Wandering Eyes

Friday's GIII Penn Mile has been posted postponed until June 20 due to inclement weather conditions impacting the eastern portion of the country, according to a Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association release Wednesday. Entries will be retaken on June 13, while existing nominations will be honored. Other existing stakes that will be moved to June 20 are the Lyphard Stakes, Alphabet Soup Stakes and Penn Oaks. Penn National will proceed with the seven overnight races that were originally intended for the May 30 card. Racing is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The post Weather Forces Postponement of Penn Mile, Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free (Smart Strike–Dancing With Wings, by Danzig) died due to complications of old age at Sam-Son Farm's Ocala, Florida division Wednesday. Campaigned by his breeder Sam-Son Farm, the Ontario-bred won 15 of 27 career races for trainer Mark Frostad earning Canada's champion sprinter honor in 2003 followed by the champion grass horse title the following year, when he was also named that nation's Horse of the Year. Jockey Todd Kabel was aboard Soaring Free for 22 of 27 of his career starts. During his racing career, he won eight races at the graded level, highlighted by a score in the 2004 GI Atto Mile at Woodbine before retiring with $2.1 million in earnings. Nicknamed 'Muffin', he was cared for by his longtime groom, Tracy Smith. The gelding, who hails from a deep Sam-Son family, was out of Dancing With Wings, a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Ruling Angel (Vice Regent), champion 3-year-old filly Tilt My Halo (Halo) and SW Tiffany Tam (Tentam), dam of champion sophomore colt and Canadian Classic winner Regal Intention. The 26-year-old stallion will be interred at the Florida farm. The post Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free Dies at 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lazzat (Territories), a winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in 2024, has been purchased by Wathan Racing. He will remain in training with Jerome Reynier and target the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot next month. Bred and formerly raced by Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe, the bay gelding won his first six starts at three, including the Prix Maurice de Gheest, before running a strong second in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill Down Under. Unplaced in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint in December, he made his 4-year-old bow in the Listed Prix Altipan at Saint-Cloud and finished fourth in March. The Listed Prix Servanne went his way at Chantilly on May 2. Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan, said, “We've long admired Lazzat–who wouldn't? He's a sensational sprinter, a huge talent, and he's been extremely well managed to put together a string of outstanding performances. He'll be a force wherever he turns up in the top six and seven furlong races and we are delighted he'll be running in the Wathnan colours.” Out of the Australia mare Lastochka, Lazzat is a descendant of G1 1000 Guineas heroine Sleepytime (Royal Academy). Reynier added, “We are all very proud to have Wathnan Racing in the yard, and excited to have the antepost favourite for the big Royal Ascot race. Lazzat is a very easy horse to deal with and gets on very well with his work rider Franck Blondel. He's unbeaten over straight courses and has never looked better.” The post ‘Huge Talent’ Lazzat Purchased By Wathnan Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gavin Wallace, breeder of Derby outsider Al Wasl Storm, says he is completely flabbergasted about having produced a Classic contender and believes his story serves as a timely reminder for small breeders to keep on dreaming. The 52-year-old farmer, whose family bred dual Tingle Creek Chase winner Long Engagement, has only two mares on his County Kilkenny farm. Along with his wife Orla, he has been provided with an earlier update than expected in the shape of Al Wasl Storm, a horse he openly admits to having been bred for fences rather than the undulations of Epsom. He explained, “This is the first foal out of the mare and I'm as surprised as anyone! It's unreal. People were telling me that there were too many mares like mine in the system but here we are. I'm still in disbelief.” Dearborn, one of two mares that Wallace owns, is a 10-year-old daughter of Martaline who never graced the track. She has produced three foals, all with the view of being National Hunt prospects, but somehow Al Wasl Storm found his way into Owen Burrows's system after being snapped up by Green Team Racing for €7,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland November Foal Sale in 2022. Whatever way you slice it, that is looking like €7,000 well spent by Ahmad Alshaikh and, win, lose or draw at Epsom, Al Wasl Storm has proved himself a quality performer after landing his maiden on the third attempt at Chepstow and earning himself a rating of 86. “I couldn't raffle Dearborn's most recent foal, which happened to be by Affinisea as well, so that's the reason why I actually didn't put her in foal this year,” Wallace explained. “I wanted to wait and see if there was anything coming along. I thought I might have to wait three or four years – never in my wildest dreams did I think the update would be coming on the Flat. “It was all so strange. She was bought online at the Tattersalls Ireland November Foal Sale by Ahmad Al Shaikh for €7,000. It wasn't until I saw the horse was named that I realised that he was going to be running for Green Team Racing.” Al Wasl Storm | John Hoy He added, “They seem to be delighted with him and, going by the interviews after Chepstow, they're pretty excited by him. Look it, I've only two mares so things like this are not supposed to happen to a fella like me. I think that's what makes it so special. A fella said to me, if this horse runs well in the Derby, I'll have the RTE cameras down doing a piece with me. I'm not sure about that but sure isn't it a great story for all of the small breeders in the game. Nobody would have predicted this – not even myself – so it just shows you there's no law to it at times.” Even Michael Browne, who consigned Al Wasl Storm at the foal sales on behalf of Wallace, admits to being taken aback by the success of the Mocklershill Stables graduate. He said, “The Derby? We thought we were selling a horse for the Derby Sale! Are you joking me? I actually hadn't a clue that this horse was running in the Derby until the other day when somebody said to me. Sure I thought they were joking. It just goes to show you. Gavin is a lovely fella and this is a great story. It would be an even better story if he manages to run well.” For all that Wallace and Browne speak with a heavy dollop of reality, the two men – and indeed the wider industry – appreciates the magnitude of the achievement of the small-time hobby breeder to produce a Derby runner. And, do you know what? They've come this far, so who's to say the ink has run dry on this story yet. Wallace said, “I have two mares – Dearborn and another unraced mare by Robin Des Champs. We have always had mares down through the years and we actually bred a very good chaser, Long Engagement, who won the Tingle Creek twice. Listen, we're farmers and this is just a hobby. I actually got both of these mares off Paul Nolan, who is my wife's brother-in-law. They had broken down but, credit to Paul, he said they had a bit of book to them and that they might be worth breeding from. I was interested in getting back into breeding so I said I'd chance my arm and we've bred a winner at least so it's great.” Asked if he will make the trip to Epsom for what is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, Wallace concluded, “I gave it serious consideration but I decided against it because I don't want to jinx them! I am an AI technician – I inseminate cows – so this would be my peak time at work. I couldn't take the time off work. If it was a month later? Absolutely. But I'll be tuning in without a doubt. I actually missed his previous races but I won't miss this. Horses like this keep the small fella interested in breeding and it would be brilliant if he could run a big race. I've had great help from Paul and Matt Gilsenan from Norelands Stud, which is close to me here in Kilkenny. It's a great interest. I know that he's 100-1 but he's already exceeded expectations so we won't go writing him off just yet.” The post ‘I’m In Disbelief’ – Meet The Derby Runner’s Breeder Who Was Expecting The 100-1 Shot To End Up In The Derby Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thursday, Sandown, post time: 19:05, STAR SPORTS HENRY II STAKES-G3, £80,000, 4yo/up, 16f 50yT Field: Al Nayyir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Burdett Road (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Tashkhan (Ire) (Born To Sean {Ire}), Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}). TDN Verdict: Trawlerman looks to strengthen his Gold Cup claims now that old foe Kyprios has been ushered out of the scene and the 2023 G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup winner is a cut above these rivals on all evidence. The last time Burdett Road ran on the Flat, he was four lengths behind Trawlerman as they chased home Kyprios in the latest renewal of the Long Distance Cup and it will be interesting to see how he fares after a subsequent jumping campaign including a second in the Champion Hurdle. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Sandown, post time: 19:35, STAR SPORTS BRIGADIER GERARD STAKES-G3, £80,000, 4yo/up, 9f 209yT Field: Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Aafoor (Qurbaan), Almaqam (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Bolster (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Enfijaar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Phantom Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). TDN Verdict: One of the key stepping stones to the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes sees the return of the Gosdens' exciting Ombudsman who has a penalty for his success in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange when last seen in September. That will make life tough given that the likes of Almaqam has a fitness edge having finished third in the course-and-distance G3 Gordon Richards Stakes last month. Interestingly, his career-best win came in the Listed Heron Stakes on this card 12 months ago and this really has to be the time that he lives up to Ed Walker's expectations. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 16:35, 47TH KRONIMUS BADENER MEILE-G3, €55,000, 3yo/up, 8fT Field: Penalty (Ger) (Frankel {GB}), Best Lightning (Fr) (Sidestep {Aus}), Montanus (Ger) (Amaron {GB}), Short Final (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Switsch (Ger) (Millowitsch {Ger}), Words Of Peace (Ger) (Palace Prince {Ger}), Namaron (Ger) (Amaron {GB}). TDN Verdict: Last year's G3 Oettingen Rennen winner Penalty may have most to fear from the unexposed 3-year-old Namaron, who captured Krefeld's G3 Dr Busch-Memorial last month and gets a healthy weight-for-age boost. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Sandown, post time: 20:05, STAR SPORTS HERON STAKES-Listed, £45,000, 3yo, 8fT Field: Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Jackknife (GB) (Kameko), Matauri Bay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Nebras (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Opera Ballo (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Pellitory (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Suhail Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). TDN Verdict: This launchpad to Royal Ascot boasts a roll of honour which includes subsequent G1 St James's Palace hero Without Parole (Frankel) and St James's Palace placegetters Consort (Lope De Vega), King Of Comedy (Kingman) and My Prospero (Iffraaj). Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Opera Ballo emptied early behind Field Of Gold in last month's G3 Craven Stakes and bids for redemption and black type in this second turf start. Opposition includes the unbeaten duo Bay City Roller, who annexed last term's G2 Champagne Stakes, and last month's Epsom novice winner Jackknife. [Sean Cronin]. Thursday, Sandown, post time: 18:35, STAR SPORTS NATIONAL STAKES-Listed, £40,000, 2yo, 5f 10yT Field: Alkuwarrior (Ire) (Alkumait {GB}), Clear Force (Ire) (Supremacy {Ire}), First Legion (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Kamakameleon (GB) (Kameko), Anthelia (Ire) (Supremacy {Ire}), Eskimo Pie (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Sayidah Hard Spun (GB) (Ubettabelieveit {Ire}). TDN Verdict: This stepping stone to the Royal meeting is most often used a trial for the G2 Norfolk Stakes and G2 Queen Mary Stakes. Rizeena, the 2013 winner, was the last to prevail here and double up at Ascot. The Richard Hannon stable, last successful with subsequent Norfolk third King Of Rooks (Acclamation) in 2015, is represented here by First Legion who comes back off a York debut victory two weeks ago. His chief threat is Karl Burke nominee Clear Force, who notched a clear-cut success at Ripon last month. Burke has previously won this with Norfolk 10th Havana Grey (Havana Gold) and Norfolk third Elite Status (Havana Grey). [Sean Cronin] Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Makes His Bid For Redemption In The Heron Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In 10 days, Frank Mirahmadi will be in the announcers' booth to call the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, both on-track and for the national Fox broadcast. His best trick to combat the nerves? His imagination. “Once the big Fox broadcast starts, there's no question the adrenaline goes to a new level,” said Mirahmadi, appearing as the Gainesway Guest of the Week on the TDN Writers' Room podcast, presented by Keeneland. “The key with the big races–and I've learned this over many years, it's almost 30 years now that I'm calling races-is to trick yourself into pretending it's a starter allowance event. And with these horses, it should theoretically be easier because there's no worry about who they are. You know who they are as a racing fan. And so for me, I think the whole key is to just try to stay calm.” Not that the Saratoga announcers' booth makes it easy. “The reason it's so difficult is because of how low to the ground the booth is,” said Mirahmadi. “It's just it's almost impossible. You're bobbing and weaving, you're low to the ground, which means there's more preparation necessary because you have to learn every nook and cranny. You know with announcers we start with the silks and then the equipment and then of course the horse, but in this case you've got to look at the sleeves and every little bit of the cap because when horses are across the course or across the track you can't see them. And so it's important to be able to have every little thing to identify them with.” But the Belmont won't be the only reason Mirahmadi-whose permanent job is as the announcer at Santa Anita–is happy to come to New York. A vegetarian, he says he lives on a diet that includes pizza every day. “I'm actually one of the fattest vegetarians in North American history,” he said. “I don't eat meat. I don't eat chicken and I don't eat fish. I don't eat anything that's walked, talked or breathed. So I have very strange eating habits. You've heard of the no-carb diet? Well, you're looking at a man closer to 300 than 200 pounds and it's because the all-carb diet is not very healthy. But cheese pizza is my favorite food. And so, needless to say, in Los Angeles, we are challenged. But on the East Coast, it's a beautiful thing. The East Coast definitely has the far superior pizza. I do eat pizza every day. I don't recommend it for obvious reasons. And if you do, you might want to exercise a little bit.” The hosts-T.D. Thornton, Bill Finley, and Randy Moss-also remembered trainer Christophe Clement, who passed away this week at the age of 59, and weighed in on the ongoing Preakness jockey debate, reignited this week by trainer Steve Asmussen. Randy Moss revealed the Fastest Horse of the Week in a segment sponsored by the WinStar stallion Nashville. The show, also sponsored by the PHBA, 1/ST TV, the KTA-KTOB, and West Point Thoroughbreds, recapped last week's racing, including Saffie Joseph's big weekend at Santa Anita. To watch the video version of the podcast, click here. For the audio podcast, click here. The post Belmont Stakes Announcer Frank Mirahmadi Is The TDN Writers’ Room Guest appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Returning on 15 days' rest, Domeyko Taylor's Charlene's Dream targets a second consecutive graded success when she faces 10 fillies and mares in the $250,000 Mint Julep Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs June 1.View the full article

Top United States jockey Flavien Prat has been snapped up to partner French raider Facteur Cheval in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot June 18.View the full article

Cutting back in trip and facing softer competition, the Mark Casse trainee looks on the right path back to the winner's circle in the $400,000 Penn Mile (G3T) May 30.View the full article

Too much of a good thing? Not when it comes to maintaining the gold standard. For if we have only recently celebrated the way Medaglia d'Oro is confounding the self-fulfilling prejudice against aging stallions by continuing to produce runners like Good Cheer and East Avenue, then he now demands a sequel addressing his equal prowess in the kind of role more conventionally reserved for a stallion of 26–namely, as broodmare sire. Last weekend, daughters of Medaglia d'Oro gave us GI Gamely Stakes winner Be Your Best (Muhaarar {GB}); GII Santa Margarita Stakes romper Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo); and, no less lucratively despite the formal gap in grade, Texas Derby winner Instant Replay (Maximum Security). Two others meanwhile produced 'TDN Rising Star' debutants either side of the Atlantic. Already damsire of young stallions such as National Treasure, Prince of Monaco and Olympian, Medaglia d'Oro is attending to every aspect of his legacy. Admittedly he can no more keep pace with Tapit, in this role, than anyone else. Tapit mares have already produced 19 stakes winners this year, including as many as 10 at graded level. But daughters of Medaglia d'Oro are now up to a dozen black-type scorers, ahead of 11 apiece for Jonabell neighbor Street Sense and their late buddy Bernardini. To a degree, of course, the fact that those three should be clustered in pursuit of Tapit tells its own story. Each has (or had) access to the most expensively assembled broodmare herd in Turf history. Good Cheer herself, for instance, is out of a homebred Street Sense mare; while Medaglia d'Oro and Street Sense exchanged roles to come up with First Mission. But that kind of mutual aid represents only a bonus in their overall records. So far as Medaglia d'Oro is concerned, even those of us most skeptical of formulaic breeding must concede the regularity with which his daughters have struck gold with Speightstown. But his daughters' work over the weekend reflected the versatility that remains the principal trademark of Medaglia d'Oro, not least in terms of surfaces. Seismic Beauty | Benoit As we noted the other day, while he has endured long enough to share in a welcome rapprochement, for a long time Medaglia d'Oro served as a rare crossover influence during a generation of culpable disjunction between European and American gene pools. Somehow he has managed to balance the contrasting profiles of his sire El Prado (Ire)–whose other principal heir, Kitten's Joy, dealt almost exclusively in chlorophyll–and a dam by Bailjumper. (Curious how sons of Damascus confined their imprint largely to daughters: not just the obvious case of Private Account, but also Ogygian as damsire of Johannesburg.) Interestingly, both the Medaglia d'Oro mares who produced big dirt winners last weekend were in turn out of daughters of the same stallion: Smart Strike. The one who produced Seismic Duty's dam Knarsdale (Medaglia d'Oro) is an interesting case. While Secret File (Smart Strike) didn't break her maiden until she was four, she progressed to run second in her stakes debut at Ellis Park in 2011. And look who joined her on the podium that day! The GIII Gardenia Stakes was won by an emerging filly named Groupie Doll (Bowman's Band), later a dual Breeders' Cup champion; while third home was Stage Magic (Ghostzapper), making her final racetrack appearance count before commencing the breeding career that has famously given us Justify. Smart Strike, of course, was another sire to extend his influence across different surfaces. Secret File had herself won on synthetic before switching to dirt, and her 2013 mating with Medaglia d'Oro duly led to a corresponding adaptability in their daughter: Knarsdale won a dirt maiden on debut before later transferring to turf for an allowance score/stakes podium, all at sprint distances. The choice of Medaglia d'Oro for Secret File, incidentally, may well have been inspired by his daughter Payton d'Oro, winner of the GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and twice Grade I-placed in 2011: she was out of a Jade Hunter half-sister to Secret File's stakes-winning dam Emery Board (Grindstone). Knarsdale herself was later sold, with a maiden cover by Uncle Mo, at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, to Determined Stud for $430,000. (Less demand, sadly, for her 15-year-old dam a couple of years later: Secret File was culled for just $2,000, four years after a son by Uncle Mo had brought $900,000 as a yearling!) Seismic Beauty, as the foal Knarsdale carried into the ring, cleared most of that investment as a $400,000 weanling at Fasig-Tipton, and subsequent siblings have respectively raised $500,000 (Bernardini colt, won a couple of minor races at two last year) and $225,000 (Essential Quality filly) even without Seismic Beauty decorating the page on the racetrack. Her performance at the weekend, as a five-length winner in a lightning time, will duly spread excitement well beyond her own camp: her dam is still only 11 and a shrewd return to Seismic Beauty's late sire accounts for her yearling daughter; and the stakes are rising also for LCI, purchasers of the Essential Quality filly. Instant Replay | Coady Media No Rewinding But Replay Gives Maximum Pleasure The other Medaglia d'Oro mare out of a daughter of Smart Strike? Well, doubtless that's a bittersweet topic for Gary and Mary West. On the one hand, they will be delighted to see Maximum Security come up with a son as talented as Instant Replay; on the other, the annual cull essential to any program of their size in 2023 unfortunately included his dam Academy Gal (Medaglia d'Oro) for just $5,000 at the Keeneland November Sale. Having regressed sharply in just three career starts, the 7-year-old was found lurking at Hip 3452 by Gaelic Bloodstock. Her first foal, by American Freedom, then remained an unraced juvenile (second last month in a maiden claimer); while the vendors were retaining two sons by Maximum Security. The younger has since been named Final Thoughts, but second thoughts may have ensued now that Instant Replay has won consecutive stakes after closing for third in the GII Louisiana Derby. But hindsight is not a wonderful thing. It's just really irritating. It says much about Academy Gal's apparent prospects that her own dam, Flashy Gal (Smart Strike), was sold for $1,000 at the same auction. The catalogue showed that Flashy Gal had unequivocally failed to repay generous opportunity, producing a second daughter by Medaglia d'Oro (unraced); a daughter by Tapit (ditto); and two foals by Quality Road with a single, unplaced start between them. And yet, and yet… Purchasers Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds evidently reminded themselves that Flashy Gal had won a Belmont maiden on her second start before running third in a stakes over the same turf; and later won a couple of Churchill allowances. And she had cost $250,000 as a yearling, being out of a stakes-placed Deputy Minister half-sister to two elite winners: Hold That Tiger (Storm Cat), a champion juvenile in Europe; and Editor's Note (Forty Niner), winner of the GI Belmont Stakes in 1996. Well, let's at least give Maximum Security credit for stoking up these embers. It was through no fault of his own (nor of his owners) that his amazing rise was derailed, first by his rider in the Derby and then by the imprisonment of his trainer. One way or another, he became such a hard sell that he is now standing at $5,000. But Maximum Security has so far fielded 33 winners from just 68 starters, including three graded stakes/Group performers. He has many a peer whose genetic functionality, despite far greater chances, for now remains less apparent. A Family Where The Best Comes As Standard The weekend's biggest score for a Medaglia d'Oro mare takes the least explanation. Be Your Best (Ire) extends one of the most aristocratic families in the book, with matriarch Up the Flagpole (Hoist the Flag) as fourth dam. Be Your Best | Benoit Be Your Best's dam Kamakura is out of a daughter of A.P. Indy and Up the Flagpole's European Group 1 winner Flagbird (Nureyev), herself once runner-up in the Gamely. That pedigree strongly echoes GI Jenny Wiley Stakes winner Dickinson (Medaglia d'Oro), whose mother, GI Ashland Stakes winner Little Belle, is by A.P. Indy out of Flagbird's daughter by Mr. Prospector. It would be hard to claim that Be Your Best's own sire quite measures up to all these brands. Indeed, a couple of years after Kamakura (Medaglia d'Oro) delivered Be Your Best, Muhaarar (GB) was moved from Britain to France and cut to just €5,000. In fairness, he sired a French Classic winner the following year, and has since coaxed his fee back up to €14,000. It was precisely the way Muhaarar cooled off commercially, after advertising what had appeared optimal commercial speed on the track, that prompted Mike Ryan to keep Be Your Best within his St Croix Bloodstock program. That had now proved a great blessing. Not that Kamakura owed him anything. She was culled by Godolphin for 150,000gns as an unraced Godolphin sophomore, at the Tattersalls July Sale of 2016. By that stage her full brother Bay of Plenty had contributed a Saratoga stakes (dirt 9f) to this famous family; and half-brother Fortify (Distorted Humor) had operated just a tier down from the best juveniles of his crop (Grade I-placed). Kamakura immediately discharged the investment, her first son by Kingman being sold at Tattersalls October for 625,000gns–to Godolphin! He was a winner and so too, already, is Kamakura's latest 2-year-old: a Too Darn Hot colt sold to Blandford Bloodstock last fall, again in Book 1 at Tattersalls, for 270,000gns. Named Postmodern by Wathnan Racing, he looked Royal Ascot material in his five-length 'TDN Rising Star' debut at Yarmouth last week. And Royal Ascot is presumably also an option for Outfielder (Speightstown), similarly anointed a 'TDN Rising Star' after melting the clock for Wesley Ward at Churchill the very next day. The $850,000 Saratoga yearling is out of Notte d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), so there's that Speightstown cross again. If that will obviously be drying up now, no matter: it feels like these Medaglia d'Oro mares are barely getting started. The post Breeding Digest: Gold Rush Continues With Medals For Mares appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will open two new special exhibitions and host several public events to coincide with the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival held June 4-8. The Museum's latest exhibits, A Look Through the Eyes and Life of Charlotte C. Weber and Greg Montgomery: 40 Years of the Travers Poster open to the public Wednesday, June 4. On exhibition in the Museum's McBean Gallery through Nov. 2, A Look Through the Eyes and Life of Charlotte C. Weber chronicles the remarkable journey in thoroughbred racing and breeding and the legacy of Charlotte Weber, who established Live Oak Stud in Ocala, Fla. The Museum's von Stade Gallery will host Greg Montgomery: 40 Years of the Travers Poster, one of racing's most iconic series of artwork, through June 29. Montgomery began producing annual posters for Saratoga Race Course's Travers Stakes in 1986. The post National Museum Of Racing Celebrates Belmont Festival With New Exhibits appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a son of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 2.40 Yarmouth, Novice, £9,950, 2yo, 7f 3yT MAN OF VISION (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) debuts for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in the maiden the yard captured with the smart pair Naval Power and New Science in the last four years. He is the first foal out of the yard's TDN Rising Star Summer Romance, Kingman's dual Group winner who was runner-up in the GI Diana Stakes and GI Just a Game Stakes from the excellent family of Kingman's current 3-year-old sensation Field Of Gold. Also making his debut is Lady Bamford and Alice Bamford's homebred Rodeo (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), a John and Thady Gosden-trained son of Cape Blanco's GII Sands Point Stakes winner and GI Del Mar Oaks third Californiagoldrush. The post First Foal Out Of Summer Romance, Man Of Vision, Debuts For Godolphin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Derek Leung Ka-chun was in the winners again at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, with his first treble since November headlined by Gracious Express’ last-gasp win in the Class Three Seine Handicap (1,200m). The 36-year-old had been winless for 27 rides prior to Voyage Boss’ debut win at Sha Tin on Sunday and he did not have to wait long to continue that winning feeling. Settled in midfield, Gracious Express’ backers would have been forgiven for throwing away their betting slips turning into the...View the full article

Baroness Minette Batters will become the new independent chair of the Horse Welfare Board (HWB), replacing Barry Johnson on July 1, 2025. Formerly the president of the National Farmers Union from 2018-2024, Batters was appointed as a crossbench House of Lords peer in 2024. A director of Salisbury Racecourse, Batters also enjoyed a successful career as an amateur jockey with over 30 point-to-point wins to her name. Batters said, “I'm absolutely delighted to be appointed as the new chair of the HWB. Horse welfare will always be fundamental to racing's success, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Barry Johnson for his leadership and expertise as the outgoing chair.” The post Baroness Minette Batters Appointed Independent Chair Of The Horse Welfare Board appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ahead of their match in the June 7 Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Fierceness broke a tie with White Abarrio to take full possession of the No. 1 spot in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll.View the full article

The new Maryland Jockey Club and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced $25,000 purse increases for a quartet of stakes races at Laurel Park on June 28.View the full article

Call Di led the way on the second and final day of the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast. Twice third at Group 2 level, Call Di showed her ability on the track, but it's her pedigree that helped take her to the top status. By Frankel, Call Di is a sister to Group 2 winner Miss Fabulass and is from the family of Australian Champion three-year-old Samantha Miss. The Newgate Consignment offering ended the day as the top seller when knocked down for $2.1 million to Yulong Investments after a late bidding battle with B2B Thoroughbreds. Yulong's Sam Fairgray commented, “It's good to be able to breed up a family and she's by a champion sire, out of a champion, her granddam's a champion sire and she's in foal to a champion sire. She's a lovely mare and I'm sure she'll leave a very, very nice Extreme Choice.” He added, “On race performance, I followed her racing career and you probably didn't see the best of her on the track. She had very, very good ability.” Yulong also swept the second top seller of the day – the Victoria Oaks winner Aristia who was offered by Vinery Stud in foal to I Am Invincible. She realised $1.45 million. “Once we saw her we knew we loved her,” Yulong's Jun Zhang said. “She is in foal to Vinnie and has got a good first foal by Zoustar. Lonhro is a very good mare sire and (she is) the perfect suit for Alabama Express. She was on our first list. We are always searching for good mares.” All told, the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale grossed $88,319,500 with the average settling at $248,088 [$206,801 in 2024]. Meanwhile, the median was $90,000 [down by $5,000 compared to 2024] and the clearance rate was also down by 6% to 77%. The post Yulong To The Fore As Call Di Tops Day Two of National Broodmare Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland Race Course and the new Belmont Park for the 2026 and 2027 Breeders' Cup World Championships, the company announced in a joint statement with NYRA and Keeneland Wednesday. The Breeders' Cup at Keeneland will take place Oct. 30-31, 2026, while the Belmont Park edition will be held Oct. 29-30, 2027, pending approval by the host tracks' respective states. “The Breeders' Cup, Keeneland, and Belmont Park share many core values, including a steadfast commitment to excellence and Thoroughbred racing, and there is no better way to showcase that partnership than through hosting the World Championships at these iconic venues in 2026 and 2027,” said Drew Fleming, President & CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “Enhanced by their latest capital improvements, both venues, each with their own unique legacy, will set the stage for our thrilling two-day festival that celebrates the pinnacle of Thoroughbred racing and everything the equestrian lifestyle has to offer.” “Keeneland is honored to host the Breeders' Cup World Championships in 2026, and we're thrilled to share this global racing celebration with fans from all over the world and with the Lexington community,” added Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We are especially excited to host guests in our new Paddock Building with further enhanced hospitality experiences. In addition, we look forward to holding our third annual Championship Sale the Wednesday before Breeders' Cup, a dynamic way to help kick off the week's festivities. Keeneland and Breeders' Cup share a strong commitment to showcasing the very best of Thoroughbred racing, and we look forward to helping deliver another spectacular event.” New York State and the New York Racing Association's $455 million redevelopment of Belmont Park will result in a world-class racing and entertainment destination on Long Island. Centered around a 300,000-square foot, five-story building featuring the modern amenities and hospitality offerings sports fans have come to expect, the new facility will unlock the massive Belmont Park infield to provide fans and the community with more green space than ever before. In addition, NYRA is completely renovating the existing main dirt track and two turf courses while adding an all-weather synthetic surface. NYRA will open the new Belmont Park in September 2026. “A new Belmont Park is taking shape on Long Island because of the leadership and vision of Gov. Kathy Hochul, whose support for horse racing and understanding of its positive economic impact have paved the way for the return of the Breeders' Cup World Championships to New York in 2027,” said David O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “New York's racing fans and participants have longed to host this event since it was last held at Belmont in 2005, and we thank the Breeders' Cup for making that a reality.” The post Breeders’ Cup To Keeneland In 2026, New Belmont Park In 2027 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Derby entrant Wimbledon Hawkeye may head next to the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot instead of Epsom, according to trainer James Owen. The son of Kameko, winner of last year's Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes, has run three times this season to be runner-up in the Craven Stakes before running fifth in the 2,000 Guineas and third in the Dante Stakes. Owen said of the Gredley family's homebred, “He's come out of the Dante really well and he's had three quick runs now and probably ran to a similar level in all three. “I thought he stayed well at York and although I would love to go to the Derby with him, we have to do the best thing by the horse and we are probably swaying towards the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot. “We're leaning that way to give him the best chance of getting his head in front. I think he would be a solid Derby runner, but he's got to improve on the form he has shown this year around some of the others. “It's not certain yet, but at this stage we're swaying towards Royal Ascot over the Derby.” Owen will however be represented in the Betfred Derby by Rogue Impact for The Rogues Gallery syndicate. “He's been learning on the job and is going to stay well and has winning form with Owen Burrows's Al Wasl Storm, who is another outsider running in the Derby,” he said. “I think he would appreciate a little bit of cut in the ground, which I think there probably will be – it will be nice ground – and it's great for the Rogues Gallery to have a runner in the Derby.” Owen added, “Whatever the result, we'll have a great day out, the syndicate will have a great day out and we've got a horse to look forward to for the future after that. He's a horse we really like and I'm delighted we're going to have a run.” The post Wimbledon Hawkeye May Swerve Derby for Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There could be two sets of War Machine’s racing colours in next month’s $3 million Stradbroke Handicap if mare Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) can make an impressive debut for her new trainers in Brisbane on Saturday. Like last Saturday’s dominant Group 3 BRC Sprint winner War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel), Coeur Volante also carries the same navy blue and gold colours of major owner Rupert Legh, with both horses now with the Lindsay Park yard after coming out of the Mike Moroney stable following his death earlier this year. War Machine has hit the ground running for his new trainers with some highly impressive performances and Ben Hayes said he is hopeful Coeur Volante can manage something similar when having her opening run for the Euroa-based trainers in a 1200-metre Stakes race on Saturday. “She’s got plenty of talent and she settled in really well, so we’re looking for a bold run on Saturday in the (Listed) Coughlan Stakes,” Hayes said. “She’ll do a piece of work tomorrow and then we’ll kick her off over 12 (1200m) and her grand final is the mares Group 1 (Tatts Tiara on June 21). “But if she comes out and wins well on Saturday, we could consider running her in the Stradbroke or in the Dane Ripper on the same day.” War Machine is now the $5 Stradbroke favourite after his performance at Doomben, with the emerging galloper likely to receive a low handicap of 52 or 53 kilograms in the Stradbroke when weights are released on Monday. “He’s a very exciting horse and we’re very lucky to get him,” he said. “He goes straight to the Straddie and I suppose the only negative is that Blake (Shinn) can’t ride that low so we’ll need to find another jockey. “Fourth-up, hitting the Group 1 with no weight, it’s a pretty good scenario.” View the full article

A Cox Plate tilt at The Valley in Melbourne or a crack at back-to-back wins in the King Charles III Stakes in Sydney. They are races Joe Pride is yet to decide between for Ceolwulf’s (NZ) (Tavistock) major target as the trainer begins the dual G1 winner’s build-up towards his spring campaign later this year. The G1 King Charles III Stakes is over 1600m at Randwick in October and is held a week before the Cox Plate at The Valley, which is over 2040m. Ceolwulf returned to Pride’s stables from a spell on Monday, with the rising five-year-old’s spring program yet to be locked in. “I haven’t nailed it down yet. I’ve got a lot of options,” Pride said. “The two main things, and it’s one or the other, it’s either going to be the King Charles again or the Cox Plate. And I’m going to have to make a call at some point of the preparation, obviously, because one’s a week before the other. “He certainly won’t be running in both and I’ve just got to make a decision, so we’ll see how he is in the early part of the prep.” Ceolwulf was a brilliant winner of both the Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes over the Randwick 1600m last spring at G1 level and Pride resisted the temptation then to press on to Melbourne. Heading into Ceolwulf’s autumn campaign this year, Pride indicated he wanted to see the son of Tavistock run ‘a really good race’ in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes to convince him the gelding was just as good at 2000m as he is at 1600m. Ceolwulf came from last after drawing the outside barrier when finishing fifth behind current Cox Plate champ Via Sistina in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April at the end of his autumn campaign and Pride believes that didn’t provide a ‘definitive guide’ on his capabilities at that distance at the elite level. “We just drew so badly in that Queen Elizabeth this year and it just made it hard,” Pride said. “I think he ran a great race, but it just made it hard to get a definitive guide. “I’m relaxed either way. If he’s not that good at 2000 metres it doesn’t bother me at all, I just want to know so that I can put him in the right race. “I’m not here to prove a point, I’m just here to get the best out of this horse. “And you’ve got to say that so far in his life his two best runs are at a mile, so that might be him. He might be a miler. “They’re both about the same prizemoney. And look, I’d rather win a Cox Plate with him because he hasn’t won one and I haven’t won one, but it’s not about me. It’s about the horse.” Ceolwulf narrowly won the Neville Selwood Stakes over 2000m the start before the Queen Elizabeth during his autumn campaign. While Pride is yet to determine Ceolwulf’s exact spring path, the trainer said the plan will be to kick off the talented galloper’s campaign in the G1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 23. Pride, meanwhile, is looking forward to getting another of his stable stars back to the races on Saturday, with Private Eye set to resume in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) in Brisbane. Private Eye was given a comfortable barrier trial on a Heavy surface on his home track on Monday, his third trial of this preparation, and Pride believes the gelding is ‘spot on’ for a first-up assignment. “And he’s a very good horse fresh,” Pride said. “He has run some mighty races fresh. View the full article

We have heard plenty of the major owner-breeders this season, with the six Guineas to have been run in Britain, Ireland and France having gone to Godolphin, Juddmonte, Coolmore, and the Aga Khan Studs. So now it is time to hear from the breeder with one mare, who has just celebrated a Classic victory for the first foal she has bred. Step forward, Lulu Winter, breeder of Lady Ilze, winner of the G2 German 1,000 Guineas for Westminster Race Horses and Andreas Wohler on Sunday. As we speak on Monday afternoon, Winter apologises for sounding drowsy. She doesn't, and she could be forgiven anyway as she had been up for almost 24 hours the previous day having flown in to Dusseldorf for the big occasion. “My flight was delayed last night getting back from Germany and I don't think I got home until about 2.30, and having got up at 3am it felt like a very long day,” she says. A long but happy day, and one that resulted from Winter's insistence to buy Lady Ilze's dam Roman Spinner (Intikhab) when she retired from her 45-race career with Rae Guest, for whom she worked in Newmarket. “I joined Rae, having never worked in racing, in September 2016 and he bought Roman Spinner as a yearling to put in a three-horse syndicate about a month after I joined him. So I've known her a lot of her life,” explains Winter, who is now working for Jack Jones, Guest's successor at Chestnut Tree Stables. “She was one of those lovely little tough racing mares. She was never going to set the world alight but she won five, got placed 19 times, and then obviously she got to the stage where everybody felt she had probably had enough of her racing and she got put in an online sale because it was the time of Covid. And I got all emotional about her because she's the sweetest, sweetest girl, so Rae sat on the phone bidding for me.” She adds, “I had to go 500gns over my limit that I'd set but I just wanted her to have a good onward life. I didn't expect amazing things, but you always hope that something nice will come.” That something has been more than nice. Bought by Tomas Janda for the Westminster Race Horses syndicate from Tattersalls October Book 3 for 11,000gns, the daughter of Territories went off to Poland. There she won three times as a juvenile before being switched to the stable of one of Germany's leading trainers, Andreas Wohler. “As soon as I saw who bought her at the sale, I nipped round and had a chat,” Winter recalls. “Marian from the syndicate was sitting right next to Tomas, so we started our conversation and I kept in touch and the relationship developed. “They've been very sweet. Tomas keeps me posted about what the plans are or how she's doing, and then he bought the next one, the Lope Y Fernandez filly that I had following year. She's in Poland as a two-year-old now.” Lady Ilze had run fourth in the G3 Baronin von Ullman-Schwarzgold Rennen on her way to Sunday's Classic, for which hopes were not brimming over. “We'd sort of been talking ourselves down a bit in the parade ring because Andreas Wohler said, 'Oh, it's going to be a tough race, and the ground's not what I had hoped for her.' And so we were all thinking, 'Well, it will be lovely if she gets a place.' “But then she came with that late run, I mean, I was just standing there with my mouth hanging open, shouting, 'Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.' She just blasted past them.” Roman Spinner with Lady Ilze as a foal at Brook Stud At Brook Stud, where Roman Spinner boards, the mare has a foal by A'Ali at foot. “They do a fantastic job there,” Winter says. “I come up with my shortlist of ideas and then Dwayne [Woods] walks me through them and says, 'No. No. Yes. Yes.' “I knew nothing. I still know nothing. So they've been invaluable in guiding me through the whole process. And of course they look after her beautifully and all the progeny.” Having used Territories initially because he was nearby at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud, Winter was unable to return to him this season as she had planned as the stallion was sold to stand in India, but she sent Roman Spinner instead to his former stud-mate, Triple Time. “I spent all my house extension money, and the dream would be to actually be able to put one in training,” she says. With such a major pedigree update for a young mare, that dream could be realised if the prices for some of Roman Spinner's subsequent offspring duly rise in the sale ring. As recent statistics released by the TBA have shown, it is tough for most breeders to make a profit, and small breeders of Winter's ilk are in desperately short supply. Thankfully, a number of them are still lured into breeding at the promise of a result such as this. Here's to the dreamers. The post ‘I Didn’t Expect Amazing Things’: Classic Success for Rookie Breeder Lulu Winter appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wexford Stables’ three-year-olds prevailed in the survival of the fittest at Tauranga on Wednesday, with Prudentia (NZ) (Proisir) and Macallan (NZ) (Ardrossan) each breaking maiden status in the extremely testing conditions. The opening race of the day had revealed a true Heavy10 track, with rain continuing to fall in the Bay Of Plenty, but that was of no concern to Prudentia, who lapped up the surface in the Tauranga Racecourse Event Centre Maiden (1400m). A half-sister to classy wet-track gallopers Cork (NZ) (Complacent) and Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time Test), Prudentia always looked a danger on that sort of surface and was allowed to find her stride early under Warren Kennedy, settling at the tail of the field. Race favourite Timetoplaythegame (NZ) (Proisir) was on speed throughout and gave a sight as many faded in the straight, but powering past the pack was Prudentia, who came from last to first to score softly on the line by 2-¼ lengths. Her co-trainer Andrew Scott had expected a bold showing from the filly after a luckless run last start at Ellerslie and his confidence was justified. “She was pretty unlucky last time and we had a strong belief that she was going to handle the conditions,” he said. “She’s fit and she’s got a good bit of education under her now. “It seems to be the way home, typical of the heavy ground to be settling in and heading out wide. She got her chance to breathe and get a rhythm going so she could really stay on well. “She’s got a future going through this sort of ground, she’s a big, robust filly who is going to crack on through the winter months. “Hopefully she runs a mile and a bit further, but it’s great for the syndicate with Kylie (Bax) and the team. They’ve been very patient with her, she’s rising four now so hopefully she can keep cracking on.” A daughter of Proisir, Prudentia was bred by the Goldeye Trust and is raced by the Bloodstock Achieving Xcellence I’m Pru Syndicate, managed by Bax. She is the fourth foal to race out of Little Bit Irish, all of whom have been winners, and Cork a multiple stakes performer. The track only continued to deteriorate through to race four, where stablemate Macallan showed plenty of fight to deliver a winning debut. In the colours of owner-breeder Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Macallan had put the writing on the wall when winning his most recent trial at Ellerslie, warranting second-favouritism behind Miss Fladgate in the Tierra Maiden 3YO (1200m). The son of Ardrossan showed good early speed from a wide gate and jockey George Rooke pressed on to the lead, where he remained until Beau Luca (NZ) (Embellish) strode up to take over at the 600m. It looked that Beau Luca may have put a winning advantage on the field, but feeling the pinch at the 200m, he began to tire and Macallan came charging through, finding enough in the closing stages to win over a late-closing Gracetheace (NZ) (Ace High). “We came to the races with high levels of confidence today, he trialled particularly well at Ellerslie and he’s a horse that we, and Elsdon Park, have been very patient with,” said Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “He’s finally really starting to mature, he was quite a gangly horse that took a while to furnish but now he’s a strong gelding who was fit for the conditions today. In saying that, he’s a very quick horse and the quicker the ground he gets on, the quicker he’ll run. “It was pure ability and a good bit of guts that got him through the conditions.” While wetter tracks may be easier to come by this preparation, Scott said they will have a preference for better ground where possible. “We may look to keep him in work and keep cracking on with him, we’ve been patient, so we’d like to build a campaign with him and get through the grades,” he said. “I think he will do so pretty quickly if we can pick some nice tracks for him.” Macallan is the first foal out of a two-win Ocean Park mare Quizzy Lizzy, who scored both of her victories on heavy tracks. The daughter of Ocean Park is a half-sister to stakes winners Showemup and Pierina. The meeting at Tauranga was subsequently abandoned following this race due to heavy and persistent rain, consequential track conditions and visibility issues. View the full article

The Lord Mayors Cup has a history of throwing up an emerging stayer and the Chris Waller stable is hoping that is again the case for the lightly raced Kadavar (NZ) (Tarzino). Three of the past four winners – Eliyass (2024), Bois D’Argent (2023) and Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour) (2021) – have gone on to either win or place at Group 1 level. Kadavar underlined his promise last campaign with a hat-trick of victories, culminating in his Christmas Cup (2400m) triumph over subsequent Sydney autumn carnival star Alalcance. Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said they had high hopes for the four-year-old, who had been earmarked as a potential Cups horse in the spring. With that in mind, Waller may even pull up stumps with Kadavar after Saturday’s Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) at Rosehill, rather than continue on a path through Sydney’s winter staying features. “He might be better than that,” Duckworth said. “He could potentially be a Melbourne Cup horse for us. His record is outstanding. “He could have two runs and then start again.” The winner of six of his 14 starts, Kadavar resumed with a closing seventh behind Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Scone Cup (1600m) when partnered by Rachel King. She is riding in Brisbane this weekend so Kerrin Mcevoy takes over the reins but the stable has been buoyed by King’s feedback. “Rachel was rapt with him that day and basically said that with clear running he would have just about won the Scone Cup first-up,” Duckworth said. “The 2000-metres will be better again for him.” Waller has won the Lord Mayors Cup four times, most recently with Polly Grey, and has accepted with a quartet of runners this weekend. Stablemates First Light and Speycaster are likely to start, however Gosford Cup runner-up Etna Rosso has also been paid up for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm. Speycaster has disappointed at his past three runs in Melbourne and Duckworth hoped a change of environment to Sydney might spark him back to form. “He has had a few excuses, whether it’s been tracks or tempo so we’ve brought him home to Sydney but he needs to lift,” he said. Wiremu Pinn has been booked for the ride, the New Zealander having arrived last week to begin a three-month stint with Waller in Sydney. View the full article

Race 7 MANUKA DOCTOR 1200m REPTAK (C Grylls) – Co-trainer Mr. A Scott reported to Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the gelding’s post-race condition and intends to continue with his current preparation. A Scott further advised that REPTAK may be nominated for the Auckland Thoroughbred Racing meeting on Saturday 7 June. The post Auckland Thoroughbred Racing @ Ellerslie, Saturday 17 May 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article