Wandering Eyes

Formula Rossa (f, 3, Vekoma–Fay Na Na, by Majestic Warrior) put on a show while stopping the timer for six furlongs in 1:08.73 in her 'TDN Rising Star' unveiling at Santa Anita Feb. 21. Off as the 4-1 third choice for trainer Mark Glatt, Formula Rossa chased in second as the highly regarded, Bob Baffert-trained firster Brilliantly (Uncle Mo) zipped through sharp fractions of :21.89 and :44.41. Formula Rossa drew up alongside the 4-5 favorite at the top of the stretch and blasted off for home with powerful-looking strides to win going away by four lengths. She earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. “Certainly, it was an eye-popping performance,” Glatt said. “We were quite high on her going into the race and very confident. We had heard about the Baffert filly and how good she was going into the race, amongst others. Maiden allowances you never know what you're gonna get.” Glatt continued, “To say that we expected a performance like the one we got, I don't think we would be being honest if we thought she'd run that scintillating. But we were awfully high on her going into the race.” One of four 'Rising Stars' for last year's champion freshman sire Vekoma, Formula Rossa brought $270,000 from Muir Hut Stables out of the Hunter Valley Farm consignment at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. She was previously a $130,000 short yearling at Keeneland January. Bred in Kentucky by Greathouse Equine, LLC and Glencrest Farm, LLC, Formula Rossa is out of the unraced Majestic Warrior mare Fay Na Na. The Vekoma x A.P. Indy cross is also responsible for G3 Saudi Derby winner Golden Vekoma (o/o a Stevie Wonderboy mare) and sensational maiden winner and 'Rising Star' Colloquial (o/o a Bernardini mare), who earned a gaudy 106 Beyer graduating at second asking at Aqueduct Feb. 7. “She's got a nice stride on her,” Glatt said. “I want to see it before I believe with a lot of these young horses, but I don't think there's really any doubt running further is gonna be a problem for her.” As for what's next for Formula Rossa, Glatt added, “She came back out of the race well. She ran so fast that I think we'll probably take our time. Try and stay disciplined and not do too much with her in start number two. She could show up in a first-level allowance condition either on the West Coast or perhaps Keeneland. I don't think we'll stretch her out yet. We'll sprint her at least her one more time before we think about stretching her out. Still gonna go over it with ownership and see what their thoughts are on how we move forward, too.” #7 FORMULA ROSSA ($10.00) debuts in style at @santaanitapark! The three-year-old filly by @SpendthriftFarm's Vekoma was ridden by @mikeesmith10 for trainer Mark Glatt. pic.twitter.com/lwmaMJMjdq — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025 The post Glatt Not in Any Hurry With ‘Eye-Popping’ Maiden Winner Formula Rossa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Another 'TDN Rising Star' was born across the Channel on Tuesday, as We'll Defend (Fr) followed in the footsteps of Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and Tito Mo Cen (Ire) (Uncle Mo) by producing a sparkling debut display on the Chantilly polytrack. All told, We'll Defend is the sixth now-three-year-old to have earned 'TDN Rising Star' status in Europe since Winter Watch came into being in November, with Falakeyah (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Bowmark (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Opera Ballo (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) also having impressed in Britain in that time. It was on cold Kempton evenings that both Bowmark and Opera Ballo first strutted their stuff, while a wintry Wolverhampton was the scene of Falakeyah's dazzling debut. However, if it's seeing exciting young talent that keeps you warm at this time of year, then Chantilly has been the place to be this winter above all others, with the added bonus of being in a rather more picturesque setting than Dunstall Park. Sorry, Wolves fans. Carlos and Yann Lerner will certainly have a soft spot for Chantilly after last year's Prix du Jockey Club success with Look De Vega (Fr). Now, the father-and-son training duo can be forgiven if they're dreaming of further Classic glory with We'll Defend, who is a half-sister to their 2022 Prix de Diane runner-up La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). The reputation of this Zelzal (Fr) filly seemed to precede her as she arrived at Chantilly for this race run over an extended nine furlongs for unraced fillies. Fitted with a hood and a tongue tie, she was sent off the odds-on favourite and duly delivered by four lengths in effortless fashion, sprinting clear in the final furlong with jockey Christophe Soumillon barely having to break sweat. Bought by the Lerners for €150,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale, We'll Defend became the seventh winner from as many runners out of the Hurricane Run (Ire) mare Skysweeper (Fr), with the others including the Listed winner Newlook (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), also trained by the Lerners, and the G3 Prix des Reservoirs third Scripturale (Fr) (Makfi {GB}). A step up in class surely now beckons for Victorious Racing's We'll Defend, who holds Classic entries in both the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane. Victory in the latter event would no doubt taste sweet for the Lerners, especially for Carlos, who also finished second in the race with Volvoreta (GB) (Suave Dancer) back in 2000. Très beau début de cette belle pouliche… Prix De La Serpentine @fgchantilly Chantilly – Inedites – Pouliches – 3 ans – 1900m – 7 Pts – 27 000 € We'Ll Defend (f) Christophe Soumillon @CSoumillon (Zelzal (Fr) @AlShaqabRacing – Skysweeper (Fr)… pic.twitter.com/UlnDEZDUBK — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) March 4, 2025 Le Havre Legacy Lives On The success of Look De Vega in last year's Prix du Jockey Club was a rare one for a stable other than that of Jean-Claude Rouget, who has won that Classic five times since 2016, most recently with the brilliant Ace Impact (Ire) in 2023. It remains to be seen which horse will lead Rouget's quest for a seventh Jockey Club triumph in 2025, but Leffard (Fr) must be in the picture now after back-to-back wins at Cagnes-Sur-Mer and Toulouse. Incidentally, the first of those victories came in the Prix Ace Impact, named after the Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner who had kicked off his career by winning the same contest two years earlier. After beating stable-mate and next-time-out winner Kalaoun (GB) (Kitten's Joy) by a short neck at Cagnes-Sur-Mer, Leffard then made the switch to turf at Toulouse on Monday for a conditions race run over an extended 10 furlongs. There was depth to that contest, with five other previous winners in the field, but Leffard ultimately put them all to the sword a shade cosily, showing a smart change of gear in the final furlong to win by three quarters of a length. A €150,000 purchase at the Arqana August Yearling Sale, Leffard is out of the unraced Montjeu (Ire) mare Let's Misbehave (Ire), whose siblings by Sadler's Wells include the multiple Group 1-winning sire High Chaparral (Ire) and the G2 Dante Stakes hero Black Bear Island (Ire), as well as Chenchikova (Ire), the dam of the Prix de Diane winner Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Crucially, Leffard belongs to the final crop of Le Havre (Ire), Rouget's first winner of the Prix du Jockey Club in 2009, who died exactly three years ago yesterday (March 4). He also sports the same colours as his sire, those of Gerard Augustin-Normand, who owns this colt together with Antonio Caro, so it would be a poignant occasion all round should he make the necessary progress to line up at Chantilly as a leading contender for the Prix du Jockey Club. Prix Jean-Paul Bosc Toulouse – Classe 2 – 3 ans – 2100m – Bon Souple (3.4) – 8 Pts – 22 000 € Leffard (m) (Ire) Jean-Bernard.Eyquem @JeanEyquem (Le Havre (Ire) -Let'S Misbehave (Ire) par Montjeu (Ire)) Jean-Claude Rouget … pic.twitter.com/eFWHf7G0Fc — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) March 3, 2025 The Clement Connection A major development in French racing was announced on Monday, with Dutch-born Frauke Hermans joining Arc-winning trainer Nicolas Clement as joint-licence holder at their Chantilly yard. Hermans was preceded in her previous role as assistant to Clement by Irish-born Tim Donworth, a rising star of the training ranks in France, who was in the news himself on Thursday when Tigress Of Gaul (Fr) maintained her unbeaten record in the conditions event run over a mile at Chantilly. A decisive debut winner over the same course and distance back in December, Tigress Of Gaul justified prohibitive odds as she followed up last week with relative ease, just needing to be shaken up by Aurelien Lemaitre to beat another last-time-out winner, Poschiavo (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), by three quarters of a length. It was by no means the most prestigious win of Donworth's career to date, but the significance of it shouldn't be underestimated with a daughter of Siyouni (Fr) who fetched €700,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale, identifying her as the joint-second highest-priced filly. Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, who have retained a share in her with owner Jose Aguirre-Moreno, she is out of the unraced Frankel (GB) mare Lucerne (GB) who, in turn, is out of a half-sister to the top-class miler and sire Charm Spirit (Ire). Entered in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Tigress Of Gaul could be the breakout horse at the very top table for Donworth, who also spent a year as assistant to Rouget, before kicking off his own training career when he rented a portion of Clement's yard in September 2021. Smart performance to make it two from two! Entered in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Tigress Of Gaul wins cosily at @fgchantilly | @TimDonworth94 pic.twitter.com/YF0k3D19Wp — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 27, 2025 More to Come from Almanzor Sibling Friday's action at Chantilly is also worth highlighting, including the maiden staged over an extended nine furlongs, which went the way of Kryon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for trainer Victoria Head and owner-breeder George Strawbridge. This colt doesn't hold any fancy entries, but he's bred to go to the top as a half-brother to Rouget's former stable star Almanzor (Fr), the European champion three-year-old of 2016 when his Group 1 wins included the Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Champion Stakes and Champion Stakes. Like Leffard, he was raced in partnership by Augustin-Normand and Caro. Almanzor was blessed with explosive acceleration and Kryon looked fairly fleet of foot himself in this display, quickly putting the race to bed after moving up to lead over a furlong out. He hit the line three lengths clear of his closest pursuer, in an overall time around 1.8 seconds faster than that of the fillies' equivalent won by Sitora (Ire). As well as giving a glimpse into his own bright future with this breakthrough win, Kryon also paid a compliment to Sumbe's Nizam (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), who had him back in third when they made their respective debuts at Saint-Cloud back in October. Nizam has since won a Listed contest at Lyon Parilly and is entered in both the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club. As for Sitora, she was equally dominant as she outclassed her rivals by two and a half lengths, looking another useful filly in the making for Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs. This homebred is the third winner from as many runners out of the Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) mare Simiyna (Ire) who, in turn, is out of a Listed-placed half-sister to the great Sinndar (Ire). Prix Du Four A Tuile @fgchantilly Chantilly – Maiden – Males – 3 ans -1900m – 12 Pts – 27 000 € Kryon (m) (Gb) Christophe Soumillon @CSoumillon (Sea The Stars (Ire) @AgaKhanStuds – Darkova (Usa) par Marias Mon (Usa)) Victoria Head M. George… pic.twitter.com/5Pas0V6m0B — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) February 28, 2025 Port Light the Best of Britain Kingman (GB), the sire of Sitora, was also among the winners at Newcastle on Thursday as we begin our round-up of what's been an uneventful few days in Britian, certainly compared to what we've seen in France. The seven-furlong novice won by Regalian (GB) was about as weak a race of its type as you'll find, but the William Haggas trainee got the job done in good style as the 2-5 favourite, drawing right away late on to win by three and a quarter lengths. Stiffer tasks lie ahead for Isa Salman Al Khalifa's homebred, but he's bred to be smart as a son of Missrock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a multiple Group 1-placed sprinter in Australia. Her first foal, Theory Of Tides (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), was a dual winner for the Gosdens last year. The Charlie Appleby-trained Tribal Act (Ire) also deserves a mention, having defied a penalty to double his career tally in the 11-furlong novice on Friday's card at Southwell. The son of Sea The Stars (Ire) still looked far from the finished article as he hung left through the final furlong, but at the line he was well on top, two and a half lengths clear of his closest pursuer. He's since been allotted an opening BHA mark of 92 and should be capable of winning handicaps with further progress expected. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see which way Archie Watson goes with Port Light (Ire) after his pillar-to-post success in the one-mile novice at Chelmsford on Thursday. He now finds himself on a mark of 98, so handicaps will be an option, though he's not too far off the level required to make him competitive in minor stakes company. There was certainly plenty to like about his win at Chelmsford, by five lengths from Crack On Boys (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), who'd created a favourable impression when opening his account at Newcastle a few weeks earlier. Port Light himself was a debut winner at Southwell in November, before being beaten just a head by the subsequent Listed runner-up Rajeko (Ire) (Kameko) at Chelmsford the following month. Whatever the future has in store, the son of City Light (Fr) already looks a very shrewd purchase at the €41,000 it cost to secure him at the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-up Sale, having first sold for 24,000gns at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale. Port Light justifies short odds to run out a comfortable winner in the @bet365 Restricted Novice Stakes opener at @ChelmsfordCRC@Archie_Watson | @HollieDoyle1 pic.twitter.com/w1YiFYyKir — Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 27, 2025 Dundalk Form Boosts for O'Brien Duo We'll sign off with a quick spin through Friday's action at Dundalk, where Joseph O'Brien had reason to smile despite drawing a blank on the card. The Michael O'Callaghan-trained Athlumney Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) ran out a comfortable winner of the one-mile maiden under Colin Keane, by two and a quarter lengths, having previously filled the runner-up spot behind O'Brien's Snapaurum (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) over the same course and distance. Keane later completed a double when winning the maiden over an extended 10 furlongs aboard Heather (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who, again, had finished second to an O'Brien trainee, Sweet Illusions (Get Stormy), when making her debut there in December. Heather is trained by Ger Lyons, but she's from a family that O'Brien knows well, having won the Irish Derby with her full-brother, Latrobe (Ire). She's also a full-sister to the Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood (Ire), which points to her finding more improvement when she steps up to a mile and a half. That was backed up by the manner of this victory, looking better the further she went as she hit the line two lengths clear of her closest pursuer. Elsewhere on the card, Sands Of Mali (Fr) filly Songhai (Ire) looked a bright prospect for Johnny Murtagh when making a winning debut in the six-furlong maiden, showing a good attitude to hold off a more-experienced rival by three quarters of a length. Bought for €40,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, she seems sure to progress and win more races. She knew her job alright Songhai is a winning debutant for the @JohnnyMurtagh & @BenCoen2 team. Always well placed, the Sands Of Mali filly came home well to mark herself down as potentially useful.@DundalkStadium pic.twitter.com/1KnRBRv8pC — Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 28, 2025 Winners in Waiting Dancing Teapot (Ire), runner-up at Dundalk (November 22) since publication Padua (Ire), seventh at Kempton (December 4) since publication Marhaba Ghaiyyath (Ire), winner at Lingfield (December 3) since publication Safe Idea (GB), third at Wolverhampton (December 21) since publication Indian Springs (Ire) Spanish Voice (GB) Noble Horizon (GB) Dixieland Blues (GB) City Of God (Ire), winner at Southwell (January 17) and runner-up at Wolverhampton (February 18) and Southwell (February 28) since publication War And Love (GB), runner-up at Chelmsford (January 11) and fifth at Newcastle (February 4) since publication Cupola (GB), seventh at Wolverhampton (February 18) since publication Lady Lilac (Ire), third at Dundalk (February 28) since publication My Kinda Ghaiy (Ire) The post Winter Watch: Chantilly Polytrack Continues to Produce appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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A pair of Del Mar programs, “Ship & Win” and the maiden dirt bonus, again will enhance the summer meet purses when racing resumes for the seaside track's season starting Friday, July 18. The unique “Ship & Win” plan, presented for the 15th consecutive year, serves as a strong incentive for horses from out of state to race locally and intensify the track's reputation as one of the country's top facilities for field size. Nearly 3,000 horses have used the program since its beginnings in 2011 with the vast majority of those horses staying on to additionally race at other California locations., The Maiden Dirt Bonus is entering its fourth season at the shore and has aided field size for the track's maiden special weight dirt races, a key element for many horses beginning their racing careers. The “Ship & Win” program provides a guaranteed $5,000 check for any qualified dirt runner in their first outing at Del Mar. Further, there is an additional 50% bonus applied to first through fifth earnings in that initial start and all subsequent starts at the meet. For turf runners, there is a $4,000 check guaranteed for that first start, as well as a 40% bonus on top of those first through fifth purses. Here again, that 40% bonus applies to all additional outings. The Maiden Dirt Bonus provides a 25% enhancement to horses of any age in most of the maiden races on the dirt. The purse bonus applies for maiden special weight races, maiden specials for Cal-breds and maiden claiming races at $62,500 and above. The supplement is available to any trainer who has fewer than 100 horses on the Southern California circuit. “These programs are extremely popular and boost field size,” said Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. “The inclusion of out-of-state runners has enhanced our racing product for many years now. In addition, the fact that most all of these horses stay on and race in the state is a big plus for the California circuit as well as our local owners and trainers.” “One of the many things that makes Del Mar so extraordinary is the wide participation of horses arriving from across the country and imports from overseas,” said Bill Nader, president and CEO of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. “These incentives are significant, providing big upside over and above the published purses. It adds greatly to the value proposition for all owners.” Del Mar's summer stand opens July 18 and races ahead to Sunday, September 7. After the opening three-day weekend, the sport will be conducted on a Thursday-through-Sunday basis for the majority of the session. First post on most afternoons will be at 2 p.m. The post Del Mar’s Ship And Win Program To Again Boost Summer Purses Along With Maiden Dirt Bonus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The success of partnerships over the past few years hasn't escaped the notice of anyone in horse racing. Not only can people now invest hundreds of dollars and get a piece of a Derby winner, but the owners with the deepest pockets in the sport can get together and get shares of more high-priced horses than they could do alone. But while much has been made about the difficulties of retaining breeders in racing-be they breed-to-race or commercial breeders-other than the odd foal share, the partnership model hasn't really caught on in breeding. That is changing with the introduction of Taylor Made Premier Mare Packages (Taylor Made PMP), a way to replace what Mark Taylor calls “the legacy category of Taylor Made customers.” The PMP program is currently comprised of 18 mares owned by 40 breeders. Of those, Taylor estimates that 20 are brand-new to horse racing, 10 were previously in breeding and left it, and 10 also own mares on their own. Three decades ago, says Taylor, “There were a lot of car dealers, a lot of people that maybe owned banks or were in oil and gas. If you look back at the '90s and early 2000s, and said, `what's Taylor Made looking for in terms of a core customer?' We were looking for a car dealer that falls in love with this game and wants to allow us to build them a five-to-20 mare broodmare program.” Those people are becoming increasingly hard to find. “That generation of people is dying off,” he said. “The ones who remain are in their 90s, and in many cases selling out, and the new wealthy generation isn't as interested in horse racing as their predecessors. For whatever reason, we just haven't been able to find as many of those kind of people that want to go full out, who might invest somewhere between one to seven or eight million to breed horses in a big-time way.” But just like the Oakland As couldn't afford to replace Jason Giambi with one player in the famous scene in Moneyball, the Taylor Made crew has discovered that those breeders can be `recreated in the aggregate.' “There are 350 million people in America,” says Taylor. “We're having a harder time finding people who are willing to put in that one to 10 million dollars, but there are tons and tons of people who could put in a couple hundred thousand.” Brad McNulty is one of them. Brad McNulty (center) with King Charles, Tom Marquand and Donnacha O'Brien at Royal Ascot after Porta Fortuna's win | Horsephotos A commercial insurance broker in Indianapolis, McNulty and his wife, Lissa, follow horse racing all over the globe. They have spent wedding anniversaries at Longchamp and the Curragh, love to go to the Derby and Breeders' Cup, and build every vacation around racing. The one caveat they agreed upon was that they would never own a racehorse. But McNulty thought he just might be able to get around that rule by arguing to Lissa that owning a broodmare was different. Surprisingly, he said, she agreed, and so he invested in a couple on his own. He found it a discouraging experience. “You want to play at a high level,” he said, “but I didn't sell 10 McDonalds or two internet start-ups,” he said. “Most of the people in the horse business are people like me. I have a nice job, I'm a partner in a commercial insurance company in Indiana but I don't have the means to go play at a high level like I would enjoy. I found that out pretty quick when I was trying to find a nice broodmare, and couldn't afford to go to the best stallions, so you're playing at a level where you can't get ahead. Expenses just eat your lunch.” That could have been the end of his exercise in breeding-another person lost when the struggle of trying to profitably breed mares at a lower level is challenging, at best. But he came across Taylor Made when he was selling those broodmares and their offspring. “I'd walk around sales and there's a reason they're at the top of the list,” said McNulty. “Just like their motto says, `With us you're family.' They treat everybody with respect.” McNulty was so impressed with them, he argued for another exemption to the “no horses” rule with Lissa once they got out of breeding. Racing partnerships. “I started looking at different investments, and then I jumped into Medallion,” he said. They had immediate success, being one of the investors in Porta Fortuna and were on hand when she won races at Royal Ascot in 2023 and 2024. With his past interest in breeding, it was easy to slide over into Taylor Made PMP. In PMP, people buy into individual mares and sell their offspring. The power of the group allows them to buy more expensive mares and invest in more expensive stud fees to increase their chances of commercial success. That sounded like a pretty good deal to McNulty. Says Taylor, “(The partners) are going to be commercial breeders and they're going to get involved in the whole process–picking the mares and the stallions and trying to breed a great horse. It's a passionate pursuit. That was how we would've described our ideal customer 15 to 30 years ago.” Each mare is an individual unit that is syndicated. “Some people might say, `Hey, I've got a hundred thousand. Put me in one nice mare, and that's going to be my thing,'” said Taylor. “She's going to be my little business unit. I'm going to learn the whole process. We're going to play this mare out, see if we can breed a really nice horse and develop long-term value.” Mark Taylor | Keeneland As an added benefit, Taylor Made provides a concierge service and full access to the farm. “They've got open access to Taylor Made,” said Taylor. “They got friends coming in for Keeneland, they've got friends coming in for the bourbon tour. All they have to do is pick up the phone and say, `Hey, my buddies are coming in. Can you give them a farm tour? Can you set them up with hotel and dinner reservations? Can you put together an itinerary or some other stuff they might want to do?' We're seeing ourselves more as full-service experience curators with a horse farm at the core. And what we're finding is there are a lot of these people that think it's a great bang for their buck. This is really fun. Breeding horses is really cool. And yeah, it's got ups and downs and heartaches, but that's what makes the highs so high. It's not easy.” As for McNulty, he's a walking Taylor Made advertisement. “If you don't like having King Charles hand you a trophy at Royal Ascot?” he says. “Don't like winning at Keeneland or Belmont? Medallion isn't for you.” He's not only equally passionate about PMP…he's also off to a hot start. “Lissa and I loved being breeders, but you're going to the sale hoping to halfway to get out on a weanling or a yearling,” he said. “Because we were in Medallion, three or four years ago, Alex Payne said to me, `we're doing this premier mare program.' He said, `we have a Tapit mare, Diamond Ore. She's a half to Arrogate, and she's in foal to Charlatan.” That sounded pretty good to McNulty. The group paid $750,000 for her after she RNAd at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November sale, and sold that Charlatan yearling for $550,000 at the 2024 Saratoga Sale, recouping a sizeable portion of their investment on her first foal. She's now in foal to Nyquist. “I couldn't afford to go to Nyquist on my own,” says McNulty. McNulty is also a partner in an American Pharoah mare, Space The Win, purchased for $115,000 at Keeneland January in foal to Maclean's Music. “We are bullish on American Pharoah mares,” said Taylor. “His daughters produced the top two finishers in the Grade III Santa Ysabel this week, of course he is the broodmare sire of Barnes. River Thames looks to be the next big-time horse for Maclean's Music. This is the type of mare that we felt was slightly undervalued at the time she went through the ring.” Also in the PMP program is Twinkling, the dam of the seven-time graded stakes winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), purchased as he was emerging as a good horse. She sold an Authentic filly in Keeneland September Book 1 last year, and has a Not This Time yearling filly to sell in 2025. The program both buys horses privately, and raises money to target mares they feel are undervalued at sales. Their purchases have cost between $115,000 and $750,000. They own In A Jif, the dam of Cogburn, who is currently in foal to Into Mischief, with an Epicenter yearling on the ground who will be pointed towards Keeneland September. Taylor Made typically takes a share in every mare they syndicate. “We're losing one category of breeder, so we've got to come up with a new one,” said Taylor. “They're not quite as uber-wealthy, maybe, as some of the ones we had before, but they can still be part of something really special.” For McNulty, who now owns parts of three mares, it has been just that-special. “It has been great to be in the business, and Taylor Made helps you understand all of it. You just sit back and enjoy the fruits. They treat you like family. It's both tangible and intangible. You can go see the horse, touch the horse, see the farm. That's the tangible part. And the intangible is the investment side. Anybody I've taken down to Taylor Made, they want to be a part of it, too.” The post Racing Needs New Breeders. Taylor Made is Developing Them appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Junior Alvarado’s two graded stakes wins in the Canadian Turf (G3) and Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park March 1 earned the native of Venezuela Jockey of the Week by a vote of racing experts for the week of Feb. 24-March 2.View the full article

Multiple stakes winner Mi Bago could contest this year's Two Thousand Guineas (G1) with U.S. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse labeling the 3-year-old "an exceptional horse".View the full article

Dual Grade I winner Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) has sired his first reported foals, a pair of fillies born at The Beeches Stud last week, Coolmore announced. One filly is out of Moon Over Thefirth (Ire) (Flemensfirth), a full-sister to 2024 star novice hurdler Ballyburn (Ire), who is favoured for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham next week. A half-sister to graded-winning chaser Emily Gray (Ire) (Flemensfirth) and to the dam of Thyestes and Bobbyjoe Chase winner Nick Rockett (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}), Roses Of Summer (Ire) (Gold Well {GB}) produced the other filly. “They're two outstanding fillies with plenty of size and strength,” said Robert McCarthy, who has nine more mares due to Bolshoi Ballet including a half-sister to the aforementioned Nick Rockett and a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Thisthatandtother (Ire) (Bob Back) and Carlingford Lough (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}) who has already produced black-type hurdler Miss Fairfax (Ire) (Imperial Monarch {Ire}). A winner of the GI Belmont Derby and the GI Sword Dancer Stakes in America, Bolshoi Ballet stands for €3,000 at The Beeches Stud this season. The post Bolshoi Ballet Sires First Reported Foals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran rider celebrates maiden success in the city on Danny Shum’s stayer.View the full article

Recently-pensioned stallion and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Roses In May (Devil His Due) died Tuesday at Japan's Big Red Farm according to a report by Japanese media Wednesday. An article linked on social media reads in part: “Roses in May died on the evening of the 4th due to inability to stand. During his active career, he won the GI Whitney Handicap in 2004 and the G1 Dubai World Cup in 2005, and became a breeding stallion at Big Red Farm, siring Dream Valentino, who won five major races including the JBC Sprint in 2014, and Cosmo Oozora , who won the Yayoi Sho in 2012. In addition, as a dam's sire, he has also produced successful horses such as Uberleben, who won the 2021 Oaks. He had been experiencing discomfort in his gait since the end of last year and it was discovered at the beginning of the year that he had atrophy of the lower back. On the 10th of last month, it was announced that he would retire as a breeding stallion without breeding this season due to his physical condition.” “Roses in May produced many successful horses and classic winners as a broodmare sire,” said an official statement by Big Red Farm. “We had hoped he would live longer, so it is a great pity. We pray that he rests in peace. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported him up until now.” 【R.I.P.】 昨年まで種牡馬として活躍のロージズインメイが死亡、25歳　ビッグレッドF「非常に残念。安らかな眠りをお祈り致します」 #ロージズインメイhttps://t.co/O1LYL4yuYN — netkeiba (@netkeiba) March 5, 2025 The post Dubai World Cup Winner Roses In May Passes Away In Japan At 25 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is launching a brand new podcast on Thursday, March 6, featuring interviews with senior leaders within the organisation. It will be hosted by broadcaster Nick Lightfoot, who is reported to have total editorial independence. Each episode is designed to take listeners inside the BHA, providing in-depth discussion around the key issues facing the sport and leaving listeners better informed about the organisation's work and the people behind it. To ensure editorial integrity and credibility, Lightfoot's questions will not be shared with anybody at the BHA prior to interviews. Listeners will also be encouraged to submit questions to be put directly to relevant BHA figures in future episodes. The first episode of the podcast features interviews with Greg Swift (Director of Communications and Public Affairs) and Victoria Morgan (Head of Policy and Advocacy), as well as acting CEO Brant Dunshea. Topics covered include the sport's political engagement work, preservation of the social licence and reflections on the first year of Premier Racing. Robin Mounsey, BHA Head of Communications, said, “We're introducing the BHA Podcast at a time when there are many issues affecting the sport that people want to hear the BHA's views on. Racing has a large and highly-engaged fan base who rightly want to understand the work of the BHA. Our goal in starting this podcast is to increase the visibility and accountability of the BHA's leadership. This podcast just one step in doing this.” Lightfoot added, “This is an exciting project and one I'm very pleased to have been asked to be part of. I would not have taken on this position had I been left with any misgivings about the editorial integrity of the process and having worked with the BHA team for a few months to get to this position, I am completely satisfied that I will be able to genuinely challenge my interviewees and that this will be an engaging and informative listen for all who give it a chance.” The BHA Podcast is available to subscribe to now on Spotify, as well as Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Audible and Acast. Listeners can submit questions for future episodes by emailing podcast@britishhorseracing.com. The post First Episode of The BHA Podcast to be Released Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we caught up with Blue Heaven Farm. 2024 was Blue Heaven Farm's best year on record. In addition to several nice results at the Keeneland September sale, we were represented by five different stakes horses on the track, including two runners in the Breeders' Cup. We are hoping to keep the momentum going in 2025 and beyond. Below are the mating plans for a handful of our mares. VIRGINIA KEY, 10, Distorted Humor–Our Khrysty, by Newfoundland. In foal to Cody's Wish. Visits Gun Runner. Virginia Key is a graded stakes placed homebred, and has started her broodmare career tremendously. Her first foal, Distorted d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), is a blacktype runner, and her second foal, Tappan Street (Into Mischief), is squarely on the Kentucky Derby trail after his game runner up finish in the GIII Holy Bull. Virginia Key has produced multiple seven-figure yearlings, including her current 2-year-old, Weekend Glory (Curlin). Gun Runner checks every box as one of the top stallions in the world and we feel that she suits him well physically. SURRENDER NOW, 10, Morning Line–Surrender, by Stormy Atlantic. In foal to Nyquist. Visits Not This Time. Surrender Now was our first acquisition from a digital sale and has been wonderful for us early in her broodmare career. Her first foal, Getaway Car (Curlin), was a 2-year-old graded stakes winner and ran a strong fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He is on the Derby trail with Bob Baffert on the west coast. Surrender Now has an exciting 2-year-old colt by Charlatan and is carrying a foal by red-hot sire Nyquist. Not This Time is one of the best young sires in America and we think Surrender Now's speed and prettiness will be a good match for him. OUR KHRYSTY, 19, Newfoundland–The Hess Express, by Lord Carson. Visits Constitution. Despite being a bit long in the tooth, Our Khrysty is still the queen of our farm. She has done more for us than we could have possibly imagined. A graded stakes winner herself, she has produced GISW Grace Adler (Curlin) and MGISP Pyrenees (Into Mischief), as well as several strong sales horses. Constitution has developed into one of the top sires in America both on the track and in the sales ring and Our Khrysty's size and strength should suit him well. STARSHIP JUBILEE, 12, Indy Wind–Perfectly Wild, by Forest Wildcat. In foal to Gun Runner. Visits National Treasure. Starship Jubilee was a rags to riches story on the racetrack who took us to heights we had never dreamed possible. Canadian Horse of the Year and the only winner of the GI Woodbine Mile and the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes, we continue to have high hopes for her as a broodmare. We retained her 2-year-old filly by Quality Road and she has an outstanding yearling by Flightline. National Treasure was an elite race horse for three consecutive years and his first crop should be well received. ANGELOU, 7, Curlin–Roxy Gap, by Indian Charlie. In foal to Flightline. Visits Gun Runner. Another homebred, Angelo was four-times graded stakes placed for Kevin Attard at Woodbine. She is out of one of our best families and had plenty of talent. Gun Runner should give her a great chance at a runner early in her broodmare career. ROXY GAP, 17, Indian Charlie–Harts Gap, by Saint Ballado. In foal to Forte. Visits American Pharoah. Roxy Gap is another older mare who has been a tremendous stalwart for our farm over the last decade. In addition to being a Candian champion and a great sales mare, she has produced GSW Cafe Americano (Medaglia d'Oro) and GSP Angelou (Curlin). A star on the synthetic who has produced a graded stakes winner on turf, we think American Pharoah is an exciting match for her. CALLE OCHO, 7, Frosted–Mistical Plan, by Game Plan. In foal to Quality Road. Visits Dornoch. A daughter of our GISW Mistical Plan, Calle Ocho is a half-sister to 2024 Illinois Derby winner Patriot Spirit (Constitution). She is carrying her second foal by Quality Road. Dornoch is a knockout physically, was an outstanding racehorse and the Good Magic sire line looks promising. WESTERN GAILES, 4, Into Mischief–Maple Forest, by Forestry. In foal to Twirling Candy. Visits Seize the Grey. A daughter of our first homebred stakes winner Maple Forest, Western Gailes is a pretty daughter of leading broodmare sire Into Mischief. The family has a lot of speed and we are excited about breeding her to the talented and versatile Seize the Grey. The post 2025 Mating Plans, Presented By Spendthrift Farm: Blue Heaven Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

More than £3.3m in prize-money has been devoted to this year's programme of High-Value Developmental Races on the Flat in Britain with an increased focus on potential stayers. The series features 89 maiden and novice contests, 31 of which are for two-year-olds and worth £40,000, while another 30 restricted juvenile novices and maidens will carry a minimum of £30,000 in prize-money. For three-year-olds and up there are 28 open novice and maiden races worth a minimum of £40,000. With the financial backing of British Stallion Studs (EBF), Juddmonte, Darley and Tattersalls, support for the initiative also comes from the BHA Development Fund. The series, now in its third year, was devised in the hope that the enhanced prize-money would encourage the purchase and retention of young equine talent in Britain, thereby also supporting British breeding. It has grown in number from 63 races in 2023 and 84 last year. The full list of races for the series, which begins at Southwell on March 15 and runs through to Chelmsford on December 1, can be viewed here. This essential part of the race programme has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years, with the 84 races staged last year building on 63 races staged in 2023. “We are really pleased to confirm the continuation of the High-Value Developmental programme for 2025 after another successful year,” said Richard Wayman, director of racing at the BHA. “It is important for us to take steps to encourage the racing and breeding of horses in Britain, and the increased returns in prize-money that these races provide is a vital part of that process. “It has been brilliant to see the races so well engaged with by owners and trainers, and that wouldn't be possible without the support of British Stallion Studs (EBF), Darley, Juddmonte and Tattersalls, who have worked together with the BHA to enable this initiative to thrive. We are also grateful to the Horseracing Betting Levy Board and our host racecourses for supporting the running of the races.” He continued, “In producing this year's list of races, we have increased the focus on the staying horse as part of our ongoing strategy to attract and encourage quality horses with an aptitude for stamina. “We very much hope to grow this significant initiative in the future, and I know that I speak on behalf of all of our partners when saying that we would warmly welcome other organisations to join us so that we can support more of these races in the years ahead.” Simon Sweeting, chairman of the British Stallion Studs (EBF), added, “The British EBF will again lead the industry sponsorship of this £3.3 million project in 2025 which focuses prize-money into a vital, foundation area of the programme. Our 2024 races produced fantastic graduates, the standout being Manton Thoroughbreds' Rashabar. Second in our high-value Maiden at Chester's May meeting, he went on to win a stunningly close Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished second in both the G1 Prix Morny and Jean-Luc Lagadere. “The races supported by the British EBF produced a further 10 stakes winners or performers, including Listed winners Englemere, Lady With The Lamp and Glamis Road. With open maidens and novices worth a minimum of £40,000 and restricted races a minimum of £30,000, we hope more owners and trainers will target the great prize-money on offer in these development opportunities for their horses' careers.” Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions at Darley, said, “Now in its third year, the Darley Maiden Series continues to be the subject of a great deal of positivity, and we are delighted to continue this sponsorship. “Supporting breeders, either through this development series or via our contribution to the EBF, remains of paramount importance to Darley and we look forward to the first of the Darley series races taking place on 11 April, at Newbury.” Juddmonte's CEO Douglas Erskine Crum said, “Juddmonte is delighted to support financially again this year's further enhancements. These high prize-money developmental races directly support owners and breeders in areas that can be overlooked and thereby support our UK breeding industry.” Britain's largest sales house, Tattersalls, has also lent its support to the project. Jason Singh, the company's associate director of marketing at Tattersalls, said, “Tattersalls is pleased to continue supporting high-value maiden and novice races in partnership with the BHA, EBF, Darley, and Juddmonte. “Alongside our highly successful £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus Scheme, which has paid out over £9 million directly to owners since 2016, this initiative ensures that 89 maiden and novice races offer substantial prize-money, strengthening this key area of the racing programme.” The post Britain’s Valuable Maiden Series Returns with £3.3m On Offer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk She’s the gift that keeps giving. On Tuesday at Cambridge 10-year-old mare Highview Rockn Roll made it career win number 10 when she took out the Wednesday Quiz Night At the Clubhouse Handicap Trot. Coincidentally she’s also had 10 seconds and 10 thirds as well from 82 career starts. “She’s bred to pace but she trots good,” says trainer Donald Cossey, “she’s only small but she’s tough.” Making her efforts all the more noteworthy is that the Rock N Roll Heaven mare didn’t debut till she was a six-year-old. “We got her as a five-year-old from Gore,” says Cossey. Over the years she’s had a few injuries and niggles. “It’s just wear and tear really, we just have to look after her.” On Tuesday driver Emily Johnson was three back the fence then made a play for the lap with over a lap to go. The combo never looked like getting beaten, shading Castana by more than a length. Johnson drives the horse a lot as the Te Awamutu-based Cossey uses the track at Dr Luk Chin’s place at Tamahere where Johnson also works. “She’s a very good driver,” says Cossey. Cossey, who races Highview Rockn Roll with his nephew Nick Coxon, is planning to line her up at Manawatu next, with a view to breeding from her in the not too distant future. “We’ll run her out this season and probably look to get her in foal next season but we will play it by ear.” Another highlight of the meeting was Josh Dickie driving a double with Adjournment and Rock Band, both for trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer. View the full article

Rise At Dawn’s (NZ) (Almanzor) rapid emergence through the ranks is eerily similar to that of glamour stablemate Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), according to co-trainer Ben Hayes, who has dubbed the All-Star Mile aspirant Lindsay Park’s ‘mini-Brightside’ ahead of their Group 1 clash on Saturday at Flemington. Rise At Dawn has won eight of his 13 starts, including his past four on end, and booked his place in the $2.5 million race with a first-up win in the Listed Elms Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. He has shortened from $51 into $18 in Sportsbet’s All-Star Mile market since that latest victory last month. Standing in his way is his nine-time G1-winning stablemate, who won the 2023 All-Star Mile and narrowly denied his rivals in the G1 Futurity Stakes over 1400m at his most recent start. While Hayes stopped short of declaring Rise At Dawn a genuine threat, he pointed to Mr Brightside’s first All-Star Mile attempt in 2022 – in which he finished fourth behind Zaaki at his 12th career start – as evidence of the similar trajectory. “In a funny way, he’s like a ‘mini-Brightside’ for us,” Hayes said. “He’s just gone through the grades so well and he’s still untapped at the moment, we don’t know his ceiling. “We are throwing him right in the deep end, but this will give us an idea of where he’s at. “Mr Brightside ran in the race at a similar stage of his career and he ran fourth, so we’re hoping he (Rise At Dawn) can do something similar then follow the dame path to the Doncaster. “He was impressive first-up and he worked fantastic on Monday morning.” Of the $2.80 All Star Mile favourite, Hayes said he is ready to produce another elite performance after training on well from the Futurity Stakes. “Mr Brightside came out of the race (Futurity) in fantastic order and we can’t fault him,” he said. “His form is good, so we think he’ll be very competitive.” The stable did consider using Marble Arch’s (NZ) (Per Incanto) All-Star Mile golden ticket but will instead aim the mare at a G1 race in Sydney later this month. Marble Arch earned ballot exemption for the All-Star Mile via her G2 Blamey Stakes win on Saturday. “We did put consideration into running Marble Arch and she did back up well but not well enough,” he said. “She’ll most likely head to the Coolmore in two weeks in Sydney.” View the full article

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Haras de Beaumont has reported that Puchkine (Fr), its Group 1-winning son of Starspangledbanner (Aus), has had his first five mares scanned in foal. These include Livachope (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), winner of the G3 Prix du Bois, and Listed winner Volshka (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who was also placed in the G3 Prix Cleopatre. Also among the early mares in foal to him is the Listed winner Racemate (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), the dam of the Listed-placed multiple winner Rolleville (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). Syndicated on arrival at Haras de Beaumont, Puchkine, who won last season's G1 Prix Jean Prat and stands for €8,500, is receiving strong support from his breeder Alain Jathiere and fellow owner-breeders Gerard Augustin-Normand and the Chehboub family. The post Quintet of Mares in Foal for Puchkine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What 2025 Randwick Guineas Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Sydney, NSW When Saturday, March 8, 2025 Prizemoney $1,000,000 Distance 1600m Conditions Group 1, Set Weights 2024 winner Celestial Legend (11) | T: Les Bridge | J: Kerrin McEvoy (56.5kg) Visit Dabble The time-honoured Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) headlines the action at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, with a quality field of nine three-year-olds set to battle it out over the $1 million prize. Seven of the nine runners engaged come through the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) on February 22, where Broadsiding proved too classy. Can a key rival turn the tables? Or will Broadsiding justify favouritism once again? 2025 Randwick Guineas odds It’s a one-act affair in the 2025 Randwick Guineas according to horse racing bookmakers, with Broadsiding opening a $1.60 favourite. Swiftfalcon is the only runner with any early support, with the Hobartville runner-up firming into $4.00 after opening at $5.00 post-barrier draw. Aeliana ($7.00) and Linebacker ($10.00) are the notable drifters in the market, while you can get massive odds for every other runner, including Queensland raider Our Benefactor ($31.00) who brings an element of intrigue from the north. 2025 Randwick Guineas speed map There is no tempo engaged in this year’s edition of the Randwick Guineas, and it appears Zac Lloyd may have no choice but to be the de facto leader aboard Linebacker. Expect Aeliana to utilize gate three and get his back every step of the way, while Broadsiding lands in the one-one under the guise of James McDonald. Swiftfalcon is drawn (5) to hold much closer order than last time out, while Our Benefactor (9) and Depth Of Character (8) will be dragged back from their wide draws in search of cover. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Randwick Guineas. Randwick Guineas 2025 preview & form There is no doubt Broadsiding must be considered the one to beat in the 2025 Randwick Guineas, however, he isn’t a betting proposition at the current price. Aeliana will be the big improver second-up and should relish the Soft to Heavy conditions on offer. She is undefeated at Randwick and is yet to suffer defeat on rain-effected ground, so at the $7.00 available with BlondeBet, the lone filly gets the nod. Linebacker gets every chance to steal this race. He’s the sole leader on paper amongst this field of nine, and with Zac Lloyd in a rich vein of form, this guy could cause a minor upset at the $10.00 with Dabble. Randwick Guineas 2025 selections & best bets Selections: 9 AELIANA 3 LINEBACKER 1 BROADSIDING 2 SWIFTFALCON $100 betting strategy $60 Win Aeliana (#9) @ +600 with BlondeBet $40 Win Linebacker (#3) @ +900 with Dabble Randwick Guineas 2025 final field 1. Broadsiding (4) T: James Cummings J: James McDonald W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Too Darn Hot (GB) Dam: Speedway -166.67 -1666.67 2. Swiftfalcon (5) T: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes J: Tyler Schiller W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Exceedance Dam: Tempting Delight +360 -285.71 3. Linebacker (6) T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton J: Zac Lloyd W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Super Seth Dam: Garden of Swans (GB) +700 -133.33 4. China Sea (2) T: John Sargent J: Tim Clark W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Rippled (GB) +10000 +900 5. Firm Agreement (1) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Tom Sherry W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Yes Yes Yes Dam: Money Magic +5000 +500 6. Depth of Character (8) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Joshua Parr W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Deep Field Dam: Caricature (NZ) +5000 +500 7. Our Benefactor (9) T: Bevan Laming J: Martin Harley W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Contributer (IRE) Dam: Madonna Mia (NZ) +2500 +250 8. Tenbury Wells (7) T: Brad Widdup J: W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Dowager Queen (NZ) +15000 +1400 9. Aeliana (3) T: Chris Waller J: Jason Collett W: 54.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Castelvecchio Dam: Temolie +500 -200 Horse racing tips View the full article

Whangaehu will contest Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Bill Thurlow is hoping to be the toast of his home track on Thursday before trekking north to Champions Day at Ellerslie with Whangaehu, his contender in the $1 million Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). The Waverley horseman will be represented by half a dozen runners at the mid-week meeting, including impressive last-start maiden winner Champagne Linda. The daughter of Darci Brahma had been knocking on the door throughout her career, and after coming back a stronger mare at four, she will be out to replicate that winning performance in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m). “She was really good last time, she’s a horse that always seemed to run into one to get beaten and by really narrow margins too,” Thurlow said. “She’s just a bit stronger this time in, her run last time was really good and we think she’s trained on really well, she’s got a nice draw and on her home track. There are plenty of positives for her.” Champagne Linda will have the services of northern hoop Ryan Elliot, who will also partner stablemate Rebal Agent in the Grainhub (1650m) and first-starter Black Sea in the Devane Fencing / Neil Contracting (1400m). A winner two starts back in a fresh state, Rebal Agent will come back in distance on Thursday, a factor that Thurlow sees as no cause for concern. “He’s a bit of a one-pacer and likes to roll along and keep rolling, rather than sit and sprint,” Thurlow said. “It wasn’t a huge surprise when he won, it was a very smart ride by Marc Lerner that day and he managed to dictate terms, and he kept going. He has to be ridden that way and I think he’ll acquit himself well tomorrow, he’s been working well and coming back from 2000 shouldn’t be a problem for him. “Black Sea is just going to be a really nice staying type of horse, he’s quite a big, good-boned horse so it’s taken a bit of time to get to where we are now. “I think tomorrow will be a tad too short for him, but if he’s finding the line well, we’ll be very happy with him.” A younger member of Thurlow’s stable having his first raceday appearance will be Landman, a two-year-old gelding by in-form juvenile sire Hello Youmzain. A winner in his only trial, Landman holds an early nomination for the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on March 29. “He’s a horse we really like, he’s a good, strong, well-made horse with plenty of bone,” Thurlow said. “I don’t know that he’s winning tomorrow, but going forward, he’s got plenty of substance about him.” Thurlow also has plenty of time for Miss Fireball, a Ten Sovereigns filly who flew home late last-start to finish a close-up second to Colour Chart. She is at the top of bookmaker markets for the Wanganui Motors (1400m), but her trainer indicated the filly still has plenty to learn. “It was a really good run last time, she’s one of those horses who is still learning her game a bit and she still manages to get tangled up in anything that’s going on,” he said. “She’s not quite professional yet, but she has got a good amount of ability, and I think she’ll get there at some point, it’s just a matter of whether that’s tomorrow or not. “Going a little bit extra over 1400m on her home track should suit her down to the ground off the way that she’s been racing. She’s done well since then so we expect her to run well.” A short turnaround will be in order for Thurlow as he’ll be off to Ellerslie’s mega-meeting on Saturday, with talented stayer Whangaehu representing the Central Districts in an elite edition of the Bonecrusher. A six-year-old by Proisir, Whangaehu was a handy galloper when he returned from Australia 18 months ago, but he has thrived in Thurlow’s care, particularly this season when winning both the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m), before an eye-catching third behind El Vencedor and La Crique in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month. The gelding finished a meritorious seventh in last year’s Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) and Thurlow had hoped to set his charge for another crack at that feature, but after such a strong campaign, he has been weighted out of contention. “It’s just the way he’s placed in the weights at the moment, he’s weight-for-age at this stage so it (Bonecrusher) seems like the right fit for him at the moment,” he said. “He’s just done his work at home, pottering around here and has gone to town for a couple of hit-outs. He’s happy and well. “We probably hadn’t planned for him to go this way, we more so saw him as a handicap horse, but it’s just the way that it’s worked out with a couple of handicap wins and a Group Three. It’s pushed him up there so that’s where we are now.” A vintage field includes both El Vencedor and La Crique, as well as Orchestral, but Whangaehu will have the advantage of Kiwi-expat hoop Mick Dee on board, fresh off his recent success in the A$2 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m). Horse racing news View the full article

Super Saturday is now a trans-Tasman affair with the inaugural NZ$3.5million Kiwi slot race joining Flemington’s pair of Group 1s, the All-Star Mile and Newmarket Handicap, this weekend. The Kiwi market is dominated by Australians, featuring Lindsay Park-trained Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto), which is currently favourite at $2.70, ahead of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon). Bjorn Baker and OTI Racing have also combined with Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) for the race, while Blake Shinn will skip the Victorian meeting to ride on the Ellerslie card, which has another three G1s on it. As Flemington hosts a bevvy of topline racing on Saturday, New Zealand has secured some top three-year-olds for its new race, with the barrier draw held in Auckland on Tuesday night. “It brings direct credibility in year one, which is enormous,” NZ Racing Chairman Russell Warwick said. “And then, you add on the likes of Public Attention with the Coolmore colours on and Perfumist with OTI, there’s a real Australian interest in the race and some of these Australian jockeys with Micky Dee and those sort of guys riding here, it’s really internationalised right from day one. “So we’re really excited about it and it’s really going to put New Zealand right in the forefront come Saturday.” NZ racing has seen a resurgence in international interest following the investment by Entain into local racing products. The significant boost to prizemoney and initiatives such as the Kiwi slot race have seen Australian horses and jockeys regularly make the trip. “I think fair to say that we’ve been the backwater over the last 10 or 12 years with our racing and I think the last couple of years with the introduction of Entain, the restructuring of the Summer Carnival and what we’re racing for and the stake money now. It’s not to be overlooked,” Warwick said. “It’s even appealing to the Chris Wallers of the world and the Blake Shinns and … those sort of guys. New Zealand’s become on their radar now.” Deputy Entain CEO and CFO Lachlan Fitt said the local NZ industry is starting to get the recognition it deserves globally. Entain won the 25-year rights to the NZ TAB in 2023. “It’s been quite incredible to be involved in it, to be honest. It’s one of those things that the New Zealand industry has always punched well above its weight in terms of producing racehorses and it’s great to see the participants now are rewarded for that hard work over a long time, with some fantastic racing and the right level of prizemoney,” Fitt said. “The Australian interest is there from a wagering and also participant perspective, so it’s been really rewarding. And Saturday’s a real celebration of that. “I think there’s six or seven Australian-trained horses at Ellerslie on Saturday, which, as I understand, it’s the first time that’s ever happened. “The engagement out of Australia and the work we’ve been doing with Racing.com and the support we’ve had out of the Aussie market for New Zealand product is huge. So it’s super important to get that on the roadmap and we’re pumped about how it’s all coming together.” Fitt also has shares in Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Kiwi, raced by Te Akau with Shinn set to ride. The three-year-old filly is currently $8 in the market and drew barrier eight on Tuesday night. “She’s a horse that settles a little bit back in the field anyway. And we saw her in Karaka Millions night. She’s got that right turn of foot, so fingers crossed we get a one off the fence and good luck. And hopefully, we’ll be there in the finish,” Fitt said. The NZB Kiwi will run alongside three G1s on Saturday, including the NZ$1.25m New Zealand Derby. View the full article

Bill Thurlow is hoping to be the toast of his home track on Thursday before trekking north to Champions Day at Ellerslie with Whangaehu (NZ) (Proisir), his contender in the $1 million Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). The Waverley horseman will be represented by half a dozen runners at the mid-week meeting, including impressive last-start maiden winner Champagne Linda (NZ) (Darci Brahma). The daughter of Darci Brahma had been knocking on the door throughout her career, and after coming back a stronger mare at four, she will be out to replicate that winning performance in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m). “She was really good last time, she’s a horse that always seemed to run into one to get beaten and by really narrow margins too,” Thurlow said. “She’s just a bit stronger this time in, her run last time was really good and we think she’s trained on really well, she’s got a nice draw and on her home track. There are plenty of positives for her.” Champagne Linda will have the services of northern hoop Ryan Elliot, who will also partner stablemate Rebal Agent (NZ) (Complacent) in the Grainhub (1650m) and first-starter Black Sea (NZ) (Staphanos) in the Devane Fencing / Neil Contracting (1400m). A winner two starts back in a fresh state, Rebal Agent will come back in distance on Thursday, a factor that Thurlow sees as no cause for concern. “He’s a bit of a one-pacer and likes to roll along and keep rolling, rather than sit and sprint,” Thurlow said. “It wasn’t a huge surprise when he won, it was a very smart ride by Marc Lerner that day and he managed to dictate terms, and he kept going. He has to be ridden that way and I think he’ll acquit himself well tomorrow, he’s been working well and coming back from 2000 shouldn’t be a problem for him. “Black Sea is just going to be a really nice staying type of horse, he’s quite a big, good-boned horse so it’s taken a bit of time to get to where we are now. “I think tomorrow will be a tad too short for him, but if he’s finding the line well, we’ll be very happy with him.” A younger member of Thurlow’s stable having his first raceday appearance will be Landman (NZ) (Hello Youmzain), a two-year-old gelding by in-form juvenile sire Hello Youmzain. A winner in his only trial, Landman holds an early nomination for the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on March 29. “He’s a horse we really like, he’s a good, strong, well-made horse with plenty of bone,” Thurlow said. “I don’t know that he’s winning tomorrow, but going forward, he’s got plenty of substance about him.” Thurlow also has plenty of time for Miss Firebal (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns), a Ten Sovereigns filly who flew home late last-start to finish a close-up second to Colour Chart. She is at the top of the TAB market for the Wanganui Motors (1400m), but her trainer indicated the filly still has plenty to learn. “It was a really good run last time, she’s one of those horses who is still learning her game a bit and she still manages to get tangled up in anything that’s going on,” he said. “She’s not quite professional yet, but she has got a good amount of ability, and I think she’ll get there at some point, it’s just a matter of whether that’s tomorrow or not. “Going a little bit extra over 1400m on her home track should suit her down to the ground off the way that she’s been racing. She’s done well since then so we expect her to run well.” A short turnaround will be in order for Thurlow as he’ll be off to Ellerslie’s mega-meeting on Saturday, with talented stayer Whangaehu representing the Central Districts in an elite edition of the Bonecrusher. A six-year-old by Proisir, Whangaehu was a handy galloper when he returned from Australia 18 months ago, but he has thrived in Thurlow’s care, particularly this season when winning both the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m), before an eye-catching third behind El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) and La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month. The gelding finished a meritorious seventh in last year’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) and Thurlow had hoped to set his charge for another crack at that feature, but after such a strong campaign, he has been weighted out of contention. “It’s just the way he’s placed in the weights at the moment, he’s weight-for-age at this stage so it (Bonecrusher) seems like the right fit for him at the moment,” he said. “He’s just done his work at home, pottering around here and has gone to town for a couple of hit-outs. He’s happy and well. “We probably hadn’t planned for him to go this way, we more so saw him as a handicap horse, but it’s just the way that it’s worked out with a couple of handicap wins and a Group Three. It’s pushed him up there so that’s where we are now.” A vintage field includes both El Vencedor and La Crique, as well as Orchestral, but Whangaehu will have the advantage of Kiwi-expat hoop Mick Dee on board, fresh off his recent success in the A$2 million Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m). View the full article

New Zealand has been a great source of thoroughbred talent for leading Australian syndicator OTI Racing, and on Champions Day at Ellerslie this Saturday they are aiming to secure New Zealand’s richest prize. Their silks will be carried in the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) by New Zealand-bred filly Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca), who OTI purchased in collaboration with trainer Bjorn Baker, Phill Cataldo Bloodstock and Clarke Bloodstock, out of Westbury Stud’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft for $190,000. She has gone on to win five and place in three of her 10 starts to date for Baker, and accruing nearly A$270,000 in prizemoney. Her talent attracted the attention of several NZB Kiwi slot holders, with RACE Inc. ultimately securing her services. “We ended up doing a little tender when we decided we would come across, and that worked out well and we are delighted with the way it has ended up with the boys down south (Palmerston North),” OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson said. “We buy a lot of horses from over there and to have a horse in what will be the premium race of the year is very exciting.” The daughter of El Roca is based with Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan while in New Zealand, and Henderson said she has arrived in fine fettle, and he is looking forward to Saturday’s contest, particularly after drawing the two marble at the NZB Kiwi’s barrier draw on Tuesday evening. “We are really happy with the way she has settled into Cambridge,” he said. “It is always a different kettle of fish when you are playing away from home. She is a quality filly against the best in New Zealand, so she will need to be on her mark, but I think she deserves a shot at it. “From what she has done so far, especially given we have been favoured by a nice barrier draw, she will be thereabouts, and we certainly expect her to be.” Perfumist will be ridden on Saturday by Sydney-based Welsh jockey Ashley Morgan, who has won two races aboard the filly, and finished runner-up in his only other raceday ride aboard her. “He has been riding a lot for Bjorn and has been riding very well in town, and he knows this filly,” Henderson said. “She can be a little quirky, so it was one of the reasons why we asked him to go across and ride her.” A race later, OTI will be hoping to secure their second $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) scalp courtesy of the Tony Pike-trained Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro). The syndicator’s colours were carried to victory in the Ellerslie Classic in 2018 by Vin De Dance, and Henderson said they would love to add another Kiwi Derby crown to their trophy cabinet. “We love Derbys, we have won every Derby in Australia, and to win another Kiwi Derby would be great,” he said. “It is a great race and a source for many good horses that we have had come over and we are really keen on being right up there again on Saturday. “He has been a little unruly, but his work going into the race has been exceptional. The draw (barrier eight) isn’t too bad, we would have liked to have been closer. He is a gelding that just needs to get a nice, smooth run in transit.” OTI were set to have a two-pronged attack in this year’s Derby, however, their other hopeful in Skippers Canyon (NZ) (Belardo) failed to flatter when beating just one runner home in last month’s Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), and the decision was made to pull stumps on his current campaign, with a view to Australian targets later on this season. “We were disappointed in the run by Skippers Canyon in the Avondale Guineas, and it was hard to justify continuing on with the prep,” Henderson said. “We have sent him over here (Australia) and he will go to Phillip Stokes, who has done a very good job with a lot of our horses. We will bring him along gradually and we probably won’t worry about the Queensland Derby (Gr.1, 2400m), there is a Mahogany series here later in the three-year-old year that we will aim towards.” Twisted Love (NZ) (Vanbrugh), who was purchased by OTI out of Bill Thurlow’s Waverley stable following her debut win in January, has also made her way across the Tasman. “She is going to Ciaron Maher and we will probably aim her towards the Brisbane Carnival,” Henderson said. Meanwhile, Henderson is looking forward to fellow New Zealand purchase Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) lining-up in the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. The Queensland Derby hero is set to tackle feature Sydney targets over autumn for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, and Henderson is looking forward to getting him over more ground. “A bit of rain is going to help him a lot, he is a horse that does need the benefit of wet ground, but he is in great form,” he said. “His plan is the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m).” View the full article

Perfumist will represent OTI Racing in Saturday’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Bradley Photos New Zealand has been a great source of thoroughbred talent for leading Australian syndicator OTI Racing, and on Champions Day at Ellerslie this Saturday they are aiming to secure New Zealand’s richest prize. Their silks will be carried in the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) by New Zealand-bred filly Perfumist, who OTI purchased in collaboration with trainer Bjorn Baker, Phill Cataldo Bloodstock and Clarke Bloodstock, out of Westbury Stud’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft for $190,000. She has gone on to win five and place in three of her 10 starts to date for Baker, and accruing nearly A$270,000 in prizemoney. Her talent attracted the attention of several NZB Kiwi slot holders, with RACE Inc. ultimately securing her services. “We ended up doing a little tender when we decided we would come across, and that worked out well and we are delighted with the way it has ended up with the boys down south (Palmerston North),” OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson said. “We buy a lot of horses from over there and to have a horse in what will be the premium race of the year is very exciting.” The daughter of El Roca is based with Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan while in New Zealand, and Henderson said she has arrived in fine fettle, and he is looking forward to Saturday’s contest, particularly after drawing the two marble at the NZB Kiwi’s barrier draw on Tuesday evening. “We are really happy with the way she has settled into Cambridge,” he said. “It is always a different kettle of fish when you are playing away from home. She is a quality filly against the best in New Zealand, so she will need to be on her mark, but I think she deserves a shot at it. “From what she has done so far, especially given we have been favoured by a nice barrier draw, she will be thereabouts, and we certainly expect her to be.” Perfumist will be ridden on Saturday by Sydney-based Welsh jockey Ashley Morgan, who has won two races aboard the filly, and finished runner-up in his only other raceday ride aboard her. “He has been riding a lot for Bjorn and has been riding very well in town, and he knows this filly,” Henderson said. “She can be a little quirky, so it was one of the reasons why we asked him to go across and ride her.” A race later, OTI will be hoping to secure their second $1.25 million Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) scalp courtesy of the Tony Pike-trained Golden Century. The syndicator’s colours were carried to victory in the Ellerslie Classic in 2018 by Vin De Dance, and Henderson said they would love to add another Kiwi Derby crown to their trophy cabinet. “We love Derbys, we have won every Derby in Australia, and to win another Kiwi Derby would be great,” he said. “It is a great race and a source for many good horses that we have had come over and we are really keen on being right up there again on Saturday. “He has been a little unruly, but his work going into the race has been exceptional. The draw (barrier eight) isn’t too bad, we would have liked to have been closer. He is a gelding that just needs to get a nice, smooth run in transit.” OTI were set to have a two-pronged attack in this year’s Derby, however, their other hopeful in Skippers Canyon failed to flatter when beating just one runner home in last month’s Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), and the decision was made to pull stumps on his current campaign, with a view to Australian targets later on this season. “We were disappointed in the run by Skippers Canyon in the Avondale Guineas, and it was hard to justify continuing on with the prep,” Henderson said. “We have sent him over here (Australia) and he will go to Phillip Stokes, who has done a very good job with a lot of our horses. We will bring him along gradually and we probably won’t worry about the Queensland Derby (Group 1, 2400m), there is a Mahogany series here later in the three-year-old year that we will aim towards.” Twisted Love, who was purchased by OTI out of Bill Thurlow’s Waverley stable following her debut win in January, has also made her way across the Tasman. “She is going to Ciaron Maher and we will probably aim her towards the Brisbane Carnival,” Henderson said. Meanwhile, Henderson is looking forward to fellow New Zealand purchase Warmonger lining-up in the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. The Queensland Derby hero is set to tackle feature Sydney targets over autumn for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, and Henderson is looking forward to getting him over more ground. “A bit of rain is going to help him a lot, he is a horse that does need the benefit of wet ground, but he is in great form,” he said. “His plan is the Sydney Cup (Group 1, 3200m).” Horse racing news View the full article

Henry Robin will make his New Zealand debut on Friday at Te Aroha in the Ecolab 1600. Photo: Ross Holburt – Racing Photos Lightly-raced Tavistock five-year-old Henry Robin is set to make his New Zealand debut at Te Aroha on Friday when he contests the Ecolab 1600. Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan, Henry Robin was offered through Woburn Farm’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Henrietta, Dowager Duchess of Bedford, for $440,000. He was broken in by Cambridge trainers Maxim and Samantha Van Lierde before heading across the Tasman where he had five starts for Ben, Will and JD Hayes, including a victory over 2520m at Cranbourne in January last year. The gelding has been plagued by injury and returned to the care of the Van Lierdes last year, for whom he is set to make his New Zealand debut this week. “It will be quite sentimental, having broken him in,” Maxim Van Lierde said. “Henrieta, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, is a very good friend of ours and we break in a few of her young horses, and we have been fortunate enough to train a couple as well. “We broke him (Henry Robin) in and did all of his education and then he went off to Australia. He has had a fair bit of misfortune with injury over the years, so he has been back and forward to us just to do a bit of spelling and get him up to speed again. “He predominately did his racing with Lindsay Park in Australia, and he won over 2500m over there. The boys did a phenomenal job with him, but he ended coming back through injury. “He has had a long injury layoff, we have trialled him twice since and then he wasn’t quite right, so we turned him out again and now we have got him back up this time. “George Rooke galloped him this (Tuesday) morning at Cambridge and gave him the tick of approval, he was very happy with him.” Henry Robin will be having his first start in more than 12 months and his conditioners are pleased with him ahead of his resuming run, with the mile distance and inside barrier of two being their only concern. “The distance will be far short of his best,” Van Lierde said. “He has won over 2500m but on the big, roomy track at Te Aroha, if he is finding the line and running on well, we will be very happy. “He is probably best drawn out. Being a Tavistock, he wants a bit of racing room, he is quite a big horse. We will certainly be telling Masa (Hashizume, jockey) to get off the fence when he can and give him some clear air.” Meanwhile, Van Lierde will be keeping a close eye on the weather in Taranaki this week, with stablemate Slippery set to contest the rating 65 1000m at New Plymouth on Saturday. “Slippery is a new acquisition to the stable and we are excited by him,” Van Lierde said. “He has shown that he is more adept on softer tracks, so we are on weather watch with him. If it is too firm, we may just save him for when the rain comes, but we have been very happy with the way he has been working.” Horse racing news View the full article

Willydoit will take his place in Saturday’s $1.25 million Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The week didn’t get off to the best start for South Auckland horseman Shaun Clotworthy, with his NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot holder syndicate having to replace their initial representative Dealt With, but he is hoping the rest of the week goes more to script. Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing have chosen fellow Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Zormella as their replacement in the $3.5 million feature, and while Clotworthy is excited about her prospects in the race, he has a number of his own team he is hoping will feature prominently on Champions Day at Ellerslie this weekend. Clotworthy, who trains in partnership with his wife Emma, are set to have a two-pronged attack in the $1.25 million Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Interplanetary and Willydoit, the latter currently sharing $4 equal favouritism with Australian raider Thedoctoroflove. Willydoit was a $1.50 beaten favourite in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) last month, which was taken out by Thedoctoroflove, with Interplanetary finishing towards the tail end of the field. Clotworthy has ruled a line through the race for both of his runners and is expecting better showings in this weekend’s assignment. “We think Willydoit is in good space, we are happy with his condition, and we are just putting a line through his last run,” Clotworthy said. “I can’t fault Interplanetary. He was similar last start to Willydoit, he got back off a slow tempo and it was difficult to make ground. It was hard to get a real line on him as well.” Clotworthy will also be chasing Group 2 glory with Aftermath, who will step up to 3200m for the first time in Saturday’s Auckland Cup. The five-year-old gelding won two consecutive races before finishing 10th in the Group 3 Avondale Cup (2400m) last month, and Clotworthy is confident his charge can see out the two-mile distance. “We are keen to try him over two miles. His pedigree doesn’t quite indicate it (get two miles), but he is a big, lanky type of free-going horse, and he just needs to learn to settle a touch more,” he said. “He got in a lovely position (in the Avondale Cup), he was well ridden, he just probably got a bit keen and got buffered around in the early stages, which made him over-race a touch, and that was the reason he couldn’t quite finish it off. “We just hope he gets a bit smoother run. A little bit more work in him and I think he will be a bit better from that Avondale Cup run. “(Stable apprentice) Ace Lawson-Carroll will be riding him on Saturday and it will be a good opportunity for him, and he gets along with the horse and gets him to settle.” Clotworthy is excited to be chasing some big prizemoney on New Zealand racing’s new marquee day, and said it is a great event for the industry. “It is a huge week in New Zealand racing and it’s all starting to get pretty real now that we are getting close to it,” he said. “The slot has been outstanding, there has been so much hype about that. With these Australian horses coming over it has got a real international flavour to it. There are some great three-year-olds there and everyone is excited about it. It is going to be a phenomenal day.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Pakenham Races Where Southside Racing Pakenham – 420 Nar Nar Goon – Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3810 When Thursday, March 6, 2025 First Race 5:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Southside Racing will host an eight-race card at Pakenham on Thursday evening, with the first of those events scheduled to jump at 5:45pm AEDT. Warm and dry conditions are forecast throughout the day on Thursday, and the track is expected to remain in the Good 4 rating that was posted at acceptances. The rail will be in the +2m position for the entire circuit. Best Bet at Pakenham: Kicking King Kicking Kick will drop back in grade and distance after running second in the Listed Tasmanian Derby over 2200m at Hobart. The Thomas Carberry-trained gelding took off from the back of the field mid-race to find the front and lead the field into the home straight before being run over late by Likeakalix. John Allen has retained the ride on the son of Highland Reel, and with good speed expected in this contest, Kicking King can go one better with a similar effort. Best Bet Race 2 – #2 Kicking King (7) 3yo Gelding | T: Thomas Carberry | J: John Allen (59kg) Next Best at Pakenham: Skelmorlie Ben, Will & JD Hayes will be hoping Skelmorlie can break her maiden at start four after going very close at Bendigo over 1300m first up for the preparation. The daughter of Needs Further settled at the rear of the field and let down with a blistering turn of foot to finish second in a tight photo finish. The booking of Damian Lane, barrier three and a rise in trip to 1400m are all positives for Skelmorlie, who gets every chance to record her first win in this contest. Next Best Race 4 – #6 Skelmorlie (3) 4yo Mare | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Damian Lane (57.5kg) Best Value at Pakenham: Sharing Moments Sharing Moments was heavily backed with horse racing bookmakers when the Scott Cameron-trained filly recorded her second straight placing of her short career at Ballarat. The daughter of Overshare jumped smartly from her barrier to find the front on a solid tempo, but was outsprinted in the final 300m and had to settle for second place. This race appears to lack speed influences, allowing Damian Lane and Sharing Moments to run the race to suit themselves and break through for a deserving win. Best Value Race 1 – #11 Sharing Moments (2) 3yo Filly | T: Scott Cameron | J: Damian Lane (56kg) Thursday quaddie tips for Pakenham Pakenham quadrella selections Thursday, March 6, 2025 3-6-7-8 2-4-6-7-8 3-7-9 3-4-6-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article