Wandering Eyes

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

Joliestar. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The 151st running of the $1.5 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) has attracted a star-studded field of 15 set to scorch the Flemington turf on Saturday afternoon. The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar makes the trip south of Sydney and has been installed as the $4.80 favourite with horse racing bookmakers for the event following a luckless first-up effort in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 15. The daughter of Zoustar will be partnered by Damian Lane who will go in search of cover after drawing barrier eight for Saturday’s feature handicap. The Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) is considered one of the traditional lead-ups, and the Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Angel fits that mold after finishing second behind Skybird on February 15. The Harry Angel mare has never missed the frame second-up across four starts and is well respected on the second line of betting at $6.50 with Neds. There are plenty of terrific betting propositions outside of the favoured pair, with $10.00 available with Picklebet for the likes of Growing Empire and Rey Magnerio. Meanwhile, the three-year-olds down towards the bottom of the page in the form of Espionage and Gatsbys are sure to gain plenty of interest at the double-figure odds with the pair set to carry 50kg on their backs respectively. The 2025 Newmarket Handicap is the penultimate race on the Flemington program and is scheduled to get underway at 4:50pm local time. 2025 Newmarket Handicap Field 1. Benedetta (2) T: Jason Warren J: Ben Melham W: 57kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay/Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Hellbent Dam: Whatalovelyday +1000 +260 2. Maharba (1) T: Grahame Begg J: Billy Egan W: 56.5kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Blizzardly +1800 +400 3. Arkansaw Kid (14) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Craig Newitt W: 56kg Age: 4YO Colour: Brown or Black Sex: Gelding Sire: Harry Angel (IRE) Dam: Florabella +1000 +260 4. Buenos Noches (9) T: Ciaron Maher J: John Allen W: 56kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Horse Sire: Supido Dam: Koi +2500 +600 5. Joliestar (8) T: Chris Waller J: Damian Lane W: 56kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Zoustar Dam: Jolie Bay +360 +100 6. Rey Magnerio (4) T: Robbie Griffiths J: Jye McNeil W: 56kg Age: 5YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Magnus Dam: Luchardo +850 +220 7. Growing Empire (5) T: Ciaron Maher J: Mark Zahra W: 55.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Zoustar Dam: Miles of Krishan +750 +200 8. Ostraka (13) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Jamie Mott W: 55.5kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Pariah Dam: Madame Andree +1800 +400 9. Stretan Angel (7) T: Phillip Stokes J: Lachlan Neindorf W: 55.5kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Harry Angel (IRE) Dam: Sretan +600 +160 10. It’sourtime (6) T: Danny O’Brien J: Craig Williams W: 54kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Time for War Dam: Zedoble +2500 +600 11. Sghirripa (10) T: Shane & Cassie Oxlade J: Luke Currie W: 53kg Age: 5YO Colour: Grey-Black Sex: Gelding Sire: Lonhro Dam: Wonder I Do +2500 +600 12. Headwall (3) T: Matthew Smith J: Harry Coffey W: 52.5kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Dream Ahead (USA) Dam: Positive Quest +1700 +400 13. Suparazi (12) T: Ben Brisbourne J: Declan Bates W: 52kg Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Super One Dam: Arazi Belle +4000 +900 14. Espionage (11) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Dean Yendall W: 50kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Zoustar Dam: In Times of War +1000 +260 15. Gatsby’s (15) T: Chris Waller J: Karis Teetan W: 50kg Age: 3YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Colt Sire: Snitzel Dam: Miss Charming (USA) +1300 +320 Horse racing news View the full article

Another milestone looming for Gerard O’Reilly, the return of the Duchess, the Otago and Southland Awards winners and Addington Raceway’s Owners Night all feature in this week’s News Briefs. One down one to go for O’Reilly Ashburton trainer-driver Gerard O’Reilly is on the brink of achieving two milestones in quick succession. He clocked up his 200th training success when he drove Bettor Be Sharp to a gutsy win in the Woodlands Stud Thanks Buyers Mobile Pace won at Addington last Friday and now sits on 698 as a driver. His 200 training wins have come from 1521 starts with his first winner being Kivalina at Blenheim in 1994. His first driving success was with Yellow Ribbon for his father Patrick O’Reilly Senior in 1982. Stormont out till April, at least James Stormont will be out of action for a while after breaking a leg at his employer Graeme Rogerson’s barn. He was kicked by a young horse. He broke a bone in his leg and damaged the ligaments on the inside of his knee. He’s hoping to be back driving sometime next month. Stormont has had 1305 career wins, putting him 17th in the all time New Zealand list. He’s also had 227 wins as trainer. Trainers urged to buy scanners Trainers are being reminded to buy their own scanners, now that there aren’t any freeze brands. The reminder comes after a recent case of mistaken identity of a horse following a paddock mix up. Scanners are available for less than $100. For more information on microchipping click here House leads trainers’ premiership After producing 17 winners in February, Michael House now has a big lead in the trainers’ premiership. His 32 winners is 18 clear of nearest challengers Robert and Jenna Dunn, and Mark Jones, both on 14. Seven-time champion Blair Orange leads the drivers’ premiership with 38, 14 ahead of Wilson House, with Sam Ottley on 23 and Orange’s son Harrison on 21. $270,000 yearling makes debut An expensive purchase at the 2024 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales, Queen Lizzy has made her public debut. The Captaintreacherous-Princess Tiffany filly, bred by the Whitelocks and purchased at the sales by Mark Jones for $270,000, qualified at Ashburton on February 26. She won the six-horse trial by a nose. The yearling was the top lot at Karaka and was second overall behind the then record price of $340,000 paid for Don’t Stop Dreaming’s full brother. The Duchess is back Reigning 3YO pacing Filly of the Year Duchess Megxit will open her 2025 campaign year when she returns in the Warren Mathieson 60th Birthday Celebration Mobile Pace (7.38pm) at Alexandra Park on Friday. The multiple Group 1 winning daughter of Sweet Lou finished last year on a high and has now won 12 from 18 lifetime starts. Among her targets this year will be the $1m The Race by betcha on Cambridge’s Night of Champions on April 4. More wins for Empire City and Captains Mistress The Williamson family has been all over the Otago and Southland Harness racing awards held over the weekend. After four wins in 2024, the multiple Group-winning Empire City took out Otago Horse of the Year for owners Peter and Janet Argus. Trained by Phil Williamson, Empire City was also second in the Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Derby. Son Matthew Williamson was named trainer and driver of the year in Otago as was his brother Nathan Williamson in Southland. His star two-year-old Captains Mistress was also named Southland Horse of the Year after winning four races in 2024, including the Group 1 Sires’ Stakes Fillies Championship. OnTrack looking for champions Racing’s mental well being and suicide prevention programme, OnTrack, is holding its next Champions course in Christchurch on March 27. The Champions is programme is designed to empower and educate those in the racing industry to support mental well-being in their communities. Anyone interested in becoming a Champion should contact james@ontrack.org.nz For more information click here Aussies – no surprises It will come as a surprise to no-one but dual New Zealand Cup Swayzee has been named 2024 New South Wales Horse of the year. He had seven wins in 10 starts during the year with earnings just under $1m. His regular pilot Cameron Hart was named Driver of the Year. Swayzee will next line up in Saturday’s Miracle Mile in Sydney after another dominant win in the qualifying heats at Menangle last weekend. 551 starts and still not finished The legend that is Lancelot Bromac is back in work. The 14-year-old was “retired” after running ninth at Albion Park in Brisbane in October. He had had a record 551 starts with 34 victories. Now he will return to the racetrack. “You put him in the paddock and all he wanted to do was walk up and down the fences, he would run amuck,” says trainer and part-owner Stewart Dickson. Club News : Addington Addington Raceway will be hosting its annual Owners Night on Friday, March 28. The function starts at 5pm. For more information click here Club News : Northern Southland The Northern Southland Trotting Club hold their final meeting of the 2024/2025 season at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill this Saturday (8 March). Top quality harness racing is the order of the day with several feature races on the programme including the $40,000 Group 3 Caduceus Club Of Southland/Alabar Fillies Classic, the Night n Day/Tip Top Ice Cream Autumn Cup, the Mark Jones Racing Stables/Gordon Sutherland Memorial Handicap Trot, the second heat of the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes and the Ascot Four Square Stella Frost Stakes. . Admission at the gate is free while the club offers a great day of value with their $50 Gold Card which allows access to the Top Of The Park with superb viewing plus food and beverage throughout the day. The first race is timed to start at 12.20pm and owners are welcome in the Alabar Owners Room on the first floor of the main grandstand where they can enjoy hospitality throughout the day. Kidz Kartz will be on track with a race early on the day as well. Head to the Northern Southland Trotting Club facebook page for more information on a great day of action. View the full article

Another Wil defeated Mr Brightside in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) The Group 1 All Star Mile (1600m) may have only attracted a field of seven runners at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, but it will feature another meeting between Mr Brightside (+130) and Another Wil (+230), who finished first and second in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield last start. On that day, the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding got the better of Mr Brightside, finishing over the top of his rival to claim an emotional win for connections of the five-year-old rising star. However, since that defeat, Mr B returned to Caulfield to claim his ninth Group 1 success of his illustrious career by defending his Futurity Stakes title. Tom Kitten (+450), who finished an unlucky second place behind Mr Brightside, will attempt to turn the tables from last start when he heads to Flemington second up. The James Cummings-trained gelding looks like the obvious threat to the top two, as he is expected to enjoy getting out to 1600m and the bigger track at headquarters. Atishu (+750) from the Chris Waller stable will be the only runner heading down from Sydney to contest the All Star Mile, following her seventh-place finish in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes. The daughter of Savabeel owns a formidable record at Flemington, recording a victory in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes and a second-place finish behind Cox Plate winner Via Sistina in the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes in her last two starts. The All Star Mile will be race seven on the Flemington program and is scheduled to jump at 3:30pm AEDT. 2025 All Star Mile Final Field 1. Mr Brightside (5) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Craig Williams W: 59kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Bullbars Dam: Lilahjay (NZ) +130 -222.22 2. Tom Kitten (4) T: James Cummings J: Ben Melham W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Harry Angel (IRE) Dam: Transfers +450 +150 3. Light Infantry Man (6) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ethan Brown W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Fast Company (IRE) Dam: Lights On Me (GB) +1100 +360 4. Another Wil (1) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jamie Melham W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Arohanui +230 -133.33 5. Flying Trapeze (3) T: Gary Portelli J: Billy Egan W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Horse Sire: Trapeze Artist Dam: Coromandel +8000 +2700 6. Rise at Dawn (2) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Almanzor (FR) Dam: Kay’s Awake (NZ) +1100 +360 7. Atishu (7) T: Chris Waller J: Damian Lane W: 57kg Age: 7YO Colour: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Savabeel Dam: Posy (NZ) +750 +240 Horse racing news View the full article

Canterbury Stakes contender, Magic Time. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) is the second of back-to-back Group 1 features at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with the $750,000 prize attracting a quality field of 12. The top of the market can’t be split by horse racing betting sites, with the trio of Switzerland, Magic Time and Sunshine In Paris all installed as equal $4.60 favourites. It will be left in punters hands to decide what form-lines to follow, with two of the three favoured runners last-start winners. Magic Time returned an impressive winner of the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 15, while Sunshine In Paris bloused her rivals in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at the end of last preparation. Meanwhile, the Chris Waller-trained Switzerland returns to Sydney and will be looking to bounce back after a lacklustre performance in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 15. The Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica isn’t far away at the $6.00 with BlondeBet as she returns after a 119-day spell, while Here To Shock returns to Australia after tasting Group 1 success across the ditch. Double-figure odds are available about every other runner with Dabble, including two-time Group 1 winning colt Ceolwulf ($11.00) who heads into this contest second-up after missing last Saturday’s Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m). The chances don’t end there, however, with the pair of Militarize and Royal Patronage representing terrific each-way value at the $15.00 apiece The 2025 Canterbury Stakes is the eighth race on the Randwick program and is scheduled to get underway at 4:30pm AEDT. 2025 Canterbury Stakes Final Field 1. Ceolwulf (1) T: Joseph Pride J: Adam Hyeronimus W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Tavistock (NZ) Dam: Las Brisas (GB) +900 +200 2. Here to Shock (2) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Nash Rawiller W: 59kg Age: 7YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Shocking Dam: Frescoes +800 +180 3. Airman (4) T: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes J: Tyler Schiller W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Zara Bay +6000 +1100 4. Militarize (5) T: Chris Waller J: Tommy Berry W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Amerindia (GB) +1600 +340 5. Pericles (10) T: James Cummings J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Accessories (GB) +2500 +500 6. Royal Patronage (11) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Tim Clark W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Wootton Bassett (GB) Dam: Shaloushka (IRE) +1600 +340 7. Celestial Legend (8) T: Les Bridge J: Jason Collett W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Grey-Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Sarraqa +2500 +500 8. Encap (3) T: Gary Portelli J: Ms Rachel King W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Capitalist Dam: Enquare +8000 +1500 9. Sunshine In Paris (12) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Chad Schofield W: 57kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Invader Dam: Zenaida (NZ) +400 -105.26 10. Magic Time (6) T: Grahame Begg J: Jordan Childs W: 57kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Hellbent Dam: Time Awaits +320 -133.33 11. Stefi Magnetica (7) T: Bjorn Baker J: Zac Lloyd W: 57kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: All Too Hard Dam: Mid Summer Music +550 +130 12. Switzerland (9) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 56kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Snitzel Dam: Ms Bad Behavior (CAN) +400 -105.26 Horse racing news View the full article

Broadsiding cruised to victory in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The time-honoured Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) headlines the action at Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a quality field of nine set to line up in the $1 million three-year-old feature. It is no surprise the James Cummings-trained Broadsiding heads the market as $1.60 favourite with horse racing bookmakers, with the son of Too Darn Hot producing a dominant first-up victory in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 22. Seven of the nine runners engaged come through the same form-line and will be attempting to turn the tables on the Godolphin colt as James McDonald gets legged aboard from barrier four. Swiftfalcon ($4.60) is the second market elect and the best backed runner to overcome his first-up defeat, with Tyler Schiller likely to gain a more economical run from gate five. Aeliana is the only filly in the race and is on the third line of betting at $6.00 with Neds after closing off impressively in the 2025 Hobartville Stakes. The Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) runner-up will be piloted by Jason Collett and has drawn well in barrier three. Zac Lloyd will partner Linebacker ($8.00) for the first time, and the Super Seth gelding should get favourable wet conditions, with significant rainfall forecast leading into the weekend. Bevan Laming and Martin Harley will combine with Queensland raider Our Benefactor ($26.00) who brings a differing form-line and is searching for a fourth-straight victory, however, the son of Contributor will need to do it the hard way drawn out in barrier nine. The 2025 Randwick Guineas is the first leg of the quaddie on Saturday and is scheduled to get underway at 3:50pm local time. 2025 Randwick Guineas 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 news View the full article

The Fasig-Tipton Digital Soul of an Angel Flash Sale, a one-horse online auction of Eclipse champion female sprinter Soul of an Angel closed March 4 with a record result of $2.6 million. She was purchased by Chatsworth Stud, Australia. View the full article

Following an eight-month hiatus, the Mucho Macho Man gelding returned in January for the listed Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes, finishing sixth.View the full article

Nic's Style looks to secure her first graded stakes win in the $165,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, March 8. The 5-year-old daughter of Uncaptured takes on a field of six fillies and mares in the six and a half furlong sprint. View the full article

Reigning Eclipse Champion Female Sprinter Soul of an Angel (Atreides–Factor One, by The Factor) set a new record price for the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform Tuesday, selling to Australia's Chatsworth Stud for $2.6 million in a one-horse flash sale. Winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in November, Soul of an Angel was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Throughout the sale, Soul of an Angel remained at her current base of Gulfstream Park in Florida. “Soul of an Angel took us to the pinnacle of horse racing in the Breeders' Cup, so it was a bit bittersweet letting her go,” said co-owner Mark Cornett. “We are thrilled with the result and wish the new owners the best of luck with her.” The $2.6-million sale is the highest to date on Fasig-Tipton's Digital platform, which launched in March of 2022. “We are extremely thankful to owners Mark Cornett of C2 Racing, Mark Martinez of Agave Racing, and Ken T. Reimer, along with Taylor Made Sales for entrusting Fasig-Tipton Digital with their Champion,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “It was an honor to have a horse with the accolades of Soul of an Angel on the platform.” Fasig-Tipton Digital's next sale is the March Digital Sale, which is scheduled Mar. 13-18. The post At $2.6 Million, Soul of an Angel Sets New Fasig-Tipton Digital Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lightly-raced Tavistock five-year-old Henry Robin (NZ) (Tavistock) 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 (NZ) (Keano) 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.” View the full article

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 (NZ) (Ace High), 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 (NZ) (Almanzor) 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 Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Interplanetary and Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino), the latter currently sharing $4 equal favouritism with Australian raider Thedoctoroflove. Willydoit was a $1.50 beaten favourite in the Gr.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 Two glory with Aftermath (NZ) (Rock N Pop), who will step up to 3200m for the first time in Saturday’s Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup. The five-year-old gelding won two consecutive races before finishing 10th in the Gr.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.” View the full article

Racing Queensland (RQ) has announced adjustments to upcoming race meetings due to the anticipated impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which is forecasted to make landfall between late Thursday and early Friday near Brisbane. ​ Thoroughbred Racing Sunshine Coast Turf Club: Wednesday’s meeting has been abandoned. RQ will assess opportunities to reschedule lost races in the coming days, depending on the cyclone’s effect on the overall racing calendar.​ Doomben Racecourse: The meeting scheduled for Friday is under review. Given the forecasted heavy rainfall and strong winds, there is a possibility of cancellation, although no official decision has been made yet. Gold Coast Turf Club: Saturday’s meeting is also at risk, with RQ closely monitoring weather developments to ensure the safety of participants and attendees. ​ Harness Racing Redcliffe Harness Racing Club: Wednesday’s meeting has been abandoned. Further updates on scheduled harness meetings will be provided on Wednesday morning.​ Greyhound Racing Albion Park: All meetings have been canceled until Sunday, March 9, to allow for necessary flood mitigation strategies. RQ will provide additional updates tomorrow regarding race meetings scheduled from Thursday, March 6, to Sunday, March 9, with an official advisory expected by early afternoon.​ RQ continues to monitor the situation and will provide further updates as necessary. Horse racing news View the full article

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Lexington, KY–The final day of the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) Training Conference at Keeneland escalated the focus on enforcement and how investigators can broaden their expertise. Though participants regularly receive training at home, the ORI sessions offer equine knowledge that is highly specialized which can be taken back to their own jurisdictions and applied. Mike Singletary, vice president of security for the Maryland Jockey Club, said when his team walks the shedrow at Pimlico or Laurel being cognizant of your surroundings takes time and effort to hone. “Information is power and there is a lot of experience that comes to the conference,” Singletary said. “So, as you sit and listen to these speakers there are stewards here, equine vets here, and that's a major resource not just for me, but it's essential for my team when they go to a barn or a tack room. It's about developing an eye, so the horses are safe.” Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) investigator Lisa Vila said her horizons were broadened by returning to the event. “The ORI conference presenters have given me tools to feel more confident around horses and the industry,” she said. “As an FGCC investigator, I'll be better prepared to protect the needs of our equine athletes and help identify the use of illegal performance-enhancing substances.” On Tuesday, topics ranged from horse traceability tools offered by The Jockey Club of America to how investigators can protect their own professional reputations in a social media-driven world. An update from Dr. Michael Hardy, executive director of the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium, yielded a survey of how laboratories rely heavily on investigators who collect evidence in real time. “I consider from a drug testing and an investigation standpoint, that those two are cornerstones when it comes to integrity in this sport,” he said. “The intelligence and the evidence that the investigative body provides to our laboratories as information goes a long way when it comes to enforcement. Substances that we don't necessarily know about can be uncovered because of shared information and intelligence. What we receive helps us focus the efforts of science and there are benefits when investigators catch what the laboratory simply can't.” Dr. Alina Vale, a veterinary forensic consultant, presented an overview of why necropsy reports can offer clues to the investigator when they are building a case. Speaking of cases, Shaun Richards–the current Director of Intelligence & Strategy for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit–gave a detailed appraisal of the FBI takedown of trainers Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis. Richards's own knowledge of horses while growing up on a farm in New Jersey was part of a full-circle moment for the seasoned agent. After a law enforcement roundtable with local Lexington police officers who took questions about how they interact with Keeneland's staff to keep everyone safe, the audience had the opportunity to hear about how the track manages protocols on race days. Attendees were given a behind-the-scenes look into Keeneland's barn surveillance system. With a proactive approach to monitoring what is an expansive set of grounds, the some 700 backside cameras provide a digital layer to equine security. The 30th ORI Training Conference is set for Mar. 1-4 at Tampa Bay Downs, a track that will be celebrating a century of racing. The post ORI Conference Enforcement-Focused On Final Day At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The $300,000 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) has drawn what looks like an evenly matched field of six fillies and mares, including shippers from Florida and Louisiana, for the one-mile dirt race that headlines an 11-race card March 8 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Feb. 24-March 2View the full article

Coming off a weekend in which Laurel Park ran eight races on Sunday with 48 starters and nine races on Saturday with 55 starters (with three four-horse fields between the two days), the non-profit (TMJC), which took over the management of Laurel and Pimlico Race Course this year, is banking on a combination of better weather, an upcoming schedule break, and a new carryover structure for the Pick Five to boost field sizes and betting handle. In response to a query from a commissioner, Bill Knauf, the president and general manager of TMJC, told the board of the Maryland Racing Commission (MRC) during Tuesday's monthly meeting that entries have been difficult to fill of late. “We are down, compared to last year, about 250 horses,” Knauf said. “Now, obviously, Pimlico was open [for training] last year. I think that is the single biggest reason. It's just horses are not on the grounds, and we just have a lot less population to draw from. “But yes, [the races] have been harder to fill,” Knauf continued. “We've already drawn for this coming weekend, but the weekend after that we are taking a break [between Mar. 10 and 20 while Colonial Downs runs its Mar. 13-15 Virginia Derby festival]. So I just think that action will help us get a little bit of a break. “You know, turf racing is hopefully around the corner, and then we will start to see some of those horses coming in,” Knauf said. “In general, I think the horse population just increases as it gets warmer. We've seen spots of sunshine from the handle, but it's still a tough go.” During the Mar. 4 meeting, TMJC asked for and received commission approval to alter aspects of both the early and late Pick Five bets at Laurel. According to Christopher Merz, the MRC's executive director, the two wagers previously functioned differently with respect to carryovers. The early Pick Five got paid out in its entirety to tickets with the most number of races won, even if those winning tickets did not have all five winners. The late Pick Five, by contrast, had a carryover that went into the next racing date's late Pick Five if all five legs went unhit. Now, with the commission's approval, if no one selects all five winners, the early Pick Five will carry over to the next racing day's early Pick Five. And the late Pick Five will also carry over into the early Pick Five for the next day. In explaining the new rule before the vote, Merz underscored that the early Pick Five will not carry over into that same afternoon's late Pick Five. All carryovers will be directed to the next day's early Pick Five. “The reasoning for this is that their early Pick Five outhandles the late Pick Five by nearly half, if not more,” Merz said. “So the theory is if there's more money on the front end of their card, they will gain more attraction to their card. It's easier for them to market, and hopefully more eyes will come and bet on the card. “This rule is very similar to what has already been established in New Jersey and, I believe, Indiana also carries this rule as well,” Merz said. The post Down 250 Horses, New Laurel Management Searching for Short-Field Solutions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darby Dan Farm's first-year stallion Blazing Sevens (Good Magic–Trophy Girl, by Warrior's Reward), Classic placed and a Grade I winner at two, has had his first mares checked in foal. Blazing Sevens stands at Darby Dan for $12,500 S&N. Named a TDN Rising Star as a 2-year-old after a debut victory at Saratoga–winning at six furlongs by 6 1/4 lengths–Blazing Sevens won the GI Champagne Stakes for owner Rodeo Creek Racing and trainer Chad Brown in just his third career outing. At three, Blazing Sevens was beaten just a head by multiple GISW National Treasure in the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico. Blazing Sevens is out of the winning Warrior's Reward mare Trophy Girl, a half-sister to GISW King David and stakes winner Bertsgoldenmissile. Bred in Kentucky by Tracy Farmer, Blazing Sevens was a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale graduate. For more information, contact Stuart Fitzgibbon at (859) 621-6763, or by email at Stuart@darbydan.com, or visit www.darbydan.com. The post First Mares In Foal to Darby Dan’s Blazing Sevens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As racing across the nation heats up with spring nearly upon us, we take a look at trends and notable items from the country's graded races in February. February featured 20 graded races from coast to coast. Five tracks hosted graded events during the month: Fair Grounds (4), Gulfstream Park (3), Oaklawn Park (4), Santa Anita Park (7), and Tampa Bay Downs (2). Four were Grade II events, while 16 were Grade III. Six were contested on turf, with 14 on dirt. Eight of the graded contests were for sophomores, split evenly with four each for fillies and colts. Trainers Bob Baffert and Brad Cox each won two, while the feel-good story was undoubtedly trainer Lonnie Briley, who won the first graded race of his career when Coal Battle (Coal Front) took the GII Rebel Stakes. It also marked the first graded win for Louisiana stallion Coal Front, who formerly stood at Spendthrift Farm. Magnitude (Not This Time) notched a 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the GII Risen Star Stakes, a number believed to equal the highest ever awarded to a sophomore at Fair Grounds. The Risen Star is also the first Kentucky Derby prep race of the year at nine furlongs. The 20 graded races were won by the progeny of 17 unique sires, with Into Mischief, Not This Time, and the late Malibu Moon all doubling up. Into Mischief got his pair of graded winners in about 90 minutes on Feb. 1 (Citizen Bull and Eclatant) and Not This Time got his in about two hours on Feb. 15 (Magnitude and Dazzling Move). A dozen of the month's 17 graded sires are active in Kentucky. Of the five remaining sires, three are deceased, one has moved to Japan, and the other to Louisiana. Only one held court outside of the Bluegrass state (Florida) when his February winner was conceived. Of the dozen Kentucky stallions, Omaha Beach has the fewest crops to race (2), while Medaglia d'Oro has the most (17). Into Mischief ($250,000, Spendthrift) and Gun Runner ($250,000, Three Chimneys) have the highest fees, while Midnight Lute ($10,000, Hill 'n' Dale) and Temple City ($5,000, Spendthrift) stand for the least. Each graded winner was represented by a different breeder. Six were homebreds. Two sides of the yearling sales spectrum were represented, with GIII Mineshaft Stakes winner Hall of Fame (Gun Runner) bringing $1.4 million as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling and GIII Tampa Bay Stakes winner Running Bee (English Channel) bringing $19,000 as a short yearling at Fasig-Tipton February. The 20 winners featured 18 unique broodmare sires, with Scat Daddy and Victory Gallop doubling up. Of the four living broodmare sires that are still active in the U.S., three stand at Darley: Medaglia d'Oro, Midshipman, and Street Sense. The other is Gainesway's Tapit. Although he's come close several times, Silver Charm–the oldest living GI Kentucky Derby winner at 31–had his first U.S. graded winner as a broodmare sire when El Potente (Temple City) won the GIII Thunder Road Stakes. GII Santa Monica Stakes winner Kopion (Omaha Beach) is out of Canada's 2016 Broodmare of the Year, Galloping Ami. The latter's sire, Victory Gallop, who was exported to Turkey in 2008, was also represented as a broodmare sire by GIII Palos Verdes Stakes winner Roll On Big Joe (Prospective) in February. The post TDN Takeaways: February’s Graded Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NYRA's head starter Hector Soler's employment has been terminated as of Sunday, Mar. 2, according to a NYRA release Tuesday. Consistent with NYRA policies, Soler has been precluded from accessing NYRA properties for a period of 90 days. Soler had been in the head starter position since December, 2020, and had worked on the gate at NYRA for over two decades. According to the organization, Jeff LaRue will assume the head starter duties on an interim basis. LaRue is the head starter at Finger Lakes and has been a substitute at NYRA since November. Additionally, NYRA Clerk of Scales Jack Welsh resigned his position effective Saturday, Mar. 1. NYRA Assistant Clerk of Scales Brian Pochman will assume responsibilities on an interim basis. The post Hector Soler, Head Starter at NYRA, Terminated appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article