Wandering Eyes

2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan makes his first start at Churchill Downs since his successful Run for the Roses, but has a tough task entered against a deep field of graded winners in the $275,000 Blame Stakes (G3) May 31.View the full article

After his hard-fought victory in the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit last November at Churchill Downs, Like a Saltshaker was named Claiming Crown Horse of the Year for 2024.View the full article

Front-runners Skelly and World Record, respectively coming off rapid six-furlong victories in 1:08.15 and 1:07.84, square off at Churchill Downs May 31 in a seven-horse renewal of the $275,000 Aristides Stakes (G3).View the full article

In Clover, the dam of four Group 1 winners for her owner-breeder George Strawbridge, has died at the age of 23. The outstanding producer, herself the winner of the G3 Prix de Flore, was a daughter of Inchinor and the Bellypha mare Bellarida. Strawbridge bought her dam from the Wertheimer brothers in 1997 and they would later buy back into the family when purchasing In Clover's daughter Incahoots as a three-year-old. Strawbridge will not have regretted his original outlay, for In Clover alone has been responsible for the top-level winners Friendly Soul, Call The Wind, With You, and We Are, as well as the Listed winners In Crowd and Incahoots. The latter is now the dam of G1 Prix de la Foret winner Kelina. Tom Goff oversees George Strawbridge's European breeding stock and said of In Clover, “She passed away quickly last Saturday at Barton Stud under the excellent supervision of Rossdales' Ollie Pynn. “It's obviously very sad as she was a wonderfully kind mare but she had an incredible life as both racehorse and broodmare for her owner and breeder Mr Strawbridge. He was saddened by the news but, at the same time, is hugely grateful to have owned such a superstar mare.” Goff continued, “I have to mention Zoe Isaacson and the team at Barton, who have looked after her so well. Also, David Ludlow of Stowell Hill Stud cared for her for many years so deserves huge credit, as do Joe Bradley and his team at The National Stud, where she often went to foal.” Friendly Soul, the mare's 12th foal and four-year-old daughter by Kingman, won last year's G1 Prix de l'Opera for John and Thady Gosden as the third leg of three consecutive group victories. She was the first of In Clover's offspring not to be trained in France by Freddy Head and she currently holds entries for both the Pretty Polly and Eclipse Stakes. The G1 Prix Rothschild winner With You, by Dansili, is long the family members remaining in the Strawbridge broodmare band and has bred two winners from her first two runners – With Stars (Sea the Stars) and Gitano (Lope De Vega). She has a two-year-old filly by Siyouni as well as a yearling daughter of Sea The Stars to follow. Goff added, “It's worth saying that all [In Clover's] Group 1 winners were sired by Juddmonte stallions, which says a lot about the depth and quality at that establishment. She leaves behind a smart Kingman yearling colt and an exceptional filly foal also by Kingman, so hopefully the story isn't over yet.” The post George Strawbridge’s Stellar Broodmare In Clover Dies at 23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Like a Saltshaker (Peace and Justice) was named the Claiming Crown Horse of the Year by Claiming Crown co-founders National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (NHBPA) and the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association (TOBA). Like a Saltshaker, who cemented his title with a narrow win in last fall's $140,000 Claiming Crown Rapit Transit at Churchill Downs, will be honored at the annual TOBA Awards Dinner on Sept. 6 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington. Trained by Brittany Vanden Berg, the gelding was campaigned by Marisco Brothers Racing, who claimed the Pennsylvania-bred for $10,000 on May 14, 2023. With 18 wins to his credit and $606,161 in career earnings, the 7-year-old was bred by Glenn Brok in Pennsylvania. The Claiming Crown Horse of the Year is selected by the National HBPA's Industry Awards Committee chaired by Todd Mostoller, the Pennsylvania HBPA's executive director. The 2025 Claiming Crown, totaling $1.1 million in purses, will be held Nov. 15 at Churchill Downs. Colonial Downs is hosting an eight-race Claiming Crown Showcase Day on Thursday, Aug. 21, at Virginia's track in New Kent, offering $550,000 in purses. The top two finishers in those races will receive an automatic berth in the corresponding Claiming Crown race in Louisville. The winner of each race will also receive a travel stipend from the Virginia HBPA of up to $2,000, provided the horse starts in the Claiming Crown championship race. The deadline is Oct. 25 to request Claiming Crown eligibility for a horse to run in the Nov. 15 races at Churchill Downs, accompanied by a $250 administrative fee per horse per race. Late eligibility requests will be considered up to Nov. 8 (the day of entries) for a $1,250 administrative fee. The post Like a Saltshaker Named 2024 Claiming Crown Horse of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Epsom's traditional Derby gallops morning attracted three of the 25 colts remaining in contention for this year's Betfred Derby, including a duo from the stable of John and Thady Gosden. Wathnan Racing's Damysus and Juddmonte's Nightwalker, both by Frankel, stretched out around the unique curves and camber of the Surrey track in tandem, and Thady Gosden appeared to be encouraged by the morning's exercise away from Newmarket. “They both handled it very well. They're very intelligent horses, the pair of them, really taking it in. You could see Damysus pricking his ears coming to the line,” he said of the colts, who were second and fifth respectively in the Dante Stakes at York. “It's not the easiest race to prepare for – obviously coming here this morning helps but it's a unique test of everything and until you actually get to it you don't really know how it's going to go. “Neither of them had hugely hard races in the Dante, they were both doing their best work late on. These are two horses that we think will suit [Epsom] well. It'll be another step up in the Derby, as it should be, but we're very happy with them both at the moment.” Wathnan Racing's retained jockey James Doyle, who has recently returned from injury, was aboard Damysus, whose dam Legerete (Rahy) won the G2 Prix de Malleret over a mile and a half. He said of the flashy chestnut, “His temperament is pretty rock solid and he was very relaxed this morning, got a nice lead round. He's a very neat horse with a quick action, very well balanced and he relaxed beautifully on the way round. The track shouldn't be a problem for him, judged on today. “He's got all the little things you need at Epsom – obviously it'll be different on the day, but just doing a gallop around here he got all those little things right, switching his leads at the right time, getting balanced up across the road at Tattenham Corner and then into the straight he flicked his leads again and kind of felt like a little motorbike the way he was down there so hopefully he handles it that well in the actual race.” Doyle also has inside knowledge of the 2,000 Guineas winner and Derby third-favourite Ruling Court, having ridden him in a racecourse gallop during Craven week. He said of the Godolphin colt, “I think Ruling Court probably isn't getting the respect he deserves. He's a horse with a lot of natural pace.” Rab Havlin, who was second in last year's Derby on Ambiente Friendly, rode Nightwalker in the gallop. “I thought he had learnt a bit from the Dante as he has been a horse that's been quite a slow learner,” he said. “In the Dante he was a bit naive about things and lugging left but straightened up in the final furlong and hit the line strong.” The Juddmonte homebred is out of Sleep Walk, an Oasis Dream half-sister to the St Leger winner Logician. Havlin continued, “It looked like he wanted a mile and a half in the Dante. The fractions were slow and he had a wide stall that day – the plan had been to go forward but he was so slowly away and it became a bit of a three-and-a-half furlong sprint. He was aways playing catch-up but I was really happy with the way he found a gear. A step up in trip will be a big plus.” Joining the Gosden pair at Epsom was the thrice-raced Al Wasl Storm, the winner of a Chester maiden on his last start for Owen Burrows. The colt is by Affinisea, who is more commonly regarded as a National Hunt sire but is by a Derby winner in Sea The Stars and is a half-brother to the Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune. Al Wasl Storm's owner Ahmad Al Shaikh has an extraordinary record in the Derby, with his Khalifa Sat and Hoo Ya Mal each having finished second at odds of 50/1 and 150/1. He also owned the fourth and fifth horses home in last year's race, Deira Mile (25/1) and Sayedaty Sadaty (50/1). Al Wasl Storm and David Probert | John Hoy/The Jockey Club “When he came to us I had to look up the stallion as I'd never heard of him,” said Burrows after watching Al Wasl Storm at Epsom. “But even last year – I didn't get him until summertime last year – he showed a bit in his work. He's not a typical jumps-bred horse. He's not a big unit, he's well balanced and moves well. He'd always shown he had ability so it's not been a complete surprise.” He added, “Ahmad has been second in The Derby twice with 50-1 and 150-1 shots and he's so passionate about the race – it's his life goal, as such, so if we could be the one to tick that off, that would be massive. As long as he can run well and do us proud then we'll be happy.” He added of the €7,000 foal purchase, “I'm very realistic – he is only rated 86 so I'm not going to tell you that he is going to outrun his odds, but we'd like to think he'll handle the place and he'll be galloping at the end. He should be staying, and staying well. “This horse has a different profile with his breeding but is a horse who is improving with every run and I was pleased with what I saw there. On ratings he's got a huge job to find but the owner has been very lucky, he's rolled the dice a few times and not been too far away, so hopefully we can do the same again.” David Probert, who rode Hoo Ya Mal in the Derby for Al Shaikh, was aboard Al Wasl Storm and said, “Mentally, this horse has come on since Chester but is still quite raw. He did it the hard way from the front at Chester but galloped on relentlessly. I would imagine a mile and a half around a track like this would suit him as he is a well-balanced horse with a good mind on him. He handled the sharp bends well at Chester so there is no reason to believe he wouldn't handle a track like Epsom.” The post Doyle on Damysus: ‘He’s Got All the Little Things You Need at Epsom’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars PRESTIGE GOOD - R5 (1) Seems to like the Valley mile and can break through here Jay Rooney FLYING FORTRESS - R7 (5) In top form and just needs an ounce of luck from the draw to go close Trackwork Spy TACTICAL COMMAND - R6 (3) Can take advantage of an overdue good barrier and return to winning form Phillip Woo SPICY GOLD - R9 (3) Boasts sterling Happy Valley form and can win another here Shannon (Vincent Wong) PRESTIGE GOOD - R5 (1) Has been knocking on the door and can produce...View the full article

Seth Hancock recommended Christophe Clement when he went out on his own in 1991 and I sent horses to him. Christophe worked extremely hard to become one of the most successful trainers in New York. We were friends for many years. I appreciated a text from him on May 4, but could only think about how hard this battle had to be. Christophe will be remembered by what he achieved in his career. He leaves a large, loving family behind to relish his accomplishments and honor his memory by building on them. The post Letter to the Editor: Peter Blum Remembers the Late Christophe Clement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Kristen Manning/TTR AusNZ In one of the most significant votes in Australian racing history, members of the Australian Turf Club (ATC) have rejected the proposed A$5-billion sale of Rosehill Gardens, voting down a controversial resolution that would have seen the iconic western Sydney racecourse redeveloped into housing. The final result was 56.1 per cent against and 43.9 per cent in favour, with 4413 members voting “No” and 3451 voting “Yes”. The vote marked the end of an 18-month saga that saw heated debate, a parliamentary inquiry, and widespread industry backlash. “This was the most significant decision in the Club's history,” ATC chairman Peter McGauran said in a media release after the result. “We thank every member who engaged with the proposal and made their voice heard.” A vote that divided the industry The proposal – first announced in December 2023 – was billed by the NSW Government and the ATC as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to create 25,000 new homes and unlock $5 billion in proceeds to reinvest in Sydney racing infrastructure. Premier Chris Minns, who championed the plan, described the outcome as disappointing but signalled the government had contingency plans for addressing Sydney's housing crisis. But critics questioned the process, the rushed timeline, and the integrity of the governance. “I am very happy,” said Arthur Mitchell of Yarraman Park. “It was all badly run, badly thought out. Now we can take a deep breath, a rethink, take some time and look at other opportunities. There was a lack of trust. The bribery to members didn't go down well.” That so-called “bribery” refers to the controversial loyalty program released in the final weeks of the campaign, which offered free memberships and benefits to those who voted in favour of the sale. The offer was seen by many as a last-ditch inducement to flip the vote. Julia Ritchie from Save Rosehill said, “I think 99.9 per cent of the people in the room today were 'No' voters. McGauran said young people wanted this. Someone asked for the young people in the room to raise their hands. There were two. Where were the rest?” She continued, “Before the last vote we were polling 85 per cent no. Then they had lots of pretty pictures and brochures – and the inducements – and they got it down to 56 per cent. We want to help the industry get it right. We shouldn't need inducements to get members to support our tracks.” Whilst I'm pleased with the result, I am disturbed by the seven-figure amount wasted by the Board on the proposal and hope this is an opportunity for 'Board renewal', with the four proponents retiring, their only honourable course. https://t.co/n4osmqdGtV — Gai Waterhouse AO (@GaiWaterhouse1) May 27, 2025 What comes next? The ATC has confirmed it will now refocus its energy on strategic planning and infrastructure renewal. “With the vote behind us, the Club's focus is firmly on the future – one that honours our proud heritage while continuing to evolve and grow,” said McGauran in a Club statement. “Our priorities remain enhancing our tracks and welfare systems, growing participation through deeper community engagement, and continually improving the raceday experience.” The result will also intensify calls to speed up urgency on the review of the Racing Act, which has been committed to by the Racing Minister. As Antony Thompson, Aushorse chairman and principal of Widden Stud, put it, “It's time for a reset.” The post Sale Rejected: ATC Members Say ‘No’ to Rosehill Resolution appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot will be run over six furlongs from 2026, as well as being restricted to two-year-olds whose sire won a race over at least seven furlongs (1400m) at the age of two, or at least a mile (1600m) at the age of three and upwards. The changes were announced on Tuesday by the British Horseracing Authority's Flat Pattern Committee (FPC) and follow the Group 1 upgrades announced in February by the European Pattern Committee (EPC), with the aim of safeguarding the production, retention and racing of quality horses with stamina in European Flat racing. The Windsor Castle, which currently takes place on the Wednesday of Royal Ascot, has been run over five furlongs since being awarded Listed status in 2004. Ruth Quinn, director of international racing and development at the BHA, said, “Whilst a change such as this in isolation will not materially alter the landscape, it is hoped that such a move, in tandem with further tactical adjustments, will continue to focus minds and add greater encouragement for breeders and buyers to look beyond the more obviously precocious type. “The Windsor Castle is a very popular race for owners seeking to have a runner at the Royal Meeting; changing the requirements for runners in this fashion from 2026 should create further incentive for breeders, buyers and owners to consider investing in middle-distance bloodlines. “We are grateful for the careful consideration given to this matter by the Flat Pattern Committee, and to the valuable support of Ascot Racecourse.” The post New-Look Windsor Castle Stakes to be Staged at Royal Ascot from 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Triple Group 1 winner Zougotcha became the most expensive horse sold at auction in the Southern Hemisphere this year when she realised $5.25 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The daughter of Zoustar was offered by Chris Waller Racing and became the second-highest priced horse ever sold at the National Sale following Imperatriz's virtual sale at $6.6 million 12 months ago. Coolmore's Tom Magnier secured Zougotcha, and said, “Well done to Chris Waller and all his team. She was a beautiful mare and everybody was on her this week.” He added, “Olly Tait and his team were underbidders. They are very good judges. She will go to Wootton Bassett. Having Wootton Bassett back this year, it gave us the confidence to find these mares and what he is doing both in Australia and Europe, we are very fortunate to be in this position and to get this mare. “We are very close to Sophie Baker and the Waller team. When you look at these top ones that they keep putting through the sale, they're blue chip mares for everyone. Hopefully they might be buying the offspring in years to come.” Another triple Group 1 winner from the Chris Waller Racing draft offered was the Go Racing syndicated star Atishu. The daughter of Savabeel was purchased by the powerful Yulong Investments (Australia) team for $2.7 million. “Mr Zhang was very impressed when he saw her,” Yulong's Sam Fairgray said. “She's a beautiful type so it is great to have her in the broodmare band.” He added, “She doesn't need to take on Via Sistina [on the track] so she's going straight to the breeding barn. She will probably go to Alabama Express. I think it is a really nice cross. She's a beautiful mare so it is exciting to have her.” All told, there were 14 lots that sold for $1 million or more on the day. The sale grossed $47,574,500 while the average was $363,164 [up from $309,731 in 2024] while the median settled at $160,000 [up from $120,000 last year]. The clearance rate was 81%. “I thought it was an unbelievable day,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “I thought there was great confidence and electricity in the ring from the very start.” He added, “I think buyers got involved accordingly. It was great to see a huge cross section of buyers and not any one buyer dominating the market today.” The post Zougotcha Sells For AUD $5.25m At Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion stayer Kyprios has been retired from racing following the recurrence of an old injury, Coolmore announced on Tuesday. “Due to an aggravation of an old ringbone lesion we have decided to take no chances with Kyprios and although he is currently sound and doing well the decision has been made to retire him from racing,” read a statement posted to X by Coolmore (@coolmorestud). Kyprios retires as the winner of 17 of his 21 starts and over £2.6 million in total prize-money. Having won the 2022 and 2024 editions of the Gold Cup in a career which brought him eight Group 1 victories, the son of Galileo had been the overwhelming favourite to defend his crown at Royal Ascot this year before news of his retirement was announced. More to follow. The post Coolmore Announce Retirement of Star Stayer Kyprios appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Madame Gandhi’s journey to creating her latest album, Let Me Be Water, has roots in an overflowing rubbish bin at her Los Angeles home during the pandemic. “There were stacks of takeout food containers,” she says. “This was my New York City upbringing, where we grew up being able to eat at any restaurant any time of day without any awareness of how that impacts our climate and sustainability.” That snapshot of her pandemic life became a potent symbol. “This is horrible,” she recalls thinking. “I...View the full article

Xiaomi has clarified that its advanced 3-nanometre XRing O1 system-on-a-chip (SoC) is not a customised solution from Arm, pushing back against speculation as the Chinese smartphone maker seeks to design its own integrated circuits (ICs) in-house to rival industry leaders Apple, Samsung Electronics and Huawei Technologies. “[XRing O1 SoC] is not based on a complete solution provided by Arm, and claims about it being an Arm-customised chip are groundless,” Xiaomi said on Monday in a post to its...View the full article

BYD, China’s biggest electric-vehicle (EV) maker, slashed prices by as much as 34 per cent, escalating a price war among the nation’s already floundering EV producers. Discounts will apply to 22 BYD battery-powered and plug-in hybrid models through the end of June, the automaker said on Friday. Rivals including IM Motors, a unit of state-backed SAIC Motor, and Stellantis-backed Leapmotor responded by making similar cuts. (EVs make up about half of new car sales in China, as examined in an SCMP...View the full article

Hong Kong’s leader has announced that a working group would unveil five measures to boost consumption among the older population on Tuesday afternoon, with an aim to address the needs of the city’s burgeoning elderly market. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu explained that the Working Group Promoting Silver Economy, led by deputy chief secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, would coordinate various service areas within the emerging elderly consumption market to stimulate Hong Kong’s economy. “[The...View the full article

Garment manufacturers across China and Vietnam breathed a small sigh of relief on Sunday, after US President Donald Trump told reporters that the United States was “not looking to make sneakers and T-shirts”. But few plan to change their plans based on the president’s comments. After weeks of wild swings in US tariff policies, they have learned that Trump could soon change his tune once again. Businesses in China and Vietnam – the world’s two largest clothing export hubs – are still facing huge...View the full article

Dane Cheng Ting-yat, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, will step down in October when his contract ends after six years in the role, the Post has learned, while a global recruitment drive to find his successor has been launched. The board posted job advertisements on its website and professional networking platform LinkedIn on Monday to find Cheng’s successor. A source said Cheng would take a break after he finished his second three-year contract. The recruitment ad stated that...View the full article

Firefighters are battling a No 3 alarm fire at a Hong Kong warehouse, with at least one person sent to hospital and nearby residents urged to close their doors and windows amid heavy smoke. The Fire Services Department said the blaze broke out on Ha Tsuen Road in Tin Shui Wai at 12.40pm on Tuesday and was upgraded to No 3 alarm less than an hour later at 1.33pm. “The Fire Services Department is currently engaged in firefighting operations,” a spokesman said. “Residents affected by smoke and...View the full article

In a fundamental challenge to more than a century of Darwinian dominance, Chinese scientists have revived a long-dismissed evolutionary theory by proving that acquired traits can shape heredity – no DNA changes required. According to a landmark study published in the esteemed scientific journal Cell, rice plants subjected to cold stress passed on an adaptive tolerance to low temperatures across five generations, bypassing the genetic mutations that are central to Darwinism. The breakthrough...View the full article

The set-up of a global mediation centre in Hong Kong will catapult the city to an international arbitration stage, enhance its influence and bring in economic benefits, the chief executive has said. City leader John Lee Ka-chiu made his remarks on Tuesday, ahead of the high-profile visit of Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi for the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation on May 30. He said the new body would put Hong Kong on par with The...View the full article

Wellington, long celebrated as New Zealand’s most inclusive city, is witnessing a rise in anti-LGBTQ attacks, leaving many residents feeling unsafe – and some contemplating leaving altogether. The mother of a 19-year-old gay student, who moved to the country’s capital for university, told the Stuff news website that her son faced constant intimidation and was regularly subjected to homophobic slurs on the streets of Wellington. Paradoxically, Wellington was chosen for the son’s studies because...View the full article

Legal hurdles remain a reason why a proposed regular mechanism on organ donation between Hong Kong and mainland China has yet to materialise since discussions started in 2022, according to a top health official from the country. Wang Haibo, director of the China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS), told the Post on the sidelines of the Hospital Authority Convention on Tuesday that it would take time to revise laws on the mainland to spur the establishment of the mechanism. “There is a legal...View the full article

Te Akau’s southern arm have a busy week ahead, with a big team at Thursday’s Riccarton Synthetic meeting before talented juvenile Cool Aza Rene treks to Wingatui on Sunday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained gallopers will be out in force in each of the Rating 75 contests on the polytrack, with Mitre Peak, Alminette and Beau Brummell taking their place in the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Rating 75 (1600m). A mare by More Than Ready, Mitre Peak (More Than Ready) was only narrowly beaten when resuming behind subsequent winner Penvose Lad, then performed respectably last time out on the synthetic surface behind stablemate Vivacious. Stakes performer Alminette (NZ) (Burgundy) finished ahead of Mitre Peak on that occasion, while Beau Brummell (NZ) (Embellish) is fresh-up from a spell and has recorded all four of his career wins over the mile distance. “Mitre Peak was super first-up and good again second-up, she’s bounced through that really well and it looks a nice race for her,” Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Hunter Durrant said. “Alminette bounced back into a bit of form last start as well, hopefully the step-up to a mile might be the key and she can get one.” The stable is strongly represented in the Book A Suite Mid-Winter Xmas Races 21 June Rating 75 (1200m), with Caravella (NZ) (Caravaggio), Knowledge Is Power (NZ) (Written Tycoon) and Sorcha (NZ) (Burgundy) engaged over the sprint trip. The latter has a particular affinity with the synthetic surface, with three wins and three placings from nine attempts. Caravella has also collected a victory on the course and Durrant said her 59kg impost shouldn’t be of too much concern on Thursday. “She a tough wee mare that likes the poly, she’s going well,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier with her. “Hayley’s (Hassman) claim will help Sorcha, she’s a handy poly horse and the 1200m will suit. “It’ll be interesting to see how he (Knowledge Is Power) goes, but he’s a quick wee horse that will appreciate being on-speed on the synthetic.” Of their remaining runners, Corps D’ Elite (So You Think) is a runner deserving of her maiden victory after a number of strong performances last preparation. The daughter of So You Think will likely contest the Entain / NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m), with the assist of in-form hoop George Rooke in the saddle. “She’s quite a handy maidener, she should be breaking maidens fairly soon,” Durrant said. “She’s had a couple of nice trials to prepare so she’s ready to kick off her prep off well.” Later in the week, Durrant is looking forward to the return of Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel), who put her ability on full display earlier in the two-year-old season. A filly by former Te Akau star Cool Aza Beel, Cool Aza Rene defeated subsequent Karaka Millions contenders Sierra Leone and Abbakiss on debut, before holding off KM placegetter Miss Ziggy during New Zealand Cup Week in November. She returned to Te Akau’s Riccarton base recently and appeared at the trials on the 20th of May, finishing a narrow second under a hold over 800m. “She’s heading down to Wingatui, she had a trial at Ashburton last week and trialled well on a heavy track,” Durrant said. “She’s bounced through that and worked well again on the grass on Saturday, I can’t fault her. “She’s obviously a pretty classy horse, having won here during Cup Week, so if she can bring that form, she should be pretty hard to beat.” Cool Aza Rene will be the likely favourite in the 820m contest on Sunday, but beyond that, Durrant has no certain targets for the filly. “We don’t necessarily have a race in mind this time, but as she turns three, there are plenty of options for her down here,” he said. View the full article

Pedigree enthusiasts would have noted the result of Monday’s 3000-metre Benchmark 70 at Mornington immediately, with two kiwi bred full brothers of Melbourne Cup winners fighting out the finish. The seven-horse field contained Affluential (NZ) (Zed), the brother of late 2021 Cup winner Verry Elleegant, and Heir To The Throne (NZ) (Pentire), the brother of 2015 Cup victor Prince Of Penzance. And as it turned out, the pair would quinella the race, with just a nose separating the well-related stayers in a thrilling go on the line. John Leek Jnr’s Affluential ($1.80) loomed on the turn and looked an easy winner at the 100-metre mark, but some mid-race pulling and 62kg took its toll late. Heir To The Throne ($6.50), coincidentally trained by Leek Jnr’s wife Andrea, had saved ground under Teo Nugent and began to close rapidly on Affluential, but just missed with a last-gasp dive. Leaving aside the scarcely believable quinella, it was a tough win by the son of Zed, who carried 62kg, though this was an 8kg drop on his last-start second in the Galleywood Hurdle, which followed a gutsy win at Flemington. Though Leek Jnr would’ve preferred a lot more sting out of the Mornington track on Monday, assuming Affluential comes through the win well, he seems to be perfectly placed ahead of Sunday’s Australian Hurdle at Sandown. Conversely, Heir To The Throne will contest the Australian Steeple, with a rider yet to be booked. “I’m happy with the win, but I probably didn’t want to run him on such a hard surface,” Leek Jnr said. “But anyway, I’m very happy and happy for Andrea’s horse. It’s in the Australian Steeple on Sunday, and she’s looking for a rider. “So, any of you jumps jockeys that need a ride in the Australian Steeple, you better give her a call.” View the full article