Wandering Eyes

You know what they say about trotters in form and Premium Player continued his brilliant run with a West Coast hat-trick at Reefton yesterday. And those who had backed the Father Patrick four-year-old at Westport on Boxing Day and December 28 were rewarded when he won again, paying $7, with an emphatic victory in a strangely run Dawsons Hotel Reefton Trotters Cup. The Gavin Smith-trained trotter won by three lengths for driver John Dunn. Premium Player settled three back the fence, before being sent forward to take the lead. He then trailed behind El Conqueror before Tu Tangata launched a bid three wide. With all the action out wide Premium Player got a sneaky run on the inside before clearing out by three lengths. Against the likes of Paul Nairn-trained stablemates El Conqueror, Masterly and Tu Tangata it was a decent step up on what he’d raced against at Westport. “He did it!” was the post on the Gavin Smith Racing Stable’s Facebook page. “Proud of our wee fella winning all three days of the coast circuit, he’s such a neat horse to have around.” “Great reward for (stable client) Ted Edwards who puts a lot into the game. “Thanks again to the Dunns and Diamond Racing for taking him over for us with a textbook John Dunn drive to get the hat trick.” It was Premium Player’s fourth win in 19 starts. Th Matt Purvis-trained Piccadilly Pete was in the running for a hat-trick himself in the Rosco Constructors Reefton Pacers Cup after winning on both days at Westport for driver of the moment Sam Ottley. The favourite started off 20m and had to bide his time as Teds Legacy settled three back the fence before pushing onto the lead. Piccadilly Pete then launched turning for home and looked to be a real chance before Teds Legacy and trainer-driver Jim Curtin rallied and and held on by a length from Dennis Denuto and Piccadilly Pete in third. Curtin had a driving double on the day, also winning with Signal Hill in Race 1, the Speights Trot, as did Ben Hope with Franco Elvis and Blue Rock Dancer for his parents Greg and Nina Hope and Kyle Cameron with Opawa Peak and Carrera Kahu. View the full article

Pierre Ng and Beauty Waves after sealing Group 3 glory. Photo: HKJC Hong Kong runs two Group races over 1000m at Sha Tin each season, and trainer Pierre Ng is aiming to sweep both contests with Beauty Waves (131lb) when the smart sprinter lines up in Wednesday’s HK$4.2 million Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m). One of three entries for Ng across the Group 3 double-header, Beauty Waves showcased serious potential with victory in October’s HK$4.2 million Group 3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin – one of four wins for the speedster in Hong Kong – before he was a luckless sixth in December’s HK$26 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). The son of Starspangledbanner boasts a steadily rising rating of 103, and faces five opponents in this week’s Bauhinia Sprint Trophy: Howdeepisyourlove (135lb), Magic Control (125lb), Whizz Kid (122lb), Harmony N Blessed (121lb) and Awesome Treasure (115lb). Ng is wary of Cody Mo’s Magic Control, who boasts a victory over Wunderbar – the only horse to defeat the Group 1-winning Ka Ying Rising not once but twice. Magic Control has since finished first in a barrier trial by nine lengths over the 1000m turf course at Sha Tin. “Beauty Waves was a bit unlucky in the straight last start. This time he’s running over 1000 metres. We have Hugh Bowman on him, it’s a small field and hopefully he runs well or can even beat a very good horse – Magic Control,” Ng said. “He’s done well after his last race.” Wednesday’s card also features the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m), where Ng fields Taj Dragon (120lb) and Drombeg Banner (115lb), as he aims to enhance his championship-leading 26 wins this term. Taj Dragon won the 2024 running of this race and goes for his seventh course and distance success after finishing 10th in the HK$36 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) behind Voyage Bubble last outing. “It’s much more suitable for him to be in Group 3 under handicap conditions. Luckily, we have California Spangle running and carrying top weight, so Taj Dragon carries a lighter weight. Over this distance and with this weight – I think he’ll be very competitive,” Ng said. California Spangle (135lb), Beauty Joy (129lb), Red Lion (122lb), Healthy Happy (115lb), Patch Of Theta (115lb), Chiu Chow Spirit (115lb), Green N White (115lb), Tomodachi Kokoroe (115lb) and Fantastic Treasure (115lb) round the Chinese Club Challenge Cup field. Drombeg Banner won first-up this season and shapes as a pace angle from barrier 11 for Ng. “He’s running really well, especially in his last few races with heavy weights. He gets a light weight now and he’s a good, consistent horse,” Ng said. Trainer Tony Cruz is weighing up dodging Ka Ying Rising in next month’s HK$13 million Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) by instead stepping back up to the mile for the HK$13 million Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) – both races are run on 19 January, 2025 at Sha Tin. “There’s the mile and the sprint. I might go for the mile instead; we can’t beat Ka Ying Rising. He’s too classy, that horse,” Cruz said. “I’m very happy with him (California Spangle), condition-wise he is very good. I’m happy with everything about him.” Green N White has five wins over 1400m at Sha Tin and chases a sixth in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup for trainer Ricky Yiu, who said: “It’s a big task for him. He’s out of the handicap, but in saying that, I still think he will run a good race. “I’m not saying he might win but he will be close, I’m really happy with him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Race 1 RIPPLE CREEK DUAL CODE & RTL MAIDEN 2000m STU DARCI (T Comignaghi) – Trainer Mr. J Phillips advised Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of STU DARCI, and it is his intention to carry on with the gelding’s current preparation. The post Tapanui Racing Club @ Gore, Sunday 22 December 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 8 LODGE COMMERCIAL MILE 1600m CRACKERCOL (V Colgan) – Co-trainer Mr. A Scott reported to Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of the gelding, however, CRACKERCOL has now been sent for a brief freshen up. The post Waikato Thoroughbred Racing @ Te Rapa, Saturday 21 December 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Gifted mare Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) looks well placed to turn her fortunes around on New Year’s Day when she headlines a formidable team at Ellerslie for Lance Noble. The daughter of Iffraaj will step out in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) while stablemate Terra Mitica (Ulysses) will take aim at the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m). Noble prepares the stakes contenders for Cambridge Stud and they also have in-form runners First Dance (NZ) (Zousain) in the Eagle Technology (1200m) and Frostfair (NZ) (Written Tycoon) in the Barfoot & Thompson (1400m), with Warren Kennedy to ride the quartet. Jaarffi was unplaced last time out in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, but her Karaka-based trainer quickly moved on from that performance. “She drew wide and missed the kick, she had her head to the side when they jumped,” he said. “She got back in a big field and was no chance, after about 10 strides I’d forgotten the race, it was mission impossible.” Noble is expecting a far more competitive effort from Jaarffi on Wednesday. “She runs well at Ellerslie, she’s had two starts there for two wins and has a better draw this time and I’m sure she’ll run really well,” he said. “It is her first time at 1600m, although she won the special conditions race (Rangitoto Classic) over 1500m last prep, so I don’t think it holds any fears.” Queen Elizabeth contender Terra Mitica placed in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) before she struck trouble in the running when out of the money in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m). At her most recent outing, the English-bred six-year-old daughter of Ulysses finished third on the course and will drop 2kg on New Year’s Day. “She’s not a big mare and she’s had to carry a bit of weight in her last couple of starts,” Noble said. “What I like about her is that she likes the firm ground at Ellerslie. It’s quite an even field and she’ll get her chance.” Zousain filly First Dance broke her maiden at her third appearance before a spell and returned to finish fifth over the course and distance earlier this month. “She needed that run, we gave her a break after she won and went in without a trial,” Noble said. “She’s done well since and looks well. She’s a three-year-old racing against the older horses, but we are really happy with her.” Frostfair will bid to complete a hat-trick of wins and the progressive daughter of Written Tycoon looks a stakes contender in waiting. “I think so, she hasn’t been out of the top four in any of her races and she’s really come of age,” Noble said. “Her last win was strong, she we gave her a little break and she’s since won a trial nicely at Counties, so she sets up well. She’s got a good barrier and we’re pretty hopeful.” View the full article

Naughty Rascal, the lone stakes winner in the field, will face two Chad Brown trainees, Treaty of Rome and the undefeated Septarian, owned by Resolute Racing, in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Check out this week’s The Box Seat with Matt Cross and Greg O’Connor View the full article

Live racing at Mahoning Valley Race Course was canceled Monday following the conclusion of the second race due to “track conditions”. In an image posted to the social media site X, the track noted that racing would resume on New Year's Day with a first post of 12:15 p.m. The post Mahoning Valley Cancels Monday Card Due To Track Conditions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are six horse racing meetings set for Australia on Tuesday, December 31. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Warrnambool and Wyong. Tuesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – December 31, 2024 Warrnambool Racing Tips Wyong 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 December 31, 2024 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

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The Turfway Park Holiday Meet concluded Dec. 28 with rider Gerardo Corrales clinching his sixth title, Mike Maker securing his 23rd training crown and Resolute Racing earning its first leading owner title.View the full article

Cuyathy's Johannes has emerged from his three-quarter-length win in the $202,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park in good order and will continue his march forward to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1T) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25.View the full article

Springboard Mile winner Coal Battle could move into second place on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a Jan. 4 victory in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

Even now, having broken his own record haul to secure a sixth consecutive general sires' championship, we cannot quite call him another Bold Ruler. But if Into Mischief can extend his reign through 2025, so matching the sequence achieved by the Claiborne legend between 1963 and 1969, he will give formal gilding to his status as the stallion who best defines our epoch. Bold Ruler actually added an eighth title in 1973, but that modern record–we must leave Lexington's 19th century career as a bewildering case apart–does not feel secure even with Into Mischief now entering the veteran stage. The libido that has underpinned the Spendthrift champion's hegemony shows no sign of diminishing as he turns 20 and, despite a forbidding fee nowadays, his book actually climbed back to 193 mares this spring from 174 in 2023 (a book that produced a stellar 82% live foals). And of course it is sheer volume that not only guarantees Into Mischief continued momentum, even if he happened to be pensioned tomorrow morning, but also makes him the poster boy of the modern commercial era. Because here is the triumphant paragon of an industrial model that has become so dominant that several of the more conservative farms are conspicuously releasing the brakes on book sizes. With the defeat of the mare cap, you can see people looking at Spendthrift and Coolmore and deciding: “If you can't beat them, join them.” But it would be ridiculous to treat an animal as freakishly prepotent as Into Mischief as any kind of template. He proved capable of siring top horses even from the mediocre mares he covered as a prototype for the kind of incentive schemes by which Spendthrift's late owner B. Wayne Hughes so enjoyed rocking the Bluegrass boat. And from that base he has followed a trajectory that is by no means guaranteed, and steadily improved his black-type ratios (while stretching out his stock to Classic distances) with his upgrading mares. That has brought him to a touching moment of parity with Tapit. Both are currently credited with 166 lifetime black-type winners as a virtually identical proportion (c 11.5%) of their named foals. The venerable Gainesway champion, whose book is being carefully supervised these days, must very soon be deposed as North America's all-time leading sire–very possibly in 2025. His progeny earnings stand at $213.5 million, while Into Mischief has just raced passed his latest career milestone on $200.6 million. And Into Mischief has already laid down a marker for 2025 by also topping the table for 2-year-old sires, with Citizen Bull leading his six stakes winners and seven graded stakes performers. (Both of those represent class highs, but hats off to Nyquist and rookie McKinzie for two juvenile Grade I winners apiece. More follows below, incidentally, on McKinzie and an absurdly tight race for the freshman crown.) Tapit | Gainesway With total progeny earnings of $35,368,704 (all stats updated through December 29), Into Mischief has shattered the record of $28,562,932 he posted in 2022. That felt inevitable the moment Laurel River won the G1 Dubai World Cup, but the fact is that Into Mischief would have fallen only marginally short (at $28,212,648) even if that particular horse had never left his stable this year. And, as we've indicated, the fact that he sent out far more foot soldiers than any other sire–474 starters, with his son Goldencents next on 397–does not alone account for the fact that he duly tops every column, from stakes performers through to Grade I winners (five). For his ratios nowadays are strong, too. His 35 black-type winners represent 7.4% of starters. Aside from a couple of freshmen, who are obviously a case apart, that clip is matched among active competition in Kentucky only by Oscar Performance (10 at 7.5%) and Not This Time (17 at 7.4%). Of course, nowadays that blend of quality and quantity also applies to Into Mischief's mares. His first foals conceived at six figures are now turning six, and his latest juveniles were sired at $225,000. So we must give due credit to those among his pursuers still maintaining superior percentages in crucial indices. Best Of the Rest With his expanding arsenal, for instance, Gun Runner has reached a new personal best of $22,485,868, securing second place with only a fourth crop in action. That's up from $17,663,202 and third place in 2023. And his dozen graded stakes winners, including four at the elite level, represented 4.7% of starters, against 17 for Into Mischief at 3.6%. Overall Gun Runner's average earnings per starter were $88,180, compared with $74,618 for Into Mischief. Just under one in 10 of his starters made a graded stakes podium, which looks pretty wild compared with Into Mischief's 6.5%. But he was actually matched by third-placed Justify, who accumulated $16,149,027 with just a third crop in play. These two young guns really haven't missed a beat. By the same token, they have not had to overcome the challenges that delayed the rise of the ruler they aim someday to dethrone. The venerable Mineshaft obviously owes fourth place to the desert plunder of Senor Buscador, who accounted for 76.7% of his total $15,680,634 bank, though it was nice to see him close out 2024 with a 2-year-old stakes winner (Jenkin in the Year's End Stakes at Oaklawn). But Constitution certainly took a major step forward–as many had confidently anticipated–in finishing just behind on $15,400,026. While just lacking that Grade I headliner he elevated himself sharply, with a sixth crop into the gate, from $10,641,524 and 15th place in 2023. And of course he now also has a son making waves in Tiz the Law. While Curlin slipped a few places this year, just making the top 10 on $13,792,523, he included another three elite scorers among his dozen graded stakes winners, the latter compiled at a class-high rate of 5.2% of starters. Curlin | Sarah Andrew Broodmare Sires Tapit's diminishing footprint sees him drop right down the general sires' table to 27th, but by the same token his daughters are increasing their own reach. And while the venerable gray surrenders his broodmare sire title to the late Street Cry (Ire), he appeared as damsire to an unrivalled 34 stakes and 16 graded stakes winners in 2024. Street Cry, sire of a couple of epoch-making female talents on the racetrack, has proved unsurprisingly effective as a distaff influence. He owes the division laurels to globetrotter Rebel's Romance (Ire), but his daughters produced four additional Grade I winners this year. Another lamented Darley stallion, Bernardini, continues his rise in this sphere in seventh, matching Tapit's class-high 32 graded stakes performers (similarly including three Grade I winners) at 5% of starters. But watch out for Blame, whose precocity in this sphere is already well established: his daughters are operating at mad, off-the-charts ratios, with 17 stakes winners and eight graded stakes winners at 9.5% and 4.4% of 2024 starters. His footprint for now remains too narrow to put him any higher than 34th (up from 49th), but those strike-rates are more than DOUBLE almost all those above him. (In other words, stand by for more Blame in the next instalment of our Value Sires series!) Second-/Third-Crop and Turf Sires Among the younger sires trying to consolidate their status, the cream rose to the top in the second-crop table through the maturing stock of Omaha Beach. Having finished behind three neighbors in a Spendthrift monopoly of the 2023 freshman title, this time round he tops the table on all class indices, for instance with 11 and 21 black-type winners and performers (respectively at 6.8% and 13% of starters), and two Grade I winners (among five placed at that level). Runner-up Audible cannot match those ratios but has similarly thrived through his first sophomores (sixth as freshman) and ties Omaha Beach with six graded stakes performers. But the cavalries behind some of these young commercial sires continues to astound. Fourth-placed Vino Rosso, for example, has accumulated exactly 200 starters in 2024 with only a second crop of juveniles into the gate! Let's hope some of those young stallions showing promise under the radar get more attention than Preservationist, who has now left the country despite a class-high 56% winners to starters in 2024. Having come up with the Epsom Derby winner City of Troy, Justify continues his dynamic start with the third-crop title, though runner-up Good Magic has achieved a historic distinction by joining only Man o' War and Gallant Fox in siring Classic winners from both his first two crops. Obviously he must allow some credit to Puca (Big Brown), who gave him both Mage and Dornoch, but he matches Justify with three elite scorers this year. Justify stands alone, however, when it comes to sheer weight of stakes action: he has had no fewer than 41 black-type and 25 graded stakes performers, at a knockout 16% and 9.8%, respectively. This looks a pretty vintage group overall, with City of Light securing third through flagbearer Fierceness and Oscar Performance matching the top two with five graded stakes winners. As noted above, the Mill Ridge star's 10 stakes winners have come at an outstanding 7.5%: he had just 134 starters, compared with 326 for Mendelssohn who duly claims fourth. Oscar Performance actually made the top 10 on the general sires' list when measured by earnings per starter. Unsurprisingly he did the same on the overall turf list, despite only sending a third crop of juveniles to the gate. But the grass champion is Twirling Candy, whose outstanding campaign places him sixth on the general sires' list, with $8,457,529 of his aggregate $15,174,744 banked on the green. No surprise to see Justify (a few cents shy of $8 million) lying second, nor the splendid veteran War Front in fourth, but those who take a prescriptive view of pedigrees must clock none other than Into Mischief between them. If you consider that his stock will typically experiment with grass only if not working out on the main track, it reflects pretty scandalously on the big international programs that he has been given virtually zero opportunity in Europe. McKinzie -86_PRINT_credit_Gainesway-1024x745.jpg" alt="" width="632" height="460" /> McKinzie | Gainesway Freshman Sires Go To the Wire And finally we come to the incredible race for freshman sire. We've had to leave it late, because that's just what the three protagonists have done. In fact, the issue remains so desperate that it feels best to defer final congratulations until the last cent of purse money has been definitively paid out. As things stand, however, it does look as though McKinzie has just held out, with the added insurance of apparently the trio's sole remaining entry–that I can trace, at any rate–before midnight on New Year's Eve. (That's the aptly named Not Too Late, who at time of writing was set to contest Monday's Parx Future Stars Filly Stakes.) But it has really gone to the wire, Tiz the Law making a dramatic late lunge through the neck success of Legal Empress after a stretch duel for a maiden at Oaklawn on Sunday. Previously the Coolmore sire had been lying third on $2,665,687, behind Vekoma on $2,717,095 and McKinzie on $2,729,178. This 11th hour bonus took his bank to $2,731,687–in other words, just inching the Ashford stallion past McKinzie. But whoa, what's this! Not much over an hour later, McKinzie's daughter Kinzie Queen, though beaten a long way into fifth of seven in the Year's End Stakes on the same card, scraped together $6,650. With debutante Young and Pretty having added a few dimes for her 18-length fourth of seven at Gulfstream, McKinzie appears to have pulled it out of the fire, with the updated standings placing him on $2,736,038, a wafer-thin lead of $4,351 over Tiz the Law, with Vekoma barely 10 grand further behind on $2,721,295. As we've cautioned, however, we need to let the ink dry on this–not least because of some ongoing contention regarding certain runners overseas. (Another data source was on Monday still showing Tiz the Law with a lead of $533!) There must have been gnashing of teeth at Spendthrift on Sunday after Vekoma's son Red Miller, 2-1 on the morning line for his debut at Tampa Bay, came through as a veterinary scratch. He had clocked the fastest of 111 four-furlong breezes working from the gate at Belmont last month. But then how many other “shoulda coulda woulda” moments have been endured, through the last few months, by each of these stallions? But this is just a rosette, after all, and the sage professionals standing these horses will know that each deserves celebration for more or less forcing a dead heat. Tiz the Law especially deserves recognition in having fielded only 50 starters, against 68 for McKinzie and as many as 83 for Vekoma, nonetheless matching McKinzie's two graded stakes winners (plus his two others placed at that level). But McKinzie has artfully made his bullets count, his only two black-type winners both contriving Grade Is–at which level, moreover, he has had two others placed! Vekoma, for his part, has meanwhile made numbers tell with no fewer than 39 individual winners, equaling the domestic record shared by Wildcat Heir and Chapel Royal. Tiz the Law | Coolmore That did not turn out to signal some transformative impact on the part of either of those horses. While too many young stallions are nowadays industrially exploited through a fleeting window of opportunity, the fact remains that all these horses have only just started out. We must give an especially honorable mention to Complexity, however, who set a strong pace before running out of reinforcements (56 starters) and fading into fourth. Even so his five stakes winners were only matched by McKinzie and Vekoma, while Complexity also joined the Gainesway sire and Tiz the Law with two graded stakes winners. As a class, they have mustered 11 of those, compared with just three for the historically underachieving freshmen of 2023. For bureaucratic purposes, every Thoroughbred turns a page on New Year's Day. But their official birthday is only ever a milestone on a slow, circular road that can only be travelled with much perseverance and more luck. We wish you plenty of that vital ingredient in 2025. The post Into Mischief Has A Bold Mission For 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The all-sources handle was over $50.4 million on the 39 races offered through the first four days of the season.View the full article

The New York Racing Association announced Dec. 30 that all New York-bred overnight races will be run for purse money equal to their open-company counterparts, effective January 2027.View the full article

By Michael Guerin In an Auckland Cup littered with question marks punters need to decide which doubt that can put up with the most. The second $250,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup on 2024 will be run at Alexandra Park tonight, the Cup moving back to the New Year’s Eve date after being held on May 24. The only thing certain about this Cup it the date move is a win, May was too late and too cold to be holding Group 1 open class pacing races, but after that this becomes a Cup with question marks over all the serious players. Perhaps the one with the least doubt is Merlin, who is almost certainly our best pacer and back on his home track with a favourable draw. His question mark lurks after a below par fourth in the New Zealand Cup over tonight’s 3200m in November, when race rivals tonight Don’t Stop Dreaming and Republican Party both outshone him. Merlin is so brilliant and bold over shorter trips you can see how he may not quite enjoy the bare knuckle brawl of a NZ Cup at Addington. But an Alexandra Park 3200m is more forgiving than the NZ Cup, by far our most brutal race. Merlin is a two-time Derby winner and they often go on to win Cups and the last time he raced over 2700m at home he smashed his opposition in the Holmes D G, rating a fast 1:58 and pacing his last 800m in 54.2 seconds, suggesting he can still sprint at the end of a staying race. Perhaps more importantly there is no NZ Cup winner Swayzee in tonight’s Cup and if Merlin can work forward to the lead there also looks to be no real pressure, not the sort that would turn this 3200m in a 3:54 lung burner. If he gets a nice sit handy or leads and gets one easy 800m sectionals this should be Merlin’s Cup to lose. “We are happy with him, we took him to Pukekohe for a day out the other morning and he worked great,” says co-trainer Scott Phelan. “I’d say he would be as good now as when he won the Holmes D G. I am not saying he is better, but at least as good.” Don’t Stop Dreaming’s question marks aren’t over his staying ability but more his winning record, or lack thereof, in 2024. He has only won 3 of his 16 starts this year. Two of them were at Menangle, the other a free-for-all at Alexandra Park and he has found ways to lose races a horse of his reputation should win. Even co-trainer Mark Purdon says Don’t Stop Dreaming’s desire has come into question at times and he was pleased rather than thrilled with his fast work last Friday morning. “We all know how good he is but it is up to him to step up and prove it now,” says Purdon. Don’t Stop Dreaming’s best chance of doing that may be driven cold and swooping but that is a strategy which rarely pays Auckland Cup dividends. Better Eclipse has already proven he can win an Auckland Cup so his question is whether he can win a stronger one, as well as the standing start which driver Greg Sugars admits is a coin flip. Last start Invercargill Cup winner Republican Party should the fittest of the favourites and his New Zealand Cup third has boosted his stocks. His 17 wins from 45 starts is not the usual record of a true modern day Auckland Cup winner but he has more ticks than crosses in the “reasons he can win” column. Jolimont looks the only other serious winning chance but his question is whether this Cup comes six or even 12 months too soon? The answer is probably yes because New Zealand’s two great 3200m Cups are rarely the races a horse arrives in, more the ones that confirm a crown. A crown Merlin looks more likely to be wearing than his rivals by 7.30pm tonight. Oscar set to become trotting millionaire By Michael Guerin One of New Zealand’s great staying trots could turn into a 200m drag race at Alexandra Park tonight. And even if it does which of the two favourites wins is hard to predict. Oscar Bonavena and Muscle Mountain continue their long-running rivalry in the $100,000 Peter Breckon Memorial National Trot over the 2700 mobile, finally a Group 1 where the pair can get away from all-conquering Aussie champion Just Believe. Both are wonderfully talented trotters who have had a rollercoaster 2024, with their ageing bodies meaning while the heart may be willing the legs don’t quite pump as fast. In the last two months there have been glimpses of their best, particularly from Oscar Bonavena who even beat Just Believe in the NZ Trotting Free-For-All at Addington. Muscle Mountain was also back in the winner’s circle at Invercargill last start and their gate speed coupled with respect earned makes it seem certain they will be the first two off the gate tonight with Muscle Mountain likely to lead and Oscar Bonevena trail. In a race with no rivals good enough to pressure them the Group 1 could be decided by whether Oscar can outspring the Mountain up the Alexandra Park passing lane. “It looks a bit that way,” admits Muscle Mountain’s driver Ben Hope. “We will be going forward and trying to lead and while Oscar has had the better of us lately I really liked the feel of got from him [Muscle Mountain] last week. “He flew up to Auckland last week and Dad said he worked well yesterday so he will get his chance.” If Muscle Mountain gets a relaxed run in front and is in full flight when the pair hit the passing lane it will take some serious sprinting from Oscar Bonavena to get past him. But serious sprinting is Oscar’s speciality when he is at his best and the punters have already spoken, backing him in $1.65 while Muscle Mountain is out to $2. Regardless of who wins a milestone looks near certain as Oscar Bonavena needs to only earn $12,442 (a top two finish) to become New Zealand trotting’s latest millionaire. Auckland Cup Twilight bets – first race 3.13pm 1: Invisible (R4, No.7): No luck lately in better fields but has fine sprint record so can overcome wide draw. 2: Oscar Bonavena (R7, No.3): Likely to trail Muscle Mountain and should beat him for speed on their recent clashes. 3: Merlin (R9, No.7): Willing to forgive his NZ Cup battling fourth as tonight’s 3200m unlikely to be less brutal. Back home and with an ideal draw he is the one to beat. 4: Mr Kaplan (R6, No.7): Pulled too hard last start but could blast to lead tonight and be allowed to roll over the sprint trip. Good bet with small cover on Dance Till Dawn. 5: Taylad To Use (R10, No.8): Hard to follow but won similar races two starts ago and never got a crack last time. On a hard night to find value he could be the smokey. View the full article

Jockey Luis Antonio Gonzalez was suspended 15 days by the Mahoning Valley Race Course stewards Monday for a “failure to give best effort” infraction while riding an Ohio-bred 2-year-old shipper from Santa Anita Park who had broken her maiden in her most recent race in California by six lengths. Gonzalez was aboard the 7-5 favorite Rapida (Country House) in the eighth race at Mahoning on Dec. 26, a state-bred N2L allowance sprint. After stalking the pace from the inside to the quarter pole, Rapida surged to the lead under urging and began opening up. She led by two inside the eighth pole, then Gonzalez geared her down approaching the final sixteenth despite the onrushing presence of the 2.20-1 second favorite Lo Bug (Mor Spirit), who nailed Rapida at the wire by a head. In the Dec. 30 ruling, the Mahoning stewards wrote that Gonzalez “failed to use his utmost exertion to obtain a winning performance possibly costing him a better placing which may have affected mutuel payout.” The stewards' ruling stipulated that if Gonzalez chooses not to appeal his suspension, it will be reduced to seven days, running Jan. 6-12. It was unclear at deadline for this story if Gonzalez planned to appeal. Gonzalez, who has been a licensed jockey since 1986 with 3,632 lifetime wins, is currently 16th in both victories and earnings at the Mahoning meet. His record in 2024 is 64-67-56 from 317 mounts. The post Nailed At Wire On Santa Anita Shipper, Mahoning Jockey Suspended appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In yesterday's edition of Value Sires for 2025, Chris McGrath profiled the stallions standing between $10,001 and $19,999, awarding the gold medal to trusty Darley stalwart Midshipman (read more here). Here, we asked the breeders to hand out their top picks for this category. ANDREW CARY GOLD: Volatile (Violence – Meloday Lady, by Unbridled's Song) Three Chimneys Farm, $12,500 The brilliantly fast and talented son of Violence is off to a very promising start at stud, already with 24 first crop winners, six stakes horses (two Grade I placed) and three TDN Rising Stars. Volatile looks set to follow in his father's footsteps, capable of siring stakes horses and lucrative sales yearlings. SILVER: Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile – Holy Bubbette, by Holy Bull) Airdrie Stud, $15,000 The veteran son of Pioneerof the Nile continues to churn out winners and stakes horses year in and year out. A consistent top 30 sire for $15,000 is impressive, especially for one that throws the consistency and versatility that Cairo Prince throws. He has sired 12 individual stakes winners and 18 stakes horses this year, led by Grade III winner Honey Pants. BRONZE: Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile – Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy) Spendthrift Farm, $12,500 Another son of Pioneerof the Nile, Thousand Words has exceeded expectations with his first crop this year, currently sitting in the top five on freshman sire rankings by progeny earnings. He has sired three individual stakes winners, including the hard-knocking fillies The Queens M G and Vodka With a Twist, the latter a game runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies to champion Immersive (Nyquist). ADRIAN REGAN GOLD: Midshipman (Unbridled's Song – Fleet Lady, by Avenue of Flags) Darley, $15,000 My gold choice would Midshipman. For me he gets solid results on the track every year and always seems to be well received at the sales as a result. SILVER: Corniche (Quality Road – Wasted Tears, by Najran) Ashford Stud, $15,000 My silver choice would Corniche. I don't know why but they surprised me at the sales a little bit. He seems to be getting a very consistent type of horse and considering how good a 2-year-old he was, it would not surprise me at all if his first-crop 2-year-oolds are successful. BRONZE: Mandaloun (Into Mischief – Brooch, Empire Maker) Juddmonte Farms, $15,000 My bronze choice would be Mandaloun. The ones that we have had so far all were very easy to deal with and just seem to have a bit quality about them. At the end of the day he is a Kentucky Derby winner, a son of Into Mischief and out of a very good Empire Maker mare. I think he's definitely worth a shot at the price. The post Value Sires–Into the Teens: The Breeders Speak appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Beginning in January 2027, the prize money on offer for all New York-bred overnight races on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit will equal that which is available to their open-company counterparts, officials at NYRA said on Monday. As was announced in 2023, beginning in January 2026, all New York-bred overnight races for 2-year-olds will offer equal purse money. In 2024, NYRA staged 548 races restricted to New York-breds for total purses of $42,817,000, and the new program is expected to raise New York-bred overnight purses by 15% versus the 2024 levels. According to the release, 672 live New York-bred foals have already been reported to The Jockey Club through Oct. 13, an increase of 13.9% when compared to the previous year's figures. The national foal crop is predicted to decline by approximately 2% in 2024. “The commitment to the New York-bred overnight program builds upon our previous efforts to support high-quality New York-bred racing,” said Andrew Offerman, NYRA's Senior Vice President of Racing and Operations. “Starting in 2026, the New York-bred foal crop will benefit from the financial reward of purse parity and will continue to reap those benefits throughout their racing careers.” The programs will be offered starting in 2026 at both Saratoga Race Course and Aqueduct Racetrack as well as at the new Belmont Park, which will open in the fall of 2026. In addition to the lucrative purses offered by NYRA, a variety of owner, breeder and stallion awards are available to those who breed and race in New York. These incentives directly benefit thoroughbred breeding farms across the state. “Thanks to the quality of New York-breds in the sales ring and at the racetrack, our foal crop numbers have trended positively in recent years,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director, New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “NYRA's commitment to investing in the New York-bred program will support continued growth and is a clear statement on why it pays to breed, own, and race in New York.” The state of New York has adopted rules that expand the reach of the New York-bred awards and benefits by clarifying a pathway for non-resident mares to gain residency status. A non-resident mare purchased in foal through public auction is deemed a resident mare provided (1) that the mare is purchased for at least $50,000 in the public auction; (2) is present in the state of New York within 15 days after a sale in North America and 60 days at any public auction sale abroad; (3) the foal is foaled in New York; and (4) the mare thereafter is continuously in residence in New York from within 120 days after her last cover in the year of conception of another foal and remains in residency until foaling. Click here for additional information. NYRA and the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund (NYTBDF) proved up to $650,000 annually in bonuses to owners. The bonus awards $5,000 each time a New York-sired, New York-bred wins at the maiden special weight or allowance levels at NYRA tracks. The post All NY-Bred Purses To Match Open-Company Levels Beginning in 2027 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gerardo Corrales, Mike Maker and John Stewart's Resolute Racing were the leading jockey, trainer and owner, respectively, during the Holiday Meet at Turfway Park. Corrales booted home 14 winners, outdistancing Fernando de la Crus, Luan Machado and Irving Moncada, who each rode 11 winners. Corrales was the leading rider at the Holiday Meet from 2020 through 2022 and the Winter/Spring Meet in 2021-2022. Runners sent out by the Mike Maker barn won seven races, one better than Larry Rivelli and three clear of Steve Asmussen, Brad Cox, John Ennis and Brendan Walsh on four victories. Resolute won its first owner's title as part of a six-way tie for the top, but posted earnings of $199,253, just better than Godolphin with $169,894. Also finishing with two wins were Two Hearts Farm, Tom Lambro, Bubba Rodgers, Ricky Short, and the partnership of Down the Stretch Racing, Craftyhorse Racing, Homer Schafer, and Robert Sulzberger Jr. The Holiday Meet delivered strong returns for horseplayers, with the average 50-cent Pick 5 paying a remarkable $32,219, showcasing the sizable wagering pools available on a nightly basis. Additionally, the average $2 win mutuel returned an impressive $18.37. The Winter/Spring meet at Turfway begins on New Year's Day with a special 1 p.m. post time. Racing continues Thursday through Saturday beginning at 5:55 p.m. The post Corrales, Maker, Resolute Win Turfway Titles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Old Friends Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, has announced the addition of six graded stakes winners to their farm: Count Again, Delaunay, Mission Impazible, Normandy Invasion, Rainbow Heir and Warrior's Reward. “Without a doubt, this has been a banner year for new arrivals at Old Friends,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends. “Having these horses take their place as new residents is further testimony that Old Friends continues to earn its reputation as a longstanding leader in Thoroughbred aftercare. “We remain grateful to the connections of all of the 297 horses who reside at our farms and, most importantly, to the many people who contribute to Old Friends which makes it possible for us to provide such a safe and comfortable retirement for these horses, all of whom gave their best for us.” Each of the six has settled in at Old Friends, having arrived at different stages during 2024. The post Old Friends Welcomed Six Graded Winners In 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The momentum built by the opening-day, six graded-stakes program at Santa Anita carried on into the weekend, as bettors pushed all-sources handle to over $50.4 million over the course of the 39 races between Thursday, Dec. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 29. Aided by strong support from owners and trainers that led to an increase in field size from 2023, the stretch was led by the $21.4-million turnover on Thursday's program, topped by the GI Malibu Stakes, won by Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) and the GI La Brea Stakes, taken out by Kopion (Omaha Beach). That amount was the third-highest recorded on opening day in the history of the track and was the fourth time in the last seven years exceeding $20 million. Total attendance for the four days was better than 62,000, with over 41,000 heading through the turnstiles on opening day. Santa Anita hosts a special New Year's Day program this Wednesday, with nine live races, and the four-day week continues Friday through Sunday. The post Santa Anita Handles Over $50M On Opening Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Camelot (GB), sire of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking (GB), is the champion sire in France for 2024 as well as being the leading stallion in Europe. He also had the third home in the Arc, Los Angeles (Ire), who earlier in the season had landed the Irish Derby. Bluestocking's top-level wins in 2024 included the Pretty Polly Stakes and Prix Vermeille, while Camelot's durable son Luxembourg (Ire), who has recently retired to Castle Hyde Stud, added a fourth Group 1 win to his tally in the Coronation Cup at Epsom. Among Camelot's other major winners in France were OTI Racing's Sevenna's Knight, whose three group victories included the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, and the Wertheimer-bred Pensee Du Jour (Ire), winner of the G2 Prix Corrida. The stallion's total earnings in France were just over €5 million. Second in the French table was another 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner, Sea The Stars (Ire), whose leading runner in the country was the well-bred Sosie (Ire), winner of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G2 Prix Foy. Lope De Vega (Ire), who provided two of this year's French Classic winners in last-gasp Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Rouhiya (Fr) and Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Fr), took third in the championship, just ahead of the leading sire domestically in France, Siyouni (Fr). The remarkable Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) kept the flag flying for the Haras de Bonneval resident, with her wins in the G1 Prix Rothschild and G1 Prix Jean Romanet being a repeat performance of her double strike in Deauville the previous summer. Wootton Bassett (GB) may have left France four years ago but his legacy continues in the country where he made his name, and he was fifth in the sires' table, separating Siyouni from his fellow Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr). The latter, a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the brilliant Zarkava (Fr), is the real rising star of the French ranks. Earlier this month a 1/50th share in the stallion was sold for €800,000 during an Arqana online sale. Zarak's first Classic winner came this year when Metropolitan won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. He is now ensconced at Haras d'Etreham. G2 Prix d'Harcourt winner Zarakem (Fr) has recently joined Ciaron Maher's stable in Australia with a plan in place for him to return to France to join the Etreham ranks at the conclusion of his racing career. On the subject of Haras d'Etreham, two of their younger members are making notable inroads in the stallion ranks. City Light (Fr), by Siyouni, was the leading first-season sire of 2023 and he has backed up that early good impression with an eleventh place finish in the general sires' table in France. He was actually eighth overall by number of winners (42) from just two crops of racing age, including the G3 Prix Miesque winner Mimos (Fr) and six other stakes performers. The champion first-crop sire title returns to Etreham for 2024 and has been won by the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Hello Youmzain (Fr), an increasingly useful looking son of Kodiac (GB). His 13 winners in France (from 33 runners) put him one ahead of Wooded (Fr), Haras de Bouquetot's similarly fast son of Wootton Bassett. In total, Hello Youmzain was represented by 21 winners across Europe, which put him in fourth position in that particular table, behind Sergei Prokofiev, Pinatubo (Ire) and Mohaather (GB). He has sired two Group 3 winners to date – Electrolyte (Ire) and Misunderstood (FR) – along with two other stakes performers. In third among the French freshmen is Etreham's Persian King, while another Bouquetot resident, Romanised (Ire) was fourth. The latter, a son of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jacques le Marois for Ken Condon, has sired nine winners to date. You can take the boy out of Germany… Sea The Moon (Ger), winner of the G1 Deutsches Derby ten years ago, may never have stood in Germany but he continues to make his presence felt in his native country. The Lanwades stallion is the German champion sire once more, having also won the title in 2023 after siring the winners of the both the Deutsches Derby and the Preis der Diana (in which he also had the first three home). He was also Germany's leading first-season sire of 2018. The Derby winner of 2023, Fantastic Moon (Ger), continued to be Sea The Moon's leading earner this year, adding the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden to his Classic success, and he now joins the stallion ranks himself at Gestut Ebbesloh. Fantastic Moon is not the only son of Sea The Moon to be retiring to stud in Germany in 2025 as Assistent (Ger), winner of the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern, returns to Gestut Rottgen, where he was bred, with an impressive seven stakes wins to his credit from 23 starts for Henk Grewe. This year's Deutsches Derby winner Palladium (Ger), also trained by Grewe, was sold at the Arqana Arc Sale in October for €1.4 million and has now joined Nicky Henderson's stable with a jumping career ahead of him. Whether he will be sent hurdling as an entire remains to be seen, but he helped his sire Gleneagles (Ire) to second place in the German stallion table. The range of the Coolmore sire's offspring was highlighted when Mill Stream (Ire) won the G1 July Cup over six furlongs, and it is worth reflecting that Gleneagles also had the runner-up in the Derby, Ambiente Friendly (Fr). Incidentally, Palladium's Classic victory also ensured that his breeder Gestut Fahrhof will be crowned champion breeder in Germany this year. In third and fourth in the German sires' table were the late Adlerflug (Ger), whose son Goliath (Ger) ensured that his name was still in lights across Europe by winning the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, and Soldier Hollow (GB), who died in May and was also represented by a British Group 1 winner in Tamfana (Ger). Make Believe Leads the Way in Italy Irish-based stallions dominated the Italian sires' championship in 2024, with Ballylinch Stud's Make Believe (GB) leading the way, largely thanks to his unbeaten juvenile daughter Klaynn (Ire). Trained by Endo Botti and bred by Massimo Parri's Allevamento Le Gi, Klaynn's three victories included the G2 Premio Dormello and Listed Premio Repubbliche Marinare Trofeo. Make Believe's trio of stakes winners in Italy this year was completed by G2 Premio Gran Criterium winner Lazio (Ger) and the Listed winner Fast Spirit (Ire). The Parri family also bred the leading scorer for the runner-up in the table, Sioux Nation. The three-year-old Sioux Life (ITY), who, like Klaynn, is trained by Endo Botti and is out of a mare by Rip Van Winkle (Ire), completed an excellent October for the Tuscan-based Le Gi when winning the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio and G3 Premio Verziere Memorial Aldo Cirla. She has also won three Listed races across the last two seasons. The G2 Derby Italiano winner Borna (Fr), who was later runner-up in the G1 Deutsches Derby, ensured third place in the Italian table for his sire Saxon Warrior (Jpn). Among the first-season sires in Italy, the exquisitely bred Mount Everest (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) out of Six Perfections (Fr), has made a positive start from his base at Azienda Agricola Luciani and is the country's leading freshman sire with seven winners from 13 runners. Behind him in the table is Starfield Stud's Far Above (Ire), whose two Listed winners, Kabir (Ire) and the Group 2-placed Nigrum Regina (Ire), have both struck in Italy. The post Camelot, Sea The Moon and Make Believe Top Sire Lists Across Europe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article