Wandering Eyes

David Hayes turns to four-time winner as stable’s leading hope for first leg of the four-year-old series.View the full article

2024 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner, Storm Boy. Photo: Darren Winningham Magic Millions Day is one of the most prestigious events on the Australian horse racing calendar, and the 2025 Magic Millions promises to deliver more thrilling moments and unforgettable performances. For fans who want to relive the excitement or catch up on the action they missed, we’ve got you covered with replays of all the key races. Whether it’s the electrifying victory of an up-and-coming star or needing to relive a breathtaking victory, our free replays of Magic Millions 2025 brings you front-row access to all the highlights from the Gold Coast. Free Gold Coast Race Replays & Results 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Race 1 – Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1100 METRES) Race Replay & Results https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-Gold-Coast-Magic-Millions-Maiden-Plate-Heavenly-Impact-Marcus-Wilson-Jason-Collett.mp4 Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st #6 Heavenly Impact Marcus Wilson Jason Collett $8.50 $2.80 2nd #9 King Of Dragons Gary Portelli Chad Schofield $3.20 3rd #4 Brazen Act Kelly Schweida Craig Williams $8.00 4th #7 Hell March Toby Edmonds & Stephen McLean Ethan Brown Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 6-9 $43.70 Exacta 9-6 $79.20 Duet 6-9 $13.60 Duet 6-4 $43.60 Duet 9-4 $47.40 Trifecta 6-9-4 $2021.60 First Four 6-9-4-7 $12,994.60 Horse racing news View the full article

PUNTERS PREFER BLONDES Family run bookmaker, competing with big names in odds and promotions. Join BlondeBet BlondeBet is giving customers an outstanding opportunity to increase their chances of winning on the 2025 Magic Millions, due to be run at Gold Coast on January 11. BlondeBet’s main Magic Millions promotion is a $100 back in bonus cash if your selection finishes second, with this available on the three main races in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, 3YO Guineas and Cup at Gold Coast on Saturday. On top of this, with Magic Millions betting so even, it’s worth putting Blondebet into your rotation on Saturday, because they tend to have juicy odds. particularly on rough chances. BlondeBet will also be targeting the Flemington racecourse in races 1 to 4 with Bonus Cash back for 2nd place up to $100. BlondeBet might not be a household name yet in Australian betting, however they are an Australian family business run by the Pendlebury’s and have been doing trackside betting before a lot of the big names had started. Which some great, including their Blonde Boosts and Bet Returns they are fully equipped for the Gold Coast Magic Millions and Saturday’s racing on January 11. Magic Millions promotions at BlondeBet BlondeBet Gold Coast Magic Millions promotions include: Gold Coast Races 7-9 | Bonus Cash Back BONUS CASH BACK FOR 2ND & 3RD- Up To $100- Gold Coast Races 7 to 9 BlondeBet T&C’s Apply, Only for eligible customers. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Flemington Races 1-4 | Bonus Cash Back BONUS CASH BACK FOR 2ND- Up To $100- Flemington Races 1 to 4 BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo What betting markets will BlondeBet offer on Magic Millions day BlondeBet is not a household name in Australian racing, but this bookmaker does have some cool points of different, including very competitive odds. BlondeBet’s bet types available on the Magic Millions include: Win/Place Same race multis Trifecta Quinella exacta First four Quaddie Early quaddie Daily Double Does BlondeBet have a free bet offer for new customers? BlondeBet does not offer a new account incentive, because these are outlawed under Australian laws. This means BlondeBet’s Magic Millions free bet is non-existent. BlondeBet.com.au Magic Millions Referral code BlondeBet.com.au readers can use our exclusive BlondeBet.com.au Magic Millions Code: GETON More horse racing promotions View the full article

Packing Hermod headlines the champion trainer’s weekend battalion ahead of the first leg of the four-year-old series.View the full article

Peter Bradley, Bradley Thoroughbreds Gold: MCKINZIE Street Sense–Runway Model, by Petionville Gainesway Farm, $75,000 Even though his stud fee more than doubled, McKinzie may be the best bang for the buck at $75,000 this season. A Grade I winner at two, three and four, he completed his racing career at five with a Grade II win. His precocity, soundness and class are all evident in his first crop to race. Narrowly missing out on the Champion First-Crop Sire title, he has already produced four Grade I performers including Grade I winners Chancer McPatrick and Scottish Lassie. His yearling average topped $150,000 off a $30,000 stud fee and is certain to improve with the success of his first crop to race. Silver: LIFE IS GOOD Into Mischief–Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor WinStar Farm, $75,000 Life Is Good was one of the best racehorses of his generation, despite having to compete in the shadow of Flightline. This horse is an A+ physical and is stamping his foals with balance and quality. With a weanling average of $325,625 and a median of $325,000 in 2024, Life Is Good offers plenty of value at a $75,000 stud fee. He bred 378 high-quality mares across his first two books, giving him every opportunity to succeed at stud. Two years from now, $75,000 could look very inexpensive. Bronze: CANDY RIDE (ARG) Ride the Rails–Candy Girl (Arg), by Candy Stripes Lane's End Farm, $75,000 Candy Ride provides great value for the breeders whose focus is to produce top quality race horses at a reasonable fee. He is as underrated as they come and no other stallion at this price point can boast a resume with 19 Grade I winners and as a sire of sires, has a list that already includes Gun Runner, Twirling Candy and newly crowned Champion First-Crop Sire, Vekoma. Candy Ride | Lane's End Tanya Gunther In the over $50,000 segment of the stallion market, particularly at the very top end of the market, the risk from a breeder perspective starts to become readily palpable if not capable of inducing periodic heart palpitations. Progeny racetrack and sales ring success ideally must both be present, the risk reward balance not too precarious, momentum sustainable, and the chance of producing a top-level horse relatively decent. After vacillating significantly, and adding age and versatility as further considerations, I arrived at the following choices. Gold: NOT THIS TIME Giant's Causeway–Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi Taylor Made, $175,000 Arriving at Gold for Not This Time took less time from analysis to podium than the bronze and silver picks. Ranked #13 on the 2024 general sires list (based on worldwide earnings), Not This Time produced 17 stakes winners (2nd highest after Into Mischief) at a rate of 7.4% stakes winners/starters and including two Grade I stakes winners in the mix. Not This Time has been a consistent producer of stakes horses at a relatively high percentage of starters throughout his career to date and is improving his mares. He also had one heckuva sales season in 2024 with his $45,000 stud fee sired crop, achieving a yearling sales median of $250,000 and siring four seven-figure yearlings. Not This Time has also managed to stay on the top ten general sires radar over the prior couple of years when he was relying on crops sired at fees of $15,000 or less, including a crop that dipped below 100 in terms of mares bred. The versatility of his runners is another nod in his favor–dirt, turf, short, long, boy, girl, Not This Time progeny can seemingly do it all. Three of his sons (Cogburn, Epicenter and Up To The Mark) have already joined the stallion ranks as well, which could further augment his CV. While Not This Time's 2025 fee of $175,000 is only slightly less eye-watering than my Silver selection, his career path appears to be on a clear upward trajectory. He has surpassed expectations and overcome the typical hurdles that can trip up many a young stallion and, while he still has something to prove, his best bred crops are still to come. Silver: GUN RUNNER Candy Ride (Arg)–Quiet Giant, by Giant's Causeway Three Chimneys, $250,000 Deep breath, yes I am picking Gun Runner for silver. This is where the heart palpitations come into play! While his current fee of $250,000 does represent a reduction from the lofty height of $300,000 in 2023, a quarter of a million dollar stud fee would not be for the faint of heart nor for any breeder not supremely confident in their mare selection and with cash flow to spare. To make my case, Gun Runner is one of those few stallions who has truly hit the ground running so to speak and gone from strength to strength ever since. During his racing career, he won multiple Grade I races with career earnings of nearly $16 million. In his stallion career, Gun Runner has achieved #1 ranked first season sire (2021), #1 ranked second season sire (2022), and #1 ranked third season sire (2023) when he simultaneously broke into the top ten on the general sires list. He also achieved the #1 position in terms of yearling sale prices for his first, second and third crop sale seasons. In 2024, Gun Runner was #2 ranked general sire behind only Into Mischief and I would hazard a guess that Gun Runner will be a leading contender to take up the mantle when Into Mischief gives up his record-breaking streak at the top. Incredibly, Gun Runner has achieved all of this since entering stud duties in 2018 and is only 12 years old. In 2024, he produced 16 stakes horses (at a 6.3% clip), four Grade I stakes winners (including Breeders' Cup Classic winner and Eclipse Award finalist Sierra Leone as well as Ballerina winner and Eclipse Award finalist Society), and his 2024 average earnings per starter was $87,868. With six new stallions at stud in Kentucky already, Gun Runner is also poised to become a sire of sires when first runners from these stallions come of racing age over the next few years. Gun Runner's popularity at the sales has also continued–2024 sales median for his yearlings was $435,000. While it is impossible to have complete confidence that any mating will result in a top-level horse, Gun Runner's consistent top notch performance across all key metrics could instill a cautious degree of optimism. Constitution | Sarah Andrew Bronze: CONSTITUTION Tapit–Baffled, by Distorted Humor WinStar, $110,000 Constitution gets the nod for bronze. A top five-ranked sire in 2024, Constitution has remained at the $110,000 fee level since 2023 (up from $85,000 in 2022/2021). While he did not sire a Grade I stakes winner in 2023 or 2024 (probably the main reason his fee remains at the current level), Constitution had, respectively, 2 and 3 Grade I stakes horses beside his name in those years. Courtesy of his son, Tiz The Law, achieving the #3 rank on the 2024 first season sire list (beaten only a whisker or two for the top spot), Constitution also has the chance to blossom into a sire of sires. He also brings progeny versatility of surface and an ability to produce a Derby/Classic contender to the table. Already popular in the sales arena as reflected by a 2024 yearling sales median of $300,000, further upside potential could be in store if he can manage to convert his stakes horses into Grade I stakes winners. The post Value Sires–The Big Guns: The Breeders Speak appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Magic Millions Day will be held on the Gold Coast. Photo: Darren Winningham The Magic Millions race day at the Gold Coast is one of the most prominent betting events on the Australian horse racing calendar to kick off the new year and the good news is bookmaker promotions ramp up a notch around this time of the year. While Magic Millions promotions do not hold as much power as they did in the past, many of the Australian betting sites still have referral codes and offers running surrounding the Gold Coast feature. Gold Coast Magic Millions Bookmaer Promotions & Betting Offers The top Magic Millions promotions for 2025 are: Gold Coast Same Race Multi | 3+ Leg Bonus Back Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Gold Coast this Saturday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. View Markets Neds T&C’s Apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo 25% Boosted Winnings – Flemington & Gold Coast Get 25% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Fixed win only. First bet only. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Saturday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd in 1-5 at Gold Coast & Flemington Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Boost Your Balance With Spin & Win The Spin & Win Cash Wheel gives you the chance to boost your balance on your next deposit. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts Elevate Your Prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Punters Toolbox! Supersized Saturday helps you Bet it Out with neds! Get MORE Price Boosts, MORE Bet Backs, MORE Fluc Ups, MORE Back Ups & MORE Extra Nudge tools! Available to use on ANY races of your choice. Neds T&C’s Apply Login to Neds to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Best Tote and Starting Price Guarantees a dividend equal to the highest of the official win dividend paid by the three Australian TAB pools or the official starting price. Maximum stake: $2,000. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its Magic Millions racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for Magic Millions on January 11, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) have confirmed the inclusion of the new $100k Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy – a 3YO SW&P 1500m race on Champions Day, 8 March 2025 at Ellerslie Racecourse. Responding to feedback from Slot Holders and industry participants, the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy will ensure the selected emergency horses are ready to compete if required to replace scratched runners from the final field of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) – the Southern Hemisphere’s richest 3YO race. To accommodate the new 3YO race, NZTR and ATR have deleted the previously scheduled 2400m Benchmark 75 race on Champions Day. This change will allow the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy to provide the pool from which emergency horses for the NZB Kiwi will be chosen. The Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy is open to all 3YOs, not just NZB Kiwi eligible 3YOs, however, the pool of four emergency runners for the NZB Kiwi will be chosen first from eligible horses that are acceptors for the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy. The decision aligns with international best practices observed in other slot races, such as The Everest in Syndey and the Sunlight slot race in Queensland, where emergencies are sourced from a corresponding race held on the same day over the same track and distance. This addition follows collaborative discussions between NZTR, Slot Holders and ATR, which highlighted the benefits for all stakeholders. NZTR Chief Operating Officer Darin Balcombe is pleased to announce the new race. “Emergency horses for the NZB Kiwi will be prepared to race under identical conditions (same track, distance and day), ensuring they are ready to perform at their best if required.” “Connections of emergency horses will no longer need to disrupt their plans for other races, as they can specifically target the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy without impacting future campaigns. “The race gives some level of comfort to Slot Holders, while adding depth to the Champions Day card,” he said. As part of the programming adjustments, NZTR will delete the 3YO SW&P 1600m race previously scheduled for Saturday 1 March, the week before Champions Day, at Matamata Racecourse. “This reflects a focus on ensuring the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy attracts a strong and competitive field at Ellerslie Racecourse, which is vital for the race’s success,” Balcombe said. Read more about the Southern Hemisphere’s richest 3YO race here. For general enquiries about the$100k Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m), contact ATR’s Executive General Manager – Racing & Operations Craig Baker via craigb@ellerslie.co.nz. View the Special Conditions for the $100k Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m) here. Full Programme Changes – Saturday 1 March at Matamata Racecourse: 3YO SW&P 1600m deleted. Mdn 1600m added. – Friday 7 March at Te Aroha Racecourse: Mdn 1600m deleted and replaced with Mdn 3YO 1600m. – Saturday 8 March at Ellerslie Racecourse $100k Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m) added. R75 2400m deleted. View the full article

Champion sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) has been paid the ultimate compliment with her inclusion in the 2025 draft of inductees to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. The winner of 10 Group One races in a total of 19 wins from 26 starts and stakes of almost A$7 million, her accolades already included New Zealand Horse of the Year, Australian Sprinter of the Year, and when at the peak of her powers, being rated the world’s best sprinter and best racemare. As the winner of six Australian Group One sprints and the standout amongst her champion sire I Am Invincible’s 100-plus stakes winners, Imperatriz was always going to be hot property when she was put on the market at the end of her racing career last May. However, few would have predicted the outcome when new Australian powerhouse Yulong outbid an international bench at a Southern Hemisphere mare record A$6.6 million. “We’re so proud that Imperatriz will be joining another of our champion racemares, Melody Belle, in the Hall of Fame,” commented Te Akau principal David Ellis, a recently announced Hall of Fame inductee himself and the signatory when Imperatriz was knocked down for A$360,000 at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. “She achieved something that no other New Zealand-trained horse has been able to do – win six Group One races against the very sprinters in Australia. That’s quite incredible when you think about it and sets her apart as a very special horse.” Imperatriz was bred in Australia by Malaysian Dato Yap Kim San’s Raffles Dancer (NZ) Pty Ltd and was reared at Bhima Thoroughbreds in the Hunter Valley, where she was prepared for sale as a yearling. As one of the annual intake of Te Akau purchases put up for syndication amongst existing and new clientele, the big brown filly didn’t immediately capture the attention of potential suitors and was in fact the last to be fully syndicated. “It’s unbelievable to think that you could still have bought a share in her so late,” says Karyn Fenton-Ellis, who managed the Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership and in fact took a share in the future champion. Imperatriz was initially trained by Te Akau incumbent Jamie Richards, for whom she won on debut at Otaki in late November and her only other start at two years, the Gr. 2 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie. She didn’t race again until a month into her three-year-old season, winning the Gr. 3 Northland Breeders’ Stales at Ruakaka, followed by a third placing in the Gold Trail Stakes, career win four in the Gr. 3 Soliloquy Stakes and fourth place as favourite to stablemates The Perfect Pink, Shepherd’s Delight and Belle En Rouge in the Gr. 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. The still-maturing filly resumed in late summer, when a first-up second was followed by four consecutive wins, the last two of them autumn Group Ones at 1600m in the Levin Classic and New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. Between those two races she had a change of trainer resulting from Jamie Richards’ departure for Hong Kong and Mark Walker’s return from Singapore. Walker was fully versed on Imperatriz when he resumed his original role at Te Akau’s Matamata stables. “I still remember when I first saw her at the Gold Coast Sale, she really struck me as a yearling we should be buying. When I told Dave and he came with me to inspect her at Bhima’s boxes, he could see exactly what I liked about her and it was great that we were able to buy her. “Part of our system when I was in Singapore was to talk regularly with Jamie back in Matamata and work through the team, planning things and discussing the various stable members. So by the time I got back to New Zealand when Imperatriz was a late three-year-old, I had a pretty good handle on her.” The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Rapa in April 2022 was the only time that Walker saddled up Imperatriz at three. She resumed in early spring with wins over 1100m at Ruakaka and the Foxbridge Plate over 1200m at Te Rapa, but after finishing out of the placings in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Arrowfield Plate (1600m), her compass was reset. “She had back issues and we changed her training and diet, with a lot of her work on the treadmill and a higher protein feed formula,” Walker explained. “We also decided to keep her to shorter distances and when you look back on her record, that was definitely the right call.” In her remaining 13 starts, Imperatriz raced only twice at 1400m – for wins in the Gr. 1 BCD Sprint at Te Rapa and Gr. 2 Westbury Classic at Pukekohe – and the other 11 were at distances from 1000 to 1300m. The turning point in her career was the decision to test her against Australia’s best sprinters in the autumn of her four-year-old season, and although she had to settle for second to Artorius in the Gr. 1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, she quickly proved she was more than up to the challenge. Sent to Melbourne where she was to set a perfect platform for Te Akau’s plans to establish a permanent presence, she signed off her season with victory in the Gr. 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley and added a hat-trick of big sprints at the same venue in the spring. That set her up for the biggest test of her career, the Gr. 1 Champions Sprint down the Flemington straight six on the final day of Melbourne Cup week. This was the race that Walker and her regular rider Opie Bosson describe as defining Imperatriz. “Going into that race we really felt the pressure,” Bosson recalls. “She was unbeatable at Moonee Valley, the way she would quicken off the bend, but down the straight at Flemington was a whole different challenge. “She was up for it though, she beat them all fair and square, and for Mark, me and everyone it was massive.” Bosson, who announced his retirement recently with a tally of 99 Group One wins, speaks from the heart when he describes Imperatriz as the horse that inspired his battle with weight and one that when the decision was made to retire her five-year-old season, left him knowing there would be no other to compare. “She was the best, you could put her in the right spot and she would switch off, then when you asked her she would change legs and kick with that incredible turn of foot. There was no better feeling to ride a horse that could do that.” *The 2025 NZ Racing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner is scheduled for Sunday May 11 at SkyCity, Hamilton. For further information and tickets go to www.racinghalloffame.co.nz View the full article

Login to view all Unibet offers! New customers only. 18+. Located in UK. Min bet 2/5 or more. Each leg of multi must be over 2/5 for bet to qualify. 3x wagering requirement before withdrawing.Full terms View offers! Unibet is offering some outstanding Magic Millions promotions in the lead-up to the 2025 running of the Gold Coast feature. Unibet’s main Magic Millions promotion is a cash back deal, where you get your stake back as a bonus bet, if your wager finishes second or third at the Gold Coast and Flemington. This Gold Coast Magic Millions race day offer also extends to the first five races at Gold Coast and Flemington January 11. Unibet is also offering Daily Multi Insurance on all races around the globe, with this meaning you will get a bonus back if your multi loses. Any race, Any Runner. Any Odds. Unibet Magic Millions promotions 2025 Unibet.com.au Magic Millions promotions for 2025 include the following: Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Saturday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd in 1-5 at Gold Coast & Flemington Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo What betting markets will Unibet offer on Magic Millions day Unibet does not have as many bet types as other Magic Millions bookies such as Neds and Picklebet, however they are definitely one of the better options. On this year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions Unibet is offering a huge selection of different odds types, with these including both exotic and standard bet types. Unibet does have some unique bet types, with these including Head to Head markets, where two horses in the Magic Millions field are pitted against each other and priced accordingly. Unibet, which recently added same race multis to their selection, also offer bundle bets and quaddies. Unibet bet types available on the Melbourne Cup include: Win/Place Same race multis Trifecta Quinella exacta First four Quaddie H2H Bundle Bet Does Unibet have a free bet offer for new customers? Unibet will not offer a free bet to new customers for the running of the Magic Millions, with this because of local laws, which outlaw new account incentives. You can learn more about free bets in Australia in our excellent guide. More horse racing promotions View the full article

NEXT GEN RACING BETTING Picklebet Australia is offering a stack of promotions, plus very competitive betting markets. Top Four Betting. Extra Place. Every Race Picklebet.com.au is a popular Australian horse racing betting option, and like most bookies they will excel around Magic Millions. Picklebet generally offers some unique Magic Millions betting promotions, with these including enhanced odds on select runners and cash back deals in previous years. Magic Millions promotions at Picklebet in 2025 include 25% Boosted Winnings on all races at Gold Coast and Flemington on January 11. While there are some restrictions surrounding this Picklebet Magic Millions bonus, including the first bet only and Max Bonus of $250, it is a great way to make your dollar stretch longer on Magic Millions day. Picklebet will also be doing their famous Top Four betting, which they do on every race at anytime. You can bet on a horse coming fourth instead of third which could be very proftiable especially with the wet weather looming around the Magic Millions race day. Magic Millions promotions at Picklebet.com.au Picklebet is giving customers the following during the course of Magic Millions day: 25% Boosted Winnings – Flemington & Gold Coast Get 25% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Fixed win only. First bet only. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo What betting markets will Picklebet offer on Magic Millions Pciklebet has a stack of betting markets available, like their fourth-place betting available at every horse racing meeting. They also offer some very competitive betting odds, which are available through their site. Picklebet bet types available on Magic Millions in 2025 include: Top Four Betting Same race multis Win/Place Quinella Exacta Trifecta First Four Quaddie Early quaddie Picklebet’s Magic Millions coverage will also include a bevy of stats on the various runners throughout the day, including betting fluctuations, speed glance and speed maps, Does Picklebet.com.au have a free bet offer for new customers? Picklebet will not offer a free bet offer for new customers on the 2025 Magic Millions, with these types of new account incentives banned. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Top bookmaker for Aussies! Neds Australia is offering a swag of promotions, plus in-depth betting markets, telephone betting and much more. Join Neds Neds.com.au is one of the most prominent Australian online bookmakers, and they have a variety of Magic Millions race day promotions and an outstanding selection of odds on the big race day in January. Neds Magic Millions promotions don’t just include the main feature, with their offers a great way to enhance your overall Gold Coast betting experience on Saturday, January 11. This year Neds is giving Gold Coast punters a Same Race Multi-Insurance, where you can place a 3+ leg wager on any race and the bookie will give you up to $50 in bonuses to wager if you lose 1 leg. They will also be running their usual Punters Toolbox for a Supersized Saturday, where it helps you get more Price Boosts, more Bet Backs, more Fluc Ups and more Back Ups, availbale for any race of your choice. Use the following Neds Magic Millions promotions to extend your shelf life on Magic Millions day at the Gold Coast! Magic Millions promotions at Neds.com.au Neds Australia is giving customers the following during the course of Magic Millions day: Punters Toolbox! Supersized Saturday helps you Bet it Out with neds! Get MORE Price Boosts, MORE Bet Backs, MORE Fluc Ups, MORE Back Ups & MORE Extra Nudge tools! Available to use on ANY races of your choice. Neds T&C’s Apply Login to Neds to Claim Promo Gold Coast Same Race Multi | 3+ Leg Bonus Back Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Gold Coast this Saturday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. View Markets Neds T&C’s Apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo What betting markets will Neds offer on Magic Millions day Neds Australia will have a bounty of Magic Millions betting markets available on the day, with these extending to your exotics, like mystery bets and first fours. Neds will also allow punters to place quaddie bets on the Gold Coast races on Saturday, with the four races set to be 7, 8, 9 and 10 on the card. This Australian racing bookmaker is also likely to have an early quaddie and all of your standard bet types, like win/place, trifectas, quinellas, exactas, trebles, daily doubles Unique bet types available at Neds for the running of the Magic Millions include same race multis, MBO bets, Blended bets and same race multis. Does Neds.com.au have a free bet offer for new customers? While Neds does run a number of Magic Millions promotions, free bets as an offer to open a new account are banned down under. Neds is also not running any Magic Millions free bet offers for international customers. Neds.com.au Magic Millions Referral code Horsebetting.com.au readers can use our exclusive Neds.com.au Magic Millions Code: GETON Horse racing promotions View the full article

With increasing frequency over the last decade or so, major players on the Australian bloodstock landscape have raided the November mixed sales in Kentucky, looking to fortify their ever-strengthening industry. Acquisitions by major Australian stud farms and bloodstock agents renowned and respected around the world have often made a favorable–not to mention profitable–impression on the yearling market Down Under. With the last of the 1,021 yearlings catalogued in Book 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale having gone through the ring on Friday, here are a handful of youngsters produced by U.S.-sourced mares that sold well over the course of the first four days of trade. With a day off on Saturday for The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival at the nearby racetrack, Book 2 selling takes place Sunday afternoon and the Gold Coast sale concludes Monday, Jan. 13. MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST YEARLINGS Hip, Sex, Sire–Dam, Price (A$) 228, f, Extreme Choice (Aus)–Boujie Girl, 475,000 Consigned by Newgate Farm Purchased by Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock Raced by David Bernsen and Rockingham Ranch, Boujie Girl (Flashback)–a half-sister to 2021 GI Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock (Super Saver)–had a productive 2-year-old season in 2018, finishing third in the GII Sorrento Stakes and the GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes. SF Bloodstock paid $175,000 for Boujie Girl at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale and her first foal, a filly by Frankel (GB), was acquired by these same buyers for A$825,000 at last year's Gold Coast sale. 387, c, Snitzel (Aus)–Fashion Faux Pas, 1,700,000 Consigned by Newgate Farm Purchased by Tom Magnier A two-time stakes winner and runner-up in the 2019 GIII Delaware Oaks, Fashion Faux Pas (Flatter) was knocked down to James Harron Bloodstock and bloodstock agent Byron Rogers for $310,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. This early September foal's fourth dam is the outstanding Wild Applause (Northern Dancer), herself the dam of Eastern Echo, Roar and Yell. 520, c, Snitzel (Aus)–Ippodamia's Girl, 600,000 Consigned by Segenhoe Stud Purchased by Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock A half-sister to GI Del Mar Futurity hero Georgie Boy (Tribal Rule), Ippodamia's Girl (Stormy Atlantic) was twice a winner at listed level and Group III-placed sprinting on the grass before hammering to Paul Moroney Bloodstock for $260,000 at KEENOV in 2021. This is the first foal for the mare, who was bought back on a bid of A$1 million when pregnant to Snitzel at last year's boutique Inglis Chairman's Sale. She ultimately did not produce a foal in 2024. 542, c, Farnan (Aus)–Jennifer Lynnette, 525,000 Consigned by Kia Ora Stud Purchased by George Moore Bloodstock Hailing from the second crop of the 2020 G1 Golden Slipper winner and champion Australian 2-year-old, this colt's dam Jennifer Lynnette (Elusive Quality) posted her most important victory in the GIII Royal North Stakes at Woodbine and was acquired by Kia Ora Stud for $575,000 at FTKNOV in 2018. The Ontario-bred mare struck with her first foal, as Royal Tribute (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) took out the Listed Gosford Guineas in 2023. 695, c, Extreme Choice (Aus)–Mrs. Ramona G, 925,000 Consigned by Newgate Farm Purchased by China Horse Club/Newgate B'stock & Partners Placed three times at stakes level for Al Gold's Gold Square operation, Mrs. Ramona G. (Kantharos) realized a final bid of just $50,000 from the Newgate braintrust at KEENOV in 2019. 703, f, Russian Revolution (Aus)–My Conquestadory, 450,000 Consigned by Newgate Farm Purchased by Glentree Thoroughbreds/Badgers Bloodstock My Conquestadory (Artie Schiller), winner of the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes in 2013, has seen her value appreciate markedly since SF Bloodstock and Newgate Farm teamed to pay $1.5 million for her at KEENOV in 2016. She has since become the dam of 2019 GII Fountain of Youth Stakes runner-up Bourbon War (Tapit), this filly's multiple stakes-placed full-sister Russian Conquest (Aus) and the SP Sakima (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}). My Conquestadory | Keeneland photo 976, f, Snitzel (Aus)–Special Code, 500,000 Consigned by Arrowfield Stud Purchased by Michael Hickmott Bloodstock A $235,000 purchase by Frisco Ventures in foal to Catalina Cruiser at KEENOV in 2020, Special Code is a full-sister to GSW Hear the Ghost; and a half-sister to SW & GISP Closing Bell (Tapit), unplaced in three starts in Australia; and to GISW Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot), a $650,000 FTKNOV purchase by James Bester in 2009 and dam of a stakes-placed runner in Australia. The post Produce Of American-Sourced Mares Feature Prominently On Gold Coast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Spendthrift Farm's Arabian Lion (Justify) sired his first reported foal Jan. 9. The chestnut filly, bred by and born at Jim & Pam Robinson's Brandywine Farm, is out of the Street Boss mare Champagne Sparkle, a full sister to GSW Danza and half to Grade I-winning millionaire Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor). “We are thrilled. This is a strong foal with great bone, leg and substance,” said Pam Robinson. “A deep chestnut with a beautiful blaze. Correct and solid as a rock. We had to double check to be sure it was a filly and not a colt! She comes from a great family. Pretty special.” Campaigned by Zedan Racing Stable, Arabian Lion was named a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut as a 2-year-old at Santa Anita while as a 3-year-old, he scored a win in the GI Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes Day, winning in 1:21.70 while earning a 109 Beyer Speed Figure. Arabian Lion retired to Spendthrift as Triple Crown winner Justify's only Grade I winner at stud, with earnings of $498,100. Out of the stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Unbound, Arabian Lion hails from one of the Phipps' top families, as his third dam is Personal Ensign. In his debut season, Arabian Lion covered a full book of 178 mares. He is set to stand his second season for a fee of $20,000 S&N. ARABIAN LION, Justify's only G1 winner at stud, has his first reported foal! “We are thrilled. Strong foal with great bone, leg and substance. Correct and solid as a rock. We had to double check to be sure it was a filly and not a colt! She comes from a great family. Pretty… pic.twitter.com/Pmc9c5K3ab — Spendthrift Farm (@spendthriftfarm) January 10, 2025 The post GISW Arabian Lion Sires First Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The inaugural Syndicate Management Conference will take place at Warwick Racecourse on Wednesday, Jan. 22, the Racecourse Syndicates Association (RSA) announced on Friday. Organised by the RSA, the event will include speakers from the BHA, RCA, Great British Racing, The Jockey Club, Arena Racing Co, the ROA and Retraining Of Racehorses. This conference is open to all commercial syndicate and racing club managers operating in the UK and will provide syndicate and racing club managers the opportunity to network with industry colleagues and to hear presentations from key stakeholders in UK racing and the opportunity to feed back. Some of the speakers include: Harry Williams (British Horseracing Authority) – Syndicate Licensing and Regulation Louise Norman (Racehorse Owners Association) – The role of the ROA in supporting syndicates and racing clubs Panel speakers: Nadia Powell (The Jockey Club), Tabitha Killingbeck (The Racecourse Association) and Rebecca Davies (Arena Racing Company) joining RSA Chairman Dan Abraham for a round table discussion on The Raceday Experience for syndicates and racing clubs. The panel will answer questions and take feedback from syndicate and club managers on their racecourse experience Davina Grewal (Racehorse Owners Association) – the ROA VAT solution and VAT implications for syndicates. David Catlow (Managing Director, Retraining of Racehorses) – the role of Retraining Of Racehorses. RSA Chairman Dan Abraham, “We believe a syndicate manager conference is long-overdue and represents a positive step forward from the RSA and its' members as racehorse syndication continues to grow as an industry and as the new BHA licensing and regulation comes into force over 2025/26. “We're very grateful to The BHA, The Racecourse Association, The Jockey Club, Arena Racing Co, Great British Racing, The Racehorse Owners Association and Retraining of Racehorses in coming to speak and get feedback from delegates–as in many industries, progress often stalls where there are a number of conflicting stakeholders–we believe that getting together and discussing key issues in person can only be a step in the right direction for racing. “This conference represents our ambition to improve racing for the better especially in these growth areas in racehorse ownership–syndicates and clubs are vital for racing's long-term future and the immediate willingness of key industry stakeholders to attend this conference and talk to professional syndicators underlines how important they see syndicates and clubs when shaping the sport for the future.” The post Inaugural Syndicate Managers Conference To Be Held At Warwick This Month appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Southern California stallion Bolden (Square Eddie), a dual-surface winner who was undefeated in his racing career, was represented by his firstborn foal born January 4. The bay colt, who was bred by and foaled at Rancho San Miguel in California, weighed in at 125 pounds and is the second foal out of the eight-time winner and $144,010-earner Trina (Peppered Cat). “Bolden is a big, good-looking and classy stallion who has us excited for the future,” said Rancho San Miguel owner Tom Clark. “If all the Boldens look like this first one, we are going to have a lot of fun.” Racing exclusively in Southern California circuit, Bolden won all four of his career starts by a combined margin of 21 lengths with two victories coming on dirt at five and six furlongs and two victories on turf at the same distances. Bolden stands for a fee of $3,500 in 2025, with a live foal guarantee. The post First Foal Is A Colt For California Stallion Bolden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

C R K Stable's Skinner (Curlin), a breakthrough winner of the GIII Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 23, could make his next start in either the GIII Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds Jan. 18 or the GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25. Previously campaigned by John Shirreffs in Southern California, the 5-year-old has posted two workouts since joining Cherie DeVaux's barn at Fair Grounds. He worked a bullet four furlongs in :47.80 (1/67) Dec. 31 and covered five furlongs in 1:02.60 (19/31) Jan. 9. “He's worked really well,” DeVaux said. “Jose Ortiz was aboard for his last work, and was really impressed with him. He had a really nice gallop out. He looks great. We're weighing our options and discussing the Pegasus and the Louisiana. I'm still getting familiar with the horse.” C R K Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify), also previously based with Shirreffs, was an impressive winner while making her first attempt for DeVaux in an optional claimer at Fair Grounds Jan. 2. The well-related 5-year-old mare won the 2022 Desi Arnaz Stakes and has also placed in five graded stakes races. “He's made it known that he's moving more out of California,” DeVaux said of owner Lee Searing. “The state of racing, there's a lot more opportunity (on the East Coast). With a horse like Skinner, it's a van ride to Florida. It's a van ride to Oaklawn. There's just more opportunities this way than staying in California.” Skinner kicked off his belated 2024 season with a very useful second sprinting in an optional claimer on the Breeders' Cup Friday undercard prior to his win in the Native Diver, his first career stakes victory. His resume also includes third-place finishes in the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity and GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. The $40,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $510,000 OBS April breezer is one of 64 graded/group winner worldwide for leading sire Curlin. Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Skinner is out of 2012 GIII Rancho Bernardo H. winner Winding Way (Malibu Moon). The full-sister to MGSW & GISP Kauai Katie brought $82,000 from Solis/Litt in foal to Maclean's Music at the 2021 KEENOV sale. Skinner is bred on the same Curlin x Malibu Moon cross responsible for champion 3-year-old filly Stellar Wind. The wildly successful Curlin x A. P. Indy (sire of Malibu Moon) pairing has produced standouts such as Malathaat, Nest, Global Campaign, Idol, et al. #3 SKINNER ($9) under @HIBerrios runs down the leaders in the stretch and pulls away to win the $100,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. The 4yo son of Curlin trained by John Shirreffs gets his second career win. Congrats to all the connections! pic.twitter.com/aDGvzarG4a — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 24, 2024 The post Now With DeVaux, Connections ‘Weighing Options’ for Skinner’s Next Start appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

MGSW and GI Kentucky Derby runner up Two Phil's (Hard Spun) was represented by his first foal Friday. The filly, bred by Meredith Krupp and Phillip Sagan Racing LLC, is out of the mare Makin' Sense (Street Sense). “She has great bone and really good size,” said co-breeder Meredith Krupp who owns Pine Branch Farm where the filly was born. “Very happy with her and thrilled for the Sagan family.” Two Phil's retired to stud with five wins from 10 career starts, having amassed earnings of $1,583,450. Bred in Kentucky by Phillip Sagan and campaigned in partnership by Sagan, Patricia's Hope, and Madaket Stables, Two Phil's won the GII Street Sense Stakes as a 2-year-old and took the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks Stakes at Turfway Park as a 3-year-old. After finishing a close second in the Kentucky Derby, Two Phil's also registered a dominating win in the GIII Ohio Derby. Two Phil's, who stands at WinStar Farm, is set at $10,000 S&N for the 2025 season. The post First Foal A Filly For Two Phil’s appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Santa Anita racing community continues to feel the impacts of the nearby Eaton fire. While the track itself and the 1,800 horses stabled on grounds have not been threatened, the fire has burned more than 13,900 acres while forcing over 100,000 people from their homes and destroying over 1,000 structures in the surrounding area. Agent Mike Ciani confirmed two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mario Gutierrez is among those who have lost their home from the fire. Among those forced to evacuate were trainers Michael McCarthy, Phil D'Amato, Dan Blacker and Tim Yakteen. Blacker said he and his family evacuated their Pasadena home near where the Eaton Fire started Tuesday night. “My family is fine,” said Blacker. “Our house is fine. We still haven't gone back as the power is still out. The whole thing is so sad. I'm just thankful we're all OK and the horses here are all Ok. There are a lot of houses near ours that just aren't there anymore.” Yakteen had to leave his home in Monrovia along with wife Millie Ball, who is part of Santa Anita's on-air simulcast team, and their two sons. “We had to evacuate and are still without power, but it's nothing compared to what some of these other families have had to endure. We're very fortunate,” said Yakteen. The Eaton Fire forced all training activities at Santa Anita to be canceled Wednesday and Santa Anita also notified trainers that if they wanted to voluntarily evacuate their horses, they would be relocated to another CHRB-sanctioned facility. Poor air quality continued to limit morning training to jogging and galloping on Thursday and Friday mornings and racing was canceled Friday. The status of Saturday's card, which is California Cup Day at Santa Anita, will be made later Friday. “Santa Anita has done a great job keeping everyone informed,” continued Blacker. “We've also had the fire marshal here keeping everyone informed. It's not an easy process to navigate. As concerning as all this has been, everything here seems like it's getting back to normal.” The post Santa Anita Continues To Feel Impacts From Nearby Eaton Fire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainers Whit Beckman and Kelsey Danner among the four newly elected members to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Board of Directors.View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Saturday, January 11. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for January 11, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Punters Toolbox! Supersized Saturday helps you Bet it Out with neds! Get MORE Price Boosts, MORE Bet Backs, MORE Fluc Ups, MORE Back Ups & MORE Extra Nudge tools! Available to use on ANY races of your choice. Neds T&C’s Apply Login to Neds to Claim Promo Flemington & Wyong R1-5 | Run 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $25 Run 2nd or 3rd in Races 1-5 at Flemington & Wyong on Saturday and receive a bonus back up to $25. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo 25% Boosted Winnings – Flemington & Gold Coast Get 25% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Fixed win only. First bet only. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Gold Coast – Claim Your Bet Match Up To $20 First enter the code “MAGIC” and your next fixed win bet on any race at Gold Coast this Saturday will be matched in Bonus Cash up to $20. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Available once per client, First fixed win bet only. Login to Ladbrokes to Claim Promo Saturday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd in 1-5 at Gold Coast & Flemington Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts Elevate Your Prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Gold Coast Odds Surge – Bigger Odds, Paid In Cash Activate Odds Surge for bigger odds in ALL RACES at Gold Coast this Saturday. One bet per race. Max Bet $100. Ladbrokes T&C’s apply. Login to Ladbrokes to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Same Race Multi | Select 2-4 runners in the same race to get bigger odds Available from approx 8:30am local track time on race day. Availability dependent on field size. Neds T&C’s Apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Best Tote and Starting Price Guarantees a dividend equal to the highest of the official win dividend paid by the three Australian TAB pools or the official starting price. Maximum stake: $2,000. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for January 11, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

A turf horse launching his stud career at the age of nine might go against the stallion market grain in Kentucky, but Mill Ridge Farm has already shown a knack for bucking those trends and doing so successfully. After all, it was only three years ago that Oscar Performance was standing for just $12,500 and bred only 63 mares. This year, the 2024 leading third-crop sire of graded stakes winners by percentage of starters has a sold-out book heading into the season as he commands a fee of $45,000. So now it seems that breeders are eager to support Mill Ridge's latest newcomer, four-time Grade I winner and fan-favorite turfer Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed-Achalaya, by Bellamy Road), who made 36 starts over seven seasons of racing and will stand for $10,000 in his debut season. “Casa Creed has been our most popular sires to come back into the stallion shed since maybe Valiant Nature back in the mid-'90s,” said Mill Ridge Farm's Price Bell. “I think horses like Oscar Performance and Karakontie have helped elevate turf, to the point where you can stand a turf sire in America, and also he has such a great story and an inspiring body of work. I genuinely believe that people are breeding and raising horses because they want to perpetuate the breed, leaving it better than how they found it, and so I think a horse like Casa Creed speaks to that desire because he has everything that we would want including durability.” Bell shared how Casa Creed first came onto his stallion radar this past summer when chatting with Fasig-Tipton Sales Associate Ian Bennett, who once rode for Bill Mott. When asked about the best horse he ever galloped, Bennett didn't hesitate before naming Casa Creed. That response got the wheels turning. “Ian was the one who first alerted me to the fact that Casa Creed had come into hand as a juvenile and was ready to go,” Bell explained. “Bill was so excited about running him, but he ran so poorly the first time out that Bill ran him back six days later and he wins, which seems so out of character for Bill, who isn't really known for pushing his 2-year-olds, but at the same time it's sort of like wow, what an impressive horse.” Anyone who can remember way back to the 2018 Saratoga race meet might recall that those first two starts actually came on dirt. Casa Creed continued on the main track through his juvenile season before switching to the grass in his 3-year-old debut in January, claiming the Kitten's Joy Stakes, and from there taking off through a career that would accumulate $2.69 million in earnings. Campaigned by Lee Einsidler and Mike Francesa, Casa Creed's career highlights included two wins and two third-place finishes in the GI Fourstardave Stakes, a pair of GI Jaipur Stakes victories and a narrow third-place effort in the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Mile. “He puts together a body work where I think he runs in 27 graded stakes, wins four Grade Is, wins nine races and runs nine triple-digit Beyers,” recalled Bell. “So if he's precocious, if that's something that we demand in stallion prospects, and if he is brilliant, which his brilliance was speed but more than anything I think his brilliance was determination, in that regard I think Casa Creed is a great opportunity.” Last year, Mill Ridge launched their Ride Together incentive program, where registered breeders of a live foal earn a free season when that foal wins a maiden race at ages two or three. Casa Creed will qualify for this program, joining fellow Mill Ridge sires Oscar Performance and Aloha West. While Casa Creed's syndication isn't quite yet full, Bell shared that many of the same breeders who purchased initial shares in Oscar Performance were the first to jump on the Casa Creed bandwagon. Casa Creed at Mill Ridge | Katie Petrunyak “Oscar Performance has been just an incredible gift,” said Bell. “I think he has been successful because he has exceeded expectations as opposed to not meeting expectations. I don't think the market believed that a turf horse could stand in America and I don't think the market believed that a horse who never won on dirt could produce really good dirt runners. So we didn't sell him out in his first or second year, but now he's sold out at $45,000.” Bell said he believes that even since Oscar Performance launched his stud career in 2019, the market has responded to the sport's investment in quality turf racing in America. “Putting together a real turf program has been very helpful. I think also there is curiosity with the commitment to synthetic and what will happen there when Belmont starts running on Tapeta in the winter. I think that if you're breeding now, you're putting that in your consideration.” At the same time, Bell noted how if Casa Creed passes on his toughness and durability, those qualities will benefit his progeny no matter what surface they show an affinity towards. “At the end of the day, the horses have to train on the dirt here so I think you do need some physical attributes of dirt somewhere. Casa Creed is a Jimmy Creed out of a Bellamy Road mare. Physically he's tall and long and he's got a straight hind leg, so I attribute that physicality more towards the dirt. I think people are breeding to 'Casa' for the durability.” He continued, “If you were to knock him, you'd say, 'Well, he's now starting his stallion career at nine,' but at the same time if we are looking for more longevity in our horses, then is he not the perfect candidate to be considered? This isn't a horse who was brilliant at six and seven. He was brilliant from two to eight. That's a body of work where if we're trying to promote and breed better, faster, stronger, stouter horses, he should be considered.” The post ‘Brilliant from Two to Eight,’ Mill Ridge Makes a Case for Casa Creed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first foal by GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) was born in Kentucky at Machmer Hall Friday according to breeders Carrie and Craig Brogden and Dr. Sandra Fubini. The bay colt is the first foal out of stakes-placed Lil Miss Moonlight (City of Light) who was purchased by Machmer Hall at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale for $85,000 and sent to the Derby winner for her first covering. “Absolutely thrilled with our Mage colt–especially to be the first foal from a mare we're really excited about!” said Brogden. “He already has such a classy look to him–beautiful head, great laid-back shoulder and a big hip. A beautiful colt by a Kentucky Derby winner–hard to be more exciting than that!” Winner of the 2023 GI Kentucky Derby, Mage was bred in Kentucky by Grandview Equine and raced by the ownership team of OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and Commonwealth Thoroughbreds. His female family has been further bolstered by the exploits of his full-brother, Dornoch, who has mirrored Mage as an Eclipse Finalist for Champion 3-year-old honors following a 2024 season that saw him win both the GI Haskell Stakes and the GI Belmont Stakes. Retired to Airdrie for the 2024 breeding season, Mage bred 171 mares in his first year at stud and will once again stand for a fee of $25,000 for the 2025 breeding season. The post First Foal Born For Kentucky Derby Winner Mage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Millionaire and GSW/GISP Manny Wah (Will Take Charge–Battlefield Angel, by Proud Citizen) has been retired at the age of nine and will enter stud at Robert and Tyree Wolesensky's Leadem Farm in Leola, Arkansas in a deal brokered by Jay Goodwin and co-breeder Martha Jane Mulholland. Winner of the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes in 2022, Manny Wah started 48 times spanning seven years for owner Susan Moulton and retired with earnings of $1,012,499. In 2024, he earned placings in both the GIII Toboggan Stakes and the GIII Tom Fool Handicap while finishing his season off the board in the Holiday Cheer Stakes at Turfway Dec. 14. Other highlights in his career include a third to Omaha Beach (War Front) in the GI Malibu Stakes and a fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in 2022. “I believe Manny Wah is the best stallion prospect to ever retire to Arkansas,” said Goodwin. “He was an absolute warrior horse with elite speed who was also able to go long and placed in the GIII LeComte Stakes as a 3-year-old at the Fairgrounds and who placed locally in Arkansas at Oaklawn in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.” Manny Wah will stand his initial season with a $2,500 LFSN and will be available for inspection at Mulholland Springs in Kentucky through the end of the Keeneland January Sale. The post Millionaire And GSW Manny Wah Retired To Stud In Arkansas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What is in store for the bloodstock industry in 2025? From a shoo-in for the first-season sires' championship, market predictions, a word or two on Amo Racing and much more, TDN Europe's Brian Sheerin has come up with 10 predictions for the new year. Yearling Sale Momentum Can Continue Into The Breeze-Up Market It can be hard enough to predict how strong or weak trade will be on the eve of a sale, not to mention three or four months out, but there are a few good reasons to believe why this year could throw up more big-money lots at the breeze-up sales than ever before. For starters, the competition for the raw material was stronger than ever at the European yearling sales last year. That was largely down to Kia Joorabchian's involvement. Breeze-up handlers had to really stretch to secure the horses they wanted. As a result, many operators stated that, while their overall spend may have been up, the numbers that they are working with this season are down. That can only be a good thing for the breeze-up market. Lest we forget that it was only last July when the Breeze-Up Consignors Association (BUCA) called on Goffs and Goresbridge to reconsider plans to stage two new sales respectively, saying there is only a finite demand (roughly 1,200) for breeze-up horses. Goresbridge has already knocked its plans for a new sale on the head while the Goffs Derby Breeze-Up Sale is understood to be shaping up into a small but select offering of back-end types. So, in short, the supply does not appear to have exceeded the demand here and we should expect smaller books at the major breeze-up sales. On top of that, the market in Europe seems to have developed in such a way that the top horses have never been worth more while the middle to lower bracket has never been trickier. The Goffs Orby Sale, Book 1 and 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and even the October Yearling Sale at Arqana were very strong. If that sort of momentum was to continue into the breeze-ups, and there's no reason to suggest it won't, we could be in for another sale season where records are broken. Last year saw 12 horses make half a million or more at the Craven and at Arqana, including three millionaires. My money is on that number being bettered later this spring. Goffs To Try And Make Some Ground In The Online Sphere This should be the year where Goffs tries to move in on the online sales space that Tattersalls has dominated so well in the past few years. What started as a necessity to continue trading through Covid has blossomed into a whole new arm of the company that continues to go from strength to strength with an online sale every month. Up until now, Tattersalls Online has been afforded an easy lead, while Arqana has made some inroads with its online platform. The world is getting smaller and given the large volume of horses that are changing hands these days, online sales are only going to go one way. Goffs can make a belated mark in this sphere. Advancement Of AI In Horse Racing – One Of The Greatest Certainties Whether we like it or not, a tidal wave of change is coming to the horse racing industry as Artificial Technologies (AI) continue to advance. AI has the potential to revolutionise everything from breeding and training racehorses to betting and even racecourse operations. Through the use of machine learning algorithms, AI systems can analyse vast amounts of data-everything from genetics, historical ratings and biomechanical traits. By identifying patterns and correlations that breeders might overlook, AI can suggest the most promising stallion pairings for breeders. Such technologies are already in use with some buyers utilising similar data-driven models at the breeze-up and yearling sale markets in particular. But as the technology advances, so, too, do the possibilities. Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby are two trainers who have embraced technology to maintain their competitive edge. In fact, O'Brien's wife Annemarie has gone one step further in setting up her own company, Equimetrics, which is essentially a FitBit or an Apple Watch for a racehorse. We live in the information era and knowledge has never been more sought after. The advancement of AI in a multi-million-dollar industry that is decided by marginal gains is one of the greatest certainties of all time. This particular race has only just begun. Count On Kia To Entertain Us – Win, Lose or Draw Kia Joorabchian injected a lot of cash into the market last year and he clearly had a lot of fun doing so, with last-minute bidding and showboating becoming something of a routine of his. But it won't be a lot of fun if, for the many millions spent at the sales, Amo Racing fails to have its purple silks carried by a high-class runner in 2025. Only a fool would try to predict how that investment will translate to performances on the track. However, you can be sure that Joorabchian will provide us with lots of entertainment this year–win, lose or draw. It is no secret that Joorabchian is not afraid of saying what he thinks, nor is he shy on severing ties with jockeys or trainers, which of course is his prerogative. It didn't go unnoticed, either, that on Christmas Day, he put a cryptic message on his Instagram timeline suggesting that Richard Hannon was the latest trainer on the Amo Racing roster to have been given the chop. It was during Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls last year where ace bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, who has been entrusted with overseeing the heightened spend, acknowledged that there will be consequences if Amo does not come up with the goods on the track. He commented, “Some heads could roll next year if these don't work out!” And you get the sense he was only half-joking! The stakes have become a whole lot higher this year for Amo Racing and, for the sake of the industry, it will be important that one or two of those well-bred yearlings can make a mark on the racecourse. Breeders To Spread The Love After Encouraging Trade For Yearlings The number of different stallions who had progeny make six figures or more in 2024 was encouraging. There may not have been much of a floor to the market last year but things seemed to be less polarised than in 2023. One of the standout results in the ring came at Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale when a son of Territories (Ire) sold for 750,000gns. The fact that the yearling in question was conceived off a covering fee of just £10,000 and that the stallion had just been shipped off to India proved no barrier to the horse making such an eye-watering sum. That, along with the fact seven different stallions had progeny sell for 500,000gns or more during Book 2, might serve to remind breeders that there are more options out there going forward. Look No Further Than Lucky Vega In First-Season Sires' Championship The first-season sires' championship would appear to be Lucky Vega's to lose. A Group 1-winning two-year-old himself, he did not lack support when joining the Irish National Stud, the fruits of which have been advertised Down Under, where he is up and running with a Listed winner already. According to Global Stallions, Lucky Vega (Ire) has 100 foals of racing age to represent him in his debut season in Europe. That is a strong number to be working from. Not only that, but his yearlings appeared to be more forward and precocious compared to the progeny of some of his first-season sires' championship rivals. It may only be January, but some of the reports back from trainers would back up that appraisal, which means that Lucky Vega can be expected to steal a march in the beginning of the season. As we saw with Sergei Prokofiev, who set an unrelenting pace from start to finish in 2024, an early lead can prove vital when it comes to securing first-season sire honours. Of the class of 2025, which also includes St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and Palace Pier (GB), it is Lucky Vega who looks best placed to make an impact this year. Ghaiyyath: could be a sleeping giant | Darley Ghaiyyath Can Come Good One thing you can be sure about in the bloodstock game is that a stallion is never going as well as the market makes out he is, nor is he going as badly. The reality is that it will be somewhere in the middle. Take Time Test (GB) for example. Breeding rights in the young stallion sold for six figures in 2022 following his promising start with his first crop of runners. His fee almost doubled to £15,000 in 2022 and 2023 and, while he remained a perfectly good sire capable of producing nice horses with good ratings, he never managed to catch up with those lofty expectations and he now stands in Turkey. More recently, people appeared to crown Earthlight (Ire) as the champion first-season sire long before any of his runners hit the track. His first crop of yearlings were said to be that nice and many of the top pinhookers went out and paid top dollar for his foals in 2023. He ended up having a perfectly respectable start with his first runners, including a filly, Daylight (Fr), who mixed it at the highest level in France, yet last year's yearlings and foals sold for a fraction of what they would have cost 12 months previously. The point being, it can be difficult not to get caught up in the reactionary nature of the market at times, but the good breeders are the ones that are more than capable of thinking for themselves. Not one person would have predicted that Ghaiyyath (Ire) would rival Sergei Prokofiev when it came to producing two-year-old winners. In fact, six individual winners from 30 runners–including a Group performer in Stanhope Gardens (Ire)–might well have exceeded expectations from Ghaiyyath's first crop of runners. Yet, his yearlings were affordable in 2024, while demand for his foals definitely upsurge as the sale season continued. I for one expect him to take things to a new level in 2025 and for those who retained the faith in the one-time world-class older performer to be well-rewarded for their loyalty. Keane To Get The Big Rides His Talent Commands Ireland's six-time champion jockey Colin Keane proved yet again that he can shine on the world's biggest stage when delivering Magnum Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) with a perfectly-timed rattle to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint for his boss Ger Lyons at Del Mar last November. Yet, Keane remains criminally underused by outside trainers, especially when it comes to the big races in Britain and Ireland. It will have come as a shock to many at the time to learn that it took Keane until 2023 to break his duck at Royal Ascot, where he delivered the Jessica Harrington-trained Villanova Queen (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) from last to first to land the Kensington Palace. Keane's second and only other winner at the royal meeting came aboard his father Gerry's Crystal Black (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes last year. There's something not right about that. It's not just the British trainers who have been ignoring Keane on the big stage in Britain, either. Take Willie Mullins, for example. When it comes to running his horses across the water, he has preferred to utilise the services of Ryan Moore, William Buick and Frankie Dettori. That's fair enough, as those jockeys are also top of the pops, but Jason Watson and Andrea Atzeni have been provided with a similar number of opportunities to Keane–who has ridden just two winners from seven rides for Mullins–in Britain. Perhaps this will be the year that Keane is recognised as one of the best practitioners of his craft. David Menuisier has already seen the light. When the ride aboard his stable star Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in the Sun Chariot became available, the trainer didn't hesitate in calling on Keane, who duly delivered. More people can come to their senses this year. Ollie Sangster | Tattersalls Ollie Sangster To Train A Group 1 Winner Ollie Sangster has come desperately close to training a breakthrough Group 1 winner for the previous two seasons. But perhaps this could be the year where the impressive young trainer can make his mark at the highest level. After Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) went down fighting in second to Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the 2023 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket, Simmering (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) found only Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) too strong in last season's Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh. Sangster has been consistently knocking on that Group 1 door. It's only a matter of time before it opens. Colts To Play Second Fiddle To The Fillies At Ballydoyle A quick scan through the ante-post markets for the Classics and it shows how top-heavy Ballydoyle is in the fillies' department compared to the colts this year. Whether you went along with the hype machine or not, City Of Troy confirmed himself the outstanding colt of his generation in 2024. There does not appear to be a colt even close to his calibre to get excited about this season. The same cannot be said of the fillies' division. Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who has not been seen since her brilliant performance in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) are just a handful of genuinely exciting Aidan O'Brien-trained fillies to look forward to this year. There does not appear to be the same star quality within the colts' barn. The post How Will Amo Fare Out And Who Is The Nap Of The First-Season Sires? 10 Predictions For 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 edition of La Route des Etalons will last from Friday, Jan. 17 through Saturday, Jan. 18. A total of 20 stud farms will open their doors to the public with at least 90 stallions set to parade. La Route is a unique opportunity to discover many of the best stallions and studs in France, as well as to meet many racing and breeding professionals in a very friendly atmosphere. “We would like to sincerely thank the participating stud farms, France Galop (for organising a trip), our partners in the French press (France Sire, Galorama, Jour de Galop) and the foreign press (EBN, Racing Post, TDN, Turf Times) for their participation in and support for this event,” the organisation said in a statement. For more details on La Route des Etalons and participating stallions and stud farms, please visit their website. The post A Score Of French Stud Farms Will Participate In The 2025 La Route Des Etalons appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article