Wandering Eyes

Lining up for his first start in 84 days, Jedibeel collected the eighth and most important win of his promising career in Saturday’s A$500,000 Gr.2 Schweppes Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick. The five-year-old Savabeel gelding scored his first black-type win in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) in December, and then trainer Brad Widdup elected to freshen him ahead of autumn targets. Saturday’s Challenge Stakes was his first start since, and he announced his return to racing in style. Guided through a narrow opening in the straight by jockey Tyler Schiller, Jedibeel showed a brilliant turn of foot to charge home from off the pace and win by just over a length. “Over a short distance and coming home in that time, I thought it would be pretty hard to pick up the leaders today, especially when they dash like that,” Schiller said. “But he’s just a phenomenal horse at the moment. “I was a bit nervous that James (McDonald, riding I Am Me) was trying to look for the same spot as me. But this horse has just got a great turn of foot, he’s got a great racing pattern, he just lobs in behind the speed. He actually jumped really well today, but I didn’t want to be too close. “I thought James was the horse to follow and then I was getting a bit held up and it just helped him even more, because he’s got that great dash. I thought he was really strong late.” Jedibeel has now had 18 starts for eight wins, seven placings and A$816,150 in stakes. “He’s been a terrific horse from day one for us, and it’s great to see him do this,” Widdup said. “We aimed at the Razor Sharp last time and gave him a short break to get him back for these sort of races. “I was keen to run him next week, but if I did that, I’d miss out on the Galaxy (Gr.1 1100m), so I threw the cards on the table and rolled the dice today, and away we went. “Tyler’s always been a big believer that the Galaxy is a race we should be aiming at. He’s got a massive turn of foot, and especially with a ride like that, where he can get out late and he finishes good. “He’s a winner. You know, these horses, they do it week in, week out. You can’t train them, they just win, they’re naturals.” Jedibeel was bred by Waikato Stud and is out of their unraced O’Reilly mare Starry. The five-year-old gelding is one of five winners from six foals to race out of Starry – a group that also includes the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship (2400m) winner and multiple Group Three placegetter Starrybeel. But despite being a full-brother to that genuine stayer, there is also no shortage of speed in Jedibeel’s pedigree, which notably features multiple Group One winner I Wish I Win. Waikato Stud offered Jedibeel during the National Weanling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus in 2020, where he was bought for $35,000 by Dengaroka Lodge in New South Wales. Jedibeel was later purchased by Widdup as a yearling for A$190,000 at the Sydney Classic Sale after fielding a phone call from Sydney businessman Mike Gregg. Gregg races Jedibeel in the bumble-bee colours of his Sydney University of NSW cricket club, along with his grandson Locky Sheridan. View the full article

Memories of a confidence-denting defeat in last month’s Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) were blown away on Saturday as Willydoit powered to a dominant victory in the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie. Willydoit strung together three increasingly impressive wins at the Auckland track during the summer and spent most of the last three months at the head of fixed-odds betting for the $1.25 million classic. However, the Tarzino gelding dropped out to a distant third-last among a 15-horse field in the Avondale Guineas on February 22 and made little impression from the back in a slowly run race. He eventually crossed the line in 10th, almost five lengths adrift of the Australian-trained winner Thedoctoroflove. Willydoit’s rise to stardom had suddenly stalled, and his firm grip on Derby favouritism was loosening. The Avondale Guineas has been the very best Derby guide in recent times, with seven of the last 13 Avondale Guineas winners going on to Derby success. Another three Derby winners were placegetters in the Guineas during that period. But supporters stuck strong with Willydoit, sending him out as a $3.70 favourite for Derby redemption. He had a new jockey, Melbourne-based expat Kiwi rider Mick Dee, who made sure there would be no repeat of what happened two weeks ago. Awkwardly drawn in gate 14 among a 16-horse field, Dee was flushed out four wide as the field turned out of the home straight with a lap to go. Dee elected to press forward, sliding up into third down the back straight as Amazing Fluke and Grey Area set the pace. While those two began to tire and fade out of contention coming down the side of the track, Willydoit strode forward with purpose and hit the lead with 600m to run. Dee had a quick look over his right shoulder just before the home turn, then went for gold. Willydoit kicked again at the top of the straight and put a gap between himself and the chasers. Thedoctoroflove, Golden Century and Mustang Morgan emerged from the pack and gave chase, but Willydoit was on another level. He swept past the finish line two and a quarter lengths in front of Thedoctoroflove. It was a first Group One win in New Zealand for Dee, who has won 14 times at that level in Australia including the Blue Diamond (1200m) with Devil Night two weeks ago. “It’s very special,” the 28-year-old said. “I’ve got a lot of family and friends here today, so it’s awesome. “I had a few different sets of instructions coming into this race, but the one idea I had in my mind was to get him going early and get him up there. “I thought I might have been able to get in a couple of times, but it was a bit ugly until we got down the back and pressed on. I said before the race that I’d rather go forward to try and get in rather than dropping back to do so. That’s what we did. “Jeez, he was tough. That was a super effort. We were there to be run down, but he’s got great stamina and just keeps going.” Willydoit was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and was offered in Westbury’s Book 2 draft at Karaka 2023. He was bought by co-trainer Shaun Clotworthy for $75,000. Now part-owned by international micro-share syndicator MyRacehorse alongside Emma Clotworthy and Bryan Black, Willydoit has had six starts for four wins, a placing and $847,415. Willydoit was a special first Group One winner for Clotworthy, who joins his father Kim as a Derby-winning trainer. The latter won the Ellerslie classic with Uncle Remus in 1977. “I’ve emulated Dad and it’s my first Group One,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “It’s very special to share this with Emma, my son and also the whole team. It’s a dream come true. “I just keep on shaking people’s hands, there’s so many owners here. It’s a huge thrill and is just massive for everyone. “Mick said before the race that he was going to roll forward and ride him like the best horse, and he was the best horse. “The Avondale Guineas was the one blip along the road to this race, but that was just down to the pace of the race. I feel sorry for Masa (Hashizume), but that’s the way it goes in racing.” Willydoit is now set to depart the Clotworthy stable, relocating across the Tasman for a potential Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) campaign from the Ciaron Maher stable. “It’s sad to say goodbye to him now, but that happens,” Clotworthy said. “I think there’s still petrol in the tank for an Australian Derby. We’ll see how he pulls up from this, but he’s a pretty good horse.” Willydoit has enhanced his sire Tarzino’s reputation as a classic sire. The Westbury Stud stallion has now been represented by three Group One winners – Jungle Magnate in the South Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2500m), Gypsy Goddess in the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m) and Willydoit in the New Zealand Derby. View the full article

Hasseltoff ridden by Jamie Kah winning at Flemington when under the care of Phillip Stokes. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Hasseltoff enhanced his Alice Springs Cup hopes with yet another convincing win at Pioneer Park on Saturday. The Dick Leech-trained eight-year-old gelding proved too classy for Terry Gillett’s stablemates Vinnie’s Spirit and Great Buy when he saluted in an open 1600m handicap by 5.8 lengths. That followed a comfortable win on debut in the Red Centre when he prevailed by two lengths in a BM66 over 1600m on February 22. Formerly linked with Adelaide trainer Phillip Stokes, Hasseltoff is the horse to beat in the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) on April 6 after also breaking the track record on Saturday. Starting as a prohibitive $1.55 favourite with horse racing bookmakers, he clocked 1.32.68 to eclipse the previous mark of 1.32.83 set by Gillett’s That’s Justified in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) during the 2021 Alice Springs Cup Carnival. Sitting off the pace in the five-horse field, Hasseltoff made ground on Vinnie’s Spirit and Great Buy approaching the home turn when two lengths adrift in third place passing the 500m. With Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc aboard, the former SA galloper gobbled up the joint leaders with 350m to go once straightening for home before charging away in emphatic style. Second-placed Vinnie’s Spirit, a $4.40 hope, ridden by apprentice Dakota Gillett and third-placed Great Buy, a $3.50 prospect, partnered by Stan Tsaikos were both last start winners, but were no match for Hasseltoff. After a first up win in Alice Springs with 61kg on his back, Hasseltoff dropped 4.5kg on Saturday and considering he brought good form to the NT it’s no surprise he has hit the ground running. From November-January, the son of Toorak Toff had two wins at Morphettville and a win at Gawler. Hasseltoff won at Flemington as a four-year-old over 1700m and has raced over 2000m and beyond on four occasions in a career that includes 52 starts for nine wins and 16 minor placings. The Alice Springs Cup Carnival starts next Sunday with the St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) and although it’s unlikely Hasseltoff will feature there’s no doubt he’ll contest the Chief Minister’s Cup at weight-for-age on March 29. There’s also the St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) in Darwin next Saturday followed by an open 1900m handicap in Alice Springs on March 22, but at this stage Hasseltoff should start the Alice Springs Cup a clear favourite. In what is shaping as an open NT Guineas (1600m) on March 22, Viney’s Grinzinger Lass – starting at $8.50 with Dabble – finished strongly along the rails to overcome fellow three-year-olds over 1400m on Saturday with Queensland jockey Brendon Newport in the saddle. Le Blanc ended the day with a winning double aboard Lamprecht’s Down The Wicket ($8.50) in a BM54 over 1100m, while Viney had two wins when Sonja Logan guided Isolyfe ($6.50) home over 1400m at 0-58 level. Horse racing news View the full article

Trav winning Saturday’s Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Raymond Connors’ green and red colours will forever be known for six victories in the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) at Ellerslie between 1998 and 2019, but the respected Manawatu horseman returned to Auckland on Saturday and took the spoils in another major test of stamina. Connors won the Great Northern as an owner and jockey on Our Jonty (1998) before adding owner-trainer successes with Hypnotize (2007, 2008, 2009) and Wise Men Say (2017, 2019). Now those trophies sit alongside a major prize on the flat, courtesy of a $17 upset by Trav in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m). “The Great Northerns are probably still my biggest thrill, but this has to be right up there as well,” Connors said on Saturday. “It’s awesome to win a big race on a day like this. Champions Day is great to be a part of.” Trav won three races as a four-year-old last season, prompting Connors to put a circle around the Auckland Cup as his main goal for 2024-25. The Almanzor gelding went winless in his seven starts leading into the $600,000 showpiece, but caught the eye with a strong-finishing and unlucky fourth in the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) in his most recent start on January 18. Trav and jockey Masa Hashizume dropped out to the tail of the field in a moderately run Auckland Cup that saw multiple lead changes during the race. They still had only three horses behind them as they angled to the extreme outside coming around the home turn. Arby and Nest Egg kicked off the corner and briefly looked set to fight out the finish, but then Hashizume let Trav rip down the outside of the track. He powered past that pair and then turned back a late challenge from the Chris Waller-trained Tajanis to win by a long head. Another Australian raider, Ciaron Maher’s Interpretation, finished two and three-quarter lengths further back in third. The Auckland Cup was a special consolation prize for Hashizume, who was the long-time rider of Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) favourite Willydoit but was replaced after his unplaced finish in last month’s Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). Click here for Ellerslie race replays. “This means a lot,” Hashizume said. “The last few weeks have just been one of those things. I’ve had to come back from an injury where I had six weeks off. Willydoit is such a nice horse. I understand the owners making the change and I wish them the best of luck. I’ll just have to hope I can come back next year with another Derby favourite. “Trav is a very tough horse, going from the Wellington Cup to the Auckland Cup with only a jumpout in between. He was a bit fresh going to the start, but very professional after the gates opened. “I wasn’t very confident when I was last in the first lap, so I tried to move a little bit closer and then decided to follow Blue Sky At Night. She’s a tough mare, so I knew she would drag me into it. “I wasn’t sure who was coming through beside me, but I knew my horse was trying his best. He gave me 100 percent all the way to the line and then was hard to pull up after the race. It was such a good effort. Credit to the horse and the trainer. I was just lucky today.” Trav has now had 25 starts for six wins, a second and $462,950 in stakes. “That was a really good performance,” Connors said. “I wasn’t surprised to see him get so far back in the running, because that’s the way he races. But the finish that he produced to get up and win the race was amazing. “He hasn’t been the easiest horse to train, it’s been a bit of an effort from everyone at home, but this race was our goal and it’s great to pull it off.” Horse racing news View the full article

Alabama Lass winning Saturday’s Group 3 King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Ken and Bev Kelso bought Alabama Lass in Melbourne as a yearling two years ago, and a stunning performance in Saturday’s Group 3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie has them plotting a return. The $250,000 sprint feature on Champions Day was a rematch of the Group 1 Railway (1200m) in January, where Crocetti defeated Alabama Lass by a short head. Alabama Lass had a weight swing in her favour on Saturday and jumped as a $1.70 favourite with horse racing betting sites to turn the tables, and she delivered in style. Alabama Lass broke sharply from the gates, went straight to the lead, and never gave her five rivals a look in. Jockey Sam Spratt put the pedal to the floor at the home turn and Alabama Lass exploded clear, opening up a winning margin of 5.25 lengths over Crocetti. Alabama Lass stopped the clock at 1:10.46. Click here for Ellerslie race replays. “It was just such a shame that it rained for the Railway last time,” Spratt said. “If that rain hadn’t come, I’m pretty sure she would have done something similar there and would probably have won that race too. But it was a super effort today. “I just tried to cuddle her up as long as I could. She just travelled so well, and even though she’s skipping along quite fast, she’s doing it so easily. I just cuddled her up and then pressed the button in the straight.” Alabama Lass became the fourth three-year-old to win the King’s Plate in the last 20 years, joining Jazzella (2007), Martini Red (2008) and Sword Of State (2022). Alabama Lass has now had eight starts for five wins, three seconds and $609,750 in stakes – an outstanding return on her $120,000 yearling price in Melbourne. Her three-year-old season has seen her win the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), alongside second placings in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Railway. “I’m very proud of her,” Ken Kelso said on Saturday. “She’s a beautiful filly, a little gem. “We’ve always known she was capable of something like this. She was just unlucky to strike rain-affected tracks in those Group One placings in her last two starts. Take nothing away from the horses that beat her in those races, but the rain just dulled her sprint a little bit. Today was a different story. “We’ll look at taking her across to Melbourne now, where there’s a three-year-old race over 1100m later in the month. It’s just a Listed race, but it would be good to pick up a bit of black type over there if we can.” That race is the $500,000 HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m) at Flemington on March 29. Horse racing news View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, March 9, 2025 First Race 12:30pm HKT (3:30pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing resumes at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, with a stacked 11-part program set for decision. The rail is in the C course for all races on the turf, and with no rainfall predicted to hit the course proper, punters can expect a genuine Good 4 surface throughout the afternoon. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 12:30pm HKT. Best Bet at Sha Tin: Autumn Vibes Autumn Vibes was his own worst enemy on Hong Kong debut, pulling and tugging his way into the minor money on February 9. It was hard not be impressed by the raw ability he possessed, however, hitting the line well under Zac Purton despite a tricky run in transit. He’s been back to the trials to get his manners in check, and with Hugh Bowman set to take the reins from gate 10 this time, expect Autumn Vibes to be flashing over the top to claim his maiden success. Best Bet Race 2 – #4 Autumn Vibes (10) 3yo Gelding | T: Jamie Richards | J: Hugh Bowman (58.5kg) Next Best at Sha Tin: Light Years Charm The David Eustace-trained Light Years Charm will be looking to win his way into the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in the Sha Tin finale and appears well placed to claim back-to-back wins. The Australian import couldn’t have been more impressive in his latest outing over the 1400m on February 9, storming clear of his rivals by 2.3 lengths under a strangle hold in the concluding stages. The 1600m should be no issue, and with Hugh Bowman likely to lob into the ideal stalking position from stall six, Light Years Charm should book his ticket into the final leg of the four-year-old series. Next Best Race 11 – #4 Light Years Charm (6) 4yo Gelding | T: David Eustace | J: Hugh Bowman (59kg) Best Value at Sha Tin: invincible Sage Invincible Sage brings depth of form to this Class 1 contest, and although he failed to fire a shot in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), he appears well placed stepping back in grade. He simply didn’t handle the step out to 1400m in his latest outing, however, he produced a blistering effort behind Ka Ying Rising in the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) the start prior. He must lug top weight under Hugh Bowman, but with gate one allowing him to sit in behind a hot tempo, watch for Invincible Sage to be finishing off best at a good price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 8 – #1 Invincible Sage (1) 5yo Gelding | T: David Hall | J: Hugh Bowman (61kg) Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections March 9, 2025 1 1-5-8-9-11 4-5-6-7-10-11-12-13 1-4-6-9-11-14 Horse racing tips View the full article

Return To Conquer winning the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Expensive colt Return To Conquer extended his unbeaten record to four as he brought up a significant milestone for the Te Akau Racing operation when winning the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie. The son of Snitzel was bought by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $1.3 million as a yearling on the Gold Coast in January of last year and his latest success made it 100 Group One wins for Ellis and his team at Te Akau Racing. Starting a warm $2.10 Fixed Odds favourite with horse racing betting sites, Return To Conquer enjoyed a perfect run in transit for top Australian jockey Blake Shinn who had him relaxed beautifully in midfield before angling into a challenging position approaching the home turn. Shinn asked for an effort at the 250m and the favourite strode to the front but had to endure a testing battle in the final few strides as Landlocked stormed at him, just missing by half a head to land the major spoils. Click here for Ellerslie race replays. Mark Walker, who prepares the colt in partnership with Sam Bergerson, paid tribute to both Ellis and the horse as he summed up the performance shortly after the placings were confirmed. “Since Dave established the stable that is the 100th Group One win,” Walker said. “Full credit to team leader (Ellis) as he has bought many many winners and with this guy he spent $1.3 million without any owners earmarked and it shows just how good he is. “It (the race) looked to be quite smooth sailing until the last 100m, but watching it live can be difficult and I’m pleased for Blake to get the win. “We never make decisions on race day and we will wait until he trots out on Monday before we work it out from there.” Walker hinted a start in the biggest two-year-old event in Australia, the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday March 22 at Rosehill is on the cards, as Return To Conquer holds a nomination for the race. “We are open to the idea (a Golden Slipper bid) but he is still a young horse, still developing and growing so we will enjoy today and regroup,” he said. “He has a great temperament, is bombproof and he is unbeaten for a reason as he has the will to win.” Shinn was quick to acknowledge the close relationship he is building with Te Akau Racing which includes winning the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) in January aboard Damask Rose, his mount in the inaugural $3.5million NZB Kiwi (1500m) later in the day. “The blinkers went on today to encourage him to put a field away as he gets there (the front) and thinks his job is done,” Shinn said. “He rallied hard today when the second horse came at him and he is unbeaten still and may be ready now for a reset as he has had a long prep. “It’s great to win for Te Akau today as I’ve built up a great relationship with David Ellis and the team. I’ve come over in the last few months and put a bit of work in with them and that helped me make the decision to come here today and ride for them. “What David has created here is a world class business and I feel fortunate and lucky to get the call up.” Horse racing news View the full article

Provence winning Saturday’s Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Eight weeks after celebrating what they thought was a career pinnacle in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham, the connections of blue-blooded mare Provence were treated to something even more special in Saturday’s Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. The fillies and mares’ feature carried a stake of $600,000 and was one of four Group Ones on a star-studded Champions Day card. Provence earned her time in the spotlight with a stunning $30 upset over the $1.30 favourite with BlondeBet, New Zealand’s highest-rated mare Legarto. “This is a great feeling,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “Throughout the last few weeks and months, I just couldn’t wait to get to this day. It’s the greatest day ever and so awesome for New Zealand racing. You just come into it hoping that your horses can step up, and this mare has done that.” Provence earned her first Group One victory in the Thorndon Mile on January 11. She dug deep all the way down the long Trentham straight that day and edged out Qali Al Farrasha, Town Cryer and Aegon in a desperately close finish. In her only start since then, Provence was badly blocked in the straight in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) at Matamata on February 15. She saw daylight very late in the piece, making up some late ground to get within three and a half lengths of Legarto. When they met again in Saturday’s Breeders’ Stakes, the result was very different. Legarto had been a victim of circumstances in her two previous shock Ellerslie defeats, finishing strongly from too far back to run second in last year’s Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). This time rider Ryan Elliot had her well within striking distance, and she ranged up alongside the leaders at the top of the straight. But this time Provence surged out of the pack and soon drew up on Legarto’s outside, with a strong-finishing Jaarffi flashing through closer to the inside. Provence and Jaarffi swallowed up Legarto with about 70m remaining, fighting a head-bobbing finish that Provence won by a short head. Legarto was another half-length away in third. Click here for Ellerslie race replays. It was a third consecutive win in the Breeders’ Stakes for jockey Sam Spratt, who guided Belclare to back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024. “We had a bad draw to start with, so we were a bit disheartened coming into this race,” she said. “But we ended up actually getting a beautiful trip, just in midfield and one off. “As soon as she got out, she’s just so tough. We went past Legarto, and I thought, ‘If we’ve managed to get past her, we must be a chance here.’ But then Warren (Kennedy, riding Jaarffi) bombed me at the end and he actually said ‘I got you.’ So I went from being excited to ‘aw’. But she’s just so tough. “Stephen has nailed it with this mare. She’s hit the mark when it matters in two Group One races. She went pretty well at Matamata last time too, pretty much just cantering to the line.” Horse racing news View the full article

The 2025 Newmarket Handicap delivered a victory for punters at Flemington, with Chris Waller‘s mare Joliestar returning to Group 1 winning form. The Zoustar four-year-old ($3.40F) charged down the ‘Straight Six’ track, defeating Headwall ($14) by 1.25 lengths in the $1.5 million race. “We had faith about the horse being the best horse in the […] The post 2025 Newmarket Handicap Results: Joliestar Salutes for Punters appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

The upsets continued at Randwick on Saturday, with Royal Patronage, from the Waterhouse/Bott stable, winning the 2025 Canterbury Stakes. The six-year-old defied expectations, outstaying his more fancied rivals in the 1300m Group 1 clash. Following Linebacker’s victory over Broadsiding in the Randwick Guineas, Royal Patronage ($20) delivered another upset, providing a lucrative result for those […] The post 2025 Canterbury Stakes Winner is Royal Patronage at $20! appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

The 2025 Randwick Guineas witnessed a significant upset as Linebacker, trained by John O’Shea & Tom Charlton, denied odds-on favourite Broadsiding another Group 1 victory. Linebacker ($9) delivered a stunning performance, securing a half-length victory under a brilliant ride from Zac Lloyd. “Yeah, it’s like it’s been well rewarded today,” co-trainer Tom Charlton told Sky […] The post Randwick Guineas 2025 Results: Linebacker Fights Off Broadsiding appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

El Vencedor (outside) winning the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Pin up boy El Vencedor signed off his latest local campaign with the final leg of a winning Group One treble when he downed gallant mare La Crique in a thrilling finish to the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. El Vencedor or EV as he is now affectionately known had added the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) to his career record at his previous two starts and was shooting for a final local accolade before heading to Hong Kong next month to contest the Group 1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin. Punters installed him the $1.40 race favourite with horse racing bookmakers and looked to be in for an armchair ride to the bank after jockey Wiremu Pinn found the front from barrier four and walked his seven rivals through the first 900m of the race. Michael McNab aboard La Crique was having none of that and sent the mare forward to find the front with 1000m to run and had the favourite breathing down her neck rounding the home bend. El Vencedor put his nose in front at the 300m but La Crique refused to lay down as they went head to head, stride for stride to the finish where EV got his nose down at just the right time to win by a short head. Click here for Ellerslie race replays. Trainer Stephen Marsh, who had produced Provence to win the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) barely 35 minutes earlier, was trying to soak it all in as he answered questions about the performance. “I’m so proud as he is just amazing,” Marsh said. “I thought we had been beaten on the line again as La Crique was so tough, tried her hardest and it was just a great spectacle. “What can I say as I’m a bit overwhelmed as the last half an hour has been the best in racing you could ask for. “The owners (David Price and Mark Freeman) have bred him, have been long term with us and I’m just proud of everyone involved including Wiremu who has done a lot of work for us.” Marsh also outlined his plans for his charge before heading overseas. “This is just such a great race and it is fantastic when it is like that,” he said. “Geez it got tight and it was sweaty palms time, but he is tough and he knows where the winning post is. “We have got six weeks to go until Hong Kong so he might enjoy a little time in the paddock, not too much as he will get too fat, then Hong Kong here we come.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Echuca Cup Day 2025 Where Echuca Racing Club – Corner Scott Road and Murray Valley Highway, Echuca, VIC, 3564 When Sunday, March 9, 2025 First Race 1:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Feature racing in Victoria heads to Echuca on Sunday afternoon where the $100,000 Echuca Cup (1400m) headlines a competitive eight-race meeting. A perfect day for racing is forecast for raceday, with the track likely to receive an upgrade to a Good 3 at some point throughout the card. The rail will be in its true position, with Echuca Cup Day 2025 set to commence at 1:15pm AEDT. Echuca Cup Tip: He’s Our Bonneval He’s Our Bonneval caught the eye first-up over the unsuitable 1200m at Flemington on February 15 and looks a great play in the Echuca Cup. The eight-year-old gelding was held up for a run at a crucial point but still hit the line with great intent, albeit beaten three lengths. The step up to 1400m second-up is ideal, and considering he is twice-placed at the trip when at this point of a campaign, he should have enough freshness in his legs to be competitive. Daniel Moor will look for a bum to follow into the race, and with a well-timed sprint, He’s Our Bonneval will take some holding out. Echuca Cup Race 7 – #4 He’s Our Bonneval (9) 8yo Gelding | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Daniel Moor (56kg) VOBIS Gold Eldorado: Dollar Chaser The Bill Papazaharoudakis-trained Dollar Chaser was an impressive Sandown BM64 winner on February 19, and it followed an eye-catching run at the same track behind the classy Mighty. He looks to have returned in fine form and is no doubt going to enjoy the genuine tempo that the 2025 VOBIS Gold Eldorado is set to be run at. Cory Parish will have him at the rear of the field turning for home, but with a strong turn of foot, Dollar Chaser will prove too hard to hold out inside the final 50m. VOBIS Gold Eldorado Race 6 – #6 Dollar Chaser (5) 6yo Gelding | T: Bill Papazaharoudakis | J: Cory Parish (58kg) Best Bet at Echuca: Soju Soju continues to run eye-catching races throughout his campaign without winning, but the four-year-old mare has seemingly found the right race to gain that elusive breakthrough. key form reference is in her run two starts back when beating Big Me by a length who she meets again, but at a better price than her rival with horse racing bookmakers. Billy Egan will ensure this girl gains every chance in running from barrier two, and if the breaks go her way, Soju looks hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 4 – #4 Soju (2) 4yo Mare | T: Simon Zahra | J: Billy Egan (57kg) Sunday quaddie tips for Echuca Echuca quadrella selections Sunday, March 9, 2025 1-2 3-4-5-6 1-4-7-8 1-2-4-5-7-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Jennilala ridden by Craig Newitt wins the Matron Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Jennilala has kicked off her career under new trainer Gavin Bedggood in the best possible way by taking out the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. The daughter of Shalaa was transferred from the Ciaron Maher stable before starting this preparation, but she was unwated in betting, drifting from +600 out to +750 with Unibet before the jump. Wrote To Arataki (+500) jumped well from her inside gate and took up the lead ahead of Wishlor Lass (+1000) and Miraval Rose (+600), while the winner settled in fourth in a perfect position. Dean Yendall upped the ante on the leader as the field ran around the home turn, which left a few of the runners flat-footed, but it didn’t worry the eventual winner as Craig Newitt hadn’t asked for the ultimate effort yet. Once asked, Jennilala started to take ground off the leaders and eventually levelled up before putting her head in front at the 100m mark. Charisse (+2200) flashed home through the pack to run into third place, but it was Jennilala who recorded a victory by a half length over Wrote To Arataki. Click here for Flemington race replays. Gavin Bedggood spoke about the win post-race. “This is my second runner for Tony and I’m rapt to get a result,” Bedggood said. “I wanted to go the a 1400-metre race today, but Tony gave me a nudge to go to this race, and I really wanted to draw a low gate with her where she’d get that third or fourth (spot) sort of run. “There didn’t look to be a lot of speed on paper and I thought she may find herself outside the leader. “It worked out perfectly. Craig rode her great, and it was a great watch. “She came to us a very sound horse. I’m glad I had her fit enough to go to a mile first-up. “She’ll probably go to Tony’s farm this week for a freshen up, and then we’ll look to the Queen Of The South.” Craig Newitt was very happy to get the win for owner Tony Ottobre. “She’s kept her fresh record in tact,” Newitt said. “She’s dynamite fresh and it was a very good training effort by Gavin to get her first-up over a mile but she is such a relaxed customer. “She flies the gates and put herself in the one-one, switches off, and rested the first half of the race. “I was confident she would be in the finish and it was just a matter of how strong she would be late and she was tough.” “I thought I might have been outside the leader but when Jamie (Melham on Wishlor Lass) edged off the fence, I was able to take cover. “Especially good to win for Tony. He has given me the keys to the good ones. Nice to get another mare over the line.” Horse racing news View the full article

Damask Rose winning Saturday’s $3.5 million Listed The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Te Akau Racing, Blake Shinn and fantastic filly Damask Rose created a piece of New Zealand racing history when they took out the inaugural running of the richest race in the land, the newly minted $3.5 million Listed The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie. The slot race is the centrepiece of the newly created Champions Day, a day featuring eight black-type contests, including four at Group One level. Open to New Zealand bred three-year-olds, the 14 slots for the race were auctioned during 2024 and were snapped up by buyers from around New Zealand, Australia and as far afield as Malaysia. Te Akau Racing was one of those successful bidders and announced stable runner Damask Rose as their nominated candidate back in December last year. Since then, the three-year-old daughter of legendary Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel captured the rich Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in late January before being set for today’s contest. A winning trial over 1100m at Taupo last month fitted her for the assignment, and she delivered in fine style, courtesy of a rails-hugging ride from visiting Australian jockey Blake Shinn, who had been aboard her in the Karaka Million 3YO. Punters that confidently supported her into the $5 Fixed Odds second favourite with horse racing bookmakers behind the Victorian-trained Evaporate ($2.60) were potentially tearing up their tickets shortly after the start as the filly dwelt slightly and was quickly relegated to a clear three lengths off the second last runner after just 400m. Shinn didn’t panic and took Damask Rose where angels fear to tread in the home straight, hugging the rails and bursting clear at the 150m to down Evaporate and Checkmate who fought out the minor placings. Click here for Ellerslie race replays. Shinn, who had earlier piloted stablemate Return to Conquer to victory in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, was brimming with pride at the result. “She was a bit slow at the start so we had to go to Plan B and ride her a bit quiet, so fortunately the speed was on,” Shinn said. “I was contemplating coming wide but the way the race set up I had to look for inside runs, which came and she was good enough to capitalise on them. “She is a really good horse; we won the Karaka Million 3YO and it is really special to win the inaugural running of this race for Te Akau. “She has an electric turn of foot, a real desire to take the gaps and savage the line as the pressure was starting to tell up against the rails but she pinned her ears back and I’m just delighted. “This means a lot as deep down I’m quite emotional and have struck up a great relationship with Te Akau Racing as they a big family unit and this is what it is all about for them.” Both Bergerson and Walker were overjoyed with the performance as they accepted congratulations from the syndicate of owners and many well wishers on course at Ellerslie. “It’s pretty surreal and I said to Mark when we saw her flop out the back she is going to have to be good from there,” Bergerson said. “Fair play to Blake as he was very patient and the filly was so game. When she shot through we were all up on our feet. “She has just kept improving as we had earmarked her for the slot early on and we’re so thankful it has come off. “I was a bag of nerves all week and there are so many people to thank, I’m just so grateful.” An added feature of the race is the opportunity for Damask Rose to now contest a rich Australian event with the recent announcement the slot race has officially become a ‘Golden Ticket’ race, granting the winner direct entry into Australia’s prestigious $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 1, 2025. Horse racing news View the full article

Commemorative winning the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The James Cummings-trained Commemorative ($4.40) has capped off a terrific day for Godolphin, claiming the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) in stylish fashion to round out 2025 Randwick Guineas Day on Saturday afternoon. The daughter of I Am Invincible put the writing on the wall after a luckless effort first-up in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at the same course and distance, justifying a wealth of support with horse racing bookmakers prior to the jump. Jason Collett was happy to drag back towards the rear of the field in the early stages in search of cover, and it paid dividends, with her rivals going along at a genuine clip throughout the 1200m journey. Spring Lee () bowled across to the front from barrier 12 under Rachel King, leaving the Joseph Pride-trained pair of The Black Cloud ($14.00) and Cosmonova ($34.00) to clip up and play a stalking role. Kundalini ($21.00) didn’t have much luck sitting wide throughout, while Arctic Glamour ($11.00) was slow away putting an end to her chances. All eyes were on Commemorative as they turned for home, and the four-year-old mare was happy to oblige, putting them away swiftly to record an impressive fourth career victory. Click here for Randwick race replays. James Cummings was on course to speak post-race. “It was ideal the way things unfolded for her,” said Cummings. “Jason Collett was very attentive before the race where we’d like to see her and importantly how he would go about the ride. “He listened, he went with her, he used her momentum and she put in the big bounds out wide and she was going to take some beating. “She’s backed up that excellent first-up run with a big effort this afternoon and lays a good foundation for her prep. “Our options are open. I do like to look at the birthday card in a couple of weeks, but our options are open with her and it’s just pleasing to see her hitting the line so well.” Jason Collett then spoke to the victory. “She was really clean from the gate,” said Collett. “We thought we’d might be a bit further back than that, but she jumped so well and I got that cover, I was really happy with the spot I was in. “I popped her early and just let her go through her gears and she’s just so powerful. You see the size of her in the yard and when you’ve got that up over the rise, it’s a good feeling knowing that you’ve got more on the tank.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Black Opal Stakes Day 2025 Where Thoroughbred Park – 1 Randwick Rd, Lyneham ACT 2602 When Sunday, March 9, 2025 First Race 11:36am AEDT Visit Dabble Country racing returns to Canberra Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, where the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) headlines a bumper 10-race program. The two-year-old feature is surrounded by a quality undercard, including the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m) and Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m), with the pair attracting capacity fields on the ACT’s marquee day. The rail moves out +3m the entire circuit, and with the start time moved up to 11:36am AEDT to avoid the possibility of significant rainfall, hopefully participants can be working on a Good 4 surface throughout the afternoon. Black Opal Stakes Tip: Sanctified Sanctified represents terrific each-way value with horse racing bookmakers in the Black Opal Stakes as he attempts to win his way into the 2025 Golden Slipper. The son of Super Seth comes through a hot edition of the Inglis Millennium (1100m), with the quinella pairing of Rivellino and Within The Law claiming the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) last Saturday, respectively. Sanctified should relish the step-up to 1200m for the first time, and with a strong tempo engaged here, watch for this guy to be storming down the middle of the course at a massive price. Black Opal Stakes Race 6 – #10 Sanctified (10) 2yo Colt | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Tyler Schiller (56kg) Canberra Cup Tip: Gear Up With half this field dual-accepted for the Listed Randwick City Stakes on Saturday, it’s the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Gear Up that gets the nod. The son of Teofilo started to put it all together last preparation, finding a career peak performance when finishing third behind Positivity in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 21. His best asset is his early speed, so watch for Joshua Parr to press forward from gate four, and with the likes of Alalcance and Redstone Well possibly being withdrawn, the $13.00 with BlondeBet represents good value. Canberra Cup Race 7 – #2 Gear Up (4) 7yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Joshua Parr (57kg) Canberra Guineas: Snow In May Snow In May was well held in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 8 but had clear excuses taking on a quality field. The Autumn Sun filly was on the wrong part of the track, with many failing to make significant inroads towards the inside; however, the lightly raced three-year-old stuck on gamely to get within four lengths of Public Attention. She looks supremely well-placed in the 2025 Canberra Guineas, and with Tyler Schiller set to stalk from the one-one, Snow In May will prove hard to hold out. Canberra Guineas Race 5 – #6 Snow In May (6) 3yo Filly | T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | J: Tyler Schiller (54kg) Best Bet at Canberra: Deal N’ Dash Deal N’ Dash produced a slashing debut at Rosehill on February 26 and justified a wealth of support with online betting sites. The Dundeel gelding didn’t look like figuring with 400m left to travel before putting on the afterburners to claim Wa Wa Wa in the shadows of the post. Deal N’ Dash could be a genuine Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) contender in the autumn, and if he wants to be considered a major player in such a fixture, expect him to take care of this lot. Best Bet Race 9 – #6 Deal N’ Dash (10) 3yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Joshua Parr (57.5kg) Best Value at Canberra: Cliff House Cliff House got a pass mark first-up over an unsuitable trip at Canberra on February 21, closing to within a length of Acapella Sun despite lugging 63kg on his back. The 1200m was always going to prove too sharp for the son of Starcraft, however, he never shirked the task and appears primed to strike second-up. He drops 9kg heading into this assignment, and with the six-year-old tasting success in three of his five starts second-up, expect Cliff House to give a bold sight in the National Sprint (1400m) Best Value Race 8 – #10 Cliff House (14) 6yo Gelding | T: Tim Donnelly | J: Tyler Schiller (54kg) Sunday quaddie tips for Canberra Canberra quadrella selections March 9, 2025 1-2-4-5-6-8 1-2-4-5-10-11 6 1-2-3-4-6-7-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Group 1 Randwick Guineas winner, Linebacker. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The John O’Shea & Tom Charlton-trained Linebacker ($9.00) has tasted Group 1 success for the first time at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, fending off all challengers to claim the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m). The son of Super Seth had always promised to produce at the highest level across seven career starts, consistently finishing on the heel of Broadsiding ($1.60) throughout the spring campaign. It finally eventuated on Saturday with Zac Lloyd storming across to take up the running in the early stages before rank outside with horse racing bookmakers, Tenbury Wells ($201.00), decided to press forward to lead under Tommy Berry. It allowed Linebacker to settle in behind the speed and map in front of Broadsiding, with the Godolphin colt mustering to stalk his fellow three-year-old every step of the way. Aeliana () was next slightly worse than midfield, while Swiftfalcon ($5.00) sat to her outside throughout the journey. Tenbury Well was quick to fade once asked for an effort, while Linebacker surged to the top under minimal riding. James McDonald was forced to get busy aboard Broadsiding and was given every chance to get past Linebacker, however, it was the latter getting the upper hand in the final furlong and claiming his maiden Group 1 success. Click here for Randwick race replays. Emotions were high on course as John O’Shea celebrated his 30th Group 1 win, while training partner Tom Charlton secured his first Group 1 victory. “Well, I know the tally of crossbar hits we’ve had in Group Ones the last few years so look, it’s great, I’m so thankful to him and the ownership of our stable,” said Charlton. “I watched the race with my wife, she cries a lot, which makes it harder for me. “As a gelding he has just pleased us all the way, you could see a long way out, he was in a really good rhythm today, they were going at a high speed, but he looked comfortable. “I thought he paraded beautifully before he didn’t get as warm at the gates. He just was probably, you know, the true showing today back to the mile. “He’s always been a very talented horse and you know, just last run I just was convinced it wasn’t his true running and he just got in a better position today and it worked out well.” Zac Lloyd spoke post-race and celebrated his third Group 1 success. “It was obviously a big privilege to ride Broadsiding last start, but Linebacker today, it’s not a bad exchange, it panned out perfectly,” said Lloyd. “I just wanted to work with Linebacker, not against him today. “He broke well, he had a nice bunny in Tenbury Wells, that’s his asset, his big long stride, and he sustained his gallop nicely. “My pre-race strategy was to get both Broadsiding and Swiftfalcon uncomfortable because I feel Linebacker is a superior miler, and if we left it to a sit and sprint, they’re probably sharper than him. “He got to me at about the 200m, and I thought oh it’s a bit sooner than I would have liked, but when he got to about a neck, my bloke held him quite comfortably the last hundred.” Horse racing news View the full article

Trainer reserves special praise for promising four-year-old, who must win on Sunday to get into HK$26 million feature.View the full article

Te Akau Racing, Blake Shinn and fantastic filly Damask Rose created a piece of New Zealand racing history when they took out the inaugural running of the richest race in the land, the newly minted $3.5 million Listed The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie. The slot race is the centrepiece of the newly created Barfoot and Thompson Champions Day, a day featuring eight black-type contests including four at Group One level. Open to New Zealand bred three-year-olds, the 14 slots for the race were auctioned during 2024 and were snapped up by buyers from around New Zealand, Australia and as far afield as Malaysia. Te Akau Racing was one of those successful bidders and announced stable runner Damask Rose as their nominated candidate back in December last year. Since then, the three-year-old daughter of legendary Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel captured the rich Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in late January before being set for today’s contest. A winning trial over 1100m at Taupo last month fitted her for the assignment and she delivered in fine style, courtesy of a rails hugging ride from visiting Australian jockey Blake Shinn who had been aboard her in the Karaka Million 3YO. Punters that confidently supported her into the $5 Fixed Odds second favourite behind the Victorian-trained Evaporate ($2.60) were potentially tearing up their tickets shortly after the start as the filly dwelt slightly and was quickly relegated to a clear three lengths off the second last runner after just 400m. Shinn didn’t panic and took Damask Rose where angels fear to tread in the home straight, hugging the rails and bursting clear at the 150m to down Evaporate and Checkmate who fought out the minor placings. Shinn, who had earlier piloted stablemate Return to Conquer to victory in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, was brimming with pride at the result. “She was a bit slow at the start so we had to go to Plan B and ride her a bit quiet, so fortunately the speed was on,” Shinn said. “I was contemplating coming wide but the way the race set up I had to look for inside runs, which came and she was good enough to capitalise on them. “She is a really good horse; we won the Karaka Million 3YO and it is really special to win the inaugural running of this race for Te Akau. “She has an electric turn of foot, a real desire to take the gaps and savage the line as the pressure was starting to tell up against the rails but she pinned her ears back and I’m just delighted. “This means a lot as deep down I’m quite emotional and have struck up a great relationship with Te Akau Racing as they a big family unit and this is what it is all about for them.” Both Bergerson and Walker were overjoyed with the performance as they accepted congratulations from the syndicate of owners and many well wishers on course at Ellerslie. “It’s pretty surreal and I said to Mark when we saw her flop out the back she is going to have to be good from there,” Bergerson said. “Fair play to Blake as he was very patient and the filly was so game. When she shot through we were all up on our feet. “She has just kept improving as we had earmarked her for the slot early on and we’re so thankful it has come off. “I was a bag of nerves all week and there are so many people to thank, I’m just so grateful.” An added feature of the race is the opportunity for Damask Rose to now contest a rich Australian event with the recent announcement the slot race has officially become a ‘Golden Ticket’ race, granting the winner direct entry into Australia’s prestigious $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on 1 November 2025. The daughter of Flying Spur mare Sombreuil was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $200,000 out of Milan Park’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft. She comes from an extended family that includes her grand-dam Te Akau Rose who was a winner of the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) along with Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) winner and now successful sire Brutal. She is also the younger sister of Saturday’s Gr.1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) winner Provence, who was also bred by Milan Park principal Tony Rider.Damask Rose has now won four of her seven starts and $2.28 million for owners the Te Akau Coming Up Roses Racing Partnership. View the full article

Raymond Connors’ green and red colours will forever be known for six victories in the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) at Ellerslie between 1998 and 2019, but the respected Manawatu horseman returned to Auckland on Saturday and took the spoils in another major test of stamina. Connors won the Great Northern as an owner and jockey on Our Jonty (1998) before adding owner-trainer successes with Hypnotize (2007, 2008, 2009) and Wise Men Say (2017, 2019). Now those trophies sit alongside a major prize on the flat, courtesy of a $17 upset by Trav in the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m). “The Great Northerns are probably still my biggest thrill, but this has to be right up there as well,” Connors said on Saturday. “It’s awesome to win a big race on a day like this. Champions Day is great to be a part of.” Trav won three races as a four-year-old last season, prompting Connors to put a circle around the Auckland Cup as his main goal for 2024-25. The Almanzor gelding went winless in his seven starts leading into the $600,000 showpiece, but caught the eye with a strong-finishing and unlucky fourth in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) in his most recent start on January 18. Trav and jockey Masa Hashizume dropped out to the tail of the field in a moderately run Auckland Cup that saw multiple lead changes during the race. They still had only three horses behind them as they angled to the extreme outside coming around the home turn. Arby and Nest Egg kicked off the corner and briefly looked set to fight out the finish, but then Hashizume let Trav rip down the outside of the track. He powered past that pair and then turned back a late challenge from the Chris Waller-trained Tajanis to win by a long head. Another Australian raider, Ciaron Maher’s Interpretation, finished two and three-quarter lengths further back in third. The Auckland Cup was a special consolation prize for Hashizume, who was the long-time rider of Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) favourite Willydoit but was replaced after his unplaced finish in last month’s Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). “This means a lot,” Hashizume said. “The last few weeks have just been one of those things. I’ve had to come back from an injury where I had six weeks off. Willydoit is such a nice horse. I understand the owners making the change and I wish them the best of luck. I’ll just have to hope I can come back next year with another Derby favourite. “Trav is a very tough horse, going from the Wellington Cup to the Auckland Cup with only a jumpout in between. He was a bit fresh going to the start, but very professional after the gates opened. “I wasn’t very confident when I was last in the first lap, so I tried to move a little bit closer and then decided to follow Blue Sky At Night. She’s a tough mare, so I knew she would drag me into it. “I wasn’t sure who was coming through beside me, but I knew my horse was trying his best. He gave me 100 percent all the way to the line and then was hard to pull up after the race. It was such a good effort. Credit to the horse and the trainer. I was just lucky today.” Trav has now had 25 starts for six wins, a second and $462,950 in stakes. “That was a really good performance,” Connors said. “I wasn’t surprised to see him get so far back in the running, because that’s the way he races. But the finish that he produced to get up and win the race was amazing.“He hasn’t been the easiest horse to train, it’s been a bit of an effort from everyone at home, but this race was our goal and it’s great to pull it off.” View the full article

Pin up boy El Vencedor signed off his latest local campaign with the final leg of a winning Group One treble when he downed gallant mare La Crique in a thrilling finish to the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. El Vencedor or EV as he is now affectionately known had added the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) to his career record at his previous two starts and was shooting for a final local accolade before heading to Hong Kong next month to contest the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin. Punters installed him the $1.40 race favourite and looked to be in for an armchair ride to the bank after jockey Wiremu Pinn found the front from barrier four and walked his seven rivals through the first 900m of the race. Michael McNab aboard La Crique was having none of that and sent the mare forward to find the front with 1000m to run and had the favourite breathing down her neck rounding the home bend. El Vencedor put his nose in front at the 300m but La Crique refused to lay down as they went head to head, stride for stride to the finish where EV got his nose down at just the right time to win by a short head. Trainer Stephen Marsh, who had produced Provence to win the Gr.1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) barely 35 minutes earlier, was trying to soak it all in as he answered questions about the performance. “I’m so proud as he is just amazing,” Marsh said. “I thought we had been beaten on the line again as La Crique was so tough, tried her hardest and it was just a great spectacle. “What can I say as I’m a bit overwhelmed as the last half an hour has been the best in racing you could ask for. “The owners (David Price and Mark Freeman) have bred him, have been long term with us and I’m just proud of everyone involved including Wiremu who has done a lot of work for us.” Marsh also outlined his plans for his charge before heading overseas. “This is just such a great race and it is fantastic when it is like that,” he said. “Geez it got tight and it was sweaty palms time, but he is tough and he knows where the winning post is. “We have got six weeks to go until Hong Kong so he might enjoy a little time in the paddock, not too much as he will get too fat, then Hong Kong here we come.” El Vencedor was set to have a big payday on Saturday no matter the outcome, with the gelding having an unassailable lead in the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series going into the final of the series and earning a further $300,000. The six-year-old currently finished the series on 24 points with La Crique (14 points) securing the runner-up bonus of $150,000, with $50,000 split between Snazzytavi and Qali Al Farrasha who finished tied on 10 points each.Bred and raced by Freeman and Price, El Vencedor has now had 41 starts for 12 wins, 14 placings and more than $2.104 million in prizemoney. View the full article

Eight weeks after celebrating what they thought was a career pinnacle in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham, the connections of blue-blooded mare Provence were treated to something even more special in Saturday’s Gr.1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. The fillies and mares’ feature carried a stake of $600,000 and was one of four Group Ones on a star-studded Champions Day card. Provence earned her time in the spotlight with a stunning $30 upset over the $1.30 favourite, New Zealand’s highest-rated mare Legarto. “This is a great feeling,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “Throughout the last few weeks and months, I just couldn’t wait to get to this day. It’s the greatest day ever and so awesome for New Zealand racing. You just come into it hoping that your horses can step up, and this mare has done that.” Provence earned her first Group One victory in the Thorndon Mile on January 11. She dug deep all the way down the long Trentham straight that day and edged out Qali Al Farrasha, Town Cryer and Aegon in a desperately close finish. In her only start since then, Provence was badly blocked in the straight in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) at Matamata on February 15. She saw daylight very late in the piece, making up some late ground to get within three and a half lengths of Legarto. When they met again in Saturday’s Breeders’ Stakes, the result was very different. Legarto had been a victim of circumstances in her two previous shock Ellerslie defeats, finishing strongly from too far back to run second in last year’s Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). This time rider Ryan Elliot had her well within striking distance and she ranged up alongside the leaders at the top of the straight. But this time Provence surged out of the pack and soon drew up on Legarto’s outside, with a strong-finishing Jaarffi flashing through closer to the inside. Provence and Jaarffi swallowed up Legarto with about 70m remaining, fighting a head-bobbing finish that Provence won by a short head. Legarto was another half-length away in third. It was a third consecutive win in the Breeders’ Stakes for jockey Sam Spratt, who guided Belclare to back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024. “We had a bad draw to start with, so we were a bit disheartened coming into this race,” she said. “But we ended up actually getting a beautiful trip, just in midfield and one off. “As soon as she got out, she’s just so tough. We went past Legarto, and I thought, ‘If we’ve managed to get past her, we must be a chance here.’ But then Warren (Kennedy, riding Jaarffi) bombed me at the end and he actually said ‘I got you.’ So I went from being excited to ‘aw’. But she’s just so tough. “Stephen has nailed it with this mare. She’s hit the mark when it matters in two Group One races. She went pretty well at Matamata last time too, pretty much just cantering to the line.” Provence has now had 16 starts for six wins, a placing and $817,115 in stakes. The five-year-old Savabeel mare was bred by Tony Rider, who shares ownership with the Social Racing Ellerslie Winners’ Circle Syndicate. Provence is a full-sister to Damask Rose, who won the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) over the same course and distance in January. “We’ve had so many seconds this season, and when they hit the line there, I thought that was going to be another second placing in the books,” Marsh said. “But then the photo popped up on the screen and it was just the best feeling.“You’d love to have a few more like this mare in your stable. She’s so tough and has an amazing will to win. She has now won two Group One races this season and she’s a beautifully bred Savabeel mare, so it couldn’t be any better than that. It’s great for Tony Rider, for Brent and Wendy Cooper and a massive syndicate of owners with Social Racing.” View the full article

Ken and Bev Kelso bought Alabama Lass in Melbourne as a yearling two years ago, and a stunning performance in Saturday’s Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie has them plotting a return. The $250,000 sprint feature on Champions Day was a rematch of the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) in January, where Crocetti defeated Alabama Lass by a short head. Alabama Lass had a weight swing in her favour on Saturday and jumped as a $1.70 favourite to turn the tables, and she delivered in style. Alabama Lass broke sharply from the gates, went straight to the lead and never gave her five rivals a look in. Jockey Sam Spratt put the pedal to the floor at the home turn and Alabama Lass exploded clear, opening up a winning margin of five and a quarter lengths over Crocetti. Alabama Lass stopped the clock at 1:10.46. “It was just such a shame that it rained for the Railway last time,” Spratt said. “If that rain hadn’t come, I’m pretty sure she would have done something similar there and would probably have won that race too. But it was a super effort today. “I just tried to cuddle her up as long as I could. She just travelled so well, and even though she’s skipping along quite fast, she’s doing it so easily. I just cuddled her up and then pressed the button in the straight.” Alabama Lass became the fourth three-year-old to win the King’s Plate in the last 20 years, joining Jazzella (2007), Martini Red (2008) and Sword Of State (2022). Alabama Lass has now had eight starts for five wins, three seconds and $609,750 in stakes – an outstanding return on her A$120,000 yearling price in Melbourne. Her three-year-old season has seen her win the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), alongside second placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Railway. “I’m very proud of her,” Ken Kelso said on Saturday. “She’s a beautiful filly, a little gem. “We’ve always known she was capable of something like this. She was just unlucky to strike rain-affected tracks in those Group One placings in her last two starts. Take nothing away from the horses that beat her in those races, but the rain just dulled her sprint a little bit. Today was a different story. “We’ll look at taking her across to Melbourne now, where there’s a three-year-old race over 1100m later in the month. It’s just a Listed race, but it would be good to pick up a bit of black type over there if we can.” That race is the A$500,000 HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m) at Flemington on March 29.Despite having to settle for second behind Alabama Lass in the King’s Plate, Crocetti picked up the five points he needed to win the $300,000 bonus prize for topping the table in the Sport Nation Champion Sprint Series. He finished with 15 points, which puts him just ahead of Alabama Lass and Here To Shock on 12. View the full article

Ex-pat Kiwi rider Michael (Mick) Dee gained early success on his latest race day return to his homeland when he guided favourite Island Life to victory in the Gr. 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie. Dee, who plies in his trade in Melbourne these days after spending his formative years in New Zealand, had been engaged to partner race favourite Willydoit in the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) later on the card and got his day off to a great start with a superb effort on the Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-prepared daughter of Vadamos. Dee took up the initiative by sitting the three-year-old filly outside pacemaker Eye Candy, which was against her normal pattern of getting back and finishing her races off strongly. That decision proved a masterstroke in the six-horse field as Island Life was in the perfect position to issue her challenge early in the run home, where she shot to the front and held out the late challenge of This Time Girl to score her second career victory at just her seventh start. Dee was pleased with the run and noted her toughness would hold her in good stead if she pressed ahead to a start in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on 22 March. “She’s very tough and tries hard which is what she has going for her as she is not that big,” Dee said. “I was pleased when she ended up outside the leader as she relaxed really well and when I gave her a squeeze up I got pretty confident a long way out. “The extra distance (of the Oaks) could be a question mark, but she is very tough and is going in the right direction so you have to have a go while she is going well.” Ritchie cut an emotional figure as she waited for the Sir Peter Vela owned and bred filly make her way back to the winners’ enclosure. “I grew up here and this means just so much as we have had huge pressure with this filly,” she said. “To do this for Sir Peter on this incredible day just feels unbelievable. “It has taken a little while to work her out as she is pretty awkward, but Michael gave her a peach of a ride and I’m just so proud of her as she ground it out and finished it off so well. “We will see how she comes through this before we make a decision (on Trentham) as she can be a little quirky, but she relaxed today which was great.” Out of the Montjeu mare Lycia, a half sister to the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner De Beers, her third dam is dual Group One winner Tristalove while she is also closely related to recent Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Feroce.Saturday’s victory on the rich Champions Day card at Ellerslie has taken her prizemoney earnings over $208,000 from two wins and three placings from her seven career starts. View the full article