Wandering Eyes

The Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association announced the engagement of Corey Johnsen and Damon Thayer for a consultancy focused on securing a vibrant future for horse racing and breeding in Iowa.View the full article

On the day that Kevin Prendergast was remembered at the Curragh in the naming of the International Stakes, and a day after Peter Easterby was laid to rest, another great of the training ranks was lost with the passing of Barry Hills. Then came the news from America that D Wayne Lukas had too departed. To read the tributes paid to these men, who did so much to enrich the colour of this storied sport, is something of a treat in itself – their parting gift, if you like – as they conjure the tales and ethos of a far different time. As we remember them, it is easy to feel an extra sorrowful pang of 'things ain't what they used to be'. They sure ain't, but that's not a reason to overlook the positives in what we still have. Now more than ever never, it is time to get behind racing and do our bit to impress upon those in power just how key the racing and breeding industry it is to the economies of our various nations, in rural areas in particular. But more than that, it is important to enjoy it. So instead of collectively moaning about all the bits we don't like, why not take a non-racing friend to the races for the day or out on the gallops of a morning. Seeing the majesty of racehorses through the eyes of others may just remind us, whether writing about the sport or reading about it each day, how we got here in the first place. And you never know, it could even attract the odd convert. Not to wish July away, but this year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a little under four weeks away and at this stage looks an unmissable contest. The prospect of seeing dual Derby winner Lambourn take on his elders at Ascot is everything this great race should be, with Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Calandagan (Gleneagles) also in the mix with Kalpana (Study Of Man), Jan Brueghel (Galileo) and Rebel's Romance (Dubawi) among others. Wootton's World With a brace of French Classic winners, it is no surprise to see Wootton Bassett at the head of the sires' table for Europe. The exploits of this last weekend will also help his march on the championship in Britain and Ireland and, even at this halfway stage, there has to be a realistic chance of him securing a first title. The vagaries of the stallion world are such that there was never any guarantee that Wootton Bassett's success would continue following his high-profile move from Haras d'Etreham to Coolmore, even when taking into account the calibre of mares that he has been covering since relocating five years ago. But now we can see that his transfer fee, however high it may have been, was money well spent. Chiefly mixed with that stamina-laced Galileo blood, his offspring are showing more of a tendency towards middle-distance contests than had previously been the case. Four of the ten runners for the Irish Derby were his sons, three out of daughters of Galileo and one from a mare by Galileo's sire Sadler's Wells. Any breeding operation which stands stallions as well as having a significant broodmare band will have in mind the need to recruit sires who complement the mares' bloodlines. Danehill, bought by Coolmore from his breeder Juddmonte, did that so well, blending with notable success with Sadler's Wells and later his son Galileo. His profile is not dissimilar to Wootton Bassett in that both were decent two-year-olds who showed plenty of zip, and neither won beyond seven furlongs. Wootton Bassett's finest moment came when taking the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on his fifth start at two, while Danehill's was in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup at three. Wootton Bassett gives an alternative route to the Mr. Prospector line which is flourishing over this side of the Atlantic thanks largely to Dubawi, and it is notable that it is Dubawi's son Night Of Thunder currently at the head of the British and Irish sires' championship, with Field Of Gold's sire Kingman splitting him and Wootton Bassett. None of the current top three won beyond a mile but both Night Of Thunder (himself out of a Galileo mare) and Wootton Bassett are proving to be versatile in the distances over which their offspring shine. Wootton Bassett's daughter Whirl, for example, won Saturday's G1 Pretty Polly Stakes over 10 furlongs but was only narrowly denied in the Oaks, while Serious Contender, bred on the same cross with Galileo, was less than a length away from winning the Irish Derby. Fiona Carmichael's homebred Carmers claimed the G2 Queen's Vase on just his third start and, from the family of City Of Troy, he is an interesting prospect for Wootton Bassett in the St Leger reckoning. Hanly on High It is proving to be quite the summer for James Hanly of Ballyhimikin Stud, who hit the heights at Royal Ascot as the breeder of the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Ombudsman and is the co-breeder, with Trevor Stewart and Anthony Stroud, of Cheveley Park Stud's G3 Pinnacle Stakes winner Estrange. Those two, both by the aforementioned Night Of Thunder, look set to return this Saturday in the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes and G2 Lancashire Oaks respectively. Last Saturday, Hanly was at the Curragh to enjoy a winner in his own colours when Charasson (Kodiac), representing three generations of Hanly family breeding, lifted the six-furlong maiden for John James Feane. Meanwhile, over at Lingfield, the seven-year-old Ballyhimikin graduate River Alwen (Dark Angel), trained by Craig Benton, won for the fifth time. Night Of Thunder's ability to get a good fast one, already exemplified by the brilliant but ill-fated Highfield Princess, was evident again at the Curragh on Sunday when Al Shira'aa Racing's Vespertilio got up just at the right moment under a canny Dylan Brown McMonagle ride to claim the Listed Dash Stakes on her drop back to six furlongs. That performance has trainer Willie McCreery dreaming of returning Vespertilio to her home nation of France for a crack at the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest on August 10. A decent performance there would provide a timely update for her Zarak half-sister, who features in the recently released catalogue for the Arqana August Yearling Sale in the draft from breeder Ecurie des Monceaux. From Ireland to Chile via Argentina Owner-breeder Arturo Cousino was present at the Curragh on Saturday to watch his homebred Jancis (Tamayuz) finish fifth in a barnstormer of a Pretty Polly Stakes behind Whirl and Kalpana. That was however just the start of a memorable day for the owner of Haras Macul in Chile as Cousino was represented in three Group/Grade 1 races in three different countries on Saturday, with his Acento Final taking third in the Gran Premio Estrellas Classic at Palermo in Argentina, while he also bred and co-owns Have A Good One, who ran in the Premio Tanteo de Potrancas in Chile. Cousino bred Jancis at Ballylinch Stud from the Ruler Of The World mare Blame The Ruler, and he clearly has a strong attachment to a line which the Willie McCreery-trained filly has helped to bring back to life, as he told Brian Sheerin last year when Jancis won the G3 Brownstown Stakes at Leopardstown. Cousino is also rightly proud of Acento Final, winner of won last year's G1 Gran Premio Jockey Club at San Isidro, whom he purchased as a youngster and is one of 11 Grade 1 winners for Treasure Beach, who was runner-up in the Derby before going on to win the Irish Derby 14 years ago. The son of Galileo started his stud career in Florida before Cousino put together a syndicate to stand him at Haras Abolengo in Argentina. Cousino explained how he has always been drawn to European racing. He said, “Racing here in Ireland and England is much more similar to racing in Chile or Argentina, than to American racing. There is more racing on the turf and over longer distances, and that is what I like.” Cousino will hopefully have more happy days on the track with Jancis, for whom her trainer is considering a return to Gowran Park, where she ran a good second on her seasonal debut back in May. She has already done plenty to justify her continuing the international outlook of the breeder's operation when the time comes for her to head to the paddocks. Skukuza Rewards Rupert's International Operation The only non-Irish-based trainer to lift one of the prizes on offer at the Irish Derby meeting was Ed Dunlop, whose Skukuza landed his first stakes victory in the Listed Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes, named to honour the late CEO of Dubai Duty Free, who had a long association with the Curragh as a valued sponsor. The decision to keep the four-year-old son of Blue Point back from his intended mission in the Royal Hunt Cup has worked out well for Dunlop and for Skukuza's owner-breeder Gaynor Rupert, whose Cayton Park Stud is the former Juddmonte-owned farm in Wargrave. Prior to being in Prince Khalid Abdullah's ownership, Cayton Park Stud was the starting point for owner-breeder Gerald Leigh, who later moved to Eydon Hall Farm Stud. Hermione Fitzgerald was at the Curragh over the weekend to represent Rupert, who also owns Drakenstein Stud in her native South Africa, and who bought Wemightakedlongway (Australia) after her victory in the G3 Salsabil Stakes in April. The filly has subsequently finished fourth in both the Oaks and the Pretty Polly Stakes. “It was definitely worth Skukuza missing Ascot last week to come back here. It's a shame Gaynor isn't here to enjoy this, as she also had Wemightakedlongway running [on Saturday] but I have just spoken to her and she's delighted,” said Fitzgerald. As well as Dunlop, Rupert currently has horses in training with Ed Walker, Ralph Beckett, Andrew Balding, Joseph O'Brien, James Ferguson, John and Thady Gosden, and William Haggas, and she also recently purchased the Marco Botti-trained Great Generation (Holy Roman Emperor), who won the G3 Chartwell Fillies' Stakes in her colours. Fitzgerald added, “South Africa is obviously her main focus, and she's hoping to be champion breeder there this year – it's very close at the moment with Mary Slack – but she has some lovely runners coming through here and is developing a select broodmare band at Cayton Park with a few South African mares coming over.” One of those mares is the homebred Shingwedzi (Trippi), the dam of Skukuza, who was a treble winner and Group-placed in South Africa. She is herself out of the Daniel Wildenstein-bred Buffalo Dance (Sadler's Wells), a half-sister to the G1 Prix de Diane winner Bright Sky (Wolfhound), and Shingwedzi's good page looks as though it could be in for a few more updates from her upwardly mobile son. Dept Q The Quinault Appreciation Society, which surely has a growing membership season by season, was very happy with the latest win for the five-year-old at York on Saturday in the relocated G3 Criterion Stakes. Recruited from Godolphin by owner Tom Morley for 25,000gns as a juvenile, Quinault continues to showcase the talents of his excellent trainer Stuart Williams, who, after patiently coaxing the headstrong son of Oasis Dream to settle, has reaped the rewards of his remedial work with the sprinter who has now won 11 of his 25 starts and amassed more than £400,000 in earnings. This, however, was his first Group win, to add to three at Listed level, and it earns Quinault a free pass for the newly upgraded G1 City Of York Stakes back on the Knavesmire in August. Kyprios's Farewell to Fans Along with the top-class racing on offer, Irish Champions Weekend will be enhanced by a farewell appearance from Kyprios (Galileo), who will parade at the Curragh, scene of his two G1 Irish St Leger victories in 2022 and 2024. The brilliant stayer was retired at the end of May after aggravating an old injury in his final start in the G3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes. He went out on a high, claiming his 17th win from 21 starts, and will stand at one of Coolmore's stallion stations for next year. His co-owner-breeder Moyglare Stud has another decent runner to look forward to this season in Suzie Songs (Starspangledbanner), who prevented a Coolmore/Wootton Bassett hat-trick of group-race wins on Saturday when overhauling odds-on favourite Flushing Meadows to land the G3 Anglesey Stakes for Ger Lyons on her second start. The post Seven Days: Lamenting the Four Horsemen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Officials at the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (Iowa HBPA) have announced that they have retained the services of industry veterans Damon Thayer and Corey Johnsen for a consultancy focused on 'securing a vibrant future for horse racing and breeding' in the state of Iowa. Both Thayer and Johnsen will assist the Iowa HBPA in crafting a plan to sustain and grow the state's equine industry. The two are expected to engage in strategic meeting with key stakeholders such as Prairie Meadows, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission and the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (ITOBA) to promote policies that support racing and breeding towards the goal of economic vitality in the industry. Thayer worked for several racetracks in a communications/publicity capacity and served in an executive management position with Breeders' Cup before his work in the Kentucky State Senate, including an 11-year stint as Majority Floor Leader. Johnsen, currently the president of CJ Thoroughbreds, has four decades of experience in the industry, and helped develop Kentucky Downs into one of America's boutique turf tracks while president and part-owner from 2007-2019. During his tenure, the track pioneered the use of historical horse racing (HHR) machines to help fund purses and grow the local economy. “This is a pivotal moment for Iowa racing,” said Iowa HBPA Executive Director Jon Moss. “Damon and Corey bring the expertise, relationships and track record necessary to help us craft and implement a plan that strengthens our industry, protects Iowa-bred interests, and positions us as a leader in the Midwest.” The post Iowa HBPA Engages Industry Vets To Help Guide Horse Racing Into the Future appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The three lawsuits that have been simmering in the federal court system for several years and were all vying for the attention of the United States Supreme Court to decide the constitutionality of the Horseracing and Safety Integrity Act (HISA) are all headed back to their originating appeals courts. The Supreme Court on Monday morning issued nearly identical “summary dispositions” for all of the active cases involving the constitutionality of HISA. Each of the separate petitions for a “writ of certiorari” were answered by orders that technically granted consideration by the nation's highest court to take on their cases. But instead of deciding those matters by full briefing and oral argument in front of the Supreme Court at a later date, the Supreme Court instead opted to deal with those cases right away by vacating each lower court's decision and sending each one back to its originating federal appeals court for reconsideration in light of a relevant decision the Supreme Court just issued on Friday. The new precedent that the Supreme Court now wants the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Circuits of the U.S. Court of Appeals to reconsider involves a case titled Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vs. Consumers' Research. In that case, the justices, by a 6-3 vote June 27, rejected arguments that the funding mechanism for a service that provides subsidized telecommunications services for low-income customers, rural hospitals, schools, and libraries violated the non-delegation doctrine. The Supreme Court also shot down allegations that the FCC delegated too much authority to a private company to administer the program. The non-delegation doctrine, which bans Congress from delegating legislative power to federal agencies without an “intelligible principle” to guide the exercise of agency discretion, is central to each of the HISA-related cases. The Supreme Court has essentially decided that last Friday's just-issued precedent related to non-delegation now gives each of the appeals courts enough guidance to decide the cases at that level. According to the American Bar Association Journal, the last time the Supreme Court cited the non-delegation doctrine to invalidate a federal law was in 1935. The Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Circuit appeals courts have all agreed that HISA's rulemaking structure is constitutional. Only the Fifth Circuit has disagreed, in part, by opining that HISA's enforcement provisions are unconstitutional. The petition to the Supreme Court out of the Fifth Circuit, which was initiated by the defendant, the HISA Authority, involved a lawsuit spearheaded by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. A Fifth Circuit appeals court panel opined July 5, 2024, that even though HISA's rulemaking structure is constitutional, HISA's enforcement provisions are unconstitutional. The petition originating out of the Sixth Circuit stemmed from a lawsuit led by the states of Oklahoma, West Virginia and Louisiana. A Sixth Circuit appeals court panel opined on Mar. 3, 2023, that Congressional changes to the law in 2022 made all of HISA completely constitutional. The plaintiffs in that Sixth Circuit case had already once asked the Supreme Court to hear the case, but were initially denied on June 24, 2024. In the Eighth Circuit case, the plaintiffs, led by Bill Walmsley, the president of the Arkansas HBPA, and Jon Moss, the executive director of the Iowa HBPA, had asked the Supreme Court to review an opinion that had affirmed a ruling out of a lower federal court in Arkansas denying a preliminary injunction the horsemen had sought to halt HISA and its Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program. All of those appeals court judgments are now vacated. This story will be updated. The post Supreme Court, Citing Precedent It Just Issued Friday, Remands Three HISA-Related Cases Back To Appeals Courts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Organizations and individuals within the Thoroughbred racing community reflect on contributions and legacy of legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who died at age 89.View the full article

Sam Agars FORTUNATE SON - R3 (1) Clearly has some ability and should be too strong in Class Four company Jay Rooney FORTUNATE SON - R3 (1) Drops in grade and has trialled very well for his new trainer Trackwork Spy LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R5 (4) Should continue his hot form with another win Phillip Woo BEAUTY GLORY - R6 (1) Racing relatively well and should be the one to beat at this level Shannon (Vincent Wong) MIGHTY STEED - R3 (4) Ran a nice fourth over this C&D last start and looks hard...View the full article

Iowa-bred Somavia was impressive in her second career start, winning a maiden special weight contest at Prairie Meadows June 29. Her victory provided the first career winner for her sire, Basin.View the full article

Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown is shaping up to be the race of the season so far after a plethora of Group 1 winners were confirmed on Monday, headed by the John and Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman. The son of Night Of Thunder came of age at Royal Ascot when winning the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes and only has one defeat on his record from six career starts. That came over this course and distance in May when Almaqam (Lope De Vega) produced a dominant performance from the front to win the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes, ultimately landing the spoils by a length and three-quarters from the penalised Ombudsman. Ed Walker's charge could be in opposition again on Saturday, while last year's G1 Champion Stakes winner Anmaat (Awtaad) is another familiar foe in contention for a rematch with Ombudsman, although his connections are keeping a close eye on the forecast before committing to a quick reappearance after his runner-up finish in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. “He needs rain to run,” said trainer Owen Burrows. “We're having a look and there are a few showers about Wednesday and Thursday, but he would need a drop of rain. We're on weather-watch a bit, so he's by no means a definite runner. “The showers are so hit and miss. It feels like you could get a real good thunderstorm as it is so hot and muggy, but you might only get 2-4mm and Andrew Cooper [clerk of the course] would be putting all that and more on with watering, so that's not going to make much difference. “He's come out of Ascot well, but this is just two and a half weeks later, so I wouldn't want to be running him on fast ground again.” Andre Fabre has had this race as a target for some time with Sosie (Sea The Stars), who is set to bid for a third consecutive win at the top level, having already won the Prix Ganay and Prix d'Ispahan in two previous starts this season. Charlie Appleby's 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court (Justify) could aim to bounce back from his defeat in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes, while Aidan O'Brien is responsible for three of the other five three-year-olds in contention, namely Camille Pissarro (Wootton Bassett), the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club, beaten Derby favourite Delacroix (Dubawi) and Expanded (Wootton Bassett). Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot), who won last year's G1 Futurity Trophy, and Ralph Beckett's Derby fifth Stanhope Gardens (Ghaiyyath) could also represent the Classic generation, while White Birch (Ulysses) makes up the 11-strong list of contenders after his fourth-place finish when trying to defend his G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup crown. The sponsors have installed Ombudsman as their 13/8 favourite, ahead of Sosie at 9/2. The post Ombudsman and Sosie Headline Star-Studded List of Eclipse Contenders 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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The Tony Cruz Award is heading down to the wire and Matthew Poon Ming-fai is hoping Tourbillon Prince can help him extend his lead in the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Tuesday. The 31-year-old has seen his lead in the local riders’ premiership reduced to just two winners by a surging Matthew Chadwick, who has ridden three winners without reply from Poon. The tide could quickly shift the other direction, however, with Poon looking to Tourbillon Prince to give him a...View the full article

From Monday, 4 August 2025, the deadline to notify drivers will be 24 hours from withdrawals. For example: For Addington on Friday, nominations will close at 12:00pm Monday and withdrawals at 2:00pm Monday. The driver notification deadline in this case will be 2:00pm Tuesday. This change is part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining professionalism and ensuring wagering information remains accurate and consistent. If you have any queries regarding this update, please contact bureau@hrnz.co.nz. View the full article

by Adam Hamilton The Kiwi rampage in Queensland rolled into a third week when young guns Captains Mistress and Rubira starred again at Redcliffe last night. Captain Mistress set the tone when she made two wins from as many starts in Queensland with a narrow but fantastic win in the $52,000 Group 3 Redcliffe Oaks. With trainer Grant Dixon having five of the 10 runners in the Oaks, Captains Mistress; Kiwi trainer-driver Nathan Williamson made a surprise trip across the ditch to drive her. It was never going to be easy from an outside back row draw and that’s why the daughter of Captaintreacherous drifted from $3 to $5. But Captains Mistress was up to the challenge and sustained a long and powerhouse run from last to first in the final lap before holding off the Dixon-trained Ruby Rules, who followed the winner everywhere, to win by a half-neck in a slick 1min55.4sec mile rate for 2280mn. ‘Very few can cover the ground and do the work Captains Mistress did and still win at Redcliffe. Leader and heavily backed favourite Soho American led and copped some early pressure, but overraced and weakened late for sixth. NSW Oaks winner and another Dixon-trained filly Cool And Classy earned plenty of respect for doing the work outside the leader and fighting on bravely for third, to give Dixon the trifecta. Then it was Rubira’s turn to build on his successful Queensland trip with an all-the-way win in the $52,000 Group 3 Redcliffe Derby. Like Captains Mistress, Rubira is two-from-two in Queensland for trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon. Adam Sanderson took the reins again and made the most of a dream pole draw to lead, albeit with main danger Fate Awaits stalking on his back. It was a steady pace through the middle with a 59.9sec half, then Rubira zipped home in 55.6 and 27.8sec to comfortably hold-off Fate Awaits and win by 2.1m in a 1min56sec mile rate, fractionally slower than Captains Mistress went in the Oaks. The impressive part was how easily Rubira held-off Fate Awaits, who is considered his main danger for the Group 1 Queensland Derby on July 19. Before then, Rubira and Fate Awaits will back-up next week against four-year-olds in the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park. That race has got more “winnable” with long-time favourite Bay Of Biscay almost certain to miss it. Bay Of Biscay, winner of the Chariots Of Fire, resumed from a break with a slick Melton win last night, but the flight he was booked on from Melbourne to Brisbane on Tuesday has been cancelled. “He won’t be going by road, so unless there’s a miracle and a flight becomes available, he won’t be there,” co-trainer Emma Stewart said. Another star to miss Queensland will be former Great Southern Star winner Callmethebreeze. Andy Gath’s entire had a bleed at his first run back from a long break at Melton last night and was stood down for 28 days. Gath’s former Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave was also just fair first-up at Melton last night, but he is pushing ahead with Inter Dominion pacing plans. Back to Redcliffe and Grant Dixon won the Group 2 Redcliffe Cup for a sixth time when Free Thinker made the most of barrier one from the standing start to come from three pegs and beat former Kiwi pacer Mossdale Terry narrowly. View the full article

by Rob Courtney When your horse wins at Addington on a Sunday & pays $48 to win its probably fair to say that your confidence levels were most likely ‘luke warm’ to say the least but for part owner Stewie Sutherland it must have been something of a ‘time warp’ as the Superfast Stuart-Foot Loose mare put on a faultless display in recording her 2nd win from just her 9th raceday start. “She had gone a couple of nice trials recently but run ‘no time’ “ according to her trainer “and the half hopples had been removed but it didn’t seem to affect her,” he added. Showing his age, this writer quickly made the connection between ‘Loose’ and the Sutherland family and sure enough the winner traces directly back to an open class trotter of the 1970s in Screws Loose (8 wins) when trained by Stu’s uncle Ian (also known as Stewie). Millie’s dam Foot Loose was by Grant Our Wishes from Loosely and the latter was a daughter of Screws Loose (by Keystone Provider). Foot Loose had been passed on to Stewie by yet another family member and he bred a full sister to his latest winner in Girls Let Loose who won 6 races + $53k a few years back. As the name suggests, Screws Loose had a mind of her own and could be quite erratic but at times showed real brilliance in racing in a fine era of NZ trotters. Names like No Response, Scotch Tar, Easton Light & Nigel Craig were common denominators when researching the HRNZ results pages. Screws Loose was by the colonial sire Aksarben (Light Brigade – Blue Revue) who won 8 races in the late 50s and was a half brother to the precocious Blue, who was the ‘pin-up’ 2yo of his year in 1958 winning all of his 6 starts when trained by Alan Holmes. The Sutherland family were regular visitors to Addington and other metropolitan tracks of the day as they also raced another fine son of Aksarben at this time in Waipounamu. The tough son of Talaus started 202 times recording 17 wins and 49 placings, winning some $74k and being highly competitive in all the trotting classics through the 70s. He raced from age 4 through until he was 11 and along with Screws Loose, kept the Sutherland family in the open class trotting ranks for near on a decade. The younger Stewie Sutherland remembers getting the opportunity to travel with Waipounamu to Auckland and on that trip he ran second in a Rowe Cup. Arita (Johnny Globe – Girl Brigade) was yet another open class trotter in the Sutherland stable during the late 60s/early 70s, winning 9 races and often giving the stable 3 ‘live’ chances in the ‘open’ trot. Interestingly, Talaus was a daughter of Una Morn who was a fine producer in the late 60s & 70s, leaving Dreamy Morn (9 NZ wins), Avon Song (9 NZ wins) and the unraced Miss Morven (by Lumber Dream) who would leave another standout trotter in Directorship (12 wins) for Charlie Hunter. It’s early days for the Sutherland trained 4yo mare just yet but Millie could still carry those colours to greater glories in the season(s) ahead. “It looks like she is going to get her chance at Friday nights which could be quite a challenge but you can’t leave them in a paddock for ever,” her modest trainer explained. “Johnny (driver John Morrison) said she thought it was over once getting to the front on Sunday but rallied strongly when challenged late.” Sutherland currently helps out at fellow Rakaia trainer Kevin McRae’s and between them, they are working 7 horses. View the full article

As Executive of the NZ Sires’ Stakes Board, Martin Pierson has a reminder for breeders, owners, and trainers considering their next move. “Now’s the time to confirm your commitment,” says Pierson. “Foal nominations, yearling sustaining, and three-year-old sustaining payments all close on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025.” This deadline arrives as the Sires’ Stakes Series continues to gain momentum, following increased funding through Harness Racing New Zealand’s The Future Starts Now strategy. “For the cost of a few bags of feed, you can ensure your horse remains eligible for some of the sport’s most exciting age-group racing,” says Pierson. “It’s a small step today that could lead to a big moment down the track.” View the full article

By Mike Love Moonlite Blood and driver Robbie Close delivered a poignant victory in the Remembering Murray Brown Leading Southland Trainer Mobile Pace at Addington yesterday, providing Loburn trainer Andrew Stuart with one of his most meaningful racing moments. Stuart had a special connection to Brown through his early harness racing education, making the victory all the more significant when Close guided Moonlite Blood to success wearing Brown’s colours. “If it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t be in the game,” said Stuart. The race unfolded perfectly for the five year old Art Major gelding, who settled three back in the running line for the majority of the event. Close made his move at the crucial moment, peeling three and four wide at the 400-metre mark before sustaining a winning challenge to score by one and a quarter lengths from runner-up Santanna Mach. “It’s one of my biggest thrills in racing,” said Stuart. “He trialled well last week and I saw there was a good race for him today, so I called Marilyn to ask if it’d be okay to wear his colours. Unfortunately he passed away before he could see it, but he was obviously helping today.” It was also the Andrew Stuart Racing Stables Day meeting, and Moonlite Blood was the only representative from the stable to race. “I’ve got great staff and we all play a part,” he said. “We thought it was a perfect race for him, and things fell into place today which is wonderful because it’s a very sad time for a lot of people in the industry because Brownie was close to a lot of people.” Moonlite Blood has now won two from fourteen, while Stuart has trained three hundred and twelve winners. “We will look to race him through the winter. He is a nice horse. He’s been a slow maturing type of horse, like a lot from that family. He’s definitely got speed and ability.” Other highlights on the programme included Father Mike winning race one the NZB/Loburn Sawmill – For All Your Timber Needs trot, giving Tinwald trainer and driver Lawrence McCormick his second victory for the weekend after Vertigo won at good odds on Friday night at Addington. McCormick worked for Stuart when starting out as a junior driver, driving his first winner for Stuart behind Bramley Town in 2008 at Marlborough. View the full article

Sam Bergerson, New Zealand’s leading trainer, was recognised by his peers when receiving the top gong at the Entain Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday night. Bergerson is part of the Te Akau Racing juggernaut, training in partnership with Mark Walker for the last two seasons, securing the trainers’ premiership last season and currently leads this year’s premiership with 127 wins and more than $9.1 million in stakes earnings. The 31-year-old’s achievements were recognised on Sunday night, receiving the Equine Licence Holder Excellence Award before being bestowed the overall Supreme Entain Excellence Award. “It was pretty exciting,” Bergerson said. “It was a really cool night and I had family up there and plenty of friends, so it was really cool. “To get the recognition among your peers against some really good horse people was very humbling. “It is an exciting time to be a part of the industry with what Entain is doing. To get recognition through their awards is amazing. I can’t thank them enough for the award.” Bergerson said it has been a whirlwind last couple of years, and he is grateful for the position he is in, leading the New Zealand arm of Te Akau Racing, with Walker spending the majority of his time overseeing their Cranbourne base. “It has been a massive couple of years,” Bergerson said. “I am very fortunate and privileged to be in the position I am in with Te Akau, with the backing of Mark (Walker), Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) and David (Ellis). It is just a fantastic opportunity. “I just love it. It is a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am very grateful to them for the opportunity to work with these wonderful horses and fantastic group of staff and owners. “It has been an awesome journey so far and I am looking forward to the future.” Bergerson said he owes a lot of his success to his training partner and staff. “I am so grateful to Mark. He has been a fantastic mentor to me and we have got a really good relationship,” he said. “I look at him like a mate, not like a boss. He has really taken me under his wing and we have had some great success together and gone through the hardships as well. “Te Akau is a great enterprise to be a part of. I have come through the system there under Jamie (Richards) and then Mark, and I have been fortunate to get some amazing opportunities and work alongside some great people. “I couldn’t do it without the staff here, they are a really good group of people. They are the ones at the coalface and don’t get the recognition and exposure I have been able to get through being the head trainer. But you can’t do it without the people at the forefront there every day. “I won a bit of money last night, so we will probably have to have a shout and a bit of a celebration, which will be cool.” Bergerson received $10,000 as a category winner and an additional $5,000 as the Entain Excellence Award winner, as well as a $5,000 education package. “I am very grateful for the monetary prize, as well as the education grant,” Bergerson said. “I would love to travel and see a few different stables. I am always looking to continue to learn, I don’t think you ever stop learning.” As a past recipient of the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship, Bergerson is aware of the opportunities educational grants provide, and he is looking forward to putting his Entain grant to good use. “The great thing about the thoroughbred industry is that it can take you all around the world with whatever avenue you pursue,” he said. “The Sunline Scholarship was more on the breeding side, but it came at a fantastic time for me as I was at a bit of a crossroads in not knowing what to do and it gave me a grounding and a good understanding of the breeding industry, which I think helps with the racing side and what goes into these younger horses. “That allowed me to meet a lot of people along the way and learn from people not only in New Zealand but overseas as well. “I pinch myself with how the last five or six years have gone, it is pretty surreal.” View the full article

Alice Jeffries didn’t always see a future for herself in the breeding industry, but a very special filly played a key role in getting her to where she is today, working as Cambridge Stud’s Assistant Yearling Manager, and receiving Entain’s Newcomer Excellence Award on Sunday. Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Tauranga, Jeffries’ father Warwick Jeffries delved into breeding on a small scale and was rewarded in a big way, breeding glamour mare Legarto out of his mare Geordie Girl. Before she was a three-time Group One winner and $2 million earner, much of Legarto’s handling and early education was conducted by Jeffries, who took her through the sales ring at Karaka in 2021 where she was knocked down to Ancroft Stud for $90,000. “Legarto was one of the first horses I took through from a baby to the sales, I did all of the handling with her and took her through the ring,” Jeffries said. “She was one of the first horses to really grab my attention in getting into the industry.” Through that period, Jeffries was attending Lincoln University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and Agriculture. Having had experience working in studs and at the yearling sales, she decided to apply for the Keith and Faith Taylor Family Trust Equine Scholarship, which led her to a six-month stint in Ireland. “Dad has a few broodmares as a bit of a hobby so I had breeding in my background, but I didn’t think I would be working full-time in the industry until after uni,” she said. “I did a Bachelor of Commerce and Agriculture at Lincoln, but following that, I didn’t see myself in any of the roles that it directly leads to, so I applied for the Keith and Faith Taylor Family Trust Equine Scholarship to go to the Irish National Stud. “The scholarship gave me a really good foundation, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to go overseas and learn more about the breeding industry over there, while having a great time doing so.” Just shy of a year ago, Jeffries entered her new role at Cambridge Stud, where she has been able to apply that knowledge with their large selection of young stock. She was recognised for her passion and contribution to the nursery when nominated for the Newcomer Award, and was grateful to be announced the winner, receiving the $10,000 prize from Entain. “It was very rewarding because you put in a lot of effort, so it was really nice to be recognised at an industry level,” she said. “The love of the horse is the main reason why I’m in this industry, and also, you’re able to do a lot, you can travel the world, meet lots of new people, and no two days are the same. “Day to day at the moment, we are weanling handling, so mobs are coming in every week for handling, with things like having the farrier done. We’ll start to bring them on to grooming and getting them ready for that final yearling prep come the end of October to January.” Cambridge Stud have committed to selling their yearlings solely at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka next year, where Jeffries had a memorable experience this year, taking the farm’s draft-topping lot through the ring. The colt, lot 628, by resident sire Sword Of State out of a stakes-winning I Am Invincible mare Fuld’s Bet was secured by Mulberry Racing for $540,000. “The colt this year was our highest-priced yearling, and he was such a dude through his yearling prep and at the sales, so it was great to take him through the ring,” Jeffries said. View the full article

Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle has been immersed in racing from a young age and she was recognised for her individual contribution to the industry at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday. A daughter of hall-of-fame jockey turned Group One-winning trainer Lance O’Sullivan, O’Sullivan Doyle took out the National Racing Woman of the Year category for her pursuits in marketing and communications, alongside work as a presenter and ambassador. “I was super excited to just be nominated, alongside some very worthy finalists,” O’Sullivan Doyle said. “To win was great, it was an awesome night put on by Entain. After growing up at Wexford Stables, O’Sullivan Doyle recognised a professional opportunity in racing later in her teens, and now has a range of digital marketing clients, including the family business, and various studs around the country. “Growing up, I’d pop over and pat the horses, but in terms of being actively involved, that more so came when I was about 15 and 16,” she said. “I realised I’d like to be involved in racing from a professional standpoint, and it’s grown from there. “In my line of work, no two weeks are same, which I personally love. My focus is digital marketing for a range of racing and non-racing clients, and with the racing, it is obviously seasonal, so we’re looking at different times of the year with events like key race days or yearling sales. “I love the horses, the people and the journey of following a horse all the way through, whether that be for stud clients having foaled a horse down, or the process of coming through the stables to get to race day. “It’s pretty special.” For the past two seasons, O’Sullivan Doyle has been an ambassador for Ellerslie Racecourse, following in the footsteps of her mother Bridgette, who was the first to hold the position. “My mum was the original Ellerslie ambassador in the early 2000’s, so it was a nice full-circle moment when they asked me to come on board as an ambassador,” she said. “It’s a very easy, enjoyable role, it hardly feels like a job when you get to attend races like a Karaka Millions or NZB Kiwi. “I go to the races, do a couple of interviews, and promote and showcase racing.” On the night, O’Sullivan Doyle expressed her gratitude to the Wexford cohort, and fellow clients Rich Hill Stud and harness racing giant Breckon Farms. “I’ve had a lot of great mentors, particularly in three of my more prominent clients,” she said. “Breckon Farms, who are doing amazing things in the harness racing industry, Rich Hill Stud, and of course, Wexford. With those three operations alone, I’ve got fantastic people above me that I’d consider industry leaders. “I’m very fortunate to be learning from some of the best.” As an owner, O’Sullivan Doyle has enjoyed success with small shares in the likes of stakes winner Do You Just, and promising four-year-olds King Of The North and Grande Gallo. She hopes to continue that trend with a well-related juvenile, as well as when she crosses over into the standardbred code for the first time. “The Do You Just-King Of The North double at Ellerslie was hugely exciting, it was definitely a highlight for me as an owner,” she said. “I have a share in High Society, who is a two-year-old half-brother to Snazzytavi, and I went into a couple of yearlings this year as well, so fingers crossed they can follow in their footsteps, I’ve had some good fortune so far. “I’m learning about the standardbreds through a bit of ownership too, I purchased a couple of small shares in yearlings from the Breckon Farms draft in February. Hopefully we can be up at Alexandra Park with them in the future.” View the full article

Waikato horseman Simon Lawson has an eye for a bargain, and the product of one of his purchases turned into his first stakes winner over the weekend. As Waikato Stud’s dry mare manager for a couple of years, Lawson was looking to get into breeding himself a few years ago and an unplaced mare called Mohegan Star caught his eye on online auction house gavelhouse.com, and he secured the daughter of Reliable Man with a final bid of $1,100. She quickly proved to be an astute purchase, with her half-brother Little Brose coming on the scene shortly after and went on to win the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) and Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) before retiring to stand at Little Avondale Stud in New Zealand. “I saw the mare on Gavelhouse, liked the pedigree and bought her,” Lawson said. “Little Brose came along after I bought her, so that really boosted the pedigree.” Lawson sent Mohegan Star to Waikato Stud resident stallion Tivaci and the resulting colt was offered through the farm’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Australian trainer Phillip Stokes for $80,000 and was subsequently named Matahga. The colt has been a revelation for the Morphettville horseman, finishing runner-up on debut before winning his next two starts, including last Saturday’s Listed Oaklands Plate (1400m) at his local track. Matahga has given Lawson the perfect start to his breeding career, posting his first stakes victory, and now Lawson has a taste for more. “He was just a ripper all the way through,” Lawson said. “He was an absolute legend, you would take him to the pub and have a beer with him. “It is awesome to see him go on with it and winning a stakes race at his third start is pretty exciting.” Gavelhouse is the gift that keeps on giving for Lawson, who also purchased Serenalla, a three-quarter sister to multiple Group One winner The Bostonian, off the site for $500. Lawson scored a major result at Karaka earlier this year when selling her first foal, a colt by Noverre, to Wexford Stables for $300,000. “It has been a huge buzz,” Lawson said of his breeding achievements to date. “It’s a bit more good luck than good management, but it has worked out well for me. “It is cool that your product and what you put out there is liked by other people. It is definitely pinch yourself sort of stuff.” Lawson has plenty to looking forward to in the coming months, on both the racing and breeding front. He will offer two rising yearlings at Karaka next year, and he has a Banquo half-brother to Matahga that is showing early promise for Matamata trainer Daniel Miller. “The Banquo is in at Dan Miller’s at the moment, he is going well and is three or four weeks away from having his first jump-out. He is a lovely horse,” Lawson said. “She (Mohegan Star) has a Noverre filly that will go to Karaka next year, and she is in-foal to War Decree. “Serenella has got a colt (rising yearling by Noverre) that will go to Karaka next year and she is in-foal to him (Noverre) again.” Lawson is looking to slowly develop his broodmare band, which currently sits at two-and-a-half, with the Waikato Stud employee also sharing in the ownership of Hawaiian Princess, a three-quarter sister to dual Group One winner Mac O’Reilly, with resident vet Matt MacKee. “I would like to keep on expanding and keep breeding horses,” he said. “You just want to keep breeding stakes winners, it’s a huge buzz and it’s an addictive feeling, I can’t wait to do it again.” While Saturday’s events were hard to top, Lawson was in the spotlight again a day later as a finalist in the Leadership Excellence category in the Entain Industry Excellence Awards. While he missed out on taking top honours, he still received a $2,000 cheque for being a finalist and said he had a great time at the awards dinner. “It was a great night, they put on a great show,” he said. “To see all of the other young people there and be around likeminded people was a lot of fun.” View the full article

Goodwood Stud’s William Fell is enjoying an exciting ride with unbeaten star steeplechaser Jesko. While it has been an unforeseen outcome, it’s nevertheless a successful one with the son of the late Atlante quickly rising to the top of the jumping ranks. The late bloomer won three on the flat before a successful transformation for trainers Shaun and Hazel Fannin with the former also taking the reins. Jesko began his hot run at Wanganui before claiming the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) and Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) titles. “It wasn’t what we were intending to breed, but it was another very good win on Saturday and we’ll take it, he’s an exciting horse,” Fell said. “We had a share in Atlante and that was how the mating came about, and Striking Asset was a medium sized Van Nistelrooy mare from quite a nice family. “He was always a nice horse, but he wasn’t a yearling sale horse and that’s why we sold him on Gavelhouse. “I remember him being a big, solid sort of horse who was going to need some time to mature.” Jesko was initially sold for $800 as a yearling and subsequently purchased by Fannin for $3,300 when again offered as a four-year-old via the online platform. His mother Striking Asset is a half-sister to stakes winer Al Jameel with the third dam the three-time Group One winner Canny Lass. “We had one more foal with her after Jesko and she was retired,” Fell said. “She was disappointing on the breeding front, aside from him, and she had her chance, breeding to the likes of Iffraaj and Per Incanto, but that’s how it goes sometimes.” Goodwood has downsized in recent years, making the Manawatu farm a more manageable operation for Fell and wife Rosie, nee Myers. “We’re breeding from about half a-dozen mares now, which is a good number for us,” he said. “We do the foaling down here and when it comes to yearling preps, we send them out. “We spread them around, Georgia Brown has done some locally for us and we use Wentwood Grange, Carlaw Park and Woburn Farm so we try and slot them in where it best suits. “We want to keep building on the quality, that’s always the goal and we’ve got a nice group of young mares.” Goodwood also has stallion shares in Little Avondale Stud’s Per Incanto and Little Brose. “We were a shareholder in Proisir but sold that about 12 or 18 months ago after getting a nice offer,” Fell said. “We’re in a position now that we can race a few fillies with Rosie training so that ticks that box.” Among them is the Iffraaj mare Great Escape, a winner and multiple placegetter from a handful of starts, who is out of a half-sister to three-time Group One-winning Goodwood graduate Gingernuts. View the full article

Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, whose life included many different chapters, nearly all of which shaped today's racing, died June 28 in Louisville, Ky. He was 89.View the full article

Harry Bentley is relishing the chance to get on board the unexposed Lo Rider in the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Tuesday as he looks to end the season on a high. The Harzand galloper was last seen running a massive race to finish fourth in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) back in March, defying odds of $19. Ridden that day by Hugh Bowman, he set out to make all the running and only begrudgingly gave up the lead at the 200m pole, ultimately finishing less than two...View the full article

Iowa-bred Somavia was impressive in her second career start, winning a maiden special weight contest at Prairie Meadows June 29. Her victory provided the first career winner for her sire, Basin.View the full article

Dog Penalties HOMEBUSH LEANA | Southland 23 June; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. ALPHA SHELDON | Christchurch 26 June; cramped and collapsed on way to lure; veterinary clearance required and must complete trial. NIGHTHAWK HONEY | Christchurch 27 June; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. The post 24-29 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Nacho Problem broke her maiden June 29 at Belmont at the Big A and with it gave her sire, Waiting, his first winner. Breaking from the outside in a field of eight, the chestnut led throughout the six-furlong turf challenge for New York-breds. View the full article