Wandering Eyes

Race 7 TAB TELEGRAPH (G1) 1200m WAITAK (M Hashizume) – Co-trainer Mr. A Scott reported to Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of the gelding. A Scott further advised WAITAK was given a short break to freshen, and it is the stables intention to carry on with the gelding’s current preparation, where they may look to nominate WAITAK for the Auckland TR meeting on Saturday 25 January. Race 8 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY SALVE BARNAO 1600m KEEPING TIME (A Riddell) – Trainer Ms. L Latta advised Stewards, she was satisfied with the post-race condition of the mare, however, KEEPING TIME has now been sent for a spell. The post Wellington Racing Club @ Trentham, Saturday 4 January 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

PUNTERS PREFER BLONDES Family run bookmaker, competing with big names in odds and promotions. Join BlondeBet The Gold Coast Magic Millions, impacted by rain, will now host its last seven races on Friday, January 17, and BlondeBet is offering customers an excellent chance to boost their winning potential during the 2025 Magic Millions races. BlondeBet’s standout Magic Millions promotion provides $50 back in bonus cash if your selection finishes second or third. This offer is available for one use on any race of your choice, giving punters a valuable safety net on race day. Below are all the promotions to help assist for a massive Friday night of racing: Blonde Returns Horse Racing Bet Return – 100% Bonus Cash Back 2nd or 3rd, up to $50 SGM Bet Return – 4+ leg SGM, 100% Bonus Cash Back if 1 leg fails, up to $100 Blonde Boosts Horse Racing Boost – Max Bet $500 (10%) Greyhound Racing Boost – Max Bet $500 (10%) SRM Boost – Max Bet $500 (10%) Multi Boost – Max Bet $500 (10%) In addition, with Magic Millions betting being so competitive, it’s worth adding BlondeBet to your rotation on Saturday, as they often offer attractive odds, particularly on rougher chances. BlondeBet is also focusing on the Moruya racecourse, offering Bonus Cash back for second-place finishes in races 4 through 7, up to $100. While BlondeBet might not yet be a household name in Australian betting, they are an Australian family-run business led by the Pendlebury family. Having built their reputation through years of trackside betting, long before many larger operators entered the scene, BlondeBet brings a personalised touch to the market. With features like Blonde Boosts and Bet Returns, they’re well-prepared for both the Gold Coast Magic Millions night and Friday’s racing on January 17. Magic Millions promotions at BlondeBet BlondeBet Gold Coast Magic Millions promotions include: Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Moruya Races 4-7 | Bonus Cash Back BONUS CASH BACK FOR 2ND & 3RD- Up To $100- Moruay Races 4 to 7 BlondeBet T&C’s Apply, Only for eligible customers. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo What betting markets will BlondeBet offer on Magic Millions day BlondeBet is not a household name in Australian racing, but this bookmaker does have some cool points of different, including very competitive odds. BlondeBet’s bet types available on the Magic Millions include: Win/Place Same race multis Trifecta Quinella exacta First four Quaddie Early quaddie Daily Double Does BlondeBet have a free bet offer for new customers? BlondeBet does not offer a new account incentive, because these are outlawed under Australian laws. This means BlondeBet’s Magic Millions free bet is non-existent. BlondeBet.com.au Magic Millions Referral code BlondeBet.com.au readers can use our exclusive BlondeBet.com.au Magic Millions Code: GETON More horse racing promotions View the full article

NEXT GEN RACING BETTING Picklebet Australia is offering a stack of promotions, plus very competitive betting markets. Top Four Betting. Extra Place. Every Race Picklebet.com.au is a popular Australian horse racing betting platform, and like many bookmakers, they are set to shine during the Magic Millions under the stars on Friday, January 17. Picklebet often provides unique Magic Millions betting promotions, including enhanced odds on select runners and cashback deals in previous years. For 2025, Picklebet’s Magic Millions promotions include Double Your Winnings on all races at the Gold Coast on January 17. While this bonus comes with some restrictions—such as applying to the first bet only and a maximum bonus of $100—it offers an excellent opportunity to maximize your returns on Magic Millions day. Additionally, Picklebet will feature their popular Top Four betting option, available on every race at any time. This allows punters to bet on a horse finishing fourth instead of third, which could be especially profitable given the forecasted wet weather for Magic Millions race day. Magic Millions promotions at Picklebet.com.au Picklebet is giving customers the following during the course of Magic Millions night on January 17: Double Winnings! – Gold Coast Get DOUBLE WINNINGS paid in BONUS CASH for your first bet on each race at the Gold Coast. Fixed Win Only. Max bonus $100. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo What betting markets will Picklebet offer on Magic Millions Pciklebet has a stack of betting markets available, like their fourth-place betting available at every horse racing meeting. They also offer some very competitive betting odds, which are available through their site. Picklebet bet types available on Magic Millions in 2025 include: Top Four Betting Same race multis Win/Place Quinella Exacta Trifecta First Four Quaddie Early quaddie Picklebet’s Magic Millions coverage will also include a bevy of stats on the various runners throughout the day, including betting fluctuations, speed glance and speed maps, Does Picklebet.com.au have a free bet offer for new customers? Picklebet will not offer a free bet offer for new customers on the 2025 Magic Millions, with these types of new account incentives banned. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Magic Millions night will be held on the Gold Coast on January 17. Photo: Darren Winningham The Magic Millions race night at the Gold Coast, scheduled for Friday, January 17, is poised to be one of the standout betting events on the Australian horse racing calendar. The excitement is heightened as bookmaker promotions ramp up during this time of year. Although Magic Millions promotions may not carry the same weight as in previous years, many Australian betting sites continue to offer referral codes and deals tied to this prestigious Gold Coast event. Gold Coast Magic Millions Bookmaer Promotions & Betting Offers The top Magic Millions promotions for 2025 are: 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 Double Winnings! – Gold Coast Get DOUBLE WINNINGS paid in BONUS CASH for your first bet on each race at the Gold Coast. Fixed Win Only. Max bonus $100. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Friday Bonus Back 2nd ALL RACES at Gold Coast Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Gold Coast R1-3 | Run 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $25 Run 2nd or 3rd in Races 1-3 at Gold Coast on Friday and receive a bonus back up to $25. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Gold Coast Race 1 – Copy Any Bet AND If Your Horse Runs 2nd OR 3rd – Real Cash Back Up To $25 Max refund of $25 for your first copied bet only. Eligible customers only. Max refund of $25 if your first bet runs 2nd, 3rd of 4th on the above races on November 5. Available for the first copied win bet or the win portion of a win/place bet on the selected race. Eligible customers only. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. 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 Magic Millions racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for Magic Millions on January 17, 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

Login to view all Unibet offers! New customers only. 18+. Located in UK. Min bet 2/5 or more. Each leg of multi must be over 2/5 for bet to qualify. 3x wagering requirement before withdrawing.Full terms View offers! Unibet is offering some outstanding Magic Millions promotions in the lead-up to the 2025 running of the Gold Coast feature set for January 17. Unibet’s main Magic Millions promotion is a cash back deal, where you get your stake back as a bonus bet, if your wager finishes second or third on all races. Unibet is also offering Daily Mutli Insurance on all races on Magic Millions night, with this meaning you will get paid the best tote price in Australia for all bets, including quaddies, quinellas, trifectas, exactas and first fours. Unibet Magic Millions promotions 2025 Unibet.com.au Magic Millions promotions for 2025 include the following: 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 Friday Bonus Back 2nd ALL RACES at Gold Coast Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo What betting markets will Unibet offer on Magic Millions night? Unibet does not have as many bet types as other Magic Millions bookies such as Neds, however they are definitely one of the better options. On this year’s Magic Millions Unibet is offering a huge selection of different odds types, with these including both exotic and standard bet types. Unibet does have some unique bet types, with these including Head to Head markets, where two horses in the Magic Millions field are pitted against each other and priced accordingly. Unibet, which recently added same race multis to their selection, also offer bundle bets and quaddies. Unibet bet types available on the Magic Millions include: Win/Place Same race multis Trifecta Quinella exacta First four Quaddie H2H Bundle Bet Does Unibet have a free bet offer for new customers? Unibet will not offer a free bet to new customers for the running of the Magic Millions, with this because of local laws, which outlaw new account incentives. You can learn more about free bets in Australia in our excellent guide. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Login to PlayUp to view latest Melbourne Cup promotions! View promos! PlayUp.com.au is a popular Australian horse racing betting option, and like most bookies they will excel around Magic Millions night so for Friday, January 17. PlayUp generally offers some unique Magic Millions betting promotions, with these including enhanced odds on select runners and cash back deals in previous years. Magic Millions promotions at PlayUp in 2025 include up to $25 cash back on races 1-3 at Gold Coast on January 17. While there are some restrictions surrounding this PlayUp Magic Millions bonus, including not being able to use it conjunction with other offers, it is a great way to make your dollar stretch longer on Gold Coast Magic Millions night. The Horsebetting.com.au team bets regularly at PlayUp and this year’s Magic Millions looms as a good opportunity, with their odds seemingly better than much of their opposition. Magic Millions promotions at Playup.com.au PlayUp is giving customers the following during the course of Magic Millions night: Gold Coast R1-3 | Run 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $25 Run 2nd or 3rd in Races 1-3 at Gold Coast on Friday and receive a bonus back up to $25. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp 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 What betting markets will PlayUp offer on Magic Millions night PlayUp does not have as many betting markets on major horse racing meetings as your big guns Neds, however, they are definitely not the worst, and often their odds can shine. PlayUp bet types available on the Magic Millions in 2025 include: Same race multis Win/Place Quinella Exacta Trifecta First Four Quaddie Early quaddie PlayUp’s Magic Millions coverage will also include a bevy of stats on the various runners throughout the day, including betting fluctuations, speed glance and speed maps, Does PlayUp.com.au have a free bet offer for new customers? PlayUp will not offer a free bet offer for new customers on the 2025 Magic Millions, with these types of new account incentives banned. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Dabble.com.au is Australia’s social betting app, and like all good bookmakers, they offer customers various Magic Millions promotions and offers. With Magic Millions betting wide open after a si-day delay due to the races being abandoned due to the rain. Getting the best odds and shopping around when placing your Gold Coast Magic Millions bets is crucial. This year, Dabble’s Magic Millions promotions include copy any bet and if your horse runs 2nd or 3rd in Gold Coast race 1, receive cash back up to $25. The other leading promotion they are currently offering is COPYCASH, which is getting paid $.10 every time someone uses Copy Bet to copy any of your bets placed on their app. Dabble, which is only accessible via mobile, is an Australian-owned bookmaker, which has quickly made a mark among punters. Dabble Magic Millions promotions 2025 Dabble.com.au is giving customers the following during the course of Magic Millions day: Gold Coast Race 1 – Copy Any Bet AND If Your Horse Runs 2nd OR 3rd – Real Cash Back Up To $25 Max refund of $25 for your first copied bet only. Eligible customers only. Max refund of $25 if your first bet runs 2nd, 3rd of 4th on the above races on November 5. Available for the first copied win bet or the win portion of a win/place bet on the selected race. Eligible customers only. Login to Dabble 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 What betting markets will Dabble offer on Magic Millions day Dabble offers a strong selection of betting markets on major meetings and the Magic Millions at Gold Coast is no different. Dabble bet types available on the Magic Millions include: Same race multis Win/Place Trifecta Quinella exacta First four Does Dabble have a free bet offer for new customers? Dabble does have some Magic Millions promotions, however they are unable to offer free bet offers to Australians, because of local laws, which ban new account incentives. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Champion jockey says outside gate in Centenary Sprint Cup field of eight could threaten star sprinter’s winning streak.View the full article

The Kentucky-based private-equity firm founder and manager John Stewart, whose aggressive spending and outspoken attitude have made a big splash in the global bloodstock and racing worlds since he entered the Thoroughbred business from scratch a little more than a year ago, is being sued in a New York court by an investment firm that provided initial funding for Stewart's MiddleGround Capital. That plaintiff, Archean Capital Partners, is now alleging that Stewart and other MiddleGround defendants are acting in “bad faith” for purportedly falling behind and refusing to pay $22 million in contractually due revenue shares. The lawsuit, which was filed Dec. 23, 2024 in New York Supreme Court but had been under seal until a judge ordered it made public Jan. 9, 2025, alleged that the MiddleGround defendants have been “diverting funds that should have been paid to Archean as its share of Defendants' revenue to satisfy Defendants' other obligations or business pursuits.” The suit stated that Archean was “surprised” during an October 2024 meeting when Stewart, via written report, “revealed that one of the ways MiddleGround Management had used the cash it received through the MiddleGround Funds was to satisfy numerous other personal financial obligations, including taxes, various unapproved capital expenditures, and his required funding obligations” as the general partner in a subsequent MiddleGround fund. Although the civil complaint did not make a specific claim that the allegedly diverted money went to fund Stewart's horse racing ventures at Resolute Racing, the lawsuit did state that Stewart's immersion into the sport has detracted from the time and attention Archean expected him to spend running MiddleGround. The lawsuit stated that, “Stewart has also pursued other outside ventures in a manner that runs afoul” of an Apr. 2, 2018, agreement between Archean and MiddleGround in which Archean provided an initial $75 million capital commitment in exchange for a certain agreed-upon share of the revenue received by MiddleGround. That agreement, according to the lawsuit, also stipulated that Stewart and other MiddleGround principals were supposed to “devote the substantial majority” of their working time to managing the funds. Archean's suit stated that Steward instead focused on his Thoroughbred endeavors. “Without Archean's approval, Stewart directed his time and attention away from management of the MiddleGround Funds to support his outside ventures,” the lawsuit stated. “By way of example, Stewart began to heavily invest in '[horse] racing and bloodstock,' including spending over $25 million at a public auction in 2023 and eventually acquiring Shadayid Stud from Shadwell Farm, [now] renamed Resolute Farm. “Stewart's newfound interest in buying, selling, and raising Thoroughbred horses has diverted his attention from growing and managing the MiddleGround Funds and, on information and belief, has caused him to spend less than the 'substantial' amount of time he is required to devote to the management of the Funds,” the lawsuit stated. “Stewart was contractually required to obtain Archean's written approval before making this type of investment (i.e., purchasing 'all or a substantial portion' of the 'assets or business…of any third party') and to provide notice when devoting less than the required 'substantial majority' of time to working on the MiddleGround Fund, but he failed to obtain such approval or provide such notice,” the lawsuit stated. Reached Thursday evening by TDN, Stewart issued the following statement when asked for his side of the story: “We can't comment on ongoing litigation. Unfortunately in private equity this happens from time to time. This is the first time MiddleGround has ever been involved in any litigation and we are confident that our position is justified. We trust the legal process and we look forward to our opportunity to tell our side of the story. ” About an hour later on Jan. 16, Stewart posted a longer statement to his social media account on X. It read, in part: “With my recent rise in the racing community, my name has attracted considerable media attention. “The private equity industry is fiercely competitive, and disputes can occasionally emerge. I take great pride in my professional reputation, and I have successfully avoided litigation throughout my 30 years in business-until now. “Unfortunately, that record has been compromised. Late last year, we faced a disagreement with an organization we believed was attempting to leverage litigation to pressure us into an unfair agreement. “I am not easily intimidated, and I firmly believe in confronting bullies… “I recognize that the racing industry can be filled with speculation, and my critics will seize this opportunity to undermine my integrity. This is regrettable, and in times like these, we discover who our true friends are.” Archean described itself in the suit as “a private market investment platform” that often serves as a lead investor by providing funding ahead of other investors. As part of its return for taking that initial risk, Archean receives a share of the revenue generated by private equity fund managers. “Archean's initial infusion of capital in private equity funds provides these burgeoning funds with the critical early capital that these private equity funds need to make initial investments and raise additional capital from third-party investors,” is how the lawsuit described a typical arrangement, like the one it purportedly entered into with MiddleGround. In serving as the “anchor investor,” Archean “has no input on, and no advance transparency into, how the MiddleGround Principals invest the capital they received from Archean [and] that is by design,” the lawsuit stated. “Archean sought to provide Defendants with the autonomy necessary to carry out their business while providing the initial capital investment to allow the initial MiddleGround Fund (and hence subsequent MiddleGround Funds) to raise additional investor capital, execute its investment program, and flourish.” The suit continued: “Archean expected Defendants to exercise that autonomy in accordance with their fiduciary responsibilities. However [the defendants] improperly exercised that autonomy and breached the duties that Archean entrusted to them. “Pursuant to the revenue sharing provision in the Letter Agreement, Defendants owed Archean a percentage of certain fees they earned from the MiddleGround Funds. Though Defendants have made sporadic payments over time since the inception of the initial MiddleGround Fund in 2018, the outstanding amount of revenue sharing that Defendants owe Archean has dramatically grown over time, with the amount due currently sitting at more than $22 million (and growing).” “Until very recently, Defendants did not dispute that they owed Archean this amount,” the suit stated. “Defendants confirmed the current amount of revenue sharing fees owed to Archean as recently as Oct. 31, 2024, and had, during the prior year, provided Archean with accounting information that contained the same amount of fees…” The suit stated that, “Stewart, in particular, was adamant that these amounts would be paid. In October 2024, Stewart emailed employees of Archean promising to 'bring [their] obligations to [Archean] current' and assured Archean of his 'commitment to honoring [his] financial obligations,' including 'liquidat[ing] personal assets if necessary to ensure [Archean] [is] compensated.'” The lawsuit alleged that on Dec. 4, 2024, “after Archean raised the specter of legal action if Defendants did not make substantial progress in paying Archean the October 2024 Outstanding Amount, Stewart did an about face, claiming for the first time that the Revenue Share had been miscalculated and, contrary to the parties' years-long agreement of the meaning of the contract, took the position that Archean was not owed the October 2024 Outstanding Amount after all, and that it was Archean that owed MiddleGround Management money.” The suit concluded by asking for the court to award Archean the “October 2024 Outstanding Amount and any additional amounts that are accrued and unpaid” as of the date of judgment; declaring that any future revenue share payments are due immediately, and declaring that Defendants will “fully and completely indemnify Archean as contemplated by the contracts between the parties.” The post Resolute Racing’s Stewart And His Private Equity Firm Sued for Alleged `Bad Faith’ Refusal to Pay $22 Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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Leica Lucy will contest the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) The last time Leica Lucy tackled a three-year-old fillies mile at Trentham, her rivals were no match, and she is looking to replicate that performance on Saturday when she contests the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). A filly by Derryn, Leica Lucy was a debut winner and then only narrowly beaten by Wingman at her following start, but once she stepped up to 1600m, she put over two lengths on the field in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m). Like the course and distance, her jockey Craig Grylls will remain the same, and her trainer Robbie Patterson couldn’t be happier with his charge heading into Saturday’s feature contest. “She had a quiet week after the Eulogy and has just been ticking over, she’s pretty straightforward,” Patterson said. “She’s had some good gallops lately and I’m very happy with her. “She’s probably done fractionally well since her race, she’s put on some weight and is going into it a very happy horse.” Leica Lucy is currently the odds-on favourite at $1.85 with BlondeBet, and while Patterson is hopeful she can get the job done, he has plenty more in store for the filly, including the $1 million Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and potential trip across the Tasman. “Going off her last run, I think she’s improved, so I’d hope that she’s winning on Saturday,” he said. “From there, it gets a bit tricky, either I’ve got to start two weeks later in the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m), and then a month to the Lowland (Group 2, 2100m), and three weeks to the Oaks. “But I don’t want to overtax her, she could end up in Aussie in the autumn as well. We’ll just get through Saturday and go from there.” Horse racing news View the full article

Wexford Stables has announced Checkmate as their $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) representative. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Wexford Stables have an enviable cohort of three-year-olds in their care this season, which made selecting a $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) representative a challenging task for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. But with the interests of the remainder of the group in mind, Wexford have announced that their hugely-promising galloper Checkmate will fill their slot in the inaugural running of the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race. Checkmate has made just five appearances to the races and in that time has made a big impression with three victories, including the Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m) and an open three-year-old 1500m last Sunday at Ellerslie. The O’Sullivan and Scott partnership already have Sought After in the feature under Waikato Stud’s slot, and the former is hoping others in the stable will get their opportunity with the son of Mongolian Khan locked in. “We have some nice horses there and we felt it was best to state who we were going to take in case anyone else had any interest in the others,” O’Sullivan said. “That was one of the reasons why we went early, but in saying that, Checkmate is a horse that gets around Ellerslie, which is important. He’s won at the trip and just ticked a lot of boxes. “He should acquit himself well, we’re happy with him and his condition, although he’ll have another run before then. We’re still undecided where (he will race next), we have a couple of options to work through, but the horse will tell us what he needs. “He’s a nice horse for the race and one of many chances.” A former champion jockey and multiple Group One-winning trainer, O’Sullivan is looking forward to seeing what the race does for an industry he has spent most of his life immersed in, and more importantly, having the Wexford brand play a major role. “It’s exciting to have the biggest prizemoney in the southern hemisphere for three-year-olds, who would’ve thought that would happen,” he said. “It’s great for the industry, it’s new and creates a lot of interest. “It’s important for Wexford, we wanted to be a part of the big dance and to have two horses in the race, it’s fantastic. It’s nice to be able to produce horses that warrant running in the big event. “We’ve had a long time for everyone to put forward their horse and make decisions in which way they’re going to go. It’s like jockeying for positions really. “It’s going to be a very exciting day.” Owned and bred by Okaharau Station, Checkmate currently holds equal favouritism for the NZB Kiwi at $8 with horse racing bookmakers, alongside the TAB slot-holder Evaporate and star colt Savaglee. The race will be run on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. Horse racing news View the full article

What Alice Springs Races Where Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Highway, Connellan, NT, 0870 When Saturday, January 18, 2025 First Race 10:34am ACST Visit Dabble Numbers are healthy for what shapes as yet another competitive meeting in the Red Centre with 48 horses accepting for the six-event program on Saturday afternoon. With the mercury climbing to 44C twice this week, the meeting has been brought forward with 39C the forecast. Pioneer Park will be a dry dirt surface, and the rail will be in the true position. Best Bet at Alice Springs: Delago Lad Delago Lad has impressed since returning from a spell on December 7. Sitting three deep when sharing the lead first up over 1200m at 0-58 level, the seven-year-old gelding kept battling away before succumbing to Illusive Star by half a length. The son of Delago Deluxe then posted two wins after leading throughout over 1200m in 0-64 grade by 4.5 lengths from gate six on December 21 and by 1.5 lengths from gate one on January 5. Delago Lad steps up in grade, but the 2kg claim will help. Best Bet Race 4 – #2 Delago Lad (3) 7yo Gelding | T: Greg Connor | J: Lek Maloney (a2) (59kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Alice Springs: Hell Fire Miss Hell Fire Miss is racing well. The four-year-old mare shared the early lead over 1200m in the 0-58 ranks on December 7 and never saw the rails before finishing third. Two weeks later, the daughter of Hellbent held the fence after sharing the lead and looked gone in the home straight before posting a narrow win in a 1200m maiden. Three deep in third place a fortnight ago over 1100m in 0-58 grade, Hell Fire Miss settled on the paint before finishing strongly for second behind runaway leader Hellivit. With a better run in transit, Hell Fire Miss can go one better. Next Best Race 3 – #2 Hell Fire Miss (4) 4yo Mare | T: Lisa Whittle | J: Sonja Logan (56.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Alice Springs: Duty Fourth over 1400m at BM66 level in November, Duty hasn’t missed a place in his past three starts. Gave the leader a huge start over 1600m in BM54 grade on December 7 before rattling home to win by 1.5 lengths. Far from disgraced when third over 1600m in 0-70 grade before once again finishing strongly from the back of the field when second by half a length lumping 62kg over 1400m at BM54 level. The eight-year-old gelding by Fastnet Rock was an early $4.80 quote with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 6 – #3 Duty (7) 8yo Gelding | T: Ray Viney | J: Brendon Newport (59kg) Bet with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Alice Springs Alice Springs quadrella selections Saturday, January 18, 2025 1-2-3 2-3-4 1-2-3 1-3-5-7-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

The winner of GIII Vosburgh Stakes during the Belmont At The Big A meet last fall and recent victor in the GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Mufasa (Chi) (Practical Joke) was reportedly sold privately for an undisclosed amount by Carlos Saavedra and Stud Vendaval, Inc. to Dubai-based RRR Racing, according to a tweet on X by Agentes305. The post goes on to say the 6-year-old will travel to the Middle East after completing quarantine in the U.S., which was confirmed by current trainer Ignacio Correas. Mufasa began his racing career as a 3-year-old in Chile before coming to the U.S. where he made his stateside debut at Churchill Downs facing optional claiming company in late June. After running sixth, the dark bay cleared the condition at Colonial Downs in mid-August. Conquering the Vosburgh, Mufasa's 50% ownership interest RNA'd for $950,000 during the Keeneland Championship Sale at Del Mar. The Correas trainee was then well-beaten in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile that weekend, but won the Dec. 28 running of the Mr. Prospector Stakes in Hallandale where he defeated heavy favorite White Abarrio (Race Day), who is slated to be among the favorites in next weekend's GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream. MUFASA (11 wins – 3xG3W) winner last time out of the G3 Mr. Prospector Stakes, has been sold privately to RRR RACING in Dubai and will travel to the Middle East in the next days, after completing his quarantine time in USA, as his trainer @IgnacioCorreas has confirmed today…. pic.twitter.com/BlhV09CstN — Agentes305 (@agentes305) January 16, 2025 The post MGSW Mufasa Sold Privately To RRR Racing In Dubai appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday’s Elsdon Park (1400m) at Pukekohe could be a stepping stone towards much bigger and better things for unbeaten three-year-old Dealt With. The Ace High gelding turned heads with a dominant debut victory at Te Aroha on January 4, and that performance did not go unnoticed in terms of fixed-odds markets for upcoming three-year-old features. The TAB currently rates him a $16 chance for next Saturday’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie, with a $21 quote available for the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot race at the same venue on March 8. “There’s a couple of big three-year-old races coming up that we’d love to see him running in, and the first of those is the Karaka Millions,” said Robert Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James. “That’s only six days after this race at Pukekohe on Sunday, so it’s a bit ‘pie in the sky’ at this stage. We’re keeping the option open, but absolutely everything would have to go 100 percent right for us to carry on along that path. “The other option is to give him another run in between times and then hope to secure him a slot for the Kiwi in March.” James and Wellwood paid $90,000 to buy Dealt With from the Book 2 draft of Hallmark Stud at Karaka 2023. His highly impressive first-up performance came as no surprise to the Cambridge trainers, who had previously given him two trials including a five-length romp over 800m at Ellerslie back in September. “We always knew that he was a horse with very good speed and ability,” Wellwood said. “We just had to be a bit patient with him early on, but it was very pleasing to get him to the races at Te Aroha this month and see him produce such an impressive performance on debut. “His work has been good since then. He’s still got plenty to learn, but we believe he’s taken some good improvement from that first run. It’s going to be interesting to see how he goes in better company on Sunday.” Dealt With will again be ridden by George Rooke, who guided him to his win at Te Aroha earlier in the month. The pair will meet a talented line-up of three-year-olds on Sunday, including last-start winners Cognoscenti and This Time Girl, Cambridge Stud filly First Dance and last month’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) fourth placegetter Hard Roca, but Dealt With heads the TAB’s market at $3.80. “We had the option of either the three-year-old race or the Rating 65 at this meeting on Sunday,” Wellwood said. “We were able to accept for both, see how he drew and use that as the decider, and that’s definitely pushed us towards the three-year-old race.” Dealt With will be one of two runners at Pukekohe on Sunday for James and Wellwood. They will also saddle Aladdin Sane in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis (2200m) – something of a Plan B after missing out on a $350,000 opportunity at Trentham. “We entered him for the Remutaka Classic (2100m) on Saturday as well, but unfortunately he’s fourth on the ballot there and very unlikely to get a run,” Wellwood said. “It would have been nice to see him race for $325,000 more, but that’s the way it goes.” Aladdin Sane began his four-year-old season in good form with two seconds and then a win at Pukekohe, beating subsequent Trentham winner and Remutaka Classic contender Sinhaman. He pulled up slightly sore after losing a plate during a 2100m Rating 75 at Tauranga in December, where he was a beaten favourite and finished seventh, but showed more promising signs with a strong finish for sixth in the Thames Cup (1600m) on January 4. “I thought that was a very good run,” Wellwood said. “It was the run of a horse that needs to get back up over ground. He gets that opportunity on Sunday and we’re expecting a good run.” View the full article

An exciting period for stakes racing in the South Island is looming and trainer John Blackadder hopes Saturday’s Wingatui meeting can be a springboard to some feature contests for a pair of his talented gallopers. The Rangiora horseman will travel south with his stable star Ears Back, a seven-win mare who added her most recent success in the Timaru Cup (1600m) last-start. With a view on targeting the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) on March 1, the mare will step back in distance in a competitive Brent Lucas Builders (1400m). “She’s come through the Timaru Cup really well, I was so pleased to get a nice win with her after she got knocked over in the TAB Mile,” Blackadder said. “She likes being on the pace now, she just sits on speed and fights, she really grinds it out. “Her favourite distance is a mile, so we’re aiming for the White Robe Lodge, but you’ve got to keep them ticking over,” he said. “She’s won at Ascot over 1400, so I don’t think the distance will be too much of an issue.” An up-and-comer in his care is Show Pony, a three-year-old by Vespa who showed his raw ability finishing fourth in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) back in October, at just his second start. The gelding continued on to New Zealand Cup Week, where he finished in the same position behind Lil Zena in open age-group company. The trio of Guineas races in the region (Gore, Southland and Dunedin) are on Blackadder’s radar, with the Property Brokers (1200m) presenting as the ideal starting point. “He’s had a good break and we’re getting him ready for the Guineas races coming up,” Blackadder said. “He’s been working nicely, I was hoping for another three-year-old lead-up race so we decided to take him down to Wingatui. He’s more of a 1400-1600 horse, but it’s a good race to kick off with. “His work doesn’t justify what he does at the races to be honest, he’s a bit of a lazy horse on the beach, similar to Ears Back, but that’s okay because they put their best out on race-day.” Both to be ridden by apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper, Ears Back and Show Pony currently sit third-favourite in their respective races in even TAB markets. View the full article

Admirers of Rich Hill Stud’s leading stallions Proisir and Satono Aladdin will be spoiled for choice at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale later this month. The pair will have their strongest ever representation at Karaka, a reflection of the growing success of the duo’s progeny on the racetracks and in auction rings. Champion sire Proisir will have 50 yearlings in Book 1 and 10 in Book 2 while Deep Impact’s son will have 40 and 16 respectively, making them the dominant pairing numbers wise in the catalogue. “It’s a result not only of the success of our stallions, but also the significant investment we have made in broodmares and we’re starting to see that,” Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson said. A feature offering in the Rich Hill draft will be Lot 351, a half-sister by Proisir to dual Group Three winner and Group One placegetter Aeliana with their dam the Star Witness mare Temolie. “We bought the mare in foal to a commercial stallion (Castlevecchio) in Australia and that particular horse is one of their most promising fillies in Aeliana,” Thompson said. “It’s a dream result, but if you’re going to invest in quality that’s what can happen. “It’s a fantastic family with the dam a half-sister to (Group One winner) Invincibella and the Proisir filly is all quality. The mother has had another Proisir filly, which allows us to sell this one.” Another youngster by the sire is Lot 635, a brother to the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and three-time Group One placegetter Riodini while Lot 287 is a half-sister to Lupo Solitario, who also triumphed in the Bonecrusher. A Rich Hill-offered daughter of Satono Aladdin sold for $900,000 12 months ago and he will have a number of quality offerings to go under the hammer later this month. “Lot 439 is a sister to (champion juvenile) Tokyo Tycoon and again the mare has foaled another full sister to it enables us to put this filly thought the ring,” Thompson said. “This one is a quality individual and we’ve also got a brother (Lot 299) to Raf Attack (winner of Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes, 1800m) and a brother (Lot 149) to Lantern Way who won the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m).” “For both stallions, this is their best-bred crops to date and were conceived off Proisir’s fee of $17,500 and Satono was at $12,500 so it augurs well for breeders.” Proisir stood last season at $80,000 + GST while Satono Aladdin commanded $65,000 + GST. Associate stallions Shocking and Ace High will also be well represented at Karaka. “We’ve got a really nice line of Shocking colts this year, and he continues to do the job and has been a bit of a revelation in the last few seasons with the likes of (dual Group One winner) I’m Thunderstruck,” Thompson said. “Ace High is viewed as one of the country’s up and coming stallions in the country and there are some lovely horses by them to choose from.” Adding to the attraction of Rich Hill’s consignment is a variety of youngsters by other leading domestic and Australian-based sires. “We’ve got a really good selection of yearlings by Savabeel, Toronado, Street Boss, St Mark’s Basilica, Sword Of State and Palace Pier to further boost the quality of the draft,” Thompson said. View the full article

The last time Leica Lucy tackled a three-year-old fillies mile at Trentham her rivals were no match, and she is looking to replicate that performance on Saturday when she contests the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). A filly by Derryn, Leica Lucy was a debut winner and then only narrowly beaten by Wingman at her following start, but once she stepped up to 1600m, she put over two lengths on the field in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m). Like the course and distance, her jockey Craig Grylls will remain the same, and her trainer Robbie Patterson couldn’t be happier with his charge heading into Saturday’s feature contest. “She had a quiet week after the Eulogy and has just been ticking over, she’s pretty straightforward,” Patterson said. “She’s had some good gallops lately and I’m very happy with her. “She’s probably done fractionally well since her race, she’s put on some weight and is going into it a very happy horse.” Leica Lucy is currently the odds-on favourite at $1.85, and while Patterson is hopeful she can get the job done, he has plenty more in store for the filly, including the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and potential trip across the Tasman. “Going off her last run, I think she’s improved, so I’d hope that she’s winning on Saturday,” he said. “From there, it gets a bit tricky, either I’ve got to start two weeks later in the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m), and then a month to the Lowland (Gr.2, 2100m), and three weeks to the Oaks. “But I don’t want to overtax her, she could end up in Aussie in the autumn as well. We’ll just get through Saturday and go from there.” Patterson will also be represented in Saturday’s showpiece, the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation and Sport Wellington Cup (3200m), by Nom De Plume. The Taranaki horseman won last year’s edition with Mary Louise, and her stablemate is coming into the race off the back of a strong performance for second in the Listed Marton Cup (2200m). “It was a good solid run, it was good to see her back in form,” Patterson said. “She’d been working the house down going into that race and she duly obliged, she went super. “She hasn’t missed a beat since, you never know if they’ll get two miles but she’s well and happy so we’re hopeful.” Conor O’Ceirin will look to recapture the winning form that he delivered first-up in the Tags Accounting and Taxation (1400m), while Ragamuffin faces a competitive line-up in the John Turkington Forestry Duoro Cup (1600m). “Conor’s come through his last run well, he missed the kick and over-raced badly,” Patterson said. “He’s going to have to get the jump and roll forward, then it’s up to Conor. On his day, he’s a good horse, but it depends which Conor turns up. “Ragamuffin is one of those horses that everything has to go right for him a little bit. There are a couple of nice horses in there, so he’ll be in there and he’s in good form, it’s just whether he’s good enough or not.” Earlier in the meeting, Patterson rates the chances of Last Souvenir, who takes his place in the Stephanie Murray Mortgages (1400m). “He’s done very well since Te Rapa, he had a couple of problems from there and we sorted him out shoeing wise,” he said. “He’s a really good each-way chance on Saturday.” View the full article

O’Tycoon after winning at Newcastle in April 2024, when under the care of Bjorn Baker. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au O’Tycoon deserves another chance at Alice Springs on Saturday. The former NSW galloper, who had four wins from 21 starts for trainer Bjorn Baker, was a last-start fourth on January 5 in a BM76 over 1000m as the $1.45 favourite with horse racing bookmakers. The Lisa Whittle-trained five-year-old gelding rallied late in the home straight after settling third shortly after the start before losing ground at the 600m. O’Tycoon can atone in a 1200m open handicap, but Terry Gillett’s trio Brat, Vinnie’s Spirit and Great Buy pose threats in the six-horse field. Before that hiccup a fortnight ago, O’Tycoon had prevailed by 4.5 lengths over 1100m in 0-70 class and by 6.5 lengths in a BM76 over 1200m in November. Each time, the son of Written Tycoon settled on the speed before Darwin jockey Sonja Logan flicked the switch at the 500m. That followed an eye-catching second in 0-70 company over 1200m in October when he rocketed home. Brat, victorious in that race in early January after burning his rivals in the home straight to win by 2.5 lengths, is aiming for three straight wins after out-sprinting BM76 opposition over 1000m on December 21. Logan, partnering O’Tycoon on Saturday, agrees that winning won’t be easy. “Lisa gave him a freshen up leading into last start,” she said. “It wasn’t a massive break, I just think he didn’t quite show it on the day. “It was still a good run, he gave me a really good feel. “We let the leaders go, he copped the kick back well and travelled up nice. “I’d expect him to go a lot better this start. “I don’t think he has to lead, he’s a bit more versatile than that. “I think he just landed there lucky on those occasions when he won.” Logan is wary of the in-form Brat. “The Gillett stable was really happy with his run last start, they expected him to run well leading into that race,” she said. “I wouldn’t expect any less of a challenge from Terry this weekend.” Significantly, Aaron Sweeney replaces fellow Darwin jockey Stan Tsaikos aboard Brat. Tsaikos, who produced two great rides on Brat, replaces Gillett’s daughter and apprentice Dakota on Vinnie’s Spirit. With a 2kg claim, Dakota rides the topweight Great Buy. In two starts since arriving from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott yard, Vinnie’s Spirit has finished second twice behind Brat after blowing the start. “You’ve got to have that gate speed in Alice Springs and Darwin just to get them out and get them travelling,” Logan added. “If Vinnie’s Spirit jumps and travels well on Saturday, he will definitely be thereabouts at the finish – that’s for sure.” Horse racing news View the full article

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For the first time in his 17-year stud career, Northview's Great Notion surpassed $6 million in progeny earnings in one year, joining Not For Love as the only other Maryland stallion to hit that mark when the farm's legendary sire did it back-to-back in 2008 and 2009, according to a press release on Thursday from Northview Stallion Station. Great Notion and Golden Lad, who is also on Northview's roster, ended 2024 as the Mid-Atlantic region's leading general sire and juvenile sire respectively. Both stallions hit career milestones last year. With 76 winners from 128 starters in 2024 and total earnings of $6,086,941 for an average per runner of $47,554, Great Notion led the region by number of stakes winners with eight. Topping the list were graded winners Coastal Mission and Future Is Now. It was Great Notion's seventh consecutive year as Maryland's general sires list leader. As for Golden Lad, he earned the title as the region's top 2-year-old sire when his daughter Caprice earned $60,000 Dec. 28 with her Gin Talking Stakes score. It was her third consecutive $100,000 Laurel stakes win, and her second in the month of December. With $331,250 earned during a 6-for-7 season, the filly accounted for more than half of her sire's $601,198 in progeny earnings. The post Northview’s Great Notion Becomes Only Second $6M Plus Sire In Maryland History appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Grade III stakes race that is on the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' isn't exactly the easiest place for a trainer to start his career, but that's what Nick Vaccarezza, 25, will be doing when he sends out Golden Afternoon (Goldencents) in Saturday's Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. The 25-year-old trainer is in this position because his father, Carlo, has decided to step away from training to focus his attention on trying to save racing in South Florida. The situation could be dire because of the tenuous future of Gulfstream Park. Carlo Vaccarezza is making the move at a time when his training career is pointed in the right direction. Also an owner, he won 13 races in 2024 at 25% clip for his starters. But he is convinced that his son is ready to take over. “He's ready,” Carlo said. “He's worked for Chad Brown and he worked for me for many years. We are also blessed to have Mike Dilger as a part of the team. He will be working closely with Nick. So far as the transition and the race on Saturday, if you're going to start doing this what would be better than starting off with a bang?” Carlo Vaccarezza began as an owner and won the 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Turf with Little Mike (Spanish Style), who was trained by Dale Romans. Being around top horses like Little Mike was a thrill for the younger Vaccarezza, who knew from an early age that he wanted to be part of the business. He apprenticed under both Chad Brown and his father. Nick Vaccarezza with Mike Dilger | courtesy of Michael Dilger “Chad really wanted me to go with the vets and listen and learn from them,” Nick said. “He wanted me to learn the things you can't learn just by working in the barn. I got the experience of working for a top trainer, which was great. When you are a part of that operation there are so many moving parts and things going on you have to be on top of things. I'm blessed to have been involved in that operation for as long as I was. I know that my quality of work resembles Chad's.” Hanging up his shingle, Nick's shedrow will start with 14 horses. While growth is in the cards, he said he is in no hurry to do so. Nick knows that the key to success is to have quality over quantity in his barn. “The horses make the trainers and the horses make the jockeys,” he said. “I'm not in any rush to have 100 horses or something like that. I'd rather have 50 good ones than have 50 good ones and 50 bad ones. The key is to keep the percentage up and run them where they belong and where they can win. At the end of the day this business is all about winning.” His father–who also owns the Lexington restaurant Frank & Dino's–has a lot on his plate, but Nick said he will remain a part of the team. “At the end of the day, the boss is the owner,” Nick said. “He can run the horses wherever he wants to. The trainer can have an opinion, but not the final word.” Carlo Vaccarezza worries what the sport will be like 15 years from now, when Nick will still be a relatively young trainer. Like so many others, he understands that the closing of Gulfstream could have severe consequences, not just in Florida but for the entire sport. He wants to make sure that doesn't happen. “I've stepped away from training for a few reasons,” Carlo said. “Considering what's going on at Gulfstream, I feel I have a responsibility to help with the situation in South Florida. If they decouple and there is no more racing there that would set a terrible precedent and really hurt racing in the future.” Golden Afternoon breaks his maiden on debut at Kentucky Downs | Coady Media So that's how and why the door opened for Nick. Golden Afternoon, who is co-owned by his father, Eddie and Pat Greco, Scott Jaffe and Michael Cloonan is 20-1 in the morning line for the Lecomte, but that is more a reflection of the fact that he's never run on the dirt. The $70,000 OBS April buy has made three starts, winning last out in an allowance race in New Orleans Nov. 28. Before that he was the runner-up in the GII Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 6. “The horse is really talented,” Nick said. “He'll breeze three quarters in 1:13 without being asked. We're not going to force him to run in the Derby or be a Derby horse. This is the right time to find some things out so we can start to plot his year out This horse is a gelding, so we're trying to develop a racehorse and not necessarily a 3-year-old.” A win, or even a good showing, would likely lead to starts in other Derby preps. But if he doesn't run well, a return to the grass would likely be the next step. Either way would be fine with the younger Vaccarezza. He's not looking to be an overnight sensation. But he confirmed that the gelding is ready and that it's time to prove he can keep the momentum rolling after his father had a career year. We're off on Global Tote Day at Kentucky Downs! Golden Afternoon wins race one, named for BetMakers, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. Carlo Vaccarezza trains the colt for owners Pat Greco, Scott Jaffe, Michael Cloonan and Vaccarezza Racing, LLC.#KyDowns pic.twitter.com/gOtqGHN8ml — Kentucky Downs (@KYDownsRacing) September 8, 2024 The post The Torch Had Been Passed To Nick Vaccarezza appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, January 18, 2025 3rd-CKO, ¥11,850,000 ($76k), Newcomers, 3yo, f, 1400m TEMPESTARII (JPN) (f, 3, Authentic–Flying Tipat, by Tapit) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for her dam, a stakes-placed full-sister to dual Grade I winner Tapitsfly. The latter, a $1.85-million Fasig-Tipton November purchase, would go on to become the dam of multiple Japanese champion and five-time Group 1 winner Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Another half-sister to Flying Tipat, namely Flying Vision (Pollard's Vision), calls Japan home and her newly turned 2-year-old by 2024 leading general sire Kizuna (Jpn) was purchased for better than $212,000 at the JRHA Select Foal Sale in 2023. O-Lord Horse Club Co Ltd; B-K I Farm; T-Kodai Hasegawa Sunday, January 19, 2025 5th-NKY, ¥11,850,000 ($76k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1600mT LLEVADA (f, 3, Volatile–Top Hat Tango, by Graydar), a $72,000 Keeneland September yearling who resold for $85,000 at last year's OBS April Sale, looks to become the third winner from as many to race from his dam, a winning half-sister to Grade II-winning sprinter Fast Bullet (Speightstown) and GSP Blairs Roarin Star (Roar). The May 1 foal's third dam Brave Raj (Rajab) was the Eclipse champion juvenile filly of 1986. O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing Co Ltd; B-Scott Pierce (KY); T-Takeshi Matsushita The post Japanese-Foaled Authentic Filly Debuts at Chukyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With state lawmakers in Florida considering legislation that would decouple casino licenses tied to Thoroughbred tracks, opponents of such a plan are digging in for a fight.View the full article

Jennie Candlish is a dual-purpose trainer based in Staffordshire. Her run of form under both codes has been impressive recently have ended 2024 with a winner and starting 2025 with one too. Candlish took some time out of training winners to answer our questions. What made you happiest in 2024? Having such happy horses and seeing the yard making such amazing progress, rewarding my wonderful team for all the hard work we all put in. How do you start your day? My day starts at 4:45 a.m., seven days a week. I always feed the horses their breakfast, it's a really lovely time of day. This is followed by a huge cup of coffee! What is the best thing about your job? Being surrounded by horses each and every day. From a little girl this was my dream, so to be so fortunate to be living it really is a dream come true. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life what would be? Dreamers by Loredana, my late mother used to tell me to play it as it reminded her of me. Is there a horse you wish you had bought in 2024? Jeannot Lapin (Fr) at £3,000 looks extremely well bought. A giant son of Doctor Dino (Fr) placed in two Irish Point-to-Points from three runs. Racehorse of 2024 and why? Kyprios (Ire). Considering he was beaten in both starts in 2023, he returned to his best winning all seven starts including four Group 1s in 2024 and no horse got within under one length of him. Dark horse for the year ahead? George Scott's 3yo gelding West Acre (Ire) stepped up from winning all-weather novices to running a massive race in Dubai last week. He looks like a sprinter to follow. Value stallion for 2025? Ghaiyyath (Ire) at €20k looks value especially with some proper potential three-year-olds Mandanaba (Fr), Gethin (Ire), Alobayyah (GB) and Rhapsody (Ire). What would make 2025 a good year for you? To continue the growth of the yard, with a happy team of horses, staff and owners. And to keep making everyone who supports me proud. What is your motto for life? If you do what you love then you'll never do a day's work in your life. Treat everyone with respect. Always be open and honest and treat everyone as you would expect to be treated yourself. The post In The Hot Seat: Jennie Candlish appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Fair Grounds, $59,170, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 1-16, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:45.59, gd, 1 length. ENCINO (c, 4, Nyquist–Glittering Jewel, by Bernardini), a late scratch from last year's GI Kentucky Derby, was sidelined since capturing the GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 13. He was backed as the 1-9 favorite in this return while facing just three rivals. He was sent to the front by Florent Geroux, led through fractions of :23.71 and :47.21, and, after some anxious moments in the stretch, dug down gamely to hold Accretive (Practical Joke) safe by a length. Encino made his first three career starts over Turfway's all-weather, led by a win in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Mar. 2. The winner's dam, a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Street Sense (Street Cry {Ire}), is also responsible for a Street Boss filly of 2023. She was bred to Midshipman for this year. The Nyquist x Bernardini cross is also responsible for the soon-to-be-crowned champion 2-year-old filly Immersive and GISW Gretzky the Great. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-4-1-0, $414,915. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Encino comes back on top after a 9-month layoff in R5 at @fairgroundsnola under @flothejock for trainer @bradcoxracing! TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/MS1mQOS5Rh — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 16, 2025 The post Encino Returns a Winner at Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article