Wandering Eyes

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

What 2024 Golden Eagle Day Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 When Saturday, November 2, 2024 First Race 12:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) headlines the action at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, supported by an outstanding 10-race program, including the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) alongside the Group 3 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m). The rail is in the true position the entire circuit for the meeting, and with some rainfall predicted to hit the course proper on Thursday and Friday, punters can expect a Soft 5 surface for race-day. 2024 Golden Eagle Day is scheduled to get underway at 12:10pm local time. Click here for HorseBetting’s preview of the 2024 Golden Eagle. Russell Balding Stakes Tip: Bella Nipotina It’s hard to be against Bella Nipotina in the 2024 Russell Balding Stakes. The seven-year-old mare continues to revel in her racing as she produced a career-best performance in the Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19, sitting wide without cover to secure a stunning head bobbing victory in the worlds’ richest race on turf. She shouldn’t have any trouble slotting in for cover from barrier three this time around, and with Soft conditions making her even more formidable, Bella Nipotina should prove too classy once again. Russell Balding Stakes Race 3 – #3 Bella Nipotina (3) 7yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Craig Williams (56.5kg) +150 with Neds Rosehill Gold Cup Tip: Relentless Voyager Relentless Voyager brings some elite European form down under and looks perfectly placed on debut for the Ciaron Maher barn. The son of Ulyssess hit the line well in a cracking edition of the Ebor Handicap (2816m) at York on August 24, and although he was beaten by 6.3 lengths, he finished close up behind the likes of Sea King and Onesmoothoperator. Both of those horses have secured wins in Australia before lining up in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup (3200m), and provided Relentless Voyager can hold that form, he must be considered the one to beat in the Rosehill Gold Cup. Rosehill Gold Cup Race 9 – #4 Relentless Voyager (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Craig Williams (57kg) +500 with Picklebet Best Bet at Rosehill: Left Field The Brad Widdup-trained Left Field returns after a 140-day spell and appears ready for a first-up assault. The progressive four-year-old proved a model of consistency last preparation, with a win and two minor placings across her four starts as her only failure came on a Heavy track at Rosehill on June 6. Her two trials suggest she’s ready to fire here, and with a genuine tempo engaged, watch for Left Field to be barrelling down the centre of the course to claim her third-career victory. Best Bet Race 6- #15 Left Field (7) 4yo Mare | T: Brad Widdup | J: Tyler Schiller (54kg) +450 with Dabble Next Best at Rosehill: Elettrica Elettrica caught the eye first-up over 1200m at Warwick Farm on October 16 and should appreciate the extra 100m to gather in her rivals. She couldn’t reel in the 3.3-length margin in an on-speed-dominated affair and looks much better suited getting back to the Rosehill circuit where she’s claimed two of her four wins in the past. Molly Bourke should lob into a handy position from barrier six throughout, and at the each-way price with horse racing bookmakers, Elettrica should give followers a bold sight turning for home. Next Best Race 2 – #1 Elettrica (6) 6yo Mare | T: Richard & Will Freedman | J: Molly Bourke (a2kg) (61.5kg) +900 with Playup Best Value at Rosehill: Poppin’ Champagne Poppin’ Champagne drops back to BM78 company after giving a good account of herself in the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 19. She got every chance to figure by Dylan Gibbons but was simply outclassed by the likes of Lekvarte and Quickster. This looks a far more suitable assignment on paper, and with the daughter of Written Tycoon likely to lob into a mid-field position with cover throughout, watch for Poppin’ Champagne to be bursting clear down the centre of the Rosehill straight. Best Value Race 10 – #5 Poppin’ Champagne (6) 4yo Mare | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Dylan Gibbons (58.5kg) +1000 with Bet365 Saturday quaddie tips for Rosehill Rosehill quadrella selections November 2, 2024 1-2-3-4 1-3-12-13-15-16-19 2-3-4-8 1-5-7-9-10-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Lux Libertas will contest the Financial Services 1300 at Tauranga on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Lux Libertas 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 1 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 (Group 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.” Horse racing news View the full article

Bella Waters will contest the Financial Services Handicap (1300m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Lightly raced mare Bella Waters 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 Group 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, 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. “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. Horse racing news View the full article

What Ascot races Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, November 2, 2024 First Race 12:24pm AWST Visit Dabble The Prince Of Wales Stakes and Asian Beau Stakes, both at Group 3 level, will headline the massive nine-race card at Ascot this Saturday afternoon. The track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, but with perfect weather forecast in the lead-up to the meeting, expect an upgrade to a Good surface on Saturday. The rail will be pushed out to the +8m position for the entire circuit, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 12:24pm AWST. Prince Of Wales Stakes tip: Snowdome Neville and Brad Parnham will combine with the recently gelded Snowdome when he returns from a 32-week spell in the Prince Of Wales Stakes with no public trial in readiness for this contest. This son of Rommel has strong first-up (6:2-1-1) and distance (8:4-1-2) records, and with him coming into this with no trial, it suggests he is going very well at home. From barrier one, Parnham will settle behind a hot speed, and if he can get into clear air at the 300m mark, Snowdome will prove hard to hold out. Prince Of Wales Stakes Race 7 – #4 Snowdome (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Neville Parnham | J: Brad Parnham (58.5kg) +500 with Picklebet Asian Beau Stakes tip: Super Smink Super Smink appears to have returned in career best form this preparation, recording back-to-back placings in her two runs, including an unlucky second in the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes last start. Daniel Morton and the connections of this daughter of Super One will be very happy after drawing barrier six, which should allow Chris Parnham to settle closer to the speed. If Parnham can find a back to follow around the final corner and is within four lengths off the leader, Super Smink will power over the top of her rivals late. Asian Beau Stakes Race 8 – #2 Super Smink (6) 4yo Mare | T: Daniel Morton | J: Chris Parnham (57kg) +240 with Dabble Best Bet at Ascot: Pull The Trigger After having to share the spoils in a dead-heat last start, Pull The Trigger will seek a winning hat-trick in the opening race for Daniel & Ben Pearce. This four-year-old gelding has won both starts since returning for his third racing campaign, and with the strength of his finishing burst over 1400m, the 1600m should suit third-up. After drawing the ace barrier, William Pike will settle close to the speed and attempt to replicate last start by bursting through a gap late to savage the line. Best Bet Race 1 – #3 Pull The Trigger (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Daniel & Ben Pearce | J: William Pike (57.5kg) +170 with Neds Next Best at Ascot: Chollima Chollima was the flashing light run in a 1400m race at this track on October 19, when the Darren McAuliffe-trained mare worked home strongly between runners to finish third. Now that the daughter of Starspangledbanner strikes a weaker race over 1500m, she will appreciate a strong speed and should be hitting this contest at peak fitness third-up. Brad Parnham will settle worse than midfield on the outside of runners before peeling out wide to finish off strongly down the middle of the track. Next Best Race 3 – #2 Chollima (8) 4yo Mare | T: Darren McAuliffe | J: Brad Parnham (59.5kg) +210 with PlayUp Saturday quaddie tips for Ascot races Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, November 2, 2024 1-2-4 3-4-5-8 2-3-9-15 3-4-6-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Moonee Valley races Where Moonee Valley Racecourse – 1 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Friday, November 1, 2024 First Race 5:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Moonee Valley Racing Club will host a competitive eight-race program this Friday evening. The track was rated as a Good 4 at the time of acceptances, and with perfect weather forecast for Friday, expect the surface to remain in the Good range throughout the meeting. The rail will be in the +4m position for the entire circuit, with racing set to kick off at 5:45pm AEDT. Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Roadcone Roadcone has run two solid races in Benchmark 70 grade to kick off this preparation, but after failing to win, Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman have chosen to drop him back in grade here. This son of Almanzor settled behind the speed at Ballarat last start and battled on gamely on the inside of runners for fifth over 1400m. With Ryan Houston taking 3kg off his back along with a class and distance drop, Roadcone gets a great chance to record another win. Best Bet Race 8 – #2 Roadcone (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Ryan Houston (a3) (61.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Next Best at Moonee Valley: Farewell To Eire Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman will be looking to bookend the Moonee Valley card, with Farewell to Eire seeking to go one better after a second-place finish at Moe last start. The son of Vadamos had to sustain a long run before the home turn on a Heavy track, and after lunging on the line, he went down by a nose to Igotcha over 1600m. Although he meets that winner again, a firmer track and hot speed is expected to favour this lightly raced mare. If Luke Nolen can find a back to follow from the 400m mark, Farewell To Eire will go very close. Next Best Race 1 – #5 Farewell To Eire (1) 5yo Mare | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Luke Nolen (58.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Moonee Valley: Fiorenot Fiorenot has continued to go from strength to strength in his first racing campaign following a tough win over 1700m at Warrnambool last start, where he had to carry 62kg and still managed to win. As a son of Fiorente, this four-year-old gelding will appreciate another rise in trip and should have no worries with the 2040m. Jordan Childs will be legged aboard this guy for his third ride, and from barrier 12, Fiorenot will settle back in the field, tack onto the three-wide running line, and finish off strongly. Best Value Race 7 – #2 Fiorenot (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Tom Dabernig | J: Jordan Childs (61kg) Bet with Dabble Moonee Valley quaddie tips – 1/11/24 Moonee Valley quadrella selections Friday, November 1, 2024 2-3-5-8 2-3-6-8 1-4-5-6-11 2-7-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

After a midweek treble, the veteran handler turns his attention to Sunday’s Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m).View the full article

by Steve Sherack & J.N. Campbell DEL MAR, CA — A stallion share (2.5% fractional interest) in undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year and GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Flightline (Tapit) brought $2.5 million from Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm to top the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale held in Del Mar's paddock Wednesday evening. The final offering of the sale, the stallion share was consigned by Lane's End Farm as Hip 12. Flightline welcomed his first foals this year and will command a $150,000 stud fee at Lane's End in 2025. Flightline, of course, was bred by Summer Wind and brought $1 million as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. He was campaigned in partnership by Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, with Summer Wind Equine also staying in for a piece. A share in Flightline sold for $4.6 million at the 2022 Keeneland November sale, just two days after his jaw-dropping win in the Classic. “The foals that Flightline is producing are just different,” said consultant Dr. Steve Jackson, who signed the ticket on Lyon's behalf. “They're strong and their correct. Lots of class. They are just really, really nice foals, so it made sense to go after this share. This was the amount at the top end that we thought this share would go for and we hit the mark.” A stallion share in #BreedersCup champion Flightline sells for $2.5 million at tonight's @keeneland Championship Sale! pic.twitter.com/2EAgtjVPqe — Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 31, 2024 A stallion share in GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint 7-5 morning-line favorite Cogburn (Not This Time) (Hip 5) brought $475,000 from Richard and Connie Snyder. Cogburn set a North American-record time for 5 1/2 furlongs (:59.80) while capturing the GI Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga. He will be retired to WinStar Farm at the end of the year for the 2025 breeding season. Cogburn is campaigned in partnership by Clark Brewster and L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. “We are happy and obviously excited about Cogburn and all that he has done this year,” said WinStar Farm's President/CEO & Racing Manager Elliott Walden. “The chance to offer this share came up and Keeneland did a fabulous job putting this on.” The GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint-bound Pandora's Gift (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) (Hip 11) brought $850,000 from Randy Sarf's LSU Stables. The Sarf family will also be represented by 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Pandora's Gift, Group 3-placed in Ireland, finished third for owner/trainer Stuart C. Williams in the GII Franklin Stakes at Keeneland last time Oct. 13. “The idea was a simple one behind this [Keeneland Championship Sale] and that was to have a party with a sale, and not a sale with a party,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “That was really the intention and I think we are thrilled with the results. Anytime you introduce something new, it can take a little while for people to register what we are doing, and it was great that so many people came out who were willing to give it a shot.” Arvin continued, “We knew we wanted to offer different types of bloodstock, so definitely ones that had relevant updates or ones that were actually running in the World Championships. This is a game that takes complete patience, and how often do you have a chance to buy something on a Wednesday that is going to run at this level on a Friday or Saturday.” Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy added, “With something new it always takes time to gain real traction. We were really pleased with the ones that sold. The others that didn't sell got very, very close. We were appreciative of the people who supported the sale from the selling side. It is also important to remember that the horses that can go forward not only for the Breeders' Cup, but for the rest of the year. We had participation from the Middle East and again from the major breeders on the Flightline and Cogburn shares. We certainly learned from this experience and the feedback was really positive. It was something fun to do and we achieved that.” The post Stallion Share in Flightline Brings $2.5 Million, Tops Keeneland Championship Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

No Flightline or Cody’s Wish, instead a collection of very competitive races with a bunch of horses you may never have heard of.View the full article

By Mike Love Timaru trainer Graeme Telfer heads to the grass at Methven on Friday looking to add more success to his week – after Szybka Lane won impressively at Ashburton on Labour Day. He will line up three runners on the grass at Mt Harding although success in Race 1, the Speight’s Trot over 1700m, may be defined as “just doing things right” when it comes to maiden trotter Silvester. “He’s a work in progress. If he trotted all the way he would be a chance,” said Graeme Telfer. The four-year-old gelding by The Pres initially went away well on debut at Oamaru two weeks ago before rolling into a gallop. “We will have to see if he gets through the race without breaking. At this stage he’s a risky proposition.” Since then Silvester returned to the trials where he made another mistake but trotted well thereafter suggesting there is something under the bonnet. “There’s definitely ability there – it’s just a matter of time and learning the ropes.” A quick turnaround for Telfer will see Usa having her first start in Race 2, the Pendene Farms (Fillies and Mares) Mobile Pace. The three-year-old Artsplace filly qualified in March before being tipped out for a spell. Since then she has trialled at Ashburton within the last couple of weeks and will look to keep improving. “She’s another that’s a work in progress. But being a small field and drawn okay will help her. She should get an economical run.” “She’s well bred. I think it’s the second last Artsplace ever.” Prince Rainer lines up in Race 6, the Ryal Bush Transport Ashburton Mobile Trot. Drawn two, the seven-year-old Monarchy gelding returns to his beloved Methven track – having won two of his three career wins, and placing a further eight times from 18 attempts. “He goes well and loves the track. This is his second run in a week, and he’s been finishing off his races well lately.” “If he handles the mobile he should go well.” Prince Rainer has also placed twice from five attempts over the mile. Telfer is optimistic overall about his runners’ chances, and is especially so with the engagement of driver John Dunn who is booked to drive all three. “I think the best part of it is John Dunn driving them.” Telfer’s win with Szybka Lane earlier in the week ticked his tally as a trainer over to 60 career wins. He trains a team of six. Szybka Lane is next likely to race at Oamaru on November 7 followed by a date at stud. “She is going to Captain Crunch.” Racing commences this afternoon from 3:12pm. View the full article

What Eagle Farm Races Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, November 2, 2024 First Race 12:23pm AEST Visit Dabble Brisbane Racing Club will host a nine-race program at Eagle Farm this Saturday afternoon, where the first of those races will kick off at 12:23pm AEST. With rain forecast on Thursday and Friday, there is a chance that the track will be downgraded from the Good 4 rating that was posted at the time of acceptances. The rail will be in the +1m position for the entire circuit. Best Bet at Eagle Farm: Cartwheels Cartwheels is yet to finish outside the placings from six starts in her career, and she maintained that record with an unlucky third-place finish at this track over 1400m first-up. The Matthew Hoysted-trained mare settled midfield before working off the rail to find a gap in between runners and burst through with a strong finish. Rising to 1600m will suit second-up, and if Andrew Mallyon can get her to the outside of runners on the home turn, Cartwheels will prove hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 3 – #8 Cartwheels (11) 4yo Mare | T: Matthew Hoysted | J: Andrew Mallyon (57.5kg) +300 with Picklebet Next Best at Eagle Farm: Transatlantic Following an impressive trial victory at Deagon over 1050m, Tony Gollan will bring Transatlantic to the races off a 26-week spell, when he will return as a gelding. The son of Snitzel led the field up in his trial and worked his way to the line nicely under no riding, showing that he may have come back better than ever this time in. With the aid of Emily Lang’s 2kg claim, expect Trasatlantic to push forward, settle on speed and prove hard to run down late. Next Best Race 6 – #2 Transatlantic (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: Emily Lang (a2) (60kg) +260 with Neds Best Value at Eagle Farm: Propose Propose will drop back in trip from 1820m to 1500m, following her strong victory at this track on October 12. The Matt Kropp-trained filly was stuck by a wall of horses turning for home, but once she got into clear, she let down with a strong turn of foot in the final 200m. Although she steps back in distance, the daughter of Rothesay won over 1350m three starts back, and if she shows a similar finishing burst here, Propose can win again at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 4 – #6 Propose (8) 3yo Filly | T: Matt Kropp | J: Mark Du Plessis (56.5kg) +850 with PlayUp Saturday quaddie tips for Eagle Farm races Eagle Farm quadrella selections Saturday, November 2, 2024 1-2-3 2-3-5-10 2-4-6-9-10 3-6-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article