Wandering Eyes

by Adam Hamilton Champion trotter Just Believe has been retired. It turns out his typically brave second to Oscar Bonavena in the Group 1 NZ Trotting free-for-all on November 15 was his farewell. Co-trainers Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars today confirmed the global superstar had run his last after niggling issues emerged during that hugely successful NZ campaign late last year. “It’s with a tinge of sadness, but an overwhelming sense of pride we announce the retirement of our champion, Just Believe,” Tubbs and Sugars posted on social media. “We could list the races he won, or the money he earned, but it was the hearts he captured around the world that really set ‘Harry’ (Just Believe’s stable name) apart. “His incredible strength and determination to win were second to none and we couldn’t be more grateful for the journey he has taken us on. A huge thank you to all of Harry’s owners for the opportunity they gave us with this incredible horse., “In the end, it was Harry’s refusal to give up that brought about his retirement, with us no longer able to trust him to tell us when things were getting sore. “He has nothing left to prove and his welfare is paramount. Happy retirement, Harry. We’re sure going to miss you.” Just Believe raced 83 times for 38 wins, 23 placings and banked $A1,929,253 in prize money, which is second-only to the mighty Lyell Creek ($A2,256,724) as the all-time richest Australasian trotter. It was a switch from former trainer Michael Hughes, who retired, to the Tubbs and Sugars stable in mid-2022 which sparked Just Believe’s stunning emergence. In 42 starts for the stable, he won 30 times, ran nine seconds and a third. Just Believe’s only unplaced run came when he struck trouble, galloped and finished tailed-out in a heat of the world’s biggest trotting race, the Elitlopp, in Sweden in May, 2023. The gelding won 10 Group 1 races, including two Inter Dominion finals, a Great Southern Star, Dominion Trot and Rowe Cup. Just Believe raced six times in NZ for five wins, a second and earned $NZ690,000. Three of wins were at Group 1 level (Dominion Trot, Rowe Cup and National Trot) along with the arguably the greatest win of his career in the inaugural TAB Trot. Remarkably, what was expected to be a daunting and draining trip to Sweden in mid-2023, actually took Just Believe to another level. “There’s no doubt he came back a better horse. He was different around home and better at the races,” Sugars said. After Sweden, Just Believe raced 23 times for 20 wins and three seconds. Race caller Dan Mielicki, the voice of Australian harness racing, said Just Believe was one of the greatest horses of either code he called. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to call him. He’s one of very horses I’ve seen who looked as comfortable outside the leader as he was in front,” he said. “He is the closest in talent to Lyell Creek that I’ve seen and not far behind him at all. He did what a great trotter does and totally dominated his generation.” View the full article

Junior driver Leah Hibell has a handy book of drives at Otaki today including a strong contender in the Grant Plumbing Ltd Wellington Cup with Idolou, who she drives for Cambridge based trainer and her employer, Nicky Chilcott. “I think Idolou is a good chance today” says Hibell “She has been racing well in some strong fields and drops back in grade today which I’m sure she’ll appreciate.” The five year old mare by Sweet Lou has been lightly raced for three wins from just ten starts and has met strong competition lately coming up against the likes of Miki Shan, Fernetti, The Surfer, and Ultimate Racy Girl. In her previous two starts, Idolou has finished fifth with solid performances. At Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve, Idolou finished just a length from the winner Minjee in the TAB Northern Metro Pacers Final, with a solid finish after racing three and four wide with cover over the final lap. Meanwhile her last start at Cambridge was in the Waikato Pacers Summer Cup, and Idolou was the sole starter off the front line stepping quickly and leading the race throughout before being swamped over the final stages with the race won by Miki Shan. On that occasion she was just 1.3 lengths from the winner. “She’s drawn six today which is a little niggly and could make the race a little trickier” says Hibell “I’ll maybe look at getting back early but it’s a good long straight here on the grass which will help and she’s capable of a strong finish.” Hibell combines with Chilcott for three other races including Hot Jessie (R1), Messenger Buoy (R4) and Katies Princess (R6). “I think Messenger Buoy and Katies Princess are both good each way chances today, in fact I think they are probably my best chances,” says Hibell “Messenger Buoy has been racing fantastic lately, it’s just a five horse field and he’s great in that he can sit anywhere in running and I can have faith that he’ll always put in and go a good race.” The Sunshine Beach gelding has only run out of the money once in his past ten races and starts in The Boundary Tap & Kitchen Mobile Pace from barrier four today. Meanwhile Katies Princess starts in the Monk Family Mobile Pace over 2000 metres and is another that enjoys a drop back in grade today. “Katies Princess starts from two and I’ll be hoping to cross and lead on her” says Hibell “She likes the grass tracks having won and placed on the grass last year and she’s an honest type who goes some tough races.” Hibell also drives the Rodney Frampton trained Whitfield in the NZ Proud Property Improvements Mobile Pace. The combination were winners two starts ago at Tauherenikau, followed by a fourth last start at Otaki. “It’s a bit of an even field and he’s one that can’t do too much work so I’ll be looking for cover” says Hibell “If he gets a nice trip and can have one good run at them he’s a first four chance.” “My drives today are all well placed and while I don’t like being overconfident, I think there are a couple that are capable of winning” says Hibell. The racing action gets underway today at 12.05pm. View the full article

by Michael Guerin Trainer Matt Purvis knows it won’t be as easy as the numbers suggest for Piccadilly Pete in today’s $25,000 Donegal House Marlborough Pacer’s Cup. Because if it was the pacing find of the summer would be almost a good thing to continue his grass track domination. The four-year-old comes into today’s 2850m beautifully, having won the lead-up on Friday but not being re-handicapped. That means he is a Rating 74 horse off a 10m handicap alongside horses rated 10 points lower than him while the Rating 76 horses Bryces Meddle and Whos Delight have to give him a 20m start. As if they didn’t make it hard enough Piccadilly Pete is in the form of his life, having won four of his last five starts, all on grass and has New Zealand’s most in-form driver in Samantha Ottley. “The grass has suited him in that he is one of those horses who doesn’t lose his speed on the grass,” says Purvis. “He is still quick at Addington as we have seen but the grass doesn’t seem to slow him down.” Piccadilly Pete proved that both days at the recent Westport circuit before being set for this meeting and Purvis says so far, so good as for winning both days. “I took him out to his paddock this morning and he was full of himself and really well so Friday didn’t take anything out of him,” he said on Saturday. “We know it won’t be easy to repeat because these country cups races are always hard but there is no reason to think he won’t go as well again.” Which makes it a tad surprising the TAB didn’t open Piccadilly Pete as favourite, the bookies rating him only the $4.60 second elect behind first day favourite Wild Willow. The latter paced roughly on the home bend on Friday when also favourite but came again in the straight and is an obvious chance on his best form. Purvis also suggests punters could do worse than follow his first day placegetter Living The Moment (R5, No.13). “She got crook over on the Coast so she will improve with that run on Friday.” Today’s meeting also hosts the $20,000 Seddon Shields Marlborough Trotters Cup with Tu Tangata opening the favourite but first day winner MM Sunshine quickly backed in from $9 to $6. View the full article

2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan put in his final work for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 18 with a five-furlong breeze in :59.95 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Reigning GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) breezed five furlongs in :59.98 on his own over a 'good' Gulfstream Park main track Saturday morning, his final serious piece of work ahead of next Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. Robby Albarado was aboard for the move. “What I'd call a happy five-eighths,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “It was just a maintenance breeze. I didn't have a horse I really felt good about him being in company with, and I don't think he needed the company. But he took a deep breath coming out of the work and that's what he needed. “I like the time, he did it well within himself, so, yeah, I think it sets us up pretty good. As long as he has a good next few days, week, we plan on running.” Mystik Dan, runner-up in the GI Preakness Stakes and sixth in the GI Belmont Stakes, returned from a 6 1/2-month absence to finish a distant sixth as a 3-1 chance in the GI Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Dec. 26. 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner), a latest winner of a high-class renewal of the GII Cigar Mile Handicap, and Crupi (Curlin), a running-on third in last year's Pegasus and exiting a fourth in the GII Clark Stakes, worked in company at Palm Meadows for trainer Todd Pletcher Saturday morning. The pair was clocked in 1:01.91 for five furlongs. GI Alabama Stakes upsetter Power Squeeze (Union Rags) went four furlongs at Gulfstream in :50.02 Saturday morning. Stronghold (Ghostzapper) turned in his final Pegasus breeze Friday morning at Santa Anita, covering five furlongs in an easy 1:02.60. Last year's GI Santa Anita Derby winner was most recently runner-up in the Malibu. Imagination (Into Mischief) heads into the Pegasus off a sound third in the Malibu and breezed three-quarters of a mile in the company of Eclipse finalist Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Imagination was timed in 1:12.40, while the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner was fractionally quicker in 1:12 flat. Post positions for the Pegasus are set to be drawn Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The draw will be shown live on PegasusWorldCup.com as well as the Gulfstream Park YouTube channel. The post Mystik Dan Works ‘Happy’ Five-Eighths In Final Pegasus Move appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Where to start on the first morning of the Route des Etalons? It was a decision which would have been easy to rush to, what with so many enticing options to choose from, all of them immaculately presented, ready and waiting to welcome the first guests of the day. 'Pace yourself,' I reminded myself. 'There's always tomorrow for anything you don't get to today.' Anyway, that's enough about the breakfast buffet at the hotel. Suitably fueled with a pile of crepes, cakes and pastries that would have made my dentist wince, it was time to hit the road for the main event. As Normandie Breeding's Guillaume Vitse said shortly after greeting me at Haras de la Huderie, “The Route des Etalons is the place to be this weekend.” Vitse, perhaps best known for breeding the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in tandem with wife Camille and their children Valentine and Axel, was in punchy form as he sang the praises of the newest Huderie resident, River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The G2 Coventry Stakes winner was purchased from Coolmore last year to stand as a stallion by a collection of French breeders which includes Vitse, along with Sebastian Desmontils, David Salabi, and Jean-Pierre and Guillaume Garcon. As well as winning at Royal Ascot, River Tiber was Group 1 placed in the Prix Morny, Middle Park Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas, while perhaps his best chance of winning at the top level was taken from him when he was a late scratch from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf of 2023–won by none other than Unquestionable. “The first time I saw him was at the Breeders' Cup,” Vitse said of River Tiber. “Unfortunately, he did not run–well, it was good for us that he didn't! But he just caught my eye. And then when he ran in the Prix de la Foret he caught my eye again. Twice in a row, I thought that he was the standout, physically. “The horse just has everything. He has the looks, the race performance and the breeding. He was a proper two-year-old and he's an outcross for a lot of mares as a son of Wootton Bassett, who is a champion. What more can you say? It's obvious why you should send a mare to River Tiber.” Of the breeders participating in this year's Route des Etalons, he added, “You can have a good time, go around and see the horses, and then make your choice. But when you come to Huderie, you won't need to go anywhere else.” The bullish Vitse also confirmed that Unquestionable is set to return to the racecourse in 2025, following a truncated three-year-old campaign. The colt is now in the sole ownership of Al Shaqab, whose breeding operation, Haras de Bouquetot, was also finding favour with visitors on a bitterly cold morning in Normandy. Six stallions were on parade at Bouquetot, all of them still in the infancy of their careers. Romanised (Ire) and Wooded (Ire) had their first two-year-old runners in 2024, while Armor (GB) was represented by his first yearlings and Thunder Moon (Ire) by his first foals at the sales last year. More recently, the first foal by Lusail (Ire) was reportedly born at the stud just this week. The Al Shaqab team are also introducing a new stallion for 2025 in the shape of their homebred Al Hakeem (GB), who proved himself a high-class three-year-old in 2022 when he won the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and finished fourth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The son of Siyouni (Fr) was plagued by injury after that, denying him the opportunity to bid for the top-level success which was well within his capabilities, according to stud director Benoit Jeffroy. He said, “Al Hakeem was a highly-rated horse, 124 with Timeform. We thought he deserved his chance to stand as a stallion, not only because he's a Group 2 winner but because he had the potential to be a Group 1 winner. All of the time he was showing that, but he just had no luck after he finished fourth in the Arc. As a four-year-old he got injured when a horse ran into him and split his tendon which took a while to recover.” Last seen on a racecourse winning the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville in August, the now-six-year-old Al Hakeem is reported to have plenty of good breeders in his corner already, with Al Shaqab set to send him around 10 of their own mares in the hope that he produces offspring as good-looking as himself. “We've also sold a few breeding rights which is something we like to do,” Jeffroy continued. “We've syndicated a few horses in the past and we always like to have some good partners to support the horse through the years which is important. I think we've sold around 25 breeding rights, which is great, and hopefully a few more people will be booking mares to him this weekend.” Jeffroy also reported that last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Fr) is another who will receive around 10 mares from Al Shaqab, after they bought into him in July last year, together with Ballylinch Stud where the colt is preparing to embark on his first season at a fee of €20,000. The son of Lope De Vega (Ire) promises to be hugely popular in his second career, much like his predecessor, Ace Impact (Ire). An emphatic winner of the Prix du Jockey Club in 2023, he retired unbeaten at the end of that year, having produced another explosive performance on his swansong to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Now, the team at Haras de Beaumont excitedly await the arrival of Ace Impact's first foals after he covered 180 mares in 2024, with the first homebred arrival said to be imminent. “A mare is due very soon with us,” confirmed Beaumont stud manager Mathieu Alex. “That's obviously very exciting–this is the next step for him. He's had tremendous support from all over the world and he's very popular again this year. He's just a very exciting horse. His acceleration was tremendous and he won the Prix du Jockey Club which is a very successful race where making stallions is concerned.” Ace Impact was not the only Prix du Jockey Club winner to be shown at Beaumont. The 2013 hero Intello (Ger) also paraded for visitors when they could be dragged away from the cosy scene indoors, which offered seemingly all-you-can-eat charcuterie and a glimpse at the impressive Arc trophy won by Ace Impact, but it was the next generation of talent which really got bums off seats. New recruit Puchkine (Fr) continues to earn rave reviews, according to Alex, while there was an enjoyable encore to the stallion parade when we were taken off to be introduced to a bunch of now-yearlings from the first crop of their G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Champion Stakes winner Sealiway (Fr). “We're very happy with his first crop,” Alex added of the son of Galiway (GB). “We've got 25 by him on the farm. As you've seen, we're showing some here to the visitors and they are going down very well. They have a lot of quality and Sealiway himself was a true champion.” Speaking of champions, there could be no place better to head next than Haras de Bonneval for a visit I described in Thursday's preview as a bucket list item. That was before I knew there would be crepes on offer, too, a weakness I fear could very quickly get out of hand should I ever have to be in France more than a few days at a time. At least a prolonged stay would bring my French speaking on, a skill which is virtually non-existent, hence my terror when Charlotte Tessier from the Aga Khan Studs suggested I get some practice by conducting my interview with Pierre Gasnier in French. The man who recently succeeded Georges Rimaud as the manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France certainly didn't deserve that torture, especially as my Yorkshire accent is already hard enough to understand. “We don't have any first foals born yet,” Gasnier confirmed after lip-reading manfully through my question about that imminent milestone for Erevann (Fr) and Vadeni (Ire). “We have a couple of mares due in Ireland from Vadeni but they haven't foaled yet. He's a stallion who we're very excited about because he was such a champion himself on the track. He was the European champion three-year-old in 2023, after winning both the Prix du Jockey Club and the Eclipse and finishing second in the Arc. He was a black-type winner at two and he covered a very strong book of mares, including the dams of three different Group 1 winners. “Erevann was also well supported by French breeders and with mares from England and Ireland. We actually have our best older mare in foal to Erevann and she's already due. That's Daryakana, a Group 1 winner and the dam of Dariyan. Being a son of Dubawi, who is a sire of sires, he has all of the credentials to be another superstar. If he does as well as Zarak, we will be in business.” There are certainly similarities to be drawn between Erevann and Zarak (Fr), both being by Dubawi and out of multiple Group 1-winning mares in Ervedya (Fr) and Zarkava (Ire), respectively. The sire of three individual Group 1 winners from his first four crops, Zarak is “well established as being the next top stallion in France” according to Gasnier, with his best-bred crop of two-year-olds to come in 2025. Perhaps the only stallion conclusively ahead of Zarak in the pecking order of French stallions is his stud-mate, Siyouni (Fr), and most worrying for those trying to topple the top dog is Gasnier's confidence that the 18-year-old hasn't peaked yet. “He's a real success story,” Gasnier said of the sire who remains at a fee of €200,000 for 2025, having started at €7,000 back in 2011 when the Route des Etalons debuted. “You quickly forget quickly that he started at such an affordable level. We're excited about him because we truly believe that his best years are yet to come, with the quality of the mares he has received for the last three years–especially last year.” Gasnier described the experience of opening the doors at Bonneval as “business but with pleasure”, referring to the fact that the Route des Etalons caters for both potential clients and your average racing fan. Those sentiments were later echoed by Nicolas de Chambure as he welcomed around 50 people to his Haras d'Etreham on Saturday morning as part of a trip organised by France Galop. “Those people aren't necessarily breeders, but there were some owners and racing fans [among them],” de Chambure said of the group. “It's great for us to be able to show this side of the business to them. It's our duty to make sure that our industry gets seen and appreciated.” One horse certainly being appreciated by visitors to Etreham was the imposing Hello Youmzain (Fr), who is now up there with the likes of Zarak among the most expensive sires in France at €40,000 (from €22,500 in 2024), with his hike in fee reportedly doing nothing to perturb breeders after he sired 21 individual two-year-old winners in Europe from last year's first crop. “He's got a full book now for 2025, so it's very exciting,” de Chambure said of the high-class sprinter. “We had high expectations for him, obviously, but he was not that precocious himself. He progressed from two to three, and from three to four. I think we're going to see the best of them this year, so what he's done until now is probably a bonus already.” Last year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr), now based at Etreham, was one of the new stallions on show during the Route des Etalons to gain his fair share of admirers, including bloodstock agent Tina Rau and Alexis Navet, the manager of Haras Voltaire. “Metropolitan is a very encouraging prospect,” said Navet. “He had a very good racing career and was the best miler in France last year. He's an outcross for a lot of mares and he's got a nice physique and a good walk. I think breeders will be delighted with him.” Rau concurred as she eventually came down on the side of the son of Zarak in a close fought contest for the title of most exciting recruit to the French stallion scene. “I think all of the new boys I've seen were really nice horses,” she summed up. “Obviously, Charyn was an outstanding racehorse and he has a nice physique. I really liked Metropolitan and Big Rock at Haras de Grandcamp, while Puchkine is very much in the mould of his sire, Starspangledbanner. Of all the new stallions, I think it would be Metropolitan for me.” Metropolitan might have had the final say over his G1 Prix Jacques le Marois conqueror in that argument, but there was more than enough love to go around for Charyn (Ire), the outstanding miler of 2024, as he prepares to stand his first season at Sumbe's Haras de Montfort et Preaux. “We have five Group 1 winners on our roster, but I think he's been a big part of the attraction here over the weekend,” Sumbe's Mathieu Le Forestier said of the popular grey. That was most definitely true for one young boy in attendance on Saturday who went away clearly delighted by the experience, having managed to secure a Charyn baseball cap and a picture with his hero. Just as he did on the racecourse throughout last year–when winning three Group 1s and filling the runner-up spot in another two–Charyn took everything asked of him in his stride, displaying an unflappable nature which should continue to stand him in good stead as he limbers up for what has the makings of a busy first season in the covering shed. “He's been going down incredibly well and his book is nearly full now,” Le Forestier added. “We're going to cap him to 120 outside mares and there's just a few spots available, so we'll be handpicking them from now on. On top of that we'll add 20 mares of our own and around another 20 from the shareholders. All in all, he should cover around 160 mares.” Among those in attendance at Montfort et Preaux was Andreas Putsch, the owner of Haras de Saint Pair, who was firmly in Charyn's corner when it came to choosing the best of the stallions who have retired to France for 2025. “Obviously, Charyn stands out as the most accomplished racehorse retiring to France this year,” said Putsch. “He had great acceleration at the end of a race and his true ability is in his soundness. He had a long career, dancing every dance, and he was there as a two-year-old. There are no holes in him.” Whilst there might not be any holes in Charyn, it's fair to say that there were plenty of holes in my plan to pace myself over the two days, in every sense as I sit here now overtired and having overindulged. It's going to take a few days to recover from, no doubt, but here's hoping the memories stay with me much longer than that when it comes to my first Route des Etalons, most definitely the place to be this weekend. The post La Route des Etalons, ‘The Place to be This Weekend’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

From an Eclipse Award to two Sovereign Awards, from a Queen's Plate win among her dozens of stakes victories to the title of highest-earning female rider in the sport's history and more than 1,900 career visits to the winner's circle, Emma-Jayne Wilson has fought her share of battles on the racetrack. One of the most challenging battles of her life, however, is surely the one she is now fighting behind closed doors as she recovers from neck and pelvic fractures sustained in an Oct. 25 accident at Woodbine. The words “neck and pelvic fractures” don't do justice to the severity of her injuries, which left Wilson completely bedridden for more than two months and continue to pave a long road of recovery ahead of her. “There were a few days I was in ICU with major trauma and bleeding they were monitoring very, very closely,” said Wilson this week via phone from her home in the Toronto area. “It was a bit touch and go in that tight time, but that massive surgery that they did was successful.” Wilson is refreshingly candid about the difficulty in being faced with a long and arduous recovery, a challenge for any person, but magnified exponentially for an athlete used to being extremely active. “I'm doing as well as can be expected,” she said. “It's odd, it's bittersweet. I had some good news obviously this week [with the neck collar coming off], but the reality of the situation really sucks as well. I'll be honest, I don't have a good attitude all the time. You don't really showcase the negative days because it's not really worth it, but I'm going to be honest. There's some ups and downs, good days and bad. I woke up [Thursday] and it wasn't a good day. I was just grumpy and unhappy with the situation and I wanted to throw things and hit things. “But,” she emphasizes, “I've been given an excellent prognosis with full recovery, so that's what I focus on. I'm used to training and exercising and whatnot, so that's what I put the focus into. It's not bench pressing like I'm used to, but it's that much more important to do these exercises and get these small gains. I give everything to that, every ounce that I can, to using the walker and getting my legs going properly again. There's a lot of little things and those are the positives, so that's what I hold on to, that full recovery prognosis that I have. That gets you through those [rough] days.” Wilson in July, when she broke the record as the highest-earning female jockey in history | Michael Burns Wilson said the fractures she sustained were not simple. Her neck fracture was at the C2 level, or the second cervical level. It was the same fracture actor and horseman Christopher Reeve sustained, which left him paralyzed from the neck down for the remainder of his life. Wilson said her C2 fracture was very close to being surgical, but it was the pelvic injuries that have been the biggest challenge. In the trauma bay immediately after the accident, doctors screwed pins through both of Wilson's femurs just above her knees “and attached these hoops around them so they could string a cable to pull my lower body down away from my upper body so my pelvis didn't collapse inwards.” It was a special form of traction meant to buy time as the surgical team needed to protect the area while they waited for the swelling and bleeding to subside enough to operate. Her pelvic injuries were complex and Wilson now sports an array of internal plates and screws. “The surgery that they did spared me any neurological damage,” said Wilson. “One of the significant pieces is the severity of the fractures. It all depends on the severity. I did sustain massive fractures to my pelvis and my sacrum. I hit the rail at full speed, but I was lucky enough that the fractures didn't get to my joints, so my hips and the front of my pelvis were spared. I was very lucky.” Wilson spent about two months in the hospital, but wasn't able to walk away. “I was released from the hospital before Christmas, but I've been bedridden, so I'm literally living in my living room. We had to get a hospital bed and all the accessories to go along with the number of wheeled devices to help me go through the day. The early days were very, very difficult. “I've been completely non-weight-bearing, where I was not to put my weight on the ground at all, so I would have to transfer from the bed to a wheelchair, for example, using a slide board so I wouldn't put my feet down. It's slowly progressed where I could build from there and the orthopedic surgeon has now opened it up to some weight-bearing to move towards full weight-bearing. There's that level of reactivation and reengaging the muscles that were traumatized to bring them back to what they know and what they're used to. You have to do it properly and that's where I'm at now.” Jockeys are famously tough as nails and so accustomed to working through injuries that they often tend to heal and return faster than expected. Wilson said this particular healing is not a process that can be expedited. “There's no point in rushing because it may be a shortcut now, but you're not going to gain in the long term. I've had enough injuries through my career that the reality of that is there and the gains have been like that. There's no other option really. You do it and you do it right.” Given her fitness and athleticism, the doctors have given Wilson a prognosis of full recovery in time. However, with such severe injuries, will her body truly be the same? Will she be able to return at 100% capacity? “I'm going to be a little bit different, I think, but not excessively so,” said Wilson. “The intent is to get back to riding as soon as I am able to give the same riding that everyone was used to. That is the goal, but with the severity of the injuries and the way rehabilitation goes, I'm not going to rush it.” Wilson in the win that secured her historic earnings record | Michael Burns Woodbine, where Wilson is based, opens for the season Apr. 26, a little more than three months away and six months after the spill. She hopes to be ready to ride, but is also realistic that it may be too soon. “The goal would be opening day, but I have to take every day as it comes with the right level of grit and determination and then go from there, taking it day by day.” Race riding is a dangerous job. Jockeys risk not just their livelihoods, but also their health and even their lives multiple times a day. Wilson was asked if she thinks the risks will be more acute, or more prominent in her thoughts, when she does return. She didn't hesitate as she cited an ongoing deep respect for the hazards that go along with riding. She said nothing has changed in that regard. “The way I've always looked at it–and I've sustained multiple injuries [in my career], this one being one of the most severe–is if it really changes your outlook on how you ride races, it's because you didn't respect the dangers to begin with. For me, it's no different. The risk hasn't changed; it's always been the same. “The next time I throw a leg over a horse, I know what I'm going out there to do and what the risks involved are and I knew that the first time I threw my leg over a horse in a race as well. That level of respect and acknowledgment of what the potential dangers are is a big part of that. I don't think that everyone manages it the same as me, so I think it's important for the mental health aspect as jocks where that discussion that has come up in the last year or so. But for me, I think that outlook, that perception has given me so much strength as a whole from the beginning of my career.” As Wilson spends long days continuing to recover, she said positive messages on social media have helped keep her spirits up. “I just want to say how grateful I am with the support I've been getting from the fans. Social media gives people access and the support of the fans has made me feel so blessed. It helps on those down days when you get a chance to have a look through. It means so much to see those little tidbits and helps me look at the bigger picture.” The post With ‘Grit and Determination,’ Emma-Jayne Wilson Still Faces Long Recovery appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Paco Lopez, suspended since Dec. 4 for a postrace riding crop infraction Dec. 3 at Parx Racing in which he struck an erratically racing mount in the face or neck area, will be reinstated on a conditional basis effective Jan. 23.View the full article

6th-FG, $58K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 4:15 p.m. ET. Taking on two turns for her debut is Godolphin homebred LOVE SONG (Ghostzapper). The filly is trained Mike Stidham who also conditioned her older full-brother Mystic Guide and watched as the current sire took the 2021 G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan. Their dam Music Note (A.P. Indy) was an accomplished race filly in her own right as she won five out of nine top level chances during her career for Godolphin. In the breeding shed, Music Note also produced GIII Penn Mile Stakes hero Gershwin (Distorted Humor), who was sent to Argentina in 2022, and last year she foaled a filly by Not This Time. TJCIS PPS The post Sunday’s Racing Insights: Full-Sister To Mystic Guide Unveiled For Godolphin In The Big Easy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Paco Lopez, suspended since Dec. 4 for a postrace riding crop infraction Dec. 3 at Parx Racing in which he struck an erratic-racing mount in the face or neck area, will be reinstated on a conditional basis effective Jan. 23.View the full article

Wodeton (Aus) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) punched his ticket for the G1 Golden Slipper with a 3 3/4-length win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday for trainer Chris Waller (video). The A$1.6-million yearling commanded plenty of hype and was already second in the betting for the Slipper, but the manner of his performance sees him vying for the top spot. Overcoming a slow start in the 1100-metre affair, the bay unleashed a powerful bid at the 300-metre mark under James McDonald, ultimately zipping home. He distanced the field in a couple of jumps. The Magic Man (Aus) (Showtime {Aus}) finished second. Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth was on course for the win and said, “If the track was in the heavy range, we might have waited a week, but James [McDonald] won't be here [then],” Duckworth said. “We wanted to have James on, and we are fortunate to be racing on a soft deck today. “He was the most highly talked about colt when we were up at the Magic Millions [last week], and he had only trialled and yet everyone was asking about him. To generate that much hype off of a trial when you are well held and didn't even win…but obviously people knew what they were looking at and he's pretty exciting. “Chris will plot a path to the Golden Slipper 2025. There is the [G3] Canonbury Stakes coming up in a fortnight, but we will see how he comes through this race.” “He's the real deal,” added McDonald. “He has the most pure action and unbelievable demeanour about him and it's going to take him a long way. You wait until you see him on good ground!” Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, the son of Listed Morphettville Guineas heroine Fiera Vista (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) was offered by Segenhoe Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last January, and caught the eye of Coolmore Australia's Tom Magnier, who made the winning bid of A$1.6 million. Wodeton is a half-brother to the winner Queen Starlight (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), as well as a yearling colt by I Am Invincible (Aus) who also sold to Magnier for A$1.15 million at this year's Gold Coast Sale. This is the extended family of group winner Empress Rock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Silent Witness (Aus) (El Moxie), and the latter's half-sister and multiple group winner Sister Madly (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), who was twice placed at the highest level. The colt is owned in partnership by Coolmore, Wynaus, Westerberg, Mr J Poulin, Sir P J Vela, Chris Waller Racing, Lynque, Peachester Lodge, Mr R McClure, Meridian Bloodstock, Lockhart Waller Racing, Glentree Racing, Mr K MacLennan, Fairway Thoroughbreds, and Marcstown Pty. Ltd. The post Another Slipper Prospect For Wootton Bassett And Coolmore 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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Back-to-back Eclipse Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power (Curlin) has his first foal on the ground with a colt who was born Jan. 16 at Norevale Farm, according to a release from Juddmonte USA on Saturday morning. With similar markings as his sire, the chestnut is out of New York-bred Havin' a Party (Emcee) whose first foal to race, Woodhull (Constitution), is a winner after she was acquired by Spendthrift Farm for $575,000 during Keeneland September in 2022. The brand new colt counts as his second dam GSW & GISP Chimichurri (Elusive Quality), who sold for $2.1 million as a broodmare at the 2005 Keeneland November Sale. His extended female family includes Canadian champion Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro), GISW Hard Not To Love (Hard Spun) and GISW Secret Spice (Discreet Cat). “The farm reported to be extremely pleased with the foal,” said General Manager of Juddmonte USA Garrett O'Rourke. “The foal's dam is indicative of the exceptional caliber of mare we have been able to attract to Elite Power's book.” Elite Power was a $900,000 yearling purchase by the farm. He won the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint twice, which subsequently led each time to Eclipse honors. The three-time Grade I winner earned $3,775,711 throughout the course of his racing career and stands for a fee of $50,000 LF. The post Juddmonte Multiple Champion Elite Power’s First Foal Born At Norevale Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) will reinstate jockey Paco Lopez on a conditional basis effective Jan. 23, following his indefinite suspension Dec. 4, 2024 for striking a horse with a riding crop the previous day at Parx Racing in a manner which violated authority rules, a HISA spokesperson said Saturday morning. The statement said Lopez has met all conditions required for reinstatement, demonstrating his commitment to upholding the standards of conduct and integrity expected of participants in horse racing. During his suspension, Lopez participated in required therapy sessions, which he has pledged to continue, and made sizable donations to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund and Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement. “Paco Lopez has demonstrated his commitment to conducting himself in a manner required of professional jockeys,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “He has expressed remorse and a desire to return to riding with a renewed understanding of the responsibility that comes with the privilege of working with horses.” The spokesperson also emphasized that HISA remains steadfast in promoting the safety and integrity of horse racing, holding all participants accountable, while fostering a culture of respect and care for the sport and its participants. Paco Lopez | Coady Photography Lopez's attorney Drew Mollica said when reached by phone that the situation has provided his client with an important opportunity for growth. “We are deeply grateful for Paco [Lopez] to have had the ability to confront this issue,” Mollica said. “The collaboration with HISA was the chance to better not only himself, but to accentuate the importance a serious issue like a jockey's mental health, which thanks to HISA and the Jockey's Guild has come to the forefront. During his time away, Paco allowed himself to reflect about who he is not only as a jockey, but as a person. He looks forward to getting back in the saddle and doing what he loves. He wants to thank all who supported him during this difficult period.” The incident in question occurred in the fifth race at Parx on Tuesday, Dec. 3 when Lopez was videoed repeatedly striking his mount, National Law (Constitution), in the face with his crop. The 2-year-old was trained by Jorge Duarte, who came under scrutiny when he initially defended the jockey's actions on X that same day. Duarte issued an apology two days later. Lopez took full responsibility for his actions and began serving an indefinite suspension. Paco Lopez. Completely unacceptable. Shouldn't be around horses, period. pic.twitter.com/ldS4C73iC2 — The Staggie Man (@thestaggieman) December 3, 2024 The post Paco Lopez Demonstrates Commitment, Conditionally Reinstated By HISA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 BSA Cape Yearling Sale, featuring 109 lots, will take place from 12:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 23. Set to be held at the SARDA Centre in Constantia, the sale will offer a Malmoos (SAf) filly out of dual Grade 1 winner Europa Point (Aus) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}); a What A Winter (SAf) colt (lot 41 from the family of Grade 1 winners Little Miss Magic (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}), Lucky Lad (SAf) (Gimmethegreenlight SAf) and Bavarian Beauty (SAf) (Querari {Ger}); and a Danon Platina (Jpn) half-brother to Cats Pajamas (SAf) (Rafeef {Aus}) (lot 85) among others. This year's sale marks a new partnership between BSA, SARDA and the Constantia Valley Riding Club, which is based at the SARDA Centre in Brommersvlei Road, Constantia Heights approximately six kilometres from the old sale site. To view the catalogue and for more information, please visit the BSA website. The post Cape Yearling Sale Catalogue Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars FLYING LUCK - R3 (1) Improving galloper looks a class above this undercard field Jay Rooney BUNDLE AWARD - R9 (4) Import looks set to strike after an eye-catching third last start Jack Dawling STUNNING PEACH - R10 (2) Exciting horse looks ready to fire despite wide gate here Phillip Woo WITH A SMILE - R2 (11) Has had an ideal preparation and can win first up Shannon (Vincent Wong) CHATER GOLD - R3 (11) Back to Sha Tin and can salute with Craig Williams in the saddle Racing Post Online FLYING LUCK - R3 (1) Unlucky at his last start and is definitely worth following here Tom Wood STUNNING PEACH - R10 (2) Terribly unlucky last two starts and let's hope the juices flow from the peachView the full article

Australian jockey jumps back aboard the galloper he piloted into second in last year’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m).View the full article

Talented five-year-old Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro) showed he’s still got it with a well-deserved victory in the Listed January Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. While racing well, the Chris Waller-trained Osipenko hadn’t won since taking out the 2023 Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m). One of four winners for James McDonald, who was back riding at a Sydney Saturday meeting for the first time since Everest day in October, Osipenko sat third in the run and was presented rounding the home bend, going on to score by 1-1/4 lengths over Converge (Frankel) with the winner’s stablemate Saltcoats (NZ) (Ardrossan) another three lengths in arrears after being forced to change course in the straight. Osipenko was the third leg of a treble for Waller after earlier wins with Wodeton (Wotton Bassett) and Tajanis (Australia) but the champion trainer wasn’t on track to celebrate, leaving stable representative Charlie Duckworth to articulate McDonald’s genius. “It seems effortless for him at times,’’ Duckworth said of McDonald. “He’s incredibly balanced in the saddle and also he has that balance in his home life which is important. “James can come to work every day with a clear mind and do what he has to do.’’ Duckworth admitted the gelding had lost his way since showing considerable promise as a younger horse. “He was competing at Group One level as a three-year-old and we thought he could win a Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m),” Duckworth said. “But it’s taken a while to get him back to form and we have tried different things with him since having the horse gelded. “We tried a couple of times to ride him up on the speed, get really aggressive with him and try to coax the best out of him but that didn’t work. “Eventually, Chris decided to go back to basics, just leave him alone, took the head gear off and let him be a horse again and he’s enjoying his racing.” Duckworth said there had been encouraging signs in recent starts that Osipenko was regaining his desire for racing including a narrow last start loss in the Summer Cup. “Osipenko has been getting better every time this preparation,” Duckworth said. “He’s been knuckling down and trying hard which we needed him to do because the talent has always been there.” Bred by the late Kevin Hickman, Osipenko is by Pierro and was purchased out of Valachi Downs’ 2021 Book 1 draft at Karaka by Guy Mulcaster on behalf of Chris Waller Racing and the Kaha Syndicate for $160,000. His dam Raskova, a stakes-performed daughter of Henrythenavigator, is from the family of champion sires Shamardal and Street Cry. View the full article

Improving three-year-old Garnacho (NZ) (Ace High) scored a last-stride victory in the Howden Australian Guineas Day, 1 March (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday for trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne. Ridden by Damian Lane, the gelded son of Ace High sat just off a solid early speed and despite still doing a few things wrong, wore down runner-up Zorro’s Flight (Toronado). Garnacho has now won two of his four starts and looks like a three-year-old that will relish getting over further ground. David Browne admitted he was concerned watching early in the run and delighted by the gritty victory. “I thought he did enough early. He pulled hard and didn’t settle quite as quickly as you’d like for the first 400m,” Browne said. “I thought we were probably beaten and he’d run a good race but not settling would take its toll, but he was super tough to win. “He’s a horse with a lot of ability but he wants to do a lot wrong. He has come a huge way over the last three or four months. He has really tidied up in his attitude. “We’ll just keep it low-key for the moment and see how he comes through the run before we make too many plans, but I think he’s the sort of horse that we might be able to stretch him out by a couple of hundred metres this preparation and we will just see where we end up.” Winning rider Damian Lane said he wasn’t sure if he had defeated Zorro’s Flight on the line, but there was more to come from Garnacho as his racing manners improved. “He’s taken a little bit to come to hand and for the penny to drop and he still did a little bit wrong through the early part of the race today, so that’s a sign that there is some improvement still to come,” Lane said. “He is a work in progress, but he’s obviously got some talent. “He just has a tendency to want to overdo it a little bit and he wants to get on one rein. Today early out of the barriers he got bumped by both sides and it just fired him up and got him on the wrong foot from the start, so if he can get back to relaxing like he did at his previous runs out at this sort of distance, he’s going to have a really good turn of foot.” By Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High out of the three-win One Cool Cat mare Aplomb (NZ), Garnacho is a half-brother to three other winners including handy mare Monfelicity (NZ) (Vadamos). Bred by Terry Woodman, who remains in the ownership of Garnacho, Aplomb is back in foal to dual Group One winner Ace High, who is represented by 23 yearlings at the forthcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales. View the full article

Emerging filly Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) has extended her picket-fence form-line when leading throughout to score a decisive victory in the Racing And Sports Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday and flagging her credentials for a lucrative target in New Zealand. Ridden by Tyler Schiller, the daughter of El Roca made it four wins in succession, having stepped from a Mudgee Class 1 winner to a three-time city victor for in-form trainer Bjorn Baker and OTI Racing. “She has done a marvellous job. Four in a row. We liked her, we actually bought her at the Ready To Run Sale in New Zealand a year and a bit ago, so she has taken work and she is just starting to put it together now,” Baker said. “I thought she probably defied the pattern today, she was very good. Her work on Tuesday was outstanding, so off that alone, I had to give her a big chance but I was just a bit worried where we did end up. “Tyler took the race by the scruff of the neck and rode her like the best horse. “She has got a sprint and she definitely showed that at the top of the straight today. She was able to run into the wind and then kick off it. “It is very exciting and the fact she is New Zealand bred, there is actually a slot race over there, the NZB Kiwi (1500m) a new slot race worth $3.5 million. “Even in New Zealand dollars it is pretty good money. It could be interesting. It might be an option. Either way, she is definitely heading towards black-type.” Winning rider Tyler Schiller said the filly had surprised him with her progression from the country and believes she will be suited up to 1800m. “I think she is going to be better up in trip,” he said. “She is still over-racing a bit but I was very happy with the way when she got there, she relaxed, probably from the 800m to the 400m when I needed her to. “I think when she goes further she is going to be better but she has definitely stayed on strong today. “I feel like she keeps getting better every time.” Perfumist breezed up in 10.7 seconds at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale and the daughter of El Roca was purchased for $190,000 by the combination of Bjorn Baker Racing, bloodstock agents Phill Cataldo and Jim Clarke, along with OTI Racing. Out of the Swiss Ace mare Tapputi (NZ), Perfumist’s name stems from her dam, with Tapputi, a female perfumer, the first chemist in history. Westbury Stud will offer a half-brother by Redwood to Perfumist as Lot 876 in the Book 2 session of the forthcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, which commence on January 26. View the full article

Handy four-year-old Wolfy (NZ) (Tivaci) appreciated a change of approach by trainer Nick Ryan as he relished getting back to the Flemington straight six to land the VRC Summer Fun Sprint (1200m) under Ethan Brown. The son of Tivaci is a brother to NZB Kiwi contender Sought After (NZ) (Tivaci) and raced furthest from the outside rail where the majority of his rivals plotted a path. “He has been a frustrating horse,” stable representative Damian Kefford said. “We have always had a high opinion of him. He ran in a Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) at three and he has come back and we have probably placed him at some unsuitable tracks. “Nick decided to freshen him up, blinkers on up the straight where he has had a run here first up and ran really well and it has worked well again today. “The idea was to get him to jump with the blinkers on. He stepped half awkward but he got him into a nice rhythm and Ethan’s idea was just to build into the race and he was able to do that beautifully up the inside. “When he was creeping into it I really thought he was going to be strong late having had those runs at 1400m previously.” Ryan purchased Wolfy for A$280,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where he was offered on behalf of breeder Waikato Stud by Sledmere Stud. He is now a four-time winner from 17 starts, with a further two placings. By Tivaci, who is represented by 13 yearlings at the forthcoming Karaka Yearling Sales, Wolfy is out of the two-win Savabeel mare Popular (NZ), whose three-named foals have all won. View the full article

A long wait for Wolfgang’s (NZ) (Puccini) day in the big-race spotlight came to a spectacular end at Trentham on Saturday when he overpowered his opposition in the Gr.3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m). The time-honoured $400,000 feature was the 13th appearance at Group or Listed level for Wolfgang, who had shown bright promise at that level ever since his two-year-old days. He finished fifth in that season’s Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), second in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m), third in the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m), sixth in the Gr.3 Waikato Stud Matamata Slipper (1200m) and 10th in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). After a seventh in the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) in the early stages of his three-year-old season in September 2021, Wolfgang’s connections opted to play the long game. The Puccini gelding spent more than three years away from black-type company before returning there on both sides of the Tasman during his coming-of-age campaign as a six-year-old this season. Wolfgang kicked off the spring with back-to-back wins in open handicaps at Hastings and Matamata in September and October. He then ventured across the Tasman and showed he belonged on the big stage with a gallant sixth in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield and a fourth in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m). He returned home and continued to perform at a high level, running second in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m). Wolfgang produced sub-par performances when unplaced in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) and this month’s Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie, but he carried on towards Trentham for Saturday’s career-defining win. Patiently ridden by Joe Doyle, Wolfgang settled fourth-last as fellow Matamata raider Arby (NZ) (Proisir) led the field around a circuit of the Trentham track at barely more than a canter. Arby began to up the ante turning out of the back straight, with Wolfgang still languishing more than a dozen lengths behind him and facing an increasingly daunting task. But Doyle brought Wolfgang to the outside at the home turn and turned him loose down the roomy Trentham straight. Wolfgang quickly came with giant strides out wide on the track, powering to the lead with 200m remaining and pulling away to win by a length and a half. Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino) and Nest Egg (NZ) (Reliable Man) collected the minor placings just ahead of the fourth-placed Trav (NZ) (Almanzor), who himself produced an eye-catching finish from last. Wolfgang was bred by Mapperley Stud, who offered him in Book 1 of Karaka 2020 and failed to meet his $50,000 reserve. Mapperley principal Simms Davison retained him to race alongside Kim and Peter McKay, who won the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) with Wolfgang’s sire Puccini. From 42 starts, Wolfgang has now had seven wins and 10 placings, earning $550,917 in stakes. Peter McKay trains Wolfgang in partnership with his son, former jockey Shaun. “This is unreal, I had a little tear there,” Shaun McKay said. “I was never able to ride a 3200m winner in my career, but it’s special to be lucky enough to train one today with Dad. “Mum and Dad had the stallion too and had some great success with him, so that just makes it even better. “He just showed today that he’s a really tough horse. We tried to get a Group win with him as a two-year-old and kept going close with placings. We had to be patient, and now he just keeps getting better and better as a six-year-old. I think he’ll be even better in six months’ time. “Hopefully we can get him back to Aussie next season and pick up a good win there. You never know how a horse is going to go over the 3200m until you try, but the way he really flew home over that distance today gives us a bit of confidence. It would be amazing to get him to the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m).” Wolfgang became the second Wellington Cup winner for Doyle, who won the race with Leaderboard (Street Cry) in 2023. “It’s fantastic,” Doyle said. “I’m lucky enough to have won the race twice now, and Mum and Dad are here today all the way from Ireland. So it’s a brilliant thrill to win a race like this in front of them. “The McKays are absolute masterminds. His run at Ellerslie last time, you’d think it was average, but they really believed he was in great form coming into today. When I pushed the button in the straight, he just ran past them. “It’s fantastic for the McKays. They’re only a small stable but they do fantastic work and deserve results like this.” View the full article

Rugged stayer Titicaca (NZ) (Tarzino) made light of a hefty 59.5kg on his back to capture a deserved victory in the second running of the Race With Te Akau Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham. The statuesque son of Westbury Stud resident stallion Tarzino only cleared maidens when successful over 2200m at Waverley back in September, with trainer Adrian Bull prepared to play a patient game with him as he began to mature into his sizeable frame. Taken to Riccarton during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in November, Titicaca won two of his three starts before Bull gave him time in the paddock, returning to run sixth over 1600m at Otaki earlier this month as the lead-up to Saturday’s $350,000 contest. Rider Kelly Myers had been aboard the five-year-old for his Riccarton successes and she reunited with him on Saturday to produce an absolute cracking performance in victory. Allowed to settle near the rear after jumping from an outside barrier, Titicaca relaxed nicely before starting a wide run nearing the 700m. Myers got busy as the speed went on rounding the home bend, however her charge was still six lengths from the lead as Sinhaman (NZ) (Tivaci) made his bid for victory by streaking clear at the 200m. Titicaca began to wind up strongly and under the urgings of Myers he produced several huge bounds to thrust his head in front of a brave Sinhaman with Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor) also closing off well to take third. Myers sported a smile a mile wide as she returned to the Trentham birdcage and was ecstatic with the result, particularly after she had lost the use of her whip for most of the home straight. “I didn’t get to use my stick, so I had to give him some extra voice encouragement,” Myers said. “The horse has come a really long way from winning a maiden 2200m maiden at Waverley not too long ago to now winning this race today. “Adrian is an amazing horseman and when you put these colours on you know you are in with a big chance. “I was roaring at him and I heard Matt (Cartwright – jockey of Sinhaman) curse when we hit the line so I thought hopefully he was right and we’d won. “He is such a big horse and is just going to get better and better so it is very exciting.” Bred by Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, Titicaca is owned by a group that includes Bull and his son Harry. He is out of the Encosta De Lago mare Lacustrine, who is a daughter of multiple stakes winner (It’s) Platonic (Trustful) while his extended family also includes Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner Niwot (Galileo). View the full article

Progressive stayer Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines) rewarded his many followers when he added to an outstanding record on his home track by capturing the WAE Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) at Wingatui. The six-year-old gelding scored his fourth win from 10 starts at the venue after enjoying an economical passage against the rail throughout as the field chased after tearaway pacemaker Humbucker (NZ) (Iffraaj), who was out by 10 lengths in the mid-stages of the contest. Rider Corey Campbell managed to extract the Brian and Shane Anderton-prepared son of Ghibellines from a tight spot as Humbucker faded badly at the 600m, but was still in a pocket between Mahoe (NZ) (Alamosa) and Sacred Dream (NZ) (Sacred Falls) as the trio surged away from the pack early in the run home. Campbell was patient as he waited for the gap to come, and when it presented itself, he quickly pushed Mayor Of Norwood through and to the front, where he drew clear to win comfortably by a length from a brave Mahoe who held out Sacred Dream to claim the runner-up prize. Shane Anderton was pleased to see his charge back to winning form as the stable look to aim him at another home track feature later in the summer. “It turned into a genuine staying test as they went really hard up in front,” Anderton said. “He got off the back of them at the right time and hit the line well. “There was a lot going for him today as he likes the bigger tracks and genuine staying races, so he was very good. “It would be nice if we could stretch him out to the Dunedin Gold Cup distance of 2400m as we are looking at a race like that before he gets too much weight on his back.” The Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) is set to be staged at Wingatui on 1 March. Raced by the estate of his breeder, the late Patrick Smith, Mayor Of Norwood is out of the useful race mare Gallant Babe (NZ) (Gallant Guru) and is the younger brother of the stakes placed Capo Dell Impero (NZ) (Ghibellines), who took out the 2024 edition of the Waikouaiti Cup. He has now won five of his 26 starts and over $159,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Master trainer bids to add to his imposing record in Sunday’s Group Ones with Helios Express, Howdeepisyourlove, Beauty Eternal and Red Lion.View the full article