Wandering Eyes

A quintet of wildcards have been added to the upcoming Arqana Autumn Sale on Nov. 18-21. Led by 1300-metre heroine Lilas Trezy (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) (lot 423), the fivesome will sell on Nov. 18. The other lots are all National Hunt offerings: winning hurdlers La Pagaille (Fr) (Choeur Du Nord {Fr}) (lot 458) and Becasse (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) (lot 464), placed AQPS hurdler Le Tiep's Sacre (Fr) (It's Gino {Ger}) (lot 465) and Keyreine Du Seuil (Fr) (Masterstroke) (lot 466), third in a listed chase at Auteuil. For the full catalogue, please visit the Arqana website. The post Lilas Trezy Heads Quintet Of Wildcards For Arqana Autumn Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) will begin his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham next season, the stud announced on Wednesday. He will stand for a fee of €15,000, with a small number of shares available in the son of Zarak (Fr). Bred by Stuart McPhee, Metropolitan was bought by Alessandro Marconi for €78,000 at the Arqana October Yearling Sale. He was trained for owners Peter Bradley and Scuderia Scolari by Mario Baratti, who saddled him to win three of his seven career starts. The Classic winner also finished third in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and runner-up in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. “Metropolitan has always been an exceptional horse, with a rare presence,” said Baratti. “He is strong, compact, and boasts an excellent acceleration. From the beginning of his career in Deauville at two, until the Jacques le Marois, he continually demonstrated his incredible ability. It has been a memorable experience to train him and we wish him great success in his new career as a stallion.” Metropolitan is the second winner from four runners out of his unraced dam, the Halling mare Alianza (GB), a half-sister to the Listed-placed Boater (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}). Also unraced was his second dam, Cercle d'Amour (Storm Cat), a full-sister to the Listed-winning Royal Tigress (Storm Cat) and a half-sister to the G3 Norfolk Stakes winner and G1 Prix Morny runner-up Warm Heart (Diesis {GB}). Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure said, “Metropolitan is a top-class stallion prospect and we are enthusiastic about his arrival at the stud for 2025. We have nothing but praise for him–he is a magnificent horse with a faultless physique. His pedigree represents a real asset for breeding because as a descendant of Dubawi, Storm Cat and Sharpen Up, he is exempt of the bloodlines of Danzig and Sadler's Wells and can be crossed with a multitude of mares. “His qualities as a racehorse are also remarkable. Combative and precocious, with great natural speed, he has powerful assets to succeed as a sire. His name Metropolitan is well-chosen with reference to the cosmopolitan connections associated with his career. We would like to thank them once again for their trust and we are delighted that we will join together to support Metropolitan in his new role as a stallion.” The post Classic Hero Metropolitan Retires to Haras d’Etreham for 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Maryland Racing Commission has approved a 2025 racing schedule that calls for Laurel and Pimlico to race just 120 days in 2025. The dates were approved at an Oct. 28 racing commission meeting. The story was first reported by the website the racingbiz.com. The number of racing dates has fluctuated in recent years, but the new schedule will mark a new era for Maryland racing. As recently as 2019 there were 174 racing dates. The dates will be divided between the state's two tracks with 114 dates at Laurel, plus a six-day meet at Pimlico surrounding the running of the GI Preakness Stakes. The new setup will create a situation where, for much of the calendar, the Maryland tracks will not be going up against Colonial Downs. The Maryland tracks will also be closed in July and August, which is generally when Colonial Downs races. Laurel will be closed during the first half of the new year and will re-open Jan. 17. Maryland will also be dark over the weekend of Mar. 14-16, when Colonial will have a mini-meet highlighted by the Virginia Derby. Starting in 2025, the Maryland tracks will no longer be under the control of 1/ST Racing. Rather a new entity, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA), will be in charge. The MTROA is similar to the New York Racing Association, a quasi-state agency that controls racing at the New York tracks. While still in control, 1/ST Racing made it known that the tracks were struggling financially. Funds from the purse account have been used to subsidized 1/ST's operating expenses. The post Maryland Will Run Consolidated Racing Schedule In 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Shirl's Speight, a Grade I winner by Speightstown out of GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}), will stand the upcoming breeding season at Darby Dan Farm, the farm announced Wednesday. He will stand his first season at stud for $5,000 S&N. A homebred for Charles Fipke trained by Roger Attfield, the globetrotting Shirl's Speight scored the biggest win of his career in the 2022 GI Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland, and he was among the top milers that year when also second by three-quarters of a length to champion Modern Games (GB) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, also at Keeneland. In addition to his Grade I triumph and runner-up performance in the Breeders' Cup Mile, Shirl's Speight also finished second in the 2023 GI Woodbine Mile to multiple Grade I winner Master of the Seas (Ire). He won on turf and all-weather surfaces and was placed on dirt behind Grade I winners Mind Control and Hot Rod Charlie when third in the 2022 GIII Salvatore Mile at Monmouth Park. Shirl's Speight exploded onto the racing scene as a 3-year-old, dominating his Woodbine career debut with an eight-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight on the turf. Despite being geared down late, Shirl's Speight covered the distance in 1:19.97, just missing the course record of 1:19.22 set by Silent Poet in 2019. The effort garnered Shirl's Speight a `TDN Rising Star 'designation. In his next start, Shirl's Speight stretched out to two turns over Woodbine's synthetic surface in the GIII Marine Stakes, which he won by 2 3/4 lengths. He raced in Japan, Dubai (where he was fourth in the G1 Dubai Turf), Canada and the U.S., hitting the board in 10 of 25 appearances and earning $1,497,245. He retires to stud sound. Speightstown, a champion sprinter and one of the most prolific and versatile sires of the last decade, has several successful sons at stud, including Munnings and Grade I winners Charlatan, Olympiad, and Prince of Monaco. Shirl's Speight is a member of a family cultivated by Fipke through the decades. One of only a handful of North American breeders who race homebreds exclusively, Fipke purchased Shirl's Speight's second dam, Grade I winner Lady Shirl, for $485,000 at the 2005 Keeneland November sale. Fipke bred Lady Shirl to his homebred Sadler's Wells stallion Perfect Soul (Ire), winner of the 2003 GI Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile to get Perfect Shirl, winner of the 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Perfect Shirl, also trained by Attfield, earned more than $1.3 million during her racing career. Perfect Shirl is also the dam of graded stakes-placed Speightstown Shirl, a full sibling to Shirl's Speight; and Ready for Shirl (More Than Ready), also tabbed a `TDN Rising Star' this year at Keeneland after winning a maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles on the turf by three lengths in her debut. Lady Shirl is also the dam of Shakespeare, winner of the GI Woodbine Mile and the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic; Lady Shakespeare, a multiple graded stakes winner and the dam of the Grade I winner Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), a 2-year-old champion filly in Canada for Fipke and Attfield; and stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed Fantastic Shirl. The post Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile Winner Shirl’s Speight to Stand at Darby Dan in 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will skip next week's G1 Melbourne Cup and instead target the G1 Champions Stakes during the Australian autumn, Yulong's Sam Fairgray revealed on Wednesday. A title defence of the G1 Cox Plate is also in the offing for next October. Originally a 5,000gns Tattersalls December yearling purchase, the bay would go on to take the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes before changing hands for 2,700,000gns at the 2023 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Now racing for Yusheng Zhang's Yulong in Australia, she has won a total of four Group 1 races for Chris Waller just this year, beginning with the Ranvet Stakes in March, the Winx Stakes in August, the Turnbull Stakes in September and the Cox Plate last Saturday. “The big carrot that the boss (Mr Zhang) ultimately wants to win one day is the Melbourne Cup,” Sam Fairgray told racenet.com.au. “He would love to win it. But at the end of the day the horse comes first. Everything was considered and the decision was made that the best thing for her was not to run (in the Cup). It was never in our early calculations, so hopefully she can now go to the Champions (Stakes). “Hong Kong is definitely off (this year). We have a property at Bayles, so she will go there (after the Champions) and get a rest and we will get set for the autumn, and hopefully another Cox Plate next year.” The post Via Sistina Will Skip The Melbourne Cup In Favour Of Champions Stakes Bid appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racing Victoria will not compromise on the welfare of horses for the G1 Melbourne Cup after there was plenty of publicity about the scratching of Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), they announced on Wednesday. “I don't think the reaction's necessarily surprising,” EGM – Integrity Jamie Stier told racing.com. “When the protocols were implemented, it was understood that not everyone was in agreement and was made known that they were not in agreement. And that is as it is, but the protocols were put in place to mitigate any risks that we were able to identify with horses that were going to run in the Melbourne Cup. “So we put in place a process, we're following that process through. The last 24 hours, I'd say, it's unfortunate. It's always unfortunate to see such a high-quality horse not be able to take their part in the race. And that's disappointing not only for the connections and everyone associated with the horse, but also all the fans out there, all the punters, but also for us here at Racing Victoria. “We go to great lengths to try and get these horses here to Victoria to take part in these races, but we won't sacrifice safety for the sake of having a runner.” The post ‘We Won’t Sacrifice Safety’: Racing Victoria’s Stance On Jan Brueghel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Breeders' Cup 2024View the full article

Sea The Stars (Ire)'s Sea King (GB) punched his ticket to the G1 Melbourne Cup next Tuesday when winning the G3 Bendigo Cup by 3 1/4 lengths on Wednesday (video). The 5-year-old took over prior to the home straight and forged clear to defeat Berkeley Square (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) in the 2400-metre feature. “It's incredibly exciting. A lot was riding on it, it's the last win-and-you're-in for the Cup, so it's an absolute dream result today,” trainer Harry Eustace told racenet.com.au. “I'd just like to thank (syndicator) Terry (Henderson) … he managed to buy this horse just before Docklands (GB) travelled down as well and it's proving a pretty inspired purchase. “Curiously, coming down, we never even thought we'd get close and, of course, since we've been here the Cup, as everyone is well aware, has really started cutting up. So the closer we got to getting in the more pressure there was I suppose.” Bred by Highclere Stud, the son of stakes winner and G2 Ribblesdale Stakes third Pamona (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) was an 87,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase by Barry Lynch and Heath House. After making several starts for Charlie Walker and Osborne House III, the gelding raced for Neil Boyden from May of 2022, winning several handicaps. He was sold privately to Australian connections prior to his Bendigo Cup score. The weight the gelding will tote in the Race That Stops a Nation will be announced on Thursday. The post Sea King Books Melbourne Cup Ticket With Bendigo Cup Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund have signed a memorandum of understanding to leverage and expand the two parties' shared commitment regarding their respective racing and breeding jurisdictions. Recognising a shared interest in fostering a cooperative relationship, both parties aim to cross-promote the participation of Thoroughbred breeders, owners, trainers and racehorses across both jurisdictions. According to a press release issued by HRI on Wednesday, “The memorandum of understanding demonstrates a mutual commitment to advancing and promoting the growth and success of both parties respective thoroughbred breeding and racing industries in key areas such as racing programmes, breeding and bloodstock sales, education, employment opportunities and welfare.” Suzanne Eade, CEO of HRI, said, “I am delighted to sign this agreement, which is building on the existing long-standing relationship HRI has with the New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund. They are a valued industry partner and the memorandum of understanding identifies a range of objectives and goals across all facets of our industries that we can both further leverage to create a positive and mutually beneficial impact.” New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund chairman Brian O'Dwyer added, “This is great news for New York State, as it underscores the important role our Thoroughbred breeding industry plays on the global stage. We are honoured to work with our partners at Horse Racing Ireland, as we have much to learn and much to share.” The post HRI and New York State Fund Sign Memorandum of Understanding appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 197 lots have been catalogued for the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, which takes place at Park Paddocks on Monday, November 25. The catalogue features 11 siblings to Group 1 winners, including lot 63, a Dark Angel (Ire) half-sister to this year's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and the Commonwealth Cup winner and sire Golden Horde (Ire); lot 102, a Nathaniel (Ire) half-sister to this year's Irish Champion Stakes scorer Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}); and lot 179, a Saxon Warrior (Jpn) three-parts brother to the Prix du Jockey Club winner and exciting young sire Study Of Man (Ire). Lot 158, a Kingman (GB) colt out of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), is a notable offering from the Cheveley Park Stud draft, while Kirsten Rausing's Staffordstown Stud is responsible for lot 122, a Siyouni (Fr) colt out of the G1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes heroine Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko). Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The combination of quality and value for money is the key to the popularity of the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale and the extraordinary success of 5,000 guineas purchase and now five times Group 1 winner Via Sistina as well as the 1 million guineas pinhooking triumph at this year's Craven Breeze Up Sale have been spectacular advertisements for the sale. “The 2024 renewal features consignments from many of Britain and Ireland's most successful nurseries and in addition to a host of well bred yearlings, buyers will also find a large number of yearlings eligible for lucrative £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonuses, Great British Bonuses and the ever popular £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes.” The post Catalogue Now Available Online for the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As we approach November of his first year with runners, freshman stallion McKinzie already has confirmed perhaps the most commercially important of his promising traits: grade 1 success as a sire of 2-year-olds.View the full article

A consequence of massive book sizes is that it has become even harder for a less obvious prospective stallion to break into the elite tier. However, just as many seemingly excellent stallion prospects over the years have failed to make the grade, and there is still scope for a stallion to succeed against the odds, to 'pull himself up by his bootstraps', to join the elite after having started out considerably farther down the ladder. One such has been the admirable Invincible Spirit (Ire), whose retirement from active service at the Irish National Stud at the age of 27 has been announced. Invincible Spirit was a very good horse and a very fast horse but, although he won a maiden race at Goodwood and the Hornblower Stakes at Ripon as a two-year-old, he didn't make the frame in a Group race until he was four and didn't show top-class form until he was five. In fact, notwithstanding that had won the G3 MacDonagh Boland Stakes at the Curragh as an autumn four-year-old in 2001 and the G3 Duke Of York on the first run of his five-year-old season in 2002, it was not until his final (and 17th) start that, as an autumn five-year-old, he properly secured his place at stud, which he did by landing a shock 25/1 victory in the G1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup. Invincible Spirit's pedigree was a big asset to him. Coming from a family which has served his owner/breeder Prince Faisal well, he was a son of the 1990 G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}). Furthermore, his sire Green Desert was respected as a sire of stallions as well as racehorses. Consequently, a fee of €10,000 seemed reasonable when he began covering at the Irish National Stud in the spring of 2003 under the management of former CEO John Clarke. Latterly, his career was guided by John Osborne then Cathal Beale. It is probably fair to say that initially the general expectation was that his role would most likely be to help 'commercial' breeders to produce stock who might appeal to the market's seemingly insatiable desire for relatively inexpensive speed. In time, he would prove to be much, much more significant than that. Invincible Spirit got off to the best possible start by siring the winner of the Brocklesby Stakes in 2006, the first two-year-old race of Britain's new turf season going to the Bill Turner-trained Spoof Master (Ire), who had been bought for £15,000 at the previous autumn's St Leger Yearling Sale at Doncaster. In time, Spoof Master would go on to give his own little demonstration that Invincible Spirit was not merely a one-dimensional sire of precocious juveniles because he raced until he was nine. The collective results of Invincible Spirit's first juveniles were solid: within Great Britain and Ireland he was represented by 28 individual winners in 2006 who between them won 50 races. This was enough for him to sneak into the top 50 in the General Sires' Table, a very good achievement for a relatively inexpensive horse with only one crop representing him. This was reflected in his stud fee, which shot up to €35,000 in 2007. Within another 12 months, even that rapidly inflated figure was looking a terrific bargain. During the 2007 season, the seed really burst into flower. Getting a Classic winner in his first crop does not, of course, guarantee long-term success for a stallion, but it is as good a start as any. That is exactly what Invincible Spirit did, courtesy of Lawman (Fr) who landed the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club in the early summer of 2007, beating Literato (Fr) who went on to win the G1 Champion S. four months later. This triumph was sandwiched between wins in the G3 Prix de Guiche over 1800m and the G1 Prix Jean Prat over 1600m. Lawman himself went on to enjoy great success in his first few years at stud, with his first crop containing the 2012 G1 St. James's Palace S. winner Most Improved (Ire) and the 2013 G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Just The Judge (Ire) being the star of his second batch. Notwithstanding that his best son that year never raced outside France, Invincible Spirit finished in 16th place in the General Sires' Table of Great Britain and Ireland in 2007. He was given plenty of help by his second-crop daughter Fleeting Spirit (Ire) whose two-year-old season saw her successful over five furlongs in the G3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood and the G2 Flying Childers at Doncaster, as well as finishing second in the G2 Lowther Stakes at York and to subsequent G1 1,000 Guineas heroine Natagora (Fr) in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Thereafter, Invincible Spirit became a permanent fixture in the upper reaches of the table. He broke into the top ten in 2008, when he finished seventh, and he remained in the top ten for 13 straight seasons with the sole exception of 2013, when he finished 11th. For the 2008 season his fee rose significantly again to €75,000 and, while this proved slightly hard for the market to swallow at the time, his continued success saw him standing for six-figure sums from 2015 to 2020 inclusive. Breeding in Ireland during that period was dominated, of course, by Galileo. That great horse won his first sires' championship in 2008 and then was champion sire in the 11 seasons from 2010 to 2020 inclusive. During these 12 years, Dubawi (Ire) finished second to him four times and Montjeu (Ire) twice. Otherwise, six stallions were runner-up. Invincible Spirit was one of these, finishing second in the table in 2014. That was the year of Kingman (GB), his best son who deservedly ended the year as Cartier Horse of the Year thanks to a splendid campaign during which he won four consecutive Group 1 races after suffering his only defeat when (inexplicably) finishing second to Night Of Thunder (Ire) in the 2,000 Guineas. Another son of Invincible Spirit finished fifth in that 2,000 Guineas, Charm Spirit (Ire), and he too enjoyed great success as the season went on, putting together a hat-trick of Group 1 mile victories culminating in his defeat of Night Of Thunder in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on QIPCO Champions' Day. Kingman does not rank as the most prolific of Invincible Spirit's 22 Group 1 winners. The fabulous Moonlight Cloud (GB) scored at the highest level six times, between 1300m and 1600m, and came very close to landing a Group 1 victory over six furlongs when failing by only a head to overhaul Black Caviar (Aus) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2012, a year in which her sire finished third in the General Sires' Table of Great Britain and Ireland, beaten only by Galileo and Montjeu. Having come so close to 2,000 Guineas glory with Kingman in 2014 and again the following year when Territories (Ire) finished second to Gleneagles (Ire), Invincible Spirit laid the ghost of those near misses to rest when Magna Grecia (Ire) won Britain's first Classic of 2019. Aside from his outstanding milers, Invincible Spirit has been represented by some wonderful sprinters including G1 July Cup winners Fleeting Spirit and Mayson (GB), G1 King's Stand Stakes winner Profitable (Ire) and the top-class sprinting juvenile Shalaa (Ire), successful in both the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes in 2015. As Invincible Spirit heads into his well-earned retirement, Kingman stands as his natural heir. Having retired to Banstead Manor Stud in 2015, he was an instant success, coming up with the G2 Coventry Stakes winner Calyx (GB) in his first crop. Even more notably, his second crop contained the five-time Group 1-winning champion miler Palace Pier (GB). He has subsequently gone from strength to strength, with his stars in 2024 including the Classic winners Elmalka (GB) and Sparkling Plenty (Fr) as well as the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Friendly Soul (GB). Excellent a sire though Kingman is, he is not Invincible Spirit's most distinguished sire-son. That honour clearly falls to I Am Invincible (Aus), the most notable product of the four seasons during which Invincible Spirit shuttled to Chatswood Stud (Vic) in Australia early in his career. Although three-time Group 1 heroine Yosei (Aus) was a superior racehorse, I Am Invincible has become very special indeed. Like Invincible Spirit, I Am Invincible took quite a long time to register the high-class form required to secure a place at stud, which he did in Adelaide as a four-year-old in the autumn of 2009 when he won a Group 3 sprint before chasing home Takeover Target (Aus) in the G1 Goodwood Handicap. He finally retired to Yarraman Park Stud in New South Wales, where he has been a revelation, as can be deduced from the path of his stud fee, which started out at $11,000 before hitting a peak of $302,500 in 2023. As that meteoric rise implies, he is a wonderful stallion. He has been Australia's champion sire for the past three seasons and is adept at producing both top two-year-olds and high-class horses who hold their form for several seasons. He looks at least as likely as Kingman to keep Invincible Spirit's line going in the years to come, and that is really saying something. Invincible Spirit's influence will, of course, also flourish through his daughters. He is shaping up as an excellent broodmare sire, as his current sixth place in the table in Great Britain and Ireland confirms, with 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) being his best current representative in this respect. If that horse can win the GI Breeders' Cup Mile (or, indeed, if last year's GI BC Juvenile Turf Sprint place-getter Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) can win the GI BC Turf Sprint), they will follow in the footsteps of Invincible Spirit's grandson Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), successful in the GI BC Juvenile Turf in 2022. Invincible Spirit has been a key component of Europe's stallion ranks for years, during which time he has been a great friend to many breeders as well as a true stalwart for the Irish National Stud. A further boon of his popularity was that it encouraged Tally-Ho Stud to take a chance on his younger three-parts brother Kodiac (Ire) (Danehill) in 2007, despite that horse never having won a black-type race. Like his sibling, Kodiac has turned out to be a wonderful stallion. Invincible Spirit can now enjoy his retirement as we savour the fact that his name is likely to remain prominent in the pedigrees of good horses for many years to come. The post Invincible Spirit Earns Honourable Retirement at 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Malaysia continues to emerge as a leading racing jurisdiction, with many participants making the move to the growing region following the closure of Singapore and Macau. New Zealand Bloodstock has had a long-standing relationship with the major racing club in Malaysia, Selangor Turf Club (STC), and have worked closely with them again prior to the leading sale of two-year-olds, NZB’s Ready to Run Sale. As a result, STC have since announced another raft of bonus races for graduates of NZB’s Ready to Run Sale as well as incentives for their trainers to purchase at the leading sale of its kind. The added initiatives come just one year after the first running of NZB’s graduate races where Duma (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) made a stylish winning debut in the RM50,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale Trophy (1200m) just last month, and superstar Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn) won the RM100,000 NZB 3-Year-Old Trophy (1400m) back in July. Selangor Turf Club’s additional incentives announced for the 2024 Ready to Run Sale: A RM300,000 Open Championship for all graduates of NZB’s Ready to Run sales A RM150,000 race for graduates of the 2024 edition of NZB’s Ready to Run Sale Two RM70,000 Maiden races for NZB 2024 Ready to Run Sale graduates Two RM70,000 Novice races for NZB 2024 Ready to Run Sale graduates Plus, RM10,000 freight subsidy per horse purchased at the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale “We are happy that the Club has maintained a strong affiliation with NZB,” commented Selangor Turf Club Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Richard Cham Hak Lim. “New Zealand horses have been performing very well and winning many races at the Club. “Each purchase has proven to offer good value for money. We hope to purchase more horses this year at the Sales during our yearly tour to Karaka.” NZB’s Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone has been working closely with Selangor Turf Club. “The new race series and sponsorships are a continuation of our support for Selangor, who we have been working with for more than 30 years.” “The STC have become vital participants in the success of our Ready to Run Sale and have been rewarded with outstanding graduates and results like current champion Antipodean.” “We look forward to hosting the biggest number of clients from Malaysia yet at the 2024 Sale. I am very proud of the work our team at NZB, NZTM and NZTE to give our vendors the best opportunity to sell their horses.” “The work by Chairman Tan Sri Richard, CEO Mike Fong and the committee to promote the sport in Malaysia is incredible. They are a very progressive and forward-thinking Club, and what a credit to thoroughbred racing globally they have become.” CEO of Selangor Turf Club, Dato Michael Fong believes the announcements to be a positive one for the emerging jurisdiction. “We hope the incentives and special races lined up for New Zealand horses would attract our trainers and owners to invest in bigger scale, to procure new horses at the upcoming NZB Ready to Run Sale.” “With the Club looking into hosting weekly racing and increasing prize money in 2025, it would certainly benefit the owners with bigger returns.” NZB’s subsidiary business NZB Airfreight has also been key to ensuring the transport of these purchases into Malaysia each year, which has historically been a difficult route logistically. And as a further incentive to Malaysian buyers, Selangor Turf Club is able to offer RM10,000 airfreight subsidies per horse purchased at the 2024 Ready to Run Sale to ensure their buyers have access to the world’s best two-year-old sale. The 2024 edition of the Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on 20 and 21 November from 11am (NZT). For international enquiries, contact Mike Kneebone on +61 439 568 881 or email mike.kneebone@nzb.co.nz View the full article

John O’Shea has provided James McDonald with seven of his 100 Group 1 victories and the trainer suspects those numbers can increase by one when McDonald rides for him in Saturday’s $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington. It has been more than eight years since the pair combined for a win at the elite level, when Hauraki took the Epsom Handicap at Randwick at a time when O’Shea was the head trainer for Godolphin Australia. “We’re due to have another nice race win,” O’Shea said on Tuesday. “We’re pleased to get him as I think he was holding out for the Godolphin horse (Broadsiding) and when it was announced he wouldn’t run, we picked him up. “We ran the gauntlet a bit, but it all turned out well.” McDonald rode King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) for the first time when he was a fast-finishing third in the G2 Vase (2040m) at The Valley, but he could not confirm his Victoria Derby intentions until he got word on Monday about Godolphin’s intentions with Broadsiding. King Of Thunder’s run for third in the Vase was an eye-catcher that hardly surprised O’Shea or training partner Tom Charlton given his encouraging lead-up runs and his capacity to run a trip. “He’s a genuine mile-and-a-half horse that would be best suited by a good tempo in the race,” he said. “That run (last Saturday) was that last step towards the Derby and he performed really well. “We’ll have no problems with the trip for him, so you’d expect him to go well.” O’Shea purchased the son of Tivaci out of a two-year-old Ready To Run sale in New Zealand for just NZ$50,000, with the trainer explaining the horse’s videos showed him to be star of the future. “To be fair, Mike Rennie from Waikato (Stud), they’d passed him in at the sale and he rang me up and said ‘He’s a nice horse’ so, after I watched a video of him, I said ‘Send it over’ and away we went.” If King Of Thunder was to win Saturday’s Victoria Derby, he would be one of the early favourites for the next year’s Melbourne Cup, but O’Shea said he is no longer keen on sending a young horse to that race. “I am not a fan of running four-year-olds in the Melbourne Cup, but we’ll go through the Derby process now and through the autumn and then give him a relatively light spring next year,” he said. “I’ve got a belief that the machinations of the race changed with the advent of the internationals. “In the old days, it was a natural progression for horses to come out of their Derbies and progress to the Melbourne Cup as four-year-olds. “But I think the internationals have shown they lack seasoning those four-year-olds and they were getting badly handicapped as well. “We’ll just take out time and they’ll get there (Melbourne Cup) when they are five or six.” View the full article

Invincible Spirit (Ire), the sire of 22 individual Group 1 winners worldwide, has been retired from covering duties, the Irish National Stud announced on Wednesday. Now 27, Invincible Spirit was a fixture on the Irish National Stud roster of stallions for 22 consecutive seasons, starting in 2003 after his breakthrough Group 1 victory in the Sprint Cup at Haydock the previous autumn. As a racehorse he won seven of his 17 starts for trainer John Dunlop and owner-breeder Prince Faisal, with his other wins including the Duke Of York Stakes when it was run as a Group 3. The son of Green Desert was introduced at a fee of €10,000 and over time developed into one of the most influential sires of his era. In a statement, the Irish National Stud said, “He [Invincible Spirit] quickly demonstrated his ability to produce fast durable racehorses landing the freshman sires title in 2006, earning him a fee hike to €35,000 for the 2007 breeding season. His first Classic winner duly followed with Lawman winning the Group 1 French Derby, cementing his position among Europe's elite stallions. “Group 1 winners Fleeting Spirit, Mayson and six-time Group 1 winner Moonlight Cloud soon followed but it was Kingman who pushed him into the upper echelons of the stallion ranks. His win in the Irish 2,000 Guineas marked a first British/Irish Classic winner for Invincible Spirit as a sire and his fee increased to €100,000 for the 2015 breeding season. “Following four consecutive years of commanding a stud fee of €120,000 and a first British classic success with his son Magna Grecia winning the English 2,000 Guineas, he has stood the last two breeding seasons at a private fee.” The statement continued, “Invincible Spirit's claim as a sire of sires is demonstrated through the success of his son Kingman in the Northern Hemisphere and Champion Australian sire I Am Invincible in the Southern Hemisphere. “In later years he has become a broodmare sire of note with his daughters producing top class racehorses including Breeders' Cup winner Victoria Road, Classic winner Notable Speech as well as Group 1 winners and performers Desert Encounter and Flotus. He leaves an indelible mark not just on the Irish National Stud but on the entire breed.” Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale added, “It has been a great privilege for all of us at Tully to have been here during the reign of Invincible Spirit. He has been, unquestionably, the greatest stallion to have ever stood at the Irish National Stud. We are delighted to be able to retire him now on his own terms. He will live out his days being looked after by the same people, being turned out every day to the same paddock and being given the same exceptional care. He retires as a living legend.” The post Irish National Stud Stalwart Invincible Spirit Retired from Covering Duties appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two more horses, a southern trotter and a northern pacer, have been confirmed for the $500,000 slot races on Addington Raceway’s Show Day Twilight races on Friday, November 15. After a brilliant win at Ashburton on Monday, Bring On The Muscle has been confirmed as being Tumby Park’s representative in the Majestic Horse Floats LP THE ASCENT while the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Better Knuckle Up will replace stablemate Cold Chisel in the Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY for slot-holder Montana Park P/L. Tumby Park is the racing and breeding business run by Scott Whitby near Tweed Heads just on the New South Wales side of the border with Queensland. On Monday Bring On The Muscle looked no chance turning for home in the Group 3 Neumann’s Tyres Vipal Hambletonian 3YO Classic only to produce a storming finish to beat Empire City and Tyron Eros, who have already been confirmed in THE ASCENT. He has now won six from 16. Bred and raced by Jackie Barron, the Majestic Son gelding is trained by her husband Clark Barron. Better Knuckle Up, a winner of five from 13, finished third in the Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic on Monday behind Dreams Are Free and Jeremiah. He replaces stablemate Cold Chisel, the Northern Derby winner, who pulled up lame after Monday’s NZB Airfreight Flying Stakes. View the full article

Last year’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup winning trainer Jason Grimson won’t defend his title this year following the withdrawal of his two remaining contenders, Major Moth and Nerano. The pair ran way below their best in a free-for-all behind Aussie champion Leap To Fame at Menangle last Saturday night and will be freshened ahead of the up-coming NSW Inter Dominion series. Grimson had earlier ruled out defending NZ Cup champion Swayzee. Leap To Fame, a $1.55 favourite for the country’s biggest race on Tuesday November 12, will lead the Australian charge along with Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse. Talented Aussie-owned pacer Rock N Roll Doo has also been withdrawn after failing to fire in Monday’s NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes. Those defections have seen the New Zealand Cup leaderboard take on a very different look this week. Mo’unga and Australian pacer Aroda have both moved up six places as a result. Mo’unga has gone from 22nd to 16th after winning the main pace, the Alan Gibson Handicap, at Addington last Friday night. The Regan Todd-trained pacer started like a rocket from his 20m mark, leading all the way before going clear by two lengths. He is still one place away from securing a start. Aroda is now in the field at 15th, after winning at Albion Park in Brisbane on Saturday night, while withdrawals have seen Beach Ball go from 16th to 14th. There are some other minimum re-shuffles inside the top 15, with the top seven places unchanged from last week. In this week’s rankings for the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot, also on Tuesday November 12, Fiery Bandito is the main talking point. The Kirstin Green trained and driven Fiery Bandito was a brave second behind rising star Bet N Win in the Group 3 What The What Ashburton Trotters Sprint at Ashburton on Monday after being parked for the majority of the race. The Majestic Son five-year-old has subsequently gone from 21st to 14th in the rankings and inside the cut off. Maui, who finished fourth in the same race, has also improved significantly, from 24th to 18th. The two withdrawals this week were Tectonic and Australian-based trotter Gus. The final rankings will be released following next Monday’s Kaikoura Cup meeting. View them here View the full article

The new $200,000 Group 1 for the four-year-old pacers at Addington Raceway on Friday, December 6 will be known as The Christian Cullen. An on-line poll was held to decide the name of the race, and it was a close run thing. There were three finalists – The Christian Cullen, The Terror To Love and The Southern Cross. Voting on HRNZ’s Facebook page closed last Friday, with The Christian Cullen edging out The Southern Cross. “Christian Cullen seems an ideal fit for this new race,” says Addington Raceway Chief Executive Brian Thompson, “he was an outstanding four-year-old himself, and some of his greatest performances were seen here at Addington.” “So much so that of course there is a Christian Cullen Lounge here already!” As a four-year-old Christian Cullen was unbeatable. He won 12 from 12 including the 1998 New Zealand Cup, the Auckland Cup and the Miracle Mile. Harness racing’s pin up boy at the time, over all the Brian O’Meara-trained star won 22 from 31 starts and over $1.2m in stakes. “His four-year-old season was just perfection,” says HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden, “to win 12 from 12 and over $750,000 in stakes was an incredible effort and it only seems right that there is a race like this to celebrate his achievements.” A competition was held to name the new 4YO Classic, with two people submitting The Christian Cullen. A “coin toss” confirmed the winner as well known Southland owner-breeder Paul Hailes. He will win two tickets to the Silks Lounge (including food and drink) or six tickets to the ZM On The Green on Cup Day and has the opportunity to be on the stage trackside to watch the race and presentation and then attend the Breckon Winning Owners’ bar with the winning connections. Now 29, Christian Cullen is spending his retirement at Dancingonmoonlight in North Canterbury but on December 6 it’s hoped he will be front and centre at Addington once again, leading out the field for the race named in his honour. View the full article

What 2024 Golden Eagle Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – Sydney, NSW When Saturday, November 2, 2024 Prizemoney $10,000,000 Distance 1500m Conditions Four-Year-Old, Set Weights 2023 winner Obamburumai (2) | T: Keiji Yoshimura | J: Joshua Parr (56.5kg) Visit Dabble The sixth renewal of the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) headlines the action at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, with a capacity field of 20 set to do battle in the four-year-old feature. After tasting success last year with Obamburumai, the Japanese have sent two live chances down under, including long-standing favourite Ascoli Piceno who has been on the drift since copping a horror draw in barrier 17. Throw in two more European raiders amongst the list of 16 local hopes and we’re left with a mouthwatering clash in what’s sure to be one of the highlights of the spring. Will the Japanese prove too classy once again? Or is there an upset brewing in the 2024 Golden Eagle. 2024 Golden Eagle odds The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar has been installed as the $5.00 favourite with horse racing bookmakers after drawing barrier 11 on Tuesday evening and continues to firm on the back of her eye-catching performance in the Everest (1200m) on October 19. Ascoli Piceno has eased to $5.50 on the second line of betting, while undefeated French galloper Lazzat rounds out those at single figures at the $6.50 quote. The likes of Tom Kitten ($10.00) and Stefi Magnetica ($10.00) have garnered some early support, while Southport Tycoon ($12.00) is the big drifter after drawing gate 15. 2024 Golden Eagle speed map There appears to be a lack of genuine early speed in the 2024 Golden Eagle, however, the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Ostraka made every post a winner in the Group 3 Silver Eagle (1300m). Expect him to go forward alongside Lazzat, with the pair leading out of a moderate tempo. Tom Kitten can be positive from stall two, with Encap (1), Kintyre (3) and War Machine (7) to be ridden handy towards the speed. Jolistar (11), Port Lockroy (9) and Craig (5) will make up the mid-field cohort, while the likes of Ascoli Piceno (17), Skybird (16) and Southport Tycoon (15) will have no choice but to drag back towards the rear of the field in search of cover. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Golden Eagle. Recommended! The Better Bettors! Australian-owned and operated bookmaker! Join MarantelliBet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Golden Eagle 2024 preview & form The Yoichi Kuroiwa-trained Ascoli Piceno is every bit as good as Obamburumai and must be considered the one to beat in this year’s Golden Eagle. The daughter of Daiwa Major has never missed the frame in her six-career starts, including a sensational victory in the Keisei Hai Autumn (1600m) at Nakayama on September 8 before heading to Australia. The poor barrier means punters are getting a fair price to find out, and with the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira in the saddle, trust Ascoli Piceno can get the right run in transit to claim the 2024 Golden Eagle. It’s hard to place the Jerome Reynier-trained Lazzat, however, the son of Territories is undefeated for a reason. He’s strong on all conditions and has a favourable pattern to be up on speed in his races. He’s a Group 1 winner in France and could easy prove too classy for this lot. For that reason, punters should be willing to keep him safe. Tom Kitten appears the best of the local hopes in this race after storming through the wire behind the likes of Ceolwulf and Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 19. He made a good account of himself in weight-for-age company and looks well-placed back to his own age group. Gate two should allow Ben Melham to get the gun run throughout, and if he’s good enough, Tom Kitten should figure in this. Craig will be attempting to replicate the likes of I’m Thunderstruck (2021) and I Wish I Win (2022) as the only galloper coming through the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). He was no match for Antino on that occasion, but was one of the best of the beaten brigade to suggest he can make some noise in this at a big each-way price. Golden Eagle 2024 selections & best bets Selections: 19 ASCOLI PICENO 12 LAZZAT 3 TOM KITTEN 13 CRAIG $100 betting strategy $45 Win Ascoli Piceno (#19) @ +450 with Neds $35 Win Lazzat (#12) @ +550 with Playup $20 Win Tom Kitten (#3) @ +900 with Picklebet Golden Eagle 2024 final field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Southport Tycoon Ciaron Maher Craig Williams 15 57.5kg 2 Veight Tony & Calvin McEvoy Harry Coffey 18 57.5kg 3 Tom Kitten James Cummings Ben Melham 2 57.5kg 4 Ostraka Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Chad Schofield 13 57.5kg 5 Griff Ciaron Maher Dylan Gibbons 6 57.5kg 6 Encap Gary Portelli Jason Collett 1 57.5kg 7 Xidaki Peter Snowden Tom Sherry 10 57.5kg 8 Chrysaor Chris Waller Regan Bayliss 14 57.5kg 9 Kintyre Gary Portelli Reece Jones 3 57.5kg 10 War Machine Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Jay Ford 7 57.5kg 11 Port Lockroy Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Adam Hyeronimus 9 57.5kg 12 Lazzat Jerome Reynier Antonio Orani 12 56.5kg 13 Craig Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Nash Rawiller 5 56.5kg 14 Lake Forest William Haggas Cieren Fallon 8 56.5kg 15 Stefi Magnetica Bjorn Baker Zac Lloyd 4 55.5kg 16 Joliestar Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 11 55.5kg 17 Makarena Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes Tyler Schiller 20 55.5kg 18 Skybird Mitchell Freedman Beau Mertens 16 55.5kg 19 Ascoli Piceno Yoichi Kuroiwa Joao Moreira 17 54.5kg 20 Corazon Beat Shizuya Kato Tommy Berry 19 54.5kg Horse racing tips View the full article

Te Akau principal David Ellis has extended his buying arm to Europe with the recent purchase of three-year-old stakes-winning colt Bright Stripes at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in England. A winner of four races, Bright Stripes was victorious in the Listed Coolmore Stud Tetrach Stakes (1600m) in May at the Curragh, and was secured by Ellis for 145,000 guineas (NZ$316,000 approx.) out of Stragrane House Stables’ draft. Bright Stripes will continue his racing career under the care of Te Akau trainer Mark Walker out of their Cranbourne barn, and the trans-Tasman horseman is excited about his stable’s new acquisition. “We put a lot of time and effort into the sale and were delighted to be able to purchase him online,” Walker said. “We were looking for a prospect that could run from a mile (1600m) to a mile and a half (2400m) in Australia, and to target some really good races there. “His form is very, very good, and strong form has come from the races he’s been in and among the opposition he’s been against. “We asked a few form experts in the UK to assess him for us and we were actually pleased to get him for under our budgeted price. “He vetted extremely well, which was important to us, and we vetted him to the highest Hong Kong international standards. “We think he’s a really exciting prospect for the Australian stable, and the plan is now for him to be gelded in England, and then he’ll come out to Australia. “Gelding him straight away will give him the best chance of acclimatising to Australian conditions, where we’ll give him a light autumn preparation before concentrating on some nice spring races next season. “We’re thrilled to be able to purchase a stakes winner from the UK, and think he’s an exciting prospect.” Bright Stripes is not the first horse obtained by Ellis in Europe, after buying very successful galloper Torcedor in France. Ellis purchased Torcedor for 70,000 Euro (NZ$115,000) at the 2013 Deauville Yearling Sales in France, and racing in the Te Akau colours he was owned by Sir Patrick Hogan, Sir Peter Vela, Mohammed Moussa, and Laurie Laxon. Torcedor won five races, including the Gr.3 Coolmore Vintage Crop Stakes (2800m) and Gr.3 Longines Sagaro Stakes (3208m), while also finishing second in both the Gr.1 Goodwood Cup (3218m) and Gr.1 Irish St Leger (2816m), and second in the Gr.2 British Champions Long Distance Cup (3208m). View the full article

Wexford Stables look to have another exciting youngster on their hands following Hankee Alpha’s (NZ) (Proisir) impressive debut victory in the Donaghys Uddermax 1200 at Te Aroha on Wednesday. The three-year-old daughter of Proisir was fair away from the gates and settled at the rear of the field for jockey Lynsey Satherley, who gave her an economical trip along the rail. Satherley continued to take the shortest path home with her filly and made up significant ground on her rivals when rounding the final bend and Hankee Alpha soon found herself in the lead. She continued her momentum and built a healthy advantage, eventually running out a comfortable 6-1/2 length victor over Adelante. Purchased for $35,000 by bloodstock agents Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman out of Highline Thoroughbreds’ 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft, Hankee Alpha was entrusted to the care of Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, who have taken a patient approach with her education. She had six trials for the Wexford team, who have long held a high opinion of the filly, which was realised in her dominant debut performance. “We have been on a wee journey of educating her and the team has done a really good job at home of keeping her settled in,” Scott said. “We said to Lynsey today to let her get into a rhythm and get her breathing because we know she has got really quick feet. When she goes, she can really let down. “She has got a good future in front of her and in any ground she quickens well. We have got high hopes for her.” Scott was full of praise for Satherley post-race, and said she was the perfect rider to continue her education on raceday. “She is a really good horsewoman and a good horse rider,” he said. “It took a bit of a ride today on this filly because she is not the easiest and we just wanted to make sure we had steady hands on her, teach her and give her a good confidence building experience. “She will take any amount of improvement out of today.” Satherley was rapt with the result and believes a bright future is instore for Hankee Alpha. “I am very lucky to be on her,” she said. “It was a super effort, she is a lovely filly that is really well mannered and did everything I asked. To go out and do it like that is pretty cool. “She has got a big stride for a little horse, but she travelled easy. She is a lovely filly going places.” View the full article

The road to Riccarton Park has not been an easy one for Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), but the colt indicated he is right on track with a stunning performance in Wednesday’s transferred Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Aroha. Savaglee, alongside a number of other runners in the race, has fallen victim to a pair of abandonments, firstly with the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) which was rescheduled to Matamata, then the Sarten, which was set to be run on Monday at Te Rapa. The adaptable colt overcame the first hurdle in winning the Hawke’s Bay Guineas narrowly over So Naïve and Captured By Love, and the trio headed the TAB market again on Wednesday, with the filly closing the short-priced favourite at $1.80, over Savaglee ($5.60) and So Naïve ($6.50). Savaglee flew his outside barrier draw and settled outside of the early leader Erin Go Bragh, with So Naïve in close quarters to the inside. The colt loomed large turning for home and hit the front early, leaving Captured By Love and Whiskey ‘N Roses to hunt him down, but he was too strong in the finish and held off the latter by 1-½ lengths. Pam Gerard, who trains Savaglee out of Matamata, admitted there has been plenty of frustration in the camp through his campaign, but couldn’t be prouder of her colt. “I don’t think he’s done a thing wrong really,” she said. “He’s gone in a bit under the guard, there’s always been a better horse out there, so they tell us. “I don’t think he could do any more than he’s done today. He’s just a good, honest colt. He wants to get out there, he wants to race. They’ve had two trips away where we’ve gone to nothing, but he just keeps backing up.” Since the son of Savabeel won when resuming at Taupo, Gerard has made it no secret that the ultimate goal for the spring was the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), to be run next Saturday in the south. “It was always a goal and losing a race meeting means you are two days closer to where you want to be,” she said. “You have to turn your horses around and be healthy and keep them in the right state of mind, which was a worry especially when it started raining, that you may have too hard of a run. But he’s just killed them today. He’s done it easy. “You just want your plan to go to plan, but we’ve just got to deal with it and accept it and move forward.” Spratt currently sits in an enviable position of holding the rides of both the 2000 Guineas and Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) favourites in Alabama Lass and Savaglee, with the latter now the $2.40 top-elect over Captured By Love ($3). “He’s a really smart little horse, from out there we were actually going to go back, but as soon as he jumped with them, I wasn’t going to pull him back,” she said. “He settled beautifully and kicked on. I wasn’t too worried about the track easing as he doesn’t mind the bite out of it. “At the top of the straight I was travelling really well, but halfway up, he started pricking his ears and not pulling up, but just having a look around. I was a bit worried they were going to come and bomb us, but as soon as I gave him a little tickle behind the saddle to put his mind on the job, he dug again. It was very impressive. “Hopefully it’ll be a good week (at Riccarton).” Bred by Waikato Stud, Savaglee was purchased by The Oaks Stud for $400,000 at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales, of which he has earned back $371,225 with five wins from 11 starts. With victory today, Savaglee has put himself firmly in NZB Kiwi (1500m) calculations, with the Sarten being one of several NZB Kiwi bonus eligible races. In addition to the base $3.5 million prizemoney for March’s NZB Kiwi, an additional $1 million in bonuses is up for grabs. To be eligible for a share in the $1 million bonus pool (1st – $600,000; 2nd – $250,000; 3rd – $150,000), a horse must win one of the bonus eligible races, and also run a top three placing in The NZB Kiwi held on Champions Day (8 March 2025). View the full article

High-class sprinter Babylon Berlin put a challenging season behind her with an impressive return to the Te Awamutu trials on Tuesday. Babylon Berlin has been a leading light for Ben Foote’s stable since she debuted as a three-year-old, performing consistently up to Group One level, including a trio of elite-level placings behind top-class mares Imperatriz and Levante in her five-year-old season. The daughter of All Too Hard picked up where she left off in the new term, winning the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) last November before finishing second to Sacred Satono in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m). From there, the remainder of the season was far from smooth-sailing, with Babylon Berlin undergoing a wind operation following an uncharacteristic run in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m). After recovering from surgery, the mare then sustained an injury to her eye, ruling her out of the remaining features through the summer period. On a fact-finding mission at Te Awamutu, Foote had simple instructions for senior hoop Vinnie Colgan and was thrilled to hear his report after Babylon Berlin comfortably won her Open 850m heat in the fastest time of the day. “I just wanted to see if her heart was still in it really,” said Foote, who trains in partnership with son Ryan. “I said to Vinnie to let her do her thing and see if she will pull you into it. He came back and said she felt a million dollars, he was really happy. “It’s probably taken her a little while to turn a corner with her coat, but in the last couple of weeks in particular, she’s turned a corner and all the signs are really good. “We think she’s back to her old self, so let’s hope so.” Foote confirmed the mare would return to Te Rapa next Saturday and attempt to defend her crown in the Legacy Lodge Sprint before targeting the new Champion Sprint Series, which includes the Counties Bowl, Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m), Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and the Railway across the coming months. View the full article

What Wyong Races Where Wyong Race Club & Function Centre – 71-73 Howarth St, Wyong NSW 2259 When Thursday, October 31, 2024 First Race 1:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Provincial racing returns to Wyong on Thursday afternoon, with an ultra-competitive eight-part program set for decision. The rail is out +4m for the entire circuit, and with the only rainfall anticipated to hit the course later in the afternoon, punters can expect a Good 4 surface prior to the opening event at 1:15pm local time. Best Bet at Wyong: Shalaa Gold The Bjorn Baker-trained Shalaa Gold has undergone a gelding operation during his 161-day spell. It seems to have focused the son of Shalaa, who went on to score impressively in a barrier trial at Rosehill on October 18. Adam Hyeronimus will look to dictate terms from barrier one, and provided Shalaa Gold can pinch a couple of lengths on his rivals in the middle stages, he will take plenty of beating. Best Bet Race 2 – #6 Shalaa Gold (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Adam Hyeronimus (56.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Wyong: Jolly Good Fellow Jolly Good Fellow got a pass mark at Warwick Farm on October 16, hitting the line well over 1400m to get within 1.2 lengths of Iceman. With a bit more fitness on his side this time, the 1630m should be an ideal setup for the son of Zousain. Zac Lloyd sticks aboard from barrier one, and with Jolly Good Fellow likely to stalk the leading pair throughout, watch for him to charge down the centre of the course to claim his maiden victory. Next Best Race 1 – #7 Jolly Good Fellow (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Zac Lloyd (56.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Wyong: Emery Emery never got clear at Hawkesbury on October 10 and should’ve finished much closer than the four-length margin may suggest. The daughter of Almanzor was disappointed for a run throughout the straight, only getting through her gears when it was all over. Stepping back to 1000m does appear to be a minor negative, but if she can show off her explosive turn of foot, Emery can figure at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 3 – #7 Emery (8) 3yo Filly | T: Sara Ryan | J: Regan Bayliss (55kg) Bet with Dabble Wyong quaddie tips – 31/10/2024 Wyong quadrella selections Thursday, October 31, 2024 2-4-5-10 1-4-5-7 1-5-6-7 3-4-5-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip (Quaddie Link from Boombet needed^) Horse racing tips View the full article

Bendigo Cup Day 2024. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Bendigo Cup Day 2024 is arguably one of the best country racedays each year and a nine-race meeting set down for decision at the Bendigo Jockey Club on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. The Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) is set to jump at 4:10pm AEDT. With plenty of key form races heading into the Melbourne Cup Carnival, catch up on all the race replays, results and dividends provided by top horse racing bookmakers here. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Race 1 – 3YO Maiden Plate (1000 METRES) Race Replay & Results Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st 7 Always Enuff Shane Nichols Zac Spain $11.00 $2.80 2nd 3 Hot Digity Boom Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Michael Dee $2.30 3rd 11 Jasmin Rouge Clinton McDonald Jamie Kah $1.70 4th 16 Treasureflight Matt Cumani Eoin Walsh Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 7-3 $46.80 Exacta 7-3 $112.40 Duet 7-3 $12.70 Duet 7-11 $8.00 Duet 3-11 $5.80 Trifecta 7-3-11 $520.10 First Four 7-3-11-16 $27,930.40 Race 2 – BM64 Handicap (1100 METRES) Race Replay & Results Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st 4 Coeur De Lyon Tom Dabernig Jarrod Fry $12.00 $1.90 2nd 1 Snappy Secret Danielle Chapman Jason Maskiell $1.40 3rd 9 Sociable Anthony & Sam Freedman Declan Bates $1.20 4th 5 Fragile Love Mathew Ellerton Damian Lane Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 4-1 $24.30 Exacta 4-1 $44.90 Duet 4-1 $4.90 Duet 4-9 $3.50 Duet 1-9 $2.80 Trifecta 4-1-9 $108.50 First Four 4-1-9-5 $162.40 Running Double (1,2) 7-4 $145.10 Race 3 – BM64 Handicap (2400 METRES) Race Replay & Results Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st 9 Hollandia John Moloney Daniel Stackhouse $5.50 $2.00 2nd 10 Jenny The Beaver Ben O’Farrell Billy Egan $2.90 3rd 6 Foix Ciaron Maher John Allen $2.10 4th 2 Off His Roca Andrew Bobbin Tom Prebble Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 9-10 $31.90 Exacta 9-10 $62.20 Duet 9-10 $10.70 Duet 9-6 $5.10 Duet 10-6 $12.70 Trifecta 9-10-6 $363.80 First Four 9-10-6-2 $4,843.00 Running Double (2,3) 4-9 $111.50 Race 4 – BM64 Handicap (1300 METRES) Race Replay & Results Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st 6 Blackberry Bomb Simon Zahra Thomas Stockdale $7.50 $2.30 2nd 3 Treat Him Right Matt Cumani Eoin Walsh $2.10 3rd 2 Harry’s Yacht Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin Harry Coffey $1.60 4th 4 Wainman Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes Jordan Childs Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 6-3 $32.70 Exacta 6-3 $72.30 Duet 6-3 $9.70 Duet 6-2 $6.50 Duet 3-2 $4.30 Trifecta 6-3-2 $274.20 First Four 6-3-2-4 $1,220.10 Running Double (3,4) 9-6 $51.80 Race 5 – BM70 Handicap (1300 METRES) Race Replay & Results Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st 13 Floozie Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Blake Shinn $2.90 $1.40 2nd 10 Vienna Vixen Ciaron Maher Ethan Brown $2.10 3rd 6 Alectrona Tony & Calvin McEvoy Harry Coffey $1.70 4th 8 Moor Mumm Dan O’Sullivan Jaylah Kennedy Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 13-10 $10.10 Exacta 13-10 $19.50 Duet 13-10 $4.40 Duet 13-6 $2.90 Duet 10-6 $5.60 Trifecta 13-10-6 $65.80 First Four 13-10-6-8 $345.30 Running Double (4,5) 6-13 $27.20 Early Quaddie 4-9-6-13 $3,758.80 Race 6 – BM70 Handicap (1600 METRES) Race Replay & Results Place No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Fixed Odds (W) Fixed Odds (P) 1st 5 Notabadbuy Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ethan Brown $26.00 $6.00 2nd 3 Sure Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Beau Mertens $1.40 3rd 12 Howlin’ Rain Cindy Alderson Carleen Hefel $2.10 4th 1 Vivideel Tony & Calvin McEvoy Harry Coffey Exotic Bet Type Results Dividend Quinella 5-3 $38.00 Exacta 5-3 $63.80 Duet 5-3 $14.10 Duet 5-12 $33.40 Duet 3-12 $3.30 Trifecta 5-3-12 $533.60 First Four 5-3-12-1 $3,549.10 Running Double (5,6) 13-5 $55.00 Horse racing news View the full article