Wandering Eyes

5th-GP, $94K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 2:14 p.m. ET. JUST SILVIA (Justify) is set for her unveiling under Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. A Whisper Hill homebred, Mandy Pope went to $1.4 million at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale to acquire the filly's dam Princesa Silvia (Medaglian d'Oro), who is a full-sister to MGISP Miss Besilu. Pope's buy has purple bloodlines that do not stop there. She hails from a strong female family which includes her half-brothers, Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado) and GISW Funtastic (More Than Ready). Plus, she counts as a half-sister GSW Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), the dam of multiple leading sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg]), and she is also a half to the dam of MGSW Lull (War Front). TJCIS PPS The post Sunday Insight: With Purple Lines Underneath, Filly Carries Whisper Hill Flag Into Battle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Gulfstream, $75,000, Msw, 1-4, 3yo, 1mT, 1:34.83, fm, 1/2 length. SOUPER TIMES (c, 3, Not This Time–Royale Paradise, by Unbridled's Song), a first-time starter debuting around two turns, broke widest of the 10-horse field but shifted down to be just two wide into the first turn while racing mid pack. Never far off the front and enjoying a clean trip past the half in :47.53, the 8-1 shot began to come under a drive while fanning out six across the top of the stretch as the group began to chip away at Global Prosperity's (Global Campaign) lead. With a strong final sixteenth, Souper Times surged past the pacesetter to hit the wire a half-length ahead of Candytown (Speightstown) to his inside. The $370,000 FTSAUG grad is a half to GIII Las Virgenes Stakes runner up Queen of Thorns (Violence) and to SP Bano Solo (Goldencents). Royale Paradise saw her 2023 Uncle Mo colt bring $550,000 to the partnership of SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables at Keeneland September last year but lost her 2024 Not This Time foal and was barren on a Tapit cover for 2025. Sales History: $370,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Pollock Farms (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. #10 SOUPER TIMES ($19.00) closed strongly to win the opener at @GulfstreamPark. The three-year-old Not This Time (@TMStallions) colt is trained by @markecasse. @DavisJockey rode him to this maiden breaking win. pic.twitter.com/cHNNnA85Rg — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 4, 2025 The post Not This Time’s Souper Times A Two-Turn Graduate At Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We live in a social media era. Be it on Instagram, X or Facebook, nine times out of 10, what people put on the social media platforms is the best version of themselves. That's what made jockey Ross Coakley's post for the new year so refreshing on Facebook. The Irishman has partnered almost 150 winners since moving to Britain in 2021. But unhappy with last year's tally of 33 wins and 328 rides, which was down from 47 wins and 375 rides in 2023, he spoke openly about how 2024 represented a disappointment on a professional front at least. Make no mistake, Coakley is not complaining about his lot. Instead, he simply pointed out that not everything has to be perfect on social media, and his post may well have resonated with others who may not have knocked it out of the park last year. The 30-year-old expands on his reasoning for moving to Britain in the first place, goals for 2025 and much more in this week's Q&A. You were refreshingly honest on Facebook in discussing how your year went. What led to you writing that post as I am sure it resonated with plenty of people? Sometimes these things cross your mind and more times you don't bother posting. But, do you know what? I decided to post it because I thought it might resonate with some people. Being honest about these things when you can is important. I wrote that Facebook post in about three minutes because it was honest. When you are speaking the truth, you barely have to think about it. We live in an era where everyone is putting the best version of themselves on social media. I wanted to put a post up for the end of the year but, when I looked back on all of my winners, there wasn't anything that jumped out to me. That's why I decided to be honest and say that 2024 wasn't exactly what I had hoped it would be. It was one of those years where the tally of winners was disappointing but all you can do is regroup and put the head down for 2025. I am going to Dubai in a couple of weeks and the hope would be that I would pick up some rides. I am looking forward to that. When I come back from that, it will be early February and the Flat season proper will almost be upon us at that point. You said in the post that it wasn't a great year on the track for you. Okay, your numbers took a dip on previous seasons, but 33 winners from 328 rides and over £360,000 in prize-money is not bad by any means. There are two ways of looking at it. You could be somebody who gets a lot of rides and, while you don't get a lot of winners, you're making an income through the riding fee. But from my point of view, last year represented a drop-off and, as a jockey, you're always hoping to keep building. The fact that it dropped off was disappointing. You want it to go back in an upward curve and can't afford for it to drop again because there is a lot of sacrifice and work involved to keep the show on the road over here. There is a lot of racing and your work-life balance takes a little bit of a hit in Britain compared to Ireland so you need to be getting the results on the track to justify the sacrifices. It might be a bit of an intrusive question but what sort of numbers would you need to be hitting in order to make a good living riding in Britain? There's no magic number. The truth of it is, I made quite an okay living last year. But your expenses are a lot higher in Britain as you are spending a lot of time on the road so fuel, hotels and all of that kind of stuff adds up. You have to try and cover a much greater area compared to in Ireland. A lot of Flat jockeys are based in Newmarket but I suppose, the way my contacts developed, I am split between Newmarket and Lambourn. I am covering more ground than most people would be. I don't mind that, it just means my expenses will be higher than most people. I cover my bills but, equally, for the sacrifices you make, you'd want to be rewarded to justify it. For me, that's more than 33 winners a year. If you are riding 50 winners and getting in the region of 500 rides in a season, you'll make a very good living. There's probably more of a platform at that level over here than there is in Ireland. It's also interesting that, back in Ireland, a lot of jockeys' income is split between riding out in the mornings and riding in races. Because the volume of racing is much greater over here, there isn't the same scope to ride out in a yard in the mornings, therefore it would be hard to justify earning a wage in a yard where you're required to ride out every morning. So basically, your income is more or less your riding fee and whatever prize-money you manage to earn in a season. Some jockeys get sponsorship deals as well but they are becoming a bit more difficult to secure. On the whole, the move to Britain has been a good fit for you as the rides did seem to dry up in Ireland. I suppose my hand was forced a little bit in that if John Oxx didn't retire I probably never would have moved over here. When John Oxx retired, I had invested the previous few years of my career there, so I was left without a base when he called time on his career. The way it is in Ireland, there are only so many seats at every table and, when you are not on the table, it's very hard to get in. That was my reasoning at the time for making the move. When I moved over initially, which was the middle of the summer in 2021, I based myself with Hugo Palmer, who at the time was based in Newmarket. Things were in full flow over here and, as a result, people were into their own rhythm as to what jockeys they were using so it took me a bit of time to get a foothold. Rod Millman was integral in giving me some early opportunities and I spent a lot of time riding at the South Western tracks. That's where I got a bit of momentum and that's where I made some connections in Lambourn as I used to break up my trips to Chepstow and places like that by going in to ride for as many people as I could. Towards the end of my first season here, I got the opportunity to go in and ride work for Simon and Ed Crisford and that gave me a solid base to kick on from. You're still relatively young for a Flat jockey at 30 years of age. You said that 33 winners does not necessarily reward the sacrifices that you make. So what is it that you're hoping to get out of the game? I am sure everyone feels they are not being rewarded for their efforts at certain times in this business. Also, this is a game where, no matter what you achieve, you will always want more. I think that's just the nature of the beast. I don't like setting targets because I don't think it's something you have any great control over. Me riding 10, 40 or 80 winners is not a reflection of my ability. It's more of a reflection of what luck I got along the way, the momentum I built up or what horses I managed to get on at the right time. I'm still the same rider and I feel like I have improved every year. Having served my apprenticeship in Ireland, I have built up plenty of experience and I have plenty of confidence in my ability in that regard. I did come into last season hoping I would hit the 50-winner mark. I have had a few Listed winners since moving over here as well and the hope is that you'd get more opportunities on the Saturdays. You want to be riding at the meetings that are on terrestrial television. That didn't materialise last year but it's a competitive field and there are so many good jockeys over here, nothing is going to be handed to you. You just have to control what you can control. After that, you just hope the results will look after themselves over a period of time. In terms of mindset, it's all very well when things are going good. But when they are not, how do you keep positive and hungry? From my point of view, the biggest sacrifice for me is my weight, because I am tall for a Flat jockey. There are very few blank days over here so you have to be very consistent with your weight in order to keep on top of it. If you were to let it slip at all, it would be very hard to get it back because you just don't have the time. Even when you have a quiet week, you just don't know what's around the corner so it's something I try to keep on top of all the time. That's the toughest thing for me. Three Listed winners and a Group 3 success were added to your CV since you moved to Britain. I know you were disappointed about last year's tally but, you're clearly riding a better calibre of horse since you moved to Britain, and on the whole, I'd say you have no regrets? Absolutely, I don't regret anything about the past three years. I am 30 now and, realistically, we'll see what happens. You never know what is around the corner and you'd always be looking ahead to see what the next chapter might be. It's something I am not afraid to talk about. You should always be prepared for life after being a jockey because, at the end of the day, an injury could force your hand in the morning. There were times when I was hell-bent on not even thinking about life outside of being a jockey. But there is a certain amount of freedom in accepting that there will be life after my time being a jockey. And that's healthy. Have you thought about what the next chapter might be? I would love the idea of training. Whether that's realistic in the current climate is another thing as you need so much capital and it would be hard to do it without a backer. I would also be open to something in the media. There are a lot of different avenues I could go down eventually but, for the time being at least, I am fully concentrated on the riding and we are going to give this year a good crack. The post Ross Coakley Q&A: ‘2024 Wasn’t What I Hoped It Would Be – But I Will Regroup’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Sam Agars MAGNIFICENT NINE - R9 (1) Shown plenty of promise this term and looks ready to strike down in grade Jay Rooney PAKISTAN LEGACY - R8 (4) Debutant was unbeaten in Australia and has trialled very well here Jack Dawling WUNDERBAR - R7 (4) Can dictate proceedings from gate two and get back to winning ways Phillip Woo CIRCUIT JOLLY - R2 (6) Should go one better after a close second on his last start over this trip Shannon (Vincent Wong) KING PROFIT - R4 (1) Ran a nice second in Class Three last start and can go close again today Racing Post Online KA YING VICTORY - R6 (5) Will appreciate the step back in trip and this looks a winnable race Tom Wood PACKING ANGEL - R10 (13) Dominant win last start where the form has been franked sinceView the full article

Accomplished galloper With Your Blessing put a lacklustre last campaign behind him with a gritty first-up victory in the A$160,000 Inglis Classic Sale Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday. The New Zealand-bred son of Vadamos kicked off his career with a Canterbury placing back in February of 2021 and had been a consistent performer since then, winning races at Randwick, Newcastle, Kembla Grange and on the Kensington track. He placed on another eight occasions, most of them in Saturday company and up to Benchmark 88 grade. But the gelding mystified his trainer John Thompson with his alarming dip in form, placing just once from seven appearances between January and August of last year. Thompson sent him out for a spring spell and then gradually worked his way back up, seeing promising signs in a trial placing on December 9 and a subsequent jumpout. Saturday’s Benchmark 78 put those improved showings to the test on raceday, with a 60.5kg topweight posing an additional challenge. But the six-year-old was right back on top of his game. Jockey Alysha Collett found a handy position in fourth, one off the rail, then presented With Your Blessing on the outside of the leaders after turning for home. With Your Blessing kicked hard and hit the lead 200m from the finish, withstanding a late challenge from Cosmonova to win by half a length. “That last preparation was a bit of a head-scratcher, but he was giving me every indication that he was back to his old self again,” Thompson said. “Alysha came and rode him in a jumpout a week ago and he went super. We thought he was on target for today, and he’s come out and won well.” With Your Blessing has now had 26 starts for five wins, nine placings and A$432,355 in stakes. He was bought for A$70,000 in Sydney as a yearling. With Your Blessing was bred by the Hawkins family’s Llanhennock Trust and is by Vadamos out of the Darci Brahma mare Super Trouper. Herself a five-race winner from a 28-start career in the Llanhennock colours, Super Trouper is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Lim’s Dashing. With Your Blessing is the best of four foals to race so far for Super Trouper, who is also the dam of the three-time Australian winner Super Alana. Super Trouper has an unnamed two-year-old filly by Ole Kirk. View the full article

Geelong has now staged two runnings of the A$300,000 Coastal Classic (1700m), and both of them have been won by the Kiwi-bred gelding Holymanz. The chestnut son of Almanzor carried the 53kg minimum weight to win the inaugural edition of the race last January, and he returned to Geelong on Saturday and successfully defended that title under 60kg. Ridden by British jockey Saffie Osborne, Holymanz settled in second-last before swooping around the outside and looming just behind the leaders in fourth spot coming around the home turn. Osborne unleashed Holymanz down the outside of the track in the straight, out-finishing fellow New Zealand-bred runner Riot And Rose to win by half a length. “I might have been one spot further back than I wanted in the running, but that was just where he landed,” Osborne said. “I wanted to give him as smooth a trip as possible. “He’s an extremely uncomplicated horse and a jockey’s dream. He’s had to carry a lot of weight today, but he has a wicked turn of foot and is extremely tough and has a great attitude.” Holymanz races in the colours of Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who stand the five-year-old’s sire Almanzor at Cambridge Stud. From a 23-start career, Holymanz has recorded five wins and six placings. He has placed in the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m), and his career earnings now stand at A$798,032. Holymanz is trained by Ciaron Maher, who was represented at Geelong on Saturday by assistant trainer Jack Turnbull. “Saffie gave him a lovely, patient ride,” Turnbull said. “He had a bit more weight this year and is potentially just a little bit suspect at the 1700m. But when Saffie asked for him late, she really went for him. She’s a strong rider, which was probably the difference. He was strong through the line today, but if you had the wrong person on, you probably don’t get the same result. “I think he’s going as well, if not better than he was when he won this race last year. He’s a model of consistency and a very solid Group Three and Listed horse, maybe even Group Two on the right day. “It’s great for Cambridge Stud. Brendan and Jo and Henry (Plumptre, CEO) have allowed us to keep going in this prep and have a crack at this race. We’re very thankful. It’s a good race with a rich purse. “He’ll probably have a short breather now and then we’ll look at some autumn targets.” Cambridge Stud purchased Holymanz for A$400,000 as a yearling in Sydney in conjunction with Nicolas de Chambure of Haras d’Etreham. He was offered by Lime Country Thoroughbreds on behalf of breeder Jamieson Park. Holymanz is out of the winning Dubawi mare Perfect Offering, who is a half-sister to the stakes winner and Group performer My Country. Landsdowne Park will offer a half-brother to Holymanz during Book 1 of Karaka 2025 later this month. The colt by Xtravagant is catalogued as Lot 202. View the full article

Talented New Zealand-bred filly Perfumist extended her increasingly impressive winning sequence to three with a commanding all-the-way victory in the A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. The daughter of El Roca was a debut winner at Bathurst as a two-year-old and showed promise with two placings from three starts in the spring, but she has gone to a new level since the beginning of last month. She was a three-length maiden winner at Mudgee on December 6, then added a Benchmark 72 at Canterbury two weeks later. The Benchmark 78 at Randwick was Perfumist’s first appearance in Saturday company in Sydney, and she went out and delivered an even more impressive performance. Perfumist was ridden by Winona Costin and quickly took the lead after jumping from gate three. She controlled the race from there and pulled away in the straight, opening up a winning margin of two and a half lengths. Perfumist represents the Warwick Farm stable of expat Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker, who originally had two leading chances in Saturday’s race but decided to scratch Arriving Home. “Arriving Home galloped brilliantly at Warwick Farm this morning,” Baker told Racenet. “We have rolled the dice, hoping she will make the field for the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m). “But I was confident Perfumist could get the job done for us today. She’s one of the most improved horses in training. She has gone ahead in leaps and bounds in this preparation. “She’s been up a while, so we will just see how she pulls up from this win and take it from there. But she is obviously a promising filly with a lot of upside.” Carrying the colours of OTI Racing, Perfumist has now had eight starts for four wins, two placings and A$156,425 in stakes. Perfumist was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and is by Westbury stallion El Roca. She is the first foal to race out of the unraced Swiss Ace mare Tapputi, whose full-brother Cut Me Loose won two races and placed in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Westbury Stud offered Perfumist at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, where Bjorn Baker Racing, OTI, Phill Cataldo Bloodstock and Clarke Bloodstock bought her for $190,000. Westbury Stud has a half-brother to Perfumist by Redwood catalogued for Karaka 2025. The colt will go through the ring as Lot 876 in Book 2. View the full article

Ashley Morgan and Private Harry have claimed the inaugural edition of the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight Plate. Photo: Darren Winningham Private Harry has remained undefeated after claiming his fourth straight victory from as many starts in the inaugural running of the Magic Millions Sunlight Plate at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday evening. With only three starts to his name before Saturday’s race, the Nathan Doyle-trained colt was one of the least experienced runners in the 1100m race, while a number of his rivals had raced at Group level throughout their careers. As expected in a sprinting contest, the speed was clapped on early, with Bold Bastille jumping smartly to find the lead ahead of the winner, Spywire, and Spicy Martini. Lady Of Camelot, the favourite with horse racing bookmakers, jumped a little slow, and Blake Shinn chose to settle worse than midfield from barrier one, a decision that proved costly later in the race. Ashley Morgan was sitting quietly aboard Private Harry as they idled up next to Bold Bastille and took over quickly in the home straight. With nothing making significant ground from the back of the field, it looked as though the leader had the race within his keeping, and he did, running away to record a dominant victory over the fast-finishing Lady Of Camelot and Arabian Summer. 2025 Magic Millions Sunlight Plate replay – Private Harry https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sunshine-Coast-2025-Magic-Millions-Sunlight-3YO-Plate-04012025-Private-Harry-Nathan-Doyle-Ashley-Morgan.mp4 After claiming one of the biggest wins of his training career, Nathan Doyle spoke post-race. “I don’t know what to say. It means so much,” Doyle said. “It was hard work when I went out on my own. The first three horses we owned ourselves. It has been so hard to get here. It was tough. “You’ve got to prove yourself and it has taken time. “He’s such a beautiful horse. They asked why I stick with Ash? I said he rides work, and he hasn’t done anything wrong on it. “He’s so bombproof. I was confident in him at the 500 (metre mark). You shouldn’t be confident at the 500. “I thought, ‘if he extends like the horse I think he is, it is all over.’ “He is such a beautiful animal to deal with. He’s just got a beautiful action. I just want to cuddle someone. “When they were travelling so quickly and he was going three-quarter pace, I was thinking, ‘is this happening?’ “(You) have to remember that he is doing it at his first racing preparation. “Where does he go from here? Can you do it fourth up? That is what everyone said. “We trusted the system and what we thought of him, and it has paid off. Very thankful.” Ashley Morgan was as emotional as Doyle in his post-race interview. “I started at the non-TABs, and everything has gotten better and better. I don’t usually get that emotional, but I lost it over the line,” Morgan said. “He’s an incredible horse. The whole race, we ran along, and I was going, ‘woah, woah, come back, come back.’ “I got to the 600 (metre mark), and I couldn’t hold him any longer. He’s electric. “I think it is only the start for this horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

Damian Lane and Payline after winning the 2025 Magic Millions The Syndicate. Photo: Darren Winningham Damian Lane brought up a race-to-race double in the first two features at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday evening, with a rails-hugging ride on the Chris & Corey Munce-trained Payline to take out the Magic Millions Syndicate. After claiming victory with a much different ride on Miss Joelene in the previous race, Lane was made to change tracks multiple times in the final 500m before switching back to the inside to flash home up the rail and claim a breathtaking victory. The 1100m contest was run at a solid tempo as Golden Boom, who jumped as the favourite with horse racing bookmakers, led the field, ahead of The Novelist and Price Of Boom. Turning for home, the leader kicked away from the rest of the field; however, he started to take smaller steps in the final 150m, as Payline and Prince Of Boom started to take ground off him. Lane didn’t have to go around another horse on the winner, and he pushed through along the inside fence to nab Golden Boom in the final strides, claiming victory by half a length. 2025 Magic Millions The Syndicate replay – Payline https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sunshine-Coast-2025-Magic-Millions-The-Syndicate-04012025-Payline-Chris-Corey-Munce-Damian-Lane.mp4 Corey Munce represented the winning stable in the post-race interview. “Unbelievable. What a thrill,” Munce said. “We won this race two years ago with a horse named Centrefire, and it is unbelievable the similarities these two horses possess. “They are both by Shooting To Win and both came good at this ripe age. “Dad loves Damian (Lane) and it was great to have him on today. “I didn’t know where he was going to get to from the draw and the sticky start. I just said that this horse has a wicked turn-of-foot and he showed that today. “I was speechless until they crossed the winning post. “I haven’t been around that long and I haven’t seen on win like that and they haven’t been winning like that today. “It doesn’t matter what company we put him in; he always races well. He doesn’t go a yard on a heavy track, but today he won his maiden here on this surface and presented so beautifully. That was some ride.” Damian Lane admitted that his decision to go to the rail could have made him look silly, but he was happy that it paid off. “If it didn’t come off I’d have looked a bit silly,” Lane said. “It has been hard to be wide and go around and win so I chose the other option and it paid off. “He maintained a strong gallop and ripped home over the top of them. “Watching some of his replays, he’s run big races, and I knew that if things went right for him, he’d put in a big performance. “Corey and Chris were very bullish today. “They were very confident he could run well. The gate was sticky, and we just needed a bit of luck from the turn.” Horse racing news View the full article

Damian Lane and Miss Joelene win the Magic Millions The Wave. Photo: Darren Winningham Miss Joelene has put a run of placings behind her by claiming the $500,000 Magic Millions Wave at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday evening, with Damian Lane picking up the ride on the Kelly Schweida-trained mare. The daughter of Russian Revolution was sent out as a hot favourite with top horse racing bookmakers in her previous start at Eagle Farm, and after being well backed once again before the race jumped, she got the job done in the first of three feature races. Simply Fun and Gold Bullion set a strong tempo for the 1800m contest, while I’m Heroic and Arts Object gained economical runs in behind the speed influences. It appeared as though Lane was trying to get in behind a runner and gain some cover throughout; however, he chose to stay out three-wide for the entire journey and was able to stay in a nice rhythm around the home turn. The $3.30 favourite with Picklebet, Loch Eagle, angled out underneath the winner, but she remained unsettled, cruised past her rivals with 200m and struck the front. Encoder and Brookhaven stayed close to the inside running rail and made a late challenge, but they would have to settle for second and third, respectively. 2025 Magic Millions The Wave Replay – Miss Jolene https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sunshine-Coast-2025-Magic-Millions-The-Wave-04012025-Miss-Joelene-Kelly-Schweida-Damian-Lane.mp4 Kelly Schweida sounded like a relieved man after the victory, and he spoke about the whirlwind that has been the last 24 hours for his stable. “It’s been bizarre. Trucks, floats, jockey. I’ve gone through 3 jockeys today. Tommy Berry was supposed to ride this but he was sick.” Schweida said. “Nash (Rawiller) was supposed to ride Deep Respect but he hurt his shoulder and Craig (Williams) was supposed to ride in the slot race on El Morzillo. It’s been one of those days. “Well done to this mare. She ran good the other day. She nearly fell over on the corner and lost a plate. “When we were three deep, I thought, ‘uh-oh, we’re in a spot of bother here,’ because Damian’s never ridden here before. “He wanted to go forward. He said, ‘oh, I’m not gonna make much ground here.’ And I said, ‘Damien, it’ll be my fault; you gotta go back.’ “But, look, it’s good to get a win. You know, they’re good owners. They’ve been longtime clients.” Horse racing news View the full article

Jarrod Fry returns to the mounting yard on Romantic Choice after winning the Canadian Club Black Pearl Stakes at Geelong Racecourse on January 04, 2025 in Geelong, Australia. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Romantic Choice delivered a spirited front-running performance to claim victory in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes at Geelong. Trained by Tom Dabernig and expertly ridden by Jarrod Fry, the mare held off a late challenge to secure her first stakes win, rewarding connections with the $120,000 winner’s cheque. Breaking smartly from barrier three, Romantic Choice surged to the lead early, dictating terms with a commanding two-length margin. She maintained her advantage through the 1200m journey, resisting a strong inside bid from race favourite She’s Bulletproof in the final strides. Pharari finished third, flashing home late, with Brazen Lady rounding out the top four. The daughter of Toronado stopped the clock at 1:10.57 on a Good 3 surface, paying $13.00 for the win with the top online bookmakers. Her victory marked the seventh in her career from 18 starts, taking her total prizemoney earnings to over $421,000. Geelong Race 9: 2025 Black Pearl Stakes Replay – Romantic Choice https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Geelong-2025-Listed-Black-Pearl-Stakes-04012025-Romantic-Choice-Tom-Dabernig-Jarrod-Fry.mp4 Fry credited Romantic Choice’s determination in the post-race interview. “She was all heart today. We found a good rhythm up front, and she just kept digging deep when it mattered most,” he said. “It’s a thrill to win a race of this calibre, especially on a mare in such strong form.” Trainer Tom Dabernig praised the mare’s consistency, noting her ability to thrive in the fast-paced conditions. “She’s been a marvel this preparation, and today’s result is a testament to her tenacity,” Dabernig said. “We’ll assess her recovery, but a trip to Tasmania could be on the cards as she’s clearly thriving.” She’s Bulletproof ($2.45 at Picklebet) ran gallantly in defeat, closing strongly along the rails but falling just 0.3 lengths short. Pharari ($6.00), trained by Ciaron Maher, also impressed, finishing 0.4 lengths back in third. Romantic Choice’s victory added to Dabernig’s outstanding summer campaign and secured another stakes success for jockey Jarrod Fry, whose tactical ride ensured the mare’s front-running tactics paid off in style. Horse racing news View the full article

Holymanz winning the $300,000 Coastal Classic at Geelong. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Holymanz delivered a resolute performance to secure back-to-back victories in the Coastal Classic at Geelong, overcoming a strong field and a weight disadvantage to claim the $300,000 feature. Ridden patiently by Saffie Osborne, the five-year-old gelding tracked early leaders Dashing and Mathletic through a steady tempo before launching his winning bid in the final stages of the 1700m contest. As the field turned for home, Riot and Rose made a bold move to seize the lead, but Holymanz surged late, outstaying his rivals to win by 0.4 lengths in a time of 1:43.21 on a Good 3 track. Starting at $3.80 with the top bookmakers, Holymanz defeated the Peter Moody-trained Riot and Rose ($4.40), with Dashing ($3.20) finishing a brave third after leading for much of the race. Geelong Coastal Classic Replay – Holymanz https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Geelong-2025-Coastal-Classic-04012025-Hollymanz-Ciaron-Maher-Saffie-Osbourne.mp4 Osborne, celebrating a feature win during her Australian stint, credited her patient tactics for the result. “The key was timing the run just right,” Osborne said. “I waited as long as possible before asking him for his best, and he responded beautifully under the weight.” Trainer Ciaron Maher praised Holymanz’s toughness and consistency. “He’s carrying more weight than last year, but he showed his class,” Maher said. “He’s a genuine stakes-level horse, and this win highlights his resilience and adaptability.” Riot and Rose, trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, continued an impressive return campaign, pushing Holymanz to the wire. Meanwhile, Dashing earned plaudits for his tenacity, battling on for third despite being headed in the straight. Holymanz, a son of Almanzor, now boasts six career wins from 24 starts, with career earnings surpassing $960,000. Horse racing news View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, January 5, 2025 First Race 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon, where a bumper 10-race program awaits punters. The rail moves out to the C+3 position for all races on the turf course, and with pristine conditions forecast leading into the weekend, participants should be racing on a Good 4 surface. The opening event is scheduled to commence at 1pm HKT. Best Bet at Sha Tin: Wunderbar Wunderbar endured a tough run at this course and distance on December 22, sitting three and four wide throughout the journey to finish 4.3 lengths off Raging Blizzard. He had no luck crossing from barrier 11, with the son of Rich Enuff knuckling down to the task despite the torrid run in transit. Zac Purton will attempt to dictate terms from stall two this time around, and with a swing in the weights on a couple of key rivals, expect Wunderbar to get back to winning ways in this quality Class 2 contest. Best Bet Race 7 – #4 Wunderbar (2) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (59.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sha Tin: Ka Ying Radiance The David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Radiance appears set to make an impression on debut, showing a blistering turn of speed winning a recent barrier trial at Conghua on December 13. His barrier manners have been an issue, being slowly away on multiple occasions; however, the booking of Zac Purton appears to be key, and with the chance of a good price with horse racing bookmakers, punters won’t want to miss out if this unraced three-year-old can strike first-up. Next Best Race 4 – #7 Ka Ying Radiance (2) 3yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Zac Purton (57.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Sha Tin: Light Years Charm Light Years Charm was an eye-catcher on his Hong Kong debut at Sha Tin on December 15, hitting the line well in an on-speed-dominated affair. The Australian import was heavily backed with Picklebet prior to the jump, and had it not been for a chequered passage, the son of Rubick should’ve finished much closer than the 3.8-length margin may suggest. Light Years Charm can only improve with the run under his belt, and although this is a deep Class 3 contest, it would come as a shock if this guy wasn’t fighting out the finish. Best Value Race 10 – #11 Light Years Charm (11) 4yo Gelding | T: David Eustace | J: Andrea Atzeni (54kg) Bet with Picklebet Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections January 5, 2025 2-3-4-6 4-5-8-9 1-4-8-12-13 5-6-8-11-12-13 Horse racing tips View the full article

Australian handler strives to snap streak of 49 runners without a winner with solid team at Sha Tin on Sunday.View the full article

Grail Seeker upon winning the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Within the space of just two starts as a four-year-old, Grail Seeker has announced her arrival as one of the brightest stars in New Zealand racing. A first-up winner of the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings back at the beginning of September, the Iffraaj mare lined up for her first race in 119 days at Trentham on Saturday and blew her rivals away again in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m). It was the 40th win of a standout season for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and one of the most rewarding as it brought a 17-week plan to spectacular fruition. “She’s a very good galloper, there’s no doubt about that, and she really goes well fresh,” Scott said. “We had a big plan to get her here fresh today. “She’s been to a racecourse every week for the last month, whether it’s trialling, galloping between races or walking around birdcages. It was all about having her ready for this one day today. “When she arrived on course today, we thought she was bang on. To get this result is massive. I’m very proud of all of our team and of the horse’s performance.” A two-time winner as a three-year-old including the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), Grail Seeker took her career to new heights when she made her four-year-old debut in the Tarzino and brilliantly defeated the likes of Faraglioni, Sacred Satono, Skew Wiff, Waitak, Bonny Lass, Crocetti and Snazzytavi at weight-for-age. That scintillating performance earned her a reputation that a four-month absence from the racetrack did nothing to diminish, and Grail Seeker started as a $4.40 favourite with horse racing bookmakers on Saturday against one of the strongest Telegraph line-ups of the last decade. Grail Seeker was patiently ridden by Kevin Stott and sat at the tail of the field coming into the home straight. But then Stott spotted an opening between Navigator and the tiring Luberon, driving her through it and unleashing her down the outside. The result was in little doubt from that point on as Grail Seeker burst to the lead with big, powerful strides. She bounded away through the last 100m, opening up a winning margin of two and a half lengths over Sacred Satono and Navigator. 2025 Group 1 Telegraph Replay – Grail Seeker https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Trentham-2025-Group-1-Telegraph-04012025-Grail-Seeker-Lance-OSullivan-Andrew-Scott-Kevin-Stott.mp4 It was a first Group One victory in New Zealand for Stott, whose tally of almost 700 wins in the United Kingdom and Ireland includes the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes (1200m) on Bucanero Fuerte and Royal Ascot’s Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) aboard Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain. “She was pretty electric, it was push-button stuff for me on top,” Stott said. “We went at a nice enough speed, and she was comfortable in the soft ground today. “The team had her spot on for this. She felt really good when I rode her in a trial the other day. “She was always travelling nicely today. It was just about trying to find the right horse to take me into the race. Once I did have a gap, she had a very good turn of foot and put the race to bed pretty quickly.” Grail Seeker continued a proud record in the Telegraph for O’Sullivan, who won the sprint showpiece seven times as a jockey with Our Shah (1982), High Regards (1985), Mr Tiz (1989, 1990), O’Reilly (1997), Bawalaksana (1999) and Vinaka (2002). “I think my father (Dave O’Sullivan) had a similar number of wins as a trainer too,” said O’Sullivan, who watched the race on TV from Saturday’s Te Aroha meeting. “It’s one of the really famous races on our calendar, so to be involved with another winner is a huge thrill. “After she won the Tarzino in the spring, it was Andrew’s idea to give her a quiet time and set her up to try to win one of the big sprints over the summer. It’s always good when a plan comes off. I’m delighted for the team and delighted for the horse.” Grail Seeker was offered by her breeders Jamieson Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Kakapo Lodge bought her for $130,000. Her 11-start career has now produced four wins, four placings and $729,715 in stakes for owners Trevor Clarke and Chris Jones, with the prospect of much more still to come. “Our approach has been all about trying to get longevity out of her,” Scott said. “She’s a beautiful, big mare, but she’s still only a baby. She’s going to be even better when she’s five. “Trevor and Chris are incredibly patient people, they’re animal people and they know that being patient now can be rewarded with some real longevity into next season and even the season after that. “Now the plan is to hopefully get her to the Waikato Sprint (Group 1, 1400m) next month, and further down the track we might even think about a Stradbroke (Gr.1, 1400m) in Brisbane if we can get in with a light weight.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Mornington Races Where Mornington Racecourse – 320 Racecourse Rd, Mornington VIC 3931 When Sunday, January 5, 2025 First Race 1:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble Racing heads down the Peninsula on Sunday, where a quickfire seven-race meeting awaits punters at Mornington. A typical summer scorcher is forecast, meaning the track should be a Good 3 at some point in the day, while the rail comes out 6m the entire circuit. The Mornington races on January 5 are set to commence at 1:20pm AEDT. Best Bet at Mornington: Ortigian Girl Ortigian Girl came with a withering burst on debut at Cranbourne over 1000m when beaten less than a length, and stepping up to the 1200m looks the perfect recipe to see her break maiden ranks. In the small field of seven, the I Am Invincible progeny made up multiple lengths on the eventual winner and looked to be screaming out for the step up in trip in doing so. Daniel Moor will have her towards the rear of the field from barrier 10, but with a similar finish, Ortigian Girl looks the goods at $2.70 with Neds. Best Bet Race 2 – #7 Ortigian Girl (10) 3yo Filly | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Daniel Moor (56.5kg) +170 with Neds Next Best at Mornington: Mary Eliza Mary Eliza was massive in defeat on debut at Seymour on December 19, and with an easier run in transit expected on Sunday, it should be second-time lucky for the Super Seth filly. The three-year-old was forced to travel three wide with no cover close to the speed on that day and never shirked the task when beaten 2.2 lengths. From barrier three, Zac Spain will have Mary Eliza stalking the speed throughout, and barring any bad luck, Mary Eliza should not be in maiden grade for much longer. Next Best Race 4 – #10 Mary Eliza (3) 3yo Filly | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Zac Spain (56.5kg) +170 with BlondeBet Best Value at Mornington: Judge Kellie Judge Kellie was beaten by the barest possible margin at the Mornington 1200m on December 6, and on her return to the track and trip, she presents great each-way with horse betting sites. Having settled midfield on that day, the Charm Spirit mare managed to unleash a strong finish when missing in a driving finish. With a similar run in transit, Judge Kellie’s finishing burst will have her fighting out the finish at an $11 quote with Picklebet. Best Value Race 7 – #4 Judge Kellie (12) 5yo Mare | T: Patrick & Michelle Payne | J: Jake Noonan (57.5kg) +1000 with Picklebet Sunday quaddie tips for Mornington Mornington quadrella selections Sunday, January 5, 2025 10-11 1-2-3-4-6 1-4-6 3-4-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Within the space of just two starts as a four-year-old, Grail Seeker has announced her arrival as one of the brightest stars in New Zealand racing. A first-up winner of the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings back at the beginning of September, the Iffraaj mare lined up for her first race in 119 days at Trentham on Saturday and blew her rivals away again in the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m). It was the 40th win of a standout season for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and one of the most rewarding as it brought a 17-week plan to spectacular fruition. “She’s a very good galloper, there’s no doubt about that, and she really goes well fresh,” Scott said. “We had a big plan to get her here fresh today. “She’s been to a racecourse every week for the last month, whether it’s trialling, galloping between races or walking around birdcages. It was all about having her ready for this one day today. “When she arrived on course today, we thought she was bang on. To get this result is massive. I’m very proud of all of our team and of the horse’s performance.” A two-time winner as a three-year-old including the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), Grail Seeker took her career to new heights when she made her four-year-old debut in the Tarzino and brilliantly defeated the likes of Faraglioni, Sacred Satono, Skew Wiff, Waitak, Bonny Lass, Crocetti and Snazzytavi at weight-for-age. That scintillating performance earned her a reputation that a four-month absence from the racetrack did nothing to diminish, and Grail Seeker started as a $4.40 favourite on Saturday against one of the strongest Telegraph line-ups of the last decade. Grail Seeker was patiently ridden by Kevin Stott and sat at the tail of the field coming into the home straight. But then Stott spotted an opening between Navigator and the tiring Luberon, driving her through it and unleashing her down the outside. The result was in little doubt from that point on as Grail Seeker burst to the lead with big, powerful strides. She bounded away through the last 100m, opening up a winning margin of two and a half lengths over Sacred Satono and Navigator. It was a first Group One victory in New Zealand for Stott, whose tally of almost 700 wins in the United Kingdom and Ireland includes the Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes (1200m) on Bucanero Fuerte and Royal Ascot’s Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) aboard Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain. “She was pretty electric, it was push-button stuff for me on top,” Stott said. “We went at a nice enough speed, and she was comfortable in the soft ground today. “The team had her spot on for this. She felt really good when I rode her in a trial the other day. “She was always travelling nicely today. It was just about trying to find the right horse to take me into the race. Once I did have a gap, she had a very good turn of foot and put the race to bed pretty quickly.” Grail Seeker continued a proud record in the Telegraph for O’Sullivan, who won the sprint showpiece seven times as a jockey with Our Shah (1982), High Regards (1985), Mr Tiz (1989, 1990), O’Reilly (1997), Bawalaksana (1999) and Vinaka (2002). “I think my father (Dave O’Sullivan) had a similar number of wins as a trainer too,” said O’Sullivan, who watched the race on TV from Saturday’s Te Aroha meeting. “It’s one of the really famous races on our calendar, so to be involved with another winner is a huge thrill. “After she won the Tarzino in the spring, it was Andrew’s idea to give her a quiet time and set her up to try to win one of the big sprints over the summer. It’s always good when a plan comes off. I’m delighted for the team and delighted for the horse.” Grail Seeker was offered by her breeders Jamieson Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Kakapo Lodge bought her for $130,000. Her 11-start career has now produced four wins, four placings and $729,715 in stakes for owners Trevor Clarke and Chris Jones, with the prospect of much more still to come. “Our approach has been all about trying to get longevity out of her,” Scott said. “She’s a beautiful, big mare, but she’s still only a baby. She’s going to be even better when she’s five. “Trevor and Chris are incredibly patient people, they’re animal people and they know that being patient now can be rewarded with some real longevity into next season and even the season after that. “Now the plan is to hopefully get her to the Waikato Sprint (Gr.1, 1400m) next month, and further down the track we might even think about a Stradbroke (Gr.1, 1400m) in Brisbane if we can get in with a light weight. View the full article

Progressive mare Nigella Lane had hinted in her most recent starts that another winning turn was coming her way and she delivered on those signs with a dominant performance to take out the Lockwood Coromandel Peninsula Thames Cup (1600m) at Te Aroha. Successful over 1600m at Tauranga in November, the five-year-old then finished off well for sixth at Wanganui before going a slashing race for fourth behind stablemate Khafre in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) last month. Manning believed that Saturday’s Thames Cup was a prime target given she was dropping from Listed company to a rating 75 contest and with his stable apprentice Rihaan Goyaram utilising his 3kgs allowance, she carried a handy 55kgs on her back. Goyaram, who was shooting for his third win on the day after piloting Finest Hour to victory for Manning in race three and then Saltnesse for Paul Mirabelli in race five, produced a ten out of ten effort as he took the initiative to sit Nigella Lane outside the lead before taking over in the home straight. The daughter of Niagara dashed clear and held out her rivals with ease as she went to the line nearly five lengths to the good of Maldini with pacemaker Trigon Lad fighting bravely for third. Manning, who was at Trentham with Khafre who put in a bold effort when running second in the Gr.3 Rydges Wellington Airport Phar Lap Trophy (1600m), was thrilled for both Nigella Lane and his apprentice. “She (Nigella Lane) has always been a good mare, but she has been quite unsound at times with a few issues,” Manning said. “I did think she would be hard to beat today as she was dropping a long way in class and with the allowance she got, she was at a very competitive weight. “I thought Rihaan rode her beautifully as he could have got stuck wide but he pressed on and got outside the leader and when he asked her she really sprinted hard and just kept giving. “This is a race I really wanted to win as I had won it twice before with Gold Digger (1997) and Hoopla (2004), so taking it again is very satisfying. “We won’t make any decisions with her now but a race like the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) in February is one I think would really suit her.” Manning also indicated that stablemate Khafre was another contender for the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m) to be raced at Matamata on 15 February. Nigella Lane is a daughter of well performed mare Casabella Lane who won six races including the Gr.2 Japan NZ Trophy (1600m). View the full article

Outsider Ruby Rocks overcame plenty of pre-race drama to register her biggest career victory when she led all the way to upset at odds of $61 in Saturday’s Listed Lincoln Farms Marton Cup (2200m). Trainer Roger Allen and the eight-year-old mare had to endure a horror journey to the Trentham track from their Opaki base after a serious motor vehicle accident left them sitting in traffic as the Remutaka Hill section of State Highway Two was closed for several hours. Allen only arrived on course with the mare fifteen minutes before start time, however the frantic dash paid dividends in the end as apprentice Toni Davies produced the ride of her life to guide Ruby Rocks home in a terrific four-way finish to the contest. Having her first run since September, Ruby Rocks and Davies took up the pacemaking duties from barrier rise and carried the field along at moderate tempo before kicking strongly rounding the home bend. The daughter of Burgundy revelled in the Slow 7 track conditions as she skipped clear at the 300m before gamely holding out the challenges of Nom De Plume, Testify Me and race favourite Sassy Lass by a neck with just a long head covering the other three. Allen breathed a huge sigh of relief as he recounted just what it had taken to get his charge to the start line. “Unbelievable as were sitting on a hill for three hours, but the horses were just so quiet, they just stood there,” Allen said. “I didn’t think we were going to get here but they opened it (the road) up and we had three quarters of an hour before the race, so we just got the horses out when we arrived, put the saddle on her and went straight to the birdcage. “She has been working well and if they leave her alone she can be hard to catch. “This is a big thrill and she has nine wins now with most of those being Cup races.” Davies was also sporting a beaming smile as she described the biggest win of her career to date. “It’s pretty amazing as she is such a cool horse and I can’t thank Roger enough for putting me on,” she said. “She was pulling her way to the front and when she got there she just kept on trucking. “It is nice to get one (a stakes win) out of the way and hopefully I can work towards some more.” Bred by Allen and his wife Ann, who manages the Bindy One syndicate who race her, Ruby Rocks has now won nine of her 47 starts and over $202,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

A black-type victory eluded My Lips Are Sealed by the barest of margins in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last season, but the talented mare returned to Wellington on Saturday and went one better in the Gr.3 Rydges Wellington Airport Phar Lap Trophy (1600m). The daughter of Ace High showed plenty of early promise as a three-year-old, scoring a first-up victory by two and a half lengths at Avondale in September of 2023. She was unsuited to the Good4 track conditions when she contested the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) later that spring, but finished close up behind the placegetters on both occasions including a fourth in the Fillies’ Stakes. My Lips Are Sealed struck a much more suitable Soft7 track for last season’s Eulogy Stakes at Trentham, where she produced a lion-hearted performance and was beaten by a nose by Still Bangon in a head-bobbing finish. But when her form fell away through the rest of her three-year-old season, it began to look like her best black-type opportunity had passed her by. Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have turned things around since My Lips Are Sealed turned four, stringing together back-to-back wins at Matamata and Te Rapa followed by a pair of placings at Te Rapa and Tauranga. She was a last-start fifth on firm ground in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) on December 20. With a 53-kilogram minimum weight for My Lips Are Sealed in Saturday’s Phar Lap Trophy, and overnight rain sending the Trentham track out to that same Soft7 rating as last year’s Eulogy, everything fell into place in the countdown to the $120,000 feature. In-form jockey Sam Spratt slotted My Lips Are Sealed into a perfect position in sixth, one off the rail, and her mount was travelling smoothly as Chantilly Lace led the bunched-up field around the home turn. There was a brief hitch as Saint Bathans moved out just in front of My Lips Are Sealed and forced Spratt to switch back to his inside, but the bay mare quickly rebalanced herself and warmed into her work again. My Lips Are Sealed surged to the front with 150m remaining and pulled right away late in the piece, scoring an emphatic victory by two lengths. Last-start Matamata Cup winner Khafre finished second, beating Talisker by a nose to prevent a Te Akau Racing quinella. “We got into a beautiful position and then she just cruised into it,” said Spratt, whose nine Group and Listed wins so far this season are her best since riding 10 of them in 2011-12. “She found really well down the straight. She skipped through that ground and just did everything right.” Walker and Bergerson were delighted to secure some Trentham redemption with My Lips Are Sealed after last-season’s Eulogy Stakes nail-biter. “It’s great to get that black-type win today after being beaten by a lip in the Eulogy,” Bergerson said. “She seems to love it here at Trentham. “Sam gave her a great ride and it was a really good effort. She relaxed beautifully in the running. Having the sting out of the track is ideal for her. The firmer ground just slows her down a little bit and she’s not able to fully let down on it. She was perfectly placed in the handicap today and got the result. “We’ll see how she pulls up and go from here. She’s had a bit of racing recently, so we’ll work out whether or not we give her a little break.” My Lips Are Sealed became the third Te Akau winner in the Phar Lap Trophy, which was formerly known as the Anniversary Handicap. The Matamata stable had previously won the race with Abidewithme in 2014 and Belle En Rouge in 2023, with Belle Of The Ball finishing second in the latter for a Te Akau quinella. The Phar Lap Trophy capped a successful Saturday for Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High, who also sired the impressive Te Aroha maiden winner Dealt With. Rich Hill co-bred My Lips Are Sealed and offered her in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where David Ellis bought her for $160,000. She has now had 16 starts for four wins, three placings and $178,610 in stakes. View the full article

Debutant runner Tale Of The Gypsy continued the winning roll for the Stephen Marsh stable when she headed off stablemate Miss Moet All to take out the opening event at Te Aroha, the Graeme Wright Transport (1000m). Although unseen at the trials before stepping out for the first time on race day on Saturday, the daughter of Written By had been spruiked as a major winning chance in the seven-horse field, starting a warm $2.90 favourite for the 1000m contest. Awkwardly away for rider George Rooke, Tale Of The Gypsy raced three wide throughout before moving up to issue her challenge shortly after commencing the long run home. Miss Moet All had raced to the lead at that point and looked to be holding her barn mare however Rooke got to work and the favourite lengthened stylishly to take control and win comfortably by a length and a half in a tidy 59.54 seconds on the Soft5 surface. Marsh admitted to a few nerves before the race and was thrilled to see the filly live up to what she had shown connections leading into race day. “She had to overcome a bad draw and didn’t have much luck,” Marsh said. “She has shown us plenty at home and I was starting to get nervous before the race, but I think she is quite good. “She has it all ahead of her that’s for sure.” Marsh also praised the effort of Rooke to navigate some awkward moments during the running as he looks ahead to the next challenge for the filly, which will be to qualify for a start in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) on 25 January. “I thought it was a good, cool and calm ride as he rode her like the best horse,” he said. “She won’t get into the Karaka Million as yet, but if she won today the plan is to head to Ellerslie for the meeting on the 12th of January to try and qualify her. “The Karaka Million looks very open at the moment, so that’s where we will be heading if she comes through this one well.” Rooke was also very complimentary about the performance of his mount. “She had a lot to stand up to today, but in the paddock she looked the best by far,” he said. “She didn’t have any trials and just a few jumpouts so she was very green throughout the race but her ability has got her home very nicely. “She has all the ability to take her a lot further.” Purchased by Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $180,000 out of the Wentwood Grange draft at Karaka last year, Tale Of The Cat comes from a family that includes her grand dam Gypsy Diamond, a multiple stakes winner in Australia. The $10,360 prizemoney earned by Tale Of The Gypsy places her 22nd on the current order of entry for the Karaka Million 2YO where prizemoney won determines the make-up of the final field of 14 starters plus six emergencies. View the full article

La Bella Boom wins Gold Pearl 2YO Fillies at Sunshine Coast with Craig Williams, Photo: Darren Winningham La Bella Boom has secured her place in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic after an impressive win in the Gold Pearl at the Sunshine Coast, giving trainer Tony Gollan another potential star for the big stage. In a race that unfolded at blistering speed, Rainbow Glow set a hot early pace, leading by five lengths at the 500m mark. Craig Williams, aboard La Bella Boom, bided his time, stalking the leaders before unleashing a powerful turn of foot at the 250m mark. Despite showing some signs of greenness under pressure, the $3.30 bookmaker favourite, La Bella Boom surged past Rainbow Glow and held off the late challenge of Forgotten Spirit to win comfortably. Sunshine Coast Race 2: Gold Pearl 2YO Fillies – La Bella Boom https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sunshine-Coast-2025-Gold-Pearl-2YO-Fillies-04012025-La-Bella-Boom-Tony-Gollan-Craig-Williams.mp4 “She was still doing a little bit wrong under pressure, but while she was doing that, she was finding the line nicely,” Gollan said post-race. “So, good acceleration and fourth up into a big race, I think it’ll be key.” La Bella Boom stopped the clock at 1:04.89, marginally faster than the colts’ division earlier on the card. Gollan attributed her success to her natural precocity and race fitness. “She’s a real two-year-old. She has been from day one. She’s just at home. She does what she has to do. She doesn’t do any extra, but she’s the shape of a two-year-old,” Gollan said. “She looks like a two-year-old. She eats like one. You can’t make her unsound all prep. She’s a really happy horse.” Craig Williams, who gave the filly a perfect ride, was also pleased with her performance. “Lovely filly, very well prepared by Tony Gollan and his team,” Williams said. “Had me a lovely ride throughout off the speed, so showed versatility, and she’s very dominant. Still learning, still green, but lots to like about her.” The race’s hot early pace, set by Rainbow Glow, allowed La Bella Boom to capitalise late. Forgotten Spirit ran on gamely to finish second, while Don’t Doubt the Lady took third but was no match for the winner. Rainbow Glow, after her early exertions, faded late to finish fifth. La Bella Boom’s connections, including prominent ownership group Black Soil Bloodstock, were thrilled with her victory, which secures her spot in next week’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic. “My plan always was to space her out, give her that trial the other day in Brisbane, put her in amongst horses, go this week, and back up next week,” Gollan explained. “It’s been a good model for horses in the past, and this ground being up here today is nice and forgiving on them and just a perfect gallop she needed for next week.” Gollan compared La Bella Boom to his past Magic Millions winner, Skirt The Law. “Well, off today’s run, she’s up there now,” he said. “She reminds me of the way Skirt The Law was in herself. I guess next week, we’ll see how much she is like her.” With this victory, La Bella Boom has firmly established herself as a leading contender for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, with her connections optimistic about her chances in the lucrative event, which she is now a $11 chance at Neds to win. Horse racing news View the full article

What Gilgandra Races Where Gilgandra Jockey Club – Racecourse Rd, Gilgandra NSW 2827 When Sunday, January 5, 2025 First Race 1pm AEDT Visit Dabble Gilgandra Jockey Club is the destination for country racing in NSW on Sunday afternoon, with a highly competitive eight-part program set for decision. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with sunny skies forecast across the weekend, punters can expect a Good 4 surface for race-day. All the action for 2025 Gilgandra Cup Day is scheduled to get underway at 1pm local time. Gilgandra Cup Tip: Just Go Bang Just Go Bang Brings an element of class to the $50,000 Gilgandra Cup (1600m) and appears set to peak third-up into the campaign. The son of Sizzling was an impressive winner of the Queanbeyan Cup (1600m) when returning from a 138-day spell on November 29, and although he failed second-up, it shouldn’t worry punters as it tends to fit his usual pattern. Kody Nestor will attempt to lob into the one-one from barrier five, and although Just Go Bang will be tested with the 61kg on his back, this guy will prove too classy regardless of the hefty weight. Gilgandra Cup Race 7 – #1 Just Go Bang (5) 5yo Gelding | T: Nick Olive | J: Kody Nestor (61kg) +400 with Neds Best Bet at Gilgandra: Ain’t She Swell Ain’t She Swell is on the short turnaround after a luckless effort at Orange on December 30. The More Than Ready mare was making strong inroads on the worst part of the track on that occasion, and although she was held out comfortably by 2.4 lengths, the five-year-old caught the eye doing her best work late. Stepping out to 1800m should be ideal and provided Kody Nestor can drift back and find cover from stall 10, Ain’t She Swell should be right in this. Best Bet Race 3 – #3 Ain’t She Swell (10) 5yo Mare | T: Garry Lunn | J: Kody Nestor (57kg) +200 with BlondeBet Next Best at Gilgandra: Specula The Joseph Hodgson-trained Specula has been a costly commodity for punters, yet to claim victory in 16 starts. The daughter of Epaulette appears set to shirk the maiden tag, however, with the four-year-old hitting the line well in her most recent performance at Dubbo on December 21. Kody Nestor should gain a midfield position with cover throughout the journey, and with even luck turning for home, punters can expect Specula to justify the short price with horse racing bookmakers. Next Best Race 1 – #10 Specula (6) 4yo Mare | T: Joseph Hodgson | J: Kody Nestor (57kg) +170 with Picklebet Sunday quaddie tips for Gilgandra Gilgandra quadrella selections January 5, 2025 1-2-3-5-6 2-3-4-5 1-5 1-4-8-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

My Lips Are Sealed winning the Group 3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) A black-type victory eluded My Lips Are Sealed by the barest of margins in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last season, but the talented mare returned to Wellington on Saturday and went one better in the Group 3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m). The daughter of Ace High showed plenty of early promise as a three-year-old, scoring a first-up victory by two and a half lengths at Avondale in September of 2023. She was unsuited to the Good 4 track conditions when she contested the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) later that spring, but finished close up behind the placegetters on both occasions including a fourth in the Fillies’ Stakes. My Lips Are Sealed struck a much more suitable Soft 7 track for last season’s Eulogy Stakes at Trentham, where she produced a lion-hearted performance and was beaten by a nose by Still Bangon in a head-bobbing finish. But when her form fell away through the rest of her three-year-old season, it began to look like her best black-type opportunity had passed her by. Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have turned things around since My Lips Are Sealed turned four, stringing together back-to-back wins at Matamata and Te Rapa followed by a pair of placings at Te Rapa and Tauranga. She was a last-start fifth on firm ground in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) on December 20. With a 53-kilogram minimum weight for My Lips Are Sealed in Saturday’s Phar Lap Trophy, and overnight rain sending the Trentham track out to that same Soft 7 rating as last year’s Eulogy, everything fell into place in the countdown to the $120,000 feature. In-form jockey Sam Spratt slotted My Lips Are Sealed into a perfect position in sixth, one off the rail, and her mount was travelling smoothly as Chantilly Lace led the bunched-up field around the home turn. There was a brief hitch as Saint Bathans moved out just in front of My Lips Are Sealed and forced Spratt to switch back to his inside, but the bay mare quickly rebalanced herself and warmed into her work again. My Lips Are Sealed surged to the front with 150m remaining and pulled right away late in the piece, scoring an emphatic victory by two lengths. Last-start Matamata Cup winner Khafre finished second, beating Talisker by a nose to prevent a Te Akau Racing quinella. 2025 Group 3 Phar Lap Trophy Replay – My Lips Are Sealed https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Trentham-2025-Group-3-Phar-Lap-Trophy-04012025-My-Lips-Are-Sealed-Mark-Walker-Sam-Bergerson-Sam-Spratt.mp4 “We got into a beautiful position and then she just cruised into it,” said Spratt, whose nine Group and Listed wins so far this season are her best since riding 10 of them in 2011-12. “She found really well down the straight. She skipped through that ground and just did everything right.” Walker and Bergerson were delighted to secure some Trentham redemption with My Lips Are Sealed after last-season’s Eulogy Stakes nail-biter. “It’s great to get that black-type win today after being beaten by a lip in the Eulogy,” Bergerson said. “She seems to love it here at Trentham. “Sam gave her a great ride and it was a really good effort. She relaxed beautifully in the running. Having the sting out of the track is ideal for her. The firmer ground just slows her down a little bit and she’s not able to fully let down on it. She was perfectly placed in the handicap today and got the result. “We’ll see how she pulls up and go from here. She’s had a bit of racing recently, so we’ll work out whether or not we give her a little break.” Horse racing news View the full article