Wandering Eyes

Steve speaks with kiwi Fraser Auret. Who bred and owned the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising but sold for not a lot of money. Fraser Auret 08.04.2025 – Racing HQ with Steve Hewlett – Apple Podcasts View the full article

Talented stayer Sword In Stone (NZ) (Redwood) appreciated a stretch of the legs on Awapuni’s renovated grass surface ahead of Saturday’s Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Trentham. The Redwood gelding stepped out in the first of 11 trials at the Palmerston North venue on Tuesday, where jockey Kavish Chowdhoory allowed him to cruise along comfortably in midfield through the mid-stages. When in clear air down the straight, Sword In Stone ran down the leader with ease and powered through the line to take the heat by 1-1/2 lengths. “He hasn’t raced since the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) and I felt that he needed a bit of a blowout, and with Palmerston on our back doorstop, it was nice to be able to take him there,” co-trainer Stephen Gray said. “I thought he trialled beautifully. “I took him up to Waverley last Friday and he had a nice gallop between races there, and then he had a quiet weekend, so I thought another quiet trial would bring him on for Wellington.” The evergreen nine-year-old finished seventh in the two-mile feature on Champions Day, a more than satisfactory result for the multiple-Group One performer in Hong Kong. “He went so well in the Auckland Cup, he just went terrific, and we were rapt,” Gray said. “I know he only ran seventh, but for a nine-year-old coming back from Hong Kong to run like he did, I thought he was great. I looked ahead at what could suit and I thought this race (Hawke’s Bay Cup) would be a better choice than the St Leger, so I freshened him up and he’s had a couple of nice trips away, so he’s ready to go again. “I just hope it doesn’t get too wet down there.” Gray, who trains in partnership with his father Kevin, couldn’t have been happier with the presentation of Awapuni, which copped plenty of rain through the morning and early afternoon. “I thought the track was amazing at Awapuni, it was beautiful,” he said. “It was very exciting, I’ve only been back (in New Zealand) for about seven months but the rest of the racing fraternity, the owners and trainers in there and all of the participants in the CD have been through a lot lately and are looking forward to getting Awapuni going again. “It was quite heavily raining and the track held up well, it wasn’t slippery. It was a credit to everyone involved and hopefully it all unfolds later in the season to be of great service.” The Copper Belt Lodge stable had three of their fellow Trentham representatives at Awapuni earlier in the morning, including promising three-year-old Albarossa and stakes contenders Idyllic and Silent Is Gold. “I took those three horses into Awapuni this morning and RACE provided the track for us to use, which was great, and it presented very well at the trials,” Gray said. Albarossa (Vino Rosso) was among a five-horse finish in the three-year-old race on Sires’ Produce Day, finishing just half a length from stakes winner Super Photon. A potential shot at the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) is now on the table for the son of Vino Rosso, who will contest the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1100m) on Saturday. “Albarossa is a very promising horse, I thought he went huge the other day fresh-up in that field,” Gray said. “He’ll appreciate a bit of easing in the tracks and I think it’s a good race for him. Hopefully he can prove himself to go up for the Cambridge Breeders.” The meeting was initially set to be held at Otaki, which would’ve been a better fit for Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) contender Idyllic (No Nay Never). Known for her scorching early pace, Idyllic has been most effective over courses such as Otaki, Tauherenikau and Awapuni, but the unique Trentham dogleg hasn’t been her friend in previous attempts. “Unfortunately, Idyllic doesn’t perform as well at Wellington as she can, it just seems to find her out,” Gray said. “We were hoping the races were going to be at Otaki but unfortunately that hasn’t happened, so that’s probably her disadvantage. “She did trial magnificently at Foxton the other day and she’s in great order, she’ll run very well but it’s just unfortunate for the connections that it’s been transferred. “Trentham has taken a lot of big races, and she would’ve been very competitive at Otaki. But it is what it is and we’ll just see how we go.” Her stablemate Silent Is Gold (Star Turn) will also take his place in the $80,000 feature after performing commendably in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) last-start. “He went great, (Michael) McNab (jockey) said he just over-raced with the blinkers on for the first time and he gave me a bit of a tune up saying I shouldn’t have put them on,” Gray quipped. “We’ll take them off again this week. “He’s a great little horse, he’s honest and will run well, it’s just whether he’s good enough.” Since returning from Singapore, the seven-time winner is yet to get on the board in New Zealand but has recorded three runner-up finishes in five attempts. View the full article

Awapuni’s renovated grass track was given its biggest test on its return when it held 11 heats of trials under torrential rain on Tuesday. The track held up well and the trial meeting concluded without incident, much to the satisfaction of local trainers, including Roydon Bergerson. “It was thumbs up from everybody, it was just great to get back there,” Bergerson said. “It poured with rain before the first heat and if a horse were to slip it would have been today, but they got around that corner really well and all of the jockeys were happy. There wasn’t as much kick-back and that track held up really well. Everyone was happy in the end.” Bergerson recorded two trial wins, including with his former top juvenile Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci), who took out her 1000m heat by a nose over Old Town Road. The daughter of Tivaci won her first three races for Bergerson as a two-year-old, including the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) before finishing runner-up in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). She continued her racing career in Australia for trainer Kris Lees and Australia Bloodstock, for whom she placed on five occasions, including the Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m), Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m) and Listed Princess Stakes (1619m). She was then purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for A$850,000, but failed to fire on her New Zealand return, and returned to Bergerson’s care earlier this year. Bergerson is pleased to have Wolverine back in his barn, and he has been satisfied with her progress, eyeing a tilt at the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) at Arawa Park next month as her first-up assignment. “It is nice to have her back and she has come back in good condition,” Bergerson said. “She had a decent spell, which is probably what she needed, and she has really matured up into a really good looking five-year-old mare. “She will probably gallop between races here (Awapuni) on ANZAC Day, and may have another trial at Waipukurau, and on the 10th of May there is a weight-for-age fillies and mares race at Rotorua which will probably be her kick-off. “She is really sound and happy at the moment, so long may it continue.” Bergerson was also pleased with stablemate Reservoir’s (NZ) (El Roca) 1200m trial victory on Tuesday and is looking to step him up to 1400m for his raceday debut on the advice of apprentice jockey Jim Chung. “He has just taken a of time,” Bergerson said of the three-year-old son of El Roca. “We put the blinkers on him to help with his confidence. He was travelling in amongst them, but he was just frightened of other horses. We kicked him out of the barriers today and put the blinkers on him and he held on quite well. “Jimmy said he probably needs a bit more ground, so we will look to run him in a 1400m race somewhere.” Bergerson is looking forward to racing returning to his home track on ANZAC Day and said it has been a trying last couple of years having the track out of commission for renovation work. “It has been amazing the success the Awapuni horses have had not having a course proper or grass to gallop on,” he said. “It is really good to have nice grass to gallop on and a course proper to race on now. We did go through hell for a while but now everything is tickety-boo. “There’s nothing like getting up and going across the road to the races. We have really missed it all for the last two summers. The closest ones (raceday tracks) were Otaki, Wanganui and Woodville. It’s good to save the owners a bit of money now too, so it will be good to get back here on ANZAC Day.” View the full article

John O’Shea has delayed a decision on the immediate future of Randwick Guineas champion Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) as he weighs up the merits of continuing his impressive three-year-old campaign. O’Shea and training partner Tom Charlton have decided against putting Linebacker up against hot favourite Via Sistina in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, but O’Shea confirmed on Tuesday that other options this campaign remain alive. “I think if Via Sistina wasn’t to run, we probably would have backed up on Saturday,” O’Shea said. “She’s running so we’re not. There’s a lot to think about and discuss. We just want to take a steady approach to how we move forward.” Linebacker got back in the ruck in last Saturday’s Doncaster Mile, before unleashing a big final sprint to be beaten just over a length in a performance that will stay with O’Shea for some time to come. “We were so proud of his run,” he said. “I think it will probably always go down in my mind as the one that got away. “But looking ahead, he’s not going to go this Saturday. There’s All Aged (Stakes), there’s the Frank Packer Plate, there’s the Stradbroke Handicap, so I haven’t really ruled out anything. “I don’t want to be rushed and just see how the week pans out. “He came through it well. We’ve got one eye on the spring with regard to Golden Eagle and the King Charles, so all those things are in our thinking so we’re trying to work out what’s in his best interests and how to get there. “I think the thing that has added to the discussion is the one thing that we learned from last week is that he now looks like he will be effective at 10 furlongs (2000m).” View the full article

Otago (NZ) (Ocean Park) will make his return to racing at Bendigo this Saturday, but do not go looking for the one-time Australian Guineas favourite among the entries for the day’s features. Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have selected the $80,000 benchmark 70 as the likely kick-off point for the four-year-old, who will be having his first start in more than 13 months. It will be a return to where it all began for Otago, who created a massive boom when he won a 1300m Bendigo maiden in December 2023, and Kent said Saturday’s priority was to get him through safe and sound. “He’s morphed into a beautiful, big, strong four-year-old and he’s probably going to take the run on Saturday given it’s his first run back in over a year,” Kent said. “Hence, we’re probably going to aim him at the benchmark 70 over 1300 with a claim, hoping that his class might get him there, but realistically he’s going to improve a lot for the run. “He won on debut at Bendigo over 1300, so we think that suits, but if he gets beaten for a lack of fitness late that won’t perturb us for what we’ve got in store for him. “As long as he gets back to the races, runs well, hits out properly and pulls up well, then we can look forward to going up in trip second-up.” Otago, who races under the Roll The Dice colours, has also been nominated for the $130,000 BM84 over 1300m. The Kiwi-bred won at Flemington the start after his maiden, which catapulted him up Australian Guineas markets, then ran fourth as favourite in the Gr.3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) before finishing down the track in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m). The son of Ocean Park later suffered what Kent described as a ‘high-end stress injury’ but has been given a long build-up in his return with two 1000m Cranbourne jumpouts resulting in sixth and fourth placings on March 17 and 24. “Those injuries typically heal really well and it’s not normally a problem for them, but he’s had a long, slow build-up and you can’t replace race fitness with what you do at home,” Kent said. “We haven’t crunched the horse at home, he’s just been brought up nice and slowly, everything’s been on the bridle, and I thought he trialled quite nicely at Cranbourne. “He’s got a really nice benchmark rating and, knowing where his ability’s at, we should be able to go through the grades with him but there are no ambitious plans at this stage.” Otago will add intrigue to the Bendigo program that is headlined by the A$200,000 Listed Golden Mile (1600m), but also features the A$200,000 Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m), A$150,000 Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m) and A$250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m). View the full article

Te Akau principal David Ellis. Photo: Trish Dunell Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis was once again to the fore in the sales ring this week, but this time at Inglis’ Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney. On Monday he went to A$1 million to secure lot 398, the Snitzel colt out of Group One performer Harlow Gold, from the draft of Glenlogan Park. His dam was a $200,000 New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale purchase and went on to win two races for trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, and was runner-up in the Group 1 Victoria Oaks (2500m) and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), and also placed in the Group 3 Vanity Stakes (1400m). Ellis was impressed by the presence of the colt, and he was delighted to secure him for the seven-figure sum. “He’s an outstanding colt, classically stamped with all the qualities of his sire, Snitzel, and would have to be among the top colts I’ve seen on any sales grounds in the past 12 months,” Ellis said. “He’s really imposing, fills the eye, has great conformation, and we were absolutely delighted to be able to buy him. “He just looks a natural two-year-old, a big powerful boy, with the quality to be a Golden Slipper colt if everything went to plan. “He’ll be trained by Mark Walker at our stables at Cranbourne, and I know the team there will be very excited to have a colt of this quality to work with. “He’s a stunner and it’s hard not to be get ahead of ourselves, but he really does possess all the right attributes.” Ellis bought two other yearlings at the sale, including lot 209, the I Am Invincible filly out of stakes winner Talaria, for A$450,000, and lot 248, the Street Boss filly out of stakes winner Vienna Miss, for $180,000. Horse racing news View the full article

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Wednesday, April 9, 2025 First Race 6:40pm HKT (8:40pm AEST) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Happy Valley on Wednesday evening, with a competitive nine-part program set for decision. The rail is back in the A course, and with no significant rainfall predicted, punters can expect a Good 4 surface for the meeting. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 6:40pm HKT. Best Bet at Happy Valley: Loveisintheair Loveisintheair appears set to peak third-up after two moderate runs at this course and distance. The son of Street Boss has been forced back from barriers seven and eight in both starts, holding ground to suggest he’s closing in on a win. Hugh Bowman needs to utilise barrier two in an attempt to slot into the one-one, and in a race that appears to have limited chances, Loveisintheair has the upside to take care of this lot. Best Bet Race 2 – #4 Loveisintheair (2) 3yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Hugh Bowman (58kg) Next Best at Happy Valley: Casa Rochester Casa Rochester had no luck at this track and trip on March 19, sucking the air three wide without cover throughout the journey. The Redwood gelding was game in defeat, however, sticking on to finish within 2.5 lengths of Sunday’s Serenade, who got the saloon passage along the inside. Casa Rochester appears poised to turn the tables on some key challengers coming through that form line, and provided Hugh Bowman can slot in for cover, this guy must be considered the one to beat. Next Best Race 7 – #3 Casa Rochester (8) 4yo Gelding | T: Mark Newnham | J: Hugh Bowman (60kg) Best Value at Happy Valley: Casa Of Honor Formerly known as Perennial in Australia, Casa Of Honor looks primed to strike on his Hong Kong debut. He looked great in back-to-back trial wins leading into this and has always given the impression of a horse with above-average ability, claiming five wins and two minor placings across his eight starts before moving to the Michael Chang barn. Expect Matthew Poon to slide across from the widest gate (10), and if this guy has any luck, Casa Of Honor will give a bold sight at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 5 – #5 Casa Of Honor (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Michael Chang | J: Matthew Poon (57kg) Wednesday quaddie tips for Happy Valley Happy Valley quadrella selections April 9, 2025 1-3-6-9 1-3-4-5-8 1-2-9-10 3-4-5-7-8 Horse racing tips View the full article

The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA), which was created in 2023 by the state to oversee the rebuilding of the 'Home of the Preakness' at Pimlico, will be terminated as of June 30, according to an article published in the Maryland Daily Record Apr. 4 . The piece says that a provision tucked into the state budget bills during final negotiations put the authority on ice and shifts its responsibilities to the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Maryland Economic Development Corporation. As previously reported by the TDN, the MTROA was tasked with overseeing the transition of the industry from a heavily-subsidized but privately run sport into an entity that was intended to be managed by the state. The Stronach Group that owned Pimlico agreed to turn over the property to the state, which will soon embark on a massive, taxpayer-financed renovation once next month's Preakness is run. A state-created nonprofit that adopted the historic name Maryland Jockey Club took over the responsibility of running races in the state beginning in January, though no board was serving in an oversight capacity. The Daily Record article goes on to state that the MTROA–a volunteer panel led by attorney Greg Cross from the Venable law firm–was expected to officiate racing until 2029. However, it will end operations this summer, which the piece says will remove nearly $3.5 million in annual salary and operating costs from the state budget. The article relates that the change is not expected to have any impact on the state's renovation plans at Pimlico. Maryland House Ways and Means Chair Vanessa Atterbeary was quoted in the Daily Record as saying, “We just wanted some more oversight to be able to understand and know what's going on in real time, which wasn't happening.” Neither top lawmakers nor Gov. Wes Moore's office explained how–or why–the provision was inserted into the budget. In an Apr. 6 article published by The Baltimore Banner, State Senator Guy Guzzone, a Howard County Democrat who is chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, said, “There is a belief that we will get a lot better results and more accomplished by shifting some of the authority to some known entities, and that's what we're doing,” As for Greg Cross, he told The Banner that the timing was right because the MTROA had “almost totally completed” the tasks it had to accomplish. The post Maryland Nixes Authority Charged With Pimlico Rebuild appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Alalcance winning the Group 3 Chairman’s Quality. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) has attracted a capacity field of 20 on Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, where the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Alalcance is on the one-week backup after a dominant victory in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m). The daughter of Mastercraftsman holds the call at $2.50 with horse racing bookmakers as she looks to remain undefeated for the preparation, going in search of a four-straight victory and securing a maiden Group 1 triumph. Tim Clark will continue his association with the impressive five-year-old mare as the pair disengage from barrier 15. The James Cummings-trained Zardozi is on the second line of betting at as she returns to Sydney after finding the minor money behind Light Infantry Man in the Group 1 Australia Cup (2000m). She should relish stepping out to the 3200m for the first time since contesting the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in the spring and seemingly gets every chance to settle in the run after drawing barrier three, with Jamie Melham being replaced by Kerrin McEvoy. Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Duke De Sessa will carry top weight in this year’s Sydney Cup, however, he will be aided by drawing in barrier two after a grinding effort behind Dubai Honour in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m). The Lope De Vega gelding is the only other running holding single figures at the , with the trio of Arapaho, Circle Of Fire and River Of Stars yet to garner any support at the . The 2025 Sydney Cup is the feature staying contest of the autumn and is worth $2 million in prizemoney. Horse racing news View the full article

Via Sistina ridden by James McDonald takes out the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The time-honoured Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) is the headline act for Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with an outstanding field of 15 set to take their place in the weight-for-age classic. Last year’s runner-up, Via Sistina is looking to go one better in this year’s edition, with the Chris Waller-trained mare the firm $1.80 favourite with horse racing bookmakers after drawing barrier one. James McDonald returns to Australia and is set to be reunited with the daughter of Fastnet Rock in her quest to claim an astonishing eighth Group 1 victory since arriving in Australia. The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour appears to be the main danger at the as the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) winner drops back in trip after a dominant victory over the mile and a half. The seven-year-old gelding is undefeated in three starts down under and has drawn barrier 13 as ‘Aussie’ Tom Marquand gets legged aboard once again on Saturday. You can write your own ticket for every other runner listed at double-figure odds, including the two-time Group 1 winner Ceolwulf at after a gritty performance to claim the Group 2 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) on April 1. Last year’s Melbourne Cup favourite Buckaroo was the big winner post-barrier draw, with Tommy Berry set to gain the perfect run in transit from barrier three. The Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) winner did match motors with Via Sistina in the Group 1 Turnbull in the spring and is likely to have plenty of admirers at the . Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) winner Light Infantry Man represents good each-way value at , while Japanese raider Rousham Park brings some impressive international form lines into this year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The chances don’t end there, with Tom Kitten ($26) set to run on the one-week backup after a farcically run Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), while Vauban ($26) could be the fly in the ointment dropping back to 2000m. The 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes is one of four Group 1 races for Day 2 of The Championships. Horse racing news View the full article

The $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) was essentially over as soon as it started as La Cara bounced beautifully from her No. 2 post position, took command, and never looked back en route to victory by about a half-length at Keeneland April 7.View the full article

The $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) was essentially over as soon as it started as La Cara bounced beautifully from her No. 2 post position, took command, and never looked back en route to victory by about a half-length at Keeneland April 7.View the full article

Jockey Manny Franco had a banner day at Keeneland April 7, earning back-to-back stakes victories in the rescheduled $400,000 Lafayette Stakes aboard Colloquial and the $600,000 Transylvania Stakes (G3T) with Test Score.View the full article

Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis was once again to the fore in the sales ring this week, but this time at Inglis’ Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney. On Monday he went to A$1 million to secure lot 398, the Snitzel colt out of Group One performer Harlow Gold, from the draft of Glenlogan Park. His dam was a $200,000 New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale purchase and went on to win two races for trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, and was runner-up in the Gr.1 Victoria Oaks (2500m) and Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), and also placed in the Gr.3 Vanity Stakes (1400m). Ellis was impressed by the presence of the colt, and he was delighted to secure him for the seven-figure sum. “He’s an outstanding colt, classically stamped with all the qualities of his sire, Snitzel, and would have to be among the top colts I’ve seen on any sales grounds in the past 12 months,” Ellis said. “He’s really imposing, fills the eye, has great conformation, and we were absolutely delighted to be able to buy him. “He just looks a natural two-year-old, a big powerful boy, with the quality to be a Golden Slipper colt if everything went to plan. “He’ll be trained by Mark Walker at our stables at Cranbourne, and I know the team there will be very excited to have a colt of this quality to work with. “He’s a stunner and it’s hard not to be get ahead of ourselves, but he really does possess all the right attributes.” Ellis bought two other yearlings at the sale, including lot 209, the I Am Invincible filly out of stakes winner Talaria, for A$450,000, and lot 248, the Street Boss filly out of stakes winner Vienna Miss, for $180,000. View the full article

The stars in Sydney were all in alignment for Little Avondale Stud to celebrate a record auction result during the second session of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Sam and Catriona Williams’ Masterton nursery had high hopes on Monday for their son of Zoustar and Belluci Babe, a daughter of resident sire Per Incanto, and he surpassed all expectations. The dam is a three-quarter sister to Little Avondale graduate Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) whose timely emergence further boosted the profile of her first foal. Offered as Lot 297, the colt was eventually knocked down for A$1.7 million to Hong Kong interests to fittingly mark the stud’s 85th year of selling yearlings. “We were hoping to hit the seven-figure mark, but you can never expect to do it, you just hope you can,” Williams said. “The most expensive yearling we had previously sold was a Savabeel colt by the name of Addictive Nature for $775,000 and to sell a horse over $500,000 anywhere is pretty special.” Williams had a fair inkling before the Zoustar youngster graced the ring that he was going to push the boundaries. “We knew we had a special colt and timing is everything, Evaporate winning the Carbine Club (Gr.3, 1600m) two days beforehand when he franked the form of running second in The (NZB) Kiwi (1500m) was the best piece of advertising you can put on any colt or fillies’ page,” he said. “The colt is a grouse looking horse and his temperament is just to die for. He had over 200 parades and he did it in the same manner every time, he was phenomenal. “The staff did a spectacular job and they are very proud of their boy, as we all are.” The son of Zoustar is likely to remain in Australia before eventually making his way offshore. “The new owners were over from Hong Kong, and it looks like the horse will commence his racing through Liam Howley’s stable and then possibly further his career in Hong Kong with Douglas Whyte,” Williams said. “It was just a massive result and a few of the family have raced well in Hong Kong, Billion Win was a stakes winner and we sold Trillion Win who was the first foal out of Sound Lover and was stakes placed. “Cheeky was O’Reilly’s first ever $200,000 yearling and he went to Hong Kong and won eight, so a lot of the family have done well up there.” Little Avondale’s result in Sydney marked an anniversary year for the stud in spectacular fashion. “It’s very special and the Zoustar colt and Evaporate are direct descendants of Haggada from my grandmother’s first ever family and the yearlings she first sold 85 years ago,” Wiliams said. View the full article

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by Sue Finley and Dan Ross Few commercial sectors appear immune from the current administration's sweeping import tariffs, and that includes horse racing's biggest Saturday of the year, with Japan's participants in the GI Kentucky Derby potential targets of the trade war. Stressing a general air of uncertainty surrounding the tariff specifics, Matt Haug, general manager of International Racehorse Transport (IRT), said that, as he and his customs broker understood the situation, the Japanese-trained Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah) is exempt from any tariff being a U.S.-bred runner. For foreign-bred horses–like the Japanese-trained Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong)–they would be subject to a tariff, said Haug. However, these foreign-born runners would be eligible to import on a “Temporary Import Bond,” Haug added. “Technically there is not a deposit required, but rather a guarantor who is USA based. The horse must be exported out of the USA within one year. Once proper documents have been submitted to U.S. Customs, the bond will be closed out,” wrote Haug. If a Japanese runner hit the board, would their earnings also be subject to an additional tariff? According to Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), he does not believe a horse shipping in from another country would have to pay an additional tariff on purse earnings. “But there's a lot of uncertainty as to what qualifies as tariff and what doesn't. We've been having trouble getting answers from the administration itself. But once the tariffs go into effect, we'll have clarity at some point,” said Rooney. As to the Temporary Import Bond, that is based on the horse's value when they cross the U.S. border, said Rooney. A Japanese horse leaving the country after winning the Derby would not have to pay an extra bond, said Rooney, either based on a newly increased value, or on whatever part of the Derby purse they took home. “One of the parties involved will have to pay the bond. The bond is refundable upon exit of the country. So, whoever posts the bond will get it back. It's just a matter of one of the parties involved being willing to do that,” explained Rooney. “Customs really didn't get that far into the weeds as to how that value is established, and I know there's some thought that they might be simply treated as livestock. But if you have horses coming from Japan or the UAE for the Kentucky Derby, I think it would be harder to look at those horses as livestock,” he added. More broadly, horses imported for sale would pay a tariff based on their sales price, Rooney said, though the NTRA was hoping to alleviate that. “We have worked with Congressman [Andy] Barr's office to request an exception for horse sales, but that might be a very heavy lift. I wouldn't think that horse sales would be at the top of the list,” Rooney said. In these early days of the trade war, are the tariffs already causing connections to think twice about shipping to the U.S. to race? “Not so much to race,” said Haug. “But it will certainly have an impact on the importation of horses in general.” The post Will Tariffs Impact Japanese Participants in the Derby? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After riding East Avenue in his maiden victory last summer, jockey Luan Machado will ride the colt again in the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) following an injury to Tyler Gaffalione.View the full article

Jockey Jose Ortiz rode Owen Almighty in his maiden victory last summer. Now, he reunites with the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner in the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.View the full article

Trainer Lonnie Briley talks with BloodHorse's Sean Collins about Coal Battle after he trained at Churchill Downs ahead of the Kentucky Derby for the first time April 7.View the full article

The $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) was essentially over as soon as it started as La Cara bounced beautifully from her No. 2 post position, took command, and never looked back en route to victory by about a half-length at Keeneland April 7.View the full article

While eight horses tied for the fastest furlong of :9 4/5, a filly from the first crop of Grade I winner Yaupon (hip 181) distinguished herself with a bullet quarter-mile breeze in :20 2/5 during the second session of the under-tack preview ahead of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Monday in Central Florida. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, hip 181 is out of Moon Over Mag Bay (Malibu Moon), a daughter of stakes winner Believe in Charlie (Indian Charlie). “She's just naturally fast,” McCrocklin said of the filly. “Typically when I get here, there are no surprises. You kind of know who is fast and who is not. But the interesting thing is, she kind of did a little zig-zag when she switched leads in the stretch, like she saw something, so I think she could have actually gone faster. Her gallop-out was really science fiction–:31 and change and :45 flat.” McCrocklin purchased the filly for $62,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale. “She looked athletic and she had a great walk,” McCrocklin said of the filly's appeal last summer. “I am pretty happy with the purchase right now.” The first yearlings by Yaupon (Uncle Mo), winner of the 2021 GI Forego Stakes, were popular in the sales ring last summer and fall, with 118 selling for an average of $169,830–good for fourth among U.S.-based first-crop sires. “I have three [by Yaupon] and I wish I had more,” McCrocklin said. “They have been really, really athletic, very classy. They just act like they can run.” David McKathan and Jody Mihalic's Grassroots Training and Sales, which sent out one of three juveniles to share the furlong bullet during Sunday's first under-tack session, sent out four of the eight to set that bullet :9 4/5 mark Monday. The quartet was led off by hip 279, a filly by Temple City out of Possession of War (Midnight Lute); and included hip 234, a daughter of Authentic out of multiple stakes-placed Onebrethatatime (Brethren); hip 239, a filly by Army Mule out of Our Irish Lassie's (Yes It's True); and hip 332, a colt by freshman sire Leinster, whose first starter was a winner at Keeneland Sunday. The chestnut is out of Renovation (Alternation). Also sharing the furlong bullet Monday: hip 190, a daughter of Curlin out of stakes-placed Motivated Seller (Into Mischief) consigned by de Meric Sales; hip 244, a colt by Maximus Mischief out of Overly Indulgent (Pleasantly Perfect) consigned by Cardozo's Brothers; hip 250, a filly by Munnings out of Palmilla Moon (Malibu Moon) consigned by Kings Equine; and hip 329, a filly by Not This Time out of Remarqued (Arch) consigned by Niall Brennan Stables. McCrocklin said he felt conditions at the breeze show seemed to improve Monday after the opening session Sunday. “I found the track [Sunday] to be very difficult,” he said. “I can't really put my finger on it, but I texted with Suzanne Smallwood with Equix and she was of the same opinion. She said horses were just kind of getting stuck in it–she used this biometric terminology, they couldn't launch behind. I thought it was better today. We had a crazy wind here today, it's kind of a diagonal crosswind out of the south, but we have seen some fast times today with my filly, obviously, being one of them. It seemed faster today, I thought.” The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning each day at 8 a.m. The Spring sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday with bidding starting at 10:30 a.m. The post ‘Naturally Fast:’ Yaupon Filly Flies Quarter-Mile at OBS Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Merlin’s horror run of draws continued in the $100,000 Dawson Harford Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The Race by betcha third placegetter is the biggest name backing up from the $1million slot race in this Friday’s mile but has copped the outside of the front line. That comes after he drew wide in the big race last Friday and the second line in the Flying Mile at Cambridge the week before. He even drew wide in the free-for-all he was entered for, but didn’t start in, at Menangle last month so has copped four bad draws in a row. The good news for him is many of the really big names including Leap To Fame, runner-up Chase A Dream and fourth-placed Don Hugo don’t back up this week, leaving Republican Party as the other recent Group 1 winner in the field. Earlier in the night his stablemate Meant To Be returns in the $75,000 NZBS Harness Millions Trot for his first start as a three-year-old. Despite the wide draw Merlin is still a $1.85 favourite, with Mo’unga next at $3.40. The $60,000 Lone Star Lyell Creek is a case of thank goodness for the ex-Aussies and the Hopes as they make up the whole six horse field. The Hopes have half the field for the 2200m mobile with Muscle Mountain, Midnight Dash and Mr Love up against Not As Promised, Queen Elida and former Aussie trotter Kyvalley Hotspur. To see the Auckland fields for Friday night click here View the full article

By Brigette Solomon Benjamin Butcher is looking forward to today’s Manawatu meeting where his two runners back up after a successful day on Sunday. I Can Too scored his maiden victory, in the Wendy Devenport Stables Mobile Pace, with father David Butcher driving while Benjamin was third with and Hearts N Aces just a length behind. “They both went good on Sunday, it was their first time away and they handled it well and did everything right in the race,” said Butcher, “I thought Hearts N Aces might have finished a bit closer but I’d had to go pretty wide to avoid one galloping in front of me around the 400 metre mark, so he did well to battle on.” The race was run at a cracking pace with the Doody trained runner Jetasi, driven by Crystal Hackett, determined to lead over Enzo who did not hand up lightly. This resulted in the field being strung out some eight lengths from the leaders initially, with both of Butcher’s horses enjoying cover as they made up ground. Down the back straight on the final occasion, Hearts N Aces made a move three wide, while I Can Too managed to find a run one off the fence, and in doing so avoided the galloping Enzo who veered outwards inconveniencing Hearts N Aces who was forced wide. Both the Butcher trained horses battled on solidly, taking ground off the leaders with I Can Too getting his head in front of La Miki right on the line to win by a nose. “They’re both good doing horses who eat well so they seem to have come through the race fine and hopefully they handle backing up today,” says Butcher. I Can Too, driven today by Benjamin, starts in the Mister D G Mobile Pace over 2000 metres from barrier eight. “I think he will go another good race today,” said Butcher, “while the draw is ok, I’ll be hoping he can do enough to hold the back of the one horse otherwise he could be at risk of getting shuffled back a bit too far.” The ones to beat look to be Dixieland Delight (3) trained by Scott Dickson, and the Michael House trained Matai Harry (7). Both horses finished second in their respective races on Sunday and have been successful on the Manawatu track. Hearts N Aces will look to claim a maiden win in the Braig Mobile Pace where he starts from barrier three. “I think he’ll go ok again today, I’ll be driving him cold as that seems to be what works best for him and given some luck he shouldn’t be too far away.” Alongside his own trained runners Butcher also drives Trippy Tyron – R1, Blue Chip Lou – R3, and The Elite Athlete – R5. Race one kicks off today at 4.14pm. View the full article

In the final GI Kentucky Oaks prep of the year, Tracy Farmer's homebred La Cara (f, 3, Street Sense–Cara Caterina, by Bernardini) won the rescheduled GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. Runaway winner of the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa before finishing second in the GII Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Mar. 1, La Cara emerged from the Ashland's early fray with the lead and never let it go. She set early fractions of :23.19 and :47.23 while race favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma (Munnings) saved ground midpack on the inside. La Cara kicked clear on the turn as Muhimma advanced to second, but there was no catching the winner as she sailed for home. Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) passed Muhimma late for the runner-up spot. Trainer Mark Casse brings a formidable duo to Churchill Downs, as he also trains GI Arkansas Derby winner Sandman (Tapit). Casse said immediately following the Ashland that La Cara loves Churchill, where the filly won the GIII Pocahantas Stakes last September. The Ashland awarded Oaks points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale. O/B-Tracy Farmer; T-Mark Casse; J-Dylan Davis. #2 LA CARA ($20.16) goes gate-to-wire under @DavisJockey to win the $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) at @keenelandracing and earn 100 points towards the Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Street Sense (@DarleyAmerica) is trained by @markecasse. pic.twitter.com/LGSjzrjnch — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 7, 2025 The post Street Sense’s La Cara Wins Keeneland’s Ashland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article