Wandering Eyes

When he has the right horse to do so, California-based conditioner Chief Stipe O'Neill isn't the smallest bit hesitant to showcase them on the foreign stage. On Apr. 5, the 56-year-old will send out Grade I winner Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in an attempt to win the G2 Godolphin Mile for the third time in his career and the second time in succession. “It's a real honor to have a horse that's classy enough to travel to meetings like this,” said O'Neill, a two-time winner of the GI Kentucky Derby whose success overseas includes an upset victory with one-time claiming horse Fleetstreet Dancer (Smart Strike) in the Japan Cup Dirt in 2003. “It's great for the whole crew and the owners, so I'm just grateful to be working alongside an equine athlete that's so gifted and so classy to take us to a race like this.” A $75,000 purchase out of the 2023 OBS April Sale, having failed to meet his reserve at $27,000 at Keeneland September prior to that, the bay colt was an impressive debut winner at Del Mar two summers ago, but his true coming-out party happened around this time last year at Churchill Downs when he won a seven-furlong allowance race by a wide margin in slick time. “He's always been very impressive since he's been out and running, but that race at Churchill was like, 'whoa, okay,'” he said. “To travel away from his home base and to run that sort of race, we knew we were on to something. That's when we decided we might have something pretty special.” RAGING TORRENT ($19.32) had some place to be and that place was the winner's circle in @ChurchillDowns Race 13! He sprinted away from the field under @Antonio1Fresu for trainer @DougONeill1. He's a 3yo by @spendthriftfarm's Maximus Mischief! Last race: https://t.co/Ufc0tno7Rp pic.twitter.com/iW7dymItzf — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 5, 2024 Two races later, Raging Torrent found himself lining up against the mighty The Chosen Vron (Vronsky), arguably the best California-bred sprinter of all time, in the GII Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar. After laying down strong fractions up front, Raging Torrent was headed by his older rival with time ticking away, but he battled back tenaciously to win by a neck to punch his ticket to the Breeders' Cup. “That was a pretty special race because The Chosen Vron is a legend,” said O'Neill. “Horses eyeball him and typically back up, but Raging Torrent really showed how tough he is that day.” Only seventh to recent G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint hero and Eclipse Award winner Straight No Chaser (Speightster) in the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, Raging Torrent had the services of one Frankie Dettori for the first time in the GI Malibu Stakes and easily validated 12-5 favoritism in that traditional Boxing Day feature. “We circled the Godolphin Mile after the Malibu,” said O'Neill, who will look to make it back-to-back wins in the Mile after Two Rivers Over–a son of fellow Godolphin Mile hero Tamarkuz–ran down Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the shadow of the post 12 months ago. O'Neill, whose other Mile success came with Spring At Last (Silver Deputy) in 2007, is counting his blessings to have a jockey in the irons who knows his way around Meydan. “Having Frankie in the saddle, arguably one of the best of all time, it's a great asset,” said O'Neill. “He knows him well, he's worked him and won on him so it's definitely a big plus.” Raging Torrent turned in his most serious piece of work at O'Neill's Santa Anita base on Mar. 9, going six furlongs in a stiff 1:12.20. He's since had a couple of easier maintenance moves, but the trainer said the colt is sitting on ready and has taken the long trip from California to Dubai in his stride. “Yeah, he shipped great, his appetite has been really good and his energy level is excellent as well according to my staff, so it's so far, so good,” he commented. And while a look at his early form shows that Raging Torrent struggled with distances up to a mile and a bit farther, O'Neill said next weekend's trip holds no concerns. “Not at all, I think the one-turn mile is the key,” he said. “He's got tons of stamina. He's a little more precocious than [Spring at Last and Two Rivers Over], who were two wonderful horses, but he's got that six-furlong sort of speed and he can stay a mile. He checks all the boxes and now we just need to stay injury-free between now and the race.” O'Neill said Raging Torrent would get a bit of a leg-stretch this coming weekend and he will be at Meydan to oversee final preparations from Apr. 3. The post O’Neill Looking For More Smiles In Godolphin Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 03/25/2025 Licensee: Collin Maragh, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 26, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Cajun's Cookin, who finished second at Gulfstream Park on 2/14/25. Date: 03/25/2025 Licensee: John Toscano, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 26, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of DMSO–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Mr. Mendelssohn, who finished second at Turf Paradise on 1/25/25. Date: 03/24/2025 Licensee: Michael Zalalas, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person pursuant to ADMC Program Rule 3323, with credit given for the 36-day suspension served, which was issued by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission in connection with these violations; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500. Admission. Explainer: Medication violations for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time on ATM Awesome on 9/1/23; and Secret Spell on 3/14/24. Date: 03/21/2025 Licensee: Carlos Rondon-Mora, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 22, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Tramadol- Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Marvelous Lady, who won at Tampa Bay on 12/6/24. Date: 03/21/2025 Licensee: Salvador Soto, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500 per violation, for a total fine of $1,500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points per violation, for a total of 4.5 Penalty Points. Treated as one violation. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Methocarbamol, Phenylbutazone and Dexamethasone–all controlled substances (Class C)–in samples taken from Geebeesbigboy, who finished fourth at Zia Park on 12/2/24, and from Stormy Dame, who won at Zia Park on 12/9/24. Date: 03/20/2025 Licensee: Fernando Ferreira, trainer Penalty: 60-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 21, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $5,000. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violations for an Intra-Articular Injection Within Fourteen (14) days of a Post-Time on Nice Weather on 10/25/23; on Dance a Little Jig on 10/26/23; and Spikes Shirl on 11/3/23. Date: 03/20/2025 Licensee: Thomas Pierce Jr., trainer Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 21, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results obtained on 09/02/24 and 09/29/24, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $25,000. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance except in certain circumstances–in a sample taken from Angel's Shadows, who won at Albuquerque on 9/2/24. Pending ADMC Violations 03/26/2025, James Nicholson Jr., trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Midnight Getaway on 2/20/25. 03/24/2025, Wayne Catalano, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Jimmy the Hat on 2/25/25. 03/21/2025, Kasey Ray Kemper, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from El Siete Leguas on 2/24/25. 03/21/2025, Bill McLean, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Mo Town Gal on 2/20/25. Violations of Crop Rule Penn National Jordano Joel Tunon–violation date Mar. 20; $250 fine, one-day suspension Turf Paradise Harry Hernandez–violation date Mar. 20; $500 fine, two-day suspension Francisco Garcia–violation date Mar. 20; $750 fine, three-day suspension The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, Mar. 20-26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Connie Costello is the new group chief financial officer of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Peter Roe has been named the head of racing at HRI Racecourses. Costello previously worked at the Central Bank of Ireland, having previously held senior positions in First Active PLC, Ulster Bank, An Post and the Department of Public Expenditure (National Shared Services). HRI CEO Suzanne Eade said, “With a wealth of commercial experience and expertise, Connie is a significant addition to the team at HRI. Her career to date has included high level roles in both the private and public sector, and this, combined with an appreciation and understanding of racing and thoroughbred breeding, gives her the platform to make a telling contribution to our industry.” Roe, who has worked for HRI for 25 years and started at Tipperary, has been the general manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse since 2010. He will report to HRI Racecourses CEO Paul Dermody. Dermody said, “We are proud that Peter has built a strong reputation with all our key industry stakeholders in his roles at Tipperary and Fairyhouse. Peter will ensure consistency, quality, and innovation across each of the four racecourses, while maintaining a strong focus on individual track development, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement.” The post Connie Costello And Peter Roe Fill New Roles At HRI And HRI Racecourse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was Thornton's first grade 2 win and first graded stakes win since 2011 when he won the Stars and Stripes (G3) at Arlington Park. The win was over a field that included Sierra Leone making his first start since the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). View the full article

Fast-improving sophomores Cornucopian, Disruptor, Tappan Street try top Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races, the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the Florida Derby (G1).View the full article

NBC Sports will continue to present the Breeders' Cup World Championships on NBC, Peacock, and USA Network through 2030, as Breeders' Cup and NBC Sports announced a multi-year extension of their partnership March 26 .View the full article

During its annual review of the graded and listed stakes races in Canada, the graded stakes committee for The Jockey Club of Canada decided to downgrade the standing of three stakes for 2025.View the full article

California-based conditioner Chief Stipe O'Neill will send out grade 1 winner Raging Torrent in an attempt to win the Godolphin Mile (G2) April 5, for the third time in his career and the second time in succession.View the full article

The Dubai World Cup card this year falls a week later than is traditionally the case, a development driven by the dates of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which comes to an end with Eid al-Fitr expected to fall Sunday evening (March 30). View the full article

Coming off a sharp gate-to-wire conquest in the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T), Capture the Flag now looks to win again at Gulfstream Park in the March 29 Pan American Stakes (G3T). View the full article

The following continues a look at how long-term economic developments shape today's Thoroughbred sport. To read part I, click here. Defining Development #5–Real Estate Realities Has there ever been a time when rising real estate values have not heavily influenced the physical locations of Thoroughbred breeding farms and racetracks? This economic maxim has been especially dominant in the U.S. in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. As for breeding farms, anyone who has driven over the past four decades along Harrodsburg Road south of New Circle Road in Lexington, or along Florida State Road 200 both northeast and southwest of I-75 in Ocala, cannot fail to have noticed remarkable changes. Both routes once bordered farms that were key players in the advancement of Thoroughbred breeding in their states. Both are now full-fledged commercial corridors with restaurants, retail shops, office buildings, apartments, condominiums and single-family homes. In Lexington, Keeneland co-founder Hal Price Headley has never been anybody's idea of a dummy. Occupied and expanded since the late 19th century by Headley and his father and grandfather before him, the family's Beaumont Farm grew to 4,000 acres of rolling Bluegrass hills and farmland. Some pricier chunks of land close to the expanding city have long since been sold. One supposes that it was always in Headley's plan to retain sufficient acreage so that his estimable successors can continue the family tradition of leadership at Mill Ridge Farm on the rural western edge of the original Beaumont. Much the same pattern has unfolded in Ocala. The retail, hotel and restaurant strip near the city's Paddock Mall, which opened in 1980, once was home to horse farms. Meanwhile, the high-value commercial strip extending southwest from I-75 was, until the 1990s, horse-farm territory. In the primest of all Ocala real estate, near the Interstate, were the sizable holdings of Bonnie Heath, one of the Florida industry's patriarchs. When Heath died in 2001, it only made sense for his family to sell the prime acreage and establish a successor Bonnie Heath Farm farther out from Ocala. Buying rural property in path of residential or commercial development has been, maybe forever, an essential part of long-term planning for horse farm owners. Such plans provide an exit strategy for established breeders, should things go awry or succeeding generations choose different paths. They also work for newly smitten breeders seeking to set up operations, fulfill personal dreams, produce some good horses, maybe make some money, or at least have fun trying. Then to cash out, perhaps 10, 15, or 20 years later when land values have escalated, thereby preserving or enhancing the kids' inheritance. Nowhere has this plan been more prevalent than in California, long the nation's most explosive real estate market. If it works for horse farm owners, who thinks it should be any different for operators of racetracks? Racetracks have their own real estate history, which has led to an excruciating handful of long-cherished properties being sold off, amid declining financial returns, for their burgeoning real estate value. Unfortunate casualties of the harsh realities of 21st century racing include several tracks established during the Great Depression when state governments were desperate for any kind of tax revenue. These tracks include Bay Meadows, which opened in 1934, Hollywood Park (1938) and Golden Gate Fields (1941). Others, whose heads, hearts, and spirit rest uncomfortably close to the chopping block, include Santa Anita (1934) and Gulfstream Park (1939). All were built in locations distant enough from city centers so that open tracts of land were available at affordable prices. After decades of first rising and then falling economic fortunes in racing, Hollywood Park was sold in 1999 for $140 million to Churchill Downs, which then resold it in 2005 to a property development firm for $260 million. Both Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park are now said to be worth multiples of that price for their development potential. Is there any conceivable business model for racetracks today that would support such underlying real estate values? If so, has anyone worked harder to find it than the owners of Santa Anita and Gulfstream? Santa Anita | Benoit photo Both Frank Stronach, the immediate past owner of the two tracks, and his daughter Belinda Stronach, in charge today, despite their public battles, have labored to introduce new ways of attacking some of racing's key problems. Frank, an unvarnished visionary whose visions are sometimes clear and sometimes not, aspired to build his own satellite network to simulcast races from a coast-to-coast roster of racetracks. Over the years, that roster has included either outright ownership or leasing of simulcast rights at Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Pimlico, Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields, Lone Star Park, Colonial Downs, Remington Park, Portland Meadows, Thistledown and Great Lakes Downs. Only the first three on that list remain, at least for the moment, as parts of the Stronach racing package. Family interests in all others have been sold off for various reasons, including several primarily for their property value. Over the years, Frank's original idea of a satellite network has evolved into FanDuel Sports Network's pair of racing channels. Among numerous other efforts, the Stronachs strived, ultimately with little success, to build a home team kind of competition between Florida and California with the Sunshine Millions. Belinda has invested substantial sums in her own initiatives. These include continuing to upgrade Gulfstream's Pegasus World Cup, first started by Frank, and establishing Santa Anita's California Crown, both of which aim to attract new fans with food and entertainment packages supplementing high-class horse racing. Additional Stronach father-and-daughter innovations include various forms of coast-to-coast multiple wagers on this continent, and links with Royal Ascot and other international race meetings. Considerable investment also has been required to maintain three racing surfaces–dirt, Tapeta, and grass–after racing ceased at the former Calder Race Course in 2020, leading Gulfstream to operate the dreaded year-round schedule. Have any other tracks anywhere in the U.S. attempted so many innovations? Some of this investment has generated additional revenue, but not nearly enough to produce a return consistent with the tracks' real estate value. Without taking sides in the Stronach family war, it is hard to envision how Gulfstream, coupled or decoupled, can survive as a racetrack amid current economic realities. Other industry stake holders, beleaguered by financial challenges of their own, have seen fit to blame Belinda for the injustice of it all. From the safe distance of my vantage point, it looks to me like critics might as well bay at the moon, or work out some scaled-down ownership model of their own. Churchill Downs has followed a different path. As a publicly traded corporation tied by the short hairs to relentless demands of its shareholders, Churchill has little sympathy for anything that does not generate the requisite Return On Investment. When real estate values escalate to a point exceeding a racetrack's ability to produce adequate returns, Churchill sells it off and employs the capital elsewhere. Churchill's decision to rid itself of Arlington Park fits this pattern. Rising real estate values allowed Churchill to cash out its investment in Arlington when a potential casino at the track posed a competitive threat to a free-standing casino the company operates 10 miles away. Arlington Park | Coady The Kentucky Derby is a far different story. The year's first Triple Crown race has long provided the sport's best grip on widespread public attention, and best way to draw in aspiring racehorse owners. Even at that, Churchill's corporate ownership has proven through hundreds of millions of dollars of continuing investment that the Derby had been an under-utilized asset. This investment has vastly improved the track's aging physical facilities and enabled the Derby to maintain its market-leading television ratings. It also has enticed fans to ante up rising ticket prices for the matchless Derby experience of food, fun, hats, menacing juleps and a springtime weekend of racing at the highest level. None of this would have been possible without Churchill's access to capital markets, based on its ability to generate a consistently high ROI. Such access is not available to the private ownership of Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita. Two other real estate-related developments, both favorable to racing, involve racetrack makeovers underway in New York and Maryland. Both represent instances where the sport has benefitted from changes in the value of property long occupied by racetracks. In New York, the escalating value of Aqueduct's real estate, adjacent to JFK Airport, provided an important bargaining chip for the New York Racing Association to use in securing funding for rebuilding Belmont Park. NYRA essentially traded the Aqueduct property to the state for a funding plan to right-size Belmont. A different scenario unfolded in Maryland. There, ancient Pimlico, opened in the late 19th century, is based in a neighborhood where property values have struggled. This circumstance incentivized The Stronach Group to pass the deed to Pimlico to a new state-sanctioned racing authority, whose aim is to preserve Maryland racing and breeding. In exchange, The Stronach Group received, among other things, an agreement to eventually close Laurel Park and develop its more valuable real estate. In New York, the sport stands to benefit from transferring racing from a dismal Aqueduct to a fresh and re-imagined Belmont. The challenges of winter racing remain, but declining foal crops may soon force some season-shortening in New York, and at numerous other tracks across the country. In Maryland, rebuilding Pimlico provides hope for sustaining the national popularity of the Preakness. The race and events surrounding it retain an invaluable hold on popular culture in the state, the like of which is hard to find anywhere outside of Louisville on the first Saturday in May. That sense of infectious excitement should not be allowed to fade from the local or national scene. Isn't it clear that today's racing leaders should work to overcome whatever obstacles there may be to lengthening the time span of the Triple Crown season, so as to preserve and enhance the at-risk second jewel? The challenge, as with so many other lost opportunities in racing's past, is to innovate, not stagnate. Tomorrow, the conclusion: Blessed are the Survivors David L. Heckerman, 80, is a native of Southwestern Indiana and 1966 graduate of DePauw University. He spent most of his working years as a writer, editor, and columnist in the newspaper world, and, from 1980-2000, covering Thoroughbred auctions and the economics of racing and breeding at trade magazines based in Lexington, KY. He now lives in retirement in Evansville, IN, and may be reached at davidheckerman@twc.com. The post Why We Are Where We Are, Part II–Real Estate Realities appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

British jockey spears Chill Kaka, Fashion Legend and Rising Force to victory on Wednesday night’s all-dirt card.View the full article

Three previously graded races in Canada have been downgraded following an annual review of graded and listed stakes in the country by The Jockey Club Of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee. The Committee reviews the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures and Race Quality Scores (RQS) for all graded, listed and potentially listed races and determined that the GII Autumn Stakes and GII Seagram Cup Stakes, each run at Woodbine, will carry Grade III status in 2025. Additionally, the GIII BC Premier's Handicap at Hastings Park in Vancouver, will be downgraded to listed status. A total of 41 graded events will be contested in Canada in 2025, all but two of those at Woodbine. The GIII Canadian Derby is held at Century Mile, while Hastings plays host to the GIII British Columbia Derby. The five Grade I events on tap for 2025 are the Canadian International Stakes–back after a one-year hiatus–the E.P. Taylor Stakes, the GI Woodbine Mile, the GI Natalma Stakes and GI Summer Stakes. The Graded Stakes Committee meeting was conducted by new Committee Chair, Bernard McCormack, who was accompanied by the appointed Committee Members David Anderson, Jim Bannon, Jeff Begg, Catherine Day Phillips, Ross McKague, and The Jockey Club of Canada's Chief Steward, Chief Stipe Anderson. The attending racetrack representatives included Allen Goodsell and Teagan Goodsell from Alberta, Scott Henson from British Columbia, Ross McKague representing Manitoba, and Julia Bell from Ontario. The post Three Canadian Stakes Downgraded For 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NBC Sports will continue to present the Breeders' Cup across its various networks and platforms through 2030, as the two organizations announced a multi-year extension of their partnership Mar. 26. The championships will be telecast on the parent network as well as Peacock and USA Network for the next six years. The new deal commences this year with a total of 10 hours of coverage of the 2025 Breeders' Cup from Del Mar, including 3 1/2 hours of programming on NBC in addition to coverage on the USA Network. Peacock will stream the event live over the course of the two days. NBC broadcast the inaugural Breeders' Cup World Championships in 1984, and presented the first 22 events (through 2005) before returning as the media home of the event in 2012. NBC Sports will have served as the home of the Breeders' Cup in 41 of its 47 years at the conclusion of this new agreement. “NBC sets the gold standard in sports broadcasting and will continue to bring the thrill and prestige of the World Championships to millions of fans around the world,” said Drew Fleming, President & CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “We look forward to their award-winning team showcasing the sport's greatest moments and sharing the magic of the Breeders' Cup with a global audience.” “Our partnership with Breeders' Cup spans four decades and has featured thrilling races and memorable stories,” said Jon Miller, President, Acquisitions & Partnerships, NBC Sports. “We are excited to extend our relationship through 2030 and look forward to more world-class racing at the season-ending championships.” NBC has won the Eclipse Award for Live Television Programming in each of the last five years, including for the 2023 broadcast from Santa Anita. This year's Breeders' Cup will take place Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1. The post NBC, Breeders’ Cup Extend Partnership Through 2030 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The British Racing School (BRS) has launched a Gap Year Programme, targeting students completing their A-Levels this year and looking to explore a career in horseracing. The year-long course begins on June 30, 2025 and offers the unique opportunity for school-leavers to spend time training at the BRS in Newmarket and work at racing yards in both Britain and Australia. Students will initially attend a seven-week coaching programme in working with and riding thoroughbreds at the BRS. This is followed by a paid industry placement at a British racing yard during the jumps and all-weather season. Further experience is then gleaned from a five-month stint in a racing yard in Australia. BRS chief executive Andrew Braithwaite said, “We are excited to offer such a thrilling horseracing gap year to young people taking their A-Levels this year. The programme combines the chance to train at our world-class facilities in Newmarket and gain real life work experience, as well as the opportunity to travel internationally and work in Australia. It will provide students with the perfect foundation to develop their skills, gain international experience in the sport and open doors to a wide range of opportunities within the equine industry.” Students will need to ride to a good standard to apply. Training at the BRS costs £250. Travel to Australia is at the student's own cost. Further information about the programme can be found here. For young people keen to become involved in the sport, the BRS also offers a three-year programme in conjunction with Hartpury University which leads to a BSc (Hons) Horseracing Industry degree. The post Gap Year Programme Launched by British Racing School appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for the last of the British-based two-year-old sales of this year has been released by Tattersalls. The Guineas Breeze-up Sale is held in conjunction with the Guineas Horses-in-Training Sale at Park Paddocks on Thursday, May 1. The 198 juveniles will breeze on the Rowley Mile on Wednesday, April 30 from 9am. The breezers include a Mehmas (Ire) filly out of a half-sister to Grade I winner Digital Age (GB) and a full-sister to classy sprinter Twilight Calls (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}), who was second in the G1 King's Stand Stakes. Among the 14 first-crop sires with offspring catalogued is St Mark's Basilica (Fr), who is represented by a colt out of a half-sister to multiple Group winner and Grade I runner-up Hawksmoor (Ire) and G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Royal Dornoch (Ire) from AC Bloodstock as well as Mocklershill's filly out of Group 1-placed sprinter Keep Busy (Ire). Space Blues (Ire), who was off the mark in the first two-year-old race in Ireland this season, also has two catalogued: a colt from Cloughtanel Stables out of dual winner Jedi Princess (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and a filly out of the juvenile winner Samuna (Fr) (Samum {Ger}), consigned by JMQ Bloodstock. The breeze-up section begins with a colt from the first crop of Gestut Fahrhof's Group 1-winning two-year-old Alson (Ger), who is consigned by Glending Stables. Tally-Ho Stud's Starman (GB) is best represented among the freshmen with five juveniles in the sale. Sale day kicks off at 9.30am with a session of 163 horses in training, followed immediately by the breeze-up horses. Catalogues for both are now available online. The post Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-up and HIT Catalogues Published appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

City Of Troy, the co-top-rated racehorse in the world in 2024, will shuttle to Coolmore's Australian base in the Hunter Valley for the southern hemisphere season. The son of Justify will stand for a fee of A$49,500. European champion at two and three, City Of Troy's unbeaten juvenile campaign ended with victory in the Dewhurst Stakes and he went on to win the Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte International the following year to take his tally of Group 1 victories to four. Coolmore Australia's sales and nominations manager Colm Santry said, “We are so excited to stand City Of Troy and offer him to Australasian breeders. Aidan O'Brien always considered him to be one of the best horses he has ever trained, while Ryan Moore also ranks him as the best he's ridden. He was an incredibly classy horse with a high cruising speed, as we saw so impressively in his three runs at two which he won by an aggregate margin of more than 12 lengths. He is by far the best son of Justify with an impeccable Danehill-free pedigree that makes him suitable to all the dominant bloodlines in this part of the world.” He added, “His unbelievable accomplishments on the track saw him become the only horse other than Frankel to receive the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Horse Of The Year accolade in successive years. This is a horse with very rare ability and he's out of a Group 1-winning two-year-old by Galileo, so given how well the shuttle stallions are performing in Australia at present, he's a very exciting addition to our stallion ranks.” The post City Of Troy to Shuttle to Coolmore Australia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Check out this week’s The Box Seat View the full article

Yet another milestone for our top driver, the barrier reveals for Cambridge’s big night and two good trial performances all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Orange inches towards 3000 Blair Orange is getting ever closer to becoming just the fourth driver to win 3000 races in this country. He passed 2900 winners when Almighty Clever won for trainer Matt Purvis at Addington last Wednesday. He now has 2906 winners in total. Just three drivers are ahead of him – Tony Herlihy (3700), Maurice McKendry (3417) and Ricky May (3159). Orange has won the drivers’ premiership for the past seven years and is currently leading in 2025 as well with 51 wins. In-form junior Wilson House is second on 34 while his father Michael House leads the trainers’ premiership with 45, 24 clear of Steve and Amanda Telfer. Bruce Negus has also had a notable milestone. He had his 600th training success when Classie Linc won for Sheree Tomlinson at Oamaru on Sunday. Cambridge’s barrier reveal confirmed The barrier reveals for the two big races on Cambridge’s Night of Champions will be broadcast on Trackside next Tuesday, April 1. The draws for the $600,000 TAB Trot and the $1m Race by betcha will be at 7.30pm, followed by the Box Seat at 8pm. Cambridge’s biggest race night on Friday, April 4 will be followed an after party featuring country music star Kaylee Bell. Tickets are on sale now from $55. To find out more click here Change of date for Invercargill meeting The Invercargill Harness Racing Club RC meeting set down for Wednesday 23 April at Ascot Park will now be run on Thursday 24 April, at the request of the TAB. The estimated start time will remain approx 2.00pm. For any queries contact andrewm@hrnz.co.nz or matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz Sunnys Sister is back She’s back. Multiple Group 1 winner Sunnys Sister has been at the trials, winning her appearance at Rangiora yesterday from Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained stablemate Very Majestic. Sunnys Sister, the winner of nine from 29 including the 2023 New Zealand Trotting Derby and the Trotting Oaks, has not been seen on the race track since the Ordeal Cup at Addington last September. And Xlendi, a five length winner of the Nelson Cup in January, has come back in good shape, with a win at the same trials yesterday beating Franco Elvis by three quarters of a length. The seven-year-old has won five from 21. Trot Prelude on this Friday The New Zealand Sires Stakes assess the form ahead of this Friday’s 3YO Trot Prelude at Addington. To read more click here OnTrack looking for champions Racing’s mental well being and suicide prevention programme, OnTrack, is holding its next Champions course in Christchurch tomorrow on March 27. The Champions is programme is designed to empower and educate those in the racing industry to support mental well-being in their communities. Anyone interested in becoming a Champion should contact james@ontrack.org.nz. Gong for Hall Associated with such Kiwi-bred multi-millionaires as Im Themightyquinn and Chicago Bull, Gary Hall senior has been given the Harness Racing Australia’s Distinguished Service Award. The Western Australian great has been in the sport for more than 40 years and has trained more than 3560 winners. He won three Inter Dominion finals and an Auckland Cup with Im Themightyquinn. My Hard Copy was another of his best winners. Export fee from June 1 An export fee is being introduced for New Zealand horses heading to China. Harness Racing New Zealand advises a fee of $300 plus GST per horse will be effective from June 1, 2025. From January 1, 2026 the full export fee will apply. “The fee has largely been introduced to offset the administration costs involved in processing these transactions, ” says HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden. Club News : Addington Trainers as well as owners are being encouraged to get along to Addington Raceway’s annual Owners night this Friday. Starting at 5pm, the expo is free to all. The night will feature a number of stall-holders and an array of prizes and giveaways including an accommodation package to Australia worth around $3000, Bed and Breakfast at the Commodore Airport Hotel in Christchurch, and a free entry for a yearling at the 2026 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales. “We are hopeful of getting around 250 people along,” says Addington Raceway’s Sponsorship Manager Rachel Deegan. Harness Racing New Zealand will be among the stall-holders with Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden encouraging existing and prospective owners, as well as trainers to get along. “It’s a valuable forum for everyone in the sport,” says Peden, “and especially useful for trainers who have shares available in yearlings that they bought in February.” “It’s also a golden opportunity for trainers to promote themselves and get some free exposure.” All trainers who get involved will receive a $50 card for Addington’s Spectators Bar and Bistro. Club News – Wyndham The prestigious Group 2 Macca Lodge NZ Kindergarten Stakes is the feature event of a quality day of harness racing at Young Quinn Raceway in Wyndham on Sunday (30 March). The Kindergarten Stakes is raced over 1609m for a stake of $60,000 and has been won by some of the great names of New Zealand harness racing including Young Quinn in 1972, the horse the course is named after. Young Quinn was one of Southland’ best pacers winning major races including the 1975 Miracle Mile in Sydney and the 1975 Interdominion Pacing Final. Other races on the programme on Sunday include the $40,000 Group 3 Champagne Stakes, Heat 3 of the Alabar NZ Southern Supremacy Series and the Hunter Family Handicap Pace. The day will be supported by a family fun day of entertainment with the ever- popular heads and tails game with a $150 Prezzy Card up for grabs plus plenty of free entertainment for the kids including mini jeeps, a bouncy castle, sack races, a scavenger hunt and lolly scramble. There will also be Kidz Kartz racing on the programme at the event. The action will commence from 12.05pm on the day and admission is free. Bring the gazebo or a picnic blanket and enjoy some top-quality harness racing along with some great entertainment. Lindsay Beer Promotions Officer Southern Harness Racing 03 217 4288 021 351 499 View the full article

What 2025 Group 1 Australian Cup Where Flemington Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria When Saturday, March 29, 2025 Prizemoney $2,500,000 Distance 2000m Conditions Group 1 | WFA 2024 winner Cascadian (8) | T: James Cummings | J: Ben Melham (59kg) Visit Dabble The Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) takes top billing at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, where a field of 10 will battle it out for the $2.5 million on offer. The field boasts seven Group 1 winners, with all eyes on Pride Of Jenni as she looks to go one better in the race, having finished second 12 months ago to Cascadian. Will Pride Of Jenni prove too hard to run down? Or, will a backmarker spoil her front-running fun once again? 2025 Australian Cup odds Following her breathtaking win fresh in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), Pride Of Jenni is the $2.90 market elect with horse racing bookmakers for the 2025 Australian Cup. Australian Cup Prelude (2000m) victor Middle Earth ($5) holds the second line of betting, whilst Group 1-winning trio Zardozi ($8), Atishu ($9) and Light Infantry Man ($9) are the other runners at a single-figure quote. Upwards of $12 is available for the rest of the field. 2025 Australian Cup speed map The speed map in the 2025 Australian Cup seems pretty simple; Pride Of Jenni will use barrier one to do as she pleases out in front, with her only other challenger in the first half of the race being Deny Knowledge from barrier three. Middle Earth, Light Infantry Man and Feroce will likely be tasked with bringing the rest of the field into the race approaching the home turn, with the likes of Zardozi, Attrition and Atishu relishing the strong tempo and finishing off best. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Australian Cup. 2025 Australian Cup preview & form Atishu us a Flemington specialist, winning four times and placing on three other occasions. The Chris Waller-trained mare will relish the strong tempo the leaders set and with the long Flemington straight set to aid her want to build through the gears and finish off strongly, she looks hard to hold out. She has had two runs this campaign and the Savabeel mare has been finishing off with intent which suggests the 2000m third-up will suit. Blake Shinn will need to have her within striking distance on the home turn, but if Atishu brings her best, the is too hard to ignore. Zardozi could not make up the required ground to topple Pride Of Jenni when they clashed in the Peter Young Stakes, but this race seemingly sets up a touch better for the Godolphin mare. Pride Of Jenni simply cannot be ignored, as she is all class, but with Deny Knowledge a chance to pester her throughout, she may be vulnerable in the last 200m. 2025 Australian Cup selections & best bets Selections: 7 ATISHU 8 ZARDOZI 6 PRIDE OF JENNI 4 MIDDLE EARTH $100 betting strategy $100 Atishu (#7) @ 2025 Australian Cup final field 1. Light Infantry Man (4) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ethan Brown W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Fast Company (IRE) Dam: Lights On Me (GB) +900 +180 2. Attrition (6) T: Mitchell Freedman J: John Allen W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Churchill (IRE) Dam: Queen’s Kiss +1100 +210 3. Young Werther (10) T: Danny O’Brien J: Daniel Stackhouse W: 59kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Tavistock (NZ) Dam: Romantic Time (NZ) +3300 +600 4. Middle Earth (8) T: Ciaron Maher J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Roaring Lion (USA) Dam: Roheryn (IRE) +400 -117.65 5. Shaiyhar (2) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: Daniel Moor W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Camelot (GB) Dam: Sharliyna (IRE) +3300 +600 6. Pride Of Jenni (1) T: Ciaron Maher J: Craig Newitt W: 57kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Sancerre (NZ) +170 -250 7. Atishu (7) T: Chris Waller J: Blake Shinn W: 57kg Age: 7YO Colour: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Savabeel Dam: Posy (NZ) +700 +140 8. Zardozi (9) T: James Cummings J: Jamie Melham W: 57kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Kingman (GB) Dam: Chanderi (GB) +550 +110 9. Deny Knowledge (3) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Craig Williams W: 57kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: The Paris Shrug (GB) +1300 +250 10. Feroce (5) T: Dominic Sutton J: Billy Egan W: 54.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Super Seth Dam: Corinthia (NZ) +1300 +250 Horse racing tips View the full article

The breeding industry lost one of its most loyal and long-time supporters last week when 88-year-old John Richardson passed away in Waikato Hospital following a short illness, capping off a sad week for the thoroughbred industry after funerals for trainer Mike Moroney and veterinarian Bill Ewen. John substantially contributed to the New Zealand industry after arriving from England in 1974 aged 37. Early in 1975, he was appointed editor of the newly founded Bloodhorse Magazine, a position he held for three years before shifting to Dalgety Bloodstock as its pedigree writer. During his time at Bloodhorse Magazine, John greatly contributed to the compilation of the New Zealand Stallion Register. Iconic racing journalist J.J. Boyle in 1981 wrote: “New Zealand Racing owes much to John Richardson and Ken Browne who have laboured mightily to come up with ‘Racehorses of New Zealand,’ published by Dalgety Bloodstock. “In close to 800 pages they give all the information that could be wished for about the 6000 jumpers and flat horses that raced in New Zealand last season.” Dalgety Bloodstock made a concerted effort to rival Wrightson Bloodstock in the thoroughbred auction market but fell short and folded in 1983. John then founded his own bloodstock company, which he called The Carbine Agency, running it successfully for 19 years from his 12-acre property on Bruntwood Road, halfway between Hamilton and Cambridge. John immediately succeeded in his new business by selling top two-year-olds Nordic Seal and Era of Triumph to California. A year later, he negotiated the importation of Pompeii Court, sire of Courtza, the first New Zealand-bred Golden Slipper winner in 1988. He also negotiated the sale of the top three-year-olds Hi Reason and Jurango to the USA, and later the Trentham Golden Mile winner, Pokare. These early successes with racehorse sales launched John’s business into trading in stallion shares and nominations, as well as the quotation and importation of stallions and broodmares, using his contacts in the USA and motherland England where all his early working life had been with thoroughbreds. John had always been keen on horses from pony club days in Herefordshire when a local farmer gifted him a very fast pony which got him started. His first memory of racing came as a six-year-old when captivated by King George VI’s champion pair of 1942, Sun Chariot and Big Game. At 17 he rode out for a season for Cheltenham trainer Frenchie Nicholson who mentored the great Pat Eddery. John had about 100 rides in point-to-point and hurdle races, mostly around Herefordshire, winning twice and riding once in a two-mile chase on the hallowed turf of Cheltenham. John’s amateur riding days were interrupted by his two years at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst where he received an education equivalent to a university degree. He then left and joined a stock auctioneering firm in East Anglia from where he passed his auctioneering exams in 1959. In 1964, he formed his own company called Sandown Bloodstock Sales which conducted sales for eight years with John as auctioneer at Sandown Park in Surrey between 1964 to 1973 before the racecourse redeveloped its facilities and had no room to continue with the sales. It was then that John decided on a reconnaissance trip to New Zealand where he had thoughts of continuing his thoroughbred interests. John had also started a second business from 1966 called ‘The International Pedigree & Research Agency,’ which acted for the British Bloodstock Agency’s offices in Knightsbridge and Newmarket, compiling all the enormous catalogues for the Tattersalls Newmarket Sales. This company also did freelance work for many of the major studs and trainers in Newmarket. His only employee at that time was an 18-year-old named David Minton who would become one of Ireland’s most famous bloodstock agents over the ensuing 50 years. But John had liked what he saw in New Zealand in 1973, so he returned to England to sell up his chattels after making the decision to relocate, arriving back in New Zealand in 1974. In his later years John wrote some very good breeding articles for the now defunct weekly racing paper, The Informant. He was skilled in many of facets of racing and breeding and made a very worthwhile contribution in the industry’s halcyon days. In 2015, John and his wife Christine sold their Bruntwood Road property where they had bred and sold many yearlings over their 36-year tenure. They retired to Leamington where they resided for six years before moving to Te Awa Retirement Village where Christine sadly passed away only two months later. John passed away on the 16th of March. He is survived by his three daughters, Emma, Lucy and Kate. – Brian de Lore View the full article

Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton has been booked to ride Kiwi raider El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) in the Gr.1 FWD QE II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin next month. An invitation was extended to the connections of the in-form gelding following his golden run of form in New Zealand, which included consecutive victories in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Gr.1 Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m), and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). In search of a rider, trainer Stephen Marsh was able to snare the services of Purton, who is set to return to raceday riding at Sha Tin this weekend after being sidelined with a broken toe, and he is excited to be aboard the Kiwi. “I am going to ride El Vencedor for New Zealand in the QEII,” Purton told SEN’s Giddy Up With Gareth Hall. “You can’t knock horses that are winning, and you take Romantic Warrior out of the race here from Hong Kong, Voyage Bubble is going back to the mile, so there is not really anything else around here over the mile-and-a-quarter. “The Japanese horses will come, they are always very strong. If Goliath comes, he will be very hard to beat, but they have all got to get on the plane to come here first. “I will ride him (El Vencedor), so that is a nice ride to pick-up.” Purton will also partner fellow Kiwi-bred Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on FWD Champions Day, with the pair set to reunite in Sunday’s Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin. The Australian native rode the son of Shamexpress to a trial victory last Friday, and he is excited to be back aboard the highest rated sprinter in the world after being sidelined with injury in his last raceday appearance when taking out the Gr.1 The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) in the hands of interim rider Karis Teetan. “It was nice to jump on a horse of that quality in my first trial back,” Purton said. “It was good for my confidence as well coming back a winner. “He is a pleasure to ride, he does everything right. It was nice of him to do what he normally does, he gave me a good feel, and he pulled up really well. “He is in a really good frame of mind, he is in good shape and I am looking forward to riding him again on the weekend.” View the full article

Roger James and Robert Wellwood won’t be chasing Australian riches this Saturday with Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), but the Cambridge trainers will have a key hope on home soil with December (NZ) (Shamexpress) taking on the Listed Bramco Granite and Marble Flying Handicap (1400m). An earner of more than $2.7 million, Orchestral is one of the country’s brightest stars and came back into form when winning the $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) in January. She went on to finish third in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and sixth in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), and while she was set to contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m), a minor hoof issue ruled her out of the A$1.5 million feature at Rosehill. “We were getting her ready for the truck, but she had a slight pulse in her foot,” Wellwood said. “On further inspection, she had a bit of pain in her heel. “She’s still sound, but it’s just too big of a risk to be putting her on a plane and incurring all the costs involved for the owners. If it was a race in your own country, you may have had her right by Saturday, but it’s too big of a trip to go with no certainty.” The daughter of Savabeel will remain in Cambridge this weekend, while her talented stablemate December is likely to make the journey to Trentham in favour of starting in an Open 11500m at Te Aroha on the same day. Initially intending to start in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) last Saturday, James and Wellwood opted to scratch the lightly-raced four-year-old from a wide barrier and step him back up to 1400m, a distance he hasn’t raced at since the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas in late 2023. “He was just drawn very wide (in the Lightning) and the weather looked very unsettled, so we thought it was probably a bit of a risk putting him on the truck when there was good options for him in the following weekend,” Wellwood said. “He’s drawn ever so slightly better at Wellington and we are keen to see him go 1400, so we’re leaning towards that at the moment. Having said that, we haven’t spoken to the ownership group, but we were fortunate to be able to leave him in both races. “He’s going really well and putting together a nice record, he’s a highly talented horse that has had some bad luck along the way. We haven’t stepped him back up over 1400 since he had blinkers on and was quite aggressive in them, so it’ll be nice to see him get back up over a trip for the first time in a long time. “That’ll probably determine where we head with him from here.” A stable runner that will appear at the Te Aroha meeting is Zormella (NZ) (Almanzor), a classy filly that will step back to her own grade after performing creditably in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) on Champions Day. She was a late addition to the race after stablemate Dealt With was unable to fulfil his slot, and at just her third raceday start finished 11th. “She ran as well as she could’ve in the Kiwi, it just all came up too quickly for her being just her third start to the races,” Wellwood said. “She trialled up extremely well and just struck a wet track on debut, which didn’t suit her. She was very impressive in winning a maiden at Pukekohe, and as I say, the Kiwi probably just came up a bit quick. “She gets back into her own grade now which is great, it’ll be nice to see her up over a mile and it’ll really tell us where we head from here, whether that be to go further to stick to a mile. “I certainly think she’s a stakes horse in the making.” Lining up in the Towes Insurance (1600m), the Almanzor three-year-old will carry just 54.5kg in the hands of apprentice Triston Moodley. View the full article

Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners Emancipation Stakes Group Two Betting Guide Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025 Location: Rosehill Racecourse – Sydney, New South Wales Prize Money: $300,000 Distance: 1500m The Emancipation Stakes is a Group 2 race for fillies and mares, run over 1500m under set weights with penalties at Rosehill by the Australian Turf Club. Named after champion mare Emancipation, the race was first held in 1985 and originally run at Randwick over 1600m until moving to Rosehill in 2014. The Emancipation Stakes was a Listed event until 1994, upgraded to Group 3 in 1995, and became Group 2 in 1999. The Emancipation Stakes has seen several dual winners, including Skyerush (2012/2013), Catkins (2014/2015), and Zanbagh (2016/2017). The 2024 Emancipation Stakes, worth $300,000, was won by Olentia, defeating Arctic Glamour and Ruthless Dame. Notable past winners include Romanee Conti, Hot Danish, Sacred Choice, Prompt Response, Invincible Gem, and Catkins. 2025 Emancipation Stakes betting odds Tommy Berry and Olentia bolts clear to claim the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Odds for the Emancipation Stakes as of March 24 – Courtesy of Neds Harlem Queen Win $4.00 Place $1.75 Lazzura Win $4.00 Place $1.75 Coeur Volante Win $8.00 Place $2.75 Declichy Boulevard Win $8.00 Place $2.75 Anisette Win $9.00 Place $3.00 Arctic Glamour Win $9.00 Place $3.00 Snow In May Win $11.00 Place $3.50 Scarlet Oak Win $13.00 Place $4.00 Lady In Pink Win $15.00 Place $4.50 Ausbred Flirt Win $17.00 Place $5.00 Clear Thinking Win $17.00 Place $5.00 Pulchritudinous Win $21.00 Place $6.00 Sakti Win $21.00 Place $6.00 Honey Girl Win $26.00 Place $7.25 Lekvarte Win $26.00 Place $7.25 Mrs Morrell Win $26.00 Place $7.25 Unique Ambition Win $34.00 Place $9.25 Amokura Win $51.00 Place $13.50 Private Legacy Win $51.00 Place $13.50 Invasive Dreams Win $201.00 Place $51.00 How to bet on the Emancipation Stakes All of our recommended bookmakers have markets for the Emancipation Stakes. 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Full terms. 8 By Players, For Players UniBet Unibet offer daily promotions to registered and logged in customers only Join Unibet Review 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Chances are you are about to lose. Full terms. 9 On Your Side Betfair Australia Australia’s only betting exchange Visit Betfair Review What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit. Full terms. 10 Ladbrokes Switch Ladbrokes Ladbrokes offer daily promotions to registered and logged in customers only Visit Ladbrokes Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Ladbrokes does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. Emancipation Stakes News The Follow Files: Team Hawkes filly gets no luck as favourite Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago In this week’s Follow Files, we have found three runners from the meetings at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday that are … Read More Olentia bolts clear in Group 2 Emancipation Stakes Australia horse racing news 12 months ago Tommy Berry made it a hat-trick of wins at Rosehill on Saturday, as the Chris Waller-trained Olentia stormed clear of … Read More Rosehill race-by-race preview & quaddie | Tancred Stakes Day 2024 Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago Group 1 racing returns to Rosehill on Saturday where a 10-race meeting awaits punters. Check out HorseBetting’s free race-by-race preview … Read More Roots takes out the Emancipation Stakes in a Waller Trifecta Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Roots has proven too good for stablemates, Atishu and Finepoint as Chris Waller has trained the first three runners home … Read More Breeding barn beckons for Krone Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Tony Gollan has confirmed that Group 1-winning mare Krone has run her final race, after finishing sixth in the Group … Read More Promise Of Success on to Queen Of The Turf after Newcastle win Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Promise Of Success lived up to her name with a strong outside finish to take out the $200,000 Emancipation Stakes … Read More 2025 Emancipation Stakes Final Field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Amokura Kris Lees 12 58kg 2 Pulchritudinous Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 8 58kg 3 Coeur Volante Glen Thompson Jason Collett 1 56kg 4 Scarlet Oak Chris Waller James McDonald 10 56kg 5 Lekvarte Joseph Pride Joshua Parr 6 55.5kg 6 Honey Girl Ciaron Maher Harry Coffey 9 55kg 7 Lazzura Chris Waller Tommy Berry 7 55kg 8 Ausbred Flirt Brad Widdup Ms Alysha Collett 14 54kg 9 Arctic Glamour Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Damian Lane 2 54kg 10 Sakti Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Chad Schofield 13 54kg 11 Private Legacy Gregory Hickman Ms Rachel King 3 54kg 12 Clear Thinking Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich 4 54kg 13 Mrs Morrell James Ferguson Tyler Schiller 11 54kg 14 Harlem Queen Nathan Doyle Taylor Marshall 15 53kg 15 Snow In May John O’Shea & Tom Charlton Kerrin McEvoy 5 53kg Previous Emancipation Stakes Fields 2024 Emancipation Stakes field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Ruthless Dame Ciaron Maher Jamie Kah 5 58kg 2 Hinged Chris Waller James McDonald 13 58kg 3 Madame Pommery Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 9 58kg 4 Hell Hath No Fury Annabel Neasham Jason Collett 8 56kg 5 Olentia Chris Waller Tommy Berry 3 55kg 6 Vienna Princess Chris Waller Regan Bayliss 7 54kg 7 Barbie’s Fox Ben, Will & JD Hayes Tyler Schiller 11 54kg 8 She’s All Class Ciaron Maher Tom Marquand 4 54kg 9 Gently Rolled Bryce Heys Rachel King 6 54kg 10 Sweet Mercy David Payne N/A 14 54kg 11 Street Gossip Joseph Pride Jay Ford 10 54kg 12 Stormy Witness Danny Williams Reece Jones 2 54kg 13 Makarena Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tim Clark 1 53kg 14 Arctic Glamour Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Dylan Gibbons 12 53kg 2024 Emancipation Stakes result https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Rosehill-2024-Group-2-Emancipation-Stakes-30032024-Olentia-Chris-Waller-Tommy-Berry.mp4 1st – Olentia (+550) 2nd – Arctic Glamour (+480) 3rd – Ruthless Dame (-125) Recent runnings of the Emancipation Stakes: 2024: Olentia makes a mess of rivals Tommy Berry made it a hat-trick of wins at Rosehill, as the Chris Waller-trained Olentia ($6.50) stormed clear of her rivals in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m). It was a massive improvement based on her most recent effort in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) just seven days prior, where the daughter of Zoustar never looked likely when beaten 2.2 lengths by Chain Of Lightning. The step up to 1500m has seemingly done the trick for the four-year-old mare, who cruised past her rivals on Saturday. The race was set up by the Joe Pride-trained outsider Street Gossip ($71.00) going forward under Jay Ford, joined on the outside by James McDonald aboard Hinged ($6.00). Makarena ($3.00) was held up in the pocket for most of the journey and was unable to get a crack at them when the race went on, leaving Olentia bounding clear down the centre of the course. Arctic Glamour ($26.00) and Ruthless Dame ($4.40) could only watch on when whacking away into the minor money. It was all honours to the winner in the end, as Olentia added win number six to the resume. 2023: Roots leads home Waller trifecta If you boxed up the three Chris Waller runners in the 2023 Emancipation Stakes you would’ve seen a nice collect. Roots proved too good for stablemates, Atishu and Finepoint as Chris Waller trained the first three runners home in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes for the fillies and mares. It was a much improved effort from what we saw in the Group 3 Aspiration Quality as the short-priced commodity, Roots, went down by a half-length behind Thalassophile. Back in trip to the 1500m did the trick for this daughter of Press Statement, returning the favour for followers. Brenton Avdulla found a beautiful position three pairs back turning for home, peeling off Mirra Vision to bolt clear with the prize. 2022: Promise Of Success lives up to name Promise Of Success lived up to her name with a strong finish to take out the $200,000 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Newcastle. Third-last for most of the race, John O’Shea’s six-year-old mare made her move wide out coming into the turn at the 400m mark. That was when she fired, with Chris Waller’s Kiku a quarter of a length behind in second in a busy finish. Previous winners of the Emancipation Stakes Emancipation Stakes Past Winners Year Horse Jockey Trainer 2024 Olentia Tommy Berry Chris Waller 2023 Roots Brenton Avdulla Chris Waller 2022 Promise Of Success Kerrin McEvoy John O’Shea 2021 Nimalee Rachel King Matthew Smith 2020 Positive Peace Tim Clark Bjorn Baker 2019 Invincible Gem Corey Brown Kris Lees 2018 Prompt Response Damien Oliver Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 2017 Zanbagh Hugh Bowman John Thompson 2016 Zanbagh Blake Shinn John Thompson 2015 Catkins James McDonald Chris Waller 2014 Catkins Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2013 Skyerush Blake Shinn Guy Walter 2012 Skyerush Blake Shinn Guy Walter 2011 Sworn To Secrecy Brenton Avdulla John O’Shea 2010 Sacred Choice Michael Rodd Joseph Pride 2009 Amberino Damien Oliver John Moloney 2008 Kosi Bay Damien Oliver Bart Cummings 2007 Hot Danish Tim Clark Les Bridge 2006 Fantasia Hugh Bowman Guy Walter 2005 Perfect Promise Blake Shinn Grahame Begg 2004 Hec Of A Party Glen Boss Gai Waterhouse 2003 Faith Hill Jim Cassidy Ron Quinton 2002 Miss Zoe Kerrin McEvoy Les Bridge 2001 Heather Larry Cassidy John Hawkes 2000 Beat The Fade John Marshall Bart Cummings Emancipation Stakes winners pre-2000 Emancipation Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 Year Horse 1999 Staging 1998 Palia 1997 Almazyoon 1996 Star County 1995 Vital Consent 1994 Ausmart 1993 Hysterical 1992 Romanee Conti 1991 Ice Cream Sundae 1990 Top Dance 1989 Twining 1988 Balmoral 1987 Clavell’s Girl 1986 Sea Pictures 1985 Aspirations Recommended! Take It To The Neds Level Home of the Neds Toolbox Check Out Neds 18+ Gamble Responsibly Full terms Punters Prefer Blondes It’s a fact, Blondes have more fun Join BlondeBet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?. Say Hey to the social bet! You Better Believe It Join Dabble 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?. Full terms. Next Gen Racing Betting Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? It Pays To Play New online bookmaker Check Out PlayUp 18+ Gamble Responsibly View the full article

What Gosford Races Where The Entertainment Grounds – 4 Racecourse Rd, West Gosford NSW 2250 When Thursday, March 27, 2025 First Race 1:50pm AEDT Visit Dabble Gosford Racing Club is the destination for provincial racing on Thursday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-part program set for decision. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit for the meeting, and with the track rated a Soft 7 at the time acceptances and more scattered showers forecast in the lead-up, punters can expect the surface to be bordering on the Heavy range come race day. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1:50pm local time. Best Bet at Gosford: Kenmare Bay Kenmare Bay appears set to peak third-up into the preparation after a near miss at Wyong on March 12. The son of New Bay was heavily backed with horse racing bookmakers prior to the jump, and the plunge almost landed as he stormed over the top, all bar one rival. Stepping to the 2100m should be ideal, and with the three-year-old set to appreciate the sting out of the ground, expect Kenmare Bay to make amends at the short price with Neds. Best Bet Race 5 – #9 Kenmare Bay (7) 3yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | J: Tom Sherry (56kg) Next Best at Gosford: Ima Capri Ima Capri has been defeated by less than a length across his two starts and looks well placed third-up into the campaign. He was trying to fend them all off at Goulburn on March 11 but was swallowed up late after pressing forward at a genuine clip throughout. There shouldn’t be any softening up in the middle stages, and provided Alysha Collett can catch a breather prior to the turn, Ima Capri should be right there again when the whips are cracking. Next Best Race 2 – #1 Ima Capri (6) 3yo Gelding | T: Joseph Pride | J: Alysha Collett (59kg) Best Value at Gosford: Dwayne Dwayne had excuses debuting at Kembla Grange on March 14, with the son of So You Think pulling up with heat stress post-race. He still managed to finish in the minor money despite the assessment, with the three-year-old grinding his way to the line in testing conditions. He should be battle-hardened heading into this second-up, and with star hoop Tommy Berry in the saddle, Dwayne should get every chance to secure his maiden at start two. Best Value Race 1 – #2 Dwayne (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Tommy Berry (58.5kg) Thursday quaddie tips for Gosford Gosford quadrella selections March 27, 2025 1-2-5-6 1-9 2-4-7-8-9 2-4-10-11-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article