and 2022, Bethell then nearly doubled that tally with 43 in 2023, before last year's exploits which, he freely admits, would have been beyond his wildest dreams when his father, James, handed over the reins at the start of 2021. “When I took over, if you'd said I'd be doing this, I would have laughed at you,” Bethell sums up. “I was just hoping to get by and make ends meet. We've just been very lucky to be blessed with some nice horses who have come through the yard. Hopefully my beginners' luck hasn't worn off just yet.” If Bethell has outperformed even his own expectations, then what about stable star Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), the now-seven-year-old who has been with the trainer pretty much every step of the way? Successful in a class 2 handicap at Haydock when making his stable debut in September 2021, he has since added three more victories to his tally, notably providing the stable with a first Group 1 success when returning to Haydock to win the Sprint Cup in September 2023. Last seen finishing fourth in the G3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury in July, after he'd gone close to doubling his Group 1 tally when runner-up in the previous month's King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, Regional now has his sights set on the $1.5-million G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Saturday, April 5. Not bad for a horse who was picked up for just 3,500gns at the 2021 Tattersalls July Sale. “He owes us all absolutely nothing,” Bethell says of his pride and joy, whilst on his way to Southwell to watch the sprinting star participate in a racecourse gallop. “He could retire today and I'd be very proud. I'm grateful to even know a horse like him because he's an absolute gentleman to have around. He's one of a kind, especially with the amount he cost, to be able to turn him into a Group 1 winner. I'd imagine we'll never be able to do it again.” He adds, “It [the Al Quoz Sprint] looks like the right type of race for him. He's obviously exceptionally good and this year he seems more forward. Last year was a bit frustrating really. I pushed him pretty hard during an awful spring over here to try and get him to Dubai. It didn't happen and I just had to back off him. “We're going for the racecourse gallop today and then, hopefully, we can put him on the plane to Dubai in a weeks' time. The spring has always been a tough time for him, but I think his work has been as good as ever–I'm really pleased with the direction we're going in.” Bethell later confirms that Regional is an intended runner in Dubai, all being well, after pleasing in his Southwell workout, but one horse who will not be ready for an impending big-race engagement is James McHenry (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). A general 14-1 shot for Saturday's Lincoln at the time of writing, the five-year-old is set to be taken out of the race at Monday's confirmation stage, with a trip to Doncaster just coming too soon. “Jimmy is fine, but he's not going to be confirmed for the Lincoln,” Bethell says of last year's Cambridgeshire second. “He's a big, rotund horse and, to be fair, he's taken his work like a champion because I've been pretty hard on him. I think he's improved from four to five and I'm very pleased with him, but it's just fitness which is the deciding factor.” One horse who could be in action on Town Moor on Saturday is Point Lynas (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who ended last season with an impressive victory, by five and a half lengths, in the Listed Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract. A four-time winner for Bethell, Point Lynas has the option of joining Regional at Meydan, with an entry in the $5-million G1 Dubai Turf, but at this stage his trainer is leaning towards an appearance closer to home in the Listed Doncaster Mile Stakes. The six-year-old has already been on his travels this year, having filled the runner-up spot in last month's Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup in Doha, Qatar. “He had six months off the track prior to Qatar,” says Bethell. “In hindsight, maybe I should have taken him for a racecourse gallop somewhere, but he still ran an almighty race on a pretty treacherous racetrack. He came back safe and sound and he's ready to rumble again. He's picked up in his condition and his coat, and he's really there for me now, but I would be questioning whether or not he'll be going out to Dubai. I think he might be getting entered in the Doncaster Mile instead.” Now up to a BHA mark of 112, having joined the stable from Charlie Hills when rated 84, Point Lynas will have little option but to try his luck in a higher grade at some stage this year. Whether he has the ability to be a factor at the top level, only time will tell, but he's clearly a character who has found his way into the hearts of those closest to him. “He's an enigma of a horse–he does what Point Lynas wants to do and that's that,” Bethell explains. “He basically trains himself and I'm very fortunate to have him. He's a fun horse to have around and he's actually very kind. He's never done anything naughty. He just does what he wants and you have to go along with him. “He's been tremendous and he won his Listed race by five lengths last year. He's now rated 112, which puts him between a rock and a hard place at the moment. He's high enough to be competing in Group 1s, but whether he's good enough to be competing in Group 1s is the question. We all know the Group 1 category for milers is normally one of the toughest.” As for the rest of the team, Bethell immediately identifies the four-year-old Paborus (GB) (Recoletos {Fr})–now rated 103 after his five-length win in a class 2 handicap at Southwell in October–as his horse to follow in 2025, with the three-year-old Danger Bay (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) also earning a favourable mention. “I love Danger Bay–he finished second on his debut at Haydock in August and he had absolutely no right to be running then,” says Bethell, who has also taken charge of Return Of The Gods (Ire) (Tasleet {GB}), the top lot at last year's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale at £350,000. A half-brother to last year's G2 Gimcrack Stakes winner Cool Hoof Luke (GB) (Advertise {GB}), he's described by Bethell as “a very nice horse”, with a late-May/early-June debut potentially on the cards. Like Danger Bay, Return Of The Gods will sport the purple and green-starred silks of Fiona Carmichael, while Bethell is also excited to welcome Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum into the fold this year, with three juveniles on their way to Middleham for the owner who has given us the likes of Mtoto, Ameerat and Elmalka. “That was a really proud moment for the team to have Sheikh Ahmed joining us,” Bethell added. “They're colours that I grew up watching as a young child and it's kind of a dream come true to be able to train for him. If you'd said I'd be in position five years ago, I would have A) snapped your hand off, and B) probably laughed at you and thought absolutely no chance. It's really rewarding and I'm just hopeful that we can do some damage for them.” The post ‘Hopefully My Beginner’s Luck Hasn’t Worn Off Just Yet” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bob Baffert has found himself in a familiar position as he once again brings a well-met runner into Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby with all the buzz behind him, this time in the form of 'TDN Rising Star' Cornucopian (Into Mischief), who has been made the 7-5 morning line favorite from the nine hole. Fresh off an unveiling which garnered the stamp of approval from the TDN, and stopped the clock in a six-furlong maiden special in an eye-catching 1:09.02–the fastest by a 3-year-old in Oaklawn history–the son of Into Mischief will be making just his second career start. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will be in the irons. Fan-favorite Coal Battle (Coal Front) continues his trek to the Derby as the Listed Smarty Jones and GII Rebel Stakes winner drew right next to the Baffert runner in post eight and given 7-2 morning line odds. The GIII Southwest Stakes hero Speed King (Volatile) has drawn the five slot while the runner-up MGSP Sandman (Tapit), the second choice at 3-1, will jump from post six. The duo comes in from a productive edition of the Southwest as third-place finisher GSW Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) secured his own 100-point Derby race this past Saturday when winning the GII Louisiana Derby. Publisher (American Pharoah), who is still a maiden, will break from post three and looks to secure a spot in the Derby gate while en route to claiming his first win photo. The morning line has him tabbed at 6-1 odds for trainer Steve Asmussen. The complete field follows from the rail to the outside: Brereton's Baytown (Upstart), 20-1 First Division (Omaha Beach), 20-1 Publisher, 6-1 Bestfriend Rocket (Curlin), 20-1 Speed King, 15-1 Sandman, 3-1 Monet's Magic (Good Magic), 20-1 Coal Battle, 7-2 Cornucopian, 7-5 The Arkansas Derby offers 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, and serves as the main event of a 14-race card Saturday on what will be a busy racing day across the country. The 2024 Arkansas Derby featured eventual GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents), who finished third in the Hot Springs marquee event. The post ‘Rising Star’ Cornucopian Favored in Arkansas Derby from Far Outside Position appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Running a breeding shed efficiently and effectively takes a certain level of teamwork. Really, it takes a lot of the same characteristics found in any strong relationship. So it's no surprise, then, that the husband-and-wife duo of Roberto and Leticia Vera manages the shed at Pleasant Acres Stallions with such ease, proving that both professionally and personally, the best teams are built on mutual trust, understanding and sometimes, a whole lot of patience. For the past two years, Roberto and Leticia have made up the two-person team behind a roster of 12 stallions at Pleasant Acres Stallions outside of Ocala, Florida. In a job that is anything but a nine-to-five, the Veras spend long hours together overseeing the care of their equine charges and making sure the breeding shed runs seamlessly. “Sometimes it's a little rough, let's say it that way,” Roberto said with a good-natured laugh. “But we work pretty good together. It's literally twenty-four seven. This time of year there is no, 'I'm going out with my friends' or, 'She's going out with her friends.' It's just her and I, so we try to balance whatever disagreements we have. She is a hard-working woman and I think I'm pretty fortunate to have her with me.” Roberto has worked in the stallion business for nearly 30 years. He moved from Mexico to the United States at the age of 15 and quickly found his way to Florida, where he helped break 2-year-olds. Roberto eventually landed at Farnsworth Farms, a leading breeding operation in the Sunshine State that won the 1996 Eclipse Award for outstanding breeder. He started out with broodmares, but later moved on to stallions and never looked back. “I guess when you work with certain horses, you just get used to them,” reflected Roberto. “I started working with the stallions and I just felt comfortable with them.” Roberto worked at Farnsworth for 14 years, until the operation shut down in 2005. From there he managed breeding sheds throughout Florida at Cloverleaf Farm, Sequel Stallions, Solera Farm and eventually, Pleasant Acres. Around that same time, Roberto met Leticia through a chance encounter on Facebook. The pair was from the same town in Mexico, but had never met each other in person. “We started chatting and I guess it all started from there,” explained Roberto. “I went to Mexico to see her. For five years I was here and she was there. I would go see her once or twice a year when I could.” Three years ago, the couple got married and Leticia moved to Florida. She had no prior experience working with Thoroughbreds, but Roberto helped her land a job at a breeding farm. Later, there was an opening in the stallion division at Pleasant Acres and Roberto asked the team there if they would give Leticia a chance. Roberto and Leticia prepare popular young sire Verifying for breeder inspections| Katie Petrunyak Roberto proudly described how Leticia's horsemanship has developed in a relatively short period of time. “In the beginning she was a little afraid, but I taught her confidence and how to be safe around the stallions, so now she's pretty good,” Roberto said. “She's a fast learner. She's done a great job, I think, and I feel comfortable working with her because I really trust her. I look out for her and she looks out for me.” One of the stallions that helped build Leticia's courage was young sire Bodexpress (Bodemeister). With his easygoing demeanor, the bay quickly became Leticia's favorite charge. Leticia smiled as she explained in Spanish how, whenever she visits Bodexpress in his paddock, the stallion rests his head on her shoulder. “They seem to me to be very noble animals,” said Leticia. “They have given me this opportunity and I have been able to learn alongside them.” Leticia also shared how, even five years ago, she never could have envisioned herself working with such powerful animals, but she said that having a good teacher in Roberto has helped her build her confidence and she jokingly added that some days she likes the stallions more than her co-worker. “There are a lot of things that we could do [separately], but we like to do everything together,” said Roberto. “That way, it doesn't feel like she's doing more than I am or I'm doing more than she is. Sometimes if there is a horse that is kind of tough to turn out I do that just to keep everybody safe, but we work as a team.” This year, the Pleasant Acres Stallions roster includes Verifying, a Justify half-brother to champion Midnight Bisou who bred 127 mares in his debut season last year, as well as stalwart Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday), one of the leading sires in Florida in 2024 by blacktype winners. In 2025, the farm welcomed new sires Mr Fisk (Arrogate) and Champions Dream (Justify). “It keeps us pretty busy,” admitted Roberto. “We have our hands full, but the quality keeps going up. We feel very proud to work [here] because they have really good stuff, I mean, just really good horses.” Roberto credits Pleasant Acres farm owners Joe and Helen Barbazon and the farm's Director of Stallion Services Christine Jones for giving him and his wife the opportunity to work together. “You couldn't ask for anybody better,” he said. “There are guys who have been working here for 20 years, so that speaks for itself. They're good people to work for. I love working with the horses and I love my job. I'm a big believer that if you enjoy what you do, you do a better job.” The post Husband-Wife Duo Brings Unique Synergy to Pleasant Acres Stallion Barn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Kit Gow/TTR AusNZ Arrowfield Stud's Snitzel (Aus) continued his stellar weekend on Sunday with the exploits of four-year-old Cap Ferrat (Aus) in the HK$26-million BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin. Trained by last season's Hong Kong champion trainer Francis Liu, the gelding was breaking his maiden in the event, after several near misses in stakes company in Australia. Jockey Craig Williams, fresh from winning the G3 Don Casboult Classic with Clean Energy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) on Saturday, flew out for the meet and guided Cap Ferrat to victory in the third leg of the four-year-old series. Jumping well from barrier two, Cap Ferrat settled behind the leader, finding the rail quickly and letting pacemaker Lo Rider (GB) (Harzand {Ire}) tow him into the race. Once the pack straightened out of the home turn, the gelding was asked to quicken by Williams and was able to sneak around Lo Rider, who couldn't match Cap Ferrat's pace. A late challenge came from Mark Newnham's My Wish (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), who was last coming into the home straight and put in an impressive burst of speed, but Cap Ferrat stuck it out to get the verdict by a short head. “He's never won a race until this day,” said Williams. “Full credit has to go to Francis Liu's team. The owners have really put their trust in Francis. I rode him three weeks ago and I said, 'you've got a lot of work to do'. “I thought he was really gross, he was really full of himself. I said, 'it's a big step, I think he can place well in the Derby', but the way he got presented here today by Francis Liu is the reason why we are winning one of Hong Kong's greatest races, if not the greatest one.” He added, “It's great to be riding all around the world. Hong Kong is a place where I was very fortunate to get contracts and they made me the rider and the person I am today. It's lovely to win the race for Francis Lui, as he was a big supporter of mine going back 20 years ago. The winning feeling doesn't get any sweeter.” Liu, who was winning the Hong Kong Derby for the second time, having previously struck with Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in 2020, said “I'm very excited. I can't say I was confident [coming into the Derby], but he's a very good horse. The last two runs, he had a bad draw and he was caught wide.” Bred by Arrowfield Stud and Belford Productions, Cap Ferrat is out of the Listed Laelia Stakes winner C'Est Beau La Vie (Aus) (Bernadini). He was a A$1.4-million purchase at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for Tom Magnier, before being sold privately to continue his career in Hong Kong. Incidentally, Cap Ferrat is the second consecutive winner of the Hong Kong Derby to have been sold to the jurisdiction by Coolmore. Last year's winner, Massive Sovereign (Ire) (No Nay Never), was a €620,000 purchase for MV Magnier from Camas Park Stud at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, before his private sale to Hong Kong. The post Snitzel’s Cap Ferrat Breaks Maiden in Style in Hong Kong Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Australian trainer and jockey Luke Ferraris go within a short head of orchestrating a brilliant feature success from the outside gate.View the full article

Australian jockey breaks through in city’s biggest race 24 years after his first ride in the 2,000m feature.View the full article

Craig Williams urges Cap Ferrat along the fence to win by a short head. Photo: HKJC Craig Williams produced one of the finest rides of a decorated career to guide Cap Ferrat to a narrow victory in a gripping HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on a day of triumph for Francis Lui at Sha Tin on Sunday (23 March). Winless in 13 Australian starts and three more in Hong Kong until today, the Snitzel gelding hugged the rail throughout in fourth position after jumping from barrier two and never went around another horse before holding off My Wish (Luke Ferraris) by a short head, with Packing Angel (Joao Moreira) a further head away third in 2:00.67. Hong Kong Classic Mile winner My Wish was taken back to last from gate 14 and was forced to make a sustained sprint from the 800m, clocking a race best 21.39s for the final 400m. Lo Rider (Hugh Bowman) finished fourth after attempting to lead all the way, closely followed by Rubylot (Brenton Avdulla), Johannes Brahms (Andrea Atzeni) and Bundle Award (Ben Thompson), who all finished within two lengths of Cap Ferrat. Hong Kong’s reigning champion trainer, Lui dominated the meeting with a treble – scoring with Cap Ferrat, Packing Hermod and Invincible Shield. Formerly trained by Chris Waller in Sydney, Cap Ferrat was twice Group 1-placed in Australia behind Tom Kitten and Riff Rocket but was sent off as a +2500 chance after moderate efforts in finishing 12th and ninth in the first two legs of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m). 2025 Hong Kong Derby – Cap Ferrat https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Sha-Tin-2025-Hong-Kong-Derby-23032025-Cap-Ferrat-Francis-Lui-Craig-Williams.mp4 Williams, 47, praised Lui for the four-year-old’s stunning form reversal. “He’s never won a race ever until today, full credit has got to go to Francis Lui and his team and the owners of this horse for entrusting Francis with him because I rode him three weeks ago and I said ‘You have a lot of work to do’ (because) I thought he was really gross, really full of himself,” the Australian said. “It’s certainly a special win. It’s such a prestigious race in Hong Kong. Francis rang me, he was at the Sydney yearling sales and I was on the Gold Coast and he said ‘Would you like to come ride Cap Ferrat?’. I rode him when he was in Australia and I liked the horse. He had good 10-furlong form, he had two runs in Hong Kong – one was really good and one not so good – and I said ‘I’d love to come over and ride him for you’. “I rode him a few weeks ago and said ‘if you get him right, Francis, we know he’s got the right form and the capability’, but it’s clearly up to Francis and his stable. When he walked into the yard, the way he performed and he won, that’s why Francis is such a great trainer. Full credit has got to go to Francis Lui, his team and obviously the horse. “To win this great race, with my wife (Larysa) here for trainer Francis Lui who gave me such a great opportunity when I first started here, and of course being such a great race here in Hong Kong, it’s very, very special.” Williams, who has snared most of Australia’s most prestigious races as well as riding successfully in Japan, Great Britain, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore and Malaysia, took his Hong Kong tally to 126 wins. “It’s great riding all around the world, Hong Kong is a place where I was very fortunate to get a contract and it made me the rider and the person I am today,” Williams said of stints in 2003 to 2005 and 2018/19. Triumphant with Golden Sixty in the 2020 Hong Kong Derby, Lui said: “I still feel very excited. The last two runs he (Cap Ferrat) had bad draws and bad luck. I checked his record and Craig rode this horse (in Australia), so he knew the horse. “Today, he also has a good draw, he was very lucky and Craig knows how to ride this horse. He did a good job.” Horse racing news View the full article

Former Australian galloper joins veteran handler’s champion Golden Sixty on honour roll of city’s most prestigious race.View the full article

Rider Penalties C Dell | Waverley 19 March; failed to ride mount to line; fined $300. K Hercock | Waverley 19 March; medical clearance required (subsequently received on 22 March). R Hurdle | Wellington 22 March; careless riding; suspended 30 March – 10 April inclusive. K Hercock | Wellington 22 March; careless riding; suspended 30 March – 6 April inclusive. K Williams | Hororata 22 March; careless riding; suspended 23 March – 3 April inclusive. S Wynne | Hororata 22 March; weighed in in excess of weight out weight; fined $300. A Goindasamy | Hororata 22 March; celebratory gesture prior to winning post; fined $300. T Newman | Hororata 22 March; medical clearance required. Trainer Penalties A Sharrock | Waverley 19 March; failed to scratch runners by required time; fined $200. L O’Sullivan & A Scott | Auckland 21 March; late rider declaration; fined $50. C Cole | Wellington 22 March; late rider declaration; fined $150. C Isdale | Hororata 22 March; incorrect gear; fined $50. N Mitchell | Hororata 22 March; late rider declaration; fined $50. D Frye | Hororata 22 March; incorrect gear; fined $50. D Crozier | Hororata 22 March; incorrect gear; fined $50. Horse Penalties BRASSEY MISS | Waverley 19 March; lame; veterinary clearance required. PIPPY | Auckland 21 March; late scratching after refusing to parade to start; must complete multiple trials. EARS BACK | Hororata 22 March; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. SUNRAIN SAILING | Matamata 23 March; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. PIZARRO | Matamata 23 March; late scratching after failing to parade to start; must complete trial. General The Masterton RC meeting of 23 March was abandoned after Race 1 due to an unsafe track. The post 17-23 March 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Driver Penalties C Wigg | NZ Metropolitan 19 March; careless driving; fined $400. S Hill | NZ Metropolitan 19 March; careless driving; suspended 24-28 March inclusive. C Hackett | Auckland 21 March; careless driving; fined $450. L Whittaker | NZ Metropolitan 21 March; use of whip; suspended 22 March – 2 April inclusive. M Howard | NZ Metropolitan 21 March; use of whip; suspended 22-30 March inclusive. C Thornley | NZ Metropolitan 21 March; careless driving; suspended 22-28 March inclusive. B Hope | NZ Metropolitan 21 March; contacted track marker; fined $100. Trainer Penalties M Purvis | NZ Metropolitan 19 March; incorrect gear; fined $100. J Young | Auckland 21 March; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. R & J Dunn | Auckland 21 March; colour fee; fined $25. Horse Penalties BROMAC TIMES | NZ Metropolitan 19 March; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. SON OF PATRICK | NZ Metropolitan 21 March; broke in running; must complete trial. HERE COMES JANE | NZ Metropolitan 21 March; broke in running; must complete trial. RUBY TUESDAY | NZ Metropolitan 21 March; refused to score up; must complete 2 mobile start trials. SWEET BETTY | Waimate 23 March; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. Protests BIG MIKI | Auckland 21 March; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 4th. NELLIE DOYLE | NZ Metropolitan 21 March; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 5th. RUBY TUESDAY | NZ Metropolitan 21 March; late scratching due to unsatisfactory manners prior to start. The post 17-23 March 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Trainer Kerry Petrick and jockey Paul Denton combined to take out the $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m) with The Men Went Home at Pioneer Park on Saturday on Day 2 of the Alice Springs Cup Carnival. Trainer Kerry Petrick, born and raised in Alice Springs, had cause for celebration at her home track on Saturday with The Men Went Home saluting in the $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m) at Pioneer Park. The Guineas was the highlight on Day 2 of the Alice Springs Turf Club’s Cup Carnival, and for The Men Went Home to prevail is a testament to Petrick’s ability as the former Victorian galloper was making his NT debut. Starting at $6 with online bookmakers, the son of O’Lonhro produced a withering burst down the outskirts of the track in the home straight to seal victory by 1.2 lengths. Under the guidance of veteran NT jockey Paul Denton, based in the Red Centre nowadays, The Men Went Home settled at the back in the nine-horse field and was easily seven lengths off the speed at the 600m before clicking into gear. Circling his rivals, the three-year-old gelding was forced six deep turning for home with little separating Ray Viney’s $3.60 hope Grinzinger Lass (Brendon Newport), Greg Connor’s $13 chance King Bling (Danielle Hirini) and Chloe Baxter’s $12 Darwin raider Vanguard Legend (Raymond Vigar) out in front. When Petrick’s horse joined the leaders at the 200m you couldn’t split the quartet before The Men Went Home, who had plenty of wind in his sails, powered away over the concluding stages. Grinzinger Lass, who failed to settle turning into the back before losing momentum when Newport spotted a gap along the fence turning for home, finished second with King Bling overcoming a fading Vanguard Legend, who looked the winner at the final bend, for third. In the final Guineas lead up over 1400m on March 8, Grinzinger Lass was victorious with King Bling and Kym Healy’s Snore Room – seventh on Saturday as the $3.20 favourite – filling the minor placings. In just two career starts for Mornington trainer Jerome Hunter, The Men Went Home proved that Victorian form must be respected after two thirds in a 1200m Seymour maiden and 1423m Sale maiden in February. Petrick and Denton have combined for well over 100 wins and they achieved success with three-year-olds Venting (2022) and Anphina (2023) in the NT Derby (2050m) in Darwin. Venting – last year’s Alice Springs Cup winner – and Anphina won the Derby after racing in Victoria for Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien and Stawell trainer Andrew Bobbin, respectively. Looking ahead to the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) and $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) on April 5-6, it appears as though there will two clear favourites. Dick Leech’s $2.70 favourite Write Your Name (Hirini), the 2023 Cup winner, backed up his win over 1600m at BM76 level last Sunday with a commanding victory in an open 1900m handicap. Terry Gillett’s $2.60 favourite Dakota Lee (Stan Tsaikos), who hadn’t raced since last June, made it 11 wins from as many Pioneer Park starts when she trounced her rivals by 5.5 lengths in the $31,000 The Soldier Lightning (1000m) clocking 56.34. Horse racing news View the full article

Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) is no stranger to big-race successes at Flemington and champion trainer Chris Waller says the mare is “ready to go” for another tilt at winning a Gr.1 Australian Cup on Saturday. Among the multiple Group One winner’s feature race wins at Flemington during her career are a Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m) during the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival and last year’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). The mare has also won a Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at the course last year and the 2022 Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes, while a week after her Empire Rose win last spring the seven-year-old also finished second to Cox Plate-winning stablemate Via Sistina in the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m). Saturday’s weight-for-age Australian Cup – which will be the 12th time Atishu has raced at Flemington – has been one of the mare’s autumn targets and she heads into the $2.5 million event off a last-start fifth in the All-Star Mile at the same course in her second start of this campaign. Atishu was third in the Australian Cup last year behind Cascadian and Pride Of Jenni and Waller said he had made a point of trying to keep the mare fitter this campaign in a bid to get her to peak earlier than in previous campaigns. “I think she’s ready to go,” Waller said. “I’ve made a purpose of just keeping her weight down. She does very well between runs, and I think that’s why her best runs are at the end of the prep, because she does so well between races and from her spells we’ve sort of always been behind the eight-ball. “We saw that in the spring, we finally got her to peak on the first day of Cup Week (winning the Empire Rose) and then she ran second to Via Sistina on the last day. “So we’ve made a purpose of just keeping her a bit fitter and ready to go. So, she’s ready to peak in the Australian Cup.” Melbourne’s premiership-leading jockey Blake Shinn is booked to ride Atishu in Saturday’s Australian Cup. Waller did nominate Atishu for the Sunline Stakes at The Valley on Saturday – won by Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress) – with an option to back her up seven days later into the Australian Cup, but decided against accepting for that race and he said the mare still had another target during The Championships in Sydney after the Australian Cup. “The seven-day back-up wasn’t the issue, I think she races best on a seven-day back-up,” Waller said. “The issue was bringing her back to Sydney to run in the Queen Of The Turf or the Queen Elizabeth. “So that was the reason for not running on Saturday, because I would have loved to. Yes, the Australian Cup is one of her grand finals, but two years ago she won the Queen Of The Turf and last year she was beaten a nostril. “She just runs so well in that race, and it could well be her last race after the Australian Cup before she gets sold. So the owners might even want to say, ‘well, we’ll run in the Queen Elizabeth’.” Both the Gr.1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) for fillies and mares and the weight-for-age Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth (2000m) are at Randwick two weeks after the Australian Cup. Waller’s lone Australian Cup win to date came from current Brighthill Farm sire Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel) in 2016. View the full article

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will travel to Hong Kong without another run in Australia after Lindsay Park secured a flight for the nine-time Group One winner to run on Champions Day next month. The Gr.1 Champions Mile – and a potential clash with local pin-ups Beauty Eternal, Voyage Bubble and Galaxy Patch – looms large for Mr Brightside, who ran a gallant second in the All-Star Mile at Caulfield earlier this month. The stable reported that the seven-year-old jarred up on the Good 3 track and emerged with a bruised heel after the defeat to Tom Kitten but JD Hayes said on Saturday that the gelding has recovered well since. The All-Aged Stakes had been flagged as an option for the horse en route to Hong Kong but Hayes said the stable will likely use a jumpout and an exhibition gallop to maintain his fitness for his first international assignment. Mr Brightside will likely fly to Hong Kong on April 14 ahead of Champions Day at Sha Tin on April 27. Australian-trained gallopers Jimmysstar, Duke De Sessa, Lady Laguna, Royal Patronage and Port Lockroy also hold entries for Gr.1 races at Sha Tin on Champions Day. View the full article

Guy, Emily & Jayne review a massive day of racing. Robbie Patterson joins the show after his double stakes win including an emotion send off for Leica Lucy, and Dirk & Nicci Oberholster come on to chat about their breeding success at Trentham & Rosehill. Weigh In, March 23 View the full article

Stephen Marsh has unveiled a number of promising two-year-old fillies this week and the latest in Lady Iris (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) stamped her authority with a strong win in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1050m) at Matamata on Sunday. Marsh combined with jockey Wiremu Pinn to take out the juvenile event at Pukekohe Park on Friday with debutant Little Black Dress, with stablemate Mazino completing the quinella. Pinn also guided the Marsh-trained Glamour Tycoon to win Saturday’s Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham, the second of his two stakes-winning rides on the day after Vegas Queen stole the show in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). The northern hoop carried that momentum on to Matamata, where he partnered Lady Iris at her first appearance to the races having made a good impression in two trials. She was among the better-backed runners at $8.50, albeit with a clear favourite in Fury Of Flight ($2.10). Jumping from barrier six, Lady Iris showed good early speed and landed in the one-one, sitting off the rail outside of pacemaker Pink Gin. Fury Of Flight worked hard three-wide through the running and that effort told at the top of the straight, with Lady Iris and Pink Gin kicking clear to fight out the finish. The fillies were evenly-matched but Lady Iris just had the upper hand late, scoring comfortably by a length. Marsh praised the fillies’ effort and has a black-type goal already in mind this autumn. “She’s shown us plenty of speed in her trials and Billy (Pinn) thought after her last trial, she was certainly going to be a very good chance,” he said. “She jumped, used the early speed, sat outside the leader and was nice. It was nice to see her do that on debut. “She can go to Ellerslie in three weeks’ time, there’s a nice race there for her, she’s a nice strong filly. She’s always been a little bit small, but she’s grown into herself a bit so she should be able to go right on with it.” The Ellerslie contest is the Listed Starway Stakes (1200m), run for $100,000 on April 19. By U S Navy Flag, Lady Iris is out of a Stravinsky mare The Lady, who was a dual stakes-winner at two and also placed in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m). The Lady is a half-sister to Ruthless Lady, dam of Australian Group One winner Ruthless Dame. Lady Iris was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan alongside Ron Saunders, who races her with Nuala Grove. View the full article

A last-gasp triumph in Saturday’s The Frac Club New Zealand St Leger (2500m) completed a rare Trentham double for Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini), whose connections are now daring to dream of even bigger things next spring. Wolfgang is the 11th horse to win both the Wellington Cup (3200m) and the St Leger, and only the third to do the double in the same season – joining Concentrate (1930) and Waisake (2021). Saturday’s $110,000 St Leger was the final start of a remarkable campaign for Wolfgang, who has earned more than $490,000 from his 13 appearances this season. He kicked off with back-to-back wins at Hastings and Matamata in September and October, then crossed the Tasman and ran sixth in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) and fourth in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m). The Puccini gelding returned home and finished second in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), 10th in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m), second in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) and ninth in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) before his outstanding come-from-behind triumph in the Wellington Cup. Trainers Peter and Shaun McKay picked out the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) for Wolfgang’s next two assignments, running second and eighth, then took him back to his favourite track for Saturday’s St Leger success. Wolfgang faced a small but high-quality field on Saturday, coming up against the likes of this season’s Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Trav, Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Mehzebeen, $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) winner Titicaca and multiple feature-race placegetter Final Return. Jockey Joe Doyle settled Wolfgang in second-last as Final Return cruised around the Trentham circuit with an uncontested lead. Final Return turned for home and produced a powerful kick, moving two lengths clear of the second-placed Mehzebeen. Wolfgang was still out the back of the field, more than half a dozen lengths off the lead. Doyle moved Wolfgang through his gears and he began to eat into the margin out wide, but Final Return was still well clear. With time rapidly running out, it looked like he would remain out of Wolfgang’s reach. That all changed in the last 50m. Wolfgang roared home down the outside, charging up alongside Final Return and Mehzebeen and snatching a thrilling win by a short head. Final Return took second, a head in front of Mehzebeen. “He’s had a great season,” said Peter McKay, who also shares ownership with his wife Kim along with breeder Simms Davison. “I’m actually surprised he won the race today, because it looked like we were definitely second from where I was sitting. “That was a huge run against a very strong field, with all those Cup winners. I’m very happy with that. He loves this track here at Trentham, he grows another leg here. “He was up against really good horses in the Bonecrusher last start, but he just doesn’t have that same turn of foot going right-handed. I don’t know what it is. Shaun had warned me that it doesn’t suit him to race that way around. I tried to defy the odds, but he was right and I was wrong. “This is a nice way to finish off his season. He’s come into this race as good as earlier in the season, still strong and happy, but he’ll definitely go out now.” McKay is hoping to take Wolfgang back to Melbourne later in the year. “We’ll hopefully get a couple of runs in New Zealand under his belt before heading back over,” he said. “We’d love to get him into one of those races, the Caulfield Cup (2400m) or the Melbourne Cup (3200m). I don’t usually like to run a horse in a race simply because they make it into the field, but the Melbourne Cup – if we can get in, we’re going.” Wolfgang has now had 45 starts for eight wins, 11 placings and $647,667 in stakes. He has saved his best performances for Trentham, where his nine starts have produced three wins and four placings. “He loves this place,” Doyle said. “The nice long straight gives him time to really get into gear and use his stride. “We thought we had the quickest horse home today, so we were happy to go back in the running. There was a chance he might get a bit keen if we attempted to go forward. It worked out well. “This is a fantastic training performance by Peter and Shaun McKay. He’s a fun horse and I’m really excited for next year with him. He’s going for a break now and he well deserves it.” View the full article

Former northerner Conor O’Ceirin (NZ) (Dial A Prayer) made an impressive start to his new campaign in the South Island, leading most of the way to win Saturday’s Johnny Fresh Darfield and Yaldhurst Open Handicap (1400m) at Riccarton Park. The eight-year-old son of Dial A Prayer had been a strong performer in the care of former trainer Robbie Patterson, winning eight races and over $200,000 in stakes before he sent him south to join Riccarton conditioner Anna Furlong. Last seen during the Wellington Cup Carnival in January, Conor O’Ceirin always posed a danger first-up but exhibited that freshness early in the race, travelling keenly under the slow tempo and was allowed to slide forward by apprentice Ruvanesh Muniandy. Once in the lead, the gelding got into a strong rhythm and was charging into the home straight, giving a strong kick to comfortably hold off the challenge of race-favourite Perfect Scenario by 1 – ½ lengths. Furlong was rapt with the performance, while keeping her options open around targets in the autumn carnival. “There wasn’t a lot of speed on and he’s rolled around, I’m not sure how much of the choice was the jockey’s, he was quite keen,” she said. “But, he was happy in front and kicked on well.” “He’s a lovely horse when he turns up on the day, so we’ll get him home and have a look through the book.” Bred and raced by The Keenan Family Trust, Conor O’Ceirin has now won nine races and $236,569 from 42 appearances. He was the seventh foal out of a Victory Dance mare Plaything, who also produced General Iron, a winner of four races in Hong Kong. View the full article

Striking Riverton galloper Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) proved he is right up to the South Island’s top open-class stayers with an all-the-way win in Saturday’s Seaton Family Hororata Gold Cup (1800m) at Riccarton Park. The son of Pure Champion appeared last Sunday at Wingatui to finish fourth in the Beaumont Cup (1500m), and it was only a last-minute decision by Graham Eade and Brooke Kincaid to travel to Riccarton Park this week to take on the $50,000 contest. Carrying just 54kg under Jasmine Fawcett, Riviera Rebel closed a $4.50 favourite and showed his customary early speed from the barriers, crossing from a wide draw to sit outside of Master Marko. After racing keenly, Fawcett allowed the gelding to slide up and take the outright lead, where he dropped the bit and dictated a good tempo. Master Marko came away from the rail and the pair drew level turning for home, but Riviera Rebel skipped clear at the 200m, holding out the charge of a game Elegant Lady to take the Cup by three quarters of a length. Eade was thrilled with the result, which continued a long history of success campaigning his horses at the Christchurch venue. “I thought he went really well, I didn’t know if I had enough work into him because he raced last Sunday at Wingatui then had a couple of days off, then we decided to come up here as a last thought,” Eade said. “We’re very pleased. “I told Jasmine to put him in behind the leaders, and if he settled, let him stay there. He obviously didn’t settle until he pulled his way to the front, but it was a very good ride by her. “It’s a long trip up, eight hours from home, but Riccarton has been very good to me. I had a good horse called Comanche Gold, he won six up there through travelling up and down, and Riviera Rock also won a couple.” The victory opens up a number of doors for Riviera Rebel, with a return trip to Riccarton Park for the $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) or Gr.3 Coca Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) both on the table. “We’re looking at the Canterbury Gold Cup, but we’ve got one or two options to decide on,” Eade said. “There is the Southern Alps over a mile, or just going straight into the Riverton Cup, which I’ve never won before so we were going to have a go at that. “We’ll have to do some thinking now.” A winner of five from 21 starts and just shy of $150,000 in stakes earnings, Riviera Rebel was bred by Philip Jeffreys, who races the gelding alongside Eade and his wife Pat. He is the first foal out of a Jimmy Choux mare Chambon, who won two races over 1400m. “All my good horses have come from there, both Comanche Gold and La Nouvelle Vague, who holds the New Zealand record over 2600. Riviera Rock also, and now this fella,” Eade said. “I’ve had a pretty good run with Phillip.” View the full article

What Newcastle Races Where Newcastle Racecourse – 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow NSW 2292 When Monday, March 24, 2025 First Race 1:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble The new week of racing gets underway at Newcastle Racecourse on Monday afternoon, with a competitive seven-part program set for decision. The rail moves out +2m the entire circuit, and with consistent rainfall forecast to hit the course proper across the weekend, participants are likely to be racing on Heavy track for race-day. All the action in the hunter is scheduled to commence at 1:15pm local time. Best Bet at Newcastle: Love And Light The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Love And Light returns after a 256-day spell and has had plenty of work in preparation for this first-up assignment. The daughter of Capitalist stretched out to make every post a winner in a recent barrier trial at Randwick on March 10, booting clear by 3.5 lengths under the guidance of Rachel King. She makes the trip to Newcastle to take the reins, and provided she can dictate terms throughout, expect Love And Light to shirk the maiden tag at start six. Best Bet Race 5 – #2 Love And Light (8) 4yo Mare | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Rachel King (58kg) Next Best at Newcastle: Flying Argento Flying Argento whacked away first-up at Hawkesbury on March 8 over an unsuitable journey (1500m) and appears well placed stepping out to the 2100m second-up. The three-year-old gelding produced a strong maiden victory with a similar setup at the end of last preparation and won’t mind the sting out of the ground heading into this BM58 contest. Reece Jones has the option to press forward from the wide draw (8), and provided he can slot in for cover a crucial stage, Flying Argento should have no issues justifying favouritism with horse racing bookmakers. Next Best Race 1 – #5 Flying Argento (8) 3yo Gelding | T: Gary Portelli | J: Reece Jones (59kg) Best Value at Newcastle: Our Emily Our Emily has shown glimpses of a talented type in her debut campaign, breaking her maiden on debut at Port Macquarie on February 16 before suffering some interference in back-to-back starts. She appears poised to doing something fourth-up as she steps out to the 1300m for the first time, showing a good turn-of-foot at the back end of her races. Louise Day gets should land in the ideal stalking position from barrier two, and provided the brakes fall her way when trying to get clear, Our Emily should be fighting out the finish at a good price with Dabble. Best Value Race 7 – #10 Our Emily (2) 3yo Filly | T: John Bannister | J: Louise Day (57kg) Monday quaddie tips for Newcastle Newcastle quadrella selections March 24, 2025 1-2-3-5 2 4-5-7-10 4-5-9-10-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article