Wandering Eyes

Caleb Hays has been named head starter at Churchill Downs and Turfway Park, while Todd Stephens will serve as the head starter at Ellis Park.View the full article

The July 9 opening day card at Colonial Downs attracted 85 entrants plus six also-eligibles for an eight-race program that concludes with a trio of stacked, open company allowance affairs.View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

Godolphin's RAGTIME (f, 3, Union Rags–Burmilla, by Storm Cat), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' when breaking clear to graduate by 3 3/4 lengths at first asking during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on June 6, made her first start against winners a victorious one during Saturday's third day of the July 4th Racing Festival, shooting clear in the final eighth of a mile to take her record to two powerful wins from as many trips to the races. Off alertly, the chestnut–who bears a striking resemblance to her Lane's End-based sire–was positioned in midfield as they raced in a heap down the back and was right on the back of the pacesetter as the field entered the turn. The 9-10 chalk was asked for some speed at the five-sixteenths and was angled out off the home corner to put pacesetting Next On Stage (Liam's Map) to the sword. The two dueled heads apart past the eighth pole before Ragtime asserted her superiority to once again score by open lengths. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Bill Mott. A daylight win for Ragtime at 4-5 in race 4 at Belmont at Saratoga. She is undefeated at Saratoga for trainer Bill Mott and jockey @JuniorandKellyA. pic.twitter.com/obepbYxmsi — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 5, 2025 The post ‘Rising Star’ Ragtime Runs ‘Em Ragged at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Obliteration (c, 2, Violence–I'mclassyandsassy, by Master Command), a runaway debut winner at Churchill Downs June 12, lived up to his name with another dominating victory in Saturday's GIII Sanford S. at Saratoga. Blinging It Back (Volatile) was second; Imagine John (Maclean's Music) was third. The 4-5 favorite shot out to the front, set fractions of :22.74 and :45.56 and powered clear from the runner-up to win by 10 lengths. The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.65. Obliteration becomes the 54th stakes / 21st graded winner worldwide for Violence. Two-time winner and Sorority S. runner-up I'mclassyandsassy produced a filly by Girvin in 2024 and a colt by Elite Power this year. I'mclassyandsassy brought $85,000 from Ocala Stud carrying Obliteration at the 2022 KEENOV sale. Sales history: $200,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. O-Leland Ackerley Racing; B-Ocala Stud (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. OBLITERATION is now a perfect 2-for-2 with a huge score in the G3 Sanford Stakes with Flavien Prat up for trainer Steve Asmussen. pic.twitter.com/LZFrn3LWQv — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 5, 2025 The post Violence ‘Rising Star’ Turns the Sanford into an Obliteration appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Taking the vast majority of the pari-mutuel activity with the scratching of his would-be chief market rival Bento Express (Jpn) (Drefong), D J Stable and West Point Thorougbreds' EWING (c, 2, Knicks Go–Sassy Ali Joy, by Indian Charlie) made light work of his four remaining rivals, streaking through the final furlong under mild urging to score by a dozen lengths en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors in the Saturday opener from Saratoga. Favored at 35-100 and carrying the D J colors for the debut, the $585,000 OBS April graduate was hounded along by the once-raced Wesley Ward-trained filly She's On a Roll (Charlatan), who did her level best to stick with the heavy favorite through an opening quarter in :22.42. The two put the better part of eight lengths on the others approaching the entrance to the stretch, and when She's On a Roll drifted out, Ewing quickly opened up, 'traveling' every bit like a winner and was more or less eased through the final 50 yards. Including a winner in Russia, Taylor Made's Knicks Go (by Paynter) was being represented here by his third individual winner. Bought back on a bid of just $37,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale, Ewing breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 and was snapped up by these top connections. Sales history: $37,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP; $585,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-D J Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds & Kenneth Frierich; B-John Gardiner (KY); T-Mark Casse. EWING lives up to the hype as @nyknicks fans can rejoice with a winner for @markecasse and @jose93_ortiz for @westpointtbred as the heavily favored debut runner is a slam dunk at #Saratoga. #HorseRacing pic.twitter.com/0L7pcgJogm — Matthew DeSantis (@failedtomenace) July 5, 2025 The post Knicks Go Colt Ewing A ‘Slam Dunk’ TDN Rising Star at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Directly after the Eclipse, Aidan O'Brien was enjoying another notable success in his native Ireland as the 2-year-old colt Daytona (Wootton Bassett) captured the Listed Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes. Sent off the 4-5 favourite for the mile contest at Naas, the Gowran Park winner moved to market-rival North Coast (Starman) approaching the final furlong and soon had the race wrapped up. At the line, the Wayne Lordan-ridden 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate had 3 1/4-lengths to spare over that Joseph O'Brien trainee as Ballydoyle collected another juvenile black-type contest in 2025. A colt going places Wootton Bassett colt Daytona defies obvious greenness to win the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes with loads in hand. He's a horse we're going to be hearing plenty more about. @coolmorestud | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/FocxbrAB9N — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 5, 2025 The post Wootton Bassett’s Daytona Impresses In The Pat Smullen Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse said everything there is to know about the combined power of Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore as Coolmore's number one picked Delacroix and picked right again to extend his trainer's tally to 10. Undone by Epsom when the selected of the stable's Derby crew, the creation of a dream Dubawi-Tepin connection looked unlikely to play a part here as well inside the final two furlongs with all rivals still to pass but flew up the hill to deny the 6-4 favourite Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) close home. “It was a steadily-run race for that class of race, but this horse has a really good turn of foot and it made the difference,” Moore said of the heavily-supported 3-1 second favourite, who delivered the surge that had characterised his Derby preps this spring to beat Godolphin's market-leader by a neck. Ruling Court (Justify) was another 1 3/4 lengths away in third. “It wasn't the first or the second or the third plan! He began okay, but nobody really wanted to make the running and I had to give way to William [Buick] as he was on an older, bigger horse. I thought we'd wait and go around, then Camille Pissarro came, so we had to wait again, but it was a good turn of foot that got him out of trouble.” “He was the only horse here that hadn't won a Group 1, but he'd threatened to and right from the start as a two-year-old he's been held in high regard and he's obviously out of a great racemare and by Dubawi.” What. A. Race storms home to win the 50th running of the @Coral-Eclipse. That's three successive Eclipses for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore @coolmorestud | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/MTBgJeGGTP — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 5, 2025 Handed TDN Rising Star status at The Curragh in August, Delacroix showed incremental improvement on his later juvenile tests without starting any fires. He showed in all three of his Pattern races that he could battle, but came out on the wrong side twice with Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot) edging the photo for the Futurity Trophy. Forging his way to the top of the pecking order for the Blue Riband with emphatic wins in Leopardstown's key preps, the Ballysax and Derby Trial, he was all at sea in the main event and rolled home in ninth as the Ballysax runner-up Lambourn flew the flag. To many, it was a surprise that he was able to draw Ryan Moore from a Classic winner in Camille Pissarro (Wootton Bassett) in the lead-up but the way the market spoke beforehand it was increasingly clear as the clock ran down that he was very much the one here. This was far from a fast-run Eclipse for the first five furlongs, with Sosie (Sea The Stars) and Hotazhell not pressing on from the front and Ombudsman denied the strong tempo he enjoyed at Royal Ascot. Having broken well, Delacroix was eventually forced to race in a pocket with Ombudsman sent forward out wide to keep tabs on the leading pair. From three out, the dash began and in a hot final quarter mile Ombudsman saw off Camille Pissarro and looked to have it won but as he paid for his early exertions up the hill to the line Delacroix had the reserves to produce an impressive final sectional to nail it. This was in many ways the race that first announced Ryan Moore to the world with his 2007 masterclass on Notnowcato and the rider now has five in the bag, with four of the last five among them. It was the 3-year-olds who held sway once again, making it five in a row and a distinct pattern in the process in this stallion-making race. Aidan O'Brien was quick to pay tribute to the jockey who keeps making the operation's dreams come true on these big days. “I'd say it was one of his best rides,” he said. “It was kind of a fog to me, as there was so much happening but it looked incredible. We see him do it so often, whether it is from the front or the back.” “We see Ryan every day and the things he does. I don't know how long he has been riding for us now, but I say every year he gets better. He makes himself better all the time. He was calm, collected and clinical there.” Of Delacroix, he added, “When you can relax and quicken like that over a mile and a quarter it is a brilliant thing to have up your sleeve. He came at the death and it was mind-blowing from where he came from.” John Gosden said of the runner-up, “It didn't turn out the way we thought, but he has run a wonderful race. He was trapped rather wide and he got close to a pace where the others have ended out the back with it and Delacroix has run us down late. Full marks to the winner and he has outstayed the lot of them and at the end it was down to stamina.” Charlie Appleby said of Ruling Court, “Ten furlongs is his trip. Of course you want to go out and win, but I came here with the mindset that if I finish third in this calibre I will take a lot of positives out of it. It was a race that none of us expected to be run like that if I'm brutally honest with you. It wasn't our original plan to be where we were, but one thing I will say is that we know we are going now and that is to Deauville for the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. He is a horse next year that hopefully we will be working back from a Prince Of Wales's Stakes.” The post ‘His Turn Of Foot Got Him Out Of Trouble’: Moore Delivers Delacroix In Time, Tenth Eclipse For O’Brien appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Sunday at Saratoga and Ellis Park. Sunday, July 6, 2025 Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($) Saratoga 2, $90k, 2yo, (R), 5 1/2f, 1:44 p.m. Sculcos Folly (Redesdale), OBSAPR, 70,000 C-Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, agent; B-Chad Schumer, agent Ellis 4, $100k, 2yo, 1mT, 2:16 p.m. ET No Hay Dos (Connect), OBSAPR, 50,000 C-Julie Davies LLC, agent; B-Moody Bluegrass LLC The post Summer Breezes: Sunday, July 6, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cheveley Park Stud's Estrange (Night Of Thunder) remained on course for bigger targets down the line and justified short-priced favouritism with a hard-fought victory in a tactical renewal of Saturday's G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock. The 2-7 pick, who stamped her authority on May's G3 Pinnacle Stakes over course and distance on seasonal return when last seen, raced several lengths behind the clear leader Love Talk (Ten Sovereigns) in second until well beyond halfway. Bounding forward in the home straight, she eased to the front passing the quarter-mile marker, but was unable to shake off the persistent threat of Wathan Racing's recent acquisition Scenic (Lope De Vega) as the stamina test turned into a sprint. Estrange held a neck advantage at the line, with Love Talk fading to finish 8 1/2 lengths adrift in third. Estrange beats Scenic & captures the @bet365 Lancashire Oaks in a thrilling tussle pic.twitter.com/24l8peCLaO — Haydock Park Races (@haydockraces) July 5, 2025 The post Night Of Thunder’s Estrange Digs Deep For Lancashire Oaks Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zac Purton breezed past last season’s tally with another four-timer headlined by the gutsy win of Magnifique in the Class Three Chow Silver Plate (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday night. The 42-year-old moved past the 130-winner mark and then onto 132 victories following the success of David Hall’s promising three-year-old, but there was a sour footnote with the Charm Spirit galloper found to have bled post-race. Magnifique pulled hard throughout the race after settling midfield and made rapid...View the full article

Apprentice jockey Ellis Wong Chi-wang continued his barnstorming finish to the season by booting Dancing Code to victory for his boss Caspar Fownes in Saturday night’s Class Two Philip Chen Trophy (1,200m) at Sha Tin. Sent off the $3.55 favourite, the Aaron Kwok Fu-shing-owned Dancing Code came from forward of midfield to nail Harmony N Blessed and Lady’s Choice near the line. “I’m so happy to win for the boss again and this owner,” said Wong. “Today, with a good barrier and the strong pace, he...View the full article

7th-ELP, $100K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 3:42 p.m. ET. INTEGER (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes his first start for St. Elias, West Point, Don Alberto, Woodford and CJ Stables. An $800,000 buy at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, the Steve Asmussen trainee is the lone foal out of GSW Magic Star (Scat Daddy), who sadly passed away in 2022. The gelding's second dam is GI Matron Stakes heroine Meadow Breeze (Meadowlake), whose half-brother is GI Arkansas Derby champ Overanalyze (Dixie Union). Set for his unveiling is Snowdrift (Medaglia d'Oro) and the Godolphin homebred trained by Brendan Walsh is out of GIII Comely Stakes victor Snowbell (Tapit). The colt's unraced full-sister Cafe Bella produced GIII Selene Stakes winner Serendipity (Street Sense). Lest we forget, Snowdrift's half-sister is SW Twice as Sweet (Candy Ride {Arg}). TJCIS PPS 6th-WO, $115K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, AWT, 3:47 p.m. ET. D.J. Stable has Timeframe (Not This Time) heading to the post for the first time under the care of Mark Casse. The colt is a half-brother to GSW Handsome Mike (Scat Daddy), GISW Union Strike (Union Rags) and SW Pretty Lady (Scat Daddy). TJCIS PPS The post Sunday Racing Insights: Son Of Candy Ride Appears To Be Complete Figure On Debut At Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Quirky but talented mare Miss Tarzy has come from last win the Leilani Series Final (1400m) under a patient Jett Stanley ride. The daughter of Tarzino was sent out a $51 chance but defied the punters in the last to close over the top of Sassy Boom who had looked poised for victory. Prepared by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Miss Tarzy has now won five of her 19 starts with a further seven placings but is usually seen to best effect at a mile and beyond. Connections have hailed the companionship of a stable pony in a key tool for managing the five-year-old mare. “She is obviously a really gallant mare and she always has been, so we never come here not confident with Tarzy,” stable representative Billie Rodda said. “It was really impressive to see her win over the 1400m today as she has never done that before. “She is quite a hot horse on her day and she has got a little friend called Jerry who comes to the races with her now that has completely changed her and that might have been the making of her today. “She likes a little bit of give in the track and she is just a gallant mare.” Jockey Jett Stanley said the mare had returned in fine fettle this campaign. “I jumped her out at her most recent jump-out and underneath me I felt like there was a lot of horse there,” he said. “She is very quirky and she has a stable pony that lives with her. Because of those quirks we didn’t want to bustle her early. “1400m was very much a query and she was first-up and up in class. She has proved to us that she has come back a totally different horse this preparation. “I had a beautiful run into it and went to get on the back of Cindy Falls but I was just moving too fast for the gaps and had to weave my way through them, which I think is what won me the race. She was able to do it without thinking she was doing it. “Once she hit the front she got a little bit lost but once I asked for that final effort she got me over the line.” An emotional Stanley paid tribute to much-loved stablehand Peta Tait who died on Tuesday following a tragic accident at the Cranbourne stable of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, with Tait well-known in the Victorian racing industry. “I want to send all my love to Peta’s friends and family,” Stanley said. “It is all the people in the background that make this sport so great and it is a huge credit to everyone for putting in the hard hours and the hard work.” Bred and raced in a syndicate by Rosemont Stud, Miss Tarzy is a daughter of Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino and the French-bred mare Grise Leigh. The dam is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Criterium de Saint Cloud (2000m) winner Morandi with Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) winner Lord Glitters also a decorated family member. View the full article

Smart three-year-old staying filly Shockletz has overcome a wide barrier to win the Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday under a well-judged Harry Coffey ride. Prepared by Ciaron Maher, the daughter of Shocking recorded the third victory of the campaign and relished the step up in distance, narrowly getting the better of Ant who made a dashing late run nearer the rails. “She was drawn really wide (13) and Harry was initially going to be posted deep but he rolled the dice and decided to go a little bit forward and he ended up getting the position that we exactly wanted,” stable representative Leigh Allen said. “One went around and put a bit of speed into it in the end and she just blended into the race nicely.” “She is by Shocking and is bred to stay, so the step up to 2500m was not our concern, obviously the issue was the gate and Harry did a great job. She has a great bunch of owners in Eales Racing, they just love her. It has come a lot too early for her, but to get another win at Flemington is great for them, so we’re stoked.” Coffey said he was caught on a limb early but elected to use the filly when a more forward slot became available. “The jockeys to the inside were aware of that and kicked up and it became quite awkward for a bit but after a while we were able to slot in,” Coffey said. “She rested for about 400m and then the pace came out of the race and she was wanting to go and was over-racing. “I just had to work with her and keep her in as good a rhythm as possible and then protect my ground so that when it was time to go I had room. “She actually quickened at the top of the straight like the winner but I wasn’t aware of the one coming on the inside (Ant) and she was probably emptying out and petering on her run and somehow she found the will to win and got her head down. “She relished the 2500m and if it was a truer run race from the 1000m I reckon she would have won even better. “She is on the up, she is still green, so there is improvement there and she is bred to do it and bred to race well at Flemington, so it will be a lot of fun for the owners.” Bred and raced by Eales Racing, headed by Laurence Eales who raced the filly’s sire Shocking, Shockletz has now won four of her eight starts with a further two placings. She is a full sister to Group Three placed stayer Horrifying, who has won on seven occasions. View the full article

Germany’s most important race, the Group One Deutsches Derby (2,400m) at Hamburg racecourse, headlines a brilliant day of top-level action that will be simulcast on Sunday. A field of 18 will go to post for the German Derby, which has been won by the likes of Shirocco, Sea The Moon, Adlerflug and most recently Palladium. Trainer Andreas Wöhler has won the race five times and has a pair of chances, the headline act being the unbeaten Lady Charlotte, the only filly in the field. She won one of the...View the full article

The latest batch of National Stud students to graduate from both the Level 3 Stud Management and Sales Consignment course and Entry To Stud Employment (E2SE) programme celebrated their achievements at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket on Friday. Abigail Parker received the Tim Dunlop Memorial Award for Top Student after demonstrating outstanding work across both the practical and academic elements of the course. At the ceremony hosted by former Great British Racing CEO Rod Street, Leo Wilson was presented with the TBA's Entry To Stud Employment top student award. Also recognised for their work at the awards ceremony were: Grace Agnew – Watership Down best practical award. Adam Wolwark – Alborada Trust for most improved student. Reuban Davies – John Pearce Foundation Award Of Merit. Eve Bentley – recognition award. “It is fantastic to be able to celebrate our students in such a historic and beautiful setting such as the Jockey Club Rooms,” said National Stud CEO Anna Kerr. “These two courses are tailored to provide the best possible start in the Thoroughbred industry, no matter where you come from or experience level you have. It is with huge thanks and gratitude to the trusts and charities who support us that we can provide these opportunities for those who want to work in racing, we wouldn't be able to do it without them.” The Level 3 Stud Management and Sales Consignment course runs from mid-September to the end of April, taking in both the sales and breeding seasons. Students will participate in sales prep, work placements with consignors, and foaling, and can take advantage of the comprehensive evening lecture programme and career guidance sessions. Applications for 2025-2026 are now open. The E2SE has been rebranded in 2025 as the Thoroughbred Industry Access course, which runs for 16 weeks during the summer and caters for those with little to no experience of horses. The post Abigail Parker Takes Top Award at National Stud Graduation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. The daughter of Tavistock hadn’t greeted the judge first since her triumph in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) in April of last year but had shown positive signs in trackwork before her success on the improving Soft 7 surface. Ridden by Dylan Gibbons, Good Banter settled just forward of midfield and enjoyed a clear passage despite ducking in late to get the better of Cormac T to score by a neck. “She has been going so well at home and hadn’t quite reflected that on the track but she got a good ride today from Dylan and she did a good job to get herself back in the winner’s stall,” O’Shea said. “She has been a mare a long time out of the winner’s stall and had probably forgotten how to do it and it will do her the world of good. We had been so happy with her at home and we needed her to bring that A-game to the races, and she has done that today.” In-form rider Dylan Gibbons was pleased with the position he was able to find in the run. “My only concern with her today was I didn’t want to land too far back, and I was able to land three-back,” he said. “Ideally, I wanted the fence but the tempo was beautiful, we coped no pressure from back and it was just a matter of getting her around the corner. “I didn’t want to surge too soon and when no one stopped, she had to be tough today. “It is good to see a horse who hadn’t won in a while be able to go on with it like she did today, so it was a good effort. “She will take good confidence from that and I don’t think she really loved how much the track is drying out, so if they get a bit of rain she could easily win again.” Good Banter was bred by Blandford Lodge’s Helen-Gaye and Graham Bax and is out of the Savabeel mare Danza Kuduro. Herself a three-time winner on the racetrack, Danza Kuduro is a half-sister to the dual Group One winner Danzdanzdance and the Listed winner Le Gai Soleil, who was also prepared by O’Shea. View the full article

Winter specialist Caitlyns Wish was in her element in the extremely testing conditions at Te Rapa on Saturday and scored a determined front-running victory in the Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m). The $40,000 open handicap was the seventh win of a 24-start career for the daughter of Belardo, with all of those victories coming on heavy tracks. She has made a habit of winning at Te Rapa around this time of year, taking out a 1200m three-year-old race in July of 2023 and a 1200m open handicap last June. The five-year-old had been a bit below that level in the early stages of her latest preparation. Her first three runs back had produced an eighth, a fifth and a fourth, beaten by a combined margin of more than 25 lengths. But trainer Stephen Autridge headed to Te Rapa on Saturday with a feeling that Caitlyns Wish was about to turn the corner. “It’s just taken a while to build up her fitness this time in,” the Matamata horseman said. “She’s pretty robust and just keeps thriving, and I can’t give her any more work. “But today she had a lot of things in her favour. She won a similar race here last winter, where she led and kicked again, and it was more of the same today. She just loves when there’s a bit of rain on the day. I could see a fair way out that she was travelling well.” Caitlyns Wish has been ridden to all but one of her seven wins by Maria Sanson, who was in the saddle again on Saturday. The chestnut mare broke well from gate two and was sent forward by Sanson to take up an early lead. The pair’s rivals tried to put Caitlyns Wish under pressure a long way from home. Cleat went forward and sat on her outside coming down the side of the track, while Gospodin, Dusty Road and Martell were all breathing down her neck and poised to strike at the home turn. But Caitlyns Wish dug deep and fought ferociously all the way down the straight. She refused to relinquish her advantage and held her challengers at bay to win by half a length. “I was giving her a growl and a slap on the shoulder, but I didn’t want to unbalance her in this ground today,” Sanson said. “This is probably the heaviest track I’ve ever seen at Te Rapa. It’s hard work out there. “She’s had a few runs this time in. She was able to win second-up last winter, but has taken a bit longer this year. She was about 600kg after her summer spell, so she had a bit of weight to lose. But she’s reached that level of fitness now, the tracks are heavy, and she should be able to go on with it. “I’ve won six on her now and ride her in all her trackwork, so she’s a horse I’ve had a lot to do with. I’m very happy to get another win on her today.” Autridge indicated that Caitlyns Wish might return to Te Rapa for the $50,000 open handicap over 1300m on July 26. “We’ll definitely look to come back here for that next meeting,” he said. “The only issue is we generally prefer to stick to 1200m, because she can’t go much further than that.” View the full article

Japanese apprentice Yuga Okubo cheekily suggested he could win four races at Te Rapa on Saturday from his four rides during a pre-raceday interview on Saturday morning and he nearly made good on that promise as he completed a winning treble with victory aboard Drop Of Something in the main flat race on the day, the UBP Te Awamutu Cup (1600m) The winner of four races in Japan before his arrival in New Zealand in early 2024, the likeable Okubo has created a good impression on some influential members of the racing community including trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott who provided the first of his winning treble with Ribkraka taking out race three on the card. Okubo scored again aboard the Tim & Margaret Carter-prepared Family Folks in race six by weaving a path towards the inside rail in the home straight and he repeated that pattern aboard Drop Of Something just one race later. The Wayne Hillis-trained five-year-old son of Telperion had shown he was ready to win again after finishing third behind Soldier Boy at the venue last month and performed up to expectations as he settled well back before Okubo began to hustle him along closer to the inside as the leading pack ran wide around the home bend. Just as it looked like race favourite Joshua Brown would hold off all challengers, Drop Of Something forged to the lead at the 100m and went on to win by a long neck from the favourite and Diamond Jak who battled gamely for third. Hillis didn’t have high hopes for a winning result when he saw how far back his charge was as runners headed to the home bend. “I was thinking we were no chance on the corner as we were back and he didn’t look like he was going that good while I thought the place to be was wider out and not on the inner,” Hillis said. “To his credit the boy stuck to his guns and he had won on a similar path in the previous race so he knew it wasn’t that bad down there. “I’ve had him (Okubo) on a few now and he is very balanced and has a lot of potential. You don’t get many 4kg claimers who are as strong as he is and I would expect he is going to be very popular over the next few months.” Hillis is looking forward to another Te Rapa prize at the end of the month with Drop Of Something being aimed at the Callinan Family Taumarunui Gold Cup (2100m) on 26 July. “This guy does like the mud and he has really strengthened up in the past year,” he said. “He tries really hard and I think he is ready to go further than a mile now. ‘We’d like to take him to New Plymouth for an open 1800m race on Opunake Cup day then back him up a week later in the Taumarunui Gold Cup.” Bred by the late Emma Evans and racing under the Evans Breeding Ltd banner, Drop Of Something is a son of the Don Eduardo mare Nothing More and has now won seven of his 42 starts and over $224,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Well-travelled gelding Family Folks launched a powerful finish from near the back of the field to collect his first New Zealand victory in the Mark Sanders Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The son of Snitzel was born, raised and sold in Australia, then headed to Hong Kong and won five times in a 37-start career for owner Wing Keung So. The eight-year-old has found a new home this season with Cambridge trainers Tim and Margaret Carter, who now own him. He went winless in his first nine starts in New Zealand, but showed promising signs with close-up finishes behind the likes of Tomodachi, Irish Legacy, Penman and Croupier. Family Folks headed into Saturday’s race on the back of a second placing at Tauranga on June 21, where he was beaten by a nose by Kai Moana. Saturday was finally his day. Family Folks was patiently ridden in the $35,000 race by apprentice jockey Yuga Okubo, dropping out near the back of the field as four horses slugged it out in front and set a torrid pace. Okubo saved ground closer to the inside at the home turn as most of the field went wide in search of better footing. Family Folks quickened through underneath them, surging past nine horses in the straight and getting up to win by a length and three-quarters from Jethro Tull and Florin. It was the second win on the Te Rapa card for Okubo, who scored a front-running victory on Ribkraka earlier in the afternoon. He later completed a treble with Drop Of Something in the UBP Te Awamutu Cup (1600m). “It was a good effort by our horse and a fantastic ride by the young jockey,” Tim Carter said. “I think he’s a real up-and-comer – he’s got good balance, can use the stick in both hands, and horses really run for him. “I do feel a bit sorry for the other apprentice, Gareth Lahoud, who was a close second on him last start. We got our messages a bit mixed up and didn’t think he’d be riding at the meeting today, otherwise he would have been on him. But we’re very happy to get the result.” Family Folks is a son of the New Zealand-bred Ustinov mare Miss Sharapova, who was trained by Ken and Bev Kelso and won four races along with a third in the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) and a fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Arrowfield Stud bred Family Folks and offered him at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where the Hong Kong Jockey Club bought him for A$900,000. From 47 starts, Family Folks has now recorded six wins and seven placings and has earned more than $1.48 million. “Morgan (Carter, son) and I have bought horses for that Hong Kong owner over a number of years,” Tim Carter said. “This horse actually beat Lucky Sweynesse in a 1200m race at Happy Valley one day (in June 2022). He won a few races in Hong Kong, but then his form fell away a bit and the owner decided he wouldn’t be able to go much further up there. “They said we could try him out here in New Zealand and see if we could pick up a win or two with him. We’ve done that now and it’s a great feeling.” Family Folks went into Saturday’s race with a rating of 64, which will now increase – forcing his connections into a change of plans. “I think we’ve blown it,” Carter said. “There’s a Rating 65 Benchmark race coming up at New Plymouth in two weeks that’s worth quite a nice stake of $50,000. That was the target that we were thinking of having a crack at with this horse, but now I think we’ll need to come up with a new plan.” View the full article

A daring ride by Kylan Wiles paved the way for tenacious mare Jakama Krystal to add a second win on the Te Rapa card for trainers Peter and Jessica Brosnan as she raced away with the Waikato Hunt Cup (3900m) on Saturday. The nine-year-old daughter of Jakkalberry is normally seen disputing the pace in her races but a change in tactics saw her settle near last for the first half of the contest before edging nearer with 1600m to run. Jakama Krystal was in the zone with her jumping and she flew the two fences down the back straight as she forged to the front and put the pressure on her rivals. Wiles sent her for home at the 600m and the mare responded in fine style as she put a break on Countryman and Super Spirit, who were chasing bravely but to no avail, as Jakama Krystal established a margin of five lengths on her rivals which she held comfortably to the winning post. Jessica Brosnan was all smiles as she recalled they had produced the last winner of the race which hadn’t been run since 2019. “We changed tactics a little bit today as we thought there would be a lot of speed on and there was,” Brosnan said. “We actually won the last running of the Hunt Cup with Pythagoras, so we had the trophy out on the bench at home this morning. “We haven’t had the race since then so we have been pushing the Club to get back into it as they are the heart of racing here. “We will keep chipping away with her (Jakama Krystal) and we will see where we take her next although we have been looking at Woodville (13 July). We just work her on the treadmill these days as she is older and has wear and tear, so every win is a bonus.” Wiles was also thrilled with the win after admitting he wasn’t too sure of his chances in the early running. “When she jumped out of the gates and was right back I thought no chance as she is usually up front and handy,” he said. “I just left her alone for the first couple (of fences) and then she began chipping away at them and when I asked her she would just take off. “Down the back I thought I’d cruise around them and she cantered into it before I really let her go and she felt like the winner from there. “The way she settled in behind them today I think a race like the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4200m) might be one for her.” A winner of seven of her 67 races, Jakama Krystal holds a special place in the hearts of her Matamata mentors, as she was formerly trained by a close friend in the late Glynn Brick prior to his tragic passing in 2020. View the full article

Japanese apprentice Yuga Okubo upstaged his employer at Te Rapa on Saturday with an upset victory on Ribkraka in the Jack & June Stewart Memorial (1200m). The 22-year-old is apprenticed to Cambridge trainer Tony Pike, who saddled Honey Badger as a red-hot $1.60 favourite in the $35,000 three-year-old race. But Pike was thwarted by his protégé as Okubo steered Ribkraka to an all-the-way win. Ribkraka drew the inside gate in a field that was halved to just four runners by scratchings. Okubo made full use of that handy draw and his 4kg claim, pushing Ribkraka forward to take a clear lead after the first 100m. Torrential rain swept over Te Rapa during the race, but Okubo had Ribkraka enjoying his work and travelling sweetly out in front. Honey Badger loomed on the outside at the home turn and seemed to have the upper hand coming into the straight, but Ribkraka responded to her challenge and summoned another effort. He pulled ahead of the favourite through the last 200m and won by a length and three-quarters. “He loves Te Rapa and handles heavy tracks well and it was a very, very good win,” Okubo said. “He drew one and the plan was to go to the front. Then I was just thinking about his rhythm. He still had lots left when Honey Badger came up, so I thought I could win.” The winner of four races in Japan before his arrival in New Zealand in early 2024, Okubo has now recorded three victories on Kiwi soil – a number that Ribkraka’s trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott expect will continue to increase. “He’s a young man who’s going to ride a lot of winners,” Scott said. “He did a great job today and gave our horse a good, positive ride. He led at a sensible pace, held him together nicely and then let him down.” Ribkraka’s front-running victory on Saturday brought up the 80th win of the season for the Wexford Stables team. It was the third win of an 11-race career for the talented gelding, who is by Ribchester out of the Mastercraftsman mare Tickle Me – a half-sister to the multiple Group winners Melt and Elephant. “Ribkraka can really handle these testing conditions,” Scott said. “He’s a very fit gelding and loves racing this way around. He’s such a genuine horse and just kept finding today. “He’s campaigned all season and has been a model of consistency. There’s a race back here in two weeks’ time over 1400m, where he should hopefully relish the conditions again.” View the full article

Visiting English jumps rider Ellie Callwood secured her first success in New Zealand when she guided promising jumper Squire to victory in the OTL Group Ltd Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa. Callwood has joined a number of jumps riders from the United Kingdon making their way to New Zealand for winter racing and put her name on the winners list with a superbly judged ride aboard the Peter and Jessica Brosnan-prepared Squire, who was having just his second attempt over fences after scoring narrowly at the venue last month when on his jumps debut. Callwood had the four-year-old son of Saville Row positioned in midfield throughout as pacemaker English Gambler set a steady pace out in front ahead of Duke Of Plumpton and Abu Dhabi. That trio kicked clear with 1000m to run and had the rest of the field off the bit as a trio of runners including Squire and race favourite Jerricoop chasing hard to join the fight. Callwood had Squire firing on all cylinders as he joined issue rounding the home bend and he flew the remining obstacles in the straight to score by nearly ten lengths from Jerricoop who shaded a brave Duke Of Plumpton for the runner-up position. Jessica Brosnan was thrilled the stable could provide Callwood with her first victory after being instrumental in getting her across to New Zealand for the jumps season. “We thought he might be a little fresh as he can be a bit naughty, but obviously that is how he likes to go,” Brosnan said. “I’m just so pleased to get Ellie’s first winner as we have done a lot to get these riders here. “She emailed and said she wanted to come over and she looked more than adequate for what we need over here and she is finally here, we’ve got her on one of our horses, so it’s just marvellous.” Brosnan indicated a trip to Christchurch for a race during the Riccarton Grand National Carnival in August could be a path they now take with Squire. “I’ve been nagging at Peter to let me go to Christchurch as the syndicate of owners just want to have a jumper and travel the country with him, so I reckon he might let me now,” she said. “I want to go down for the 0-1 win (hurdle) but we will get him home and assess as he’s not very big and is only a four-year-old, but I do want to go to Christchurch.” The 22-year-old Callwood was elated to get the win at her ninth raceday ride in New Zealand and admitted she was thoroughly enjoying her time here although she was committed to returning to the UK for the winter season there. “That was brilliant as he just travelled like a real professional,” she said. “He jumped perfectly, although I thought I got there (the front) a bit soon as he could have won by more. “It’s taken me a bit (to ride a winner) but we finally got there and it’s a big thanks to Jessica and Pete for letting me ride him as he is a nice horse. “I’ve had about 110 rides for thirty winners, mainly over chase fences, back home. I’ve just come here for a holiday mainly as I have a retained, sponsored ride at home so I need to be there, but I’m loving it here and would love to come back.” Bred by well-known Matamata racing identities Karen and Kevin Crawford, the pair share in the ownership of Squire with the Brosnan’s and the Squire Syndicate, with their charge adding his two wins over fences to a success on the flat from just 15 starts. View the full article

Caleb Hays, interim starter at Churchill Downs during the Spring Meet, will move into the role of head starter at the Louisville oval as well as at Turfway Park, while Todd Stephens, after more than 25 years at Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows, has been named head starter at Ellis Park. Churchill Downs owns all three Kentucky tracks. Hays has been on the gate crew for 17 years at Churchill after getting his start at River Downs. He is the son of the late former assistant starter Danton “Danny” Hays and has handled GI Kentucky Derby winners Nyquist and Mystik Dan during his time on the gate. “It's a great honor to step into this role at Churchill Downs and Turfway,” said Hays. “I've been fortunate to work under some of the best in the business and I'm proud to follow in their footsteps.” Ben Huffman, vice president of racing for Churchill Downs, added: “Caleb has earned this opportunity through years of steady leadership and respect from his peers. He brings integrity, character, and a calm presence that's critical for a position like this. We're confident he'll continue the high standards that define our starting gate.” Stephens takes over head starter duties at Ellis Park for the 2025 summer meet. “Todd brings a wealth of experience during his time in the Upper Northwest,” said Ellis Park's racing secretary Baley Hare. “He'll be a big asset to our racing program.” Both Hays and Stephens will start their new roles immediately. The post Hays and Stephens Named Head Starters at Churchill Properties appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article