Wandering Eyes

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

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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

2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan put in his final work for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 18 with a five-furlong breeze in :59.95 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Reigning GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) breezed five furlongs in :59.98 on his own over a 'good' Gulfstream Park main track Saturday morning, his final serious piece of work ahead of next Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. Robby Albarado was aboard for the move. “What I'd call a happy five-eighths,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “It was just a maintenance breeze. I didn't have a horse I really felt good about him being in company with, and I don't think he needed the company. But he took a deep breath coming out of the work and that's what he needed. “I like the time, he did it well within himself, so, yeah, I think it sets us up pretty good. As long as he has a good next few days, week, we plan on running.” Mystik Dan, runner-up in the GI Preakness Stakes and sixth in the GI Belmont Stakes, returned from a 6 1/2-month absence to finish a distant sixth as a 3-1 chance in the GI Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Dec. 26. 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner), a latest winner of a high-class renewal of the GII Cigar Mile Handicap, and Crupi (Curlin), a running-on third in last year's Pegasus and exiting a fourth in the GII Clark Stakes, worked in company at Palm Meadows for trainer Todd Pletcher Saturday morning. The pair was clocked in 1:01.91 for five furlongs. GI Alabama Stakes upsetter Power Squeeze (Union Rags) went four furlongs at Gulfstream in :50.02 Saturday morning. Stronghold (Ghostzapper) turned in his final Pegasus breeze Friday morning at Santa Anita, covering five furlongs in an easy 1:02.60. Last year's GI Santa Anita Derby winner was most recently runner-up in the Malibu. Imagination (Into Mischief) heads into the Pegasus off a sound third in the Malibu and breezed three-quarters of a mile in the company of Eclipse finalist Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Imagination was timed in 1:12.40, while the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner was fractionally quicker in 1:12 flat. Post positions for the Pegasus are set to be drawn Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The draw will be shown live on PegasusWorldCup.com as well as the Gulfstream Park YouTube channel. The post Mystik Dan Works ‘Happy’ Five-Eighths In Final Pegasus Move appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Where to start on the first morning of the Route des Etalons? It was a decision which would have been easy to rush to, what with so many enticing options to choose from, all of them immaculately presented, ready and waiting to welcome the first guests of the day. 'Pace yourself,' I reminded myself. 'There's always tomorrow for anything you don't get to today.' Anyway, that's enough about the breakfast buffet at the hotel. Suitably fueled with a pile of crepes, cakes and pastries that would have made my dentist wince, it was time to hit the road for the main event. As Normandie Breeding's Guillaume Vitse said shortly after greeting me at Haras de la Huderie, “The Route des Etalons is the place to be this weekend.” Vitse, perhaps best known for breeding the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in tandem with wife Camille and their children Valentine and Axel, was in punchy form as he sang the praises of the newest Huderie resident, River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The G2 Coventry Stakes winner was purchased from Coolmore last year to stand as a stallion by a collection of French breeders which includes Vitse, along with Sebastian Desmontils, David Salabi, and Jean-Pierre and Guillaume Garcon. As well as winning at Royal Ascot, River Tiber was Group 1 placed in the Prix Morny, Middle Park Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas, while perhaps his best chance of winning at the top level was taken from him when he was a late scratch from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf of 2023–won by none other than Unquestionable. “The first time I saw him was at the Breeders' Cup,” Vitse said of River Tiber. “Unfortunately, he did not run–well, it was good for us that he didn't! But he just caught my eye. And then when he ran in the Prix de la Foret he caught my eye again. Twice in a row, I thought that he was the standout, physically. “The horse just has everything. He has the looks, the race performance and the breeding. He was a proper two-year-old and he's an outcross for a lot of mares as a son of Wootton Bassett, who is a champion. What more can you say? It's obvious why you should send a mare to River Tiber.” Of the breeders participating in this year's Route des Etalons, he added, “You can have a good time, go around and see the horses, and then make your choice. But when you come to Huderie, you won't need to go anywhere else.” The bullish Vitse also confirmed that Unquestionable is set to return to the racecourse in 2025, following a truncated three-year-old campaign. The colt is now in the sole ownership of Al Shaqab, whose breeding operation, Haras de Bouquetot, was also finding favour with visitors on a bitterly cold morning in Normandy. Six stallions were on parade at Bouquetot, all of them still in the infancy of their careers. Romanised (Ire) and Wooded (Ire) had their first two-year-old runners in 2024, while Armor (GB) was represented by his first yearlings and Thunder Moon (Ire) by his first foals at the sales last year. More recently, the first foal by Lusail (Ire) was reportedly born at the stud just this week. The Al Shaqab team are also introducing a new stallion for 2025 in the shape of their homebred Al Hakeem (GB), who proved himself a high-class three-year-old in 2022 when he won the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and finished fourth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The son of Siyouni (Fr) was plagued by injury after that, denying him the opportunity to bid for the top-level success which was well within his capabilities, according to stud director Benoit Jeffroy. He said, “Al Hakeem was a highly-rated horse, 124 with Timeform. We thought he deserved his chance to stand as a stallion, not only because he's a Group 2 winner but because he had the potential to be a Group 1 winner. All of the time he was showing that, but he just had no luck after he finished fourth in the Arc. As a four-year-old he got injured when a horse ran into him and split his tendon which took a while to recover.” Last seen on a racecourse winning the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville in August, the now-six-year-old Al Hakeem is reported to have plenty of good breeders in his corner already, with Al Shaqab set to send him around 10 of their own mares in the hope that he produces offspring as good-looking as himself. “We've also sold a few breeding rights which is something we like to do,” Jeffroy continued. “We've syndicated a few horses in the past and we always like to have some good partners to support the horse through the years which is important. I think we've sold around 25 breeding rights, which is great, and hopefully a few more people will be booking mares to him this weekend.” Jeffroy also reported that last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Fr) is another who will receive around 10 mares from Al Shaqab, after they bought into him in July last year, together with Ballylinch Stud where the colt is preparing to embark on his first season at a fee of €20,000. The son of Lope De Vega (Ire) promises to be hugely popular in his second career, much like his predecessor, Ace Impact (Ire). An emphatic winner of the Prix du Jockey Club in 2023, he retired unbeaten at the end of that year, having produced another explosive performance on his swansong to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Now, the team at Haras de Beaumont excitedly await the arrival of Ace Impact's first foals after he covered 180 mares in 2024, with the first homebred arrival said to be imminent. “A mare is due very soon with us,” confirmed Beaumont stud manager Mathieu Alex. “That's obviously very exciting–this is the next step for him. He's had tremendous support from all over the world and he's very popular again this year. He's just a very exciting horse. His acceleration was tremendous and he won the Prix du Jockey Club which is a very successful race where making stallions is concerned.” Ace Impact was not the only Prix du Jockey Club winner to be shown at Beaumont. The 2013 hero Intello (Ger) also paraded for visitors when they could be dragged away from the cosy scene indoors, which offered seemingly all-you-can-eat charcuterie and a glimpse at the impressive Arc trophy won by Ace Impact, but it was the next generation of talent which really got bums off seats. New recruit Puchkine (Fr) continues to earn rave reviews, according to Alex, while there was an enjoyable encore to the stallion parade when we were taken off to be introduced to a bunch of now-yearlings from the first crop of their G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Champion Stakes winner Sealiway (Fr). “We're very happy with his first crop,” Alex added of the son of Galiway (GB). “We've got 25 by him on the farm. As you've seen, we're showing some here to the visitors and they are going down very well. They have a lot of quality and Sealiway himself was a true champion.” Speaking of champions, there could be no place better to head next than Haras de Bonneval for a visit I described in Thursday's preview as a bucket list item. That was before I knew there would be crepes on offer, too, a weakness I fear could very quickly get out of hand should I ever have to be in France more than a few days at a time. At least a prolonged stay would bring my French speaking on, a skill which is virtually non-existent, hence my terror when Charlotte Tessier from the Aga Khan Studs suggested I get some practice by conducting my interview with Pierre Gasnier in French. The man who recently succeeded Georges Rimaud as the manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France certainly didn't deserve that torture, especially as my Yorkshire accent is already hard enough to understand. “We don't have any first foals born yet,” Gasnier confirmed after lip-reading manfully through my question about that imminent milestone for Erevann (Fr) and Vadeni (Ire). “We have a couple of mares due in Ireland from Vadeni but they haven't foaled yet. He's a stallion who we're very excited about because he was such a champion himself on the track. He was the European champion three-year-old in 2023, after winning both the Prix du Jockey Club and the Eclipse and finishing second in the Arc. He was a black-type winner at two and he covered a very strong book of mares, including the dams of three different Group 1 winners. “Erevann was also well supported by French breeders and with mares from England and Ireland. We actually have our best older mare in foal to Erevann and she's already due. That's Daryakana, a Group 1 winner and the dam of Dariyan. Being a son of Dubawi, who is a sire of sires, he has all of the credentials to be another superstar. If he does as well as Zarak, we will be in business.” There are certainly similarities to be drawn between Erevann and Zarak (Fr), both being by Dubawi and out of multiple Group 1-winning mares in Ervedya (Fr) and Zarkava (Ire), respectively. The sire of three individual Group 1 winners from his first four crops, Zarak is “well established as being the next top stallion in France” according to Gasnier, with his best-bred crop of two-year-olds to come in 2025. Perhaps the only stallion conclusively ahead of Zarak in the pecking order of French stallions is his stud-mate, Siyouni (Fr), and most worrying for those trying to topple the top dog is Gasnier's confidence that the 18-year-old hasn't peaked yet. “He's a real success story,” Gasnier said of the sire who remains at a fee of €200,000 for 2025, having started at €7,000 back in 2011 when the Route des Etalons debuted. “You quickly forget quickly that he started at such an affordable level. We're excited about him because we truly believe that his best years are yet to come, with the quality of the mares he has received for the last three years–especially last year.” Gasnier described the experience of opening the doors at Bonneval as “business but with pleasure”, referring to the fact that the Route des Etalons caters for both potential clients and your average racing fan. Those sentiments were later echoed by Nicolas de Chambure as he welcomed around 50 people to his Haras d'Etreham on Saturday morning as part of a trip organised by France Galop. “Those people aren't necessarily breeders, but there were some owners and racing fans [among them],” de Chambure said of the group. “It's great for us to be able to show this side of the business to them. It's our duty to make sure that our industry gets seen and appreciated.” One horse certainly being appreciated by visitors to Etreham was the imposing Hello Youmzain (Fr), who is now up there with the likes of Zarak among the most expensive sires in France at €40,000 (from €22,500 in 2024), with his hike in fee reportedly doing nothing to perturb breeders after he sired 21 individual two-year-old winners in Europe from last year's first crop. “He's got a full book now for 2025, so it's very exciting,” de Chambure said of the high-class sprinter. “We had high expectations for him, obviously, but he was not that precocious himself. He progressed from two to three, and from three to four. I think we're going to see the best of them this year, so what he's done until now is probably a bonus already.” Last year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr), now based at Etreham, was one of the new stallions on show during the Route des Etalons to gain his fair share of admirers, including bloodstock agent Tina Rau and Alexis Navet, the manager of Haras Voltaire. “Metropolitan is a very encouraging prospect,” said Navet. “He had a very good racing career and was the best miler in France last year. He's an outcross for a lot of mares and he's got a nice physique and a good walk. I think breeders will be delighted with him.” Rau concurred as she eventually came down on the side of the son of Zarak in a close fought contest for the title of most exciting recruit to the French stallion scene. “I think all of the new boys I've seen were really nice horses,” she summed up. “Obviously, Charyn was an outstanding racehorse and he has a nice physique. I really liked Metropolitan and Big Rock at Haras de Grandcamp, while Puchkine is very much in the mould of his sire, Starspangledbanner. Of all the new stallions, I think it would be Metropolitan for me.” Metropolitan might have had the final say over his G1 Prix Jacques le Marois conqueror in that argument, but there was more than enough love to go around for Charyn (Ire), the outstanding miler of 2024, as he prepares to stand his first season at Sumbe's Haras de Montfort et Preaux. “We have five Group 1 winners on our roster, but I think he's been a big part of the attraction here over the weekend,” Sumbe's Mathieu Le Forestier said of the popular grey. That was most definitely true for one young boy in attendance on Saturday who went away clearly delighted by the experience, having managed to secure a Charyn baseball cap and a picture with his hero. Just as he did on the racecourse throughout last year–when winning three Group 1s and filling the runner-up spot in another two–Charyn took everything asked of him in his stride, displaying an unflappable nature which should continue to stand him in good stead as he limbers up for what has the makings of a busy first season in the covering shed. “He's been going down incredibly well and his book is nearly full now,” Le Forestier added. “We're going to cap him to 120 outside mares and there's just a few spots available, so we'll be handpicking them from now on. On top of that we'll add 20 mares of our own and around another 20 from the shareholders. All in all, he should cover around 160 mares.” Among those in attendance at Montfort et Preaux was Andreas Putsch, the owner of Haras de Saint Pair, who was firmly in Charyn's corner when it came to choosing the best of the stallions who have retired to France for 2025. “Obviously, Charyn stands out as the most accomplished racehorse retiring to France this year,” said Putsch. “He had great acceleration at the end of a race and his true ability is in his soundness. He had a long career, dancing every dance, and he was there as a two-year-old. There are no holes in him.” Whilst there might not be any holes in Charyn, it's fair to say that there were plenty of holes in my plan to pace myself over the two days, in every sense as I sit here now overtired and having overindulged. It's going to take a few days to recover from, no doubt, but here's hoping the memories stay with me much longer than that when it comes to my first Route des Etalons, most definitely the place to be this weekend. The post La Route des Etalons, ‘The Place to be This Weekend’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

From an Eclipse Award to two Sovereign Awards, from a Queen's Plate win among her dozens of stakes victories to the title of highest-earning female rider in the sport's history and more than 1,900 career visits to the winner's circle, Emma-Jayne Wilson has fought her share of battles on the racetrack. One of the most challenging battles of her life, however, is surely the one she is now fighting behind closed doors as she recovers from neck and pelvic fractures sustained in an Oct. 25 accident at Woodbine. The words “neck and pelvic fractures” don't do justice to the severity of her injuries, which left Wilson completely bedridden for more than two months and continue to pave a long road of recovery ahead of her. “There were a few days I was in ICU with major trauma and bleeding they were monitoring very, very closely,” said Wilson this week via phone from her home in the Toronto area. “It was a bit touch and go in that tight time, but that massive surgery that they did was successful.” Wilson is refreshingly candid about the difficulty in being faced with a long and arduous recovery, a challenge for any person, but magnified exponentially for an athlete used to being extremely active. “I'm doing as well as can be expected,” she said. “It's odd, it's bittersweet. I had some good news obviously this week [with the neck collar coming off], but the reality of the situation really sucks as well. I'll be honest, I don't have a good attitude all the time. You don't really showcase the negative days because it's not really worth it, but I'm going to be honest. There's some ups and downs, good days and bad. I woke up [Thursday] and it wasn't a good day. I was just grumpy and unhappy with the situation and I wanted to throw things and hit things. “But,” she emphasizes, “I've been given an excellent prognosis with full recovery, so that's what I focus on. I'm used to training and exercising and whatnot, so that's what I put the focus into. It's not bench pressing like I'm used to, but it's that much more important to do these exercises and get these small gains. I give everything to that, every ounce that I can, to using the walker and getting my legs going properly again. There's a lot of little things and those are the positives, so that's what I hold on to, that full recovery prognosis that I have. That gets you through those [rough] days.” Wilson in July, when she broke the record as the highest-earning female jockey in history | Michael Burns Wilson said the fractures she sustained were not simple. Her neck fracture was at the C2 level, or the second cervical level. It was the same fracture actor and horseman Christopher Reeve sustained, which left him paralyzed from the neck down for the remainder of his life. Wilson said her C2 fracture was very close to being surgical, but it was the pelvic injuries that have been the biggest challenge. In the trauma bay immediately after the accident, doctors screwed pins through both of Wilson's femurs just above her knees “and attached these hoops around them so they could string a cable to pull my lower body down away from my upper body so my pelvis didn't collapse inwards.” It was a special form of traction meant to buy time as the surgical team needed to protect the area while they waited for the swelling and bleeding to subside enough to operate. Her pelvic injuries were complex and Wilson now sports an array of internal plates and screws. “The surgery that they did spared me any neurological damage,” said Wilson. “One of the significant pieces is the severity of the fractures. It all depends on the severity. I did sustain massive fractures to my pelvis and my sacrum. I hit the rail at full speed, but I was lucky enough that the fractures didn't get to my joints, so my hips and the front of my pelvis were spared. I was very lucky.” Wilson spent about two months in the hospital, but wasn't able to walk away. “I was released from the hospital before Christmas, but I've been bedridden, so I'm literally living in my living room. We had to get a hospital bed and all the accessories to go along with the number of wheeled devices to help me go through the day. The early days were very, very difficult. “I've been completely non-weight-bearing, where I was not to put my weight on the ground at all, so I would have to transfer from the bed to a wheelchair, for example, using a slide board so I wouldn't put my feet down. It's slowly progressed where I could build from there and the orthopedic surgeon has now opened it up to some weight-bearing to move towards full weight-bearing. There's that level of reactivation and reengaging the muscles that were traumatized to bring them back to what they know and what they're used to. You have to do it properly and that's where I'm at now.” Jockeys are famously tough as nails and so accustomed to working through injuries that they often tend to heal and return faster than expected. Wilson said this particular healing is not a process that can be expedited. “There's no point in rushing because it may be a shortcut now, but you're not going to gain in the long term. I've had enough injuries through my career that the reality of that is there and the gains have been like that. There's no other option really. You do it and you do it right.” Given her fitness and athleticism, the doctors have given Wilson a prognosis of full recovery in time. However, with such severe injuries, will her body truly be the same? Will she be able to return at 100% capacity? “I'm going to be a little bit different, I think, but not excessively so,” said Wilson. “The intent is to get back to riding as soon as I am able to give the same riding that everyone was used to. That is the goal, but with the severity of the injuries and the way rehabilitation goes, I'm not going to rush it.” Wilson in the win that secured her historic earnings record | Michael Burns Woodbine, where Wilson is based, opens for the season Apr. 26, a little more than three months away and six months after the spill. She hopes to be ready to ride, but is also realistic that it may be too soon. “The goal would be opening day, but I have to take every day as it comes with the right level of grit and determination and then go from there, taking it day by day.” Race riding is a dangerous job. Jockeys risk not just their livelihoods, but also their health and even their lives multiple times a day. Wilson was asked if she thinks the risks will be more acute, or more prominent in her thoughts, when she does return. She didn't hesitate as she cited an ongoing deep respect for the hazards that go along with riding. She said nothing has changed in that regard. “The way I've always looked at it–and I've sustained multiple injuries [in my career], this one being one of the most severe–is if it really changes your outlook on how you ride races, it's because you didn't respect the dangers to begin with. For me, it's no different. The risk hasn't changed; it's always been the same. “The next time I throw a leg over a horse, I know what I'm going out there to do and what the risks involved are and I knew that the first time I threw my leg over a horse in a race as well. That level of respect and acknowledgment of what the potential dangers are is a big part of that. I don't think that everyone manages it the same as me, so I think it's important for the mental health aspect as jocks where that discussion that has come up in the last year or so. But for me, I think that outlook, that perception has given me so much strength as a whole from the beginning of my career.” As Wilson spends long days continuing to recover, she said positive messages on social media have helped keep her spirits up. “I just want to say how grateful I am with the support I've been getting from the fans. Social media gives people access and the support of the fans has made me feel so blessed. It helps on those down days when you get a chance to have a look through. It means so much to see those little tidbits and helps me look at the bigger picture.” The post With ‘Grit and Determination,’ Emma-Jayne Wilson Still Faces Long Recovery appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Paco Lopez, suspended since Dec. 4 for a postrace riding crop infraction Dec. 3 at Parx Racing in which he struck an erratically racing mount in the face or neck area, will be reinstated on a conditional basis effective Jan. 23.View the full article

6th-FG, $58K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 4:15 p.m. ET. Taking on two turns for her debut is Godolphin homebred LOVE SONG (Ghostzapper). The filly is trained Mike Stidham who also conditioned her older full-brother Mystic Guide and watched as the current sire took the 2021 G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan. Their dam Music Note (A.P. Indy) was an accomplished race filly in her own right as she won five out of nine top level chances during her career for Godolphin. In the breeding shed, Music Note also produced GIII Penn Mile Stakes hero Gershwin (Distorted Humor), who was sent to Argentina in 2022, and last year she foaled a filly by Not This Time. TJCIS PPS The post Sunday’s Racing Insights: Full-Sister To Mystic Guide Unveiled For Godolphin In The Big Easy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Paco Lopez, suspended since Dec. 4 for a postrace riding crop infraction Dec. 3 at Parx Racing in which he struck an erratic-racing mount in the face or neck area, will be reinstated on a conditional basis effective Jan. 23.View the full article

Wodeton (Aus) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) punched his ticket for the G1 Golden Slipper with a 3 3/4-length win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday for trainer Chris Waller (video). The A$1.6-million yearling commanded plenty of hype and was already second in the betting for the Slipper, but the manner of his performance sees him vying for the top spot. Overcoming a slow start in the 1100-metre affair, the bay unleashed a powerful bid at the 300-metre mark under James McDonald, ultimately zipping home. He distanced the field in a couple of jumps. The Magic Man (Aus) (Showtime {Aus}) finished second. Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth was on course for the win and said, “If the track was in the heavy range, we might have waited a week, but James [McDonald] won't be here [then],” Duckworth said. “We wanted to have James on, and we are fortunate to be racing on a soft deck today. “He was the most highly talked about colt when we were up at the Magic Millions [last week], and he had only trialled and yet everyone was asking about him. To generate that much hype off of a trial when you are well held and didn't even win…but obviously people knew what they were looking at and he's pretty exciting. “Chris will plot a path to the Golden Slipper 2025. There is the [G3] Canonbury Stakes coming up in a fortnight, but we will see how he comes through this race.” “He's the real deal,” added McDonald. “He has the most pure action and unbelievable demeanour about him and it's going to take him a long way. You wait until you see him on good ground!” Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, the son of Listed Morphettville Guineas heroine Fiera Vista (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) was offered by Segenhoe Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last January, and caught the eye of Coolmore Australia's Tom Magnier, who made the winning bid of A$1.6 million. Wodeton is a half-brother to the winner Queen Starlight (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), as well as a yearling colt by I Am Invincible (Aus) who also sold to Magnier for A$1.15 million at this year's Gold Coast Sale. This is the extended family of group winner Empress Rock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Silent Witness (Aus) (El Moxie), and the latter's half-sister and multiple group winner Sister Madly (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), who was twice placed at the highest level. The colt is owned in partnership by Coolmore, Wynaus, Westerberg, Mr J Poulin, Sir P J Vela, Chris Waller Racing, Lynque, Peachester Lodge, Mr R McClure, Meridian Bloodstock, Lockhart Waller Racing, Glentree Racing, Mr K MacLennan, Fairway Thoroughbreds, and Marcstown Pty. Ltd. The post Another Slipper Prospect For Wootton Bassett And Coolmore 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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