Wandering Eyes

Karis Teetan will proudly fly the Bauhinia flag when he represents Hong Kong at the World All-Star Jockeys series in Japan this weekend.The Mauritian Magician is trying to follow in the footsteps of Douglas Whyte (2004), Zac Purton (2012) and Joao Moreira (2015) and become the fourth Sha Tin-based jockey to take out the title.Teetan is taking on 13 other riders including Irishman Colm O’Donoghue, up-and-coming French jockey Mickaelle Michel, Julien Leparoux (USA) and New Zealander Lisa Allpress… View the full article

The Shark goes looking for Friday night harness racing winners from Alexandra Park in Auckland Race 1 6 Some Do: First starter heading into today’s debut effort with some strong workout and trial form and a powerful stable behind them. Looks the horse they all have to beat. 1 Diamondsrbettor: Plenty of talk around this week after a strong trial performance recently. Gets the plum draw and should have something to say from there. 9 Tempo Rose: Nice type back from a spell and more importantly drawn to do no work from the inside of the second line. Enough form on the board to suggest there’s a chance. 4 Beautiful Stranger: Another debutant and another with good public form behind them ahead of the debut. Handy enough draw and does look capable of competing in this line up. Selections: 6-1-9-4 Race 2 7 Check In: Huge effort last time out after being held up on the final corner. Nearly got there, but just short. Redemption is served tonight and it should be served in winning form. 5 Solid Gold: Nice type back from a spell after ending last campaign on winning turn. Nice workout win to get things humming along and should push the favourite. 6 Juice Brogden: Put them to the sword last time out and the daring tactics paid off with a good win. Similar tactics here? Not a bad chance again. 1 Bettor My Dreamz: That was an emphatic victory last time out and from a plum inside draw tonight, you’d expect another bold display despite the notable rise in grade. Selections: 7-5-6-1 Race 3 7 Sertorius: Big handicap was the undoing last time out. Prior three wins were exemplary. Off even terms here and will be out to get things back on track. 8 CK Spur: Another in good form and one who has produced some big runs recently. Mobile conditions help as there’s no chasing early. Should be right in the middle of it all. 6 Sunny Glenis: All but been a revelation since arriving in the North Island. Great runs and would be very deserving of a winning turn should it eventuate here. 9 Mr Good And Evil: Raw talent, but a few tricks and rarely two good performances strung together. Chance here though from the second line. Selections: 7-8-6-9 Race 4 11 Prince Of Pleasure: Has had one go at the races so far and was unlucky probably not to finish second to a very smart performer. Fresh up tonight, but strong workouts say yes. 1 Macca’s: Herlihy trained first starter with some good public runs ahead of the debut. Good draw and should be the main combatant to the stable mate and favourite. 2 Double Up: Always respect for the Mangos stable whenever they line one up, especially a first starter. Can play a role from the handy draw. 5 Hughie Junior: Has done a good job in a short career to date and won’t settle too far from the speed here so should be able to play a part. Selections: 11-1-2-5 Race 5 8 Go Kiwi: Both runs in the North Island have been very good. Handy at his best form and will be looking to get that first North Island win on the board tonight. Can do it too. 3 Sole Ambition: Consistent performer who hasn’t been far away from the action in all of his career starts. Nice draw here and although up in grade the form should continue. 13 Delightful Major: Has returned to racing this campaign in fine fettle. Has plenty of upside and although needing to get around them all at some point, can still win. 11 Rubens: Finally got that win last time out and just doesn’t run bad races. Expected to produce another solid effort here off the second line. Selections: 8-3-13-11 Race 6 6 Henry Hu: There was plenty of talk around on debut and it was duly delivered upon. Up in grade and finds a hot field today but is more than capable of doubling up. 1 Megastar: Swing in draws is significant tonight. Will be a lot handier to the speed and potentially following the ideal horse. That puts things right into contention. 3 Flying Finn: Made a pretty decent effort of the first run up in grade. Handy draw here tonight and should be landing near the speed and give them a bit of a fright. 4 All Yours: Excellent form lines recently and really on the top of the game. Good field, but an even field and repeat of recent efforts will result in another strong effort. Selections: 6-1-3-4 Race 7 10 Gladamare: Loves the sprint trips and from the second line draw will do no extra work and then look to pounce on them late. Might surprise a couple with they way she’ll charge at them. 9 The Empress: Classy customer who hasn’t been bad recently. Won’t do the hard yards this week and is capable of coming off the back of one and really sprinting. Big chance. 5 Flying Steps: Has returned in fine fettle here and will be out to make it three in a row. Right draw and with scratchings looks a big chance of foing it too. 4 Adieu Flirt: Off the boil a little last time, but prior form was excellent. Should get handy then look for a the sweet trip. No forlorn hope in this. Race 8 3 Kay Cee: Not putting a foot wrong at the moment, but not quite grabbing the opportunity. That should change tonight. Looks the best of good things. 5 Safrakova: Can’t fault the form, it’s excellent. Deserved the win last time too. Mobile changes things a little here, but will still press forward. 2 Michelle: Best of her is handy enough to be competitive. No surprise to see her stand up here from behind the mobile and give a big effort. 1 Magnafique: Good runs in last two efforts and from this draw should be right on the speed and in the mix here tonight. A good place option. Selections: 3-5-2-1 Race 9 6 Nurburgring: Run down last time when well supported but still as good as anything in this field. Should roll forward and give a good sight again. 7 Red Terror: Let’s forget the last run, not much went right there. Two good seconds prior to that on this track so can be expected to bounce right back to form tonight. 2 Katamach: In a new barn and still chasing that elusive North Island win. Another good chance form another good draw. 12 Simon: A little under rated and might be the surprise packet off the second line in this assignment, especially if things pan out nice early. Selections: 6-7-2-12 Race 10 8 She Reigns: Promising type back from a spell and a stunning trial win recently over a very nice type. Manners will be the deciding factor, with them – untouchable. 6 Splitting Image: Two good runs since returning from a spell. Stablemate probably has the measure, but should still be right in the middle of it if the opportunity presents itself. 12 Highland Queen:Got it wrong again last time out but still managed to place. Clearly talented enough, but manners are the biggest issue. 10 The Urban Spaceman: Wouldn’t be in this gait and in this stable if there wasn’t something there to work with. Got the big watch on this week to see what the fuss is about. Selections: 8-6-12-10 BEST: 7 Check In (Race 2) NEXT: 8 She Reigns (Race 10) VALUE: 8 Go Kiwi (Race 5) View the full article

Punters shouldn’t be fooled into thinking tonight’s all-mile night at Alexandra Park is a gimme for those with the best draws. Because while mile racing in the north used to be about draws, draws and more draws, the nature of northern sprint racing has changed. So much so Alexandra Park officials now see the uncertainty of modern day mile-racing as a crucial turnover-driving tool. In days gone by, when mid-race pressure and horses who could fly the gate were rarer, sprint races were often dominated by leaders and trailers, with those back in the field hopeless in 56-second last 800m chases. But Alex Park racing boss Regan Cotter says the new mile racing pattern is vastly different. “We have found the all-mile nights have been great for turnover, some of our best normal meetings of the season,” says Cotter. “Especially when we have miles with the better horses drawn wider or the second line, it adds some uncertainty and the average win dividend has been higher.” That was the case at the last all-mile night on July 26 when the average win dividend was $8.60 in the 10 races and even that was skewered lower by two subsequent Breeders Crown finalists in Perfect Stride ($1.50) and Kratos ($2.10) winning race they wouldn’t usually have been in. As for the draws, an increase in horses leaving the gate hard and increased mid-race tempo means of the 10 races that night only three were won by horses drawing inside barrier five. Six of the 10 races were won by horses drawn six or wider, the outside half of the field. All of which means punters shouldn’t be scared to back horses drawn wide or even the second line tonight, especially if the race looks to have genuine early tempo. One of those races could be the $25,000 feature pace, in which Juice Bromac (6) has gate speed and Check In (7) the staying prowess that the race could turn into a survival of the fittest. The same applies in the main trot where Sunny Glenns and Sertorius are drawn widest but are stayers who will have to work forward some and that might as well be early so their wide draws may not be as damning as punters think. Go Kiwi (race 5), Henry Hu (R6) and She Reigns (r10) are others good enough to overcome wide draws with a little luck or tempo to soften up the leaders. While barrier draws may no longer be the be-all-and-end-all of mile racing at Alexandra Park they are still crucial the highest level because the good horses don’t stop and that should be the case at the Breeders Crown Finals night at Melton tomorrow. While Kiwi trotters Ultimate Stride and Liberty Stride are good enough to work and win, the good barriers for Princess Tiffany and juvenile boys Perfect Stride and Zeuss Bromac have enormously turned the tables in their favour on what should be a successful night for the small Kiwi contingent. View the full article

She Reigns. As far as form for a maiden trot goes, She Reigns has the best you could hope for. The problem? It’s from 16 months ago. The daughter of Monarchy resumes as a four-year-old at Auckland on Friday night having missed her entire three-year-old campaign. She was last seen at the Cambridge Harness Jewels in June of last year, where she finished mid-pack behind Enhance Your Calm. But it’s her two prior starts that make for very nice reading – a pair of second placings behind last season’s likely 3YO Trotting Filly of the Year, Tickle Me Pink. Dylan Ferguson is the stable foreman for trainer Graeme Rogerson and will drive She Reigns this week, and he’s expecting big things. “I certainly think she’s the best horse in the race,” he told HRNZ. “And while she’s not there for a gut-buster, she’s there to win and I’d like to think she’ll be very competitive.” The maiden trot is being run over a mile and while She Reigns is drawn wide, that is far less important in this type of race. “Knowing maiden trotters, we should be able to press forward and get an advantage over the ones that make mistakes,” said Ferguson. From there, it should be a formality. “She’s got a ton of speed and I think that will put her in good stead, not just this week but going forward.” Her and Splitting Image actually set up a New Zealand record for Tickle Me Pink as a two-year-old. “She might not have gone to the level of Tickle Me Pink, but I’ve got no doubt she’s improved a lot since then.” Ferguson only got his hands on She Reigns in March after she returned to Rogerson from Australia. She had been sent there by Rogerson and co-owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth, to race as a three-year-old from the stable of Kerryn Manning. “I couldn’t tell you the extent of what she did over there, but she never raced and returned home with a very minor tendon issue. “I think she had banged it and they thought it was best for her to be here where she could take advantage of the treadmill, the water walker and the pool. “She’s been back in work five months and I’ve been very happy with her every step of the way.” She Reigns has contested two workouts this time in and won them both, the most recent at Pukekohe last Saturday where she reeled in advanced trotter The Hulk with ease. “I’m pretty happy with her. “Soundness-wise, she’s faultless. Her blood was out after her first workout after what she showed on Saturday, I have no doubts she’s back to full health.” Stablemate Splitting Image gives Rogerson and Ferguson a good second-stringer in the race. She also missed her three-year-old season and has had two runs back this time for two placings, at Cambridge. “The vets reckon she is lucky to be alive, let alone racing, after she had an issue with a knee. “A bit of a miracle horse apparently, but she’s not quite up to the other filly.” Ferguson also drives Rogerson’s two other chances on the night – Hey Good Looking in a maiden and High Point and a handy mares’ race. “High Point is a bit outclassed in that race but the mile is her go and is a great starting point fresh-up. “The other horse as had her chances to win one before and has been disappointing. “I’d like to say she’s a good chance, but I’ve thought she was a winner before and been let down.” Ferguson is eagerly awaiting 2020 when he and Rogerson will roll out some of their juveniles bought at the Karaka sales earlier this year, including the sale-topper, Challenger. “I’d like to think we have a couple of early runners there. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the expensive one and he’s certainly at the top of the pecking order at this stage.” Ferguson and partner Jo Stevens are two months into life as parents to daughter Grace, and he says it’s been pretty cruisy to date. “She’s pretty well-behaved – we’ve been very lucky. “I’m usually the one waking her up in the morning. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. “I guess it can only go one way from here.” View the full article

There is absolutely no question about which flag Anthony Butt will be flying at the Australasian Breeders Crown in Victoria on Saturday night. The New Zealand-born reinsman, who has established himself as one of Australia’s leading drivers, hopes to send a swag of silverware back to his homeland when he drives four strong chances in group 1 finals at the feature meeting at Melton on Saturday night. Butt could help trainer Phil Williamson send two Breeders Crown trophies back to Oamaru when he drives Ultimate Stride and Liberty Stride. Ultimate Stride has dominated his opposition in three starts after crossing the Tasman. Butt does not think barrier 7 will be enough to stop that winning run. ”I am not too worried. I would sooner be drawn there than out on the back row,” the driver said. ”I have been really impressed with this guy. ”He has got better and better since he has been here.” Ultimate Stride dealt to his rivals in Breeders Crown heat with an 11m win. ”He won that race with a leg in the air, really,” Butt said. The Oamaru trotter’s main rival looks to be fellow heat winner Is That A Bid. Ultimate Stride was rated a $1.60 win price, ahead of Is That A Bid at $3, with Australian bookmakers this week. Liberty Stride stunned Australian harness racing fans with a stunning win from a hopeless position in her first run in Australia. She made a meal of the Victoria Trotters Derby, before qualifying for the 3yr-old fillies’ trotting final with a fast-finishing second to Sunny’s Little Jestic in her heat run. Galloping in two of her three Australian starts has resulted in the trotter being placed on the unruly on Saturday night. Butt does not think that draw will be enough to stop the filly, who was rated a $2.60 favourite this week. ”Her manners were a lot better last week; she was a lot more settled,” he said. ”She is probably the best horse in the field, I think, but in saying that, she will have to be very good to beat them. ”It won’t be easy from the draw. One thing I was particularly pleased with is her main rivals are drawn on the second row with her.” Butt can only see one other factor, aside from her unruly draw, against Liberty Stride. ”She is still quite inexperienced. ”She hasn’t got a lot of experience stopping and starting mid-race, but if it comes down to a dogfight late I think she will be hard to hold out.” Heat winners Sunny’s Little Jestic and Emerald Stride are both rated $6 chances behind the favourite. Australian bookmakers rated I Am Pegasus, who trailed Liberty Stride home in her heat, the second favourite at $3.90 this week. Butt’s Australasian Breeders Crown chances do not end with Phil Williamson’s trotting duo. The reinsman will drive Perfect Stride, a leading chance in the 2yr-old male pacers final, for Auckland trainer Ray Green. Butt will also drive Northern Oaks winner Best Western for another Auckland trainer in Jeremy Young. Best Western could be running for second, as she has to take on raging hot favourite and star Kiwi filly Princess Tiffany. View the full article

Star Galleria. Whether a season is a success or failure often depends on expectation. Which means most punters and even trainer Steven Reid would struggle to give Star Galleria a positive report card for last season. On raw data that hardly seems fair. Star Galleria finished second to Turn It Up in and Auckland Cup and Cambridge Flying Mile and was a consistent player at the highest level. But when you have been given that most potent of equine gifts, blazing speed, close enough isn’t good enough. So Reid is hoping this season, which starts at the workouts next week for Star Galleria, is better. A lot better. “I suppose it was a good season but it could have been much better,’” admits Reid. “But what a lot of people forget is that he had an operation for an entrapped epiglottis and that effected him at both ends of the season. “He had an operation on that after the NZ Cup (seventh) and then it bothered him when he flipped his palate in the Hunter Cup (February) so he did a good job to run second in an Auckland Cup in between.” The problem is that Star Galleria, while he has won 13 races and $362,171, has a million-dollar reputation and after a ballistic early season victory this time last year huge money offers were being thrown around. They were turned down and Star Galleria won one more race for the season. Reid hasn’t given up on the now six-year-old making good on his gifts. “He has come back stronger, a lot stronger,” he offers. “And we now know one of the keys to him is keeping him settled in his races because after the operation he has an increased risk of flipping his palate. “But with his speed and him being stronger I think he can have a better season than last season.” And Star Galleria has plenty of local targets, with Reid hoping some small fields hold together in the north over the next two months to allow him a home-based preparation for the New Zealand Cup, with Tony Herlihy to retain the drive. Then he has the Inter Dominion returning to his back door at Alexandra Park on November 29, with doubts over a range of top-end contenders. “I think he actually thrives on the back up so I am confident he will handle the series, especially being at home.” That is well over $1.5million worth of races for Star Galleria between now and the New Year. And plenty of chances to live up to the hype. View the full article

The connections of Group One performer Hiflyer have taken a patient approach with the gelding’s return after he suffered an injury following his last start unplaced run in the Gr.2 Japan NZ International Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. “He had a minor setback after his last race, he pulled a muscle in his back,” Lock said. “We have just given him time to get over it. We decided we weren’t going to target the Tarzino Trophy (Gr.1, 1400m) and the triple crown series at Hastings this year, s. View the full article

Te Aroha conditioner Peter Lock will take two runners south for Saturday’s New Plymouth meeting and he believes both horses are winning chances. Six-year-old gelding Viktor Vegas will tackle the feature race of the day, the New Plymouth ITM Interprovincial Challenge (1600m), and he takes some strong form into the race. The son of Tavistock has had two runs this preparation for a win first-up over 1200m at Awapuni before getting pipped at the line by The Good Fight over 1400m at Te Rapa earlier. View the full article

Lisa Allpress is hoping her competitive streak and previous experience in Japan can give her an edge in this weekend's World All Stars Jockeys series at Sapporo Racecourse in Hokkaido. The Wanganui jockey has arrived in Hokkaido ahead of the four-race series which runs over two meetings at Sapporo. She has also picked up a further three rides including Daimei Fuji in the Gr.3 Keeneland Cup (1200m) on Sunday. As well as competing for individual honours, Allpress is part of the international team,. View the full article

Despite conceding eight or more pounds to more experienced hurdlers at a longer distance, Winston C easily won the New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-G1), pulling clear by six lengths at the furlong pole and romping home by 8 3/4 lengths. View the full article

Dazzle Gold at the double View the full article

Wassergeist two-from-two over course and distance View the full article

Noh suspended, Jerome Tan appeals against $5,000 fine View the full article

Iron Ruler poses for camera at maiden win View the full article

Early scratching August 25 View the full article

Horses' body weights August 23 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings August 23 View the full article

After three years of negotiated stability in the Southern California race dates calendar, significant changes are on the horizon for 2020. Not all parties are happy with the proposed schedule, which has an emphasis on fewer racing dates and was only partially approved on Thursday by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) at its monthly meeting. Santa Anita Park’s 2020 winter/spring meet will still occupy roughly the same block of December-June dates. But the CHRB voted unanimously on Thursday to allow the track to carve out a three-week (12 racing programs) “flex dates” break of no racing if track management encounters severe or potentially horse-harmful weather like it did this year. At the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the 2020 summer meet will still mirror its traditional July-September season. But once that meet is finished, a major switch is that instead of the SoCal circuit going to Los Alamitos–which in 2015 took over the Los Angeles County Fair dates that for decades had been run at now-defunct Fairplex Park–the CHRB approved a plan that calls for racing instead to move directly to Santa Anita, then pick up at Del Mar Oct. 28-Dec. 1. In theory, no Los Alamitos in September means a reduction in the amount of opportunities lesser-caliber horses have to compete on the SoCal circuit. But the tradeoff, as framed by proponents of the newly revised calendar, is that the flexibility that allows for fewer racing dates overall will be a plus for the California racing industry in light of safety and horse population concerns. The higher-profile tracks–Santa Anita and Del Mar–both got the date plans they jointly proposed in conjunction with the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). But officials from both Los Alamitos Race Course and the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) claimed they were left out of some stages of the planning process that involved private meetings among those other stakeholders. They also expressed dismay and frustration that they only found out about the proposed 2020 schedule when it was posted online by the CHRB about 48 hours prior to Thursday’s meeting. As a result, the CHRB split its Thursday vote, acting only upon the Santa Anita and Del Mar portions of the SoCal calendar. Voting on the remaining four weeks that had been allocated in that proposal to Los Alamitos (June 24 to July 7 and Dec. 2-15) was moved to the agenda for the September CHRB meeting. It was not immediately clear in the aftermath of Thursday’s vote what might change over the course of the next month to give Los Alamitos a schedule that more closely resembles its 2019 dates allocation, which is what track officials told the CHRB that they wanted. CHRB spokesperson Mike Marten explained to TDN via phone after the meeting that it is his belief that the board has “no plans to revisit” the vanished Los Alamitos block of September dates that the board awarded to Santa Anita. “We do have a specific concern about racing three additional weeks at Santa Anita immediately upon the close of Del Mar,” said Alan Balch, executive director of the CTT. “We’re talking about changing the calendar and [losing] the opportunity for a different level of horses [to race]. That’s serious.” Jack Liebau, vice president of Los Alamitos, pointed out that his track’s traditional September meet also has value to the state’s industry because it pulls in horses from tracks like Turf Paradise and Emerald Downs that often remain to compete at the larger tracks on the California circuit. Much of the discussion focused on Santa Anita’s mid-meet break. It would be an option, but not a requirement, for Santa Anita, and its necessity and duration will be entirely dependent upon then-current circumstances. If requested by track management, the break would require approval from either the CHRB’s chairman or executive director to go into effect. If no break is deemed to be needed, Santa Anita could race without interruption. CHRB Vice Chair Madeline Auerbach said that when the 2020 proposal with fewer racing dates was first floated at a dates committee meeting earlier this month, the logic of a less-is-more approach appealed to her. “What we talked about was the fact that we would have less racing days at Santa Anita, and the reason that nobody put in a specific time [for the mid-meet break] is because we’re trying to be sensitive to the weather situation [as it relates to] the safety of the horses and the riders,” Auerbach said. “We put in what we like to call “flex dates,” so that they would be racing less days, more amenable to taking days off in between to satisfy not only weather conditions, but conditions around the horse population. “We were very cognizant of the need for the industry to recognize that we have fewer horses available,” Auerbach continued. “We all have come through a very difficult period…. Rather than [leaving it up to the CHRB to mandate safety-related closures] we have given Santa Anita the ability to do it themselves. And if they can’t do it or won’t do it, we can.” Greg Avioli, president and chief executive officer the TOC, explained why his organization supported the 2020 concept. “The thing that we like the most about this calendar is it’s less racing,” Avioli said. “The reality is we continue to be down significantly in the horse population from previous years. We do not believe it’s in the best interest of the sport, the horsemen, or the horses to continue to race every week of the year, so the calendar [that was proposed by Santa Anita, Del Mar, and the TOC] has three weeks less of racing for Santa Anita in their winter/spring meet and also has Del Mar starting effectively two weeks later.” Del Mar president Josh Rubinstein said “from Del Mar’s perspective, the calendar that we’re requesting is based on breaks. We’re requesting a 13-day break prior to our summer meet, and we believe that’s the only way we’ll be able to run five days a week and pay out what we’re estimating to be $500,000 a day in purses.” Aidan Butler, acting executive director of California racing operations for The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita, said, “This is a safe calendar. As safe as we can [have it be] at the moment. Horse racing has been through a terrible time. We need to run less. Change is tough. People get frustrated. But the most important thing now is the health, the safety, and the welfare of the horse and rider.” The post Santa Anita Granted Flex Dates; Los Al Loses September Meet in 2020 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Waikato Farms will showcase their stallions this weekend. The annual Waikato stallion tour, organised by the Waikato branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, will take place this weekend. A bus will be available, however, space is limited. To book a spot or for more information contact Scott Buchanan 0226131631. Saturday – August 24 9.15am Bus leaves NZTBA Office – 9 Anzac Street, Cambridge 9.45am – Valachi Downs (Savile Row, Zacinto, US Navy Flag) + coffee cart 10.50am – Mapperley Stud (Complacent, Contributor, Puccini, He’s Remarkable, Summer Passage) 11.50am – Matamata Racecourse (Ocean Emperor) + Prize Draw 12.20pm – Rich Hill Stud (Proisir, Satono Aladdin, Shocking, Vadamos, Ace High) + lunch 1.45pm – Waikato Stud ( Savabeel, Sacred Falls, Ocean Park, Tivaci, Rock ‘n’ Pop, Ardrossan) 3.30pm – Brighthill Farm (Eminent, Perfectly Ready, Dalghar, Preferment). 5pm – Bus returns to NZTBA Office Sunday – August 25 9.30am Bus leaves NZTBA office 10.10 – Highview Stud (Wrote, Bullbars, Sweet Orange) + coffee cart. 11am – Norwegian Park (What’s The Story, Echoes of Heaven) 11.35am – Windsor Park Stud (Rip Van Winkle, Shamexpress, Charm Spirit, Mongolian Khan, Turn Me Loose, Ragese, Vanbrugh). 12.40pm – The Oaks Stud (Niagara, Darci Brahma, Roc De Cambes) + lunch 1.45pm – Novara Park (Sweynesse, Staphanos) 2.30pm – Cambridge Stud (Almanzor, Tavistock, Burgundy, Embellish) 3.45pm – Bus returns to NZTBA Office View the full article

Volpe Veloce stepped out in a trial earlier this week. Matamata trainer Graham Richardson will head to Sydney with Group One winner Volpe Veloce after her pleasing performance at the Taupo trials when second behind More Wonder on Wednesday. “She was flying, it was good to see,” Richardson said. “She is just happy in her work.” The winner of last year’s Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m) has pleased Richardson with the way she has returned this season and she will attempt to add another Railway title to her tally after a Sydney spring campaign. “She’s definitely bigger and stronger,” he said. “She’s got a bit of middle about her now and she is fully developed. “She will be off to Sydney now for two or three starts and then head fresh into the Railway. “We haven’t confirmed which races she will contest yet, but there are options on September 7, 14 and 21.” Richardson said he has some nice horses coming through the stable, including a two-year-old colt by Vancouver and fillies by Epaulette and Manhattan Rain which were impressing him, in addition to three-year-old trial winner Red Hussar. The Matamata horseman was also looking forward to the return of five-win mare La Mia Stella, while Group One place-getter Tiptronic was likely to have a quiet trial at Te Teko next week as he furthered his spring preparations. View the full article

Officials at Churchill Downs have released the schedule for the ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby, Presented by Woodford Reserve,’ which is set to kick off with the running of the GIII Iroquois S. at the home of the Derby Sept. 14. The ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ features a series of 35 races that award a sliding scale of points to the top four finishers. The total number of points-earning races remain the same as last year. The Iroquois kicks off the 19-race “Prep Season,” featuring races at distances at a minimum of a mile between September and February. Each of these “Prep Season” races is worth 10-4-2-1 to the first four home. Sixteen races comprise the “Championship Series” events, most offering 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers. The most meaningful of these final Derby preps carry a 100-40-20-10 scale, including the GII Louisiana Derby, G2 UAE Derby, GI Florida Derby, GII Wood Memorial S., GII Toyota Blue Grass S., GI Santa Anita Derby and GI Arkansas Derby. In addition to the primary ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ series, there are feeder series in Europe (seven races) and Japan (four races) that award the top points-getter an automatic berth in the Derby. A similar series remains in place to qualify for the GI Kentucky Oaks. There will be 30 races along the ‘Road to the Kentucky Oaks’–15 ‘Prep Season’ races, beginning with the GII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Sept. 14–and 15 ‘Championship Series’ races. Click here for the various schedules. The post Churchill Announces ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lubaya. The sale of Lubaya in gavelhouse.com’s most recent thoroughbred auction set a new price highlight for the site. A regally-bred daughter of Rip Van Winkle, Lubaya’s appeal was not lost on bidders with plenty of early interest in the Group placed mare who was offered as a breeding and racing proposition in light work. This interest led to a record sale price of $255,000, surpassing the $211,000 paid for Ampin who was sold in foal to Savabeel in June 2017. “These types of results reinforce the fact that gavelhouse.com is a brilliant tool for trading bloodstock at all ends of the spectrum and we’re grateful for every opportunity we get to demonstrate this,” commented gavelhouse.com General Manager Haylie Martin. “There’s no stress on the animal with them able to remain at home and there’s every opportunity for buyers to complete their due diligence by inspecting them and completing vet checks to mitigate risk.” Bred by Doug and Robyn Phillips and Windsor Park Stud, Lubaya was a Karaka Premier Sale yearling graduate bought by trainer Roydon Bergerson for $85,000 with her name a fitting one being Swahili for ‘young lioness’. A daughter of the Generous mare Lioness she is a half to dual Group One winner Lion Tamer and a full to Group performer Let Me Roar. Lubaya as a yearling Among the top classic fillies of her generation, the three-time race winner earnt herself a place in the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas field and at her last start she added valuable black-type to her page with a third placing in the Gr.3 Manuwatu Breeders Stakes. Such is the faith in her racing ability and developing maturity, the successful purchasers have decided to continue to race on with the now five-year-old mare rather than retire to the breeding barn immediately. Martin said she was pleased with the auction and the interest in gavelhouse.com sales which continues to grow. “In addition to Lubaya there were a number of quality mares traded this week and it was also pleasing to see good money being spent on mares to stay in New Zealand,” she said. “As always, the auction also drew plenty of interest from across the Tasman with two from the broodmare section heading offshore in Encore Encore and Elfee.” View the full article

Laekeeper will be ridden by Shaun Fannin in the Corson Maize Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3350m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. A consensus between a trainer and his first-choice jockey will see talented jumper Laekeeper contest Saturday’s Corson Maize Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3350m) at Ellerslie with a new rider. Shaun Fannin will ride topweight Laekeeper for the first time after Morrinsville trainer Simon Rees and regular rider Emily Farr agreed she should ride last-start Riccarton winner Abacus for New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler. Farr has ridden Laekeeper in all but two of his 14 hurdle starts, winning four times on the Keeper eight-year-old gelding, among those wins was last year’s Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) at Riccarton which led to placings in the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton, last year’s Corson Maize Hurdle (3100m) at Te Aroha and Great Northern Hurdles (4200m), also at Te Aroha. However, Farr had parted company with Laekeeper in both the Sydenham Hurdles and Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton earlier this month, the only two times he has failed to place in jumping contests. “He’s really well, extremely well actually,” Rees said. “I had the situation where Emily had another ride and we agreed she should take that ride and we’ll see how Shaun goes on him. We’re very thankful for all the work Emily has done with him. “Shaun is very keen to ride him. We’re hopeful he can race well. He’s fit and well but a lot depends on how the ground is.” Ellerslie was rated a heavy 11 on Thursday, conditions Laekeeper has handled well in the past, though his most recent wins have been on slightly better slow 9 and heavy 10 tracks. TAB bookmakers have Wellington Hurdle (3400m) winner No Tip as a $3.70 favourite ahead of Laekeeper and Bay Rocker at $4.60. Rees said safely through Saturday’s race Laekeeper would again contest the Boutique Body Corporates Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) at Ellerslie on September 7. Fannin will also partner Saturday’s CLC Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4900m) favourite Raisafuasho at Ellerslie. Meanwhile, Rees will seek a hat-trick of wins with Maestro Blu in the ITM Winstone Wallboard Gib 1800 at New Plymouth on Saturday, suggesting a win could springboard the Mastercraftsman five-year-old into Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) contention at Riccarton in November. Maestro Blue followed a 3 1/4-length Te Aroha maiden win with an even easier 4 1/2-length Riccarton Rating 65 win earlier this month and looks well placed in Saturday’s special conditions maiden. “I felt he was nicely placed and we’ve got a bit of weight relief from the apprentice,” Rees said in reference to Mubs Kareem’s 4kg allowance. “We really like him. He’s going well and he worked pretty well this morning too. Long-term we’d like to go back to Riccarton in November and get him over a bit more ground. I think he’ll stay pretty well. He’s probably looking for 2000m now.” View the full article

TVG’s Morning Line program will feature the return of host Ken Rudulph and the addition of handicapper Matt Bernier. The in-studio program starts the network’s domestic racing coverage from the East Coast on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Rudulph was a part of the original broadcast team when TVG debuted in 1999. In 2011, he left the network to become the host of “Good Morning Sacramento” in his hometown. “I have never met or spoken to Matt Bernier in my life but I am super excited to work with him,” Rudulph said. “He’s really smart and has a unique and very valuable take on each race. He always finds things that no one else can see, illuminating them in a way that’s highly intellectual but not pretentious.” Bernier comes to TVG while currently serving as a handicapper and reporter for NBC’s horse racing coverage, and in the past served in a similar role for Daily Racing Form. “I’m excited to be joining TVG as we head into the Breeders’ Cup, one of the most action-packed times in the racing calendar, and to partner with a pro like Ken,” Bernier said. “TVG is the industry leader in providing quality analysis, and I look forward to bringing my handicapping work to the TVG audience.” The post Rudulph, Bernier to Join TVG Broadcast Team appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Despite conceding eight or more pounds to more experienced hurdlers at a longer distance, Winston C easily won the New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-1), pulling clear by six lengths at the furlong pole and romping home by 8 3/4 lengths. View the full article