Wandering Eyes

Jack Davison is set to saddle his first runner at the Breeders' Cup as he targets stable star She's Quality at the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) following a third in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) Oct. 5.View the full article

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Leon King Stable's Bentornato (Valiant Minister) put in a half-mile breeze Saturday ahead of an expected next start in the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Working under regular pilot Irad Ortiz Jr., last year's Sprint runner up went in :50.80. Bentornato will also be a part of the Keeneland Championship Sale held just prior to the Breeders' Cup, with a 25% ownership interest on offer Oct. 29 at Del Mar. Trainer Jose D'Angelo noted that Bentornato's past and future racing schedule will appeal to buyers at the Championship Sale. “It is a unique opportunity to become a partner,” D'Angelo told Keeneland. “This year we gave him time off to mature and grow. He is fresh and a good candidate to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint. And he will be fresh if we decide to go to the $20 million G1 Saudi Cup.” D'Angelo was pleased with Bentornato's activity Saturday morning. “The work was good with a strong gallop out like we had talked about,” he added. “He started slow and relaxed like he did in his last race (when he won the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs Sept. 13.) Rather than sending Bentornato back to his Florida base, D'Angelo opted to keep him in Kentucky to take advantage of the cooler weather and train at Keeneland. He will ship to Del Mar Oct. 27 ahead of the Championship Sale. “We thought the (cool) weather would help him instead of going straight to California or back to (my base) in Florida,” he said. The post Bentornato Breezes Ahead Of Breeders’ Cup Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A bay daughter of Into Mischief (hip 513) sold post-sale for $275,000 to top the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company October Yearling Sale, the company announced Saturday. Initially a $290,000 RNA through the ring during the Oct. 8 session, the filly went Tami Bobo's way from the Glen Hill Farm consignment who also bred her from their mare, MSW/MGSP Compelled (War Front). With the post-sale result, the Into Mischief filly becomes the highest priced horse sold at this year's October Yearling Sale, topping the $240,000 brought by Christophe Nouvellet on behalf of Dream With Me Florida for a filly by Mo Donegal. The post Into Mischief Filly Brings $275k Post Sale To Top OBS October appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-KEE, $110k, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, post time: 1:32 p.m. ET Kia Joorabchian's AMO Racing USA splashed out $900,000 for THAILAND (Not This Time) at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, and the chestnut colt is a candidate to offer only a fraction of his 3-1 morning line at post time. The chestnut is a son of dual Grade III winner Queen Bee to You (Old Topper), making him a half-brother to Princess Madison (Speightstown), third in the 2024 GII Charles Town Oaks for Rigney Racing. Queen Bee to You is a half-sister to the dam of the California-bred Grade I winner Lovesick Blues (Grazen). Joorabchian's operation accounted for three of the five most expensive yearlings at this week's Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale, including a 3.6 million gns (approx $5.1 million) Frankel (GB) colt out of MGSW Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal). TJCIS PPs 6th-KEE, $110k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 3:40 p.m. WICKED ONE (Bolt d'Oro) was hammered down for $335,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale and made headlines the following spring by topping the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training on a bid of $1.25 million from Winchell Thoroughbreds after breezing in :10 flat. The late February foal is a half-sister to a pair of juvenile stakes winners, including Howling Time (Not This Time) and Air Recruit (Air Force Blue). This is female family of MGSW Desert Party (Street Cry {Ire}). Shesa Cherry (Curlin) is a debuting 4-year-old daughter of former 'TDN Rising Star' Cherry Lodge (Bernardini), a stakes-winning and Grade I-placed full-sister to GSW Gala Award and a half to GISW Stormello (Stormy Atlantic) and GSW My Best Brother (Stormy Atlantic). TJCIS PPs 9th-KEE, $110k, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 5:16 p.m. ET The already gelded CHASING FREEDOM (Constitution) draws awkwardly in gate 12 for this debut in the split of race two. Owner/breeder Twin Creeks Farm, who raced this sire in partnership, purchased the three-times stakes winning and Grade III-placed dam Into Mystic (Into Mischief) for $485,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale, and this is her first produce. TJCIS PPs 10th-SA, $60k, Msw, 2yo, 6fT, 8:34 p.m. ET MIGHTY TORO (Raging Bull {Fr}) debuts for a high-powered partnership of Hronis Racing and Gainesway Stable in the Sunday finale at the Great RIP. A $420,000 Keeneland September acquisition, the St. Patrick's Day foal is out of an unraced daughter of Cotton Blossom (Broken Vow), winner of the GIII Schuylerville Stakes and second in the GI Spinaway Stakes at two and victorious in the GI Acorn Stakes in 2007. Diaghilev (Maclean's Music) is a Bass Stable homebred son of Choreograph (Dynaformer), whose six winners from nine to the races includes dual Grade III winner Goliad (War Front), SW Dancing To Win (Speightstown) and MSW Welcome Dance (Henny Hughes), the dam of GSW & GISP Ice Dancing (Frosted). TJCIS PPs The post Sunday Insights: AMO Racing Unveil Pricey Not This Time Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Night Of Thunder colt Gewan ignited another Classic dream for his owner Yuesheng Zhang, who has already won the Irish Oaks with Magical Lagoon (Galileo) and came close to 2,000 Guineas glory with Lucky Vega (Lope De Vega), who is now a stallion under his dual-hemisphere Yulong operation. Zhang already has a significant racing and breeding operation in Australia, where his runners include the multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) – bought from Tattersalls for 2.7 million gns two years ago – and where he has an 11-strong stallion roster. The owner-breeder is now increasing his focus on Britain, according to his racing and bloodstock manager Paul Curran. “We have about 70 horses in training at the moment between UK, Ireland and France. We've put a lot of onus on the UK now in the last couple of years,” Curran said. Earlier this year it was announced that the stallions Shaquille and Soldier's Call, based at Steve Parkin's Dullingham Park Stud, had been bought by Yulong Investments. The farm, recently rechristened Ace Stud, is now owned by Zhang's son-in-law Harrison Li, who was present at Newmarket to collect Gewan's Darley Dewhurst trophy. Thoughts have already turned to the grey colt potentially joining the Ace Stud roster but not before he attempts to emulate his trainer Andrew Balding's first Dewhurst winner, Chaldean (Frankel), who went on to win the 2,000 Guineas. Curran continued, “It's a pleasure to have a horse like this and to have a horse that could be something special next year. Even to be able to mention something like the Guineas next year. It's phenomenal.” He continued, “Andrew's saying he reminds him quite a lot of Chaldean. Before we bought the horse, we were down with Andrew and he said he just reminds him exactly of how he was. “This is the start of it all for us. This is a phenomenal horse. Mr Zhang's a happy man, I can tell you that. I can't put into words how happy we are. We bought Ace Stud – Dullingham Park Stud as it was – and it's a very beautiful spot.” He added of the Yulong founder, who is currently in his native China, “I'm delighted for Mr Zhang, who has put so much into racing. He's a phenomenal man and he's done so much for the game. I'm delighted that we can give back to him with a Group 1 winner. It's something else. “We're obviously starting up a breeding operation outside Newmarket, so we want to have good colts. He looks like he might just be a good chance for us.” Gewan's sire Night Of Thunder increased his lead at the head of the British and Irish sires' championship with two Group winners at Newmarket on Saturday, the other being Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's G3 Autumn Stakes winner Hankelow. The post ‘This Is The Start Of It All For Us’: Yulong’s Paul Curran Lauds Gewan’s Dewhurst Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Coolmore partners' G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Precise (Starspangledbanner) has been awarded a mark of 113p by Timeform for her Newmarket heroics. She leads the rankings for her age and sex, with Aidan O'Brien stablemate and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner True Love (No Nay Never) is second at 111. G1 Prix Morny victress Venetian Sun (Starman) is third for Karl Burke at 110p, while another O'Brien runner, G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) is fourth at 109p. Group winner and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes second Beautify (Wootton Bassett) and Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Havana Anna (Havana Grey) share a rank of 108. Precise ranks below wide-margin Fillies Mile winners and subsequent G1 1000 Guineas heroines Desert Flower (Night Of Thunder) (118) and Minding (Galileo) (121). Timeform handicapper Simon Baker said, “Aidan O'Brien tightened his stranglehold on the division by winning a third Group 1 for two-year-old fillies inside two weeks, and Precise's win in the Fillies' Mile looks a superior effort to those that saw True Love win the Cheveley Park and Diamond Necklace the Marcel Boussac. “There are only a few pounds in it either way, though, and with big-priced runners completing the placings, it's hard to rate this as a vintage Fillies' Mile, allowing that Precise won it with her ears pricked, looking value for at least another length.” The post Precise Leads Timeform’s Juvenile Filly Rankings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Left out of most equations following his fourth in the Champagne, Yuesheng Zhang's Gewan (Night Of Thunder) bounced back in style on unseasonably quick ground to cause a 25-1 upset in Saturday's G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Always in the front line under James Doyle, the Andrew Balding-trained grey who had earlier won the Acomb at York drifted over to the stand's rail but maintained his momentum to deny Ballydoyle's well-backed 7-4 favourite Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) by 3/4 of a length. Godolphin's Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder) was 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “The Champagne was on slow ground and he moved beautifully on the way to post–he has a nice, flowing action so I can see why soft ground at Doncaster didn't suit him,” James Doyle said. “He is very straightforward to deal with and he found an early rhythm, which is so important on this track.” “He really whooshed down into the dip and I let him flow down into it as Kieren Fallon says he used to like doing,” he added. “Track is fine and a mile will be fine, so the Guineas is there for him–he's very uncomplicated and has ticks in all the boxes.” dazzles in 150th renewal of the Dewhurst! pic.twitter.com/1iA6425uPi — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 11, 2025 The post Dewhurst Glory For Night Of Thunder’s Gewan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Group 1-placed G3 Prix des Chenes hero Misunderstood (Hello Youmzain) (lot 372) is one of the highlights of Arqana's Autumn Sale catalogue which was revealed on Saturday. The sale is responsible for top-level graduates under both codes, and in addition to Misunderstood, will also offer group winners Midak (Footstepsinthesand) (lot 374) and Roshvar (Siyouni) (lot 375). Among the stores and NH yearlings are siblings to Grade 1 winners St Donats (Saint Des Saints) (lot 534); Jade De Grugy (Doctor Dino) (lot 540), Ches Demonmirail (Doctor Dino) (lot 603); Stormy Ireland (Motivator) (lot 612); and We Have A Dream (Martaline) (lot 690). The breeding stock portion of the sale includes foals that are siblings to Grade 1 winner Gaillard Du Mesnil (Saint Des Saints) (lot 721), Stormy Ireland (lot 848) and Pic D'Orhy (Turgeon) (lot 912). Grade 1 scorer Flying Chaser (lot 755) is carrying to Jigme. Stallions Chanducoq (lot 709) and Doha Dream (lot 710) will also be sold. Set for November 17-20 and beginning at 11 a.m. each day, the sale features 833 lots under both codes. There are 263 Flat and National Hunt horses-in-training, 56 two-year-old stores, 221 NH-bred yearlings, and 241 mares and foals. The Arqana November Yearling Sale is directly before the Autumn Sale, featuring 123 colts and fillies on Saturday, November 15. The Autumn Sale schedule is as follows: November 17: horses-in-training, November 18: two-year-old stores and NH yearlings, November 19: NH yearlings continued, and November 20: NH breeding stock (fillies and mares, foals and stallions). There are also a handful of horses sold by court order–three horses-in-training, a mare and a foal (lots 141-145) which will sell at the very start of the November 17 session. The post Misunderstood Leads Arqana Autumn Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's Listed Flying Scotsman runner-up Hankelow (Night Of Thunder) exhibited an unflinching attitude and led from pillar to post for a career high in Saturday's G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes at Newmarket, a contest won last year by subsequent G1 Eclipse and G1 Irish Champion hero Delacroix (Dubawi). The 750,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate and 5-2 favourite broke sharply and gained immediate control of this straight one-mile test. In command throughout, he was scrubbed along as threats loomed in both sides approaching the quarter-mile marker and stayed on powerfully under a drive from the foot of the hill to hold the keen-running Al Zanati (Dubawi) by 1 1/4 lengths in game fashion. Glacius (Too Darn Hot) fared best of the rest and finished a head adrift in a blanket finish for the minor placings. Like father, like son! HANKELOW (Night Of Thunder) romps up the Rowley Mile in the G3 Autumn Stakes. Congrats @karl_burke @CliffordleexLee pic.twitter.com/ubQhFX5cKv — World Pool (@WorldPool) October 11, 2025 Pedigree Notes Hankelow is the third of four foals and becomes the second black-type winner out of Listed Upavon Fillies' Stakes runner-up Sagaciously (Lawman), herself a half-sister to the dam of G1 Prix Morny, G1 Middle Park Stakes and G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Perfect Power (Ardad), last month's Middle Park hero Wise Approach (Mehmas) and Listed Chesham Stakes third Golden Mind (Galileo Gold). The January-foaled bay is full to a yearling colt and a half-brother to multiple Group 2-placed Listed Prix Pelleas victor Epic Poet (Lope De Vega) and Listed Prix Melisande third La Filomena (Lope De Vega). The post Night Of Thunder’s Hankelow Makes All for Game G3 Autumn Success at Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars JUBILANT WINNER - R2 (3) Comprehensive last-start winner has since trialled well and has drawn nicely Jay Rooney PEARL OF PANG'S - R6 (6) Brave in defeat last start and looks hard to beat from a better draw Owen Goulding GIMME FIVE - R3 (4) Drawn perfectly and can go from pillar to post on a surface he's unexposed on Phillip Woo SKY SONG - R1 (1) Ticks the right boxes dropping to Class Five and should win Shannon (Vincent Wong) SUPER STRONG KID - R7 (3) Talented youngster...View the full article

The subject of a major gamble prior to Saturday's G3 Night Of Thunder Zetland Stakes at Newmarket, Ballydoyle's Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) went through the 10-furlong test smoothly to stake his 2026 Derby claims. Delivered from the pack by Christophe Soumillon to lead passing the two pole, the 6-4 favourite was coaxed clear of stablemate Endorsement (Wootton Bassett) to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with Godolphin's €850,000 BBAG September topper Del Maro (Camelot) a further length away in third. “He looked amazing in the paddock and went to the start so calm with so much power,” Soumillon said of the son of the Nassau winner Sultanina (New Approach) who was a €280,000 Goffs Orby Book 1 purchase and who had broken his maiden at Dundalk in August. “I was wanted to teach him and he settled really well for cover and was able to quicken well.” “He is still very immature, but after the line he kept going which is a good sign,” he added. “He looks an amazing prospect for next year. He's well-balanced–he didn't really change leads during the race, so will improve and be a good horse next year.” Another race, another star-studded juvenile for @Ballydoyle and @coolmorestud … (Camelot) is all class in the Night Of Thunder Zetland Stakes @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/5fBcRvLjua — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 11, 2025 The post Ballydoyle’s Exciting Pierre Bonnard In Command In The Zetland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Francis Graffard representative Samangan (Blue Point), fresh off a stakes breakthrough in last month's G3 Prix Eclipse, went postward as the prohibitively priced 1-5 favourite for Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and never gave connections a moment's worry with a stylish victory in the six-furlong contest. The Aga Khan Studs homebred stalked the pace in third from flagfall. Making smooth progress once past halfway, he eased to the front approaching the final furlong and was pushed out in the closing stages to easily account for Street Show (Showcasing) by 2 1/2 lengths. He could be a real talent! Samangan (Blue Point x Samadrisa) backs up Group 3 success last time out with a dominant display in the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte… @GraffardRacing | @mickaelbarzalon | @AgaKhanStuds pic.twitter.com/rKrofzbUWz — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 11, 2025 Pedigree Notes Samangan is the seventh of eight foals and one of three scorers produced by a winning half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning European champion Sarafina (Refuse To Bend), dual stakes-winning G1 Prix Saint-Alary runner-up Sanaya (Barathea), G3 Firebreak Stakes victor Sandagiyr (Dr Fong) and the multiple Group 3-placed Sanjida (Polish Precedent). Sarafina, in turn, is the dam of G3 Prix Messidor-winning sire Geniale (Deep Impact), G3 Prix d'Aumale victrix Savarin (Deep Impact) and G3 Radio Nikkei Sho third Go Timing (Deep Impact). The May-foaled bay is kin to Listed Prix Volterra victrix Simeen (Lope De Vega) and a weanling filly by Vadeni. The post Samangan Makes Light Work of Rivals in Chantilly’s Criterium de Maisons Laffitte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A notable New Zealand influence on Saturday’s stellar raceday at Caulfield culminated with A$3 million Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) success for South Island owner Glenn Ritchie and breeder Richard Rutherford. Autumn Boy carried Ritchie’s red, gold and blue colours to Guineas glory over runner-up Planet Red, who himself was a $260,000 purchase from the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Ritchie, who also races Saturday’s Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) placegetter Miss Ziggy, is the former owner of the Ritchies transport company. He made headlines earlier in the year when he teamed up with trainer Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock to buy the $2.4 million sale-topping full-sister to multiple Group One winner Orchestral at Karaka in January. Autumn Boy’s Guineas success followed on from New Zealand-bred gelding Globe’s triumph in the Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) earlier in Saturday’s Caulfield card, while Transatlantic – a son of New Zealand-bred Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Gust Of Wind – edged out Kiwi-breds Evaporate and Leica Lucy to take out the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). Rutherford, renowned for his Baltana Stud in North Canterbury, bred Autumn Boy out of his homebred Savabeel mare Rosegarden. She is an unraced daughter of O’Reilly Rose, who won nine races up to Group Three level and also placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m). Autumn Boy was offered by Amarina Farm during the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock bought him for A$200,000. Waller, who also trained Autumn Boy’s sire The Autumn Sun to win the Caulfield Guineas in 2018, guided the colt through a perfect two-start, two-win preparation as a two-year-old that culminated in a scintillating Listed Tattersalls Stakes (1400m) victory at Eagle Farm in June. Autumn Boy opened his three-year-old season with a second in the Gr.3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) and a seventh in the Gr.1 Golden Rose (1400m). Waller believed he was crying out for the 1600m distance of Saturday’s Guineas, and an outstanding victory proved that point. “We’re proud of all the horses that come through the stable, but when we’ve had champions like The Autumn Sun and we’ve got sons and daughters, it’s pretty special,” Waller said. “We won the Epsom (Gr.1, 1600m) with Autumn Glow last week, and now it’s a super colt with Autumn Boy. It’s pretty special. “This always looked like his race. We like to identify talent and then try and get them to that big-ticket item. Today’s such an important race in the horse’s career, a chance for a colt to announce themselves on the big stage. Glenn Ritchie and his wife have been so supportive of the stable. They’ve become good friends of ours and kept investing, kept investing, and we’ve managed to buy them a really nice horse. “As a young horse, before he even trialed, we were getting positive feedback. When he trialed, it was positive. When he had his first run, he beat a short-priced favourite from the stable at a big price. Everything’s been positive, we took him to Queensland and gave him a trip away. I think we did that with his dad as well, maybe all of our Caulfield Guineas winners. It’s just about experience, we know they’ve got talent and harnessing that.” Waller was largely unfazed by Autumn Boy’s defeat in the Golden Rose on September 27. “That race was run in track-record time,” he said. “Full credit to the winner (Beiwacht), he led them up and won. The backmarkers just didn’t quite get into the race. We didn’t lose faith. The ratings people and our form guys said he’s the one, and sure enough they were right. “The sectional timings suggested he actually ran quite well. It was his first time in the big dance or the big-time races. He’s come through the run well. He’s come down here with plenty of time. The team down here have done a great job. We brought him to Caulfield, we ticked all the boxes, and everything suggested he was ready to run a big race.” Jockey Damian Lane had Autumn Boy handily placed in fifth spot in the Guineas on Saturday, then switched across heels and angled him into clear air on the outside at the home turn. Autumn Boy warmed into his work and strode to the lead with 150m to run, going on to beat the late-finishing Planet Red by three-quarters of a length with another two lengths back to the third-placed Observer. “He’s a beautiful colt that just takes everything in his stride,” Lane said. “He’s very easy to deal with and had a great turn of foot when needed. You need that to win these big races, and when he joined in, he really joined in. “I had a great run. I was able to use my barrier speed, which was good, but then just found myself in a bit of a tricky spot in the corner. Once I navigated that, he put the race away pretty quick. Very easy horse to handle, and as a result, had a nice run.” Autumn Boy has now had five starts for three wins, a second and just over A$2 million in prize-money. View the full article

Just when it seemed like she might be slipping off the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) radar, Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) turned her spring around on Saturday and delivered a ninth win for Te Akau Racing in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton. The powerhouse stable had previously won the South Island’s most important Guineas lead-up with King’s Chapel (2003), Sea Saint (2005), Princess Coup (2006), King’s Rose (2010), Abidewithme (2012), Costa Viva (2013), Cornflower Blue (2020) and Star Of Justice (2023). Cool Aza Rene was one of three runners in this year’s race for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson but was the least fancied of the trio at $9.70. After slick wins in four of her five starts as a two-year-old last season, the daughter of former Te Akau star Cool Aza Beel had hinted at some distance limitations in her first two races as a three-year-old. She was run down late by stablemate Belle Du Monde (Zoustar) in a 1000m three-year-old race on August 30, then finished only eighth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) on September 13. But Cool Aza Rene turned that theory on its head when she stepped up to 1400m on Saturday and delivered a sparkling performance. Ridden by high-flying Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz, Cool Aza Rene enjoyed a perfect run in third with the front-runners El Vaquero (NZ) (Ferrando) and Miss Starlight (NZ) (Sweynesse) squarely in her sights. There was no room to the inside of that pair or in between them at the top of the straight, so Queiroz had to change ground and switch across heels to their outside. Once Cool Aza Rene found clear air, she pinned her ears back and accelerated. She dashed past the front-running pair and took a clear lead, and she kept going strongly to the line to hold out the fast-finishing Alottago (Tagaloa) and Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau) by three-quarters of a length. The other two Te Akau runners, Belle Du Monde and Origin Of Love (Snitzel), finished fourth and fifth respectively. “We thought our three fillies were hard to split in this race,” Bergerson said. “Cool Aza Rene might have been a query at the 1400m, but she’s so tough and so game. She has a good, positive racing style and knows where the winning post is, and that’s always a good attribute to have. “It was a great ride by Bruno. He had to change ground in the straight, but then she was so strong to the line. It was a fantastic effort. “We’ve been fortunate enough to have had a bit of luck in this race. Three-year-old black-type races like this aren’t easy to win, so we cherish them all.” The TAB had all but dismissed Cool Aza Rene as a 1000 Guineas contender before Saturday’s comeback win, offering a quote of $81. She has now dropped right into $16, with stablemates Belle Du Monde and Origin Of Love both rated $26 chances. “With this win under her belt, hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here for Cool Aza Rene,” Bergerson said. “Belle Du Monde had a bit of a chequered run today and can improve on that, especially stepping up to the mile. Origin Of Love just lacks a little bit of ringcraft. She’ll keep getting better with the more we do with her.” David Ellis bought Cool Aza Rene for A$55,000 from Book 2 of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She has now had eight starts for five wins, a second placing and $171,100 in stakes. Cool Aza Rene completed a winning treble at Ashburton on Saturday for Queiroz, who had earlier been successful aboard Court Of Appeal (NZ) (Eminent) and Sir Albert (NZ) (Savabeel). “I’m very happy here in New Zealand and enjoying it,” he said. “Thanks very much to the owners and trainers for supporting me, and my manager Andre Neill is doing a great job. “The trainers told me she (Cool Aza Rene) was ready for a good race today. The good track suited her, and she had a good barrier (three). She jumped fast and then was very easy to ride from there. She was travelling so well. I just had to wait for my gap, and then she flew.” View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk As the in-form Jake heads back to Motukarara on Sunday, owner/breeder Grahame Scurr is hoping his golden run is far from over. The Bettor’s Delight eight-year-old has won two of his last three starts and is gunning for career win number six in the Clubs NZ Race Days January and February 2026 Pace (Race 7, 3.05pm). “He is just jumping out of his skin,” says Scurr, “he’s absolutely thriving.” Now 74, the retired poultry farmer has been involved in racing for more than half a century. “I’ve had horses since I was 17 or 18 – mainly shares with my father.” And Jake has provided him with two of his highlights. “There was one day at Oamaru (March 2021) when he was 11 wide turning for home and he got up to win and then his last win at Methven (September 7) when he sat parked and still ran away.” “There are two of the best moments.” But it hasn’t been all plain sailing. It was an incident with Jake at his property at Lincoln around four months ago that saw him hospitalised. “I’ve got Parkinsons and I am a bit slow and I was between the cart and a wall and he backed up on me and he crushed four of my vertebrae.” He didn’t have surgery but spent four weeks in hospital and many more recovering. “I’m still bloody hopeless,” he says. Over the years Scurr’s trained four winners – Life’s Exciting at Rangiora in 2010, K C Monet at Addington in 2013, and two with Oursue in 2011. Jake is Oursue’s second foal and was initially trained by Dean Taylor, debuting in 2019. “He won three for Dean and he went in the wind and had an operation,” says Scurr, “so we just brought him home and put him aside.” Scurr then planned to train the horse himself. “I can’t tell how many hours I jogged him behind my old car in the paddock and had him going alright.” But Scurr then injured his hand, prompting him to literally pass the reins to Coes Ford-based trainer Ross Cameron. After being away from racing for 1281 days (from December 2021) Jake returned to the races at Addington in June this year. He’s since had nine starts (and two wins). On Sunday Jake returns to Motukarara. He hasn’t won there before but does have an excellent grass track record with three wins and two placings. He faces a field that includes Ideal Conqueror who’s won his last two starts for Jonny Cox and the in-form pairing of Treasure Cove and Quicker Than Quick though Scurr is as confident as he can be. “He’s the best he’s ever been”. Jake is currently at $14, with Treasure Cove at $3, Quicker Than Quick at $5 and Nasana at $7. The race is due to go at 3.05pm. View the full article

We are back at Sha Tin again on Sunday, with a good mix of competitive races leading up to the feature Class Two Shing Mun Handicap (1,200m). Owen Goulding is back in the hot seat with an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Chai Wan Kok Handicap (1,200m) Sky Song is yet to win at Sha Tin, but he ran well at the track last time out and now drops into a grade that he is unbeaten in. Race 2 – Class Four Kwok Shui Handicap (1,200m) – first section Circuit Victory has been...View the full article

An all-the-way victory in the A$1 million Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday marked a career-defining triumph for New Zealand-bred gelding Globe. The weight-for-age feature was the first appearance at Group One level for the seven-year-old Charm Spirit gelding, who had previously won five of his 14 career starts headed by the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) last November. In his only previous attempt at the 2000m of Saturday’s big race, he had run third in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m). Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr threw Globe in at the deep end on Saturday, coming up against four-time Group One winner Treasurethe Moment and last year’s Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) winner and Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) runner-up Buckaroo. But Globe went to the front, dictated terms and that high-class pair could not catch him. Rider Blake Shinn took Globe to the front of the four-horse field and timed the race to perfection, upping the ante just before the home turn and pinching a break on his rivals. Globe held up his end of the bargain and kicked hard down the straight, keeping himself out of Treasurethe Moment’s reach and going on to score by three lengths. “I knew the tactics had to be right to beat Treasurethe Moment and Buckaroo, who I’ve got the utmost respect for,” Shinn said. “And realistically he wasn’t a proven weight-for-age horse until today, so we were going in as a bit of the underdog. “But as we’ve seen time and time again in these small fields, it’s quite tactical and an upset can happen more often than not. We went in there with no pressure as the obvious leader. Globe is a natural front-runner, and what a thrill to be able to pull it off. “Treasurethe Moment came up to us at the turn, but I knew I had saved something up for the last 300m with the run we’d had. I got him to change to his off side fore about the 250m, and then he went into overdrive. “Full credit to the horse, he gave me a lovely ride. Great work from the trainers, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. This is our second Group One winner together this season, and they’ve been great supporters of mine. “This ownership group, Roll The Dice Racing, they put a lot of people into the game with their syndication. They’ve been big supporters of mine as well and just great people. So it’s lovely to be able to reward the big ownership group here today.” Globe has now had 15 starts for six wins, four placings and A$1.21 million in stakes. “We get up every day and dream these dreams,” Price said. “This is fantastic for the owners, a big bunch of them. “And the horse has spent his whole life earning A$600,000, and he just earned another A$600,000 in two minutes. “At the start of his preparation, it was never in my mind that we would win the Might And Power with him. But these races can turn up funny results, and I thought, well, it’s going to be a small field. He did get beaten in a Ballarat Cup over 2000m as an immature horse. “It’s just one of those days where it’s not a mathematical formula – it’s a horse race.” Globe was bred by Barry Donoghue and is by Charm Spirit out of Bonnie Doon, who is a full-sister to dual Group One winner Booming. Globe was purchased at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Sale from the draft of Cambria Park for $22,000. A trial winner at Taupo in April of 2022 for the late Toby Autridge, Globe was later bought privately for Roll The Dice Racing by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo. Donoghue will offer an Ace High half-brother to Globe as Lot 248 during the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka next month. View the full article

Emerging stayer Court Of Appeal (NZ) (Eminent) is shaping up as a competitive lightweight chance in next month’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) after destroying her rivals in Saturday’s Vernon Vazey 0800 & Truck Parts Open (2200m) at Ashburton. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared five-year-old mare was having the third run of her current campaign which opened with a win over 1600 metres on the poly-track at Riccarton last month before finishing midfield on the grass there a fortnight ago where a slow beginning put paid to her winning chances. Rider Bruno Queiroz, who was aboard for the fresh-up victory, made sure there would be no repeat of that tardy starting effort as he had her away with the field and settled in midfield on the rail in the early stages of the contest. Eased forward and off the fence at the 600m, Court Of Appeal dashed between runners on straightening before racing away to win easing down by four lengths at the winning post. Queiroz was thrilled by the turn of foot his mount showed in the concluding stages. “She was travelling very, very well at the 600m and over the last 400m she was flying home,” Queiroz said. “I got the position I wanted to get and she did the rest.” Co-trainer Walker admitted the stable had had to take a patient approach with the daughter of Eminent that was now beginning to pay dividends. “She’s been a slow maturing type, but is getting there now and it was a terrific win today,” he said. “When Dave (Ellis) bought her very cheaply for $20,000, she was always going to take time, but John (Galvin) wanted a really nice staying prospect and his ownership team have been very patient. “I think this year we’re starting to see the best of her and Hunter (Durrant) and our staff in our stables at Riccarton have got her going really well. “She’s settled into the surroundings down there extremely well. She’s a happy mare, and Bruno has really clicked with her. “She can be a bit touchy in the barriers, but he seems to have the key to getting her away on terms and she’ll go on to black type company during Cup Week down there.” Walker suggested Court Of Appeal would now target the Listed $100,000 Nautical Insurance Metropolitan Handicap (2600m) on the first day of Cup Week at Riccarton, and follow up a week later in the New Zealand Cup on 15 November where she is rated a $14 Fixed Odds chance by TAB Bookmakers. Purchased out of the Brighthill Farm draft for $20,000 by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing during the Karaka 2022 Book 2 Sale, Court Of Appeal is owned by John Galvin’s Fortuna Court Of Appeal Syndicate. She is out of handy racemare Katy O’Beel (NZ), a daughter of Katy Keen who numbered the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.3 Rotorua Cup (2170m) amongst her ten race wins. View the full article

Riccarton trainer Terri Rae flexed her potential New Zealand Cup Carnival firepower with an impressive double in $50,000 open handicaps at Ashburton on Saturday. Rae saddled Spot On Time (NZ) (Time Test) for a stylish first-up victory in the GD Jones Salute (1200m), then Sir Albert (NZ) (Savabeel) followed suit 35 minutes later and took out the McCrea Painters & Decorators Ashburton Cup (1600m) by two lengths. It was a welcome return to winning form for Sir Albert, who won six of his first 14 starts including five from nine in his four-year-old season, but had subsequently gone winless in nine starts dating back to March 2024. He showed promising signs with his first-up run at Timaru on September 7, where he ran second and was beaten by a nose by Richard Stomper (NZ) (El Roca) in the Remembering Grey Way (1600m). Rae then took him to the Riccarton trials for a three-length win on September 29. It all pointed to a bold showing on Saturday, where Sir Albert was sent out as a $2.10 favourite. Jockey Bruno Queiroz took up an ideal position in sixth along the rail, racing right alongside the second favourite Cognito (NZ) (So You Think). While Cognito came wide around the home turn to stake his claim, Queiroz saved vital ground and drove Sir Albert through a gap one off the rail. The favourite burst through between Bella Luce (NZ) (Belardo) and Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer), taking command and putting the race to bed under a hands-and-heels ride. “I was very confident with him today,” Queiroz said. “The instructions were to put him in midfield until the straight, and they said he would have a good finish. The last 200m, he really flew home. He’s a good horse and I think he will improve from this win today.” Sir Albert is nominated for the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) on the middle day of the Cup Carnival on November 12, for which the TAB now rates him a $14 chance. That makes him a leading local contender in a market headed by North Island raiders Tardelli (I Am Invincible) ($6), Arabian Songbird (Pierro) ($10), Cannon Hill (NZ) (Ardrossan) ($10) and Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) ($12). Sir Albert was bred by Waikato Stud, whose principal Mark Chittick remained in the ownership after the son of Savabeel was passed in during the 2020 National Weanling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. From a 24-start career, Sir Albert has recorded seven wins and seven placings and has earned $219,350. His stablemate Spot On Time collected the sixth win of his enormously promising 11-race career with his smart open sprint victory on Saturday. He was ridden by Vinnie Colgan, who was caught three wide in the early part of the race but was then able to slot into fourth on the outside of La Bella Nera (NZ) (Sweynesse). Colgan pushed the button in the straight and Spot On Time drew up alongside Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) and stuck his head in front. That rival refused to give up without a fight, with Third Decree (NZ) (War Decree) chiming in late in the piece, but Spot On Time found enough to edge them both out by a long neck. Spot On Time boasts an outstanding record at Riccarton, where his four starts have produced three wins including a four-length runaway in the Wuhan Jockey Club Premier (1400m) on the final day of the Cup Carnival last year. His only defeat there was a third placing last September, where he was beaten by a head and a half-neck. He can be expected to make his presence felt during the South Island’s three biggest thoroughbred racedays of the year on November 8, 12 and 15. View the full article

Like most trainers at this time of the year, Stephen Marsh has spent plenty of time studying weather forecasts as he prepares to launch a ten-strong team from his Cambridge stable at the Rotorua race meeting on Sunday. With the track currently rated a Heavy9, Marsh is hoping some strong wind and plenty of sunshine over the next 24 hours will bring the rating back to at least a Slow7 which would see the majority of the ten acceptors take their place in their respective events. “We certainly had been hoping for some fine weather over the last couple of days as most of our runners need a better surface to produce their best,” Marsh said. “There are a couple who have poor draws which will likely see them pulled out to wait for another day but as long as it looks as though there has been some drying and the track will improve then the rest will take the opportunity on offer.” Marsh is keen to see three-year-old fillies To Cap It All and Lubeck line up in the second event on the card, a three-year-old 1215m contest, as they ready for summer targets. “To Cap It All is a 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) candidate for Riccarton next month and we think she is back on target for that assignment,” he said. “She disappointed us a little when she ran 5th at Ellerslie last start but her bloods weren’t perfect in the days after the race which explained the run. “She needs a Dead4 to perform at her peak and while it won’t be that on Sunday, she is in an early race with the track as good as it will be on the day and she can go a cheeky gallop. “Lubeck is also in there and she did nothing wrong as a two-year-old with a win and runner-up placing in her two starts. “She has been working well and although she will take plenty of improvement, I’m expecting a good effort from her.” Consistent mare Glamour Tycoon will be the Marsh representative in the feature event on the day, the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m), and she is one Marsh expects to handle whatever track presents on the day. “She (Glamour Tycoon) is such an honest character and tries her heart out at every start,” Marsh said. “I’m sure it will be the same again on Sunday although it is a terrific field with plenty of depth to it. “She has come on nicely from her first-up effort at Te Rapa and we think she will certainly put herself in the race at some stage.” Marsh found it hard to rate the chances of his other runners due to the doubt on the track conditions but felt that three-year-old gelding Kenwood House was one that could be prominent in the first race on the card following an unlucky run at Tauranga where he made contact with a fallen rider in the home straight when issuing his challenge. Marsh also reported that his superstar galloper El Vencedor was right on target for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie next weekend after a sparkling gallop at Cambridge on Saturday morning. “El Vencedor is peaking at just the right time and I was delighted by his gallop at home here this morning,” he said. “He has really come on from Te Rapa and the step up in distance and return to Ellerslie will make him very hard to beat.” View the full article

Trainer Tony Pike admitted he had a real sense of satisfaction as he watched progressive mare Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) return to winning form at Taupo on Friday at just her third run back from a substantial lay-off due to a hock injury she suffered late last year. It took a month for vets to determine she had suffered torn ligaments in a hock and needed a lengthy spell to recover from the mishap. Two quiet trials in August preceded a useful first-up run for seventh at Ellerslie in early September, however a tough run where she had to sit three and four wide at the same venue a fortnight later undid a lot of that early progress. The daughter of Churchill went into Friday’s open 1300m contest at Taupo with plenty of pep back in her step which saw her lead from barrier rise in the hands of new rider Sam Collet to destroy a handy field by just on two lengths and put herself back into contention for a trip to the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton next month. “That was very satisfying as she had been off the scene for such a long time and she really looked back to somewhere near her best on Friday,” Pike said. “She is a lot stronger this time in after the lay-off and went a terrific race first up when she carried plenty of weight and battled on well. “The next run at Ellerslie was a disaster of a ride as she was three and four deep most of the way and naturally had nothing left in the run home that day. “We freshened her up and I was looking to see her get back to her normal pattern which is up on the speed and rolling as she can be very effective when she gets terms to suit like that. “Sam had her away nicely and when she shot clear on the turn I thought she would be hard to pull back if her fitness held up and thankfully she was still going pretty strongly at the line.” Pike will now have a chat with the mare’s connections regarding plans for an assault on the Riccarton carnival where she holds a nomination for the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m). “I’ll have a chat with her team next week about what we might do next but I’m keen to have a crack at the Canterbury Breeders’ Sakes (Gr.3, 1400m) on the first day at Riccarton (8 November) and if she went well we might back up in the TAB mile,” he said. “If we take that path she may only have a trial at Taupo (28 October) or an exhibition gallop before we head down there. “The Breeders’ Stakes suits her nicely as she will get in on a nice weight and it is a race I have had in mind for her if she was going well enough.” View the full article

A three-length last-start winner and a first-up runner-up meeting his conqueror 14 pounds better off at the weights – it’s a rather enviable position Caspar Fownes finds himself in ahead of Sunday’s Class Two Shing Mun Handicap (1,200m). Fownes saddles up Dancing Code and Sky Trust for the afternoon’s feature and he didn’t hesitate when asked for his pick of the two: “For me, Dancing Code”. After finishing two lengths adrift of Tomodachi Kokoroe under Vincent Ho Chak-yiu at the course and...View the full article

There have been plenty quick to knock Ka Ying Rising since his third in a Randwick trial on Tuesday morning, but trainer David Hayes is confident The Everest (1,200m) favourite is “right on song” a week out from the race. After working up a sweat pre-race, Ka Ying Rising wasn’t at his brilliant best in his first trial since travelling to Sydney last month. “I don’t have any concerns because I know his nature and I knew he’d be a bit upset getting to a new place for the first time,” said...View the full article

With a powerful late move to close out the $400,000 Sycamore Stakes (G2T), Desvio delivered a stunning victory in the 1 1/2-mile turf test while providing a milestone win for many of his connections Oct. 10 at Keeneland.View the full article