Wandering Eyes

To own a horse is to participate in a dream. Particularly a Thoroughbred racehorse. And when that 2-year-old qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) on "Future Stars Friday," your dreams become more exciting.View the full article

Tapit, North America's all-time leading sire by progeny earnings and the leading active sire by lifetime Grade I winners and graded stakes winners, will again lead the 2025 Gainesway stallion roster at a fee of $185,000, according to a press release from the farm Thursday. The son of Pulpit is represented this year on the racetrack by GI Whitney Stakes winner Arthur's Ride, GII Woodward Stakes winner Tapit Trice, and additional graded winners May Day Ready, Scylla, and Batten Down. He continues to be in demand in the auction ring, and has seen three of his yearlings sell for seven figures this year. The stud fee for McKinzie–currently the third-leading first-crop sire by earnings but on top by Graded Stakes winners and horses, and Grade I winners and horses–will be determined after the Breeders' Cup. The son of Street Sense is led by a pair of Grade I winners from his debut crop of runners: Chancer McPatrick, winner of the GI Hopeful and Champagne S., and Scottish Lassie, winner of the GI Frizette S. He is the first stallion since Mr. Prospector to sire the winners of the Champagne and Frizette in the same year. A stud fee for McKinzie will be set following the Breeders' Cup. New to the Gainesway roster for 2025 are a pair of Grade I winners who will be participating in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Muth and Seize The Grey. Stud fees for both will be announced at the end of their racing careers. At two, Muth won the GI American Pharoah S. before running second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. At three, Muth won the GII San Vicente before prevailing in the GI Arkansas Derby, defeating future Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. Muth is the only son of Good Magic to become a Grade I winner at both two and three, replicating the same accomplishment achieved by his sire. As a juvenile, Seize The Grey broke his maiden at Saratoga, defeating future GI Belmont S. winner Dornoch. He went on to win the GII Pat Day Mile on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby, and then became a dual Grade I winner by going wire-to-wire in both the Preakness S. and the Pennsylvania Derby. Also joining the Gainesway roster after contesting the Breeders' Cup Classic will be Grade I winner Tapit Trice. At three, Tapit Trice won the 2023 GI Blue Grass S. and GIII Tampa Bay Derby while also placing in the GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. At four, he won the GII Woodward S. and the GIII Monmouth Cup S. while earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, the third triple digit Beyer of his career. A stud fee for Tapit Trice will be determined upon retirement. Tapit's other son joining the Gainesway roster in 2025 is Grade II-winning son Charge It who will debut with a stud fee of $12,500. Charge It won the GIII Dwyer S. by an astounding 23 lengths, with his 111 Beyer Speed Figure being one of four occasions that he registered a triple-digit Beyer. He was also the winner of the GII Suburban S. and runner-up in the GI Florida Derby. Following is the full list of advertised fees for Gainesway's 2025 stallion roster: Charge It (NEW) – $12,500 Drain the Clock – $10,000 Karakontie – $15,000 McKinzie – TBD Muth (NEW) -TBD Olympiad – $35,000 Raging Bull (Fr) – $10,000 Seize The Grey (NEW) – TBD Spun to Run – $10,000 Tapit – $185,000 Tapit Trice (NEW) – TBD Tapwrit – $7,500 The post Tapit Leads 2025 Gainesway Roster at $185,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the latest round of November Sale supplements, Keeneland has added broodmare prospect Beyond Oscar–a 3-year-old half-sister to Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway)–to Book 1 of the Breeding Stock Sale, and three were added to the Horses of Racing Age Sale, the company said in a Thursday release. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, agent, Beyond Oscar is a daughter of Oscar Performance out of Broodmare of the Year Beyond the Waves, by Ocean Crest. She is from the family of GISW Bordonaro and GISP Miss Empire. More supplements are rolling into the Horses of Racing Age Sale, and Keeneland has added these three horses: Just a Coed (hip 4222) is a 3-year-old daughter of Justify. Consigned by Hidden Brook, agent, and cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect; Lagynos (hip 4224), a 3-year-old GSP colt by Kantharos. Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, he is out of Steamy, by Speightstown; Tactical Joke (hip 4223) is a 4-year-old filly by Practical Joke consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Additional supplements will be considered until the day of the sale. Click here for the online catalog for the Horses of Racing Sale, which includes 224 horses. The post Half-Sister To Bricks And Mortar Supplemented To Keeneland November; Three Added To Horses Of Racing Age Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Scarlet Poppy during the Belmont at the Big A meeting. Night Of Thunder Filly Wins In New York Wesley Ward trainee Scarlet Poppy (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) raced to a 2 1/4-length victory as the crowd's pick going six furlongs as the Belmont at the Big A meeting continued on Oct. 25 (video). She races for a partnership between Stonestreet Stables, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg. Ben McElroy signed the ticket during the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 for Scarlet Poppy, paying 800,000gns on behalf of Barbara Banke's operation and MV Magnier. Bred by Al Wasmiyah Farm, the chestnut daughter of Bulrushes (GB) (Byron {GB}) is one of eight winners from nine to race for her dam. She is also a half-sister to four black-type horses, three of them stakes winners, led by G3 Prix Texanita hero Ross Castle (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}). Her Space Blues (Ire) yearling half-brother is her latest half-sibling. This is the extended family of multiple group winner and G1 Lockinge Stakes third Tariq (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}). Of Darley stallion Night Of Thunder's 16 North American starters, 10 have won (63%). The son of Dubawi's four stakes winners in that jurisdiction include graded winners Dynamic Pricing (Ire), Sopran Basilea (Ire), and Pocket Square (GB). Repeat Winner: Glenn Bromagen II, Patrick Lewis, and Sandra Bromagen's Poolside With Slim (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) earned her first graded badge in the GII Valley View Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 25 (video). Trained by Rusty Arnold, the bay daughter of Kissepal (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) won the Penn Oaks in May and first featured in Making Waves when taking a Gulfstream maiden in February. POOLSIDE WITH SLIM (IRE) takes G2 Valley View Stakes @keenelandracing for @GBromagen et al who bought her @Goffs1866 Orby 2022 – sired by Churchill (IRE) @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/Vn0wZJBivj — ITM (@IREthoroughbred) October 26, 2024 The post Making Waves: Autumn Bloom At The Big A appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) is, more often than not, an international showcase, validating the "World" in the Breeders' Cup World Championships. It's been dominated by horses shipping in from overseas ever since its first running in 1984.View the full article

Cherie DeVaux will saddle five Breeders' Cup starters Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar, a sure sign of her rise to prominence as she attempts to become only the eighth woman to train a winner at the World Championships.View the full article

Darby Dan Farm has set their 2025 stud fees for its roster of 13 stallions that will stand the upcoming breeding season, led by Flameaway and Dialed In, who will both stand for $15,000 LFSN, according to a press release from the farm on Thursday morning. The roster also features a trio of newcomers in Blazing Sevens, who will stand for $12,500 LFSN, as well as Gufo and Shirl's Speight who will both stand their first seasons at stud for $5,000 LFSN. Flameaway, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Scat Daddy, was a leading first-crop sire of 2023 and is the sixth-ranked second-crop sire this year. Among Flameaway's nine black-type horses this year are 2-year-old filly Ando Soltera (Chi), a Group 1 winner in her native Chile and 2-year-old filly Dreamaway, winner of the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park and third in the Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita. Dialed In, champion freshman sire of 2016 and a perennial leading sire of his crop ever since, is represented by 11 stakes horses in 2024. The sire's leading earner this year is Defunded, who won the 2023 edition of the Hollywood GI Gold Cup and GII Californian Stakes, and has amassed earnings of more than $2.2 million in a stellar racing career. Blazing Sevens in the Champagne Stakes | Sarah Andrew Blazing Sevens, winner of the GI Champagne Stakes at two and the runner-up in the GI Preakness Stakes, is a son of stallion Good Magic. Blazing Sevens is produced from the winning Warrior's Reward mare Trophy Girl. Gufo, a Grade I winner at three, four, and five, and a son of Declaration of War, has relocated to Darby Dan Farm from Ballycroy Bloodstock in Ontario. The now-7-year-old will welcome his first foals in 2025. Gufo won or placed in 12 graded stakes, including back-to-back renewals of the GI Sword Dancer Stakes starting in 2021, and the GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes in 2020. Shirl's Speight is a Grade I winner by Speightstown out of GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl. The globetrotter registered the biggest win of his career in the 2022 GI Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland, and in his career the Charles Fipke homebred hit the board in 10 of 25 appearances and banked $1,497,245. The 2025 Darby Dan Farm roster is as follows: Stallion/LFSN Fee Bee Jersey/$5,000 Blazing Sevens/$12,500 Country House/$5,000 Dialed In/$15,000 Flameaway/$15,000 Gufo/$5,000 Higher Power/$5,000 Leofric/$5,000 Modernist/$5,000 Shirl's Speight/$5,000 Tale of Ekati/$5,000 Tale of Silence/$2,500 Title Ready/$2,500 The post Led By Flameaway And Dialed In At $15,000, Darby Dan Releases 2025 Stallion Fees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Take Charge Babe (Take Charge Indy), a half-sister to this year's GI Frizette Stakes winner Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) has been supplemented to the Nov. 4 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, the auction company said in a press release on Thursday morning. A multiple winner herself, Take Charge Babe is catalogued as hip 317 and will be consigned as a broodmare prospect by Paramount Sales, agent. Scottish Lassie, who broke her maiden by nine lengths in the Frizette Oct. 5, is scheduled to start in the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Friday. Scottish Lassie earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for her efforts in that top level race and the filly is the morning-line favorite for the Juvenile Fillies. The post Half-Sister To GISW Scottish Lassie Added To Fasig-Tipton November Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2024 Markel Magnolia Cup has raised £313,233.62 for local charity My Sisters' House Women's Centre, Goodwood Racecourse announced on Thursday. The all-female annual charity race, which takes place at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, was conceived over a decade ago and has now raised over £2.5 million for charitable causes since its inception. This year's race was won by Lizzie Jelfs and her mount Reins Reigns Rains, trained by Harry Eustace. My Sisters' House Women's Centre is the beneficiary charity, with all net proceeds going to support the work they do to support women to improve their welfare and wellbeing, helping to reduce their risk of domestic abuse and support recovery, and help them reach their goals for employment, education or training. Avril Robinson, acting CEO at My Sisters' House, said, “Being the chosen charity for the Markel Magnolia Cup has been one of the most significant opportunities for My Sisters' House since its inception ten years ago. As a small, local charity, the funds raised will enable us to continue our excellent work in providing free-of-charge, life-changing services to women. “It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside the Goodwood and Markel teams, and, importantly, be inspired by the all-female line up of jockeys who have all demonstrated the grit to train and take part in such a prestigious event. They are role models for women everywhere–turning aspirations into realities.” The Markel Magnolia Cup will take place on Ladies' Day at the Qatar Goodwood Festival in 2025, which falls on Thursday, July 31. Applications for the race in 2025 have now closed and riders wishing to participate in 2026 can apply online here. The post Markel Magnolia Cup Raises over £300,000 for My Sisters’ House appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Whatever the outcome may be in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), the experience as an owner in racing has arrived full circle for Bob Edwards and his colt Carl Spackler. View the full article

This year's Preis der Diana runner-up Spanish Eyes (Ger) has been added to Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale and will be offered by Ecurie des Monceaux as lot 180 during the opening day of the sale on Saturday, December 7. Trained by Andreas Wohler for owner-breeders Gestut Karlshof, Spanish Eyes made a winning debut over nine furlongs at Hoppegarten in June. That remains her sole victory in five career starts, though she was beaten just a length behind Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) in the Preis der Diana, before running another creditable race when finishing fourth in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden. Spanish Eyes, who failed to find a buyer at €95,000 when offered at the Arqana October Yearling Sale, is one of five winners from as many runners out of the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio heroine Sortilege (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). The daughter of Zarak (Fr) is a full-sister to the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli winner Sirjan (Ger) and a half to Seductive (Ger) (Henrythenavigator), the dam of the dual Group 2 winner and G1 Preis von Europa runner-up Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}). Sortilege is in turn out of Sahel (Ger) (Monsun {Ger})–a full-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Schiaparelli (Ger)–whose other offspring include the dam of this year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris scorer Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The post Classic Runner-Up Spanish Eyes Added to Arqana’s December Breeding Stock Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Caspar Fownes will cast a menacing Karma(NZ) (Turn Me Loose) into uncharted territory on Sunday (3 November) when the sizeable chestnut – outclassed on paper but in career-best form – contests the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin. Tipping the scale with a body weight of around 1,200lb, Karma has won three of his last four races – each over the mile at Sha Tin. The Turn Me Loose gelding goes beyond Class 2 and 1600m for the first time this weekend, doing so with a featherweight 115lb – 20lb less than top-weight (Beauty Joy, 135lb) – as the race’s second lowest rated horse. “He’s a big, rangy type of horse. He’s long and lanky – big boy. He just seems to be improving with each prep we give him and we’ve seen it many times here in Hong Kong – ages six and seven can tend to be their best seasons,” Fownes said. One of Hong Kong’s most renowned races with over 150 years of history, the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse has attracted a capacity 14-runner field, including two from Fownes with Senor Toba (115lb) also engaged. Fownes previously won the race with Southern Legend (2019). The 89-rating Karma rolled quality opposition in the Class 2 HKJC 140th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on 20 October last start after surging from the tail of the field. “The horse is in great form and I think he will eat up the distance. There’s a lot of good horses in there though, so it’s a great test for us to see whether he measures up to this level, which we’re hopeful, and if he does then it opens the door for some nice races this season. “We’ll continue to stretch his distance out, I feel, especially if he gives us a good closing sectional time on Sunday,” Fownes said. Alexis Badel hops aboard Karma on Sunday. The Frenchman partnered the galloper in a recent trial at Conghua. “It’s a good ride for him. Alexis trialled him up at Conghua for me and I said to him this was plan, Vincent Ho would ride him last start and this time he won’t get Vincent’s weight. It works out well and he gets a chance to hop back on the horse,” Fownes said. The Fownes name has a rich history in the Ladies’ Purse with Caspar’s late father Lawrie Fownes capturing five editions: Sky Bound (1985), Fire Wind (1990), Celestial Park (1990), Crown Commander (1994) and China Cruise (1996). Steely grey Senor Toba makes his seasonal reappearance for Fownes. The Toronado gelding has won two Group 3 races in Hong Kong, including once over this weekend’s distance. “Senor Toba is first-up. He’ll be ridden by Keith Yeung and he had a nice trial last week at Conghua over the mile. He’s run respectively, so we’re hoping for a nice enough effort,” Fownes said. “He’s going to come to his best towards the end of the season for the (G3) Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400, Handicap) – that’ll be his race.” Karma will step from gate 12, while Senor Toba has drawn sweetly in gate three. Group 2 placed in Hong Kong, Sword Point dazzled on the dirt first-up with a near-four length demolition on 6 October for trainer Frankie Lor. The six-year-old is chasing a fourth Hong Kong win from barrier 10 under Derek Leung in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse. “After his win I trialled him once more and he trialled ok. Last season he started well and then his form dropped a little bit. That’s why he wasn’t performing well. He looks better this season,” Lor said. Lor also saddles eight-year-old All For St Paul’s in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse, who jumps from barrier nine with Matthew Poon, in a bid for a 10th Hong Kong win. “The old man! He has a light weight. This won’t be easy but his form is ok. He always leads and if someone challenges then maybe it will be difficult for him,” Lor said. Sidelined due to a setback, Lor is hopeful six-time winner Happy Together can return next month in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m). “I want to run him on the 17th in the Group 2 over the mile. I know Galaxy Patch is really good but I don’t want him (Happy Together) to run over 2000 metres first-up. He needs to trial because he has had issues. If everything is ok then he will race,” Lor said. Flaming Rabbit lines up for Douglas Whyte in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse, aiming for a return to the form that saw him record a pair of make-all wins at Sha Tin. Angus Chung rides the Time Test galloper from barrier five. “It’s a tough race, especially with Beauty Joy. He (Beauty Joy) performed well last season and first-up as well. Flaming Rabbit is up in class but last season he was consistent at times. It depends on the pace and if someone comes to annoy him,” Chung said. The Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse also features Nimble Nimbus (124lb), Massive Sovereign (123lb), Chancheng Glory (121lb), Encountered (121lb), Five G Patch (121lb), La City Blanche (119lb), Moments In Time (116lb) and Ensued (115lb). The Best Peach and Ka Ying Generation are emergencies one and two, respectively. Sunday’s (3 November) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin commences at 1pm with the Class 5 L’Oreal Paris Handicap (1800m). View the full article

What VRC Derby Day 2024 Where Flemington Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria When Saturday, November 2, 2024 First Race 12:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble VRC Derby Day is set to kick off the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival, with a stacked nine-race meeting lined up at Flemington this Saturday. The Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) takes top billing and is ably supported by the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). Perfect conditions await, with the track rated a Good 4 and the rail in its true position. The first of nine races is set to commence at 12:20pm AEDT. Race 1: Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) The traditional opener to Derby Day looks a perfect event for the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana. The three-year-old filly was held up for a run before surging to the line late to claim Group 3 glory at Randwick on October 19 over 1400m, and she is set to appreciate getting to the mile. James McDonald will have her settled towards the rear of the field, but with the long Flemington straight at her disposal, Aeliana looks hard to hold out in the 2024 Carbine Club Stakes. Selections: 6 AELIANA 1 FEROCE 3 ACTA NON VERBA 8 ANOTHER PROPHET Carbine Club Stakes Race 1 – #6 Aeliana (8) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (56kg) +280 with Bet365 Race 2: Group 2 The Vanity (1400m) Good Sort arguably should have beaten Aeliana last time out. The Tassort filly was held up for a run basically for the entirety of the Randwick straight before launching late to be beaten by a half-length. Barrier 10 should mean James McDonald has her in clear air approaching the home turn, and if she can follow a back into the race, Good Sort has a strong enough turn of foot to account for her rivals in The Vanity. Selections: 9 GOOD SORT 10 LOVELYCUT 7 MATISSE 13 EXTREMELY HARDYS The Vanity Race 2 – #9 Good Sort (10) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (Weight kg) +750 with Dabble Race 3: Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) Maharba produced a scintillating finish first-up at Caulfield after a five-month layoff. Having settled towards the rear of the field, he was left with too much to do late on but closed nicely to suggest he was worth following. He steps up to 1200m second-up, a distance where he has won twice and placed on four other occasions. If he can settle a touch closer to the speed, Maharba has a swift turn of foot and will take some holding out in the 2024 Rising Fast Stakes. Selections: 2 MAHARBA 3 SPACEWALK 1 STAR PATROL 6 SCHWARZ Best Value Race 3 – #2 Maharba (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Grahame Begg | J: Jordan Childs (57kg) +900 with Marantelli Bet Race 4: Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m) It took a ridiculous effort from Antino to undo Another Wil in the Toorak Handicap. That form reads very well for this Group 2, as outside of stablemate Jimmysstar, The Damien Oliver lacks depth. From barrier two, Jamie Kah can have Another Wil in a prominent position throughout the 1400m trip, and if he brings anything close to what he produced in his first two runs this campaign, he can make it eight wins from 12 career starts. Selections: 2 ANOTHER WIL 5 JIMMYSSTAR 6 RIPCORD 1 MIGHTY ULYSSES Best Bet Race 4 – #2 Another Wil (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jamie Kah (57.5kg) +200 with Neds Race 5: Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) Powers Of Opal put 5.5 lengths on her rivals at Hawkesbury on October 17 after competing in Group 1 company the start prior. The Ocean Park filly is a top hope for Thursday’s VRC Oaks (2500m), and this is the perfect stepping stool towards Group 1 glory. James McDonald will have her settled midfield with cover, and when asked to quicken, Powers Of Opal should be too classy in the 2024 Wakeful Stakes. Selections: 5 POWERS OF OPAL 4 IN HER EYES 2 TREASURETHE MOMENT 1 JENNI’S MEADOW Next Best Race 5 – #5 Powers Of Opal (8) 3yo Filly | T: John Sargent | J: James McDonald (55kg) +190 with Playup Race 6: Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) In what is one of the best editions of the 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes, the Mark Walker-trained Bellatrix Star presents great value with horse racing bookmakers. The Star Witness filly was too good for her older rivals in weight-for-age company at Caulfield last time out, and prior to that produced two stunning victories against her own age group over 1100m and 1200m. She will be smoking the pipe out the back of the field, and with a stack of speed expected, Bellatrix Star can absorb the pressure and launch late to cause a minor upset in the Coolmore. Selections: 14 BELLATRIX STAR 3 TRAFFIC WARDEN 1 GROWING EMPIRE 2 COLEMAN Coolmore Stud Stakes Race 6 – #14 Bellatrix Star (11) 3yo Filly | T: Mark Walker | J: Blake Shinn (55kg) +850 with Picklebet Race 7: Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500) The time-honoured Group 1 VRC Derby is the headline act on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. A full field of 16 will duke it out for the $2 million on offer and look to etch their name into the history books. Will El Castello complete the Spring Champion Stakes and VRC Derby, or is there somewhat of an upset brewing? Click here for our full preview of the 2024 VRC Derby Race 8: Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) With three wins and two minor placings from eight goes at Flemington, Atishu looks extremely hard to go past in the 2024 Empire Rose Stakes. The Chris Waller-trained mare is already a Group 1 winner over 2000m at the track and is sure to appreciate getting away from the likes of Mr Brightside and Via Sistina. With Grinzinger Belle set to make this a genuinely run mile, the race sets up perfectly for James McDonald to have Atishu towards the rear of the field before unleashing a stunning finish and blousing some potentially vulnerable rivals late on. Selections: 1 ATISHU 13 PLENTY OF AMMO 2 AMELIA’S JEWEL 7 ALSEPHINA Empire Rose Stakes Race 8 – #1 Atishu (9) 7yo Mare | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (57kg) +360 with Boombet Race 9: Group 3 Furphy Sprint (1100m) Pharari is coming off a couple of handy BM78 performances at Rosehill and returns to the Flemington straight for the first time since a poor run in the Listed Creswick Sprint Series Final in July. The four-year-old mare is blessed with a stack of speed and is drawn perfectly out wide in barrier 14. Ethan Brown will likely have her stalking the leaders throughout, and as long as Pharari can handle the Flemington straight, look for her to roar to victory in style. Selections: 15 PHARARI 3 SANS DOUTE 17 ISTHMUS 5 A LITTLE DEEP Furphy Sprint Race 9 – #15 Pharari (14) 4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Ethan Brown (55kg) +600 with Unibet Derby Day quaddie tips for Flemington Flemington quadrella selections Saturday, November 2, 2024 1-2-3-5-6-13-14 1-2-4-5-7-8 1-2-13 3-5-15-17-19 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip 8 Horse racing tips View the full article

Vincent Ho is back in top form, while Angus Chung, Harry Bentley and Jamie Richards are hoping for better days ahead.View the full article

Hastings trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos made the most of an opportunity to trial several of their well-performed horses locally on Thursday at Waipukurau. Among their representatives was the promising Bedtime Story(NZ) (Per Incanto), making her first public appearance as a four-year-old in an Open 1000m trial. The daughter of Per Incanto won three of her seven starts last term, alongside a fourth placing in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), won by subsequent Group One-winner Grail Seeker. “She was just having a maintenance trial to keep her up to the mark and we were very happy with the way she trialled,” Lowry said. “She was due to run at Wellington on Saturday, but due to heavy track conditions we will be looking elsewhere. She doesn’t need to start on a heavy track first-up.” The mare travelled comfortably throughout her assignment and closed well under little pressure from rider Lily Sutherland, with a similar performance seen from her stablemate Poukawa(NZ) (Per Incanto) in the same heat. Lightly-tried with just three starts to his record, Poukawa broke maidens on debut before a flashing effort into third behind My Annie Belle at Taupo in late September. A slow start at Te Rapa hindered his chances last start, but Lowry had plenty of positives to take away from the effort. “The track bias got him at Te Rapa, his sectionals suggested that it was a good run, he’s run around the 34 mark for the last 600m and I don’t think he could’ve done much more than that,” he said. “He’s finished on, in what was earlier in the day, an on-pace day. I thought it was a very good effort considering he’s still learning, he’s still a bit of a baby and we’re looking forward to having his next run. “He’s going along the lines of heading to Tauherenikau for a Rating 65 1300m race (November 10).” The following heat featured Lowry’s own mare Candle(NZ) (Super Easy), a three-race winner who finished less than a length off Shoes over 1200m at Te Rapa’s feature meeting earlier this month. “Candle was very good, it was just a maintenance trial as well for her and she’ll go to Te Rapa on the 9th of November for a 75 1300m,” Lowry said. “It’s a good feeling, the grassroots sort of racing, and all of the horses really enjoyed their outing today. “The track was in great order, they really look after the stakeholders there.” View the full article

Joe Pride says there’s something special about winning at Flemington during Melbourne Cup Week. And that’s why Derby Day in 2010 was a memorable day for the Sydney-based trainer when wet-track specialist Sacred Choice ploughed through the rain-sodden conditions to win the Group 1 Myer Classic, now known as the Empire Rose Stakes. “It was a crack field of mares,” Pride recalled. “I got on a plane thinking she was an outside chance of running a place. I got off the plane and got to Flemington, it started raining and I thought, ‘This could be our day’. “And she won easily. “She won by three or four lengths and she beat Typhoon Tracy and Hot Danish. “She beat a gun field of mares, obviously very aided by a really wet track. But that was her moment. “Corey (Brown) was on her and she won a Doncaster after that as well on a very Heavy track. “But it was a great day, because there’s something special about winning races at Flemington over the Cup Carnival. There really is.” Sacred Choice ran second the following year, while Pride got another Cup Week G1 win in 2014 when brilliant sprinter Terravista beat a star-studded field in the Darley Classic, now known as the Champions Sprint. Fourteen years after Sacred Choice’s win, Pride is hoping Lekvarte(NZ) (Reliable Man) can step up in this year’s edition of the Empire Rose Stakes on Saturday. Pride plans to run the six-year-old mare in the 1600-metre feature for fillies and mares off the back of her last-start victory at Randwick in the Angst Stakes. It was her third G3 win in the past year. “And it’s not a coincidence all three have been at a mile,” Pride says. “That’s her distance.” Lekvarte was unplaced in this year’s Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) in her only G1 start to date and Pride says the mare has to step up if she’s to be successful on Saturday, but he believes she has earned her chance. “It is a step up, but I feel like she’s never been better and it’s definitely worth a go,” he said. “She’s a very honest mare and she never runs a bad race. “I’ve taken her to Queensland a few times and she hasn’t enjoyed that, but I think Flemington would suit her and she’s a true miler. “I think it’s worth giving her a shot at a Group 1.” Josh Parr retains the ride on Lekvarte after winning the Angst Stakes on the mare on October 19. “It was a really strong win,” Pride said. “She sprinted from the back, which was hard to do on the day and the other mare I had in the race, Sounds Of Heaven, came out and won on Saturday. I think it was a relatively strong race, but she does have to step up to Group 1 company.” Pride also has Dashing Legend set for Saturday’s G3 Furphy Sprint (1100m) and expects she can run a good race fresh, while the trainer revealed Private Eye or Mazu could be a chance to line up in the G1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday week. “I might take Private Eye or Mazu down for the Sprint,” Pride said on Monday. “I’m going to nominate those two plus Coal Crusher for the Russell Balding Stakes (at Rosehill) this week and I’ll work out what I’m doing with them.” View the full article

Below is a link to the full New Zealand Bloodstock Breeze Up broadcast file on Vimeo (one big video of all lots): https://vimeo.com/1024493712?share=copy#t=0 Please note, if you are downloading this file, it is about 14GB in size and 3 hours, 40 minutes in length, so will need a good internet connection. For those who wish to watch the breeze ups on WeChat, please use the QR code below: View the full article

Arjay’s Flight(NZ) (Highly Recommended) will be out to keep his perfect record intact for new trainer Shaun Phelan when he heads to Trentham on Saturday to contest the Feilding Hotel 1600. The six-year-old gelding has won both of his starts since transferring to the Cambridge horseman’s barn, winning first-up over 1400m at Taupo last month before repeating the result over a mile at Te Rapa. He was set to return to the Hamilton track to shoot for a third successive win, however, those plans changed after the meeting was abandoned following safety concerns with the track. Instead of staying closer to home and heading across the Kaimai Range to run at Tauranga on Saturday, Phelan has elected to head south to Trentham to gauge Arjay’s Flight’s propensity for travel. “He was meant to race on Monday, but the races got called off. They moved the race to Tauranga and I thought we would go to Trentham with a view of maybe coming back there later on for some better races over summer,” Phelan said. “This will be his first trip away, so we want to see how he handles it. “Another week between races has been good for him because we have kept him fresh into those first two wins, and three weeks between runs is perfect. “I think the long straight at Trentham is going to suit him. The Heavy track is a bit of a worry, but he has got Heavy track form, and he is up fit.” Meanwhile, Phelan is looking forward to heading to Flemington next Tuesday to watch Hit The Road Jack contest the Australian Heritage Cup (2800m) on Melbourne Cup Day. The eight-year-old gelding won seven starts for Phelan in New Zealand before he sent him over to Australia to test his talents as a jumper for Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde. The son of Jakkalberry performed well over hurdles, winning his maiden at Warrnambool in July before adding two further placings to his jumping record. Wilde then elected to try Hit The Road Jack back on the flat, lining him up in the Gr.3 Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington last month, where he was runner-up behind Point King. He repeated the result in the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington before finishing ninth in an unsuitably run Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) last week. “He sat outside the leader (in the Geelong Cup) and I was watching the whole race thinking ‘get going’,” Phelan said. “They sat and sprinted on the better track, where he probably needed to get going. “Watching him through the line and after the line, he was still going, and he was one of the last to pull up in the Geelong Cup.” Phelan has been rapt with the way Hit The Road Jack has performed in Australia, and he is looking forward to being trackside at Flemington to watch him compete on Tuesday. “It has been amazing,” he said. “We sent him over to be a jumper and he is doing all of this. It is a big thrill for the syndicate. “We are hoping for rain on the day, which can happen, but the 2800m is going to suit.” View the full article

Lux Libertas(NZ) (Almanzor) kicked off her campaign in July as a maidener and on Saturday she will be given the opportunity to prove herself in Open company for the first time in the Financial Services 1300. The Almanzor four-year-old has powered through the grades this preparation, winning five of her last six starts over 1200m and 1400m, including a dominant display in MAAT company at Te Rapa’s feature meeting on October 12. Andrew Scott, who trains Lux Libertas in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan, is under no illusions that Saturday’s contest will be a test for the mare, with top-weight and dual Group One winner La Crique among a very strong line-up in the open handicap. “She just continues to handle her preparation well, she seems to be gaining more and more confidence,” Scott said. “Obviously this is quite a step-up in class, but with the way she’s racing and training, we believe she’s going to be competitive. She has to shorten in trip a wee bit and go right-handed, but she continues to cope well, stay sound and maintain a really good level, so we’re confident she’ll run well. “Our plan was to introduce her to open grade this weekend, and if her performance warranted it, we could look towards running her in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) on the 23rd of November.” The Wexford contingent will be represented by a further three runners at the meeting, including Prosegur, who made a strong account of herself when saluting on debut at Taupo. The three-year-old Proisir filly had the advantage of an inside barrier on that occasion, a luxury she will be without on Saturday, having drawn the outside in an original field of eight for the Armory Standing at Mapperley Stud 3YO. “We were pleased with her performance at Taupo, a lot went right for her that day and she had a good draw and quickened out well for an inexperienced horse,” Scott said. “She’s taken good improvement from the experience of a run under her belt, but she’s another horse who goes right-handed for the first time, and after drawing one on debut, she goes to the outside this time. “It won’t be so easy for her this week, but she’s certainly a filly that we think when she gets out to 1400 and a mile, she’s going to have a good summer. “It may be a case of continuing to educate her a wee bit on Saturday, but she’ll finish strong.” Scott believes a bright future lies ahead also for Tanganyika, a gelding who was lightly raced through a successful three-year-old period. A winner of two from five starts, Tanganyika has been away from the races since mid-February, where he finished fifth in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m), just a length from the winner in Pericles. “He had a good year and he’s had really good physical development from three to four,” Scott said. “He’s a horse that we believe will get to open grade this campaign, and whilst he’s a bit disadvantaged in the draw (13) on Saturday he makes up for that on ability. “We’ve got high hopes for him this season.” Masa Hashizume will ride the son of Ace High in the Tauranga Crossing 1200, while Kevin Stott has been booked aboard progressive stayer Incredible in the New World 1300. Another horse with just five starts under his belt, Incredible built to a tidy maiden victory over 2000m in mid-May, a distance Scott believes will be right up his alley in the coming months. “He’s a promising horse, he’s only kicking off here but once he gets out to a mile and 2000m, we think he’s a really nice up-and-coming New Zealand stayer,” he said. “He’s got a wee way of the process in front of him before getting out to a favourable trip, but he’s certainly a stronger horse this time around and we think he’ll have a good summer.” View the full article

Lightly raced mare Bella Waters (NZ) (Sacred Falls) came a long way in a short time last preparation and has impressed ahead of her return at Tauranga on Saturday. The progressive daughter of the late Sacred Falls will resume in Saturday’s Financial Services Handicap (1300m) after missing her planned kick-off date on Labour Day. “We did have her in at Te Rapa so we had to change, it is 1300m and I would have preferred 1400m, but I think she will still give a good account of herself,” said Moira Murdoch, who trains in partnership with daughter Kieran. They prepare Bella Waters for breeders Cambridge Stud and ticked off a significant box during her rapid rise through the ranks last season. She was a Rating 65 winner at New Plymouth before a runner-up finish at Ellerslie and then produced a peak performance at her ninth start to claim top honours in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m). The half-sister to the Gr.2 Autumn Stakes (1800m) winner Immediacy was then sent for a deserved spell and pleased during her time off. “She has done very well, we gave her a nice long break and she trialled up really encouragingly the other day at Avondale over 1000 metres,” Murdoch said. “She is obviously adept over ground and it would be quite nice to say that she has a little more zing this preparation. “She might show a bit in a 1600m race somewhere, but at the moment we are just going race by race. She is a lovely horse, a very giving and enthusiastic mare.” Bella Waters was ridden in her lead-up trial by Warren Kennedy and the champion jockey will again take the reins on Saturday. Meanwhile, Murdoch is scouring programs to find a suitable race for well-performed stablemate Shamus(NZ) (Shamexpress), whose place in the handicap is making him tricky to place to best advantage. “I’m just weighing up the options at the moment and if someone would put on a weight-for-age over 1400m that would be wonderful, that’s his pet trip,” she said. Shamus was a handicap winner over that distance two runs back at Ellerslie before the son of Shamexpress returned there to finish midfield when saddled with 60kg over 1600m. Murdoch is also pleased with the progress being made by stable newcomer Avalene(NZ) (Vadamos). “She had some leg problems, so she came out here to the beach and isn’t far off trialling. She’s a talented mare and is doing well,” she said. The Joan Egan-bred and owned Vadamos six-year-old won four times from the stable of Roger James and Robert Wellwood and hasn’t raced since she was fifth in the Christmas Cup (2100m) at Otaki last December. View the full article

The star of the show was the stallion share in Flightline, the 2022 Horse of the Year and champion older horse. View the full article

Promising mare Bedtime Story. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Hastings trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos made the most of an opportunity to trial several of their well-performed horses locally on Thursday at Waipukurau. Among their representatives was the promising Bedtime Story, making her first public appearance as a four-year-old in an Open 1000m trial. The daughter of Per Incanto won three of her seven starts last term, alongside a fourth placing in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), won by subsequent Group 1-winner Grail Seeker. “She was just having a maintenance trial to keep her up to the mark and we were very happy with the way she trialled,” Lowry said. “She was due to run at Wellington on Saturday, but due to heavy track conditions we will be looking elsewhere. She doesn’t need to start on a heavy track first-up.” The mare travelled comfortably throughout her assignment and closed well under little pressure from rider Lily Sutherland, with a similar performance seen from her stablemate Poukawa in the same heat. Lightly-tried with just three starts to his record, Poukawa broke maidens on debut before a flashing effort into third behind My Annie Belle at Taupo in late September. A slow start at Te Rapa hindered his chances last start, but Lowry had plenty of positives to take away from the effort. “The track bias got him at Te Rapa, his sectionals suggested that it was a good run, he’s run around the 34 mark for the last 600m and I don’t think he could’ve done much more than that,” he said. “He’s finished on, in what was earlier in the day, an on-pace day. I thought it was a very good effort considering he’s still learning, he’s still a bit of a baby and we’re looking forward to having his next run. “He’s going along the lines of heading to Tauherenikau for a Rating 65 1300m race (November 10).” The following heat featured Lowry’s own mare Candle, a three-race winner who finished less than a length off Shoes over 1200m at Te Rapa’s feature meeting earlier this month. “Candle was very good, it was just a maintenance trial as well for her and she’ll go to Te Rapa on the 9th of November for a 75 1300m,” Lowry said. “It’s a good feeling, the grassroots sort of racing, and all of the horses really enjoyed their outing today. “The track was in great order, they really look after the stakeholders there.” Horse racing news View the full article

Sea King. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Racing Victoria (RV) Head of Handicapping, David Hegan, has announced that Wednesday’s Group 3 Apiam Bendigo Cup (2400m) winner Sea King has received a 0.5kg penalty in the $8.56 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The Harry Eustace-trained English stayer has been lifted from his original weight of 50kg to 50.5kg thus elevating the horse to 17th in the Order of Entry for the iconic race at Flemington next Tuesday, 5 November. Click here for the full Melbourne Cup Order Of Entry. Hegan explained: “Sea King was a dominant winner of the Bendigo Cup yesterday with Declan Bates using the horse’s sustained stamina to steal a march on his rivals and never be challenged. “The decisive nature of his victory warrants a penalty, and a key line of relativity in the Melbourne Cup is Onesmoothoperator, who sits on 51kg after receiving a 1kg penalty following his Geelong Cup win last week. “The two horses met recently in the Ebor Handicap in the UK where they crossed the line together. Sea King carried 1kg less than Onesmoothoperator that day but now moves to within 0.5kg of him. “In relative terms to the benchmark, Onesmoothoperator was effectively given a 2.5kg increase on his overseas mark for the Geelong Cup win so Sea King now moves 3kg up on his previous best form.” Final acceptances for the Melbourne Cup will be taken at 4.30pm (AEDT) on Saturday, November 2 with the field to be released by early evening. Horse racing news View the full article

Muramasa ridden by Daniel Moor winning the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, acting on specialist veterinary advice, have today withdrawn the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained pair Brayden Star and Muramasa from the entries for the 2024 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) to be run at Flemington on Tuesday, November 5. In accordance with the conditions of the race, Brayden Star and Muramasa were presented at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee on Monday, October 28 for compulsory CT scans of their distal limbs. Reports received from an expert panel of internationally renowned equine surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists who reviewed Brayden Star and Muramasa’s CT scan results indicate that both horses are currently at heightened risk of injury. Following advice from RV Veterinary Services in relation to the specialist opinions from the independent imaging panel, RV Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Brayden Star and Muramasa from the Melbourne Cup on the basis that they were unsuitable to compete. Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin were notified of the Stewards’ decision to withdraw both horses acting on veterinary advice. Horse racing news View the full article

Arjay’s Flight will line-up in the Feilding Hotel 1600 at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Arjay’s Flight will be out to keep his perfect record intact for new trainer Shaun Phelan when he heads to Trentham on Saturday to contest the Feilding Hotel 1600. The six-year-old gelding has won both of his starts since transferring to the Cambridge horseman’s barn, winning first-up over 1400m at Taupo last month before repeating the result over a mile at Te Rapa. He was set to return to the Hamilton track to shoot for a third successive win, however, those plans changed after the meeting was abandoned following safety concerns with the track. Instead of staying closer to home and heading across the Kaimai Range to run at Tauranga on Saturday, Phelan has elected to head south to Trentham to gauge Arjay’s Flight’s propensity for travel. “He was meant to race on Monday, but the races got called off. They moved the race to Tauranga and I thought we would go to Trentham with a view of maybe coming back there later on for some better races over summer,” Phelan said. “This will be his first trip away, so we want to see how he handles it. “Another week between races has been good for him because we have kept him fresh into those first two wins, and three weeks between runs is perfect. “I think the long straight at Trentham is going to suit him. The Heavy track is a bit of a worry, but he has got Heavy track form, and he is up fit.” Meanwhile, Phelan is looking forward to heading to Flemington next Tuesday to watch Hit The Road Jack contest the Australian Heritage Cup (2800m) on Melbourne Cup Day. The eight-year-old gelding won seven starts for Phelan in New Zealand before he sent him over to Australia to test his talents as a jumper for Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde. The son of Jakkalberry performed well over hurdles, winning his maiden at Warrnambool in July before adding two further placings to his jumping record. Wilde then elected to try Hit The Road Jack back on the flat, lining him up in the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington last month, where he was runner-up behind Point King. He repeated the result in the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington before finishing ninth in an unsuitably run Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) last week. “He sat outside the leader (in the Geelong Cup) and I was watching the whole race thinking ‘get going’,” Phelan said. “They sat and sprinted on the better track, where he probably needed to get going. “Watching him through the line and after the line, he was still going, and he was one of the last to pull up in the Geelong Cup.” Phelan has been rapt with the way Hit The Road Jack has performed in Australia, and he is looking forward to being trackside at Flemington to watch him compete on Tuesday. “It has been amazing,” he said. “We sent him over to be a jumper and he is doing all of this. It is a big thrill for the syndicate. “We are hoping for rain on the day, which can happen, but the 2800m is going to suit.” Horse racing news View the full article