Wandering Eyes

Australian rides California Spangle, Straight Arron and Five G Patch in Sunday’s Group Two contests.View the full article

Formidable combination Steve Wolfe and Shaun McGruddy have combined with Rope Them In ($8.50) to claim the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot Racecourse. Having been competitive in weaker company to begin his campaign, horse racing bookmakers were keeping the son of Playing God safe following his 1.6 length defeat behind race rival, and key market fancy Almighty Class ($3.50). Not only would Rope Them In turn the tables on Almighty Class, the four-year-old gelding would go on to stamp his claims towards a race like the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) following Saturday’s success. With Snowdome and Man Crush setting a genuine tempo throughout, the race was always going to be set up for a horse that had cover in the second-half of the field. McGruddy quickly found the back of Almighty Class once that runner was caught wide without cover, and as that horse started to tire in the home straight, Rope Them In produced a strong finish to put the race to bed with 100m to go. The eye-catching run was without a doubt from Western Empire, who started a $2.45 favourite with Picklebet. William Pike was racing in restricted room throughout from barrier one aboard the class horse in the field, and once the gaps appeared inside the final 150m, he surged late to go down by less than a length. 2024 Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes Replay – Rope Them In https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ascot-2024-Group-3-Colonel-Reeves-Stakes-16112024-Rope-Them-In-Steve-Wolfe-Shaun-McGruddy.mp4 Trainer Steve Wolfe was all smiles following the performance. “I always thought he was 1200, 1100 (metre) horse,” Wolfe said. “He’s a genuine horse, he hasn’t had much luck this time in, but the three deep line, a beautiful ride, well-trained and away we go. “He has got a good turn of foot, and I don’t have to do too much with him now.” McGruddy, who picked up his third win in the Colonel Reeves Stakes was full of praise for the classy sprinter post-race. “This horse has been looking for a better horses race,” he said. “The races he has been in there’s been no speed, he’s drawn well or he has had a lot of weight where you do not want to get back. “Up in grade and although it looked like he was out of his depth, I always thought that is what he was looking for.” Following the win, Neds have marked Rope Them In as a $26 for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes, in from $41 pre-race. Horse racing news View the full article

By Adam Hamilton The Aussies only snared the one win on Show Day at Addington Raceway, but it was the one that stole the week. Keayang Zahara’s mesmerizing win in the $500,000 Majestic Horse Floats LP The Ascent also capped the greatest NZ Cup Week in history for Aussie raiders, winning three of the “majors” with the 10-horse team who crossed the ditch. Swayzee did his thing, again, in last Tuesday’s IRT NZ Trotting Cup. The way he did it was just so Swayzee. Defying his daunting travel and racing schedule to lift off the canvas when local star Don’t Stop Dreaming looked to have him cold at the 100m. But it was fitting that champion Aussie trotter and global flag bearer Just Believe set the tone for the week by delivering the first big win for Australia in the $400,000 Group 1 Dominion Trot. It was little more than trackwork as Just Believe found the front and won eased down for 10th Group 1 win of his stellar career. “Harry” as he is so affectionately known was expected to repeat the dose yesterday, but even the greats aren’t unbeatable. Punching into a strong wind outside of the leader, Just Believe always looked vulnerable in the run with the explosive and classy Oscar Bonavena stalking on his back. While Harry gave a good kick rounding the home bend, old Oscar used that speed of his to snatch victory and move very close to $1 million in earnings. Just Believe was so very brave. It was only his third defeat in 22 starts since returning from Sweden last year. Each time he’s run second. With the Aussie mood dampened slightly, the spotlight moved to Keayang Zahara. Yes, she’s looked amazing winning all 11 starts in Australian, five of them at Group 1 level, but could she handle a trip to NZ so early in her career and would the Kiwis be much harder to beat? Yes and no were the answers. In one of the spine-tingling moments Addington has seen in many years, Keayang Zahara literally left her rivals standing when driver Jason Lee said go on the home turn. The margin was an increasing eight lengths, but that’s while Lee was letting her coast to the line under her own steam as he savoured the moment and flourished his whip to the appreciative Addington crowd. Everyone knew they had seen something special. It sounds disrespectful to Just Believe to say she’s the most exciting trotter in this part of the world, but she is. He’s still the best, but it won’t be long until she’s hunting for him, Before then, Kiwis will get to see her again in the flesh. Trainer Paddy Lee confirmed Keayang Zahara would stay on for the $140,000 Group 1 NZ Trotting Oaks at Addington on November 29. She’s $1.08 to land her seventh Group 1 victory in the race. But, staying beyond that for the Derby now seems unlikely. After decades of the best Kiwis heading to Australia and plundering our biggest races, the tide has turned, at least for now. And, as an Aussie, it’s great to see. View the full article

Another Prophet ridden by Ethan Brown wins the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield Racecourse. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Australia’s top trainers have come to the fore in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas, with Another Prophet ($34) for Ciaron Maher taking out the three-year-old fillies contest ahead of the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana ($3) and Too Darn Lizzie ($26) from the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable. Too Darn Lizzie led the field at a strong tempo, followed by Stage ‘N’ Screen ($8), Supercilious ($41), and the eventual winner, who settled in the one-one position and received the best run of the race. Horse racing bookmakers favourite Aeliana settled well back in the field with other market fancies Lovelycut ($11) and Benagil ($11). Turning for home, Too Darn Lizzie drifted off the inside rail and gave a strong kick, but Another Prophet loomed largely on her outside, and she took over with 200m to go. Matisse ($16) and Aeliana let down with their finishing bursts, with the former inconveniencing the latter slightly, before James McDonald asked for the ultimate effort in the final 150m. To her credit, Aeliana picked herself up, and she rattled home down the middle of the track but left her run too late and couldn’t pick up Another Prophet, who claimed a half-length win in the feature event at Caulfield. 2024 Thousand Guineas replay – Another Prophet https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Caulfield-2024-Group-1-Caulfield-Guineas-16112024-Another-Prophet-Ciaron-Maher-Ethan-Brown.mp4 Ciaron Maher was on course to speak about the victory. “We knew she was on the right trajectory,” Maher said. “We thought there was a little bit of improvement in her coming out of her last run and she actually ran a peak last start so that gave us the confidence going forward. “It was obviously a bit of a roll at the stumps but that was the science behind it. “She’d thrived and as I said to Brownie going out ‘well, I think we can win this.’ “He rode her so confidently, it was a very comfortable watch. “(I was confident) the whole way. “I was actually just watching Brownie and wanting her to drop her head after the first furlong or so. “Once I saw her nose drop I thought ‘gee, we’re in business here’. “Just fantastic, Brownie. “He’s a good mate, we’ve had some great wins together and hopefully there’s plenty more in store.” Ethan Brown was confident in his filly, and he spoke about that confidence in his post-race interview. “Her whole build-up… at the start, she was leading up half-mile trials and doing it upside down so it was a matter of teaching her,” Brown said. “She was a bit wound up at Moonee Valley and I think that is when we started thinking about her stretching to a mile. “She’s always had good ability and certainly with the right trainer. “I think she’s just progressed and what gave me more confidence was when we got in the yard and Ciaron said tucked up again since last start. “Cantered to the gates and it felt on. “Lobbed in a beautiful spot. “She was a bit keen early, I was a bit worried about that, but as Ciaron said one she dropped her head she travelled sweet and built into it beautifully and showed her true colours today. “A bit of cover was essential so I have to contain her early and once we got that first half right, it was easy from then.” “It hasn’t sunk in yet. “I’ve only ridden five (Group 1s) and they still all feel like my first. I’ve got a long way to catch J-Mac.” Horse racing news View the full article

Champion Fillies’ Day 2024. Photo: Western Racepix The Ascot Summer Carnival officially gets underway on Saturday with Champions Fillies’ where a nine-race meeting is set down for decision at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The Group 3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) is the feature of the day and is set to jump at 4:15pm local time. With plenty of key form races leading into the Group 1 races over in the west, catch up on all the race replays, results and dividends provided by top horse racing bookmakers here. Free Ascot Race Replays & Full Results 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Race 1 – Petaluma Handicap (1400 METRES) Race Replay & Results https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ascot-Race-1-Petaluma-Handicap-16112024-Miss-Skyhigh-Grant-Alana-Williams-William-Pike.mp4 Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st 3 Miss Skyhigh Grant & Alana Williams William Pike $3.80 $1.50 2nd 2 Madame Magic Daniel & Ben Peace Chris Parnham $2.50 3rd 11 Belle Journee Chris Stelmach Shaun O’Donnell $5.00 4th 7 Miss Rockjoy Susan Olive Jarrod Noske Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 3-2 $10.30 Exacta 3-2 $16.90 Duet 3-2 $5.60 Duet 3-11 $12.40 Duet 2-11 $26.10 Trifecta 3-2-11 $379.30 First Four 3-2-11-7 $4,097.80 Horse racing news View the full article

Apprentice Sima Mxothwa would have had his heart in his mouth with 250m to run in Saturday’s Laser Plumbing Waihi Beach (1400m) at Tauranga. Trainer Allan Sharrock entrusted the four kilogram-claiming apprentice with the ride on race favourite Sumi in the open 1400m contest and up until the closing stages of the contest Mxothwa had done most things right on the seven-year-old mare. Having let the daughter of Atlante find her rhythm towards the back of the field, Mxothwa began to track up behind runners approaching the home bend. Sumi looked to be full of running as Mxothwa went for a gap one off the fence but that was slammed shut in front of him and he desperately began seeking clear air further out on the track. Just as Saint Bathans claimed pacemaker Pow Wow and was set for victory, Sumi launched an undeniable burst, making up at least two lengths in the last 100m to hit the front and forge clear for a stunning win. Mxothwa is another of a growing list of South African riders plying their trade in New Zealand, with the 23-year-old now based with Sharrock after starting off with trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. Sharrock admitted he had mixed emotions throughout the race, but was pleased to see everything work out in the end. “The boy went from hero to zero there pretty quickly when he put her in a bad position in the straight,” Sharrock said. “But she is a tidy mare with a great turn of foot and he managed to get her out and get the win. “I think he has got good skills but just needs some opportunities to learn and bring those to the fore. “He has been with me for about a month now, so I put him on to give him that experience and I’m proud of him that he got the job done.” Sharrock had to watch the race from his New Plymouth home after major roadworks on the way to Tauranga prevented him travelling to the venue. “There are some massive roadworks on at the moment so I stayed home and watched it on TV,” he said. “I thought she could win and now she has I think we might look at a set weights and penalties mile at Ellerslie (Gr.3, 1600m) at the end of the month. “That was her first go right-handed today and she was fine so that Ellerslie race fits in well for her. “We were going to send her to the broodmare paddock but decided to give her another campaign where she has won twice and still has a couple more wins in her.” Bred by Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison, Sumi is a daughter of Kaapstad mare Seek A Fortune and the younger half-sister to Group Three winner Spare A Fortune. Purchased by Sharrock for just $4,500 out of the Book 3 Sale at Karaka in 2019, she has now won eight of her 35 starts and more than $242,00 in prizemoney. View the full article

New Zealand-bred four-year-old Ruakaka Raider landed a last-stride victory when successful in the Vale Colin McKenna (1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday for trainer Cindy Alderson. The gelded son of Redwood raced midfield with cover and was given a perfect ride by Daniel Stackhouse as he found a gap mid straight to dash through and collar the favourite Hiyaam Proud on the line. It was the first city win for the progressive gelding, who has now won three of his six starts, which will no doubt prove a tonic for trainer Cindy Alderson, who couldn’t be on track due to a back issue. “She’s (Cindy) bulged a disc in her back, but God, she’s done a brilliant job with this horse,” stable representative Melissa Batterham said. “He’s still doing a lot wrong, and we came here with no expectation today, and he’s just done what he’s done every time. He’s stepped out and just stepped up. “He was a bit hot before the start, and the occasion definitely was a little bit much for him, but he delivered, and it was a brilliant ride from Daniel Stackhouse. I couldn’t be more happy. “He’s still a little bit mentally immature, and each prep he’s going to get better and better, so it’s very exciting for what he’s done so far.” Bred by Terry Powell’s Tee Pee Racing Limited, who remains in the ownership, Ruakaka Raider is by Westbury Stud stallion Redwood, out of the four-win Duelled mare Irene Alice and comes from the family of Might And Power. Winning jockey Daniel Stackhouse was impressed with the victory. “He’s a lovely type, just going through his replays, he doesn’t look like a finished product. He’s very raw and immature,” Stackhouse said. “Speaking to Jamie Mott prior to the race, he gets really dis-united with his action so you sort of can’t rush him into spots and you let him build into the race, and it panned out that way for us. “It worked out really well. I was happy the way he travelled, the tempo was nice. He built into it and got the gaps at the right time.” Ruakaka Raider’s sire Redwood will be well represented with ten lots at this week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale which commences on Wednesday at Karaka. View the full article

Jasmin Rouge ridden by Ben Melham winning the Thoroughbred Club of Australia Stakes. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Jasmin Rogue ($34) has caused a boilover in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon after producing a strong finish to nab Tobeornottobe in the final 100m of the 1200m contest. The Clinton McDonald-trained filly recorded a third-place finish at Bendigo on debut, but horse racing bookmakers were happy to let punters on, as she drifted slightly from an opening quote of $31 to $34 at the jump. Marilyn’s Edge ($51), Blackberry Bomb ($34) and Tobeornottobe ($5.50) jumped smartly from their barriers to find the front, with Ethan Brown electing to sit three-wide on the runner-up, while Rich Dottie ($4) found her back and Always Enuff ($51) received the run of the race in the box seat. With only one turn to navigate, Tobeornottobe took over from the slowing leaders on her inside and gave a strong kick at the top of the straight. Rich Dottie and Always Enuff looked as though they had something to give and were produced for their finishing bursts, but it was Ben Melham on the eventual winner, who slid through the pack and took an inside run. After settling wide, Tobeornottobe started to take smaller steps in the final 100m, and it was Jasmin Rogue who let down with a blistering turn of foot to glide past to run away with the victory, while On Display ($16) made up a lot of ground down the middle of the track to finish third. 2024 Thoroughbred Club Stakes replay – Jasmin Rogue https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Caulfield-2024-Group-3-Thoroughbred-Club-Stakes-16112024-Jasmin-Rouge-Clinton-McDonald-Ben-Melham.mp4 Ali Kennedy-McDonald represented the winning stable in the post-race interview. “We’ve always thought she had a bit of ability. I’m a bit shocked, actually,” Kennedy-McDonald said. “We expected her to run well and finish off well but she’s still green and still learning and for her to do that, she’s tough. “We wanted to ride her quiet like in her trials where we thought when she got back she finished off a lot better. “Ben rode on the fence for luck and it was a great ride.” Ben Melham also spoke about the victory post-race. “It was Clinton’s idea to run the filly and Jamie (Kah) was adamant that she would run well,” Melham said. “They were proven right as I wasn’t as confident. “I’m happy to be wrong on this occasion. Really nice filly. “She has always shown good ability at home and she’s a long way from the finished product so to come here as a maiden and win at her second start with the upside that she’s got, it was great. “There were some well-credentialed fillies in the race and all of them had more experience than her but without a doubt she certainly benefited with something to aim at. “Very gutsy. She’s only little but great acceleration.” Horse racing news View the full article

Pisces ridden by James McDonald winning the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) James Cummings and James McDonald have combined on Thousand Guineas Day, with Pisces ($3.10) making a mess of his rivals in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1400m) at Caufield on Saturday afternoon. The son of Frosted was heavily backed into $3.10 prior to the jump, with punters happy to chime in at the price with Neds after an eye-catching first-up performance at Moonee Valley in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) on October 26. McDonald was able to lob into the perfect stalking position from barrier two, while Coleman ($3.00) almost jumped too well under Ethan Brown, with the Pierata colt racing ungenerously in an unfamiliar leading role. I Am Velvet ($7.50) pressed forward to sit on his outside and ticking over some strong sectionals early, allowing Catoggio ($5.00) and Rue De Royale ($7.50) to sit behind the leading pair. Catoggio didn’t have much luck when attempting to get clear in the final 400m, however, McDonald had no such issues aboard Pisces, as the progressive three-year-old went right on by to secure a dominant 2.5-length win in the 2024 Blue Sapphire Stakes. 2024 Group 3 Blue Diamond Stakes Replay – Kin https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Caulfield-2024-Group-3-Blue-Sapphire-Stakes-16112024-Pisces-James-Cummings-James-McDonald.mp4 James Cummings was on course to breakdown the win and suggested the $500,000 feature was always going to be perfect placement for Pisces. “He’s been held back for a race like this and it has paid off,” Cummings said. “I loved the way James rode him from the inner gate. In his trials he was quite content to be further back and out of the breeze but he just cruised up to the opposition like he’s really going somewhere. “He’s an exciting horse heading into his future as a lightly raced three-year-old. “We like the idea of targeting racing in the autumn and we liked to see him score. “He was excellent first-up at Moonee Valley but it is one thing run well behind them and it is another thing to win in a race like this and put them away with style. “This was a rich race worth targeting. A horse like Pisces this was ‘low hanging fruit’ it was worth targeting. We like going fishing for races like this and he is one to keep aiming for races like it.” James McDonald was impressed with the win and suggested there’s more to come from Pisces moving forward. “He’s a nice horse and he’s on an upward spiral,” he said. “His run at Moonee Valley was terrific and didn’t have a lot of luck. It was a barrier trial as he didn’t get out until 100 to go. I thought he’d come here pretty competitive and he drew that nice gate.” Horse racing news View the full article

Veteran handler alters plans to ensure trackwork cancellation does not scupper sprinter’s preparation ahead of Sunday.View the full article

The Hunter. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The Hunter Day 2024 awaits punters at Newcastle on Saturday, November 16, 2024 with a bumper 10-race meeting set down for decision. The Group 2 The Hunter (1300m) headlines what is set to be a big day of racing in the Hunter Valley. As the Spring Carnival winds down, catch up on all the race replays, results and dividends provided by top horse racing bookmakers here. Newcastle Race Replays and Full Results 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Race 1 – Max Lees Classic (900 METRES) Race Replay & Results https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Newcastle-2024-Max-Lees-Classic-16112024-Gobi-Desert-Kris-Lees-Tim-Clark.mp4 Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st 6 Gobi Desert Kris Lees Tim Clark $10.00 $4.20 2nd 3 Good Hotspur Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Tyler Schiller $2.20 3rd 1 Buffalo David Atkins Ashley Morgan NTD 4th 4 Rustemo Kris Lees Jason Collett Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 6-3 $20.70 Exacta 6-3 $41.80 Trifecta 6-3-1 $225.60 First Four 6-3-1-4 $988.30 Horse racing news View the full article

Thousand Guineas Day. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Thousand Guineas Day 2024 is here with a bumper 10-race meeting set down for decision at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) is the feature event and will open the quaddie, whilst the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) is the penultimate event of the day. As the Melbourne Spring Carnival comes to a close, catch up on all the race replays, results and dividends provided by top horse racing bookmakers here. Caulfield Race Replays and Results 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Race 1 – Vale Colin McKenna (1700 METRES) Race Replay & Results https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Caulfield-Race-1-Vale-Colin-McKenna-16112024-Ruakaka-Raider-Cindy-Alderson-Daniel-Stackhouse.mp4 Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st 13 Ruakaka Raider Cindy Alderson Daniel Stackhouse $6.50 $2.20 2nd 8 Hiyaam Proud Matt Laurie Michael Dee $1.50 3rd 14 Farewell To Eire Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman Jamie Kah $3.80 4th 7 Sure Mick Price & Michael Kent Beau Mertens Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 13-8 $9.40 Exacta 13-8 $20.70 Duet 13-8 $3.70 Duet 13-14 $12.20 Duet 8-14 $7.90 Trifecta 13-8-14 $188.80 First Four 13-8-14-7 $599.30 Horse racing news View the full article

A 3-year-old filly bred by Spendthrift Farm and sired by one of the nursery's top stallions gutted out the victory in Friday's seventh race at Del Mar. That in itself was unremarkable and not unexpected, but the result was, as 21-5 third choice Sandy Bottom (Omaha Beach)–making her first start since running her record to two-for-two in the Anoakia Stakes some 390 days ago–was quickly into stride from the outside gate in a field of six and made every yard of the running to just hold an equally game effort from comebacking 'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro–Beholder) in a race neither really deserved to lose. Returning to the races for the first time since a fading seventh as the 4-5 chalk in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the 2023 GI Del Mar Debutante victress was off a half-step slowly from the inside gate beneath Mike Smith and was ridden along to remain relatively handy to the pace set by Umberto Rispoli and Sandy Bottom, who took them along through an opening quarter-mile in :22.14 as Tamara, off at 2-5, tugged her way into a share of third approaching the turn. Asked to come after the front-runner in earnest passing the five-sixteenths, Tamara was guided away from the rail and into the two path with every conceivable chance if good enough. Tamara came to tackle at the top of the lane, was a fraction late swapping her leads and ran hard through the wire, but fell just short. The final time was a crisp 1:10.06. The winner was maintaining a perfect record from three runs, having graduated at first asking last Sept. 10, one day after Tamara took out the Debutante. Spendthrift acquired Sandy Bottom's stakes-winning and Grade III-placed second dam Five Star Daydream (Five Star Day)–the dam of GSW Gas Station Sushi (Into Mischief)–for $100,000 in foal to Macho Uno and Starlit Daydream is the only one of her dam's nine starters to have not won a race. The latter is the dam of a yearling colt by Cloud Computing, a weanling filly by Greatest Honour (Tapit) and is due to Omaha Beach for her 2025 produce. 7th-Del Mar, $61,500, Alw (C), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 11-15, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.06, ft, nose. SANDY BOTTOM (f, 3, Omaha Beach–Starlit Daydream, by Can the Man) Sales history: $145,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $140,622. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-James M & Donna Daniell; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Michael W McCarthy. SANDY BOTTOM ($10.20) held off the charge from Tamara to take the 7th at @DelMarRacing. The daughter of @spendthriftfarm's Omaha Beach was trained by @mwmracing, @umbyrispoli was on board. Play the next race: https://t.co/CDoj9VG9iY pic.twitter.com/5wgAu3UBW3 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 15, 2024 The post Tamara Falls Just Short In Game Comeback Effort at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin This one meant just that little bit more. Maybe it was because Merlin’s win in the $200,000 Allied Security New Zealand Pacing Free-For-All came at the end of a statement day for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan. They had earlier won New Zealand’s first $500,000 slot race, the Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY with Better Knuckle Up and the $120,000 IRT Sires’ Stakes Trot with Meant To Be, both also driven by Zachary Butcher. After a frustrating last fortnight that felt good, the exclamation mark Butcher’s rare salute at the line. It also feel that little more special because Tuesday had not gone how the stable had dreamed, their horses good but not good enough. “I said to the boys on Wednesday this is Cup week and the best of the best are here so it is a privilege to win any race so let’s go back on Friday and try and do better,” said Purdon. They did. But Merlin’s win also meant that little but more to Purdon and his two partners/mates because of how he won it and what had happened in Tuesday’s Cup. Merlin was expected to finish closer than fourth in the Cup, which shows just how highly he is rated that fourth in a Cup isn’t good enough. It appeared the searing pace of the Cup didn’t suit Merlin but Purdon is adamant it wasn’t from a lack of staying ability. So to see him sit parked and beat Better Eclipse and Catch A Wave spoke to his determination albeit over the more-speed based 1980m mobile. “Nobody will convince me he can’t stay,” says Purdon. “I have put sulkies on too many good horses to know the difference and he tried his heart out up the straight on Tuesday. “That is why we are still happy to aim him at the Auckland Cup (Dec 31) because I know he will be able to get 3200m. “And as he gets older maybe he can handle the 3200m of the Cup here, even though it is a very different 3200m.” Merlin was all muscle and power after sitting parked on a cold and bleak Friday night, one which kept the spectators inside but the action was red hot on the track. Merlin will now stick around Canterbury for the new $200,000 Christian Cullen in December before that Auckland Cup and then and eventual defence of the $1million slot race at Cambridge he won last year when it was known as the Race by Grins. His last leg of that major race treble on Friday may have capped a frustrating fortnight in which the stable has lost the services of Cold Chisel with injury while a few others have had no luck or lost their best form. But often perception and reality are two different things. Because in the last three weeks the Purdon/Phelan team has won nearly $1million worth of races. And they have now won the only two pacing slot races run in New Zealand this year. View the full article

By Michael Guerin There was a lot of head shaking going on in the Addington stabling block after Oscar Bonavena finally restored some level of New Zealand harness racing pride on Friday. The reigning Trotter of the Year raced like it for the first time in months when he sling-shotted Aussie hero Just Believe in the $100,000 New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All. After Muscle Mountain led and kept running Just Believe had to race parked and a pearler of a drive from Blair Orange saw Oscar Bonavena stalking him on his back. At the 400m it looked like Muscle Mountain had them all in trouble before his lack of recent racing saw him peak and Just Believe gathered himself and raced to the lead . But if there is one open class trotter in Australasia you don’t want sitting on your back in that situation it is a healthy and happy Oscar. When he let down he was simply too fast, reminding us what a weapon his raw speed has been during his rollercoaster career. There have been times it felt like we would never see the best of Oscar Bonavena and entire years when he struggled to win a race. So to bounce back to something like that best and beat a champion had both his trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon shaking their heads. “It is so satisfying to see him race like that again, he has been such a wonderful old horse,” said Nathan Purdon. Oscar Bonavena will now return north with Mark Purdon this weekend and spend much of the summer being trained at the Matamata galloping track, where Purdon believes he can keep him soundest. “We have the soft surface there to work him on and the pool to swim him in,” says Mark Purdon. “So he can race around Alexandra Park and Cambridge. But we are so proud of him because he just keeps turning up after all these seasons.” Also shaking his head was Greg Sugars, driver of Just Believe who knew a day like this had to come. “Eventually he was going to have to race parked with the wrong horse on his back and today was that day,” said the Victorian. “But he was very brave and at least he wasn’t on Tuesday,” he said in reference to the Dominion they won on Cup Day, worth four times more than Friday’s 1980m mobile. Sugars and his wife Jess now have some thinking to do because they are torn between staying in New Zealand for the next month and heading back to Sydney to try for an Inter Dominion threepeat. “We are going to need to think about that and quickly,” said Sugars. “The other day we were certain we were staying but we have a few other things to weigh up so to be honest I don’t know what to do now.” View the full article

White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner, is scheduled to make a long-awaited return to action Nov. 22 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

White Abarrio (Race Day), winner of the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, is scheduled to return to action next Friday at Gulfstream Park. The 5-year-old is entered in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance, in which he is scheduled to make his first start since returning to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.'s stable. White Abarrio was 10th in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 24 and fifth in the GI Metropolitan Handicap June 8 at Saratoga. He had previously won the 2023 GI Whitney Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Classic after being transferred from Joseph to Rick Dutrow, Jr. earlier in that year. “Obviously, we're glad to have him back. He's a top-class horse–those are the kind of horses you want to train,” Joseph said. “He's coming off a couple of disappointing runs, but hopefully, he'll rebound. When you come off those kind of runs, you're always a little bit reserved to have a strong opinion, but he seems to be working well enough. It's time to get him back started. Hopefully, he'll get a win and go on to bigger things from here.” The post White Abarrio Entered to Return Next Friday at Gulfstream Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Globetrotting Spirit Dancer becomes the first dual winner of the $1 million Bahrain International Trophy (G2) Nov. 15 with a remarkable come-from-behind success.View the full article

Kovanis (Fr) (Tunis {Pol}), one of 10 lots to bring £100,000 or more during Friday's Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale, topped proceedings at £330,000 to Gordon Elliott Racing. Consigned by Gerald Quinn's Caherty Stables, lot 8 won on debut in a Portrush point-to-point and is from the same family as Friday's G2 Cheltenham Schloer Chase hero Jonbon (Fr) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) and Grade 3 hurdle winner Discover D'Auteuil (Fr) (Mistigri {GB}). “He is a nice horse, he has come well recommended and he travelled in his race like a good horse,” said Elliott. “I will imagine he will go for a bumper in the spring, he looks a nice big horse and one to go forward.” Second on the buyers' sheet was wildcard Reckless Spending (Ire) (lot 7) who was sold to Nicky Henderson and Jerry McGrath Bloodstock for £200,000. Part of the Jonathan Fogarty Racing draft, the 4-year-old son of Sholokhov (Ire) was second when unveiled at Umma House on Oct. 20. “He's for owner Martin George,” said McGrath. “The winner of that race and this horse pulled 10 lengths clear of the third. Nicky Henderson has had brilliant luck with the sire; he can get you a Champion Chaser or a Gold Cup horse. Hopefully this will be a nice horse going forward.” Jonathan Fogarty Racing also offered lot 25, Hank West (Ire) (Westerner {GB}), who sold for £195,000 to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins. The gelding won at first asking at Lisronagh. “Westerner has been very lucky for us and we bought the Grade 1 winner Ferny Hollow (Ire) from here,” said Kirk. “This gelding is out of a Montjeu (Ire) mare, and he is another sire we have been lucky with via Hurricane Fly (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). We loved this horse as an individual, and he won his race well. This is the first we have bought from Jonathan.” From seven fewer lots catalogued than last year, the sale's clearance rate rose to 87% with 33 lots sold of 38 offered for a gross of £3,085,000 (+34%). The average and median both increased by over 20% apiece at £93,485 (+26%) and £72,000 (+24%), respectively. Shirley Anderson-Jolag, Tattersalls Cheltenham sales manager said, “It has been fantastic to be back at the Home Of Jump Racing for the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale and we have had a sale fit for the occasion. “We wanted to ensure that this first catalogue of our sales year was select and we concentrated on cataloguing only the very best young jumps horses. I think that goal has been achieved with a top lot of £330,000, seven sold for £150,000 and above and ten six-figure lots. “The team has worked hard since the beginning of October to deliver buyers an outstanding catalogue of young NH horses and that has been achieved. I am thrilled to see that our consignors have been rewarded with such great results today. “We all enjoyed watching the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale graduate Potters Charm (Ire) (Valirann {Fr}) win so impressively today [in the G2 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle] and we are looking forward to seeing Tattersalls Cheltenham graduates go on to achieve at the highest level over jumps and win on the biggest stages.” The post Kovanis Leads Strong Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rojo Rita (Volatile) gave her connections something to celebrate here as she cruised home the easiest of winners in this unveiling, and secured her nod as the newest 'TDN Rising Star' in the process. An $80,000 Keeneland September purchase in 2023, Rojo Rita has been working steadily at Palm Meadows before this debut, with her Nov. 1 five-furlong work over that main track in :59.35 being rated as the fastest of five on the morning. Her Nov. 8 four-panel breeze went in :48.25, and she was rated fourth fastest of 33. The works that day were led by 'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole), who worked the bullet in :46.90. Sent off here as the 7-5 second choice behind 6-5 favorite Reputation (Bolt d'Oro), Rojo Rita set the tempo through :22.19 and :46.40 early splits along the rail. Lingering on her left lead but giving her competition the slip, she had built up a seven-length margin entering the stretch. Switching to the correct leg late but still in complete control to the wire, it was a long way back to Snitch Dorada (Maximus Mischief) in second, 16 1/4 lengths to be exact, as the favorite could only manage third. Rojo Rita is her sire (by Violence)'s third 'TDN Rising Star'. The victress is the most recent offspring to reach racing age for her dam, D'ya Knowwhatimean. From four foals to survive, all of them have gotten their picture taken with the eldest being Answer In (Dialed In), GSP, $445,580, tus far the only one to earn black-type. The mare, herself three-times placed against stakes competition, most recently produced a yearling full-sister to Rojo Rita. She did not produce a foal this year after a visit to Olympiad and was sent to Dialed In for 2025. This is the extended family of GSW Classy Edition (Classic Empire) and her half-sister MSW Newly Minted (Central Banker); GISP Golden Post; and GSW Miss Union Avenue, who in turn produced GII American Derby hero Union Avenue. Watch this debut! #4 ROJO RITA ($4.80) got to the lead early and ran up the score late winning by double digits in race 6 at Gulfstream Park. The 2yo daughter of Volatile was ridden by @zayas_edgardo and is trained by @SaffieJosephJr. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/3q8FwYO4mg — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 15, 2024 6th-Gulfstream, $40,000, Msw, 11-15, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.43, ft, 16 1/4 lengths. ROJO RITA, f, 2, by Volatile 1st Dam: D'ya Knowwhatimean (MSP, $125,520), by Broken Vow 2nd Dam: Tamina, by Dixie Union 3rd Dam: Top Tip, by Lost Code Sales history: $80,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $24,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree. O-Kamil Ozhan; B-Glen Oak Farm & Two Stamps Stables (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.. The post Cheers! Rojo Rita is Volatile’s Newest ‘TDN Rising Star’ at Gulfstream Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, we will have a look at American-bred first-time juvenile starters (through the end of 2024) and debuting 3-year-olds in maiden races at the tracks of the Emirates Racing Authority, with a specific focus on pedigree and/or performance in a sales ring. The flagship venue for racing in the United Arab Emirates is Meydan Racecourse, which will host racing predominantly on Fridays, with the exception of Super Saturday Mar. 1 and Dubai World Cup night Apr. 5, 2025. Here are the horses of interest for the Saturday card at all-dirt Jebel Ali: 3rd-JEB, AED60,000, NH2yo/SH3yo, 1200m (straight course) MATCHABLE (Omaha Beach) is one of two in the race for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer and has the inside barrier for this first go. Runner-up in an 800-meter trial at this venue on Nov. 6 (see below), the May 11 foal is kin to two winners from four to race out of My Philly Girl (Empire Maker), also the dam of this year's GIII Chillingworth Stakes victress One Magic Philly (Good Magic) and SW My Philly Twirl (Hard Spun). A $115,000 Keeneland September yearling, Matchable was hammered down to Rabbah Bloodstock for €125,000 at this year's Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale (see below). The deeper female family includes three-time G1 Dubai Turf hero Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Stablemate Gallant Blade (Maximum Security) was fourth, a length behind Matchable in the Nov. 6 barrier trial. A $110,000 KEENOV weanling turned $230,000 OBS April breezer (video), the chestnut is out of a half-sister to champion MG1SW Japanese dirt horse Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid), who swansongs in defense of his title in the G1 Champions Cup in early December. The Grade III-winning third dam Harpia (Danzig) was a full-sister to the irrepressible Danehill. Rammayy (Win Win Win) was produced by a full-sister to MSW Pretty Perfection (Majesticperfection) and cost trainer Michael Costa $250,000 on behalf of Jebel Ali Stables at last year's Keeneland September Sale, while $25,000 Fasig-Tipton October and $50,000 OBS June grad Nedawy (Instagrand) completes the field. WATCH: Nov. 6 trial featuring Matchable (2nd) and Gallant Blade (4th) The post Desert Debuters: Compact Quartet Looks Evenly Matched appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

First-season sire Van Beethoven will stand for an increased fee of €6,000 at Karwin Farm in 2025. The news was first reported by Jour de Galop. The son of Scat Daddy has 40 foals in his first crop, and, from 11 runners has a trio of winners. His Ciaran (Fr) was second in the Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et Jouvencelles. A winner of the G2 Railway Stakes, the dark bay was second in the 2019 GI Secretariat Stakes in the U.S. After starting his stud career at Haras de Grandcamp where he stood 2021 and 2022 at €6,000, Van Beethoven moved to Karwin Farm beginning with the 2023 season. His fee was €4,500 in 2023 and 2024. The post Van Beethoven’s Fee Increased To €6,000 At Karwin Farm Following His First Runners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority board of directors on Nov. 15 approved reducing Thoroughbred race dates in Maryland next year, with racing pausing in the summer to avoid competition with Colonial Downs in Virginia. View the full article

After a nine-day delay to fix safety concerns that pushed back the opening of the 2024-25 racing season at Turf Paradise from Nov. 2 to Nov. 11, horsemen, jockeys, regulators and track management were all largely in concurrence Friday that the first four days of racing at the Arizona track this past Monday through Thursday were conducted in safe and sustainable fashion. The largely positive reviews and glowing articulations of cooperation at the Nov. 15 Arizona Racing Commission (AZRC) meeting stood out in contrast to the contention and infighting that had become routine at commission meetings since the start of the 2020s decade. Recent disputes often pitted horsemen against track management over issues having to do with everything from purses, race dates, simulcasting rights and track safety, all while the beleaguered Turf Paradise bounced through a years-long cycle of potential and scuttled sales to a series of buyers who eventually fell by the wayside, leaving longtime owner Jerry Simms still at the helm. Simms, who often weighs in at commission meetings, was not a major participant during Friday's session. But his name came up often in terms of appreciation uttered by various stakeholders for his role in seeing Turf Paradise through its latest crisis, which was sparked by an Oct. 31 recommendation by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) that Turf Paradise delay the start of its racing season because of problems with the dirt surface. “It was quite some trying times,” said Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) president J. Lloyd Yother. “We had some issues with the track that we were late in opening the meet, but we worked through those and things seem to be running very well.” Last year, prior to the start of the 2023-24 season, the AZHBPA and the Jockeys' Guild had complained to state regulators that the main track rail was not up to spec even after HISA had issued a non-compliance warning to Turf Paradise and track management had made what it thought was adequate repairs. A HISA inspection in the spring of 2023 had turned up “numerous gaps and exposed edges in the railing material that could inflict serious harm upon jockeys.” And then, just prior to the start of the current meet in the fall of 2024, four horses died at Turf Paradise. Two occurred as a while training prior to the meet's opening, according to Sue Gale, the Arizona Department of Gaming's chief veterinarian. Gale said on Friday that Turf Paradise has had seven equine fatalities so far in 2024, dating back to the previous meet in the spring when two horses perished from illness and one from injury. “Since that time, we've had two horses that had catastrophic limb injuries during training,” Gale said. “We had one other horse have a traumatic episode flipping over. And then we had, just recently, a horse that suddenly died [in the stable area] that we're investigating. They're all being necropsied, and those reports are pending.” J. Lloyd Yother | Coady Photography Over the first four days of racing, Gale said Turf Paradise took 340 entries. Of those, 33 horses were scratched (three pre-race unsound, three on the track as unsound or injured, and the remaining reasons being “stakes, stewards, illness, that sort of thing.”) Gale said no horses were vanned off Nov. 11-14, although one was reported unsound after racing. Six others, she added, are to be given follow-up exams by the commission's vet team. There was one injury during training. Juan Estrada, the assistant director for the Arizona Department of Gaming, told the AZRC that track management, state officials, and HISA have all been making progress together to ensure the main track and the meet stays safe. “We're going to continue to monitor, document and report anything that we see. Turf is steadily addressing some of the major concerns we have,” Estrada said. Darrell Haire, the western regional manager for The Jockeys' Guild, checked in with a brief report that amounted to a thumbs-up from riders. “A lot of our concerns have been addressed, and [the fixes] are ongoing,” Haire said. Two issues did percolate to the surface as needing more attention, though: Backstretch security and the track's ailing fleet of four water trucks. AZRC chair Kandace French Contreras said that over the past week, while monitoring safety work at Turf Paradise, she has walked into the backstretch area at least six times via the north stable gate without once being checked for a license, and she stated she was certain nobody who saw her coming or going knew she held a VIP position with the racing commission. “There was no security, no staff, nobody that stopped me from even going through the gate and going into the backside, and that concerns me,” French Contreras said. “Security goes a long way toward track safety, and I have concerns about somebody just being able to go into the backside without any questions.” In response, Turf Paradise general manager Vincent Francia told the commission he would be instructing his security team to address that issue. French Contreras then asked Yother to speak about his concerns related to the water trucks, which were not a problem that Yother had mentioned when giving his report just minutes before. “I personally am not satisfied with the water trucks,” Yother said. “They're old water trucks. They've got issues [and] they break down quite often….They've got severe water leaks.” Francia told commissioners that he has mechanics working to fix the problems while he tries to buy, lease or borrow secondhand water trucks from other tracks. He added that he has a lead on equipment that Freehold Raceway in New Jersey won't be needing after that harness track's planned closure at the end of 2024. As Yother put it, “The four that we have we're going to have to make do with. It's not ideal, but it keeps us in business.” The post After Track Woes Delay Meet, Turf Paradise’s First Week Of Racing Reported As Safe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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