Wandering Eyes

Trainer Tony Millard has made a plea to the racing media and fans not to be too impatient in their expectations of new apprentice jockey Victor Wong Chun when he kicks off his local career at Sha Tin on Sunday. “I’m very happy to have Victor in my stable. I like to use the apprentices, the claim is very important for the handicap. But I hope we can be conservative with our praise and generous with our encouragement – that’s what they need,” Millard said. “But... View the full article

Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli is expected to undergo surgery and spend another stint on the sidelines after a scary barrier trial incident that resulted in a horse dying at Sha Tin on Friday morning. Rispoli was riding Spicy Sure when the six-year-old suffered a suspected fractured shoulder and tumbled to the ground, in turn hurting the rider’s right shoulder. The 29-year-old was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital at Sha Tin, where he was diagnosed with a fractured right collarbone, and... View the full article

Lord O'Reilly stamps his class and takes aim at Classic View the full article

Mr Dujardin tipped away for Guineas after slaying rivals View the full article

Woodworth fires up Nova Missile to easy win View the full article

Siam Sapphire takes Clements two wins clear on top View the full article

Early scratchings March 23 View the full article

Horses' test results March 19, 20 & 23 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings March 23 View the full article

Horses' body weights March 23 View the full article

Basilisk sheds maiden status at eighth start View the full article

With a dozen horses rated 100 or higher and a host of others headed that way in a hurry, it seems John Size has a stable full of superstars but it is his less heralded handicappers that could come to the fore on Sunday at Sha Tin. Size’s top sprinters alone could fill a Group race but as the Australian trainer closes in on a 10th championship it is worth reflecting on the great job his horses in the lower grades have done this term. While the likes of BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Ping Hai... View the full article

Brave Legend hasn’t been with Tony Cruz very long but his first run for the yard on Wednesday night made him look like a winner in waiting. Brave Legend was a winner over the Happy Valley 1,200m at big odds earlier in the season in good style but has not been able to build on that in a handful of starts since. On Wednesday night, Brave Legend got back in the field, as is his style, but found the line strongly for third to Shanghai Master despite having to squeeze through a tight run in... View the full article

Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai likened Blizzard to an “old man driver” after the tough sprinter decided he didn’t like the look or feel of a rain sodden Chukyo course proper and produced an unconvincing gallop three days out from the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. Blizzard’s arrival in Japan 10 days earlier coincided with an unseasonable cold snap, temperatures plunging to single figures in Nagoya on Wednesday and 67 millimetres of rain falling in the last three days, nearly half of... View the full article

Autumn to show he can dodge early Rush again View the full article

Le Grange trio trials a treat ahead of 3YO Sprint View the full article

Peters all raring to hunt for more wins View the full article

Top local jockey Derek Leung Ka-chun passed a milestone and lost a millstone with the win of Planet Star at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. From Sunday, Leung will ride without any weight allowance as the Paul O’Sullivan-trained four-year-old took Leung’s tally in his Hong Kong riding career to 249 wins plus a Macau Group race. Leung did his apprenticeship in New Zealand with O’Sullivan’s family and had been allocated to the Kiwi trainer during his junior days here, so... View the full article

Hong Kong will not be represented at the world’s richest race meeting in Dubai on Saturday week after D B Pin’s Dubai Golden Shaheen assault was aborted and the Centenary Sprint Cup winner’s season ended with an injury to his left front leg. The John Size-trained D B Pin had barrier trialled on Tuesday as his final piece of serious work ahead of a scheduled flight to Dubai on Friday and he showed no signs after the trial of any issue. “He was still warm after the trial... View the full article

Danis back on winner's list View the full article

Logan's squad taking shape with Volkstok'n'barrell due on Thursday View the full article

Joao Moreira has a couple of hurdles to jump from an awkward gate on Phantom Falcon at Happy Valley on Wednesday night but, if he can work his magic, the four-year-old looks the one to beat in the Hong Kong Exchanges Challenge Cup (1,200m). The Peter Ho Leung-trained Phantom Falcon is still relatively lightly raced at this stage and has been very consistent in his performances ridden for the lead in most of his races, including a win in Class Four over the course and distance earlier this... View the full article

Another Derby in the rear-view mirror, a triumph for two of racing’s less talkative stars in Ryan Moore and John Size and the promise of a very serious new talent in Ping Hai Star. One of our observations over the years has been that Size’s exceptional talent might not be regarded by history as highly as it deserved to be. When he trained in Sydney, his runners were largely fixer-uppers and hand me downs from other yards from which he extracted extraordinary results but a lot of... View the full article

The inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale, an opportunity for owners to acquire top-class racehorses and breeding stock, will be held the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the paddock at Del Mar, site of the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships, Keeneland said in a release on Thursday afternoon. Participation in the sale is by invitation; buyers and sellers will be contacted individually by Keeneland sales representatives. Interested parties also are encouraged to click here for more information. “The Keeneland Championship Sale is an opportunity to play at the highest levels of the sport,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Prospective owners have the chance to enjoy the ride of a lifetime, potentially taking a horse from the sales ring to the Breeders' Cup winner's circle and possibly back to the sales ring, all in less than a week. That's a rare thrill only horse racing can provide.” Capitalizing on the Breeders' Cup atmosphere, participants will enjoy an exclusive party from the paddock. This event, which will be part of the Breeders' Cup Official Event Calendar, will feature handcrafted cocktails, unique culinary offerings, live music and other surprises to celebrate what promises to be a memorable evening. “The Keeneland Championship Sale is a welcome addition and an innovative concept which further enhances the exceptional experience of the Breeders' Cup World Championships for our participants and international guests,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “We are delighted to welcome the Keeneland team as they conduct the Keeneland Championship Sale at Del Mar and look forward to working with them and Del Mar to showcase this very special evening for the Thoroughbred industry.” The catalog for this exciting, one-of-a-kind auction event will feature: Horses entered in the Breeders' Cup or Breeders' Cup undercard races; may include full sale or fractional ownership interest. Bloodstock closely related to contenders in the World Championships. Stallion shares or breeding rights in hot sires. “Keeneland takes its relationship with our customers very seriously; our role is to create the best sales environment possible for buyers and sellers to enjoy success,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “The Championship Sale is an example of the creative offerings Keeneland is excited to provide as we meet the emerging trends in our sport. An eager buyer could join an ownership group and experience the fun of participating in the Breeders' Cup with a world-class contender. Afterward, should their owners choose to do so, those horses in the Championship Sale will have free and preferential entry into Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale on Nov. 5.” Horses may be entered in the Keeneland Championship Sale at any time prior to the auction by contacting the Keeneland sales team, who will provide concierge entry services. Given the sale's proximity to the Breeders' Cup races, all cataloged horses will be offered remotely but will be available for inspection by appointment with the seller in their respective locations. Video of each hip also will be available to prospective buyers. Buyers must register and be approved for credit in advance. Qualified buyers may bid in person at the sale, online via the Keeneland Sales Portal or by phone with a Keeneland representative. The post Inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale Set For Wednesday Of Breeders’ Cup Week appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club releases the final nominees for all but the Champion Griffin category, with Wellington, Romantic Warrior and Russian Emperor all set for silverware View the full article