Wandering Eyes

Proving yet again that Aidan O'Brien's second string is never to be discounted in pattern races, the 25-1 shot Merrily (No Nay Never–Caponata, by Selkirk) swooped to conquer in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket. Anchored in rear early by Wayne Lordan, the relative of Sunday's Arc heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) was a touch free early in response the switch in tactics from her latest fifth in the G3 Weld Park Stakes. Saving her energy for the finale this time, the $325,000 Keeneland September graduate reeled in the 3-1 favourite Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) with 150 yards remaining en route to a half-length success, with Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) 3 1/4 lengths behind in third. Her win now makes it 13 in black-type races for Ballydoyle's juvenile fillies in 2024. A 25/1 Aidan O'Brien winner @Ballydoyle second-string causes a bit of a shock in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes under Wayne Lordan. What to make of that? ‍@NewmarketRace | @godolphin pic.twitter.com/JwNHUO3N3s — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 11, 2024 The post No Nay Never’s Merrily Extends Ballydoyle Streak In The Oh So Sharp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mohammed Sultan's Coto De Caza (Ire) (Sioux Nation–Coto {Ire}, by Fast Company {Ire}), last seen finishing third in Ayr's Sept. 24 Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes, stepped forward to claim a career high with a determined effort in Friday's G3 Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes. The Simon and Ed Crisford trainee accepted a tow racing second in the smaller stands' side grouping, and third overall, after a slick getaway in this five-furlong dash. Easing to the fore with a quarter-mile remaining, the 13-2 chance came under pressure soon after and was forcefully ridden inside the final furlong to deny Grande Marques (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who flashed home on the opposite side of the track, by 3/4-of-a-length. The front two separated by the width of the track! Coto De Caza (Sioux Nation) lands the spoils down the stands side and on her first crack at Group company in the Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes for @gainsboroughHQ pic.twitter.com/P5niewLYlN — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 11, 2024 The post Sioux Nation’s Coto De Caza Makes Stakes Breakthrough in the Cornwallis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin contributed to a succession of fireworks at Newmarket's Park Paddocks sales venue during the earlier part of the week and, with action firmly centred on the nearby Rowley Mile racetrack, continued in similar vein as the operation's 2-year-old filly Verse Of Love (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}–Vercelli {GB}, by Shamardal) powered to a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Friday's Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies' Stakes. She becomes the 14th Rising Star for her sire, whose roll of honour includes this month's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Zarigana (Ire). The March-foaled homebred found a modicum of cover, racing in an overall seventh, after breaking on the far-side wing. Inching forward from halfway, the well-backed 2-1 favourite loomed large on the bridle passing the quarter-mile marker and powered clear in style once quickening to the fore approaching the final furlong to easily outclass stablemate Wild Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) by an impressive five lengths. Verse Of Love (Siyouni) makes a lovely start, travelling powerfully and pulling clear of a talented and well-bred field for Charlie Appleby, @WilliamBuickX and @godolphin @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/R9ASRAqdlZ — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 11, 2024 The post Siyouni’s Verse Of Love Powers to TDN Rising Stardom at Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mike Moroney is recuperating well from a major health scare, with the popular Flemington-based trainer looking forward to a prosperous spring. Moroney has been back at work at Flemington this month after he spent many weeks in hospital since April with a range of serious ailments and he said the time away from the sport he loves has reinvigorated him. “I’ve been back at track now around about a fortnight,” he told RSN927 on Friday. “Things are going great and I’ve got a real enthusiasm for the whole thing. “They say when you are on the sidelines now and then you come back bigger and stronger and I am feeling that way. “You get stopped in your tracks a bit and you reconsider what are the important things in life. In saying that, I’ve been one of the lucky ones as from the time I was young, my passion is what I make a living out of.” Moroney said his new training partnership with Glen Thompson has injected ‘some youth into the place’, while also paying tribute to his staff, led by racing manager Anthony Feroce, for their efforts in maintaining his Ballymore stable in his absence. Moroney said he has high hopes this spring for Melbourne Cup entrant Whisky On The Hill as well as for promising three-year-old Plymouth, a four-year-old War Machine and Run Harry Run, who is one of three stable runners in Saturday’s Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m). View the full article

There are 14 horse racing meetings set for Australia on Saturday, October 12. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Caulfield, Rosehill, Eagle Farm, Ascot & Alice Springs. Saturday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – October 12, 2024 Caulfield Racing Tips Rosehill Racing Tips Eagle Farm Racing Tips Ascot Racing Tips Alice Springs 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 12, 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

Bet N Win has again shown his undoubted class with a commanding win in tonight’s Group 3 Dancinginthedark (USA) Canterbury Park Cup Handicap Trot at Addington. The David and Stacey White-trained trotter started quickly and went straight to the lead for driver Bob Butt. From there the win looked a formality, ahead of two longshots in Mystic Max and Love N The Port. Al three now automatically qualify for the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day on Tuesday, November 12. Impressive at recent trials, it was Bet N Win’s first race day start since an abscess in his hoof curtailed his Australian campaign in July, after he won his Australian debut at Albion Park. He has now won eight from 15 starts and is now a $8 third favourite for the Dominion behind Aussie stars Just Believe ($1.70) and Callmethebreeze ($3). In tonight’s race multiple Group 1 winner Muscle Mountain went round the field to sit parked and battled on well to finish fourth fresh up while reigning Trotter of the Year Oscar Bonavena settled towards the rear of the field and was never a factor. Backed into $1.95, the Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained Chase A Dream duly delivered in the Group 1 Canprint Flying Stakes Mobile Pace for the country’s leading driver Blair Orange. It’s Tough was exactly that in finishing second for John Dunn with Hadron Collider running into third after being three back the fence for Olivia Thornley. It was Chase A Dream’s 10th win in just 15 starts. In Race 9, the star-studded Get Cup Week Tickets At Addington.co.nz Handicap Pace Republican Party backed up his win in the Hannon Memorial. Trained by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, and driven by son Carter, Republican Party won a stirring finish from the always game Charlie Brown and Don’t Stop Dreaming, who produced a top performance fresh up off 20 metres. Alta Meteor who enjoyed the trail behind the pace-setting Tact McLeod stuck on for fourth. The night’s richest race (Race 10) was the $200,000 NZB Harness Million 2YO Colts and Geldings Mobile Pace and hot favourite Marketplace was in a league of his own. The Regan Todd-trained two-year-old was three wide before finding the front and after being attacked mid race was still too good in a hugely impressive display. Post race driver Craig Ferguson summed it up succinctly – “that was unbelievable that run” It was Marketplace’s fourth win in eight lifetime starts and as commentator Matt Cross said : “he’s the best two-year-old in the country!” View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Leap To Fame’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup quest is not over, but it is hanging by a thread. The champion Aussie pacer was sensationally scratched this afternoon from tomorrow night’s $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton where he was a dominant $1.20 favourite. Trainer-driver Grant Dixon confirmed the five-year-old was battling “a virus of some sort.” It ruined his chance to become only the second pacer to win Australia’s pacing “Gland Slam” – the Victoria Cup, Hunter Cup, Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile. The only horse to win all four is Kiwi-bred and former WA-trained champion Preux Chevalier way back in 1984-85. But the broader issue is the impact the setback has on Leap To Fame’s preparation for what would be his first trip to New Zealand. Leap To Fame was the $1.60 NZ Cup favourite before this health setback. He is now at $2.50, equal with Merlin. As it stands, he is still booked on a flight from Sydney to Auckland and then down to Christchurch on November 3. The IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup is nine days later, on Tuesday, November 12. But owner Kevin Seymour admitted the trip was now in serious doubt. “It’s not looking good, no,” he said. “We looked at the Victoria Cup as not just an important race itself, but also crucial to his preparation for a tough race like the 3200m of the NZ Cup. “Now he’s missed this and some work as well, we may not be able to get the right preparation for him. “It’s just devastating to miss the Victoria Cup after we took the step of taking him down by road when we couldn’t get a suitable flight and now we’re in a tough spot for the NZ trip, too. “We have never and will never take any risk at all with this horse. He’s a once in a lifetime horse, one Kay (Seymour’s wife) and I have spent 50 years in this game waiting for. “As disappointing as it is to miss this race, we’ll pull the pin on the NZ trip as well, if that’s what is best for the horse.” Dixon added the next few days would decide the NZ trip. “It’s not looking good, put it that way,” he said. “But let’s see how he is over the next two or three days and see what lead-up racing we might be able to get into him in Sydney.” Dixon said $3.2 million-earner “didn’t seem himself” early today, prompting him to call the vet. “It’s nothing bad, but the vet said he’s about 80 per cent and we could still probably run him, but we’re never going to take any risk at all with a horse like him,” he said. “It’s a virus of some sort. You could tell just by looking at him, he didn’t quite seem himself. “It’s huge disappointment after coming all this way (from Brisbane by road), but we’ve been really lucky with illness and injury throughout his career so far. It’s horses for you, I guess.” View the full article

Promising colt Scary is delivering on the promise he showed trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne from the time he entered their Pakenham stable. The Group One-bound son of Rich Hill Stud resident stallion Shocking impressed his expatriate New Zealand conditioners with his talent and attitude and that has shone through this preparation. Scary was unplaced on debut before he finished runner-up at Geelong, went one better in hollow fashion at Sale and last time out he bridged the gap to black-type company when third in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m). The three-year-old’s performance at Flemington confirmed he was on target for a return visit in November and a crack at the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m). “He’s a really nice colt with a lovely nature, just an uncomplicated horse,” David Browne said. “He’s always showed us a lot and we were pretty happy with his run the other day from the wide draw when we had no choice but to ride him back. “He finishes off very well and ran the quickest last 800, 600 and 400m of the race.” Scary will have his final lead-up in the Gr.3 Sportsbet Classic (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday week. “He’ll go for the 2000 metre three-year-old race and then it’s two weeks into the Derby, as long as he steps right up again and comes through the race well,” Browne said. “We don’t think he’ll have any trouble getting the Derby trip and he’s got a good turn of foot.” Scary is raced by his Queensland-based breeders Brian and Greta Webb, who have an interest in Shocking. “We’ve always had horses for them, they have been great supporters of ours for a long time and looked after us really well,” Browne said. Scary is a son of the unraced Reliable Man mare Never Ever, who has an unraced two-year-old filly by Shocking and is due to foal again to the two-time Group One winner. Never Ever is from the family of Sir Vigilant, who won an edition of the New Zealand St Leger when the 2800 metre feature carried Group One status and his half-brothers Vizier and Bugatti were also stakes winners. View the full article

Group One-winning Australian sprinter Uncommon James could be in line for a trip across the Tasman to contest the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) in January. Uncommon James is the winner of six of his 16 starts and more than A$1.4 million in prizemoney, headed by a brilliant victory over Lofty Strike and Asfoora in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in Melbourne in February of last year. Eagle Farm trainer Matt Hoysted considered a trans-Tasman raid earlier in the Cable Bay gelding’s decorated career, and the newly increased prizemoney for New Zealand’s summer sprint features, along with the $1 million in bonuses associated with the brand-new Sport Nation Champion Sprint Series, have made it an even more compelling option in 2024-25. The Telegraph will be run for a stake of $550,000 at Trentham on January 4, with the Railway shifting from New Year’s Day to the Karaka Millions meeting on January 25 and now boasting $700,000 in prizemoney. “Taking him across to New Zealand is actually an idea that I’ve had in the back of my mind for quite a lot of his career,” Hoysted said. “I was strongly considering it in the prep before he won the Oakleigh Plate. At that stage, I was sort of thinking about all the options we had available to try to give him a chance at that Group One level. It didn’t work out back then, and he went on to win the Oakleigh after that. But it might be more of an option this time around. “Coming into the twilight of his career now, it might be a nice way to allow him to continue to race and be competitive at that sort of level. “That new bonus series in New Zealand makes it a more attractive option as well. I train a few horses for Ladbrokes here in Australia, and they’ve been telling me about some of the exciting new initiatives that Entain has introduced in New Zealand. It’s definitely given us something to think about.” Uncommon James was last seen on a racetrack in June, finishing seventh behind I Wish I Win in the Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm. The six-year-old’s New Zealand mission will depend on a pair of Queensland sprinting assignments in November. “He’s currently building towards his first jumpout here on Tuesday, and then he’ll have another jumpout a fortnight after that,” Hoysted said. “The plan at this stage is to run him in the Swiss Ace (1000m) and the George Moore Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m). We want to make sure that he’s come up well and is going well enough in this preparation. “If he puts in a couple of good performances and shows us that his heart is still in it, we’ll be pretty keen to take him over to New Zealand.” View the full article

Ashburton couple Sarah and Chris Green and business partner Ger Beemsterboer have experienced plenty of highs in racing under their Barneswood Farm banner, but this weekend could prove to be the pinnacle in their racing endeavours. The trio sponsor the feature race at their home track on Saturday, the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m), while at Caulfield, their Group One winner Desert Lightning will come up against farm graduate Orchestral for the first time in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). The pair were two of the most exciting horses in New Zealand last summer, with Desert Lightning winning the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham in December before taking out the inaugural $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie at the Karaka Millions meeting in January, where a race later Orchestral was victorious in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). She went on to win the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), giving the Greens and Beemsterboer a memorable start to the season. Bred by Barneswood Farm, Orchestral was sold to Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood through Haunui Farm’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $625,000. A year prior, Barneswood Farm were doing the purchasing at the sale, and went to $150,000 to secure Desert Lightning out of Little Avondale’s Book 1 draft. Desert Lightning has taken them on a great ride, while they have also enjoyed watching Orchestral perform to the highest standard on both sides of the Tasman, and they are looking forward to seeing them clash for the first time this weekend. “To have both of them in the race is pretty special,” Sarah Green said. “For me that (Australia) is the pinnacle of racing, so I am very excited about it.” While Green said there is no feeling like winning with your own horse, she gets great satisfaction out of seeing a horse she bred perform so well for her owners, and also add to the family’s pedigree page, with Barneswood Farm continuing to breed from her dam Symphonic, who has a full sister to Orchestral at foot. “It is great to see something you bred get the race for their owners and trainers, and we are proud that we have bred them ourselves,” Green said. With commitments on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday, the Greens have had to split up this weekend, with Sarah Green being the sole representative in Melbourne to cheer on their horses. “My husband is at Ashburton to present the trophy there and I can’t wait to see both of the horses in the Toorak, it’s going to be pretty special,” she said. It’s been a whirlwind couple of days for Green, who spent less than 24 hours at home following a trip to America, before jumping back on a plane to head to Melbourne. “I just landed back last night from America where we were visiting our son, who lives in Idaho,” Green said. “We also went to Wyoming, Montana, and all over, it was a big road trip and it has been fantastic. We landed home yesterday and I got up at 4am this morning to fly over (to Melbourne).” Prior to heading to the United States, the Greens were able to take in Desert Lightning’s victory in the Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m), and they are hoping he can put in a repeat performance on Saturday for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. “We saw the race before we left, so it was a very exciting way to start the holiday,” she said. “He will do his best (on Saturday).” Green enjoyed her last visit to Caulfield in March where alongside family and friends she watched Desert Lightning compete in the A$3.75 million All-Star Mile (1600m), but she said it will be a completely different experience on this occasion. “We had all of our family and friends with us that day. It means so much to me to have them with us,” Green said. “I am just here on my own this time, so it seems a bit strange.” Desert Lightning is currently a $6.50 third favourite for the Toorak with TAB bookmakers, behind Another Wil ($2.90) and Antino ($4.80), while Orchestral is on the fifth line of betting at $11. View the full article

Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall are on weather watch as they prepare to shoot for $650,000 in prizemoney across a pair of Group races this weekend. They will saddle emerging mare Snazzytavi in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, followed by proven star Bonny Lass in Sunday’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua. On Friday morning, Te Rapa was rated a Soft 7 and Rotorua a Heavy8, and Richardson has been keeping a cautious eye on the skies. “Track conditions and weather patterns are a bit of an issue for a few runners this weekend, ourselves included,” Richardson said. “It’s hard to know what the weather’s going to do. If those showers stay away and the tracks come back a little bit, that will be a big help for both of our mares.” The Livamol Classic will be the biggest test of an exciting career for Snazzytavi. The daughter of Tavistock has won six times from 12 starts in the colours of Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, headed by the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) at Te Rapa in April. Snazzytavi boasts a perfect three-from-three record at the Hamilton course, including a dominant last-start victory in a 1600m open handicap there on September 27. “The fact that she’s had three starts at the track for three good wins is pretty exciting,” Richardson said. “It definitely seems to be a course that suits her, so even though it’s sad that this meeting has been moved away from Hastings, it could be a bit of an advantage for us.” Snazzytavi will be ridden by Warren Kennedy in Saturday’s $550,000 showpiece, and the TAB rates her a $6.50 third favourite behind Campionessa ($4.50) and One Bold Cat ($5). “I’m very happy with the horse,” Richardson said. “Obviously it’s a pretty strong field on Saturday, and track conditions are a query. I think she’ll be fine if it comes back into that soft range, but anything worse than that would be a concern. “Getting up over a bit more ground is a bit of unknown territory as well. She has done it successfully before (winning a 2000m Rating 75 at Matamata in February), but this is earlier in the season and against a high class of opposition. We’re very hopeful, but it’s a bit of a case of wait and see.” Bonny Lass has well and truly proven herself against elite opposition, winning Group races at the ages of two, three, four, five and six. She broke through for her first Group One win in the BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa in February, and returned there in August for a similarly impressive victory in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). In her only start since then, the Super Easy mare finished sixth in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. Richardson was not disappointed with that performance and has been pleased with the mare in her build-up to Sunday’s Sweynesse Stakes – a race she won in 2022. “They just went a little bit hard early in the Tarzino,” he said. “It didn’t turn out the best for her, but I didn’t think it was too bad a run under the circumstances. “She pulled up very well after that race and enjoyed a week or so out in the paddock. She’s been looking good since coming back into work. “She won this race a couple of years ago, so we know she gets around Rotorua well. She’s very tough and I’m sure she’ll be competitive again. “Hopefully she’ll be able to get through the track conditions okay. Apart from that, we’re very happy with her and everything is good. “We want to get her through to races like the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) and Railway (Gr.1, 1200m), where she hasn’t had a lot of luck in the past. After that, she might even end up in Brisbane. That might be a trip for the connections to look forward to next year.” View the full article

The 2024-25 season is about to move up a gear for Lance Noble, who has eight entries this weekend including highly talented mare Luberon in Sunday’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua. The private trainer for Cambridge Stud sent out 19 winners from his Karaka stable last season, earning more than $1.2 million in prizemoney. He celebrated black-type successes with Habana in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m), About Time in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m), and Aquacade in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m). Noble has saddled only a handful of runners so far in the new season, winning a 1200m Rating 75 at Ellerslie with Luberon and a 1300m maiden at Cambridge with Flash Effect. This weekend marks a big step up. “We’ve got a nice team stepping out this weekend and I’m looking forward to it,” Noble said. “We’ve been waiting for the tracks to improve a little bit, but now we’re getting to the time where we need to get them out there. We have to get the runs into them before the good summer races start to roll around. It’s an exciting time of the year.” Luberon’s first-up win at Ellerslie on September 21 was an impressive return by the Embellish mare, who carried 58.5kg to a hard-fought victory over fellow black-type performer Pericles. Luberon is now the winner of four of her nine starts, along with a third in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m), third in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) and fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “That was a very pleasing first-up performance and she seems to have come through it well,” Noble said. “I’ve been really happy with her. The Sweynesse Stakes is going to be a big step up in class, but it’ll give us a good line on where we go with her from here. “I’m just hoping the track improves a little bit and hopefully comes back into the soft range. At this time of year, it only takes one day with a bit of sun, and things dry out quite a bit quicker. She’ll be okay on soft, so I hope it comes back to that. “I think she’ll be fine getting around Rotorua as well. Some of her best runs have been left-handed, like her wins at Matamata and Te Rapa.” Eight-race winner Habana will line up as the 59kg topweight in Saturday’s Gr.3 Valley D’Vine Restaurant Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, giving away 6kg to the likes of race favourite Witz End and stylish last-start winner Navigator. “Habana’s first-up run for fifth at Ellerslie was very good,” Noble said. “He was just a bit on the fresh side and reared at the start, so he got a long way back. He didn’t have a lot of room in the straight either, but ran on very well. “He carried 60kg in that race and drops back to 59 here, albeit against what is probably a stronger field. I think he’ll go well, although he does want a good track. He’s a much better horse on top of the ground.” Exceedance filly Flash Effect takes a perfect one-start, one-win record into Saturday’s Colliers Commercial 3YO (1400m). “She’s a promising filly who won very nicely on debut at Cambridge,” Noble said. “She’s come through that really well too. I think she’s improved, which she’s going to need to. She’s up against a strong field on Saturday. Again, it’s going to give us a good line on where we should go with her from here. “We’ve got a couple of other nice chances at Te Rapa with Frostfair and Dazzled. Frostfair didn’t have all favours last time, stuck three wide and also going a bit keenly. She’s got a tricky draw on Saturday (12) and will need some luck, but she hasn’t done much wrong in her short career. She can be a nice chance if she gets the right run. “We’ve scratched Dazzled a couple of times, just waiting for better tracks. Hopefully she might get conditions to suit her this weekend. On her day, when it all clicks, she’s very good.” View the full article

Caulfield Guineas Day is host to a triple-shot of Group 1 racing on Saturday including an exciting edition of the Toorak Handicap 2024 over the Caulfield mile. Betting on the $1 million showdown this year is led by Ciaron Maher’s in-form gelding Another Wil at a current quote of $3.10 through Ladbrokes. The consistent galloper […] The post 2024 Toorak Handicap Field: Favourite Another Wil Drawn Rails appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Saturday’s Might And Power 2024 field looks a potential one-horse race if the markets are to go by as the talented Mr Brightside looks to salute as the odds-on favourite at Caulfield on Guineas Day. The Team Hayes-trained seven-year-old is the clear frontrunner in betting at Ladbrokes on this year’s Group 1 $1 million Might […] The post Mr Brightside to Shine in 2024 Might And Power: Field & Odds Update appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Australian Group One sprinter Uncommon James could be set to cross the Tasman early next year to try to add to his elite-level haul. Photo: Brett Holburt (Racing Photos) Group One-winning Australian sprinter Uncommon James could be in line for a trip across the Tasman to contest the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) and Group 1 Railway (1200m) in January. Uncommon James is the winner of six of his 16 starts and more than $1.4 million in prizemoney, headed by a brilliant victory over Lofty Strike and Asfoora in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in Melbourne in February of last year. Eagle Farm trainer Matt Hoysted considered a trans-Tasman raid earlier in the Cable Bay gelding’s decorated career, and the newly increased prizemoney for New Zealand’s summer sprint features, along with the $1 million in bonuses associated with the brand-new Sport Nation Champion Sprint Series, have made it an even more compelling option in 2024-25. The Telegraph will be run for a stake of $550,000 at Trentham on January 4, with the Railway shifting from New Year’s Day to the Karaka Millions meeting on January 25 and now boasting $700,000 in prizemoney. “Taking him across to New Zealand is actually an idea that I’ve had in the back of my mind for quite a lot of his career,” Hoysted said. “I was strongly considering it in the prep before he won the Oakleigh Plate. At that stage, I was sort of thinking about all the options we had available to try to give him a chance at that Group One level. It didn’t work out back then, and he went on to win the Oakleigh after that. But it might be more of an option this time around. “Coming into the twilight of his career now, it might be a nice way to allow him to continue to race and be competitive at that sort of level. “That new bonus series in New Zealand makes it a more attractive option as well. I train a few horses for Ladbrokes here in Australia, and they’ve been telling me about some of the exciting new initiatives that Entain has introduced in New Zealand. It’s definitely given us something to think about.” Uncommon James was last seen on a racetrack in June, finishing seventh behind I Wish I Win in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm. The six-year-old’s New Zealand mission will depend on a pair of Queensland sprinting assignments in November. “He’s currently building towards his first jumpout here on Tuesday, and then he’ll have another jumpout a fortnight after that,” Hoysted said. “The plan at this stage is to run him in the Swiss Ace (1000m) and the George Moore Stakes (Group 3, 1200m). We want to make sure that he’s come up well and is going well enough in this preparation. “If he puts in a couple of good performances and shows us that his heart is still in it, we’ll be pretty keen to take him over to New Zealand.” Horse racing news
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Beauty Eternal wins the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m). Bidding for a record-extending fifth win in the HK$5.35 million Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, Zac Purton hopes Beauty Eternal’s class will prove decisive against quality opposition headed by fellow Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble and Galaxy Patch. Successful in the Sha Tin Trophy with Ambitious Dragon (2012), Military Attack (2014), Beauty Generation (2018) and California Spangle (2022), Purton hopes Beauty Eternal can join an honour roll which also features Viva Pataca (2008), Gold-Fun (2013), Designs On Rome (2016) and Golden Sixty (2020). “He (Beauty Eternal) has got better with every trial. His last trial, I thought, was decent enough. He’s ready to go to the races, obviously he has to give some weight away being a Group 1 winner,” Purton said. Winner of the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) on April 28, John Size-trained Beauty Eternal (131lb) will face Voyage Bubble (135lb), Beauty Joy (129lb), Galaxy Patch (129lb), Red Lion (126lb), Straight Arron (125lb), Happy Together (120lb), Chancheng Glory (115lb), La City Blanche (115lb) and The Golden Scenery (115lb) on Sunday. “It’s a starting point for him (Beauty Eternal) and John wouldn’t be taking him to the races if he didn’t have him in some type of competitive shape, which he should be, and hopefully he can start off on the right foot and go on with it,” Purton said. “I’m happy with him. He’s going to get better, but I’m happy with where he’s at.” Purton has ridden Beauty Eternal in all of the gelding’s 17 Hong Kong starts, posting nine wins and six minor placings for earnings of HK$35.75 million and the Sha Tin Trophy is likely to be followed by tilts at the HK$5.35 million Group 2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on November 17 and the HK$36 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on December 8. Leading the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 20 wins from Hugh Bowman (13), Purton has a full book of 10 rides on Sunday, highlighted by the return of last start winner Wunderbar, a stablemate of Beauty Eternal. Size-trained Wunderbar chases his sixth win at his seventh start against a string of quality rivals including Son Pak Fu, Bundle Of Charm, Atullibigeal, Superb Capitalist, Call Me Glorious, Gorgeous Win, Sing Dragon and Bottomuptogether. Following his treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Purton travelled to Conghua to partner Ka Ying Rising in a 1200m trial. Last season’s Hong Kong Champion Griffin and Most Improved Horse, Ka Ying Rising was placed under no pressure in clocking 1:11.19 to defeat Six Pack and Samarkand. Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising has not raced since his emphatic win in the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on September 8, when he carried a race record 135lb to victory under Purton. The four-year-old is being prepared for the HK$5.35 million Group 2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) on October 20 and the HK$5.35 million Group 2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on November 17 in preparation for the HK$26 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on December 8. Horse racing news
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By Mike Love Holly K’s victory brought up Brent Borcoskie’s 100th training success at Addington Raceway on Wednesday, and he was chuffed. “It’s nice to get that ticked off,” said Borcoskie. Holly K made a flyer in the Sweet Lou The Most Popular Sire Of 2023 Pace from the 2000m stand for driver Blair Orange. The pair led the entire journey before putting a few lengths on them at the top of the straight and holding on to win by one and a quarter lengths from runner up Ester Lucy. “She went well and is looking really well. She had been building toward that win so we’re really happy to get it. Always nice to win at Addington.” “She’ll go again in a fortnight, there’s a good race for her there.” Borcoskie recalled training his first winner at Rangiora in 1994 with a horse called Tarantella. “I remember there was a syndicate that owned her and all the owners were there. It was a freezing cold day and we had a late night out afterwards.” That would be Tarantella’s only victory, while Borcoskie’s self-proclaimed all-time stable star is the currently racing The Bloss. “I own half of her so she’s been a handy horse for us. We are going to try and put her in foal and probably race in foal for a wee bit.” The Bloss has placed in three Group races, and to date has won 17 races and over $160,000 in stakes. When it comes to a career highlight, it is not in the training ranks but rather as a driver. “Winning a big mares race with Silk Brocade in Australia – I still haven’t topped that.” Borcoskie has now trained 100 winners and earned over $870,000 in stakes, and currently trains a team of eight from his Leeston base. View the full article

By Jonny Turner While many Ascot Park racegoers had looks of shock on their faces, Matthew Williamson couldn’t wipe the smile off of his. Williamson continued his dream harness racing season when Princess Sadie dashed home to win the Dancinginthedark M Southern Trotting Oaks. Given the calibre of filly Princess Sadie is, there would usually be no real surprise in seeing her win such a feature race. But when red-hot favourite Empire City was in front and cruising at the 400m, the victory needed to be earned. Harness racing fans were denied a home straight showdown when Empire City blundered and galloped her way out of contention, with it revealed later that the incident was caused by one of her shoes coming loose. While punters might have been left wondering what had been, Williamson only had one thing on his mind. And that was the delight in seeing the trotter named after the eldest of his three children finally nail a feature-race win. “It definitely is the biggest training win of my career and it is just so awesome to do it with this filly,” Williamson said. “She has been the bridesmaid a lot and she really deserved to win a nice race.” “It is so awesome for all involved that she has done it.” Working alongside wife Charlotte, Williamson has charged up the training ranks after making a tidy start to his career to now leading the Otago-Southland training premiership with 34 wins so far this year. Princess Sadie has been with the trainer for much of the journey, after he purchased her as a yearling for just $15,000 in 2022. Williamson was quick to praise those who have helped him along the way following his career-high win. “We have had a great run and it is a huge team around us.” “Charlotte runs the ship and she deserves a huge amount of credit.” “People like Barry White also, who have been there from the start.” “He was helping me when I had about four horses and next to no idea what I was doing.” With more than 1200 driving wins and having worked closely with his father Phil, it will be difficult for many to believe Williamson had few clues about preparing horses when he started. Princess Sadie is raced by Charlotte Williamson, Charlotte, Summit Bloodstock, the Stir Fry Syndicate and Fred Donovan, who made the trip down from Auckland to take in Princess Sadie’s big win. View the full article

Caulfield Guineas contender, Evaporate. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Lindsay Park’s promising gelding Evaporate will aim for Group 1 glory in Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). The son of Per Incanto will try to become the first horse since the David Hayes-trained St Covet in 1994 to win the Guineas for Lindsay Park. Evaporate will also follow the path of Griff, who claimed the Guineas after winning the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley, a race Evaporate also secured in his last start. “He’s always shown us ability at home, and we knew when the penny did drop that he was going to be quite a bit of a weapon,” said Will Hayes, who trains alongside his brothers Ben and JD. “He’s built a picket fence, which is what good horses do. He’s found a niche at The Valley, and he really loves it there, so hopefully that carries over to Caulfield, but it’s going to be another rise in grade for him. “He is a Group 2 winner, so he’ll be going there as one of the fancied runners, I would assume. “We’re happy with him, and I think he’s just getting better as the prep goes on, but he’s got to take on Broadsiding now, and he looks pretty good. “So I’m glad that he’s got to come down from Sydney and meet us at our home deck.” Horse racing news
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Group 1 winner, Mornington Glory. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Last-start Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) winner Mornington Glory will aim for his fourth consecutive victory when he lines up for Saturday’s Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield. After wins in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) and a Benchmark 100 (1000m), Mornington Glory gave trainer Gavin Bedggood his first Group 1 triumph in the Moir Stakes, with all three victories coming at The Valley. “He’s a horse that thrives on racing and he didn’t need to have a break,” Bedggood explained. “It’s just the way the calendar fell, and we didn’t want to go to the Manikato, so this was the next logical option. “He had a trial here last Thursday, trialled well, but pulled up with improvement out of it, and he’s had another nice piece of work at Cranbourne since and pulled up spot on, so he’s on target.” Looking ahead, Bedggood acknowledged that future plans are somewhat restricted for his stable star. “We’ll just see how he comes through each run, but there’s not a lot of options,” he said. “There’s maybe the Millennium Sprint next week if we were to do a seven-day backup, which we did do last spring. “He won at Flemington and then won seven days later at the Valley, or he could go to the McEwen Stakes on Cox Plate Day if we wanted to try the 1200 (metres) again, but we’ll just see how he comes through this and reassess.” Horse racing news
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Vibrant Sun. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) winner Vibrant Sun will have her final lead-up race before the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2, as she lines up in Saturday’s Group 3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield. Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the mare was also entered for the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) this weekend, but her trainers felt a softer option would be more suitable ahead of her main target next month. “We’re building her towards the Empire Stakes third-up, and it’s a race which she can run really well in,” said Kent Jnr. Price and Kent Jnr had initially considered the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on September 27, but that race would have come just 13 days after her first-up tenth in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m). “It came up very, very quickly, 13 days after what was a run on a heavy, heavy track,” Kent Jnr explained. “She won her Group 1 in the autumn with a little bit of time between runs, so we thought we’d give her a bit of extra time leading into this run. “That first-up run and then this run on Saturday should build her nicely, hopefully to be third-up into the Empire Rose.” Horse racing news
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Hill Stakes contender, Pericles. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Godolphin’s trainer James Cummings has opted to redirect Pericles to Sydney this Saturday for the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill after drawing the outside barrier in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). A dual Group 2 victor and four-time elite-level placer, Pericles kicked off his five-year-old campaign with a commendable third in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) before triumphing in the So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley. His latest outing saw him secure third place in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), prompting Cummings to express confidence in dropping him back to Group 2 level this weekend. “It’s amazing, he came back from Melbourne in unbelievably good condition and we are still building towards his peak,” Cummings remarked. “He gets a gorgeous run from the barrier (four) at weight-for-age. “There’s a number of chances, but it’s a very strong race and I think there’s a number of runners in good form. He was very brave over nine furlongs last start in the Underwood on top of a strong tempo. “The opposition made him work early and it was a very testing race. He was brave to still be sticking on late. “He stayed on well at 1800 metres, stayed on better than most of the field having been vulnerable from up on top of the pace.” Horse racing news
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Stan Tsaikos could have a big day at Alice Springs on Saturday as he has been booked to ride three favourites. (Brendan McCarthy/Racing Photos) After missing three meetings recently through suspension, it could be a big day for jockey Stan Tsaikos at Alice Springs on Saturday. The Geelong-based rider, who has been riding in the NT for years, will partner Terry Gillett’s Valley Prince and Supreme Goal, as well as Lisa Whittle’s Omoplata. Valley Prince, the early $1.50 favourite with horse racing bookmakers, is shooting for three straight wins when the seven-year-old gelding takes on 0-70 opposition over 1200m. The son of Dissident, a last start winner two weeks ago over 1200m (0-64) by 4.8 lengths, takes on four other runners with Gillett’s Ornamental Lady and Hurn Court, along with Whittle’s Lunar Solar and Taorima Duchess hoping to spoil the party. Supreme Goal, a six-year-old gelding by Supreme Class, was the $2.50 favourite over 1400m (0-64) after posting a last start win a fortnight ago against 0-58 grade after debuting over 1600m. Dan Morgan’s Barocco Bar, Kerry Petrick’s The Girl’s Boy, Will Savage’s Fantasy Eagle, Paul Gardner’s Nasty Streak, Greg Connor’s Zelring and Ray Viney’s Quizzle will be tough in a very open race. Omoplata ($2.40 fav) has been dynamite since returning to action having dispensed with the opposition over 1200m at 0-58 and BM54 level with nonchalant ease during September. The son of More Than Ready, a six-year-old gelding, has worked his way to the front for both wins and no doubt similar tactics will be employed as he strives to topple Kevin Lamprecht’s Frankfurt, Petrick’s duo Kikuyu and Magic Defense, and Morgan’s Arrogant Miss over 1200m (BM54). Tsaikos, the Alice Springs and Provincial premiership’s top jockey for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, rode Omoplata and Supreme Goal to their last start wins, but partnered Ornamental Lady ahead of Valley Prince on September 29. The Victorian continues to pick up the wins in Alice Springs and Darwin on a regular basis, but he was suspended after riding Gillett’s Family Ties at Pioneer Park on September 8. Getting to an early lead over 1000m, Family Ties ($3.20) was in great shape turning for home and was still in front as Tsaikos drove the five-year-old gelding to the line. Presumably, Tsaikos must have thought he had sealed victory because he put the cue in the rack in the shadows of the post with the Savage-trained Talent Quest ($2.15 fav) swooping to win by a short half head. Stewards charged Tsaikos with not riding his horse out to the end of the race and/or approaching the end of the race. Tsaikos missed the Darwin meetings on September 14 and 21, as well as the Alice Springs meeting on September 15. The break did Tsaikos no harm after his winning double in the Red Centre a fortnight ago. Tsaikos, along with Darwin jockey Sonja Logan and fellow Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc, currently share the lead in the Alice Springs and Provincial premiership with four wins each. Horse racing news
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9th-Keeneland, $120,000, Alw (NW2X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 10-10, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.30, ft, neck. WORLD RECORD (c, 3, Gun Runner–Marwa {GB}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) broke his maiden at second asking at Churchill Downs May 27, which earned him a 'TDN Rising Star' badge. The bay finished third over the same surface in the Maxfield Stakes June 30, but rebounded with a signature score in the GII Amsterdam Stakes at the Spa July 26. Well-beaten in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes upstate a month later, the colt was well-backed at 33 cents on the dollar here. The favorite closely shadowed a trio of pacesetters up the backstretch. On hold around the far turn, World Record shifted to the three path at the top of the lane and uncorked at the eighth pole. Under strong encouragement, the 'Rising Star' got to the wire first ahead of the charging Agoo (Munnings). A half-sister to MGSW Sir Cherokee (Cherokee Run) and MGSW Miss Isella (Silver Charm), the winner's dam is responsible for a 2-year-old filly in-training named Everloving (Violence) and a yearling filly by Maxfield, who AMO Racing took home for $425,000 at last month's Keeneland September Sale. Marwa was bred to Tacitus for next season. Sales History: $410,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-0-2, $279,860. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC; B-Runnymede Farm LLC, Falguieres Bloodstock, Gestut Zur Kuste AG, et (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. #2 WORLD RECORD ($2.66) holds on to win the 9th race at @Keeneland. The three-year-old colt by @Three_Chimneys' Gun Runner was piloted by Flavien Prat for trainer @BrissetRodolphe and owners @WinStarFarm and @SienaFarmKY. Play the Thursday finale here: https://t.co/v7SaAxACXp pic.twitter.com/YplVnRxiws — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 10, 2024 The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ World Record Clocks Win At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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