Wandering Eyes

Evergreen sprinter Irish Excuse proves too tough as he races to victory at Riccarton. Evergreen sprinter Irish Excuse gave his rivals weight and a beating as he proved too tough in the closing stages of the Dyer Decorating Premier Sprint (1200m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The Ellis Winsloe-trained nine-year-old relished the testing Heavy11 track conditions as he out-finished race favourite Tabard in the final stages to score by a neat length with local runner Dynamic charging home into third. Winsloe resisted the temptation to utilise an apprentice rider to provide some weight relief for his charge’s 60kg impost, instead favouring visiting North Island jockey Shaun McKay who repaid the faith in him with a gem of an effort. McKay had Irish Excuse within striking distance throughout before guiding him into the middle of the track in the straight where he produced a dogged finish in the better footing, to nail down the victory. Winsloe was shaking his head in amazement as he waited for his stable favourite to return to the Riccarton birdcage after the race. “He’s been a great horse, who has won 14 now and has never come down in the grades,” Winsloe said. “It was a great ride as Shaun is a good rider and he (Irish Excuse) was the horse to suit him. “I was getting a hard time for not putting a claimer on him but Sam Collett won on him fresh-up in a similar sort of race so we stuck with Shaun and forgot about the apprentice allowance.” McKay, who was at Riccarton to take the ride on Central Districts raider She’s Poppy in the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 122nd Winter Cup (1600m) later in the day, was full of praise for his mount who has now won fourteen of his 67 career starts. “He’s a dude to ride who puts in 110 percent,” he said. “He (Winsloe) has done a terrific job to get the horse fit and for a horse who was carrying 60kgs to beat one carrying 53kgs, it’s a big effort.” View the full article

Malambo and Shiarna Johnson prove too strong for their rivals at Te Rapa. The training triumvirate of Graeme, Debbie and Bailey Rogerson kicked the new racing season off in style at Te Rapa on Saturday when they dominated the early proceedings at the meeting. The trio provided the quinella in the third race on the programme when accomplished mare Malambo proved too speedy for stablemate Comeback as she led all the way in the open 1200m sprint feature. That was just thirty minutes after promising filly Roc Cha headed home a quartet of Rogerson runners in the three-year-old 1100m contest, albeit they did provide six of the seven starters in the race. Competently handled by four-kilogram claiming apprentice Shiarna Johnson, Malambo relished the Slow9 footing as she produced an eye-catching dress rehearsal for her first major assignment of the season, the Gr.2 US Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at the venue in a fortnight. The Duelled five-year-old had been freshened after finishing a gutsy third at Trentham back in late May and after pinging away from an inside barrier she gave nothing else a look in as she controlled proceedings from in front throughout. “With the four kilos off I said to bounce out, be positive and try and lead hard on the fence and she pulled it off,” Debbie Rogerson said. “She’s a very handy mare who I think is a lot better this time up. “Hopefully she can win a Listed race this time in or be Group placed for her breeding prospects down the line.” Rogerson confirmed a tilt at the Foxbridge Plate was the mare’s next target provided she came through today’s exertions in good shape. “If she comes through this race, we’ve got nothing to lose,” she said. “She races good at Te Rapa and if she happened to run in the first four (in the Foxbridge) then I’d be ecstatic. “He (Comeback) also went really well and you will probably see him the Foxbridge as well.” Bred by Graeme Rogerson, Malambo’s career record now stands at seven wins from 32 starts, with four of those victories coming at the Te Rapa track. View the full article

Bencoolen gets off the mark at his fifth start at Kranji. Bencoolen (NZ) (Swiss Ace) finally franked the potential he has always shown with a convincing first win in the $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1200m on Friday night. Given a confident ride by champion jockey Vlad Duric, Bencoolen was quick out of his barrier one, but was just as quickly eased out of the speed battle when a trio made up of Lim’s Sphere, Agni and Air Combat rushed past him. Duric waited for the top of the straight to stoke the four-year-old up, who darted to the front for a move that looked a foregone conclusion, but he had to contend with one late challenge from Lee Freedman’s newcomer Smoke And Mirrors who was flying home on the outside. Under Duric’s hard riding, Bencoolen, however, kept finding to hold Smoke And Mirrors off by three parts of a length. Attention also ran on creditably for third place another 2 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 11.02secs for the 1200m on the Long Course Trainer Stephen Gray said the winner’s circle was a place Bencoolen could have visited earlier, but it’s been a struggle to get him there, especially following a recent racing setback. “He’s probably better than what he’s shown. Two starts back, he got galloped on and it was pretty serious,” said the Kiwi handler. “We thought we were on top of it and then it got infected. We had to put him on penicillin and we struggled for a while, but luckily, he got well. “He ran on good with Vlad two starts back. At his last start, he was trapped on the fence, and when they sprinted away, he was left flat-footed. “He probably needs a mile. I brought two good friends together to race this horse, Paul Hickman and Mr Lim Siah Mong. “They have another horse with me. It’s all about having a bit of fun together.” Duric said all the credit should go to Gray for not only his patience, but also for his horsemanship. “I actually told Steve to leave the blinkers off as he was quite aggressive with them on, but Steve said he would be okay with them. It was a good call,” said the two-time Singapore champion jockey. “He was in a weak field tonight and he had the perfect draw. I still had to rate him and see how he would get through the field as he’s not the brightest spark. “But it worked out smoothly. I had to really get him through my rhythm in the end.” View the full article

Former All Black and TAB Ambassador Stephen ‘Beaver’ Donald with Jockey Matt Cameron. Hawke’s Bay Racing and the TAB is proud to announce that Tarzino Trophy TAB Daffodil Raceday is back at Hastings Racecourse on Saturday 31st August. This year’s event is a celebration of ‘Rugby, Racing and Volunteers’ to raise money for the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society. “The team at Hawke’s Bay Racing are again privileged to be able to work with our partners Westbury Stud and the TAB to pull together fundraising initiatives for the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society,” Hawke’s Bay Racing chief executive Andrew Castles said. “This is a great way to start the Bostock New Zealand Spring Carnival and a cause dear to our hearts.” Over the past five years Hawke’s Bay Racing has raised more than $135,000 to provide care and support to local families affected by cancer. TAB General Manager Customer, Gary Woodham, said he was delighted to announce the continued support of the annual initiative, with the TAB doubling its donations this year, handing over $2,000 per winner in the Daffodil Raceday silks to the Cancer Society. “Cancer touches everybody at some point, everywhere across New Zealand, Daffodil Raceday is an important way for the TAB to connect with our community and support the vital work provided by the Cancer Society,” he said. “Daffodil Raceday aligns with the TAB’s mission to enhance Kiwi’s involvement and enjoyment of racing and sport in a safe environment, while contributing money back to New Zealand communities. We are delighted to throw our weight behind this important Initiative.” Former All Black and TAB Ambassador Stephen ‘Beaver’ Donald will be the guest speaker at a High Tea for Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society Volunteers. “To have 2011 World Cup hero Stephen Donald here to relive that iconic moment in New Zealand sports history will be fantastic,” Castles said. “With the TAB now agreeing to pay $2,000 for every winner in the Daffodil day colours I better get the right horses to carry them.” Hawke’s Bay Racing will again put on a special ‘High Tea’ event for the volunteers as a way of saying thank you for their dedication, hard work and commitment. The event will continue to be smoke-free as a sign of clubs’ ongoing commitment to its relationship with the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society. “This will be the third year the event has been smoke-free, a move that has been embraced by race goers,” Castles said. “It is a small way we can show tangible support for the efforts of the Cancer Society as they continue their efforts to reduce the harm caused in our society by this cruel disease.” Tarzino Trophy TAB Daffodil Raceday is the opening day of the Bostock New Zealand Spring Carnival. Admission on the day is by $5 donation to the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society. View the full article

After failing to cope with the hot and humid conditions in Singapore, multiple Group One winner Volkstok’n’barrell is now in Melbourne with trainer Danny O’Brien. Winner of the 2015 Rosehill Guineas as a three-year-old as well as three Group One races in New Zealand as an older horse, Volkstok’n’barrell was the flag-bearer for trainer Donna Logan when she made the move to Singapore last year. But after five starts, in which he did not finish closer than 6.6 lengths from the winner, the decision was made to send him home. Volkstok’n’barrell has not raced since finishing last on the Polytrack at Kranji in December. O’Brien said Volkstok’n’barrell spent time at part-owner Rosemont Stud’s property recharging his batteries before being transferred to the trainer’s operation at 13th Beach to prepare for his racing return. Volkstok’n’barrell poked around in a Flemington jump-out on Friday and O’Brien said he was still a way off a racetrack comeback. “He’ll need another couple of trials,” O’Brien said. “He’ll have another trial on the course proper on August 12 and we’ll take it trial by trial. “We haven’t made any plans at the moment, other than making sure he’s getting fitter and is happy and healthy and then we’ll see how he goes.” -AAP View the full article

John Hendrickson wore his heart on his sleeve and a pink rose in his seersucker lapel Aug. 3 to present the Whitney Stakes (G1) trophy after McKinzie turned in a late-running drive up the center of the Saratoga Race Course stretch. View the full article

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds's Chance It kept the buzz alive Aug. 3 at Gulfstream Park with a dominating 3 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Dr. Fager division, the first leg of the 2019 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series. View the full article

Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram, and Paul Weitman's McKinzie turned in a late-running drive up the center of the Saratoga Race Course stretch Aug. 3 to win the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) by 1 3/4 lengths. View the full article

Bettors had debut winner Amalfi Sunrise favored at 3-5 over grade 3 winner Comical in the $200,351 Sorrento Stakes (G2) at Del Mar Aug. 3, and the 2-year-old Constitution filly rewarded her backers when she drew off by six lengths. View the full article

A trial at Cranbourne on Monday will give Ballarat trainer Patrick Payne a better guide on the progress of dour Kiwi stayer Bizzwinkle, a newcomer to his stable. Matamata trainer Glenn Old sent Bizzwinkle, the star of his stable and winner of last November’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) to Payne last month and the Rip Van Winkle six-year-old is entered for an 1190m trial at Cranbourne, which also includes the long-awaited reappearance of the 2018 Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes winner Gailo Chop. “The tr... View the full article

Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston is happy to have exceeded the goal he set himself for the 2018/19 racing season, whilst maintaining a consistent win count. This time last year Carston, who had just won the Gavelhouse Newcomer to Training Award, stated that his goal for the new season was to win a stakes race. “It was my best season yet,” Carston said. “Not by number of wins but I wanted to get a stakes winner this season and I got one – well two really, a Listed and a Group Thre... View the full article

While he may have lost the services of talented four-year-old King Louis, Hastings trainer John Bary is excited about his team’s spring prospects in the countdown to the upcoming Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival that kicks off on August 31. Last season’s Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m) winner King Louis has been transferred to the Ballarat stable of Simon Morrish by owner Richard Wood, a move that Bary described as completely understandable. “While it’s always a shame to see a nice horse... View the full article

Waverley trainer Harvey Wilson could be in for a memorable week if results from the first day of the Grand National Carnival at Riccarton on Saturday are anything to go by. The former three-time Olympian lined up his entire jumping team of two on the weekend and came away with a win from It’s A Wonder in the Yesberg Insurances Koral Steeplechase (4250m) and a runner-up finish from Bad Boy Brown in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Sydenham Hurdles (3100m). Those performances will ensure that ... View the full article

Saturday's 11-race Marylou Whitney Day card, featuring three graded stakes and highlighted by McKinzie's victory in the 92nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, generated an all-sources handle record of $31,835,863. View the full article

Allied Racing Stable's Mr. Money ran himself into millionaire status Aug. 3 when he notched his fourth consecutive graded stakes victory in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort. View the full article

Godolphin homebred Lucullan took home his first stakes score Aug. 3 with a text-book stalking trip that sent him straight to a nose victory in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Allied Racing Stable's Mr. Money ran himself into millionaire status Aug. 3 when he notched his fourth consecutive graded stakes victory in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort. View the full article

Karak became the first black-type winner for her sire, Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner Karakontie, when she rolled to an easy 2 1/2-length victory in the $78,000 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park. View the full article

Saratoga’s 11-race card, dedicated to the late Marylou Whitney, generated an all-sources handle record of $31,835,863. That figure eclipsed the previous Whitney Day record of $30,153,138 set in 2017. The card featured three graded races, with Leinster (Majestic Warrior) setting a course record while winning the GIII Troy S., Covfefe (Into Mischief) outbattling Serengeti Empress (Alternation) in a dramatic renewal of the GI Longines Test S., and McKinzie (Street Sense) soaring home first in the GI Whitney S. On-track handle for the day was $7,078,192 and the paid attendance was 40,791. The post Whitney Day Generates Record Handle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zyrul suspended three days View the full article

Woodworth-Burridge Craft a rare win together View the full article

Bigger Treasure in store after gutsy Class 1 win View the full article

Caribbean Lady keeps up hot trot for Team Takaoka-Lerner View the full article

Gem of a first Kranji win for Moloney View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings August 4 View the full article