Wandering Eyes

Talented stayer Aljay (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) indicated he will be a big threat come New Zealand Cup Week, after a comprehensive winning display in the Staphanos Classic (1950m) at Rotorua. The Kevin Myers-trained seven-year-old was the winner of the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) in 2022, and he looks to be on track for a third shot at the iconic Riccarton contest, as demonstrated by his performance on Sunday. In the hands of apprentice Ngakau Hailey, who decreased his 61kg impost by three-kilograms, Aljay settled near the tail of the compact field, which had plenty of quality including the $2.60 race-favourite Drop Of Something. Cork and Verry Flash forced the favourite to work early in the contest to reach the pace making position, with Aljay biding his time before making a move to the outside as the field tightened turning for home. Drop Of Something gave the gelding something to chase in the straight, but Aljay showed a dashing turn of foot to storm over the top in the final strides, the margin just a head at the post. Hailey, who has now ridden Aljay on three occasions for two wins and a placing in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m), was full of praise for the son of Rock ‘N’ Pop. “I’m very happy,” Hailey said. “I was struggling to hold my position a bit at the 800, so I pulled him back, Ace (Lawson-Carroll) gave me a drag into the race and he went beautifully. “He’s got a super turn of foot, push-button to ride and just stays and stays.” Wanganui-based Myers purchased Aljay for $39,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sales, and in his 42-start career, he has won nine races and just shy of $480,000 in stakes earnings. His dam, Albacora, also produced star jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe, who was a Trans-Tasman Grand National Hurdle and Steeplechase winner through his glittering career. View the full article

Team Hayes will contemplate having two runners in the Cox Plate, with three-year-old gelding Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) a possibility to join his stablemate Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in the prestigious event at The Valley after his third in the Caulfield Guineas. On Sunday, Ben Hayes confirmed Mr Brightside would have his next run in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040) on October 26 after he pulled up well after his second in the Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes. “He ran very well. The race shape was not ideal and he always seems to be the one to do the chasing behind these front runners,” Hayes said on RSN. “He’s on track for the Cox Plate and I notice that rain is forecast, so he will be suited by a track with a bit of give in it. While he runs well on firm tracks, he runs better on surfaces with give.” Hayes said they would give consideration to starting Evaporate in the Cox Plate, at a track he is undefeated in from three starts, after his great run in the Caulfield Guineas. “I thought his was the run of the race. He had to make an early move and then went wide. He peaked on his run and was only beaten three-quarters of a length in a race which was dominated by on-pacers,” Hayes said on RSN. Ben Hayes said they had four options which they would consider for Evaporate, which were the Cox Plate or the Gr.2 Vase (2040) on the same program against his own age group or the Gr.1 Spring Champions Stakes (2000) at Randwick on the same day. The other race he could run in was the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day. View the full article

Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) came from nowhere to collect the fourth victory of his promising career at Arawa Park on Sunday, taking out the MacMillan Accountants 1400. Prepared by Mark Brosnan at Matamata, Sterling Express has been lightly-raced with twelve previous starts resulting in three wins and three minor placings, a record punters anticipated he may improve, backing him into $5.20 favouritism ahead of Sudbina ($5.30). Slowest away from the barriers, Sterling Express settled among the backmarkers in the hands of Masa Hashizume, with This Little Light heading the field at a decent tempo. Turning for home, the four-year-old had a task on his hands with the entirety of the field ahead of him, but Hashizume weaved a path through down the straight and burst into the clear short of the line, running down the Te Akau pair of Wolverine and Malborough Bay to score by a long neck. While having plenty of faith in his charge, Brosnan hadn’t expected him to make up the margin in such devastating fashion. “It was a really big performance from him,” Brosnan said. “I knew he had a pretty good sprint, but I didn’t think he would get there, it was very good. “He has been up for a while but we’ll probably keep him going a little while longer, I’ll look for another race for him.” Sterling Express raced in the colours of his co-breeder and owner Gloria Macrae, who has been a strong supporter of Brosnan and enjoyed recent success with stablemate Fly My Wey and full-sister Grace ‘N’ Glory. Also in the gelding’s ownership is former trainer Brian McKeagg. “Gloria bred him and Brian McKeagg used to be a trainer, he unfortunately had a stroke but he used to train for her so that’s how it began,” Brosnan said. The son of Shamexpress is out of Macrae’s six-win mare On Parole, and the victory increased his career earnings above $113,000. View the full article

A four-win horse in a special conditions maiden is a rare sight, and rapidly improving mare Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor) proved to be as dominant on the Te Rapa track in Saturday’s Three Wise Birds (1400m) as she was on paper. The $65,000 race was restricted to horses that were maidens on July 16. At that stage, Lux Libertas had recorded a fifth and a seventh from her only two starts. She then recorded a stylish maiden win at Te Rapa on July 27, followed by another three straight victories on August 10, September 4 and September 15. In her only appearance since then, the four-year-old Almanzor mare finished third behind My Lips Are Sealed and Keegan at Te Rapa on September 27. Lux Libertas was sent out as the hottest favourite of the day on Saturday at $1.30, and she lived right up to those high expectations. Ridden patiently by Warren Kennedy, Lux Libertas settled at the back of the field and could still see all of her eight rivals as she came around the home turn. But then Kennedy angled her into clear air one from the outside, and Lux Libertas produced an explosive turn of foot and bounded to the front with 100m remaining. Lightly raced three-year-old On The Town chased hard and kept the margin to less than a length, but Lux Libertas was never in any danger of defeat. “She’s just getting better and better, and she’s learning her craft more with every race,” Kennedy said. “She finished really strongly today and just switched off a little bit once she hit the front, so she still has a bit more to learn. But she was a deserving favourite for this race and she’s won it as she liked. “The reason for taking her back the way we did today was that we need to teach her to relax if she’s going to get up over a bit more ground. She has such a huge action, she was always going to make up that ground quickly. “Her connections will probably have bigger plans in mind for her from here, and likely up over more ground as well.” Lux Libertas has now had eight starts for five wins, with all of those victories coming from her last six starts. She has earned $119,045 in stakes. Part-owned by Kylie Bax’s Goldeye Trust, Lux Libertas was bred by her parents Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax in partnership with Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock. Lux Libertas is by Almanzor out of the stakes-placed Makfi mare Miss Fi, whose three foals to race are all winners including the Malaysian stakes winner Trigger Pegasus. Lux Libertas completed a winning double on the Te Rapa card for Kennedy and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. They had previously joined forces to win the Dan Looker – Celebrating 100 Years (2000m) with Sassy Lass (NZ) (Staphanos). View the full article

Guy Heveldt, Emily Murphy and Jayne Ivil are joined by jockey Warren Kennedy to chat about his win in the Livamol on Snazzytavi. Then Glen Boss covers off all the races from across the ditch. Weigh In, October 13 (youtube.com) View the full article

What Bairnsdale Races Where Bairnsdale Racing Club – Racecourse Rd, Bairnsdale VIC 3875 When Monday, Ocotber 14, 2024 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble A new week of racing in Victoria commences at Bairnsdale on Monday afternoon, where an eight-race meeting is set to greet punters. Brief showers are forecast on raceday, meaning the Good 4 track rating at the time of acceptances will likely downgrade to a Soft 5 or 6, with the rail sticking to its true position. The Bairnsdale races on October 14 are set to commence at 1:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Bairnsdale: Malarkey Despite putting in a poor run at Hamilton on Heavy ground, Malarkey looks set to bounce back in style at Bairnsdale. The Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained gelding has since been back to the jumpouts where he put in a promising display up on speed and offered a nice kick when asked to quicken. Look for Brad Rawiller to hold the rail having drawn barrier one, and if the son of Swear can offer a similar kick on the home turn, Malarkey should prove too hard to run down. Best Bet Race 3 – #4 Malarkey (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Brad Rawiller (59.5kg) +300 with PlayUp Next Best at Bairnsdale: Cortes Cortes has been off the scene for over a year, but on the back of a couple of handy jumpouts, the son of Pariah looks poised to strike upon return. The five-year-old has a win and a minor placing in two fresh runs throughout his career, suggesting he does not take too long to come to hand. Considering he is a natural front-runner, it is likely Brad Rawiller will look to land outside the lead from barrier 10. What he may lack in fitness, Cortes should have enough class on his side to account for his BM58 rivals over 1000m. Next Best Race 5 – #3 Cortes (10) 5yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Brad Rawiller (61.5kg) +250 with Bet365 Best Value at Bairnsdale: Outcaster Outcaster simply had no luck at Moe second-up this campaign after travelling wide throughout over 1619m, and with a bit more luck on Monday, she can reverse that form quickly. Prior to that run, the Pairah mare returned from a spell with an eye-catching run at this track over 1200m when unleashing a strong finish from the rear of the field. She stays at 1600m and with enough speed in the race, it sets up perfectly for Outcaster to unwind down the heart of the track and salute at a nice price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 7 – #14 Outcaster (13) 5yo Mare | T: Rachael Cunningham | J: Jake Noonan (56.5kg) +900 with Neds Monday quaddie tips for Bairnsdale races Bairnsdale quadrella selections Monday, October 14, 2024 1-3-10 3-4-5-10-11 2-7-8-9-10-14 1-2-3-4 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Horses owned by their breeders swept all eight of the stakes on the 39th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million program Saturday at Laurel Park. Brilliant Ice, a 5-year-old gelding owned and bred by Crystal Park Stables, marched up on the outside from mid-pack, then slipped through at the rail to seize the lead at the head of the lane before drawing away to a 5 1/4-length victory in the featured $150,000 Classic S. at 1 1/8 miles. The 5-1 win by Brilliant Ice represented the second Maryland Million stakes score of the day for his sire, Great Notion, who increased an already remarkable streak to 15 years. His offspring have now won at least one Maryland Million Day stakes in every running of the event since 2010. Great Notion has been the state's leading stallion by progeny earnings every year since 2018, and is once again the leader so far this season. Trained by Annette Eubanks and ridden out at the 1:50.19 finish by jockey Jeiron Barbosa, the 5-for-26 Brilliant Ice had never won a stakes before–and neither had his owner/breeder despite decades in the racing business. “He is the great-grandson of the first horse that we ever owned,” said Phil Bartz, a principal of Crystal Park Stables. “I didn't know he had this in him, but we gave it a shot and he was really good today.” The 2.1-1 favorite Mosler Time (Mosler) was second in the Classic. Mugatu (Blofeld) ran third. Course conditions were fast and firm throughout the day. The most intriguing result of the afternoon came in the $100,000 Turf Sprint S. over 5 1/2 furlongs when Bosserati (Holy Boss), the lone filly in a stakes against nine males, assumed command straight out of the gate and swatted back several serious stretch bids to win at 5-1 odds in 1:02.04. Joel Politi owns and bred the 4-year-old, who is a front-running specialist who had performed well against (bit did not beat) open-company stakes distaffers all season long. Jockey Sheldon Russell rode for his wife, the trainer Brittany Russell. “She's had a big year. She's been knocking on the door, a couple of tough beats, and, look, we took a swing here today [running] the filly against the boys,” said Brittany Russell. “But we felt like we had a shot, and she ran her race. She didn't know she was running against a bunch of boys. She's just been a whole lot of fun, and for her to win a race on Maryland Million Day, this is why we do this. This is huge.” Owner/breeder Dianne Stern articulated similar sentiments after her 4-year-old filly Foxy Junior (Cuba) captured the $100,000 Distaff S. at seven furlongs. “It means so much, because I'm from Maryland, and this is something I've dreamed of,” said Stern. “We had her mother and grandmother, who ran here.” Jomar Torres rode Foxy Junior for trainer Bernie Houghton. Her victory might have been the most tenacious of the afternoon, considering she stalked behind a brisk speed duel, clawed back the lead when confronted by fave at the top of the stretch, then held off another late charge to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:23.86. In the $125,000 Turf over nine furlongs, Starstruck Notion (Great Notion) avenged a second-place finish in last year's edition of the same stakes, in which the gelding was beaten three-quarters of a length. Under deft handling by Forest Boyce, Starstruck Notion secured a primo stalking position inside and bided his time third or fourth for most of the trip. The 3.3-1 shot briefly lost momentum entering the far turn when the pack shifted, then regained his stride to split horses at the quarter pole before tipping out to the three path and closing with a surge to nail a tiring favorite at the wire in 1:47.84. Pat McBurney trains the 4-year-old for owner/breeder Kenneth Garcia. Starstruck Notion is a New Jersey-bred with a Maryland sire, so that gives him dual access to Maryland Million conditions and New Jersey-bred opportunities. The two juvenile stakes, both carded at six furlongs, were each decided by neck margins. In the $100,000 Nursery S. for 2-year-old males, Do It for Michael (Uncle Lino), led from the outset and stayed on under constant pressure despite drifting out late in the lane in 1:10.57. The 5-2 second choice, ridden by Xavier Perez and trained by John Robb for owner/breeder No Guts No Glory Farm, now sports a 3-1-0 record from four starts, with all of his wins at Laurel. In the companion $100,000 Lassie S. for 2-year-old-fillies, jockey Angel Cruz rallied from 12th and last at 8-1 odds with Shkhara Fire (Friesan Fire) to win in 1:11.24 for trainer Jose Corrales and the owner/breeder partnership of Barak Farm and Dino's Thoroughbreds. Barak Farm and Corrales also ran third in the Lassie with the 22-1 Safe Trust (Mosler). In the $125,000 Ladies S. at nine furlongs on the lawn, favored Circle Home (Bodemeister), a 5-year-old mare owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, raced last or next to it for most of the nine-furlong journey, then lived up to her name by looping the field four wide around the far turn and uncorking a gradual grind-down to reel in the 9-1 pacemaker, scoring by a neck at 19-10 odds in 1:48.10. Jevian Toledo rode for trainer Miguel Vera. In the $100,000 Sprint S. at six furlongs, Celtic Contender (Irish War Cry) sat well behind a trio of speedsters in fourth, picked them all off from the far turn to mid-stretch, then repulsed a stern late charge from the even-money favorite to win by half a length at 9-2 odds in 1:09.87. Victor Carrasco rode for trainer Hamilton Smith and owner Lewis Family Racing (bred by the late Fred T. Lewis, DVM). The post Homebreds Sweep All Eight Maryland Million Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making her stakes debut in the Oct. 12 Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3), A Game stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the ballpark in a 48-1 upset for trainer Josie Carroll.View the full article

6th-Santa Anita, $55,500, Msw, 10-12, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:40.10, ft, 3 3/4 lengths. HOWIN (f, 2, Gun Runner–Flora Dora {MSW & GISP, $607,152}, by First Dude), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling, graduated on debut Saturday against three other fillies who also brought $500,000 or better at various sales. Favored at 6-5, the chestnut broke sharply and had a shot to set the pace, but backed off to let Watershed Moment (Omaha Beach) and Boujee Beach (Global Campaign) take the honors instead. Howin stayed in touch with the first two through the :22.39 and :46.89 fractions, took command with authority on the turn, and held sway by 3 3/4 lengths as Wren (Into Mischief), a $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, chased her home. Out of a multiple black-type winner who placed third in the 2016 GI CCA Oaks, Howin has a yearling half-brother by Candy Ride (Arg), who sold at the recent Keeneland September sale for $250,000 to Frank Fletcher Racing Operation. The mare was covered by Munnings and Liam's Map for next term. Sales History: $550,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $32,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Baoma Corp; B-Coffee Pot Stables (KY); T-Bob Baffert. The post Gun Runner’s Howin Graduates on Debut at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Big Fame (Mr. Big) topped 280 entries to be named the Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, sponsored by Churchill Downs, at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park. Big Fame's route to the title and a $10,000 check took her through the discipline of Eventing, in which the daughter of Mr. Big out of the Western Fame mare Adopted Fame finished fourth in preliminary competition. She also participated in the Show Jumper discipline, finishing second in preliminary rounds and landing second in the finale as well. “She has got such a great brain, very athletic, willing, and smart,” trainer Angela Carmitchel said of the 5-year-old bay mare. “She's got the work ethic of a Thoroughbred.” Big Fame, who won two of 13 races and earned $29,070 during her racing career, is still owned by one of her breeders, Dr. Dorothee Kieckhefer. “From the very beginning, I thought she would just make a wonderful jumper or eventing horse,” Kieckhefer, who was on hand at the Kentucky Horse Park to watch her homebred perform during preliminary rounds, told the Retired Racehorse Project Wednesday. “She just has the presence for the ring, and I think she has a lot of fun. All of the trainers that had her said that she has a wonderful work ethic, but she never really raced in the top levels–she's much better served in this area.” Discipline champions from the Makeover Challenge are: Eventing: Big Fame, trained by Angela Carmitchel Show Jumper: Comin' Back, trained by Madison Barnett Show Hunter: He Did It, trained by Anissa Butler Field Hunter: In The Air, trained by Caitlin Brooks Dressage: Flight To Paradise, trained by Kelly Ransom Polo: Baytown Ringer, trained by Meghan Shader Freestyle: Pretty In Prado, trained by Monique Cameron-Hamby Barrel Racing: Not Phar Now, trained by Jessica Frederick Competitive Trail: Eagle Feather, trained by Colton Thacker Ranch Work: Brooklyns Finest, trained by Raechel Ramsey The post Big Fame Named Thoroughbred Makeover Champion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wathnan Racing's California Crown Stakes (G1) winner Subsanador will miss the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) after being diagnosed with an ankle injury at Santa Anita Park, where he is based with Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.View the full article

by Stefanie Grimm and Jill Williams Godolphin homebred Poster (Munnings) stepped from maiden winner to allowance winner in a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy performance Saturday to close out the card at Keeneland. Debuted going one mile on the grass at Ellis Park Aug. 19, he cruised home in gate-to-wire fashion by 1 3/4 lengths as the 5-1 fourth choice. Kept to that distance Saturday but bet down to 9-5, the Eoin Harty trainee was shuffled back by speedier rivals to his outside and wound up fourth along the rail as Enterdadragon (Outwork) handled the tempo through fractions of :22.64 and :47.84. Enjoying an inside trip around the far turn, Poster swung by the quarter pole still boxed in along the fence and on the wrong lead but was swung out by Rafael Bejarano into the final furlong. Once he had room and swapped leads, it was a one-horse race to the line as Poster came home alone three lengths ahead of Curahee (War of Will) in second. Poster is the 13th 'Rising Star' for Munnings, who was himself a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut in 2008 at Saratoga. Poster is his sire's second 'Rising Star' in the past month, joining Muhimma, who was honored after a maiden special weight Sept. 20 at Churchill. A homebred for Godolphin, Poster is out of the winning Tapit mare Pin Up, who was sold to Imagine Thoroughbreds while in foal to Nyquist at this year's Keeneland January sale for $130,000. The mare delivered that Nyquist colt Mar. 1. Also a homebred for Darley/Godolphin, Pin Up is a daughter of 1995 GI Hollywood Starlet Stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Cara Rafaela (Quiet American), who was named Broodmare of the Year in 2006. The latter is the dam of 2006 champion 3-year-old colt Bernardini (A.P. Indy), one of America's top sires prior to his death in 2021 and now perennially one of the nation's leading broodmare sires. Cara Rafaela is also granddam to MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy). (1) Poster victorious in the night cap under @Rbejaranojockey! (12) Curamee and (8) Enterdadragon follow. pic.twitter.com/kkuSk6WtvL — Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 12, 2024 10th-Keeneland, $109,550, Alw, 10-12, (NW2L), 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.35, fm, 3 lengths. POSTER, c, 2, Munnings 1st Dam: Pin Up, by Tapit 2nd Dam: Cara Rafaela, by Quiet American 3rd Dam: Oil Fable, by Spectacular Bid Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $104,128. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. The post Godolphin Homebred Poster Stays Perfect In ‘TDN Rising Star’-Worthy Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Cherie DeVaux's decision to add blinkers to She Feels Pretty paid off with a dominant victory for the 3-year-old Karakontie filly in the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) Oct. 12 at Keeneland.View the full article

Lael Stables' She Feels Pretty (f, 3, Karakontie {Jpn}–Summer Sweet, by More Than Ready) skipped home the easiest of winners in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland Saturday. The 3-2 favorite sat just off the pace set by King's Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach) and blitzed past that foe at the top of the lane. She extended her advantage to the wire to score by six lengths. European invader Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) chased her home in second and Caitlinhergrntess was third. She Feels Pretty won last year's GI Natalma Stakes and was a narrowly beaten third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She opened 2024 with a win in the May 17 Hilltop Stakes and was beaten 3/4 lengths when third in the July 6 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational and just a neck when second in the Aug. 17 GII Lake Placid Stakes. O-Lael Stables. B-Payson Stud (Ky). T-Cherie DeVaux. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-2. Watch this jaw dropping performance! #3 SHE FEELS PRETTY ($5.08) absolutely dominates the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at @keenelandracing. The daughter of Karakontie was ridden by @ljlmvel and is trained by @reredevaux. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/0TpIhxRIQf — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 12, 2024 The post Karakontie’s She Feels Pretty Much the Best in Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner After securing one of the most satisfying wins of his career, Hayden Cullen can cap an outstanding weekend at Oamaru on Sunday. The trainer heads south hot on the heels of producing Winelight to win the $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Fillies Final at Addington on Friday night. While no stranger to big race success following his time with Mark Purdon and the All Stars Stable, Cullen and his family have taken their solo training operation to big heights from humble beginnings, in little over a year. “It all started from nothing really, at the start it was just Dad and I working up a few pre-trainers,” the trainer said. “But we got some younger horses that were able to race in the grades and they were winning and it built from there.” Cullen has built so quickly, he had more starters in feature races at Addington on Friday night than most trainers. And given the journey he has been on over the past year, winning a rich Harness Million feature gave him a huge buzz. “It was sensational, a huge thrill and it makes all the hard work pay off.” Cullen has three starters at Oamaru on Sunday including Major Cyclone, in the Phillips Horse Transport Trot. He could also make his way into feature races soon. “He is quite a nice horse and he’s been going good races.” “But he hasn’t quite been trotting 100%, so we have done a bit of work with the farrier and he seems a lot better.” Major Cyclone is raced by Cullen Racing Stables and leading West Australian Greg Bond who is a slot-holder for the inaugural running of the $500,000 The Ascent. “Safely through Sunday we have our eyes on the Hambletonian, Greg has a slot for him in The Velocity, all going well he can head through to Show Day.” Cullen also starts Arafura in race 5, the Denice Swain Memorial Fillies Mobile Pace. The filly went a solid race in her debut, getting too far back chasing a smart winner in The Lazarus Effect. “I am quite happy with her.” “She drew out in that first start and I said to Craig (Ferguson) to drive her for luck and see if she can run home, which she did.” “She seems to have improved with that run, she has worked a lot better this week.” Cullen will also start Louie Massimo in race 6, the Republican Party Road to the New Zealand Cup Mobile Pace. It is the horse’s first public appearance of the spring. “He is coming up well, I decided not to trial him but I’ve been happy with his work.” “He has a bit of gate speed, so the option is there to go forward and get handy.” “He should be an each way chance.” Olivia Thornley handles Louie Massimo fresh off steering Winelight to her Harness Million victory. Bob Butt takes the reins behind Arafura and Major Cyclone. View the full article

Chad Brown, at the age of 45, is used to saddling offspring of his best runners. "When I start being the trainer of the third dam, that's when I'll know it's time to look into retirement," Brown said with a chuckle. View the full article

6th-Keeneland, $130,000, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 10-12, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16.16, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. GIANT MISCHIEF (c, 4, Into Mischief–Vertical Oak {MGSW, $773,095}, by Giant Oak), a returning 'TDN Rising Star' made his first start Saturday since coming third in the GI Malibu Stakes to end the year Dec. 26. Off the board only once in seven prior starts, the Brad Cox runner rebounded here off nearly the year-long layoff as the 4-5 favorite by jumping straight to the front under Tyler Gaffalione. Chased throughout by a determined but ultimately second-best Kavod (Lea), Giant Mischief worked through fractions of :23.03 and :45.58, swung into the stretch still on the lead and stayed safely away to come home a winner by 1 3/4 lengths. Out of a MGSW first dam who sold to Stonestreet carrying the winner for $700,000 at FTKNOV in 2019, Giant Mischief has a yearling half-brother by Quality Road named Kelce who brought $850,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale this year. Vertical Oak produced a full-brother to the winner this year and was barren on a cover to Gun Runner for 2025. Sales History: $475,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISP, 8-4-2-1, $428,105. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Bakster Farm LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Kueber Racing LLC, Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Ten Strike Racing, Titletown Racing Stables, Winners Win, M. Caruso, M. Dubb and M. Schwartz; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. The first race of the year for #4 GIANT MISCHIEF ($3.70) was an easy win as he goes gate-to-wire in race 6 at @keenelandracing. The 4yo son of Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) was ridden by @Tyler_Gaff and is trained by @bradcoxracing. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/hlzSwcpnQ5 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 12, 2024 The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Giant Mischief Returns A Winner Off 10-Month Layoff appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The remarkably consistent Siege of Boston eyes his moment in the sun in the Oct. 13 $175,000 Knickerbocker Stakes (G3T) during the Belmont at the Big A meet.View the full article

Delacroix battled home in the one-mile Autumn Stakes (G3) under Ryan Moore to set up a possible tilt at the Oct. 25 Futurity Trophy Stakes (G1) at Doncaster.View the full article

There are six horse racing meetings set for Australia on Sunday, October 13. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Coonamble, Seymour & Sha Tin (HK). Sunday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – October 13, 2024 Coonamble Racing Tips Seymour Racing Tips Sha Tin (HK) Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on October 13, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting PickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

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Che Evasora (Arg) (Greenspring), who earned an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff with her win in the May 1 G1 Gran Premio Criadores, returned to the work tab Saturday at Santa Anita, going four furlongs in :50.60 (61/79) Saturday in Arcadia. The 6-year-old mare remains under consideration for championship weekend despite being eased while making her U.S. debut in the GII Zenyatta Stakes Sept. 29. “She went good. It was her first breeze back and I just wanted to give her something easy,” said trainer Phil D'Amato. In the Zenyatta, Che Evasora flashed early speed under Antonio Fresu before taking up a stalking position down the backstretch. On the second turn, she began to drop back before ultimately being eased. “I would say draw a line through the last,” D'Amato said. “I don't know why she was so rank. But we're going to get her in the style she won with down in South America. She came from way out of it.” Of plans for the mare, D'Amato said, “We're looking to run her in the Breeders' Cup.” The trainer added the GIII Bayakoa Stakes on the Breeders' Cup undercard was a fallback option. Also returning to the work tab for D'Amato Saturday was Grade I winner Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), who is pointing to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The 6-year-old gelding, most recently fifth in the GII California Crown John Henry Stakes, worked a half mile on the training track in :49.00 (10/23). The post Che Evasora Back on Work Tab Following Zenyatta Misfire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Spaliday came running late to annex the GII Sands Point Stakes at Aqueduct Saturday. The 3-1 shot lost contact with the field, trailing a strung-out bunch as Macanga led by some six lengths down the backstretch. Spaliday made rapid progress on the far turn and rallied powerfully in deep stretch to just edge the pacesetter for her first graded stakes score. “Around the three-eighths marker, I was looking to see if she could hit the board in this race because I didn't think she could get there,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “I wasn't sure if the runner-up was getting tired or if we were really flying through the lane–it was probably a combination of both. The runner-up was probably feeling her legs a little bit late and our filly was finding her best stride. The combination between the two got her there.” Even-money favorite Style Points was forced to check hard behind foes entering the far turn and was next to last at the top of the lane. She scooted to the rail and skimmed the fence to get up for third. “It looked like it was a little tight, and she just got out of there at some point,” said Joel Rosario, aboard the beaten favorite. “She didn't like to be in the tight spot a little bit. It was a little bit of a difficult time with her there, but we learned something for next time. She did come with a run. I felt like with a good trip, she would've been right there.” Spaliday is now two-for-two over the Aqueduct turf course, where she broke her maiden in her third lifetime start May 4. She rallied to take the Boiling Springs Stakes at Monmouth Park July 13 and was a creditable fourth in the Aug. 17 GII Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga last time out. Of potential next starts for the winner, Brown said, “She's put in a lot of miles this season, not only in her races, but in her workouts. So, we'll talk to [owner] Mr. [Peter] Brant. She's already achieved slightly more than we had hoped for this year when we started on her, this being a Grade II now. It's probably a good time to rest her and see if we can move her up one more class level next year.” Pedigree Notes: Spaliday is the first graded winner out of champion Dayatthespa, who also produced Tenbury Wells (Medaglia d'Oro), third in the G3 Jebel Ali Mile. The 15-year-old mare, purchased by Stonestreet for $2.1 million at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale, has a yearling colt by American Pharoah who sold for $60,000 at last month's Keeneland September sale. She was bred to Golden Pal this year. Spaliday is the 107th worldwide graded winner for her late sire, More Than Ready. SPALIDAY rallies to get the win in the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes under @jockeyfranco for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/kQ6Qjh2zlP — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) October 12, 2024 Saturday, Belmont The Big A SANDS POINT S.-GII, $200,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-12, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.47, fm. 1–SPALIDAY, 118, f, 3, by More Than Ready 1st Dam: Dayatthespa (Ch. Grass Mare, MGISW-USA, GSP-Can, $2,288,892), by City Zip 2nd Dam: M'Lady Doc, by Doc's Leader 3rd Dam: Smart Queen, by King Pellinore 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($310,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Peter Brant; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Manuel Franco. $110,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-2, $253,525. *1/2 to Tenbury Wells (Medaglia d'Oro), GSP-UAE, $115,812. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Macanga, 118, f, 3, American Pharoah–Highway Mary, by U S Ranger. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($150,000 2yo '23 EASMAY). O-Imaginary Stables and Mark Barnhart; B-Fred W. Hertrich (KY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. $40,000. 3–Style Points, 118, f, 3, Oscar Performance–Mystical Star, by Ghostzapper. O-Cheyenne Stable LLC; B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY); T-Christophe Clement. $24,000. Margins: NK, 2, 3/4. Odds: 3.15, 6.10, 1.15. Also Ran: Mo Fox Givin, Courbe, Justdeny, Shade of Pale. Scratched: Audacious, Just Music. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Spaliday Gets Up in Time in Sands Point appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-KEE, 100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:36 p.m. WINTER'S LEGACY (Mendelssohn), the last foal out of MGISW Winter Memories, arrives to the races Sunday for owner/breeder Phillips Racing Partnership and trainer James Toner. Winter Memories, who passed in 2023, took both the GI Diana Stakes and the GI Garden City Stakes during her racing career before retiring with earnings of over $1.2m. As a broodmare, she produced eight foals of which seven have made the races and three are winners led by MSW/MGSP Winter Sunset (Tapit) and GISP Seasons (Tapit). Second dam Memories of Silver also took a pair of top level races. TJCIS PPS 2nd-SA, 54K, Msw, 3-5yo, 6 1/2f, 4:30 p.m. Bob Baffert unveils Just Before Dawn (Justify), a $625,000 KEENOV weanling bred by Summer Wind Equine and owned in partnership with Tabor, Westerberg or Poulin et al. The colt is a half to MGISW Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon) who sold for $3.4m as a broodmare at FTKNOV in 2021 and SW/GSP Indian Evening (Indian Charlie). Other half-sisters, Town Tour (Speightstown) and No Joke (Distorted Humor), have produced the likes of MGSW Souper Hoity Toity (Uncle Mo) and GISW Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) respectively. The dam herself is a half to Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (Phone Trick). TJCIS PPS The post Sunday Insights: Last Foal Out Of Winter Memories Debuts For Phillips Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At the end of September, Charlie Appleby was convinced he had a smart sprinter on his hands. Two weeks later, he unearthed a live Guineas (G1) contender after Shadow of Light completed a group 1 double to land the Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at Newmarket.View the full article