Wandering Eyes

Two different panel discussions at the National HBPA conference—one featuring lawyers and one with research veterinarians—recommended steps trainers can take to diminish the chances of a horse's post-race drug test coming up positive.View the full article

Sam Houston Race Park will pay tribute to jockey Stewart Elliott when he turns 60 years-old on Saturday, March 1.View the full article

Damon Thayer's theme when he delivered the keynote address Feb. 25 at the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association's 2025 conference? "Cooperation is always better than extinction." View the full article

A total of 93 lots have been catalogued for the Tattersalls Online March Sale on Mar. 4-5, including Willie Mullins's Closutton Stables-consigned Horantzau D'Airy (Fr) (Legolas {Jpn}) who holds an entry in the Grand National. Sold as lot 25, the gelding is one of 66 horses in- and out-of-training in the sale. He was third in the G3 Novice Hurdle at the Galway Festival last summer, and was also second in both the G3 Kerry National at Listowel in September and the G3 Munster National at Limerick a month later. Also Grade 1-placed over hurdles, Horantzau D'Airy is rated 144 (Chase) by the IHRB. Another lot of note is Cherie D'Am (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}) (lot 58), consigned by Dan Skelton's Lodge Hill Stables. The mare is a listed winner and Grade 1-placed. G2 Dublin Racing Festival winner Lily Du Berlais (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) (lot 35) will be offered by Stuard Crawford's Newland Stables. On the Flat side, novice winner Northern Ruler (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (lot 43) will sell with a Timeform rating of 89. Of the dozen broodmares, Menandore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 86) graces the ring with a covering to Group 1 winner Angel Bleu (Fr). Among the seven yearlings is a son of Havana Grey (GB) out of the group-placed Kodiac (GB) mare Barroche (Ire) (lot 66). There are also five 2-year-olds and two stores in the catalogue. A breeding right in Group 1 winner and Classic sire Aclaim (Ire) (lot 92) will sell, as well. The sale begins at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 4 and the first lot is scheduled to close from 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 5. The post Horantzau D’Airy Highlights Tattersalls Online March Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 02/25/2025 Licensee: William Blair, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Triamcinolone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Dot on 1/19/25. Date: 02/25/2025 Licensee: Dr. Larry Rickman Overly, veterinarian Penalty: 36-month (18 months for each violation) of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 26, 2025; a fine of $25,000 ($12,500 for each violation). Admission. Explainer: Possession of Testosterone and Isoxsuprine—both banned substances—for an event dated 7/23/24. There are no further details currently publicly available. Date: 02/24/2025 Licensee: Alejandro Mendieta, 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 Pure Elegance during the race period. Date: 02/24/2025 Licensee: Juan Munoz Cano, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 25, 2025; Disqualification of Both 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. Treated as 1 violation. Admission. Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Capsaicin—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Iceatude, who won at Churchill Downs on 11/15/24, and Voodoo Zip, who won at Churchill Downs on 11/16/24. Date: 02/21/2025 Licensee: John Salzman Sr., trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Happy Hour Joker on 1/16/25. Date: 02/21/2025 Licensee: Roshan Samsundar, 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 Gringotts during the race period. Date: 02/20/2025 Licensee: Robert James Gherardi, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 21, 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. Final decision of Internal Adjudication Panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Caffeine—controlled medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Little Pinch, who finished second at Albuquerque on 10/18/24. Pending ADMC Violations 02/26/2025, Phil D'Amato, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Ms. Brightside, who won at Santa Anita on 1/1/25. 02/25/2025, Gustavo Delgado, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Capsaicin—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Avant Glory, who won at Gulfstream Park on 11/26/24. 02/25/2025, Angel Sanchez Pinero, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violations for the presence of Boldenone—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Magical Jaime on 8/5/24; For possession of Prasterone—a banned anabolic substance—for an event dated 12/5/24; And for the use or attempted use of a banned substance (Prasterone) on Magical Jaime during the race period, dated 12/5/24. 02/24/2025, Danny Morales, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Caffeine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from First Again, who finished second at Zia Park on 11/25/24. The post National Regulatory Rulings: Feb. 20-26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation has opened its 2025 grant awards cycle, with money available to support students in pursuit of education in equine industry careers and to fund research efforts that better the life of the Thoroughbred racehorse. Information regarding the grant award program can be found at www.terfusa.org. Grant applications will be accepted now through Apr. 1 for applications about equine education and scholarship support and June 30 for research grant funding applications. Grant recipients will receive written notice of TERF's acceptance of their funding request and notice via phone or e-mail by June 30 of the application year for education and scholarship support and not later than Sept. 1 for research grant awards. In 2024, TERF awarded $61,500 in education grants to seven organizations and $47,015 in research grants for three research projects. The post TERF 2025 Grants Available appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Damon Thayer's theme when he delivered the keynote address Feb. 25 at the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association's 2025 convention? "Cooperation is always better than extinction." View the full article

Jockeys Jose Ortiz and Juan Vargas share the Jockeys' Guild's Jockey of the Week honors for Feb. 17-23 after stakes-winning weekends at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

Ascot Racecourse, The Jockey Club, and Churchill Downs announced an extension of the 'wild card' entry initiative launched last year that ties together Royal Ascot, the Epsom Derby Festival, and the Kentucky Derby meeting at Churchill Downs. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Kingman's Ocean Mermaid at Tampa Bay Downs. Tampa Win Boosts Ocean Mermaid's Sale Charm Stonestreet Stables' Ocean Mermaid (GB) (Kingman {GB}) ran second in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes on debut in May of 2023 to subsequent G2 Queen Mary Stakes heroine Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), and graduated in her fifth lifetime start at Tampa Bay Downs for Josie Carroll this past week (video). Her success last Friday prompted RWB to shell out $210,000 during Tuesday night's Fasig-Tipton Digital February Sale to acquire the well-bred bay from the Taylor Made Sales Agency draft as lot 10. Bred by Peter Winkworth, the daughter of Sparkling Surf (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was acquired by Ben McElroy on behalf of Stonestreet for 210,000gns during Book 1 of the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The winner is a half-sister to the 3-year-old winner Glittering Surf (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), and colts by Palace Pier (GB) and Baaeed (GB) born in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Her granddam is the G3 Pinnacle Stakes heroine Shimmering Surf (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), responsible for G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Kitesurf (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G2 Dante Stakes third Surfman (GB) to the cover of Kingman. Juddmonte's Kingman has been well-represented in the U.S., with 45 winners from 78 runners (58%). Eight of his progeny have won stakes in that locale, six of them at graded level anchored by Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB). #8 OCEAN MERMAID ($14.20) used a nice stalking trip under @Pablojockey88 to get the lead and hold on late to win the finale at Tampa Bay Downs. The daughter of Kingman is trained by Josie Carroll. pic.twitter.com/D8zJk9tL1Q — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 21, 2025 Angel Game In Florida Wathnan Racing's Serene Seraph (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) closed to take her American debut at Gulfstream Park earlier this month (video). Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old was bred by Stowell Hill Partners, and cost 80,000gns when she caught the eyes of Peter and Ross Doyle during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Well-tried in seven UK starts, first for Barnane Stud and Partners for trainer Richard Hannon, and later for Wathnan Racing, the bay won twice there. Serene Seraph is a half-sister to the unraced colt Blarney (GB) (Belardo {Ire}), a 2-year-old filly by Palace Pier (GB), and a yearling colt by Saxon Warrior (Jpn). The daughter of French listed winner Pacific Angel (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) is from the same family as the decorated trio of group winners Policy Maker (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), Pushkin (Ire) (Caerleon) and Place Rouge (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}), with the first two also Group 1-placed. Group 1 winners and sires Planteur (Ire) and Persian King (Ire) are also under the third dam. Darley's Blue Point's eldest foals are 4-year-olds of 2025. He has five winners from 12 (42%) runners in the U.S., with GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner and new Tally-Ho sire Big Evs (Ire) and GIII Goldikova Stakes heroine Raqiya (Ire) his best in North America. The bay stands for €100,000 at Kildangan Stud in Ireland this year. Serene Seraph (IRE), with @JuniorandKellyA, reaches the wire first in the second race. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/yqLMuZSASP — Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) February 22, 2025 California Jungle Jungle Peace (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) broke her maiden at Santa Anita for CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Jerry McClanahan, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff earlier this month (video). The Phil D'Amato trainee, bred by M Brigid B, Ltd., was a €14,000 yearling pickup by Toberona Bloodstock from Rathasker Stud. Put back through the ring at Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in April of 2024, she did not meet her reserve and was a £5,000 buy-back. Unplaced when making her bow at Navan last September, Jungle Peace improved to third on the Dundalk all-weather a month later in her final start for owner/trainer Paul Nolan. A daughter of the War Command mare Peace Treaty (Ire), Jungle Peace is her first winner from two to race. Herself a half-sister to the stakes-winning dam of G3 Gimcrack Stakes hero Siren Assault (Aus) (Rich Enuff {Aus}), Peace Treaty has a 2-year-old colt and yearling filly by Coulsty (Ire) still to come. Rathasker Stud's Bungle Inthejungle has sired four winners from eight runners (50%) in the U.S.. His Manhattan Jungle (Ire) won the Listed Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita in the winter of 2023. He stands for €7,500 this year. Repeat Winner Sorrento Sky (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) returns to the Making Waves column after winning a five-furlong Santa Anita affair on Feb. 16 (video). The 4-year-old filly races for an ownership group of the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Mclean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Marc Lantzman and Michael Nentwig. Phil D'Amato trains the four-time winner and 2024 Stormy Liberal Stakes runner-up. The post Making Waves: Kingman Filly Parlays Tampa Score To Sales Ring Stardom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A special aspect of British racing is the existence of some spectacular country estates devoted solely to the purpose of breeding and training racehorses. For anyone with a love of the turf, names such as Kingsclere, Manton and Beckhampton have resonated down the years. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who ensure that they continue in this modern era, with their swathes of land so attractive to developers and their historic buildings so expensive to maintain. Andrew Balding's base at Park House Stables has subsumed its village's name of Kingsclere during its existence of nearly 160 years to become almost a brand of its own, synonymous with racing excellence. When John Porter, who designed the stables under the patronage of Sir Joseph Hawley, set up shop there in 1867, he had just 14 stables. The following year he had three runners in the Derby and one of which, Hawley's Blue Gown, won. The bar, then, was set pretty high from the outset. Balding, who succeeded his father Ian and grandfather Peter Hastings-Bass as the resident trainer, had a suitable riposte in his own first season of training when he sent out William Farish's Casual Look to win the Oaks of 2003. This maintained a long tradition of support from leading American owner-breeders at Kingsclere, including Paul Mellon and George Strawbridge, whose silks have hung in the famous colours room – once famously used as a makeshift surgery for Mellon's Mill Reef – alongside those of the King and Queen, Jeff Smith, Kirsten Rausing, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, Qatar Racing, King Power, and joined more recently by the likes of Cheveley Park Stud and Juddmonte. If Porter could return to Kingsclere now, it is easy to imagine that he would be both pleased and impressed. His original designs live on, functional and useful, and his initials remain lavishly carved into the masonry. The significant expansion of his own time has continued through the Balding family's tenure, with a number of new roomy barns dotted across the hub of the training centre. The old brick stable yards remember the greats of yesteryear, such as Flying Fox, one of Porter's three Triple Crown winners, while the barns commemorate more recent star graduates such as Kameko and Elm Park. Poignantly, 'The Chairman's Barn' is named in honour of the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the racehorse owner behind King Power and chairman of Leicester City FC. “I'd love to bring my dad back, but sadly he's not in a good way at the moment,” says Balding of his 86-year-old father, who was diagnosed with Alzheimers several years ago. “I think he would be immensely proud of how it's been developed because I think the key to it is doing it in the style of John Porter and the attention to detail in his design plans. What we try to do is update but still keep it so it aesthetically fits, as it were. It's a wonderful place to train because we've got so much space.” Andrew Balding with his father Ian and Grey Shot in 2002 | Racingfotos On work mornings, Balding can take advantage of some of the best turf in England up on the famed Watership Down, across the road from Park House Stables. He continues, “The reason this yard was built here was to have access to the gallops on the downs and we've actually put in a mile all-weather up there as well. So we've constantly updated the training facilities to try to give us a chance to provide the best training service we can, essentially.” When he took over from his father there were around 100 horses in the stable. That number has now more than doubled and the trainer admits that he has “been lucky”. In racing, however, luck tends to go hand in hand with graft. Balding, the leading British trainer last season, was denied the championship only by Aidan O'Brien. His tally of 163 winners in 2024 speaks to both the quality and quantity of bloodstock now housed at Kingsclere, which has been home to two of the last five 2,000 Guineas winners. “You could be the best trainer in the world, but if you didn't have the kit – the owners who send you the horses, and the staff to do the job – you couldn't achieve anything,” he says. “We are very lucky in those two departments. And when I took over, we may have had 100 horses but it wasn't really viable. Kingsclere's a really big place and to make it viable, we had to look to increase the numbers and now we're in a good position where we've got in excess of 200 horses. If we want to develop, if we want to replace, none of these things are cheap. To redo the main gallop, you're looking at a £150,000 investment and we've got to be doing that every five or six years. So there's a huge outlay required to maintain a property like this.” It's not just the equine facilities either. Around 80 members of staff live on the estate, either in cottages, flats or the hostel, which over time has been home to some of the biggest names in the jockey ranks, including William Buick, Oisin Murphy, David Probert, and Rob Hornby, who served their apprenticeships at Kingsclere. The first two names in that list have shared the British jockeys' championship between them in the last six years. Facilities for the human inhabitants include a gym, tennis court and cricket pitch, with Andrew's wife Anna Lisa and mother Emma overseeing the needs of the staff in that village within a village. “Both my grandfather and my father were very forward-thinking in building properties for our staff to live in, and to be able to provide accommodation now with a job really gives you the upper hand in employing staff,” Balding acknowledges. Succession is a theme in the equine ranks, too, and one of the stable's biggest hopes for the season is New Century (GB), winner of the G1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine last year and a son of Kameko. “We always really hoped Kameko would make a stallion,” Balding says. “Obviously he was a high-class horse and probably he would've had a more appealing race record if it hadn't been for Covid, which really upset his campaign as a three-year-old. He's beautiful looking with a great temperament, so he had the basics to make a go of it and I think everyone involved couldn't be happier with the way his first season went. “And I think New Century's very good, so I really hope he'll go on and emulate his dad, which would give that continuity for everybody involved. Marie, who looked after Kameko, still works here; Maddie, who took him on his international travels; Kevin, the barn manager, is now looking after New Century in his barn and everybody is hoping that he can really give Kameko the start he needs.” Whether or not we will see New Century in a Classic trial this spring remains “up in the air”. “We'll know more come the end of March as to whether we need a prep run,” says the trainer. “He was a horse who just thrived on racing last year, so it would be in my mind that possibly a prep would be suitable, but there's so little time between the Craven, which would be the preferred trial from my point of view. But he's a Group 1 winner already, so we know he's good enough to be running in the Guineas.” He adds, “I think the difference from when Dad was training is that we are starting fast work earlier because we've got these all-weather surfaces that enable us to be probably six weeks ahead of where he would've been, because he would've been waiting for the grass to be usable in March. Sometimes that didn't happen until early April and so they needed to be looking for a trial to get them ready for those early-season big races, but I think it's less important now, really.” Along with the best son of one of its recent Classic winners, the stable also contains a half-sister to another in Kassaya (GB) (Kingman {GB}), whose big brother Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) landed the Guineas two years ago. “She looks very smart in her own right,” says Balding. “She won her second start and she started favourite for the Queen Mary and just nothing went right for her. She never got any sort of a run for the entire five furlongs and finished on the bridle. Then unfortunately she got an issue, which meant she had to have the rest of the year off. But she's done very well physically, so we'd be pretty hopeful of her having a good year.” Kalpana and recent Godolphin TIEA winner Tyla Macfarlane | Emma Berry Balding has kept hold of his two best fillies of last year, Juddmonte's Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {GB}), winner of the G1 Qipco British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes, and Jeff Smith's See The Fire (GB), a daughter of Sea The Stars (Ire) and Arabian Queen (GB) who has been placed three times at Group 1 level as well as winning the G3 Strensall Stakes. Her three-year-old half-brother Royal Playwright (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) also showed more than a little promise for the stable last year when finishing runner-up in the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes. Balding says, “Kalpana just got better and better with racing last year. This time last year, she'd just won a novice on her first start and she sort of crept up on us because she'd been a little weak and hadn't shown a huge amount through her two-year-old career, but she just found her feet. “Royal Playwright looks like he could be a really top three-year-old – it's all ahead of him. It's wonderful for Jeff to have a mare like Arabian Queen because not only was she a brilliant racemare but she's had Spirit Mixer, by Frankel, who's rated 100. He hasn't got any black type yet but he will do. Then we had a Kingman, Arabian Storm, who unfortunately just had a host of problems but he was listed-placed, and then we had See The Fire. I would be really hopeful that she could win at the top level at some stage.” He adds, with refreshing candour, “I've probably made an absolute mess of campaigning See The Fire. We started in the Guineas and she ran no sort of a race, so we stayed at a mile because there just wasn't the evidence to say that we should be going further at that stage. By the end of the season we realised that the filly should probably stay a mile and a half and we essentially missed a lot of opportunities through last year. But that happens. We've got all of this year to put it right. “Jeff does it for fun and for sport, and that sort of sentiment is sadly dying out, though not everyone can afford to do that. But he's breeding to race and to compete in the best races we can. And it just amazes me, the enthusiasm he still has. He is just the best man to train for.” Coltrane, white face, returns from exercise at Kingsclere | Emma Berry Balding is understandably fond of the Arabian Queen family but another horse who plainly has a special place in his heart is Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). The gallant stayer has won eight of his 29 races, including the G2 Doncaster Cup and G2 Lonsdale Cup, and taken his loyal owners Mick and Janice Mariscotti to many of the big meetings across Europe. “He's just shy of a million pounds in earnings now, which is remarkable,” says Balding of the eight-year-old, who may next be seen attempting to win his third consecutive Sagaro Stakes. “The Mariscottis have been such great supporters, and as a family we have just enjoyed racing him so much. My son Jonno, who's now 6'8″ and playing rugby for England under 18s, was riding him all through lockdown when he was only about eight or nine stone. And he kept saying, 'I think this horse is alright.' He looked slow and weak to me but as soon as we got him on the racecourse, he showed what he had and he just improved and improved. His CV reads well now and stayers are the most fabulous horses to have. If I could ever get a stayer like him again, who can compete in those races over a period of five years, I mean they're hard to find, but it would be a great joy if we could find another one.” Balding is already out in front in this year's trainers' table and, though the turf season is still a month away, we can expect to see the team at Park House Stables ensure that Kingsclere remains a name which conjures up an image of the best British racing has to offer. The post Balding Stable Leads the Charge After Stellar 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Damon Thayer, who recently completed a 22-year tenure in the Kentucky State Senate, delivered the keynote address Tuesday at the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Convention in Safety Harbor, Florida. With a theme of “cooperation is always better than extinction,” Thayer's 35-minute address focused on the importance of horsemen in every racing jurisdiction building relationships with their state legislators. “It's mind-boggling what a legislator has to absorb every day, and if an industry isn't aligned, the easiest thing for a legislator to do is to wash their hands of it and say, 'I'm a no,'” Thayer said. “But our industry [in Kentucky] got together quickly, because of this one truism: Cooperation is always better than extinction. “Now, don't wait for a crisis,” he said. “Because there will be a crisis. A need. A break the glass, pull-the-fire-alarm moment. Build those relationships now, not just when you need something… When they're not in session, invite them to the racetrack, your farm, your training center, your vet clinic. They need to see the jobs. Tell them how many checks a month you write to vendors, to blacksmiths. “And do not get complacent…. Because we have it now doesn't mean somebody isn't going to want to take it away. There are enemies of horse racing in Kentucky. You have to be vigilant. But you've got to build these relationships.” Thayer also discussed his role as senior advisor to the newly formed Thoroughbred Racing Initiative, an industry collaboration, of which the National HBPA is part, which is working to defeat Florida's decoupling legislation. “It looks like the skids are pretty greased in Tallahassee for [decoupling bill] to pass the House,” Thayer said. “So our goal is to kill the decoupling bill in the Senate. It's going to be a tough uphill climb. But we're all working together.” Thayer said he believes the racing circuits that will survive and thrive in the next five to 10 years will be “states where the industry has great relationships with their legislators and legislature.” He cited Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Indiana and Arkansas “just to name a few.” He said horsemen must ensure lawmakers hear their stories, adding, “Racing has a great story to tell about the jobs, the tourism and preservation of land and green space, the taxes paid, reinvestment in the economy.” Thayer also noted other positives he sees in the industry, including Tina Bond's “Heart of Horse Racing” high-tech marketing venture and Equibase pursuing a system of race ratings in America; the rebuilding of Pimlico and construction of a training center in Maryland even as Maryland and Virginia work together to create the beginnings of a Mid-Atlantic circuit; while New York put up $500 million to rebuild Belmont Park. “And then what I'm particularly fond of, the Kentucky story, where every track figures to offer maiden races for Kentucky-breds being $80,000 or more,” Thayer said. “We're seeing billions of dollars being spent on facilities in Kentucky because of a couple of laws we passed that allow the industry to invest in itself.” Discussing the National HBPA's challenge to the constitutionality of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, Thayer said, “HISA is a polarizing event in our industry. The bill snuck through in the dark of night in the budget reconciliation process by people I like and respect. I just disagree with them on this issue. I'm a state's rights guy. Tenth Amendment. The federal government should only do what the state's can't do for themselves…. I also don't think the federal government should foist on us an $85-million law and not pay for it. Why is it the states have to pay for a federal law? “There are going to be states who decide they won't participate in HISA. They're going to forgo simulcasting rights under the Interstate Horse Racing Act [of 1978], and we're going to have less uniformity under that scenario than we had before the formation of HISA. There are a lot of people in my area code who are for it. I'd like to help be a voice to try to make it better or get it replaced with something better.” Panels during Tuesday's opening session of the two-day National HBPA convention also included discussions on recommended steps trainers can take to diminish the chances of a horse's post-race drug test coming up positive for an impermissible substance and recommended actions to help mitigate potential sanctions if that positive finding occurs; as well as updates on the organization's challenges to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. The post ‘Get to Know Your Legislators:’ Thayer Gives Keynote Address at HBPA Convention appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star British jockey boots home David Hayes-trained gelding to claim series victory at the city circuit.View the full article

John Gunther's Glennwood Farm bred and raised Triple Crown champion Justify, as well as Grade I stakes winners First Samurai, Mo Town, Stay Thirsty, Tamarkuz, and Vino Rosso. The farm's recent graduates also include Grade I stakes winner Leslie's Rose and Grade I stakes performer Grand Mo The First. The pair represented the operation in the 2024 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, respectively. Tanya Gunther discussed Glennwood's 2025 mating plans, as well as hopes for new stallion Stage Raider, a half-brother to Justify, who begins his stud career this year at Crestwood Farm. The upcoming breeding season marks another potentially pivotal moment for Glennwood: homebred Stage Raider (7, Pioneerof the Nile–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper), a stakes-winning half-brother to Triple Crown champion Justify, embarks on a stallion career at Crestwood in 2025. With pedigree credentials that include a Triple Crown-producing dam and a Triple Crown-producing sire, we believe Stage Raider presents a compelling proposition to breeders and we are excited to put our broodmare band to work to help make him as a stallion. We have selected a number of our mares to visit him during his first year at stud. I will focus on a subset of that group in the discussion directly below and then move on to other highlights from Glennwood's 2025 mating plans. The first mare that we selected for Stage Raider is ATOMIC BLONDE (9, Scat Daddy–Volver {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}). She is a young stakes-winning mare by Scat Daddy and, with Stage Raider's half-brother Justify also being by Scat Daddy, this mare was an obvious choice to send to Stage Raider. The cross possesses a number of the elements that intrigued me about the mating that produced Justify. Chief among these was the combining of full-sisters Yarn and Preach. Though positioned differently and a bit further back in the prospective pedigree, this and other components of Justify's pedigree are present in this mating as well. UNCHAINED (IRE) (10, Dansili {GB}–Take the Ribbon, by Chester House) is another mare that we have chosen for Stage Raider's first book. Unchained's dam is Grade III stakes winner and Grade I placed Take The Ribbon, by Chester House. The dam of Chester House is the 2002 Broodmare of the Year and reine-de-course Juddmonte mare Toussaud. Chester House and Empire Maker, the grandsire of Stage Raider, are two of the four Grade I winners produced by Toussaud. Therefore, the foal resulting from the mating of Unchained to Stage Raider will be inbred 4 x 4 to this exceptional mare. One of the most talented fillies in our current racing stable is stakes winner Deep Satin. A half-sister to Unchained, Deep Satin is by American Pharoah (a grandson of Empire Maker, like Stage Raider) and so she is inbred to Toussaud. The idea here is that a similar cross and pattern of inbreeding from the same female family has resulted in a talented racehorse and we aim to replicate this pattern and successful outcome through the mating of Unchained to Stage Raider. STREET RUMOR (6, Street Sense–Sobinka {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells) is also scheduled to visit Stage Raider in 2025. Street Rumor is a proven stakes producer already, so we were keen to add her to Stage Raider's book. Street Rumor typically throws good-walking, attractive individuals and so we are hopeful she will impart some black-type ability and swagger to her 2026 Stage Raider baby. Another date for Stage Raider is the mare THRILL (8, Candy Ride {Arg}–Running Wild, by Indian Charlie), who we purchased at the 2024 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale specifically for the purpose of visiting Stage Raider. The moment she walked out for a show, I felt a spark of excitement. We went to see her because of the pedigree potential with Stage Raider, but then her physical matched up, too. Hence the spark. Things seemed to be lining up both from a physical perspective and on paper. This mating will bring together multiple strains of Mr. Prospector through Fappiano (who will be inbred 5×5 in the pedigree) and three different daughters of Mr. Prospector. There is also a doubling up of Blushing Groom (6×5) via the mare Primal Force and stallion Candy Stripes. Stage Raider is an easy stallion to breed to in the sense that he is a very well balanced, medium-sized athletic individual that will suit many mares from a physical perspective. Stage Raider is inbred 5Sx5d to Mr. Prospector and 5sx5D to In Reality with no inbreeding in the first four generations and so he is open to mares from many different sire lines, including further lines of the aforementioned influences since they are relatively far back in his pedigree. This openness facilitates our aim to give Stage Raider the best opportunity to make it as a stallion, since part of our strategy involves sending mares to him from as many of our best female families as possible. In addition to the mating plans outlined above, Stage Raider's little black book of mares from Glennwood also includes: a half-sister to G1SW/sire Without Parole; a half-sister to GISW Materiality and Grade II stakes winner and Grade I placed My Miss Sophia; a young mare from the family of MGISW Midday; and a half-sister to the dam of GISW/sire Mo Town. We took a similar approach with Without Parole (Frankel–Without You Babe), standing at Newsells Park Stud in England, who had a very promising start with his first runners last year. We are encouraged by the fact that a number of Without Parole's first-crop winners were bred by us and we hope that this bodes well for Stage Raider as we embark on a similar strategy to also help give him lift-off as a sire. While we have a small group of mares based overseas, the discussion below will focus on mating plans for our broodmares based at Glennwood in Kentucky. GRAZIE MILLE (6, Bernardini–Molto Vita, by Carson City) is expecting a foal by Into Mischief this February and will be bred to Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in 2025. Grazie Mille is the dam of GISW/sire Mo Town, who I believe was the first Grade I winner bred on the Uncle Mo (or son of Uncle Mo) to Bernardini mare cross. Grazie is also the dam of stakes-placed Champagne Lady, also by Uncle Mo. With this combination having worked well in the past and Grazie now being a little older and wiser than she once was, a date with a leading, young stallion son of Uncle Mo was a clear choice for her. Nyquist, like his sire, has also worked well with Bernardini mares, further solidifying the selection. Mo Town | Coolmore WEEKDAY (GB) (10, Dansili {GB}–Timepiece {GB}, by Zamindar) and CHURCH ON TIME (8, Honor Code–Devil By Design) will visit Oscar Performance in 2025. Weekday is in foal to Flightline and has a 2-year-old daughter of Justify that joins our racing stable this year. Church On Time's first foal is Good Conduct, a talented daughter of Without Parole who earned over $60,000 as a 2-year-old last year and is due to run back soon, so long as Old Man Winter plays nice over at Fair Grounds. The mating of Weekday with Oscar Performance inbreeds Sadler's Wells 4Sx4d. Another interesting element of the hypothetical pedigree is that it will include four counts of the marriage of Rough Shod to Nantallah via Thong in the tail female family of Sadler's Wells (x2) and Nureyev, and via Lear Fan through his broodmare sire, Lt. Stevens, who is a full-brother to Thong. Three of these counts are within the pedigree of Oscar Performance with Weekday adding one more. The mating of Church On Time with Oscar Performance similarly contains four counts of this pairing in the pedigree. The mating is also loosely similar to the mating that produced Good Conduct, since her sire Without Parole is a great grandson of Sadler's Wells, as is Oscar Performance. WILDWOOD ROSE (IRE) (9, Galileo {Ire}–Wildwood Flower, by Langfuhr) and ALWAYS ON MY MIND (12, Congrats–Without You Babe, by Lemon Drop Kid) will be bred to Gun Runner in 2025. Wildwood Rose, the dam of Grade I winner Leslie's Rose, has an eye-catching yearling filly by Not This Time. She has consistently thrown very athletic individuals and we are excited to see what she can produce from a mating with Gun Runner. Always On My Mind, a half-sister to Without Parole, has a really strong Curlin colt yearling and is expecting to Good Magic this February. The cross of Always On My Mind with Gun Runner is along similar lines to the cross that produced Taiba (a son of Gun Runner out of a mare by Flatter, who is a full-brother to Congrats, the sire of Always On My Mind) as well as other Grade I horses out of A.P. Indy-line mares, such as 2024 champion 3-year-old male Sierra Leone and 2024 Eclipse Award finalist Locked (both by Gun Runner and out of Malibu Moon mares). Leslie's Rose | Coady Media TAKE MY CHANCES (FR) (7, Frankel {GB}–Take The Ribbon, by Chester House) will visit Into Mischief in 2025. She has a yearling colt first foal by leading European sire Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) and is in foal to four-time Group 1 winner and new stallion for 2024, Paddington (GB) (Siyouni). I am very excited about the broodmare potential of Take My Chances in general and about the mating with Into Mischief in particular. Her race record shows her as a winner in two starts, which may beg the question, what am I so excited about? Being by champion Frankel and out of Take The Ribbon, a mare that holds special meaning for me personally, Take My Chances was almost pre-destined to be a filly that we would have high hopes for. Add to this the fact that Take My Chances was a very well-made, athletic individual from the outset. In short, she looked like a racehorse, which certainly stoked the embers of our hopes and dreams. But as can often happen in this game, circumstances dictated a less elevated outcome, at least on the racetrack. She suffered an illness toward the end of her 2-year-old year, and I worried we would lose her from this world entirely, never mind just her racing career being at risk. The fact that she overcame that illness and made it to the racecourse at all is a testament to her will and character. When she broke her maiden, the race may as well have been a stakes race based on the level of emotion evoked by that victory and, when she later suffered a setback in training, it was an easy decision to keep her safe by retiring her to the broodmare band. The mating of Take My Chances with Into Mischief has some similarities to the mating that produced Leslie's Rose. Leslie's Rose is a daughter of Into Mischief out of Wildwood Rose. Wildwood Rose is by Galileo and Take My Chances is by Frankel, a son of Galileo. I like the blend of speed and stamina in this combination of bloodlines and the ever essential will to win that I think both sire and dam have the potential to bring to this equation. Stage Magic | Sarah Andrew STAGE MAGIC (18, Ghostzapper–Magical Illusion, by Pulpit) and LOVE AND THUNDER (8, Siyouni {Fr}–Pretty Paper {Ire}, by Medaglia d'Oro) are both booked to Not This Time for 2025. Stage Magic is due in February to Gun Runner and has an exceptional yearling filly by Into Mischief. Love And Thunder is due to Gun Runner and had her first foal–an athletic, precocious-looking yearling filly by Justify–last year. I am a big fan of Not This Time. I love a stallion that can overcome the odds and surpass expectations like he has done and, while I think the best is yet to come for him, he has already stamped himself as a leading player in the stallion ranks. Stage Magic has produced black-type winners by three different stallions: Triple Crown champion Justify (Scat Daddy); The Lieutenant (Street Sense); and new stallion recruit for 2025, Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile). Selecting Gun Runner in 2024 and now Not This Time for Stage Magic's 2025 mating has a lot to do with choosing rising star young stallions who we think are exceptional sires with a strong chance of competing for the top spot on the general sires list in the coming years, as well as the potential to produce champions both on the track and in the breeding shed. Love And Thunder is a graded stakes-winning granddaughter of Take The Ribbon the dam of stakes winner Deep Satin (as mentioned earlier) and recent 'TDN Rising Star' Deep Manhattan (Justify) and she is also a half-sister to the dam of top young stallion Good Magic (Curlin). Love And Thunder's tail female family traces back to reine-de-course mare Lindos Ojos. While the duplication of Lindos Ojos may have little ultimate bearing on the outcome of this mating, it still gave the pedigree nerd in me some small satisfaction to add another line of Lindos Ojos via Rahy, the broodmare sire of Giant's Causeway, the sire of Not This Time. We wanted to give Love and Thunder the best start to her broodmare career that we could and we believe Not This Time provides another high potential chance for this mare to produce something special. The post 2025 Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: Glennwood Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was announced on Wednesday that Ascot Racecourse, the Jockey Club and Churchill Downs have agreed an extension of the 'wild card' entry initiative launched last year that ties together Royal Ascot, the Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom and the Kentucky Derby meeting at Churchill Downs. Last year a runner from each of the GII Edgewood Stakes for three-year-old fillies and the GII American Turf Stakes for three-year-old colts received an entry for the Betfred Oaks and Betfred Derby, respectively. That will again be the case this year, while an invitation to Royal Ascot will also be offered to a runner from both of those races. A runner from the Edgewood Stakes will receive an entry and a travel incentive for the G1 Coronation Stakes on the penultimate day of Royal Ascot. Likewise, a runner from the American Turf Stakes will receive an entry and a travel incentive for the G1 St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day of the meeting. Those two races will join the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes and the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes, both run on the Kentucky Derby card, which also provide 'wild card' entry to Royal Ascot. The Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes links into the G1 King Charles III Stakes and the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes offers the option of either the G1 Queen Anne Stakes or the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes. Winners of all the races in the programme will receive the initial invite to run in the corresponding races across the Atlantic. In the event that the winners aren't able to take up that invite, racecourses may then also invite placed horses. The elimination procedures in these races will remain as they are now. In return for the above incentives for US-based runners, a runner from both the Queen Anne Stakes and the Prince Of Wales's Stakes will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in the GI Arlington Million Stakes at Colonial Downs in mid-August. In addition, a runner from the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July Festival will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in the GII Beverly D Stakes on the same card at Colonial Downs. Launched in 2024, the programme is a commitment between Ascot, the Jockey Club and Churchill Downs to create links between historic races in the UK and high-profile turf races in the US. The ultimate aim is to build the international profile of these races by increasing the number of runners travelling from the US to the UK and vice versa. Nick Smith, director of racing and public affairs at Ascot, said, “We are delighted to extend this initiative to include the two Group 1 three-year-old races over a mile at Royal Ascot. In recent years we have seen top-class clashes between the Guineas winners from Britain, Ireland and France in the St James's Palace and Coronation Stakes, so if we could add the best of the American Classic generation over a mile on turf to those races as well that would be really exciting. “We look forward to working with Churchill Downs and the UK Jockey Club on this exciting plan once again and hope to build on the recent growth in interest from American connections of having runners at Royal Ascot. Their participation always adds hugely to the meeting and, with NBC once again set to broadcast the whole week, there should plenty of American angles for them to cover.” Matt Woolston, assistant racing and international racing director at the Jockey Club, said, “We are delighted to continue to work with Churchill Downs and Ascot on this partnership, with the aim to incentivise more runners to travel between the UK and US. “This initiative provides the opportunity for the winners of prestigious turf races at the Kentucky Derby meet to be given wild card entries into our top three-year-old races in the UK, after the traditional entries process has closed. We look forward to showcasing the historical links between the Kentucky Derby and its forerunner, the Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs.” The post Wild Card Initiative Extended to Royal Ascot for American Runners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 27-year-old rider leans on advice from a pair of big names before booting home maiden success at city circuit.View the full article

Barnes, one of three Bob Baffert trainees, would be the fourth son of Into Mischief to win the San Felipe for Baffert.View the full article

Last year's G1 July Cup hero Mill Stream (Ire) has had his first eight mares scanned in foal, Yeomanstown Stud announced on Wednesday. The mares in foal include Layla Jamil (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), the dam of the G2 Superlative Stakes winner and sire Birchwood (Ire), and the G3 Firth Of Clyde Fillies' Stakes scorer Barefoot Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Yeomanstown's Gay O'Callaghan said, “Mill Stream has been very well received and supported by breeders, who are impressed with his exceptional good looks and attitude. He has shown great enthusiasm for his new role and I'm sure he'll be a great success.” The post First Mares In Foal for Mill Stream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Renee Geelen/TTR AusNZ With the decision by Godolphin to stop shuttling up-and-coming sire sensation Too Darn Hot (GB), Australian breeders will have an opportunity to breed to a stallion with a very similar profile in Henry Longfellow (Ire), who joins the Rosemont Stud roster for 2025 at a fee of A$22,000 inc. GST. After Too Darn Hot, Henry Longfellow is only the second Group 1-winning two-year-old son of Dubawi (Ire) to ever stand in Australia. Too Darn Hot won all his four starts at two, including the G1 Dewhurst Stakes, while Henry Longfellow won all his three starts at two, including the G1 National Stakes. “If ever there was a colt bred destined for greatness, it is Henry Longfellow,” said Rosemont principal Anthony Mithen, who will stand the colt in conjunction with Coolmore. “Like Too Darn Hot, who we have strongly supported in 2024, he is a highly-rated, Group 1-winning two-year-old by the world's number one sire of sires Dubawi and from a phenomenal female family. “Sons of Dubawi have really set the industry alight and his legacy as a breed-shaping stallion is proving every post a winner with eight of his sons having already sired Group 1 winners of their own, including Night Of Thunder, Too Darn Hot, Zarak and New Bay. “Given the two-year-old impact stallions such as Too Darn Hot and Night Of Thunder, who is also from a Galileo mare, have had in Australia, particularly with Danehill line mares, it made sense for us to target a high-quality two-year-old son of Dubawi to stand in Victoria.” The first horse that Rosemont Stud have stood in conjunction with Coolmore, Henry Longfellow also showed high-class form in five starts as a three-year-old when he finished second in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes and third in the G1 Prix du Moulin. Ryan McEvoy, general manager of bloodstock at Rosemont, said, “A homebred for Coolmore, he was identified early as a quality individual with juvenile potential. Physically, he's a very Australian style of stallion, huge hip, a tick over 15.3hh, with superb quality and movement and balance. He's the type of horse that clearly works here, and we think his phenomenal pedigree and profile is hugely exciting. “He's out of a phenomenal mare [the seven-time Group 1 winner Minding], who was the best daughter of Galileo and the best mare trained by Aidan O'Brien. His second dam is by Danehill Dancer but we feel his pedigree is open enough for breeders to send him anything without feeling restricted.” He added, “We've already identified many of our own mares for him, and Coolmore is supporting him with several mares being sent to Victoria for him. There'll be plenty of support across the board for him.” The post Henry Longfellow to Shuttle to Rosemont Stud in Australia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The HRNZ Board is committed to being a good and open communicator with all sections of the sport and will be providing regular updates on what it’s doing, and where its priorities lie. By way of background, the seven-member Board was appointed at the HRNZ AGM in October last year, with members coming from Auckland to Invercargill. The Board consists of : Grant Jarrold (Chair) Hannah Doney (Vice Chair) Shaun Brooks (Finance Chair) Jane Davis Georgina Hunter Stephen O’Connor Tim Sissons Profiles : Grant Jarrold – Chair Based in Christchurch, Grant is a retired chartered accountant with extensive sporting and business experience. He is involved in syndicated horse racing and is a member of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. He has a number of governance roles and since his appointment to the HRNZ Board he has resigned as chair of the Crusaders Board to take up a new role on the Board of New Zealand Rugby. Hannah Doney – Vice Chair Based in Christchurch, Hannah has extensive governance experience with a background in marketing and business development and holds other board roles nationally. She is a founding trustee of the Standardbred Stable to Stirrup Charitable Trust. We will profile the other five Board members in future correspondence. Chat with the Chair: Since November the new Board has met three times and we have forged a good working relationship with Brad Steele and the rest of the leadership team at HRNZ and have also had regular correspondence and liaison with other key partners including TAB/Entain, Racing NZ and a number of our stakeholder member clubs and bodies. We are all about overall governance, and ensuring HRNZ is in a position where it will thrive. Our role is not to get involved in every minute detail. We will be connecting with the National and Regional forums for industry input when planning our strategy refresh in the coming months. Although headquartered in Christchurch, the Board functions as a truly national body. We’ve been attending race meetings across the country, witnessing first hand the genuine optimism for the future of harness racing. Recent significant wins further underscore this positive trend: wagering is up from last year, yearling sales have been remarkably successful, and initiatives like Next Gen along with the rising popularity of summer meetings at tracks nationwide, clearly demonstrate that our strategies are driving growth in our sport. Right now, the Board has a number of priorities: – Refreshing the organisation’s strategy for 2025 and beyond – Assessing the Look North strategy to ensure it is achieving its goal of re-invigorating racing in Auckland and Cambridge for the ultimate benefit of all of NZ – Assessing HRNZ’s financial performance against its budget and working closely with Chief Executive Brad Steele in monitoring the business plan for 2025 – Assessing what impact Government and/or Entain/TAB changes will have on HRNZ e.g. the legislative net (stopping NZ punters from gambling offshore) – Continuing to improve the welfare of everyone in our sport including horses and people through OnTrack and other initiatives e.g. improving veterinary facilities at some clubs – Managing programmes to mitigate key risks to our industry and its participants The Board’s next meeting will be held in Auckland in late March. View the full article

I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to go beyond 1400 metres for the first time in nearly two-and-a-half years, with co-owner and co-trainer Peter Moody confirming next month’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) is his most likely next assignment. Moody reported on Tuesday that the six-year-old gelding has pulled up well from his first-up run on a Good 3 track at Caulfield last week in the G1 Futurity Stakes and said a month to the Ryder Stakes at Rosehill holds plenty of appeal. The previous time I Wish I Win ran over 1500m at Rosehill, he returned his owners $5.25 million via his victory in the Golden Eagle in 2022. “I haven’t set it in concrete, but I say four weeks to the Ryder, rising from 1400 to 1500 metres, sounds about right,” Moody said on Tuesday. “It (four-week break between runs) won’t hurt him. I think he needs it and it gives me the option of giving him a jumpout if I’d like, but I doubt it.” In his first run since The Everest in September, I Wish I Win loomed to win inside the 50m of the Futurity, only to peak on his run and finish a close-up third behind Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Tom Kitten. “I was happy to run him,” Moody said of the firming surface. It (track) wasn’t a road. We don’t need it wet, but we don’t need a road and have him jarring up. “He ran good. He ended up a pair further back than we would have liked but that was just due to circumstances and then he had to push Pinstriped out of the way and, at that level, all those little things count. “We got beaten by two very good horses. He’s run well. It probably wasn’t a PB or anything like that, but it was just good to see him attack the line. “From there (Ryder Stakes) we’ll see. It’s two weeks to a Doncaster (1600m), two weeks to a T.J. (Smith Stakes over 1200m) and three weeks to a Queen Elizabeth (2000m). “There are a lot of good horses going for them, but he’s pretty good himself.” View the full article

Trainer Joe Pride is confident that Ceolwulf will take a significant step forward from his first-up performance as he prepares for Saturday’s Gr.1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick. Ceolwulf finished a close fourth behind Chris Waller’s Fangirl, Lindermann, and Via Sistina in the Gr.1 Apollo Stakes (1400m), running the fastest final 600m of the race in 32.63 seconds. Despite being beaten by 1.5 lengths, Pride believes the step up to the mile will bring out the best in his gelding. “I’m really happy with him and it’s good to get him back to this course and distance. At this stage, it’s produced the two peak runs of his career,” Pride said. “We just see with horses when they find something that they’re suited by, if you go back there, you often get to another good performance.” The Verry Elleegant Stakes is shaping up as an Apollo Stakes rematch, with Ceolwulf set to clash with Waller’s top mares Fangirl and Via Sistina along with quality gelding Lindermann. “I’m looking forward to Saturday, as most people are. It’s going to be a great clash with Chris Waller’s two mares and my bloke. And there are others in there as well, but they look the three main contenders,” Pride said. Ceolwulf has continued to improve since being gelded, and Pride credits the procedure for his rise in consistency and competitiveness with feature wins including the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m). “I think gelding has been the making of him. He’s been ultra-consistent as a gelding and very impressive,” he said. “He was sort of grinding away there. He didn’t really seem to have that much acceleration or maybe it was just disinterest as a colt. I’m here to make the best racehorse out of any horse that walks into my yard, make them fulfil their potential, and for him, gelding was necessary in that process.” While the A$5 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) remains the long-term target, Pride is keeping his options open regarding the path Ceolwulf will take to get there. “The trouble with the programming from my perspective is there are two three-week gaps. One after this Verry Elleegant Stakes then another one after March 22, where I still don’t know whether I am going to go to the Ryder (Gr.1, 1500m) or the Ranvet (Gr.1, 2000m) yet,” he said. “It’s difficult because there are other things that come into play here. His performances are obviously very important, but also if it was forecast to be a very wet track that day, I’d probably be running in the 1500m race. “I don’t want to have two runs in that six-week period. It’s not enough for him. It’s not enough to be at his peak for the Queen Elizabeth.” Pride is also weighing up other options, including backing up in the Neville Sellwood (Gr.2, 2000m) after the March 22 run or running in the Doncaster (Gr.1, 1600m) before heading to the Queen Elizabeth. “Whether or not he backs up and runs in the Neville Sellwood (Gr.2, 2000m) after that March 22 run or whether I run in the Doncaster (Gr.1, 1600m) and back up in the Queen Elizabeth, or just aim at the Doncaster, I’m not sure,” he said. “Look, the Queen Elizabeth is the more attractive race to me, but I’ve got an open mind as to exactly how we get there.” Despite not expecting Ceolwulf to be at his absolute peak on Saturday, Pride is confident that his gelding will continue to improve throughout the campaign. “He won’t be at his peak Saturday. But the third, fourth, and fifth runs, I think you’ll be seeing a fully wound-up horse.” By top-class sire Tavistock, Ceolwulf was bred by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay and is a out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas. Ceolwulf is a graduate of the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, where Pride and part-owner Leighton Howl went to $170,000 to secure him from Riversley Park’s draft. View the full article

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Great British Racing (GBR) have today announced the launch of a new campaign to promote HorsePWR, the industry-led initiative aimed at increasing public engagement with British racing and reinforcing confidence in the sport's high welfare standards. This latest phase of the campaign represents British racing's most significant public-facing, welfare-themed promotional campaign to date. It has been made possible by funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) and will run from February 24 through to April 6, featuring targeted advertising across print, online and social media platforms, plus high-profile locations in four cities. The choice of cities reflects their close links to the major upcoming National Hunt fixtures at Cheltenham and Aintree. Over the course of the campaign, advertising will be placed in iconic locations in London, Bristol, Birmingham and Liverpool, and via print and online media, including: London Old Street Showcase Liverpool Barratt House Bristol Lights and Bristol Towers Birmingham Chinatown and Birmingham Towers Bus sides in Bristol, London and Liverpool Digital advertising locations across Bristol, London, Liverpool and Birmingham Six circulations of half-page advertisements in The Times, The Mirror and The Sun newspapers Targeted online advertisements, alongside a social media campaign via META across Facebook and Instagram The primary objective of the campaign is to encourage audiences to engage with racing and provide reassurance about the sport's commitment to horse welfare. The campaign also includes a call to action directing viewers to www.horsepwr.co.uk, where they can learn more about the sport's welfare standards and practices. Robin Mounsey, head of communications at the BHA, said, “This campaign marks a significant moment for British racing. For the first time in recent memory, the sport is making a major investment in promoting its welfare message directly to the wider public. “It is a demonstration of our confidence in the high standards of welfare within British racing and our commitment to ensuring that the public is better informed about them.” Gabi Whitfield, head of welfare communications at GBR, added, “Equine welfare is both a topic of general interest and a barrier to engagement for sections of the public. We want to make sure that British racing provides the facts in a clear, credible, and visually engaging way. “HorsePWR is about driving trust, combatting misinformation, and showing racing's commitment to the wellbeing of the Thoroughbred from birth through to retirement. We are extremely grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for funding the latest phase of this campaign.” The post New Campaign Announced to Support HorsePWR appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners Skyline Stakes Group Two Betting Guide Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025 Location: Randwick Racecourse – Sydney, New South Wales Prize Money: $300,000 Distance: 1200m The Skyline Stakes is a Group 2 race for two-year-old colts and geldings, run over 1200m under set weights. First held in 1979 by the Sydney Turf Club, the Skyline Stakes named after 1958 Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and Group 1 AJC Derby (2400m) winner Skyline. Initially a Listed race in 1980, the Skyline Stakes was upgraded to Group 3 in 1987 and Group 2 in 2012. The Skyline Stakes grants ballot exemption for the Golden Slipper. Five horses have won both the Skyline and Golden Slipper, though none since Dance Hero in 2004. The 2024 Skyline Stakes, worth $300,000, was won by Storm Boy, defeating Prost and Duvana. 2025 Skyline Stakes betting odds Storm Boy justified his favouritism to claim the Group 2 Skyline Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Odds for the 2025 Skyline Stakes as of February 24 – Courtesy of Neds Shaggy Win $3.00 Place $1.40 Rivellino Win $4.50 Place $1.70 Comedy Win $6.00 Place $2.00 United States Win $6.00 Place $2.00 Skyhook Win $9.00 Place $2.60 Algorithmic Win $13.00 Place $3.40 Hillier Win $15.00 Place $3.80 Quietly Arrogant Win $15.00 Place $3.80 Chergui Win $17.00 Place $4.20 Good Hotspur Win $26.00 Place $6.00 Valedictorian Win $26.00 Place $6.00 Archimage Win $34.00 Place $7.60 Cobra Club Win $34.00 Place $7.60 Nielsen Park Win $51.00 Place $11.00 Peleus Win $51.00 Place $11.00 Banknote Hustler Win $101.00 Place $21.00 How to bet on the Skyline Stakes Australian horse racing bookmakers will have betting on the Skyline Stakes available. Many of them will open an early market so you can wager on the race a week or so in advance. 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Skyline Stakes News Storm Boy kicks off Triple Crown campaign in fine style Australia horse racing news 12 months ago Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott and James McDonald have combined with Storm Boy to take out the Group 2 Skyline … Read More Storm Boy out to extend unbeaten start in Skyline Stakes Australia horse racing news 12 months ago Co-trainer Adrian Bott feels Saturday’s Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) is the ideal prep race for Storm Boy leading into … Read More Randwick race-by-race preview & betting tips | Saturday, March 2 Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago The Verry Elleegant Stakes headlines a bumper 10-race card at Randwick this Saturday. See our free betting tips and quaddie … Read More Corniche books ticket to the Golden Slipper Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Team Godolphin has another runner set to line up in the Golden Slipper on March 18 after Corniche proved too … Read More Unbeaten Promitto Books Golden Slipper Berth Australia horse racing news 3 years ago The David Atkins-trained Promitto has caused an upset at just his second start and has since booked a spot in … Read More Button hoping long journey south pays off for Jemeldi Australia horse racing news 3 years ago It’s a tick over 1000km and a 10.5-hour drive from Corbould Park on the Sunshine Coast to Royal Randwick Racecourse, … Read More 2025 Skyline Stakes Final Field HorseBetting will update this page when the 2025 Skyline Stakes final field is released on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Previous Skyline Stakes Fields 2024 Skyline Stakes field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Storm Boy Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott James McDonald 1 55.5kg 2 Odinson Ciaron Maher Tom Marquand 7 55.5kg 3 Prost Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 6 55.5kg 4 Parkour James Cummings Tim Clark 5 55.5kg 5 Cerons Brett Cavanough Ashley Morgan 2 55.5kg 6 Indecisive John Thompson Zac Lloyd 4 55.5kg 7 President Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 9 55.5kg 8 Duvana Chris Waller Jason Collett 3 55.5kg 9 Kingdom Undersiege Peter & Paul Snowden Tommy Berry 8 55.5kg 2024 Skyline Stakes result https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Randwick-2024-Group-2-Skyline-Stakes-02032024-Storm-Boy-Gai-Waterhouse-Adrian-Bott-James-McDonald.mp4 1st – Storm Boy (-555.56) 2nd – Prost (+130) 3rd – Duvana (NTD) Recent runnings of the Skyline Stakes: 2024: Storm Boy remains undefeated The multi-million-dollar colt, Storm Boy ($1.18), maintained his unbeaten start to his career after taking out the Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Rosehill as he prepared for the Group 1 Golden Slipper at his next start. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained galloper was a little slow away from the barriers, but James McDonald gave the son of Justify a dig in the ribs, and he quickly found the front. Although he was sent around as odds-on favourite with online bookmakers, Storm Boy did more than enough to suggest that he will be at his peak in the Golden Slipper, when he will be second-up for the campaign. Making up ground from midfield was the stable mate Prost ($12.00), who ran home nicely into third place, while Duvana ($19.00) from the Waller stable stuck on well for third. However, as many expected, all the honours went to the winner, as he won by an official margin of 1.38 lengths on the line. 2023: Corniche overhauls rivals Godolphin unleashed Golden Slipper contender after Corniche proved too strong for his rivals in the Skyline Stakes at Randwick. The James Cummings-trained colt was given an exceptional ride by Brenton Avdulla, finding the one-one position throughout to stalk the moderate tempo over the 1200m contest. From there he was able to storm clear of the boys to score an impressive win by 1.5 lengths on the winning post. He was well found late in the market with online bookmakers as the Godolphin colt firmed into $7 with his form behind Blue Diamond hopeful, Barber, jumping off the page for punters. 2022: Promitto causes upset David Atkins’ unbeaten colt Promitto proved too strong at the end of the 2022 Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick, defeating Rise Of The Masses and Jemeldi in fine style. The son of Divine Prophet romped in on debut at Newcastle over 900m, and that was enough for Atkins to have a throw at the stumps at Group 2 level. Starting a $15 chance, Promitto was given a brilliant ride by Christian Reith, before letting down strongly in the concluding stages to set out after the leaders strongly. Previous winners of the Skyline Stakes Skyline Stakes Past Winners Year Horse Jockey Trainer 2024 Storm Boy James McDonald Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 2023 Corniche Brenton Avdulla James Cummings 2022 Promitto Christian Reith David Atkins 2021 O’President Tim Clark Chris Waller 2020 Mamaragan Blake Shinn John Thompson 2019 Microphone James McDonald James Cummings 2018 Santos Tim Clark Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 2017 Diamond Tathagata Glyn Schofield Mark Newnham 2016 Good Standing Hugh Bowman James Cummings 2015 Exosphere James McDonald John O’Shea 2014 Valentia Tommy Berry Gai Waterhouse 2013 I’m All the Talk Brenton Avdulla Gary Portelli 2012 Ashokan Jim Cassidy John O’Shea 2011 Uate Nash Rawiller Kris Lees 2010 Hinchinbrook Hugh Bowman Gerald Ryan 2009 Manhattan Rain Nash Rawiller Gai Waterhouse 2008 All American Brad Rawiller David Hayes 2007 Murtajill Jim Cassidy Tim Martin 2006 Casino Prince Jim Cassidy Anthony Cummings 2005 Snitzel Glen Boss Gerald Ryan 2004 Dance Hero Chris Munce Gai Waterhouse 2003 Kusi Corey Brown John Hawkes 2002 Choisir Lenny Beasley Paul Perry 2001 Viscount Rod Quinn John Hawkes 2000 Kootoomootoo Brian York Jack Denham Skyline Stakes winners pre-2000 Skyline Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 Year Horse 1999 Shogun Lodge 1998 Prowl 1997 Guineas 1996 Excel Pilot 1995 Strategic 1994 Dr. Zackary 1993 Allez Glen 1992 Kenfair 1991 Big Dreams 1990 Our Horizon 1989 Show County 1988 Star Watch 1987 Proven Valour 1986 Pre Catelan 1985 Timothy 1984 Hula Drum 1983 Sir Dapper 1982 Hot Opera 1981 Domino 1980 Cosmic Delight 1979 Top Hat Joe Recommended! Take It To The Neds Level Home of the Neds Toolbox Check Out Neds 18+ Gamble Responsibly Full terms Punters Prefer Blondes It’s a fact, Blondes have more fun Join BlondeBet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?. Next Gen Racing Betting Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? It Pays To Play New online bookmaker Check Out PlayUp 18+ Gamble Responsibly Say Hey to the social bet! You Better Believe It Join Dabble 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?. Full terms. View the full article

What 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Sydney, NSW When Saturday, March 1, 2025 Prizemoney $1,000,000 Distance 1600m Conditions Group 1 | Weight For Age 2024 Winner Think It Over (2) | T: Kerry Parker | J: Nash Rawiller (59kg) Visit Dabble The time-honoured Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) headlines the action at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a classy field of nine set to battle it out for the $1 million prize. Six of the nine runners engaged come through the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) where Fangirl prevailed over 1400m. Can the likes of Via Sistina and Ceolwulf turn the tables stepping out to the mile? Or is there an upset brewing elsewhere in the 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes. 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes odds The Verry Elleegant Stakes is a race in three according to horse racing bookmakers, with the Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina holding firm favouritism at $1.90 after an impressive return in the Apollo Stakes. Stable companion Fangirl is on the second line of betting at $3.20, while the Joseph Pride-trained Ceolwulf is the big drifter at $5.50 with Neds after drawing the widest gate (9). Lindermann ($13.00) appears to be the best of those in double figures, while it’s ‘write your own ticket’ for the rest, with the likes of Zarakem ($35.00) and Golden Path ($51.00) lacking any early support at the big odds. 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes speed map Lindermann appears to be the sole leader of the weight-for-age feature, with Nash Rawiller likely to bowl across to the top from barrier seven. Expect Zarakem to press forward to sit on his outside from gate three, while Fangirl will attempt to position towards the one-one throughout from stall five. Via Sistina and Ceolwulf are likely to settle worse than midfield throughout the journey; however, expect the pair to get cover thanks to the staying pair of Arapaho and Golden Path. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes. Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 preview & form It’s advantage Via Sistina stepping out to the 1600m after hitting the line well resuming in the Apollo Stakes. She had to push her way clear at a crucial stage and was doing her best work late to suggest she’s on song heading into this second-up assignment. James McDonald reuniting with the superstar mare is a major bonus, and provided she can be exposed with clear air at the top of the straight, Via Sistina must be considered the one to beat. The Ciaron Maher-trained Zarakem warrants a saver at the $35.00 with Dabble. He brings some elite European form into his Australian debut, and although he may want further than the 1600m moving forward, he can make some noise at the each-way price. Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 selections & best bets Selections: 8 VIA SISTINA 2 ZARAKEM 1 CEOLWULF 9 FANGIRL $100 betting strategy $85 Win Via Sistina (#8) @ $15 Win Zarakem (#2) @ Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 final field 1. Ceolwulf (9) T: Joseph Pride J: Chad Schofield W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Tavistock (NZ) Dam: Las Brisas (GB) +400 -285.71 2. Zarakem (3) T: Ciaron Maher J: Tim Clark W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Zarak (FR) Dam: Harem Mistress (IRE) +3300 +300 3. Fawkner Park (2) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Tyler Schiller W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Zoffany (IRE) Dam: Za’Hara (IRE) +7000 +600 4. Arapaho (4) T: Bjorn Baker J: Ashley Morgan W: 59kg Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Alzubra (GB) +15000 +1300 5. Lindermann (7) T: Chris Waller J: Nash Rawiller W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Lonhro Dam: Self Esteem +1200 +120 6. Land Legend (1) T: Chris Waller J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Galileo (IRE) Dam: Landikusic (IRE) +7000 +600 7. Golden Path (6) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) J: Tommy Berry W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Belardo (IRE) Dam: Golden Destination +7000 +600 8. Via Sistina (8) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Nigh (IRE) -125 -1250 9. Fangirl (5) T: Chris Waller J: Jason Collett W: 57kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Sebring Dam: Little Surfer Girl +220 -500 Horse racing tips View the full article