Wandering Eyes

Trainer Danny Shum has all but ruled out a tilt at the G1 Dubai World Cup with his Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), with the G1 Dubai Turf set to be the next port of call after his appearance in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday, February 22. The three-time G1 Hong Kong Cup winner arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday ahead of what will be his debut on dirt in the Saudi Cup, after gaining the tenth Group 1 victory of his glittering career when having his first start in the Middle East in last month's Jebel Hatta at Meydan. Shum and owner Peter Lau resisted the temptation to test Romantic Warrior on dirt in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge, which took place on the same card as the Jebel Hatta, and will instead roll the dice in Riyadh when the seven-year-old contests the world's richest race. “Wherever we finish in the Saudi Cup it is 99 per cent certain he will run next in the Dubai Turf,” Shum said of future plans for the world's highest-earning racehorse of all time. “The Dubai Racing Club have already accepted my entry for the Dubai Turf but not the Dubai World Cup yet, as we want to see how Romantic Warrior finishes the race here, but he will almost certainly go for the turf race.” Explaining the decision to target the Saudi Cup, Shum continued, “It wasn't an easy decision for the owner as we missed the Gold Cup and Stewards' Cup in Hong Kong. If we stayed there we could win on the turf easily, but Peter really wanted to try the challenge of the world's richest race and come to the Saudi Cup. We are really looking forward to it. “James [McDonald, jockey], Peter and I discussed about running first on dirt in the Al Maktoum Challenge and thought that might be better. But Peter and I had a lunch meeting and he made a very good point. He said we should run on the turf in Dubai as he could have a [bad] experience on the dirt there, and that the Dubai and Saudi dirt is different. He could win or run really well in Dubai, but that doesn't mean he can run well in Saudi. “So, we went to the Jebel Hatta knowing we can win easily–and we will keep the dirt a secret. Maybe he will be very good on it, or maybe he can't handle it, but we won't be disappointed if he loses so long as he is happy and sound.” Shum also confirmed that Romantic Warrior's travelling days are likely to be behind him after a potential start on Dubai World Cup night. In addition to his top-level victories in Hong Kong and Dubai, he is already a previous winner of the Yasuda Kinen in Japan and Cox Plate in Australia. The trainer added, “I talked to the owner before I left and he probably won't run overseas anymore and we will keep him in Hong Kong for three or four races every season. We'll keep him healthy and happy and hopefully he can do good.” The post Romantic Warrior Unlikely to Tackle Dirt Again after Saudi Cup Outing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star local jockey transferred to general ward at Union Hospital on Tuesday.View the full article

French jockey highlights Jamie Richards-trained gelding as the best of his seven mounts on the all-weather card.View the full article

The first of the ever popular Northern Metro Series for 2025 has been confirmed for March. The series, a key part of the Look North initiative to invigorate racing in the northern region, will kick off at Cambridge on Tuesday, March 4. The heats will cater for R35 to R45 3YO and older trotters and pacers, and will be worth $8000 each. The second round of heats will be held at Alexandra Park on Friday March 14, with the top four from each heat automatically qualifying for the $35,000 Final to be held on NZB Harness Million night on March 21. The final will be limited to 12 runners. Should a horse win both a heat and the final the final will be penalty free. The series is all about maximising the horse population in the north and rewarding loyalty for those connections who consistently front up to races. Last year eight series of Heats and Finals were held over November and December with a variety of winners including Village Rebel, Always B Elite, Invisible, Joes Rock, Magic Dash and Kaipaki Jack. The format was well received, with around $600,000 in stakes spread around the Silk Road Northern Series for the Fillies and Mares and the Northern Metro Series for the Pacers and Trotters. Harness Million night at Alexandra Park on March 21 will feature the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Final for the 3YO Colts and Geldings and the $150,000 3YO Fillies Final. View the full article

By Rob Courtney It’s a timely reminder with the up-coming NZB National Yearling Sales at Karaka and Christchurch, that winners can come from anywhere. There are a number of clear examples where top horses have been sold relatively cheaply through the sales arena, with NZ Cup winners Mainland Banner and Copy That immediately coming to mind after being sold for less than $10k as yearlings. And just in the last week or so Chocolate Crunch won on debut at Rangiora after being passed in at the 2023 Christchurch Yearling Sales. When prominent Canterbury owner/breeder Hazel van Opzeeland didn’t get a bid on her Captain Crunch – Bettor’s Blaze filly (Lot 228) she approached West Melton trainer Grant Payne to see if he might be interested in taking her filly on. Payne had seen the black filly go through the ring and was very familiar with the family, having broken in her fourth dam Lady Alba when working for Cambridge trainer Charlie Hunter back in the 1980s. Lady Alba was, herself, a half sister to eight winners including the unraced dam of millionaire pacer The Falcon Strike (41 wins) so there was some deep breeding behind her pedigree. “I broke Lady Alba in and as her regular pilot, drove her in three of her 10 wins,” Payne explained, Her career was highlighted by an eight win 2YO season resulting in her being awarded 2YO Filly of the Year in the 1983 season. Lady Alba would breed on to leave five winners including Classiealba (dam of smart pacer Cranbourne (17 wins + $336k + 1:52), the latter being arguably the best horse sired by colonial sire Sir Lincoln. Another daughter, Lady’s Day was bought by the Master Musician ownership group of McDonald and Storck and won 7 races from the Robert Dunn stable including a placing at Group 1 level in the NZ Breeders Stakes (Lakelsa won the 2025 version last week). Lady’s Day wasn’t a great producer at stud (3 minor winners from 8 foals) but her big claim to fame was leaving the unraced Cullen mare Baptism Of Fire who just happened to leave millionaire pacer Highview Tommy as her first foal. Enter Hazel van Opzeeland. Tommy was sold at the 2007 yearling sales to Michael House who was then in the business of buying yearlings to take through to the ‘Ready To Run’ sale six months later. Time trials were held at Ashburton in conjunction with that sale. Van Opzeeland just happened to work for House at the time in an administrative capacity and just like that she had acquired her first horse along with good friends Glenys and Philip Kennard. After winning 17 races and being placed twice in NZ Cups, its not hard to understand the love the owner had for the Bettor’s Delight entire who now stands at stud in Australia. The deeds of her little black colt have enabled van Opzeeland to go ‘back to the well’ on numerous occasions and a half-sister to Tommy in Highview Chartom is the grand dam of her latest winner Chocolate Crunch. The latter’s dam, Bettor’s Blaze, was unraced but already looks like a good broodmare in the making. Apart from her first foal winning at Amberley on Waitangi Day, her second foal and full sister BB Crunch debuted in the first 2025 2YO pace at Addington and ran a creditable fourth for van Opzeeland and trainer Ken Barron. Following on in behind, there is a yearling Vincent colt from the mare waiting to be a racehorse. As for Chocolate Crunch Payne is confident she can improve further again. “She reminds me a lot of Lady Alba in that they were/are poor track workers but come alive on race day. Chocolate Crunch is still very green but we will press on and see if she can carry that debut run onto the all weather surface at Addington next week before having a spell.” The NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales will be held at Auckland (Karaka) on Saturday, February 15 and Christchurch on Tuesday, February 18. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Champion trainer Barry Purdon is excited but wary heading into his latest Aussie raid. Purdon and co-trainer Scott Phelan will unleash the first two – Better Knuckle Up and Sooner The Bettor – of three stable stars they have sent across the ditch at Menangle on Saturday night. The third, and recently-crowned New Zealand Pacer of the Year Merlin, will wait another week to open his assault in a 2300m free-for-all at Menangle. The trio arrived in Sydney last Sunday, accompanied by Phelan, and have thrived at Paul Fitzpatrick’s stables. “Scotty said they licked their bins the first night, which is a great sign,” Purdon said. Better Knuckle Up has the most important task on Saturday night when he tackles the $50,000 Group 3 Hondo Grattan, a qualifier for the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire. He has drawn eight, but will move down to gate six if the emergencies are scratched. It’s a hot field with TAB Eureka runner-up Bay Of Biscay drawn one and other class runners like The Bigboss (five), War Dan Buddy (seven), Kingman (10) and Soho Spectre (11). Adding to the Kiwi flavour, We Walk By Faith has drawn alongside Better Knuckle Up in gate nine for trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen. We Walk By Faith, winner of his past two starts, won a heat of the NSW Derby at Menangle last year when trained by Mark and Nathan Purdon. He then ran sixth in the final. Barry Purdon expects Better Knuckle Up to be very competitive. “He wasn’t far behind Cold Chisel at home. He’s got a lot of speed and we rate him. He should be suited to the Aussie style of racing,” he said. “It’s just hard to get a line on the Aussie form until you meet them.” The ultra consistent Sooner The Bettor returns to Menangle where he ran four fantastic races this time last year, including seconds in the Miracle Mile and Chariots Of Fire. “He thrived over there last time and hasn’t done anything wrong in between, so he’s earned another crack,” Purdon said. Sooner The Bettor also faces a strong line-up in a 1609m free-for-all on Saturday night. Hunter Cup eye-catchers Max Delight (gate seven) and Captains Knock (eight) are there, along with Jason Grimson’s emerging former Kiwi pacer Im The Falcon (four). Sooner The Bettor has the gate speed to take advantage and get a forward spot from barrier five. He will go towards one of the two qualifying sprints for the Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 1. Merlin is headed there, too, but via next week’s 2300m race. “Merlin’s really well. We know what a strong crop of open class horses it is at the moment, but it will be great to be part of it again,” Purdon said. “Like everyone, we’ll have our fingers crossed for good barrier draws. “It was encouraging to see Don’t Stop Dreaming run so well last weekend, he’s pretty similar to Merlin at his best.” Don’t Stop Dreaming was second to Aussie superstar Leap To Fame in last Saturday night’s $100,000 Cranbourne Cup. View the full article

Stephen Marsh joined Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate to reflect on the dominant win from El Vencedor at Te Rapa on Saturday. El Vencedor was a dynamic winner in the Herbie Dyke Stakes – Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate – Omny.fm View the full article

Last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale topper Hostility (I Am Invincible) made a pleasing start to his career for Te Akau Racing on Tuesday when winning his 800m trial at Ellerslie. Bred by Christopher and Susanna Grace out of their dual Group One-winning mare Shillelagh, the son of I Am Invincible was initially offered for sale as a yearling in Sydney last year where he failed to meet his A$420,000 reserve. He was then offered through Kiltannon Stables’ New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft at Karaka in November where he set a new record for a two-year-old sold at public auction in the southern hemisphere when knocked down to the $1.65 million bid of Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis. He had his first public appearance for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Ellerslie on Tuesday where he was given a quiet trip at the rear of the five-horse field by jockey Craig Grylls, before powering over the top of his rivals late to win by nearly a length. Walker was pleased with Hostility’s trial, indicating that his raceday debut is looming if he pulls up well from the trial. “He had his first trial today and Craig Grylls was happy with him,” he said. “He liked the way he relaxed and quickened up nicely in the straight. He cornered well going right-handed, and the interesting thing will be how he pulls up out of the trial.  “He’s certainly a nice horse, (has a) lovely action, and he’s coping with everything really well. “Obviously, when they cost that much money there is always a high profile and a lot of attention focusses on these sorts of horses, but he’s certainly done everything right in what we’ve asked of him at this stage of his career.” View the full article

Multiple Group One winner Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) will kick-off what will likely be her last racing campaign when she heads to Randwick on Saturday to contest what is shaping to be a very competitive Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m). Raced by New Zealand syndicator Go Racing, the seven-year-old mare has had two trials in the lead-up to her first-up target and Go Racing General Manager Matt Allnutt said he has received positive reports from trainer Chris Waller. “Chris got her going a bit earlier than he has in recent campaigns,” Allnutt said. “He has been really happy with her work and her trials have been good. “She will need this run on Saturday and then she will be a lot more forward than she has been previously second-up. “It is going to be a great race on Saturday.” Flemington elite-level targets await Atishu following the weekend, and Allnutt is looking forward to returning to the Melbourne track where she has had so much success. Her Flemington victories include the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m), Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) and Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m), while she has also placed in the Champions Stakes, Empire Rose Stakes and Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m). “She will go to the All-Star Mile (Gr.1, 1600m) and then the Australian Cup, that’s the plan at this stage,” Allnutt said. “This is more than likely going to be her last season of racing, so it is all about maximising her value and winning as many Group Ones as we can.” Purchased by Go Racing out of Waikato Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale for $260,000, Atishu has gone on to win 11 races, three at Group One level, and earned more than A$5.5 million in prizemoney. “She has just been a marvel for us all the way through,” Allnutt said. “She is now a triple Group One winner, she has been a great horse for us and the syndicate love her.” Meanwhile, the Go Racing team were pleased to see their Group One-winning filly Velocious (Written Tycoon) carry their silks to victory in her 800m trial at Ellerslie on Tuesday. The winner of last season’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) underwent a wind operation late last year and has been making a pleasing return for trainer Stephen Marsh. “We are really happy. We have taken her along slowly after the wind operation,” Allnutt said. “Today was a step in the right direction. She probably knocked up a bit late today, but Rory (Hutchings, jockey) said she felt great, her breathing was good and she felt nice and strong under saddle. We are very encouraged with what we saw today.” No set plans have yet been made for the daughter of Written Tycoon, who will have one more trial before making her raceday return. “She will have one more trial now in a fortnight’s time and she will be more forward for that and then safely through that we will start thinking about where she is going to go and what we are going to do,” Allnutt said. “If she can come back to somewhere near what she was as a two-year-old, she will be more than competitive in black-type racing again.” View the full article

This week, Michael is joined in studio, by Cameron George to discuss his love of racing, time with NZTR and Ellerslie, the Warriors, the NZB Kiwi, and the continual growth and hype of both sports. Guerin Report – Ep.24 Ft. Cameron George View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Wednesday, February 12, 2025 First Race 6:45pm HKT (9:45pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Sha Tin Racecourse is the destination for Hong Kong racing on Wednesday evening, with a bumper nine-part program taking place on the all-weather circuit. The rail is in the true position, and although participants will be racing on the all-weather track, conditions could prove testing with consistent rainfall predicted throughout the day. The action at Sha Tin is scheduled to get underway at 6:45pm HKT. Best Bet at Sha Tin: Lucky Touch Lucky Touch relished the ground in his first attempt on Sha Tin’s all-weather surface last time out, striding to within a half-length of Never Peter Out on January 26. The four-year-old gelding bombed the start and was one of the widest turning for home, but he stormed through the line to snatch a spot on the podium. Alexis Badel jumps on in place of the injured Zac Purton, and provided he can use the inside draw (4) to sit in the top half of the field when turning for home, Lucky Touch should prove hard to hold out in his quest for a second career victory. Best Bet Race 6 – #1 Lucky Touch (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Jamie Richards | J: Alexis Badel (61kg) Next Best at Sha Tin: Full Credit The Mark Newnham-trained Full Credit simply doesn’t know how to run a bad race, finding the frame in six of his eight starts this season. The son of Va Pensiero was an impressive winner at this course and distance three starts back, proving too strong for Class 3 company. Gate three gives Luke Ferraris the option to lead or drop in behind the front-runners if they overdo it early, so watch for Full Credit to be swamping his rivals late at a good price with BlondeBet. Next Best Race 7 – #4 Full Credit (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Mark Newnham | J: Luke Ferraris (56kg) Best Value at Sha Tin: Viva Chaleur It’s hard to believe Viva Chaleur remains winless in Hong Kong after 22 starts. He appears set to peak in this 1800m Class 4 contest, however, after boxing on nicely at Sha Tin on January 26 behind Never Peter Out. Don’t be surprised to see a change of tactics as Luke Ferraris attempts to assume control and head forward from stall five, and provided he can string them out turning for home, Viva Chaleur should give followers a bold sight at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 4 – #7 Viva Chaleur (5) 6yo Gelding | T: Pierre Ng | J: Luke Ferraris (57kg) Sha Tin quaddie tips – 12/2/2025 Sha Tin quadrella selections Wednesday, February 12, 2025 1-8 4-6-8 2-3-8-9-10-12 1-3-7-11-12-13 Horse racing tips View the full article

Royal Insignia will contest the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Grahame Begg believes the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes is the perfect next step for promising colt Royal Insignia as he looks to establish himself as a leading contender for the Group 1 Australian Guineas. The C.S. Hayes Stakes, for three-year-old colts and geldings, will be run over 1400m at Flemington on Saturday. It serves as a key lead-up race to the Australian Guineas, held at the same track over 1600m two weeks later. A full brother to stallion Written By—who Begg trained to victory in the 2018 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes—Royal Insignia has already shown his potential with three wins from five starts. After securing back-to-back wins against his own age group in November, Royal Insignia was given a break before returning with an impressive performance to claim the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on January 25, finishing strongly late to secure victory. “We think he’s a very progressive horse,” Begg said. “He’s quite lightly raced, and he just seems to be getting better each time he goes to the races. “He’s getting more professional about the way he goes about it. It just looks a nice progression race to go to. “He won first-up in the Manfred and now goes to the C.S. Hayes, and we feel that he will be very well suited to Flemington and 1400 metres.” Should Royal Insignia meet expectations on Saturday, the plan is for him to head towards the Australian Guineas, with Begg confident the colt has the talent to compete at the highest level. “We rate him highly,” Begg said. “That (Australian Guineas) is the plan at this stage. Obviously, he’s got to take the next step, but we just feel it’s a nice transition of races for him from 1200 to 1400 on Saturday. “He’s had a three-week break between runs, and then it will be two weeks into the Guineas.” Jamie Mott, who has partnered Royal Insignia in all three of his wins, will miss Saturday’s meeting due to a careless riding suspension. However, Begg confirmed Mott will regain the ride for the Australian Guineas. “He gets a jockey change on Saturday, Craig Williams is riding him,” Begg said. “Jamie Mott is suspended, but Jamie is confirmed as riding him in the Guineas.” Horse racing news View the full article

Zac Purton will miss up to six weeks after Sha Tin fall. Zac Purton estimates he could be out of action for as long as six weeks following a three-horse fall at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday that left him with multiple injuries. Providing an update on his condition, Purton told media that he will miss his upcoming ride on sprint star Ka Ying Rising as he’s scheduled for toe surgery later in the day. An ankle injury sustained in the fall also threatens to extend his time on the sidelines. “The big toe on my left foot is at a right angle, so it needs to be realigned with a pin or screw to keep it straight, so it’s going to take some time,” Purton said. While the extent of ligament damage to his ankle is still being assessed, Purton fears it could be up to six weeks before he’s fit to return to racing. “I can’t do anything for four weeks. The pins have to stay in there until they can come out, so that will restrict me a bit,” he explained. “I’ve got some ligament damage in that left ankle as well, and I am not sure how long it will take to heal, but they are pretty confident it is not too bad. “So, it’s four weeks until I can do anything and a couple more weeks to get fit.” Hong Kong’s leading jockey is keen to begin rehabilitation as soon as possible in the hope of an earlier return, though he’s disappointed to miss upcoming rides on Ka Ying Rising, Galaxy Patch, and Packing Angel. Purton’s fall occurred in Race 9 when Legend St Paul’s, ridden by Angus Chung, broke down in the home straight during the Class 3 Handicap (1800m), falling into the path of Silvery Breeze under Purton and Lupo Solitario, ridden by Keith Yeung. Both Chung and Yeung were also hospitalised overnight. Ka Ying Rising is scheduled to race next on February 23, with Karis Teetan reportedly on standby after having partnered the sprinter earlier in his career. Yeung sustained bruising to his upper thigh, while Chung suffered bruising to his face and upper body. Both riders, along with Purton and Vincent Ho—who was involved in an earlier fall on the same program—have been ruled out of Wednesday’s Sha Tin meeting on the all-weather track. Horse racing news View the full article

The newly-launched 1/ST TV features a rebranding of XBTV's workout site, which offers coast to coast videos in addition to newly incorporated livestreams from Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and HipicaTV. XBTV has offered workout content since 2015, and will now bridge 1/ST RACING & GAMING assets under the same branding to leverage its overall brand strength. 1/ST TV will also segment the free video workouts from the East Coast (Gulfstream Park, many of the South Florida training centers and Saratoga) and the West Coast (Santa Anita Park and Del Mar) creating a user-friendly approach to search for current works. Additionally, several syndicates/fractional ownership groups that follow their horses, including West Point Thoroughbreds, MyRacehorse, Little Red Feather, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Saratoga Stables have had separate portals on www.XBTV.com and will continue to find those portals available on 1/ST TV. Current XBTV.com users who have frequented and may have the site bookmarked will find a seamless transition to the 1/ST TV site. In addition to the site change, the social media handles will migrate from @WatchXBTV to @Watch1ST. The post 1/ST Rebrands XBTV Workouts Site to 1/ST TV appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Progressive four-year-old Risque Ruler (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) is the latest success story for a Windsor Park Stud family that for decades has been a constant source of stakes winners. The lightly raced daughter of Mongolian Khan won for the third time in her eight-start career when she powered home from last to claim the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa last Saturday. Risque Ruler is also furthering the strong partnership the nursery has with New Plymouth trainer Janelle Millar. “We own the mare and lease her to Janelle, we’ve had a long association with Janelle and she’s always done a very good job,” Windsor Park General Manager Steve Till said. “She leased the good mare Zola Express from us a few years ago.” By Shamexpress, Zola Express won six races including the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) and the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and placed in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) on two occasions. “Janelle comes up annually and has a look in the paddocks and picked out Risque Ruler and it’s gone from there,” Till said. Risque Ruler is a daughter of the Volksraad mare Risque Business, twice successful in Australia and a half-sister to the Gr.3 Stewards’ Handicap (1200m) winner and Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Stakes (1600m) placegetter Soubrettes. “It’s a family we’ve had ever since I’ve been here at Windsor Park and before when it was at Ngaruawahia and Bob Cheak had the family including Crestello,” Till said. “Crestello was a Broodmare of the Year and the dam of top horses Silver Nymph, Silver Wraith and Silverello. “Another of Crestello’s daughters was Satirical, a Kaapstad mare we owned and bred Star Satire (Gr.1 Otaki Maori WFA, 1600m), who was a topliner a few years ago. “She subsequently bred on in Australia and the most recent good horse from the family is I Am Unstoppable, a two-year-old stakes winner and second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m).” Risque Business has produced a quartet of winners including the Windsor Park-raced Turn Me Loose mare It’s Business Time (NZ) (Turn Me Loose). She won six of her 10 starts and finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson and is now resident at Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable. “She went to Australia and has had a couple of training setbacks, which meant she was off the scene for a while and recently resumed,” Till said. “We’re hoping for a good autumn with her, she’s certainly very talented.” Windsor Park sold a Circus Maximus filly, She Means Business, to Te Akau for $150,000 at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale and Champagne Racing bought her sister for $100,000 at Karaka this year. “She’s got a colt foal by Satono Aladdin and then she went to Paddington,” Till said. “It’s a very fast family with a tremendous amount of talent and Risque Ruler is no different. “She’s one that gets out of her ground a bit, that seems to be her pattern and in her last four races she’s run the fastest last four sectionals each time. She’s got an exceptional turn of foot. “Realistically, she’s still a year away and still maturing and strengthening. She probably still has her best years ahead of her.” View the full article

Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall are hoping for some good fortune on Wednesday at Te Aroha after the stable’s star galloper Snazzytavi was ruled out of last Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). The dual-Group One winning mare had to be withdrawn from the $700,000 feature after contracting a virus, and while her campaign was cut short, Richardson is looking forward to kicking off the careers of her two juvenile stablemates at the midweek meeting. The first of those is Alizarin (NZ) (Lonhro), a colt by Lonhro who, like Snazzytavi, was bred and races in the colours of Cambridge Stud. Alizarin is the fourth foal out of talented race mare Abidewithme, a multiple Group Two winner and Group One placegetter. The colt has made two appearances at the trials, most recently a third behind subsequent Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) runner-up Tajana. “He’s a colt that is learning the trade, he does most things right and he’ll keep improving, especially as a three-year-old,” Richardson said. “He was a very athletic yearling, well-balanced and a good mover. He just had everything you like to see in a yearling with a good pedigree as well.” Joining Alizaran in the Brookby Stables (1150m) will be Lodi Dodi (Blue Point), a filly by Blue Point who was an impressive trial winner at Matamata last month. “It was a nice trial, I would’ve given her a run by now and tipped her out as she’s still growing,” Richardson said. “She wants to go around for a bit of practice, but she is a lovely filly. “In the last fortnight, she’s really relaxed and started to work properly. She’s a very happy horse and like the colt, whatever she does she’ll improve off. “She will be a better three-year-old off her pedigree on the mums side.” Later in the week, the stable will turn their attention to Matamata’s feature day on Saturday, with their runners including the progressive Sorghaghtani. A daughter of Mongolian Khan, Sorghaghtani was beaten only by Hasstobeawinner at Ellerslie in mid-January, with that horse going on to place behind El Vencedor in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m). “I’ve got Sorghaghtani in the Rating 75 mile, it’s going to be a very strong field but she’s a nice mare that can really gallop,” Richardson said. View the full article

Spendthrift Farm's Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), winner of the GI Del Mar Debutante during her juvenile season, is expected to undergo surgery to have a bone chip removed from an ankle this week, trainer Richard Mandella told DRF Sunday. According to Mandella, the 4-year-old daughter of champion Beholder is expected to mark her return to the races at the end of Del Mar's summer meeting. In her sole start at three, the filly was last seen finishing a nose second in a six-furlong allowance at Del Mar in November. Named a TDN Rising Star following a 2 1/4-length victory at Del Mar in August of her juvenile season, the bay galloped in the seaside oval's Debutante before exiting a seventh-place effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita with an injury. The post GISW Tamara to Undergo Surgery appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hall of Famer Richard Mandella sends Big City Lights into Saturday's race in good form, coming off back-to-back wins in the Cary Grant Stakes in November, and most recently the California Cup Sprint Jan. 18 by a combined 16 1/4 lengths. View the full article

Continue your working week with an exciting lineup of horse racing promotions this Tuesday, February 11. Top-tier online bookmakers are offering incredible bonus-back specials, enhanced odds, and other enticing deals to take your betting experience to new heights. Whether you’re placing a bet on a long shot or backing a proven favourite, these promotions ensure you get more out of every wager. With money-back offers on close calls and boosted payouts on feature races, now’s the perfect time to dive into the action. Don’t miss out on these generous offers—explore the latest promotions today and make this Tuesday’s races one to remember! The top Australian racing promotions for February 11, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions 10 AGAIN at Goulburn Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Max bonus $100. First bet only. Paid in bonus cash. Cash Bets Only. T&C’s apply. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Daily Exotics Boost Boost your exotics by up to 20%. Includes Quinellas, Exactas, Trifectas & First 4’s. Excludes Quaddies. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo COPYCASH. GET COPIED. GET PAID – Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses copy bet to copy your bets Earn $0.10 per unique Copy Bet. Max $1000 per week. Copy Cash is real money into your account. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Best Tote and Starting Price Guarantees a dividend equal to the highest of the official win dividend paid by the three Australian TAB pools or the official starting price. Maximum stake: $2,000. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any Race. Any Runner. Any Odds. Get a Bonus Back if your multi loses by a specified number of legs. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for February 11, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Burnham Square will continue on Gulfstream Park's Road to the Kentucky Derby by running in the March 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), trainer Ian Wilkes said on the BloodHorse Monday podcast released Feb. 10.View the full article

CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's John Hancock (Constitution), winner of last weekend's Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa, is unlikely to return for the oval's GIII Lambholm Tampa Bay Derby on Mar. 8, trainer Brad Cox told DRF Sunday. Cox, who indicated that the 8 1/2-furlong race comes up a bit too quickly following the sophomore's latest win, indicated a bevy of options remain, including the Mar. 22 GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, the GI Arkansas Derby or the GI Curlin Florida Derby on Mar. 29. On Apr. 5, the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and GII Wood Memorial are also both options. The late-starting colt won his career debut, a six-furlong test at Tampa Jan. 8, by three lengths prior to his latest score. Finishing a half-length behind John Hancock last weekend, Owen Almighty (Speightstown) is expected to cut back in distance in his next start, Brian Lynch told DRF. According to the trainer, a tilt at the Apr. 4 Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland prior to the GII Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard appears to be the most logical route for the Flying Dutchmen runner. The post Sam F. Davis Winner John Hancock Likely to Bypass Tampa Bay Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

My Racehorse's newly crowned Eclipse champion sprinter Straight No Chaser (Speightster) breezed five furlongs in :59 flat (3/98) over the Santa Anita main track Sunday morning and is set to board the first of two flights Tuesday which will carry him to Saudi Arabia for the $2-million G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m) on Feb. 22. Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the return call. “We gave him a little company just to kind of get him to relax and settle off a horse and he did it really nicely and finished up strong,” trainer Dan Blacker said by phone Monday afternoon. “He galloped out strong and it did it all in hand, it just comes so naturally to him. He's just a very talented horse.” Straight No Chaser returned to the worktab in late December, and Sunday's move was his seventh since winning the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 2. He two breezes prior to that were timed in a bullet clocking of :59.20. “We freshened him up after the Breeders' Cup with no races to point to in the interim,” Blacker explained. “We had the Middle East as a target for this year, obviously with the big purses and prestigious races, so we started gearing him up from just after Christmas. The conditioner continued, “He puts a lot into his training, he's got himself fit pretty quickly. If you look at his worktab, it's very impressive and it's easy to think he's getting trained really hard. Those times are impressive, but for him those are very easy. He does it all in hand, the rider doesn't have to ask him, he's just a superior workhorse.” Pending the outcome of the race, Straight No Chaser is also a candidate for the Apr. 5 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, but first things first, Blacker said. “It's tough to say right now, we're just pointing at this race,” he said when asked about making the short trip across to Dubai. “We have to make a couple of plans depending on how he runs in the race, but hopefully that could be something we could do. It all depends on the horse, but that would be a potential goal.” In other Saudi Cup undercard-related news, Gold Square's Grade I winner Howard Wolowitz (Munnings) drilled a half-mile in :46.95 (1/9) at Palm Meadows on Monday in advance of his appearance in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint. The Gold Square part-owned Jerome Stakes winner Cyclone State (McKinzie, G3 Saudi Derby) and Rattle N Roll (Connect, G1 Saudi Cup) complete the American challenge. The post Champion Straight No Chaser Caps Saudi Preparations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

BH Interview: Mike Ryan View the full article

The International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation (ITBF) will be hosting its annual, free to attend, live event at 12pm (London time) on Tuesday, February 18. International racing broadcaster, Nick Luck, will put questions to six breeding experts, from six countries, on how their nations are reacting to the issues currently facing the Thoroughbred breeding industry. Attendees will learn about new initiatives, implemented schemes and proven methods within the different countries. An open Q&A session will then follow, with Luck putting to the panellists questions received from attendees in the registration process and live during the event. The panel representing the six countries on six continents are: Cathy Grassick (Ireland), breeder and chairman of the Irish TBA; Hirokazu Okada (Japan), president of Big Red Farm; Bret Jones (USA), president of Airdrie Stud; Alberto Figueiredo (Argentina), director of Bonne Chance Farm/RDI Stud; Antony Thompson (Australia), owner and director of Widden Stud; and Jehan Malherbe (South Africa), owner, breeder and bloodstock agent. ITBF chairman Kirsten Rausing and IFHA chairman Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges will also be participating on behalf of the two international representative bodies of breeding and racing. Sarah Carmichael, CEO of the ITBF, said, “The international breeding industry must openly communicate and learn from one another to help secure the future of the Thoroughbred industry. What works for one country, may well have potential to be successfully adopted by another.” The webinar will be rounded off with an exclusive showing of the film 'What's A Heaven For?', the fascinating inside story of City Of Troy in 2024, written and presented by Brough Scott. A video recording of the entire webinar will be made available to all registrants following the live event. All are welcome to attend by registering via this link. The post Expert Panel Revealed for ITBF Global Webinar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are two horse racing meetings set for Australia on Tuesday, February 11. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Goulburn. Tuesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – February 11, 2025 Goulburn Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on February 11, 2025 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. Recommended! 4 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 5 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article