Wandering Eyes

by Jonny Turner Sunday was billed as Averil’s big day out, and it proved exactly that. Northern Southland owner Averil Fowler sponsored one of the feature events at Ascot Park in the Averil’s Big Day Out Gold Chip Final. The event was run just two races after Fowler watched her pacer Miki Cohen win at $21 odds for trainer-driver Kirstin Green. Both helped deliver a thrilling Sunday for Fowler and her crew of supporters who came to enjoy her big day out. The race carrying her name came about after Fowler won a race sponsorship in a charity auction at a bowling tournament. A week prior, Miki Cohen wasn’t slated to be starting on the same day as Fowler’s race, but a quick chat between Green and Fowler changed that. “I went to the workouts the week before and the horse just had a quiet run, Kirstin said afterwards he was still a bit fat,” Fowler said. “I mentioned that my race was going to be the next week, so she said she might as well chuck him in and I’m glad she did.” Fresh up since April, with two quiet workouts to prepare, the Miki Cohen camp were hopeful rather than overly confident. That meant Fowler told her friends who came to enjoy Averil’s Big Day Out to bet accordingly. Thankfully though, they didn’t listen. “I had a great crew there with me and I said to them he’s still on the way up and not to back him.” “Luckily, they didn’t take any notice of me.” “The horse winning was a great thrill and everyone had a great day.” Fowler’s interest in harness racing stems from a family connection and also through her involvement in bowls. Fowler is an outstanding bowler, having won national titles and numerous tournaments and championships in Southland. When looking to ease back from the commitments of competing, she turned to harness racing. Fowler had previously enjoyed the sport through her late partner, Graham Clearwater, and brother, Murray McKeown. “We raced Nod D’or with Murray. He also had a horse called Joni James, which was named after Dad and our uncle.” “So we followed it pretty closely, it sort of started from there.” Fowler enjoyed success with Dallas Dale earlier this year, also raced from the Green stable with many of the same owners who are in Miki Cohen. Fowler took a share in the latter after watching the national yearling sales. “I saw Kirstin bidding on the horse, the sales were on TV in those days.” “I went in another one with Kirstin this year – a trotter.” “Brad Morris is doing a bit of work with him and all the reports are pretty good so far.” With his fitness to keep improving, Miki Cohen looks set to deliver Fowler more thrills while her yearling progresses towards a racetrack career. View the full article

Race 3 WAITOMO FUELS MAIDEN 1400m ROAR OF THE JUNGLE (M McNab) – Trainer Mr. K Pertab reported to Stewards, that upon return to the stable, the gelding underwent a veterinary exanimation which included blood tests, with no abnormalities being detected. K Pertab further advised that it is his intention to continue with ROAR OF THE JUNGLE’S current preparation and puts the disappointing performance to the Heavy 10 track conditions. Race 4 MCMILLAN ACCOUNTANTS 1560m BALLISTIC MISS (G Rooke) – Trainer Mr. S Marsh reported to Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of the filly, however, BALLISTIC MISS has been sent for a brief freshen up. The post Racing Rotorua @ Arawa Park, Wednesday 2 July 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Brazilian hoop Bruno Queiroz was airborne in the tangerine silks of Te Akau Racing at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday, guiding two of the stable’s runners to success and another to a narrow placing. The double emulated his effort on the previous day at Otaki, where he piloted Testing (NZ) (Time Test) and He’s All Fabulous (NZ) (Fabulous) to victory across the rescheduled card, before heading south with a big book of rides. His Riccarton brace commenced in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden (1600m) where odds-on favourite Purple Prose (NZ) (Embellish) was tasked with running down the $201 outsider New Beginning (NZ) (Vespa), who looked to have a winning break on his rivals in the straight. In a perfectly-timed run, Queiroz wound up on the outside aboard Purple Prose and caught New Beginning just short of the line, a satisfying result for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. “It was a good effort to win from that far back and a lovely ride of Bruno’s,” Walker said. “With his experience beforehand in Singapore, (Bruno) rides the polytracks so well and has a real confidence about him on the synthetic surfaces. “Purple Prose has the breeding to get over more distance, being a half-brother to our good staying mare Elegant Lady (NZ) (Highly Recommended), and he’ll keep improving with more time and maturity.” A couple of races later, it was the turn of Queen Of Naples (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who was shooting for a repeat performance after a dominant maiden win at the course last month. Starting as the second-elect in the Red Nose Raceday – 24 July Three-Year-Old (1400m), Queiroz looked to find cover early aboard the daughter of Darci Brahma, but with no leader emerging from the field, he took matters into his own hands and dictated the tempo up-front. The filly was travelling strongly into the straight, and once she kicked clear, she was never in doubt, holding out a strong finish from race-favourite Wanderin Spelle (NZ) (Wyndspelle) to score by 3–¾ lengths. Queiroz was duly impressed with Queen Of Naples and is enjoying life in New Zealand after relocating to the country in autumn. “I was confident because her last win was very, very, easy, and today, this field did not have pace,” he said. “I had instructions to keep her happy and she was travelling very well. I waited until the straight, and in the last 200m, she was flying home. “I am very happy here, love this country, and with my manager Andre Neill, we are getting plenty of support and opportunities. I’m happy to enjoy my work here and enjoy the moment.” It looked that Queiroz may have completed the treble in the last, with a long wait for a photo finish between his mount, Rule Of Law, and Delmonico, but the result went the way of the Andrew Carston-trained runner. View the full article

Local gelding Zoulander (NZ) (Zoustar) belied his odds once more when scoring his second consecutive victory on Riccarton’s synthetic track on Wednesday. Despite winning over 1400m on the surface last month, he was unwanted by punters in the Join TAB Racing Club Rating 75 (1400m), jumping a $26.40 outsider. The seven-year-old gelding was slow out of the gates, but he quickly regained the deficit and apprentice jockey Floor Moerman elected to push forward on the fence to sit in the trail. Pacemaker Doubtful Sound (Not A Single Doubt) kicked clear at the turn and Moerman was seeking to find clear running room for her charge, which she found with 250m to go and Zoulander was able to reel in the leaders to win by a head over Sorcha (NZ) (Burgundy), with a further neck back to Doubtful Sound in third. “He missed the kick, or maybe I missed the kick on him, but he got back to them pretty quickly and then he travelled really well all the way,” Moerman said. “As soon as I got clean air, he was really wonderful. He is lovely to ride.” While his victory may have surprised punters it didn’t surprise his handlers, who have now set their sights on the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m) at Riccarton on August 6. “On his day he tries hard, and his work has been just as good, if not better, since that last start,” Matthew Pitman said. “We said to Floor before the race to ride him for a bit of luck and put him in a dogfight, and you know once he gets into that dogfight he usually comes out on top. She rode him well. “He will be eligible for the $100,000 race on the poly in the middle of the National Week. That will be a great race for him to target, and in the form he is currently in he wouldn’t be without a chance.” A race later, the Pitmans were back in the winner’s circle welcoming back Ocean Light (NZ) (Ocean Park) following his long head victory in the Cup Week Hospitality On Sale Now Rating 75 (2200m). The four-year-old son of Ocean Park is also set to return to the track during the Grand National Festival of Racing next month, with the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) being his ultimate aim in November. “He is a very good horse and I was very pleased with how he was ridden today. He is a better horse when he is left behind the speed,” Michael Pitman said. “There is a nice race for him on the middle day (of the Grand National carnival) on the poly. The poly has got its place, it suits certain horses, and he is one of the ones it does suit. He will then be probably set for the New Zealand Cup.” Earlier on the card, Cape Horn (All Too Hard) broke through for his maiden victory in the Herman’s Hermits 2 August Christchurch Maiden (1200m) at his third career start, and kicked off what would become a winning treble for his trainers, who now sit on 36 wins for the season. View the full article

The star Kiwi jockey joined Racing Pulse after recently announcing he is going to come out of retirement and return to race riding. Listen Here View the full article

Apprentice jockey Triston Moodley is on the mend in Hamilton Hospital following an incident at the Waipa trials on Tuesday. The 23-year-old hoop was kicked in the head in the mounting yard at the Te Awamutu track and he was airlifted to Waikato Hospital where he underwent surgery last night. Moodley is apprenticed to Byerley Park trainer Danny Walker, who has been by his bedside and reported that he has come through the surgery well. “He got kicked in the head yesterday at the trials, he is in Hamilton Hospital, and he had surgery last night and had a plate put in,” Walker said. “It was quite a long operation, but he has come through it well. “They did a scan today and they are reasonably happy. They said there is a little bit of blood there, but it should dissolve. “They will do another scan tomorrow and continue to monitor him. “He is very drowsy and tired after a big surgery. It will just be a long resting period for him at the moment to recuperate.” Walker said the doctors haven’t given a prognosis on how long they expect Moodley will be out of the saddle, and Walker said he is thankful the outcome wasn’t worse. “It is very thankful that he had his skull cap on,” Walker said. “It could have been anybody walking out in the parade ring that got kicked, but it just happened to be him, it is just one of those unfortunate things. “They haven’t given a prognosis on how long he will be out, but he will be out for a couple of months at least. “He is very unlucky, but lucky.” Moodley was enjoying his best season to date with 52 victories, 12 more than last season, highlighted by his first stakes victory aboard the Erin Hocquard-trained Spencer in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa last October. View the full article

Race 8 OPTIMISE FERTILISERS & EQUI-LISE RATING 65 1400m HIT THE SWITCH (B Jacobson) – Trainer Mr. J Blackadder reported to Stewards, that upon return to the stable the gelding underwent blood tests, which revealed no abnormalities. J Blackadder further advised HIT THE SWITCH has been sent for a brief freshen up. J Blackadder puts the disappointing performance of the gelding down to the Heavy 10 track conditions. The post Amberley Racing Club @ Riccarton Park, Saturday 21 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Bob Butt is letting his mind wander. An easy win on night one for Bet N Win and another great barrier draw in the second round of heats on Saturday night have Butt excited about tackling Saturday week’s $500,000 Grand Final. And who the main danger might be. Other than unexpected change of training bases when Bet N Win first arrived in Queensland, everything has gone superbly for the young trotting star during this Aussie raid. “Even having to change bases because of the beach situation near Vic (Frost) and Gail (Geeson) was more of an inconvenience for us than the horse,” co-trainer David White said. “He’s been terrific all the way, from Sydney to Brisbane and through his two races. “They’ve been ideal races to get under his belt as things start to get more serious.” Butt couldn’t agree more. “He raced well and felt great,” he said. “It’s terrific to have another nice draw in what looks a winnable race again this week. “He’s really showing he’s one of the top chances in the series. “In saying that, I thought Arcee Phoenix was fantastic on the first night and he’s the one I look at as the horse to beat. “I’d think we’d need him to have some bad luck, whether it’s in the barrier draw or the race itself, to beat him in the final the way he’s going.” Bet N Win, who is $1.60 favourite to win again this week, doesn’t have to contend with Arcee Phoenix on Saturday. The Victorian star and TAB Trot winner will instead clash with the other Kiwi raider, Oscar Bonavena, in the last of the trotting qualifiers (race five). And it’s a race with layers. Oscar Bonavena was one of the stories of night one after finishing a desperately unlucky seventh and driver Adam Sanderson putting his hand up for a howler of a drive. Mark and Nathan Purdon have “stuck fat” and backed in Sanderson to atone on night two. It is a fair call given his overall record and the superb way he’s driven the likes of Oscar Bonavena and Rubira through this Carnival. Oscar Bonavena will probably need a top two finish to be assured of a final berth after being so far down the points table after night one. But he will need to be on his best behavior from a draw which would suit many but probably not him. Oscar Bonavena will start from the pole and he has shown several times he can gallop at the start from inside draws on the front row. In another twist to the race, Arcee Phoenix will start from directly behind him (gate eight). His trainer-driver Chris Svanosio will be really wary of Oscar Bonavena at the start and careful not to strike trouble if he makes a break. View the full article

Two of the heavyweights of New Zealand synthetic racing are set to meet for just the second time this week at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Thursday. The Mark Treweek-trained Lhasa (Hellbent) has won six of his nine starts on the surface, while the David Greene-trained Branciforti (NZ) (Belardo) has won four of her nine polytrack starts, including defeating the former in last year’s $100,000 Martin Collins Polytrack 1400m Innovation Race at Awapuni. The pair will renew their rivalry in Thursday’s Cambridge Real Estate 1300, with the 92-rated Lhasa set to carry 63.5kg, 6.5kg more than the 79-rated Branciforti. Initially set to carry 67.5kg, Treweek has utilised the services of four-kilogram claiming apprentice Sam McNab, but said his charge still has a tough ask under the big impost. “It is a lot of weight, so we have gone for a four-kilo claim,” Treweek said. “I have been giving it a lot of thought as to whether to run him or not, but it (weight) is what it is and at this stage we will be running. “I know they say weight will stop a train but horses on that track carry the weight a little bit better, it’s not like you are running in a really deep track on the turf.” The $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni next month remains a lucrative carrot for Treweek, who said he was keen to give his gelding another run to keep him up to the mark. “He is very well so I was keen to give him another run,” he said. “There’s the $100,000 series coming up, so it would be nice to think we could have a look at one of those providing he comes through the race well on Thursday.” Treweek will also head to Cambridge on Thursday with another synthetic specialist in Seamsew (Brazen Beau), who will contest the Saddlery Warehouse 970. “He has battled away and hasn’t hit the line too well in his last two runs, he has needed the runs,” he said. “I expect him to go a really good race on Thursday, he is very well and a bit fitter now, so he should be right in it.” Treweek has elected to engage in-form apprentice jockey Yuga Okubo on Thursday, with his four-kilogram claim bringing Seamsew’s impost down to 55.5kg. The Cambridge trainer is impressed with the pool of quality four-kilogram claiming apprentices in the region and said it bodes well for the industry’s future. “We are blessed with some good jockeys coming through,” he said. “Both of those boys ride really well, and so does Ashlee Strawbridge. They are really good riders for their claim.” View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The day, which began at Newtown Paddocks Tuesday with a steady renewal of the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearlings Sale, ended with a record-blasting edition of the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale and it was the very last horse through the ring who made the loudest noise when stakes-winning 2-year-old Romeo (Honor A. P.) sold for $1.7 million to the bid of Mahmud Mouni. The Horses of Racing Age catalogue, down to 70 entries from 123 a year ago, may have been small, but it was definitely mighty as decreased supply ran headlong into increased demand. With all but three offered horses failing to meet their reserves, 51 horses sold for $8,037,000 for a sales record average of $157,588 and record median of $95,000. The average was up 52.7% and the median rose 53.2% from 2024 figures. “I am not going to say we knew it was going to be this strong, but we knew it was going to be strong,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “And the reason we knew it was going to be strong is because we really, really tried to recruit some top-quality horses over the last 60 days. It is very hard to get a man or woman with a live racehorse to sell that racehorse, because they are hard to get and people enjoy having them. There is a scarcity of supply and the demand is off the charts.” The auction produced a seven-figure topper for the second year in a row when Mouni paid a sale record $1.7 million for Bashford Manor Stakes winner Romeo from the Paramount Sales consignment. The Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale, meanwhile, produced results largely in line with its 2024 renewal. A total of 156 head grossed $16,828,000 for an average of $107,872 and a median of $90,000. The average dipped slightly from 2024 when 154 horses sold for $17,319,000 for an average of $112,461, while the median was unchanged. With 61 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 28.1%, down from 33.3% a year ago. “It was a solid start to the yearling sales season,” Browning said. “The numbers are virtually identical to last year, despite a few less horses. The average is virtually the same, the median is the same, and the RNA rate is a little bit better than it was last year. I think, as we expected, it was a very similar marketplace to last year. Trade was solid. There was no craziness that took place in this sale. But that's not what this sale is intended to do. It doesn't have the pedigrees that allow you to have breakout activity in the yearling sale. But if you brought a well-conformed horse here that was athletic, mature and vetted well, you were rewarded. So it was a very, very good start. It should provide a level of confidence to everybody as we move onto the next stage.” A colt from the first crop of multiple Grade I winner Jack Christopher was the day's top-priced yearling, selling for $350,000 to CHC, Inc. and Maverick Racing. The yearling was consigned by Buckland Sales. $1.7-Million Romeo Ends Horses of Racing Age Sale with a Bang Mahmud Mouni, active last fall and all spring buying for the Libyan partnership Tagermeen Racing, went to a sales record $1.7 million to acquire stakes-winning juvenile Romeo (Honor A. P.) (hip 370) as the very last horse through the ring at the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale Tuesday. He was consigned by Paramount Sales. “We are planning to send the horse to Steve Asmussen,” Mouni said after letting his son do much of the bidding in the back ring. “We would like to have a chance with the next few races and to the Breeders' Cup this year. But our main plan is for Saudi Arabia next year and maybe the Derby in Dubai. This is too many plans. I will ask the trainer what is best. But the main issue is to go to the Middle East for 2026.” Of the colt's final price, Mouni said, “I was shocked. We were expecting $750,000 to $1 million.” Romeo, who RNA'd for $14,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale, made three starts for owner Joseph Lloyd and trainer John Robb. After romping in his May 3 debut at Laurel, he finished third in the June 5 Tremont Stakes and scored a front-running 3 3/4-length victory while setting a new stakes record in the June 29 Bashford Manor Stakes last time out. Team Paramount and Team Mouni celebrate at Fasig-Tipton | Fasig-Tipton The colt's engagement in the Fasig-Tipton sale came about thanks to Paramount's Paddy Campion, who found Lloyd via social media. “I got in touch with the owner on Facebook and we arranged a call,” Campion said. “I thought it would be a good idea to put him in this sale just coming off that win. He agreed that it was a good idea, so we started talking. The snowball started rolling. Fasig played a huge roll in trying to organize everything and make everything go smoothly.” It wasn't until Sunday that Campion saw the horse in person. “I kind of a breathed a sigh of relief when I saw him off the van because he's beautiful also,” he said. “Then I realized he was the whole package. And then I saw all the big people coming to inspect him and I could tell they thought the same thing. I think he's the real deal. He was so calm and collected the whole time.” Of Lloyd, Campion said, “He is a smaller-time guy. He lives in Baltimore and has four kids. He had a nice filly in the past, but this is a huge result.” Asked about the owner's reaction to the $1.7-million result, Campion said, “I have been back and forth on text. I actually have to call him.” Campion added with a smile, “And I need to add him as a friend on Facebook now.” Red Route One Off to Stud, Destination Undecided Emmanuel de Seroux went to $550,000 to acquire multiple graded winner Red Route One (Gun Runner) (hip 329) and the bloodstock agent said the 5-year-old's racing career is over. Red Route One in the ring Tuesday | Fasig-Tipton “We bought him for stud duties,” de Seroux said. “We don't know where yet. We have many options. We have to sit down and decide where he is going to go.” Bred and raced by Winchell Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Asmussen, Red Route One won the GIII Essex Handicap in March, as well as the 2024 GII New Orleans Classic and GIII Prairie Meadows Cornhusker and the 2023 GIII West Virginia Derby. On the board in 13 of 28 starts, he won six times and earned $2,165,107. Red Route One, who was consigned Tuesday by Taylor Made Sales Agency, is out of the unraced Red House (Tapit), who is a full-sister to champion Untapable. “He's by Gun Runner out of a Tapit mare,” de Seroux said of Red Route One's stallion appeal. “He made $2 million like the auctioneer reminded us. And he's a beautiful horse. He has quite a lot of attributes to be a successful stallion, I think.” Of the chestnut's final price tag, de Seroux added, “You always hope to get them for less, but a horse like this, obviously quite a few people wanted him.” Just a few hips later, de Seroux was back in action to acquire Rosie Jeeks (World of Trouble) (hip 332) for $300,000. Consigned by Elite, agent, the 4-year-old filly is coming off a win in the Goldwood Stakes sprinting over the lawn at Monmouth Park June 21 for Team Hanley and Thirty Year Farm and trainer Chad Brown. “She is going to run in Del Mar hopefully,” de Seroux said. Jack Christopher Colt Tops in July The first yearlings by multiple Grade I winner Jack Christopher (Munnings) were well-received during the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale Tuesday in Lexington, with a colt by the Coolmore stallion (hip 35) attracting the auction's top price when selling for $350,000 to China Horse Club and WinStar's Maverick Racing. The chestnut was bred by Susan King and was consigned by Zach Madden's Buckland Sales. He is out of Above the Crowd (Discreetly Mine). “He was our favorite horse of the sale,” said WinStar's Elliott Walden. “We stretched a bit for him, but he was a beautiful colt.” Hip 35, a colt by Jack Christopher | Fasig-Tipton The China Horse Club/Maverick Racing partnership came back later in the showcase to purchase another colt by Jack Christopher (hip 87) for $110,000. That chestnut, a $50,000 Keeneland January yearling, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, as agent for Love's Equine Stables. “We just thought they were both athletic,” Walden said of the pair. Jack Christopher, who RNA'd for $145,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton July Freshman Sire Showcase before selling for $135,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October sale, won the 2021 GI Champagne Stakes at two and returned at three to win the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and GI Woody Stephens Stakes. Trainer Ken McPeek purchased the auction's second-highest priced yearling by the sire, going to $270,000 for a yearling from the Lane's End consignment, while Flying Dutchman paid $200,000 for a colt from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. In all, the stallion, who stood the 2025 season for $25,000, had nine yearlings sell Tuesday for an average of $162,778. The results made sense to Coolmore's Adrian Wallace. “He was a highly accomplished racehorse himself, a three-time Grade I winner,” Wallace said of Jack Christopher. “He always showed an awful lot of speed in his career. He was a precocious 2-year-old himself. And he's by Munnings, who gets fast, early, precocious horses. So you'd imagine Jack Christopher is a carbon copy of that. He was a better racehorse than Munnings was and he was very well-supported by breeders in his first couple years at stud.” Wallace continued, “The first crop look the part. The first one through the ring from Buckland Sales, bred by Susan King, to bring $350,000 and to go to China Horse Club and Maverick is a great indication of that. The future looks exceptionally bright for him and hopefully he will keep on going. It's obviously early days, but you'd have to be very enthused by the way they look.” Of the similarities he sees in the stallion's yearlings, Wallace said, “They are stamped very much, you can almost pick them out of a crowd. They are very similar. They are generally chestnuts with big white blazes, athletic fast-looking horses with plenty of strength with good hip and shoulders. They look like him. And if he can get some like himself, he will be off to a great start.” 'We Loved Her': Epicenter Filly a Score for Beamish As Stephanie Beamish and Keiber Rengifo accepted congratulations out back, Beamish admitted the $185,000 she and her partners had just sold an Epicenter filly (hip 61) for was among her best results in three decades of pinhooking. “We were really looking for $100,000, so we are very pleased with where she ended up,” Beamish said. “This is one of the better ones that I've had.” The bay filly, who was purchased Tuesday by Winchell Thoroughbreds, which campaigned her champion first-crop sire, was acquired by Beamish, Rengifo and Mike Rose for $43,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. She was consigned to the Fasig-Tipton sale Tuesday by Four Star Sales. “Her conformation. She just had a very, very balanced body with a nice neck,” Beamish said of the filly's appeal last fall. “She had a beautiful walk even as a baby. She just had the package that we look for.” The Fasig-Tipton grounds | Fasig-Tipton Of her pinhooking career, Beamish said, “In different scenarios, I've been doing it for at least 30 years. It started long ago, just being a rider myself, not on racehorses, but being around the horses and going to the races. Then going to farms and watching breeding. It just sucked me in. I have done some 2-year-olds in training [sales], but I mostly try to stay with the babies to yearlings.” The partners had five additional yearlings sell Tuesday. Among that group were: a colt by Munnings (hip 110), purchased for $125,000 at Keeneland November, selling for $190,000 to Arroyo Bloodstock, agent for FTF Racing; a filly by Volatile (hip 143), purchased for $57,000 at Keeneland November, selling for $160,000 to Osiris Racing Stables; and a filly by Corniche (hip 168), purchased for $35,000 at Fasig-Tipton November, selling for $72,000 to Doble Jak Inv. Rounding out the group, hip 250, a son of Liam's Map who had been purchased for $90,000 at Keeneland November, sold for $175,000 to Rengifo's Golden Rock LLC. The post $1.7-Million Romeo Leads Record-Setting F-T July HORA Sale; Yearling Demand Stays Steady appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Speaking with horsemen July 8, Del Mar officials laid out the plans in the event Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or any other law enforcement entity attempt to "raid" the premises.View the full article

5. Subito, SAR, 7/4, 6 1/2 furlongs (2nd) (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 85 (c, 3, by Speightstown–Uno Duo, by Macho Uno) O/B-Juddmonte (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-Jose Lezcano. Solid career debut: fought from start to finish inside stablemate Fort Nelson, but stayed on his left lead through the stretch and came up just short in a 32-1 Bill Mott exacta. He's a half-brother to Juddmonte's Grade I winner Obligatory, an earner of $1.38 million also trained by Mott. 4. Fort Nelson, SAR, 7/4, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 86 (c, 3, by Bernardini–Seventh Street, by Street Cry (IRE)) O/B-Godolphin (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-Junior Alvarado. In the 10 editions of Five Fastest Maidens, Mott has placed 11 horses in the rankings–more than double that of any other trainer–including three this week. This was Fort Nelson's second career start off a nine-month break. Godolphin's two-time Grade I winner Seventh Street and Grade II winner Lake Avenue are his dam and half-sister, respectively. Fort Nelson on the outside of Subito | Sarah Andrew 3. Ewing, SAR, 7/5, 5 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 88, 'TDN Rising Star' (c, 2, by Knicks Go–Sassy Ali Joy, by Indian Charlie) O-D J Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and Kenneth Frierich. B-John Gardiner (Ky). T-Mark Casse. J-Jose Ortiz. The jury is obviously out on the quality of competition he faced, but a 12-length romp in a Saratoga 2-year-old maiden special weight is always a head turner. His name will draw attention, too. The son of Knicks Go is named in honor of NBA great Patrick Ewing, who played 15 seasons for the New York Knicks (never mind that the South Korean owners of Knicks Go intended his name to be pronounced “Kay-Nicks”….this is America). 2. Fast Town, ELP, 7/6, 6 1/2 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure- 88 (c, 3, by Speightstown–Fast Scene, by Fast Anna) O-WinStar Farm, CHC and Lindy Farms. B-WinStar Farm (Ky). T-Rodolphe Brisset. J-Luan Machado. Ellis Park elbowed into the Beyer action with this quick maiden sprint on its opening weekend. Fast Town showed talent in his 3rd-place debut at Churchill Downs last month, and kicked it up a notch here, running 1.01 seconds faster than veteran older $25,000 claimers two races earlier. 1. Practical Lov, SAR, 7/5, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 88 (f, 3, by Practical Joke–Lovisa, by Speightstown) O-James Preziosi and Debbie Crisp. B-Springhouse Farm & SugarMill (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-Junior Alvarado. Mott Number Three finally got another fast-track sprint, and narrowly earned the top spot this week by stalking first-timer Gin's Beach Road and then assertively drawing away in the final quarter to a convincing three-length triumph. Three maidens recorded 88 Beyer Speed Figures, but rather than listing them in the rankings as tied, we separated them by fractions of Beyer points. This can be a game of inches. The post The Five Fastest Maidens, Presented by Taylor Made, for the Week of June 30-July 7 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Romeo (Honor A. P.) (hip 370), supplemented to the sale just on Sunday, ended the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale with a bang, selling for $1.7 million to the bid of Libyan bloodstock agent Mahmud Mouni. The colt was coming off a stakes-record setting win in the Bashford Manor Stakes. He was consigned by Paramount Sales on behalf of owner Joseph Lloyd. The post $1.7-Million Romeo Ends F-T HORA Sale with a Bang appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced July 8 its support for the bipartisan Fair Accounting for Income Realized from Betting Earnings Taxation Act.View the full article

These 6 horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and this week (10/7/25) they head back to the racetrack. Abitibi (3f Sweet Lou – Utmost Delight) Trainer: G Rogerson Manners have let her down badly in 2 raceday runs thus far & consequently stood down to trial satisfactorily before returning to the track. Did that at Pukekohe (1/7/25) where she worked to the front and just got nutted by race rival Ifindoubt in a 2:05MR, last 800m in 58.7 although she wasn’t under any pressure in run home and took some time to pull up after the post. Goes to Cambridge this Thursday in Race 2 against a small maiden field. If only she could remember her breeding as smart dam a 10 race winning daughter of Victor Supreme. Has shown enough to be prominent this week. Sammy Lincoln (2g Always B Miki – Samantha Q) Trainer: R Green 2yo on debut this Friday at Auckland in Race 3, 1 of 3 from the stable in the event. Multiple workout winner in recent weeks, the latest at Pukekohe (1/7/25) where in the hands of Zac Butcher, he settled 3rd of 4 before improving to lead with 1300m to run, kept up strong run to keep race rival Shezsofast at bay MR:2:02.9, 800m in 58.5, 400m in 27.6. Looks a big strong type who is likely to get better with time. Drawn out over 1700m but all rivals (with 2 exceptions) on debut and tote will tell a story. Do You Wanna Dance (3f Lather Up – Dancing In The Dark) Trainer: M Purvis Tidy debut when 3rd behind the promising Bettor Than Lizzy last week. That effort backed up a strong trial win at Rangiora (18/6/25) where she came home in 57.7 on a 2:02MR. The half sister to Dance With The Boss (5 wins to date) goes back to Addington this Friday in Race 4 and draws 2 on the 2nd line over 1980m but that draw may work out in her favour in a field not as strong as last week. Another likely to be improved with race day experience under her belt. Dam won 3 & placed in 1:56. Heaven’s Mark (6m Rock N Roll Heaven – Armadoctara) Trainer: J Morrison Things didn’t go her way last week when resuming in a strong maiden field and after being held up badly 500m out, kept coming out wide for a good 6th, just over 5L from the winner Bettor Than Lizzy. Trial form in April/June prior to that run was very good. Backs up at Addington this Friday in Race 2 where she has got a wide draw to contend with but her gate speed might negate that early and definitely good enough with natural improvement to win a race like this. Donttelltheboys (4g Downbytheseaside – In Hollywood) Trainer: C & J DeFilippi Won a trial in early June at Rangiora (4/6/25) in a 2:04.6MR, last 800m in 57.2 Has now had the 3 runs back and got better each time, the last effort an honest 3rd placing behind the handy Rockingood (4/7/25). Comes back to Addington this Friday in Race 9 and likely to be better again. Drawn wide in a small field but ‘CJ” always likely to find a good spot. Has only won the one from 15 starts (another 4 placings) but this field appears very even. Ready to show his true worth. Brandi Snapp (4m Betterthancheddar – Crystal Bromac) Trainer: J Curtin Won a trial at Rangiora in late May where she got home too well from a trail to easily beat race rival & recent winner Stubing in a 2:02.5MR, last 800m in 58.7 3 runs back since that effort have been progressively better, the last 2 in particular very solid after sitting parked for most of those contests. Back at Addington this Sunday in Race 7 where she has drawn wide out & may need to do it tough again. Just the 1 win in 14 starts but placed in half the others and going well enough to suggest that win no.2 not that far away. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of June 30-July 6View the full article

A week and a half removed from his victory in the June 28 Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs over Sierra Leone and Mystik Dan, Mindframe remains No. 1 in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll for the second consecutive week.View the full article

This week marks a traditional high point in anticipation on the North American horse racing calendar, as Saratoga Race Course begins its summer meet July 10. View the full article

Journalism, winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1) and runner-up in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) will make his next start in the July 19 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park if all goes well over the coming days. View the full article

Rep. Dina Titus, a Democratic Congresswoman from the gambling mecca of Nevada, has introduced what is being called the FAIR BET Act, which would restore a gambler's right to deduct 100 percent of his or her losses from gambling winnings. Titus is the co-chair of the Congressional Gaming Caucus. The latest version of the Trump bill stunned gamblers, racetracks, casinos and sports bettors when it became clear that a player could only deduct 90% of their losses from the winnings. Under the scenario, a gambler that won $1 million and lost the same amount during a calendar year would be stuck with a tax bill on the leftover $100,000. Titus is seeking to allow gamblers to once again write off all their losses. The bill is titled the Fair Accounting for Income Realized from Betting Earnings Taxation (FAIR BET) Act. “The recently passed budget bill included a provision inserted by Senate Republicans without consent of the House that imposed a tax increase on Americans who gamble by reducing from 100 percent to 90 percent the amount of losses they can deduct from gambling winnings for their income taxes,” Titus said in a statement. “My FAIR BET Act would rightfully restore the full deduction for losses so gamblers don't pay taxes on money they haven't won.” The FAIR BET Act is being co-sponsored by California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna. “The Republican budget would kneecap sports and gambling by making Americans pay taxes on gambling losses, Khanna told Newsweek. “This is deeply unfair. I'm proud to introduce the FAIR BET Act with Rep. Titus to restore the 100% tax deduction for gaming losses.” The American Gaming Association, the industry's top lobbying group, expressed support for the legislation. “The American Gaming Association applauds Congresswoman Titus for introducing the FAIR BET Act. We are committed to working with Congresswoman Titus, other congressional leaders, and the Trump Administration to restore the long-standing tax treatment of gaming losses,” the AGA said in a statement. Representative Troy Nehls, a Texas Republican, told Newsweek why he is cosponsoring a bill to repeal a measure included in President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). “While I proudly voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which prevents the largest tax hike in American history, the Senate's version contained a provision that I strongly disagree with,” Nehls told Newsweek in a statement. Nehls is the first Republican to cosponsor the FAIR BET Act. The post Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Help Gamblers Affected By Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Make Haste hopes she lives up to her name in the $175,000 Coronation Cup Stakes (G3T) July 11 at Saratoga Race Course. The 5 1/2-furlong sprint is the third start for the Blue Point 3-year-old since moving under the tutelage of Miguel Clement. View the full article

Aron Wellman, who heads the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners syndicate which is a co-owner of GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin), said his colt will run next in the July 19 GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. “If all goes well this coming weekend and he works to (trainer) Michael McCarthy's satisfaction and comes out of his work with good energy, the Haskell is Option A,” Wellman said. “What are options B and C? I haven't thought beyond that. The Haskell is our target. If we find any reason for him not to go there we will have to regroup and reconsider our options. Our intention is to run in the Haskell.” Journalism is one of 18 horses nominated to the Haskell. The list does not include Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who is being pointed for the July 26 GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. Sovereignty has beaten Journalism the two times they have meet, winning the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Belmont Stakes over his rival. Sovereignty skipped the Preakness and Journalism proved best in his absence. But Wellman said that in no way is he ducking Sovereignty. Journalism breezed a 1/2-mile in 47 2/5 under a hammerlock inside of a mate this am @santaanitapark. @mwmracing caught the @PreaknessStakes hero galloping-out from the wire to the 7/8-pole in 12-sharp. All race options remain on the table for the #BelieveBig pic.twitter.com/byknVS8c2E — Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (@EclipseTBP) July 6, 2025 “Where Sovereignty is running has absolutely no impact on our decision at all,” Wellman said. “We've never shied away from him to begin with. Obviously, the scoreboard is 2-0 and all the credit goes to him. It would have no impact on our assessment so far as to what the appropriate race to send our horse to is. We are at a disadvantage in the summertime because there are no 3-year-old races in California. Our two options are the Haskell or the Jim Dandy. One is a Grade I worth $1 million ad the other is not a Grade I and not worth $1 million. That has more to do with it rather than our analyzing what race Sovereignty is going in.” The Jim Dandy is a $500,000 Grade II race. After the Jim Dandy and the Haskell, it's conceivable that the two could have a rematch in the GI Travers Stakes. “People ask about the Travers and a possible rematch with Sovereignty,” Wellman said. “We're just taking it one step at a time. This horse has had such an incredible campaign already that we just want to make sure that we are focused on one race at a time We're not looking past this next objective.” The post Journalism Targets Haskell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday, Fairyhouse, post time: 18:00, DARLEY IRISH EBF STANERRA STAKES-G3, €42,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 14fT Field: Comic Book (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Drawn To Dream (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), Enfranchise (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Goodie Two Shoes (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Lemsairbat (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Royal Entry (Ire) (Fracas {Ire}), Santorini Star (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Umala (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). TDN Verdict: A race that Ballydoyle have supplied the winner of in five of the last 10 runnings, but Island Hopping is not one of the stable stars and is up against it taking on some smart older fillies and mares. Goodie Two Shoes comes into this on the back of clear-cut wins in the Listed Vintage Tipple Stakes and Listed His Majesty's Plate and is the obvious call, but it is interesting that William Haggas sends across Santorini Star who is up in trip after some decent efforts at a mile and a half. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 15:35, THE PRINCESS OF WALES'S STAKES-G2, £125,000, 3yo/up, 12fT Field: Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko). TDN Verdict: This should be easy pickings for Ghostwriter after his third in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, where he showed that the trip held no fears. William Buick has chosen El Cordobes of the Appleby pair which is probably a hint worth taking, especially as the stable do so well on their home terrain at this meeting. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 14:25, THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN JULY STAKES-G2, £100,000, 2yo, 6fT Field: Brussels (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Comical Point (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Do Or Do Not (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Jel Pepper (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Maximized (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Zavateri (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}). TDN Verdict: Godolphin's unbeaten Woodcote winner Maximised is taken on by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Brussels in a fascinating encounter. They probably have it between them, but the surprise Coventry runner-up Do Or Do Not has the best form having got closest to Gstaad at Royal Ascot. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Island Hopping Faces Stiff Test In Stanerra appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eclipse Award-winning jockey Axel Concepcion, who was named top apprentice in 2023, will return to the Mid Atlantic and make his first appearance at Colonial Downs this summer as the 20-year-old has joined the local riding colony for the 2025 summer session. “It feels great to be here,” Concepcion said. “I want to take advantage of these opportunities that the trainers are giving me. My goal is to win as many races as I can and to try to win a title.” No stranger to the Mid Atlantic circuit, Concepcion won the Laurel Park riding title as an apprentice and those connections. Along with his familiarity with the Maryland jockey colony, put him in a good position to have success at Colonial. “I know a lot of these riders from my first years based in the Mid-Atlantic,” Concepcion said. “I rode not just at Laurel but also Charles Town, Delaware Park, and Monmouth. There are so many good riders here. I am very blessed to be able to compete with them. You need to know all the riders who you are in the race with, you need to know all the horses, and how all that comes together to win a race.” “We hope to ride for [Vicki] Oliver, as well as Mike Tomilson, Keith Desormeaux, and others,” said Concepcion's agent Liz Morris. “We'll also be looking to rekindle some of Axel's East Coast connections from when he was leading apprentice, as well as continue success with other Kentucky trainers who will be shipping in.” The post Eclipse-Winning Apprentice Jockey Concepcion Joins Colonial Downs Colony appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK – Stuart Williams, rightly regarded as one of the finest practitioners of his craft, will train the top lot from the opening session of the Tattersalls July Sale after a new owner, TY Equine, went to 190,000gns to secure the 92-rated three-year-old Humam (Kodiac). A three-time winner for Andrew Balding, Humam's latest performance was arguably his best, given he landed a seven-furlong York handicap in comfortable fashion. That performance earned the Al Shaqab Racing-owned colt a career-high rating of 92 and Williams, best known for managing the career of Quinault, fast becoming one of the most likable horses in training, would appear to have added another hugely exciting prospect to his Newmarket stable. Williams said, “He's for a new owner to the yard who wanted to have a horse to run at the big tracks. We'll target some of the big meetings and try to replicate what Andrew has done with him by winning at places like York. “He won well last time and looks a solid horse. He's one we'd hope would carry on improving with age and in line with what his family has done. I don't know what he's done lately, he hasn't run for three or four weeks, but we'll get him back to the yard and assess him before settling on a target.” Quinault has been a star for Williams and there is plenty more left to come from the five-year-old given how impressively he dismantled an up-to-scratch Group 3 field at York last time. That took TJE Racing's gelding, who was sourced for just 25,000gns at the autumn horses-in-training sale here in October 2022, to 11 wins and over £413,411 in career earnings. Williams has consistently sent out 30 winners or more for at least a decade now and Humam is just the type to add to those numbers. Williams concluded, “Whatever the price is, there's that many people around the sale and whoever buys the horse is the maddest person on the day because you're the one who bid the most! That sort of price was what we were expecting to pay, though.” Humam headlined trade that saw 192 horses selling for 4,427,200gns, which was down 13% on last year's turnover. The average was down 15% to 23,058gns while the median was up 10% at 11,000gns. Meanwhile, the clearance rate stood at 82% – down 4% from last year. Talking points The eagerly-anticipated Godolphin draft did not disappoint with 30 lots selling for a combined 1,242,500gns, headed by the 170,000gns Frankel filly Rose Arbour. A daughter of the Group 1-placed Crown Walk, the unraced Frankel filly was sold to Anthony Stroud on behalf of an existing client in Ireland. He said, “Frankel is not only a fantastic stallion, but is an outstanding broodmare sire too – as is Dubawi. She has got the genetics to have a very good chance at stud.” Sumbe ramped up its support for young stallion Charyn with Frankel mare Spring Lantern bought by the French-based stud for 150,000gns. A winner in France for Godolphin, she was sold in foal to Pinatubo. “She looks perfect for Charyn – she will be a lovely mare for him,” said Sumbe's Tony Fry. “She was quick and is strong. We are pleased to have got her.” De Luain (Lope De Vega), another unraced maiden mare, was the third filly from Godolphin's draft to break the six-figure barrier when selling to Mark McStay for 110,000gns. The agent said, “She is from a family I know well from my time working for Sheikh Mohammed. Her half-sister Usherette was very good – I think she was rated 117 and her sire Lope De Vega has every attribute you need to make a fantastic broodmare sire.” Last seen finishing fifth at Royal Ascot, the Ger Lyons-trained Jorge Alvares (Cotai Glory) did not go unloved, with Qatari-based trainer Gassim Ghazali securing the gelding for 150,000gns. He said, “He is a smart horse and will suit the sprint races we have in Qatar. My son tried to buy the horse last year – we have had to pay more now!” Jorge Alvares was another shrewd piece of business from David Spratt of Gaelic Bloodstock, who sourced the then 82-rated juvenile at the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale. It was a day for the ladies at Tattersalls with fillies accounting for eight of the most expensive lots sold on Tuesday. Buy of the day The team at Tally-Ho Stud might well have unearthed a bargain in Romantic Opera at 40,000gns. A Ghaiyyath half-sister to Craven Stakes winner Indestructible (Kodiac), a horse the O'Callaghan family knows well given that colt was raced in partnership with Amo Racing and Roger's wife Rachael, the three-year-old maiden mare would appear a good addition to any broodmare band. With the horses who were bought to race, it's hard to see a scenario where Smart Hero (Shamardal) doesn't do a job for Gassim Ghazali in Qatar. At 65,000gns, he looks fairly bought. Thought for the day Luckily there are no dress codes at the sales. Tuesday was hot, but temperatures are expected to soar in Newmarket over the next few days. Like the weather, this sale can be expected to heat up on Wednesday and Thursday. The post Humam To Join Williams After Topping Opening July Sale Session At 190k appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article