Wandering Eyes

It's understandable if you're not exactly a fan of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). Since its inception there have been many bumps along the road. They didn't think things through when it comes to how they would handle drug positives and provisional suspensions, ignoring how likely it is that the positives were not the case of trainers trying to cheat but of environmental contamination. They went after some trainers who got positives but clearly weren't cheating. Some of the cases were heartbreaking. In October of 2023, colleague T.D. Thornton wrote about small-time trainer John Pimental and his problems with HISA and HIWU. Here's what Thornton wrote: “Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) descended upon John's stable and upended his world: one of his horses had tested positive for 193 picograms per milliliter of methamphetamine, a street drug of abuse that is classified as a 'banned' substance in racing, meaning it is never supposed to be found in any horse.” In the meantime, HISA, for the most part, has not caught any trainers whose miraculous transformations of horses that come into their barns suggest they are cheating. Where there is smoke there is fire and there's still a lot of smoke out there. They need to start catching the real bad guys and not four percent trainers who obviously are playing by the rules. To its credit, HISA and HIWU have comes to their senses and are no longer imposing draconian fines and suspension on trainers who have had horse test positive for drugs that are used by humans or for other relatively minor offenses. Provisional suspensions are now reserved for much more serious suspensions. Its many critics are still zealous in their efforts to get HISA declared unconstitutional by the courts, which would mean the end of HISA. Even NYRA and Churchill Downs, strong supporters of HISA since day one, have become thorns in the organization's side. The two tracks have filed suit against the organization in a dispute over the fees they are required to pay to support HISA. So HISA is not perfect, but it is doing more good for the sport than harm. The one issue that most threatens this sport's future is animal welfare and how many horse die on the track. The public has no tolerance for this and it's not hard to see a day when the public demands that the sport goes the same way as greyhound racing. PETA and other animal rights groups breathe down the sport's neck every time there is another high-profile breakdown or a cluster of injuries at a particular track. The threat is real, but horse racing, for the first time in decades, can now say that a corner has been turned and that the fatality rate is way down and that the sport has never been safer. A lot of people and organizations share in the credit, but none more so than HISA. At last week's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus revealed some very promising numbers when it came to the breakdown rate. Through Dec. 10, at tracks regulated by HISA, the number of breakdowns was .88 horse per 1,000 starters. At the same time last year, the number was 1.23. The Jockey Club began recording the number of fatalities in its Equine Injury Database in 2009, when the number was 2.00. Coming into 2024 the numbers had improved, but never has there been a shift like there has been so far this year. This will be the first time ever that the number of fatalities has dipped below 1.0 per 1,000 starters. Again, it's more than just HISA. Many entities within the industry have done their part. But it's no coincidence that since HISA got up and running the numbers have never been better. If HISA is regulating a track and its safety measures, you can guarantee that no stone is unturned. Horses are constantly being examined by veterinarians and if the vets aren't 100 percent convinced that the horses are sound they will not be allowed to run or have a workout. Colleague Dan Ross took a deep dive on this issue and provided evidence that the vets were largely getting it right, that many of the horses scratched pre-race were in fact experiencing problems that were about to send them to the sidelines. Here's what Ross had to say: “Indeed, in one dataset from the past five years, between one-quarter and approaching one-third of the scratched horses studied never made it back to race. In a comparable group of supposedly sound horses, this rate of attrition was in the low single digits.” From HISA's critics you keep hearing that the law authorizing HISA is unconstitutional and that the authority must be disbanded. They have their reasons, but they are deliberately ignoring what is not conjecture but a very important fact. HISA has made this sport safer. The numbers don't lie. It is not hyperbole to state that this sport is in a fight for its survival. Take away HISA and the safeguards it has implemented at racetracks across the country and we'll be right back where we were 10 years ago when the fatality rate was 1.89 per 1,000 starters. That can't happen and if it does racing's fight for survival might just turn into a losing battle. Nobody wants that. The safety of the horses and their jockeys should be the sport's No. 1 priority. That's a lot more important than whether or not HISA is unconstitutional. The sport has made meaningful progress in that area and we can't go back now. To lose HISA could mean we move closer to losing our social license to operate. There's still a lot of work to be done and HISA can always do a better job, but this sport cannot allow it to go away, and it's time that its critics put safety first and stop their vitriolic challenges to something that is helping our beleaguered game. Jose Ortiz On Fire As well as he had been doing in the NYRA circuit, it seemed that Jose Ortiz would likely stay forever. But he decided to leave last year and ride in Kentucky and in Louisiana. Perhaps he was tired of being in his brother's shadow and/or having to battle Flavien Prat every day. But Ortiz clearly knew what he was doing. Through Saturday, he led the Fair Grounds standings with 26 wins, 14 more than runner-up Jareth Loveberry. Even more impressive, he is riding winners at a 38% clip. Jockeys just don't do that. His brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., is winning with 21% of his mounts this year. Prat, the favorite to win the Eclipse Award as the sport's top jockey, is winning at a rate of 22%. Granted, Irad and Prat are facing tougher competition in Florida, New York and California than Jose Ortiz is in Louisiana. Nonetheless, Jose Ortiz is well on his way to having an historic meet at Fair Grounds while reminding people that he's not the only Ortiz who has a gift. And You Thought You Had Seen It All in This Game Could a puddle of urine cost a horse a race? It actually almost happened Thursday at Aqueduct. Jockey Romero Ramsay Maragh looked like he had he the race wrapped up as his mount Mama's Gold (Bolt d'Oro) was well clear of his rivals as the field neared the wire in the eighth race at the Big A. Suddenly, the horse propped and Maragh lost his balance and his feet fell out of the irons. He was hanging on for dear life as the field crossed the wire, but his horse was awarded the win because it carried all of Maragh's weight as it crossed the finish line. So what happened? According to the original chart, “Mama's Gold was being urged to stay on before jumping a puddle of urine 70 yards from the finish.” Since, the chart has been changed and the word “urine” has been changed to “debris.” Maybe someone was pissed off that the Equibase chart caller called it as he saw it. The post What HISA Has Gotten Right, and Why It Is So Important appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna underwent a procedure this week to remove a sequestrum—a piece of dead bone that has become separated from the healthy bone—from her jaw.View the full article

Admire Zoom zoomed home first in a commanding performance in the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1) at Kyoto Racecourse Dec. 15, first of two defining races for 2-year-olds on Japan's December calendar.View the full article

Tuscan Sky has turned in performances suggestive of him being a colt of graded stakes caliber. Now, he gets another chance to prove it Dec. 21 in the $165,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Renowned auctioneer Peter Heagney has died, Inglis reported in a statement on X on Sunday. Heagney started his career selling livestock with Dalgety's in South Australia and went on to travel the world as a freelance auctioneer until becoming a full-time Inglis employee in 1994. Memorably, Heagney was the one with the gavel when the great Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) sold for A$210,000 at the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He retired from Inglis in 2019. “It is with great sadness we confirm the passing of our dear friend and long-time colleague Peter Heagney, who passed away this afternoon,” began the statement from Inglis on X. “Peter was one of the industry's most respected and loved characters who left a lasting memory with everybody he dealt with. Peter joined Inglis in 1994 and was one of Australasia's consummate auctioneers of bloodstock, selling at Tattersalls, in China and Malaysia and every State of Australia. He was a part of Inglis history as an auctioneer, senior manager, director, mentor and friend to many. “Our thoughts are with his wife Helen and the entire Heagney family. A memorial service will be held at Inglis' Oaklands Junction in the coming weeks and further details will be advised soon. Rest in peace Pete.” The post Death Announced of Legendary Inglis Auctioneer Peter Heagney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the final day of his latest gruelling ultra-marathon challenge to fight motor neurone disease (MND), Kevin Sinfield drew his support staff together to talk about teams. Teams in sport, he reminded us, share many glories: trophies, medals, money, victories, praise. That brand of happiness is shared by players, coaches and fans. But the team that works to help others or fight a disease has a greater purpose. In the second half of his life, after a distinguished career in rugby league, Sinfield says he has found his true calling. In November this year, racing lost the popular jump jockey Steve Jobar to MND at 75. Jobar won the 1980 Triumph Hurdle for David Elsworth on Heighlin and became a master saddler and carpenter when he left the weighing-room. When Jobar's MND was diagnosed his friends rallied round. A charity day at Newbury attended by 450 people raised almost £200,000 for the MND Association. Jobar is not racing's only connection with the illness, which also claimed the trainer Jeremy Hindley in 2013. The late Rob Burrow, Sinfield's Leeds Rhinos team-mate, and Stephen Darby, the footballer still living with MND, found an outlet in racehorse ownership. Horse racing has an outstanding record for supporting the falling and the fallen. Never does the sport look more united than when a rider takes a terrible fall or tragedy strikes at the game's extended family. The Injured Jockeys Fund is a beacon of support and rehabilitation that shames many better-funded sports. It may be a leap to say this, but perhaps some of racing's eternally feuding factions could stop to consider the power of the teamwork all around them. They wouldn't need to look far to see the common ground that unites those working in racing. If the game can bond so tightly to help Graham Lee – paralysed in a fall at Newcastle – maybe the tribes could prioritise collectivity over self-interest every now and then. I thought of Jobar during Sinfield's gruelling runs round Glasgow, Belfast, Hull, and from Liverpool to Wrexham, Gloucester to Bristol, and around many other far-flung points. Sinfield's fellow runners, cyclists and support staff are a tight-knit bunch utterly committed to raising money for MND research so that future generations can be spared its indignities. Never does the sport look more united than when a rider takes a terrible fall or tragedy strikes at the game's extended family Doubtless nobody reading this will need any lectures about charity work. Almost everyone you speak to does something for someone. The huge growth of marathon running for example is underpinned by those spurred into action by seeing a family member or friend cut down. But Sinfield has mastered the art of urging people on in plain English that fosters a fellowship between the well and the unwell. “We all have a choice in this,” he said on his fifth annual extreme challenge. “We can sit back and accept it or we can try and change it. “We can all do a little bit. And what that little bit looks like is different for all of us. That can be a little bit for dementia, a little for cancer…[or] whatever illness people have a real affinity or relationship with. It can be reaching out to someone who needs a hand for Christmas. If we all do a little bit it can add up to a massive bit.” What started as an attempt to help Rob Burrow through his struggle has grown into a fund-raising juggernaut to eradicate one of the planet's most evil afflictions. Yes, evil. MND is detestable. One by one it strips away all human capabilities: moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing. It will have done much or all of this to Jeremy Hindley and Steve Jobar, far from the public gaze. There will be others from racing we don't know about. Previously many with MND went home and pulled the curtains to suffer unseen and even conceal the cause of death. Together Burrow, Sinfield and the late Doddie Weir have encouraged people with MND to connect publicly and join the remarkable fund-raising drive. Along the roads on Sinfield's runs, people with MND are visibly and deeply affected by being part of a community and by his self-sacrifice (this time he ran much of the 240 miles dragging one leg, after picking up a bad calf injury three weeks before the start). The campaigns led by Sinfield and Weir are heading towards a combined total of £40m raised, not far behind the £50m the last Conservative government pledged to find a cure, after being shamed into action by the publicity garnered by Sinfield, Weir and many others. In Liverpool on day one of Sinfield's seven ultras, the former Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes intuited the strength of mass fund-raising campaigns. He said: “You can't measure those relationships between people. That's when you've got to dig deep for each other. That's what the heart is all about.” On one stop I spoke to an NHS carer whose MND patient had died after seven years. The carer, Katie, ran a marathon in her honour, with a photograph of the lady who had died pinned to the back of her running vest. When her knee gave out during the marathon, she kept going by touching the photograph on her back. There's no trophy for that, no prize-money and no medals, but it's teamwork. The post Racing’s Factions Should Heed Sinfield’s Shining Example of Collective Spirit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran trainer soaks up the victory of Tourbillon Prince at Sha Tin on Sunday.View the full article

Veteran trainer puts slow start to season behind him with dominant display at Sha Tin.View the full article

South African jockey experiencing knee and toe pain after hitting the turf in Sunday’s ninth race.View the full article

Young French jockey ends agonising run of placings with victory aboard the Ricky Yiu-trained Harry’s Hero.View the full article

Rider Penalties R Goyaram | Auckland 12 December; careless riding; suspended 24-31 December inclusive. J Fawcett | Auckland 12 December; careless riding; suspended 22-30 December inclusive. W Pinn | Auckland 12 December; medical clearance required (subsequently received on 13 December). S Spratt | Waikato 14 December; careless riding; suspended 15-20 December inclusive. T Mitchell | Waikato 14 December; use of whip; suspended 15-20 December inclusive and fined $1,000. O Bosson | Waikato 14 December; failed to make weight; fined $450. B Murray | Southland 14 December; use of whip; fined $300. S Wynne | Southland 14 December; failed to make weight; fined $100. T Davies | Manawatu 15 December; careless riding; suspended 16-21 December inclusive. A Lawson-Carroll | Manawatu 15 December; use of whip; fined $300. Trainer Penalty M Eales | Wairarapa 11 December; incorrect gear; fined $50. Horse Penalties JAMAICA BAY | Wairarapa 11 December; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. FAY KHAN IT | Wairarapa 11 December; epistaxis; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. LUVABEEL | Auckland 12 December; late scratching after rearing at the barriers; must complete trial. REIMAGINED | Tauranga 13 December; respiratory distress; veterinary clearance required. PREDOMINANCE | Tauranga 13 December; lame; veterinary clearance required. VELVET BLUE | Waikato 14 December; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. CANHEROC | Waikato 14 December; lame; veterinary clearance required. RUTHLESS ROYAL | Southland 14 December; reared at start; must complete trial. The post 9-15 December 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Driver Penalties W House | Manawatu 10 December; use of whip; fined $300. S Doody | Manawatu 12 December; use of whip; suspended 13 December – 21 January inclusive. J Abernethy | Manawatu 12 December; out of position at start; fined $100. D McCormick | NZ Metropolitan 13 December; use of whip; suspended 14-22 December inclusive. R Harrison | NZ Metropolitan 4 December (heard Rangiora 15 December); careless driving; suspended 16-22 December inclusive. Trainer Penalty R Austin | Winton 12 December; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. Horse Penalties JETASI | Manawatu 10 December; fell in running; must complete trial. BREENY’S ROCKNROLL | Manawatu 12 December; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. NEYMAR | Manawatu 12 December; broke in running; must complete trial. IRISH SUN | Winton 12 December; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. HOGIE | Winton 12 December; fetlock and pastern injuries; veterinary clearance required. FIGHT FOR FREEDOM | Auckland 13 December; broke in running; must complete trial. THE JOLLY ROGER | Auckland 13 December; broke in running; must complete trial. KNOWING ME | NZ Metropolitan 13 December; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. Protest TUAREG | Auckland 13 December; lapped on; relegated from 4th to 5th. General Race 3 Manawatu HRC meeting of 10 December was declared a no race due to a horse lying prone on the track. The post 9-15 December 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Trainer Penalty L Cole| Non-raceday dated 6 December; failed to comply with rehoming policy; fined $6,000 and costs of $4,300. Dog Penalties PRYOR BALE | Southland 10 December; marring (second offence); stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. BIG TIME RONALD | Waikato 12 December; failing to pursue the lure; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. OPAWA BETH | Christchurch 13 December; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. OPAWA MEG | Christchurch 13 December; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. Protest: LUCKY JACK | Christchurch 12 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. The post 9-15 December 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Chrissy Bambry collected an winning double with her talented stayers at Trentham on Sunday, headlined by Opawa Jack (NZ) (War Decree) in the Taylors Property Plus 2100. The son of War Decree jumped positively under Kate Hercock and found a handy position early in the trail of Sailor Jack, while race-favourite Manifique settled at the back. The speed was only leisurely as they streamed down the back straight and turning for home, Opawa Jack and Sailor Jack put the pressure on and left the rest of the field chasing. The pair fought it out all the way down the long Trentham straight with Manifique the sole runner to make up ground, and although she got impressively close, Opawa Jack held on to score by a half-neck, with Sailor Jack only a half-head back in third. Bambry was thrilled with her gelding, but admitted she wasn’t expecting the win to come leading into Sunday’s meeting. “I wasn’t that confident to be fair, I told his owners in Christchurch not to fly up because I didn’t think he was a winning chance, so they’ve proved me wrong,” she said. “We’ll just take it race-by-race with him, but there are some nice summer cups for him.” Bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton of White Robe Lodge, Opawa Jack was purchased for $40,000 out of their draft at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales and has gone on to earn $138,500 with seven wins from 28 starts for Bambry and the remainder of his ownership group. Bambry was back in the winner’s circle in quick succession at Trentham, winning the following race with progressive stayer Phats (NZ) (Embellish). The Embellish gelding performed solidly through his last preparation, earning a late three-year-old campaign across the ditch, where he finished third in a pair of lucrative age-group staying contests in Victoria. After returning to his homeland, Phats put together three solid performances over a mile before stepping up to his favoured middle-distance range in the Hardy Trade Supply 2100, where he started a deserved $3.70 favourite. In the hands of flying hoop Masa Hashizume, the gelding settled off the fence in midfield and cruised along behind a solid tempo. One of his main dangers, Mr Twinkletoes, stormed to the lead at the top of the straight and set a task for Phats, but in the final strides, he powered over the top to take the victory by a long neck. The race was one of six automatic qualifying races for the $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) to be run back at the course during Wellington Cup Week, a place Bambry intends to accept with her promising galloper. “He’s in the Remutaka now with the golden ticket, so he’ll probably go to the Marton Cup (Listed, 2200m) two weeks before,” she said. A homebred galloper, Phats is owned by Bambry alongside her parents Tony and Judith, and Luca and Simon Luoni. The success was his second in 18 starts, surpassing $100,000 in stakes. View the full article

It’s been a while between drinks for the connections of Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner), but the talented galloper looked back to his impressive best when taking out the JR N Berkett 1400 at Trentham on Sunday. The big-striding chestnut was among the top three-year-olds of his year, and in the care of Tony Pike, he won the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), after placing in the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m), Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m). Field Of Gold struggled to replicate that form in the following season while still posting a win in March of 2023, his last time in the winner’s circle before heading to Bill Thurlow’s stable. In five starts last season for the Waverley horseman, he put together a trio of good placings. After trialling twice in preparation, it all came together again in the Rating 75 contest, where his 62kg impost was decreased by Sima Mxothwa’s four-kilogram claim. Friendless in the market, Field Of Gold started at $26 on TAB Fixed Odds and raced three-wide for much of the 1400m journey, while Knight’s Realm controlled the tempo and gave the field something to chase in the straight. Race-favourite Scouser looked ominous at the 300m and started to wear down the leader, but coming hard to his outside was Field Of Gold, who showed a serious will to win in the closing stages, sticking his neck out and finding the line over Knight’s Realm, with Scouser only a long-head back in third. Thurlow was rapt with the performance, particularly after revealing the gelding had faced a setback which pushed back his return to race-day this season. “It was great, he’s a horse that has had his issues so for him to come back and do that, it’s absolutely outstanding really,” Thurlow said. “We’re very happy with him. “He had a little hairline fracture which took a while to come right, he was just starting to really get going last season and that happened and set him back again. He’s had a bit of bad luck to be honest, but Matt and Diana (owners) really love the horse, so they have given him the time and let him come through it.” Field Of Gold holds an early nomination for the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) in early February, but Thurlow is happy to take the gelding race-by-race at this stage. “We had pencilled in an open mile for him in a couple of weeks, then there is the Marton Cup (Listed, 2200m) which he may end up at,” he said. “In saying that, we’ll really just see how he comes through this race because first and foremost it’s the horse, but if he comes through well and he’s happy and sound, we’ve got a few little targets for him.” A son of Starspangledbanner, Field Of Gold was bred by his owners, the Goodson and Perrin Family Trust. The victory placed him just shy of $250,000 in stakes earnings, with five wins in 26 starts. Field Of Gold’s success continued a glittering season for Thurlow’s stable, as his 17th winner in just 60 starters. “I’ve got a very good team around me and the horses are going very well,” he said. View the full article

Belle’s Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) made a booming return in her six-year-old season at Trentham on Sunday, putting away a tidy field of sprinters in the Blue Star Christmas Cup (1200m). The daughter of Echoes Of Heaven had been a model of consistency in her last campaign, but was sent for a spell by trainer Lisa Latta following a couple of uncharacteristic performances through the winter period on unsuitable tracks. Latta gave her a quiet trial at Foxton in mid-November to prepare for the open sprint contest, where she was underrated in the market ($8) despite an outstanding course record, with three wins and two minor placings from seven attempts at Trentham. In-form front-runner Idyllic jumped the $2.50 favourite and went straight to her customary leading role, but The Stoney One was immediately to her outer and didn’t allow the mare any comfort in the early stages. Meanwhile, Ace Lawson-Carroll was biding his time at the tail aboard Belle’s Echo, who still had them all ahead of her at the 300m mark. The Stoney One looked to have the better of Idyllic and Is That So was hot on their heels, but it was Belle’s Echo who came with a scorching turn-of-foot down the outside to put them all away, powering through the line to score by a length to Is That So in a sharp time of 1.07.62. Latta indicated the performance had come as a surprise, but was a very pleasing result for the stable. “I didn’t really expect that honestly, her coat is nowhere near there and I thought she would improve a lot with the run, but she’s won very well,” she said. “It was very satisfying to watch, especially after those two races at the end of her last preparation on really heavy tracks, where she just didn’t see the distances out. “She holds a nomination for the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) but she’s not really a weight-for-age horse at the moment, we’d be silly to run in that. We’re going to have to go back to the drawing board and try and map something out for her, the biggest thing really is getting some black-type with her at some stage this preparation.” The six-year-old is out of a Woodbury Lad mare in Woodbury Belle, who herself was highly-successful on the track, winning 13 races and placing in the Gr.3 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) for Myles Oldershaw, who co-bred and co-owns Belle’s Echo. Belle’s Echo is fashioning an impressive record of her own, with Sunday’s victory her fifth from 26 starts and over $150,000 in stakes to her credit. Latta was in the winner’s circle earlier on the card with Keeping Time (NZ) (Time Test), a deserved maiden winner in the Pullman Melbourne City Centre 1600 after a confident front-running ride by apprentice jockey Amber Riddell. “She was very good as well, Amber was going to be caught wide and she used her initiative by going forward and got some really soft sectionals,” Latta said. “She put the pressure on when she turned in and she’s fought right to the line. I think once she gets over 2000m, she’ll be even better.” A mare co-bred and raced by Little Avondale Stud, Keeping Time is a daughter of Time Test out of talented race-mare Can’t Keeper Down, a four-race winner and placegetter in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m). View the full article

The demise of racing in Singapore has had a bright side for Roger James and Robert Wellwood, with Sweynesday (NZ) (Sweynesse) emerging as an exciting young talent in their Cambridge stable. The lightly raced four-year-old collected the third win of his five-start career with another promising performance in Saturday’s Pathways – The Immigration Specialists (1200m) at Te Rapa. Sweynesday races in the colours of Eric Koh’s Falcon Racing, renowned as one of the leading owners in Singapore. The son of Sweynesse was bought for $80,000 by Koh, King Power and Bevan Smith Bloodstock from the 2022 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. That group also paid $280,000 at the same sale to buy December (NZ) (Shamexpress), who James and Wellwood have trained to win three of his seven starts so far. “We’re fortunate to train Sweynesday for Falcon Racing,” Wellwood said on Saturday. “He and another horse we’ve got in our stable were both bought to go to Singapore, and we’ve been the fortunate beneficiaries of what’s happened to racing in Singapore. We’re very grateful that they’ve decided to leave those two horses in our stable. “They were both were bought at Karaka by a very good friend of mine, Bevan Smith, who has an excellent record of buying quality yearlings and two-year-olds that go on to perform on the racetrack. We’re thrilled that he bought this horse and that he’s ended up in our stable, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for him.” Sweynesday had two starts as a three-year-old last season, finishing second on debut at Taupo in March before leaving maiden ranks with a smart victory at Ellerslie in April. The gelding resumed in October with a first-up defeat of subsequent winner Wind Of Change at Ellerslie, then ran second behind the highly rated Twain on November 30. Sweynesday was sent out as a $2.60 favourite at Te Rapa on Saturday and produced a performance worthy of that billing. In-form jockey Masa Hashizume gave him a patient ride in midfield as Rayet led the field up to the point of the home turn. Master Brutus tackled and headed Rayet in the straight, but then Sweynesday loomed ominously on his outside. Hashizume asked his mount for maximum effort and Sweynesday stretched out powerfully in the last 50m, edging ahead of Master Brutus to win by a short neck. Rayet held on for third, five lengths adrift of the first pair. The 1200m were run in 1:09.93. Sweynesday’s five-start career has produced three wins, two seconds and $92,025 in stakes. “He’s a quality horse,” Wellwood said. “He doesn’t have too many chinks in his record, running first or second in every start so far, and it was another good performance today. He’ll learn more from that too, he was a little bit green, but Masa rode him patiently and timed his run perfectly. “We’ll see how the horse comes through today, but everything he’s shown us so far is giving us a bit of confidence to think about raising the bar a bit higher with him later in the campaign. But the horse has to come first, so we’ll wait a couple of days and make sure he’s come through this well before making any other plans.” View the full article

Guy, Jayne & Emily reflect on a magic day at Te Rapa highlighted by a stunning Snazzytavi win and Blue Sky At Night’s Waikato Cup victory for local connections. We also review the best from Ascot Park plus Australian racing where the (NZ) suffix was again, to the fore. Weigh In, December 15 View the full article

What Orange Races Where Racing Orange – Towac Park Racecourse – 57 Canobolas Rd, Orange NSW 2800 When Monday, December 16, 2024 First Race 1:50pm AEDT Visit Dabble Racing in country NSW heads to Orange on Monday afternoon, where a quickfire seven-race meeting is set down for decision. Clear skies are forecast in the leadup to Monday and on raceday itself, so the track is expected to start as a Good 4, with a Good 3 track rating likely at some stage. The rail comes out 3.5m from the 500m-300m with the cutaway in play, as racing is set to commence at 1:50pm AEDT. Best Bet at Orange: Cougars Cougars will resume from a 19-week spell, and if he puts forward anything like he did before heading to the paddock, he should prove too hard to run down in the opener. The three-year-old gelding managed to lead for most of the 1100m event but was grabbed late in the shadows of the winning post. Drawn barrier three, the 1000m looks perfect for the son of Flying Artie to jump, lead and win. The even money on offer with Neds looks the right price. Best Bet Race 1 – #1 Cougars (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Barbara Joseph & Paul & Matt Jones | J: Patrick Scorse (59kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Orange: Smarter Than You Smarter Than You has been building nicely towards a win this campaign, finishing second in both of her runs. Her first-up run over 1180m at Gundagai was massive when coming from the rear of the field, and she produced a similar finish when beaten a half length last time out at Queanbeyan. With plenty of early speed engaged, Ashley Morgan will have the Smart Missile mare settle towards the rear, but with a swift turn of foot, Smarter Than You looks too hard to hold out this time. Next Best Race 4 – #9 Smarter Than You (8) 6yo Mare | T: Todd Smart | J: Ashley Morgan (55.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Orange: Whiskey George Bruce Cross’ Whiskey George has finished second in three of his four starts to begin his career, but gets his chance to go on better on Monday. The four-year-old gelding is a natural frontrunner, so barrier 14 is offset by the fact he will roll forward and look to take up the running. If he doesn’t have to use up too many carrots early under Deanne Panya, Whiskey George presents great each-way value with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 5 – #6 Whiskey George (14) 4yo Gelding | T: Bruce Cross | J: Deanne Panya (59kg) Bet with Picklebet Monday quaddie tips for Orange Orange quadrella selections Monday, December 16, 2024 5-9 2-4-6-7-9 2-4-6-8-10-12 1-2-3-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Jockey Sophie Doyle and Awesome Treat won their second stakes together this year in the $249,715 Holiday Inaugural Stakes at Turfway Park Dec. 14, an extra special win for Doyle who returned to riding this spring after the birth of her daughter.View the full article

In the Turfway Park Synthetic Championships finale Dec. 14, grade 1 winner Howard Wolowitz bounced back from a rough trip in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) to nearly set a track record in the $249,670 Holiday Cheer Stakes.View the full article

The team of trainer Mike Maker and jockey Luis Saez combined to win two stakes on the Turfway Park Synthetic Championships day card Dec. 14 with Dana's Beauty and Paros. View the full article

Vanessa Arnott, a long-serving jockey in the Top End, returns to scale on the Jason Manning-trained Brazen Bon at Fannie Bay on Saturday after booting home her 300th winner in Darwin. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Fotofinish Racepix) She had to wait until the final race, but jockey Vanessa Arnott made it 300 wins in Darwin on Saturday. Arnott, who debuted at Fannie Bay in 2005, celebrated the milestone aboard Jason Manning’s Brazen Bon, who was making its NT debut, over 1100m at Class 2 level. Drawing a wide gate, Brazen Bon – starting at $6 with online bookmakers – settled in sixth place after Tayarn Halter’s $2.80 favourite Forms Of Fear led exiting the back straight. Brazen Bon, a four-year-old gelding, was among a group chasing the leader and was caught four ddeepbut was fourth approaching the final bend. Forced three ddeep,turning for home, the son of Bon Aurum went after Forms Of Fear, who was running on empty despite leading comfortably with 350m to go. Brazen Bon, carrying 3kg less than Forms Of Fear, swooped at the 100m to seal victory by 1.3 lengths. Jockey Vanessa Arnott had a challenging day at Fannie Bay on Saturday, coming close but missing out on several occassions before finally securing her 300th career victory in the final race. She finished fourth with Kessler in the 0-58 ranks and saw Motivated Miss narrowly beaten by a nose in the BM54 over 1200m. Her toughest loss came with the $3.20 Picklebet favourite Bon’s Pride, Brazen Bon’s full brother, who surged late but fell just short, finishing second by a neck in the BM76 over 1200m. 14/12/24 Darwin Race 5 Replay – Brazen Bon https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Darwin-2024-14122024-Race-5-Brazen-Bon-Jason-Manning-Vanessa-Arnott.mp4 Horse racing news View the full article

In his stakes debut, Michael McCarthy-trained Journalism triumphed over a field that included three from the Bob Baffert barn.View the full article

With his victory in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional (G1), Intense for Me earned the first automatic starting position in next year's $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.View the full article