Wandering Eyes

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit posted March 3 that it had sanctioned Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainer Gustavo Delgado for a controlled medication finding.View the full article

Hospitality on-sale dates for the 2025 season at Saratoga Race Course, headed by the July 4 Festival followed by the traditional 40-day summer meet begin to be rolled out Mar. 5, according to the New York Racing Association Tuesday. The July 4th Racing Festival, typically held at Belmont Park, will take place from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6 at Saratoga while construction continues on a new Belmont. The 40-day summer meet will open Thursday, July 10 and continue through Monday, Sept. 1. All tickets and hospitality for the July 4th Racing Festival and 40-day Saratoga summer meet will be available according to the following timeline: March 5: Full-space private hospitality including luxury suites and the Rail at the 1863 Club; Spa Verandas, Surfside Party Deck, Big Red Spring and Festival Tent March 19: Full-season reserved seating plans for the Clubhouse, Grandstand and Michelob Ultra Stretch March 26: Partial-space group reservations for the Rail at the 1863 Club, Mionetto Easy Goer and individual tables within the Festival Tent April 9: Weekly and flex reserved seating plans for the Clubhouse, Grandstand, Michelob Ultra Stretch, Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar and Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock; single-day reservations for the Founders Room and Clubhouse Box Seats April 23: Dining reservations for the Turf Terrace, Porch and Club Terrace April 30: Single-day reserved seats for the Clubhouse, Grandstand and Michelob Ultra Stretch May 7: Single-day reservations for the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar, Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock and Surfside Tailgate at the Turn May 14: Single-day general admission tickets Reservations may be made by phone at 844-NYRA-TIX, email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com or online at NYRA.com/Groups. Saratoga Season Passes are currently on-sale and include complimentary admission for the July 4th Racing Festival. Season Passes are available for $95, the same price as last year, and include general admission for the July 4th Festival, in addition to the 40-day summer meet. Season passes may be purchased at NYRA.com/saratoga. All tickets and hospitality for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival are currently on sale at BelmontStakes.com/tickets. Highlighted by the 157th running of the GI Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 7, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be conducted at Saratoga Race Course from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8. For more information about Saratoga Race Course and its various amenities, visit www.NYRA.com/saratoga. The post On-Sale Dates for 2025 Saratoga Summer Meet and July 4 Racing Festival Begin Mar. 5 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With heavy rain and wind expected in the area Wednesday, the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training has been condensed to three days and will commence Thursday morning at 8 .m. The show had originally been scheduled to begin Wednesday and was expected to be held over four days. Under the new schedule, hips one through 272 will breeze Thursday; hips 273 through 544 Friday; and hips 545 through 814 Saturday. Each session will begin at 8 a.m. The OBS March sale will be held next Tuesday through Thursday. Bidding begins each day at 11 a.m. The post OBS Delays Start of Under-Tack Show appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The entries for the first two British Classics of the season have been released, with 57 horses entered in the Betfred 2,000 Guineas and another 43 in the Betfred 1,000 Guineas. Aidan O'Brien is responsible for eight possible runners as he seeks a record-extending eleventh success in the 2,000 Guineas, which is scheduled to take place at Newmarket on Saturday, May 3. They include the ante-post favourite The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was unbeaten in two starts as a two-year-old, including the G3 Acomb Stakes at York. The Lion In Winter could be joined by a trio of Group 1-winning stable-mates in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere scorer Camille Pissarro (Ire), Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Henri Matisse (Ire) and Criterium International winner Twain (Ire), as well as the G1 Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Expanded (Ire). They are all from the first Irish-bred crop of Wootton Bassett (GB). The Dewhurst was won by the colt subsequently named European champion two-year-old in Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who was beaten just once in five starts in 2024, when his other wins included the G1 Middle Park Stakes. Shadow Of Light is trained by Charlie Appleby, who could field up to six runners in the Godolphin blue. His other entries include the Dewhurst third Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), all-weather sensation Opera Ballo (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and Ruling Court (Justify), who was a six-length winner on his return to action at Meydan on Saturday. Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko) is another key member of the home team as the winner of the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes over this course and distance, while the likes of Cosmic Year (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Treble Tee (Ire) (Persian King {Ire}) showed plenty of potential when winning their sole two-year-old starts at Sandown and Newmarket, respectively. In Ireland, G1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and G1 National Stakes scorer Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) are perhaps the pick of those trained outside of Ballydoyle, which leaves Mi Bago (Vekoma) as the sole entry not based in Britain or Ireland. Trained in the US by Mark Casse, he was last seen winning the Listed Colonel Liam Stakes at Gulfstream on Saturday. Lake Victoria (Ire), one of the leading contenders for the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday, May 4, will be a familiar name in the US following her victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November. That was her third consecutive win at the top level, having also won the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes. The daughter of Frankel (GB) is one of eight entries for O'Brien in the 1,000 Guineas, with the others including the G2 Rockfel Stakes heroine Bubbling (Ire) (No Nay Never), G3 Albany Stakes winner Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Appleby and Godolphin could again pose the stiffest opposition to the Ballydoyle team, chiefly with Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who was unbeaten in four starts as a juvenile, culminating with a wide-margin victory in the G1 Fillies' Mile. Emphatic debut winner Verse Of Love (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who created an excellent impression on the Fillies' Mile undercard, could also feature for the same connections. Elsewhere, Prix Marcel Boussac winner Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is one of two entries from France, along with the G3 Prix de Cabourg scorer and Cheveley Park second Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}), while US-based trainer Phil D'Amato could be represented by Grade III-placed filly Tigerish (Tiz The Law). Closer to home, Ger Lyons holds a strong hand with the high-class Juddmonte pair Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}), as well as the Listed winner Chantez (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), while Donnacha O'Brien's Falling Snow (Ire) (Justify) looked potentially smart when making a successful debut at the Curragh in August. She is out of Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the 2017 edition of the 1,000 Guineas. The post Coolmore and Godolphin Dominate as Guineas Entries are Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An exciting day of racing March 1 caused significant stirs in the voting for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 3-Year-Old and Thoroughbred polls, released March 4.View the full article

The Lake District, one of England's most outstanding areas of natural beauty, is also home to a rare Thoroughbred breeding operation in Gary and Lesley Middlebook's Wood Farm Stud at Ecclerigg, which skirts the vast Lake Windermere. From their vantage point at the top of steep paddocks with some fine views across Cumbria, the husband-and-wife team has produced the likes of dual Group 1-winning sprinter Reverence (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) and G1 Del Mar Oaks winner Singhalese (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) as well as the group winners Love Everlasting (GB) (Pursuit Of Love {GB}) and Distinctive (GB) (Tobougg {Ire}). They are now reliant on another husband-and-wife team, their daughter and son-in-law Claire and Dan Kubler, to train a number of their retained homebreds, and the year has started well, with two wins for Elterwater (GB) (Camelot {GB}), following her first victory last November. A later bloomer at the age of five, Elterwater, a granddaughter of the aforementioned Love Everlasting, herself out of a half-sister to Shirley Heights (GB), will now remain in training this season instead of joining the Middlebrooks' broodmare band. “Fingers crossed, we might get some black type with her at some stage. She was going to go to Ace Impact (Ire) but now she keeps winning and has shown she's got some ability we'll keep going with her,” says Gary. Wood Farm Stud has a handful of foals on the ground already, with eight expected. Those mares will be staying in Britain while another has already left for France and one is off to Ireland. Gary and Lesley Middlebrook's homebred Elterwater | Racingfotos The Middlebrooks will have eight two-year-olds, seven three-year-olds and a couple of older horses in training in Lambourn at the Kublers' yard at Sarsen Farm, which they helped to build. “The lovely thing is, with having our horses in the family with Claire and Dan, we get so much information on them,” says Lesley. “They are doing a brilliant job of updating all the owners – not just us – with feedback and videos, which I think everybody has to do these days.” They have also been longstanding clients of Highclere Stud and sell their yearlings through the Warrens' operation. “They've done a great job for us. Carolyn Warren comes up here once a year and she is the best judge of our yearlings. She looks at them and she can tell [who they are] within a minute,” adds Lesley, who has taken a brief time out from a busy foaling season to join her husband and talk us through their mating plans for this year. Raimunda, by Blame ex Volver (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) A winner over a mile for the Kublers, the five-year-old is to be covered for the first time. “She's going to Dark Angel (Ire). We bought her dam from Tanya Gunther and bred her in America,” says Lesley. Gary adds, “We've invested in some breeding rights and stallion shares over the years. We've had Dark Angel, Invincible Spirit (Ire) and New Bay (GB), and now Ace Impact is one we've taken up recently.” Dream To Reality (GB), by Australia (GB) ex Mama Quilla (Smart Strike) The Middlebrooks' bought Myth To Reality at Keeneland in 2003 when her five-time Group/Grade 1-winning daughter Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) was just a yearling. Myth To Reality's daughter Mama Quilla was bred by them and won twice when trained by William Haggas. Lesley says, “Dream To Reality is a granddaughter of Myth To Reality. We sold a St Mark's Basilica (Fr) colt from her last year [now named Be Patient] and she lost her Zoustar foal. She is going to Ace Impact.” Aira Force (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB) ex Dubai Affair (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) Lesley says, “She's a half-sister to Raasel (GB) and she has had a Pinatubo (Ire) colt this year as her first foal and he's very well put together. She is going to Chaldean (GB).” Distinctive (GB), by Tobougg (Ire) ex Blue Azure (American Chance) An 18-year-old homebred mare, she won the G3 Laundry Cottage Stud Firth of Clyde Stakes in 2009. Gary says, “Distinctive is getting a bit older now but she has a Shaquille (GB) filly on the ground and she is going to Cracksman (GB), who we have a breeding right in. Her Shaquille filly is very attractive and quite leggy.” Exacting (GB), by Excelebration (Ire) ex Blue Azure (American Chance) “She's a half-sister to Distinctive, from a good family, but she got injured in training,” says Gary of the once-raced 11-year-old. “Her first foal by Ribchester [Doitforandrew] was rated over 90 and her half-sister has produced Mgheera (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who won a Listed race in France last year. “She now has a Dark Angel colt at home and is going to Isaac Shelby (GB). We saw him during the December Sales and really liked him.” Kevin Darley and dual Group 1 winner Reverence | Racingfotos Set To Music (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) ex Zarabaya (Ire) (Doyoun GB}). “We bought her from the King and we sold an Almanzor colt from her last year [now named Any Which Way],” says Lesley. “Michael Bell bought her – he's had some of the family and trained the mare.” Gary adds, “We've got a lovely Kingman (GB) yearling filly out of her and she has just had a Palace Pier (GB) colt at Bearstone Stud. She is now going to Gleneagles (Ire). We like the mating and we've used him a couple of times and have kept a filly by him to breed from. You can't not like his page really.” Ducissa (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus) ex Baize (GB) (Efisio {GB}) A half-sister to the aforementioned Grade I winner Singhalese, who was later the dam of GI Japanese Oaks winner Sinhalite (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). “She has a lovely Modern Games filly foal and a Too Darn Hot (GB) yearling filly, and she's going to go to Bradsell (GB),” says Lesley. “She's a big girl and when she's in the stocks she can grow to 17 hands.” Gary adds, “He's a lovely mover, Bradsell, and you can't ignore his race performance and his toughness. It's rolling the dice but we like supporting the National Stud.” Reims (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire) ex Riberac (GB) (Efisio {GB}) “She's a daughter of Riberac, one of our first mares. She's got a New Bay foal coming and she's going to Ace Impact. I think he will be dead interesting because I really think Ace Impact has got potential, but then I always do when I buy a share in a stallion,” Gary says. “He's a huge optimist,” Lesley says of her husband. “We had shares in Efisio. He wasn't very big and not that fertile but he was a kind horse and quite a few of our mares have got Efisio in them.” Exclusively Yours (GB), by Gleneagles (Ire) ex Acquainted (GB) (Shamardal) The half-sister to Elterwater is in foal to Ace Impact. Penny Drops (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire) ex Penny Cross (GB) (Efisio {GB}) “She's probably our best mare and she has a Too Darn Hot two-year-old called Mint (GB). Her three-year-old by Zoustar (Aus) is called Grizedale (GB) and we haven't run him yet but he's not far off. Her son Outgate (GB) is now six and is still running in Hong Kong, while Badri (GB) was her first foal and he's now eight years old and won another nice sprint handicap recently. There's [Group 3 winner] Equality (GB), and Treasure Time (GB) as well with William Haggas, and they've all been 90-plus,” Lesley says. “She's the sweetest little thing and everybody wants to buy her stock. She's got a New Bay yearling and she's in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) and will be going to Baaeed (GB). “She tends to let the stallion stamp them. Every horse she's had looks like Dad.” With Reason (GB), by Frankel (GB) ex Eminently (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) “We have to mention our Frankel filly, who unfortunately got injured in training,” says Gary of the daughter of Eminently, a half-sister to Reverence. “She's in foal to Showcasing (GB) and is going back to Palace Pier. Sadly she lost her foal by him last year but we really like the Palace Pier foals we've had.” Lesley adds, “Acquainted's two-year-old by Palace Pier, Elterwater's half-brother, is a really nice horse who got the worst under-run abscess that we have ever seen so he missed the October sales. Hopefully he will be a nice racehorse for us now – you just have to look after them really and do the right thing.” The post Middlebrooks Putting The Lake District on the Thoroughbred Map appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first foal by graded stakes winner Dennis' Moment (Tiznow–Transplendid, by Elusive Quality) arrived at the Jack Sims' Ranch near Evanston, Wyoming Tuesday. The Wyoming accredited colt is out of Half a Chance, a 2-year-old maiden special weight winner at Saratoga during her racing career. Dennis' Moment, winner of Churchill's GIII Iroquois Stakes at two, stands for $1,500, live foal, stands and nurses, or $3,000 for lifetime breeding rights. Dennis' Moment, who stands at the DeLancey's Rodeo Ranch in Cheyenne, was brought to Wyoming in 2024 to become an accredited stallion in that state. For information on booking a mare to Dennis' Moment in this 2025 breeding season, contact Dave and Cindy DeLancey at Rodeo Ranch in Cheyenne, (307) 331-3942. The post First Foal for GSW Dennis’ Moment appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Though one of his daughters lost the services of Magnitude (Not This Time) straight after his GII Risen Star romp, and another must send Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in from the cold this weekend, once again last Saturday the extraordinary distaff influence of Bernardini loomed behind the big Derby rehearsals on either coast. True, the winners of both the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes and GII San Felipe Stakes were first and foremost repaying a seven-figure investment in their respective dams–each clearly having much else going for them. But the fact remains that Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was homebred by Godolphin from Bernardini's unraced daughter Crowned; while the granddam of Journalism (Curlin) similarly came good in her second career, after doing nothing for Bernardini's reputation in her first. Her name is Peppy Rafaela. A half-sister to triple graded stakes scorer Songster (Songandaprayer), she did manage three starts, but only one suggested she might aspire even to mediocrity. Her flowering as a broodmare, however, was immediate. Her first foal Mopotism (Uncle Mo) placed in four Grade I races and had her day in the sun when winning a three-way photo for the GII La Canada Stakes. On retirement Mopotism joined the Don Alberto broodmare band for $1.05 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2019, and Journalism retrieved most of that outlay as her first yearling, raising $825,000 from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners at Saratoga. Mopotism's next foal, a Tapit colt, did better still in the same ring last summer, selling to Flying Dutchmen for $1.5 million. Given that Journalism then featured on the page only as an unraced 2-year-old, you can imagine what kind of prince this mare must be throwing. In the meantime, however, her mother has not yet come up with another Mopotism, though full-sister Ruth made a sufficient impression on debut at Gulfstream in December to be tried in the Busanda Stakes next time (proved a non-event after stumbling early). Ruth races in the silks of her breeder Frank Batten, who had bought Peppy Rafaela with a maiden cover by Uncle Mo for $100,000 at the Keeneland January Sale in 2014. That cost was immediately retrieved by her weanling in the same ring that November, at $135,000. Yes, Mopotism would eventually turn out to be worth a lot more. But their breeder was able to show up at the September sale, 10 months after Mopotism realized seven figures at the end of her track career, with a full-brother who duly raised $775,000. And now, of course, he has Ruth eligible to profit from every step forward taken by Journalism. Journalism | Benoit Patience is also being rewarded by the dam of Sovereignty, Crowned having never made the starting gate after Sheikh Mohammed bought her for $1.2 million at the 2014 Keeneland September sale. That was some reward for breeder Brushwood Stable's decision to send Grade I winner Mushka (Empire Maker) to Bernardini, then at the peak of his reputation as a $150,000 cover. Mushka had herself cost Zayat Stable even more as a yearling, at $1.6 million, being out of a stakes-placed daughter of Seeking the Gold and four-time Grade I winner Lakeway (Seattle Slew). She was sold on to Brushwood for $2.4 million at the 2008 Keeneland November sale, after not really building on her GII Demoiselle Stakes success. Kept with Bill Mott by her new owners, she matured to be awarded the GI Spinster Stakes and also finished second in the GI Ladies' Classic. Muskha initially proved a lucrative producer. Her first yearling, a Distorted Humor colt, made $1.65 million from Shadwell and then came Crowned, another seven-figure sale to the Maktoums. But she evidently had her troubles, at one point producing just two registered foals across five seasons, neither of which ever made the track, and was duly culled at the 2016 November sale for $650,000 to SF Bloodstock & Newgate Farm. While a Tapit filly in utero cleared that investment as a $675,000 yearling, Mushka would produce only one more foal, a $370,000 Ghostzapper filly who went on to be stakes-placed at Canterbury Park. Mushka's granddam and fellow Grade I winner Lakeway stands directly opposite her own sire in the pedigree of Crowned, since Seattle Slew also gave us Bernardini's sire A.P. Indy. There's also a duplication of Fappiano: one son, Quiet American, is Bernardini's damsire; another, Unbridled, provides Mushka's sire Empire Maker. These Classic brands have obviously told in Sovereignty, potentially another case of Into Mischief speed being drawn out for the Derby by the kind of upgraded mares that have already given the Spendthrift champion Authentic and Mandaloun. Sentimental Reunion Unlocks Lucrative Yield Whatever Bernardini may have contributed to their blood, Sovereignty and Journalism have a far more blatant bond. Both, incredibly, received their education at Bridlewood–whose team saw enough in Journalism to buy into the partnership (along with breeders Don Alberto) after his sale to Eclipse Thoroughbreds. Congratulations to Bridlewood trainer Joan “Meda” Murphy, whose resume already features a horse called Gun Runner. The latter's 10th Grade I winner, Locked, was also bought as a yearling by Eclipse Thoroughbreds, in this case in partnership with Walmac Farm for $425,000 at the 2022 September sale. If the prize is no longer commensurate with its wonderful history, Locked's performance in the Big 'Cap certainly was. He is the second elite scorer from Gun Runner's third crop, alongside Sierra Leone, and similarly out of a Malibu Moon mare. This one, Luna Rosa, is half-sister to two very smart performers: dual Grade I winner Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro) and triple Grade II winner Always a Princess (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). But that pair had yet to make the track when their dam Gabriellina Giof (GB) (Ashkalani {Ire}), a stakes winner in both Italy and California, was bought by Rosa Colasanti for $75,000, through Federico Barberini, at the 2008 Keeneland January sale. Locked | Benoit This, touchingly, was actually a homecoming for the mare, who had raced for Colasanti in Italy (in partnership with breeder Antonio Gioffredi of Scuderia Super King) before being imported to the U.S. by Arnold Zetcher. Colasanti, whose family has run the iconic Rome restaurant Il Matriciano for over a century, was essentially pursuing a sentimental dream in retrieving her favorite horse. But her timing proved to be inspired. Gabriellina Giof resurfaced for sale just as Always a Princess and Gabby's Golden Gal had formally become yearling and 2-year-old, respectively. Locked's dam Luna Rosa, a turf maiden winner in a light career, was the last foal out of Gabriellina Giof. Mating her with a son of Candy Ride (Arg) complemented the long South American ancestry of her maternal family. Locked's fifth dam, who came to the U.S. from Peru, traces through 10 generations of Argentinian breeding to Delicia (GB), imported from Britain in 1889. Incidentally, Colasanti has again followed the career of a cherished female in Luna Rosa's half-sister Crossing the Tape (Johannesburg). Having made $245,000 as a yearling, she did win a maiden, but was eventually retrieved for just $8,000 through Swynford Management at the 2017 November sale. Owned in partnership by Signora Colasanti, Dr. Naoya Yoshida and Kara McDermott, she's now grazing alongside Luna Rosa (who's again due to Gun Runner) at Winchester Farm. Vintage Names All Round Liguria To those of us who fear that the commercial breeding industry has been relentlessly sowing the seeds of its own destruction, perhaps the most comforting pedigree of the weekend was that of GII Buena Vista Stakes winner Liguria (War Front). While her venerable sire is now in the evening of his career, at 23, by the same token he compresses our access to his own, breed-shaping sire Danzig, who was older yet when conceiving War Front. (Nor was Danzig done, of course, going on to cover the dam of Hard Spun at 26). But the glorious thing about Liguria is that much the same phenomenon can be observed in her maternal family. Her dam Lerici was foaled in 2004, when her sire Woodman was 21. Granddam Balinese arrived in 1987, when her sire Nijinsky was 20. Third dam Homespun was delivered when her sire Round Table was a relative adolescent at 15 in 1969. It was not until four years later, indeed, that Round Table also sired the third dam of War Front himself. Liguria | Benoit This wonderful genetic time capsule was well bought out of Book 1 at the 2021 September sale, where a $275,000 docket was signed by Steven W. Young for Alpha Delta Stables. With a page like hers, it barely mattered whether Liguria made the racetrack. Her three graded stakes siblings include dual GI Rodeo Drive Stakes winner Avenge, also by War Front; Lerici's half-sisters produced runners-up in the GI Travers and GI Santa Anita Derby; and Balinese is sister to two Grade I winners, not to mention half-sister to the third dam of Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro). Ultimately the line traces to the Belair foundation mare Flambette (Fr). As it is, Liguria has now won a second graded stakes. No doubt commercial breeders will someday hold her turf aptitude against her foals. In the end, however, the same abiding faith in quality that shaped her talent will survive all the witless fads today shifting mere quantity around from one new sire to the next. The post Breeding Digest: Sovereignty Extends Damsire’s Dominion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A 206-strong catalogue for the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale at Doncaster on April 23 and 24 was revealed on Tuesday. Its graduates have supplied 10 wins at Royal Ascot in the last nine years, led by multiple Group 1 winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), and other group winners to have emanated from the sale include G2 Flying Childers Stakes winner Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), G2 Mill Reef Stakes hero Powerful Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), G2 Richmond Stakes scorer Black Forza (Complexity) and Electrolyte (Ire) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), who landed the G3 Prix Eclipse. Mehmas has 22 progeny catalogued, including a half-sister to 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) (lot 158); a half-brother to multiple group winner and G1 Phoenix Stakes second The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) (lot 150); and a half-brother to G3 Gladness Stakes winner Markaz Paname (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}) (lot 2). There are also 14 two-year-olds catalogued by Havana Grey, among them lot 23, a daughter of listed winner Anadolu (Ire) (Statue Of Liberty); and a son of Listed Prix Ceres heroine Blizzard (GB) (Medicean {GB}). A No Nay Never filly (lot 91), out of a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and producer Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), is set to sell and there is also a Wootton Bassett (GB) filly out of the listed winner Sarrocchi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 181). Breezes will take place at Doncaster Racecourse beginning at 8.30am on Wednesday, April 23, with the sale beginning at 10am the following day. Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “This sale is all about Royal Ascot so it's on everyone's minds, from vendors selecting horses to send, to buyers raising their hand in the ring. The sale's Royal record really is something special, and its ability to continue to produce winners at one of the world's most prestigious race meetings has driven it to new heights. “This sale is also about winners. Our two-year-olds had a very good year last year, headlined by the five individual group winners. Furthermore, of the first 50 two-year-old wins achieved by horses offered across all European breeze-up sales last year, Doncaster produced over 50% of them. Given the Donny Breeze lays claim to just over 20% of the total breezers offered last year, it graphically illustrates that if you are looking for precocious, quality horses that win, this is the sale in which to buy them. “This year we made the conscious decision to reduce the number catalogued, coming down from 234 to 206 to allow us to further focus on quality. Given demand for places was as high as it's ever been, it proved a difficult task, but we feel we have achieved a good balance. We have already begun canvassing buyers, having travelled to Bahrain, Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and had a very good response. We will continue our visits throughout the UK and Europe in the coming weeks and we look forward to welcoming an international audience to Doncaster in April.” The post ‘Outstanding’ Donny Breeze-Up Catalogue Released By Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice–Gold Strike, by Smart Strike) is being relocated to Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions LLC in Stillwater, New York, to start the 2025 breeding season. The 6-year-old stallion, who had been expected to begin his stud career this year at Mountain Spring Farm in Pennsylvania, was recently purchased by a group that includes his former trainer, Eric Reed, longtime owner Ken Tyson, and Jamie LaMonica, head of the Kentucky-based The Stallion Company bloodstock agency. Rich Strike will stand his initial season at stud for an introductory fee of $6,500 S&N. “It was originally contemplated to start Rich Strike's stallion career at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, however the deal fell through,” said LaMonica. “When Rich Strike moved to Mountain Spring Farm in Pennsylvania, our new ownership group circled back and made a pitch to get involved with the horse. Everyone at Mountain Spring Farm has been great to work with, but the new ownership group has a stronger relationship with New York than Pennsylvania and we felt that Rich Strike has a better opportunity in New York. With the reconstruction of Belmont Park, we thought it would be beneficial to a stallion that has the pedigree to thrive on all three surfaces–dirt, synthetic, and turf.” In addition to his 2022 Derby victory, Rich Strike was second in that year's GII Lukas Classic and third in the GII Jeff Ruby Steaks. On the board in six of 14 starts, he won twice and earned $2,526,809. “New York breeders are sophisticated and informed, so they understand Rich Strike is a grandson of Curlin and out of a champion mare,” said Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions' Rick Burke. “He should fit a lot of the mare population, both genetically and physically. I was able to inspect Rich Strike when we were negotiating the first time around and was really impressed by his good looks and presence. I am looking forward to showing off the Kentucky Derby winner to New York breeders. I think they will really like him.” The post Rich Strike to Stand at Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions in New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail, John Battaglia Memorial Stakes winner California Burrito is taking Aaron and Victoria Haberman on the "thrill of a lifetime."View the full article

The King's Plate returns to Woodbine Racetrack Aug. 16, for its 166th running. Get ready to secure your tickets this Thursday, March 6 on Ticketmaster and KingsPlate.com.View the full article

There were fireworks on Chantilly's Tuesday afternoon card as Carlos and Yann Lerner trainee We'll Defend (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}–Skysweeper {Fr}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) illuminated proceedings with a taking four-length 'TDN Rising Star' performance in the Prix de la Serpentine, a 9 1/2-furlong contest for unraced fillies. The G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane entry was under heavy restraint through the early stages and raced in a handy fourth, behind a sedate pace, for the most part. Cruising forward on the bridle in the home straight, the 3-5 favourite loomed large out wide passing the quarter-mile marker and quickened clear in impressive fashion inside the final furlong to easily overpower Integretas (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) by daylight. We'll Defend becomes the first 'TDN Rising Star' for her Haras de Bouquetot-based sire (by Sea The Stars {Ire}). “This is a filly we have loved since day one and she would have run last year if not for a minor setback,” explained trainer Yann Lerner. “We were quite confident for this first run and, if all is well, she will run next time in the Prix Durban at Saint Cloud. That is a Class 1 race for fillies, it's the same program we followed with her [half-] sister La Parisienne and we'll see where we go from there.” We'll Defend is the eighth of nine foals and seventh scorer from as many runners produced by a half-sister to dual G3 Abu Dhabi Championship winner GM Hopkins (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Zvarkhova (Fr) (Makfi {GB}). The April-foaled bay is kin to G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Vermeille placegetter La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Listed Prix Vulcain victor Newlook (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), G3 Prix des Reservoirs third Scripturale (Fr) (Makfi {GB}), the stakes-placed Skycutter (Fr) (Scissor Kick {Aus}) and a yearling filly by Zarak (Fr). Scripturale is the dam of stakes-winning G3 Preis der Winterkonigin runner-up La Guapisima (Fr) (City Light {Fr}) while We'll Defend's third dam Renowned (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) is an unraced full-sister to dual Group 1-winning sire Mark Of Esteem (Ire). 2nd-Chantilly, €27,000, Mdn, 3-4, unraced 3yo, f, 9 1/2f (AWT), 2:03.03, st. WE'LL DEFEND (FR), f, 3, by Zelzal (Fr) 1st Dam: Skysweeper (Fr), by Hurricane Run (Ire) 2nd Dam: Varsity (GB), by Lomitas (GB) 3rd Dam: Renowned (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) Sales history: €150,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG. *1/2 to Newlook (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), SW-Fr, $116,799; La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), MG1SP-Fr, $355,061; Scripturale (Fr) (Makfi {GB}), GSP-Fr; and Skycutter (Fr) (Scissor Kick {Aus}). SP-Eng, $159,394. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Victorious Racing & Fawzi Abdullah Ahmed Nass; B-Ecurie Haras du Cadran, SCEA Haras du Ma & Ecurie Patrick Klein (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner; J-Christophe Soumillon. “Notebook needed!” Zelzal filly We'll Defend looks a very nice prospect on debut at @fgchantilly for Christophe Soumillon and Yann Lerner… pic.twitter.com/J6uokd8WsP — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 4, 2025 The post Zelzal’s We’ll Defend Impresses with TDN Rising Star Display at Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 166th running of the King's Plate will be held Aug. 16 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Tickets for the race day will go on sale Thursday at KingsPlate.com and on Ticketmaster. General Admission tickets, starting at $35, include grandstand and apron access, and entry to the Hats & Horseshoes Party that features live music, and photo ops. Premium dining, party, and trackside reserved packages are available in limited quantities. Details can be viewed on KingsPlate.com, and waitlist space can be reserved via kp.reservations@woodbine.com. The post King’s Plate Set for Aug. 16, Tickets on Sale Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The four-day under-tack show ahead of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale begins Wednesday at 8 a.m. and continues through Saturday. Hips one through 204 are scheduled to breeze Wednesday, followed by hips 205 through 408 Thursday, hips 409 through 611 Friday, and hips 612 through 814 Saturday. The three-day OBS March sale will be held next Tuesday through Thursday. Bidding begins for each session at 11 a.m. The post OBS March Under-Tack Show Starts Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars SUNNY DA BEST - R7 (4) Switch to Happy Valley looks suitable and can salute tonight Jay Rooney EASON - R9 (2) Looks well placed to break through after several near misses this term Trackwork Spy EASON - R9 (2) Consistent type who can launch late and finish over the top of his rivals Phillip Woo EASON - R9 (2) Ready to salute after three cracking efforts this season over this C&D Shannon (Vincent Wong) SMASHING EXPRESS - R1 (1) Has had a pleasing run and can break through stepping up to 2,200m Racing Post Online GOLDEN RISE - R5 (1) Unlucky second last start and can go close with Ryan Moore aboard Tom Wood MISSION STRIKE - R6 (5) Much improved run second up when rising to 1800m, should get the right runView the full article

The multiple Group winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby (GB) has had his first mares scanned in foal, Newsells Park Stud announced on Tuesday. The dual winner Rio's Cliff (GB) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) is among those confirmed to be carrying to Isaac Shelby, whose sire, Night Of Thunder (Ire), is responsible for the most-accomplished performer out of the mare to date in the Listed-placed Rex Of Thunder (GB). Another mare from Isaac Shelby's first book to have been scanned in foal is Asamosa (American Pharoah), a daughter of the GII Santa Ynez Stakes heroine Renee's Titan (Bernstein). Julian Dollar, general manager at Newsells Park Stud, said, “We're delighted that Isaac Shelby has got off to such a great start at stud, which is testament to his wonderful temperament. Isaac Shelby was hugely talented–even better than his sire at two and a proper Guineas horse, too–credentials which are proving popular with breeders.” The post First Mares Confirmed In Foal for Classic-Placed Isaac Shelby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Racing New South Wales (Racing NSW) are thrilled to announce that the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot race has officially become a ‘Golden Ticket’ race, granting the winner direct entry into Australia’s prestigious $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on 1 November 2025. This agreement between NZTR and Racing NSW marks a major step in enhancing the international appeal of the NZB Kiwi, set to debut on 8 March 2025, and serves as a key pathway to one of Australia’s richest races. The NZTR Board has agreed to fund the transport – both to and from Sydney – for the winner of the inaugural NZB Kiwi, should they choose to accept the ‘Golden Ticket’ offered by Racing NSW for the 2025 Golden Eagle in November. NZTR Chairman, Russell Warwick, was thrilled by the partnership, emphasising the significant benefits it brings to both jurisdictions. “The inclusion of the NZB Kiwi as a Golden Ticket race for the Golden Eagle marks an exciting milestone for New Zealand racing,” Warwick said. “This opportunity not only enhances prospects for our Kiwi horses, owners, and trainers but also strengthens the deep racing ties between New Zealand and Racing NSW. “This year’s NZB Kiwi will feature two runners from a jurisdiction that operates at the highest echelon of the global racing stage, and we are privileged to be part of it. “We are incredibly grateful to Peter V’landys and his team at Racing New South Wales for their support in making this a reality, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with them in the future,” he said. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Peter V’landys, Racing NSW has been instrumental in shaping some of the world’s most prestigious racing and sporting spectacles, including The Everest, which boasts an astonishing $20 million purse, and the $10 million Golden Eagle. With a prize pool of $4.5 million in stakes and bonuses, the NZB Kiwi now stands as the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, attracting Australasia’s top-class contenders who can now vie for their spot in the Golden Eagle during their four-year-old season. The inaugural slot race is set to take place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day, 8 March 2025. View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand is urging a “change of mindset” around racing young horses. From October 1 2025, yearlings can go to the trials and qualify though they won’t race until they are at least two. “Prior to the birth-date change three years ago 2YOs could qualify from August 1 and the first lot of 2YO races were programmed for mid-late October, so it isn’t that major a change,” says HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden. “It just involves a change of mindset among owners, trainers and licence-holders generally.” “To get young horses off their properties and to the workouts and the trials is a huge part of their education.” The change in birth-date to a calendar year rather than August 1 – July 31 came into place in 2022. “The fact that the year is now January to December is critical to our thinking,” says Peden, “if young horses trial or qualify in October they would potentially be ready to race in January as two-year-olds.” “We have seen two-year-old racing make some serious progress in the last year or so with a number of lucrative bonuses to get young horses up and going early.” There are $12,000 bonuses in place for every youngster winning their first two-year-old race and this year has also seen the Next Gen ownership model come into play with $600,000 in bonuses for NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales purchases in their 2YO season. But there is potential for more. “There were 114 individual 2YO winners in 2024 but that was only up three per cent up on 2023. We think there is scope for greater growth there.” “Ideally we would like to get some newly-qualified 2YOs at races like the Young Guns in Auckland in late January,” says Peden, “they are now $100k for each of the colts and geldings, and fillies and trotters from 2026.” “Our data also tells us that a horse that starts their careers as two-year-olds will have on average 39 starts across New Zealand as opposed to 28 if they start as three-year-olds.” “With the number of races increasing year on year we are keen to explore ways to best use our horses right around the country.” For any queries or more information contact : matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Royal Aspirations has become the latest trotting sire to join the $1m club. And for a New Zealand stallion that’s a pretty rare feat. Last weekend when KD Royalty (Royal Aspirations – Kazzle Dazzle) and Paris Prince (Royal Aspirations – Paris Belle) won at Addington and Rangiora respectively it pushed his progeny’s career earnings to $1,008,563. Standing at Grant Beckett’s Phoebe Standardbreds near Christchurch, Royal Aspiration has produced 20 individual winners, with 73 wins from 677 starts. KD Royalty, Paris Prince and Sunny Louis have had seven wins, with Royal Del (pictured above) leading the way with 11. In 2022 his stock had a great run, producing five winners in 10 days. There has also ben some Australian success with Frosty Girl (5 wins) and Gracias (4 wins). “I’m a one man band” says Beckett, “and $1m is an achievement and we’ll certainly take the milestones as they come along.” “I personally think there is no harder place in the world for a stallion to establish himself, particularly a local one against all the shuttle stallions and frozen semen we have – it’s not an easy gig.” Royal Aspirations (above) went to stud after a racing career that saw him win 18 races and he still holds the New Zealand record for two-year-old trotters (1:56.5) set over a mile at Cambridge Raceway in 2012. It’s widely believed that the last New Zealand trotting sire to top $1m in earnings was Great Evander, a seven race winner in the 1950s. Records show his trotting progeny accrued $1,995,205. Among his best performers were Easton Light (36 wins), About Now (25) and Basil Dean (24). Beckett is hopeful the best of Royal Aspiration’s stock is yet to be seen. “Right now he is the mid-20s (serves) per season and he did have that one crop of over 100 a couple or three years ago.” Ironically Beckett says he has never bred a winner from Royal Aspirations himself. “I’ve bred about 25 – the oldest is four – and there is still time,” he laughs, “we’ll get there.” Maybe the first could be a Royal Aspirations two-year-old being prepared by Ross Houghton. “He’s called Circus Maximus and he’s out of Phoebe Revival, one of our foundation mares.” “It sounds like they think a bit of him.” View the full article

By Bruce Stewart A member of New Zealand’s greatest harness racing family, Les Purdon passed away peacefully last week in Auckland. He was 83. Les was the youngest son of Hugh Purdon and like his brothers Roy, Sandy, Foster and Joe, he trained horses. For a number of years he worked for Hugh, and in 1958 he obtained a junior driver’s licence. His first winner came in June that year when he drove Dusky Valley to win for his father. Les ultimately drove 235 winners, his last being behind Galaxy at Alexandra Park in March 1985. Other successes followed. He drove Sally Belwin, trained by Len Bayer and Brian Barlett, to win eight races including the 1975 North Island Breeders Stakes. He drove Gymea Gold to win the 1976 Northern Oaks in which she beat Olga Korbut. He drove Del’s Trophy (a Birdie Hanover gelding) for Arthur Cross, winning eight races including the first Dominion Breweries Mobile Stakes – now known as the Cardigan Bay/ Young Guns Final. He also drove one of New Zealand’s greatest mares Delightful Lady to win her first race at Claudelands in January 1977. And he drove successfully in the USA. Les’s training career began in 1966. His first winner was Goodray which won the Morrinsville Juvenile Stakes. He trained 152 winners under his own name, 27 with son-in-law Steven Reid, 16 with Fraser Kirk and 11 with his daughter Angela. Les also trained Born To Trot to win the 1990 Group Two New Zealand Two Year Old Trotting Stakes at Addington. His best winner was As Required which won eight. He also had success with Chance With Vance which won seven, Reilly and Evander’s Gift. He trained Chance With Vance with Reid. Reid said “I was working for Les’s brother Sandy and I came to a bit of a crossroads. I was a bit despondent. I was getting some drives, but not a heap. I made the call to take a break from the industry. Les approached me and offered to take me into partnership. I jumped at that. It was at that time I started dating Les’s daughter Wendy.” After two years training with Purdon, Reid decided to branch out on his own. “He was really good to me. He gave me gear, carts and he even gave me three horses. It gave me a real kick. Two of the horses were racehorses. One was Amendment which we’d just brought up from Christchurch and he won within two or three weeks of me going into training. I was always very appreciative of what he did for me.” He continued, “He was an extremely good horseman and a very good driver. He never did a big team, maybe about 10 but he really focussed on his horses. They were always brushed up and they looked immaculate. He was a very good feeder and paid attention to detail. They’re the two things I took away from working with Les.” Purdon trained for all of his career at a property on Harrisville Road in Pukekohe. “He bought that property maybe 50 to 60 years ago and his daughter Angela and her husband Kerry own it now. He was a great worker. He was one of those guys who would never get anyone in to do anything on the property. He would do everything himself. He could turn his hand to most things.” Les had an affinity for colts. “He used to love his colts. If he could leave them as colts he would. He said to me that he got taught from his Dad that colts needed to be really groomed up. When they go to the races they need to look good because the colts want to look like that. When you think about it, it makes sense. It’s like the boy going out on the town and trying to look good for the girls (laughter). He used to plait up their forelocks, have them bandaged up and they’d be shampooed,” said Reid. At the end of his training career Purdon focused on exporting racehorses to America and became very good friends with international bloodstock agent John Curtin. “He worked for Bob McArdle for years. They used to take horses to America and sell them along with John Devlin and Bob Latimer. It was big business in those days. We were selling three $100,000 horses a week to John Muscara,” Curtin said. During the exporting years Les forged a great working relationship with international horse transporter IRT. Curtin commented “IRT are so good at keeping you up to date with everything. They’d tell you when the horse got on the plane, what it did on the plane and when it got off. Les was very good at that and kept a track on everything all the way through. He was sensational.” Les Purdon will be remembered as a quality reinsman and a trainer who focused on detail. He had a generous nature and willingness to help people get on in the industry that he loved. Les is survived by his three children Angela, Wendy and Adrian and the wider Purdon family. View the full article

Mitch caught up with Dominic Sutton after Feroce’s win in the Australian Guineas. Dominic Sutton 04.03.25 – Racing HQ with Steve Hewlett – Apple Podcasts View the full article

Robbie Patterson joined Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate to discuss Leica Lucy’s amazing win at the weekend. The incredible backstory behind Leica Lucy’s weekend win in New Zealand – Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate – Omny.fm View the full article

Tony Pike will be represented in a number of the Champions Day features this Saturday, including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), the first top-flight appearance for his promising juvenile Lucy In The Sky (NZ) (Hello Youmzain). The daughter of Hello Youmzain had a reputation before her debut at Ellerslie last month, and running as favourite she duly delivered, holding off a number of more-experienced rivals with authority. That performance was enough for Pike to return to the course for Saturday’s assignment, where a number of different juvenile form lines will come together for a shot at $550,000. “She’s bounced through her run very well, she worked super this morning (Tuesday),” Pike said. “She’s going into it only off one trial and one raceday start, but it was a smart field last-start and she couldn’t have been more impressive. “If she improves off that, our two-year-old’s probably lack a little bit of depth this year, so even though it’s a big jump-up in class for her, she’s very progressive and deserves her chance.” In the following event, ultra-consistent mare Acquarello (Written Tycoon) will also make her first elite-level appearance, taking on the Gr.1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). A Group Three winner in the spring, the imposing five-year-old continued that form into the new year, including an impressive last-start placing to Legarto in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m). “She was great at Matamata in a very hot race, Legarto beat her that day and unfortunately we’ve got to take her on again on Saturday at weight-for-age,” Pike said. “She’s come a long way this preparation and she’s in great form, she deserves her chance in the race after running a close second last-start. She’s another horse that makes her own luck, she’ll be in the race for a long way.” While the Cambridge horseman will chase his first titles in the Sistema and Breeders’ Stakes, he is no stranger to the top-spot in the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), and he’ll have a two-pronged attack in this year’s edition. Front-running grey Amazing Fluke (The Autumn Sun) and the promising OTI Racing-owned Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro) will represent the stable, both coming through the traditional route of the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). “Amazing Fluke’s run in the Avondale Guineas was a good performance, he’s still very much a work in progress but he got a nice soft time out in front and was only beaten a length or so,” Pike said. “He deserves his chance in the Derby, he’s trained on well since and he’ll roll up near the speed. It’s a very wide-open Derby this year. “Golden Century is going to be a lovely horse at some stage, I would’ve loved to have him for another preparation. “His run was solid in the Avondale Guineas, he was strong through the line and was one of the last to pull up so I’ve got no doubt that he’ll run out the mile-and-a-half stronger than most. His racing manners still let him down a bit at this stage, but if he does everything right, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s right in the finish.” The meeting will come to a close with the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m), run to ensure the emergencies for the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) are ready to compete in the big dance if required. Pike has nominated Boss ‘N’ Highheels, Arundel Castle and Ziggy Stardust for the $100,000 event, with the first pair most likely to start. “Arundel Castle (NZ) (Darci Brahma) resumed over 1200m and was a bit outpaced over the shorter trip, but got home very well late,” Pike said. “The 1500m will suit him and it’s just a tier down from our best three-year-old’s, so it looks like a nice race for him. “Boss ’N’ Highheels (Written Tycoon) was a bit unlucky at Matamata, the horse broke down in front of her and she just lost her momentum on the corner, so she’s run very well to finish fourth.” Pike is looking forward to New Zealand’s biggest ever raceday, but back in the stable, the team farewelled a class mare as Impendabelle (Impending) was retired from racing. A talent from day one, Impendabelle won her first start as a juvenile before taking out the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). Returning at three, she went from strength-to-strength, winning the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m). She continued on to place in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), but niggling issues hindered her preparation this term, where she was performing below her best form. “She’s been a great filly for the stable, she was super right through her three-year-old season and we just battled a few knee issues near the end of that season,” Pike said. “We haven’t been able to get the best out of her at four because of that, but she was probably the second-best three-year-old filly in the country last season and is a lovely type, that will be a very good addition to any broodmare band.” While one member departed, the recent rise in form of Slipper Island (No Nay Never) has been welcomed by Pike, collecting his second-straight victory with an explosive display down the chute at Trentham on Sunday. “He seems to love the Wellington straight-six, he’s had three wins from four runs down there now and a second,” Pike said. “He’s been a bit of a heartbreak for the owners, so it’s great to see him put a couple of wins together and ridden that way, he’s quite effective down the chute over 1200m. He’ll probably head back down there in four weeks’ time on Sires’ Produce Day for a 75 1200m, he’s going really well.” View the full article