Wandering Eyes

5th-GP, $94K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:00 p.m. ET. A $525,000 Keeneland September grad, DRY POWDER (Gun Runner) is set to be unveiled for Gold Square and trainer Chad Summers. The filly's dam Tell All (Broken Vow) was purchased in 2021 for $240,000 from the Pin Oak Stud consignment by Corser Thoroughbreds while the first-time starter was in-utero. Dry Powder's second dam, SW Whisper to Me (Thunder Gulch), produced MGSW Overheard (Macho Uno). Also making the barrier for her debut is Midnight Myth (More Than Ready), who went for $550,000 during the Keeneland September Sale. Owned by Morplay Racing, Joey Platts and Lady Sheila Stable, the Jose D'Angelo trainee is out of GSW Fioretti (Bernardini). Midnight Myth's extended female family includes GISW Fault (Blame) and SW South Bend (Algorithms). TJCIS PPS The post Gun Runner Filly No Flash In The Pan On Debut At Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Find out what trainer says their charge has been “prepared to perfection” for the Irish Lincolnshire The Irish Flat season kicks off at the Curragh on Sunday and boy are we ready for it. The opening two-year-old maiden has been won by some top-notchers down through the years, including Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who went on to bag a breakthrough Group 1 success for the Amo Racing team. There is no shortage of intriguing runners in this year's race, with first-season sires Space Blues (Ire), Lucky Vega (Ire), Ubettabelieveit (Ire) and Supremacy (Ire) represented by their first Irish runners in the 5f contest. The feature race of the day is the €100,000 Irish Lincolnshire, where 2022 winner Raadobarg (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) will be bidding to regain his crown. However, the task is far from a straightforward one, with Raphael Freire's charge coming up against younger gun Gleneagle Bay (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who according to his handler Stephen Thorne, has been “prepared to perfection” for the race. Robson Aguiar Says Power Blue “Not Far Off” Previous Winners Robson Aguiar | Tattersalls Adrian Murray is bidding for his third successive victory in the opening Castle Star At Capital Stud Irish EBF Maiden [1.40] and the trainer's right-hand man Robson Aguiar revealed that Power Blue (Ire), the mount of David Egan, is likely the pick of the Mullingar-based handler's trio. Successful 12 months back with Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) and in 2023 with Bucanero Fuerte, Murray is also represented by Leblon Beach (GB) and Stonezilian (Ire) in his quest for three-in-a-row. Aguiar commented, “Power Blue is a really nice horse. There is a lot of Dubawi (Ire) about him, which makes sense because he is a son of Space Blues and he is out of a Worthadd (Ire) mare. He's in good form and hopefully he will win the race. I think he is a good horse but sometimes they don't put their best foot forward on debut. If he puts his best foot forward, I think he will win.” He added, “Leblon Beach is a nice filly as well and I think she will go close. She only cost £5,000 but I like her a lot. She's by Ubettabelieveit, who is by Kodiac (GB), and he won a Group 2 for Nigel Tinkler. The Kodiac cross with Dark Angel (Ire) works very well and we think she's nice. Stonezilian will run well and will get a nice education. I think Power Blue is not far off Arizona Blaze and Bucanero Fuerte.” Meanwhile Lucky Vega, who is already up and running Down Under, will be represented by the Josh Halley-trained Zaltan (Ire). He was picked up for €37,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and is set to be ridden by Seamie Heffernan on debut. Bolger And Coakley Bidding For Best Possible Start To New Alliance There was a time when Jim Bolger farmed the opening two-year-old maiden of the year. His most recent success came in 2021 when Missing Matron (Ire) (Vocalised) made most of the running while Bolger also sent out high-profile horses like Dawn Approach (Ire) [in 2012] to success. The master of Coolcullen relies solely on Slaney View (Ire) in this year's contest, with the Mehmas (Ire) filly set to be partnered by Ross Coakley, who moved back home to Ireland from Britain to ride what Bolger says will be “a good few” of his horses this season. Bolger said, “I think our record in this race has been shattered in recent years! Slaney View will win her maiden anyway and sure if she wins on Sunday we'll take it. She's the first Mehmas we've run and I like her anyway. I mean, Mehmas has a great record, hasn't he? I'd be a fan of him.” He added, “I'm on record as saying Dawn Approach was a cocky young fella who was starting to get above himself. I had intended to keep him for May and then look towards Royal Ascot but we needed to get his back down, and that's why we ran him on the opening day of the season. Sure, the rest is history. We won't have enough winners this season to justify having a number one jockey but Ross will ride a good few of ours.” Thorne Says Gleneagle Bay 'Has Been Prepared To Perfection' For Irish Lincolnshire Stephen Thorne: has a lot of confidence in Gleneagle Bay | Tattersalls Stephen Thorne is not someone you would describe as a shrinking violet. But after sending out 15 winners since taking out his licence late last year, the trainer has plenty to shout about. The native of Dublin will be hoping to take out the biggest pot of his career on Sunday when Gleneagle Bay (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Independent Expert (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) line out for the Irish Lincolnshire [3.45]–and Thorne is confident that the former can do the business. “I'm hoping that Gleneagle Bay is the one to beat on the form book but it's a big-field handicap and anything can happen. We booked Colin Keane for this two weeks ago. He rode the horse in a gallop at Leopardstown and seemed to be impressed by him. We have him prepared to perfection as far as I'm concerned. My only concern is the ground as he would prefer better going but I think he'll cope with conditions. “Since we gave him a break over the winter, this horse has turned inside out and, even if he only reproduces his last run [when second in a C&D premier handicap in November] he should be in the shake-up. Independent Expert, who placed in an Irish Cambridgeshire, also worked at Leopardstown and she could be a nice addition to the team as well.” O'Callaghan Has High Hopes For New Addition One of the more interesting three-year-old maidens in the country, Copacabana Sands (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}) makes her stable debut for Michael O'Callaghan in the 7f maiden [3.10] and ought to go close. Copacabana Sands posted an eye-catching effort when third in the valuable Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final for former handler Diego Dias and O'Callaghan says that he is looking forward to unleashing his new recruit on Sunday. He said, “She's a nice filly who we happened to acquire in the spring. Her run at Naas caught my eye and I thought she might improve with experience and racing. When she matures and grows up a little, she might have a little bit of talent. Very happy with her since she has joined us and we're looking forward to starting her off. I think she'll run a nice race. I actually think she'll get a mile when she starts to relax and settle. She thinks she's a sprinter but I don't think she is.” O'Callaghan operates a unique business model in that his 40-box yard is never full on the opening day of the season. Far from it, in fact. The Kildare-based trainer has proved to be a dab hand at sourcing quality stock from the breeze-ups sales and, while he admits to finding that market tougher and tougher to compete at, says he plans on restocking again at the upcoming sales. He explained, “For a long time, I was able to identify the value to be gotten at the breeze-ups before the masses did. That has changed now and the value of breeze-up horses has soared. The business model might have to change a small bit–you need to evolve and change. Obviously the market has become extremely strong so, in order for me to still be able to compete in that market, I need to get good orders from owners. “But the breeze-ups suit me because I am dictated by the level of stock I have on the team because it's very much a commercial operation that we run here. We own a lot of the horses ourselves. Your stock level dictates when you can buy horses and there have probably been years that I had stock left over in the autumn by the time the yearling sales were taking place so it didn't make sense for me to be going investing at those sales. When you cut your cloth to suit the business model, I suppose you do get labelled somewhat as a trainer, but I'd like to think I can train whatever I have. A case in point came last week when Positive Energy (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), a horse we sourced in an online sale, won his maiden hurdle at Navan for us. You're always trying to identify different angles as to where you can find value.” O'Callaghan added, “There was a time when you could find a horse at the breeze-up sales that would win an Irish maiden for €50,000 but now that horse is making €150,000 or more. Then the breeze-up horses that look as though they could be Listed class or above, they are making €300,000 or more. The market has become harder to compete in but Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) only cost £28,000 and he won a Molecomb Stakes. Black Forza (Complexity) was not crazy expensive either at £220,000 and he won the Richmond Stakes. It is harder–because people have a lot more confidence in the breeze-ups and the pool of buyers is bigger–but it can still be done and we'll still be there this year. Somebody asked me the other day if I had any good two-year-olds and it made me think that I didn't have Steel Bull, Black Forza, Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) and any of those other good horses we sourced from the breeze-ups in my yard at this time of year so we won't panic yet anyway.” Twomey's Admiral Churchill Should Be Too Strong It's well-documented that Paddy Twomey puts a huge amount of emphasis on keeping his statistics high. In other words, he only runs them when he thinks they're going to win or at least go close to winning. Therefore, Twomey can be fancied to get the turf season up and running with a bang with Admiral Churchill (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) holding obvious claims in the 1m maiden [4.20]. Bought for €200,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale last year, Admiral Churchill ran twice as a two-year-old, including when second in a 7f Galway maiden last July. He is fitted with the visor for his return and, despite the presence of former Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner A Dream To Share in the line-up, should take plenty of beating. Twomey said, “He's a nice horse who came from the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale. He stepped up on his debut effort to finish a good second in a Galway maiden last year and we left him alone after that. After he finished second at Galway, and considering he had been through the whole breeze-up process, I just felt he had enough done. He's a fine horse and he's training well.” The post Five Things To Look Out For At The Curragh On Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Former Willie Mullins trainee Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) made the best possible start to his Southern Hemisphere career, eking out a narrow victory in the 2000-metre G3 Sky High Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. The chestnut defeated Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (video). Now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for Australian Bloodstock after a reported A$2 million sale, the gelding was a two-time G1 Melbourne Cup starter for Mullins. Bott was happy with the effort and Vauban is expected to point toward the G1 Tancred Stakes, which he has garnered favoritism. “A 36 degree day today as well will help him acclimatise pretty quickly,” Bott said. “It's been a fantastic job for him. I guess he was probably meant to be at Cheltenham at the moment, it'd be much cooler there for him. It's amazing how he's come here and he obviously came over, well recognised in Australia starting as favourite in two Melbourne Cups. “He obviously brought plenty of form and talent and ability from there. I wasn't sure how sharp we could get him and it's hard to gauge over the shorter trials here. I was really impressed by that today. “I think today's been a real positive experience for him. I think he'll walk away with a lot of confidence off the back of that and I think we can see him continue to settle in and hopefully just adapt to the way of going down here.” “We'll head to the Group 1 next start – the Tancred Stakes over 2400 metres. I think that'll be a great race for him and then we decide what we do off the back of that.” Vauban is also early favourite for the 2025 Melbourne Cup. The post Vauban Off The Mark In Australia For Waterhouse And Bott appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sardinian jockey hops back aboard Pierre Ng’s import for city’s most prestigious race and rates him a strong chance.View the full article

Graduates of the Goffs Orby Sale are eligible to win €1 million in bonuses across the UK and Ireland during the 2025 Flat Season. The announcement marks an expansion of the Goffs Two Million Series to the UK. Bonuses of €50,000 will be paid to the winning connections of 10 juvenile contests in Ireland and 10 in the UK as part of the Goffs Two Million Series. The list of nominated races is now available to view here on the Goffs website. The Goffs Two Million Series is open to 2-year-olds that were catalogued in the 2024 Orby Sale Books 1 and 2, and declared eligible by payment of the qualification fee. The initial list of races runs from Mar. 16 until mid-June, and Orby graduates will have opportunities to win at 11 racecourses in Ireland and 22 in the UK, including on the opening day of the Flat this Sunday at the Curragh and in the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday, Mar. 29. The second draft of races will be confirmed as the season progresses. All yearlings in the 2025 Orby Sale, which takes place on the revised sale dates of Sept. 29-30 for Orby Book 1 and Oct. 1-2 for Orby Book 2, will also be eligible for a guaranteed prize fund of €2 million in 2026. Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said, “The Goffs €1,000,000 Bonus Series gives Orby buyers as many opportunities to win as possible and we look forward to seeing graduates compete for these hugely valuable prizes right from the start of the season. “Building on its success in Ireland last season, we are delighted to extend the bonus series to the UK this year, an initiative that sparked a significant increase in buyers qualifying their purchases for the series at last year's Orby. “Of course, Goffs Two Million Series also features Europe's Richest Two-Year-Old Race, the Goffs Million, which provides a wonderful focal point on the eve of the Orby Sale with prize money to 10th place. Momentum is expected to carry straight into this year's sale which kicks off a day earlier than originally scheduled, on Monday 29 September. “Securing even more major international buyers is our mission for Orby 2025. We are increasing investment in our VIP program while the Buyer Attraction Team are travelling the world earlier than ever to lock in those game changing clients. The €1 Million Bonus Series will support this goal by creating even more opportunities for the team to be on track connecting with buyers throughout the season.” Nominations are now open for the 2025 Orby Sale. The post €1 Million In Bonuses On Offer For Orby Grads, as Goffs Two Million Series Expands To UK appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Untapped three-year-old headlines master trainer’s three-timer at Sha Tin on Saturday, adding to his premiership advantage over David Hayes.View the full article

Seven-year-old mare Electric Belle (NZ) (Power) has yielded a bumper pay day for trainer Reece Goodwin and his owners in the A$250,000 Country Mile Series Final (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Kiwi-bred daughter of Power came from well-back under a well-timed ride by Damian Lane to land the most lucrative victory of her career, with the mare now the winner of seven races with 13 placings and a total of A$478,635 in prizemoney. The mare has proved a nice hand-me-down, winning five races for Alex Rae as a city-class mare after transferring from the late Ray Cleaver and Goodwin. They have reaped the rewards after purchasing Electric Belle via Inglis Digital for just $5,000 last September. While Lane has ridden some of the most blue-blooded horse flesh around the globe, he won Caulfield feature races on McGaw (I Am Immortal), who was a $14,000 purchase and brought up a double on another modest buy. “It’s amazing. As I touched on earlier, it’s what everyone who races horses dreams about is these sorts of races,” Lane said. “Reece Goodwin, to take a chance on a tried horse and have her going so well this late in her career, it’s just credit to him and how he gets his horses going and keeps them up firing for so long and she’s just been a model of consistency all preparation. “It’s just his attention to detail. He knows his horses. He’s very straightforward. He keeps things simple, and I think the horses appreciate that.” Lane said the strong speed suited the adaptable Electric Belle. “I just wanted to ride her with an open mind. She’s a horse who has raced well running on from the back, and I also put her on speed last start. To have a horse like that, you just need to be open-minded, ride the race as it comes; they went quick early in the middle stages, and I just thought this is going to work out perfectly. “I went out with an open mind without expecting probably the solid speed for so long and as it turned out, it worked in her favour.” By Power out of the four-win Danroad mare Kool Gal (NZ), Electric Belle was bred by Kara Waters, who along with partner Shane Crawford, runs Regal Farm in Cambridge. Electric Belle was presented by Regal Farm at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, where she failed to meet her $30,000 reserve before crossing the Tasman. View the full article

Mighty seven-year-old mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) was back doing what she does best on Saturday, when running her rivals ragged to land the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield. The Ciaron Maher-trained triple Group One winner signed off on her spring campaign in disappointing fashion when finishing last in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) after suffering a bleed. After a subsequent enforced layoff, the Trelawney Stud-bred mare returned a winner first-up for the first-time in her career. Under new rider Craig Newitt, Pride Of Jenni adopted familiar front-running tactics that saw her stretch her rivals mid-race, with only Zardozi (Kingman) making some late in-roads but never threatening when just under three lengths away in second. “The team have done a great job, as have Tony and Lynn (Ottobre, owners). She had a couple of months down there (at Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud) spelling and then a little bit of time ticking over,” Maher said. “She’s only had a short prep, but we thought would change tack a little bit. She hadn’t won first-up, and normally she goes in the toughest races, usually seven furlongs. We thought we’d stretch it out and she’d get it a little bit easier and fortunately it’s worked out really well. “She’s getting a little bit softer each season when she comes back which also enables you to kick her off over 1800m. “Because she puts so much into every run, she’s remarkable how she just keeps doing it. The two months enforced holiday was probably a blessing in disguise. “We had to re-think her prep a little bit and all her data was as on par or better than before.” Maher said there were plenty of options for the mare with a tilt at the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) possible, while Sydney options include the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) or the Gr.1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m). Winning rider Craig Newitt was full of praise for the mare and her owners for racing her on, despite some commentary about retirement. “I think the biggest thing today was the small field. It wasn’t really going to generate a lot of tempo, so from barrier three, I just held my line the first couple of furlongs until I got up the hill because I knew if I got the first sort of eight or nine hundred metres right, her ability to take care of the rest, whether she fatigued or not late, she was always still going to take a power of beating,” Newitt said. “Tony actually said to me before I went out, try not to use the stick on her. But I had to give her one top of the straight just to switch her back on because she turned for home and she just completely relaxed underneath me. I thought she might have just been starting to fatigue a little bit, but I put one round her tail and she dropped a gear and disappeared.” A daughter of Pride Of Dubai, Pride Of Jenni was bred by Trelawney Stud and is out of the O’Reilly mare Sancerre (NZ), who was prepared by Cambridge trainer Tony Pike to win on four occasions for the Stud. The star mare stems from a family fashioned over generations at the famed Kiwi nursery, which has been in the Taylor family’s ownership since 1993, having been established by Seton Otway in the 1930s. Group Two winner Real Success (Sucess Express), the taproot of star Trelawney Stud graduates Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel), Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins) and Pride Of Jenni and many others around them was one of the first families the Taylors bought into upon taking ownership of Trelawney. Pride Of Jenni was sold at the Sydney Classic Sale for A$100,000 through the Segenhoe Stud draft, where she was purchased by Tony and Lynn Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud. Sancerre has a two-year-old filly by Per Incanto which has been retained by the Taylors named Pouilly Fume (NZ). The mare foaled a filly by Hello Youmzain last spring, which unfortunately died, but she is back in foal to the young Cambridge Stud stallion who has made a promising start with his eldest just two. Pride Of Jenni has now won nine of her 36 career starts with a further 12 placings, and has amassed A$10,336,290 in prizemoney View the full article

Grande Gallo (NZ) (Belardo) collected her third win from four starts at Tauranga with a narrow victory over three-year-old Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the Triton Pacific Owens Plate (1200m) on Saturday. The daughter of Belardo won the three-year-old race on the undercard of this same Japan Trophy meeting 12 months ago, which has proved to be a strong form reference for the 2025 edition. Grande Gallo won that race by two lengths over You Say D’Orsay (Under The Louvre), who also returned a year later on Saturday and won the Stu Cundy Bayleys Country & Lifestyle (1400m). Grande Gallo has been lightly raced since that Tauranga victory last autumn, with Saturday’s $50,000 open sprint being only her third start as a four-year-old this season. She was a brilliant winner over 1200m at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, then returned there last month for an unlucky eighth over 1400m. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott dropped Grande Gallo back down to 1200m on Saturday and struck gold. Grande Gallo and jockey George Rooke settled in fourth among a six-horse field as Miss Rockette (NZ) (El Roca), Pow Wow (NZ) (Power) and Pitkin County (Lonhro) pushed forward to contest the lead in the early stages of the race. Things changed quickly coming into the home turn as Grande Gallo and Yaldi launched their bids from off the pace. This season’s Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) winner Yaldi lengthened stride and loomed ominously down the outside of the track, while Grande Gallo burst through a narrow opening closer to the rail. That pair drew away from the rest of the field to fight out a head-bobbing finish, which Grande Gallo won by a half-head. “The plan was to sit outside the leader, but she wasn’t the best away,” Rooke said. “So we settled a bit further behind and she travelled beautifully. There was half a gap in the straight, and she made it a full gap. I was impressed with the way she changed gears and then put her nose down to get the result.” Grande Gallo was bred by Haunui Farm, who offered her in their Book 2 draft at Karaka 2022. She was bought by Wexford Stables for $85,000. The four-year-old has now recorded five wins and a placing from a 12-start career, earning $182,475 for a big syndicate of owners. “She loves Tauranga and seems to get around here particularly well,” Scott said. “George did a good job to get her into that hot lane two or three off the fence, where a lot of winners have been today. That was key. It was a very good effort to beat Yaldi, who got out in the open in the straight and appeared to have every chance to get past her. “Hopefully she’ll keep stepping up from here. She’ll love the autumn ground, so this shouldn’t be her last win this preparation. She’s a big, robust mare who can handle all sorts of conditions. “This is a great result for a massive group of owners, who will celebrate it well. “There’s a nice fillies and mares’ race here a bit further down the track. We’d love to bring her back here for that.” That potential target is the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m), which will be run on June 21. View the full article

Ricky Yiu’s consistent galloper continues his fruitful season with victory in the Class Two Kowloon Tong Club Trophy (1,600m).View the full article

By Adam Hamilton The fascinating juggle for slots and runners in the $1m Race by betcha at Cambridge on Friday, April 4 has taken another twist. Moments after the connections of emerging Kiwi star Tact McLeod last night announced a change of plans and they would bypass the race, negotiations for a replacement sparked into action. In the late hours of last night, a deal was done where the slot owned by Victoria’s Matthews Family (owners of Catch A Wave) would be sold to Michael Brennan Racing. The Matthews Family originally bought the slot to run their eight-time Group winner Catch A Wave in, but changed heart last week and instead opted to set him for the $1.25mil Nullarbor in Perth on April 25. The deal was done for Tact McLeod to take his place. But last night’s twists opened the door for emerging South Island pacer Pinseeker to land a slot. Michael Brennan Racing, driven by Josh Davine, quickly confirmed the Jonny Cox-trained Pinseeker would run in the slot after his sparkling Addington free-for-all win last night. Pinseeker won by three-and-a-half lengths in a 1min55.5sec mile rate for 1980m, capped by closing splits of 54.8 and 27.6sec. The five-year-old son of Downbytheseaside has raced just 20 times for six wins and nine placings. “He was super impressive last night and it’s great for Jonny (Cox) and Kimberley (Butt) to get a crack at a race like this,” Davine said. Andy Gath, speaking on behalf of the Matthews clan, said: “It’s all turned out really well. Josh (Davine) was really proactive.” This shapes as by far the strongest Race by betcha yet with Aussie stars Leap To Fame and Don Hugo leading the way. Top Kiwi hopes include: Merlin, Don’t Stop Dreaming, Republican Party and awesome young mare Duchess Megxit. The Race by betcha, along with the $600,000 TAB Trot, will be run at Cambridge on April 4. View the full article

Iowna Merc arrives in time to claim the Group 2 Ajax Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Iowna Merc ($10.00) and Willaidow ($7.50) hit the line locked together in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, with the former narrowly getting the verdict in a tight finish to the $300,000 feature. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding has gone to another level in this preparation, with the son of Winning Rupert securing his fourth win of the season and now has a free ticket into the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) provided they chose to head that way. It was a gritty win by the talented five-year-old, with he and Willaidow racing to the top in the early stages, and the race didn’t change complexion from there, with Pericles () and Ducasse () failing to make any inroads after lobbing on the pairs back throughout. It was Joshua Parr and Iowna Merc getting the head down where it matters most in the end, however, with the Baker gelding adding an eighth win to the resume. Baker was on course at Rosehill as an Australian citizen for the first time to discuss the win and couldn’t have been happier with the effort. “The race worked out well but he had to carry a big weight and he is now a Group 2 winner,” said Baker. “I am very lucky to be here. It’s the greatest country in the world with the best racing and I don’t say that lightheartedly. It’s been a very special place for me and my family. I did turn into a true Aussie – the day after my citizenship ceremony I had a sleep in! “Murray, any time he had a good horse he would bring it out. He loves Australia I think more than I do in some ways. He never won a Doncaster but he has done a lot better at the Championships than I have anyway.” Joshua Parr then spoke post-race. “Isn’t it remarkable,” said Parr. “He’s so lightly framed. He’s a big tall lad like me, I feel like I can wrap my legs around him two times. He’s got a big heart and a lot of will to win. “Interestingly Willaidow under pressure started to sneak down to the inside and my bloke followed him too. We were both trying to stay off the fence but as it turned out we fought it out the two of us down on the inside there and lucky for me we got the victory.” Iowna Merc is now a $26 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 5. Horse racing news View the full article

Chris Waller‘s outstanding filly, Lady Shenandoah, continued her Group 1 success with a narrow victory over stablemate Firestorm in the 2025 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. “Pre-race it wasn’t perfect, it’s a warm Rosehill day, and she had a good sweat which scared me a little, but it was a great ride from […] The post Coolmore Classic 2025 Results: Lady Shenandoah Narrow Winner over Firestorm in Waller Quinella appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Lady Shenandoah and James McDonald after winning the Group 1 Coolmore Classic. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Lady Shenandoah ($2.70) has continued her rise to stardom, claiming back-to-back Group 1 victories, as she surged clear to secure the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. The daughter of Snitzel chalked up her third Group 1 victory in only seven career starts on Saturday, storming over the top to stamp herself as one of the best fillies in Australia. The Chris Waller barn had initial plans to send her around in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) early on the program, however, the decision was made early in the week to send her around against the older horses. It was Manaael () looking to make every post a winner in the early stages, while Lady Of Camelot ($5.00) was restrained with no luck to sit on the three-wide line throughout the journey. Amelia’s Jewel () appeared to get every chance on the leaders’ back along the inside running rail, meanwhile Firestorm ($14.00) was one of the last ones turning for home. Lady Shenandoah was pulled out to the centre of the course by James McDonald and looked set to put them away stylishly, however, Firestorm and Lady Of Camelot wouldn’t go away, with the star three-year-old lifting in the concluding stages to secure a gritty victory. Chris Waller was on track to break down the win before suggesting the paddock may beckon for the ultra-talented filly. “Pre-race it wasn’t perfect,” said Waller. “It’s a warm Rosehill day, and she had a good sweat which scared me a little but it was a great ride from that draw to get into the spot that he did and that certainly saved a bit of petrol for late. “The good fillies that we have had just kept getting better and better and better. “She’s already there. So our job is to try and get her to that next level again – repeat success at Group One level. It’s not going to be easy for her and some of those great horses that we have had have been later maturers so I don’t like to compare – but Winx wasn’t doing this at this age. “I do tend to change my mind a little bit as I’m getting older. I would say it is highly unlikely but I will speak to the owners – with due respect to them of course – and work out what she needs to do to be right in the spring.” James McDonald then spoke after jumping off the star filly. “She’s pretty good,” said McDonald. “She’s doing the right things anyway. She wasn’t entitled to win, she was all out at the 100m, and she was worked up prior to the start which was a bit of a concern. Just whether that was her home track. But we were able to take a couple of minutes where she took a breath around at the start. “She began well and fitted in and showed her quality fighting spirit. I think that she is a fast filly and as she gets older and starts filling out into her frame I think that she will come back in trip and be even faster.” Horse racing news View the full article

Eagle Nest winning the Group 3 Maurice McCartin Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained Eagle Nest ($6.50) has made every post a winner to claim victory in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, fending off the late challenge of Time To Boogie ($4.40) and Pisanello ($2.30) in the concluding stages. Rachel King sent the daughter of Shalaa to the top from barrier 10, taking luck out of the equation aboard the resuming five-year-old mare as she looked to dictate terms throughout the 1100m journey. She was hardly left alone out in front as Coal Crusher () sat to her outside, while Time To Boogie utilised the inside draw of barrier one to sit on her hinds every step of the way. Pisanello was smoking to the pipe in behind the genuine tempo to get the last crack at his rivals under Zac Lloyd, while Felix Majestic () bombed the start under Josh Parr and was forced to make inroads from a long last turning for home. It was a grandstand finish as Eagle Nest, Time To Boogie and Pisanello went to the line locked to together, however, it was Eagle Nest getting the head down where it matters most to secure her sixth career victory. Sterling Alexiou was on course at Rosehill to discuss the win. “It’s really pleasing,” said Alexiou. “She’s a really bonny mare. She gives you everything. I didn’t think she’d get the front as easy as she did, but when she did, I was quite confident she was going to reach be really hard to beat and she really dug in late. “The more and more I looked at it, I sort of talked myself out of going forward, but she’s a really, really fast filly. She loves the 1100m at Rosehill and we just said to Rachel (King), if she begins well, press forward, let your intentions be known and take the race by the scruff of the neck. “It’s really pleasing for the stable. It’s been a great, great day for all the staff and our owners and looking forward to a few more wins with her actually. “The plan with her was she’ll go to the Chairman’s Sales. So we’ll just have a look what’s around for her – possibly a Sapphire Stakes, but they might want her out at Newgate to get her ready for the mare’s sale. She’s going to be a nice purchase for someone.” Rachel King was delighted with the performance as she spoke post-race. “She’s great at this distance and first up and she said that little bit of a freshen up,” said King. “She felt super when I trialled her the other day. When she jumped like that and I looked across and there was already nearly two lengths in front straight away it was an easy decision made (to lead). I got a beautiful little mid-race breather into her and she was really tough late. “She just wanted to get a bit closer to the horse on my inside because I knew if she could really get it in her eyesight, she would dig in and she really did. I thought it had us beaten and was going to get past her but I felt her lift when it did get head and head. “I think I did pretty much eyeball her and go head and head. So it was a really good effort and good training effort from the team.” “She’s all heart. She gave me everything today. She got in a beautiful rhythm and kicked hard late.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Yarra Valley Cup Day 2025 Where Yarra Valley Racing – Armstrong Grove, Yarra Glen VIC 3775 When Sunday, March 16, 2025 First Race 12:40pm AEDT Visit Dabble Country Cup racing in Victoria heads to Yarra Valley on Sunday afternoon, where the Yarra Valley Cup (1950m) headlines the eight-race meeting. Plenty of rain is forecast for race day, meaning the Good 4 track rating at the time of acceptances is unlikely to stand true. The rail will stick to its true position, with the opening event set to jump at 12:40pm AEDT. Yarra Valley Cup Tip: Claidheamh Mor Despite being first-up from a 45-week spell, the Gemma Rielly-trained Claidheamh Mor represents great value with horse racing bookmakers in the 2025 Yarra Valley Cup. A three-time winner when fresh from a spell, the son of Dundeel is set to get conditions that will suit him perfectly. He has three wins and a second from four runs on Heavy decks, with one of those coming when first-up into a campaign. Drawn in barrier one, Carleen Hefel will look to dictate terms throughout, and if Claidheamh Mor is ready to strike first-up, he will take some catching. Yarra Valley Cup Race 7 – #1 Claidheamh Mor (1) 6yo Gelding | T: Gemma Rielly | J: Carleen Hefel (58kg) Best Bet at Yarra Valley: On Broadway On Broadway has not done much wrong through his two-start career and third-up into her initial campaign; the 1950m looks ideal. The three-year-old filly looks to be a bit of a dour one-paced stayer, and from barrier four with Craig Newitt on board, the plan looks simple: jump, lead win. ‘Froggy’ Newitt should get a relatively uncontested lead out in front, and if he can have his rivals off the bit on the home turn, On Broadway will prove too hard to run down. Best Bet Race 1 – #8 On Broadway (4) 3yo Filly | T: Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans | J: Craig Newitt (57kg) Next Best at Yarra Valley: Watch Capital Watch Capital caught the eye when flashing home late after missing the start over the 1000m at this track on February 22. The on Capitalist budled the start, but the fact he finished 1.6 lengths off the winner suggests he was worth following. John Allen will look to stalk the lead from barrier four, and as long as Watch Capital jumps better from the barriers, he has the superior turn of foot in the race and looks hard to hold out. Next Best Race 2 – #4 Watch Capital (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Mitchell Freedman | J: John Allen (59kg) Sunday quaddie tips for Yarra Valley Yarra Valley quadrella selections Sunday, March 16, 2025 2-3-5-7-8 1-3-4-5-6 1-2-4-5-6-8 1-2-6-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Mcgaw ridden by Damian Lane wins The Showdown at Caulfield. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Emma-lee & David Brown have taken out The Showdown with Mcgaw (+500), thanks to a peach of a ride from Damian Lane in the 1200m contest at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. The son of I Am Immortal backed up his impressive debut victory with a tough win in the feature to give the trainers their first success in the $1 million race. Befuddle (+2200) jumped smartly from her barrier to take up the lead from the race favourite with horse racing bookmakers, Killiana (+150), while Damian Lane slowly crossed from the wide gate to eventually settle outside the leader after 200m. Very little changed throughout the contest, with two of the top three settling at the front of the field, which allowed the jockeys to run the race to suit themselves. As the leaders went past the 300m mark, Killiana had dropped off the leading duo, leaving them to fight out the race, while Chergui (+1200) weaved his way through traffic and started to take ground of the leaders. Lane asked for the ultimate effort at the 200m pole, and Mcgaw continued to find, edging clear of Befuddle to claim a half-length win, with Chergui flashing home to nab third place ahead of Killiana. 2025 VOBIS Platinum Showdown replay – Mcgaw https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Caulfield-2025-The-Showdown-15032025-McGaw-Emma-Lee-David-Browne-Damian-Lane-.mp4 Emma-lee Brown spoke to the media post-race. “That was highly exciting. A bit lost for words really,” Browne said. “We bought this horse and just thought hopefully it will win a race, and obviously when he won his first race he’d already won back his purchase price. “And we have the best crew of owners, they’re all friends. They’ve been big supporters of us, they have social times with us. “They’re an amazing group and just to get that result is massive. “Damian’s been a great part of our story in Australia already. “Great supporter of our team, brilliant rider. Especially when he said I’ll stay for the Showdown, I thought, “oh here’s a go!” Damian Lane was just as happy with the win. “Everything racing a horse is about, isn’t it?” Lane said. “A cheap buy with great people. David, Emily, and they won a million-dollar race. “So it’s what dreams are made of from an ownership point of view, and it’s really rewarding when you can provide a result like that. “He’s very raw and he’s really not sure still. “He’s a bit of a big kid. He goes to the barriers trying to take off and jump different coloured patches on the grass. “So to be able to do what he’s doing race day, hopefully that means that with natural progression he can improve and hopefully, like Emily, see where he goes in the Spring.” Horse racing news View the full article

Lazzura winning the Phar Lap Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Chris Waller & Tommy Berry have combined with Lazzura ($4.00) to claim victory in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, giving Waller his seventh win in the $300,000 feature. The daughter of Snitzel put the writing on the wall last time out, finishing third behind Lady Shenandoah in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on March 1, with team Waller electing to dual accept for the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) later on the same program. The choice to head towards the Phar Lap has paid dividends in a race that failed to change complexion throughout the 1500m journey, with Lazzura sitting outside the leader every step of the way as Flying From Above was forced to take up the running. The pair weren’t breaking any records in the early stages as Melbourne raider Wonder Boy () was able to slot into the one-one from gate five, while James McDonald restrained Declichy Boulevard (2.40) to the rear of the field from stall seven. They were all set a task chasing Lazzura as they turned for home, with the three-year-old filly giving a bold kick in the final furlong as Wonder Boy and Declichy Boulevard were left to fight out the minor placings. It was a dominant win and a reward for consistency, as Lazzura claimed her third win at the start eight. Chris Waller was on course at Rosehill to break down the win of his talented filly and where to next. “Tommy (Berry) took the luck out of the equation by popping outside the leader,” said Waller. “They weren’t going overly quickly, and even when he sat outside the leader, it wasn’t pretty fast. She’s done a good job, showed great acceleration, and backed up some good form from the last two runs behind some top fillies. Click here for all Rosehill race replays. “I’ll have a chat to the owners. They are pretty cool customers, but they’ve got a fair idea about racing, and I guess it’s all about value-building. Possibly to the Queen of the Turf. “We’ll keep our powder dry for probably four weeks and have a look at a race like that over a mile. So that’s one of the options. “It’s been a good race to us (Phar Lap) and it’s a stepping stone for the future. A good example is this filly. She’s been third behind some very good fillies throughout her career and in particular this preparation. “It just gives her a little bit of confidence: ‘Okay, I can go out there and do it myself’. So that’s what I see the race as. It’s a race that says, ‘Okay, I’ve had a step back from Group 1 level; I’ve got a chance to do it myself, and I’ve done it’. Hopefully she can step off that.” Tommy Berry spoke post-race and credited Waller’s decision to scratch Lady Shenandoah to chance Group 1 glory later in the programme. “I didn’t even have to give Chris a call to scratch Lady Shenandoah. So that made her job a bit easier today,” said Berry. “You feel sorry for horses like this, and you just hope it doesn’t dint their confidence chasing good horses around all the time. “I think that says a lot about her attitude. She came here, and she was very full of herself today, and halfway around when I got an easy couple of sectionals.” “She hasn’t been in a race with a slow tempo like that since the first start where she could show that turn of speed. That turn of speed’s been dragged out of her by good horses. So a very good effort for her.” Lazzura is now an $11 chance with Bet365 for the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf on April 12. Horse racing news View the full article

Vauban after winning the Group 3 Sky High Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Vauban ($9.00) has come with a withering burst to claim the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, defying a big betting drift prior to the jump. The son of Galiway was making his debut for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn on Saturday after being transferred from the Willie Mullins camp, and the former Melbourne Cup favourite was unwanted with horse racing bookmakers after sweating up badly behind the barriers. It was all one-way traffic in betting prior to the jump, with Lindermann heavily backed into , and was expected to make every post a winner after taking out the same race 12 months ago. The Chris Waller-trained gelding was able to dictate terms to the small field of six, strolling to the lead under the urgings of Nash Rawiler, while Arapaho () was able to get into the ultimate stalking position behind the leader. Tim Clark was happy to bide his time at the rear of the field aboard Vauban, allowing the seven-year-old to settle in the run after being unable to do so in his first two Australian starts. Rawiller pulled the whip aboard Lindermann and put four lengths on his rivals with 400-metre left to travel, with Arapaho the first to make headway in the home straight. The pair looked to fight out the finish; however, it was the fast-finishing Vauban putting in the big strides at the 200-metre pole, with the European import launching over the top to claim his first win since August 2024. An elated Adrain Bott was on course to discuss Vauban’s barrier manners and what’s next for his talented stayer. “Obviously we’ve had a bit of time now to work through that,” said Bott. “That was sort of part of the reason for bringing him to so many racecourse gallops, exposures, and trials. “As much as we can give him that exposure and get him used to the conditions here as possible. A 36-degree day today as well will help him acclimatise pretty quickly. “It’s been a fantastic job for him. I didn’t mind that he got a bit sweaty today. I was pre-empting that he would. “Group One next start—the Tancred Stakes over 2,400 m. I think that’ll be a great race for him, and then we decide what we do off the back of that.” Tim Clark echoed a similar sentiment to Bott, getting Vauban to relax in his races the key to success. “We’ve been working behind the scenes to keep him as calm as possible,” said Clark. “Although we didn’t see him quite execute that in the yard, that’s probably just him a little bit; we’ve got to get used to that. For him to do what he just did, what a remarkable win and a fantastic training effort by Gai and Adrian.” “In the run, he relaxes really well and goes to sleep. You can put him anywhere. That’s probably the good thing; he uses a fair bit of energy in the yard, but in the run he conserves a lot of energy.” Vauban is now an equal favourite at for the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) on March 29. Horse racing news View the full article

A week after Blake Shinn’s rail-skimming masterclass to guide Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) from last to first in the inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m), Ryan Elliot followed a similar script to help Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) triumph in Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. The $150,000 feature was a step down in class following a string of high-class summer assignments for Waitak, who has contested 10 Group One races in his 30-start career. The Proisir gelding had gone winless since taking out the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) in January of 2024, but he but has subsequently run eighth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), ninth in the A$5 million The Quokka (1200m), fourth in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), fifth in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), third in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m), third in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m), second in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m), ninth in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), sixth in the Railway, fourth in the BCD Group Sprint and a strong-finishing sixth in last month’s Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m). Waitak looked well placed on Saturday even with his 58kg topweight and wide draw, and so it proved – with a bit of help from Elliot. Riding Waitak for the first time, Elliot was in no hurry coming out of the gates and was happy to settle a long way off the speed in second-last. The only horse behind him was Dionysus (NZ) (Ocean Park), who was detached from the field after blowing the start. Leroy Brown (NZ) (Ace High) put the handlebars down and strung the race right out, leading by upwards of six lengths coming down the side of the track. The leader rolled off the fence rounding the home turn, and Elliot spotted a golden path along the rail. Waitak never went around a horse, bursting through the inside as the in-form Taranaki raider Herbert (NZ) (Sweet Orange) tackled a tiring Leroy Brown. Herbert briefly took the lead at the 200m mark, but then Waitak charged past him and powered clear, opening up a winning margin of three lengths. Herbert held on for second, a length in front of Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) and Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh). “I got a good run along the inside in the Kiwi last week (on the fourth-placed Sought After (NZ) (Tivaci)), but I never knew Blake was going to come through underneath me like he did,” Elliot said. “I thought I might try to do the same thing today. “Not many horses are going wide and making up much ground today, so we tried our luck and it paid off. “He travelled fine all the way. He’s a big old horse who gets into his rhythm, breathes well and finds his stride. He just needs a bit of room, and then away he goes. “He’s the sort of horse where a lot of his performances say ‘next time, next time’, but he’s done a great job today. “It’s good to get a Group winner in these Wexford colours. I’ve hardly ever ridden for them before, but I’ve been doing a bit of work for them here and there and it’s starting to pay off.” Elliot’s ride earned high praise from Waitak’s co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan, whose own glittering career in the saddle earned him induction into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. “That was some win, and what a ride by Ryan,” O’Sullivan said. “He was a long way off them, and coming through the inside proved to be the winning of the race. The horse won with a bit in hand as well, which was great to see.” Bred by the late Colin Devine and raced by his widow Jill, Waitak has had 30 starts for five wins, nine placings and $860,237. He has been a quality performer over a range of distances, from his 1200m heroics in last year’s Railway to his second in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) as a three-year-old two summers ago. “I’m just thrilled for his owners,” O’Sullivan said. “The horse has been running terrific races, but has been plagued by a fair bit of bad luck this season. It was good to see him get his chance today and do what he did. “He’s super versatile. He’s been performing well over the shorter trips lately, but we just ran out of options there and Andrew and I elected to run him over a bit further again. It’s just a great result today.” View the full article

Smart middle-distance three-year-old King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) will get another chance at Classic success following a strong second-up victory in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1900) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainer John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. The son of Tivaci (AUS) was beaten just over four lengths when seventh in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) in the spring having placed in the Gr.2 Vase (2040m) at The Valley and will target next month’s Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). Ridden by Zac Lloyd, King Of Thunder came from midfield on the fence and presented centre track shortly after rounding the bend, comfortably staving off older rivals All In The Mind (Alhebayeb) and Lincoln Rocks (NZ) (Road to Rock) to record his second career victory. The Benchmark 78 has been used to good effect by Derby prospects in recent years, with Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel)finishing fourth in it before winning the blue-ribbon event two years ago, while the O’Shea-trained Benaud (Reliable Man) did something similar (fifth) and ran second in the Derby. “It is a race we have traditionally used over the years in the lead-up to the Derby and it has provided a good guide,” O’Shea said. “The fact that this bloke has been able to win with a decent weight for a three-year-old is very, very encouraging second -up. “He is a genuine stayer. “He will head to the Tulloch (Gr.2, 2000m) next and all going well into the Derby. It is extremely pleasing for our team and the ownership group.” King Of Thunder is a graduate of the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, purchased by John O’Shea Racing for $50,000 from the draft of Ohukia Lodge. Bred by Pippa Chittick and Waikato Stud, King Of Thunder is out of the stakes-placed Zabeel mare Sheezababe (NZ), runner-up in the Listed New Zealand St Leger (2500m), who in turn is out of Gr.1 Syndey Cup (3200m) winner Honor Babe(NZ) (Honor Grades) . King Of Thunder is a half-brother to the highly talented Impecunious (NZ) (Sacred Falls), who placed in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). Saturday’s triumph was the gelding’s second victory from eight starts as he advanced his career earnings to A$205,425. View the full article

Consistent galloper Orlov (NZ) (Sweynesse) picked up his ninth career victory when he took out the feature event on the Wanganui card, the Carpet Maintenance & Cleaning Open (2040m), in the process providing trainer David Haworth with a winning double on the day. The seven-year-old son of Sweynesse had enjoyed a purple patch of form towards the end of his autumn campaign last season and early in his current preparation he was narrowly beaten by Group One performer Whangaehu (NZ) (Proisir) in the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m). Unplaced at his next three starts he bounced back to winning form with a vengeance on Saturday as he produced a strong staying effort to down race favourite Tshiebwe (NZ) (Tarzino) in a dour struggle over the final 300m of the contest. Rider Kate Hercock, who had earlier scored aboard the promising Cut Loose (NZ) (Derryn) for Haworth in the second race on the card, was content to bide her time third last in the field of seven runners before setting out after pacemakers Tshiebwe, Kick On (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Heart Of Gold (NZ) (Niagra) who had poured the pressure on at the 600m. Despite giving Tshiebwe 6kgs in the handicap, Orlov proved too good for his lighter weighted rival in the concluding stages, winning by a comfortable length with Duncan Creek (NZ) (Super Easy) battling on well for third. Haworth had been looking for an improved performance from his charge although he had been prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt at his last two unplaced runs which were over 1600m, a distance unsuited to the stayer. “He won well today and we’re very pleased with him,” Haworth said. “His work at home had been good and I was quietly confident of a good showing. “We just haven’t been able to get a suitable race for him as the races have been called off a few times, so back to a track he likes and over a bit more ground, I was expecting to see him in the finish.” The two victories also took Haworth’s overall career record to 495 wins and tantalisingly close to the coveted 500-win milestone, something he is keen to achieve. “Five hundred wins is something I really want to do and I’m keen to tick that goal off as soon as I can,” he said. “I’ve only got five in work at the moment but I think both of the horses that won today have more in store in the next couple of months, so hopefully they can get me even closer to that target.” Orlov is raced by a group including his trainer, who co-bred him, and is the first foal of Diamond Cut (NZ), a daughter of Guillotine, who won four races in a truncated 13-start career that was curtailed by injury. He comes from an extended family that includes multiple Australian Group One winner Stony Bay (Dahar) while he also traces back to outstanding gallopers Romanee Conti (NZ) (Sir Tristram), Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel) and champion New Zealand two and three-year-old Darci Brahma who went on to a stellar career at stud following his outstanding racetrack performances. Orlov has now won nine of his 39 starts and just under $215,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Venerable galloper Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) provided a feel-good story for all concerned when he became trainer Glen Thompson’s first solo victor since the recent shock passing of his co-trainer Mike Moroney. The seven-year-old son of Mongolian Khan proved too good for his rivals in a tactical five-horse field when scoring a comfortable three-quarters of a length victory in the DCE Handicap (2400 METRES). Under the guidance of jockey Daniel Stackhouse, Bankers Choice sat outside leader Le Don De Vie (Leroidesanimaux) and applied pressure from the 600m to establish a winning break and ultimately run out a ready winner in a sedate 2:31.26. With Thompson in Sydney with Group One galloper Coeur Volante (NZ)(Proisir), it was left to long-time stable representative Anthony Feroce to receive the plaudits in a tonic for all at Ballymore Stables. “That’s fantastic. We had Mike’s memorial on Tuesday and we’ve got the funeral on Monday and that’s just a lovely way to start the day,” Feroce said. “It’ll be great for Glen. He’s a trainer in his own right now, so it’s a great start and he’s up in Sydney there with our mare in the Coolmore Classic.” Feroce said Bankers Choice had only once been tried over 2400m previously and that was when runner-up in the Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m). “Our plan in the spring when we brought him back after a long break was to set him for the Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m),” Feroce said. “I remember chatting to Mike about it. His only run at 2400, he ran second and behind us was Duke De Sessa (Lope De Vega) (subsequent Gr.1 Caulfield Cup winner). “I said, let’s plan to get him to the Caulfield Cup. We got to the Turnbull (Gr.1, 2000m) and he was going terribly, so we had to change plans. “Going forward from here, our thoughts are we might just give him a bit of a freshen up and head to the Warrnambool Cup (Listed, 2350m). He does like wet tracks, so that could be an ideal race for him.” Winning jockey Daniel Stackhouse was thrilled to ride a winner for Thompson and said Moroney had been a big supporter when he relocated from New Zealand to Australia. Glen’s done such a great job since Mike’s passing and also that was for Mike. He was a big supporter of mine as soon as I moved over to Australia. He gave me a good go and a good opportunity, so it’s nice to keep rewarding the stable,” Stackhouse said. “I thought we got it quite moderate and quite easy. I just wanted to get on my bike and get going and take the rest off the bridle. He’s a fit horse, I knew what I had underneath me. I knew he would keep going.” Bred and raced by South Waikato farming couple Ross and Corrine Kearney under their Okaharau Station, Bankers Choice won five of his ten starts for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh before a majority interest was sold to clients of the Moroney stable in a private transaction. Out of the Conatus mare Signorina (NZ), Bankers Choice is a full-brother to the highly talented three-year-old Checkmate (NZ), a Listed winner and third-place getter in last week’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). Bankers Choice is also a half-sister to seven-time winner and Group Two placegetter Jodelin Gal (NZ), a daughter of Swiss Ace. With eight wins and eight placings from 44 starts, Bankers Choice has been a great money spinner for connections, amassing A$1,294,752 in prize money. View the full article

Classy three-year-old Love Poem (Snitzel) overcame a wide barrier draw and her tenacious stablemate I’m All In (NZ) (Zoustar) to score fresh-up at Tauranga in the J Swap Contractors 3YO (1200m). The Stephen Marsh-prepared filly hadn’t been seen since finishing a meritorious fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton back in November last year. Given a decent summer break by Marsh, the Group One placed daughter of Snitzel was fitted for her raceday return when finishing hard held in behind Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) and Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) in an open 1100m trial at Taupo last month. Under assessment for a potential autumn campaign in Sydney, Love Poem made a strong beginning for rider Matt Cartwright and sat outside I’m All In as the Marsh pair dominated proceedings from the front. Rounding the home bend, they slipped clear to stage a titanic, stride for stride battle that went in favour of Love Poem by a neck at the winning post. Marsh was delighted with both runners and is keen to test Love Poem at stakes level in Sydney in the coming weeks. “I was hoping (the finish) was going to be like that as it was a great struggle with six lengths back to the third horse,” Marsh said. “They are two nice three-year-olds who certainly didn’t let us down. “She (Love Poem) will head to Sydney now where her first race will be in three weeks over 1200m at Randwick. “After that there is another three-year-old fillies 1400m we are also looking at. “The second horse (I’m All In) also went super and he will pick up a win at short notice” Marsh was referring to the Gr.3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) that will be run on the first day of the Star Championships at Randwick on 5 April while the Gr.3 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m) is held at the venue a fortnight later. Racing in the colours of Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Love Poem was bought by Bruce Perry for A$280,000 as a yearling in Sydney. She is a half-sister to the classy Ciaron Maher-trained mare Estriella (I Am Invincible), whose 13-start career has so far produced five wins headed by the Gr.2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m). Their dam, the Lonhro mare Madrigals, is a full sister to multiple Group One winner and quality sire Pierro. Love Poem placed in last season’s Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m), Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m), and has continued that trend during her three-year-old season with placings in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). She has now won two of her eight starts for just over $251,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Trina Riddell and her daughter Amber shared a memorable victory at Wanganui on Saturday when Mr Mojo Risin’ (NZ) (Deep Field) romped home by almost five lengths in the $50,000 Wanganui-Taranaki Racehorse Owners Association Open (1340m). Mr Mojo Risin’ is trained by Andrew Forsman, who had a busy Saturday with runners at both Tauranga and Wanganui. The Cambridge trainer sent his senior staff member Trina Riddell south to oversee the stable’s Wanganui runners. Riddell’s daughter Amber was entrusted with the ride on Mr Mojo Risin’, with her 3kg claim reducing the proven black-type performer’s weight to 52kg. Amber Riddell played her role to perfection, pushing Mr Mojo Risin’ forward from the inside gate to take the lead. They held out the favourite and expected leader Amend (NZ) (Wrote), who was unable to cross in front of them and ended up posted on their outside. Riddell had Mr Mojo Risin’ travelling smoothly throughout the race, then pushed the button at the home turn and her mount took care of the rest. The five-year-old son of Deep Field dashed away from his four rivals, opening up a winning margin of four and three-quarter lengths. It was the 22nd win of Amber Riddell’s promising riding career and her second winner for the Forsman stable. “That was a really easy win,” the 23-year-old said. “Andrew asked me to go forward and lead, and we managed to get there pretty easily. I didn’t want Amend to be able to cross me, so I was keen to hold my spot on the fence. “He’s just done it so easily. He settled beautifully and then kicked really well.” Trina Riddell was equally delighted to see that pre-race plan pay off. “I was too nervous to watch, but he won really well in the end,” she said. “Andrew didn’t give Amber too many instructions. We knew Amend was likely to go forward, so Amber wanted to kick up on his inside. It worked out well.” Bred and raced by Jomara Bloodstock, Mr Mojo Risin’ has now had 22 starts for five wins, five placings and $245,189 in stakes. He has proven himself across the Tasman, winning at Moonee Valley in November 2023 and running second at Flemington the following June. The gelding has enjoyed some of his best form around this time of the year. His autumn campaign 12 months ago began with a fourth placing behind the subsequent dual Group One winner Provence (NZ) (Savabeel), followed by back-to-back wins including the Listed Anzac Mile (1600m) at Otaki. Mr Mojo Risin’ is likely to make his presence felt in feature-race company again this autumn, with the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham on March 29 and a defence of his Anzac Mile crown on April 25 appealing as potential targets. “This horse has had two campaigns in Australia, so Andrew has always thought quite a bit of him,” Trina Riddell said. “He was a bit disappointing first-up (sixth at New Plymouth on February 1), but we expected him to perform a lot better today. “He’s a nice little horse. I think he can pick up another nice race in the autumn. He’s in good form and he goes alright with a bit of the cut out of the ground.” View the full article