Wandering Eyes

Crocetti will take on the Australians in Saturday’s $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot. (Photo: Kenton Wright – Race Images) New Zealand Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti is primed and ready to go for Saturday’s $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. Co-trainer Danny Walker has been in Perth with his gelding for the last two weeks and the South Auckland horseman has been pleased with the way he has settled into his surroundings in Western Australia. “He has settled in well. He is an unflappable sort of horse.” said Walker, who trains in partnership with Arron Tata. “He has done well since he has been here, so we are pretty happy with him.” Crocetti will represent Trackside NZ and Perth Racing’s slot in the rich feature where he has drawn barrier seven against a strong line-up, which includes the Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass, who is shooting for his third straight win in the race. “I think seven is a fair draw for him,” Walker said. Crocetti was given his final piece of serious work at ‘breakfast with the stars’ on Tuesday morning and Walker was pleased with what he saw. “It was quite muggy on the breakfast with the stars morning. I gave him a good sweat up, which was quite good because he probably needed it a little bit,” he said. Walker has been impressed with the facilities on offer at Ascot, both for trainers and the public alike. “It’s been a really good couple of weeks. Everyone has been wonderful to deal with,” he said. “The facilities at Ascot are perfect. They have got some amazing facilities here for the public. “I went to the races on Good Friday and they (public) just flocked in. They had free entry and there was a huge and really enjoyable crowd.” Owner-breeder Daniel Nakhle has already arrived in Perth, with Tata set to join them on Friday. “It is a shame we both (Tata and Walker) couldn’t be here for the whole time, but we have got other horses and clients to think about,” Walker said. “It will be great for all three of us to enjoy it on Saturday.” While hopeful of a bold showing this weekend, Walker said the horse’s welfare is always top of mind. “We are good enough to be here, what happens in the race happens in the race, and as long as he pulls up safe and sound, and we get home safe and sound, that’s the main thing,” he said. “Everything above that is a bonus.” Crocetti is currently at a winning quote of $27 with horse racing bookmakers, with the market headed by Overpass at $2.15, with Headwall on the second line of betting at $6.50. Horse racing news View the full article

El Vencedor has drawn barrier one for Sunday’s Group 1 QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin. (Photo: HKJC) After overcoming an injury scare earlier in the week, fortune has turned in favour of Kiwi flyer El Vencedor, drawing barrier one for Sunday’s HK$28 million Group 1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin. The four-time Group One winner was treated for lameness in the left hind leg after arriving in Hong Kong and was restricted to light work until Tuesday morning, where he was passed suitable to complete trackwork at Sha Tin. In the hands of champion hoop Zac Purton, El Vencedor completed his final serious piece of work on Thursday morning, albeit after having a decent look at the vast surroundings at Sha Tin. “All happy, it was good to have Zac on today to get a feel for him,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “He’s got a massive grandstand to look at here and it took him a little while to get going. Once he got going, he’s still not fully concentrating, but having that underway now, it should bring him on beautifully. “It’s a pretty daunting experience, you’ve got big screens here, bigger than most houses, and the grandstands are nearly over the track. It’s good he’s had a look now and he’ll be all the better for it.” When questioned on preference for barrier draws, Marsh indicated anywhere between one and five would be ideal for his charge and that became a reality as co-owner and co-breeder David Price selected the ace barrier later in the day. “It’s pretty unreal, three country boys coming to the big lights,” Price said. “It’s been fantastic, Hong Kong Jockey Club have been amazing hosts.” The son of Shocking will be up against a number of serious international stars in the QEII Cup, with the likes of Cap Ferratt, Prognosis and Goliath. While Price is unsure of where his form stacks up against those horses, El Vencedor’s versatility is his strength. “He’s a strong horse, he can lead, he can trail and he’s got a high cruising speed. Tactically, that makes him relatively easy to ride,” he said. “It’s hard to line it up (New Zealand form), we were ranked number 10 in the world in the LONGINES ratings, so we just don’t know. We haven’t raced against these horses, but he’s coming here on the top of his game, and we just hope that’s good enough. “Win, lose or draw, it’s going to be fantastic.” Horse racing news View the full article

‘Magic Man’ believes Japanese star can take it to ‘outstanding’ local speedster in Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m).View the full article

Ka Ying Rising lands stall four for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, while Mr Brightside will jump from gate two in the Champions Mile.View the full article

It will be an ANZAC day with a difference at Addington. In what is the first collaboration between the One NZ Warriors, Harness Racing New Zealand and Addington Raceway a special ANZAC League and Racing Night will be held. The collaboration was announced in March. A 10 race programme will get underway at 2.55 pm on Friday with the final race at 7.12pm giving league fans plenty of time to head across the road to Apollo Projects Stadium to see the One NZ Warriors take on the Newcastle Knights, with kick-off at 8pm. Earlier in the week a very limited number of tickets for the racing-league package were made available. They were for dinner, drinks and a ticket to the game. They got snapped up in no time, with the game itself already a sell out. Dinner or dinner and drinks packages are still available, with prices starting at $62. Go to addington.co.nz for more details. There’ll be plenty of action happening off the track too including guest appearances by two NRLW One NZ Warriors players. They will do a meet and greet and be available for photos. There will be fun activities for the kids throughout the afternoon, including spot prizes and a chance to win a signed One NZ Warriors jersey. Just scan the QR code displayed on course to enter the draw. Among the league and/or ANZAC themes races on the day will be Race 2, Wah-Hine ANZAC Classic for the Fillies and Mares and Race 7, the Up The Wahs Mobile Pace (5.50pm). Included in the field is the omen bet of the night – Warrior Chief. He’s currently a $4.80 second favourite behind Arthur Shelby. Fittingly the night will round out with Race 10, The Last Post Free For All Mobile Pace (7.12pm). View the full article

Rich Hill Stud’s Group One stallion roster has enjoyed another stellar year and the farm’s 2025 service fees will reflect that success while also being mindful of the uncertain economic times. Champion sire Proisir will stand at $70,000 + GST, Satono Aladdin at $45,000 + GST, Ace High will be offered at $15,000 + GST and Shocking at $10,000 + GST. “Breeders who have supported Rich Hill stallions over recent seasons have reaped substantial rewards,” Rich Hill Managing Director John Thompson said. “Our 2025 service fees directly reflect this ongoing success, but we have made some adjustments in line with current market challenges. “This ensures the industry continues to benefit from the exceptional value they offer.” Proisir’s progeny have again excelled across the racetracks of Australasia, with 19 individual stakes performers already this season. His 10 individual Australasian stakes winners include multiple Group winner Waitak, brilliant mare Legarto and three-year-olds Vegas Queen and Sergeant Major. Proisir currently ranks second by earnings on the New Zealand Sires’ Premiership and leads by individual stakes winners (seven), winners (41), and total wins (56). His 2025 yearlings were highly sought after and again provided breeders with outstanding returns. At Karaka, he sired three of the top five priced yearlings, including the spectacular Donna Marie filly who fetched $1,100,000 and his 41 Book 1 yearlings averaged $233,171. “Going forward, we can all be very excited about Proisir’s future results,” Thompson said. “We eagerly anticipate his upcoming two-year-olds, which are the first progeny to race from the higher quality mare books bred over the last three seasons.” Deep Impact’s son Satono Aladdin will return to New Zealand this season and despite not having a current crop of Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds, he has maintained his profile as one of New Zealand’s leading young sires. His Australasian progeny statistics are world class and from limited early opportunities has a 12.2 per cent ratio of stakes winners to runners. His 2020-21 crop of 43 foals has produced six individual Group winners at a remarkable 14 per cent Group winners to foals, including Firestorm, Raf Attack, Lupo Solitario and Tokyo Tycoon. Satono Aladdin also excelled in the sale ring, with his twenty-nine 2025 Book One yearlings averaging $170,690 and selling up to $525,000. At the recent Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, his Gallwitz filly from the Trelawney Stud consignment sold for A$725,000. “Satono Aladdin’s progeny displays incredible versatility and class. With his larger foal crops now emerging, his future impact on Australasian racing and breeding looks set to ascend to new heights over the next few seasons,” Thompson said. Proven Group One producer Shocking has enjoyed another excellent season. The highlight for Shocking fans was his February Group One double at Te Rapa with El Vencedor capturing the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Here To Shock claiming the Waikato Sprint (1400m). Shocking also came close to a unique Group One Derby double when his son Scary ran second in the VRC Derby and Packing Angel was a close third in the Hong Kong Derby. Furthermore, he continues to enhance his legacy as a broodmare sire, most recently through Repo Bay, dam of Proisir’s Group One winner Waitak. “Shocking’s racetrack progeny consistently delivers outstanding results, and he offers breeders access to a proven Group One sire at remarkable value,” Thompson said. Ace High has made a flying start to his stud career, siring Gr.1 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Molly Bloom from his first crop. The momentum has continued this season with My Lips Are Sealed winning at Group level and the talented performers She’s A Hustler, O’Ziggy, Texas Dolly, Bullets High and Angland all coming through the grades. Ace High’s second crop of three-year-olds are also impressing, with stakes performers Kitty Flash and Dealt With supported by emerging runners such as She’s A Dealer, Croupier, Canny Queen and Katashi. “Ace High continues to attract strong breeder support achieving his largest book yet in 2024,” Thompson said. “His 2025 yearlings averaged $122,000 at Karaka Book One and given his impeccable pedigree as a son of influential sire High Chaparral, Ace High’s progeny are set to thrive as they mature and step up in distance.” View the full article

After overcoming an injury scare earlier in the week, fortune has turned in favour of Kiwi flyer El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), drawing barrier one for Sunday’s HK$28 million Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin. The four-time Group One winner was treated for lameness in the left hind leg after arriving in Hong Kong and was restricted to light work until Tuesday morning, where he was passed suitable to complete trackwork at Sha Tin. In the hands of champion hoop Zac Purton, El Vencedor completed his final serious piece of work on Thursday morning, albeit after having a decent look at the vast surroundings at Sha Tin. “All happy, it was good to have Zac on today to get a feel for him,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “He’s got a massive grandstand to look at here and it took him a little while to get going. Once he got going, he’s still not fully concentrating, but having that underway now, it should bring him on beautifully. “It’s a pretty daunting experience, you’ve got big screens here, bigger than most houses, and the grandstands are nearly over the track. It’s good he’s had a look now and he’ll be all the better for it.” When questioned on preference for barrier draws, Marsh indicated anywhere between one and five would be ideal for his charge and that became a reality as co-owner and co-breeder David Price selected the ace barrier later in the day. “It’s pretty unreal, three country boys coming to the big lights,” Price said. “It’s been fantastic, Hong Kong Jockey Club have been amazing hosts.” The son of Shocking will be up against a number of serious international stars in the QEII Cup, with the likes of Cap Ferratt, Prognosis and Goliath. While Price is unsure of where his form stacks up against those horses, El Vencedor’s versatility is his strength. “He’s a strong horse, he can lead, he can trail and he’s got a high cruising speed. Tactically, that makes him relatively easy to ride,” he said. “It’s hard to line it up (New Zealand form), we were ranked number 10 in the world in the LONGINES ratings, so we just don’t know. We haven’t raced against these horses, but he’s coming here on the top of his game, and we just hope that’s good enough. “Win, lose or draw, it’s going to be fantastic.” View the full article

Well-bred stayer Rainbow Delight (NZ) (Savabeel) has found his feet back on home soil and will aim to complete a hattrick at Te Rapa on Saturday when contesting the Marsh Racing – Good Luck ‘EV’ (2400m). A son of champion sire Savabeel and multiple Australian Group One-winning mare Suavito, ainbow Delight is a half-brother to Group Three-winning filly Sethito (NZ) (Super Seth), and was initially prepared by Forsman to place in a two-year-old trial before he was sold to Hong Kong. Unplaced in three starts in the Asian jurisdiction, Rainbow Delight returned to be raced by the Cambridge horseman and in his second run back, he picked up an awaited maiden victory. “I trained him and he only had the one trial before he was sold up to Hong Kong,” Forsman said. “He didn’t really settle in and I don’t think there was a lot of suitable racing up there for a staying type of horse like he is. “We were thankful to have him back and give him his chance here, it’s taken him a fair while to acclimatise and get back into how we do things down here, but he seems to have his confidence up now.” That confidence was on full display at Trentham earlier this month, where Rainbow Delight put an extending six-length margin on his rivals over 2200m. While never questioning his talent, Forsman was still more hopeful than confident that he would produce such an effort. “I was hopeful, but you never know,” Forsman said. “He’s certainly capable of that, I just really wanted to see him put back-to-back performances together. “He’s won a couple of fairly winnable races and he strikes another here, but he’s going up in grade every time, so you don’t quite know where his level is. On ability, he can be winning again.” Later in the day, Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400) winner Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan) will chase another stakes victory in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), but is coming off an uncharacteristic run at the course a fortnight ago. Forsman is willing to put that effort behind him, where Yaldi raced fiercely midfield behind a slow tempo and was unable to finish in his typical fashion. “He got back on a slow tempo and he just wanted to over-race and get on with it,” Forsman said. “I think we have to put it behind us, he was pretty fresh going into it. “This is a bigger, better field and there will be a lot more tempo on. I think he should be fine, it’s just the wide draw and hoping he doesn’t get too far off them.” Talented juvenile The Espy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is looking to finish his brief campaign with a flourish in the Cambridge Raceway 2YO (1200m) after impressing second-up at Tauranga in late March. Off the back of that performance, Forsman considered a tilt at stakes company for the son of U S Navy Flag but opted to bypass the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) on a soft surface. “He does want a really good track and I think the track would’ve just not suited the other day, with the bad weather and forecast leading into it,” Forsman said. “Hopefully he gets a decent surface on Saturday and at this stage it looks like he might, we just hope the rain that is forecasted on the day doesn’t eventuate. “This will be it for him, he’ll go out for a break and come back to be ready for the spring.” Across the Tasman on Friday, Forsman will have one representative out of his Flemington stable in Prochester (NZ) (Proisir) taking on the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m). The Proisir three-year-old produced the best run of his career last start when third in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m), won by subsequent Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) winner Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer). “The only other option left for him over middle distance was Ellerslie and he just hasn’t fired right-handed for whatever reason, so I thought we’d go here, and the further the better for him,” Forsman said. “He’s fairly one-paced, but it was a good solid run the other day so you’d think the 2800 at Flemington should suit him. It’s meant to rain tomorrow (Friday) and I think he’s fine on any track, but if it does cut up a little bit, he may handle it a little better than some others would. “He’s been great since travelling over, he went in the middle of last week and settled in really well.” To be ridden by Harry Coffey, Prochester is among six Kiwi-breds in the A$200,000 contest, including the Te Akau and Fortuna representative West Indies. View the full article

Connections of Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) are considering not one, but two clashes in spring with the world’s highest-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), with a chance the All Aged Stakes winner could target the Hong Kong Sprint at the end of the year. Jimmysstar is confirmed as being on his way for a spell after making it a second G1 victory for the autumn last Saturday at Randwick, with connections now aiming up at Ka Ying Rising in October’s The Everest, before a possible trip to Hong Kong for a return bout in the premier sprint race in early December. Managing part-owner Ozzie Kheir said on Thursday that Jimmysstar will not run in any of Brisbane’s three G1 sprints this winter, with a mind to what lies ahead in spring. “Jimmysstar will go for a well-earned break,” Kheir said on Thursday. “Although tempting to head to Brisbane in peak form, as an ownership group in discussion with Ciaron (Maher), we all decided the break now would set him up best for a spring campaign. “He will target The Everest and that potentially leaves the door open for a Hong Kong road trip if all went well. “Jimmysstar has come through his run in great order. Will head to the paddock after a light autumn of four runs and will continue to develop as he’s definitely been a slow-maturing type.” Jimmysstar is currently rated the early favourite with bookmakers for the Queensland G1 sprint treble this winter of the Doomben 10,000 (1200m), Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) and Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). The former Kiwi galloper has risen to be a genuine G1 horse this autumn after four runs, which yielded G1 wins in the Oakleigh Plate and All Aged Stakes, as well as close-up finishes in the G1 William Reid Stakes (third) and T.J. Smith Stakes (fourth). His domestic rating has gone from 103 prior to the Oakleigh Plate to sit at 115 after last Saturday’s brilliant performance at Randwick. Consideration will be given to keeping Jimmysstar fresh for his Everest conquest. No horse has ever won an Everest first-up, but Jimmysstar’s fresh record is remarkable. Since making his debut with a second placing in a maiden in New Zealand in December 2022, he has won all five first-up runs. A winner of his past 11 starts in Hong Kong and with an international rating of 125, Ka Ying Rising takes centre stage again on Sunday at Sha Tin when he takes on the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) as the odds-on favourite. View the full article

New Zealand Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) is primed and ready to go for Saturday’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. Co-trainer Danny Walker has been in Perth with his gelding for the last two weeks and the South Auckland horseman has been pleased with the way he has settled into his surroundings in Western Australia. “He has settled in well. He is an unflappable sort of horse.” said Walker, who trains in partnership with Arron Tata. “He has done well since he has been here, so we are pretty happy with him.” Crocetti will represent Trackside NZ and Perth Racing’s slot in the rich feature where he has drawn barrier seven against a strong line-up, which includes the Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass, who is shooting for his third straight win in the race. “I think seven is a fair draw for him,” Walker said. Crocetti was given his final piece of serious work at ‘breakfast with the stars’ on Tuesday morning and Walker was pleased with what he saw. “It was quite muggy on the breakfast with the stars morning. I gave him a good sweat up, which was quite good because he probably needed it a little bit,” he said. Walker has been impressed with the facilities on offer at Ascot, both for trainers and the public alike. “It’s been a really good couple of weeks. Everyone has been wonderful to deal with,” he said. “The facilities at Ascot are perfect. They have got some amazing facilities here for the public. “I went to the races on Good Friday and they (public) just flocked in. They had free entry and there was a huge and really enjoyable crowd.” Owner-breeder Daniel Nakhle has already arrived in Perth, with Tata set to join them on Friday. “It is a shame we both (Tata and Walker) couldn’t be here for the whole time, but we have got other horses and clients to think about,” Walker said. “It will be great for all three of us to enjoy it on Saturday.” While hopeful of a bold showing this weekend, Walker said the horse’s welfare is always top of mind. “We are good enough to be here, what happens in the race happens in the race, and as long as he pulls up safe and sound, and we get home safe and sound, that’s the main thing,” he said. “Everything above that is a bonus.” Crocetti is currently at a winning quote of $27 with TAB bookmakers, with the market headed by Overpass at $2.15, with Headwall on the second line of betting at $6.50 View the full article

What Eagle Farm Races Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, April 26, 2025 First Race 11:38am AEST Visit Dabble Feature racing returns to a soggy Eagle Farm on Saturday afternoon for a nine-race meeting. Four black-type races will be run, with the Listed Brisbane Mile (1600m) serving as a key lead-in to some of the major races during the Queensland Winter Carnival. There is a fair amount of rain forecast in the lead-up, meaning we are likely to be starting on a Heavy surface. Even with better weather forecast for race day, an upgrade looks unlikely. The rail will be out 5m for the entire circuit, with the action at Eagle Farm set to commence at 11:38am AEST. Calaway Gal tip: Hi Barbie If Hi Barbie is anywhere near her best first-up, she is the one to beat in the Listed Calaway Gal (1200m). The I Am Invincible filly was only beaten 3.3 lengths in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) before heading for a spell, hitting the line strongly from the rear of the field. Drawn in barrier two on Saturday, Angela Jones will likely be stalking the speed throughout, and provided the breaks go her way, Hi Barbie should prove far too good. Calaway Gal Race 5 – #1 Hi Barbie (2) 2yo Filly | T: Tony Gollan | J: Angela Jones (56.5kg) Mick Dittman Plate tip: Benzou The Billy Healey-trained Benzou has been racing in decent enough form to give the Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) a rattle at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. The son of Zousain has shown tactical versatility throughout his career, being able to win from the rear of a field or closer to the speed. From barrier 10, Cejay Graham will look for a spot just in behind a somewhat chaotic tempo, and if Benzou can offer a similar finish to what he produced first-up, he looks hard to hold out. Mick Dittman Plate Race 6 – #3 Benzou (10) 3yo Gelding | T: Billy Healey | J: Cejay Graham (57kg) Princess Stakes tip: Harlem Queen Harlem Queen looks poised to strike third-up following two eye-catching runs at Rosehill, most notably when beaten two lengths in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) last time out on a Heavy 8. The Nathan Doyle-trained filly was hitting the line strongly, and the step up to 1600m should suit the Brutal filly perfectly. From barrier five, Taylor Marshall will look to hold a midfield position early, and as long as Harlem Queen finds clear racing air, she should prove too good for this lot. Princess Stakes Race 7 – #1 Harlem Queen (5) 3yo Filly | T: Nathan Doyle | J: Taylor Marshall (56.5kg) Brisbane Mile tip: Just Folk Just Folk steps out of Group 1 company after last being seen in the Doncaster Mile on April 6. Despite being well beaten on that day, his win the start prior in the Group 3 Doncaster Mile Prelude (1500m) on a Soft 7 reads really well against a field like this. The eight-year-old grows an extra leg on rain-affected surfaces (24: 8-7-3), and from barrier four he should have the sit on the leaders throughout. Brisbane Mile Race 8 – #1 Just Folk (4) 8yo Gelding | T: Gavin Bedggood | J: Noel Callow (60.5kg) Best Bet at Eagle Farm: Navyonthehighway Navyonthehighway is set to resume off a five-month spell, but she simply should be disposing of her BM85 rivals. The Chris & Corey Munce-trained mare is undefeated through two fresh runs, and there looks to be no reason she cannot improve that record. From barrier two, Tahlia Fenlon will look to find the rail and dictate terms, and with just 58kg on her back, Navyonthehighway should prove too hard to run down on return. Best Bet Race 4 – #3 Navyonthehighway (2) 4yo Mare | T: Chris & Corey Munce | J: Tahlia Fenlon (a2) (60kg) Saturday’s quaddie tips for Eagle Farm races Eagle Farm quadrella selections Saturday, April 26, 2025 2-3-6-7-8-9 1-6 1-2-7-12 2-3-4-13-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Quokka Day 2025 Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, April 26, 2025 First Race 11:19am AWST Visit Dabble The $5 million Quokka will headline the massive 10-race card at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 11:19am AWST. The meeting is expected to be held in perfect condition for racing, with fine weather forecast and a Good 4 surface present for the whole day. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit. Click here to see HorseBetting’s free Quokka betting preview. Karrakatta Plate tip: Yes Queen Although Yes Queen has been beaten in her two starts this preparation, the Dion Luciani-trained filly appears to get the perfect race shape and has drawn the right barrier to go one better in the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate. The daughter of Yes Yes Yes settled at the rear of the field in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes and flew home in the final 400m to miss by a nose on the line, going down to Talkanco. Now that she gets back to set weights and will settle closer to the speed from barrier six, Yes Queen can bounce back with a win. Karrakatta Plate Race 7 – #8 Yes Queen (6) 2yo Filly | T: Dion Luciani | J: William Pike (55.5kg) The Joey tip: Saloon Bar Saloon Bar has finished in fourth place on both occasions this campaign over 1000m and 1100m, which is great form for a galloper that will rise to 1200m third-up in The Joey. The Daniel Morton-trained gelding is yet to win over any distance shorter than 1200m, so with him finishing off his races nicely, the extra distance is expected to help this son of Sessions. William Pike will settle him worse than midfield, and with a solid tempo to be set throughout the contest, Saloon Bar can finish over the top of his rivals. The Joey Race 9 – #5 Saloon Bar (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Daniel Morton | J: William Pike (58.5kg) Best Bet at Ascot: Be Bardot Be Bardot bounced back with a dominant victory over 1600m at this track last start, when the Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare was given a perfectly timed ride by William Pike. This daughter of Toronado settled back in the field from her wide gate and slowly made her way to the outside of the field turning for home before letting down with a brilliant turn of foot to claim a one-length win. A smaller field and rise in trip to 1800m should be no worry for this girl, and if she produces a similar finish, the +140 on offer with horse racing bookmakers will look like a steal for Be Bardot. Best Bet Race 3 – #4 Be Bardot (3) 4yo Mare | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (55.5kg) Next Best at Ascot: Deferred Simon Miller and Tim Clark will combine with Deferred who will drop back in grade and trip for her fifth start of the preparation. The daughter of Epaulette has a very good record, with four wins and six placings to her name from 14 starts, and her consistency is what makes her easy to tip in a race that lacks out-and-out winners. If Clark can settle this girl in the one-one position from barrier nine, Deferred’s class will shine through late and she will record another win. Next Best Race 4 – #4 Deferred (9) 4yo Mare | T: Simon Miller | J: Tim Clark (54.5kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Ascot races Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, April 26, 2025 1-7-8 1-6-11-13 2-3-5-13 1-2-5-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Randwick Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, April 26, 2025 First Race 11:30am AEST Visit Dabble Metro racing continues at Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a bumper 10-part program set for decision. After a stack of feature racing hosted at Randwick of late, the rail moves out +9m between the 1000m to winning post, while the remainder sits out +7m. The track is rated a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, and with more consistent rainfall forecast leading into the weekend, punters can anticipate a surface nearing the Heavy range. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 11:30am local time. Best Bet at Randwick: Beskar Beskar couldn’t quite reel in the half-length margin of North England in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at this course and distance on April 5, but didn’t lose any admirers in the process. The son of Snitzel got into a bumping duel with King Of Pop in the concluding stages which didn’t help matters, with the pair putting pave to their winning chances. James McDonald gets legged aboard from gate three this time around, and with a shade more luck when getting clear, expect Beskar to be finishing best in the Randwick opener. Best Bet Race 1 – #1 Beskar (3) 2yo Colt | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: James McDonald (59.5kg) Next Best at Randwick: Flying Bandit The Kerry Parker-trained Flying Bandit looks supremely placed in this BM94 contest after a slashing victory at Hawkesbury on April 9. The Trapeze Artist gelding looked to be trapped behind a wall of horses on that occasion, before Jay Ford navigated a passage to claim victory in the final 100m. He gets no weight (52.5kg) on his back heading into this third-up assignment, and provided Flying Bandit can get off the inside at a crucial stage, this guy should have no issues claiming back-to-back wins. Next Best Race 5 – #7 Flying Bandit (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Kerry Parker | J: Jay Ford (52.5kg) Best Value at Randwick: Wootton Verni French import Wootton Verni poises a strong record of five wins and two minor placings across his nine starts before arriving to Australia. He caught the eye in his most recent barrier trial at Warwick Farm in April 17, suggesting the four-year-old has settled in nicely to the Chris Waller barn. He gains the services of James McDonald first-up, and although Wootton Verni may prove better as he steps out in trip, the $8.50 with horse racing bookmakers is too big to ignore as he makes his Australian debut. Best Value Race 8 – #10 Wootton Verni (12) 4yo Horse | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (56.5kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Randwick Randwick quadrella selections April 26, 2025 2-3-8-12-13 1-2-3-5-10-13 1-3-7-10-14-15 1-5-9-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Moonee Valley Races Where Moonee Valley Racecourse – Gate 2 Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Saturday, April 26, 2025 First Race 12:20pm AEST Visit Dabble Moonee Valley is the destination for metropolitan racing in Victoria on Saturday afternoon, with a competitive nine-race program set down for decision. With up to 25mm forecast on Friday and the possibility of showers on race day, the track is likely to be in the Soft 7 to Heavy 8 range. The rail will be out 4m for the entire circuit, with the Moonee Valley races set to commence at 12:20pm AEST. Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Extratwo Despite being priced at $6 with horse racing bookmakers, it is hard to ignore the recent form of Extratwo. The five-year-old mare chased home the classy Zloties at Bendigo last time out when peaking on her run over 1400m, and the start prior she finished third in a race that has produced three subsequent winners. She is drawn to follow odds-on favourite Elouyou throughout this 1200m event, and with 58kg on her back following Luke Cartwright’s claim, Extratwo should have no issue in overhauling the leader. Best Bet Race 2 – #2 Extratwo (6) 5yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Luke Cartwright (a3) (61kg) Next Best at Moonee Valley: Suparazi Suparazi has not tasted success since November 2023, but the six-year-old gelding looks perfectly placed on a rain-affected surface at The Valley. He boasts two wins and four minor placings from nine runs on wet tracks and has finished second here on two of those occasions, including on a Heavy 10. Jye McNeil should get a nice cart across the field from barrier 10, and as long as the track can aid those running on from deep, Suparazi has the turn of foot to blouse his rivals. Next Best Race 5 – #5 Suparazi (9) 6yo Gelding | T: Ben Brisbourne | J: Jye McNeil (58kg) Best Value at Moonee Valley: Muktamil Muktamil produced a strong finish over 2000m to salute at Ballarat last time out. With a win and four placings from seven starts on wet tracks, he should have no issue in handling conditions third-up. On the back of a genuinely run 2040m, the race should set up perfectly for Muktamil to be finishing the best down the heart of the track at an each-way price with horse betting sites. Best Value Race 8 – #8 Muktamil (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Daniel Moor (57kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Moonee Valley Moonee Valley quadrella selections Saturday, April 26, 2025 4-5-6-7-9-10-11 1-3-6-7-8 3-4-8-9-15 1-8-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Charm Stone. (Photo by George Sal – Racing Photos) It’s been a while between wins for Charm Stone, but the mare looks ready to make a statement when she resumes in Saturday’s Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper hasn’t been seen since running second in the Magic Millions Cup (RL, 1400m) at the Gold Coast in January. She’s been kept ticking over with two jump-outs in the lead-up to her first trip to Adelaide. Now a rising five-year-old, Charm Stone hasn’t won since claiming the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in September last year, before finishing fifth in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m). “She’s going super,” Price said. “It’s been a bit of a goal for Shamus (Mills) to run in the Group 1 and I’m expecting she’ll go well. “She had a knee chip taken out a while after the Golden Rose and had quite a bit of time away from racing, but she’s going good now.” Price is confident the mare is ready to return to her best in what shapes as a competitive edition of the Robert Sangster. Horse racing news View the full article

Australasian Oaks contender, Beautiful Jewel. (Photo: Brett Holburt – Racing Photos) Trainer Travis Doudle is hopeful a long-range plan will pay off on Saturday when Beautiful Jewel lines up in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. The filly, by Highland Reel, has had three runs in South Australia since transferring from Ciaron Maher’s stable, placing twice including a strong second in the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes (1600m). She was unplaced last time out in the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) on April 12. “She’s been set for this right the way through,” Doudle told Racing.com. “She ran a really good race in the Clare Lindop. Last start didn’t go to plan in the Auraria. “She had a pretty hard run, so we’ve been pretty light on her leading into the Oaks and she’s bounced back really nicely, so we’re hoping for a good show. “After 100 metres, we knew we were in big trouble, we were stuck four or five wide with no cover … she loomed up at the furlong but just ran out of steam.” Horse racing news View the full article

With five Group 1s it’s a big night of racing at Alexandra Park on Friday night. Here are commentator Aaron White’s thoughts on the night, courtesy of trackside.co.nz Race 1 – 5:14pm. $25,000 CLASSIQUE LANDSCAPERS MOBILE PACE 2200m 2 Hooray Henry, 11 Cos I Can, 10 Seaclusion, 8 The Surfer We haven’t seen Hooray Henry on the track for 91 days. He does have the “big” scalp of Copy That on his CV. Drawn to be prominent and can give some cheek at nice odds. Cos I Can is clearly the top-rated horse in the field and will start from the outside of the second row as a consequence. Bold victory April 11 and no reason why he couldn’t double up. Seaclusion makes her return to racing after two sharp workouts. She raced in very good company over back in December. The Surfer has been racing in a good vein of form but does get a sticky draw to use. Big threat with an ounce of luck. Always B Elite has been mixing his form. Solid second two starts ago. Cover in combo bets. Whitey’s $100 Play: $10 Win / $40 Place: 2 Hooray Henry. $10 Quinella: 11 : 2 – 3 – 4 – 8 – 10 Race 2 – 5:41pm. $25,000 LONE STAR ALEXANDRA PARK MOBILE TROT 2200m 11 Magic Dash, 7 Walkinonsunshine, 8 Hillbilly Blues, 5 Castana Magic Dash should’ve taken great improvement from his April 11 resumption. Record from behind the mobile is strong and is a big show despite drawing the second row. Walkinonsunshine gets onto equal marks courtesy of the mobile start. Sure to meet with solid support on latest form. Hillbilly Blues is a real up and comer from the Wallis/Hackett barn. Draw is a little troublesome but certainly has the class to overcome it. Castana does have the game to make his presence felt from a handy enough draw from a mobile beginning. Faith In Manchester beaten under half a length in her last two appearances. Needed for Quinella investments. Whitey’s $100 Play: $30 Win / $70 Place: 11 Magic Dash. Race 3 – 6:09pm. $25,000 GALLAGHER INSURANCE YOUNG GUNS 2YO FILLIES SERIES HEAT 2 MOBILE PACE 1700m 1 The Queens Gambit, 3 Ripples, 9 River, 6 Alecto The Queens Gambit was a little wayward when scoring on this track a fortnight ago. She will be a lot better for that outing and gets the coveted ace draw for this short course race. Ripples crosses the Tasman from the powerful Victorian stable of Emma Stewart and secured the Group 1 Gold Tiara at Bathurst March 29. Rates highly but first look at “The Park” is a concern. River recovered well to run second after doing things wrong in the score-up on debut. Drawn to receive an economical passage tonight. Alecto produced a slick Addington victory 6 April. “The Puppet” Chris Alford jumps into the sulky as well. Angelic Copy is yet to taste defeat in three starts. She’ll need a few things to go her way to continue the picket fence form line. Whitey’s $100 Play: $25 Win: 1. The Queens Gambit. $25 Exacta: 3 : 1 – 6 – 9. Race 4 – 6:40pm. $25,000 BRECKON FARMS YOUNG GUNS 2YO COLTS & GELDINGS SERIES HEAT 2 MOBILE PACE 1700m 4 Fugitive, 6 Andretti, 2 Allamericanplayer, 3 Fitzroy Fugitive won his debut on this track in fine fashion. Gallant run in defeat at Cambridge on the Night of Champions. Andretti took full advantage of a better draw to score well at Cambridge after a game effort in defeat on debut. Allamericanplayer has shown plenty of ability in his career to date. Knockout chance from low gate. Fitzroy debuted nicely at Addington despite having a gear issue. Threat on natural improvement. Rattle My Cage is awkwardly drawn for his debut assignment. Trial form is sound so keep on side for combination tickets. Whitey’s $100 Play: $50 Boxed Exacta: 4 & 6. Race 5 – 7:21pm. (Group 1) $100,000 PASCOES JEWELLERS NORTHERN OAKS MOBILE PACE 2700m 1 Arafura, 4 Beside Me, 5 Stella Rouge, 8 Youretheonethatiwant, 9 Without You Arafura has always looked like an Oaks filly. Racing well and holds a couple of aces from barrier one. “The Iceman” gets the reins too. Beside Me is a long-striding filly that should lap-up all of the 2700m. She’ll start the favourite but there are some here that can test any vulnerability. Stella Rouge has shown she has the all-round game. Don’t underestimate. Youretheonethatiwant boasts a very good Oaks winning lineage. Draw hurts but still worth a few dollars on for a place. Without You brings strong form to her Oaks bid. Owner Jean Feiss has tasted success in this race three times. Whitey’s $100 Play: $50 Win: 1. Arafura. $50 Exacta: 4 : 1: Race 6 – 7:56pm. (Group 1) $100,000 BRECKON FARMS NORTHERN TROTTING DERBY, MOBILE TROT 2700m 14 Meant To Be, 4 Higher Power, 7 Hillbilly, 8 Frazzled Meant To Be returned to racing a fortnight ago with a sensational win. Goes onto the Unruly Draw tonight but has 2700m to negate that. All class. Higher Power did beat his stablemate in last year’s Young Guns Final. Drawn to be in this for a long way. Hillbilly continues to race with merit and back to a mobile start will also assist. Frazzled produced a bold effort when runner-up in first look at “The Park” last week. Worth a nibble at the big odds. Final Approach has done little wrong since his return to racing. Comes into combos calculations. Whitey’s $100 Play: $100 Win: 14. Meant To Be. Race 7 – 8:23pm. (Group 1) $200,000 WOODLANDS STUD NORTHERN PACING DERBY, MOBILE PACE 2700m 1 Marketplace, 9 Captain Sampson, 3 Got The Chocolates, 8 Bettors Anvil Marketplace has a real appetite for big race success and drawn to deliver another. Deserves to be a short-priced favourite. Captain Sampson is drawn ideally behind the favourite. History says being on the markers in the Derby is a good place to be. Got The Chocolates lowered the colours of Marketplace last week. Tougher assignment tonight but keep on side for Quinella bets. Bettors Anvil has any amount of ability but gets a sticky draw. Midnight Miki will require some luck from the 2nd row but could slide into a Top 4 placing. Whitey’s $100 Play: $100 Same Race Multi: 1 Win : 8 and 9 Top 4 Race 8 – 8:48pm. (Group 1) $100,000 H R FISKEN & SONS ANZAC CUP HANDICAP TROT 2200m 12 Oscar Bonavena, 13 Muscle Mountain, 9 Queen Elida, 1 Matty A Oscar Bonavena has placed in the Top 4 three times in this race without winning it. His class will take him close again. Muscle Mountain won this race in splendid fashion last year off a 15m handicap. No reason why the “Big M” can’t claim another Group 1 success. Queen Elida is Australasia’s highest earning female square-gaiter of all-time. She’ll attract her fair share of support. Matty A is back taking on the big guns tonight. Could bolster First4 dividends. Whitey’s $100 Play was $100 Win: 8. Bet N Win but he’s been scratched. Race 9 – 9:21pm. (Group 1) $100,000 DAWSON HARFORD NZ MESSENGER MOBILE PACE 2700m 1 Republican Party, 9 Mo’unga, 6 Chase A Dream, 10 Don’t Stop Dreaming Republican Party, the Auckland Cup winner, is ideally drawn to grab another Group 1 victory in the City of Sails. Excels over the longer trips so looks extremely hard to beat. Mo’unga hasn’t had much go his way since crossing the Cook Strait. Gets his chance tonight to capitalise on an economical run. Chase A Dream backed up his stunning Waikato Flying Mile win with a bold second to Leap To Fame in The Race by betcha. Right back at the top of his game. 10. Don’t Stop Dreaming forget his last start failure. Huge performance to secure the City of Auckland FFA the start prior. We Walk By Faith produced an amazing 1-51.6 Taylor Mile victory a fortnight ago. Tough draw but can’t discount. Whitey’s $100 Play: $100 % Boxed Trifecta: 1 x 6 x 8 x 9 x 10 Race 10 – 9:51pm $20,000 AUCKLAND CO-OP TAXIS 300-3000 MOBILE PACE 2200m 1 Princess Gracy, 7 Crumsy, 3 Tytate, 9 Tight Lines Princess Gracy finally receives a decent draw to use. She’ll be awfully hard to beat. Crumsy is resuming after a recent workout victory. Showed potential through first campaign. Tytate was caught late by a nice type a fortnight ago. Can be right in the thick of things again. Tight Lines is a half-brother to the wonderful pacer The Orange Agent. Debuts from a tricky draw, good place bet. Mick Konstantin boasts some handy trial and workout form. Threat despite drawing the second row for his debut. Whitey’s $100 Play: $100 % Trifecta: 1 – 7 : 1 – 2 – 3 – 7 – 9 – 10 : 1 – 2 – 3 – 7 – 9 – 10 View the full article

Front Page. (Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au) Matt Dale concedes he didn’t get the barrier he was hoping for with Front Page ahead of Saturday’s $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot, but he still believes the proven sprinter is capable of finishing in the top three. Front Page, who has made the trip west alongside fellow NSW-trained contenders Overpass and Headwall, will jump from barrier 11 in the third running of the slot race. It wasn’t so much the wide draw that frustrated Dale, but the fact that race favourite Overpass drew directly inside in gate ten. “Ideally I wanted to draw inside Overpass,” Dale told Racing.com. “Overpass wouldn’t cross Front Page, but Front Page is probably unlikely to cross Overpass, so I thought that drawing inside Overpass would be ideal no matter where that was. “But that wasn’t to be, so it’s plan B, which I haven’t finalised—how aggressive we’ll ride him or what not just yet.” Despite that, Dale remains confident in his gelding’s natural ability to take up a position and be in the finish. “He’s a high-cruising-speed, rolling horse. That’s what he does, so he’ll be right up there.” Horse racing news View the full article

Maison Louis. (Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au) Go Racing may have farewelled Group 1 winner Atishu, but they’ve quickly found another potential headline act in Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) contender Maison Louis. Trained by the Sydney-based duo of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, the progressive three-year-old has made an immediate impact, winning three of his first five starts. That includes a strong last-start victory in a Benchmark 64 over 1900m at Canterbury on Monday, where he held off Existential Bob by 0.8 lengths with Andrew Adkins in the saddle. “He was really good picking up another win,” O’Shea said. “He’s developing into a lovely middle-distance horse, and he’s got a great appetite for racing.” With the Queensland winter carnival looming, connections are keen to test Maison Louis at stakes level. “Being that they’re only three once, we’re going to give him the opportunity to run in a stakes race,” O’Shea added. “We’ll take him to Queensland to run in the Rough Habit Plate on May 17 which is a lead-up to the Queensland Derby.” Maison Louis is currently a $15 chance for the Queensland Derby with horse racing bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article

Mehzebeen’s Australian campaign may have not gone to script, but she is back in her happy place in New Zealand where she will be out to continue her good run of form at Te Rapa on Saturday. The daughter of Almanzor had an unsuccessful two-run campaign in Victoria following her victories in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November, but returned to form in her New Zealand resumption, placing in the New Zealand St Leger (2500m) last month. She followed that with victory in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) a fortnight ago and will be looking to double-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m). “It just never worked out in Aussie for whatever reason,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains the five-year-old mare in partnership with Mark Walker. “It was good to see her bounce back into form like that and we have kept her nice and fresh. “Back to 2000m is the query, she has shown really good staying prowess, but she has won a Taupo Cup over 2000m. “She gets in well under the weight-for-age fillies and mares (conditions) and her work on the course proper (on Wednesday) was good. I am happy to have George (Rooke) aboard, who is riding really well, and barrier one is certainly a big plus.” Earlier on the Te Rapa card, stablemate Celestial Wonder will be seeking her first stakes scalp in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). The three-year-old daughter of Xtravagant was runner-up in the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui last November and underwent a wind operation following that run. She returned in pleasing fashion at Te Rapa a fortnight ago where she was runner-up over 1200m to Group Two performer Midnight Edition, much to the relief of her connections. “She had a bit of a wind tidy up after Wanganui. She had a layoff and you never know whether it has worked or not until you get to the races a lot of the time,” Bergerson said. “I am really pleased with her effort first-up, she just got pipped late and probably blew out that last little bit. She will take good improvement from it. “She is lightly raced and has never finished further back than second. She has got it all ahead of her.” While confident in his filly’s ability, Bergerson is wary of Saturday’s quality line-up. “It has come up a very hot race,” he said. “It is a good field, but we are pleased that we have got a nice enough barrier draw (6) where she can be positive. “I think there will be a few that want to lead but she should hopefully get a nice run in transit, and I am confident that she can run well again. “We have put the visor blinkers on. She likes to have a good look around at times so we think that can sharpen her up a bit.” Further south on Saturday, Te Akau Racing will also have two stakes contenders at Riccarton, with Dream Of The Moon and Donna Chiara contesting the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m). Dream Of The Moon was a dominant victor of the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at the Christchurch track a fortnight ago, and Bergerson said he has received positive reports from assistant trainer Hunter Durrant in the lead-up to Saturday. While he shares punters confidence in his charge, with Dream Of The Moon currently sitting atop the TAB market at $3.50, Bergerson shared concerns over the recent weather bomb that has hit the city and the step up to 2000m. “She has come through the race really well, Hunter and the team are really pleased with how she has bounced through it,” Bergerson said. “The query is the weather. It has gone really nasty down there and they are probably going to be running on a Heavy track. “Up to 2000m makes it quite testing, which is the worry. Off her last start win it looks like she will get 2000m and if she is going to get it, it is going to be against her own age and sex. If she cops the track, we think she is a very good chance. “It is a race that is even on paper. There were a couple of unlucky runners in behind her that are suited up to the 2000m, but we are really pleased with her, and I am sure she will put in a really good effort following on from her last start win.” She will be met in the race by stablemate Donna Chiara, who ran third behind Dream Of The Moon in the NZB Airfreight Stakes. “I was really pleased with her from an awful barrier. Joe (Doyle) gave her a lovely run and we were pleased to get black-type there and we would love some more on Saturday,” Bergerson said. “We think she will get through a heavy track, but in saying that, her form on it has been a bit muddling. “Being out of a Zabeel mare, we think up to 2000m really suits her. She has drawn barrier three, and whether that is an advantage or disadvantage by that stage of the day we won’t be sure until raceday.” Across the Tasman, Te Akau will be shooting for stakes glory at Flemington on ANZAC Day, with West Indies lining up in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m). “He has gone two really good races (third) this time around,” Bergerson said. “Just talking with Mark, it looks a really nice race for him on paper. It hasn’t come up an overly strong race and Blake Shinn aboard is a big plus. “He is an out-and-out stayer, and he should love the trip. John Galvin (Fortuna Syndicate director) is heading over and he is excited about Leaderboard at Warrnambool next week. “It would be a fantastic way to start off his trip over there. They are confident he is going to run well and will relish the trip.” On Sunday, Te Akau will have eight runners at Wanganui, and Bergerson is particularly excited about the prospects of Charmrose in the Kevin Myers Stables 1200. “If she were to take her place at Wanganui, we think she will be a strong chance,” he said. “She was really good last time around and has won at Wanganui, and her work has been super. “With the trial schedule so up in the air, we are going to probably run the risk and head back to the races. We are confident she will run well after a short let-up.” View the full article

An ounce of good fortune would have had Val Di Zoldo winning last year’s Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m), and the mare will be back to make amends on that result at Te Rapa on Saturday. A five-year-old by War Decree, Val Di Zoldo has competed in stakes company on a regular basis since she was a juvenile, and while she won the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at three, the hope of adding to that in the Travis last year was dashed when Wiremu Pinn’s iron detached from his saddle. She was finally back in the winner’s circle last-start when taking out the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m), a welcome result for her trainer Tony Pike. “It was just good for her to get another stakes win under her belt, she definitely deserved that, and she’s come through that race very well,” he said. “She just deserves some luck, I think she’d be one of the unluckiest mares I’ve ever trained and it was this race last year that Wiremu’s iron came off the saddle when she was about three lengths in front, she probably should’ve won that race. “She’s always competitive in these sorts of races so from a good draw on Saturday, she should be right in the finish again.” Proven three-year-old sprinter Poetic Champion will lead the Pike charge in the other stakes contest at Te Rapa, the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Poetic Champion kicked off the new season with a bang winning the Listed Sir Colin Meads – El Roca Trophy (1200m) at Hastings and replicated that result when fresh-up at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. The son of Super Seth was a meritorious fourth in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions Night, but Pike was happy to head back to the paddock with his gelding, aiming to continue his unbeaten record in that state on Saturday. “We’ve followed a similar path with him this season, he’s electric fresh and he’s unbeaten fresh-up from three starts,” he said. “He’s coming into this race off the one barrier trial at Cambridge, which he has done previously before winning fresh-up. He won that trial quite impressively and will take good improvement from that. “Back left-handed is going to be key for him on Saturday and if he can get a reasonably soft time of it on speed, he should be hard to beat. “He’s pretty adaptable on any ground he runs on, but any sort of give in the ground would be ideal for him.” Joining Poetic Champion in the race will be Boss ‘N’ Highheels, an improving filly who earned her opportunity with a last-start win in Rating 65 company at the same venue. “She was impressive at Te Rapa last time over 1300m, this is her last opportunity to have an attempt at some black-type as a three-year-old before we head into the winter,” Pike said. “It’s probably a bit of a throw at the stumps in a very strong race, but she’s racing in good form, drawn well and deserves her chance.” There will be plenty of interest in the debutants when it comes to the Cambridge Raceway 2YO (1200m) on Saturday and Pike has only praise for his representative in Argo. Argo made an early statement at the trials as a two-year-old but subsequently went shin-sore and missed his chance to make the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) field. “He trialled up really impressively earlier on in the season and we were in a bit of a rush to get him to a Karaka Million, but unfortunately he went shin-sore and went out for a spell,” Pike said. “He’s come back and trialled very well again on the synthetic at Cambridge, he’s drawn a very good gate in two and he’s a very promising horse going forward. It’s a strong two-year-old race on Saturday so whether he can win I’m not sure, but he’s definitely a horse to follow later on into the season and as a three-year-old.” A son of Almanzor and stakes-winning mare Untamed Diamond, Argo was purchased out of the National Yearling Sales by Pike for $80,000 and races in the colours of his breeders, Cambridge Stud. “He was just an impressive type of horse and still is too, he’s a very good-looking son of Almanzor and I knew Untamed Diamond well when she was trained by Richard Collett,” Pike said. “She was a very good sprinting mare.” Pike’s other juvenile runner, Pink Gin, is likely to contest the Egan Racing 2YO 1200 at Wanganui on Sunday, instead of contesting her stablemate at Te Rapa. Earlier in the week, Pike will head to the Central Districts with a serious up and coming prospect in Cannon Hill entering stakes company the first time. The four-year-old will contest Friday’s Listed Manawatu ITM ANZAC Mile (1600m) off the back of a big fresh-up performance behind Karman Line at Te Rapa on April 13. That race was Cannon Hill’s first appearance since winning at Ellerslie in early November, and with few suitable options remaining, Pike identified the Awapuni feature where he will carry just 53kgs under Matt Cartwright. “He just jarred up a wee bit after his last run (at Ellerslie) so we backed off him, then decided to give him a reasonably decent break,” Pike said. “He has come back even stronger again, he’s just taken a while to mature. “I was really happy with his trial leading into that race (Te Rapa) and it was his first run in open company, so I thought he ran extremely well, he was unlucky not to win really. “He’s come back in good form but running out of good track surfaces, so if he runs well on Saturday, I’d be more than happy to put him aside and come back for the nice mile races in the spring and summer next season.” View the full article

Rich Hill Stud’s Group One stallion roster has enjoyed another stellar year and the farm’s 2025 service fees will reflect that success while also being mindful of the uncertain economic times. Champion sire Proisir will stand at $70,000 + GST, Satono Aladdin at $45,000 + GST, Ace High will be offered at $15,000 + GST and Shocking at $10,000 + GST. “Breeders who have supported Rich Hill stallions over recent seasons have reaped substantial rewards,” Rich Hill Managing Director John Thompson said. “Our 2025 service fees directly reflect this ongoing success, but we have made some adjustments in line with current market challenges. “This ensures the industry continues to benefit from the exceptional value they offer.” Proisir’s progeny have again excelled across the racetracks of Australasia, with 19 individual stakes performers already this season. His 10 individual Australasian stakes winners include multiple Group winner Waitak, brilliant mare Legarto and three-year-olds Vegas Queen and Sergeant Major. Proisir currently ranks second by earnings on the New Zealand Sires’ Premiership and leads by individual stakes winners (seven), winners (41), and total wins (56). His 2025 yearlings were highly sought after and again provided breeders with outstanding returns. At Karaka, he sired three of the top five priced yearlings, including the spectacular Donna Marie filly who fetched $1,100,000 and his 41 Book 1 yearlings averaged $233,171. “Going forward, we can all be very excited about Proisir’s future results,” Thompson said. “We eagerly anticipate his upcoming two-year-olds, which are the first progeny to race from the higher quality mare books bred over the last three seasons.” Deep Impact’s son Satono Aladdin will return to New Zealand this season and despite not having a current crop of Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds, he has maintained his profile as one of New Zealand’s leading young sires. His Australasian progeny statistics are world class and from limited early opportunities has a 12.2 per cent ratio of stakes winners to runners. His 2020-21 crop of 43 foals has produced six individual Group winners at a remarkable 14 per cent Group winners to foals, including Firestorm, Raf Attack, Lupo Solitario and Tokyo Tycoon. Satono Aladdin also excelled in the sale ring, with his twenty-nine 2025 Book One yearlings averaging $170,690 and selling up to $525,000. At the recent Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, his Gallwitz filly from the Trelawney Stud consignment sold for A$725,000. “Satono Aladdin’s progeny displays incredible versatility and class. With his larger foal crops now emerging, his future impact on Australasian racing and breeding looks set to ascend to new heights over the next few seasons,” Thompson said. Proven Group One producer Shocking has enjoyed another excellent season. The highlight for Shocking fans was his February Group One double at Te Rapa with El Vencedor capturing the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Here To Shock claiming the Waikato Sprint (1400m). Shocking also came close to a unique Group One Derby double when his son Scary ran second in the VRC Derby and Packing Angel was a close third in the Hong Kong Derby. Furthermore, he continues to enhance his legacy as a broodmare sire, most recently through Repo Bay, dam of Proisir’s Group One winner Waitak. “Shocking’s racetrack progeny consistently delivers outstanding results, and he offers breeders access to a proven Group One sire at remarkable value,” Thompson said. Ace High has made a flying start to his stud career, siring Gr.1 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Molly Bloom from his first crop. The momentum has continued this season with My Lips Are Sealed winning at Group level and the talented performers She’s A Hustler, O’Ziggy, Texas Dolly, Bullets High and Angland all coming through the grades. Ace High’s second crop of three-year-olds are also impressing, with stakes performers Kitty Flash and Dealt With supported by emerging runners such as She’s A Dealer, Croupier, Canny Queen and Katashi. “Ace High continues to attract strong breeder support achieving his largest book yet in 2024,” Thompson said. “His 2025 yearlings averaged $122,000 at Karaka Book One and given his impeccable pedigree as a son of influential sire High Chaparral, Ace High’s progeny are set to thrive as they mature and step up in distance.” View the full article

Evergreen eight-year-old Harlech will be back on even terms with his counterparts in a bid to go one better in this year’s Gr.3 Coca Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton Park. A multiple Group One performer through his career, Harlech has found his form of old in recent seasons residing in Christchurch, winning last year’s Easter Cup (1600m) and the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui in February. He came within a half-neck of adding the Canterbury Gold Cup to the mantelpiece in last year’s attempt, and after carrying topweight throughout his current campaign, trainer Pam Gerard is looking forward to the level playing field presented in Saturday’s weight-for-age feature. “He’s had some horrendous weights, but unfortunately there’s just not a lot of high-rated horses down there this year,” she said. “Last year we got away with it, there were some with quite high ratings, but he’s had to carry the weight, and I guess he deserves it. “It’s a bit weird that we ran him in an Open 1200 last week, but it was the only race we could run him in. It’s also really tough to get grass gallops down there at Riccarton, you never know when you’re going to get one, so we had to make use of doing it through a race. “He was pretty cheeky in that race and he’s been super with the weight on his back.” While Gerard oversees her team in Matamata, she has received positive reports from Harlech’s strapper Richie Fallon. “Richie is down there with him and he was really happy with his work yesterday morning,” he said. “Back to weight-for-age he comes right into it, my only concern is the rain that has been around but hopefully it will clear up and they’ll get no more before Saturday.” There is only a week between the Canterbury Gold Cup and Easter Cup this year, but Gerard is still likely to back-up her gelding before he heads back to the North Island for a spell. “He’s likely to back up, but once again he’ll cop the weight, so we’ll claim off him again,” she said. “That’ll pretty much be the end of his season, we’ll probably bring him back up here and see what the tracks are doing, if we get a nice track around here you might see him pop up for one more. “It’s getting into winter now and it’s no secret that he’s not a fan of wet tracks.” While he may be eight, Gerard believes there is still plenty of life left in the son of Darci Brahma and hopes to have him back in her care next term. “We were talking about that this morning and it’s bizarre, it’s almost like he’s back to how he was as a three-year-old,” she said. “Although we’ve had a bit of bad luck and a couple of runs that didn’t go to plan, he’s had a great season and he’s loving his work, he really wants to be there. “I guess it’s a discussion we’ll have with the owners at the end of the season, but he’s very competitive down there and if not up here, so I’ll certainly be suggesting that he goes again.” Gerard will also have representatives in the Awapuni (Friday) and Te Rapa (Saturday) meetings this week, headlined by Fall For Cindy contesting the Listed Manawatu ITM ANZAC Mile (1600m) at the former. A Group Three winner over 1400m in Australia, Fall For Cindy returned to her homeland earlier this season and recorded fifth placings in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). Gerard was hopeful of a bold showing last start when she contested the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) at Wanganui, but nothing went to plan in a slowly run event. “I was a little bit miffed at Wanganui to be honest, we thought she was a really good chance and to be fair, it was probably the most ridiculously run race I’ve ever seen,” she said. “They honestly just jumped out and walked and we’d decided we want to run her back for her first time over ground. It just didn’t suit her, but I also feel horses either handle Wanganui or they don’t and she got a little bit stuck in the mud that day. “She had good form on wet tracks, but whether it was the way the race was run, or the sticky track, I’m not sure. “I’ve decided her best runs are at a mile, we were aiming for 2000m but maybe this is the better option for her at this stage.” Further north at Te Rapa, stakes winner Pericles will continue to build into his new campaign in the Hutton Contracting 1400, while Chaplin kicks off his career in the Cambridge Raceway 2YO (1200m). “Pericles was super last start and he’s just had a little hiccup through this prep, nothing major but enough to miss a couple of nice races,” Gerard said. From the first crop by King Of Comedy, Chaplin has made a good impression on his trainer, but his early gate speed shown at the trials may play to his disadvantage on debut. “I love him, I think he’s a really nice horse in the making,” Gerard said. “He’s obviously a little bit weak at the moment and could probably go to the paddock, but I like to get a run into them before we tip them out. He’s a big long-striding horse that lacks a bit of strength, but he does everything right. “He’s that fast out of the gates that he leaves them for dead, but hopefully the race-day pace will mean he might be able to get behind something and learn to relax a little bit.” View the full article

The Instructor ridden by Jett Stanley wins at Moonee Valley on March 22. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Track staff at Moonee Valley have been working hard to restore the turf following the discovery of multiple diseases after last month’s William Reid Stakes meeting — but concerns remain ahead of the venue’s return to racing this Saturday due to an uncertain weather forecast. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted between 3mm and 25mm of rain on Friday, leaving officials nervously watching the skies. “If we get up to 7mm I’ll be ok with that, but if we get north of that, it could be an issue,” track foreman Tony Salisbury told Racing.com. While significant progress has been made since the March 22 meeting, Salisbury admitted the surface could still be vulnerable under heavy rainfall. “I would expect it to play well otherwise, it may still cut out, but not as much as it did (on March 22),” he said. “We’ve had to put water on this week, including 3.5mm last night (Tuesday), because you can’t let the track dry out because it will go backwards. “So it’s a balancing act with the right amount of moisture to get the percentages within the profile in terms of moisture readings so it doesn’t drop off.” Salisbury revealed the team identified and addressed a number of turf issues after the William Reid Stakes meeting, including root-borne disease and three separate foliage infections. “We knew the roots weren’t right but upon investigation after the meeting, we got some testing conducted,” he said. “There was a lot of negativity around the meeting understandably with the track cutting out, but at least now we know why.” He added that the remediation works took a full week to complete, meaning a tight three-week turnaround to prepare for Saturday’s meeting. “The improvement is definitely there… The track is healthy, there is no problem there though, the plant, the growth and growth rate and appearance is spot on.” Horse racing news View the full article

Victor Espinoza and American Pharoah electrified the sport of horse racing with their accomplishments together. After winning the Triple Crown, they won the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).View the full article