Wandering Eyes

Godolphin's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) returned to training Tuesday at Churchill Downs and trainer Brad Cox said the GI Acorn Stakes on Belmont Stakes weekend at Saratoga could be her next target. “I thought she came out of the race incredibly well,” Cox said. “If all goes to plan the next couple of weeks, we're looking at the Acorn for her.” Good Cheer, now undefeated in seven starts, splashed home a convincing winner in the Oaks. Cox had a strong Kentucky Derby weekend, saddling Liberal Arts (Arrogate) to victory in the Knicks Go Stakes and 'TDN Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief) to an allowance win on Derby Day. “[Patch Adams] really enjoyed the cutback,” Cox said on “At the Races with Steve Byk.” “I think he really likes Churchill. When he broke his maiden in the fall we saw some brilliance from him. With him, his next starts could either be the Woody Stephens or Maxfield. One of those two.” The Maxfield Stakes is scheduled for Sunday, June 29, at Churchill Downs. The GI Woody Stephens Stakes will be run Saturday, June 7, on the Belmont Stakes undercard at Saratoga. The post Good Cheer Resumes Churchill Training, Acorn At The Spa Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The third installment in the 2025 OwnerView webinar series was held May 6 and featured veterinarians from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital discussing broodmare reproduction during breeding season, according to a press release from the Jockey Club of America who co-sponsored the event. The discussion specifically covered all aspects of mare reproduction, including gestation times, broodmare age considerations, twins, and complications during pregnancy and foaling. The guests were Dr. Maria Schnobrich and Dr. Pete Sheerin. The former works as a theriogenologist with a primary focus on challenges facing with mares and stallions, while the latter's specific interest is in large animal theriogenology. The series is co-hosted by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Keeneland, and Stoll Keenon Ogden. The panel was sponsored by Airdrie Stud Inc. and Equilume. A Q&A was sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, and attendees were able to ask questions through a link. Click here to access replays of past sessions. The post OwnerView Webinar Covers Mare Reproduction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Road, sponsored by Gainesway and Darby Dan FarmView the full article

As much as the $400,000 Man o' War Stakes (G2T) has only five starters, it can present a tricky test for older turf males.View the full article

The Association of Racing Commissioners International's (ARCI) annual Animal Welfare and Integrity Conference, which was hosted at Churchill Downs during the afternoon of Thursday, May 8, heard from a pair of panels that specifically delved into how social media can impact the industry, according to a Friday press release from the organization. The 'Thoroughbred Racing Roundtable' included West Point Thoroughbreds own Terry Finley along with Churchill Downs's Vice President and General Manager Mike Ziegler and Tina Bond, an owner-breeder who is president of both the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the national THA. “The social media impact of this past Derby was exponentially bigger than Derby 150,” Ziegler said. “Now, whether that has to do with Griffin Johnson and the other influencers here for Derby, but that's really impactful. That's what we have to give credit to, to increase television viewership. People are getting notifications about horse racing and the Kentucky Derby who otherwise wouldn't be paying attention.” As far as needing a national horse-racing marketing campaign, Bond said “absolutely… I don't think we've ever done a good job of it, and I've been in this business 45 years.” By contrast, Finley said his opinion changed over Derby weekend, seeing first-hand the impact of online influencers. Griffin Johnson with Sandman | courtesy of Griffin Johnson “We have a path now where we don't have to guess,” he said of a marketing strategy. “… Think about the difference in giving a 25-year-old a chance to hit a button to come to TwinSpires to sign up with a coupon code, as opposed to seeing a TV ad and then having to go to a website, and if they haven't been exposed to our industry, to learn a little bit about it…. I don't see a path forward for a national marketing program. But I see a lot of opportunities for the racetracks overall to be very surgical in their investment in their areas to get people to be made aware of what's going on at the racetrack and what you can do to be part of the races by betting on that race.” The panel “Marketing Racing in Today's Competitive World” followed and highlighted the efforts of Light Up Racing. Their mission is to provide transparency, real-time updates and accurate information about increased efforts to keep horses safe while also dispelling misinformation by engaging teams of volunteers to post responses setting the record straight. Price Bell, one of Light Up Racing's founders, used the example of social-media posts accusing 2-year-old racing of being bad for horses. Light Up Racing's ambassadors point out that studies have established that 2-year-old racing actually benefits bone development. The session also featured The Heart of Horse Racing, an enterprise created by Bond in partnership with award-winning branding videographer Jimmy Chaffin of Integrated Marketing, which specializes in creative strategy and visual storytelling. The post ARCI Conference Delves Into Social Media Issues For The Industry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R8 (2) Big run last start and can salute from improved draw Jay Rooney AHREN - R9 (9) Dominant last-start winner maps to get a perfect run today Trackwork Spy LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R8 (2) Has been racing in top form and deserves another win Phillip Woo LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R8 (2) Has been racing well and deserves another win Shannon (Vincent Wong) CHILL KAKA - R7 (9) Has solid dirt form this season and looks primed for a bold showing today Racing Post Online JUNEAU PRIDE - R8 (1) Honest galloper never runs a bad race and looks a good each-way chance here Tom Wood LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R8 (2) Great run last start when close behind Hong Lok GolfView the full article

The current stallion manager at Darley in America Jimmy Lovatt has been on the Godolphin team since 2007, and he describes his journey with “the Royal Blue” on this week's Boundless podcast with jockey-veterinarian Ferrin Peterson. The Australian native was bitten by the horse bug as a child. “My parents bought a pony for me when I was five years of age,” Lovatt tells Peterson. “I grew up in a riding school. I guess I fell in love with horses back then. In 2001, when I was back home in Australia, my bother and I were just sitting outside one afternoon having a beer. My brother said, `You know what? We should pack up our bags, go to the Bush, and work at a horse stud.' I said, `You know what? Let's do it.' Literally two weeks later we were at Widden Stud. I was there for six years. Absolutely loved it. There's what it really started for me there.” In 2007, he made the switch to Darley Australia, and moved to Darley America in 2008. For seven years, he worked both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons for the outfit, but met his future wife Emma in the American office and settled in America full-time, with the exception of a four-year stint at Dalham Hall. “It's been a journey,” he said. “It's important to get the experience. Breeding season is demanding. It's long hours. But if you manage your time right, there's still life outside of work.” Peterson asked Lovatt what he tells young people looking to explore the industry and traveling the world. “Since I've been here, to the amount of Americans who said, `I really want to go to Australia one day,' go and do it! If you're young, getting out of college, and trying to figure out what you want to do, and if this is the industry you want to be in, take those opportunities and go. No regrets.” The podcast is now out on YouTube. An audio version is also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts. The post Darley America Stallion Manager Jimmy Lovatt on Boundless Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin For the second time in just three weeks Alexandra Park has had a meeting postponed because of wet weather. Only one race was run tonight before the remainder of the meeting was postponed because of track conditions caused by the very heavy rain in Auckland. A large pool of water had developed on the inside on the track and crept into the passing lane while rutting was starting to develop on the home bend from water flowing down the track because of the steep camber. The rain also made visibility difficult in the first race that was taken out in all the way fashion by Words. The rest of the meeting was postponed and will resume as a new meeting starting at 6.19pm on Saturday night, with all final field and tote bets quickly refunded. Horses who were scratched from the Friday night meeting have the option to be re-enter Saturday’s fields for what will be an eight-race card. “There wasn’t a lot we could do because the rain was so heavy,” says HRNZ’s Racing and Wagering Manager Matthew Peden, who was at Alexandra Park. “But speaking to John Denton [track expert] he is confident if the weather plays its part with a bit of work we will be good to go for tomorrow night.” The second Friday to Saturday shift at Alexandra Park in three weeks will make for a big Saturday night for harness racing fans as the Group 1 meeting will race alongside a huge card at Menangle, outside Sydney, which will see trotting heroine Keayang Zahara the star of the show as she contests the $100,000 Macarthur Mile. To see Saturday’s fields click here View the full article

Hugh Bowman has described Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote) as one of Hong Kong’s most progressive horses as Dennis Yip’s emerging talent squares off against a highly-competitive field in the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday (10 May). Chasing his fifth victory of the season, Fast Network meets three fellow last-start winners – Bottomuptogether (Shamus Award), Invincible Shield (I Am Invincible) and Gustosisimo (Exceed And Excel) – as well as a host of other genuine contenders, including Wunderbar (Written Tycoon), the only horse so far to lower champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising’s (NZ) (Shamexpress) colours. Fresh from a Happy Valley double on Wednesday (7 May), Bowman is confident Fast Network can make it three wins in a row after a four-length romp over this course and distance on 30 March, when he easily accounted for Bottomuptogether when carrying 130lb. “He (Fast Network) is one of the most progressive horses in the jurisdiction. He’s a sensible horse, he’s got a good brain and he’s got a good engine. It’s one step at a time, but I think we’re yet to see the ceiling with him,” Bowman said. “(Last start) he enjoyed the fast tempo, it really set it up for him to finish the way he did. He’s trialled well at Conghua since his last run and he’s aided this time by an ace barrier, number one. “There’s some very worthy opponents in this race and we’ve got to give them a few pounds but he won with authority last time and I don’t think this race is any stronger. He goes up a little bit in weight but he’s earnt that and if he gets the same sort of circumstances, I don’t think the weight will stop him.” Invincible Shield has been a revelation for reigning champion Hong Kong trainer Francis Lui since arriving at Sha Tin from Queensland in Australia, where he won four races in a row for Tony Gollan. With a trio of consecutive wins for Tom Marquand, Ryan Moore and Craig Williams after finishing 11th on debut for Lui, the I Am Invincible gelding will attempt to make it four in a row in Hong Kong under Lyle Hewitson after drawing gate five. “He impressed me from day one. I always thought he was a Class 1 horse and that there was scope for improvement later on as well. It’s getting harder now that he’s racked up the rating points and I’m probably getting on at the toughest stage,” Hewitson said. “It’s a nice race but he’ll handle himself well and will perform – hopefully he can continue his winning ways but it’s getting more difficult. He does have a nice draw in five and it could work out for him again, but we’re going to have to be on our A-game to win a race like this.” With six wins – including two over Ka Ying Rising as a three-year-old – from only 10 starts, Wunderbar resumes for John Size and will jump from barrier three for Brenton Avdulla. “It’ll be good to be on him for the first time on race day and he’s drawn well. He’s probably found one of the hottest Class 2s of the season but I’m looking forward to riding him,” Avdulla said. “He had those couple of runs where little things were against him and he probably didn’t perform to his best and John started again with him. He seems like he’s trialled OK, so you’ve got to respect the master taking him back to the races. “He’s obviously probably going to improve on whatever he does but I’d expect him to run well if he’s anywhere near his best. He’ll give himself every chance from the draw.” Saturday’s (10 May) 10-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 Castle Peak Handicap (1600m) at 1pm. View the full article

Francis Graffard's stable continues its plunder of French stakes contests and the hitherto unbeaten Midak (Footstepsinthesand) made his mark for the yard with a pillar-to-post victory in Friday's G3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. The 13-5 second choice, successful in staying contests at Lyon La Soie and Chantilly, asserted for early control after a level break in this black-type debut and held sway throughout. Shaken up when threatened with 500 metres remaining, he was ridden clear approaching the final furlong and kept on relentlessly in the closing stages to easily account for 9-1 chance Dioptase (New Bay) and the late-closing 1-2 favourite Uther (Camelot) by 2 1/2 lengths and a head. “The horse has obviously improved from his last race, as much mentally as physically, and his behaviour at the races and during the race was very much satisfactory,” said Graffard. “He is not entered in the [G1] Prix du Jockey Club, so we will savour the moment for now and later we will discuss the future with his entourage. Maybe Willie Mullins will get in contact with us!” Pedigree Notes Midak is the latest of five foals and one of two scorers out of a dual-winning half-sister to Listed Prix de Thiberville victrix Mila (Cape Cross) and G2 Prix de Malleret and G3 Prix de Royaumont placegetter Mandistana (Azamour). Mila is the dam of the stakes-placed duo Mirann (Motivator) and Mirabad (Gleneagles) while descendants of Midak's G3 Prix de Royaumont-winning second dam Minatlya (Linamix) also include G3 Prix Penelope victrix Cartiem (Cape Cross) and Listed Prix de la Cochere third Stop The Cavalry (Lope De Vega). Midak remains unbeaten with a straight-forward success in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud! Another progressive type for @GraffardRacing and @AgaKhanStuds! pic.twitter.com/Vug9tCfE4f — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 9, 2025 Friday, Saint-Cloud, France PRIX GREFFULHE-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-9, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:11.64, gd. 1–MIDAK (FR), 128, c, 3, by Footstepsinthesand (GB) 1st Dam: Minya (Fr), by Sinndar (Ire) 2nd Dam: Minatlya (Fr), by Linamix (Fr) 3rd Dam: Mintly Fresh, by Rubiano 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Suc. H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €64,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Dioptase (Ire), 128, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Gouville (Fr), by Rajsaman (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€55,000 Ylg '23 ARQOCT). O-Le Marais SAS, Ecuries Serge Stempniak & Guy Pariente Holding; B-SCEA Marmion Vauville, Ecurie Skymarc Farm & Nightchill LLC (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €16,000. 3–Uther (GB), 128, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Sosia (Ger), by Shamardal. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Christophe Ferland. €12,000. Margins: 2HF, HD, 7HF. Odds: 2.60, 9.00, 0.50. Also Ran: Piquoiseau (Fr), Aidan's Phone (Fr). The post Undefeated Francis Graffard Trainee Midak Makes All For Greffulhe Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France — Plenty of people will be cheering on the two runners of Charlie Fellowes in the French Classics on Sunday, not least because the trainer has booked Kieran Shoemark for both horses after a tumultuous week for the jockey. But there will be one person hoping perhaps harder than any for dream results for Luther in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Shes Perfect in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and that's Will Douglass, the agent responsible for matching each horse to their respective owners. Douglass is a familiar face on the sales scene having spent the last 15 years working alongside Charlie Gordon-Watson, but from the beginning of this year he went out on his own under the banner of Will Douglass Bloodstock. He now has a double shot at enhancing his record as an agent with two Group 1 runners within 40 minutes of each other. Douglass is back at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale where last year he found Shes Perfect for Fellowes and the Basher Watts Racing Syndicate. The daughter of Sioux Nation, who was breezed by Ryan Conran of Lacka House Stables, was initially led out of the Arqana ring unsold, but Douglass urged Fellowes to take the filly and agreed a private sale of €50,000 with the vendor. She won her maiden on debut at Haydock with Shoemark aboard and was then third in the valuable British EBF Fillies' Series Final at Goodwood. This year, only the favourite for Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, the Aga Khan Studs' representative Zarigana, could get the better of her in the G3 Prix de la Grotte, in which Shes Perfect was beaten a neck when second. “Shes Perfect is owned by a microshare syndicate set up by Basher Watts and there are around 60 people going to Longchamp with the filly on Sunday,” said Douglass between two-year-old inspections at Arqana. “Basher has this lovely filly and he has a kind of social media-based syndicate, and the content that she is producing for him has been incredible.” The agent, who is based in Wiltshire, works closely with Fellowes, who now trains from Bedford House Stables, where Douglass previously spent time working as an assistant to the yard's former owner Luca Cumani. He also served stints with Ed Dunlop and David Hayes in Australia before deciding that the sales beat was the life for him. “I always liked the sales and I was never that keen to be a trainer,” he says. “They're both a way of life – racing is an all-consuming career for people where they can do all sorts of different things. “It's not easy to find people who want to spend a lot of money on yearlings to race in Europe so horses in training are an easier way to get going. I sell a lot of stuff privately, mainly to Hong Kong and Qatar.” In the case of Luther, the smartly-bred son of Frankel out of the G3 Musidora Stakes winner Give And Take (Cityscape), Douglass did however have a client keen to find some yearlings to race. Paul Hickman is now the majority owner of the colt, in partnership with breeder Nicholas Jones of Coln Valley Stud. Luther has won two of his five starts to date, including last season's Listed Ascendant Stakes at Haydock. His sole start this year saw him finish a length behind Juddmonte's Detain when second in Chelmsford's Cardinal Stakes, and the pair will meet again on Sunday in the 18-strong field for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. “Nicholas Jones has kept a leg but Paul Hickman wanted to spend some money on yearlings, he wanted a Frankel and he wanted a horse to run in the Classics,” Douglass says. “He bought two horses that year – Luther was one and Sword Of Wessex was the other one – so it's amazing for him and Luther probably has a great each-way chance.” Amazing for Hickman, and satisfying indeed for the man responsible for buying two Classic runners on the same day. The post Douglass Doubles Up in French Classics as he Launches Solo Agency appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The TAB Racing Club’s debut season has already produced multiple highlights for its more than 10,000 members, and Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray are excited to unveil another bright prospect in the dark blue and red colours at Trentham on Saturday. An initiative by Entain Australia and New Zealand to promote racehorse ownership among TAB customers, the TAB Racing Club is free to join. Its members have already had cause for celebration, with four-year-old mare Bella Regazza winning at Ascot Park in November and two-year-old filly In Haste scoring impressively at Matamata in January. The latest to step out in the TAB Racing Club colours is first-starter Transcend in Saturday’s Ladies Man 2YO (1200m) at Trentham. The daughter of So You Think was a $150,000 purchase by the TAB Racing Club and Ritchie Murray Racing from Henley Park’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2024. Ritchie has made no secret of his high regard for the filly, who will be the stable’s only starter at the Wellington track on Saturday. “She’s a lovely filly,” he said. “For us to be taking her down to Trentham as our only runner at the meeting shows that we really like her. We certainly wouldn’t be taking a horse that far otherwise. “It’s a privilege for Colm and I to train a horse in those TAB Racing Club colours. It’s great for our stable’s profile. “We’ve taken only one two-year-old to the races so far this season, and that was Tajana, who was a winner and also placed in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr.1, 1400m) and Colin Jillings Classic (Gr.3, 1200m). Hopefully we can maintain that strong record with our two-year-olds this season.” Further illustrating the stable’s opinion of Transcend, Ritchie explained that Saturday’s Trentham assignment is a one-race mission with a long-term target in mind. “She’s always shown us exceptional ability and we think she might be up to a 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) in the spring,” he said. “That’s the reason for the big trip away. If she is indeed up to going down to Christchurch, there aren’t many tracks that mirror Riccarton as well as Trentham does. “We think one run will be more than enough for her in this campaign. Being by So You Think, we believe she’ll handle a mile as a three-year-old. We can’t wait to see what she can do next season.” Ritchie was pleased with Transcend’s two trials, which produced second placings at Ellerslie on April 1 and on the Cambridge synthetic track two weeks later. “Her first trial was extremely good,” he said. “She couldn’t get on her right leg going the Ellerslie way around and looked lost, but then she made up five or six lengths down the straight and really showed how much talent she has. “Her second trial was what we call a handbrake trial. It was just a soft trial on the Polytrack at home. We just sat quietly and cruised around. “She has a few quirks, she has a bit of a dance in the birdcage and has a mind of her own, but there’s no doubting her ability.” The stable’s main concern leading into the $35,000 race is the Trentham track, which was rated Heavy8 on Friday and may deteriorate further. “It’s unfortunate that the rain has come, but she is extremely fit,” Ritchie said. “We’re lucky to have a lovely Polytrack to train horses on at Cambridge, but the downside of that is that it really takes away your ability to know whether horses will handle heavy ground. “It helps that it’s the first race on the card on Saturday, and the ground tends to be a bit better on that dog leg at Trentham. Coming across on to the course proper is when we’ll find out how she copes with really heavy footing. We do think her class will take her a long way. “She’s drawn the outside gate, but that doesn’t bother me. We won’t be too aggressive coming out of the gates, and we’ll just try to keep her on the bridle. Tactics will be left up to Bridget (Grylls, jockey), but it will probably be the horse herself that determines whereabouts she settles in the running. “You always want to present the best horse in any given race, and if she’s that, she’s certainly going to take some beating this weekend.” View the full article

Kevin and Stephen Gray have four talented up-and-comers entered for Trentham on Saturday, along with an exciting international jockey recruit, but the prospect of a testing track has dented the confidence of the Palmerston North stable. The father-son team will be represented by Cooper (NZ) (Tivaci) in the $50,000 Australian Turf Club Autumn Sprint Final (1200m), Albarossa (Vino Rosso) and Cosentino (NZ) (El Roca) in the Leica Lucy 3YO (1200m), and Tycoon Boss (Street Boss) in the Doctor Askar Maiden (1000m). “We’re taking a really, really nice team to Trentham,” Stephen Gray said. “They’re all lovely horses with bright futures in front of them. I just wish they were racing on a Soft5 instead of a Heavy8 or worse.” Cooper is bred and raced by long-time stable clients Howard and Pamela Forbes and is a half-brother to the black-type performers Rock ‘N’ Affair (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) and Stumpy (NZ) (O’Reilly), who were both trained by Kevin Gray. From 14 starts, Cooper has himself recorded three wins and four placings. He won a Rating 65 by almost three lengths at Wanganui on April 5, then stepped up for a Rating 75 at Te Rapa on April 26 and finished a close fourth behind Queen Zou (Zoustar), Willit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Nepheti (NZ) (Charm Spirit). “It was a really good run at Te Rapa,” Stephen Gray said. “It was just the wide draw that beat him there. He had to go back, and the track was quite quick up the fence that day. “He’s been running well and is turning into a nice horse. A heavy track is a concern for him, especially with his race being late in the day. I don’t think he’s a real wet-tracker, so we might have to play that by ear. But that’s just the time of year that we’re coming into now. “We’ve also got Ellerslie next week as another option we could consider for him. He’s a promising horse and should be very competitive wherever he lines up.” Albarossa’s first five starts produced two smart wins along with a second, a third and a fourth. He faced his biggest test in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa last start, where he finished near the back of the field after being checked in the straight. “He got a bad check in the home straight, which Michael McNab was suspended for,” Gray said. “His jockey hadn’t moved on him at that stage. “The winner (Ardalio) was impressive, so I don’t know if we would have beaten that horse, but I think we would have been up around the top four if it hadn’t been for that check. “He’s well above average and is a really fit horse with that trip under his belt. This looks like a very good race for him. Again, it’s just a matter of how bad the track gets. “But as I said to the owners, they’re only three once and it’s a nice race on our back doorstep, so we might as well have a go.” Albarossa will be joined in that $35,000 three-year-old sprint by his stablemate Cosentino. The El Roca gelding was last seen in the spring, when the first three starts of his career produced a sixth, a win and a fourth. “He’s another really promising horse, but this is his first start back from a spell and he’ll need the run,” Gray said. “It’s just about starting him off. But he’s a really nice horse in the making.” The stable has endured a frustrating time with Tycoon Boss, who has placed in all of his three starts including his resuming run at Wanganui on April 5. “He’s a very, very talented horse but it’s been incredibly hard to find a race for him,” Gray said. “A foot injury put him out for two or three months. He ran well resuming, but since then we’ve taken him to three cancelled meetings and also had to scratch him from another one because of the track. “He really wants decent ground, but that’s hard to find at the moment. We may end up having to just take the risk and run him anyway. It is what it is.” Cooper, Albarossa and Tycoon Boss will all be ridden by Bruno Queiroz, who will make his New Zealand debut at Trentham on Saturday. The 23-year-old hails from Brazil and made his mark in Singapore, culminating in a premiership title in the final season of racing at Kranji. “He’s a huge talent,” Gray said. “He’s Joao Moreira’s godson, and Joao and I have been good friends since his days riding in Singapore. Joao wanted to get Bruno to Singapore for some international experience and asked me to help him get started. “After being unable to speak a word of English when he arrived, his progress was incredible – to the point where he rode four winners on the very last day of racing in Singapore, clinching the premiership. “He’s only 23 and has ridden over 1100 winners already. He’s a huge talent, young, light and a very humble, nice and hard-working person. “Joao wants him to learn his trade a bit more over here in New Zealand with us. It’ll give him a great grounding for his future career. “If he settles in well here and gets going, especially in the spring, I think he could do very well. “His record is incredible. I expect him to be a real asset to New Zealand racing, and he could well prove to be as good as any rider in the country.” View the full article

Southland trainer Robert Dennis ticked off a career milestone with his 100th winner on Friday, thanks to a determined front-running performance by Chevron (NZ) (El Roca) in the Chief Stipe Horrell Contracting/Ricki Egerton Dagging Handicap (1600m) at Riverton. Dennis had brought up his 99th winner with On Song at Riverton on April 21 and went on to record three seconds, a third, a fourth and two fifths through the couple of weeks since. But Chevron delivered in style as the $2.10 favourite in Friday’s $22,000 open handicap. Ridden by apprentice jockey Yogesh Atchamah, Chevron broke quickly from the starting gates and soon took up a clear lead. He showed the way up until the home turn, when home-track mare Albatross tackled him and briefly got her head in front. But Chevron lifted again in the straight and clawed his way back into the lead, pulling away in the closing stages to win by a length. Midnight Runner got up along the inside to run second, half a length in front of Albatross. “It’s pretty satisfying to bring up that 100th win,” Dennis said. “It was always going to come – it was just a matter of time. We had to settle for a few placings between 99 and 100. I’ve had a lot of people telling me how close I was over the last week or so, so it’s good to bring that to an end by knocking it off today.” This was the first South Island win for Chevron, who had previously recorded five wins for Ruakaka trainer Chris Gibbs. Bred and raced by Markwood Lodge, whose colours were carried to victory by the Dennis-trained Loftys Gift in the $170,000 Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) in March, Chevron has now had a total of 36 starts for six wins, 16 placings and $203,556 in stakes. The seven-year-old son of El Roca had finished third and second in his first two appearances for Dennis on March 28 and April 21. “It was a really good performance by Chevron today,” Dennis said. “He was a pretty handy horse in the north and is now hitting form down here too. He seems to have found his mojo, which is good. Hopefully we can carry on with him now and pick off some nice races through the rest of the winter. “There’s a good-money meeting coming up at Wingatui on Sunday the 1st of June, so I think that’s what we’ll point him towards next.” In the meantime, Dennis has half a dozen entries for his local meeting at Ascot Park on Sunday, and he believes a pair of in-form mares will be the ones to watch. “I really like On Song, who won last start, has a 4kg claim on Sunday and loves wet ground,” Dennis said. “Vino Valentino is another one who’s in really good form, she’s run a couple of top races to place in her last couple of starts. She looks well placed in her race with a 2kg claim as well. I’d say those two are probably our leading lights for Sunday.” On Song is another Markwood Lodge homebred and is a half-sister to Chevron, being by The Bold One out of the Refuse To Bend mare La Cite. On Song has so far had 13 starts for four wins and $72,945 in stakes. View the full article

While most trainers would be rapt with an inside draw in a Group One feature, Phillip Stokes said it was far from ideal for his two mares in the Gr.1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville. Stokes saddles Stretan Angel (Harry Angel) and Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) in the 1200m set weight plus penalties contest on Saturday with the mares drawing gates one and three respectively. “I’m not happy with those draws,” Stokes said. “I would prefer to be drawn middle to out with both of them, especially with the way they race at Morphettville, getting off the rails. “It doesn’t help us, although Climbing Star did get up on the fence when she won the Sangster last year, so hopefully that’s the case again. “But it certainly doesn’t help Stretan Angel, it’s not her racing style.” Climbing Star won the Gr.1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) last year from gate 14 but was ridden for luck and got an inside passage. She then went on to finish third in The Goodwood jumping from gate 13. Stretan Angel had gate 10 in last year’s Sangster when finishing sixth then had gate seven when second in The Goodwood. Both mares contested this year’s Sangster Stakes with Stretan Angel finishing ninth from gate nine and Climbing Star in 12th spot, from barrier seven. “I’m not sure what happened with Climbing Star last time,” Stokes said. “She got buffeted early in the race and had an off day, but we can’t fault her and we’re hoping she will bounce back.” With Climbing Star to be sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast later in May, The Goodwood will be her last start for Stokes, while Stretan Angel is expected to race on as a five-year-old. In a bid to extract the best from the two mares, Stokes has switched riders with Lachlan Neindorf going onto Stretan Angel and Thomas Stockdale switching to Climbing Star. Neindorf combined with Stokes to win the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) last week with Femminile (Dundeel). “Lachie rode them both on Tuesday and said they were good, so we can’t split them,” Stokes said. “We just thought Lachie rides Stretan Angel better. “Climbing Star is having her last run and she’s going to the broodmare sale up at the Gold Coast, so there is more upside for Lachie going back to Stretan Angel.” View the full article

Local jockey has been on a roller-coaster ride of late but two winners in quick succession have the 31-year-old approaching the rest of the campaign with confidence.View the full article

Australian jockey rides the only horse to beat Ka Ying Rising for the first time in a race as veteran handler approaches 1,600 Hong Kong winners.View the full article

By Adam Hamilton The challenges keep coming for unbeaten young Aussie trotting mare Keayang Zahara. Having finished last year with those three feature wins at Addington, Keayang Zahara just did enough to stretch her unbeaten record to 15 races when she returned to racing at Melton last Saturday night. The Marg and Paddy Lee-trained star is on the road this week to chase a 16th win and an eighth at Group 1 level in the $100,000 Group 1 Macarthur Mile at Menangle on Saturday night (11.09pm NZT). While Keayang Zahara lifted after looking in trouble to win last week, Craven said this race looks even harder on paper. “Yes, especially if Susan Is Her Name begins quickly enough (from gate two) to stay in front of us and find the lead,” he said. “I’ve got huge respect for her and on the times she’s running, if she leads, she is going to be awfully hard to beat.” Punters have pounced on the Emma Stewart-trained Susan Is Her Name, who boasts 10 wins from 16 starts and wins in all three starts this campaign. She has been crunched in from $9.50 to $2.60. As a result, Keayang Zahara, who has drawn gate four, is out from $1.25 to $1.55. Proven topliner Im Ready Jet, who really stretched Keayang Zahara last week, is the other key runner at $10 from a wide draw (gate seven). Jason Lee drove Keayang Zahara to win her first 14 starts, but his cousin Craven was aboard first-up and takes the reins again this week. “We like to share the drives around and Jase wanted me to have a steer in a few races,” Craven said. “I know the margin wasn’t great first-up, but it’s the first time she’s been in a dogfight because she’s dominated so many of her races. It was great to see her want to get past Im Ready Jet when it mattered. “It’s good to be part of it and there’s lots of pressure, but that’s what we’re in the game for. “In saying that, I don’t want to be the one driving her when the losing streak ends and, the way the race shapes, it could be this week.” The Macarthur Mile headlines a stellar “female” flavour of Group 1 racing at Menangle on Saturday night. Champion local driver Luke McCarthy is the key driver in the other three “majors” on the night. In the $200,000 Group 1 NSW Oaks, McCarthy teams up with Victorian trainer Mick Stanley and his $3.50 equal favourite Soho Americano from gate three. Emma Stewart has four runners, headed by Ladies In Red’s unbeaten half-sister Luv The Nitelife (gate four), to be driven by Kate Gath. Earlier, McCarthy has picked up the drive on classy Victorian raider Gatesys Gem, who is a $1.70 favourite from the pole in the $75,000 Group 1 NSW Trotters’ Oaks. McCarthy’s own star mare, Eye Keep Smiling, is $2.15 favourite despite a wide draw (she will start from eight) in the $200,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile (formerly Ladyship Mile). View the full article

A total of 35 Silk Road races, with stakes totalling around $700,000, will start later this month. It is the second year of the series. The Silk Road’s objective is to create pathways for everyday, emerging and elite Fillies and Mares. It is a key pillar of “The Future Starts Now” strategy launched in 2024. This year’s “Winter Series” heats will be divided among Northern, Canterbury and Southern with heats and finals for both gaits. They will start on May 23 at Alexandra Park with the last Final at Cambridge on Friday, July 24, with racing also to be held at Addington, Wyndham, Winton and Invercargill. Stakes for the heats will vary from $10,000 to $17,000 with the Finals worth up to $34,000. There will be 24 heats in all, and 11 Finals. The first four placegetters in each heat will be automatic qualifiers for finals, if nominated. To see a complete list of the Silk Road 2025 Winter Racing Series Heats and Finals click here View the full article

The South African jockey will hop aboard the progressive galloper for the first time on Saturday.View the full article

During a pair of May 8 panels at the Association of Racing Commissioners International's annual meeting, industry members discussed the impact created by social media influencer Griffin Johnson's involvement in the sport.View the full article

One of the country’s most successful jumps jockeys in Mathew Gillies will make a welcome return to the riding ranks at Wanganui on Sunday. Originally hailing from Palmerston North, the Auckland-based hoop won the National Jumps Jockeys’ Premiership in the 2013-24 season and has steered home a total of 101 winners, including six in Australia. Through this period, Gillies won a number of prestige races while also spending time on the sidelines through injury, but it was the COVID-19 outbreak that kept him out of the saddle after Grand National Week in 2021. “I was living in Auckland at the time, so I was locked in and unable to ride anymore,” he said. “I looked to come back in the next season, but during that COVID period, I did a lot of tree chopping and splitting wood by hand, so I gained a lot of muscle and didn’t have the right mindset. I schooled a lot of horses for Kevin Myers, but I just couldn’t get my weight down. “I’ve been riding two or three horses a morning when I can, but my main job has been working for Airport Livestock Services, we help New Zealand Bloodstock and IRT with loading and unloading and stall set-up, things like that. I’m still doing that now as well.” While still remaining involved in the industry at a distance, Gillies had no intention of coming back to race-riding, but that all changed when he caught up with a couple of familiar faces in Queenstown recently. “I went down to Shaun Fannin’s stag party for his wedding in Queenstown and was able to catch-up with Shaun, Dean Parker and Aaron Kuru,” he said. “They were talking about where jumps is going in New Zealand, and Shaun kind of egged me into coming back. “It’s all gone to plan from there, I’m back down in Cambridge riding work for Tony Pike and I went down to school Paul (Nelson)’s horses, then rode nine in total at the point-to-point at Levin. “I’ve had to drop a lot of weight and it’s come down really well. It’s just a matter of getting it down and maintaining that, when you stop doing something for a while and don’t worry too much about weight, it comes on and you also gain muscle. “It’s just been getting my mind back into it, I’ve been doing a lot of gym work, two or three hours a day and having one meal.” Gillies is looking forward to heading back to the races on Sunday, with three rides for Nelson and training partner Corrina McDougal. He will partner Empire State in the Ken Duncan Racing Maiden HDL (3000m), Al’s Red Zed in the Dr John D. Moore Memorial Open Steeplechase (3800m) and The Bambino in The Grant Sweeney Memorial Open Hurdle (3000m). “I rode The Bambino at the point to point, he went around nicely,” Gillies said. “I’m really looking forward to it.” View the full article

Wexford Stables will head to Arawa Park on Saturday with the defending Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) champion Karman Line, but her stablemates won’t be making a repeat crown an easy task. The biggest threat on recent form is Tomodachi, a shortening $2.90 race-favourite who earned her first black-type credentials when booming home into third in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m). The daughter of Tarzino recorded impressive sectionals in that event on a Soft5 track, and with conditions likely to worsen, trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are hoping she can continue that record. “We were so pleased with her performance (at Trentham), she got her first piece of black-type which is always a good milestone,” Scott said. “It was a fair trip away but she’s come through it really well, she’s had a good bit of time to recover and steps up to the 1400m. We’ve seen her handle the soft ground in the past and we’re hoping she relaxes well and finishes strong. If she does things right in the run, it’s going to take her a long way in being competitive. “The draw (13 with emergencies) gives her a bit of room and an option to settle away, which is certainly the way we’ll look to ride her. It may be, with the rain coming, quite often the place to be.” Tomodachi will be partnered by Joe Doyle, who is chasing an impressive 10th stakes victory this term, while premiership-leading hoop Craig Grylls will guide the fortunes of Karman Line. Karman Line has a tendency to mix her form but often puts her best on display during this period of the season, which was enough to defeat top-liner La Crique in last year’s running. She indicated she was back in a similar vein of form when scoring at Te Rapa over Cannon Hill two starts back, then far from disgraced herself when fifth behind Super Photon on April 26. “We were really pleased with her last time out, she got a long way back and covered a lot of ground,” Scott said. “Once she starts to hit form, she tends to hold it and she’s handled the conditions at Rotorua before. We think she’s going as good as she was last year and we’re hoping she puts in a similar performance. “She looks amazing in her coat and condition for this time of the year.” Wexford Stables will also be represented in the race by Lux Libertas and Kelly Coe, the latter a winner of the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) back in October. “She’s (Kelly Coe) a horse that hasn’t had everything go her way in big races this season, we’ve just freshened her up a wee bit and her work on Tuesday morning was as good as I’ve seen from her all season,” Scott said. “In a fresh state on the softer ground, we think she’ll sprint well and on her day, she’s very talented. There’s no reason why she can’t be right in it. “Lux Libertas is going really well, she’s had a bit of a luckless season now that she’s hit open grade. “She handles soft ground, her run at Te Rapa was an indication that she’s going well and has taken good improvement from that as her first run in quite a while. She’s a very talented mare and we’re thinking she’ll be right in it as well.” Among Wexford’s remaining runners at the meeting is Desert Mystic, a winner of three races this preparation, who steps back from Group Three company and will contest the MacMillan Accountants 1560, with three-kilogram claiming apprentice Rihaan Goyaram’s aboard. “He drops back from the Easter into (Rating) 75 grade, he’s a consistent horse and has been all season,” Scott said. “He’s a fit gelding that looks good in the coat for this time of the year, he’s handled a long preparation well and will make a strong account of himself on the weekend.” Further south at Trentham, capable three-year-old Tristar will appear in a fresh state when contesting the Leica Lucy 3YO 1200. “She’s shown good form in soft ground earlier in the spring and we trialled her at Pukekohe last week, and she seemed to handle the ground really well,” Scott said. “She’s trained on well and we think she’ll handle the conditions, and having a wee claim with Liam aboard, she should race really well.” View the full article

By Michael Guerin Pinseeker may have started in the biggest race of the year but his grand final fortnight actually starts tonight. The five-year-old has been one of our major pacing improvers this season, developing from promising intermediate grade pacer to a big-race player. That was most clearly emphasised in the $1m Race by Betcha last month when he finished fifth, a week after sitting parked to finish third in the Flying Mile also at Cambridge. He drops back in grade for what is still a very strong Continental Event Hire Superstars at Addington tonight before the Country Cups Final back there in two weeks. “I know he has been in some huge races but these have really been his targets,” says trainer-driver Jonny Cox. “We were very proud of what he did in the north and with how much he has improved we have even thrown in a nomination for the Inters just in case the series falls away. “But this race and the Country Cups Finals have been in our plans for a long time and he has handled his busy season well so he is ready to go.” Pinseeker returned home from taking on Leap To Fame to the Winter Cup at Rangiora last start but never got into the race, finishing on well late for fourth. “I was following Renegade from our 35m handicap but he didn’t move so we never really had a winning chance but he has come through that well.” Tonight’s 2600m mobile has plenty of hard running pacers and Cox will wait to see what their drivers are thinking at the start before making up his mind whether to use Pinseeker’s gate speed or not. “We are drawn right next to Rakero Rocket and he will probably go forward so we have that option but there is also plenty of good, in-form horses inside him so we don’t have to make that decision yet.” The Superstars is a beauty as any of the 10 starters could win without stunning and so much will depend on the early burn. If Pinseeker heads forward and leads easily enough he becomes the horse to beat but if three or four horses get involved in the early burn the race could set up for those less ambitious early. Beach Ball will be seen in new colours tonight as well-known Australian owner Mick Harvey has entered into an agreement to race the six-year-olds with the Chapmans and after tonight he is likely to head to Sydney and join the Luke McCarthy stable, with the Inter Dominions still an outside chance. As deep as the Superstars field is the brightest star at Addington tonight will be Marketplace (R8, No.9), with our best three-year-old pacer facing an outside barrier draw in a Garrards Sires’ Stakes Semi Final being used to tick him over for next Friday’s final. Even from his wide draw he opened $1.30 with the TAB and will be run through many punter’s multis. View the full article

By Michael Guerin If Alexandra Park races true to recent form for tonight’s $200,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes there may be less winning chances in the Group 1 than it appears at first glance. Because while the race is the strongest of the three-year-old pacing fillies season so far the girls covering the least ground should hold a huge advantage. Tonight’s meeting caps a golden six weeks for northern harness racing but the most obvious trend has been the biggest race winners almost always coming from on the marker pegs. It was the case in all five Groups 1 here two weeks ago and two of the three held at Alexandra Park last week. It was also the case when Arcee Phoenix won the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge last month with the most jarring exception to the marker pegs domination being Leap To Fame in the $1million Race by Betcha, but he is an exception to a lot of rules. The reasons for the popular pegs are well known: the times being recorded these days are so fast horses coming wide often face having to break national records just to keep up. That trend looks set to continue in tonight’s 2200m mobile Sires’ Stakes and if it does it gives an enormous advantage to Beside Me (R8, No.3) and most likely General Jen (No.2). Beside Me looks the likely leader and driver Carter Dalgety says if he gets there he won’t be handing the lead away. “She got a little too excited for her own good in the Oaks last start but that was 2700m whereas being 2200m this week I can let her roll more,” says Dalgety. Beside Me was beaten in that Oaks by Arafura, who is in tonight’s race but faces a second line draw so it could be her stablemate General Jen who emerges as the main danger to the favourite. General Jen was allowed to miss the earlier northern three-year-old features by co-trainer Hayden Cullen and she looks a fresh and happy horse when she bolted away with her Alexandra Park debut against older pacers last Friday. If she can use her gate speed to cross to the markers and trail Beside Me she could try the same sit-and-snipe tactics Arafura did two weeks ago. “I have no doubts Arafura is the best of our fillies but she may not be the best chance this week,” says Cullen. “I can see General Jen getting the better run, hopefully on the back of Beside Me, and she really impressed me how she won up here last Friday. “Arafura is tougher but if she has to race in the running line it becomes a lot harder for her.” One horse who could be on the markers but not the best version of them is Southland filly Captains Mistress. She looks the real deal but faces being three or even four deep on the markers and if so could need an intense war up front to open gaps for her to chase down tired legs later. Her trainer-driver Nathan Williamson also brings his one-start, one-win juvenile trotter Duchess Maria (R4, No.2) north for the $50,000 IRT Young Gun Final in which she will have to handle the right-handed track to down Redpark Warrior. Tonight’s other major trot the $120,000 IRT Trotters Championship should probably see Meant To Be continued on his winning march but the reduction in distance from 2700m last start to 2200m mobile tonight gives him less time to overcome his unruly start point. HOW TO TACKLE ALEX PARK 1: Roy Kent (R1, No.2): Has gate speed to stay handy and drops out of elite three-year-old race. TAB giving boosted $5 price under “Box Seat Boost”. 2: Bravehearthighlander (R2, No.3): Not the most trustworthy but strong win last start and the favourite Tu Tangata very short for a horse who doesn’t win often. 3: Tytate (R5, No.2): Comes up against some smart youngsters but many of then drawn poorly so looks a great place bet to bolster the TAB account. 4: Meant To Be (R6, No.10): Second line draw means you getting $1.75 but when he gets rolling hard to see him not getting the front. 5: Hillbilly (R9, No.8): Sat parked in Northern Derby last start and before that two big seconds off handicaps. Value each way option. View the full article