Wandering Eyes

The Magic Millions Carnival’s opening meeting has been relocated to the Sunshine Coast after the Gold Coast’s newly renovated track was found to have been poisoned. The unprecedented decision to move Saturday’s twilight meeting, featuring marquee races such as the $3 million Sunlight slot race and $500,000 The Wave, came after safety concerns were raised by jockeys over a chemically damaged section of the course. Racing Queensland officials discovered the damage on Friday afternoon, with the affected area—measuring approximately 25m x 10m—located near the 500m mark on the home turn. Senior jockeys conducted gallops over the section but expressed dissatisfaction with its safety, leading to a swift decision to relocate the meeting. “The advice from turf experts was that next Saturday’s Magic Millions meeting will be fine to proceed,” said Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott. “They believe the track will be able to be fixed up.” Click here for HorseBetting’s full race-by-race of the Sunshine Coast races here. Representatives from a leading New South Wales turf farm have been engaged to oversee urgent repairs to ensure the Gold Coast track is ready for next Saturday’s marquee Magic Millions Raceday. Saturday’s meeting at the Sunshine Coast retains its original race times and includes two crucial two-year-old races, offering horses a final opportunity to qualify for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. However, the move has caused logistical challenges for participants, who now face a two-hour trip from the Gold Coast Turf Club to the Sunshine Coast. Betting markets were left in limbo, with discrepancies among top bookmakers regarding wagers already placed. The meeting’s relocation also disrupted Channel 7’s planned broadcast of the twilight event, which had been heavily promoted as a free-to-air feature. The Brisbane Racing Club offered to host the meeting at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but the Sunshine Coast was ultimately chosen, as Eagle Farm is already scheduled to race on Sunday. This latest incident adds to a tumultuous history for the Gold Coast track, which was closed for much of 2023 following a disastrous meeting in March. Last year’s Magic Millions was also marred by a wet patch caused by a rogue sprinkler, leading to a washout after just 14mm of rainfall. With the Gold Coast track now under urgent repair, attention turns to ensuring the venue is ready to host next Saturday’s prestigious Magic Millions Raceday, the highlight of the summer racing calendar. Horse racing news View the full article

By Brigette Solomon Trainer Michael House and Harrison Orange combined to score a winning double at the North Island’s first race meeting of the New Year at Tauherenikau yesterday. “I rung Harrison three weeks ago to see if we could organise for him to come down and drive at these central districts grass track meetings and I’m really pleased for him that it’s paid off and he’s driven a couple of winners for us,” said House. “He’s grown up watching his Dad (Blair Orange) drive a few hundred winners in these colours and now he’s driven his first double in them which is great.” The pair’s first win for the day was with Son Of Patrick who took out the Hilton Delegat Painting & Decorating Handicap Trot with a somewhat unconventional victory. The Father Patrick gelding was safely away from his 50 metre starting handicap and Orange allowed the gelding time to tack onto the field, moving to sit one out and three back from around the 1200 metre mark. Having to come four wide on the home turn, Son Of Patrick took some time to wind up down the home straight and it looked as though he would run into the placings with King Of Diamonds a run away leader. Just 50 metres shy of the line, King Of Diamonds shied at the winning post, breaking and veering outwards hampering both Cool Phelan and Cosmic Angel while out wide on the track Son Of Patrick had clear running to cross the line second. He was subsequently promoted to first as King Of Diamonds had gone past the post in a gallop. “It was a funny old race but Son Of Patrick got some luck which is what he needs,” said House, “he’s a lovely old horse and we’ve spent some time getting him really sound and happy and now he’s dropped down the grades a bit I’m hoping he’ll become a Central Districts pro as there’s a bit of racing here over the next few months.” “I’m really happy to support Harrison and it’s strategic to put him on the team at these meetings with today being penalty free for Son Of Patrick and any other wins being half rating points.” Megyn Kelly then scored her maiden victory in the Osborne Group Chartered Accountants Mobile Pace giving House and Orange consecutive race wins for the day. The Shadow Play mare started from barrier 10 and Orange allowed her to settle near the tail of the field before the steady tempo prompted him to head off three wide down the back straight to end up parked with around 800 metres to run. The lightly raced mare was somewhat green when she hit the front on rounding the home turn, but when Tres Bonne Fille loomed up alongside her she regained confidence and the pair put a solid distance on the rest of the field with Megyn Kelly doing it better on the line to win by half a length over Tres Bonne Fille with remaining runners 7.5 lengths off the pair. “Megyn Kelly arrived just a couple of weeks ago from Colin Harrison who bred and trained the mare at Timaru prior to her joining us,” said House, “she’s quite a big mare who just lacks a bit of ringcraft yet and is still green but we’re getting her fitter and she found the line well today so she’ll improve yet.” “We’ll see how she pulls up as to if she starts at Otaki on Monday but there’s a chance she will, and Son Of Patrick will be starting there too.” The House stable also had a fourth placing with Fabricate who was beaten just 1.6 lengths. Grass track racing continues in the North Island with the Kapiti Coast meeting at Otaki on Monday. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Auckland Cup hero Republican Party looks set to join the growing Hunter Cup party. A race that threatened to be a tad thin for star power just a couple of weeks ago, now promises to deliver an explosive start to 2025. Already, Leap To Fame looks certain to defend his crown, newly crowned Inter Dominion champ Don Hugo is a lock, emerging Kiwi talent Tact McLeod is headed towards it and $2 million-earner Catch A Wave also has the Hunter Cup in his sights. More recently, star Kiwis Don’t Stop Dreaming and Republican Party have come on the radar. Following his Group 1 win at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve, Republican Party’s trainer Cran Dalgety is exploring all options around an extended Aussie campaign, which will also see Republican Party chase the Miracle Mile. “There’s a lot of options and plenty of weigh-up,” he said. “We’ve decided he’ll race at Cambridge next week and we’ll use that time to map things out, providing he goes well at Cambridge. “There’s a flight on January 15 (Auckland to Melbourne).” That would open the $100,000 Group 2 Ballarat Cup as an option. “The timing works on paper, but I’m not sure racing him three days after arriving is ideal,” Dalgety said. “There’s the Casey Classic a week later. Given he’s had racing and will have run at Cambridge to keep up to the mark, just that run the week before the Hunter Cup could suit better.” The Hunter Cup is at Melton on February 1. The timing also fits Republican Party to stay in Victoria for the $100,000 Cranbourne Cup a week after the Hunter Cup. Looking further ahead to NSW, the options for Republican Party and Don’t Stop Dreaming to chase a Miracle Mile are via the $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile on February 21 or one of the two “qualifiers” worth $100,000 each at Menangle on March 1. The $1 million Miracle Mile is on March 8. Trainer-driver Luke McCarthy confirmed Don Hugo would go “first-up” into the Hunter Cup. “He’ll have a couple of strong (private) workouts and then one trial. He didn’t have long out,” he said. In contrast, Catch A Wave will trial at Melton on Tuesday with a view to a first-up run in the Ballarat Cup. “The plan is Ballarat, then back-up in the Casey Classic a week later and the Hunter Cup to be his third run in as many weeks,” trainer Andy Gath said. In other disappointing stable news, Gath confirmed Callmethebreeze’s Great Southern Star defence was over before it started. “He’s still not where we need him to be and we’ve run out of time,” he said. With doubts still lingering over Just Believe’s racing future, the Mark and Nathan Purdon decision to send Oscar Bonavena to the Great Southern Star looks an inspired move. View the full article

By Jonny Turner After an all-conquering season, Matthew Williamson hopes to keep his momentum going in 2025 with a big Roxburgh Cup day on Saturday. The trainer produced a personal-best 39 wins in 2024, making him the leading trainer both in Otago and south of the Waitaki River. Though he is undoubtedly the public face of his operation, Williamson was quick to credit those behind the scenes for his breakout season. “If you had told me at the start of last year that we would have ended up where we have, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.” “But the horse numbers built over the year. We started off with a smaller team and now we are up over 30. “We have had a heap of owners jump on board with us. They’ve been great.” “You’re only as good as your staff too, so they deserve a lot of the credit. “It is a team effort and a family operation and [wife] Charlotte does a huge amount of work and she is quite good at doing all those things I forget about.” Williamson hopes several of his strong contributors from 2024 can help build his 2025 win tally. Flying Bird steps out in the finale, Race 11 the Bearing Replacements/ Sgt Dan Stockfoods Mobile Pace (5.38pm) after chasing the smart Lakelsa in a strong last-start effort at Ascot Park. “She ran on quite nicely at Invercargill and this looks like quite a suitable race for her.” “Her work seems to be getting better and better, I am quite happy with her.” Feta Go Fernco won her first two career starts last year, and she looks to get her chance to bounce back to her best form in 2025. “She has drawn 11 and 12 in her last two starts in tough grades. “She’s on the second row again but the field looks suitable enough for her and I would expect her to be running on.” Jordan Anne was one of Williamson’s most consistent performers in 2024 and the trainer expects more of the same this year after her fourth yesterday in Race 7, the Ritchie McDonald and Val Whye Memorial Trot (3.24pm). “She’s very honest and it was another great run from her at Omakau.” “Roxburgh doesn’t look any harder, so you’d like to think she would be another pretty handy chance again.” Williamson also starts Sidorova and Shandon Bells at the Roxburgh meeting. The trainer-driver’s brother, Nathan Williamson, starts the favourite in the Peters Genetics Roxburgh Cup in Miraculous. The four-year-old clashed with the impressive Built For Glory in last week’s three-year-old feature at Gore, running second. Miraculous produced a courageous second in his prior outing at Ascot Park on Invercargill Cup Day. Miraculous is the 20m backmarker in the Roxburgh feature, giving key rival Amaretto Franco a 10m head start. The Canterbury mare made two mistakes in her last start in the Gore Cup, but still managed a creditable fourth. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Five years is a long time to wait for redemption. In racing entire careers start, blossom and end much quicker than that all the time. But on Febuary 1, five years after he last raced and finished unplaced in the Great Southern Star, Kiwi speed machine Oscar Bonavena is heading back to Melton for a another shot at the title. The title has of course changed. The Great Southern Star was 2760m mobile back on February 1, 2020 when Oscar Bonavena sat parked and finished a brave fourth to Tornado Valley. He had arrived in Melbourne as trotting’s next big thing but his mind wasn’t as sharp as his sprint and Oscar wasn’t the first New Zealand horse to be caught out by the Australian hustle and bustle. So much has happened since. Unsoundness, wildness years, changing stables, changing back, then a Trotter of the Year season in 2023. Oscar looked to have maybe hit a wall again in the first half of 2024, a wall called Just Believe, but the real Oscar finally downed the little Aussie hero in the NZ Free-For-All on Show Day and has been brilliant since, albeit galloping early in this week’s National Trot before a huge recovery in third. That was enough to convince trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon that Oscar should go back to Melton to try this back to the future Great Southern Star, two mobile sprint heats in one night like it used to be. “He deserves another shot over there,” says Nathan Purdon. “He has never been sounder and is racing so well even after that little gallop this week. “So the plan will be to try and race here (Alex Park) again before he goes over but if he has to go over there for a lead-up race that will be okay too. “The way he is racing these days sprinting seems to really suit him and I think the Great Southern Star format will be good for him. “And obviously Just Believe isn’t going to be there.” With defending champion Callmethebreeze also set to miss the GSS, Oscar Bonavena is at least as good as the locals but will still have to contend with new Interdom champion and natural speedster The Locomotive. Oscar Bonavena will have some big-name company on the trip too with Don’t Stop Dreaming returning for the Hunter Cup, the race he pushed Leap To Fame so close in last year. “He has had no luck but he has also had some hard racing and sometimes I think that has gotten to him. “But he is a very good horse and these good horses have to race in these big races, that is where the money is. “So he will follow the same racing and travels plans as Oscar but after the Hunter Cup we will look at taking him to Sydney.” That will be the extent of the Purdon team in Australia as Chase A Dream is unlikely to head to either venue and the father and son team soon to start their yearling sales work. “All stables need to replenish and we will be definitely doing that this year,” says Nathan. “We have room for horses after a few retirements so we will be buying and are happy to speak to owners to want to get involved with some high end stock. “There has never been a better time to be involved in the game with the huge job Entain are doing and the vibe in harness racing and we will be looking at yearlings soon and going after the ones we think can be big-race horses. “So we will start taking expressions of interest for that this week and then formulate our plan.” View the full article

There are 13 horse racing meetings set for Australia on Saturday, January 4. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Gold Coast, Geelong, Randwick, Ascot & Darwin. Saturday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – January 4, 2025 Gold Coast Racing Tips Geelong Racing Tips Randwick Racing Tips Ascot Racing Tips Darwin Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on January 4, 2025 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. Recommended! 4 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 5 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

A change of scenery has worked wonders for Field Of Gold, who is in line to return to black-type company for the first time in almost two years in Saturday’s Gr.3 Rydges Wellington Airport Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) at Trentham. The son of Starspangledbanner is a half-brother to Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Sherwood Forest, and he showed plenty of talent himself through the early stages of his career. Field Of Gold’s nine-start campaign as a three-year-old produced three wins including the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), and he was a placegetter in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) and Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m). He also took on older horses at weight-for-age and finished a creditable sixth behind Coventina Bay in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). But the chestnut’s form fell away in his four-year-old season, and his owner-breeders Matthew Goodson and Dianna Perron elected to transfer him from Tony Pike’s Cambridge stable into the smaller surroundings of Bill Thurlow’s operation at Waverley. Field Of Gold showed promising signs with three consecutive placings in the autumn of his five-year-old season, and he began his new campaign on a winning note with an impressive performance in a 1400m Rating 75 at Trentham on December 15. Thurlow entered Field Of Gold for a 1600m open handicap at Otaki on Boxing Day, but late-scratched him when the track deteriorated through the afternoon. Field Of Gold appears to be well placed in Saturday’s Phar Lap Trophy, with visiting Australian jockey Luke Currie booked to ride him at 55.5kg. But the weather is once again a major factor in Thurlow’s mind. “We took him to Otaki on Boxing Day and the track ended up getting quite wet and tricky,” he said. “He’s a horse that really needs a reasonable surface to show his best, so we decided to late-scratch him and set him for this race at Trentham instead. “Hopefully that rain that’s in the forecast leading into this meeting will stay away. He’s a very good galloper when he gets the right conditions. He showed that when he won first-up. “His work has been excellent. He’s done really well since his win. I’ve been very happy with him. Wherever he ends up racing next, which will hopefully be at Trentham on Saturday, I’m sure he’ll perform well.” Field Of Gold headlines a four-horse Trentham team for Thurlow, who will also saddle Royal Sovereigns in the Vernon and Vazey Truck Parts (1400m), Mister Fletcher in the Happy Hire (1600m) and The Big Picture in the Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge (1200m). “Royal Sovereigns was a very good second on debut,” Thurlow said. “She ran home strongly on a wet track at New Plymouth, and she was beaten by a handy horse of Allan Sharrock’s (Komocean). “She did nothing in her next run after that. We didn’t know what to make of that performance and couldn’t find anything wrong with her afterwards. But I’ve been happy with her work since then. “She’s quite green, so we’ve elected to put a hood on and use a strong senior rider (Craig Grylls). We’re hoping for an improved performance from her. “Mister Fletcher’s had just the one start for a good second placing. He was beaten by a better horse on the day over that 1400m distance. He’s a typical Almanzor, a real staying type of horse that I think will be better over further. “I’m not sure he’ll be winning on Saturday, but the mile will suit him better than 1400m. He’ll get up to 2000m not long after that, and I think that’s when you’ll see the best of him.” The Big Picture will attempt to continue a remarkable run for owner-breeders Humphrey and Fiona O’Leary, whose colours have been carried to black-type successes by Ladies Man, Whangaehu and Kelly Coe in recent weeks. “The Big Picture picked up a little bit of a bug after his last run, so we had to back off him for a bit,” Thurlow said. “He’s through that now and has been working along very well. “Rain-affected ground won’t trouble him at all. I think he should be quite a good chance on Saturday.” View the full article

This week’s Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) winner Real Class has been sold across the Tasman to Australian Bloodstock, but the promising filly may remain with her Byerley Park trainer Jenna Mahoney for a $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) campaign. Real Class has made a big impression in a career that spans only four starts dating back to early November. She finished eighth on debut at Pukekohe before scoring a stylish come-from-behind win in a 1600m maiden at Te Aroha on December 8. The Vadamos filly went on to be a breakout star of the Christmas Carnival at Ellerslie, flashing home from last to finish third in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) before backing up for a dominant Sir Patrick Hogan victory on New Year’s Day. Those performances caught the attention of Australian Bloodstock, and the syndication powerhouse has now secured the three-year-old in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Melissa Robinson. “This filly has actually been on my radar since her maiden win,” Australian Bloodstock director Luke Murrell said. “We might have been able to pay a bit less to buy her if we’d managed to do a deal after that race. “But she went on to run well on Boxing Day, possibly against the pattern of the day, and then she won impressively when she stepped up to 2000m on New Year’s Day. They usually get run down when they have to take off that far from home, but she did a very good job to keep finding and win the race quite comfortably in the end. “She appealed to us as one of the better fillies over in New Zealand this year, and she has a bit of size and quality in her physique as well, which always helps with a staying type of three-year-old. “Melissa Robinson helps us with all the horses we purchase from New Zealand. We’ve used her for a few years now and had a bit of success together, and hopefully this filly will be more of the same. We’re only halfway there, but she’s got that black type now and looks like she’s got something to offer.” The New Zealand Oaks will be run at Trentham on March 22, with its stake doubling this season from $500,000 to $1 million. That significant increase could be a deciding factor in how long Real Class remains on New Zealand soil. “She’ll come across to Chris Waller’s stable in time, but we’ll just need to work out a plan around what our next step is going to be,” Murrell said. “We could bring her across to Australia early, or she could stay in New Zealand for a campaign centred around an Oaks. “At this stage, we might be leaning towards staying. The trainer’s done a great job with this filly so far. She paraded beautifully on New Year’s Day and performed accordingly. “With the higher stake that the New Zealand Oaks has now, it’s probably a bit more enticing for us to stay than it would have been previously.” The TAB currently rates Real Class a $10 chance for the New Zealand Oaks. She shares second favouritism with the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) winner Leica Lucy, while the Andrew Forsman-trained Hinekaha holds $8 favouritism. View the full article

Apprentice jockey Floor Moerman kicked off the New Year in the best possible fashion at Riverton on Wednesday when recording her first win in the saddle aboard Three Ninety in the Carriers Arms Hotel Summer Cup (2147m) for local trainer Ebony Turner. “It was really cool to get that first win,” the 24-year-old Dutch national said. “I just wanted to jump her out and find a nice spot, and it worked out really well. Coming around the bend, I thought I was going to pop around them, but the gap on the rail opened so we took that and she kept on going.” The win also continued a good day for Turner, with the result completing a winning double for the local horsewoman, and she was rapt to be able to give Moerman her first win. “It was cool to start the year off like that and then get my first double at my home track, which was pretty special,” Turner said. “She (Three Ninety) wasn’t the horse I thought would win it out of my stable, I was pretty confident with Caffeinated, but it was really nice for Three Ninety to get that win on the board because she has been knocking on the door for a while. She just snuck up the inside and it was really special. “It was amazing when she (Moerman) came in and said it (first winner). What a way to get your first win. “Three Ninety is quite a nice raceday ride so I thought she would be a nice ride for her and would give her a wee bit of a confidence boost, and it worked out quite well.” Turner said it is nice to be able to give apprentice jockeys a chance on raceday, and she was rewarded with a winning result. “They (apprentice jockeys) are the future of racing,” she said. “They are not going to get anywhere if we don’t put them on, so we have got to give them a chance. Floor proved that she is more than capable, and I am very excited to continue to support her and follow her through her career.” Hailing from the Netherlands, racing was never in the picture for Moerman when growing up, and she developed her passion for horses when competing in showjumping and dressage. “We don’t have racing at all back home,” Moerman said. “My family are into horses, we grew up with horses. I always used to ride showjumpers and dressage back home in the Netherlands.” Moerman was introduced to racing when she began to work for trainer Kit Brooks in Cambridge, and her interest was piqued to try her hand at riding. “Two years ago, I started travelling and I was on a working holiday visa,” she said. “I started up north with Kit Brooks breaking-in horses. I really liked racing and I wanted to get more into that and see a bit more of the country, so that is why I made the move down south and I ended up with Krystal (Williams in Canterbury).” Moerman is enjoying being based in the South Island and said she is able to take advantage of her location to see more tourist spots. “It is lovely. I can see a bit on my days off, which is good,” she said. Moerman will be hoping to add to her winning tally when she heads to Omoto on Sunday where she has three rides, including The Buffer in the Recreation Hotel Greymouth Cup (2000m) for her employer. She is looking forward to riding The Buffer on raceday once more, and the 60kg topweight will appreciate his rider’s four-kilogram claim. “I am really looking forward to him,” Moerman said. “I have had two rides on him so far and he is a stable favourite here.” Moerman is enjoying her time in the saddle in New Zealand and said she is planning to stick around for a while yet. “I am on a working visa at the moment, which is for four years,” she said. “I will see how it goes but I am not planning on leaving anytime soon.” View the full article

Riot And Rose (NZ) (Pins) gets the chance to add another regional feature to his summer body of work at Geelong this Saturday. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding is one of the leading contenders for the day’s feature, the A$300,000 Coastal Classic (1700m). The son of Pins won the A$100,000 Wodonga Cup (1590m) on November 30 and A$150,000 Werribee Cup (1600m) on December 8 before a sixth placing in the Listed Lord Stakes (1600m) at the Caulfield meeting run on the Heath track on Boxing Day. Riot And Rose was noted by Racing Victoria vets to be lame coming out of that A$175,000 event, but Coleman said he had bounced back from that quickly and that performance was not a true indication of the way the horse is going. “I think you put a complete line through that, he had excuses that day way the race played out,” she said. “Asking him to come around the field and make up that much ground around the Caulfield Heath was sort of mission impossible. “But he seems like he’s come through it well.” Although seven years old, Riot And Rose has faced the starter just 16 times, seven of which have been victories. Linda Meech, who has been aboard for the past three runs, retains the ride at Geelong, where Riot And Rose is $4 second favourite in a market headed by last year’s winner Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor) at $3. View the full article

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will launch a two-pronged attack on the feature event at Te Aroha on Saturday when he lines up consistent galloper Maldini and promising stayer Harlow Rocks in the Lockwood Coromandel Peninsula Thames Cup (1600m). Pike is pleased with both of his stable runners leading into the event, although he cautions that last season’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) runner-up Harlow Rocks is still in the early stages of her current preparation after recovering well from a knee injury that halted her three-year-old campaign. “I think both of our horses in the Thames Cup will race well as they have been working up nicely and will enjoy the big, roomy track at Te Aroha,” Pike said. “Maldini comes in off a nice run for third over 2100m at Te Rapa before Christmas. He is a horse that has needed time and patience as he can get very keen in his races, and he did at his last start but still made up good ground in the run home. “Dropping him back to the mile will suit and as long as he can relax and not overdo things mid-race then he can be in the finish. “Harlow Rocks is a very promising stayer who has had a decent spell after she suffered a knee injury last season. “She had an operation and has had a long, slow build-up for a return to racing. “Although she ran last of seven first up over 1400m, I was pleased with how she went as she needed to get a race under her belt after such a long layoff. “The mile at Te Aroha will suit her better but she is probably still a race away from her best form. I just want to see her getting home strongly as there are some nice races for her on the horizon in the late summer and autumn. “She has the black type placing to her name so the goal now will be to add a stakes win to her pedigree page.” Pike is looking forward to seeing promising juvenile filly Justice For All step out for her raceday debut in the first race on the card after two nice trial performances that include a win over 800m at Pukekohe last month. “Justice For All is a lovely Turn Me Loose filly that we think has a lot of natural ability,” he said. “She is not really a two-year-old type as she is a big scopey filly, but she has showed us plenty at the trials and it is a good time to get her underway. “I would like to think that the experience we can give her now will stand her in good stead for the autumn and then as a three-year-old next season.” Pike is also keen to see maiden galloper Urlar improve on a strong closing fourth at his last start when he steps out in the fourth race on the card, a maiden 1600m. “Urlar ran on well last time at Te Rapa and is knocking on the door for a win,” he said. “He was a very weak horse that has taken time to strengthen but seems to be coming to it now and if he can get cover from a wide draw (15) we would like to see him running home well again.” Pike also reported that smart three-year-old Poetic Champion had come through his win on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie in an open 1200m well and would now head to Karaka Millions night at Ellerslie on 25 January for the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m). View the full article

Only one part of Skew Wiff’s build-up to the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday has not gone to plan for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and it is a factor beyond their control. The Trentham track was rated a Soft6 on Friday morning, with MetService predicting heavy rain and possible thunderstorms and hail overnight. Any remaining showers are forecast to ease on the morning of the race. “We couldn’t be any happier with the horse, but we’re just a bit worried about that weather forecast,” Walker said. “She handles soft ground well and has a good record in those conditions, but if the forecast is right, it might end up being heavy. We wouldn’t be as confident in her chances if that happened.” The Telegraph will be Skew Wiff’s second start at Trentham, with both of those appearances coming at Group One level. She lined up in the Levin Classic (1600m) as a three-year-old two seasons ago, finishing a gallant second behind stablemate Romancing The Moon. Skew Wiff went on to prove her big-race quality by winning last season’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings and Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. As a five-year-old this season, she has added a third in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, a fourth in the Tarzino Trophy and a last-start second in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Matamata on October 2. Walker and Bergerson then decided to freshen the Savabeel mare up for a shot at the $550,000 Telegraph, in which she will be ridden by visiting Australian jockey Luke Currie and is rated a $5 chance in the TAB’s Final Field market. She shares second favouritism with Tarzino winner Grail Seeker, while Crocetti just shades them as the $4.50 favourite. “She has a very strong record fresh, so it made sense for us to set her for this race in that state,” Walker said. “We’ve been really happy with the build-up that she’s had. She was very good in her trial at Matamata (on December 20) and has continued to please us since then. That weather forecast is our only concern.” Skew Wiff will attempt to deliver another Telegraph triumph for her owner-breeders Waikato Stud, whose colours were carried to victory in the race in 1997 by their subsequent superstar stallion O’Reilly. Meanwhile, Walker and Bergerson also have two runners entered for Saturday’s Gr.3 Rydges Wellington Airport Phar Lap Trophy (1600m). This race was formerly known as the Anniversary Handicap, and Te Akau Racing has won it with Abidewithme (2014) and Belle En Rouge (2023). Their contingent in this year’s edition of the race is headed by My Lips Are Sealed, who was a $160,000 purchase by David Ellis at Karaka 2022 and has so far recorded three wins and three placings from a 15-race career. The daughter of Ace High recorded back-to-back wins at Matamata and Te Rapa in September, then placed in her next two before finishing fifth in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) on December 20. My Lips Are Sealed has won two of her three starts on heavy ground, and she was beaten by a nose by Still Bangon in last season’s Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) on a deteriorating Soft7 track at Trentham. “She’s one that we don’t think will have any problem with the conditions,” Walker said. “She gets through wet ground well and was beaten by a lip in the Eulogy on a very testing Trentham track last season. “I thought she was just okay in the Matamata Cup last start, but the track was quite firm by that point of the day and she does prefer having a bit of cut out of the ground.” Talisker was runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) last season and has shown promising signs with strong placings in both of his first two starts this season. “He’s come back in good form this time in, which has been really good to see, but he’s one that might be a bit of a doubtful starter with the weather forecast the way it is,” Walker said. View the full article

Wexford Stables are hoping their purple patch of form can continue at Trentham on Saturday where they will line-up three runners in two of the feature events on the card. Sassy Lass will start one of the best backed candidates in the Listed Lincoln Farms Marton Cup (2200m), while Waitak and Grail Seeker will tackle the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m). Sassy Lass has gone from strength-to-strength in a lengthy campaign that has resulted in four wins from 12 starts since March last year and she heads to Trentham off a fast finishing second in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) last month. “Sassy Lass has been up a long time but she has been remarkable in how she has just improved all the way through,” O’Sullivan said. “She has an amazing constitution and has taken everything in her stride without turning a hair. “With a little more luck, her winning record would be even better and last time she was desperately unlucky when held up until late in the piece before flashing home to get beaten a nose. “We have been very careful to take her along a race at a time and we won’t be doing anything different on Saturday. “The Marton Cup looks a very nice race for her and although she does hold a nomination for the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) later in the month, we won’t be making any decisions on a start there until we see how she goes on Saturday and crucially, how she pulls up afterwards.” O’Sullivan also believes both of his runners in the Telegraph are winning chances with the right run in transit, however, he cautions that the strength and depth of the field makes winning the race a difficult assignment. “This would be the best Telegraph field we have seen in years, and you do question whether your runners are up to it,” he said. “We believe they are, as both have worked up nicely and deserve to take their places in the race. “Waitak has been getting better and better, his work has been good and is suited by the track and the way the race is normally run with the speed on up front. “Grail Seeker is a mare we have been very patient with, and she is now developing into a very good horse that we hope to get long term rewards from. “We are mindful of not over taxing her as she had a fairly busy season, so we have deliberately spaced her races. “Her last trial was very good where she was finishing off nicely and as she enjoys the Trentham track, we think she can perform to expectations in a fresh state.” View the full article

Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor) has not won since last year’s Coastal Classic (1700m) and the Ciaron Maher stable is confident the race can again bring out the best in the gelding. The son of Almanzor will defend his title against six rivals in Saturday’s $300,000 event over the Geelong 1700-metre circuit. Despite not having won in 10 starts since his win under 53kg in the inaugural Coastal Classic, Holymanz is 60kg topweight for a race that does not have the depth of last year’s race. “He’s got to carry a bit of weight, but I think it’s pretty well spread in terms of what he’s up against,” Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said. “He’s been competing in better races and I would imagine it’s going to be his best opportunity to win this prep.” After winning at Geelong, Holymanz headed to New Zealand, where he ran fourth in the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) before returning to Australia to beat home all bar multiple Group One winner Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m). He has placed just twice in eight starts since, but one of those was last start in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield, won by stablemate New Energy (New Bay). That was over a month ago, on November 30, but he impressed when winning a 1000m Cranbourne jumpout on December 23. “He won the Coastal Classic and then we took him to Karaka, that bumped up his handicap and that’s made things trickier as well, but we’ve been very happy with the way he’s been racing, albeit not winning,” Turnbull said. Holymanz is one of two Coastal Classic runners for Maher, who also has Night Endeavor (Shalaa) engaged. The imported son of Shalaa finished off well when sixth of eight at his Australian debut, which was his first run since a tendon injury, and Turnbull said the Coastal Classic would bring him on for more suitable assignments down the track. “That was obviously over a trip that well below his best but he showed good sharpness,” Turnbull said of the Aussie debut. “Sometimes those rehabbers can come back pretty one-paced, but he doesn’t seem to have that at all. “Once we get him up to 10 furlongs, that’s when you’ll see him at his best.” Daniel Stackhouse has the ride on Night Endeavour, who has drawn barrier one, while Holymanz will jump from gate six with Saffie Osborne aboard. View the full article

This year has a long way to go to match the thrilling ride of 2024, but the Post has four wishes for the next 12 months.View the full article

Jordan Childs returns to the mounting yard on Cleo Cat after winning at Ballarat. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Unbeaten mare Cleo Cat will aim to extend her winning streak to six when she steps into black-type company for the first time in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) at Geelong on Saturday. Trained by Tom Dabernig, the four-year-old has earned her opportunity to tackle higher company following a determined victory against her own sex in Benchmark 78 grade at Ballarat on December 7. “We’re going to give her her chance to try and get some black type,” Dabernig said. “She looks pretty good, but this might be a different test for her. “But still being against mares, it’s worth a try.” The Warrnambool-based mare will jump from barrier six with Jordan Childs, who has guided her to her last two victories, retaining the ride. Cleo Cat is currently a $9.50 hope with Neds for the Listed Black Pearl Stakes. Horse racing news View the full article

Loch Eagle. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Kris Lees is optimistic about Loch Eagle’s chances in the $500,000 The Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast this Saturday, with the gelding starting as the race favourite with BlondeBet. The seven-time winner comes into the race on the back of a confidence-boosting victory over the same distance at Eagle Farm on December 14, marking his first win since claiming The Ingham (1600m) in December 2023. “He hadn’t won for 12 months, albeit he had been racing in pretty strong company, so he appreciated that drop in grade and got a bit of confidence,” Lees explained. “He’s probably in pretty well at the weights being a weight-for-age race. “He won that race last start on wet ground, which is probably his preferred surface, and now he’s had that conditioning run at that trip and I think he’ll run well again.” Jason Collett will take the ride, with the pair set to start from barrier four. Horse racing news View the full article

Skew Wiff will contest Saturday’s Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Only one part of Skew Wiff’s build-up to the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday has not gone to plan for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and it is a factor beyond their control. The Trentham track was rated a Soft 6 on Friday morning, with MetService predicting heavy rain and possible thunderstorms and hail overnight. Any remaining showers are forecast to ease on the morning of the race. “We couldn’t be any happier with the horse, but we’re just a bit worried about that weather forecast,” Walker said. “She handles soft ground well and has a good record in those conditions, but if the forecast is right, it might end up being heavy. We wouldn’t be as confident in her chances if that happened.” The Telegraph will be Skew Wiff’s second start at Trentham, with both of those appearances coming at Group One level. She lined up in the Levin Classic (1600m) as a three-year-old two seasons ago, finishing a gallant second behind stablemate Romancing The Moon. Skew Wiff went on to prove her big-race quality by winning last season’s Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings and Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. As a five-year-old this season, she has added a third in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, a fourth in the Tarzino Trophy and a last-start second in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Matamata on October 2. Walker and Bergerson then decided to freshen the Savabeel mare up for a shot at the $550,000 Telegraph, in which she will be ridden by visiting Australian jockey Luke Currie and is rated a $5 chance in the market with horse racing bookmakers. She shares second favouritism with Tarzino winner Grail Seeker, while Crocetti just shades them as the $4.50 favourite with Neds. “She has a very strong record fresh, so it made sense for us to set her for this race in that state,” Walker said. “We’ve been really happy with the build-up that she’s had. She was very good in her trial at Matamata (on December 20) and has continued to please us since then. That weather forecast is our only concern.” Horse racing news View the full article

Expatriate New Zealander Simon Dunderdale has claimed his maiden Malaysian trainers’ premiership, celebrating his most successful year based in Kuala Lumpur. The well-travelled Dunderdale, who trained in Turkiye for a decade prior to relocating to the Selangor Turf Club in the Malaysia capital eight years ago, prepared 73 winners in 2024, 26 ahead of his nearest rival HY Cheng. Nick Selvan finished third with 42 winners at a time where the trainers’ line-up at Selangor has an influx of former Kranji-based trainers following the closure of racing in Singapore in October. Dunderdale, who hails from Manawatu, won a Selangor Gold Cup, a Sports Toto and the four-year-old championship as well as training five winners in a day at one meeting and twice preparing a quartet of winners to cement his place at the top of the trainers’ table. Antipodean, a New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate, was a revelation for Dunderdale in 2024, winning nine of his 10 starts to emerge as arguably Malaysia’s most exciting horse, while his stablemate Military Flag, another NZB graduate, won five races for the calendar year. Antipodean and jockey Benardo Pinheiro after winning the Selangor Gold Cup. Photo: supplied As well as training the most winners in 2024, Dunderdale also had the highest winning strike rate of any trainer in Malaysia inside the top 20, running at 20.8 per cent with his stable of 60 horses, the maximum allowed at Selangor. Dunderdale, who also worked for four years in Macau before heading to Europe for an extended period, has a wide base of owners from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia and Hong Kong with his stable banking more than 1.6 million ringgit in prize money last year, almost double the amount won by any other trainer in the country. “I’ve had great support from my owners over the past couple of years which has enabled me to grow my stable and also consistently invest in new horses at live sales in Australia and New Zealand as well as at the regular online auctions,” Dunderdale said. “The prize money at Selangor is doubling in 2025, which makes racing in Malaysia a far more attractive option for owners, and I’m excited about what the future holds for the sport here after going through a difficult period during Covid.” Among Dunderdale’s recent haul of six at November’s NZB Ready to Run Sale was the $70,000 US Navy Flag half-brother to Group One-winning stallion Turn Me Loose. Premiership runner-up Cheng, who worked for John and Karen Parsons and Stephen Blair-Edie over a nine-year period, closed out 2024 by winning the local Gr.1 Penang Gold Cup (2000m) on Sunday with Lucky Magic, also an NZB Ready to Run graduate. Dunderdale’s compatriot Sharee Hamilton trained 35 winners for the year to finish seventh in the Malaysia trainers’ title. In an effort to raise the profile of the sport in Malaysia, meanwhile, the Selangor Turf Club will host a new 1 million ringgit Mile Championship for four-year-olds for the first time on July 20 this year, an aspirational race aimed at encouraging new owners to invest in young horses. Malaysia is a jurisdiction that has previously largely relied on a steady supply of aging tried stock from Singapore. View the full article

The Gary Clarke-trained Shakattak, with Jarrod Todd in the saddle, takes out the $40,000 Dabble Cup (1300m). Leading Darwin trainer Gary Clarke doesn’t necessarily enjoy seeing stablemates go head to head. With a condensed program during the wet season, which is basically the off-season in the Top End, there are occasions where he has no choice. That’s applicable on Saturday when Clarke’s Doc O’Connor, Patriotic King, Shakattak and Pharoah Magic clash in heat one of the Darwin Turf Club’s Summer Sprint Series over 1100m at BM76 level. All four horses have the form, class and credentials to claim victory, but Clarke’s preference would be to see the stablemates line up in a separate race. There have been occasions when Clarke has started numerous horses in the same race at this time of year. For the first Fannie Bay feature of 2025, Clarke has elected to start his quartet in the six-horse field and predicting the outcome is now the big question. “Splitting Gary’s runners isn’t easy as they’re all capable of winning, they’re good horses,” Thoroughbred Racing NT chief executive officer Andrew O’Toole said. “Over the years, Gary has had plenty of top sprinters such as The Captain, Captain Punch and Syncline, but those facing the starter this weekend boast plenty of quality. “Doc O’Connor has an excellent first up record and is a former winner of the Simone Montgomerie Lightning over 1000m on Darwin Cup Day. “Patriotic King has won three of his past five starts and once held the 1100m track record. “Shakattak won two races during Cup Carnival in July, and returned in September to overcome Jason Manning’s impressive Bon’s Pride. “Second behind Tubthumper on Melbourne Cup Day, Shakattak was less than half a length behind Bon’s Pride and Mr Cashman in third place over 1200m in late November. “Pharoah Magic continues to get better and better since arriving from NSW and in eight starts he has four wins. “The start is the key on Saturday in what should be an interesting betting race – I settled on Shakattak with no real confidence.” Clarke’s No.1 stable rider Jarrod Todd will partner Doc O’Connor, while Patriotic King was the early $1.70 favourite with horse racing bookmakers. “It’s no secret that Gary has a large stable,” O’Toole added. “Subsequently, he has won the Top End and Country trainers’ premiership for the past 12 years. “To be fair, Clarke’s nous, guile, talent and experience has contributed to his success – he has also won a plethora of feature races in the Territory.” Horse racing news View the full article

Races like the Jerome Stakes are considered preps for the Kentucky Derby (G1). But they are actually more of a test to see if a newly turned 3-year-old has what it takes to be a successful runner in longer and richer races in the new year.View the full article

Trainer Charlie Appleby saddles a strong pair, headed by Ottoman Fleet, in the Zabeel Mile (G2T) while last year's Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) hero Tuz looks to defend his title in the Dubawi Stakes (G3) Jan. 3 at Meydan Racecourse.View the full article

Breeders' Cup berths are on the line in a pair of top-tier races Jan. 4 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in South Africa when the Cape Town track stages the King's Plate (G1) and the Paddock Stakes (G1).View the full article

5th-Fair Grounds, $60,000, Alw (NW2$X), Opt. Clm ($50,000), 1-2, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:09.61, ft, 3 1/4 lengths. JUSTIQUE (m, 5, Justify–Grazie Mille, by Bernardini), named a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut for John Shirreffs, was a stakes winner and Grade II placed back in 2022 and added a pair of graded placings on the main track as a sophomore before a switch to the grass. Despite not getting her picture taken in eight tries over the surface, the $725,000 KEESEP yearling hit the board in the GIII Megahertz Stakes and GIII Royal Heroine Stakes and was last seen finishing sixth in the Osunitas Stakes last July. Among a handful of this owner's horses sent to Cherie DeVaux, Justique was the 4-5 chalk cutting back and returning to the dirt here. Hard held near the tail of this compact field down the back, Justique was given her head and made a menacing move three wide nearing the entrance to the stretch. Roused to the lead with a furlong to race, she drifted out fractionally but had 3 1/4 lengths on her competition at the wire. A half-sister to Mo Town (Uncle Mo), GISW, $519,600, and to the dam of SW West Memorial (Caracaro), Justique is out of a winning half-sister to SW & GSP Jaguar Paw (Giant's Causeway) and SW & MGSP Venetian Mask (Pulpit). The dam of an as-yet unnamed 3-year-old filly by the Gunther-bred Justify, Grazie Mille was most recently bred to Into Mischief. Sales history: $725,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 16-3-2-4, $282,540. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-C R K Stable LLC; B-John D Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. Justique moves to the Midwest and returns to racing a winner in R5 at @fairgroundsnola for trainer @reredevaux with jockey @jose93_ortiz in the saddle! TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ASY8OJnqNf — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 2, 2025 The post ‘Rising Star’ Justique Scores On NOLA Debut For DeVaux appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New Year marks a brave new world for California racing, with one circuit largely consolidated in the South. On New Year's morning, the TDN sat down with Bill Nader, president and CEO of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), to discuss this new landscape. In part one, Nader shared, among other things, how simulcasting monies redirected from the North could benefit tracks and purses in the South to the tune of $20 million annually. Here in part two, Nader discusses expectations about horse inventory, impacts on California's breeders, and Historic Horse Racing. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity. TDN: So far, it's been a real struggle to fill some of the races restricted to the Northern California horses and horsemen and women. Are you expecting that to be an ongoing struggle? BN: We'll see. This weekend, we'll see two races [restricted to the Northern horses] on Friday and then two on Sunday. On Sunday for the first time in over a year [for the Northern horsemen and women], you'll see an allowance race with a purse over $30,000. It was $26,000 at Pleasanton. Golden Gate had to reduce purses in the first half of 2024. We'll see how that race does. The closing day of Golden State Racing was Dec. 18. Their last two days of racing, their entry box was full-it was probably their biggest two days in terms of number horses that participated over their 25-day season. Pleasanton racing | Vassar Photography The landscape has changed quickly, so, for them to fully digest and really understand what was going on, I didn't expect for the first weekend much activity, especially with Dec. 26 being such a blockbuster day. From here on in, we get into a different pattern where it's more normal. With two races on Friday and two races on Sunday, we're going to look at participation. Our expectation is that would grow hopefully over the next weeks as we really get into 2025. TDN: Is any consideration being given to expanding the menu of races on offer at Los Alamitos to further cater to the Northern California horse population? BN: Not at this time. We we would need to have a statutory change to do that. Last weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, there were 23 horses from Pleasanton entered at Los Alamitos. So, it's happening more naturally. Horses are going there and running there. Santa Anita dropped the bottom [claiming race] to $5,000. Initially it was $6,250. And then in consultation with the horsemen up North, the decision was made that the floor should be $5,000. In fact, one of the races on Friday I believe is a $5,000 claimer. Again, in consultation with those in the North, the bottom price for a maiden claiming is now $8,000. That mirrors what it was up North. With that, it covers a large percentage of the horse population up North at Santa Anita. Los Alamitos can cater to some of the other horses. So, we think we pretty much have blanket coverage at this point. But we'll keep an eye on it and see, you know, with the participation rate. Is it working? Does it make sense for both sides as a win-win proposition? TDN: One of the concerns that trainers raised about this new arrangement is the wear and tear on horses traveling up and down the state. In July of 2023, The Stronach Group outlined a $30 million plus investment package for its SoCal properties – proposals that would be extremely beneficial to horse health and welfare. This included an equine swimming pool, barn improvements and horse exercisers. Several of these projects were supposed to have been completed by now. The synthetic track is obviously done. But what about all the other promised improvements that would greatly benefit your constituents and the horses in general? BN: I don't know if the swimming pool is still on the table. Obviously, the Tapeta track has been a big benefit. Now with the travel stipends and the relocation allowance, I know there were some discussions with some trainers up North that will be coming down-those are private discussions with Santa Anita. But everything else, I think we're still waiting to see how those plans actually develop, given that everything seems to be changing pretty quickly. Hong Kong racing | HKJC I looked at races today, on Jan. 1 in Hong Kong, and there were 51 horses entered that had been stabled at Conghua [training facility] since their last start in Hong Kong, that were coming down to run. That is on average a 6 1/2 hour trip each way. For those horses and trainers that do that, they have operations in both places. They move from one to the other. Here, if they come down and stay, and I know this from my time in Hong Kong, doing barn area improvements at Santa Anita becomes a little bit more complicated. To do that work, you need to free up stall space by moving horses. Then there's noise mitigation. TDN: At the same time, would you agree with the many horsemen and women here that improvements to the Santa Anita backstretch are desperately overdue? BN: That's something we'll have to continue to dial up from a 360 view about what we can do. But the focus now has shifted to, 'how do we cater to the population in the North? How do we use all resources efficiently and effectively to keep horses in California?' TDN: What can you share about plans to introduce Historic Horse Racing machines at California tracks, as a possible alternate source of revenues? BN: When we look at 2025, I think where we're going now, I do think there's a great message to get out in that we seem to be moving in the right direction. The single circuit delivers upside to purses, and helps to eliminate all the concerns that we've had over the past several years regarding purse payments, so we can get our financial house in order. But that still doesn't eliminate the need for the big bang secondary stream of income that would come from something like HHR. That still has to be our top priority. But we're still in the early stages in terms of strategic thinking. I can't give you specifics as to when, but there would need to be a very layered approach as to what's necessary. For example, I would expect that we would need to go back to the CHRB [California Horse Racing Board] one more time and get another second set of approvals before we could even consider a soft launch. TDN: What would a soft launch look like? BN: Initially, what the request was forty machines, which is very soft launch for a place this big [Santa Anita]. Really, Santa Anita has done the real work in developing the plan. TDN: Do they have buy-in from Tribal entities? BN: That's the part that's still missing. We're a long way off because those discussions really have not entered the stage where I can really give you a good answer. But yes, you would think you would need some kind of an agreement with the Tribes to be able to launch this thing with the certainty that it's sustainable. TDN: Talking of sustainable, how do you see this one circuit program impacting California breeders? BN: If the buy-in is there and the participation is there and the single circuit works. They can come down now and run in restricted races for higher purse money, with cost of stable and training and transport being picked up. So, the value proposition is as enticing as it can possibly be, and that protects the breeding industry. There are still the opportunities in California. If those races don't fill and there's lesser opportunities… Santa Anita all-weather track | Benoit I mean, the ideal situation would be to expand Santa Anita to a four-day week. We've talked about making 15 races a week available to horses in the North. Now, in order to get 15 races to fill at this stage looks like a tall pass. It's early days. But the effort is being made to deliver as many races as possible for the industry. With the redirect, once we get rid of the purse overpayment, purse money is going to come up. If you look at Santa Anita, and using your scenario where the fairs continue to be in operation, if there's $6 million more in purse money over a, say, 90-day season, that's a considerable increase to purses. And that will benefit California breeders, too. Everybody sees upside. TDN: Finally, what's California racing going to look like when we sit down here in a year's time? BN: We will definitely be stronger in 2026 because I think the overpayment at Del Mar will be gone. The overpayment at Santa Anita will be in check. And Los Alamitos as well. We're going to start reversing that trend that we've experienced over the last three years–we're going to start coming back up. Where we are with that secondary stream of income, I think we will have a much clearer picture of whether it's achievable or not by 2026. To that, I can't give a clear answer. But I would expect that as you look to Jan. 1, 2026, all three tracks in the South are going to be in a much better position than they were at the start of this year. TDN: Will horses still be stabled at Pleasanton in a year's time? BN: I don't know. That's a question for Alameda County Fair. The post Bill Nader Q&A Part 2: 40 HHR Machines “Soft Launch For Place This Big” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article