Wandering Eyes

Trainer Tony Gollan is not expecting a performance from Antino (NZ) (Redwood) like his Gr.1 Toorak Handicap win this Saturday at the Gold Coast, but he is holding out hope for one later in the campaign. The classy Redwood gelding will round out his preparations for the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 24 in the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast. Antino resumed with an 11th placing in the All Aged Stakes but Brisbane’s premier trainer is confident his stable star can again produce a performance akin the 6-1/2-length demolition job he performed on his rivals in last year’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). “You won’t see that sort of performance second-up in a Hollindale, but you could see something like that in a Doomben Cup, who knows?” he said. Gollan is happy with how Antino has done since the 1400m Gr.1 All Aged Stakes on April 19, when he encountered little luck from barrier one. The Hollindale Stakes will be just the second time he has raced at 1800m, following a 10th placing in the $2m Five Diamonds in 2023, but Gollan remains confident in his ability to run the trip out strongly. “It’s always been the plan to go to the Hollindale second-up, just with the way the races fell,” he said. “He was a pass mark for me in the All Aged, especially the way the race was run. “Obviously we’ll ride him to give him a bit more room on the Gold Coast and, providing he handles the surface, there’s no reason why he couldn’t run really well. “He’s definitely fit enough for the 1800. He’s improved out of sight from the trip to Sydney and back and he’ll get there in very good order second-up.” Antino occupies a place in the second line in Hollindale Stakes betting behind fellow Group 1 winner Buckaroo, who is at $3.50. View the full article

Andrew Bobbin enjoyed the spotlight of training Duke Of Bedford (NZ) (Tavistock) to win the Brierly Steeplechase and Grand Annual Steeplechase double at Warrnambool last week that he’s already planning on repeating the dose next year. Bobbin decided to stay in Warrnambool on Thursday night and celebrate his dashing fencer’s success and was only finding his voice again on Sunday morning. “I had a good night on Thursday night. It’s my career highlight, so it was worthy of a celebration,” Bobbin said. The Grampians Racing trainer has been doing his homework since Duke Of Bedford’s amazing Grand Annual performance and has come to the conclusion that he will be best served by going for a spell. “I came back on Friday and had the horse checked out and he recovered well. He’s going to have a break,” Bobbin said. He pointed out that the last horse to win the Grand Annual and the Grand National Steeplechase double in the same year was in 2008. “The Grand National is the obvious target, but it’s likely we will give that a miss and set him to do the same next year at Warrnambool,” he said. “He’ll have a break as he’s only six-years-old. I’ve done some research on the last 15 Grand Annual winners, and the average age of the winners is eight and a half.” “With him being only six he could only be half-way through his career if we look after him. He can have a break, and we can work towards Warrnambool in 12 months’ time.” Bobbin said Duke Of Bedford would bypass the Jericho Cup as his main asset was the ground he made up in the air when he jumped. “He jumps perfectly. Of the 33 fences in the Grand Annual it was only the first one he put in an average one. The rest he was brilliant. If you make up a length or two each jump, that’s a big advantage.” “We will follow the path we took this year and hopefully can do the Brierly and Grand Annual double again.” Bobbin said Warrnambool carnival aficionados told him that Duke Of Bedford’s wins were reminiscent of the John Wheeler trained Foxboy (NZ) (Foxbay) in 1997, who led throughout to win the Brierly by six lengths and then the Grand Annual by 20 lengths. “I had multiple conversations with people I respect and that’s what they said, and they told me winning like that doesn’t happen often at all. They went back to Foxboy for the comparison.” Bobbin said he was a bit nervous at the winning post the second time when Duke Of Bedford had cleared out from his rivals, but that’s when Arron Lynch put the race to bed. “When he went up the hill the first time, I was wondering what he was doing, but Lynchy said he never asked him for an effort and he was doing it naturally and within himself.” Bobbin said he hoped Duke Of Bedford’s win could pique the interest of some new owners for the stable who could entrust him with younger well-bred horses. “We’ve been training for four and a half years, and we’ve trained 160 winners with mostly average stock from the second-hand sales. We’ve proved we can train winners with the best strike-rate with the jumpers,” he said. “We have the facilities for sprinters and stayers as we can keep them sound, which is the biggest challenge in the game. We can get them fit on the sand tracks here without so much concussion and we can use the Stawell racetrack just up the road where I can gallop up the road on the grass.” “Last week was the highlight of my career. Duke Of Bedford is only in his third season, and he’s proven he’s as good as there is at that discipline, so, hopefully, there’s more to come from him.” View the full article

Pogacar (NZ) (Eminent) has a fair way to go to live up to his namesake, but he continued his pleasing progression with a maiden victory over 1200m on Riccarton’s synthetic track on Saturday. Named after World Champion cyclist Tadej Pogacar, who has won three editions of the Tour de France, Pogacar had shown early promise for trainer Ross Beckett, having placed in two of his three previous career starts. The three-year-old son of Eminent continued his upward trajectory at Riccarton on Saturday where he was having his first raceday start on a synthetic track. In the hands of Rohan Mudhoo, he settled off the pace before navigating his way through the pack down the home straight where he showed a good turn of foot late to reel in the leaders and score a half-neck victory over Celtic Bling. “He has always shown plenty,” Beckett said. “He has always worked well on it (polytrack), so I had no fears there. “It was a bit of a task for him coming back from 1400m to 1200m, but I was more than happy.” Beckett said Pogacar will now head for a well-earned break before being set for the South Island’s biggest racing carnival. “He is going to the paddock and then he will get ready for Cup Week,” he said. “I think he can get through the grades.” Pogacar will likely be joined at New Zealand Cup Week by stakes-performing stablemates Lilly (NZ) (War Decree) and Treybon (NZ) (Sweynesse). Both are currently enjoying some time in the paddock after pleasing preparations, which resulted in placing in the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m) for Lilly, while Treybon won the Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) and placed in the $200,000 Southern Mile Final (1600m) and $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m). “Treybon had a really good season and is out for a deserved rest and Lily is out as well,” Beckett said. “She (Lilly) is lovely filly, and time is going to really help. She will get ready for Cup Week and away we’ll go.” View the full article

Awapuni trainer Mike Breslin is looking forward to heading to Hawera on Tuesday with a team of five runners, all of whom he expects to put in good showings. The meeting will be held at the Taranaki track after the scheduled Sunday meeting at Otaki was postponed and transferred following an inspection that found the track surface was not safe for racing. Breslin believes the current Soft7 reading for the Hawera surface will play into the hands of his team, with several preferring a better winter track as opposed to the bottomless wet ground that can prevail during the colder months. Breslin is particularly looking forward to three-year-old filly Pleasing (NZ) (Russian Revolution) contesting the Harcourts Otaki Handicap (1200m). The daughter of Russian Revolution was runner-up over the same distance last start, and Breslin believes she is peaking nicely for Tuesday where she will jump from barrier eight, with apprentice jockey Amber Riddell aboard. “Pleasing was a very nice second last time and she is ready to win,” Breslin said. “She is only a three-year-old up against the older horses, but she is maturing nicely and relaxing far better in her work and her races. She has trained on nicely and could be my best chance on the day.” Breslin is also upbeat about the prospects of Ima Brazen One (NZ) (Brazen Beau) in the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1200m) after also finishing runner-up over 1350m at Wanganui last start. “Ima Brazen One is quite picky about what track she will perform on,” Breslin said. “She is a real ball of energy, so dropping back to 1200m on Tuesday will suit and, on her day, she is very competitive. “Joe Doyle will ride her and he is in super form, so if she can go well, there could be black type opportunities for her during this campaign.” Breslin will also be represented by Sand Point (NZ) (El Roca) in the Vets On Riverbank Maiden (1400m). The El Roca three-year-old kicked off his career with a pair of placings and was fitted for this run when finishing tenth over 1000m at Trentham last month. “He (Sand Point) is a horse with good talent and he trialled up well before his first-up run,” Breslin said. “I did expect him to finish a lot closer than he did that day, but the blinkers go on this time and up to 1400m will suit him. “He is going to win races and I would think he won’t take long to break that maiden status.” Stablemate Papa Surf (NZ) (Dalghar) will benefit from the two-kilogram claim of apprentice Jim Chung in the Hometown ITM Foxton Handicap (1200m), with Breslin hoping for his usual smart effort when fresh. “He has won fresh up before and his work lately suggests he is ready to go,” he said. “He is a tricky horse to place as he doesn’t like the track hard while he also doesn’t like it when it is Heavy 10. “He is a real character with plenty of ability and Jim gets on really well with him as he rides him in his trackwork as well as on raceday. “If the track got back to a Soft 6, he would be a good chance.” Enigmatic galloper Pepeha (NZ) (Darci Brahma) will round out Breslin’s chances in the New World Otaki Handicap (1600m), with the Awapuni trainer expecting a better run than his form on paper suggests. “Pepeha has the ability but just needs conditions to suit,” he said. “Last time at Waverley, the track just got too wet with the rain they had all day and when Joe (Doyle) let his head go, he floundered. “A better track is what he wants and I think he is a sneaky chance.” View the full article

Despite a rain-soaked day, the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) managed to set handle records for the race, the day, and the week as Sovereignty claimed the roses.View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Brilliant young trotting mare Keayang Zahara stretched her unbeaten record to 15 starts when she carried the silks of the late Greg Sugars on one of the most emotionally-charged nights Australian harness racing has seen. The four-year-old, first-up since December 6 last year, did all of the work outside multiple Group 1 winner Im Ready Jet and lifted when it mattered to win by a head at Melton. As her driver Glen Craven returned to the winner’s circle, it signalled the start of a beautiful and deeply emotional on-course tribute to Sugars. A video capturing just a small snapshot of his Sugars’ stellar career played as all drivers competing last night gathered on the track in front of the winning post. A podium with a set of Sugars’ driving colours, some trophies and other personal items became the centrepiece of a guard of honour from drivers. Emotions overflowed when Sugars’ wife, Jess Tubbs, joined the drivers on the track for a minute’s silence. After the tribute, the Vale Greg Sugars Free-For-All was run and Tubbs had three of the eight runners for the Larajay stables she built into such a huge success with Sugars, Hopes of a fairytale win sat with the Tubbs-trained favourite Rocknroll Hammer, driven by one of Sugars’ closest friends, James Herbertson, who had jetted back from a working holiday in the US to be at the tribute meeting. But the fairytale wasn’t to be. Rocknroll Hammer led, but the Kate Gath-driven Tango Tara came off Rocknroll Hammer’s back to run him down late and win. “I’m a really competitive person, but that’s one race I really struggled with going past the leader,” Gath said. Earlier in the night, Gath spoke beautifully about Sugars after winning on Pinnie in race one. “I think we’re all still numb and in shock. I just can’t stop thinking about Jess and Greg’s family,” she said. Fighting back tears, Gath added: “It’s such a privilege tonight to come here and pay tribute to Greg, the talent and legend that he was. He was so gifted.” Gath praised Melton officials and HRV for making red, green and white ribbons to put in the manes of all horses racing on the night. “What a beautiful touch,” she said. Tubbs spoke of how hard it was being trackside just a week after Sugars’ passing in his sleep. “We didn’t get a winner tonight, but we showed up. We showed up when we didn’t want to, when it would have been easier to stay home,” she wrote on Instagram. “We showed up all week, every morning, every race meeting. We showed up for Greg. “Greg and I often spoke about Team Larajay and our Larajay Family and I can say I’ve never been more proud of our team than I am right now. Love you guys.” Sugars, just 40, boasted a Hall of Fame record with over 4000 wins and 71 at Group 1 level. Tubbs confirmed Sugars’ full memorial service would be held at Melton at midday on Monday, May 12. View the full article

All-sources wagering on the 141st running of the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday set a new record of $349 million, smashing the previous record of $320.5 million established in 2024. All-sources wagering on the Derby alone was a record $234.4 million, easily surpassing the previous high-water mark of $210.7 million recorded in 2024. The all-sources handle for the week of racing leading up to an including Derby day set a new mark of $473.9 million, up from $446.6 million last May. TwinSpires, the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby, handled a new record of $108 million in wagering on Churchill Downs races for the Kentucky Derby Day program, compared to last year's record of $92.1 million, including all settled future wagers and affiliate wagering. TwinSpires' handle on the Kentucky Derby race was a new record of $73 million, beating last year's record of $60.9 million, including all settled future wagers and affiliate wagering. The 151st Kentucky Derby follows an all-time record 150th Kentucky Derby last year. The Company expects Adjusted EBITDA for Derby Week to be one of the top two results in the company's history, albeit $2 to $4 million lower than last year's marquee 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. “We congratulate the connections of Sovereignty on an impressive win over a very talented field of horses,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. “We are thrilled with our performance following the 150th milestone year in 2024 and we will grow the Kentucky Derby in the years to come.” Saturday's Derby program, conducted in rainy conditions, was attended by better than 147,000 racegoers. The post Record All-Sources Wagering For Kentucky Derby 151 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The son of leading sire Into Mischief is owned and bred by Godolphin, which won its first Kentucky Derby (G1), and trained by Bill Mott, who won his second Derby. He won with Country House in 2019.View the full article

St. Elias Stable, Vicarage Stable, Ken Langone, and Steven Duncker's Deterministic crushed the outer turf track record with a front-running triumph in the $194,000 Fort Marcy Stakes (G2T) May 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

This time when Bill Mott was introduced as the winning trainer of the Kentucky Derby (G1), the experience and emotions hit differently.View the full article

In the heat of battle against Journalism, jockey Junior Alvarado lost track of how many times he had used the riding crop on Sovereignty, going over the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's six-hit limit while winning the Kentucky Derby (G1).View the full article

Perennial leading sire Into Mischief sired his third Kentucky Derby (G1) winner May 3 when Godolphin homebred Sovereignty splashed to a 1 1/2-length victory over Journalism at Churchill Downs. View the full article

13th-Churchill Downs, $127,847, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 5-3, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 1:15.69, sy, 2 1/4 lengths. PATCH ADAMS (c, 3, Into Mischief–Well Humored {SW}, by Distorted Humor), who always has been marked by the betting public as the chalk, earned a 'TDN Rising Star' badge at second asking when the colt won by 10 1/2 lengths and posted a 98 Beyer under the Twin Spires at the end of November. The Triple Crown nominee just missed hitting the board in the GIII Southwest Stakes Jan. 25 and ran a well-beaten fourth in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 8. With Lasix here, the 3-2 shot vied for the lead three wide up the backstretch and continued to fight for the top spot around the far turn. Slugging it out with Big Truzz (Justify) entering the lane, the 'Rising Star' showed he was on the case and pulled away late to score by 2 1/4 lengths. The first to the races for Well Humored, the winner has a 2-year-old unraced full-brother named Wall Street. Patch Adams's illustrious stakes-winning third dam Well Dressed (Notebook) was a WinStar purchased in 2001 and among her eight winners is G1 Dubai World Cup hero Well Armed (Tiznow). The UAE hero's full-sister Life Well Lived foaled five winners from seven starters, most notably American Patriot (War Front). As for the Into Mischief-Distorted Humor cross, that includes current sires Life Is Good and Practical Joke. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-1, $222,585. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-CHC, Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Patch Adams and @flothejock gear down at the wire and win decisively to break his maiden for @bradcoxracing! pic.twitter.com/J3ojzSLixl — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 30, 2024 The post ‘Rising Star’ Patch Adams Is Party Of One In Optional Claimer At Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Atitlan makes it back-to-back graded stakes scores with a narrow victory in the $200,500 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) May 3 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Saudi Crown set an honest pace and was able to hold off a furious charge from 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan to win the Lake Ouachita Stakes May 3 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled the remainder of its May 3 card after an extended weather delay.View the full article

The son of leading sire Into Mischief is owned and bred by Godolphin, which won its first Kentucky Derby (G1), and trained by Bill Mott, who won his second Derby. He won with Country House in 2019.View the full article

Just a nose separated SAUDI CROWN (c, 4, Always Dreaming–New Narration, by Tapit) from last year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) on the wire in a thrilling stretch duel for Saturday's Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The rail-drawn grey lead from the jump with Mystik Dan tracking him every step of the way from second and while Saudi Crown got first jump heading into the lane, the Derby winner showed up with a game effort to push that rival to the wire. Lifetime Record: 15-7-3-1. O-FMQ Stables; B-CHC Inc.; T-Brad H. Cox. Sales History:$45,000 ylg '21 KEEJAN, $240,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR. The post Saudi Crown Denies Mystik Dan In Oaklawn Thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Let go at odds of 7.98-1 despite a resume that screamed potential GI Kentucky Derby winner, Godolphin homebred SOVEREIGNTY (c, 3, Into Mischief–Crowned, by Street Sense) tracked favored Journalism (Curlin) into the long Churchill Downs stretch, drew alongside entering the final furlong and inched away in the final yards to give the far-flung Godolphin operation its first-ever victory in the Run for the Roses. It is a third Kentucky Derby winner for the all-conquering Into Mischief in the last five years, joining Authentic and Mandaloun and is the second Derby winner for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott following on from the promoted Country House. Junior Alvarado, just three weeks removed from an injury-enforced absence, was piloting his first Kentucky Derby winner. Sovereignty continues a magical weekend for Godolphin, whose homebred filly Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) took out Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks while Ruling Court (Justify) struck in the G1 Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket early Saturday morning. This space will be updated SOVEREIGNTY WINS THE KENTUCKY DERBY! Bill Mott trains and @JuniorandKellyA was aboard for @godolphin! pic.twitter.com/wOzqOFVRkb — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025 The post ‘Good’-olhpin! Sovereignty Completes Oaks/Derby Double For Sheikh Mohammed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rider Penalties C Barnes | Woodville-Pahiatua 30 April; medical clearance required. B Oliver | Woodville-Pahiatua 30 April; medical clearance required. A Balloo | Canterbury 1 May; use of whip; suspended 4-14 May inclusive. R Elliot | Waikato 3 May; use of whip; fined $300. N Parmar | Waikato 3 May; medical clearance required. S Wynne | Canterbury 3 May; use of whip; suspended 26 May – 8 June inclusive. T Davies | Canterbury 3 May; use of whip; fined $300. L Hemi | Canterbury 3 May; use of whip; fined $300. A Riddell | Canterbury 3 May; use of whip; fined $250. Trainer Penalties B Kennedy | Waikato 3 May; late rider notification; fined $100. P Gerard | Waikato 3 May; late rider notification; fined $50. A Forsman | Waikato 3 May; late rider notification; fined $50. H Wynyard | Waikato 3 May; late rider notification; fined $50. T Pike | Waikato 3 May; incorrect gear; fined $50. Horse Penalties FLYING ANGEL | Woodville-Pahiatua 30 April; late scratching after failing to parade to start; must complete trial. TUKITUKI | Woodville-Pahiatua 30 April; reared at start dislodging rider; must complete trial. PONZI PONY | Canterbury 1 May; late scratching with a tendon injury; veterinary clearance required. CHILL FACTOR | Waikato 3 May; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. LE ROGIER | Canterbury 3 May; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. General The Canterbury JC meeting of 1 May was abandoned following Race 5 due to the weather conditions. The post 28 April – 4 May 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Kopion pulled away midstretch to claim victory in the $999,600 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs. The daughter of Omaha Beach is owned by Spendthrift Farm and trained by Richard Mandella.View the full article

Having won her first two starts by a combined 17 3/4 lengths before a third in the Likely Exchange Stakes, the daughter of French group 1 winner Siyouni got back on track May 3 with a 5 1/2-length victory.View the full article

From his nine previous rides on the veteran New York-bred SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS (g, 6, Medaglia d'Oro–Khancord Kid, by Lemon Drop Kid), jockey Manny Franco had posted an enviable record of seven wins and two second-place efforts, one of those defeats coming by a flared nostril. With Tyler Gaffalione–who rode the gelding to victory in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf two starts back–sidelined via injury, Franco rekindled his relationship with the Chad Brown galloper in Saturday's GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic and the partnership's 10th trip to the races resulted in their biggest score to date on one of the biggest stages in horse racing. “We get along really well, I think he likes me,” Franco told Churchill's Kaitlin Free before heading off to change into the Godolphin blue for the Derby ride aboard East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro). Favored at 31-10, the $280,000 Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale graduate left fairly from barrier 10 in the 11-horse field and raced at the tail of the field, three deep out of the stretch with cover on the back of Cameo Performance (Oscar Performance). Snugly held as they raced past the half-mile marker now tracking stablemate Running Bee (English Channel), Spirt of St Louis came out and once again followed Cameo Performance's move into the stretch, shifted farther out three-sixteenths from home and won it in a frenetic finish. Mercante (Gun Runner) held for second after leading early, then prompting the pace for the remainder, and Highway Robber (Hard Spun), back from Dubai for Jim and Susan Hill, was third. Sales history: $300,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $280,000 HRA '23 KEEAPR. O-Madaket Stables LLC, Dubb, Michael and Schermerhorn, Richard; B-Chester & Mary Broman (NY); T-Chad Brown. Spirit of St Louis flies home under Manny Franco to win the G1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic! pic.twitter.com/kKZYtlmYsn — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025 The post Spirit of St Louis, Franco ‘Fly’ Home To Take the Turf Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Despite being at a distance that left connections concerned, Zulu Kingdom proved his talent was too strong May 3 when winning the $924,780 American Turf Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Kopion pulled away mid-stretch to claim victory in the $1 million Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs. The daughter of Omaha Beach is owned by Spendthrift Farm and trained by Richard MandellaView the full article