Wandering Eyes

Whitham Thoroughbreds' Burnham Square, last-to-first winner of the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 1, exited the Triple Crown prep "bright and alert" and could return in Gulfstream Park's next Triple Crown prep in four weeks.View the full article

Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. sat in his Belmont Park office Feb. 2 still basking in the glow of his newly-minted stakes-winner Captain Cook's dominant victory in the $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Feb. 1.View the full article

Citizen Bull earned 20 additional qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby to give him 60 in all. That should be more than enough points to make the 20-horse cutline for the Derby.View the full article

With 20 Kentucky Oaks points as the top prize, it was Tenma (Nyquist–Amagansett, by Tapit) who snatched the lot as she strolled home a winner in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the week a group of five fillies were part of the barrier draw, however, by post time it was only three headed to the gate. Tabbed as the short-priced 1-5 choice here, Tenma began to match race with Just as Fancy (Volatile) from the bell. 'TDN Rising Star' Cipriani (Bernardini) went into chase mode as she was over 10 lengths behind as the pacesetters made the backstretch. The chalk put away her rival around the far turn and proceeded to run up the score. Cipriani was the runner-up. The final running time was 1:38.31. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1. Sales History: KEESEP '23 $200,000, OBSAPR '24 $850,000. O-Baoma Corp; B-B Flay Thoroughbreds; T-Bob Baffert. There was never a doubt that TENMA ($2.40) and @JJHernandezS19 were the winners of the $100,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) at @SantaAnitaPark. She added 20 more points to the Kentucky Oaks for trainer @BobBaffert and owners @BaomaCorp. pic.twitter.com/YSlxmOS5Bq — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 2, 2025 The post Tenma Strolls Home With Oaks Points In Las Virgenes At Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables' Sandman (Tapit), who overcame a tangled start in the Jan. 25 GIII Southwest Stakes before closing from the back to finish second under Cristian Torres, will make his next start in the Feb. 22 GII Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, confirmed Mark Casse Sunday. Casse also said Sandman will remain at Oaklawn, where the trainer has a string in Hot Springs for the first time since 2019. The Rebel is Oaklawn's final major prep for the $1.5-million GI Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles Mar. 29. “He's one of the reasons I came there,” Casse said. “This is the first time in some time. That was a real interrupted schedule, as well, training. So many things the way he ran were good. We're staying there. That is our path to the [Kentucky] Derby. It will be the Rebel next.” Of his Southwest effort, the Hall of Famer added, “I was just happy that he was fine,” Casse said of the one-length defeat. “I've been doing this for a long time and watched a lot of horses run, good horses that could never overcome the break that he had to even hit the board. So, I think: 1) hats off to Cristian. Not really sure how he stayed on and 2) he didn't panic. He let the horse get himself together and the rest goes to Sandman. I said going in we're going to find out whether he's a man or a boy and I think he's a man.” The 1 1/16-mile Southwest was Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races. The Southwest allotted 42 total points (20-10-6-4-2, respectively) to the top five finishers toward Kentucky Derby starting eligibility. Sandman, a $1.2 million at the OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in training purchase, ran fifth in the GIII Iroquois at one mile Sept. 14 and third in the GIII Street Sense at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 27. Both races were at Churchill Downs. “He did [everything but win] and probably more,” Casse said of the Southwest. “Obviously, you're disappointed when you miss the opportunity to win a big race, a million-dollar race, but we came away with so many positives that it's hard to be very disappointed.” Sandman was assigned a career-high 92 Beyer Speed Figure for the Southwest, a three-point improvement over his previous best, which came in a 1 ¾-length allowance victory at 1 mile Dec. 13 at Oaklawn to close his five-race 2-year-old campaign. Sandman only had two half-mile workouts in advance of the Southwest after Oaklawn lost more than 10 days of training earlier in January to winter weather. Sandman galloped 1 ½ miles Sunday morning and will probably work next weekend, said Caden Arthur, who oversees Casse's Oaklawn division. The Rebel will offer 105 total points (50-25-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishes toward the Kentucky Derby, which is limited to 20 starters. The post Tapit’s Sandman Rebel Bound appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed all was well with Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) the morning after his 3 3/4-length win in Saturday's GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Baffert indicated a decision has not been made whether last year's 2-year-old champion will make one or two more starts before this year's GI Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Citizen Bull, who earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his front-running win in the one-mile Lewis under Martin Garcia, which was his first start since winning the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 1. With the win, Citizen Bull earned 20 additional qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby to give him 60 in all. On Sunday, he said “we'll just wait and see” whether Citizen Bull makes another start, potentially the GII San Felipe at Santa Anita on Mar. 1, prior to the final round of Kentucky Derby preps in early April, which includes the GI Santa Anita Derby on Apr. 5. “I need to talk it over with his racing manager [SF Racing's Tom Ryan] and we'll make a plan,” Baffert said. Citizen Bull is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners. In addition to Citizen Bull, Baffert has another Kentucky Derby prospect in Into Michief's Barnes, who won the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs Jan. 4 at Santa Anita. Barnes will make his next start in either the GII Rebel Stakes Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park or the San Felipe a week later, Baffert said. Both races are contested at 1 1/16 miles. It would be the first time going two turns for Barnes, owned by Zedan Racing. The post Citizen Bull Doing Well After Lewis, San Felipe or Rebel for Barnes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coming off of a strong 2024 renewal which saw a record three seven-figure mares go through the ring, the 2025 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale kicks off in a consolidated single session at Newtown Paddocks Monday morning with bidding set to begin at 10 a.m. 414 catalogued hips are on offer including exciting late supplemental adds such as 14-year-old broodmare Athenian Beauty (Corinthian), the dam of this year's GIII Southwest Stakes winner Speed King (Volatile), who sells in foal to Caracaro from the Taylor Made Sales Consignment. “That's a great thing about this time of year,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There's always opportunities that emerge. Speed King ran very impressively [in the Southwest] so we were very pleased that the owner, Mr. Bowman, decided to supplement the mare to the sale. She should be a very interesting and attractive offer.” The Winter Mixed Sale is the last chance for horses to change hands at auction before the breeding season begins and shortens into a jam-packed one-day session this year. “Last year honestly was a bit of an anomaly with the Lothenbach dispersal,” Browning continued. “This year is a little bit more representative of a catalogue for February. There are some very attractive mares in foal. There are some very nice fillies and mares coming off the track. And the feeling is that we probably have a little higher percentage of short yearlings this year than we've had in the catalogue in year's past, so it's a diverse group. There's really a horse here in the catalogue for every buyer.” Browning noted the timing of the sale, with additional racing updates coming in daily, presents opportunities for both breeders and those looking to race. “Whether you're trying to add something to the very top end of your program or you're trying to find something to take to the races, there's a lot of options in this sale,” said Browning. “Clearly a timely update or new activity in the family helps. We're heading into Derby and Oaks season and hope springs eternal with those types of connections. We're seeing more of an emphasis on quality and expect to see that trend continue on.” Even without the Lothenbach disperal from last year, Browning expects numbers to be similar to what was seen in recent sales. “I think we'll see [that] the market is very similar to what we've experienced in the last two or three years,” said Browning. “For the top 20% of the horses, the market is going to be really good. There will be very strong competition for what is perceived to be of higher quality. We live in a market that there is certainly some fragmentation and that's going to continue. That's just the reality of the marketplace today.” Baldwin Bloodstock's Amy Bunt, who brings a consignment of 10 to the Winter Mixed Sale this year, agreed with Browning's assessment of both the market and the opportunity present. “I love this sale,” said Bunt. “I hope the market's going to be good because it is the last chance to buy [short yearlings] for the pin-hookers. I think people really like to shop this sale. I've had some pretty good success selling here because it's the last opportunity for people to buy babies.” Cats Inthe Timber | Jim McCue Bunt brings eight short yearlings to market Monday including several by young sires such as Drain the Clock, Mystic Guide and Epicenter. Her two young mares include racing or broodmare prospect Matters (Kitten's Joy) (hip 40), a 4-year-old out of GISW Byrama (GB) who is also the dam of GI Florida Derby winner Known Agenda. Matters's half-brother sold for $650,000 to John Stewart's Resolute Racing as a yearling at Keeneland in 2023. Bunt also sells the 5-year-old stakes winner Cats Inthe Timber (Honor Code) (hip 238), out a half-sister to GISW True Timber (Mineshaft). “It's a very physical sale,” Bunt continued. “Everybody is able to look at everything. I would definitely put the emphasis on the physical here. Not that people are more forgiving of pedigree, but it's more of a physical sale. I don't have anything here that I wouldn't put on someone's short list.” Last year, boosted in part by the aforementioned dispersal of horses from the late Robert Lothenbach, the Winter Mixed Sale saw 372 horses change hands for $21,687,000 with an average of $58,298 and a median of $17,000. As previously mentioned, three mares topped the seven-figure mark led by Coolmore's $2,000,000 purchase of Zetta Z (Bernardini), the dam of undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist). The post Off Strong 2024 Edition, Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale Keeps Momentum Rolling Into Breeding Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Whitham Thoroughbreds' Burnham Square (Liam's Map), winner of Saturday's GIII Holy Bull Stakes, exited the Triple Crown prep 'bright and alert' and could return in Gulfstream's GII Fountain of Youth Stakes in four weeks. According to trainer Ian Wilkes Sunday, Burnham Square “came out fine and jogged good this morning” at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. The gelding earned 20 GI Kentucky Derby qualifying points for his 1 3/4-length triumph. Second in Gulfstream's series of dirt races for 3-year-olds on the road to the $1-million GI Florida Derby Mar. 29 after the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 3, the Holy Bull is followed on the stakes schedule by the GII Fountain of Youth Mar. 1, also run at 1 1/16 miles. “The logical spot probably is the Fountain of Youth,” Wilkes said for Burnham Square, bred and owned by Janis Whitham with her son and racing manager, Clay. “I'll talk to Clay and Mrs. Whitham and make sure. It's four weeks away. We'll see how he does and how he bounces out of this. He looked bright and alert this morning, but he ran hard. Let's see how he comes back and trains.” He added, “He overcame a lot of adversity in the race, so that was good,” Wilkes said. “He just keeps getting better, and that's what you want. You've got to get better because the water gets deeper. You've got to keep improving. To where he might maximize out at, I don't know yet. But the further they go the better he gets. The distance is what he likes.” Burnham Square is 2-0 lifetime at Gulfstream, having graduated with a nine-length maiden special weight score going 1 1/16 miles Dec. 28. Both wins have also come since the addition of blinkers and jockey Edgard Zayas. “He wouldn't run in the race. He'd run away from horses. He wouldn't run into the dirt. Jocks were riding him at the half-mile pole and he was going nowhere. He just needed blinkers. Then he'd run home, get beat a half-length for all of it and then be four lengths in front after the wire.” Burnham Square ran second by a half-length at odds of 30-1 while running for a $150,000 claiming tag in debut last fall at Keeneland sprinting six furlongs. He stretched out to 1 1/16 miles and stepped up to maiden special weight company for his next start, beaten less than a length while running third. “He's a plain ol' horse. We just let him come along,” Wilkes said. “When we worked him, he worked good. But did we like him off the bat? No. We didn't know what we had. We just let him come along and he started working good. I ran him for [$150,000] first time out. He ran awfully good and surprised us, and just got better and better from there.” The post Burnham Square Heads to Fountain of Youth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The news has arrived thick and fast for the Northern California industry over the last couple of months, as racing operations have consolidated in the Southern half of the state. Few state industry stakeholders remain unaffected by these developments, certainly not the breeders, whose commercial decisions today ripple years into the future. The breeding sheds don't open for another couple of weeks. During that time, many currently undecided minds will be resolved. Among those California breeders currently canvassed, however, their outlooks for 2025 are a mixed bag. On the one hand is optimism in some quarters that years of declining trends will now lead to a period of economic stasis or even tentative growth, while on the other, fears that lack of racing opportunities will see significant contraction at the lower end of the market especially. Larger outfits appear much better insulated from the harsh headwinds than smaller owner-breeders. “From where I sit and who I work for, you wouldn't know anything's amiss. These folks are gung-ho,” said Kevin Dickson, farm manager for Barton Thoroughbreds, the 200-acre family-owned breeding behemoth in California's Santa Ynez Valley. “Just from our numbers, we're not slowing down.” Dickson said he estimates about 160 mares will be foaled at the farm over the next few months. “And I would say we'll breed easily that many this year,” he added. “We have 40 mares in Kentucky right now getting bred, and the rest of them are home supporting our five stallions.” Outside support for these stallions is “a little less” than typical for the time of year, said Dickson. One of them is Shaaz (Uncle Mo), new to the farm in 2024. As with most second-year stallions, his numbers have fallen off. While Barton is maintaining its numerical firepower, “it's still hard to get excited about anything out here on the West Coast at the moment,” Dickson said. “We just lost another track. Now we've lost racing dates for the fair circuits. It's looking pretty gloomy-feels like we're circling the drain a little bit.” It all comes down to purses, said Dickson-more pointedly, the forecast is grim without supplemental purse revenues lacking in California but enjoyed in other states. Think Historic Horse Racing, a state subsidy, or some other slice of gambling revenue. And he emphasized the economic engine that racing provides. Indeed in recent years, the California horse racing industry directly contributed over $4.5 billion to the state's economy, and over 77,700 jobs. Tom Clark, owner and manager of Rancho San Miguel's sprawling 250-acre property in San Luis Obispo County, agrees. “Until that's sorted, we're just shuffling deckchairs on the Titanic,” he said. Clark currently houses around 150 mares, both his and clients-a number down from around 180 two years ago. “Most of those are ones I'm hoping will re-breed,” he said. At the same time, he predicted as much as a one-third drop off in mares bred this year. “What I'm not seeing is outside mares coming in.” In California, the number of mares bred has shrunk from 5,823 in 2004 to 1,493 last year. This at a time when Cal-breds make up a significant portion of the fields in California. Another trend, said Clark, is growing demand around Thoroughbred mares in California for activities other than breeding, including having mares serve as surrogates, he said. “I'm getting calls from Montana, from people working with polo horses. I'm getting calls about recip mares. But nobody wants to breed to Thoroughbreds,” he said. “We are at a critical juncture and if there's no immediate turn-around, we'll look to diversify into other breeds, other types of animals on our farm. Quarter horses. Show horses. Rodeo people,” he said, about Rancho San Miguel. “We need to expand our market, let's put it that way, in order to survive.” Adding to California breeders concerns, he said, were comments like the ones by The Stronach Group's Belinda Stronach on last week's Pegasus broadcast that dense urban settings are “not great” for horses. “I think more and more people in California see the writing on the wall for Santa Anita as well.” Clark's outlook, however, isn't uniform. California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) president Chief Stipe Burge declined to speak for the story, saying it was too early for him to comment. But board member Terry Lovingier emailed a series of bullet points about why he remains “bullish” on California breeding. “As long as we have racing at Santa Anita and Del Mar, now is the time to breed. I am of the belief we will be racing here for a long time,” wrote Lovingier, later clarifying that he believed racing would continue at Santa Anita for another five to eight years at least. Among the bullet points that Lovingier sent were several outlining what he sees as increased financial incentives for California's remaining breeders, including the following: That unspent monies from the 20% additional owners' award paid to Cal-breds that win open races in the north, “will directly go back into Breeders and Stallion awards,” wrote Lovingier. “In 2024, that was approximately $600,000. In 2023, it was approximately $1,000,000.” That because the maiden bonus in the north will no longer exist, “that program will get rectified and balanced soon, and the maiden bonus could go back to historical percentages for Cal Breds,” he wrote. That a “certain potential increase in handle on the south” will lead to increased total incentive money generated and increased breeders' awards. And that purses at Santa Anita's Spring meet and at Del Mar are expected to go up. “A maiden race at Del Mar for Cal Breds will be upwards of $80,000,” he wrote. Long-time owner-breeder Nick Alexander made a similar observation. “Two things happen when a business goes through a downcycle. You lose a certain number of people that are friends and neighbors but also competitors. Some people just can't take or stomach the loss, and either can't or aren't willing to wait to see if it does turn around,” said Alexander. “That being said, you still have to have a total number of horses to fill a card.” At the end of last year, Alexander participated in the Fasig-Tipton digital sale with a partial dispersal of his stock, selling 11 yearlings and 2 broodmares. “All I did was keep from expanding,” he said. “I didn't really cut overall numbers.” Alexander still has more than 20 mares set to foal in the next few months, he said. “Going forward, we have 32 mares that we will breed this year,” he said. From Alexander's perspective, he sees not so much growth anytime soon on California's horizons, but rather a plateauing of economic trends. “The most recent numbers would indicate that we might have passed the worst and things are turning around.” Alexander is in his 80s. Others like Justin Oldfield, who owns and operates Daehling Farms in Northern California with his wife, Julia, represent a generation expected to carry the industry on their shoulders for decades to come. Oldfield is keeping his powder dry on any hard prognosis about breeding plans this year. At the same time, “I'm very concerned,” he said. “I'm not going to paint a rosy picture of everything.” The Oldfields currently have about 12 mares of their own, and house another roughly 70 mares from clients. Breeding plans for this fleet of broodmares remains largely up in the air, he said. “This is not the time to say it's premature. It's not. A lot of people have already made breeding decisions. But I'll know more in about 45 days,” Oldfield said. New under the Daehling Farms banner is Flavius (War Front), a stallion he sees as bringing the necessary quality to fit the Southern California program. “There's a lot of interest, but not a lot of [firm] business at this point,” he said, about Flavius. “That doesn't concern me so much because I assume there's going to be a lot of breeders making last-minute decisions.” The Juddmonte Farms-homebred is indicative of what Oldfield sees as a breeding model in the state that will only continue to emphasize quality over quantity. “We have a lot of owners in Northern California who breed their horses and race their horses. And I think those guys make decisions on breeding based on money that they have coming in from horses that are of racing age,” he said, adding that the opportunities for these Northern breed-to-race outfits “are obviously much more limited than what they were” in the past. Oldfield could be talking about Northern California-mainstay, Gloria Haley. Haley purchased last year three mares with the expectation that Golden State Racing would continue racing this year at Pleasanton, bringing the total of mares to her name to five. “I've got quite a lot of babies hitting the ground. I just had one born a few days ago. A Frosted,” Haley said. Haley will breed two of the five mares. As for the other three, she's currently undecided. “I'm just going to have to reevaluate the situation according to the economics of this,” said Haley. “A lot of people up here are in a similar situations.” People like Dr. William Gray, another Northern stalwart scaling back his operations. Typically, Gray will breed 16 to 17 of his mares. This year, that number will likely be eight to 10, he said. Furthermore, Gray will usually board 10 to 15 mares for outside clients at his 150-acre farm in Cottonwood, California, but he's received no firm bookings thus far this year. “There's just not the market for them,” Gray said. This speaks of hardening market forces. Shrinking racing opportunities, too. “I do appreciate the fact they're trying to accommodate us,” he said, about Santa Anita's efforts to write races for the Northern California horse inventory. “But we're having a really hard time getting the races to go.” Owner-breeder Rozamund Barclay has a similar take. “What people are doing is, the lesser horses are being sold. A lot of trainers, that's all they have.” Prior to the COVID pandemic, Barclay had around 30 mares. Post-pandemic, she culled that number to 12. This year, she's planning to breed to just six of those mares. “That's one fifth what it was just a few years ago,” said Barclay. “We all feel like we're on shaky ground,” she added. “I just don't know what's going to happen to the people of the North.” Pete Parrella, who owns Legacy Ranch near the Sierra Nevada foothills, said he was optimistic about the returns for a talented Cal-bred. But growing operational costs from workers' compensation, minimum wage, feed, training fees and a whole raft of other financial considerations mean that “it's just very difficult to run horses at the lower end,” he added. Parrella has around 120 horses of his own-a fairly standard number for him. “Typically, we've got anywhere from 80 to 150,” he said. Including clients' horses, he has about 300 horses on the ranch. “We've been steady at that for a while,” he said. Like a few others in the state, Legacy Ranch has a new kid on the stallion block, Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah). The ex-Richard Mandella runner has already secured about 30 breedings for the year. Parrella hopes for around 50. “We've had a good response, even with what's going on in Northern California,” he said. “What's the worst that could happen? Let's say it all stops, you've got 20 to 30 two-year-olds, but you'll be able to sell them somewhere. There's still value. Ship them back East. You may have to change your program around, but there's other options,” Parrella said. “But I just believe in the industry,” he added. “I just believe the powers that be, they're going to figure it out. It might get worse before it gets better. But I believe in the long run, it's going to get better.” The post With Breeding Season Poised to Begin, CA Breeders Weigh in on Year Ahead appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

St. Elias Stable's Captain Cook (Practical Joke), winner of Saturday's Withers Stakes at the Big A, is expected to make his next start in the GII Wood Memorial Apr. 5, according to trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. Sunday. The Wood awards the top-five finishers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby points, respectively. “He's got a big step forward next time when we run him back in the Wood, but he's got plenty of time and we love that–so does he,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “He'll be running back over a track he's won two races over, and it seems like he's all lined up to run big again, as long as he stays the way he is now.” Captain Cook was sixth in his career debut in a six-furlong maiden at Churchill Downs for conditioner Norm Casse before selling to St. Elias for $410,000 at the Keeneland Horses of Racing Age Sale in November. In his most recent start prior to the Withers, the bay ran off to an impressive 9 1/4-length score in a sloppy seven-furlong maiden at the Big A on Dec. 28. “I don't care about Beyers,” Dutrow, Jr. said of the colt's latest race. “He's a very relaxed horse, and we're very lucky to have him. He's a pleasant surprise. He was running against better horses and when he broke his maiden with us, he liked the track well enough, but we don't really know if he beat anything that day. Facing these guys [Saturday], there were horses that had the credentials to run big. Our horse just ran a big race, man.” He added, “We're lucky that he is the way he is in a race,” Dutrow, Jr. added of the colt's relaxed nature. “He doesn't have a lot of size to him, and he's going to need to conserve everything he's got, but man, he does that. When Manny [Franco] hopped off of that horse, he said, 'Rick, I'm starting to dream.'” Also possible for the Wood, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Judy Hicks and Campeche Stables' McAfee (Cloud Computing) continues to work his way back from a small infection that forced him to scratch from the Jan. 4 Jerome at the Big A. The half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna made a successful debut on Nov. 1 to annex a six-furlong restricted maiden at Churchill Downs before a head defeat to finish second in a one-mile starter allowance on Nov. 24 at the Louisville oval. McAfee had his first work in almost one month when covering a half-mile in :52 seconds flat over the Belmont dirt training track Saturday. “Oh, we're excited about that guy,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “He's doing great. After Emily [Ellingwood, who frequently exercised MGISW White Abarrio during his tenure with Dutrow, Jr.] would breeze White Abarrio for us in California, I could see her molars because she was smiling so much–that's what happened [Saturday] when she breezed McAfee. She just loved the feeling the horse gave her.” While Dutrow, Jr. did not commit to a firm plan in the coming weeks for McAfee, but did say the colt could also be on his way to the nine-furlong Kentucky Derby prep. “We have a hopeful plan that if he stays the way he is, it could set him up for the Wood and we could have two horses–two live horses–for that race,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “That's never happened to me before, and I like to dream, too.” The post Dutrow Eyes Wood with Captain Cook, McAfee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Six-time winner Alfa Kellenic (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) starred for Craig Lidster in 2024 when he enjoyed the best year of his training career to date, but it's all change ahead of the start of the new Flat season on turf. The Rotherham-born trainer will be operating with a reduced string in 2025, having recently moved across North Yorkshire from Easingwold to Malton. Tell us a bit about your background and the path you took to becoming a trainer. I'm from a small town in Rotherham and I had no background in racing. Kevin Frost got me into this game and I then spent 10 years with Brian Ellison and eight years with Richard Fahey, learning the ropes as travelling head lad. I had a short-lived career as a jockey. I'm probably a better rider now than I was back then! I found my way working with young horses and that paid my way until I was able to put together enough money to set up as a trainer. The yard sent out 34 winners and won over £500,000 in prize-money in 2024. How do you reflect on last year as a whole? Last year was amazing. The team did a great job and we obviously had Alfa Kellenic whose achievements were the pinnacle for us. She won twice at York and went on to win the Ayr Silver Cup. Unfortunately, we just missed out on getting into the Ayr Gold Cup, but it was a massive statement for a three-year-old filly to go and win the Silver Cup the way she did, taking on older horses off near-enough top weight. She was flawless all year and that was testament to our team. What was your highlight of 2024 on the racecourse? Ayr was a special day. I was very, very nervous leading into the race. I was walking the box all night before she ran in the Listed race at Newmarket, but not as much as I was before the Silver Cup. Things didn't go to plan at Newmarket, but it is what it is. Do you think Alfa Kellenic can make the step up to Pattern company in 2025? I'm not sure just yet whether she'll be coming back to me or not, but I would think that she'll definitely be picking up black type this year. She's got all of the right attributes and I'd be disappointed if she didn't. You've recently moved to a new yard in Malton. Tell us a bit about that and how many horses you expect to have in training for the upcoming Flat season. We've taken over Beverley House Stables where Linda and Bill Stubbs used to train, so I'm back to my old stomping ground in Malton. We've got that as a lease, with an option to buy it, and at the minute I've got 15 horses in. We can hold 21 and I think I've got another six waiting to come in, so we're probably going to be full to capacity in the next two weeks. We've majorly downsized from 60 horses down to 21, but sometimes you have to take a step backwards to go forwards. We've got a chance of going out and buying a yard of our own here, whereas I was never going to be able to afford the yard I was in. Who has been the biggest influence on your career? From a racing standpoint, Brian Ellison is like my second dad. He modelled me into the trainer I am. I've tried to mimick the different things that Brian and Richard Fahey do. Brian has spent a lifetime sweetening horses up and wouldn't be one for getting horses off the bridle at home, whereas Richard and Robin O'Ryan are major educators of two-year-olds. They were two great yards to be in and I tried to take everything on board before deciding on my own style of doing things. What is your favourite thing about being a trainer? I love young stock and horses who have their quirks, and I like trying to solve problems. It might take three months, four months or five months, but I like trying to figure out how to get that horse to work for us, and vice versa, until they start to enjoy it. We very rarely have problems with our horses in the stalls. I've spent a bit of time with Gary Witherford and that has helped me out a lot. It's about trying to find your niche in the market where you can use all of that to good effect. Give us a dark horse to follow for the year ahead. I ran Intinso (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the Winter Derby Trial at Southwell the other day. He came from the Gosdens and I think I stole him out of there to be honest–I can't understand how we got him for 7,000gns. He's a lovely, big horse who just wants a trip. He's a horse who probably wants a mile and six furlongs, or two miles, but I've got sprinters who struggle to keep up with him. He's got a massive reach on him. We started him on the all-weather and we'll probably keep tipping away with him because I don't think he wants rock-hard ground. Who is the best value stallion with the start of the breeding season just around the corner? Havana Grey (GB) is a great sire and he's done me no harm. I also think Ubettabelieveit (Ire) is a cost-effective stallion. I've got three of his in the yard at the minute and I looked at quite a lot of them at the sales. I really like what I've seen of them and they've got great minds. I'm looking forward to seeing them run. What would make 2025 a good year for you? New start, new targets. I don't really know yet because we've just moved to the new yard. I'll just keep my head down and keep kicking. The post In The Hot Seat: Craig Lidster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Driver Penalties D Butcher | Hawera 31 January; careless driving; suspended 8-13 February inclusive. L McCormick | NZ Metropolitan 31 January; careless driving; suspended 1-7 February inclusive. J Morrison | NZ Metropolitan 31 January; medical clearance required. J Dickie | Hawera 2 February; contacted track marker: fined $150. A Pyers | Hawera 2 February; drove with foot out of sulky footrest; fined $100. C Hackett | Hawera 2 February; use of whip; suspended 8-14 February inclusive. Z Meredith | Hawera 2 February; breach of push out rule; fined $200. S Manawatu | Waikouaiti 2 February; crossed over prior to start; fined $200. K Butt | Waikouaiti 2 February; delayed the start; fined $200. B Williamson | Waikouaiti 2 February; use of whip; fined $250. Horse Penalties FATHER ON DOWN | Invercargill 30 January; broke in running; must complete trial. PEGGY GEE | Invercargill 30 January; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. TICKTOCK MCGLAUGHLIN | Invercargill 30 January; broke in running; must complete trial. SHUFFLE UP | Invercargill 30 January; atrial fibrillation; veterinary clearance including ECG required and must complete trial. LOVEYOURMOTHER | NZ Metropolitan 31 January; broke in running; must complete trial. ITBETTERBENOW | Hawera 2 February; broke in running; must complete trial. KC’S PRINCESS | Hawera 2 February; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. HAWTHORNDEN BEACH | Hawera 2 February; broke in running; must complete trial. SMIRITI TROUBLE | Waikouaiti 2 February; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. JUST CHARLIE | Waikouaiti 2 February; broke in running; must complete trial. MADISON’S MOON | Waikouaiti 2 February; broke in running; must complete trial. Protests PRESIDENT FLYNNTIN | Hawera 31 January; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. JACCKA BAYLIS | Hawera 31 January; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. VERONICA JANE | Hawera 31 January; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. IRON BRIGADE | Hawera 31 January; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. MADISON’S MOON | Waikouaiti 2 February; excessive galloping in running; disqualified from 5th. The post 27 January – 2 February 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Rider Penalties C Grylls | Tauranga 27 January; failed to make weight; fined $200. S Weatherley | Tauranga 27 January; medical clearance required. M Hudson | Waverley 29 January; careless riding; suspended 2-12 February inclusive. H Grace | Waverley 29 January; use of whip (2 charges); fined $800. N Hailey | Waikato 31 January; used unsound gear; fined $150. N Hailey | Waikato 31 January; medical clearance required. K Stott | Waikato 31 January; misconduct; fined $450. A Riddell | Taranaki 1 February; use of whip; fined $150. T Moseley | Gore 2 February; medical clearance required. Trainer Penalties S Logan | Waikato 31 January; late rider declaration; fined $50. C Henderson | Waikato 31 January; late rider declaration; fined $50. F Auret | Non raceday dated 27 January; entered incorrect horse in Trial; fined $480. T Chambers | Non raceday dated 28 January; allowed a non-registered person to assist in the care, control or training of a horse; fined $500. Horse Penalties SHOOTIN TO SAKS | Tauranga 27 January; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. CHEAP SAV | Tauranga 27 January; lame; veterinary clearance required. NOBLE BOY | Tauranga 27 January; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. SEVENAYES | Waverley 29 January; late scratching after dislodging rider in preliminary; must complete trial. PURE GOLD | Waikato 31 January; bucked in running; must complete trial. SHARP ENOUGH | Auckland 1 February; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. SCREAMIN EAGLE | Auckland 1 February; epistaxis; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. The post 27 January – 2 February 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Chapel Stud owner Roisin Close has opened up about the difficulties in standing stayers in the current climate but shared that her new boy Eldar Eldarov (GB) is expected to cover a full book of mares in his debut season at the stud. The Roger Varian-trained St Leger winner, who followed up in the Irish equivalent, had his career cut short after suffering a freak neck injury in the stalls ahead of the G2 Dubai Gold Cup last year. The dual Group 1-winning son of Dubawi (Ire) will be limited to 80 mares in his first season and joins talented middle-distance types like Planteur (Ire) and Bangkok (Ire) at Chapel Stud. Speaking about the new addition, Close said, “Eldar Eldarov has covered some test mares in Newmarket, so we know he can cover, which is a big deal. That takes all of the guesswork out of it. Physically, he is well capable, but we are going to be careful with him, which is why we are limiting him. He is moving pretty well and, apart from the fact he has a slightly funny shape to his neck following the injury, you would struggle to know anything happened to him and he's only going to get better and better when he builds muscle.” She added, “Roger was very good and gave us some quotes when it came to advertising the horse at stud but, one of the most interesting things that he did say was that Eldar Eldarov was getting better and better. So without this injury, he wouldn't be my horse. Absolutely no question. Not only could this horse be standing at a bigger stud in Newmarket, but he potentially could have been standing for a lot more money as well if he ran more and won more. One hundred per cent, if he didn't have the injury, I think he'd be somewhere else right now. I don't wish that kind of injury on any horse but it's because of that that I have him.” Close says a book of 80 mares should be attainable with the horse who cleared over £1 million for owners KHK Racing. However, the stud owner does not gloss over the fact that smaller breeders have never found the going this tough in Britain, and accepted that a number of Flat breeders will find it difficult to breed to Eldar Eldarov in the current climate. She explained, “I'd like to think we'll get to 80 mares with him but it's a little harder when you are at the bargain and basement level of the market, which we are at, as you're not filling up months in advance. That's not how it works and a lot of people will wait until close to the time but I have had good interest and a lot of people can see the merits in a stallion like Eldar Eldarov. At the same time, people are worried. They are very worried. It is tough for smaller breeders and we're losing people to this game hand over fist. But 80 mares is a good number for Eldar Eldarov to cover and I think we'll get there. If we do, we'll be delighted as we think he represents a good opportunity for breeders.” Close added, “Eldar Eldarov is obviously a high-class horse with a fantastic pedigree and a great race record. If breeding stayers was commercial, I'd be laughing. All you've got to do is look at Strad last year. I mean, you couldn't find a tougher bloody horse than Stradivarius (Ire) yet breeders and pinhookers lacked the imagination to row in behind him and that makes things very frustrating. Eldar Eldarov will probably be relegated by most breeders as a National Hunt stallion which infuriates me no end. But I can understand why because, commercially, it's very hard to make things work when you're breeding to sell. “I will give him a chance myself and he will cover a lot of our own Flat mares. But National Hunt breeders are not necessarily like Flat breeders in that, just because you have a first-season sire, it doesn't mean that they will flock towards you. There isn't the same gravitas for a younger stallion in the National Hunt game. We will get the quantity of mares we want him to cover anyway, so I am happy about that, but God I'd love it if people would give these staying horses a chance.” It's not just Eldar Eldarov that Close and the Chapel Stud team have to look forward to this year. Group 2 winner Bangkok will have his first Flat runners this year and, while it is an admittedly small batch, Close explained that the reports have been good. “Bangkok is in a similar boat to Eldar Eldarov,” she explained. “He has a very small crop of Flat runners [five or six] but I think people will be very surprised by them. I know that Andrew Balding is very sweet on the one that he has by him and he thinks he will make a two-yer-old. “Of course, he wasn't as good of a racehorse as Eldar Eldarov was, but it is such a shame that these horses are relegated to the support of just a few Flat owner-breeders or National Hunt breeders. They get overlooked. The GBB Plus initiative will be a help as it offers more prize-money to horses who win over longer distances.” Close continued, “But every single mare that these stallions cover is a benefit. Don't get me wrong, I love sprinters and would love to be able to stand more sprinters. I have Hellvelyn (GB) and he's in fine fettle. He doesn't cover many anymore and, while I would love a few more sprinters to stand alongside him, I can't afford them. I have been completely priced out of the market. And that's not to say that I am only standing stayers because I can only afford stayers, which sounds awful, because that's not the case at all. I believe in my boys and just wish they got more of a chance.” The post ‘If Breeding Stayers Was Commercial, I’d Be Laughing’ – Eldar Eldarov Settling In Well At Chapel Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Powerful filly Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns) was nothing short of sensational when taking out Sunday’s Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m). The daughter of Ten Sovereigns has established herself as the three-year-old to beat in the South Island after scoring a winning hattrick this preparation, including a gusty showing to down Lil Zena in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day. Samantha Wynne, who trains and rides the filly on race-day, had every faith that a return to the firm surface wouldn’t be a disadvantage and punters agreed, closing her favourite at $2.70 ahead of Northern raider Sesimbra. Jumping from barrier five, Wynne found herself in a three-wide position early outside of Alberton Angel and Rapid, deciding to press forward and use the filly’s high cruising speed. Pivotal Ten had much of the three-year-old field chasing at the 600m, and by the home turn, she was off and gone, putting a six-length margin on Show Pony and Mamaea, who filled the minor placings. Wynne was delighted returning to scale, praising her rising star who had handled the occasion despite showing signs of being in season. “She blew me away to be honest, I knew she had improved at home, but you don’t know until you get them here,” she said. “She’s really starting to switch on now, she didn’t know what she was doing before but now she’s getting the hang of it. “They made it hard for me, keeping me three-wide early on and we had to do a bit of work, but when we were turning in, she felt amazing. I’m so grateful to have a horse like her in the stable. “She was definitely toey today, but she’s getting to know what it’s all about, a new track and new surroundings. She’s taken it well and I’ll look after her, making sure she gets to the next race in good order. “I’d just like to thank the owner for the opportunity and all the staff at home, I couldn’t do it without them.” The Gore feature is the first of three lucrative southern Guineas races, with the next being the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1400m), run at Ascot Park on February 15. Wynne indicated the filly will remain in Southland in the next fortnight, rather than returning to her base at Ohoka in between races. “She’ll always come first so she has to be 100% going into it, we’re starting down to give her every chance,” she said. “It’s very exciting and it’s what it’s all about, I couldn’t be happier.” Pivotal Ten was bred by Valachi Downs and sold through their dispersal sale in 2022, where Colin Wightman purchased the filly for $15,000. In six starts, she has recorded four wins and just shy of $130,000 in stakes earnings. Earlier in the meeting, Wynne had also partnered Kellanzor (NZ) (Almanzor) to win the Hokonui Suzuki/Advance Agriculture (1335m), another promising filly in her care. View the full article

Underrated mare In Vegas (NZ) (Telperion) often steps up at the right time for Centaine Spittles and she did just that at Gore on Sunday, delivering a stylish victory in the MLT Gore Cup (2000m). A winner of five races prior to Sunday’s feature, In Vegas has shown her class on numerous occasions, including a narrow second to Matscot in last season’s Hororata Gold Cup (1800m), and more recently, placing to Jon Ol Rocco and Titicaca in respective races over New Zealand Cup Week. Last Saturday, the mare finished ninth but just two lengths from the winner in Times Ticking in the Marlborough Cup (2000m), but that was enough to place her among the middle market on the back-up at Gore, closing at $14. As anticipated, Riviera Rebel went straight to the lead approaching the first turn, where a number of horses were forced three and four wide on the track, including two of the favourites in Smooth Operator and Loftys Gift. Meanwhile, In Vegas had settled beautifully back in the field for Akshay Balloo, who steered her out into clear air as the field compressed ranks turning for home. A game Loftys Gift had been trapped wide throughout and hit the lead early in the straight, holding the lead for a long way before In Vegas came powering over the top to take the Cup by a half-length. Spittles was rapt with the performance, having plenty of faith that her mare could deliver on Sunday. “I was expecting this from her today, she didn’t have any excuses and that was her at her best,” Spittles said. “She’s more than capable of showing this, but she’s a mare with a few body problems and I was pretty sure I had her right. “It was great to get confirmation of that.” The Gore Cup was the first of the Southern Cups Bonus Series races, which culminates in a $50,000 bonus for the horse earning the highest amount of points across five events. The series will continue with the Invercargill Cup (2600m) on February 15, a race that may feature In Vegas. “It (the series) has been a goal in the back of our minds without being set, we’ll get her home first and then decide whether we go back down to Invercargill,” Spittles said. “It’s a massive trip, we came down here on Friday and aren’t leaving until tomorrow, it’s nine hours each way. It’s a lot to ask to do again in a couple of weeks, but she ran second over 2600m at Riccarton during Cup Week, so she definitely can get the distance. “I think 2000-2200 is her best range, even though she ran second there it did take it out of her a little bit for a week or so afterwards. “It’s not the end of the world if we find other races.” Bred by Grassyards Farm, In Vegas was purchased for just $500 by Spittles through gavelhouse.com, and the Balcairn horsewoman races her alongside Ray Abernathy, Steve Clarke, Steve Lovatt and Alison Tilson. In 31 starts, the daughter of Telperion has recorded six wins and $153,730 in stakes for the group. “She was on Gavelhouse as an unbroken two-year-old, we bought her for $500,” Spittles said. “I own most of her and a few other guys that have been loyal owners have little shares in her as well. We’ve been pretty lucky with her.” View the full article

What Dubbo Races Where Dubbo Turf Club – Merrilea Rd, Dubbo NSW 2830 When Monday, February 3, 2025 First Race 1:35pm AEDT Visit Dabble The new week of racing is set to get underway at Dubbo Turf Club on Monday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-part program set down for decision. The chute position is moved out +2m, however, the remainder of the rail will be set in the true position. Warm summer conditions should assure punters a Good 4 surface with the opening event scheduled to get underway at 1:35pm AEDT. Best Bet at Dubbo: Magic Pharoah Magic Pharoah chalked up an eye-catching victory two starts back at Muswellbrook on January 2, and although she was a shade disappointing subsequently at Newcastle over 1880m, dropping back to the mile should be ideal. Jake Pracey-Holmes gets the chance to slot into the one-one from barrier four to avoid getting too far back in the ruck, and provided Magic Pharoah can peak again in what’s been a lengthy preparation, watch for her to justify favouritism with horse racing bookmakers. Best Bet Race 3 – #5 Magic Pharoah (4) 5yo Mare | T: Lou Mary | J: Jake Pracey-Holmes (59kg) Next Best at Dubbo: Northern Exposure Northern Exposure debuts on the back of a smart barrier trial at Gunnedah on January 20. The son of Santos cruised through the wire under minimal ridding by Jake Pracey-Holmes, with the three-year-old seemingly having plenty left in the tank to get within a half-length of Tavros. He maps to get on the leaders’ back throughout this 1000m contest, and provided he can accelerate when asked for an effort, the $7.00 available with Dabble will seem too big. Next Best Race 2 – #4 Northern Exposure (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Derek Piper | J: Jake Pracey-Holmes (58.5kg) Best Value at Dubbo: Cheap Gas Cheap Gas needed the run first-up at Gunnedah on January 20 and should take massive improvement into this second-up assignment. The Santos gelding got too far back from a wide draw, and although the 5.5-length margin didn’t flatter the Derek Piper-trained galloper, his work through the line suggests he’s not far away from a return to his best. Expect a positive steer by Kody Nestor from stall 12, and with more luck than last start, Cheap Gas warrants an each-way ticket at the big odds. Best Value Race 5 – #4 Cheap Gas (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Derek Piper | J: Kody Nestor (61.5kg) Monday quaddie tips for Dubbo Dubbo quadrella selections February 3, 2025 1-7-10-11 2-4-5-6 3-4-5 2-3-5-6-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Lindsay Park’s Supernova winner Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) will travel to New Zealand next week in search of his first Group One success. The three-time Gr.3 winner will look to contest the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 8 after pleasing the Ben, JD and Will Hayes stable when winning his trial at Geelong on Wednesday morning. “He had a great jumpout here this morning … he relaxed just behind the speed, showed a great turn of foot and hit the line really, really well,” Ben Hayes said. The second Saturday of February will be a busy one for the stable, with fan favourite Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) also lining up in the Gr.1 C.F. Orr Stakes in Victoria. The stable also sent out Maribyrnong Plate winner Tycoon Star, who impressed in his heat under Mark Zahra on Wednesday. “He was great on debut and then second-up he ran into a Heavy track that day and he just didn’t enjoy it,” Hayes explained. “He’s freshened up beautifully and off today he looks like he’s come back really well. “He was a little naughty in the gates, he missed the start. We had Mark Zahra on board, who just rode him nice and quiet. I just loved the way he joined in, hit the line, pricked his ears and went to the line having a good look. “Mark gave a really good report, so we feel he’s right on track to head towards a (Blue Diamond) Prelude and he’s on the exact same path (2023 Blue Diamond Stakes winner) Little Brose was on, so hopefully it can be a similar result. “Off his trial today we’ll be going into the Prelude very confident.” View the full article

Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) is set on the path of a Sydney campaign this autumn after returning to the trials in good fashion on Wednesday morning. OTI Racing’s Kiwi stayer claimed his Group One win last winter in the Queensland Derby, but was put away before the Melbourne Cup after a long campaign. “When you look at him now, I’m so glad we did what we did,” said co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr. “He got to have a good five-week spell, he put on fantastic condition, he’s popped up in the wither, he’s really grown and matured. “It’s always difficult to come back from winter, three-year-old against your own age, straight into spring – they don’t get much of a break – versus now, he’s really matured and furnished, he looks brilliant.” The four-year-old finished third in the 1200-metre trial under Mick Dee in what was his first public hit-out since the Caulfield Cup last October. “He’s come back a different horse,” Kent Jnr said. “Really happy with the way he’s going, his gallops at home have been very good, he’s in fantastic order. “This morning was good, I was pleased to see there was good pace on in the trial, so he got to just drop his head, travel comfortably over 1200m and he was asked to push out the last 400m. “To run third was good, he had a healthy blow, but I’d say his recovery was quite good. “He’s right where we want him.” With the option to kick off his preparation in Melbourne over the mile on February 8, the gelding will have a Sydney-focused campaign beyond that. “Circle around the Sydney Cup and work backwards from there,” Kent Jnr said. “I really think we’ll see the best of him this preparation and going on, we’ve looked after him, he’s relatively lightly raced. As we know with these Kiwi stayers, they keep getting better and better if you look after them.” View the full article

Progressive galloper Talisker (NZ) (Embellish) made a welcome return to the winner’s circle at New Plymouth on Saturday, taking the Platinum Homes (1400m) with a stamp of authority. Group Two-placed as a juvenile, Talisker spent the first-half of his three-year-old season in the South Island, picking up three wins on the bounce for Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton stable. The son of Embellish was denied by just a half-length to Crocetti in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), but struggled to replicate that form through the summer and headed for the spelling paddock. Returning in late November, Talisker recorded placings to Matane, Tanganyika and stablemate My Lips Are Sealed so far this campaign, the latter in the Gr.3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) at Trentham. Starting favourite at Taranaki, jockey Craig Grylls allowed a rush of horses to contest the early speed, settling the gelding third-last in a comfortable rhythm. Front-runners Amend and Ifindoubtgetout held their position to the home turn, but Talisker was travelling sweetly and launched down the outside on straightening, running down the leaders to score ahead of a game Our Jumala. Mark Walker, who trains Talisker in partnership with Sam Bergerson, was rapt with the result, particularly so for his syndicate, the Te Akau Classic Edition Racing Partnership. “it was really good to see him return in winning form today and the owners have been super patient with him,” he said. “He was well ridden by Craig. We thought he’d be closer in the run, but they were going hard up front and he elected to take a sit off them. So, it was a good, intelligent, ride and he’s riding in career best form. “The progeny of Embellish seem to get better as they get into each season and he looks like he has a big race win in him, this horse. It might not be this year, but as a five-year-old, when he’s one-hundred percent mature, I think he could win a good race.” A $60,000 purchase by David Ellis at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in 2022, Talisker has earned over $262,000, with four wins and seven minor placings in 15 starts. He is out of a Redoute’s Choice mare Glenkinchie, who has produced another recent winning son of Embellish in El Arish. View the full article

All of the King’s horses for all the King’s Men, Ardalio’s (NZ) (Ardrossan) been picked to do it again – this time for the NZB Kiwi. The lightly raced filly has been selected by The King’s Men to represent their slot in the inaugural $3.5 million 1500-metre feature on Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. The King’s Men moved quickly to snap up Ardalio less than a week after her victory in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) during the Karaka Millions twilight card at Ellerslie on January 25. In only the third start of her career, the daughter of Ardrossan exploded out of the pack to score a brilliant win. Her time of 1:08.86 was the second-fastest in the history of that feature three-year-old sprint. Ardalio is a fitting representative for The King’s Men, whose syndicate member Mark Carter shared in the ownership of the filly’s sire Ardrossan under his family’s Jomara Bloodstock banner. Ardrossan’s ownership group also included Ardalio’s owner-breeder Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, and the stallion himself raced from the Cambridge stable of Ardalio’s trainer Stephen Marsh. “We’re thrilled to have secured such an exciting filly to race for our slot in the NZB Kiwi,” Carter commented. “She’s won twice from only three starts and has been hugely impressive. “We were at Ellerslie last Saturday when she won the Almanzor, and as soon as she crossed the finish line, we thought ‘this might be the one for us’. “In addition to what she’s done on the racetrack so far, we also really like her pedigree. We’re big fans of her sire Ardrossan, who we had a share in during his racing career, so she’s a good fit in more ways than one.” Notably, Ardalio’s win in the Almanzor Trophy qualifies her for a share in an additional $1 million in bonuses on top of the NZB Kiwi’s base prizemoney. Horses that win selected Bonus Eligible races in either New Zealand or Australia, then finish in the top three in the NZB Kiwi, will receive bonuses of $600,000 for first, $250,000 for second or $150,000 for third. “That initiative around the extra $1 million in bonuses was another real attraction from our perspective,” Carter said. Petagna has first-hand experience with the concept of slot races. He also shared in the ownership of his homebred sprinter Lost And Running, who finished fourth in the A$15 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in October of 2021. “We’ve seen the excitement that these slot races can create,” he said. “One of the great things about them is the intrigue and interest that they generate through the weeks leading into the race as the Slot Holders make their selections. “The big prizemoney is another important factor that generates a lot of publicity for the race as an event. It’s proven to be a fantastic thing for the sport in Australia, the signs are good that it will be the same here, and we’re very happy to be a part of it. “It’s exciting to have a filly that we bred and race ourselves selected for the race, and it’s a real boost for her sire Ardrossan as well. “We didn’t take Ardalio to the sales, because she wasn’t particularly big. We sent her to be pre-trained by Sam Logan, who really liked her all the way through, and then she went to Stephen Marsh and she didn’t take long to make a big impression on him. “We couldn’t be happier with what she’s achieved on the racetrack so far, and now we can’t wait to take her back to Ellerslie again on March 8.” Marsh has been similarly proud of what Ardalio has achieved within the space of just three starts so far. She made her debut at Matamata on December 20, kicking off her career with a stylish come-from-behind win. Her first look around Ellerslie on January 12 produced a second placing, beaten by a head by Waikato Stud’s NZB Kiwi representative Sought After. The third-placegetter finished more than three lengths behind the first pair. But it was the Almanzor Trophy that took her career to new heights. “She’s still only lightly raced, and what she did on Karaka Millions night last week was outstanding,” Marsh said. “She’s a filly with a huge amount of upside. “Her next start will be in the Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1400m) against the older mares at Matamata on February 15. That’s a suitable distance progression from the 1200m of the Almanzor, and it also gives us the right spacing with three-week gaps between the Almanzor, the Lisa Chittick and the Kiwi. “Our team is absolutely thrilled to have her confirmed for a slot in the NZB Kiwi. It’s such an exciting new race on the New Zealand calendar, and it’s a real privilege to have a runner from our stable. We can’t wait.” Slot Holders who are yet to confirm their runners in the NZB Kiwi are Barneswood Brady Nakhle, Ozzie Kheir, Cambridge Stud, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Race Inc and the Selangor Turf Club. View the full article

Guy, Aidan & Emily review the racing action from Ellerslie and New Plymouth featuring some stars of the future. They also catch up with the connections behind Ardalio, the latest horse to be announced for a slot in the NZB Kiwi. Weigh In, February 2 View the full article

Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) tightened his grip on Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) favouritism with a dominant victory against older opposition in Saturday’s TAB (1600m) at Ellerslie. The $55,000 race was the third consecutive Ellerslie win for the Tarzino gelding, who cleared maiden ranks at the Auckland track on December 12 and then emphatically beat subsequent Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) runner-up Tuxedo on New Year’s Day. But Saturday’s performance in Rating 75 company was Willydoit’s most impressive yet. He was sent out as a $1.40 favourite and barely provided a moment’s doubt. Willydoit departed from his previous come-from-behind style, instead taking up a position among the top three or four and settling into a smooth rhythm along the rail. A gap opened right in front of him when the front-runner Giacomo rolled away from the fence at the home turn, and Willydoit needed no second invitation. He produced a smart turn of foot and burst clear, romping home by two and a half lengths despite being eased down in the final 50m by rider Kevin Stott. Bought for $75,000 by trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy from Karaka 2023, Willydoit has now had four starts for three wins, a placing and $93,665 in stakes. Emma Clotworthy shares ownership along with Bryan Black and the international syndicator MyRacehorse. “That was a ‘wow’ performance,” Emma Clotworthy said. “We were a bit nervous about stepping up against the older horses today, but it was pretty nice to see him running away from them like that down the straight.” The TAB reacted to Saturday’s performance by cutting Willydoit from $2.80 into $2 for the New Zealand Derby, which will be run for a stake of $1.25 million at Ellerslie on March 8. The only other runner in single figures in that market is Hinekaha, who was trimmed from $8 into $5 after winning Saturday’s Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth. Stott had his first ride on Willydoit on Saturday, keeping the saddle warm for the injured Masa Hashizume. “I don’t know how good they have to be to win a Derby in New Zealand, but this horse gave me a serious feel today,” Stott said. “It was only a mile today and against older horses, but all I had to do was steer him around. “He’s a big horse who can get a bit unbalanced around here, but as soon as he gets his balance back, he’s away and gone. “He’s very uncomplicated. We thought we’d try to get him out of the stalls a bit better today and see if he can settle in a handier position. He settled beautifully and made my job easy. “I think a mile and a half (2400m) will suit him a lot better. He has a massive stride.” Shaun Clotworthy admits to some mixed feelings about Willydoit not being eligible for last Saturday’s Karaka Millions 3YO. “It’s unfortunate that he wasn’t nominated for the Karaka Millions, especially after seeing Tuxedo go on to run second to Damask Rose in that race,” he said. “The prize-money would have been nice. “But maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. It might have been a tough night and taken a bit out of him. This could work out to be a better step towards our main target.” Victory in the Derby in March would carry additional significance for Clotworthy, whose father Kim won the classic in 1977 with Uncle Remus. “Winning the Derby would certainly mean a lot to me, and to my father as well,” he said. View the full article

Dog Penalties RAGS TO RICHES | Wanganui 28 January; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. OPAWA GORDON | Christchurch 30 January; displayed unreasonable aggression at lure; must complete trial. GOTCHA DANDELION | Christchurch 31 January; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. The post 27 January – 2 February 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

A month into 2025, trainer Dan Blacker is back winning graded stakes in California, this time with My Way Racing's El Potente, who blitzed a mile on firm turf in 1:32.39 in taking the $102,000 Thunder Road Stakes (G3T) Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article