Wandering Eyes

Meisho Tabaru led gate to wire for an upset victory over Bellagio Opera in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) June 15 at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.View the full article

Jockey Dylan Davis, who began a three-day suspension Sunday because of an infraction caused in a June 6 allowance at Saratoga, will also miss Thursday and Friday's cards, reports DRF. He was suspended by the New York stewards because of a ride aboard 'TDN Rising Star' Strategic Focus (Gun Runner), who crossed the wire first but was subsequently demoted to second behind stablemate Malarchuk (Nyquist). Both colts are trained by Chad Brown. Davis, who served a two-day suspension June 12-13 because of a whip violation stemming from a ride at the Big A May 15, was also fined $1,000 for that earlier infraction. The post Dylan Davis Sits Out Sunday at Big A, WilL Miss Two Additional Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gezora Fended Off Bedtime Story in the Prix de Diane (G1) June 15 at Chantilly Racecourse. She earned a spot in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) thanks to the new 'Arc Races' series. View the full article

CHP Racing's Rhiannon (Medaglia d'Oro) marked her first race back following a seven-month respite with an emphatic four-length score in a Big A optional claimer Friday. Setting a course record of 1:45.60 for nine panels in the process, the 5-year-old mare may her next start in the GI Dunkin' Diana Stakes at Saratoga July 12, according to owner Phil Hatfield, who operates CHP Racing with his wife Christine. “That's what everybody is talking about, and we hope that happens,” Hatfield said. Trainer Chad Brown, who conditions the mare, has won the Diana a record nine times. “[Brown] loves to win every race there, doesn't he–but the Diana, especially,” Hatfield said. “If she ends up in the Diana, we'll get up there one way or the other. It's fun to have horses with him…Rhiannon has proven herself now, so we'll look forward to seeing where he goes with her.” The lightly-raced bay was making just her fifth career start and first since a confident four-length allowance win in November in her lone start in 2024. She made three sophomore starts, including a second-out graduation in September 2023 before a close fifth in the GIII Pebbles Stakes that November, both at the Big A. “[The win] was an exciting race for us because that mare has been stop, start, stop, start. Chad has done a great job and been very patient with her,” Hatfield added. Rhiannon was selected by Mike Ryan for $550,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was broken in Florida by Niall Brennan. “She's exciting,” said Hatfield of Rhiannon, named after Fleetwood Mac's famed song of the same name. “She's a big mare, probably 16.3 [hands] but a lot of refinement–she's my kind of horse, elegant with a lot of leg underneath her. She has every bit of that.” According to Hatfield, fellow CHP runner Saffron Moon (Malibu Moon), third in her most recent start in the May 2 GIII Modesty Stakes at Churchill Downs, has officially been retired. Winner of last season's GII Hillsborough Stakes and GIII Endeavour Stakes, the daughter of Crocus Hill (Medaglia d'Oro) retires with five wins and $499,325 in career earnings. “She won graded races back-to-back this winter in Florida. Unfortunately, in the race on Kentucky Oaks Day, she came in third and she ended up getting injured and we had to retire her,” Hatfield said. “Hopefully, Rhiannon can pick up where she left off this year.” Praetor (Into Mischief), also trained by Brown and co-owned by CHP, finished third behind Gosger (Nyquist) in Keeneland's GIII Lexington Stakes Apr. 12 and appeared poised to make his return in the June 7 GI Woody Stephens in Saratoga forced to miss what would have been his first shot at the Grade I level. Co-owned with William Lawrence and Gainesway Stable, the $725,000 KEESEP yearling purchase kicked off 2025 with an eye-catching 7 1/2-length score in a Gulfstream allowance Mar. 9. “He was ready to go, [but] he got sick,” said Hatfield. “He was cranked and ready to do well Chad thought and unfortunately, we had to pull back. He's back training again, but I'm not sure where Chad has him pointed.” Third behind 'TDN Rising Star' Ferocious (Flatter) at the Spa last summer, the bay graduated by a neck over subsequent Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) at the Big A last September. The post Course Record Scorer Rhiannon Possible for Diana; MGSW Saffron Moon Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Belmont The Big A, $82,450, Msw, 6-15, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:49.19, sy, 10 1/2 lengths. STARS AND STRIPES (c, 3, Not This Time–Pearl River, by Quality Road) debuted in third at long odds during the Belmont At The Big A meet May 17. Trying two turns as the 85 cents on the dollar choice here as the 85 cents on the dollar choice here, the colt was second, just off the flank of a longshot leader for much of the backstretch. Continuing to press the pace at the top of the stretch, Stars and Stripes took off for home and quickly opened up several lengths on his rivals. Hoping the tire tracks, Stars and Stripes graduated in geared down fashion by 10 1/2 lengths over Makes Sense (Street Sense). The winner's dam is responsible for GIII Pucker Up Stakes heroine Waves of Mischief (Into Mischief), who was also bred by the Wygods. Pearl River's final foal is unraced current 2-year-old colt Ten Star Fleet (Nyquist). Stars and Stripes unraced second dam is a full-sister to both champion 2-year-old filly Sweet Catomine (Storm Cat) and MGISW Life Is Sweet. Sales history: $100,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $56,950. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Frassetto Stables LLC; B-Pam & Martin Wygod (KY); T-William I. Mott. The post Not This Time Colt Stars And Stripes Flies Maiden Flag At Big A appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1/ST Racing is looking at a lot of scenarios concerning the future of Gulfstream. There's decoupling, selling the property and building a casino. It's anybody's guess what 1/ST will eventually do with Gulfstream but to think that it will still be open for racing 10 years from now seems overly optimistic. Then again… It may be a small thing but Gulfstream announced on Friday that it will soon launch a state-of-the-art high resolution digital starting gate board. Gulfstream has partnered with BSV Digital to replace the static signage at the starting gate with a digital board that includes a lot of bells and whistles. The new gate will display everything from post positions and race logos to seasonal branding and partner messaging. The starting gate will become a living, breathing bill board, much like some of the billboards you see on the highway that change from one message to another 20 seconds or so. “From billboards to scoreboards, our big screens make landmarks, organizations, and venues across North America more attractive to the crowds you want to engage,” BSV boasts on its website. “If you're looking for signage, a full AV upgrade, curved billboard or a video screen above the water, chances are BSV Digital Displays have tackled it all before.” There's more: “Making racing a breeze-up BSV can manage your full video board project from initial design and concept phase. Racing venues demand high-level product quality. With years of experience in video boards, semaphore boards, parapet signage and winning post screens, we can showcase your races in high-definition clarity and precision,” reads the message on the website. I tried to figure out how much the starting gate message board would costs, but couldn't find even an estimate. But it's obviously not going to be cheap. Which begs the question: why would Gulfstream spend any significant amount of money on the track or track upgrades when it's very possible that the track won't be operating much longer? Is this a sign that Belinda Stronach has done a 180 and is going to dedicate herself to seeing to it that racing survives in Hallandale Beach? Probably not. That would be too much to ask for. Buy why spend the money on the starting gate board when the current one is fine and the track's future is in jeopardy? Shouldn't she be cutting corners to saving money in anticipation of Gulfstream closing? It just doesn't add up. 'TDN Rising Star' Antonio Fresu Antonio Fresu finished fifth in the standings at the Santa Anita meet that concluded on Apr. 29 with 29 winners. It was neither a good meet for him nor a bad meet. Fresu has grown used to finishing behind California kingpin Juan Hernandez in the standings. But with the current meet coming to a conclusion Sunday it looks like Fresu will win his first ever riding title in the U.S. With one day left of racing coming into Sunday's card the Italian born jockey had a 32-29 lead over Juan Hernandez. Hernandez has won the last seven riding title at Santa Anita. “Everybody wants to be the leading rider,” Fresu said. “That's what we work for, to win as many races as we can and to be recognized all over the country. Being the leading rider here is the type of achievement that everyone will see. Juan has been the leading jockey ever since I came here. I came close to him a couple of times. It would be nice for me to bring it home.” Fresu, 33, came to Southern California in April of 2023 after riding in Dubai and Italy and rode just 13 winners in his first full meet here. “To think that I might be leading rider someday would have been too much to expect,” he said. But Fresu still has at least one more major door to knock down. Even with his success in the California, he's not getting called upon to ride in the marquee racing events like the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup. He has ridden in just one Derby. He finished seventh with Stronghold (Ghostzapper) in 2024 after guiding that could to win in the GI Santa Anita Derby. He has never won a Breeders' Cup race. He was 0-for-2 in 2023 and 0-for-4 in 2024. Part of the problem is that has made very few inroads into the Bob Baffert barn. He has ridden for him just 11 times and has won three races for the Hall of Famer. Fresu did win Saturday's feature at Santa Anita, the GIII Daytona Stakes aboard Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar ({GB} for trainer Phil D'Amato. When asked about his future, he said: “I can't answer that. Nobody knows the future. I'm just trying to enjoy the moment and see what happens. In this sport you have to find the right horse at the right time, Unfortunately, I haven't been that lucky but we will keep trying.” He said his immediate goals were to keep improving and to have a good meet at Del Mar. He's young, he can ride and people are starting to pay attention. His future should be bright. Delaware's First Derby You can see why every racing jurisdiction wants to be home to a Derby. Saturday, Delaware Park ran its first ever Delaware Derby. It was an ungraded race with a purse of just $200,000 and there were no stars in the field of eight. The race was won by Admiral Dennis (Constitution), who is trained by Brad Cox. The card included five stakes races and only one of them, the GIII Delaware Oaks, was graded. Delaware has had big cards like this before, but never one that included that magic word, “Derby.” So what happened? They shattered their all-time handle record. On a 10-race card, the players pushed $6.5 million through the windows, breaking the record set in 2007. On that occasion, with a 12-race card, they handled $4.98 million. The post Week in Review: A New Starting Gate Board at Gulfstream, What Does it Mean? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) returned to the Churchill Downs work tab Sunday with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., preparing for a likely start in the $1-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes June 28. Mystik Dan, who won the GII Blame Stakes on May 31, breezed at 7:15 a.m. EST. He began his move with a three-furlong split of :36.80 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Owned by 4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby and Valley View Farm, Mystik Dan is one of two horses trained by Kenny McPeek nominated to the Stephen Foster. The other, GSP Gould's Gold (Goldencents), also worked Sunday, covering five furlongs in 1:00.20. A total of 20 horses were nominated to the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster, including Sierra Leone, winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic; Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the G1 Dubai World Cup; and Mindframe (Constitution), who was victorious in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard. The post Mystik Dan Works for Stephen Foster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Taking charge at Chantilly on Sunday, Christophe Soumillon supplemented his Diane success with the card's G3 Prix du Lys Longines as Rafale Design capped another stellar afternoon for the Belgian. Coming off a win in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Hocquart last month, the Yann Barberot-trained son of Starspangledbanner was launched from rear to swoop on Surabad (Bated Breath) and Oracle (Too Darn Hot) with 300 metres remaining and assert to beat that duo by two half-length margins. Entered in Monday's London Sale in Goffs, the G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry provides his many owners including Cormac Farrell and Laurent Dassault with an enviable quandary. What a day it's been for Christophe Soumillon! Four winners on the day for the Belgian as Rafale Design comes home best of all to land the Group Three Prix du Lys at Chantilly! pic.twitter.com/vGtkgS1yu5 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 15, 2025 Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX DU LYS LONGINES-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 6-15, 3yo, 12fT, 2:29.56, g/s. 1–RAFALE DESIGN (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus) 1st Dam: Fashion Design (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire) 2nd Dam: Sense Of Style, by Thunder Gulch 3rd Dam: Save Me The Waltz (Ire), by Kings Lake (€48,000 Wlg '22 GOFNOV; €75,000 Ylg '23 GOFORB; €195,000 RNA 2yo '24 ARQMAY). O-Beaumelles Racing, Cormac Farrell, Laurent Dassault, Jean-Noel Bocahut, LTN Racing, Meridian International SARL & Frank Dhooghe; B-Newstead Breeding LLC; T-Yann Barberot; J-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0, €117,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Surabad (GB), 128, c, 3, Bated Breath (GB)–Sunita (Fr), by Motivator (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Aga Khan Studs; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €16,000. 3–Oracle (GB), 128, c, 3, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Ligne D'Or (GB), by Dansili (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Wertheimer & Frere; B-Dayton Investments Ltd; T-Andre Fabre. €12,000. Margins: HF, HF, 5. Odds: 3.20, 2.80, 2.90. Also Ran: Hotheaded (GB), Golden Weaver (Fr), Ephesus (Fr), Lakota Beau (Fr), Duty (Fr). Scratched: Croquis (Ire). The post Soumillon Stars Again As London Sale Entry Rafale Design Takes The Prix du Lys appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Francis-Henri Graffard looked set to have the one-two-three in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines heading to the closing stages, but while ultimately that didn't transpire he was in the right place in the end with Gezora (Almanzor). Bringing off the Saint-Alary-Diane double in the process, White Birch Farm's 11-2 shot had first run on Ballydoyle's revitalised Bedtime Story (Frankel) under Christophe Soumillon and made that count with a length success with Cankoura (Persian King) and Mandanaba (Ghaiyyath) in third and fourth for the winning stable. “She's a wonderful filly who tries so hard and has a great attitude,” Peter Brant said of the daughter of the 2006 Diane runner-up Germance. “This is one of most important races in the world and I'm very proud and happy to win it.” Gezora comes home strongly to take the Group One Prix de Diane! pic.twitter.com/O1JhO9qCH2 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 15, 2025 Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €1,000,000, Chantilly, 6-15, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:06.57, g/s. 1–GEZORA (FR), 126, f, 3, by Almanzor (Fr) 1st Dam: Germance (G1SW-Fr, $558,680), by Silver Hawk 2nd Dam: Gaily Tiara, by Caerleon 3rd Dam: Majestic Role (Fr), by Theatrical (Ire) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-White Birch Farm; B-Haras d'Etreham; T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Christophe Soumillon. €571,400. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-1, €731,500. *1/2 to Garance (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}), MSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Bedtime Story (Ire), 126, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Mecca's Angel (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). TDN Rising Star. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €228,600. 3–Cankoura (Fr), 126, f, 3, Persian King (Ire)–Candarliya (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Aga Khan Studs; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €114,300. Margins: 1, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 5.50, 3.90, 15.00. Also Ran: Mandanaba (Fr), D'Ores Et Deja (Fr), Better Together (GB), American Gal (GB), Rosa Salvaje (Ire), Shes Perfect (Ire), Sand Gazelle (GB), Zia Agnese (Fr), Merrily. The post Graffard And Brant Celebrate Diane Success As Almanzor’s Gezora Strikes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A new work of art commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's last winner at Royal Ascot will be unveiled on Monday, June 16. The painting is by Nichola Eddery, artist in residence at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, and goes on display at the Osborne Studio Gallery in London on the eve of Royal Ascot 2025. Titled 'The Sport of Kings and Queens', the painting depicts jockey James Doyle in the royal silks that he wore to victory on Tactical in 2020, the late Queen's 24th and final winner at the Royal meeting. The exhibit lasts until Saturday, July 5. Eddery, a daughter of former champion jockey Pat Eddery, said, “James Doyle very kindly came and posed for me on the equicizer at the National Horse Racing Museum wearing the royal colours. I was able to loan a number cloth from Ascot Racecourse and the number 14 was carried by Tactical when winning the Windsor Castle Stakes. It also symbolises the current King's birthday, the 14th of November. “The painting is a homage to Royal Ascot as a whole and I wanted to include the history by using one of the early depictions of Ascot Racecourse, so I chose a famous piece by 19th century artist James Pollard called 'Ascot Heath Races' as the backdrop.” The post Queen Elizabeth II’s Last Royal Ascot Winner Commemorated In New Painting appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in the autumn was on the line in Sunday's 2200-metre G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin, and 10-1 chance Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship) landed a mild upset in pillar-to-post fashion. He is the second Japanese horse to punch his ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar this month, after Jantar Mantar (Palace Malice) won last Sunday's G1 Yasuda Kinen, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. The seventh pick in the 17-horse field, Meisho Tabaru was steered immediately to the vanguard and opened up on the field passing the winning post for the first time. Clicking off easy fractions of :23.40 for the first 400m, :46.90 for the 800m, and 1:11.30 for 1200m, he cut the corner into the final bend. Meisho Tabaru came under heavy pressure from the persistent stalkers June Take (Kizuna) and Libyan Glass (Kizuna) thereafter, but that duo ran out of steam turning into the lane. Cued by veteran Yutaka Take while still glued to the fence, the eventual winner found more in the straight to win cozily. Race favourite Bellagio Opera (Lord Kanaloa) unleashed a withering rally inside the final furlong, but Meisho Tabaru had built up too much cushion. The margin at the wire was three lengths, with Justin Palace (Deep Impact) a neck back in third. “My plan was to take the lead, and although I was unsure about the pace, I think we were able to race at just the right pace,” said Take, who was winning his 84th Japanese Group 1 title. He has now won five Takarazuka Kinens, the other being in 1986 with Inari One, in 1993 with Mejiro McQueen, in 1997 with Marvelous Sunday and in 2006 with Deep Impact. “I knew the other horses were going to make bid early but my mount had good momentum going around the fourth corner and I was hoping that he would manage to push through.” A juvenile winner over 2000 metres and successful in both the G3 Mainichi Hai and G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at three, Meisho Tabaru had yet to win in two 2025 apperances. He was back in 11th behind Lord Del Rey (Lord Kanaloa) in the G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai over this trip at Chukyo in January, and was fifth to Soul Rush (Rulership) in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in April. Pedigree Notes Meisho Tabaru is the second Group 1 winner for Stay Gold after G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) heroine Uberleben. He is also one of 10 stakes winners for the Big Red Farm-based sire. This is the same cross as Gold Ship's G2 Nippon Sho Stayers Stakes runner-up Plume d'Or. The sire of 113 stakes winners (64 group/graded), the late French Deputy also has 17 top-level winners to his credit. Spread across six countries, these include The Man o'War Stakes winner Hi Happy (Pure Prize), February Stakes/Champions Cup hero Gold Dream (Gold Allure), and Japanese Derby hero Makahiki (Deep Impact). The fifth foal and third winner out of the dual winner Meisho Tsubakuro (French Deputy), the winner is followed by the 3-year-old gelding Meisho Hinkaku (Roger Barows), a 2-year-old filly by Dee Majesty, a yearling colt by Al Ain, and a full-sister born this year. Meisho Tsubakuro is a half-sister to G2 Kyoto Daishoten winner Meisho Kampaku (Grass Wonder). Sunday, Kyoto, Japan TAKARAZUKA KINEN-G1, ¥575,160,000, Kyoto, 6-15, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:11.10, gd. 1–MEISHO TABARU (JPN), 128, c, 4, Gold Ship (Jpn) 1st Dam: Meisho Tsubakuro (Jpn), by French Deputy 2nd Dam: Dancing Happiness (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn) 3rd Dam: Meisho Sachikaze (Jpn), by Crystal Glitters 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Yoshio Matsumoto; B-Mishima Bokujo (Jpn); T-Mamoru Ishibashi; J-Yutaka Take; ¥303,612,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-0-0, ¥439,708,392. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Bellagio Opera (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Air Routine (Jpn), by Harbinger (GB). O-Shorai Hayashida; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥121,032,000. 3–Justin Palace (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Palace Rumor, by Royal Anthem. (¥190,000,000 Ylg '20 JRHAJUL). O-Masahiro Miki; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥75,516,000. Margins: 3, NK, 3/4. Odds: 10.40, 3.00, 30.50. Also Ran: Shonan la Punta (Jpn), Chuck Nate (Jpn), Sol Oriens (Jpn), Libyan Glass (Jpn), Lord del Rey (Jpn), Durezza (Jpn), Boldog Hos (Jpn), Regaleira (Jpn), Chevalier Rose (Jpn), Pradaria (Jpn), Urban Chic (Jpn), Rousham Park (Jpn), June Take (Jpn), Yoho Lake (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Gold Ship’s Meisho Tabaru Takes Takarazuka Kinen Field Pillar-To-Post appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Royal Ascot's Tuesday fields have been confirmed, with the key contest on the opening fixture being the 2,000 Guineas rematch between Godolphin's Ruling Court and Juddmonte's Field Of Gold in the seven-strong G1 St James's Palace Stakes. The sons of Justify and Kingman will be met by Wootton Bassett's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Henri Matisse from Ballydoyle, with the most notable withdrawal being Godolphin's dual Group 1 winner Shadow Of Light. In the opening G1 Queen Anne Stakes, the field of 11 features all the four main protagonists of the G1 Lockinge Stakes, with Lead Artist (Dubawi), Dancing Gemini (Camelot), Rosallion (Blue Point) and Notable Speech (Dubawi) set to re-oppose alongside Yulong Investments' triple Grade I winner Carl Spackler (Lope De Vega) and Marcstown's G1 Prix d'Ispahan runner-up Sardinian Warrior (Saxon Warrior). The other Group 1 contest is the King Charles III Stakes, where the cast of 23 sprinters include last year's winner Asfoora (Flying Artie), Coolmore's G1 Al Quoz Sprint heroine Believing (Mehmas) and Lord Lloyd Webber and Arthur Mitchell's G2 Temple Stakes scorer Mgheera (Zoustar) in a female-dominated tussle for the five-furlong prize. Tuesday's other highlight is the meeting's principal 2-year-old race, the G2 Coventry Stakes, where the field of 21 feature Wathnan Racing's TDN Rising Star Postmodern (Too Darn Hot) and two exciting Wootton Bassett colts in Godolphin's Military Code and Ballydoyle's Warsaw. The post Ruling Court Field Of Gold Rematch The Focus Of Royal Ascot Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Driver Penalties D Anderson | Invercargill 12 June; careless driving; suspended 13 June – 17 July inclusive. A Pyers | Non raceday dated 6 June; misconduct; fined $650. Trainer Penalties T Bagrie | NZ Metropolitan 13 June; late gear notification; fined $50. C & C Dalgety | Non raceday dated 5 June; failed to present runner free of prohibited substance; fined $5,750. Horse Penalties ABITIBI | Waikato Bay of Plenty 12 June; broke in score up; must complete mobile start trial. SEBASTIAN STARK | Invercargill 12 June; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. ABULL | Invercargill 12 June; laceration to left front leg; veterinary clearance required. TED | Invercargill 12 June; atrial fibrillation; veterinary clearance including ECG required and must complete trial. ST JOHN EIGHT | Auckland 13 June; broke in running; must complete trial. LINCOLN MAREE | Auckland 13 June; broke at start; must complete mobile start trial. MY FRIEND LOUIE | NZ Metropolitan 13 June; broke in running; must complete trial. Protest BESIDE ME | Nelson 10 January; raced with prohibited substance in system; disqualified from 1st. The post 9-15 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Rider Penalties F Moerman | Taranaki 10 June; use of whip; fined $300. S Mxothwa | Taranaki 10 June; use of whip; suspended 15-22 June inclusive. S Toolooa | Waimate 10 June; careless riding; suspended 11-18 June inclusive. N Yuen | Waimate 10 June; use of whip; suspended 16-26 June inclusive. A Najib | Waimate 10 June; use of whip; suspended 16-28 June inclusive. L Hemi | Waimate 10 June; use of whip; fined $250. B Queiroz | Riccarton 11 June; use of whip; fined $500. N Downs | Waikato 14 June; use of whip; fined $325. L Satherley | Waikato 14 June; use of whip; fined $300. M McNab | Matamata 15 June; failed to make weight; fined $100. Trainer Penalties L Stewart | Waimate 10 June; late rider declaration; fined $100. S & E Clotworthy | Matamata 15 June; late rider declaration; fined $50. Horse Penalties MAGGIE MCMUFFIN | Riccarton 11 June; late scratching when found to be lame; veterinary clearance required. PLAYINASANDPIT | Matamata 15 June; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. ROSES N’ BEAUS | Matamata 15 June; epistaxis; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. IN DISGUISE | Oamaru 15 June; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. NO BOUQUET | Oamaru 15 June; late scratching when found to be lame; veterinary clearance required. The post 9-15 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Dog Penalties XISCO BALE | Waikato 12 June; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. WENDY PEFFERCORN | Auckland 15 June; unsatisfactory performance; veterinary clearance required and must complete trial. The post 9-15 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Former Central Districts mare The Entertainer (NZ) (Staphanos) made a brief winter cameo at Oamaru on Sunday, headlining a winning double for Anna Furlong. Successful twice over New Zealand Cup Week in the care of Bill Thurlow, the mare is now based in Christchurch with Furlong, who presented her first-up in track conditions that weren’t entirely to suit the daughter of Staphanos. The market was mindful of her previous heavy track form, closing her at $8.50, but her class prevailed in the Rating 75 contest. Jumping well in the hands of Leah Hemi, The Entertainer settled off the fence outside of race-favourite Sir Sterling and was travelling boldly into the home straight. She hit the lead over Natural Momentum and the pair fought out a tight finish, but The Entertainer had the edge late to score by three-quarters of a length. Furlong was rapt with the mare’s performance but won’t be pressing on through the winter months, instead turning her focus to the spring. “Bill and Grant (Thurlow) had said that she didn’t love a heavy track, she goes pretty well on a soft, but we had her ready and it’s just been wet everywhere,” Furlong said. “We thought she may get away with it, being on the fresher side. “Leah was really pleased with her. She said that she’s a beautiful horse, travelled into the race super, then just plugged up the straight and didn’t enjoy the surface. “We thought we may just spell her for three or four weeks and bring her back for the spring. We’ve been thrown straight into winter tracks and it’s not going to be getting much drier from here on in. “I think she’ll be a really nice horse in the spring, back on top of the ground a bit more.” The Riccarton horsewoman had watched on during Cup Week and was swift to accept Thurlow’s offer to have The Entertainer join her stable. “She’s been with us for about six or seven weeks, Bill had given me a call and asked whether we would be interested in taking her for his brother Grant, who owns her,” she said. “I spoke with Grant and here she is, she’s settled in very well and is a lovely horse to have in the stable. “We’d watched her over Cup Week and she’d been up to use the walker with Bill during that time, so we had a bit of a background on her.” Bred by Erana Shattock, The Entertainer is out of a Stravinsky mare Wahaha, a half-sister to four-time Group One winner Wall Street. Thurlow purchased her for $13,500 through gavelhouse.com, and in 19 starts, she has won four races and over $124,000 in stakes. He also purchased her full-sister Movin Out, who, after placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in his brother’s care, was sold to Yulong. The filly has since won the Mornington Guineas (1600m), placed in the Gr.2 The Roses (2000m), and was fourth in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) for Chris Waller. Furlong was back in the winner’s circle later in the day, with another former northerner in Irish Miss (Savabeel) saluting second-up in the Lisa Allpress (1600m). The daughter of Savabeel had failed to handle the testing ground when resuming at Wingatui, but she stripped a fit horse over the mile and was able to run down a game Gangsta Granny to score by a head under Akshay Balloo. It was a second career success for the four-year-old, who is raced by Jim Bruford. For Furlong, Sunday’s result capped off an outstanding first season training in a solo capacity, more than doubling her tally from last year with 31 winners. “It’s been brilliant – a little bit of a relief really,” she said. “I’m very lucky to have incredible staff and very good horses that have been sent our way. I’ve got great owners, I wouldn’t be able to do it without them and I think everything’s just come together nicely. “I haven’t got a lot of wet trackers, maybe three or four that will push through the winter, but we’ve got a lot of young horses getting educated in the stable and the main racehorses are starting to come back in for their spring campaigns.” View the full article

Matamata was the setting for Samantha Collett’s first victory in the saddle, and on Sunday, she was back on the board at the course after a three-year stint riding in Australia. After winning three Group Ones in her homeland, Collett relocated to Queensland in October 2021 to ply her trade in Brisbane, where she rode over 150 winners and half a dozen of those at stakes level. She announced in May that she would be returning to New Zealand, and while not in any rush to return to riding, she was a welcome addition to the jockey’s room on Saturday at Te Rapa, where she had four rides across the card. She was similarly sought-after at Matamata on Sunday, where the first of her six rides came aboard an outsider and debutant in Empressive (NZ) (Eminent). A filly by Eminent, Empressive had trialled once heading into the Craigs IP 1400, where she started at a quote of $29, with Born This Swey on top of the market at $3.20. It was evident early in the race that runners were contending with a true Heavy10, but Empressive was handling conditions better than most, travelling well midfield on the rail. She was giving the leaders a decent headstart on the home corner and Horrie dashed clear, but Collett got Empressive out to the centre of the track alongside Show Merican, and the pair began hunting him down. Going right down to the wire, Show Merican was narrowly ahead of Empressive as they passed Horrie, but the filly stuck her head down in the final stride to score by a nose. The victory was Collett’s first for trainer Benjamin King, in her first ride for the local horseman. “I rode my very first winner here, so it seems appropriate to ride by first winner back here, not that I’ve been away for a long time, but it’s good,” Collett said. “Track conditions are testing to say the least, but Benji’s done a great job with this little horse. Obviously having her first start, it’s a little bit unknown as to how these track conditions were going to play out for her, but she travelled really well on the circle for me. “I was mindful of keeping a bit of momentum up without having to stop and start, but once I was able to extricate a position off the fence, she balanced up down the straight and really gave me everything. “She’s still doing things a touch wrong, but she had the audacity to stick her nose out where it mattered.” Due to track conditions, the Matamata meeting had only been confirmed to go ahead on Sunday morning, just as King had hoped. “She’s in the going that she needs, that heavy ground, so I was praying they would run them today,” he said. “Sammy is obviously great, we’re stoked to have her back here, and she did a great job of just keeping her balanced. In the heavy conditions out there, you’ve just got to help them out a little bit, and when you balance them up, let them go. I’m glad she responded. “It’s winter racing, the club does a great job it’s nice and safe, but it is heavy. Everyone knows that, everyone’s in the same boat.” Bred and raced by Alex Leander, Empressive is out of an unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Baheeya. Her other progeny include seven-race winner Savvy Lad, and O’Really Beheeya, who produced Australian Group Two performer Can’t Go Wong. View the full article

Matamata hurdler Squire (NZ) (Savile Row) commenced his jumping career in the best possible fashion at Te Rapa on Saturday, coming out on top in a tight tussle in the Waikato/BOP Owners Association Hurdle (2800m). The son of Savile Row broke through maiden grade just over a year ago in the care of part-owner Karen Fursdon, who entrusted Peter and Jessica Brosnan with the gelding as he switched to racing over fences. After trialling well at Cambridge, Squire stepped out on debut in the hands of Joshua Parker, who restrained the four-year-old back in the second half of the field through the early stages. He was one of a number of first-starters in the race, but the field put on a professional display of jumping as they streamed along the home straight for the first time. The market-elect Sir Maverick and Doctor Iris were on speed throughout and started to dial up the pressure at the 800m, and they had a fight on their hands, with Mr Fahrenheit, Hayate and Squire firing into contention. Mr Fahrenheit hit the lead over the final fence and looked like the winner, but sneaking through the inside was Squire, who powered up at the line to score by a short head. Parker, who had been victorious in last Saturday’s Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) aboard Billy Boy, was complimentary of his charge. “I’m over the moon, it’s great to get a win for Jess and Peter as they’re great supporters of mine,” he said. “He was quite keen to start with and I needed to get a bit of cover, and as soon as he got a bit of daylight, Jess said to me that he got a bit lazy at the 400m last time at Te Aroha. I just kept him up to his work and he didn’t show any sign of slowing up there. “His jumping was pretty darn good, I was very happy with it. We muddled up the last one, but we got over it and got away from it.” An elated Jessica Brosnan indicated the stable had always rated Squire, it was just whether he could put together a complete performance on the day. “He didn’t get it easy today, and we’re just rapt,” she said. “We knew he was capable of it, he just needed to get his act together really. “It’s been a tough couple of weeks in our household, but he did it for us and we’ve put a lot of effort into that horse. I’m so pleased for the owners, one of them hasn’t had a winner in 30 years so there we go, we’ve done it for them. “He’s just learned some tricks over the last couple of years, he just bludges a bit. We said to Josh, you’re going to have to ride him hard, and he did.” Bred by Karen and Kevin Fursdon, who race him alongside the Brosnans and the Squire Syndicate, Squire is out of Lucky Unicorn mare Silk Chardonnay, a winner of six races. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton It was a perfect start for Team Purdon’s Queensland raid at Albion Park last night. Mark and Nathan Purdon’s two raiders, Oscar Bonavena and Rubira, both won impressively. And Nathan Purdon was quick to add the pair had significant room to improve, too. Old Oscar Bonavena showed all his trademark speed and class when patiently driven by Adam Sanderson. The nine-year-old stalked a hot speed, loomed into the race coming to the final bend and cruised home to win without being extended by 4.4m in a slick 1min55.7sec mile rate for 2138m. Oscar Bonavena will likely have one more lead-up run before the first round of Inter Dominion heats at Albion Park on July 5. If he can build on last night, there’s no doubt the star veteran will be one of the hardest to beat in the $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final on July 19. Later, Team Purdon’s emerging three-year-old Rubira blazed his way to slick all-the-way win in a 1min52.9sec mile rate for 1660m. It was a significant win because Rubira beat Queensland’s top three-year-old and pre-post Derby favourite Fate Awaits, who had to sit outside the winner. Rubira has the South-East and Redcliffe Derbys before the Group 1 Queensland Derby on July 19. The Kiwi flavour extended last night to a sparkling debut Queensland win for star Kiwi filly Captains Mistress. Now in the care of Grant Dixon, Captains Mistress bolted in by 9.1m against older mares in a 1min53.1sec mile rate for 1660m. Her main target is the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. Dixon had a big night with his NZ Cup runner of last year, Aroda, winning the feature, the Flashing Red Discretionary, a race he ran sixth in last year. It was Dixon quinella with Free Thinker finishing second. Dixon also snared the quinella in the Queensland Sun last night with three-year-old Path To Greatness leading throughout to beat stablemate Charge Ahead. Path To Greatness booked a spot in the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun on July 5 through last night’s win. Another key Rising Sun player will be former Kiwi The Janitor, who returned from a break with an arrogant win in race two last night for Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen. View the full article

Returning from a 6 1/2-month layoff, Motorious showed no signs of rust as he mowed down his competition to win the $100,500 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park June 14.View the full article

9th-Santa Anita, $61,500, Msw, 6-14, 3, 4,/5yo, 7f, 1:22.24, ft, 4 1/4 lengths. SIERRA SILVER (c, 3, Game Winner–Promise Me Silver {GSW, $486,681}, by Silver City) ran third behind 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time) when he was unveiled in Arcadia Apr. 6. The grey served as the runner-up at Santa Anita May 10 before getting slammed at the windows to even-money here. The 3-year-old went to his knees at the break, but was able to recover to run in the third flight up the backstretch. Sierra Silver started to move up behind the pacesetter and around the far turn the colt took control like he was running the point. Confidently handled down the lane, the Bob Baffert trainee leapt from the free throw line to winner's circle. Cheever (Into Mischief) was the runner-up by 4 1/4 lengths. A $325,000 Keeneland November buy for Chester & Mary Bowman, the winner's dam is responsible for 2-year-old colt Cerro Rico (Yaupon) and she foaled a colt by Taiba Apr. 8. Sales History: $190,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, $55,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Golden Bear Racing; B-Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman (NY); T-Bob Baffert. #4 SIERRA SILVER impressive in Race 9 at @santaanitapark. Bob Baffert trains, @JJHernandezS19 up on the son of @LanesEndFarms Game Winner. pic.twitter.com/Rs7qLO7zzv — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 14, 2025 The post Game Winner Colt Sierra Silver Nets Maiden Win At ‘Great RIP’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After the first three races were run without incident over a track labeled sloppy, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled the remainder of its June 14 card as a result of lingering thunderstorms and heavy rain. View the full article

By Mike Love The New Zealand Amateur Drivers championship will conclude today at Addington raceway with two final heats. Currently there are three leaders in the series locked up on seven points in Bruce Hadley, Cheree Wigg and Frank Phelan, while each driver has a mathematical chance to take out the series with only seven points separating all of the drivers. At the opposite end of the table on zero points is Craig Sharpe. However, Sharpe will drive the two warm favourites – the Matt Purvis trained Almighty Clever in Race 1, the Beauty Barry NZ Amateur Driver Champs (Heat 3) Mobile Pace over 1980m while in Race 3, the Braxton Farriers NZ Amateur Driver Champs (Heat 4) Mobile Pace over 1980m he links links up with Stephs Boy for trainer Bob Butt. Sharpe will be looking to finish off the series with a strong late burst having landed these two significant drives. ““They’re both in-form and are both live chances. I haven’t had a lot of luck so far in the series – so it’s good to be lucky enough to land these drives today,” said Sharpe. “They’ve both got good form, but have just got niggly draws.” Almighty Clever was a strong winner in the second heat at Addington on Friday night. Sharpe and Almighty Clever have drawn somewhat awkwardly in five today, though there is some confidence. “I followed it in the run the other night, so he went good to win from where it came from.” Other chances in the event include Gliding High for driver Michael House, and Kowhai Nugget for Colleen Negus. Stephs Boy in the final heat (2.35pm) comes into the race second up after winning at Addington last week. Sharpe and Stephs Boy have drawn the outside of the gate, and will therefore need to work at some stage in the race. “They led pretty easily last week, but I don’t think it’ll come that easy this time. I’ll just have to see what instructions they give me.” Race one gets underway at 1.24pm. View the full article

The two stakes races on the grass on Haskell Preview Day at Monmouth Park belonged to trainer Chad Brown. View the full article

Barn 28 on the Belmont Park backstretch has been placed under a precautionary 14-day quarantine by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) until further notice due to a positive case of strangles in the barn. NYRA, the New York State Department of Agriculture and the NYSCG remain in contact should the need arise for further precautionary measures. Barn 28 houses horses trained by George Weaver, Todd Pletcher and Rudy Rodrigruez and the quarantine is effective immediately. The Weaver-conditioned 2-year-old gelding Mo Curls was referred to the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center on Friday, where he was tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive strangles result was returned on Saturday afternoon. The horse began immediate treatment at the Medical Center. Following confirmation of a positive strangles test, NYRA and the NYSGC implemented standard infectious disease protocols including restricting access to the horses in the quarantined barn, establishing a 24-hour security watch, mandating regular temperature checks for the horses in that barn and enacting biosecurity measures for all individuals requiring access to Barn 28. During the initial period of quarantine, these horses stabled in Barn 28 will be restricted from entering races and from training with the general horse population. Afebrile/asymptomatic horses stabled in Barn 28 will have isolated training hours on the Belmont Park dirt training track following the close of training for the general horse population at 10:30 a.m. As of Saturday afternoon, no additional febrile horses have been identified. Strangles is a contagious bacterial infection that generally affects a horse's respiratory system and causes symptoms similar to those of strep throat in humans. When properly diagnosed and treated, strangles is not considered a life-threatening infection and horses recover fully. The post Belmont Barn Under Quarantine Due To Strangles Positive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article