Wandering Eyes

French trainer rode in the city as a young jockey in 2004 and now saddles Calif in the Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).View the full article

Champion trainer aims to go one better with stallion after changing tack for Sha Tin’s biggest meeting.View the full article

Progeny of Highview-based stallion Wrote bookended the card on LONGINES International Jockeys Championship (IJC) night at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Chill Chibi was successful in the Class 2 Japan Handicap (1800m) while The Azure broke maiden ranks in the Australia Handicap (1650m), and became his sire’s sixth winner from six runners in Hong Kong. “He has a 100-percent record in Hong Kong which is quite remarkable,” Highview’s Brent Gillovic said. “All six winners have been bred at Highview and they carry our BM brand.” Five-year-old gelding Chill Chibi is Wrote’s top performer in Hong Kong with six wins including two at Class 2 Level. “Class 2 racing in Hong Kong is the equivalent of stakes or group level here in New Zealand,” Gillovic said. “Class 1 is the elite level and he looks to be headed in that direction.” As a four-year-old Chill Chibi won four races in a row and finished an unlucky fourth in the Hong Kong Derby completing the 2000m feature race in 2:00.34. Chill Chibi was ridden to victory on Wednesday by World Champion jockey James McDonald, who represented New Zealand in the IJC, which made the win all the more special for Gillovic. “It was great to see James win on him,” he said. “I won a lot of trials with James onboard early in his career and his then weight of 45 kg was rather tasty, resulting in the sale of a lot of those winners to Asia.” Chill Chibi was bred by the Hong Kong Breeders Club, whose breeding operation is based at Highview. “Hong Kong Breeders Club chairperson Nicola Chu was a founding partner in the acquisition of Wrote who and they’ve enjoyed a great run of success over the last 12 months as a result,” Gillovic said. Fast Network, a winner of three of four starts, is another exciting prospect for Wrote in Hong Kong who has also reached Class 2 level. “His starts have all been over 1000m and he should be unbeaten as he was an unlucky third two starts ago,” Gillovic said. “He was unreal in his last start at Sha Tin displaying gigabyte speed, he stopped the clock at 55.83 and won easily by over four lengths, he actually ran nearly a second faster than the second place getter.” Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m) winner, Wrote is a son of High Chaparral from the family of Sadler’s Wells, Nureyev and Fairy King who carries a double up to Blue Hen mare Special. He has produced a total of 97 winners including Group One winner Pulchritudinous, Group winners Wrote To Arataki and Best Seller, stakes winner Ready About it and stakes performers Imprevu, Love Letter and High Providence. Wrote is represented by two lots in Book 1 of Karaka 2025 and eight lots in Book 2. “He enjoyed a very good sale in Book 2 at Karaka last year and we have a good line of yearlings by him for sale this year too,” Gillovic said. “He’s virtually completed the breeding season and he covered a full book of approximately 100 mares with excellent fertility.” View the full article

Leading Australian jockey Luke Currie will make his first appearance in New Zealand with seven rides on Saturday’s Group One card at Trentham. Currie has ridden more than 1450 winners in his homeland, 13 of them at Group One level. He is perhaps best known for his association with Hey Doc, who he rode to victory in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and two editions of the Manikato Stakes (1200m). He also won the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and William Reid Stakes (1200m) aboard star filly Sunlight. Riding overseas is nothing new for Currie, who has ridden 20 winners in Hong Kong, 14 in Mauritius, 13 in Singapore and one in Malaysia. But New Zealand is a brand-new addition to that list. “It’s my first time riding here, so I’m really looking forward to it,” the 43-year-old said. “I’ve always wanted to come over and ride here, but for one reason or another it hasn’t worked out until now. This weekend was a nice opportunity to do it, and I jumped at the chance. I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up some nice rides.” Currie has crossed the Tasman after an invitation from Brad Taylor, who spent seven years with Anthony and Sam Freedman’s stable in Victoria before returning home earlier this year to take up the role of General Manager of Racing with RACE, the operator of Awapuni and Trentham racecourses. “I always had a good relationship with Brad Taylor when he worked with Freedman Racing,” Currie said. “I’ve had quite a lot of success riding for that stable over the years, and many of those rides came about through Brad. “He spoke to my manager Travis Johnson about the possibility of coming over. I had a few rides lined up for the Ballarat Cup meeting at home on the same day, but I thought this was a nice chance to come over for a Group One meeting. Hopefully I can build some relationships and possibly set up a few opportunities to ride here again in the future.” That could include the internationally famous Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 25. Currie’s rides on Saturday include the unbeaten filly Too Sweet in the Devan Plastics 2YO (1000m). The daughter of Satono Aladdin earned $23,000 from her debut victory at Trentham in October, which is likely enough to secure her a place in the starting gate for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). “Everyone I’ve spoken to has told me what an awesome day’s racing the Karaka Millions is,” Currie said. “So if that happened to work out, it’s definitely one that I’d love to come over and experience for myself.” Too Sweet is trained by Roydon Bergerson, whose Awapuni stable will also provide Currie with his Group One ride in Saturday’s TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). Currie will ride Town Cryer, whose 35-start career has produced eight wins, 13 placings and more than $496,000 in prize-money. The daughter of Tavistock has black-type victories to her name in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), Listed Anzac Mile (1600m) and Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and she was runner-up behind Belclare in this year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). “She’s such a consistent mare,” Currie said. “She puts herself on the speed and makes her own luck. No Group One races are easy to win, but I think she’s going to give me a nice chance. I’m looking forward to riding her.” View the full article

Pearl Of Alsace is in foal and entering the final few weeks of her racing career, but trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray hope a return to her favourite track might allow her to cap her CV with a Group One breakthrough. The six-year-old will line up in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham, where her three previous starts have produced three impressive wins including the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). Overall, Pearl Of Alsace has won seven of her 17 starts and more than $339,820 in stakes for owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela. The daughter of Tavistock has contested five Group One races, finishing fourth in last year’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and third in the Livamol Classic (2040m), followed by sevenths in this year’s Breeders’ Stakes, Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Livamol Classic. Pearl Of Alsace was served by Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir after her Livamol run in October, and she showed immediate improvement when she returned to action with a last-start second in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on November 16. “She was served before that last-start placing and she’s now confirmed to be in foal to Proisir,” Ritchie said. “She was racing a fraction below her best earlier in the campaign. The freshen up did her good, and we were very pleased with her performance at Tauranga. “She heads into Saturday’s race with some excellent stats. She’s unbeaten in three starts at the track, and she’s won five of 10 at the 1600m distance as well. “The only little thing that hasn’t fallen perfectly into place for her is that, as an older mare now, she’s at her best when there’s a little bit of cut out of the track. The likely firm ground at Trentham on Saturday is the only negative we can find in the whole script leading into the race this weekend. “But she’s a Group One placegetter and has always shown us that she had the ability to win one. She’ll probably have only three or four more cracks at it before she goes to become a mum, so we’d love nothing more than to nail a win in one of those. Failing that, hopefully we can at least fill up that pedigree page with some more placings at the elite level, setting her up nicely for the next stage of her career.” Pearl Of Alsace will be ridden by Jonathan Riddell and is rated an $11 chance by the TAB. The market is dominated by La Crique at $2.35, with El Vencedor ($6) and One Bold Cat ($9) the others in single figures. Meanwhile, Ritchie reported that the unbeaten Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) winner Tuxedo is likely to be seen at Ellerslie on either Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. The Tivaci gelding is being pointed towards the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 25, for which he is rated a $12 chance. Further down the track, he is at $16 for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) on March 8 and also at $16 for the inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m) on the same day. “He’s a pretty exciting young horse,” Ritchie said. “He’s safely in the Karaka Millions field now, so that’s the next target that we’ll work towards. We’re keen for him to have a look around Ellerslie before then, so he’ll definitely line up there at some point over the Christmas and New Year carnival. Then we’ll carry on into the Karaka Millions. He pulled a little bit the other day, so we’re hoping he’ll learn to relax a bit better. “After the Karaka Millions, we’ll have a decision to make around whether we go along an Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) and Derby path or whether we try to talk to a slot holder and get into the NZB Kiwi. Those will be some nice conversations to have. As always with nice horses, he’ll tell us what to do. He’s had only two runs, so we’re still learning about him and he’s learning about us. “But he has a tremendous amount of talent. I was really impressed with the determination he showed at Otaki to really stretch out and catch a promising filly (Island Life) that wasn’t stopping. I think we’ve got an exciting few months ahead.” View the full article

New Zealand has a strong association with the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), and Kiwi-bred gelding Antino will be out to continue that record at Sha Tin on Sunday. New Zealand-bred or sourced horses have won five of the last seven editions of the race, with both Beauty Generation (2017 and 2018) and Golden Sixty (2020, 2021and 2023) capturing the imagination of local racing fans during their respective dominating runs. Beauty Generation was bred in New Zealand by Greg Tomlinson under his Nearco Stud banner, and was purchased out of Highden Park’s 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft, while Golden Sixty is also a New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, with the Australian-bred gelding sold through Riversley Park’s 2017 Ready to Run Sale draft. Golden Sixty’s dominant reign came to a close earlier this year when the multiple Hong Kong Horse of the Year was retired, and Queensland trainer Tony Gollan took that as a sign to try and target one of Hong Kong’s most coveted prizes. “Obviously when Golden Sixty retired it opened that mile up,” Gollan told Trackside. By Westbury Stud resident stallion Redwood, Antino was bred by George Kit Ma’s Blossom Trading & Breeding Company Ltd, and was bought by Jeetu Ramchandani under his New Balance Racing banner out of Cheltenham Stables’ 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for what has subsequently become a bargain price of $27,000. He was initially trained in Australia by Mark Schmetzer and then Adam Campton before joining the stable of leading Queensland trainer Tony Gollan, and the gelding has taken him on the ride of a lifetime. Antino has won 10 races for Gollan, including the Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m), Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m), Gr.2 Victory Stakes (1200m) and the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in October, which secured his berth to Hong Kong, and a runner-up performance behind fellow Kiwi-bred Mr Brightside in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington last month cemented the decision. “What was a bit of a dream at the start when we were talking about it (Hong Kong Mile), it didn’t really become a reality for me until we got his form up to where I needed it to be in the spring,” Gollan said. “Once he had that consistent Group One weight-for-age form around him, I thought the dream we spoke about could become a reality. “It (spring preparation) has gone perfect. I wanted quite a busy time going into the Toorak, I want to do the two-week, two-week, two-week routine. Then I was really keen off that to go four weeks into Flemington. If I thought I could get him to Flemington in as good a shape, or close to Toorak day, I could probably do the same thing coming here (Hong Kong). “That is what we have tried to emulate. When we see him parade on Sunday, hopefully he will look as good as what we saw him at Flemington. To me he looks fantastic at the moment.” Gollan said he has Antino in peak order, and now the rest is up to the horse and jockey Blake Shinn. “For me, most importantly, all of his work was already done basically back home in Australia. It was just about getting him here, settling him in and keeping him happy,” Gollan said. “It’s all up to him and how he steps away.” The Boomer Bloodstock-managed horse will jump from barrier four after the bloodstock agency’s Craig Rounsefell drew the gate at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races barrier draw at Sha Tin on Thursday. “Tony gave me strict instructions (to draw) between four and eight, so I think he will be happy,” Rounsefell said after the draw. “The owner, Mr Ramchandani, is a member of the (Hong Kong) jockey club and we have had our sights firmly set on this race all preparation and Tony has left no stone unturned to get a result. “We have got the best jockey in the world on, Blake Shinn, so I think from that barrier he will do his magic and hopefully we will be there at the finish.” Gollan has been enjoying his time in Hong Kong, and said the experience has opened his eyes to the magnitude of the renowned carnival. “I didn’t understand the enormity of this week until I have been here and been a part of it,” he said. “I know what Melbourne Cup week is like, it is very big, and Sydney and The Championships and The Everest Carnival, and our own Winter Carnival in Brisbane, but this is something else. It is a world-class event.” Gollan has plenty of time for New Zealand-breds and said patience is the key virtue with the breed, and he has shown plenty of that with the six-year-old, and they are reaping the rewards. “They are tough. They love their racing and love their work,” he said. “I think a lot of them, if you look after them when they are a bit younger and they can furnish into older horses, you can see what you can see with Antino. He is six now and he is in his career peak.” Gollan said Antino is truly a horse of the world and will have connections in three different countries barracking for him on Sunday. “Born in New Zealand, raced by a guy in Hong Kong, and trained out of Queensland, Australia,” Gollan said. “I am really happy for his owner and connections to enjoy what is their local big day.” View the full article

What 2024 Hong Kong International Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse When Sunday, December 8, 2024 First Race 12:25pm HKT (3:25pm AEDT) Visit Dabble The iconic Hong Kong International Races return to Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, with a bumper 10-race program lined up – including four mouthwatering Group 1 contests alluring some of the worlds’ best horses, trainers and jockeys. The rail reverts to the A course for the meeting, and with no rain forecast to hinder proceedings, punters can anticipate a genuine Good 4 surface throughout the afternoon. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 12:25pm local time. Race 1: Class 4 Handicap (1200m) The John Size-trained Brilliant Express gets the nod in what appears to be a wide-open Class 4 contest to kick-off proceedings. The son of Starspangledbanner returns after a 21-week spell, and although he was winless in three starts last season, the four-year-old never shirked the task amongst strong company when finishing close up behind the likes of Glory Elite and Lucy In The Sky at this course and distance. Hugh Bowman elects to stick after an eye-catching barrier trial on the Sha Tin all-weather and provided he can land in a handy position with cover, Brilliant Express should get every chance to secure his maiden victory at start four. Selections: 5 BRILLIANT EXPRESS 1 CITY THUNDER 4 MR ENERGIA 6 FORTUNE BOY Race 2: Class 4 Handicap (1400m) Master Phoenix flashed home to finish runner-up on debut at Sha Tin on November 9 and should appreciate the immediate step up to the 1400m. The Divine Prophet gelding had to get too far back from barrier 11 but showed a tremendous turn-of-foot to get within a half-length of the in-form Patch Of Time. Vincent Ho should be able to hold a position from gate one this time around, and provided Master Phoenix is within striking distance as they turn for home, this guy will prove hard to hold out. Selections: 6 MASTER PHOENIX 5 JUBILANT WINNER 3 LEGEND ST PAUL’S 8 ISLAND BREEZES Next Best Race 2 – #6 Master Phoenix (1) 4yo Gelding | T: David Eustace | J: Vincent Ho (59.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Race 3: Class 3 Handicap (1200m) Lifeline Express gave a good account of himself in his first attempt in Class 3 company, storming home from last at this course and distance on November 17. The son of Shooting To Win had it all to do and just ran out of time as Young Superstar was already off and gone with the prize. Alexis Badel gets an opportunity to press forward from stall six, and with a bit more luck in transit, Lifeline Express can find himself in the finish again at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Selections: 13 LIFELINE EXPRESS 1 SAVVY BRILLIANT 6 HALO OF SUCCESS 8 PATCH OF COSMO Race 4: Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) The Australian flag is set to fly in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), with the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight sent over to make a statement second-up. He couldn’t have been more impressive first-up in the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9 after a year off the scene, powering into the minor money despite the lengthy layoff. The 2023 Group 1 Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double conqueror oozes class, and although this contest has plenty of depth with the likes of Stellenbosch and Iresine posing genuine threats, Without A Fight must be considered the one to beat in the 2024 Hong Kong Vase. Selections: 1 WITHOUT A FIGHT 13 STELLENBOSCH 5 IRESINE 2 GIAVELLOTTO Hong Kong Vase Race 4 – #1 Without A Fight (1) 6yo Horse | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Mark Zahra (57kg) Bet with Dabble Race 5: Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) Ka Ying Rising gets his chance to stamp himself as one of the worlds’ best sprinters as he goes around a near unbackable favourite in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). He dismantled his rivals breaking a track record in Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) leading into this event, and simply put, if he replicates that performance, Ka Ying Rising will be justifying the short price with Bet365. Selections: 1 KA YING RISING 12 HELIOS EXPRESS 13 HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE 7 STARLUST Hong Kong Sprint Race 5 – #1 Ka Ying Rising (11) 4yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Zac Purton (57kg) Bet with Bet365 Race 6: Class 3 Handicap (1800m) The best bet goes around in this 1800m Class 3 contest, where the Caspar Fownes-trained Family Jewel should be searching for his fourth-straight victory. The son of Time Test was beaten by the barrier (12) last time out when suffering a half-length defeat at the hands of Bravehearts, with the four-year-old settling too far back in the ruck. James McDonald won’t allow that to happen again drawn in gate five this time around, and provided he can slot in somewhere mid-field with cover, Family Jewel should have no issues taking care of this lot and justifying favouritism with Neds. Selections: 8 FAMILY JEWEL 11 SUNSTRIDER 2 SO WE SING 3 PRAY FOR MIR Best Bet Race 6 – #8 Family Jewel (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: James McDonald (57.5kg) Bet with Neds Race 7: Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) Despite being defeated as an odds-on favourite with Picklebet in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on November 17, Galaxy Patch warrants forgiving as he seeks Group 1 glory in the 2024 Hong Kong Mile. He had excuses sitting wide without cover for the duration of the journey, stunting his usually devastating turn of speed in the concluding stages. Gate 14 should be a positive provided Vincent Ho can sit three-wide with cover in this genuinely run affair, and provided Galaxy Patch can get back to his brilliant best, he has serious claims in this 1600m feature. Selections: 6 GALAXY PATCH 1 SOUL RUSH 3 ANTINO 13 LAZZAT Hong Kong Mile Race 7 – #6 Galaxy Patch (14) 5yo Gelding | T: Pierre Ng | J: Vincent Ho (57kg) Bet with Picklebet Race 8: Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) The Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) appears to be at the mercy of Romantic Warrior as he attempts to make history and become the first horse to secure a hat-trick of wins in the weight-for-age classic. The Danny Shum-trained gelding continues to revel in his racing, highlighted by his dominant return in the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) on November 17, and it’s impossible to see anything turning the tables on the eight-time Group 1 winner. The Japanese pair of Liberty Island and Tastiera appear the most likely to pose some threat, but all things even, Romantic Warrior should prove too classy for this lot. Selections: 1 ROMANTIC WARRIOR 9 LIBERTY ISLAND 4 TASTIERA 10 CONTENT Hong Kong Cup Race 8 – #1 Romantic Warrior (1) 7yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: James McDonald (57kg) Bet with Boombet Race 9: Class 3 Handicap (1400m) Markwin appears to be a horse worth following as he rises into Class 3 company for the first time. He drops 5.5kg for his latest victory at this track and trip, bounding away from his rivals to score by two lengths. Barrier 12 will be negated by his get-back-run-on style of racing, and with a genuine tempo engaged here, watch for Markwin to be putting in the big strides late at an each-way price with Playup. Selections: 13 MARKWIN 3 JOHANNES BRAHMS 6 CHARMING LEGEND 10 SUPER LOVE DRAGON Best Value Race 9 – #13 Markwin (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Cody Mo | J: Derek Leung (54kg) Bet with Playup Race 10: Class 2 Handicap (1400m) Joao Moreira & Francis Lui combine with Packing Hermod in the Sha Tin finale, where the lightly raced four-year-old will take a power of beating. The son of Rubick suffered his first defeated at the hands of Green N White last time out, peaking on his run in his first attempt over 1400m. Moreira will look to be positive despite the wide draw (10), and provided he can land in the first four in the early stages, Packing Hermod possess the quality to put this lot away and send punters home with a winner. Selections: 10 PACKING HERMOD 12 RUBYLOT 9 YOUNG CHAMPION 13 ALLCASH HKIR Day quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections Sunday, December 8, 2024 1-3-6-7-12-13 1 3-6-10-13 9-10-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Pearl Of Alsace will attempt to cap her career with a first Group One victory in Saturday’s TAB Mufhasa Classic. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Pearl Of Alsace is in foal and entering the final few weeks of her racing career, but trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray hope a return to her favourite track might allow her to cap her CV with a Group One breakthrough. The six-year-old will line up in Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham, where her three previous starts have produced three impressive wins including the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). Overall, Pearl Of Alsace has won seven of her 17 starts and more than $339,820 in stakes for owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela. The daughter of Tavistock has contested five Group One races, finishing fourth in last year’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and third in the Livamol Classic (2040m), followed by sevenths in this year’s Breeders’ Stakes, Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Livamol Classic. Pearl Of Alsace was served by Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir after her Livamol run in October, and she showed immediate improvement when she returned to action with a last-start second in the Group 2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on November 16. “She was served before that last-start placing and she’s now confirmed to be in foal to Proisir,” Ritchie said. “She was racing a fraction below her best earlier in the campaign. The freshen up did her good, and we were very pleased with her performance at Tauranga. “She heads into Saturday’s race with some excellent stats. She’s unbeaten in three starts at the track, and she’s won five of 10 at the 1600m distance as well. “The only little thing that hasn’t fallen perfectly into place for her is that, as an older mare now, she’s at her best when there’s a little bit of cut out of the track. The likely firm ground at Trentham on Saturday is the only negative we can find in the whole script leading into the race this weekend. “But she’s a Group One placegetter and has always shown us that she had the ability to win one. She’ll probably have only three or four more cracks at it before she goes to become a mum, so we’d love nothing more than to nail a win in one of those. Failing that, hopefully we can at least fill up that pedigree page with some more placings at the elite level, setting her up nicely for the next stage of her career.” Pearl Of Alsace will be ridden by Jonathan Riddell and is rated an $11 chance with horse racing bookmakers. The market is dominated by La Crique at $2.35, with El Vencedor ($6) and One Bold Cat ($9) the others in single figures. Horse racing news View the full article

Luke Currie. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Leading Australian jockey Luke Currie will make his first appearance in New Zealand with seven rides on Saturday’s Group One card at Trentham. Currie has ridden more than 1450 winners in his homeland, 13 of them at Group One level. He is perhaps best known for his association with Hey Doc, who he rode to victory in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and two editions of the Manikato Stakes (1200m). He also won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and William Reid Stakes (1200m) aboard star filly Sunlight. Riding overseas is nothing new for Currie, who has ridden 20 winners in Hong Kong, 14 in Mauritius, 13 in Singapore and one in Malaysia. But New Zealand is a brand-new addition to that list. “It’s my first time riding here, so I’m really looking forward to it,” the 43-year-old said. “I’ve always wanted to come over and ride here, but for one reason or another it hasn’t worked out until now. This weekend was a nice opportunity to do it, and I jumped at the chance. I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up some nice rides.” Currie has crossed the Tasman after an invitation from Brad Taylor, who spent seven years with Anthony and Sam Freedman’s stable in Victoria before returning home earlier this year to take up the role of General Manager of Racing with RACE, the operator of Awapuni and Trentham racecourses. “I always had a good relationship with Brad Taylor when he worked with Freedman Racing,” Currie said. “I’ve had quite a lot of success riding for that stable over the years, and many of those rides came about through Brad. “He spoke to my manager Travis Johnson about the possibility of coming over. I had a few rides lined up for the Ballarat Cup meeting at home on the same day, but I thought this was a nice chance to come over for a Group One meeting. Hopefully I can build some relationships and possibly set up a few opportunities to ride here again in the future.” That could include the internationally famous Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 25. Currie’s rides on Saturday include the unbeaten filly Too Sweet. The daughter of Satono Aladdin earned $23,000 from her debut victory at Trentham in October, which is likely enough to secure her a place in the starting gate for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). “Everyone I’ve spoken to has told me what an awesome day’s racing the Karaka Millions is,” Currie said. “So if that happened to work out, it’s definitely one that I’d love to come over and experience for myself.” Too Sweet is trained by Roydon Bergerson, whose Awapuni stable will also provide Currie with his Group One ride in Saturday’s TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). Currie will ride Town Cryer, whose 35-start career has produced eight wins, 13 placings and more than $496,000 in prize-money. The daughter of Tavistock has black-type victories to her name in the Group 3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), Listed Anzac Mile (1600m) and Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and she was runner-up behind Belclare in this year’s Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). “She’s such a consistent mare,” Currie said. “She puts herself on the speed and makes her own luck. No Group One races are easy to win, but I think she’s going to give me a nice chance. I’m looking forward to riding her.” Horse racing news View the full article

Lugal stretches out at Sha Tin. Photo: HKJC Only Japanese horses have been able to stop the local talent in the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in recent years and the Land of the Rising Sun will launch a three-pronged assault on Sunday’s HK$26 million prize. Just superstar Lord Kanaloa and Danon Smash have been able to prevent a clean sweep for the home team in the last 12 runnings, and Lugal heads a strong Japanese team this time around. Lord Kanaloa won the Sprinters Stakes before both of his Sha Tin victories and Lugal will be bidding to tread a similar path after a spectacular win at Nakayama in September. The breakthrough Group 1 success marked Lugal as the nation’s leading sprinter and was all the more remarkable considering he broke his knee after being sent off favourite for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) in March. Reflecting on the horse’s turbulent year, trainer Haruki Sugiyama said: “It was a surprising run in the Sprinters Stakes because that was his first run since his long break. I was a little bit concerned about how he would run, but he ran perfectly. “He had a knee injury after the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. His rehabilitation was good and his preparation for the Sprinters Stakes was good. He ran very, very well there and he has no problem with his knee now. “We don’t have another big race over 1,200m in Japan and this is the biggest opportunity for us, so that’s why we’ve chosen to send him here.” Lugal will be coming up against top opposition from across the world in Sunday’s contest, including Hong Kong’s newest star Ka Ying Rising, the British-trained Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust and Australia’s multiple Group 3 winner Recommendation. While respectful of the opposition, Sugiyama believes his horse can be competitive on his first overseas venture after drawing barrier nine in the official ceremony on Thursday. He said: “I don’t think it’s going to be easy to compete against the strong Hong Kong horses, but Lugal has won a Grade 1 race and is a high-class horse, so it’s worth trying to compete. “On the first day to the second day in Hong Kong he was a little bit tense because this is his first international trip, but now he’s getting used to the new surroundings. He seems to love it here.” Lugal will also face stern competition from within his home country. Regular rival Toshin Macau pushed him to within a neck in the Sprinters Stakes and showed his quality when landing the G2 Centaur Stakes on his penultimate start. The flashy five-year-old will break from gate five and has also settled in well to life at Sha Tin, with a key grass gallop on Thursday pleasing stable representative Takashi Komine. He said: “We decided to send him to Hong Kong after the Sprinters Stakes. He is in as good form as he was in Japan. He launched his bid in the back stretch and showed great momentum. He seems to be a bit tense, but is in good condition.” The Japanese challenge is completed by rising star Satono Reve, who is drawn next to Toshin Macau in stall four. While Lugal and Toshin Macau will be partnered by Japanese jockeys Atsuya Nishimura and Akira Sugawara, the dual G3 winner will be ridden by former multiple Hong Kong champion jockey Joao Moreira. Horse racing news View the full article

Harry saddles Docklands in the Group One Hong Kong Mile, while Sha Tin’s newest trainer David has three runners on the undercard.View the full article

What Ballarat Cup Day 2024 Where Ballarat Turf Club – 72 Midas Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 When Saturday, December 7, 2024 First Race 12:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble It’s Ballarat Cup Day this Saturday, with 10 races lined up at Miners Rest. With rain forecast for Friday and Saturday, it is unlikely that the Good 4 rating holds throughout the day, with a Soft track almost a certainty. The rail sticks to its true position, with the Ballarat races commencing at 12:15pm AEDT. Ballarat Cup Tip: It’s A Wild Night It’s A Wild Night (formerly Wild Night) was quite unlucky when finishing fifth on his Australian debut in the Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on November 23, and he did well to finish within two lengths of the winner, Globe. He steps up to the 2000m for just the second time in his career, with the only other time coming in Group 1 company behind Sharp ‘N’ Smart and Campionessa. Daniel Stackhouse will take him towards the rear of the field from barrier 19, but if It’s A Wild Night can find a back to follow, he is more than capable of overhauling his rivals. Ballarat Cup Race 9 – #10 It’s A Wild Night (19) 5yo Gelding | T: Mark Walker | J: Daniel Stackhouse (56kg) Bet with Dabble Best Bet at Ballarat: Pharari Pharari was desperately unlucky at Caulfield on November 16, flashing home late to be narrowly beaten behind Kin. The four-year-old has been racing in fine form this campaign, winning four of her eight starts. Drawn in barrier one, Dylan Browne McMonagle will likely stalk speed influences Celui and Miraval Rose wherever they go, and any rain that comes will only suit this girl. Best Bet Race 4 – #4 Pharari (1) 4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Dylan Browne McMonagle (58kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Ballarat: Little Jack Little Jack produced an eye-catching return from a spell at Caulfield over 1400m and looks poised to strike second-up at the mile. The five-year-old gelding is more than capable on firmer footing or wet ground, and he has a win and a second from two second-up runs. Jason Maskiell will likely settle off the speed, and with a genuinely run affair expect, the race sets up perfectly for Little Jack to blouse his rivals. Next Best Race 5 – #8 Little Jack (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Alexander Rae | J: Jason Maskiell (59kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Ballarat: Juggernaut Joan Juggernaut Joan was a determined winner at Geelong on November 27, leading from barrier to box over 1300m. The step up to 1400m second-up from a spell should not be an issue, and from barrier one, Billy Egan will have the mare close to the speed throughout. Whether Juggernaut Joan leads or takes a sit off the speed, she looks a great each-way play with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 2 – #4 Juggernaut Joan (1) 4yo Mare | T: Patrick & Michelle Payne | J: Billy Egan (55.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Ballarat Ballarat quadrella selections Saturday, December 6, 2024 1-2-3-4-9-11 7-14-17 1-3-5-7-10-16 5-7-8-14-17 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

A nearly three-year hiatus from the winner's circle ended Thursday when rider Rajiv Maragh won the third race at Gulfstream Park aboard Dundie (Speightstown). Owned by Ian Parsard and trained by Collin Maragh, Dundie was in for a $12,500 tag and won for the third time in his career. Maragh's last win was with Raise the Rent (Malibu Moon) Dec. 23, 2021, also at Gulfstream. Prior to beginning his comeback in late October, his last ride was in January of 2022. Dundie was his eighth mount since his return. “It's pretty surreal when you think about it, the journey here,” said Maragh. “Three years ago, I stopped riding and tried to step away for a while and get some other things going. I never thought I'd be back riding. Everything just fell into line, and I'm really excited to be back and have an opportunity to ride. These wins are what make all the hard work feel like it's worth it.” The post Jockey Rajiv Maragh Wins First Race Since 2021 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The United States Supreme Court is now unlikely to decide before the end of 2024 which, if any, of the three separate cases involving the constitutionality of the Horseracing and Safety Integrity Act (HISA) the nation's highest court might consider hearing. According to schedule changes posted online Dec. 4 on the Supreme Court dockets for cases originating out of the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Circuits of the U.S. Court of Appeals, all three of those HISA-related “writ of certiorari” requests are now going to be considered by the justices on the same conference date, Jan. 10, 2025. A writ of certiorari is the legal petition by which an entity asks the Supreme Court to intervene in a case after all other forms of appeal within the federal court system have been exhausted. The writ out of the Fifth Circuit (initiated by the defendant, the HISA Authority, involving a lawsuit spearheaded by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association) had not been previously assigned a spot on the Supreme Court's case distribution schedule. The writs originating out of the Sixth Circuit (stemming from a lawsuit led by the states of Oklahoma, West Virginia and Louisiana) and Eighth Circuit (led by executives out of the Arkansas and Iowa HBPA affiliates) were both supposed to be considered by the justices at a Dec. 6 conference. However, both the Sixth and Eighth Circuit writs came off the case distribution schedule last week, when the docket switched them to “rescheduled” without (at that time) specifying the new date. According to the Supreme Court's website, the case distribution schedule “identifies the dates on which petitions for writs of certiorari, along with corresponding briefs in opposition and reply briefs, will be distributed to the Justices. It also identifies the dates on which those petitions are scheduled to be considered by the Justices at conference, although this schedule is subject to change.” Following Dec. 6, the only other available case distribution conference date for 2024 is Dec. 13. After that, the Jan. 10, 2025, conference is the next one the justices are scheduled to hold. Exactly how the Supreme Court will handle the multiple writs filed by different petitioners is unknown at this point. But the fact that they have now been grouped together for consideration on the same conference date raises the possibility that they could, in some way, be combined. The Supreme Court could choose to individually hear (or deny hearing) any of the HISA constitutionality cases. Or, if it deems the questions of law are similar, the Supreme Court could decide to consolidate them into one larger case for the purpose of coming up with one common judgment that addresses all of the legal issues that have been raised. The Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Circuit appeals courts have all agreed that HISA's rulemaking structure is constitutional. Only the Fifth Circuit has disagreed, in part, by opining that HISA's enforcement provisions are unconstitutional. The post Supreme Court Will Now Consider Whether to Hear Three Pending HISA-Related Cases at Same Conference on Jan. 10 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

No star has shone brighter in the thoroughbred racing world this year than New Zealand-bred gelding Ka Ying Rising, and trainer David Hayes is hoping he can assume the mantle of the world’s best sprinter when he heads to Sha Tin on Sunday. The four-year-old son of Shamexpress has been a revelation since making his debut for Hayes at Sha Tin in December last year, winning eight of his 10 starts, including the Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m), Gr.2 Premier Bowl (1200m), and broke a longstanding track record when running home in 1 minute 7.43 seconds in last month’s Gr.2 BOCJK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin. He will be looking to repeat the dose when he returns to the Hong Kong venue on Sunday where he will contest the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), for which he will jump a short-priced favourite despite drawing barrier 11 in the 14-horse field. Hayes has been duly impressed with Ka Ying Rising’s trajectory, and he expects him to continue on that path this week and into the future. “He is very exciting,” Hayes said. “He has done everything we have asked of him. This will be his biggest test by far, but I think he will be a short-priced favourite to do it. “I think he is a horse, as his name says, that is getting a little bit better and better. When you see him on the weekend, he is not what I call a furnished big sprinter, he has still got more improvement to come physically. (Although) he can’t run much faster than 1:07. “Barring incidents, it will be an exciting day for the stable and all of his connections.” It will also prove to be an exciting day for his breeder Fraser Auret, who will be watching in anticipation from his home in Marton. While he is a Group One-winning trainer, Auret would also love to add Group One-winning breeder to his name, and from the first horse he bred to boot. Out of five-win mare Missy Moo, Ka Ying Rising was born, raised, broken-in and initially trained at Auret’s property before he attracted plenty of interest from buyers following an impressive jumpout at Levin and a deal was subsequently brokered with Lindsay Park, and he swiftly made an impression with his new handlers. “He looked quite natural (from his jumpout video), but not the best sprinter in the world,” Hayes quipped. “He then went to the boys (sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes at Lindsay Park in Victoria), and the boys identified him as a very smart horse after about eight weeks. He then came to me, and it took me about six weeks and I knew he was very good.” Hayes is developing a similar impression with Kay Ying Rising’s half-brother, Ka Ying Glory, who has recently joined his stable, having had an identical journey to Hong Kong as his brother. Ka Ying Glory is Ka Ying Rising’s only other sibling, with their dam having passed away, and early signs indicate that she could have left another burgeoning star. “He (Ka Ying Glory) has just arrived in Hong Kong, he is doing three-quarter pace,” Hayes said. “He is a different style of horse, much bigger than Ka Ying Rising, but he is a stylish mover and I am looking forward to galloping him in a couple of weeks. “I don’t know if anything is as good as Ka Ying Rising, you shouldn’t compare him, but on his (Ka Ying Glory) movement, he has got the ability to win plenty of races in Hong Kong.” Hayes is developing a great association with New Zealand-breds, as are his sons, with their flagbearer Mr Brightside continuing to aid the start of their burgeoning training careers. “What happened when the boys were struggling at the start of their careers, instead of buying yearlings, we decided to buy some proven horses, just to have city runners, and he was bought to be a city runner and he has certainly eclipsed that,” Hayes said. “He has won eight Group Ones, he has run second as many times and I think with the programme they have got in the autumn, if he can get up to 11 or 12 (Group One wins), he is in rarified air. He is pretty special. “If anyone in New Zealand has got one like him, give me a ring.” View the full article

Breeders' Cup-winning jockey Rajiv Maragh, who ended a nearly three-year absence from riding in October, registered the first win of his comeback Dec. 5 at Gulfstream Park aboard Ian Parsard's 4-year-old gelding Dundie.View the full article

On the eve that Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) and the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) were scheduled to appear at separate enforcement hearings in front of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority board to address disputes over their non-payment of assessment fees that are based partially on purses, those two prominent Thoroughbred track operators teamed up to sue the Authority and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in federal court, alleging that both the fee impositions and the attempted enforcement actions for non-payment are “illegal.” According to the civil complaint filed Dec. 4 in United States District Court (Western Division of Kentucky, Louisville Division), CDI and NYRA are alleging that the Authority, the FTC, and individuals who run those agencies are violating both the private non-delegation doctrine and Article III of the U.S. Constitution, the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment, and four counts of the Administrative Procedure Act. The lawsuit also stated that the Authority and the FTC should be subject to “equitable estoppel,” which is a doctrine a court may invoke to “avoid injustice in particular cases.” The complaint, first reported Thursday by Horse Racing Nation, asked the court to “declare the Authority's enforcement actions in this case to be unlawful and enjoin Defendants from taking any further action to enforce the Authority's unlawful fee assessments against CDI and NYRA.” The Authority, the complaint alleged, “is threatening to prohibit CDI and NYRA from conducting any horse races until they pay the Authority millions of dollars in illegally imposed fees.” In response, the Authority issued a press release Dec. 5 that stated the agency “will aggressively defend itself” against the “meritless lawsuit.” The Authority's press release stated that CDI and NYRA were attempting to “avoid paying their fair share” of fees calculated under a structure designed to “equitably allocate the costs” of operations under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). “CDI and NYRA are the only two racing organizations subject to this rule that have refused to remit their share of fees,” the Authority's release stated. Lisa Lazarus, the Authority's chief executive officer, issued a written statement, which said, in part: “CDI and NYRA have both benefited greatly from HISA's uniform safety rules, expertise and oversight, particularly over the past two years. That uniformity must extend to cost assessments as well. To do otherwise would be unfair to other tracks and industry participants who are paying their fair share. [The Authority] will continue to uphold the standards of the sport with integrity and fairness for all racing participants. Our mission is clear, and we will not allow any parties to pick and choose which rules they follow. Every racetrack, including CDI and NYRA, must operate under the same paradigm. No one is exempt.” CDI owns six Thoroughbred tracks (Churchill Downs, Turfway Park, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds, Colonial Downs, and Presque Isle Downs). NYRA controls racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. NYRA's Saratoga | Sarah Andrew The Authority has been named as a defendant in a number of constitutionality lawsuits since HISA's passage into law in 2020. Such litigation challenging the Act and the Authority had been expected, with predictions from the law's outset that it might take years and intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether HISA would remain the law of the land in American racing. Currently, there are three separate requests pending before the Supreme Court to take up three different cases arising from the federal appeals court system. CDI and NYRA outlined their chief beefs in the joint complaint: “The Act requires the Authority to determine each State's proportionate share of the annual fees necessary to fund its operations based on (1) the Authority's budget for the following year; and (2) the projected amount of covered racing starts for the year in each State. “Yet the Authority unlawfully adopted–and the FTC unlawfully approved–an assessment methodology that imposes fees based largely on the size of a racetrack's purses [rather than] a State's share of racing starts. “The only federal court to have considered the question held that the Authority's purse-based assessment methodology violates the Act,” the complaint stated. “CDI and NYRA declined to fund the Authority according to its unlawful purse-based assessment methodology and instead agreed to remit fees to the Authority pursuant to racing-start-based methodologies outlined in the Act. “The Authority endorsed this arrangement for nearly two years, until its ever-increasing budget and fiscal mismanagement prompted it to change course and demand that CDI and NYRA immediately remit all fees due under the illegal purse-based methodology. “When CDI and NYRA refused to accede to the Authority's unlawful demands, the Authority commenced enforcement actions against CDI and NYRA, threatening to prohibit them from conducting any horse races until the fees due under the Authority's illegal assessment methodology are paid in full,” the complaint stated. “Worse, the Authority is illegally conducting its enforcement action through an internal disciplinary process before its Board of Directors. The Act does not empower the private Authority to adjudicate fee-collection disputes in-house but rather envisions that the Authority would exercise its statutory power to bring a civil action in federal court to compel payment of any legitimate fee assessments. “Interpreting the Act to permit the Authority to determine for itself whether CDI and NYRA owe it millions of dollars and impose sanctions based on its own findings would violate the Act and Article III of the Constitution, which require that such disputes between private entities be adjudicated in federal courts–not within administrative agencies and certainly not within private, unaccountable corporations. And it would also violate the fundamental due-process principle that no person may serve as a judge in his own case,” the complaint stated. The late-Wednesday filing of the lawsuit did not affect the Thursday morning and afternoon scheduling of the Authority's separate hearings involving CDI and NYRA. “A three-person board panel conducted hearings [Dec. 5] on the enforcement actions pending against CDI and NYRA,” an Authority spokesperson confirmed to TDN. “All parties were provided an opportunity to present arguments and evidence relevant to the alleged violations.” Patrick McKenna, NYRA's vice president of communications, issued a statement Thursday that said NYRA is aligned with the concept and benefits of HISA, but felt compelled to take legal action to challenge the funding aspect. “NYRA is strongly supportive of the [Authority's] regulatory mission. Since its launch, HISA has formulated and applied rules and safety standards that have successfully improved equine safety. And NYRA will continue to advocate for the importance of national policies designed to protect athletes in competition and protect the integrity of the sport,” McKenna said. “This lawsuit narrowly targets the unlawful, excessive, and disproportionate financial assessments that HISA's Authority is attempting to impose on NYRA. Since 2022, NYRA has disputed HISA's methodology for calculating fees, which is based on a blended rate of starts and purses, as opposed to methodology required by statute based purely on starts. NYRA joined in this action as a last resort only when threatened with illegal HISA enforcement actions,” McKenna said. The post CDI and NYRA Tag-Team in Federal Lawsuit, Alleging HISA’S Purse-Based Assessments Are ‘Illegal’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) second Vodka With a Twist brings the most experience and earnings to the graded race of the seven in the field.View the full article

Given that his father Neville bred and raced the late Australian champion Northerly, there was only one group 1 Ben Duncan wanted to win when he decided to follow in his old man's footsteps.View the full article

It takes a pretty serious animal to earn $2 million in any racing jurisdiction, let alone accomplishing that feat in a place like Hong Kong. The urban environment is not for every horse–to that end, the Hong Kong Jockey Club operates their state-of-the-art satellite facility in Conghua [shung-pha] on the Chinese mainland–and it takes a special horse to thrive there. Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) has done just that over the course of the last 18 months or so. Bred in Iowa by Allen Poindexter, the 4-year-old gelding has won seven times from 20 starts, and while he has yet to nick a stakes victory, he has placed no fewer than four times at the Group 2 and Group 3 level and went within a zop of winning the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the second leg of the 4-year-old Triple Crown, this past February. His earnings to date total better than $1.9 million. Bred on a $5,000 stud fee to the GI Met Mile-winning son of Eskendereya–now based in Indiana–Chancheng Glory was offered three times at public auction before being acquired privately by the Chancheng Racing Syndicate after falling just shy of his reserve at OBS March in 2022. Those that had a hand in his upbringing speak of him in glowing terms, and each is looking forward to watching him take on horses from England, France, Japan and Australia in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse. “We took him to the sale as a baby and he was just a freaking angel,” said Tim Hamlin, who consigned Chancheng Glory with his wife Nancy to the 2020 Keeneland November Sale under their Wynnstay banner. “He never give us one ounce of grief ever. “And he was beautiful,” Tim Hamlin continued. “Correct, he just was an ideal foal, you know? He never had leg problems, feet problems. He was never sick. He never was treated for anything. He just was straight-forward. And those are the best ones. And her mother [second dam Scammer] was the first mare that Nancy and I bought, when we moved to Lexington, she was our first thoroughbred mare purchase. And then Allen, he loved [Chancheng Glory's dam Solid Scam] as a yearling.” Chancheng Glory was sold to an entity called High Spirit for $50,000 at the November Sale, a price deemed more than satisfactory by the Hamlins. “Oh, he was perfect at the sale,” Tim Hamlin said. “He just never turned a hair, the whole time we had him. We were very happy at the time for the $50,000. That colt was just, when you looked at him, he just always looked smart, always looked athletic. He always had good hair and he was always healthy-looking. So I think it doesn't surprise me that he's a useful horse. And the people that bought him at the yearling sales, they're very good horsemen. Very good horsemen. And we were tickled that he got a good home because one of the bad things about selling babies is you don't always get to control where they go for the next year. Or the yearlings for that matter. But babies, they've got to go through two sets of hands.” Chancheng Glory | HKJC Chancheng Glory was part of the Hunter Valley Farm draft at Keeneland September in 2021, and the outfit's Adrian Regan said he just continued to improve with time. “He was a bay horse with markings and everything, good physical,” said Regan. “He was always one of our favorites in prep that year. But in his prep, he was always a lovely individual, great to deal with. He's the kind of horse that you can never really forget about. That's how good he was as a physical.” Regan added, “He was a really, really good horse at the end of the shank. He was tall. He had good action. He was just a very nice horse, great temperament.” Chancheng Glory more than doubled his purchase price when hammering to Covington Farm for $110,000 at KEESEP. “We were very happy because, listen, I'm not being greedy about it because I know he didn't pass all the vets he had out here,” Regan said. “He's a horse that's gone on to race, he's barely had any time away from training and it takes a really good horse to do that.” The colt was subsequently turned over to 2-year-old consignor Al Pike, who began preparing him for the under-tack sales in early 2022. He and owner Don Maddax chose the OBS March Sale, and they could not have been more pleased with the way their youngster had progressed into the auction. “I was in Louisiana at the time, and we loved him,” Pike said. “He's a great big two-turn looking sort of horse, he had a lot of size, a lot of scope. But he's beautiful and very athletic, very smart. Never gave us any trouble. “When we did start knuckling down on him, he showed a lot of talent,” Pike said. “So we went down there with a lot of anticipation that he'd do well, and he lived up to our expectations. He worked in :10 flat, galloped out like he'd run two turns.” Somewhat surprisingly, bidding stalled out at $220,000 when he went under the hammer on day one of the two-day sale. “We were shocked we didn't even get him done.” Pike said, “but I encouraged Mr. Maddox, 'You don't have to give this horse away. I think he's a good one.' And actually, he sent him to Albert Davis out there to keep him going and get him ready for the races. And somebody came along and bought him. “But like I said, we loved the horse. He didn't disappoint us. He did his job every day we had him. He was a really nice horse.” It comes as no shock to Pike that Chancheng Glory has shown off his talent at the races. “We thought he was an athlete,” he said. “Didn't know what surface he'd end up on. He was good on the dirt when I had him. He performed well on the [synthetic] there at OBS. He's just showing who he is.” Like his fellow consignors, Pike will certainly be watching with interest this weekend. “It's just, you get a little bit of pride of ownership,” he said. “And I didn't own a hair on him, but just had him and loved him every day we had him. And just to see him go on and do well, it's very satisfying, I got to tell you.” Editor's Note: The Chancheng Racing Syndicate also campaigned Chancheng Glory (Carpe Diem), a $150,000 purchase out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2019 OBS April Sale who compiled a record of 7-7-5 from 44 starts for earnings of better than $1.4 million in Hong Kong for Chancheng Glory's trainer Francis Lui. Karis “Mauritian Magician” Teetan on Chancheng Glory – “The Pride of Iowa,” and his chances this weekend at Sha Tin. @HKRacingUS @TheBrownAndrew pic.twitter.com/TPAnSzdPeb — HPIbet (@HPIbet) December 5, 2024 The post Iowa-Bred Looking For ‘Glory’ In Longines Hong Kong Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

According to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority CEO Lisa Lazarus, HISA and representatives of jockey Paco Lopez agreed on an indefinite suspension following his actions aboard National Law at Parx Racing Dec. 3.View the full article

Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association allege in a lawsuit that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority is threatening to shut them down unless they pay fees that they contend they do not owe.View the full article

Fresh off the heels of outstanding performances by Oaklawn Park grads Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (both G1), the Hot Springs, Ark., oval reignites Dec. 6 in anticipation of their 2024-25 spring-winter meet. View the full article

It’s Friday night and there is no shortage of racing action on at Addington and Auckland. Alexandra Park will host its first 12-race card on a Friday night since April 2017 while Addington’s Derby race night will feature three Group 1s – the Garrards Pacing and Trotting Derbies and the brand new The Christian Cullen. Just weeks after his 30th birthday, the champion pacer himself will make a guest appearance. The million dollar earner will lead out the field for the race named after him, the $200,000 The Christian Cullen for the 4YO Pacers at 7.53pm. Don’t Stop Dreaming heading for the front in The Christian Cullen By Michael Guerin Nathan Purdon says there is only one tactic for Don’t Stop Dreaming in tonight’s first running of the $200,000 The Christian Cullen at Addington. And they are the exact tactics the great champion pacer himself employed so many times: lead and stay there. Co-trainer Purdon says he and Blair Orange will be heading for the front after Don’t Stop Dreaming drew barrier 1 and most importantly arch rival Merlin drew barrier six of the seven starters. There has rarely been much between the pair but for the majority of 2024 Merlin has had the better of Don’t Stop Dreaming, most notably in the $1million Race by Grins when he came from the one-one to beat him. But if Don’t Stop Dreaming leads this week in a race that lacks the depth to have real pressure, Merlin may be forced to sit outside him the last 1000m to beat him. That is how Merlin won the NZ Free-For-All last start so it isn’t impossible but Don’t Stop Dreaming was allowed to miss that race after his oh-so-close second to Swayzee in the New Zealand Cup three days earlier. “We learned last year with Akuta after he chased Swayzee home in the Cup then ran three or four lengths below his best in the Free-For-All that we didn’t need to do that again,” explains Nathan. “But he is very well and missing the race did him some good. We took him into Addington last Saturday and he worked great. “I think he is exactly where he needs to be and we want to lead and if Merlin or any of the others beat him then they will have been too good.” The TAB has Don’t Stop Dreaming as a $1.75 favourite with Merlin at $2.20. Later in the night the NZ Derby is a clash of those same two stables at the top of the market as Nathan and Mark Purdon have Chase A Dream and Vessem up against Better Knuckle Up and Jeremiah for the Merlin camp. While Chase A Dream has been beaten fair and square in his last two starts Nathan expects a better performance tonight. “I think he has needed the racing and you will see a better horse this week,” he warns. The rematch – Oscar Bonavena vs Muscle Mountain in The Worthy Queen By Michael Guerin Driver Ben Hope doesn’t regret the tactics that might have cost Muscle Mountain last Sunday’s Trotters Green Mile at Methven and hopes that may even pay dividends at Addington tonight. The giant trotter meets arch rival Oscar Bonavena in Worthy Queen Trot in which they both face 20m backmarks over 2000m, not an easy thing to overcome. Oscar Bonavena has had much the better of their meetings in the South Island over the last year including winning the NZ Free-For-All last month after Muscle Mountain led two starts ago and then reversing those tactics last Sunday at Methven when Oscar led throughout. With the gate speed Oscar Bonavena showed last Sunday, Muscle Mountain would have been flat out trying to cross him anyway but Hope reveals that ended up not being his plan anyway. “Mum and Dad and I had a talk before the race and we decided he didn’t have to lead,” explains Hope. “I drove him hard like that to try and beat Just Believe in the free-for-all at Addington and we didn’t want to do that again so when Oscar went off the gate that fast I wasn’t going to burn early chasing him. “We agreed he doesn’t need to have that sort of run every start and he actually went great so we were really proud of him. “And we hope that gives him some confidence for this week, the way he hit the line so well.” Oscar Bonavena is currently at $2.50, with Muscle Mountain at $2.80. It will be standing start manners rather than gate speed that could decide tonight’s race as whoever out of Oscar Bonavena and Muscle Mountain steps in front of the other possibly getting a tactical advantage. “He can step quickly when he gets it right and should be better for that run last Sunday so if we have some luck he can turn the tables,” says Hope. Oscar Bonavena is flying though and finally looks back to the form that won him Trotter of the Year last season. He will have a bit change this week after co-trainer Nathan Purdon changed bits last Sunday to allow driver Blair Orange to use Oscar’s gate speed. “It worked as he showed great gate speed but it was also why he got pulling a bit in the middle stages so we will revert to his old, stronger bit this week which should help keep him more relaxed.” While the pair dominate the market it is still no small feat to overcome a 20m handicap to win a decent race over 2000m at Addington, albeit one helped by the small field. Butt to debut talented pair at Alexandra Park tonight By Brigette Solomon Woodend based trainer and driver Bob Butt arrived in Auckland on Monday with two horses, Princess Meritaten and Gold Bullion, who both make their Alexandra Park debuts in tonight’s feature pace and trot. “It will be the first time racing right handed for both of them, but I can’t see it being a problem,” says Butt, “they’ve worked well that way round and have been racing good lately.” Princess Meritaten will be Butt’s first runner of the evening, competing in the Group 3 Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Stakes Mobile Pace, a race Butt won with Manhattan in 2022. “It’s a bit of a tricky draw tonight (9) but she should go a good race and it gives her a run at Auckland before heading into the Group 1 Queen Of Hearts next week which is the main target,” said Butt. From just 12 starts, the talented Princess Meritaten has won six races and placed second on four occasions. Her campaign to date includes a fresh up win in September, before placing second behind Mantra Blue in the Group 2 Mares Spring Sprint Classic at Addington, followed by a Group 2 win in the Mid Canterbury Trotting Owners Ladies Sprint at Ashburton in late October. Her most recent race was in the Listed Bob McArdle Sires Stakes Southern Mares Classic at Addington was a tough effort where she finished fifth after being three wide early, before moving forward to sit parked for the remainder of the race, battling on into fifth place. Meanwhile Gold Bullion will contest the $40,000 Thames Members Handicap Trot over 2700 metres off a 20 metre handicap. “Like with the mare, his main target will be the listed trot next week with tonight a chance for him to get a race into him this way round,” says Butt, “It was a nice win last start though, and he should go alright tonight.” Gold Bullion starts tonight off the back of a confident win at Addington on show day where he was driven quietly back in the field before making his run three wide from the 600 metre mark to comfortably round up the field and hit the front by the top of the straight and drawing clear to maintain his lead and win by 1.5 lengths. The Father Patrick gelding out of dual Group 3-winning mare Gold Chain has always shown ability, but manners have occasionally let him down. He has however performed consistently well this campaign, with a win and several placings from a handful of starts and his manners have been solid. Butt is also engaged to drive the Derek and Adele Jones trained mare Eurostyle, who starts in the TAB Queen Of Diamonds Prelude Handicap Trot for Fillies and Mares tonight. The mare was a winner of The Dark Horse Mares Handicap Trot at Group 3 level in October, and most recently finished third in the Group 2 Grand Duchess Mares Handicap Trot at Addington. “We sent her up to Brian and Gareth Hughes place while targeting the Queen of Diamonds,” says co-trainer Derek Jones, “by all reports she’s very bright and happy but it will be her first start right handed so that’s always a question mark, although we’ve made some minor gear changes to help adjust her to that way of going.” The 12-race meeting gets underway with Race one at 5.24pm. View the full article

It's been 17 years now that we've been treated to 2-year-olds by Medaglia d'Oro. From his first GII Golden Rod Stakes winner in his first crop–Rachel Alexandra, a filly who went on to beat the boys more than once and was eventually named Horse of the Year–to his latest this past weekend in perfect four-for-four Good Cheer, the Darley mainstay and ageless wonder continues to amaze and delight. “It's so gratifying for him in the autumn of his career to be hitting these heights,” said Darley's Darren Fox. “He's been good to a lot of people, not just us [at Darley]. “He is that perfect bull's-eye of a horse in that he delivers on the racetrack, but he also produces stunning individuals, and a stallion with that profile has a very high ceiling. If you can run and look good while doing so,” said Fox with a laugh, “well, he just brings all the money.” Adding to Medaglia d'Oro's 2-year-old haul in 2024 are uber-impressive GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner and 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue, as well as MGISP Nitrogen, whose placings included the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. There's also SW & GSP Shifty and plenty of others with promise, such as French 'Rising Star' Jovialite and last week's Fair Grounds debut maiden winner Hot Property. If a freshman sire had this sort of juvenile crop, his future at the top level would be very much assured. Medaglia d'Oro will be 26 next month. “It really is an incredible purple patch that he is experiencing at the moment,” said Fox, “and it looks like we've got plenty of exciting days to come heading into next year.” Just as Good Cheer wasn't his only graded winner last week, it's not solely with 2-year-olds that Medaglia d'Oro excels. Loved, a 5-year-old, won the GIII Falls City Stakes at Churchill Downs on Thanksgiving for her first graded score. That's part of Medaglia d'Oro's prowess–he gets top runners at all ages and levels. In fact, Medaglia d'Oro's overall career statistics are an embarrassment of riches. Highlights include 27 Grade I/Group 1 winners, 94 graded winners, 182 black-type winners, and more than 300 stakes performers. In addition to Rachel Alexandra, his multiple champions include Songbird and Hong Kong superstar Golden Sixty (Aus). He has four Breeders' Cup winners, two GI Kentucky Oaks winners, a GI Preakness winner, a G1 Golden Slipper winner, a Queen's Plate winner, and that doesn't even touch on some of his exceptional MGISWs like Elate, Marketing Mix, Cambier Parc, or Bolt d'Oro. He's also had 35 'TDN Rising Stars'. Among career results of all living active sires in North America, Medaglia d'Oro ranks third behind only Tapit and Into Mischief. That's heady company. He and Tapit both entered stud in 2005. “Medaglia d'Oro is the sire of my number one horse of all time in Rachel Alexandra,” said Fox. “From that day I've just been, like everyone, a super fan of the stallion and just been so impressed with what he's done and what he continues to do. “He's gold in name and gold in nature. They are stunning individuals–consistently so–and they sell accordingly. He gets beautiful horses that are extremely talented and effective on both surfaces which certainly broadens his appeal. He's certainly had some good success in the Southern Hemisphere, has some in Europe, does well in the States on dirt and turf, and has established a sire line and is a really effective broodmare sire, so there's nothing he hasn't done or no domain he hasn't conquered.” Fox continued: “He's a rare one. You have to go through a lot of stallions to find a Medaglia d'Oro and we're certainly very lucky that he has spent the time with us that he has.” Among Medaglia d'Oro's sire sons are Hill 'n' Dale's Violence and Spendthrift's Bolt d'Oro. While the Darley sire didn't have a Breeders' Cup winner this year, two of his sons did: the late Fast Anna scored with Thorpedo Anna in the Distaff and Oklahoma's Atreides had Soul of an Angel in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Fox said it is hoped East Avenue will eventually join Medaglia d'Oro in the Darley stallion barn. “For us with a colt like East Avenue, who has serious stallion potential, to carry the line forward is extra, extra gratifying. His performance in the Breeders' Futurity was an exceptional performance. He was a little unlucky in the Breeders' Cup, but he is still a highly talented, highly rated colt that we're very excited about moving forward.” Medaglia d'Oro's daughters are also making their mark. With a co-leading 29 black-type winners in 2024 out of his daughters, Medaglia d'Oro is third on the North American broodmare sire list by earnings this year. Among his 121 stakes winners as a damsire are new Spendthrift stallion National Treasure (Quality Road) and young Gainesway stallion Olympiad (Speightstown). A $1.35-million yearling colt, a full-brother to Rachel Alexandra, at the most recent Keeneland September sale | Keeneland By any measure, Medaglia d'Oro has always been and continues to be a star. He had a $1.35-million yearling at Keeneland September, bringing his tally of million-dollar sales horses to 56. “His performance in the sales ring has always been one of his strengths,” mused Fox. “They averaged around $290,000 this year. I don't know what more you could ask for of any stallion, never mind a stallion of his vintage.” Fox said the only true concession to Medaglia d'Oro's age is a bit of a smaller book than in past years. He bred 88 mares in 2024 and is slated to stand for $75,000 in 2025. “We've cut his book back a little bit throughout the years, stair stepped down with his increasing age. We're cognizant of that, but I will say he looks in incredible physical shape. Our stallion manager, Graham Lovatt, says he's still the strongest horse in the breeding shed. He doesn't look anywhere near his age, he's just in incredible physical condition. He's a horse who definitely belies his age in every aspect. “He's in rude health and when he walks, he walks with purpose. He's still just a phenom. You don't run a 120 Beyer in your career by being a slouch! He certainly is carrying that physical performance into his later career in his movement and overall health. He's just doing phenomenally well right now.” Speaking of that 120 Beyer Speed Figure, Medaglia d'Oro had an interesting race career. It may seem ridiculous to say a three-time Grade I winner and $5.7-million earner had a bit of an unlucky time on the track, but the son of the Sadler's Wells sire El Prado (Ire) had some very notable near misses. The seven-time graded winner was second in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic–twice–as well as in the GI Belmont Stakes, G1 Dubai World Cup, GI Pacific Classic, and GI Wood Memorial. Bred by Albert and Joyce Bell and initially trained by David Vance, he was privately purchased by Edmund Gann and turned over to trainer Bobby Frankel early in his 3-year-old campaign. Medaglia d'Oro would win the GI Travers Stakes at three for Gann, as well as the GI Whitney Handicap at four and the GI Donn Handicap at five. “I think his speed figures tell the true story of just what a consistent and unbelievably talented racehorse he was,” said Fox. “In essence, that's what he was, that's what he possessed, and that's what he's passing on. His raw talent. He was first or second in 15 of 17 lifetime starts. My favorite stat on this horse is that in those 17 starts, he ran 14 triple-digit Beyers. He had a 120, a 119, a 118, two 117s, etc. Just a sheer level of brilliance.” Undefeated Good Cheer won Saturday's Golden Rod | Renee Torbit/Coady Media Richard and Audrey Haisfield purchased Medaglia d'Oro after his racing career and stood the then-6-year-old in 2005 at Hill 'n' Dale for $35,000 for his first season. In 2006, his second year at stud, Medaglia d'Oro was moved to the Haisfields' freshly built Stonewall Stallions near Midway. As his first runners began making noise on the racetrack, he attracted plenty of attention. First, Richard Santulli and Barry Weisbord purchased 20% of him in 2008, then WinStar began buying lifetime breeding rights in early 2009. Finally, in June of 2009, Sheikh Mohammed's Darley purchased a majority interest in the horse and moved him to Jonabell Farm near Lexington before that year's breeding season was even fully wrapped up. While his fee has varied, he has stood for as much as $250,000 and also spent several years shuttling to Australia, where he found more success. “He reached peak value later in life than most stallions,” said Fox. “In 2017 he had seven individual Grade I winners including two Breeders' Cup winners, which prompted his fee to go to $250,000 for the 2018 season. At that point he was a 19-year-old stallion. For a horse that is 19 to reach his peak value of a quarter of a million, the result is he has so much good stuff playing out in the last few years.” What could Medaglia d'Oro possibly still accomplish? Well, the return of East Avenue, who ranks as one of the early favorites for the 2025 GI Kentucky Derby, will be highly anticipated. On the filly side, Good Cheer is one of the early favorites for the Oaks. “Good Cheer is just incredible–she's done nothing wrong and has done everything with such ease, it's kind of scary,” added Fox. There's that $1.35-million yearling colt, a full-brother to Rachel Alexandra, as well as a $975,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling filly out of a daughter of champion Folklore (Tiznow). For a soon-to-be 26-year-old stallion to have such prospects is remarkable. “There's a lot of great stuff in the pipeline as evidenced by his recent performance on the track,” said Fox. “Medaglia d'Oro is definitely still living large at his current age.” Long may he continue. The post Saturday Sires: Medaglia d’Oro appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article