Wandering Eyes

It may not have been obvious at the time but with the benefit of almost 20 years' hindsight it is now clear that the retirement to stud in 2006 of both Dubawi (Ire) and Shamardal was a pivotal moment for the Darley operation, and indeed the European stallion scene. There is now no shortage of their male-line descendants at stud and, in Blue Point (Ire) and Too Darn Hot (GB) in particular, their legacy looks assured within the Darley ranks. The pair ended last year as first and second in the second-crop sires' table in Europe, with a Classic winner each from their first batch of runners in Rosallion (Ire) and Fallen Angel (GB) and three Group/Grade 1 winners apiece. It is fair to say that this is a pretty spectacular start to their stud careers. While Blue Point has been marginally ahead in Europe, it is Too Darn Hot who so far holds the bragging rights in Australia, where the two again hold the top two spots in the second-season sires' tables, only in the reverse order. Too Darn Hot didn't shuttle last season but his results from his first two years down under are such that Australian breeders have been keen to send mares to him in Newmarket to be covered to southern hemisphere time, as detailed by our sister publication The Thoroughbred Report. Along with Fallen Angel and the Blue Diamond Stud-bred Classic prospect Hotazhell (GB), Too Darn Hot is responsible for Godolphin's Australian champion two-year-old of last year, Broadsiding (Aus), who at the weekend added the G2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill to his list of six victories, which include three at the highest level. Broadsiding was one of three group winners for Too Darn Hot in Australia on Saturday, the other two coming at Caulfield with the win of Shanwah (NZ) in the G2 Autumn Classic and Tropicus in the G3 Zeditave Stakes. Incidentally, Broadsiding, Shanwah and Tropicus are out of mares by Street Cry (Ire), Iffraaj (GB) and Exceed And Excel respectively, to lend those results a proper Darley feel. Too Darn Hot could well be set for another big year in Europe with further potential Classic contenders in Al Shaqab's G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Simmering (GB) and Amo Racing's G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes second Cathedral (GB). But then, so could Blue Point, via his emerging sprint star Kind Of Blue (GB) and a hoped-for return of Rosallion, one of the most exciting horses of the first half of last season following his victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes. Blue Point | Darley Just for good measure, Too Darn Hot may even have a runner at the Cheltenham Festival if the Joseph O'Brien-trained Grade 3-winning hurdler Naturally Nimble (Ger) takes his place in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle. Lest the purists among us get all (too darn) hot under the collar about this inclusion, let's not forget that Dubawi himself supplied the G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner a decade ago in Dodging Bullets (GB), bred by none other than Lanfranco Dettori. It takes a proper horse to win a top jumps race. Dubawi, at 23, may be covering carefully managed books these days but they still contain plenty of Europe's elite mares including, this season, Arc winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and two multiple Group 1-winning daughters of Frankel (GB) in Nashwa (GB) and Inspiral (GB). At Darley alone, his stallion sons include another of Europe's leading stallions, Night Of Thunder (Ire), Ghaiyyath (Ire), of whom there are high expectations this year, Modern Games (GB), Space Blues (GB) and Naval Crown (GB). As our accompanying feature today shows, the legacy of Shamardal, who died in 2020, is secure not just at Darley, which also stands his sons Pinatubo (Ire), Earthlight (Ire) and Victor Ludorum (Ire), but notably at Ballylinch Stud. Lope De Vega (Ire) has become Shamardal's most successful son worldwide and is on his way to establishing a dynasty of his own. From the group of stallions who retired to stud in 2020, the only other horse apart from Blue Point and Too Darn Hot to be in double digits when it comes to the number of stakes performers is the Lanwades sire Study Of Man (Ire). He had 10 black-type horses in Europe last year compared to Blue Point's 17 and Too Darn Hot's 11, and this achievement is all the more noteworthy considering he had only 75 runners, in contrast to 202 for Blue Point and 154 for Too Darn Hot. Study Of Man's sole Group 1 winner to date, Juddmonte's Kalpana (GB), remains in training, and her trainer Andrew Balding also has the promising Almeric (GB) for Kirsten Rausing. The grey colt was selected by Adam Houghton as one of his top 10 under-the-radar three-year-olds to keep an eye on for the season ahead. It will be fascinating to chart this trio of young stallions as their careers progress and it would certainly be a bonus if Study Of Man – followed by Auguste Rodin (Ire) – could help the Deep Impact/Sunday Silence line to blossom in this part of the world. There have been previous attempts from other representatives in this regard without widespread success. It is also worth noting that Study Of Man's close relative Real Steel (Jpn) has provided the horse who can currently be regarded as the best dirt runner in the world: the tough-as-teak Forever Young (Jpn), winner of Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup. By Deep Impact (Jpn), Real Steel also has Miesque as an ancestor. She features as his third dam, while she is the second dam of Study Of Man, but both stallions are out of daughters of Storm Cat. In Real Steel's case that mare is Loves Only Me, whose successful liaisons with Deep Impact also resulted in the top-class filly Loves Only You (Jpn), winner of the Japanese Oaks, Hong Kong Cup and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The post Weekend Reflections: Too Darn Hot Leads New Wave of Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

John O'Connor on securing Lope De Vega's Classic-winning son The equine transfer market is no less difficult to navigate than its footballing equivalent and John O'Connor pulled off a coup that even powerhouse clubs like Real Madrid or Barcelona would have been proud of in luring last year's breathtaking Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Fr) to Ballylinch Stud. Look De Vega will stand alongside his sire Lope De Vega (Ire) at the County Kilkenny stud. This is on a par with Lionel Messi's son starring for Barcelona and the importance of securing the services of one of the brightest young sires in the game is not lost on O'Connor. “Look De Vega is a very important signing for us this year–strengthens our team,” he explained. “We had been asked by [stud owner] John Malone to try and find a high-class son of Lope De Vega–who has been such a success for us–and we identified Look De Vega. We set out to buy him and, just as is the case with any good athlete, it wasn't easy to do and we had to pay plenty to do it but we are very happy to have secured him.” O'Connor added, “It certainly means a lot to Ballylinch Stud to have a high-class son of Lope De Vega joining the ranks. It's not often the sons of high-class footballers, athletes and indeed racehorses are equally as good, but Look De Vega showed immense ability on the racetrack in winning the same races as his sire and his grandsire. So a hell of a lot of things fell into place.” Bred by Haras de la Morsangliere and Ecurie des Charmes, Look De Vega exploded onto the scene in France with a seven-length demolition job on debut at Fontainebleau for trainers Carlos and Yann Lerner. But it is his Prix du Jockey Club success that will forever live in the memory. In running out a cosy victor in a race that has been won by his sire Lope De Vega and grandsire Shamardal, Look De Vega confirmed his status as a colt of the highest calibre. O'Connor recalled of his racing career, “We first took notice of Look De Vega after he made a winning debut as a two-year-old. We had been alerted that he was very promising and therefore watched that debut run with great interest and he bombed in–won by seven-and-a-half lengths pulling up without ever really coming off the bridle. It was confirmed then that this was a really high-class horse. So we watched him through. It was a really high-class field in the Prix du Jockey Club but he demolished them. At that point, it was clear to everyone that this is a really high-class horse. We were very keen to add him to our roster and we're delighted that we were able to do that.” Ironically, the exploits of Lope De Vega did not make things easy for Ballylinch Stud to snap up his latest star performer. Last year represented another banner season for the world-class stallion, who was responsible for the Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes winner Shadow Of Light (GB), who ended 2024 as the European Champion Two-Year-Old. The Charlie Appleby-trained Shadow Of Light is now a leading 2,000 Guineas contender for Lope De Vega, who, according to O'Connor, will have his book of mares limited to roughly 140 this season and beyond in an effort to prolong his glittering career. Therein lies the importance of seeking out a stallion capable of one day stepping into the shadows. O'Connor explained, “For any stud, it's very important that you try and build a legacy for any of the top stallions you might have. You can only do that through the stallion's top sons so we were very keen to be able to do this if we could. I think Look De Vega has the physical attributes to match what he achieved on the racetrack. What we look for in a Lope De Vega is an unbelievably good walk, and that's what this fella has. When people come to see him, they just go, 'wow, look at how he moves.' He is so free in his action, his movement is really fantastic from his shoulders and lots of power behind. That's a typical Lope De Vega set of movements and we were so pleased to see that. We think that is a very important aspect in building that legacy and tradition from one sire to another.” He added, “Lope De Vega did a lot of the hard work himself. He exploded from the stalls in that he was European Champion First-Season Sire and sire of the European Champion Two-Year-old from his first crop. He had a bunch of really good two-year-olds and, at that point, it dawned on everyone that this is a really high-class sire. He has progressed. I mean, he started out at a very reasonable figure at €15,000 and we didn't bring him up too quickly. Now, he is a world-class sire and has had Group 1 horses in Australia, Japan, Dubai, Canada and the United Stakes and all over Europe as well. Not many horses can do that and he's very unusual in that sense as he seems to be able to perform to the same level worldwide.” Lope De Vega embarked on his stallion career at Ballylinch Stud on a fee of just €15,000 in 2011. He stood for just €12,500 in 2014 before rising gradually to stand for €100,000 in 2020 and the career-high fee of €175,000 at which he has been set at for 2025. The growth has been organic and many breeders who got involved in the stallion have been involved in what has been an almighty rise to the top. O'Connor revealed that some of the same breeders who bought breeding rights in Lope De Vega have remained loyal in their support of his classy French Derby-winning son and the dream is to chart a similar path to the top. “That kind of loyalty between a stud and its client base is a very important part of what we do so the wonderful thing is that many of the shareholders who bought into Lope De Vega are now buying into Look De Vega. It is our policy to syndicate horses as best we can so that breeders have equity in stallions. That way, when a stallion does take off, the breeder can reap the success. It's pretty much similar to how we syndicated Lope De Vega. His racing owners are staying very much involved and are really supporting him. That was the same with Lope De Vega when Gestut Ammerland remained involved.” Of course, Ballylinch Stud has a good association with Al Shaqab, one of the main partners in the stallion. Together, the major entities raced Group 1 scorer Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who fetched €4,025,000 to Yulong at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in 2023. O'Connor commented, “We've had success with Al Shaqab before. We raced Place Du Carrousel in partnership with Al Shaqab and she won a Group 1 before selling for a record price at Arqana. She is now owned by Yulong and is racing in Australia. So we've worked well with Al Shaqab in the past and are anticipating lots more success with Look De Vega in particular. Al Shaqab has a really strong broodmare band-like we have-and is really getting behind the horse. This is a big help when it comes to launching a stallion's career. “We should also mention that we have had a lot of luck with Look De Vega's other partners, Ecurie des Charmes, as we bred a Breeders' Cup winner together in Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). They are major shareholders in Look De Vega and have been buying mares with us to support him. He will get a very high-quality book.” O'Connor concluded, “I think it's only fair that when a breeder decides to support a stallion, they know that we are going to do the same with really high-class mares. We'll pick mares who would normally go to a €50,000 stallion or even a €100,000 stallion and send them to Look De Vega. We won't buy a horse unless we feel they are good enough for our best mares and we feel that Look De Vega is more than good enough. “I don't think I've ever had a stallion who has made the same impact with breeders as Look De Vega has. Right from the first show he gave us, it's his flowing movement that catches people's attention. He is an impressive physical specimen with size, scope, action and colour. The breeders look at him and say, 'if I have a foal like this, I am going to be in business'. That has been converted into a really strong book of mares that has been booked into him. If he breeds foals that are anything like himself, the market is going to be very hot on them.” The post ‘Look De Vega A Very Important Signing For Ballylinch Stud’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Total turnover on Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup through World Pool bet types amounted to HK$62.6 million (around £6.4 million), the fourth highest total of all World Pool races since it first entered operation in 2019. That list is headed by the 2023 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes won by Khaadem (Ire)–for which total turnover reached HK$66.2 million (£6.7 million)–ahead of the 2022 G1 Derby won by Desert Crown (GB) (HK$66.1 million/£6.7 million) and the 2022 G1 Coronation Stakes won by Inspiral (GB) (HK$64.1 million/£6.5 million). The amount staked on this year's Saudi Cup, in which Japanese challenger Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) came out on top at the expense of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), also represented a 38% increase on last year's total. Combined with turnover from five races earlier in the day from Caulfield, Australia, the 12-race, cross-card World Pool fixture generated a total of HK$382 million (£38.9 million) through World Pool bet types–the third highest of all time. Sam Nati, head of commingling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “There's no doubt that this year's Saudi Cup was the most exciting field we've ever seen for the race. The inclusion of Hong Kong's superstar, Romantic Warrior, would have been a massive pull for local fans and that's clearly reflected in the betting turnover. Though narrowly defeated, it was a brave bid from all connected with the horse and they deserve plenty of credit for rising to the challenge. “The Saudi Cup meeting is now firmly on the international racing calendar, and we look forward to going there again in 12 months' time. For the second year running, World Pool offered 12 races on the day–the seven from Saudi Arabia preceded by five from Caulfield–and we saw a good appetite from punters across both cards.” The post Saudi Cup Thriller Enters Top Five World Pool Races by Turnover appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In support of local Veterans and retired racehorses, the Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga will host its mid-winter fundraising event at the Horseshoe Inn Bar and Grill Feb. 27 in support of the organization's Freedom Rein program. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. and runs through 10:00 p.m. The event will aim to raise $5,000 to sponsor Veterans or service members for an eight-week Equine Therapy Group. The Freedom Rein program provides therapeutic interactions with retired racehorses, offering participants a unique form of mental health support. Event highlights will include, live music provided by Jeff Walton, a buffet dinner, cash bar, a spotlight on retired racehorse success stories and a raffle featuring exclusive items, with proceeds directly benefitting the THS Veteran's Program. To purchase tickets ($55), click here. The post Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga Hosts ‘100 Days to Belmont’ Fundraiser Feb. 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky Derby and Oaks-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will be the Keynote Speaker at Race for Grace–hosted by the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy–to be held on Apr. 28 at Churchill Downs. Held in a new space at Churchill's First Turn Club, the event will feature a silent and live auction including items such as 2026 Kentucky Derby and Oaks boxes and the Derby contender's halters, a Keeneland package, many golf packages, horse racing art and memorabilia as well as trips to Mexico, a Montana Cabin vacation. In 2024, Hernandez became the ninth jockey in history, and the first since 2009, to win both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby in the same year. He piloted Thorpedo Anna to victory in the Oaks and guided Mystik Dan to a memorable win in the Derby, both horses trained by Ken McPeek. For an invitation to Race for Grace and more information about sponsorships, please contact: Tara Kremer, Event Manager, Email raceforgrace@kychaplaincy.org For more information, please visit the Kentucky Chaplaincy website at https://kychaplaincy.org. The post Hernandez Jr. Named Keynote Speaker at Race For Grace Event Apr. 28 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Assessing the data amassed by the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority for the 2024 season, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Tom Rooney weighed in on the progress made in racing-related fatal injuries since HISA entered the picture. For the first time since the data has been tracked and recorded, the rate fell below 1.00 per 1000 starts for the 2024 calendar year. “HISA has been a clear game changer for Thoroughbred racing and its programs are working,” said Tom Rooney, NTRA President and CEO. “It is important to not lose sight of progress in the pursuit of perfection but we have made tremendous strides toward increasing the safety and welfare of our horses and jockeys. This would not have been possible without the collaboration from all industry stakeholders as we all work together to keep moving the sport forward.” He continued, “On behalf of all of our member organizations, we commend Lisa Lazarus and her team on their work to date, while recognizing that there is still much to do together. We also want to thank the leadership in Washington that came together to help pass the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act that created HISA in 2020. The results from 2024 reinforce their decision to support that legislation and they also show how important it is for us to continue to support HISA and its mission.” In advance of this year's Triple Crown, the NTRA plans to relaunch its 2024 advertising campaign, “Safety Runs First“. The campaign is designed to increase public awareness and appreciation of Thoroughbred racing's commitment, investment and progress in advancing equine and human safety throughout the sport. “It is our collective responsibility to keep racing fans and the general public informed about the progress we've made,” Rooney added. “The Triple Crown season provides maximum visibility for us to promote the sport's ongoing commitment to progress and to highlight recent advances in keeping our athletes safe.” The post NTRA Weighs in On HISA’s 2024 Data on Safety appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Goodwood racecourse has made changes to its 2025 schedule that will see two of the highlight Group races move from the traditional Saturday slot to Sunday of the August Bank Holiday fixture at the Sussex track [22 to 24 August]. The Group 3 Prestige Stakes and Group 2 Celebration Mile are two of Goodwood's pinnacle contests outside of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Both headline races will be staged on Sunday of the August Bank Holiday fixture for the first time, in a bid to spread the weekend's top-class racing action at Britain's premier courses. The change has been implemented by Goodwood, with the assistance of the BHA Flat Pattern Committee, due to the clash with the concluding day of York's Ebor Festival. Goodwood is also hoping the change can assist with enhancing the overall offering of Sunday flat racing across the summer with the addition of a quality dual Group race card. Commenting on the change, William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at York Racecourse, said, “York and Goodwood have a long and deep relationship and continue to work together across a number of areas. The move of the Group 2 Celebration Mile and the Prestige Stakes to the televised card on Sunday 24 August, 24 hours after the finale of the Ebor Festival on the Saturday continues to demonstrate a collaborative and partnership approach between Goodwood and York. This should make for a wonderful August Bank Holiday weekend of racing action and hopefully improve the sport on offer for race fans, connections and broadcasters.” The post Key Changes Made To Goodwood’s Fixture List For 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ThoroughBid will hold the dispersal of 15 Racehorse Ownership Syndicate horses in their February Sale on Thursday, February 27. The sale, which also features additional consignments from Gordon Elliott, Venetia Williams and Ben Pauling, is headed by the dispersal of a varied mix of stock from the Racehorse Ownership Club, including promising four-year-old Last Outlaw (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). James Richardson, CEO of ThoroughBid, said, “We are pleased with the catalogue we've produced for this year's February Sale with the Racehorse Ownership Club's dispersal draft adding extra interest. “It's also fantastic to have leading trainers Gordon Elliott, Venetia Williams and Ben Pauling consigning horses in the sale. ThoroughBid is proving a consistent source of winners and I'm sure there will be plenty to come from this month's sale. With 40 lots consigned, there's something for everyone, and we look forward to bidding opening at 9am on Thursday 27 February.” The post ThoroughBid To Hold Racehorse Ownership Club Dispersal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Chris Waller plans to run classy mare Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) in next month’s A$2.5 million Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington, with fellow Group One-winning mares Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) and Fangirl (Sebring) to remain in Sydney this autumn. The champion trainer confirmed that four-time Flemington winner Atishu will contest the All-Star Mile on March 8, before tackling the A$2.5m Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington three weeks later. “Atishu is just so brilliant at Flemington,” Waller explained. “She is a length behind Fangirl and Via Sistina, but at her last run there (Flemington) she ran a great second to Via Sistina and the All-Star Mile just looks a very good race for her before she goes onto the Australian Cup.” Atishu has campaigned four times in Melbourne across her 48-start career and has won a race at Flemington each time she has come down from Sydney. In 2022, it was the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m), before she returned 12 months later to win the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m). In the autumn of 2024, she won the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m), before last spring claiming the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). Waller said he considered the race for Fangirl, but decided to keep her at home despite it meaning she has to clash during her campaign with Cox Plate-winning stablemate Via Sistina. “The All-Star Mile is great prizemoney, but the Chipping Norton (Verry Elleegant Stakes) is in our back yard so both Via Sistina and Fangirl will run there next Saturday,” Waller said. “It’s been a good race for us, win or lose it, as a good stepping stone to a George Ryder (Gr.1, 1500m) for her (Fangirl) and Via Sistina will probably go to the Ranvet (Gr.1, 2000m). “They’ll have to race against each other on Saturday, but after that they can run on the same day but in different races.” Waller’s confirmation of Atishu as the stable’s All-Star Mile runner will have a big bearing on the early market for the race. Currently, Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) ($3.50) holds sway over Gr.1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) winner Another Wil (Street Boss) ($4.50), with Via Sistina marked at $5, Fangirl at $6 and Atishu at $7. View the full article

Ciaron Maher is contemplating the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) and a Valley debut for Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) after his Group One win in last Saturday’s Oakleigh Plate (1100m). Maher said the gelding has pulled up well and The Valley sprint on March 22 could be the next option for the eight-time winner, who on Monday afternoon was not in markets for the A$1 million sprint. “It will be interesting to see what his rating gets to,” Maher said on Monday. “There’s a plethora of options for him but maybe a William Reid 1200 metres around The Valley? “He is in really good order. “He had furnished going into this prep and he is just a horse the owners have been patient with and he’s at the top of his game.” The stable won the William Reid Stakes with Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) in 2020 after she finished second in the Newmarket Handicap. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The rushed trip back to the United States was well worth it for champion driver Dexter Dunn. The 10-time Kiwi champion arrived in Florida just a hour before the annual Dan Patch awards started, and he’d be pleased he did. Dunn had been in Brisbane over the weekend, finishing fourth in the inaugural Ultimate Drivers Championship at Albion Park. Earlier he’d been holidaying back home in New Zealand. He always knew he was going to win his fifth USA Driver of the Year title in six years. Then came the award that meant a lot. Twin B Joe Fresh, a pacer he co-owns with the likes of fellow ex-pat Kiwi Chris Ryder, won Pacer of the Year and then Horse of the Year. The star mare had 11 wins and two seconds from 13 starts in 2024. She is just the second mare to win Horse of the Year, joining the Kiwi-bred Shartin N in 2019. “It’s always a great feeling as a driver to win big races, but having ownership in a horse that’s done what she’s done has been really special,” says Dunn, “to be part owner of a Horse of the Year, it’s the moment of my career, probably. It’s unbelievable.” Ryder was equally upbeat. “It’s great. I’m pleased that she’s been recognized. I think it was well deserved. It means a lot for me and the barn and my two boys (Patrick and Samuel) and Nicola, my wife, who helped a lot. A real lot.” Overall Dunn drove a record eight Dan Patch Award winners during 2024, including Trotter of the Year Jiggy Jog S. It’s the first time since the Awards started in 1970 that mares have won both Pacer and Trotter of the Year. View the full article

Star British jockey tasked with securing victory in the competition for connections of Soleil Fighter.View the full article

Trainer to push Jockey Club to put on a set-weights contest for his gun speedster early in the 2025-26 season.View the full article

Double-headers on Tuesday and Friday will make for a busy harness racing week around the country. Addington and Manawatu get underway on Tuesday, with Manawatu’s seven race card starting at 3.24pm and the first of Addington’s eight races set down for 4.28pm. Winton is next to go on Thursday with Friday Night Lights featuring meetings at both Alexandra Park and Addington. The week is rounded out with a Sunday meeting at Rangiora. Burton hoping to go one better with Ultimate Counsel By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After going so close last start Nikita Burton is hoping to go one better at Addington on Tuesday evening. The 18-year-old went within a neck of victory at Motukarara on February 16 when the Nigel Perkins-trained Ultimate Counsel just got beaten by Archie. “Up the straight I got to the front but Ricky (May) fought back, but it was still a really good feeling,” says Burton. It was just her ninth race day drive. “The adrenaline rush is unreal.” Burton and the He’s Watching six-year-old will line up again at Addington on Tuesday in Race 8, the Gold Band Taxis at 7.46pm. Noted for his fast beginnings from a stand Ultimate Counsel will start from eight. “He’s drawn a bit wide but hopefully he’ll step and get handy.” In the early markets Ultimate Counsel, the winner of one from 37 starts, is at $9, with the two $3.20 favourites being Moet Shard and Eastwood Dream. Nikita Burton’s always been around horses and racing. Her father Neil is a long-time hobby trainer and driver from Mid Canterbury who’s been driving and training winners since the mid 1980s. Nikita Burton has worked at Stonewall for just over a year now. She worked for the powerful stable at Swannanoa in North Canterbury during the holidays before being offered a fulltime gig at their new complex in Weedons. She also lives on-site. “I’m absolutely loving it, I’m very grateful.” “Tim (Williams) has been a great help teaching me the ropes and Mandy (Telfer) has been a great support too.” As for future goals Burton’s one is pretty obvious. “I just want to keep learning, and drive a winner!” View the full article

Fast-improving stayer Complicate booked herself a ticket to Saturday’s Listed Positive Signs and Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) with a gusty victory at Ashburton on Sunday. Complicate joined the Timaru stable of Brett Inglis in June last year after recording two wins for Wayne Hillis, showing a particular affinity for wet track conditions. Since heading to the South Island, the mare has been consistent on all surfaces, winning two in a row at Ashburton and Wingatui through December before a game third behind Mr Intelligence at the latter earlier this month. Inglis had a long-term goal of making the $170,000 feature on Otago Classics Day, but with his mare sitting on 75 rating points, he opted to head back to Canterbury with the hope of securing a place in the field. Complicate was well-liked in the market for the Gallagher Insurance (2200m) closing at $4.40, the second-favourite behind Lombardi, who was contending with a clear 60kg top-weight. Local hoop Kylie Williams continued her association with the mare and allowed her to stride up to the lead, with Lombardi trailing on the fence. Complicate had it all her own way along the back straight and began to put the pressure on turning for home, and despite being headed by Star Ballot at the 50m, she fought back to get up by a nose in the photo finish. Inglis was rapt with the performance, with a quiet five days to come for his charge before heading back to Wingatui. “It was good, she’s a good little talent and I was very pleased with her run,” he said. “We were aiming to get to the Dunedin Gold Cup and I said to Victoria (Caseley, co-owner) before her first start for me that my goal was to get to that race, so it’s been a work in progress and we’re just about there. “She was sitting on 75 points and I don’t think that would’ve been enough to make the field, so we went to Ashburton and she probably had to win to get in. Also, if she hadn’t won yesterday she probably wasn’t good enough to go to the race, so it’s great she’ll get her chance and Kylie will be sticking with her as well. “She’s very fit and clean-winded, so she’ll just have a quiet week leading into Saturday. She can go for a trot around the road tomorrow then we’ll head to the track on Wednesday for a quiet canter, she doesn’t need much.” A daughter of Complacent, Complicate was bred by the late Don Skelton, who Inglis met through an online racing platform over two decades ago. Skelton raced her dam, Kate, who won two races and ran fifth in the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, before gifting her to Inglis as a broodmare. “I met Don Skelton on Channel X about 20 years ago, we started chatting and went up and met him, and since then, he’s given us about eight horses and a couple of them were pretty handy as well,” Inglis said. “He was a breeder for a long time. “He gave us Kate, the dam, about five years ago. He still had Complicate and raced her with Wayne and Vanessa (Hillis), then before he passed, he wanted give Victoria the option of racing her. She asked me if I was interested in taking a share in her and training her myself and I said yes please, and she came to me about six months ago. “She’s going really well, she’s always had ability but just needed time to strengthen up.” Before trying his hand in training, Inglis had been involved in the industry in multiple capacities, including as an apprentice jockey and a small-time breeder. “I was an apprentice for three-and-a-half years before I got too fat, but I had about 250 raceday rides back in the seventies,” he said. “I got away from racing for a while before I met my partner, who had a couple of thoroughbred broodmares, and we decided to breed a few horses ourselves. We’ve been breeding for the last 25 years, just pottering around with a few horses and we have three two-year-olds and a yearling at home. “We sent a horse to a friend to train but after seeing the costs, I thought I may as well have a go myself, so I started riding trackwork again and got my license about ten years ago. “I still work 40 hours a week, during the summer I do my horses before work and then at this time of the year, I go into the track after work. “I love the horses, it’s a hobby and I don’t do it to make money, it’s for enjoyment. We celebrate the wins like the Melbourne Cup, it’s a really good thrill. We’ve had some handy horses, a couple that have raced in the New Zealand Cup and the Grand National. “It’s good fun.” View the full article

Shanwah’s victory in the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday was timely for his breeder’s Trelawney Stud, who are set to offer his half-brother at Inglis’ Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April. It was the third consecutive win for the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding, who was having his first tilt at stakes level, and made light work of his opposition when scoring by 1-1/2 lengths. By Too Darn Hot, Shanwah was a popular commodity at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale, where he was purchased out of Trelawney’s draft by bloodstock agent Cameron Cooke for $750,000. “He was a beautiful foal and yearling, he had a good walk and a great nature,” Trelawney’s Cherry Taylor said. Shanwah has subsequently been gelded, and Taylor believes that has been a masterstroke in turning his form around. “He has certainly got his mind on the job since he has been gelded, winning three in a row and stepping up from a ratings class to a Group Two,” she said. “He did need gelding because he was quite a good doer. They have certainly done the right thing because there is a lot of money in Australia for a good horse.” Shanwah is out of three-win Iffraaj mare Lady Sayyida, a half-sister to five-time Group One winner and now stallion Ocean Park, and Ruqqaya, the dam of dual Group One winner and now stallion Grunt and Group Two winner Zaydanni. While Trelawney unfortunately lost Lady Sayyida 18 months ago, she has left her mark as a broodmare, producing Group One performer Excelida and now Shanwah, and Taylor is excited about the prospects of her yearling Per Incanto colt, who will go through Inglis’ Australian Easter Yearling Sale as lot 20. “Unfortunately, we did lose the mare, which was really sad,” Taylor said. “We have got a Per Incanto colt, who is going to Sydney, and he is a cracker, he is every bit as good a type as Shanwah was and is very athletic. “You only need to have a look at that whole family. It is Ocean Park, Grunt, and Zaydanni’s family. There is a lot going on in that family, and it just gets better and better with age. “It doesn’t surprise me to see him (Shanwah) hitting his straps as a three-year-old as well. If you look at the history of that family, they have their best years as four and five-year-olds, so I would expect him to go on with it.” View the full article

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will head into next week’s Champions Day at Ellerslie with a trio of leading chances, with all three pleasing in their final hit-outs at the Auckland track on Saturday. Glamour mare Orchestral was strong late when finishing third in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and will now step up to 2000m in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes. The daughter of Savabeel was eye-catching when winning the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) last month, and her trainers felt another mile test was ideal when looking ahead to her autumn targets. “She has bounced through it really well,” James said. “To be fair, we probably stacked it against her a wee bit going another mile, but we looked at the long-term and not the short-term. “Her next two runs she will look well placed in – the Bonecrusher in two weeks and then most likely three weeks to the Tancred over a mile-and-a-half in Sydney worth A$1.5 million.” Stablemate Dealt With continued his pleasing run of form when runner-up to Sethito in the Listed Trevor Corallie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). The son of Ace High hasn’t put a foot wrong in his four career starts to date, winning his first two starts, which earned him a berth in next week’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) courtesy of slot holders Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing, before placing in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Uncle Remus Stakes. Saturday’s result bodes well for next week, with the field containing four NZB Kiwi contenders, and James has put his rivals on notice, saying there is improvement to come from his three-year-old. “He is a big burly boy and he had done pretty well on us. Even his work on Thursday indicated that,” James said. “He is not one that you can gallop in company, and he only does as much as he has to on his own. He pulled up that way a little bit too, that the run would bring him on. You can’t peak for them all, and if that is the one that we missed a little bit on true fitness, it is what the run was designed for.” James will also be out to extend his great record in the $1.25 million Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Oceana Dream, who ran third in Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m). “I was pleased with his run,” James said. “It was an 11 out of 10 ride from George (Rooke, jockey) to go forward as he did, first run over ground from a wide barrier and he found him a lovely position. He was just a bit late getting clear in the straight, but he ran home really well.” Champions Day is building to be an exciting card of racing, and James is hoping his stable can figure prominently. “It is going to be tough racing, but so it should be for the money that is up,” he said. View the full article

Talented apprentice jockey Tayla Mitchell not only collected one of the country’s biggest staying races on Saturday at Ellerslie, but she also reached a valuable milestone with a century of winners to her name. The 21-year-old partnered Ken Harrison’s four-year-old Please Sir in the Eagle Charters 2100, and after settling fourth in the running, the gelding kept finding in the straight to come out on top in a competitive finish where the first seven home were separated by just a length. Mitchell had been informed the weekend prior that she was nearing the 100 mark and was delighted to do so early on the feature card. “Someone let me know at Matamata last Saturday that I was on 99, which was a surprise to me, so I did have it in my head when I crossed the line at Ellerslie,” she said. “He (Please Sir) had been running good races and we had the perfect run in transit, he fought to the line really hard and it was really good.” Please Sir had paid $32 for the victory, a similar quote to Blue Sky At Night, who delivered Mitchell a second Group Three victory this season in the Avondale Cup (2400m). The combination had caused a minor upset back in December when taking out the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) and there was no stopping them on Saturday, denying the favourite About Time by a neck at the post. It is no secret that the daughter of Shamexpress means a great deal to Mitchell, and the pair will return to Ellerslie in a fortnight in pursuit of the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m). “She is a very special mare to me, she gives me a lot of confidence and has taught me how to ride these staying races,” she said. “She’s a very big part of my life and has given me two of the big Cups now, I think she’ll run out the distance in the Auckland Cup as well so she should be a very good chance. “Shelley (Hale, trainer) has put all her trust in me and supported me, she could easily put a senior on for these bigger races, but she knows how well I get along with this horse and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. I wouldn’t have been able to get these races without her.” Saturday’s success was made even sweeter for Mitchell when one race later, her partner Wiremu Pinn piloted El Vencedor to a textbook win the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m). “We had a very winning household on the weekend which was awesome,” she said. “He is a massive help with my riding and everything related to racing, he helps me analyse my rides and work on where I went wrong and what I could be doing better.” Blue Sky At Night has been the highlight of a resurgent season for the young hoop. She was New Zealand’s champion apprentice in 2022/23 and subsequently headed across the Tasman, and while she was unable to attain a riding license, she gained plenty of valuable life experience from the six-month stint. “I won the premiership, which was amazing, but doing that time in Australia was a great learning experience and I took a lot a lot away from it, probably more than people would think,” she said. “Even though I wasn’t riding raceday there, it really helped me grow as a person and as a track rider, the level of professionalism over there and the way the stables operate, I really took that back with me. “I think it was also good for my mental state, I got to have that break away from race-riding and that made me want to do it that bit more.” Back in Cambridge, Mitchell is grateful to have the support of a number of local trainers, including Samantha Logan, Chad Ormsby and Ralph Manning, the latter being a huge influence early on in her apprenticeship. “Sam Logan plays a huge part in my life, not only in racing but also with all of the stuff outside of that,” she said. “If I ever need someone to chat to on the way home from the races, she’s always there for me. “I ride trackwork for her first thing every morning and she gives me rides whenever she can, I nearly got a win for her yesterday but just missed in the photo finish. “Chad’s been amazing too, he could put a senior on any day of the week, but he’s trusted me with some really nice rides. Earlier in my career, Ralph Manning was the one who boosted me from the start as well. “I think I have just under a year left (apprenticeship), so I just want to keep riding winners and grow as a rider, and see how much of my claim I can ride out before my time ends.” View the full article

What Kembla Grange Races Where Kembla Grange Racecourse – Princes Highway, Kembla Grange NSW 2526 When Tuesday, February 25, 2025 First Race 1:50pm AEDT Visit Dabble Kembla Grange is the destination for NSW racing on Tuesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-part program set for decision. The rail moves out +6m the entire circuit for the meeting, and although some scattered showers are predicted to hit the course proper, the track should maintain the Soft 5 rating at the time of acceptances. The opening event at Kembla Grange is scheduled to get underway at 1:50pm local time. Best Bet at Kembla Grange: Bremel Bremel couldn’t have been more impressive breaking through at start two, producing a devastating turn-of-foot at Hawkesbury on February 12. She led them up and gave them a beating, cruising to victory by five lengths to suggest this daughter of Capitalist may have potential metro company in her sights. Ashley Morgan will take luck out of the equation from stall five to lead them up once again, and although this Class 1 assignment has more depth on paper, expect Bremel to put them away just as stylishly. Best Bet Race 2 – #4 Bremel (5) 3yo Filly | T: Gregory McFarlane | J: Ashley Morgan (57kg) Next Best at Kembla Grange: Emilia Jane Emilia Jane was heavily backed with horse racing bookmakers first-up at Warwick Farm on February 5, and although she was beaten by 1.5 lengths, the Derryn mare had excuses. They proved too sharp for her over 1100m after taking off in the middle stages, leaving her flat-footed on the turn for home. Jay Ford gets the chance to snare the one-one from barrier three, and provided she can replicate her stunning maiden win from the end of last preparation, Emilia Jane should fit in nicely in this Class 1 contest. Next Best Race 3 – #5 Emilia Jane (3) 4yo Mare | T: Joseph Pride | J: Jay Ford (57kg) Next Best Again at Kembla Grange: Frontex Frontex did his best work late debuting at Canterbury on February 2, flashing home to get within a length of Flying From Above. The son of Territories took a long time to go through the gears, with the four-year-old unable to sprint genuinely off a slow tempo throughout the journey. They should race at a good clip in this maiden contest, and provided Jay Ford can sit within striking distance, expect Frontex to figure in this at a good price with Dabble. Next Best Again Race 4 – #1 Frontex (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | J: Jay Ford (59kg) Tuesday quaddie tips for Kembla Grange Kembla Grange quadrella selections February 25, 2025 1-6-7-8-10 2-3-8-11 1-3-4-5-6 4-5-6-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A memorial service will be held on March 1 for one of the mainstays of the Marlborough harness racing scene Mark Gill who’s died suddenly in Blenheim. The 76-year-old, a hobby trainer for 30 years, was still working fulltime as a farm worker and had been shoeing and working horses only a day before he had a sudden and unexpected medical event. “It was a huge shock for everyone to lose him so quickly,” says grand-daughter and training partner Kendra Gill. After moving north from Oxford in Canterbury “about 50 years ago” Mark Gill got involved in the sport in the 1990s. “He took out his trainers’ licence in 1994 – the same year I was born,” says Kendra. “Racing was not a business for him, it was a hobby and he loved the horses, he was hooked on it.” “He was real old school and had a huge passion for rugby, racing and beer and if he wasn’t talking about one of those he was talking about the other!” Mark trained 24 winners on his own account, the first being Flight Dujour at Greymouth in 1999. Training out of the Waterlea Raceway in Blenheim, grandfather and grand-daughter went into partnership in 2022. “We worked as our team, we had a few disagreements with the old versus the new but we always figured them out.” Their first winner was Amarla on their home course in January 2023. Amarla was their best horse with six wins and the mare provided them with their biggest racing thrill. “Winning the Winter Rewards at Addington was like winning the New Zealand Cup for us. It was worth $25,00 and we’d never imagined we could win a race like that.” Driven by Robbie Close, Amarla was at double figure odds that day at Addington in April 2023. “It was so special.” Among their other good winners was eight race winner Hes Fast And Furious. They had 11 wins together. Now Kendra will carry on the Gill name along with Mark’s daughter Jacqui. They have seven in work. Among the team is Amarla’s full sister Honour Bright Note who qualified last year. “He’ll be gutted not to be there when she gets to the races.” A memorial service for Mark Gill will be held at 3pm Saturday, March 1 at the Springlands Tavern in Blenheim. View the full article

Quietside soared to her first graded stakes victory in the $500,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) Feb. 23 at Oaklawn Park, defeating Five G and even-money favorite Muhimma earning 50 points on the road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).View the full article

Point And Shoot. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Bjorn Baker has confirmed that three-time winner Point And Shoot will line up in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington. The three-year-old has impressed in recent outings, winning his past two races at Randwick in restricted company, and Baker believes he is now ready for a step up in class. “I’m looking forward to getting down there,” Baker told Racing.com. “His last couple of runs have definitely been exciting. He’s a horse that has always shown a lot, so he deserves his chance. I think he’s a show. “I am yet to confirm but I think Damian Lane is likely to ride.” The decision to head south was cemented by Point And Shoot’s last-start win in Benchmark 78 company over 1600m, where he defeated stablemate Puntin, a previously unbeaten runner. “I had the second horse (Puntin) in the last race too and he’s actually a promising horse,” Baker said. “He went into that race unbeaten and had no weight and gave a bit of a kick, so I think that form will hold up more so than some people might expect. “He’s (Point And Shoot) a horse we’ve always thought a lot of. We thought enough of him to run him in the Queensland Sires’ Produce and he drew the wide gate and then was hampered by bad tracks in his two-year-old year.” Now with conditions in his favour, Baker is optimistic that Point And Shoot can make his mark in Saturday’s Group 1 contest. Horse racing news View the full article

Alexander Helios bobbed at the wire to hold off Banishing, earning his first graded stakes victory in the Razorback Handicap and improving to 2-1-0 since reuniting with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.View the full article

Triumphing for a third time on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Coal Battle proved he's more than just a feel-good story in the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 23.View the full article