Wandering Eyes

Race 7 WINDSOR NEW WORLD MAIDEN 1600m CHANCE (D Bothamley) – Trainer Ms. A Hewitson reported to Stewards, that on Monday 2 December, CHANCE was seen by the chiropractor and treated for overall general soreness. A Hewitson further advised it is her intention to carry on with the gelding’s current preparation. Race 9 RYAL BUSH TRANSPORT & WAYNE “OX” MCEWAN MEMORIAL 1600m GINTYS GIRL (K Williams) – Co-trainer Mr. G Eade reported to Stewards, that on Tuesday 26 November, GINTYS GIRL, underwent a veterinary examination including blood tests which revealed a slight virus and was placed on a four days’ worth of treatment. G Eade further advised it is the stables intention to continue on with the mare’s current preparation where they may look to nominate GINTYS GIRL for the Southland RC meeting on Saturday 14 December. The post Winton Jockey Club @ Ascot Park Invercargill, Sunday 24 November 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Multiple Group One winner La Crique will contest Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) La Crique hasn’t returned to Trentham since she won the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) as a three-year-old, and three years down the track, the star mare will line up as a leading hope in Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). The Desert Gold was La Crique’s first taste of stakes success and she has scarcely raced out of that company since, winning the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), Group 1 Otaki-WFA Classic (1600m), and most recently, the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago. The daughter of Vadamos was fittingly favourite for the feature, and after settling back, she had plenty of hurdles to overcome in the running. But her class prevailed in the finish with a booming run to catch Lux Libertas at the post, a performance more than pleasing for co-trainer Katrina Alexander. “I thought it was a great run from her, just on the sectionals and the way the race was run,” she said. “It was a fairly slow tempo early and I thought there would’ve been more genuine speed, so the fact there was no speed, she slotted back and a bit wide and looked no hope about 100m out, to finish the way she did and win was a huge effort. “This is a shorter turnaround than what we like to do with her, we’re most comfortable giving her three weeks’ between runs which means I don’t have to do a hell of a lot with her in that first week post-race. “I still haven’t had to do a lot with her, she’s trained on really well and she had a nice hit-out yesterday (Tuesday). Other than that, she gets a huge amount of improvement through each run she has, so the need to be too busy with her between runs isn’t there. “It’s just a matter of keeping her well and happy, and she certainly lets us know when she is. I’m really happy with her.” A run of poor barrier draws will continue for La Crique on Saturday; after drawing 12 of 12 in the Auckland Breeders, she has drawn 13 of 13 in the TAB Mufhasa. “I think she’s become the type of horse that likes to be a bit patient early, after having always appeared to be a handy-running horse,” Alexander said. “We seem to always get the wide draws at the moment with her, but I don’t think it will have too much influence on what we do. We had talked about the possibility of sitting a bit closer so she didn’t have so much work to do, but the big long straight at Trentham allows you to get organised. “We’ll have a chat with Michael (McNab, jockey) around the speed map and what we might do on race-day, but I’m not too worried. She’s performed at Trentham before and I think it will suit her.” Despite the draw, La Crique is likely to start a short-priced favourite with horse racing bookmakers just as she did three years ago at the same venue, a reflection of her longevity as one of the country’s elite weight-for-age gallopers. “I’m actually really proud that she’s still competing at this level,” said Alexander, who trains the six-year-old alongside her husband Simon. “We said right back when she was a three-year-old that we would train her for longevity. Looking at her physically back then, we knew she was going to take time and she wasn’t going to furnish until she was an older mare. “She’s done it all on natural ability back then, and we’ve had some niggles along the way since, but that’s mainly been down to feet, not body as such. Last season was a classic example of that, we probably never had her at 100 percent, but she just had enough class and ability to continue. “You look through the races that she’s run in, it’s very rare that she has been out of black-type company, other than the very early days. “We’ve trained her to be in the picture for a while and every preparation, she’s put her hand up and performed. A lot of horses can go missing for a season after a big three-year-old year, but she’s fronted up every time.” Horse racing news View the full article

Three of the Post’s seven-strong panel think Colin Keane is the man to beat in Wednesday night’s competition.View the full article

La Crique(NZ) (Vadamos) hasn’t returned to Trentham since she won the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) as a three-year-old, and three years down the track, the star mare will line up as a leading hope in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). The Desert Gold was La Crique’s first taste of stakes success and she has scarcely raced out of that company since, winning the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), Gr.1 Otaki-WFA Classic (1600m), and most recently, the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago. The daughter of Vadamos was fittingly favourite for the feature and after settling back, she had plenty of hurdles to overcome in the running. But, her class prevailed in the finish with a booming run to catch Lux Libertas at the post, a performance more than pleasing for co-trainer Katrina Alexander. “I thought it was a great run from her, just on the sectionals and the way the race was run,” she said. “It was a fairly slow tempo early and I thought there would’ve been more genuine speed, so the fact there was no speed, she slotted back and a bit wide and looked no hope about 100m out, to finish the way she did and win was a huge effort. “This is a shorter turnaround than what we like to do with her, we’re most comfortable giving her three weeks’ between runs which means I don’t have to do a hell of a lot with her in that first week post-race. “I still haven’t had to do a lot with her, she’s trained on really well and she had a nice hit-out yesterday (Tuesday). Other than that, she gets a huge amount of improvement through each run she has, so the need to be too busy with her between runs isn’t there. “It’s just a matter of keeping her well and happy, and she certainly lets us know when she is. I’m really happy with her.” A run of poor barrier draws will continue for La Crique on Saturday, after drawing 12 of 12 in the Auckland Breeders, she has drawn 13 of 13 in the TAB Mufhasa. “I think she’s become the type of horse that likes to be a bit patient early, after having always appeared to be a handy-running horse,” Alexander said. “We seem to always get the wide draws at the moment with her, but I don’t think it will have too much influence on what we do. We had talked about the possibility of sitting a bit closer so she didn’t have so much work to do, but the big long straight at Trentham allows you to get organised. “We’ll have a chat with Michael (McNab, jockey) around the speed map and what we might do on race-day, but I’m not too worried. She’s performed at Trentham before and I think it will suit her.” Despite the draw, La Crique is likely to start a short-priced favourite just as she did three years ago at the same venue, a reflection of her longevity as one of the country’s elite weight-for-age gallopers. “I’m actually really proud that she’s still competing at this level,” said Alexander, who trains the six-year-old alongside her husband Simon. “We said right back when she was a three-year-old that we would train her for longevity. Looking at her physically back then, we knew she was going to take time and she wasn’t going to furnish until she was an older mare. “She’s done it all on natural ability back then, and we’ve had some niggles along the way since, but that’s mainly been down to feet, not body as such. Last season was a classic example of that, we probably never had her at 100 percent, but she just had enough class and ability to continue. “You look through the races that she’s run in, it’s very rare that she has been out of black-type company, other than the very early days. “We’ve trained her to be in the picture for a while and every preparation, she’s put her hand up and performed. A lot of horses can go missing for a season after a big three-year-old year, but she’s fronted up every time.” View the full article

Well-performed speed merchant Babylon Berlin will strip a fitter mare for Saturday’s assignment at Ellerslie. The daughter of All Too Hard will bid to add to her impressive black-type sprinting record when she steps out in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m), a race she won in 2022. Babylon Berlin opened her current preparation in convincing fashion when she romped away with the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa last month and then finished fifth in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m) at Pukekohe. It was a last-start performance that pleased part-owner and co-trainer Ben Foote, who prepares the mare with son Ryan, after a hiccup between outings. “She missed a week’s work after Te Rapa with quite a deep-seated stone bruise, so she was always going to be a bit short,” he said. “I was more than satisfied under the circumstances and she’s done well since.” The seven-year-old will again be ridden by Vinnie Colgan, who has guided the chestnut’s fortunes in her last two appearances. A return to northern headquarters and the set weights and penalties conditions of the Concorde will also be in Babylon Berlin’s favour. “It suits her a lot better than Pukekohe, it seems to be such a long way down that straight, and she loves Ellerslie,” Foote said. On that theme, the Sistema Railway (1200m) on January 25 will be Babylon Berlin’s main aim. “That’s definitely the Group One that we’re targeting, whether she goes to the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) before than I don’t know at this stage,” Foote said. “She thrives in the summer months, maybe she likes the hotter weather like her trainer.” The mare has already placed twice in the Ellerslie feature, and in the Telegraph, and success at the highest level would be a richly deserved reward for the seven-year-old. Stablemate Rayet(NZ) (Tivaci) will take advantage of a better draw to run at New Plymouth on Thursday in the HTL Group Insurance & Investments Handicap (1400m) in preference to Ellerslie. “She’s a very talented and a speedy mare who tries really hard,” Foote said. The Waikato Stud-bred and raced daughter of Tivaci resumed in style two runs back at Te Rapa and then finished a solid third at Tauranga behind Twain, who has since won again. Meanwhile, The Odyssey(NZ) (Zacinto) will attempt to continue his solid run of form in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday week. The son of Zacinto was an easy open handicap winner at Ellerslie three runs back before he placed at Tauranga and then finished fourth in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m). “He was good there and probably made the mistake of going back to the inside,” Foote said. “Michael McNab is booked to ride him in the Waikato Cup and I don’t think there’s any doubt he’ll be a really strong chance.” View the full article

Improved track conditions will present Almakeitgood(NZ) (Ardrossan) with a gilt-edged opportunity to open her winning account at New Plymouth on Thursday. The Ardrossan youngster is among a host of runners for local trainer Allan Sharrock, who labelled the Grangewilliam Stud Maiden (1200m) contender as one of his leading chances. To be ridden by Craig Grylls from a handy gate (four), Almakeitgood was placed in both of her spring outings, finishing third on debut at Wanganui and then ran second at Trentham. “I’d like to think she can win, she goes pretty well and doesn’t like wet ground,” said Sharrock, who also shares in the ownership group. “Both of her runs were on heavy tracks and she’s a really nice filly who is getting better and better all the time.” She is from a family with two-year-old form as her dam Cortado was a winner who also placed in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) while Almakeitgood’s brother Maracatu was a juvenile winner last season for Te Akau. Sharrock is also a part-owner of Borninastorm(NZ) (Bullbars), a five-year-old daughter of Bullbars who is expected to make an impact on debut in the McDonald Real Estate Maiden (1200m). “She took a while to lasso out of the paddock and she’s jumped out well, I like her a bit,” he said. “She’s had no issues, a mate of mine (Paul Foreman) and myself bred her and she went shin sore probably four times. “Because we owned her, we just kept putting her out and playing around with her.” Borninastorm will be champion jockey Lisa Allpress’ sole ride at the meeting to mark her comeback from injury. Stablemates Librero(NZ) (El Roca) and I Don’t(NZ)(Savabeel) will give Sharrock a strong hand in the Revital Fertilisers Handicap (1400m) with Lily Sutherland and Harry Grace their respective jockeys. “Librero has to race well, the Eulogy Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) is her aim otherwise she’ll go out until the autumn,” Sharrock said. “I Don’t has been working like she can win so it will be interesting to see how see goes.” Meanwhile, top-class performer Ladies Man(NZ) (Zed) will have blinkers on when he takes aim at Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham. “I think now is the time to put them on at a mile, they should run along at a true speed and we’ve got Opie Bosson on, so that’s a big plus,” he said. “He’ll be heading to the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m) and the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m).” Ladies Man was a fast-finishing runner-up two runs back at Tauranga before he returned there to finish a luckless fourth in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m). View the full article

Antino stretches out at Sha Tin. Photo: HKJC Australian trainer Tony Gollan admits the path his star galloper Antino has taken to get to the HK$36 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday is one of racing’s bizarre stories. Antino was bred by Hong Kong-based George Kit Ma’s Blossom Trading & Breeding Company Ltd and was subsequently bought for a meagre HK$135,000 by Hong Kong businessman Jeetu Ramchandani who, virtually on a whim, made the online bid at the 2020 New Zealand Ready To Run Sale for two-year-olds. Ramchandani, who admitted he had done zero diligence, pulled up the sales on his computer screen at work and thought the horse looked “nice” and made the winning bid. The New Zealand-bred horse was then sent to Australia to be educated and any thoughts Ramchandani had of sending the gelding to race in Hong Kong would have been difficult when it returned a less than satisfactory veterinary report at the New Zealand sale – a condition which probably explained his bargain price. Fortunately, the veterinary scope report had no bearing on the horse’s performances and he has already banked HK$11 million. Armed with Group 2 and Group 3 victories, Antino broke through for his maiden Group 1 win when Blake Shinn scored an exciting six and a half length victory in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield and followed with a narrow second at his last start in the Group 1 VRC Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington on 9 November. Gollan said it was remarkable Antino has made his way to Hong Kong. “Obviously the owner bought him online at a ready to run sale from New Zealand and he is a New Zealand-bred horse who has made his way to Queensland in Australia,” Gollan said. “It’s quite remarkable that to get back over here and it’s fantastic for his owner to have the horse racing here on such a big day. It’s a full circle for this horse, that’s for sure. “It’s a good story to have the horse racing here in the owner’s home town.” Gollan knows Sunday’s race is another step-up on what Antino has contested in the past with the field containing a strong mix of top local and international runners. The Queenslander admits he doesn’t know much about the form of the other international runners and how their form compares with Antino. “I can draw a little bit of a line through some of the horse’s form, but the market is usually better informed that I am and the market says it’s a very open race,” he said. “The market has been open for a while and we knew we were a good enough chance in what looked to be an open Hong Kong Mile without them having their local champion Golden Sixty.” Gollan admitted the retirement of the legendary Golden Sixty, international racing’s highest-ever prizemoney earner, was a major reason to make the decision to contest the Hong Kong Mile. “It’s a different style Hong Kong Mile this year and my job was to make sure to get him to the races on Sunday in good as shape as he was at Flemington in the (Group 1) Champions Mile (1600m),” he said. “If we can do that, the market shows we can be competitive. “He has pretty well matched it with the best milers all spring.” Asked if Antino would have made the trip to Hong Kong if Golden Sixty was still racing, Gollan said: “It would have made things a little bit different, wouldn’t it. It’s a hypothetical question but would I have come here to take on a $1.40 local? Maybe not.” Shinn, who has ridden with great success in Hong Kong, is back on Antino after missing his last start because of suspension and was replaced by Mark Zahra who rode the gelding to a narrow second in the Group 1 VRC Champions Mile (1600m) to specialist miler and eight-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside. Gollan said it just wasn’t an advantage to have Shinn on because of his local Sha Tin knowledge, but he knows the traits of the horse who can make things difficult by being tardy out of the barriers and getting back in his races. A fast finisher, he’ll appreciate both a strong tempo and a firm track. Horse racing news View the full article

Australian sprinter dumps rider at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning before completing hit-out on the turf.View the full article

What Geelong Races Where Geelong Racecourse – 99 Breakwater Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219 When Thursday, December 5, 2024 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble Racing in Victoria this Thursday heads to Geelong, where a competitive nine-race meeting is set down for decision. A perfect summer’s day is forecast, with the track conditions set to replicate those in the sky. The rail is out 5m, with racing set to get underway at 1:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Geelong: Universal Harmony Somehow, Universal Harmony is still a maiden through nine starts. The four-year-old gelding was denied by the barest of margins at Bairnsdale on November 19 when caught on the line in a driving finish. He gains the services of Blake Shinn, and the pair look likely to land outside lead from barrier nine. From there, Shinn will be able to dictate when to go for home. Best Bet Race 3 – #2 Universal Harmony (9) 4yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Blake Shinn (59.5kg) +260 with Neds Next Best at Geelong: Frawley Frawley was rolled as favourite when finishing second first-up at Hamilton on November 8. The son of Written Tycoon was fresh off a nine-month spell and was left flat-footed when the leader went for home. From barrier eight, Linda Meech will likely camp in the one-one throughout over 1321m, and when asked to quicken, Frawley should have no issue in disposing of his rivals in the Geelong finale. Next Best Race 9 – #5 Frawley (8) 4yo Horse | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Linda Meech (59.5kg) +400 with BlondeBet Best Value at Geelong: Cameron Falls Cameron Falls put in a stinker at Ballarat on November 11, but his previous two runs showed promise. Having just been caught in the shadows of the post at Seymour on October 13, he was then badly held up for a run when beaten by 1.5 lengths at Benalla two weeks later. Billy Egan will likely look to hold a position in the first four on settling, and with a strong finishing burst under the bonnet, Cameron Falls looks a great play at the price on offer with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 5 – #1 Cameron Falls (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Lee & Shannon Hope | J: Billy Egan (59.5kg) +650 with Picklebet Thursday quaddie tips for Geelong Geelong quadrella selections Thursday, December 5, 2024 1-3-5-8 1-3-6-13 2-4-5-8-9 5 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

12 of the world’s best jockeys will contest the International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley. Several returning heroes were among the galaxy of stars present at the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) press conference at Tai Kwun in Central, Hong Kong on Tuesday. Among them was Rachel King, who will be hoping to emulate her flawless start to last year’s competition after striking in the opening leg on her Happy Valley debut aboard Oversubscribed. The rider was born in Britain but has reached the pinnacle of Australian racing, and it is that nation she will represent at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening after visiting Japan and America earlier this year. “It helped kicking off the night well and having a winner last year, so it was nice to be asked back again,” King said. “For my first ride to win was huge and it was definitely a different kind of buzz.” King has enjoyed some of the finest moments in the saddle for Mark Newnham, who was previously based in Australia but now trains in Hong Kong, and the jockey is particularly looking forward to rekindling that relationship in the event’s first heat. The pair will combine with Super Baby, who is drawn in the advantageous stall one, while King also gives the last-time-out winner Storming Dragon a strong chance in leg four. “I’m going into the event with a higher level of confidence this year,” she said. “It’s not too dissimilar to a few of the Australian tracks, so I feel like I have a bit of an advantage there. “I feel like I know it like one of the locals now. It won’t be easy but I should feel more comfortable.” Another returning IJC race winner is Colin Keane, who shares the same unique distinction as King, having also struck on his first ride at the track. That victory came aboard Special Stars in the first round of the 2018 competition, and he added a second winner the following year when successful aboard Flying Quest in the third IJC race. The Irish rider has enjoyed a fine winter in the saddle, having partnered Magnum Force to success at the Breeders’ Cup in the United States of America. Now he hopes to improve his superb course record. “This place has been lucky for me and I was delighted to be asked back,” Keane said. “These are the places you want to be riding as you’re against the best in the world.” Keane will be hoping to capitalise on decent draws in the first and final legs aboard Circuit Seven and Kyrus Dragon, respectively. “I think I have an okay bunch of rides,” he said. “You’d like to be on a horse who wants to be on the pace, but the two horses I won on before came from behind, so it just depends on the way the race is run.” Yuga Kawada makes his fourth appearance in the IJC and will be bidding to emulate the successes of his Japanese weighing room colleagues Yutaka Take and Yuichi Fukunaga, who were successful in 2004 and 2014. Kawada hit the crossbar twice 12 months ago, finishing a non-scoring fourth in each of the opening two legs. “I think I’ve been luckier with the draw than last year,” said Kawada, who has favourable berths on David Hall-trained pair Golden Darci and Never Too Soon in rounds two and three. “I feel better prepared thanks to my previous visits.” Kawada will be the focus of many Japanese hopes on Sunday, with key rides on leading contenders Jantar Mantar in the HK$36 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and Liberty Island, who goes head-to-head with Romantic Warrior in the HK$40 million Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m). On Liberty Island, Kawada said: “I personally think she has a big chance, she’s a filly with a huge amount of quality.” Horse racing news View the full article

Without A Fight exercises at Sha Tin. Already the winner of two significant Group 1 races – Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Melbourne Cup (3200m), both in 2023 – young Australian trainer Sam Freedman is confident Without A Fight can topple a class field of local and international runners in Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m). Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, describes the seven-year-old as a world-class galloper with an amazing will to win who can add a third Group 1 to his imposing career, which has already returned AU$9.74 million (approx. HK$50 million) in prizemoney. After completing the rare Caulfield Cup and Melbourne double last year, Without A Fight suffered a tendon injury last December and, after a long rehabilitation program, returned with a first-up third to champion mare Via Sistina in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9. “It was a great first-up run and obviously it was a long time off and it was against one of the best horses (Via Sistina) in the world,” Freedman said. “He closed it off well and might have felt the pinch a little bit in the last 100 (metres) but has tightened from that and had a nice trial (1600m) in Melbourne before he got onto the plane and he is nice and forward.” When the timing of a defence of the 2023 Cup became increasingly unlikely, the HK$24 million Hong Kong Vase had been a long-term consideration for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum who decided to leave the gelding in Australia with the Freedmans after an unsuccessful tilt at the 2022 Melbourne Cup for English father and son trainers, Simon and Ed Crisford. Freedman, who was always destined to become a trainer, spent two years after leaving university with top European trainer Roger Varian, who introduced him to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid. The brief meeting obviously left an impression, with the horse later being assigned to the Freedman stable some years later. “It was a relationship with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid from my time with Roger Varian going back eight or nine years,” Freedman recalled. “He made the decision to obviously send him (Without A Fight) to us following that Melbourne Cup, and we are very fortunate to have the horse walk in to the stable. “It was amazing foresight from Sheikh Mohammed Obaid to race the horse in Australia and leave him out with us and obviously that sort of paid off last year.” The stable is now happy to have the horse back on track, and contesting another Group 1 feature is very special,” Freedman said. “He (Without A Fight) was obviously a long time off the scene, and we were trying to get him ready for the (Melbourne) Cup this year, but we were going to run out of time, so once we weren’t able to get there, we immediately looked at Hong Kong and the Vase was pretty quickly the target,” Freedman said. “He is obviously world-class, and I think he is one of the better stayers around, and we’ll see how he measures up. “The injury was significant enough and he had a long time off but it rehabed really well and it couldn’t have gone smoother.” Without A Fight, as Freedman says, is a well-travelled horse, having finished second in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold (2410m) feature at Meydan under Simon and Ed Crisford’s care in 2022. “He is pretty straight-forward horse and under the conditions on Sunday he hopefully should be well suited,” Freedman said. It’s not Freedman’s first foray into Hong Kong after bringing five-time Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane to contest the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) in 2019. He started favourite, but finished fourth after not handling the conditions and “melting.” Since joining the Freedman stable, Without A Fight has been unplaced in only one of six starts, which have also netted a Group 2 and Group 3 victory. Mark Zahra is booked to ride Democracy Manifest in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) Saturday and will arrive in Hong Kong on race morning. Horse racing news View the full article

French handler turns to gun three-year-old to ease pain of failed bid at city’s marquee meeting four years ago.View the full article

What 2024 Northerly Stakes Where Ascot Racecourse – Perth, Western Australia When Saturday, December 7, 2024 Prizemoney $1,500,000 Distance 1800m Conditions Weight For Age 2023 winner Dom To Shoot (1) | T: Sean & Jake Casey | J: Jarrad Noske (59kg) Visit Dabble The Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) will be the feature event on the nine-race card at Ascot this Saturday afternoon. With 18 runners accepting for the 16-horse contest, a full field is expected to take their place in the final Group 1 of the calendar year. Western Australian-based trainers have had a stranglehold on the Northerly Stakes in recent times, particularly the Grant & Alana Williams stable, who have won three of the last six editions. Due to their only being four runners heading west from Eastern states, will the home town dominance continue, or will an interstate runner steal the Northerly Stakes title? 2024 Northerly Stakes odds The Mitchell Freedman-trained Attrition opened as the favourite at $4.60 with horse racing bookmakers, just ahead of the 2024 WA Guineas winner, Storyville, who sits on the second line of betting at $4.80. Three other runners have been marked under $10, with Democracy Manifest ($6.50), Super Smink ($7.50) and Light Infantry Man ($8.00) given strong chances after running in the Group 1 Railway Stakes two weeks ago. Outside of the market fanices, Socks Nation ($12), Zipaway ($15) and Numerian ($21) are expected to be supported at bigger odds. 2024 Northerly Stakes speed map There doesn’t appear to be a lot of speed in the 2024 Northerly Stakes as Marocchino is the only natural leader engaged in this contest. After pushing forward to settle on speed in the Railway Stakes, expect Socks Nation to do the same again, while William Pike will have a decision to make on Storyville from barrier one, and he they could land in the box seat. Attrition, Bustler and Zipaway should settle behind the top three and get the best runs in the race from their inside barriers. Democracy Manifest, Casino Seventeen and Super Smink will be at the back of the field, hoping for a strong tempo throughout the 1800m journey. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Northerly Stakes. Northerly Stakes 2024 preview & form Attrition goes on top in the 2024 Northerly Stakes, following a strong performance in the Listed Five Diamonds (1800m), where the Mitchell Freedman-trained entire was a little unlucky in the final 150m. Before his fourth-place finish in the Five Diamonds, the son of Churchill was a dominant winner of the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) after settling on speed before sprinting away from his rivals in the concluding stages. Beau Mertens will make the trip over to Perth for this start, and if he can land in the first six from barrier five, Attrition can win his second Group 1 in as many years. Super Smink has returned to form this preparation, finishing in the top three in each of her four starts, including a great win in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes. Meanwhile, Storyville brings great form from the three-year-old ranks and has to be considered, much like Democracy Manifest, who started as the favourite in the Five Diamonds and settled too far back in the Railway Stakes last start. Northerly Stakes 2024 selections & best bets Selections: 2 ATTRITION 14 SUPER SMINK 16 STORYVILLE 6 DEMOCRACY MANIFEST $100 betting strategy $50 win Attrition (#2) @ +360 with BlondeBet $25 each-way Overpass (#1) @ +650 & +160 with Playup 2024 Northerly Stakes field 1. Numerian (9) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Clint Johnston-Porter W: 59kg F: 8×901 Age: 9YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) Dam: Delicate Charm (IRE) +2000 +450 2. Attrition (5) T: Mitchell Freedman J: Beau Mertens W: 59kg F: 41472 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Churchill (IRE) Dam: Queen’s Kiss +360 -111.11 3. Bustler (3) T: Neville Parnham J: Brad Parnham W: 59kg F: 020×0 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Cosmah Domination +2600 +550 4. Casino Seventeen (17) T: Grant & Alana Williams J: Jarrod Noske W: 59kg F: 01×68 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Casino Prince Dam: Tikal +2000 +450 5. Light Infantry Man (15) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ethan Brown W: 59kg F: 01796 Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Fast Company (IRE) Dam: Lights On Me (GB) +700 +170 6. Marocchino (13) T: Lou Luciani J: Jason Whiting W: 59kg F: 78×24 Age: 8YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Maschino Dam: Comesitbesideme +10000 +2000 7. Democracy Manifest (2) T: Chris Waller J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 03804 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Flying Artie Dam: Slippery Satin +550 +140 8. Let’s Galahvant (14) T: Daniel & Ben Pearce J: Shaun McGruddy W: 59kg F: 587×3 Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Galah Dam: Secret Crush +2200 +450 9. Mojo Rhythm (10) T: Mitchell Pateman J: Patrick Carbery W: 59kg F: 6190x Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Saddle Me Up +5000 +1000 10. River Rubicon (12) T: Steve Wolfe J: Joseph Azzopardi W: 59kg F: 80932 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Rubick Dam: Woodala +10000 +2000 11. Currimundi (18) T: Steve Wolfe J: Jordan Turner W: 59kg F: 54200 Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Pins Perhaps (NZ) +10000 +2000 12. Zipaway (4) T: Neville Parnham J: Steven Parnham W: 58.5kg F: 94×30 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Boutique +1400 +320 13. Admiration Express (11) T: Jason Miller J: Lucy Fiore W: 57kg F: 80312 Age: 5YO Colour: Grey Sex: Mare Sire: My Admiration Dam: Comme Ci +10000 +2000 14. Super Smink (6) T: Daniel Morton J: Chris Parnham W: 56.5kg F: 3123x Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Super One Dam: Sminky Shorts +650 +160 15. Socks Nation (8) T: Ciaron Maher J: Declan Bates W: 56.5kg F: 030×1 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Sioux Nation Dam: Tahnee Tiara +1100 +260 16. Storyville (1) T: Grant & Alana Williams J: William Pike W: 50kg F: 11851 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Overshare Dam: New Orleans +380 -105.26 17. Russian To The Bar (16) T: Luke Fernie J: TBC W: 58.5kg F: 369×0 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Russian Revolution Dam: Rosie Rocket +20000 +5000 18. Flower Of Gold (7) T: Simon Miller J: TBC W: 50kg F: 43311 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Bull Point Dam: Indian Flower +3300 +700 Horse racing tips View the full article

Babylon Berlin will contest Saturday’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Well-performed speed merchant Babylon Berlin will strip a fitter mare for Saturday’s assignment at Ellerslie. The daughter of All Too Hard will bid to add to her impressive black-type sprinting record when she steps out in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1200m), a race she won in 2022. Babylon Berlin opened her current preparation in convincing fashion when she romped away with the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa last month and then finished fifth in the Group 3 Counties Bowl (1100m) at Pukekohe. It was a last-start performance that pleased part-owner and co-trainer Ben Foote, who prepares the mare with son Ryan, after a hiccup between outings. “She missed a week’s work after Te Rapa with quite a deep-seated stone bruise, so she was always going to be a bit short,” he said. “I was more than satisfied under the circumstances and she’s done well since.” The seven-year-old will again be ridden by Vinnie Colgan, who has guided the chestnut’s fortunes in her last two appearances. A return to northern headquarters and the set weights and penalties conditions of the Concorde will also be in Babylon Berlin’s favour. “It suits her a lot better than Pukekohe, it seems to be such a long way down that straight, and she loves Ellerslie,” Foote said. On that theme, the Sistema Railway (1200m) on January 25 will be Babylon Berlin’s main aim. “That’s definitely the Group One that we’re targeting, whether she goes to the Telegraph (Group 1, 1200m) before than I don’t know at this stage,” Foote said. “She thrives in the summer months, maybe she likes the hotter weather like her trainer.” The mare has already placed twice in the Ellerslie feature, and in the Telegraph, and success at the highest level would be a richly deserved reward for the seven-year-old. Horse racing news View the full article

Ryan Moore is chasing a third IJC title. Ryan Moore was playing it typically cool over his chances in Wednesday’s International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley. Moore was among the 12 superstar riders at the IJC Press Conference in Tai Kwun, the culture and heritage venue in Central, Hong Kong. The 41-year-old has put his hands on the IJC trophy on two occasions in 2009 and 2010 and has been virtually an ever-present in intervening years as well as winning most of the calendar’s noteworthy races. He will be in action again across the Group 1 events in the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) this Sunday at Sha Tin, including for Aidan O’Brien on Luxembourg in the HK$24 million Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and Content in the HK$40 million Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m). Although he is thought to have a good book of rides in the four IJC legs, he insisted the competition was wide open. “Every single jockey in this line-up is capable of winning the competition,” Moore said. “The draw shapes the races here, obviously that’s how it is in most places but here, you’re at the mercy of the race a lot more than it can be at other places. “You can overcome it and that’s why you don’t know what will happen here, and why you can never be confident singling out anyone.” Moore’s rides in the IJC begin for his regular associate John Size, for whom he landed the 2018 Hong Kong Derby (2000m) with Ping Hai Star, and is booked for previous course and distance winner Grand Nova from barrier 12 in the 1st Leg (1000m). In the 2nd Leg (1650m) he is aboard Pierre Ng’s Viva Chaleur, who caught the eye when third last time while Caspar Fownes-trained Daring Pursuit seeks a hat-trick of course and distance victories in the 3rd Leg (1650m). Moore rounds the night off aboard the consistent Lucky Eight for Ricky Yiu in the 4th Leg (1200m). “I have had a quick look at them but I haven’t gone through them properly,” he said. “I think for most of the races, they were quite even. They’ve got chances although a couple of them, the sprinters, are drawn a bit wide.” Speaking about his association with the trainers, he added: “I ride for John. Ricky and Pierre, I’ve ridden for a little bit and I’ve known Caspar a long time. “I think you can make a case for a lot of horses in there and it depends which turns up on the day.” Horse racing news View the full article

Democracy Manifest. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Mark Zahra is determined to claim Group 1 success in Perth this weekend after falling short in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m). Zahra rode Democracy Manifest in the feature race, with the Chris Waller-trained gelding finishing 14th, just four lengths off the winner. Now, Democracy Manifest will take on Saturday’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot. “He’s not the best horse away, so I ended up in a position where I was back. I got onto the back of Light Infantry Man, but he didn’t get a massive crack at them either, “Zahra told TabTouch Radio. “He wasn’t fully tested, so I went to the line with something in hand. “We were under no illusion before the race, drawn terribly, but as long as he hit the line strong, we wanted a horse in two weeks’ time as well. “When I got off him, I said, ‘Right, I’m happy to come back and amend for that.’” Scheduled to ride in Hong Kong this weekend, Zahra slightly changed his plans to reunite with Democracy Manifest for another shot at Group 1 honours. “I wasn’t booked to ride him because I was going earlier this week, but he went pretty good and I thought I have to come back. I was keen to put myself back in, and the 1800 metres will suit him better. “Hopefully, we can get the money this time” 2024 Northerly Stakes field 1. Numerian (9) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Clint Johnston-Porter W: 59kg F: 8×901 Age: 9YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) Dam: Delicate Charm (IRE) +2000 +450 2. Attrition (5) T: Mitchell Freedman J: Beau Mertens W: 59kg F: 41472 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Churchill (IRE) Dam: Queen’s Kiss +360 -111.11 3. Bustler (3) T: Neville Parnham J: Brad Parnham W: 59kg F: 020×0 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Cosmah Domination +2600 +550 4. Casino Seventeen (17) T: Grant & Alana Williams J: Jarrod Noske W: 59kg F: 01×68 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Casino Prince Dam: Tikal +2000 +450 5. Light Infantry Man (15) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ethan Brown W: 59kg F: 01796 Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Fast Company (IRE) Dam: Lights On Me (GB) +700 +170 6. Marocchino (13) T: Lou Luciani J: Jason Whiting W: 59kg F: 78×24 Age: 8YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Maschino Dam: Comesitbesideme +10000 +2000 7. Democracy Manifest (2) T: Chris Waller J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 03804 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Flying Artie Dam: Slippery Satin +550 +140 8. Let’s Galahvant (14) T: Daniel & Ben Pearce J: Shaun McGruddy W: 59kg F: 587×3 Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Galah Dam: Secret Crush +2200 +450 9. Mojo Rhythm (10) T: Mitchell Pateman J: Patrick Carbery W: 59kg F: 6190x Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Saddle Me Up +5000 +1000 10. River Rubicon (12) T: Steve Wolfe J: Joseph Azzopardi W: 59kg F: 80932 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Rubick Dam: Woodala +10000 +2000 11. Currimundi (18) T: Steve Wolfe J: Jordan Turner W: 59kg F: 54200 Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Pins Perhaps (NZ) +10000 +2000 12. Zipaway (4) T: Neville Parnham J: Steven Parnham W: 58.5kg F: 94×30 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Boutique +1400 +320 13. Admiration Express (11) T: Jason Miller J: Lucy Fiore W: 57kg F: 80312 Age: 5YO Colour: Grey Sex: Mare Sire: My Admiration Dam: Comme Ci +10000 +2000 14. Super Smink (6) T: Daniel Morton J: Chris Parnham W: 56.5kg F: 3123x Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Super One Dam: Sminky Shorts +650 +160 15. Socks Nation (8) T: Ciaron Maher J: Declan Bates W: 56.5kg F: 030×1 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Sioux Nation Dam: Tahnee Tiara +1100 +260 16. Storyville (1) T: Grant & Alana Williams J: William Pike W: 50kg F: 11851 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Overshare Dam: New Orleans +380 -105.26 17. Russian To The Bar (16) T: Luke Fernie J: TBC W: 58.5kg F: 369×0 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Russian Revolution Dam: Rosie Rocket +20000 +5000 18. Flower Of Gold (7) T: Simon Miller J: TBC W: 50kg F: 43311 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Bull Point Dam: Indian Flower +3300 +700 Horse racing news View the full article

Angel Capital ridden by Ben Melham winning the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Clinton McDonald’s promising three-year-old colt, Angel Capital, has an ambitious autumn campaign lined up, with the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) identified as key targets. McDonald revealed that the son of Harry Angel will kick off his campaign in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) on January 24, before progressing to the two Group 1 contests at Caulfield in February. Last seen finishing sixth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Angel Capital returned to McDonald’s Cranbourne stable on Monday to begin preparations. “He’s done two weeks of dressage; he just came back into our stable today,” McDonald told Racing.com. “He looks great. He’s starting to really develop into a man now … he’s looking good, looking terrific.” Despite his sixth-place finish in the Caulfield Guineas, McDonald hasn’t ruled out another attempt over the mile. “We’re sort of in the unknown there only because of the track conditions and how that track raced, so it’s not off the radar,” he explained. “We just thought the 1400m at Caulfield, seven furlongs, Group 1, trying to make a stallion out of him, that might be the way to go.” Angel Capital’s only defeat in the spring came in the Guineas, and connections remain optimistic about his potential at the elite level. Horse racing news View the full article

On Tuesday–just two weeks after two horses died on Laurel Park's dirt surface and not even 24 hours after Laurel announced its track superintendent would be retiring immediately–the head of the new non-profit organization that will run both Laurel and Pimlico Race Course starting in 2025 told the Maryland Racing Commission that an immediate search is underway for an expert to quell the main-track woes that have intermittently plagued Laurel the past two decades. “We will obviously do a search nationwide for a winter-weather superintendent. It's a very important position. It's a high priority for us. We will take our time and try to find the right person that fits our racetrack moving forward,” said Bill Knauf, the president and general manager of The Maryland Jockey Club Inc., the new 501(c) (4) organization that has been granted state authority to manage and operate Thoroughbred horse racing at Laurel and Pimlico. Although Maryland racing is in the midst of a private-to-public management flux that will see the state take ownership of Pimlico and rebuild it (with the three-year goal of eventually ceasing racing at Laurel and consolidating all Maryland racing at the new “Pimlico Plus”), the decades-long pattern of main-track safety difficulties at Laurel hasn't changed much, and those issues have once again percolated to crisis level. After years of freeze/thaw and drainage troubles, Laurel's main track was closed for five months in 2021 for an emergency rebuild from the base up. But eight horses died from fractures while racing or training over that new track within weeks of its opening as the weather turned colder, leading to weeks-long halts in racing through winter of 2021-22. The fatality spike quieted for more than a year, then in April 2023, five more main-track equine fatalities at Laurel caused the closure of the track for another week. 1/ST Racing (The Stronach Group), which is the current (but outgoing) owner of Laurel and Pimlico, hired veteran racing surface maintenance manager Ken Brown to oversee those tracks in September 2023. Things went generally well early on during Brown's watch–he was a former decades-long member of the Maryland track surfaces team, but had moved on to be the superintendent at Delaware Park and Colonial Downs before being lured back to Laurel and Pimlico. But this fall, after weeks without significant rain followed by downpours, problems began to crop up. Since Nov. 17 there have been two reported equine fatalities at Laurel. One was Calle de Oro (Hard Spun), a 2-year-old colt trained by Jose Corrales who was favored in a $20,000 claimer when he suffered a catastrophic injury near the three-eighths pole and had to be euthanized on the track. Another was Overwish (Curlin), a 3-year-old filly with a 2-for-3 record from trainer Brittany Russell's stable who sustained an open fracture to her right front cannon bone while galloping out at the mile pole after a four-furlong workout, requiring euthanization. Trainer Gary Capuano also reported during the Dec. 3 commission meeting that during the same time frame, one of his trainees stumbled during a morning workout, unseating the exercise rider, who fractured a cheekbone. After the two fatalities, jockeys and track management had clashing ideas about the track's safety and its maintenance procedures, leading to the cancellation of three programs at Laurel for the Friday-Sunday period of Nov. 22-24. Brown's retirement, announced by 1/ST Racing on Monday, Dec. 1, was effective immediately. His interim replacement is Danny Finke, who has 40 years of experience on Maryland track crews. When the commission on Tuesday asked for an explanation of what's going on with the Laurel surface, Mike Rogers, the executive vice president for 1/ST Racing, chose to address the issue by reading into the record an eight-minute prepared statement prior to fielding questions from commissioners. Horsemen, jockeys, and 1/ST Racing have all had differing opinions over the past week about everything from sealing, floating and harrowing protocols to the binding ability of the track's cushion to how fast the tractors pull the equipment around the oval. Rogers stated that as all parties try to work toward a consensus, helpful pieces of data are in the pipeline. He said Overwish's necropsy report was delivered yesterday, and that Maryland's safety and welfare committee is scheduled to review it Thursday. Samples from the track's cushion are being tested by outside labs to compare them to previous versions of the Laurel surface that had been deemed safe, and also to those of other comparable tracks considered safe, Rogers said. The national Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory will be at Laurel Dec. 4 to do biomechanical hoof testing on the surface, which Rogers said should yield additional info to help make decisions moving forward. Rogers also said that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has inspected Laurel's surface and found no glaring inconsistencies. He noted that the track has been able to handle four days of racing in a row (Nov. 28-Dec. 1) without any safety incidents. When asked specifically about Brown's departure, Rogers explained the situation by reading into the record the press release about Brown's retirement that 1/ST Racing had distributed Monday. Rogers went off-script at the end to add, “Mr. Finke will lead the team for the month of December.” Knauf, whose non-profit team takes control of operations from 1/ST Racing on Jan. 1, 2025, added that even after the search for a new superintendent is concluded, Finke will still retain a job on the Laurel/Pimlico maintenance team if he so chooses, as will all other current members of that crew. With the management transition looming, Rogers urged all stakeholders to take into account what other racing industry leaders have underscored in the past regarding safety crises–that it can be difficult to pinpoint direct causes of racetrack accidents, which are often multi-factorial. “There are other contributing factors,” Rogers said. “I know it's easy to point to the racetrack. But there are a lot of other contributing factors that can lead to a catastrophic breakdown. And generally, having these meetings with the necropsy [report] educates all of us as to other, maybe, contributing factors.” David Richardson, the executive director of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, summed up the situation this way: “The base appears to be in very good condition. There have been no complaints about the base of the racetrack. The concern is with the material itself, the new material that was added a just few weeks ago, and whether that sufficiently holds water or drains properly. “We want a safe track,” Richardson continued. “We want to work with Maryland Jockey Club and have a safe track. [But] there is still some concern amongst people as to where we stand.” Capuano said the problems at Laurel are not persistent–but they're not exactly new, either. “It goes back a few years, in the same kind of issues [and] it wasn't right when they came in and re-did the track [two decades ago],” Capuano said. “And then a couple years ago, we had to try to re-do it again. And it was just a matter of the right material mixed in to make it hold together.” “We've been working with this for a long time, trying to get it right,” Capuano said. “It should be easy. The technology, the equipment, the science,” Capuano quipped, noting that in reality, maintaining a racetrack is far from simple. “You would think that it would just be a push-button, easy thing to take care of.” Technology is helpful, Capuano continued. “But it's nothing like the [maintenance team] guys walking in the dirt that have that experience [to] know what it's like. They know what [the track] needs. “I mean, nothing's perfect,” Capuano summed up. “Things are going to happen. But if we have the confidence that we send [horses] out there and [management's] done the best they can, that's all we're looking for.” The post ‘Nationwide Search’ for New Maryland Track Superintendent appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mark Twain. (Photo by Ross Holburt/Racing Photos) Mark Twain is nearing the end of his rehabilitation from a tendon injury, with connections setting their sights on a Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign in 2025. OTI Racing director Terry Henderson shared this week that the rehabilitation program, successfully utilised by other stablemates with similar injuries, boasts a comeback success rate of approximately 70 percent—offering strong hope for Mark Twain’s return to racing. “He’s close to the end of his rehabilitation with Matty Williams, and he looks good as he finishes off,” Henderson told Racing.com. “What happens now is that he will have six weeks in the paddock, and then Matty will give him four or five weeks’ work before he goes back to (trainer) Roger (James). “So it’ll be about three months before he gets back to Roger, and that will allow him a good, slow build-up to the spring. “The (rehabilitation) process has worked well. We’ve had a number of horses go through it, including last Saturday’s winner Karburan, and we are running at about 70 percent (success rate). “If you can get them back for four or five runs, we call it a success, so fingers crossed.” Horse racing news View the full article

Race 1 JOHN REVELL MEMORIAL MAIDEN 1150m PERFECT DIVIDENDS (B Rogerson) – Co-trainer Mr. R Vance reported to Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of PERFECT DIVIDENDS, and it is their intention to carry on with the gelding’s current preparation. R Vance further advised the stable may look to nominate PERFECT DIVIDENDS for the Auckland TR meeting on Thursday 12 December. The post Racing Te Aroha @ Te Aroha, Wednesday, 27 November 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

A 23-race Friday night, the re-appearance of a champ, and a milestone for the Smiths all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Bumper dual venue Friday night This week will see the first 12-race card on a Friday night at Alexandra Park since April 7, 2017. Starting at 5.24pm the meeting will feature the $40,000 Thames Goldfields Summer Cup, the $40,000 Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Stakes and the $40,000 Thames Members Handicap Trot. There will also be an 11-race card at Addington including three Group 1s, the Garrards Pacing and Trotting Derbies and The Christian Cullen. Excluding Show Day the last time there were more than 22 races on a Friday night was back on July 20,2018 when there were 23 – 11 at Auckland (including two non totes) and 12 at Addington (also including two non totes). The Friday Night Lights concept has been a huge focus for Entain and HRNZ this year and is a key part of The Future Starts Now strategy to reinvigorate racing in the north. Christian Cullen back on track Just weeks after his 30th birthday, Christian Cullen will make a guest appearance at Addington on Friday night. The million dollar earner will lead out the field in the race named after him, the $200,000 The Christian Cullen for the 4YO pacers (7.56pm). It’s the first ever running of the Group 1 and will feature the likes of Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming. Christian Cullen was chosen as the name for the new Group 1 after an on-line competition. As a four-year-old he won 12 from 12 including the 1998 New Zealand Cup, the Auckland Cup and the Miracle Mile. Harness racing’s pin up boy at the time, over all the Brian O’Meara-trained star won 22 from 31 starts and over $1.2m in stakes. Hanrahan recovering at home Mid Canterbury trainer Laurence Hanrahan is on the mend after being kicked by a horse at the Methven races on Sunday. He had his ribs broken in the incident, and also suffered a small tear to his spleen. Hanrahan is a well-known and successful trainer and is also the horse ambulance driver/operator in Canterbury. After being treated at hospital he is now back home. HRNZ would like to wish him all the best with his recovery. Cadet of the year comp The annual Harness Racing New Zealand Cadet of the Year competition was held in Christchurch on Monday. The four finalists were found after a series of regional competitions and they were put through all sorts of tests, including horse management, general knowledge, interviewing skills, as well as their driving and other horse-related prowess. The winner of the Cadet of the Year will be announced at the HRNZ annual awards at Addington Raceway in February. 100 training successes Rakaia trainers Lynn and Justin Smith secured their 100th training success when they notched a double at the Akaroa Trotting Club meeting at Motukarara on Saturday. Beyond The Horizon and Lookslikeatrixter both won with Justin in the sulky. Their 100 wins have come from 1081 starts with their first win together being Some Direction at Ashburton in 2004. Lynn Smith has also had 45 wins on her own account. What a year, for horse and driver Twin B Joe Fresh has rounded out a near faultless 2024 with victory in the $150,000 FanDuel Championships at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Driven by ex-pat Kiwi star Dexter Dunn, who is also a part owner of the star mare, Twin B Joe Fresh became the event’s first two-time winner. It was her 11th win in 13 starts. She was second in her other two starts. She has now won 30 of 40 races overall and earned $US2.33m. She is the number one ranked horse in North America, with her connections confident she’ll be back for a five-year-old season, rather than heading to the broodmare paddock. Dunn won five of eight major stakes race at the Big M on the day. He has now has 304 wins for the year and is all but guaranteed a fifth Driver of the Year title in the last six years. His stakes earnings of $16.6m are nearly $2.5m more than any other driver. Yannick Gingras is second on $14.25m. NZB catalogue out now The catalogue is out for next February’s NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Auckland and Christchurch. The Karaka sale will be held on February 15, with Christchurch three days later. There will be around 340 lots in total. To see the catalogue click here Club News : Invercargill The Invercargill Harness Racing Club’s massive Christmas meeting featuring the Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup returns this year on Friday 20 December. Since attaining Group 1 status and receiving a pre-Christmas date the meeting has gone from strength to strength with large crowds attending each year including many who use the event for their end of year Christmas functions. The stake for the cup is $100,000 with a quality support card including the Group 3 Brendan Franks Farrier David Moss Stakes Trot with a stake of $50,000, the Canada Stakes for a purse of $30,000, the SBSR Sires Stakes Southern Solstice Mobile Pace also for $30,000 and the Diamond Creek Farm/SBSR Robin Dundee Crown for stakes of $25,000. A popular feature over the past few seasons has been a competition where on course patrons can win the opportunity to place a bet of up to $1000 on the Cup by dropping their losing tote tickets or a coupon from the race book in one of the labelled buckets around the course with their name and phone number on the back for a special draw. The draw will be made prior to Race 5 where each ticket or coupon drawn will receive a runner in that race. Should your runner finish first in race 5 you receive $1000 to bet on the Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup. Second in the race 5 competition gets $300 to spend on the Cup and third $200. To enter you must be 18 years of age or older. Ladies Fashion In The Field, supported by Elegance 148 On Elles Restaurant, McLeay Jewellers and Craig Heyrick of Harcourts Real Estate, Invercargill, is back with entries open on course until Race 3 on the day with some great prizes up for grabs. Details will be in the race book on the day. Six contestants will be found for the final which will take place in the birdcage later in the day. The race meeting is a twilight event due to commence at 3.30pm, ideal for those end of year functions and get togethers. Anyone wishing to book hospitality space for a function should contact Southern Harness Racing’s Promotions Officer, Lindsay Beer either at 021 351 499 or lindsay.beer@xtra.co.nz View the full article

Check out this week’s The Box Seat with Matt Cross and Greg O’Connor View the full article

Ben Allen returns to the mounting yard aboard Bittercreek after winning the Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Talented three-year-old colt Bittercreek is set to return to Queensland, aiming for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast this January. Trained by Leon and Troy Corstens in partnership with Will Larkin, Bittercreek will embark on his second Queensland campaign following his runner-up finish behind Broadsiding in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm earlier this year. That performance came just two starts after his triumph in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) at Doomben. The son of Snitzel recently placed second in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m), finishing behind Snitzanova. Horse racing bookmakers have Bittercreek at an $8 quote for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, a race that promises to be a highlight of the Gold Coast carnival. Horse racing news View the full article

Race 8 A1 HOMES & A WOMANS TOUCH CLEAN 2030m LADYSWEY (T Moseley) – Trainer Mr. M Jones advised Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of the mare, however, LADYSWEY has now been sent for a spell. The post Central Otago Racing Club @ Cromwell, Friday, 29 November 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

In Hong Kong, Christmas comes early for racing fans, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club hosting their International Races at Sha Tin each December. For the last six years, expat Kiwi Tom Wood has been centre stage at the pinnacle racing event, calling the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship meeting at Happy Valley on the Wednesday prior to co-hosting the television coverage of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on the Sunday. This year the respective meetings will be held this week (December 4 and 8), and Wood is excited to be a part of the action once more. “It is always the best time of year to be here in Hong Kong, not only because of the racing, but the weather is normally good – it is not so hot and humid,” Wood said. “It is just a good time to be here.” Wood, the son of Cambridge trainer Chris Wood, commenced his race calling career in New Zealand, beginning a cadetship with Trackside. Graduating out of his time as a cadet, Wood began calling in the lower South Island before plying his trade in the Central Districts. He was then lured to Singapore, where he honed his craft for 18 months, and subsequently attained a coveted contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Wood is loving his time in Hong Kong and has committed to staying there for the immediate future, extending his contract with the club at the end of last season. “I am into my seventh season here in Hong Kong. I re-signed at the end of last season for another three seasons, I was more than happy to stay,” he said. While being away from his family in New Zealand has been tough, Wood said he and his wife Stacey have established a good lifestyle in Hong Kong for themselves and their young family. “My family and I are settled here, we have two kids, a four-year-old (Penelope) and a nearly eight-month-old (Abigail),” Wood said. “We are fortunate that we don’t live right in the city, and we have a good lifestyle in Sai Kung, which is over the hill from Sha Tin and coastal, and our oldest goes down the road to a kindergarten each day. “It is difficult without the family support, but we are fortunate that my brother lives here as well, so he can help out with the kids if we want to go out. “He was playing rugby here, but he is now retired. He is coaching the second division team at the Hong Kong Football Club, which is the club that is in the middle of Happy Valley Racecourse, and he is also a teacher at one of the English Federation schools here. “It is a good lifestyle for the kids. It would be nice to be around family with young cousins, but the oldest (daughter) has friends at kindy and my wife has got a few friends about, which helps.” While working in Hong Kong, the New Zealand accent hasn’t been far away, with fellow Kiwi Paul Lally also a part of the presenting team, along with former Canterbury race caller Mark McNamara, who calls at Sha Tin. “Paul Lally is on the coverage as well, and we are proud Kiwis,” Wood said. “We are always interested in the (New Zealand-bred) horses that arrive here that come with their sales records out of Karaka and their breeding links. “They always acquit themselves well here on the big stage. It is never easy to come out of those races in NZ and come in on those difficult ratings of 70-upwards at the top end of Class 3 and perform here, but it is always good to see when they do.” One of those New Zealand-breds that Wood has taken particular delight in following is Ka Ying Rising. The son of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress has been a phenomenon since arriving in Hong Kong, winning eight of his 10 starts for trainer David Hayes to date, including the Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m), Gr.2 Premier Bowl (1200m), and Gr.2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m). The four-year-old gelding, who was bred by Marton trainer Fraser Auret, has become a cult hero in Hong Kong, and is favoured to take out the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on Sunday. “Ka Ying Rising has been unbelievable with what he has done,” Wood said. “It is a great story with where he has come from. It is the first horse that Fraser Auret has bred. “Out of all the sprinters that are coming here, I don’t think there are any that can beat him. The Hong Kong horses generally dominate when it comes to the sprinting ranks here and I don’t see that changing. “I spoke with David Hayes, and he said he thinks he’s better than before he was last start (Gr.2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint), so it could be something special we witness at Sha Tin on Sunday.” Wood also enjoys following the success of fellow expat James McDonald, who was recently bestowed the 2024 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award. McDonald has been undertaking a short-term contract in Hong Kong and will feature prominently at Happy Valley and Sha Tin this week, competing in the International Jockeys’ Championship before trying to create history with Romantic Warrior in the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m). “J-Mac here with Romantic Warrior, I think it is going to be a great clash between him and Liberty Island in the Cup, but I think he will pick up a third historic Hong Kong Cup,” Wood said. This week proves to be one of the busiest on Wood’s calendar, but he is excited to be a part of the action once more, and witness some of the best equine athletes on earth compete on Hong Kong soil. “I am looking forward to it,” he said. View the full article