Wandering Eyes

Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 31st live racing season Jan. 3. A total of 22 stakes with purses totaling $2.5 million will be run throughout the 42-day Thoroughbred meet, which continues through April 6.View the full article

With four weeks remaining in its 2024 Thoroughbred racing season, Woodbine Entertainment is confident its All-Weather (Tapeta) track is in optimal condition for safe training and racing.View the full article

Last year's campaign raised over $200,00 for accredited aftercare. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will announce new daily match sponsors, each sponsor will match all donations up to a specified amount for their day. View the full article

Multiple group 1 winner City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards the night of Nov. 20 at a lavish ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London. View the full article

Kim Wickens has been named the winner of the 2023 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award for excellence in Thoroughbred racing literature for her biography of the great 19th century stallion, Lexington. The book, Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse, creates a vivid time capsule back to the pre- and -post Civil War era in which he lived. This was the second straight year a book about the peerless sire was honored, following Geraldine Brooks's 2022 win for her novel, Horse. Lexington is the first book authored by Wickens, a former criminal defense lawyer who currently resides in Kentucky. “One of the biggest challenges of nonfiction writing about early Thoroughbred racing is making the facts found in 1800s racing publications, newspapers and other records come alive on the modern page,” lead judge Kay Coyte said. “Wickens tells the factual story of Lexington and the characters surrounding him with warmth, intelligence, sometimes humor, and always elegance. She clearly loved her subject and she breathed her enthusiasm into every chapter.” Other finalists included Isaac Murphy: The Rise and Fall of a Black Jockey, by Katherine C. Mooney, and The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty, by Curtis Stock. The finalists were recognized at a cocktail reception Nov. 20, held in the loft above the historic stallion barn at the Ryan family's Castleton Lyons, near Lexington, Kentucky. A $10,000 first prize was awarded, with $1,000 going to each of the runners-up. All three received Tipperary crystal trophies in the form of Castleton Lyons' iconic stone tower. The post Kim Wickens Wins Tony Ryan Book Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release Officials at Woodbine Entertainment have expressed confidence in the all-weather track at Woodbine despite recent problems with the surface resulting in the deaths of multiple horses, claiming that the track is in 'optimal condition for safe training and racing' with only a handful of live dates left in the 2024 season. In a release issued Thursday morning, the track said that, since the cancellation of the final two races on Nov. 9 and the scrapping of the Nov. 10 program in the interest of equine safety, 'Woodbine has worked diligently to address safety concerns and improve track conditions.' Among the measures taken, according to the track, were: Immediately following the on-track breakdowns, Woodbine cancelled the last two races, including the Grade III Autumn Stakes, after consulting with the AGCO, Jockeys' Guild, and HBPA; Woodbine contacted Tapeta Footings, its track supplier and consultant, to conduct a thorough review of the track conditions. Tapeta Footings arrived in Toronto the following morning; The review found the track required maintenance to restore its evenness. consistency, bounce and cushion; Extensive maintenance was conducted on Nov. 10, including rototilling to a depth of five inches, followed by power harrowing and a gallop master treatment to ensure a consistent surface; Positive feedback was received from trainers and riders following galloping on the track on Monday and Tuesday, which were observed by Tapeta Footings, Woodbine and the AGCO; Morning training hours on the All-Weather track were extended to accommodate a harrow break procedure; Tapeta Footings, led by Joan Wakefield and Miguel Piedra, worked closely with the Woodbine track team throughout the week, implementing best practices to maintain optimal conditions; Juan Meza, former Track Superintendent at Golden Gate Fields, has been brought in by Tapeta Footings, as part of their strong partnership, to provide additional support and consultation on track maintenance; Woodbine has kept the AGCO, HBPA, and Jockeys' Guild informed of all developments and is planning a meeting with the AGCO to discuss further enhancements to track maintenance and horse welfare moving forward. “We've worked diligently to ensure the track is in excellent condition for the final weeks of the meet,” said Bill Ford, Executive Vice-President of Racing at Woodbine Entertainment. “On behalf of Woodbine and our racing community, I thank Tapeta Footings, especially Joan and Miguel, for their expertise and leadership over the last couple of weeks. We continue to be strong supporters of the Tapeta surface, which is key to our commitment to horse welfare and safety.” Woodbine was scheduled to resume racing on Thursday. The final day of the meeting is Sunday, Dec. 15. The post Woodbine ‘Confident’ About Track Conditions As End of Season Nears appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Classic winner Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will not participate in the Longines Hong Kong International Races and will instead be prepared for a start in Saudi Arabia next year. Coolmore posted the news on X on Thursday. The Coolmore partners' 2024 G1 St Leger hero was forced to miss an intended start in the G1 Melbourne Cup due to a failed vet check. However, his preparation for Hong Kong was deemed insufficient by connections and he will likely resurface in the Middle East early in the new year. “He had a long journey back from Australia and was restricted to only trotting while over there,” trainer Aidan O'Brien said in the post. “Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to prepare him properly for Hong Kong so we will revisit his plans. We may aim for a race in Saudi early next year.” The post Jan Brueghel Camp Eyeing Saudi Arabia After Hong Kong Miss appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 79 horses have been catalogued for the BBAG Christmas Online Sale on Friday, Nov. 29. The sale ends on Sunday, Dec. 1. Consisting of six foals, five yearlings, 25 broodmares, six 2-year-olds, 37 racehorses (3yo/up) and a breeding right in Cloth Of Stars (Ire), the catalogue features many horses eligible for the BBAG auction races. In addition, several horses qualify for French premiums. Late supplements for the sale will be accepted through Nov. 25. The post BBAG Christmas Online Catalogue Features Breeding Right In Cloth Of Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}), the sire of sales-topping and graded-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Nooni, will stand the 2025 breeding season at a fee of $8,500 stands and nurses at Ocala Stud. The soon-to-be 9-year-old stallion has accounted for eight winners from his first crop to date, topped by the aforementioned Nooni, who fetched $1.8 million from Donato Lanni on behalf of Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing Stable at this year's OBS March Sale. Turned over to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the bay filly–bred by Ocala Stud–graduated by 9 1/2 lengths at first asking in June and added a front-running success in the GIII Sorrento Stakes in August. She was also second after making the running in the GII Oak Leaf Stakes in her first start around two turns Oct. 5. Win Win Win is also the sire of Win N Your In, victorious in this year's Sharp Susan Stakes and FSS Susan's Girl Stakes. As previously reported, Khozan joins the roster at Ocala Stud for 2025, having stood heretofore at Journeyman Stud. The son of Distorted Humor and Delta Princess–a half-brother to champion Royal Delta–has been represented this term by GIII Forward Gal Stakes heroine R Harper Rose, the stakes-winning Lure Him In and Grade III-placed Hot Peppers. OCALA STUD — 2025 STUD FEES Adios Charlie (Indian Charlie), $3,000 Awesome Slew (Awesome Again), $4,000 Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), $6,500 Gretzky the Great (Nyquist), $3,000 Khozan (Distorted Humor), $6,000 Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}), $5,000 Roadster (Quality Road), $7,500 Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}), $8,500 The post Win Win Win Tops Ocala Stud Roster For 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

All 12 Hong Kong Group 1 contests during the 2024/2025 season will be part of World Pool, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announced on Thursday. This is the first time races in Hong Kong have been incorporated into the World Pool schedule. Hong Kong will become the ninth jurisdiction to host World Pool races, joining the UK, Ireland, Germany, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Argentina. Over 25 jurisdictions and 70 partners bet into both the Hong Kong pools and World Pool and, in season 2024/25, 84 of the IFHA Top 100 Group 1 races will be part of World Pool. The 12 new World Pool races are as follows: 8: G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase 19: G1 Steward's Cup, G1 Centenary Sprint Cup 23: G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup 27: G1 FWD QEII Cup, G1 FWD Champions Mile, G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize May 25: G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chief executive officer at the HKJC, said, “World Pool has provided many benefits to the global horse racing industry including deep and liquid parimutuel markets, increased value opportunities, greater certainty of odds and enhanced returns. World Pool is also a key weapon in the fight against illegal gambling operators and has delivered increased returns to the sport allowing authorities to invest into prizemoney and the broader sustainability of horse racing. “Additionally, World Pool drives promotion of our sport with a heavy focus on the best international events, horses, jockeys and trainers, drawing predominantly from the IFHA's Longines Top 100 Group 1 races. As such, it is timely to add Hong Kong's best races to the World Pool brand commencing with the four Group 1 races on HKIR Day. Hong Kong has only 0.7% of the global total of racehorses in training, yet in 2023 had 14 horses featured in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings and 12 races in the IFHA Longines Top 100 Group 1 races. “We are proud of the HKJC's world-class racing and the development of World Pool and look forward to the two of them sitting side by side in the future.” The post All Hong Kong Group 1 Races Added To World Pool For 2024/2025 Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

How did we get hooked on this sport? We all have stories about how our love affair developed and blossomed. The TDN will be reaching out to numerous notable people in the industry to get their stories to find out how they got hooked and stayed hooked on the sport. Larry Collmus, racecaller It really started for me at Timonium, where my father put in the sound system. I would work for him in the summers, monitoring the sound in the grandstand while he was monitoring all the fair exhibits and things like that. I quickly became more interested in the horse racing than monitoring the sound. I was more fascinated by the characters, especially up in the press box, and the people I met there. I knew I fit in there at the racetrack and that I wanted to be there, and that's how it all it stated. My first full time job was at Birmingham when they first opened in 1987. Before that I was a backup on the Maryland circuit for a few years. Calling my first Kentucky Derby really solidified my love for the sport. Especially when it's over, its an 'oh oy God' moment. Here I was the guy who wanted to call races since he was 18 years old and just got to call the Kentucky Derby. That was in 2011. Ned Toffey, General Manager, Spendthrift Farm Ned Toffey | Spendthrift It probably started with me with my parents. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and I was four years old when my parents made a family trip with all of us to Kentucky. They brought us to Spendthrift Farm, where was saw Nashua. I don't remember any of it, but that was what planted the seed for me. My parents weren't huge racing fans, but were casual racing fans. I think they just wanted to get out of town for a while. I know we visited Fort Knox and did some of the other touristy things there are to do in Kentucky. From as early a time as I can remember, I was a huge fan of horses and horse racing. Maybe what set the hook would be when I was 10 years old my dad took me to Saratoga and it happened to be the day they were inducting Secretariat into the Hall of Fame. I got my picture taken with Penny Chenery. We went over to the track and bet on a Meadow Stables horse that won at 10-1. Doing all that with my dad was a great experience. My first job was at a place called Kinderhill Farm in New York State. I took it when I finished college. I thought I could enjoy this for a while while I looked for a real job. A year later, I moved to Kentucky, and it became my real job. I kind of grew away from the sport for a little while in high school. I went to the University of Massachusetts and made the football team as a walk-on. I ended up getting a scholarship to play football. One of my teammates who I wound up sharing an apartment with was Paul Manganaro, whose family was in the breeding business, and they boarded horses at Spendthrift at the time. I didn't know him that well. That was because he played defense and I played offense and it's like they are almost two separate teams. I'm sitting in the apartment and Paul is talking on the phone to his father about what stallions they are going to breed to. I'd think, 'I remember that horse.' Being around Paul reminded me how much I liked the sport and that there was a whole another aspect to it in the breeding and farm side of the sport. To share your own story of how you got hooked on racing, email suefinley@thetdn.com. The post How I Got Hooked on Racing: Larry Collmus, Ned Toffey appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) Ontario Digital Mixed Auction is now live and the catalog may be accessed by clicking here. Bidding on 69 lots began Thursday and runs through Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. ET. The catalog features weanlings and yearlings by Canadian-based stallions, horses of racing age and broodmares in and out of foal. The digital auction also includes a season to the Speightstown stallion Big Screen, a 5% ownership interest in the sire Reload (Hard Spun) and the full ownership of the stallion Seattle Serenade (Smart Strike–Serenading). To create an account to bid, click here. The post CTHS Ontario Digital Mixed Sale Goes Live appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star Australian jockey will team up with Invincible Sage and Antino at next month’s marquee meeting.View the full article

Rachel King will return to Hong Kong next month. Photo: HKJC Much-travelled Australian-based jockey Rachel King will add Hong Kong as another of her racing destinations for 2024 when she returns to Happy Valley on Wednesday, December 4 for the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC). After already riding in England, Japan, the United States of America and Australia this year, King is hoping to improve on last year’s Hong Kong performance when she finished third in the LONGINES IJC after riding Oversubscribed to victory in the first of the four-race competition. Always open for a challenge against the world’s best jockeys, King said she was looking forward to competing against the likes of top internationals including Ryan Moore (Great Britain), William Buick (Great Britain), Colin Keane (Ireland), Mickael Barzalona (France), Yuga Kawada (Japan) and James McDonald (New Zealand). Leading British rider Hollie Doyle will join King as the other female in the championship. Top local riders, including Zac Purton and last year’s IJC winner Vincent Ho, will again represent Hong Kong, China. King said she was hoping to improve on last year’s third. “It was good, I guess, to get that winner straight away and it was probably a big positive,” she said. “It was a good fun experience but also a good learning experience and I’m pleased to be going back again. “You look at the list of jockeys who are going and they are sort of from all around the world and all are very competitive, so it’s a tough competition but I’m pleased to be part of it.” Riding in so many countries this year, the 34-year-old said she had been busy by competing in so many different regions but said riding abroad can only improve her riding. “And I’ve enjoyed the travelling,” King said. “I started off at Japan at the start of the year, then the UK twice, then the Breeders’ Cup in America. “Going to different tracks and having to adapt and ride at different places always helps to further yourself.” And along the way she achieved some memorable achievements. She became the first Australian-based jockey to ride in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in America, where she rode Japan’s Satono Carnaval for trainer Noriyuki Hori. She was also the first foreign female to win a Group race on the flat in Japan during her stint there earlier this year when she rode Chuck Nate to victory in the Group 2 American Jockey Club Cup (2200m). “Japan was super,” King said. “It was certainly challenging. I had great support from Noriyuki Hori while I was there and he was super and threw everything at me. “We got some good winners together.” And after riding in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, King returned to Australian to ride The Map in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) earlier this month. “It was a busy few days getting back from America for the Melbourne Cup and I suppose both results could have been a little bit better,” she said. “But both were good experiences and I always enjoy going down for the Cup and it’s always one that I don’t want to miss.” The British-born King, who began her riding career in England but was later apprenticed to Australia’s ‘First Lady of Racing’ Gai Waterhouse in Sydney, also got married to partner Luke Hilton on her first trip back to England in June, where she rode Strutting to second in the Sandringham Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot. Now on her second trip to Hong Kong, King is hoping to pick up a few more rides at Happy Valley and would stay on for the Sunday, December 8 Hong Kong International Races if she was offered a suitable ride. King will return to Japan next January for another two-month riding stint and has gained a solid following after riding 16 winners and 29 minor places there earlier this year in her 139 rides. Horse racing news View the full article

All Hong Kong’s 12 Group 1s, including December’s Group 1 quartet of Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), will be run under World Pool banner. Photo: HKJC The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), which operates World Pool, has confirmed all 12 Group 1 contests in Hong Kong’s 2024/25 season, including this December’s Group 1 quartet of Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), will be run for the first time under the World Pool banner. Since the inaugural World Pool race at Royal Ascot in 2019, only races from outside Hong Kong have been run as World Pool events, but the HKJC has now moved to consolidate its top-level races, which have all been ranked within the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ (IFHA) LONGINES World’s Top 100 Group 1 races in the last three years, under the same banner. Though commingled pools for Hong Kong races started in the 2013/14 season, and all Hong Kong races are technically HKJC-hosted commingled pools in the same way as World Pool, this will be the first time races in Hong Kong have been incorporated into the World Pool schedule. Hong Kong will become the ninth jurisdiction to host World Pool races, joining the UK, Ireland, Germany, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Argentina. Over 25 jurisdictions and 70 partners bet into both the Hong Kong pools and World Pool and, in season 2024/25, 84 of the IFHA Top 100 Group 1 races will be part of World Pool. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer at the HKJC, said: “World Pool has provided many benefits to the global horse racing industry including deep and liquid parimutuel markets, increased value opportunities, greater certainty of odds and enhanced returns. World Pool is also a key weapon in the fight against illegal gambling operators and has delivered increased returns to the sport allowing authorities to invest into prizemoney and the broader sustainability of horse racing. “Additionally, World Pool drives promotion of our sport with a heavy focus on the best international events, horses, jockeys and trainers, drawing predominantly from the IFHA’s LONGINES Top 100 Group 1 races. As such, it is timely to add Hong Kong’s best races to the World Pool brand commencing with the four Group 1 races on HKIR Day. Hong Kong has only 0.7% of the global total of racehorses in training, yet in 2023 had 14 horses featured in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings and 12 races in the IFHA LONGINES Top 100 Group 1 races. “We are proud of the HKJC’s world-class racing and the development of World Pool and look forward to the two of them sitting side by side in the future.” Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products at the HKJC, said: “The move to bring a further 12 of the IFHA’s LONGINES Top 100 Group 1 races to a global betting audience of over 25 jurisdictions via World Pool marks the HKJC’s intent to promote premium racing. “Branding the top Hong Kong races as World Pool makes strategic sense, as it is not just a wagering brand and the aim is to bring the best international races under the World Pool banner. “With the growing popularity of World Pool, we aim to keep increasing our contribution to racing which benefits the entire ecosystem. So far in the UK, where World Pool has been in operation since 2019, and Ireland the money that World Pool has generated for racecourses there has surpassed HK$500 million. This will go from strength-to-strength globally as we grow the World Pool offering.” Horse racing news View the full article

Next month’s four international day features at Sha Tin will feature under the banner of the global tote for the first time.View the full article

What Cranbourne Cup Day 2024 Where Southside Racing Cranbourne – 50 Grant St, Cranbourne VIC 3977 When Saturday, November 23, 2024 First Race 12:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble Cranbourne Cup Day headlines the metro racing action in Melbourne this Saturday afternoon, with 10 quality races lined up. A scorcher is forecast, meaning we should get a hard and fast deck that moves to a Good 3 rating at some stage. The rail will be out 3m for the entire circuit, with the action at Cranbourne commencing at 12:20pm AEDT. Cranbourne Cup Tip: Cadmus Cadmus was hitting the line nicely over the mile first-up from a spell, and considering he tends to improve after his fresh run in each campaign, he can cause a boilover in the Cranbourne Cup. The six-year-old has two wins and a second from three second-up runs and loves a firm surface, while he has four wins and two minor placings from seven attempts on Good tracks. If Jye McNeil can find a back to follow into the race, Cadmus looks over the odds at $26 with BlondeBet. Cranbourne Cup Race 9 – #13 Cadmus (9) 6yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Jye McNeil (54kg) Bet with BlondeBet The Meteorite Top Tip: Baraqiel Baraqiel is a completely different animal when racing around a bend, and following a respectable effort in Group 1 company down the Flemington straight, he looks primed for the inaugural running of The Meteorite. Ben Allen will go forward from barrier eight and likely settle outside the lead or be in the one-one throughout. From there, Baraqiel should prove a touch too classy over the 1200m trip in the $1 million co-feature. The Meteorite Race 8 – #2 Baraqiel (8) 6yo Gelding | T: Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | J: Ben Allen (59kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Bet at Cranbourne: Nation’s Call Nation’s Call hardly runs a poor race, and following a gritty performance at Flemington, the son of Frankel can find his way back into the winner’s stall. The five-year-old gelding just couldn’t go with the progressive Angland over 1600m, but the step up to the 2025m should suit perfectly. He is a natural frontrunner, and in a race where he should gain a relatively easy lead, Nation’s Call can lead from barrier to box. Best Bet Race 6 – #4 Nation’s Call (5) 5yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Blake Shinn (58.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Cranbourne: Romani Ite Domum Romani Ite Domum has begun his career in style, winning his last two after finishing an unlucky second on debut. Drawn perfectly in barrier one as a natural on-speed galloper, Blake Shinn should not have to work too hard to take up the running. Leaders are traditionally hard to run down in the first couple of races at Cranbourne, which bodes well for Romani Ite Domum if he can get a cheap sectional and can kick off the bend, Next Best Race 1 – #3 Romani Ite Domum (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Blake Shinn (57.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Best Value at Cranbourne: Vienna Vixen Vienna Vixen was beaten by the barest of margins at Bendigo on October 30 and presents great value with horse racing bookmakers. The five-year-old mare consistently runs into one better, but in a race where a few of these struggle to win themselves, the Foxwedge mare just needs to hold her form to be prominent. Ethan Brown will need a touch of luck from barrier 13, but with a stack of speed in the race, the pair will likely head towards midfield before charging home. Best Value Race 4 – #11 Vienna Vixen (13) 5yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Ethan Brown (57.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Cranbourne Cranbourne quadrella selections Saturday, November 23, 2024 1-3-4-8-10 2-12 1-2-7-9-10-11-13 8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Motukarara Trotting Association Incorporated AGM – Mot Workouts The AGM will be held at 6.30pm on Monday, 25 November 2024 at the Motukarara Raceway. All current and prospective members are welcome. Over the last few years, we have been faced with many challenges such as lockdowns, weather events etc but we are still standing! We want to invite all local owners and trainers to join our organisation and provide their input into how we can build the workouts bigger and better. The more ideas, the better. Currently membership only costs $5 per annum – less than a cup of coffee! If you wish to attend the meeting, please email me at motukararaworkoutsv2@gmail.com or call Lyn on 021 650084 for an Agenda and Membership Application form. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk With typical modesty Bruce Negus brushes off his role in turning around his $700 bargain buy Mouton Cadet. On Wednesday at Rangiora the Sir Lincoln gelding had his fourth career win and his third for Negus since he bought him in July. It was a Team Negus special with Bruce training the seven-year-old and wife Colleen doing the steering on the short-priced favourite in the Remembering OK Oskar Amateur Drivers’ Mobile Pace. After being last turning for home Mouton Cadet was brushed four and five wide before just getting home by a half neck after a dogged battle with the second-placed Kowhai Nugget. “We read that race correctly, there was a lot of speed inside him and Colleen had to wait and wait and wait,” says Bruce Negus, “it was a very competitive race and a great drive. It was a bit of change for Mouton Cadet – his two previous starts had been two sixths during Cup week at Addington. Since Negus bought the horse off Gavelhouse for $700 Mouton Cadet has since won $23,000 in stakes. “I’ve just capitalised on other people’s hard work,” says Negus. Among the people he credits for the horse’s turnaround is his farrier Paul Howlett. “The blacksmith I’ve got has got some pretty good skills and some good ideas and he fixed them in one hit – cross-firing and brushing a knee.” “It’s down to centimetres and he got it right … that remedial shoeing was very effective.” Negus says he knew the horse had a “big engine” after watching his race footage. “I saw the replay at Westport (March 2024), he was last at the 400 and got up to win,” says Negus, “so I thought he was worth the risk.” “He’s got a lot of speed but he does have some characteristics that make him very unlikeable.” “He has little respect for humans.” And a decent appetite, by all accounts. “He eats everything in sight so I work him 50 per cent harder than the average horse and being a seven-year-old he can cope with that.” “He’s a good do-er .. an old style horse but a nice horse to drive.” While Mouton Cadet has been a great earner in the last four or so months Negus says it’s very much a case of win some, lose some. “He’s been a good buy alright but he just offsets the ones that weren’t and they have been a few of those over the years!” Footnote : Mouton Cadet is an iconic French wine produced in Bordeaux. View the full article

What Railway Stakes Day 2024 Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, November 23, 2024 First Race 12:34pm AWST Visit Dabble The Group 1 Railway Stakes will headline the massive nine-race program at Ascot this Saturday afternoon, while the Group 2 WA Guineas will be the co-feature for the three-year-olds. The track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, but with no rain on the forecast for Friday and Saturday, expect a perfect Good 4 surface to be presented on raceday. The rail will be in the +5m position for the entire circuit, with racing set to kick off at 12:34pm AWST. Read HorseBetting’s Group 1 Railway Stakes betting preview and strategy here. WA Guineas tip: September Born After an impressive first-up performance in the Listed Belgravia Stakes, September Born was a good winner of the Listed Fairetha Stakes in his third career start. This son of Playing God was made to travel wide throughout the 1400m journey, but he took over with 300m to go and held on for a strong win. Brad Parnham has retained the ride, and with more of an economical run expected from barrier four, September Born will prove very hard to beat. WA Guineas Race 7 – #3 September Born (4) 3yo Colt | T: Neville Parnham | J: Brad Parnham (57kg) +170 with Dabble Best Bet at Ascot: Yonga Lass Following her barnstorming finish in the Group 3 RJ Peters Stakes last Saturday, Yonga Lass will drop back in grade on a seven-day backup. The Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare settled at the rear of the field on a sedate tempo before flashing home for second place. William Pike sticks with the daughter of Universal Ruler, and if he can settle her closer to the speed from barrier four, Yonga Lass should win the Carbine Club Of WA Stakes. Best Bet Race 6 – #11 Yonga Lass (4) 5yo Mare | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (55.5kg) +220 with Neds Next Best at Ascot: Keshi Boom Keshi Boom appears to be close to finding the form that allowed her to win her first four career starts of her career. The daughter of Spirit Of Boom finished third at this track and trip on November 9, working home nicely in between runners to nab a placing in the final strides. Now that she is hitting peak fitness third-up, William Pike will settle worse than midfield before getting Keshi Boom out to the middle of the track to let down with a strong finish. Next Best Race 4 – #7 Keshi Boom (6) 4yo Mare | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (57kg) +250 with PlayUp Best Value at Ascot: Comic Hero After drawing barrier one first-up, it was always going to be a hard watch if you backed Comic Hero. The son of Dalghar travelled sweetly along the inside rail to grab third place, but it took Clint Johnston-Porter too long to get off the fence. With Chris Parnham legged aboard for this start, it is expected that he will settle near last from barrier 10 and get Comic Hero into clear air to flash home down the middle of the track. Best Value Race 9 – #7 Comic Hero (10) 5yo Gelding | T: Simon Miller | J: Chris Parnham (54.5kg) +850 with Picklebet Ascot quaddie tips for Railway Stakes Day Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, November 23, 2024 1-7-11 3-5-7-14 1-2-5-10-13-16 2-3-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter. The colt was catalogued as Lot 372 and was in the draft of Ohukia Lodge, who bought him for A$300,000 as a yearling in Sydney. He is out of the Exceed and Excel mare Florabella, which makes him a full-brother to the well-performed Australian sprinter Arkansaw Kid. Previously the winner of the Inglis Banner (1000m) and placed in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond (1200m), Arkansaw Kid has added victories in the Gr.2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) and Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) since the catalogue went to print. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Arkansaw Kid has had 18 starts for four wins, six placings and A$1.4 million in stakes. Bidding began at $100,000 on Lot 372 but was fiercely contested from that point on, breaking the half-million barrier and finishing up at $520,000. “We knew we’d have to go strong on this colt,” Carter said. “Our original assessment was somewhere around the $400,000 range, but after seeing how strong the sale has been, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. “We’re very happy to have bought him. He looks like the type of horse who’s not going to take long. He’ll have a couple of weeks in the paddock now, and then we’ll assess him and make a plan for him from there. He’ll eventually end up in Hong Kong.” The colt was one of just two progeny of Darley Stud stallion Harry Angel to go through the Karaka sale ring during the Ready to Run Sale this week. The other was Lot 306, a son of the Epaulette mare Cambric from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge, who fetched $400,000. Lot 372 headlined a series of strong results late on Thursday. Just a few minutes earlier, Lot 369 was bought by Waikato Bloodstock for $400,000. The Castelvecchio gelding was offered by Kilgravin Lodge and had been bought for A$10,000 from the 2023 Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale. Not long afterwards, a Hellbent colt catalogued as Lot 385 was also knocked down for $400,000. View the full article

Foxton mare Marotiri Molly(NZ) (Per Incanto) will make her long-awaited stakes-level debut on Saturday at Pukekohe Park, taking her place in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). The daughter of Per Incanto caught plenty of early attention when winning her first trial in dashing style as a four-year-old last April, and since then she has produced that form on the track, winning five of her 10 raceday appearances. Her trainer, Matt Dixon, was given a vote of confidence to take the step into black-type company when she went three on the bounce this preparation, most impressively last-start on an unfavourable Heavy10 surface at Trentham. “It was quite a courageous run there, she definitely prefers better footing, so I was concerned about the track, but her class got her through,” Dixon said. “She’s just kept improving this whole prep, it’s been very pleasing. “She’s always shown plenty of ability but we’ve just had some niggles along the way. That’s why it’s taken until she is a six-year-old before she fully matured and furnished, but she’s always shown that speed.” Marotiri Molly has been partnered in all but one of her career starts by Central Districts hoop Kate Hercock, and in her absence, Dixon has called upon the services of Sam Weatherley for Saturday’s fillies and mares’ feature. “Sam Weatherley will be riding her, Kate would’ve been there but under very sad circumstances (passing of partner Daniel Champion), she is unable to ride her this time,” he said. “She (Marotiri Molly) galloped right-handed on Tuesday morning at Foxton against the rail and went very well, so I couldn’t be happier with her really. She’s going there pretty much 100 percent.” View the full article

Warrnambool hoop Harry Grace has quickly become a trans-Tasman jockey and is set to continue that role when he rides at New Plymouth and Wanganui later this week. Grace first arrived in New Zealand in September to partner Australian raider Rolls in what was meant to be a Group One mission, and while that campaign hit a few snags, Grace has enjoyed forming relationships with local trainers and has accepted a number of invitations to continue to ride in New Zealand. “I have been getting good support and I have been riding some nice winners and making some good contacts over here in the Central Districts,” Grace said. “I have been everywhere between Otaki and New Plymouth riding work. I have had some good trainers here supporting me between Lisa Latta, Chrissy Bambry, Allan Sharrock, Janelle Millar, Bill Thurlow, Kelvin Tyler and a number of others. “I met Kelvin down at Otaki and he has supported me the whole way through. We didn’t have any joy down at the Riccarton carnival, but he has continued on with me and hopefully we will have Lightning Jack again soon.” While intent on making the most of his opportunities in New Zealand, Grace has continued to commute across the Tasman where he has maintained his riding engagements back home. “I still get the rides back home, they are quite happy with what I am doing over here. They are pushing me to get more winners while I can,” he said. “Spring is over back home and there are still some really good races over here to pick-up. I have got a few really nice up-and-coming horses I have been putting work into over here as well.” Grace has already travelled extensively throughout New Zealand and is particularly looking forward to riding at Trentham and Ellerslie over the summer months. “I have ridden everywhere from Christchurch to Auckland. I quite liked Wellington and Ellerslie,” he said. “I have got a lot lined up over here from December to about February, so I have got to decide how long I am going to stay here.” Grace is looking forward to his book of rides in New Zealand this week, kicking off with New Plymouth on Friday where he has four rides. “I have got a nice book of rides,” he said. “I have had a bit to do with Janelle Millar’s (Tiny Diamond) horse at the jumpouts and that is a nice ride, and Allan (Sharrock) has given me two nice chances (Swingit Our Way and Belle Tribute), and I also have one for Bryce Newman (Blue Jeanie).” View the full article

Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday. Ormsby trained passed-in 2022 Ready to Run lots Pulchritudinous and Outovstock to win this year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) respectively, with Pulchritudinous subsequently sold to Australian-based powerhouse Yulong Investments. Rivverock Farm’s Chad Ormsby Photo: Trish Dunell On Thursday, Ormsby struck gold in another role. He secured the highest price of the Ready to Run Sale’s second day with the $775,000 sale of Lot 288, a colt by Churchill out of the unraced Pierro mare Bagitol. Ormsby had paid only A$25,000 to buy the colt from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in March. “We honestly couldn’t believe we were getting such a high-quality colt for that price in Melbourne earlier in the year,” Ormsby said. “We rated him so highly from the moment we first saw him, and he’s turned out exactly how we hoped he would. There’s so many stages where things can go wrong in this business, but all the way through his preparation, he’s just kept on developing. He’s really become the horse we always thought he’d be.” The colt won a trial at Waipa on October 1, after which Ormsby took a big risk and turned down a significant offer to purchase him privately. Lot 288 subsequently impressed in his breeze-up at Te Rapa later that month, in which he clocked 10.42 seconds. “He trialled really well before the breeze-ups, and we knew after that performance that we had a pretty special individual,” Ormsby said. “We turned down good money after that trial. It was a lot of money and not easy to say no to, especially for a small operation like ours with only about 10 horses every year. “But we wanted to promote ourselves and our brand, and we thought the best way to do that was to take the risk, turn down that offer and carry on into the sale. This Ready to Run Sale is our home ground too, it’s our local sale and we believe it’s the best sale of its kind, so we wanted to support the sale as well.” While Ormsby went into Thursday with high hopes of a price above $500,000, he admits to being blown away by the final price of $775,000. The colt was sold to Patella Bloodstock and is destined for Hong Kong. “It’s an amazing result and it’s just a credit to the horse, he’s an absolute weapon of an animal,” Ormsby said. View the full article

Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale. Leung paid $400,000 under his Magus Equine banner to buy Lot 271, a Russian Revolution colt from the draft of Ohukia Lodge, then followed that up with a $625,000 purchase of Lot 288. The latter colt was offered by BMD Bloodstock and is by Toronado out of the Zabeel mare Attractive, who is a half-sister to Gr.1 Goodwood Handicap (1200m) winner Velocitea. “I rated that colt one of the best horses in the sale,” Leung said. “Toronado is going very well in Hong Kong, and it’s great to secure such a high-quality son of that stallion for Francis (Lui, trainer).” Toronado stands at Swettenham Stud for a service fee of A$88,000. He has sired 22 winners from just 37 runners in Hong Kong, headed by Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) winner Victor The Winner, Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner Helios Express, and Group Three winner and Gr.1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) placegetter Senor Toba. Leung hopes his new recruit could develop into a candidate to join that black-type list. Lot 283, a colt by Toronado out of Attractive Photo: Trish Dunell “The type of horse that he is, the dream is a race like the Hong Kong Derby (2000m),” he said. “He’ll probably stay here in New Zealand through until the end of next winter, and then we’ll take things from there. “Francis and I have had some great luck at this sale in the past with horses like Golden Sixty, so let’s hope for some more.” Golden Sixty was a $300,000 purchase from the 2017 Ready to Run Sale and went on to win 26 of his 31 starts including 10 Group One triumphs. He broke Hong Kong’s all-time prizemoney record with more than HK$167 million (NZ$34 million). Leung added another purchase to his list not long after that big-priced double, paying another $180,000 for the Embellish gelding catalogued as Lot 299. Leung spoke highly about this week’s 2024 edition of the Ready to Run Sale. “It’s been a strong sale,” he said. “There are some very good quality horses here, and you have to be prepared to pay quite a bit of money to get the ones that you want.” View the full article