Wandering Eyes

A heavy favorite to win the second leg of the Triple Crown, trainer Michael McCarthy doesn't mind having a target on his back.View the full article

Making a positive impact on the marketing of horse racing, Griffin Johnson's success with Sandman appears to only be the beginning of his story in the sport.View the full article

U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, the chair of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, visited with several horsemen at Pimlico Race Course to discuss their concerns over visas for temporary workers. View the full article

If anyone knows how well Journalism feels entering the Preakness Stakes (G1) off two weeks' rest, it would be his regular exercise rider Marc Witkowski. According to him, Journalism is even stronger than the Kentucky Derby (G1).View the full article

Horse racing has seen sharp declines in most types of equine musculoskeletal fatalities, but reductions to one particular type of injury— the shoulder fracture—have been less dramatic. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-sister to Darley stallio Space Blues. 2.50 Newmarket, Novice, £40,000, 2yo, f, 6fT DANCE TO THE MUSIC (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a significant newcomer for Charlie Appleby as the 11th foal out of the G2 Challenge Stakes winner Miss Lucifer, whose gift to Godolphin was Dubawi's triple top-level-winning Breeders' Cup Mile hero Space Blues. Also here is the Sangster colour-bearer Lyrics Of Life (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), a Brian Meehan-trained daughter of the 2008 GI E. P. Taylor Stakes winner Folk Opera. 1.30 Navan, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 5f 180yT GSTAAD (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was taken out of the Naas maiden won by the stable's potentially high-class Albert Einstein and has a big stablemate to deal with here as well in the Listed First Flier Stakes runner-up True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never). Whatever he achieves on this debut, as a 450,000gns Tattersalls December half-brother to the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes hero Vandeek he could be one who has a big future. The post Sister To Space Blues, Dance To The Music, Debuts At HQ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Kentucky Derby third-place runner Baeza (McKinzie) returned to the work tab Friday at Santa Anita with an easy four-furlong drill in :53.60 (43/43) for trainer John Shirreffs. He was joined on the tab by fellow 3-year-old Barnes (Into Mischief) who also worked four furlongs (:48.00 {6/43}) for the first time since finishing last of five in the GI Santa Anita Derby April 5 for trainer Bob Baffert. After choosing to skip Saturday's GI Preakness Stakes, Baeza is slated to start next in the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 7. Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Baeza worked 4 Furlongs in 53.60 on May 16th, 2025, for trainer John Shirreffs. pic.twitter.com/1U5vOfxJE9 — 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) May 16, 2025 Also working off a win from Derby weekend, Queen Maxima (Bucchero) returned to the tab Friday after taking the Unbridled Sidney Stakes at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 2. Trained by Jeff Mullins, Queen Maxima worked four furlongs on the synthetic training track in :50.60 (7/8). The post Baeza, Barnes Back On The Santa Anita Work Tab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As he likes to do in his Royal Ascot warm-ups, Ballydoyle's undisputed champion Kyprios gave the long odds-on backers enough of a scare to shorten their lifespan prior to just doing what he does and winning. Taking part in Friday's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes to keep his eye in more than anything, the 7-year-old sauntered around Leopardstown under Ryan Moore, made it look hard work for a few strides heading to the last furlong before extending sufficiently to wrap up a third renewal. At the line, the 1-14 shot had a 1 1/2-length margin to spare over Dallas Star which in any other instance would be enough to cast doubt on his prospects of adding another Gold Cup to his impressive portfolio. But this is Kyprios, who has done this before. What was of genuine concern was the fact that he appeared unsound after the race. Aidan O'Brien gave the instant feedback. “Everything went perfectly in the race, but he looked to be walking gingerly in front going out of the winner's enclosure after the pictures had been taken,” he revealed. “He might have been feeling something and it could be a sprung shoe, but there'll be no chances taken with him and we'll investigate and see what it is.” Can anything stop from winning a third Gold Cup at Royal Ascot? Ryan Moore kept the champion stayer honest, but a third Saval Beg @LeopardstownRC never looked in any real doubt …@MoyglareStud | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/8lcgsVMlHK — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 16, 2025 Pedigree Notes Sadly, Kyprios is the final offering from Moyglare's formidable Polished Gem, with the famed Danehill broodmare perhaps saving her best until last. That is saying something when she has already produced his dual G1 Irish St Leger-winning full-sister Search For A Song, a G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes winner in Free Eagle by High Chaparral and three other Group winners including Medicean's Sapphire who took the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes when it was a Group 2. Sapphire is proving s smart producer, with her daughter of Dubawi, Elizabeth Jane, scoring at listed level, her Galileo mare Federica Sophia finishing runner-up in the G3 Stanerra Stakes and her Kingman daughter Kiss For A Jewel running third in the G2 Kilboy Estate Stakes. Friday, Leopardstown, Ireland SAVAL BEG LEVMOSS STAKES-G3, €60,000, Leopardstown, 5-16, 4yo/up, 14fT, 3:03.22, gd. 1–KYPRIOS (IRE), 136, h, 7, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Polished Gem (Ire) (2x Broodmare Of The Year-Ire), by Danehill 2nd Dam: Trusted Partner, by Affirmed 3rd Dam: Talking Picture, by Speak John O-Moyglare, Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Westerberg; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €36,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng, Fr & Ire, 21-17-2-0, $3,341,276. *Full to Search For A Song (Ire), MG1SW-Ire, SW & GSP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, $1,086,486; Falcon Eight (Ire), GSW-Ire & SW-Eng, $409,006; and Amma Grace (Ire), SW & GSP-Ire; and 1/2 to Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), G1SW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Ire, $926,416; Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}), MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, $518,947; Custom Cut (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}), MGSW-Eng & Ire, $951,925; and Valac (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), GSW-Aus, $448,653. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Dallas Star (Fr), 131, c, 4, Cloth Of Stars (Ire)–Agathe Rare (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. (€30,000 Wlg '21 ARQDEC; 50,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT; 180,000gns RNA 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Mme Eliane Dieuaide & Domaine Billard Pere et Fils (FR); T-Adrian Murray. €12,000. 3–Satin (GB), 128, m, 5, Australia (GB)–Countryside (GB), by Motivator (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (22,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Mrs S Kelly; B-Crimbourne Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Jessica Harrington. €6,000. Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 0.07, 14.00, 33.00. Also Ran: Mont St Michel (Ire), Duraji (Ire). The post Third Saval Beg For Champion Kyprios, Suffers Post Race Scare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-CD, $127k, Aoc, 3yo/up, f, 1 1/8mT, 8:30p.m. ET Sold for a price befitting royalty on the back of a 3-year-old season where she was Group 1-placed in Germany, SPANISH EYES (GER) (Zarak {Fr}) will debut here under the lights at Churchill Downs for her new connections. Purchased at ARQDEC last year for €1.3-million by David Redvers Bloodstock for the partnership of Qatar Racing and Michaela Faust, the filly is out of Sortilege (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), herself a multiple highweight mare in Germany and Italy as well as being the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio Longines victress. Spanish Eyes was a five-length maiden winner at first asking for Andreas Wohler at Hoppergarten before she missed winning the G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) by a length. Her conditioner brought her back against the boys in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden, where she would run a commendable fourth as the formidable 2023 German Horse of the Year Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) claimed one of Germany's most-prized races in a title defense. Now in the barn of Brendan Walsh, and consistently showing good foot in the morning, she'll have first-time Lasix for this Stateside debut. TJCIS PPs 11th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6f, 11:10p.m. ET Sporting the colors of Resolute Racing, and another filly sold for a queen's ransom, Lady Scuderia (Uncle Mo) debuts less than an hour before a new day arrives in Kentucky on a night racing card at Churchill Downs. Leading a quality field on price and pedigree credentials, this Bill Mott-trainee is a half-sister to MGISW Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), who scored her career highlight at this track in the GI Kentucky Oaks in 2020 before going to win or place at the elite level six more times. A daughter of the late great Uncle Mo, John Stewart went to $2.5-million at KEESEP to take her home, and she'll be unveiled here carrying 8-1 morning line odds. Lady Scuderia selling as a yearling at Keeneland September | Keeneland To her outside is Cliffs (Omaha Beach), a $430,000 OBSAPR purchase last year by Lael Stables. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, she hails from the female line of French stakes winner Visions of Clarity (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), making her second dam Visual Mind (Kingmambo) a half-sister to GI Preakness hero MGISW War of Will (War Front); G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes winner Pathfork (Distorted Humor); and to MSW Tacticus (A.P. Indy)–not to be confused with MGSW & MGISP Tacitus (Tapit). Said third dam is herself a half-sister to a supremely accomplished sibling, as Visions of Clarity claims multiple Group/Grade I victor Spinning World (Nureyev) as a half-brother. To that pair's far inside is another bunch of well-met debuting fillies, including Godolphin's Lemon Zest (Nyquist), who blew a bullet five panel breeze at Turfway May 9 in :59 flat (1/21) in preparation for this unveiling. From the extended family of GISW Wet Paint (Blame), Brad Cox will send this one out. Similarly owned by a powerhouse operation, Juddmonte's Temperate (Constitution) will eye-ball that one in the gate and also comes into the race with a bullet move for trainer Michael McCarthy. Putting in a brisk three furlong blitz May 12 over this track in :37.80 (1/4), the daughter of Canada's champion juvenile filly, GISW Spring in The Air (Spring at Last), is a half-sister to GSP-Eng Find (GB) (Frankel {FB) and GSP Sidamara (Arrogate). This is the same female line which produced Sacre Coeur (Saint Ballado), best known as the dam of champion turf female, MGISW Lady Eli (Divine Park) and her half-sister MGSW Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex). Breaking from the middle of the pack are Spendthrift homebred Kelly's Way Back (Omaha Beach), a daughter of GI Test Stakes-placed Kelly's Humor (Midnight Lute), and Shesa Cherry (Curlin), a $400,000 KEESEP daughter of a Grade I-placed half-sister to GISW Stormello (Stormy Atlantic). TJCIS PPs The post May 17 Insights: German G1 Class, Half to Shedaresthedevil Star as Supporting Acts on Preakness Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

AmWager is offering zero percent takeout on the GI Preakness Stakes, according to the advanced deposit wagering company on Friday. All AmWager customers who opt in and bet the Preakness Win pool will receive a total payout for their successful wagers which is calculated with zero takeout. For instance, when Seize the Grey (Arrogate) won the 2024 edition of the of the big race and paid $21.60 for a $2 bet, the same wager would pay $26.35 this year. Once the Preakness race is made official, AmWager customers will receive the original tote payout, and will then be awarded a bonus equivalent to the difference. The zero takeout bonus will be paid out Sunday morning and will be capped out at $200. Customers must opt in to be eligible. Click here for full details. The post AmWager To Offer Zero Percent Takeout On Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coral has renewed its sponsorship of the G1 Eclipse Stakes for another five years through 2030. Friday marks 50 days until the 2025 running of the race at Sandown Park. Already the longest-running Pattern race sponsorship anywhere in the world, this year's contest, with a boosted purse of £1 million, will be the 50th running under the Coral banner. Simon Clare, Coral PR director, said, “We are immensely proud to have sponsored the Coral-Eclipse Stakes for 50 years and thrilled to be announcing the continuation of our partnership with Sandown Park and The Jockey Club for another five years, with the new record £1 million prize-money in place for the race.” The post Coral Extends Eclipse Sponsorship For Another Five Years appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, Newbury, post time: 14:35, BOYLESPORTS LOCKINGE STAKES-G1, £400,000, 4yo/up, 8fT Field: Checkandchallenge (GB) (Fast Company {Ire}), Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Prague (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). TDN Verdict: This is the best race run so far in 2025, with the brilliant miler Rosallion renewing rivalry with the almost-as-good Notable Speech as both make their seasonal debuts. Whereas the latter, who excelled in the 2,000 Guineas and Sussex, needs a strong pace to run at any kind of tactical affair will make no difference to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's sensational St James's Palace hero. Dancing Gemini has so far successfully trod the path of last year's Lockinge winner Charyn, but this is a lot better than the 2024 version and there is no evidence he's as good as his predecessor. There is also good reason to expect last year's Sun Chariot winner Tamfana to reverse the form of their Sandown Mile encounter, as she was having her first start and was burdened with a penalty. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Newbury, post time: 12:50, SKY SPORTS RACING ASTON PARK STAKES-G3, £100,000, 4yo/up, 12fT Field: Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}), El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}), King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Raja Raja (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Tabletalk (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Shadwell's evergreen pattern-race winner extraordinaire Al Aasy bids to make it five at this track in the race he won back in 2021, which just says it all about his attitude and aptitude and the loving care that has been heaped on him down the years at Somerville Lodge. This can be a run-of-the-mill affair, but it carries intrigue this time with the long-absent 2023 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami back in action alongside last year's G1 Irish Derby runner-up Sunway and Godolphin's unexposed and progressive El Cordobes. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Newbury, post time: 15:10, CHILDWICKBURY STUD FILLIES' TRIAL STAKES-Listed, £75,000, 3yo, f, 10fT Field: Bintabuha (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Cecilia Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Likealot (GB) (Camelot {GB}), Protest (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Qilin Queen (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Revoir (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Sand Gazelle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), WInter's Song (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Wonder Star (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). TDN Verdict: It's not too late to book an Oaks ticket and there are some likely types here including Wonder Star, who is backed up just eight days after breaking her maiden at Ascot. That is an unusual step for William Haggas, but she probably didn't have a hard race as that turned into a two-furlong sprint. Ralph Beckett bids to cap a big week with Revoir, who looked smart on her sole start at Nottingham in October and looks to do a “Pride Of Arras” here. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Newbury, post time: 13:25, HIGHCLERE CASTLE GIN CARNARVON STAKES-Listed, £65,000, 3yo, 6fT Field: Andesite (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Berkshire Whisper (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Caburn (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}), Defence Minister (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Ides Of March (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Noble Champion (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Righthere Rightnow (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}), Strong Warrior (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Symbol Of Honour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Hold A Dream (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), Sayidah Dariyan (Ire) (Dariyan {Fr}). TDN Verdict: We already knew that Ballydoyle's Ides Of March was a top-class sprinting prospect last year, but his comeback effort when second in the Listed Committed Stakes only served to fuel the fire of excitement surrounding him in 2025. Sayidah Dariyan was impressive in a Chelmsford conditions event last month, while Hold A Dream looked a promising type when second in that track's Listed Chelmer Fillies' Stakes. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Navan, post time: 15:50, IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF YEATS STAKES-Listed, €31,500, 3yo, 13fT Field: Carmers (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Delta (GB) (Kitten's Joy), What's Your Game (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Bonnie Moon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Butterfly Wings (Justify), Medici Venus (Tiz The Law), Umala (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). TDN Verdict: Ballydoyle rely on two fillies in what has become a sort of Queen's Vase trial, with Butterfly Wings the first-string coming back six days after her four-length Leopardstown maiden win. Things looked to click there, as is often the case with the stable's maidens after some educational outings and she looks a potential big improver for the season's staying contests. Carmers is also racing again quickly after his maiden win, this time at Ballinrobe and it is worth noting that he is out of Fiona Carmichael's €1.1million 2014 Goffs Orby purchase Signe, a Sea the Stars half to Lord Shanakill, Forever Together and Together Forever. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, VICTORIA MILE-G1, ¥253,400,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 1600mT Field: Christmas Parade (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Argine (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Safira (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Ravel (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Mi Anhelo (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Wide Latour (Jpn) (California Chrome), Shinryokuka (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}), Admire Matsuri (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Bond Girl (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), Sing That Song (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Shirankedo (Jpn) (Declaratio Of War), Beyond The Valley (Jpn) (Isla Bonita {Jpn}), Masano Canaria (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}), So Dazzling (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Queen's Walk (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), Alice Verite (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}). Click here for the Japanese preview. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Can Notable Speech Best Rosallion In The Lockinge? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Leopardstown's opener on Friday is always a maiden marked out by the big yards and there was again the hint of the beginning of something as Ballydoyle's Italy gained TDN Rising Star status. All the rage at 4-9 for the extended seven-furlong contest, Wootton Bassett's half-brother to the deeply promising Bowmark who had won at York minutes earlier was settled behind the leading duo by Wayne Lordan throughout the initial stages. Sent after Thesecretadversary passing two out, the relative of the Derby hero Serpentine collared that son of St Mark's Basilica in the last 50 yards for a smooth 3/4-of-a-length success. As a measure of what the newcomer had achieved, there was a further 4 1/2 lengths back to Siyouni's Ipanema Beach who had the benefit of experience having been fourth to another TDN Rising Star from Rosegreen, Charles Darwin. Italy becomes his sire's 13th TDN Rising Star just days after the stable's Albert Einstein wowed at Naas. He is the third among the juvenile crop of 2025, with the filly Simply Astounding also earning the tag at Naas last month. The tally includes last year's juvenile Group 1 winners Camille Pissarro and Twain. Aidan O'Brien had won this with the well-touted TDN Rising Star Alfred Munnings in 2022, who went on to disappoint at Royal Ascot, while last year's renewal boasted the subsequent Group 1 winners Scorthy Champ and Hotazhell as well as this yard's Group 1-placed Mount Kilimanjaro. “He was never away before so he would have been very green and they went a good gallop,” he said. “He has a bit of quality and Wayne gave him a lovely ride. He taught him plenty and he will have leaned a lot from that. He could come back here for the [G3] Tyros.” Magnifico! – a 200,000 guineas Wootton Bassett colt – cuts loose on debut @LeopardstownRC @Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/mwuRelFyMG — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 16, 2025 Pedigree Notes Italy's listed-winning dam Bound is a daughter of Danehill Dancer's Oaks runner-up Remember When, whose seven black-type performers include Galileo's aforementioned Derby hero Serpentine, Group 3 winner and Oaks third Bye Bye Baby and Group 2 winner and G1 Nassau Stakes runner-up Wedding Vow. The latter is now the dam of the Listed Dee Stakes winner and G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes and G2 Royal Lodge Stakes-placed Capulet by Justify, while the third dam is Lagrion who produced the champions Dylan Thomas and Queen's Logic and the 1,000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen. As mentioned, Bound's 3-year-old son of Kingman, another TDN Rising Star in Bowmark, was second in the Listed Burradon Stakes and looks a high-class prospect for the Gosdens, while her yearling filly is by Baaeed. 1st-Leopardstown, €20,000, Mdn, 5-16, 2yo, 7f 52yT, 1:33.24, gd. ITALY (GB), c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB) 1st Dam: Bound (Ire) (SW-Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Remember When (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 3rd Dam: Lagrion, by Diesis (GB) (200,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $13,422. O-Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Brant, Westerberg; B-Lordship Stud; T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Wootton Bassett’s Italy A New TDN Rising Star For Ballydoyle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The ultra-consistent Ascoli Piceno and frequent rival Stellenbosch will once again lock horns, this time in the G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo on Sunday. A qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, the race features an uphill battle to the finish. Trained by Yoichi Kuroiwa, the daughter of Daiwa Major secured the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies over Stellenbosch at two, and was second to that foe in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at three, so both have won at the top level over this distance. Ascoli Piceno will leave from stall 17 in the 18-horse field and will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire. She won the G2 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh in February. Kuroiwa said, “This week on May 14, she had the same workout as she had a week earlier, six furlongs on the flat, chasing and passing her training partner. I had wondered how much she would improve from last week and she showed me that she had indeed improved quite a bit. Her wind is good, she's forward and, overall, I see no place where she's lacking. She is very agile and good at executing a course, even over shorter distances. I think I can leave the rest up to the jockey [Christophe Lemaire].” Second in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), Stellenbosch has also finished out of the top three only once. However, after a strong third in the G1 Hong Kong Vase, the daughter of Epiphaneia turned in a puzzling 13th-place finish in the G1 Osaka Hai in April. Set to be ridden by Keita Tosaki, the 4-year-old filly will break from gate two. Trainer Sakae Kunieda said of the Katsumi Yoshida runner, “This week, she had the same training partner in fast work as last week. But this time, I had her start from behind the other horse. I think she moved well. She was a bit keen, but she did catch up and pass the other horse in the end. Her footwork was sharp, her balance and rhythm all looked very good. “She breaks well but doesn't have early speed, so with the pace likely strong from the start, she'll probably be racing from behind. If she gets a good trip, I think we have a chance.” Several fillies and mares are coming off last-out wins, including G2 Hanshin Himba Stakes victress Safira (Heart's Cry), who beat Argine (Lord Kanaloa) on April 12. They are booked in stalls four and three, respectively. Kizuna's Queen's Walk landed the G2 Kinko Sho at Chukyo in March, while Wide Latour (California Chrome) defeated Sing That Song (Duramente) in the G3 Aichi Hai. The G3 Fukushima Himba Stakes went to Admire Matsuri (Kitasan Black), and she will be cutting back to 1600 metres for this contest, as will Shirankedo (Declaration Of War), who stamped her name on the G3 Nakayama Himba Stakes in March. The post Ascoli Piceno And Stellenbosch Clash In Victoria Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Pimlico, $54,810, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($50,000-$62,500), 5-16, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.65, ft, 6 1/2 lengths. VERIFIRE (c, 3, Authentic–Ruby Trust {SP, $145,212}, by Smart Strike), named a 'TDN Rising Star' when thrashing Colonial maidens by 6 1/4 lengths on career debut going this distance on the Virginia Derby undercard Mar. 15, easily repeated the dose when pulling clear through the final furlong to take the Black-Eyed Susan Day opener at Pimlico by 6 1/2 lengths. Off at a nickel on the dollar, the $260,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $1-million OBS March breezer was first to break the line and with no run-up, got the opening quarter-mile in :23.69, as Saxton (Mosler)–the only other member of the first-race sextet in single digits at just under 5-1–did his level best to match motors. The second elect stayed right with the heavy favorite into the lane after a half in :46.22, but Verifire began to assert a furlong from home and was punched out under hands-and-heels from Flavien Prat to score like a 1-20 pop should. Gainesway purchased the winner's dam, a daughter of the Grade III-winning turf sprinter Queen ofthe Catsle (Tale of the Cat), for $180,000 in foal to Catalina Cruiser at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale and Verifire, who breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 at OBS last March, is her second foal. The mare is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt Golden Tornado (McKinzie), a $475,000 KEESEP purchase by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing last fall, and a yearling filly by Olympiad who fetched $130,000 from McMahon & Hill at KEENOV a few months later. The mare was barren to McKinzie for this year.Sales history: $260,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $1,000,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $77,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Resolute Racing; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd (KY); T-Brad H Cox. VERIFIRE ($2.10) by as many as he wanted in the opener at @PimlicoRC. The colt by @spendthriftfarm's Authentic is undefeated in 2 starts for trainer @bradcoxracing. Flavien Prat was in the saddle. Congrats to owners @resracingky. Early Pick 4 time: https://t.co/HFu2TpnAWY pic.twitter.com/9DlNeEX0aR — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 16, 2025 The post Authentic’s ‘Rising Star’ Verifire Streaks Clear In Pimlico Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

3rd-Newbury, £12,000, Mdn, 5-16, 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.97, gd. HUMIDITY (GB) (c, 2, Ulysses {Ire}–Sultry {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}), sent off at 6-1 for this often-informative maiden won in 2018 by Advertise, broke smartly to lead under Oisin Murphy. Pressed throughout by the 7-2 favourite Title Role, the homebred hung tough to prevail by a short head from that Too Darn Hot colt who was a 500,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up purchase last month. “He's a lovely horse and we'll talk with the team and see what they want do,” trainer Andrew Balding said. “He's a horse with a lovely bright future and this six is his minimum. There were nice types in the race and I like the manner in which he did it.” The winner is a full-brother to Holloway Boy, who made an impact himself on debut by winning Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham Stakes three years ago before going on to land the G3 Superior Mile and finish third in the G1 Futurity Trophy and G1 Jebel Hatta. Offered at Tattersalls October Book 2 but bought back for 120,000gns, he is the sixth foal out of the unraced dam who is a half to the listed-placed Secret Venture by Pivotal's son Kyllachy. The third dam is the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes-winning champion Gay Gallanta, who produced the dual Group winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-placed Byron. Also connected to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Gay Mecene, the dam's yearling filly is by Palace Pier (GB). Sales history: 120,000gns RNA Ylg '24 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,621. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud; T-Andrew Balding. Great battle at @NewburyRacing! Humidity comes out on top in a good tussle with Title Role to make a winning debut for @AndrewBalding2! pic.twitter.com/c8Ir575hyq — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 16, 2025 The post Ulysses’s Humidity Wins Hot Newbury Maiden For Cheveley Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Friday's G2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup was run at little more than a crawl and played directly into the lap of Godolphin's seven-time elite-level winner Rebel's Romance (Dubawi), who fared best in a five-runner battle of wits. The globetrotting seven-year-old, who had notched victories at the highest grade in four different countries, lobbed along in second as Coolmore's 2023 G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Heart's Cry) set sedate fractions on the front end. Sent wide towards the stands' side rail in early straight, the crowd's 11-10 pick inched ahead with three furlongs remaining and was resolute under a full William Buick drive inside the final quarter-mile to bravely withstand the persistent threat of Epic Poet (Lope De Vega) by a head. John and Thady Gosden trainee Sweet William (Sea The Stars) was compromised by the modest tempo and stayed on well to finish 3/4-of-a-length adrift in a bunch finish for the remaining podium spot. “He's a real favourite with his own little fan base and rightly so for what he's achieved through his career,” said Charlie Appleby. “A few people asked why we came here, but I just felt in his last few runs over a mile-and-a-half that I didn't know if he still had that kick you need at the top level. When they went as steady as they did I thought it could be interesting. I'd rather they'd have gone a decent gallop and I was always confident he was going to win. I'm a believer in that if you go that steady, then any horse has a chance. Whether they're a Group 1 horse or a handicapper, they can all sprint for a couple of furlongs. We've seen time and time again that he is one of those horses that just puts his head down and goes again when something comes to him. When William [Buick] got off he said 'he's a mile-and-a-half horse and we got away with it'. Had he gone and won a more stoutly-run race then we might have thought about [the G1] Goodwood [Cup], but on the evidence of what William said, I think we'll go back to a mile-and-a-half.” Looking ahead to future options, the trainer added, “We didn't want to go travelling just yet, we've got a bit of a career-end programme for him that will hopefully involve staying in Europe for the summer and then our American trips towards the second half of the season. He'll probably go to Germany and he's in the [G1] Coronation Cup. We'll see how he comes out of this race, but he has plenty of options. I'd imagine he'll go to Canada and then back to the Breeders' Cup.” Pedigree Notes Rebel's Romance is the leading performer out of Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes second Minidress (Street Cry), who also threw G1 Jebel Hatta and GI Manhattan Stakes heroine Measured Time (Frankel) and Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes third Petticoat (Cape Cross). Minidress is a full-sister to G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy victor Volcanic Sky out of G3 Musidora Stakes-winning G1 Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks placegetter Short Skirt (Diktat). Rebel Romance's third dam is the excellent producer Much Too Risky (Bustino), whose quartet of stakes winners includes G2 Prix de Pomone winner Whitewater Affair (Machiavellian), herself the dam of multiple Group 1-winning Dubai World Cup hero Victoire Pisa (Neo Universe) and G1 Yasuda Kinen victor Asakusa De'nen (Singspiel). Short Skirt's sibling Little Rock (Warning) annexed the G2 Princess of Wales's Stakes while Much Too Risky is kin to G1 Irish St Leger hero Arctic Owl (Most Welcome) and G1 Sydney Cup winner Marooned (Mill Reef). Minidress has a 2-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire) to come. ' @godolphin's globetrotting seven-year-old denies Epic Poet in a fab renewal of the @Boodles Yorkshire Cup pic.twitter.com/FFpYkAvgFd — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 16, 2025 Friday, York, Britain BOODLES YORKSHIRE CUP STAKES-G2, £192,200, York, 5-16, 4yo/up, 13f 188yT, 3:07.88, g/f. 1–REBEL'S ROMANCE (IRE), 134, g, 7, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Minidress (GB) (SP-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB) 3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB) O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £108,997. Lifetime Record: MGIS-US, MG1SW-Ger, G1SW-HK & UAE, G1SP-Eng, GSW-Qa, 25-17-0-1, $12,647,589. *1/2 to Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), GISW-US, G1SW-UAE & SP-Eng, $1,568,523; and Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Epic Poet (Ire), 129, g, 6, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Sagaciously (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (180,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 450,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; 48,000gns 4yo '23 TATAHI). O-Akela Thoroughbreds Ltd; B-George Kent (IRE); T-David O'Meara. £41,323. 3–Sweet William (Ire), 132, g, 6, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Gale Force (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). O/B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £20,681. Margins: HD, 3/4, HF. Odds: 1.10, 7.00, 3.33. Also Ran: Alsakib (GB), Continuous (Jpn). The post Dubawi’s Rebel’s Romance Prevails in Yorkshire Cup Tactical Battle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

York's Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies' Stakes looked a strong contest full of exciting fillies on Friday and it was Peter Harris's unbeaten Kon Tiki who came through. Coming off all-weather wins at Wolverhampton and Kempton, the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder swept by some smart peers approaching the final furlong and had half a length to spare over Bermuda Longtail at the line. Connections of the 11-2 winner are looking to avoid Royal Ascot this year. “She's trained well all winter–I had her in the Guineas, but we decided to come here instead,” the trainer said. “It was her first time on turf and I just thought this was a nice start for her and allowed her more time to come in her coat. Mr Harris likes them to go gradually up the staircase, so there's no rush. We'll go for the [G2] Sandringham at Chantilly and, for me, the race then would be the [G1] Falmouth.” (11-2) stylishly preserves her unbeaten record in the Listed @SkyBet Fillies' Stakes @yorkracecourse @DavidEgan99 and @JaneChappleHyam clearly have another good 'un pic.twitter.com/CTjgjP7WVO — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 16, 2025 Kon Tiki is the second foal out of Maid Up, who captured the G3 March Stakes and was second in the G2 Lillie Langtry Stakes and whose first was Lope De Vega's Listed Wild Flower Stakes scorer Champagne Prince. From Juddmonte's family of Dansili's G2 Celebration Mile winner Zacinto, her 2-year-old colt by Too Darn Hot had been a €550,000 purchase by Amo Racing at the Arqana Breeze Up just six days before this contest. She also has a yearling filly by Kingman and a foal full-sister to Champagne Prince to come. SKY BET FILLIES' STAKES (REGISTERED AS THE MICHAEL SEELY MEMORIAL FILLIES' STAKES)-Listed, £70,000, York, 5-16, 3yo, f, 7f 192yT, 1:39.35, g/f. 1–KON TIKI (GB), 128, f, 3, by Night Of Thunder (Ire) 1st Dam: Maid Up (GB) (GSW-Eng, $175,493), by Mastercraftsman (Ire) 2nd Dam: Complexion (GB), by Hurricane Run (Ire) 3rd Dam: Ithaca, by Distant View 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (220,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Mr P W Harris; B-Brightwalton Bloodstock Ltd; T-Jane Chapple-Hyam; J-David Egan. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $64,844. *1/2 to Champagne Prince (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), SW-Eng, $122,390. 2–Bermuda Longtail (Fr), 128, f, 3, Hello Youmzain (Fr)–Et Toi Et Moi (Fr), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€60,000 Ylg '23 ARQDOY; €220,000 2yo '24 ARQBRU). O-Bermuda Racing Ltd; B-S.A.R.L. Riviera Equine; T-Andrew Balding. £15,050. 3–Troia (GB), 128, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Umniyah (Ire), by Shamardal. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (44,000gns RNA Ylg '23 TATOCT). O/B-Fittocks Stud & Andrew Bengough; T-Ed Walker. £7,532. Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 5.50, 16.00, 12.00. Also Ran: Consecrated (GB), Glittering Surf (GB), Serving With Style (GB), Elsie's Ruan (Ire), The Third Star (GB), Gulya (Ire). Scratched: Royalty Bay (Ire). The post Night Of Thunder’s Unbeaten Kon Tiki Stars At York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group One contest in Britain includes a trio of horses who will mix it at the top table this season.View the full article

Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column. Kiwi update on ID2025 With only six weeks until the first round of rapidly approaching Inter Dominion heats, here is the latest on the Kiwi contingent after the second rankings were released. A total of 24 trotters (two heats of 12) will contest the trotter’s series, with 36 pacers making the cut for the first round of qualifiers on July 5. Pacers : Republican Party – ranked 3rd Despite being the highest ranked New Zealand representative, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the four-time Group 1 winner will make his second trip across the Tasman for 2025. His nomination remains, although a tilt at another New Zealand Cup after his third placing last year is looking to take precedence. Stablemate and star 2YO Fugitive is under watch for slot holders in the Protostar at Albion Park, Brisbane on July 12 though, with the colt lining up tonight (Friday) at Addington and in next Fridays Group One Welcome Stakes, as opportunities to show his talent. Pinseeker ranked 21st All plans are now penciled in for Pinseeker to make his international debut. Safely through next week’s Hydroflow NZ Country Championship Final, the lightly-raced five-year-old is booked to fly to Sydney on Tuesday, June 17. A suitable race on June 21 at Menangle is then likely before making his way to be based at the new establishment of N40 Racing in Queensland, with Jonny Cox set to partner his star throughout. Beach Ball ranked 43rd Former New Zealand Cup placegetter Beach Ball is set to become a stablemate of defending Inter Dominion Champion Don Hugo when he joins the Luke McCarthy barn. Touted to arrive on Australian soil on Sunday, he will be set towards Brisbane in July, providing he can perform to improve his rating. Trotters : Bet N Win ranked 3rd Post his superb Rowe Cup victory, Bet N Win was able to enjoy a week in the paddock before heading to the beach for a freshen. “All reports are that he is feeling very well!” said co-trainer Stacey White. He is also touted to fly to Sydney mid-June, with options for his run in lead up still being worked through and a preference to having one start a fortnight out from July 5. Oscar Bonavena ranked 4th Despite a frustrating campaign, Oscar Bonavena is set to stamp his passport once again in search of Inter Dominion glory. Last seen when sixth in the Rowe Cup, he has had a freshen subsequently and looks set to contest the series. Chase A Dream will trial on Tuesday with the result of that outing the deciding factor on whether he also heads across, while Rubira is also set to trial next week before heading to Queensland early within the next three weeks. Te Rapa and Eurokash ranked 30th and 34th respectively Right on the cusp of making the cut for Inter Dominion campaigns, the former Hope pair have already made their way to Queensland, joining local trainer Graham Dwyer. “While we are targeting them towards the series, they both fit nicely into the Queensland grading system and will stay on regardless,” said Dwyer. Dwyer recently campaigned his own talented trotter Not As Promised in the North Island and saw it a great learning and networking experience despite the racetrack results not going to plan. “Taking on these two trotters seemed a good opportunity to start up a relationship with the connections with a view to hopefully more of these types joining the stable”. “They are both ready to trial once their Australian clearances come through.” Castana and Taylad To Use ranked 51st and 52nd respectively The David and Clare McGowan pair of Castana and Taylad To Use find themselves down the rankings but could easily see themselves in contention with an upcoming victory. Taylad To Use is set to join the stables of Grant and Trista Dixon shortly, alongside Captains Mistress who is on loan to the trainers of superstar Leap To Fame for the duration of the Constellations Carnival. View the full article

A new race for the 2YO trotters has been added to the Ashburton Trotting Club’s programme for the King’s Birthday Meeting on Sunday, June 1. The mobile, for non-winners, will be worth $12,500. “HRNZ is committed to providing ample racing opportunities for all horses and in this instance we identified a month’s gap between opportunities for maiden 2YO trotters to race,” says HRNZ’s Racing and Wagering Manager Matthew Peden. “Ashburton in a fortnight was the best option to rectify that so we have added this race to their programme.” For more information contact matthew.peden@hrnz co.nz View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz A dominant win at last night’s meeting at Cambridge has proven again that Mazeppa just keeps getting better. With Crystal Hackett in the bike, the big chestnut started off 25 metres in the Betavet Buildagut Handicap Trot. They were last at one stage before making a mid-race move. They then sat parked for the last lap before tearing away to a commanding 4 length victory Formerly trained by Dr Luk Chin and now with Waiuku trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, the 7-year-old son of Love You seems to have found a new lease on life. “With an older horse sometimes a change is as good as a holiday,” says co-trainer Michelle Wallis. He was purchased earlier this year by prominent Australian trainer Brent Lilley. “The intention was to go to Australia with him, but Brent wanted to give him a couple of starts here and see if he’d earn his airfare.” Wallis credits the ease of transition to racing with their team to the preparation he received with Dr Chin. “Luk and the team there have done a super job with him and it’s a privilege to get a horse from them,” she said. “He was up and running, we hadn’t done anything. It was probably just the change of scenery. We swim him and go to the beach. It’s just something different for him and it’s changed his mindset.” The Cambridge way of racing seems to be his go, with 10 of his 11 career wins coming left-handed, and four of those since joining the Pinebrook team in March from just six starts. “We were very lucky he was down in the grade,” said Wallis, “he got a cheap win on a Tuesday and then he got a penalty free win with a junior, so he got three wins before he went up a grade. It’s just lucky the races were there at the right time for him.” As for the future plans of Mazeppa? “At this stage I don’t think Brent is that keen to take him to Australia so we’ll just have to keep looking to see where there’s suitable races for him and he’ll just keep ticking over throughout the winter.” View the full article

Gr.1 Blue Diamond (1200m) winner Little Brose (Per Incanto) has been officially welcomed to the Little Avondale stallion ranks to join his champion sire, Per Incanto. Little Brose was presented in outstanding order and is really letting down into a magnificent animal. Little Brose is very much in the mould of his father, Per Incanto and it is very exciting for breeders to have access to the 1st Australian 1200m Gr.1 winning 2YO to ever debut at stud in New Zealand. Little Brose was bred by local friend and client, David Wallace and was born and sold by Sledmere Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Little Brose was purchased by Bloodstock agent, Dean Hawthorne for Lindsay Park Racing and Sam and Catriona Williams were delighted that both Dean and Ben Hayes (from Lindsay Park Racing) could be at Little Avondale for the launch of Little Brose. Both spoke very fondly of the horse they purchased and raced to the pinnacle of winning the Gr.1 Blue Diamond and now of his future at Stud in NZ. The horse was very well received by the general public and it was fantastic to see many of the Shareholders attending the day and seeing Little Brose for the first time. Per Incanto has had an incredible season and is one of the most commercial and sought after stallions in the Southern Hemisphere. Sale yearlings averaged $207,000 across the 5 major sales and Per Incanto was the leading NZ based stallion at Sydney Easter averaging $425,000 for 4 yearlings sold. Per Incanto is currently 11th on the Australian Premiership, cemented by double Gr.1 winner Jimmysstar and Gr.1 winner Gringotts. Per Incanto has a runner to winner ratio of 66%, is currently leading the NZ Centaine Award and is nearly at the $100 million for prizemoney earnt. The pundits definitely agreed on Little Avondale’s byline for the boys – “Like Father, Like Son” Per Incanto is standing for $60,000 plus gst LFG in 2025 and Little Brose at an introductory fee of $15,000 plus gst LFG. CONTACT: Sam Williams +64 274 853400 View the full article

Stephen Marsh is eyeing a light winter campaign with his Group One-winning sprinter Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy), who shook off some cobwebs with a trial win at Cambridge on Friday. The winner of six of his 36 starts, including last year’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham, Mercurial has been off the scene since he was unplaced in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 8. The six-year-old Burgundy gelding pleased his trainer with a narrow but comfortable short-neck victory in Friday’s 950m heat on his home track. “I thought he trialled up very nicely without being put under much pressure,” Marsh said. “He hasn’t done much so far this time in and is still carrying plenty of condition, so there’s a lot of improvement in him. “He’ll trial again on the grass at Waipa later this month, and then he should be ready to go back to the races. “We’ll probably give him a fairly low-key winter, then head into the spring with that bit of race fitness under his belt.” Mercurial has gone winless in seven starts this season, but he has been up against elite sprint company. He finished fourth to Luberon (NZ) (Embellish) in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m), fifth behind Babylon Berlin in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), second to Kelly Coe (NZ) (Proisir) in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), seventh in Grail Seeker’s Telegraph, and 10th but less than four lengths from Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) and Alabama Lass in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m). His unplaced last-start run in the BCD Group Sprint has turned out to be an exceptional form race. The winner Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) was runner-up in the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) in Sydney in his next start, runner-up Bosustow resumed with a six-length win in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m), and the third-placed Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) used that race as a springboard to a second placing in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m). “Mercurial has been running in absolutely super company all season, like the Telegraph and the Railway and the BCD Sprint,” Marsh said. “He’s been up against the best sprinters and hasn’t been disgracing himself at all. “We might start to lower our sights with him a little bit, now that he’s heading towards what could be his final season. He’s been a great horse for a big group of fantastic owners. He’s taken us to all the big racedays and given us some amazing thrills. “He’s an easy horse to ride, so we might be able to use a claim in some open handicaps in this campaign and be very competitive in those.” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Clinton Isdale had a pleasing day at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday, and he is hoping he can take that form into the weekend. He tasted success as an owner when the John and Karen Parsons-trained Funfetti (NZ) (Embellish) romped home to a four-length victory in the Firefighters Challenge – Phil Leabourn Rating 75 (2200m), while his stable runner Elegant Explosive (NZ) (Sweynesse) was just half a length shy of winner Sonnet (NZ) (Charm Spirit) in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m). “Funfetti has always shown ability on the poly,” Isdale said. “She stepped up and was given a lovely ride by Tina (Comignaghi). She is probably a bit better than a poly horse, but while the prizemoney was up I told John and Karen to go for it. “Elegant Explosive went well. I took her down there for the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) and she went a bit too hard in front and didn’t see out the 2000m. I decided to back her up and try and get a bit of prizemoney for the owner to cover costs for the trip down there. “Yesterday was her last race for me, she will carry on down there for John and Karen.” Looking ahead to the weekend, Isdale is excited about the prospects of his consistent gelding Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale), who currently sits atop the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup (1600m) TAB market at $4.20, ahead of the next fancied runner Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) at $7.50. The five-year-old son of Castledale has hardly put a foot wrong for Isdale, winning two and placing in eight of his 17 starts, including finishing runner-up behind Cannon Hill (NZ) (Ardrossan) over a mile at Te Rapa earlier this month. “He is a genuine horse. He loves Trentham, he has travelled down well, he is out in the paddock eating and drinking. He will give a good account of himself,” Isdale said. “It is a bit of a step-up from last start, but there is no reason for him not to be there.” Knights Realm will be ridden by southern hoop Tina Comignaghi and will have just 53kg on his back, much to the delight of Isdale. “It is the lightest load he has carried,” the Isdale said. “He is always getting run down late. He is not an overly big horse, and he seems to carry big weights in the 75s, hence why we went to open last start. With that weight he will be hard to beat.” Further stakes tests await Knights Realm after the weekend, but which path he takes will be dictated by his weekend performance. “If he were to win well, we will probably tip him out for a little bit and have a look at the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) down at Riccarton,” Isdale said. “If he were to pull up well, there is another race at New Plymouth, the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m). That is an exempt race for the Winter Cup. “We will just see what he does on the weekend, it will be his biggest test to date.” Isdale will also be represented at Trentham by Melkor (NZ) (Telperion) in the Waterforce 1600 and Meandeel (NZ) Dundeel) in the John Turkington Forestry/Waipine Logging Bulls Country Cup (2200m). “Melkor was really good first-up (third) over 1400m at Waverley and it was my error last start, I took him down to Woodville and I dropped him back to 1100m because the rain was due to come, but it didn’t come until later on in the day,” Isdale said. “Up to a mile, he has drawn wide (14), but he has good gate speed and Madan (Singh, jockey) likes him. He is a little horse, but he has got a big heart.” View the full article