Wandering Eyes

Greg Sugars’ funeral will be live streamed at Addington Raceway on Monday afternoon (May 12). The funeral will be held at Melton just outside Melbourne, starting at 2pm NZT. The service will be live streamed via thetrots.com.au and on the big screen at Spectators Bar and Bistro at Addington Raceway. It will be open from noon on Monday so that his friends and many in the wider harness racing community on this side of the Tasman can pay their last respects. A very popular figure, both here and in Australia, Sugars died suddenly, aged 40, in Sydney at the end of last month. He had a stellar 2024 highlighted in this country by his Auckland Cup – Rowe Cup double with Better Eclipse and Just Believe at Alexandra Park last May. He had more than 4000 lifetime wins, including 71 Group 1s. Could anyone intending to be at Spectators please email brooke.henderson@addington.co.nz so the venue has an idea of numbers attending. Food and drink will not be provided but will be available for purchase. View the full article

Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column. Why are so many races too close to call? By Brittany Graham What is it with all the dead heats that seem to be happening in this country? The latest was at Cambridge on Tuesday when Power N Glory and Beta Prepare couldn’t be separated in the first of the night, the Dunstan Horse Feeds Mobile Pace. And that got me thinking .. does it happen more these days or is it just perception because every time there is a dead heat it is a bit of a notable event and gets a bit of chatter going. Well the answer is that dead heats are well and truly more commonplace in 2025 than they have been historically. From August 1, 2024 there have been 13 dead heats in this country. It’s an extraordinary number. And they are happening everywhere, from Invercargill to Auckland. There have been nine in 2025 alone. Compare that to the six they had in the 2023-2024 season and just 3 in 2022-2023. The highest number of dead heats in the last decade (before this year) was 7 in 2018. And to emphasise the point even more the average since the 1999-2000 season is 3.5. Numbers of dead heats per season (August 1 – July 31) over the last handful of years are : 2017 2 2018 7 2019 6 2020 1 2021 5 2022 3 2023 3 2024 6 2025 13 It also begs the question – why? Is it the programming, is it the style of racing, is it the quality of horses, is it the quality of the tracks? Or is just a random occurrence? Or is it all of these and more? I don’t have the answers but it is interesting. P.S. thanks to Ollie Partridge the data analyst at HRNZ for his help with this! View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Despite having the toughest of trips, Miki Bennett produced a powerhouse performance to highlight last night’s meeting at Addington. Driven by Nikita Burton, the Always B Miki five-year-old was last at the 800 in the Ladies’ Night 13 June Book Now Junior Drivers Mobile Pace. But Burton was unphased. She launched at the 600 metres and was forced five and six wide around the home turn before overhauling the leaders to win by nearly two lengths. Miki Bennett covered the last 800 in 57.7, the last 400 in 28.6. Jack Tar and Social Distancing, who had also been back in the field, did well to fill the minors with the favourite and early pace-setter Gladys Greenland fading to eighth. “Credit to the horse – he went huge,” said Burton to Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race, “I kinda had to keep on going and hope for the best.” Trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer, it was Miki Bennett’s fifth win in 35 starts though he had failed to finish top three in eight starts since his last win at Oamaru last September. “He dug so deep and he did it quite easy in the end. He pricked his ears at the line,” said Burton. Employed by Stonewall Stud, Burton is in her first year of driving. It was her fourth win in 33 starts. Robbie Close also had a great night with three wins. He drove Lily’s A Star and Hes Santas Excuse to give John McDermott a training double both at double figure odds. He also won with Monarch Prince for John Howe. “John’s had a good night tonight, he doesn’t mind lining them up and he deserves all his success,” Close said post race. McDermott was similarly in praise of Close’s efforts. “It was a brilliant drive by Robbie – a top drive.” View the full article

After 13 months off the scene, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s stable stalwart Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) will make his return to the races on Saturday at Caulfield. After most recently racing in March last year, the dual Group Two winner is set to line up in the Thoroughbred Club of Australia Handicap (1400m). “He did a suspensory ligament, he’s been at Lee Evison’s, he’s obviously rehabbed him,” Busuttin said. “Touchwood, at the moment, he’s looking good.” Forgot You has had two jumpouts leading into his comeback run on Saturday, which will also be his first start as a gelding. “Given that he needed time off, we decided to geld him, so he’s come back as a gelding this time,” Busuttin said. “Off the scene for 12 months, 1400m, we just want to see him hit the line, but I think he’s in for a good prep. “I’m looking forward to seeing him back at the races.” Beyond Saturday, Busuttin noted that the Brisbane Winter Carnival could be an option for Forgot You, while an 1800-metre Benchmark 100 at Sandown in a fortnight also looms as a logical second-up target for the son of Savabeel. Bred by Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick, Forgot You is out of the winning O’Reilly mare Simply You (NZ), a three-quarter sister to stakes-winners Escadaire (NZ) (O’Reilly), Bonny O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Group Two winner Rare Insight (NZ) (O’Reilly), dam of Gr.1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) winner Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer). Simply You is a daughter of multiple Group One winning sprinter Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale of the Cat). Forgot You was purchased by Busuttin Racing for A$330,000 at the Sydney two-year-old sale after being prepared by Ohukia Lodge on behalf of Waikato Stud. View the full article

Mapperley Stud has announced Champion son of Galileo – Armory will stand for a fee of $10,000+gst this season. Armory will be standing his 4th season at stud in 2025 and has been heavily supported by New Zealand breeders since his arrival covering 350 mares across his first 3 seasons. “Breeders were attracted to his elite Gr.1 form as a 2 year-old, where he won the Gr.2 Futurity Stakes and Gr.3 Tyros Stakes before placing in 3 Gr.1 contests including a 2nd to Champion 2 year-old Pinatubo” “Breeders also like to see horses train on and that’s exactly what he did – his run in the Cox Plate as a 3 year-old was enormous and proved he was among the elite middle distance horses in Australasia. He continued to prove himself at the highest level against the best weight-for-age horses in the world” On the back of his gallant 2nd in the Cox Plate, Armory was crowned Champion 3 year-old in Ireland and Europe and achieved a timeform rating of 122 in his classic season. His performances at Gr.1 level as a 4 year-old earnt him the Champion Older Horse in Ireland title and another season with a timeform rating of 122. “We have been thrilled with the level of support shown by New Zealand Breeders, he’s got great numbers on the ground and it was really encouraging to see that his first crop have found good homes and he will have a good representation in both New Zealand and Australia” added Davison “There is a fantastic opportunity to breed to him this year, with a big crop of 2 year-olds to run next season, he could be on the upward spiral by the time your foal arrives next year” Profondo, who stands at Windsor Park Stud, also bolsters Mapperley Stud’s stallion ranks with the Group One winning son of Deep Impact covering full books in his first 2 seasons at stud “Profondo was an instant hit with breeders and his popularity continued into his 2nd season where he covered another fantastic book of mares,” Davison said. “We absolutely love his foals and you can see why breeders were eager to breed to him again last season, and we very much expect the same to happen again this year” Profondo was a standout individual from the start topping the Magic Million yearling sale when he sold for $1.9 million. A brilliant debut winner over 1400m, he reached racing’s elite level winning the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes at only his 3rd career start. “We are very excited about his future, he has it all ahead of him. He’s the full package – outstanding physical, by the world conquering Deep Impact and an elite Gr.1 win next to his name” View the full article

Iconic Southern nursery White Robe Lodge has kept things simple for breeders this season with their stallion roster of three – Alflaila, Ancient Spirit and Ghibellines – all to stand at $7,000+GST. New addition Alflaila has been positively-received with the well-related multiple Group Two winner providing breeders with access to the highly sought-after Dark Angel sire-line. “It’s great timing with Dark Angel being the Champion Sire of Britain and Ireland last year and with his sire-son Harry Angel being one of the most exciting stallions across the Tasman,” White Robe Lodge’s Jack Stewart said. “We have had a very good initial response to breeding rights and also early bookings.” The Taieri Plains stud farm has been buoyed by the early feedback on the stock of Ancient Spirit, with the eldest by the dual Group Two winning son of Invincible Spirit just two-years-old. “He is going great,” Stewart said. “He’s had a few trial winners and we have had great reports from trainers from the ones that are in work, so it’s a case of so far so good.” Proven sire Ghibellines completes the roster, best represented by Group One winner Smokin’ Romans, who has added the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) and last week’s Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) to his tally this season, with his career earnings now A$2,329,265. Fellow Ghibellines gelding Palmetto has enjoyed another strong season in Australia for John Sargent, with the recent Listed Canberra Cup (2000m) winner now up to A$1,423,429 in career earnings. “He’s had two stakes winner across the ditch, he’s had a great season in New Zealand with horses like Lofty’s gift and he’s sitting third on the Premiership for winners,” Stewart said. “He’s just doing a good solid job for us. He leaves winners every week either side of the Tasman and he stands at such great value.” View the full article

Marotiri Molly will aim to complete her season on a high note at Arawa Park on Saturday, taking on her own sex in the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m). Prepared by Matt Dixon at Foxton, Marotiri Molly has conquered all before her since opening her preparation in late August, winning four of nine races including the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), and placing behind gun mare La Crique in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1400m). After running a creditable fifth-equal in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in January, Dixon had one final target for his mare in the weight-for-age feature, where she is back on even terms with her rivals after carrying topweight in her lead-up run, the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m). Despite the hefty impost, Marotiri Molly was characteristically game, running a close-up fourth behind Slipper Island, Pier and Tomodachi. “I always knew she was going to be pretty vulnerable in that race with the weight she had to carry,” Dixon said. “She was giving four-and-a-half (kg) to Pier and six (kg) to the other two so I thought it was a huge effort to finish only a length from them.” “She’s just been ticking over since then. She likes to get on with things in her gallops, she goes pretty hard. “She’s certainly ready for another race, that’s for sure.” As planned, Marotiri Molly is more than likely to be making her final six-year-old appearance on Saturday when she jumps from the ace draw. “We’ll see what happens on Saturday, but she was always going to have a pretty light autumn,” Dixon said. “She won’t be slogging through the mud and I want to give her a bit of a let-up, before targeting the spring. “This race was the one we were looking at, the 1200m at Trentham was the lead-in to Saturday’s race so being a weight-for-age, it suits her a lot better these days. She’s come through the grades very quickly and all of a sudden she’s shot up over 100 rating, but makes things a bit difficult outside of weight for age races. “I’m very proud of her and where she’s come from, and where she has got to.” View the full article

It may have not been the result he was after, but Andrew Campbell was pleased with Croupier’s run at Eagle Farm last Saturday, and will press on towards his intended feature targets. Following two wins in New Zealand, Croupier made his Australian debut over a mile at the Brisbane track last weekend where he finished fourth in the hands of former New Zealand-based jockey Mark Du Plessis. “I thought it was a good run, maybe he (Du Plessis) should have hooked him out wide instead of going to the rail,” Campbell said. “I don’t think a horse won on the rail all day except for the last, so it probably wasn’t the best place to be. The big horse he is, he got held up at a vital stage too. “He has only been beaten three-quarters of a length, so we are over the moon, and that is why we are still here.” The three-year-old son of Ace High has pleased Campbell with the way he has come through the run, and he is now looking forward to heading to Doomben next Saturday to contest the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) before returning to Eagle Farm later this month to tackle the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m). “Croupier came through his run extra well,” Campbell said. “I gave him a little gallop this (Thursday) morning and he galloped really nice. We are hoping to go to the Rough Habit Plate next Saturday, providing he makes the field. I couldn’t be happier with him.” Meanwhile, stablemate Hayworth is set to make her debut at Trentham on Saturday in the Ladies Man 2YO (1200m). Bought out of Highline Thoroughbreds’ New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft last year for $30,000, the daughter of Ace High will race in the colours of stable stalwart Tommy Heptinstall. “We had sold her brother Caracas overseas, and he went really well. Unfortunately, he broke down, but he’s still Group Two placed,” Campbell said. “We bought her as insurance. She was a nice, big, strong filly by Ace High that was going to take a bit of time, as they do.” Hayworth is on the fourth line of betting for the opening race of the eight-race card at $6, and while hopeful of a positive result, Campbell is realistic about her chances and said it is more of an educational run before heading for a spell. “She is going well, she’s not really a two-year-old though, we are just going to give her one run, and to lob into the money would be good,” he said. “She’s a capable horse and she is going to make a really nice three-year-old. Win, lose or draw, we’ll give her a nice six weeks out and get her ready for the spring.” View the full article

Fresh off tackling the Warrnambool May Carnival with Berry The Cash, Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan is back home and looking forward to kicking off his Champion jumper West Coast’s season this weekend. The imposing son of Mettre En Jeu will compete on the flat in the Palamountains Nutrition Maiden (2060m) at Wanganui on Sunday, and while Oulaghan isn’t expecting to see his charge feature in the finish, it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility. The nine-year-old gelding ran fourth over 2200m first-up last year, and Oulaghan has been pleased with his progression this time in. “He has done things pretty right, he has done a bit of work. He is probably on a par with other seasons,” Oulaghan said. “A flat race isn’t really his thing, but he is just there for a conditioning run. “If he goes quietly early, I think he can run home well, it just depends on how the race is run.” Stablemate Super Spirit is a dual acceptor for the meeting, but Oulaghan is leaning towards running the nine-year-old gelding in the Dr John D. Moore Memorial Open Steeplechase (3800m) over the Ken Duncan Racing Maiden Hurdle (3000m). “He will probably run in the chase,” Oulaghan said. “He is not the fastest horse around and I think steeplechasing suits him better. I just thought if it was going to be a wet track there, he could have run in the maiden hurdle, but I think the track is going to be reasonably good.” Oulaghan’s Wanganui representation will be rounded out by Kentucky Boy in The Grant Sweeney Memorial Open Hurdle (3000m). “He will run in the open hurdle, it’s a conditioning run for him, and next start will be a steeplechase,” he said. A day prior, Oulaghan will take just the one runner south to Trentham, with Jack Morrison set to tackle the West Coast Sponsored By Wairepo Herefords (1600m). “He is a little bit of an enigma, he has had one or two problems,” Oulaghan said. “We will run him there and get a bit of a line on him on Saturday and see where we are with him.” Meanwhile, Oulaghan is looking forward to welcoming back Berry The Cash to his stable on Thursday after an Australian campaign that netted fourth placings in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) and Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m). “He gets back to the stable this (Thursday) afternoon,” Oulaghan said. “I haven’t seen him since the race, but by all reports he is quite perky and well. “We will give him two or three weeks in the paddock and then look at something further down the track for him.” Oulaghan enjoyed his time at Warrnambool and isn’t ruling out a return but said it would unlikely be with his star jumper West Coast. “Like everything new that you do, it was a learning curve, but Warrnambool was quite interesting,” he said. “I just don’t know whether he (West Coast) is an Australian-type of horse. His forte is heavier tracks and bigger fences, and over in Aussie it is a bit different, they run on better ground and over smaller fences. I just don’t know whether it would all-together suit him, but I guess you don’t know until you try. At this stage, we will keep him around here.” View the full article

Promising juvenile Engine Of War (NZ) (Circus Maximus) has joined the growing Australasian stable of international micro-share syndicator MyRacehorse. The son of Circus Maximus was purchased after finishing third at the first time of asking for Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman. “We bought him about a week and a-half ago and he had a couple of private jump-outs that we really liked and loved him on debut at Waverley,” said Ben Willis, MyRacehorse’s Australasian Managing Director. “We were going to run him in that 1400m two-year-old stakes race (Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes, 1400m) last Saturday, but decided to scratch. “I know Andrew has a really good opinion of the horse and he was great to work with.” Engine Of War will be raced by the company with the youngster’s new Victorian trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. “We’re going to transfer him over to Australia as soon as possible to have a crack at the spring carnival,” Willis said. “Andrew Williams does a lot of our bloodstock work in New Zealand, he had spotted him and after his debut run, we really liked what we saw and got involved. “The form has been pretty strong out of that race and the horse that ran second (Spandeedo) has come out and won quite convincingly. “The winner Belzoni will be running at Trentham on Saturday, so we’ll be interested to see how he goes.” Off the back of their flagship Group One winner Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino), MyRacehorse is keen to build its New Zealand profile. “Willydoit was, and still is, a huge success for us and we’ve had a fair bit of luck out of New Zealand,” Willis said. A son of Tarzino, Willydoit romped to victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, who race the three-year-old with Bryan Black and MyRacehorse. He subsequently finished fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and has remained across the Tasman with his future career to be guided by Ciaron Maher. “He’s currently spelling in Queensland, there’s not a lot of sun anywhere in Australia so he’s probably in the best climate,” Willis said. “He’s really settled in well and thriving and he’ll have another three or four weeks in the paddock. “He’ll come back and target the spring, what he goes for yet is still to be confirmed and we’ll have a chat with the stable and see what they’re thinking.” Plans are now afoot for MyRacehorse to ramp up its involvement here. “We went over there a few times for the Avondale Guineas and the New Zealand Derby and the general warmth and acceptance of the New Zealand industry of our brand has been really positive, so we’re really excited about doing more over there,” Willis said. “It’s definitely an industry that we are looking to invest more and more into and the way you guys breed horses, educate and prep them, especially when they get out over a bit of ground, is a huge advantage. “We bought a Contributor colt out of Sharp Proposition (NZ) at Karaka this year with Shaun and Emma, and he’s staying in New Zealand. “We’re starting to look at how we can expand the company and have a permanent base so we can buy more horses in New Zealand and continue to keep them there to race. “We will be looking for more trainers, owners and partners very shortly.” View the full article

Sovereignty will be the fifth Derby champion in seven years to miss the event in Baltimore.View the full article

Veteran handler rates his exciting sprinter a strong chance despite lumping 135lbs against strong opposition on Saturday.View the full article

After failing to get in foal last season, Chantilly Lace (NZ) (US Navy Flag) is progressing well toward black-type targets before connections turn their focus back to her breeding career. The daughter of U S Navy Flag will step out in Saturday’s Trust House Masterton Cup (1400m) at Trentham as a forerunner to further stakes opportunities. Chantilly Lace will be making the third appearance of her campaign, and the prospect of soft ground will provide her with the ideal stage to showcase her talent. “Obviously, she didn’t get in foal so we’re having another crack, this race works in perfectly for her,” trainer Chrissy Bambry said. A winner at Listed level in the Wanganui Guineas (1200m) and Castletown Stakes (1200m), Chantilly Lace is likely to return to Windsor Park Stud stallion Paddington, a four-time Group One-winning son of Siyouni, later this year. In the interim, the mare will have chances to boost her future broodmare value. “If she goes well on Saturday, she’ll back up in the Rangitikei Gold Cup (Listed, 1600m) and then head to Wanganui for the weight-for-age (Listed AGC Training Stakes, 1600m), in which she was a really unlucky fourth last year,” Bambry said. Chantilly Lace opened this preparation when unplaced at Ellerslie and then finished fourth in an open handicap sprint at Wanganui. “I’m really happy with her, she’s come up very well and the tracks were just a bit firm for her,” Bambry said. “The 1400m on a softer track on Saturday should be right up her alley with no weight (54kg) on her back.” Chantilly Lace will be accompanied to Trentham by her promising stablemate Dubai’s Potitki (NZ) (Ocean Park), who runs in The Cossack Handicap (2200m). He has yet to win but showed his staying quality two runs back when runner-up to Kiwi Skyhawk in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m). “He’s got all the ability in the world, and it’s just taken a long time for the penny to drop,” Bambry said. “Just his greenness beat him that day, if he had taken the gap that Ryan (Elliot) had showed him at the 300m he might have gone close to winning. “He’s been a work in progress and he’s going to be a very, very good horse. I can see some nice Cups in his future.” Dubai’s Potiki finished midfield last time out in the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m). “He went up to Ellerslie for his first trip away and handled it really well, so we thought we might get another good run before the tracks get too wet for him.” The stable had thoughts of a tilt at the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) with the son of Ocean Park and the venture hasn’t been completely ruled out. “If he had gone well at Ellerslie, that’s where we were going and obviously if he was to come out and go really well at Trentham there’s always a chance he could still go, but it will be his last chance,” Bambry said. By Ocean Park, Dubai’s Potiki is the last live foal of the E Dubai mare Dubai Belle, a gifted performer who won nine races including the Gr.3 Merial Mile when trained by Bambry’s father Tony. View the full article

Talented mare Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto) will be out to add to her recent black-type status at Arawa Park on Saturday, lining up in the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m). Patiently handled by Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos, the four-year-old mare has headed to the races 14 times, with fourth placings in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) and Listed Flying Handicap (1400m), capped off by a last-start third in the Listed ANZAC Mile (1600m). The Wanganui feature was Bedtime Story’s first attempt over the mile distance and Lowry couldn’t have been happier with her effort, finishing just a half-length from the winner in Khafre. “It was very good, I thought she acquitted herself very well in her first time at a mile,” he said. “She pulled up very well and we’re happy with her, so we’ll give her the opportunity on Saturday to try and get some more black-type. She’s racing well in good heart and has won on a rain-affected track, I’m not saying she can handle a heavy, heavy track, but she certainly doesn’t mind getting her toe in. “She’ll drop back to 1400m on Saturday, but it’ll be like a mile.” The daughter of Per Incanto will head north from Hastings with Anaroa, a winner over 1300m earlier in the year taking on The Rotorua Club (1400m). “The 1400 will suit him nicely and I don’t think the rain will worry him,” Lowry said. The stable also have accepted with three runners at Wanganui on Sunday, but a wide barrier draw may set back a debut for No Trumps. “I see we’re drawn off the track so it’s a question mark whether we will start from that wide to be fair,” Lowry said. “But he’s a horse that has trialled well and we’ll see what the weather does.” The Ace High three-year-old is a potential starter in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1300m), while his stablemate Snowflake will take her place off a spell. “She’s going very well, I think she’ll be pretty competitive,” Lowry said. View the full article

Anarchist, a graded stakes winner at Del Mar and Woodbine and even stakes-placed in Korea, is ready for the next stop: The Big Apple.View the full article

As much as the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) is viewed as a prep race for the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1), trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. views it as educational for his two starters, Captain Cook and McAfee.View the full article

By Jonny Turner Julie Jaccka can book her ticket to the big stage if she can continue her brilliant form at Winton on Thursday. The Brett Gray-trained trotter and junior driver Dan Anderson will be out to complete a hat-trick of wins after winning their last two starts together at Central Southland Raceway. Julie Jaccka went back-to-back at Winton before going on to run a solid fourth on Diamonds Day at Ascot Park last month. The Gray stable now has Addington in its sights if their consistent trotter can produce another strong effort in Race 6, the Goodman Plumbing Ltd Handicap Trot (3.11pm). “We are hoping she go another good race and then head up to the Heather Williams Memorial at Addington,” Anderson said. “She’s been going great, so she deserves a go at a nice race at Addington and she’s done pretty well up there before.” Julie Jaccka faces a 30m handicap in the feature trot at Winton, which looks like a workable mark for a horse of her quality. “If she was able to get away like she can and be handy enough I would be pretty confident,” Anderson said. “But you have to respect the others. There are some hardened old horses in there.” “We have to give Andy Hall 10m, and Bring On The Muscle went a great race on Diamonds Day.” “He is 10m behind us, but if he is on our back, he is going to be tough.” The Gray stable also starts High Return and Foxing Easton at Winton on Thursday. Two-year-old High Return has trialled solidly ahead of his debut against older horses. Foxing Easton disappointed fresh up at the same track, but he looks set for a stronger effort after winning two recent trials. Brent Barclay takes the reins behind the pair. Anderson will also link up with the Hamish Hunter-trained Montage at Winton. The pair ran a solid third at Ascot Park two starts ago before their sixth at Winton last week. “I think he’s a good chance in any rating 35 race. He didn’t get all the luck last start, but his run before that was pretty good.” “He can do a bit of work and will keep sticking on.” The Hunter stable also starts Better Be Watching and Diamondsonmyshoes at Winton on Thursday. View the full article

Ellis Park is projecting a significant boost for maiden special weight (MSW) purses at its upcoming 25-date summer meet, up from $71,000 last year to “in the $100,000 range” according to Gary Palmisano, Jr., the vice president of racing for Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI), the gaming company that is the corporate owner of the Western Kentucky track. Palmisano also projected that planned transfers of Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) money from Kentucky Downs and the allocation of funding from other sources within CDI's in-state gaming operations would bridge a gap that has existed between MSW purses at Kentucky's top-paying Thoroughbred venues (Kentucky Downs, Churchill Downs and Keeneland Race Course) and the more blue-collar tracks (Ellis and Turfway Park). “The goal is to have $100,000 [MSW] races across Kentucky all year, and we're getting awfully close. And I think this summer at Ellis Park will be another step in that direction,” Palmisano said. Although MSW purse levels do not tell the entire story about how healthy a track or a circuit's racing is, they are often cited within the Thoroughbred industry as a useful barometer that indicates the class of horses a track can expect to attract. Palmisano's disclosures were made at Wednesday's meeting of the KTDF advisory committee. Last year's MSW races at Ellis were $71,000. In 2023, when Ellis ran its first meet under the ownership of CDI, MSW races were $70,000. In 2022, under different management, that value was $60,000. For comparison, Kentucky Downs MSW purses for this year's seven-day meet in August and September are projected to be $170,000, the same as last season. MSW races at the all-turf boutique meet were $150,000 in 2023 and 2022. They were $135,000 in 2021. CDI's flagship track, Churchill Downs, is currently carding 3-and-up MSW races at $120,000 during its April-June meet, a level that hasn't changed since 2022 at both the spring/summer and the two autumn meets. This April, Keeneland raised spring MSW purses for 3-year-olds and up to $110,000 after being plateaued at $100,000 for the past three years at both the April and October meets. At Turfway, which is also owned by CDI, MSW races were $80,000 at the 2024-25 winter/spring meet. The previous two seasons they were $70,000. Turfway paid out $62,000 in MSW purses in 2021-22. Bill Landes III, who represents the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association as the KTDF advisory committee's vice-chair, articulated a concern during Wednesday's meeting about lower-level racing at Ellis this summer. “The only comment I've gotten this past week is the demise of the little guy and the claiming horses and whatnot,” Landes said. “So I hope when you write your condition book that you keep that in mind. Because you are competing against Hawthorne, and you'll be competing against Horseshoe Indianapolis.” Baley Hare, the racing secretary at Ellis, replied by giving a food analogy. “We always need the big steak. Or the big lobster tails are nice,” Hare said, referring to the high-value races. “But you still need the potatoes [meaning the lower-level races]. So you can't forget about the sides.” Palmisano gave an update on how Ellis is coping in the aftermath of mid-April rainstorms that flooded the track property, which is close to the Ohio River. “As you all know, Ellis Park was in the flood zone there for a while,” Palmisano said. “We did take on water on the backside. We did have some electrical poles that are down that are being replaced. So horsemen were supposed to move in there this week. That's been backed up to, tentatively, the first of June. “But all of us are actively working to get the horsemen into the backside as quickly as possible,” Palmisano said. “There's some roof work that needs to be done. I don't know if you all are aware, but two or three days before the flood waters were rising up, there was significant wind damage throughout Ellis Park on a number of barn roofs. So that was only further complicated by the rising flood waters, which prevented us from doing a lot of work back there.” Palmisano also said that, “They're working to patch a portion of the turf course, which had standing water on it for a while.” The KTDF is funded by three-quarters of 1% of all money wagered in the state on both live Thoroughbred races and historical horse race gaming, plus 1% of all money wagered on Thoroughbred races via inter-track wagering and whole-card simulcasting. That money, along with funding from each track, goes to pay purses in the state. At the May 7 meeting, the KTDF advisory board approved the recommendation of allotment requests that the Ellis purse projections were based on. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation still has to vote on final approval of the funding at a subsequent meeting. The post With Boosts Projected at Ellis and Turfway, Kentucky Nearing Year-Round, Six-Figure MSW Purses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2025 marks the third year that Gulfstream Park will host the Royal Palm Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies Stakes, the only two juvenile Royal Ascot qualifying races in the country. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)-related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU)'s “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 05/07/2025 Licensee: Javier Moran, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 8, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500. Admission. The following are treated as one violation. Explainer: Medication violation for an Intra Articular Injection Within Fourteen (14) days of a Post-Time on Get a Grip Marilyn on 1/29/24 and 3/22/24; and Kestenna on 2/23/24. Date: 05/07/2025 Licensee: Javier Moran, trainer Penalty: A fine of $3,000. Admission. Explainer: Medication violations for an intra-articular injection within seven (7) days of a timed and reported workout on Kestenna on 1/23/24. Date: 05/06/2025 Licensee: Ramon Aguayo, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 7, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine-a controlled substance (Class B)-in a sample taken from Salagadoola, who finished second at Tampa Bay on 3/26/25. Date: 05/06/2025 Licensee: Pablo Torres, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Holiday Fantasy, who finished third at Tampa Bay on 3/19/25. Date: 05/05/2025 Licensee: Alejandro Colina, trainer Penalty: 60-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 6, 2025; a fine of $5,000 ($4,500 fine will be waived if all purses are repaid). Final decision of internal adjudication panel. Explainer: For a breach of Rule 3510(b), which is a “Refusal/failure to cooperate promptly and completely with HISA/HIWU under the ADMC Program Rules.” There are no other case details currently available on the HIWU website. Date: 05/02/2025 Licensee: Leslielyn Hardesty, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on That's My Cat during the race period, an event dated 2/28/25. According to the case resolution, That's My Cat was “observed with an ointment in both nostrils. A search of Ms. Hardesty's barn was conducted, and a nasal ointment was discovered, and Ms. Hardesty's admitted that the ointment was administered to the Covered Horse.” Date: 05/01/2025 Licensee: Carlos Inirio, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 2, 2025; Disqualification of both Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Following cases treated as one violation. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Caffeine-a controlled substance (Class B)-in a sample taken from Fool for the City, who won at Mahoning Valley on 1/25/25; and from Sufferin Succotash, who finished fourth at Mahoning Valley on 1/27/25. Date: 05/01/2025 Licensee: Alfredo Marquez, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from My Kathryn Rose, who won at Santa Anita on 10/19/24. Pending ADMC Violations 05/07/2025, Natalie Cowan, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a controlled substance (Class B)-in a sample taken from Beauty Bolt on 4/3/25. 05/07/2025, Robert Thomas Paterno, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Nouveau Depart on 4/1/25. 05/06/2025, John Servis, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Strong Like Sara, who finished third in the Rainbow Miss Stakes at Oaklawn Park on 4/6/25. 05/05/2025, Raymond Valerio, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Trichlormethiazide-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from King Adrock, who won at Turf Paradise on 4/8/25. 05/05/2025, Joseph Poole, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a controlled substance (Class B)-in a sample taken from Pride and Attitude on 4/2/25. 05/05/2025, Ryan Kenney, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Spaghetti Tree, who finished second at Turf Paradise on 4/2/25. 05/02/2025, Sherry Janice Armstrong, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Trichlormethiazide-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Barossa, who won at Sunland Park on 3/28/25. 05/01/2025, Abel Ramirez-Rodriguez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Legal Empress, who finished second at Oaklawn Park on 3/1/25. Violations of Crop Rule Oaklawn Park Abel Cedillo – violation date May 3; $250 fine, one-day suspension Santa Anita Adrian Escobedo – violation date May 3; $300 fine, no other details currently available Thistledown Luis Alberto Batista – violation date May 3; $500 fine, two-day suspension German Terraza – violation date May 5; $250 fine, one-day suspension The post National Regulatory Rulings, May 1 – May 7 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Henri Devin, who ran France's historic Haras du Mesnil with his wife Antonia, died at the age of 71 earlier this week. A noted owner-breeder, Devin inherited the stud from his grandparents, Jean and Elisabeth Couturie. Some of the best to call Mesnil home are the 2001 G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Terre A Terre (Kaldounevees), and G1 Hong Kong Vase and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Ange Gabriel (Kaldounevees). Another is G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Nonza (Zanzibar), who gave Devin's son, Henri-Francois, his first top-tier score as a trainer. Several stallions have left their mark on the game from Mesnil, among them Group 1 sire Kaldounevees, as well as Turgeon and leading National Hunt stallion Doctor Dino. The latter currently leads the three-strong roster at Mesnil, alongside young sires Telecaster and Bay Bridge. Henri is survived by his wife Antonia and their four children. The post Haras Du Mesnil’s Henri Devin Dies At 71 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky Downs' 2025 meet will feature 18 stakes offering a total of $30.5 million in purses, led by the $3.5 million Nashville Derby (G3T). Another 10 stakes are worth at least $2 million.View the full article

West Point Thoroughbreds announced May 7 the retirement of Jaxon Traveler, a multiple graded stakes winner who collected at least one stakes victory every season from ages 2 to 7. Stud plans have not been finalized.View the full article

Tampa Bay Downs posted gains in all major categories, capping a memorable campaign with the third-largest crowd in track history May 3.View the full article

Speaking May 7 during the ongoing annual meeting of the ARCI in Louisville, Ky., leadership of several state horse racing regulators expressed continued challenges related to staffing positions for regulatory veterinarians and stewards. View the full article