Wandering Eyes

Pierata has shot to favouritism for the $14 million Everest after winning The Shorts at Randwick. The wet Randwick track might have scared a few runners out of The Shorts but trainer Greg Hickman is more than happy he decided to run Pierata. The field for Saturday’s Group Two 1100m-sprint was reduced to five from 11 original acceptors including high profile horses Santa Ana Lane, Osborne Bulls and Sunlight. In a tight finish, Pierata ($2.70 fav) prevailed over Classique Legend ($3.10) by half a length with a neck to Redzel ($4.40). All three are headed to the $14 million Everest on October 19 for which Pierata is now favourite. “We’ll go back home and see how he pulls up and what we have to do to get him to the races and be the same, or a little bit better than what he is,” Hickman said. “He very rarely puts in a bad race. He put himself a bit closer where he was back and made that super run first up. He’s getting a bit tougher now for the 1200 where he’s not quite as fresh. I’ve learned a little bit out of today and hopefully we can have him right on Everest day.” Pierata firmed from $6 to $5 for The Everest with Shorts absentee Santa Ana Lane out from $5 to $6. Classique Legend pleased trainer Les Bridge as much as he could without winning, “He will improve: It’s not Everest day today is it? That’s all I’m worried about,” Bridge said. Redzel has won the only two runnings of the Everest and co-trainer Peter Snowden says he is spot-on for a third. “He’s flying. It’s probably disappointing for the punters who backed him but in four weeks he’ll fight harder than that,” Snowden said. “He’s run really well, he jumped well, he showed intent, his cruising speed was there. “He will trial in two weeks and run two weeks after that in the Everest.” Pierata’s jockey Tommy Berry said the small field meant he was conscious of tactics but not concerned. “They are tactical, small fields,” he said. “Greg called me this morning and said what do you want to do. I said there are only five in it, it can’t be that hard. “But I’m so happy for Greg. He has done such a great job with this horse and he has got an unbelievable group of owners. “Bring on four weeks time!” The Shorts was run on a soft track despite more than 80mm of rain during the week. The post Pierata beats small, select Shorts field appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Longines Test Stakes (G1) winner Covfefe easily dismissed five rivals Sept. 21 in the $125,000 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs as the speedy 3-year-old filly rolled to an eight-length win over Bell's the One in a stakes record 1:20.51. View the full article

Avoiding stretch traffic that caused a couple of rivals to alter momentum, Killybegs Captain rallied inside rivals down the Laurel Park stretch to win the $250,000 Xpressbet Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (G3) over Altissimo Sept. 21. View the full article

Joseph Saffie Jr.'s Math Wizard turned in the most impressive performance of his career Sept. 21, when he stormed home five-wide in the stretch and edged Mr. Money at the wire to upset the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing. View the full article

Math Wizard (c, 3, Algorithms–Minister’s Baby, by Deputy Minister), claimed for $25,000 out of a runaway win at Gulfstream Park back in January, pulled off a massive 30-1 upset in Saturday’s GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. He raced toward the back while saving ground through fractions of :24 2/5 and :49 3/5. The chestnut hit the gas on the far turn, came rolling five wide into the stretch and rallied over the top down the lane to nail the streaking Mr. Money (Goldencents) by a neck. War of Will (War Front) was third. A close second in the GIII Ohio Derby and third in the GIII Indiana Derby, Math Wizard entered off a well-beaten sixth in the GIII West Virginia Derby Aug. 3. The final time was 1:50 4/5. Lifetime Record: 13-3-2-3. O-Fanelli, John, Collarmele Vitelli Stables LLC, Bassett Stables, Zoumas, Ioannis, Wynwood Thoroughbreds & Joseph, Jr., Saffie A.; B-Lucky Seven Stable (Ky); T-S A Joseph Jr. The post It All Adds Up to a 30-1 Upset for Algorithms Colt in Pennsylvania Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rallying from behind a furious pace, Street Band closed down the center of the track under Sophie Doyle to $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing over favored Guarana. View the full article

Glen Hill Farm's Caribou Club stalked a fast pace and rolled to his fourth win in six starts as he triumphed by a head in the $200,000 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup (G3T) at Laurel Park Sept. 21. View the full article

Rebounding from a third-place finish in the Monmouth Cup (G3), Coal Front turned back a second-turn bid from Diamond King and inched clear for a three-quarter length victory in the $153,500 Parx Dirt Mile Sept. 21 on the Pennsylvania Derby undercard. View the full article

Street Band (f, 3, Istan–Street Minstrel, by Street Cry {Ire}), winner of this term’s GII Fair Grounds Oaks and GIII Indiana Oaks, came rolling down the stretch to post a 7-1 upset in Saturday’s GI Cotillion S. at Parx. The chestnut raced toward the rear through sharp fractions of :22 3/5 and :46 1/5. She began to rocket past rivals on the far turn, kept rolling with a sweeping move into the stretch and blew by the previously unbeaten MGISW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Guarana (Ghostzapper) to win impressively by three lengths. The New Jersey-bred Horologist (Gemologist) was third. Street Band was most recently third in the slop in the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 17. The final time for the Cotillion was 1:44 1/5. Lifetime Record: 12-5-0-3. O-Ray Francis, Cindy & Larry Jones, Medallion Racing & MyRaceHorse Stable; B-Larry & Cindy Jones & Ray Francis (Ky); T-Larry Jones. The post Istan Filly Upsets Cotillion With Impressive Performance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A colt by Liam’s Map attracted the highest bid of Saturday’s penultimate session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale when purchased by David McKathan and Jody Mihalic’s Grassroots Training & Sales for $67,000. Consigned by Gainesway, hip 3835 is out of Pelipa (Indian Charlie) and from the family of Grade I winner Albert the Great. He was bred by Maccabee Farm. Grassroots was the session’s leading buyer, purchasing four yearlings for $149,000. The Ocala-based operation has purchased 20 yearlings so far during the September sale for a total of $951,000. During Saturday’s session, 215 horses sold for $2,298,500. The session average was $10,691 and the median was $6,500. With one session of the 13-day auction remaining, 2,648 yearlings have grossed $358,696,600. The average of $135,459 is down just slightly from the corresponding 2018 figure, while the median is down 13.3% to $52,000. The Keeneland September sale’s final session begins Sunday at 10 a.m. The post Liam’s Map Colt Tops Keeneland Day 12 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ King Jack (c, 3, Jimmy Creed–Light Shine, by Tapit), off as the 7-5 favorite in Saturday’s GII Gallant Bob S. at Parx, chased on the outside in third as they sped through an opening quarter in :21 4/5. The long-striding chestnut ranged up three deep on the turn for home and came charging down the lane to reel in Landeskog (Munnings) and win going away by 1 1/2 lengths. Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy) was third. The final time for six furlongs was 1:08 4/5. King Jack, a good-looking winner of his first two attempts, was second-best to GISW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Improbable (City Zip) in the Shared Belief S. going a mile at Del Mar Aug. 25. He becomes the 10th stakes winner and fourth graded winner for sire Jimmy Creed. Sales history: $100,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0. O-Michael C. Stinson; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (Ky); T-Jerry Hollendorfer. The post A Gallant Bob Fit for a King appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The SGA’s single-session Select Yearling Sale was the subject of vibrant trade at the sales grounds adjacent to San Siro Racecourse on Saturday. Despite a trim in catalogue size from 168 last year to 127, the aggregate rose 60.3% to €2,423,000. The jumps in average and median were similarly impressive, rising 76% to €29,193 and 100% to €18,000, respectively. The clearance rate, just 60.6% in 2018, finished off at 74.7% on Saturday. Last year’s top price of €90,000 was eclipsed four times on Saturday, with Allevamento Le Gi’s Sea The Stars (Ire) filly out of Snowfield (Tale of the Cat) taking top honors at €150,000 when bought by trainer Bruno Grizzetti. The bay (lot 76) is a half-sister to Italian group race winners Voice Of Love (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) and Time Chant (GB) (War Chant), as well as the listed-placed Field of Roses (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}). Grizzetti was the sale’s leading buyer with an aggregate of €390,000, and his other purchases included colts by Toronado (Ire) and Vadamos (Fr) for €55,000 and €52,000, respectively. Prominent owner Scuderia Effevi took home the sale’s top-priced colt, a son of Australia (GB) consigned by Razza del Velino and bought for €130,000. Lot 44 is out of Mooney Ridge (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), a winning daughter of Holy Moon (Ire), Italy’s broodmare extraordinaire as the dam of G1 Premio Lydia Tesio winners Charity Line (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) and Final Score (Ire); G1 Irish Oaks winner Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), G2 Oaks d’Italia winner Cherry Collect (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and Group 3 winner Wordless (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). Mooney Ridge is already a stakes producer herself, having thrown the 2016 G3 St Leger Italiano third Troublemaker (Ity) (Vita Rosa {Jpn}). Effevi’s Felice Villa raced Cherry Collect, Final Score and Charity Line himself, and later sold all three as broodmares to the Yoshida family (the former two to Katsumi Yoshida and Charity Line to Teruya Yoshida). While the Yoshidas themselves were not on the SGA buyers’ sheet, there was Japanese interest from Big Red Farm, which scooped up a Danon Ballade (Jpn) colt (lot 3) for €120,000. Antonio Somma of Scuderia Bivans is a well-known owner of Standardbreds, but on Saturday he made a foray into the Thoroughbred market with the purchase of lot 98, an Acclamation half-sister to G3 Premio Guido Berardelli winner Atom Hearth Mother (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), for €116,000. The filly is also from the family of Godolphin’s top stayer Opinion Poll (Ire) (Halling). Longtime successful Italian owner Diego Romeo was also in action through his Scuderia Incolinx, and he secured a Kodiac (GB) half-sister to Italian stakes winners Candy Store (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and The Conqueror (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) (lot 36) for €90,000. The action moves next door to San Siro Racecourse on Sunday, with a card featuring three group races headed by the G2 Premio Federico Tesio. The post International Trade At Italian Select Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Omaha Beach, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) as the morning-line favorite, has now been withdrawn from consideration for the Sept. 28 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. View the full article

After a dazzling debut at Saratoga Race Course, the next step for Team Valor International and WinStar Farm's Gouverneur Morris will come Oct. 5 around two turns in the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. View the full article

Godolphin looks for a fourth top-level success with Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in Sunday’s hotly-contested G1 Preis von Europa at Cologne. Last year’s G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden hero–who also captured the G1 Caulfield Cup–was seventh in the G3 September S. on his belated seasonal bow in the G3 September S. over a mile and a half on Kempton’s Polytrack Sept. 7 and is reported in peak condition by Saeed bin Suroor. “Best Solution needed the run in the September S. and has come on for his first start of the season,” he said. “His latest piece of work went well and he is ready to go. Any rain will help his chances, but he heads to Germany in good condition and I am looking for a good run.” This is a deep renewal, with the last two winners of the G1 Deutsches Derby Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and Laccario (Ger) (Scalo {Ger}) also in opposition. The latter was incredibly over 18 lengths third to Godolphin’s Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Sept. 1 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, where the re-opposing 3-year-old filly Donjah (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}) was 4 1/4 lengths ahead of him in second. The post Cologne Test For Best Solution appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fox Hill Farm’s Omaha Beach (War Front) will bypass Saturday’s GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill Downs in favor of staying in Southern California for the GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship Oct. 5, according to Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. “His workout yesterday got very messed up and I needed that to be good in order to run him next week in Kentucky,” said Mandella Saturday morning. “I decided to stay here and just run him in the [Sprint Championship] Oct. 5.” Working in tandem with maiden Charlito (Fed Biz), Omaha Beach worked seven furlongs (XBTV Video) in 1:27.20 Friday morning at Santa Anita–his seventh work since returning to the track following a procedure to correct an entrapped epiglottis. Winner of the GI Arkansas Derby and GII Rebel S. earlier this spring, Omaha Beach has not raced since scratching from the May 4 GI Kentucky Derby as the morning line favorite. The post Omaha Beach to Miss Ack Ack appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of Mark Johnston’s blue-collar workers this term, Rose of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) made her 11th start her crowning moment as she earned a breakthrough first black-type success for her and her first-season sire in Saturday’s G3 Firth of Clyde S. at Ayr. Consistently edging up the rankings as 2019 wears on, Kingsley Park’s bay sprung out of a Goodwood nursery where she was fourth Sept. 3 to register a game half-length defeat of her similarly hard-working old rival Graceful Magic (GB) (Gutaifan {Ire}). Second early, she took command from the long-time leader and eventual third Endless Joy (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) 100 yards from the line as her stamina kicked in. “I was surprised at how well she travelled, as I always felt she wanted seven,” jockey Joe Fanning commented. “She travelled really comfortably there and wants every yard of that trip.” Rose of Kildare met Graceful Magic when dead-heating with her in a nursery over this trip at Newmarket Aug. 3, with the Johnston runner giving away five pounds on that occasion. Their second encounter resulted in Graceful Magic finishing runner-up and Rose of Kildare in fourth at Goodwood 18 days prior to this rematch and there was 1 1/2 furlongs between them with the former getting 12 pounds on that occasion. With Graceful Magic going on to a Doncaster nursery win last week, the evidence that Rose of Kildare, whose sole prior attempt at black-type came when eighth in the Listed Chesham S. on her only try at seven furlongs at Royal Ascot June 22, could win a race of this stature was there for all to see. Her trainer said, “That is obviously a tremendous result. Anything is a bonus after that. There is no need for her to run any more this season really, but at the same time it’s another example of horses thriving on regular racing. It shows it’s good for them.” Pedigree Notes Her dam is the Listed Ballymacoll Stud S. winner Cruck Realta (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), who hails from the family of the G1 Irish St Leger hero Ibn Bey (GB) (Mill Reef) and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Roseate Tern (GB) (Blakeney {GB}). The latter is in turn the dam of the Listed Pretty Polly S.-winning pair of Esloob (Diesis {GB}) and Siyadah (Mr. Prospector), while another half-sister Cerise Bouquet (GB) (Mummy’s Pet {GB}) threw the G3 Prestige S. winner and G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches third Red Camellia (GB) (Polar Falcon). Cruck Realta’s yearling colt by Kingman (GB) is due to sell at the upcoming Tattersalls October Book 2 Sale. Saturday, Ayr, Britain WILLIAM HILL FIRTH OF CLYDE S.-G3, £65,000, Ayr, 9-21, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:10.76, gd. 1–ROSE OF KILDARE (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Make Believe (GB) 1st Dam: Cruck Realta (GB) (SW-Eng), by Sixties Icon (GB) 2nd Dam: Wansdyke Lass (GB), by Josr Algarhoud (Ire) 3rd Dam: Silankka (GB), by Slip Anchor (GB) 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (€3,000 Ylg ’18 TIRSEP). O-Kingsley Park 14; B-Wansdyke Farms Ltd (IRE); T-Mark Johnston; J-Joe Fanning. £36,862. Lifetime Record: 11-4-2-1, $101,451. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Graceful Magic (GB), 126, f, 2, Gutaifan (Ire)–Magic Escapade (Ire), by Azamour (Ire). O-The Kimber Family; B-Dr Scott Kimber (GB); T-Eve Johnson Houghton. £13,975. 3–Endless Joy (GB), 126, f, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Funny Enough (GB), by Dansili (GB). (90,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-Clipper Logistics; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud and Mrs M. E. Slade (GB); T-Archie Watson. £6,994. Margins: HF, HF, 1HF. Odds: 8.00, 5.00, 20.00. Also Ran: Orlaith (Ire), Final Option (GB), Lambeth Walk (GB), Piece of Paradise (Ire), Al Rasmah (Ire), Aleneva (Ire). Scratched: American Lady (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Rose Blooms In The Firth Of Clyde appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The sole Grade I winner in the field, Come Dancing (Malibu Moon) looks to be the one to beat in Sunday’s GII Gallant Bloom H. at Belmont. The winner of the Royal Delta S. in Elmont last season, the Carlos Martin trainee closed out 2018 with a close-up second behind Marley’s Freedom (Blame) in the GIII Go For Wand H. at the Big A in December. Given plenty of time off until her seasonal return at the South Ozone Park oval in the Apr. 5 GIII Distaff H., she won for fun that day before adding another emphatic score to her resume in a muddy renewal of the mile GII Ruffian S. at Belmont May 5. Having to play the bridesmaid behind divisional leader Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) in the June 8 GI Ogden Phipps S., she was given a brief freshener and resumed with an off-the-pace victory in the seven-furlong GI Ballerina S. Aug. 24. Javier Castellano, who was aboard for the first time in the Ballerina, gets the return call in the Gallant Bloom. Minit to Stardom (Star Guitar), a stakes winner against Louisiana-bred foes at the Fair Grounds last season, has hit the board in all five prior starts this year, including the three wins this spring and summer. A front-running winner going six furlongs in a Delaware optional claimer May 8, the bay added another going 5 1/2 furlongs over the Laurel turf June 7 before making it three straight in Saratoga’s GII Honorable Miss H. July 24. Alex Cintron, who has been aboard for all three wins this term, gets back aboard. The post Coming Dancing Towers Over Gallant Bloom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the shadows following his sparkling debut success over six furlongs at Haydock May 24, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s TDN Rising Star Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) re-emerged to make his class tell in Saturday’s G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. at Newbury. Always travelling well within himself just off the early pace, the 9-4 joint-favourite tanked to the front at halfway and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to account for the other joint-favourite Mystery Power (Ire) (No Nay Never) by 1 1/2 lengths. In doing so, he emulated his half-brother Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who took this in 2016. “He’s confirmed that he is a very nice horse and one to definitely get excited about,” trainer Roger Varian commented. “He’s been a delicate horse since his win and to tell you the truth, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect today.” Pierre Lapin is one ahead of Harry Angel at this stage of his career, having won on his debut whereas his high-class half-sibling came to this as a maiden. There was a genuine sense that he did this on raw ability alone, as Varian was keen to stress before the race that he had not asked any serious questions in the lead-up and was using this to have some questions answered. “I’d have loved to have run him in the summer, but I couldn’t,” he added. “He was not unsound, he just took time but he came good in the last two or three weeks at home and I am delighted to see a performance like that. I’ll speak to the owner and get his view, but the most important thing is to see how he comes out of this race. We can get really excited about next year. The Middle Park is only next week, so that’s too quick. Another question is whether we go up to seven furlongs or he sticks to six, so there are a lot of questions to answer.” By Showcasing’s first-season sire Cappella Sansevero, Pierre Lapin was the Bridge House Stud resident’s first winner at Haydock and is very much his flag-bearer so far. The dam Beatrix Potter (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), whose yearling full-sister to the G1 July Cup and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Harry Angel is due to sell at the upcoming Goffs Orby Sale, is a half to the dual G1 Champions Mile-winning sire Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}) and the listed-placed dam of the dual listed scorer Mrs Gallagher (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). As a measure of her raised profile, Beatrix Potter whose family also features the GI Donn H. hero Stephen Got Even (A.P. Indy) was bred to Justify for 2020 in what could be a fascinating mix. Saturday, Newbury, Britain DUBAI DUTY FREE MILL REEF S.-G2, £75,000, Newbury, 9-21, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.90, g/f. 1–PIERRE LAPIN (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Cappella Sansevero (GB) 1st Dam: Beatrix Potter (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 2nd Dam: Great Joy (Ire), by Grand Lodge 3rd Dam: Cheese Soup, by Spectacular Bid 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (140,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-CBS Bloodstock (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-Andrea Atzeni. £42,533. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $61,314. *1/2 to Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 5-7f, Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 5-7f, MG1SW-Eng, $1,142,883. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Mystery Power (Ire), 130, c, 2, No Nay Never–Gems (GB), by Haafhd (GB). (€110,000 Wlg ’17 GOFNOV; 250,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Ms Siobhan O’Rahilly (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £16,125. 3–Shadn (Ire), 124, f, 2, No Nay Never–Amethyst (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells. (€16,000 Wlg ’17 GOFNOV; £42,000 Ylg ’18 TASAYG). O-Alrabban Racing; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £8,070. Margins: 1HF, HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.25, 2.25, 8.00. Also Ran: Royal Commando (Ire), Malotru (GB), Firepower (Fr), Mr Kiki (Ire), Impressor (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post TDN Rising Star Pierre Lapin Takes the Mill Reef appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Turnover was down at Sha Tin on Saturday but the civil unrest that has plagued Hong Kong racing in recent days was not to blame, according to Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.Engelbrecht-Bresges instead pointed the finger at the strength of the product on offer to punters after there was a HK$36 million drop in turnover on a day when officials were pleased to see normal service resume at Sha Tin.“It was a little bit down but if you look at today’s card, I think it has… View the full article

Tony Millard was full of praise for Joao Moreira after the three-time champion jockey lifted Meridian Genius to victory in the Class Four Kam Tin Handicap (1,000m) at Sha Tin on Saturday.Moreira and Meridian Genius went toe-to-toe with his chief rival Zac Purton and Victory Power for the last 150m of the race – the two jockeys (and horses) giving everything in the fight to the line.It was a photo finish, but the judge found a nose margin in favour of the Brazilian and the South African trainer… View the full article

A split-second decision made all the difference for jockey Matthew Poon Ming-fai when he dashed to the front on a red-hot all-weather track at Sha Tin on Saturday.The local jockey sensed the much-maligned surface was up to its old tricks on Saturday, favouring the leaders after one race so elected to take full advantage of it in his second go.Poon jostled for the lead on the Jimmy Ting Koon-ho-trained Elite Boy in the Class Four Lau Fau Shan Handicap (1,200m) but was eventually able to settle… View the full article

The Mauritian Magician Karis Teetan has issued a timely reminder to owners, trainers and racing fans he is still a force to be reckoned with after a fantastic five-time at Sha Tin.The 29-year-old has almost been the forgotten man of the Hong Kong riding ranks early this season, despite coming off a campaign where he finished third on the championship table with a career-best 84 winners.While the focus has been on the likely title dual between Zac Purton and Joao Moreira, as well as addition of… View the full article

The beginning of SuperCoach Racing isn’t far away, so, to test-run our brand new game, I thought I’d make a mock team ahead of the weekend’s racing in Melbourne (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield) and Sydney (George Main Stakes at Randwick) to see how I might fare. View the full article

A pair of undefeated gallopers head to Sha Tin on Saturday looking to keep their perfect records intact.Both Winning Delight and Ka Ying Master have taken to life in Hong Kong immediately, kicking off their careers with wins last season before the latter went back-to-back in the first meeting of the new season.Trainer Caspar Fownes said Winning Delight had to overcome the handicapper to win as he did first-up.The four-year-old arrived at Sha Tin with a rating of 72 after winning a midweek race… View the full article