Wandering Eyes

THE final day of Glorious Goodwood is dominated by the Stewards’ Cup, a race which I was lucky enough to win twice on Gift Horse and Hoof It. It’s a brilliant race but obviously one you need a lot of luck in. However, this year I do think there is one standout horse in the […] The post Kieren Fallon Glorious Goodwood Saturday Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

After delivering a pair of clear victories at Churchill Downs, including a 1 1/2-length score in the Debutante Stakes June 29, Three Chimneys Farm's Magic Dance will try to land a graded stakes. View the full article

Trainer Simon Callaghan will be at Saratoga Saturday to saddle Bellafina (Quality Road) in the GI Longines Test S., and a short time later, the conditioner will be glued to the nearest television set to watch ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Amalfi Sunrise (Constitution) give the barn consecutive victories in the GII Sorrento S. at Del Mar. A $40,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $185,000 OBS April purchase, the racy-looking dark bay was pounded into 11-10 favoritism for her June 23 debut at Santa Anita, and although she was beaten for speed by Save the Story (Will Take Charge), Amalfi Sunrise settled kindly off that one’s flank, dueled into upper stretch and pulled clear to score by 6 1/4 authoritative lengths despite having a couple of looks at the grandstand. She has logged no fewer than four works since, including a five-furlong drill in 1:01.20 at the seaside oval July 19. Trainer Doug O’Neill is a two-time winner of the Sorrento and in the form of Comical (Into Mischief), he’ll have solid claims to add to that total. Herself a dominating six-length Santa Anita graduate May 26 in a time fractionally faster than Amalfi Sunrise, the bay made the trans-continental trip to Saratoga and fought her way to a narrow victory in the GIII Schuylerville S. July 11. Comical tuned up for the Sorrento with a half-mile drill at Del Mar in :48.20 July 27. In addition to Constitution, another pair of freshman sires are represented in the Sorrento. The Callaghan-trained Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) employed stalking tactics en route to a 3 1/4-length success for Glencrest Farm and Norm Casse at Churchill June 13. An interest has since been sold to Qatar Racing. Arkansas-bred Powerfulattraction (Commissioner) finished up running to break her maiden by 1 1/4 lengths at first asking at Los Alamitos June 29 and adds Lasix for this far taller task. The post Callaghan Shooting For Back-To-Back Scores in Sorrento appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

HRRN continues its "Saturdays at Saratoga" broadcast series live from historic Saratoga Race Course this Saturday with exclusive radio coverage of two prestigious Grade 1 events, Whitney Stakes and Test Stakes. View the full article

Keeping it simple, Jim Crowley steered Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to a record third renewal of Goodwood’s G2 King George Qatar S. on Friday. Held on to initially as Ornate (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) provided a target to his left, Shadwell’s dragster took control two out and found the line a half length ahead of the strong-closing Australian import Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}). 1–BATTAASH (IRE), 131, g, 5, by Dark Angel (Ire) 1st Dam: Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr) 2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift 3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB) (200,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jim Crowley. £176,935. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 5-7f, Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 5-7f, G1SW-Fr & G1SP-Eng, 18-9-2-3, £1,086,917. The post Three King George Triumphs For Battaash appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday’s prestigious GI Whitney S. at Saratoga has drawn top-class runners from around the world for what is sure to be a memorable renewal. MGISW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) ships in from the West Coast for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Winner of the GI Pennsylvania Derby and GI Malibu S. last term, the bay came up just a half-length short of the late Breeders’ Cup winner Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) in the GII San Pasqual S. Feb. 2 and was just a nose shy of MGISW Gift Box (Twirling Candy) after a gritty stretch battle in the GI Santa Anita H. Apr. 6. Returning to winning ways with a dominant score in the GII Alysheba S. on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard, he was a close second after a tough trip in the GI Met Mile at Belmont last time June 8. The globetrotting two-time G1 Dubai World Cup victor Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) also makes the trip in to attempt further glory at the Spa. Runner-up in last term’s GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. at Belmont, he was a good third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs Nov. 3. Kicking off this term with a second in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 at Meydan Mar. 9, the Godolphin runner successfully defended hit title in the Dubai World Cup Mar. 30, becoming the first repeat winner, and was third last time on these shore in the Met Mile. “I think the two turns will be helpful and I think what you saw was that he was able to hang on in a very contentious field in the Met Mile,” said Godolphin’s Jimmy Bell. “A mile and a quarter is right up his alley, but I think he’ll be very competitive going a mile and an eighth.” Representing the Empire State are a pair of Grade I winners in Vino Rosso (Curlin) and Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}). Successful in last term’s GII Wood Memorial S., Vino Rosso opened his 2019 account with a win in Aqueduct’s Stymie S. Mar. 9 and was fourth next out in that venue’s GI Carter H. Apr. 6. The chestnut broke through at the highest level last time in the May 27 GI Santa Anita H. “I think the nine-furlong distance is ideal for him if there’s an honest pace,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “He’s a very versatile horse. He’s been training great. I think he’s a much better 4-year-old than he was a 3-year-old.” Securing his first win at the Grade I level on turf in the Old Forester Turf Classic S. at Churchill last year, Yoshida secured a top-level victory on dirt over the Saratoga main track last summer in the GI Woodward S. in September. Fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the blaze-faced bay returned to turf in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf S. Jan. 26, finishing sixth. He filled the same spot in both the Dubai World Cup and the GII Stephen Foster S. on the Churchill main June 15. The post Competitive Field Set For Whitney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A competitive field of seven sophomore fillies headlined by the GI Kentucky Oaks winner are set to line up for Saratoga’s GI Test S. Saturday. Victorious in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. in February, Serengeti Empress (Alternation) finished off the board after bleeding badly during the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 23. She rebounded with a front-running victory in the Kentucky Oaks May 3 and was second last out in Belmont’s June 8 GI Acorn S. behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Guarana (Ghostzapper), who repeated with a win in the GI CCA Oaks. “She has done very well over the track and the cut back in distance isn’t a concern based on her last performance,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “She was challenged hard early in that race and she was able to sustain that challenge. There is a lot of speed in the race and that’s the way it is, but I’m going to rely on her class and her speed associated with that class, and let her do that job.” The undefeated Royal Charlotte (Cairo Prince) makes her first attempt in Grade I company here. A debut winner at Gulfstream Mar. 16, the gray followed suit with an optional claimer score at Keeneland Apr. 19 and won Monmouth Park’s Hystericalady S. May 27. She enters off a decisive score in Belmont’s GIII Victory Ride S. July 5. Covfefe (Into Mischief) has given the impression she could compete at the top level and looks to break through in Grade I company in this spot. Opening this term with an optional claimer score at Keeneland Apr. 6, the flashy bay followed suit with a sizzling score in the GIII Adena Springs Miss Preakness S. May 17. She was third last time behind GISW Mia Mischief (Into Mischief) in Churchill’s Roxelana S. June 22. Bellafina (Quality Road) dominated the 3-year-old filly division earlier this term, reeling off impressive wins in the Jan. 6 GII Santa Ynez S., Feb. 9 GII Las Virgenes S. and Apr. 6 GI Santa Anita Oaks. Favored heading into the Kentucky Oaks, she made a late bid, but weakened and could only manage fifth. The bay could be a force here with the cutback in trip. “We made the decision after the Oaks to freshen her up and give her some time off,” conditioner Simon Callaghan said. “We didn’t really want to rush back in the Acorn, and just felt it was the right time to give her a break and hopefully comes back fresh and ready to fire in this race.” The post Sophomore Fillies Face Tough ‘Test’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mr. Money (Goldencents) looks to score his fourth straight victory in graded company Saturday in the GIII West Virginia Derby. Scoring his first black-type victory when romping by 5 1/4 lengths in the GIII Pat Day Mile on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard May 4, the bay blitzed the GIII Matt Winn S. field back beneath the Twin Spires June 15. He enters off another decisive score in the GIII Indiana Derby July 13. Indiana Derby third-place finisher Math Wizard (Algorithms) also returns in this spot. Claimed by these connections for $25,000 earlier this year, the chestnut checked in second in the GIII Ohio Derby June 22 prior to his effort last time. G2 UAE Derby victor Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry) returns to the dirt in this spot after testing the turf in the GI Belmont Derby July 6, where he finished sixth. He split those efforts with a ninth-place finish via DQ in the GI Kentucky Derby. A dominant allowance victor at Laurel June 8, Top Line Growth (Tapizar) crossed the line second last time in the Iowa Derby July 5, but was promoted to first after the winner was disqualified. The post Mr. Money Seeks Fourth Straight in West VA Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club announced today that Janine Winslow and Warren Winslow have been denied all privileges of The American Stud Book for two years, effective Jan. 1, 2020. View the full article

It’s the final day of Glorious Goodwood which sees Pilaster go for a second consecutive victory in the Lillie Langtry. Mark Johnston’s King Advice has been in tremendous form of late and can win again, while Khaadem can land the Stewards’ Cup for the three-year-olds. Goodwood Stewards’ Sprint Handicap Poyle Vinnie nearly turned back the […] The post Saturday Preview – Pilaster Bids For Back To Back Lillie Langtry’s appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

It’s been a pretty good week at Bankhouse with two winners and I was particularly happy with Graceland yesterday at Stratford yesterday. It’s busy today at Bangor where Black Key might be down to a winnable mark. I have four runners over the weekend at Doncaster and Market Rasen, with all my views on the […] The post Donald McCain Blog – Weekend Runners appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. 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 w... View the full article

Saturday’s GIII Troy S. at Saratoga is short on numbers, but long on quality, with two Grade I winners and a pair of multiple graded winners from the Christophe Clement barn among the field of six turf sprinters. The Troy discussion starts with the versatile World of Trouble (Kantharos), who just as easily could have ended up in last Saturday’s GI A. G. Vanderbilt S., but lands here instead as he looks to score for the fifth time in six turf tries. Victorious in the Quick Call S. over this course and distance last summer, the Florida-bred took a disgusting beat in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, but has not tasted defeat in five runs since. Winner of an oddly run GI Carter H. on the Aqueduct main Apr. 6, the bay romped in the May 3 GII Turf Sprint at Churchill May 3 and became a dual-surface Grade I winner last time in the Jaipur S. at Belmont June 8. The field’s other Grade I winner is Wet Your Whistle (Stroll), who rallied to take Woodbine’s Highlander S. June 29. Third in the Jaipur was that race’s two-time defending champion, Disco Partner (Disco Rico), still going strong at age seven. A distant third, better than seven lengths behind World of Trouble in the BC Turf Sprint, the gray is looking to snap a four-race skid Saturday. Stablemate and fellow Generazio-bred 8-year-old Pure Sensation (Zensational) also retains his zest for racing and has won four of his last five outings, including the PA Governor’s Cup over unsuitably soft ground at Penn National June 1 and a third renewal in four years of the GIII Parx Dash-also contested over easy ground–July 6. The post Troy Lures Talented Sextet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It has been a case of two stones lighter, two gears faster for Canterbury pacer Kiwis Are Flying recently. The Robbie Holmes trained 5yr-old heads to Addington on Friday night after stepping his game up with two excellent runs in his last two starts. The reason the blueblood son of Bettor’s Delight and former topline mare Kiwi Ingenuity may make some males a little uncomfortable. “We left him a colt some time, being out of Kiwi Ingenuity,” Holmes said. “Obviously he is gelded now and I think that has helped him.” “In hindsight we should have gelded him sooner.” “I think his mind is a lot more on the job.” In his last start, Kiwis Are Flying fought on for second behind the speedy Jazzy Star in what looked to be a stronger field than he meets on Friday night. Prior to that, the horse caught the eye when running home for third behind Secret Bet at Ashburton, after losing ground at the start. Those two runs, which impressed Holmes, came after Kiwis Are Flying produced a fresh up sixth at Addington in his first run since being gelded. “I have been really impressed with him,” “He has found the line very strongly on both occasions.” Kiwis Are Flying will compete in junior drivers company on Friday night with Mark Hurrell in the sulky. Hurrell, who has recently been sporting a moustache the late Freddie Mercury would have been proud of, will be charged with putting Kiwis Are Flying in his favoured position on the speed in Friday night’s race. “Hopefully Mark Hurrell can work some magic,” Holmes said. “It is just whether we go forward or go back [at the start], that will be up to Mark.” Flying Mister Ideal looks the toughest horse for Kiwis Are Flying to beat. The Brendon Hill trained 5yr-old drops massively in class after clashing with superstar pacers U May Cullect and Turn It Up in his last two starts. Flying Mister Ideal showed he was ready to resume when winning a trial, last week. Korbyn Newman will take the reins behind the pacer in Friday night’s 2600m mobile. Kiwis Are Flying opened at a $4.20 win price with bookmakers before he moved in to $3.80. Flying Mister Ideal also received support, being backed in from $6.50 to $5. The remainder of the market for Friday night’s race is headed by Dude Of Dundee ($6), Glenthorne ($6.50) and Kardesler ($7). View the full article

Former star reinswoman Jo Herbert is ready to rack up wins when she returns to race driving. The former trial-blazer has returned to trials driving ahead of competing in her first official race in over ten years later, this season. Herbert admitted the memories came rushing back to her when she got back out on the track. “It didn’t feel like I had left, to be honest.” After rising to star status in the sport and becoming a pioneer for future professional female drivers, family reasons meant Herbert effectively left full time harness racing in 2006. Though she never intended to stop driving, it became apparent that she would not be able to continue after the birth of her first child. “I had been told for years and years that I couldn’t have kids,” Herbert said. “I got pregnant and had no intention of giving driving up, but as it turned out I ended up in hospital for quite a while.” “I had a few drives after I had him, but it just got too hard.” “He ended up having Crohn’s disease, which was diabolical to be honest, but he is much better now.” The timing is now right for Herbert to return to driving a decade after driving her last winner, Valhalla, at Addington in 2009. Her decision to reapply for her licence came after being encouraged to for some time by her employer, Stephen Boyd. “He has been trying for years, he has been a wee bit sick of not having a stable driver he could keep.” “All the other drivers are too committed to other stables.” Boyd, who is an integral part of the All Stars stable as their breaker and pre-trainer, is coming off his best season as a trainer. After extending his focus on training racehorses, he produced 11 wins form just 41 starters last term. With horses like Ive Already Told You, Back In Black, and Vi Lee to return this season, Herbert should not take long to return to the winner’s circle in Boyd’s colours. “I definitely wont drive as much as I used to, but if the opportunities are there I definitely won’t say no.” “But, Stephen’s horses will be coming first.” Herbert’s winning tally stands at 193 wins, meaning her first goal after she returns to driving is fairly obvious. “I would like to get to my 200 as quick as possible.” View the full article

Southern Harness Racing is thrilled to announce that they will be launching their brand new Mobile Start Vehicle on Saturday 10 August at the Gore Harness Racing Club. The 2019 Ford Ranger 4WD Mobile Barrier Vehicle will be sponsored by EH Ball ITM and will replace the previous two-wheel drive vehicle which had served the industry well since 2012. This will be the first four-wheel drive start vehicle launched in the New Zealand harness racing industry, with another approved for the Seddon Shields clubs (Kaikoura, Nelson, Marlborough, Reefton and Westport). The need to upgrade to a four-wheel drive vehicle for Southern Harness was identified after the two incidents that saw loss of traction in recent years, and the purchase was made possible thanks with funding from the Racing Safety Development Fund. EH Ball ITM is entering their fourth year as the Mobile Barrier sponsor with Southern Harness and their support is hugely appreciated. The gate had its first trial at the workouts yesterday and performed well, with positive feedback from the start crew and licence holders involved. The EH Ball mobile will be in operation at all Southern Harness meetings outside of the Tuapeka meeting. Southern Harness would like to take this opportunity to extend their thanks to the Racing Safety Development Fund and EH Ball ITM for their continuing sponsorship. View the full article

Gold Ace. It was a big weekend for the first season sire Gold Ace, with the six-time Group 1 winner not only represented in the winner’s circle by his first New Zealand 2-year-old race winner, Distinguished Taste, but also by the smart Australian bred juvenile Max Power. The Ken Barron trained Distinguished Taste was sent out the race favourite in his 2,600m event at Oamaru on Sunday afternoon off the back of two impressive placings in his only race-day outings to date. Despite starting from the outside of the front line and a less than perfect standing start, Distinguished Taste quickly found the lead before handing up to the second favourite, Reflectionsofmylife. In the home straight the final time, Distinguished Taste quickly put paid to Reflectionsofmylife, dashing clear on the passing line, then withstood the late challenge of the fast-finishing Prairie to score by a neck at the line, with a gap of two and half lengths back to the third place-getter. Watch replay. Bred and raced by Roydon Lodge Stud’s Keith and Rob Gibson, Distinguished Taste is out of the unraced Art Major mare Art Buyer and hails from the same maternal family as the former NZ Harness Horse of the Year Roydon Glen. Across the Tasman, Gold Ace’s first Australian winner, Max Power, continued his good form with an impressive 1:56.3 win in a NSW Breeders Challenge 2YO Colts and Geldings Regional Heat at Newcastle on Saturday night. The Clayton Harmey trained youngster had to dig deep to get up on the line and showed plenty of his sire’s trademark turn of foot and will to win in a tight finish in doing so. Watch replay. Like Distinguished Taste, Max Power is also out of an Artsplace line mare, with the 2-year-old being the only foal of the now deceased, unraced Art Colony mare Piccadilly Ellen. The family does feature a number of outstanding pacers further back in the pedigree however, including the likes of Another Party, Party Party, Champagne Party and Democrat Party. View the full article

Zac Butcher. Excitement has replaced nerves for superstar reinsman Zachary Butcher as he looks forward to the biggest fortnight of his racing life. Butcher heads to Victoria on Saturday to prepare the first horse he has ever trained, Zeuss Bromac, for the Breeders Crown, which culminates in a A$300,000 final at Melton on August 24. That is huge money by harness racing standards, even more so for a young horseman whose first representative has only had three career starts. Butcher is usually unflappable for one so young and twice this year he has dared to hand up to favoured rivals on exceptional filly Belle Of Montana well into group one races and backed himself to get his passing lane timing right. In both the Victoria Oaks and Harness Jewels, he was right. Then again, nobody should be surprised. This is the same youngster who a few years ago extravagantly jumped up out of the sulky seat and stood upright on the sulky shafts at full speed at the end of at Alexandra Park race to celebrate beating his father David home in the national premiership for the first time. So confidence isn’t an issue, even though Butcher admits he was nervous when Zeuss Bromac gave him his first win as a trainer last month. “Your first win is something special and even though it was only a maiden I was really nervous going out for that,” he says. “But I’m not about going to Australia. It is exciting and a great opportunity so I am going to go enjoy it. “The bottom line is I have a good horse who is getting better all the time and we get to race for big money without having to take on Mark’s (Purdon) best horses. “I know the Aussies won’t be easy to beat but for that sort of money you wouldn’t think they should be.” Zeuss Bromac suffered a minor setback with a bad blood report that cost him a lead-up race three weeks ago but his work this week has been very strong. “He is jumping out of his skin and with his heat next week I think that will bring him on heaps.” Butcher will also partner Perfect Stride, trained by his boss Ray Green, in his heat next week but before he heads to Victoria he has a couple of winning chances at Cambridge’s season-opener tonight. His best hope is former southern trotter One Over Da Skye (race seven) who has joined the John and Josh Dickie stable but the latter isn’t driving tonight as he is already in Victoria preparing for Sunday’s Trotting Derby. “The way she trialled last week she will be very hard to beat if she trots all the way,” says Butcher. “She galloped early last Saturday but trotted her last mile in 2:4 and she is apparently better left-handed. So she might have too much speed for most of her rivals,” says Butcher, who has driven several of the other favoured runners in the race. Butcher also rates another Dickie newcomer in Breaking Bad (race three) as an each way chance but says in race four his drive Im A Denny Too might struggle to beat debutante Hampton Banner, who horse he knows well since it is trained by Green. View the full article

Heavy track specialist Rosewood. Write Article text here. View the full article

UK Horse of the Year, Roaring Lion underwent a second colic surgery at the Cambridge Equine Veterinary Hospital on Thursday morning. Roaring Lion had been making positive progress since his initial surgery last Saturday but began to show symptoms of discomfort overnight. The symptoms were evaluated by the Cambridge Equine Hospital team with some international consultation and the decision was made to return to the operating table. There were two adhesions from the first operation compromising a length of small intestine and they were removed. Roaring Lion is currently in recovery and the next 48 hours will be critical. Developments to Roaring Lion’s condition will continue to be updated by Cambridge Stud. View the full article

Horowhenua horseman Chris Rutten is taking a patient approach with the return of Group Two winner Scott Base, with the son of Dalghar recovering from an operation earlier this year. “He’s had an operation where he had a bone chip taken out in January,” Rutten said. “It has taken him quite a bit (of time), we just wanted to give him the time he needed to recover from that properly. “Dave Keenan (vet) did the operation. He is on the water-walker at the moment for about a month. We will just bring him up slowly and see how he looks after that.” Before his operation, the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) hero contested all three legs of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival last season, with his best result being a fourth-placing in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m). “They (his runs) were just a bit below par for him. He got trapped a bit, the runs weren’t going his way really,” Rutten said. View the full article

Gobstopper will tackle Sunday’s Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown. Emily Farr could be in for one of her biggest days in racing on Sunday when she partners in-form jumper Gobstopper in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown. It has been a rapid rise for the 2017 Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner, who is undefeated in his two starts over hurdles, including a last-start victory in the Brendan Dreschler Hurdle (3500m) at Pakenham. It took plenty of perseverance on Farr’s part to convince trainer Andrew Campbell to follow a jumps path this winter with the Tavistock gelding, but she eventually did, and that could pay big dividends on Saturday in the A$250,000 feature. “Andrew was against being a jumps trainer, so I have worn him down a bit,” Farr said. “Tommy (Heptinstall) the owner had been a bit disheartened about how he was going on the flat and they ended up saying do what you want. “I taught him to jump, which was great. I have had him from jumping the logs at the Cambridge track to jumping the hurdles, I gave him his first hurdle trial and start, it’s pretty hard to get me off now.” Emily Farr will have two wides at Riccarton on Saturday before flying to Melbourne to ride Gobstopper in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown on Sunday. Trish Dunell Gobstopper thrived with his jumping education and it showed on the track, with the seven-year-old running into form for the first time in 18 months on the flat when finishing runner-up to Zacada in the Gr.3 Rotorua Cup (2200m) in May. His talents over hurdles were seen for this first time at Te Aroha in June where he won his maiden hurdle by 13 lengths and impressed his connections enough to warrant an Australian campaign. While Farr had every belief in Gobstopper, she admitted to being slightly nervous heading into his first-up run in Australia last start. “I was a little bit anxious going into it because I thought we had taken a big risk bringing him over and him only having one start (over hurdles) and one jumping trial, so he hasn’t done a lot of jumping,” she said. However, Farr needn’t have worried, with Gobstopper running away to a 2-1/2 length victory and showing he is adapting well to his new discipline. “It was good that I managed to get a sit behind Euroman around the big corner,” Farr said. “I let him stroll along the back, which is how he likes to run his races, and he made one mistake, but he learnt from it very quickly and flew the next one and put himself back in the race. “It was quite easy in the end, he won going away from them. He was quite impressive.” Farr has also been pleased with Gobstopper’s attitude towards jumping and said his quirky personality has a lot to do with it. “He has impressed me from the start,” Farr said. “He has a bit of a bold and arrogant personality on him. Everything he does, he does with purpose, even if it’s track work. “His ears, even in his first run, they tell you quite a bit. He has always got pricked ears, he’s always so switched on in a jumps race now.” Farr is pleased with Gobstopper heading into Sunday and believes he is in peak condition heading into his biggest jumping test to date. “I gave him a gallop on Wednesday at Cranbourne with Cochise and they went a really decent 1200m. He probably hasn’t galloped as good as that in a long time,” she said. “He’s so happy and pulled up really well. He is as fit as we could ever get him. “It’s kind of the same field (as last start) and a couple have been added in. I couldn’t pull him up after the Drechsler and I just can’t fault him at the moment.” Farr has been ticking up the frequent flyer points in recent months, flying between New Zealand and Australia to take care of Gobstopper and fulfill riding obligations back home. The in-demand rider will do the same this weekend. She will fly back from Melbourne on Friday to ride Laekeeper and Macklemore at Riccarton on Saturday, before flying back that same day to partner with Gobstopper. It is a hectic schedule for Farr, but she believes her two rides in New Zealand are worth her efforts. Laekeeper will attempt to make it back-to-back wins in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) after taking out last year’s running of the race. “Laekeeper is very well,” she said. “I know he has only had two starts this year over fences, but he has done a lot of work at the beach. “I know 70 kilos is a bit of a lump, but he won it with 68kg last year beating Jackfrost and there is no Jackfrost in that field. “On ability he probably deserves to have the 70 kilos and I think he will still be very hard to beat.” Macklemore will line-up in the Maneline (NZ) Safety Trackx Raceplates Maiden Steeplechase (3200m) and Farr expects a good showing given the feedback she has received from trainer John Wheeler. “John reckons Macklemore will go very well,” she said. “I think he has done a lot of work since he has been back from Australia, so he should be very competitive.” Farr won’t be alone on her trip back to Melbourne on Saturday evening. She will be joined by fellow New Zealand jumps jockeys Matthew Gillies, Aaron Kuru, Buddy Lammas and her partner Shaun Phelan, who all have engagements at Sandown on Sunday. View the full article

Tavis Court. The Anna Clement-trained Tavis Court kept his impressive form line intact on Thursday when winning the Sandford Brothers 1400 at Hawera. The son of Tavistock extended his record to two wins and three runner-up performances from five starts, but had to work hard to secure his second victory on the Heavy11 track. Jockey Lisa Allpress elected to press forward for the lead from their wide barrier (13) and the pair were able to take control of the race, going clear of their rivals at the turn of the straight. However, Tavis Court began to tire in the concluding stages of the race, but managed to hang on for a 1-1/2 length victory over Beckidboo, with Manolo a further 1-1/4 lengths back in third. Allpress was pleased with the win, but believes the gelding is suited to better tracks. “He didn’t jump away and travel as well as what I thought he would,” she said. “Once we were halfway down the back, I was always going to be wide, I just let him roll along a bit more and then he crossed them really easily. “It was a good result in the end because he did work hard, but he really did tie up that last bit. I don’t think he is a genuine heavy tracker. “His maiden win was on a slow track at Waverley. I think on a better track he will be a nice horse.” View the full article

Minister for Racing Winston Peters has announced that 2019/20 applications for funding to improve racecourse safety are now open. The Racing Safety Development Fund has two funding rounds per year. The first funding round of 2019/20 is open for applications as of 31 July 2019. “While the Government is in the process of implementing reforms to revitalise the racing industry, health and safety will always be of the upmost importance” Peters said. All racing clubs and racing code bodies should consider the condition and standard of their facilities and equipment, and assess whether they are safe for animals, staff and customers. “The Fund not only benefits clubs and racing bodies across the country, but helps to address the health and safety of the racing animals, riders, spectators, officials, and others involved in racing.” Peters said. The Racing Safety Development Fund covers up to half the costs of a project with between $7,500 – $50,000 funding being available for each project. Past projects have included improvements for safety running rails, irrigation and drainage, lighting upgrades and grandstand repair. Applications must be submitted by 25 September 2019. Further information is available from: www.communitymatters.govt.nz View the full article

Ace High. New Zealand breeders will get their first opportunity to inspect Rich Hill Stud’s new season stallion Ace High for the first time at their Walton property (570 Landsdowne Road) on Sunday at 1pm. The dual Group One-winning son of High Chaparral will be one of four stallions on show. Rich Hill will also showcase Group One winner Vadamos, Group One performer Proisir, and Melbourne Cup hero Shocking. Rich Hill’s shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin is currently in quarantine. View the full article