Wandering Eyes

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.That was a walk in the park for Southern Legend in the Kranji Mile – @adac_035Hong Kong horses are better than Singapore horses.That was a consistent theme over the weekend before and after the S$1.5 million (HK$8.5 million) Kranji Mile and it didn’t matter which jurisdiction you came from – trainers and jockeys from both were in agreement.The result was a Hong Kong… View the full article

Michael Chang Chun-wai still needs two winners this season to avoid a dreaded strike but the amiable 57-year-old says he’s “not worried” as he prepares to take nine runners to Happy Valley on Wednesday night.Trainers must produce 16 winners in a season (18 if they have stables at Conghua) to meet the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s performance criteria and it’s a three strikes and you’re out system.Chang failed to meet the benchmark in 2014-15 with only 13 winners, although his prize money earnings… View the full article

Three-time champion jockey Joao Moreira will officially ride on in Hong Kong until the end of the season with the Brazilian having his stable-retained licence extended by the Jockey Club.The licensing committee announced on Monday that Moreira’s arrangement with champion trainer John Size, which was set to expire on June 9, has been renewed.The agreement means Moreira is required to continue to partner Size’s horses where possible and he can only ride for an outside trainer if his home stable… View the full article

Paul Makin, most famous as the owner of globe-trotting multiple Group One winner Starcraft, has died aged 82. An Australian who made his money betting on racing in Hong Kong and Japan, Makin also owned horses in Europe including Irish Oaks winner Chicquita and was a successful breeder. Makin retired from betting in 2001, and invested time and money into his racing interests. He bought Starcraft in New Zealand for $80,000 and the colt went on to win the 2004 Chipping Norton Stakes and Australian ... View the full article

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins catches up with trainer Gary McBeth Hi I’m Nikkita’s win at Trentham on Saturday.... View the full article

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins speaks with trainer Chris Bothwell after Roschana’s win at Hawera on Sunday.... View the full article

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins speaks with trainer Chrissy Bambry after Deerfield’s win at Trentham on Saturday.... View the full article

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It has been quite a frustrating season for Levin trainer Sylvia Kay, having recorded a number of placings and only one win, but that all changed on Saturday when she prepared the quinella in the Trentham Gold Cup (2100m) with Sylvester and Dr Watson. “It is quite a surprise when you can get a quinella,” Kay said. “I was hoping something was going to win a race, we have had a few seconds.” Race winner Sylvester had placed in his two previous starts this month and Kay was delighted to get ... View the full article

The Bostonian will have to carry the biggest winning weight in 27 years if he is to complete the first treble of Brisbane's Group One sprints. Weights for the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) were released on Monday with Osborne Bulls topweight with 58kg but he will not start. The Bostonian was given 57kg with Nature Strip, who also is a non-starter, the next highest on 56.5 kg. At least eight of the top 20 in the weights are unlikely runners. A total of 144 horses were weighted but that will drop aw... View the full article

Smart Cambridge three-year-old Hypnos is set to embark on a delayed Australian campaign, but with a change of direction. The Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) runner-up is booked to leave New Zealand on Wednesday bound for Melbourne to make his Australian debut in a three-year-old handicap over 1400m at Caulfield next Saturday. The original plan for Hypnos was a Queensland campaign kicking off with a start in Saturday’s Gr.3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm, but a poor fresh-up performance whe... View the full article

Don Alberto Stable's 4-year-old homebred Tamburo Di Oro rolled past Brown Storm in the final furlong to capture the May 26 Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella (G1) and earned an automatic starting position into the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T). View the full article

A change in surface proved to be no problem for Nick Alexander's S Y Sky, who rallied past defending winner Belvoir Bay to win an off-the-turf version of the $200,702 Monrovia Stakes. View the full article

A change in surface proved to be no problem for Nick Alexander's S Y Sky, who rallied past defending winner Belvoir Bay (GB) to win an off-the-turf version of the $200,702 Monrovia Stakes. View the full article

Less than a month after breaking her maiden May 2 at Churchill Downs, Judy B. Hicks' homebred filly My Majestic Rose stepped up her game and was rewarded with a victory in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks (G2) May 26 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Clearview Park Stud in Timaru have announced they have secured Group One winner Jon Snow ahead of the forthcoming breeding season where he will stand for a fee of $6,000+GST. Aaron Tapper and his partner Lacy Stewart are delighted to welcome the good-looking son of Iffraaj, named after the lead character in the hit-series Game Of Thrones, to Clearview Park Stud. “We’re just so excited to have the King in the North down here,” Tapper quipped. “It’s a real coup for South Island breeder... View the full article

Madakat Stables, ERJ Racing, Elayne Stable, and Bouchey Thoroughbred Ventures' Secret Message came through in the final strides of the $175,000 Nassau Stakes (G2T) May 26 at Woodbine to bring her season record to 2-for-2. View the full article

For Giant Expectations, a 6-year-old son of Frost Giant, the $200,000 Commentator will be his first start at a New York Racing Association track since June 8, 2017 when he captured an allowance race for New York State-breds at Belmont Park. View the full article

COMICAL (f, 2, Into Mischief–Kayce Ace {SP, $151,190}, by Tiznow) turned heads Sunday with a sharp unveiling worthy of ‘TDN Rising Star’-dom. With three consecutive gate works on display, most recently in :48 flat here May 20 (click for XBTV video), the narrow 8-5 second choice came out running. Soon confronted by favored Gold Star Lady (Candy Ride {Arg})–a $300,000 OBSMAR grad–the bay knocked heads with that foe through an opening quarter of :22.71. Those two were in a race of their own heading for home, but it quickly became a one-horse affair as Comical hit another gear and left her rival in the dust to score by about six lengths before galloping out much farther in front. She stopped the clock in :52.32. Comical’s dam is a full-sister to MGISW Colonel John and to Grade I-placed flat runner and steeplechase extraordinaire. She has half-sisters by Candy Ride (Arg) born in 2018 and 2019 and was preceded by two more Candy Rides who brought $550,000 and $500,000, respectively, at auction. Sales history: $100,000 yrl ’18 KEESEP. O-ERJ Racing LLC, Dave Kenney & Westside Racing Stable. B-Susan Casner (KY). T-Doug O’Neill. The post Into Mischief Filly No Joke in ‘Rising Star’ Worthy Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Tacitus breezed over the main track at 8:45 a.m. May 26 at Belmont Park, working in company with Multiplier. View the full article

All Together Stable and Gary Andrew Grant's Bahamian Girl became the first winner for freshman sire Bahamian Squall when she took a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies May 26 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Tacitus breezed over the main track at 8:45 a.m. May 26 at Belmont Park, working in company with Multiplier. View the full article

Evangeline Downs hosted its annual celebration of the Louisiana-bred Thoroughbred May 25 with Louisiana Legends Night. There were eight stakes races with purses totaling $550,000, making it the richest night of the entire Thoroughbred season. View the full article

Juddmonte Farms’ multiple graded stakes winner Tacitus (Tapit) breezed five furlongs over the Belmont main track Sunday morning in preparation for the June 8 GI Belmont S. The gray, last seen finishing third in the GI Kentucky Derby, covered the distance in 1:01.16 (3/11) in company with GSW Multiplier (The Factor). “It was very good, very even; I liked the rhythm of it–12, 12, 12, 12. Each furlong was in about 12 seconds and he went out six furlongs in about 1:12, so I thought it was a very steady, solid work,” said trainer Bill Mott. Mott also provided an update on his Kentucky Derby winner Country House (Lookin At Lucky), who was forced to miss the GI Preakness S. with a fever and will be pointed for a summer campaign. “Country House is back on the track at Churchill–he’s jogging, he’s doing fine,” said Mott. “He’s a horse you’d look at for the [July 27 GII] Jim Dandy with the [GI]Travers as the [longer term] goal.” In other Belmont news, Japanese hopeful Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}), sixth in the Derby, jogged at Belmont for the first time early Sunday morning. “Master Fencer had one lap of jogging on the training track, with a jog and light gallop at the main track as his schooling,” said Mitsuoki Numamoto, racing manager for owner/breeder Katsumi Yoshizawa. “The horse was very fresh and energized because of his day off yesterday, and shows no tiredness from shipment. Since the surface is pretty similar to Japan dirt, he seems okay for [racing on] this surface.” Master Fencer is schedule to breeze five furlongs on the Belmont main track Wednesday morning under Julien Leparoux, who’s slated to ride the colt in the Belmont. The post Tacitus Breezes for Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A year ago, Sam Ross and Mike Hall watched Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) carry the colors of their Breeze Easy to victory in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot. The two men were so impressed by the experience, they decided to try for a return trip to the prestigious race meet. In pursuit of that goal, they purchased a pair of fillies at the OBS March Sale. Both juveniles won impressively first time out for trainer Wesley Ward, both were tabbed ‘TDN Rising Stars’ and both are on track for Royal Ascot. They will be joined by Breeze Easy’s Imprimis (Broken Vow), who is trained by Joe Orseno. “That is kind of what drove the whole deal and why we bought the couple of fillies,” Hall said. “We decided we wanted to go back and that was our goal–to get back again. And it looks like that’s where we are headed.” Of the meeting’s appeal, Hall said, “I don’t know how to explain it. The people were super nice and everything was precise and perfectly done. We just had a great experience there really.” Breeze Easy purchased Anna’s Fast (Fast Anna) for $470,000 at the OBS March sale following her :9 4/5 work. She was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after a 5 1/2-length debut win at Keeneland Apr. 24. Also at the March sale, the operation purchased a daughter of Karakontie (Jpn) for $365,000 following her :9 4/5 work. Now named Karak, the filly punched her ticket to Royal Ascot with a three-length debut win at Belmont Saturday. “We weren’t 100% sure, because we hadn’t done that much with her up to this point,” Hall said of Karak’s first racetrack appearance. “But we were hoping she would perform like that.” Breeze Easy purchased Shang Shang Shang for $200,000 at the 2018 OBS March sale, so it was an easy decision to return to the auction this year, according to Hall. “We were lucky and we bought Shang Shang Shang at that same sale a year ago and it worked out well for us,” Hall said. “So we picked these two fillies. They both checked the boxes for everything we were looking for. They had good breezes, good genetics and good heart scans and great conformation. So we were happy to get them.” Both fillies became the first winners for their first-crop sires, but Hall said, “It’s just a coincidence. They just both had really great works and we just fell in love with both of their conformation. There was no science to it other than that. I think it’s great that they are both first-crop sires and hopefully they will help promote those horses.” With Karak’s victory Saturday, all is set for Breeze Easy’s return assault on Royal Ascot. Imprimis, coming off a win in the Apr. 6 GII Shakertown S., worked five furlongs in :59.31 over the turf at Gulfstream Sunday. Anna’s Fast also worked Sunday, going four furlongs in :49.00 over the turf at Keeneland. “Imprimis had a nice work and Anna’s Fast had a nice work this morning, too,” Hall said. “So we’re all set.” While Hall said his requisite top hat is packed for the trip, he admitted the fashion accessory wasn’t his favorite part of the Royal Ascot fanfare. “I’m not going to lie, they are not real comfortable,” he said with a laugh. “But that’s part of it, I guess. I’d rather wear a cowboy hat than a top hat, but I’ll do what I have to do. Wesley knows the ropes there and we are proud to be a part of his team. We also have Joe Orseno going with Imprimis and he is looking forward to the trip.” Hall concluded, “We enjoy racing and we love Ascot.” Meanwhile, Shang Shang Shang, scratched the morning of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint when the turf came up soft last November, has been absent since winning the Norfolk. The 3-year-old filly has been working regularly in Kentucky, most recently going five furlongs in 1:00.80 over the Churchill turf May 21. She is expected to return to the races in the June 15 Honey Bee S. at Monmouth Park. 1st-Belmont, $96,500, Msw, 5-25, 2yo, 5fT, :57.38, fm. KARAK, f, 2, by Karakontie (Jpn) 1st Dam: Down The Well (Ire), by Mujadil 2nd Dam: Batchelor’s Button, by Kenmare (Fr) 3rd Dam: Boutonniere, by Sir Gaylord $22,000 Wlg ’17 KEENOV; $30,000 RNA Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $365,000 2yo ’19 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $50,000. O-Breeze Easy, LLC; B-Parrish Hill Farm, Amanda Roach Cole & Karakontie Syndicate (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. *1/2 to Aqua Frio (Uncle Mo), SW, $191,007. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Karak Adds Her Name to Breeze Easy Royal Ascot Contingent appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article