Wandering Eyes

Guy, Jayne & Emily look back on the final day of the Wellington Cup Carnival and catch up with Shaun McKay and Robbie Patterson around each of their teams. Then they look forward towards the big features coming out of Ellerslie. Weigh In, January 19 View the full article

Corey Campbell knows his way around Wingatui Racecourse and the local hoop added another four winners to his formidable record at the track on Saturday. The 23-year-old achieved his first winning quartet at Wingatui over six years ago on Melbourne Cup Day, including three for his long-time employers Brian and Shane Anderton. The combination were to the fore again on this occasion, taking out the feature WAE Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) with Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines). A son of White Robe Lodge sire Ghibellines, Mayor Of Norwood was the $3.50 favourite for the Cup and duly delivered, with Campbell noting the gelding appreciated the fast tempo set mid-race by Humbucker. “He’s a horse we’ve always had a high opinion of, he’s just been a victim of race tempo and things like that in his last few starts,” he said. “Yesterday, they ran along at a good clip and he got to sit in behind them, and he finished off really well.” Mayor Of Norwood comes from a prolific White Robe family, which includes Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) winner Patrick Erin and the gelding’s older full-brother Capo Dell Impero, of whom Campbell has also partnered to four wins. “Capo possibly has a bit more brilliance than Mayor Of Norwood, but he’s got something about him as well that could be very special,” he said. A gear change was the key to Campbell’s victory on Anderton stablemate Patraine (NZ) (Almanzor), who bounced back into winning form in the Meenan’s Liquorland and Otago Tyres (1600m). “She’s a mare we have held in high regard, but in her first few runs this time around, she’s laboured a little bit, so we put the blinkers on and hopefully that would sharpen her up,” he said. “They seemed to do so, she finished off well and got the job done.” Campbell bookended the program with victories aboard Vadara (NZ) (Vadamos) and Quintabelle (NZ) (Embellish), the first of those coming aboard the Amber Hoffman-trained galloper who broke her maiden comfortably in the Rural Merchants Palmerston (1600m). “Vadara is a horse that’s had a few issues, but she was really good on Boxing Day on the wet track and she’s improved a lot,” he said. “Being back on a better surface, that really suited her and she’s won very well.” Vadara was part of a winning double for Hoffman, while Riccarton trainer Anna Furlong also collected two wins on the card in each of the ODT Southern Mile Qualifying races. A four-year-old by Embellish, Quintabelle producing a storming finish from the back of the field to take out the Rating 75 contest, earning plenty of praise from Campbell. “She was very impressive, we got a nice draw but we ended up getting shuffled back a long way,” Campbell said. “When she presented, she really finished off well and I think she’s a horse with a lot ahead of her.” Saturday’s haul brought Campbell’s overall Wingatui record to 65, while he is also swiftly closing in on a century with the Andertons, sitting at 88. “Wingatui is a very fair track, every horse gets their opportunity,” he said. “You can be in front or come from the back, it suits every horse. “It’s very rewarding (riding winners for the Andertons), I’ve been there for about 10 years and I’m very lucky to ride all of their very nice horses, it’s a privilege.” Wingatui’s biggest day on the calendar is fast-approaching on March 1, with Property Brokers Otago Classics Day featuring the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m), Listed Positive Signs and Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and Listed Property Brokers Dunedin Guineas (1600m). Campbell hopes to feature prominently again at the meeting, identifying one of the Anderton’s well-performed gallopers as one to watch out for. “I’m looking forward to getting Bauble back at the races, he had a jump-out last week and has come up really well,” he said. “He won three last year and I think he’s a horse that can step up and make it in open company.” View the full article

Major Trentham race meetings have been a happy hunting ground for South Island raider Our Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven), who scored another upset victory in the TAGS Accounting & Taxation (1400m) on Saturday’s Wellington Cup undercard. The $65,000 open handicap was the eighth win of a 45-start career for Our Echo, who has placed on another 15 occasions and has banked just under $280,000. But the son of Echoes Of Heaven has saved his very best for the big occasions at Trentham, where his seven starts have produced three wins and two placings. Our Echo’s first visit to Wellington was on Telegraph Day in January of 2022, where he defied $14 odds to win a Rating 74 handicap over 1400m with a $40,000 stake. He returned for Oaks Day in March 2023 and placed in a $50,000 race, then finished seventh in the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) and eighth in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) during the Wellington Cup Carnival last January. He made two further visits to Trentham in the autumn, taking his career to new heights with a win in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) on Oaks Day and a placing in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) on Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes Day. The eight-year-old seemed to be well below that form through the early stages of this season, finishing outside the placings in all of his first four starts. Our Echo hinted at a turnaround with a last-start win in the Kurow Cup (1400m) on December 30, and on Saturday he returned to his home away from home and delivered again. Ridden by fellow South Island visitor Tina Comignaghi, Our Echo settled in third spot as Fame Star and Conor O’Ceirin showed the way through the early stages of the race. Favourite Bedtime Story came from behind Our Echo to pounce and take the lead early in the run home, but Comignaghi never panicked. She moved across heels into clear air on the outside of Bedtime Story, gave her mount time to balance up and then went for the whip. With an explosive late burst, Our Echo dashed to the front inside the final 50m and scored a $15 upset win by half a length. Topweight Kopua charged home into second, a head in front of Bedtime Story. Our Echo is trained at Balcairn by Danny Frye, who shares ownership with eight others. “We love this horse to bits,” Frye said. “This race was very important. His first few lead-up runs had been disappointing, so we started to question ourselves with regard to our training and feeding. We changed a few things around and we seem to have got it right now. He was really good today. “It was quite a soft win at Kurow the other day, but the pressure was really on today and he’s won again.” Frye has ruled out an attempt to defend Our Echo’s crown in the Lightning Handicap on March 22. “We think 1400m and a mile suit him better than 1200m this time around,” he said. “His legs aren’t quite as sharp as they used to be. “But he’s really earned his stripes today and we’ll have a go at some other races that are coming up. I’d quite like to get him up to Ellerslie and see how he goes there.” Comignaghi has now had 11 rides on Our Echo for four wins and four placings. “He’s a pretty good horse on his day and he showed that today,” she said. “We had a pretty good run in transit, and then he showed what he can do in the straight. This is very special and I’m grateful to Danny and the other owners for keeping me on the horse. If he goes to Ellerslie, I might have to practise riding with the whip in my left hand!” View the full article

Windsor Park Stud has drawn on a diverse range of sires from across Australasia to make up its Karaka 2025 yearling draft, but a week out from the sale, all eyes will be on one of their own stallions. Shamexpress has had a remarkable resurgence, headed by his champion Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress). The freakish four-year-old has won all of his last eight starts culminating in last month’s Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), and he makes an eagerly anticipated return to raceday action in this evening’s Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m). “Having him in a Group One race on Sunday is an exciting way to lead into the sale, and especially since we’re offering the only Shamexpress colt in Book 1 at Karaka,” Windsor Park’s nominations manager Nick Hewson said. This will be the first Book 1 appearance since 2022 for Shamexpress, who had progeny sell for $280,000 and $260,000 during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November. “It’s been amazing to see what has happened with the profile of Shamexpress in recent times,” Hewson said. “He had some strong results in the Ready to Run Sale, and now he’s back in Book 1 for the first time in a few years. It’s absolutely deserved and he’s a commercial stallion now. “He’s had a great year. Lim’s Saltoro became only the second horse to win the four-year-old Triple Crown in Singapore, Grinzinger Belle has won a Group Two and two Group Threes in Melbourne, Blue Sky At Night took out the Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m), and that’s all without mentioning the world’s fastest horse, Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong. Hopefully his progeny will be well received at Karaka.” Windsor Park Stud’s Shamexpress colt in Book 1 is Lot 68, from the family of Group One winners Sixty Seconds, Legs, Guyno and Xtravagant. The Shamexpress colt is one of 35 yearlings catalogued in Book 1 for Windsor Park Stud, backed up by another 20 in Book 2. The draft is made up of the progeny of 20 different stallions, including first-season sire Armory, who is owned by Windsor Park in partnership with Mapperley Stud. “We’re very excited about Armory,” Hewson said. “His first crop of yearlings are nice, strong horses and we’ve had great feedback about them so far. People have been very impressed with the types that he’s leaving. “He was a very precocious horse himself. He was a top two-year-old who won three times from just seven starts, and then he went on to perform at a high level at three and four. That included placings in the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m), Irish Champion Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) and the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m). We think he has a great profile for our part of the world, and we really like the Armory yearlings we’re selling in our draft.” Other stallions represented in the draft include Windsor Park’s own Circus Maximus, Vanbrugh and Turn Me Loose, along with big names from elsewhere in the Australasian scene like Pierro, So You Think, Satono Aladdin, Contributer and Ocean Park. At the other end of the scale, Windsor Park will be selling first-crop progeny by exciting newcomers Sword Of State, Noverre, St Mark’s Basilica, Pinatubo, Captivant and Wild Ruler. “We’ve got a lot of first-season sires represented, which I think is a real highlight of our draft,” Hewson said. “We’re selling some cracking yearlings by Sword Of State (Lots 446 and 447). “We’ve also got some very nice yearlings from the second crop of Circus Maximus. We’re getting some great reports from trainers about his first two-year-olds this season, and it sounds like they’re only going to get better once they turn three. “There’s a lovely Circus Maximus filly out of Risque Business (Lot 246). Risque Business has been a great producing mare, and this filly is a half to the Group performer It’s Business Time. “Another one I really like is the colt out of Greatest Joy (Lot 642). The dam is a full-sister to the great racemare More Joyous, and this colt is an outstanding type of horse. There’s also a stunning colt by So You Think (Lot 175). “Across the board, it’s a really good, diverse draft. I think the variety of stallions is a real drawcard.” View the full article

Don Valpredo died Oct. 31, but his enduring equine legacy of the longtime owner/breeder was on display Jan. 18 at Santa Anita Park—appropriately on a day with five California-bred stakes races, with one of those named in his honor.View the full article

Hit Show opened his 2025 campaign with a flair, rallying to a dramatic victory in the $173,250 Louisiana Stakes (G3) Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.View the full article

Juddmonte, Brad Cox, and Florent Geroux have a promising 3-year-old named Disco Time in New Orleans this winter, conjuring flashbacks of Mandaloun four years ago. On Jan. 18, that colt won the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds.View the full article

Champion turf male Up to the Mark (Not This Time), has sired his first foal, a colt out of La Croix Valmer (Malibu Moon), born Jan. 16, 2025 at Newtown Anner Stud Farm, Millbrook, New York. La Croix Valmer is a full sister to Grade I-placed stakes winner Moon de French. La Croix Valmer was a $235,000 yearling purchase by Newtown Anner Stud Farm. “This colt lives up to his father's name,” said Newtown Anner Stud Farm General Manager Hanzly Albina. “He is everything we expected and wanted when breeding to a multiple Grade I-winning son of Not this Time. He is certainly Up To The Mark,” Up to the Mark, a son of leading sire Not this Time out of the Ghostzapper mare Belle's Finale, was bred by Ramspring Farm and raced by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables, LLC. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Up to the Mark won the GI Turf Classic Stakes, GI Manhattan Stakes, GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes and finished a close second in the GI Breeder's Cup Turf before being named Eclipse Champion Turf Male. He earned four consecutive triple-digit Beyers and retired with $2,511,050 in earnings. The post Up To The Mark’s First Foal A Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sent off at odds of 9-5 to take his career record to three wins from as many appearances in Saturday's GIII Lecomte Stakes at a sloppy Fair Grounds Race Course, Juddmonte's Disco Time (Not This Time) was hung out to dry somewhere on the banks of the Mississippi turning into the long straight, but he closed resolutely through the final eighth of a mile to earn 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In a bit tight at the break, the homebred was able to get down into the three or four path from his double-digit alley by the time the field reached the first turn and raced in about third- or fourth-last position as the rail-drawn Innovator (Authentic) took them through an opening quarter in :23.68. Racing well out into the track and remaining in the latter third of the field into the final half-mile, Disco Time began to find stride, but was consigned to a wide run around the second turn and he was flushed perhaps as many as 10 paths deep into the long stretch at the Fair Grounds when Louisiana-bred Dapper Moon (Malibu Moon) bore out into Calling Card (Complexity). In the meantime, Innovator was still going well at the fence, but Gun Runner Stakes romper Built (Hard Spun), who had sat a perfect inside trip close to the pace, was bearing down on him inside the eighth pole as Disco Time continued to plug away on the grandstand side. The Eclipse runner finally poked his head in front in the dying strides, but Disco Time managed to sustain his momentum and was shoved across the line narrowly best. “That wasn't the way we drew it up before the race, but he he broke OK, and from there I saw lot of horses going at it, so I just tucked in,” winning jockey Florent Geroux said. “I was able to save a lot of going into the first turn, which was important given the tough post we had. From there he relaxed beautifully for me and took the kickback very well. “I didn't feel like I was behind horses who were traveling great and felt like they were going to back up at me,” he continued. “I just took my time and made sure I was going to time it right. When he was ready I just tipped him all the way outside and made a nice, long run down the lane. I'm very pleased with the horse. I feel like I gave some ground to the runner-up, who had a little bit of a better trip than mine, but my horse was able to overcome it. He proved he was the best horse today.” Disco Time sat a pace-pressing trip in his seven-furlong debut at Churchill Downs Nov. 1, charging clear late to graduate by a widening 3 3/4 lengths. Stretched to that track's one-turn mile Nov. 30, he raced on top of a quick pace, was in front fully four furlongs from the wire and came away late to score by 3 1/2 lengths. Pedigree Notes: With the victory, Disco Time becomes the 42 stakes winner and 20th winner at the graded/group level for his boom sire and he is the 33rd SW and 9th GSW produced by a daughter of A.P. Indy's son Jump Start. Disco Time is one of two winners from two to the races from his dam, winner of four black-type events and Grade II-placed in a successful racing career. A $180,000 purchase by Nicoma Bloodstock at the 2018 Keeneland January Sale, Disco Chick produced Disco Time Mar. 4, 2022, was put in foal to Kantharos and was hammered down to RPM Thoroughbreds for $35,000 at Keeneland November that fall. The in-utero foal sadly died in 2023 and the mare did not produce in 2024 before being bred back to Yaupon. Saturday, Fair Grounds LECOMTE S.-GIII, $250,000, Fair Grounds, 1-18, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:47.07, sy. 1–DISCO TIME, 122, c, 3, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Disco Chick (MSW & GSP, $735,250), by Jump Start 2nd Dam: Disco Flirt, by Disco Rico 3rd Dam: Survey, by Allen's Prospect 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $291,960. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Built, 122, c, 3, Hard Spun–Sea Garden, by Curlin. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($82,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $260,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Robert Low & Lawana Low (KY); T-Wayne M. Catalano. $50,000. 3–Innovator, 122, c, 3, Authentic–Inspired, by Unbridled's Song. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($900,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-BC Stables, LLC; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. $25,000. Margins: NK, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.90, 2.70, 16.10. Also Ran: Golden Afternoon, Maximum Promise, Magnitude, Seattle Road, Calling Card, Jolly Samurai, Mobetterthangood, Dapper Moon, Optical, Tough Catch. Scratched: Admiral Dennis. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. Disco Time earns 20 points towards the Kentucky Derby in the G3 Lecomte at @fairgroundsnola! Back-to-back stakes win for both @bradcoxracing and @flothejock. TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/8z3Z43oMMs — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 18, 2025 The post Disco Time Catches Saturday Night Fever in Lecomte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dual grade 2 winner Damon's Mound, racing for the first time in 390 days, made a triumphant return to action with a determined neck victory over Comedy Town in the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint Stakes Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Simply Joking went to the lead at the start and never was headed while posting a 2 1/2-length victory in the $145,500 Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.View the full article

What Albury Races Where Albury Racing Club – 16-46 Fallon St, Albury NSW 2640 (Link if we have track page) When Monday, January 20, 2025 First Race 1:35pm AEDT Visit Dabble The new week of racing is set to get underway at Albury Racing Club on Monday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-part program lined up for punters. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and warm summer conditions forecast across the weekend, punters can expect the Soft 5 rating to improve into the Good range come race-day. All the action is scheduled to get underway at 1:35pm local time. Best Bet at Albury: Luna Jet Luna Jet put on the afterburners debuting at Nowra on December 31, careering away to secure a dominant 1.5 -length maiden success. The daughter of Capitalist only beat home three rivals on that occasion but couldn’t have been more impressive as Louise Day eased down the three-year-old filly in the concluding stages. She appears to have above-average ability, and provided Day can slot in for cover in this Class 1 contest, Luna Jet will prove hard to hold out on her quest for back-to-back wins at +220 with Neds. Best Bet Race 5 – #10 Luna Jet (8) 3yo Filly | T: Matthew Dale | J: Louise Day (55kg) +220 with Neds Next Best at Albury: Complaisance The Matthew Dale-trained Complaisance appears primed to strike in the opening event, making her debut on the back of a soft piece of work at Goulburn on December 20. The Pierata filly wasn’t asked for much of an effort, sauntering her way to within 6.5 lengths of Highway Strip. Punters shouldn’t be deterred by the margin, with the three-year-old posting an impressive trial back in July, and with significant upside compared to some key rivals, Complaisance should prove too strong on debut and justify favouritism with horse racing bookmakers. Next Best Race 1 – #6 Complaisance (2) 3yo Filly | T: Matthew Dale | J: Jake Duffy (55.5kg) +200 with BlondeBet Best Value at Albury: Party Boss Party Boss represents terrific each-way value with Picklebet as the Gary Colvin-trained colt debuts on the back of one official barrier trial. The son of Farnan cruised into a third-place finish at Wagga on January 3, running into a smart one in the form of Kimberly Secrets. Claiming apprentice Holly Durnan takes 1.5kg off his back, and with Party Boss set to lob into an ideal stalking position from stall five, this guy should get every chance to make a statement first-up at value with Picklebet. Best Value Race 4 – #14 Party Boss (5) 3yo Colt | T: Gary Colvin | J: Holly Durnan (1.5kg) (55kg) +900 with Picklebet Monday quaddie tips for Albury Albury quadrella selections January 20, 2025 3-8-10-14 3-10 2-5-6-7-8 4-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Alice Springs apprentice Dakota Gillett wearing the colours of Red Centre trainer and her father Terry Gillett after booting home a winner at Pioneer Park. Talented apprentice Dakota Gillett now leads the Alice Springs and Provincial jockeys’ premiership. The 19-year-old, Central Australia’s leading apprentice for the past two seasons, has 12 wins after winning aboard Faithful Champion – trained by her father Terry – at Pioneer Park on Saturday. The teenager is ahead of Stan Tsaikos and Paul Denton, with 11 wins, and Sonja Logan, who has 10 victories after a winning double. Tsaikos was the champion rider for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, Logan claimed the 2022/23 title, and Denton secured the 2023/24 premiership. Gillett, who missed four weeks in the early spring because of suspension, produced a faultless display on Faithful Champion, a six-year-old gelding, against Class 2 opposition over 1200m. The son of Pins – the $3 favourite with online bookmakers – settled on the fence and set the early pace with Greg Connor’s $4.40 hope Revolution Rising on his outside. The pair were well ahead at the 600m and continued to eye-ball each other in the home straight before Faithful Champion skipped away at the 200m to overcome Revolution Rising by 1.5 lengths. Faithful Champion, who had his final start for Flemington trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes last March after winning a 1200m Wagga Wagga maiden, was a close second over 1000m in his only Darwin start in October for local trainer Chris Nash. Debuting in Alice Springs on January 5, the gelding finished fourth over 1100m in 0-58 grade before Saturday’s classy performance. For Terry Gillett, last year’s top trainer, Faithful Champion’s victory made it 21 wins for the season. He’s well clear of Lisa Whittle, boasting 12 wins, Kerry Petrick and Paul Gardner, who have 10 wins, and Greg Connor, with nine. Whittle had a winning double when Logan, who landed a treble at Fannie Bay last Saturday, saluted on $1.65 BlondeBet favourite O’Tycoon in the open 1200m handicap and $1.55 favourite Hell Fire Miss in the other Class 2 over 1200m. Connor’s $1.95 favourite Delago Lad, ridden by apprentice Lek Maloney, made it three wins on the bounce over 1100m in 0-70 grade. Gardner’s $4.80 contender Zesty Spice, with Raymond Vigar on board, made it back-to-back wins with an impressive effort over 1400m at 0-64 level. Ray Viney’s $16 prospect Tango Stepz, piloted by Queensland jockey Brendon Newport, returned from a spell to overcome his BM54 rivals over 1000m with a late finishing burst. With temperatures soaring beyond 40C in Alice Springs during the week, the meeting was brought forward and it was 36C following the final event at 1.24pm local time. Horse racing news View the full article

There are seven horse racing meetings set for Australia and one in Hong Kong on Sunday, January 19. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Cowra, Mornington and Sha Tin (HK). Sunday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – January 19, 2025 Mornington Racing Tips Cowra Racing Tips Sha Tin (HK) Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on January 19, 2025 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. Recommended! 4 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 5 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Sunday, January 19. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for January 19, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Hobart Same Race Multi – 3+ Leg Bonus Back Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Hobart this Sunday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Market available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds T&C’s Apply Login to Neds to Claim Promo 25% Boosted Winnings! – Mornington Get 25% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Fixed win only. First bet only. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Sunday Bonus Back 2nd On ALL RACES At Sha Tin Sha Tin. Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Punters Toolbox! Supersized Saturday helps you Bet it Out with neds! Get MORE Price Boosts, MORE Bet Backs, MORE Fluc Ups, MORE Back Ups & MORE Extra Nudge tools! Available to use on ANY races of your choice. Neds T&C’s Apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo 10 AGAIN! Sha Tin & Pukekohe – Get 10% Boosted Winnings For All Races Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Max bonus $100. First bet only. Paid in bonus cash. Cash Bets Only. T&C’s apply. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo COPYCASH. GET COPIED. GET PAID – Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses copy bet to copy your bets Earn $0.10 per unique Copy Bet. Max $1000 per week. Copy Cash is real money into your account. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Best Tote and Starting Price Guarantees a dividend equal to the highest of the official win dividend paid by the three Australian TAB pools or the official starting price. Maximum stake: $2,000. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for January 19, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

The first episode of jockey/veterinarian Ferrin Peterson's podcast, Boundless, is now available on YouTube, Apple podcasts, and Spotify. Viewers can watch the episode, which features Hall of Fame jockey Steve Cauthen, on YouTube here, or listen to it on Spotify here or on Apple podcasts here. Peterson, a professional jockey currently riding at Turfway Park, and a practicing veterinarian currently working in small animal emergency medicine, created the podcast to feature people's stories of resilience, risk taking and perseverence in horse racing. The hour-plus long podcast is the first in a series of a dozen, which will also feature jockeys Pat Day, Chris McCarron and Sandy Hawley, as well as Patty Cooksey and Perry Ouzts. The post Peterson Podcast With Steve Cauthen Drops on YouTube, Apple, Spotify appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Running Away did just that in the $125,000 Busanda Stakes, capturing her stakes debut in gate-to-wire fashion Jan. 18 at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

The bombshell announcement issued last week by The Stronach Group (TSG) that Gulfstream Park could close within three years, if not sooner, sent shockwaves through the industry. To close Gulfstream would affect a lot more than Florida racing. It would have serious ramifications for virtually every faction in the sport. The Stronach Group is looking to decouple its casino and racing licenses and has threatened to close the track in three years if the horsemen's group does not back legislation allowing decoupling. Their hope is that they can use the property to build a ritzy new casino and hotel. And three years might be the best-case scenario. If the decoupling issue is not worked out to Belinda Stronach's satisfaction, there's nothing stopping her from closing the track immediately. The problem, at least for the horse racing community, is that the land that Gulfstream sits on is so valuable that using it strictly to run a racetrack and a small slots parlor that does not generate much revenue doesn't make a lot of sense. Estimates are that the land is worth somewhere between $1 billion and $2 billion. Colleague Dan Ross was able to acquire a recording of a meeting between South Florida horsemen and Stronach's hired gun Keith Brackpool and here is what Brackpool had to say: “You're looking at land here worth several million dollars an acre. And the reality is, nobody can continue to race on land that is worth several million dollars an acre without appropriate redevelopment, at the very least, surrounding the horseracing property.” TSG is reportedly looking to form a partnership with a traditional casino company and has been told by those companies that they want no part of the deal if some of the revenue from the casino must be paid out to Gulfstream and its horsemen. Some of those trying to keep racing alive in South Florida are looking for ways to keep racing going at Gulfstream well beyond the three years that amount to the line drawn in the sand. That's admirable, but it's not going to work. Be it three days, three weeks or three years, it's hard to imagine any situation where Belinda Stronach decides that the right business decision is to continue to run racing at the Hallandale Beach location. Like him or not, Brackpool is right. Just as been the situation in other places, like at Hollywood Park, Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields, the land is worth so much that it doesn't make any economic sense to use it for horse racing. Santa Anita very well could be next. Gulfstream was once run by Frank Stronach and he might have been the one person who thought otherwise. He loved the sport so much that he made several business decisions that, frankly, made no sense, but he did so because he wanted to help racing. Daughter Belinda, who won a power struggle to take over the Stronach tracks, rarely grants interviews, so it's hard to gauge her sentiments about the sport, but it doesn't appear that she has the passion her father had for racing and still does. So the answer is not to fight to keep Gulfstream open but to find another facility to host horse racing in South Florida. The obvious place to do so is at the Palm Meadows training center. Keep in mind, that TSG has no incentive to keep Palm Meadows open. Why operate a race horse training center when you don't own a racetrack? It will be put up for sale. Palm Meadows, which is located in Boynton Beach, about 42 miles from Gulfstream, already has almost everything needed to operate a racetrack. It has dorms, stalls and a dirt and turf course that horsemen say are among the best racing surfaces in the sport. The main thing needed, of course, is a grandstand. But that doesn't have to be that expensive. With the exception of the big days like GI Pegasus World Cup Day and GI Florida Derby day, racing, even in Florida, is a studio sport with most players no longer leaving their homes to make a bet. Build a grandstand that holds 10,000 people and has the basic amenities. Nothing more than that is needed. “To race at Palm Meadows is an absolutely great idea,” said trainer Brian Lynch, who is based there. “It's a great idea, but there are some things that will have to be addressed, like zoning and the traffic getting in and out of there. It would be important to find a way to have access to Palm Meadows off the Florida Turnpike. That could be the answer to everything. You have the real estate there, you have the infrastructure there, you have everything to say that it could happen. Hopefully Palm Beach County would work with you and try to get something done.” It won't come cheap but, but the Palm Meadows land certainly is worth less per acre than the Gulfstream land, maybe much less. And this wouldn't appear to be a situation where there would be much demand from outside racing circles to acquire the property. This would not be the first time the idea of shifting racing to Palm Meadows has come up. In a 2004 article in the Daily Racing Form Mike Welsch spoke to then Gulfstream Park's president and general manager Scott Savin shortly after Palm Meadows opened and asked him about rumors that Frank Stronach was planning on shifting racing to the property. Welsch wrote: “Opening this year in conjunction with the 1 1/8-mile, 100-foot-wide main track are a seven-furlong, 176-foot-wide grass course as well as a European-style seven-furlong jogging path. The addition of new dormitories and a track kitchen gives Palm Meadows every amenity found at a top racetrack. In fact, all that appears to be missing at Palm Meadows is a grandstand. And visitors to the site cannot help but notice that ample room is available to construct an adequately sized grandstand/clubhouse stretching from the eighth pole to beyond the finish line. “This has led many to speculate that the site of winter racing in South Florida might someday shift to Palm Meadows if Magna (the name of Stronach's company before it was changed to The Stronach Group) decides to sell off the valuable real estate on which Gulfstream Park is located.” “Palm Meadows wasn't built to be a racing facility,” Savin told Welsch. “There are no plans to turn it into a racing facility, and by law there is no way it can be turned into a racing facility. Our main intention was to build a satellite facility to enhance the quality of racing at Gulfstream Park.” It appears there might be more to the story. In Florida in 2002, each county was entitled to no more than one pari-mutuel license. The Rooney family, which owned the Palm Beach Kennel Club, had the one for Palm Beach County. Many believe that the only reason Stronach didn't turn Palm Meadows into his racetrack then and sell the land at Gulfstream is that the Rooney family stood in his way. Twenty-two years later, Palm Beach Kennel Club is not a kennel club. There's no more dog racing there and all that's left is an OTB and a poker room. Not that this solves every problem. There are 1,500 stalls at Gulfstream and they will need to be replaced. Adding that many stalls at Palm Meadows doesn't seem practical. Florida is fortunate to have two other top-flight training centers beyond Palm Meadows in Palm Beach Downs and Payson Park, but it's hard to imagine squeezing many more horses into those places. So a new training center would likely have to built. Now the biggest obstacle: Who's going to pay for this? Mike Repole immediately comes to mind as he has emerged as an important and outspoken industry leader, someone not afraid to take bold measures to help the sport. And he certainly can afford it. But putting all of this on Repole's shoulders doesn't seem fair. Maybe a partnerships of owners and/or breeders, including Repole, could come together and pool their money to buy Palm Meadows. Racing is infamous for infighting and for people always putting themselves first and the good of the sport second. But this is too important for that nonsense. Make a plan, raise the money, buy Palm Meadows, run the racing there. Something needs to happen to avoid losing racing in South Florida, which would be nothing less than a crisis. Palm Meadows? This can be done. The post Solving The South Florida Racing Crisis, Is Palm Meadows The Answer? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds it was Simply Joking (Practical Joke–Imply, by E Dubai) who took home the prize with a gate to wire display and the 20 points which can be applied on the 'Road to the Kentucky Oaks.' The 3-year-old came into the race having only one other start under her belt when she captured the Letellier Memorial Stakes in New Orleans Dec. 21. Backed as the 8-5 choice here, Simply Joking was handed a rather easy lead and proceeded to make every pole a winning one. Unable to catch her heading into the lane, the field watched as she skimmed the slop to win by a length over the late running longshot Bless the Broken (Laoban). The final running time was 1:44.30. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. Sales History: $65,000 '23 KEESEP. O-Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner and Berkels0813; B-Barlar LLC; T-D. Whitworth Beckman. Simply Joking was all business in the Silverbulletday at @fairgroundsnola for trainer Whit Beckman with @jaimetorresjcky aboard! TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ezv59GadvJ — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 18, 2025 The post Simply Joking Makes the Silverbulletday Stakes Look Routine As The Filly Earns Oaks Points appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Established stallion Equiano (Fr) will stand at Haras de Fontaines in France this year, according to published reports. The 20-year-old son of Acclamation (GB) was previously based at the Irish National Stud in 2024. The two-time G1 King's Stand Stakes hero is the sire of 20 stakes winners. His best runners include G1 scorers The Tin Man (Fr) and Belvoir Bay (GB). The post Equiano On The Move To Haras De Fontaines appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hypnus (c, 3, Into Mischief–Dream Tree, by Uncle Mo) became the 48th 'TDN Rising Star' for his superstar sire with an impressive debut victory around two turns on the GIII Lecomte Stakes undercard in the slop at Fair Grounds Saturday. Overlooked at 16-1 for trainer Kenny McPeek, he broke sharply beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr., but was content to slot into sixth through fractions of :23.30 and :47.76. Traveling nicely but still with plenty to do approaching the quarter pole, he hit the gas at the top of the stretch and leveled off beautifully from there to win going away by three lengths over favored Cromwell (Quality Road). The winner's talented dam won her first five career starts, led by a win in the 2017 GI Starlet Stakes. She is also responsible for a 2-year-old filly by Gun Runner and she was bred to Constitution for 2025. O-Brookdale Racing, Inc.; B-Phoenix Thoroughbreds (III) LTD (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Hypnus is sharp on debut in R7 at @fairgroundsnola at 16/1 for trainer @kennymcpeek with @bhernandez_jr aboard! TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/S4MZXhFKJ9 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 18, 2025 The post Hypnus Becomes 48th ‘TDN Rising Star’ for Into Mischief in Impressive Debut at Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Running Away (f, 3, Gun Runner–Allez Marie, by Unbridled's Song), a five-length, wire-to-wire winner at third asking–her first try on dirt–going two turns at Churchill Downs Nov. 30, never looked back in Saturday's Busanda Stakes at the Big A, good for 20 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks. The 3-2 favorite cleared her rivals from her outside draw in post six beneath the hot-handed Sahin Civaci, led through fractions of :23.83 and :48.50 and kept on finding in the stretch to score by two lengths. My Sherrona (Not This Time) was second; Sharp Smile (Practical Joke) was third. Running Away becomes the 37th stakes winner worldwide for her leading young sire. “She's a nice filly,” winning trainer Wesley Ward said. “As soon as we fell into the turn and we had the lead and I saw her prick her ears, I knew that we were in really good shape. The weather here in Kentucky has been compromised to train a route horse like this. It's been a while since her last start and she wasn't cranked as much as I'd like, but her ability got her there as well as the track played in our favor.” As for a potential start in either the GIII Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct Apr. 5 or the GI Ashland Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 4, Ward added, “My home track is Keeneland and I try to run everything here. With the Ashland being around the same time [as the Gazelle], we'll have a discussion with Goncalo Torrealba and his team and make a decision as we get closer.” BUSANDA S., $125,000, Aqueduct, 1-18, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:52.23, ft. 1–RUNNING AWAY, 118, f, 3, by Gun Runner 1st Dam: Allez Marie (GSP-Brz), by Unbridled's Song 2nd Dam: Summerly, by Summer Squall 3rd Dam: Here I Go, by Mr. Prospector 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Stud TNT (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Sahin Civaci. $68,750. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $166,875. *1/2 to Legalize (Constitution), SW, $133,025; Tomato Bill (More Than Ready), GSP, $152,575; Fouette (Nyquist), MSP, $303,845; Workaholic (Sky Mesa), SW, $144,828. 2–My Sherrona, 118, f, 3, Not This Time–Class Included, by Include. ($275,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-West Paces Racing LLC, Cypresshead Racing, LLC, Twin Sports Racing, Brown Road Racing & Arnold, Douglas S.; B-Buck Pond Farm, Inc. (KY); T-Raymond Handal. $25,000. 3–Sharp Smile, 118, f, 3, Practical Joke–Chocolate Pop, by Cuvee. ($350,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Drown, Jeffrey & Rachel, Don; B-Camas Park Stud & Lynch Bages LTD. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $15,000. Margins: 2 1/4, 1, 5HF. Odds: 1.55, 6.00, 3.55. Also Ran: Ramify, Beautiful Blome, Ruth. Scratched: Bernieandtherose, Bless the Broken, Carmen's Candy Jar. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. RUNNING AWAY lives up to her name, winning the Busanda Stakes and earning 20 Kentucky Oaks points! @SahinCivaci was in the irons for trainer Wesley Ward. pic.twitter.com/eyx3ghyz1A — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) January 18, 2025 The post Gun Runner Filly ‘Runs Away’ With Aqueduct’s Busanda appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by Adam Hamilton Champion trotter Just Believe has been retired. It turns out his typically brave second to Oscar Bonavena in the Group 1 NZ Trotting free-for-all on November 15 was his farewell. Co-trainers Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars today confirmed the global superstar had run his last after niggling issues emerged during that hugely successful NZ campaign late last year. “It’s with a tinge of sadness, but an overwhelming sense of pride we announce the retirement of our champion, Just Believe,” Tubbs and Sugars posted on social media. “We could list the races he won, or the money he earned, but it was the hearts he captured around the world that really set ‘Harry’ (Just Believe’s stable name) apart. “His incredible strength and determination to win were second to none and we couldn’t be more grateful for the journey he has taken us on. A huge thank you to all of Harry’s owners for the opportunity they gave us with this incredible horse., “In the end, it was Harry’s refusal to give up that brought about his retirement, with us no longer able to trust him to tell us when things were getting sore. “He has nothing left to prove and his welfare is paramount. Happy retirement, Harry. We’re sure going to miss you.” Just Believe raced 83 times for 38 wins, 23 placings and banked $A1,929,253 in prize money, which is second-only to the mighty Lyell Creek ($A2,256,724) as the all-time richest Australasian trotter. It was a switch from former trainer Michael Hughes, who retired, to the Tubbs and Sugars stable in mid-2022 which sparked Just Believe’s stunning emergence. In 42 starts for the stable, he won 30 times, ran nine seconds and a third. Just Believe’s only unplaced run came when he struck trouble, galloped and finished tailed-out in a heat of the world’s biggest trotting race, the Elitlopp, in Sweden in May, 2023. The gelding won 10 Group 1 races, including two Inter Dominion finals, a Great Southern Star, Dominion Trot and Rowe Cup. Just Believe raced six times in NZ for five wins, a second and earned $NZ690,000. Three of wins were at Group 1 level (Dominion Trot, Rowe Cup and National Trot) along with the arguably the greatest win of his career in the inaugural TAB Trot. Remarkably, what was expected to be a daunting and draining trip to Sweden in mid-2023, actually took Just Believe to another level. “There’s no doubt he came back a better horse. He was different around home and better at the races,” Sugars said. After Sweden, Just Believe raced 23 times for 20 wins and three seconds. Race caller Dan Mielicki, the voice of Australian harness racing, said Just Believe was one of the greatest horses of either code he called. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to call him. He’s one of very horses I’ve seen who looked as comfortable outside the leader as he was in front,” he said. “He is the closest in talent to Lyell Creek that I’ve seen and not far behind him at all. He did what a great trotter does and totally dominated his generation.” View the full article

Junior driver Leah Hibell has a handy book of drives at Otaki today including a strong contender in the Grant Plumbing Ltd Wellington Cup with Idolou, who she drives for Cambridge based trainer and her employer, Nicky Chilcott. “I think Idolou is a good chance today” says Hibell “She has been racing well in some strong fields and drops back in grade today which I’m sure she’ll appreciate.” The five year old mare by Sweet Lou has been lightly raced for three wins from just ten starts and has met strong competition lately coming up against the likes of Miki Shan, Fernetti, The Surfer, and Ultimate Racy Girl. In her previous two starts, Idolou has finished fifth with solid performances. At Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve, Idolou finished just a length from the winner Minjee in the TAB Northern Metro Pacers Final, with a solid finish after racing three and four wide with cover over the final lap. Meanwhile her last start at Cambridge was in the Waikato Pacers Summer Cup, and Idolou was the sole starter off the front line stepping quickly and leading the race throughout before being swamped over the final stages with the race won by Miki Shan. On that occasion she was just 1.3 lengths from the winner. “She’s drawn six today which is a little niggly and could make the race a little trickier” says Hibell “I’ll maybe look at getting back early but it’s a good long straight here on the grass which will help and she’s capable of a strong finish.” Hibell combines with Chilcott for three other races including Hot Jessie (R1), Messenger Buoy (R4) and Katies Princess (R6). “I think Messenger Buoy and Katies Princess are both good each way chances today, in fact I think they are probably my best chances,” says Hibell “Messenger Buoy has been racing fantastic lately, it’s just a five horse field and he’s great in that he can sit anywhere in running and I can have faith that he’ll always put in and go a good race.” The Sunshine Beach gelding has only run out of the money once in his past ten races and starts in The Boundary Tap & Kitchen Mobile Pace from barrier four today. Meanwhile Katies Princess starts in the Monk Family Mobile Pace over 2000 metres and is another that enjoys a drop back in grade today. “Katies Princess starts from two and I’ll be hoping to cross and lead on her” says Hibell “She likes the grass tracks having won and placed on the grass last year and she’s an honest type who goes some tough races.” Hibell also drives the Rodney Frampton trained Whitfield in the NZ Proud Property Improvements Mobile Pace. The combination were winners two starts ago at Tauherenikau, followed by a fourth last start at Otaki. “It’s a bit of an even field and he’s one that can’t do too much work so I’ll be looking for cover” says Hibell “If he gets a nice trip and can have one good run at them he’s a first four chance.” “My drives today are all well placed and while I don’t like being overconfident, I think there are a couple that are capable of winning” says Hibell. The racing action gets underway today at 12.05pm. View the full article

by Michael Guerin Trainer Matt Purvis knows it won’t be as easy as the numbers suggest for Piccadilly Pete in today’s $25,000 Donegal House Marlborough Pacer’s Cup. Because if it was the pacing find of the summer would be almost a good thing to continue his grass track domination. The four-year-old comes into today’s 2850m beautifully, having won the lead-up on Friday but not being re-handicapped. That means he is a Rating 74 horse off a 10m handicap alongside horses rated 10 points lower than him while the Rating 76 horses Bryces Meddle and Whos Delight have to give him a 20m start. As if they didn’t make it hard enough Piccadilly Pete is in the form of his life, having won four of his last five starts, all on grass and has New Zealand’s most in-form driver in Samantha Ottley. “The grass has suited him in that he is one of those horses who doesn’t lose his speed on the grass,” says Purvis. “He is still quick at Addington as we have seen but the grass doesn’t seem to slow him down.” Piccadilly Pete proved that both days at the recent Westport circuit before being set for this meeting and Purvis says so far, so good as for winning both days. “I took him out to his paddock this morning and he was full of himself and really well so Friday didn’t take anything out of him,” he said on Saturday. “We know it won’t be easy to repeat because these country cups races are always hard but there is no reason to think he won’t go as well again.” Which makes it a tad surprising the TAB didn’t open Piccadilly Pete as favourite, the bookies rating him only the $4.60 second elect behind first day favourite Wild Willow. The latter paced roughly on the home bend on Friday when also favourite but came again in the straight and is an obvious chance on his best form. Purvis also suggests punters could do worse than follow his first day placegetter Living The Moment (R5, No.13). “She got crook over on the Coast so she will improve with that run on Friday.” Today’s meeting also hosts the $20,000 Seddon Shields Marlborough Trotters Cup with Tu Tangata opening the favourite but first day winner MM Sunshine quickly backed in from $9 to $6. View the full article