Wandering Eyes

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Nov. 6 issued an order approving the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's $80-million budget for 2025. The Authority's proposed 2025 budget garnered only three public comments after it was first submitted to the FTC on July 31 and subsequently published in the Federal Register. The public commentary period closed Sept. 12. According to the FTC's order, “Two of the comments were brief and did not address the Decisional criteria that the Commission must apply in determining whether to approve a proposed budget. A third, anonymous comment raised points relevant to the Authority's proposed 2025 budget, although it did not speak to specific provisions in the budget or address how they were or were not consistent with–or whether they would serve the goals of–the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act.” The Budget Oversight Rule provides that after the close of the comment period, the Commission must either approve or disapprove the proposed budget. “The Commission will approve the proposed budget if the Commission determines that, on balance, the proposed budget is consistent with and serves the goals of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act in a prudent and cost-effective manner and that its anticipated revenues are sufficient to meet its anticipated expenditures,” the FTC order explained. “Commission staff reviewed the proposed budgetary line items and accompanying narratives and found that these conditions were met,” the FTC order stated. The Commission vote to approve the proposed budget was 5-0. The post FTC Approves $80M HISA Budget For 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 38 individuals have been nominated for the 2024 Horse Racing Ireland Awards, HRI announced on Wednesday. Among the Horse of the Year candidates are a trio horses who were unbeaten this season: jumpers State Man (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}) and Teahupoo (Fr) (Masked Marvel {GB}), and top-notch stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while other nominees are Derby winner City Of Troy (Justify), mile specialist Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio), and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs (Fr) (Timos {Ger}).The full list of nominees is below: Horse of the Year Award City Of Troy Galopin Des Champs Kyprios Porta Fortuna State Man Teahupoo National Hunt Award Gavin Cromwell Jack Kennedy Willie Mullins JJ Slevin Paul Townend National Hunt Achievement Award Martin Brassil Sam Ewing Tom Gibney John “Shark” Hanlon Jimmy Mangan Eric McNamara Danny Mullins Flat Award Colin Keane Dylan Browne McMonagle Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Flat Achievement Award Chris Hayes Gerry Keane Wayne Lordan John Murphy Donnacha O'Brien Pat O'Donnell Point-To-Point Award David Christie Shane Cotter Rob James Emmet Mullins Barry O'Neill Emerging Talent Alex Harvey Wayne Hassett Keithen Kennedy Carl Millar James Ryan Fans will be able to help select the winners of the Racecourse of the Year Award and the Ride of the Year Award, and the nominees for those will be announced in the coming weeks. The Horse of the Year, and the winners of the awards in the categories of National Hunt, National Hunt Achievement, Flat, Flat Achievement, Point-to-Point and Emerging Talent will be decided by a ballot of the HRI Awards committee, made up of members of the various sections of the Irish racing media. Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “Irish racing has given us so much to celebrate both at home and abroad over the past 12 months. There have been some wonderful stories and achievements and I send my best wishes to all those nominated for our annual awards. I am excited that racing fans and racegoers are being asked to help decide the winner of the Racecourse of the Year Award in addition to the Ride of the Year Award this time.” The post Nominees Announced For 2024 Horse Racing Ireland Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

National Treasure, the three-time Grade I-winning son of Quality Road, has been retired from racing and will take up residence at Eric & Tamara Gustavson's Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he will stand stud in 2025 for an introductory fee of $40,000 S&N, according to a post on the farm's website. A classic winner of the GI Preakness Stakes and victor in this year's GI Pegasus World Cup and GI Metropolitan Handicap, National Treasure is now available for inspection by appointment. Spendthrift acquired the breeding rights to the colt, which was announced back in early February. “National Treasure comes to Spendthrift with the credentials to become an important sire, and we are very excited for him to enter the next chapter in his already tremendous career,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “This horse was precocious enough to place in a very competitive Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he's an American classic winner at three, and he was one of the top older horses this year with wins in premier races like the Pegasus World Cup and the Met Mile. National Treasure was fast, possessed tremendous grit, and is an exceptionally good-looking colt with outstanding sire power and pedigree–a truly special package.” Trained by Bob Baffert, National Treasure was scheduled to make his final start in last Saturday's GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. However, he came out of last month's runner-up effort in the GI California Crown Stakes at Santa Anita with a minor foot bruise, which ultimately forced him to miss the Dirt Mile. National Treasure in the Met Mile at the Spa | Sarah Andrew “National Treasure was one of the most consistent and reliable horses I have ever worked with,” said SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan. “In addition to his elite race record–competing in 13 Grade I races over 28 months–he completed 75 published workouts in California, demonstrating an insatiable appetite for training. His physical makeup contributed to his longevity: he is very streamlined–almost light–but possesses great power and efficient motion with a high cruising speed. It's unfortunate that we missed the chance for a third Breeders' Cup appearance due to the bruised foot. It was just bad timing. We are very proud that he will now begin his stallion career at the famed Spendthrift Farm.” The $500,000 yearling purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale began his career at two with a successful unveiling. The juvenile later finished as the runner-up in the GI American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita before traveling to Keeneland where he ran third behind champion 2-year-old Forte (Violence) in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile. As a 3-year-old, National Treasure became Quality Road's first classic winner, when he scored in the Preakness. He concluded his sophomore season with a loss by a nose to Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. To kick off his final season of racing, National Treasure delivered in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park and on the Belmont Stakes undercard the 4-year-old took home the Met Mile at Saratoga. An earner of $5,578,000, National Treasure was campaigned by owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Bred by Peter Blum, the 4-year-old colt is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Treasure. The post MGISW National Treasure Retires To Spendthrift, Will Stand For $40,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following two Breeders' Cup victories, including the $7 million Classic (G1) with Sierra Leone, Flavien Prat was named Jockey of the Week.View the full article

Racing fans are now able to vote on the 2024 Cartier Racing Award nominees, with voting beginning at noon on Wednesday. Their votes make up 35% of the final total for each horse. Points earned in Pattern races (30%) and the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) make up the rest of the percentage needed to determine the recipients for each of the eight equine awards. The nominees are as follows: Cartier Horse of the Year Anmaat Bluestocking Charyn City Of Troy Economics Goliath Kyprios Notable Speech Rebel's Romance Rosallion Cartier Older Horse Anmaat Audience Auguste Rodin Bluestocking Charyn Facteur Cheval Goliath Mqse de Sevigne Rebel's Romance White Birch Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Calandagan City Of Troy Economics Jan Brueghel Look de Vega Los Angeles Metropolitan Notable Speech Rosallion Sosie Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Aventure Elmalka Ezeliya Friendly Soul Kalpana Opera Singer Porta Fortuna Ramatuelle Sparkling Plenty Tamfana Cartier Sprinter Asfoora Bradsell Inisherin Khaadem Kind Of Blue Lazzat Makarova Mill Stream Montassib Starlust Cartier Stayer Double Major Giavellotto Illinois Jan Brueghel Kyprios Sevenna's Knight Sweet William Tower Of London Trawlerman Vauban Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt Camille Pissarro Henri Matisse Hotazhell Magnum Force New Century Rashabar Scorthy Champ Shadow Of Light Twain Whistlejacket Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly Babouche Daylight Desert Flower Exactly Fairy Godmother Lake Victoria Simmering Sky Majesty Vertical Blue Zarigana To vote, please visit the Cartier Racing Awards website. The post Voting Open For 2024 Cartier Racing Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Listed winner Newlook (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) (lot 443) and three other wildcards have been added to the Arqana Autumn Sale, which will be held on Monday, Nov. 18. This brings the total number of lots over 260, with Flat winner Delire (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 424) another late addition. He is a brother to group winner Devil (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and a half-brother to dual group winner Sober (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). Lot 442, Bibe Mus (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), is a winner over 2000 metres at second asking from the family of Reefscape (GB) (Linamix {Fr}), Coastal Path (GB) (Halling), Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal) and Martaline (GB) (Linamix {Fr}). The fourth wildcard is AQPS NH horse Kelya (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}) (lot 478), who has won over hurdles at Nantes. For the full catalogue, please visit the Arqana website. The post Listed Winner Newlook Leads Four Wildcards For Arqana Autumn Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mauritian rider joins an elite club by booting home Speedstar at the city circuit on Wednesday night.View the full article

Three Chimneys has named the stud fees for the latest additions to their stallion roster in GISW Gun Pilot (Gun Runner), who will stand for $17,500 LFSN, and GISW Newgate (Into Mischief), who is set at $20,000 LFSN, according to a press release from the farm on Wednesday morning. A Three Chimneys homebred, Gun Pilot campaigned in the colors of owner Gonçalo Torrealba. Earlier this season, the 4-year-old captured the GI Churchill Downs Stakes, which made him one of 10 Grade I winners and 13 millionaires for his champion sire. Newgate was awarded a 'TDN Rising Star' after his juvenile debut at Del Mar and won the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita the next spring. At four, he took home the GI Santa Anita Handicap. The colt sold as a yearling for $850,000 during Keeneland September. His younger full-brother, GSW Denim and Pearls, was hammered down on Monday at the Fasig Tipton November Sale to the tune of $2.8 million. The post Three Chimneys Sets Fees For Gun Pilot At $17,500 And Newgate At $20,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sea The Stars (Ire) will stand at his highest-ever fee of €250,000 at Gilltown Stud in 2025 after a season in which his 28 stakes winners included the G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Sosie (Ire) and promising juvenile The Lion In Winter (Ire), who is currently favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas. His fellow Aga Khan Studs stallion Siyouni (Fr) headlines the roster at Haras de Bonneval in Normandy where his stud fee for next year will remain unchanged at €200,000. Zarak (Fr), currently the second-leading sire in Europe with 11.8% stakes winners to runners this year, was represented by his first Classic winner this season in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains victor Metropolitan (Fr). He too has had his fee increased, to €80,000 from €60,000. Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr), each of whom covered their first mares in 2024 and were fully booked, will remain at their starting fees of €18,000 and €8,000 respectively. The post Aga Khan Studs’ Sea The Stars and Zarak Up in Price for 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kameko has had his fee raised to £20,000 for the 2025 season following a promising season for his first two-year-old runners. The Qipco 2,000 Guineas winner stands alone among this year's first-season sires in being the only member of that class to date to have sired a Group/Grade 1 winner. Kameko's breakthrough came with the win of New Century (GB) in the GI Summer Stakes at Woodbine. The Qatar Racing colt went on to finish fourth in Friday's G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for Andrew Balding. Kameko is also the sire of the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB), who, with a mark of 114 is the highest-rated juvenile among the offspring of the freshman sires. He has also been placed in the G1 Futurity Trophy, G2 Superlative and G3 Acomb Stakes. A son of the late leading American turf sire Kitten's Joy, Kameko started his stud career at Tweenhills at a fee of £25,000, which was reduced to £20,000 then £15,000 in subsequent seasons. His stud-mate and fellow Group 1 winner at Tweenhills, Lightning Spear (GB), remains at a fee of £5,000. Tweenhills is set to continue its 'Your Success = Our Success' scheme in 2025, whereby any breeder who produces a stakes winner by a Qatar Racing-owned stallion at the stud will be offered a credit for use with any Qatar Racing-owned stallion in the following year to the value of the nomination paid. The post Kameko Back to £20,000 After Success With First Runners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Haras de Montaigu has released the fees for its stallion roster which is boosted to six for 2025 with the arrival of Cloth Of Stars (Ire) from Haras du Logis. The Group 1-winning son of Sea The Stars (Ire) will stand for a fee of €4,000. The popular National Hunt stallion No Risk At All (Fr), sire of the Champion Hurdle winner Epatante (Fr), leads the Montaigu roster at €20,000. Beaumec De Houelle (Fr), by the late Montaigu resident Martaline (GB), has had his fee reduced to €5,000, while Flintshire is priced at €4,000 and Dschingis Secret (Ger) at €3,000. The fee for the stud's other new recruit, the Grade 3-winning hurdler Nietzsche Has (Fr), is yet to be decided. The three-year-old son of Zarak (Fr) out of the Martaline mare Nice To Meet You (Fr) has won three of his five starts over hurdles for Marcel Rolland. All stallions are advertised on live foal terms. The post Nietzsche Has and Cloth Of Stars Join Montaigu Roster; Fees Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Harness racing looks set for a betting bonanza after some stunning fields were drawn for IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington raceway on Tuesday. The Cup is full and fantastic, there are plenty of Australians in the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion and the Sires’ Stakes Final shapes as a classic North versus South contest. Add in a TAB Junior Free-For-All boosted by a Miracle Mile winner in Catch A Wave, Sooner The Better and Cup emergency Aroda from Queensland and this is a Cup day which will attract eyeballs like rarely before in the last 20 years. But the Cup will as always be the centrepiece and not only has it attracted a final field of 18 (three emergencies) but four genuine superstars in Leap To Fame, Swayzee, Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming. As we all know Australian champion Leap To Fame was in doubt for the Cup when taken off his plane from Sydney last week just hours before the flight with a poor blood report but his latest blood test on Tuesday came back 100 per cent. So he and stablemate Aroda (emergency) will fly from Sydney to Christchurch via Auckland on Sunday, with their trainer Grant Dixon adamant flying in so close to the great race won’t affect their chances. Add in the even bigger shock of Swayzee and then the stars we already expected to be there and the Cup’s boosted $1million stake is doing its job. Swayzee faces starting from the second line on Tuesday as he did last year but in a far stronger field this time with Leap To Fame, Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming all drawn the front line along with Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse. Their involvement means the current holders of the New Zealand, Auckland, Hunter and Victoria Cup winners are in the race as well as the reigning champs of the Inter Dominion, Miracle Mile, $1million Race by Grins and the Blacks A Fake (G1). So this Cup, providing there are no more major shocks, will contain the winners of every pacing race that really matters. Australia’s champion trotter Just Believe will completely dominate betting in the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion which has been moved to Tuesday from its traditional Show Day date on the Friday of Cup week. Add in an old school north versus south battle in the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final between Captain Sampson (barrier 1) and Marketplace (8) on Tuesday and harness racing’s biggest day could reach record turnover levels. And before all that fun starts Duchess Megxit goes will have to overcome the outside barrier in the $200,000 Nevele R Fillies Final. To see Tuesday’s fields at Addington click here View the full article

What VRC Oaks Day 2024 Where Flemington Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria When Thursday, November 7, 2024 First Race 12:40pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) headlines a nine-race card on day three of the Melbourne Cup Carnival as the ladies take centre stage at Flemington on Thursday afternoon. The Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) and a couple of Listed races serve as a suitable undercard to what looks like a competitive day of racing. Once again, a perfect Good 4 track will greet punters, and with the rail out +5m and southerly winds forecast, it could pay dividends to be up on speed in order to take advantage of the tailwind. Oaks Day 2024 is set to commence at 12:40pm AEDT. Race 1: BM70 Handicap (1700m) Considering how beneficial it has been to be up on speed throughout Cup week in the circle races, Swycho simply looks like the perfect map horse in the opening event on Oaks Day. Despite only breaking her maiden two runs back, the four-year-old mare backed it up with a dominant all-the-way victory at Gawler in Class 1 company. A repeat effort should be more than good enough to account for this BM70 field at Flemington. Selections: 8 SWYCHO 7 CHANGING COLOURS 3 GREY ICE 4 BON MISTRESS Best Value Race 1 – #8 Swycho (7) 4yo Mare | T: Michael Hickmott | J: Todd Pannell (56.5kg) +900 with Dabble Race 2: Listed Century Stakes (1000m) Despite three runners being joint favourites with Bet365 at $4, Kallos gets the nod due to his straight-track record. The six-year-old gelding has three wins and a second down the Flemington straight, with three of those runs coming over the 1000m scamper. He will have the final look at the leaders and market fancies Oscar’s Fortune and Recommendation, and with a barnstorming finish, Kallos will prove hard to hold out in the 2024 Century Stakes. Selections: 1 KALLOS 2 OSCAR’S FORTUNE 3 RECOMMENDATION 5 ACROMANTULA Century Stakes Race 2 – #1 Kallos (5) 6yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: James McDonald (59kg) –100 with Bet365 Race 3: BM80 Handicap (2000m) Motorise is a natural on-pace runner, and despite only getting the job done by the barest of margins at Murray Bridge last time out, he should get conditions to suit. From barrier two, Todd Pannell should have to do no work to find the front and hold the rail, with a majority of the other pace influences drawn out wide. If the son of Denman gets it too easy out in front, he could prove to be a pain to get past yet again. Selections: 2 MOTORACE 3 LE ZEBRA 13 ALMA RISE 14 BULAWAYO Race 4: Inglis Bracelet (1600m) Mollynickers has been building nicely, and her run in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) suggests a win is nearby. She is a natural backmarker, but in the small field of nine, she should be close enough to the speed to fight out the finish if there has been an on-speed bias early in the program. With a bit of pace expected over the mile, the race looks perfectly setup for Mollynickers to launch her attack down the heart of the track. Selections: 7 MOLLYNICKERS 4 POIFECT 3 SECOND TO NUN 5 RUNNING BY Next Best Race 4 – #7 Mollynickers (4) 4yo Mare | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Luke Nolen (56kg) +400 with Playup Race 5: BM90 Handicap (1800m) Verdad has finished second in all four runs this campaign and has potentially done his dash with favourite punters. However, the key gear change for the son of Justify comes in the fact that James McDonald will be legged aboard, which can only be beneficial. ‘JMac’ will likely have him outside the lead throughout, and as long as Verdad doesn’t overthink it, he should prove too classy for his opposition. Selections: 8 VERDAD 9 MARACOURT 13 SABAN 7 KETTLE HILL Best Bet Race 5 – #8 Verdad (8) 4yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: James McDonald (56kg) +150 with Neds Race 6: Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) Oh Too Good was just that at Geelong first-up, settling close to the speed before exploding late on her way to the Country Final. The five-year-old mare was only nosed out by the classy Extratwo at the end of last campaign, a mark in the form guide that stands out like a sore thumb. Barrier 16 is a touch concerning, but that is why we are getting a $3.60 quote with Marantelli Bet. Selections: 5 OH TOO GOOD 10 WILLMOTT 1 VALOIS 12 TORRANZINO Race 7: Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) Seascape comes to the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) following some strong performances in decent form races in Sydney and poses a strong threat to her rivals on Thursday. The I Am Invincible filly looks to gain the run of the race down the Flemington straight, where she can stalk the speedy filly Bold Bastille throughout before peeling out and finish off strongly. Michael Freedman won this race last year with Mumbai Muse and can score again with Seascape. Selections: 8 SEASCAPE 10 AMELITA 3 BOLD BASTILLE 17 SHE’S GOT PIZZAZZ Red Roses Stakes Race 7 – #8 Seascape (16) 3yo Filly | T: Michael Freedman | J: Jye McNeil (55kg) +750 with Picklebet Race 8: Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) The 163rd running of the Group 1 VRC Oaks is the headline act at Flemington on Saturday. A field of 14 will look to etch their name into the record books and set up their career post-racing with a Group 1 classic on their breeding page. Are the favourites coming through the Wakeful Stakes the way to go? Or is there some value out a bit wider? Click here for our full preview of the 2024 VRC Oaks Race 9: Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1600m) Poison Chalice has been nothing short of sensational in his two runs this campaign. After overhauling Verdad at Caulfield first-up, she finished within 1.4 lengths of Plenty Of Ammo and half a length of Royal Champion and Nugget in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) despite a luckless run. Those horses would be close to odds-on in a race like this, and if Poison Chalice can follow a back into the race approaching the home turn, his turn of foot is more than good enough to put these away. Selections: 11 POISON CHALICE 9 GLOBE 2 LIGHT INFANTRY MAN 7 CADMUS Chester Manifold Stakes Race 9 – #11 Poison Chalice (13) 5yo Gelding | T: Paul Preusker | J: Damian Lane (54kg) +250 with Boombet Thursday quaddie tips for Flemington Flemington quadrella selections Thursday, November 7, 2024 5-8-10 2-3-6-7-8-10-11-14-16-17 1-3-5 2-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

New Zealand Cup Week is the highlight of the racing calendar for multi-talented horsewoman Samantha Wynne, and this Saturday, she will partner her own Amberecho(NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m). Wynne has been race-riding in the South Island for over a decade with well over 400 winners to her credit, while in recent seasons, she has added another string to her bow, building a team of horses that she trains out of Canterbury. Talented sprinter Amberecho has been a recent addition to Wynne’s stable, a winner of six races in the care of John and Karen Parsons before being sold via gavelhouse.com. The daughter of Echoes Of Heaven made her debut for Wynne at Wingatui last month, finishing third behind Pegasus rival Tikki. “I’m very happy with her, I’ve had her since August and it will be very hard to improve her off the Parsons, but she seems happy and is working well,” Wynne said. “I was really pleased with her run in Dunedin, we were hoping to ride her a bit colder but she really pinged the gates and wanted to be there, so that was a good sign. “She blew out the last bit which she was entitled to do, she has really come on from the run and we’ve taken her to the beach to keep her mind occupied. “I couldn’t be happier with her.” The six-year-old was guided on that occasion by apprentice Donovan Cooper, and Wynne is excited to take the reins, having ridden her once before in last year’s Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m). “It’s exciting, a little bit nerve-racking too, but I’ve got great owners who don’t put too much pressure on me, because they know I’m always going to try my best,” she said. “As long as she pulls up happy and healthy, we’ll head to the Stewards (Listed, 1200m) next Saturday as well.” Wynne will also team up with her ever-consistent mare Zacat in the Gold Club Premier (2000m), and despite strong form in soft tracks, the potential for a firm surface would not bother the Zacinto mare. “If you’d asked me a few months ago (for a soft track), I would’ve said yes, but she seems to be handling the harder ground over the longer distance,” Wynne said. “She’s at the end of her prep, she’s had an amazing season and has been incredibly honest. No doubt she’ll try her best, we’ve got a nice draw (5) and a nice weight (56kg) so fingers crossed for a bit of luck. “She’s got fantastic owners, so hopefully we can give them a good thrill of winning on Cup Week.” Completing her runners on day one will be Iffin Doubt Dance, who will appreciate the drier conditions than were on offer a fortnight ago at Riccarton Park. “I felt it the moment she left the gates that day, she never travelled which is very unlike her,” Wynne said. “She let me know early in the race that she wasn’t handling it, so I looked after her to the best of my ability, and she’s seemed to have pulled up well. She’s happy and healthy at home, she’ll head back to the beach tomorrow with the other girls.” Wynne will also have a pair of outside rides through the card, including Gentle Ben in the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series Premier (1400m), and Canasta in The Ned Fashions 13 and 16 November Premier (1600m). “I like my filly in the first, Canasta, I think she’s got good potential going forward,” she said. “We’re going to have to be good to win on Saturday, but if she does everything right, she’ll be thereabouts.” Looking across the remainder of the week, Wynne will have horses stepping out on Wednesday and Saturday, while making sure to take in the excitement of competing in both roles. “It’s the best week of the year, it’s what we all work for and I really try to take it all in,” she said. “I love seeing all the visitors down and having a good laugh, but it’s also very competitive racing and you need to be switched on. It makes you better, it makes you improve and learn a lot with all of the good people around you. “I’ll have similar runners again next Saturday, then on Wednesday I have a nice little filly called Oaksdeel running, she’ll probably be up against it fresh-up, she’s trialling tomorrow (Thursday) but I think she’s a nice one going forward. “If she’s in the mix next Wednesday I’ll be happy, but she’ll improve a lot from the run. “I’m looking forward to it and I’m very grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve received. The staff at home have done an amazing job, I’d be lost without them and we feel prepared for the week ahead, so let’s hope we all have a bit of luck along the way.” View the full article

An Oaks path is being tipped for three-year-old filly Leica Lucy(NZ) (Derryn) following her debut win in the Christmas At The Races Friday 5th December (1400m) at New Plymouth on Wednesday. Favourite Merchant Banker flew the gates and assumed an early lead, while jockey Joe Doyle was able to find the rail three deep with Leica Lucy and follow the speed. The pack swung wide when turning for home on the rain-affected surface, but Doyle elected to take the shortest way home and continued to stalk Merchant Banker, drawing level with 250m to go and Leica Lucy was able to get the better of her rival in the concluding stages to win by 1-1/2 lengths. “It was pretty smooth,” Doyle said post-race. “She jumped nicely, I kept Merchant Banker in our sights the whole way. I thought he would definitely be in front at the 200m and if we had the horse we should run by.” Local trainer Robbie Patterson has had a lot of time for the daughter of Derryn and believes she is capable of tackling some big targets this season. “She is a filly that has always shown us a lot,” he said. “When she was a two-year-old she had to have a bone chip taken out of her knee, so it has just taken a while to get her here. She has got Oaks written all over her, she is a lovely filly.” While she handled the Soft7 surface on Wednesday, Patterson believes Leica Lucy will be suited by better going over summer and early autumn. “I think she is better on a better track,” he said. “She trialled up really nicely on a Good track the other day. She is a real rangy filly who is going to take a little bit of time. “She doesn’t carry a lot of weight, so we will just look after her and pick our way through the grades.” Leica Lucy is out of one-win Sir Percy mare Dynamite Lucy and is raced by her breeders Peter and Heather Crofskey. View the full article

A bright future is tipped for promising mare Confiance(NZ) (Proisir) following her eye-catching win in the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series 1600 at Ellerslie on Tuesday. The daughter of Proisir was taken straight to the back of the field from her outside barrier by jockey Warren Kennedy where she had an economical trip throughout. Kennedy asked her to improve when turning for home and she showed a brilliant turn of foot, quickly reeling in her rivals and ran out a convincing 1-3/4 length victor. Trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall were impressed with her performance and said the plan was to ride her cold and have one crack at her opposition. “What an impressive win,” Richardson said. “Brent (Cooper, Social Racing) and I and Warren discussed that we would ride her back because she used to over race a little bit, she dropped the bit and was beautiful.” Bred by Rich Hill Stud, Confiance is raced by the Matamata farm in partnership with Social Racing, and Richardson believes the group are in for a bit of fun with their four-year-old mare over summer. “I still think she is going to get better with a bit more age after Christmas some time,” he said. “She is a good staying mare.” View the full article

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are not short of sprinting talent in their Matamata stable, with four runners set to contest Saturday’s Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. The Waikato racecourse has been a happy hunting ground for each of their quartet, particularly so for Little Bit Of Love(NZ) (Time Test), a winner in three of his four starts at the venue in his last campaign. “He had quite a winning sequence there over the winter months, and he’ll have to quicken on the fast ground, which we’re dearly hoping he does,” Scott said. “Until you try, you don’t know. “He’s trialled very well, we’ve been pleased with the way he’s worked on since then. “He loves Te Rapa, he’s got a good draw (1), no weight and he’s a very honest, consistent galloper that will be in the finish.” I’munstoppable(NZ) (Charm Spirit) has a similar affinity with Te Rapa having collected the biggest win of her short career there in April, the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). The daughter of Charm Spirit has benefitted from a lengthy spell through the winter months, with a pair of trials through October preparing her for Saturday’s contest. “She’s coming up well, she’s stronger physically and also has developed a lot mentally this time around, she’s a lot more settled,” Scott said. “She hasn’t drawn as well as we’d hoped, but she’s trialled really well in a settled manner this preparation, so hopefully she can carry that into her racing this season. “There’s certainly no reason why she can’t have a really good summer in front of her, we believe she’ll get to that top grade and she’ll run well on Saturday. “She’s a talented, speedy mare.” I’munstoppable has drawn barrier 12, just outside of her stablemate Geriatrix, who powered back into form with an eye-catching second placing in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) behind Spencer. “We were thrilled with his performance, he’s a horse with a good load of talent and we think he’ll be close to a winning chance again on Saturday,” Scott said. “Obviously he’s going from seven furlongs back to the six so he’s had a month to freshen, he races very well at Te Rapa and his run there at this distance in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes was very good. “He hasn’t drawn as favourably as we would’ve wished, but he’s a second-halfer in the run and he’ll finish strong. “We’re hoping that he’ll sprint well on Saturday to give us confidence to go through the summer sprint series, we’d like to lean that way rather than going towards a mile. His performance on Saturday will certainly guide us.” Completing the Wexford contingent will be Uderzo(NZ) (Vadamos), a two-time winner over 1200m that will appear in his favourable fresh state. “He always sprints well fresh, his fresh-up record is very good and he’s had a couple of nice hit-outs at the trials to fit him up for Saturday,” Scott said. “He’s in for a good campaign, he’s better form is probably over a little further, but it wouldn’t surprise us at all if he sprinted well fresh. He’s a beautiful big horse with a good amount of scope.” The stable will have three other runners across the Te Rapa card, including Smart Love(NZ) (Savabeel), a Savabeel filly who was denied narrowly on debut by Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m)-bound filly Sexy And I Moet. She found one better again in her next start at Taupo, a result Scott hopes she can improve on in the Fresh Choice Leamington 3YO (1600m). “She’s a beautiful big scopey filly that will only get better as the distances get longer,” he said. “Out to the mile, and on a flat track, she should get into a good gallop from a nice gate. She doesn’t need to do much more to be winning a race and we think she’s another who is continuing to improve. “She’ll make a strong account of herself on Saturday.” Smart Love will race in the colours of Waikato Stud, as will her younger stablemate Do You Just, who makes his race-day debut in the Hallmark Stud 1100. “He’s had the three trials, his most recent trial was quite encouraging and he’s going to really enjoy getting out on the big flat surface at Te Rapa over a little further,” Scott said. “Post his last trial, he’s gone the right way, and we’re certainly expecting him to run well. “He’s got a good load of ability, he’s a strong colt who should make his presence felt.” Scott is hopeful Time Traveller(NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) can continue his winning momentum into the SkyCity Waikato Cup Day 14 Dec (2200m), after breaking maidens over ground at Taupo last start. “He stays well, he worked towards the longer distances and it wouldn’t surprise us, with his confidence up, that he could go on with it,” he said. “We’re expecting a similar performance to last start.” View the full article

Love Poem’s progress this preparation earned the gifted filly an earlier than anticipated flight to Christchurch to bolster Stephen Marsh’s hand in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. The daughter of Snitzel put up a compelling argument to join stablemate Kiwi Skyhawk in Saturday’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored Classic and their Cambridge trainer can’t split the pair. “They have both done super jobs, I think it will come down to luck in the running,” he said. “It wasn’t always the plan to run her, but we thought it would be a small field and for the last few weeks we’ve come closer to running her, she’s been going so well.” Love Poem, who has raced almost exclusively in black type company during her short career, enjoyed a trouble-free trip south. “It was basically six hours from box to box, she floated to Auckland in the early hours of Wednesday morning to get on the plane,” Marsh said. “She had a great run down, no hold ups and she’s there happy and relaxed.” To be ridden again by Matthew Cartwright, Love Poem placed in all three of her outings last season in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), the Gr.3 Taranaki Classic (1200m) and the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m). She then returned to effortlessly break her maiden and didn’t have the best of runs when a last-start third in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). A bold showing on Saturday will confirm another two-pronged Classic attack for Marsh in Saturday week’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “We’ll keep a very watchful eye on her and if she comes through it well, then she’ll definitely back up,” he said. “Sexy And I Moet will fly down and she’ll line up as well with Sam Weatherley to ride her. “She’s done a really good job, her runs have all been terrific. We’ll apply the side winkers on her and she’ll eat up the mile at Riccarton.” Kiwi Skyhawk goes into the Guineas off the back of a third placing in the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m). “He was just totally inconvenienced on that really wet track the other day, it was as heavy as you could get, but he’s taken no harm from it and back on a good track he’s right in play,” Marsh said. “He’s well and just hasn’t missed a beat since that last race. Michael McNab will take the reins, he’s back and in fine form.” The stable’s other runner at Riccarton is Nest Egg, who will defend his title in the Listed Nautical Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) ahead of bidding to go one better in the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m). “He’ll have the blinkers back on and he’s flying, going really well,” Marsh said. “Matt (Cartwright) will ride him with 53.5kg on his back, he gets into the race beautifully.” Marsh will also have two black type contenders in action at Te Rapa on Saturday with last season’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) winner Mercurial and proven first-up performer Provence in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). “Mercurial will have the blinkers back on and he’s had a run under his belt. He will improve with the run again and when the Group Ones come around, he’ll be really ready to fire,” he said. “Provence is coming up really well and 1200m is short of her best, I think she can win a big mile at some stage this season.” View the full article

Bella Nipotina winning the Russell Balding Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) has attracted a quality field of 12 set burn the turf down the Flemington straight course on Saturday afternoon. The Everest (1200m) winner and runner-up are set to go head-to-head once again, with Bella Nipotina and Giga Kick locking horns after a ding-dong battle in the $20 million feature on October 19. It’s the Ciaron Maher-trained mare that holds the call with horse racing bookmakers at $4.00, however, after securing back-to-back wins for the first time when careering away with the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill last Saturday. Craig Williams will be legged aboard the ultra-consistent seven-year-old and has drawn the favourable grandstand side of the course in gate 12. Giga Kick is on the second line of betting at $4.20 as he tackles the Flemington straight for the first time since tasting defeat in the 2022 edition of the Champions Sprint behind Roch ‘N’Horse. The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass ($7.50) was unfortunate to miss out on a slot for the Everest but picked up a consolation prize in the form of the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) on the same day. The son of Vancouver only knows one way, and with Joshua Parr taking the reins from gate two, punters can expect this guy to roll along on speed. Baraqiel ($9.00) torched his rivals in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago and deserves his place in this field after his 2.8-length demolition. Meanwhile, the Mark Walker-trained Bellatrix Star ($13.00) looks well placed on the one-week backup after closing off impressively behind Switzerland in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). The 2024 Champions Sprint is the first leg of the Flemington quaddie and is set to jump at 3:50pm local time. 2024 Champions Sprint Final Field 1. Giga Kick (7) T: Clayton Douglas J: Mark Zahra W: 58.5kg F: 245×3 Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Scissor Kick Dam: Rekindled Applause (GB) +300 -175.44 2. Overpass (2) T: Bjorn Baker J: Joshua Parr W: 58.5kg F: 1×110 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Vancouver Dam: Walkway +700 +140 3. I Am Unstoppable (11) T: Ciaron Maher J: Dylan Browne McMonagle W: 58.5kg F: 22×98 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Satin Slipper +2500 +450 4. Baraqiel (1) T: Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin J: Ben Allen W: 58.5kg F: 11331 Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Snitzel Dam: Angel of Mercy +850 +175 5. Bella Nipotina (12) T: Ciaron Maher J: Craig Williams W: 56.5kg F: 1132x Age: 7YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Bella Orfana +270 -188.68 6. Sunshine In Paris (9) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: James McDonald W: 56.5kg F: 251×4 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Invader Dam: Zenaida (NZ) +600 +120 7. Lady Laguna (6) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Nash Rawiller W: 56.5kg F: 367×0 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Overshare Dam: Catalina de Lago (NZ) +2600 +450 8. Estriella (4) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ben Melham W: 56.5kg F: 174×5 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Madrigals +1800 +320 9. Right To Party (3) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Jye McNeil W: 56.5kg F: 14111 Age: 4YO Colour: Grey Sex: Mare Sire: Zoustar Dam: De Groove +2000 +350 10. Stretan Angel (5) T: Phillip Stokes J: Luke Nolen W: 56.5kg F: 836×2 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Harry Angel (IRE) Dam: Sretan +5000 +850 11. Private Life (8) T: Chris Waller J: Damian Lane W: 53.5kg F: 141×1 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Aliyana Tilde +2600 +450 12. Bellatrix Star (10) T: Mark Walker J: Michael Dee W: 51.5kg F: 21115 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Star Witness Dam: Alana’s Party +1200 +230 Horse racing news View the full article

Toorak Handicap winner, Antino. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli The Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) draws together an outstanding field of 13, with nine previous Group 1 winners set to step out in the $3 million feature at Flemington on Saturday afternoon. Five horses can’t be split at the top of the market; however, horse racing bookmakers have installed the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) winner Antino as the $5.00 favourite for the event, allowing punters to dictate any moves in early betting. The seven-time Group 1 winning gelding Mr Brightside is on the second line of betting at $5.50 and should appreciate stepping back to his favourite course and distance after running into superstar mare Via Sistina in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) last time out. Craig Williams will continue his association with the Lindsay Park-trained seven-year-old and gets the gun run from barrier four. The Chris Waller-trained Fangirl ($6.00) makes the trip to Melbourne after a disappointing effort in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on October 19, with James McDonald booked to the reins from gate nine. Pride Of Jenni ($6.00) will have a new rider in the form of Ben Melham, with connections making the decision to remove Declan Bates after the last start failure in the Cox Plate. Bates has picked up the ride aboard progressive stable companion Another Wil ($10.00), however, seeking back-to-back wins after an emotional victory in last Saturday’s Group 2 Damien Oliver (1400m). Godolphin will send around star three-year-old Broadsiding ($6.00) after avoiding the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) last Saturday, with Michael Dee picking up the ride for the suspended Jamie Kah. The chances don’t end there, with luckless Golden Eagle (1500m) contender Stefi Magnetica ($16.00) on the one-week backup, while the likes of Amelia’s Jewel ($15.00), My Oberon ($23.00) and Pinstriped ($34.00) all having claims at monster odds with Playup. The 2024 Champions Mile is race eight on the Flemington program and is scheduled to get underway at 4:30pm local time. 1. Mr Brightside (4) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Craig Williams W: 59kg F: 42212 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Bullbars Dam: Lilahjay (NZ) +450 +100 2. My Oberon (6) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Nash Rawiller W: 59kg F: 3620x Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Dubawi (IRE) Dam: My Titania (IRE) +2200 +375 3. Pinstriped (8) T: Enver Jusufovic J: Ben Allen W: 59kg F: 3712x Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Snitzel Blitz +3400 +600 4. Antino (12) T: Tony Gollan J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 1334x Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Redwood (GB) Dam: Mahamaya (NZ) +450 +100 5. Desert Lightning (11) T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman J: Luke Nolen W: 59kg F: 413×9 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Isstoora +3300 +600 6. Another Wil (2) T: Ciaron Maher J: Declan Bates W: 59kg F: 1711x Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Arohanui +900 +200 7. New Energy (3) T: Ciaron Maher J: Dylan Browne McMonagle W: 59kg F: 856×9 Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: New Bay (GB) Dam: For Joy (GB) +9000 +1525 8. Von Hauke (1) T: Cliff Brown J: Joshua Parr W: 59kg F: 498×5 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Savabeel Dam: Tiara (NZ) +7000 +1225 9. Pride Of Jenni (7) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ben Melham W: 57kg F: 82125 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Sancerre (NZ) +500 +105 10. Fangirl (9) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg F: 613×2 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Sebring Dam: Little Surfer Girl +500 +105 11. Amelia’s Jewel (10) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Damian Lane W: 57kg F: 2522x Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Siyouni (FR) Dam: Bumbasina (IRE) +1400 +275 12. Stefi Magnetica (5) T: Bjorn Baker J: Chad Schofield W: 57kg F: 592×1 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: All Too Hard Dam: Mid Summer Music +1500 +275 13. Broadsiding (13) T: James Cummings J: Michael Dee W: 52kg F: 341×1 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Too Darn Hot (GB) Dam: Speedway +500 +115 Horse racing news View the full article

Via Sistina ridden by James McDonald wins the 2024 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) The Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) is one of three massive Group 1’s sharing top billing at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, with a quality field of 12 accepted for the $3 million feature. The Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina holds the call with horse racing bookmakers as an almost unbackable $1.65 favourite for the event, and it’s easy to see why, after demolishing her rivals in track record time at Moonee Valley in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 26. James McDonald takes the reins once again and should get the ideal run in transit after securing barrier four on Wednesday morning. It means McDonald will give up the ride aboard stable companion Atishu, who is firm on the second line of betting at $8.00 with Marantelli Bet after claiming an eye-catching victory in the Group 1 Empire Rose (1600m) last Saturday. Jye McNeil is the beneficiary of the vacancy and will be legged aboard from barrier one as the daughter of Savabeel attempts to go back-to-back in the Champions Stakes after proving victorious 12 months ago. The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight will make his long-awaited return to racing on Saturday, with over a year off the scene due to injury. Mark Zahra will be reunited with the Teofilo gelding, and despite the lengthy absence, he hasn’t been missed in the market, with $11.00 available with Playup. Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Duke De Sessa ($15.00) will come back in trip in search of back-to-back wins, while the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Eliyass ($12.00) will be looking to turn the tables after being unable to stay the 2400m. The Harry Eustace-trained Docklands ($13.00) will have his second start in Australia after proving no match for Via Sistina, while the in form mare Deny Knowledge ($23.00) will be looking to replicate her performance two starts back, leading all the way in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m). The Champions Stakes is the penultimate race of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and is scheduled to get underway at 5:10pm local time. 2024 VRC Champions Stakes Final Field 1. Without A Fight (10) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: x116x Age: 8YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Teofilo (IRE) Dam: Khor Sheed (GB) +1000 +140 2. Duke De Sessa (5) T: Ciaron Maher J: Harry Coffey W: 59kg F: 14425 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Dark Crusader (IRE) +1700 +230 3. Arapaho (11) T: Bjorn Baker J: Ben Melham W: 59kg F: 40×57 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Alzubra (GB) +5000 +725 4. Nugget (8) T: Ciaron Maher J: Michael Dee W: 59kg F: 308×7 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Siyouni (FR) Dam: Gemstone (IRE) +4500 +650 5. Future History (6) T: Ciaron Maher J: Dylan Browne McMonagle W: 59kg F: 1023x Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Showcasing (GB) Dam: Likelihood (USA) +6000 +800 6. Eliyass (2) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Nash Rawiller W: 59kg F: 7311x Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Le Havre (IRE) Dam: Edilisa (IRE) +1200 +163 7. Docklands (7) T: Harry Eustace J: Declan Bates W: 59kg F: 5×722 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Massaat (IRE) Dam: Icky Woo (GB) +1700 +240 8. Royal Champion (9) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Craig Williams W: 59kg F: 26x2x Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Shamardal (USA) Dam: Emirates Queen (GB) +2000 +260 9. Kingswood (3) T: Gavin Bedggood J: John Allen W: 59kg F: 11×59 Age: 5YO Colour: Grey Sex: Horse Sire: Roaring Lion (USA) Dam: All At Sea (GB) +10000 +1900 10. Via Sistina (4) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 59kg F: 1151x Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Nigh (IRE) +4000 +525 11. Atishu (1) T: Chris Waller J: Jye McNeil W: 57kg F: 13669 Age: 7YO Colour: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Savabeel Dam: Posy (NZ) -166.67 -1000 12. Deny Knowledge (12) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Damian Lane W: 57kg F: 515×1 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: The Paris Shrug (GB) +2600 +350 Horse racing news View the full article

Canterbury trainer and jockey Samantha Wynne. Photo: Race Images South New Zealand Cup Week is the highlight of the racing calendar for multi-talented horsewoman Samantha Wynne, and this Saturday, she will partner her own Amberecho in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m). Wynne has been race-riding in the South Island for over a decade with well over 400 winners to her credit, while in recent seasons, she has added another string to her bow, building a team of horses that she trains out of Canterbury. Talented sprinter Amberecho has been a recent addition to Wynne’s stable, a winner of six races in the care of John and Karen Parsons before being sold via gavelhouse.com. The daughter of Echoes Of Heaven made her debut for Wynne at Wingatui last month, finishing third behind Pegasus rival Tikki. “I’m very happy with her, I’ve had her since August and it will be very hard to improve her off the Parsons, but she seems happy and is working well,” Wynne said. “I was really pleased with her run in Dunedin, we were hoping to ride her a bit colder but she really pinged the gates and wanted to be there, so that was a good sign. “She blew out the last bit which she was entitled to do, she has really come on from the run and we’ve taken her to the beach to keep her mind occupied. “I couldn’t be happier with her.” The six-year-old was guided on that occasion by apprentice Donovan Cooper, and Wynne is excited to take the reins, having ridden her once before in last year’s Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m). “It’s exciting, a little bit nerve-racking too, but I’ve got great owners who don’t put too much pressure on me, because they know I’m always going to try my best,” she said. “As long as she pulls up happy and healthy, we’ll head to the Stewards (Listed, 1200m) next Saturday as well.” Wynne will also team up with her ever-consistent mare Zacat in the Gold Club Premier (2000m), and despite strong form in soft tracks, the potential for a firm surface would not bother the Zacinto mare. “If you’d asked me a few months ago (for a soft track), I would’ve said yes, but she seems to be handling the harder ground over the longer distance,” Wynne said. “She’s at the end of her prep, she’s had an amazing season and has been incredibly honest. No doubt she’ll try her best, we’ve got a nice draw (5) and a nice weight (56kg) so fingers crossed for a bit of luck. “She’s got fantastic owners, so hopefully we can give them a good thrill of winning on Cup Week.” Completing her runners on day one will be Iffin Doubt Dance, who will appreciate the drier conditions than were on offer a fortnight ago at Riccarton Park. “I felt it the moment she left the gates that day, she never travelled which is very unlike her,” Wynne said. “She let me know early in the race that she wasn’t handling it, so I looked after her to the best of my ability, and she’s seemed to have pulled up well. She’s happy and healthy at home, she’ll head back to the beach tomorrow with the other girls.” Wynne will also have a pair of outside rides through the card, including Gentle Ben in the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series Premier (1400m), and Canasta in The Ned Fashions 13 and 16 November Premier (1600m). “I like my filly in the first, Canasta, I think she’s got good potential going forward,” she said. “We’re going to have to be good to win on Saturday, but if she does everything right, she’ll be thereabouts.” Looking across the remainder of the week, Wynne will have horses stepping out on Wednesday and Saturday, while making sure to take in the excitement of competing in both roles. “It’s the best week of the year, it’s what we all work for and I really try to take it all in,” she said. “I love seeing all the visitors down and having a good laugh, but it’s also very competitive racing and you need to be switched on. It makes you better, it makes you improve and learn a lot with all of the good people around you. “I’ll have similar runners again next Saturday, then on Wednesday I have a nice little filly called Oaksdeel running, she’ll probably be up against it fresh-up, she’s trialling tomorrow (Thursday) but I think she’s a nice one going forward. “If she’s in the mix next Wednesday I’ll be happy, but she’ll improve a lot from the run. “I’m looking forward to it and I’m very grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve received. The staff at home have done an amazing job, I’d be lost without them and we feel prepared for the week ahead, so let’s hope we all have a bit of luck along the way.” Horse racing news View the full article

Leica Lucy winning at New Plymouth on Wednesday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) An Oaks path is being tipped for three-year-old filly Leica Lucy following her debut win in the Christmas At The Races Friday 5th December (1400m) at New Plymouth on Wednesday. Favourite Merchant Banker flew the gates and assumed an early lead, while jockey Joe Doyle was able to find the rail three deep with Leica Lucy and follow the speed. The pack swung wide when turning for home on the rain-affected surface, but Doyle elected to take the shortest way home and continued to stalk Merchant Banker, drawing level with 250m to go and Leica Lucy was able to get the better of her rival in the concluding stages to win by 1.5 lengths. “It was pretty smooth,” Doyle said post-race. “She jumped nicely, I kept Merchant Banker in our sights the whole way. I thought he would definitely be in front at the 200m and if we had the horse we should run by.” Local trainer Robbie Patterson has had a lot of time for the daughter of Derryn and believes she is capable of tackling some big targets this season. “She is a filly that has always shown us a lot,” he said. “When she was a two-year-old she had to have a bone chip taken out of her knee, so it has just taken a while to get her here. She has got Oaks written all over her, she is a lovely filly.” While she handled the Soft 7 surface on Wednesday, Patterson believes Leica Lucy will be suited by better going over summer and early autumn. “I think she is better on a better track,” he said. “She trialled up really nicely on a Good track the other day. She is a real rangy filly who is going to take a little bit of time. “She doesn’t carry a lot of weight, so we will just look after her and pick our way through the grades.” Horse racing news View the full article

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, & Jill Williams LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale opened Tuesday in Lexington with a solid Book 1 session punctuated by nine million-dollar mares purchased by a diverse, international buying bench. Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm made the session's highest bid when purchasing graded-stakes winner Roses For Debra (Liam's Map) for $2.4 million from the Candy Meadows Sales consignment. “It was a very solid, vibrant marketplace,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “It was a really diverse buying bench. We had great participation from Japan, which was awesome to see, carrying on from their great participation in the Breeders' Cup. And there was really strong activity from the domestic buying bench. I think all around, it just felt like a really good, strong healthy marketplace.” For the session, 143 head sold for $62,370,000 for an average of $436,154 and a median of $350,000. The average dipped 3.68% from last year's Book 1 session, when 120 horses grossed $54,340,000 for an average of $452,833. The median fell 6.67% from last year's figure of $375,000. From a catalogue of 254, a total of 184 horses went through the ring Tuesday with 41 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 22.3%. It was 35.14% a year ago. “There was a really solid core through the market,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “The clearance rate is almost 80%, which is really positive in a select portion of a sale. Quality, as always, comes to the fore, and young mares–whether they're off the track or with a good early cover–have a lot of appeal from all over the world. We saw a strong domestic market, but we had great participation from Australia, Japan and Europe. Everybody was here, and everybody was very, very active. I think they felt like there was something for everybody, and that's what we try to create here.” In addition to Tuesday's $2.4-million topper, Pope also partnered with Gainesway to acquire the day's co-second highest price lot, going to $1.8 million to acquire Lady Tapit (Tapit) from the Paramount Sales consignment. Whisper Hill purchased six head during the session for a gross of $6,675,000. Japanese buyers, so strong across town at the Fasig-Tipton November sale Monday, continued to feature at the top of the market Tuesday at Keeneland with Japanese interests purchasing two of the day's nine seven-figure mares. Glen Hill Farm purchased the session's top-priced weanling, going to $900,000 to acquire a colt by Into Mischief from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. During Tuesday's session, 45 weanlings sold through the ring for an average of $284,556 and a median of $250,000. At last year's Book 1 session, 41 weanlings sold through the ring for an average of $292,561 and a median of $220,000, with a top price of $750,000. “The weanling market was very consistent with last year,” Lacy said. “But when you are getting into that rare air, there is a select group of people who can afford those at a certain range. So it's not that you have a very broad-based buying base, but we had end-users, we had pinhookers, you had everybody in there. But they know what they want. And people were protecting their weanlings. They weren't going to let them go for less than what they thought they were worth when the yearling market is so strong and they have confidence to come back next year.” The Keeneland November sale continues Wednesday with the first of two Book 2 sessions beginning at 10 a.m. Pope Lands MGSW Roses for Debra for $2.4M MGSW Roses for Debra (Liam's Map) strode into Keeneland's ring as a $25,000 bargain yearling buy that didn't owe anybody anything. A multiple graded stakes winning earner of over $600,000, Hip 198 gave her owners yet another reason to celebrate, garnering a session-topping $2.4 final bid from Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill at the Keeneland November Sale Monday. The 5-year-old was campaigned by John O'Meara in partnership with Everett Dobson's Cheyenne Stables. Dobson also owns Candy Meadows, consignor of the mare. “She is going to a great home,” said Dobson. “I couldn't be happier that she was bought by Mandy. I love it when a plan comes together.” Bred by Blackstone Farm in Pennsylvania, Rose for Debra is out of Essential Rose (Bernardini), who is also responsible for SWs Rose's Vision (Artie Schiller) and Rosie's Alibi (Justify). Initially a $125,000 purchase by Albert Racing at Keeneland January in 2020, she turned into what would turn out to be an epic bargain at $25,000 at Keeneland later in September during the height of COVID. Roses for Debra | Keeneland Photo Named after John O'Meara's partner Debra Rose Fritz, Roses for Debra won four of five starts for trainer Christophe Clement at three, including the Malvern Rose Stakes against fellow state-breds. Showing the same level of consistency in 2023, she won four straight races, including the GIII Caress Stakes at Saratoga in July. “She was stabled with Christophe Clement and I have horses with him,” explained Dobson when asked how the mare came onto his radar. “Every morning I would see this big, beautiful grey. Then she won the Caress, I got more interested. One thing led to another and we have been on this roll together.” Dobson bought into the filly after her winning Caress effort and was quickly rewarded when the filly scored in the Smart and Fancy Stakes in upstate New York the following month. Third in the GIII Turf Monster Stakes, the grey was ninth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. “I bought into her last summer after she won the Caress at Saratoga with the idea of running her through this sale, but I never dreamed of an outcome like this,” admitted Dobson. “I am really happy for my partner, John O'Meara, and for her namesake, Debra.” This season, she won Keeneland's GIII Giant's Causeway Stakes in April before coming up a head short of the win in the GII Intercontinental Stakes at the Spa in June. Third while taking another swing at the Smart and Fancy Aug. 23, Roses for Debra eked out a win when returning to the synthetic for the GII Presque Isle Masters Stakes Sept. 20. In her latest start, she was eighth in the GII Franklin Stakes Oct. 13. During Monday's Book 1 session, Pope secured six mares-alone or in partnership–for a total of $6,675,000, including Lady Tapit (Hip 225), who brought $1.8 million later in the session. Candy Meadows sold two of three offerings, including Hip 155, a daughter of Kantharos for $275,000–@CBossTDN Whisper Hill Tops Book 1 Buys with Roses for Debra, Adds Mares for New Stallions Charge It and Tapit Trice Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm has been active in Book 1, buying five mares outright for an average of $975,000. They included MGSW Roses for Debra (Liam's Map) (Hip 198), who hammered for $2.4 million. Candy Meadows consigned the half-sister to stakes winners Rose's Vision (Artie Schiller) and Rosie's Alibi (Justify). “She was very elegant, very well put together,” said Pope. “She was very fast. It was on the grass, which is not necessarily ideal for American breeding programs, but she was so fast, and I needed some mares of speed to add to the stallions that I like to breed to.” Pope said Curlin and Justify were among the stallions who would be considered for Roses for Debra. “We have a couple of good options there that both work on the grass and the dirt, and it's a good cross.” After signing for Roses for Debra, Pope said, “We're mainly taking the opportunities as they come up, and then later on we'll be looking for mares to breed to Charge It and Tapit Trice.” Whisper Hill homebred Charge It, a 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Florida Derby winner, will stand his first season in 2025 at Gainesway. Tapit Trice, a Gainesway homebred campaigned in partnership with Whisper Hill, is also a 'TDN Rising Star'. He won the GI Blue Grass Stakes and will likewise stand in 2025 as a new Gainesway stallion. Both are by Gainesway's outstanding cornerstone sire Tapit. “Neither one of them were really quick out of the gate,” said Pope. “They always needed a chance to get their footing and to get going. We'll probably be looking for some mares to put some speed with them.” Shortly afterward, Pope purchased GSP Lady Tapit (Tapit) (Hip 225) for $1.8 million in partnership with Gainesway. Consigned by Paramount Sales, Lady Tapit is a half to GISW Gozzip Girl (Dynaformer) and is the dam of this summer's GI Stephen Foster Stakes winner and new Spendthrift sire Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo).–@JillWilliamsTDN Grand Stud Extends to $1.5M for Twirling Candy's MGSW Walkathon After amassing a quartet of mares for $11.7 million at Fasig-Tipton one day earlier, agent Emmanuel de Seroux, representing Yoshiyuki Ito's Grand Stud, returned early Tuesday to land MGSW Walkathon (Twirling Candy) for $1.5 million on the opening day of the Keeneland November Sale. “You can see what I saw,” said de Seroux. “She is a beautiful filly, full of quality. And a very good race mare, very good addition for our farm.” The mare represented the sole purchase for Grand Stud during Monday's Book 1 session. Walkathon | Keeneland Photo De Seroux added, “She'll end up in Japan, but I don't know. She might be bred in Kentucky before and then go to Japan.” “She's beautiful, full of quality and a very athletic filly–very nice. We are not the only one; there were at least five or six other people that wanted her. It has been very competitive.” Offered as Hip 101 from the Denali Stud consignment, the 5-year-old is out of Grade III winner Walkabout (Stroll), herself a half-sister to MGISW and $4.4-million earner Fort Larned (E Dubai). The third dam is two-time North American Champion Older Mare Bayakoa (Arg). “She has shown soundness and durability all the way through,” said Denali's Conrad Bandoroff. “We knew she was popular and was going to sell well. [The price] was well beyond our expectations but when they have her performance and her quality, results like this can happen.” A homebred for Whitham Thoroughbreds, whose family also campaigned Bayakoa, and trained by Ian Wilkes, who also conditioned Fort Larned, Walkathon earned her initial graded stakes win in the GIII Regret Stakes at three before adding another in this winter's GIII Endeavour Stakes at Tampa. Runner up in the GIII Honey Fox Stakes, the bay returned later in the summer to reel off three wins, including the one-mile GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes in August. In regard to her pedigree, Bandoroff explained, “The whole family is cultivated by the Whitham family. They have been wonderful stewards of this family tracing back to third dam Hall of Famer Bayakoa and Fort Larned.” “She is beautiful,” said Bandoroff. “She has a lot of class and so much presence. To have her ability and her class, results like this can happen.”—@CBossTDN 'Really, Really Talented' Hidden Connection to Spendthrift What a difference a few years and a few races can make. Hidden Brook bought Hidden Connection as a 2021 OBS Open 2-year-old for $85,000, campaigned her with Black Type Thoroughbreds to victory in the 2021 GIII Pocahontas Stakes, as well as eight other black-type wins or placings, and finally consigned her Tuesday to Book 1 of Keeneland's November sale, where she sold as Hip 204 for $1.5 million to Spendthrift Farm. “I loved the physical, especially, and loved the talent,” said Spendthrift's Ned Toffey, who signed the ticket. “There's enough pedigree there, but she was a really, really talented filly and has the physical to go with it. We've had good luck buying that kind in the past.” Out of the unplaced C J's Gal (Awesome Again) from the family of GI King's Bishop Stakes winner Capo Bastone (Street Boss), Hidden Connection was bred by St. Simon Place. When asked if he had a stallion in mind for her, Toffey said with a laugh, “I think we can scare one up, but the nice thing is that she'll go with a variety of the horses that we would like to use. We have a lot of options with her.” Shortly after acquiring Hidden Connection, Spendthrift also signed for MGSW Kathleen O. (Upstart) (Hip 221) for $850,000.–@JillWilliamsTDN Shotgun Hottie to Wathnan for $1.5 Million Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) will be joining the Wathnan Racing roster after selling for $1.5 million Tuesday at Keeneland. “She has a ton of quality about and she has a great race record,” said bloodstock agent Case Clay after signing the ticket on the 5-year-old mare. “She is just a beautiful Gun Runner.” Shotgun Hottie was purchased by Jeff Ganje for $45,000 at the 2021 OBS April sale. Racing for Ganje and Omar Aldabbagh, the bay mare won the 2023 Molly Pitcher Stakes and hit the board in six additional graded stakes races. Second in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes in June and the GII Shuvee Stakes in July, she was most recently third in the Sept. 14 GII Locust Grove Stakes. “I am very happy,” Ganje said after watching the mare sell. “It's a great sale. I'm a little sad. I had her for a long time. She's been a big part of my life. It was three years of excitement. Winning the Molly Pitcher was amazing. She was just a mare who fought every race. She just always shows up. She's been wonderful.” Looking ahead to his next generation of runners, Ganje said, “I have four or five yearlings and five mares and a bunch of racehorses. I will keep going. I will spend the next 20 years trying to find another one like that.” Of the decision to sell Shotgun Hottie Ganje said, “I had to take the money. It's just too much money. If I had a billion dollars, I would keep her and just keep breeding her. But I had to sell her.” @JessMartiniTDN Quick Start with Midnight Memories Selling for $1.45 Million in Sale's First Moments After buying five mares for a combined $6,350,000 at Fasig-Tipton Monday, including GISWs Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) for $2.8 million and Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) for $1.5 million, Shingo Hashimoto struck mere minutes into the Keeneland sale on Tuesday with Hip 10 as he signed for MGSW & GISP Midnight Memories (Mastery) for $1.45 million. Hashimoto buys on behalf of Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm and their newest acquisition will “most likely” join the broodmare band in Japan. “She has a strong pedigree,” said Hashimoto. “She looks very nice and strong. We like her very much. I think she pretty much qualified on what we wanted. She ticked the boxes. She's a very nice filly and we're very excited. The 5-year-old Midnight Memories was trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and raced as a homebred for Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman, and Karl Watson. A winner of the 2022 GII Zenyatta Stakes, she is out of track record setter and GSW & GISP Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute), who is in turn out of GI Ruffian Handicap and GI Lady's Secret Stakes winner Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow). Midnight Memories is carrying her first foal after being covered by Curlin in April. The Sikura family's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, who consigned eight of the millionaires at Fasig-Tipton Monday, also consigned Midnight Memories. Yoshida also picked up an additional mare at Keeneland Tuesday: 4-year-old GSW Safeen (War Front) (Hip 55) for $675,000–@JillWilliamsTDN Glen Hill Farm Picks Up Into Mischief Colt from Seltzer Dispersal Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm bought what he described as the best colt of the sale during Tuesday's Book 1 session at Keeneland, going to $900,000 for Hip 173, a weanling son of Into Mischief out of GSW Eres Tu (Malibu Moon). “We decided to try and buy some colts in September and we couldn't get near anything, so we thought we'd try to buy some foals. We bought a few last night and this was our favorite one. We've seen everything Book 2, everything today, and everything last night and we thought this was kind of the best one here.” Bred by Edward and Beverly Seltzer, the Mar. 10 colt was consigned by Taylor Made as agent for the complete dispersal of Edward Seltzer's Solera Farm. Bernick first saw the colt at Jamie Frost's Amaroo Farm. Hip 173 | Keeneland Photo “He was raised at Amaroo Farm, which is where we have all our mares, so I've kind of known the horse all his life. Malibu Moon mare, really good family, good racemare, obviously Into Mischief. I'm not going to say he ticked all the boxes, because that's very obvious. He was a lot of money, but we kind of figured he would be.” Bernick continued, “Jamie's always had a high opinion of the horse and when we came here, he was a very obvious horse. He's a really classy mover, a pretty head, a strong colt, but he looks like he'll hopefully run around two turns. We really like the horse.” The bay colt's dam was also slated for the sale, but was withdrawn. Hip 173 is her second foal; the first, a yearling filly by Daredevil, sold for $180,000 at Keeneland September to Taproot Bloodstock for Steven Rocco and New Phoenix. Eres Tu, winner of the 2020 GIII Allaire du Pont Stakes, is a half to two other stakes winners from the family of GI Preakness Stakes winner Tank's Prospect. The colt was Glen Hill's lone purchase Tuesday. The operation added three weanling colts–by Justify, McKinzie, and Jackie's Warrior–Monday evening at Fasig-Tipton.–@JillWilliamsTDN Curlin Colt to Amo for $725k Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing went to $725,000 to acquire a colt by Curlin (hip 234) late in Tuesday's Keeneland November Book 1 session. The weanling is out of Liam's Promenade (Liam's Map), an unraced half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Cavorting (Bernardini). He was consigned by Denali Stud, which purchased Liam's Promenade for $290,000 at the 2023 Keeneland January sale and co-bred the weanling with S.D. Brilie L.P., Elicia Rankin and Valli Rose Equine. “He was a homebred for us and some partners,” Denali's Conrad Bandoroff said. “Honestly, there were some very lengthy discussions as to whether we were going to bring him here or not. This is typically the kind of horse–in my father's career and my career–we would hold and take to a yearling sale. There were some length discussions and debates about what was the right thing to do. We put him in here and we were going to protect him. We thought if we could attract some end user attention, it made sense. He is a lovely horse. We are thrilled that Kia's got him. He's going to go into a great program. It's a good thing for our mare. We are delighted all around.” Cavorting is the dam of multiple Grade I winner Clairiere (Curlin), as well as this year's Keeneland September sale-topping son of Curlin. “The pedigree speaks for itself,” Bandoroff said. “Obviously, Curlin has worked very well in the family before with Clairiere, and Cavorting had the $5-million Keeneland September sale topper this year. She wasn't a very hard mare to mate. She is a beautiful Liam's Map mare. Liam's Map is a son of Unbridled's Song and has every chance to be a fantastic broodmare sire. [The weanling] was a very nice physical blend of both of them.” Bandoroff said Liam's Promenade is in foal to Nyquist and will be bred to Good Magic next year. “We are hoping she is going to be a foundation mare for us,” he said. @JessMartiniTDN 'We Just Wanted a Flightline:' First-Crop Weanlings in Demand at Keeneland Flightline, who was represented by the top-priced weanling at the Fasig-Tipton November sale Monday, had a pair of foals bring $500,000 or more during Tuesday's first session of the Keeneland November sale Tuesday. Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo purchased a colt by the stallion (hip 241) for $575,000 from the Lane's End consignment. He is out of Lucrezia (Into Mischief), whose yearling filly by Gun Runner sold for $1 million at the Keeneland September sale earlier this year and was part of the dispersal of Ed Seltzer's Solera Farm. “We just wanted a Flightline,” Hartley said after signing the ticket on the weanling. “We just loved him as a horse. We were able to be around him. The Mayberrys broke him and they train on our farm. So I saw him since he was getting broke. He was just a beautiful animal.” Hartley said the plan is to offer the youngster at a yearling sale next year. “It's kind of hard to buy the weanlings because you don't really know,” Hartley said. “That's a nice baby, but you know there are some that are going to come through in September that are going to be monsters. But we have to have nice babies to sell. And we have to stretch when we see one we like. No risk, no reward.” Of what he is seeing in Flightline's first crop of foals, Hartley said, “I see a lot of the stallion in them, but I also see a lot of the mares in the babies. This one looked a lot like an Into Mischief. I see the traits of the mares and I see the traits of the stallion, too. Flightline was just a Tapit who had such great balance. He was such a beautiful horse. We are super happy to have one.” Earlier in the session, trainer Yoshito Yahagi purchased a colt from the first crop of the Breeders' Cup Classic winner (hip 147) for $500,000 Tuesday at Keeneland. Yahagi, who saddled Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) to a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic last Saturday, was already dreaming of a return trip to championship weekend with his newest acquisition. Flightline -Champagne-Lady-colt-KS11-24KLD604_KEENOV24_PRINT-credit-Keeneland-1024x745.jpg" alt="" width="611" height="445" /> Hip 147 | Keeneland Photo “Flightline is very popular in Japan,” Yahagi said, with bloodstock agent Keisuke Onishi of J.S. Company acting as interpreter. “I really wanted to purchase a weanling by Flightline.” Consigned by Eaton Sales, the weanling was bred by the Nagles' Barronstown Stud. He is out of stakes-placed Champagne Lady (Uncle Mo), who is a full-sister to Grade I winner Mo Town and a half to stakes winner Justique (Justify). Barronstown purchased Champagne Lady, with the colt in utero, for $1,450,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. “He will race in Japan,” Yahagi, who was bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, said. “And I should return to the Breeders' Cup with him.” Yahagi added, “We saw Flightline race on the track. It was very impressive. And we saw him at Lane's End. He is a special horse.” Flightline's first weanlings to go through the sales ring sold in Japan over the summer and averaged $974,057 with a top price of $1,305,651. The stallion's first foal to sell in the U.S. was the top-priced weanling at the Fasig-Tipton November sale when selling for $675,000 to David Ingordo Monday. During Tuesday's first session of the Keeneland November sale, four weanlings by Flightline sold for an average of $412,500. In addition to the two colts, a filly by the sire (hip 178) consigned by Paramount Sales sold for $435,000 to Tarpon Stables. @JessMartiniTDN The post Whisper Hill Spends $2.4m For Roses For Debra As Keeneland November Book 1 Attracts ‘Strong, Healthy Marketplace’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Hawkesbury Races Where Hawkesbury Race Club – 1 Racecourse Rd, Clarendon NSW 2756 When Thursday, November 7, 2024 First Race 1pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $200,000 Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) headlines the action at Hawkesbury on Thursday afternoon, with a competitive eight-race program set to get underway at 1pm local time. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and although light rainfall is forecast for race-day, it shouldn’t affect the current Good 4 rating. Ladies Day Cup Tip: Berkshire Shadow The Ciaron Maher-trained Berkshire Shadow will be looking to bounce back after an awful front-running display at Randwick on October 19. The son of Dark Angel was unsuited by the tactics, fading badly in the concluding stages to be defeated 6.7 lengths by Ducasse. Gate one should allow Kerrin McEvoy to take a sit in behind a genuine tempo, and once exposed in the final 400m, watch for Berkshire Shadow to give a bold sight at the each-way price with Neds. Ladies Day Cup Race 7 – #3 Berkshire Shadow (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Kerrin McEvoy (57kg) +850 with Neds Best Bet at Hawkesbury: The Beast The Beast was a good thing licked debuting at Nowra on October 20 and should be searching for back-to-back wins. The Snitzel gelding was forced to check off heels a crucial stage, halting his momentum in the final furlong. The 1600m holds no concerns second-up in the campaign, and with gate two allowing Ashley Morgan to stalk his rivals from the one-one, The Beast should make amends for his first-up defeat. Best Bet Race 1 – #7 The Beast (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Ashley Morgan (57.5kg) +400 with Picklebet Next Best at Hawkesbury: Cheval Savant Despite suffering a 2.3-length defeat by Green Belt on the Kensington Circuit at Randwick on October 9, Cheval Savant appears set to peak third-up. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper always tends to improve getting over 2000m or further, and with two fitness runs under his belt, this 2100m BM68 appears to be perfect placement for the five-year-old gelding. Ashley Morgan will look to make every post a winner from gate four, and provided he can pinch a break, the $5 available with horse racing bookmakers will seem too big. Next Best Race 4 – #1 Cheval Savant (4) 5yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Ashley Morgan (59.5kg) +400 with Dabble Thursday quaddie tips for Hawkesbury Hawkesbury quadrella selections November 7, 2024 1-4-6-7 2-5 2-3-8-9 1-2-10-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article