Wandering Eyes

Australian handler confirms Ramadan is not ready for the first leg of the four-year-old series, but My Wish and Talents Ambition are heading that way.View the full article

World Pool will be introduced to New Zealand in Saturday’s Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie. Photo: Nicole Troost The Karaka Millions twilight meeting on Saturday is shaping to be another exciting spectacle for punters, and adding more excitement to the mix is the introduction of World Pool to the iconic event. The presence of World Pool will bring eyes from 25 racing jurisdictions around the world to Ellerslie on Saturday for three races – the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m), Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and Karaka Millions 3YO (1200m) – and will provide much larger pools for New Zealand’s TAB customers to bet into. Cameron Rodger, managing director of Entain NZ, said the presence of World Pool at Ellerslie this weekend is a massive coup for the New Zealand racing industry, and he is heartened by the support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, who power World Pool. “World Pool is a concept from the Hong Kong Jockey Club where they bring together various tote pools from 25 jurisdictions around the world into one single pool,” Rodger said. “Usually, punters here are betting into a pool that is New Zealand and maybe a bit of Australian money. On Karaka Millions night, for those World Pool races there is going to be the ability to bet into the same pool as 25 other jurisdictions around the world. That will increase the liquidity and amount of money in there and give better stability to punters. “It’s massive, just not for the punter, who get access to the liquidity, but I think it is a vote of confidence for the state of New Zealand racing. World Pool doesn’t go anywhere unless there is quality racing.” The transfer of the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) from its traditional New Year’s Day timeslot to the Karaka Millions meeting was instrumental in bringing World Pool to New Zealand. “A pre-requisite is to have a Group One on the card, so the Railway move was really important to ticking that box,” Rodger said. “It is not just enough to have a Group One on the card, it has to be enough of a spectacle and to a standard that they (Hong Kong Jockey Club) think meets the requirements.” Prior to Ellerslie on Saturday, World Pool will head to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Friday where there will be a distinct New Zealand flavour, with expat Kiwi hoop James McDonald set to ride Hong Kong hero Romantic Warrior in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge (1900m). “It is a shame for us in some ways because if he (McDonald) wasn’t booked to ride Romantic Warrior I suspect he would have been down here again (to ride at the Karaka Millions meeting),” Rodger said. “It is pretty amazing to have a Kiwi out there doing what he is doing. It is a great teaser for us for the races the next day.” The Karaka Millions meeting will be the first of two World Pool meetings in New Zealand, with the second taking place on the newly created Champions Day on March 8, also at Ellerslie. “To have not just those three races on Karaka Millions night but also Champions Day now locked in as well, I think it is a big vote of confidence for where racing is at currently in New Zealand, it’s very exciting,” Rodger said. Horse racing news View the full article

Ndola. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Lindsay Park Racing is optimistic about the upcoming autumn campaign of their Justify colt Ndola, who is set to begin in Saturday’s Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Sandown. The three-year-old was initially slated for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last October but didn’t make it to the prestigious Group 1 event. Trainers Ben, Will, and JD Hayes are hopeful that Ndola can make up for that absence by aiming for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1. A three-time winner from five starts, Ndola prepped for Saturday’s Group 3 race with a jump-out at Werribee on Friday, where he finished strongly in second over 800 metres. “That was his first jump-out for the prep, he’s a very naturally fit horse, very happy with him through the line,” Ben Hayes told Racing.com. “Looking forward to him getting to the track, he’s a horse that we have a high opinion of. “Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to get to the race (Caulfield Guineas) but we backed off and we’ve given him a good break and he’s filled out into his big frame and he’ll hopefully be on an Australian Guineas path. “If he pulls up well, we’ll probably kick him off in the Manfred.” Ndola is currently a $7 hope for the Manfred Stakes with horse racing bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article

Powers Of Opal. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au John Sargent acknowledges that Powers Of Opal was beaten fair and square by Treasurethe Moment during last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, but the Randwick-based trainer remains hopeful of getting the better of that rival in the upcoming autumn. Sargent is eager to have another go at the Matt Laurie-trained filly, who forced Powers Of Opal into second place in both the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m). Powers Of Opal is approaching her trial stage and is set for a campaign focused on the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 29, followed by the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick two weeks later. “We’ll be on our home track (in the ATC Oaks), we’ve raced up here and we won’t have to travel, so that will all be a big help,” Sargent said. “Let’s hope she can turn around the seconds into wins and the Victorian filly that beat her comes up.” Powers Of Opal will have a couple of trials before targeting the three-year-old fillies’ races. “She had about four weeks out. I couldn’t give her much longer because it’s a quick turnaround after you run down there in the Oaks. You’re better to have them back here in work in case something goes wrong and you’ve got a bit of residual fitness in them,” Sargent added. Powers Of Opal is currently a $7 equal favourite with Neds for the ATC Oaks alongside Treasurethe Moment. Horse racing news View the full article

Price Tag. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Trainer Sam Freedman is confident that Price Tag can make an impact this Saturday when she resumes in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Fillies’ Preview (1000m) at Sandown. The $250,000 race has been relocated to the Sandown Lakeside course due to Caulfield being out of action. This will be the filly’s first start away from Flemington after finishing third in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) and fourth in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) last spring. Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, believes the change in venue will be beneficial for the Zoustar filly. “She was very green, she didn’t know a lot and was running down the straight,” Freedman said. “Both times she was wayward, looking for a rail or a bend. “We’ve noticed she’s been better out of the barriers this preparation, she’s taken a forward position and I think around a bend she’s going to be much more effective.” Price Tag, a half-sister to the $2.8 million Snitzel colt from the recent Magic Millions Yearling Sale, has shown good form in her preparation. She won a 700-metre jump-out at Mornington on New Year’s Eve and followed up with a narrow second-place finish over 800 metres at the Caulfield Heath track last Wednesday. The Blue Diamond Fillies’ Preview will serve as the first step towards the $2 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22. Freedman added, “She’s strengthened right up, but is carrying good condition, so she’ll improve with every run.” Horse racing news View the full article

KTA/KTOB in a Jan. 20 statement said live racing and alternative forms of gaming can create a business climate that benefits all constituents if managed properly. "Decoupling is not it," said executive director Chauncey Morris.View the full article

HRNZ has decided on the 26 May as the implementation date for new regulations on Handicapping, Programming and Ratings. This revised date was selected for two reasons. Firstly, to release everything at once. Secondly, to cause minimal disruption to planned race series in the autumn (for which conditions have been set), and to avoid significant races from now until then. The regulations will be in three parts: a. Part A – The Rating System. The major IT work for this has been completed. b. Part B – Updated Handicapping Regulation, including programming, and relevant rules where needed; and c. Part C – Update process for nominations, acceptances, scratchings etc. The draft of these regulations will be uploaded to this website in early February. We will provide a question-and-answer responses, and trainers and owners will be able to ask FURTHER questions on implementation. The core of these changes can be found in the Utilisation Reference’s Group’s Second Report that was endorsed by the Board in September 2024. You can read it here The National Racing Bureau is also expected to be operational by that date, with a launch expected on April 7. View the full article

These six horses have trialed pleasingly in recent weeks and this week they head back to the racetrack. Words (4m Downbytheseaside – Premier Crus) Tr. G Shirley As yet unraced but qualified back in August 2024, won a Pukekohe workout (16/1/25) after trailing in 5 horse heat then dashing along the inside to grab the win in impressive fashion MR:2:05.8, 800m in 59.3, 400m in 27.4 Noted its won another 3 workouts last year and now finally makes a long awaited debut at Cambridge this Friday night and has secured a handy draw over the 1700m in Race 2 Dam by Bettor’s Delight owned by Woodlands Stud and this is her first foal. This mare has some breeding to recommend as a potential racehorse. Auctioneer (4g Orlando Vici – Nia) Tr. T Mitchell Cambridge workout winner (11/1/25), settled last of 7 before putting in a big run 500m out 3 wide and swept to the front soon after, holding on for a gritty win. MR:2:06.0, 800m in 59.7, 400m inn 28.4 Interestingly, bred to trot (same sire as Just Believe) but has won a race pacing (at Cambridge) & gets into a small field this Friday on the same course in Race 3. Natural improver from his last start 7th (17/1/25) which was his first raceday start for near on 6 months, his odds could be quite juicy. Midnight Miki (3g Always B Miki – Weownthenight) Tr. M & N Purdon Freshened after winning his 2yo bonus in October in a 1:56MR at only his 4th start and trialled very nicely at Rangiora (15/1/25) when a close up 4th against some highly credentialed opposition. MR:2:00.6, 800m in 55.5, 400m in 27.3. Sat parked on that occasion and wasn’t extended to get right in the photo at the finish. Preferential draw snares him the inside draw at Addington this Friday (Race 2) and a likely improver from his trials effort. Full brother to Breeders Crown winner Kiss (6 wins + $183k to date) and held in some regard by a leading stable. High Step (4m Father Patrick – High Gait) Tr. R Butt Freshened since last racing in December and trialled stylishly at Rangiora (15/1/25) running 2nd in a 3 horse heat without being asked for a real effort. MR:2:07.4, 800m in 57.9 The winner of 5 races to date and respectable when chasing Keayang Sahara around in the NZ trotting Oaks Cops the pole at Addington on Friday night (Race 3) and looks a revitalised horse since going to the beach at Woodend Ruby Roe (4m Captaintreacherous – Arden Caviar) Tr. N Williamson Back at the Wyndham workouts (17/1/25) and after settling 7th of 8 in indian file, improved in the open from the 600m & not extended to get within a neck of the pacemaking winner. MR:2:02.9, 800m in 56.8 Treks north to Addington this week to take on the best mares in Race 7 and although drawn the 2nd line, the southern mare should not be underestimated. Has won 5 from just 14 starts and most times races in the best company Gem’s Delight (9m Bettor’s Delight – Pocket The Gem ) Tr. B Norman Eyecatching run in the same heat as Ruby Roe (above), came from 4 deep at the 400m & put plenty of dash into her finish to claim 3rd No ‘spring chicken’ but heads to Forbury Park on Wednesday, Race 2 and the country’s top reinsman Blair Orange hops on. Only had the 18 career starts and based on her workout effort she should prove competitive in an open line up. Punters note this meeting being run at Oamaru (all weather) View the full article

By Brigette Solomon Ohaupo based trainer Jason Teaz starts three runners today at Otaki’s grass track meeting and is hoping that with a bit of luck they can feature amongst the placings. Teaz heads into the meeting fresh off the back of a winning double on Sunday, with both Major Break and Veronica Jane winning their respective races. Today Major Break starts in the Grant Plumbing Ltd Otaki Cup Mobile Pace, while Veronica Jane steps out in the Bebbington Country Cup Handicap Trot. “They both won well on Sunday but they’re significantly up in grade today and will find it tougher” said Teaz “But I’m heartened that Peter Ferguson has elected to stick with them and drive them again today.” Major Break’s scored her second career win on Sunday with the mare leading from start to finish to win by a neck over the fast finishing Sweet Spirit. In today’s feature pace, the Art Major mare starts from barrier six, with plenty of speed drawn inside her. “She’s jumped up in grade quite a bit in today’s race but she likes the grass and is racing tough at the moment” says Teaz “I think Lord Delmar will likely lead and from our draw we may get left hanging but she’s a good place chance and a few of her owners are locals here so it’s great for them to have one running in the cup and that they got a win with her on day one.” In the Bebbington Country Cup Handicap Trot, Veronica Jane starts off a ten metre handicap and is easily the least experienced horse in the field having only had six race day starts. In three of those starts she got things wrong, with the remaining three starts yielding two wins. Her victory on day one of Otaki’s meeting was well fought, when after a conservative trip sitting four back on the fence, she took the passing lane to hit the front half way up the straight before being tackled stride for stride by Trippy Tyron, finally drawing ahead in the final strides to win by half a length. “She won really well on Sunday, but it would have been nice for her to have run a few more placings along the way to get some more race experience before having to start in this grade” says Teaz “In saying that she’s competitive enough, and they went a few seconds quicker in her race than the open trot.” “I don’t think the extra distance over 2700 metres today will worry her, she’ll go all day and tries pretty hard but maybe lacks a little speed” says Teaz “provided she gets away from the start ok we’ll be looking to drive her similar to Sunday and sit quietly and just have one run at them.” “She has a bit more to learn yet, but we’re here so may as well have a crack and this trip away will really do her good.” Alongside his Country Cup runners, Teaz also starts Hawthornden Beach (8) in the Tall Poppy Real Estate Otaki Mobile Pace. “It was a steep learning curve for her having her first start on Sunday and she got things wrong, but we’ve pulled her hopples up and she is capable of better so hopefully we see that today.” The Racing action at Otaki gets underway today at 3.42pm. View the full article

Group One power has fuelled Cambridge Stud’s 42-strong Book 1 draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. The farm’s proven stallion duo of Almanzor and Hello Youmzain and exciting younger associate Sword Of State dominate the Karaka consignment. “It’s a reflection of us backing our own with this foal crop, a representation of our own stallions and we’ve got the utmost confidence in them,” Head of Sales and Nominations Scott Calder said. “We were happy to support them heavily and now we’re very happy with the horses we’ve got to take to the market.” With recent graduates including Australian Group One stars Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) and El Castello (Castelvecchio), spirits at Cambridge Stud are high and further boosted off track by the hot reception Sword Of State’s first youngsters have received. “His progeny sold above expectations at the Gold Coast off a $15,000 fee and the returns were exceptionally good,” Calder said. That trend is expected to continue for Snitzel’s son Sword Of State at Karaka. “Lot 628 is out of a stakes winning two-year-old (Fuld’s Bet) by I Am Invincible so he fits the mould of a really precocious colt,” Calder said. “Lot 225 is the first foal out of a stakes performed mare (Pullyoursocksup) and it’s a successful Windsor Park family and the dam is a sister to Prince Mambo who ran second in the Manawatu Sures’ Produce (G1, 1400m) so there is precocity in the family.” Almanzor’s stocks continue to rise and cementing his position among the leading stallions. “For me, the benchmark of a good stallion is that five per cent stakes winners to runners and he’s running at six per cent in the Southern Hemisphere,” Calder said. “He compares very favourably with the very best stallions here and in Australia. This crop is his first conceived at a higher fee and out of higher calibre mares.” Calder said their draft featured an outstanding line of Almanzor fillies with rich three-year-old Classic potential. “Lots 37, 273 and 421 are all top quality and Lot 474 is out of Bavella and that family has been so good for us in the last few years,” he said. “This filly is out of a stakes-winning two-year-old by Snitzel and we’ve got her half-sister Vernazza, a Group Two winning juvenile, and half-brother Pinarello won the Queensland Derby (Gr.1, 2400m). “Of the colts, two to put a circle around is the one (Lot 26) out of It’s Our Showtime and a brother to Geriatrix who was a beautiful yearling, and this horse is an imposing colt. “The colt out of Egyptian Cross (Lot 574) is a half-brother to Red Sea who was a Group One-performed two-year-old last season.” Hello Youmzain has made a top impression in Europe and there’s an abundance of confidence in his Southern Hemisphere prospects. “He couldn’t have done anymore, the results from his French crop have been very encouraging with 20 first crop winners and two Group winners and one a Group One performer,” Calder said. “It’s encouraging and from a brief glimpse in the Southern Hemisphere we’ve seen Remala an impressive Boxing Day winner and Hello Romeo is here for the Karaka Millions,” Calder said. Among Hello Youmzain’s leading Karaka contenders is a filly whose pedigree features the multiple Australian Group One winner Regal Power. “Lot 401 out of Western Belle is one of those really successful Bob Peters families and this filly is the best one we’ve bred out of the mare,” Calder said. “Of the colts, Lot 280 is out of the imported mare Semillon and he’s a very athletic horse who looks more of a three-year-old type. “Hello Youmzain’s best horse in Europe is Misunderstood who won a Group Three over a mile and he’s out of a stout family and I think Hello Youmzain will get some lovely middle-distance horses,” Calder said. “All in all, we’re really excited about the sale with some really nice horses to present and there’s plenty to be excited about on the local racing scene with the prize money levels. “We’re in a more fortunate position than we’ve been in for a long time.” View the full article

The first half a decade of Bourbon Lane Stable’s expansion into New Zealand has exceeded even the most optimistic predictions of the American investors. The group has celebrated a long line of successes with the likes of Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) placegetter Bourbonaire (NZ) (Darci Brahma), Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) winner Bourbon Empress and fellow stakes winners To Cap It All, Super Photon and Glamour Tycoon. At the same time, the New Zealand thoroughbred landscape that they are becoming a major part of has undergone a revitalisation and significant prize-money boost. “It’s all gone 100 percent the right way since we decided to get involved in New Zealand,” said bloodstock agent Mike McMahon, who manages Bourbon Lane in partnership with his co-founder Jamie Hill. The pair have become familiar names on the New Zealand scene, along with their major client and investor Dennis Foster. “You could name 10 changes that have happened in the last few years that have taken things to a new level that we could never have really imagined. We’ve seen all those racing and prize-money improvements, the course at Ellerslie, the introduction of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), the list goes on and on. It really couldn’t have been a better scenario for us.” Bourbon Lane was established in the United States in 2010 and quickly became a notable player in American racing, prompting the partners to look offshore. “We’d been doing partnerships in the United States for a number of years, and in 2018 a lot of our competitors started offering a southern hemisphere option to their customers,” McMahon said. “We actually tried South Africa first, and we were lucky enough to have a graded stakes winner there, but we eventually decided that New Zealand would be a better option. NZB really reached out to us and were very helpful in getting us established. Their North American representative Joe Miller, along with Danny Rolston who was there at the time, went above and beyond and could not have been more helpful. “So NZB played a big part in dragging us into New Zealand, and Dennis Foster has a daughter living there as well, so it made a lot of sense.” The Bourbon Lane partnership teamed up with leading Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, and they made their New Zealand sale-ring debut at Karaka 2019. They bought four yearlings at that sale for a total of $375,000. Mega Bourbon won three races, All Black Bourbon was a winner, and Sacred Bourbon placed twice. But the big success story from that first Karaka intake was Bourbonaire. The son of Darci Brahma was a $120,000 purchase from the draft of Little Avondale Stud, and his five New Zealand starts produced a debut victory at Matamata and second placings in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m). Bourbonaire earned $119,900 and was subsequently sold to Hong Kong, where he won another two races and banked HK$7.3 million (NZ$1.67 million). “Bourbonaire was our very first horse, so the success that we had with him was extraordinary,” McMahon said. “We owned a big majority share in him, with Stephen Marsh himself having a small share alongside us. So it gave us the best possible start in New Zealand. “And he was one of a couple of good sales that we’ve been able to do with Hong Kong. That’s a way of really greasing the wheel. “Hong Kong seems to like the New Zealand breed better than just about any other in the world, which is definitely an attraction and adds to our options. The New Zealand breeders are really honed in on that market as well.” Bourbon Empress winning the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Bourbonaire was far from being simply a stroke of beginner’s luck. Bourbon Lane’s firepower has only grown since, which is illustrated by a remarkable start to 2025. Their $80,000 Karaka 2022 purchase Bourbon Empress (NZ) (Proisir) won the $270,000 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, followed by highly rated two-year-old fillies Tale Of The Gypsy and To Cap It All making winning debuts at Te Aroha on January 4 and in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) at Trentham a week later. Those recent successes all came from fillies and mares who are adding real broodmare value to their CVs. While breeding is not currently on the radar for Bourbon Lane in New Zealand, it is an option they are keeping open for the future. “We haven’t been active in the breeding space yet in New Zealand, although we are in the United States,” McMahon said. “So far, we’ve been sellers in New Zealand. Stephen ‘the knife’ Marsh has had a tendency of gelding our colts! “But we have built some relationships with stallion farms and studs. I hope that we might be able to move into that space in the future if we have the right horse to do so.” In the meantime, the Bourbon Lane team is focusing squarely on the rich Karaka Millions twilight meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday. Bourbon Empress is set to carry their colours in the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), while last-start winner and proven black-type performer Bourbon Proof (Justify) contests the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). Last month’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) placegetter She’s Untouchable (Capitalist) is being pointed towards the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m). Last-start winner Bourbon Proof will contest the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) Photo: Kenton Wright “We are loaded right now and have a number of exciting horses aiming for that Karaka Millions night,” McMahon said. “We’re in great shape with a lot of great partners, a fantastic team set up around us, and a very good trainer and bloodstock agent. “We try to find the types of horses that Jamie and I like and have had success with in the past, and it seems to be paying off. “The Karaka sale is absolutely top-drawer. The team at NZB do a fantastic job and really streamline it for people outside the country. They are an amazing company, and that shows in the fact that the consignors are happy to take their top-quality yearlings there and do all of the incredible hospitality that they do. The standard is really set from the top down. “We always have a very enjoyable time at Karaka, and I’m hoping that we’ll keep on coming down there every year for the next 20 or so years. “We almost always have around 10 of our owners with us at Karaka. We all missed it during the Covid years – it’s just not the same when you’re on the other side of the world and just have your catalogue and a computer screen. “We like to get out there and get our hands dirty around the sale grounds, getting a real feel for the horses and the crew that they all have around them. “Our partners love to travel and are looking forward to doing that again this week. We’ll have a big team there to see our horses run on Karaka Millions night.” Another unexpected development is the partnership between New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and the Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park racecourses in the United States. The collaboration was announced earlier this month and connects New Zealand’s new Champions Day race meeting in March with the rich Pegasus World Cup and California Crown. Winners of Gulfstream’s Gr.1 Pegasus World Cup Turf (1800m) and Gr.2 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (1600m) earn ballot-free entry into the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) respectively, while the winners of the Rich Hill Stud Middle Distance Series and Sport Nation Champion Sprint Series are offered golden tickets into the Gr.1 California Crown John Henry Turf (2000m) and Gr.2 California Crown Eddie D Turf Sprint (1300m). Travel and freight costs are also covered for golden ticket-winning horses that travel internationally to compete. “That’s another one of those 10 things in New Zealand racing that we could never have expected,” McMahon said. “Taking our New Zealand horses to the United States and vice versa has never been in our game plan, but who knows? Having the travel costs covered to go and compete for such big money certainly has some appeal. “But the downside of that is that you might travel all of that way and take a beating, and then you’ve put your horse off its calendar and have nothing to show for it. So it’s a risk. “There’s big money right around the international thoroughbred scene at the moment, whether it’s in the UAE, Saudi Arabia or even Australia, where we haven’t had many runners yet. It’s an exciting time and there’s a lot of opportunities available around the world.” View the full article

Rigney Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) breezed an easy five-eighths of a mile in 1:03 1/5 Monday morning at the Fair Grounds as he continues towards his seasonal comebacker in the GII Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15. “Mother Nature has dealt us a few different tracks (conditions-wise) the last couple of days so I was happy with the work,” trainer Phil Bauer said. “I wasn't too concerned about the final time. The gallop out was very good. We are still pointing to the Risen Star as our starting point this year.” Named a 'Rising Star' off a 4 1/4-length debut success at Saratoga last August, the $290,000 Keeneland September yearling validated the decision with a front-running, 2 3/4-length score in the GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Sept. 14. A mostly even seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 1, the Ohio-bred most recently ran home nicely to round out the exacta underneath Godolphin's First Resort (Uncle Mo) in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 30. In the Risen Star, Jonathan's Way is likely to face another Godolphin runner, GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity hero and fellow 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro), who will make his first start since stumbling very badly at the start of the Juvenile and finishing ninth as the 9-5 favorite. The post Jonathan’s Way Takes Another Step Towards Risen Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Barnes, the 6-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3, worked four furlongs in :48 3/5. Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Straight No Chaser worked a bullet five furlongs Jan. 20.View the full article

Despite being one of the most successful Louisiana-breds in history, a graded stakes victory has remained elusive for Free Like a Girl. She aims to check that box Jan. 25 in the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park.View the full article

Due to the extreme weather conditions that are expected the next couple of days, the nine-race Fair Grounds program scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23, will be moved to Monday, Jan. 27. View the full article

Rocket Can seeks to add another grade 3 victory to his resume in the Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. He will have to face Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) runner-up and last year's winner of the Fred W. Hooper, Tumbarumba. View the full article

Jerome Hoban has stepped down from both chairmanship of the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) and the board itself, according to a short resignation letter to CARF executive director Larry Swartzlander, dated last Thursday. In response, the CARF board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to elect a new chairman, according to an email Swartzlander subsequently sent to CARF members. “With Jerome's resignation there will also be a board position open. This will not be addressed at the Tuesday meeting,” the email states. “The Tuesday Meeting will also discuss the vice chair position.” The resignation of Hoban, who is CEO of the Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton, has come at a critical moment for Northern California's summer fair circuit, and by extension, for California's broader racing and breeding industry. In the middle of December, the CARF board voted unanimously to rescind a proposed Golden State Racing (GSR) meet spanning the first half of this year, due to much lower than anticipated revenues generated from the GSR meet that ran at Pleasanton between October and December. The purse overpayment at the end of the meet was around $800,000. Thoroughbreds are currently stabled at Pleasanton and being shipped south, as part of a stabling and training agreement with the industry's Southern California interests to provide Northern Californian-based horsemen and women opportunities to run at Santa Anita. However, that agreement currently guarantees stabling at the facility only until Mar. 25. CARF and the Alameda County Fair have “the sole and exclusive right to extend” the agreement to June 10 “by providing written notice no later than Feb. 25, provided there are 500 or more horses stabled at Pleasanton at that time,” according to a statement issued bt Santa Anita on behalf of the Southern California stabling and vanning committee earlier this month. If the agreement isn't extended, that could throw a major wrench into the viability of Northern California's fair circuit, the dates for which have yet to be formally issued. The post Hoban Steps Down From CARF Chair At Critical Moment For Board appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zedan Racing's Barnes (Into Mischief), perfect in his two career trips to the post, and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) each returned to the worktab at the 'Great RIP' Monday morning. They were joined by their Grade III-winning stablemate Getaway Car (Curlin). Barnes, who defeated recent GIII Lecomte Stakes third Innovator (Authentic) by a head on Churchill debut Nov. 27 , worked a half-mile in :48.60 (16/69), his first breeze since romping by 5 1/2 lengths in the GII San Vicente Stakes Jan. 4. Barnes closed as the 6-1 favorites among the individual betting interests in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) that closed this past weekend. Rodriguez, a well-beaten second behind future San Vicente runner-up Romanesque (Practical Joke) on Del Mar debut in late November, drilled a group of maidens by seven lengths going a mile on the San Vicente undercard, for which he received a revised Beyer of 101. The $485,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase covered his half-mile in :47.60 (3/69) in the company of GIII Best Pal Stakes hero and GI American Pharoah Stakes second Getaway Car, who was assigned the same time. Here are the closing odds for other Santa Anita-based 3-year-olds who were part of the individual betting interests in the KDFW: Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), 17-1; Journalism (Curlin), 20-1; Rodriguez, 22-1; Gaming (Game Winner), 47-1; San Saba (Justify), 44-1; Madaket Road (Quality Road), 47-1; 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (Gun Runner), 76-1; Romanesque, 79-1; Varney (Vekoma), 80-1; Getaway Car, 83-1. Gaming is entered for Saturday's GII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park and Citizen Bull is scheduled to make his 3-year-old bow in the GII Robert B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 1. Journalism has not breezed since winning the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in December. Also working at Santa Anita on Monday was GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and Eclipse Award finalist Straight No Chaser (Speighster), who fired a bullet five furlongs in :59.20 (1/38) in preparation for the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 22. The post Baffert Sophomores Return To Santa Anita Worktab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mansfield Racing's 3-year-old daughter of Too Much Bling won or placed six times in seven starts in 2024 and earned more than $178,000.View the full article

Ascot, Goodwood, and York have unveiled a lucrative bonus scheme aimed at encouraging the participation of high-class runners from outside Europe in three of Britain's biggest all-age races across July and August.View the full article

1/ST and Goodwood Racecourse announced an initiative that will see a reciprocal partnership between 1/ST-owned racecourses in North America and Goodwood Racecourse in the United Kingdom.View the full article

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) is the latest organization to come out in opposition to the recent decoupling proposal in the state of Florida that could result in the cessation of racing at Gulfstream Park. At one point in time, Florida mandated that its racetrack conduct live racing operations in order to run a casino. Since those original regulations were eased, many tracks have suspended racing while continuing to run a casino. As the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association did on Jan. 9, officials at the KTA also issued a statement against the notion of decoupling on Jan. 20. The statement reads: “Tracks and horsemen can forge a common and successful business strategy that need not be adversarial. Such collaboration brings dividends in Washington, Frankfort, Albany, or Tallahassee. Racing in the twenty-first century has shown it is a responsible custodian of alternative forms of gaming and attract billions of dollars of investment equally, to the betterment of our constituents, corporate profit, and tax revenue. We in Kentucky know what it looks like. 'Decoupling' is not it.” While the KTA does have members in Florida, it says it possesses no official role in Florida racing. “On behalf of these members and the greater industry, we are prepared to assist as they direct,” the statement concludes. The post KTA Issues Statement Against Florida Decoupling Proposal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Due to extreme weather conditions that are anticipated over the next several days in southeastern Louisiana, officials at the Fair Grounds have announced that the nine-race program originally scheduled for this Thursday, Jan. 23 will be moved to next Monday, Jan. 27. The next scheduled card will now take place on Friday, Jan. 24, with racing to continue Saturday, Sunday and now Monday with a first post time of 12:45 p.m. Central time. Wintry weather on the eastern seaboard resulted in the cancellation of live racing Monday and Tuesday at Parx just outside of Philadelphia, while officials at Oaklawn Park took pre-emptive action late last week and canceled Monday's holiday program at the Hot Springs oval. An extra day of racing has been added on Jan. 30 to help make up for the lost days of racing during the current month. The post Fair Grounds Postponing Thursday Program To Jan. 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article