Wandering Eyes

Six days after trainer Philip Serpe argued that an attempt by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) to drop its pursuit of a $25,000 penalty in his ongoing Clenbuterol positive case was an alleged end-around to prejudicially stymie his legal efforts in a lawsuit against the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a federal judge in Florida ordered that a letter about that non-pursuit that was issued by HIWU Apr. 23 is not enough to moot Serpe's contention that he has been wrongfully denied his Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial. As TDN's Dan Ross reported Apr. 29, in a joint motion filed last week, attorneys for the FTC and the HISA Authority wrote in an Apr. 24 motion to vacate a supplemental briefing order that the lack of a monetary fine in the case “moots Plaintiff's Seventh Amendment claim and removes any risk of cognizable harm with respect to it,” and that the judge in the case “should dispose of Plaintiff's Seventh Amendment claim, and Plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction relating to that claim.” Serpe had replied in a same-day legal response to the defendants' motion to vacate that the “late-stage motion should be seen for what it probably is-part of a concerted effort with HIWU to prejudicially moot Serpe's claims during the pendency of this case.” And in an Apr. 30 order-writing that he “need not await” a reply from the defendants before ruling on this matter-Judge David Leibowitz of United States District Court (Southern District of Florida) granted in part and denied in part the motion to vacate, stating that HIWU's sending of a letter via email to Serpe's legal team was not enough to allow for a ruling either way on the Seventh Amendment contention. “The Court finds that HIWU's barebones statement by letter, notifying Plaintiff 'that HIWU will not be seeking a fine to be imposed against [Plaintiff] pursuant to ADMC Program Rule 3323,' is insufficient to apprise the Court clearly as to the types of remedies being pursued in this case by both Defendants and HIWU, and therefore the ultimate impact upon Plaintiff's Seventh Amendment claim,” the judge wrote. “If Defendants want to obtain the relief they seek, [both the FTC and the HISA Authority] must file in the record a declaration or affidavit that sets forth the following: “1. All specific forms of relief being sought or potentially sought (by HIWU or the Defendant filing the declaration or affidavit) against Plaintiff in the upcoming June 2025 arbitration, as well as in any subsequent adjudication or determination. Defendants must list every form of relief being pursued, even potentially (e.g., suspension, disgorgement, civil fine, etc.). “2. All specific forms of relief not being sought or potentially sought (by HIWU or the Defendant filing the declaration or affidavit) against Plaintiff in the upcoming June 2025 arbitration, as well as in any subsequent adjudication or determination. “In other words, what form(s) of relief do Defendants stipulate or attest will not be pursued against Plaintiff in the upcoming arbitration or any subsequent adjudications or determinations?” the order stated. In addition to filing the above-described declaration/affidavit, the judge ordered that the HISA Authority and the FTC each must also brief the following legal questions: “1. As to each form of relief being sought or potentially sought against Plaintiff in the upcoming June 2025 arbitration or any subsequent adjudication or determination [is] HIWU, the Authority, and the FTC immune from suit by Plaintiff (under the doctrine of sovereign immunity or otherwise), or has that immunity been waived? “2. As to each form of relief not being sought or potentially sought against Plaintiff in the upcoming June 2025 arbitration or any subsequent adjudication or determination [does] HIWU, the Authority, and the FTC have the discretion to stipulate ab initio that those forms of relief will never be sought against Plaintiff under the relevant statute and regulations?” The defendants were given 10 days to comply with the judge's order. The post Federal Judge Orders HIWU, FTC, To Be More Specific In What Relief Is Sought In Serpe Case appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With a lot of the negative news we often confront in racing, sometimes it's important to also see the good, like how taking just five minutes to talk to a young person who is just beginning their journey in the racing business can be. By my estimate, each person listed below graciously spent five to 10 minutes of his or her time during a very busy Derby week visiting with a dozen students from Bluegrass Community and Technical College's Equine Studies program. Yet the impressions they left will last far, far longer than those five minutes. Until Tuesday morning, many of these young newcomers to racing NEVER thought that someday they might actually have a chance to meet these stars of our sport. And now they have. And hearing from Todd Pletcher himself that, yes, like each of them, he too had to muck stalls when he was starting out, now makes reaching their career goals somehow…reachable. Last year's Derby winning jockey Brian Hernandez (center, purple t-shirt) meets with the BCTC students | KCTSC Marketing That small but powerful one-on-one connection is something that can never be taught from a book or in a classroom lecture. So thank you to: Wayne Lukas, Bill Mott, Steve Asmussen, Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert, Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ken McPeek, Steve Cauthen, Gary Stevens, Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey, Michelle Lovell, Erica Herrforth (BCTC Equine Alumna), Churchill Downs's Mike Ziegler and Andie Biancone. You made a difference. Remi Bellocq, Dixie Kendall and Amy Heitzman BCTC Equine Program The post Letter to the Editor: Paying it Forward appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

From Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel to James Ingram, the personal playlist of Phil Cunningham, carried in the names of many of his horses over the years, has provided the perfect accompaniment to some memorable days on the turf. In fact, back in 2007, legendary singer/songwriter Steve Harley, who died last year, was spotted among the merry throng after Cunningham's Cockney Rebel (Ire) sprang a 25/1 surprise in the 2,000 Guineas. He would go on to complete a Classic double at the Curragh three weeks later. On Saturday, Cunningham returns to the Rowley Mile with another long shot for the first Classic of the British season in Yah Mo Be There (GB). The son of Mohaather (GB) is no forlorn hope, however, certainly not in the eyes of his owner. Cunningham's passion for racing burns as brightly as the day he had a first taste of life at the sport's top table 20 years ago when Rebel Rebel (Ire) (Revoque {Ire}) belied his 100/1 starting price to finish second in the 2,000 Guineas to Footstepsinthesand (GB) (Giant's Causeway). A young colt by the name of Dubawi (Ire) was a couple of lengths behind him in fifth. Then, in 2011, Cunningham's first homebred Slim Shadey (GB) – sent off at 200/1 – ran fourth in Frankel's Guineas, all of which makes the 66/1 about Yah Mo Be There look like the each-way bet of the weekend. “We're trying to keep everything in check but I just feel like the stars are aligning,” says Cunningham of his next shot at Classic glory. “The faster the ground the better, the horse is fit and well and quite a few around us are pulling out. He's a big price and he's got to improve a lot on what he's done so far, but we've been here before.” He continues, “Yah Mo Be There is under the radar. It suits us to be the underdog. It sounds ridiculous but when we went to Ireland [with Cockney Rebel] as 6/4 favourite it wasn't enjoyable. I was 37 and there have been a lot of horses in between but, crazy as it seems now, I look back and I was probably too young and too inexperienced in the game to enjoy it as much as I possibly could have done. I was a little bit like a lottery winner. “He was the first horse I owned on my own. Rebel Rebel, who was second in the Guineas in 2005, was owned by myself and my dad and four friends, and we sold him, went to the sale and bought Cockney Rebel.” Cockney Rebel after the 2,000 Guineas; Steve Harley is being interviewed in the background for Channel 4 Racing | Racingfotos Yah Mo Be There had a tune-up run to be fifth in the G3 Greenham Stakes a fortnight ago, having taken Newbury's Listed Rose Bowl Stakes last August. Like Cockney Rebel, he was picked up by Cunningham as a yearling at Doncaster and, as a £95,000 purchase from Manor House Farm Stud, he was one of the early standouts from his sire's first crop. The colt is also bidding to give his co-breeder Stuart McPhee Classic success in consecutive seasons after Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) won last year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Cunningham says, “He needed the run in the Greenham and the trials are there for a reason. If you look at all of his races he quickens, he's got that ability at the end of his races to take off, and the classic example of that was at Newbury last year. We went into the Coventry more confident than we were with Rajasinghe but he got bashed into at the start and it was all over. “Jamie [Spencer] rode him last Friday and on the faster ground it was the best piece of work that he's done. So he's coming into the race fit and well and we've just got to pray that he stays safe, but I think he is going to outrun his odds. I think the diminishing field size will suit as well, and by my maths, from what I am reading, I think we are looking at a maximum field of 12. But the favourite [Field Of Gold] looks a really lovely horse.” Cockney Rebel retired to the National Stud after his Classic season, and it is there that Cunningham stands his 2017 Coventry Stakes winner Rajasinghe (Ire). In the intervening years he has bought Swynford Paddocks Stud and two historic Newmarket stables – first Albert House then Sefton Lodge. It is at the latter that he installed Richard Spencer to train the horses who run under his Rebel Racing banner. His father, also named Phil, and son Aidan are also fully involved in the project and the family hopes to have five runners at the Rowley Mile on Saturday, including Twilight Calls (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}), who was bought from Cheveley Park Stud last autumn, in the G3 Palace House Stakes, and three Rajasinghe homebreds. Against a backdrop of tough times for smaller breeders, in February Cunningham took the unusual and enterprising step to announce publicly that the services of Rajasinghe would be free to the owners of mares rated 70 or above, or mares who have produced runners rated at least 70. He has been pleased with the response. Cockney Rebel and his devoted stallion man, the late Paddy Meehan | Tattersalls “He's been supported so well,” Cunningham says of Rajasinghe, who is now in the middle of his seventh stud season. “If you look at it from a financial perspective, he was standing at £3,000, and obviously there were deals being done downwards so the income he would have generated was negligible. When I went to meet the lads at the stud in the early part of the year he was down at about 10 mares. His strike-rate is phenomenal, and he's still the track record-holder at Ascot. We kicked around a few ideas and thought why not stand him for free to give him one last chance at stud. Now he's at over 50 mares, so it has worked and he's got another chance. Obviously we'll have to wait a few years to see, but he deserved a chance.” He adds, “The people who have used him are mostly people without a significant number of mares and I've had people coming up to me at the races and letting me know that they've used him and thanking me for the deal. It's nice to know that people have appreciated it.” As well as being a breeder himself, Cunningham is an enthusiastic buyer at the yearling sales, and has recently extended his investment to the Australian market. Two years ago, he enlisted the help of a notable judge in Highflyer Bloodstock's Anthony Bromley. “We changed things around a little bit, we were at a crossroads, and Anthony Bromley came in,” he says. “We increased our budget significantly and changed the focus on what we were looking to buy, and Yah Mo has come out of that first crop. We put a little plan together with Richard and this is where we are – it's working. “My dad and my son are both involved in this with me and it's great to have something that the three of us can enjoy together. Hopefully we can get back to turning up and having some big days out. Whilst we love the racing it's the big days that we do it for.” The post ‘It’s The Big Days That We Do It For’: Cunningham Bidding For More Guineas Glory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Middleham Park Racing boss Tim Palin and 13-time champion trainer in Norway Niels Petersen, two men who have been associated with recognisable Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale graduates in The Platinum Queen and Queen Azteca, have returned to source of their respective stars in the hope of finding another bargain. The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who was bought for just 57,000gns at this sale in 2022, carried Middleham Park's blue and orange colours to Group 1 glory in the Prix de l'Abbaye that same season while Petersen sent out 30,000gns purchase Queen Azteca (Sharp Azteca) to win the G3 UAE Oaks at Meydan this year. Both buyers have extolled the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale as an avenue for finding high-class runners at a realistic price, although Petersen admits that the secret is beginning to get out about the sale. He says that he expects to face off with fellow trainers Bhupat Seemar and Jamie Osborne on the later-maturing dirt-bred horses in the sales ring on Thursday. He explained, “There are a couple of potentially nice ones so we're hopeful of striking again. Compared to the Craven, I think this sale is more our market. We got a New Bay (GB) colt at the Craven for 85,000gns but we tend to see more later-maturing horses who are not as fast and precocious as at the Craven, which is why we like coming here.” Petersen added, “This sale has suited us better over the years. It has become a thing with Jamie Osborne, Bhupat Seemar and plenty of others coming here so everybody is aware of the same thing but sometimes you can get lucky. You've always got the top ones but if you stay away from them you can buy a nice horse in the middle market. We might just get lucky again!” Petersen: alongside bloodstock agent Edgar Byrne | Tattersalls While Middleham Park did not strike at the Craven, the leading syndicate, which has been in operation for over 30 years, added two juveniles to the roster at Doncaster last week. Palin agrees with Petersen that concentrating outside of that top bracket can pay huge dividends for buyers. He said, “The Platinum Queen was a superstar for us. She took us on a whirlwind journey and we sold her on for 1.2 million gns at the end of the year having bought her for just 57,000gns at this sale. That was absolutely a dream come true off the back of winning a Group 1 along the way. She was the dream ticket and is exactly the type of horse that can come from the Guineas Sale. We've had a huge amount of success buying off Tally-Ho Stud and that's where she came from.” Palin added, “We actually bought The Strikin Viking (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}) off Tally-Ho at this sale last year as well and he went on to finish second in the Railway Stakes at the Curragh. Because the pedigrees are possibly not quite as sexy as the Craven, there can be immense value to be had at the Guineas Sale. When you are operating in that middle market, it can actually be the very best spend of a pound.” There were plenty of pointers to be taken from last week's Goffs Breeze-Up Sale at Doncaster with a view towards how things might play out at Park Paddocks this week. Certainly with regards to the middle market, what played out at Doncaster may well be more closely aligned to the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale compared to the Craven. Looking back on Doncaster, the 83% clearance rate–which happens to be the same as what was posted at the Craven-reads all well and good on paper but when you delve a little deeper all is not as rosy as it seems. Make no mistake, last week was on a par with the Craven and was undoubtedly another blockbuster of a sale. But only for those vendors who brought the right product to the marketplace. And the definition of what the right product is right now is definitely changing. If a vendor happens to land on the list for Amo Racing, Godolphin or Wathnan Racing, the sky's the limit. Johnny and Danielle Hurley's Kodi Bear (Ire) colt selling to Godolphin for £500,000 at Doncaster is a prime example of what can happen. But there is a long way to fall if you are not making those lists, which is illustrated by the fact that only a handful of other buyers-Yulong, Jamie McCalmont, Anthony Stroud on behalf of KHK Racing, Mark McStay, and MV Magnier-have spent north of 300,000 at the Craven or at Doncaster. Leading handler George Peckham, who sold Queen Mary Stakes winner Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) at Doncaster last year, has revealed he is finding the going tough and says the middle market has become trickier than ever due to the rising costs facing middle-tier owners. Peckham said, “It hasn't been quite such a good year this year but you've got to roll with the punches. The middle market, as we have seen year on year, is a tricky old place to be. Things have only got worse, certainly this year, with the national insurance contributions going up. A lot of the people who buy breeze-up horses within the 20 to 50 grand bracket are really the ones who are feeling the pinch and they are nearly getting blown away. Your average purchaser is obviously feeling the pinch and they are having to reevaluate. A racehorse is obviously not at the top of those people's wishlist right now. But it can be a little bit demoralising for a vendor, I've got to be honest, when your horse has done a nice, professional breeze but struggles in the ring.” Despite what appeared to be a strong clearance rate at Doncaster, a lot of the pinhookers took a kicking. Only 43% of the 155 pinhooks made a profit compared to the 60% that worked out at the Craven. On top of that, there were 30 private sales within the 140 horses that sold last week, with many of those deals involving vendors staying in for a share. George Peckham | Tattersalls To that extent, Palin revealed that Middleham are actively engaging with one vendor who failed to sell his horse at Doncaster last week and, while he agrees with Peckham's comments about what he describes as the “feast or famine” nature to the market at present, he shared that the demand from syndicate members to get involved with breeze-up horses has never slipped. Palin said, “It's been a little bit feast or famine for consignors but this sale should be a marriage made in heaven for the vendors and the buyers because there will be sensibly-priced horses and plenty of middle market people there to buy them. Of course, there will be some telephone numbers spent on the choice-and arguably the fastest-horses but, if you delve a little bit beneath that level, you can literally find a pot of gold.” He added, “We've traded through three recessions and the spend of the leisure pound on bloodstock has never gone away. We bought two at Doncaster last week and we've already sold out one-and-a-half of those horses. We're actually trying to buy one privately from that sale as well but I'm not sure if it will happen or not. But the thirst for shares in racehorses has never gone away. People are as hungry as they've ever been and we'd be hoping to buy six to eight breeze-up horses between now and the end of the season.” One thing about this great game is that fortunes can change from sale to sale and, while Peckham has not had a year to remember thus far, he has cause for optimism with Kodi Bear [lot 204] and Havana Grey (GB) [286] fillies, both of whom posted good, solid breezes and should have no trouble finding a suitor. Peckham concluded, “This game is all about fine margin and unfortunately two of our intended lots didn't make it this week. Obviously, we're all trying to make a few quid and to survive in business but our prime objective is to produce racehorses. We've only been doing this job for four or five years now and I'm well aware that horses like Leovanni don't come around very often but hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the next filly or colt of that standard. We have another Kodi Bear filly this week. She is probably a six- or seven-furlong filly and has a lovely big stride on her. The Havana Grey filly is ready to rock and roll now and is from a very speedy family–she's out of a Kodiac (GB) mare. Excited to offer these two.” The post ‘There’s Immense Value At The Guineas Sale – It Can Be The Best Spend Of A Pound’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's homebred Victory Queen (GB) (Kingman {GB}) backed up a half-length debut triumph at Newmarket's Craven meeting with a narrow victory, racing under a six-pound penalty, in Wednesday's Darley British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes on the Royal Ascot trials undercard. The February-foaled half-sister to the ill-fated dual Group 1 winner Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), whose Apr. 15 debut success came over the same one-mile distance at HQ, broke sharply and made an immediate impact on the front end. Enjoying a soft lead at a moderate tempo for the most part, the 3-1 second choice came under pressure when threatened soon after turning for home and was driven out inside the final furlong to withstand the late charge of the unlucky-in-running 6-4 favourite Gulya (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) by a short-head. “She has backed up just two weeks after her first run and win, so I was very happy with that,” commented William Buick, who rode the winner's dam to a career high in the 2015 G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes. “It wasn't necessarily the plan to lead, it was just the way it unfolded, and she responded well. She's pretty quick, but is still learning and will get quicker. She still feels like she's got a bit of maturing to do and I think she's a miler for now. You'd have to think a mile-and-a-quarter will be within her grasp in time, but it's a pretty speedy family all through.” Victory Queen is the latest of four foals, all winners, produced by G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes victrix First Victory (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), herself kin to five black-type winners headed by multiple Group 1-winning dual Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), dual Group-winning G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Fillies' Mile third Ihtimal (Ire) (Shamardal) and stakes-winning G1 Sun Chariot Stakes runner-up Always Smile (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Her second dam Eastern Joy (GB) (Dubai Destination) is a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane heroine West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian). The February-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to the ill-fated G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes winner Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The gap appears a stride too late for Gulya, who can't get to Victory Queen (Kingman x First Victory) in the Darley British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at @Ascot!@WilliamBuickX | @godolphin pic.twitter.com/qmDeaCM31w — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 30, 2025 The post Victory Queen, Kingman Half to Coroebus, Remains Undefeated After Brave Ascot Showing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two stakes wins for Midwest rider Kevin Roman and career win 2,000 in North America for Ricardo Santana Jr. riding at Oaklawn Park led to a tie in the voting by the panel of racing experts for Jockey of the week of April 21-27.View the full article

Derek Leung controls proceedings from the front to snare the Class Two Seoul Handicap (1,000m) aboard smart four-year-old.View the full article

Old Friends has welcomed 2015 Eclipse Award Champion Grass Horse Big Blue Kitten (Kitten's Joy) to the farm on Thursday, Apr. 24, according . The 17-year old stallion was donated to Old Friends courtesy of Calumet Farm. “We are so excited to welcome this robust, battle tested late bloomer to Old Friends,” said President and CEO of Old Friends John Nicholson. “His accomplished career, his impressive connections and his pleasant demeanor will make him a favorite with our thousands of visitors. We are deeply grateful to Calumet Farm for allowing us to give Big Blue Kitten his forever home.” Bred and raced by Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey, Big Blue Kitten began his race career as a 3-year-old in 2011 under the care of trainer Chad Brown. The post Eclipse Winner Big Blue Kitten Retires To Old Friends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just in time for the big weekend, a brand new half-sister to Derby favorite Journalism (Curlin) has hit the ground for Don Alberto Corporation in Kentucky, according to a post on X by Reed Ringler. By Flightline and out of GSW Mopotism (Uncle Mo), the filly who arrived at about 1:00 a.m. ET came in at 144 pounds. “Mopotism has thrown some terrific foals, and all have had plenty of leg and substance,” Don Alberto's Reed Ringler told the TDN. “She is a great mother, but all the foals have been independent and smart. She jumped right up and said 'here I am!' Our broodmare manager Raul Garcia is the best and he said she was an easy delivery. My guess is the filly runs in the colors of Don Alberto.” Acquired by the organization for $1.05-million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale, her dam now claims four foals, with the highly-regarded Journalism being the first. Also of note, Mopotism's colt Nitro Tap (Tapit) was a $1.5-million buy for Flying Dutchmen during Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Sale last year and this dam foaled a filly by Into Mischief, who currently is a yearling. ⁦@theTDN⁩ ⁦@FanDuel_Racing⁩ ⁦@BloodHorse⁩ late breaking news..Journalism has a sister, 144 pound filly by Flightline pic.twitter.com/ojdYRfmYSj — Reed Ringler (@ReedRingler) April 30, 2025 The post Journalism’s Half-Sister By Flightline Arrives In Time For Big Brother’s Derby Run appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making a welcome return to action having undergone a wind prodecure in February, RP Racing's G3 Molecomb Stakes victor Big Mojo (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}) allayed any concerns regarding his wellbeing with a rousing half-length victory in Wednesday's G3 eventmasters.co.uk Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot. The Mick Appleby trainee, starting at odds of 4-1, was under a firm hold from the outset and occupied a position in mid division through halfway in the six-furlong dash. Easing closer inside the final quarter-mile, he joined the front rank of four on the far side passing the furlong pole and was driven out to assert superiority in determined fashion. Big Mojo followed up his Molecomb triumph with a fourth in York's G2 Gimcrack Stakes and a narrow second in Doncaster's G2 Flying Childers Stakes. He concluded his five-race juvenile programme with a fourth, finishing just over one length behind the winner Magnum Force, in November's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar when last seen on the track. Despite registering a first success in his second start at the six-furlong trip, Appleby is inclined to target the five-furlong G1 King Charles III Stakes, previously known as the King's Stand, rather than the Commonwealth Cup, come June. “The King Charles [III Stakes] would be more the likely route we'd go down, I would think, but he is in both races,” the trainer explained. “It's always a concern when you've got a decent two-year-old, whether they've trained on or not, but at home he looked like he had. He's been working really well against some of the older horses and I'm really delighted with him.” Winning rider Tom Marquand added, “He's a very good horse, he showed that last year, and I think it's just changed him a little bit as a type as well. The second I even went to think about going this lad was up and away, which is something he didn't do last year in quite the same manner. I thought that was a good performance, he's done well to go and win and I feel, on a track like Ascot where you're going to get tempo, he could be lethal here. He doesn't lack early speed or the ability to travel over five. On the right track I still think six furlongs is correct for him, but Ascot being Ascot, it is definitely a strong possibility [dropping back to five furlongs].” Big Mojo, whose 2023 Bungle Inthejungle (GB) half-sister did not survive, is the lone representative for Listed National Stakes second Jm Jackson (Ire) (No Nay Never), herself a full-sister to Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux victrix Singforthemoment (Ire). The April-foaled bay's second dam Kawn (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) is a half-sister to G1 Lockinge Stakes and G2 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) runner-up and multiple Group-winning sire Trans Island (GB) (Selkirk), G3 Premio Sergio Cumani victrix Welsh Diva (GB) (Selkirk) and G3 Meld Stakes third Creekside (GB) (Dubai Destination). This is the family of multiple Group-winning sire College Chapel (GB) (Sharpo {GB}) and multiple Group 1-winning three-time New Zealand champion King's Chapel (Aus) (King Of Kings {Ire}). “Big Mojo is BACK!” @MickApplebyUK's charge strikes in the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes under @TomMarquand at @Ascot… pic.twitter.com/qgXtPD41nN — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 30, 2025 Wednesday, Ascot, Britain EVENTMASTERS.CO.UK COMMONWEALTH CUP TRIAL STAKES (PAVILION STAKES)-G3, £80,000, Ascot, 4-30, 3yo, 6fT, 1:12.50, g/f. 1–BIG MOJO (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Mohaather (GB) 1st Dam: Jm Jackson (Ire) (SP-Eng), by No Nay Never 2nd Dam: Kawn (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 3rd Dam: Khubza (GB), by Green Desert (175,000gns Ylg '23 TADEY). O-RP Racing Ltd; B-Ringfort Stud Ltd & The Ladies (IRE); T-Michael Appleby; J-Tom Marquand. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-0, $238,847. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Diablo Rojo (Ire), 129, c, 3, Pinatubo (Ire)–Boston Rocker (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (325,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-J Hanly, A Stroud & Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Raphael Freire. £17,200. 3–Ain't Nobody (Ire), 129, c, 3, Sands Of Mali (Fr)–Burmese Waltz (GB), by Showcasing (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£30,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-J Blackburn & J Matthews; B-Ballyhane (Rathbride) Umlimited (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £8,608. Margins: HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 9.00, 12.00. Also Ran: Brian (Ire), Arabie (GB), Candy (GB), Hallasan (GB), Dash Dizzy (Ire), Rebel's Gamble (Ire), Electrolyte (Ire). . The post Big Mojo Back in Style to Annex Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup Trial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Michael McCarthy has pledged to make a donation to 501(c)(3) aftercare organization Win Place Home if presumed favorite Journalism (Curlin) takes the GI Kentucky Derby this Saturday. “Michael has supported us for years, and notably, he has donated more horses to our program than any other trainer,” said CJ Wilson, founder and lead trainer. “What's more, he ensures every horse he sends to us comes with a financial donation from the owners–a practice that sets a powerful standard for responsibility in the industry.” Wilson said that McCarthy's pledge is the continuation of a deeply-rooted commitment to the horses after the race is over. The Win Place Home team was present when Journalism captured the GI Santa Anita Derby. The organization retrains former racehorses to be functioning members in new disciplines and places them in forever homes where they will prosper. Click here for more information. The post McCarthy Makes Pledge To Win Place Home If Journalism Takes Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Totally unexposed entering Wednesday's Listed Paradise Stakes, Marcstown's Sardinian Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) made his first start on turf a successful one in Ascot's Queen Anne Stakes Trial. Stalking the strong early pace under Kieran Shoemark, the John and Thady Gosden-trained son of the G1 Phoenix Stakes and G1 Matron Stakes winner La Collina (Ire) (Strategic Prince {GB}) moved to the front inside the final two furlongs and held off Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}) to score by half a length. “He's a really talented horse and this was his first day on the grass,” his jockey said. “He has lots of ability and I feel he'll come on plenty. I think he's a solid miler–he was getting a bit tired there when Docklands came to me.” Great battle! First time on turf, Sardinian Warrior sees off Docklands to land the Paradise Stakes at @Ascot under Kieran Shoemark… pic.twitter.com/LEsZmB80Jj — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 30, 2025 The post Saxon Warrior’s Sardinian Warrior Takes The Paradise For Marc Chan And The Gosdens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Northern Regional Pacers Final has been re-scheduled to Cambridge on Thursday, May 15. Originally the race was going to be held at Alexandra Park on ANZAC day (last Friday) but didn’t go ahead because of insufficient entries. The Final will be programmed similarly to the Auckland edition but with a $27,500 stake and a lower rating limit of R45 to try to attract more intermediate grade pacers. The race will still have a maximum back mark of 30 metres and be run over 2700m. Horses will be eligible to start as long as they have been in one qualifying race, as opposed to the two starts that was originally proposed. The conditions of the series have also been extended to include the two Country Cup qualifying races at the Manawatu HRC’s two-night meeting this week (yesterday and tomorrow). The rescheduled Northern Regional Pacers Final will coincide with the resumption of Thursday night harness at Cambridge. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Canterbury trainer-driver Gavin Smith says it will be a painful privilege to honour his close friend Greg Sugars in Friday night’s Reharvest Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park. Like many in the industry, Smith was left stunned by the shock news on Saturday that 40-year-old Sugars had passed away in his sleep. Smith was close to Sugars, having spent plenty of time together over the years, even more so in the last year as Sugars campaigned Just Believe and Better Eclipse in New Zealand. Sugars and his wife Jess Tubbs also trained One Over All during his Victorian career after Smith sent him across to them as a three-year-old. “They helped make this horse,” says Smith. “It has been a very tough week for me and I have really struggled with it, especially when I am not busy. “So I wanted to do something to honour Greg.” Smith asked Jess Tubbs if he could wear their racing colours when he partners One Over All in the Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park this Friday. “Jess said yes and I am honoured to do it but now it is getting closer I realise it will be really emotional for me,” says Smith. “This is the right race to do it in. This was the race last year they won with Just Believe and they then won the Auckland Cup as the very next race as they were both held on the same night last year. “It was one of the biggest nights of their career and I want to remember Greg by wearing the colours and hope we can do him justice.” This week was always going to be an emotional one at harness meetings right around Australasia and remembering Sugars will be an integral part of Friday night’s meeting, as it should be after the enormous involvement Sugars had with the New Zealand industry last year. Earlier in the night Race 4 is named the “Remembering Greg Sugars – Fond Memories from 2024 – RIP” Mobile Pace. The emotionally-charged meeting with its five black type races is the last major fixture of a huge autumn of racing in the north. To see Friday’s fields at Alexandra Park click here View the full article

Milestones for Michael and Wilson House at Manawatu, the first Warriors – harness racing joint promotion, and a new driver for Keayang Zahara all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Dual milestones for Michael and Wilson House The country’s leading junior driver Wilson House celebrated his 21st in a most unusual way yesterday – he drove three winners at Manawatu. He started his run by winning the first with Matai Harry, then won race 5 with Jaccka Baylis before bookending the programme with hot favourite Nickel And Dime in the last. Now in his fifth year of driving, the in-form House has 51 wins in 2025, putting him second overall behind Blair Orange on 74. His father, Michael House trained all three of those winners last night along with Oakley Shard and Shezabettorgirl, both driven by Harrison Orange. House has a commanding lead in the trainers’ premiership with 67 wins, 30 ahead of closest challenger Steve and Amanda Telfer. With his second winner on the night (Shezabettorgirl) House clocked up his 900th career success. He now has 903. Last night was the first under the new lights at Manawatu. Costing around $300,000 they were installed just last week. Win win for Warriors The first ever joint promotion involving the One New Zealand Warriors, Harness Racing New Zealand and Addington Raceway has been deemed a big success. The ANZAC Racing and League day was held last Friday. There was a strong Warriors theme both on and off the track for the 10 race card that included the Up the Wahs ANZAC Classic Mobile Pace. Many Warriors fans turned up at the raceway and enjoyed the racing before heading off next door to see the Warrior beat the Newcastle Knights (Win win). It’s also been confirmed the Warriors will continue playing ANZAC weekend games in Christchurch for the next three years at least though they will be played at the new roofed stadium downtown. Other joint ventures between the Warriors organization and HRNZ are in the pipeline. Turnover was strong for the both the ANZAC day meetings at Addington and Auckland. They were both ahead of last year with total turnover over $2.1m. Auckland’s premier meeting featured five Group 1s including Marketplace’s dominant win in the Woodlands Stud Northern Derby. Action continues at Alexandra Park this Friday with another three Group 1s, including the Rowe Cup. Vale Ray Dawe Harness Racing New Zealand would like to extend its condolences to the Dawe family. Ray Dawe will be farewelled this Thursday at the Lamb and Hayward chapel at Rangiora at 10.30am. Ray Dawe was the “Ra” in Rakero Racing along with his sons Kevin (“Ke”) and Ronnie (“Ro”) and raced the likes of Group 1 winner Rakero Rocket, Light Me Up and Ebury Street. Ray Dawe was 85. New driver for Keayang Zahara Unbeaten trotting mare Keayang Zahara faces her biggest challenge yet when she returns to racing at Melton on Saturday night. That’s how co-trainer Paddy Lee looks at the 1720m trotting free-for-all, where Keayang Zahara will take on genuine and high-quality open-class rivals for the first time. Her major rivals include multiple Group 1 winning mare Im Ready Jet (gate two) and Great Southern Star winner Watts Up Partytime (four). “She’s as ready to go as we can have her without a race,” says Lee The other difference on Saturday night will be the driver. Jason Lee has won all 14 races on Keayang Zahara so far, but willingly hands the reins to cousin, Glen Craven, this week. “It’s how we do things, we share them around,” Paddy Lee said. “Jase wanted Glen to have a few race drives on her. Glen will drive her if she goes to Sydney next week as we plan to, as well. “I think the plan is for Jase to get back on when she goes to Brisbane for the Inter Dominion.” This race is to sharpen-up Keayang Zahara for her quest to win an eighth Group 1 race in Saturday week’s $100,000 Macarthur Mile at Menangle. Keayang Zahara hasn’t raced since completing a clean sweep of three major races at Addington when she won the Group 1 NZ Trotting Derby on December 6, last year. Cullens grab Group 1 double What a Group 1-winning fortnight it’s been the husband and wife training combo of Hayden and Amanda Cullen. Firstly Amanda claimed her first Group 1 with We Walk By Faith in the Dawson Harford Taylor Mile on April 11 and then last Friday the Cullens got a second with Arafura in the Pascoes The Jewellers Northern oaks. The Cullens now have 12 wins in 2025 with a very good UDR (strike-rate) of 0.4099. Hayden has 35 Group 1 wins, including 19 with Mark Purdon and 11 on his own. Mowbray’s run of success with outsiders Delightful Peg’s win continues a great run of longshot winners for trainer Brad Mowbray in 2025. The Bettor’s Delight filly got the dream up the passing lane to upset the likes of hot shots Captains Mistress and Utah Jazz in he Nevele R Stud/Macca Lodge Southern Oaks Final on Diamonds Day at Invercargill on Sunday. Delightful Peg paid $37.50 for the win. Mowbray’s other winners at big money this year have included Impressive Shard ($46), She’s Tough ($32.80) and Okiwi Bay ($28.10). D Mac on the move After a strong second on debut D Mac has been sold to Western Australian interests. Named after All Black and Chiefs star Damian McKenzie, the Downbytheseaside colt is off to Perth. Trained, driven and co-bred by Brad Morris, D Mac debuted in this month’s Murray Gray Memorial Pace at Winton and sat parked for the whole race only to be run down by Seaside Croft. 1000 for Pizzuto Kevin Pizzuto of Tiger Tara fame has brought up a big milestone. The veteran Australian trainer had his 1000th success when Tiger Eupheme won at Penrith in the Last Post Pace for driver Joshua Gallagher last Thursday. By Tiger Tara, it was the filly’s second win in 12 starts. Tiger Tara was by far Pizzuto’s stand out horse with 37 wins and nearly $2.5m in earnings. In 2018 he won the Inter Dominion and the Hunter and Victoria Cup and was a huge second to Thefixer in the New Zealand Cup. NI awards coming up soon The North Island Harness Racing awards will be at Cambridge Raceway on Saturday, May 17 from 6pm. The cost per ticket is $40. For more information click here Club News : Invercargill Local harness racing fan Jackie Geange was the winner of the Invercargill Harness Racing Club’s major promotion at their annual Diamonds Day race meeting at Ascot Park Raceway on Sunday. She walked away with a Diamond Ring, independently valued at $7560, courtesy of Coats & Schuck Jewellers and the Invercargill Harness Racing Club after her name was drawn from all those who placed a coupon in the draw. The coupons were given to ladies on course each time they placed a bet of $5. “It was the best ever Diamonds Day, the best ever day out,” Geange said. “I really appreciate the prize from Coats & Schuck Jewellers and the Invercargill Harness Racing Club.” The popularity of Diamonds Day continues to thrive with good crowds on course and a great day of racing in perfect weather conditions. View the full article

Don McKenzie is being remembered as “an absolute gentleman” who bred plenty of winners. Since the 1970s McKenzie bred and/or raced more than 50 horses either on his own account or in partnership. Among his best known horses were $1m earner The Vulcan, Genius and more recently Invictus. He died at his North Canterbury home over the weekend after a battle with cancer. “He was just the most marvellous person,” says Jenny Butt, who bred 32 horses with McKenzie over the past 40 or so years. “We said our goodbyes about a month ago and it was heartbreaking.” “He was just a really good person who would do anything for anyone.” Another to know him well was northern trainer Bernie Hackett. “We went back about 25 years,” says Hackett, “He was an absolute gentleman. He never complained about anything and was the first to ring to if someone else’s horse that I trained won a race.” They were in regular contact. “We spoke to each other every week.” McKenzie was known as a hard worker. “He was a freezing worker and a timber worker,” says Butt, “him and his children once cleared 100 acres of gorse around Omoto near Greymouth. He planted a lot of pine trees and did quite well out of that.” Jenny Butt got to know McKenzie initially through her late husband Murray. “It started with Kitty’s Pride and then with Abundant – she was enormous for us.” Kitty’s Pride won three races for Murray Butt in the mid 1980s while Abundant did not win a race but turned into a broodmare gem. Among Abundant’s progeny that McKenzie and Butt bred was Genius (24 wins) while Epona (Sundon – Abundant) produced multiple Group 1 winner and trotting millionaire Vulcan. Another of Epona’s best performers was Invictus with 14 wins. “Abundant’s mares just produced winner after winner,” says Butt. Early on many of the McKenzie – Butt horses were trained and driven by Jenny’s sons Tim and Anthony. They were a potent combination. The Hackett- Michelle Wallis stable entered the frame a bit later on. “The first two we trained for them were Genius and Princess Mackendon,” says Hackett. “We had 17 wins with Genius.” That was between 2007 and 2009 with Wallis as the official trainer while Princess Mackendon won nine races for Wallis-Hackett between 2015-18. Invictus was trained by the duo throughout his racing career in New Zealand with 14 wins before being exported in Australia two years ago. Other top performers that McKenzie was involved in were Sassy Pants and Thanesan (both 9 wins). Don McKenzie was 77. “It’s a real shame,” says Hackett, “he was one of the best.” View the full article

Charlie Appleby has got off to a flyer with his two-year-olds and Wednesday's Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes saw one who could be for the future as well as now. A half-brother to the G1 Commonwealth Cup and G2 Norfolk Stakes winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) who cost 1million gns at Tattersalls October Book 1, Godolphin's Wise Approach (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) had a lot to live up to on this debut but as the 16-5 joint-favourite was expected to put up a bold show. Tracking the leaders throughout the early stages with William Buick able to draft easily, he was delivered to master the previous winner Super Soldier (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) close home and score by half a length. “That was perfect–he's a lovely horse with a good attitude who you would expect to improve from today and that rode like a good two-year-old race,” Buick said. Next stop, the Coventry Stakes? Wise Approach (a half-brother to Perfect Power) arrives late to take the Royal @Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes!@WilliamBuickX | @godolphin pic.twitter.com/rTEPbnLNk8 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 30, 2025 The post Mehmas’s Millionaire Yearling Wise Approach A New TDN Rising Star For Godolphin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The depth of Todd Pletcher's involvement in the world's most celebrated race is staggering. In this year's 151st edition, he extends his own record of saddling the most starters in the Run for the Roses. Grande will be his 66th runner. View the full article

The gelded son of Noble Mission won the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) in 2023, prior to winning the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Plans are in place to start drainage work on the false straight at ParisLongchamp from Sunday, July 13, France Galop announced on Wednesday. The work will start 1,000 metres from the winning post, at the beginning of the bend leading into the false straight, and stop 600 metres before the winning post. Due to its proximity to a lake and the natural gradient of this track, this section of the course is said to have a greater tendency to retain water than the rest of the circuit when the ground is soft. The project will begin the day after the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and is expected to take 10 days to complete. The track will open for racing again from Sunday, August 31. The post ParisLongchamp to Undergo Drainage Work from July appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin Australia announced on Wednesday that it will move to a public training model when James Cummings' current contract comes to an end on Thursday, July 31. In a joint statement with Cummings, Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv said the change would provide greater flexibility for the business, while maintaining Godolphin's strong presence in the Australian Thoroughbred industry. “The private training model that we first adopted after the purchase of Woodlands in 2007 with successive trainers, Peter Snowden, John O'Shea and now James Cummings for the past eight years, has proven to be very successful,” said Makiv. “Moving away from a private training model gives us greater business agility. We will continue to have the same number of horses in training–it's fundamental to what we do. As a stallion business, Group 1 winners like Anamoe, Bivouac, Broadsiding and Cylinder have all come through our commitment to racing. “Our numbers have and will remain stable, just as they have been for the past five years. We remain absolutely committed to breeding and racing in our famous Godolphin blue silks.” He added, “James is a fantastic trainer and has been incredibly successful. He brought up his 50th Group 1 win late last year and we are extremely grateful for his leadership of our wonderful racing team who have supported him. “We are looking forward to working with James under our new training model.” Makiv also confirmed that high-class two-year-old Tempted (Aus) (Street Boss), G1 Cox Plate contender Tom Kitten (Aus) (Harry Angel {Ire}) and G1 Kennedy Oaks winner Zardozi (Aus) (Kingman {GB}) were among the horses who would remain in Cummings' care, with the trainer looking forward to the next phase of his career. “The time is right for me to take the next step in my career and launch my own venture as a public trainer,” said Cummings. “I've been fortunate to work with exceptional horses and a dedicated team during my time at Godolphin, and together we've celebrated many memorable successes. “This experience has been incredibly rewarding and has taught me invaluable lessons, both professionally and personally. I'm deeply grateful to Godolphin for their ongoing support and I look forward with great anticipation to this exciting new chapter.” The post Godolphin Announce Move to Public Training Model in Australia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Duke Of Bedford on his way to winning Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) at Warrnambool. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax didn’t set out to breed a Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) winner, but that’s what they have done, with Blandford Lodge homebred Duke Of Bedford taking out the Warrnambool feature on Tuesday. “I had two in that race. I also bred Blandford Lad, who ran fifth,” Blandford Lodge principal Graham Bax said. “He (Duke Of Bedford) is a neat little jumper and he is going along well. He is a young steeplechase horse, so he has got a bright future in front of him. “If he runs tomorrow (in the Grand Annual Steeplechase, 5500m) he should be a big show.” While pleased to see his homebred victorious on Tuesday, Bax is still perplexed how a steeplechaser has been produced from the family. “The mare (dam) is by Fastnet Rock, so how we got a steeplechaser out of that I don’t know, but you never know when breeding horses where it’s all going to end up,” he said. By Tavistock, Duke Of Bedford is out of winning Fastnet Rock mare Miralago, a half-sister to the dam of Group One winner Danzdanzdance. Bax has been breeding from the family for several decades and he has enjoyed plenty of success during that time. “I have had that family for years and it goes way back to an English mare called Polly Soleil that I bought more than 30 years ago,” he said. “I have bred a lot of good mares out of that family, including (multiple Group One winner) Lucia Valentina, (Group Two winner) Silky Red Boxer, Danzdanzdance, (stakes winner) Le Gai Soleil, there’s a lot of good horses from that family. “It is a super family that has been performing for Blandford Lodge for a long time. It will keep going as well, we have another horse out of the family running today (Wednesday) at Canterbury called Ahuriri, who has won the St Leger (Listed, 2800m). The family just keeps giving.” Bax offered Duke Of Bedford at Inglis’ 2020 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale where he was purchased by STC Syndications for A$45,000. He went on to win one race for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young before he transferred to Andrew Bobbin’s Stawell barn, for whom he has added another six victories to his tally, culminating in his Brierly Steeplechase triumph. “I love setting goals with races and working backwards and hitting the target, and this was one today,” Bobbin said post-race. Bobbin said he will wait until Thursday morning before deciding whether his six-year-old gelding backs up in the Grand Annual Steeplechase. “We’ll just see how that field holds up and at about 7:28am Thursday morning, I’ll probably still be scratching my head, I might even toss a coin,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Lucy In The Sky has travelled south to contest Saturday’s Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Gifted filly Lucy In The Sky will have a gilt-edged opportunity at Riccarton on Saturday to end her two-year-old campaign on a high note. The Tony Pike-trained juvenile has impressed in both of her appearances and will enjoy a drop in grade in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) with Jasmine Fawcett booked to guide the youngster. “She flew down on Sunday and travelled well and it would be nice to get a stakes win under her belt before she goes out and comes back for the spring,” Pike said. The Cambridge Stud-bred and raced daughter of the farm’s shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain was a slick debut winner at Ellerslie before returning there to finish a creditable sixth in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). “She was impressive first-up and very good in the Sistema, she got taken on and was savaged from the 600 or 700m mark by the outsider of the field and she fought on well considering,” Pike said. A half-sister to Group 2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) winner Ruud Not Too, Lucy In The Sky was subsequently untouched to win a 750m trial at Ruakaka last week. “If she handles the track, we would expect her to go very close,” Pike said. Closer to home, the stable will have a strong hand in the opening event at Te Rapa with TAB Racing Club (2100m) with two top chances. “High Country is stepping up in trip and he was really good the other day fresh-up over a mile and Poetic Justice broke through for a pretty soft win in the same grade,” Pike said. “He will have gained a fair bit of confidence, he’s always showed the talent and has taken a while to mature physically. “He’s just starting to put it all together now so I would expect both of them to run well.” In-form four-year-old Cannon Hill will meanwhile bid to go one better in the Prezzy Card Mile (1600m) following his resuming effort for second over 1400m. “I quite like Cannon Hill, I thought his fresh run was really good and stepping up to a mile will really suit him,” Pike said. There is also a sense of timing about Ziggy Stardust, who will step out in the SkyCity Hamilton Maiden (1200m). She has placed in six of her eight starts, including a runner-up finish in last season’s Champagne Stakes and was again second in her most recent outing at Matamata. Meanwhile, Pike has all but ruled out any involvement in the Brisbane winter carnival. “We were considering Storm Front, but he had a cardiac arrythmia the other day at Ellerslie so that’s sent him to the paddock,” he said. “I don’t think we will be worrying about Queensland this year, we had a couple of others possibly in mind for lower-level races, but outside of the big races the prize money is not a lot better than here. “We’ll batten down the hatches and try and get everything ready for the spring and summer for next season. Horse racing news View the full article

The Cunning Fox (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Tom Ryan have prevailed in a stirring Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool on Wednesday, securing the talented hurdler’s fifth-consecutive jumps win and first feature. In what would also prove to be Patrick and Michelle Payne’s first May Racing Carnival feature win together, The Cunning Fox ($2.90) was given a patient ride by Ryan, as Stern Idol ($3.20) set his usual strong gallop under replacement rider Fergus Gregory. Ryan moved the striking grey into the race down the side and it was race on over the last, with Stern Idol, Affluential (NZ) (Zed) ($2.20) and roughie Right Now (NZ) (Wrote) ($19) all also real chances. But The Cunning Fox, despite racing a touch waywardly, was too tough late, maintaining his unbeaten jumps status with a huge closing effort. “It was a fantastic version of the Galleywood,” said stable representative Neil Greaves. “We have a lot of confidence in The Cunning Fox, but we weren’t that sure he was going to be good enough to beat Affluential and Stern Idol and the rest of the field was pretty solid as well. “So it’s a great thrill for everybody, Joe O’Neill’s here with his large group of owners out there, some have come from as far away as Sydney.” After joining her sibling in a training partnership last September, Michelle Payne scored her first ‘Bool jumps winner with Sing For Peace on Tuesday and has wasted no time picking up one of the main events. For Patrick Payne, it was his first Galleywood triumph and completed his collection of Warrnambool jumps features, having won the Brierly in 2017 with Zed Em (NZ) (Zed) and the Grand Annual an incredible four times, with Awakening Dream (2012), Chaparro (2014), No Song No Supper (2016) and Zed Em (2019). “I’m sure for Patrick and Michelle, this will be a real feather in their cap,” Greaves said. “Those who have been coming every year know Patrick’s been a master trainer full stop, but a master trainer of jumps horses, this is just another example of that.” View the full article

Cody Cole collected his second quinella in a matter of days in the Central Districts on Wednesday, with Rareza (NZ) (Exosphere) and debutant Andantino saluting at the Woodville meeting. The Matamata horseman took a pair of runners to Wanganui last Sunday in The Nomad (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) and St Giles (NZ) (Swiss Ace), both of whom took out their respective races. His two representatives at the midweek meeting repeated the dose, headed by resuming talent Rareza. The daughter of Exosphere had just seven starts under her belt prior to the Speldhurst Mates (1200m), including a last-start success back in November where she struck a similar surface to the conditions on Wednesday. Starting a $3 favourite, Rareza jumped alongside one of her main rivals in Sinbin (NZ) (Derryn), while Gohugo (NZ) (Per Incanto) took up the pacemaking role. The mare hit clear air early in the straight and had to find plenty in the testing conditions, but she did just that, holding off Sinbin to win by a nose. “She was super. For a midweek (rating) 75 it was a strong enough field,” Cole said. “She had a little setback a couple of weeks ago and missed a bit work, so she was in need of the run and we thought we would kick her off soft. She was in that rating bracket where she can afford to get a few points and still have another crack at 75, then maybe raise our sights to something else. “We’ll just get her home, see how she comes through it and look through the programme for where we’re likely to head with her. She’s progressive, she’s still doing it on ability and hitting the front and waiting for them a little bit too. “Maybe the addition of some gear will help her at some stage, to get a bit more out of her.” Rareza was guided by in-form apprentice Triston Moodley, who earlier in the day rode her stablemate Andantino to victory in the Property Brokers Pahiatua/Woodville (1100m). Having appeared at the trials back in January, Andantino came into the race as favourite ahead of Casino (NZ) (Savabeel), and it would be the two first starts that would fight out the finish in a competitive three-year-old maiden. Casino made a good account of herself, but she was unable to pick up the gelding, who kicked clear to score by half a length. Cole had been cautiously confident coming into the race and was rapt with the son of Castelvecchio. “It’s been a fair while since he trialled so you’re always a bit reserved there, but he’s shown us plenty of ability and worked well leading into it,” he said. “He’s got upside, he’s got potential there. “He’s one of those horses with good gate speed and can get up on speed, he’d drawn a bit sticky but that didn’t really worry us too much. It was fortunate that the rain didn’t come any earlier because I don’t know whether he would’ve copped it too much wetter than it was. “We’ll just hopefully find a track that is just in that soft range or thereabouts to get another run into him, then he’ll head to the paddock and look towards next year.” Bred by GSA Bloodstock, Andantino was a $50,000 purchase by Cole at Karaka when presented from the draft of Ralph Thoroughbreds. Back in the north, it was a rewarding sight for Cole to see his Group Three-performing mare Oneira (NZ) (Contributer) back at the trials on Tuesday. As a three-year-old, Oneira placed in a Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), but due to a variety of reasons, has only had four starts since that race in October 2023. “She had one run in the spring where she got back and it just wasn’t her pattern,” Cole said. “She’s not comfortable getting in amongst them in her races and it was a bit of a nothing race. “She then had an injury, so she’s been out over the summer, and I’ve just brought her back up quietly. She’s developed into a nice, rounded mare, she was always a little bit light and lean. “Her trial was good, she was still pretty burly in condition yesterday so that will tighten her up a lot. “She’s stakes placed and we haven’t had many runs with her after that, so it’ll be nice to get a nice prep into her in the early winter then come back in the spring. She likes those off tracks, so we’ll find a race for her over the next few weeks to kick off.” In the meantime, Cole will have a quartet of runners heading to Te Rapa on Saturday, including another promising debutant in Atkins (NZ) (Savabeel) contesting the SkyCity Hamilton 1200. The Savabeel four-year-old has been a work in progress for Cole but impressed with a flashing trial at Ellerslie in early April. “She’s going to improve a lot from the experience, she’s a nice mare that has taken a lot of time and management to get her there in one piece,” he said. “We’ve really seen the best of her in her last two trials, they’ve both been good especially the last one where she sat back and picked them up pretty effortlessly under a soft ride. “Craig (Grylls) quite likes her and sticks with her on Saturday, so she’s definitely one to look forward too.” Speedy filly Power Of Three will be back up to her winning distance in the MetalCo 1200, after being run down late by Albarossa at Trentham last time out. “In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the track to take her to, she’s got quite a short sprint and she hit the front quite quickly there,” Cole said. “It’s a long way to get run down and she was fresh-up and probably needed the run late. “She will be suited to a turning track where she’s not exposed so early.” View the full article