Wandering Eyes

What Hobartville Stakes Day 2025 Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 When Saturday, February 22, 2025 First Race 12:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is the destination for metro racing on Saturday afternoon, with a bumper 10-part program lined up for Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) Day. The three-year-old feature is supported by a quality undercard, including the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) for the two-year-olds, while some key stayers for the autumn step out in the Group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m). The rail moves out +5m the entire circuit or the meeting, and with only minimal rainfall expected to hit the course proper, punters can expect the track to be rated a Soft 5 on race-day morning. All the action at Rosehill is scheduled to get underway at 12:30pm local time. Hobartville Stakes Tip: Linebacker Linebacker was game in defeat first-up in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 8, with the son of Super Seth unsuited to his leading role. There was a lack of tempo on that occasion as Mayfair failed to muster any early speed, with Kerrin McEvoy electing to send Linebacker to the top. Public Attention was the only one to get by the newly gelded three-year-old, and with a change of tactics to take a sit over 1400m, watch for Linebacker to be flashing over the top. Hobartville Stakes Race 8 – #3 Linebacker (7) 3yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | J: Kerrin McEvoy (56.5kg) Silver Slipper Stakes Tip: West Of Swindon West Of Swindon gets the verdict in the 2025 Silver Slipper Stakes as he returns after a 105-day spell. The son of Wootton Bassett caught the eye in his only run last preparation, storming home in the Group 3 Golden Gift (1100m) at this course and distance to get within a half-length of North England. He trialled up nicely heading into this first-up assignment, and with barrier one allowing Tyler Schiller to stalk the speed throughout, watch for West Of Swindon to be finishing off best and put his hand up for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) next month. Silver Slipper Stakes Race 6 – #2 West Of Swindon (1) 2yo Colt | T: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | J: Tyler Schiller (56.5kg) Parramatta Cup Tip: Asterix Asterix represents terrific each-way value with horse racing betting sites in the 2025 Parramatta Cup after a strong first-up performance at Randwick on February 8. The New Zealand import hit the line well over the unsuitable 1600m journey behind Highlights, with the Tavistock gelding doing his best work late to suggest the 1900m would be ideal second-up into the campaign. Joshua Parr can sit closer from gate two this time around, and although the Chris Waller barn could send around as many as seven runners in this, Asterix has appeal at the $23.00 with Picklebet. Parramatta Cup Race 7 – #3 Asterix (2) 6yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Joshua Parr (57kg) Millie Fox Stakes Tip: Scarlet Oak Scarlet Oak will be hoping the rainfall is significant heading into the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m). Her best form has been on wet ground in the past, with a formidable record of four starts for three wins and another minor placing on rain-affected ground. She maps to get the perfect run from barrier one as Makarena attempts to make all, and provided she can sprint fresh, the $6.50 about Scarlet Oak with Playup will appear a big price as they make the run for home. Millie Fox Stakes Race 5 – #3 Scarlet Oak (1) 4yo Mare | T: Chris Waller | J: Zac Lloyd (56kg) Best Bet at Rosehill: Step Aside Step Aside was one of the best of the beaten brigade behind Bunker Hut at Rosehill on February 1, filling out the minor placings alongside race rival Lady Boss. Step Aside didn’t have much luck getting clear turning into the home straight, with the son of Redwood pushing his way out of a pocket in the concluding stages. He’ll strip fitter for that performance, and with Zac Lloyd being legged aboard from the one pole, Step Aside should get every chance to claim his fourth career victory. Best Bet Race 3 – #5 Step Aside (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Zac Lloyd (57kg) Best Value at Rosehill: Semillion Semillion returns to Sydney after a couple unsatisfactory performances in Victoria. The son of Shalaa was well held in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 24, falling back in the field while Schwarz careered away by five lengths on the wire. Semillion always improves deeper into the preparation, however, with the five-year-old winning third-up in the past and dropping back into BM94 company appears ideal placement. Watch for Tyler Schiller to dictate to his rivals from stall two, and provided any of this predicted rainfall hits late in the day, the $18.00 with Dabble will seem too big. Best Value Race 10 – #4 Semillion (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | J: Tyler Schiller (58kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Rosehill Rosehill quadrella selections February 22, 2025 1-3-4-6-8-10-11-13 1-3-11 1-3-5-6-11 4-5-7-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Ascot races Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, February 22, 2025 First Race 12:28pm AWST Visit Dabble The Listed Detonator Stakes and Challenge Stakes will headline the nine-race card at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, where the first race is scheduled to jump at 12:28pm AWST. Although the track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, no rain is forecast to fall before raceday, allowing the surface to improve into the Good range. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit. Detonator Stakes tip: Bonjoy Bonjoy brought up a hat-trick of wins with another strong victory over 1600m at this track on February 1. The Jason Miller-trained mare showed her customary push button turn of foot to storm home over the top of Antique Miss in the final 100m of the race. Even though this will be her first crack at 1800m, it is expected that Bonjoy will have no worries seeing out the journey, and +100 with Dabble is a fair price. Detonator Stakes Race 8 – #6 Bonjoy (10) 5yo Mare | T: Jason Miller | J: Clint Johnston-Porter (55.5kg) Challenge Stakes tip: All Grunt After stretching out to 1400m for the first time in his career last start, All Grunt goes on top in the second feature. The Tiarnna Noske-trained gelding settled worse than midfield and ran home strongly down the middle of the track to bring up his third win in four starts. From barrier six, Jarrad Noske will attempt to replicate his ride on All Grunt from the back of the field and finish over the top of their rivals late. Challenge Stakes Race 7 – #2 All Grunt (6) 3yo Gelding | T: Tiarnna Noske | J: Jarrad Noske (56kg) Best Bet at Ascot: Essentric Nature Grant & Alana Williams have engaged William Pike to take the reins aboard Essentric Nature, who was a little unlucky when stuck behind traffic over 1200m last start. The son of Savabeel proved way too good for his rivals first-up before finishing fourth second-up. Rising to 1500m and gaining the services of Pike for this third-up start are two positives for Essentric Nature, and with even luck, he will bounce back. Best Bet Race 6 – #6 Essentric Nature (8) 4yo Gelding | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (56kg) Next Best at Ascot: Axeman’s Jazz Axeman’s Jazz returned with a stylish win over 1400m at this track on January 22, when the Grant & Alana Williams-trained gelding let down with a strong turn of foot to defeat Missile Storm. The son of Dundeel has won back-to-back starts and is starting to build a solid record after just seven runs. The rise to 1600m off a four-week break looks like the perfect recipe for success, and Axeman’s Jazz gets a great opportunity to bring up the hat-trick. Next Best Race 5 – #4 Axeman’s Jazz (5) 5yo Gelding | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: Clint Johnston-Porter (58kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Ascot races Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, February 22, 2025 5-6-8 1-2-6-8-9 6-7-12 2-4-6-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Elite speedster must overcome another wide barrier when stepping up to 1,400m in Sunday’s Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.View the full article

The $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) has received a welcome injection of southern flavour, with exciting filly Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns) having secured a berth in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race. Trained and ridden by Samantha Wynne, Pivotal Ten has gained many admirers this term after producing a picket fence form line, including three successive stakes victories, culminating in last Saturday’s dominant 8-3/4 length victory in the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m). Her connections received plenty of interest from NZB Kiwi slot holders, but it was the Selangor Turf Club that came out on top in securing the services of the daughter of Ten Sovereigns. “I think she is the most interesting runner in the race and probably the most exciting,” New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) Director of Business Development and Selangor Turf Club Slot Holder representative Mike Kneebone said. “She is a filly that I think will work really well for the race and I am thrilled that we waited for as long as we did to get the horse that we really wanted.” Wynne is looking forward to being a part of the New Zealand Thoroughbred racing industry’s first-ever slot race and is excited by the challenge. “It is going to be the biggest challenge of my life, but I am ready for it,” she said. “I know how lucky I am to have her. People wait all their lives for a horse like her, so I am not taking anything for granted. “She keeps stepping up and doing good things, so I think she deserves a shot, and hopefully we can do the South Island proud.” While Wynne has ridden at Ellerslie, she has yet to line-up a runner in the North Island, so to do so in the richest race in the country is a bit surreal for the Canterbury horsewoman. “I have never had a runner in the North Island,” she said. “I rode in the Auckland Cup and had a couple of rides that day. I will be up there a week before the race and I will do as much homework as I can, we will leave no stone unturned.” The Selangor Turf Club have been great supporters of New Zealand Bloodstock, and the New Zealand racing and breeding industry, and Kneebone said it is great to have their involvement in the inaugural running of the NZB Kiwi after they purchased a slot at a charity event prior to New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale last year. “I have worked up there (Malaysia) for a long time and I have said for many years that the Selangor Turf Club are a very forward-thinking club,” Kneebone said. “They are driven by a wonderful chairman in Tan Sri Richard Cham, and his wife Louise is by his side. Their CEO is Mike Fong and they have been great supporters of New Zealand Bloodstock for a long time. “When they realised Singapore was finishing (racing last year), they were wanting to get two-year-olds coming up into their racing system so they had new, young horses coming through to attract people to the races, and they chose New Zealand as that place to replenish their horses. “When they came down for the Ready to Run Sale they were at the welcome party where the auction of the one-off NZB Kiwi slot was going on. Captain Tan Tiang Huat, who is one of the main owners up there, bought the slot, and after it he said, ‘Mike you will need to find us one now and we will come down’. “There is a group of 20 coming down. They love their racing and they are an on-the-move Club. We can’t thank them enough for the support they have given us, and this might be a good way to reward them.” Kneebone thinks he has found the Selangor Turf Club the perfect filly for the race and said his attention was drawn to her following her golden run of form in the south. “I had a number of people mention her to me as a filly on the rise, because I buy a lot of well-bred fillies and mares, and she came on the radar because of that,” he said. “After her win in the Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m), it was the times that I was impressed with the most with her and the fact that she doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. She is a lovely, relaxed animal. “I have spoken with Sam about going the other way around for Ellerslie and she said the filly is such a natural, relaxed talent and she swaps over legs whenever she wants to, and I don’t think that will be a problem for her at all.” Kneebone said NZB is proud to be the naming sponsor of the race and extending their strong support of the New Zealand racing industry. “New Zealand Bloodstock have been huge sponsors of New Zealand racing for so long with the Fillies Series and the Pearl Series, general race meetings, and of course the Karaka Millions as well,” he said. “It is a great fit for us, and it keeps the momentum going that New Zealand racing is heading in at the moment. We just love this concept.” Pivotal Ten was bred by the late Kevin Hickman under his Valachi Downs banner. She is out of Lady Woodcote, a full-sister to Group One winner Maarek, and is a half-sister to stakes performer Woodcote Lass. She was offered through Valachi Downs’ 2022 NZB National Weanling Sale where she was purchased by Colin Wightman for $15,000, and was entrusted to the care of Wynne, for whom she has won five of her seven starts, including three at stakes level, and has earned nearly $200,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

It is always a gamble to pay a late entry fee into a feature race but with a winner’s purse of $1.2 million up for grabs in the Blue Diamond Stakes it is one well worth taking. Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young along with the connections of Field Of Play parted with $55,000 to have the Field Of Play run in Victoria’s most prestigious two-year-old race at Caulfield on Saturday. Field Of Play is one of two unbeaten two-year-olds in Saturday’s Group 1 contest, coming off a debut win at Moonee Valley, importantly at 1200m, before taking out the Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings over 1100m at Caulfield on February 8. With almost $300,000 in the bank from those two wins, Busuttin said the late payment was an easy choice to make after the gelding was not entered for the Group 1 race when entries were taken last year as he had been earmarked to head to Hong Kong. Busuttin said the lead up to Saturday since the Caulfield victory had been very smooth and while there will be more pressure with 16 runners, the co-trainer is sure Field Of Play will be up to it. “He sat up outside the lead last time and they weren’t hacking the other day,” Busuttin said. “He’s got good natural speed, he’s a good natural horse. “I was speaking to Blake Shinn on Tuesday morning and running through things, and I said ‘if we draw wide, we go back, and we’ll still be good enough to be in it’. He said ‘it won’t matter what we draw, we’ll be going forward’, so the draw takes care of that.” Field Of Play drew barrier five on Saturday as Shinn chases a first win in the prestigious event while Busuttin and Young a second having scored with Tagaloa in 2020. Tagaloa ran the second fastest time in the last 25 years when successful, just 0.01 seconds slower than Sepoy in 2011 and one of only four two-year-olds to have broken 1:09.00 in that period. “I think we drew three and four the year we won it,” Busuttin said. “Letzbeglam (from three) was outside the lead and Tagaloa was three deep without cover. “They all raved on about bias that day and that the second horse Hanseatic should have won. Hanseatic drew one and peeled off their heels and had every opportunity. “Not many horses win a Blue Diamond sitting three deep without cover, and I certainly hope that’s not the case with this bloke. “In a perfect world he’ll be one-one, but Blake will sort that out.” One thing Busuttin knows is the 1200m won’t be a concern for Field Of Play. “Everyone will say their horse is going to improve, which they naturally will,” Busuttin said. “The second horse (Devil Night), it was a big effort to run second on debut and is drawn well, and I think is the one to beat, while the fillies have done nothing wrong, and the chances don’t end there. “But I think our horse is the one to beat. He hasn’t been dominant to the point where you would say he’s just going out and win, but I wouldn’t be swapping him with any other runner.” View the full article

A sterling field has assembled for Saturday’s Listed Trevor and Coralie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) and Cody Cole is looking forward to testing his promising three-year-old Atmospheric (NZ) (El Roca) against some of the best in the country. The son of El Roca has been lightly-tried by Cole, with just four starts resulting in a win and three minor placings. After scoring his maiden at Tauranga in January, Atmospheric was bold against the older horses at New Plymouth, finishing a head adrift of One Bold Gigolo. “His run at Taranaki was full of merit, there was quite an on-speed bias that day and he got a bit of a bump on the bending, losing his momentum,” Cole said. “He really wound up late. “When he backed up his good win at Tauranga with another nice run, I thought why not have a crack. We opted to keep him at those shorter trips, he could’ve followed a path to go over ground in those couple of races after the Derby, but I just feel that he’s a little too immature to cope with that sort of mileage yet. “He’s that kind of horse that you can do anything with, he could switch off and run a trip if you want to, but I think we’re better to look ahead at the four-year-old year for that. “If he can be competitive there, we’ll keep him there for now.” Cole will apply blinkers on Atmospheric for the $110,000 contest, which features four confirmed slot holders for the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), with plenty chasing one of the remaining spots in the big race. “It’s a very strong race and he’s drawn an absolute horror gate (12 of 12), but you’re only three once and he’s an improving type,” Cole said. “He’ll be better next year, but he deserves a shot at them.” Atmospheric will be Cole’s sole representative at Ellerslie, while two of his runners in Bradley (NZ) (Belardo) and Mapalicious (NZ) (Puccini) will travel south to Otaki. Bradley is chasing a breakthrough victory in the Harcourts Otaki Maiden (1600m), while Mapalicious is searching for better fortune than in her most recent appearance in the Aquashield Roofing Handicap (1600m). “Bradley had a fresh-up run the other day and got back in an awkward spot, then he came down the outside in the firmest part of the track which he didn’t really appreciate,” Cole said. “There is a little bit of rain around at Otaki and it won’t be anywhere near as firm as it was at Te Rapa, which will suit him. It’s a race that possibly lacks a bit of depth and he deserves to be where he is in the market down there. “Mapalicious was in a really niggly run race last-start where the breaks were on and off, Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) had her in a lovely spot then she just got shuffled back to last at the top of the straight and by the time she’d crossed heels and got out, the race was over. “She’s better than that and doesn’t often run a bad one, I had no criticism of her performance there, it was just the way the race panned out.” Looking ahead to Champions Day in a fortnight, Cole will return to Ellerslie with his consistent juvenile Landlock to take on the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). The son of Merchant Navy won on debut and was a narrow second in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), but it was his game fifth-placed effort in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) that stood out for Cole. “I was really proud of the horse, he’s had four runs, never had a trial and drew an awful gate (13) in the Millions, but when Rory (Hutchings, jockey) got off, he was very complementary of him,” Cole said. “He said he just gives you 100 percent and he wished I could feel the feeling he gives you, he was all out in the last 100m and his head was getting lower and lower, but he just kept giving his all. He’s just a genuine little racehorse. “He had a couple of weeks in the paddock post-race and he’s back to it again now, he’ll look to head to the Sistema and on to the Sires (Gr.1, 1400m) after that.” View the full article

Fresh off recording his 20th Group One win aboard Skybird in the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington last Saturday, jockey John Allen will cross the Tasman this weekend to ride a pair of Group contenders at Ellerslie. It will be first time the 40-year-old hoop has plied his trade in New Zealand, with the trip instigated by OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson, who was keen for Allen to partner his $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) contender Skippers Canyon (NZ) (Belardo) in Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m). Trained and initially raced by Opaki horseman Jim Wallace, Skippers Canyon was purchased by OTI Racing following his maiden win at Otaki last month, and he carried their familiar silks to a fourth placed result in the $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) a fortnight later. “It will be the first time I ride in New Zealand,” Allen said. “Terry Henderson of OTI contacted me to see if I was interested in going over to ride Skippers Canyon. He said he is heading towards the Derby and thought he would be a live chance. “I have had a few dealings with him before. It’s obviously Blue Diamond Day in Melbourne but it didn’t look like I was going to be on anything in any of the good races, so I said I would.” Allen is also booked to ride the Ciaron Maher-trained Interpretation in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m), a horse he has ridden on three occasions in the past. The Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) runner finished seventh in his sole New Zealand start to date in last month’s Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham, and Allen is confident of a better showing this weekend. “I have ridden a bit for Ciaron and I was aware he was over there,” Allen said. “I have ridden the horse once or twice before, so if he can bring his best form he should be a good chance.” Both of his mounts are destined to compete on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8, with the Derby Skippers Canyon’s main objective, while Interpretation will contest the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m), and Allen said it would be great to be a part of the action. “We will just see how Saturday goes first but there are some big races and big prizemoney (on Champions Day), so it would be good to pick up a ride in them,” he said. View the full article

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are keeping their eye on the prize in Saturday’s Listed Trevor and Coralie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), as slot horses Sethito (NZ) (Super Seth) and Checkmate (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) have their final hit-out before next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). It was evident from early in the season that O’Sullivan and Scott were likely to play a big role in the NZB Kiwi, with an abundance of three-year-old talent in their arsenal. Wexford currently have Sought After, Sethito and Checkmate in the race, with the latter pair lining up in the curtain-raiser at Ellerslie on Avondale Cup Day. Checkmate was last seen at the course on January 12, winning an open three-year-old 1500m contest after picking up the Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m) earlier in the season. Sethito’s form has been similarly impressive, winning the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) before narrowly missing in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1400m) on Boxing Day. “Checkmate had 10 days in the paddock for a freshen-up, as did Sethito and now it’s just maintenance work going into this race,” O’Sullivan said. “We’re hoping that they will be peaking two weeks later. “They’ve had one piece of work together but do most of their work separately, in saying that, they are pretty evenly matched.” While their stablemates are locked in under the Wexford and Waikato Thoroughbred Racing slots respectively, chasing an opportunity in the NZB Kiwi will be Hankee Alpha (NZ) (Proisir) and Tristar (NZ) (Exceedance). Hankee Alpha was a standout maiden winner and backed that up in Rating 65 company, before a meritorious fifth in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). The daughter of Proisir will have just her fourth start on Saturday, just one less than Tristar, who was outstanding when winning at Tauranga in early January. “She (Hankee Alpha) ran well in the Almanzor, she got around Ellerslie and I think her sectionals were very respectable,” O’Sullivan said. “We were very pleased. “This race will only continue to improve her and we expect her to put up a good performance. “I thought Tristar’s win last start was very good and she has trialled in the interim, she went to Ellerslie and got around the course nicely. “It would be nice if someone could pick her up as well, she’s certainly worthy.” The Wexford quartet are all prominent in the Uncle Remus market, with Checkmate and Sethito on top at $3.80, Hankee Alpha at $8 and Tristar at $8.50. Earlier on the card, Group One winner Waitak (NZ) (Proisir)will have his first race further than 1400m in nearly two years in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m). Waitak was Group One-placed as a juvenile and continued that form into his three-year-old year, winning the Listed Trevor and Coralie Eagle Memorial (now Armacup 3YO Stakes) over 1500m and placing in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). The Proisir gelding earned a trip to Brisbane where he contested the major distance features, but on his return at four, it became evident that he was more effective over six furlongs, winning the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and contesting the A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth. Continuing his consistent form, Waitak has been thereabouts at every start at the top level in sprint company this term, but after a booming run from the back in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), O’Sullivan and Scott turned their focus to the mile feature. “Looking at the way he’s racing, his pattern certainly suggests that he’s wanting to run further,” O’Sullivan said. “He’ll get that opportunity this weekend and we expect him to be competitive. “He hasn’t run past 1400m for quite some time, but that won’t be any concern.” Waitak is rated a $16 chance in the early market for the $500,000 contest, headed by El Vencedor ($2.70) and Orchestral ($3.50). View the full article

Expatriate Kiwi trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are hoping for a case of third time lucky with their staying three-year-old Thedoctoroflove. The Cranbourne-based couple have sent the son of So You Think across the Tasman to run in Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) ahead of a return to Ellerslie for crack at the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day. “He travelled over last Thursday and got there on Friday morning and has settled in well at Shaune Ritchie’s place,” Busuttin said. Another former New Zealand trainer has also made the trip home with the Classic contender. “Brendon Hawtin, our assistant trainer here, is over there with him and the horse galloped well on Tuesday morning so we’re happy with him,” Busuttin said. The stable is treading a well-worn path to Ellerslie following two previous Derby assaults with 2017 runner-up Rising Red and last year Interlinked ran third in the Avondale Guineas and fifth in the Derby behind Orchestral. “Obviously, Rising Red got beaten by Gingernuts and Interlinked ran well in the lead-up and was a bit plain in the Derby,” Busuttin said. “This horse looks similar to those at this stage so hopefully he runs very well.” To be partnered by Daniel Moor, Thedoctoroflove placed at his first two starts before he won over 2000m at Flemington and was then sixth over 2100m at Sandown. “The other day, he got well out of his ground and finished strongly and if he’d held his position and sat midfield, he probably would have gone close to winning that race,” Busuttin said. “That was against the older horses, so I think his form is certainly going to be competitive.” Thedoctoroflove was bought out of Mill Park Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for A$220,000. He is the first foal of the Rebel Raider mare Liberty Lover, a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner Dalasan, who placed four times at Group One level including a runner-up finish in the South Australian Derby (2500m). “This horse is a real mile and a-half type and he doesn’t have a lot of change-up speed, so he’ll need every bit of the 2100m to be competitive, but we’re sure he’ll run well,” Busuttin said. “I haven’t paid too much attention to all the New Zealand horses, other than the hot favourite (Willydoit) and he looks a special horse, but we’re happy to have a go.” Busuttin and Young also have a potential Group One three-year-old contender at home with the New Zealand-bred Emphasize, a son of Embellish who has won two of his three starts. “He runs on Saturday in the Autumn Classic, a Group Three over 1800m, at Caulfield and I’d say he will be a short-priced favourite,” Busuttin said. “He obviously looks the one to beat and safely through that he’ll probably aim at the Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1, 2000m).” View the full article

Atmospheric will contest Saturday’s Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A sterling field has assembled for Saturday’s Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) and Cody Cole is looking forward to testing his promising three-year-old Atmospheric against some of the best in the country. The son of El Roca has been lightly-tried by Cole, with just four starts resulting in a win and three minor placings. After scoring his maiden at Tauranga in January, Atmospheric was bold against the older horses at New Plymouth, finishing a head adrift of One Bold Gigolo. “His run at Taranaki was full of merit, there was quite an on-speed bias that day and he got a bit of a bump on the bending, losing his momentum,” Cole said. “He really wound up late. “When he backed up his good win at Tauranga with another nice run, I thought why not have a crack. We opted to keep him at those shorter trips, he could’ve followed a path to go over ground in those couple of races after the Derby, but I just feel that he’s a little too immature to cope with that sort of mileage yet. “He’s that kind of horse that you can do anything with, he could switch off and run a trip if you want to, but I think we’re better to look ahead at the four-year-old year for that. “If he can be competitive there, we’ll keep him there for now.” Cole will apply blinkers on Atmospheric for the $110,000 contest, which features four confirmed slot holders for the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), with plenty chasing one of the remaining spots in the big race. “It’s a very strong race and he’s drawn an absolute horror gate (12 of 12), but you’re only three once and he’s an improving type,” Cole said. “He’ll be better next year, but he deserves a shot at them.” Atmospheric will be Cole’s sole representative at Ellerslie, while two of his runners in Bradley and Mapalicious will travel south to Otaki. Bradley is chasing a breakthrough victory in the Harcourts Otaki Maiden (1600m), while Mapalicious is searching for better fortune than in her most recent appearance in the Aquashield Roofing Handicap (1600m). “Bradley had a fresh-up run the other day and got back in an awkward spot, then he came down the outside in the firmest part of the track which he didn’t really appreciate,” Cole said. “There is a little bit of rain around at Otaki and it won’t be anywhere near as firm as it was at Te Rapa, which will suit him. It’s a race that possibly lacks a bit of depth and he deserves to be where he is in the market down there. “Mapalicious was in a really niggly run race last-start where the breaks were on and off, Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) had her in a lovely spot then she just got shuffled back to last at the top of the straight and by the time she’d crossed heels and got out, the race was over. “She’s better than that and doesn’t often run a bad one, I had no criticism of her performance there, it was just the way the race panned out.” Looking ahead to Champions Day in a fortnight, Cole will return to Ellerslie with his consistent juvenile Landlock to take on the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). The son of Merchant Navy won on debut and was a narrow second in the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), but it was his game fifth-placed effort in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) that stood out for Cole. “I was really proud of the horse, he’s had four runs, never had a trial and drew an awful gate (13) in the Millions, but when Rory (Hutchings, jockey) got off, he was very complementary of him,” Cole said. “He said he just gives you 100 percent and he wished I could feel the feeling he gives you, he was all out in the last 100m and his head was getting lower and lower, but he just kept giving his all. He’s just a genuine little racehorse. “He had a couple of weeks in the paddock post-race and he’s back to it again now, he’ll look to head to the Sistema and on to the Sires (Group 1, 1400m) after that.” Horse racing news View the full article

John Allen will be at Ellerslie on Saturday to partner Skippers Canyon in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North Fresh off recording his 20th Group 1 win aboard Skybird in the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington last Saturday, jockey John Allen will cross the Tasman this weekend to ride a pair of Group contenders at Ellerslie. It will be first time the 40-year-old hoop has plied his trade in New Zealand, with the trip instigated by OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson, who was keen for Allen to partner his $1.25 million Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) contender Skippers Canyon in Saturday’s Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). Trained and initially raced by Opaki horseman Jim Wallace, Skippers Canyon was purchased by OTI Racing following his maiden win at Otaki last month, and he carried their familiar silks to a fourth placed result in the $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) a fortnight later. “It will be the first time I ride in New Zealand,” Allen said. “Terry Henderson of OTI contacted me to see if I was interested in going over to ride Skippers Canyon. He said he is heading towards the Derby and thought he would be a live chance. “I have had a few dealings with him before. It’s obviously Blue Diamond Day in Melbourne but it didn’t look like I was going to be on anything in any of the good races, so I said I would.” Allen is also booked to ride the Ciaron Maher-trained Interpretation in the Group 3 Avondale Cup (2400m), a horse he has ridden on three occasions in the past. The Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) runner finished seventh in his sole New Zealand start to date in last month’s Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham, and Allen is confident of a better showing this weekend. “I have ridden a bit for Ciaron and I was aware he was over there,” Allen said. “I have ridden the horse once or twice before, so if he can bring his best form he should be a good chance.” Both of his mounts are destined to compete on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8, with the Derby Skippers Canyon’s main objective, while Interpretation will contest the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m), and Allen said it would be great to be a part of the action. “We will just see how Saturday goes first but there are some big races and big prizemoney (on Champions Day), so it would be good to pick up a ride in them,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Checkmate is one of four Wexford runners in Saturday’s Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are keeping their eye on the prize in Saturday’s Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), as slot horses Sethito and Checkmate have their final hit-out before next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). It was evident from early in the season that O’Sullivan and Scott were likely to play a big role in the NZB Kiwi, with an abundance of three-year-old talent in their arsenal. Wexford currently have Sought After, Sethito and Checkmate in the race, with the latter pair lining up in the curtain-raiser at Ellerslie on Avondale Cup Day. Checkmate was last seen at the course on January 12, winning an open three-year-old 1500m contest after picking up the Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m) earlier in the season. Sethito’s form has been similarly impressive, winning the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) before narrowly missing in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1400m) on Boxing Day. “Checkmate had 10 days in the paddock for a freshen-up, as did Sethito and now it’s just maintenance work going into this race,” O’Sullivan said. “We’re hoping that they will be peaking two weeks later. “They’ve had one piece of work together but do most of their work separately, in saying that, they are pretty evenly matched.” While their stablemates are locked in under the Wexford and Waikato Thoroughbred Racing slots respectively, chasing an opportunity in the NZB Kiwi will be Hankee Alpha and Tristar. Hankee Alpha was a standout maiden winner and backed that up in Rating 65 company, before a meritorious fifth in the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). The daughter of Proisir will have just her fourth start on Saturday, just one less than Tristar, who was outstanding when winning at Tauranga in early January. “She (Hankee Alpha) ran well in the Almanzor, she got around Ellerslie and I think her sectionals were very respectable,” O’Sullivan said. “We were very pleased. “This race will only continue to improve her and we expect her to put up a good performance. “I thought Tristar’s win last start was very good and she has trialled in the interim, she went to Ellerslie and got around the course nicely. “It would be nice if someone could pick her up as well, she’s certainly worthy.” The Wexford quartet are all prominent in the Uncle Remus market, with Checkmate and Sethito on top at $3.80, Hankee Alpha at $8 and Tristar at $8.50. Earlier on the card, Group 1 winner Waitak will have his first race further than 1400m in nearly two years in the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m). Waitak was Group 1-placed as a juvenile and continued that form into his three-year-old year, winning the Listed Trevor and Coralie Eagle Memorial (now Armacup 3YO Stakes) over 1500m and placing in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). The Proisir gelding earned a trip to Brisbane where he contested the major distance features, but on his return at four, it became evident that he was more effective over six furlongs, winning the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) and contesting the A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth. Continuing his consistent form, Waitak has been thereabouts at every start at the top level in sprint company this term, but after a booming run from the back in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), O’Sullivan and Scott turned their focus to the mile feature. “Looking at the way he’s racing, his pattern certainly suggests that he’s wanting to run further,” O’Sullivan said. “He’ll get that opportunity this weekend and we expect him to be competitive. “He hasn’t run past 1400m for quite some time, but that won’t be any concern.” Waitak is rated a $16 chance in the early market for the $500,000 contest, headed by El Vencedor ($2.70) and Orchestral ($3.50). Horse racing news View the full article

About Time will take her place in Saturday’s Group 3 Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The Lance Noble-trained About Time will be rewarded for her consistent run of form with a tilt at stakes level for the first time in more than a year when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday. Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, About Time was victorious in last year’s Group 2 Sir Patick Hogan Stakes (2050m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day before finishing unplaced in the Group 2 Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa a month later. Noble has resisted the temptation to test her at stakes level this term and has been rewarded with three consecutive victories, including the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. With an eye towards the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day in a fortnight, Noble felt Saturday’s Group 3 Avondale Cup (2400m) was the perfect lead-in and is looking forward to seeing what his mare can do under 53kg. “She has obviously won her last three, she likes Ellerslie, and I am looking forward to it,” he said. “She had a bit of a break between the Dunstan Stayers’ Final and her last run, which has brought her on even more. She is looking well. “She comes in well with her form being strong and dropping weight (to 53kg). It is a good recipe when they have carried weight and dropped it into the next one, although it is a class rise. “All going well she will head to the Auckland Cup. At this time of year most of the horses have been in work for a long time and it has been a long, hot, dry summer. If you can keep them in good order, hopefully she has got a couple of good runs left in her.” About Time is dominating the Avondale Cup market, currently sitting as a $3.30 favourite with online bookmakers, with Son of Sun the only other runner in single figures at $8. She also heads the Auckland Cup futures market, alongside Tajanis, at $4.50. Meanwhile, stablemate Jaarffi will tackle a quality line-up in the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) on Saturday, and Noble is hoping she gets more luck at Ellerslie than she has in her last two starts at the Auckland track when runner-up in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year’s Day and fifth in the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) three weeks later. “She hasn’t had much luck in her last couple of starts,” Noble said. “She was three wide without cover in the Rich Hill Mile and worked and got to the front a little bit soon and got run down. I thought that was a great run. “In her next start she drew wide and didn’t have a lot of luck in running in the Westbury and got shunted wider on the corner and still ran fifth. “It is a step-up at weight-for-age against some pretty in form horses, but at her best, and if we can get the right run, I think she can be in the mix.” A return to Ellerslie for a Group 1 assignment awaits Jaarffi if she performs well this weekend. “If she runs up to expectations there is the possibility of the Breeders’ Stakes (Group 1, 1600m) on Champions Day,” Noble said. Rounding out Noble’s team on Saturday will be Dazzled in the Horizon By SkyCity 1200. “She had a little freshen-up after what looked on paper to be a bit of an average run for her when she ran sixth in the Royal Descent Stakes (at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day),” he said. “There’s a lot of form that has come out of that race, so it might have been a better run than it looked. “We did give her 10 days off and freshened her up and she has been working well. It is not a big field, she has got a great finish, so if she can produce that hopefully we will be in it.” Horse racing news View the full article

Connections of dual Sha Tin all-weather winner accept invite to race in Group Two Godolphin Mile at Meydan.View the full article

What Doomben Races Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, February 22, 2025 First Race 12:12pm AEST Visit Dabble Brisbane Racing Club will host a massive 10-race card at Doomben Racecourse on Saturday afternoon. The track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances; however, with little to no rain forecast in the lead-up, it is expected that the surface will improve into the Good range by raceday. The rail will be in the +4m position for the entire circuit, with the first race scheduled to jump at 12:12pm AEST. Best Bet at Doomben: Diablo Bolt After claiming consecutive wins to kick off his preparation, Diablo Bolt settled for second place behind Queen Air at the Gold Coast over 2000m last start. The Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained gelding made a searching run from the back of the field and looped his rivals before slightly peaking on his run 150m from home. Jag Guthmann-Chester will be legged back aboard for his seventh ride on this guy, and from barrier two, Diablo Bolt will receive the run of the race. Best Bet Race 2 – #6 Diablo Bolt (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Jag Guthmann-Chester (56kg) Next Best at Doomben: Mintaka Lad Mintaka Lad has been beaten by narrow margins in both of his starts this campaign, even though he looked the winner with 100m to go in his previous run at this track and trip. The David Vandyke-trained gelding produced a gutsy performance to finish second after being stuck three-wide for most of the trip before taking off to find the front with 250m to go. With a better run in transit expected from barrier four, Mintaka Lad can go one better and break his run of outs. Next Best Race 6 – #6 Mintaka Lad (4) 5yo Gelding | T: David Vandyke | J: Noel Callow (60kg) Best Value at Doomben: Tectonic Plate Daniel Bowen and Samantha Collett will combine with Tectonic Plate for the fourth straight start when the five-year-old mare returns to Doomben for the second time in her career. The daughter of Supido ran home strongly from the back of the field at the Gold Coast over 1000m, and it appears she is crying out for the extra distance of this 1200m contest. From barrier one, Tectonic Plate can settle behind the speed and give a great sight at a nice each-way price with BlondeBet. Best Value Race 8 – #14 Tectonic Plate (1) 5yo Mare | T: Daniel Bowen | J: Samantha Collett (53.5kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Doomben races Doomben quadrella selections Saturday, February 22, 2025 3-6-7-10 1-3-6-9-14 1-4-8-14 1-5-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Towering above all the drama, competition, and high stakes of the two-day Saudi Cup meeting is one single question: Can Romantic Warrior perform as well on dirt as he has on the turf?View the full article

The Lance Noble-trained About Time (NZ) (American Pharoah) will be rewarded for her consistent run of form with a tilt at stakes level for the first time in more than a year when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday. Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, About Time was victorious in last year’s Gr.2 Sir Patick Hogan Stakes (2050m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day before finishing unplaced in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa a month later. Noble has resisted the temptation to test her at stakes level this term and has been rewarded with three consecutive victories, including the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. With an eye towards the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day in a fortnight, Noble felt Saturday’s Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m) was the perfect lead-in and is looking forward to seeing what his mare can do under 53kg. “She has obviously won her last three, she likes Ellerslie, and I am looking forward to it,” he said. “She had a bit of a break between the Dunstan Stayers’ Final and her last run, which has brought her on even more. She is looking well. “She comes in well with her form being strong and dropping weight (to 53kg). It is a good recipe when they have carried weight and dropped it into the next one, although it is a class rise. “All going well she will head to the Auckland Cup. At this time of year most of the horses have been in work for a long time and it has been a long, hot, dry summer. If you can keep them in good order, hopefully she has got a couple of good runs left in her.” About Time is dominating the Avondale Cup market, currently sitting as a $3.30 favourite with TAB bookmakers, with Son of Sun the only other runner in single figures at $8. She also heads the Auckland Cup futures market, alongside Tajanis, at $4.50. Meanwhile, stablemate Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) will tackle a quality line-up in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) on Saturday, and Noble is hoping she gets more luck at Ellerslie than she has in her last two starts at the Auckland track when runner-up in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year’s Day and fifth in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) three weeks later. “She hasn’t had much luck in her last couple of starts,” Noble said. “She was three wide without cover in the Rich Hill Mile and worked and got to the front a little bit soon and got run down. I thought that was a great run. “In her next start she drew wide and didn’t have a lot of luck in running in the Westbury and got shunted wider on the corner and still ran fifth. “It is a step-up at weight-for-age against some pretty in form horses, but at her best, and if we can get the right run, I think she can be in the mix.” A return to Ellerslie for a Group One assignment awaits Jaarffi if she performs well this weekend. “If she runs up to expectations there is the possibility of the Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) on Champions Day,” Noble said. Rounding out Noble’s team on Saturday will be Dazzled (NZ) (Pierro) in the Horizon By SkyCity 1200. “She had a little freshen-up after what looked on paper to be a bit of an average run for her when she ran sixth in the Royal Descent Stakes (at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day),” he said. “There’s a lot of form that has come out of that race, so it might have been a better run than it looked. “We did give her 10 days off and freshened her up and she has been working well. It is not a big field, she has got a great finish, so if she can produce that hopefully we will be in it.” View the full article

The GIII Honeybee Stakes, rescheduled for Sunday at Oaklawn, looks like the toughest GI Kentucky Oaks prep race run so far this year. Led by 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma (Munnings), the field of 12 includes five horses that are in our Top 10. In last week's action, the GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes, expected to have a powerhouse field of seven, was decimated by scratches. The defectors included the highly regarded Simply Joking (Practical Joke), who was scratched because her white blood cell count was below normal. Though she still may have time to make the Oaks, she's been dropped out of the Top 10. The other major scratch was Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), who was second in last year's GII Demoiselle Stakes. Also dropped from the list was Maysam (Game Winner). Sent off at 1-10 in the Sunland Park Oaks after an explosive maiden win for Bob Baffert, she finished sixth in a dull effort. Here's a look at the third installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for 2025: 1) MUHIMMA (Munnings–Princesa Carolina, by Tapit) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Shadwell Stable; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Sales history: $700,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $279,460. Last Start: Won Dec. 7 GII Demoiselle Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: GIII Honeybee Stakes, OP, Feb. 23. It's finally time to see what our No. 1 is going to do on the racetrack this year. When last seen, she won the Dec. 7 GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct. It was her third lifetime start and in each one she improved. Trained by Brad Cox, she's going to have to keep getting better as the top of this division is loaded, as is the Honeybee. Tactics will be interesting in this race. She drew the one post and will once again have Florent Geroux aboard. If the Cox team wants to get a clear lead, Muhimma probably wouldn't have any problem doing so. But the other option is teaching her to rate. With all the weather problems this year in Arkansas and in New Orleans, it looks like Cox made a smart move, letting this one spend the winter training at balmy Payson Park in Florida. 2) GOOD CHEER (Medaglia d'Oro–Wedding Toast, by Street Sense) O/B-Godolphin (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 5-5-0-0, $637,630. Last Start: Won Feb. 15 GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points 45. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks., FG, Mar. 15. Even though they could find only four horses to tackle Good Cheer in the GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes, the race turned interesting. Sent off at 1-20, Good Cheer settled into last in the early going of the race. Luis Saez had plenty of horse, but the other three riders seemed intent on forming a roadblock in front of him and blocking her in. Saez didn't find running room until the three-sixteenths pole. When she did, she was gone. It's hard to prove anything in a four-horse field, especially when the top two threats were scratched, but Good Cheer never left any doubt that she was by far the best horse in the race. She's now five-for-five lifetime and if stablemate Muhimma does not win the Honeybee, Good Cheer is certain to become No. 1 in next week's poll. 3) TENMA (Nyquist–Amagansett, by Tapit) O-Baoma Corp.; B-B Flay Thoroughbreds (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $200,000 yrl '23 KEESEP; $850,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-4-0-1, $429,000. Last Start: Won Feb. 2 GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 33. Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, Apr. 5. Unless he's got something else we don't know about yet, Bob Baffert may have only one horse make it to this year's Oaks. But, in Tenma, at least it's a good one. An $850,000 purchase last year at OBS April, she's coming off a win in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes. The good news is that she won easily. The bad news is that there were only three horses in the race, so she wasn't given a chance to prove anything. Baffert might want to to consider Las Virgenes runner-up Cipriani (Bernardini) for the Kentucky Oaks as she picked up 10 points. But she's just not in Tenma's league, not to mention the other nine horses in this poll. Tenma returned to the workout tab on Wednesday, breezing four furlongs in :48:00. 4) TAKE CHARGE MILADY (Take Charge Indy–Price Too High, by Scat Daddy) O-James Ball, Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek) & Kenneth Rhodes; B-Merriebelle Stable, LLC (Ky); T-Kenneth McPeek. Sales history: $60,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-1-0, $259,594. Last Start: Won Jan. 25 Martha Washington Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 23. The Honeybee will be a huge test for this Kenny McPeek-trained filly. She got off to a slow start, getting drubbed in a maiden at Ellis in her debut. But McPeek has found a way to get a little bit more out of her with each subsequent start. With Julien Leparoux aboard, she ran a monster race in the Martha Washington Stakes to win by 5 3/4 lengths. So, she's good enough to win a non-graded stakes race, but is she good enough to compete with some of the monsters in this race? Take Charge Milady has some tactical speed and drew the six post in the field of 13. All of which means she should get a good trip. 5) LA CARA (Street Sense–Cara Caterina, by Bernardini) O/B-Tracy Farmer (Ky); T-Mark Casse. Lifetime Record: GSW, 7-3-1-0, $378,520. Last Start: Won Feb. 8 Suncoast Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 33. Next Start: GII Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale Stakes, GP, Mar. 1. This filly might sneak up on some people. After winning the GIII Pocahontas Stakes last year she was a distant fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. But she seemed like a filly on a mission when she made her 3-year-old debut in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa and won by 6 1/4 lengths for trainer Mark Casse and jockey Dylan Davis. “The Suncoast is kind of a sneaky good race,” Casse said. “I like the Suncoast and the reason why you'll see horses going there from Gulfstream is that Gulfstream doesn't give us a two-turn race for the 3-year-old fillies. If you're trying to get a two-turn race and you want to stay in Florida, you've got to go to the Suncoast. We went to California with seven Breeders' Cup horses last year. We didn't win any, but most of our horses showed up and ran well. She did not. I don't know why, because she trained great into the race. But again, not every horse can take shipping and going across country like that. She was very disappointing to me, but it looks like she is back.” 6) LOOK FORWARD (Bolt d'Oro–Troublesome, by Into Mischief) O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Woods Edge Farm LLC & Ballyfair Bloodstock (Ky); T-Michael McCarthy. Sales history: $285,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP, 3-2-1-0, $132,400. Last Start: Won Jan. 5 Santa Ynez Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: GIII Honeybee Stakes, OP, Feb. 23. Still another horse who needs to run big in the Honeybee to prove she deserves to be considered one of the best in her division. She's won just twice, winning two sprint races. In her lone try around two turns, she was second behind Tenma in the GII Starlet Stakes. It was a solid effort and she put up a fight against the best 2-year-old filly in Southern California. But it sill begs the question as to whether or not she might be better off sprinting. This race should provide the answer. Trainer Michael McCarthy has been confident all along that his filly can handle two turns and a distance. Drew post nine for the Honeybee and Mario Gutierrez will ride. 7) QUIETSIDE (Malibu Moon–Benner Island, by Speightstown) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Shortleaf Stable (Ky); T-John Ortiz. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 5-1-3-1, $312,200. Last Start: Second in Jan. 25 Martha Washington Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 18. Next Start: GIII Honeybee Stakes, OP, Feb. 23. Not much left to say about this filly who has been in our Top 10 all year, but hasn't run since the Jan. 25 Martha Washington. In picking the Honeybee for her to make her second start of the year, trainer John Ortiz certainly isn't babying this horse. That she drew the 12 post could be a problem, but she will have the red-hot Jose Ortiz aboard in the saddle. It will be his job to make sure she doesn't lose too much ground on the first turn. Considering the post position and the strength of this field, a second or third-place finish could be seen as a moral victory for the horse owned by Shortleaf Stable. 8) RUNNIN N GUNNIN (Gun Runner–Charity Belle, by Empire Maker) O-Douglas Scharbauer; B-Dixiana Farms, LLC (Ky); T-Steve Asmussen. Sale history: $250,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 6-3-0-0, $193,940. Last Start: Won Feb. 16 Sunland Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: TBD. Things could not have gone better for Steve Asmussen in last Sunday's Sunland Park Oaks. Not only did he finish one-two with Runnin N Gunnin and Enchanting (Gun Runner), but both are by Gun Runner, the super sire who was trained by Asmussen. With the Sunland Park Oaks you'll always have those 'but who did she beat?' questions, which is only fair when it comes to this year's edition. Maysam, the 1-10 favorite from the Baffert barn, didn't show up, finishing sixth. That left six other horses, including three maidens. 9) RUNNING AWAY (Gun Runner–Allez Marie, by Unbridled's Song) O/B-Stud TNT (Ky); T-Wesley Ward. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-1-1, $166,875. Last Start: Won Jan. 18 Busanda Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GI Ashland Stakes, Kee, Apr. 4. More so than perhaps any trainer, Wesley Ward loves to space out the races for his horses. When Running Away won the Jan. 18 Busanda S. at Aqueduct, there were plenty of races on calendar that she could have gone in. Instead, Ward has picked the GI Ashland Stakes on Apr. 4 at Keeneland for her next start. That means this daughter of Gun Runner will have had 81 days off between races. “She is training forwardly for the Ashland at her home base at Keeneland,” Ward said. “Running Away is a big, rangy filly that needed more time to develop. We knew early on she would be more effective going two turns.” 10) FIVE G (Vekoma–Triumphant, by Quality Road) O/B-Gatsas Stables (NY); T-George Weaver. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-1-0, $160,290. Last Start: Won Jan. 1 Fasig-Tipton Cash Run Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S, OP, Feb. 23. Another fast and talented offspring of Vekoma, Five G will be put to the test in the Honeybee. As with Quietside, the post is an issue. She drew the 13 hole, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. will be aboard. She has tactical speed, so Ortiz may want to push her early to get into the mix and also to save some ground. After a dismal debut on the dirt in a maiden race in August at Saratoga, she tried the turf in her next two starts. She won a New York-bred maiden and then finished second against open company on the grass in the Tepin Stakes. But it appears that trainer George Weaver wanted to give her one more try on the dirt and Five G delivered with a nine-length romp in the Cash Run Stakes. As is the case with so many others in the Honeybee field, this looks like a make-or-break race for the filly. The post The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 For Feb. 20 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners Millie Fox Stakes Group Two Betting Guide Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025 Location: Rosehill Gardens – Sydney, New South Wales Prize Money: $300,000 Distance: 1300m The Millie Fox Stakes is a Group 2 race for fillies and mares, run over 1300m under set weights and penalties at Rosehill. First held in 1996, it was named in memory of Millie Fox, a prominent racehorse owner alongside her husband, Stan Fox, during the 1960s and 70s. Originally run over 1200m, the Millie Fox Stakes increased to 1300m in 2006. It held Listed status until 2006, was upgraded to Group 3 in 2007, and achieved Group 2 status in 2013. The 2025 Millie Fox Stakes offers $300,000 in prizemoney. Chris Waller has dominated the Millie Fox Stakes with multiple winners, including Red Tracer (three wins), Catkins, Subpoenaed (2021), and Zougotcha (2024). Zougotcha triumphed over Lady Laguna and Madame Pommery in the 2024 Millie Fox Stakes. Notable past winners include Chlorophyll (1996), Dashing Eagle (1997), Montana Flyer (2010/2011), First Seal (2016), In Her Time (2017), Daysee Doom (2018), and Savatiano (2020). 2025 Millie Fox Stakes betting odds The 2025 Millie Fox Stakes betting odds are currently unavailable. HorseBetting will update this page when Millie Fox Stakes betting is opened. How to bet on the Millie Fox Stakes Being a strong betting race, any bookmaker that doesn’t offer the markets on the Millie Fox Stakes well in advance of the event is leaving money on the table. The team at HorseBetting has compiled comprehensive reviews of our trusted online bookmakers which all offer odds on the Millie Fox Stakes. The best Millie Fox Stakes betting sites are accessible across multiple platforms, with most having bookmaker apps available for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. 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Millie Fox Stakes News Zougotcha returns a winner in Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes Australia horse racing news 12 months ago Chris Waller and James McDonald have combined with Zougotcha ($4.40) proving a class above in the Group 2 Millie Fox … Read More Rosehill free racing tips & quaddie | Saturday, February 24 Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago The Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) for the three-year-olds is the pick of the races on Silver Slipper Stakes Day … Read More The Follow Files: Moody star shines on return at Flemington Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago In this week’s Follow Files, we have found three horses that are worth following next start after impressive runs on … Read More Electric Girl wins Millie Fox Stakes to begin her autumn campaign Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Zac Lloyd and the Hawkes team have combined to take out the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes first-up, which could … Read More Rosehill race-by-race preview & best bets | Saturday, February 18 Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago HorseBetting’s Nathan Keven presents his full race-by-race preview for the nine-race card at Rosehill for Hobartville Stakes Day … Read More Expat claims the Millie Fox Stakes Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Tommy Sherry has claimed the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes following an all-the-way win by the Mark Newnham-trained Expat at … Read More 2025 Millie Fox Stakes Final Field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Makarena Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes Tyler Schiller 8 56kg 2 Hinged Chris Waller — 6 56kg 3 Scarlet Oak Chris Waller — 1 56kg 4 Firestorm Chris Waller — 5 54kg 5 Elettrica Richard & Will Freedman Tim Clark 3 54kg 6 Our Gold Hope Robert & Luke Price Ashley Morgan 4 54kg 7 Watch My Girl Ron Quinton Ms Alysha Collett 2 54kg 8 Not That Easy Jason Coyle — 7 54kg 9 Dark Glitter Mike Van Gestel — 9 54kg Previous Millie Fox Stakes Fields 2024 Millie Fox Stakes field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Zougotcha Chris Waller James McDonald 2 58kg 2 Madame Pommery Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 5 58kg 3 Startantes Robert Heathcote Jason Collett 6 58kg 4 Renaissance Woman Bjorn Baker Joshua Parr 1 55.5kg 5 Argentia Joseph Pride Tim Clark 12 55.5kg 6 Lady Laguna Annabel Neasham Tyler Schiller 8 55kg 7 Lekvarte Joseph Pride Tommy Berry 11 55kg 8 Vienna Princess Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 9 54kg 9 Diamond Dealer Bjorn Baker Tom Sherry 4 54kg 10 Party For One Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) N/A 10 54kg 11 Howgoodareyou Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 7 54kg 12 Gently Rolled Bryce Heys Zac Lloyd 3 54kg 2024 Millie Fox Stakes result https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Rosehill-Group-2-Millie-Fox-Stakes-24022024-Zougotcha-Chris-Waller-James-McDonald.mp4 1st – Zougotcha (+320) 2nd – Lady Laguna (-333.33) 3rd – Madame Pommery (+220) Recent runnings of the Millie Fox Stakes: 2024: Zougotcha proves too classy Chris Waller and James McDonald combined with Zougotcha ($4.40), who proved a class above in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill. The daughter of Zoustar made it a winning return after 154 days off the scene, but on the back of two strong barrier trials, seemingly recaptured her best form after a lacklustre spring campaign. It’s the first time the four-year-old had claimed victory since the Group 3 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) in March of 2023. It was a perfect steer by McDonald, taking the reins aboard Zougotcha for the ninth time in his career, gaining the back of race favourite Lady Laguna ($2.30) as she was on the brink of her fourth straight win. Madame Pommery ($11.00) was able to pass a pre-race vet inspection after looking to ping the lids early, eventually gaining a lovely sit in transit just in behind the speed, while Vienna Princess ($7.00) ran on gallantly after taking a mid-field position. As the race went on though, it became clear Zougotcha had her fellow mares covered, and went on to score comfortably. 2023: Electric Girl arrives in time Zac Lloyd and Team Hawkes combined with Electric Girl to take out the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill, running over the top of last year’s winner Expat in the final 100m. With Expat setting up a very hot tempo, Lloyd settled Electric Girl in the box seat, albeit two to three lengths off the leader, which gave the daughter of Declaration Of War every chance to get off the fence and with 300m and go after the runaway leader. Electric Girl jumped as a third-favourite at $7.50 with online bookmakers, with the race favourite, Mariamia, finishing fourth as she started to drop out of the race with 200m to go. 2022: Expat runs rivals ragged Expat led all of the way in the 2022 Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill Gardens, staving off a challenge from Belluci Babe. The Mark Newnham-trained mare started a well-backed $2.50 favourite with most online bookmakers, and the money turned out to be spot on. The mare by Makfi extended her incredible record at Rosehill to four wins from six starts, as she claimed back-to-back Group wins. Given a brilliant steer by her regular rider Tom Sherry, Expat showed her rivals a clean pair of heels, came to the centre of the track in the straight and showed plenty of fight to win by half a length. The Group 2 success was a career highlight for Sherry, who notched up his first group win on a metropolitan track. Previous winners of the Millie Fox Stakes Millie Fox Stakes Past Winners Year Horse Jockey Trainer 2024 Zougotcha James McDonald Chris Waller 2023 Electric Girl Zac Lloyd Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes 2022 Expat Tom Sherry Mark Newnham 2021 Subpoenaed Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2020 Savatiano James McDonald James Cummings 2019 White Moss Kathy O’Hara Jason Coyle 2018 Daysee Doom Andrew Adkins Ron Quinton 2017 In Her Time Joshua Parr Benjamin Smith 2016 First Seal Blake Shinn John Thompson 2015 Catkins Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2014 Red Tracer Nash Rawiller Chris Waller 2013 Red Tracer Nash Rawiller Chris Waller 2012 Red Tracer Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2011 Montana Flyer Tommy Berry Gai Waterhouse 2010 Montana Flyer Blake Shinn Gai Waterhouse 2009 Neroli Kerrin McEvoy Peter Snowden 2008 November Flight Tye Angland Garry White 2007 A Country Girl Zac Purton Barbara Joseph 2006 Wild Queen James Innes Gai Waterhouse 2005 Tivoli Dancer Darren Beadman Kevin Moses 2004 Seances Corey Brown John Hawkes 2003 Gentle Genius Lenny Beasley Tony Wildman 2002 Triko Larry Cassidy Ken Callaughan 2001 Nanny Maroon Darryl McLellan Paul Englebrecht 2000 Verdict Declared Gavan Duffy Barbara Joseph Millie Fox Stakes winners pre-2000 Millie Fox Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 Year Horse 1999 Wynciti 1998 Just Like Crystal 1997 Dashing Eagle 1996 Chlorophyll Recommended! Take It To The Neds Level Home of the Neds Toolbox Check Out Neds 18+ Gamble Responsibly Full terms Punters Prefer Blondes It’s a fact, Blondes have more fun Join BlondeBet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?. Next Gen Racing Betting Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? It Pays To Play New online bookmaker Check Out PlayUp 18+ Gamble Responsibly Say Hey to the social bet! You Better Believe It Join Dabble 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?. Full terms. View the full article

The E. P. Taylor Award of Merit will be presented to Roger Attfield during the 50th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony April 24 in Woodbridge, Ontario.View the full article

Costa Nova puts his unbeaten record at Tokyo Racecourse on the line with a chance to earn a berth into this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in the Feb. 23 February Stakes (G1).View the full article

CDI is calling these projects, collectively, the largest expansion and renovation undertaken in the company's 150-year history. View the full article

What Moonee Valley Races Where Moonee Valley Racecourse – Gate 2 Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Friday, February 21, 2025 First Race 6:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Feature racing returns to Moonee Valley on Friday night, where the Listed Torney Night Cup (2500m) takes top billing on the eight-race program. The rail will be in its true position the entire circuit, with the track rated a Good 4. The first race at Moonee Valley is set to jump at 6:15pm AEDT. Torney Night Cup Tip: Garachico Garachico was a smart Caulfield 2000m winner when resuming from a spell and looks to be racing in career best form in recent times. The son of Ribchester went to the paddock in the spring after winning the 2800m race on Melbourne Cup Day, and the way he was hitting the line late at Caulfield suggests a race like this is within his reach. Michael Dee will have this bloke settled in the moving line throughout from barrier three, and despite this being his first look at the track, if Garachico can produce his best, he will take some hold out in the Torney Night Cup. Torney Night Cup Race 7 – #6 Garachico (3) 6yo Gelding | T: Dominic Sutton | J: Michael Dee (54.5kg) Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Our Queen Our Queen is undefeated through two starts, and her first-up win at Sandown on January 29 suggests she has come back to racing in fine form. The four-year-old mare managed to lead throughout despite being pressured throughout to suggest she has above-average ability. Moonee Valley looks like it will suit the daughter of Night Of Thunder perfectly considering she shows plenty of early toe and looks to dictate terms throughout. If Craig Williams can find the rail from barrier six, Our Queen should prove hard to gun down. Best Bet Race 6 – #8 Our Queen (6) 4yo Mare | T: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson | J: Craig Williams (59kg) Next Best at Moonee Valley: Miss Tarzy Miss Tarzy has been racing honestly this campaign without winning this campaign, and on the quick six-day back up from racing at Flemington on Saturday has her rock-hard fit for this assignment. The five-year-old mare got too far back in the running on that day when comfortably beaten behind Revelare, and as she returns to her favourite track, she looks hard to go past. The Tarzino mare has two wins and a third at the Moonee Valley 2040m, and if Jaylah Kennedy can land in the first four upon settling, her 2kg claim will benefit Miss Tarzy in the final 200m and looks to be the difference. Next Best Race 2 – #2 Miss Tarzy (7) 5yo Mare | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Jaylah Kennedy (a2) (60.5kg) Friday quaddie tips for Moonee Valley Moonee Valley quadrella selections Friday, February 21, 2025 1-4-5 5-8 1-6-8-12 4-7-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King Street, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Friday, February 21, 2025 First Race 6pm AEDT Visit Dabble Canterbury Park Racecourse is the destination for metro racing on Friday evening, with a quickfire seven-part program set for decision. The rail moves out +4m the entire circuit for the meeting, and although the surface is rated a Good 4 at the time of acceptances, some consistent rainfall could mean a downgrade into the Soft range at some stage. All the action at Canterbury is scheduled to get underway at 6pm local time. Best Bet at Canterbury: Sting In The Tail Sting In The Tail was putting in the big strides late at this course and distance on February 7, closing to within a half-length of Smart Legend in her quest for back-to-back wins. The daughter of Savabeel lost no admirers in that performance, clearly presenting as the best of the beaten brigade heading into this BM64 contest. Nash Rawiller will attempt to settle closer in the run this time around, and provided she can unleash with a similar turn-of-speed, Sting In The Tail will prove hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 5 – #4 Sting In The Tail (6) 4yo Mare | T: Chris Waller | J: Nash Rawiller (59kg) Next Best at Canterbury: Koios Koios couldn’t have been more impressive claiming his maiden victory at Scone on February 6, taking over at the 300m marker before storming clear with the prize. He was simply too classy for provincial company on that occasion and appears well-placed in this BM72 with 55kg on his back. Watch for Keagan Latham to send the son of Impending to the top in an attempt to slacken the tempo, and with Koios showing his rivals a clean pair of heels, watch for this guy to take a power of beating at a good price with BlondeBet. Next Best Race 6 – #10 Koios (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Sara Ryan | J: Keagan Latham (55kg) Best Value at Canterbury: Custom The James Cummings-trained Custom did a lot wrong debuting at Canterbury on January 31, rearing at the start before finding nothing but backsides after searching for a run back towards the inside running rail. You can make the argument she would’ve won with even luck despite what the two-length margin may suggest, with the Street Boss filly hard held by Tim Clark in the final furlong. Gate one should allow Clark to hold the leaders’ back throughout the journey, and provided she can get off the inside rail at a crucial stage, watch for Custom to finish off best at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 1 – #11 Custom (1) 2yo Filly | T: James Cummings | J: Tim Clark (55kg) Friday quaddie tips for Canterbury Canterbury quadrella selections February 21, 2025 1-5 4-6-8 1-3-4-7-10 1-3-7-8-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

A multi-year series of capital projects designed to expand the Kentucky Derby experience across three areas of Churchill Downs was announced by Churchill Downs Incorporated Wednesday. The largest expansion and renovation undertaken in the 150-year history of CDI is highlighted by The Skye Reconstruction and Expansion Project (“The Skye Project”), Conservatory Project, and Infield General Admission Project “These projects as well as key infrastructure improvements, reflect the Company's commitment to providing world-class hospitality and premium seating options for guests for many decades to come,” said Bill Carstanjen, Chief Executive Officer of CDI. “We have a proven track record of prudently investing capital in the Kentucky Derby to create once-in-a lifetime experiences for our guests while also creating significant long-term value for our shareholders.” CDI plans to invest the following capital in each of the projects between 2025 and 2028: Skye Terrace Renovation and Expansion Project – $455 to $465 million Conservatory Project – $320 to $330 million Infield General Admission Project – $60 to $70 million Infrastructure Projects – $45 to $55 million Pending approval of incentives that must be approved by the City of Louisville in addition to state agencies including the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, CDI anticipates spending $120 to $130 million of this project capital in 2025 and expects to have all three projects as well as the necessary infrastructure improvements completed by the 154th Kentucky Derby in May 2028. The Skye Project The Skye Project will focus on the section of Churchill Downs that starts just past the finish line and extends to the First Turn Club. This project will replace 11,500 existing seats that currently consist of uncovered box seats and dated dining areas with 13,300 seats providing a variety of premium hospitality experiences that include improved track views and upgraded amenities. The existing Skye Terrace structure will be replaced with a new 5-story structure. The first three floors of The Skye are expected to be operational for the 153rd Kentucky Derby in May 2027 and the remaining areas are expected to be completed for the 154th Kentucky Derby in May 2028. For the 152nd Kentucky Derby in May 2026 and throughout the project transition, Churchill Downs will provide ticketed guests in the existing Skye Terrace areas with the opportunity for alternative premium seating. Conservatory Project The Conservatory Project will replace the temporary suites in the infield which line the homestretch of the racetrack. This project will replace 2,100 temporary seats with new permanent structures providing over 7,000 premium experiences for guests including 36 suites. Phase One will feature: the Pagoda Club and Terrace that will capture views of the grandstand and offer visibility to the Kentucky Derby winner's circle; the first Conservatory building with nine upgraded suites as well as covered rooftop dining; and the Stargazer Lounge on the first turn of the infield that will provide VIP guests a private area. Phase One of the Conservatory Project is expected to be operational for the 152nd Kentucky Derby in May 2026. Phase Two and Phase Three of the Conservatory Project are anticipated to be operational for the 153rd Kentucky Derby in 2027 and the 154th Kentucky Derby in 2028, respectively. Infield General Admission Project The Infield General Admission Project will introduce three new permanent buildings within the infield that will provide guests with enhanced amenities for the Kentucky Derby. This development will also create ticket upgrade opportunities with additional entertainment and rooftop viewing options. The first building will be open for the 152nd Kentucky Derby in 2026, followed by the second building for the 153rd Kentucky Derby in 2027, and the third building for the 154th Kentucky Derby in 2028. Infrastructure Projects Several infrastructure improvements at Churchill Downs will backside improvements for horsemen and trainers as well as a new tunnel to the infield that will facilitate access to and from the front side. The post Multi-Year Series of Capital Projects Unveiled for Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article