Wandering Eyes

The first-ever vineyard harvest occurred at Newsells Park Stud this past week. The 1200-acre estate is the first Thoroughbred stud in Europe to establish a vineyard for premium English sparkling wine. The event was celebrated with hands-on picking and a gathering of Wine Club members and special guests, including Spurs legend Ossie Ardiles. Planted in 2022 on 30 acres of south-facing chalk, 41,000 vines of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier have flourished on the property. The first 'Newsells-grown' sparkling wines are expected beginning in 2028/29. Approximately 30,000 bottles are likely to be produced, with more than half set to be aged at least five years on lees. Newsells Park is currently producing wines from carefully selected English vineyards, crafted with precision and named after some of the stud's most celebrated racehorses, including Nathaniel, Shastye and Shambolic. For more information on the Wine Club and Newsells Park's English Sparkling Wine, please visit the Newsells Park website. Graham Smith-Bernal, owner of Newsells Park, said, “This is a hugely exciting milestone for Newsells Park. Just as we aim for the very highest standards in breeding and racing, we are committed to producing sparkling wines of exceptional quality. With such perfect conditions this year, our first harvest has been everything we hoped for and more.” Newsells Park will bring a strong 29-horse consignment to next week's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, with two of the highlights half-sisters to Group 1 winners Zavateri (Without Parole) and Waldgeist (Galileo). The post Milestone Vineyard Harvest For Newsells Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

10th-KEE, 110K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 5:48 p.m. John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock went to $775,000 to acquire SCARLET WAVE (Justify) at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Out of a Canadian multiple stakes-placed first dam, the filly is a three-quarter sister to GI Frizette Stakes winner Nickname (Scat Daddy) who went through the ring herself at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale in 2023 where she RNA'd for $1.45m after selling for $3m to Kerri Radcliffe at the same sale in 2017. As a broodmare, Nickname is responsible for Irish GSW Ides of March (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Debuting out of the Riley Mott barn for a partnership that now includes Mrs. John Magnier, Scarlet Wave will get Jamie Torres aboard from the outside gate. Godolphin homebred Inkling (Street Sense) is the latest to race out of GSW/MGISP Penwith who has already produced GSW Cornishman (Curlin). Godolphin acquired second dam, MGISW Composure, for $3.6m at KEENOV in 2003. She rewarded that purchase with six winning foals including GISP Tranquil Manner (A.P. Indy) and MGISP Centring (A.P. Indy) who in her own breeding career is responsible for GISP Central Avenue (Street Sense). Another daughter of Composure is the dam of MGSW Shared Sense (Street Sense), GSW Comparative (Street Sense) and SW Kinetic (Street Sense). TJCIS PPS The post Friday Insights: Turf Fillies Star On Keeneland Opening Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bidding is now open for the Fasig-Tipton October Digital Sale, with a total of 407 horses of all ages on offer. The sale has been divided into two days–bidding on hips 1-225, including horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, yearlings and weanlings will close Tuesday, Oct. 7, while a broodmare section of the sale (hips 226-407) will close Wednesday, Oct. 8. “We're really excited about the October Digital Catalogue,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “The depth of this sale has led us to split it across two days. Day 1 will feature racehorses at all levels, including some standout broodmare prospects. We're especially thrilled to welcome back A & A Ranch for a second offering of their highly sought-after yearling crop–and there are even 15 weanlings for those early-bird buyers. “Day 2 will be all about broodmares, including a reduction from Machmer Hall along with several other exceptional mares. It's already time to start thinking about breeding season, and this sale is the perfect place to get a head start.” Potential highlights include: Willow Case (Neolithic) (hip 20), whose current three-race winning streak includes victories in the six-furlong Sharp Susan Stakes and the one-mile Hallandale Beach Stakes; Athenian (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) (hip 231), offered in foal to Bucchero and whose juvenile son Argos (Nyquist) won the GI Summer Stakes at Woodbine last month; Spring Dance (Dance With Ravens) (hip 243), dam of recent GIII Oklahoma Derby hero Bracket Buster (Vekoma) and selling on a Mar. 5 cover to Blofeld. To create an account or to register to bid on horses in the October Digital Sale, visit digital.fasigtipton.com. The post Fasig-Tipton Catalogues 407 Horses For Two-Day October Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The winner Wapeka (Dubawi) (lot 26) is one of two new wildcards for Saturday's Arqana Arc Sale. Consigned by Jamie Railton, the son of Wekeela (Hurricane Run), herself a €1-million Arc Sale grad, won his second start at Craon on September 28. Wekeela was successful in the G3 Prix Chloe and GIII Matchmaker Stakes and was placed in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, GI Jenny Wiley Stakes, and GI Gamely Stakes. The other new wildcard addition to the catalogue is Fire Warning (The Grey Gatsby) (lot 52), who ran second in his hurdling debut recently. The sale takes place at 6:30 p.m. Paris time after racing on Saturday, October 4. The post Another Pair Of Arqana Wildcards Added To The Arc Sale Led By A Dubawi Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Bettina Keller Miro Weiss, the 26-time champion trainer in Switzerland, has announced his impending retirement at the age of 76. He and his family have made an incomparable impact on Swiss racing. Coming from the former Czechoslovakia, they settled in Urdorf, Zürich and began training in 1970. Since 1981, Weiss has been responsible for training up to 60 or 70 horses at time. His family's Beliar Bloodstock, originally consisting of Weiss's late father Adolf and late brother Richard, has subsequently been managed by the trainer with the support of his partner Ingrid Bult. Weiss has won every big race in Switzerland and amassed well over 1,000 winners. His two Derby winners, Majofils and Fabrino, as well as Oaks winner Blue Ellen, were ridden by British jockey Robert Havlin, who has been engaged on Swiss racetracks over many years. Many young riders found their way to Weiss's Beliar Stables and progressed to become champions in Switzerland. Also a group-winning trainer in Germany, Weiss was a successful and experienced White Turf trainer, making him popular with English colleagues, who would turn to him for advice when bringing horses to St Moritz to race on the frozen lake. In 2010, he won St Moritz's Sprint Grand Prix with Sweet Venture, ridden by Frankie Dettori. Twenty-eight horses remain in training at Beliar Stables in preparation for next year's White Turf meeting, after which the curtain will fall. The retirement of Miro Weiss brings to an end an era in Swiss racing which is not replaceable. We wish him a happy retirement. The post Swiss Champion Trainer Miro Weiss Set to Retire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

KILDARE, IRELAND – Classic winners Jim Bolger and Joe Joyce shared the spoils for top lot status on the final day of a red-hot Book 2 session of the Goffs Orby Sale on Thursday when their respective fillies by Teofilo and Mehmas sold for €135,000 apiece. Bolger's fingerprints were all over Joyce's Mehmas filly, who the breeder consigned himself under his own Cahermorris Stables banner. It was Tally-Ho Stud who landed the filly whose dam, Smart Flies, won and reached a rating of 86 when in training with Bolger. As for the legendary trainer's own offering, the Teofilo half-sister to Group 2-placed Geometrical, it was Federico Barberini who secured the filly on behalf of Dream Ahead's owner Khalifa Dasmal. Bolger was in attendance at Goffs, where he will sell 45 yearlings under his granddaughter Clare Manning's Boherguy Stud outfit at the Autumn Yearling Sale later in the year. The master of Coolcullen spoke about putting his famous Redmonstown Stud on the market last week and Thursday's joint-top lot marked the beginning of a winding down process for the man who has bred Group 1 and Classic winners like Teofilo himself along with Dawn Approach, Trading Leather, Poetic Flare and more. Asked if he expected the Teofilo filly to sell for €135,000, Bolger replied, “Not quite, but she is a gorgeous filly – everything works. She's worth every penny.” On the winding down process, he continued, “I came into this game hoping that one day I would train the winner of the Moyglare. That was the height of the ambition and I haven't gotten any more ambitious since. I take things as they come. Selling these horses, it makes life easier for me. I don't pile on pressure. We aren't in this filly's pedigree as long as others but it is a nice pedigree and we're happy with the price that she made.” Barberini has been busy at Goffs this week and confirmed that the Teofilo filly has been purchased on behalf of Khalifa Dasmal. “I saw her this morning and really fell in love with her,” Barberini said. “She's a lovely filly by a very good sire of fillies. I really loved her as an individual but she also has a fantastic pedigree. She comes from a beautiful family and the mare has already produced a black-type horse, so there's no reason why she shouldn't do it again.” He added, “She'll stay in Ireland to be broken and then we'll decide who'll train her. She's been bought for Khalifa Dasmal, a very enthusiastic and successful owner who really enjoys his racing.” As for Joyce, a native of County Galway whose colours were carried by the Frances Crowley-trained Saoire to win the Irish 1,000 Guineas back in 2005, Thursday's result sugar-coated what has been a remarkable sale for the owner-breeder. It was here at Kildare Paddocks on Tuesday when Blue Diamond Stud paid €240,000 for a filly by his own stallion Fracas, who, like Saoire, carried Joyce's familiar blue and white silks with distinction. “I have had this family for a long time,” he said after the sale of the Mehmas filly. “I bred the dam, and this is a smart filly – she is definitely a two-year-old. This is my first time selling at Goffs for I think nine years. Okay, we sold McTigue through Goffs in 2022, but it's great to be back selling a few. We usually race all of the stock but it's nice to be getting some money in for a change.” He added, “Goffs have treated us very well and put on a good show with buyers here from all over the world this week. I have had a great sale, highlighted by the Fracas selling in Book 1 for €240,000. I had to give the O'Callaghans a bit of a push earlier on and told them I had a nice filly. I think they copped on!! The dam is in foal to Good Guess and she has a cracking foal on the ground by the same sire. He is a really nice stallion.” With regards to the father-and-son combination of Tony and Roger O'Callaghan, they were not going to be beaten on the Mehmas filly. Bidding from their usual spot on the right of the rostrum, they held off competition from a number of breeze-up buyers and trainers. Asked what path the filly could chart, Tony commented, “She'll go breezing or racing. We loved the filly and she came from a good breeder from the West of Ireland in Joe Joyce. I haven't much else to say, only that we love the sire.” Asked what he felt made the progeny of Mehmas so good, O'Callaghan replied, “Their honesty and their will to win. He has been very consistent since he has started. Trainers like them. They put their head down low and they want to do it. It has been a very good sale this week but then again every sale has been good. It's been extraordinary.” The Book 2 session of the Orby followed a familiar script to Book 1 with sharp rises across the board. Of the 394 horses offered, 338 were sold at a clearance rate of 86% [up by 14% on last year]. The €8,550,000 turnover climbed 28%, the average was up by 25% to €25,296 while the median rose by 33% to €20,000. Henry Beeby commented, “Book 2 of the Irish National Yearling Sale always has a hard act to follow after two days of the best in Orby Book 1, and this year upped the ante as Monday and Tuesday returned record breaking results with new highs for average at €136,256 and the €98,000 median headed by a trio of millionaire lots. “That Orby 1 is a world class yearling sale that is the measure of any on the planet when we have the horses is proven time and again and so it was the case this week as we enjoyed a trade of sustained demand as demonstrated by the 89% clearance rate.” He added, “Orby 2 operates at a different level but the unceasing hunger for horses over the last two days has continued the trends set since August as we have seen mighty trade at Saratoga, Deauville, Doncaster, Keeneland and Fairyhouse, all at their own levels. In fact, the Orby 2 average is a record as well, and the median came within a bid of the high of 2022, whilst we have sold more six figure lots and the number making €50,000 or over has also risen dramatically, and all from a strong clearance rate of 86%. Another notable statistic is that the last 10 lots averaged well above the sale average so dispelling any suggestion of the sale tailing off in any way. “Buyer diversification is also noteworthy and the combined efforts of the Goffs Purchaser Attraction Team and our friends at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing has led to a huge number of buyers from all over the world with new faces coming specifically for Orby 2 and 35 different entities signing for lots making €50,000 and above – that's some spread. “There is no doubt that the unique Goffs Two Million Series has a positive impact on Orby 2 as well as its predecessor and the five Book 2 graduates who took home a €50,000 Goffs Bonus have acted as inspiration for buyers over the last two days much the same as those buying earlier in the week. Indeed, the €5,000 Orby 2 daughter of Coulsty bought by Nick Bradley last year is a graphic illustration of why it pays to “Tick the Box” at Orby 1 and Orby 2. “As we close out the Irish National Yearling Sales week there is no doubt there will be more headlines elsewhere in the coming weeks to follow those from USA, France and closer to home over the last couple of months, but nothing will diminish the record-breaking achievements and vibrancy of Orby 1 and Orby 2. For that we repeat our thanks to every vendor and each purchaser as we are nothing without both groups.” The post “She’s Worth Every Penny” – Jim Bolger Supplies The Joint-Top Lot At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

C2 Racing Stable LLC, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable LLC's White Abarrio (Race Day) went a half-mile Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park as he continues his preparations for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Saturday, Nov. 1. Winner of the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, the 6-year-old took to the main track following the renovation break and drilled a half-mile in :46.56 (1/7) before galloping out five furlongs in :59.29. A latest fifth, but placed fourth, in a rough-and-tumble renewal of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on Aug. 31, the 10-time winner was recording his second breeze since, having registered a three-furlong bullet in :33.73 on Sept. 25. “Last week's breeze was sharp and this week's breeze going a half is similar,” said trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., who has scheduled White Abarrio to ship to Del Mar Oct. 23. “He seems to be in good order and going well. We just want to get him in the right spot mentally to hopefully fire one of his best races again.” Joseph, Jr. has as many as five horses in the mix for Breeders' Cup weekend, including 'TDN Rising Star, Sponsored By Hagyard' Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf; and GIII Princess Rooney Stakes victress Haulin Ice (Coal Front), R Disaster (Awesome Slew), a latest winner of the GIII Vagrancy Stakes and Mystic Lake (Mo Town) for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Soul of an Angel (Atreides) gave Joseph, Jr. his first win at the Breeders' Cup in last year's Filly & Mare Sprint. Work of the Day from @GulfstreamPark—White Abarrio worked 4 Furlongs in 46.56 on October 2nd, 2025, for trainer @SaffieJosephJr. pic.twitter.com/cz1bksPdiM — 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) October 2, 2025 The post White Abarrio Breezes Another Bullet For BC Dirt Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Elite Status, a Group-winning sprinter at two and three, has been retired from racing and will stand alongside his sire, Havana Grey, at Whitsbury Manor Stud next year. A stud fee will be announced at a later date. Trained by Karl Burke for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Elite Status arrived at Royal Ascot unbeaten as a two-year-old following impressive victories in a maiden at Doncaster and the Listed National Stakes at Sandown. Though meeting with defeat when attempting to extend his winning sequence in the G2 Norfolk Stakes, ultimately finishing third behind Valiant Force, he soon opened his account in Group company with a dominant triumph in the G3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville. As a three-year-old Elite Status again kicked off his campaign in the best possible fashion, registering back-to-back wins at Newbury in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes and G3 Hackwood Stakes. On the last occasion he lowered the six-furlong course record at the Berkshire venue, winning by half a length from a trio of top-level performers in Lake Forest, Kind Of Blue and Regional. Last seen finishing seventh behind Rage Of Bamby in the latest edition of the Hackwood, Elite Status now joins the stallion ranks at Whitsbury Manor in something of a homecoming, having been born there to the three-time winner Dotted Swiss, a daughter of another former Whitsbury Manor resident in Swiss Spirit. Ed Harper, director of Whitsbury Manor Stud, said, “We have loved everything about Elite Status since the day he was born. He knocked our eyes out as a foal at home and it's fantastic we now get to support him with our mares that have already bred top runners by Havana Grey. He's not only a stunning-looking horse, but he was rated 4lbs higher than his sire and 6lbs higher than his grand sire [on Racing Post ratings], so he's the full package.” Elite Status first sold for 56,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, before being purchased by Karl and Kelly Burke for 325,000gns when returning to Park Paddocks for Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale. The first foal out of Dotted Swiss, he was followed by Victorious Racing's Listed Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy Stakes hero Soldier's Heart (Havana Grey). Their second dam, Luxuria (Kheleyf), is a half-sister to another winner of Sandown's National Stakes in Sweepstake (Acclamation), the dam of the Group 1 winners Broome (Australia) and Diego Velazquez (Frankel), as well as the multiple Group scorer Point Lonsdale (Australia). The post Elite Status to Join Sire Havana Grey at Whitsbury Manor Stud in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Roll up, roll up. It's the bloodstock equivalent of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, live and exclusive in Newmarket for three days only. Yep, it's Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and doors open this year on Tuesday, October 7. That is indeed if there are any doors left, as they were blown right off last year with the most sensational yearling trade ever witnessed in Europe. Turnover reached a new high of almost 128 million gns, and while on first glance that tally is only just above the aggregate set for 2022, it was accrued from the sale of 90 fewer yearlings, setting a median price of 250,000gns. Last year's Book 1, which had 449 yearlings catalogued, was the smallest ever, and this time around numbers are back up to the level seen in 2022 and 2023, with 537 in that premier book for this year. For marketing director Jason Singh, the October Sale results will be key in more ways than one. “My predecessor, Jimmy George, went out with an absolute stonker of a sale,” he says with a grin. “I was thinking at the end of that, 'thanks a lot, Jim'. Of course, the responsibility of getting buyers to a sale effectively falls on me now.” Singh probably won't have too much to worry about in that regard. For a start, the yearling sales generally have started in buoyant fashion. Keeneland has witnessed spectacular returns, no doubt aided by President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' and its associated tax breaks, but as we saw last year in particular, the October Sale at Tattersalls has a life force all of its own. “Because Book 1 was so strong last year, it follows that more people are happy being in there, so demand for places was higher,” Singh says. “There were a few factors at play last year, and I think it's fair to say that up until a few days before [Book 1], we didn't really see that coming. When we knew the level of American participation that we were going to have, we certainly were confident that we were going to have a good sale.” Indeed, the American participants played their part, with Klaravich Stables notably spending 3.6 million gns through agent Mike Ryan, but up above them on the Book 1 buyers' table were Godolphin (22m gns), Amo Racing (19.5m gns), Blandford Bloodstock, whose clients include Wathnan Racing (10.4m gns), and Yulong (3.9m gns). “But the yearling sales last year up until that point in Europe had been, I think, average, a little bit underwhelming,” Singh says. “Book 1 really was the turning point at which all the sales for the rest of the year took a significant upturn, and that has mostly continued throughout this year. Jason Singh with Littleton Stud's David Bowe | Tattersalls “Keeneland has looked extraordinarily strong. I think it's fair to say the top of the market is as strong as it's ever been. And obviously Books 1 and 2 are both big beneficiaries of that strength at the top of the market because they have so many of those top yearlings. That's not to ignore other issues that racing faces, and I'm not suggesting that the polarisation of the market is a good thing.” Prize-money is often cited as an issue for racing in these parts, and certainly many British and Irish tracks would struggle to compete with the purses offered during the recent turf meeting at Kentucky Downs in particular. It is one of the reasons why Singh has confidence that we will still see American participation at Tattersalls, despite potentially increased costs from tariffs. “With the turf racing there becoming much more popular and there being a bigger programme of races available, it makes sense that if you want to access the best turf pedigrees, there's no question that they are here in Britain and Ireland, and they're the best yearlings on offer every year here at the October Yearling Sale,” he says. “It's not just the turf horses that are bought by American owners and trainers to race there, it's also the performances of the turf horses from Europe that go over to things like the Breeders' Cup. There are the American-trained horses like Newspaperofrecord and Aunt Pearl, but then you've got the European-trained horses like Victoria Road, Big Evs, and Starlust. And you've also got the long-way-around ones that are sold and trained here, and that have then been bought to race in America.” He continues, “There's no question that Chad Brown changed the landscape, and he has come back every year. And in the last two or three years, the numbers have really surged. “Since 2022, the winners of 51 graded stakes in America have come just from the October Yearling Sale alone. And those results, both from the horses trained there and the horses that have gone from here, it's something that people notice – that they're European pedigrees and European standards.” Group 1 winner Venetian Sun as a yearling at Tattersalls | Laragh de Burgh While there is understandably much focus on the prices achieved at Book 1, the success stories come from all levels of the market, both in that first week of the October Sale and across Books 2 and 3 in the following week. There is no Book 4 this year; instead there is a short session of yearlings in the Autumn Sale, which follows at the end of the week of the Horses-in-Training Sale, on October 31. Those later yearlings are also all eligible for the £200,000 Somerville Auction Stakes and the £200,000 October Auction Stakes. At last year's Book 1, only one yearling sold for less than the 25,000gns it took Charlie Johnston to buy Suddenly I See from Kildaragh Stud, and the Ribchester colt, owned by Barbara and Alick Richmond, is now a Book 1 Bonus winner, having triumphed on his second start at Musselburgh. “The Book 1 Bonus is 10 years old now, and we've averaged about 43 winners a year for those 10 years. So we're just on the verge of paying out £10 million in bonuses,” says Singh. “The owners seem to love it. By and large, it pays for their training fees for the year if they manage to win one. And the great thing is, and this year is a perfect illustration, you don't have to pay a huge amount of money to win one. Ten of the yearlings that have won a bonus this year were bought for 100 grand or less, and that's out of 29 Book 1 Bonus winners so far. “Charlie Johnston's colt is a great illustration of that. He was bought for 25 grand and he's won his purchase price back by winning a Book 1 Bonus.” Venetian Sun is the poster girl for last year's sale. The winner of the G1 Prix Morny, G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and G3 Albany Stakes was sold by Tally-Ho Stud for 240,000gns to owners Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, and she is doing a fine job advertising not just Book 1 but also the merits of her first-season sire Starman. “Not everybody has to play at the top end,” Singh says, “And there's plenty of success from more cheaply-bought horses – that proves that success can come from anywhere.” He has first-hand experience of that, having bought the G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes winner Furthur from Book 2 of the 2023 October Sale for 58,000gns with trainer Andrew Balding. The Waldgeist colt, who runs for the Merry Pranksters syndicate, is now in quarantine ahead of taking his owners on a trip to Singh's home city of Melbourne for the 'race that stops the nation'. From last year's Book 2 has sprung Zavateri, now a three-time group winner, including the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, for trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and owners Mick and Janice Mariscotti. He looks set to round off his season in the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes a week on Saturday. “Zavateri is a great story,” Singh says. “The Mariscottis have been great supporters of Book 1 and Book 2 for over a decade now and have had great reward from that. They've always operated in that 50-to-100-grand range and they have done it very successfully, which is proof it can be done. It's an amazing story that you buy a horse for 35,000gns and he turns into a Group 1 winner.” What then can be expected from this year's October Sale? In Book 1, page after page of illustrious pedigrees means that the wish list ends up being rather long. Just the briefest of snapshots by way of example would have to include Ballyphilip Stud's Frankel half-sister to crack sprinter Battaash (lot 28), the Norelands-consigned Dubawi half-sister to St Mark's Basilica (lot 71), Bearstone Stud's Frankel colt out of Glass Slippers (lot 163), the Fittocks Stud-consigned son of Dubawi and Lady Bowthorpe (lot 218) and 30 yearlings by the recently deceased Wootton Bassett. We could go on – and on. “There's certainly a very good bunch of pedigrees in the catalogue and we've had very positive reports from the inspectors on the road, so we're hopeful that the two marry up,” Singh says. “We're not expecting huge numbers to be bought by Australian buyers, but we can't understate the level of investment in British bloodstock by Middle Eastern buyers, specifically the royal families of Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain, as well as Saudi Arabia, all of whom enjoy racing their horses in Britain, and that's a massive fillip to our industry. The sales of British and Irish bloodstock are huge beneficiaries of that commitment to race here. “We also can't ignore the domestic market, which plays such a big part in what we do. There are plenty of British-based owners who are investing heavily in our industry and are enjoying success. A good example of that is Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, who have had such success with Venetian Sun this year.” With Venetian Sun being joined on the 2025 list of Group 1-winning graduates of the October Sale around the world by Ombudsman, Camille Pissarro, Dynamic Pricing, Al Riffa, Believing, Diego Velazquez, Dubai Honour, El Cordobes, Romantic Warrior, Zavateri, Royal Patronage, Never So Brave, and King Of Gosford, surely Singh's jitters are gradually easing? He says, “Being ultimately responsible for getting people to the sales focuses you more, and you feel a greater pressure, but hopefully also greater satisfaction if it goes well.” Across almost all levels of the yearling market so far this year, there have been plenty of positives to be drawn, and there is every reason to suppose that the demand for European bloodstock will continue to be high at Park Paddocks across the coming fortnight. The post ‘My Predecessor Went Out on a Stonker of a Sale’: Jason Singh Looks Forward to Another Big Fortnight at Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arnaldo Bocachica notched the 3,000th win of his riding career Oct. 1 in guiding Thunderturtle to victory in the third race at Charles Town. View the full article

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) will partner with FOX Sports to present live television coverage of Sunday's €5-million G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe from ParisLongchamp. The telecast will air on FS1 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. ET, with the main event to jump at 10:05 as the fifth event on a 10-race program. The Arc, Europe's weight-for-age championship, is run over 2400 meters. The Arc is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series and offers the winner an all-expenses paid trip to Del Mar for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf on Saturday, Nov. 1. A field of 18 was drawn on Thursday. NYRA will host a special Double wager linking the Arc with Saturday's running of the GI Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. The wager features a $2 minimum and an 18.5% takeout. The one-mile test for 2-year-old males is a steppingstone to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, for which the Champagne serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier. The post FOX Sports To Broadcast Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ralph Beckett trainee Lady Roisia (St Mark's Basilica), who is a daughter of G1 Oaks heroine Talent (New Approach), backed up a promising debut third at Leicester last month with a game half-length victory in Thursday's EBF Oh So Sharp Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Nottingham, becoming the 17th winner for her freshman sire (by Siyouni). Behind some very smart types on debut, Lady Roisia (St Mark's Basilica) opens her account second-time out and looks a filly to note over further next term for @RalphBeckett and @newsellspark pic.twitter.com/hmUZ1N0eWH — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 2, 2025 1st-Nottingham, £8,000, Mdn, 10-2, 2yo, f, 8f 75yT, 1:51.00, g/s. LADY ROISIA (GB) (f, 2, St Mark's Basilica {Fr}–Talent {GB} {G1SW-Eng, $765,222}, by New Approach {Ire}), who finished just under six lengths behind the winner when third in a hot novices' heat at Leicester in her Sept. 9 unveiling last time, broke swiftly from the outside stall and shadowed the leader in second for the most part here. Shaken up to launch her bid with a quarter-mile remaining, the 5-6 favourite seized control soon after and was ridden out inside the final furlong to prevail by a half-length from Enchanted Queen (Ghaiyyath), becoming the 17th winner for her freshman sire (by Siyouni). Lady Roisia is the seventh of eight foals and fifth scorer out of G1 Oaks heroine Talent (New Approach), whose first was multiple Group-winning G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Ambition (Dubawi). Talent is a daughter of Listed Cheshire Oaks third Prowess (Peintre Celebre) and thus a half-sister to the stakes-placed duo Skilful (Selkirk) and King Power (Frankel). The February-foaled chestnut is kin to a yearling filly by New Bay. Sales history: 575,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $7,367. O-Newsells Park Stud -Bloodstock 25; B-Ashbrittle Stud & M H Dixon; T-Ralph Beckett. The post Talent’s Daughter Lady Roisia Sheds Maiden Status at Nottingham appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thursday saw the all-important draw made for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with the key take-out being the disastrous post position of 17 for the leading Japanese hope Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) among the 18 final confirmations. Things didn't get much better for the nation seeking its elusive first Arc, with the Tokyo Yushun winner's wide post compounded by the draw of 15 for the impressive Prix Foy winner Byzantine Dream (Epiphaneia). Some good news finally arrived during the live draw at 11am French time, with the country's other prospect, the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano winner Alohi Alii (Duramente), getting stall four. Aidan O'Brien's pair Los Angeles (Camelot) and Minnie Hauk (Frankel) have drawn 14 and one respectively for Sunday's ParisLongchamp showcase, with the latter on track to start favourite from the stall that housed Zarkava. Challenging the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks heroine for that status is last year's Arc runner-up Aventure (Sea The Stars), who will break from stall 12 as she bids to build on her latest Prix Vermeille success for the Wertheimers and Christophe Ferland. Joining Aventure in the French defence is the fellow Wertheimer contender Sosie (Sea The Stars), who has drawn favourably in three, and Godolphin's Prix Niel winner Cualificar (Lope De Vega) in stall eight from the Andre Fabre stable, with Daryz (Sea The Stars), Gezora (Almanzor) and Quisisana (Le Havre) forming a strong three-pronged assault from the Francis-Henri Graffard stable. Daryz is in two, Gezora in 13 and Quisisana in seven. Jean-Claude Rouget has the Grand Prix de Paris hero Leffard (Le Havre) in stall six and Arrow Eagle (Gleneagles) who has stall 16. Irish outsiders Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot) and White Birch (Ulysses) and the British-trained contingent Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman), Estrange (Night Of Thunder) and Kalpana (Study Of Man) complete the line-up. Giavellotto has stall five, Estrange was drawn widest of all in 18 and Kalpana is in 10. The post Blow For Japan As Wide Draws Blight Arc Hopes, Minnie Hauk Has Inside Stall appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News desk It’s one target down and two to go for talented junior driver Olivia Thornley. Last night the 25-year-old achieved a major personal milestone with her 100th driving success. Robyns Art came from the one-one to win the Captaintreacherous – The Morning Star Filly Mobile in race 4 at Addington ahead of Lorton Vale in a Michael House-trained quinella. “Getting to 100 wins is something I’ve always wanted to do – it’s one of those milestones you want to tick off,” Thornley says. “It was pretty special to get there.” She brought up three figures in her eighth season of driving. Her first winner was Awaytocullect for her father Robin Thornley at Motukarara in December 2017. Her first big break came working for the All Stars’ stable at Rolleston. She was there for eight years before moving to her current employers, Hayden and Amanda Cullen. Along the way she’s driven and won with some equine superstars (think Akuta and Oscar Bonavena) as well as claiming Group 1s with Chase A Dream in the 2023 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final and No Matter Wat in the 2022 IRT New Zealand Oaks. Both Group 1s were extraordinary victories with Chase A Dream miles off them turning for home and No Matter Wat pulling badly during the entire race. “Chase A Dream came from no man’s land that day and with No Matter Wat I was just a passenger.” But pride of place is Millwood Nike – the superstar who won 17 from 17 before being retired with a tendon issue. Thornley drove her in her first two wins, at Timaru in May 2022 and then the Group 3 Helen Pope 2Yo Fillies Stakes at Ashburton in June. Co-trainer Mark Purdon then drove in her next 12 wins. “I did a lot of work with her because she was quite highly-strung and it was just so cool to win on a horse I’d done a lot of work with and she was very special in the end.” If Millwood Nike was your favourite at the Purdons who’s your favourite at the Cullens? “Winelight is one and so is Hadron Collider, he’s quite a quirky horse but I like him too.” Winelight and Thornley combined to win the Harness Million 2YO Fillies last year while Hadron Collider and Blair Orange took out the Tyre General Timaru Summer Cup last Sunday. As for future goals Thornley has two. Her tally for 2025 is 18 driving wins – three short of her personal best for a season. “I’ve equalled it twice in the past two years so it would be nice to equal or even beat that.” And then there’s her third target? “That is to train a winner.” So far she’s taken her trotter Starstruck to the races six times – for one placing. “That’s the next milestone.” View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand advises that significant rainfall is forecast for Methven over the next 72 hours, including up to 30mm on Saturday, prompting the introduction of a contingency plan for this weekend’s meeting. A track inspection will be conducted at Mt Harding Racecourse, Methven, at 11am on Saturday 4 October. If the track is deemed unsuitable, the meeting will be transferred to Addington Raceway. In that event, race distances will be amended in line with Addington’s approved start points, and Race 8 will be reviewed to meet maximum field size requirements. HRNZ will confirm the outcome immediately following Saturday’s inspection. View the full article

Trevor Craddock, one of the great characters of West Coast harness racing, will be farewelled at Westport tomorrow (Friday). The 85-year-old is being remembered as someone who “loved his racing and rugby” and had “a great life”. Based at Patterson Park, Craddock had exactly 100 training wins between 1967 and 2014 with 27 successes as a driver. His first driving and training win was with Wheels at Reefton in 1967. Among his best horses were Clifford Jasper (10 wins), Chiola Reb (10 wins), and Brooksdale Pal, Oregon Heights, Jovial Jan and Rosewood Garrison, with five wins each. Another of his horses McCreedy also won the 1974 Marlborough Cup. Craddock served for many years on the Westport Trotting Club committee including stints as president. He was also a Life member with the club describing him as “a legend of West Coast racing”. “Trevor will be missed by many locally and to those that enjoyed catching up with him on their trips to the Westport trots. His big infectious smile will be missed on track this coming Christmas without doubt.” Craddock devoted a lot of his time to training horses after the sale of the family’s trucking business Craddocks Transport. Brother Bill Craddock described Trevor as “a character”. “He was very mischievous.” Trevor and his late wife Kathleen had a big family. “There were eight kids – at one stage they had five under five,” says Bill. Another who knew Trevor well was long-time friend John Reedy. “He looked like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth but it was just a facade!” “He was a hard worker, and a good man who had a great life” “One day he was hunched over the running rail and we thought he was feeling a bit poorly after a big night but it turns out he was having a heart attack.” laughs Reedy, “he thought he had indigestion.’ “He was very stoic,” Bill says of his brother. “He had a triple by-pass 23 years ago and also had prostate cancer later but he battled on.” As well as racing, rugby was also a huge part of Craddock’s life. Records show he played 28 games for Buller between 1959 and 1966 including some as captain and playing as halfback, first five and also loose forward. A career highlight came in 1965 when he scored a try against Canterbury while another was playing for the West Coast – Buller side against the touring British Isles in 1966. The Buller Rugby Union has paid tribute by saying : “BRU are saddened to acknowledge the passing of Trevor Craddock #469, a proud Buller man and White Star club player who wore the red and blue jersey with distinction. “We thank Trevor for his service and commitment to Buller Rugby, and extend our condolences to his family, friends, and the White Star club community. Once a Buller man, always a Buller man!” A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Canice’s Catholic Church, Westport, on Friday, October 3, at 2.00pm. View the full article

Jamie Richards will pin his faith on champion jockey Zac Purton and Bulb General’s talent when the four-year-old series prospect chases a third straight victory at Sha Tin on Saturday. Fresh from a sensational win at the season-opening meeting last month, Bulb General has been hit with a wide draw in barrier 12 and a 7lb rise on his last start for the Class Three Tung Lung Chau Handicap (1,200m). However, Richards is confident the son of Embellish has the ability to settle back from the gate and...View the full article

It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song (Written Tycoon), a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle (NZ), makes her debut. Raced by New Zealand syndicator Fortuna, Melody Belle won 19 races for former Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, including 14 at Group One level. She accrued more than $4 million in prize money and was crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Following her racing career, she was offered at Magic Millions’ 2021 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale where she was purchased by Yulong Investments for A$2.6 million. Her first mating was with resident stallion Written Tycoon, with the resulting foal being Lyrics ‘N’ Song, who would be entrusted to the care of Mark Walker at Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne barn. The now three-year-old filly has had three jumpouts, including winning her last outing over 1000m at Cranbourne, and she has made a good impression on Walker. “She has jumped out nicely and she has inherited some of mum’s ability, I don’t know how much yet, but I think she is well above average at this stage,” he said. “We are very grateful that Yulong gave us the first foal to train, and hopefully she is a good broodmare for them.” Lyrics ‘N’ Song will line-up in the Drummond Gold Plate (1200m) on Friday and Walker is looking forward to seeing how she performs under the pressure of racenight. “It has come up quite a strong field, there is a fair bit of depth to it, but she has drawn nicely (1) and should acquit herself well,” he said. On Saturday, Walker will take three runners to Flemington, including debut winner Azazel (NZ) (Shocking), who will contest the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m). “I liked it (debut run) because he was headed and he fought back and he was really strong through the line,” Walker said. “I think Flemington will suit him over 1800m, it is just hard weighing up different form lines. I see they have put him up as a $23 shot, but I certainly rate him a better chance than that.” A race prior, Walker will have a dual-pronged attack in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) courtesy of debutants Harry Met Sally (Yes Yes Yes) and Flash Of Class (Capitalist). “They have had three jumpouts and they have had the benefit of a jumpout down the Flemington straight,” Walker said. “They have been well schooled. “They are all first starters and have got different form lines, so it is hard to weight it up.” Meanwhile, back in New Zealand, Te Akau Racing’s Matamata barn will be seeking to take out their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), with My Lips Are Sealed (NZ) (Ace High). The Group Three winner had only been fair in her trials early in her prepation, but Walker, who trains in New Zealand in partnership with Sam Bergerson, was buoyed by her first-up run at Ellerslie last month. “Her trials before her first start were a bit below par, but I thought her run first-up was quite good and she has improved,” he said. “She is down on the minimum and a wet track shouldn’t worry her.” View the full article

Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile. While his Derby win showcased his staying prowess as a three-year-old, Berry believes the maturing son of Tarzino has sharpened considerably, now looking every inch a genuine miler with the strength to stretch out slightly further if required. The Group One winner carried 58kgs when an eye-catching eighth when resuming in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) behind Pericles and will drop to 53kgs on Saturday where he has drawn barrier 2. “It was no surprise to the stable (his good run in the Tramway),” Berry told Radio TAB. “Even though he has won a Derby, which horses can do at three and come back a little bit sharper at four, he had given the stable the indication he was working like a mile to 2000m horse. He was quite sharp and running good times.” That impression was reinforced by Willydoit’s first-up performance where he produced the fastest 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m of the race. “Another 200m first-up and he probably comes out and wins,” Berry said. “The step up to a mile with a month between runs and a trial looks like it will suit him perfectly.” Originally prepared by Shaun and Emma Clotworthy in New Zealand, the gelding, who sports the MyRacehorse silks, was transferred to Maher after his fourth placing in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). Berry is confident Willydoit will appreciate being ridden more positively from a better draw. “He has always had to be ridden too far back from bad alleys or sit wide and cover ground, and he has been able to overcome that adversity,” Berry said. “This is probably one of the first times he is going to have the opportunity to get into a rhythm and be happy.” With just 14 runners engaged, Berry is also expecting a more controlled tempo than the traditionally fast-run Epsom, a scenario he feels will play to Willydoit’s strengths. Standing in his way is the race favourite Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), unbeaten in six starts to date. “The favourite will be very hard to beat as an unbeaten mare. She is the right favourite in the race, but I am sure he will be snapping at her heels late,” Berry said. Beyond Saturday, the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) looms as a potential spring target, though Berry said the outcome of the Epsom will help shape the horse’s campaign. View the full article

Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday. During the afternoon, Rider celebrated three winners across the card at Tauranga with Savvysuper (NZ) (Super Seth), Just Call Me Jonny (NZ) (Eminent) and Vickezzlastcall (NZ) (Wrote), all horses that he bred and races under his Milan Park banner. But, later that evening, the latter’s half-sister Aromatic (NZ) died after complications having her first foal. “We lost Aromatic last night, she foaled on Friday night with a dead foal and the foal put a foot through her bowel, so we lost the mare as well,” Rider said. “It is very, very sad for us, but animals, like humans, we live and die. It’s just life.” The daughter of Sacred Falls was purchased out of Milan Park’s draft at Karaka in 2019 by Te Akau Racing, and after victories in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m), Rider bought her back as a valuable broodmare prospect, as the best-performing foal out of his mare Vickezzchardonnay (NZ) (Don Eduardo). Rider hopes Vickezzlastcall can reach similar heights in the care of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and like Aromatic, has shown a preference for the middle-distance trips, comfortably taking out the Team Wealleans 2100. “She just needs ground and Te Akau always thought she was a wet-tracker, but she may be following some of the Wrotes (sire) in liking the firmer ground, he said. “They seem to go pretty well in Hong Kong. “Hopefully she can step up to be like her half-sister.” Last season’s champion jockey Craig Grylls guided Vickezzlastcall to her second win in five starts, while he also steered both Savvysuper and Just Call Me Jonny in their respective victories. Savvysuper, a well-bred son of Super Seth and Oaks placegetter Savvy Dreams (NZ), was first-up in his three-year-old campaign and took out a dramatic Ultimate Ford Maiden 1400, where two separate incidents caused horses to dislodged their riders. “He was very good, Cody (Cole, trainer) rated him and Craig has ridden him a couple of times and thought a lot of him,” he said. “He has come up to expectations.” The gelding was passed in when offered for sale as a yearling, and Rider said he is very much still on the market. “We took him to the sales but he didn’t sell as a yearling, so the idea was to race him and sell him from there, which we intend to do now,” he said. “His full-brother in Australia, Savour The Dream (NZ) (Super Seth), has been unlucky in a number of group races, being drawn wide and things like that. “Savvy Dreams has a yearling filly by Sword Of State going to the sales, and she is foaling late this year (served by Per Incanto).” Eminent gelding Just Call Me Jonny completed the clean sweep, taking advantage of an inside run and kicking clear to take out the Bayleys Altogether Better 1400 for trainers Peter and Shaun McKay. “Craig and Peter were very positive and he’s such an honest horse, he tries very hard and he’s been slow maturing,” Rider said. “Hopefully we are looking for a reasonably good season out of him.” Looking further into the spring, Rider is excited about the prospects of his star mare Provence, who impressed in her Open 950m heat at the Cambridge Synthetic trials on Tuesday. “We can’t wait, Stephen Marsh (trainer) sent us a clip this morning saying how well she is and she’ll have one more trial, then she’ll be off to the races,” he said. “She originally was set for a race in Australia so she came in nice and early, but she got a blood infection, so she came home and we gave her a break for roughly six weeks to let it come right. “That has mucked up our original plan with her, but there is plenty of group races going forward and we’re all very excited.” The six-year-old had a breakthrough season last term for Rider and her co-owners, syndicator Social Racing, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m). View the full article

After a remarkable run in New Zealand that saw him notch an impressive 167 wins, Malaysian-born jockey Joe Kamaruddin is set to make a highly anticipated return to race day action at Selangor Turf Club. Kamaruddin, whose career flourished across the Tasman, earned a reputation for tactical finesse, consistency, and a deep understanding of race dynamics. His success in New Zealand included partnerships with top stables and victories across a range of distances and conditions, cementing his status as one of the region’s most respected riders. Following a hiatus from competitive riding, Kamaruddin’s comeback marks a significant moment for Malaysian racing. His return to Selangor Turf Club not only reconnects him with his roots but also injects fresh excitement into the local jockey ranks. This Sunday, he will be aboard six rides, offering plenty of opportunities to showcase his skill and regain his competitive momentum. “Joe’s return is more than a homecoming—it’s a statement of intent,” said a club spokesperson. “His international experience and proven track record bring added depth to our race day line-up. We’re thrilled to welcome him back.” As the gates prepare to open, all eyes will be on Kamaruddin—whose journey from promising apprentice to international winner now enters a compelling new chapter at Selangor Turf Club. View the full article

The road back to racing has been a long one for Tamara. Now the Spendthrift Farm homebred will try to make it a return worth waiting for in the Oct. 4 Chillingworth Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel. Badel, who won the race for the third time, was victorious last season aboard Beauty Waves, who faded to sixth place under champion jockey Zac Purton in a tame defence of his crown. The Frenchman said this time around he had pursued the ride on Fast Network as he rated his chances highly. “I knew he’d be a very strong contender in this race, so I was chasing the ride, and I’m grateful that the connections and the trainer gave me the confidence of the ride,” Badel said. “It’s always nice to deliver. I thought he won brilliantly. I probably hit the front too soon because of the draw, but he had plenty to offer. It was great.” The five-year-old son of Wrote was ridden under a hold until the last 200m when he was unleashed by Badel and quickly loomed to the head of the field along the outside. “He’s a late finisher, this horse,” Yip said, “So in the early stages, I told the jockey not to push him a lot. Just leave him alone, let him relax and then he will finish the last 300 (metres). A triumphant Yip acknowledged the improvement in his charge and switched his focus to further Group success down the line. “He’s a very honest horse. Since his last race (the Class 2 Tai Mo Shan Handicap, 1400m), his form has improved a lot in Conghua,” Yip said. “I think at the end of the month, there is a Group Two over 1200 for him (Premier Bowl, Handicap). I think that’s my target for him,” Yip added. Longer term, Fast Network is set to clash with fellow New Zealand bred Ka Ying Rising in December’s Gr.1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m). The sprint feature was the sixth win of a 13-start career for Fast Network who has now earned HK$10.17m for owner Ng Hung Yau. Bred by Highview Stud’s Kurtis Gillovic, Fast Network was purchased by Wexford Stables for $30,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 2 Yearling Sales. Originally named Donnie Malone, Fast Network won a trial at Te Rapa for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott before his sale to Hong Kong. Fast Network is one of eight individual winners from 11 runners in Hong Kong by Highview Stud stallion Wrote, a Group One winning son of High Chaparral. View the full article

Te Aroha horsewoman Emma Faber crossed over the Kaimai range to record her first training win at Tauranga on Wednesday, courtesy of Reckoning in the Tauranga Crossing Fashions In The Field November 1st (1400m). It was the second start for the Echoes Of Heaven four-year-old, having run seventh on debut over 1200m at Ellerslie last month, and Faber was confident of an improved performance. The gelding had shown plenty of promise at home and at the trials, winning his 1100m heat at Avondale prior to his debut, and Faber was thrilled he was able to realise that potential on raceday, running out a 2-1/4 length victor under jockey Samantha Collett. “It was very exciting,” Faber said. “He showed plenty and even before his first trial this campaign we knew we had a horse with plenty of ability. “He has just been quite slow coming to it mentally, he is a bit of a difficult horse to handle and he is still very green. “Even the race that he won, he still came around the corner on the wrong leg and was looking around. He is going to improve from that quite a lot, that’s the best part of it.” Hailing from the United Kingdom, Faber had a solid grounding in jumps racing in her homeland before moving to New Zealand. “I am from the UK and I rode in jumping stables over there before I came here. I came over on a work visa and worked in Takanini for Mark Sullivan,” she said. “I worked closely with my ex-husband, Mathew Faber, and we did alright back then.” Faber also had a seven-year stint in Japan, where she specialised in educating young horses. “I was in Japan for several years breaking-in horses,” she said. “I was up in Hokkaido, in the north of Japan,” she said. “There were lots of Kiwis and people from England and Ireland up there at the time. They had beautiful facilities, it was a good experience, and the money was very good at the time.” Back in New Zealand, Faber continued to focus on breaking-in and pre-training, and it wasn’t until last season that she took out her trainer’s licence at the behest of her clients. “I used to do a lot of breaking-in and pre-training. I have got such a lovely bunch of owners and they all persuaded me to take out my license and take those horses a bit further, so that is how it has all developed,” she said. “I have got 11 in work at the moment, so I am pretty busy.” There are a lot of youngsters in Faber’s care and she said there is plenty of potential among them. “Everything that I started off were mainly two-year-olds that we had just broken in,” she said. “I think a few of them have got ability, but it is just a time thing with young horses. “Bellavinsky that I raced yesterday, I do think a lot of her, she is just still a little bit weak, but I think she will be a nice filly in the autumn.” Faber is particularly upbeat about the prospects of Reckoning but she has yet to decide what his next step will be. “There are no definite plans as yet, we will see how he pulls up and then have a good look,” she said. “Whether we think he has to step up to 1600 or if he is better staying at 1400m for the minute. We will then have a look around and see what there is for him.” View the full article

A Group Three test is in the offing for Group Two performer Saint Bathans, who has transferred south to the care of Ascot Park trainer Robert Dennis. Previously trained by Andrew Forsman out of his Cambridge and Flemington bases, the son of Maurice won five races on both sides of the Tasman, with his career highlight being a runner-up performance behind Habana in last year’s Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m). The seven-year-old gelding has been leased to a group of Dennis’ clients and the Southland horseman has been pleased with the way he has settled into his barn. “He arrived in terrific order from Andrew’s stable. He is a lovely, older gelding,” Dennis said. “We have leased him down here and put together a group to race him.” Saint Bathans made his stable debut over 1100m at Gore 10 days ago and Dennis believes he will be more competitive over a mile on Friday in the Olphert Contracting Handicap (1600m) at Ascot Park. “His first-up run was more like a trial for him over 1100m,” Dennis said. “Stepping up to the 1600m on Friday is a more suitable distance and he drops in weight too. “The only concern is a Heavy10 track. If he can get through that he will be competitive.” Stakes targets await Saint Bathans if he performs up to expectations this week. “We threw a nomination in for the TAB Racing Club Mile (Gr.3, 1600m), and if he does recapture his best form, that is certainly a race that he could be aiming towards,” Dennis said. Saint Bathans will be met on Friday by stablemate Stolen Magic. “This has been her target for a little while,” Dennis said. “She gets a nice, light weight (54kg) and we expect a wet track, which is right up her alley. She has had a trial and a race, and I think she will be ready to go second-up.” Dennis has a four-pronged attack in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m), a race named after his late father, led by last-start winner Sir Sterling. The Greg McCarthy-bred and owned gelding won fresh-up over 1335m at Gore last month and Dennis is hoping he can double-up on Friday. “He was really good and he seems to have trained on well,” Dennis said. “Up two kilos in weight, we have stuck with Daniel Bothamley onboard. Dan has been doing a great job riding a bit of work for us lately. “We expect him to be competitive if he can get through the wet track. He has had one start here at Invercargill for one win, so he obviously likes the place.” Stablemates The Radiant One and On Song will resume in the STAC Weddings Handicap (1200m), with the former on a path towards next month’s New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch. “It will be a kick-off point for The Radiant One,” Dennis said. “A heavy track is certainly not ideal first-up for her, but she is aiming for Cup Week and we have no big expectation on her. “On Song goes really well fresh. She has a nice, light weight and a good front rider in Tina Comignaghi aboard. She is stepping up to open class, but at her best she will be right there.” Earlier on the card, three-year-old filly Swoomee Swan will be on trial for next month’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) when she contests the Nigel Robertson Building Maiden (1400m). Dennis has plenty of time for the daughter of Darci Brahma and expects her to improve on her debut runner-up effort. “Swoomee Swan is a very nice three-year-old filly that holds a 1000 Guineas nomination,” Dennis said. “I would prefer to see her on top of the ground, but it is hard to pass up a seven-horse field on her home track. “Her debut second has been franked with the winner just going down in a three-year-old handicap on Saturday, and one in behind her winning last week as well. “She is a pretty smart horse.” Dennis also holds high hopes for Pretty Fly in the One Agency Maiden (1200m). “In the maiden 1200m, we have got Pretty Fly resuming,” he said. “Hopefully she has matured a bit now, she was thereabouts last season. If she can find another length or two, she is going to be really hard to beat.” View the full article