Wandering Eyes

There are five horse racing meetings set for Australia on Wednesday, March 12. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Sandown, Wyong & Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – March 12, 2025 Sandown Racing Tips Wyong Racing Tips Happy Valley (HK) Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top horse racing bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on March 12, 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

By Jonny Turner Brookies Player gets the perfect chance to break back into the winner’s circle at Ascot Park on Wednesday. The six-year-old plummets down in grade into a very winnable race for trainers Ross and Chris Wilson in Race 3, Selling Call Craig At Harcourts Mobile Pace (4.37pm). To take advantage of it, Brookies Player must turn around a run of being out of the money since September of last year. The nine race winner and $1.60 favourite looks a big chance of doing just that given the pacer drops from taking on country cups classes to taking on lower-grade opposition on Wednesday. But it is another factor that Chris Wilson thinks will be a big help as Brookies Player attempts to bounce back to form. “He has been racing in harder fields and hopefully he can make the most of it on Wednesday,” Wilson said. “Having just eight horses in it should be a big help.” “He hasn’t been in the money since September but in a lot of those runs he has been getting too far back and running on.” “It hasn’t helped being in big fields a lot of the time.” “But with only the eight of them this week, hopefully he will be able to get a lot handier.” While the numbers in his form line may not look too flash, Brookies Player hasn’t lost any of his talent judging by his recent work. “He has worked pretty good this week,” Wilson said. “There is nothing wrong with him at all, he is looking good and he is fit and healthy.” Brookies Player clashes with his stablemate from the Wilson stable in Robyns Hustler. After a run of tough draws, barrier 1 didn’t pan out too well for the pacer in his last start at Winton. “He was just about last on the turn last start.” “If he got a handy enough run without doing any work, I wouldn’t rule him out of running a place.” The Wilson stable also starts Robyns Art at Ascot Park on Wednesday. View the full article

Express Yourself will resume in next Saturday’s Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) New Zealand punters are set to get their first glimpse of Group One performer Express Yourself in more than a year when she heads to Trentham next weekend to tackle the Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Handicap (1200m). Following her runner-up effort behind Mercurial in last year’s Group 1 Telegraph (1200m), and subpar unplaced run in the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie, she tested her talent in Australia for interim trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. She raced on four occasions out of their Cranbourne barn under the name Expressiveness, and placed in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) and Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m), but part-owner and trainer Nikki Hurdle said she didn’t handle the city environment. “Sadly, we didn’t see the best of her in Australia,” she said. “I do believe she was good enough to win one of those races had she been perfectly sound, but she just jarred up and couldn’t handle it over there.” Express Yourself returned to Hurdle’s care late last year and won her trial over 850m at Foxton, but her handler wasn’t happy with her condition and elected to send her to the spelling paddock instead of heading towards her initial target of the Telegraph in January. “She came back from Australia and I wasn’t happy with her,” Hurdle said. “She was meant to go to the Telegraph but after the trial, despite winning it, I knew she wasn’t herself, so I put her out and gave her some time.” The six-year-old daughter of Shamexpress has thrived with the break, which told at Foxton on Tuesday where she showed a good turn of foot late to take a gap between runners and finish off strongly to take out her 850m trial ahead of Group 3 performer Bradman. “I am very thrilled with her. She had a jumpout a week ago and went excellent as well,” Hurdle said. “Everyone has her pegged as a frontrunner, but I don’t, and it was nice to see her come through like that (today in her trial).” Hurdle now heads into next week with plenty of confidence and is looking forward to being reunited with her Victorian-based son Ryan, who will arrive back in New Zealand to ride Express Yourself in the Lightning. “I identified the Lightning as the only race suitable for her this season in New Zealand, so I have been working towards that with her,” she said. “Ryan will ride her in the Lightning, and he is coming home early. Her last three or four workouts will be out at the beach and I think it will be really good for her.” Express Yourself’s racing future will be heavily reliant on her Lightning performance, with Hurdle weighing up whether to return to Australia with the mare or offer her to the market as a broodmare proposition. “There is not much left for her in New Zealand after that (Lightning). I would have to get together with the owners and we would have to make a decision,” Hurdle said. “If we did go back to Australia, I would go back to Melbourne in the spring. I think she is a horse that appreciates a cut in the track. There are just so many opportunities for mares over there over a sprint distance, which is lacking here in New Zealand. “If she goes well next Saturday, and we decide we will keep going, I will probably train her myself over there and base myself at Ballarat with my son. “If she doesn’t go well and has maybe come to the end of it, we would probably have to put her up for sale as a broodmare, which would be a sad day for us. But she will be an amazing broodmare, I just know she will leave a good horse. “She has done an incredible job. As an individual she is such a cool horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

Record-breaking colt Hostility will make his debut at Matamata on Wednesday. Photo: Trish Dunell There’s plenty of anticipation ahead of regally bred colt Hostility’s raceday debut at Matamata on Wednesday. Purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of Kiltannon Stables’ New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for $1.65 million last November, there has been much fanfare surrounding the sale topper over the last few months. By I Am Invincible, and out of Group One-winning mare Shillelagh, Hostility has won both of his trials to date, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are looking forward to stepping him out for the first time on raceday at their home track’s mid-week meeting. “He has been faultless here at home; touch wood, it can continue on Wednesday,” Bergerson said. “He has got a fantastic temperament; he is a very laid-back customer, and his trials have been super. “It looks like he has got a fantastic turn of foot. He has just got to go out there and put it all together on race day now, but Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) knows him well. From barrier seven, we will just see how he jumps, but we are really excited to see him finally step out.” A Group One tilt is in the offing if Hostility performs up to expectations. “If he was to run well, we could potentially have a look at the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ (1400m) with him,” Bergerson said. The stable is also looking forward to seeing the raceday return of stakes-performed mare Sense Of Timing, who hasn’t been sighted on raceday for nearly a year. She will make her return in Wednesday’s Blue Pacific Minerals 1200, where she will jump from barrier 11 and will get the aid of apprentice jockey Triston Moodley’s four-kilogram claim. “Unfortunately for her, she has just had a few setbacks and then went all the way down to Otaki, and they cancelled the meeting,” Bergerson said. “She hasn’t had a lot of luck over the last 12 months, but I am excited to see her back on her home track. “We have elected to keep her in the (rating) 65 and claim. I thought her trials were good, so we are looking forward to finally getting her back to the races.” Looking ahead to the weekend, Te Akau will have a two-pronged attack in Saturday’s Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga courtesy of Wild Night and What You Wish For. “Wild Night is back from Australia, so we are excited to see him back in New Zealand,” Bergerson said. “It hasn’t gone to plan over there; he was probably stiff not to win the Cranbourne Cup (Listed, 1600m) first up and just hasn’t had a lot of luck and was disappointing there last time (last in the Listed The Elms Handicap, 1400m). “Back to New Zealand, he seems happy and well here at home. He won at Tauranga before heading over to Aussie, so we are looking forward to him. “What You Wish For is in good form. We have freshened him up from the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) and if he were to run well, he could potentially head to the Awapuni Gold Cup (Group 2, 2100m). “We think they are two nice chances.” Horse racing news View the full article

Australian jockey retains key mount in HK$26 million feature as three-time Group One winner continues racing career.View the full article

An export fee is being introduced for New Zealand horses heading to China. Harness Racing New Zealand advises a fee of $300 plus GST per horse will be effective from June 1, 2025. From January 1, 2026 the full export fee will apply. “The fee has largely been introduced to offset the administration costs involved in processing these transactions, ” says HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden. In recent years around 80 New Zealand horses have been exported to China annually. The fees will be collected by the freight company involved, as is common practice. For further information, please contact HRNZ Head of Racing & Wagering, Matthew Peden at matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz. View the full article

Stablemates and full-siblings Giacomo and Santa Catalina will go head-to-head for the first time in Wednesday’s Holster Engineering Lally and Symes South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata. The elder of the pair, six-year-old Giacomo (NZ) (Puccini), has four race wins under his belt and has been a model of consistency this campaign, placing behind the likes of Willydoit, Balance Of Power and most recently, Doddle at the course on March 1. Peter McKay, who trains the gelding in partnership with his son Shaun, applauded the last-start effort after being taken on throughout the 2000m contest. “It was a really good run, but he was just getting a little bit annoyed with others trying to take him on in front,” he said. “There’s normally a lack of speed in races so we sent one forward to set a decent pace, and you still get taken on. “That probably undid him a bit from winning, but there was still a good five lengths back to the rest of the field and the two horses that took him on were well out of the money. “He’s bounced through that really well, hopefully he won’t be attacked in that same way tomorrow but if they do, it may make it for the other horse we have in the race.” Younger sister Santa Catalina (NZ) (Puccini) has considerably less race experience and a lower rating, but has shown promise of becoming a quality stayer, excusing her last run on Avondale Cup Day. “It was a little bit indifferent, the start before that she wasn’t ridden very well and got too far back, but came home well late,” McKay said. “She probably got a little bit out of her ground last-start as well, but she also didn’t come through the race as well as we would’ve liked. “We’ve put it down to either the muggy heat or something underlying going on prior to that, and in her last run-up since, she’s hardly blown and she’s going well. “It’s not ideal starting her in this race, but it was either that or going to Pukekohe on Friday. So if she can run in the first two or three, there’s a nice (rating) 65 race at Wellington in a couple of weeks’ time. And if she wins, then she’s won a race.” Each by the McKay’s multiple-Group One winner Puccini, out of an O’Reilly mare, Giacomo and Santa Catalina both have taken to the staying role, but the latter did so much sooner in her career. “She’s probably got to staying a lot quicker, she’s got a bit more constitution about her,” McKay said. “Earlier on with Giacomo, every time we got the work into him and got him up to going over ground, he would drop away in condition. He’s finally getting there now, while she stepped up quickly to getting over ground as a four-year-old, and I think she’ll be a really nice five-year-old staying mare. “At this stage though, at the weights, he should be winning tomorrow, and she should be running on close enough.” The market mirrors McKay’s opinion, with Giacomo currently sitting at $1.65 ahead of Ess Vee Are ($4) and Santa Catalina ($5.50). They will be ridden by Jasmine Fawcett and Craig Grylls respectively. View the full article

There were many sincere words spoken at the memorial service for Mike Moroney in the mounting yard at Flemington on Tuesday. Each word was fittingly heartfelt and honest and each served as a reflection of the trainer’s immense personality. Younger brother Paul described Moroney as ‘a champion person’ and a ‘bloody good bloke’ in his eulogy, before reminding those who attended the service and those who watched it live on Racing.com, that these traits were not false or forced. He said his brother never gave hollow lip service but always handled himself with fairness, graciousness and humility. Moroney’s daughter Aliesha spoke next and she added a few more insightful words. She spoke of the trainer’s great optimism, his resilience, his calmness and his careful one-step-at-a-time approach to each problem. She confirmed he was superstitious, with the number six being at the heart of what some thought was an irrational pre-occupation. She described her father’s career-defining victory with Brew in the 2000 Melbourne Cup as being all about the number six as Brew carried saddlecloth 24. If you add two and four, it totals six, she said. It was a superstition he was born with, one that never left him until the day he died on February 27. Moroney was born on the sixth day of the sixth month in 1958. He was 66 when he passed away in his sleep after battling illness. Moroney’s grandson Lincoln then offered some more words. He said his grandfather was kind and a superstar trainer and one who would smother his loved ones with bear hugs. Greg Childs rode Moroney’s first winner as a trainer in the early 1980s and they became great friends. He broke down when speaking of the pride he had for his son Jordan and daughter Tayla when they rode their first winners for Moroney. Childs also spoke of love, honesty and friendship and that there was ‘no bullshit’ about the trainer. He said there would be hundreds of jockeys throughout the land who benefited from Moroney’s want to give people a go. “He never lost his temper and jockeys all liked riding his horses,” he said. Grant Davenport, a longtime friend and owner, said words such as trustworthiness, mutual respect and empathy defined the gentle giant of a man. Another former staff member, Mariah Kaminski, also spoke of the trainer’s desire to help others. She said he was an inspiration, a mentor and a friend who helped her find her way into her own business of spelling and pre-training racehorses. Other staff members appeared on a video tribute to their fallen boss. Words such as guidance, determination, caring, patience and gentleman all came easily and freely. Champion trainer Chris Waller was in attendance after making his way down from Sydney on Tuesday morning. There was a lot about Moroney and his early days that inspired his fellow Kiwi-born as he too looked at Australia with dreams of the future. He said he studied how Moroney trained his horses and how he conducted himself. Waller said the most striking part of Moroney’s big personality was his ability to remain consistent. “He was the same person every day,” Waller said. “He was never jealous of other people’s success and he had a great mix of the old and new generation of trainers. “A true legend of the sport.” Many of the industry leaders were on hand at Tuesday’s service and it was no accident that most found themselves having, at one time or another, raced horses with Moroney out of the old Chicquita Lodge stables at Flemington. That respect from industry leaders could be seen through Moroney’s final winner, Bancory Bay, at Sandown on February 26. His owners include RV chair Tim Eddy, as well as RV board member Mark Player and Victoria Racing Club board member Neil Werrett. The funeral for Moroney will be held back in New Zealand next week. View the full article

Entries for NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 26 June. Continuing as a dedicated weanling only format, the Sale is a happy hunting ground for those searching for their next pinhook success story or racetrack star. The Sale also offers breeders an attractive platform to sell their young stock to a strong international and domestic audience, with the added bonus of Karaka Millions eligibility. In an exciting move, the National Weanling Sale will be held on the same date as the National Standardbred Weanling Sale at Karaka. The joint sale date will see the thoroughbred session get underway in the morning, with the standardbred weanlings selling later that afternoon. The weanling session in 2024 returned more than $2.4 million, with a top price of $170,000 achieved for a Satono Aladdin filly on account of Brighthill Farm – one of nine weanlings that realised $100,000 or more alongside healthy increases in the average and median. Following another strong 2024-25 sales season, NZB’s Manager Director Andrew Seabrook is looking ahead to the boutique sale with confidence. “With all the positivity surrounding the industry at the moment, it should give breeders great confidence to bring these weanlings to the market.” “The Sale continues to attract strong international and domestic participation, with the opportunity for both end-users and traders given the genuine racing and investment types on offer. “There appears to be a lot more synergy between the two codes at the moment, so having both sales on the day should create a bigger crowd, a better atmosphere and hopefully some cross-coding.” A proven source of success on the track, star NZB weanling graduates include the likes of Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Soverigns), Read About It (NZ) (Wrote), Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Pignan (NZ) (Staphanos) to name a few. All weanlings offered are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Graduates can compete for a share in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) as well as the $1m NZB Mega Maiden Series. Entries for the National Weanling Sale are open from today and close on 24 April. To enter the Sale, visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz or for enquiries contact NZB’s Bloodstock Administrator Mary Jane Harvey by calling +64 9 393 9832 or emailing MaryJane.Harvey@nzb.co.nz. For more information about the Sale, contact NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email Kane.Jones@nzb.co.nz. View the full article

Trent Busuttin concedes the New Zealand Derby winner Willydoit is superior to his three-year-old Thedoctoroflove (So You Think), but the trainer is not backing away from a potential return bout in the Gr.1 ATC Derby in Sydney next month. “You can’t worry about one horse,” Busuttin said on Monday. “Things can go wrong, and they are all there to be beaten. “The other horse is a better horse than ours, but you can’t muck around with your horses’ campaign because of one horse, so he’ll be there doing his best in Sydney.” Thedoctoroflove came off his Gr.2 Avondale Guineas victory to run a 2.3-length second to Willydoit in last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby. Busuttin, who trains in partnership at Cranbourne with Natalie Young, said he was pleased with his horse but was left thoroughly impressed with Willydoit, who will be trained in Australia for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups next spring by Ciaron Maher. A decision is pending on whether he comes to Sydney for the Derby or is spelled with the spring in mind. “We got beaten by a superior horse, simple as that,” Busuttin said. “He had a tough run, the winner, and he was there to be beaten at the top of the straight with the run he had, but he was just too good. “Our horse had a faultless prep and was given a beautiful ride by Daniel Moor, but he wasn’t good enough. “All credit to the trainers (Shaun and Emma) the Clotworthys as it looked like it (campaign) was going pear-shaped for Willydoit in the lead-up run (when tenth in the Avondale Guineas) and it’s so hard to turn them around. It was a good training effort.” Thedoctoroflove might not be the only ATC Derby contender for the stable at Randwick on April 5, and Busuttin said the stable was trying to get both Emphasize (NZ) (Embellish) and Confetti Garden (Saxon Warrior) to the Gr.1 classic. “They are both getting there in terms of their form and they will have their lead-up races in the Rosehill Guineas or Alister Clark Stakes,” Busuttin said. “It went pear-shaped for Emphasize last start (in the G2 Autumn Classic). He jumped out, got over-racing and got hold of the rider and ran himself into the ground (before finishing fourth). “He’ll be nominated for both races as he can turn around things. “Confetti Garden, who ran second in the Autumn Classic, he’s done nothing wrong and he’s on an upwards trajectory. “He’ll most likely go to Rosehill. He’d like a wet track.” View the full article

New Zealand punters are set to get their first glimpse of Group One performer Express Yourself (NZ) (Shamexpress) in more than a year when she heads to Trentham next weekend to tackle the Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Handicap (1200m). Following her runner-up effort behind Mercurial in last year’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), and subpar unplaced run in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie, she tested her talent in Australia for interim trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. She raced on four occasions out of their Cranbourne barn under the name Expressiveness, and placed in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) and Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m), but part-owner and trainer Nikki Hurdle said she didn’t handle the city environment. “Sadly, we didn’t see the best of her in Australia,” she said. “I do believe she was good enough to win one of those races had she been perfectly sound, but she just jarred up and couldn’t handle it over there.” Express Yourself returned to Hurdle’s care late last year and won her trial over 850m at Foxton, but her handler wasn’t happy with her condition and elected to send her to the spelling paddock instead of heading towards her initial target of the Telegraph in January. “She came back from Australia and I wasn’t happy with her,” Hurdle said. “She was meant to go to the Telegraph but after the trial, despite winning it, I knew she wasn’t herself, so I put her out and gave her some time.” The six-year-old daughter of Shamexpress has thrived with the break, which told at Foxton on Tuesday where she showed a good turn of foot late to take a gap between runners and finish off strongly to take out her 850m trial ahead of Group Three performer Bradman. “I am very thrilled with her. She had a jumpout a week ago and went excellent as well,” Hurdle said. “Everyone has her pegged as a frontrunner, but I don’t, and it was nice to see her come through like that (today in her trial).” Hurdle now heads into next week with plenty of confidence and is looking forward to being reunited with her Victorian-based son Ryan, who will arrive back in New Zealand to ride Express Yourself in the Lightning. “I identified the Lightning as the only race suitable for her this season in New Zealand, so I have been working towards that with her,” she said. “Ryan will ride her in the Lightning, and he is coming home early. Her last three or four workouts will be out at the beach and I think it will be really good for her.” Express Yourself’s racing future will be heavily reliant on her Lightning performance, with Hurdle weighing up whether to return to Australia with the mare or offer her to the market as a broodmare proposition. “There is not much left for her in New Zealand after that (Lightning). I would have to get together with the owners and we would have to make a decision,” Hurdle said. “If we did go back to Australia, I would go back to Melbourne in the spring. I think she is a horse that appreciates a cut in the track. There are just so many opportunities for mares over there over a sprint distance, which is lacking here in New Zealand. “If she goes well next Saturday, and we decide we will keep going, I will probably train her myself over there and base myself at Ballarat with my son. “If she doesn’t go well and has maybe come to the end of it, we would probably have to put her up for sale as a broodmare, which would be a sad day for us. But she will be an amazing broodmare, I just know she will leave a good horse. “She has done an incredible job. As an individual she is such a cool horse.” View the full article

There’s plenty of anticipation ahead of regally-bred colt Hostility’s (I Am Invincible) raceday debut at Matamata on Wednesday. Purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of Kiltannon Stables’ New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for $1.65 million last November, there has been much fanfare surrounding the sale topper over the last few months. By I Am Invincible, and out of Group One-winning mare Shillelagh, Hostility has won both of his trials to date and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are looking forward to stepping him out for the first time on raceday at their home track’s mid-week meeting. “He has been faultless here at home, touch wood it can continue on Wednesday,” Bergerson said. “He has got a fantastic temperament, he is a very laidback customer, and his trials have been super. “It looks like he has got a fantastic turn of foot. He has just got to go out there and put it all together on raceday now, but Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) knows him well. From barrier seven, we will just see how he jumps, but we are really excited to see him finally step out.” A Group One tilt is in the offing if Hostility performs up to expectations. “If he was to run well, we could potentially have a look at the Manawatu Sires’ (Gr.1, 1400m) with him,” Bergerson said. The stable is also looking forward to seeing the raceday return of stakes performed mare Sense Of Timing (NZ) (Time Test), who hasn’t been sighted on raceday for nearly a year. She will make her return in Wednesday’s Blue Pacific Minerals 1200 where she will jump from barrier 11 and will get the aid of apprentice jockey Triston Moodley’s four-kilogram claim. “Unfortunately for her, she has just had a few setbacks and then went all the way down to Otaki and they cancelled the meeting,” Bergerson said. “She hasn’t had a lot of luck over the last 12 months, but I am excited to see her back on her home track. “We have elected to keep her in the (rating) 65 and claim. I thought her trials were good, so we are looking forward to finally getting her back to the races.” Looking ahead to the weekend, Te Akau will have a two-pronged attack in Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga courtesy of Wild Night and What You Wish For. “Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) is back from Australia, so we are excited to see him back in New Zealand,” Bergerson said. “It hasn’t gone to plan over there, he was probably stiff not to win the Cranbourne Cup (Listed, 1600m) first-up and just hasn’t had a lot of luck and was disappointing there last time (last in the Listed The Elms Handicap, 1400m). “Back to New Zealand, he seems happy and well here at home. He won at Tauranga before heading over to Aussie, so we are looking forward to him. “What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish) is in good form. We have freshened him up from the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) and if he were to run well, he could potentially head to the Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr.2, 2100m). “We think they are two nice chances.” View the full article

What a day that was at Ellerslie! Michael has some massive news out of it, and the figures that already show how big of a success the inagural Champions Day was. But what now for some of the biggest names? And where to next for the winners? Guerin has the latest. Guerin Report – Ep.28 Champions Day Review View the full article

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Wednesday, March 12, 2025 First Race 6:40pm HKT (9:40pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday evening, with a bumper nine-part program set for decision. The rail reverts back to the A course for the meeting, and although some rainfall is predicted to hit the course proper on Wednesday afternoon, don’t expect it to affect the Good 4 rating at the time of acceptances. All the action at Happy Valley is scheduled to get underway at 6:40pm HKT. . Best Bet at Happy Valley: Charity Gain Charity Gain has been a model of consistency this season, producing two wins and another four minor placings across his seven starts. His latest effort at this course and distance was no exception, storming down the centre of the course to get within 1.5 lengths of Fallon. He meets that key rival 3kg better off at the weights, and with Luke Ferraris likely to get the advantage drawn in gate eight compared to Fallon in stall 12, Charity Gain should get every chance to turn the tables in the Happy Valley finale. Best Bet Race 9 – #8 Charity Gain (8) 5yo Gelding | T: David Eustace | J: Luke Ferraris (56kg) Next Best at Happy Valley: Telecom Dragon Telecom Dragon was game in defeat at Sha Tin on February 16, closing to within three lengths of Magnificent Nine over the 1400m. He drops back to the 1200m, where he’s done his best work this preparation, with the son of Derryn finding the frame in three of his four outings at this course and distance. It’s an awkward map for Andrea Atzeni from barrier nine, however, if the breaks fall his way, expect Telecom Dragon to be powering over the top to claim his second Hong Kong win. Next Best Race 4 – #5 Telecom Dragon (9) 4yo Gelding | T: Dennis Yip | J: Andrea Atzeni (57.5kg) Best Value at Happy Valley: Pochettino The John Size-trained Pochettino tackles the Happy Valley circuit for the first time at his seventh Hong Kong start and looms as a major chance in this Class 4 contest. He hit the line well behind Gale Saga and Lakeshore Hero over 1400m at Sha Tin last time out, with the son of Highland Reel doing his best work in the final furlong to suggest he wants to step out in trip. The 1650m should be ideal, and with Alexis Badel set to stalk his rivals from gate seven, watch for Pochettino to be flashing home at a big price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 2 – #10 Pochettino (7) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Alexis Badel (54kg) Wednesday quaddie tips for Happy Valley Happy Valley quadrella selections March 12, 2025 2-3-6-7-8 4-6-8-11 1-2-3-5 1-4-6-8-10 Horse racing tips View the full article

Tardelli winning at Ellerslie last Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Well-related colt Tardelli will make a return trip to Wellington in his bid to add a black-type victory to his burgeoning record. The Stephen Marsh-trained son of I Am Invincible continued his impressive progression on Champions’ Day at Ellerslie where he came from last to claim the Windsor Park Stud Trophy (1500m). He will make his next appearance in Saturday week’s Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) with his performance at Trentham to decide if he travels further afield. Tardelli was a A$360,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy with bloodstock agent Bruce Perry signing the ticket on behalf of majority owner Lib Petagna, who races the three-year-old with Jamieson Park, Little Avondale Stud and Greg Clarke’s Hawridge Developments. He began his two-year-old career in Sydney with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton before relocating to New Zealand. “He went for a nice break after he came over and had a couple of niggling things which we had to get right right and he’s doing really well now,” said Perry, who has enjoyed a long and successful association with Elsdon Park owner Petagna. “He’ll got to the Wellington Guineas and then we’ll reassess things, there’s a small chance he could go to Brisbane if he went particularly well at Trentham. “A race like the Fred Best Classic (Group 3, 1400m) could suit him, otherwise there are plenty of nice 1400m or mile races here and then possibly Australia later on.” Tardelli is out of the unraced Pierro mare Pierro Moss, who is a daughter of the stakes-winning Fastnet Rock mare Upon This Rock. “We bought him as a potential stallion prospect, but unfortunately nothing quite went right when he was in Australia,” Perry said. Tardelli is making up for lost time and has won two of his five New Zealand starts and has placed in both the Group 2 Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham behind leading three-year-old Savaglee and the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). “He is a very good-looking horse and Stephen (Marsh) and Michael McNab were adamant after he ran third in the Levin Classic that he is a Group One horse and they’re still of that opinion,” Perry said. “Because things didn’t go quite right early, we missed a few of those opportunities. “The plan is to get a foundation stallion at some point for Elsdon and it would be wonderful it was one we’ve been involved with from day one.” Tardelli’s stablemate and Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) winner Ardalio, who also races in Petagna’s colours, is enjoying a freshen-up after her luckless seventh from a wide barrier in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). “We rode her for a bit of luck and tried to get her in and did, but then another horse came out off the rail and bumped her out again,” Perry said. “She ended up facing the breeze, three wide the trip and I thought she was huge and one of the runs of the race. “She was entitled to give it away at the 300, but she still looked like she was going to be right in the finish with 100m to go. “She’s having a wee break and will probably go to the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (Group 3, 1200m) in late April.” Meanwhile, another talented Petagna-raced filly in the Marsh team will resume at Tauranga on Saturday. “Love Poem will be stepping out and, all going well, will then head to Australia. There are Group options at the autumn carnival for her,” Perry said. The Snitzel filly is a multiple black-type placegetter, including a runner-up finish in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and hasn’t raced since she ran fourth in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Horse racing news View the full article

Last weekend, Flemington and Randwick held feature racing on Saturday afternoon, where 14 Group races were held across both meetings. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have found three runners that are worth following and adding to your blackbook with horse racing bookmakers. Flemington Track rating: Good 4 (up to Good 3 after R6) Rail position: +5m entire circuit Race 2: Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) | Time: 0:57.89 Horse to follow: Pure Passion (3rd) Peter Moody & Katerine Coleman sent Pure Passion to Flemington to compete in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes, where the two-year-old filly was far from disgraced, finishing in third place. The daughter of Snitzel settled at the back of the field and had to weave her way through traffic to get to the outside of runners. Once Jamie Melham got her into clear air, Pure Passion finished off strongly, recording the fastest last 600m (32.65s), 400m (21.83), and 200m (11.22s) sections of the entire meeting. When to bet: Although she didn’t win last Saturday, a victory is near for Pure Passion. If Moody & Coleman drop her back in grade and run her in a 1100m or 1200m next start, she will break her maiden with a similar effort. https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Flemington-2025-Group-3-Ottawa-Stakes-08032025-Military-Tycoon-Ciaron-Maher-Thomas-Stockdale.mp4 Race 9: Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) | Time: 1:08.75 Horse to follow: Benedetta (10th) The connections of Benedetta were left to think of what could have been in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap when their five-year-old mare ran into a roadblock at the 100m mark. The Jason Warren-trained galloper was storming home on the outside of the field before running up behind the tiring Ostraka and Arkansaw Kid. From then on, Ben Melham had to grab hold of his mount, and they went over the line untested to finish in 10th place. With even luck and a clearer run, Benedetta would have finished in the placings. When to bet: Benedetta is nominated for the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes, but the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes or Group 1 Goodwood in South Australia appear to be hers for the taking. https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Flemington-2025-Group-1-Newmarket-Handicap-08032025-Joliestar-Chris-Waller-Damian-Lane.mp4 Randwick Track rating: Good 4 Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 9: Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) | Time: 2:01.86 Horse to follow: Warmonger (2nd) Warmonger bounced back with a strong performance in the Listed Randwick City Stakes after his last-place finish in the Group 3 JRA Plate first up at Caulfield. The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding settled worse than midfield and ran on strongly down the outside to finish second behind Alalcance, beaten by just over half a length. Following his underwhelming run first-up, Warmonger appears to be back on track for a crack at the Group 1 Sydney Cup. When to bet: The Group 1 Sydney Cup has been the target for Warmonger this preparation, and going off his most recent performance, he will prove very hard to beat in the 3200m classic. https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Randwick-2025-Listed-Randwick-City-Stakes-08032025-Alalance-Gai-Waterhouse-Adrian-Bott-Tim-Clark.mp4 Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Horse racing tips View the full article

What Wyong Races Where Wyong Race Club & Function Centre – 71-73 Howarth St, Wyong NSW 2259 When Wednesday, March 12, 2025 First Race 1:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Provincial racing returns to Wyong on Wednesday afternoon, with a competitive eight-part program lined up. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit for the meeting, and with the track already rated a Soft 6 and more rainfall forecast on Monday and Tuesday, punters can expect that rating to hold for race-day morning. All the action at Wyong is scheduled to get underway at 1:45pm AEDT. Best Bet at Wyong: Hyperbolic After securing back-to-back wins to end the preparation, the Brad Widdup-trained Hyperbolic returns in search of a hat-trick in the opening event of the program. The daughter of Proisir looks to be returning in supreme order after an 86-day spell, claiming a comfortable barrier trial victory at Hawkesbury on February 24 leading into this first-up assignment. Watch for Zac Wadick to dictate throughout from barrier three, and with Hyperbolic possessing plenty of upside compared to some key rivals, expect her to justify the short price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Bet Race 1 – #2 Hyperbolic (3) 3yo Filly | T: Brad Widdup | J: Zac Wadick (a1.5kg) (60kg) Next Best at Wyong: Triple Tempo The Bjorn Baker-trained Triple Tempo returns after 21 weeks off the scene, claiming a dominant 2.8-length maiden victory at Orange on October 10 before being sent to the paddock. The Yes Yes Yes filly appears to be improving heading into her second campaign, securing back-to-back barrier trial wins by a combined 16 lengths prior to this BM64 contest. Ashley Morgan will send Triple Tempo to the top and play a game of ‘catch me if you can’, and based on what she’s produced to date, they won’t be catching this untapped three-year-old. Next Best Race 7 – #9 Triple Tempo (1) 3yo Filly | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Ashley Morgan (55.5kg) Best Value at Wyong: Kenmare Bay Kenmare Bay got a pass mark returning at this course on February 27, hitting the line well over an unsuitable distance. He looks well placed second-up over the 1600m, with the son of New Bay seemingly doing his best work when stretching out to a staying journey. The sting out of the ground should only bolster his chances in this wide-open BM68 contest, and with Tom Sherry set to gain an economical run throughout from stall four, expect Kenmare Bay to give a bold sight when the whips are cracking. Best Value Race 5 – #7 Kenmare Bay (4) 3yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | J: Tom Sherry (56.5kg) Wednesday quaddie tips for Wyong Wyong quadrella selections March 12, 2025 3-5-6-7 2-3-4-7 2-4-7-8-9 1-2-5 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, March 12, 2025 First Race 3:05pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Hillside track at Sandown is in action once again on Wednesday afternoon, where a competitive eight-race card is set down for decision. The track is rated a Good 4, but with the threat of rain in the latter half of the program, we could see a downgrade to the soft range at some point. The rail comes out 9m, with the opening event so to commence at 3:05pm AEDT. Best Bet at Sandown: Freight Train Freight Train was nearly bombproof through a three-start spring campaign when winning twice and finishing a close to second to Electric Impulse. The four-year-old gelding looks to have plenty of upside, and considering he is undefeated through two first-up runs, he clearly looks the one to beat in the penultimate event. From barrier four, the son of Shamus Award will likely settle midfield, but armed with a strong turn of foot, Freight Train will prove too hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 7 – #3 Freight Train (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Blake Shinn (61.5kg) Next Best at Sandown: Last Druid Last Druid was not given much hope when returning from a spell at Wyong, having been forced to cover ground with no cover towards the rear of the field. The fact the three-year-old gelding finished 2.2 lengths off the leader despite the run suggested with a more economical run in transit next time, he’d be worth sticking with. He is guaranteed a soft run from barrier two on Wednesday, and with the length of the Hillside straight set to benefit him, Last Druid will be able to build through his gears and blouse the leaders. Next Best Race 3 – #8 Last Druid (2) 3yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Damian Lane (60kg) Best Value at Sandown: Loafer The Archie Alexander-trained Loafer chased home a speedy one in Speir last time out at Ballarat on February 23, and based on the way he was finishing of her race, she will take some beating at an each-way price with horse racing betting sites. Drawn to gain a perfect run in transit behind what looks to be a hot speed, Jaylah Kennedy will have this daughter of Hellbent primed to strike in the final 100m, and barring any bad luck, she will be there when the whips are cracking. Best Value Race 4 – #3 Loafer (4) 3yo Filly | T: Archie Alexander | J: Jaylah Kennedy (a2) (60.5kg) Wednesday quaddie tips for Sandown Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, March 12, 2025 1-7-8-10-11 4-9-12-13 3-4 2-7-9-11-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Vauban. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Co-trainer Adrian Bott has confirmed that the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on March 29 will be Vauban’s first-up challenge for the stable. The seven-year-old gelding has completed two trials so far, finishing seventh over 1000 metres at Warwick Farm on February 11 before improving to take fourth in a 1200-metre trial at Randwick a fortnight later. Vauban, who has finished 14th and 11th in the last two Melbourne Cups, was purchased by syndicators Australian Bloodstock in partnership with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott following his most recent Cup run. The son of Galiway also had a 1400-metre hit-out between races at Warwick Farm last Wednesday. “I wanted to get him out and get that race day experience before we get him to the actual races,” Bott said. “He had a good experience, a good day and got out on the course proper and had a nice piece of work. “Starting first-up over 2400 metres, we wanted to have him forward enough in condition. He needed that in terms of the outing and the overall experience. “It was a positive outing for him.” Vauban is currently a $8 chance for the Tancred Stakes with horse racing betting sites. Horse racing news View the full article

During the March 10 episode of the BloodHorse Monday podcast presented by Ocala Breeders' Sales Company, Godolphin's Michael Banahan gave an update on final Kentucky Derby (G1) prep plans for Poster, Sovereignty, and East Avenue.View the full article

Mr Brightside. (Photo by Jay Town/Racing Photos) Last weekend’s Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) runner-up, Mr Brightside (Bullbars), is still on track for a trip to Hong Kong for the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m), despite “jarring up” after his race at Flemington last Saturday. The seven-year-old gelding was beaten a nose behind Tom Kitten in the 1600-metre Group 1, a horse he had beaten by the same margin in his previous start at the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m). “He jarred up out of the run,” Ben Hayes, who trains the nine-time elite-level winner alongside his brothers JD and Will, told Racing.com. “It’s nothing bad, don’t get me wrong. He’s OK, just jarred up and came out with a bruised heel. “We were thinking about running him in two weeks in the George Ryder, but we’ll see how it is. If not, we’ll go to Hong Kong most likely. “The George Ryder is two weeks away and if it was three weeks, it would be perfect. “It’s seven weeks to the 27th, so he’ll probably have a jumpout and maybe two jumpouts and maybe a course proper gallop.” Horse racing news View the full article

By Michael Guerin Alexandra Park awakens from its summer slumber this Friday as some of the biggest names come to town for the first major northern meeting of 2025. As the countdown to the Harness Million meeting, the $1m Race by Betcha and even further afield the Rowe Cup begins, a mixture of young and old stars will make their way to The Park. Auckland Cup winner Republican Party returns in the Lincoln Farms Founders Cup, facing the outside draw as well as Mo’unga, Chase A Dream, big summer mover Jolimont and his stablemate Kango. Earlier in the night the two most exciting three-year-olds in the country Marketplace and Beside Me line up in their feature races, Marketplace having looked sharp and comfortable right-handed when he beat Mo’unga in a trial before the races last Friday. He will start a hot favourite in the Alabar Three-Year-Old Classic but Beside Me faces a stiffer task in the Caduceus Club Ladyship Stakes off a second line draw for her Alexandra Park debut. One of the surprises of the meeting is Oscar Bonavena back in town for the Greenlane Cup starting off a 30m handicap fresh from galloping early in the Hammerhead Mile at Menangle last Saturday night. He will start off a 30m handicap but will still be favourite in a small field. Further south the other contenders for the title of our current best open class trotter Bet N Win and Muscle Mountain clash in the Fred Shaw NZ Trotting Champs with Bet N Win having a major advantage drawing the front line while Muscle Mountain will have to start off the second line. The Addington meeting also features the Hector’s Premium Gin Autumn Free-For-All with Rakero Rocket starting his road to the $1m Race By Betcha at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on Friday, April 4. To see Alexandra Park’s field click here To see Addington’s fields click here View the full article

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray’s filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) has the opportunity to end her juvenile campaign at the highest level after Wednesday’s AKW Farrier Ltd 2YO (1200m) at Matamata. An Oaks Stud-bred daughter of Darci Brahma, Tajana started her career on a booming note getting within half a length of Return To Conquer in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m), with that colt going on to win Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). She returned to maiden company second-up and covered plenty of extra ground to finish fourth, and at last on Wednesday, the filly will have the advantage of an inside draw. “She hasn’t let us down on either occasion at the races,” Ritchie said. “Her trial beforehand was excellent, she got back and hit the line very well which is what you want to see a two-year-old filly that is going to be better in the spring doing. “In both races she had to work around some very exciting horses, including the Sistema winner, she went a hell of a race against him and he’s obviously our top colt at the moment. Last start, from the draw she was just caught three-wide. “She’s drawn barrier one on Wednesday and we’ve been going back on her primarily because of her wide gates, so there’s no real reason not to use the barrier this time. It doesn’t mean we’ll chase her out, but she certainly won’t have to give that head-start away. “I don’t think she’s ever seen a running rail, so we’ll have to give her a look in trackwork.” Ritchie identified Te Akau Racing’s record-breaking Ready To Run purchase Hostility (I Am Invincible) as her biggest danger, but also acknowledged the benchmark he will set ahead of a possible tilt at the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1200m). “She’s a really exciting filly, obviously that top colt from Te Akau has got the pedigree, the looks and the colours on him to be extremely hard to beat,” he said. “But we’ve got some race experience on him so hopefully that gets us close, or at least to give him a little bit of a fright. “I think she’s going to love the 1400m and love Trentham, I think that would really suit her. Having said that, she would have to either win or be unlucky not to beat the colt to warrant a start. There’s not much point going down if he’s too good for us on Wednesday. “I’d be just as comfortable, as would Rick (Williams, The Oaks Stud General Manager), to give her a break after this one, but if she puts her hand up and proves worthy of going to Wellington, we could go there. If not, it’ll certainly be her last run this time in, unfortunately there’s not a lot of grass around in the Waikato at the moment, so it’s tempting to have a go at it.” Joining Tajana at the Matamata meeting will be first-starter Way Out (NZ) (Rageese) in the Matamata Tractors and Machinery (1050m) and a resuming Richard Farrell (NZ) (Staphanos) in the Fertco (1400m). Back in Cambridge, Ritchie is reflecting positively on Ellerslie’s inaugural Champions Day, which kicked off strongly for the stable with Eye Candy (NZ) (Darci Brahma) running third to Island Life in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m). “She was very genuine, she tried extremely hard,” he said. “I’m yet to have a final decision from the owners, but at this point, I’d like to see her have a crack at the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m). I think she’ll run the trip out, she’s short in the leg and looks more like a sprinter but she’s running these trips out strongly. “She really digs in and tries hard. “She’s now a Listed and Group Three placed filly, so she’s at some good value. Anything we can do from this point on is to get that stakes win or even better, get that Group One placing. Apart from the hot favourite, it looks pretty open after that, so I think she’s entitled to have a go. “I’ll leave that final decision to the owners when I talk to them in a couple of days’ time.” Later in the afternoon, stable star Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) was among the favourites for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and finished a meritorious seventh after failing to see out the trip. “In my opinion, he just failed to run the mile-and-a-half out,” Ritchie said. “I thought Joe (Doyle, jockey) gave him a lovely ride, he didn’t do too much work to get across and he settled superbly down the back. At the top of the straight, Willydoit, who had a much harder run, his stamina kicked in and unfortunately ours was lacking.” The son of Tivaci has had a sterling preparation, with just six starts resulting in victories in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), alongside a runner-up finish in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). With all of that behind him, Ritchie was happy to send his gelding to the paddock, with plenty of overseas interest still calling. “I’m extremely proud of his performances this year, he’s still in his first prep and he went to the farm today for a well-deserved break,” he said. “I have no doubt that over 2000m that he would beat some of the horses that beat him home on Saturday. The best part about that is we know have that information, so he’ll get a nice break now and come back as a very strong four-year-old in the spring. “We’ll keep him to the mile and 2000m as his furthest distance, that’s where he can make his impact. “There is the obvious of Hong Kong making calls, so it’s not safe yet, the owners are great and we will get a commission from it if he sold, and we’ve also bought the half-sister so we have the bloodlines coming through at great value for the owners to enjoy. “It would be lovely to keep him, but it would be just as nice if he did get sold, I wouldn’t mind going up there to see him race myself. “Those things are what every New Zealand trainer faces, I don’t have much of an issue with it as some of the money for these geldings is simply too strong. If it wasn’t for Entain, he would’ve been sold far before now.” Ritchie had plenty of praise for the track conditions at Ellerslie, as well as the spectacle put on by Auckland Thoroughbred Racing. “I thought the track was unbelievable, there has been some criticism of the track being too hard, but that certainly wasn’t the case,” he said. “I had a good walk before the races and the Verti-drain was going in a lot further than my index finger can go. That’s really giving the track a good cushion, and there was a superb length of grass on it. “There are three major factors in my opinion that are really lifting New Zealand racing, that being the impact of Entain, New Zealand Bloodstock and Karaka being the greatest sales centre in the world, and also, Ellerslie’s track facilities not only for the horses but also for the patrons. “We’ve really got something to work with.” View the full article

Ellerslie’s inaugural Champions Day was a memorable one for New Zealand’s leading stable, Te Akau Racing, with their tangerine and blue silks taking out two of the major prizes. Exciting juvenile Return To Conquer extended his unbeaten streak to four when taking out the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), posting Te Akau’s tenth Group One victory in the process, while their star filly Damask Rose put in an eye-catching rails run to win the inaugural edition of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). “It was hard to believe what was happening, it was such a fantastic day of racing, and it was so busy, it was almost over in a flash,” said Te Akau co-trainer Sam Bergerson. “Everyone was there, and I had family and friends up. It was a great occasion and one I will never forget.” Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) was the headline act of the stacked 10-race card, with her NZB Kiwi win pairing nicely with her $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) heroics at the Auckland track just weeks prior. “We don’t think we could have had her any better. It (preparation) has been faultless, and with horses it is not always that way,” said Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. “For her, since the Karaka Millions, she had kept going to the next level and everything we asked of her she just kept ticking the boxes. We were so pleased with her trial, and she was just doing everything well in the stable, her work was so good on Tuesday and she looked fantastic. “We thought if she was good enough she would be quite hard to beat.” With the victory, Damask Rose extended her season tally to three wins and one placing from five starts, with earnings north of $2 million, and she will now head for a break before a likely tilt at another hefty purse in the spring. “She is off for a well-deserved break,” Bergerson said. “We have peaked her twice for the Karaka Millions and NZB Kiwi, it would be hard to go again. “We will bring her back and potentially aim her at a Golden Eagle (A$10 million, 1500m) prep now that she has got the golden ticket into it. “We think the world is her oyster and we still think there is a bit of upside there.” Star juvenile stablemate Return To Conquer (Snitzel) will also head to the spelling paddock following Saturday’s win, where he put a shiver through punters’ spines when just holding off outsider Landlock to win by a head and reward his backers who shortened him into a $1.70 favourite. “Speaking to Blake (Shinn, jockey) post-race, he was going to win easily and then he got to the front and pulled himself up a little bit. He just does what he has to, he is just a laidback customer,” Bergerson said. “It is not easy to do what he has done, he is four from four, and he has gone up against some pretty decent horses going forward. “He is off for a well-deserved break now as well. It was quite a tough run on Saturday and would have been too hard to turn him around in two weeks’ time for the Golden Slipper (Gr.1, 1200m). He is another one to look forward to next season.” While proud of the efforts of his two feature winners, Bergerson was also pleased with the performance of Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor), who extended her Group One placing sequence to three when running third behind El Vencedor and La Crique in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). “She is running well against some good weight-for-age horses,” Bergerson said. “There is not a lot to her, but she is all heart. “I am really proud of her effort, she got a lovely run in transit. On the corner I thought she travelled into it, but those two good horses kicked clear and she was really game sticking on for third. “She is another who is heading for a well-deserved break. We are gutted she didn’t get her Group One, but she has had a fantastic season nonetheless and we are a big believer that if you can spell the horses now while the weather is still warm, they absolutely blossom and thrive. “We will get her back in in early May and hopefully set her for the triple crown series here in New Zealand.” Te Akau opened the card in winning fashion when Francee (NZ) (Iffraaj) took out the $120,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) in the silks of owner-breeder Haunui Farm, and she is now in line for a stakes assignment. “I was stoked for Mark and Sarah Chitty,” Bergerson said. “She hadn’t had a lot of luck over the past season, she kept drawing wide. She had a bit of sticky gate on Saturday and it wasn’t smooth-sailing. Halfway down (the straight) I thought she was only battling but fair play to Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey), he kept at her, and she was really tough, she was strong through the line and it was awesome to win a race like that with the bonus for the team. “If there is a flight, we may look at trying to get her down south (Riccarton) for the South Island Breeders’ (Gr.3, 1600m) next Saturday.” View the full article

The story of Mike Repole's involvement with the St. John's men's basketball program is reflective of the new atmosphere in college athletics, and should come as no surprise to anyone in the Thoroughbred racing industry who knows him. View the full article